First flour distribution in months starts for northern Gaza Strip families

Xinhua) 09:06, March 18, 2024

GAZA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Relief and food aid, mainly flour, reaches Palestinian families in the northern Gaza Strip for the first time in about 4 months, local sources said on Sunday.

Local sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that 12 trucks loaded with relief and food aid entered Gaza City and reached the cities and towns of Jabalia, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun, where the cargos were unloaded in warehouses belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The trucks, which carried flour, canned goods, and other food items, were secured by armed people affiliated with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), in cooperation with Palestinian clans, according to the sources.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed in a statement all efforts to deliver aid to residents in the northern Gaza Strip, noting the aid "is not sufficient compared to the enormous humanitarian needs of Palestinian civilians in that area."

It called for the necessity of opening all crossings and ensuring the continued flow of aid by land, sea, and air.

The ministry emphasized the importance of the United Nations Security Council "exercising sufficient courage to make a binding UN decision to immediately stop the ceasefire, and to support the efforts of mediators to reach an immediate agreement to release hostages and prisoners."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
MIAMI  The first flight from Haiti in two weeks landed at Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon, a source told CBS News Miami.

The Global X charter flight from Cap-Haitien touched down at 2:30 p.m.

According to a flight attendant, there were 47 passengers on board, all of whom were U.S. citizens escaping the chaos. Passengers say they became aware of the U.S.-sponsored flight through an email and all became aware through the State Department web page.

The State Department later confirmed the flight's arrival and said government officials were helping the passengers with "next steps."

"We will continue to assist U.S. citizens as long as commercial options remain unavailable and the security environment permits us to do so," a State Department spokesperson told CBS News.

/ Credit: Tania Francois

The spokesperson said the department was "in contact" with other U.S. citizens looking to leave Haiti and that the State Department was "examining options for departures out of Port-au-Prince and will inform U.S. citizens about them as soon as we are able to safely and securely arrange them."

Right now, gangs have nearly taken control of the capital Port-Au-Prince, where approximately one million people live.

The constant gunfire has forced many residents to stay locked in their homes for fear of violence and there is a concern of starvation. Nearly all relief groups have stopped operating because of the violence.

Avlot Quesaa was in Haiti visiting his mother and said conditions were terrible.

"The suffering you can only imagine," he told CBS News Miami's Joan Murray.

Passengers on the charter flight from Haiti to the U.S. arrive in Miami International Airport on Sunday afternoon. / Credit: Tania Francois

Quessa said he registered with the U.S. Embassy to get on the flight and signed a promissory note to pay for the flight later.

"It's an awesome feeling I feel like a diplomat," a flight attendant commented to Murray.

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A number of Monday's newspapers report on some political drama which made the headlines over the weekend - with the i newspaper describing a reported move among some in the Tory party to oust Rishi Sunak as prime minister and replace him with Penny Mordaunt as the next leader of the Conservative Party as "insane". The lead story claims Fujitsu has been managing a highly secretive military computer system facilitating the "strategic command and control of UK armed forces" for decades, according to a source who has briefed the newspaper. Another sidebar notes an FA Cup classic at Old Trafford as Manchester United edged rivals Liverpool to reach the semi-finals at Wembley

Monday's Metro also carries stories on Rishi Sunak's future - but the paper quotes Tory minister Mark Harper, who insists the prime minister will not be axed in favour of Penny Mordaunt - despite him facing questions about the extent of his relationship with businessman and Tory donor Frank Hester, who has been embroiled in a race row. The paper also builds up to its 25th birthday by thanking its readers.

Rishi Sunak's leadership future dominates the front page story of the Daily Mail as the paper claims the prime minister will lead a "political fightback" during a speech in the Midlands later on Monday. It follows reports over the weekend some sections of the Tory party are planning to oust Mr Sunak in favour of Penny Mordaunt - "Sunak allies rage at Penny", is the bold headline. Elsewhere, the tabloid gives an update on the King's health - following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year. It says King Charles is determined to "bravely attend" this June's Trooping the Colour despite his ongoing cancer battle - but he might have to be driven in a carriage if doctors say he is too ill.

In other news, an image of Alexei Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, catches the eye on the front of the Guardian as it reports on crowds cheering when she turned up at the Russian embassy in Berlin to cast her vote. She said she'd written her late husband's name on the ballot in what the paper claims is an "act of defiance". The main story focuses on an NHS ombudsman warning hospitals are "cynically burying evidence of poor care". Rob Behrens has urged ministers to overhaul the way the NHS deals with complaints and how the array of regulatory bodies scrutinise it. In response an NHS spokesperson said it was "absolutely vital that everyone working in the NHS feels they can speak up and that their concerns are acted on".

Another story about Rishi Sunak features on the front of the Daily Telegraph, urging Tories to "stick with the plan" as leadership talk grows. According to the paper, the prime minister tells backbenchers the economy "is turning a corner" and he calls on them to hold their nerve.

"Putin tightens grip on Russia" is the headline on Monday's Financial Times as it reflects on Russia's president being handed a landslide victory in an election which featured no real competition. The last day of voting was marked by silent protests at polling stations and an image shows people queuing up to vote outside. The lead story claims the US federal reserve will have to keep rates high for longer than markets anticipate, according to economists polled by the newspaper.

More on Vladimir Putin in Monday's Times as the paper reflects on his speech after early results indicated he had won almost 90% of the vote. Mr Putin said the results showed Russians trusted him and he would allow the country to become stronger and more effective. England star Marcus Rashford is pictured at the top of the paper celebrating Manchester United's equaliser against Liverpool in Sunday's FA Cup thriller. The lead story centres on Rishi Sunak vowing this is the year the UK "bounces back".

In other UK news, Coronation Street stalwart Bill Roache appears on a few front pages - including the Daily Mirror - alongside Absolutely Fabulous legend Helen Lederer. She opens up about working with Mr Rouche on the set of Coronation Street after playing his love interest on the ITV soap. The main story claims 200,000 people have backed a protest by the tabloid to "save British dentistry" - which it says is in the "dark ages".

Dame Esther Rantzen is on the front of the Daily Express after a date was set for a major House of Commons debate on her her fight to legalise assisted dying. Sadly, her stage four lung cancer will prevent her attending in person, so the lifelong campaigner is asking supporters to urgently write to their MPs. Another Esther features on the front of the tabloid - this time Tory MP and cabinet minister Esther McVey - who says the "overwhelming majority" of Conservative MPs support Rishi Sunak.

Finally, the Daily Star carries tributes to Steve Harley, the frontman of Cockney Rebel, who died over the weekend at the age of 73. The tabloid's lead story claims Brits are bracing for a powerful storm which will see river and groundwater levels reach peak highs, with the end of the UK winter set to feel extra dreary this year.

A number of the front pages continue to focus on rumours at Westminster about a challenge to the prime minister's leadership from within the Conservative Party.

The Daily Telegraph reports Rishi Sunak is urging MPs to "stick with him" and that he's issued a rallying cry to backbenchers telling them "the economy is turning a corner" - and that 2024 will be the year the UK "bounces back". The paper says Mr Sunak was forced to speak out after days of speculation that right-wing Conservatives are lining up the Commons leader, Penny Mordaunt, to replace him.

Mr Sunak's allies are "furious" Penny Mordaunt has failed to distance herself from recent reports she's being lined up as a "unity candidate", according to the Daily Mail.

Cabinet minister Esther McVey is quoted in the Daily Express as saying some colleagues are putting "leadership ambitions" ahead of the party's interests, adding that plotting to topple the Prime Minister is "self-indulgence".

The front page of the Times carries a photograph of the widow of the Russian opposition leader - Alexei Navalny - at a protest in Germany against the re-election of Vladimir Putin as Russian President. The paper reports Yulia Navalnaya defaced her own ballot paper - adding in her late husband's name.

Yulia Navalnaya had backed calls for anti-Putin voters to turn up at polling stations at midday

In other news, the NHS Ombudsman - Rob Behrens - has told the Guardian hospitals are burying evidence about poor care in a "cover-up culture" that leads to avoidable deaths and families being denied the truth about their loved ones.

"Dark Ages Dentistry" is the headline in the Daily Mirror - which reports there will be a protest at Parliament today about the crisis in the sector which it says has left patients taking out their own teeth with pliers or screwdrivers.

The front page of the i paper reveals that Fujitsu - the IT company at the centre of the Post Office Horizon scandal - is still managing a "highly classified" British military computer system despite having lost the contract to do so in 2022. The paper says it is because of delays in vetting replacement contractors.

"Dark Ages Dentistry" is the headline in the Mirror, which reports that there will be a protest at Parliament today about the crisis in the sector which it says has left patients taking out their own teeth with pliers or screwdrivers. The paper says more than 200,000 people have signed its petition for better dental care - sharing their horror stories from across the country.

Finally, the Sun's front page reports the Princess of Wales was spotted out and about at a farm shop in Windsor over the weekend, amid what it describes as "wild speculation" about her health on social media.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed his preordained electoral victory Sunday as a sign of the country's "trust" and "hope" in him, and after stifling any real attempt at unseating him, felt confident enough to refer to late opposition leader Alexei Navalny by name.

Despite several opposition protests across Russia, Putin easily claimed another six-year term by getting 87% of the vote with 80% of the precincts counted, election officials said. Other candidates languished below 5%.

Putin has been in power since 1999, and the predetermined victory will allow him to surpass Josef Stalin's 29-year tenure, making the former KGB agent the longest-serving Russian leader in more than 200 years even though the country has been engaged in a costly war in Ukraine for more than two years. The turnout of 74.22% was higher than the 67.5% recorded in 2018.

In a post-election news conference, Putin surprisingly acknowledged being presented an offer of a prisoner swap that would free Navalny  his most prominent critic  from an Arctic prison days before he mysteriously died last month. Putin claimed he was in favor of the deal as long as Navalny did not return to Russia, and called his death an "unfortunate incident."

Navalny's legacy was alive as long lines formed at some polling places at noon in apparent support of the "Noon Against Putin" protest called for by the opposition. Some Russians living abroad also joined the demonstration by lining up outside Russian embassies around the world.

"The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him," the White House National Security Council spokesperson said.

Putin, 71, brushed aside suggestions the election was not democratic and said he would prioritize bolstering the military. "We have many tasks ahead," he said, according to Reuters. "But when we are consolidated  no matter who wants to intimidate us, suppress us  nobody has ever succeeded in history, they have not succeeded now, and they will not succeed ever in the future."

Putin faced token challenges from three politicians who declined to criticize the man who has ruled with an iron fist for a quarter century. Two antiwar candidates, Boris Nadezhdin and Yekaterina Duntsova, were barred from running due to "irregularities" purportedly found in the candidate petitions and other documents.

"There isn't any real choice," the Free Russia Foundation said in a statement. "Observers are absent, repression is rampant, candidates face inadmissibility, and there's strict control over the information space."

Three days of voting concluded Sunday at polling stations across Russia and regions of Ukraine that Moscow claims to have "annexed" over the objections of the international community.

In a social media post, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron alluded to "the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent ... monitoring," before adding, "This is not what free and fair elections look like."

Voters line up at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, at noon local time on Sunday, March 17, 2024. The Russian opposition called on people to head to polling stations at noon on Sunday in protest during votin on the last day of a presidential election.

Developments:

 More than 85 people were arrested in 21 Russian cities for protesting the election, the independent Russian human rights group OVD-Info reported Sunday. Occasional demonstrations of defiance included setting fire to voting booths and spoiling cast ballots by pouring dye on them.

 Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, joined the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin as the crowd applauded and chanted her name. Navalnaya said she wrote in her late husband's name on the ballot and called Putin "a killer, a gangster."

 In Tallinn, Estonia, hundreds stood in a line snaking around the citys cobbled streets leading to the Russian Embassy. Estonia, a nation of less than 1.5 million people that borders Russia, declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

With Russian presidential election, Vladimir Putin may cement longest reign since Stalin

Putin foes dismiss 'sham' election

Exiled businessman and opposition activist Mikhail Khodorkovsky said some dissenters were protesting by scrawling Navalny's name across their ballots. Khodorkovsky said Putin "craves international legitimacy" and markets himself as a global player to Russians. Western democracies must not recognize the election, he said.

"There can be no illusion of universal support for Putin in Russia," Khodorkovsky, who lives in London, said in a social media post. "The election is fraudulent, his inevitable victory is a sham, and must be recognized as such by the democratic world."

Ukraine drones target Moscow amid elections

Putin spoke confidently of military gains in the Ukraine war in the weeks leading up to the election. But early Sunday, armed Ukrainian drones attacked at least eight Russian regions, with some reaching as far as the Moscow area, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said four drones were shot down across the city, with no injuries or damage reported. More than 800 miles south of Moscow, "several" drones attacked the Slavyansk oil refinery in the Krasnodar Region, according to the regional anti-crisis center. A fire that broke out was promptly extinguished, authorities said.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Russian election updates: Putin claims another term despite protests
The spring and summer seasons aren't quite with us just yet, but a few events this week will have you thinking ahead to sun and warmth.

And for a donation of just $5, travel back in time for an Ontario County Historical Society event appropriate for National Women's History Month.

Here's what's happening this week.

1. Thinking spring in Bloomfield

The Bloomfield Garden Club will meet at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, March 21, at Veterans Park in Bloomfield. Martha Alexander will lead a craft activity. All are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.

2. She Speaks: Women of Ontario County

This unique Ontario County Historical Society program will be held at 6 p.m. March 21 at the societys headquarters, 55 N. Main St., Canandaigua. The event features readings from the Historical Societys collections and archives. Not only will this program feature the writings and works of women who lived in Ontario County, said Ulana Fuller, visitor services associate at the Historical Society, but it will be presented by women. Included in the readings will be excerpts from the diaries of Caroline Cowles Richards, which were recently donated to the Historical Society by her descendants. Her diary is published under the title, "Village Life In America." Original artifacts and manuscripts associated with the readings will be on display. Suggested donation is $5. For details, visit OCHS.org.

3. Brrrr. Get ready to plunge in Canandaigua

Registration for the Canandaigua Polar Plunge will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23, and the plungers, who have raised money for Special Olympics New York, will hit the waters of Canandaigua Lake at noon at Kershaw Park. Special Olympics New York provides inclusive opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, who compete in Olympic-style, coached sports. For more details, visit http://events.nyso.org/site/TR/Plunge/POLARPLUNGE?pg=entry&fr_id=2980.

4. A silver anniversary Easter egg hunt

The Canandaigua Kiwanis Clubs 25th annual Easter egg hunt starts at 10 a.m. sharp March 23 at Canandaigua Elementary School. The hunt, which includes 9,000 eggs and those who get a bracelet prior to the hunt start time have a chance to win a bike or basket, typically attracts 500 children and their families. This year more than 30 bikes and 60 baskets will be given out. Included in that are 25 golden eggs honoring the clubs 25th anniversary. The hunt is offered to all children up to age 12. If a child of any age will need assistance, a Hunt Helper area will provide just that.

5. On the hunt for eggs in Victor

A free Easter egg hunt is planned for March 23 at Dryer Road Park, 7405 Dryer Road, Victor. But get there on time, as the egg seekers ages 3 to 11, who will be divided into age groups, will be on their way at 10 a.m. sharp. A sensory friendly egg hunt will start at 9 a.m. at the box rink. No registration is required for the Victor Parks and Recreation event.

6. Meet 'The Ghost of Roseland artist in Canandaigua

Benji Carr, a sculptor from Cohocton, will construct what he calls "The Ghost of Roseland Park," a public art piece near Lakefront Park in Canandaigua.

Sculptor Benji Carr will be at the Ontario County Historical Society from 1 to 3 p.m. March 23 to talk about his public art project, The Ghost of Roseland. While youre there, visit the exhibit, Lets Go Have Fun, Glimpses of Recreation in Ontario County 1900-1965, which includes artifacts from Roseland Park. Bring Roseland Park photos to share during this event sponsored by the Ontario County Arts Council. Visit www.ocarts.org for more information. The Ontario County Historical Society is at 55 N. Main St., Canandaigua.

If you have an event you'd like to see listed in the "Things to Do" column, email Mike Murphy at mmurphy@messengerpostmedia.com.

Mike Murphy covers Canandaigua and other communities in Ontario County and writes the Eat, Drink and Be Murphy food and drink column. Follow him on X at @MPN_MikeMurphy.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: 6 things to do in the Finger Lakes NY this week
A 65-year-old Raytown man is facing several felony charges relating to sexual assaults that date back to 2012, according to a news release from the Jackson County Prosecutors Office.

Prosecutors have charged Warren Eric Carter with one count of forcible rape, two counts of rape or attempted rape in the first degree; one count of forcible sodomy; three counts of sodomy or attempted sodomy in the first degree; one count of kidnapping and two counts of kidnapping in the first degree.

The charges relate to the sexual assaults of four women that occurred in Kansas City in July 2012, May 2017, and October and December 2019. Each of the women said their attacker had a prosthetic right leg or had a missing leg, according to court documents.

DNA allegedly linked Carter to two of the rapes. Evidence in one of the womens sexual assaults was outsourced to an outside crime lab, and the results are still pending.

The results of the fourth sexual assault kit excluded Carter as a DNA contributor. However, the examination was performed several days after the attack, and Carter allegedly used a condom, according to court documents.

According to court documents, the women told police a similar story: Carter offered them a ride or forced them into his vehicle by threatening them with a firearm. Then he drove them to a secluded area and assaulted them, forcing them to do oral sex. The women said he raped or attempted to rape them afterward. They said he was armed with a handgun.

Detectives interviewed Carter after two of the attacks and he allegedly accused the women of being prostitutes. Carter allegedly told police that he frequently patronized prostitutes and, most of the time, didnt pay what they had agreed upon.

One woman said she called 911 on the evening of May 12, 2017, to report the rape, but gave up after waiting on hold for a long time. She also went to a Kansas City police station the next day but left without speaking to anyone after waiting an extended period.

On May 14, 2017, she went to a hospital to undergo a sexual assault examination. Police responded to the hospital, where they interviewed her.

The woman in the December 2019 attack gave an initial statement to officers and was taken to a hospital for a sexual assault examination. Detectives tried to contact her again that month but did not get a formal statement. Earlier this month, detectives went to the womans home, where she provided a formal statement.

Carter was arrested late Sunday and made his first court appearance on Monday. He was being held on $200,000 bond. A bond review hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. on March 25.

Prosecutors advised anyone with reports of similar assaults or attempted assaults to contact the Kansas City Police sex crimes unit at 816-234-5220.

Persons in this or other incidents are encouraged to call the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault at 816-531-0233 or Kris Wade at 816-769-3307.
Children have been turned away from school in the capital, Juba (file photo)

All schools have been ordered to close in South Sudan, as it prepares for a heatwave in which temperatures could reach an exceptional 45C (113F).

Authorities said children should stay indoors and that the extreme weather could last for at least two weeks.

Deaths "related to excessive heat" have already been reported, officials said on Saturday.

Residents in parts of the capital Juba sweltered without electric fans on Monday as the heat sparked power cuts.

The streets of Juba, home to more than 400,000 people, were largely quiet in the afternoon as local media reported temperatures of 41C (106F).

It is exceptionally early for South Sudan to experience such heat - temperatures often exceed 43C (109F) but only in the summer months, according to the World Bank's Climate Change portal.

Children in uniform could be seen walking back to their homes, having been turned away from school on Monday.

The ministries of education, health and environment said on Saturday that all schools would be closed from Monday because of the "serious health hazards" posed to students.

The ministries' statement did not say when schools would open again, but after a briefing with the authorities on Monday, two teachers told the BBC that their classes would resume on 3 April.

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) told the BBC it had seen an increased number of admissions to one of its hospitals since the temperatures started to rise.

Residents of South Sudan, whose independence from Sudan in 2011 makes it the world's newest nation, described difficult conditions on Monday.

"This heat is very serious and it's really affecting our work," Wadcon Saviour Lazarus, who runs a national NGO, told the BBC.

"Because of this heat, we are not able to move from one place to another. We come to the office early and leave late in order to avoid the heat," he said.

Juba resident Ayaa Winnie Eric said: "I take a lot of water to keep me hydrated. I also wear light clothes that do not absorb heat, and I avoid walking in the hot sun."

Muslims, who make up around 6.2% of the country's population, have been hit especially hard as many are observing Ramadan - a month of fasting. They are therefore not permitted to drink water or any other liquids to stay hydrated during the day.

South Sudan is the latest in a long line of African countries to experience blistering and, in many cases, record-breaking heat.

El Nino, a natural weather phenomenon, has been a big driving factor. It has caused unusually warm waters in the east Pacific Ocean - disrupting global weather patterns and driving up temperatures.

However, El Nino is occurring against a backdrop of wider climate change. Meteorologists across the world have been documenting an increasing number of temperature extremes, with 2023 becoming the world's hottest year on record.

South Sudan could experience a few storms in its southern region next week, which could bring some relief amid the blazing heat.

And in the longer term, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has forecast wetter-than-normal conditions in the country over the coming months.

While this will cool temperatures and bring relief in drought-hit areas, it may also cause flooding.

More stories on extreme weather in Africa
Mar 15, 2024; Delaware, OH, USA; Francis McNamara of McNamara Farms surveys the damage from four different barns, on Berlin Station Rd. Severe storms, and possible tornadoes hit Delaware County Thursday Thursday night, knocking down transmission lines and damaging homes.

After eight tornadoes hit 11 Ohio counties last week, Governor Mike DeWine has declared a state of emergency. So, what does "state of emergency" mean in Ohio, and what does it do for those areas?

Here's what to know.

What is a state of emergency in Ohio?

Ohio law gives the governor authority to declare a state of emergency as a way to direct resources to help with urgent needs. The Ohio Constitution also gives the governor authority to call out the state militia (the Ohio National Guard) to act in the event of a disaster.

The governor has broad authority to declare an emergency, according to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, except for when it violates sections the Constitution, such as the separation of powers.

In the case of the March 14 tornadoes, DeWine's declaration calls for services, equipment, supplies and personnel to assist in the response and recovery effort from the following agencies:

Ohio Department of Public Safety

Ohio Emergency Management Agency

Ohio State Highway Patrol

Ohio Department of Transportation

Ohio Department of Health

Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Ohio Department of Administrative Services

Additionally, DeWine activated the Ohio National Guard to help Logan County officials with the cleanup of storm debris on public property.

How long does a state of emergency last?

A state of emergency declaration by the governor is in effect for a maximum of 90 days, per Ohio Revised Code. The state legislature can approve an extension, for up to an additional 60 days.

Lawmakers can continue to extend the state of emergency if needed, according to the legislative commission. The legislature also has the authority to terminate a state of emergency.

What's the role of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency during an emergency?

The executive director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency coordinates all emergency management activities of state agencies and acts as the liaison between Ohio and emergency management agencies in other states and the federal government. Ohio is part of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a mutual aid agreement that allows states to share resources during governor-declared states of emergency.

What's the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency?

An emergency declaration may be necessary to qualify for federal assistance, which becomes available after a state shows its resources are insufficient to address the emergency.

To qualify for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the governor must first request it, according to FEMA. Then, federal, state and local officials will survey the damage to determine if federal assistance is needed. If FEMA help is needed, the President of the United States will make a declaration.

Ohio weather: What help is available from FEMA for victims of severe storms and tornadoes?

Federal assistance may include temporary housing and home repair grants and low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), according to FEMA.

Renters dealing with uninsured or under-insured losses from the storms can also apply for relief to help replace furniture and primary vehicles. The assistance may also help cover out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses, child care, or moving and storage costs.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine declares state of emergency. What that means
The Missouri Senate passed an omnibus education bill on Thursday, which would allow for MOScholars, the states tax credit scholarship program for K-12 students, to expand statewide.

Currently, the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program is only available in charter counties and Missouri cities with a minimum of 30,000 residents. The bills sponsor, state Sen. Andrew Koenig, said the expansion will benefit parents and children who are looking for more choices in education.

Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester, answers questions about his bill that would expand MOScholars during a committee meeting Wednesday Jan. 10, 2024.

It's a great package for parents. It's a great package for kids, Koenig said. Obviously, the most important part to me is a statewide ESA program, and raising that threshold for the middle class so that way middle class families will have access to the school choice program.

Under the current program, families who have an income that is 200% of the amount used to qualify for the free and reduced school lunch program can qualify for the program. This legislation would increase that to 300%, meaning that a family of four would face an income cap of $166,500 based on current reduced lunch eligibility standards.

The current MoScholars program is capped at $50 million in tax credits, but this legislation wants to raise that to $75 million, including a provision to tie the funding to the percent increase or decrease in the amount of state aid distributed to school districts.

Under the current model, the MOScholars program gives students more than $6,000 for tuition and other related educational expenses. The program is funded by donations made to Educational Assistance Organizations. These groups give scholarships to students, and the donors are allowed to claim a tax credit on their donations.

The Missouri Treasurers office acts as the steward of this program, which last year raised nearly $17 million for the program that has a cap of $50 million. Koenig, who is term limited in the state Senate, is running for treasurer this year. In a press conference Thursday, he implied that the current Treasurer Vivek Malek wasnt doing enough to promote the program.

I would expect that if we had a state treasurer who was promoting the program and helping raise money for it, I would expect that it would grow quicker, Koenig said.

Other provisions included in the legislation

Additionally, this bill would allow Boone County to establish charter schools, which would be independent of local school districts. Initially, the bill would have allowed charter schools in all of St. Louis and St. Charles counties, but that language did not survive in the current form of the legislation.

Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, who represents Boone County, said that some members of the local community didnt feel like they were getting their money's worth from the current publicly funded education system.

I don't think that the implementation of a charter school or two or three in Columbia would in any way keep public education from continuing to flourish and grow and kind of regain the trust of the community, Rowden said.

Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden speaks at a press conference at the Missouri State Capitol Building on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.

Rowden clarified that this wasnt an attack on Columbia Public Schools, but rather an opportunity for parents to have increased options in their childs education.

I'm still as much of a supporter of CPS as I was the day I got here, Rowden said. I just think that a few more choices for parents in Columbia is not a bad idea.

Senate Democrats had some issues with the bill when it was first debated, resulting in a filibuster earlier in the week. However, they allowed the bill to come to a vote on Tuesday after some concessions were made to find a compromise.

Among those were provisions that increased teacher pay from $25,000 to $40,000. This change would be included in state statute for the 2025-26 school year. Additionally, teachers who have masters degrees and at least 10 years experience in the field would see a bigger salary increase, earning at least $46,000 in that school year and increasing to $48,000 by 2027-28.

Another provision championed by state Sen. Doug Beck would give additional funding to school districts that keep a five-day school week, as well as approve changes to a four-day school week through local elections.

Included in this omnibus education bill is my legislation to encourage the return to the traditional five-day school week," Beck said. "Under this provision school districts and charter counties and cities of 30,000 (residents) must have a vote of the people to continue a four-day school week. This means districts like Independence would need to hold a vote of the people before 2026.

Other changes to the legislation added more teacher recruitment and retention scholarships and adjusted the calculations for school aid such that the schools attendance and enrollment would be factors in the funding formula.

More: Poll shows disapproval of Biden, national politics, but scattered support for state issues

Senate Democrats also wanted more transparency in how the program operates. Changes to the legislation would require the state treasurer to post certain information about the program online, including how much scholarship money is paid annually to schools and how many students have received scholarships.

If you recall, there was an issue with Cairos charter school where they were giving back pay for the employees when they never even worked there, with taxpayer money, Beck said. We closed that loophole because it is actually unconstitutional to do that in public schools. We wanted to close that loophole for charter schools.

Sen. Doug Beck questions State Treasurer Vivek Malek during a Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee hearing Wednesday Jan. 10, 2024.

Both Republican and Democratic Senators agree that the current fiscal note is incorrect in its estimate that it could cost the state $235 million when fully implemented. Rowden told reporters at a Thursday press conference that the legislation was more likely to cost somewhere in the $450 million range.

The bill now heads to the Missouri House, where the bills sponsor suspects that additional amendments may be tacked on.

It's a big package. Who knows what's going to actually happen, Koenig said. "Obviously, when we get back from spring break, we'll start working through that process to see what the needs of House members are.

The Missouri General Assembly will not meet this week, as it is the legislative spring break. This marks the halfway point in the legislative session, with lawmakers set to reconvene on March 25 to continue their work.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri Senate passes expanded school choice program
WASHINGTON  Several of the Supreme Courts conservative justices joined their liberal colleagues Monday in pushing back on states that want to restrict how the federal government can interact with social media platforms about potential misinformation.

The justices expressed concern that drawing the line too tight would prevent the government from talking to Facebook, X and other platforms about the potential harm caused by posts related to war, terrorist activity or a hypothetical viral challenge among teenagers to jump out of windows.

Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga told the court that in his purist view, even mild encouragement by the government to Facebook on what they should or shouldnt allow goes too far.

Louisiana, Missouri and others have accused the Biden administration of illegally targeting conservative opinion on social media. While lower courts have ruled in favor of the states, the Supreme Court blocked those decisions until it delivers its own ruling.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett said barring encouragement would be a sweeping restriction and could prohibit, for example, the FBI from asking platforms to remove personal information about a public official, an activity known as doxing.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked Aguinaga about the fact that platforms dont always do what the government wants.

Aguinaga said that doesnt matter. It can still be improper pressure under the standard he urged the court to adopt.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said that standard would hamstring the government in significant ways.

"Some might say that the government actually has a duty to take steps to protect the citizens of this country," she said. "And you seem to be suggesting that that duty cannot manifest itself in the government encouraging or even pressuring platforms to take down harmful information."

Follow USA TODAY's coverage here.

Kagan asks for evidence of government coercion

Since social media platforms make decisions all the time about content, whats the evidence that government prodding prompted the platforms to take action against the users who brought the challenge, Justice Elena Kagan wanted to know.

Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga said Facebook blocked accounts of two health groups in Louisiana two months after it had told the government it was scrutinizing health posts.

A lot of things can happen in two months, Kagan said, asking for more concrete evidence. She also questioned whether a company as powerful as Facebook would be easily influenced by the government.

It seems sort of hard to hard to overbear Facebooks will from what I can gather from the world, she said. How do you say its the government rather than Facebook?

Aguinaga said the justices should look at Facebooks own comments that it was trying to partner with the government.

-- Maureen Groppe

Robert tries to define line between coercion and persuasion

Chief Justice John Roberts asked the Justice Department how courts should decide when the government steps over the line in communicating with social media platforms.

Brian Fletcher, principle deputy solicitor general at the Justice Department, said the test should be whether a reasonable person would see a threat of retaliation in the governments communication. In the interactions at issue in this case, Fletcher said, there was no retaliation when the platforms did not do what the government requested.

With Louisianas solicitor general, Roberts asked whether it would be coercion if the government encouraged platforms to take down posts about teenagers challenging each other to jump out of windows.

While it might make sense as a policy matter for the government to step in, Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga said, the moment that the government identifies an entire category of content that it wishes to not be in the modern public sphere, that is a First Amendment problem.

-- Maureen Groppe

Supreme Court takeaway should be government cant run rampant pressuring the platforms: Louisiana solicitor general

Justice Neil Gorsuch said the Supreme Court has faced an epidemic of national injunctions ordered by district court judges. But he asked what remedy the high court could order in this case because only seven people are involved and the government was prohibited from contacting platforms that the litigants didnt use.

Weve seen an epidemic of these lately, Gorsuch said of universal injunctions. What do we do about it?

Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga said the breadth of the injunction resulted from the breadth of the governments sweeping action in opposition to posts about COVID-19. He acknowledged the Supreme Court could made a decision limited to five platforms or seven people, but he asked the justices to limit government pressure on social media.

The most important takeaway in this case is that the court has to say something in our favor on our merits, Aguinaga said. The government cant just run rampant pressuring the platforms to censor private speech.

--Bart Jansen

Sotomayor: 'I have such a problem with your brief'

Justice Sonia Sotomayor said she had problems with the states arguments for not showing harm to the people they were representing. She said lawyers cited events that happened to the wrong people or contentious posts that were simply reposted by the litigants.

I have such a problem with your brief, Sotomayor said. You omit information that changes the context of some of your claims. You attribute to things to people that it didnt happen to.

I dont know what to make of all this, Sotomayor added. Im not sure how we get to prove direct injury in any way.

Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga apologized if there were any mistakes in the written arguments. But he said a Louisiana resident has one of the best arguments in the case, after the White House asked Facebook not to distribute messages about vaccine hesitancy and two months later two health groups she worked with were blocked on Facebook. The action came during the state legislative session when the groups were trying to mobilize support for legislation about vaccinations.

I think this is one of the scariest example in the record of what is at stake here, Aguinaga said.

--Bart Jansen

More: 'I live in frustration': Justice Sotomayor on working with a conservative Supreme Court

Social media platforms often cave to government pressure: Louisiana solicitor general

Benjamin Aguinaga, Louisianas solicitor general, argued federal government censorship has no place in the democracy. But the 20,000-page record of the case illustrated censorship of millions of Americans, including renowned scientists, in what was arguably the most massive attack against free speech in American history.

Behind closed doors the government badgers the platforms 24/7, it abuses them with profanity, it warns that the highest levels of the White House are concerned and ominously says the White House is considering its options, Aguinaga said. Under this onslaught the platforms routinely cave.

Facebook recently acknowledged in an internal email to former United Kingdom deputy prime minister Nick Clegg because we are under pressure by the administration. We shouldnt have done it, Aguinaga said.

--Bart Jansen

Laughter in the courtroom as Alito talks about government press officers and the media: 'curse them out'!

Justices questioned the harsh language in emails between Biden administration officials and social media platforms over posts questioning the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

Its got these big clubs available to it, Justice Samuel Alito said of the government. Its treating Facebook and these other platforms like their subordinates. Would you do that to the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal or the Associated Press?

Brian Fletcher, principle deputy solicitor general at the Justice Department, acknowledged that anger occasionally flashed in the effort to save lives.

More: In Trump Supreme Court immunity appeal, timing of case could be a win for ex-president

There is an intensity to the back and forth here and there is an anger that I think is unusual, Fletcher said. The anger is when the officials think that the platforms arent being transparent about the scope of the problem or the information thats available.

Alito suggested government spokespeople could reply more harshly to news coverage.

I dont know whether our public information officer is here today but maybe she should take a note about this so whenever they write something we dont like, she can call them up and curse them out and say, Why dont we be partners? Were on the same team. Why dont you show us what youre going to write beforehand. Well edit it for you and make sure its accurate, Alito said to laughter.

Justice Samuel Alito provoked laughter when he asked if the court would stand for newspapers receiving the same kind of pressure that the Biden administration applied to social media giants over Covid-19 disinformation, election security and other issues. "It's treating Facebook and these other platforms like they're subordinates, Alito said. Would you do this to the New York Times?"

Fletcher replied the forcefulness of the government messages reflected the number of deaths from COVID at a time when it was thought the vaccine would halt the pandemic.

Im acknowledging the reality that this happens and it may be commonplace, Fletcher said. Fundamentally, the First Amendment isnt a civility code. It is an important protection, a critical protection against actual coercion.

--Bart Jansen

Persuasion is not coercion, justice dept. lawyer tells the court

Brian Fletcher, the Justice Departments principal deputy solicitor general, told the justices Monday morning that neither the states of Louisiana and Missouri, nor the five people involved in the case had a legitimate reason to file the lawsuit because none of them had shown that social media platforms restricted their speech.

That problem has infected very step of this case, Fletcher said.

Fletcher told the justices the government may not use coercive threats to suppress speech, but can inform, persuade and criticize private speakers. Fletcher argued that the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals mistook persuasion for coercion by finding the FBI is inherently coercive because it is a law enforcement agency and because White House advisers used strong language.

Because no threats happened here, the court should reverse, Fletcher said.

--Bart Jansen

More Supreme Court: Mask mandates? Supreme Court rejects appeal from Marjorie Taylor Greene, GOP lawmakers

Can states bar social media companies from blocking misinformation?

The Supreme Court in late February sounded skeptical of the broad sweep of laws passed by Texas and Florida to regulate powerful social media companies like Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and X, but the justices struggled with how to assess the huge First Amendment implications of the controversial legislation .

Along with Monday's social media arguments, it is the most closely-watched  and politically tinged  case of the year, one that could change the way millions of Americans interact with social media ahead of the presidential election.

Texas and Florida passed laws in 2021 limiting the ability of social media giants to regulate user content over concerns they were suppressing conservative viewpoints. Inspired in part by decision of Twitter and other major platforms to suspend former President Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the laws would severely limit the ability of social media companies to kick users off their platforms or remove individual posts for violating a platform's rules.

Chief Justice John Roberts said during February arguments that the Texas and Florida case turns on whether the decision of who can and cant post content is left to a government entity or to the social media platforms.

The First Amendment, Roberts said, has a thumb on the scale when that question is asked.

--Maureen Groppe

More: Supreme Court sounds skeptical of Texas and Florida laws to regulate social media

Can a public official block you on Facebook? Sometimes, the court says

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision that public officials can block constituents from their personal social media accounts  unless they've been using those personal accounts to share information related to their governmental role.

Donald Trump faced a court challenge when, as president, he blocked critics from his Twitter account. The challenge was dropped after he lost the 2020 election.

The issue first became prominent when, as president, Donald Trump blocked some critics from his personal Twitter account, which he used to make almost daily announcements and commentary from the White House. State officials have a choice about the capacity in which they choose to speak, Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote in her opinion for the court. If the public employee does not use his speech in furtherance of his official responsibilities, he is speaking in his own voice.

--Maureen Groppe

More: Supreme Court defines when public officials may block critics on personal social media accounts

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court: Updates on oral arguments in social media case
Last year, Dannys Castillo, a 27-year-old from Cuba, traveled to Russia after being offered a job in construction. His family said Castillo was looking to escape the stagnation that has befallen the Caribbean island, with the economy suffering a double-digit fall as a result of the state monopoly of the economy.

So Castillos mother, Marilin Vinent, was astonished when photographs of her son in Russian military fatigues emerged on social media. She says Castillo was duped.

The bogus job offer was a carrot dangled to entice him over to Russia. In reality, her son had fallen prey to the close cooperation between the governments of Russia and Cuba.

Likely for show, the Cuban authorities announced last year they had arrested 17 people on suspicion of recruiting unwitting citizens to join its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. However, confirmed reports from Cuba, including videos, show that some of these suspects have already been released, without charges and without trial.

The hundreds of Cuban troops sent to Ukraine, including confirmed reports of military officers as well as many with military backgrounds among them, are due directly to the close collaboration the Cuban government has with the shameful Russia, which invaded Ukraine two years ago.

At the United Nations, for example:

 On February 20, 2022, Cuba voted against the urgent need to debate the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the Security Council.

 In September 2022, Cuba voted against President Volodymyr Zelensky being able to address the General Assembly via video conference.

 In October 2022, Cuba abstained from voting to condemn the annexation of Russian territories by Russia.

 On Sept. 14, 2023, Julio Antonio Garmendia Pena, the Cuban ambassador to Moscow, stated that Cuba did not oppose Cubans legally participating in Putins special military operation.

These documented actions, as well as others, have clearly indicated the pro-Moscow bias in the invasion of Ukraine by the Cuban government.

No one who knows how tightly the Cuban police state is run would believe that hundreds of men could be moved to Russia without the regime noticing or participating in the undertaking.

Russia secretly recruiting and trafficking the citizens of one of its closest allies provides the latest evidence that its disastrous invasion of Ukraine is not going well. The Kremlin has forcibly conscripted hundreds of thousands of Russians to boost its depleted armed forces.

Cuban exiles, no matter where they are, might also recognize that the plight of Ukrainians living under the yoke of Russian repression has echoes of the experience of a Cuban civil society brutally suppressed by the Castro regimes.

Many of the repressive tactics used in Cuba  including surveillance, beatings and arbitrary detention  were imported from Soviet Russia and are still used by Moscow today.

It is likely that many Cubans and others in Latin American may not even be aware of such horrors. And I hope that doubters in Latin America begin to open their eyes.

I really want to believe that Latin American countries, whose proud and courageous nations also suffered from repression, will join the fight against lies and propaganda.

I urge Cubans on the island not to join this genocide effort against a peaceful people who have never brought harm to them.

Andriy Borysovych Yermak heads the office of the president of Ukraine.
This week's archive photo looks back at the return of the 1001st Quartermaster Company in March 2004.

Hundreds of people lined the streets - some waiting for hours -- to welcome back the soldiers who had been deployed to Kuwait in February 2003.

A special welcome home event was held on March 20, 2004, at Ohio University Chillicothe. As the troops entered the Shoemaker Center, the crowd of friends and family erupted into cheers.

Hundreds of area residents, some waiting several hours, greeted the 1001st Quartermaster Company as it returned from duty in the Middle East.

Capt. David Hoeffel, commander of the 1001st, said he was amazed by the support from the area.

"I'm pretty much speechless right now," he said. "It is good to be home."

Hoeffel and the troops were greeted by Rep. Bob Ney, R-St. Clairsville, and Mayor Joe Sulzer. Sulzer proclaimed Saturday, "1001st Quartermaster Company Day" in Chillicothe.

The 1001st Quartermaster Company arrived in Chillicothe on March 20, 2004 after being deployed to Kuwait in February 2003. Crowds lined the streets to welcome there home and a special event was held that day at Ohio University Chillicothe.

Hoeffel said the troopers were north of Baghdad by mid-May and had to service 17,000 soldiers, when they usually handle only 8,000.

"We were one of the biggest morale boosts, the solidres over there had," he said. "These guys did a heck of a job supporting the troops that were over there securing Iraq. You helped bring freedom to a country that had up to this point only known oppression and fear."

He said the company did 500,000 bundles of laundry and provided more than one million showers by working 14-hour days in 100-degree heat.

Capt. David Hoeffel, commander of the 1001st, talks Saturday, March 20, 2004, about the unit's duties while serving in the Middle Eaast.

If you are reading this in the print edition, go online to www.ChillicotheGazette.com for more photos.

If you have suggestions of what you would like to see from our archive, let us know at tshipley@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: The return of the 1001st Quartermaster Company from the Middle East in 2004
A woman has died after falling off a boat and into the Miami River on Sunday afternoon, according to reports.

Authorities received a report of the fall shortly after 4 p.m. and sent Miami Police Marine Patrol units to 485 Brickell Avenue in Brickell, spokesperson Kiara Delva told the Miami Herald.

Upon arrival, the marine patrol crews spotted the woman, who was seen in cell phone video obtained by Only in Dade getting pulled out of the water. She was then taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Fernando Veliz told NBC 6 that he and his girlfriend were on a personal watercraft in the Miami River when they noticed people on a boat screaming.

When we get around the boat, we see that its actually a person, Veliz said. I realize and I was like, shes actually drowning. and I took my vest off and I tried to jump in there to get her.

Veliz said he wasnt able to reach the woman.

I know that I did what I could, but I wish, of course, I could have been a little bit faster and maybe we would be having a different type of discussion right now, he said.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions investigation, including the circumstances that led to her going overboard, is ongoing.

Sundays incident comes weeks after the body of a California man, Abraham Mgowana, was found in the Miami River. Mgowana, 35, of Berkeley, fell from a charter yacht Feb. 24.

READ MORE: Body of man who fell overboard off charter yacht found in the Miami River, police say
A Maine police officer saw a woman waving frantically for help from a car window and tried pulling over the driver, who is accused of not stopping, according to authorities.

With the woman in the passenger seat, Benjamin Martineau led police officers on a 20-minute chase through Portland on the afternoon of March 17, the Portland Police Department said in a news release.

After ignoring the officer who tried to pull him over, Martineau sped off through Portland and onto Interstate 295, according to police. Hes accused of driving without a license.

At one point, the woman seemed to open the car door while Martineau kept driving with multiple officers trailing behind him, police said. The officers tried to deploy spike strips to force the car to a stop but were unable to because of heavy traffic.

Ultimately, Martineau pulled over near the 12-mile marker on the highway and police carried out a high-risk stop, according to authorities.

Now, Martineau has been arrested on 12 criminal charges, police said.

The charges include criminal restraint, domestic violence assault, domestic violence criminal threatening, eluding an officer, refusal to stop, reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, two counts of driving to endanger, obstructing the report of a crime, operating without a license, terrorizing and leaving the scene of an accident.

Information regarding Martineaus legal representation wasnt immediately available.

Portland Police Department spokesman Brad Nadeau told McClatchy News on March 18 that the department will not be releasing additional details at this time as an investigation is ongoing.

The relationship between Martineau and the woman inside the car is unclear.

Following his arrest, Martineau was taken to the Cumberland County Jail, police said.

If anyone has information about the incident, investigators are asking the public to call police at (207) 874-8575 or text keyword PPDME and your message to 847411.

Woman dragged out of home by her hair and kidnapped, Florida cops say. Man wanted

9-year-old breaks free from masked man grabbing her in backyard, Massachusetts cops say

Uber passenger in fear for his life when driver flees from police, Tennessee cops say

Driver shot during chaotic traffic stop when he kidnaps deputy who stopped him, cops say
TOKYO, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - An event was held where teachers learned how to utilize generative AI in school settings. The event, organized by the group "GUGA," aimed at promoting the use and spread of generative AI, attracted around 40 active teachers.

The quiz creation group "QuizKnock," consisting of University of Tokyo alumni, also participated, addressing tasks that often challenge teachers and experimenting with generative AI's ability to assist.

For example, in seating arrangements, they tested whether the AI could provide practical solutions by considering factors such as students' eyesight and physique.

A teacher from a Tokyo metropolitan elementary school shared, "I was amazed that we could create a story and script for the school festival by just inputting keywords during this session."

A private school teacher expressed interest in collaborating with students, saying, "I am very interested in trying this out with the children, not just among school teachers."

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) issued provisional guidelines last year, and 52 schools nationwide have begun experimenting with the use of generative AI.

Going forward, improving teachers' skills in utilizing AI is seen as a challenge to ensure children are taught the correct usage.

Source: ANN
TOKYO, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - The Imperial Household Agency announced that Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, is scheduled to visit Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture on March 26th.

Princess Aiko will embark on a two-day trip, visiting Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture in the afternoon of March 26th and Emperor Jimmu's Tomb in Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture, in the afternoon of the 27th.

Having graduated from Gakushuin University on the 20th, Princess Aiko is set to start working at the Japanese Red Cross Society next month. Her visit to the shrines is intended to report on her graduation and employment.

Although Princess Aiko visited Ise Shrine ten years ago with Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, who were then the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, this will be her first visit to the shrine alone.

Related story: Princess Aiko to Graduation from Gakushuin University

Source: ANN
NARA, Mar 19 (News On Japan) - The annual March timetable revision for JR has been implemented that includes a new commuter express train coinciding with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension.

On the morning of the day, A departure ceremony was held at Nara Station for the commuter express "Raku Raku Yamato" on Monday morning. Connecting Nara to Shin-Osaka via Tennoji, "Raku Raku Yamato" operates as an all-reserved seating service with one round trip during the morning and evening commuting hours on weekdays.

An additional express fare is required, but the service aims to meet the demand for seated commutes. The departure ceremony was held to mark the start of the service.

A child at the event commented, "The front of the train was sleek and cool."

The excitement wasn't limited to the Kansai region. On March 16th, the Hokuriku region was buzzing with excitement.

Reporter Hayato Nakano said, "It's just past 4:30 AM. Many people have lined up in front of Tsuruga Station to welcome the opening day of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension."

People from all over the country gathered in front of the station, aiming for a glimpse of the first Shinkansen train.

A visitor from Shizuoka Prefecture said, "I've been in line since 9 AM the day before yesterday. I wanted to be the first to board the first train."

The first train of the "Tsurugi" service, connecting Kanazawa and Tsuruga, sold out in less than a minute, while the "Kagayaki" service between Tokyo and Tsuruga sold out in four minutes. Both adults and children were dazzled by the popularity of the new Shinkansen.

However, for those traveling from Kansai to Hokuriku, the journey used to be direct on the "Thunderbird" express to Kanazawa Station, but now requires a transfer at Tsuruga Station. The transfer involves moving between the first and third floors via escalator and navigating crowded ticket gates, adding to the burden.

JR West estimates an 8-minute transfer time and has marked transfer routes with colored floor guides, with staff loudly directing passengers. There were no major disruptions on the first day.

A passenger who transferred said, "The transfer was smoother than expected."

Another commented, "It was confusing. I underestimated Tsuruga."

One traveler missed their connection, saying, "I was late. I went to platform 7 by mistake and had to get my ticket changed by a station attendant."

While the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension has brought convenience, the travel time reduction between Osaka and Fukui stations is just 3 minutes when including the transfer time, with a fare increase of 1,150 yen. The impact diminishes if transfer time increases.

A traveler returning to Kansai from Fukui remarked, "It's brief, but I do feel some inconvenience in transferring."

The Hokuriku Shinkansen extension has generated significant excitement, with expectations for it to be a catalyst for the Hokuriku area, which was affected by the New Year's Day earthquake on the Noto Peninsula.

Source: YOMIURI
The Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) is reminding the public that it is unlawful to place political campaign signs or any signs on state highway and interstate right-of-way areas. This includes intersections, medians, entrance and exit ramps, sidewalks and the ditches and lands t
Niger has broken off with immediate effect its military cooperation agreement with the United States, the West African countrys military government announced on Saturday (16 March), adding that the US military presence in the territory is no longer justified.

The declaration read by the ruling juntas spokesman Colonel Amadou Abdramane came just a day after a senior US delegation left Niger, following a three-day visit to renew contact with the military government that ousted the president and moved closer towards Russia. The pact between the two countries allowed US military personnel and civilian defense staff to be stationed in the West African country and operate a major drone base near Agadez to combat Islamist militants. The suspension of the airbase, which has played a central role in the US militarys operations in Africas Sahel region, follows an earlier move that has seen thousands of French soldiers exit the West African nation.

The announcement came shortly after US officials visited the Sahelian country, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and General Michael Langley, head of the US Africa Command. The juntas spokesperson said the US delegation did not follow diplomatic protocol and failed to inform Niger about the composition of the delegation, the date of its arrival or the agenda. 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 noted, though he stopped short of saying US forces should leave.
Senior members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have accused the EU executive of bankrolling dictators, claiming that the 150 million it gave to Tunisia last year in a migration and development deal went straight to the countrys president, Kais Saied.

The group of MEPs on the human rights, justice and foreign affairs committees at the European Parliament say that the 150 million has ended up directly in the presidents pockets instead of being invested in an EU-backed project. They launched this scathing attack on the European Commission, while expressing concerns over reports that the EU executives president, Ursula von der Leyen, was about to seal a similar deal with Egypt. The MEPs have accused the EU executive of refusing to be more transparent about the deal with Tunisia, expressing concerns that it is considering entering into more ad hoc deals with other African countries without regard to democracy and rule of law in those countries.

It seems that we are bankrolling dictators across the region. And that is not the Europe that we want to see, the French MEP Mounir Satouri has said. That is not the place which the EU should be holding in the world. Fellow MEPs stressed that the general view is that there had been an authoritarian shift in Tunisia under its president, Kais Saied, but the EU executive had gone ahead with the deal anyway. To sign an agreement with President Saied, who is continuing to suppress opposition and democracy in Tunisia  this is not the way the EU should be acting. This is not the way that Team Europe should be doing our foreign policy, said Danish MEP Karen Melchior. An EU commissions spokesperson rejected these claims, saying that while the MEPs were entitled to express their views, it was still better to build partnerships than to break off relations and see the human rights situation deteriorate.
In addition to electricity blackouts, international media is increasingly deploring South Africas infrastructure dysfunctions. Financial Times zoomed on water cuts in South Africas largest city, Johannesburg.

The prolonged outage that has left taps dry across a swath of Johannesburg and the wider Gauteng province signals a deepening crisis in the water system during one of the hottest months of the year, the Financial Times wrote.

Water and electricity cuts should serve as a reminder to South Africans of the legacy of the rule of the ANC which is bracing for general elections, in which its vote share is expected to drop.

The water and electricity cuts hit South Africas economy which lost its status as Africas largest economy to Nigeria.

The government and water authorities have not spent the required money on maintenance for about a decade  now theyre really just chasing their tails, the Financial Times said, citing an expert.

While the cost of water cuts is yet to be determined, electricity blackouts cost the economy 50 million dollars daily, the paper said.
Morocco reported a legal harvest of 294 tons of cannabis, the first since the country allowed the cultivation of the plant for medical and industrial purposes, the national agency for the regulations of activities linked to cannabis ANRAC said.

The news was first reported by le360 citing ANRAC which said it offered permits to farmers to start cultivating the local strain known as Beldia.

Morocco legalized the cultivation of cannabis for medicine and industry use in 2021 and ANRAC was created in 2022.

Reuters reported that the first legal harvest was reaped by 430 farmers in 30 cooperatives, adding that this year, ANRAC was examining permits for 1500 farmers in 130 cooperatives.

Two transformation units have already started production, while two others are waiting for equipment, the agency said, noting that 15 cannabis products are being authorized.
The French Development Agency (AFD) will contribute 134.7 million to the public policy budget and the support program of the 2022-2026 roadmap for the reform of Moroccos national education system.

The related loan protocol and financing agreement were signed in Rabat this Monday by Minister in charge of the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa, and the French Development Agency (AFD), represented by Ambassador to Morocco Christophe Lecourtier and the AFD Director in Rabat, Quiterie Pincent.

The loan protocol covers public policy budget funding with 130 million, while the agreement relates to a grant of 4.7 million destined to mobilize technical support for the implementation of reforms and pilot schemes planned under the 2022-2026 roadmap.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Minister of National Education, Chakib Benmoussa, explained that the funding is destined to junior schools, with the aim of reducing school dropout rates, mainly through academic, educational, and social support, as well as through improving language skills, particularly in French, with the support of AFD.

Technical support will reinforce the implementation of the roadmap, and back a number of other reforms, with pioneering schools being particularly targeted for the start of the school year, he explained.

The pioneering school project, with its multiple dimensions and founding principles, occupies a central place within the framework of this reform.

Lecourtier highlighted the strategic positioning of education system reform within the new development model adopted by Morocco, and underlined the priority given to this issue in both Morocco and France.

He pointed out that the financing agreement designed to support the central objectives of the reform of the education system in Morocco also offers an opportunity for France to learn lessons that could enrich its own reforms, particularly in the face of challenges such as the falling level of mathematics, school drop-out, and difficulties of access to languages.
Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., gave a public border briefing on Monday at NebraskaLand Bank in North Platte.

During the Biden presidency, the former governor told those in attendance, more people have tried to cross the border than the population of New York City, about 9 million.

Just in December I saw the highest amount of people trying to cross the border, he said. Over 300,000 people. Thats bigger than the population of Lincoln, Nebraska.

According to a Pew Research Center report, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 249,735 migrant encounters, the highest number on record since January 2000, with 220,036 border encounters.

Ricketts has visited the southern border several times, both as governor and senator, saying he wants to see the nation safeguarded from illicit drugs, human trafficking and smuggling.

The former governor is currently running for election for the the U.S. Senate. He was appointed to the seat by his successor Gov. Jim Pillen after the resignation of former Sen. Ben Sasse.

Dozens of concerned Nebraskans came to listen to Ricketts as he gave them an update on illegal and legal immigration at the southern border, including North Plattes mayor Brandon Kelliher.

Today we have an opportunity to hear firsthand about the Biden administrations failed border policies and the effect on the communities in our region, Kelliher said in his introduction of the senator. Some believe we are too far from the border, that the people that come across the border dont affect us, but that isnt true.

One of Ricketts main concerns about President Joe Bidens policies is the asylum parole program.

The Humanitarian Parole Program allows those who can demonstrate an urgent humanitarian reason for being allowed into the country, to be granted admission. The policy requires those from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to have a sponsor in the U.S. and pass a background check with the stipulation that they live and work lawfully for a period of two years in the U.S.

The program is also limited to extending parole to 30,000 per month. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, 320,000 immigrants have used the program.

Ricketts disputed that number Monday, saying he believed Biden had allowed 1.2 million immigrants to use the program.

Another qualm the senator addressed was the reversal of former President Donald Trumps immigration policies.

Joe Biden has the same tools available to him that President Trump had when he brought border crossings to a 45 year low, he said.

According to a Cato Institute report, the Department of Homeland Security has made more than 5 million arrests of undocumented immigrants during Bidens presidency, and removed nearly 2.6 million from the country. By contrast, the report said the Trump administration arrested 1.4 million, with 52% of the people arrested ultimately released into the U.S.

Ricketts also criticized recent legislation turned down by the U.S. House.

Under the bipartisan legislation a national security agreement would establish a temporary Border Emergency Authority, allowing the president and secretary of homeland security to temporarily prohibit individuals seeking asylum, with limited exceptions.

This authority would have also provided funding for combating smuggling, drug trafficking, border security and asylum processing.

That bill failed because it didnt get the job done, he said.

The senator said that in an ideal border security bill, the single most important policy change would be to have those seeking asylum remain in Mexico until their trial, a wait which could stretch up to 10 years for some.

We are going to continue to push this administration to do the right thing and take steps to control our southern border, Ricketts said. It is a security, humanitarian and drug catastrophe that (Biden) has created. All of this is squarely on Joe Biden and his policies.
Photo: Pacific Press/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

On Monday, a former employee of the NYPD Transit Bureau accused Mayor Eric Adams of sexually assaulting her more than three decades ago. Lorna Beach-Mathura, a Florida resident, alleges that Adams exposed himself to her in 1993 after she sought his help with an employment issue. The mayor has denied the allegation, and several of his allies have already come to his defense. Heres what we know so far.

What does the lawsuit say?

In the suit, Beach-Mathura states that when she was hired at the Transit Bureau as an administrative aide, she was one of the few Black women there who were civilian employees, not police officers. She claims that she experienced significant amounts of racial discrimination and sexism in the role. After being passed over for several promotions she felt she was qualified for, Beach-Mathura claims that she reached out to Adams, who had been outspoken about discrimination on the force, for his assistance. Adams reportedly agreed and offered to drive her home to Coney Island to discuss her situation.

At the time, Adams worked as a transit officer and was a leader in the agencys Guardians Association, a fraternal organization for Black employees that Beach-Mathura also belonged to. The NYPD and the Guardians Association are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Beach-Mathura alleges that Adams picked her up that evening and drove her to a vacant lot by the Hudson River, where he parked, saying he wanted to concentrate on what she had to say. After she explained her situation, she claims Adams offered to assist her, but said he also needed some help and began rubbing his penis through his clothes with his hand.

The filing continues, He told her that he needed a blowjob from her. While repeatedly cajoling, demanding, and begging Plaintiff for oral sex, Defendant Adams unzipped his pants and pulled out his erect penis.

Beach-Mathura claims Adams then grabbed her hand and placed it on his penis, telling her to Give [him] a handjob. She recalled feeling terrified, but said she pulled her hand away and repeatedly denied his advances, saying No! According to her account, Adams continued to masturbate, eventually leaving semen on both her stocking and thigh. He then allegedly dropped Beach-Mathura off at the nearby Chambers Street subway station.

Though she did not submit a formal complaint against Adams, Beach-Mathura states that she told friends, a former boss, and her two now-adult daughters about the assault. She said she greatly feared further retaliation if she had reported Adams at the time.

Megan Goddard, the lawyer representing Beach-Mathura, said in a statement that she was proud to file the complaint on her clients behalf. She knew that filing this lawsuit would cause her significant personal challenges but she did so nevertheless, because she believes sexual abusers must be held to account, no matter who they are, she said.

In November 2023, Beach-Mathura filed a civil summons under the states Adult Survivors Act shortly before it was set to expire. The legislation allowed survivors of sexual assault to file claims against their abusers beyond the statute of limitations within a one-year period. It was reported that the then-unidentified plaintiff was seeking $5 million in damages.

What has Adams said?

On Tuesday, Adams addressed the accusations directly during his regularly scheduled weekly press conference. This did not happen. It did not happen. I dont recall ever meeting this person during my time in the police department, he said.

During a radio show interview Friday, Adams said that hes always been a strong supporter for women throughout his career, pointing out that five of his deputy mayors are women. Ive been an advocate to dismantle all of the issues that women have faced, he said.

Though Beach-Mathuras initial filing last year was short on detail, Adams strongly denied any claims against him at that point. It absolutely did not happen. I dont recall ever meeting this person, he said, per the New York Daily News. I would never harm anyone in that magnitude. It did not happen.

Several Adams loyalists have come to his defense. City Hall circulated statements from allies including Jackie Rowe-Adams of the gun-violence-prevention group Harlem Mothers Save and Stephanie McGraw of W.A.R.M., an organization that assists domestic-violence victims.

In a statement released Monday, Queens assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar said shes always known Adams to be a protector of people who empowers and uplifts women every day. He dedicated his entire life to protecting people and would never harm anyone in this way, she said.

Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn of Brooklyn, who is also the Brooklyn Democratic Party chair, cast doubt on the claims made in the lawsuit due to the legal history of the accuser. Although I take allegations of this nature extremely seriously, the claims against our Mayor raise eyebrows, due to the accuser claiming on record that she is so litigious that shes written a book on how to win lawsuits  and has filed over a dozen unsuccessfully, she said in a statement.

The New York Times notes that Beach-Mathura has filed several unsuccessful lawsuits in the past, including against American Airlines and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Board, the latter of which went all the way to the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, but ultimately wasnt retried.

Who is representing Adams?

So far, Adams is being represented by Sylvia Hinds-Radix, the citys corporation counsel. She issued an initial statement Monday denying all charges against her client. While we review the complaint, the mayor fully denies these outrageous allegations and the events described here; we expect full vindication in court, Hinds-Radix said.

On Tuesday, Adams didnt indicate that he had any plans to retain a private attorney. Right now, the corp counsel is handling the case and were going to continue to allow them to do what they do well, he said.

Hinds-Radix was questioned at the briefing about the decision to represent the mayor. She said the Law Department has its own process for making such determinations and that it is sticking with its decision. Hinds-Radix also said that former transit officers, like Adams, are entitled to be represented by the city corporation.

The mayor therefore is not getting any special treatment. He is being treated the way hes entitled to and thats why there is representation here, Hinds-Radix said.
When I started The Insurrationalizers, a series about conservative critics of Donald Trump who nonetheless justify voting for him, perhaps the prototypical figure I had in mind was Rich Lowry. The National Review editor-in-chief oversaw a famous effort to stop Trump in 2016, mostly justified or ignored Trumps offenses throughout his presidency, then harshly condemned the January 6 insurrection before slowly working his way back onside. After a spell of hoping in vain for Ron DeSantis to co-opt Trump, Lowry is now almost frenetically promoting Trumps candidacy.

Lowrys newest column contains many of the familiar elements of the anti-anti-Trump genre. He concedes up front that yes, Donald Trump was a very bad boy after the 2020 election. He sets up a series of false equivalences between Trumps authoritarian campaigns and behavior by Democrats. Maybe Trump was wrong to try to seize power after losing in 2020, but Democrats never really accepted his victory in 2016, he claims. (In fact, Hillary Clinton conceded the election immediately and made no effort to overturn the result.)

And sure, he allows, maybe Trump should knock off his obsession with locking up all the Democrats. But politicized investigations and prosecutions of his opponents are happening against him, too. (In fact, Joe Bidens Justice Department is also investigating or charging multiple Democrats, including the presidents son, making it rather different than Trumps plan to allow his cronies to commit all the crimes they want wall locking up everybody who angers him.)

And in another common anti-anti-Trump refrain, Lowry insists that because many of Trumps wildest impulses were checked by his own staff during his first term, we can rest assured that any new authoritarian plans he devises next time will be similarly frustrated. (This ignores the fact Trump and numerous allies are planning to stack the next Trump administration with loyalists specifically so they can avoid this occurring again.)

Most of Lowrys argument is consumed with considering the bluntest possible ways Trump could attack democracy. Lowry asks, Would he, say, cancel the midterms? The reader will be relieved to learn that no, Trump will not be able to cancel the midterms. Of course Russia just held an election, a fact that might suggest that theres more to democracy than voting.

Likewise, he insists it would be impossible for Trump to extend his presidency past one more term:

Could he simply stay in office despite the expiration of his term? Whether Trump continued to occupy the White House past January 20, 2029, or not, hed no longer be president after that date. Also, any intimation that this was his intention beforehand would, of course, create a massive firestorm, and institutional Washington  most importantly, the U.S. military  would shun him and recognize his duly elected successor.

I agree that its highly unlikely Trump would be able to remain president past January 2029. But its not impossible. More importantly, the reasons Lowry cites for why it couldnt happen arent terribly reassuring or persuasive. He insists the U.S. military is going to be the force that prevents an additional Trump term. Of course Trump is deeply aware that the military frustrated some of his bloodiest schemes during the last term  using the Insurrection Act to suppress protests, for instance  and is determined to put loyalists in charge.

If Trump did seek to hold power after one more term, he would probably do it by using a pliable figure as a stand-in. (Anybody could very easily evade the 22nd Amendment by having a family member run for office while promising to wield power behind the scenes.)

The most important piece of Lowrys denial that Trump might threaten democracy is its lack of imagination. The presidency is an extremely powerful job. What restrains its powers are norms as much as formal limits. As the Founders noted when they designed the Constitution, a figure of sufficiently bad character could turns its powers into a vehicle for dictatorship.

The main reason to keep these powers out of Trumps hands is that he has displayed a lust for abusing it. He admires dictators. He does not abide by or even conceptually grasp the rule of law. A long list of his own appointees have called him dangerous and unfit. He is repeatedly lionizing and promising to pardon the right-wing paramilitary loyalists who tried to hand him an unelected second term, sending a clear message that political violence on his behalf is welcome.

Running through an abridged list of ways Trump tried and failed to make American democracy more like Russian democracy hardly exhausts the dangerous possibilities. A president of authoritarian inclinations will probably find new ways to abuse power  ways he didnt try last time. This is an incredibly obvious risk that could only be missed by any halfway intelligent person if they are trying very hard not to understand it. The trait that comes through in Lowrys pseudo-earnest efforts to deny the risks of a second Trump term is a kind of frantic intentional stupidity.

What is this series?
Demonstrators march against CARICOM in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 12. Photo: Anadolu via Getty Images

The Republic of Haiti has been sliding toward failed state status for much of the 21st century, but over the past few weeks, the collapse escalated at a blistering pace. Following the assassination of president Jovenel Moise in 2021, the prime minister and acting president Ariel Henry has failed to control the gang violence wreaking havoc on the capital, Port-au-Prince. With gangs now controlling as much as 80 percent of the city, Henry traveled to Guyana in February to sign a treaty allowing a contingent of 1,000 Kenyan police officers to patrol Port-au-Prince. But after the gangs shut down the airport and released thousands from prison, Henry was forced to announce his resignation from exile  and delay the police-force deployment that could help bring order to the capital.

To choose a new leader for the country, a transition council with Haitian politicians and Caribbean officials is in the process of being appointed. But it remains an open question how much they can change from abroad. I spoke with University of Virginia professor and Haiti expert Robert Fatton about the danger of the gang takeover and how to begin to fix it.

For the transition council appointed to lead Haiti, what are the real options that they have right now?

The council has to pick a prime minister. This is not easy, because the gangs, in particular the one headed by Jimmy Cherizier  better known as Barbecue  have very clearly stated that they will not accept any type of foreign agreement.

What are you going to do vis-a-vis the gangs? It is not clear. The assumption is that the Kenyan mission will eventually be deployed. Now, the force is rather small. It was initially supposed to be 1,000 officers, which is already small, but as far as I understand it, only about 400 of the Kenyan officers are ready to be deployed. So if everything goes well, you could have the Kenyans in Haiti by next week.

But thats a very short and optimistic view. The other possibility is that it may be too late. In other words, that the gangs will reactivate their violence and may in fact put someone of their liking in power. Theyve encircled, from what I gather from people in Haiti, the National Palace. So if they were to take the National Palace  and lets assume that they would put in power Guy Philippe, the leader of the 2004 coup who has been calling for the presidency  then Im not sure what the heck would happen, because there would be two distinct platforms: one that is backed by the violence of the armed men and another one that would be backed by the international community.

To what extent will the international community cooperate with the gangs?

You have to deal with the gangs because they have the firepower. But the international community has basically stated that they are not part of the solution, which makes sense. But on the other hand, from a realistic perspective, they are controlling Port-au-Prince, and therefore, you need to deal with them, like it or not.

As for their demands, I dont know what they would want. It looks like Barbecue seems to think that he has the upper hand, which is probably correct, and therefore, that he wants much more than what he had asked in the last few weeks. He had asked for the resignation of Ariel Henry; that is done. And then they asked him, What do you want? He said, Well, I dont give a damn about Ariel Henry now, and I dont give a damn about the Jamaica agreement. We are going to impose our own solution. So, thats the situation.

The gangs are currently united under an alliance known as Viv Ansanm, or Living Together. What is the structure of that group and how does it differ from previous gang alliances?

This is an important alliance. Up until about two weeks ago, there were two major gangs  one dominated by Barbecue and the other one dominated by a young fellow by the name of Izo. They were fighting, and their fighting for territory was extremely violent. So, the alliance may be just one of convenience, allowing them to make a claim for more resources or even a claim for participation in the government.

The question then is whether its an alliance that can be sustained and whether this alliance would survive if in fact you had an international contingent of officers coming to Haiti, which would be better equipped and better trained than the Haitian police at the moment. That may change the equation because the police in Haiti are rather weak. They are not very well-trained. And from what I gather from people in Haiti, the weapons that they have are not as good as the weapons that the gangs have. So, if you have a better force, trained, it may be that the gangs or at least the youngsters forming part of those gangs might decide that, Well, Im not going to get killed for Izo or for Barbecue, but we dont know.

How big are the gangs in Port-au-Prince?

The number of armed men is not clear. Some people put it at 20,000, but others put it at 10,000. Its a rather complicated thing to know what kind of capacity they ultimately have.

This is a difficult thing to gauge, but if there is a humanitarian effort led by the United Nations in the coming months or years, to what extent will there be distrust from the people in Haiti following the cholera outbreak that was brought by U.N. workers that killed thousands of people across the country? Or is the mind-set of many that we need security and we need food?

I think its both. I think humanitarian assistance will be welcome. The military or police intervention is another matter. But even for the Haitians in the transition council that has been created, one of the conditions to be part of that council is that you have to accept that the Kenyan troops are going to come. So many of those people in that group had publicly said they would never accept foreign intervention. Now, not only are they signing onto an agreement that compels them to accept an intervention, but they would be presiding over it.

Right now, the government has essentially abandoned any type of pretense that it can do anything for those internal refugees. So, if the U.N. comes with food and with some sort of assistance, I would doubt that Haitians would not accept it. But its one thing to accept, and another thing to cheer for it.

How does the situation in the countryside  where the majority of Haitians live  differ from the crisis in Port-au-Prince?

In the rest of the country, the gangs are not really supported. In Port-au-Prince, it may be by necessity, because the violence is really affecting Port-au-Prince.

There is some gang violence elsewhere, but it has not reached the level that it has reached in Port-au-Prince, and there has been resistance to those gangs. And there has even been popular resistance to the gangs in Port-au-Prince. Theres a movement, which is called bwa kale, which is essentially people in the neighborhoods that are perceived to be targets of the gangs where people organize, and they control the gangs  sometimes extremely violently. They dont have the weapons of the gangs, but they are organized around neighborhoods. Its kind of a popular form of justice. If you want to put it, a vigilantism of the people, because theyre left to their own devices, so that shows you that theres resistance to the gangs. Its not something that is there and everyone accepts it. Far from it.

Could you discuss the gun-trafficking network through which most Haitian gangs are getting their weapons?

From what I gather from groups who have studied the issue, most of the weapons come from the United States, mainly from Miami. They also come from Colombia, because the drug cartel is active in Haiti, and also some from the Dominican Republic. In other words, the weapons get to the Dominican Republic, and they are smuggled into Haiti from Jamaica, etc. So, you have an international criminal network in the Caribbean and Colombia and Miami, because obviously Haiti, we dont produce much and let alone weapons, so all of those weapons come mainly from the United States.

Haitian gang leaders like Barbecue have been unusually press-friendly and happy to give interviews to foreign journalists. Do you have a theory for why that is, outside of just promoting themselves or their narrative?

They are very savvy in terms of using social media. The other guy, Izo, he was a rapper with an online following. I think they want to portray a very different image to the world and to Haiti than the one that they really embody. Izo wants to portray himself as a potential leader of Haiti, as kind of a Robin Hood. Social media is a very good thing for him, and he has a certain charisma, so therefore, hes using it.

I dont think its very difficult to understand why those guys are manipulating the media. They have an audience that theyre creating for themselves, and some people ultimately may believe or think that what they are saying has some validity, and some of it is absolutely true. I mean, the Haitian elite has been absolutely horrible in terms of its treatment of the vast majority of Haitians.

Their message can resonate with the public because its a reality, but that doesnt mean that the solutions that theyre offering are real solutions. I mean, those guys have no program, no real vision. Theyve been extremely violent with the very poor. So, its difficult to see how they would differ once in power.

In other words, there is something to the idea that the Haitian political class has behaved in such horrible ways that the people want to replace them are the mirror image of that. So, its sad to say, but its a situation where virtually anyone who has the capacity to get power doesnt seem able, ultimately, to offer any long-term concrete solution. Now, there might be a short-term solution in terms of establishing a new government, and that remains to be seen.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis has warned of the possibility of invasion of migrants from Haiti coming to the United States. Rhetoric aside, does it seem that people are trying to get out more than in the years since the assassination?

There is a sense that most Haitians, if they have the ability to exit, they would exit. Now, I dont know where they would go. I think clearly they prefer the United States, but theyve gone to Brazil and Chile. But once they get there, many of them take that very long trek to Mexico hoping to get to the United States.

I dont know if its going to be an invasion or not, but there probably will be if things deteriorate further, if a humanitarian crisis increases the number of people seeking to leave the country. On the other hand, its difficult to leave now. You dont have an airport. The D.R. is closing its border, actually building a wall. The U.S. Navy is patrolling the high seas, and they have an agreement with the Haitian government that any Haitian whos picked up would be returned. But there might be political pressure on whoever is in power in the United States to accept those people because of the humanitarian crisis.

Your guess about the number of people who will try to exit is as good as mine, but they would want to exit. I mean, if you were in Haiti now, its difficult for me to see the option of staying as the most favorable if you had the capacity to exit.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

In a court filing on Monday, Donald Trumps attorneys admitted that he has not been able to find anyone to give him a bond worth the $464 million that he was ordered to pay after losing New Yorks civil fraud case against him. He needs that bond to stop the attorney general from seizing his assets as he appeals the massive judgment against him.

Trumps ongoing diligent efforts have proven that a bond in the judgments full amount is a practical impossibility, his attorneys wrote in a nearly 5,000-page filing. He has not been able to find any financial institution, even after an appellate judge made it easier for him to go to banks in the state to seek out the enormous sum. According to his legal team, their diligent efforts have included approaching about 30 surety companies through four separate brokers. According to CNN, people close to him are saying that he is stressing out about the optics about not being able to come up with the money.

So far, the bondsmen have been tough negotiators. Trumps lawyers say that insurance companies and other institutions have refused to accept hard assets such as real estate as collateral and will only accept cash or cash equivalents (such as marketable securities). This isnt great news for Trump, who is known to be asset rich and relatively cash poor, as far as billionaires go. Trumps attorneys also said he would need to hand over 120 percent of the penalty, a total of around $557 million.

Trump went on Truth Social on Tuesday to rage against the financial hit he is about to take. Any business thinking about moving into New York State is CRAZY! he wrote. The level of anger and hostility toward businesses and business people is incredible. Trump called James Peekaboo and Racist and Politically Corrupt and complained of the prospect of losing his buildings. I would be forced to mortgage or sell Great Assets, perhaps at Fire Sale prices, and if and when I win the Appeal, they would be gone, he wrote.

In their own filing on Wednesday, the New York attorney generals office was not sympathetic to Trumps argument. Prosecutors wrote that he should try securing many smaller bonds to cover the $464 million and that there is nothing unusual about even billion-dollar judgments being fully bonded on appeal.

So what happens next? As legal bills mount and the presidential campaign picks up, Trumps attorneys are asking the panel of appeals-court judges for a discretionary stay, which would block Attorney General Letitia Jamess office from seizing his assets during the appeal process. It is possible that James could extend the bond deadline. It is also a possible that Trump could just ignore the bond deadline. The New York Post reports that Trump has considered playing a game of brinksmanship, allowing the AG to seize his assets, then complain about his treatment in public and try to win his properties back on appeal. In an interview with The Hill, University of Michigan business law professor Will Thomas said that if James were to seize Trumps properties, the title would be taken, but they would operate as normal until the end of the appeal process. With the state registering the judgement in Westchester County, it looks like the first properties to be taken would be Trump National Golf Club Westchester and his 212-acre estate Seven Springs.

Whatever the strategy, if Trumps lawyers are unsuccessful and he does not post bond by next Monday, James could begin the process of seizing his assets. We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers, she said in February, after a judge ruled that the Trump Organization had committed business fraud for years. I look at 40 Wall Street each and every day, James said in February. She was referring to the Trump building less than two blocks from her office in the Financial District.

This post has been updated.

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When it comes to shoes you can walk (or stand) in for hours, function often trumps style  but one doesnt always have to come at the cost of the other. Restaurant hosts and food-industry pros who spend hours on their feet every day know this better than anyone. With that in mind, I reached out to those who work at some of the restaurants I count as especially stylish to hear about the pairs they rely on for feeling (and looking) good during their shifts. From stylish clogs with insoles that feel like pillowtop mattresses to heeled booties that are surprisingly comfortable for long days, the shoes on this list have been vetted by those who spend a lot of time on their feet.

If your days, like mine, consist of last-minute Zoom meetings or hours spent at a desk, dont be deterred. Consider these for your next 14,000-steps-a-day trip or for taking the long route from work to dinner.

Boots

Vagabond Hedda Bootie $190 $190 Delphine Anton, maitre d at Ilis in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, rotates between a few pairs of shoes for work  including these heeled booties, which she told me are surprisingly comfortable for long-term wear. Vagabond has always been in my rotation both in and outside of work, says Anton. I think they were recommended by a friend when I was in college. Shes been wearing this particular style for over a year and loves that theyre very stylish and chic, but extremely comfortable, even on eight-plus-hour days. Just note: The Hedda boots run a little big, so size accordingly, or add insoles to adjust the fit and get added comfort for hours on your feet. $190 at Nordstrom Buy $200 at Zappos Buy

Clogs

Naot Fiord Clogs $185 Providing the perfect amount of arch and lift is a feat of great footwear  and Cerise Zelenetz, owner of Cherry On Top, a natural-wine bar in Brooklyn, found just that in her leather slip-on Naot shoes. They look kind of like clogs and Blundstones had a baby, she says. The shoes  which feature a padded footbed (thats removable should you want to slip in your own orthotics)  were passed down to Zelenetz by her mom, a teacher in Vermont accustomed to standing all day. It turns out the shoes work just as wonderfully for running a bar as they did for teaching. Were especially fond of the all-black pair, which have a dash of 90s crunchiness and 90s minimalism to them. $185 at Zappos Buy

New Renaud Kitchen Chef Shoes $140 Fernando Aciar, a former chef and current artist, is no stranger to uniforms and comfortable shoes from years in kitchens. His Bragard Renaud Chef Shoes were a gift from the Bragard family  who have been in business since the 1700s and are known for making chef apparel  themselves. The sturdy slip-ons are specifically designed for hours of standing thanks to their shock absorbing soles, breathability, and slip resistance. According to Aciar, theyre just as well suited for art as they were for his work as a chef. Since theyre designed for cooking, theyre comfortable for long standing hours, he says. Just note: Aciar sees these as shoes truly meant for standing, much more so than walking, so if youre looking for something to hit 10,000 steps a day, other pairs on this list might be a better fit. $140 at Fiumara Apparel Buy

UGG Tasman X - Black $80 Were big on the Ugg Tasman X shoe over here  I even wrote an ode to the shoe last year after seeing them on a server at Margot in Fort Greene and purchasing them myself. It turns out that Nuhn also sports the style for shifts and has lots of friends who swear by them, too. Theyre honestly life changing, Nuhn tells me. I feel like working service, at a certain point, it doesnt matter what shoes youre wearing, your feet just hurt  but these have amazing arch support, and theyre not heavy like other clogs. The shoes come in black and olive green with a cozy shearling insole. $80 at Amazon Buy $80 at Nordstrom Buy

Oxfords and flats

Vivaia Round-Toe Flats $106 $106 Bilena Settepani, pastry chef and store manager at Settepani Bakery, sticks to Hokas and Nikes most of the time. When shes working events, though, she slips on her Vivaia Ballet Flats, which she loves because theyre machine washable and easy to dress up while still being comfortable for hours on her feet. They allow me to look good while also being prepared to step in if needed with my team, says Settepani. We love a practical dresser. $106 at Amazon Buy $97 at Vivaia Buy

Sneakers

Hoka Arahi 7 $145 On days when Nuhn doesnt care about looking cute, she reaches for a pair of Hokas. I can walk forever in my Arahis, she says. They wouldnt be considered fashionable, or even ironically fashionable, but they are the best shoes Ive found for long bouts on my feet. Recommended through a runner friend, the Hokas beat out her old pair of New Balances, which, Nuhn notes, had less support by comparison. $145 at Nordstrom Buy $145 at Zappos Buy

Merrell Moab 3 GORE-TEX $160 $160 I have sciatica, so I need to always be wearing shoes with proper support or else I will be in a lot of pain, says home baker and cake artist Aimee France. She came across this pair of Merrells while shopping online for a new everyday sneaker, and decided to buy them after having owned about five cheaper options that tend to rip within a few months of wear and need to be replaced. No so for this pair, which France has now been wearing for about six months; she says she has probably walked 1,000 miles running errands in my Merrells. After all that, the shoes are simply perfectly broken in without any serious wear. $160 at Merrell Buy

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It all started with a conversation about the Stanley. My 8-year-old had a friend over, and the friend asked me why my daughter doesnt have one. (Even without phones, second-graders twig instantly to whats desirable.) Were an Owala household, I explained, and that seemed to satisfy her. Everyone at school is into those telephone water bottles anyway, she said. I of course had to find out what a telephone water bottle was, and so I Googled.

The water bottle in question popped up in multiple listings on Amazon, as well as on Shein and AliExpress. The girls confirmed that it was the one shaped like an old rotary phone, not a smart phone. Some listings have photos that show that the whole top comes off to reveal a straw. It holds about 13.5 ounces, which is about average for a kids water bottle. Ones from Yeti and Hydro Flask and other well-known brands range from 12 to 20 ounces. This one comes with stickers you can decorate your bottle with (and while pasting stickers on your water bottle is indeed a thing these second-graders are into, last I heard it was Squishmallow ones).

Im always fascinated by how these micro trends start, so I did a little more digging. Who had gotten the telephone water bottle first? It was T., both girls agreed, and not only did she have the telephone one, but she had camera, watermelon, and doughnut versions too.

I texted T.s mom: Where had she come across these water bottles? Lets see, T.s aunt bought her a milk-carton water bottle for her birthday. Then Z. got the Popsicle one, then G. bought the telephone one. T. got the rest of her collection at Christmas; as the only niece in a family with five nephews, the mom told me, when T. asks, her relatives deliver.

We already have a drawer full of water bottles, so my kids wont be getting one of these any time soon. But now I know what we should give for the next round of birthdays.

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The actors will look even older now.

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I'm guessing there will be a time jump. None of the actors look particularly old but high school aged was already a stretch last season.

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Theyre going to be doing college (or college-aged) stuff, I believe.

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there's no way any of the main cast actually want to do this show any more.

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It kind of reminds me of Hunger Games when Lawrence was winning Oscars but still had to drag herself back to this weird YA mess.

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I feel like JLaw at least enjoyed making those because she was super close friends with the cast. I just don't see that being the case with the Euphoria cast lol

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I never got that vibe from her at all tbh. Those movies made her famous and she finished filming them like a year after she won her Oscar, it's not like she was locked into a contract for years and years.

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nah, jlaw seemed to enjoy making those movies. she worked with francis lawrence after that, she and woody and lenny kravitz were friends.



it was the x-men movies she hated doing lol, she phoned those in hard after a certain point

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The Hunger Games boosted Jlaw's star power and the first film is actually what helped her win the Oscar, since it helped cement her as the next Big Hollywood Star.

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The creative process on the show seems like it can be really boom and bust for the actors, but a lot of them seem to really enjoy it, from what Ive seen  especially since by now the show has shed some actors who most overtly didnt. Zendaya in particular is one of the producers, has won two Emmys for it, and generally seems pretty invested in Rues character.



I wouldnt be surprised if this ends up being the last season. Though given how HBO hasnt shied away from irregular production in the past, I could imagine this continuing as something that gets periodically revisited as it suits the creatives.

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Maybe Alexa Demie.

The rest? Like, maybe if that show didn't take 8 months to film and Sam Levinson wasn't such a slow-ass indecisive showrunner. I'm sure they're annoyed.

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zendaya always speaks highly of sam and she got a significant pay rise i'm sure she can't wait to get back on set lol

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I feel like both the cast and audience have largely moved on.

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As I'm rewatching 90210....i miss more "normal" teen shows.



But I'm also tiring of how waiting 2-3 years for streaming shows when broadcast can do 22 episodes in 1 year with only 3 months off inbetween.



Most streaming shows aren't even worth the wait.

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And it's genuinely untenable, as you say, for teen shows. Most of the actors start out at 19/20. You can't wrap up senior year with them all being 30.





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Have teen shows on streaming had this problem, in general? Something like Never Have I Ever did its four season run quite smoothly from 2020-23.

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i think this is kind of an overall issue with most of the ~prestige~ tv shows now, the actors they all want to use are booked and busy to begin with where it used to be a soft place to land for names with nothing else going on

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It is a little bit bizarre how its gone from one extreme to the next, like probably 22-25 episodes a year was too much at times and a lot of those seasons would have been better if they had been tightened up a little more, but I feel like the answer to that is not to go the the Netflix and HBO route of only producing 8-10 episodes every two years or so. Especially for teen shows with younger casts noticeably ageing at a time when youre often meant to buy that just a single semester has passed



Something like 13-16 episodes per year would be a nice compromise, but it just seems like production takes so much longer now for some reason, even when filming is done youre usually looking at at least an 8 month wait before everything is finalised and the release date can be announced

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it feels like every member of the cast has a different answer for where it is in the production process when asked lol, like i don't think anyone is trying to be misleading but it seems like a mess



i do think hbo wants to make s3 soon since it was huge (and the stars have only gotten more famous), but if they haven't locked the cast into s4 contracts this must be the last one. no way they're getting them all back for more.

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yeah, IA

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If they were smart they'd tie it up with 2-3 movie length features that focus on Rue and Jules like they did with the special episodes to tie everything up.

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The best episodes were the special episodes about Rue and Jules. They should do that.



I don't remember anything about Cassie besides the fact that she cried for 90% of her scenes about fucking her friend's ex. Did she even have a resolution? Did Maddie even have a story arc? They all can leave!

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A lot of them have other shit to do and power in their own right now. I would hope they could get production kept on schedule.

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Every time theres Euphoria news, I always hope that its HBO letting it go, especially with how over it the cast and audience seem to be. But of course not.



Meanwhile OFMD

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ugh why?

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they should just scrap it

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it would be better if they didn't

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if were not all dead by the time it finally gets here im sure season 3 will be huge still but i feel like this shows cultural moment has come and gone. season 3 should def be its last.

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Why did I suddenly get the thought that Euphoria season 3 is going to be a very special everyone is in rehab season? Intervention: Euphoria Edition. IDK. I'll believe this when I see it.

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I wonder how it works when the actors are under contract but clearly all have projects going on. Can a network just demand they come back and film under their schedule?

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if its built into a contract then yeah the show could take precedent over anything else (people have dropped out of films bc of this before) but most shows do allow stars to work around a movie schedule with the way they plan out their blocks.



you can kind of see it right now with Stranger Things, they film in blocks so Sadie Sink was doing a movie and just went back to filming ST for a few weeks. Finn Wolfhard and Joe Keery and Millie Bobby Brown were shooting for a while and now all of them are promoting other projects.



BUT thats if the people behind the show decide to be flexible, according to all the reports from s2 Sam Levinson doesnt work that way. he wants the cast on the hook on set for like hours and hours while he fucks around and tries to direct interesting shots in the spur of the moment.

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that makes sense! also why tv actors get mad about being locked in for so many seasons of a show and not being able to do much else.

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yeah its def dependent on the contract and built into that, the networks/studios usually having more power over smaller actors who have less sway and know how.



im trying to remember, i think it was marvel related? a smaller actress missed out on other opportunities cuz her marvel contract kept her tied up even if they didnt even have a set schedule yet. i could be wrong it was marvel and it was one of the others, but you get the gist.

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Prior contracts have priority, so in the case of pretty much all of the cast Euphoria would trump anything else. Later productions have to work around your earlier commitments, unless theres some variation in terms.



As a general rule, producers will try to juggle things to make it work, to preserve relationships with talent. Often it cant be made to work, though.

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its kind of incredible how two years ago this was the best thing anyone on the cast was doing and now everyones just like if you go back to that show you will tank your career and waste your time



and its true, fuck that show!

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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, says 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 of 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 ($7,600), 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 ($325 billion) 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 ($17 billion) 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 Presidential 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.

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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 anti-corruption 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 reelection. 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."

By RFE/RL

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China is expected to import record-high oil volumes from Russia in March as the worlds top crude importer is mopping up cargoes shunned by India, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing tanker-tracking data from Kpler.

China is expected to welcome this month as much as 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude from Russia as refiners are on track to import record-high volumes of the Russian grade Sokol, from which India has been shying away recently.

Chinese imports of Sokol are expected to hit a record high of 379,000 bpd in March, tripling from the February imports of this Russian grade, according to Kplers data.

At the same time, Chinas imports of the ESPO grade from Russia are expected to hit 882,000 bpd in March, which would be the highest ESPO import volumes in China since January 2023, per Kplers data and analysis cited by Bloomberg.

The tougher enforcement of the G7 sanctions and related payment issues have been holding up Indian purchases of some cargoes of Russian crude oil, with tankers previously headed to India turning back eastwards, tanker-tracking data monitored by Bloomberg showed early this year.

In recent weeks, signs have emerged that China is buying up Sokol cargoes that have been stranded for months without destination.

Stranded cargoes of the Sokol crude, previously headed to India but idled off South Korea and Singapore since the U.S. stepped up sanctions enforcement, have started to make their way to China, beginning to clear a backlog of more than 10 million barrels of the grade sitting on tankers at sea.

China has increased purchases of Sokol in recent weeks and its independent refiners are expected to take several such shipments this month, traders have told Bloomberg, which also notes that tankers loaded with Sokol and idling offshore Singapore since December have started moving towards Chinas shores.

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Germanys state-controlled firm Securing Energy for Europe (Sefe) has signed a deal with ADNOC, under which Abu Dhabis national oil company will supply LNG to Germany for 15 years beginning in 2028.

ADNOC signed the 15-year Heads of Agreement with Sefe for the delivery of 1 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG), the UAEs state energy firm said on Monday.

LNG deliveries will be made from ADNOCs Ruwais LNG project, which is currently under development in Al Ruwais Industrial City, Abu Dhabi.

The definitive LNG agreement is contingent upon a final investment decision on the project, including regulatory approvals, and the negotiation of a definitive Sales and Purchase Agreement between the two companies, Sefe said in a separate statement today.

The Ruwais LNG project is expected to be the first LNG export facility in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to run on clean power, making it one of the lowest carbon intensity LNG plants in the world, says the German company, which was created in 2022 after Germany saved a former Gazprom unit it had expropriated in April with a multi-billion-euro loan.

We are delighted to be the first European company to secure LNG volumes from ADNOCs low-carbon Ruwais LNG project and look forward to this deal being the foundation for more enhanced collaboration in LNG and low-carbon alternatives, SEFE chief executive, Dr Egbert Laege, said in a statement.

For ADNOC, the deal is yet another export outlet for its LNG project as the UAEs giant looks to play a larger role in global LNG supply, while for Sefe and Germany, the agreement would be another source of gas that would boost its energy security.

At the end of last year, Sefe signed a natural gas delivery deal with Equinor, one the biggest-ever natural supply deals for Norways energy giant worth an estimated $55 billion (50 billion euros).

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Iran has signed new contracts for the development of oil fields worth $13 billion, planning to add 350,000 bpd to daily production.

The deals are the biggest in the energy space for the past decade, state news agency Shana reported. They were all signed with local companies, according to oil minister Javad Owji.

The production increase effort will focus on six fields, including the biggest one that Iran shares with neighbor IraqAzadeganand its oldest producing field, Masjed Soleyman. The latter is the oldest producing field in the Middle East, with a total output to date of over a billion barrels.

Iran has been working on boosting both its oil production and exports for a while now and the effort is paying off. Last year, the country exported 1.29 million bpd on average, which was 50% more than a year earlier. As before, most of this went to China.

As for production, as of January this year, this stood at 3.163 million barrels. This compares with over 4.3 million barrels daily before the U.S. reimposed sanctions on Tehran, but there is space for growth. According to former oil minister Bijan Zanganeh, this growth could take the average daily all the way to 7 million barrels in less than ten years. The boost would cost about $70 billion, Zanganeh said recently, as quoted by Iran International.

Last year, Irans oil minister said the countrys oil production should rise to 3.6 million by the end of the Iranian calendar year, which ends this month. Output will probably fall short of that, as the latest monthly figures hover around 3.2 million barrels daily.

Last years exports, however, have topped the target for the next calendar year, which was set at 1.35 million barrels daily. The price, at which exports were calculated, was $65 per barrel.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Nearly 50 countries, including the EU, Canada, and Pacific island nations most affected by climate change, are proposing a fee on carbon emissions in the shipping industry, while others are opposed to such charges, according to documents from ongoing talks reviewed by Reuters.

The United Nations agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), is holding this month's meetings to discuss ways of cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, including talks on economic GHG pricing mechanisms and technical fuel standards.

In 2022, international shipping accounted for about 2% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, according to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Last year, IMO set out in its strategy indicative targets to reduce the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, compared to 2008 levels. These emissions are targeted to decrease by at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, compared to 2008. IMO also aims to reach net-zero GHG emissions by or around 2050.

The IEA said last year that while the emissions reduction targets are now in line with the goals set out in the Paris Agreement, legally binding measures for the implementation of the revised strategy will be needed to steer the maritime shipping sector onto a trajectory consistent with the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) Scenario, which requires an almost 15% reduction in emissions from 2022 to 2030.

This months talks have seen so far the European Union, Canada, Japan, and Pacific nations such as Vanuatu and the Marshall Islands propose a fee for each ton of greenhouse gas emissions. The fees, they argue, would raise over $80 billion each year, which could go to helping emerging economies in the energy transition and developing low-carbon shipping fuel alternatives, per the documents seen by Reuters.

But China, Brazil, and many others disagree with a charge on shipping emissions. Instead, they propose a limit to global fuel emissions intensity, above which financial penalties could be incurred, according to Reuters.

Countries are still seeking to reach a compromise that would be applied globally to avoid regulations on a national level which would be a headache for everyone involved in shipping.

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By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil prices held on to their gains from last week, moving higher still in mid-morning trade in Asia today amid continued concern about supply.

Last week, an IEA report fueled a 4% gain for benchmarks, with Brent crude topping $85 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate advancing above $81. The IEA said in its report that the oil market this year will swing into a deficita radical revision of its stance from last month when it said the market would be oversupplied.

The IEA revised its oil demand forecast higher, meanwhile, expecting growth to come in at over 1.3 million bpd this year, up from 1.2 million bpd in last months report.

Another cause for supply concern was the string of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries which are affecting fuel output in the worlds largest exporter.

The strikes on Russian refineries added $2 to $3 a barrel of risk premium for crude last week, which remains in place as we start this week with more attacks over the weekend, Vandana Hari from Vanda Insights told Bloomberg.

Reuters has estimated that the attacks have caused the idling of 7% of Russias refining capacity over the first quarter of the year.

Meanwhile, the prospect of peace between Israel and Hamas just became even more distant, as Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would proceed with a planned attack on Rafah despite advice to the contrary from Israels allies.

Going forward, this week traders will be watching the Feds two-day meeting that starts tomorrow although there are no actual expectations of a rate cut, most expect the central bank to keep rates unchanged.

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Meanwhile, CERAWeek begins in Houston, with several Big Oil chief executives slated to speak during its first day, including TotalEnergies Patrick Pouyanne, Aramcos Amin Nasser, and Exxons Darren Woods.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Russian President Vladimir Putin early on Monday declared victory in this weekends elections after running virtually unopposed, paving the way for him to serve six more years in office, as Ukraine steps up its latest strategy of targeting Russian oil refineries in cross-border drone strikes.

Voting ended on Sunday, with thousands of voters descending on polling stations to protest what they felt was a sham election as exit polls shortly after polling closed showed that Putin had won with more than 87% of the vote after 78% of ballots had been counted, according to the Central Election Commission. Protesters organized under the Noon Against Putin banner in solidarity with the wife of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died earlier this month in unclear circumstances in a Siberian prison.

Putin addressed those gathered at his campaign headquarters on Sunday by thanking them for their votes, while also singling out the countrys soldiers fighting in the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Russia's election.

Shortly ahead of the elections, Ukraine began launching a series of drone strikes on Russian refineries, with two more strikes taking place over the weekend, during voting.

So far, according to the Kyiv Post, citing the Security Services of Ukraine (SBU), Ukraine has successfully targeted 12 Russian oil refineries in recent weeks.

The most recent attack took place on Sunday night, targeting an oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Russias Krasnodar Krai. At least one refinery worker was killed in the attack, according to Telegram channels and Russian media outlets.

Ukraine has targeted a collection of Russian oil refineries that account for around 12% of Russias oil-processing capacity, according to Bloombergenough to make markets slightly nervous from a supply perspective.

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By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Studio (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

Bingata is a traditional cloth-dyeing method that spans generations and has a 500-year history on Okinawa. This craft consists of colorful patterns painted onto fabric used for tapestries, clothing and more.

In the past, the art was practiced by skilled craftsman, but now studios in Okinawa are opening their doors to a new generation of bingata enthusiasts and tourists. To try my hand and learn more about bingata, I visited Gusuku Bingata, which has been in business for 53 years in Urasoe City.

Gusuku Bingatas two-story building houses a shop on the first floor selling decorated tapestries and kimonos, hats, baby clothing, t-shirts and more. On the second floor, there is a studio where visitors can practice this age-old art.

I followed Gusuku Bingata manager Shingo Yamashiro to the studio, a spacious wooden floor room that reminded me of a grade school art room. Masako Tamaki, 75, who co-founded the studio with her husband Morikazu, was seated in a corner of the studio working on a long tapestry. Her mesmerizing brush strokes were completing a prince and princess design for the Hinamatsuri (Girls Day) holiday.

Before I could grab a paintbrush, Yamashiro gave me a brief lesson on the history of the craft. Traditionally, bingata was used for the Ryukyu Kingdoms (1429-1879) royal costumes. Back then, each costume required three to four months of work and fabric between 12 to 15 meters long, Yamashiro said. Today, a similar costume would cost between one to two million yen (approx. $6,000 to $13,000).

Gallery shop (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Gallery shop (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Gallery shop (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Gallery shop (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Gallery shop (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

One interesting feature is bingatas use of foreign fabrics and paint not originally manufactured in Okinawa. Some of the patterns in bingata incorporate dyeing methods of the foreign lands like Kyotos Yuzen-zome, Malaysian Batik, or Chinese indigo. In addition, the diverse and colorful motifs like dragons, phoenix, cherry blossoms, and tree peonies are also hints to the inspiration drawn from other lands, Yamahsiro explained.

In bingata, there are two types of dyeing processes: Katazome and Tsutsugaki.

Katazome utilizes a reverse stencil with floral, dragon and other similar designs. The reverse stencil serves as a mask when the fabric is starched. Once fixed, the starch that becomes a mask in the process of dyeing. This is the method visitors to Gusuku Bingata can try.

Tsustugaki, on the other hand, uses tubed/bagged starch to delineate and control the dye from going into sections you dont want to color.

Before I got started, I picked from three types of items to dye in the katazome method: tapestry (3,800 yen), tote bag (3,300 or 2,700 yen), or coaster (2,200 yen). I chose a tapestry with a dragon and flower design because it was a nod to 2024, which is the year of the dragon in the lunar calendar. I also wanted to make it a gift for my father who was born in 1940, another year of the dragon.

At my workstation in the studio, there were eight colors and three paintbrushes to create my bingata design. Yamashiro said that commercial products usually use 12 different colors and suggested that I start painting with bright colors first before moving to the darker ones for accenting the pattern.

Studio (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Studio (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Studio (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Studio (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Studio (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Studio (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

I didnt want to screw it up with a big, clumsy brushstroke, so I used the smallest brush available. As I was cautiously applying red color with the small brush, though, Yamashiro told me not to worry too much, as the pre-starched design would still be okay. There was a reference photo which showed me an example of how to color the dragon and the flowers around it.

As I painted, Yamashiro encouraged me to experiment by layering colors. It sounded very interesting but too much for a clumsy first-timer like me who had my hands full just applying one color to one portion. Having never been good at painting and drawing, I felt very awkward at first. But, after 10 minutes or so, I forgot about my clumsiness and found myself immersed in adding color to the cloth.

As I worked and painted the rest of the pattern, I was curious to see what the finished design would look like once the stenciled starch mask was removed. However, I would have to wait between five to seven days to see the finished product.

After an hour of painting, it was time to take the tapestry home to let it dry for about a week before I could rinse off the starch with warm water. At home, the tapestry hung to dry on a clothes hanger by my window for 10 days, a bit longer than its supposed to. But, as I soaked it in hot water for a few hours after ironing it over newspaper and washing it, the dragon and flower design came to life in vibrant colors.

Studio (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Finishing at home (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Finishing at home (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Finishing at home (Photo by Shoji Kudaka) Finishing at home (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

The bingata tapestry has now earned a spot in my fathers living room side-by-side with a figurine of a dragon, both of which are looking after us as guardians for a happy year. A piece of Okinawa tradition and reminder of a creative afternoon I spent in Urasoe City.

Gusuku Bingata is about a 20-minute drive from Camp Kinser and offers workshops daily with English instructions available. This is a great place to start if you want to learn a local craft and take a unique piece of Okinawa home with you.

Gusuku Bingata

HOURS: 10 a.m.  6 p.m. (closed on Sun)

GPS COORDINATES: N 26.23658, E 127.73356

Free Parking space available.

WEBSITE

Reservation
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
Neena Nizar figures that her power wheelchair has been damaged nine out of 10 times she has traveled by air.

As an advocate for people with rare diseases, the Elkhorn-area resident travels a lot for work and speaking engagements. She and her now teenage sons, Arshaan and Jahan Adam, also travel to consult with experts regarding the rare condition they share, a progressive form of dwarfism known as Jansens metaphyseal chondrodysplasia.

Nizar has been vocal on social media and in news stories about the damage the familys equipment has sustained during trips and the difficulties they have faced in getting it repaired.

According to the transportation department, an estimated 5.5 million Americans use wheelchairs. In 2023, more than 11,500 wheelchairs and scooters were mishandled  which the agency defined as lost, delayed, damaged or stolen  by carriers required to report the data to the agency.

Late last month, Nizar was among 20 people invited to participate in a remote briefing from U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg the day before he announced a proposed rule that would require greater accountability for airlines when it comes to handling wheelchairs and other mobility devices.

Among other proposed changes: breaking, damaging or losing a wheelchair or other assistive device would become an automatic violation of the Air Carrier Access Act, a law that prohibits airlines from discriminating on the basis of disability.

That would allow the Department of Transportation to more easily penalize airlines when a passengers mobility device is damaged. The proposed rule also would mandate enhanced training for airline employees and contractors who physically assist passengers with disabilities and handle passengers wheelchairs.

Its a really good start to (being) able to travel with dignity, said Nizar, who also called the proposal a huge win for advocates like herself who have been sounding the alarm about their air travel travails.

Largest expansion of rights for airline passengers

In a press release announcing the proposed rule, transportation officials called the proposed rule the largest expansion of rights for airline passengers who use wheelchairs since 2008. Those interested in the rule, which was posted in the Federal Register this week, have until May 13 to submit comments about the proposal.

There are millions of Americans with disabilities who do not travel by plane because of inadequate airline practices and inadequate government regulations, but now we are setting out to change that, Buttigieg said in a statement. This new rule would change the way airlines operate to ensure that travelers using wheelchairs can travel safely and with dignity.

Ideally, Nizar said, passengers who use wheelchairs and other devices should be able to board airplanes with the devices, without being transferred or carried, as they do on buses or trains.

The proposed rule does not go that far. But it would require prompt assistance for passengers getting on and off planes and moving through airports, with personnel and a boarding wheelchair available when passengers exit a plane. If requested, passengers personal wheelchairs would be made available as close to the aircraft door as possible.

Nizar said meeting that last requirement could be difficult. To board, she has to get out of her wheelchair and turn it over to ground staff to load as luggage. Crews need a special lift to get her power chair to her at the end of a flight. Not every airline has one at every gate.

The proposed rule also includes a number of provisions that would make it easier for passengers to make claims if their devices are damaged.

To register a complaint about damage to a wheelchair or other equipment, passengers currently have to go through a DOT website, Nizar said. If they file only with an airline, the complaint isnt counted, which results in underreporting of damage to wheelchairs.

The proposed rule also would require airlines to notify passengers of their right to file a claim with the airline, receive a loner wheelchair from the airline and provide options for prompt repair or replacement of damaged wheelchairs, according to the DOT release.

A power wheelchair, she said, can cost between between $50,000 and $80,000. Repairing broken equipment can take time, and repair shops arent always near users homes, which can mean missing work or school.

Nizar said it took more than two years to repair a broken part on one of her sons wheelchairs, which was an older model that was no longer being built. Fear of having assistive equipment damaged and being unable to get around keeps a lot of people with disabilities from traveling by air.

The training requirement, which also calls for people with disabilities to be involved in the training, is the other exciting piece of the proposed rule, she said. Not only is it important for the safety of passengers with disabilities but also for that of airport and airline staff who must handle heavy, unfamiliar equipment.

This is a first step in the door, she said. Were cautiously optimistic.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2024
WASHINGTON  The big news this week, President Joe Biden said at a weekend Washington roast, was that two candidates had clinched their party's nomination for president. But one was too old, too mentally unfit for the job, he said.

The other's me," Biden quipped.

The digs against Republican Donald Trump kept coming from the president at the annual Gridiron Club and Foundation Dinner, as Biden deflected criticism that his memory is hazy and he appears confused, instead highlighting moments when the 77-year-old Trump has slipped up, too.

Don't tell him, he thinks he's running against Barack Obama, that's what he said," said Biden, 81, who also quipped that he was staying up way past his bedtime.

It was the first time Biden has attended the dinner during his presidency, and comes as the 2024 election looms and the rematch between Biden and Trump heats up. The annual bacchanalia hosted by the journalistic organization, now in its 139th year, traces its history to 1885  that was the year President Grover Cleveland refused to attend. Every president since has attended at least one Gridiron dinner.

Biden veered quickly into the somber, though, highlighting what he sees as a real threat to democracy should Trump  who continues to falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen  return to the White House. The speech had echoes of Biden's campaign remarks, criticizing Trump as too soft on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

We live in an unprecedented moment in democracy, he said. An unprecedented moment for history. Democracy and freedom are literally under attack. Putin's on the march in Europe. My predecessor bows down to him and says to him, do whatever the hell you want.

Biden then introduced the Ukrainian ambassador, Oksana Markarova, and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

We will not bow down. They will not bow down, and I will not bow down, he said.

Biden, dressed in white-tie attire as is the custom, brought his daughter Ashley.

The dinner has a reputation as a night of bipartisan mirth, and was jam-packed with politicians and who's-who of Washington, including Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, at least eight other Cabinet members, at least five members of Congress, five governors and at least five ambassadors. Leo Varadkar, the Irish prime minister whos in town for St. Patricks Day, also attended.

Also speaking at the dinner were Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican.

Biden closed out the dinner, speaking also about the importance of a free press. Although he may not agree with everything the news media prints, he said, he understands the necessity of journalism and said he was still working to bring home journalists Evan Gershkovich and Austin Tice, one held in Russia, the other who disappeared during a reporting trip in Syria.

Good journalism holds a mirror up to society, he said. We need you.

Biden and Harris were seated at the head table along with other administration officials and the foreign leaders, plus Gridiron president Dan Balz of The Washington Post. Seated also at the table were Balz's bosses, the Post's Executive Editor Sally Buzbee and the newspapers owner, Jeff Bezos.

The dinner was held at the Grand Hyatt. No photos or TV were allowed.

Where each Trump case stands Classified documents case Election interference Hush-money scheme Georgia election indictment Civil cases
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court seemed likely Monday to side with the Biden administration in a dispute with Republican-led states over how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security in a case that could set standards for free speech in the digital age.

The justices seemed broadly skeptical during nearly two hours of arguments that a lawyer for Louisiana, Missouri and other parties presented accusing officials in the Democratic administration of leaning on the social media platforms to unconstitutionally suppress conservative points of view.

Lower courts sided with the states, but the Supreme Court blocked those rulings while it considers the issue.

Several justices said they were concerned that routine interactions between government officials and the platforms could be affected by a ruling for the states.

In one example, Justice Amy Coney Barrett expressed surprise when Louisiana Solicitor General J. Benjamin Aguinaga questioned whether the FBI could call Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) to encourage them to take down posts that maliciously released someone's personal information without permission  the practice known as doxxing.

"Do you know how often the FBI makes those calls?" Barrett asked, suggesting they happen frequently.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh also signaled that a ruling for the states would mean that "traditional, everyday communications would suddenly be deemed problematic."

Justices also appeared receptive Monday to National Rifle Association claims that a former New York state official violated its free-speech rights by pressuring banks and insurance companies to blacklist the group after the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

The NRA sued former New York State Department of Financial Services superintendent Maria Vullo, who the group says used her regulatory power to economically punish the group for its gun-rights stance in violation of the First Amendment.

The Biden administration backed some of the NRA's claims and encouraged the high court to reverse a lower court decision to toss out the suit. The NRA is being represented by a group often on the other end of the political spectrum: The American Civil Liberties Union.

Monday's social media case was among several the court is considering that affect companies in the context of free speech.

Last week, the court laid out standards for when public officials can block their social media followers. Less than a month ago, the court heard arguments over Republican-passed laws in Florida and Texas that prohibit large social media companies from taking down posts because of the views they express.

The cases over state laws and the one that was argued Monday are variations on the same theme  complaints that the platforms censor conservative viewpoints.

The states argue that White House communications staffers, the surgeon general, the FBI and the U.S. cybersecurity agency are among those who coerced changes in online content on social media platforms.

Aguinaga put the situation in stark terms, telling the justices that "the record reveals unrelenting pressure by the government to coerce social media platforms to suppress the speech of millions of Americans."

He said calls merely encouraging the platforms to act also could violate speech rights, responding to a hypothetical situation conjured by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, about an online challenge that "involved teens jumping out of windows at increasing elevations."

Jackson, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, pressed the Louisiana lawyer about whether platforms could be encouraged to remove such posts.

"I was with you right until that last comment, Your Honor," Aguinaga said. "I think they absolutely can call and say this is a problem, it's going rampant on your platforms, but the moment that the government tries to use its ability as the government and its stature as the government to pressure them to take it down, that is when you're interfering with the third party's speech rights."

Justice Samuel Alito appeared most open to the states' arguments, at one point referring to the government's "constant pestering of Facebook and some of the other platforms." Alito, along with Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas, would have allowed the restrictions on government contacts with the platforms to go into effect.

Justice Department lawyer Brian Fletcher argued that none of the actions the states complain about come close to problematic coercion and that the federal government would lose its ability to communicate with the social media companies about antisemitic and anti-Muslim posts, as well as on issues of national security, public health and election integrity.

The platforms are large sophisticated actors with no reluctance to stand up to the government, "saying no repeatedly when they disagree with what the government is asking them to do," Fletcher said.

Justice Elena Kagan and Kavanaugh, two justices who served in the White House earlier in their careers, seemed to agree, likening the exchanges between officials and the platforms to relationships between the government and more traditional media.

Kavanaugh described "experienced government press people throughout the federal government who regularly call up the media and  and berate them."

Later, Kagan said, "I mean, this happens literally thousands of times a day in the federal government."
A Nonagenarian and the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, David Edebiri, has described the February 23 presidential and National Assembly (NASS) election as the freest in the country since 1951 when he started voting as an adult.

The Benin chief stated this when he addressed journalists in Benin on Wednesday.

He also called on Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to congratulate Mr Buhari and extend a hand of fellowship, just as he advised Mr Buhari to be magnanimous in victory and continue his anti-corruption fight.

My reaction is one of great concern for some Nigerians, who tried, by all means, to scuttle this development, using the judiciary, using every means to scuttle the programme.

If they had succeeded, then we would have returned to Egypt where God delivered us from.

I voted in the election. I started voting since in December 1951 and that is exactly 68 years ago.

Since I started voting in 1951, till date, I have not failed to vote in any election, including that which was conducted by Babangida on June 12, 1993.

There was none of these elections that has been as free as the one we held on February 23. I say that from my own personal knowledge, this is not history that you read from books, this is something in which I participated.

There was none of these elections that was as transparent, free and fair as the one we have just held, so to that extent, Muhammadu Buhari should be praised.

He promised the world that there would be no interference in the electoral process and that is exactly what has happened, he told Nigerians that he will continue to fight corruption and all corruptive tendencies and that is what he has done, he stated.

Mr Edebiri said Mr Buharis coming in 2015 saved Nigeria from total collapse.

I want to assure you that but for the coming of Buhari in 2015, many of us here now would have been looking for where to seek exile, this country would have gone haywire but people did not seem to realise that.

Because the man is fighting corruption head-long, all the people who are involved in some scandal, exploitation of our people, stealing of our money, ganged up to prevent this day from coming.

Today, we are grateful to God almighty that we all lived to see it and I want to assure you that the second coming of Buhari will take Nigeria to a higher level both in economy and in defence as he has said.

We also found that Nigeria has gotten respect from all parts of the world because of Buhari, this is a fact that no one can deny.

Mr Esogban said because of Mr Buharis anti-corruption stand, he commands global respect for Nigeria.

He further stated that throughout his campaign, it was only the president, who talked about fighting corruption. (NAN)
A beggar, Binta Umar on Tuesday dragged a fellow beggar, Hajara Kano, to a Sharia Court ll sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna over alleged assault and stealing.

Umar, said she was in court because Kano stole her charity money given to her by a passer-by.

She alleged that when she confronted Kano about the matter, she hit her and threw her into the gutter.

The complainant prayed the court to grant her justice and punish Kano for what she did. The defendant however was not in court to answer to the charges.

The Judge, Musa Saad- Goma, said that the defendant had disobeyed the court by not appearing which contravened Section 300 of Criminal Penal Code.

The Judge ordered the immediate arrest of the defendant and adjourned the case until March 19.
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said no amount of fabrications, set-up and open threats by the (APC)-led Federal Government can stop Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate PDP, from reclaiming his mandate at the tribunal.

In a statement Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party rejected a declaration by the Presidency that Atiku Abubakar is lucky to be walking free.

The PDP alleged well-coordinated plots against Atiku, including a resort to unfounded claims of links with a foreign lobby group.

This, the PDP said, was part of attempts to frame Atiku up, cause tension and ultimately derail the recovery of the stolen mandate at the presidential election tribunal. The statement reads:
Hadiza Aliyu Gabon

Kannywood diva, Hadiza Aliyu Gabon, has debunked a report that stated that she was arrested by the Kano state Police Command over alleged failure to honour the courts invitation.

Gabon who spoke with Daily Trust on Tuesday said the report was nothing but malicious and fallacious in all ramifications and a calculated attempt to portray her in a bad light before the eyes of the public.

It would be recalled that Gabon was sued before the Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Kano by a Kannywood actor, Mustapha Badamasi Nabraska over alleged assault. Then, the Chief Magistrate Muntari Dandago had recently ordered the Kano state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Wakili, to arrest Gabon over her alleged refusal to honour courts invitation.

But Gabon said, I wasnt arrested by the police, the report was malicious and fallacious in all ramifications and a calculated attempt to portray me in a bad light, As I am speaking with you I have reconciled with Nabraska, who took me to court, so I wonder where the story of my arrest came from.

The court has since set aside the order, she said. Gabon who would turn 30 years in June also debunked a story published by one of the national dailies that she knelt down before Nabraska forgave her and withdrew the suit against her.

She said, That story is nothing but fake, I didnt kneel before him (Nabraska); we sat down, discussed and resolved our differences amicably out of court.

Gabon who starred in Jarumta, Gida da Waje and Ciki Da Raino also charged media organizations to verify information before going on air or publishing the story.
In 2020, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki fought the political battle of his life for a second term in office. Mid year, hes disqualified by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), headed by Senator and former Governor Adams Oshiomhole as then national chairman.

In 2016, Oshiomhole had imposed and installed Obaseki as his successor. But the godfather-godson relationship didnt last, as Obaseki decried Oshiomholes godfatherism, and connived to have him suspended from his ward in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo North, and sacked by the courts as APCs chairman.

Oshiomhole denying Obaseki a re-election ticket prompted Obaseki to defect to opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which granted him automatic ticket, with which he contested and won the September 2020 election.

But in the course of the campaigns, former Lagos State Governor and acclaimed National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (now President of Nigeria) called on the people of Edo State to vote for the APC candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, whos chaperoned by Tinubus close ally, Comrade Oshiomhole.

Its a wrong political move at a time Obaseki, his campaign and supporters alleged  with no concrete evidence, and yet believable  that Oshiomhole had carried out a script written by Tinubu, to disqualify Obaseki from the APC governorship primary.

When Obasekis still in the APC, he led a group of governors and party chieftains to Tinubus Bourdillon road home in Ikoyi, Lagos, to solicit his assistance to settle the feud between him and Oshiomhole, and Tinubu, short of shunning the parley, remained noncommittal, thus sending signals that he sided with Oshiomholes antic to deny Obaseki a second term ticket.

The backlash from Edo people against Oshiomhole for instigating disqualification of Obaseki from the APC primary, was also extended to Tinubu for his alleged interference in Edo politics, and hence the coinage: Edo no be Lagos  a reference to Tinubus stranglehold of politics of Lagos State.

So, Edo no be Lagos became an anthem, and the rallying cry for the Obaseki campaign, members and supporters of the PDP, and Edolites across party lines, who felt Oshiomhole (and Tinubu) committed a political sacrilege by denying a return ticket to Obaseki whom hed backed for governor in 2016.

Thus, the Obaseki campaign adopted three strategies that worked for the governors re-election without a referendum on his achievements from 2016 to 2020: Deploy Oshiomholes betrayal of Edo people  particularly the Binis of Edo South, where Obaseki hails from; replay Oshiomholes campaign of calumny against Pastor Ize-Iyamu during the 2016 election, to denigrate and demarket him, and promote Obasekis candidacy that Oshiomhole sponsored; and harp on Tinubus interference in Edo politics.

Now to the 2024 governorship election in Edo State where another version of Edo no be Lagos or Edo no be Yorubaland  with a ting of tribalism  has emerged in the lead-up to the September 21 poll. But first, recall that the 2023 General Election in Lagos State witnessed an intense recline to tribal politics between the Yoruba and Igbo  the one trying to stave off alleged plans by the other to dominate Lagos politics by declaring the state as a no mans land to be captured in the 2023 elections.

True to the fears of the Yoruba, the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi defeated Tinubu in his Lagos homestead in the February 25, 2023, poll. So, ahead of the following March 18 governorship election, alarmed conservative Yoruba resorted to whipping up tribal sentiments, telling liberal Yoruba that the intention of the Igbo wasnt just to takeover Lagos  where theyve an unverified 5m population  but also to bring the entire South-West geopolitical zone under Igbo domination.

Besides calling for Yoruba Ronu (Yoruba, Think)  a phrase used by the legendary Hubert Ogunde in his famous 1964 play, warning about intra-ethnic divide among politicians in Yorubaland that could give way to external infiltration  the agitation for Yorubaland for the Yoruba culminated in rallying for Yoruba nationalism and supremacy in Yorubaland.

As noted by Yusuf Omotayo in a piece, The True Meaning of Yoruba Ronu, first published in The Atlantic of July 10, 2023, Yoruba Ronu has recently become the anchor on which Yoruba politicians have championed calls for fanatic support. The original core message of the phrase, however, is unity rather than ethnic disrespect and Yoruba supremacy.

The Yoruba agitators backed up their alleged Igbo Agenda with declarative statements and videos issued and posted by social media influencers, calling on members of the Obidients Movement  the mass of voters who backed Obis presidential run  to vote massively on March 18, for the LP to takeover Lagos State.

And for good (or bad) measure, the LP featured as its governorship candidate Gbadebo (Chinedu) Rhodes-Vivor, whos a Yoruba father and Igbo mother and wife  and whose utterances and actions, even on the campaign trail, tended to play up his affinity to Igbo more than to his Yoruba heritage.

The Yoruba agitators dug into Mr Rhodes-Vivors social media posts  which some alleged were manipulated  in which he backed activities of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)  a group fighting for secession from Nigeria; his lead participation in the October 20, 2020, #Endsars violent and bloody protests in Lagos; and his intention, if elected governor, to dethrone the Oba of Lagos, and install an Igbo as replacement, declare an annual Igbo Day for Igbo to celebrate their traditional and cultural heritage, business acumen and dominance of the commercial and political affairs of Lagos, and give Igbo unfettered access to control all markets and commercial places in Lagos State.

These and other issues worked against the LP and Rhodes-Vivors ambition on poll day, giving the ruling APC and the amiable but assailed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu a landslide victory, and crowning the Yorubaland for Yoruba agitators fierce campaign for Yoruba Ronu with defeat of the Igbo campaigners of Na we build Lagos, na we own Lagos.

Meanwhile  and sadly  the tribal politics of 2023 elections has resurrected in Edo and Ondo 2024 elections. In Edo, the LP candidate and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata, had to do a hit music in Bini, to prove that hes a bona fide son-of-the-soil from the prominent family of the Akpatas of Benin Kingdom.

Decked in traditional attire, Mr Akpata leads the cultural troupe in a Bini song and graceful dancesteps to trace his paternal and maternal roots to ages, and pleads with Edo people that he isnt a stranger or a Yoruba, as his political traducers want to portray him in the intense mobilisation for the LP primary, and the governorship poll on September 21.

Amid lingering doubts as to Akpata being truly Bini and Edo, a tweep (a user of Twitter) posted an advisory on X (formerly Twitter) for Igbo residents in Edo State not to dabble in the local politics of who the parties field for the governorship, but to mind their civic duty of voting for their preferred candidate.

This stirred instant reactions from Yoruba netizens (habitual or keen users of internet), who reasoned that the advisory was issued to Igbo residents in Edo State because the LP candidates middle name  Olumide  is Yoruba, and hence anathema to the Igbo.

The Yoruba say whats sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander. If Igbo supported Mr Rhodes-Vivor with a middle name of Chinedu and Igbo mother and wife for the LP governor in Lagos, why should Igbo steer clear of canvassing for Mr Akpata with a Yoruba name of Olumide as candidate of the LP in Edo State?

Similarly in the PDP in Edo State, governorship candidate Asue Ighodalo faces scrutiny as to his Esan roots from Ewohimi in Esan North-East of Edo Central. In 2023, Dr Ighodalo, a Lagos-based lawyer and industrialist associate of Governor Obaseki, reportedly hired an interpreter to convey his aspiration for governor to his ward members in Ewohimi. Now, critics query his Edoness for growing up and working in Lagos, and marrying a Yoruba.

In Ondo State, lawyer and veteran politician, Chief Olusola Oke, has a primary huddle for marrying an Igbo named Nkem as a second wife, whos reportedly very close to Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the Igbo wife of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), who died from a protracted ailment on December 27, 2023.

Accused of being an Iron First Lady with a domineering streak  and allegedly advancing the interests of Igbo to the detriment of the Yoruba in Ondo State  Mrs Akeredolus ethnic relationship with Mrs Oke may cause Mr Oke the primary ticket of the APC, and ultimately the governorship if the agitators for Yorubaland for Yoruba deploy Yoruba Ronu in the APC yet-to-be-scheduled April primary for the November 16 election in the state.

This is the stage were in Nigerias bitter politics, in which tribe and state of origin of spouses and their parents, living permanently or for a considerable length of time in their states of origin, and ability to speak fluently the local language, and imbibe the traditional and cultural nuances of the people, now determine ones ambition for elective political position(s).

Its happened in Lagos, in the case of Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivor failing the governorship in 2023 partly because  in the estimation of the conservative indigenous Yoruba  hes not Yoruba enough for having Igbo mother and wife, and displaying disdain for Yoruba language, traditional and culture.

It also occurred in 2023 in Enugu State, where a resident of Ebonyi State origin was told by the locals that he couldnt  as a stranger or non-indigene  become governor of Enugu. A person from Ebonyi cannot be our governor in Enugu. God will not allow that (to happen), one of the speakers  with members of the audience concurring  told the bewildered politician at a gathering to intimate the people about his governorship ambition, which ended thereafter!

On May 4, 2022, Senator Adeola Olamilekan (alias Yayi) (APC, Lagos West), gave in to emotions when his constituents in Ogun West gifted him nomination forms, to contest in the 2023 poll to represent the district. Pre-2015 general election when Chief Olamilekan wanted to represent Ogun West  his district of origin in Ogun State  theres strong opposition that he wasnt a Yewa man from the district. Some even claimed hes from Ekiti State.

Hed to seek his political ambition in Lagos West (hes Reps member from 2011 to 2015), which he won and represented from 2015 to 2023. But reportedly eying the governorship of Ogun State in 2027 thats zoned to Ogun West, Olamilekan made attempts to switch from Lagos West to Ogun West, and met with the same resistance from APC members, three of whom filed a writ in court to stop him.

However, majority of his constituents  whod heard about his political exploits in Lagos West  rallied for, and 71 of them purchased the nomination forms for him to contest in the primary and election, which he won, and now represents Ogun West in the 10th National Assembly.

Therere also instances of women, who werent allowed to vie for elective political offices by chieftains of parties in the states theyre married into, and asked to go look for slots in their states of origin. Thats how, for example, Mrs Daisy Ehanire Danjuma  wife of former Chief of Army Staff, and Founder and Chairman Emeritus of TY Danjuma Foundation, Gen. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (retd)  left Taraba, her state of marriage, to seek senatorial slot in Edo State and won in 2003 (PDP, Edo South).

Can this bitter tribal politics in Nigeria be reversed? Its doubtful, as the 2023 general election thats supposed to subsume the primeval cleavage actually accentuated it, as fears of domination by residents fueled anxiety and outrage among the local and indigenous peoples across many states of Nigeria!

* Mr Ezomon, Journalist and Media Consultant, writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
A 20-year-old hair stylist identified as Josephine Odunu and a 30-year-old dispatch rider, identified as Edesemi Ikporo, have been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), for selling and distributing illicit drug-laced chin-chin to school students and at social parties in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.

This was revealed in a signed statement by the agencys Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

NDLEA officers on patrol around Opolo area of Yenagoa had on Sunday 10th March 2024 intercepted the motorcycle dispatch rider, Edesemi and recovered 200grams of chin-chin produced with cann+bis sativa, which he was on a mission to deliver to a buyer.

A swift follow up operation led to the arrest of the hairdresser, Josephine, who distributes the drgged chin-chin from the salon where she works in Kpansia area of Yenagoa.

Investigations reveal that they distribute the chin-chin often laced with cann+bis and tram+dol to students and at birthday parties.
Nigerians may soon be importing yam for local consumption from China, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Ernest Umakihe has said.

Umakihe stated this while speaking at a stakeholders workshop on repositioning yam as an export cop. He lamented that despite accounting for 67% of global yam output, it was unfortunate that Nigeria is nowhere on the map of yam exporting countries.

He expressed concerns that with China delving into yam exportation, and considering Nigerians taste for imported goods, Chinese yam may soon be found in Nigerian kitchen if care is not taken, thereby pushing more Nigerians into the unemployment market and and reducing income of yam farmers.

Umakihe said Nigerians first attempt at exporting yam was by Nasarawa State Government in 2009 with 8.5 metric tonnes and within the same month another 66 metric tonnes were exported in two shipments, followed by Oyo State but without success.
The Lagos state police command have arrested a 42-year-old rapist who defiled his orphaned 13-year-old sister.

A statement released by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi says on the 23rd of February 2024 at about 11.50pm, one Adepoju Ifedayo Moses m 42yrs reported at Ifako Gbagada Divisional HQ, Lagos that at about 9pm of the same day, he had sent his younger sister, name withheld, 13 yrs, who is an orphan, on an errand but she was accosted by one man, 38yrs, who lured her into his room and defiled her.

Adejobi said a team of detectives from the division moved to the scene, rescued the victim, and arrested the suspect.

He added that a thorough investigation later revealed that it was the same complainant, Adepoju Ifedayo, who is an uncle to the victim, was the one who had actually defiled the victim earlier that day but instructed the victim to lie against the initial suspect.
The exchange rate for cargo clearance has dropped to N1593.41/$ from N1612.28/$ recorded last week representing a drop of about N18.87.

Last week, the CBN through the customs service increased the exchange rate for cargo clearance by N18.44 to the prior figure. The drop in exchange rate for cargo clearance mirrors the recent strengthening of the naira on the forex market.

The naira closed at N1602.75 on the last trading day of last week 15th March 2024 according to data from FMDQ

The volatility that accompanied the second devaluation of the naira earlier in the year has largely subsided in the past few weeks. Recently, the chasm between the official market rate and the parallel market rate have largely come at par.

Recall that the exchange rates in both the official and parallel markets are nearly equal, indicating significant success of the implementation of the CBNs forex market unification policy.

READ ALSO: CBN plans to bar BDCs from street trading, limits cash forex purchase to $500

According to the research, the exchange rate has maintained an average of N1600/$1 in both the official and parallel markets.

While not identical, fluctuations have seen rates ranging between N1590 and N1630 in both markets, resulting in an exchange rate disparity of less than 2%.

This is notably lower than the commonly accepted 5% premium between official and parallel market rates. The apex Bank had in February discontinued the 2.5% cap spread on the interbank FX transactions.

Last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria reiterated its earlier warnings to banks on the use of FX revaluation gains for paying dividends and running operational costs.

It stated that gains from FX Revaluation should be set aside as a buffer in the event there is not enough liquidity in the market. In 2023, financial institutions including banks realised significant returns from the FX revaluation.

However, the fate of companies in manufacturing, consumer goods and even telecoms was different as they were hit with significant levels of FX losses.
Renowned poet, playwright, author and Professor of English and Dramatic Literature, Prof. Olu Obafemi has been chosen to be guest speaker at the public lecture/heroes day of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

At the event scheduled for 10am this Friday March 22 2024 at Unity Hall, ASUU Secretariat in Naraguta Campus of UNIJOS, Obafemi would speak on the topic, Governments Commitment Towards The Funding Of Public Universities In Nigeria: The Past, The Present and The Future.

Obafemi, former President, Nigerian Academy of Letters (2016-2018), is believed to have pioneered an experimental tool for revolutionary aesthetics in Africa, typifying the plays of second generation Nigerian and African dramatists.

His works has also influenced the interpretation of radical drama among theatre scholars in West Africa in the 1980s and 90s.

Obafemi has also contributed to advancing the discourse on post-feminist aesthetics in Nigeria drama to the engagement in material perception of society.

A statement by the Convener of the event and Head, Department of English in UNIJOS, Prof. Jeff Doki, said the Chief Host is the institutions Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tanko Ishaya; Host is Dr. Jurbe Molwus, ASUU chairman (UNIJOS Branch) but under the distinguished chairmanship of Prof. Monday Mangvwat, former Vice Chancellor of the University.

Doki said apart from being a detribalized Nigerian, Olu Obafemi is a man who is very willing to tear down the veils behind which the truth is hidden.

READ ALSO: Tension in Benue University as ASUU clamours for VCs removal

He said, In 2023, when he served as a member of the Re-negotiating team between ASUU and the FGN, he asked the Federal Government to tow the path of honor by finalizing the agreement it signed with ASUU in order to bring peace and industrial harmony on university campuses in Nigeria.

Again, last year during a convocation lecture at the Federal University Lokoja, he decried a situation where the FGN allocates only 4 per cent of its total budget to the education sector and called on the FGN to pay university staff their withheld salaries. He also told the FGN that the dissolution of University Councils is clearly against the spirit and ethos of university autonomy. This is an abundant testimony of the fact that Olu Obafemi is a Comrade Professor.

It is left to be said that Obafemi is a scholar with an unquenchable commitment for the emancipation of the poor and a distaste for the exploitation of one class by another especially in modern industrial capitalism. Obafemi represents the black radicals anti-imperialist voice and tradition, he represents the black radicals increasing commitment to justice, freedom and human rights, he represents the black radicals revolutionary humanist political vision and theories of social change.

In Obafemi could be found a combination of the political activist, social organizer, cultural worker or what the Italian critical theorist, Antonio Gramsci, grandly calls the organic intellectual. He is one of the most clamorous advocates of a free society in which the truth would be placed in the service of national liberation and the construction of a social order that favors the mass urban workers and rural producers at the base of the socio-economic pyramid in Nigeria.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have embarked on a nationwide strike over alleged unfair treatment and discrepancies in salary payments by the Federal Government.

The unions had previously threatened to disrupt hostel operations and power supply in universities nationwide over the governments failure to address their demands by today, March 18, 2024.

Muhammed Ibrahim, the National President of SSANU, explained that members, including Vice Chancellors, registrars, and bursars, have yet to receive their 2022 arrears.

Confirming the commencement of the strike, Ibrahim emphasized the withdrawal of services by workers in various university departments, such as registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and student affairs.

While Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, claimed unawareness of the impending strike, Ibrahim affirmed the strikes initiation during the Channels Televisions Morning Show programme.

Definitely, it (the strike) has already started. As of today (Monday), all our workers in registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and students affairs have withdrawn their services and nothing moves within the administration of any public university in Nigeria and that will be the case for the next seven days until and unless the needful is done, he stated.

He expressed disappointment over the lack of government outreach to the non-academic unions, stressing the unions resolve until their demands are met.

Ibrahim further criticized the non-compliance of some government officials with President Bola Tinubus directive to settle 2022 arrears.

He added that the Minister of Labour , Nkiruka Onyejeocha, has not reached out to the aggrieved unions despite issuing a seven-day notice last Monday.

He warned of further action should the government disregard the unions demands following the conclusion of the seven-day warning strike.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) had urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to reconsider its planned strike against the President Bola Tinubu-led government.
Vladimir Putin has won another six-year term as the Russian president, setting the stage for him to become the longest-serving leader in over 200 years.

The 71-year-olds reelection was expected, given the absence of significant opponents, with most of them either deceased, incarcerated, or exiled.

Putin celebrated his victory in a post-election news conference, emphasizing the democratic nature of the election and dismissing protests against the vote.

We have many tasks ahead. But when we are consolidated  no matter who wants to intimidate us, suppress us  nobody has ever succeeded in history, they have not succeeded now, and they will not succeed ever in the future, Putin said.

The three-day election, commencing Friday to extend Putins 24-year rule, unfolded within tightly controlled parameters, stifling any public criticism of Putin or his military involvement in Ukraine.

According to the results from Russias Central Election Commission, Putin garnered 87% of the vote, with most ballots tallied.

Communist candidate, Nikolai Kharitonov secured second place with just under 4%, followed by newcomer Vladislav Davankov and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky.

Criticism of the elections emerged from various quarters.

The White House expressed concerns about the lack of freedom and fairness, highlighting Putins imprisonment of political opponents and the prevention of others from ruling.

The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him, the White Houses national security council spokesperson said, according to Reuters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy characterized Putin as addicted to power, condemning his actions to prolong personal authority.

There is no evil he will not commit to prolong his personal power, Zelenskyy said

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron also criticized the voting process, citing a lack of choice for voters and absence of independent monitoring by international bodies like the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

This is not what free and fair elections look like, Cameron said on X.

Vladimir Putins political ambition saw him first nominated as acting president upon Boris Yeltsins resignation.

He subsequently won presidential elections in 2000 and 2004, followed by a switch to prime minister in 2008 to bypass term limits.

Returning to the presidency in 2012, Putin secured his fourth term in 2018 before his current winning which will see him rule till at least 2030.

KanyiDaily recalls that Vladimir Putin had previously signed a law that will allow him to run for two more terms until 2036.
General Christopher Musa, the Defence chief, denied that the military had initiated an attack on the community.

The military has denied claims of carrying out a reprisal attack on Okuoma community in Delta after 16 of its officers were murdered over the weekend by youths of the community.

General Christopher Musa, the Defence chief, in a response sent to Reuters denied that the military had initiated an attack on the community.

No reprisals by the army. We are searching for the murderers and their weapon cache, Musa said.

Some Nigerians have alleged that some men in army uniform ransacked and burnt homes in the community on Sunday, March 17, days after youths killed the officers.

The 16 soldiers were sent to the community to resolve a land dispute. On Sunday, a video of houses in the community burning went viral with claims that they were set up by some military officers.


Africas richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, through Aliko Dangote Foundation, has launched the distribution of free meals to no fewer than 10,000 fasting Muslims in Kano state, his state of origin.

In a statement signed by Samira Sanusi, an official of the foundation in Kano, the gesture was also extended by distributing one million bags of rice, worth over N13 billion across the 36 states of the federation and Abuja to alleviate hunger in the country.

The gesture, according to her is to ease hardship for millions of Nigerians amidst economic challenges in the country.

This is in addition to the distribution of 20,000 loaves of bread daily to Kano residents and 15,000 daily to Lagos residents, a feeding gesture that started and sustained since 2020 during the COVID.

Mrs Sanusi explained that the Ramadan free cooked meal includes jollof rice, white rice and stew, jollof spaghetti, yam, beans with chicken and beef, packed with a bottle of water and drink for each person

She said the packed meals are distributed at Jumaat mosques, streets, prisons, orphanages, remand home, and other places in Kano city and its environs.

A beneficiary of the meal, Musa Maikatako, resident of Tarauni, expressed appreciation for the gesture, which he said had helped him break his fast with ease.

Maikatako, who was visibly happy, said the free meal would ameliorate the suffering of a lot of people who might break their fasts with only water, without food to it, considering the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.

I can not explain how happy i am. This meal will go a long way in assisting poor people like me to have something to at least break our fast with some solid food to eat.

I know a lot of people in this state who could break their fast with water only. So this meal is a great relief, he said.

While expressing happiness, Maikatako showed appreciation to Dangote Foundation for the gesture, praying to God to increase his wealth and continue to bless his business.

Another beneficiary, Hajiya Inna Tukur, expressed delight for distribution of the meal, which, according to her, Aliko Dangote Foundation, has come to her aid.

According to Inna, she was elated to have been given such delicious food for free in the current hardship.

In this hardship, when we find it difficult to eat even two times a day, but out of the blue moon, somebody presented this delicious food to me, it is highly incredible.

I have nothing to say but to say a big thank you to you and Aliko Dangote. I pray to God to bless you more and more,

Apart from the 4-year old free bread distribution, according to Mrs Sanusi, feeding of the needy in Kano has been quietly going on for over 30 years by Aliko Dangote.

This, according to her, had been done from his mothers residence in Koki and from various cooking locations.

This feeding program feeds 10,000 kano residents daily with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a unique feat that has been in existence for over 30 years, she said.

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President Tinubu on Monday presented the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship flag to Senator Monday Okpebholo for the September 21 election in Edo State.

President Tinubu at the presentation of the APC flag to the Edo governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, at the State House, Abuja, expressed optimism that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was on the path to victory in the Edo guber poll.

According to a State House statement, #StateHousePressRelease addressing a gathering of party stalwarts led by the National chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, at the State House, the President pledged that the party would stand with the candidates like the wall of Gibraltar.

According to Tinubu, if you are happy, we are happy. If you are determined, we are determined. We are going to work with you. We are going to stand with you like the wall of Gibraltar. That is all I can assure you; The party is supreme, but victory is superior and very important.

President Tinubu commended the leadership of the party in Edo for their efforts towards the success of the candidates and the party.

He particularly, lauded Senator Adams Oshiomhole, former Governor of the state, for his exemplary leadership.

Distinguished Senator and our flagbearer, we are putting you forward in order to hold the party in trust for us and achieve victory for us. You and your running mate have been described as giant killers, and you have worked tirelessly with the party leadership,the President stated inter alia.
The Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa has pledged to go after terrorists and their sponsors in Kaduna State.

Musa assured that troops of the Nigerian Army would rescue the students recently abducted in Kuriga, Kaduna State.

Speaking during his visit to Governor Uba Sani at the states Government House, the Army Chief warned that terrorists will have no peace in the state and Nigeria at large.

According to Musa: We came to reassure you that we are not sleeping; the troops are coming to ensure they are brought out as quickly as possible. These are children that are the leaders of tomorrow and we wont allow them grow with this trauma.

We know that the parents have been having sleepless nights, and I want to tell you that we are together on this. Your excellence; I want to assure you that we are making some adjustments to see that Kaduna is secured and the Northwest and Nigeria are secured.

Those individuals who have sworn that we will have no peace will have no peace. We will go after them wherever they are, and those sponsoring them should stop. We will ensure that anyone who stands in the way of peace in this state and Nigeria is brought to book.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday has affirmed the ruling of a trial court awarding N2million against the Police and the State Security Services, SSS.

It however dismissed the appeal brought before it by Felix Okonkwo, one of the lawyers to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu who had demanded higher compensatory damages.

Justice Okon Abang dismissed the appeal for want of merit and substance.

Delivering judgment on Monday on the appeal, Justice Abang held that the appellant failed to establish a miscarriage of justice in the judgment of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in the matter.

The appellants comprising Felix Okonkwo, Ikenna Chibuike and Okafor Ugochukwu had dragged the Nigeria Police Force and the SSS before the high court for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.

They specifically accused the two security agencies of violating their fundamental rights by their unlawful arrest and detention on September 27, 2021, during which they claimed that they were tortured, harassed and intimidated while in the custody of the Police.

Justice Samaila Bature had, in his judgment delivered on March 24, 2022, found the Police liable for the unlawful arrest and detention of the appellants and subsequently imposed a fine of N2 million against the Police to be paid to the appellants.

Justice Bature, however, did not make any order against the SSS because the Appellants, then plaintiffs, did not disclose any cause of action against SSS.

Not satisfied with the findings and decisions of the high court, the three plaintiffs approached the Court of Appeal praying for an order to hold that SSS was also culpable in their arrest and detention.

They claimed that the N2 million imposed on the Police as a fine to be paid to them was paltry and ridiculously low and asked the appellate court to jerk up the fine as compensation for their unlawful arrest and detention.

In his judgment, Justice Abang held that from the video footage tendered as exhibit by the appellants at the trial court, there was nowhere the operatives of the SSS were found at the scene of their arrest in the house of Ifeanyi Ejiofor in Anambra State.

The appellate court Justice disagreed with the appellants in their claims that the N2 million compensatory damages were grossly insufficient.

According to Justice Abang, the decision to award compensatory damages is at the discretion of a Judge and cannot be dictated by any plaintiff or appellant.

In the instant case, Justice Abang agreed with Justice Bature that peculiar facts and circumstances of the unlawful arrest and detention of the appellants were carefully considered at the trial court before arriving at the amount.

Besides, Justice Abang said the appellants did not point out irrelevant facts in the judgment of the high court and did not disclose their status in society, their monthly or yearly income and what they lost in the course of their detention.

In my opinion and going by the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, the N2 million compensation to the appellants was properly awarded.

I cannot fault the award because the appellant did not give any good reason for them to have been awarded a much higher amount.

In the final analysis, the appeal lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed, the decision of the trial court is hereby affirmed. There is an order as to cost, Justice Abang held.

Justices Joseph Olubunmi Kayode Oyewole and Abba Bello Mohammed endorsed the unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Abang.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday urged migrants to, within six months, submit themselves to e-registration at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) headquarters in Abuja.

Buhari said the government had the right to know each migrant, adding that the registration process would further enhance the internal security of the country.

The President, who was represented at the official commissioning of the Migrant e-Registration Centre and Passport Data Processing Centre by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said the government is serious over the development and that migrants should take advantage of the six months amnesty period to avoid penalty.

Buhari said the Passport Application Processing Centre will provide improved issuance of passports and eliminate touting as well as corruption in line with governments policy on ease of doing business.

He vowed to support Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that have programes and projects that will add value to governance and enhance national security.

The president assured the international community of its commitment to promoting the fundamental human rights of migrants.

He said: I am delighted to witness this occasion of the commissioning of the Migrant e-Registration and Passport Application Processing Centre established by the Nigeria Immigration Service. These centres are significant to our drive for robust internal security and national development.

Read Also: Buhari approves promotion of 10 ACGs to DCGs

Todays event reflects governments deliberate commitment to harnessing accurate data of its citizens and statistics of migrants, especially those who wish to stay beyond 90 days within the shores of Nigeria.

While the Migrant e-Registration Centre will collate and store data of non-Nigerians within our shore, the Passport Application Processing Centre on the other hand will provide improved issuance of passports.

The Migrant e-Registration Centre will flag off the e-registration of all migrants in Nigeria to aid internal monitoring and integration. I, therefore, wish to assure the international community that we are committed to promoting the fundamental human rights of migrants. However, we have the responsibility to know who lives among us and what he does.

It is on this note, therefore, that I am declaring a six-month amnesty period for irregular migrants already in the country to submit themselves to the Nigeria Immigration Service for the purpose of this registration which will be carried out without any payment or penalties.

This administration has approved a comprehensive passport reform aimed at enhancing the countrys identity management, among other things. Accordingly, in line with our administrations commitment to the Local Content Act, I have directed that the production of passports be domesticated in Nigeria to build capacity of indigenous firms and enable seamless service delivery. This must be done with care so that the process is not interrupted.

Buhari said further : I am happy to note the progress being made in the successful integration of data between the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), particularly as it was done in the spirit of achieving one data for each Nigerian. This integration of data, we hope, will be achieved in the registration of migrants. Other Ministries, Departments and Agencies are therefore enjoined to emulate this effective collaboration as a way forward towards nation building.

I am enjoining all migrants staying in Nigeria whether regularly or otherwise to take advantage of the amnesty window to register with the Nigeria Immigration Service. While urging Nigerians to embrace the new passport reforms, I task the Nigeria Immigration Service to replicate the Passport Application Processing Centres nationwide so as to entrench transparency and elimination of corruption in the system.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Barrister Georgina Ehuriah, described the service as a major stakeholder in the Federal Governments policy of ease of doing business that has liberalised the process and service delivery to encourage genuine businesses to thrive and investors to be wooed into the country.

She said the e-registration will enhance national security and will assist in building capacity to identify foreigners.

The Comptroller General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, said there is the need to have good documentation of all foreigners in Nigeria.

Babandede warned officers not to charge any fee from anyone during that e-registration.
A 23-year-old British sex worker mum has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of killing her daughters.

Louise Porton will spend a minimum of 32 years in prison for the murder of 17-months-old Scarlett Vaughan and 3-year-old Lexi Draper, following her conviction after a five-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

She reportedly killed her daughters just two weeks apart in January 2018 in a bid to make it seem like they had died from natural causes. The court heard how Porton had tried to avoid spending time with her daughters and even claimed to have had sex with a man while they slept in another room.

The convicted sex worker was spotted casually leading Lexi into their home in a CCTV footage obtained hours before she killed her on January 15, 2018. She reportedly searched for can you actually die if you have a blocked nose and cover your mouth with tape on the internet before contacting emergency services.

Jurors heard Porton accepted 41 friend requests on a dating app just a day after Lexi died, and was described by prosecutors as being calm and emotionless following Scarletts death.

The blonde-haired mother who denied all responsibility and also told the police in a prepared statement I still dont know how my daughters died, or what caused it, was convicted of two counts of murder on Thursday August 1. Ruling on the murder case at Birmingham Crown Court, Mrs Justice Yip described the incident as evil and calculated.
Serena Williams first U.S. Open tune-up ended in dramatic fashion as the tearful American was forced to retire with a back injury on Sunday.

She quit while trailing Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu 3-1 in the Rogers Cup final.

Williams, who hopes to chase a record-equalling 24th career Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open, seemed fine on court.

But she suddenly sat crying in her chair before deciding to retire 19 minutes into the match with back spasms.

Im sorry I couldnt do it today. I tried but I just couldnt do it, an emotional Williams, who struggled to get the words out, told the crowd.

Its been a tough year but well keep going.

Andreescu consolidated an early break to move 3-1 up at which point Williams went to her chair where she called for the trainer and broke down in tears.

Williams said the spasms began during her three-set semi-final win over Czech Marie Bouzkova on Saturday.

They got so bad that she was unable to sleep and could not really move but she added that she at least wanted to try and play the final.

I was just trying to figure out how do you play a match where you have no rotation? said Williams.

And I dont want to get this far and not at least try. I think I would have really regretted not at least going out there and seeing maybe if a miracle happened.

The 37-year-old Williams, whose competitive action this year has been severely limited because of knee issues, declared herself pain-free ahead of the tournament.

She had been hoping to use the event as a springboard for the rest of her hardcourt swing.

But the six-times U.S. Open champion, still without a title since returning from maternity leave in 2018, now faces her latest injury setback.

This is happening with the years final Grand Slam just two weeks away.

Williams, who is due to compete in Cincinnati next week, said she has experienced back spasms a lot in her career.

READ ALSO: Serena Williams crashes out of Roland Garros

She said if this latest episode plays out like those before, she does not expect it to keep her out of any events.

Theyre incredibly painful, but it goes away after, like, 24, 36, maybe 48 hours, and like clockwork, said Williams.

In that first phase, it is incredibly painful, to a point where I usually dont get out of bed. So, if its what typically happens, I will be fine, but I have to wait and see.

As Williams sat dejected in her chair, Andreescu, who is no stranger to injury setbacks, went over to console her.

The pair embraced and had a heartfelt conversation.

Andreescu had shot to prominence with her Indian Wells triumph in March.

Competing this week for the first time since withdrawing from the French Open with a shoulder injury, she is the first Canadian to win the event in 50 years.

I feel for Serena so much. Ive been through so much the last year with injury, so I am so sorry she had to go out this way, the 19-year-old said during the trophy ceremony.

Sometimes, you cant push your body and she couldnt today and I wish her a fast recovery.

(Reuters/NAN)
Following the closure of the nations border by the Federal Government, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), has disclosed that the agency had been making between N4.7bn and N5.8bn daily.

This was made known by the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Hameed Ali, while speaking with a joint National Assembly committee on finance in Abuja on Wednesday, October 2, 2019.

The NCS boss said the land border closure was a blessing to the nation as at one time, the agency made N9.2 billion in one day. Ali said:
Maria Klochkova

A high-flying female detective reportedly used her police handgun to kill herself after being forced to work with a male colleague shed accused of raping her.

Maria Klochkova, 23, had started her dream job as a criminal investigator in August after graduating with the highest grades and being fast tracked into the police.

But her life was ruined by a reported culture of bullying which culminated in her being subjected to a violent sexual attack by a more senior detective, she said.

Now the family of tragic Maria have gone public to demand a full investigation into her appalling death in a police station in Sochi, Russia.

The sister claimed there was a cover-up over her death with other reasons given by the police for her taking her own life.

My sister is not mentally ill, she did not have schizophrenia, but was pushed to suicide, posted Anna.

Investigators says she locked herself in her police office and used her handgun to shoot one bullet in her own head.

She was raped by a detective. From that moment she thought she was a disgrace for our family, not the victim of an idiot, said Anna.

She did not report him to police because she was afraid to ruin her career and she did not want others to know about it.

A senior officer was aware of the rape but failed to act and forced Maria to work with the man she alleged had sexually attacked her, said Anna.

Friends said she had been subjected to appalling bullying and humiliation before she was raped.

The force refused to comment pending an internal police investigation and preliminary probe by the Investigative committee, equivalent of the FBI.




Adams Oshiomhole

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Jabi, Abuja today ordered Adams Oshiomhole to henceforth stop parading himself as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The judge ordered the party not to allow Oshimhole access to the secretariat.

Justice Danlami Senchi, in a ruling on Wednesday, restrain Oshiomhole from acting as the APC chairman pending the hearing and determination a suit by six members of the party, led by Mustapha Salihu.

The ruling was on an application of interlocutory injunction filed by the plaintiffs, and in which they prayed the court to suspend Oshiomhole in view of his earlier suspension as a member of the APC in his Etsako Ward 10 in Edo State.

In the suit filed for the plaintiffs by their lawyer, Oluwole Afolabi, Oshiomhole is listed as the first respondent, while the APC is named as the second respondent.

Justice Senchi held that Oshiomhole had been wrongfully kept as the APC National Chairman after his suspension.

The judge ordered Oshiomole to stop parading himself as the Chairman of the party.

He equally directed the APC to desist from acknowledging him as the chairman of the party

The judge further ordered APC not to grant Oshiomole access to the party Secretariat.

Justice Senchi held that political parties must be bound by their constitution.

He was of the view that, since Oshiomhole had been evidently suspended by his ward and the suspension not challenged, he has no basis to parade himself as the APC National Chairman.

The plaintiffs had noted, in the application that Oshiomhole had been suspended by the party and that he has not challenged the suspension.

They arhed that Oshiomholes rights as a member of the party has ceased and that he could not continue to act as the partys Chairman.

He argued that Oshiomhole cannot continue to enjoy benefits from the APC in view of his suspension as a member of the party.

Hearing of the substantive suit has been fixed for April 7, 2020.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has upheld Senator Buruji Kashamu, representing Ogun East in the National Assembly, as the PDP governorship candidate for Saturday elections in Ogun State.

The court dismissed the suit filed by the factional PDP candidate, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, who is contesting the nomination and candidature of Kashamu.

The court held that the reliefs sought by the plaintiff could not be granted because the national leadership of the PDP conducted its primaries in flagrant violation of the judgment of the court.

Adebutus suit challenging the nomination of Senator Buruji Kashamu as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State was, therefore, dismissed by the Federal High Court Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The presiding judge, Justice Abubakar Shittu, in his ruling held that the case was statute-barred, having been caught up with the forth alteration, therefore, the case was an abuse of court process.

Senator Kashamu, however, remarked: There was no victor, no vanquished. We are all members of the same PDP family. We are better and stronger together in PDP. What is most important is that we are working together, holding reconciliation meetings and strategising together. We are set to deliver the state to PDP on Saturday, the 9th of March, 2019.
Justice Rilwanu Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has barred the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), from enforcing VAT provisions on goods and services consumed in hotels, restaurants and event centres in Lagos State.

Justice Aikawa gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit seeking to restrain the Attorney General (AG) of Lagos State from enforcing the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption (Fiscalisation) Regulations Law (HORC), 2017, in the view that VAT Act has covered the field.

In the suit, the Registered Trustees of Hotel Owners and Managers Association of Lagos (HOMA) had sued the AG in Lagos State and FIRS in the suit no. FHC/L/CS/360/2018.

The HOMA had asked the court to declare that by virtue of Section 7, of the VAT Act, the second defendant (FIRS) was the only lawful and constitutional agency charged with the administration and management of consumption tax generally and particularly in Lagos state, NAN reports.

Justice Aikawa, in delivering the judgment, dismissed the suit and held that it was lacking in merit, adding that the plaintiff was obliged to comply with the HORC Law 2009 and the HORC Regulations 2017.

The court also raised two issues by herself; whether the Federal High Court had the jurisdiction to pronounce on the constitutionality of VAT. The court resolved that it has jurisdiction.

Aikawa also held that the issue of the powers of the minister to amend the schedule to the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act was not in dispute before the court and so no pronouncement could be made on it.

The court in dismissing the originating summons, as lacking merit and resolving the questions and reliefs sought in favour of the first defendant, held:

That consumption tax is not stated in either the exclusive and concurrent legislative list, in the Constitution of Nigeria, therefore, the absence on the concurrent and exclusive lists, puts consumption tax on the residual list, which is within the legislative competence and powers of state governments.

That VAT Act cant cover the field over what the federal government has no power to legislate upon, under the constitution, therefore the determinant factor in the issue of covering the field, is whether there is power to make the Law.

The provisions of VAT Act relating to consumption tax are inconsistent with the Nigerian constitution.

The Minister of Finance has corrected the anomaly, by including consumption tax in the list of taxes collectible by state government, therefore, the responsibility for collecting consumption tax lies on the state government.

The provisions of Sections 1, 2, 4, 5 & 12 of VAT Act are in breech of the 1999 constitution and the plaintiffs are obliged to comply with the HORC Law 2009 and the HORC Regulations 2017.

FIRS are barred from enforcing VAT provisions as it relates to consumption tax on goods and services consumed in Hotels, Restaurants and Event Centres in Lagos State,  the judgement read.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Registered Trustees of HOMA had filed an originating summons asking the court to determine the following:

Whether the VAT Act regulating imposition of tax on consumption of goods and services has not covered the field on taxation of goods and services consumed in hotels, event centres and restaurants in Lagos State.

Whether by virtue of Section 7 of the VAT Act, the second defendant (FIRS) is not the only lawful and constitutional agency charged with the administration and management of consumption tax generally and particularly in Lagos State.

Whether the provisions of the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption (Fiscalization) Regulations 2017 are of no effect, in view of the fact that VAT Act has covered the field.

Consequently, the first defendant, (AG Lagos State), filed a counter-claim urging the court to determine;

Whether the provisions of Sections 1, 2, 4, 5 & 12 of VAT Act by which the FIRS imposes tax on customers for goods and services consumed in hotels, restaurants and event centres in Lagos State is inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 4(2), 4(a) & (b) and 4 (7) (a) & (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and therefore unconstitutional and invalid?

Whether by the provisions of Section 4 (7) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, the provisions of the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act Cap T2 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria as amended by the Schedule to the Taxes and Levies order 2015) and the provisions of HORC Law 2009.

Whether the counter-claimant is the only constitutional and lawful body empowered to assess, impose and collect taxes from customers of the Plaintiff for goods and services consumed in hotels, restaurant and event centres in Lagos State.

The first defendant sought some reliefs which included;

A declaration that the provisions of Sections 1, 2, 4, 5 & 12 of VAT Act is inconsistent with the constitution and therefore invalid and unconstitutional.

A declaration that the counter claimant (AG) is the only constitutional and lawful body empowered to assess, impose and collect consumption tax in Lagos State.

A declaration that the plaintiff is obliged to comply and implement the provisions of the HORC Law, made pursuant thereto, in relation to good and services consumed in Hotels , Restaurant and Event Centres in Lagos State

An order of perpetual injunction restraining the FIRS from implementing or enforcing the provisions of VAT Act on customers of the plaintiff for goods and services consumed in hotels, event centres and restaurant in Lagos State.

All efforts by NAN to reach the Lagos Attorney General and the Director Legal Services of the Lagos State Internal Revenue for their comments on this judgment, as at the time of filing this report, has been abortive.
Spains first coronavirus patient reportedly made full recovery after being treated with a HIV and MS drug.

62-year-old Miguel Angel Benitez was hospitalized at the Virgen del Rocio Hospital in Seville, where he received lopinavir-ritonavir, an antiretroviral drug sold under the brand name Kaletra, according to Metro UK, which cited El Pais.

The drug, which has been used to treat HIV and AIDS for over 10 years  was combined with interferon beta, a protein that prevents cells from becoming infected and is used on people with multiple sclerosis patients, the news outlet reported.

Santiago Moreno, head of infectious diseases at the Ramon y Cajal hospital in Madrid, said the SARS-CoV-2 protease is very similar to that of HIV, using another name for the novel coronavirus.

This enzyme is essential for the virus to replicate. The combination of lopinavir and ritonavir inhibits and blocks HIV, he said, according to Metro.

The results that we have so far regarding its use against coronaviruses are encouraging.

According to Spanish Researchers, not all coronavirus patients would necessarily respond to the treatment the way Benitez did. But a research professor at Imperial College London said that if the HIV drugs prove to be a success against COVID-19 on a large scale, they could quickly administer it to other coronavirus patients.

There is some evidence from laboratory studies that some HIV drugs might also be active against SARS-CoV-2 and a trial has been underway for a while using these drugs against MERS, Professor Graham Cooke told Metro, referring to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.

A number of studies are looking at one drug in particular, Kaletra, but there are no results available yet. If HIV drugs did show an effect, one advantage is that it would potentially be possible to supply them quickly, he added.
A float from a Chinese performing group parades during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)



The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event.

Under the theme of "Lekker" -- an Afrikaans word that means nice, pleasant or enjoyable -- this year's carnival saw over 1,000 performers from various communities across the city taking part in a parade to celebrate diversity, creativity and cultural understanding.

The event featured massive floats, colorful costumes, and vibrant choreographed dance routines, attracting tens of thousands of locals and visitors.

The Chinese performing group was the star of the evening. The dancing dragons, lions and pandas attracted strong applause and cheers from the audience wherever they went.

"China's performance was amazing!" said Nicolas Johnson and Val Andries, a local couple who had come to watch the parade.

"Yeah, the lights and the colors, and the dragon ... all those are amazing. Very good," said Johnson.

"I especially enjoyed all the lights. The costumes are amazing, the performers are doing a great job, and it was so awesome," Andries added.

Rachel Jafta, chairperson of the Cape Town Carnival, also expressed enthusiasm.

"The Chinese contribution to the Cape Town Carnival has been really central from the beginning. It brings an incredible skill and flaring beauty to the carnival," Jafta told Xinhua.

"The Chinese groups dance with the dragon and the fire ... it is always very popular. You just see the spectators' faces light up and the little kids get very excited when the dragon comes," she said. "So we're very proud to have the Chinese community as part of the Cape Town Carnival."

The Chinese community was instrumental in helping other groups in the city during the pandemic, she said, adding that "we are very grateful for that."

Dong Gang, the head of the Chinese performing group, told Xinhua at the scene that this was the sixth time the Chinese community had taken part in the carnival.

"As a major festival in the local cultural life of South Africa, the Cape Town Carnival provides us with a large platform to showcase our excellent traditional Chinese culture," said Dong.

"Especially since this year is the Year of the Dragon, we brought our 50-meter-long dragon to celebrate our culture with a confident feeling," he said. "At the same time, we can also feel that we have added our own colors to the local multiculturalism."

As noted by Jafta, the idea of the Cape Town Carnival was to create a platform for people from different backgrounds to come together, have fun and get to know each other better, so that the city can not only build more social cohesion but also create jobs and stimulate the economy.
BLOOMINGTON  The McLean County Chamber of Commerce has been awarded five-star reaccreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber first received five-star accreditation in 2017. The designation, which recognizes sound policies, effective organizational procedures and positive impact on the community, is the highest attainable and is valid for five years, according to a news release from the chamber.

"We are extremely honored to have been re-accredited as a 5 Star Chamber by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," McLean County Chamber President and CEO Charlie Moore stated. "Months of work go into providing extensive evidence of the work we do on behalf of our members. I am proud of our team and the success this designation represents. Our members can be confident that we are doing critical work to grow the business community and create economic prosperity."

To receive accreditation, chambers must meet minimum standards in their operations and programs, including areas of governance, government affairs, communications and technology. This self-review can take six to nine months to complete. Local chambers are rated accredited, three stars, four stars or five stars. The final determination is made by the Accrediting Board, a committee of U.S. Chamber board members.

Who was brunching? Photos from the Soulful Gospel Brunch Charter members of the Alumnae Chapter Beverly Gay, Debra T. Thomas, Cheryl Fluker Chapter President Goline Lawrence, 1st Vice President Takesha Stokes Renee Thompson, Soror of the Year Beverly Gay, Cheryl Fluker, Renee Thompson, Brigette Gibson Dr. Krystal Shelvin, Dr. Tasha Jones Faye Freeman-Smith, Beverly Gay, Debra T. Thomas, Cheryl Fluker, Linda Foster Lakita Scott, Danielle Beasley Ursula Crooks, Tonya Webb Candace Crooks, Belinda Brock Renee Thompson, Romeldie Rogers Takesha Stokes, Jocelyn Nelson Monique Hall, Janessa Williams Jaunita Smith Daphne Gay, Joann Evans Aagiyah Miller, Shyvonne Cole Veleda Harvey, Russell Savage Davenport chapter members Andrea Gilchrist, President Dr. Stephanie Long, Karen Roebuck with Linda Rudolph from Rock Island Meta Mickens-Baker, Brigette Gibson, Monique Hall Takesha Stokes, River Stokes-Dorsey Paula Collins, Fallon Carruthers Jaelyn, Ron and Jocelyn Fluker Dr. Carla Campbell-Jackson, Cynthia Ashby, Lorraine Muhammad
Many farmers have been looking to plant soybeans earlier in recent years.

Iowa State University Extension cropping systems specialist Mark Licht said they are looking to capture maximum yield potential, or in some cases experimenting to see what works best.

Research has shown soybeans can be planted earlier than previously thought  in mid-April  although planting early has its risks, he said. The key is evaluating soil conditions and temperatures, as well as the forecast, rather than getting caught up on any one date.

Some farmers are even testing March planting on a small-scale basis.

"In some respects, farmers are moving up planting dates maybe a little bit before the science would support it, planting soybeans in March," Licht said. "We know that farmers are experimenting with earlier planting dates. Those March planting dates just arent supported by the science.

"We know theyre going to sit in the ground for 30 to 60 days, and thats just not good."

But for many farmers, earlier soybean planting means moving from early May to mid-April or late April, as conditions allow. Licht noted that, ahead of last growing season, the USDA adjusted crop insurance dates for when farmers could plant soybeans and remain eligible for replant coverage.

"Planting early  Ill call that in the April 10-15 range  can work," he said.

In Illinois, the earliest planting dates are April 5 and April 15 for the southern and northern parts of the state, respectively, and April 10 for the central region that includes McLean, Livingston and Woodford counties.

University of Illinois ag economist Scott Irwin said there has been a trend toward earlier planting of soybeans in the U.S., particularly in the South.

Some studies in recent decades have illustrated that soybeans can be planted earlier and still have strong yield potential, he said.

The hopes for early soybean planting are faster canopy, more plant nodes, high pod retention, and of course higher yields. Licht said this is possible, although soybeans are just as susceptible to cold injury as corn, so farmers should be cautious about putting soybean seeds in cold, wet soils.

The arrival of spring and warm conditions could encompass a wide range of possibilities. "Im not really a proponent of focusing on a planting date just because it varies from year to year," he said.

Instead, Licht said he looks for soil temperatures at 2 inches to reach at least 50 degrees and ideally be rising when soybeans are planted.

Looking at the weather forecast for the next 24 to 72 hours is important as well, he said. Farmers should try to have good soil moisture levels  enough moisture to germinate but not so much that planting a field can cause compaction issues.

Likewise, Irwin said the ideal planting date varies by location.

"There is not complete agreement on the optimum planting window for maximizing soybean yields or the date when late planting begins to impose a substantial yield penalty," he said. "Both the optimum window and the cutoff date for a significant late planting penalty certainly varies by geographic location."

Licht said in his area, yield potential stays fairly good through mid-May before it begins to decline.

"May 15-20 is kind of that cutoff for both corn and soybeans," he said. "After that 15th to 20th (range) you tend to lose yield potential."

He said planting in late April and early May usually works well, then the drop-offs when planting gets delayed into June "tend to be significant." Many farmers have no doubt raised good soybean crops planted in June, and later-planted crops can be better than early depending on the year, but Licht said the overall data points to timely planting producing the best results most often.

Irwin said the general data shows late soybean planting has a small negative impact on yield potential, but other factors are typically more important in explaining deviations from the yield trend.

There are years when soybean planting is delayed and yields end up very good, he said, but other years with early and timely planting that saw poor yields, such as 2012 when crops faced severe drought.

"This does not mean late planting should be ignored when projecting soybean yield, but rather, other factors, in particular summer weather, are typically more important in explaining deviations from trend yield," Irwin said.

If all crops can be planted by May 20, Licht said, the timing of planting corn or soybeans first is not significant.

But if things get tight, it can be a good idea to prioritize corn, he said. The crop is hurt more by late planting than soybeans. "Corn yield potential drops off pretty quickly, and it drops off faster than soybeans."

Irwin said soybeans do have a fairly wide window to be planted with an expectation of "normal" yields, with early April through early May generally representing the peak of that window. He said the yield penalty on average increases sharply for planting past mid-May, with expected yield reductions as large as 20 to 30%.

While more farmers have been looking at planting soybeans earlier, growing seasons have gotten slightly longer in recent decades based on dates of the last frost in the spring and the first frost in the fall.

Despite having more time, Licht said farmers still look to get crops planted as early as possible to get the crops up and growing, and also try to avoid the threat of prevent plant acres.

Prevented planting is a provision of crop insurance that compensates farmers for pre-planting costs associated with a crop that the farmer did not plant with the proper equipment by the final planting date designated in the insurance policy.

Some farmers have adjusted to longer growing seasons in other ways, however, such as selecting different soybean varieties to "take advantage of the late falls that weve seen," Licht said.
SPRINGFIELD  A retired teacher from Eureka is among seven honored by the Illinois Education Association for commitment to their students and districts.

Sara Kaufmann, who taught kindergarten for nearly 30 years at Eureka Davenport Grade School, was recognized by the IEA, which represents over 135,000 members and is the state's most populous union, according to a Saturday news release.

Kaufman, who retired from Eureka Community Unit School District 140, was named the Mary Lou and Keith Hauge Retiree of the Year.

Kaufman taught kindergarten for the better part of her 30 years and, after retiring, worked as a substitute teacher at Eureka High "so she could watch her last group of kindergarteners graduate," the release said.

Kaufman was lauded for her efforts mentoring the next generation of teachers, working with hopeful educators at Bradley University and Illinois State University. She even launched a chapter of the IEA Aspiring Educators at Eureka College in 2023.

Kaufman also is president of her local IEA-Retired chapter, Heart of Illinois.

Photos: Sharin of the Green Parade in uptown Normal  031724-blm-loc-parade3.JPG 031724-blm-loc-parade4.JPG 031724-blm-loc-parade5.JPG 031724-blm-loc-parade6.JPG 031724-blm-loc-parade7.JPG 031724-blm-loc-parade1.JPG 031724-blm-loc-parade2.JPG parade 18896.JPG parade 18897.JPG parade 18898.JPG parade 18899.JPG
BLOOMINGTON  The Illinois Farm Bureau is accepting applications for the Illinois Veterinary Education and Training loan program.

Loans are available for second-year veterinary students who are attending any accredited college of veterinary medicine in the U.S., focusing on Illinois food animal medicine.

The IVET program aims to help offset the cost of a veterinary education. The program can loan up to $40,000 to up to three veterinary students each year. Loans are made over a period of two to three years.

Recipients receive a $1,500 stipend during their fourth year in school to help pay expenses associated with clinical rotations. Loans are repaid over five years, during which graduates must commit to working in a food animal practice that services Illinois livestock producers, according to the Illinois Farm Bureau.

Applications are due May 15 at ilfb.org/IVET. Applicants will be interviewed in spring and notified by mail. Loan disbursements will start in August.

IFB established the IVET program in 2005 and has awarded more than $610,000 to 29 veterinary students.

For more information, contact Tasha Bunting at tbunting@ilfb.org or 309-557-2993.

Printable NCAA Men's and Women's Tournament brackets NCAA Men's Tournament bracket Download PDF NCAA Women's Tournament bracket Download PDF
About Aondover Tarhule Position: University president, following one year as interim president; previously provost and vice president of academic affairs Started at ISU: July 1, 2020 Most recent positions before ISU: Vice provost and dean of the Graduate School at Binghamton University (State University of New York); executive associate dean and department chair in the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences at the University of Oklahoma. Educational background: Masters degrees and a doctoral degree in geography from McMaster University in Hamilton (Ontario, Canada); masters degree in environmental resources planning and a bachelors degree in geography from the University of Jos, Plateau State in Nigeria; post-doctoral fellowship from the Canadian Science Advisory Council to conduct research at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. How you pronounce his name: ON-doh-vey Tar-HOO-lay

NORMAL  One month after Aondover Tarhule was announced as a finalist in the search for Illinois State Universitys next president, he has officially advanced into the role for a four-year term.

At Monday's meeting, Tarhule said he accepted the appointment with profound gratitude and humility. In his remarks, he said he was also grateful to the search committee, students, faculty, staff and community members who engaged in the search process. Tarhule also thanked Parker Executive Search, the search firm ISU hired in September to handle the nationwide search.

"To all Illinois State dedicated faculty and staff: Your passion for teaching, research and service sets the standard for academic excellence, and I am honored to work alongside such consummate professionals," Tarhule said.

The new university president said Redbird students are the "heart and soul of Illinois State." He said their curiosity, creativity, energy and resilience reminds him daily of "the transformative power of education."

"I have no doubt ... at all that you will all go on to do great things," he said.

As president, Tarhule said he pledged to advocate for students and ensure they have access to the resources and support they need to thrive personally, academically and professionally.

Addressing his colleagues and cabinet members, Tarhule said as president, he is "but one piece of complex machinery that makes Illinois State work.

"That machine, led by you, would grind to a halt were it not for the countless hours you commit to making difficult decisions and courageous choices, each and every day. I could not be prouder to serve with such a dedicated team leaders, impact-makers, visionaries and decision makers," he said.

From provost to president

According to a statement from the university, Tarhule is a first-generation college student who was born and raised in Nigeria. He earned his bachelor's degree in geography and a masters degree in environmental resources and planning from the University of Jos in his Nigeria. Tarhule went on to earn masters and doctoral degrees in geography from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.

At the meeting, the new president described his appointment as the culmination of dreams that began more than 50 years ago with his father, an illiterate peasant farmer in Nigeria. Tarhule said his late father encouraged and supported his children with every ounce of his will and resources, and he owed his appointment to him. He added that he is forever indebted to his mother and many teachers and mentors of his.

Tarhule then said his wife, Roosmarijn Tarhule-Lips, is his greatest cheerleader.

I owe you my everything, he said.

Tarhule was hired at ISU in 2020 as provost and vice president of academic affairs, coming from a vice provost and graduate school dean role at Binghamton University.

He was appointed as interim president one year ago after his predecessor, Terri Goss Kinzy, announced her resignation less than halfway into her own four-year contract. In a statement forwarded by university board at the time, Kinzy said she planned to pursue other opportunities; both she and the board have declined to make further statements about the move.

Other finalists in the selection process included provosts from two Ohio universities and a dean of a Reno, Nevada graduate college. Four finalists in total presented their bid for the role at on-campus forums before faculty, staff, students and community members were invited to make comments and ask questions.

The room was packed at Tarhules Feb. 12 forum. Then, Tahrule fielded questions on the handling of freedom of speech on campus and how he planned to address inequities in state funding for higher education.

In his presentation as a finalist for president, Tarhule noted several developments that have progressed on the Redbird campus, including the expansion of the Mennonite College of Nursing, the establishment of an engineering college, and upgrading the creative technologies program into a full-fledged school.

Documents released prior to Mondays meeting stated Tarhule will be compensated $450,000 per year in the long-term role. As part of his job, he will also have access to a vehicle and reimbursement of moving expenses of $20,000.

After Mondays special board meeting, Tarhule and the board of trustees chairperson, Kathryn Bohn, took questions at a public press conference. A TV reporter asked what first duties he will take on, and Tarhule responded hes planned a three-day trip to Arizona and California to meet with ISU alums.

The highest priority for his office, the new president said, is enrollment management. Tarhule said there are fewer students currently applying to attend in the next school year, which confounds an already difficult challenge.

When asked what he looks forward to in ISUs future, Tarhule said the new engineering college will be transformative for the school, but he is also eyeing programming changes such as in the nursing college.

Whether its academic programs, the campus renovations, the new engineering college  diversity, all of this are the things are the things we know we need to do as an institution in order to try and be resilient, he said.

Asked by The Pantagraph about plans to work with state lawmakers, Tarhule said that work is underway and the university has activated a Redbird Caucus of legislators, ISU alumni and other supporters. One thing that hasn't been done before, he added, is hire a federal lobbyist to advocate for ISU in Washington D.C. He said university leaders have been interviewing candidates and are getting close to announcing a hire.

He also said support from U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, a Springfield Democrat, and U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, a Peoria Republican, helped secure funding for a $2 million nursing simulation lab that broke ground last summer. Tarhule said he thinks that theres more opportunities for funding at the federal level.

Tarhule was also asked to lay out the next steps for creating a "Redbird Promise," an initiative he disclosed at his Feb. 12 finalist forum that would provide more financial assistance to students from low-income families. He said university leaders know that accessibility and affordability are some of the biggest challenges that students are facing.

In ISUs next fundraising campaign, Tarhule said hes looking to establish a promise to support otherwise qualified students who fall short of needed financial support after Monetary Assistance Programs and other aid programs are exhausted.

Presidential presence

Bohn, chair of the board and presidential search committee, thanked students, faculty, staff and community members for their "thoughtful participation" in the search process, in addition to the boards leadership and patience.

After the presidents remarks, she said Tarhule has the board's confidence and they look forward to working together to advance the mission.

Larry Dietz, ISU president emeritus who held the top post from 2014-2021, said his confidence in Tarhule started when he hired him as provost.

I felt at the time he had the characteristics to be a president if he wanted to do that  not knowing that this would happen today, Dietz said in a Monday interview.

He had that kind of presence, personal skills, knowledge of the challenges affecting higher education and being named as the interim president really gave him more experience sitting in that chair.

Dietz said Tarhule has done a good job since his interim appointment, and he outshined other finalists in the search for a permanent hire. The former president also said hes mainly thrilled for the institution.

I want the best for Illinois State, he said, after noting he had attended several of the finalist forums.

Higher education is a changing field, Dietz said, and he thought Tarhule has a passion for finding solutions and is a great strategic planner.

I dont think theres one major switch to flip thats going to cure all the ills of higher education or Illinois State, but hes capable of understanding the trends that are out there, Dietz said.

He said part of the nature of the beast of higher education is that issues will always arise.

But if you keep good faculty, you keep a good staff, and you bring in good students, good things are going to happen with that, Dietz said. Those people turn into good alumni  and donors.

The challenges are not insurmountable, he said.
BLOOMINGTON  While contested races at the local, state and congressional levels spurred thousands of voters to cast ballots ahead of today's primary election, early voting totals remain well below the last presidential primary year.

A crowded Democratic primary field of potential challengers to then-incumbent President Donald Trump strengthened early turnout in 2020, even though the election took place weeks into the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, Trump and President Joe Biden each emerged early as the only serious contenders for their respective parties' nominations, and liberal McLean County voters have few contested races to decide.

In the Olympia school district, voters from both parties will decide the fate of two measures the district said would give it greater financial flexibility to meet maintenance and staffing needs without raising property tax rates.

On Monday, the McLean County Clerks Office reported 1,193 residents had voted early in person and 1,667 had submitted mail-in ballots. Previous Pantagraph reporting from the eve of 2020 primary election found about 3,300 people had voted early and 1,411 had voted by mail in the county's jurisdiction.

Luke Stremlau, executive director of the Bloomington Election Commission, said by Monday afternoon, early voting turnout was down compared to 2020, but voting by mail had increased.

In 2020, we had 3,399 early voters, we sent out 1,585 vote by mail ballots and received 1,318 of those ballots back, he wrote in an email to The Pantagraph. As of now, we have had 1,321 early voters, we sent out 3,603 votes by mail ballots and have received 2,045 of those ballots back.

McLean County

The Republican ballot has three contested races for McLean County positions, including two County Board seats and circuit clerk.

Incumbent Don Everhart is being challenged by Jason Dazey for circuit clerk.

Mike ONeil and Dennis Grundler are running to take Jim Soeldners seat for District 2 of the County Board, and Brian Loeffler is challenging incumbent George O. Wendt for District 3.

Congress

Two Republicans are running for the chance to take the 17th Congressional District from incumbent Democratic Rep. Eric Sorensen. Scott Crowl, a farmer from Milan and a former president of a local American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees council, faces Joe McGraw, a retired judge and former prosecutor who sat on the bench in the 17th Judicial Circuit, which covers Boone and Winnebago counties.

The 17th is a C-shaped district that includes the urban cores of Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, Rockford and the Quad-Cities area, along with significant portions of rural northwestern and central Illinois.

State legislative races

For the General Assembly, Republicans Regan Deering and Chuck Erickson face off for the 88th House District, hoping to replace Rep. Dan Caulkins of Decatur who is stepping down after three terms in the House. Deering is a Decatur native who previously had an unsuccessful run for Congress against Democrat Nikki Budzinski, and Erickson is a McLean County Board member whose district runs along the east side of Bloomington-Normal.

The 88th includes parts of McLean, DeWitt, Macon and Piatt counties.

In the 105th House District, Donald R. Rients of Benson seeks to unseat incumbent state Rep. Dennis Tipsword Jr., chief deputy for the Woodford County Sheriffs Office. This district covers areas of McLean, Woodford, Livingston, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam counties.

Four candidates have their hat in the ring for the 53rd Senate District: Chris Balkema, Susan Wynn Bence, Jesse Faber and Mike Kirkton. The 53rd includes parts of McLean, Livingston, Woodford, Peoria, Marshall, Bureau, LaSalle, Grundy and Will counties.

Olympia school district

Leaders of the Olympia school district are asking voters to approve two measures they say would result in a "funding shift," rather than an increase to property tax rates overall.

Approval of both measures would ensure the future of the district's popular swimming pool, which has extensive maintenance needs, and allow the district to retain staff in a competitive environment and make other necessary building improvements.

State law limits the ability of school districts to transfer money between funds dedicated to different purposes. The law also requires Olympia to ask voters to approve tax rate increases it is seeking in two areas: the education fund, which pays for salaries and other instruction-related expenses, and the operations and maintenance fund.

The measures would allow the district to levy more in property taxes for certain specific uses  specifically, allowing the district to change the operations and maintenance fund tax rate from 50 cents to 75 cents for every $100 of equalized assessed value, and the education fund tax rate from $2.90 to $3.40 for every $100 of equalized assessed value.

Officials say they would keep the overall tax rate flat by reducing the rate tied to other specific areas, including debt-related funds and several funds in which the district has built up a reserve.

Superintendent Laura O'Donnell said the overall tax rate for the district would remain at $5.50 for every $100 of equalized assessed value for property owners in the district, regardless of what voters decide. The difference comes in how much money goes to each purpose and whether the district must take on debt to meet its obligations.

Where each Trump case stands Classified documents case Election interference Hush-money scheme Georgia election indictment Civil cases
How Time Flies is a daily feature looking back at Pantagraph archives to revisit what was happening in our community and region.

100 years ago

March 18, 1924: Green and white was the decorative scheme of the weather man on St. Patrick's day. Over the budding green of the lawn and shrubbery was draped a mantle of snow, which fell intermittently during the afternoon and evening hours.

75 years ago

March 18, 1949: Mennonite, St. Joseph and Brokaw hospitals, in cooperation with the sixth district of the Illinois State Nurses Association, will have a hospital field day in Trinity High school gymnasium. The purpose is to give young women a better insight into nursing.

50 years ago

March 18, 1974: Architectural cost estimates totaling nearly $1.6 million for the proposed new McLean County YWCA building were disclosed by Mrs. Charles Cardwell, president of the organization's board of directors. A drive to raise construction funds will be conducted in April and May.

25 years ago

March 18, 1999: The farm at Illinois State University is one step closer to moving to a more rural location. Legislation that would allow the university to sell more than 450 acres of prime development land in Normal is set to go before the full state Senate. The university would buy land in a more rural location for its research farm using proceeds from the sale.

Vintage Pantagraph newspaper ads for medicine, 'magic' remedies Clover Blossom Extract - Nov. 15, 1883 St. Jacobs Oil - July 14, 1887 Castoria - July 26, 1892 Rheumatic Ring - May 29, 1894 Beefmalt - May 29, 1894 Wakefield's Cough Syrup - Feb. 13, 1908 S.S.S. - April 23, 1908 Olive Tablets - Nov. 20, 1911 Cold-go - Dec. 11, 1911 Dr. Danby - Dec. 11, 1911 Allcock Plasters - March 2, 1917 Olive Tablets - Feb. 23, 1918 Laxative Bromo Quinine - Oct. 16, 1918 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 24, 1919 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - April 29, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 22, 1919 Beecham's Pills - Nov. 22, 1919 Snake Oil - Nov. 29, 1919 Doan's Kidney Pills - March 8, 1920 Bayer Tablets of Aspirin - Sept. 21, 1920 J.C. Hutzell's Eczema Treatment - Nov. 11, 1922 Gude's Pepto-Mangan - April 2, 1923 O-Joy Corn Wafers - March 4, 1930 Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription - March 19, 1930 666 Tablets - March 25, 1930 Cuticura - March 25, 1930 Geo-Mineral - Dec. 8, 1948 Anacin - Jan. 16, 1963 Liquiprin - Aug. 27, 1970 Icy Hot - Nov. 20, 1977
PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR PASSES AWAY

Sterling Robert Cale was 102 years old when he died Jan. 10 at his Aiea home in Oahu, Hawaii. He was the last survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack still living in Hawaii. Twenty-year-old Navy Pharmacist Mate Cale was assigned to the U.S. Naval Hospital in Honolulu on Dec. 7, 1941. He was also trained as a Navy diver.

Cale swam to pull the bodies of 46 sailors from burning water around the sinking battleships. The grim assignment of removing the remains of more than 100 servicemen was Cales responsibility for several days following the attack. Cale, who stayed in the Navy, switched to the Army after World War II. He served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.

Due to his grim experiences at Pearl Harbor, Cale did not visit the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial until 1974. Eventually, he became a tour guide at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, sharing his experiences on that fateful day in 1941, with civilians and military veterans alike. He retired in 2005 as a sergeant major after 57 years of service to his country.

Cale lived in western Illinois in Macomb, Colchester and Galesburg before he entered the military. He always held Illinois in esteem, and as his fame prompted many requests for his autograph, he always scrawled the word Illinois and would proudly say, Thats where Im from!

VA REQUESTING SINGLE BANK ACCOUNT FOR BENEFITS

Veterans who are also students may be receiving VA benefit payments sent to two banking accounts, but VA wants all veteran/students to consolidate their payments into one direct deposit account.

If the veteran is a G.I. Education Bill beneficiary who also receives other payments (like service-connected disability compensation), the veteran needs to establish a single bank account for direct deposit of both payments by April 20. If such a veteran received a notification via text message or email, please act by April 20. If a veteran did not receive a notification, they are not impacted and need not take any action.

This VA change is happening now, and veterans are advised to be very cautious about communications asking the veteran to update their VA information, because scams and fraud are very common and often target veterans. VA recommends that inquiries should be made only to va.gov.

MAKING SENSE OF VA INCOME MEANS TEST

Prior to 2003, a veteran whose time in military service and type of discharge were adequate to qualify for VA health care could apply for enrollment and nearly always be approved. This included veterans who served decades before and had never applied for VA health care. Public Law 107-135, the VA Healthcare Enhancement Act of 2001, directed the VA to implement a Geographic Means Test to help determine VA health care eligibility. This test uses the Department of Housing and Urban Development geographic-based low-income standards as the threshold for VAs GMT. These low income-based limits represent 80% of median income in each county. Each county has a different HUD GMT value.

If a veterans income is below the means test threshold in their county and it is determined that the veterans income is inadequate to pay for health care costs, such veterans may not only enroll in VA health care, but also may be exempt from co-pays and out-of-pocket costs for their VA health care.

Veterans with income above the means test and above the GMT threshold but whose inpatient medical care is high may enroll in VA health care, but must agree to pay co-pays for hospital care and outpatient medical services. If a veterans income is above the means test and below the GMT, they can enroll in VA health care, but must pay inpatient medical co-payments at 80%. Veterans whose income is above the means test and the GMT threshold will be classified as having income means to pay their own health care.

Tens of thousands of veterans are not eligible for VA health care due to the income means tests. The government has recently extended health care benefits to all veterans who served around the sites of toxic substances and radiation. This is a great interim step toward fairness. However, it still falls short of recognizing that only about one-third of veterans have VA health care due to the means test standard.

All veterans should be eligible for VA health care, regardless of their income.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

It is Monday morning again, and we are still as divided a nation as we were on Friday last. Are we waiting for someone to do something that will unite us? The last time we were united was probably after Sept. 12, 2001. I do not believe for a moment that at the time our relatives came to America, there was such a wide chasm of opinions about America. If the chasm widens, will the following quote of the day be a harbinger of doom or a call for courage in the face of overwhelming odds?

A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous, they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue, then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.  Samuel Adams

Photos: Bloomington Labor Day Parade 2023
Hollard Ghana, the country's favourite insurer, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life, awards Jnelp Innovations, a student entrepreneur, with GHC 40,000 as funding at the just-ended Hollard Streetwise Finance Entrepreneurship Business Challenge held at the University of Cape Coast.



In collaboration with the University of Ghana Business School and the University of Cape Coast, the grant-based program showcased ten talented student-led businesses that presented their business ideas to a distinguished panel of judges in a bid to secure funding. Zenags Organics won the second-place prize of GHC 20,000, and Career Path won the third-place award of GHC 10,000.



Speaking on the essence of the event, Alexander Osei Mensah, General Manager of Operations at Hollard Insurance, described the initiative as a testament to the insurance group's efforts to nurture entrepreneurial spirit and innovation among the youth.



"As a company that does well by doing good, our purpose is to bridge the gap between the corporate world and academia. Being an entrepreneurially driven company, Hollard believes in enabling its community to create better futures. Since universities are essential in nation-building and the training ground for business leaders, we focus on engaging tertiary students to ensure they are enabled to succeed in the future with Hollard's support. In doing so, we aim to inspire more students to explore opportunities that will lead to successful employment upon graduation, particularly through entrepreneurship," Alex added.



Portia Sackey, the founder of Jnelp Innovations, expressed her satisfaction with the event's outcome, stating, "We are thrilled to be winners of the Hollard Streetwise Finance Business Challenge. We are grateful to Hollard Ghana for this opportunity to help small businesses thrive. With this funding, we will expand our business by investing in research and development for our skin product and purchasing a tricycle and two extra automatic filling machines to enable us to meet the demanding markets with our products".



The success of the second edition of the Streetwise Finance Business Challenge reinforces Hollard Ghana's commitment to fostering economic growth and empowering the next generation of business leaders. The company remains dedicated to supporting initiatives that contribute to the overall development of Ghana's entrepreneurial landscape.Student startup businesses participating in the competition include Overseas, Gamkrib, Delsoy Foods, Shuttle Track, Prifrimps Food, Geia Technology, and Firefly I.O.



Keren Arthur, PhD, the Director of the D-Hub, urged the winners to be strategic in their decisions while remembering that entrepreneurship is an experimental process.



Adopt a step-by-step process for using funds and know that entrepreneurship requires a small-scale pilot before major investment. To the other businesses who competed, dont give up. This event has added to your story, and I hope this will make you stronger and even more committed to taking the ideas forward. The doors of the D-Hub are always open to help you chart the next chapter of your story, she added.



About Hollard Ghana



The countrys favourite insurance group is Hollard Ghana, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance. The group combines its deep local knowledge of the market, having previously operated in Ghana for 25 years as Metropolitan Insurance, with the world-class expertise of an international insurance brand in 18 countries worldwide. With feet firmly planted on Ghanaian soil but headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions customised to the unique risks Ghanaians face. Hollard offers various life and general insurance products, including funeral, personal accident, motor, business, travel, home, and more, and can be reached via 0307000599. Beyond various nationwide office branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can find Hollard at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh, www.melcom.com/hollard-insurance and www.jumia.com.gh for all their insurance needs.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the African Union (AU), Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, has stated that the African Union must work towards addressing the issues of terrorism, poverty and organised crimes that confronts the continent frontally and robustly.



Ambassador Bankole Adeoye was addressing the press on the topic addressing the media on the topic, Second African Union Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Government, held by the ministry of information.



He therefore stressed that the African continent is faced with a multiplicity of challenges despite the African Unions efforts in championing democratic principles.



He said, The African Union is a transformation vehicle. Through Agenda 2063 over the past 10 years the African Union has continued through our leaders to champion democracy, constitutionalism, the rule of law as well as sustainable development, he said, adding, But the challenges remain, the multiplicity of challenges starting with terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime and of course poverty.



He added that to address these issuespeace, security, sustainable developmentthese threats must be addressed frontally and robustly.



Over the years, the AU has experienced a rather disturbing trend of unconstitutional means of changing democratically elected presidents. In all, the continent has seen seven military takeovers over the last four years.



The African Union has over the past three [to] four years witnessed the new trend, the emerging trend of unconstitutional changes to government. This anti-constitutionalism also has far-reaching implications for our development aspirations nationally, regionally, and continentally and of course with international implications, Ambassador Adeoye stated.



According to Ambassador Adeoye, the Accra Reflection Forum, which started in 2022, aims to reinforce the commitment of stakeholders to abide by democratic principles despite its shortcomings.



He said, Back in March 2022, the Peace and Security Council, then under the leadership of Ghana, started this Accra process. The first reflection forum was held in March 2022 here in Accra to demonstrate a multi-stakeholder approach as the best way to address unconstitutional changes in governments.



He reiterated that, it is necessary to restate that democracy, yes, with its shortcomings, remains the best form of governance. This, he said, is because democracy is an inclusive system of government, indicating that women, children, youthall have a role to play in safeguarding democracy.



The 2024 AU Reflection Forum is scheduled for March 18 to march19, 2024, in Accra.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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Daniel del Valle Blanco (C), permanent observer of the Office of the Permanent Observer of the International Youth Organization to the United Nations, attends the "Blanc de Chine - Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event at the UN headquarters in New York, March 15, 2024. The "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event was successfully held at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday. TO GO WITH "Dehua porcelain int'l exhibition held at UN" (Xinhua/Li Rui)



The "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event was successfully held at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York on Friday.

The event is part of the exhibition's U.S. leg.

The international tour's promotional event in New York kicked off at Times Square on Thursday and is open to the public from March 15-18.

The 105 pieces of national treasure-grade Dehua porcelain are divided into four categories: antique-inspired cultural creations, artisanal porcelain, everyday porcelain, and export porcelain, showcasing the diverse characteristics of Dehua white porcelain.

Fang Junqin, the county magistrate of Dehua County in southeast China's Fujian Province, said he hopes the event will allow more friends to learn about porcelain, understand Dehua, know China, as well as create more opportunities and provide greater convenience for close exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

Representatives from Fujian Province, the United Nations, and various countries attended the event and were amazed by the exquisite craftsmanship of the exhibits and their profound cultural significance.

Asim Sharma, chief of the Inter-agency and Intergovernmental Service Office of the UN Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, expressed his admiration for the exquisite Dehua white porcelain and thanked the delegation from the Dehua County Government for the invitation.

Daniel del Valle Blanco, permanent observer of the Office of the Permanent Observer of the International Youth Organization to the United Nations, spoke about the importance of cultural exchanges between nations for international cooperation and foreign relations, congratulating Dehua white porcelain, a historical and cultural heritage, on its exhibition at the United Nations.

As one of the "Chinese Brands on the Global Stage" series of activities initiated by Xinhua News Agency, the "Blanc de Chine -- Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour started in 2023. The plan is to spend five years holding exhibitions, cultural exchanges, and other activities showcasing Dehua white porcelain in more than 20 countries and regions globally.

Dehua porcelain artworks are presented at the "Blanc de Chine - Dehua Porcelain" international exhibition tour's promotional event at the UN headquarters in New York, March 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
Majority of students in the Tamale Metropolitan Area have been kept out of the classrooms due to the severe water crisis.



The most affected are female students who are compelled to wander in search of inaccessiblewater, during school hours.



Some teachers have also surrendered to the situation, thereby negatively impacting teaching and learning.



The water crisis is dire to the extent that people have resorted to using sachet water for cooking and bathing, compounding their financial constraints.



Dams and boreholes which serve as the major sources of water for people living on the outskirts of Tamale Township are drying up.



The water scarcity is affecting local commerce as chop bar operators, porridge (Koko) sellers, among others have been affected.



Ramadan



During the Holy month of Ramadan, Muslims use more water for extensive cooking, drinking, performing ablution and for other domestic purposes.



As an essential component for normal human body function, sufficient amount of water is needed during this blessed month.



GWCL insensitivity?



In view of the water crisis, the Ghana Water Company (GWCL) continues billing people for non-supplied water for several months, creating confusion between officers reading water meters and some landlords in the Tamale Metropolis.



Meanwhile, the Ghana Water Company Managing Director, Dr. Clifford Braimah has hinted ofplans to drill more boreholes in the Tamale Metropolis, as a stopgap measure.



Looming demonstration



Aggrieved residents of the affected communities have served notice of embarking on continuousdemonstrations over the prolonged situation.



MPs Cry



The Members of Parliament for Tamale South, Tamale Central and Tamale North constituencies on February 13, 2024, bemoaned the Tamale water crisis and called for governments rapidaction.



Hon. Haruna Iddrisu for Tamale South, Hon. Murtala Mohammed, Tamale Central and Hon. Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini on the floor of the House of Parliament raised the alarm and implored duty bearers to fix the recurrent problem.

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His Worship Eric Baah Boateng, the Magistrate of the Sefwi Wiawso District Court, has ordered Chief Inspector George Asante Noye, a prosecutor in a case of the arrest of 10 illegal miners in the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve, which included four Chinese nationals, to produce documentary evidence of the death and subsequent cremation of two of the Chinese nationals at the next sitting, scheduled for 15th April 2024.



On 12th December 2023, staff of the Forestry Comnission arrested 10 persons engaged in illegal mining in the Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve.

The 10 suspects included four Chinese nationals and six Ghanaians, two of whom were policemen.

Their names were given as: Men Shi Yu, 30; Weng Yong

Cheng, 30; Wen FU Lin, 58; and Lee Pin, 60, all Chinese.

The Ghanaians were Edward Owusu, 25; Kwesi Frank ,42; Abudu Dramani, 41; and Joe Nabur, 27.



The two police officers involved were Detective Seargeant

Yahaya Andrews and Lance Coporal Azantillow.



The 10 suspects were subsequently processed for court and they have appeared in court on two occassions.



At the court's third sitting on 15th March 2024, when the case was called, only the six Ghanaians, including the two

policemen were present. The four Chinese nationals were all absent.



The Magistrate questioned the Prosecutor on the whereabouts of the four Chinese nationals, to which the latter responded that two of them have died and had since been cremated.



His Worship Eric Baah Boateng then ordered the Prosecutor to bring the sureties for the four Chinese natals to Court at the next sitting to produce documentary evidence of the death and subsequent cremation of the two Chinese nationals for the court's next line of action.



The case, which was adjourned to 15th April 2024, has also been forwarded to the Attorney General's Department in Takoradi for advice.

Source: Naomi Obenewaah/Peace FM Newsroom









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ghanaian member of Ecowas Parliament and Deputy Fisheries Minister-designate, Musah Abdul Aziz Ayaaba, has urged West African leaders to stop changing their constitutions and peacefully hand over power when their term is over.



Abdul Aziz Ayaaba, who is also the Member of Parliament for Moon, believes this will ensure peace in the Ecowas subregion.



The Deputy Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development designate said that with the existing ECOWAS charter on democracy, there was a need for the various ECOWAS States to go by the charter to enhance good governance and peaceful democratic practices.



He said this when he appeared before the appointment committee of Parliament to be vetted.



"What I would say about the situation is that in the subregion, there is a challenge. But there were structures in place even before I joined ECOWAS. There is a chatter of democracy that the ECOWAS States have signed onto. Violation of this chatter is mostly the problem in the sub-region," Abdul Aziz Ayaaba said.



"If you look at all the countries where we have these issues, there were some constitutional amendments or changes with regards to the term of office of their presidents, that led to all these crises. So, Mr. Chairman, what I would appeal is that all ECOWAS States or all the countries in the community must go by the charter of democracy; we must stick to whatever our constitution is saying. When your term of office is over, you just need to hand over peacefully, so that development and peace will continue," he added.













Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Majority Leader of Ghana's Parliament and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo Markin has revealed that there is no way Ghana and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will ever support LGBTQ+.



To him, the impression should not be created that the NPP would want to support lifestyles that is frowned on by the country's cultural norms and family values.



Ghana's parliament recently passed a tough new bill that imposes a prison sentence of up to three years for anyone convicted of identifying as LGBTQ+.



It also imposes a maximum five-year jail term for forming or funding LGBTQ+ groups.

Lawmakers heckled down attempts to replace prison sentences with community service and counselling.



This comes in the wake of President Akufo-Addos hesitation to assent to the recently passed Human Rights and Family Values Bill by the Parliament of Ghana.



The bill will come into effect only if President Nana Akufo-Addo signs it into law, but it appears he is hesitant in assenting to the bill.



Speaking on Peace FM's Kokrokoo morning show on Monday 18th March, Hon Afenyo-Markin, however, emphasised that he and the NPP are only against the custodial sentence which he believes rather increases the activities of gays and lesbians.



He said, ''Ghana do not accept the marriage of gays and lesbians. the NPP does not accept the marriage of lesbians and there is no way it will be ever be accepted, but what we are saying is that if a person is exhibiting a particular lifestyle and we want to bring the person out of it, custodial sentencing is certainly not the way to go.''



The Majority Leader further added that, there is a law in the constitution that enjoins judges to administer community service as a sentence of reformative punishment, adding that there should rather be a counselling session for persons who have been captured in situations like these.



He added, For all I have seen in life as a parent, a husband, and father, you cant force a human being to change from a particular lifestyle''.



He highlighted the need to promote the a correctional sentence for persons who identify themselves as LGBTQ+, adding that the custodian sentence should not be something he supports adding that most of the MPs where not in favor of the Custodial sentencing but were afraid to say it due to the toxic nature of the debate.



In closing out on his submission, the majority leader emphasised that the NPP government does not support vices that brings the image if the country into disrepute especially lifestyles that the Ghanaian culture frowns upon.





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Raphael Sarfo Patrick, has launched a vitriolic attack on two persons linked to the regional party chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi for orchestrating a fake letter inviting the Manhyia South Constituency chairman, Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta popularly known as 'Tom Tom' to answer allegations of misconduct before the regional disciplinary committee of the party.



Raphael Sarfo Patrick, popularly known as 'Ralph', described the two persons - Andy Owusu, a special aide to Chairman Wontumi and Paul Yandoh, the regional communications director- as wicked and dangerous who are doing a lot of bad things on the blind side of Chairman Wontumi.



Speaking on Kumasi-based Sompa FM/TV in Kumasi on Saturday, March 16, 2024, Ralph said he first saw the statement of invitation on the official WhatsApp group platform of the regional functional executive committee, adding, "I even thought it was a fake news until a colleague confirmed it.



PARTY CONSTITUTION



Referring to the NPP constitution, Ralph said it clearly defines how to handle disciplinary issues.



Article 9 of the constitution mentions the Regional Executive Committee to include the 17 regional functional executives, constituency chairpersons Constituency Chairpersons, parliamentary candidates in the region, MMDCEs in the region among others . As a member of the regional executives, I am not aware of any disciplinary proceedings against the Manhyia South Constituency chairman, he stated.



LAW



While stating that he has no problem with a party member being taken through the disciplinary process, he however, added: that should be done in line with the laws of the party.



What is even more surprising is that the letter inviting Tom Tom indicated that the National Executive Committee met to take that decision. When I saw the statement on our platform I called most of the 17 functional executives of the region to establish the authenticity of the letter but all of them denied knowledge of the letter, the youth organizer stated.



NO MEETING, NO DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE



Ralph stated categorically that it is not true that the regional executive committee has invited Tom Tom for disciplinary reasons.



If he has done anything wrong, lets use the lawful channel to invite him. The last meeting we held, this issue never came up for discussion.



Ive seen the issues the Manhyia South chairman has raised in response to the allegations Paul Yandoh and his boss Andy have leveled against him and he has raised the point that we dont have a disciplinary committee. I want to state that Im not aware of any existing disciplinary committee in the region. They should tell us who the members of the disciplinary committee are.



WONTUMI UNAWARE



Ralph said he is tempted to believe that the regional chairman is not aware of the letter.



The regional chairman that I know, may not be aware of this letter. I insist Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the liberal politician that I know may not be aware of this letter because if he was aware, all the other functional executives would also be aware. My regional chairman is a hardworking person who loves the NPP but he is surrounded by wicked, dangerous people who dont love the party, but only after their interests."



He added: Adom Appiah, the regional secretary whose signature appeared on the letter may equally not be aware of the letter that is why he refused to speak to you publicly when you called him to speak to the letter", Ralph told the host.



Asked who then actually wrote the letter, Ralph said, This is the problem we have in the region. I dont want to doubt that it originated from Wontumis aide, Andy. He is a very dangerous and wicked guy. Paul Yandoh was a cleaner at Andys pharmacy shop. We are sick and tired of what is happening in this region.



Ralph further stated that the man who wrote the petition Paul Yandoh, describing himself as regional communications director is problematic, adding, That title is under contention. 



PROBLEM



According to the regional youth organizer, the problem with the NPP in the Ashanti Region is that we have someone called Andy Owusu who is doing many wrong things in the name of the regional chairman but he ( Wontumi) cannot talk about it. Many people are not happy about our chairman because of Andy.



He added: You cannot run a political party like the NPP in its stronghold from a pharmacy shop. You cannot insult the intelligence of the big people in the NPP in the region .



Firing more salvos, Ralph said, Sometimes, Andy can do something using the regional chairmans name and at the end of the day, it becomes very difficult to deny it . There have been several instances Andy has taken decisions without informing the chairman, issued them to the public and the chairman could not deny it, and had to accept them.



MEETING VENUE



Ralph further raised concern about the attempt to link the chief of Agric Nzema, Nana Nkansah Boadu to active party politics.



He said it was distasteful for the so-called invitation letter to indicate that the residence of the chief had been selected as the meeting place to hear the petition against Tom Tom.



Nana Nkansah Boadu is a very respected chief in the region who loves the NPP with all his heart. The foundation of the party is at the Manhyia Palace but Nananom do not engage in active politics even though they follow the progress of the party. Going by what happened at Manhyia South involving Kokosohene and Chairman Wontumi and the ruling the Kumasi Traditional Council chaired by the Bantamahene gave on behalf of the Asantehene, Nananom cannot do active politics so Im surprised that the invitation letter to Tom Tom mentioned the residence of the chief as venue for the meeting. This is an affront to our cherished chieftaincy institution, he said.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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John Dramani Mahama, former President and the flagbearer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed described the incumbent governemtntss Agenda 111 as an overly ambitious project whose feasibility cannot be guaranteed.



The former president expressed his skepticism over the feasibility of the governments Agenda 111 project during a discussion with some clergy members in Accra.



He emphasised that the governments plan appears unrealistic and unlikely to be completed within a reasonable timeframe.



According to Mahama, while the government initiated the Agenda 111 project which includes the construction of 80 hospitals, the strategy lacks practicality adding that its accomplishment is a mirage.



He therefore suggested that a more rational approach would have been to start with a smaller number, such as 40, ensuring their completion before embarking on additional projects.



He said, This government started their Agenda 111 as they call it and they started with 80 hospitals. I dont know what survey was done before the hospitals were being put in, but most of them are at a certain stage of completion. One would have thought that they would start with what they can do and finish.



And so if you can do 40 hospitals, finish and open them, then you start another. But you spread to 80 hospitals, the time they leave office, I dont think many of them would have been completed.



The Agenda 111 project is part of the New Patriotic Partys government health policy of building a hospital in each district and region of Ghana in fulfilment of President Akufo-Addos promise to build 111 hospitals nationwide to improve the geographical coverage of healthcare in the country during his tenure as President.









Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Majority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has stated that many Members of Parliament are in support of the position that LGBTQ offenders should not be imprisoned but given communal service.



According to him, most of the MPs have refused to publicly support the communal service proposal because of the fear of being attacked and likely loss of seat.



I can state here on authority that many Members of Parliament are against custodial sentencing of people who are offenders of LGBTQ but they are afraid of losing elections. They are afraid of what the people out there will say about them, he said.



Hon. Afenyo-Markin made these remarks when he appeared on Kwami Sefa Kayis Kokrokoo morning show on Peace 104.3 FM on Monday, 18th March, 2024.



Ghanas Parliament recently passed the Anti-LGBTQ Bill amidst concerns over whether offenders should be incarcerated or made to do communal services.



The Majority Leader who made a strong case against custodial sentencing due to its failure to reform the offenders and the possibility of them infecting other inmates with their activities said on Kokrokoo that he is against people of same-sex getting married or being together but against their imprisonment.



MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, in a recent interview with TV3 and published on 3NEWS, also said that offenders of LGBTQ should not be imprisoned but given communal services as their punishment.



Sosu, in the interview emphasized that sentencing those found guilty of homosexuality and lesbianism would not bring reform. He advised vehemently against the provision that lets offenders to be imprisoned.



The Anti-LGBTQ Bill is being challenged in court by a Ghanaian citizen for certain provisions it contains, stalling same from being assented by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has charged all parliamentary candidates of the governing New Patriotic Party to hit the ground running if the party will win majority seats in Parliament.



Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin advised the aspirants and his fellow Parliamentarians not to let the 2020 parliamentary results repeat itself in the next Parliament.



The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and opposition National Democratic Congress in 2020 split the seats into halves.



Both parties attained 137 seats each and 1 independent candidate who shared his affiliation with the NPP for the party to seemingly have a majority position in the House of Legislature.



Speaking in an interview on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo" with Kwami Sefa Kayi, Hon. Afenyo-Markin admonished the party's parliamentary aspirants and Members of Parliament to reach out to the grassroots, move from home to home directly engaging the masses soliciting votes for themselves and the New Patriotic Party.



"We should focus and do our work well. Effective politics is not done in the room. It's not about sitting on the radio or holding big rallies; I don't believe in rallies. Go and explain to the people"



"Work hard, go to the grassroots. Go, go, go and market your party. Don't sit idle and think you have already won. Don't let somebody tell you this place is a no-go area. I tell you that there's nothing like no-go area in politics. Go and reach out to them. Talk to them; engage them!", he urged.



He further asked them to communicate the good works of the President to aid the New Patriotic Party to break the 8-year governance cycle.



"Let's rise and stay united. We should publicize the good works by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. We should also admit our mistakes where we make them."





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Beijing's Baoguo Temple Old Book Market and the inaugural Book Sunning Festival opened on Saturday, marking the resurgence of an ancient literary tradition in the heart of the city. Baoguo Temple hosted the capital's most renowned book market during the late Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

Last December preparations began for the Baoguo Temple Old Book Market, which has gradually attracted a growing number of avid readers. Over the past two weekends alone, it has seen impressive turnouts in excess of 10,000 visitors. Scheduled to run every weekend until October, the market promises to be a vibrant celebration of literary culture.

It is divided into three main sections: a secondhand book zone, an intangible cultural heritage creative zone, and an interactive experience zone. Another zone, the Public Sunning Book Zone allows people to bring treasured books to exchange, fostering community and environmental sustainability.

Visitors can also exchange books for flowers or coffee. They get one voucher for every three books, which can be redeemed against a coffee or a bouquet of flowers. Secondhand books that have been exchanged are displayed nearby for purchase at low prices, with around 200 books changing hands daily.

"We believe there are unwanted books in many households. Instead of letting them sit unread, why not exchange them and share them? This not only promotes environmental friendliness but also gives secondhand books new readers, allowing others to learn from them," says Du Yuchen, deputy head of the publicity department of Xicheng district.

The secondhand book zone has around 200 booths. Well-known book vendors like the China Bookstore and the Beijing Publishing Group are among the participants. The China Bookstore alone has around 10,000 books on display in two booths.

In addition, the secondhand book market also organizes cultural activities like book restoration, woodblock rubbing, and wearing hanfu. These activities seek to engage attendees, especially the younger generation, in China's rich cultural heritage.

In the future, Xicheng plans to set up old book circulation platforms, regular secondhand book sales platforms, and a community secondhand book sharing platform. The initiatives are designed to promote the development of the secondhand book market, vitalizing traditional culture and fostering a deeper appreciation of literature among the populace, Du says.
Scenery of yellow canola flowers in town of Chongqing, SW China

Xinhua) 09:12, March 18, 2024

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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
You are here: Business

A BYD Yuan Pro vehicle is displayed during the 20th Changchun International Auto Expo in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, July 20, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Sales of Chinese-brand passenger vehicles soared 26.7 percent year on year in the first two months of 2024, industry data showed.

About 2.07 million such vehicles were sold during the period, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

The market share of domestic-brand passenger vehicles rose 7.6 percentage points year on year to 59.9 percent during the period.

In February alone, some 791,000 such vehicles were sold, with the market share up 6.5 percentage points year on year to 59.4 percent.
With its industrial upgrade creating new opportunities and strengthened policy support to boost employment, China is beefing up efforts from both the supply and demand sides to help young people secure jobs.

China is expected to see over 11.7 million college graduates in 2024, and the number of young job-seekers has continued to grow, according to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS).

"China's current employment situation is on the mend as the economy picks up momentum. Despite challenges, positive factors such as economic growth and policy support continue to bolster the job market," said Mo Rong, president of the Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security.

Fresh opportunities

China's progress in technological innovation and industrial upgrading is catalyzing a boom in job opportunities, and an increasing number of young people are eyeing opportunities in high-tech and emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, big data and smart manufacturing.

In a manufacturing company in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, hundreds of new jobs such as supply chain manager and precision mold designer sprung up after the company's pivot to smart manufacturing. The company is now in need of talent with higher education and skills, according to its manager.

"Industrial upgrading is reshaping the talent structure of enterprises, and college graduates can adapt to these changes more easily as they are well-acquainted with the internet and more versatile," said Li Qiang, executive vice president of Zhaopin.com, a human resources platform.

With developing new quality productive forces high on this year's agenda, China is doubling down on its efforts to make traditional industries more sophisticated, smarter and more eco-friendly, fostering emerging and future-oriented industries, and opening up new fields such as quantum technology and life sciences.

According to Wang Xiaoping, minister of MHRSS, the country will beef up support for major employment drivers such as private, small and medium-sized companies, and boost the development of digital, elderly care, and green sectors to play a greater role in creating jobs.

"Many new jobs and occupations will emerge, providing young people with fresh career choices and new space for development," said Wang Jinsong, dean of the Graduate School of Tianjin University of Technology.

Strengthened support

As China transitions from traditional to new growth drivers, there's a burgeoning demand for talent. However, there's also a noticeable gap between the requirements of enterprises and the knowledge structure and technical skills of job applicants.

To better help young job-seekers adapt to market demand, this year's government work report has underlined improving the quality of education and vocational training.

Wu De, president of Sichuan Agricultural University, said that the university has been canceling or optimizing majors with low employment rates since 2020 and placing greater emphasis on practical training.

"Our students are now more adaptive and have a wider range of career choices, with the proportion of graduates pursuing higher education, getting employed or starting businesses jumping from 87.2 percent in 2020 to 90.5 percent in 2023," Wu said.

To meet the surging market demand for skilled professionals, China provided government-subsidized vocational training to 18 million people in 2023, with a special focus on key sectors such as advanced manufacturing and modern services, according to the MHRSS.

The country has set aside 66.7 billion yuan (about 9.39 billion U.S. dollars) for employment subsidies this year, with a particular focus on the employment and entrepreneurship of college graduates, rural migrant workers and other key populations.

"Policy support is bringing substantial benefits to young people like me," said Tang Jintao, a graduate student from Guangdong Ocean University.

Tang found it hard to find a job after finishing school last year, but through job fairs organized by the government and community recommendations, he was recently hired by a new energy technology company.

The country has vowed to continue to strengthen measures to promote youth employment, expand market-oriented channels, and provide better guidance for employment and entrepreneurship.
A former New Jersey National Guard recruiter accused of sexually assaulting a Hamilton Township teen nearly two years ago was released from the Atlantic County jail Friday pending trial.

Shawn C. Nguyen, 44, of Egg Harbor Township, was charged last week with two counts of sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and official misconduct.

Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Patricia Wild granted Nguyen's release with conditions that he can't be around anyone under 18, have contact with the victim's family or work at a nail salon where Nguyen was previously employed, court records show.

Police responded to the Wawa at 4262 Black Horse Pike on June 28, 2022, in reference to a 16-year-old girl in distress. The victim told officers she was given alcohol and sexually assaulted by a man, later identified as Nguyen, in his vehicle behind the abandoned Sears loading dock at the Hamilton Mall between 9 and 10 p.m., court documents show.

The teen was transported to an area hospital and consented to a sex assault examination kit. Fluids found on the victim and her clothing were tested and matched Nguyen's DNA, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Investigators said Nguyen was the victim's military recruiter.

Police believe Nguyen used his official position to carry out the assault and led the teen to think she would obtain a job with the National Guard.
Rep. Andy Kims lawsuit seeking to bar county lines in this years primaries will come before a federal judge Monday for an evidentiary hearing that could determine whether June ballots feature a party line.

Kim, a Democrat seeking the seat held by Sen. Bob Menendez, alleges New Jerseys unique balloting system tramples on protections granted by the First and Fourteenth amendments and the U.S. Constitutions elections clause.

Kim argues the county-line system  wherein party-endorsed candidates appear on a single row or column, instead of being grouped by office sought  violates candidates constitutional rights because office seekers who choose not to be grouped with others face an automatic disadvantage on ballot placement and, therefore, in the election.

It is hard to imagine how ballots can dictate electoral outcomes in a greater way than rewarding an opponent with an enormous handicap,' Kims attorneys wrote.

The hearing has the potential to upend a system that progressive activists have long decried as unfair, one that allows party leaders to give their preferred candidates advantageous ballot placement while relegating any challengers to ballot Siberia.

Kims arguments are bolstered by a letter state Attorney General Matt Platkins office sent Sunday to the judge overseeing the case, a letter that says his office will not defend the county line in court because it finds it to be unconstitutional.

That New Jersey is the only state in the nation to use this type of ballot undermines the view that such a system is necessary to advance government interests, the letter reads.

Kim is in a four-person race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, and first lady Tammy Murphy is his chief rival. The fight over the fairness of the county line has dominated the campaign, with Murphy arguing that the campaign should move forward with the ground rules as we have them.

Fulop rescinds Tammy Murphy endorsement, backs Andy Kim for Senate Democratic Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has rescinded his support for New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy in her quest for his party's nomination for U.S. Senate.

A bevy of county clerks named in Kims lawsuit has urged the court to keep the current system in place, arguing Kim has failed to show his challenge is likely to succeed and arguing the challenge to ballot design is untimely and likely to confuse voters, coming just a month before the candidate filing deadline.

Various clerks have claimed Kims suit, filed on Feb. 26, came too late in the process to be practical.

Attorneys for Monmouth County Clerk Christine Hanlon said an injunction would require extensive delays, citing an affidavit from voting machine manufacturer Elections Systems and Software that says ballot design changes that require development, testing, and certification of new software could not be completed in time for the June 4 primary.

Nowhere do Plaintiffs or their experts address what is required from voting machine vendors to accommodate an office block format on New Jerseys current machines, whether that could be accomplished in time for the 2024 primary elections, or the resources or costs required for such a transition, Hanlons attorneys wrote.

The congressman questioned the candor of ES&S and other voting machine manufacturers who claimed they could not move to office-block ballots by primary day. New Jersey already uses office-block layouts for nonpartisan municipal and school races, Kims team noted.

They are doing this today, with the voting systems they already use, with the software they already license, and with the vendors they already contract with, Kims attorneys said.

Kim added he had asked clerks to voluntarily give up the line in a Feb. 10 letter they did not respond to, adding some clerks had made an about-face on timeliness from prior cases against the line.

In Conforti v. Hanlon, another challenge to the county lines that has proceeded languorously since being filed in July 2020, Hanlon and other clerks said that challenge to the county line could have been submitted in early April.

Atlantic County Democrats back Andy Kim for Senate, Tim Alexander for House of Representatives Atlantic County Democrats gave ringing endorsements Sunday to U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd, in the upcoming Senate race and to congressional candidate Tim Alexander.

Put another way, multiple election officials took the position that similar challenges were too early, too late, or both, effectively taking the view that the calendar had no viable dates for such a suit to be filed or adjudicated, Kims attorneys wrote.

Clerks also argue that the case should not proceed because Kim failed to name other parties  such as elections boards and superintendents, county parties, other candidates, and the secretary of state  as defendants.

This failure on Plaintiffs part creates hurdles and stifles potential opposition to their claims, attorneys for Mercer County Clerk Paula Sollami Covello wrote.

Numerous groups  including the American Civil Liberties of New Jersey, Harvard Law Schools Election Law Clinic, the League of Women Voters, a group of New Jersey law professors, and current or former candidates who say they were impacted by the line  have asked to join the case as amici.

Kim argues elections boards and superintendents need not be included because it is the clerks, and only the clerks, who are charged by law with ballot design and layout.

This story first appeared on the New Jersey Monitor.
Democratic Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has rescinded his support for New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy in her quest for his partys nomination for U.S. Senate.

Fulop now supports U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd, for the seat held by U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, who has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges.

I was an early supporter of Tammy Murphy for Senate but its no secret Ive been disappointed with the campaign and how it has been conducted, Fulop said Monday in a statement.

Fulop has announced he is running for governor in the 2025 election.

Ive expressed that over the last two months ... and at this point, its clear to me that I was wrong with my early support and endorsement of Tammy Murphy for Senate, Fulop said. After watching the county conventions, I believe that Andy Kim has proven that hes the better candidate, with a clearer message, and he brings a better chance of success in November.

Fulop said it was not easy to admit he was mistaken in his early support for Murphy, and said he should have waited longer before endorsing.

Clearly, this campaign has become a catalyst for the backbone of the Democratic Party to be saying loud and clear that things need to change in New Jersey. I agree with them, Fulop said.
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EGG HARBOR CITY  Atlantic County Democrats gave ringing endorsements Sunday to U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd, in the upcoming Senate race and to congressional candidate Tim Alexander.

The 49th annual Atlantic County Democratic Convention, which the group calls the longest-running continuous nominating convention in state history, was held at Renault Winery on a sunny St. Patricks Day.

The luck of the Irish was not on the side of Tammy Murphy, the wife of Gov. Phil Murphy. She lost handily to Kim, 156-54.

In what was expected to be the race of intrigue Sunday, Alexander, of Galloway Township, received 122 votes, getting the majority over Lower Township resident and businessman Joe Salernos 64 and Sea Isle City engineer Carolyn Rushs 25.

These endorsements mean Kim and Alexander will get the county line when ballots are structured in Atlantic County for the June 4 primary.

At the convention, a crowd of more than 300 people, of whom 206 were voting delegates, endorsed candidates by acclimation. Twenty-two of the countys 23 municipalities were represented.

When Kim was announced, the support in the voting was apparent from the loud applause he received and the Andy! Andy! chants that followed.

When we first started convention season about two months ago, there were some people that questioned whether or not I could win any of them. Or if I did, maybe just one or two of them, Kim told the crowd. But, I have to tell you, were closing (out convention season) with a solid eight wins, hopefully another as Morris County closes.

Fulop rescinds Tammy Murphy endorsement, backs Andy Kim for Senate Democratic Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop has rescinded his support for New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy in her quest for his party's nomination for U.S. Senate.

Kim also won the backing of the Morris County Democrats by a vote of 457-57. He now has the backing of nine counties to Murphys seven.

He and Murphy are among the candidates vying for the U.S. Senate seat held by Bob Menendez, who is facing a federal corruption trial in May. Menendez has yet to announce whether he will seek reelection.

Kim had a big smile on his face after the results were announced. He called his margins of victory out of control at each of the conventions where he enjoyed success.

I think it really just shows what were bringing, Kim said. And look, if we can win in these types of environments  these are some of the most hardcore Democrats that are out there  if we can win here, I think were gonna be able to blow it out of the water when it comes to the general public and other registered Democrats. Im excited about that.

Kim said his ability to get moderate votes will be his strength, especially in Atlantic County, when it comes to the primary.

Im a Democrat that won a district (former President Donald) Trump won twice. I know how to be able to engage, I know how to be able to connect with voters, and Ive been one of the best performing Democrats in the country up against Republicans in tough counties like this, Kim said after the convention. Having represented Ocean County, a shore community that has a strong Republican presence, I think I can be somebody that adds value to Atlantic County, to South Jersey communities. Im looking forward to be able to work alongside the Democrats here to get that message out.

Alexander, a retired law enforcement officer and a civil rights attorney, is looking to win his second nomination for the 2nd Congressional District race and get another crack at Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who won the 2022 race with almost 58% of the vote to Alexanders 40%.

Today was an amazing testament to what we have done in the past, Alexander said following the convention. So now we have to close this gap. I worked my butt off the last election cycle, and I can tell you that wasnt near as hard as what were doing this cycle.

The goal here is to make more people aware of what were doing, what Im proposing, how Im paying for it, which is key, and the emphasis on the fact that its for everybody.

Alexander echoed Kims sentiment about gaining the support of moderate voters.

My whole platform is in the middle because thats where a majority of Americans are, Alexander said. My whole platform is about bipartisan support. My proposals are those I believe I can get bipartisan support.

Yes, Im a Democrat. Im not trying to shy away from that. But Im a Democrat who believes in the system of working together, across the aisles.

PHOTOS 49th Atlantic County Democratic Convention
Dressed head to toe in pink and bright pastels, five Quad-Cities women talked about their career accomplishments and challenges in a Barbie-themed summit designed to inspire young women at Augustana.

Called Shades of Beauty, Sunday's summit marked its fifth year. It was started by Ashley Allen, the director of Augustana College's Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity.

"The goal was really to provide an event where students felt like they were enough," Allen said. "...The reason why we bring in women leader speakers, especially in the community of diverse background, it helps students be able to see themselves."

This year's speakers were Maria Contreras Huerta, a wealth management banker at US Bank; Rene Gellerman, the president and CEO of United Way Quad Cities; Elizabeth Kantner, a teacher at Longfellow Liberal Arts; Nicole Watson-Lam, the founder and CEO of Ms. BriMani's Hair & Beauty Supply and The Urban Reserve in Rock Island, and Xong Sony Yang, the director of Augustana's Office of International Student and Scholar Services.

Several of the speakers are also parents, and talked about the challenges of balancing a career with expectations for women in taking care of a home and children.

"I was really intentional about bringing people from the Quad-Cities to see that even in their own back yard there's women doing amazing things," Allen said. "And I think it's also important to know that even though you may see a president or a CEO, there's also moms, teachers ... it's a celebration of different backgrounds but also how a woman shows up in their life."

Allen said the summit organizers started planning for the event during the summer, when the film Barbie appeared on big screens. They knew there would be a lot of buzz. But, she said, researching how Barbie evolved to celebrate all different types and careers of women, inspired her and the planners.

Nicole Watson-Lamb started her business 25 years ago this May as a "single momma with bad credit" and a "dead-end job."

But she kept at it, she told the audience. As she pursued a loan, many told her she should go to school and get a business degree. But she felt that she could fill a niche for a Black-owned beauty supply company.

"Don't let anyone tell you you can't do something for any reason," Watson-Lamb said.

Now, she also owns an event venue, and has been recognized by the Quad Cities Chamber and the City of Rock Island for her accomplishments.

Yang told the audience that as a Hmong American, she often felt she had two different lives that pulled her in different directions, speaking English at school and Hmong at home, for example.

Growing up, she said her brothers would participate in after-school activities while she stayed home. She said she questioned her parents about cultural norms and assumptions for a woman's role and pushed to do more out-of-school activities and pursue advanced degrees.

Gellerman told the audience to remember to thank themselves and recognize the work they put in for themselves everyday. She referenced a recent Emmy acceptance speech by Niecy Nash, in which the actress thanked herself for believing in herself.

"I've learned that nothing in life is easy," Gellerman said. "In fact, the higher the stakes, the bigger the battle. And I think it's important to understand who you're up against and who you're battling. Because you're not battling your classmates, you're not battling your friends or women or men or your competitors. You're in a battle with yourself. It's you against you."

Kantner, answering a question about how to react to changes in plans, said once she became a teacher and graduated with her master's, she then planned to start a family with her husband. But, she said, she couldn't conceive. So they adapted. And adopted. Now, she said, they're raising two wonderful teenagers.

Contreras Huerta told the audience after her second child, she and her husband realized they couldn't afford childcare and one person would have to stay home. She quit her job to stay home with her kids.

"That lasted about a month," Contreras Huerta said. "I couldn't do it. Although I loved spending time with my sons, I didn't feel accomplished. So, I started working again, and my husband became a stay at home dad."

She said it came with some judgement, including from her grandmother, who thought she should be the one at home with the children.

While her grandmother's views haven't changed, she has come to respect her decisions, Contreras Huerta said.

"I refused to be a housewife just because that's how it's supposed to be," Contreras Huerta said.

Close A Barbie cake was one of the many Barbie-themed foods and decorations at the 2024 Shades of Beauty summit at Augustana College in Rock Island. The summit hosted panelists of women in the Quad-Cities who talked about their careers and challenges balancing their roles and expectations of them. Josie Ramirez, left, modeled her outfit after Ken from the summer's Barbie movie. Devlin Harris, right, dressed as Allan. The group of Augustana juniors attended the Shades of Beauty Summit, the theme of which was Barbie, Sunday, March 17, 2024 at Augustana College in Rock Island. Josie Ramierz, left, and Alexxa Soto, both juniors at Augustana pose for a picture at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island Sunday March 17, 2024. Attendees at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday March 17, 2024, at Augustana College in Rock Island. About a hundred people came to listen to a panel of five women that live and work in the Quad-Cities talk about their careers and personal journeys. A display of Barbies at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island Sunday March 17, 2024. In its 5th year, the women's summit was focused around Barbie after the movie of the same name came out in summer 2023. Nicole Watson-Lam, the founder and CEO of Ms. BriMani's Hair Salon and Beauty Supply as well as the Urban Reserve, talks about how she came to be a business owner during the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit. Ms. BriMani's is celebrating 25 years in business in May. Xong Sony Yang, the director of Augustana College's Office of International Student and Scholar Services, speaks as a panelist during the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday March 17 at Augustana College in Rock Island. From left, Maria Contreras Huerta, Rene Gellerman, Nicole Watson-Lam, Elizabeth Kantner, and Xong Sony Yang answer questions during a Q&A portion of the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island. Maria Contreras Huerta, a wealth management banker at US Bank, answers a question during a Q&A portion of the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday, March 17, at Augustana College in Rock Island. The Heavy Steppas perform for the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island. The Heavy Steppas perform during the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday March 17, 2024 at Augustana College in Rock Island. The Heavy Steppas perform during the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday March 17, 2024 at Augustana College in Rock Island. A table of desserts at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island. The them of the summit, in its fifth year, was Barbie after the popularity of the 2023 movie. Esther Anderson, grandmother to Ashley Allen, Augustana's director of the Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity, made sure to ask a question of the panelists about what keeps them going. Students get brunch at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Augustana College in Rock Island. Students posed as Barbies for decorations at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island. Photos: Augusta Shades of Beauty Summit 2024 A Barbie cake was one of the many Barbie-themed foods and decorations at the 2024 Shades of Beauty summit at Augustana College in Rock Island. The summit hosted panelists of women in the Quad-Cities who talked about their careers and challenges balancing their roles and expectations of them. Josie Ramirez, left, modeled her outfit after Ken from the summer's Barbie movie. Devlin Harris, right, dressed as Allan. The group of Augustana juniors attended the Shades of Beauty Summit, the theme of which was Barbie, Sunday, March 17, 2024 at Augustana College in Rock Island. Josie Ramierz, left, and Alexxa Soto, both juniors at Augustana pose for a picture at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island Sunday March 17, 2024. Attendees at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday March 17, 2024, at Augustana College in Rock Island. About a hundred people came to listen to a panel of five women that live and work in the Quad-Cities talk about their careers and personal journeys. A display of Barbies at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island Sunday March 17, 2024. In its 5th year, the women's summit was focused around Barbie after the movie of the same name came out in summer 2023. Nicole Watson-Lam, the founder and CEO of Ms. BriMani's Hair Salon and Beauty Supply as well as the Urban Reserve, talks about how she came to be a business owner during the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit. Ms. BriMani's is celebrating 25 years in business in May. Xong Sony Yang, the director of Augustana College's Office of International Student and Scholar Services, speaks as a panelist during the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday March 17 at Augustana College in Rock Island. From left, Maria Contreras Huerta, Rene Gellerman, Nicole Watson-Lam, Elizabeth Kantner, and Xong Sony Yang answer questions during a Q&A portion of the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island. Maria Contreras Huerta, a wealth management banker at US Bank, answers a question during a Q&A portion of the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday, March 17, at Augustana College in Rock Island. The Heavy Steppas perform for the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island. The Heavy Steppas perform during the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday March 17, 2024 at Augustana College in Rock Island. The Heavy Steppas perform during the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday March 17, 2024 at Augustana College in Rock Island. A table of desserts at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island. The them of the summit, in its fifth year, was Barbie after the popularity of the 2023 movie. Esther Anderson, grandmother to Ashley Allen, Augustana's director of the Office of Student Inclusion and Diversity, made sure to ask a question of the panelists about what keeps them going. Students get brunch at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Augustana College in Rock Island. Students posed as Barbies for decorations at the 2024 Shades of Beauty Summit at Augustana College in Rock Island.
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Syria's Foreign Ministry on Sunday strongly denounced a recent joint statement by the United States, Britain, France, and Germany as the perpetuation of "destructive policies."

The ministry said the joint statement was a continuation of the "destructive policies" that these countries have been imposing on Syria for the past 13 years.

On the 13th anniversary of the break out of the Syrian conflict on March 15, the United States, Britain, France, and Germany issued a joint statement accusing the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of "committing widespread oppression and atrocities" against Syrians, resulting in over 500,000 deaths and massive displacement.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry accused in a statement the four countries of utilizing various tools of war against Syria, including inciting campaigns, spreading misleading information, supporting terrorist organizations and separatist militias, creating illegitimate alliances, and imposing inhumane unilateral coercive measures on the Syrian people.

This has ultimately led to the direct occupation of parts of Syrian territory, according to the statement.

"The Syrian government sees these assertions as mere political hypocrisy and a desperate attempt to cover up the catastrophic effects of the coercive measures imposed on the Syrian population," it said.

Additionally, the theft of Syrian national resources by foreign powers has deprived the Syrian people of their wealth and livelihoods, said the statement, regarding the continued occupation of parts of Syrian territory by U.S. forces as a blatant violation of Syrian sovereignty and the United Nations Charter.

Moreover, the ministry called for justice to be served by compensating Syrians for their losses, holding accountable those responsible for the destruction of cities like Raqqa, and ensuring that perpetrators of atrocities are not exempt from punishment.
Many farmers have been looking to plant soybeans earlier in recent years.

Iowa State University Extension cropping systems specialist Mark Licht said they are looking to capture maximum yield potential, or in some cases experimenting to see what works best.

Research has shown soybeans can be planted earlier than previously thought  in mid-April  although planting early has its risks, he said. The key is evaluating soil conditions and temperatures, as well as the forecast, rather than getting caught up on any one date.

Some farmers are even testing March planting on a small-scale basis.

"In some respects, farmers are moving up planting dates maybe a little bit before the science would support it, planting soybeans in March," Licht said. "We know that farmers are experimenting with earlier planting dates. Those March planting dates just arent supported by the science.

"We know theyre going to sit in the ground for 30 to 60 days, and thats just not good."

But for many farmers, earlier soybean planting means moving from early May to mid-April or late April, as conditions allow. Licht noted that, ahead of last growing season, the USDA adjusted crop insurance dates for when farmers could plant soybeans and remain eligible for replant coverage.

"Planting early  Ill call that in the April 10-15 range  can work," he said.

In Illinois, the earliest planting dates are April 5 and April 15 for the southern and northern parts of the state, respectively, and April 10 for the central region. Rock Island and Henry counties fall in the northern part.

University of Illinois ag economist Scott Irwin said there has been a trend toward earlier planting of soybeans in the U.S., particularly in the South.

Some studies in recent decades have illustrated that soybeans can be planted earlier and still have strong yield potential, he said.

The hopes for early soybean planting are faster canopy, more plant nodes, high pod retention, and of course higher yields. Licht said this is possible, although soybeans are just as susceptible to cold injury as corn, so farmers should be cautious about putting soybean seeds in cold, wet soils.

The arrival of spring and warm conditions could encompass a wide range of possibilities. "Im not really a proponent of focusing on a planting date just because it varies from year to year," he said.

Instead, Licht said he looks for soil temperatures at 2 inches to reach at least 50 degrees and ideally be rising when soybeans are planted.

Looking at the weather forecast for the next 24 to 72 hours is important as well, he said. Farmers should try to have good soil moisture levels  enough moisture to germinate but not so much that planting a field can cause compaction issues.

Likewise, Irwin said the ideal planting date varies by location.

"There is not complete agreement on the optimum planting window for maximizing soybean yields or the date when late planting begins to impose a substantial yield penalty," he said. "Both the optimum window and the cutoff date for a significant late planting penalty certainly varies by geographic location."

Licht said in his area, yield potential stays fairly good through mid-May before it begins to decline.

"May 15-20 is kind of that cutoff for both corn and soybeans," he said. "After that 15th to 20th (range) you tend to lose yield potential."

He said planting in late April and early May usually works well, then the drop-offs when planting gets delayed into June "tend to be significant." Many farmers have no doubt raised good soybean crops planted in June, and later-planted crops can be better than early depending on the year, but Licht said the overall data points to timely planting producing the best results most often.

Irwin said the general data shows late soybean planting has a small negative impact on yield potential, but other factors are typically more important in explaining deviations from the yield trend.

There are years when soybean planting is delayed and yields end up very good, he said, but other years with early and timely planting that saw poor yields, such as 2012 when crops faced severe drought.

"This does not mean late planting should be ignored when projecting soybean yield, but rather, other factors, in particular summer weather, are typically more important in explaining deviations from trend yield," Irwin said.

If all crops can be planted by May 20, Licht said, the timing of planting corn or soybeans first is not significant.

But if things get tight, it can be a good idea to prioritize corn, he said. The crop is hurt more by late planting than soybeans. "Corn yield potential drops off pretty quickly, and it drops off faster than soybeans."

Irwin said soybeans do have a fairly wide window to be planted with an expectation of "normal" yields, with early April through early May generally representing the peak of that window. He said the yield penalty on average increases sharply for planting past mid-May, with expected yield reductions as large as 20 to 30%.

While more farmers have been looking at planting soybeans earlier, growing seasons have gotten slightly longer in recent decades based on dates of the last frost in the spring and the first frost in the fall.

Despite having more time, Licht said farmers still look to get crops planted as early as possible to get the crops up and growing, and also try to avoid the threat of prevent plant acres.

Prevented planting is a provision of crop insurance that compensates farmers for pre-planting costs associated with a crop that the farmer did not plant with the proper equipment by the final planting date designated in the insurance policy.

Some farmers have adjusted to longer growing seasons in other ways, however, such as selecting different soybean varieties to "take advantage of the late falls that weve seen," Licht said.
After a Saskatchewan man fled Canada to a 2022 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally campground in an effort to evade child protective services, a federal judge sentenced him Friday to four years and four months in prison for the child pornography law enforcement found on his devices.

The situation started as a kidnapping case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Collins said at 52-year-old Benjamin Moore's sentencing.

Moore  who has a child pornography and sex crime conviction in Canada  fled the country with his common-law partner and her two children he "considered" to be his on Aug. 3, 2022. He cut a barbed wire fence at about 2 a.m. near Turner, Montana and crossed over the border in a 2015 dark blue Chevy Equinox, according to court documents.

Canadian officials issued an Amber Alert on Aug. 9. 2022 for the mother and the two children. They had attempted to contact the mother and Moore to remove the children from their home.

Security personnel at the Glencoe Campground north of Sturgis contacted law enforcement late in the evening on Aug. 9, 2022 and reported Moore worked there as a security guard.

Law enforcement had also traced cell phone records to the campground. The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations worked together to locate Moore.

When agents arrived at the campground, Moore, the mother, and the two children were inside the Equinox attempting to run from the campground. After law enforcement vehicles pinned the vehicle, they took Moore and the woman into custody. The Department of Social Services took custody of the children.

According to a Homeland Security Investigations probable cause affidavit, the mother said she went voluntarily with Moore. She did not face federal charges.

Moore, however, was arrested and charged with transportation of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and transporting illegal aliens.

He pleaded guilty on Dec. 13, 2023 to possession of child pornography. In exchange, the government dismissed the remaining charges.

At sentencing, Collins asked the judge to sentence Moore within the federal guideline range of four years and three months to five years and three months in prison.

Federal sentencing guidelines are designed to promote uniformity in sentences across the country, but judges are not required to follow them. The guidelines are calculated using numerous factors, including the offense itself and the defendant's criminal history.

Collins said she was "shocked," "offended," and "confounded" that Canadian criminal records are not taken into account when calculating sentencing guidelines in the United States.

Collins noted two Canadian convictions in Moore's past  possession of child pornography and sexual interference, the Canadian equivalent of sexual contact with a child.

"He does have that prior conduct with minors," Collins said.

The prosecutor also noted child pornography "does involve victims," and they are "revictimized" every time someone views the recordings or photographs of their most traumatic experiences. In all, Moore possessed 13 images.

Thomas Diggins, Moore's defense attorney, noted the single video among the images was downloaded to Moore's phone in February 2021.

"That timing is important," Diggins said. "He tells me he honestly doesn't know how that got on his phone."

Diggins said there was no evidence Moore was a "collector" of child pornography. He also emphasized that, in the 10 years Moore raised the two children, there were no allegations he harmed them.

He asked the judge to sentence Moore to the average sentence for someone of Moore's criminal history, 35 months, or to time served of 23 months.

"I just want to get home and provide for my family like I always have," Moore said.

Before sentencing Moore, Chief United States District Judge Roberto Lange said the child pornography market "must be blunted."
One week out of every month, between 40 and 70 women from Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and North Dakota travel to Billings with a shared mission: to undertake some step of the in-vitro fertilization process at the states only fertility clinic. It's also the only clinic between Fargo and Spokane, or north of Salt Lake City and Denver.

The Billings Clinic Fertility Specialists now see about 500 patients per year, up from 58 patients in 2011, the year the clinic opened. And it all still happens in a one-week window each month.

We batch all our IVF cycles so we all land in Billings during a specific week, said Dr. Stacy Shomento, the medical director of Montana's sole IVF program. Shomento, along with another reproductive doctor from North Dakota and embryologists, travels to Billings each month for the cycle.

IVF programs are concentrated in big cities, Dr. Shomento said. It's very special that we're able to do this in a rural location and that means there's travel involved for a lot of people.

In the weeks leading up, patients take hormones to stimulate egg production. Patients on the western half of the state receive ultrasounds in Bozeman, patients on the eastern half  as well as from Cody and Powell, Wyoming, and Williston, North Dakota  receive ultrasounds in Billings. But every patient must come to Billings at least twice: to have eggs retrieved, or removed, and, once again, to have embryos transferred, or put into the uterus.

The clinic transferred 44 embryos in a single week this past February.

Part of the process is testing for infertility on both the male and female side. About 40% of couples have infertility on the male side, another 40% have it on the female side, and about 20% have it on both sides, according to Dr. Shomento.

In 2021, the most recent year with available data, 412 Montanan women used assistive reproductive technology, leading to 179 births, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). This accounted for 1.6% of Montanas births that year, which is still below the national rate of 2.3%.

Despite growing steadily over the years, Montanan women use IVF at just over half the national rate, according to data from the CDC. This is because there isnt much insurance coverage for IVF in Montana and a cycle at Billings Clinic costs about $15,000 to $20,000.

Other states, such as Arkansas and Colorado, require insurance to pay for IVF for couples struggling with infertility.

The vast majority of patients are having to pay for services completely out of pocket, Dr. Shomento said. Its a great financial strain for people.

Just last year, the legislature passed a bill requiring insurance companies to pay for fertility assistance for cancer patients, joining 16 other states which require some kind of insurance coverage for medically-induced infertility.

Every single person probably knows somebody suffering from infertility or sub-fertility, its just not as talked about, Dr. Shomento said. A cancer patient tells all their friends and the insurance company gets behind them. IVF is costly, time intensive, requires lots of travel, and people go through it by themselves.

Alabama and Montana

Meanwhile, a decision by the Alabama Supreme Court to treat frozen embryos as children has led to battles over whether to protect IVF access at the federal level, with politicians vying for office weighing in on whether they support protections of the procedure.

Incumbents Sen. Jon Tester and Rep. Ryan Zinke both said they support IVF, as does Senate hopeful Tim Sheehy and Monica Tranel, a Democrat running for Zinke's seat. But what support means depends on the candidate.

Tester came out in support of the Access to Family Building Act, which would establish a legal right to access IVF. He also supports the Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2023, which would expand fertility treatments available to veterans under health care, including IVF for veterans who cannot conceive without assistance.

Both bill sponsors tried to pass the bills through unanimous consent and both bills were blocked by Senate Republicans.

In response to a question about whether Sen. Steve Daines supports federal protection of IVF, a spokesperson said that he fully supports IVF and no one is discussing a ban on IVF.

In a post on X, Sheehy wrote that he will fight against efforts to restrict (IVF).

In response to a question about whether Sheehy would support protecting it at the federal level, a spokesperson said that No one is talking about banning it. Of course he supports IVF.

Tranel was unambiguous about her support for federal protections.

"In Congress I will fight to protect Montanans' freedoms, including access to IVF," she said.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Zinke said that his staff is reviewing the several bills on the issue in the House and are looking to see which will advance with the most bipartisan support.

Rep. Matt Rosendale, who has announced that he will not seek re-election, was the only federal representative who did not voice support for IVF.

When the Supreme Court decided Dobbs v. Jackson there was a clear mandate to states that they are able to set their own rules pertaining to the life of an unborn child, he said.
Henrico County police announced Monday that officers would no longer be responding to several types of service calls, such as certain medical emergencies, animal-related incidents, abandoned vehicles, noise complaints and marijuana use.

The changes, which are effective immediately, will help the division reduce ... call volume to provide better, more efficient response times to community members in need, said Henrico Police Chief Eric English.

In the past, our patrol officers have routinely been put into positions of responding to calls for service where they have no legal authority, English said. This has ... (led) to a lack of units available to respond to any given call.

The list of reports to which Henrico officers will no longer respond includes:

Animal-related calls between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., with exceptions for animal injuries, attacks or cruelty and abuse

Loud parties or noise complaints (such as children running through apartment complexes or loud footsteps in neighboring apartments), with exceptions for activity that is a clear violation of Henrico noise ordinances

Medical emergencies in which police are not needed by other first responders

Service calls for people who are panhandling, lawfully in a median or homeless individuals who appear fine

Past shoplifting incidents in which there is no evidence and callers do not intend to prosecute

Abandoned vehicles and bicycles

Marijuana use within a residence, with exceptions for active drug transactions

Juvenile problems, including calls to assist with parenting, truancy or requesting an officer to speak with a child about the consequences of their actions

We understand these changes might take some time to get used to, English said. Its important to note that each call will be assessed on a call-by-call basis. ... We are still here, supporting the community every day.

The announcement comes as police departments across the country struggle to meet recruitment and retention goals.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch previously reported that applications to join Henrico police plunged over 76%  from 1,086 to 259 applications  between 2018 and 2021. While the division said the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the decrease, officials weighed other factors as well.

In an attempt to bolster recruitment, English made changes to the hiring guidelines. Visible and non-obscene tattoos are now permitted, except on the hands or face. And consumption of THC products within the past two years no longer disqualifies candidates as it did before English was appointed chief.

Felony and certain misdemeanor convictions, THC consumption after the date of application and a driving record with over six penalty points in the past year are among items that make Henrico police candidates ineligible. Candidates must also be at least 21, U.S. citizens and have a high school diploma or GED.

Henrico police spokesperson Karina Bolster said the modifications to service call response policies were not a result of staffing issues within the division, and were purely procedural.

Remember Safety Town? A look back through the Times-Dispatch archives
When Gov. Glenn Youngkin gathered with local officials last week to celebrate data center development in the Fredericksburg region, one locality was missing from the party.

King George County was the first in the immediate Fredericksburg area to approve the rezonings needed for Amazon Web Services to set up shop. However, no one from King George stood with Board of Supervisors members from Caroline, Louisa, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties at the governors gathering at Germanna Community College to tout all the jobs and tax dollars the data centers would bring to local coffers.

Thats because a change in membership on the King George Board of Supervisors, as a result of November elections, brought a different majority and mindset to the board. Led by Chairman T.C. Collins, the supervisors voted in January to cancel the performance agreement with Amazon that had been approved a month earlier by the previous board.

The current members are looking to renegotiate the contract with Amazon, but the two parties seemingly havent made any progress. When Collins asked for an update in early March, he was told by Richard Stuart Jr., King Georges interim county attorney, that Amazon has transferred into its name the water intake permit through the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

The primary portion of the 869 acres in the Sealston area, designated for a data center complex, is on the site of the former Birchwood power plant. The Birchwood Power Partners already had a permit from DEQ to extract a maximum of 6.6 million gallons of water daily from the Rappahannock River.

Stuart said the new permit makes no mention of a promise Amazon made to King George to provide a minimum of 600,000 gallons of water a day to the county for use as drinking water.

Stuart also said that Amazon could change its permit at any point, and that for the sake of convenience, it had chosen to make only a minor modification to the permit as part of the transfer.

Then, the lawyer expressed how concerned he was that theres no evidence in the permit of Amazons intent to give the county water.

Where I come from, if you promise somebody something, youre supposed to deliver on it, Stuart said.

His comments concerned Vice Chair Cathy Binder.

Thats been my biggest thing over time, drinking water, and to make sure that our residents get drinking water, she said, especially since DEQ has told the county it needs to find an alternative source of groundwater.

King George lies at the far end of an aquifer that supplies drinking water, and its been given a timetable to find another source, she said. DEQ is very specific about that.

However, emails between Stuart and Charlie Payne, a Fredericksburg lawyer representing Amazon, show the two attorneys had discussed the water-intake permit two weeks before the King George meeting on March 5.

In emails which Payne provided to The Free LanceStar, Stuart expressed his disappointment that Amazons permit included only water for industrial cooling and no water whatsoever for drinking purposes.

Payne responded that what occurred was the normal transfer from the former owner to the current one, consistent with the countys proffer amendment and special exception approval. He said the transfer of the water-intake permit in no way changes Amazons commitment to the county, and providing the drinking water, as outlined in the performance agreement and memorandum of understanding.

I think the record should be very clear that it is not (Amazon) who is hindering progress with the data center projects proposed in King George County, Payne wrote. Rather it is the county.

The about-face on the Amazon decision isnt the only matter the Board of Supervisors has dealt with this year. From the first meeting in January through the end of February, four key staff members  all department heads  have resigned.

The first two came the same night the new board deliberated for the first time. The supervisors opened the meeting, went into closed session, came out before the public again and accepted the resignations of County Administrator Chris Miller and County Attorney Kelly Lackey.

Miller, who became King Georges county administrator in July 2021, said he was not forced to resign, but that it was a mutually agreed decision to go in another direction, he said in a text. New board and board relationship.

Lackey, the county attorney since November 2021, could not be reached for comment.

Both submitted resignations that were handwritten, and done hastily, at least by the looks of them. Miller had scratched out words in several places, and inserted phrases, above the lines, in others. Under Lackeys signature on her resignation is the wrong year  Jan. 2, 2023, instead of 2024.

Since then, Donna Hahn, finance director, and Nick Minor, director of economic development and tourism, also have resigned.

Theres been a flurry of speculation and emails to county officials and the press, demanding an investigation of both the resignations and the Amazon revocation. Theyve come from unnamed emailers who call themselves Shadow or Friend of King George to those who identify themselves, including board-watcher Adam Simonoff.

There must be a public explanation for all the recent resignations of key public servants in King George County, Simonoff said in an email to At-Large Supervisor David Sullins. Id rather keep all the professional civil servants and have the responsible elected officials resign. All the county taxpayers deserve answers.

Simonoff plans to present his concerns to the King George Board of Supervisors during its meeting Tuesday in the boardroom of the Revercomb Administration Center. The Board of Directors for the King George Service Authority meets at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Board of Supervisors.
John Reid, a conservative morning talk show host on Richmonds WRVA radio, told listeners on Monday that he is exploring a GOP run for lieutenant governor in 2025.

Im thankful for WRVA and for the people whove supported me here and I pray that thats going to continue, he told listeners. But now I look around and I think it may be time to step up, where I see a place that will need leadership in the future.

He told listeners that if Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears chooses to seek the GOP nomination for governor and if the job of lieutenant governor is open, I may choose next year to ask you to consider me for it.

Reid, who is gay and in a long-term relationship with his partner, Alonzo Mable, also urged prospective voters not to disqualify him based solely on his sexual orientation.

Reid, 53, who succeeded Jimmy Barrett in 2017 as WRVAs morning host, has had a wide-ranging career that included a decade as co-anchor of Good Morning Richmond on WRIC-TV8 in Richmond and three years as communications director for U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va. He has also held high-level communications positions with The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

His late father, Del. Jack Reid, R-Henrico, served in the House of Delegates from 1990 to 2008.

In Virginia, the lieutenant governor presides over the state Senate and is first in the line of succession to governor. So far, one candidate has announced for lieutenant governor, Dr. Babur Lateef, a Democrat who is an eye surgeon and the chairman of the Prince William County School Board. Legislators in both parties could seek the job.

In prefacing his announcement, Reid listed a litany of concerns, ranging from COVID lockdowns to attacks on police to a rise in violent crime.

He said he has been enraged by what he termed the arrogant, anti-intellectual, often false rewriting of our history, the denigration of our historic sites, and the Taliban-esque destruction and erasure of public statues and monuments and art that tell the stories of our past, of our ancestors.

Gay rights advocates have touted that a record number of LGBTQ+ candidates  all Democrats  won state legislative seats in Virginias November elections. To date, no openly gay candidate has been elected to statewide office in Virginia.

During his March 2 rally in Richmond, former President Donald Trump gave a shoutout to radio host John Reid and Alonzo, drawing applause from the crowd. They like you guys, Trump said.

Reid said in a phone interview that he and his partner have been together for seven years, that they wear commitment rings and have discussed having a wedding at some point.

I think there is no question that the Republican voters, by and large, are much more open to hearing from someone like me than they might have been in past decades, Reid said.

Speaking of issues that concern conservatives, he said: Things are changing now in a dramatic way that many of us do not embrace and approve of. The idea of two men being married, in a committed, monogamous relationship, kind of pales in comparison to some of the other things that are happening.

Reid said he expects his role on the radio would change if he were to file the paperwork and formally declare a candidacy. In the meantime, he says he will not be hijacking the show to tout his potential candidacy.

Reid told listeners on Monday that for three decades, he had listened to people he respects and loves who counseled that a future in elective office was off-limits because he was honest about his sexual orientation.

He said he hopes voters will assess his experience, words and actions and consider that he might take a GOP message of traditional values to new audiences.

He added: I guess well see, and Ill let you know when its time to make a decision.

Today in history: March 18 1922: Mohandas K. Gandhi 1940: Benito Mussolini 1942: Milton S. Eisenhower 1965: Alexei Leonov 2012: Mitt Romney 2016: Salah Abdeslam 2017: Chuck Berry 2018: Vladimir Putin 2021: NBA
A half-century after the scandal over Allied Chemical's years of dumping Kepone into the James River finally prompted officials to take action, poisonous chemicals are still getting into the river  and, for many, its not clear from where or how much.

What is clear is that decades of state officials examinations of fish tissues show that one class of toxic chemicals  polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs  are still in the James in significant amounts, 45 years after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned them, a Richmond Times-Dispatch review of thousands of state records, filed over the past three decades, found.

Kepone in fish tissues is still leading the Department of Health to advise limiting how many fish from the James people eat.

The records show toxic metals  including arsenic, mercury, cadmium and copper  are showing up in fish tissues.

So are pesticides, including DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), which was banned in 1972, along with closely related dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene and dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane isomers, as well as chlordane, commonly used to control termites before it was banned in 1988, and hexachlorobenzene, a fungicide banned in 1966.

Like PCBs  toxic, man-made chemicals that the EPA banned in 1979 because they caused birth defects and cancer in laboratory animals  these pesticides are not supposed to be there.

These are not coming from identifiable sources, like the nitrogen that still seeps into the James and flows to the Chesapeake Bay to feed the algae that every summer create giant, oxygen-starved dead zones that kill fish, crabs and other bay dwellers.

Runoff a key challenge for bay

What environmental regulations call nonpoint-source emissions  pollution from rain and snowmelt that is carried into the James and its tributary streams and creeks  is the biggest challenge facing efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. The latest data from the Department of Environmental Quality shows some progress, with total nitrogen flows into the James from wastewater and industrial facilities 48% below the 2022 target and phosphorus flows 43% below the 2022 target.

Treatment plants in the cities of Richmond and Hopewell and in Chesterfield and Henrico counties were also below their targets, but paper mills, small municipal and Department of Corrections facilities farther upstream ran above their targets.

The James is in better shape than most other rivers in the state, including the York, Rappahannock and Potomac. Like the James, they are a focus of regulatory attention because they flow into the bay, where a multiyear state and federal cleanup effort is lagging.

The progress so far, also reflected in improvements to water quality in the James, comes from hundreds of millions of dollars invested in upgrading wastewater plants. That is the big reason, for instance, why Virginia is closer to meeting its goal for reducing phosphorus, which largely came from detergents in wastewater, than it is to hitting its nitrogen targets.

Department of Environmental Quality monitoring of the water- and stream-bed dwelling bugs and worms that fish eat show that 27% of the miles of James River watershed are under moderate to severe biological stress. That is well below the state average of 42%.

The James and its tributaries also report below-average percentages for miles with suboptimal habitat disturbance and sedimentation, according to the DEQ monitoring, but roughly average amounts of dissolved metals, which can be toxic.

Brook trout, which are sensitive to dissolved oxygen levels, acidity and higher temperatures  key water-quality measures  are found along 74% of the James River watershed, the James River Association reports. Underwater grasses, which are sensitive to water clarity, another key water-quality measure, now cover 60% of a target of 3,663 acres.

Tackling toxic chemicals

But persistently high levels of PCBs in fish tissue have state regulators and environmentalists thinking it is time to tackle toxic chemical emissions, too.

Weve made a lot of progress, but there is still work to do, not only for emerging concerns about pollutants, but just to maintain what weve accomplished, said Bill Street, CEO and president of the James River Association.

Over the past decade, the comeback has stalled, with the river seeing only marginal improvements since 2015, in Streets view. He said major concerns include climate change, the disappearance of species and new kinds of pollutants, in addition to the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment that have been the focus of Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts along the river.

One problem is that the reports regulators see about releases of toxic material from company or government agency facilities  point sources, in the jargon  do not include any PCB or pesticide data. That is not surprising, since PCBs have been banned for so long, as have Kepone, DDT, chlordane and hexachlorobenzene.

PCBs have been a concern since the 70s, but it isnt going away ... were still seeing PCBs in fish tissue, Street said. Thats why the state Department of Health has issued advisories about not eating too many fish from the James.

The reports do show a discharge into the waters of the James River watershed a range of other chemicals, including eight that the EPA labeled as carcinogens, that are not picked up in the state Department of Environmental Qualitys fish tissue reports.

An additional 16, also not tracked in fish tissue reports, are linked to health problems, from eye damage to irregular heartbeat to birth defects to liver damage, depending on how long and how seriously people are exposed.

Forever chemicals lack monitoring

No one, meanwhile, is tracking levels of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances  the so-called forever chemicals  in Virginia waters. None of the 1,250 reports of point source toxic releases filed in 2022 involved these chemicals.

Animal studies suggest these forever chemicals, used in non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, food packaging and clothing, among other items, can affect reproduction, thyroid function and the immune system, and can injure the liver, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

Kepone in Hopewell: How a roach poison made the James unsafe for commercial fishing for 13 years The 50th anniversary of Virginia's Kepone disaster is being marked, where workers for a small chemical company dumped the harmful pesticide into Hopewell's waterways. The run-off caused severe harm to workers and led to the closure of the James River to commercial fishing. The company responsible, Allied Chemical, was ordered to pay $13.2 million in a legal settlement, which created the Virginia Environmental Endowment. However, environmentalists and scientists worry about the possibility of another Kepone crisis due to the weakening of monitoring programs for the James River.

Senate Bill 243, introduced by state Sen. Jeremy S. McPike, D-Prince William, which passed the General Assembly this year, would require public wastewater plants to monitor levels of these chemicals, commonly known as PFAS, in effluent, influent and biosolids at least quarterly and to report the data. It also calls on the DEQ to develop an action plan to identify and address sources of certain PFAS detected in a public water systems raw water source. It also requires facilities that make or PFAS chemicals to report the use of such chemicals to the DEQ.

Like PCBs, these chemicals do not break down when in groundwater that is feeding the James and its tributaries.

We need to start detecting these and documenting their health effects, Street said. Theyre becoming a focus of concern.

Stable chemicals remain, for decades

State fish tissue samples from the mid-1990s onward show just how long such chemicals, designed to avoid breaking down, hang around.

Fish are still accumulating high levels of PCBs, even though federal regulations say these chemicals, which were mainly used to insulate and cool electrical equipment and machinery from 1929 to 1977, must be disposed of by burning or in approved landfills that can keep them from leaking out.

But the EPA has estimated that hundreds of millions of pounds are dispersed in soils, water and air. Waste oil containing PCBs was commonly used to control dust on roads.

And because PCBs are very stable  which is why they are so commonly used for insulating and cooling in high temperature and high-pressure environments  they remain in water and soil, toxicity unchanged, for decades.

So back in 1995, when state environmental scientists tested 11 gizzard (or mud) shad at Jordan Point, just downstream from Hopewell, they found 206 parts per billion of PCBs in their tissues. In 2021, they caught another there with 183 parts per billion and, three miles upstream, another with 228 parts per billion.

At the Interstate 95 bridge over the James in Richmond, state officials in 2003 caught a carp with 809 parts per billion; in 2016, another with 935 ppb. They caught a shad with 136 ppb in 2003 and another with 339 in 2016. The one they caught in 2021 had 115 ppb. The fish with the highest PCB level that they caught in 2002 was a blue catfish, with 1,197. In 2016, they caught one with 1,390.

In their most recent tests for pesticides in the tissues of James River fish, state scientists in 2008 found small amounts of pesticides in fish from the Mill creek tributary in Newport News, but three years earlier caught a striped bass at the I-95 bridge with 299 parts per billion of chlordane and 144 parts per billion of DDT.

In a flathead catfish caught by the bridge, they found 131 parts per billion of polybrominated diphenyl ethers, a chemical used in flame retardants and in electrical equipment, construction materials, coatings, textiles and polyurethane foam.

This kind of chemical compound, like PCBs, does not break down. In addition to the neurotoxic effects doctors see in PCB exposure, these chemicals are associated with tumors, neurodevelopmental toxicity and thyroid hormone imbalance.

Fish still ingest Kepone

Although Kepone is now buried under the silt and sand in the James River bottom, fish still ingest enough of it, mainly by eating the bugs and worms and other tiny creatures living on and under the river bottom, to have prompted a state health department warning not to eat more than one meal a day featuring a fish caught anywhere from the Interstate 95 bridge in Richmond down to the Chesapeake Bay.

Gizzard shad, a popular game fish with a reputation for slightly sweet flesh and delicious roe, along with carp and catfish bigger than 32 inches, have ingested so much PCB that the health department warns against eating any caught between I-95 and the bay.

Farther upstream, from Richmond to the rivers headwaters in Alleghany County, the department advises having these fish, along with eels and quillback suckers, less than twice a month. The same limit for the same reason of PCB content applies to sunfish, carp, catfish and rock bass caught in the Maury River on the stretch from Buena Vista to the James.

Environmentalists increasingly worry about another group of toxic chemicals: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs for short.

These can be formed by incomplete burning of coal or garbage  even by charbroiling meat or in cigarette smoke  but they are also found in coal-tar products, such as driveway sealant, creosote, dyes and plastic. In lab animals, they have caused cancer, birth defects and reduced ability to recover from disease.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administrations limit on exposure is 0.2 milligrams per cubic meter of air; the equivalent in water is 1 microgram per cubic meter, which is roughly 1 part per billion.

PAHs are sticky, adhering to solid particles in the soil or that settle on river bottoms.

The last time state scientists reported levels in James River watershed fish, in 2008, they found levels ranging from seven parts per billion to eight parts per billion in mummichog, a tiny bait fish, and 48 ppb in an oyster. In 2005, testing farther upstream, the scientists found a carp with 89 ppb in the Falling Creek Reservoir, and a largemouth bass and gizzard shad with levels of 34 ppb and 35 ppb.

House Bill 985, from Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, which passed the General Assembly this year, would bar the sale or distribution of any pavement sealant that contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations greater than 1% by weight on or after July 1, 2024.

Toxic pavement sealants put our childrens lives at risk and pollute our waterways, she said. Banning their sale is a commonsense action to ensure clean, safe water.

She said that what she found about one  the coal tar in the driveway sealants so common in her suburban neighborhood  was alarming.

It wasnt just the fish cancer and damage to shellfish, crabs and the various bugs and worms that fish, birds and mammals in the bay ecosystem feed on. PAHs are human carcinogens.

I kept thinking about kids playing in driveways and tracking that dust inside, she said.
Arizona woman returns Mexican heritage pieces from private collection

Mexico City, Mexico  A woman from Tuscon, Arizona has voluntarily returned more than dozen archaeological pieces to Mexican authorities. The delivery of the pieces took place at the Mexican Consulate in Tucson Friday.

Mexicos INAH (Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia) has since determined that the 13 returned pieces date from the Classic Mesoamerican (200-750 AD) and Postclassic Mesoamerican (1200 AD-1541 AD) periods.

According to experts from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), it was determined that these heritage assets correspond to cultures of the Central Highlands.

Pieces of Teotihuacan style such as a miniature mask and fragments of anthropomorphic figurines as well as an anthropomorphic figurine in the Mexica style, which represents a female character wearing a headdress, ear muffs and a quechquemitl (a garment formed by two united rectangles) and holding an infant on her lap were part of the 13 returned.

A necklace of spherical and discoidal beads made of greenish metamorphic rock as well as a bifacial knife and a pair of winches were also in the return.

The objects, considered movable archaeological monuments of the Mexican nation, were delivered to the consulate in a ceremony attended by U.S. citizen Julie Qashu who had the pieces. Oashu said she wanted to return them to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Mexico.

The restitution of these pieces constitutes an example of the cooperation between Mexico with various countries in matters of protection of heritage assets, as well as an example of good international practices for the conservation of the historical past of nations and the commitment of individuals with the return of cultural objects to their places of origin, the SRE (Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores) reported.

Private collectors abroad who currently have Mexican pieces in possession are invited to join in the protection and safeguarding of these assets, and to return them for study, conservation and dissemination, since they are objects that bear witness to the identity and memory of the native peoples of Mexico.
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President Vladimir Putin has extended his reign over Russia in a landslide election whose outcome was never in doubt, declaring his determination to advance deeper into Ukraine and dangling new threats against the West
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Previously afflicted by water scarcity and diseases, approximately 2,000 residents in Hatkeep village, Luang Prabang province of Laos, now have access to safe drinking water, thanks to a China-initiated water pilot project implemented in 2021.

A survey showed that over 92% of local villagers recognized the critical necessity of the project. The village head highlighted the vital role of cooperation on water resources and expressed gratitude for the support from China.

The water project in Hatkeep village is an example of the Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Project, which is part of the water resources cooperation efforts in the Lancang-Mekong region.

Six Lancang-Mekong countries  China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam  launched the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) mechanism in March 2016. As one of the priority areas of the LMC mechanism, water resources cooperation in the region has yielded fruitful results, said Zhou Zhiwei, secretary-general of Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Center.

Zhou said a water resources cooperation framework has been established and is continuously improved. So far, a ministerial meeting, three forums, four joint working group meetings and 16 joint working group special meetings have been held, guiding the orderly progress of water resources cooperation in the region.

Zhou also said that many practical projects have been carried out in the region under the LMC mechanism. With the financial support from the Chinese government, over 50 demonstration projects have been implemented in five Mekong countries since 2017. The purposes of the projects range from rural water supply to hydrological monitoring, which has delivered tangible benefits to local residents.

For example, the first phase of the Sweet Spring Project, taking place from 2020 to 2022 in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, aimed to address difficulties in accessing water sources, rainwater harvesting and purification, untreated water, and other such challenges.

As of 2022, eight to nine centralized water supply demonstration facilities had been built, along with 54 decentralized water supply demonstration facilities. The campaign has ensured safe drinking water for more than 10,000 residents, according to an evaluation report.

To better coordinate water resources cooperation efforts in the region, the six LMC countries jointly formulated a new five-year action plan (2023-2027) in late 2023 to further promote sustainable utilization, management, and conservation of water resources.

Zhou said that the new plan will guide LMC countries to meet the challenges posed by global climate change, and coordinate their efforts in addressing water disasters, water resources management, and aquatic ecosystem preservation in a comprehensive manner.

He also said LMC countries will carry out more pragmatic cooperation in the fields such as water resources development and drinking water safety, in order to further improve the well-being of local people.

"The Lancang-Mekong River will be built into a river of friendship, collaboration, and prosperity, with further cooperation in water resources," Zhou said.
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M.  A Marion man accused in the shooting death of a New Mexico State Police officer and driving the car of a missing Marion woman found dead in Lake View was arrested Sunday morning during a foot pursuit with Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office deputies.

Jaremy Smith, 32, of Marion was taken into custody after Bernalillo County deputies shot him during a foot pursuit.

Sheriff John Allen said deputies responded to reports from a gas station clerk in Albuquerque, describing a person that matched Smiths description. Deputies located Smith walking and immediately established a perimeter, he said. A foot pursuit ensued and shots were fired with some shots striking Smith.

Arrest warrants were issued for Smith in connection to the murder of New Mexico State Police officer Justin Hare Friday morning.

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said around 5 a.m. Friday, Officer Hare was dispatched to help a motorist with a flat tire on I-40 near mile marker 320, west of Tucumcari. Officer Hare parked behind the vehicle. Smith then approached the officers passenger side window.

Officer Hare offered to give the suspect a ride to 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, Weisler said.

Smith is also wanted in connection to the death of Florence County Paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore, 52, 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 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. New Mexico State Police identified Smith as the driver of Machado-Fores car.

Yesterday we said that we would bring Jaremy Smith to justice, Weisler said. There was nowhere that he could run and there was nowhere he could hide.

Smith said thanks to the community and fellow law enforcement partners they were able to do that.
CHISINAU, Moldova, March 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Startup Moldova Summit 2024 , held on March 14, 2024, emerged as a critical point in Moldova's technological landscape, hosting over 500 attendees and 30 venture capitalists and angel investors. Facilitating more than 350 networking sessions with startups, the summit provided an interactive forum for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and networking. Esteemed figures, including President Maia Sandu and Deputy Prime Minister Dumitru Alaiba, alongside industry experts, convened to explore avenues for fostering innovation and economic expansion within Moldova's tech sector.

Group photo of participants of the Startup Moldova Summit 2024

President Maia Sandu affirmed, "[Startups] are not just building businesses, but transforming our country into that modern European state awaited by our entire society". The Government of Moldova is actively streamlining administrative processes to strengthen a conducive business environment, a pivotal step in our journey towards digital transformation and bolstering Moldova's entrepreneurial ecosystem within the European integration framework.

The startup community in Moldova burgeons, with over 250 companies fostering innovative solutions across sectors such as Healthtech, EdTech, FinTech, MarTech, E-commerce, PropTech, and more. In the past two years alone, 25 Moldovan startups have secured over 15 million USD in funding from angel investors and venture capital funds. These achievements are a testament to recent reforms in legal, trade, and labor liberalization, coupled with the digitization of our economy. Moldova aspires to achieve a 100% "digital state" rate, with unique tech-enabling frameworks like the Moldova Innovation Technology Park , offering entrepreneurs a single 7% tax incentive, extended until 2035.

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Olga Melniciuc, Executive Director at Startup Moldova, envisions, "Through innovation and collaboration, we aim to transform Moldova into a fertile ground for startups, where bold ideas meet the necessary resources to grow and thrive."

Story continues

The summit spotlighted Moldova's trajectory as a growing tech hub in Central and Eastern Europe. Keynote speaker Dave Parker shared insights on prudent decision-making and agile adaptation in the entrepreneurial journey, resonating with attendees. Additionally, success stories from startup founders like Mihaela Kawinska ( Bloomcoding ), Viorica Vanica ( SelfTalk ), and Nicolae Guzun ( Sumboard ) inspired aspiring innovators.

Industry leaders such as Kristina Poustovan of Google Romania and Andreas Flodstrom of Beetroot emphasized technology's transformative potential in driving societal progress and global impact, further solidifying Moldova's standing in the global tech arena.

The Startup Moldova Summit 2024 stands as a guide of inspiration, uniting people involved to propel Moldova towards a future defined by technological excellence and entrepreneurial dynamism.

SOURCE Startup Moldova Foundation
New 5th generation SkyOrb Cabins in 2024 (left) and 1st generation Singapore Cable Car (Photos: Mount Faber Leisure Group)

SINGAPORE  Seven of the "world's first chrome-finished spherical cabins", called SkyOrb Cabins, were launched last Friday (15 March) to celebrate Singapore Cable Car's (SCC) 50th anniversary. The new fleet of fifth generation cabins come with glass-bottomed floors that will allow guests to view the scenery below their feet.

For a "futuristic ambience", the cabin windows have a ring of lights that will cast an illuminating glow at night. It also has double window louvres at the front, and triple windows louvres at the rear, for enhanced air ventilation. The design of the cabins was a collaboration between Mount Faber Leisure Group and renowned Swiss-based cable car cabin manufacturer, CWA, the group said in a press release.

The new SkyOrb Cabins will open to the public on Wednesday (20 March). Tickets can be bought at the Singapore Cable Car Mount Faber and Sentosa Station ticketing counters.

Interior of SkyOrb Cabin with glass-bottom floor (left) and SkyOrb Cabin on the Mount Faber Line (Photos: Mount Faber Leisure Group)

While the new futuristic looking cabins look exciting, the cable cars have been a part of Singapore's history for half a century. How has Singapore's first and only cable car attraction evolved through the years?

Let's take a trip down memory lane through all generations of the cabins.

First generation (1974 to 1994): opening and international fame

The year was 1968 when the idea to build a cable car system first came about, along with the government's plans to turn Pulau Blakang Mati from a naval base into island getaway for both tourists and locals. It eventually became the Sentosa we know today.

Six years later, SCC opened its doors on 15 February 1974. Former deputy prime minister Dr Goh Keng Swee and his first wife Alice Woon sat in the first cable car at the launch. Singaporeans accounted for three-quarters of riders in SCC's first year of inception.

In 1979, SCC made its first appearance on an international television show, the popular detective drama series Hawaii Five-O. Such appearances paved the way for the cable car to gain international fame through the 1970s and early 1980s.

Story continues

On 29 January 1983, an oil-drilling vessel struck the Sentosa cableway, causing two cable cars to drop into the sea. Two more cable cars on the cableway were also impacted, and seven people died. The Sentosa cableway only resumed operations in August after months of tests and repairs.

A new one-way communication system was installed to allow passengers to receive communication from the cable car operator if necessary, and a new rescue system specifically for stranded cable car passengers was established by the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

The cable cars went through its first overhaul in January 1988, replacing the original haul and track ropes.

The same year, the world's first mass wedding celebration also kicked off with 30 couples riding the cable cars from Mount Faber. One year later, SCC also hosted Miss World pageant beauties contesting in Singapore.

Cabling works for 1st generation Singapore Cable Car (Photos: Mount Faber Leisure Group)

Hoisting (left) and mounting of 1st generation Singapore Cable Car (Photos: Mount Faber Leisure Group)

A coloured photo of Singapore's first cable car (Photos: Mount Faber Leisure Group)

Second generation (1994 to 1999): higher speed, audio commentaries on board

By 1994, SCC had more than 18 million visitors. In commemoration, "nostalgia trips of the pioneering cabins were offered to Singaporeans on 10 April 1994.

The second-generation cabins were launched four days later on 14 April. It boasted higher speeds, more ventilation and audio commentaries on Sentosa landmarks and highlights in six languages.

Three years later, a life-size cabin based on SCC's design was presented by Lego in Singapore.

On Valentine's Day in 1998, couples were hosted a three-course dinner named "Sky Dining" for the first time. It circled Mount Faber and Sentosa for one-and-a-half hours, and each course was served when the cabin returned to Mount Faber station.

2nd generation of Singapore Cable Car (Photos: Mount Faber Leisure Group)

Interior of second generation of Singapore Cable Car (Photo: Mount Faber Leisure Group)

Third generation (1999 to 2009): world's first glass-bottom cable cars

On SCC's 25th anniversary in 1999, six limited edition third-generation cabins were launched. It made history as the worlds first glass-bottom cable cars that offered unobstructed views of the harbour and seascape south of Singapore.

Five years later, a "Surviving the Sky" challenge - based on popular American reality competition television show, Survivor - was organised. It saw 33 teams of two stuck in the cabins for a week, where each couple only had 10 minutes to visit the toilet every 24 hours.

Back facade of 3rd generation Singapore Cable Car (left) and sky dining experience (Photos: Mount Faber Leisure Group)

Fourth generation (2009 to 2024): LED illumination, metallic black and chrome cabins

In 2009, the cable car system went through a fourth revamp on its 35th anniversary. 67 LED-illuminated, sparkling metallic black and chrome cabins on a mono-cable ropeway formed the new fleet of cabins.

The new cabins had windows with ultraviolet protection against tropical heat and humidity, and minimal obstruction to all-round views. It linked Mount Faber to Harbourfront Towers and Sentosa.

In 2010, SCC launched the world's first seven-star VIP Jewelled Cabins, where the interior panels were decked with Swarovski crystals. The next year, the worlds first Sky Art Gallery was launched in celebration of Singapores 46th birthday.

In December 2015, SCC welcomed its 50-millionth guest. Four years later, it celebrated its 45th birthday with a multimedia night show and a year-long line-up of activities such as a light installation, a self-guided exploration activity, and the launch of five augmented reality (AR) filters on Facebook.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, various initiatives were launched to encourage locals to rediscover the cable car. Examples include Faber Licence, an annual local membership which offers unlimited cable car rides.

Leading up to its golden jubilee celebration, SCC pushed out Pokemon-themed cable car cabins on the Mount Faber Line in May 2023. The second phase of the Pokemon campaign was launched last November with festive-themed Pokemon cable car cabins. The exterior of all 67 cabins were dressed in five Poke Ball designs, while the cabin interior featured Pokemon in festive outfits.

Pokemon-themed cable car cabins in Singapore (Photos: Mount Faber Leisure Group)

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VOLIN, S.D.  Authorities have released the name of a motorcyclist who was killed Tuesday after colliding with a truck near Volin.

Gordon Sorensen, 65, of Irene, South Dakota, died at the scene of the accident at 301st Street and 446th Avenue northwest of Volin.

According to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, Sorensen was traveling east on 301st Street behind a semitrailer. A septic tanker truck was also eastbound in front of the semitrailer.

As the tanker truck slowed down to turn north into a field, Sorensen passed the semitrailer and struck the side of the tanker truck as it was turning. Sorensen, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from the motorcycle.

The truck driver, 54-year-old Donald Robinson, of Yankton, South Dakota, was not injured.
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LINCOLN  A Nebraska bill that seeks to hold negligent state agencies accountable for harm caused by third parties stalled in committee Friday.

But a different avenue remains to advance the measure.

The Nebraska Legislatures Judiciary Committee failed to advance Legislative Bill 325 out to floor debates in a 4-3 vote, with one member not voting. In the eight member committee, bills need at least five votes to advance.

LB 325, introduced by State Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln, would allow civil lawsuits against a state agency if the agency fails to prevent harm caused by a third party when the agency is in custody or control of that third party. Dungan said his aim is to hold state government accountable for negligence.

Before the committee meeting, the bill was mentioned during floor debate by Judiciary Chair Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha. Wayne was looking to slow the progress of debate to hold off a vote on a separate bill, but multiple senators also got involved and expressed their displeasure that LB 325 had not progressed.

Proponents of the measure claimed opponents were protecting government agencies at the expense of victims. During the debate, Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar announced she filed a pull motion to advance the bill to the floor regardless of the committees vote. That motion hasnt been debated yet, and requires 25 votes to accomplish.

Critics of LB 325 argue that the bill is too open-ended and that it would allow for frivolous lawsuits. The issue split opinions of the Judiciary Committee, with Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue saying the bill fails to hold the true perpetrators accountable. But Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue countered that not holding agencies accountable would only further victimize the victims.

Dungan gave examples of when LB 325 may be needed, including when state prison officials fail to intervene after they learn that an inmate has threatened harm to another inmate, and then follows through on that threat.

But Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, another committee member, said the bill could also hold the state liable if a foster child assaults another child within their home.

Wayne noted that if LB 325 passes, plaintiffs in the resulting lawsuits would still have the burden to prove state agencies were negligent in these instances.

This is not an automatic win, he said.

While LB 325 stalled, the committee did vote to advance a similar bill Friday, LB 341. Introduced by Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings, the bill would hold the state and political subdivisions liable if public employees commit sexual abuse against a child. Slama also filed a pull motion on this bill, which is no longer necessary since the committee approved it.

Meet the Nebraska state senators making laws in 2024
The U.S. has never produced more energy than it does today

Posted on 18 March 2024 by Guest Author

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk

U.S. energy production is going gangbusters.

Despite persistent false claims that the Biden administration is waging an unprecedented assault on American energy, the U.S. is producing energy at a pace never seen before and from a broad mix of sources and locations throughout the country. In fact, the data illustrates that were experiencing an unprecedented renaissance of American energy production and innovation.

The chart below is interactive  hover over the lines to see the details.

This graph shows primary energy production data from the Energy Information Administration. For fossil fuels, "primary energy production" is the energy content in the coal, oil, or gas thats extracted. For nuclear and renewables, its the amount of electricity generated. Note that this is not the same as energy consumed; its simply the energy produced.

The production of oil, methane gas (commonly called natural gas), and renewables is growing. Nuclear power is holding fairly steady, and the only source of energy that has declined significantly is coal.

The largest sources of energy production in the U.S. are oil and gas. Extraction of these fuels began to surge around 2007 when the development of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, gave rise to the shale oil boom. Oil and gas production continues to set records, even while U.S. consumption of oil is declining and methane gas consumption is not increasing at anywhere near the rate of production. The end result is that the U.S. is exporting more of these fuels than ever.

Renewables count for more than they appear.

Renewables may look small on the graph above, but the more accurate interpretation is that fossil fuels appear much larger than the useful energy they provide. Burning fossil fuels in power plants or internal combustion engines is highly inefficient. The majority of energy in every barrel of oil and rail car of coal ends up as wasted heat.

Renewables dont need to transform heat into electricity, so they avoid the energy losses that are inherent in burning fuels to create electricity. The upshot is that every unit of wind, hydro, or solar will replace double or triple that amount of fossil fuels.

Energy savings are an added benefit of switching to renewables, as is illustrated in the chart below. For more details, see the accompanying story, The little-known, massive advantage that renewables hold over coal.
I called up Champe Barton from over at the Trace to talk about a totally new way to think about gun control. But honestly, I cant shake the very first thing he told mea fact that seems to explain just how hard it is to prevent gun violence in the first place: If you want to buy a gun in Mexico, theres one gun store, and its on an army base. Theres just one, in the entire country.

I live in a country, the United States, where there are twice as many gun stores as there are post offices, so it kind of blows my mind that just across the border things work like this. To get a gun legally in Mexico? You go through months of background checks. You apply for a temporary permit. And then you go to that military base. When the L.A. Times visited a few years back, the store sold just 38 guns a day to civilians.

And all this is even more shocking when you consider the kind of news stories Americans are used to hearing about Mexico. Since 2010, more than 200,000 people have been killed by guns there. I asked Barton to explain that disconnect. The biggest issue is just that theres thousands of American guns that are crossing the border every year into Mexico, he said. It comes out to somewhere between 360,000 to 597,000 guns a year that come over the border.

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And Mexico is pissedso pissed, in fact, that its taking American gunmakers to court. With this case, the Mexican government is arguing we should think about American gunmakers the same way we think about tobacco companies or opioid distributorsas an industry that really should know better. This Mexico case was an example to me of a new, fresh attempt at getting at this problem, Barton said.

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On a recent episode of What Next, we discussed this case of the Mexican government vs. American guns. Can a lawsuit do what politicians havent? Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Mary Harris: For the last couple of years, the Mexican government has been moving forward with this lawsuit against U.S.-based gun manufacturers. Tell me who exactly Mexico is suing here?

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Champe Barton: Mexico is suing seven gun manufacturers and one gun distributor. The seven gun manufacturers are manufacturers whose guns most frequently turn up at crime scenes in Mexico. These are some of the biggest gunmakers in America: Colt, Smith & Wesson, Glock, Beretta. Huge names. Theyre suing these companies, basically alleging that they have aided and abetted gun-trafficking operations, knowingly, with the intent of profiting off of that market.

Do they have proof that these manufacturers are helping drive the flow of guns from the U.S. to Mexico?

We cant say if they have proof yet. You dont have to prove a case before you bring it. What they have proved to a judge is that their allegations are plausible. If you look at the data on gun violence in Mexico relative to gun production in the U.S., you can see a pretty clear relationship between gun homicides on Mexican soil and U.S. gun production. As gun production goes up in the U.S., gun homicides go up in Mexico, generally. The central point is that there is a clear relationship here between what goes on in the U.S. in terms of its gun market and what goes on in Mexico in terms of its gun violence problem.

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How exactly does a gun move from a U.S.-based manufacturer across the border to Mexico?

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The market is basically the exact same as it would be for a U.S. gun buyer, up until the point of that final transaction. So the manufacturer makes the weapon, they send it usually to a wholesaler. The wholesaler will sell it to a dealer. The dealer will then put it in their shop, and someone can come in and buy it. In the case of the guns that are trafficked, very often, whats happening is that people are going into those stores. Theyre buying the guns with the intent of trafficking them, or because theyve been tapped by someone who is working with a gun-trafficking ring to buy the gun. And then once that gun is purchased, its then smuggled south of the border, any number of ways. The exact path that the guns take after they leave the store is unclear. What is clear is that a lot of these stores wind up selling suspiciously large quantities or suspiciously frequent quantities, in suspicious areas, to the same people who they should have reason to believe are doing something thats against the law.

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Is anyone asking any questions about this along the way, like, I dont know, the ATF or, like, the gun distributors themselves?

For a long time, gun manufacturers and gun wholesalers have refused to agree that they should police their distribution chains more rigorously and that that would reduce gun violence. The ATF, though, does ask questions about this. There are requirements for gun stores to notify the ATF when theres been multiple sales of a handgun, for example, to the same buyer in a short time frame. Those things do happen. But in the grand scheme of things what has to occur is that these things need to be caught in the moment. Its hard for an agency like the ATF to keep tabs of so many gun stores in the U.S. So, theyre only conducting inspections something like once every seven years of most gun dealers. Thats a pretty light regulatory regime for those stores that are intending to do dirty business.

In this lawsuit, whats Mexico asking for?

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The fundamental legal claim that the Mexican government is making is that they should be entitled to financial damages and some sort of injunctive relief for the expenses that they have had to incur to try to combat this problem. And so the argument basically goes: The Mexican government has had to beef up its police forces and its military forces. Theres been extraordinary costs in their judicial system. And all of those costs are associated with this problem. And their claim is that problem is caused by the gunmakers intentional profiteering off of this trafficking network.

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A lot of people compare this lawsuit to tobacco litigation. How does that litigation compare with whats happening here?

The general philosophy behind a lot of those lawsuits was that you had an industry that was selling a product that was causing harm to the general public, and that industry was not doing everything within its power, and not even doing the things that it knew it could do, to limit the harm that its product caused the public. If you think about it in those terms, its very similar to what is being alleged of the gunmakers.

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To me, it actually seems so similar to the opioid litigation that moved forward recently because the allegations in some of that litigation were basically that drugmakers had data showing opioids were streaming into certain areas of the country in really concerning ways, and they just didnt investigate what was going on.

There was a time in the U.S. in which that comparison was almost perfect, because it used to be that when a firearm was traced, the ATF needed to pick up a phone and dial the manufacturer and inform them, Hey, this gun with this serial number turned up at a crime scene. Who did you sell it to? And then they would have to say, Oh, weve sold it to this wholesaler, and they would go on down the chain like that. Whats happened since around 2000 is that the ATF essentially set up servers in the database of manufacturers and wholesalers, and they use those servers to ping the acquisition and disposition logs at these companies so that they dont have to make a phone call. Now, I dont know specifically what the rules are about the companies who are agreeing to these policies actually seeing the pings that theyre getting, for example, for guns that have turned up. Like, it may be something that theyre not allowed to look at. I just dont. But I do know that data is available. Its there. And I cannot imagine that if they wanted to look at it, that the ATF would refuse to allow them to look at it.

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With opioids, I think that the drug manufacturers were required to intervene in some way when they saw increased use like this. But it sounds like with the guns its a little more fuzzy.

Theres certainly no requirement in the U.S. for the gunmakers to do anything of the sort. They do not have to police their distribution. The attitude of the industry has always been hands off. The law enforcement side of this equation is the ATFs job. Its not for us to do anything about. So if the ATF tells us to stop selling somewhere, well stop selling. But if the ATF hasnt told us theres a problem, were not going to find one and act on our own volition here.

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I want to talk about the people who brought this gun case. The case was obviously brought by Mexico against the U.S manufacturers, but theyre being helped by American lawyers, right?

Jon Lowy used to be lead counsel at Brady, the prominent gun violence prevention group. But Jon Lowy has been doing this sort of litigation for decades. He is currently involved in other lawsuits that are making very similar allegations to the government of Mexico. The city of Gary, Indiana, has a suit right now, and that suits been going on for 20-some odd years. And he recently split off from Brady and founded his own gun violence prevention group called Global Action on Gun Violence.

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Jon Lowy is an interesting character to me because when he was at the Brady Center, he wrote this report, and this was way back in 2009, talking about the ways that gun manufacturing in the U.S. is connected to crime in Mexico. And at the time, one of the real focuses of this report was weak gun laws in the U.S.basically saying weak gun laws are making it so that guns from the U.S. are going to Mexico. So why didnt he want to fix the weak American laws? Like, this lawsuit isnt going after the laws. Its going after the gun manufacturers.

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I dont think that those two things are mutually exclusive, first of all. Second of all, there is a calculus that anybody who is interested in addressing this problem has to make, and that calculus is about what action is going to most efficiently deal with this problem and which has the potential for the greatest reduction of harm, basically. It has been an obviousso obvious it almost doesnt need sayingthing in the U.S. that gun violence prevention legislation is just a total nonstarter politically. Theres just such a model from these other corporate accountability movements that weve been discussingthe opioid litigation, the tobacco litigation, the automotive litigationthat shows that there is an avenue for justice through the courts, generally, when corporations products are associated with such widespread harm. And the calculus that has been made by a lot of these people who are involved in these lawsuits is that this is a quicker, more efficient, and potentially more effective way to reduce gun violence.

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Lets talk about some challenges this lawsuit is going to face as it moves through the courts. The first is whether this lawsuit can move forward at all. Why wouldnt this lawsuit be able to move forward? What would keep it out of a courtroom?

The lawsuit was dismissed once in 2022 on account of this federal law known as the Protection of Lawful Commerce and Arms Act, which was passed in the early aughts as a way to get rid of a bunch of lawsuits that were making very similar allegations to the Mexican government. This law was passed to essentially get rid of those lawsuits, to say that you cannot sue a gunmaker as a result of harms caused by people who have committed crimes with their weapons.

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It seems like a pretty nice piece of legislation if youre a gun manufacturer.

It has been a very nice piece of legislation for them, and it has stifled the kind of legal maturation that I was describing earlier. The litigation against the opioid manufacturers, to come back to that comparison, didnt start in 2015. It didnt start when opioid deaths were all over the news. It started in the late 1990s. It started at the same time that they were trying to sue gunmakers. And most of those just werent successful, because the legal theories that they were working with hadnt been worked out yet; there was compelling arguments to dismiss these cases. And over time, people kept trying to bring these lawsuits because the problem persisted. And eventually they settled on a legal theory that allowed those suits to proceed.

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The Mexican government has attempted a novel legal strategy to bring this case forward. And not a lot of plaintiffs within the U.S. have had an opportunity to make those same attempts. So, that law has kept industry accountability off the books for the past two decades almost.

Didnt the Sandy Hook parents sue the gun manufacturers? What made their case different?

Yes, they did. The Protection of Lawful Commerce and Arms Act has a few exceptions: If a gunmaker sells a defective product, for example, then then they can be sued; if a gunmaker breaches a contract, they can be sued. The exception that gets targeted the most for plaintiffs who are trying to hold gunmakers accountable for gun violence and for negligent distribution practices is this exception known as the predicate exception, which allows for lawsuits when theyre brought based on harm caused by the violation of a state or federal statute that is applicable to the sale or marketing of firearms. Basically what that means is that if youre going to sue a gunmaker, you have to sue them saying that you were harmed because they violated a law thats specifically related to the sale or marketing of firearms.

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And so what the Sandy Hook parents did was they sued, saying that they were harmed by the gunmakers violation of an unfair trade practices law in Connecticut. And the judge agreed that that law applied to the sale or marketing of firearms.

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How is the Mexican government arguing that their case should be allowed to proceed?

Originally the Mexican government tried to argue that the PLCAA should just not apply at all because theyre a foreign government, and it shouldnt apply to foreign governments. That argument was dismissed by this federal district court in Massachusetts in 2022. They appealed, and in January of this year, they were successful on that appeal in arguing not that PLCAA should not apply but that they do fit one of PLCAAs exceptions, namely the same exception that the Sandy Hook families targeted. And the reason for that is that the Mexican government has alleged that the gunmakers have violated laws having to do with straw purchasing, laws having to do with exporting firearms without a license, laws having to do with selling firearms without a license. And theyve basically said that these gunmakers were in some way conspirators with stores along the border that have participated in these trafficking rings

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If this lawsuit does move forward, I dont think its a slam dunk. One argument the industry makes here is, Listen, Mexico needs to get its own house in order. Control your gangs. The problem is not the guns from us. The problem is the people bringing the guns in. What do you make of that argument?

All this stuff needs to be shaken out at trial. And if it goes to trial and the gunmakers are able to prove that they were not, indeed, intentionally and knowingly, facilitating the trafficking of weapons across the border, then, sure, thats the reality that were left with. But what the Mexican government says it will be able to prove is that these gunmakers arent just turning a blind eye. The guns are being trafficked over the border because thats what the gunmakers want, because its a very lucrative segment of their industry. That would certainly seem to me to be a slam dunk in the sense that you would have, for the first time, a court decide that the distribution practices of the gun industry are directly responsible for the harms caused by gun violence down the line. And that would really be a profound ruling.

If this strategy by the Mexican government holds, and its not overturned by the Supreme Court, then you have an opportunity for domestic plaintiffs to make a similar argument. And now its a question of whether or not they could prove it; we dont know. The other important thing to note is that while this Mexican governments case has gone on, potential U.S plaintiffs have not just been sitting idly by. Several cities across the country have passed laws over the past three years to amend their state public nuisance statutes or to add new laws on the books that make explicit their connection to the sale or marketing of firearms. And those laws were put on the books with the intent of easing the route in through this predicate exception to the PLCAA.
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Murthy v. Missouri today, a case that raises important questions about the line between government coercion and persuasion in its communications with Big Tech companies. The lawsuit was filed by the attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, representing physicians and media members who objected to officials in the Biden administration who sought to restrict misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines and the 2020 election. While the case has sweeping implications for free speech, Big Tech, and government regulation, an amicus brief filed in the case by the Brennan Center attempts to draw the courts attention to the needs of election workers, who must have access to truthful information about threats to free and fair elections. Gowri Ramachandran serves as deputy director in the Brennan Centers democracy program, and her work focuses on election security, election administration, and combating election disinformation.

She spoke to Dahlia Lithwick on the Amicus podcast about the unique dangers elections officials face if they cannot coordinate with tech companies about real-time election threats. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: The shouting about this case, to the extent that there is shouting about this case, has mostly been in the vein of, hey, get the deep state out of my social media, and folks accusing the Biden administration of censorship. But the focus of your specific brief in this case is actually pretty different. Can you give us the 40,000-feet take on why the court needs to, in their thinking about this case, also take in the interests and the impacts of a potential ruling on election workers?

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Gowri Ramachandran: Sure. We filed an amicus brief in this case on behalf of a bipartisan group of state and local election officials precisely because I think the shouting, as you say, has really focused on issues like COVID-19 and discussions of vaccine safety online, but the potential implications of this case for election officials and their staffselection workers who work really hard and get up really early in the morning on Election Day to serve all of usthe implications for them are really strong, and we wanted to make sure that the court is aware of that as theyre crafting their decision in this case. One of the reasons its so important is that disinformation about elections and election processes online is one of the components in the abuse and harassment and threats that election workers have been receiving.

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At the Brennan Center, we do an annual survey of local election officials, and every year since we started the survey in 2021, people have mentioned that this false information, including online information, about the work that they do, is one of the driving factors, in their view, of threats to election officials.

They tend to pop up in the news, you know, on Election Day. We all know about the armed, masked vigilantes in tactical gear that were hanging out outside a ballot drop box in Maricopa County in 2022. We probably think of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who now stand for the unremarkable proposition that to be a person working elections carries a nontrivial risk of doxing and death threats and the menace of people coming to your home.

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Another thing that we have found in our annual survey of local election officialsso these are the nearly 10,000 clerks, registrars, recorders all over the country who administer elections weve found theres been a pretty high level of turnover in that group since the 2020 election. We found that putting together the folks who were planning to leave by this presidential election cycle and the folks who were new to the job and had joined since 2020, putting all that together, we found that for about 1 in 5 local election officials, this cycle will be administering their first presidential election.

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Lets talk about Murthy, because I think its largely been framed as a case about whats called jawboning, right? This is the Biden administration, in sometimes heavy-handed ways, telling social media platforms to remove content thats not true about COVID or to take down things that are false and inflammatory, but it intersects absolutely with the interest of election workers why?

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Even though false information about COVID and vaccines is really the focus of a lot of the plaintiffs arguments in this case and the lower court orders, in this case, a huge number of defendants were actually suedmany agencies, all across the federal government. And included in that list was CISA, which is the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. So this is an agency that was formed in the wake of the 2016 election, in fact, and whose job it is to assist state, local, and tribal officials with cybersecurity response and really just protecting election infrastructure against interference. It has a big impact on election workers that CISA was one of the defendants in this case because the original court order where the plaintiffs won actually swept in groups like CISA and enjoined them from talking to the social media companies with the purpose of engaging in some content moderation under their own policies. It wasnt restricted to just vaccine information. So what happened is that even though that court order has been stayed because the Supreme Court took up the case, it has really chilled government officials from sharing information with and being in touch with social media companies. So that means all the work these agencies were doing in the run-up to the 2020 election is not happening, and certainly not at the scale it was happening before. So that means not notifying the social media companies when they become aware of a user on their platforms that appears to be an agent of a foreign government and is spreading propaganda on the platform.

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Sen. Mark Warner, in his role on the Intelligence Committee, actually mentioned earlier this week that since July, when that original district court order came down, until about two weeks ago, there has been zero communication between federal agencies that have this election expertise and security expertise, zero communication between those agencies and social media companies, which is a real problem. He noted rightly that the CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, even said after the 2016 election that if there are foreign agents on our platforms spreading misinformation, tell us because we want to do something about it. And to credit the government, they formed a relationship with the social media companies and provided them this information. And then that communication stopped after this district court order, and it doesnt seem that it really restarted immediately after the order was stayed. So, it does have a really big impact. Were actually getting less cooperation than we did in the run-up to the 2020 election.

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Related From Slate John Roberts Just Dropped the Hammer on Rogue, Lawless Trump Judges Read More

And its not as if attempts at election interference have stopped. Its not as though theres no foreign entities trying to influence elections or putting election misinformation out there. It stopped not because its not needed, but because of vast confusion about what can be shared now. And so the larger point is the social media entities want to do this. They dont feel like theyre being coerced. They feel like this is an essential piece of cooperation that has to happen.

Yeah, absolutely. Its not because the problem has gone away, that this communication has ground to an almost halt. So every threat assessment or intelligence assessment that has been publicly released since 2020 has indicated that the threat of attempted foreign interference in elections, including through sort of propaganda or disinformation or influence operations on social media platforms, is still there, and specific countries are often named in those federal intelligence assessments. And it makes sense, right? Because what we saw on Jan. 6, 2021, was really evidence that its not that expensive to engage in an influence operation. Using various channels within the United States, including social media platforms, can actually cause major disruption. That was a huge disruption on Jan. 6. It was an attempted interference with the peaceful transfer of power. When Congress was under assault that day, they were actually serving in their function as election officials. So they were really being attacked because they were fulfilling that role of fairly counting all the votes and declaring the winner and fulfilling the will of the people. I think that showed the whole world that you dont need to hire a really sophisticated, you know, computer hacker to get into our voting machines. You can cause a lot of disruption through these influence operations. So by no means has that threat abated. If anything, theres all kinds of motivations for people to engage in that again, and unfortunately, as we also have seen in the wake of the 2020 election, there are a lot of elements within the United States, domestic elements, who are motivated to and have been engaging in the spread of false election information.
What happens when a lawless judge and a terrible appeals court embrace the dopiest First Amendment claim youve ever heard out of pure spite toward a Democratic president? That would be Murthy v. Missouri, a brain-meltingly dumb case that the Supreme Court was unfortunate enough to hear oral arguments in on Monday. Murthy poses a question so asinine that to ask it is to answer it: Can government officials encourage social media companies to moderate certain content that they deem harmfulmost importantly, disinformation about COVID-19 in the middle of the pandemic?

Yes, of course they can: The First Amendment does not gag public officials from urging Facebook or the Washington Post or anyone else to publish or not publish certain information, especially when it contains dangerous lies about a once-in-a-century pandemic that could exacerbate the crisis. The First Amendment bars government censorship, not government persuasion, and the Biden administration planted itself on the latter side of that bright line. At least six justices grasped this basic constitutional principle on Monday. Several of them used arguments to highlight how this inane case illustrates so much of whats wrong with the judiciary today, and hinted at the dangers it could pose to American democracy in the future. That we should pay attention to. The rest was an unfortunate sideshow.

Like so many Supreme Court cases these days, Murthy is built atop a heap of fake facts. The case began when Missouri and Louisiana sued agencies and officials across the Biden administration, falsely accusing them of coercing social media companies into censoring their residents free speech. (These states later added a handful of fringe anti-vaxxers to the suit.) They filed their complaint in the Monroe Division of the Western District of Louisiana, wheresurprise!they were guaranteed to draw a Trump appointee, Terry Doughty, the one judge hearing cases in that division. Judge Doughty has a record of issuing nationwide injunctions against the Biden administration on the basis of dubious legal and factual analysis. Most notably, he issued a nationwide bar against Bidens vaccine mandate for health care workers in an opinion riddled with anti-vax nonsense (which the Supreme Court reversed).

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Related From Slate John Roberts Just Dropped the Hammer on Rogue, Lawless Trump Judges Read More

Doughty, in other words, was certain to rule against Biden in the social media case. Even still, the opinion he handed down on July 4, 2023, was a humiliating mess of contradictions, fabrications, and (ironically) misinformation. Doughty adopted the plaintiffs theory that the administration coerced social media companies into removing conservative speech about COVID, including posts promoting hydroxychloroquine and rejecting the efficacy of vaccines. He accused government officials of launching a coordinated campaign to silence conservatives by forcing private companies to take down anti-vax content, as well as false claims about election fraud. And he issued one of the most sweeping injunctions in the history of the American legal system, prohibiting any employeeincluding Homeland Security, the State Department, the Department of Justice, and the FBIfrom engaging in any communication of any kind with social-media companies encouraging content moderation.

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Doughty, it turns out, grievously butchered the record to reach his conclusion. An exhaustive analysis by Mike Masnick proves that Doughty consistently misrepresented testimony and other evidence in the record to construct a conspiracy theory with zero basis in reality. He distorted emails and other exchanges to make them look coercive when they were nothing of the sort, cherry-picking and rearranging quotations to put them in a censorious light. Yet the hard-right U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, where law goes to die, affirmed Doughtys conclusions and upheld much of his injunction (while narrowing it in part). That move sent the administration racing to the Supreme Court for an emergency stay, which it granted in October, over the dissents of Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Clarence Thomas. Mondays arguments confirmed that a majority is prepared to side with Biden on the merits.

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The justices did not sound happy to have the case before them. Justice Sonia Sotomayor scolded Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga (a former Alito clerk) for his lack of candor. I have such a problem with your brief, she told him. You omit information that changes the context of some of your claims. You attribute things to people who it didnt happen to. Aguinaga was unable to defend Doughtys more extreme deceptions. So he had to fall back on what Justice Elena Kagan called an extremely expansive argument: the notion that encouraging people to suppress their own speech violates the First Amendment, even if it isnt coercive. Kagan drew upon her past work in the executive branch to explain that, actually, government officials do this all the time. Ive had some experience encouraging press to suppress their own speech, Kagan told Aguinaga. Example: You just wrote a bad editorial. Here are the five reasons you shouldnt write another one. Is that really unconstitutional?

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Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a former White House staff secretary, also provided a real-world perspective after Alito fumed that officials had been too mean to the platforms and would never treat the traditional press so sharply. Kavanaugh gave Alito a reality check: Id assumed, thought, [and] experienced government press people throughout the federal government who regularly call up the media and berate them, he told Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher, who defended the administration. You said the anger was unusual. I wasnt entirely clear on that from my own experience. Translation: Government employees yell at members of the media all the time. The media can accept or reject their requests. That is how it works.

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But did Biden officials berate social media employees? Only on a few rare occasions. Heres what really happened: The platforms in question, most prominently Facebook and Twitter, invited the government to help them identify and remove the most toxic disinformation. At the time, as Fletcher explained, these companies were eager to present themselves as partners with the administration in its push for COVID vaccination. Officials could flag questionable content, but the platforms made their own judgment calls, without any demonstrable fear of retaliation. Everyone agrees that the government violates free speech when it explicitly coerces companies into censoring expression under the threat of punishment. But, Fletcher persuasively argued, no such thing happened here.

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That left Aguinaga to lean on the theory that the government contravenes the First Amendment when it merely encourages specific content moderation. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a stickler for legible rules, sounded borderline aghast at this baggy, boundless standard; she lobbed a series of hypotheticals at Aguinaga that showed he was pushing a meaningless and impracticable test. Chief Justice John Roberts tried to help Aguinaga understand that multiple agencies with competing agendas may pressure platforms in contradictory directions; doesnt that dilute the concept of coercion significantly? (Aguinaga just sounded confused.) Kavanaugh pointed out that the plaintiffs position could prevent officials from urging the press to safeguard national security by, for instance, asserting that a forthcoming article might imperil the troops.

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Even Gorsuch, who started out sympathetic to Aguinaga, was exasperated by the end, complaining that Doughtys universal injunction was part of the epidemic that had to be stopped. Only Alito and Thomas sounded like surefire votes for the plaintiffs after nearly two hours of arguments, and Thomas heart was not fully in it. Alito stood alone in his increasingly uncontrolled and seething aggrievement.

The pandemic may be over, but Murthy remains a hugely relevant case. Perhaps most obviously, it is a cautionary tale about the extremism of Trump judges like Doughty, who keep issuing these lawless injunctions at the behest of red-state politicians, and the 5th Circuit, which keeps upholding them. A disproportionate number of the Supreme Courts cases this term emerge from the 5th Circuit, which keeps appeasing the Trump-appointed zealots attempting to seize unimaginable amounts of power from the democratic branches. The chief justice is attempting to crack down on the kind of judge-shopping that occurred here, but the fight is just beginning. The evident frustration of Roberts, Kavanaugh, Barrett, and even Gorsuch on Monday suggests that a majority of the court is fed up with this political manipulation of the judiciary by rogue judges with undisguised partisan loyalties.

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So, yes, SCOTUS is likely to reach the right result in Murthy. Alarmingly, though, so much damage has already been done. In light of Doughtys injunction, the federal government shut down all of its efforts to combat disinformation, fearful of judicial sanctions. Bad actors have exploited this development to flood the internet with lies about the upcoming 2024 election. If foreign entities attempt to interfere with the election via social media, the Biden administration will have few tools left to fight them. It is just too late to revive the various task forces that worked with platforms before Doughty disbanded them last year. For the Murthy plaintiffs, then, a Supreme Court defeat may not matter much. They have already done immense damage to truth and transparency on the internet. And at this late date, the worst of it cannot be undone.
Keeping up with Donald Trumps court schedule is a dizzying task, since he faces two federal trials, a criminal trial in Georgia, and two separate civil and criminal trials in New York. (Oh, and hes running for president.) To make it easier to follow along, each Monday well be looking back on all the Trump trialrelated developments you might have missed the previous week.

Donald Trumps favorite legal strategyto delay, delay, and delay some moreappears to be working after a judge postponed his New York hush money trial, which was supposed to start next week. And in Georgia, embattled District Attorney Fani Willis has managed to stay on as the prosecutor in the election interference RICO case. Meanwhile, in Florida, a judge resisted the former presidents request to dismiss charges in special counsel Jack Smiths classified documents case.

The Hush Money Trial Is Postponed

Now its unclear when the first Trump criminal trial might start.* Thats because last week New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan postponed the hush money trial, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, until mid-April and it could be delayed further. It was supposed to start March 25.

Trumps attorneys asked Merchan to delay the trial for at least 90 daysor, you know, to just dismiss the entire thingafter they received thousands of new documents from the U.S. attorneys office. And, surprising everyone, the Manhattan DA didnt oppose the delay. In fact, Bragg said his office would be OK with a 30-day delay because it similarly received approximately 31,000 pages of records.

All these documents came from federal prosecutors who were responding to a subpoena that Trumps legal team served them in early January. According to Braggs latest court filing, the former presidents lawyers consented to repeated extensions that USAO asked for in order to fulfill the subpoena. And it wasnt until last week that federal prosecutors began sending the thousands of requested documents to both Trumps legal team and Braggs.

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The Manhattan DA also asked USAO for documents over a year ago, when building his hush money case, but was provided only a portion of what he requested. Nevertheless, Bragg was given grand jury minutes, witness lists, exhibits presented to the grand jury, and more related information and shared it with Trumps attorneys as part of standard discovery on June 8, 2023over nine months ago.

It appears the USAO is now responding to a mix of document requests from Trump and Bragg, and its unclear why its happening so late, with the initial schedule for the trial less than two weeks away. Bragg has blamed the former president, since his attorneys filed a subpoena two months out from trial. The timing of the USAOs production is a result solely of the defendants delay despite the Peoples diligence, wrote Bragg.

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Merchan has scheduled a hearing on March 25 instead to address why the records took so long to be sent over and to assess when a new trial date should be set.

Trump Is Struggling to Pay His Bond

Countless hours negotiating with one of the largest insurance companies in the world have proven that obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount of the judgment is not possible under the circumstances present, wrote Trumps attorneys in a new court filing submitted to a New York appeals court on Monday.

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The former president cant cough up the $454 million judgment he owes in the New York civil fraud case that he lost last month. Trump and his two adult sons were charged with fraud for overinflating the value of their real estate assets in order to secure bank loans and better insurance premiums. And though his lawyers are appealing Justice Arthur Engorons verdict, Trump still has to post bond. Except, even after consulting with about 30 surety companies through four separate brokers, Trump has been unable to do so. His attorneys explained that most bonding companies wont even consider supporting a bond of this magnitude and that the few that will dont accept hard assetsaka real estateas collateral, making the task of securing bond a practical impossibility.

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Given this, Trumps attorneys suggested that the former presidents bond be lowered to a smaller amount or be waived entirely, something they argued routinely happens when securing bond is not practicable.

If Trump cannot post bond by March 25, New York Attorney General Letitia James will be allowed to begin seizing Trumps assets.

Fani Willis Can Still Prosecute Trump

Last week was a whirlwind for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. Judge Scott McAfee announced that Willis election interference indictment against Trump and others could remain in placebut only if Willis or special prosecutor Nathan Wade stepped down. Within hours of that decision, Wade submitted his letter of resignation, cementing Willis position on the case.

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McAfee outlined Willis options in a Friday morning decision that followed a dramatic, dayslong court hearing that laid out misconduct allegations brought by Ashleigh Merchant, an attorney representing Mike Romanwho was charged alongside Trump and 17 others in Willis indictment. She accused Willis of dating Wade, then hiring him to work on her investigation. That created a conflict of interest, Merchant argued, because Wade paid for vacations for himself and Willis with funds he earned from Fulton County. Willis and Wade testified under oath that their relationship began in 2022, after Wade was hired, and that they split travel expenses, with Willis paying Wade back for her portion.

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McAfee concluded that dismissal of Willis indictment was not the appropriate remedy and that Merchant and Trumps attorney Steven Sadow failed to prove that Willis had a conflict of interest in hiring Wade and prosecuting her case. However, McAfee believes that Willis and Wades former romantic relationship still creates a significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team.

Though Willis ultimately defeated the misconduct allegations, there could still be trouble brewing for her. Merchant and Trumps attorneys could appeal McAfees ruling, especially since the judge acknowledged in his decision that those who testified during the hearing may not have been entirely truthful. An odor of mendacity remains, wrote McAfee.

Some of Trumps Charges in Georgia Were Dropped

McAfee ruled that three of Trumps charges related to pressuring Georgia state officials to change the 2020 election results didnt hold enough detail to merit a felony offense. He now faces 10 counts instead of 13.

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McAfee found that the charges stemming from Trumps infamous phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which he demanded that the secretary find 11,780 votes to overturn Joe Bidens victory, were too generic. Thats because, in the DAs charging documents, she argues that defendants solicited elected officials, including Raffensperger, to violate their oaths to the Georgia Constitution and the U.S. Constitution but didnt specify what section of these constitutions was in question. The lack of detail concerning an essential legal element is, in the undersigneds opinion, fatal, wrote McAfee. And that makes for an impossible task for the defense, since the defendants could have violated the Constitution and thus the statute in dozens, if not hundreds, of distinct ways.

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The judges ruling is a win not only for Trump. McAfee dismissed six total charges from Willis 41-count indictment, affecting Trumps former chief of staff Mark Meadows and attorneys Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Robert Cheeley, and Ray Smith III. However, McAfee left the door open for Willis to refile the dismissed charges with more context included or to appeal his decision.

This does not mean the entire indictment is dismissed, McAfee said.

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Related From Slate The Trump Trial Delay in the Alvin Bragg Case Was Entirely Avoidable Read More

Charges in the Classified Documents Case Can Stay

Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon said the charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith in his classified documents indictment can remain in place, rejecting the former presidents request to toss 32 of 40 felony counts.

Cannons decision came shortly after Trump and his attorneys, alongside prosecutors for Smith, debated the matter in a Florida courtroom for over three hours last week. Throughout the hearing, Cannon seemed skeptical of the former presidents claims that the law banning the unlawful retention of national defense information was unconstitutionally vague, saying that dismissing charges on that basis would be an extraordinary step. She also said that Trumps claim that he held unlimited authority to decide which documents from the White House could be considered personal would gut the Presidential Records Act. Cannon also repeatedly said that the arguments posed by Trumps attorneys were better suited for a jury to decide.

The outcome of the hearing was a small win for the special counsel, as Cannon still must decide on Trumps motion to dismiss the entire classified documents indictment and has yet to issue a trial date.
ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, does not want Congress to force a sale of its crown jewel. That threat is real: Last week the House overwhelmingly passed a bill that would do just that, on a bipartisan vote of 352 to 65. Now the action shifts to the Senate.

As ByteDance throws every weapon it can against the bill, a key element of its strategy has emerged: deputize its army of TikTok creators to become informal lobbyists, asking them to plead the companys case.

Earlier this month TikTok users saw a stark message when they opened the app: Let Congress know what TikTok means to you and tell them to vote NO. Many have heeded the call.

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TikTok has allowed my dreams that I used to have as a child to come true, Steven King, who makes videos about fashion and travel, told Reuters at a rally outside the Capitol last week. He would hate to see those dreams crushed.

Asked if he worried about a security risk from China, King sounded like a TikTok PR flack: Absolutely not. If I had any concerns about China, Id have the same concerns about right here in America sharing and selling our data too.

TikToks people-powered lobbying strategy is unusual, but it is not unique. In fact, it adopts an approach developed over a decade ago by another fast-growing tech platform with loyal users that was desperate to fend off what it claimed was government meddling. That company was Uberand I had a front-row seat to the battle.

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In 2011 I was working for the District of Columbias mayors office when Uber, then a little-known startup, came to town. Rather than approach city officials to introduce itself and request permission to operate, Uber quietly began offering rides to select customers, inviting targets (often young professionals) to boozy parties where Uber vouchers were distributed. At the time, the idea of summoning a black car from your phone without using cash (or paying a tip) felt like a revelation in a city where taxi service was notoriously abysmal. Uber quickly established a passionate and loyal customer base.

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At the time, Uber operated in a regulatory gray area. Ron Linton, the head of the citys taxi and limousine commission, insisted, with some justification, that Uber was outright illegal. In January 2012 Linton launched a sting operation: He used the Uber app to request a ride downtown, and after arriving at his destination, had his staff impound the car and present its mystified driver with citations totaling over $1,000. A few months later, the D.C. council proposed legislation that would have led Uber rides to cost significantly more than taxi trips.

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Uber responded with a massive pressure campaign. Rather than rely on dark-suited lobbyists huddling with elected officials behind closed doors, Uber turned to its fervent early fans, warning them with social media and emails that the city wanted to deprive them of their beloved ride-hail service.

Angry messages poured into the Wilson Building, the District of Columbias city hall, where one councilmember said he received 5,000 emails. I myself remember receiving a furious email from the CEO of a prominent local software company. What the hell is the city doing with Uber?, he fulminated. Youre giving a middle finger to the tech sector.

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Ubers strategy pointed to a new kind of political power wielded by consumer tech platforms that could instantly and repeatedly push messaging to thousandsor millionsof loyal users. People have a right, perhaps even a duty, to give their elected officials feedback and input. Now, they were being mobilized to do so not by an organic feeling, or even a grassroots activist campaign, but by a company that had direct and instant access to them.

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Uber turned its consumers into lobbyists. And like any kind of lobbying, the messaging was frequently exaggerated.

Middle finger to the tech sector was, for example, something of an overstatement. Uber had deliberately chosen to operate without government approval, and the companys executives knew that the city could declare them illegal. It was clear that Ubers strategy was to beg forgiveness, not ask permission. But the truth was of secondary importance; Ubers user-fueled lobbying campaign revolved around outrage. And it was powerful. I remember an exasperated mayoral aide complaining to me about the deluge of messages from Ubers zombie horde.

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Uber won that fight in Washington. In 2012, the city passed new legislation that codified the services legality, and company executives have told me they were so happy with the outcome that its D.C. strategy became a model for similar fights elsewhere, such as a successful 2015 effort to prevent New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio from capping the number of vehicles on city streets. That response included a de Blasio tab on the app showing extended waits that New Yorkers would supposedly endure if the mayors proposal was adopted (even though no one seemed to know whether de Blasios limit on Uber vehicles would really cause interminable wait times).

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Over the past decade other tech companies have sought to borrow Ubers playbook, but they have not always succeeded. Airbnb, for instance, tried to mobilize its hosts to squash a plan to limit rentals in Jersey City, New Jersey, but residents approved the proposal anyway.

Now ByteDance, TikToks Chinese owner, is relying on a similar approach to spur grassroots opposition to the bill under consideration in Congress. Much like D.C. officials dazed by the army of Uber defenders 12 years ago, members of the House seemed taken aback by the torrent of livid messages pouring into their offices last week. Sean Casten, an Illinois Democrat, posted an X/Twitter thread decrying and refuting the woefully misinformed calls and social media outreach over the last two days. Julia Letlow, a Louisiana Republican, staffed her own office phone lines, explaining why those asking her to not ban TikTok were misguided.

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Related From Slate Ah, Another Spineless Exercise That Lights American Politics Aflame Read More

As with Ubers earlier fights, much of what TikTok defenders are saying has a questionable relationship with reality. Despite slogans to the contrary, Congress is not trying to kill TikTok, but to force its Chinese owner into a (very lucrative) sale to new owners who would not carry the same risks of interference by a foreign adversary.

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But lobbying is designed to get results, not deduce truth. Thats the case for the office meetings and after-hours schmoozefests that are a mainstay of American politicking, as well as the pithy messages parroted by consumers targeted by a tech company under siege.

With roughly a third of Americans having at least tried TikTok, you cant really blame ByteDance for tapping its loyal user base when its back is against the wall. (If Boeing had such reach and customer loyalty, it would likely be doing the same thing right now.)

But if you receive urgent messaging from TikTokor another technology platform you lovetelling you that the sky is falling because of government interference, best to do a little due diligence before pinging your mayor or senator as requested.

And if you happen to be that mayor or senator? Recognize the angry messages flowing into your inbox for what they are: old-fashioned, one-sided lobbying, updated for an era of big tech.
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A commercial air freshener elevates your business by eliminating odors, enhancing customer experiences, and boosting employee morale. A clean, pleasant atmosphere shows attention to detail and complements overall cleanliness. Customizable scents can cater to diverse preferences, while reducing allergens promotes health. Ultimately, a fresh environment fosters customer retention and loyalty.

Selecting the Right Air Freshener for Your Business Environment

Every workspace, whether its an office, a retail store, or a commercial warehouse, can benefit from maintaining a pleasant atmosphere. One way to do this is to provide a refreshing and odor-free environment. With various commercial air fresheners available in the market, choosing the right one for your business needs can seem hard. Understanding the details of each type can simplify the decision-making process.

Spray Air Fresheners

Versatility : Manual sprays offer flexibility, allowing employees to refresh spaces as needed. Automatic sprays, on the other hand, ensure consistent fragrance without manual intervention.

: Manual sprays offer flexibility, allowing employees to refresh spaces as needed. Automatic sprays, on the other hand, ensure consistent fragrance without manual intervention. Portability: Theyre easily movable, making them ideal for spaces that might need a quick freshening up, like conference rooms after meetings or reception areas.

Plug-In Air Fresheners

Consistency : These offer a steady release of fragrance, which maintains a pleasant scent at all times.

: These offer a steady release of fragrance, which maintains a pleasant scent at all times. Customizability: The ability to adjust fragrance intensity lets businesses cater to diverse preferences.

Passive Air Fresheners

Sustainability : Since theyre battery-free, theyre an eco-friendly choice for businesses trying to reduce their carbon footprint.

: Since theyre battery-free, theyre an eco-friendly choice for businesses trying to reduce their carbon footprint. Low Maintenance: They work quietly in the background without any need for intervention until its time for replacement.

HVAC and Whole-Building Systems

Uniform Distribution : An HVAC system ensureseven distribution, making them perfect for large spaces or entire buildings.

: An HVAC system ensureseven distribution, making them perfect for large spaces or entire buildings. Efficiency: These systems can cover large areas without the need for multiple individual units, which is cost-effective in the long run.

Choosing the Right Commercial Air Freshener: What to Consider

When selecting a commercial air freshener for your small business, its important to consider several key factors to ensure that the product meets your specific needs. Weve used these criteria when curating our product list:

Effectiveness (Scale: 9/10) The air freshener should effectively neutralize and mask odors.

It should be powerful enough to cover the intended area without being overwhelming. Longevity (Scale: 8/10) The duration of the scent is crucial. A good air freshener should last a reasonable amount of time before needing a refill or replacement. Safety and Health Considerations (Scale: 10/10) Products should be non-toxic and safe for use around people, especially in businesses that cater to children or health-sensitive individuals.

Prefer air fresheners that are free from harmful chemicals or allergens. Cost-Effectiveness (Scale: 7/10) The air freshener should offer good value for money, considering both the initial purchase price and the long-term costs (like refills). Scent Variety and Appeal (Scale: 6/10) A variety of scents allows for customization based on personal preference or business branding.

Scents should be pleasant and not too overpowering. Ease of Use and Maintenance (Scale: 8/10) The product should be easy to install and maintain, requiring minimal effort for refills or adjustments. Environmental Impact (Scale: 7/10) Consider eco-friendly options that use natural or biodegradable ingredients and minimal plastic packaging. Brand Reputation and Customer Reviews (Scale: 6/10) Look for products from reputable brands with positive customer feedback.

By considering these factors, weve curated a list of commercial air fresheners that are most suitable for various small business environments. Whether you run a boutique, a cafe, or an office, these criteria will help you find an air freshener that aligns with your business needs and values.

Commercial Air Freshener Options on Amazon

Rubbermaid LCD Chrome Aerosol Dispenser

The Rubbermaid LCD Chrome Aerosol Dispenser is a cutting-edge odor management solution for small businesses. This battery-powered device incorporates advanced technology and design features to provide an efficient and cost-effective approach to maintaining a fresh environment.

Key Features:

Microtrans Odor Neutralizer for effective elimination of unpleasant smells

Smart chip technology extends refill life to 90-180 days, reducing replacement frequency

Customizable programming: 12/24 hours daily, or 5, 6, 7 days weekly for tailored cost control

Visual indicators for battery level and refill replacement schedule

Pharmaceutical-grade steel valve for superior mist distribution and performance

Pros:

High reliability in odor control

Flexible programming options to suit specific needs

Extended refill life reduces maintenance and replacement costs

Efficient and long-lasting performance

Rubbermaid LCD Chrome Aerosol Dispenser

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Oxygen-Pro Commercial Air Freshener and Deodorizer

The Strong-Scent Starter Kit includes two batteries and two fragrance cartridges, Tropical Waves and Sweet Amaretto, designed to tackle powerful odors in areas like restrooms, kitchens, or smoking rooms.

Key Features:

Oxy-Gen Powered technology for consistent, continuous fragrance delivery

Carbon Footprint Approved: 100% pure fragrance oil, no CFCs, VOCs, or propellants

Effective odor control with proprietary odor eliminator ingredient

30-day cartridge lifespan, 20mL of pure fragrance oil per cartridge

Easy installation and servicing: wall-mountable with double-sided tape or screws

Oxygen-Pro Commercial Air Freshener and Deodorizer

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SVAVO Automatic Air Freshener Dispenser

The SVAVO Automatic Air Freshener Dispenser is a customizable and efficient solution for small businesses to maintain a pleasant atmosphere. This manually powered dispenser offers adjustable frequency and compatibility with various air freshener brands.

Key Features:

Adjustable intervals: 5, 15, or 25 minutes, with Day/Night/24H working modes

Compatible with international standard-size aerosol cans (10 fl. oz/300 ml)

Battery-operated (2 AA batteries, not included) with a green LED low battery indicator

Flexible placement options: wall-mounted or placed on a flat surface

90-day money-back/replacement guarantee and 1-year warranty

SVAVO Automatic Air Freshener Dispenser

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OdoBan Fogmaster Jr. Electric Handheld Fogger and Liquid Air Freshener

If you want a different form factor to freshen the air, the OdoBan Fogmaster Jr. is a versatile handheld electric fogger designed to provide effective odor control and freshening for small businesses. This compact device is compatible with sanitizers, water, or aromatherapy solutions, with a 1-quart tank capacity.

Key Features:

Multiple applications: sanitizing, plant misting, aromatherapy

Suitable for various facilities: hotels, salons, restaurants, restrooms, schools, and more

Ready-to-use 1-gallon jug for long-lasting freshness

Effectively neutralizes stubborn odors from pets, tobacco smoke, cooking, and mustiness

Multi-use: can be diluted for use on surfaces like carpet, hard floors, and upholstery

OdoBan Fogmaster Jr. Electric Handheld Fogger and Liquid Air Freshener

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Aroma Beam Commercial Air Freshener

The Aroma Beam Scent Machine is capable of refreshing up to 2,000 square feet. This device uses Bluetooth controls and a reliable fan motor for optimal scent distribution.

Key Features:

Scent coverage up to 2000 sq. ft., depending on ceiling height and airflow

Bluetooth controls via Scent Bridge App for Android or iPhone

Suitable for both residential and commercial environments

Utilizes scent bars for customizable fragrance intensity

Can be wall-mounted or used as a standalone device

Aroma Beam Commercial Air Freshener

Buy on Amazon

Rubbermaid Commercial Microburst Automated Aerosol Air Care System

The Rubbermaid Commercial Microburst Automated Aerosol Air Care System is an effective solution for small businesses seeking effective odor elimination. This battery-powered dispenser uses Microtrans Odor Neutralizer and smart chip technology to provide consistency and distribute the fragrance reliably.

Key Features:

Advanced dispensing technology with a range of fragrances

Smart chip technology for 30 to 168 days of odor control effectiveness

LCD model with customizable programming options: 12/24 hours per day; 5, 6, or 7 days per week

Visual indicators for battery life and refill status

High-quality, pharmaceutical-grade steel valve for fine mist distribution

Rubbermaid Commercial Microburst Automated Aerosol Air Care System

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Fowod Programmable Aerosol Spray Dispenser

The Fowod Programmable Aerosol Spray Dispenser is a wall-mounted or free-standing unit that runs on two AA batteries and has a programmable smart chip that allows you to set the spraying frequency, working mode, and interval time according to your needs. It is compatible with international standard-size air freshener refill cans, such as Glade, Air Wick, Rubbermaid, Hospeco, etc.

Fowod Programmable Aerosol Spray Dispenser

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Big D 757 Light-Activated Aerosol Dispenser

The Big D Light-Activated Aerosol Dispenser is programmed to turn off when there is no light in the room, saving your aerosol canister and ensuring efficient use. You can easily set the dispenser to spray every 5, 15, or 30 minutes for 24-hour dispensing, or to spray only at specific intervals when the lights are on in the room. The dispenser also features an indicator light that alerts you when its time to replace the aerosol canister.

Big D 757 Light-Activated Aerosol Dispenser

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Georgia-Pacific ActiveAire Powered Air Freshener Dispenser

The ActiveAire Air Care Systems collection offers coordinated scents for the stall, wall, and urinal, with a variety of scents available to provide a consistent, pleasant fragrance throughout the restroom.

The collection includes Automated Air Freshener Dispensers for Compact Toilet Paper Dispensers, Powered and Passive Whole-Room Air Freshener Dispensers, and Low-Splash and traditional Deodorizer Urinal Screens.

Georgia-Pacific ActiveAire Powered Air Freshener Dispenser

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CD.PANG Commercial LCD Programmable Fragrance Dispenser

The CD.PANG Commercial LCD Programmable Fragrance Dispenser comes with a 300mL refillable liquid bottle that allows you to choose your preferred fragrance. Each individual dispenser covers a room size of up to 2,000 cubic feet, making it suitable for large spaces of up to 600 square feet.

With 3,000 metered sprays that can last up to 60 days for optimal performance, this dispenser is designed for programmable options that include spraying every 1-60 minutes across 24 hours of the day, 7 days a week.

CD.PANG Commercial LCD Programmable Fragrance Dispenser

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Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change the air freshener in my commercial space?

The frequency of changing air fresheners depends on the type and usage. Monitor scent strength and follow manufacturer guidelines for refills and replacements. Regularly inspect cartridges, gels, or pouches for depletion or damage, and replace them as needed to maintain a pleasant atmosphere in your commercial space.

Are commercial air fresheners safe for people with allergies or sensitivities?

Many commercial air fresheners are safe, but some may contain chemicals that trigger allergies or sensitivities. Opt for eco-friendly, non-toxic options with natural or organic ingredients to minimize potential health risks. Always consider customer and employee feedback to address any concerns.

Can I use multiple types of air fresheners in my business?

Yes, combining different air fresheners can enhance fragrance distribution and effectiveness. Try using complementary types, such as plug-ins for small spaces and HVAC systems for larger areas. Be mindful of scent combinations to avoid overwhelming or conflicting fragrances.

How can I make my own custom scent for my commercial air freshener system?

Collaborate with a professional perfumer or scent marketing company to create a unique, custom fragrance that represents your brand. Alternatively, experiment with blending essential oils to develop a distinctive aroma for use in compatible air freshener systems, such as diffusers or HVAC-based solutions.

Qualify for discounts, special offers and more with a Business Prime account from Amazon. You can create a FREE account to get started today.
When it comes to running a successful business, communication is key. Effective business communication not only requires clarity, but also the use of appropriate email format and etiquette.

In this article, well examine 7 different email format examples for businesses to help you get started creating professional emails that get results every time. Lets get started with the basics of effective email communication!

The Proper Business Email Format

Business email writing follows a certain set of conventions that distinguish it from other types of writing. By following these conventions, you create a polished and professional impression that will be appreciated by your recipients.

Lets take a look at the proper business email format and some tips for ensuring your emails are well-written and effective.

Professional Email Address

Subject Line

Email Opening

Email Body

Email Conclusion

Email Sign Off

Email Signature

1. Professional Email Address

In business today, first impressions often start with your email address. It serves as a digital identifier, so having a professional one is paramount. Abstain from using quirky nicknames, numbers that dont have a particular significance, or vague identifiers.

Ideally, your email should be a combination of your first and last name or a variation thats closely associated with your identity.

For businesses, its always beneficial to have an email address linked to the companys domain. This not only looks more professional but also enhances brand recognition and builds trust among recipients.

2. Subject Line

The subject line acts as the gateway to your email, offering the recipient a glimpse into the content within.

Therefore, it should be precise, attention-grabbing, and relevant. Integrating compelling action verbs or phrases such as Meeting Update or Feedback Required can drive urgency and prompt the recipient to open the email.

Equally important is to refrain from using vague or misleading subject lines. The recipient should know what to expect when they delve into the email.

Also, always be cautious and avoid using words that could trigger spam filters, which could send your email straight to the junk folder, diminishing the chances of it being read.

3. Email Opening

Starting an email on the right foot sets the tone for the entire communication. Your greeting plays a crucial role in establishing rapport and conveying respect. By opening with Dear, or even Hello, you immediately convey a level of professionalism.

Ensuring you use the correct name and title of the recipient further reinforces your attention to detail. If unsure of the persons gender or title, its safer to use their full name.

Following the greeting, you can insert an introductory line which shows goodwill, such as I trust this message finds you in good spirits, to subtly establish a connection.

4. Email Body

This is where the crux of your message resides. The content here should be well-structured and focused. Dividing the content into logical and short paragraphs enhances readability and ensures that each segment or idea stands out.

Its wise to keep your sentences straightforward, employing active verbs and direct language. This fosters clarity and decisiveness in your content. Steer clear of ambiguous phrases and jargon unless its an industry standard.

For a universally understood email, its also vital to dodge colloquialisms and abbreviations unless previously defined or widely recognized.

5. Email Conclusion

Concluding your email effectively is pivotal in reinforcing your message and guiding the recipient towards the desired action.

This is the segment where you briefly encapsulate the primary focus of your email and express gratitude for the recipients time and attention.

Offer prompts like, Should you require further information, or I await your feedback, to encourage dialogue.

Remember, a well-thought-out conclusion not only summarizes but also lays the groundwork for continued communication or the next steps in a process.

6. Email Sign Off

The way you end your email can leave a lasting memory in the readers mind. This small gesture can reflect your respect, professionalism, and the relationship you share with the recipient.

Using standard and universally accepted closings like Regards or Yours sincerely can never go wrong. Depending on the relationship and the context, you can also use friendlier terms like Take care or Cheers.

Its essential to ensure the tone of your sign-off aligns with the content of your email, setting the right expectations for any subsequent interactions.

7. Email Signature

Think of your email signature as an electronic business card  concise, informative, and professional. This space should clearly display your full name, job designation, and the company you represent.

Including contact information such as a direct phone number, website link, or even a LinkedIn profile can be beneficial.

For those wanting to make a more distinct impression, adding a company logo or a professional photo can further personalize your emails.

However, its crucial to maintain a balance  while adding elements can make your signature stand out, over-cluttering can be counterproductive. Aim for a neat, organized, and efficient design.

READ MORE: How to Recall an Email in Outlook

Why Is a Proper Email Format Important?

In todays digital age, professional emails play a pivotal role in our daily communication, especially in the business world. Using the proper email format not only ensures that you present yourself as competent and trustworthy, but it also establishes a positive first impression.

Taking the time to format your emails correctly speaks volumes about your attention to detail and your respect for the recipient. When your emails are well-organized and clear, they enhance effective communication, ensuring your message is understood as intended.

Additionally, by maintaining a consistent and proper format, you reduce the risk of misinterpretations, ensuring the essence of your conversation remains transparent and efficient.

READ MORE: How to Recall an Email in Gmail

How Does a Formal Email Format Differ From an Informal Email Format?

The distinction between formal and informal email formats often lies in the tone, language, and structure employed. While a formal email typically adheres to a strict code of professionalism, an informal email allows for a more relaxed and personal approach.

In a formal email, its crucial to maintain a neutral tone, steer clear of casual lingo, contractions, or colloquialisms, and prioritize clarity and precision. Its also recommended to avoid any playful elements such as emojis, GIFs, or overly colorful fonts.

On the other hand, informal emails can have a more conversational tone, embrace colloquial terms, and even include light-hearted elements to make the interaction more engaging and personable.

Formal vs. Informal Email Format

Understanding the differences between formal and informal email formats is key to effective communication. Heres a comparative table to highlight the distinctions:

Feature Formal Email Informal Email Tone Professional Casual Use of Contractions Avoided Common Use of Slang Avoided Allowed Emoticons Generally avoided More frequent

Professional Email Format Tips

Business emails should follow a standard, professional email format to ensure that your messages come across as clear and organized. Here are some additional tips for creating effective business emails:

Start with a catchy, relevant subject line

When writing a professional email, your subject line should be clear and concise to ensure that your recipient knows the purpose of the email. It can also help to use action words in your subject line to draw attention. If applicable, include urgency or importance indicators.

Personalize your email

When writing a professional email, personalizing it with the recipients name, job title, or company name can help create a more meaningful connection with the recipient. This is especially true for emails sent to multiple people. Referencing a recent event or mutual connection can enhance personalization.

Keep emails succinct and to the point

Business emails should be concise and to the point. Avoid using long words or phrases, and avoid unnecessary details that may confuse your reader. You should also keep emails short if possible, aiming for no more than two or three paragraphs. Prioritize the most critical information at the beginning.

Make your email easy to read

When writing a business email, use active language and short sentences. You should also break the content into paragraphs to make it easier for your reader to skim. Avoid using jargon or technical terms, and use bullet points to make it easier for your reader to find key points quickly. Highlight or underline key points for emphasis.

Refrain from using slang, contractions, or emoticons

Formal language reinforces professionalism. Therefore, business emails should be professional, and as such, slang, contractions, and emoticons are generally not appropriate. Avoid using them unless youre certain they wont be misunderstood by your recipient.

Avoid slang such as LOL, and use emoticons sparingly. Contractions to avoid include cant, wont, and shouldnt.

Be aware of the tone

Your emails tone should reflect the type of conversation you would have in person. Choose your words carefully and avoid coming across as angry, aggressive, or sarcastic. Its important to be polite and professional, even if the email contains negative information. Maintain a positive, constructive approach throughout.

Be kind, courteous, and thankful

Your emails should always be polite and cordial. Use words like please, thank you, and kindly in your messages to show respect. You should also be appreciative of the persons time and effort, especially if they are helping you with something. Expressing gratitude can often lead to good relationships.

Be outgoing, energetic, and likable

When writing a business email, its important to be outgoing and energetic. Use positive words that convey enthusiasm, and be sure to include your contact information so your recipient can easily follow up with you. A warm tone can make your email more engaging.

Mention points from your previous conversation

If your email is a response to something the recipient previously said or asked, be sure to include specific points from your previous conversation. This will help show your recipient that you have paid attention to their thoughts and concerns.

Recalling details shows attentiveness and respect. It will also help refresh your recipients memory and help them understand what youre saying.

End with a call to action

When finishing your professional email, be sure to include a call to action. This could be asking the recipient for their opinion, input, or feedback on something you mentioned in your email. It could also be inviting them to take a specific action. Clarify what you hope to achieve with your email.

Whatever it is, make sure that your call to action is clear and easy for your recipient to understand.

Use a professional email signature

As mentioned earlier, your email signature should include your name, job title, and contact information as well as a headshot or logo if you like. This will help to create a more professional impression with your recipient, which is important when sending business emails. Including a LinkedIn profile can enhance your credibility.

Additionally, you should consider including a professional disclaimer in your email signature for privacy and legal purposes. This step will help protect you and your recipient.

Attach a cover letter or other relevant file

If you have relevant documents to include with your emails, such as a cover letter or resume, make sure you attach them. This will help show that you are taking the initiative and being proactive. Just remember to make sure that your attachments are virus-free before sending them.

Indicate in the email body what documents are attached to ensure the recipient knows to look for them.

Proofread emails carefully before sending

Before sending a business email, its a good idea to proofread it for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Pay special attention to any instructions or requests you include in the email, as its important they are accurate and clear.

Use tools like spell checkers or grammar checkers to assist in identifying errors. It sometimes helps to read the email out loud to yourself before sending it, as this can help you catch any errors.

Respond promptly to all emails

While this doesnt necessarily have to be done within minutes, you should do your best to respond promptly to all emails. This shows the recipient that you respect their time and value their input.

Setting specific times to check and reply to emails can improve efficiency. Doing so will also help to develop strong working relationships with your colleagues and customers.

Professional Email Format Key Points:

Email Tone & Language:

Maintain a professional tone.

Avoid slang, contractions, and excessive emoticons.

Convey enthusiasm and positivity.

Content & Structure:

Craft clear and concise subject lines.

Personalize the email with recipient details.

Recap previous conversations where relevant.

Conclude with a clear call to action.

Etiquette & Professionalism:

Express gratitude and courtesy.

Include a professional email signature.

Respond to emails in a timely manner.

Presentation:

Ensure the email is easy to read.

Break content into digestible paragraphs.

Proofread for errors before sending.

Attachments & Additional Information:

Attach relevant files when needed.

Ensure attachments are safe and virus-free.

READ MORE: 50 Business Voicemail Greeting Examples

How Do You Start a Professional Email?

A professional email should have a clear purpose and be free of any grammatical or spelling errors.

The first step is to determine the purpose of the email. Are you trying to set up a meeting, introduce yourself to a potential client, or thank someone for their business?

Once you know the purpose of the email, you can start crafting your message. Keep your language concise and clear, and avoid any slang or informal language.

Its also important to proofread your email before sending it to catch any typos or errors. If you take the time to carefully craft your professional email, youll be sure to make a great impression.

What Are the Four Parts of a Formal Email?

The four parts of a formal email are the subject line, the salutation, the message body, and the signature.

The subject line should be brief and to the point. It should give the reader an idea of what the email is about.

The greeting or salutation should address the reader by their name or job title. The message body is where youll write your email. Be sure to proofread your message before you send it.

The signature is your name, job title, and contact information. This lets the recipient know who theyre talking to and how they can get in touch with you.
As we get more experienced in our careers, some of us give up on truly making a difference in our work and other peoples lives.

This has never happened to Guy Kawasaki, who I talked with on The Small Business Radio Show. He is the chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of Guy Kawasakis Remarkable People podcast. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He was the chief evangelist of Apple and a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. His new book is Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

Here is what we discussed:

Why the Japanese concept of ikigai was an inspiration for this book on how to be remarkable. (Ikigai translates to reason for being, and in a perfect world lies at the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, and what you can be paid for.)

Why discovering your ikigai is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of self-discovery and adaptation. Unfortunately, it is not a perfect world, so you may find yourself in a position where what you love to do and are good it cannot pay the bills.

Why if you find yourself compelled to keep doing something that youre not good at and cant make money doing, then you truly have discovered your ikigai, you should rejoice.

Why you need to lower your expectations and standards. Dont expect a love at first sight, instant discovery of your passion.

How to plant a lot of seeds. It may take a lifetime to find your ikigai or that your ikigai finds you. So you should experiment with many different activities and side projects to find what resonates with your interests and abilities.

Why nothing worth becoming your ikigai is going to be easy and fast to master.

Why seek feedback and adjust? Use external feedback to refine your understanding of your ikigai.

Embrace the likelihood that you cant make money with your ikigai. This means keeping your day job and exploring ways to generate income from it, such as freelancing and moonlighting.

How to take the shit sandwich test. You will know youve discovered your true calling when you enjoy the shit sandwiches that it involves.

Why Steve Jobs was a jerk, but he was a jerk with a mission!

Listen to my entire interview with Guy on The Small Business Radio Show.
Mastercard unveiled Open Banking for Account Opening program, marking a significant leap forward in the digital banking sector. This initiative is set to redefine the experience of opening digital accounts for U.S. consumers and small businesses, particularly for those involved with debit and prepaid products. By incorporating a suite of open banking products as a core benefit, Mastercard aims to address common challenges in the digital account opening process, including verification hurdles, high abandonment rates, non-sufficient fund (NSF) returns, and the tedious manual entry of payment details.

The introduction of the Open Banking for Account Opening program is timely, aligning with the surging mobile banking adoption rates among Gen Z users, which Insider Intelligence predicts will grow from 20.7 million in 2020 to 47.8 million by 2026. This 12.4% year-over-year increase underscores the urgent need for more streamlined and user-friendly digital banking solutions.

Mastercards commitment to enhancing the digital banking landscape is evident in its offer to provide participating U.S. issuers with complimentary access to key verification tools. These tools, including Account Owner Verification, Account Detail Verification, and Account Balance Check solutions, are specifically designed to facilitate the digital opening of Mastercard-branded consumer and small business debit and general-purpose reloadable consumer prepaid products.

Leveraging the secure exchange of consumer-permissioned data, Mastercard Open Banking aims to deliver a seamless and secure digital account opening experience. By employing industry standards and cutting-edge machine learning technologies, the program empowers issuers to:

Confidently verify account ownership.

Dramatically reduce account abandonment and inactivity through swift account funding and an enhanced user experience.

Minimize NSF returns with real-time balance verification.

Silvana Hernandez, Executive Vice President of Product and Engineering for North America at Mastercard, highlighted the changing landscape of consumer banking behaviors, noting a significant shift towards online account openings driven by the demand for convenience and efficiency. The Open Banking for Account Opening program provides another entry point to the digital economy through valuable and secure experiences that lean into the power of consumer-permissioned data, Hernandez stated.

Mastercards Open Banking initiative is not just about modernizing the account opening process; its about enriching the entire banking ecosystem. By making it safer, simpler, and more accessible for all participants, Mastercard is setting a new standard for digital banking services.

Expected to be generally available in the first half of 2024, the Open Banking for Account Opening program represents a critical step towards creating a more inclusive and efficient digital economy. For small business owners and entrepreneurs, this initiative promises to streamline financial operations, making it easier to access essential banking services and manage finances effectively.
Versatility will be the predominant feature of future business and shared service employees.

centres will still need accountants five years from now, but what they do and how they perform their assignments will change. (Source: Unsplash )

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New employees working in shared service and business service centres will need a different set of skills compared to their predecessors if they are to be successful in the future, experts in the sector have said.

While a decade ago, expert knowledge in a highly specialised field was highly sought, companies in the sector will in future be looking for a combination of soft and hard skills, the latter, for example, in finance or programming.

This will provide a good base from which an employee can grow, said Peter Rusinak, coordinator of the Business Service Center Forum (BSCF) at AmCham Slovakia.

He added that centres will still need accountants five years from now, but what they do and how they perform their assignments, as well as the tools they use, will change going forward.

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Related article What can Slovakia learn from Lithuania, Romania and Poland? Read more

Jobs of the future

A data science hub at the Bratislava business services centre of insurance provider Swiss Re provides an example of the way future jobs  those that will be important and become more prominent in the future  are being created.

This hub did not exist five years ago, as data science was not very important to businesses at that time, said Lucia Groneova, head of HR Slovakia at Swiss Re. Today the work of the hub has a direct business impact.

Scientists at the hub, which has grown from five employees to the current 50 over the last five years, produce data which is used to calculate the probability of a natural disaster in South America, for example. The data is fed directly into Swiss Res models, which are then priced, and used in work with insurance companies.

The hub is not providing just a support service, but is having a direct input into Swiss Res business.

Related article

Related article The business service sector is eager to get new roles and competences Read more

Managers at centres admit it is difficult to predict exactly what jobs will be relevant in five years, and are therefore trying to create an environment in which they will be able to quickly meet any need for a new job or requirement from the parent company.

This is the case with battery producer Clarios, which has a business service centre in Slovakia where there has been a merging of IT specialists with, for example finance experts, into so-called business technologists.

We have a development programme for our employees, within which we are educating suitable employees who then are able to create their own solutions, said Roman Sustek, IT business partner at Clarios. These people are then able to adapt much more quickly to new technologies.

They also look for their employees to get used to constant reprofiling of their roles  something they expect to happen more quickly in future, especially with more extensive use of artificial intelligence.

This does not mean that if somebody is an accountant, he or she will stop being an accountant, but instead that, with the advent of the new technologies, his or her job will simply change and overlap with others, said Sustek.

Groneova noted that her company is always on the look-out for employees who, along with Slovak, can speak at least another two world languages, one of which must always be English, and who can also respond and adapt to change.

We like to employ graduates of maths, physics or any analytical technical field who will then be taught our specific programmes, she said.

It is naive to think that if someone masters a certain programme, that just using that will be enough to allow him or her to earn a living for the next five years. He or she will have to have a combination of technical thinking and communication skills and English to be able to respond to new technologies that are being developed.

Lucia Gogova, country HR partner at IBM in Slovakia, said jobs at IBMs business centres are being transformed at the moment but that questions are being raised over what expertise employees will need or to what extent they will have to speak other languages given that AI technology already offers highly proficient translations and can provide other expert knowledge.

Five years ago, we thought what would be important for HR within the next five years would be data analytics, said Gogova, adding that today these can be carried out by AI. What HR experts need is to comprehend data the system puts out and work with it, she said.

The situation is changing very dynamically. People would be better to adopt a mindset of looking where technology can help them to perform their current job.

Cyber security and sustainability

Among the fields most commonly cited as areas for future jobs are cyber security, artificial intelligence, data science, customer experience, and sustainability.

As a centre, if we dont take an interest in sustainability, young potential employees will not consider working for us at all, said Tomas Polakovic, business analysis actuarial services lead at Zurich Competence Centre in Bratislava, adding that this is a trend the centre has already noticed.

Gogova agreed, adding that cyber security was an area whose importance would only grow in future, leading to the creation of many more jobs in the field.

Data is already said to be the new currency, Gogova told The Slovak Spectator. Ensuring its security will be key.
This presidential election is about checks and balances.

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Welcome to your weekly commentary and overview of news from Slovakia. In the final days before the election, the leading candidate is avoiding direct confrontation  and scrutiny. Ficos apparently Orban-inspired plan for Slovakia enters a new chapter with the proposed takeover of RTVS. Defence Minister Kalinak wants to revise the defence cooperation agreement with the US.

If you have a suggestion on how to make this overview better, let me know at michaela.terenzani@spectator.sk.

The lukewarm campaign is almost over

In less than a week, citizens of Slovakia will have their chance to go to the polls to elect their countrys next head of state. Although the president, who also formally serves as commander-in-chief, is not the most powerful person in a state where the prime minister heads the executive branch, the result of the vote will be very consequential not just for Slovakia, but also for the wider region.

This coming weekend, we will most likely learn the names of the two candidates who will advance to the run-off round two weeks later, as it is unlikely that anyone will gain the more than 50 percent of the valid votes needed to be elected in the first round  something that has never happened in almost 25 years of direct presidential elections.

11 candidates

So, after the second round, it will be Mr President again, after just one term in office for the countrys first-ever female president, Zuzana Caputova. There is not a single woman among this years brace of 11 candidates  only the second time since 1999 that this has happened. It is perhaps not too much to interpret this as a reflection of the global trend towards strongmen in national and international politics.

What the March Focus poll says Pellegrini - 34.4% Korcok - 33.1% Harabin - 12.7% Matovic - 4.7% Kubis 4.5% Second round: Pellegrini 56%, Korcok 44%

That said, we can hardly slap the strongman label on the forehead of either of the two candidates that will almost certainly win the popular vote. Peter Pellegrini, the leader of the coalitions second-biggest party, Hlas, and the current speaker of parliament, has been leading in the polls since long before he made his long-delayed announcement that he would run for the post in mid January. His slogan stresses peace, pride, and dignity, and Pellegrini continues to play on his neither-here-nor-there attitude from before last years parliamentary election in order not to scare away any group among his diverse electorate  although he is now forced to move within much a narrower field of play after joining Robert Ficos governing coalition in October.

Ivan Korcok, a former foreign affairs minister whose diplomatic career spans three decades, is trailing Pellegrini slightly; he promises to serve people rather than politicians.

With Fico or against Fico
Two bear incidents over weekend, an effort to revive Bratislava calvary, and storks in Trnava.

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Good evening. Here is the Monday, March 18 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Lagging significantly, Danko withdraws from election

SNS chair Andrej Danko. (Source: TASR)

At a press conference on Monday, SNS chair Andrej Danko announced that he has withdrawn from the presidential race, citing developments in election support and an effort not to split national-conservative forces.

At the same time, Danko voiced his support for former chair of the Supreme Court and a former justice minister, Stefan Harabin, in the coming Saturday election, who he believes can make it into the second round. When asked why he did not support coalition partner Peter Pellegrini (Hlas), Danko said the latter wasn't interested in the support of his party.

According to the most recent election polls, Danko significantly lagged behind Harabin, who usually places third behind Pellegrini in the first and former foreign affairs minister Ivan Korcok in second place.

Harabin is a strong critic of the EU, and an outspoken supporter of Russia and its all-out invasion of Ukraine. During the press conference, he said that if he were to win, he would strive to ensure that Slovakia gains neutrality status, even though during an interview with daily Sme he said that he had no problems with Slovakia being a NATO member; and reiterated that no Slovak soldier will go to Ukraine, even though such a decision rests in the hands of both the government and parliament.

Related: Here are the short profiles of each presidential hopeful. One thing is already certain: the next Slovak president will be a man as there were no successful nominations by female hopefuls.

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FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY

A mission to resurrect Bratislava Calvary

The New Stations of the Cross combine old and new. (Source: Sme - Marko Erd)

Unlike its more famous cousin in Banska Stiavnica, Bratislava's Calvary did not survive the communist regime, even though it preceded the former by 50 years.

By the time of the Velvet Revolution in 1989 all that remained was part of one chapel of the Stations of the Cross and a rotting wooden cross with a bronze Christ above a dilapidated staircase. Today, it is transformed.

EVENT FOR THE NEXT WEEEKS

The subway that was never used

The skeleton of the former subway depot in Petrzalka. (Source: TASR)

During the communist regime, Bratislava planned to build a subway system, but this project was later evaluated as too expensive and then cancelled. Now, the Transport Museum in Bratislava, located next to the Main Railway Station, is hosting an exhibition that transports visitors to the era when the means of transport was being planned.

In addition to a treasure trove of images, a virtual simulation offers a glimpse as to how a ride in the Bratislava "metro" was supposed to look. Click here for more information.

IN OTHER NEWS

On Saturday, the SaS and KDH (Christian Democrats) parties held a congress. Branislav Grohling became the new chair of SaS , succeeding Richard Sulik, who previously led the party for 15 consecutive years. Grohling wants to bring people together and reinforce the party's presence in regions and at the national level, and stresses the need to fight for democratic values. On the other hand, Milan Majersky defended his post of KDH chair . He wants the party to be Christian, democratic, conservative, and to attain a double-digit result in the next election. (TASR)

, succeeding Richard Sulik, who previously led the party for 15 consecutive years. Grohling wants to bring people together and reinforce the party's presence in regions and at the national level, and stresses the need to fight for democratic values. On the other hand, . He wants the party to be Christian, democratic, conservative, and to attain a double-digit result in the next election. (TASR) The Slovak election commission verified 24 slates of political parties running in the European Parliament (EP) elections in June. The Alternative for Slovakia party withdrew its candidacy. Slovaks will elect 15 MEPs for five years on Saturday, June 8. (TASR)

The Alternative for Slovakia party withdrew its candidacy. Slovaks will elect 15 MEPs for five years on Saturday, June 8. (TASR) Slovakia borrowed 606 million in a planned auction of four government bond issues in March , the Debt and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL) announced on Monday. The Agency added that the average accepted yield on sold bonds slightly increased when compared to the previous auction held on February 19. (TASR)

, the Debt and Liquidity Management Agency (ARDAL) announced on Monday. The Agency added that the average accepted yield on sold bonds slightly increased when compared to the previous auction held on February 19. (TASR) More than 1,200 internal and external employees of the RTVS public broadcaster have signed a statement calling on the Culture Ministry to withdraw proposed changes to the law related to the broadcaster. According to them, the "proposed changes may practically result in a tool for the political takeover of RTVS by any government power". Private TV Markiza, Slovakia's popular channel, also comes under pressure after the takeover by the latest news director. (SITA)

According to them, the "proposed changes may practically result in a tool for the political takeover of RTVS by any government power". Private TV Markiza, Slovakia's popular channel, also comes under pressure after the takeover by the latest news director. (SITA) According to a new poll, two parties currently in the parliament - SNS and the Slovensko movement (formerly OLaNO) - would have not made it in had the election taken place in March. Smer would have won with 23.4 percent of the votes, followed by Progresivne Slovensko with 20.8 and Hlas with 17.1 percent. However, the far-right Republika party would have made it. (TASR)

A white stork in a nest in Trnava, western Slovakia, several days after its arrival. (Source: TASR)

WEATHER FOR TUESDAY: Mostly clear to partly cloudy skies, occasional fog expected. Daily temperatures will rise to between 7 C to 12 C, with up to 5 C in the northern half of the country. Level 1 ground frost warning applies to the southern half during the night and early morning. (SHMU)

MARCH 19 NAME'S DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Jozef

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Emergency situation declared in Liptovsky Mikulas.

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Two bear-related incidents occurred over the last weekend. One resulted in the death of a woman, the other in the injury of several people.

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Tragic hike in an unmarked area

On Friday evening, the police received an emergency call that a Belarusian couple, a man and woman, were being chased by an animal in the Demanovska Dolina valley near the town of Liptovsky Mikulas, northern Slovakia.

According to the man who was eventually rescued unharmed, the two separated when they came across the bear, who started chasing the woman. She was later found dead, with apreliminary report suggesting that she had fallen and suffered devastating injuries to her head. The circumstances are still being investigated.

The Mountain Rescue Service stated that the two set out on a hike to Sina Mountain from the village of Lazisko. However, there is no official marked trail to the mountain. The area has a 5th degree of protection; starting with the 3rd degree, hikers are only allowed on marked trails one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset.

Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (SNS nom.) blamed both NGOs and the Constitutional Court for the death of the woman.

"According to the Slovak Constitutional Court ruling, shooting bears on a large scale is not allowed. So I congratulate the Constitutional Court, I hope you are happy with your work, this is also your doing," he said.

The ministry noted in this regard that Slovakia and Romania are going to submit a proposal to the next meeting of the Council of EU Environment Ministers, which would allow effective and active control of the bear population.

Right in the town centre

On Sunday afternoon, a bear was spotted running through the centre of Liptovsky Mikulas. One man suffered injuries after the animal attacked him, four other people injured while running away. All have been released from hospital.

The police tried to scare the animal away by using vehicles; eventually, the bear swam across the river Vah and ran into a forest in an uninhabited area. A number of strike teams are continuously searching for the animal.

The town declared an emergency situation over the bear attack, calling on locals not to venture outside residential areas, in particular in the evening and early morning hours.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/chinas-infrastructure-triumphs-prove-west-has-much-to-learn-from-beijing-1117395791.html

Chinas Infrastructure Triumphs Prove West Has Much to Learn From Beijing

Chinas Infrastructure Triumphs Prove West Has Much to Learn From Beijing

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Chinas engineering achievements are the envy of the world. But will Cold War thinking prevent reconciliation between East and West?

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cold war

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CNN called it Chinas metro system in the middle of nowhere: a gleaming, modern subway entrance surrounded by barren fields outside the city of Chongqing. The US media outlet compared the scene to a post-apocalyptic future. The station is part of a larger scheme, the cable news giant noted, anticipating growth in a rapidly modernizing country, but the author seemed skeptical.Seven years later, commuters bustle in and out of the subterranean portal surrounded by a modern concrete plaza and towering apartment buildings. Caojiawan Station is a testament to Chinas impressive ability to plan and execute large-scale infrastructure and urban development projects.Hundreds of miles south China is putting the finishing touches on a high-speed rail project. The Guangzhou-Zhanjiang line is one of many that links cities across the countrys vast terrain with modern, rapid transportation. A new undersea tunnel beneath Zhanjiang Bay has just set a record as the countrys longest.The achievement provides a stark contrast to rail transport in the United States. Although the US and China are comparable in size and geography, America has struggled to build rail lines that even approach the speed and modernity of those that exist throughout the world. A project in California, considered perhaps the countrys best prospect of achieving anything analogous, has been bogged down by repeated delays, endless reviews and massive cost overruns.The debacle doesnt suggest a country whose best days are ahead of it.How does Beijing excel in infrastructure where others flounder? Chinese newspaper the Global Times attributes the countrys achievements to a few key factors.One, China possesses a great diversity of homegrown manufacturing capabilities. Globally speaking, China is the only country in the world obtaining all the industrial categories listed in the United Nations industrial classification, the Global Times notes. China produces everything it needs domestically, without relying on imports of technology or expertise from beyond its borders.Secondly, China has a greater appetite for long-term investment. While some private US companies have proposed luxury rail lines that hope to quickly recoup investment by marketing service to business passengers, investors in China are willing to fund projects that may require long periods of time to generate returns.The reason for this can be attributed to a third factor, perhaps the most important: China has much greater flexibility in financing because of its unique public institutions. In the US, a powerful finance capital class funnels profits to a select few Wall Street interests. Americas banks hold enormous influence over its political system, providing the funds and incentives that ensure the election of allied lawmakers and trillion-dollar bailouts when needed.One might struggle to imagine the prospect of Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, or Chase Bank being nationalized. In China they have done just that. Beijings largest banks exist to serve the public, funding massive infrastructure and development projects for the greater good. The results speak for themselves.Behind it all is a degree of state planning and coordination simply not possible in other countries. Chinas economic and political system is able to act with an impressive singularity of purpose, uniting resources toward the countrys development.A common refrain in the West is that China only began to thrive after it embraced Western-style capitalism. But one only need look next door to India, a country of comparable size and population with a similar history of colonial exploitation, to appreciate that China is unique in its results.Chinas rise has seen it transformed from one of the poorest countries on the planet to a force able to challenge the United States in a single lifetime. As a new Cold War emerges between these two global powers, the world is presented with two competing models.Western observers will immediately reject aspects of Chinas approach to speech, governance, and individual rights. Every country develops along its own path. And the West may, indeed, be able to embrace certain facets of Beijings model over others.Doing so will require a rejection of binary thinking and Cold War hostility. The world has much to learn from Chinas achievements. But doing so will require tolerance, humility, and good will.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/whos-laughing-now-chinas-shrewd-planning-paved-way-for-manufacturing-dominance-1116981963.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/dove-to-hawk-what-influenced-macron-to-change-stance-on-ukraine---report-1117399345.html

Dove to Hawk: What Influenced Macron to Change Stance on Ukraine - Report

Dove to Hawk: What Influenced Macron to Change Stance on Ukraine - Report

Sputnik International

Recently, the French president alarmed Europe when he announced that ground operations in Ukraine might be required at some point, just days after he met with German and Polish leaders.

2024-03-18T05:02+0000

2024-03-18T05:02+0000

2024-03-18T05:02+0000

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On Saturday, a UK news website published a report on French President Emmanual Macrons changed stance regarding Russia and Kiev. The shift has been a sharp one for Macron, who just two years ago said the West should not humiliate Moscow, and should instead try and stay open to finding a diplomatic solution.But the 46-year-old president has changed his tune drastically since then. Macron, who has always had a fondness for disruptive grandstanding the report writes, is now faced with an awkward struggle for power with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who has maintained a more reserved stance compared to his French counterpart.On Friday, Germany, France and Poland swore to provide more weapons for Ukraine in a shakily gathered summit of the Weimar Triangle. But just a day later, the French president said he will ask Russia to observe a cease-fire in Ukraine during this summers Olympic Games in Paris as a message of peace.The report spoke to numerous sources in the Elysee and the Bundestag regarding Macrons change from dove to hawk. The insiders revealed that Macron is desperate to be viewed as a dominant power both domestically and internationally.For instance, Germany has said repeatedly that France is not supplying enough weapons to Ukraine. In response, Macron gestured toward Germanys paltry offer of helmets to Kiev two years ago, and told Scholz to donate Germanys Taurus missiles to Ukraine after France donated their long-range Scalp missiles. Then on Wednesday, Scholz noted that Germany has sent 7 billion in aid to Ukraine this year, compared to Frances 3 billion.But Berlin has responded by pointing out that they do not have nuclear weapons like France does, and fears retaliation from Russia.Still, there are an estimated 20 nuclear weapons stationed at Buchel Air Base in Germany, despite Germany not really owning the nuclear weapons. German warplanes are also equipped to launch the US nuclear weapons that are stationed there. However, the use of those weapons are controlled by the US.Germany has reportedly considered breaking free from US nuclear dependence, should former President Donald Trump win this years US presidential election.And according to Saturdays report, Germany is now spearheading a European anti-missile shield project using US and Israeli technology, but France has refused to join the project even though Macron is committed to the idea of building the EUs strategic autonomy independent of the US.And in a way, Macron sees such an act as overstepping his role as the strategic leader in Europe, while Germanys role was to be an economic leader.The sources add that Macron reportedly gave Scholz a warning two days before he made the inflammatory remark, but that did not prevent Scholz from feigning shock at the suggestion. The German chancellor, and other Western leaders, rejected the reckless comment.At the same time, Macron is also trying to push back his political competitors at home; Marine Le Pens National Rally is on course to utterly defeat Macrons centrists in the European Parliament election in June. It is unclear what Le Pens current views of Russian President Vladimir Putin are today, but in the past it has been reported that she has long been an admirer and defender of the Russian president.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240229/germany-mulls-re-obtaining-nuclear-arms-names-trump-among-reasons-1117063031.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240301/macrons-idea-to-send-nato-troops-to-ukraine-made-him-look-very-foolish--1117069472.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/how-natos-new-romanian-base-motivates-russia-to-win-in-ukraine-1117412386.html

How NATO's New Romanian Base Motivates Russia to Win in Ukraine

How NATO's New Romanian Base Motivates Russia to Win in Ukraine

Sputnik International

Romania has begun to construct what may become NATO's largest European base near the Black Sea port city of Constanta. How could the base affect Russia's security?

2024-03-18T17:25+0000

2024-03-18T17:25+0000

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Romania has kicked off a $2.7 billion project to expand the Romanian Air Force 57th Air Base Mihail Kogalniceanu in order to accommodate up to 10,000 NATO soldiers, as well as new runways, weapons platforms, and hangars for military aircraft. The upgraded base is expected to have a total perimeter of 30 kilometers and cover an area of roughly 3,000 hectares.Located near the Black Sea port of Constanta, the new NATO base will be built just 130 km from Ukraine's border and around 300 km from the port city of Odessa. This means that the transatlantic alliance would move even closer to Russia, given that the nation's Crimean Republic shares a maritime border with Romania."Now they are simply moving close to our borders," the intelligence veteran continued. "There is a de facto maritime border between Romania and Russia. Therefore, a huge base is being built in order to control the Black Sea region, the Russian part, the Caucasian coast, the straits, as well as Turkiye."Over the past decades, the US and NATO have built a series of small jump-off bases in former Warsaw Pact countries located on the Black Sea coastline. However, the new base is aimed at expanding NATO's control over the sea and neighboring regions, according to Reshetnikov.The intelligence veteran specified that once the base is built, NATO will be able to maintain control of both the air and land domains all along the Black Sea region from Turkiye to Romania. He warned that Crimea, the Sea of Azov and its coast would be within the striking range of the new NATO base, as well as Russia's Krasnodar region and Abkhazia.Still, Russia can counterbalance the threat posed by the new NATO installations in Romania by strengthening its military presence in its southwestern regions and reaching the goals of the special military operation, according to Reshetnikov.The retired lieutenant general emphasized that Russia has no alternative to accomplishing its major tasks in Ukraine; otherwise, the expanded NATO presence in eastern and southern Europe will pose not just a strategic military threat but also an existential threat to Russia as a sovereign integral state.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231114/f-16-training-base-in-romania-shows-nato-wants-to-drag-europe-into-ukrainian-crisis-1114954655.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/ukraine-conflict-natos-going-to-suffer-defeat-in-proxy-war-with-russia--analyst-1117387302.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240312/natos-1999-enlargement-sent-clear-signal-to-russia-that-cold-war-never-ended-1117289580.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/israel-to-send-delegation-to-qatar-to-discuss-hostage-deal-with-hamas---reports-1117404128.html

Israel to Send Delegation to Qatar to Discuss Hostage Deal With Hamas - Reports

Israel to Send Delegation to Qatar to Discuss Hostage Deal With Hamas - Reports

Sputnik International

Israel's security cabinet has approved sending a delegation to Qatar to continue negotiations with Hamas in an effort to secure a ceasefire and release hostages held by the Palestinian movement in the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported

2024-03-18T08:56+0000

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The decision was made at a security cabinet meeting late on Sunday, the Ynet news portal reported. On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Hamas's proposals regarding a possible ceasefire deal as "delusional." The same day, the Israeli government said it would send a delegation to Qatar to continue negotiations with the movement through mediators. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/netanyahu-says-operation-in-rafah-in-southern-gaza-will-be-conducted-in-several-weeks-1117390023.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/israels-netanyahu-slams-call-for-new-elections-during-gaza-fighting-1117406409.html

Israel's Netanyahu Slams Call for New Elections During Gaza Fighting

Israel's Netanyahu Slams Call for New Elections During Gaza Fighting

Sputnik International

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed back against calls for new elections in the country, warning they would halt the war in Gaza and "paralyze" Israel for at least six months, after the top US senator criticized his leadership

2024-03-18T11:31+0000

2024-03-18T11:31+0000

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On Thursday, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Netanyahu has "lost his way" and his coalition no longer fit the needs of Israel following the October 7 attack by Hamas. He also said that Israel had been "too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows." Netanyahu told a Sunday cabinet meeting that some in the international community were "trying to stop" the hostilities in Gaza by "hurling false accusations" against the Israel Defense Forces, the government and the prime minister. The Israeli prime minister also accused the international community of having a "short" memory about the heavy toll of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/israel-to-send-delegation-to-qatar-to-discuss-hostage-deal-with-hamas---reports-1117404128.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/kremlin-calls-election-results-in-russia-unique-says-putins-victory-absolute-1117405132.html

Kremlin Calls Election Results in Russia Unique, Says Putins Victory Absolute

Kremlin Calls Election Results in Russia Unique, Says Putins Victory Absolute

Sputnik International

The results of the presidential election in Russia are unique and the victory of President Vladimir Putin is absolute, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday

2024-03-18T10:52+0000

2024-03-18T10:52+0000

2024-03-18T10:52+0000

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According to the latest data from the Russian Central Election Commission after processing 99.72% of ballots, Putin is leading with 87.3% of the votes. Talking about the illegitimacy of the election means to call over 87% of Russian votes illegitimate, this is absurd, the official added.Moscow Categorically Disagrees With US Assessments of Russian Election"We strongly disagree with this assessment. Speaking to reporters late yesterday evening, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin said that such assessments are quite expected and predictable. Considering that de facto the United States is a country deeply involved in the war in Ukraine, and [it is] a country that is essentially, de facto, at war with us," Peskov emphasized. On Sunday, the White House National Security Council said that the presidential election in Russia was "obviously not free nor fair."Idea of Buffer Zone Means Ensuring Security of Russia's Territory Under AttacksThe idea of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the creation of a buffer zone meant taking measures to ensure the security of the territory of Russia which is under attack, Peskov also pointed out.Putin Did Not Confirm Fact of Negotiations on Exchange of Navalny With WestRussian President Vladimir Putin did not confirm the fact of negotiations on the exchange of the late Russian Alexei Navalny, the Russian leader only agreed with the idea of such talks, the spokesman also noted."I want to draw your attention to two points. The first point is that President Putin did not confirm that negotiations had been held. He said that an idea was put forward by one of the people about the exchange of Navalny, to which he potentially agreed and immediately told the one who put forward such an idea. Putin did not say that negotiations were held on this matter," he said. Many People Broke Away From Their Homeland, Including Navalny's WidowThere are many people that have broken away from their homeland and "do not feel its pulse," including Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia, Peskov added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/putin-unlike-biden-focused-on-unifying-people---ex-us-official-on-election-results-1117402058.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/live-concert-to-commemorate-10th-anniversary-of-crimea-joining-russia-1117409800.html

Live Concert to Commemorate 10th Anniversary of Crimea Joining Russia

Live Concert to Commemorate 10th Anniversary of Crimea Joining Russia

Sputnik International

Moscow's Red Square hosts a massive festive concert in honor of Crimea's reunification with the Russian Federation in 2014

2024-03-18T14:57+0000

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Sputnik comes to you live as Russia's most famous musical artists perform in the country's main square and commemorate the memorable date together with Russian citizens. On March 16, 2014, a referendum was held in Crimea on joining Russia. Voter turnout exceeded 80%, with more than 95% voting for reunification. On March 18, 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin - alongside officials from Crimea - signed a treaty between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea on the admission of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation and the creation of new entities within the Russian Federation. According to the treaty, Crimea was officially admitted to Russia on March 18, becoming a constituent part.Follow Sputniks live feed to learn more!

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Live Concert to Commemorate 10th Anniversary of Crimea Joining Russia Sputnik International Live Concert to Commemorate 10th Anniversary of Crimea Joining Russia 2024-03-18T14:57+0000 true PT1S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/new-nato-base-in-romania-a-vehicle-for-klaus-iohannis-alliance-leadership-bid--1117413765.html

New NATO Base in Romania: A Vehicle for Klaus Iohannis Alliance Leadership Bid?

New NATO Base in Romania: A Vehicle for Klaus Iohannis Alliance Leadership Bid?

Sputnik International

Romania's intention to build the largest NATO base in Europe near Ukraine coincides with President Klaus Iohannis' bid to lead the bloc.

2024-03-18T18:57+0000

2024-03-18T18:57+0000

2024-03-18T18:57+0000

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Romanias plans to build the largest NATO base in Europe immediately got a lot of traction. There is a reason for that: located on the Black Sea in the northeast of the country, which borders Ukraine, the Mihail Kogalniceanu base can be seen as a symbol of NATOs eastward expansion.But how can one explain the projects timing: why were the plans to build a NATO base bigger than Ramstein (Germany) or Aviano (Italy) unveiled now? And why was it decided to burden a relatively poor country with such a big project?Here is an interesting detail: the news about the finalization of the project, which had long been in the making, came at an exceptionally good moment for Romanias outgoing President Klaus Iohannis. Four days earlier, he announced his bid for the position of NATO general secretary.Iohannis formally presented his candidacy in an article written for Politico, an American media outlet with a European edition. On March 12, he published an article headlined Romanian President: a Vision for NATOs Future. On the same day, the main Romanian daily Adevarul announced that the states Foreign Ministry got an official order to support Iohannis candidacy by all means.Bearing in mind all the risks that Romania takes with the project of the NATO base, one cant escape the feeling that President Iohannis decided to endear himself to NATO while bidding for the top position in it. Iohannis other recent actions fit the same pattern.On Monday, Iohannis, whose mandate is nearing its end, announced his decision to allow military materials given by Finland to Ukraine as a gift" to transit through the country. In this way, Iohannis followed the general line of NATO aimed at supplying Kievs regime with deadly weapons.Such supplies are not only in breach of international law, which prohibits flooding the zones of armed conflicts with imported arms. They also put the supplying countries, including Romania, at risk of confrontation with Russia.The Russian Foreign Ministry sent a diplomatic note to all NATO countries, including Romania, warning them about the dire consequences of such actions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that any cargo that included weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russias military.All of these warnings, however, do not seem to bother Iohannis. Romania's Black Sea port of onstanta, located near the future largest NATO base in Europe, has long ago become a part of the infamous South corridor for arms shipments to Ukraine.In his NATO bid article for Politico, Iohannis wrote six days ago: There is nothing more important today than ensuring that Ukraine prevails in its existential battle, and we can do this by providing all necessary support for however long it takes. We also have a moral, political and strategic obligation to make sure Ukraine advances steadily on its path towards future NATO membership, as well as EU accession And Russia will remain the most significant and direct threat to the Alliance in the foreseeable future.This perspective on Europe's relations with Russia is rather sobering, considering the aspirations of the individual seeking to become NATO's new general secretary. The potential for confrontation with a nuclear power in the foreseeable future places Romania in a precarious position, especially given its role in hosting the largest NATO base and supplying weapons to Ukraine. However, the decision-making regarding these actions lies beyond the influence of Romanian voters on Iohannis' future.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220126/romania-vows-to-take-steps-to-increase-nato-presence-in-country-1092533431.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/how-natos-new-romanian-base-motivates-russia-to-win-in-ukraine-1117412386.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/polish-defense-minister-forecasts-hard-path-for-ukraine-to-nato-membership-1117414228.html

Polish Defense Minister Forecasts 'Hard' Path for Ukraine to NATO Membership

Polish Defense Minister Forecasts 'Hard' Path for Ukraine to NATO Membership

Sputnik International

The process of Ukraine's accession to NATO will be difficult, Polish National Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Monday.

2024-03-18T18:46+0000

2024-03-18T18:46+0000

2024-03-18T18:46+0000

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"Ukraine's path to NATO will be hard," Kosiniak-Kamysz was quoted as saying by the defense ministry, recalling that "Poland has always been supportive of other countries' accession to NATO." He said Warsaw should continue supporting Kiev as "investing in Ukraine's victory means investing in Poland's security." Ukraine submitted its application for NATO membership in September 2022, counting on expedited processing. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has on numerous occasions said that the military alliance was supportive of Kiev's aspirations but is not ready to approve its application right away. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was closely monitoring the situation and recalled that one of the reasons for Russia's special military operation in Ukraine was the latter's enshrining its euroatlantic aspirations in its constitution. Western countries, including NATO member states, have been providing military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's special military operation in February 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that NATO's expansion to include Ukraine would create a direct national security threat to Russia and that Moscow considers the non-aligned status of Ukraine to be extremely important.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/admitting-ukraine-to-nato-risks-world-war-iii--italian-foreign-minister-1116863432.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/putin-says-donbass-path-to-russia-difficult-now-we-move-forward-together-1117413557.html

Putin Says Donbass Path to Russia Difficult, Now We Move Forward Together

Putin Says Donbass Path to Russia Difficult, Now We Move Forward Together

Sputnik International

The path of Donbass to Russia was difficult, but now the country moves forward hand in hand with its new regions, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.

2024-03-18T17:49+0000

2024-03-18T17:49+0000

2024-03-18T17:49+0000

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russia

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Putin attended a concert dedicated to 10-year anniversary of Crimeas reunification with Russia and congratulated citizens on this occasion. As for Novorossiya, as for Donbass, people living there, also then, in the days of the Russian spring [Crimeas reunification], they declared their desire to return to their family, their path to their homeland turned out to be more difficult and tragic, but still, we did it and this is also a great event in the history of our country, Putin said, adding that new we develop and move forward together, hand in hand. Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 in response to calls by the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for protection from Ukrainian troops. Moscow says the operation, which targets Ukrainian military infrastructure, aims to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, and to completely liberate Donbas. Western nations have imposed numerous sanctions on Russia and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/putin-unlike-biden-focused-on-unifying-people---ex-us-official-on-election-results-1117402058.html

Putin Unlike Biden Focused on Unifying People - Ex-US Official on Election Results

Putin Unlike Biden Focused on Unifying People - Ex-US Official on Election Results

Sputnik International

Vladimir Putin who has claimed a landslide victory in the Russian presidential vote is focused on unifying his country and its people, unlike his US counterpart, Joe Biden, which also explains a record turnout, former US Assistant Treasury Secretary Paul Craig Roberts told Sputnik

2024-03-18T06:23+0000

2024-03-18T06:23+0000

2024-03-18T06:23+0000

russia

2024 russian presidential election

vladimir putin

joe biden

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paul craig roberts

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"The election turnout is high in Russia because Putin, like Ronald Reagan and unlike Biden, is a leader who focuses on unifying the country," Roberts said. "From a Russian national perspective, there is little, if anything, about which to disagree with Putin."Roberts added that Putin was one of a few leaders who was not using his office for personal gain. US-Russia Relations Have No Prospects During Putins Next TermRoberts added that the US-Russia ties have no prospects during the next term of incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin."There is no hope for US-Russian relations  The budget and power of the US military-security complex, a powerful lobby encompassing the armaments industry, the Congress elected by campaign contributions, and the CIA and FBI, depends on having an enemy. Russia is the enemy of choice," Roberts said. "Americans were trained by decades of the Cold War that there is a "Russian threat." Another reason why there is no hope for normalization of Washington-Moscow relations, he said, is that US foreign policy in the Middle East is controlled by the Israel lobby. Roberts went on to note that Putin has the concept of good and evil. "He is learning that in the West he faces evil. The Russian Church sees it as well and supports him," he concluded.Russian People Realize They Are Facing Threat Emanating From the USMeanwhile in the United States, Roberts emphasized, the Democrats and the corporations have the borders wide open in order to displace higher cost American employees and Republican voters. "Unity in America and throughout the Western World has been destroyed by identity politics. In the Western world no government represents the ethnic citizens," he said. "Governments only represent the elite ruling interests. President Trump tried to change that, and we have seen what happened to him."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/putin-has-won-what-to-expect-from-his-next-six-year-term-1117371860.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240317/scott-ritter-putins-dedicated-work-added-to-reinvigorated-russia-1117362285.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/russian-foreign-ministry-says-over-372000-people-voted-in-presidential-election-abroad-1117403962.html

Russian Foreign Ministry Says Over 372,000 People Voted in Presidential Election Abroad

Russian Foreign Ministry Says Over 372,000 People Voted in Presidential Election Abroad

Sputnik International

As many as 372,779 people cast a ballot in Russia's presidential election abroad as of 8:30 Moscow time (05:30 GMT) on Monday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

2024-03-18T08:48+0000

2024-03-18T08:48+0000

2024-03-18T08:48+0000

russia

2024 russian presidential election

maria zakharova

moscow

russian foreign ministry

vladimir putin

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"To date, as of 8:30 am Moscow time, according to preliminary data, 372,779 people took part in the election, but this is not final data," Zakharova told the Channel One broadcaster. The last polling stations abroad closed at 02:00 GMT on Monday, so there are no final numbers at the moment, the diplomat said. Zakharova added that around 90% of ballots cast abroad had been processed, with incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of other candidates.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/putin-has-won-what-to-expect-from-his-next-six-year-term-1117371860.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/russian-uav-strikes-ukrainian-sabotage-group-in-chernigov-region-1117411829.html

Russian UAV Strikes Ukrainian Sabotage Group in Chernigov Region

Russian UAV Strikes Ukrainian Sabotage Group in Chernigov Region

Sputnik International

A Russian drone carried out a strike against a Ukrainian sabotage group near Lukashovka in the Chernigov Region, and the Ukrainian side has lost up to eight soldiers killed and wounded, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

2024-03-18T15:13+0000

2024-03-18T15:13+0000

2024-03-18T15:13+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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"On the territory of the enemy, [Russian military]... detected the movement of a sabotage and reconnaissance group of the Ukrainian armed forces, which was going to board an infantry fighting vehicle to further advance to the state border of Russia with the aim of another provocation. The operator of a Russian FPV drone struck the sabotage and reconnaissance group at the time of when the personnel was loading onto the armored vehicles. The enemy's losses amounted to up to eight people killed and wounded," the statement said.

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Russian UAV Strikes Ukrainian Sabotage Group in Chernigov Region Sputnik International Russian UAV Strikes Ukrainian Sabotage Group in Chernigov Region 2024-03-18T15:13+0000 true PT0M51S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/scotus-to-weigh-free-speech-case-regarding-social-media-misinformation-1117400992.html

SCOTUS to Weigh Free Speech Case Regarding Social Media Misinformation

SCOTUS to Weigh Free Speech Case Regarding Social Media Misinformation

Sputnik International

The SCOTUS is expected to reach a decision in both cases by the end of June.

2024-03-18T05:28+0000

2024-03-18T05:28+0000

2024-03-18T05:28+0000

analysis

freedom of speech

social media censorship

us

scotus

national rifle association (nra)

us supreme court

censorship

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dictatorship

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On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will decide whether or not the government disobeyed the constitutional right to free speech when they pressured social media platforms to take down content they labeled as misinformation. The case stems primarily from the Biden administrations efforts to remove misinformation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the US 2020 presidential election, according to a recent report.SCOTUS is essentially tasked with deciding if the First Amendment has limits regarding what is written online and on social media platforms.SCOTUS will be looking at two cases regarding free speech rights. In Murthy v. Missouri, the social media case, a suit was brought by five social media users and the Republican attorney generals of Missouri and Louisiana.In their complaint, the plaintiffs claim that they were censored on social media regarding several topics including: a story about Hunter Bidens laptop before the 2020 election; the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic; the efficiency of measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19; and the integrity of the US 2020 election.A federal district judge in Louisiana found that seven groups of Biden administration officials violated the First Amendment because they coerced or significantly encouraged changing social media platforms content-moderation decisions.The Biden administration argued that the social media users and states lack legal standing in their case, but said officials must be free to inform, to persuade, and to criticize, according to filings.SCOTUS will also hear an appeal from the National Rifle Association (NRA) over comments made by Maria Vullo, a former New York State official, after she urged insurance companies and banks to abandon their relationship with gun-promoting groups after a school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The group says that Vullo, who served as the former New York State Department of Financial Services superintendent, violated the groups First Amendment rights.Vullo reportedly sent out guidance letters to businesses and in a press statement called on banks and insurance companies operating in New York to consider the reputational risks in doing business with the NRA or other gun groups.David Greene, the civil liberties director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said US officials will not lose their ability to combat misinformation or disinformation, but adds that they do have a responsibility to not appear as coercive or forceful."There's no disagreement that there is a point at which it becomes unconstitutional, but what the parties disagree on is what is that line and what is the appropriate analysis for setting that line, what factors to consider?On Friday, SCOTUS decided that government officials can sometimes be sued under the Constitutions First Amendment for blocking critics on social media.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240306/us-censorship-industrial-complex-alive-and-well-1117154704.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240221/we-own-the-truth-how-freedom-of-speech-has-become-wests-nemesis-1116907345.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230112/trump-calls-on-congress-to-investigate-how-the-deep-state-censored-americans-1106240165.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/slovak-prime-minister-urges-parliamentary-vote-against-sending-troops-to-ukraine-1117398960.html

Slovak Prime Minister Urges Parliamentary Vote Against Sending Troops to Ukraine

Slovak Prime Minister Urges Parliamentary Vote Against Sending Troops to Ukraine

Sputnik International

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has consistently criticized EU support for the Kiev regime, calling for a negotiated solution to the Donbass conflict.

2024-03-18T04:08+0000

2024-03-18T04:08+0000

2024-03-18T04:16+0000

analysis

robert fico

ukraine crisis

robert fico

ukraine

slovakia

european union (eu)

nato

donbass

western influence

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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico strongly rejected European interference in the Donbass conflict Sunday, urging Slovakias congress to pass a resolution against the sending of troops to Ukraine.Fico, often considered a voice of dissent against the increasingly Russophobic tilt of the European Union, took the opportunity to criticize the tenor of debate surrounding the subject. If you are in favor of peace and stopping the killing of Slavs, you are Putin's man, Fico observed, responding to frequent characterizations of himself as an ally of the Russian president. If you are in favor of killing and involving the EU and NATO in the war in Ukraine, you are in the right place.The Prime Minister claimed there is no military solution to the Donbass conflict and urged negotiations for a peaceful settlement. He also promised the cooperation of Slovakia in efforts to provide Ukraine with humanitarian aid.Fico broadly criticized the direction of the EU in recent years, claiming larger states are infringing on the independence of smaller ones. The Prime Minister insisted Slovakia must maintain the right to a sovereign foreign policy.When the war in Ukraine ends, whatever the outcome, Europe will be different, said Fico. There will be less democracy and freedom. The national sovereignty of the small member states of the European Union will be suppressed.I refuse to have an iron curtain built between the EU and the Russian Federation, said Fico in remarks made late last week.Fico was sharply critical of recent comments by French President Emmanuel Macron suggesting the possibility of European troops being sent to Ukraine. The proposal was broadly rejected by leaders throughout the continent, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.Fico rode to power in Slovakia in 2023 on a wave of discontent over EU support for Ukraine in the Donbass proxy conflict against Russia. It is his fourth time serving as prime minister of the country.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240226/some-eu-nato-states-ponder-possibility-of-sending-military-to-ukraine---slovakias-fico-1116995905.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240124/slovakia-hungary-undeterred-by-pressure-and-threats-over-ukraine-aid-1116354480.html

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foreign intervention, foreign occupation, robert fico, ukraine crisis, european troops, peace talks, peace summit, peace deal, peace agreement, russia-ukraine war, russia-ukraine peace, russia-ukraine negotiations, russia-ukraine talks, ban on negotiations, ukraine loses, zelensky loses, nato-russia war, nato russia war
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/switzerland-starts-transfer-of-22-decommissioned-f-5-tiger-jets-to-us-1117410324.html

Switzerland Starts Transfer of 22 Decommissioned F-5 Tiger Jets to US

Switzerland Starts Transfer of 22 Decommissioned F-5 Tiger Jets to US

Sputnik International

The Swiss Federal Office for Defense Procurement (Armasuisse) has handed over the first decommissioned F-5 Tiger fighter jet to the US military forces as part of a 22-aircraft contract signed in 2020, the Swiss Federal Council said on Monday.

2024-03-18T14:21+0000

2024-03-18T14:21+0000

2024-03-18T14:21+0000

military

switzerland

us armed forces

f-5 tiger

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"This Monday, March 18, 2024, the US Armed Forces received the first of 22 decommissioned F-5 Tiger fighters in the [Swiss] city of Emmen acquired in 2020 from Armasuisse," the council said in a statement. The $32.4 million contract provides for the sale of 16 F-5E single-seat aircraft, six F-5F two-seat aircraft, ground and replacement equipment, aircraft storage in Switzerland and preparations for transportation to the US, according to the statement. US Navy uses these aircraft as targets for training purposes, the statement said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20210526/swiss-f-5-tiger-jet-crashes-1082998926.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/transnistria-foreign-ministry-calls-drone-strike-on-military-base-terrorist-attack-1117405823.html

Transnistria Foreign Ministry Calls Drone Strike on Military Base Terrorist Attack

Transnistria Foreign Ministry Calls Drone Strike on Military Base Terrorist Attack

Sputnik International

The bombing of a helicopter by a kamikaze drone at an airfield in Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria was a terrorist attack, the region's foreign ministry said on Monday

2024-03-18T11:06+0000

2024-03-18T11:06+0000

2024-03-18T11:06+0000

world

transnistria

moldova

tiraspol

drone attack

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/03/12/1117405936_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_bc2511c68d5ebd083310b2a909f850c8.jpg

The Transnistrian Ministry of State Security said on Sunday that an explosion caused by a kamikaze drone attack occurred on the territory of a military base in the breakaway region. No casualties were reported, the ministry said, adding that a criminal case had been initiated. The ministry also called on the 5+2 format on Transnistria to take active position to prevent terrorist attacks in the region, the statement read.Transnistria Investigators Open Criminal Case Into Helicopter Blast at Military BaseThe Investigative Committee of Moldova's unrecognized breakaway region of Transnistria said on Monday that it had opened a criminal case under the article sabotage in connection with the bombing of a helicopter at an airfield in Tiraspol.Experts found various metal and plastic parts of the drone that exploded at the scene, the investigators said, adding that a special examination has been appointed to establish the explosive with which the drone was loaded.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240229/ukraine-and-moldova-poised-to-ramp-up-pressure-on-transnistria-to-trigger-crisis-1117061939.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/ukraine-loses-up-to-1070-soldiers-in-past-day-1117407204.html

Ukraine Loses Up to 1,070 Soldiers in Past Day

Ukraine Loses Up to 1,070 Soldiers in Past Day

Sputnik International

Ukraine lost up to 1,070 soldiers both killed and wounded over the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Monday.

2024-03-18T11:59+0000

2024-03-18T11:59+0000

2024-03-18T12:30+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

avdeyevka

donetsk

m113

multiple-launch rocket systems (mlrs)

ministry of defense (mod)

russia

belgorod region

russia's belgorod shelled by ukraine

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/14/1116888970_0:150:3107:1898_1920x0_80_0_0_ec7c98670e841d46829384c77044de1b.jpg

Over the given period, the Russian forces have repelled seven attacks and counterattacks near Avdeyevka, the MoD said in a statement. Ukraine also lost up to 295 soldiers around Avdeyevka and over 130 soldiers south of Donetsk, the ministry added.In the course of the ongoing military operation, Russian troops managed to improve their frontline positions in the Donetsk area, and to take up better strategic ground in the Avdeyevka region, the MoD also noted. Over the same period, Russian air defenses shot down a Ukrainian Mi-8 military helicopter and 143 drones. Ukraine's Loses Around Russia's BelgorodRussia has prevented the attempts of Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups to infiltrate Russia's Belgorod Region, where Kiev lost up to 150 soldiers in combat, the MoD added.Russian forces thwarted all Ukrainian attempts to break into the Russian lands near the settlement of Kozinka in the Belgorod Region, the ministry noted.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240315/ukraine-loses-over-2700-soldiers-around-avdeyevka-in-past-week---mod-1117351652.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240316/russian-army-repels-new-attempts-by-ukraine-to-penetrate-russian-territory---mod-1117366508.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/watch-russian-helicopter-crew-shoot-down-ukrainian-drone-1117387529.html

Watch Russian Helicopter Crew Shoot Down Ukrainian Drone

Watch Russian Helicopter Crew Shoot Down Ukrainian Drone

Sputnik International

The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage showing Russian helicopter pilots of the fire support group shooting down a Ukrainian drone.

2024-03-18T13:01+0000

2024-03-18T13:01+0000

2024-03-18T13:01+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage showing helicopter pilots of the fire support group shooting down a Ukrainian drone. The pilots in the Kupyansk region spotted a Ukrainian drone and shot it down with small arms fire, a navigator of the Mi-8 pilot said. "In the course of conducting a strike, a group of helicopters in the Kupyansk region detected an unknown unidentified aerial vehicle (UAV), identified it by various signs as an enemy UAV. The fire support group shot it down. Then we carried out an anti-missile maneuver and withdrew to a safe distance. Ready to move on!" pilot said. It is noted that the drone was flying at an extremely low altitude and was heading away from the line of contact in the direction of the deployment of units of the Russian troops.

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Russian helicopter pilots Sputnik International Russian helicopter pilots of the fire support group shot down a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle with small arms fire during a combat flight in the Kupyansk area. 2024-03-18T13:01+0000 true PT0M59S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/wests-aggression-unites-russian-people-behind-putin---ex-us-state-department-analyst--1117396141.html

Wests Aggression Unites Russian People Behind Putin - ex-US State Department Analyst

Wests Aggression Unites Russian People Behind Putin - ex-US State Department Analyst

Sputnik International

Hostile forces have long sought to weaken and divide Russias centuries-old civilization, but President Vladimir Putins triumph suggests its people are more united than ever.

2024-03-18T02:28+0000

2024-03-18T02:28+0000

2024-03-18T02:28+0000

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This is a great day for Russia, declared former US State Department counterterrorism analyst Scott Bennett as early results showed a landslide victory for Vladimir Putin in 2024s presidential contest. Bennet made the claim during an interview with Sputnik as it was revealed a record high number of Russians participated in the election.And, three, the Russian people are prepared to face any challenge and realize their strength in unity is what empowers them to withstand the aggression against them, he concluded.Russia was met with political condemnation and economic sanction in 2022 when President Vladimir Putin sent troops to carry out a special military operation in the Donbass region. Western countries portrayed the move as an act of unprovoked aggression and imperial conquest. Putin asserted the decision was inevitable, claiming Ukraine was being transformed into an anti-Russia force that threatened Moscows national security.Recent revelations of longtime CIA involvement with the Kiev regime have since proven the Russian presidents claims.A fierce information war has been waged against Moscow in recent years, with observers saying the Wests attempts to discredit Russias presidential election represent the latest intensification of the campaign.This will also greatly inspire the rest of the world to stand shoulder to shoulder with Putin, the analyst said.Bennett claimed Putins convincing victory will frustrate attempts to divide and weaken Russias centuries-old civilization. Two years ago, the US-government sponsored Helsinki Commission held a hearing on its plans to balkanize Russia under the pretext of decolonization. The country has long been seen as a threat to Western and US hegemony with its vast territory, wealth of resources, and cultural resilience.Former US Vice President Dick Cheney once proposed carving Russia up into several smaller countries, while ex US National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski advocated transforming it into a loosely confederated union of republics. The United States employed such tactics in the former Yugoslavia and has openly admitted to funding separatists in China to erode national unity.This is a great day for Russia and it gives new hope and promise that the future has a greater chance for peace and stability with President Putin at the helm of Russia than it would without him, he concluded. Moving forward we will see the Russian people stand with one voice, one heart, and one vision, and they will emerge as a dominant political country as Europe crumbles in the confusion of their own jealousy, envy, greed, and berserk belligerency.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230314/putin-russian-economy-avoided-collapse-multiplied-sovereignty-despite-enemies-expectations-1108383804.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240112/remarkable-resilience-russian-economy-grows-despite-sanctions-becomes-worlds-top-5-1116124972.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/what-does-putins-election-victory-mean-for-the-global-south-1117352157.html

What Does Putin's Election Victory Mean for the Global South?

What Does Putin's Election Victory Mean for the Global South?

Sputnik International

A distinguishing feature of Vladimir Putin's presidency is unconditional support to the Global South, Dr. Anuradha Chenoy, a retired professor at the Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, told Sputnik.

2024-03-18T00:33+0000

2024-03-18T00:33+0000

2024-03-18T00:33+0000

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Vladimir Putin won his re-election bid on March 17, opening the door to the next six-year term of his presidency. What do the countries of the Global South expect from Putin's forthcoming tenure?Under Putin, Russia has especially focused on relations with the Global South as more and more developing states plot a course towards pursuing an independent domestic and foreign policy, and adhering to their own development model.If compared with the West's approach to the Global South, the distinguishing feature of Russia's strategy is unconditional support and equal partnership, according to the Indian scholar.Emerging economies are demonstrating remarkable resilience and agility, with BRICS  a club of major countries  overtaking the Group of Seven, the world's industrialized nations, in terms of its share in global gross domestic product (GDP) in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.Having won the 2024 election, Putin is likely to continue strengthening relations with the Global South, according to Chenoy. She referred to longstanding Russo-Indian relations as a model of such a relationship."President Putin coming to power in 2000 was a critical moment in reviving India-Russia relations," Chenoy told Sputnik. "Since then, President Putin has taken a special interest in driving these relations to new heights. Putin understands India and Indian political leadership like no other world leader does. He gives unconditional support to India and never makes value judgments. He does not intervene in Indias internal matters. He supports the transfer of technology and Indian national interests. This provides a basis for close India-Russia cooperation."While Russia maintains its membership in many multilateral forums, BRICS represents a platform that unites different continents and forms of governing. The group's inclusive approach led to the organization's expansion in January 2024, when Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa were joined by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Egypt and Iran.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized in August 2023 that BRICS "does not aim to replace existing multilateral mechanisms, much less to become a new 'collective hegemon'" but is seeking to form "one of the pillars of a new, fairer, multilateral world order."Russia and its BRICS fellows have proposed an appealing universal formula of inclusiveness, equity and mutual assistance, Chenoy told Sputnik last August."BRICS does not believe that geopolitics is a zero-sum game where economic development or the security of some states becomes a threat to others," she said on August 21. "BRICS does not position itself against the West but on the contrary supports a multipolar system that encourages the coexistence of different ideas, systems and institutions."Moscow's longstanding ties with developing countries, which originated in the Soviet era, were brought to the test after the West's sanctions spree over Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. Most countries of the Global South rejected the West's unilateral and illegal restrictions against Russia.When the US and EU bans threatened to cripple Russia's ability to trade and supply agricultural products and fertilizers to emerging economies, Moscow announced an initiative to deliver grain and fertilizers to those in need free of charge.As of February 21, Russia has donated 200,000 tons of wheat to the six poorest countries in Africa, according to Russian Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev. In 2024, Russia is expected to export up to 70 million tons of grain. Last year, it managed to supply 66 million tons of grain, including 51 million tons of wheat, to the world market despite Western sanctions.The Global South also ignored the West's attempts to present Russia as the world's threat. While the Munich Security Index 2023 "risk bump chart" ranked Russia as the number one risk, a similar chart for Brazil, India, China and South Africa saw Russia going slightly up from 29th place to 28th at the very bottom and then returning to its previous position the next year.The attempts to isolate Russia failed, largely due to the foreign strategy chosen by Putin, according to Chenoy.The Russian president has repeatedly lambasted the West's interference in the domestic affairs of other countries and its neo-colonial approach to the Global South.The collective West's elites have been parasitizing on other nations for the last 500 years, Putin remarked in his exclusive March interview with Dmitry Kiselev, director general of Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group."They tore apart the unfortunate peoples of Africa, they exploited Latin America, exploited the countries of Asia, and, of course, no one has forgotten about this," the Russian president said, stressing that the Global South is waking up and is unwilling to maintain this unfair status quo.[The people of the Global South] associate our struggle for our independence and true sovereignty with their aspirations for their own sovereignty and independent development," Putin continued. "But this is aggravated by the fact that the Western elites have a very strong desire to freeze the existing unfair status quo in international affairs. They have spent centuries filling their bellies with human flesh and their pockets with money. But they must realize that the vampire ball is ending."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240101/russias-brics-presidency-lends-hope-for-proactive-push-towards-multipolarity-1115911001.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230824/building-blocks-of-more-just-world-order-meet-new-brics-members-1112865763.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240117/brics-and-global-south-challenge-globalist-elites-with-multipolar-world---analyst-1116227253.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231202/russia-is-a-reliable-partner-that-keeps-its-promises-by-sending-grain-to-africa-1115348727.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230824/how-brics-summit-2023-spelled-end-to-western-centric-world-order-1112861182.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240318/whats-the-buffer-zone-putin-proposed-in-ukraine-1117410009.html

What's the 'Buffer Zone' Putin Proposed in Ukraine?

What's the 'Buffer Zone' Putin Proposed in Ukraine?

Sputnik International

At a press briefing on the outcome of the 2024 election, newly re-elected Vladimir Putin stated that Russia could be forced to create a "buffer zone" in the territories currently controlled by the Kiev regime.

2024-03-18T14:52+0000

2024-03-18T14:52+0000

2024-03-18T14:52+0000

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President Vladimir Putin told journalists on Sunday that a potential "buffer zone" could be created to prevent Kiev from shelling Russia's territories with NATO-grade weapons in its possession.Later in the day, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified that the measure proposed by the president would be necessary to thwart continuous artillery and drone strikes by the Kiev regime against Russia's residential areas and civilian facilities. "They can only be secured by creating a certain corridor, a certain buffer zone, so that any means that the enemy can use to strike are beyond reach," Peskov told reporters."In our case, the second option appears to be more relevant: that is when one of the parties organizes a military operation to ensure a certain security zone outside its borders, citing the fact that a threat comes from a neighboring state," he said.According to Poletaev, Russia attempted to negotiate a kind of buffer zone with other participants of the Normandy Four within the framework of the 2014 and 2015 Minsk Agreements to ensure Donbass civilians' security amid Ukraine's indiscriminate shelling of the region.The Kiev regime failed to observe the agreements, however, while Ukraine's Western backers later admitted that they used the Minsk Accords as an operational pause for the Ukrainian military buildup.The depth of the buffer zone depends on what kind of weapons would be used by the Ukrainian military, Poletaev continued.At the same time, however, the buffer zone won't prevent the enemy from attacking the Russian territory by drones and long-range missiles, the analyst remarked. Most recently, Ukraine has stepped up drone strikes on Russian facilities, while an intercepted conversation by senior German officers exposed their plans to use Taurus missiles against Russia's civilian objects. The Taurus cruise missile boasts a firing range of up to 500 km.Judging from the Kiev regime and the collective West's rhetoric, they are unwilling to hold negotiations on ceasing hostilities that inflict damage on the Russian civilian population, Poletaev noted. Therefore, according to the analyst, the only solution to this dilemma is "moving the frontline" away from Russia's borders. Ukraine's shelling and incursion into Russia's border regions leave Moscow with little if any other hoice, Poletaev believes.Russian President Putin touched upon creating a buffer zone back in June 13, 2023, in response to Ukraine's incursions, sabotage attacks, and shelling of the Russian territory.Putin noted at the time that the Kremlin had to see how the situation evolves. As Ukraine's sabotage attacks and terrorist actions against Russian civilians continue, Moscow appears to double down on considering the option.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230614/what-is-a-sanitary-zone-and-how-could-it-be-created-in-ukraine-1111152233.html

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A federal judge has granted a two month delay in the bribery trial of former Culpeper Sheriff Scott Jenkins to allow his lawyers more time to review voluminous discovery in the case.

Last week, Senior Judge Norman Moon granted an extension in Jenkins trial, originally slated to start May 13 in the Western District of Virginia federal courthouse in Charlottesville. The trial will now take place July 22-30.

The former sheriff faces fraud and bribery charges for allegedly accepting at least $72,500 from three Northern Virginia businessmen and others in exchange for swearing them in as volunteer deputies, issuing badges and guns.

The alleged scheme occurred from 2019-2023, according to prosecutors.

Jenkins used the powers of his office during this time to enrich himself and to secure funds for his reelection, according to the federal indictment.

Defense counsel originally requested the trial be held in November following Jenkins formally waiving his right to a speedy trial.

Moon denied the original motion, citing timeliness in resolution of the matter.

Jenkins, who served three terms as sheriff before getting voted out in November, was indicted last June in a case investigated by the FBI.

Given that the criminal conduct alleged in this case involves malfeasance by a public official, the public has a very strong interest in its timely disposition, Moon wrote in a ruling.

The Court concludes that the best interests of the public and the defendant in a speedy trial outweigh any benefit conferring by a continuance. To grant a continuance to November ... would violate the Speedy Trial Act.

Moon granted a later defense motion for the July trial continuance.

Jenkins has pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence.

Co-defendant Rick Rahim also pleaded not guilty last year, but a change of plea hearing before Judge Moon has been set for April 22.

The court also posted a notice of cancellation of Rahims jury trial, originally set to coincide with Jenkins earlier May trial date.

Rahim was an associate of Jenkins who the former sheriff made a volunteer deputy and helped get back his gun rights, following an earlier felony conviction.

Before that, in October 2020, Jenkins issued Rahim a sheriffs identification card naming him as a Member of this Office occupying the position of Helicopter Pilot, according to court documents. Rahim was sworn in as an auxiliary deputy in May 2021 and issued a badge along with a firearm and magazines, according to court documents.

The sheriff is also accused of helping Rahim enter into a lease agreement in Culpeper so he could claim to live there and petition for his firearms rights to be restored after past felony convictions. Jenkins facilitated the restoration of those rights for Rahim.

In exchange, according to the indictment, the businessman gave Jenkins cash and got others to give him money. One such payment was made Sept. 19, 2019, from Rahims company, BV Management LLC, for $17,500 to Scott Jenkins with a memo line loan proceeds. The loan was never shown to be repaid, according to prosecutors.

The other co-defendants in the Jenkins case, Frederic Gumbinner and James Metcalf, pleaded guilty to lesser charges in plea deals with prosecutors last November and in January, according to court documents. The two businessmen are slated to be sentenced July 8 before Judge Moon.

Rahim last week, in a separate case in the Eastern District of Virginia, pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion for alleged nonpayment of employee federal taxes from 11 different businesses.

He failed to pay the IRS at least $1.8 million in taxes he withheld from his employees paychecks from 2015 to 2021, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office Eastern District of Virginia.

Prosecutors said Rahim has not filed a personal income tax return since 2012 despite earning more than $34 million. Court documents show him as the owner of BV Management LLC, an Amazon reseller, and BusinessVentures.com LLC, an umbrella company over other businesses, including various laser tag facilities in Virginia, Florida and the Carolinas.

Rahim pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors March 15, to willful failure to pay taxes. He faces a maximum penalty of five years prison, a fine, restitution of unpaid taxes and maximum supervised release of three years.

According to court documents, Rahim, between 2012 and 2021, withdrew at least $1,189,635 in cash, paid at least $487,824 towards purchasing and/or maintaining helicopters, paid at least $669,382 towards purchasing and/or leasing vehicles and purchased at least $385,251 of cryptocurrency.

His sentencing is scheduled for June 25.
After the death of a 1-year-old boy Saturday, prosecutors will amend charges filed against a Gering man accused of abusing the child.

Gering Police Capt. Jason Rogers confirmed Monday that the Scotts Bluff County Attorney would file a charge of intentional child abuse resulting in death, a Class IB felony, against Tyler Green, 32. Green had initially been charged with committing child abuse with intent resulting in injury to a child, a Class II felony.

The amended complaint was filed Monday in Scotts Bluff County Court. The change in filing means that Green faces a more severe sentence, if convicted of the charge. The penalty for the Class II felony is 1 to 50 years imprisonment. A Class IB felony is punishable by a minimum of 20 years in prison to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The child, Gideon Lockwood, died Saturday at a Colorado hospital where he had been transported Wednesday, March 13, after initially being treated at Regional West Medical Center.

The child suffered life-threatening injuries, Gering Police outlined in an arrest affidavit filed after Green was arrested in connection with the investigation that began in the early morning hours Wednesday, March 13.

A Regional West Medical Center doctor told police that the boy had suffered a crushing injury to his genital area, lacerations and bruising on his buttocks and legs. The child also suffered several contusions and hematomas to his face, lower back and chest. He suffered internal injuries with bruising to the lungs and blood in his lungs. A CT scan showed that the child suffered a hypoxic brain injury, which would be caused by the childs brain not getting enough oxygen. He had a lowered body temperature of 82 degrees and had also been given a blood transfusion before being transported to the Childrens Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.

According to the arrest affidavit, the doctor told police the mechanism of injury appeared intentional and that the amount of bruising ... would be on par to having the child put in a clothes dryer and turned on.

A child abuse investigation began when police and emergency responders responded at about 12:45 a.m. to a call of a boy reported to be vomiting blood and unresponsive. A Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs deputy who had been among the officers who responded to Greens home described the child as having a lot of blood around his mouth and a contusion to the left side of his head.

Green had allegedly told officers that he had been bathing the child after he had severe diarrhea when he began vomiting blood. However, the deputy questioned Greens story, as he did not observe signs of the diarrhea on the floor and walls, as Green had told police, or water in the bathtub.

The boys mother told police she had been asleep when she was awakened by Green screaming, holding the child in a towel. She said she and Green called 911.

Police arrested Green at about 2:18 a.m. after questioning him at the Gering Police Department.

The Star-Herald has inquired if the mother will face charges in the case, but had not yet received a response to that inquiry as of publication.

Green remains jailed at the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center. He is being held on a $1 million bond. He is being represented by attorney Stacy Bach.
OMAHA (AP)  The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favor of a state government agency that sought to charge a news organization nearly $45,000 for public records on water pollution, leading to concerns that exorbitant fees could be used to keep information from the public.

The high court found that state law allows special fees to comply with records requests that take more than four hours to compile.

Matthew Hansen, the editor of the nonprofit news provider Flatwater Free Press at the center of the case, panned Fridays ruling in an editorial, calling it a blow to Nebraskas public records law.

This clears the way for the state of Nebraska to charge us an ungodly amount of money to gain access to public records related to the states growing nitrate-in-groundwater problem, Hansen wrote. This decision is a blow to Nebraskas public records law, a law written to protect media outlets like ours and Nebraskans like yourselves from the secrecy of those who hold power.

The ruling came during Sunshine Week, an observance of the importance of public access to government information. A nationwide review of procedures by The Associated Press and CNHI News revealed a patchwork of complicated systems for resolving open government disputes that often put the burden of enforcing transparency laws on private citizens.

The ruling stems from a lawsuit brought by Flatwater in its effort to obtain public records from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy regarding groundwater pollution. According to court records, an agency manager initially estimated the cost to be $2,000 to carry out a broad request seeking all emails mentioning nitrate, fertilizer and other keywords over a 12-year period.

Flatwater then narrowed its request to emails containing those words among a handful of natural resource districts over a nearly six-year period. The agency manager then estimated the cost of producing those records at more than $44,000, based on an hourly rate for 102 employees to search, analyze and save emails, as well as the hours it would take to review the emails to see if they should be excluded as confidential.

A district court judge sided with Flatwater, saying state law only allows fees to be charged for physically redacting emails, not reviewing them to see whether they can legally be withheld. The state agency appealed, and the states high court reversed the lower court ruling.

It relied on long-standing precedent that appeals courts must rely on the plain language of law, not reading anything into or out of that language to infer the intent of the Legislature. Based on that, the high court found that the law explicitly allows a special service charge for searching, identifying, physically redacting, or copying the public information requested if it take more than four hours.

Flatwater argued on appeal that the word reviewing isnt included in state law allowing special fees and therefore cant be read into the law under the plain language precedent.

But review is intrinsic to searching, identifying, physically redacting, or copying, Justice William Cassel wrote in the opinion for the high court, adding that the court applied well-known rules of statutory interpretation and construction to come to that conclusion.

The Nebraska Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower court, ordering a judgment that conforms with the high courts ruling. The problem with that, said Flatwater attorney Daniel Gutman, is that the high court didnt define what types of review of records requested are subject to charges.

State law specifically does not allow a government division to charge fees to have an attorney review the requested records to determine if theyre exempt from open record laws. In the Flatwater case, Gutman said, the agency had its employees  not an attorney  review the records to get around that exemption.

This is a very intensive legal review, Gutman said. We continue to believe that it is not lawful for non-attorneys to charge for this review that, under law, only attorneys can perform.

The news group is reviewing its next options, Gutman said.

The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office, which represented the Department of Environment and Energy, declined to comment on Fridays ruling.

Jane Kirtley, director of The Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota, cautioned that access to public records is essential for an informed citizenry.

While Nebraska law does allow state agencies to recoup reasonable expenses, the spirit of these laws is not for public access to be a cash cow, but to promote public oversight and government accountability, Kirtley said. Using crippling fees to discourage requests undermines that goal.
While such transactions are feasible and accessible elsewhere, Syria lags, according to al-Watan.

Economist Dr. Abed Fadlia, in his interview with Al-Watan, highlighted the challenges faced by Syrian banking authorities in embracing digital currencies, particularly those from allied nations. He noted that while such transactions are feasible and accessible elsewhere, Syria lags due to a lack of requisite software, infrastructure, and the readinessboth material and immaterialto adopt these currencies, which surpass the conventional financial exchange methods prevalent in the country.

Moreover, Fadlia emphasized that the cryptocurrency or e- programs of potential trading partners may still be in early developmental stages and not yet poised for widespread adoption.

He explained that digital currency essentially functions as state-sanctioned bank accounts managed by the Central Bank, akin to the issuance of physical currency. Transactions involve the transfer of numerical values between banks, with physical currency issued upon withdrawal requests. The Central Bank maintains reserves equivalent to a percentage of banks capital to facilitate this process.

Fadlia elucidated that cryptocurrencies are cross-border currencies created and managed by entities similar to central banks, facilitating various financial transactions, including payments, obligations, stock trading, and savings. Despite their global reach, there are inherent risks, such as hacking incidents exploiting vulnerabilities in these systems.

Despite the uncertainties surrounding cryptocurrencies and their operational intricacies, the cryptocurrency movement has persisted, albeit with challenges. Fadlia acknowledged the emergence of new, reputable cryptocurrencies, backed by known entities, which are gaining recognition internationally for facilitating trade-related transactions. However, he emphasized that these modern currencies resemble electronic banking currencies more closely than cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and its counterparts.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The Syrian pro-government media portray the meeting as actively facilitating UN operations and striving to improve the humanitarian situation within the country.

In the complex landscape of Syrian diplomacy, contrasting narratives emerge from pro-government and opposition perspectives, particularly evident in the recent meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Miqdad and United Nations Special Envoy Geir Pedersen in Damascus on March 17, 2024. These narratives offer a revealing study in the different tones and emphases placed on the discussions between Syria and the United Nations.

From a pro-government viewpoint, the meeting casts in light of cooperation and mutual effort toward addressing humanitarian issues and sovereignty concerns. The Syrian pro-government media portray the meeting as actively facilitating UN operations and striving to improve the humanitarian situation within the country, despite facing challenges from unilateral sanctions and foreign military presence deemed unauthorized. This narrative underscores Syrias commitment to upholding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as echoed in Minister Mikdads emphasis on the detrimental impact of sanctions and foreign aggression on the Syrian populace.

Pro-government Al-Watan reported that the core focus of their discussions was on the ongoing cooperation between Syria and the United Nations, specifically the support provided by the Syrian government to facilitate the operations of the UN offices within the country, including the Special Envoys Office.

Mikdad emphasized the imperative for the United Nations to uphold its responsibilities in halting violations of Syrian sovereignty. These violations include repeated Israeli aggressions on Syrian soil and the unauthorized presence of American and Turkish military forces within the country, all of which undermine Syrias territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Opposition view

Conversely, the opposition-focused narrative, while acknowledging the same meeting, paints a more alarming picture of the situation in Syria, highlighting the stalled peace efforts and the worsening conditions on the ground. Special Envoy Pedersens concerns about the lack of progress in peace negotiations and the ongoing economic, security, and political challenges faced by Syria are brought to the forefront. The focus is on the urgent need for international support and a political solution to end the conflict, with a particular emphasis on the upcoming Constitutional Committee meeting in Geneva as a potential venue for breakthrough.

Opposition Website, Al-SouriaNet focused on Pedersens bleak views which he made after the meeting.

Addressing the media, Pedersen highlighted the severe security, economic, and political challenges facing Syria. He pointed out that without substantial progress on the political front, the situation is likely to deteriorate further, affecting both Syrias stability and the well-being of its citizens.

We should continue to meet in Geneva and develop the constitutional committee and the work of the committee in the manner that could give hope to the Syrian people, Pedersen said after meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad.

The envoys comments reflect deep concerns over the lack of progress in resolving Syrias conflict, despite the dire need for a political solution. With the Syrian situation seemingly headed in the wrong direction, according to Pedersen, the international communitys support for UN-led facilitation efforts remains critical. As the April meeting of the Constitutional Committee approaches, all eyes will be on Geneva, hoping for a breakthrough that can pave the way for lasting peace in

These diverging narratives illustrate the complex dynamics at play in the Syrian conflict and the international diplomatic efforts to resolve it. The pro-government story emphasizes sovereignty, cooperation, and the challenges imposed by external actors, portraying Syria as a victim of international politics and sanctions. In contrast, the opposition-aligned account stresses the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis and the critical role of international diplomacy in seeking a peaceful resolution, highlighting the UNs efforts and the obstacles to peace.

Together, these perspectives reveal the multifaceted nature of the Syrian conflict and the challenges inherent in navigating the path towards peace and stability. They underscore the importance of understanding the different lenses through which the situation is viewed, reflecting the deep divisions and varying priorities that must be reconciled in the quest for a lasting solution to the conflict.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The European Union released a statement on Thursday reiterating its call for a sustainable political settlement for Syria.

On the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the Syrian revolution, multiple international bodies have issued statements emphasizing the necessity of a political resolution to the Syrian crisis, aligning with Security Council Resolution 2254.

The European Union released a statement on Thursday, reiterating its call for a sustainable and all-encompassing political settlement for Syria, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution, deeming it the sole feasible path forward.

Today marks the thirteenth anniversary of the commencement of peaceful protests in Syria and the subsequent brutal suppression by the regime, triggering an ongoing conflict, the statement acknowledged.

We must not overlook this unresolved crisis. It remains a situation of grave consequences for the Syrian populace and has a destabilizing impact on the region.

As per the statement, the conflict in Syria has resulted in the loss of 400,000 lives, with 6.6 million officially registered refugees abroad and an additional 6.8 million internally displaced within Syria.

The EU underscored the imperative of ensuring accountability for human rights violations and significant breaches of international humanitarian law perpetrated by all parties involved, particularly the Syrian regime and its allies.

No solution in sight

UN envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, issued a statement on Friday, marking the anniversary of the revolution, where he emphasized that achieving a political resolution to the Syrian crisis remains a distant prospect.

Pedersen noted that the conflict is now entering its fourteenth year without any visible progress toward a political settlement.

My message is straightforward: only by steadfastly pursuing a political solution can we offer hope to the Syrian people, Pedersen asserted.

Addressing the issue of detainees, abductees, and missing persons comprehensively, Pedersen emphasized, is crucial for rebuilding lives, reuniting families torn apart, and ensuring the credibility of any sustainable peace process.

He appealed to all parties involved in the conflict to immediately and unconditionally release all individuals arbitrarily detained.

13 years of losses

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Adam Abdel Mawla, and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syrian Crisis, Muhannad Hadi, jointly issued a statement commemorating the 13th anniversary of the Syrian revolution.

The enduring crisis in Syria has inflicted an unimaginable toll on its people over the past thirteen years, the statement conveyed.

Continuously, the crisis perpetuates suffering in Syria, worsening the humanitarian conditions each year and impeding the countrys prospects for advancement.

As outlined in the statement, an estimated 16.7 million individuals in Syria are in dire need of humanitarian aid.

They emphasized the necessity for sufficient, predictable, and multi-year funding, proportionate to the scale of needs on the ground.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
A correspondent from Athr Press reported that the Israeli attack impacted sites in the village of Danha, near the city of Yabroud in the Damascus countryside.

After midnight on Saturday, the Israeli occupation initiated an air offensive, targeting locations in the southern region.

According to a statement from the Syrian Ministry of Defence, a military source stated, At approximately 00:42 a.m., the Israeli enemy conducted an air assault from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan, striking several points in the southern region.

A correspondent from Athr Press reported that the Israeli attack impacted sites in the village of Danha, near the city of Yabroud in the Damascus countryside.

The most recent Israeli offensive before this occurred on February 21, when the Israeli occupation targeted a residential building in the Kafr Sousa area of Damascus. This attack resulted in the loss of two civilian lives, injuries to others, and extensive damage to the targeted building and nearby structures.

On March 1st, an aerial assault affected the countryside of Banias in the Batraya area connecting Ras al-Nabaa and al-Marqab. Sources indicated that the assault originated from the Mediterranean Sea and resulted in three civilian casualties.

In January, Reuters reported insights from six informed sources confirming an escalation in both the frequency and lethality of Israeli air strikes in Syria.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Human Rights Watch has issued a strong call for Jordan to ensure accountability and compensation for airstrikes conducted on January 18th in southeast Syria.

Human Rights Watch has issued a strong call for Jordan to ensure accountability and compensation for airstrikes conducted on January 18 in southeast Syria, which resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, including women and children. The strikes, described as extrajudicial executions, targeted the town of Orman in the southern governorate of Sweida, destroying homes and claiming the lives of the Taleb and Halabi families among others.

The airstrikes were part of Jordans intensified campaign against drug and weapons traffickers along its border, following clashes with armed groups suspected of connections to pro-Iranian militias. The Syrian government has condemned the attacks, asserting they were unjustified, while the Jordanian Foreign Ministry has highlighted the national security threat posed by smuggling activities, without directly acknowledging the airstrikes.

Human Rights Watchs investigation into the January 18 airstrikes revealed the use of a 500lb-class JDAM satellite-guided bomb, a weapon Jordan acquired from the United States in 2017. Eyewitness accounts and visual evidence pointed to significant civilian casualties and damage, contradicting claims that military strikes targeted solely non-civilian objects.

The human rights organization has urged Jordan to cease military actions against non-military targets and to provide compensation to the victims families. It also highlighted the necessity of conducting thorough and impartial investigations into the airstrikes to establish accountability and prevent future violations. Additionally, Human Rights Watch emphasized the role of Jordans international partners in ensuring their support does not contribute to unlawful killings or other human rights abuses.

The events mark a continuation of violence in a region already suffering from a protracted conflict. With over five reported attacks since May 2023, the airstrikes have raised concerns over the escalation of military operations against alleged smuggling operations and the resulting civilian casualties. Human Rights Watchs statement underscores the urgent need for a reevaluation of military tactics in the region, advocating for a strategy that prioritizes the protection of human rights and civilian lives.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria.

Israel struck multiple sites in Syria hours after Iran hinted that it would give Syria weapons to boost its military power.

In a meeting between the defence ministers of Iran and Syria Saturday, the Iranian official said his country is willing to utilize its full capabilities to help Syria strengthen its defence and deterrence against Israel and the United States, IranInternational reported.

Shortly after, the Syrian army announced that Israeli missiles had hit several points in southern Syria early Sunday local time, injuring one soldier and causing some material damage.

No more details were offered immediately, neither by Syria nor by Israel which rarely comments on such events. Several local sources reported, however, that the targets had links with Irans Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and were located around the Syrian capital, Damascus.

Syrian opposition sources indicated Israel launched missiles from the Golan Heights targeting the Damascus countryside. Some reports spoke of large explosions lighting up the night sky.

Israel is known to launch frequent airstrikes inside Syria, often targeting IRGC-related sites or personnel. These airstrikes have intensified since October 7, when Hamas forces stormed Israeli territory bordering Gaza, killing more than a thousand civilians and soldiers.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the attacks on Sunday seem to have hit a weapons depot linked to Iran and a military airport, both in the outskirts of Damascus. SOHR has said that two Hezbollah bases in north-east Syria have been targeted.

It took place hours after the defense ministers of Iran and Syria met on Saturday where the Iranian general warned Israel and America not to intensify the ongoing crisis in the region.

Iran, Syria defense ministers condemn U.S., Israels attacks on Damascus

During a recent meeting in Tehran, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani and his Syrian counterpart, Ali Mahmoud Abbas, discussed the critical need for immediate actions to counter the attacks on Syria by the United States and Israel, Tehran Times reported.

Ashtiani warned against U.S. and Israeli plans to increase tensions in West Asia and expressed Irans readiness to help Syria enhance its defense capabilities to deter these threats. He emphasized the importance of deterrence against the Zionist regimes aerial attacks and violations of Syrias territorial integrity.

The ministers highlighted the significance of continued dialogue between their countries amidst regional developments, especially in the wake of recent visits and economic cooperation talks. They criticized the lack of international support and the silence of certain organizations and countries in the face of the humanitarian crisis in the region, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries.

The discussion also covered the ongoing violence in Gaza, with Ashtiani condemning the inaction of the United Nations and the Security Council in addressing the war crimes committed by Israel. Both ministers stressed the importance of establishing deterrence mechanisms to prevent further aggression and reiterated their condemnation of the unlawful U.S. military presence in Syria, which they argue contributes to regional instability and the displacement of Syrians.

The Syrian minister accused the U.S. of undermining regional stability and supporting separatist and terrorist groups through its illegal presence in Syria. He highlighted the importance of resistance against these destabilizing forces and the critical role of Iran-Syria cooperation in this context.

The meeting underscored both countries commitment to strengthening military cooperation and their shared perspective on the challenges facing the region, particularly the increased Israeli airstrikes against Syria and the situation in Gaza. Despite lodging complaints with the United Nations, Damascuss calls for intervention against Israeli actions have remained unheeded.

How Syrias Instability is Expanding in the Shadow of Gaza

National Interest published a report focusing on the instability in Syria, magnified by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which serves as a stark reminder of the complex interplay of regional interests and the detrimental impact on efforts to resolve other critical conflicts. Amid global focus on Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Syrias prolonged turmoil exemplifies the dangers of allowing conflicts to persist without resolution, especially as various actors exploit the instability to further their agendas.

Turkeys military actions in Northeast Syria, Irans expansion of military facilities and attacks on U.S. forces, and Israels airstrikes against alleged weapons smuggling operations underscore the escalating regional power plays. These developments not only reflect the actors strategic interests but also highlight the broader implications for regional geopolitics and the pursuit of peace.

The situation is further complicated by the international communitys shifting focus away from Syria, despite the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the death toll surpassing 500,000. The tendency to freeze conflicts rather than seek sustainable solutions, coupled with the lack of a coherent policy strategy from key international players like the United States, perpetuates the cycle of violence and instability.

As conflicts in West Asia and beyond continue to intertwine and exacerbate each other, a comprehensive and people-centric approach to diplomacy and conflict resolution is urgently needed. Without decisive action and a recommitment to addressing the root causes of these crises, the prospects for peace and stability in the region remain bleak.
Gov. Jay Inslee will soon a bill into law that will require Washington smelt dippers to get a license before they wade out with their nets.

Recreational fishing licenses have been required to harvest basically any fish, crustacean or seaweed from Washington waters. Up until now, the only animals that could be harvested without a license were crawfish, carp, bullfrogs and freshwater smelt.

With the passing of this law, a recreational fishing or shellfishing license will be required when fishing for smelt, carp or crawfish, but an angler with existing fishing licenses would not need to purchase a specific smelt, crawfish or carp license.

Why the need for a license?

Licensing for these catch isnt about collecting more license fees but to have a way to enforce overfishing of smelt or illegal salmon fishing, Tom McBride, legislative director for Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, said during a House Agriculture and Natural Resources committee hearing for the bill.

A one-day fishing license for smelt would be between $8 and $12, according to the legislation.

Because licenses arent currently required for carp and smelt fishing, McBride said it gives people who may really be violating the catch restrictions on other fish an out.

When we think people are illegally fishing for salmon, they say, Oh no, Im carp fishing. I dont have to have a license.

When smelt was listed as an endangered species in 2010, the Department of Fish and Wildlife put a pause on all smelt harvesting, commercial and recreational, for the next four years.

As the fishs threat level was considered low, the National Marine Fisheries Service worked with the state wildlife department to slowly allow commercial harvesting again, collecting and monitoring data of the catches commercial fisheries would bring in.

Meanwhile, requiring a license to hunt for an invasive species like crawfish will give more opportunities for licensees to learn how to identify those species they shouldnt introduce to sensitive watersheds, McBride said.

One of the important things you can learn by having a license is dont move nonnative species from one watershed into another one, McBride said. People usually pick up a booklet when they buy a license, and thats our entry into that education and outreach.

But some fishing enthusiasts believe there are other options and that requiring a license is a hindrance to an already short and sporadic smelt fishery.

Korey Gillespie, an employee at a sporting goods store in Longview, will use smelt as bait when he can get his hands on some. Instead of requiring a license, he would rather see more game wardens hired to patrol the area.

You already only have about five hours to fish, Gillespie said. We shouldnt need a license for such a short period of time.

How much smelt is caught?

According to smelt harvest data collected by Fish and Wildlife, commercial smelt harvesting on average makes up less than 10% of the total pounds harvested from the Mainstem Columbia River and the Cowlitz River.

When recreational fisheries open on the Cowlitz, harvest numbers have averaged 133,153 pounds a year, with an average harvest rate of 1.35%. Harvest rate is the number of fish caught in proportion to the number of smelt running that year.

WDFW estimated that during the five-hour fishery on Feb. 15, about 8,600 dip-netters harvested almost 54,000 pounds of smelt out of the Cowlitz.

The law, when signed, will go into effect 90 days after the legislative session ends.
In the last few years, smartphone makers have been making efforts to provide an inclusive experience for all users. As part of this endeavour, companies have rolled out a wide range of accessibility features that cater to users with disabilities. For example, there's a colour correction feature on smartphones that compensates for people with colour blindness. Such measures are aimed at making sure no one feels left out. With the recent evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), several apps have emerged that aim to assist people with speaking disabilities by creating an AI replica of their voice.

While the iPhone already has a Personal Voice feature that achieves the same functionality and Android is working on it via its Project Relate, the newly launched Whispp app takes your affected voice and enhances it to make it loud and clear.

About Whispp app

The Whispp app is developed by a Dutch startup and demonstrated on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 in Barcelona. It uses AI to convert your whispered speech and vocal cord-impaired speech into a clear and natural voice of your choice, enhancing it. The company says it is valuable for people with a voice disability who lost their voice due to illness, trauma or old age people who need a boost for their voice.

The Whispp app uses audio-to-audio based AI which provides real-time voice enhancements instead of traditional speech-to-text (STT). The developer says this helps it reduce latency, eliminating a barrier to a flowing conversation.

How does it work?

To use the Whispp app, the user first needs to record their voice. They can then choose to enhance it and amplify it. The amplify option amplifies the voice and removes the background noise. Moreover, users also have a choice to pick a preset voice that speaks for them.

If you attend a lot of calls during the day, Whispp also offers in-app calling functionality, although it comes with a $19.99 a month subscription. Alternatively, there's also a desktop app that works with several video-conferencing platforms to enhance and amplify your voice, ensuring a hassle-free meeting experience.

Also, read other top stories today:

NYT Misleading? OpenAI has asked a judge to dismiss parts of the New York Times' copyright lawsuit against it, arguing that the newspaper "hacked" its chatbot ChatGPT and other AI systems to generate misleading evidence for the case. Some interesting details in this article. Check it out here.

SMS fraud, or "smishing", is on the rise! This is a challenge for telecom operators who are meeting at the Mobile World Congress (MWC). An average of between 300,000 and 400,000 SMS attacks take place every day! Read all about it here.

Google vs Microsoft! Alphabet's Google Cloud ramped up its criticism of Microsoft's cloud computing practices, saying its rival is seeking a monopoly that would harm the development of emerging technologies such as generative artificial intelligence. Know what the accusations are all about here.

One more thing! We are now on WhatsApp Channels! Follow us there so you never miss any updates from the world of technology. To follow the HT Tech channel on WhatsApp, click here to join now!
(Bloomberg) -- The frenzy over artificial intelligence is trumping geopolitical concerns over Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., with its record stock rally powering ahead. Foreign investors have boosted ownership of the stock to a two-year high, backing claims by TSMC that AI will be its biggest growth driver this year. The company has more than a 90% share in manufacturing advanced semiconductors used for AI, according to Pictet Asset Management.

The turnaround last year  the stock had plunged 27% in 2022  came after Warren Buffett sold his $5 billion TSMC holdings, citing geopolitical tensions as the reason given its location. Adding to the concerns, the self-governing island elected a US-friendly president Lai Ching-te, putting in power a man Beijing has described as an instigator of war.

While geopolitics have historically been perceived as a risk for the sector, the strategic nature of these products and the desire to build local supply chains means that arguably geopolitics has become a tailwind for the space, said Bernard Ahkong, co-CIO at UBS O'Connor Global Multi-Strategy Alpha. We are still at the earlier stages of this upcycle in semiconductors.

Also read: 5 things about AI you may have missed today: The rising tide of AI scams, US hosts first military AI conference, more

The core concern about TSMC centers around its high concentration of chipmaking in Taiwan. The island produces the majority of the world's advanced logic semiconductors, and any military escalations across the strait with China would be a heavy blow to the global supply chain.

Other than its dominance in advanced chips, it also has a more than 50% share of the overall foundry market, according to Pictet. That puts the company well on track to meet or exceed its long-term targets of 15-20% growth, said Anjali Bastianpillai, a senior client portfolio manager at Pictet.

The chipmaker's revenue rose 9.4% in the first two months, as demand from rising AI activities accelerated, offsetting slowing iPhone sales. TSMC's shares more than doubled from an October 2022 low, partly buoyed by gains in key customer Nvidia Corp.

Also read: Concerns arise as leak suggests Apple iPhone 16 Plus battery size may be slashed

Addressing the market concerns, the company is making progress in diversifying operation bases. TSMC has announced a plan to build a second fabrication plant in Japan, while its Kumamoto factory will begin production this year. The chipmaker is also building two advanced facilities in Arizona and one factory in Germany.

Despite the geopolitical concerns, TSMC is a fundamental building block to gain exposure to AI and the broader recovery in semiconductors given the lack of companies with comparable quality in this space within emerging markets, said Gary Tan, a portfolio manager at Allspring Intrinsic Emerging Markets Equity.
Cyberani has entered into a strategic alliance with Thales to cater to the cybersecurity needs of private and public sector companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The strategic alliance, which was signed at LEAP 2024, by Mr. Saeed Al Saeed, CEO of Cyberani, and Mr. Pierre-Yves Jolivet, VP of Cyber Digital Solutions, at Thales, aligns with the Kingdoms Vision 2030, emphasizing the importance of cybersecurity and digital infrastructure in building a diversified and sustainable economy. The signing was witnessed by Ahmad O. Al-Khowaiter, Executive Vice President Technology & Innovation at Aramco, Tareq Amin, CEO at Aramco Digital, Dr. Wael Kanoun, Managing Director of Cyber Defense Solutions, Thales in KSA and Middle East, and Bernard Roux, CEO of Thales in KSA. The Cyberani-Thales alliance will act as a catalyst for the local economy and strengthen the development of Saudis digital and industrial capabilities, contributing to the Kingdoms sovereignty objectives.

Understanding the growing intensity of cyber threats globally, and the increasingly complex compliance and regulatory requirements, Cyberani and Thales will join forces to address the Cybersecurity market in the Kingdom, with a common target of USD 350 million in revenue to be achieved from 2024 to 2030.

Having completed the acquisition of Imperva, and with more than 5,800 cybersecurity experts across 68 countries, Thales forecast 2024 revenue of USD 2.4 billion from cybersecurity.

Selecting Thales as a preferred partner, Cyberani will leverage the technology companys expertise to secure critical Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) infrastructure and operations for their clients in the Kingdom.

The Cyberani-Thales alliance will provide best in class cybersecurity solutions to organizations in the country, with a focus on critical sectors such as Energy, Utilities, Aviation, Transportation, Space, Finance and even Smart Cities.

Thales will also be supporting Cyberani by providing cyber security services for Aramco & Aramco affiliates in overseas locations, specifically those outside of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

We are thrilled and proud by the signature of this unique alliance. It is a revolutionary endeavour that will significantly influence the trajectory of cyber security and resilience advancement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today. Through this alliance, Cyberani will provide best in class cybersecurity solutions to organizations in KSA. By leveraging this alliance with Thales, and Aramco ecosystem as whole, Cyberani will be the leader and referent OT cybersecurity provider in the kingdom. Mr. Saeed Al Saeed, CEO of Cyberani.

Investment in the digital infrastructure is critical to achieving the overarching aim of Vision 2030 of a diversified, digital, resilient, and knowledge-based economy. We are excited about the alliance with Cyberani and the opportunities and capabilities that our combined DNA will bring to the Saudi market. We are committed to bolstering the nations defence against cyber threats, safeguarding critical infrastructure and advancing digital resilience for a secure and prosperous future. With an active presence in the Kingdom for more than 50 years, at Thales, our priority remains to building a future we can all trust, Pierre-Yves Jolivet, VP of Cyber Digital Solutions at Thales.
China's auto exports soar 30.5 pct in January-February

Xinhua) 09:13, March 18, 2024

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.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Dazed (OTCMKTS:MEDH  Get Free Report) and Fidelity National Information Services (NYSE:FIS  Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, earnings, dividends, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation and risk.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for Dazed and Fidelity National Information Services, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Dazed 0 0 0 0 N/A Fidelity National Information Services 0 6 9 1 2.69

Fidelity National Information Services has a consensus target price of $70.27, suggesting a potential upside of 1.66%. Given Fidelity National Information Services higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Fidelity National Information Services is more favorable than Dazed.

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Dazed N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Fidelity National Information Services $9.82 billion 4.06 -$6.65 billion ($11.24) -6.15

This table compares Dazed and Fidelity National Information Services revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Dazed has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Fidelity National Information Services.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

85.7% of Fidelity National Information Services shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.6% of Fidelity National Information Services shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Dazed and Fidelity National Information Services net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Dazed N/A N/A N/A Fidelity National Information Services -54.30% 13.06% 5.03%

Volatility & Risk

Dazed has a beta of 1.91, indicating that its share price is 91% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Fidelity National Information Services has a beta of 0.97, indicating that its share price is 3% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Fidelity National Information Services beats Dazed on 8 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Dazed

(Get Free Report)

Dazed, Inc. focuses on retail, distribution, hospitality, licensing, and franchising of portfolio of counterculture brands. The company was formerly known as MedX Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Dazed, Inc. in October 2022. Dazed, Inc. was founded in 2004 and is based in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

About Fidelity National Information Services

(Get Free Report)

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. engages in the provision of financial services technology solutions for financial institutions, businesses, and developers worldwide. It operates through Banking Solutions, Capital Market Solutions, and Corporate and Other segments. The company provides core processing and ancillary applications; mobile and online banking; fraud, risk management, and compliance; card and retail payment; electronic funds transfer and network; wealth and retirement; and item processing and output solutions. It also offers trading and asset, lending, leveraged and syndicated loan markets, and treasury and risk solutions. The company was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.

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Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:IQLT  Free Report) by 7.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 42,821 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,095 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF accounts for approximately 1.4% of Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 15th biggest holding. Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF were worth $1,608,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. American Trust boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. American Trust now owns 20,819 shares of the companys stock worth $741,000 after acquiring an additional 520 shares in the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 12,407 shares of the companys stock worth $417,000 after acquiring an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. Atria Investments Inc boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF by 12.5% during the 3rd quarter. Atria Investments Inc now owns 90,910 shares of the companys stock worth $3,056,000 after acquiring an additional 10,098 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in shares of iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,452,774 shares of the companys stock worth $48,828,000 after purchasing an additional 15,035 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MGO One Seven LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF by 103.5% in the 3rd quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 668,039 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,453,000 after buying an additional 339,787 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF Price Performance

iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF stock traded down $0.11 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $39.43. The company had a trading volume of 1,474,176 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,143,521. The company has a market capitalization of $7.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.88 and a beta of 0.87. iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF has a 12-month low of $32.28 and a 12-month high of $39.97. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $37.97 and its 200-day simple moving average is $36.00.

iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (IQLT) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the World ex USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap stocks in developed countries, outside of the US. The index is selected and weighted for exposure to fundamental quality metrics.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IQLT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Intl Quality Factor ETF (NYSEARCA:IQLT  Free Report).

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Nordea Investment Management AB decreased its holdings in Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC  Free Report) by 8.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,697,692 shares of the companys stock after selling 320,251 shares during the quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB owned 0.69% of Centene worth $274,849,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Teacher Retirement System of Texas raised its position in shares of Centene by 8.2% in the 3rd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 186,080 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,817,000 after buying an additional 14,070 shares in the last quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group grew its holdings in shares of Centene by 30.6% during the 2nd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 112,264 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,572,000 after purchasing an additional 26,293 shares during the last quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of Centene by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 677,311 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,653,000 after purchasing an additional 26,833 shares during the last quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC grew its holdings in shares of Centene by 154.8% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 15,451 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,066,000 after purchasing an additional 9,386 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Heartland Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Centene by 22.2% during the 3rd quarter. Heartland Advisors Inc. now owns 471,440 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,473,000 after purchasing an additional 85,696 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.92% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on CNC shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Centene from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price target for the company from $82.00 to $90.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Centene from $72.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Centene from $83.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their target price on shares of Centene from $82.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. Finally, Barclays started coverage on shares of Centene in a report on Wednesday, March 6th. They set an overweight rating and a $101.00 target price on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $85.15.

Centene Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of Centene stock traded down $0.58 during trading on Friday, reaching $75.47. 5,215,047 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,974,854. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 1.11. Centene Co. has a 1-year low of $60.83 and a 1-year high of $81.42. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $77.20 and a 200-day moving average price of $73.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.37 billion, a PE ratio of 15.37, a P/E/G ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 0.38.

Centene (NYSE:CNC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.43 by $0.02. Centene had a net margin of 1.75% and a return on equity of 14.26%. The firm had revenue of $39.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $36.16 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.86 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Centene Co. will post 6.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Centene

In related news, Director Lori Jean Robinson sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.41, for a total transaction of $774,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 11,455 shares in the company, valued at $886,731.55. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Centene news, President Kenneth J. Fasola sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.07, for a total transaction of $900,840.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now owns 235,365 shares in the company, valued at $17,668,850.55. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Lori Jean Robinson sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.41, for a total transaction of $774,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 11,455 shares in the company, valued at $886,731.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock.

Centene Company Profile

(Free Report)

Centene Corporation operates as a healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to under-insured and uninsured families, commercial organizations, and military families in the United States. The company operates through Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other segments. The Medicaid segment offers health plan coverage, including medicaid expansion, aged, blind, disabled, children's health insurance program, foster care, medicare-medicaid plans, long-term services and support.

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Nordea Investment Management AB lessened its stake in Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG  Free Report) by 9.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,436,125 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 353,927 shares during the period. Republic Services accounts for approximately 0.7% of Nordea Investment Management ABs portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest position. Nordea Investment Management ABs holdings in Republic Services were worth $566,926,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. D.A. Davidson & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Republic Services in the first quarter worth $203,000. Synovus Financial Corp increased its stake in Republic Services by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 14,255 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,890,000 after buying an additional 260 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its holdings in Republic Services by 34.6% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 3,885 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $523,000 after purchasing an additional 998 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its stake in shares of Republic Services by 1.6% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 31,162 shares of the business services providers stock worth $4,129,000 after buying an additional 495 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. increased its position in shares of Republic Services by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 6,726 shares of the business services providers stock worth $891,000 after purchasing an additional 187 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.23% of the companys stock.

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Republic Services Stock Down 0.0 %

RSG stock traded down $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $186.31. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,790,581 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,172,473. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Republic Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $127.69 and a 12 month high of $192.57. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $176.15 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $161.65. The company has a market capitalization of $58.61 billion, a PE ratio of 34.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 0.67.

Republic Services Dividend Announcement

Republic Services ( NYSE:RSG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 27th. The business services provider reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $3.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.73 billion. Republic Services had a net margin of 11.57% and a return on equity of 17.32%. Republic Servicess revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.13 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 2nd will be paid a $0.535 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 1st. This represents a $2.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.15%. Republic Servicess payout ratio is 39.12%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Republic Services news, CEO Ark Jon Vander sold 5,446 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $184.10, for a total value of $1,002,608.60. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 85,113 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,669,303.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

RSG has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price objective on Republic Services from $166.00 to $199.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. UBS Group lowered shares of Republic Services from a buy rating to a neutral rating and increased their target price for the company from $175.00 to $195.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Morgan Stanley downgraded Republic Services from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $199.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Friday. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Republic Services from $175.00 to $192.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Finally, Citigroup boosted their target price on Republic Services from $190.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $190.92.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Republic Services

Republic Services Profile

(Free Report)

Republic Services, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers environmental services in the United States and Canada. It is involved in the collection and processing of recyclable, solid waste, and industrial waste materials; transportation and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous waste streams; and other environmental solutions.

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HDFC Bank Limited (NYSE:HDB  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 8,800,000 shares, a growth of 24.8% from the February 14th total of 7,050,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 3,600,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.4 days.

HDFC Bank Price Performance

Shares of HDB stock traded down $0.18 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $55.23. 2,103,815 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,028,656. The company has a market capitalization of $102.72 billion, a PE ratio of 17.05, a PEG ratio of 1.47 and a beta of 0.87. HDFC Bank has a 12-month low of $52.16 and a 12-month high of $71.39. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $56.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $59.43. The company has a current ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78.

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HDFC Bank (NYSE:HDB  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 16th. The bank reported $0.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.11. HDFC Bank had a net margin of 17.34% and a return on equity of 15.98%. The firm had revenue of $8.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.67 billion. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that HDFC Bank will post 2.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

About HDFC Bank

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brown Shipley& Co Ltd lifted its position in HDFC Bank by 1,274.4% during the second quarter. Brown Shipley& Co Ltd now owns 4,783 shares of the banks stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 4,435 shares during the period. Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB publ purchased a new position in HDFC Bank during the third quarter valued at $27,000. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in HDFC Bank by 114.4% during the second quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 403 shares of the banks stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 215 shares during the period. NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new position in HDFC Bank during the third quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Frazier Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of HDFC Bank in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Institutional investors own 17.24% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

HDFC Bank Limited provides banking and financial services to individuals and businesses in India, Bahrain, Hong Kong, and Dubai. The company operates in three segments: Wholesale Banking, Retail Banking, and Treasury Services. It accepts savings, salary, current, rural, public provident fund, pension, and demat accounts; fixed and recurring deposits; and safe deposit lockers, as well as offshore accounts and deposits, and overdrafts against fixed deposits.

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Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM  Free Report) by 32.8% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 3,240 shares of the restaurant operators stock after acquiring an additional 800 shares during the period. Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Yum! Brands were worth $423,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rise Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Yum! Brands by 1,190.5% during the third quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 271 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 250 shares during the last quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC grew its position in shares of Yum! Brands by 28,400.0% in the 4th quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 285 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 284 shares during the last quarter. KB Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of Yum! Brands during the 2nd quarter valued at about $41,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Yum! Brands in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, DB Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Yum! Brands during the 3rd quarter valued at $43,000. Institutional investors own 80.17% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total value of $1,285,799.97. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 18,661 shares in the company, valued at $2,419,025.43. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total value of $1,285,799.97. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 18,661 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,419,025.43. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,756 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.21, for a total value of $485,312.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 57,325 shares in the company, valued at $7,406,963.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

YUM has been the subject of several recent research reports. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Yum! Brands from $144.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, March 7th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of Yum! Brands from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and reduced their price target for the company from $150.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Stifel Nicolaus reissued a hold rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of Yum! Brands in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Yum! Brands from $146.00 to $144.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, Oppenheimer raised Yum! Brands from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $154.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, January 5th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $144.94.

View Our Latest Report on Yum! Brands

Yum! Brands Stock Down 0.2 %

YUM traded down $0.32 on Friday, reaching $136.84. 4,164,802 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,961,536. The company has a market cap of $38.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 1.10. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $133.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $128.36. Yum! Brands, Inc. has a one year low of $115.53 and a one year high of $143.24.

Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The restaurant operator reported $1.26 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.39 by ($0.13). The business had revenue of $2.04 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.11 billion. Yum! Brands had a net margin of 22.57% and a negative return on equity of 17.76%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up .8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.31 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that Yum! Brands, Inc. will post 5.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Yum! Brands Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 21st were issued a $0.67 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 20th. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.96%. This is a boost from Yum! Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. Yum! Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.94%.

Yum! Brands Profile

(Free Report)

Yum! Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants worldwide. The company operates through the KFC Division, the Taco Bell Division, the Pizza Hut Division, and the Habit Burger Grill Division segments. It also operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches, Mexican-style food categories, and other food products.

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Wayfinding Financial LLC increased its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 26.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,037 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 220 shares during the period. Wayfinding Financial LLCs holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $604,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the first quarter valued at about $107,000. Roundview Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.6% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 2,056 shares of the companys stock valued at $589,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter valued at approximately $210,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 9.9% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 53,052 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,193,000 after buying an additional 4,774 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barometer Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter valued at approximately $561,000. Institutional investors own 81.38% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on LLY shares. TheStreet raised Eli Lilly and Company from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Friday, March 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and issued a $815.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. DZ Bank cut Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $820.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Bank of America increased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $800.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Barclays increased their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $680.00 to $810.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $677.62.

Insider Activity at Eli Lilly and Company

In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 1,180 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $645.60, for a total transaction of $761,808.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 99,542,630 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $64,264,721,928. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders sold a total of 195,055 shares of company stock valued at $125,254,657 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Stock Down 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:LLY traded down $6.56 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $754.17. 3,730,053 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,382,536. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.94. The company has a market cap of $716.59 billion, a PE ratio of 130.03, a P/E/G ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.34. The firms fifty day moving average price is $708.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $625.80. Eli Lilly and Company has a twelve month low of $323.26 and a twelve month high of $800.78.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.30 by $0.19. The firm had revenue of $9.35 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.95 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 15.36% and a return on equity of 51.22%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.09 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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.

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Shares of The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Get Free Report) (TSE:TD) have been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the seven analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $89.33.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on TD shares. Scotiabank downgraded shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Bank of America downgraded shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. They set a hold rating for the company. CIBC downgraded shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th.

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Get Our Latest Report on TD

Toronto-Dominion Bank Price Performance

Toronto-Dominion Bank Increases Dividend

TD stock opened at $60.06 on Monday. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $60.18 and a 200-day moving average price of $60.35. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 52-week low of $54.69 and a 52-week high of $66.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $106.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.83, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a current ratio of 0.99.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 9th will be paid a dividend of $0.7519 per share. This represents a $3.01 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.01%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 8th. This is a boost from Toronto-Dominion Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.73%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 9,868 shares of the banks stock valued at $784,000 after purchasing an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. Western Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 2.2% during the 2nd quarter. Western Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,436 shares of the banks stock valued at $461,000 after purchasing an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC grew its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Daymark Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,314 shares of the banks stock valued at $260,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. grew its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 7.7% during the 1st quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 2,447 shares of the banks stock valued at $147,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA grew its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 10.6% during the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 1,808 shares of the banks stock valued at $117,000 after purchasing an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 51.52% of the companys stock.

About Toronto-Dominion Bank

(Get Free Report

The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking.

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BankUnited, Inc. (NYSE:BKU  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 3,240,000 shares, a decline of 14.5% from the February 14th total of 3,790,000 shares. Currently, 4.4% of the shares of the company are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 945,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.4 days.

BankUnited Stock Down 0.7 %

BankUnited stock traded down $0.18 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $26.36. 106,880 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 961,815. BankUnited has a 12-month low of $15.83 and a 12-month high of $34.22. The business has a fifty day moving average of $27.84 and a 200 day moving average of $26.59. The firm has a market cap of $1.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.15 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 0.92.

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BankUnited (NYSE:BKU  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The financial services provider reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by ($0.42). The firm had revenue of $500.30 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $244.11 million. BankUnited had a net margin of 9.19% and a return on equity of 8.38%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.82 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that BankUnited will post 2.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

BankUnited Increases Dividend

Insider Buying and Selling at BankUnited

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Friday, April 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.40%. This is an increase from BankUniteds previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 11th. BankUniteds payout ratio is 48.74%.

In other BankUnited news, insider Kevin A. Malcolm sold 2,285 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.18, for a total value of $62,106.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 11,750 shares in the company, valued at $319,365. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BankUnited

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. FMR LLC raised its position in BankUnited by 23.2% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,539,176 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $34,939,000 after buying an additional 290,232 shares during the last quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of BankUnited by 84.6% in the third quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 262,741 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,964,000 after buying an additional 120,441 shares during the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in BankUnited by 129.1% during the third quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 70,116 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,592,000 after acquiring an additional 39,507 shares during the period. Graham Capital Management L.P. raised its position in BankUnited by 272.2% during the third quarter. Graham Capital Management L.P. now owns 132,681 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,012,000 after acquiring an additional 97,034 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Virginia Retirement Systems ET AL acquired a new position in BankUnited in the second quarter valued at approximately $1,166,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.70% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on BKU shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of BankUnited from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Wedbush cut their target price on BankUnited from $34.00 to $31.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 29th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on BankUnited from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Citigroup cut their price objective on shares of BankUnited from $34.00 to $33.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $33.00 price target on shares of BankUnited in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $30.33.

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About BankUnited

(Get Free Report)

BankUnited, Inc operates as the bank holding company for BankUnited, a national banking association that provides a range of banking services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, such as checking, money market deposit, and savings accounts; certificates of deposit; and treasury, commercial payment, and cash management services.

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Sempra (NYSE:SRE  Get Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by Barclays from $77.00 to $79.00 in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the utilities providers stock. Barclayss target price indicates a potential upside of 11.90% from the stocks previous close.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. BMO Capital Markets raised Sempra from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $76.00 to $84.00 in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $82.00 target price on shares of Sempra in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. StockNews.com downgraded Sempra from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Mizuho lowered their target price on Sempra from $83.00 to $79.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH assumed coverage on Sempra in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. They issued a buy rating and a $81.50 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Sempra presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $82.00.

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Sempra Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:SRE traded up $0.59 during trading on Thursday, hitting $70.60. 2,277,812 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,920,630. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $71.60 and a 200-day moving average price of $71.65. Sempra has a 52 week low of $63.75 and a 52 week high of $79.51. The company has a market cap of $44.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a current ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85.

Sempra (NYSE:SRE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The utilities provider reported $1.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.11 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $3.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. Sempra had a return on equity of 9.45% and a net margin of 18.26%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.17 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Sempra will post 4.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Sempra

In other news, insider Diana L. Day sold 3,937 shares of Sempra stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.21, for a total value of $280,353.77. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 18,145 shares in the company, valued at $1,292,105.45. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Sempra news, insider Diana L. Day sold 3,937 shares of Sempra stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.21, for a total transaction of $280,353.77. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 18,145 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,292,105.45. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Karen L. Sedgwick sold 5,158 shares of Sempra stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.21, for a total value of $367,301.18. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 43,024 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,063,739.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 156,622 shares of company stock valued at $11,089,713. 0.24% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sempra

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. WFA of San Diego LLC lifted its stake in shares of Sempra by 29.9% in the 3rd quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC now owns 2,439 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $166,000 after acquiring an additional 561 shares during the last quarter. Meyer Handelman Co. lifted its stake in shares of Sempra by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. Meyer Handelman Co. now owns 68,696 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $4,673,000 after acquiring an additional 34,348 shares during the last quarter. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Sempra by 93.7% in the 3rd quarter. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC now owns 2,195 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $149,000 after acquiring an additional 1,062 shares during the last quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board lifted its stake in shares of Sempra by 114.4% in the 3rd quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 32,782 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,230,000 after acquiring an additional 17,491 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI increased its holdings in Sempra by 94.2% during the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 186,952 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $12,264,000 after purchasing an additional 90,701 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 84.83% of the companys stock.

Sempra Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Sempra operates as an energy infrastructure company in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Sempra California, Sempra Texas Utilities, and Sempra Infrastructure. The Sempra California segment provides electric services; and natural gas services to San Diego County.

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Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 4,408 shares of the conglomerates stock, valued at approximately $563,000. General Electric comprises approximately 0.5% of Bruce G. Allen Investments LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest holding.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Wealth Alliance Advisory Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of General Electric in the 4th quarter valued at $217,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of General Electric during the 4th quarter worth about $351,000. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV boosted its stake in shares of General Electric by 9.7% during the 4th quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 1,027 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $131,000 after buying an additional 91 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its stake in shares of General Electric by 6.8% during the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 106,181 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $13,612,000 after buying an additional 6,782 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Arthur M. Cohen & Associates LLC acquired a new position in shares of General Electric during the 4th quarter worth about $308,000. Institutional investors own 74.83% of the companys stock.

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General Electric Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:GE traded up $1.02 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $169.91. 1,620,550 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,914,554. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $144.28 and a 200-day moving average price of $126.03. The company has a market cap of $184.92 billion, a PE ratio of 20.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 1.28. General Electric has a 12 month low of $89.41 and a 12 month high of $175.81.

Analyst Ratings Changes

General Electric ( NYSE:GE Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $19.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.27 billion. General Electric had a net margin of 13.95% and a return on equity of 10.88%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 15.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.24 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that General Electric will post 4.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of General Electric from $144.00 to $148.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of General Electric from $135.00 to $148.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of General Electric in a report on Tuesday, March 12th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of General Electric from $153.00 to $181.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of General Electric from a c+ rating to a b+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, General Electric presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $146.54.

View Our Latest Research Report on GE

Insider Buying and Selling

In other General Electric news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.87, for a total value of $3,195,107.85. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 56,284 shares in the company, valued at $8,153,863.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.87, for a total transaction of $3,195,107.85. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 56,284 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,153,863.08. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 13,601 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.55, for a total transaction of $1,843,615.55. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 48,339 shares in the company, valued at $6,552,351.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.67% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

General Electric Profile

(Free Report)

General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers.

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Knife River (NYSE:KNF  Get Free Report) is one of 25 public companies in the Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare Knife River to related companies based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, risk, profitability, earnings, dividends and valuation.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

67.1% of Knife River shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 49.2% of shares of all Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies are owned by institutional investors. 7.4% of shares of all Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Knife River and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Knife River 0 1 5 0 2.83 Knife River Competitors 207 991 1353 12 2.46

Earnings & Valuation

Knife River currently has a consensus price target of $72.20, suggesting a potential downside of 4.07%. As a group, Mining & quarrying of nonmetallic minerals, except fuels companies have a potential upside of 10.48%. Given Knife Rivers competitors higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Knife River has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.

This table compares Knife River and its competitors revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Knife River $2.83 billion $182.87 million -0.15 Knife River Competitors $2.40 billion $279.86 million 7.08

Knife River has higher revenue, but lower earnings than its competitors. Knife River is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

This table compares Knife River and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Knife River 6.46% 15.98% 7.14% Knife River Competitors 25.17% -24.36% 5.07%

About Knife River

(Get Free Report)

Knife River Corporation provides aggregates-based construction materials and contracting services in the United States. It operates through six segments: Pacific, Northwest, Mountain, North Central, South, and Energy Services. The company mines, processes, and sells construction aggregates, including crushed stone and sand, and gravel; and produces and sells asphalt and ready-mix concrete, as well as provides contracting 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.

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Greenbrier Companies (NYSE:GBX  Get Free Report) and Guangshen Railway (OTCMKTS:GNGYF  Get Free Report) are both transportation companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, dividends, risk, profitability, valuation and earnings.

Profitability

This table compares Greenbrier Companies and Guangshen Railways net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

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Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Greenbrier Companies 2.77% 9.13% 3.25% Guangshen Railway N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Greenbrier Companies and Guangshen Railway, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Greenbrier Companies 1 1 2 0 2.25 Guangshen Railway 0 0 0 0 N/A

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Greenbrier Companies currently has a consensus target price of $41.50, indicating a potential downside of 14.36%. Given Greenbrier Companies higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Greenbrier Companies is more favorable than Guangshen Railway.

90.5% of Greenbrier Companies shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 6.3% of Guangshen Railway shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.5% of Greenbrier Companies shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Greenbrier Companies and Guangshen Railways top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Greenbrier Companies $3.99 billion 0.38 $62.50 million $3.34 14.51 Guangshen Railway N/A N/A N/A $0.13 1.61

Greenbrier Companies has higher revenue and earnings than Guangshen Railway. Guangshen Railway is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Greenbrier Companies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Greenbrier Companies beats Guangshen Railway on 10 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Greenbrier Companies

(Get Free Report)

The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets railroad freight car equipment in North America, Europe, and South America. It operates through three segments: Manufacturing; Maintenance Services; and Leasing & Management Services. The Manufacturing segment offers covered hopper cars, gondolas, open top hoppers, boxcars, center partition cars, tank cars, sustainable conversions, double-stack railcars, auto-max ii, multi-max, and multi-max plus products, intermodal cars, automobile transport, coil steel and metals, flat cars, sliding wall cars, pressurized tank cars, and non-pressurized tank cars. The Maintenance Services segment provides wheel services, including reconditioning of wheels and axles, new axle machining and finishing, and downsizing; operates a railcar repair, refurbishment, and maintenance network; and reconditions and manufactures railcar cushioning units, couplers, yokes, side frames, bolsters, and various other parts. The Leasing & Management Services segment offers operating leases and per diem leases for a fleet of approximately 13,400 railcars; and management services comprising railcar maintenance management, railcar accounting services, fleet management and logistics, administration, and railcar re-marketing. This segment provides management services for railroads, shippers, carriers, institutional investors, and other leasing and transportation companies. It serves railroads, leasing companies, financial institutions, shippers, carriers, and transportation companies. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

About Guangshen Railway

(Get Free Report)

Guangshen Railway Company Limited engages in the railway passenger and freight transportation businesses in the People's Republic of China. Its passenger transportation services include the operation of Guangzhou-Shenzhen inter-city express trains, long-distance trains, and Guangzhou-Hong Kong city through trains. The company's freight transportation services comprise the transportation of full load and single load cargos, containers, bulky and heavy cargo, dangerous goods, perishable goods, and oversized cargos. It also provides railway network usage services; and other transportation services, such as railway operation, locomotive and passenger car leasing, passenger service, and luggage transportation services, as well as sells food, beverages, and merchandise on board the trains and in railway stations. In addition, the company is involved in the train repair, on-board catering, materials and supplies sale, goods sale, cargo loading and unloading, and other businesses related to railway transportation. Further, it offers warehousing, hotel management, and real estate construction services. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is based in Shenzhen, the People's Republic of China.

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KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC reduced its stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP  Free Report) by 7.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 30,526 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,491 shares during the period. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLCs holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF were worth $3,189,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of IWP. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 124,827.5% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 91,796,711 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,674,205,000 after acquiring an additional 91,723,231 shares in the last quarter. TIAA Trust National Association acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,012,701,000. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $106,831,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 509.1% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,010,892 shares of the companys stock valued at $92,345,000 after purchasing an additional 844,932 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Pathstone Family Office LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 665.8% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 611,166 shares of the companys stock valued at $55,830,000 after purchasing an additional 531,356 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Price Performance

Shares of IWP stock traded up $0.64 on Monday, hitting $111.79. The companys stock had a trading volume of 263,229 shares, compared to its average volume of 785,626. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF has a fifty-two week low of $85.24 and a fifty-two week high of $114.09. The firms fifty day moving average price is $107.77 and its 200-day moving average price is $99.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.03 and a beta of 1.10.

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF, formerly iShares Russell Midcap Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell Midcap Growth Index (the Growth Index).

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Lennar (NYSE:LEN  Free Report) had its price objective lifted by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $110.00 to $122.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning. They currently have a sell rating on the construction companys stock.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on LEN. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on shares of Lennar from $138.00 to $158.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, December 18th. StockNews.com upgraded Lennar from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. JMP Securities boosted their target price on Lennar from $150.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a market outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Wedbush reissued a neutral rating and issued a $130.00 price target on shares of Lennar in a report on Tuesday, March 5th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Lennar in a research note on Monday, November 27th. They set a hold rating and a $117.00 price target on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $144.75.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on Lennar

Lennar Stock Up 2.4 %

NYSE:LEN opened at $156.57 on Thursday. Lennar has a 1-year low of $99.81 and a 1-year high of $167.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 6.12 and a quick ratio of 1.72. The firm has a market cap of $43.97 billion, a PE ratio of 10.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a 50-day moving average of $154.09 and a 200 day moving average of $134.54.

Lennar (NYSE:LEN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 13th. The construction company reported $2.57 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.21 by $0.36. The company had revenue of $7.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.39 billion. Lennar had a net margin of 11.59% and a return on equity of 16.04%. Lennars revenue for the quarter was up 12.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.12 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Lennar will post 14.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Lennar Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 7th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 24th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. This is a boost from Lennars previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 23rd. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.28%. Lennars dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.02%.

Insider Activity

In other Lennar news, CFO Diane J. Bessette sold 10,000 shares of Lennar stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $147.73, for a total value of $1,477,300.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 260,556 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,491,937.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Lennar news, VP Mark Sustana sold 37,304 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.38, for a total transaction of $5,460,559.52. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 18,694 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,736,427.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Diane J. Bessette sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $147.73, for a total transaction of $1,477,300.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 260,556 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,491,937.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 9.36% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Lennar

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Lennar by 10.7% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 12,184 shares of the construction companys stock worth $989,000 after acquiring an additional 1,173 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Lennar by 6.8% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,499 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $771,000 after purchasing an additional 602 shares during the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its position in Lennar by 172.1% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 14,925 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,256,000 after buying an additional 9,440 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC purchased a new stake in shares of Lennar during the first quarter worth $1,711,000. Finally, Moors & Cabot Inc. purchased a new position in Lennar in the first quarter valued at $200,000. 79.87% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Lennar

(Get Free Report)

Lennar Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a homebuilder primarily under the Lennar brand in the United States. It operates through Homebuilding East, Homebuilding Central, Homebuilding Texas, Homebuilding West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other segments. The company's homebuilding operations include the construction and sale of single-family attached and detached homes, as well as the purchase, development, and sale of residential land; and development, construction, and management of multifamily rental properties.

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Truist Financial initiated coverage on shares of MasTec (NYSE:MTZ  Free Report) in a research note published on Thursday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm issued a hold rating and a $96.00 price objective on the construction companys stock.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on MTZ. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of MasTec from $54.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. TD Cowen lifted their price target on MasTec from $85.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 4th. Craig Hallum upgraded MasTec from a hold rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $50.00 to $96.00 in a research report on Monday, March 4th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of MasTec from $89.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on shares of MasTec from $55.00 to $106.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 5th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $96.46.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on MTZ

MasTec Trading Up 0.1 %

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Shares of NYSE:MTZ opened at $84.41 on Thursday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $73.74 and a 200-day moving average price of $70.36. The stock has a market cap of $6.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -127.89 and a beta of 1.60. MasTec has a 52-week low of $44.65 and a 52-week high of $123.33. The company has a quick ratio of 1.36, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of MasTec during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. CWM LLC grew its stake in shares of MasTec by 152.4% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 525 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 317 shares during the period. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its holdings in shares of MasTec by 75.3% during the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 540 shares of the construction companys stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 232 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MasTec during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. acquired a new position in MasTec in the third quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.90% of the companys stock.

About MasTec

(Get Free Report)

MasTec, Inc, an infrastructure construction company, provides engineering, building, installation, maintenance, and upgrade services for communications, energy, utility, and other infrastructure primarily in the United States and Canada. It operates through five segments: Communications, Clean Energy and Infrastructure, Oil and Gas, Power Delivery, and Other.

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North Star Investment Management Corp. trimmed its stake in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 0.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 66,343 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 94 shares during the period. North Star Investment Management Corp.s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $7,302,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 137,153,545 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $14,952,480,000 after purchasing an additional 1,584,552 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 77,225,258 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $8,419,032,000 after purchasing an additional 820,369 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 74,817,109 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $8,156,561,000 after purchasing an additional 1,362,889 shares during the period. Capital International Investors lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 4.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 59,178,607 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $6,451,127,000 after purchasing an additional 2,747,652 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 14.3% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 38,966,499 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $4,278,132,000 after purchasing an additional 4,886,954 shares during the period. 73.70% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on ABT. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $133.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. 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 report on Thursday, January 25th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $123.00 to $126.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $128.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Abbott Laboratories currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $120.00.

Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

NYSE ABT traded down $0.66 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $114.83. 1,657,505 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,283,667. The businesss 50 day moving average is $115.42 and its 200-day moving average is $105.89. Abbott Laboratories has a 1 year low of $89.67 and a 1 year high of $121.64. The company has a market capitalization of $199.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.43, 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 quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.64.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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 firm had revenue of $10.24 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.19 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 14.27% and a return on equity of 20.65%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.03 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Investors of record on Monday, April 15th will be given a dividend of $0.55 per share. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 12th. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is currently 67.48%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 42,500 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total transaction of $4,781,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at $7,315,537.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 42,500 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total value of $4,781,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at $7,315,537.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 12,500 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total transaction of $1,500,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 78,704 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,444,480. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 56,435 shares of company stock worth $6,451,298. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Abbott Laboratories Company Profile

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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Pflug Koory LLC lessened its holdings in shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 2.0% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 4,833 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 100 shares during the period. Pflug Koory LLCs holdings in American Express were worth $905,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AXP. Tyler Stone Wealth Management purchased a new position in American Express during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in American Express during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Pacifica Partners Inc. purchased a new position in American Express during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA grew its holdings in American Express by 134.8% during the 4th quarter. Baldwin Brothers LLC MA now owns 155 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. Finally, RVW Wealth LLC purchased a new position in American Express during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Institutional investors own 83.08% of the companys stock.

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American Express Stock Up 1.0 %

Shares of AXP traded up $2.25 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $220.71. The company had a trading volume of 428,552 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,258,566. The company has a market capitalization of $159.77 billion, a PE ratio of 19.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a current ratio of 1.63, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71. American Express has a one year low of $140.91 and a one year high of $224.90. The companys fifty day moving average price is $205.22 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $177.03.

American Express Cuts Dividend

American Express ( NYSE:AXP Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The payment services company reported $2.62 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.64 by ($0.02). American Express had a return on equity of 30.99% and a net margin of 13.84%. The company had revenue of $15.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.07 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that American Express will post 12.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 10th. Investors of record on Friday, April 5th will be given a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 4th. American Expresss dividend payout ratio is currently 24.98%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on AXP shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on American Express in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued a buy rating and a $235.00 target price for the company. Monness Crespi & Hardt began coverage on American Express in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Morgan Stanley cut American Express from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $212.00 to $222.00 in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on American Express from $220.00 to $226.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on American Express from $186.00 to $205.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 18th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $189.00.

Get Our Latest Analysis on AXP

Insider Activity at American Express

In related news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 7,029 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $203.65, for a total transaction of $1,431,455.85. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 12,388 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,522,816.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other American Express news, insider Howard Grosfield sold 7,029 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $203.65, for a total transaction of $1,431,455.85. Following the sale, the insider now owns 12,388 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,522,816.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, insider Monique Herena sold 11,242 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $208.41, for a total value of $2,342,945.22. Following the sale, the insider now owns 13,874 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,891,480.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 172,047 shares of company stock valued at $36,528,388 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock.

About American Express

(Free Report)

American Express Company, together with its subsidiaries, operates as integrated payments company in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, and Internationally. It operates through four segments: U.S. Consumer Services, Commercial Services, International Card Services, and Global Merchant and Network Services.

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Primo Water Co. (NYSE:PRMW  Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $17.71 and last traded at $17.71, with a volume of 140024 shares. The stock had previously closed at $17.38.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have commented on PRMW. TheStreet raised Primo Water from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. TD Securities lowered their price objective on Primo Water from $26.00 to $23.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Primo Water from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Primo Water from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Sunday, February 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $19.50.

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Primo Water Stock Up 2.3 %

The company has a market cap of $2.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 1.92 and a current ratio of 2.03. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $15.35 and a 200-day simple moving average of $14.74.

Primo Water (NYSE:PRMW  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The company reported $0.07 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.17 by ($0.10). The firm had revenue of $438.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $582.93 million. Primo Water had a return on equity of 8.55% and a net margin of 10.82%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Primo Water Co. will post 0.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Primo Water Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.02%. This is a boost from Primo Waters previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. Primo Waters payout ratio is 24.16%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Primo Water

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Ancora Advisors LLC grew its position in Primo Water by 2.0% in the 3rd quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 611,705 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,442,000 after buying an additional 11,920 shares during the last quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Primo Water by 10.8% in the 3rd quarter. William Blair Investment Management LLC now owns 2,713,299 shares of the companys stock worth $37,444,000 after acquiring an additional 265,057 shares during the period. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its stake in shares of Primo Water by 49.3% in the 3rd quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 312,321 shares of the companys stock worth $4,310,000 after acquiring an additional 103,103 shares during the period. Intrinsic Edge Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Primo Water by 475.4% in the 2nd quarter. Intrinsic Edge Capital Management LLC now owns 1,578,758 shares of the companys stock worth $19,798,000 after acquiring an additional 1,304,400 shares during the period. Finally, Heartland Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Primo Water by 6.5% in the 3rd quarter. Heartland Advisors Inc. now owns 895,900 shares of the companys stock worth $12,363,000 after acquiring an additional 54,675 shares during the period. 83.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Primo Water

(Get Free Report)

Primo Water Corporation provides pure-play water solutions for residential and commercial customers. It offers bottled water, water dispensers, purified bottled water, self-service refill drinking water, premium spring, mineral water, sparkling and flavored water, filtration equipment, and coffee. The company offers its products under the Primo, Alhambra, Crystal Rock, Mountain Valley, Deep Rock, Hinckley Springs, Crystal Springs, Kentwood Springs, Mount Olympus, Pureflo, Sierra Springs, Sparkletts, and Renu brands in the United States; Canadian Springs, Labrador Source, and Amazon Springs brands in Canada; and Decantae, Eden, Eden Springs, Chateaud'eau, and Mey Eden brands in Europe and Israel.

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Shares of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Reduce from the ten analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and nine have assigned a hold rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $105.60.

A number of research firms recently issued reports on PRU. TheStreet raised Prudential Financial from a c+ rating to an a- rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Prudential Financial from $105.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. UBS Group increased their target price on Prudential Financial from $108.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued a neutral rating and set a $118.00 target price (down from $119.00) on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Raymond James cut Prudential Financial from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on PRU

Insider Activity at Prudential Financial

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Prudential Financial

In related news, SVP Robert Axel sold 6,436 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.86, for a total value of $719,930.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 7,901 shares of the companys stock, valued at $883,805.86. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link . In other Prudential Financial news, SVP Robert Axel sold 6,436 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.86, for a total transaction of $719,930.96. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 7,901 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $883,805.86. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . Also, EVP Ann M. Kappler sold 7,222 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.39, for a total value of $782,792.58. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 24,381 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,642,656.59. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last three months, insiders sold 29,255 shares of company stock valued at $3,215,664. 0.31% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PRU. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 2.9% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,315,215 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $124,801,000 after buying an additional 36,599 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 46.8% during the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 63,444 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,020,000 after buying an additional 20,235 shares in the last quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 80.5% during the second quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 248,877 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $21,956,000 after buying an additional 110,982 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 14.5% during the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 268,728 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $25,500,000 after buying an additional 34,054 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EPG Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial by 11.8% during the third quarter. EPG Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,689 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $255,000 after buying an additional 284 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 54.92% of the companys stock.

Prudential Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:PRU opened at $112.84 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $40.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.87, a P/E/G ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.36. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $106.62 and its 200 day simple moving average is $100.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.13 and a quick ratio of 0.13. Prudential Financial has a fifty-two week low of $75.37 and a fifty-two week high of $113.50.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The financial services provider reported $2.58 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.67 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $13.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.99 billion. Prudential Financial had a net margin of 4.89% and a return on equity of 14.52%. The businesss revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.42 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Prudential Financial will post 13.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Prudential Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 20th were paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. This is a boost from Prudential Financials previous quarterly dividend of $1.25. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.61%. Prudential Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 77.73%.

Prudential Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Prudential Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Life, and International Businesses segments.

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Range Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 2.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 29,291 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after buying an additional 645 shares during the quarter. Range Financial Group LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,503,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Brown Shipley& Co Ltd grew its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Brown Shipley& Co Ltd now owns 9,161 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. Riversedge Advisors LLC grew its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Riversedge Advisors LLC now owns 5,691 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $330,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the last quarter. Vicus Capital grew its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.9% during the 3rd quarter. Vicus Capital now owns 4,824 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $280,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the last quarter. Cassia Capital Partners LLC boosted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.3% in the third quarter. Cassia Capital Partners LLC now owns 7,931 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $460,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lindbrook Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 2.3% in the third quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 8,060 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $468,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently commented on BMY shares. StockNews.com upgraded Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Redburn Atlantic cut Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $77.00 to $54.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Societe Generale cut Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 11th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $58.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, Bank of America cut Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $68.00 to $60.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $61.12.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock opened at $52.48 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $106.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.56, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.38. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a fifty-two week low of $47.58 and a fifty-two week high of $71.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.43. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $50.54 and a 200 day moving average of $52.88.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.15. The company had revenue of $11.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.19 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.95% and a net margin of 17.83%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.82 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 5th will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 4th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.57%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 62.18%.

Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, December 7th that authorizes the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the biopharmaceutical company to repurchase up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually an indication that the companys management believes its shares are undervalued.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR  Get Free Report) (TSE:QSR) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the twenty-seven research firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, nine have given a hold recommendation and seventeen have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $82.30.

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on QSR shares. Sanford C. Bernstein upgraded Restaurant Brands International from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $85.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. CIBC lowered their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $88.00 to $87.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $72.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Stephens reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $75.00 target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Finally, TD Cowen restated an outperform rating and set a $90.00 price target on shares of Restaurant Brands International in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on QSR

Restaurant Brands International Stock Performance

Shares of QSR opened at $79.01 on Monday. Restaurant Brands International has a 52 week low of $60.55 and a 52 week high of $83.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.78, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.01. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $77.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $72.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.91.

Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR  Get Free Report) (TSE:QSR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The restaurant operator reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.02. Restaurant Brands International had a net margin of 16.95% and a return on equity of 32.20%. The business had revenue of $1.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.80 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.72 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Restaurant Brands International will post 3.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Restaurant Brands International Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 21st will be given a dividend of $0.58 per share. This is an increase from Restaurant Brands Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.94%. Restaurant Brands Internationals dividend payout ratio is 61.54%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Matthew Dunnigan sold 46,701 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.55, for a total transaction of $3,528,260.55. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 128,154 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,682,034.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, CFO Matthew Dunnigan sold 46,701 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.55, for a total value of $3,528,260.55. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 128,154 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,682,034.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Joshua Kobza sold 17,635 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.55, for a total transaction of $1,349,959.25. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 415,328 shares of the companys stock, valued at $31,793,358.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 408,792 shares of company stock valued at $31,016,900. Company insiders own 1.25% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Restaurant Brands International

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Capital Research Global Investors lifted its position in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 19.8% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 24,012,659 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,876,109,000 after buying an additional 3,971,774 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Restaurant Brands International during the 4th quarter valued at $243,551,000. Holocene Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 1,905.4% during the 2nd quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 2,294,258 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $177,851,000 after purchasing an additional 2,179,856 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its holdings in Restaurant Brands International by 222.1% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,957,325 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $126,580,000 after buying an additional 1,349,590 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 3,650.9% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 787,687 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $46,002,000 after buying an additional 766,687 shares in the last quarter.

Restaurant Brands International Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Restaurant Brands International Inc operates as a quick-service restaurant company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Tim Hortons (TH), Burger King (BK), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (PLK), and Firehouse Subs (FHS). The company owns and franchises TH chain of donut/coffee/tea restaurants that offer blend coffee, tea, and espresso-based hot and cold specialty drinks; and fresh baked goods, including donuts, Timbits, bagels, muffins, cookies and pastries, grilled paninis, classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, and other food products.

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McPhy Energy (OTCMKTS:MPHYF  Get Free Report) and Crane (NYSE:CR  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, earnings, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and institutional ownership.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

85.9% of Crane shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.4% of Crane shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Valuation and Earnings

This table compares McPhy Energy and Cranes revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio McPhy Energy N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Crane $2.09 billion 3.55 $401.10 million $3.69 35.17

Analyst Recommendations

Crane has higher revenue and earnings than McPhy Energy.

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for McPhy Energy and Crane, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score McPhy Energy 2 0 0 0 1.00 Crane 0 3 5 0 2.63

Crane has a consensus price target of $113.67, indicating a potential downside of 12.41%. Given Cranes stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Crane is more favorable than McPhy Energy.

Profitability

This table compares McPhy Energy and Cranes net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets McPhy Energy N/A N/A N/A Crane 13.10% 24.45% 10.14%

Summary

Crane beats McPhy Energy on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About McPhy Energy

(Get Free Report)

McPhy Energy S.A. provides hydrogen production and distribution equipment for hydrogen energy, hydrogen mobility, and industrial hydrogen markets. The company offers alkaline electrolyzers; hydrogen storage and transportation solutions; and fuel cell systems. It also develops hydrogen stations; and provides integrated hydrogen solutions. The company operates in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. McPhy Energy S.A. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Grenoble, France.

About Crane

(Get Free Report)

Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, and Engineered Materials. The Aerospace & Electronics segment supplies critical components and systems, including original equipment and aftermarket parts for commercial aerospace, as well as the military aerospace, defense, and space markets. This segment also offers pressure sensors for aircraft engine control, aircraft braking systems for commercial aircraft and fighter jets, power conversion solutions for spacecraft, and lubrication systems. The Process Flow Technologies segment provides engineered fluid handling equipment for mission-critical applications. It offers process valves and related products, such as lined pipe, fittings and hoses, air-operated diaphragm and peristaltic pumps, instrumentation and sampling systems, valve positioning and control systems, and valve diagnostic and calibration systems; commercial valves; and pumps and systems. The Engineered Materials segment manufactures fiberglass-reinforced plastic panels and coils for use in the manufacturing of recreational vehicles, as well as in commercial and industrial building applications. This segment sells directly to RV, trailer, and truck manufacturers, as well as through distributors and retailers. The company provides its products and solutions to end markets, including commercial and military aerospace, defense, and space; chemical and pharmaceutical production; water and wastewater; non-residential and municipal construction; energy; and other general industrial and consumer-related applications. The company was formerly known as Crane Holdings, Co. Crane Company was founded in 1855 and is based in Stamford, Connecticut.

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Sarasin & Partners LLP decreased its holdings in BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Free Report) by 0.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 62,287 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 562 shares during the quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLPs holdings in BlackRock were worth $50,565,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in BLK. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. West Tower Group LLC purchased a new position in BlackRock in the second quarter worth approximately $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in BlackRock in the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management purchased a new position in BlackRock in the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its stake in BlackRock by 671.4% in the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 54 shares of the asset managers stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 47 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.01% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

BLK has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Friday, December 15th. TD Cowen raised shares of BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their target price for the company from $819.00 to $938.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of BlackRock from $720.00 to $818.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. BNP Paribas raised shares of BlackRock from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $885.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $785.73.

Insider Activity at BlackRock

In related news, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $282.54, for a total value of $5,085,660.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now owns 11,914 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,366,142.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 30,978 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $809.92, for a total transaction of $25,089,701.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 414,146 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $335,425,128.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $282.54, for a total transaction of $5,085,660.60. Following the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 11,914 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,366,142.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 100,511 shares of company stock valued at $71,864,028. 0.96% of the stock is owned by insiders.

BlackRock Price Performance

Shares of BlackRock stock traded down $6.28 on Friday, hitting $802.52. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,576,934 shares, compared to its average volume of 613,486. BlackRock, Inc. has a 52-week low of $596.18 and a 52-week high of $845.00. The company has a quick ratio of 3.48, a current ratio of 3.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $801.08 and a 200-day moving average price of $736.12. The company has a market capitalization of $119.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.37.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 12th. The asset manager reported $9.66 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.84 by $0.82. BlackRock had a net margin of 30.81% and a return on equity of 14.74%. The business had revenue of $4.63 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.65 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $8.93 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that BlackRock, Inc. will post 39.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

BlackRock Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Investors of record on Thursday, March 7th will be paid a $5.10 dividend. This is an increase from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.00. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 6th. This represents a $20.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.54%. BlackRocks payout ratio is presently 55.88%.

BlackRock Company Profile

(Free Report)

BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks.

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Triangle Securities Wealth Management reduced its holdings in Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB  Free Report) by 2.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,589 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 471 shares during the quarter. Triangle Securities Wealth Managements holdings in Schlumberger were worth $915,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in SLB. Guinness Asset Management LTD grew its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 0.3% in the third quarter. Guinness Asset Management LTD now owns 331,309 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $19,468,000 after buying an additional 965 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP grew its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 3.8% in the third quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 5,557 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $324,000 after buying an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Chiron Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Schlumberger in the third quarter valued at about $4,733,000. Wealthfront Advisers LLC grew its stake in shares of Schlumberger by 17.1% in the third quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 273,343 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $15,936,000 after buying an additional 39,948 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management UK Ltd. boosted its holdings in Schlumberger by 50.0% in the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management UK Ltd. now owns 9,000 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $525,000 after purchasing an additional 3,000 shares during the last quarter. 79.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently commented on SLB shares. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and issued a $68.00 price target on shares of Schlumberger in a report on Monday, March 4th. Barclays reduced their target price on Schlumberger from $77.00 to $74.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Schlumberger from $69.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Susquehanna reaffirmed a positive rating and set a $77.00 target price on shares of Schlumberger in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Schlumberger from $63.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $70.87.

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO Howard Guild sold 22,853 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.66, for a total transaction of $1,180,585.98. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 22,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,145,870.46. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Schlumberger news, EVP Abdellah Merad sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.52, for a total value of $2,426,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 261,507 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,688,319.64. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Howard Guild sold 22,853 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.66, for a total value of $1,180,585.98. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 22,181 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,145,870.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 178,441 shares of company stock valued at $8,972,947. Insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock.

Schlumberger Trading Up 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE SLB traded up $0.56 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $53.43. 5,661,953 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 12,130,056. Schlumberger Limited has a 1 year low of $42.73 and a 1 year high of $62.12. The stock has a market capitalization of $76.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.30, a PEG ratio of 0.96 and a beta of 1.59. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The business has a 50 day moving average of $49.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $53.47.

Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 19th. The oil and gas company reported $0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.02. Schlumberger had a return on equity of 21.97% and a net margin of 12.68%. The firm had revenue of $8.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.96 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.71 earnings per share. Schlumbergers quarterly revenue was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Schlumberger Limited will post 3.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Schlumberger Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 4th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.87%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 6th. Schlumbergers dividend payout ratio is 34.25%.

Schlumberger Company Profile

(Free Report)

Schlumberger Limited engages in the provision of technology for the energy industry worldwide. The company operates through four divisions: Digital & Integration, Reservoir Performance, Well Construction, and Production Systems. The company provides field development and hydrocarbon production, carbon management, and integration of adjacent energy systems; reservoir interpretation and data processing services for exploration data; and well construction and production improvement services and products.

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AEON Financial Service Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:AEOJF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,374,600 shares, a growth of 16.6% from the February 14th total of 1,178,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

AEON Financial Service Price Performance

AEOJF stock opened at $8.98 on Monday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $8.93 and a 200 day moving average of $8.68. AEON Financial Service has a 1 year low of $8.39 and a 1 year high of $9.01.

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AEON Financial Service Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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AEON Financial Service Co, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides various financial services in Japan. The company operates through five segments: Retail, Solutions, China Area, Mekong Area, and Malay Area. It is involved in processing, banking, short-term insurance, bank agency, ATM, credit guarantee, acquiring, Internet, housing and other loans, property leases, installment sales, life and non-life insurance agency, life insurance sales, loan purchases, credit card purchase contracts, collection and payment agency, guarantee, credit card, and electronic money businesses, as well as bank and business management activities.

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Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE:ALG  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 186,000 shares, a growth of 14.3% from the February 14th total of 162,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 67,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.8 days. Currently, 1.6% of the companys stock are sold short.

Insider Transactions at Alamo Group

In related news, EVP Richard Hodges Raborn sold 606 shares of Alamo Group stock in a transaction on Friday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.24, for a total transaction of $128,617.44. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 9,032 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,916,951.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 2.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Alamo Group

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ALG. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its stake in shares of Alamo Group by 33.5% in the 2nd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 271 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 68 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its stake in shares of Alamo Group by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 13,851 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,694,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Alamo Group by 2.3% in the second quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,238 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $596,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its position in Alamo Group by 0.8% in the third quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 9,211 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,592,000 after purchasing an additional 72 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. lifted its position in Alamo Group by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 13,052 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,596,000 after buying an additional 73 shares in the last quarter. 91.15% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Alamo Group Trading Down 1.4 %

Alamo Group stock traded down $2.90 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $202.12. The stock had a trading volume of 59,366 shares, compared to its average volume of 71,364. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.44 billion, a PE ratio of 18.00 and a beta of 1.03. Alamo Group has a 12 month low of $157.74 and a 12 month high of $231.40. The company has a current ratio of 3.76, a quick ratio of 1.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $208.70 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $191.23.

Alamo Group (NYSE:ALG  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The industrial products company reported $2.63 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.85 by ($0.22). Alamo Group had a return on equity of 15.52% and a net margin of 8.06%. The business had revenue of $417.54 million for the quarter. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Alamo Group will post 13.17 EPS for the current year.

Alamo Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 29th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 16th were paid a $0.26 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 12th. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.51%. This is an increase from Alamo Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. Alamo Groups dividend payout ratio is 9.15%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on ALG. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Alamo Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, March 5th. DA Davidson upped their price target on Alamo Group from $230.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 27th.

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Alamo Group Company Profile

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Alamo Group Inc designs, manufactures, distributes, and services vegetation management and infrastructure maintenance equipment for governmental, industrial, and agricultural uses worldwide. It operates through two segments, Vegetation Management and Industrial Equipment. Its Vegetation Management Division segment offers hydraulically-powered and tractor  and off-road chassis mounted mowers, other cutters and replacement parts for heavy-duty and intensive uses and heavy duty, tractor- and truck-mounted mowing and vegetation maintenance equipment, and replacement parts.

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Solo Brands (NYSE:DTC  Get Free Report) had its price target decreased by equities research analysts at Jefferies Financial Group from $4.00 to $3.05 in a report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a hold rating on the stock. Jefferies Financial Groups target price would suggest a potential upside of 50.25% from the stocks previous close.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on DTC. Piper Sandler downgraded Solo Brands from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 8th. William Blair cut Solo Brands from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Craig Hallum cut Solo Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $5.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Citigroup cut their price objective on Solo Brands from $4.00 to $3.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. Finally, B. Riley assumed coverage on Solo Brands in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. They issued a neutral rating and a $5.50 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $3.54.

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Solo Brands Price Performance

Institutional Trading of Solo Brands

Shares of NYSE:DTC traded down $0.31 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $2.03. The stock had a trading volume of 823,175 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,129,652. Solo Brands has a 1 year low of $2.03 and a 1 year high of $8.86. The company has a current ratio of 2.95, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $2.78 and its 200 day moving average price is $4.19. The company has a market cap of $184.43 million, a P/E ratio of -1.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 2.68.

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust acquired a new position in shares of Solo Brands in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. UBS Group AG lifted its stake in shares of Solo Brands by 9,253.0% in the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 9,353 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 9,253 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Solo Brands in the 2nd quarter valued at $37,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new position in shares of Solo Brands in the 4th quarter valued at $41,000. Finally, American International Group Inc. lifted its stake in Solo Brands by 38.4% during the 2nd quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 10,287 shares of the companys stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 2,852 shares in the last quarter. 75.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Solo Brands Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Solo Brands, Inc operates a direct-to-consumer platform that offers outdoor and lifestyle branded products in the United States. The company provides camp stoves under the Solo Stove Lite brand name; fire pits under the Solo Stove brand name; kayaks under the Oru brand name; paddle boards under the ISLE brand name; and storage solutions for fire pits, firewood, and other accessories.

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Shares of Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON  Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the four brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $63.00.

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Sonoco Products from $58.00 to $56.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. StockNews.com raised Sonoco Products from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 28th. Finally, TheStreet lowered Sonoco Products from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

Institutional Trading of Sonoco Products

In other Sonoco Products news, insider Russell K. Grissett sold 2,039 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.06, for a total value of $114,306.34. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 11,988 shares in the company, valued at approximately $672,047.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other news, insider Russell K. Grissett sold 2,039 shares of Sonoco Products stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.06, for a total transaction of $114,306.34. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 11,988 shares in the company, valued at approximately $672,047.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, VP Adam Wood sold 537 shares of Sonoco Products stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.04, for a total value of $30,630.48. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 28,273 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,612,691.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 13,076 shares of company stock worth $749,002 in the last quarter. 0.51% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of SON. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Sonoco Products in the 4th quarter worth approximately $62,387,000. State Street Corp increased its stake in Sonoco Products by 13.4% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,240,829 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $515,546,000 after purchasing an additional 972,157 shares during the period. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in Sonoco Products in the 1st quarter worth approximately $51,618,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. increased its stake in Sonoco Products by 1,144.2% in the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 710,318 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,684,000 after purchasing an additional 653,229 shares during the period. Finally, FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of Sonoco Products by 1,231.2% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 694,263 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $37,733,000 after buying an additional 642,109 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 76.20% of the companys stock.

Sonoco Products Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:SON opened at $56.99 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.76, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $57.06 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $55.50. Sonoco Products has a 1-year low of $49.98 and a 1-year high of $63.74. The stock has a market cap of $5.59 billion, a PE ratio of 11.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.69.

Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 15th. The industrial products company reported $1.02 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.04 by ($0.02). Sonoco Products had a net margin of 7.00% and a return on equity of 22.42%. The company had revenue of $1.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.61 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.27 earnings per share. Sonoco Productss revenue was down 2.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Sonoco Products will post 5.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sonoco Products Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders 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 is currently 42.50%.

About Sonoco Products

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Sonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various engineered and sustainable packaging products in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates through two segments: Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging.

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StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of TimkenSteel (NYSE:TMST  Free Report) in a research report released on Friday. The firm issued a hold rating on the basic materials companys stock.

TimkenSteel Price Performance

Shares of TimkenSteel stock opened at $20.40 on Friday. TimkenSteel has a 1 year low of $15.59 and a 1 year high of $24.30. The firm has a market cap of $880.26 million, a PE ratio of 30.00, a PEG ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.51. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $21.10 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.03.

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Insider Buying and Selling at TimkenSteel

In other TimkenSteel news, CFO Kristopher R. Westbrooks sold 15,949 shares of TimkenSteel stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.10, for a total transaction of $384,370.90. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 171,463 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,132,258.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other TimkenSteel news, CFO Kristopher R. Westbrooks sold 15,949 shares of TimkenSteel stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.10, for a total transaction of $384,370.90. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 171,463 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,132,258.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Michael S. Williams sold 11,553 shares of TimkenSteel stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.62, for a total transaction of $238,222.86. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 358,725 shares in the company, valued at $7,396,909.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 53,967 shares of company stock worth $1,171,280 over the last three months. 1.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

TimkenSteel Company Profile

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TMST. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in shares of TimkenSteel by 18.4% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 3,741 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $81,000 after buying an additional 581 shares in the last quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC boosted its stake in TimkenSteel by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 38,568 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $578,000 after purchasing an additional 584 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp boosted its stake in TimkenSteel by 3.7% in the 4th quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 16,449 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $386,000 after purchasing an additional 590 shares in the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its stake in TimkenSteel by 6.2% during the 2nd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 12,316 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $266,000 after acquiring an additional 722 shares during the period. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its stake in TimkenSteel by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 220,556 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $4,045,000 after acquiring an additional 875 shares during the period. 78.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

(Get Free Report)

TimkenSteel Corporation engages in manufacture and sale of alloy steel, and carbon and micro-alloy steel products in the United States and internationally. It offers carbon, micro-alloy, and alloy steel ingots, bars, tubes, and billets. Its products are used in gears; hubs; axles; crankshafts and connecting rods; oil country drill pipes; bits and collars; bearing races and rolling elements; bushings; fuel injectors; wind energy shafts; anti-friction bearings; and other applications.

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Shares of Surge Energy Inc. (TSE:SGY  Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the seven ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$11.91.

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on SGY shares. ATB Capital dropped their price objective on Surge Energy from C$13.00 to C$10.50 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Raymond James dropped their price objective on Surge Energy from C$14.00 to C$12.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 19th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price objective on Surge Energy from C$12.50 to C$12.00 in a research note on Monday, December 11th. National Bankshares dropped their price objective on Surge Energy from C$13.00 to C$11.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on Surge Energy from C$11.00 to C$9.00 in a research note on Friday, December 8th.

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Surge Energy Stock Performance

Surge Energy stock opened at C$6.89 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$6.53 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$7.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.44. Surge Energy has a 12-month low of C$5.89 and a 12-month high of C$9.77. The stock has a market capitalization of C$693.00 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4.25, a P/E/G ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 2.65.

Surge Energy (TSE:SGY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 6th. The company reported C($0.29) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$0.24 by C($0.53). The firm had revenue of C$168.45 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$179.30 million. Surge Energy had a return on equity of 1.87% and a net margin of 2.81%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Surge Energy will post 0.7703349 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Surge Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Sunday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.04 per share. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.97%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. Surge Energys payout ratio is 29.63%.

About Surge Energy

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Surge Energy Inc explores for, develops, and produces oil and gas in western Canada. The company's principal properties include Sparky assets located between Provost and Wainwright in eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan; the Southeast Saskatchewan properties are located in the Southeast corner of the Province; the Greater Sawn Lake assets located in Northern Alberta; the Valhalla/Wembley property located in northwestern Alberta; and the Shaunavon properties located to the southwest of Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

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TCP Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (BATS:FLOT  Free Report) by 31.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 22,170 shares of the companys stock after selling 10,173 shares during the quarter. TCP Asset Management LLCs holdings in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF were worth $1,122,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. RiverFront Investment Group LLC raised its position in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. RiverFront Investment Group LLC now owns 12,042 shares of the companys stock worth $606,000 after buying an additional 214 shares during the last quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC raised its position in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 16,983 shares of the companys stock worth $855,000 after buying an additional 224 shares during the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its position in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 7,719 shares of the companys stock worth $393,000 after buying an additional 234 shares during the last quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC raised its position in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 3,764 shares of the companys stock worth $192,000 after buying an additional 237 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Spire Wealth Management raised its position in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 8,428 shares of the companys stock worth $429,000 after buying an additional 268 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Price Performance

Shares of BATS FLOT remained flat at $50.95 during midday trading on Monday. 627,385 shares of the stock traded hands. iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF has a 12-month low of $50.76 and a 12-month high of $51.10. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $50.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $50.77.

About iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF

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.

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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).

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Shares of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the nineteen research firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and fourteen have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $410.22.

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Edward Jones initiated coverage on The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Tuesday, February 27th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Barclays increased their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $437.00 to $493.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Oppenheimer raised their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $491.00 to $506.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $357.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on The Goldman Sachs Group from $398.00 to $421.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 9th.

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The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of GS opened at $387.21 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.76. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $385.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is $353.42. The Goldman Sachs Group has a 52 week low of $289.36 and a 52 week high of $397.49. The firm has a market cap of $126.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.42.

The Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE:GS  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 16th. The investment management company reported $5.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.62 by $1.86. The firm had revenue of $11.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.80 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 8.03% and a net margin of 7.85%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.32 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that The Goldman Sachs Group will post 32.79 earnings per share for the current year.

The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a dividend of $2.75 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.84%. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.20%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $376.39, for a total value of $1,129,170.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 10,121 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,809,443.19. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $376.39, for a total value of $1,129,170.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,121 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,809,443.19. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Sheara J. Fredman sold 4,300 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.15, for a total value of $1,634,645.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 11,463 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,357,659.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 38,907 shares of company stock valued at $15,080,021. 0.54% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of The Goldman Sachs Group

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of GS. First Foundation Advisors lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 18.4% in the second quarter. First Foundation Advisors now owns 1,771 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $571,000 after acquiring an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. TBH Global Asset Management LLC raised its position in The Goldman Sachs Group by 2.0% during the third quarter. TBH Global Asset Management LLC now owns 3,676 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,190,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the last quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE lifted its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 27,076.5% in the 3rd quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 653,322 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $211,396,000 after buying an additional 650,918 shares in the last quarter. Syon Capital LLC purchased a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,395,000. Finally, Fort Point Capital Partners LLC raised its position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 11.1% in the second quarter. Fort Point Capital Partners LLC now owns 728 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $235,000 after buying an additional 73 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 69.06% of the companys stock.

About The Goldman Sachs Group

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The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements.

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Triangle Securities Wealth Management cut its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) by 2.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 30,485 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 878 shares during the quarter. Triangle Securities Wealth Managements holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,564,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 61.5% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Bell Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 525 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. 74.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

Bristol-Myers Squibb stock traded down $0.75 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $51.59. 19,734,926 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 17,551,203. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $50.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $52.88. The firm has a market cap of $104.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.49, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.38. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a fifty-two week low of $47.58 and a fifty-two week high of $71.07.

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.55 by $0.15. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 17.83% and a return on equity of 50.95%. The company had revenue of $11.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.19 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.82 EPS. Bristol-Myers Squibbs revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb declared that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Thursday, December 7th that permits the company to repurchase $3.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the biopharmaceutical company to reacquire up to 2.9% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are generally a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 5th will be paid a $0.60 dividend. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.65%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 4th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is 62.18%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on BMY shares. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $58.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Redburn Atlantic lowered Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $77.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. StockNews.com raised shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Bank of America downgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $68.00 to $60.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Societe Generale cut shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have assigned a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $61.12.

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About Bristol-Myers Squibb

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of UiPath (NYSE:PATH  Free Report) from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report report published on Thursday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has $28.00 price objective on the healthcare companys stock, up from their prior price objective of $22.00.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. Canaccord Genuity Group lifted their target price on UiPath from $21.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of UiPath from $19.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Barclays raised their price target on shares of UiPath from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, January 12th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on UiPath from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of UiPath from $19.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, UiPath currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $22.77.

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UiPath Price Performance

Insider Activity at UiPath

Shares of NYSE:PATH opened at $22.75 on Thursday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $23.52 and its 200 day moving average is $20.67. The stock has a market cap of $12.88 billion, a P/E ratio of -81.25 and a beta of 0.97. UiPath has a 52-week low of $12.38 and a 52-week high of $27.87.

In related news, Director Rich Wong sold 200,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.12, for a total transaction of $4,624,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 429,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,928,144.16. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other UiPath news, CFO Ashim Gupta sold 70,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.02, for a total value of $1,611,400.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 788,148 shares of the companys stock, valued at $18,143,166.96. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Rich Wong sold 200,000 shares of UiPath stock in a transaction on Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.12, for a total value of $4,624,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 429,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,928,144.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 411,000 shares of company stock worth $9,418,670 in the last three months. Insiders own 31.03% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UiPath

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in UiPath during the 4th quarter worth about $165,749,000. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in shares of UiPath by 32.1% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 23,376,854 shares of the healthcare companys stock valued at $387,354,000 after buying an additional 5,681,577 shares during the last quarter. Altimeter Capital Management LP lifted its stake in shares of UiPath by 175.4% during the first quarter. Altimeter Capital Management LP now owns 8,275,000 shares of the healthcare companys stock valued at $71,579,000 after buying an additional 5,270,194 shares during the period. Senvest Management LLC boosted its position in UiPath by 188.4% during the second quarter. Senvest Management LLC now owns 6,027,933 shares of the healthcare companys stock worth $99,883,000 after acquiring an additional 3,937,951 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC grew its stake in UiPath by 899.5% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 4,049,999 shares of the healthcare companys stock worth $51,475,000 after acquiring an additional 3,644,799 shares during the period. 59.04% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About UiPath

(Get Free Report)

UiPath Inc provides an end-to-end automation platform that offers a range of robotic process automation (RPA) solutions primarily in the United States, Romania, and Japan. The company offers a suite of interrelated software to build, manage, run, engage, measure, and govern automation within the organization.

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StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of United States Antimony (NYSE:UAMY  Free Report) in a research report report published on Friday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock.

United States Antimony Trading Down 3.3 %

NYSE:UAMY opened at $0.24 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 12.99 and a quick ratio of 11.52. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $0.23 and a 200-day moving average of $0.29. The company has a market cap of $25.51 million, a PE ratio of -5.93 and a beta of 0.52. United States Antimony has a one year low of $0.17 and a one year high of $0.48.

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Institutional Trading of United States Antimony

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Logan Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in United States Antimony in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $44,000. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of United States Antimony by 21.0% in the 3rd quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 310,594 shares of the companys stock worth $115,000 after buying an additional 54,000 shares during the last quarter. Boston Financial Mangement LLC bought a new position in shares of United States Antimony in the 3rd quarter worth $40,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of United States Antimony by 80,772.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,185,459 shares of the companys stock worth $6,420,000 after buying an additional 13,169,155 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Truist Financial Corp bought a new position in shares of United States Antimony in the 4th quarter worth $487,000. 9.32% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

United States Antimony Company Profile

United States Antimony Corporation produces and sells antimony, silver, gold, and zeolite products in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The company operates through Antimony, Zeolite, and Precious Metals segments. The company offers antimony oxide that is primarily used in conjunction with a halogen to form a synergistic flame retardant system for plastics, rubber, fiberglass, textile goods, paints, coatings, and paper.

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Wayfinding Financial LLC raised its position in shares of Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 3.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 25,073 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 884 shares during the quarter. Wayfinding Financial LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $844,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Roundview Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Bank of America by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 135,764 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $5,596,000 after purchasing an additional 2,013 shares during the period. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P grew its stake in shares of Bank of America by 150.3% during the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 1,985 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $82,000 after purchasing an additional 1,192 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Bank of America by 4.2% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 405,098 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $16,698,000 after purchasing an additional 16,319 shares during the period. First Western Trust Bank bought a new stake in shares of Bank of America during the 1st quarter valued at about $586,000. Finally, Pearl River Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Bank of America during the 1st quarter valued at about $534,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.06% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, major shareholder Of America Corp /De/ Bank purchased 5,398 shares of Bank of America stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were bought at an average price of $10.56 per share, with a total value of $57,002.88. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,398 shares of the companys stock, valued at $57,002.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock.

Bank of America Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:BAC traded down $0.28 during trading on Friday, hitting $35.41. The stock had a trading volume of 69,646,394 shares, compared to its average volume of 41,481,207. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $33.84 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $30.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $279.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.38. Bank of America Co. has a 12-month low of $24.96 and a 12-month high of $36.44.

Bank of America (NYSE:BAC  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.01. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.38% and a net margin of 15.42%. The firm had revenue of $22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23.70 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.85 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Bank of America Co. will post 3.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of America Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be paid a $0.24 dividend. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.71%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.27%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BAC has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on Bank of America from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Odeon Capital Group downgraded Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $33.90 price target for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Oppenheimer upped their price target on Bank of America from $49.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Barclays upped their price target on Bank of America from $39.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded Bank of America from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price target for the stock from $32.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Bank of America presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $35.53.

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Bank of America Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bank of America Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services for individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses, institutional investors, large corporations, and governments worldwide. It operates in four segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth & Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, and Global Markets.

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Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM  Get Free Report) had its price objective increased by equities researchers at Loop Capital from $220.00 to $290.00 in a note issued to investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a hold rating on the specialty retailers stock. Loop Capitals price objective would indicate a potential upside of 1.66% from the stocks current price.

Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Williams-Sonoma from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $270.00 in a research report on Thursday. UBS Group boosted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $110.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Telsey Advisory Group boosted their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $215.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, March 11th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $230.06.

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View Our Latest Report on WSM

Williams-Sonoma Trading Up 0.5 %

WSM stock traded up $1.49 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $285.26. The stock had a trading volume of 1,248,750 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,093,622. Williams-Sonoma has a 1-year low of $109.44 and a 1-year high of $292.40. The company has a fifty day moving average of $221.06 and a 200 day moving average of $186.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.72, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.66.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 13th. The specialty retailer reported $5.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.06 by $0.38. The firm had revenue of $2.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.22 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a net margin of 12.25% and a return on equity of 55.15%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $5.50 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Williams-Sonoma will post 14.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In other Williams-Sonoma news, CEO Laura Alber sold 20,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $201.92, for a total transaction of $4,038,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 525,509 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $106,110,777.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Williams-Sonoma

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WSM. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the third quarter valued at about $4,102,000. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC boosted its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 11.5% in the 3rd quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 20,711 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $3,218,000 after purchasing an additional 2,128 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,456,161 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $226,287,000 after purchasing an additional 18,004 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 3.2% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,142,272 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $142,944,000 after purchasing an additional 35,315 shares during the period. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky lifted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 89.1% in the 3rd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 23,002 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $3,575,000 after buying an additional 10,837 shares during the last quarter. 99.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Williams-Sonoma Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Williams-Sonoma, Inc operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand.

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Winthrop Advisory Group LLC reduced its position in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Free Report) by 3.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,645 shares of the companys stock after selling 283 shares during the quarter. Winthrop Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $943,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 103,159.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 39,327,490 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,363,385,000 after purchasing an additional 39,289,404 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,736,293,000. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 82,442,666 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,487,472,000 after purchasing an additional 5,196,914 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 2,671.4% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 5,099,334 shares of the companys stock valued at $418,400,000 after purchasing an additional 4,915,334 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC boosted its stake in shares of Merck & Co., Inc. by 184.5% in the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 7,254,914 shares of the companys stock valued at $837,144,000 after purchasing an additional 4,705,004 shares in the last quarter. 74.59% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Merck & Co., Inc. Stock Performance

NYSE:MRK opened at $121.53 on Monday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $123.47 and a 200-day moving average of $111.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $307.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 868.00, a P/E/G ratio of 0.49 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. Merck & Co., Inc. has a twelve month low of $99.14 and a twelve month high of $130.24.

Merck & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement

Merck & Co., Inc. ( NYSE:MRK Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.09) by $0.12. The company had revenue of $14.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $14.49 billion. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 0.61% and a return on equity of 9.33%. Merck & Co., Inc.s revenue for the quarter was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.62 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 8.58 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.77 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $3.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.53%. Merck & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 2,200.00%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MRK has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. TheStreet downgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a b+ rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Monday, March 4th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $135.00 to $148.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Societe Generale downgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a hold rating to a sell rating and set a $104.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Monday, March 11th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $135.00 target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $129.14.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MRK

Insider Buying and Selling at Merck & Co., Inc.

In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, insider Joseph Romanelli sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.89, for a total transaction of $124,890.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 19,569 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,443,972.41. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Steven Mizell sold 50,694 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.65, for a total transaction of $6,420,395.10. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,619 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,991,346.35. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph Romanelli sold 1,000 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.89, for a total transaction of $124,890.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 19,569 shares in the company, valued at $2,443,972.41. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Merck & Co., Inc. Profile

(Free Report)

Merck & Co, Inc operates as a healthcare company worldwide. It operates through two segments, Pharmaceutical and Animal Health. The Pharmaceutical segment offers human health pharmaceutical products in the areas of oncology, hospital acute care, immunology, neuroscience, virology, cardiovascular, and diabetes under the Keytruda, Bridion, Adempas, Lagevrio, Belsomra, Simponi, and Januvia brands, as well as vaccine products consisting of preventive pediatric, adolescent, and adult vaccines under the Gardasil/Gardasil 9, ProQuad, M-M-R II, Varivax, RotaTeq, Live Oral, Vaxneuvance, Pneumovax 23, and Vaqta names.

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Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MRK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK  Free Report).

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Carlos Rodriguez-Padron had allegedly stolen diesel fuel from Git N Split seven times since Feb. 27.

There would not be an eighth time.

Rodriguez-Padron was caught in the act Friday morning by a Grand Island police investigator, who arrested the 32-year-old Grand Island man.

A store employee called Grand Island police at about 7:30 a.m. to inform them that the suspect had returned, and was at the pump.

One of the departments criminal investigators happened to be in the area. He pulled up and arrested Rodriguez-Padron before he could git and split.

Police believe that Rodriguez-Padron had stolen $4,419.80 in fuel over the course of seven visits to the business. He also did $3,500 worth of damage to a fuel pump.

Rodriguez-Padron was driving a dark-colored, full-sized pickup with a topper. The pickup does not run on diesel.

In the back of his pickup is a plastic tank that holds 275-300 gallons of gasoline, said GIPD Capt. Dean Elliott.

On each visit, he would come inside the store, lay a certain amount of cash on the counter and say, for instance, that he wanted $80 worth of diesel fuel.

He then pumped a much larger amount of diesel into his plastic tank.

Rodriguez-Padron also removed parts from the pump to bypass the payment requirement and increase the flow rate to more than 10 gallons a minute, Elliott said.

He was charged with felony theft and misdemeanor criminal mischief.

PHOTOS: Waiting for spring to come alive Several signs of spring are seen throughout Stolley Park on Tuesday, March 12. Strolling through Stolley Park 2 A sign of spring on the horizon, the starts of a flower have burst through the ground in Stolley Park on Tuesday, March 12. Strolling through Stolley Park 1 Spring is on its way across Nebraska, with the official start of the season set for March 19. True to life returning, a squirrel rests in a tr Strolling through Stolley Park 3 Above: A sign of spring on the horizon, the starts of a flower have burst through the ground in Stolley Park on Tuesday, March 12. Right: Fres Strolling through Stolley Park Dead flowers rest in the ground at Stolley Park on Tuesday, March 12. Strolling through Stolley Park Dead tree branches rest at Stolley Park on Tuesday, March 12. Strolling through Stolley Park The Stolley Park Garden is barren of any plant life on Tuesday, March 12. The sounds of migration Hear the sounds of the spring migration as sandhill cranes fly and graze in cornfields along Highway 34 east of Grand Island.
SCOTTSBLUFF  A 1-year-old child reportedly died Saturday of injuries he suffered that led to the arrest of a 32-year-old Gering man earlier in the week.

A social media post by a family member said Gideon Lockwood died Saturday at a Colorado hospital, where he had been transported after initially being treated at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.

Tyler Green was arrested Wednesday and appeared in Scotts Bluff County Court on a charge of committing intentional felony child abuse resulting in injury. His bond was set at $1 million and he remains in jail. He has not yet been charged in the death of the boy.

Court documents say Gering Police and medical personnel were called to a Gering home where a 1-year-old child had reportedly gone limp and was vomiting blood. The caller, identified later as Green, described the boy as not responsive, but breathing.

A Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs deputy said Green said earlier the child had diarrhea and had made a mess on the floor and the walls. Green reported he had given the child a bath to clean him when the boy began vomiting blood. Green told the deputy he called for the childs mother, who was downstairs, to bring him his phone to call 911.

However, according to the arrest affidavit, the deputy didnt observe any mess from the child having suffered from diarrhea or water in the bathtub. The deputy said he did observe the child had blood around his mouth and a contusion on the left side of his head.

Regional West Medical Center personnel treating the child told police that he suffered bruising and lacerations to his genital area. He also had a lowered body temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The child had to be given a blood transfusion before he was transported to Childrens Hospital in Colorado for further treatment.

Police interviewed a Regional West doctor who told police that the boy had suffered internal injuries. A CT scan also showed the child had suffered a hypoxic brain injury, which would be caused by the childs brain not getting enough oxygen, police said.

According to the arrest affidavit, the doctor told police the mechanism of injury appeared intentional and that the amount of bruising  would be on par to having the child put in a clothes dryer and turned on.

Police arrested Green at his home. He was interviewed as was the child's mother. She told police they both had been drinking earlier in the evening. The mother said she had gone to bed and awakened to Green screaming. She then saw him holding the child, wrapped in a towel. She told police she and Green then called 911.
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60% of foreign homebuyers in Vietnam look for capital gains

By Minh Anh Mon, March 18, 2024 | 10:53 am GMT+7

Over 3,000 foreigners bought housing in Vietnam between 2015 and the third quarter of 2023, 60% of whom were buy-to-gain investors, real estate service firm CBRE said in a report.

Buy and hold for capital appreciation remains the most popular strategy for foreigners purchasing residential real estate in Vietnam, according to CBREs Vietnam: Two decades of urban development report.

Some buyers may opt to let properties out as a temporary option while they wait for sales prices to climb. Very few non-Vietnamese - mainly long-term residents - purchase residential real estate for self-use.

High-end property in Vietnam is attracting foreign buyers. Photo courtesy of Savills Vietnam.

In terms of product type, foreign buyers have displayed strong demand for condominiums, especially units in high-end developments in big cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Well-located and affordable condominiums with potential for strong price growth have also been the subject of interest from foreign investors, the report adds.

Starting in 2015, the government began removing barriers to foreigners acquisition of real estate. The Housing Law 2014, which came into effect in 2015, permitted any foreigner allowed to enter Vietnam to purchase residential properties in the country.

Article 74 of Decree 99/2015 specifies documents proving persons eligible for owning housing in Vietnam. For foreign individuals, they must have a valid passport with an entry verification stamp from Vietnamese immigration authorities and are not eligible for diplomatic privileges and immunities according to regulations.

For foreign institutions, they must be eligible as per Article 159 of the Housing Law and have a valid investment registration certificate or documents permitted by a competent Vietnamese agency to operate in Vietnam that are still valid at the time of signing housing transactions.

While there remains no limit on the number of individual units a foreigner can buy in Vietnam, there is a cap on the percentage of foreign ownership in an individual project. This is set at a maximum of 30% per residential building or no more than 250 landed properties in an administrative unit.

Since the relaxation of restrictions on foreign property ownership, buyers from developed Asian economies including mainland China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore have accounted for 75% of residential property transactions in Vietnam, according to the CBREs report.

CBRE attributes this strong interest to their proximity to Vietnam; the pre-existing presence in Vietnam of large real estate developers from these markets; and Vietnams potential for price growth relative to their home markets, all which have experienced periods of rapid price appreciation.

Matthew Powell, director of property service firm Savills Hanoi, has tipped that a handful of Savills Vietnams ultra-wealthy foreign clients have been on the hunt for real estate investments in Vietnam since earlier this year.

This was the reason behind Savills expansion of its office in Vietnam. The office offers a world-class network of partners, experts, and contacts, providing comprehensive yet tailored and confidential real estate expertise and advice.
Koreas Lotte Shopping earns $302 mln in Vietnam in 2023, up 16%

By Tri Duc Mon, March 18, 2024 | 11:58 am GMT+7

Lotte Shopping, under South Korean conglomerate Lotte, earned a total revenue of KRW403 billion ($302.4 million) in Vietnam in 2023, up 16% year-on-year, according to its financial statement.

The department store business made a revenue of KRW40 billion ($30 million), up 83.5% year-on-year. The figure was the highest among all of Lotte Shopping's overseas businesses, followed by Indonesia with KRW20 billion and China with KRW20 billion.

The hypermarket segment posted a revenue of KRW363 billion ($272.4 million), up 11.2% year-on-year. The result was the lowest posted by Lotte Shopping overseas. South Korea, the home market, accounted for the biggest portion of KRW4,281 billion, followed by Indonesia with KRW1,091 billion.

Lotte Mall West Lake in Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People's Army) newspaper.

In terms of operating profit, Lotte Shoppings department store business in Vietnam made a loss of KRW19 billion ($14.3 million) in 2023, versus KRW0 in 2022. Meanwhile, the hypermarket segments operating profit rose 27.7% year-on-year to KRW25 billion.

Lotte Shopping highlighted the hypermarket segment in Vietnam recorded continuous growth in operating profit margin, from -0.4% in 2021 to 6.1% in 2022 and 7% in 2023.

At the end of 2023, the firm had three department stores and 16 hypermarkets in Vietnam.

Lotte Mall West Lake, Lotte's latest major addition in Vietnam, was opened in September 2023. Lotte earned revenues of KRW100 billion ($74.8 million) from the complex between the establishment and mid January 2023. It attributed the strong performance to high consumer spending, driven by rising incomes.

Last week, Lotte Vietnam Shopping JSC expressed an interest in building an establishment in Quy Nhon town, a tourism hub in Binh Dinh province.
Philippines has highest ratio of female senior managers: survey

By Vietnam News Agency Mon, March 18, 2024 | 8:29 am GMT+7

A recent survey by London-based Grant Thornton shows that the Philippines takes the top spot among 28 countries in terms of the percentage of women holding senior management positions.

According to the global accounting group's annual survey, 43% of the senior management positions at Philippine companies are held by women. Three other Southeast Asian nations placed in the top 10 are Thailand, at the third position; Malaysia, seventh; and Indonesia, tenth.

Philippine female senior managers pose for a group photo. Photo courtesy of pids.gov.ph.

The survey, based on interviews conducted in the final quarter of 2023, covers 4,891 midsize companies from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, 90% of which have between 50 and 2,500 employees. It defines senior management roles as positions ranging from CEOs and chief operating officers to board members and finance chiefs.

The Philippines often sits at or near the top of the survey, now in its 20th year. It was No. 2 in 2023, No. 4 in 2022, and No. 1 in 2021 and 2020.

Tomoko Tashiro, a manager in marketing communication at Grant Thornton Japan, explained that the position is a result of the Philippines' early efforts to address gender issues, including the Magna Carta of Women Act of 2009, which guarantees women economic and social rights.

In Thailand, women held 41% of senior management positions, a 4-point improvement from the previous year as more women became chief marketing officers and sales directors. According to Grant Thornton, Thai companies have been hiring more female business leaders since 2011 when Yingluck Shinawatra became the country's first female prime minister.

As for other Asia-Pacific nations, Australia ranked eighth while South Korea ranked 27th and Japan ranked 28th, which demonstrates the male dominance in those societies.

Globally, the female share of management positions has reached 33% for four years in a row.
Pursuing monkhood, Vietnam steel magnate chooses youngest daughter as heir apparent

By My Ha, Lan Do Mon, March 18, 2024 | 10:26 pm GMT+7

Vietnamese steel magnate Le Phuoc Vu, chairman of Hoa Sen Group, will postpone plans to become a monk in 2026-2027 over many unrealized plans and spend time training his youngest daughter, his heir apparent.

At the annual general meeting of shareholders (AGM) in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, Vu declared his intention to leave his assets and duties to his youngest daughter, born in 2001. Hoa Sen Group is listed on the HCMC Stock Exchange (HoSE) as HSG.

Hoa Sen's chairman Le Phuong Vu. Photo courtesy of Hoa Sen Group.

At last year's AGM, Vu had disclosed his intention to become a monk in 2026-2027 and prepare his successor. However, due to the group's many unimplemented plans and succession difficulties, the renunciation had to postponed, he said.

Vu and his colleagues (members of the group's board of directors) met with a tycoon to whom he intended to sell his shares and delegate responsibility for the group's future development. However, following discussions, members of the group's board of directors deemed it unsuitable.

After debating other solutions, the board of directors felt that Vu should delegate power to one of his children.

Vu has three children, namely Le Hoang Vu Tri, Le Hoang Dieu Tam, and Le Hoang Dieu Thien. After careful contemplation, Vu chose his youngest daughter, currently studying abroad.

He said she was an honest person, a good student praised by her teachers and had acquired two university degrees. The choice of Thien was also approved by the board of directors.

"After finishing school, she will return to the corporation and start small, as an accountant or office worker with a 10-year practice period. If she does not wish to inherit after 10 years, we will look at other options," Vu said.

Vu, a Binh Dinh native, was born in 1963. He established Hoa Sen in 2001 with an initial charter capital of VND30 billion ($1.21 million), 22 workers, and three branches. The group currently has a capital of VND6,160 billion ($249.2 million), and Vu personally owns 104.8 million HSG shares, accounting for 17.02% of the total.
Thai retail giant to build shopping mall in Hung Yen province

By Tri Duc Mon, March 18, 2024 | 4:37 pm GMT+7

Leading Thai retailer Central Retail will build a 15,847 square meter mall, GO! Hung Yen, in Vietnam's eponymous northern province that neighbors Hanoi.

Hung Yen authorities said they have approved a 1-to-500 detailed construction plan for the mall drafted by Viet-Nhat Real Estate JSC, a local real estate developer acquired by Central Retail in 2020.

No information was shared on the projects estimated investment.

The plan earmarks 8,684 square meters for the malls main building, 3,141 square meters for trees, and 4,021 square meters for parking areas and roads.

A GO! mall in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Central Retail.

As of end 2023, Central Retail was operating 133 stores and 39 malls in 42 of Vietnams 63 localities. Its net selling space in the country reached 354,913 square meters, while the net leasable space was 213,324 sqm. Notably, Central Retails network in Vietnam of 39 malls was higher than 33 in Thailand, its home market.

In February, Central Retail said it planned to expand operations in key markets, including Vietnam. The retail giant looked to launch three more GO! Hypermarket and nine more mini Go! outlets after both formats received positive responses over the past year, CEO Yol Phokasub said at a forum in Bangkok last month.

Phokasub said the group hoped to operate a total of 42 GO! Mall outlets in Vietnam this year in as many localities. He also noted that the group plans to introduce popular Thai fashion brands to Vietnam. For hardline products, the group will focus on improving the performance of its home appliance chain Nguyen Kim, Phokasub said.
Thailand strives to curb air pollution in tourist hotspot Chiang Mai

By Vietnam News Agency Mon, March 18, 2024 | 8:32 am GMT+7

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Saturday vowed to tackle air pollution at the countrys tourism hotspot of Chiang Mai, which had the worst air quality in the world for the two previous days.

The statement was made when he was on a four-day visit to the northern region of the country. He acknowledged his government needs to tackle the smog which is very popular in the early months of the year when farmers burn crops, and said his government will find solutions to improve the livelihood of the people.

Smog is seen at Chiang Mai, Thailand, on March 15, 2024. Photo courtesy of AFP.

The Prime Minister's visit came as Chiang Mai topped air monitoring website IQAir's list of the world's most-polluted cities for the second consecutive day on March 15 and 16.

Levels of PM 2.5 pollutants  small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs  were at 224 on March 16 afternoon, 20 times higher than the World Health Organisation's guidelines.

Speaking to the media, the Thai Prime Minister said that he is working with local authorities to study the impact of transnational haze. He added that he will impose regulations on farmers who burnt stubble, without giving further details.

Earlier this year, Srettha's cabinet approved a Clean Air Act aiming to tackle the issue.

Thai Governments statistics show that in 2023, more than 10 million people in this country required medical treatment for diseases related to environmental pollution
Vinaconex ITC wants to transfer part of northern Vietnam urban-tourism project

By Vy Anh, Minh Hue Mon, March 18, 2024 | 9:59 am GMT+7

Vinaconex Investment and Tourism Development JSC (Vinaconex ITC) plans to sell part of its Cat Ba Amatina urban-tourism project on Cat Ba archipelago in Cat Hai district, Hai Phong city.

The plan was announced after Vinaconex ITC, a subsidiary of major developer Vinaconex, released its 2023 audited financial statement reporting a loss of more than VND286 billion ($11.57 million), its biggest loss since its inception in 2008.

An illustration of Cat Ba Amatina urban-tourism project on Cat Ba archipelago in Cat Hai district, Hai Phong city, northen Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Vinaconex ITC.

At the upcoming AGM, the company plans to seek shareholder approval for the transfer of part of the project to another developer. At the same time, it will continue to work with credit institutions and investors to increase capital for the project.

Vinaconex ITC attributed the big loss to a sudden increase in financial costs from VND690 million ($27,900) in 2022 to VND277.1 billion ($11.2 million) in 2023. In addition, its gross profit plunged nearly 80% year-on-year to VND5.61 billion ($226,900).

The corporation has completed procedures for a fire safety certificate and a technical infrastructure construction permit for the Cat Ba Amatina project.

The 172-hectare urban-tourism project has total investment capital of VND10.9 trillion ($440.86 million). Its two phases were scheduled for completion in 2023 and 2025. It is to include 1,300 villas, high-rise buildings, serviced apartments, resorts, hotels, commercial centers, recreational areas, and other facilities.

Vinaconex ITC is registered on the Unlisted Public Companies Market (UPCoM) as VCR, which closed the Friday trading session at VND23,200 ($0.94).
Vinh Phuc province has new Party chief following predecessor's arrest

By Trong Hieu, Minh Hue Mon, March 18, 2024 | 3:55 pm GMT+7

Duong Van An has been appointed the new Party chief of Vinh Phuc province after his predecessor was arrested pending investigations of corruption charges.

The erstwhile Party chief of Binh Thuan province was appointed to his new post on Monday by the Politburo, Vietnam's premier decision-making body.

An, 53, was born in Phu Ho commune, Phu Vang district, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue. He has a PhD in economics, a masters degree in political economy, and a bachelors in geographical sciences.

Duong Van An, new Secretary of the Party Committee of Vinh Phuc province, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the People's Commitee of Binh Thuan province.

An was previously (September 2009 to March 2014) Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union for its ninth and 10th tenures; and Standing Vice Chairman of the National Committee on Youth of Vietnam.

In March 2014, the Politburo appointed him deputy chief of the Party Committee of Binh Thuan province in south-central Vietnam.

At the 14th Party Congress of Binh Thuan, An was appointed chief of the provincial Party Committee.

He is currently a member of the 13th Party Central Committee and the 15th National Assembly.

His latest appointment follows the March 8, 2024 arrest of Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, until then chief of Vinh Phuc province's Party Committee, on charges of accepting bribes in a scandal linked to real estate firm Phuc Son Group.

Lan had held the top position in Vinh Phuc since February 2015. She was also chairwoman of the provinces People's Council.

Vinh Phuc province is an industrial hub in northern Vietnam which hosts multinationals like Toyota, Honda, Piaggio, De Heus, Sojitz, and Haesung.

The National Assemblys Standing Committee has suspended Lans membership to facilitate criminal investigations.
VN-Index plunges 20 points with over 1.7 bln in trading value

By Minh Hue Mon, March 18, 2024 | 5:16 pm GMT+7

The benchmark VN-Index, which represents the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), plummeted 20.22 points, or 1.6%, to 1,243.56 on Monday amid strong selling pressure.

Trading value on the major bourse surged by 57% to VND43.129 trillion ($1.74 billion), with up to 407 losers and 103 gainers.

The VN-Index drops 20.22 points to 1,243.56 on March 18, 2024. Photo by The Investor/Trong Hieu.

The VN-30 basket, comprising 30 largest capped stocks, saw 28 tickers falling. Of which, GVR of Vietnam Rubber Group slid 5.9%, BCM of Becamex Investment and Industrial Development 4.3%, and CTG of VietinBank 4.2%

Two blue-chips gained, namely VIC of private conglomerate Vingroup and VRE of its retail real estate arm Vincom Retail, up 3.8% and 6.99% respectively. VRE hit its ceiling price right after information about Vingroup's divestment from Vincom Retail was announced.

The real estate group was the silver lining on the gloomy picture of the bourse which saw many tickers hit their ceiling prices such as VRE, DIG of DIC Corp., DPG of Dat Phuong Group, TCH of Hoang Huy Investment Financial Services JSC, and QCG of Quoc Cuong Gia Lai Corp.

Foreign investors were net sellers on the HoSE to the tune of VND945 billion ($38.22 million). They mainly net sold FUEVFVND of exchange-traded fund DCVFMVN DIAMOND and DGC of chemical manufacturer Duc Giang Chemicals Group.

The HNX-Index, which tracks the performance of the Hanoi Stock Exchange and is home to mid and small caps, fell 1.19%, while the UPCoM-Index of the Unlisted Public Companies Market went down 1.1%.

According to Nguyen The Minh, chief analyst at Yuanta Vietnam Securities JSC, the Monday decline might come from many reasons like the upcoming derivatives maturity and the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting, which prompted investors to sell their shares for profits.
Student Success

Building a Culture of High Student Growth: One Cinderella District's Steps

From conferences to YouTube channels, educators know the value of studying exemplary teachers for success tips. But when it comes to studying successful schools, how do we choose who to follow? Do we compare test scores, college acceptance rates, socio-economic factors? Do we compare schools in rural Kansas versus Chicago's inner city? Do we compare the size of cafeterias or science labs?

It's like comparing apples and oranges, with a few guavas, carrots, and a tomato thrown in.

Simply evaluating school-to-school achievement rates will yield only part of the story, because those factors are often linked to life outside of school: at-home literacy, access to enrichment opportunities, families' economic status  in other words, things that aren't under a school's control.

But what if we looked at growth, rather than achievement?

Schiller Park, High Growth, and the Transformative Ten

NWEA researchers analyzed years of MAP Growth data, and they noticed that schools showing levels of high growth rather than high achievement  meaning students' test scores improved over time without necessarily meeting grade-level standards  were existing in non-homogeneous communities with a variety of income levels and demographics. In other words, they found the schools where the magic was inside, not circumstantial. Thus, the question became, "What can be learned from these high-growth schools?"

This shined a spotlight on one high-growth district: Schiller Park, just outside of O'Hare airport in Illinois. Schiller Park demonstrated continuous student growth across all measurable categories for six years. In the district, 55% of students in the district are non-white, 62% of students receive free or reduced-price lunches, 25% of students are identified as English language learners, and the district's per-pupil spending in 2021 was around $2,000 below the state average. It wasn't outside factors at work in Schiller Park's success  the district profile looks different than a prototypical high-achieving district. So, what was it, exactly?

Countless hours of classroom observation, interviews, and assessment data research revealed consistent instructional strategies that pushed students to make the academic gains we know all students are capable of. NWEA calls these the Transformative Ten:

Optimize Instructional Time Provide supplemental learning time for targeted retrieval practice

Mix whole-group, small-group, and individual activities

Adjust student groups in real time

Share students and strategies within a grade level Expose Students to More Content Differentiate tasks within a unit

Provide targeted practice for foundational skills

Teach from multiple standards at once Empower Students Create opportunities for self-directed learning

Use student discourse as formative assessment

Explicitly teach academic vocabulary

So, we have our answer to, "What instructional strategies help students grow?" But stopping there ignores the fullness of school-success replicability. Teachers at Schiller Park didn't all asynchronously, independently begin refining these strategies. They were a team, which means they huddled up. They had a captain and a plan.

Quality teaching blossoms from quality leadership.

Strong Leadership Arises from Urgent Needs

In a recent webinar with the Schiller Park leadership team, it was clear that their success stems from a rigorous commitment to their students. "This isn't an easy place to work. I ask a lot," Superintendent Dr. Kim Boryszewski (Dr. B) admitted.



As with all success stories, Schiller Park's steps arose by necessity. There was a need to bolster teacher-admin relationships. There was a need to support students from diverse, underprivileged backgrounds. There was a need for macro-level data to drive classroom decisions.



Just as the Transformative Ten emerged from teacher observation, so do what I'm dubbing the "Foundational Four." Here are four tenets observed from Schiller Park leadership to help others bottle their success.

1) Need to Reach Goals? Embrace Change, Starting at the Top

While change can be tricky, it's like a muscle: The more you use it, the less inflexible it becomes. At SD 81, change begins at the top, and it begins with goal setting. "And that starts at the board table, continues with me, and filters into our classrooms," Dr. B said.

Once goals are set, change inevitably follows. But change isn't always easy, and sometimes, pivoting is painful. Last year, winter test data didn't yield the results Schiller Park had hoped. Dr. B made the unpopular decision to retest in March before Spring Break. Test scores rose after the changes, and ultimately, a moment of discomfort brought teachers and students closer to their mutual goals.

Most essentially, SD 81's board remembers their educator roots, which ensures their ability to listen to teachers' needs. "We're teachers first," said Dr. B. Board members know the education landscape, and they remember that agile change  and a few extra subs for PD days  is what will bring results.

"Sometimes change is difficult, and it takes endurance to maintain momentum, but I can attest to this: you are what you talk about. And around here, we talk about kids, we talk about instructional practice, and we talk about data, often."  Superintendent Dr. Kim Boryszewski

2) Need Teacher Buy-In? Emphasize the Human Connection

Safety is a baseline need for change, and SD 81 is committed to empowering teachers to take risks. Teacher motivation is rarely the barrier, but rather fatigue, isolation, and feeling confused about the collective direction. Schiller Park addressed these with three core values when it comes to human connection:

A commitment to vulnerability. The relationship between teacher and administrator has traditionally felt unsafe and full of judgment. Teachers worry their data won't measure up. But when administrators prioritize human-centric interactions, they become vulnerable, too.
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ERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M.  A Marion man accused in the shooting death of a New Mexico State Police officer and driving the car of a missing Marion woman found dead in Lake View was arrested Sunday morning during a foot pursuit with Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office deputies.

Jaremy Smith, 32, of Marion was taken into custody after Bernalillo County deputies shot him during a foot pursuit.

Sheriff John Allen said deputies responded to reports from a gas station clerk in Albuquerque, describing a person that matched Smiths description. Deputies located Smith walking and immediately established a perimeter, he said. A foot pursuit ensued and shots were fired with some shots striking Smith.

Arrest warrants were issued for Smith in connection to the murder of New Mexico State Police officer Justin Hare Friday morning.

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler said around 5 a.m. Friday, Officer Hare was dispatched to help a motorist with a flat tire on I-40 near mile marker 320, west of Tucumcari. Officer Hare parked behind the vehicle. Smith then approached the officers passenger side window.

Officer Hare offered to give the suspect a ride to 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, Weisler said.

Smith is also wanted in connection to the death of Florence County Paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore, 52, 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 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. New Mexico State Police identified Smith as the driver of Machado-Fores car.

Yesterday we said that we would bring Jaremy Smith to justice, Weisler said. There was nowhere that he could run and there was nowhere he could hide.

Smith said thanks to the community and fellow law enforcement partners they were able to do that.
(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.
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You could drive right on past the site of the Battle of Powder River and not even know it.

It was 148 years ago, on March 17, 1876, that members Northern Cheyenne tribe, along with a handful of Oglala Lakota, clashed with United States cavalrymen along the banks of the Powder River, about 35 miles southwest of Broadus.

Today the spot feels nearly anonymous, a cow pasture in a sea of cow pastures. But its achingly beautiful, the type of lonely desolateness you can only find in the American West. The namesake Powder River burbles and meanders through the battlefield site, and wide plains rise from the river banks. Those prairies are open and enticing. It feels like the adjacent hillsides even want in on the action, as they slowly erode  revealing layers of brightly colored sediments  back into the valley below.

The battlefield is accessible via Montana Secondary Highway 391, a glorified name for a dirt road. Its a good dirt road, made of the dark red clay thats so prominent down in southeastern Montana. But its a dirt road. You connect with the road in Broadus, where street signs call it Moorehead Road, named after the unincorporated community a few miles south of the battlefield.

Last Wednesday afternoon, a cadre of Northern Cheyenne tribal members visited the battlefield. Tribal Vice President Ernest Littlemouth, Sr., Executive Assistant to the Vice President Eugene Little Coyote and Chairman of the Northern Cheyenne Culture Commission Vincent Whitecrane made the long trek from Lame Deer to the battle site. They were joined by Sharon Small, the museum curator at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

No one in the group, comprised of people who have myriad ties to this battle, had ever been here before. They wanted to come out here because of how important this place is, not only to the Northern Cheyenne, but to American history. Without this battle, its possible that the history of the West unfolds in a very different way.

This battle is not well known, said Little Coyote. But it should be.

To learn it, stop by the Powder River Historical Museum in Broadus. Its closed during the winters, but call and theyll usually let you in. In the back, in a room that also holds a collection of 20,000 seashells (the museum swears its the biggest west of the Mississippi River), theyve got a display on the battle. There are newspaper clippings and other things to read for context, but the real showstopper is the artifacts gathered from the battlefield. Theres a fist-sized revolver cylinder and a belt buckle and other items that belonged to Private Lorenzo E. Ayers, who died in the battle.

Heres the short version: In 1874, an expedition led by Colonel George Custer found gold in the Black Hills. Thousands of white people started pouring into the area, living in frontier netherworlds like Deadwood and Hill City. But the Black Hills, which have been sacred to the Lakota, Cheyenne and other tribes since well before Europeans showed up on this continent, were not open for the taking. Per the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty, they were part of the Great Sioux Reservation. From the moment gold was found, violence was seemingly inevitable. In a way, Custer signed his own death warrant when he set out from Fort Abraham Lincoln.

The fight over the Black Hills simmered for a few years, and when groups of Lakota and Cheyenne refused to negotiate a sale of the lands, they were ordered back to their reservations by Jan. 31, 1876. When that deadline passed, General George Crook, along with over 800 soldiers, set out from Wyoming to force the tribes back.

The Big Horn Expedition, as it was called, was searching for Lakota leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. Instead, after a bitterly cold march through blizzards that literally froze the armys thermometers, they found a group of Northern Cheyenne in winter camp along the Powder River.

The battle, which began on the morning of March 17, was a disaster from the beginning. Crook split his men, sending Colonel Joseph Jones Reynolds to attack the village with around 300 men. Echoing mistakes Custer would make later that summer, Reynolds didnt properly scout before advancing. His attack plan failed spectacularly when his men got bogged down in difficult terrain. The Cheyenne were able to mount a defense and eventually escape.

Reynolds was able to capture most of the Native Americans horses, and ordered their camp destroyed, along with all the food and supplies in it. By the time it was all over, three Native Americans had been killed, along with four cavalry men.

Except it wasnt really over. For one, several Cheyenne warriors snuck back the next morning and recaptured over half of their horses. And for failing to properly deploy his men, burning all the supplies that could have been useful to the starving, freezing cavalrymen, and allowing the horses to be recaptured, Reynolds was court-martialed and stripped of his command.

But The Battle of Powder River echoes through history not because of what happened during the fighting, but what happened after. The Cheyenne, left destitute after Reynolds destroyed everything they owned, were taken in by Crazy Horses Oglala Lakota village. That group then joined a Hunkpapa Lakota band led by Sitting Bull.

Now together and united against the encroachment of the United States, the Cheyenne and Lakota became the massive village that repelled Crooks forces at the Battle of the Rosebud, and which Custer tried  and failed  to attack at Little Bighorn later that summer. The Battle of Powder River started the Great Sioux War of 1876. The seeds of the destruction of the 7th Cavalry  one of the most mythic events in American history  were first planted at Powder River.

Yet, most people, even around Montana, havent heard of it. Even fewer have been to the site.

Maybe its the low causality rate thats allowed this fight to slip through the historical cracks. Or maybe its just the remoteness  you barely have to exit the highway to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield.

But thats actually the exact thing that makes the Powder River Battlefield worth the trip. You can drive for miles and miles after leaving the highway, and never see another car. Even the homesteads out here are spaced so far apart youll feel like youre the last person on Earth. When youre at the battle site, theres no noise, nothing but the river and the cattle.

The battlefield is on private land, but there are two memorials on either side of the dirt road. One, a pyramid made of stones and built atop sandstone boulders, commemorates the four cavalrymen who died in the battle. Their headstones, which werent placed on the site until 1934, are embedded into each side of the pyramid.

Across the road, theres a Northern Cheyenne memorial, which features the tribes flag painted onto a large sandstone boulder. The only interpretive work at the site is a laminated copy of Lorna Thackerays Billings Gazette article Prelude to Little Bighorn.

Little Coyote, who is a former Northern Cheyenne Tribal President, has another theory on why the battle is so little known.

Our culture, our history, our identity were actively discouraged for generations of boarding school, he said. We dont know about these things, but were trying to rediscover them. For a long time, it wasnt a very nice thing to be tribal and take pride in your history.

Now he envisions a future where Indigenous people struggling with addiction and other issues could come to places like this and reconnect with their own history. This is one of those places where history isnt an abstract idea. Its baked into the land around you, the very dirt you stand on. Its unavoidable.

The attention is really focused on the Little Bighorn, Little Coyote noted, overlooking the battlefield. Within the last 20 years, weve started paying attention to the Battle of the Rosebud. And now as we rediscover our own history, which has been actively discouraged, you find out what a special place this is.
SHERIDAN  Lawmakers spent weeks during the 2024 Budget Session filtering through over a dozen property tax relief bills that would apply to homeowners, but only one bill would have offered rental relief.

That bill, House Bill 146  Property tax relief program-rental property applicants  failed to receive the two-thirds vote it needed to be introduced during the budget session on Feb. 13.

The rental voice overall is a bit overlooked, I think, in the housing conversation, Christopher Volzke, deputy executive director of the Wyoming Community Development Authority, told The Sheridan Press.

Even when Wyomingites think of the WCDA, most people think of its first-time homebuyer program, not renter assistance.

I run into people on a regular basis that have no idea we have an entire division of our authority using federal dollars to build long term, affordable rentals, Volzke said.

Renters in Sheridan over the last decade

Based on data from the latest available American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, homeownership decreased between 2010 and 2021 in Sheridan County. The median income for a property owner in Sheridan County was $81,500, but the median renter in Sheridan County made $35,600 a year, according to the same report.

There is a big disparity there, Volzke said, noting property owners in Sheridan County saw an increase of 41% in their median income from 2010-2021. Renters in the same period of time saw an increase of only 13%. The countys homeowner population dipped by one percentage point from 70% to 69%, meaning over 30% of residents in Sheridan County rent their home.

That is a big part of the base population, and they have a voice in this too, Volzke said.

Statewide, 38% of renters are cost burdened.

Cost burdened is a term used nationwide by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that means a person spends over 30% of his/her gross income on housing, whether that person is a homeowner or renter. In Sheridan County, 42% of the population is cost-burdened.

The real-world impact, when youre saying cost-burdened, is that youre really saying renters spend almost half their take-home pay on just their rent, Volzke said. You have income that has only increased on your renter base by 13%, and then we are confused why they are cost--burdened  At the same time, your rental costs went up 30%.

Inventory, inventory, inventory

Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, who was a co-sponsor on HB 146, said rental assistance must be structured in a completely different way than property tax relief. He said the topic did not get much attention during the session.

There is not a lot of relief for people who rent, which is a concern, Zwonitzer said.

This fall, voters may see a ballot initiative proposing a constitutional amendment to divide property tax categories, which could have an impact on commercial, residential and other structures, he said, but lawmakers must wait for voters on that issue. The Revenue Committee may take up additional discussion of a sales tax increase and property tax decrease, but Zwonitzer said that could further exacerbate rental issues.

Your renting population would pay a little more in sales tax, and not get the benefits of the property tax deduction, he said.

The goal, he said, is to get renters into first-time homes.

We dont want to be too involved in the private market, but if there is a way to incentivize people to buy homes, that is ultimately good for Wyoming, to be a Wyoming resident with roots and stability, Zwonitzer said. We just dont have the number of houses. That is half the problem.

When it comes to closing the gap between rental income and housing cost inconsistencies, Volzke said much of the issue is supply and demand.

I think it comes down to inventory, inventory, inventory. We, over the last decade or so, haven't built enough inventory with changing demographics and changing population, he said.

People think of housing in a vacuum, but it does not exist that way, he said.

Housing impacts our economic viability. So, think about the jobs and employment that is coming into your community. Do you have housing for those people? If you dont, that puts more pressure on the community, Volske said.

The WCDA receives no state funding and is an agency authorized to issue bonds for first time home-buying programs. Because there is no state-specific income to address attainable housing for fixed income or low-to-moderate Wyomingites, the WCDA relies on federal programs like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; HUDs HOME Investment Partnerships Program; and the National Housing Trust Fund, which focuses on the building, rehabilitating, preserving and operating rental housing for extremely low-income people.

Those are the three primary conduits we use to assist in the rehabilitation of housing for those that need it the most, Volske said. But the federal dollars that I get are expended every year, and they are a finite amount we get through a federal calculation.

Wyoming communities have not been able to build rental facilities at a pace that keeps up with demand, and Volzke said there must be a way to incentivize inventory beyond the federal dollars.

Theres nothing we have statewide, so youre relying on people to take market risk, go build more housing even if it is rentals, and there is no subsidy, no incentive, nothing for them to go out and do that, he said.

Some claim owners who receive benefits from the newly-created property tax breaks may pass that savings on to renters.

There is an argument that maybe the people that own rentals are then passing that down, and the rent may be cheaper because they have less of a burden on them for property tax, Volzke said. I get that, but it is hard to quantify how much that helps.

Corrine Livers, with the Department of Family Services, helped to administer the COVID-era Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which has run its course and closed last summer.

We are back to where we were pre-COVID, so if people have rental needs, they have to go to their local resources, your community action programs, Livers said. There is not anything statewide like ERAP was, where we get federal funding that supports only renting.

While DFS may not be able to help with rent, Livers said there are other programs to alleviate disposable income issues like the states Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; a cash assistance program designed to help families with children become self-sufficient through intensive case management services called POWER; and the Wyoming Low Income Energy Assistance Program, which has closed for this year.

Those programs are based on federal poverty level income guidelines.

Theyre something to help families when they need it, Livers said. I think that we all should support that, to help people be safe and stay in their homes.
As we gaveled a close to the 67th Budget Session in the Wyoming Senate and House. It was a tumultuous budget year. Yet, despite political differences and policy disagreements, the Legislature passed a conservative, balanced budget that addresses our states needs and invests in the future.

Those investments include funding for nursing homes, preschool for developmentally disabled children, and home services for senior centers. The budget supports mental health efforts and funds energy projects. Additionally, and importantly, the final budget restored more than $300 million for the construction of K-12 schools. All of this was achieved with a general fund budget that is $200 million lower than the budget proposed by the governor or introduced by the Joint Appropriations Committee. We are proud of the work that was accomplished and commend our fellow citizen legislators for a job well done.

Heading into the session, addressing runaway property taxes was our top priority. It remained so until the end. We are pleased to report that the Legislature passed the largest property tax reform package in the history of our state.

This package is made up of three pieces of legislationSenate File 54, House Bill 45, and House Bill 4which together provide a three-pronged approach to alleviate the increases residents have suffered over the past several years and provide protections against continued growth.

Senate File 54 provides a twenty-five percent exemption on the first two million dollars of the fair market value of a single-family residential structure for all Wyoming homeowners. At the same time, it offers a backfill to towns and counties to avoid cuts to critical services and programs and includes a two-year sunset clause to adjust for any unforeseen impacts. Another exemption bill, House Bill 3 provides a 50 percent exemption for those sixty-five years of age or older, who have paid residential property tax in Wyoming for twenty-five years or more on any residential property and that the property is the persons primary residence. Homeowners are eligible for one of these two exemptions.

House Bill 45 provides long-term protection, capping annual increases at four percent. This will prevent residents from getting slapped with massive, unforeseen tax hikes, which have become routine in many parts of the state and allow them to plan their finances from year to year. The percentage is a compromise between the House and Senate bills and was decided on after careful consultation with town and county representatives.

Finally, House Bill 4 provides additional access to existing relief funds for lower income residents. This bill adjusts the threshold to apply for local property tax relieffunds that have already been approved and budgeted by the Legislaturefrom 125 percent of the local gross median income to 165 percent. This will ensure retirees, lower-income earners, and other at-risk families are not taxed out of their homes.

These bills have been years in the making. The committee chairs and members that spent countless hours writing and rewriting legislation, consulting with stakeholders, and building consensus deserve full creditas do all the members of both chambers who voted in support. These bills show what the Legislature can do when it works together to tackle a challenge, and they promise to help resolve the single biggest issue residents are grappling with.

As the presiding officers of the House and Senate, property tax reform has been our number one non-budgetary focus. This work required a balanced approach, ensuring Wyoming people received the relief they need and want without compromising the operations of towns, counties and schools. After all, property tax revenue supports crucial services such as the work of snowplow drivers, teachers and law enforcement.

These property tax reform bills will provide real, comprehensive relief that residents can take to the bank. And they are part of a budget that will set our state on a path of continued growth and practical investment for years to come. In fact, the final budget approved by the House and Senate, along with current statute, puts over $800 million into long-term savings over the next biennium, and prudently funds our schools, infrastructure, and life-saving programs.

We are proud of the work the Legislature accomplished this year, and we stand firmly behind it. It was not easy, but this body demonstrated that even when we dont see eye-to-eye, it can still do whats right for our state and the people who call it home. It has been the honor of a lifetime serving as the President of the Wyoming Senate and the Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representativesand we thank you, the public, and each of our colleagues for the privilege and responsibility.
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.
For decades, locals have flocked to a certain shop in central Tucson in hopes of finding a hidden gem among the many clothing racks and shelves.

Little did shoppers know that as they flipped through the racks and shelves in search of the perfect vintage shirt, shoes they didnt know they needed and fabulous accessories to complete their outfits, they were helping this second-hand clothing shop become a Tucson staple.

Now, a lil local shop you may know as Buffalo Exchange is celebrating 50 years of keeping Tucson sustainably stylish.

There's that thrill of the hunt when you find something that is really unique and one of a kind and is such an amazing deal, said Jessica Pruitt, Buffalo Exchanges associate marketing manager. You just don't get that anywhere else, right? And beyond that, it's a place where we really embrace individuality. And that goes for our staff, but also our customers as they have the chance to discover their own unique sense of style.

In honor of its 50th anniversary, Buffalo Exchange is hosting a special pop-up shop starting at 11 a.m. March 16-17, at their Tucson location at 2001 E. Speedway.

The pop-up features a raffle, photo booth, special gifts with purchases and an appearance from Buffalo Exchanges retro Airstream trailer filled with one-of-a-kind finds including vintage, designer and trendy pieces. Plus, exclusive 50th-anniversary merchandise will be available for purchase at the event.

We've been saving special inventory for that (event), so it's kind of the best of Buffalo inventory, Pruitt said.

But dont expect to find many fast-fashion brands at the event or in Buffalo Exchange stores in general. The stores, which are now in dozens of cities throughout the nation, focus on giving high-quality and one-of-a-kind fashion pieces a second chance at life.

We want a business that benefits everybody, like the community and the environment and the customers, and, honestly, to keep clothing out of landfills and to provide really cute clothing at a great price and to just treat people well, Pruitt said. Those are some of our core principles from the start that have kept us going all these 50 years.

50 years of Tucson roots and sustainable fashion 

When Kerstin Block and her husband Spencer opened Buffalo Exchange, formerly called The Buffalo Exchange, at 1072 N. Warren Ave. in 1974, they brought a whole new sales model to second-hand stores.

Although resale and second-hand shopping wasnt as popular in the 1970s as it is today, the Blocks gave the buy, sell, trade sales model a shot in hopes of creating a sustainable fashion community in Tucson, where locals could get a good deal on quality pieces.

I think Buffalo was one of the first companies really to use that model  the buy, sell, trade model  and that has been instrumental in helping to change that landscape and make second-hand shopping actually be considered chic and fashionable and fun, Pruitt said.

The shop and its unique model became a hit in the community.

In 1974, the Arizona Daily Star reported that Buffalo Exchange was a fascinating new shop and a fun place to visit.

By the late 1970s, the Buffalo herd began to head north and west as the Blocks opened new locations in cities outside of Tucson. Today, Buffalo Exchange has over 40 locations in 15 states, but its headquarters remain right here in Tucson.

Aside from its distinctive resale model, another major pillar of Buffalo Exchanges mission is giving back through its many community-centered initiatives that have donated over $2.2 million to thousands of local nonprofits, environmental and animal causes, artists and our local communities, Buffalo Exchange wrote in their 50th-anniversary zine. (You can pick up a free copy of the zine in stores!)

One of their more popular initiatives includes the Tokens For Bags program, where customers place a 5-cent charity token inside a bin to go toward their favorite local nonprofit instead of taking a plastic bag.

Since starting this program in 1994, weve raised over $926,025 for thousands of organizations and kept over 18.5 million plastic bags out of the environment, they said in their zine.

Staying environmentally-friendly has been a key part of Buffalo Exchanges mission since the very beginning.

On average, Buffalo Exchange takes in 5 million pieces of clothing each year, according to Pruitt, who estimates they have taken in over 100 million pieces of clothing over the last 50 years.

One person who has seen numerous pieces of clothing go through Buffalo Exchanges doors through the years is current CEO Rebecca Block, who is the daughter of founder Kerstin Block.

When my parents opened in 1974, I was still a kid and I ended up doing whatever jobs had to be done in the store, Rebecca Block said. And then I worked a lot full-time during high school and college, especially over the summers.

Rebecca Block says out of the all memories of growing up in Tucson's Buffalo Exchange, the everyday routine of working in the store with her parents sticks with her the most.

My parents would drop us off at school and they would go to work, then we would come after school and then all go home together and that was our life for a really long time, she said.

Now, as CEO of the company, Rebecca Block wants to carry on the mission that her parents created 50 years ago  here in Tucson and beyond, as they continue to grow across the U.S.

I think we've really tried to maintain a level of integrity with the customer base with what we buy. Someone told me once Well, if I want something fashionable, I'll go to Buffalo Exchange. If I just want something to paint in, I'll just go to Savers, she said. I think we're known for being fashionable and staying with trends, but also having a lot of great basics for folks. And (known) for people to have a place to come that's comfortable for them and how they want to dress.

We don't pass judgment. We're just here to help you find something that you might love.

For more information about Buffalo Exchanges 50th anniversary, check out their website.
Iskashitaa Refugee Network has announced the third year of its Jim and Robbie Dick Memorial Social Justice Scholarship.

The scholarship awards $5,000 to one Tucson area high school senior each spring who has been an active volunteer and shows the values of equity, peace, social justice, human rights and cultural understanding.

Candidates must be going on to a university, community college or trade school. Award money may be applied to tuition, room and board or other costs at a post-secondary institution through their financial department.

The deadline for a completed application is April 1. The recipient will be notified by May 1.

Email questions to IskashitaaScholarship@gmail.com with the subject line: Scholarship Review Panel. Go to https://www.iskashitaa.org/scholarships to apply.

Speakers, exhibitors sought for summit

The Pima County School Superintendents Office has announced the return of the Celebrating Resilience Summit.

The summit, Building Resilience Through Connection, will be held on Sept. 5 and 6. It will feature local, national and international speakers bringing research and approaches to growing the resilience in educational communities.

The summit is seeking breakout speakers and exhibitors for this event. Go to the Pima County School Superintendents Office website, https://www.schools.pima.gov/, to find Find breakout session proposal and exhibitor registration information. Proposals are due by April 15.

Arizona Autism Charter Schools award finalist

Arizona Autism Charter Schools, which has a campus for grades 6-12 in Tucson, is a finalist for the third annual Building Hope IMPACT Awards by Building Hope, a charter school facilities, financing, and services nonprofit.

Finalists were selected for their impact on community engagement, educational innovation, student empowerment, and for being model charter schools. Twelve grants will ultimately be awarded: one $20,000 grant and two $10,000 grants in each of the four categories.

The 2024 finalists represent 10 different states and U.S. territories and also include seven previous semifinalists.

Go to www.buildinghope.org/impact/awards for more information.

Tucson Values Teachers seeks video nominations

For Teacher Appreciation Week 2024  running from May 6-10  Tucson Values Teachers will be surprising five PreK-12 Southern Arizona teachers with the award based on video nominations submitted by students.

Nominations close on April 15.

TVT is asking students to submit a video nomination explaining why their teacher deserves to be recognized with the award . Students can submit a nomination individually or work together and submit as a group. Parents, administrators, and other adults may help students.

All PreK-12 Southern Arizona teachers in Pima, Cochise, and Santa Cruz counties are eligible . Five teachers will be selected for the award and will receive $250 cash from Tucson Values Teachers, a $100 gift card to Jonathans Educational Resources, and flowers.

To submit a nomination, students will need to:

Create a video explaining why their teacher should be honored with a Teacher Excellence Award. Videos must be no longer than 60 seconds and available in MP4 or MOV formats. Fill out a brief nomination form that includes the video file or a link to download the video.

Go to www.tucsonvaluesteachers.org for more information.
The very wet and extended winter is going to cause fire havoc in much of Arizonas grasslands, the states chief fire management officer said Monday.

This year were talking about a heavy vegetation growth and a fire potential of being higher than normal across parts of Arizona, said John Truett.

That specifically means not so much the forests of northern Arizona but areas south of the Mogollon Rim, he said. The area considered most at risk extends from the Tonto National Forest and across the Sonoran landscape, down into the Catalinas and into Cochise County.

All that is due to the grasses and brush that have sprouted in abundance because of the winter rains.

The potential exists for quick ignitions and rapid-moving wildland fires within these areas of heavy fuels, where wind and terrain can influence explosive fire behavior, making it challenging for firefighters to contain, Truett explained.

But he said that doesnt mean the northern Arizona high country is necessarily safe this year. Fire behavior may be delayed just due to the existing snowpack and the later moisture that we are receiving this spring, Truett said.

The different conditions and fire dangers in each area will require residents to take specific actions, said Aaron Kasem, the states fire prevention officer.

Start with your home and property, he said. Look for those vulnerable areas where seasonal maintenance can come into play as far as creating defensible space, which he defines as 100 feet from property.

Maintenance can be as simple as making sure the lawn is irrigated and mowed, and that bushes and trees are trimmed.

But thats not all. Kasem said homeowners should look for other combustible items within that zone.

That can be excess building materials, he said. That could be liquids from doing vehicle maintenance, all of those things what we call receptive fuel beds where embers can land and ignite a home. Start with the home and work your way out from there.

That kind of effort is the low-hanging fruit of what is the easiest for people to do.

But Kasem said residents also need to be aware that fires do happen and they need to be ready to go.

Preparing a go bag, he said, that has everything from personal medications to charging cables for phones and batteries, little things that we often forget that we need, that in time of crisis, we dont want to be scrambling for.

Then there are important documents.

Finally, Kasem said, plan ahead for more immediate needs like sufficient food and water for up to 72 hours.

We want to make sure youre prepared for the long haul, he said.

None of this should be delayed until the last minute, Kasem said.

Do not wait to the day that you see smoke in the air to gather those things and prepare, because its not going to be the easiest transition for you to leave, he said.

Kasem said families also should have a rallying point away from the area, where family members know they can meet.

Gov. Katie Hobbs issued a reminder that target shooting and fireworks, both potential causes of wildland fires, are not allowed on state trust lands.
PHOENIX  Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed the Starter Homes Act Monday, saying the bipartisan bill promoted as making housing more affordable is a step too far.

This is unprecedented legislation that would put Arizonans at the center of a housing reform experiment with unclear outcomes, Hobbs said in her veto of House Bill 2570. It lacks the nuance necessary for statewide reform.

The legislation would have overridden various local planning and zoning regulations. It also would have allowed much smaller lot sizes in residential areas  as small as 1,500 square feet  and precluded communities from establishing minimum square footage for single-family homes.

Homes could have been as close as 10 feet from the property line in front and back and 5 feet on either side. And cities could not have imposed any design, architectural or aesthetic elements on single-family homes other than those in historic districts.

All those, the Democratic governor said, are issues that should be decided at a local level.

The veto drew a stringing reaction from Rep. Analise Ortiz, a Phoenix Democrat who said the legislation would have created a pathway to the American dream of home ownership that too many Americans find themselves locked out of. Ortiz said this is personal for her.

People like me, my generation, are tired of being told we need to be forever renters, she said. We deserve that same shot at the American dream.

Hobbs insisted this isnt the end of efforts to promote more affordable housing.

I am supportive of ongoing efforts in the legislature to reach a more balanced solution on other reforms that are still moving through the process, she said.

One of those would require cities of more than 150,000 to allow residential or mixed-use development on a portion of lands currently zoned for commercial, office, retail or parking use.

Another would require cities to permit homeowners to construct accessory dwelling units on their properties that presumably could provide housing not only for relatives but also serve as rental units.

That idea is not new, with places like Tucson and Phoenix already allowing casitas. Controversy could come over how many of these units would be allowed on any given property, however.

And the governor said she is open to discussing what she called missing middle housing options that would allow duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and fiveplexes on land zoned for residential zoning, as well as townhomes.

Hobbs also said she is willing to support measures that would ease the regulatory burden on developers, shortening the amount of time between a proposal and final city approval that would allow construction to start.

But the measure she vetoed is not a solution, she said.

Ortiz said those other still-pending measures are not an excuse for vetoing this bill, which was popular among half of the legislative members of the governors own Democratic Party.

The Starter Homes Act was the only one that dealt exclusively with home ownership, Ortiz said.

In her veto message, Hobbs specifically cited opposition from mayors and city officials across the state. She said they raised issues ranging from infrastructure and land use planning to the fact that nothing in HB 2570 guaranteed that developers would build more affordable homes.

Encroachment on military bases

She also cited concerns from the Department of Defense that the legislation would permit high-density housing near military bases.

Issues of encroachment are real. Arizona was hit in the early 1990s with the closure of Williams Air Force Base in the East Valley section of Maricopa County. There has been a threat to Luke Air Force Base west of Glendale where homes continue to pop up, though the base has not only managed to avoid being shuttered but was selected as an F-35 training site.

There have been similar concerns that construction around Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson could put the bases future in jeopardy, although the Air Force formally chose D-M last year to host a new Special Operations Command Wing.

House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci, the sponsor of HB 2570, pointed out that no one raised those issues during months of negotiations and committee hearings.

Where was this in January? the Lake Havasu City Republican asked. Its something that could have been fixed if it needed to be fixed.

That relates to a different frustration of many lawmakers: The absence of Hobbs while they worked with developers, city officials and others to try to figure something out.

The governor acknowledged Monday that she preferred to sit aside and let others figure out a solution.

From Day One, what Ive said is I want to see a negotiated solution on my desk, she said. And this bill is not that.

Going forward? I think Ive made clear what I want to see, Hobbs said. I need to see something that strikes the right balance, where the parties come to the best solution together.

Hobbs leaves negotiations to others

More to the point, Hobbs said efforts to do that dont involve her.

I dont necessarily think that it needs my involvement, she said. Theyre the ones most closely involved in this issue.

Biasiucci called that concerning.

This has to be on everybodys radar, including hers, her staff, that people are struggling to own homes, theyre struggling to get into starter homes, he said.

I know theyre busy and I know they have a lot of things going on, Biasiucci said. But, I think at the end of the day, look, this is something that every Arizona citizen is asking for, how do we stop paying high rent?

He pointed out that things have gotten so bad in Sedona that the city council there approved a program to provide a safe place to park for workers in the city who are living in their cars.

That is absolutely embarrassing that we are at that point, Biasiucci said. This should not be the Arizona we live in.

The Sedona issue, however, is related at least in part to the fact that about 17% of housing stock in that tourist community is being used for short-term rentals. And so far state lawmakers have refused to give cities the right to limit the amount of housing that can be rented out though operations like AirBNB.

Hobbs did get praise for her veto  from Phoenix Republican Rep. Matt Gress.

This legislation would eviscerate the local jurisdictions ability to define what their communities look like, he said.

Gress said cities have made progress in making housing more available.

Over the last five years, Arizona has ranked the top nationally of the total residential completions each year according to the U.S. Census data, he said.

He said 28 of the states 91 cities have adopted policies to promote urban infill, 19 have reduced setback requirements and 22 have reduced lot sizes for single-family homes. Gress also said Arizona has the third-smallest average lot size in the country.

Ortiz remained unsatisfied.

Status quo is clearly not working, she said. And believing that things will change without policies like the Starter Homes Act is, at best, wishful thinking.

Hobbs, in her veto message, appeared to acknowledge at least part of what Ortiz is saying.

Our constituents want us to take action to make housing more affordable for hard-working Arizonans, because the status quo is not acceptable, the governor said.

But Ortiz said the veto means Arizona continues to kick the can down the road.
A 34-year-old man was killed in a crash Saturday when the scooter he was riding collided with a car turning onto the freeway frontage road from West St. Mary's Road, Tucson police say.

Carlos Jason Lopez was riding a 2022 Genuine Scooter motorcycle west on St. Mary's about 12:15 p.m. when he collided with a car that turned left in front of him, police said in a news release.

Lopez had the green light when the driver of a 2024 Hyundai Tucson turned in front of him onto the northbound Interstate-10 frontage road. Lopez died at the hospital.

Lopez was wearing his helmet, but did not have a valid driver's license or motorcycle endorsement at the time of the crash, the release said.

The Hyundai driver, Daniela Marquez-Batista, 33, was cited on suspicion of causing death by moving violation and released, the release said.

The investigation continues.
Take it from one who knows, one who lives in the Holy Land, and one who is a credible witness to what is going on between the Israeli government and the Palestinian people namely Elias Chacour, the retired Archbishop of Galilee.

In a recent interview, Rev. Chacour stated that what Israel has done in Gaza is an atrocity, reducing the people to refugees, and wanting to finish with the existence of the Palestinians.

Our American foreign policy towards Israel is contradictory. We ask that Israel be civil towards the Palestinian people, yet we provide that government with arms to decimate them. Yes, we do speak with forked tongue.

The churches supporting Israel are supporting an apartheid regime. While the evangelicals wait for the Jews to convert at the end of time, these so called Christians are participating, by their support of Israel, in the genocide of a people.

Fred Abood, past president of the Phoenix chapter of the American-Arab Anti -Discrimination Committee

Green Valley
BasketCats

Dear NCAA,

Please bracket a potential rematch in your tournament between Arizona versus Purdon't.

BEAR DOWN!!

Thomas Finley

Northwest side

Disgusting display

In his recent speech in Nashville at the National Religious Broadcasters Conference, Trump went all out pandering to evangelicals, promising to "protect God in the public square" and vowing to bring back Christianity to this country. It's not enough for someone to have their own religion, it needs to be imposed on each and every citizen! The crowd stood in recognition of the Jan. 6 "hostages" after Trump called them "persecuted Christians." So if you are a violent criminal insurrectionist, you are a patriotic, persecuted Christian! According to Trump, "no one will be touching the cross of Christ" under his administration if elected again. Referencing his multiple criminal indictments, he told the crowd "I take all these arrows for you," "I'm being indicted for you"  with outstretched arms mimicking crucifixion. Such theatrics! Donald Trump  adulterer, woman assaulter, multiple criminal charges, contractor-stiffing, serial lying bully who supports Putin, wants to destroy NATO and aspires to be a dictator  such a Godly man! Rationality does not exist for his supporters.

Deb Klumpp

Oro Valley

DEI ban at universities

Regarding the ban of DEI at universities, Karma Chavez, professor of Mexican/American and Latino/a studies at the University of Texas bemoans "To know your speech is monitored and basically censored if you do the kind of work I do, that's a strange feeling."

Well, Karma, welcome to the world of conservative professors who, for years, have been looking over their shoulders, fearful of saying the politically incorrect thing lest they lose their jobs.

Deedee Bruster

SaddleBrooke

Not too late

Activism is the rent I pay to live on this planet. (Alice Walker)

Tom Suozzi, a Democrat, who flipped the George Santos seat in NYC credited the win to its active citizenry. So too, with Wisconsins new redistricted map which now more accurately reflects its population, and I like to think we in Arizona helped make that happen. We sent tons of postcards encouraging Wisconsinites to vote.

Many Arizona retirees with fat 401ks, the beneficiaries of the WWII post-economic boom, are sitting on the sidelines. They talk politics; they know fascism is at our doorstep, but by God, dont ask them to participate to help save democracy; they havent or wont, perhaps because they think they have enough money to protect themselves, their children and grandchildren, so even if it comes it wont affect them.

Havent we seen this movie before?

Time is running out. We know activism promotes democracy; silence impedes it.

Brenda Wexler

Midtown

Stop Cop City

Re: the Feb. 27 article "Vandalism spree politically motivated, Tucson police say."

Recently, there was a protest against police here in Tucson by Stop Cop City, out of Atlanta. Why Tucson? It turns out Tucson was the host for a summit. After the summit, 100 protesters wearing masks firebombed, destroyed and defaced Tucson businesses. ARS 13-701 section 26 states that those who wear a mask or other disguise to obscure their identity during a felony are subject to sentence enhancements. The blatant terrorist tactics are dangerous and wrong. Georgias Attorney General said, We will not waiver when it comes to keeping people safe, enforcing the rule of law, and ensuring those who engage in criminal activity are vigorously pursued and aggressively prosecuted. It is not about silencing the voice of civil protest it is about holding those responsible who break the law. The community appreciates the Tucson Police Department for their quick action. I hope Ms. Conover will not waive these crimes to misdemeanors but instead prosecute these felony offenders. So far, her silence has been deafening. Its worrisome.

Richard Harper

Northeast side

We all need a good laugh!

Re: the Feb. 29 article "Illegal border-crossers bill rushed to governor."

We all need a good belly laugh in this political climate. I enjoyed one this morning (Feb. 29) as I read this Star article. In the piece, Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma says he used an unusual procedure to rush through SB1231 to allow state and local police to arrest people who crossed the border illegally. The sooner we pass SB 1231, the sooner the state can protect its citizens from the crisis caused by the Democrats willful refusal to secure the border.

This is a joke, yes? Speaker Toma apparently doesnt know it was Donald Trump and GOP Senators  not Democrats  that blocked the bipartisan border bill, which would have provided the border security and immigration changes Republicans claim they want.

So, Speaker Toma, it appears the jokes on you.

This November, voters need to flip a single seat  just one!  from Republican to Democrat to stop having the Arizona House of Representatives being a laughingstock.

Thea Chalow

Oro Valley

Revisiting the Senate's border bill

President Biden is pressuring Republicans into passing the Senate's border bill. He never mentions the border bill passed months ago by the House of Representatives. The Senate's border bill was crafted secretly for weeks behind closed doors by three Senators. It funds a border barrier, but gives DHS Sec. Mayorkas six months to present a plan to Congress. It hires 800 government bureaucrat Asylum officers to make determinations at the border replacing Independent Immigration Judges. Asylum requirements are lessened from proving significant fear of persecution to reasonable fear. Family units are given special asylum consideration. It allows 5,000 to illegally enter per day to potentially claim asylum before triggering an Executive Authority option to close the border. People encountered from "non-contiguous" countries are not counted, nor are 1400 a day that can apply for asylum at the Ports of Entry. The bill provides over a billion to shadowy NGOs. The liberal U.S. District Court of D.C. has sole review authority over any litigation concerning the bill.

Langhorne Bilby

Marana

Cell phone use in class

Re: the March 2 article "Schools grapple with cellphone use in class."

The idiocy of allowing cell phone use in class is beyond comprehension. We as a nation need to support bans on cell phone use in the classroom everywhere. We should not wonder why schools are failing to teach the basics such as mathematics, English, American History, etc. We should support our teachers to teach without interference by imposing stupidity from the outside by both political parties and to properly fund teachers everywhere.

Michael Mount

Foothills

Trump and health insurance

Recently, I was a patient at MD Anderson in Gilbert, Arizona, a medical facility ranked number one in the treatment of cancer. I was able to gain the benefits of this facility because I have Medicare and a quality supplemental insurance policy.

During my treatment, I began to focus on the millions of Americans lacking health insurance and are deprived of quality medical care. I reflected on the ten Republican-controlled states that have failed to expand Medicaid, which could provide health insurance for 2.1 million Americans.

I recalled that Donald Trump and Republican representatives and senators attempted to destroy the Affordable Care Act but failed. Trump has stated that he would again attempt to destroy the Act if elected President. The Act presently covers over 20,000,000 Americans.

I plead with my fellow Americans not to support Republican candidates in the coming election. The Republican Party has failed to exhibit one iota of concern for Americans lacking health care.

Stuart Sellinger

West side

Failure

Our "Loyal" friend on the northwest side has said that the President is a failure when it comes to securing the border. This is a rant that he brings up more than a few times a month. He conveniently forgets that the President and the Democrats put together a bill that included everything that the GOP wanted. I would expect he's in agreement with their policies. But for some reason, the GOP members that got what they wanted, decided to reject the bill that would make the border policy a nonpartisan issue. Our friend is still complaining that Biden is a failure rather than admitting that his beloved GOP and his idol No. 45 have used the border to try to make a great president look like a failure when in fact it's the GOP and that other guy.

John Bingham

Northwest side

Detaining shoplifters by citizens

Re: The March 8 article "AZ Senate: Allow citizens to arrest shoplifters."

This article describes the Arizona Senate approving a measure to allow citizens to make arrests for shoplifting. Though the method of arrest is not included it must require the verbal or physical restraint of the alleged shoplifter. Then undoubtedly securing identifying information from the person which the individual is probably unwilling to provide. Next the arrestor constructs an arrest form from his citation book or transports the individual to jail, where employees are unable or unwilling to process the person. Then, he must be able to present his evidence in court to prosecute the individual. Can you imagine being stopped and told you are under arrest by a citizen and are being detained. I would just walk away, as would most of you. Better than this fanciful thinking is to have the store owner make a placard noticeable to all explaining what to do when he sees a shoplifter. Bringing the matter to attention of the owner or security agents.

Philip Reinecker

East side

How horrible

When I see news footage of the dire straits the citizens of Gaza are suffering, I am disgusted. There is no reason their homes and apartments had to be reduced to rubble. Unconscionable that shops, markets, and utilities were crushed under Israeli bombs. Why? How can the Israeli military justify killing 30,000 Gazans. The U.S. is an accomplice in this tragedy and has to stand up against the Israeli government. Not one dime should go to these war criminals. How horrible for those poor Gazans that, even if the war ends, they will have no place to go. Their tent cities are all they have, with famine causing more and more deaths. How horrible.

David ben Avram

Marana

Running red lights

This past week, a young physician was killed while riding his motorcycle when a driver ran a red light. In the past two weeks, I have personally witnessed three incidents of cars racing through red lights, including one which nearly collided into my vehicle.

What is it with our Tucson drivers? How can we avoid more fatalities?

Perhaps it is time to install red light cameras at all busy intersections.

To accept the status quo is a recipe for more tragic fatalities. Next time, it may be your loved one that is killed.

Jonathan Insel

Foothills

No more Trump

I watched the Jan. 6 House Committee hearings. I read Cassidy Hutchinsons memoir "Enough." Ive finished Liz Cheneys detailed recap of Trumps misbehavior before, during, and since the 2020 election in "Oath and Honor: A Memoir of Warning."

Clearly, Trump is a devious soul. A gangster. Traitor. As Cheney states, There has never been a greater dereliction of duty by any President . He is unfit for any office.

To citizens who pine for Trumps re-installment, shame on you. Youve failed the responsibilities of citizenship. To government officials who'd vote similarly (including McConnell and Haley), youve betrayed your Oath of Office. This isn't overstating or understating; but telling it straight and as it is.

To Trump-supporting people of faith, including Christians, and including the recent Tucson interloper Franklin Graham, you are merely hiding a tragic and vile ideology in religious speech.

Ron Rude

West side

Caregivers

I believe that caregivers are greatly underappreciated. A caregiver is someone who provides assistance with daily living activities for another person who needs help due to illness, disability, or age. This care can range from basic needs like bathing and dressing to more complex tasks like managing medications or transportation.

There are informal caregivers who are unpaid caregivers who are usually family members or friends. They provide care out of love and devotion, often without any formal training.

Informal caregivers are the backbone of caregiving, providing unpaid support to loved ones who can't manage on their own. They assist with daily living activities (bathing, dressing, meals) and may also help with transportation, medication management, housekeeping and emotional support.

I am an 87-year-old who is blessed with such an informal caregiver. I cannot imagine life without her. We pledged "in sickness and in health" and she has honored that pledge for almost 30 years. She is my loving wife  God bless her.

Tom McGorray
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

One book at a time: The collective bargaining unit for Tulsa Public Schools support employees, the American Federation of Teachers Local No. 6049, is partnering with elementary schools around the district to host family nights this spring.

Coordinated as part of AFTs nationwide Reading Opens the World initiative, the first event was Tuesday night at Burroughs Elementary, with 40 families receiving free food from Oasis Fresh Market, a mental health workshop for parents, information from the districts Parent Resource Center and free books for every child who attended.

We gave away tons and tons of books, AFT Local 6049 President Nancy Leonard said. We had children asking for books for their older siblings and big kids helping the little ones with their reading.

Thats what its all about.

Academic All-State selections: Twenty-five Tulsa-area high school seniors are among the 100 students recently selected by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence as Academic All-State honorees.

Honorees include Lauren Lee and Alex Ortiz from Bartlesville; Macy Mose, Barbara Oviedo Rojas and Ryane Owens from Bixby; Jack Carson and Leslie Espinoza from Booker T. Washington; Ava Boswell, Philip Oh, Brody Read and Parker Wagnon from Broken Arrow; Adele Wilson from Claremore; Luke Tidrick from Collinsville; Abby Woolf from Coweta; Joy Crow from Edison Preparatory; Rylee Cole, Elaine Gao, Karissa Lu and Diya Patel from Jenks; Mia Newman from Oologah-Talala; Thomas Hurst from Preston; Nancy Nguyen, Oluwajuwuralo Oyedele and Abby Tan from Union; and Kolton Clark from Wagoner.

Slated to be recognized May 4 in Norman, the 2024 All-Staters scored an average of 33 on the ACT, with seven scoring a perfect 36. The students average grade point average is 4.25, and 41 are National Merit semifinalists. Statewide, the students represent 71 high schools from 64 school districts.

Staying put: At last Mondays meeting, Broken Arrows Board of Education voted unanimously to retain the same officers for another year. Steve Allen will continue to serve as president; Jerry Denton will remain as vice president; Brandy Roulet will continue to serve as board clerk; and John Cockrell will continue to be deputy clerk.

Financial aid help: Tulsa Public Schools is hosting student and parent workshops on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the Oklahomas Promise scholarship application on Wednesday and Saturday.

Wednesdays session is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. at Tulsa Community College Education Outreach Center, 2201 S. Garnett Road. Saturdays session is scheduled for noon-3 p.m. at the Parent Resource Center, 525 E. 46th St. North.

Calendar confirmation: By a 4-0 vote, Unions Board of Education approved the districts 2024-25 academic calendar at last Monday nights meeting.

As approved, Union will start school on Aug. 15, with the last day tentatively set for May 28, 2025. The calendar includes five snow days and two distance-learning days.

Additionally, all classes will end 40 minutes early on Fridays between Labor Day and mid-April to allow time for teachers to collaborate and participate in professional development. The district previously used Late Start Fridays for the same reason but opted for an early release approach based on community feedback. Of the 1,700 parents and teachers who responded to a district survey, 75% preferred the early release route, Superintendent Kirt Hartzler said at Monday nights meeting.

It makes it a lot easier to make a recommendation with that level of turnout, he said.

Looking ahead: Registration for students returning to Jenks Public Schools in 2024-25 is now open through May 31 at tinyurl.com/JPSReturn.

New face on campus: Catoosa Public Schools announced Tuesday that Tim Ray will be joining the district in mid-April as assistant superintendent.

Named the 2022-23 Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year by the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals, Ray comes to the district from Charles Page High School in Sand Springs.

Stay home days: All area public schools and charter schools are out for Spring Break.

Election deadline: Monday is the deadline to request an absentee ballot for the April 2 election. Along with school board races in Catoosa, Owasso, Tulsa and Union, school bond proposals will be on the ballot for voters in Allen-Bowden and Libertys attendance areas.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Blair Abramson used to be a preschool teacher. But when her second child was born, child care costs became higher than her actual earnings. Now she stays home with her two boys, and Oklahoma has one fewer preschool teacher.

I am not, unfortunately, not a unique case. I even talk to moms who have had one child and ask, Are you gonna have another one? said Abramson. And they say, Honestly, we have to wait to expand our family until our child gets into kindergarten.

Abramson wanted to go back to work. But even with the teacher discount she was given, it was too expensive.

I struggled with it, like I said. I had all intentions of going back to work, and then I just saw that it just wouldnt make financial sense, she said.

House Bill 4147, which passed through the House of Representatives last week, might help people like Abramson who are overwhelmed by the cost of child care. The bill was authored by Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, and Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond. It would give employers and child care workers incentives  tax credits capped at $19 million  to provide child care for the Oklahoma workforce.

Child care is workforce infrastructure, Schreiber said in a Tulsa World interview about the bill.

She explained her thought process behind the legislation, saying, When we know that we have a lack of child care staff and we dont incentivize that industry, all of our other industries are losing out, because this is the basket that carries everyone.

Mary Quinn Cooper, who chairs the Mayors Commission on the Status of Women in Tulsa, supports this legislation and wants to see more solutions for this problem from the Legislature.

We dont have enough child care for the people who need it, Cooper said. So people leave the workforce and dont come back.

The bill would offer a tax credit to employers for 30% of the cost of assistance, operation or contracting of child care for their employees. Child care workers, if theyre part of the Oklahoma Professional Development Ladder and have completed 12 hours in the program, would be eligible for a $1,000 income tax credit. Both of these tax credits would expire in 2030 unless renewed by the Legislature.

So for many of those employees who make an average of $11.40 an hour, its very unlikely that they would have tax liability. Therefore, they would actually get cash back on that tax credit, Schreiber said.

Cooper said 24% of women with children end up leaving the workplace a year after giving birth. Within five years, 17% of those women are still outside of the workforce.

Were just looking for any sort of reprieve, because child care costs are just so staggering that, I mean, if you can find an incentive, any avenue would be helpful, for sure, said Abramson, who supports Schreibers legislation.

Chad Warmington, president of the State Chamber of Oklahoma, agrees that child care is workforce infrastructure, he told the Tulsa World.

We cant have the workforce we want if we dont have the infrastructure in place to support it, he said, adding that HB 4147 is a step in the right direction.

Oklahoma has lost a thousand day cares in the last 10 years, Warmington said. We have to be purposeful and thoughtful about addressing the shortage of child care around the state of Oklahoma if we want to have the workforce that we say we want to support the economy we are trying to build.

The bill has passed through the House, with a deadline of April 25 to pass the Senate to be enacted this year. Schreiber believes she has enough support to get the legislation through.

Im very optimistic that this will pass, she said. This is a rural, urban, suburban, Republican, Democrat, rich, poor problem. Everybody has this problem. So, universally, we are experiencing this as legislators, regardless of where were from or who we represent. This is a problem for everyone.
Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall said Monday that a resolution passed in the Senate proposing to do away with the states Judicial Nominating Commission may have to be amended to earn passage through the House.

McCall made the comment during a meeting with the press that also touched on topics ranging from spending on publicity by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters to the need for legislation to encourage more affordable child care in Oklahoma.

Senate Joint Resolution 34, authored by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, proposes a statewide vote on whether the 56-year-old Judicial Nominating Commission system of nominating and selecting Oklahoma Supreme Court and appeals court judges should be thrown out and replaced by one patterned after the federal system.

If voters were to favor the change, selectees for the bench named by a governor would have to be confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate, in similar fashion to the way presidential nominees to high court positions must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

SJR 34 also proposes to do away with judicial retention ballots and allow state justices to serve for life unless theyre impeached.

McCall, R-Atoka, said the Judicial Nominating Commission isnt the most sensibly organized. Its rather small, he said, with most members appointed to serve six-year terms while others are appointed to serve only two-year terms. JNC meetings are open only to commissioners and not to the public, he added, so theyve been held to criticism for lack of transparency.

Some have suggested, too, that leeway given to the Oklahoma Bar Association to select some commission members has resulted in the panels reflecting more liberal than conservative values.

I think the House will consider that measure, McCall said. Well look at it and see how its structured.

But McCall said the House may want to take some control over the confirmation process that the resolution currently reserves only for the Senate. He suggested that a system utilized in Tennessee for nominating and confirming senior-level judges may be more desirable in Oklahoma.

In Tennessee, the governor nominates, but the Legislature  both the House and Senate  decide whether to confirm the nominee or not, he said. I see some benefits to that. You basically would have 48 members of the Oklahoma Senate and 101 members of the Oklahoma (House) that would be vetting the governors nominee to the high courts.

Under the current system, the speaker of the House names one member to the commission.

During his meeting with the press, McCall was asked to comment on a recent report by Oklahoma Watch that Walters has used state funds to retain a public relations firm to write speeches and opinion pieces on his behalf and to book the superintendent for at least 10 national television and radio interviews per month.

My view is (that) we shouldnt be expending state money, taxpayer dollars, for personal promotion, McCall said. Im sure the House this cycle would certainly commit to a limits bill within the education budget to specifically prohibit that type of expenditure going forward, but Im very surprised to hear that monies would be used for that anywhere in state government.

Walters has previously said he used national media appearances to promote teacher recruitment in Oklahoma.

In other comments, McCall touted House passage of a cost-of-living adjustment for state pensioners.

The House authorized a COLA of 4% for all pension beneficiaries in funds that have funding levels of 80% or greater and 2% for those funds that dont currently have 80% funding ratio, he said.

McCall also touched on prospects for a House bill to boost affordable child care in the Sooner state.

I do think child care and finding ways to help the workforce with child care challenges would be beneficial to families, companies and, ultimately, the state, he said. Im hopeful that we can find some ways to help.

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The American International School Vietnam (AISVN) in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City suspended classes for all students on Monday as most teachers did not show up due to unpaid salaries.

Nguyen Thi Ut Em, chairwoman of the school board at AISVN, confirmed the incident to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper around midday, stating that official and comprehensive information about the matter would soon be provided.

Previously, around 9:00 pm on Sunday, Em sent an email to all parents of the school, informing them that classes would not be held on Monday and students should stay home.

After meetings and discussions with parents, held from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on March 17, the school is diligently addressing current personnel and financial issues, the email reads.

Therefore, the school board wishes to inform parents that all students will be temporarily excused from attending school for one day, Monday (March 18), to allow for the re-planning of policies aimed at safeguarding the interests of all current students.

Tomorrow, the school board will continue brainstorming strategies and provide parents with further updates on the next steps.

Parents attend a meeting at the American International School Vietnam in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City, March 17, 2024. Photo screenshot from a supplied video

Sundays meeting between Em, the AISVN leadership, and the parents was focused on addressing the current financial challenges that have resulted in the schools inability to fully and promptly pay salaries to its teaching staff and employees.

Various solutions were explored, including the suggestion of increasing parental contributions to support the school, but this was deemed nearly impossible.

Another proposal came from L.A.T., a parent, suggesting that the school partner with a venture capital fund for an investment of around VND200 billion (US$8 million), under the condition of acquiring shares in AISVN.

In response, Em assured that AISVN would reach out to short-term investment funds, and the school would provide a solution by no later than March 21.

Negotiations with the investment funds will be overseen by parent representatives and members of the schools executive board to ensure a swift resolution and the resumption of school operations.

Headquartered at 220 Nguyen Van Tao Street in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City, AISVN was established in 2006, according to the schools website.

It claims to serve more than 1,200 students ranging from three years old to grade 12 currently.

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The Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment has requested Ho Chi Minh City authorities to assess the remaining tasks of its first metro line to track progress, ensure adherence to proposed timelines, and prevent repeated delays in the project's planned completion.

The ministry responded to the city following the latter's proposal to adjust the planned completion and put the project into commercial operation by this year.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment requested the Ho Chi Minh City administration to determine the completion time of the metro line and confirm if the adjustment of the construction time would affect other components of the project.

The city should also report the opinions of the sponsor, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, about the adjustment.

The municipal administration was also tasked with reporting the anticipated rise in costs resulting from the delay, along with identifying the unit accountable for these additional expenses.

Earlier, the city informed the Ministry of Planning and Investment that the prime minister had given a nod to the postponement of the expected completion of the project.

The completion deadline was the last quarter of 2023, two years later than previously planned.

The metro line embarks on a test run in August 2024. Photo: Quang Dinh / Tuoi Tre

The metro line project is now 97.5 percent complete and embarked on a test run over the entire route from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City for the first time in August last year.

The investor of the project, Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR), and contractors are striving to complete the whole line.

However, the investor needs to check and take over the project, assess and issue a system safety certificate, hand over infrastructure at the line, and complete procedures to end work on it before putting the metro route commercial operation.

Some jobs might not be completed until the first half of this year, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee.

The evaluation processes for the metro line's safety and its fire prevention and fighting system will be completed by the end of the first half of 2024.

The metro line is scheduled to commence commercial operation in the last quarter of this year.

To address any issues, the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has formed a dedicated working team tasked with reviewing and eliminating obstacles hindering the project's progress.

The team, led by vice-chairman of the municipal government Bui Xuan Cuong and Deputy Ambassador of Japan in Vietnam Shige Watanabe, includes deputy head of MAUR Nguyen Quoc Hien, deputy chief representative of JICA in Vietnam Yoko Takebayashi, members of the management board of the project, and leaders of consortiums of contractors and consultants.

Work on the 19.7-kilometer-long metro line started in 2012. The line was estimated to cost VND43.7 trillion (US$1.8 billion).

The line is designed to have 17 trains, each consisting of three cars and able to run at up to 110 kilometers per hour above the ground and 80 kilometers per hour underground.

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Children under the age of four riding in an automobile need to be in a carrier or other appropriate safety equipment, according to one of the proposals for Vietnams draft Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety.

The bill was raised for discussion by National Assembly (NA) delegates at a recent meeting of the 31st session of the NA Standing Committee in Hanoi.

One of the proposals at the event was that the draft should include a regulation that children less than four years old must be looked after by an adult or safeguarded with age-specific equipment when they are riding in a car.

The bill currently regulates that children under 10 and under the height of 135 cm must not sit in the front-row seat next to the driver and must be protected by a safety system when they travel in a car without being accompanied by adults.

But many delegates proposed raising the age limit to 12 and the height limit to 150 cm, citing relevant scientific research and international experience.

They also recommended that children under six years old carried on the back of bicycles or motorbikes be secured by safety equipment or seats specifically for kids.

Regarding a regulation in the bill that children under seven years old must be led by an adult when crossing a street, some delegates suggested reviewing this rule toward raising the age limit to 11.

However, the NA Standing Committee argued that the current rule of the bill should be kept unchanged as it was inherited from the 2008 Road Traffic Law and has been implemented smoothly, without any problems in practice.

The bill contains a regulation that riders of bicycles, motorized bicycles, and electric bicycles are allowed to carry a maximum of two children under seven years old, while riders of motorbikes can carry two children less than 12.

The draft law also stipulates that people carried on motorized bicycles and electric bicycles must wear standard helmets in accordance with current regulations.

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Veteran actor Bruce Spence has been named recipient of the 2024 Equity Lifetime Achievement Award.

Spence was selected by the Equity National Performers Committee, who praised his immense contribution to Australias cultural landscape, being a vocal and constant activist for actors rights and dedicating countless hours to fundraising and assisting those experiencing hardship.

Bruce Spence began his acting career in Melbourne in the late 1960s as an inaugural member of the revolutionary Australian Performing Group.

His long and distinguished stage career includes numerous credits with the Melbourne Theatre Company, South Australian Theatre Company, Griffin and Sydney Theatre Company, where he still performs regularly.

On film Bruce played the lead role in Stork (1971), for which he won the AFI Award for Best Actor. He has amassed over 100 film and television credits including the likes of Mad Max 2, The Matrix, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, The Dry, The Drovers Wife, Rake, Faraway Downs, Back to the Rafters and Ten Pound Poms.

Equity president Jason Klarwein said Spences name has come up many times for consideration.

Bruce is someone who has the utmost respect from his peers, his union and his industry. Hes a performer we love to watch and to work with. Hes a mentor and teacher to the next generation. A huge supporter of Equitys work. And as chair of Actors Benevolent Fund during COVID he carried his community through a very dark time, earning deep admiration from all who were touched by his and the funds remarkable efforts, he said.

Bruce Spence has been a proud Equity member since 1971, served as NSW State President, Federal Vice President and chaired the Actors Benevolent Fund of NSW from 2019-2023.

He will be honoured at an awards ceremony in Sydney later this year.

Previous recipients include Toni Lamond, Chris Anderson, Terry Norris, Julia Blake, Noeline Brown, Peter Carroll, Maggie Dence and more.
In Part II of a special career interview with Denise Drysdale, she looks at back at her last 35 years in showbiz.

In 1989, having worked with some of Nines biggest TV names, Denise Drysdale was invited onto Hey Hey its Saturday, to replace Jacki MacDonald.

She would stay with the show for just over a year, yet while press stories swirled around behind the scenes friction, Drysdale only had good things to say about her time with the show when speaking with TV Tonight.

I loved doing Hey Hey, she said. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I had a lot of fun. The audience just loved it. It gave me the exposure that I needed for another five years -national television on an enormously-rated show, that was fun and games, all these wonderful people on it.

I still reckon one year on television equals three in the clubs!

By 1996 she joined Frank Holden on a new version of In Melbourne Tonight, an ambitious reboot of the Nine variety series which had made Graham Kennedy a star.

It was suggested the show needed someone like Denise Drysdale.

Tim Ferguson said, Why cant we have her? Thats how it happened. IMT with Frank Holden was good fun because I really was allowed to do anything. I hung upside down in a straightjacket. You name it. Ive done it.

But it was Programmer Gary Rice who lured her to Seven for her own daytime show, Denise, including with a fresh new TV face as her sidekick: Lawrence Mooney.

He was very young, I think we made him get married to his first wife. They did Denise in the afternoon first and it didnt work and then they moved it to mornings. I think Rove did the warm up.

Denise ran for 4 years on Seven, which she acknowledges as a personally risky move departing from Nine.

In 2010 she would return to 10, where she had featured on Kommotion in the 1960s, for a new breakfast TV series, The Circle.

(Executive Producer) Pam Barnes got in touch with me and said Were thinking of doing a new show, so I said Do you want you want me to do the advertorials? But she said, No, no, we want you to be part of the panel. So I was thrilled again.

Drysdale left the show after two years seeking a break in her work-life balance, following the birth of a grandson, but continued to perform with Ernie Sigley in clubs, for audiences large or small.

Theres no such thing as a bad audience. If I hear somebody say, Oh, theyre not good, then you havent worked hard enough. Theres no such thing as a bad audience. Youve just got to work that much harder.

Alas, there are no happy memories around her brief appearance in Seven diving show Celebrity Splash in 2013.

I thought it was a swimming show. In the back of my head, Im thinking, I cant swim but theyll teach me to swim, itll be fabulous, she continues.

First day of training, the producer said, Show me what you can do. so I did a dog paddle and said, Thats it!

On the day I climbed up to the five metre (diving board) and I did a pin drop, which isnt even a dive, and I got through! The producer says, Well, what have you got for next week? And I said You got what I had.'

She would subsequently bow out of the show due to injury. Her acting was so good it led to a role as Ginger in the Josh Thomas comedy Please Like Me in 2014. While she also voiced ABC animation The Flaming Thongs, she laments never having an ongoing sitcom role.

I would have loved to have been in a sitcom. I did have an idea for The Body Beautiful that we got to a pilot stage. Brian Dawe and John Clarke wrote two episodes.

The project, set in a brothel was due to feature Hazel Phillips, Noeline Brown and Tania Lacy as Drysdales on-screen daughter, but never saw the light of day.

By 2015 she also decided to relocate, selling her many possessions from her Neerim home for Queensland (although at the time she was unsure of where to settle). The press got in such a flap about her embarking on a nomadic lifestyle and selling up that friends began offering spare bedrooms for her to stay.

I rang Patti (Newton) to put it on the radio that I was having a sale, and Channel Seven and Channel Nine were fighting over who was going to have the story. It was ridiculous. Channel Seven was down the bloody paddock looking up to my house doing a story. It must have been a slow news week! she laughs.

They did a live broadcast from the hall on Channel Nine with some of my stuff and there was a line down the street. They didnt have any accommodation, there was no food in the town because all these people just descended for two days. It was hysterical.

That same year she was back on morning television as part of Studio 10, forging a new friendship with Jessica Rowe.

Jess is the most beautiful person. Shes like an angel and what you see is what you get, she insists.

Were both on the same wavelength in funniness. When I started there and had a dressing room with Jess, so we were giggling from the time I reached Channel 10 to the time I left. We enjoyed ourselves too much so they they put her on the other side of the panel.

We didnt like that at all!

She also has fond memories of the late Jonathan Coleman.

One of the funniest things thats ever been on television is when they had Cup Day with the daschshunds and the sausages, she recalls.

Hes dressed up with sausages dropping off him and sausage dogs were eating them with the pins in. We didnt say that on air.

She remained part of the Studio 10 family until its demise in December.

10 years as a good run for a show and Im lucky to have been part of it.

Drysdale, 75, continues to entertain in clubs, most recently with Normie Rowe, and awaits the phone ringing with the next TV gig.

She recently watched the Beckham documentary, I thought that was well done but he should have admitted to the affair and all 156 episodes of an unnamed Turkish soap opera.

I turned it up, even though its got subtitles, because I couldnt hear what they were saying! she laughs.

Family is important, along with the Gold Coast mountains she now calls home and a distant ocean view. So are her two Gold Logie Awards, which sit on her mantelpiece along with her Australia Post Legends of TV stamp and a Jonathan Coleman memory.

If it was just one Logie like it is now, I mightnt have gotten one. Ernie would have got it, she suggests.

And as she looks to the future she secretly harbours a desire to return to Channel Nine.

I started there. Id love to end there. I could be the cheeky chook, where I dress up in a chook costume and give out prizes to people at home. Go to strange places and just knock on their doors.

Theres still time

Denise Drysdale: Im a ratbag! I dont toe the line.
On Foreign Correspondent this week Avani Dias travels to Punjab in the wake of Canada accusing India of a state sponsored assassination.

When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stood up and accused India of being behind the killing of a Sikh activist on Canadian soil last year the world took notice. To have a head of state call out another country for effectively a state sponsored assassination was eye popping. Then, months later, US authorities said an Indian agent was involved in a murder attempt on an American Sikh in New York. Now Foreign Correspondent can reveal Australian authorities are also speaking to the Sikh community here.

This week South Asia Correspondent Avani Dias travels to Punjab where tensions are high and the authorities are watching. This is the Sikh homeland where a banned separatist movement is fighting to create its own independent nation of Khalistan. Avani visits the family home of the man murdered in Canada Hardeep Singh Nijjar and learns of unusual activity in the lead up to his killing. She also gains rare access to the movements leaders, viewed as extremists by Indian officials, who are in no doubt the Modi government is targeting Sikh separatists around the world including Australia.

8pm Thursday on ABC.
L to R: Denise Eriksen, Esther Coleman Hawkins, Caroline Pitcher, Ken Crouch and Fiona Gilroy.

Screen Australia and VicScreen have announced a new initiative to address skills shortages in the Australian screen industry.

Over the next four years, the agencies will provide a combined $1.4 million to support Screen Careers training programs and skills development opportunities for below-the-line crew, leveraging partnerships with ScreenSkills UK, BFI and BAFTA.

Media Mentors Co-Founders Denise Eriksen and Esther Coleman-Hawkins will lead Screen Careers, alongside the ABCs Head of Content Chris Oliver Taylor as the inaugural Chair. Joining them are Fiona Gilroy as Head of Business Development and Communications and Megan Mohell as Chief Operating Officer.

For aspiring screen practitioners, including school leavers, TAFE and university students, Screen Careers will serve as a gateway into the screen industry, providing essential foundational training.

For established professionals, Screen Careers will offer lifelong career support, enabling individuals to progress and grow their careers within their respective fields through in-person workshops and e-learning programs.

Federal Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke said, We always talk about screen being one of the main ways that our stories are told to each other and to the world. I want one of those stories to be jobs. Not just jobs for the people who are on screen, but all the people around them who make it happen.

Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks said, The screen industry is growing and the Victorian Government is proud to back Screen Careers which will expand our highly skilled screen workforce, creating jobs for Victorians for years to come. By being headquartered in Victoria the initiative will create a pipeline of job-ready local screen practitioners, fuel production and confirm Victorias status as a global screen powerhouse.

Screen Australia CEO Deirdre Brennan said, Screen Careers marks an exciting advancement, as we strive to develop a highly skilled workforce to meet the demands of Australias screen sector. This new initiative will address skills shortages by supporting crew at all stages of their careers, driving sustainability for our industry on a national scale.

VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, Industry has told us that more below-the-line skills and training is needed as a matter of urgency and we are proud to be leading the charge in addressing this strategic need through our partnership with Screen Careers and Screen Australia. This multi-faceted initiative will deliver real results for Victorias screen industry and kickstart sustainable and successful careers for the next generation of below-the-line practitioners right here in Victoria.

Screen Careers CEO, Esther Coleman-Hawkins said, Screen Careers represents a significant investment in nurturing talent and fostering a robust pipeline of skilled professionals to meet the evolving demands of the industry. Were committed to providing essential training and lifelong support to below-the-line crew, ensuring a steady influx of skilled professionals into the industry.

www.screencareers.com.au
(Bloomberg) -- The boss of Exxon Mobil Corp. said Monday that it has no interest in buying Hess Corp. outright, despite taking Chevron Corp. to arbitration over its proposed $52 billion merger with the other company.

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If we were interested in doing something with Hess, we wouldnt have waited for Chevron to sign its deal, Exxon Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods told the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference Monday.

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But Exxon wants to reserve the right to consider buying Hesss 30% stake in offshore Guyana oil fields at some point in the future, Woods said.

Exxons aims in its arbitration case are threefold, he added: to secure and confirm its pre-emption rights, to understand the value of the stake implied by the Chevron deal, and to evaluate that value and do whats in the interests of Exxon Mobil shareholders.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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(Bloomberg) -- Iron ore went on a roller-coaster ride, initially sinking well below $100 a ton only to flip higher following Chinese data that painted a mixed picture on steel demand.

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Futures  which sank more than 13% last week  shed as much as 2.9% to $97 a ton in Singapore, then rebounded by more than that. While Chinas overall growth was buoyed by strength in factory output and investment at the start of the year, nationwide steel production was only marginally higher in the first two months.

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Iron ore is still down by more than a quarter since the start of the year, making it one of the weakest performers among major commodities. The slump has been driven principally by concerns about demand in China, where officials are battling a prolonged crisis in the nations steel-intensive property sector. Against that backdrop, some mills have been reducing production.

Signs of weakness in demand continue to emerge, with Chinese smelters announcing output cuts, ANZ Group Holdings Ltd. said in a note by analysts including Daniel Hynes.

Holdings of iron ore at ports in China  the worlds biggest importer  have been building up, pointing to ample supplies. Inventories swelled to 140.9 million tons last week, the highest level in more than a year.

Iron ore for April traded 3.9% higher at $103.80 a ton at 4:29 p.m. in Singapore, while yuan-priced futures in Dalian ended the session higher. Steel contracts in Shanghai were firmer.

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Colombia on Sunday suspended a truce with the armed rebel faction the Central General Staff (EMC) in three different parts of the country, citing violence including an attack on an Indigenous group that left one woman dead.

The EMC -- dissident guerillas who broke off from the rebel FARC group when it signed a peace pact with the government in 2016 -- opened talks with President Gustavo Petro's administration last year.

Since his election in 2022, leftist Petro has sought to put an end to six decades of conflict between the country's security forces, guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries and drug gangs.

However, his "total peace" process has faced multiple setbacks with the guerrillas, who are linked to drug trafficking and are accused by rights groups of taking advantage of various ceasefires to expand their influence, seize more territory and recruit new members.

Sunday's announcement came after the EMC's "non-compliance with the ceasefire," and would see the military resume "offensive actions" against them in the departments of Narino, Cauca and Valle del Cauca, according to a decree from the defense ministry.

The truce remains in force in other regions, including the Amazon and along the border with Venezuela, however.

Sunday's announcement of the truce suspension came after officials in the municipality of Toribio said an attack on an Indigenous community there had left a 52-year-old woman dead and a man wounded Saturday.

(AFP)



Read more on FRANCE 24 English



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Iceland has experienced its most powerful volcano eruption since December last year on the Reykjanes Peninsula, spewing bright orange lava high into the air.

The eruption has sent fountains of molten rock soaring from a 3km long fissure, with lava now flowing just a few hundred metres from Grindavik, which was first evacuated back in November.

Geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson was quoted by Icelandic broadcaster RUV as saying this latest eruption is the most powerful so far.

The powerful lava stream has threatened the regions main water pipe and is just 200m away, the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) said.

The water pipe is close to the Svartsengi power plant, a geothermal power plant that provides hot water to most of the peninsula.

The IMO head warned of dangerous consequences of lava possibly reaching the sea if it flows southward.

Residents of the fishing town of Grindavik have once again been evacuated from the area, having received text messages telling them to leave with just a few minutes notice.

Key Points

Iceland volcano erupts for fourth time since December

Lava close to Svartsengi plant but power remains uninterrupted

New map shows danger zone if lava reaches sea

Iceland volcano's powerful lava flows engulf peninsula amid fourth eruption in three months

15:38 , Alexander Butler

Pictured: Icelandic lava field

14:22 , Alexander Butler

A police officer and engineer stand next to the lava field of a volcanic eruption in Iceland (EPA)

A view of a lava field formed after a volcanic eruption, near Hagafell in the Reykjanes Peninsula on March 17 (EPA)

Lava close to Svartsengi plant but power remains uninterrupted

13:30 , Alexander Butler

Officials said that Svartsengi power plant is fully operational despite the lava coming close and stopping 200 metres from its high-voltage lines and the hot-water pipes.

Kristinn Hararson, CEO of production at HS Orka, told mbl.is. that the lava tongue that came there stopped a bit from the high-voltage lines and our hot water pipeline, so there was no impact on those pipelines.

Svartsengi is fully operational and there is no interruption due to the eruption. Likewise, all the pipelines from the power plant are safe, he said.

Story continues

We took such preventive measures to ensure electricity security in the power plant and therefore we had to take electricity off Grindavik for a short period because of that.

Watch live: Iceland volcano spews lava near Grindavik as it erupts for fourth time in three months

12:45 , Alexander Butler

Watch: Iceland volcano spews lava as it erupts for fourth time in three months

Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption? Your rights if you have a holiday booked

12:12 , Alexander Butler

Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption?

Live stream of eruption from orbjorn

11:15 , Barney Davis

An eruption began on the Reykjaness Peninsula at 20.32 on Saturday evening, the seventh in almost three years.

Clouds and smoke shroud the view of this close-up 24/7 stream of the crater left behind.

Iceland volcanos powerful lava flows engulf peninsula amid fourth eruption in three months

10:46 , Barney Davis

Powerful lava flows from a volcano engulfed parts of Icelands Reykjavik peninsula during its fourth eruption in three months.

The eruption began late on Saturday, 16 March, sending luminous orange jets of lava into the night sky.

Fountains of molten rock soared from a 3km long fissure, with lava flowing a few hundred metres from Grindavik, which was first evacuated in November.

Defensive barriers were built to stop it from inundating the main road along the peninsulas southern coast.

No flight disruptions were reported but hundreds of people were evacuated from the Blue Lagoon thermal spa.

Iceland volcanos powerful lava flows engulf peninsula amid fourth eruption

Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption? Your rights if you have a holiday booked

09:30 , Barney Davis

The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. Since November 2023 the Icelandic authorities have been monitoring seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik.

The latest eruption began on the evening of 16 March, with lava reaching the eastern edge of the fishing town of Grindavik  which has mostly been evacuated.

The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) reported: The eruption began at 20:23 UTC on 16 March, with a 2.9-km-long fissure forming quickly. The length and location of the fissure is similar to the eruption on 8 February 2024.

Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption?

Drone shots show eruption last night as authorities claim no activity on northern crack

08:03 , Barney Davis

Drone photos taken last night of the stormy activity seen in the southern areas around the abandoned town of Grindavik.

Authorities claim there is no visible activity on the crack on the north side, the pictures are shot from north to south.

(Public Defence)

(Public Defense)

(Public defence)

New map shows danger zone if lava reaches sea

07:53 , Barney Davis

Icelandic authorities have planned a new danger zone if lava rushing at 12mph last night manages to reach the sea.

Experts think it is unlikely that lava will reach the sea because it would take two days at current speeds.

A government spokesman added: As volcanic eruptions continue, it is nevertheless important to be prepared for this scenario as the conditions that could arise are life-threatening to those within the affected area.

(vedur.is)

Watch video of lava gushing

06:58 , Shweta Sharma

Live streams set up as the volcano was first due to erupt last year captured stunning visuals of a river of lava gushing on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

It is the fourth eruption since December on the peninsula.

Kristinn Gauti Gunnarsson, myndatokumaur frettastofu, nai essum myndum af andi hraunelfinum a Reykjanesskaga i kvold. pic.twitter.com/tbNtBRBKHP  Frettastofa RUV (@RUVfrettir) March 17, 2024

Huge volcano erupts again in Iceland spewing bright orange lava into the air

06:38 , Shweta Sharma

Lava close to Svartsengi plant but power remains uninterrupted

06:24 , Shweta Sharma

Officials said that Svartsengi power plant is fully operational despite the lava coming close and stopping 200 metres from its high-voltage lines and the hot-water pipes.

Kristinn Hararson, CEO of production at HS Orka, told mbl.is. that the lava tongue that came there stopped a bit from the high-voltage lines and our hot water pipeline, so there was no impact on those pipelines.

Svartsengi is fully operational and there is no interruption due to the eruption. Likewise, all the pipelines from the power plant are safe, he said.

We took such preventive measures to ensure electricity security in the power plant and therefore we had to take electricity off Grindavik for a short period because of that.

Huge volcano erupts again in Iceland spewing bright orange lava into the air

06:07 , Shweta Sharma

A state of emergency has been declared in Iceland after a volcano erupted for the fourth time spewing bright orange lava metres into the air.

The dramatic event marks the fourth alarming volcanic eruption in three months along the Reykjavik peninsula, nearby the abandoned town of Grindavik.

The Icelandic Met Office said on Saturday night that the fissure had opened as livestreams of the event saw fountains of lava spewing into the sky.

Huge volcano erupts again in Iceland spewing bright orange lava into the air

Volcano barriers working to deflect lava flow

06:05 , Shweta Sharma

Man-made barriers are working in slowing down the rate of lava flow and steering it away from key infrastructure.

Halldor Geirsson, associate professor at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland, said: The rate of the lava flow is getting lower and lower.

Most of the flow is going east of the town towards the sea, so it looks like the barriers are doing the job they were designed for.

He said that the lava flow was quite energetic, and there was a lot of material coming out.

Icelands Meteorological Office said the eruption opened a fissure in the earth about two miles long between the mountains of Stora-Skogfell and Hagafell.

It said on Sunday that lava is flowing south and south-east at about 0.6mph, and might reach the sea. Defensive barriers have been built to stop it from inundating the main road along the peninsulas southern coast.

Iceland volcano erupts for fourth time since December

05:49 , Shweta Sharma

Powerful lava flows from a volcano in southwest Iceland have forced authorities to declare a state of emergency.

The eruption began on Saturday for the fourth time since December along the Reykjavik peninsula, near the abandoned town of Grindavik.

The lava flows have threatened critical infrastructure in the region, with authorities monitoring lava gathering near defences and threatening a pipeline.

The eruption was quite energetic, and there was a lot of material coming out, more than in the previous eruption. So lava was flowing quite fast, Halldor Geirsson, associate professor at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland told Reuters.

The Icelandic Met Office said on Saturday night that the fissure had opened as livestreams of the event showed fountains of lava spewing into the sky.

Warning: An eruption began in Reykjanes, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said on its website.Reykjaviks nearby Keflavik Airports website showed it remained open both for departures and arrivals.

(AFP via Getty Images)

05:15 , Shweta Sharma

Welcome to The Independents live coverage of the Iceland volcano eruption, the fourth on the Reykjanes Peninsula since December.
India to vote in general elections between April 19 to June 1

Xinhua) 09:15, March 18, 2024

NEW DELHI, March 16 (Xinhua) -- India's Election Commission on Saturday said the country's forthcoming general elections will be conducted in seven phases starting April 19.

India's Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced at a press conference the complete schedule of the elections which will run through June 1.

According to Kumar, the vote counting would be carried out on June 4.

Officials said nearly 970 million people are expected to cast their votes at over 1 million polling stations across the South Asian country.

Kumar said the use of money, muscle, misinformation and violation of model code of conduct are the major challenges before the poll body.

In the coming elections, incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking a third term. He is facing challenge from an alliance of around two dozen opposition parties, namely Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), led by the main opposition Congress party.

Modi's BJP has set a target of 370 seats for itself and 400-plus for the alliance it leads, known as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

In the last elections held in 2019, the BJP won 303 seats in the 543-member lower house of the Indian parliament. That was the party's best-ever performance since its formation in 1980.

India's Congress party, which was in power in the majority of years since the nation's independence from the British rule in 1947, is struggling hard to make a comeback.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
CHICAGO -- On a chilly late winter evening, the smell of cooked meat washed over the traffic backed up outside the Salt Shed music venue.

The smell came from the folding tables and stools set up across the street, where several vendors were selling arepas, empanadas and pastelitos out of multicolored coolers. Benches and a shopping cart were packed with snacks and cans of Sprite and Fanta. Cigarettes were also available for sale, and the smell of smoke mixed with that of the Venezuelan street food.

This is where Edwin Bravo was selling tequenos, outside the migrant shelter hes staying in. Venezuelans more established in the city bring him the precooked food, and in return take a cut of the money, he said.

But he expected to have enough customers to make a profit. The food at the shelter is terrible, he said, and he figured plenty of residents would take him up on his two-for-$5 special.

And as dinnertime neared, the stub of a side street wedged between the music venue and Metra tracks filled with migrants hanging out and looking for a familiar meal from Bravo and the other vendors. The sounds of setup for the Jason Isbell concert at the Salt Shed mixed with the Spanish music playing on the street corner as the crowd grew.

The day I get a (work) permit, Ill leave this place, Bravo said in Spanish. Ill rent a home.

Bravo and the others set up on the West Town corner are one type of the street vendors who are becoming an increasingly familiar sight, as those newly arrived in the area look for opportunities to work. They are part of an informal economy that has gained visibility as more than 36,000 people have arrived in Chicago from the southern border since August 2022.

The new arrivals are the latest additions to Chicagos history of street vending. For years, immigrants to the city have sold tamales on street corners and out of coolers in bars. Paleteros have pushed carts in the citys neighborhoods and at the lakefront, and eloteros have long been a staple of the citys Mexican American neighborhoods.

Story continues

In recent months, other types of street vending have also become more visible. Men and women walk through CTA trains selling chocolates and candy out of decorated bins. On a recent afternoon, several women from Ecuador sat on street corners around the Loop, selling gum, M&Ms, Reeses and Skittles.

One of the sellers, Norma Allas, sat on a street corner with her 2-year-old daughter. She worked at a flower shop in Ecuador, but after facing few work opportunities there and increasing gang violence, she left, walking through jungle to the U.S., she said.

She thought she would be able to find a job when she arrived in the States, but couldnt get a work permit, she said. When she saw other people selling on the street, she decided to try it.

So, so many people are coming, she said in Spanish. And you have to pay for rent, for food.

Advocates say stories like Allas show the need to expand work opportunities to more immigrants, both those newly arriving and those who have been here for years. Some of the new arrivals are eligible for work permits, depending on a variety of factors such as the country they left, the circumstances under which they left and when they arrived. But others are not eligible, and even those who are sometimes must overcome hurdles, advocates said. Efforts have been made to speed up the process for those who are eligible, but in some cases it can still take months.

The Biden administration has made efforts to address work eligibility for Venezuelans, in particular, who make up the majority of arriving migrants. That includes a move last fall to extend temporary protected status for Venezuelans who arrived before July 31, 2023, which fast-tracks their approval to work legally. The move was expected to cover an estimated 472,000 people nationally.

The Resurrection Project, a housing and immigration assistance agency based on the citys Lower West Side, has held workshops to help some of those eligible get work authorization. So far, more than 1,900 work authorization cards have been issued to attendees, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is processing another roughly 2,000 applications, said Erendira Rendon, vice president of immigrant justice at the organization.

But left out of the picture entirely are immigrants in the country without legal permission who have been living in the city for years, which has been a frustration for many advocates and immigrants, she said.

The eligibility criteria that has been set out has been very arbitrary and unfair, she said.

Work authorization can provide a pathway to better-paying jobs with better benefits, which means workers will pay taxes at a higher rate and have more opportunities to contribute to their community, said Diego Samayoa, associate director of Centro Romero, an Edgewater-based organization that works with refugees and immigrants. Expanding eligibility would not only help those seeking work, but the private sector, too, he said.

Some business groups are also pushing to expand work authorization. Mark Denzler, president of the Illinois Manufacturers Association, said that nationally more than 600,000 manufacturing jobs are unfilled, including an estimated tens of thousands in Illinois. Many of the openings would be suitable for newly arrived migrants or immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for years without legal permission, if they were authorized to work in the country, he said.

In the meantime, those arriving are finding other ways to work. Bravo, selling outside the Salt Shed, said he makes about $30 a day in profit. Getting work authorization and a stable job would help him save to rent a home, he said.

Near Bravos cooler, Ruven Vartida sold pork, ham and egg arepas for $5 each. Vartida, 29, was a mechanic in Venezuela, but he began selling food after just days in the U.S.

Its better to do this than nothing, he said.

Like Bravo, he purchased premade food from migrants and sold the arepas largely to other migrants, tapping into an informal ecosystem. He also buys Cokes at Walmart and sells them for $1, sometimes to migrants and sometimes to passersby.

I think all new beginnings are difficult, he said. No one comes to a new country with everything. Everything is a process, and you have to adapt and fight.

Chicago has long welcomed waves of immigrants, but the sheer number arriving in recent years, many with no family or support systems in the city, has perhaps made informal work more visible, said Megan Davis, director of legal services at social services nonprofit Erie House.

Rengi Jesus Faltime, 33, turned to street vending to help support his wife and 5-year-old daughter. He has been in the U.S. about eight months, long enough to move out of a shelter and into a home, he said. But that means he has $550 in monthly rent to pay.

Faltime worked at a shoe store in Venezuela and, on his journey north through the jungle, stopped for a time in Tapachula, Mexico, to work at a bakery and earn money. After he arrived in Chicago he worked for two months at a hotel but was laid off, he said. He looked for other work but struck out.

So he and his wife decided he would sell arepas stuffed with breaded chicken, or chicken mixed with bacon and ham, and pastelitos that she cooked in their home.

I really dont want to be on the street begging, and I dont want to go back to a shelter either, he said. So the situation brought me here.

He intends to look for permanent work once the weather warms up. But so far, selling outside the migrant shelter nearly every day for four months, he has been able to pay rent.

He and his wife search multiple stores for the most cost-effective ingredients to ensure they make a profit, he said. Some days he sells a few dozen arepas, and some days a few hundred. He strategically chose the corner across from the Salt Shed because it is visible to the street, and close to the shelter, he said.

In an area surrounded by other Venezuelans, he knows the familiar food will be a hit. He often sells out in a matter of hours, even when there is a steady supply nearby from other vendors. Occasionally he also sells to other people walking by, he said.

The business isnt without risks. Sometimes police ask the vendors to clear out, saying its illegal to sell without a street vendor permit, he said.

Chicago generally requires those who sell prepared foods and peddlers who sell uncut fruits and vegetables or other goods to be licensed. In 2023, the citys Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection issued 730 enforcement actions to 155 peddlers and vendors, including cease-and-desist orders and citations, according to department data. Police can also enforce license violations, the department said.

Not every new vendor has encountered enforcement, though.

Andris Vasquez, who came to the U.S. from Caracas, Venezuela, about four months ago, has been selling empanadas for about a month. Once a butcher in Venezuela, the 23-year-old now lives in a Chicago Heights home with his mom, who has been in the U.S. longer than he and has work authorization, he said.

Back in Caracas, vendors selling traditional stuffed masa hallacas and a type of dumpling called bollos were common, he said.

Here, he and his mother carefully tally up the cost of the flour, oil, beef and chicken she uses to make the empanadas. Theyll spend about $150 for four days worth of empanadas, and on a good day he can make $80 to $100 selling.

Here there are mostly Venezuelans, and they know empanadas, he said in Spanish, from outside the West Town migrant shelter. I dont speak English, and I dont know how to offer them to people from the U.S.

Vasquez would prefer to have a more stable job, he said. But after leaving Venezuela, uncertain of what the future held for him there, he and his mother now have bills to pay.

We have to pay for water and electricity, he said. I have to do something to make money.
(Bloomberg) -- Nigers ruling junta ended an agreement that let US military staff operate from a $110 million drone base, paving the way for Russian troops to move in.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The military leaders revoked the deal between Niger and the US with immediate effect, and is seen as ending the US presence in the sub-Saharan country. The decision is a setback to Washington, which had been forced to suspend operations at Air Base 201 in Agadez following a July coup and was pushing to keep its most strategic military asset in the region afloat.

The American presence on Nigers territory is illegal and violates all constitutional rules, Amadou Abdramane, spokesman for the National Council for the Protection of the Homeland  or CNSP according to its French acronym, said in a statement on state TV and Facebook on Saturday. The US has about 1,000 troops in Niger as part of an effort to battle Islamist insurgency in West Africas Sahel region and Libya.

The move came after senior US officials accused the junta of secretly exploring a deal to allow Iran access to its uranium mines, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing officials from Niger and the US it didnt identify. The concerns were raised by Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, who was leading a three-day visit by a US delegation to Niamey over the past week, the newspaper said.

Nigers ending of the military cooperation with the US ends all hopes for the West to save the relationship with the new military rulers, said Ulf Laessing, the Bamako-based head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. Its an entry card for the Africa Corps which has already put out feelers. Russia signed a military agreement in December with the junta.

Story continues

A US military official said Saturday that they were aware of the CNSPs Facebook post, which follows frank discussions at senior levels in Niamey this week about our concerns with the CNSPs trajectory. We are in touch with the CNSP and will provide further updates as warranted.

The US was the last larger Western contingent left in Niger after the junta severed military ties with France and its European partners last year. US operations were also suspended after the State Department labeled as a coup the July military takeover and ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum.

This shows that the US strategy to stay and try to maintain relations with the military leadership, while trying to convince them to hand over power, has failed, said Seidik Abba, who heads the CIRES think tank focusing on the Sahel region. The USs main concern was to prevent Russia from gaining a foothold in Niger  we know that Russia is already present in Mali and were hearing they recently deployed in Burkina Faso.

Russian Troops Begin Burkina Faso Deployment to Bolster Security

--With assistance from Tony Czuczka.

(Updates with WSJ report.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Estonia's PM Kallas (R) says Putin (L) is afraid of war with Nato Getty/BBC

Estonias prime minister has claimed Vladimir Putin is afraid of war with Nato, even though the Russia president has repeatedly threatened to go nuclear on the group.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) is keen to avoid a direct war with Moscow, believed to be the worlds largest nuclear state, but has been offering essential support to Ukraine since Russias invasion two years ago.

Russia has repeatedly suggested that if Nato takes it too far  or intervenes directly with the war  it will not hesitate to press the nuclear button.

On Sunday, Kaja Kallas, PM of Russias neighbouring country Estonia, told the BBC: Of course, we have to take everything seriously, what he says.

He has been threatening with nuclear war for quite some time, but it has been only words.

Hes very good at sowing fear within our societies, really listening to what we are afraid of, and giving you the fears that you have.

She said Putin understands people are afraid of the nuclear war so plays into that to shock the public.

It is a trap, a trap of self-deterrence, the Estonian politician said. Because if we are afraid, then we start to self-deter  and this is what Putin wants.

We also have to think what Putin is afraid of  and hes actually afraid of going to war with Nato, so he doesnt want that.

And we, of course, dont want that either.

But it is, to understand the messages that he is giving out, so that we would be afraid and refrain from the decisions that we would otherwise make.

Last week, Putin told the West that Russia was technically ready for nuclear war  and that if the US sent troops to Ukraine, it would be considered a serious escalation of the conflict.

However, the White House has said in the past that this is just Putins nuclear saber-rattling and that there is no evidence Russia is looking to use nuclear weapons imminently.

Chief of the UN nuclear watchdog Rafael Grossi suggested there were not the conditions for nuclear war yet in Ukraine last week.

Story continues

Senior Ukrainian presidential official Mykhailo Podolyak also downplayed the Russian presidents threats, telling Reuters: Realising that things are going the wrong way, Putin continues to use classic nuclear rhetoric.

With the old Soviet hope  be scared and retreat!

Putin has just been re-elected for his fifth term as Russian president after suppressing all viable opposition, meaning he can legally stay in office until at least 2036.

Related...
Vladimir Putin is set to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than 200 years (NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA)

Allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, including China and India, on Monday congratulated him on winning a fifth term in office but Western powers denounced the election as illegitimate, held under repressive conditions with no credible opposition.

Here is a roundup of the main reactions to a vote that officially saw the 71-year-old Putin win with 87.28 percent of votes according to the latest count:

- China: popular 'support' -

- Beijing congratulated Putin, saying that the countries were "strategic cooperative partners in the new era" and that the result "fully reflects the support of the Russian people", Chinese state media reported.

- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his "warm congratulations" to Putin, adding that he looked forward to developing their "special" relationship. Russia is India's biggest arms supplier.

- North Korea's Kim Jong Un said Russian voters showed their "unshakeable support and trust" in Putin, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

- US, Britain: 'undemocratic' -

Western powers rejected the elections as neither free nor fair.

"This was an incredibly undemocratic process," US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said, citing repression of the opposition and media.

Patel said Putin "is likely to remain the president of Russia, but that does not excuse him of his autocracy".

- British Foreign Minister David Cameron said that the holding of elections on occupied Ukrainian territory was "illegal". He added that the elections "starkly underline the depth of repression under President Putin's regime, which seeks to silence any opposition to his illegal war".

- Middle East allies -

Several Middle Eastern powers wished Putin well after the vote, just three months after he made a rare visit to the region.

- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated the Russian leader on his re-election and offered to mediate between Moscow and Ukraine, the Turkish presidency said.

Story continues

"President Erdogan expressed his belief that the positive evolution of relations between Turkey and Russia were continuing and stated that Turkey was ready to play a facilitator role to return to the negotiating table with Ukraine," Erdogan's office said after a telephone call between the two leaders.

- Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi hailed Putin's "decisive victory", while Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wished him "success and prosperity".

- Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, each separately wished Putin "development and prosperity", and the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also sent congratulations.

- African support -

Mali's military ruler Assimi Goita, who has embraced Russia after breaking ties with its former ally France, hailed Putin's victory.

"As a strategic and sincere partner of Mali, I reiterate our total friendship," Goita said on social media.

Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, son of the country's late longtime leader Idriss Deby, said in a Facebook post that the result was "proof of the Russian people's trust" in Putin.

Niger's military ruler General Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power from a pro-Western government in a July 2023 coup, congratulated Putin on his "resounding victory".

He said his country could count on Putin's "personal commitment" to aiding Niger in "regaining its sovereignty".

- Venezuela: 'bodes well' -

- In Latin America, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said: "Our older brother Vladimir Putin has triumphed, which bodes well for the world."

- Cuba's Miguel Diaz-Canel said that the official result was "a credible indication that the Russian population supports (Putin's) management of the country".

- Zelensky: 'evil' -

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the election as illegitimate.

"Everyone in the world understands that this person, like many others throughout history, has become sick with power and will stop at nothing to rule forever," he said.

"There is no evil he would not do to maintain his personal power."

- EU: 'repression' -

- European Union countries said in a joint statement that Russians had been denied a "real choice" after all candidates opposed to the war in Ukraine were excluded.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the vote was "based on repression and intimidation".

The 27-nation bloc did not, however, heed a call from the widow of leading Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny not to recognise Putin as the legitimate president of Russia.

Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said the vote "without choice" demonstrated "Putin's heinous behaviour against his own people".

France's foreign ministry said the conditions for a free election were not met, citing "increasing repression of civil society and all forms of opposition to the regime". It hailed the "courage" of Russians who demonstrated against the election conditions.

- Discord in Italy -

- Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the vote as "neither free nor fair".

He distanced himself from his coalition partner Matteo Salvini, who said in reaction to the election result: "When a people vote, they are always right."

burs/js/bc
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China Defence Budget 2024 - Key Takeaways

Chinese President Xi Jinping has again reiterated his latest moniker New productive forces at the just concluded session of the National Peoples Congress. He stressed on the need to be guided by this thought in high tech sectors such as new energy vehicles, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and increasing Chinas military might. Read More

Monday March 18, 2024 3:23 PM , Asad Mirza

Chinese President Xi Jinping has again reiterated his latest moniker New productive forces at the just concluded session of the National Peoples Congress. He stressed on the need to be guided by this thought in high tech sectors such as new energy vehicles, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing and increasing Chinas military might.

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, China's top political advisory body, concluded its annual session on Sunday, March 10 calling on political advisors to contribute to great unity and solidarity and pool strength for advancing Chinese modernisation.

The meeting was presided over by Wang Huning, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and senior leaders including Zhao Leji, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the closing meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, which gathered more than 2,000 political advisors.

The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the CPPCC's establishment. Wang said that over the past 75 years, the CPPCC, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has traversed a glorious course in its efforts toward founding and developing the People's Republic of China, exploring the path of reform, and realising the Chinese Dream.

Wang emphasised the need for the CPPCC to enhance its capacity for political consultation, democratic oversight, and participation in and deliberation of state affairs. Calling for dedication, responsibility and commitment in the journey toward Chinese modernisation, he urged political advisors to strive in unity to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts.

The primary task in 2024 is to promote the construction of a modern industrial system and accelerate the development of new productive forces, he said. New productive forces is a term coined by President Xi Jinping last year to refer to high tech sectors such as new energy vehicles, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.

The inclusion of the term indicates Xis desire to promote the high-tech and green industries of the future and push the country ahead in the global race for critical technologies, including defence.

Chinas Defence Budget

China's national budget for 2024 includes defence spending of nearly 1.69 trillion yuan, or US $ 235 billion, a 7.2 percent year-on-year increase. Wu Qian, the spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army at the 14th National People's Congress said Beijing has always promoted world peace.

A Chinese military expert told Global Times that many countries have hiked their military expenditures in recent years, including the US and Japan. According to a Reuters report, US President Joe Biden in December 2023 reportedly authorised a record $886 billion annual military spending for fiscal 2024, nearly four times China's figure. On the other hand, Japan approved a 16% rise in military spending and has eased its post-war ban on lethal weapons exports.

Focussing on the increased defence expenditure, Wu Qian said this would be primarily allocated to the following areas:

First, it will be used to advance the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan for military development, ensure the implementation of major projects and key programmes, comprehensively strengthen military training and combat preparedness, and consolidate and enhance the integrated national strategic system and capability.

Second, it will be used to accelerate innovation and the development of defence-related science and technology, promote modernised logistics, implement major projects in defence-related science and technology sector and weaponry, and accelerate the transformation of technology into combat effectiveness.

Third, it will be used to deepen defence and military reforms, establish a modern military governance system, and improve modern military governance capabilities.

Fourth, it will be used to improve the training and war preparedness conditions of the troops and the working and living conditions for service members, while improving the welfare policy system that reflects the characteristics of military professionalism.

Political Interpretation

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the armed forces to coordinate preparations for military conflicts at sea, protect the country's maritime rights and interests and the development of the maritime economy.

Xi, further said that strategic capabilities in emerging spheres - new frontiers originating from innovation and applications of science and technology - are closely related to the country's socioeconomic development, national security and military power, and are of great significance to modernisation efforts and national rejuvenation.

The president stressed that the military must prioritise key projects and fully implement related plans. He called for the integrated planning of naval operations, maritime rights protection and the marine economy in order to boost the nation's sea power.

He also called for the improvement of the nation's space capabilities and the formation of a cyberspace defence system, which can help to safeguard the country's internet security. Research of intelligent technologies will be given more attention, and such technologies will be further promoted, according to Xi.

Emerging Scenario

Analysts see this new thrust on defence modernisation as opening the field to private entrepreneurs. Professor Ann Lee from New York University told BBC that the session outcomes could see legislation providing more support to the private sector.

Analysts also agree that Beijings total military expenditure far outstrips its official defence budget, which does not include military research and development, including procurement, paramilitary forces and the coastguard.

Nan Tian, a researcher who tracks Chinese military spending at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said that Sipris estimates suggest that total military spending is about 30-35 per cent higher than the official budget.

Further, despite concerns over the transparency of the official figures, the sustained growth in Chinas military spending demonstrates its unwavering commitment to the PLAs modernisation to become a world-class military by the mid-21st century.

The increased Chinese budget should be an eye opener for the defence mandarins of India. We have to contrast the Chinese commitment and budget outlay with Indias defence budget for fiscal 2024-25, which is 621,541 crore or US $78 billion, i.e. two hundred per cent less than the Chinese defence budget.

In this scenario it becomes imperative for the Indian defence strategists and policy makers to give a new thrust and direction to countrys defence budget. By embracing new technologies at a much faster pace and lesser cost, with a major contribution coming from the private sector, this could be achieved. Otherwise, we may not be able to match the Chinese might on land, in air or on sea.

[The writer, Asad Mirza, is a political commentator based in New Delhi. The views expressed are personal.]

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Dhule-Malegaon Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Onus on Hindu Voters to Defeat BJP

The analysis of Dhule-Malegaon Parliamentary Seat (Dhule Lok Sabha Constituency) here is a Case Study. But, it also applies to other Parliamentary constituencies of India where Muslims are consistently voting for Secular Candidates, and also for the Congress when most of its supporters have deserted it, whereas the voting pattern of Hindus is exactly opposite. Read More

Tuesday March 19, 2024 12:12 PM , Aleem Faizee, ummid.com

Malegaon: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has reposed its faith in Dr Subhash Bhamre, sitting MP and former Union Minister, and nominated him once again from the Dhule-Malegaon Parliamentary seat for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

Dr Subhash Bhamre had won the General Elections from this seat in 2014 and 2019, and is now eying for a hat-trick. The stakes are also high for the BJP, which is winning the Dhule Parliamentary Constituency seat since 2009 and is now looking for a 4th consecutive victory from here.

Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) has so far not announced its candidate from the Dhule-Malegaon Lok Sabha Seat even as a large number of ticket seekers are lobbying to get one.

The Dhule seat has previously been contested by the Congress, and it is hence taken for granted that the Congress will once again field its candidate from here, though other options are also being explored.

Dhule Parliament Seat Overview

Malegaon and Dhule were two different constituencies till 2008 delimitation. As both the seats were reserved, unknown and unfamiliar SC candidates from remote villages used to be in fray. Hence, voters here had very little interest in the parliamentary elections.

After the 2008 delimitation, Malegaon Parliamentary Constituency was annulled and a single seat namely Dhule Lok Sabha General Seat constituting five Assembly segments namely Dhule City, Dhule Rural, Malegaon Central, Malegaon Outer and Baglan (Satana).

The de-reservation of the constituency, for the first time since the Independence, enabled local voters see familiar faces as candidates in the Parliamentary Elections. Consequently, there was a huge enthusiasm among the voters when 2009 General Elections were held after the delimitation.

BJPs rise in Dhule

Before the delimitation, the Congress candidates won in most elections from Malegaon and Dhule Parliamentary Constituencies. However, the delimitation not only changed the demography of the newly formed Dhule Lok Sabha constituency but also dimmed the chances of the Congress Party, it seems, forever.

Interestingly, the Congress loss here was the BJPs gain, and the party, which barring 1996 General Elections, could not win a single polls, registered a victory not only in 2009 but went on to win 2014 and 2019 General Elections and now eyes a 4th successive victory from one time Congress and Socialist bastion.

In fact, Pratap Sonawane of the BJP had a very little chance in 2009. Yet, he defeated the Congress heavyweight Amarishbhai Patel though by a slender margin of 19,419 votes.

The credit for Sonawanes victory in the 2009 Parliamentary Elections goes to Nihal Ahmed , Former Minister in Maharashtra Cabinet and 5-time MLA from Malegaon, Anil Gote , former MLA from Dhule, and a political novice Rizwan Akbar who together bagged a whopping 137,981 votes and sealed Amarish Patels defeat.

The BJPs victory in 2009 General Elections helped the party to further consolidate its support base in Dhule. As a result it won the 2014 and 2019 elections with a massive margins of 130,723 and 229,243 votes respectively.

If Pratap Sonawanes victory in 2009 (263,260 votes of Pratap Sonawane vs 243,841 votes of Amarishbhai) was because of the division in secular votes, Dr Subhash Bhamres victory in 2014 and 2019 elections were due to a strong consolidation of Hindu votes in BJPs favour.

Interestingly, Muslims in Malegaon Central (over 90% of the total population), Dhule City (about 30%), and about 5-10% in Malegaon Outer, Dhule Rural and Baglan, massively voted in favour of the Congress candidates  Amarishbhai Patel in 2014 (398,727 votes of Amarishbhai vs 529,450 votes of Dr Bhamre) and Kunal Rohidas Patil in 2019 (384,290 votes of Kunal Patil vs 613,533 votes of Dr Bhamre). Their combined votes however were insufficient to defeat the BJP.

But, following Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra , which was in the constituency last week, a ripple is clearly seen in the favour of the grand old party.

Also, Dr Subhash Bhamre is facing a strong incumbency mainly because of unfulfilled promises and his reported misbehaviour towards the people of Malegaon and Baglan during the Covid-19 Pandemic .

People have not forgotten how Subhash Bhamre had blocked the entry of Covid patients from Malegaon and Baglan seeking treatment in Dhule hospitals, his demand to deploy military in Malegaon during the Lockdown and absolutely no progress on Manmad-Malegaon-Dhule-Indore Railway Project, the foundation stone of which was laid by PM Modi weeks before the 2019 elections.

INDIA Ticket Seekers

Owing to the anger against Dr Bhamre, the Dhule Parliamentary Seat could be a cakewalk for a Secular candidate if seriously backed by all INDIA bloc constituents. It is hence there is a long list of candidates seeking to contest the 2024 polls from here.

Prominent among them are Kunal Patil of Congress - Dhule Rural MLA who unsuccessfully contested the 2019 General Elections, Asif Shaikh Rasheed - Former Congress MLA from Malegaon who switched to the NCP (Sharad Pawar), Dr Tushar Shewale of Congress and Shan e Hind Nehal of Samajwadi Party  all seasoned politicians.

Also lobbying for the Congress ticket is Abdur Rahman IPS. Abdur Rahman IPS is famous for his tome on declining representation of Muslims in the Parliament and Legislative Assemblies. He also made the headlines after he resigned as Special IGP at Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission protesting Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019.

As of now there seems to be a direct contest between the BJP and INDIA bloc in Dhule. But, Asaduddin Owaisis AIMIM could play a spoiler. The AIMIM currently holds 02 of the 05 Assembly Constituencies in Dhule Parliamentary Constituency. Owaisi has already announced fielding candidates in five Parliamentary Constituencies of Maharashtra. One of them is Dhule, and Mufti Ismael , AIMIM MLA from Malegaon Central, is openly talking about contesting the 2024 General Elections from the Dhule seat.

Will Hindu Voters Raise to the Occasion?

Whether AIMIM fields its candidate in Dhule or not, Muslim voters have by and large decided to vote for the Secular candidate  from Congress or any other party of the INDIA bloc.

However, it is the responsibility of the Hindu voters in the constituency to lend their support to the Secular candidate. For, the analysis of the 2014 and 2019 Parliamentary election results show Muslim votes alone cannot defeat the BJP.

Hence, if the threat to the Nation, Constitution and Democracy that BJP is posing today is real then Hindus too should realise their responsibility and support the Secular candidate.

If the BJPs handling of economy is indeed against the interest of the country, then the Hindus must also rise above the communal politics and fake nationalism and vote against the economic imbalance and widening gap between rich and poor.

If the BJP is indeed responsible for rampant unemployment and rising prices then among the sufferers are also the Hindus and they must now vote for a change in the 2024 General Elections.

The responsivity is also of the INDIA bloc constituents - mainly the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) to successfully drive the Hindu voters in favour of the Secular candidate.

Footnote: The analysis of Dhule-Malegaon Parliamentary Seat (Dhule Lok Sabha Constituency) here is a Case Study. But, it also applies to other Parliamentary constituencies of India where Muslims are consistently voting for Secular Candidates, and also for the Congress when most of its supporters have deserted it, whereas the voting pattern of Hindus is exactly opposite.

[The writer, Aleem Faizee, is Founder Editor ummid.com. He can be reached at aleem.faizee@gmail.com]

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NEET UG (2024) Application Correction Window Opens Today

The students who find any error or want to make the allowed changes in their NEET application form can make correction using this facility till March 20, 2024. Read More

Monday March 18, 2024 11:48 AM , ummid.com News Network

NEET UG 2024 Correction Window: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has opened Monday March 20, 2024 'Application Correction Window' on the NEET UG 2024 official website nta.ac.in/medicalexam that will allow candidates to edit errors or modify and change in their application.

Candidates should note that they will not be allowed to make changes in their application as per their wish. Instead, they will be allowed to edit or make changes in the NEET application form as per the details given in the information brochure.

Modification, Changes Limitation

Some of the details that can be modified include name, address, educational qualifications, and exam center preferences (with some limitations). Candidates can also be able to re-authenticate their Aadhaar card.

"All fields and Uploaded documents including AADHAAR re-authentication, except the contact mobile number and email used at time of registration, can be modified", the NTA said.

As per the NTA notification, NEET UG Application Correction has been opened today i.e. Monday March 18, 2024. The online correction window will remain open till March 20, 2024 (up to 11:50 pm).

How to use NEET 2024 Correction Window

1. Go to the official website: exams.nta.ac.in/NEET .

2. Click on the appropriate link.

3. Log in using Registration No and Password.

4. Follow the instruction to complete the needed correction in your application form.

NEET UG 2024 Date

As per the notification released by NTA, NEET UG 2024 will be held on Sunday May 05, 2024.

The online application started Friday February 09, 2024 and continued till March 09, 2024 up to 09:00 PM. Last date of fees payment was March 09 2024 up to 11:50 PM, as per the NEET UG 2024 Notification.

NEET UG 2024 Admit Card

The NTA has not yet confirmed the exact date to release NEET 2024 Admit Card. NEET admit card, also called as Hall Ticket, however is published at least 15 days before the exam.

Candidates should note that Centre, Date, and Shift of NEET (UG) - 2024 Examination will be as indicated on Admit Card.

Before releasing the NEET Admit Card, the NTA will publish Exam Center Intimation Information.

NEET Exam Pattern

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test will consist of 200 multiple choice questions (four options with a single correct answer) from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology). 50 questions in each subject will be divided into two Sections (A and B).

The duration of the Examination will be 200 minutes (03 hours 20 minutes) from 02:00 PM to 05:20 PM (Indian Standard Time) and shall be uniform for all candidates, the NTA said.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG) is conducted for admission to First Year MBBS, BDS, BUMS, BAMS and other Medical Courses by National Testing Agency (NTA).

NEET UG 2024 Result Date

Candidates should that NEET 2024 will be held across India in pen and paper mode only.

NEET (UG)  2024 will be conducted in 13 languages i.e. English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu on May 05, 2024.

The Entrance Test is conducted for admission to First Year MBBS, BDS, BUMS, BAMS and other Medical Courses by National Testing Agency (NTA).

NEET UG 2024 result will be declared on June 14, 2024.

For NEET Syllabus, exam centre details and important dates, candidates should regularly visit this page as well as NEET official website.

Candidates should also download NEET Information Brochure to know other important dates, NEET syllabus, exam pattern, marking and scoring method etc.

The NTA had conducted on Sunday May 07, 2023 National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) last year. NEET UG 2023 result and toppers list was declared on June 14.

Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic.
HA NOI  Building national brands is important to help local businesses engage deeply in the global value chains and establish reputation in the worlds market, experts have said.

According to brand evaluation consultancy Brand Finance, Viet Nam brand value has increased to US$431 billion to rank 33rd in 2022 from $319 billion in 2019. The country climbed one place to 32nd in 2023.

A report on the implementation of the Viet Nam National Brand Programme 2023 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade showed that Viet Nam continued to be a spotlight in the worlds brand development map, posting the fastest growth rate of 102 per cent in the 2019-23 period.

Along with the growth of the nation brand, the brand value of Vietnamese businesses also increased strongly.

While brands of Vietnamese businesses were absent in the rankings of international organisations in early 2000s, the total value of the countrys top 50 brands increased by 36 per cent to $36.6 billion in 2022.

Telecommunications, banking and food are industries with the most valuable and strongest brands, according to Brand Finances Vietnam 100 2023 report.

Banking brand value increased by 47 per cent in 2022, proved resilient to economic headwinds battering the nation by adopting digitalisation and enhancing customer services. Bank of Investment and Development for Viet Nam (BIDV) was the fastest growing brand with the value up 69 per cent to $1.4 billion.

Viettel defended its title as Viet Nams most valuable brand in our rankings for the eighth year running with a growth of 2 per cent to $8.9 billion on improvement in financial performance and digitalisation effort.

According to Bui Thi Huong, executive director of Vinamilk, it is important for businesses to seek innovation and creativity based on their core values to not only continue affirm the brand value in Viet Nam but also contribute actively to bringing Viet Nam brand to the world.

ang Thuy Ha from Nielsen Viet Nam highlights the remarkable success of the business community in promoting corporate brands and expanding the reach of Vietnamese goods to international markets.

Viet Nams strong brands are increasingly known to the world.

Still, many enterprises, mostly small and medium sized, have not paid adequate attention to building brands and invested properly for brand communication.

According to Alex Haigh, Managing Director of Brand Finance, Asia Pacific, a compelling story is the key to building the national brand and image of Viet Nam. A number of factors will play roles in establishing brand, including diplomacy, economy and business environment.

Le Ba Ngoc, Deputy President of Viet Nam Handicraft Exporter Association, says in brand building, it is necessary to focus on innovative, original and sustainable value.

Economist Tran inh Thien says that building a Vietnamese brand means creating prestige and advantage as well as conditions for Vietnamese products to easily reach the world to create national value and increase national pride. VNS
HAI PHONG  The South Hai Phong Economic Zone - if established - would create a new driving force for Hai Phong's economic development, as heard in a conference in the northern port city on Sunday.

Head of Hai Phong Economic Zone Management Board Le Trung Kien said that the zone's establishment is very necessary in the process of restructuring the economy of Hai Phong and the whole country. This is demonstrated through the formation and development of inh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone (EZ).

Established in 2008, the 22,540ha inh Vu-Cat Hai EZ comprises nine industrial parks. To date, it has lured many projects in the fields of high technology, processing and manufacturing of leading domestic and world corporations with a total investment capital of US$32 billion.

Kien said the EZ has contributed to Hai Phong's industrial restructuring, promoting its industrialisation and modernisation, bringing the city deeper participation in the global value chain.

However, the zone now reports an occupancy rate of 80 per cent while clearance in the remaining areas faced many difficulties due to crowded population and inadequate resettlement land funds.

Kien said he believed that the establishment of Hai Phong Southern EZ is the basis to catch the wave of investment capital, welcoming investors in the fields of high technology, semiconductors and green and circular industrial parks while helping take full advantage of the city's strengths and potentials.

During the event, Ko Tae Yeon, Chairman of KOCHAM Hai Phong said the EZ is expected to be an attractive destination for South Korean investors.

South Korean investors have pumped over $10 billion into 106 projects in Hai Phong thanks to the country's stable political environment, the State and the city's incentives for foreign enterprises, its favourable location and developed transportation infrastructure, the chairman said.

The South Hai Phong EZ is expected to cover about 20,000ha in the districts of An Lao, Kien Thuy, Tien Lang, and Vinh Bao.

It will house important infrastructure projects including Tien Lang airport, Nam o Son port, and two logistics centres in Kien Thuy and Tien Lang, along with a port system along the Van Uc river.

Kien said his city is completing documents and procedures to submit to the Prime Minister for approval not later than the second quarter of 2024. VNS
Letsie III, the King of Lesotho, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Maseru, Lesotho, March 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

MASERU, March 17 (Xinhua) -- For the past 30 years, Lesotho and China have enjoyed a very healthy and productive relationship, Letsie III, the King of Lesotho has said, and he hopes the relationship continue to strengthen and grow stronger as time progresses.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Lesotho. "Under that relationship, as a country, we have benefited a great deal from Chinese assistance and generosity," Letsie III told Xinhua in an interview on Monday at the royal residence Matsieng in capital Maseru.

For example, China has been strongly supporting Lesotho in the infrastructure development, he said, adding that with the help of China, Lesotho has built new roads, hospitals and various projects.

Since 1983, China has completed several aid projects in Lesotho, such as the Lesotho National Library, Manthabiseng Convention Center, the Parliament building, the Phase I of the Mafeteng Solar Power Plant Project, and technical cooperation projects such as vegetable planting, biogas technical guidance, and Juncao planting. China has also provided food aid to Lesotho on many occasions.

Letsie III highly appreciated China's proposals such as the Initiative on Supporting Africa's Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa's Agricultural Modernization, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development.

Regarding the cooperation in industrialization between the two nations, Letsie III hopes more Chinese companies invest in Lesotho so as to strengthen private sectors. "So that the private sector can play its meaningful role as a development engine to the economy, and also create jobs," he said.

Letsie III attached great importance to food security during the interview. He highlighted China's contribution in the agricultural sector in Lesotho over the past years, hoping the two countries can work together to find ways of expanding the programs in agriculture.

"I believe that (with China's help) we can achieve greater food security and greater nutrition security. Many Basotho (Lesotho people) would very much be appreciative of that," he said.

Speaking of the talent development, Letsie III noted that in the last 30 years, there were a lot of Basotho studying in China, and more and more Basotho are getting interested in the ancient and rich Chinese culture.

"We hope that trend will continue," he said, "we also hope that through interactions of this nature, more and more Chinese people will learn about our culture and our history."

Letsie III said that Lesotho has always adhered to the one-China policy and will continue to support China in playing a more active role on the international stage, which is in the interest of all people.

"This is mutually beneficial cooperation, and we hope that we can maintain that characteristic so that both Basotho and Chinese people can benefit from this relationship," said the king. 

Letsie III, the King of Lesotho, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Maseru, Lesotho, March 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)
HA NOI  There is still significant potential for Viet Nam and Ireland to foster bilateral relations in trade and investment, especially in agriculture, information and technology and pharmaceuticals.

Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung delivered this statement during a recent meeting with the Minister of State at the Department of Justice of Ireland James Browne.

Despite a sound traditional friendship, two-way cooperation in trade, investment and other fields has remained modest and has failed to match the potential and expectations of the two countries, Dung said.

He added that Viet Nam plans to build a technical and incubation centre to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the northern region to improve the added value and competitiveness of the country's agricultural and food products and promote the countrys agricultural sectors growth and called for Irelands support in building and developing the centre.

In terms of the IT sector, Viet Nam hopes for Irelands cooperation in human resources training as well as collaboration with the National Innovation Centre, he said.

For his part, Browne highlighted abundant opportunities for the two sides to bolster trade and investment cooperation, including collaboration in agriculture, information technology and pharmaceuticals.

Viet Nams policy on restructuring the agricultural sector towards a hi-tech-based effective sector in association with carbon emission reduction, sustainable development, environmental protection, climate change adaption and value chain enhancement, also mirrors Irelands strength, he said.

He also said he hoped that more agricultural products from Ireland would enter the Vietnamese market.  VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung uc Tien has revealed that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) plans to convene a conference in May to unveil the export of chicken meat products to Islamic markets. The anticipated volume is approximately 1,000 tonnes per month.

The Deputy Minister said the market of Muslim countries with a total population of around 2.2 billion people offers opportunities for a number of Viet Nam's agricultural products.

To date, Vietnamese companies have exported many products such as tra fish (pangasius), vegetables, fruits and rice to this market. However, the MARD believes that there is still great potential to be exploited.

According to the official, to export agricultural products to Muslim countries, Vietnamese products must have Halal certification. In the coming times, the ministry will focus on implementing solutions to tap this market.  VNS
PARIS  The Association Entraide Entrepreneures Vietnamiennes en France (AEEV) held an awards ceremony on March 17 in Paris (France) to honour Vietnamese female individuals for their contribution to society and to AEEV.

Themed Honouring Vietnamese Female Entrepreneurs in France, the event hosted businesswomen that are influential within the Vietnamese community in the country.

Participating in the programme were Stephanie o (the first Vietnamese-origin member of the French parliament) and Dr. Phan Bich Thien (head of the Association of Vietnamese Women in Hungary and chairwoman of the Viet Nam-Hungary Relationship Foundation).

Speaking at the event, Stephanie shared her story and the challenges of women who enter politics. She recommended women have a routine that can balance work, social, and family time.

It is quite difficult for women to excel both in work, family, and social lives, she said. Thus, it is necessary for them, especially young women, to design and strictly follow plans that allocate time for each aspect of life.

For her part, Thien addressed obstacles facing female entrepreneurs, saying women need to stay confident and learn to balance their lives.

There were also lawyers and investment experts at the event to discuss legal affairs and investment and trade opportunities, as well as to share insightful business-related suggestions.

Thien also rewarded the Vietnamese Womens Forum in Europe for their contribution and charity work in 2023.

The programme ended with an ao dai and traditional royal costumes performance and a music show.

Founded in 2022, AEEV is a non-governmental organisation connecting Vietnamese female entrepreneurs in France with those in other nations.

It is the first ever French-based Vietnamese businesswomen association.

Members of AEEV can share experiences in business and get support with legal and investment affairs, and procedures for settling in France.

The association also has held multiple charity programmes both in France and Viet Nam, particularly in helping underprivileged children, disabled individuals, and financially incapable hospital patients.

It also takes part in carrying out, supervising, and supporting projects, programmes, and events of the Vietnamese community worldwide.

Betty Hang, chairwoman of AEEV, told Vietnam News Agency that the organisation was established based on the hope of uniting Vietnamese women in France and creating a trustworthy community where they can further improve their businesses.

Thien hoped that with significant achievements, AEEV would continue to have more meaningful and contributive activities to strengthen the role and heighten the position of both AEEV and the Vietnamese Womens Forum in Europe.  VNS
HCM CITY  Some 62 per cent of women-led small and medium-sized enterprises and micro-businesses reported increased revenue after adopting digital payments, according to a recent study on small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Viet Nam released by Visa.

According to the study, the Asia Pacific economy including the Viet Nam market could gain an additional US$89 billion annually if women were able to maximise their economic potential.

SMEs are crucial for Viet Nam's economic growth, with SMEs accounting for 96 per cent of all businesses of Viet Nam and employing 47 per cent of the labour force.

The study found that, with the adoption of digital payments, managing businesses has become easier for 73 per cent of the surveyed SMBs in Viet Nam.

Almost three-quarters of the respondents have adopted digital payments, while 42 per cent accept card payments. The primary factors influencing these decisions include ease of management, impact on sales, and the security afforded by bank transfers.

Furthermore, two-thirds of the surveyed SMEs collaborate with more than one payment provider.

Among the businesses that have started accepting digital payments, those accepting cards witnessed the most significant turnover increases at 79 per cent, compared to those who did not accept cards, at about 46 per cent.

Digital payments enable fast transfers, and cashless everyday transactions for a better commerce experience, the study said.

Nguyen Minh Tram, CEO & founder, Sorella Beauty & Spa, said: My business has grown since I introduced digital payment methods. I appreciate the convenience, speed, and the ability to easily track payment records. It provides my customers with a convenient cashless payment option too. I hope to expand my business beyond Viet Nam so enabling cross-border payments will help me grow my customer base.

In Viet Nam, Visa is committed to help SMEs owners and startups, having signed a three-year MoU with the State Bank of Viet Nam.

The company launched its SME accelerator progamme in Viet Nam in 2023 to support SMBs and partners, including faster onboarding and comprehensive take-to-market support. The expanded SMB Accelerator initiatives will also focus on a wider set of partnerships with ecosystem participants to serve smaller sellers and fast-track solutions deployment for SMBs.

"SMBs are the backbone of Viet Nam's thriving economy and Visa is proud to contribute to their growth by providing secure and convenient digital payment solutions, said Dung ang, Visa country manager for Viet Nam and Laos. Visa is committed to continue introducing innovative financial and payment solutions, so they can build on this foundation to grow their business.

The Visa Foundation has also pledged $100 million over five years to accelerate access for underrepresented and women-led SMBs in APEC economies, including Viet Nam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico, and Peru.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Planning and Investment on Monday announced the launch of the Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2024 with a focus on expediting the growth of Viet Nam's semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors.

With the theme "Innovation to accelerate the semiconductor industry and artificial intelligence to go global", the programme aims to create an intellectual playground, bringing together resources for collaboration, generating breakthrough ideas, leveraging the potential and seizing the opportunities of the semiconductor and artificial intelligence industries.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy ong emphasised the pivotal role of the semiconductor industry amid global economic competition and the strategic importance of AI in Viet Nam's development agenda. He reiterated the government's unwavering support for high-tech industries, aligning with the objectives of the VIC programme.

The programme not only reflects the vision and robust support of the Ministry of Planning and Investment in advancing these two promising sectors, but also actively contributes to achieving the strategic objectives outlined by the Government, ong said.

Viet Nam, with its strategic location, expanding digital infrastructure, highly skilled workforce and abundant young talent brimming with creativity, is rapidly emerging as a key player in the semiconductor industry, poised for immense growth in the coming years. Projections from the SEMI Southeast Asia indicate that Viet Nam's semiconductor market is set to expand by over 6 per cent between 2022 and 2027.

Rafael Frankel, Director of Public Policy for Southeast Asia at Meta Corporation, expressed pride in the partnership with Viet Nam and highlighted the programme's role in nurturing innovation and integration into the global digital economy.

We are creating an intellectual playground. It fosters ideas, and leverages opportunities within the semiconductor and AI industries. This initiative will help Viet Nams dynamic tech sector integrate into the global digital economy, Rafael said.

With its two primary pillars focusing on optimising semiconductor processes and harnessing AI solutions for business development, the Vietnam Innovation Challenge 2024 seeks to foster collaboration, attract essential resources, and establish a multilateral cooperation platform. Through this, Vietnamese businesses are poised to enhance their value proposition and fortify their position within the global value chain.

Structured into three tracks catering to established corporations, innovative SMEs, and individual innovators, the programme invites participation from a diverse spectrum of entities. Spanning from March to October 2024, the timeline encompasses information exchange sessions, application submissions and evaluation rounds, and culminates in the prestigious Vietnam Innovation Award Ceremony.

The total prize for winners reaches up to US$300,000.

The Vietnam Innovation Challenge is a pioneering initiative, born out of InnovateVN's vision, and orchestrated by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in conjunction with the National Innovation Centre (NIC) and Meta Corporation.

Last years programme garnered significant attention and widespread outreach with 758 applications for digital transformation solutions from various countries with vibrant innovative ecosystems such as the United States, South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong (China). The programme was also mentioned in a White House press release, demonstrating its importance and the necessity in seeking innovative solutions as well as driving development for Viet Nam's economy.  VNS
Compiled by Linh Anh

HA NOI - Decree 24/2012/N-CP, which governs the management of gold import and export activities by the State Bank of Viet Nam, is being revised to address the changing dynamics in the gold market.

Since 2014, no licences have been issued for gold imports for the production of gold bars, resulting in limited raw material supply. This has led to fluctuations in domestic gold prices, a significant price disparity between SJC-branded gold and other brands, and potential instability in the financial market and currency.

Therefore, there is a need to amend Decree 24/2012/N-CP to ensure effective management of the gold market while maintaining its integrity.

Recognising the necessity for revision, Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Viet Nam, ao Minh Tu, has acknowledged that Decree 24/2012/N-CP should have been amended earlier to adapt to the current state of the gold market. The aim is to align supply and demand and consider alternative approaches to gold market management.

Under the current decree, the State Bank of Viet Nam holds a monopoly on gold bar production, while gold jewelry and art are managed by relevant authorities. The State Bank, therefore, will re-assess the role of Decree 24/2012/N-CP to determine its effectiveness and propose necessary changes.

The deputy governor said: "Many experts also believe that it is time to reconsider SJC gold in comparison to other types and brands of gold. The ultimate goal is to manage the gold market without affecting the macroeconomy and safeguarding the interests of 100 million people."

Nguyen uc Anh, Deputy General Director of Bao Tin Manh Hai Joint Stock Company, suggests allowing qualified enterprises to participate in gold bar production. This would contribute to stabilising the prices of SJC gold and gold bars, reducing the price difference compared to the global gold market as witnessed recently.

Shaokai Fan, regional director for Asia-Pacific (excluding China), and head of Central Banks at the World Gold Council, expresses the need to carefully consider various options in amending Decree 24/2012/N-CP without disrupting the gold market. Any new regulation allowing gold imports will help narrow the price gap between domestic and international gold prices, ensuring the rights of investors.

The policy restricting gold imports is identified as the primary factor causing a considerable disparity between domestic and global gold prices in Viet Nam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has provided directives to address this issue, Shaokai Fan tells au Tu (Investment) Newspaper.

Many experts and businesses hope that the gold market will experience greater liberalisation in the future. Any new regulations permitting gold imports will help narrow the price gap between domestic and international gold, safeguarding the rights of investors.

Observing global practices, it is evident that several countries effectively manage their gold markets by considering gold as a financial product rather than a mere physical commodity. Viet Nam can learn from the gold market management models adopted by countries such as China, India, and Turkey. Despite relying primarily on gold imports without domestic production, these nations successfully meet their domestic gold demand, according to Shaokai Fan.

In a regular government meeting in February, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed the State Bank to promptly propose amendments to Decree 24/2012/N-CP on gold business management. The Prime Minister's Directive No 06/CT-TTg on February 15, 2024, also urged the State Bank to expedite the review of the Decree and propose effective solutions for gold market management in the first quarter of 2024.

According to ao Xuan Tuan, Head of the Foreign Exchange Management Department under the State Bank, the State Bank, in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies, is actively reviewing Decree 24/2012/N-CP and considering all existing issues.

The objective is to ensure effective gold price management while preserving market integrity. The State Bank continues to monitor the gold market closely and is prepared to implement measures to stabilise the market as needed, he said. VNS
Catherine Stewart, Climate Change Ambassador of Canada, talked to Viet Nam News reporter Nguyen Hang during her recent visit about Canadas plans to support Viet Nam to adapt to climate change as well as in implementing the green transition process in the future.

What are Canadas initiatives and commitments to global climate action?

Climate change is a global problem which requires a global solution. We are doing a lot domestically to tackle climate change and we are also doing a lot to support developing countries in addressing climate change. So domestically, we have net zero by 2050 in our legislation, and we have committed to establish plans every five years to support that goal with net zero by 2050. Right now, we have an emissions reduction plan as part of that, which is our nationally determined contribution (NDC), a commitment to reduce emissions by 40 per cent to 45 per cent by 2030. We have around 140 measures that we are implementing to address climate change. We have invested already about US$120 billion within Canada to address climate change.

Some of the initiatives that we are advancing in Canada include a commitment to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. We also have a commitment to phase out unabated coal for power. We are advancing clean fuel regulations and clean electricity regulations so that by 2035, our electricity bridge can be 100 per cent clean. We are also advancing zero emission vehicles, regulations and support for that. More recently, we announced a framework to put a cap on oil and gas emissions. Then we have got work on methane as well, including regulations to reduce emissions in the oil and gas sector by 75 per cent, reducing those methane emissions. So, we are doing a lot domestically to try to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.

Canada also feels the impacts of climate change and we have a national adaptation strategy, which helps communities be more resilient to those impacts and to adapt to climate change. Our approach to climate change globally also includes support to developing countries. Canada has committed $5.3 billion in climate finance and we are advancing a number of initiatives under our climate finance support, including a billion dollars towards energy transition.

For Canada, we feel strongly we are addressing a triple crisis, a climate crisis against biodiversity loss and pollution. Top of our efforts on climate change, we have also played an instrumental role in biodiversity by working closely with China in hosting the COP15, the biodiversity Convention, and which concluded the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We will host the negotiating session this year, the INC-4 (the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment). It is called towards a global plastics agreement that we hope to conclude by the end of this year. Canadas Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault has also been very strongly advocating for climate finance and ensuring that we have the support that is needed for developing countries as we move into the future.

How do you evaluate past cooperation between Viet Nam and Canada?

The ties between our two countries are very deep. We have over 50 years of established diplomatic relations and over 30 years of Canada being able to support Viet Nams development assistance. We have invested over $1.8 billion in development assistance with Viet Nam. We really use that to support reducing poverty and inequality, empowering women and girls, and addressing climate change, including inclusive governance. We really look forward to continuing the great cooperation that we have established with Viet Nam.

Part of the reason I am here is to advance our Indo Pacific strategy, which is a concerted effort by the Government of Canada to deepen our ties in this region, but also deepen our cooperation with Viet Nam. We are very committed to supporting and promoting sustainable development and resilience in this region and in Viet Nam. We hope that both of our nations can continue to be very active globally on climate change and on sustainable development.

Vietnamese farmers are facing many problems related to climate change adaptation, for example, coastal communities in Viet Nam are suffering from major erosion due to rising sea levels. How will Canada support Viet Nam in handling these issues in the future?

Adaptation is certainly a priority for Canada. I spoke a lot about our efforts domestically to reduce emissions, but we also need to build strong communities and be able to better adapt to the impacts of climate change. We are feeling the impacts of climate change in Canada. You may be aware of the wildfires that we had last summer in Canada, which burned an area, a total of 18.5 million ha, which is not insignificant. That is equal to about half the land mass of Viet Nam on fire in Canada. So we feel very, very strongly of the need to address climate change, given the impact on economies, but on peoples livelihoods.

We also know that those impacts are felt here as well, and that there are implications to Viet Nams GDP, including a cost of about 12 to 14 per cent to Viet Nams GDP by 2050, given the impacts of climate change. We really want to make sure that we are supporting communities in better being able to respond to the effects of climate change and build communities so that they can thrive in generations to come. That is why adaptation is really a key part of the Paris agreement.

We have mitigation, adaptation and providing support for the most vulnerable of this world. We know, for example, in Viet Nam, that rising sea levels pose a very significant threat, including in the Mekong Delta. We are very committed to help to support that. In the past, we have supported through the Asian Development Bank, a project on integrated disaster risk management and that established an integrated disaster risk management fund to support the development for innovative approaches and tools to manage disasters. We really hope to further adaptation and resilient projects with Viet Nam. We have several plans in place to do that, and then on agriculture as well. We have had some excellent cooperation on food security and on trade policy. We also look forward to being able to adopt more projects on that front as well.

Under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) agreement, G7 countries, including Canada, are mobilising US$15.5 billion from the private sector and the Government to support Viet Nams green transition process. Could you tell us about Canadas support to help Viet Nam achieve its net zero emissions target by 2050?

As I mentioned with Canadas climate finance, energy transition is a very important component of that. Canada, for example, in 2019, was able to support Viet Nam in energy transition through our contribution that we made to the Asian Development Bank of $15 million to support Viet Nams first floating solar project. Then at COP 26, we were very pleased to see Viet Nams commitment to net zero by 2050, the commitment to stop deforestation by 2030, and also the commitment to phase out coal fuelled power generation by 2040. So with that commitment, we are very pleased that the international community, through the International Partners Group (IPG), was able to work with Viet Nam in developing a just energy transition partnership. I feel it is a very good example to the world of how a country with big needs to reduce emissions can work together on a plan to take that forward.

We have a number of projects over the next few years that we are eager to bring forward to support Viet Nam in your energy transition, including $50 million, which we have put forward to the World Bank, but also efforts within the International Energy Agency, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership.

So a number of these projects would help Viet Nam boost their regulatory capacity, build capacity as well as analysis in order to be able to carry forward with the energy transition. We have also invested a billion dollars in the climate investment funds accelerating full transition. We are looking forward to using some of that funding that we have set aside to support Viet Nam in this effort. So, we are very excited about moving forward with this JETP and starting to implement some projects.

Canada has promoted a global carbon pricing initiative to create a forum for countries that have established carbon markets as well as countries interested in this issue to exchange experiences and increase technical support with the goal that 60 per cent of global carbon emissions would be priced by 2030. What is Canada doing to support other countries, including Viet Nam, to develop and implement carbon pricing?

One of the things that I have been doing while I have been here is advocating for the global carbon pricing challenge, which was initiated by Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a couple of years ago. It really is an initiative, which aims to promote the value of carbon pricing as a policy tool that can effectively drive down emissions, promote innovation, promote energy efficiency and affordability.

We are looking for partners in the challenge and we really look forward to, hopefully, Viet Nam joining the challenge very soon to show leadership and support around this policy tool. As you mentioned, the aim of the challenge is to bring more of global emissions under carbon pricing regime. Right now, we have about 23 per cent of global emissions covered under some kind of carbon pricing regime. We want to bring that to 60 per cent by 2030. So we are working very hard on that goal and gathering more partners, showing that global leadership to do that.

The other opportunity within the global carbon pricing challenge is to provide technical support and help countries build the capacity and technical ability to be able to manage carbon pricing. We are really looking forward to offering that technical support to Viet Nam but also to other countries that are interested in implementing their own carbon pricing systems.

There is a lot of experience and knowledge out there and opportunities to be sharing lessons learned and best practices on carbon pricing. This is an area where we see Viet Nam playing a big leadership role, having implemented emissions trading system and a leadership role also within ASEAN, which is why Canadas Prime Minister Trudeau is very keen to see Viet Nam join the partnership and he has reached out on this front already. So we look forward to working with Viet Nam on that. VNS
HA NOI - Minister of Natural Resources and Environment ang Quoc Khanh on March 18 had a working session with visiting Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Mark Harbers, who expressed his countrys readiness to assist Viet Nam in offshore sand mining, groundwater management, and mineral exploitation.

Harbers spoke highly of the active moves by the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to protect the environment, especially nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation.

He shared opinions about the cooperation programmes on sustainable offshore sand mining, sustainable groundwater management in the Mekong Delta, the exploitation of essential minerals, and activities at the International Panel on Deltas, Coastal Areas and Islands.

These are strengths of the Netherlands, and it is ready to assist and share its policies, experience, techniques, and financial solutions with Vietnam, the minister stressed.

With regard to sustainable offshore sand mining, Khanh agreed with his guest on the need to quickly issue guidance for the projects on seeking offshore sand sources.

Talking about sustainable groundwater management in the Mekong Delta, he noted that the geographical location has made this region vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather conditions. Given this, the MoNRE hopes to receive assistance and experience from the Netherlands to devise water storage solutions to help solve water excess in the flood season and water scarcity in the dry season there, thus balancing water resources and boost sustainable development in the Delta.

In terms of activities at the International Panel on Deltas, Coastal Areas and Islands, the Vietnamese minister considered this as a good platform for sharing knowledge about climate change adaptation.

The MoNREs Department of Climate Change, Department of Water Resources Management, and Vietnam National Mekong Committee Standing Office will coordinate with the Netherlands to work out proposals for improving the national capacity to make use of water resources amid climate change and give livelihood support to residents in the Delta, he added.

At the meeting, the two ministers also discussed the building of a programme marking the 15th founding anniversary of the framework on climate change adaptation and water resources management between the two countries. They said this is an occasion for countries in the region and the world to learn about the two sides efforts to comply with international commitments on climate change response. - VNS
BAC GIANG  The Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Festival 2024, one of the largest festive events and an indispensable spiritual activity in the region, will be organised to express traditions and promote the local cultural identity.

The festival, scheduled from March 21-23 (12-14 of the second lunar month) in Yen Dung District, Bac Giang Province, is organised by three villages La Thuong, La Trung and La Ha, under the supervision of Tri Yen Commune People's Committee.

La Thuong villagers will prepare steamed sticky rice, flowers, fruits and incense; and decorate the festival's five-tier palanquin.

La Trung people will make use of their traditional craft of making banh day (round glutinous rice cake).

Every year, the village's elderly association grows special kind of sticky rice which produce white and fragrant rice and to make banh day. In addition to normal products, the villagers always produce a big one, weighing 30-40kg, and decorate it into a beautiful and delicious cake which will sit on a palanquin for the procession.

In La Ha, villagers will take charge of making che lam, a sweet desert made from roasted sticky rice powder, sugar and ginger.

About a month before the festival, the monks, villages' officials and the commune People's Committee meet to discuss and set up an organising committee and delegate specific tasks to take place over the three days of the festival.

In each village, there are subcommittees taking care of the affairs. All internal units such as Fatherland Front, Youth Association, Women's Association and Farmers Association will join in the effort. On the opening day, each village will hold a palanquin procession to the pagoda. Under a chief manager, young men and women will take care of carrying flags and palanquins. These carriers must be unmarried, healthy, obedient, and members of kind, exemplary families with prestige in the village.

At the scheduled time, the processions depart from the village towards the pagoda. Leading the way is the unicorn dance troupe, followed by the processions of La Thuong, La Trung and La Ha, respectively.

The worship of ancestors will be undertaken by monks. Under the direction of the Abbot, the village elders recite Buddhist sutras.

Following the ritual ceremony is the festival activities of music and dance, and folk games like tug of war, wrestling, smashing pots and blindfolded goat catching.

Vinh Nghiem Pagoda Festival is one of a largest festivals in the region, attracting huge numbers of locals, neighbouring residents and tourists.

The festival demonstrates the great influence of Buddhism in social life. It also shows the traditional ethics of Vietnamese people, and commemorates the merits of the three monks who founded the Truc Lam Zen, a sect with a strong identity of Vietnamese culture; and gratitude for the great contributions of the first patriarch, King - Monk Tran Nhan Tong, to expel foreign invaders in the past.

At the same time, it shows the solidarity and unity of the Vietnamese people.

Visiting the pagoda, tourists can enjoy a quiet and peaceful environment where they can calm down, relax and put aside the worries and hardships of everyday life.

They will also have opportunities to admire the beauty of the pagoda's unique artistic architectural work and a system of prominent Buddha statues that cannot be found in other pagodas.

Vinh Nghiem is also home to the collection of Buddhist scriptures consisting of 3,050 engraved wooden tablets, which were honoured by UNESCO as the Documentary Heritage of Memory of the Asia-Pacific region in 2012. VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam and Uzbekistan need to maintain mechanisms for exchanging information, and enhance connections between their ministries and sectors to explore possibilities and seek new cooperation opportunities for the development interests of each country, and for peace and stability in the region and the world.

This message was delivered on Monday at the talks between Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Uzbekistan Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov, who is on an official visit to Viet Nam from March 17-19.

Son welcomed his counterpart on the first visit of an Uzbekistani Minister of Foreign Affairs to Viet Nam since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. He affirmed that this is an opportunity for both sides to review and agree on directions and measures to strengthen the traditional friendship and promote bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual strength.

Son highly appreciated Uzbekistan's positive socio-economic development achievements, while noting the impressive growth of Viet Nam  Uzbekistans trade turnover from 2021 to date, averaging over 30 per cent per year. Particularly in 2023, bilateral trade turnover reached US$159.7 million, up 32 per cent compared to 2022.

Son affirmed that Viet Nam always values its relations with traditional friendly countries, including Uzbekistan, and expressed his hope that both sides will create new impetus for enhancing cooperation, in line with the needs, desires and strengths of the two countries.

On this occasion, Son thanked Uzbekistan for supporting and creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to continue living, studying and doing business in the country.

For his part, Minister Saidov emphasised that Viet Nam is one of Uzbekistan's traditional and leading partners in the region.

He expressed the desire to deepen bilateral cooperation, especially in economic, trade, investment, agriculture and education; and that Viet Nam will serve as a bridge to further strengthen Uzbekistan's cooperation with the region, including expanding cooperation between ASEAN and the Central Asian region.

The two sides briefed each other about the socio-economic situation and major foreign policy directions of each country. They also reviewed the cooperation situation, the implementation of agreements reached between the high-level leaders of the two countries in the past period, as well as sharing on international and regional issues of common concern.  VNS
CAIRO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Monday reaffirmed its firm support in addressing the crisis in Sudan as an internal affair, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry made the remarks during a meeting in the capital Cairo with the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan Tom Perriello, who visited Egypt as part of his first regional tour since his appointment.

The Egyptian top diplomat highlighted the importance of "addressing the conflict in Sudan as a purely Sudanese matter" and vowed Egypt's rejection of interference from "external parties" in the crisis.

Both parties stressed the need for more consultations and coordination to assist Sudan in navigating its current challenges, the statement added.

Sudan has been mired in deadly clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 15, 2023. Recent estimates by the UN suggest that more than 13,000 lives have been lost since the outbreak of violence. 
Addressing the event, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee o Van Chien described the book as a handbook for Party Committees at all levels in building and promoting the great national solidarity bloc in the current period.
BEIJING  Le Hoai Trung, Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV Central Committees Commission for External Relations, held talks with Liu Jianchao, Secretary of the Communist Party of Chia (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the CPC Central Committees International Liaison Department, in Jilin province on Monday.

The talks formed part of the CPV delegations visit to China at the invitation of the CPC Central Committee.

The two sides informed each other about the situation of each Party and country while looking back on the important strides in the Viet Nam - China relations since the historic visits by CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China in late 2022 and by CPC General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping to Viet Nam in late 2023.

They discussed orientations for realising the common perceptions reached by the senior leaders, continuing to intensify and elevate the countries comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, building the Viet Nam - China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, and making efforts for the sake of the two peoples' happiness as well as peace and progress of the humankind.

The officials agreed to maintain frequent high-level exchanges and meetings, further promote the effectiveness of Party-to-Party relations to set strategic orientations for the countries ties, and step up exchanges and cooperation between the two Governments, parliaments, and fatherland front organisations. They agreed to strengthen ties in defence - security and between the two countries localities, foster people-to-people interaction, and increase communications about the traditional friendship between the two Parties, countries, and peoples.

As the two strategic advisory bodies in terms of external relations of the two Parties, the CPV Central Committees Commission for External Relations and the CPC Central Committees International Liaison Department will boost coordination to help promote their Parties strategic orientations for continuing to develop the Viet Nam - China relations in a healthy, stable, and sustainable manner, they noted.

Trung affirmed that in its foreign policy of independence and self-reliance, Viet Nam views the development of relations with China as the top priority and a strategic choice.

Noting Chinas consideration of Viet Nam as a priority orientation in its neighbourhood foreign policy, Liu stated developing the cooperation and friendship with Viet Nam is a strategic choice of his country, which supports Viet Nam to maintain its strategic self-reliance and play a greater role in the region and the world.

With regard to sea-related issues, Trung asked the two sides to consolidate the common perception on the importance of maintaining peace and stability at sea, coordinating to satisfactorily resolve sea-related issues in line with the high-level common perceptions, and settling differences by peaceful means and in conformity with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two sides need to bring into play the negotiation mechanisms on sea-related issues, seriously and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and promote the building of a substantive and efficient code of conduct in the waters (COC) that matches international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, he added.

During his stay in Jilin, Trung is set to meet with Jing Junhai, Secretary of the provincial CPC Committee and Chairman of the provincial Peoples Congress, to discuss ways to bolster economic, trade, investment, cultural, and tourism ties between Jilin and Vietnamese localities. He will also visit some local economic and cultural establishments.  VNS
HA NOI Viet Nams elevation of relations with major and important partners reflects the strongly enhanced mutual understanding and political trust between the country and the partners, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told a question-and-answer session on March 18.

Replying to legislators questions at the event, part of the 31st meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Son cited Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as saying at the 32nd Diplomatic Conference that the upgrade of Viet Nams relations with important partners to comprehensive strategic partnerships was a highly important result that carries historic significance.

Among the 30 strategic partners and comprehensive partners, Viet Nam now has comprehensive strategic partnerships with seven countries. It has established comprehensive strategic partnerships or strategic partnerships with the five permanent member states of the UN Security Council, he noted.

He highlighted the strongly enhanced mutual understanding and political trust as seen in the elevation of Viet Nams ties with major and important partners.

Taking the US as an example, the minister said Viet Nam normalised relations with this country in 1995, and bilateral ties were upgraded to a comprehensive partnership in 2013 and a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023. Mutual trust has also improved much while exchanges and cooperation have been unceasingly fostered.

On the basis of enhanced political trust, Viet Nams cooperation with the partners has also seen progress in other fields such as labour, science - technology, education - training, and culture, according to Son.

Establishing and upgrading ties with partners, Viet Nam has paid attention to reinforcing political trust and basing on each partners strengths to promote relations in trade, investment, science - technology, and education - training in a more intensive and comprehensive manner.

Viet Nam has identified certain breakthroughs to be made in relations with partners, he said, elaborating that it targets breakthroughs in infrastructure connectivity with China, in the semiconductor industry with the US, in high-tech agriculture and education - training with Australia, and in official development assistance (ODA) with Japan.

At the Q&A session, Minister Son also fielded questions about the implementation of economic, trade, and investment cooperation agreements in border localities, the planning of border gates, and the optimisation of border localities advantages to boost socio-economic development.

He also gave further information about some focuses of economic diplomacy, the maintenance and development of traditional cultural values and the Vietnamese language in overseas Vietnamese communities, and the mobilisation of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals contributions to national development. VNS
VIENTIANE  The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security on March 18 handed over 50 vehicles to the Lao Ministry of Public Security to help it ensure safety for activities held during Laos's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year.

With the hand-over being part of the Vietnamese Governments assistance package to Laos in 2024, Deputy Minister of Public Security Sen. Lt. Gen. Luong Tam Quang presented 20 cars and 30 motorcycles at the ceremony in Vientiane.

In his remarks, Quang expressed his confidence that Laos will effectively utilise the vehicles.

Receiving the gifts, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong highly appreciated the timely and practical assistance, which meets the actual needs and professional requirements of the Lao ministry. This reflects the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries Parties, States, and people, he said.

Earlier on the same day, while hosting a reception for the Vietnamese delegation, the Lao official expressed his wish for further cooperation with the Vietnamese security force so that the Lao counterpart successfully fulfil its tasks this year and ensure the absolute safety for international conferences held in the country.

For his part, Quang affirmed that the Vietnamese ministry always stands side by side with and is ready to cooperate and assist the Lao ministry in all situations. The two sides will maintain and improve the quality of their information exchange, situation grasp, and experience sharing, he said.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov, who is paying an official visit to Viet Nam, in Ha Noi on Monday.

The host leader affirmed Viet Nam always keeps in mind Uzbekistans wholehearted assistance during its struggle for independence, and that it attaches importance to the traditional friendship with the republics that used to be part of the former Soviet Union, including Uzbekistan.

Lauding the significance of the first visit to Viet Nam by an Uzbek foreign minister since the bilateral diplomatic ties were set up in 1992, PM Chinh held that on the basis of the traditional friendship, the two countries should promote cooperation comprehensively, between their Parties, governments, and parliaments, as well as via delegation exchanges and the establishment of new cooperation mechanisms between their ministries and sectors.

He said as the two countries boast economic and trade complementarities, they should increase trade in the commodities they are strong at such as cotton and production materials of Uzbekistan along with aquatic products, textiles - garments, and electronic devices of Viet Nam.

The Vietnamese leader also called for stronger partnerships in spearhead industries of both countries like petroleum and agriculture to guarantee energy and food security, as well as stronger locality-to-locality connections.

Asking for strengthened collaboration at regional and international forums, the PM said Viet Nam is ready to act as a bridge between Uzbekistan and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

He also suggested Uzbekistan help Viet Nam reinforce ties with Central Asian countries in the spirit of good friends and responsible partners.

For his part, Saidov affirmed that Uzbekistan wishes to further enhance the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Viet Nam, particularly in terms of economy, trade, and investment.

He perceived that the two sides hold considerable cooperation potential. He also agreed on the cooperation directions the PM mentioned at the meeting.

Reporting on the earlier talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son, Saidov noted the two sides will work out a cooperation plan between the two foreign ministries and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to perfect the legal foundation for developing the bilateral relations in such spheres as economy - trade, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges in a more result-oriented manner.

PM Chinh highly valued the talks outcomes, asking the two foreign ministries to further bring into play their coordinating role so that the two countries cooperation will obtain fruitful results in the time ahead.

He also requested further promoting ties in education - training, culture, arts, tourism, people-to-people interaction, and exchanges between socio-political organisations such as alumni and youth ones to help intensify mutual understanding between the Vietnamese and Uzbek youths and nurture the friendship between the two nations' people.  VNS
HA NOI  Following its successful bid on March 8th to use the 2500-2600 MHz radio frequency band for 5G deployment, Viet Nam's military-run telecom provider, Viettel, has outlined a plan to leverage its 5G services to propel the country's digital economy, industry, and society.

While previous mobile technologies primarily catered to individual users, 5G holds immense potential as a foundation for smart industries, factories, and cities. Experts hailed it as a key driver of digital economic growth.

Industry analysts have noted that 5G is highly beneficial for businesses operating in factories, ports, or airports, requiring secure and reliable connectivity that Wi-Fi struggles to provide.

The momentum continues with a scheduled bidding round for the 3700-3800 MHz band set for March 19th.

Meanwhile, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), Nguyen Nam Long, stated that beyond piloting services in 16 cities and provinces and developing Internet-of-Things and smart home products, VNPT aims to create 5G-powered applications and introduce a suite of smart agriculture solutions to spearhead comprehensive digital transformation within the agricultural sector.

MobiFone, another Vietnamese telecom provider, has also expressed its commitment to maximizing the effectiveness of its future 5G services.  VNS
QUANG NINH  Quang Ninh province in the north has introduced a one-time financial incentive ranging from VN200-750 million (US$8,000-30,200) for distinguished doctors committing to serve in the region.

This initiative, outlined in Resolution 28 enacted on December 8 of the previous year by the provincial People's Council, is part of efforts to attract medical professionals to state-run healthcare facilities and drug addiction treatment centers through 2025. The goal is to enhance healthcare and treatment services for local residents, aiming to recruit at least 298 doctors.

Doctors with experience are required to serve for a minimum of five years, while recent graduates are expected to commit to seven years. However, this policy excludes traditional medicine practitioners, preventive medicine doctors, and those who previously worked in the province's public health sector but have since left or switched to non-healthcare roles. Eligible candidates must hold degrees from higher education institutions recognized by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training.

The financial support varies by workplace: doctors at provincial hospitals like the General Hospital, Bai Chay Hospital, Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, and Viet Nam-Sweden Hospital can receive VN550-750 million ($22,250-30,200).

Those at district medical centers, including Ba Che, Binh Lieu, am Ha, and Co To, are eligible for VN450-700 million ($18,100-28,200) based on their qualifications and experience. Support of VN300-550 million ($12,100-22,250) is available for doctors at the Lung Hospital, Mental Health Hospital, Forensic Medicine Centre, Ha Long General Hospital, and city-level medical centers.

Doctors serving at island commune medical centers will receive VN300-500 million ($12,100-20,200), and those in remote or ethnically diverse mountainous areas can expect VN200-450 million ($8,000-18,100). Doctors at drug addiction treatment centers are offered VN250-450 million ($10,000-18,100), with women and ethnic minority doctors receiving an additional 20 per cent atop the designated support level.
CAN THO  A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed in Can Tho City between four parties to develop high-quality human resources in the electronics and semiconductor industry for the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region.

Sun Edu International Education Joint Stock Company, Can Tho Citys Department of Science and Technology, Can Tho University and Can Tho University of Engineering and Technology on Sunday signed the MoU to cooperate in providing an intensive training programme in electronics and integrated-circuit (IC) design.

Accordingly, the former two parties will develop the training programme for the Can Tho City-based universities to meet the demands of investors and businesses operating in the semiconductor industry.

The parties will provide in-depth training courses in the field for officials, lecturers and students in the city and the region.

They will also coordinate to organise communication events about the implementation of the training programme; synthesise, report, and evaluate the effectiveness of training activities; and advise and propose mechanisms and policies for training and developing human resources in an effective and practical manner.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh at said that according to the Provincial Innovation Index (PII) 2023 results, Can Tho City is highly ranked for human resources for research and development.

It also excels in knowledge products, technological innovations, and inventions and useful solutions for plant varieties.

This cooperation is important in training human resources, improving competitiveness and attracting investment capital not only for Can Tho but for the entire region, he said.

Can Tho has an abundant young labour force of skilled and high-qualified human resources.

It is focusing on building and developing high technology, adapting to new technologies in the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), and increasing investment in research activities and human resource training in electronics technology and semiconductor circuits.

Many experts said that high-quality human resources is one of the prerequisites for Viet Nam to participate more deeply in the global semiconductor industry value chain.

The country has been attracting many large semiconductor corporations from developed countries such as the US, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Taiwan (China) and the Netherlands.

Dr. Le Quang am, general director of Marvell Technology Vietnam LLC, said the company chose to invest in Viet Nam for three main reasons, including geopolitical stability, good human resources and effective investment opportunities.

The countrys semiconductor industry has a golden opportunity to become an important link in the global value chain.

The Vietnamese Government is offering many programmes and solutions to develop human resources with the goal of training engineers and experts to meet the requirements of semiconductor industry development.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Planning and Investment, the National Innovation Centre and US tech giant Meta Group announced the Viet Nam Innovation Challenge (VIC) 2024 in Ha Noi on Monday, aiming to seek innovative solutions from domestic and international organisations and individuals to develop Viet Nams semiconductor industry.

Speaking at the press conference to announce the event, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy ong said Viet Nam has risen as a potential factor in the semiconductor industry with its strategic location, developing digital infrastructure and a wealth of young and creative workforce.

Viet Nams semiconductor industry is expected to grow more than 6 per cent during in the 2022-2027 period, ong quoted forecasts from the Southeast Asia Semiconductor Association (SEMI SEA).

According to Director of Public Policy for Southeast and South Asia at Meta Group Rafael Frankel, VIC 2024 will create a playground that helps promote initiatives and capitalise on all opportunities to improve Vietnams integration into the global technology sector.

Themed Innovation to Accelerate the Semiconductor Industry and AI to Go Global, the event aims to honour solutions that improve the quality of the semiconductor value chains design, packaging and testing phases, with priority given to AI applications, and those applying AI technology to support business building and development and improve productivity.

VIC 2024 is designed to promote collaborative thinking, attract resources, and establish a multilateral cooperation platform to create a launching pad for Vietnamese businesses to enhance value and elevate their position within the global value chain.

By seeking out and honoring solutions, the programme will contribute to the overarching goal of raising awareness about the importance and value of the semiconductor and AI industries. It will recommend and connect Vietnamese enterprises with solutions that upgrade and improve business operations, enhance efficiency, and develop new products and services to increase their competitive edge in the global market.

The event, which runs until October this year, will provide a total prize pool of US$300,000 for chosen innovative solutions. The winners will also be given a privilege support package, including technical support to survey foreign markets, co-working space and laboratories, along with opportunities to expand markets and promote their brands.  VNS
There have been recent reports in some Moroccan media claiming that Algerian dates are absent from Moroccan markets during this Ramadan season. One news outlet, Assahifa, linked this to consumer concerns about potential residual nuclear radiation in batches imported from Algeria. According to the source, this could be due to the French nuclear tests conducted in the Algerian desert since the 1960s under colonial rule.

The media also noted an increased presence of dates from other countries to make up for the shortfall, including varieties like "Shamrukh", "Deglet Nour" and "Salima" imported from Tunisia. Egyptian "Al-Barari" dates and "Crown dates" from the United Arab Emirates are also more prominently featured.

On social media, some journalists helped spread this narrative. One in particular, Youssef Belhaissi, echoed Assahifa's assertions that residual nuclear fallout could be behind the absence of Algerian dates from the Moroccan market.

However, an on-the-ground check of markets in Fez and Casablanca told a different story. Most traders reported still selling Algerian dates, suggesting the circulating claims may be unfounded.

A deeper analysis raises some questions around these allegations. Nuclear testing in the Algerian desert took place over 50 years ago, so residual radiation would likely no longer be a health concern according to nuclear experts. Political tensions between Algeria and Morocco could also potentially factor into efforts to discourage Moroccan consumption of Algerian goods.

Ultimately, without any official statements or concrete evidence presented, the claims that nuclear radiation has caused a ban on Algerian dates remains unsubstantiated speculation at this point. While regional geopolitics may influence trade dynamics, more verification would be needed before reaching definitive conclusions in this case. The reality observed in Moroccan markets contradicts the narrative presented in some initial media reports. Continued monitoring of date imports and sources could help provide more clarity around this issue going forward.

In summarizing this report, it outlined claims made in some Moroccan media of Algerian dates being absent from local markets due to concerns over residual nuclear radiation from testing in Algeria decades ago. However, checks of Moroccan markets found traders still selling Algerian dates, contradicting these assertions. Deeper analysis raises questions around whether radiation would still be a risk after 50+ years and if politics influence efforts to discourage Moroccan consumption of Algerian goods. Overall, more evidence is required before confirming or rejecting the speculations presented regarding Algerian dates and potential nuclear contamination.
On March 17th, 2024, a serious head-on collision occurred on the D952 road along the Loire levee near the town of Vouvray, France, just before 9 PM. Two vehicles, including a police car, collided frontally at a location called Les Tuileries.

The exact circumstances that led to the crash are still under investigation. However, it is known that for an as of yet undetermined reason, one of the vehicles veered out of its lane and into the oncoming traffic.

Inside the police vehicle, the two officers aged 26 and 24 suffered minor injuries and were transported to the Tours University Hospital (CHU). However, the 51-year old driver of the other vehicle was in a far more critical condition. He was reported to be in cardiac arrest at the scene and required CPR from responding firefighters and paramedics from SAMU, France's emergency medical service. He was rushed to the CHU in Tours with his prognosis stated as being engaged or critical.

The roadway in both directions was shut down to allow emergency responders to work. A total of 18 firefighters were deployed to the accident site. As of now, the circumstances that led to one vehicle veering out of its lane remain under investigation. The collision serves as a tragic reminder of the fragility of life and importance of road safety. The condition of the critically injured 51-year old driver remains of highest concern, with his family and the community surely holding out hope for his recovery.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has won a resounding victory in the country's crucial presidential election according to preliminary results, demonstrating the fervent backing of the Russian people. With over 80% of votes counted as of early morning on March 18th, Putin leads with an overwhelming 87.21% of the vote, easily securing reelection based on the polling numbers released by Russia's Central Election Commission.

This represents Putin's fifth term as President of Russia and smashes all records for electoral support in modern Russian history. In the 2018 election, Putin won with 76.69% support, while in 2012 he garnered 63.6% of the vote. His initial victories in 2000 and 2004 saw him elected with 71.31% and 52.9% of votes respectively. Putin's landslide reelection reflects the high levels of confidence and approval he continues to maintain amongst Russian citizens after over two decades in power.

Turnout for this year's election was the highest ever recorded at over 74% according to preliminary figures. In a novel move, residents of Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine - Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson - were also able to vote, with Putin achieving over 88% support across the territories. Putin's popularity remains exceptionally strong, with a December 2022 survey by Russia's respected Levada polling center finding around 86% of Russians approve of his job performance as President.

Putin has cemented himself as the dominant political figure in Russia since first being appointed Prime Minister in 1999 and elevated to the presidency following Boris Yeltsin's resignation. As president during momentous periods that included the 1998 financial crisis, wars in Chechnya and challenges from the West, Putin rebuilt Russia's global standing and oversaw economic growth and stabilization. He maintains a commanding image as a decisive leader seeking to restore Russia's power and protect national interests abroad through actions like the invasions of Georgia, annexation of Crimea, and ongoing "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Domestically, Putin continues to effectively leverage nationalist rhetoric and ensure stability through monopolizing power around his leadership. Significant improvements in living standards, security, and overall population well-being during his tenure have helped solidify public endorsement despite economic headwinds in recent years. Western sanctions imposed over Ukraine have largely rebounded thanks to Russian resilience, adapting trade and focusing growth. Putin's landslide reelection signals the Russian public's continued endorsement of his guidance and vision for the country's path into an uncertain future.
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The event was held in Thu Duc of Ho Chi Minh City with with nearly 2,700 attendees, including the developer's staff and dozens of sales specialists from the country's top real estate distributors.

Gim Teck Yew, head of Sales and Marketing at Gamuda Land Ho Chi Minh City, said that Eaton Park is Gamuda Land's key high-end project in the east of Ho Chi Minh City.

As part of our project development strategy to expand business scale in Vietnam, Eaton Park was developed with the goal of becoming a new standard home model for a community of elite, modern residents who are looking for an ideal place to live in harmony with nature and balancing body and mind, while still possessing an upper-class temperament, Yew said.

During the event, Gamuda Land announced a pre-designed sales policy for Eaton Park before the opening date.

Customers only need to spend 5 per cent of the apartment value to sign a sales contract. With a payment schedule of up to five years, in the first three years customers only need to pay 30 per cent in six instalments until receiving notice of home handover. When receiving the house, the new customer must pay an additional 35 per cent, and the remaining cost is divided into two instalments for the next year.

This is deemed a preliminary policy on the payment schedule and does not include the preferential discount rate that the investor offers to customers who order early, which will be announced on the opening day. The ratio of Gamuda Land is usually no less than 5 per cent.

Located in the central area of Thu Duc, Eaton Park has a prime spot in the real estate market of Ho Chi Minh City.

Covering nearly 3.8 hectares, the project is planned with six towers ranging from 29 to 39 floors high. It will provide just over 2,000 products, with the vast majority being luxury apartments with 1-3 bedrooms. There will also be 12 penthouse apartments, 52 podium service stores, and 21 shophouses.

The estimated total development value is more than $1.1 billion.

Eaton Park boasts an architectural design inspired by the rhythmic movement of rolling waves and the sculptural language of geological formations. With enthusiasm and attention to every detail in the master plan, Eaton Park is expected to establish a new standard of urban life and will bring not only an upscale lifestyle but also a comprehensive, rich, and exciting life, according to the developer.

Since entering Vietnam in 2007, Gamuda Land has spent trillions of VND on both its Gamuda City urban area in Hanoi and Celadon City in Ho Chi Minh City. Following those successes, the Malaysian enterprise is showing ambition to enhance its position in Vietnam.

In 2022, Gamuda Land successfully carried out two large-scale merger and acquisition deals. It first took over the Artisan Park commercial townhouse project in Binh Duong New City in a deal worth up to $54 million. It also merged with a domestic company to own the Elysian high-end apartment complex with an estimated gross development value of over $250 million in Ho Chi Minh City.

Eaton Park is its third project in a short space of time, with land transfer costs alone reaching $315.8 million. It has already obtained all the necessary licences to start construction immediately.

Gamuda Land has also emerged in recent years as one of a pioneer in real estate in terms of complying with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. This orientation is concretised by applying the biophilic architectural design method to the project, aiming to create residential communities living in harmony with nature.

At the same time, the company has established and committed to effectively implementing its Gamuda Green Plan, a comprehensive framework with tangible, measurable goals, oriented towards the ESG aspects set for the next five years, with an extended vision to 2030 and beyond.

Significant goals include a plan to reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from its operations by 30 per cent by 2025 and 45 per cent by 2030.

Collaborative growth in Vietnam's M&A ecosystem At the second panel of the 2023 M&A Vietnam Forum hosted by VIR on November 28, a panel of experts delved into the complexities of M&A. Here's what they had to say.

Gamuda Land starts construction of high-end flagship Eaton Park On December 8, Gamuda Land, the property arm of Malaysias Gamuda Berhad, organised the ground-breaking ceremony for Eaton Park, its first high-end flagship in the east of Ho Chi Minh City.
The move marks a significant milestone in Asia Counsels pursuit of excellence and growth and is part of its wider expansion plans in the emerging markets of Southeast Asia.

Jason Mogg, senior partner, Kinstellar, said that bringing Asia Counsel into the Kinstellar family marked a significant milestone for his group and for its development plans.

We are excited to have a firm of the quality of Asia Counsel in our group and pursuing the next steps in Southeast Asia, said Mogg.

Minh Duong, managing partner, Asia Counsel, added that as the company embarks on this new chapter, its commitment to delivering exceptional services and maintaining the highest standards remained unwavering.

The shared values and goals of Asia Counsel and Kinstellar Southeast Asia undoubtedly will benefit both us and our existing and future clients. Together, we will be better positioned to innovate, serve our clients more effectively, and navigate the rapidly evolving legal landscape, Duong said.

Our strategy is to continue to develop a first-class family of connected law firms within developing jurisdictions in Southeast Asia where the major international law firms, which concentrate on the major Western financial centres, are not focused.

Asia Counsel is a well-established and highly regarded law firm with more than 20 Vietnamese and foreign lawyers, including three partners, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnams centre of enterprise.

It assists multinational corporations, UK, US, European, Japanese, Chinese and other Asia-Pacific law firms, as well as global, regional and local investment funds, venture capital funds, private equity investors and financial institutions.

It also serves an array of high-profile Vietnamese corporations with their full business lifecycle in Vietnam  from market entry and M&A to daily operations and regional expansion.

Kinstellar is a fast-growing top quality full-service law firm in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

It has offices in 11 jurisdictions: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

Today it is recognized as one of the very top firms in the jurisdictions where it operates with approximately 300 lawyers and professionals.

Indochine Counsel welcomes Nguyen Quoc Vinh Indochine Counsel is delighted to welcome Nguyen Quoc Vinh as Senior Counsel to its team. With more than 25 years of experience in both the public sector and international law firms, Vinh is an expert in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), finance, real estate, energy, hospitality, insurance, fintech, arbitration, and other corporate and commercial matters.

Draft law to prevent alcohol firms' social responsibility programmes Businesses are worried that paying 0.5 to 1 per cent of their sales revenue to a health fund or the state budget prescribed by the Draft Law on Alcohol Harms Prevention would prove too much, as they are already charged with high special consumption tax. They want to conduct CSR activities to reduce the harmful use of alcohol by themselves.

Firms to adhere to anti-dumping law After successfully consulting on many anti-dumping lawsuits involving foreign companies, Pham Duy Khuong, managing director of ASL Law, talked with VIRs Hoang Oanh some important contents related to anti-dumping laws that foreign companies should pay attention to when digging into the Vietnamese market.
TOKYO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Japan will launch a study on the health impact of potentially harmful chemicals known as PFAS, after their detection across the country fueled concern among local residents, local media reported on Monday.

The government-led study, planned for three years from around June, will be conducted by three institutions, as some researchers warned of adverse effects on the human body after high concentration levels of PFAS, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, were detected in various parts of the country, Kyodo News reported, citing a government source.

In the study, Hokkaido University will use data on concentration levels of 39 kinds of PFAS contained in the blood of around 700 people from the fetal stage to late teens to examine the substances' impact on their fat metabolism and development, the report said.

Hyogo Medical University will conduct experiments on mice to probe whether the substances suppress the immune system and reduce the effectiveness of vaccinations, while the National Institute of Health Sciences will seek to elucidate the mechanism of their toxicity at the molecular level, the report added.

PFAS, used in various products such as frying pan coatings and water-repellent clothing, have been detected in high concentrations at places near Self-Defense Forces and U.S military bases as well as industrial areas in recent years.

Levels exceeding the Japanese government standard were reported near Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo and the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, southwest of Tokyo, as well as in a drainage channel in an industrial park in Fukushima Prefecture and areas surrounding a chemical factory in Shizuoka Prefecture, according to the report.

Known as "forever chemicals" that are extremely persistent in the environment and human bodies, PFAS could accumulate and lead to health problems such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues and cancer. 
Vietnam  Singapore Industrial Park III (VSIP III) is the first new generation in Binh Duong province. (Photo nld.com.vn)

Hanoi - This year, Binh Duong province plans to attract 130-140 investment projects to industrial parks (IP), securing 1.2-1.3 billion USD from foreign capital and 1.1-1.2 trillion VND (about 48.535 million USD) from domestic investors.

The plan includes a total construction investment capital of 5.7 trillion VND, with the provision of leasing or subleasing 100-150 hectares of land. The objective is to attract 15,000 workers and achieve a total revenue of 35-40 billion USD.

The management board of Binh Duong province's industrial parks reported that there are currently 28 operational IPs in this area, with an impressive occupancy rate of over 93%.

This makes Binh Duong the locality with the highest IP occupancy rate in the entire country.

To date, Binh Duong's IPs have attracted 3,080 active projects. Among them are 2,400 foreign-invested projects with a registered capital of nearly 29 billion USD and 680 domestic projects with a registered capital of nearly 93.6 trillion VND.

For 2026-2030, the plan expands to 19 IPs, with a total land area of around 5,537 hectares. This includes the completion of the ongoing development of the IPs from the 2023-2025 period, covering an area of about 2,063 hectares, and the addition of nine new IPs, spanning 3,474 hectares.

These IPs will follow the "3-in-1" model, combining IPs, urban areas, and service areas. They will feature comprehensive and modern technical and social infrastructure.

The investment attraction for these IPs will be more focused and selective, emphasising specialisation, ecological considerations and smart developments.

US firm eyes free trade zone project in Binh Duong province US firm CT Strategies is considering the possibility of developing a free trade zone in the southern province of Binh Duong, Andrew Farrelly, the firms CEO, said at a working session with the provincial administration on July 3.

Tokio Marine Insurance donates over 2,000 helmets to Binh Duong students On November 14, Japanese-backed non-life insurer Tokio Marine Insurance Vietnam partnered with the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) to launch the Helmets for children campaign, delivering over 2,050 quality helmets to secondary pupils in Binh Duong province in the south of Vietnam.
This partnership will tap into the park's strategic location near Ho Chi Minh City to bolster Mixue's supply chain and optimise operations as they expand across southern Vietnam.

The country has become one of the key growth markets for Mixue, and with that, ensuring efficient and reliable logistics becomes vital. Leveraging Cainiao's premium facilities, Mixue will be able to effectively manage their inventory of general merchandise and temperature-sensitive products.

The Cainiao PAT Logistics Park is equipped with a unique ridge ventilator system that can maintain an internal temperature below 30C, making it ideal for storing Mixue's products.

The Cainiao PAT Logistics Park is equipped with a unique ridge ventilator system that can maintain an internal temperature below 30C, making it ideal for storing Mixue's products.

The warehouse's natural ventilation system, featuring roof-mounted ventilation levers, harnesses air convection to effectively dissipate indoor heat, ensuring a comfortable environment for employees while minimising energy consumption.

Leveraging Cainiao's comprehensive customer care service and advanced inventory tracking system, as well as its cross-docking warehouse approach that facilitates the prompt transfer of products and streamlines transportation, Mixue can focus on its core business operations to ensure a consistent flow of products to its expanding network of stores.

Buu Truong, Cainiaos leasing manager in Vietnam said, The logistics park has exemplified its efficiency and convenience to Mixue through its cutting-edge logistics and warehouse facility and strategic location, guaranteeing adequate and timely supply of products to our chain of outlets.

The collaboration further cements Cainiao's position as a premium warehouse provider in Vietnam, according to Xing Zhang, general manager of Cainiao Group in Vietnam.

We are committed to supporting our clients in Vietnam to achieve enhanced efficiency and optimise their supply chain networks. Through continuous refinement and upgrades to our supply chain capabilities at our premium facility, we are steadfast in driving more successful business outcomes, Zhang said.

The first overseas Mixue store was opened in Hanoi in 2018.

Cainiao Vietnam's solutions can be explored at www.cainiaovietnam.com, and for leasing inquiries, contact leasing.vn@cainiao.com.

FM Logistic will handle warehousing operations for gro24/7 Third-party logistics provider FM Logistic has been awarded a contract from gro24/7, one of the largest B2B e-commerce platforms in Vietnam, to provide warehousing and urban logistics services.

Cainiao Vietnam to enhance supply chain with premium warehousing With the launch of premium warehouse facilities in strategic locations, Cainiao Vietnam, a subsidiary of Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group, is contributing to the development of the logistics sector in Vietnam.
Officials talk with victims rescued from Oddar Meanchey in Cambodia (Photo: bangkokpost.com)

Bangkok - Cambodian authorities rescued 19 citizens of Thailand from a call scam gang in Oddar Meanchey on March 16, according to the Suranaree Task Force of Thailand.

Major General Nat Sri-in, commander of the Suranaree Task Force, said on March 17 that about 30 Cambodian officials launched the rescue operation after Thai officials received a phone call for help on March 14 from one of the Thai victims lured into working for a call scam gang in Oddar Meanchey.

According to the officer, the 19 rescued people were among about 50 lured to work at a call scam centre run by people of Taiwan (China). The centre was at a casino complex situated near the Chong Chom border pass in Kap Choeng district of Surin province.

The rescued victims said that most lured Thai workers had entered Cambodia through Poipet and been sent to casinos in Cambodia.

Cambodia records first case of bird flu in humans in 2024 A three-year-old boy in Cambodia's southeast Prey Veng province has been confirmed for H5N1 human avian influenza, the first case in the Southeast Asian nation this year, the Cambodian Ministry of Health reported on January 26.
Addressing Quang Nams conference on March 16 to announce provincial planning towards 2030 and launch National Biodiversity Restoration Year 2024, DPM Quang assessed that the province has converged diverse important factors to leapfrog in the forthcoming time.

"Quang Nam features diverse terrains with seas, mountains, forests, an open economic region, a synchronous infrastructure system, and holds a substantial geopolitical location," Quang said in his speech. "Compared to other localities in the country, the province also takes the lead in the number of martyrs, heroine mothers, armed forces heroes, and policy families."

Deputy PM Tran Luu Quang addressing Quang Nam's planning announcement

Quang Nam is also a land of outstanding people that are rich in heritage and associated with a long-standing culture, he added. Besides that, Quang Nam has great potential for biodiversity, providing an opportunity for the locality to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism.

With its existing potential and strengths, the deputy PM expressed his confidence and expectations in the provinces breakthrough development, and suggested four areas of focus.

"For planning implementation, Quang Nam must comply with the directions and solutions to implement those directions. Otherwise, we will not reach the destination we desire," said Quang. "The province must also be flexible and recognise if a goal is invalid.

The third aspect is synchronisation, as Quang Nams planning must be synchronised with the planning of the whole country, the region, and diverse sectors. If the plans are not synchronised, there will not be enough conditions for action and development, Quang noted.

"Finally, businesses and individuals must accompany and understand the locality along its development process, said Quang.

Also addressing the conference, Quang Nam Party Committee Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet said that the planning strategy marks an important debut of a long journey of implementation with noble goals.

"At a time when there are many favourable factors, yet many challenges persist in the process of building and developing Quang Nam," Triet said. "To make the planning come true, Quang Nam hopes to continue receiving attention and assistance from the central government, as well as the companionship and support of other localities and the business community."

Deputy PM urges prioritising administrative reform in business Administrative regulations and procedures in investment and business should be simplified and reformed first, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said at a recent meeting on administrative reform and improving the efficiency of policy consultation to the Government and the PM.

Deputy PM raises cooperation recommendations for global eco-civilisation building Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on November 5 proposed three cooperation recommendations in his key remarks delivered at a forum on driving green investment and trade to jointly build global eco-civilisation, held as part of the ongoing 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, China.
Japanese retailer AEON to join Vietnam International Sourcing 2024, Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Hanoi  As the demand for Vietnamese agricultural products and processed foods is rising, Japans retailer AEON TopValu will seek suppliers for its supermarket chain Aeon at the Vietnam International Sourcing 2024, which is slated for June 6-8 in Ho Chi Minh City.

In a working session with the Ministry of Industry and Trades European  American Market Department, General Director of Aeon TopValu Vietnam Shiotani Yuichiro said that he has a great expectation when joining the sourcing fair.

There is a great demand for Vietnamese agricultural products and processed products in the markets where Aeon is present, he said, adding through last year's event, Aeon TopValu found suppliers for its supermarket chain in China, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Along with persuading its purchasers from China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam to engage in the event, Aeon TopValu will continue joining hands with the MoIT to organise the Vietnamese Products Week in Japan in 2024, providing more chances for Vietnamese goods to break into Japan  the No.1 fastidious market in Asia, he said.

The purchasers want to seek Vietnamese producers who are able to meet Aeons criteria and standards to become the retailers sustainable suppliers not only for its supermarkets in Vietnam but also its system across the globe, according to the Aeon representative.

By 2030, AEON plans to own 30 shopping malls, department stores, and supermarkets, with the majority located in big cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Da Nang, Hai Phong, and other provinces nationwide.

The event aims to promote direct linkages between Vietnamese manufacturing and exporting enterprises with foreign retail distribution networks and importers. It includes a series of workshops, seminars, business matching activities, and an exhibition called Vietnam International Sourcing Expo.

This is annual premier sourcing fair in Vietnam, bringing together the leading manufacturers and exporters in the country. Details on the event and activities to be held on its framework are available at vietnamsourcingexpo.vn.

AEON plans shopping mall in Nam Dinh AEON Vietnam Co., Ltd., under Japan's AEON Group, has just signed an MoU with Nam Dinh People's Committee to develop the AEON Nam Dinh Shopping Mall in the locality.

SeABank and AEON Financial ink transfer contract for PTF The transfer of SeABanks entire capital contribution in Post and Telecommunications Finance Co., Ltd. (PTF) is part of its roadmap to strengthen its financial capacity.

AEON Vietnam adopts bag rental service to promote green consumption AEON Vietnam has implemented a bag rental service to boost green behaviour in a bid to pursue its sustainable development goals.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon in Wellington on March 11 (Photo: VNA)

Warrick Cleine, chairman and CEO of KPMG in Vietnam and Cambodia and chairman of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, was pleased to see a successful visit by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his delegation to New Zealand last week.

High-level visits are important to build personal relationships, but are also a strong signal to the business community in each country that the relationship is important, Cleine said.

The two leaders committed to growing the value of two-way trade to over $3 billion by 2026. This plan focuses on the historically strong exports of each country  New Zealand sells milk and other agriculture and food products to Vietnam, and Vietnam exports manufactured goods to New Zealand  but also sets new ambitions in the services sectors, including tourism and education.

As founding members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, and both countries renowned for their global exports in different ways, both Vietnam and New Zealand have a common interest in preserving the promoting the rules-based global trading order, Cleine explained.

This includes respect for multilateral and bilateral free trade agreements, but also the good working of institutions such as the World Trade Organization. It is great that the diplomats and government leaders committed to work together on these agendas also.

As New Zealand and Vietnam are looking to bolster their economic partnership, more Kiwi businesses are keen on expansion here. Simon Bridges, CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber, said that New Zealand businesses have paid attention to Vietnams remarkable development over the past two decades.

There are many opportunities to invest and do business in Vietnam, and many New Zealand businesses have operated successfully in the country, Bridges said. He expects the Vietnamese government to continue to facilitate New Zealand businesses investing in the country, especially in renewable energy, real estate, aviation, and fruit and vegetable import and export.

Roshan De Silva, general manager of New Zealands Fonterra Brands Vietnam, said, We see opportunities to grow in Vietnam as its one of Southeast Asias fastest-growing economies, working to become the worlds 10th-largest consumer market by 2030.

We supply about 3,000 food and beverage establishments, and were witnessing significant growth with Fonterras cheese exports to Vietnam, with exports growing 140 per cent over the last 10 years, he added.

Elsewhere, New Zealand company ZURU is exploring investment opportunities in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang. The company plans to inject $400 million into a factory making prefabricated houses and a seaport in the locality. Meanwhile, kiwi exporter Zespri is securing a strong presence in Vietnam across the shelves of supermarket chains, hypermarkets and imported fruit store chains nationwide.

According to Cleine, New Zealand exporters like these are being encouraged to diversify their export markets, and sell more value-added goods and services. They have a great record of selling to New Zealands historic trading partners such as the UK, Europe, Australia, and Japan, and of course to China, but they can do more in Southeast Asia. They need to focus their efforts, understand the differences in each market, and really build relationships for success, Cleine said.

Vietnam is one of New Zealands key relationships in Southeast Asia, and New Zealands 14th largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching more than $1.3 billion in 2023. As of February 20, New Zealand had 53 projects worth $208.38 million in Vietnam, ranking 39th, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

During last weeks visit to New Zealand, PM Chinh placed emphasis on cooperating in high-ranking delegation exchange, education and training, the green economy, labour, and more besides.

New Zealand and Vietnam to advance cooperation Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs visit to New Zealand will see both countries advance cooperation across a range of fronts, including economics, trade, education, and agriculture.
Philippines has highest rate of female senior managers: survey, Illustrative photo (Photo: pids.gov.ph)

Hanoi  A recent survey by London-based Grant Thornton - a global accounting group - shows that the Philippines takes the top spot among 28 countries in a ranking of the percentage of women in senior management.

According to the groups annual survey, 43 per cent of the senior management positions at Philippine companies are held by women. Three other Southeast Asian nations placed in the top 10 including Thailand, No. 3; Malaysia, No. 7; and Indonesia, No. 10.

The survey, based on interviews conducted in the final quarter of 2023, covers 4,891 midsize companies from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, 90 per cent of which have between 50 and 2,500 employees. It defines senior management roles as positions ranging from CEOs and chief operating officers to board members and finance chiefs.

The Philippines often sits at or near the top of the survey, now in its 20th year. It was No. 2 in 2023, No. 4 in 2022, and No. 1 in 2021 and 2020.

Tomoko Tashiro, a manager in marketing communication at Grant Thornton Japan, explained that the position is a result of the Philippines' early efforts to address gender issues, including the Magna Carta of Women Act of 2009, which guarantees women economic and social rights.

In Thailand, women held 41 per cent of senior management positions, a 4-point improvement from the previous year as more women became chief marketing officers and sales directors. According to Grant Thornton, Thai companies have been hiring more female business leaders since 2011 when Yingluck Shinawatra became the country's first female prime minister.

As for other Asia-Pacific nations, Australia ranked eighth while the Republic of Korea ranked 27th and Japan ranked 28th, which demonstrates the male dominance in those societies.

Globally, the female share of management positions has reached 33 per cent for four years in a row.

Philippines bans poultry imports from Japan The Philippines has imposed a temporary ban on the importation of poultry and poultry products from Japan due to an outbreak of bird flu there, the Philippine Department of Agriculture said on January 18.

Food security tops agenda in new ties with Philippines Vietnam and the Philippines will increase their bilateral trade and investment ties, with a focus placed on rice exports to help ensure food security.
Trang Le, head of Research & Consulting JLL Vietnam

They reflect the vigilant engagement and endeavours of the state in this sector and aim to streamline legal processes, resolve conflicts between associated laws, and mitigate the challenges faced by developers and the real estate sector.

There are many notable changes made to the law, and the decision to eliminate fixed land pricing and use land prices based on market principles is the most significant modification. The new Land Law for the first time has formalised in the law the land valuation methods, with clear conditions to apply each method.

Although this change potentially frees up land via market forces, foreign businesses should anticipate that the remuneration for land acquisition may increase as land prices are dramatically altered. Thus, they have to prepare thoroughly and strategise risk prevention to adapt to the evolving market conditions promptly.

Additionally, it is permissible to convert from a lump-sum lease to an annual lease payment. However, an annual lease cannot be converted into a lump-sum lease, except in certain instances specified in the law. This change provides a more flexible option for foreign business operations with financial adaptability. International investors now have the ability to synchronise their payment schedules with their income flows, enhancing financial strategies when investing in Vietnam.

The new law also gives clear requirements for enterprises to repay any amount of land use fees that were initially waived or reduced when transferring land use rights to the next owners. Foreign investors should take it into consideration for financial planning during land use rights transfers to avoid negative consequences.

Agricultural land transfer is another important issue. Businesses now can get agricultural land for future development plans, which is prohibited in the current Land Law. Therefore, foreign businesses have more flexible options for their business operations, and they can accelerate the land clearance progress.

However, the risk of the sharp increase in agricultural land prices should be taken into careful consideration. Strategic planning and risk assessment are essential for foreign investors to diversify portfolios or explore alternative options.

In addition, land and asset mortgagee is now expanded to include not only Vietnam-based credit institutions but also other economic organisations and individuals. It helps foreign businesses access to more diversified capital sources.

Regarding the new rights of foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in land use right transfer, the new law allows the FIE to take the transfer of the land use right in industrial parks (IPs) while the current law imposes the restriction. This change provides more flexible and expedience for FIEs in taking the transfer of the land use right of land in IPs directly from the previous owner, resulting in favourable yield returns.

Finally, the annual land rent is applied stably for a 5-year period, which is seen as support for foreign businesses in forecasting activities.

To prepare for a next market movement, amid the transition period before changes to the law come into full effect, all investors can consider several steps.

The first is to stay up-to-date with the local regulatory landscape by monitoring news, government announcements, and industry publications. Engage with local experts, advisors, or legal counsel who can provide insights into the upcoming regulatory changes. They must gain understanding of the regulatory framework, including existing regulations and any upcoming changes. Research the political, economic, and legal landscape to assess potential risks and opportunities.

Conducting a regulatory impact assessment is important to evaluate the potential impact of the new regulations on your investment strategies, operations, and financials. Assess the risks, costs, and opportunities associated with compliance.

Also to be conducted is a thorough review of current investments within the market affected by the new regulations. Identify any potential non-compliance issues and evaluate the feasibility of adapting to the regulatory changes.

Before making new investments, conduct rigorous due diligence on the market, regulatory environment, and potential legal or operational risks. Evaluate the compatibility of your investment plans with the new regulations.

Establish relationships and engage in dialogue with local industry associations, government officials, and other relevant stakeholders. Seek their perspectives and insights on the new regulations to better understand the rationale behind the changes and potential challenges.

Investors should also engage with experienced local legal and financial experts who specialise in the target market to receive tailored guidance on regulatory compliance, tax implications, and other legal requirements. Their expertise will help ensure that investment strategies align with the new regulations.

Allocate sufficient time, budget, and personnel to effectively implement the compliance plan. Investors must ensure that they have the requisite expertise and capabilities internally or through external partners to navigate the regulatory changes smoothly.

However, they must be prepared for potential changes or updates to the regulations. Staying flexible in strategies and incorporating necessary adjustments as the regulatory landscape evolves is crucial.

By proactively preparing for new regulations, foreign investors can mitigate risks, maintain compliance, and position themselves for success in the target market.

Fresh land law will offer beneficial economic utility The adoption of the revised Land Law in January was billed as one of the most important legislative tasks of the latest National Assembly. It will come into effect in January 2025 and should be viewed as a strengthening of the foundation underpinning the Real Estate Business Law and the Housing Law, both passed last November.

Impacts of land law on foreign investors The implementation of Vietnams new Land Law, effective from next year, brings significant changes that will shape the landscape for real estate investors, particularly foreign investors, who must navigate these changes strategically.

Land law overhaul transforms land acquisition Senior partner Duyen Ha Vo and senior associate Tram Dang of VILAF explore the potential implications of upcoming changes on land acquisitions of developers engaged in real estate, energy, and infrastructure projects.
Dozens of Thai-led projects are found in distribution, retail, packaging, and more besides, photo Le Toan

This month Thailands largest industrial estate developer, WHA Group, proposed the development of an industrial and residential complex in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

In a meeting between WHA and the provincial Peoples Committee, chairwoman and managing director Jareeporn Jarukornsakul said that the company planned to develop 1,200 hectares in Chau Duc district for industrial development.

WHA has been present in Vietnam since 2017, with its first 1,900-hectare industrial park established in Nghe An province. The company has been expanding to new localities, including Thanh Hoa and Quang Ninh.

We plan to invest at least $1 billion in the next five years in Vietnam, which will in turn entice projects worth over $5 billion, Jarukornsakul said.

In February, Central Group member Central Pattana established CPN Global Vietnam Co., Ltd. The new company operates mainly in consulting and real estate management, with a charter capital of $833,000, owned by Thai-headquartered CPN Global.

The move is considered an expansion step after the parent group announced it would pour nearly $1.5 billion into the Vietnamese retail market before 2027.

Central Pattana was established in 1980, It owns and manages nearly 40 high-end shopping centres, 10 office buildings, five hotels, and nearly 30 residential projects. As of September 2023, Central Pattana had total assets of more than $7.8 billion.

Elsewhere, Charoen Pokphand Group at the end of 2023 announced investment in CMAG Funds, a new investment fund managed by Wonder Capital Group, targeting high-end real estate in the Southeast Asia with a plan to mobilise up to $100 million.

Tran Van Binh, vice chairman of the Vietnam Real Estate Realtors Association, said that Vietnam was an emerging market for foreign investors. Vietnam has recorded a strong wave of funding from Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and especially Thailand. Among them, residential, commercial, resort, and industrial real estate attract numerous developers, Binh said.

However, as the world economic situation fluctuates, Binh said Vietnam will struggle to avoid severe impacts and the real estate market has encountered many challenges.

To help the domestic real estate market become vibrant and to open up and promote its development, the Vietnamese government has continuously increased the supply of real estate, building products suitable for housing needs. At the same time, Binh added, regulations are more open for foreigners to own property in Vietnam.

Vietnams real estate market has been attractive for Thai investors for years. In 2023, Thailands SHREIT Trust completed the sales of IBIS Saigon South Hotel and Capri by Frasers Hotel (in Ho Chi Minh City) to UK-based LT Rubicon, for $33 million.

Investors are extremely confident on the fundamentals of Southeast Asias hotel space. The sale of this unique hotel portfolio not only underscores the resurgence of deal activity in Southeast Asia, but also reinforces the ongoing recovery of cash flows of hotels in the region, said Julien Naouri, senior vice president of Investment Sales in Asia-Pacific for JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, which acted as the exclusive advisor.

Meanwhile, Amata Group is doing business in developing and operating industrial, commercial, and residential parks in Vietnam. Amata Vietnam is developing 3,000 ha across seven industrial and urban area projects, seven subsidiaries, and one joint venture.

Out of the 111 countries and territories putting money into Vietnam, Thailand stood in ninth place in 2023, with nearly $14 billion invested.

Foreign businesses increase green-certified office search The green building trend is becoming increasingly dominant, demanded by a larger number of investors and tenants.

Expanded land use rights expected to attract OV investment in real estate The expansion of land use rights for overseas Vietnamese (OV) in the recently passed 2024 Land Law is good news for OVs who want to own real estate in Vietnam, said experts from Savills Vietnam.

Industrial real estate emerges out of storm The industrial real estate segment has emerged as a driver of the property market after sailing through the economic storm last year thanks to the foreign direct investment (FDI) influx, experts have said.
Meeting between Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang and Deputy Assistant US Trade Representative (USTR) for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Sarah Elleman (Photo: VNA)

Washington DC  Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang had a meeting with Deputy Assistant US Trade Representative (USTR) for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Sarah Elleman, within the framework of Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuans recent working visit to the US.

The two sides assessed the official upgrade of the Vietnam - US relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership on September 10, 2023, as a historic milestone in bilateral ties, in which economic and trade cooperation will continue to be an important driving force, playing a pioneer role in promoting common prosperity between the two countries.

Therefore, management agencies of the two countries in general and between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the USTR Office in particular need to have more extensive collaboration activities to implement and realise the vision of high-ranking leaders, and set development goals commensurate with the comprehensive strategic partnership for the coming journey, they said.

Thang spoke highly of the close cooperation between her ministry and the USTR Office over the recent past, especially in increasing the efficiency and intensifying policy exchanges on a variety of economic and trade issues through the dialogue mechanism of the US-Vietnam Council on Trade and Investment.

She reiterated the need for relevant agencies of the US Government to have a substantive voice supporting the early removal of Vietnam from the non-market economy status, affirming that recognising Vietnam as a market economy will allow Vietnamese businesses to be treated more fairly, without affecting the legal rights of the US domestic manufacturing sector.

In addition, the US recognition of Vietnam's efforts in economic reform will motivate other economies, and create more pushes for Vietnam in improving its business and investment environment, thus helping form a stable supply chain for the import and consumption needs of US enterprises and people, stressed Thang.

In the field of trade defence, the official expressed deep concern over the increasing frequency of this kind of investigations on Vietnamese exports, and suggested the US carefully consider Vietnam's opinions in each specific case to ensure trade liberalisation, fairness, objectivity, and transparency for trade activities of the two countries' businesses.

Regarding specific cooperation activities in industry and energy, Thang proposed the two sides promote the implementation of signed agreements, expressing her hope the US and developed countries will have specific funding packages to support Vietnam in effectively implementing energy transition. She also suggested the US help the Southeast Asian nation improve its processing capacity and protect the environment in the process of mastering and exploiting natural resources.

The Vietnamese official also had working meetings with the Presidents of the American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC).

US associations highly valued the development potential and investment and business opportunities in Vietnam, saying that many member businesses are currently interested in diversifying supply chains and expanding investment in digital trade and services, seaport development, education, and finance in Vietnam.

Thang took the occasion to invite AAEI and AACC to introduce member businesses to attend the Vietnam International Sourcing 2024 scheduled for June in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam - US trade increases 160 times after 25 years (Infographics) Since the normalisation of bilateral relations 25 years ago, bilateral trade between Vietnam and the US has consistently increased. Vietnam ranks 16th among the US trade partners and the US is Vietnams third largest trade partner.

Vietnam - US comprehensive partnership Vietnam and the Unted States have enjoyed thriving relations since the two countries established their diplomatic relations in 1995.
GENEVA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- At the 55th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council currently taking place here, the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict is undoubtedly one of the biggest focuses among participants, with many believing the disaster in Gaza is a tragedy created by Israeli "occupiers" and their American accomplices.

"The United States has not only justified Israel's brutal actions and supplied it with all weapons used to wreak havoc on Gaza but has also shielded it diplomatically," said Dr. Sami A. Al-Arian, director of the Center for Islam and Global Affairs at Istanbul Zaim University, in a recent opinion piece on Turkish Anadolu Agency's website. "Though this double standard applied by the United States in the case of Israel is extreme, it's not unique."

"Because of their deep racist attitudes towards non-Western peoples, the United States and its Western allies have refused to acknowledge Israel's oppressive regime. They only see one side as human, one party as deserving sympathy and backing with all means, without any compunction or sense of guilt," he said.

Many questioned the morality of Israel, which has imposed a long-term confinement and blockade on 2.3 million Gazans in an enclave of some 360 square kilometers and showed no interest in a solution. How can lasting peace and stability be achieved when the rights of the Palestinian people to statehood, survival, and return have long been disregarded?

At the same time, the United States and some of its Western allies have been turning an almost blind eye to the enduring sufferings of the Palestinians, pretending to be a moral model and declaring unconditional support for the occupier. By demonizing Palestinians as "human animals," as stated by the Israeli defense minister, the West has shamelessly exposed its hypocrisy and double standards.

UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food Michael Fakhri, who is in Geneva for the Human Rights Council session, recently told journalists that the United States' latest airdropping of aid packages into Gaza is "absurd." "Why is the United States providing bombs and ammunition and financial support to a government that has stated its intent to starve civilians, and then use these expensive and ineffective methods?" he asked.

"They create a genocide, massacring over 30,000 people, airdrop some food that lands in the ocean anyway, and then expect a thank you," said Yasmeen El-Hasan, advocacy officer at the Ramallah-based Union of Agricultural Work Committees, at the same briefing.

The tragedy in Gaza has persisted for over five months now. The United States, abusing its veto power in the Security Council to repeatedly kill resolutions demanding a ceasefire, appears unwilling to extend such ideals as human rights, rules-based international order, freedom and equality to people outside its own clique. Some observers believe that Washington has done itself diplomatic self-harm over Gaza.

Daniel Warner, a commentator and expert on international issues, said in a recent article published in the online magazine CounterPunch that because the United States and Israel tend to consider themselves as "exceptional" countries, "they remain separate from other countries by continuing to refuse to live in this world as normal states."

The West's unconditional support of Israel is being viewed as "a remnant of colonization," Warner said. "The vocabulary of good guys versus bad guys or democracies versus autocracies doesn't play in the current Middle East crisis." 
This agreement focuses on delivering renewable energy power system solutions tailored for the project. The collaboration leverages the unique strengths of both organisations to foster the development of the scheme towards a greener and more sustainable future.

Nguyen Duc Minh, deputy general director of XCE Energy, highlighted the investment in renewable energy power systems, including rooftop solar and wind power augmented by battery energy storage systems.

"This initiative underscores the commitment to nurturing the LHF park's eco-friendly growth and enables tenant companies to tap into clean energy sources," Minh said.

"This aligns with Vietnam's carbon reduction goals and meets global standards set by international bodies. As part of the overarching LHF project, XCE Energy will assume the roles of investor and operator for the renewable energy power system."

This involvement will be formalised through a service contract with Xuan Cau Lach Huyen Investment JSC, the primary investor in the LHF project.

Nguyen Tho Que, director of Investment and Business Development and representative of Goldwind in Vietnam, highlighted the company's position as a top wind turbine supplier and its innovative Goldwind carbon-neutral solutions.

"These solutions aim to optimise and reconstruct the energy connections among power generation, grid systems, load management, and storage by harnessing clean energy and digital technologies," Que said.

This approach fosters the development of an intelligent, more reliable, and sustainable Internet of Energy.

Goldwind's carbon-neutral solutions have already seen successful implementation in projects across China, including the Jiangsu CRRC Dafeng offshore wind industrial park and Goldwind Zero-Carbon Smart Park.

In line with the agreement, Goldwind will utilise its expertise from similar successful projects in China to research, develop solutions, and supply wind turbines and energy storage systems for the LHF project.

Post 2025, manufacturers aiming to be part of the global supply chain will be required to commit to and execute comprehensive carbon reduction strategies at their facilities.

The adoption of smart and sustainable practices in industrial parks, such as automation technologies, intelligent production processes, and renewable energy utilisation, will enhance safety, reliability, and operational efficiency for businesses.

Furthermore, embracing green initiatives aids industrial parks in adhering to environmental regulations and achieving international standards.

Xuan Cau Lach Huyen Investment JSC owns the LHF venture, encompassing Xuan Cau IP and a Free Trade Zone in Lach Huyen of Haiphong. This significant undertaking, with a total investment reaching over $462 million, spans 752 hectares and is poised to bolster Vietnam's industrial and logistics capabilities. The project, scheduled for completion before 2033, is strategically situated behind Lach Huyen deepwater port. It promises to enhance the region's infrastructure by providing 369 ha dedicated to industrial production and 173 ha for warehousing and logistics services. A subsidiary of Xuan Cau Holdings, XCE Energy stands at the forefront of renewable energy development in Vietnam. With a portfolio of 390 MW in wind and solar power management and operations, XCE Energy is committed to achieving a milestone of 1,000 MW by 2030. Goldwind International Vietnam is part of Goldwind International Company within Goldwind Group. Goldwind has earned its reputation being a reliable global strategic partner in clean energy. Ranking among the top three global leaders in 2023, Goldwind continues to set industry standards and drive innovation.

Idec Group Asia Vietnam breaks ground on industrial and logistics park in Bac Ninh On December 13, France's Idec Group Asia Vietnam held the groundbreaking ceremony for its industrial and logistics park in Bac Ninh that is valued at of $55 million.

Thailands WHA Group plans 1,200-hectare industrial park in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Thailands WHA Group has made a proposal to invest in the Chau Duc service-urban-industrial park on an area of 1,200 hectares in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.
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WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from a former New Mexico county commissioner who was kicked out of office over his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Former Otero County commissioner Couy Griffin, a cowboy pastor who rode to national political fame by embracing then-President Donald Trump with a series of horseback caravans, is the only elected official thus far to be banned from office in connection with the Capitol attack, which disrupted Congress as it was trying to certify Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory over Trump.

At a 2022 trial in state district court, Griffin received the first disqualification from office in over a century under a provision of the 14th Amendment written to prevent former Confederates from serving in government after the Civil War.

Though the Supreme Court ruled this month that states dont have the ability to bar Trump or other candidates for federal offices from the ballot, the justices said different rules apply to state and local candidates.

We conclude that States may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office, the justices wrote in an unsigned opinion.

The outcome of Griffins case could bolster efforts to hold other state and local elected officials accountable for their involvement in the Jan. 6 attack.

Griffin, a Republican, was convicted separately in federal court of entering a restricted area on the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6 and received a 14-day prison sentence. The sentence was offset by time served after his arrest in Washington, where he had returned to protest Bidens 2021 inauguration. That conviction is under appeal.

Griffin contends that he entered the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6 without recognizing that it had been designated as a restricted area and that he attempted to lead a crowd in prayer using a bullhorn, without engaging in violence.

The recent ruling in the Trump case shut down a push in dozens of states to end Trumps Republican candidacy for president over claims he helped instigate the insurrection to try to prevent Biden, a Democrat, from replacing him in the White House in 2020.

The accusations of insurrection against Griffin were filed on behalf of three New Mexico residents by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a left-leaning group that also brought the lawsuit in Colorado to disqualify Trump.

CREW has outlined the case for investigating several current state legislators who went to Washington on Jan. 6.

In Griffin's 2022 trial in state district court, New Mexico Judge Francis Mathew recognized the Jan. 6 attack as an insurrection and ruled that Griffin aided that insurrection, without engaging in violence, contributing to a delay in Congress election certification proceedings.

Griffin's appeal of the disqualification asserted that only Congress, and not a state court, has the power to enforce the anti-insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment by legislation, and it urged the Supreme Court to rule on whether the events on Jan. 6 constituted an insurrection" as defined in the Constitution.

It also invoked Griffin's rights to free speech protections.

If the decision ... is to stand, at least in New Mexico, it is now the crime of insurrection to gather people to pray together for the United States of America on the unmarked restricted grounds of the Capitol building, Florida-based defense attorney Peter Ticktin argued on behalf of Griffin in court filings.

At trial, Mathew, the judge, called Griffin's free-speech arguments self-serving and not credible, noting that the then-commissioner spread lies about the 2020 election being stolen from Trump in a series of speeches at rallies during a cross-country journey starting in New Mexico, calling on crowds to go with him to Washington on Jan. 6 and join the war over the presidential election results.

Mathew said recordings by a videographer accompanying Griffin outside the U.S. Capitol showed that the county commissioner incited the mob, even after seeing members of the mob a short distance away attack police officers and violently try to break into the Capitol building.

The New Mexico Supreme Court later refused to hear the case after Griffin missed procedural deadlines.

Griffin on Monday said the Supreme Court took the cowards way out in dismissing his appeal without comment, calling it the greatest attack on our democracy to date.

When civil courtrooms can remove elected officials, it sets a very dangerous precedent, Griffin said. Personally, Im very disappointed and equally concerned about the future of our political system.

On the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack this year, Griffin cast himself as the victim of political persecution as he spoke to a gathering in the rural community of Gillette, Wyoming, at the invitation of a county Republican Party.

God is really allowing me to experience some amazing days," Griffin said. "Jan. 6 was a day like no other. It was a day where a type of patriotism was expressed that Id never seen before, and I was honored to be there.

In 2019, Griffin forged a group of rodeo acquaintances into the promotional group called Cowboys for Trump, which staged horseback parades to support Trumps conservative message about gun rights, immigration controls and abortion restrictions.

While still a county commissioner, Griffin joined with Republican colleagues in refusing to certify results of the June 2022 primary election based on distrust of the voting systems used to tally the vote, even though the countys election official said there were no problems. The board ultimately certified the election on a 2-1 vote with Griffin still voting no based on a gut feeling.

Griffin withstood a recall petition drive in 2021. After his disqualification from office, Griffin was tried and acquitted by a jury in his home county in March 2023 of allegations that he declined to register and disclose donors to Cowboys for Trump.

Lee reported from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Riccardi reported from Denver.
Artificial intelligence has the potential to ease loneliness and social isolation experienced by many older adults.

In recent months, a new voice-activated robot called ElliQ has been garnering attention. The tabletop device from Intuition Robotics is described as an easy-to-use, proactive social assistive robot and digital care companion.

It is the first of its kind to be made specifically to alleviate loneliness and isolation, its creators said in a December Associated Press article.

No larger than a lamp, ElliQ interacts with users in a natural and intuitive way, remembers conversations and interests, asks questions, plays games and music and audiobooks and suggests activities and offers reminders to keep seniors engaged and connected. AI allows it to adapt to a seniors personality and interests.

Western Home Communities in Cedar Falls has been involved in ElliQ development for several years. CEO Kris Hansen and technology consultant Josh Hansen, his son, have worked with ElliQs inventor, Intuition Robotics, to provide data and resources related to senior lifestyles and loneliness.

Weve been a resource working with the CEO and founder of ElliQ to figure how to best utilize these devices, talking about senior needs and how AI can help keep seniors engaged, said Kris Hansen.

Technology platforms like ElliQ will likely become part of WHCs Fortified Life services, a membership program that provides home-based services to older adults, allowing them to live independently. ElliQ could also extend Western Homes reach and services into rural areas and open up our service footprint to people we couldnt reach before due to connectivity (high-speed internet availability) challenges, he said.

Were always looking at how we can deploy technology and other innovative decentralized care delivery models to keep people home longer. Its part of our holistic approach to care, Hansen explained.

Only a few ElliQs are in service. WHC has been temporarily installing several at a time to let residents experience the units and provide feedback. Ultimately the plan is to provide them as a potential hub for resident/member interaction and communication.

WHC hasnt been slow to embrace technology. AI is such a buzzword, so you have to be calculated about bringing in the right solutions and getting the right people at the table to do the right thing, said Josh Hansen.

There has been a perception that seniors have no interest in technology.

But many seniors quickly caught on. Technology and the internet opens the world back up to them and lets them be in touch with their kids and grandkids. They may have been scared of Facebook, but after they popped it open and could see what their grandkids have been up to and sharing, they find theyre more engaged in life, he explained.

Most older adults are no longer intimidated by technology, said Sherry Turner. It depends on peoples experience, but I havent seen seniors being afraid of computers. Tablets and iPads were super-important for seniors during the pandemic to communicate with family members. I dont expect them to be really intimidated by AI devices, said Friendship Villages executive director and vice president of health services.

Loneliness is a genuine risk factor for serious physical, mental and emotional health issues.

It is well-documented that loneliness and isolation disproportionally affects older adults, said Milissa Tierney, NewAldaya Lifescapes CEO.

One-fourth of adults 65 and older are socially isolated, according to a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. They are more likely to suffer from chronic illness, hearing loss and numerous other issues.

If theyre living in a single-family home, they may not have the ability to get out and do things. Theyve gone through more losses and their social networks are smaller. Their appetites may be poor, they may be depressed or anxious, and theyre not inspired to take their medication as prescribed, which compounds problems, Tierney explained.

That loneliness can lead to deterioration, said Friendship Villages Turner. They lose interest in activities that used to bring them joy, and it begins to isolate people more and more. Isolation and loneliness can wreak havoc, she said.

At Friendship Village, it takes a village to get these seniors who are experiencing loneliness to come out of their rooms and engage with others. Sometimes it starts with getting to know the staff, who will introduce them to other residents and encourage them to engage with others and participate in activities, Turner explained.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said studies show that social isolation increases risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity and physical inactivity.

Studies also show that isolation is associated with a 50% increased risk in dementia, a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.

Loneliness can cause higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide, a nearly 4 times increased rick of death among heart failure patients, 68% increased risk of hospitalization and 57% increased risk of emergency room visits, according to studies.

We were created to be in tribes. Our bodies and minds respond to being with other humans. Were meant to be social, said Tierney.

Forced isolation and loneliness during the pandemic was particularly rough on seniors, Kris Hansen said, but the hangover is probably even worse. Folks are still very nervous about too much interaction with people. Some of them are scared to death to be out in public for fear of contracting COVID.

Theres also the fear of having any physical, mental or emotional difficulties exposed to others because they dont want to be moved out of their homes into a different setting. When that exposure finally happens, what were seeing is that seniors are a lot more frail than we thought or expected, Hansen explained.

ElliQ and other AI devices may become common tools to assist older adults, particularly with senior loneliness. ElliQ is a friendly voice and provides companionship, as well as reminders to take medication, head out for a walk or call a family member, for example.

More capabilities and improvements are being added, AI conversations are becoming more real, personified hardware shows more physical mannerism and facial expressions. It all makes the connection and engagement more real for people, WHCs Josh Hansen said.

At NewAldaya, thorough research is being done into such AI-powered devices, as well as ChatGPT apps and personified robots.

Its part of our strategic planning. We know people are responding to them as social companions and friends. Overall, the research Im seeing is very positive and the devices could be very beneficial for some people, Tierney said.

We are looking at appropriate uses for this kind of technology and who within our population at NewAldaya could benefit. You dont want to make someone so dependent on AI social interaction that they dont reach out and engage with real people, she explained.

Tierney also spoke about workforce issues confronting retirement communities like NewAldaya. Were looking at what can robots do to help with that challenge, as well as the social elements.

Intuition Robotics told the Associated Press that the average ElliQ user interacts with the device more than 30 times daily. More than 90% of its users reported lower levels of loneliness.

The biggest fear seniors seem to have is, Big Brother is watching their every move, again exposing their challenges in living alone and trying to force them out of their home into care facilities, said WHCs Kris Hansen.

We have to take away that fear and show them that technology can enable them to continue to be independent.

Turner at Friendship Village said they currently use old-school assessment tools to track loneliness and other areas of concern, but AI is here and getting better and better.

Were looking at some ways to get our feet wet that have to do with our workforce and chores, she said, such as robotic carpet cleaners and dining room robots that bring dishes out of the kitchen for servers to place on the table for diners.

Paying for an AI device like ElliQ is an issue for individuals on fixed incomes and living in retirement communities. Some state agencies in Florida, Michigan, New York and Washington, are distributing ElliQs to older adults who meet certain criteria.

Western Homes eventual goal is to make ElliQs available to Fortified Life members, along with @Home with Western Home clients and Western Home residents as appropriate.

Kris Hansen said, Weve been talking to the state of Iowa and trying to figure out how Medicare and Medicaid might pay for them.

Weve got to adapt and evolve to match up to the society weve created. With the influx of Boomer retirees, were never going to be able to build enough stick and mortar to accommodate them. There are economic issues, too. What I love about this technology is that seniors can stay engaged, and we have access through various portals to be able to help people, he added.

Anyone interested in ordering an ElliQ can visit https://elliq.com/ for purchase and subscription options.
WATERLOO  Artificial intelligence has been part of John Deeres Waterloo operations since the dawn of the internet. The first robotics went into operation on the production line more than 30 years ago.

But as Deere vice president and Waterloo operations factory manager Becky Guinn says, it takes a village to build a tractor.

Its always going to be a people business, Guinn said. Like a torque wrench, technology is a tool, a means to an end.

Its why Deere still employs about 5,500 people in Waterloo and has filled some 1,200 jobs over the past several years.

Its why Deere works with the local education system  both school districts, and postsecondary institutions  to cultivate and attract a skilled workforce.

Its why Deere has a presence on a number of economic development and community organizations, promoting the overall business vitality of the community.

Its why Deere workers help build walls for Habitat for Humanity homes  augmenting a record $1 million company investment in the organization to help revitalize neighborhoods with home ownership.

Its why Deere workers assemble food packages for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, and the company has instituted a program, Power For Good, to match their contributions to local charitable organizations, totaling about $1.9 million in 2023.

Deere has invested roughly $500 million over the past three to four years into its Waterloo production operations, Guinn said, to help workers make tractors smarter and safer.

The companys success goes beyond bots. It takes brain and brawn too.

Foundation for the future

The best example is the recent announcement Deere will produce the largest, highest horsepower tractor its ever made right here in Waterloo.

Its being unlocked, really, by all the manufacturing capabilities that exist in the Cedar Valley, Guinn said. We really, really partner with our product design groups to design and build product that cant really be matched out in the industry. Its a combination of our engineering brilliance, our JDPS (John Deere Power Systems engine and drivetrain) foundation and our manufacturing capabilities.

When you think about AI, we look, as we do product development, to figure out how technology can enable us to do that better, Guinn said, whether its unlocking new design capabilities, whether it is producing it in a quality manner, or enabling consistent delivery.

Weve seen that pay off through all the disruptions of the last four or five years, Guinn said. That foundation that Waterloo built, from a manufacturing perspective, helped us differentiate and outperform during some of those challenges  supply disruptions, COVID-related, hiring 1,200 people.

Not being able to see a lot of disruption in our ability to build quality products, and deliver on time, is really a function of the technology, the process control, everything we build into our operation, Guinn said.

In addition to the new tractor, other new products are in the pipeline. Production operations have been improved and new production lines installed.

We think about it as, were setting the foundation for Waterloo for the next 20 years. Its a pretty unbelievable opportunity to be part of this, Guinn said. We dont do ground-up tractors that often. ... Were really trying to set our future.

We want to be in the business of building more tractors. Thats what were setting ourselves up to do, Guinn said.

Paul Garcia, factory engineering manager, said, When you think about AI, our job in the last 30 years has been to create a technology infrastructure here that produces, of course, what our customers want, unlocking what our design center needs to draw up those products.

The (AI) infrastructure that sits here is something you wont even see on the shop floor, Garcia said. Youll see it if youre engineering it. At the end of the day, its AI that sits on top of all that data, The set of factories we have here are very well poised for that journey. Just throughout our assembly operations, from a component testing, from an assembly standpoint, theres 300 control points that we verify that it works exactly like we want, is assembled exactly like our designers have asked us.

Weaving AI, tech and the digital thread

The robotic impulse-driven automated guided vehicles (AGVs) that carry tractors through the assembly process dont move unless everything at a given assembly station is done right.

That AGV doesnt move unless all the required touch (assembly) points in that station are checked, Garcia said. Its that electronic infrastructure that exists that someday AI will sit more on top of as technological advances, making better, smarter, faster decisions for our customers.

When youre out in the shop, out in the factory, you just have a hard time seeing, Garcia said. In our foundry, as an example, well call it a digital thread. Every casting has a (electronic coded) birth certificate. All the in-process checks, the chemistry, the pressures, the speeds, its all traceable to a single casting. Same thing with our component parts throughout our business, and our tractors have that same birth certificate.

All that infrastructure has been put in place in earnest the last 15 years, but really, kind of over the last 30 years if you look at some of the robotics, those kinds of things, Garcia said. Its tough to see the technology that exists here. Its all in the air.

My view is Deeres piece of AI has really trended with what you see in the industry, Garcia said. And while Deere is still rolling out a fully autonomous tractor on a selected basis, all Deere tractors have had autonomous components for a generation. That leading piece has been there, going back to AutoTrac (guidance steering system), 25, 26 years regarding products in the field.

And within the factories, that technology infrastructure has been in place for a lot of years  31 years since the first robot was installed in our drivetrain operations, Garcia said. Fast forward, we have 165 applications now and growing, in our foundry pouring operation and throughout drivetrain assembly, Its that underlying push of technology to unlock the design center, to give the product, really, a competitive advantage that doesnt exist among other manufacturers.

Product rollouts

That figured greatly in the introduction during the pandemic of the companys 8R Series tractors, said Brett Showalter, large tractor and tillage manager.

Weve continued to make incremental adjustments and improvements through the past several years with that tractor line, Showalter said. We continue to do that on an annual basis. There are new improvements coming to those products every year.

If you look at market acceptance, it continues to get better, Showalter said. I would call us a global leader in large tractors, and the 8R, its probably our crown jewel. Acceptance has been fantastic, and it continues to get better. 

Regarding the remotely guided self-propelled autonomous tractor announced in 2022, Showalter said, Weve continued to have units out with paying customers, and we continue to expand the numbers of implements, as well as the models of tractors that are available to do that work. And then as we go forward, well continue to see that expansion beyond limited numbers of units to full-scale production in a couple of years. Theres still lots of work to go.

The scarcity of labor makes autonomous tractors attractive to farmers.

Our goal is, by the end of this decade, to be able to have a customer in a corn and soybean operation in this area to be able to have a fully autonomous system across their farm  tractors, combines, spraying applications, Showalter said. Theres a lot of ramp-up work to do between now and the end of the decade. Theres a progression. The heart of it, the tractor, is done right here in Waterloo.

But even with larger, automated machines, our core market is family farming operations, Showalter said. Thats our bread and butter.

Having multiple product design and manufacturing faculties all in the same community  the Product Engineering Center, foundry, engine works, drivetrain and assembly  keeps the company nimble and responsive in building new tractor products and improving existing ones, Showalter indicated.

Always a people business

But the human element is still essential, and will continue to be.

As we continue to develop the highest-level technology tractors and factories to support that, our ability to recruit and attract and develop the best talent here in the Cedar Valley is critical. Critical, Guinn said.

While AI helps, our people are what creates that competitive advantage  whether its our ability to innovate, to bring that technology to life, to support it, but also to continue to manufacture.

Because at the end of the day, theres a certain percentage that can actually be automated, she said. It is still a people business and will always be a people business.

That means community outreach to interest people in manufacturing careers, reaching out to the schools and through civic organizations, robotic groups and science, technology, engineering and mathematics education.

We want to make sure the Cedar Valley continues to unlock great talent that has an interest in manufacturing, whether they want to be factory, whether they want to do finance, whether they want to be a marketing person, just understanding theres all kinds of different roles out there, she said. We perceive this as important.

Manufacturing kind of fell off the cool list, Guinn said. Our job is to get it back on the cool list. We need to get those people excited about being part of the team, especially for the future.

And then theres the piece of just making the community great, she said, whether it is continuing to support some of the economic development activities that are going on, Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity. Those are foundations that we grow a community upon. And you see us continue to invest ongoing in those areas. A lot of work with the schools. Really trying to continue to make this community attractive and set up for growth in the future.

Workforce development here ... making this a great place to live and work, thats super important, Guinn said. ... If were going to invest, we need to invest on Waterloo. Because we can actually have an impact here thats meaningful and move this community forward. It matters, because we need to get that best talent.

AI helps provide us insights and data to do it better. But at the end of the day, it is always going to be the people that are putting this stuff together, Guinn said.
WATERLOO  If location, location, location is the first rule in real estate, data, data, data must run a close second.

Real estate agents rely on mountains of information to help them identify market trends and patterns, study demographics and neighborhoods, analyze cost data and valuations, create property listings and more.

Artificial intelligence software and apps like ChatGPT, Canva visual suites, FoxyAI computer vision and others are new tools real estate companies are using to make tracking, collecting and collating data more efficient.

AI systems also can stage an empty property with furnishings and art for better virtual showings and provide improved search results for listings using natural language  a country view with a lake within 10 miles of Waterloo, Iowa, for example.

AI is freeing up agents to devote their time to what theyre best at  working with clients and selling property.

The initial reaction to working with AI was both practical and apprehensive  how will AI impact agents daily routine, and would jobs disappear?

But AI algorithms, predictive analytics systems, Zoom meetings, Facetime tours and snazzy virtually staged videos cant replicate the personal relationship and trust built between real estate agents and their clients, said Carl Ericson, owner of Oakridge Real Estate in Cedar Falls.

AI systems can make us more efficient with our time, and that help us at what we do best. Agents are there to add the personal and professional experience, the context, the ins-and-outs of buying a house, that AI cant do or doesnt know how to do, Ericson explained.

Real estate firms are being courted by numerous companies offering AI solutions and enhancements.

In the long run, while we might be spending money for data or AI capabilities, it helps us connect to the people we want to connect with. Instead of broad strokes, we can drill down a lot easier than we were able to in the past, Ericson explained.

Amy Wienands, broker/owner and CEO of Amy Wienands Real Estate, admitted she has a weak spot for technology. Im a shiny object chaser, she explained with a laugh. She has a healthy degree of skepticism, as well.

AI can help us in so many different ways, but I think we have to be very calculated in how we use it, Wienands said. I love AI and it gives us ease and convenience, but if we rely too much on technology, we could leverage ourselves out of the industry.

The pandemic forced real estate companies to take the leap into the future. Websites were redesigned with more virtual tours and other add-ons. AI systems and apps made inroads with real estate companies anxious to increase efficiency, productivity and creativity to drive sales.

Currently, AI platforms are being used to access and analyze data much faster than a human can track down information and make sense of it.

That makes research more accurate and easier to access, said Karen Kayser, real estate broker and co-owner of RE/MAX Home Group in Waterloo.

We have more data at our fingertips, she explained. Its necessary to be open to change. Theres always something new to learn. I dont think theres a full understanding of AI, whats out there and how it works.

Thats part of the learning process. I think it frees us up to be even better at what we do and to help our clients make informed decisions, Kayser explained.

At Wienands company, agents are using AI tools to get more traction on the marketing side. For me, thats where I think its useful, on the creative side, not the client-contact side of things, Wienands said.

For example, Wienands uses AI applications to create effective sales reels (videos) for posting on websites. In 30 minutes, the AI system can kick out 20 reels in the style I want that are really good.

While AI can be used to write descriptions for listings or generate market valuations (that still require tweaking by the agent), it cant replace an agents the deep knowledge of the local market, property values, or their ability to connect with clients.

At its heart, thats what selling real estate is all about, said Ericson.

For the majority of people, buying a house is an emotional decision. Yes, there are financial and economic decisions to be made, but it comes down to relationships and emotions. Youre buying a home because your family is getting bigger, or maybe you want to downsize. There are a multitude of reasons, he said.

And yes, you can do a real estate transaction just by using technology, but is that the best way? Absolutely not. The buyer, the seller and the agent add the context.

Algorithms cant replace that feeling a buyer gets when it just feels right. They can walk in the front door of a house for the first time, and theres that feeling  this is it, this house feels like home, Ericson said.

Kayser agreed. Buying a home is a personal and emotional experience. Its more than walking people through a lot of houses. Theres no better feeling for me, as an agent, than knowing that Ive helped someone find a home they love, she explained.

In many ways, the pandemic and increasing use of technology has short-circuited that human connection, Wienand said.

Having the ability to connect with another human being is a skill set. You can be super-talented, but if you cant communicate, make eye contact and connect with another person  thats becoming a lost art, and thats sad.

Millennials own less than half the real estate wealth of boomerscan they catch up? Millennials own less than half the real estate wealth of boomerscan they catch up? The gap between 30-year fixed and effective interest rates is the widest since the 1970s Millennials making headway but still falling behind
WATERLOO  Folks in the medical field locally are regarding artificial intelligence as a young child: It should be seen and not heard.

But they are taking baby steps toward utilizing the new technology.

AI is cutting diagnostic turnaround times in radiology  particularly for treatment of strokes  reducing wait times at clinical reception desks and could augment pharmacists and physicians oversight of prescriptions.

All this is being done to increase interpersonal face time with patients and make it more efficient for everyone, they say. It will support, not replace, personal medical personnel with years of training and expertise.

Brian Haase of Denver, a Waterloo native who heads up imaging for UnityPoint Health, is seeing some of the greatest use of AI in his field. He worked at UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital in Waterloo 25 years, and now oversees imaging across the entire organization.

Its happened largely without a massive recapitalization of equipment.

Weve been able to work with the equipment we have for most of the AI were talking about, Haase said. A lot of the AI runs inside the hospital information system. So the computers that we use, the patients chart, the AI works right in there.

What AI does inside of the chart is it helps guide ordering practitioners, doctors, to the right exams, the most appropriate (imaging) exams, he said. They can put in the patients information. The AI pulls in the patients demographics, the patients age, the basics about the patient, just to guide the physician to the most appropriate exam, the exam that has the least radiation exposure, or even the exam thats most affordable.

AI is also helping radiologists re-prioritize exams, Haase said. It looks at the exam before the radiologist does and says, Hey there may be an incidental or a critical finding in this exam. So it re-prioritizes it up to the top of the radiologists work list, highlights it, says, Hey, you need to look at this one next.

Its definitely a timesaver for the radiologist, but even more about prioritization, just making sure the right stuff gets looked at first, he said.

Its measured progress in radiology, Haase said. How it helps the staff is we dont get the phone calls we used to get. Doctors used to call X-ray departments for test consultation. A lot of that guidance is in the medical record now in the form of AI that helps them find the exams.

With companies promoting a plethora of AI platforms and products, the hospital systems are being real careful to make sure were choosing the right one that still allows the radiologist to be the one in control.

Detection, treatment and prevention of strokes through AI is really the very first application that caught fire in health care, Haase said. The rest of these things, the time factor isnt so pressing. Stroke, they need decisions right now. These AI tools, we send them the CT data before the radiologist looks at it and they send the result back in less than five minutes. The AI takes that patients stroke information, looking for a brain bleed or looking for an area thats not getting the blood it needs, and it compares it to normal populations. It looks for outliers.

You need to take so many things into account, in diagnosing and treating a stroke, Haase said. AI can take all those things into account, based on the patients history, based on prior imaging. It takes everything into account. Then it can classify the stroke and tell the radiologist how to treat the patient  surgery, medication, catheterization, transfer to University Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, whatever is most appropriate. Most hospitals use the same software UIHC does in that regard.

For stroke the important part is that we get the ordering doctor information within 45 minutes of the patient hitting the door, Haase said. You can imagine with a five-minute turnaround on the imaging result, that makes all the difference in the world.

Other AI platforms are slowly working their way into health care.

Theres so many applications of these broader-based AI platforms, looking for things like aneurysms, gastro-intestinal bleeds. Im not kidding. Theres an AI platform for everything, Haase said.

The technology is also useful in ensuring health equity.

It helps us make sure were giving every patient the same level of care no matter their socio-economic or educational status. So it elevates the whole field, Haase said.

There also are AI tools to manage follow-up exams and treatment, making sure patients dont fall through the cracks.

The AI tools available to radiologists will expand.

Theres work being done across every modality for ultrasound and MRI and CT and mammography. Its really those critical exams like stroke where the work started, Haase said.

Brent Bovy of Parkersburg Pharmacy and Reinbeck Pharmacy said whats known as AI now is not really new. Its sometimes hard to distinguish between whats called AI and what isnt.

Weve always relied on technology for a lot of different stuff as far as drug interactions, just the processing of claims, things like that, he said. But AI is only as good as the data inputted and has to be balanced with human oversight and direct interaction with patients.

One place weve used AI already is inventory control, Bovy said.

Programs can predict what drugs and what quantities pharmacies are going to use over the next 30 days. So thats a big part of our costs here. Inventory control is pretty important, Bovy said.

Typically, we dont have much control over our price once it goes though insurance. But cash price, which is a small part of our business, those we can control. There are different companies you can contract with that use AI, they can see your market area and see competitors and things like that, Bovy said.

Bovy can see AI helping monitor drug interactions with patients, but there always has to be a human element. Electronic pill counters, for example, provide a nice double check on filling prescriptions.

Mary Greenley is chief revenue officer at Cedar Valley Medical Specialists. Based in Waterloo, it serves patients from 16 counties in 27 clinics.

Where were at right now, from a clinical aspect, were not utilizing a lot, Greenley said. I think radiology is one of your first areas that you heard about AI. Were looking at it more from the administrative side of things. And not to reduce staff, but to help supplement some of the other duties they have, just because its a growing business.

At one of the large clinics, AI answers phone calls and handles simple questions. And that has really reduced the flow to reception area  theyre your front-facing-patient people.

For a patient, Its hard to come up to a counter and have someone sitting on a phone when you want to check in, Greenley said. So that (AI use) has been really successful, and that just rolled out in the past two or three months. It reduced their calls by 40% to 50% just within the first week.

It was actually at our digestive health center, she noted. So a lot of patients are there for colonoscopies. Theyve gone through their prep the day before, and they just want to get to the back of the building, she said.

She is an advocate of the human element and was concerned about patients calling in, especially the elderly, getting caught in a phone tree. It was actually implemented very well and its very user friendly. So my skepticism was put to rest a bit, she said. You can hit a live body if you need to, and the chatbot that weve worked with is very realistic.

AI is also helping with patient literature, especially with elderly patients. The clinician obtains information through AI and edits depending on patients needs. The literature reinforces one-on-one conversation with a patient and family members.

She said AI may be used in the future for clinical financial reports, numbers of patients seen and collections tied to patient visits. And with that, some intuitive appointment analysis, looking at no shows and how to get those slots filled, rather than a provider having a two-hour open spot on their appointment schedule because of no shows.

As far as AI in general goes, I think well see a lot more traction this year, she said.

I think thats where you read about AI, when it comes to your imaging, when it comes to a bot helping with diagnosis, that type of stuff, Greenley said. I dont know if well get the buy-off on that from the physicians. Its the clinical expertise. They went to school for those things, and they are the experts in those arenas.

Everybodys being real careful to say AI is not going to replace radiologists or doctors, Haase of UnityPoint said. There have been real innovative ways technology is helping us. We can do more with less than we ever have before and it helps radiologists and potentially others spend more time with patients.
WATERLOO  The former manager of an ATM business stole more than $3.4 million from the business over a period of years, according to figures released during sentencing last week.

James Eugene Dwyer, formerly of Gilbertville, was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday on charges of wire fraud and filing a false tax return. Following prison, he will be on supervised release for three years.

Dwyer was initially charged with taking $1.9 million from Mobile Money, where he worked as the California-based companys manager of Midwest operations out of its Waterloo office.

But court records indicate company officials estimated the office lost $3.4 million over the years Dwyer worked for the company.

Mobile Money delivers and retrieves cash from ATM machines.

In January 2021, Dwyer allegedly tried to cover up a shortage of money in Mobile Moneys Waterloo vault by tampering with the lock and telling his bosses it wasnt working. He told them he needed a cash infusion from a Des Moines bank so Mobile Money could cover its ATM routes.

The vault was supposed to contain $1.1 million, but when it was finally opened in February 2021, there was less than $100,000 inside, according to court records.

On Feb. 1, 2021, Dwyer sent 10 bank deposit tickets to Mobile Money, purporting to show he had deposited $2.5 million in cash. But, the bank deposit tickets were fraudulent, authorities said. That same month, Dwyer admitted to company officials he took money from the business, according to court records.

A review by the company found other inconsistencies, including that there was less money in ATMs than there should be, deposits Dwyer was supposed to make to a bank account never occurred, cash from ATMs that were uninstalled from Caseys conveniences stores never reached the bank, and routes that were supposed to be run that never were, according to court records.

Prosecutors said Dwyer never reported the stolen funds on his income tax filings over a period of years.

As part of his sentence, Dwyer was ordered to pay $3,407,000 in restitution to Mobile Money, Inc. and the companys insurance carrier.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Services Criminal Investigations Division.

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DES MOINES  Iowa Senate lawmakers advanced, for the second time, a bill that would protect chemical manufacturers from lawsuits over failure to warn consumers about potential adverse health effects.

The bill, Senate Study Bill 3188, was supported by Bayer, the manufacturer of the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup. Bayer has been hit by lawsuits from individuals claiming it failed to warn consumers of the potential health risks of Roundup.

The company has won some lawsuits against individuals alleging Roundup caused their cancer, but in other cases it has been found liable. Bayer spent more than $10 billion settling most pending claims in 2020.

Under the bill, pesticide manufacturers could not be held liable for failing to warn consumers about adverse health effects in a way that exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency labeling requirements. The bill stipulates that the immunity would not apply to Chinese state-owned companies, singling out the massive agriculture and chemical company Syngenta.

The bill was advanced by the two Republicans on a three-member subcommittee on Monday. It is eligible for a hearing in the full Senate Appropriations Committee.

Bayer purchased Roundup maker Monsanto in 2018. The company has multiple crop science plants in Iowa, including a plant in Muscatine that manufactures Roundup.

Lobbyists for Bayer and major farm groups supported the bill and told lawmakers on Monday it would prevent unfounded lawsuits against the company that creates a vital tool for farmers.

Brad Epperly, a lobbyist for Bayer, said existing law and EPA regulations prevented Bayer from providing warnings that exceeded EPA requirements. He said complying with EPA rules satisfied the companys duty to warn.

We are not in a position where we can make that kind of warning, he said. Theres no regulatory body in the entire world who finds this carcinogenic.

Debate over Roundup health risk

Bayer has said it will seek a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to determine whether state-level duty-to-warn claims are preempted by federal law. A federal appeals court in February decided that those claims can be considered and allowed a lawsuit to go forward.

Glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup have received significant scrutiny over health claims. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic and has determined there are no risks of concern to human health, but a U.S. appeals court in 2022 vacated those findings for procedural reasons and required the agency to reconsider.

A World Health Organization cancer agency found glyphosate in 2015 to be probably carcinogenic to humans, but European Union regulators have found that there was not sufficient evidence for that categorization.

Environmental groups and some individuals objected to the bill, saying it would take away the ability of farmers to seek compensation when a company sells dangerous chemicals without proper warning.

Alicia Vasto, the water program director for the Iowa Environmental Council, said that there had been other chemicals approved by the EPA that were later found to be dangerous.

This bill would prevent Iowa farmers and rural residents from seeking justice in the future, Vasto said. Time and time again, research has uncovered the dangers of pesticide after the EPA has declared a product safe for use.

Bill would exempt Chinese-owned companies from immunity

A similar bill made it partway through the lawmaking process this year before failing to pass out of either chamber before a deadline. The new bill adds the language exempting Chinese-owned companies from immunity.

A lobbyist for Syngenta, which is owned by the Chinese state-owned enterprise ChemChina, called the bill discriminatory. Kellie Paschke, representing Iowa trial lawyers, said the provision might be unconstitutional.

Sen. Mark Costello, R-Imogene, who is a farmer, said he was concerned that if Bayer received too many punitive court rulings related to Roundup farmers could lose access to the product. Costello said consumers could still sue the company over specific harms, just not over a duty to warn.

If they find out they've been lying to us or misrepresenting things, or if it ends up that it really is dangerous, and it's proven, then they can still sue under this statute, he said.

Sen. Bill Dotzler, D-Waterloo, declined to advance the bill. He said he thought there was evidence that Roundup contributed to instances of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other cancers.

I think the label should say some kind of warning that this could affect your health, he said.

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BEIRUT, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A giant lantern, standing at 18.5 meters tall, was lit on Sunday night in Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, to celebrate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The lighting ceremony coincided with the launch of the "The Joy of Eid" Ramadan festival, organized by the Nabatieh Merchants Association.

According to the association's head Moussa Shmeisani, the lantern, which took half a year to craft and required six trucks for transportation, is now vying for the title of the world's largest Ramadan lantern in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Shmeisani highlighted that the lantern, a traditional symbol of Ramadan, was constructed using 4 tons of iron, with a base measuring 5 meters in width, and equipped with 20 light detectors for illumination.

Despite the ongoing conflict in the southern border region between Israel and Hezbollah, the festival aims to foster a celebratory atmosphere throughout Ramadan, which spans from March 11 to April 9 in Lebanon. 
Rural Ireland is being let down very badly when it comes to access to high-speed broadband, according to Mayo councillors.

Elected members of the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District received a presentation from commercial broadband company SIRO, which is a joint venture between ESB Group and Vodafone Ireland that provides an open-access fibre-to-home network.

SIROs Director of Corporate Affairs, Amanda Glancy outlined to councillors that they currently provide high-speed broadband to over 555,000 homes and businesses throughout 135 towns and cities in Ireland, with their goal of raising that to 700,000 by the end of 2026. She said a clear distinction must be made between their work and the National Broadband Plan (NBP).

SIROs Head of Projects, Damien Murray said they have already rolled out their programme in Castlebar, Ballina and Westport and plan to bring broadband to 1,544 homes and businesses in the Claremorris area.

Mayo Co Councils Head of Broadband Danny OToole said he was excited about SIRO's work.

Fine Gael Cllr Tom Connolly said it was a good idea but it would also need to extend to rural areas.

Cllr Michael Burke said the presentation was very interesting and ESB should have been "on this from the start. He also said he hopes the scheme will be extended to smaller towns and villages as rural areas are being let down very badly, adding that companies like Eir do not want to deliver fibre-optic broadband to rural areas because they believe it would not make financial sense.

I was talking to Minister Patrick ODonovan who lives down a side road in Limerick and he cant get broadband down his road because it doesnt make sense for them financially to do."

Fianna Fail Cllr Damien Ryan believes the Government should subsidise companies like SIRO to make it more financially viable to bring broadband to rural areas.

Covid showed us how important it is to have good broadband while working from home. People would sacrifice the quality of their road in order to have good broadband, Cllr Ryan said. The speed at times, especially with the weather the last few months, has been despicable.

Cllr Gerry Murray said the State should never have privatised Eir and that there is a deficit when it comes to rural broadband. Mr O'Toole agreed on the latter point and said the NBP rollout was too slow.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA in Washington, DC

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the US President it is possible to be for Israel and for Palestine during a speech at a White House event for St Patricks Day.

He said the Irish people are deeply troubled by what is happening in Gaza because we see our history in their eyes through forced emigration, a denied identity and hunger.

But the Taoiseach also said we also see Israels history reflected in our eyes through a diaspora whose heart never left home and had a nation and language revived.

He said that lessons can be learned from the peace process in Northern Ireland particularly the concept of parity of esteem and the key role of the United States.

I believe it is possible to be for Israel and for Palestine and I believe you do too.

Because the life of a Palestinian child is equal to that of an Israeli one, he said.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Joe Biden during the St Patricks Day Reception and Shamrock Ceremony Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

And the aspiration of the Palestinian people to have a homeland, and a fully-fledged State, in the land of their forefathers is equal to that of Israels.

Mr Varadkar made the comments at an event where he handed Mr Biden a bowl of shamrock in a tradition repeated for St Patricks Day every year.

Quoting the former US president John F Kennedy, Mr Varadkar said he had told the Dail months before he was killed, that Ireland should be the protector of the weak and of the small.

When somebody dies before their time, as he did, their words can assume a kind of prophecy, a sort of sacred promise to the future.

As a country, we have tried to live up to the mission he set for us when he predicted that one day we would do something to give to the world a future of peace with freedom.

Mr Biden, who often celebrates his Irish heritage, paid tribute to immigrants who left Ireland for the US during his speech: The Irish spirit can never be overcome.

He also said the US and Ireland are aligned on support for Ukraine and increasing aid to Gaza.

US President Joe Biden shows emotion as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Our countries stand proudly for liberty and against tyranny. We stand together and oppose Russias brutal war of aggression in Ukraine.

He added: The Taoiseach and I agree for the urgent need to increase humanitarian assistance in Gaza and get the ceasefire deal that brings hostages home and moves towards a two-state solution.

The ceremony marks the end of Mr Varadkars week-long visit to the US.

While usually the undocumented Irish and economic ties are to the fore during the trip, this year's event has been dominated by the war in the Middle East.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast to coincide with the trip and to push for a more aggressive policy on Gaza from the government as meetings were held with senior US figures.

Mr Varadkar has said throughout the trip that, instead of a boycott, Ireland should engage in discussions to highlight issues such as the spiralling number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (left) at a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Asked whether he could have partaken in the Oval Office meeting with US President Joe Biden on Friday and then withdrawn from the shamrock ceremony on Sunday, Mr Varadkar said earlier in the day: I suppose all these things go together.

I dont think it would have been a wise decision or appropriate for me to take the time in the Oval Office and do that meeting and then turn around a day or two later and say that I wouldnt participate in a ceremony that goes back 40 years.

He said it would be a misimpression if people thought the trip to Washington DC was just a single event that lasts for an hour where there are speeches and a bowl of shamrocks handed over.

Although he said previously that the US should not be sending arms to Israel, the Taoiseach added he wasnt shocked that the US would continue to, as it was long established policy.

I appreciate we live in a world where everyone has to be angry all the time and is encouraged to get angry and then when youre not angry, youre asked why arent you angry?

Thats not the way I operate.

He added: What you do then is you do all you can to work for a ceasefire, to encourage our American and European partners to work towards that, to increase our humanitarian aid for Palestine, which weve done.

So were doing everything we can, thats practical, given our influence in the world, to push for a ceasefire and for lasting peace.

I understand why other people may become consumed by anger.

Its just never a way that Ive done my job.

The Taoiseach held a bilateral with the US President in the Oval Office on Friday where the two leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Irish-US trade relations.

Mr Biden agreed with Mr Varadkar when he said there needed to be a ceasefire as soon as possible.
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (16 March 2024)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 14th, 68th mechanised brigades, and 25th Airborne Brigade near Kotlyarovka, Berestovoye (Kharkov region), and Nadiya (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

Two attacks launched by enemy assault detachments were repelled near Sinkova (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 50 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, one D-20 howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and five D-30 howitzers.

Russian units inflicted losses on enemy manpower and hardware clusters in the border areas of Ukraine and Belgorod and Kursk region.

Attacks were repelled and attempts by sabotage and reconnaissance groups of Ukrainian militants to infiltrate the territory of the Russian Federation were foiled on the side of Popovka (Sumy region) and in the direction of Spodoryushino and Kozinka (Belgorod region).

As a result of aviation and artillery strikes, the AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, one Czech-made Vampire MLRS, and one Grad MLRS.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 93rd Mechanised Brigade, 46th, 81st airmobile brigades, 79th Air Assault Brigade near Belogorovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Novomikhailovka, Georgiyevka, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

One attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 81st Airmobile Brigade was repelled near Belogorovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 260 Ukrainian troops, 11 motor vehicles, one UK-made FH-70 howitzer, one D-20 howitzer, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer. Four AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation in the areas of responsibility and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 47th, 110th mechanised brigades, and 71st Jaeger Brigade near Semenovka, Berdichi, and Novokalinovo (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

Three attacks launched by units of the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade, 3rd Assault Brigade, and 78th Separate Air Assault Regiment were repelled near Novokalinovo, Tonenkoye, and Semenovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 400 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, 15 motor vehicles, one UK-made AS-90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Msta-B howitzer, two D-20 howitzers, and two D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 1st Ukrainian National Guard Brigade and 127th Territorial Defence Brigade near Urozhaynoye and Ravnopol (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

One attack launched by units of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Vladimirovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 130 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the AFU 121st Territorial Defence Brigade, 2nd, 15th, and 23rd Ukrainian national guard brigades near Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region), Nikopol (Dnepropetrovsk region), and Zolotaya Balka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 40 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed one unmanned aerial vehicle assembly workshop near Konotop (Sumy region), temporary deployment areas of Luth and Tsunami nationalist formations near Odessa, four AFU unmanned aerial vehicles command posts, as well as engaged AFU manpower and military hardware in 149 areas.

Air defence units shot down 108 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 17 MLRS projectiles, including 15 Czech-made Vampire MLRS projectiles, one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectile, and one Grad MLRS projectile.

In total, 577 airplanes and 269 helicopters, 15,681 unmanned aerial vehicles, 486 air defence missile systems, 15,505 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,240 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,425 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,829 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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WtR
Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (17 March 2023)

The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces, in cooperation with aviation and artillery, have inflicted a fire defeat on enemy formations near Kislovka (Kharkov region).

Three counterattacks by assault groups of 30th, 32nd mechanised, and 57th motorised infantry brigades of the AFU have been repulsed close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses were up to 90 servicemen and four motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system and one UK-made FH70 howitzer have been destroyed.

In Belgorod direction, Russian troops have repelled enemy attacks and foiled all attempts by Ukrainian militant sabotage and reconnaissance groups to infiltrate into the border territory of the Russian Federation near Kozinka (Belgorod region).

As a result of aviation, drone, and artillery actions, up to 65 Ukrainian fighters, one Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicle, and one D-20 gun have been eliminated.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces have taken more favorable lines and positions and defeated formations of 28th, 42nd, and 93rd mechanised, 17th tank, 5th, 92nd assault brigades of the AFU, and the 104th Brigade of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence close to Bogdanovka, Krasnoye, Kurdyumovka, Pershe Travnia, Kleshcheyevka, and Andreevka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 200 soldiers, two armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have defeated concentration areas of enemy manpower and hardware close to Tonenkoye, Severnoye, and Orlovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

In addition, nine counterattacks by assault groups of 24th, 47th, 53rd mechanised, 59th motorised infantry, 3rd assault, and 78th air assault brigades of the AFU have been repulsed close to Leninskoye, Shumy, Novobakhmutovka, Vodyanoye, Berdychi, and Pervomaiskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 380 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and ten motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, two D-20 guns, one Msta-B howitzer, and two D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, as a result of successful offensive operations, units of the Vostok Group of Forces have liberated Mirnyoe (Zaporozhye region) and also repelled one counterattack by an assault group of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade near Vodyanoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic).

The enemy losses were over120 troops and three motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, as a result of coordinated actions by units of the Dnepr Group of Forces, manpower and hardware of 65th mechanised and 128th mountain assault brigades of the AFU, 121st and 126th brigades have been hit close to Novodanilovka, Rabotino, and Zherebyanka (Zaporozhye region), as well as Olgovka, Mikhailovka, and Nikolskoye (Kherson region).

The enemy losses were over 40 servicemen and two motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have struck assembly and testing sites for uncrewed boats, one temporary deployment point for a battery of IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems (Odessa region), one workshop for the assembly and training of unmanned aerial vehicles near Priluki (Chernigov region), as well as AFU manpower and military hardware in 127 areas.

Air defence facilities, electronic warfare means, and small arms fire have shot down 168 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 23 Czech-made Vampire MLRS rockets, and one S-200 surface-to-air guided missile that had been converted for use against ground targets.

In total, 577 airplanes, 269 helicopters, 15,849 unmanned aerial vehicles, 486 air defence missile systems, 15,509 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,241 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,434 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,875 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.

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WtR
Fox Lakes St. Patricks Day Parade took place Sunday with the streets filled with people celebrating the citys favorite holiday.

The 51st annual St. Patricks Day parade party was a big success, organizer Marcy Benz said. The weather couldve been better, but we are from Wisconsin and we dont use weather as an excuse to stop a great day.

The parade began in 1973 with a conversation at Caseys Tavern and has been a popular event in Fox Lake ever since, Benz said. It continues to grow, with more entries this year than the parade had the last few years.

The streets were lined up with hundreds of parade watchers, Benz said. It was a really good time. Im thankful to all the people that helped make this happen. We are already preparing for next year.

The 2025 parade will take place March 16, Benz said.

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Wisconsin voters on April 2 will cast votes on two Republican-authored amendments to the state Constitution that stem from GOP criticism about elements of the 2020 election.

If passed by a majority of voters next month, the amendments would change procedures heading into the battleground states 2024 presidential election.

The amendments come amid increased calls by conservatives to bypass Democratic Gov. Tony Evers veto power and protect Republican priorities now that the state Supreme Court holds a liberal majority.

What is a constitutional amendment?

Constitutional amendments codify specific changes to the Wisconsin Constitution, a document that lays the framework for state government.

Such amendments must pass two successive legislative sessions before voters have the final say. If enacted, such changes can only be reversed through the same amendment process or by a court order.

Unlike bills, the governor cannot veto constitutional amendments.

Since the adoption of the state Constitution in 1848, voters have weighed in on 200 proposed amendments. Of those, 148 have been approved, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau.

The two items will appear as individual questions on the spring election ballot.

Private election grants

Question 1 reads: Use of private funds in election administration. Shall section 7 (1) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that private donations and grants may not be applied for, accepted, expended, or used in connection with the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum?

Currently, the state Constitution does not limit state or local governments from receiving nongovernmental grants to help with election-related tasks. If approved, the amendment would add a new provision barring the acceptance of such grants.

The specific amendment would add language to the Constitution stating: No state agency or officer or employee in state government and no political subdivision of the state or officer or employee of a political subdivision may apply for, accept, expend, or use any moneys or equipment in connection with the conduct of any primary, election, or referendum if the moneys or equipment are donated or granted by an individual or nongovernmental entity.

An explanatory analysis of the proposal by Attorney General Josh Kaul states the change would appear to apply to any type of non-governmental grant or funding, no matter how general in scope.

A yes vote would support adding a new provision to the Constitution barring such grants, while a no vote would oppose it.

Election officials

Question 2 reads: Election officials. Shall section 7 (2) of article III of the constitution be created to provide that only election officials designated by law may perform tasks in the conduct of primaries, elections, and referendums?

Currently, state statutes define and regulate how local clerks can designate individuals to serve as election officials and carry out various election-related tasks. The state Constitution does not address the matter.

State law defines an election official as an individual who is charged with any duties relating to the conduct of an election. That typically includes the municipal and county clerks and their authorized representatives, such as clerks office employees, poll workers and special voting deputies, who provide voting assistance to nursing home residents, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau.

If the constitutional amendment goes into effect, existing statutes would still allow clerks to hire individuals as election officials designated by law.

But that power is only statutory  meaning the Legislature could amend the definition of election official at any time, Kaul wrote in an explanatory statement for the proposed amendment.

If the statutes changed, the new constitutional provision would bar clerks from designating individuals to assist with election-related tasks, Kaul continued.

A yes vote supports creating a new provision in the Constitution to prohibit individuals from performing election-related tasks unless they are an election official designated by law. A no vote opposes making the change.

How we got here

Both constitutional amendments stem from Senate Joint Resolution 78, which Republicans advanced after the 2020 election in an effort to limit private election grants.

Chicago-based Center for Tech & Civic Life, or CTCL, distributed more than $10 million in grants to about 214 municipalities, including Madison, in 39 of Wisconsins 72 counties, including areas won by both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

GOP lawmakers have argued the funds were used to unfairly increase turnout in the Democratic strongholds of Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine.

Court rulings have found nothing illegal about the more than $10 million in grants CTCL distributed in Wisconsin. Nor did CTCL turn down grant requests from any of the Wisconsin municipalities that made them.

The Republican-led Legislature advanced the proposed amendment after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a GOP-authored bill blocking private grants for election administration in 2022.

The city of Madison was awarded $1.5 million in CTCL grants in 2022 and 2023.

Earlier this year, the City Council voted to use the funds to prepay DMT Solutions Global Corporation about $1.04 million for the purchase of an end-to-end absentee ballot mailing system that would perform several tasks including folding and inserting ballots, inserting instruction materials and return envelopes and printing voter information directly on the envelopes, according to a resolution approved by the City Council in January.

Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl said the remaining funds will be spent to purchase a machine that will sort returned absentee ballots by ward and put them in alphabetical order, as well as security carts that will be used to deliver tabulators, voting booths and other supplies to polling locations.

In addition to the funding, Republicans have also taken aim at Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein, a consultant with the National Vote at Home Institute, a subcontractor with close ties to CTCL. Spitzer-Rubenstein advised Green Bay election officials on ways to make the process run more smoothly leading up to the 2020 election.

Republicans have alleged Spitzer-Rubenstein had a direct hand in running the election, while city officials have dismissed claims that Spitzer-Rubenstein or other outside groups were in charge of the citys election administration.

Support, opposition

Groups supporting the amendments include Election Integrity for Wisconsin, Opportunity Solutions Project, Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty and the Wisconsin Voter Alliance.

Those opposed include the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, All Voting is Local Action Wisconsin and Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

Proponents say the measures are needed to further restore faith in the electoral process and prevent partisan-based groups from influencing elections. Opponents say the Legislature has failed to properly fund election administration in the state and the proposals could further strain local officials ability to conduct elections.

Today in history: March 13 1781: Uranus 1954: Battle of Dien Bien Phu 1995: David Daliberti 2012: Rick Santorum 2013: Jorge Bergoglio 2017 : Ilich Ramirez Sanchez 2020: Breonna Taylor 2021: Marvelous Marvin Hagler
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FILE - Migrants are taken into custody by officials at the Texas-Mexico border, Jan. 3, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Supreme Court on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 extended a stay on a new Texas law that would empower police to arrest migrants suspected of illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. The order puts the law on hold until at least Monday while the high court considers a challenge by the Justice Department, which has called the law an unconstitutional overreach.
FILE - Wheaton College students stop to chat on the Norton, Mass. campus, Feb. 13, 2024 as snow falls. More than 75 million student loan borrowers have enrolled in the U.S. government's newest repayment plan since it launched in August.
A customer gets on a taxi in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2024. After a five-year class action, the ride-sharing giant Uber has agreed to pay 272 million Australian dollars (about 178.5 million U.S. dollars) to compensate taxi drivers in the country for operating services without being licensed. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

SYDNEY, March 18 (Xinhua) -- After a five-year class action, the ride-sharing giant Uber has agreed to pay 272 million Australian dollars (about 178.5 million U.S. dollars) to compensate taxi drivers in the country for operating services without being licensed.

"There has been a historic settlement reached in the Uber class action, with Uber to pay 272 million Australian dollars - the fifth-highest class action resolution ever in Australian legal history," Maurice Blackburn, the plaintiff firm that filed the case in 2019, announced on Monday.

"As a result, the Supreme Court (of Victoria) trial due to begin today will not be proceeding. The Court will need to approve the settlement as being in the best interests of group members, and work is now underway on that process," it updated.

Against Uber and various Uber entities, the lawsuit claimed lost income and loss in license values for participants in the taxi and hire car, limousine, or charter vehicle industries.

Uber made its debut in the Australian market in 2012. However, operations of the U.S.-headquartered multinational enterprise remained unregulated for a significant period until the Australian Capital Territory became the first jurisdiction to legalize it in October 2015.

"There's no question now that Uber entered Australia and operated illegally," Rod Barton, a former member of the Victorian Legislative Council and taxi driver who is also one of the plaintiffs in the class action, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday morning.

"They (Uber) knew full well they were required to have their drivers and vehicles fully licensed. They chose not to do that. And they did a lot of things that gave them a commercial advantage against the taxi industry, which established a foothold," he said.

In a statement regarding the taxi claims, Uber noted that when the company started more than a decade ago, "ridesharing regulations did not exist anywhere in the world, let alone Australia."

"Today is different, and Uber is now regulated in every state and territory across Australia, and governments recognize us as an important part of the nation's transport mix," said the ride-sharing platform.

"With today's proposed settlement, we put these legacy issues firmly in our past. We will continue focusing on helping the millions of Australians who use Uber get from A to B in a safe, affordable, and reliable manner," Uber added. 

A taxi stops at a red light in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2024. After a five-year class action, the ride-sharing giant Uber has agreed to pay 272 million Australian dollars (about 178.5 million U.S. dollars) to compensate taxi drivers in the country for operating services without being licensed. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

A woman gets on a taxi at a taxi rank in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2024. After a five-year class action, the ride-sharing giant Uber has agreed to pay 272 million Australian dollars (about 178.5 million U.S. dollars) to compensate taxi drivers in the country for operating services without being licensed. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

A taxi runs on a road in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2024. After a five-year class action, the ride-sharing giant Uber has agreed to pay 272 million Australian dollars (about 178.5 million U.S. dollars) to compensate taxi drivers in the country for operating services without being licensed. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

A taxi runs on a road in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2024. After a five-year class action, the ride-sharing giant Uber has agreed to pay 272 million Australian dollars (about 178.5 million U.S. dollars) to compensate taxi drivers in the country for operating services without being licensed. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)
People gathered outside to protest the war in Gaza, and some say the President has more important matters to attend to than visiting Reno.
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.
Americans take pleasure in collecting things: Some 61 percent of us accumulate items of a similar nature, with coins, toys, trading cards and jewelry topping the list, according to a 2022 survey by MagnifyMoney by LendingTree. Collectors have spent an average of more than $6,000 on their treasures.

Owning a collection isnt as simple as putting it in the closet, says Joe Orlando, executive vice president of sports at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions. It requires planning and care. Thats especially true if you hope one day to sell or donate the collection, or you want your heirs to get prime value.

Here are five steps to being a top-grade steward of your treasures.

Illustration by Kyle Ellingson

1. Organize it

A detailed inventory of your collection (kept either in a computer spreadsheet or on paper) is an important tool in assessing the collections value. A good inventory should include a description of each item, noting where you bought it and how much you paid, plus useful data such as size, age and flaws. This baseline info can give you a sense of whether you should buy additional insurance coverage and also serves as a resource for your heirs. Make sure they dont sell something valuable at a yard sale! says LaGina Austin of Hindman Auctions in Boston, who is a regular appraiser on the long-running PBS program Antiques Roadshow.

Illustration by Kyle Ellingson

2. Accurately value it

For a general sense of your collections worth (and you should update this estimate every few years), look at recently completed transactions for similar items at online auction sites. For example, Thomas Ruggie, 55, of Tavares, Florida, is confident that a pair of boxing trunks in his collection  worn by Muhammad Ali in the famous Rumble in the Jungle bout against George Foreman in 1974  would sell for six figures, based on his research of other unique pieces of sports memorabilia.

For a more official determination, find an appraiser who is a member of the Appraisers Association of America, the American Society of Appraisers or the International Society of Appraisers, all of whose members are trained and certified and agree to abide by ethical standards. Youll want to get two valuations from your appraisal: Fair market value is the price that a specific collectible might fetch in a transaction between a willing buyer and a willing seller. Retail replacement value is the highest amount you might need to replace your collectible with another of similar age, quality, appearance and condition. This is the estimated value that collectors typically use for insurance purposes.

An appraiser should charge a flat or hourly fee, not one based on a percentage of the items value. Thats a conflict of interest.

You can also get an item graded. This is common for collectibles that arent so rare, but for which condition can drive value, such as comic books, trading cards, coins, video games or autographs. A variety of firms perform this service, including CGC Comics, PSA Authentication and Grading Service, Collectible Grading Authority and TAG. They will assign a letter or numerical value to it, a key factor at sale. The grading services have removed much of the subjectivity, says Edward Jastrem of Westwood, Massachusetts, a collector of model soldiers who works in financial services and advises clients who have high-end collections.
From Martha Washington to Jill Biden, first ladies have made their marks on American history and culture  all in different ways. They can be deeply or only marginally involved with White House affairs, some have been style icons, others agents of cultural change.



First Ladies are said to be mirrors of their times and also leaders, asserts a new book highlighting the women whove held this unique position since the countrys beginning, Remember the First Ladies: The Legacies of Americas History-Making Women by Diana B. Carlin, Anita McBride and Nancy Kegan Smith.

And it would be hard to find people, beyond the first ladies themselves, more knowledgeable about the role. Carlin, a retired professor, has taught courses on the first ladies at three different universities; Smith was director of the Presidential Materials Division at the National Archives and coeditor of Modern First Ladies: Their Documentary Legacy; and McBride is director of the First Ladies Initiative at American University and worked for three presidential administrations, including as first lady Laura Bushs chief of staff.

They collaborated on what began as a text book, released last July. Then, when the writers and publisher realized that there was no comprehensive history on the topic for the general public, they came out with a slightly adapted version with more mass appeal in January.

The title, says McBride, comes from Abigail Adams admonition to her husband [second U.S. President John Adams]  Remember the ladies  when the Constitution was being written. Of course, they were not remembered, but thats where we drew our inspiration.

Heres more from our conversation with McBride about the significance of the first ladies. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What is unique about the role of first lady?

Remember that there is no rule book for this position. There is no constitutional requirement or statutory responsibilities, like there is for a president, so each person gets to define the role the way that they want to, drawing from their own interests and background and experiences.

One factor that contributes to a first ladys ability to do the job is her husbands support. President Washington recognized immediately that [the presidency] was a two-person job; he knew he needed someone to help with the ceremonial duties, and, lucky for him, he was married to an experienced hostess in Martha Washington. So she really did help to establish some precedents for the role.
Why is this so difficult?

Across the pharmaceutical industry, up to 90 percent of all experimental medicines that reach clinical trials dont make it to market, either because they dont work or they have bad side effects. Alzheimers drug research has an even higher failure rate. From 2004 to mid-2021, 98 experimental Alzheimers drugs failed in later-stage human studies. More were abandoned in labs or early human trials. Not a single new drug for Alzheimers was approved by the FDA for nearly 18 years. Among the research community, people were despondent; it was like a clinical depression across the field, Bateman says.

One major obstacle has been the historical difficulty of diagnosing Alzheimers. Brain scans have shown that 17 to 22 percent of participants in Alzheimers studies in the recent past did not have amyloid plaque and may not have actually had the disease. And 36 percent of failed phase 3 drug trials from 2004 to 2021 didnt test participants for the presence of amyloid plaques or tau tangles, another hallmark of the disease, meaning their cognitive problems could have been due to something else. 

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Youre never going to get a positive result when youve got the wrong people in the trial, says Catherine Mummery, head of clinical trials at University College Londons Dementia Research Centre.

Another major issue: Researchers may have been too narrowly focused on one culprit. One-quarter of the failed drugs were aimed at amyloid plaques  globs of protein in the brain that were first spotted 117 years ago by German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer in the brain of a woman with severe dementia. Since these sticky blobs were the defining feature of the disease, it made sense that they were the primary target of researchers.

ARTUR PLAWGO/SCIENCE SOURCE

The reason weve been so focused on plaques for so long is that they really stand out as soon as you look at the brains of people with Alzheimers disease, says Kyle Travaglini, a scientist at the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, where he is part of a team creating an atlas cataloging how thousands of different types of brain cells are changed in Alzheimers disease. You see these giant, ugly balls all over the brain. It wasnt unreasonable to look at them initially. 

Yet drug after drug developed to target the amyloid plaques  most notably aducanumab, an earlier drug similar to lecanemab that was recently discontinued  failed to show any clear impact on the cognitive decline of patients. Lecanemab is the first to show even modest success. Donanemab, which also clears amyloid plaques and slows disease progression, is expected to receive full FDA approval this year. And researchers are beginning to look at using focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier and amp up the effectiveness of antiamyloid drugs. In January, a West Virginia University study of three people that combined focused ultrasound with drug infusions removed more amyloid than the drug alone.

New approaches, new hope

Other theories about what triggers Alzheimers are getting more attention  and drugs that target culprits other than amyloid are moving into early- and late-stage human trials. In 2016, 56 percent of disease-modifying Alzheimers drugs in human studies were aimed at amyloid plaque. By 2023, of 141 treatments in human trials, 84 percent were not for amyloid. Fillit says the intensity and variety of research  and lessons learned during years of frustration  should lead to faster progress.

Targeting amyloid is significant, he says, but its not the whole story. Theres a growing consensus that several factors might work together to cause the disease. Researchers continue to study amyloid plaques, but other human trials are underway on drugs designed to reduce brain inflammation, protect synapses (parts of brain cells that communicate with each other) and improve aspects of brain metabolism (such as processing blood sugar, the brains preferred fuel).

In particular, researchers are taking a harder look at tau tangles, globs of protein that form inside the brain cells themselves. One medicine attracting a lot of attention is called BIIB080. In a trial led by Mummery at the University College London, it was the first anti-tau drug to successfully remove these damaging protein tangles from brain cells in a human study.

Tau tangles in the brain seem to mirror much closer to the cognitive symptoms people have, Bateman says. A lot of us think thats a clue. If we could neutralize tau, peoples symptoms could be better managed.

At the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), a study called the Alzheimers Tau Platform recently won a $151 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to test two anti-tau drugs plus an anti-amyloid drug that will be given together to 900 people with early-stage disease. At a certain point with amyloid accumulation, tau gets sparked like a forest fire that really starts to do damage, Mummery says.

On a different front, Finnish researchers launched a study that combines brain-healthy lifestyle steps with metformin, a diabetes drug that might improve blood sugar processing in the brain. The study will look at the effects of lifestyle plus the medication in people at risk for Alzheimers and dementia who do not have thinking and memory problems.

The brain is only 3 percent of body weight but uses 20 to 25 percent of the bodys energy, mostly from glucose, Fillit explains. Trouble absorbing blood sugar, called insulin resistance, increases with age. If the brain is deprived of energy, neurons can die, says Fillit, whose foundation helps fund the study. We want to see if the combination would have more benefit than either one alone.

Having drugs against these various factors, Fillit says, means that within 10 years, customized, multidrug treatments will likely be prescribed based on a simple blood test. (An analogy would be our approach to treating heart disease, which might involve cholesterol medications, blood pressure pills, blood sugar controls, dietary changes or a combination of these treatments.)

We are starting to give combination drugs in trials, Mummery says. I believe that in 10 years time, we will have blood biomarkers that give a fingerprint of what your disease looks like. Well be able to use that to define an individualized treatment regime. Well be thinking about brain health in terms of prevention more than just dementia symptoms.

Im an optimist, she adds. We have a foundation. Once you have that foundation, research can accelerate.
COLOMBO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Second batch of Indian military troops will leave Maldives on April 10, the Maldives Foreign Ministry said in a statement at the third meeting of the High-Level Core Group between the Maldives and India held on March 17 in Male.

The Maldives Foreign Ministry said that both sides noted the progress that has been made in replacing Indian military personnel with civilians at the aviation platforms in the Maldives.

By March 17, the Indian military personnel in one such platform have been replaced with civilians, and the remaining two replacements have been scheduled on April 10 and May 10, according to the statement.

The two sides agreed that the fourth meeting of the High-Level Core Group will be held in New Delhi on a mutually agreeable date, the foreign ministry said.

The Maldives government previously announced that there were 89 Indian soldiers and support staff in the country. 


December 2023 Full Year Results

Sydney, Mar 15, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - PYX Resources Ltd ( LON:PYX ) ( NSX:PYX ), the world's third largest publicly listed zircon producer by zircon resources, is pleased to announce its Full Year Results for the year ended 31 December 2023 ("FY2023").



FY2023 HIGHLIGHTS



- 24% Year on Year ("YoY") increase in total sales volume to 11,350 Tonnes



- Strong revenue recorded of US$22,672k - constant YoY



- 61% YoY increase in underlying EBITDA to US$676k



- 8% YoY increase in Net Cash Position to US$7,829k



- 22% YoY increase in Premium Zircon Inventory to 17 days



- 22% YoY decrease in total personnel to 95



- 28% & 47% YoY increase in female and indigenous (Dayak) employment respectively



- ZERO total recordable injury frequency rate



- Signed UN Global Compact Annual Communication on Progress in March 2023



- Post period, the Company announced that it will start shipping ilmenite following the award of a revised exporting licence



To view the Full Year Results, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/7V16548G





About Pyx Resources Limited





PYX Resources Limited (NSX:PYX) (LON:PYX) is a global producer of premium zircon listed on the National Stock Exchange of Australia and the London Stock Exchange. The Company's flagship asset is the Mandiri mineral sands deposit, located in the alluvium sediment rich region of Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Boasting the world's 5th largest producing deposit of zircon, PYX is a large-scale, near-surface open pit operation in production since 2015 and with exploration to date validating the presence of additional Valuable Heavy Minerals such as rutile, ilmenite among others within its mineral sands.

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Malibu, CA, Mar 17, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - In this segment of MoneyTalk Radio, Ellis Martin shares the story of a new rideshare app, WarpSpeed Taxi Inc. ( WRPT:OTCMKTS ). WarpSpeed Taxi combines ride-hailing, as well as food, grocery, and courier delivery all in one application. The service will be more affordable to both customers and businesses all the while creating a much larger target market for drivers. WarpSpeed Taxi will maintain a high level of focus on customer service and deliver a better and friendlier approach based on customer feedback.



Loyalty programs and benefits will be offered to WarpSpeed Taxi customers to retain their trust and attract new users. WarpSpeed Taxi will continuously develop its technology and business model to stay competitive and meet the demands of the market.



Businesses won't have to sacrifice fair margins to offer delivery services. And drivers will receive a larger overall cut by providing multiple types of services. The warp speed model is unlike any other taxi or delivery model currently on the market. Their platform has been designed from the ground up to be exceptionally modular, allowing it to be cloned and customized to target local markets throughout the world. This allows WarpSpeed Taxi to set up joint ventures with third party operators, individuals, or companies anywhere on the planet. Local venture partners will be asked to fund these joint ventures through an initial six month period. In return, they gain 50 percent ownership of a locally branded ride hailing and delivery company. This model will allow WarpSpeed to launch rapidly and cost effectively in multiple new markets around the world. WarpSpeed Taxi will retain 50 percent ownership of each local venture in each new country and will receive 2.5 percent of all gross revenues as an effective licensing fee for the use of the WarpSpeed platform.



The company expects the app to be operational on multiple phone platforms within 120 days and launch in the United States. It has successfully completed beta-testing in India. India is host to a population of 1.3 billion people and a great market for this service. Again it will first launch in the United States, then going forward aim to reach 90 percent of the global population with equity partners in all domains, also serving rural communities where there are no ride hailing or delivery services as mentioned.



Customer service. Service after the sale. Kind and helpful drivers, delivery people, partners with equity in the business.



WarpSpeed Taxi is a paid sponsor of Money Talk Radio with Ellis Martin and Martin City Studios.



To listen to Ellis introduce WarpSpeed Taxi, please visit:

https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/0G221ZS4





About The Ellis Martin Report





The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) is an internet based radio program showcasing potentially undervalued companies to an audience of potential retail investors and fund managers that comprise our listening audience. TEMR is broadcasted on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel and The Opportunity Radio Network. CEO and company interviews are paid for by those represented on the program.

About WarpSpeed Taxi Inc.

WarpSpeed Taxi Inc. (OTCMKTS:WRPT) is the future of transportation. We've combined ride-hailing with food, grocery and courier delivery to create an all-in-one application that is more affordable for both customers and businesses.

We are a publicly-traded company that trades on the US OTC market under the stock symbol WRPT. Unlike any other Taxi or delivery model, our main priority is to make your life easier, providing you with the fastest way to get to your location in no time.

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Investor Webinar Alert

Sydney, Mar 18, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - A Lake Resources NL ( ASX:LKE ) ( LK1:FRA ) ( LLKKF:OTCMKTS ) investor video webinar will be held on 18 March 2024.



The briefing will commence at 9:00 a.m. AEDT following the release of presentation material to the ASX.



The webinar will feature David Dickson, CEO and Don Miller, CFO, who will discuss:



- Business operational update



- The capital raise, strengthening Lake's runway to complete a thorough strategic partner selection process to secure a strategic partner for the Kachi Project.



- Lithium market developments



Investors can access the video webinar by clicking here.

https://app.webinar.net/MAjlJ1Z6K9W



Investors are also encouraged to submit questions to Karen Greene, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Communications, karen.greene@lakeresources.com.au. A recording of the webinar will be made available on the Company website.





About Lake Resources NL





Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE) (OTCMKTS:LLKKF) is a clean lithium developer utilising state-of-the-art ion exchange extraction technology for production of sustainable, high purity lithium from its flagship Kachi Project in Catamarca Province within the Lithium Triangle in Argentina among three other projects covering 220,000 ha.

This ion exchange extraction technology delivers a solution for two rising demands - high purity battery materials to avoid performance issues, and more sustainable, responsibly sourced materials with low carbon footprint and significant ESG benefits.

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PromarkerD US Commercialisation and Promarker Pipeline Update

Perth, Mar 18, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Proteomics International Laboratories Ltd ( ASX:PIQ ) continues to work diligently toward a national launch in the United States of America, of PromarkerD, the Company's innovative predictive test for diabetic kidney disease, and also advancing the development of its rich pipeline of diagnostic tests for other chronic diseases.



Proteomics International advises that, based on its latest assessment of the necessary technical and commercial work required to launch PromarkerD in the USA, the USA launch previously planned for Q2 2024, is now likely to be delayed.



The work required to launch a novel test has multiple components and, whilst considerable progress has been made preparing PromarkerD for the US market, the complexities involved in bringing a new test into broad clinical use have meant the process is taking longer than expected.



The Company continues to engage with its USA licensee, Sonic Healthcare USA [ASX 10 May 2023] and will provide further updates to the market, as and when information becomes available.



Significantly, our experience with PromarkerD has provided the Company with invaluable knowledge and experience to accelerate the commercialisation of other tests in development. To this end, the necessary technical work has already commenced to prepare for the commercialisation of PromarkerEndo, the Company's test for endometriosis, and PromarkerEso, the Company's test for oesophageal cancer.



The Company remains focussed on executing further licensing and distribution deals in new jurisdictions for its PromarkerD test and is currently in discussions with a number of parties.





About Proteomics International Laboratories Ltd





Proteomics International Laboratories (ASX:PIQ) is a wholly owned subsidiary and trading name of PILL, a medical technology company at the forefront of predictive diagnostics and bioanalytical services. The Company specialises in the area of proteomics - the industrial scale study of the structure and function of proteins. Proteomics International's mission is to improve the quality of lives by the creation and application of innovative tools that enable the improved treatment of disease.

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Saudi Arabia sets ambitious tourism goal

09:15, March 18, 2024 By Jan Yumul ( China Daily

Saudi Arabia's tourism sector is booming after a banner year when the Arab kingdom welcomed more than 140,000 Chinese travelers among 100 million tourists last year, surpassing its 2030 goal.

Gloria Guevara Manzo, chief special adviser at Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism, told China Daily that China was in the top three countries that "we would want to grow the most".

"Let's remember China also took more time after the pandemic to (fully) open and to allow outbound travel. And what we received last year was 140,000 Chinese," Manzo said in a video interview on March 13.

"That's a lot, considering the fact that we didn't have that many (Chinese visitors) before."

She then referred to Saudi Arabia's introduction of yearlong multiple-entry visas for international tourists in September 2019.

"Then, of course, came COVID, and we had to close, and then we reopened, but little by little. Some countries opened later, and especially countries in Asia," she said.

Riyadh's ambitious tourism plans, which set a target of 100 million visitors by 2030, were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic just as the Muslim-majority country had begun opening its doors to tourists who were not visiting for religious purposes.

Opening up travel was part of Vision 2030, a grand economic diversification plan introduced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in 2016. Expanding the tourism sector's GDP from 3 percent to 10 percent by 2030 was one of its goals.

"We're doing a lot of work to welcome more Chinese to come to the kingdom and hopefully, we will be able to see an important growth," Manzo said.

She said a lot has been done to boost connectivity, such as increased flights, as well as scaling up the training of tour guides to speak Mandarin.

The Saudi Ministry of Tourism is aiming for China to be among its top three markets by 2030 and is targeting 5 million Chinese travelers by then, it told China Daily.

Authorities have recently launched a Chinese version of the Visit Saudi website and Chinese language signs are in place at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The first batch of Saudi hoteliers and travel agents have also been sent to China for training.

Bookings, flights

Saudi Arabia has signed agreements with Chinese travel giants Trip.com and Ctrip, as well as Skyscanner, to drive awareness and bookings, in addition to establishing strategic partnerships with Chinese tech giants like Huawei, Alibaba and WeChat.

Expanding direct flights is also in the pipeline. There has been an agreement with Hainan Airlines to launch two new air routes in the second quarter of this year, while China Southern Airlines is set to launch direct flights between Beijing and Riyadh in April and between Shenzhen and Riyadh in June.

The latest visitor figures from China surpassed pre-pandemic levels, which were at an estimated 111,000 in 2019.

Manzo said Chinese tourists like visiting major cities and cultural locations like Jeddah and Al-Ula.

"It's very interesting that the culture is getting their attention," she said, noting that Chinese visitors also like Saudi traditions and hospitality.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
RABAT, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The French Development Agency on Monday granted Morocco 134.7 million euros (about 146 million U.S. dollars) in loan to finance the North African country's education reforms.

The loan agreement was inked Monday in Rabat by the Moroccan Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, Faouzi Lekjaa, and the French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier.

The financing will help implement Morocco's national education system reform roadmap 2022-2026, which aims to improve the sector's overall performance, including reducing the dropout rate and improving the quality of learning. 
Billabong High International School Malad, collaboratedwith LS Digital, a leading independent digital marketing transformation (DMT) company,

to spearhead a unique campaign titled "Future Re-imagined", to foster creativity andinnovation among its students. This pioneering initiative was led by Dr. RadhikaSrinivasan, Principal, Billabong High International School Malad, aimed at empowering students to envision a new world, driven by the transformative power of AI. The Campaign garnered over 2.3 million views across social media platforms.

Billabong High International School Malad embraced a forward-thinking theme, aptly named "New Year, New World", setting a positive and refreshing tone for the start of the New Year. To bring these imaginative visions to life, 100 students who participated, were organized into groups, each comprising of five individuals spanning from Grade 2 to Grade 9. Collaboratively, they penned compelling essays encapsulating their collective vision for the future. These written compositions were then transformed into prompts and input into an artificial intelligence (AI) tool, transcending words into captivating visuals.

Dr. Natasha Mehta, Head of Academic Research and Development at Lighthouse Learning Group, expressing her enthusiasm for this initiative, said We are overwhelmed by the response and appreciation from our parent community at Billabong High International School Malad and across our schools. This pioneering initiative marks a significant milestone in educational innovation, demonstrating the power of creativity and

technology to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders  our young learners. Our students were tasked with contemplating various aspects of the future, ranging from the destiny of India in 2060 to the evolution of transportation, the technological landscape, healthcare advancements, and the conception of smart cities. The diverse array of topics encouraged students to think beyond the conventional, propelling them to become architects of a future world.

The culmination of this collaborative effort materialized in an awe-inspiring art exhibit hosted at Billabong High International School, Malad on the 20th of January 2024. The exhibit showcased 20 visually stunning representations of the students' imaginative futures that left both the students and parents in awe of the thought shaping activities conducted at the school. The parents were left overwhelmed as the sheer brilliance and

depth of their childrens imaginations came to life before their eyes. With each artwork and installation, emotions ran high as proud parents witnessed firsthand the extraordinary potential and boundless creativity of their young visionaries.

Mr. Manesh Swamy, CCO and SVP, LS Digital shares, Our interactions with students at Billabong High International School have always left us spellbound. Their thought process, the way they fearlessly think, communicate confidently, and have unique ideas, most of this is because of the differentiated approach to teaching and learning at the school. Students today are constantly exposed to and immersed in technology, with this

initiative we thought of merging students thoughts with generative AI and bringing their ideas to life. We approached this more like a social experiment, while creating these images we wanted to stay true and close to the students imagination. The results are an incredible mix of generative AI and traditional graphic design coming together to breathe life into these students visions. The reaction of parents and students to the AI expo told us that we did a great job of bringing it alive. The best part of this Future Reimagined campaign is that the students at Billabong High International School are even more keen to learn and experiment with Generative AI, and we will be felicitating a series of

workshops for them in phase-2.

As the world evolves, so does the education landscape, and Billabong High International School's "Future Re-imagined" campaign stands as a testament to the institution's dedication to preparing students for the world ahead. By integrating AI into the creative process, the school has provided students with a hands-on experience of how technology can be a powerful tool for expressing and visualizing ideas.

With this unique collaboration, LS Digital and Billabong High International School managed to conceptualise and execute a campaign that pushes the boundaries of traditional education. Together, they have embarked on an unprecedented journey, harnessing the latest in AI technology to bring the visions of young students to life like never before.
Visage Lines Personal Care Pvt Ltd, the holding company of brands Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae has appointed Durgesh Chugh as their Chief Sales Officer for India and International Markets.

A seasoned FMCG leader, Durgesh comes with over 25 years of rich experience in omni-channel marketing and sales operations. He will bring strong expertise to the new role at Bombay Shaving Company as the brand plans to significantly expand its offline penetration and presence in core hair removal and adjacent categories to over 1 lac stores.

Prior to joining Bombay Shaving Company, Durgesh held key leadership positions at Colgate Palmolive, Marico Limited ,TBO Holidays & Emami Ltd, where he engineered innovative sales growth and business development initiatives. His keen focus on driving product innovation and tailoring go-to-market approaches for specific geographies in the country has led to sustained growth for some of the most popular Indian brands

Commenting on his appointment, Durgesh Chugh said, "I'm excited to join Bombay Shaving Company at this stage of its journey. The brand and its innovative approach to established products and categories is loved by the new Indian shopper. Both Bombay Shaving Company and Bombae have done well to achieve significant market and shelf share in tough categories and difficult offline retail environments in a short span of time. I'm really looking forward to working with Shantanu, Deepak and the exceptional team to create strong channel salience for the brand and a long term roadmap for continuous consumer access and delight.

"We are thrilled to welcome Durgesh to the leadership team and the BSC family," said Deepak Gupta, Co-Founder and COO, Bombay Shaving Company (VLPCPL) "Offline Sales is complex and challenging in India. Durgesh's formidable experience, strategic foresight and strong channel relationships gives us immense confidence as we look to take the brand to 5cr Indian bathrooms in this next phase of growth. On behalf of the entire team at Bombay Shaving Company, I wish Durgesh the very best in this new journey with us."
Conde Nast India has made a strategic move by appointing Sonia Kapoor as their new Chief Business Officer. Kapoor, with over 25 years of experience in digital, print, and broadcast media, is poised to lead the sales teams in defining and achieving advertising revenue targets while shaping the company's sales and marketing strategy for business growth.



In her previous roles, Kapoor has left a mark of excellence, notably leading The Focus Studio as Business Head and Executive Vice President at Network 18 and driving branded content monetization strategy at Zee Media's Innovation Studio. With this wealth of experience, Kapoor is set to play a pivotal role in delivering commercial revenue across various platforms including digital, print, social, video, and events.



Reporting directly to Sandeep Lodha, Managing Director of Conde Nast India, Kapoor's appointment signifies the company's commitment to innovation and client-centric solutions. Sandeep Lodha expressed enthusiasm about Kapoor's appointment, saying: Embracing the evolving media landscape, Conde Nast Indias newly appointed chief business officer Sonia Kapoor brings vast experience in sales with a holistic understanding in selling solutions. With a profound understanding of digital dynamics and a track record as a seasoned leader, were thrilled to have Sonia on board. Her appointment signifies our commitment to innovation and client-centric solutions at Conde Nast India.



Conde Nast India, known for its iconic brands like Vogue, GQ, Conde Nast Traveller, and Architectural Digest, has been expanding its digital presence through Conde Nast's Technology Labs in Bangalore and Chennai. Kapoor's appointment underscores the company's dedication to enhancing revenue streams, fostering partnerships, and bolstering brand visibility across both print and digital platforms.



Upon her appointment, Sonia Kapoor added: I am honoured to assume the role of chief business officer at Conde Nast India, where my primary focus is on driving revenue generation strategies and overseeing related business operations. Leveraging Conde Nast's esteemed portfolio and embracing innovation, I am committed to enhancing revenue streams, fostering crucial partnerships, and bolstering brand visibility to foster sustainable growth in this dynamic market across both print and digital platforms, thereby enriching our consumer engagement.
Buffalo Soldiers, a fast-growing creative agency known for its digital prowess, has won the creative, digital and mainline mandate of Gulshan Group, the Delhi-NCR based real estate titan pivoting to luxury-only projects, following a competitive multi-agency pitch. The account will be served from the Delhi-NCR headquarters of the agency.

Yukti Nagpal, Gulshan Group's visionary leader, highlights the essence of this collaboration. "Our partnership with Buffalo Soldiers is more than a business move. It's a fusion of our rich heritage in creating exquisite living spaces with their fresh and vibrant digital expertise. Together, we're crafting narratives that resonate with both our legacy clients and a new generation of homeowners - from Noida to Moradabad."

Sumon K Chakrabarti, Co-Founder & CEO of Buffalo Soldiers, emphasizes the innovative approach. "Working with Gulshan Group challenges us to think differently. We're combining our digital storytelling prowess with their unparalleled expertise in real estate to create a unique brand experience thats contemporary yet timeless."

"Gulshan Group's commitment to creating beautiful living spaces is inspiring. Were excited to add our creative flair to their already impressive narrative," Chakrabarti added.

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for Gulshan Group as they embark on a significant repositioning in the real estate market. Known for their expansive portfolio, Gulshan Group is now focusing exclusively on ultra-luxury real estate projects, setting new benchmarks in opulence and innovation.

Gulshan Dynasty, located in Sector 144, Noida, has achieved the remarkable distinction of being Noidas First Platinum Rated Green Home recently. The group is expanding their flagship Gulshan Dynastys luxury living to Moradabad.

Buffalo Soldiers, the agency which won the Rising Maverick Agency of 2023 award, will play a crucial role in this transition, spearheading Gulshan Group's branding and advertising initiatives, ensuring a seamless and impactful transition in the marketplace. The agency's mandate includes a comprehensive suite of services, from creative conceptualization to digital strategy, aiming to redefine Gulshan's brand image in alignment with their new ultra-luxury ethos.

We see our residential projects as canvases for beautiful living experiences. Buffalo Soldiers innovative spirit and creative prowess are exactly what we need to paint a picture of modern, exquisite living, said Yukti Nagpal, who has envisioned the transition for the Gulshan Group.

"Gulshan Group's commitment to luxury and excellence resonates with our ethos of delivering new-age creative solutions. We are thrilled to help them navigate this exciting new chapter," said Arnab Kundu, Co-Founder & Head of Delivery at Buffalo Soldiers.

Gulshan Group's projects in Delhi-NCR are known for their elegance and style. Buffalo Soldiers role will be to ensure that this elegance is not just seen but felt and experienced by a wider audience, in a way that's both fun and engaging.

The partnership promises to bring a fresh, warm approach to real estate marketing. Expect to see campaigns that are not only visually appealing but also resonate with the hearts and minds of potential homeowners.

With this alliance, Gulshan Group looks to revitalize its brand image, leveraging Buffalo Soldiers' expertise to create compelling and engaging narratives that resonate with modern consumers. Both teams are committed to pushing boundaries, using innovative digital strategies to showcase Gulshan Groups luxurious residential projects in a new light.
Moderate is the worlds first clinically backed, 100% natural and certified ayurvedic product thats geared to effectively reduce up to 40% Calories from carb and sugar heavy beverages and meals. Moderate emerges as a pioneering solution to address Indias escalating obesity and diabetes crisis. Today the brand proudly announces its partnership with Huma Qureshi, the acclaimed actress, producer and author who joins as both an investor and brand advocate.

Moderate offers a ground-breaking solution validated by clinical studies at the prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), affirming its efficacy in supporting weight management and promoting healthy blood sugar levels. By safely managing how your body breaks down carbs and sugars, Moderate diminishes the calorie absorption thus facilitating weight management. Moreover, by potentially boosting insulin efficiency, Moderate can help keep blood sugar levels in check, reduce diabetes risks and maintain satiety. Rooted in nature's abundance, Moderate aligns seamlessly with Huma Qureshi's health ethos, embodying a holistic approach to wellness.

In her role as an investor and brand advocate, Huma Qureshi brings her passion for health and wellness to the forefront, championing Moderate's mission to revolutionize the way people approach their well-being. With her influential voice and dedication to conscious living, Huma Qureshi is poised to amplify Moderate's message and inspire individuals to prioritize their health through informed choices and conscious lifestyle practices.

"I am excited to partner with Moderate on this journey towards promoting holistic wellness," says Huma Qureshi. "As someone who values natural solutions and conscious living I believe in the transformative power of natural solutions. Together with Moderate, we aim to empower individuals to prioritize their health and embrace a balanced lifestyle.

Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Lalitha Palle, Founder of Moderate said, "We are thrilled to have Huma Qureshi as a brand partner. Her unwavering dedication to health and wellness, coupled with her significant influence, makes her an ideal fit for Moderate. The rising sugar consumption has been linked to rising trends of obesity and diabetes rates worldwide and in India. While the West has solutions like Ozempic, we at Moderate believe in harnessing the power of nature and ayurveda to offer a safe and effective alternative. Through this collaboration with Huma, we hope to raise awareness about the importance of proactive blood sugar management and empower individuals to make informed choices for their overall health.
JERUSALEM, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The number of jobseekers in Israel fell by 10.5 percent in February, said a report issued by the Israel Employment Service on Monday.

The report stated that at the end of February, the number of jobseekers in the country stood at 245,500, compared to 274,300 at the end of January.

It noted that this is the most significant monthly decrease in the number of jobseekers in Israel during the conflict with Hamas, which erupted on Oct. 7, 2023.

The report explained that the latest decrease reflects the recovery of the Israeli labor market and its adaptation to the emergency routine amid the ongoing conflict

One factor contributing to recovering the labor market under emergency conditions is the government's decision not to comprehensively extend the eligibility period for unemployment benefits, according to the report.

The number of jobseekers in Israel reached 331,900 in November last year, compared to 163,700 last September, mainly workers who were placed on unpaid leave by their employers due to a halt in economic activity following the outbreak of the conflict.

The organization predicted a further decrease in the number of jobseekers if there is no significant security escalation soon. 
The President of the World Economic Forum, Borge Brende, on Saturday said India is currently in its "honeymoon phase", especially with Europe and the US when it comes to the country's influence and economic growth. Brende made the remark while speaking at the India Today Conclave 2024. He spoke about the correlation between a country's economic success and its influence on its neighbours and the world. According to Brende, the challenges that India has to tackle mainly come from its neighbours, but the country is in a "honyemoon phase" globally. He added that due to the quick growth of India's economy, its political position will be strengthened and the country will have more leverage in the years to come. Carnegie India Director Rudra Chaudhuri, however, did not agree that India is in a honeymoon phase and said the country has faced several geopolitical challenges in the last few years.

One of such challenges, according to Chaudhuri, included the Russia-Ukraine war. "It pushed us to think of diversification of resources, reconsider our relations with Russia and turn to countries that have the capability to deliver to us and our interests over the next many days," he added.

The Director of Carnegie India also added that India is likely to get more opportunities in the future from other countries as it has created that space for itself in the last five years. These opportunities include the ones India achieved from its relationship with the US and the collaboration between the two countries for quantum, AI and defence technology, said Rudra Chaudhuri.

The President of the Observer Research Foundation, Samir Saran, also talked about India's future on the global stage and said, "We have a decade ahead of growth and prosperity, but we will have to do it with muscle." He predicted that India's growth will attract greater attention, criticism and scrutiny.

Referring to the comments made by the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, on the first day of the conclave, Samir Saran said, "We will see unnecessary comments of this kind."

Eric Garcetti had said the United States "can't give up on principles" amid an exchange between the two countries over India's implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Saran dismissed the Ambassador's remarks as the "American political system using India as a tool to settle their own unsettled agendas at home". "We should focus on what is really happening in the US  the strategic community, foreign policy, business community is better in India," said Saran.

He said the "real task" for the next 10 years will be to continue generating the same interest in India as has been done in the previous decade.

'China's Behaviour Shining Light On India'

Samir Saran said the kind of relationship shared between India and China is a "big driver" of the global interest of the country. "The Chinese behaviour has, not only to India but to everyone, been the biggest catalyst to shine the torch on India and the possibilities India offers. So more power to Xi Jinping. May he remain forever and may people continue to see India in the light that they are already doing," said the President of the Observer Research Foundation. He added that the next five years will be turbulent for India and China and the relationship will "get worse before it gets better".

"When we are close to a 6-7 trillion USD economy and have a 300-400 billion dollar defence budget and security capabilities, we will make it costlier for them to be adventurous," said Saran. Borge Brende also said many countries, including the US, view India as keeping the balance in Asia.

"Checking balances is something that other nations do look up to as a positive factor. Because you don't want to have a 'winner takes it all', you want checks and balances," said the World Economic Forum President.

He added that if India fulfils its goals to become a manufacturing hub, it will open up opportunities for other countries for direct foreign investments, and India will no longer need to manoeuvre delicately its security and foreign policy.

"Currently, a lot of military equipment in India comes from Russia. And with the unlimited relationship between China and Russia, the current leadership in India also makes its own reflections based on that," said Brende.

On India-US Ties

When asked about how the results of the upcoming US presidential elections could impact Washington's ties with India, Samir Saran said India is "going to be doing fairly well irrespective of who wins". According to him, the reason for this is the emergence of a new geopolitical framework.

"India is going to be one of the central pillars of that framework," he added. The chief of the Observer Research Foundation also said the growth of the ties between India and the US over the last 20 years has been "unthinkable". "The most transformational relationship of this century has been the India-US relationship and that direction is not going to change," said Samir Saran. He added that even if Donald Trump comes back to power in the US or Joe Biden remains President, India-US ties are bound to grow in terms of economic engagement, political alignment and increasingly intimate security arrangements.

He also remarked that the US and Canada had starkly different reactions concerning the allegations they raised against India over the Khalistani issue. "The US had conversations behind closed doors, and you had Canadians going to Parliament making crazy statements. That's the difference between a country that is determined to create a strategic relation with the partner while the other one is basically seeking votes for the next election." said Saran.

Federal prosecutors in the US had alleged that an Indian government official had directed a plot to murder Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. On the other hand, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged that there was a "potential link" between agents of the Government of India and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another Khalistani terrorist.
M Baazar, one of Eastern Indias leading fashion retailers, proudly announces its partnership with Bollywood's dynamic diva, Kriti Sanon, as their newest brand ambassador. They have also chosen Pavail Gulati as the other new face for the brand.

Most recently awarded with a National Film Award for her work, Kriti Sanon is also a two time FilmFare Award winner and also finds her place among the elite in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list of 2019. Known for her captivating on-screen performances and charismatic persona, she effortlessly blends chic, boldness, and versatility, establishing herself as a definitive fashion icon in the Indian film industry making her the perfect choice for M Baazar.

Expressing her excitement about the collaboration, Kriti says "When I discovered the exquisite collection at M Baazar, I was instantly drawn to its contemporary flair and fashion, which resonates perfectly with my sense of style."

Pavail Gulati, known for his stunning performances in Bollywood movies, echoed Kriti's enthusiasm: "M Baazar's dedication to offering the latest trends and quality apparel is commendable. I'm thrilled to be part of a brand that exudes elegance and style."

Sanjay Saraf, CMD of M Baazar, stated, "We're so happy to have Kriti Sanon and Pavail Gulati join our brand. We're proud and excited about this partnership and believe it will elevate fashion to new levels."

With a network of 155+ stores spanning 9 Indian states, M Baazar curates a diverse range of menswear, ladieswear, kidswear, and accessories, catering to the fashion-forward generation of today. The collaboration with Kriti Sanon and Pavail Gulati is poised to elevate the brand to greater heights, setting new benchmarks in fashion and style.
BEI Confluence, a leading independent agency in India, has announced a strategic addition to its leadership team with the appointment of Shahid Hussain as National Creative Head. Stepping into his new role, Hussain brings with him a kaleidoscope of experiences, having danced between the corridors of agencies and the playgrounds of brand giants. He has worked with agencies like Lintas, Leo Burnett, FCB Ulka in the past. And in recent years, he was heading creative at Uber Eats, Bewakoof.com and Polygon Studios.

In assuming the role of National Creative Head at BEI Confluence, Hussain brings to the table a potent blend of leadership, creativity, and industry insight. His appointment reflects the agency's commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions and pushing creative boundaries in a dynamic marketplace.

We are delighted to welcome Shahid Hussain to the BEI Confluence team. As we have completed 25 years, BEI has entered a new era, and Shahids extensive experience and proven track record of success make him an invaluable asset to our organisation. We are confident that under his leadership, our creative endeavors will reach new heights, said Tapas Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director, BEI Confluence.

Abhishek Gupta, Deputy Managing Director, BEI Confluence, said, At BEI Confluence, our roster of brands has been constantly evolving over the last few years and so has the marketing landscape and target audiences. We are thrilled to have Shahid join us at this critical juncture and help provide more holistic solutions across all disciplines of creative that help the businesses grow. As we move towards closing the current FY with a strong performance registering around 15% growth - the plans for the next 3 years are aggressive and Shahids arrival arms us with that extra firepower to execute the plans.

Shahid Hussain, in turn, expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, stating, Joining BEI Confluence represents an exciting chapter in my career. After working on the brand side for the last 5 years, coming back to agencies feels like homecoming. I understand businesses and clients better now, and can work towards more effective creative solutions. I am eager to collaborate with the talented team here at BEI and drive tangible results for our clients.

As BEI Confluence continues to evolve in a rapidly changing industry landscape, Hussains appointment underscores the agencys commitment to fostering creativity and delivering impactful solutions. With his leadership guiding the creative direction, the agency is poised to reinforce its position as a growing independent creative agency.
Luxury brands have been seeing a steady growth rate in India, with a faster growth trajectory in the last few years. As per a report by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry and CBRE South Asia, luxury brands footprint across retail formats saw a 170% leap in 2023, covering as much as 600,000 square feet.

Indias emergence as a burgeoning market for luxury brands comes on the back of a rapidly growing consumer base that appreciates and aspires to indulge in opulence. This shift in consumer behaviour can be attributed to a combination of factors, including a burgeoning economy, an expanding middle class, and a changing mindset towards luxury. This article delves into the remarkable growth of luxury brands in India, exploring the key drivers, and the evolving landscape of the luxury market.

Based on Euromonitor International, Indias luxury market is projected to be among the most dynamic markets in the world and is projected to reach a value of $8.5 billion by 2023, growing from $2.5 billion in 2021. A Bain & Co report even predicts that by 2030, the market for luxury goods in India could hit $200 billion.

If we look at the comprehensive overview of the economic growth and wealth distribution trends in India, we can see there is a positive trajectory for the Indian economy. Factors such as strong domestic demand, robust infrastructure (both physical and digital), and global competitiveness are the main factors contributing to its growth.

Major cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, particularly in terms of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), indicates the concentration of wealth in these urban centers. Mumbai being Indias richest city with 59,400 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), according to the Worlds Wealthiest Cities Report 2023, published by migration consultancy Henley & Partners makes it the 21st wealthiest city in the world. Moreover, the projections about the growth of millionaires in India by 105% by 2026, as per the Credit Suisse report, reflect a rising affluence and a growing market for high-end goods and services.

These trends suggest a dynamic economic landscape in India, with opportunities for businesses, both domestic and international, to tap into the growing consumer base and expanding markets. It will be interesting to see how these projections play out over the next decade and how various sectors capitalize on the changing economic dynamics.

Factors contributing to these forecasts:

Rising Income Levels: As disposable incomes rise, consumers may be more inclined to spend on luxury goods and services.

As disposable incomes rise, consumers may be more inclined to spend on luxury goods and services. Domestic Demand: With a large and increasingly affluent population, there's a growing market for luxury products and experiences within the country.

With a large and increasingly affluent population, there's a growing market for luxury products and experiences within the country. Infrastructure Development: Better infrastructure facilitates the movement of goods, reduces transaction costs, and supports the growth of various industries, including the luxury market.

Better infrastructure facilitates the movement of goods, reduces transaction costs, and supports the growth of various industries, including the luxury market. Global Competitiveness: India's efforts to enhance its global competitiveness can attract foreign investments and promote the export of luxury goods.

India's efforts to enhance its global competitiveness can attract foreign investments and promote the export of luxury goods. Recessionary Trends in Other Economies: While major economies face recessionary trends, India's resilience and growth can attract international investors and businesses looking for stable markets.

While major economies face recessionary trends, India's resilience and growth can attract international investors and businesses looking for stable markets. Fastest Growing Economy: The expectation that India will be the fastest-growing economy over the next decade highlights the country's potential for sustained economic expansion, which bodes well for various industries, including the luxury market.

Commenting on the factors driving growth in luxury retail, Vejay Anand, CEO, Ironhill India & Branding Expert, said, The country's rapidly growing economy and the emergence of a sizeable group of affluent consumers have made it an attractive destination. The rising middle and upper classes, with higher disposable incomes, present an untapped market with considerable potential. Moreover, the shift in consumer preferences towards luxury goods, driven by evolving lifestyles and global desires, has further fueled the interest of brands in establishing their presence in India. Additionally, India's burgeoning population and rising spending power have made it an attractive market for luxury brands, prompting them to consider expanding their operations within the country.

Delhi and Mumbai: Hubs of luxury retail

There has been a continuous competition between Delhi and Mumbai for the title of India's luxury fashion capital. Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel and Hermes arrived in India via Delhi while Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Bottega Veneta, preferred Mumbai for their flagship stores. More recently, Christian Dior Couture showcased its Fall 2023 collection in Mumbai, signaling a growing interest in India's untapped market. While there is an emphasis on exploring new markets, Delhi and Mumbai are deemed the two largest luxury markets. The recommendation is for brands to establish a presence in both cities, leveraging the existing infrastructure and consumer base.

Both the cities boast of luxury malls, such as DLFs Emporio, Chanakya Malls, Palladium Mall, and Jio World Plaza, providing suitable environments for luxury brands. Mumbai, in particular, benefits from attractive real estate in the south, chosen by brands like Hermes and Christian Louboutin.

Recent partnerships between luxury brands like Valentino, Balenciaga, and Galeries Lafayette and Indian retailers, including Reliance Brands Ltd. (RBL) and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited (ABFRL), demonstrate the industry's strategic moves. RBL, a unit of Reliance Industries Ltd., owns nearly 35 popular luxury brands. ABFRL has partnered with Galeries Lafayette for a massive flagship store in south Mumbai and a second store in Delhi.

In addition, ABFRL plans to launch a dedicated e-commerce platform for Galeries Lafayette in India, reflecting the increasing significance of online channels in the luxury retail sector. Overall, the text underscores the dynamic nature of the luxury fashion market in India, with brands strategically expanding to new cities and forming partnerships to tap into the country's growing affluence and consumer base.

Feather on the cap of luxury  Jio World Plaza

Opened in November 2023, Jio World Plaza is the newest entree, spanning across a massive 750,000 square feet. It showcases 66 globally renowned brands. Among the premier brands featured are Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Burberry, Valentino, Dior, Balenciaga, Rolex, Bottega Veneta, Cartier, Bulgari, Jimmy Choo, and many more. Notably, Tiffany & Co, Versace, Bulgari, and Pottery Barn have opened their first stores in India within the mall.

Retail evolution and unique marketing strategies

The retail landscape in India has undergone a transformation, with the emergence of luxury malls and high-end shopping districts in major metropolitan cities. International luxury brands have increasingly set up flagship stores in these premium locations, providing a unique and exclusive shopping experience. Additionally, the rise of e-commerce has further facilitated the accessibility of luxury goods to consumers across the country, breaking geographical barriers and reaching a wider audience.

As the luxury brands are a class apart from regular retail brands, their branding and marketing also need to be unique. Vejay Anand noted, Luxury retail brands are indeed masters in the art of marketing. They don't just sell their products, but they create an entire experience that's unique and personalized to each customer. They achieve this by hosting exclusive events, offering customized services, and carefully curating limited editions that captivate consumers. These brands also take pride in their heritage, craftsmanship, and legacy and are committed to creating an emotional connection with their customers. It is important to note that scarcity alone cannot thrive in the luxury market. Instead, it requires an entire ecosystem fueled by a commitment to excellence. The scarcity principle has a potent psychological impact and is closely linked to the perception of value in the face of infinite abundance.

On the luxury brands embracing the digital age despite their exclusive status, he said, They're active on social media and provide online shopping experiences as elite as their in-store ones.

Are the luxury brands offering Value for money?

Answering this question, Chandramouli Nilakantan, CEO, Blue Lotus Communications, said, India has a burgeoning middle class which has growing aspirations. At the same time luxury brands want to attract more and more classes to luxury products. This convergence has led to a mixed strategy by luxury brands in which they keep higher end products priced very high, and affordable only by the very affluent. At the same time, they have products like perfumes, scarves, pens, handbags, etc. which any person can indulge in.

Changing consumer trends

The Indian consumers perception of luxury has evolved over the years. While traditional luxury items like jewelry and apparel still hold significance, there is a growing interest in experiential luxury, such as fine dining, luxury travel, and high-end technology. Luxury brands are adapting to these changing preferences by diversifying their product portfolios and creating immersive experiences that resonate with the evolving tastes of the Indian consumer. Moreover, we see an increase in demand for luxury labels in lesser-known towns and cities, which suggests a change in buyers habits.

Vejay Anand noted, One trend that is easy to see is that consumers in these smaller areas are becoming more ambitious, replicating global lifestyle choices and aspiring to follow international directions. With greater access to global trends through various media channels and the ease of online shopping, connectivity has skyrocketed, making luxury brands more accessible outside major cities. Luxury brands have responded to these changes by establishing boutique stores and unique sections within malls, providing a taste of luxury and tailoring their offerings to suit local preferences.

Walking a tightrope: Maintaining their exclusivity while increasing customer base

Luxury brands walk a tightrope, balancing exclusivity with broad appeal. On this Vejay Anand said, They carefully choose where to place their brand and control the number of regional stores. This ensures accessibility to their target audience while preserving their air of exclusivity. Personalized experiences and limited-edition products create an exclusive feel for customers without compromising the brand's elite image. Some brands create entry-level or diffusion lines to expand their customer base without diluting the exclusivity of their core products. Returning to the scarcity principle, brands elevate the demand and allure of their products by instilling a perception of rarity or exclusivity. Utilizing limited-time offers, exclusive editions, or controlled product releases, they leverage scarcity to stimulate consumer interest and prompt a sense of immediacy for purchasing.

Future of Luxury in India

As the Indian economy continues to grow, and consumer preferences evolve, the future of luxury brands in India appears promising. The potential for further market penetration, coupled with the increasing affinity for luxury experiences, suggests that the luxury sector will continue to thrive. Brands that understand the nuances of the Indian market and can strike a balance between global appeal and local relevance are poised for success in this dynamic and rapidly expanding landscape.
Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports

Bern, 18.03.2024 - On Monday, 18 March, President Viola Amherd and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen officially opened negotiations between Switzerland and the European Union (EU) in the presence of the chief negotiators from both sides. While in Brussels, Ms Amherd also met with Maros Sefcovic, Executive Vice President of the European Commission. In addition to bilateral relations between Switzerland and the EU, geopolitical and security policy challenges facing Europe were also discussed.

Both sides acknowledged the importance of bilateral relations between Switzerland and the EU, as well as the economic, cultural and social values they share. Ms Amherd stressed that in view of international challenges on matters of security, climate and migration for example, it is particularly important to maintain positive and constructive forms of cooperation in Europe. Switzerland and the EU are endeavouring to stabilise and further develop their relations. The adoption of the negotiating mandates represented a major step in this direction. The Swiss president and the European Commission president were pleased that negotiations on the various elements of the package were already to begin this week. As part of the transitional arrangements agreed with the EU, researchers in Switzerland are now eligible for 2024 calls for European Research Council Advance Grants.

The cornerstone of the package now being negotiated is barrier-free access to the EU internal market. Existing internal market agreements are to be updated and new sectoral agreements concluded in the areas of electricity and food safety. Securing Switzerland's participation in EU programmes, particularly in the area of research (Horizon) and a cooperation agreement in the area of health also form part of the package. With regard to the free movement of persons, Switzerland is concerned about maintaining the level of wage protection and labour market-oriented immigration with the aim of protecting the social welfare system.

Further topics of discussion on Monday included the security policy situation in Europe, the commitment on the part of Switzerland and the EU to peace and the expansion of security policy cooperation as decided by the Federal Council in September 2022. Consultations between Switzerland and the EU on security and defence were upgraded to a structured dialogue in November 2023. With regard to Russias war against Ukraine, Ms Amherd explained Switzerland's intention to organise an initial high-level conference on peace in Ukraine. She emphasised that a great deal of commitment was required to lay the foundations for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. At the meeting with Vice President Sefcovic, talks focused on the situation in the Middle East, migration issues and the European Political Community (EPC) as an intergovernmental forum for political dialogue and cooperation on the European continent.

The vice president of the Commission and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), will aim to meet in June to discuss the status of the negotiations.

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Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 18.03.2024 - The third edition of the Summit for Democracy is scheduled to be held in the Republic of Korea from 18 to 20 March under the banner of 'Democracy for Future Generations'. Ambassador Simon Geissbuhler delivered a statement at Monday's ministerial meeting which focused on the impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on democracy.

Democracies around the world have come under increasing pressure over the past two decades. A large majority of the world's population lives in non-democratic states. Against this backdrop, around 300 representatives from governments, international organisations, academia and civil society will meet at the third Summit for Democracy in Seoul from 18 to 20 March. The summit will serve as a forum for dialogue on policy strategies and solutions, with a particular focus on new technologies, in order to promote democracy for future generations. Mr Geissbuhler, head of the FDFA's Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD), delivered a statement at the ministerial meeting which took place on Monday as part of the summit. President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd will also address the summit in a video message.



"While new technologies present risks, they also create opportunities, especially for democracy. Young people have a key role to play in this," said Geissbuhler. Technological advances offer opportunities to streamline electoral processes, improve access to information and increase the efficiency of public authorities. However, rapid developments in AI also have the potential to undermine democratic decision-making processes through disinformation and repression. "We must ensure that technology continues to serve citizens and does not become an instrument of oppression or manipulation," emphasised Geissbuhler in his statement. This is particularly important to ensure the engagement of young people, who are very active in the digital space, in the political process. At the same time, it is important that the fight against disinformation is not used as a pretext to place undue restrictions on human rights and fundamental freedoms. To minimise the negative impact of artificial intelligence, Switzerland contributed its expertise to the Council of Europe's negotiations on the Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, which were successfully concluded last week.



The Federal Council defined 'democracy and governance' as one of the thematic priorities of the Foreign Policy Strategy 202427. Growing autocratic tendencies in many countries around the world present a challenge to Swiss foreign policy. The aim of the strategy is to strengthen democratic values and freedoms, promote dialogue and cooperation with other democracies and bolster the resilience of democracies that are facing increasing pressure.



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After Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi refused to induct K Ponmudy as a minister, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai on Monday took on the governor calling for his resignation from the post.

Speaking to ANI, Saravanan said, The governors behaviour day-by-day is going bizarre. He is a shame to the post of the governor. His actions are not supported by law, conventions and the Supreme Court. Ponmudys conviction was stayed by the apex court only to enable him to become an MLA. When he becomes an MLA, he suffers no disqualification to be a minister. This has been clarified by many Supreme Court judgements.

In Senthil Balajis case, the Madras high court said that if you are qualified for the post of an MLA, then there is no disqualification for you to be a minister, Saravanan further said. Further, he pointed out that, by the Supreme Courts stay on conviction, Ponmudy is automatically re-nominated as an MLA. Therefore, he ought to be made a minister.

Who is this gentleman to comment upon it? Ultimately, the Supreme Court will decide. Is the governor not advised well? He is wasting the taxpayers money by flying to Delhi anytime, he added. The DMK spokesperson also alleged that the BJP rewards those governors who behave worst.

The worse you behave as governor, the BJP will reward the best. For example, former West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was made vice-president of India even though his behaviour as West Bengal governor was obnoxious, he said. We have information that Ravi is also eyeing the post of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. He wants to become the NSA, Annadurai further said.

Meanwhile, disqualified Tamil Nadu minister and DMK senior leader K Ponmudy was reinstated days after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction and three-year jail sentence in a disproportionate asset case on March 13, 2024. Governor RN Ravi sent a letter to the state government on Sunday, that he cannot administer the oath of office to Ponmudy (DMK senior leader and former Higher Education Minister) as his conviction has not been struck down by the Supreme Court, citing the pendency of the case.
Comedian Nate Bargatze is coming to Birmingham and Huntsville on his Be Funny Tour. Named The Nicest Man in Stand-Up by The Atlantic Magazine, Bargatze is known for his clean and relatable standup routines.

A Nashville native, Bargatze has had 10 appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon ad toured as part of Fallons Clean-Cut Comedy Tour.

He will be performing in Birminghams Legacy Arena for two shows on May 11 and in Huntsvilles Propst Arena on June 2.

Bargatze has performed live shows for the troops in Iraq and Kuwait. He has toured with Chris Rock and performed regularly at festivals, such as Bonnaroo, SXSW, Clusterfest, Oddball Comedy Festival, Sasquatch, and more.

How to get tickets

Huntsville fans can find tickets for the June 2 show at Vivid Seats, StubHub and Ticketmaster.

Find tickets to the two June 2 Birmingham shows, at 3 and 7 p.m., at Vivid Seats, StubHub and Ticketmaster.

Bergatze is performing and selling out shows worldwide.
Southern Living magazine has released a list of the 18 best beach bars across the South and says that three of them are in Alabama.

And that doesnt include the Flora-Bama, which sits atop the list but, as colleague Lawrence Specker wrote last week, isnt technically in Alabama.

Nowhere else can you find a sun-weathered, lifelong beach bum, spirited college students and moms on a girls trip all sidled up to the same bar, Southern Living said of beach bars in general.

Whether youre looking to waste away in Margaritaville or simply snag a sunset sip, the Souths beach bars have everything you need for an unforgettable time: beautiful views of the water, friendly crowds, great music, and perhaps most important, plenty of drinks to go around.

The 18 bars which made the list were selected by Southern Living editors, who decided the iconic Pink Pony Pub in Gulf Shores was one of those 18.

When the Pink Pony Pub opened on beach in 1956, Gulf Shores was hardly the vacation destination it is now, they wrote.

The tiny bubblegum-pink shack fit right in among the areas modest homes and seafood shacks. Over the years, the town has changed quite a bit. Today, Pink Pony is flanked by high-rise condos, but it has remained true to its origin as a neighborhood watering hole. Grab a pina colada from the bar and take your time sipping it on the weathered wooden deck overlooking the waves.

Also grabbing Southern Livings attention is The Gulf in Orange Beach, a place which describes itself as a seaside hideaway with a casual chic atmosphere.

Southern Living praised the uniqueness of The Gulf in that it was constructed out of shipping containers and recycled materials, also noting its success prompted the opening of a second location on Okaloosa Island.

The third Alabama beach bar deemed worthy of inclusion on Southern Livings list is Pirates Cove in Elberta. The ultimate beach hideaway, Pirates Cove is a legendary third-generation beach shack on the Alabama Gulf Coast, Southern Living says.

While Flora-Bama, again, isnt actually in Alabama, its got Bama in the name, so naturally many Alabamians are attached to the iconic watering hole. Heres what Southern Living had to say:

For 60 years, this legendary shoreside shack has been known for slinging excellent bushwackers, booking great live music, and welcoming everyone in, editors wrote. The fact that the dive bars ceiling is adorned with womens bras, but you can still attend church there on Sundays, tells you everything you need to know about this one-of-a-kind spot.

Other nearby beach bars making the Southern Living list includes Peg Leg Petes in Pensacola Beach and Shaggys in Pass Christian on the Mississippi coast.
KIEV, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba welcomed the decision of the European Union (EU) to allocate an additional 5 billion euros (about 5.44 billion U.S. dollars) for military support to Ukraine, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Speaking at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Kuleba said that the move to unlock the aid was an important step for Ukraine.

Kuleba also thanked the Czech Republic for its initiative to purchase artillery ammunition for Ukraine and appreciated the countries that have joined the initiative.

Earlier in the day, the Council of the EU allocated 5 billion euros (about 5.44 billion U.S. dollars) for Ukraine under the European Peace Facility (EPF). The funds are due to be used for providing Ukraine with lethal and non-lethal military equipment and training.

Between 2022 and 2024, the European Union mobilized 6.1 billion euros (about 6.64 billion U.S. dollars) for Ukraine under the EPF.

Last month, the Czech Republic proposed to EU countries to jointly purchase 800,000 artillery shells and send them to Ukraine. 
We now have a date for the grand opening of the first Wawa store in Alabama.

Wawa, a gas station-convenience store chain beloved for traits including its grocery selection and its famous made-to-order hoagies, announced two years ago that it was launching a wave of expansion across the Florida Panhandle and central Gulf Coast. Previously it had mainly been an East Coast phenomenon.

In June 2023 the company broke ground on its first Alabama location, a site on the south side of Fairhope at 18968 Greeno Road, near Fairhope High School. At the time, company officials said plans called for it to open in the second quarter of 2024. Thats going to happen on April 25.

According to information released Monday, doors will open at 8 a.m. that day, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to follow at 10 a.m.

Wally Goose, mascot for the Wawa convenience store chain, and a company executive display renderings of the first Wawa in Alabama. It's being built at U.S. 98 and Twin Beech Road in Fairhope.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

We cant wait to open our doors to our new Alabama friends and neighbors and are excited for the chance to offer our new customers our unique brand of fresh food, beverages and convenience, Robert Yeatts, Sr. director of store operations, said in a company announcement. As each location opens, we will further solidify our commitment to providing the community with not only a new level of convenience but a strong, committed community partner.

Openings will follow this summer for stores at 7095 Cottage Hill Road in Mobile and 21022 Ala. 59 in Robertsdale.

Wawa says it plans to open up to 10 stores in Baldwin and Mobile counties over the next several years. Each will employ about 35 associates.

RELATED: Wawa is coming to Alabama. So whats a Wawa?
A young Tuscaloosa man was killed in a crash during what authorities say was street racing on Interstate 59/20.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the fatality victim as George Edward Bishop III. He was 22.

The crash happened at 8 a.m. Sunday on I-59/20 near Fairfield.

Authorities said Bishop reportedly lost control of his vehicle during a street racing incident.

Alabama State Trooper Cpl. Reginal King said Bishop was driving a Genesis G70 when he lost control and struck a concrete barrier. After the initial impact, the Genesis overturned and struck a Chevrolet Tahoe driven by 31-year-old Leamon K. Sullivan of Vestavia Hills.

Bishop was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:43 a.m. Monday.

Sullivan was taken to a freestanding emergency room for treatment.

The crash remains under investigation by Alabama State Troopers.
Alabama Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington will lead a panel discussion at Birminghams Woodlawn Theater on March 20 following the screening of the documentary Being Free.

The film follows three formerly incarcerated individuals on their journey to find careers after prison. The panel event, which also will feature discussion from Society for Human Resource Management CEO Johnny Taylor, Ken Oliver of Checkr, Birmingham City Councilor LaTonya Tate and Ronald McKeithen of Alabama Appleseed, is part of statewide efforts to reduce recidivism.

Working to involve marginalized groups, such as those with previous incarcerations, is certainly one of Alabamas goals to improve our economy, Washington said in a release before the event. Efforts such as this, along with collaborations between public, private, and non-profit organizations, are definitely valuable in increasing our states labor force participation rate. ADOL has long sponsored and championed events to include traditionally overlooked segments of the workforce, and we are proud to support this initiative.

Alabama has a low labor force participation rate, with 38 workers per 100 open jobs. The state also has a high unemployment rate for formerly incarcerated individuals, over 27%, which is 10 times higher than the general population.

Too often, policy and business leaders alike view fair chance hiring as a charitable cause, not a business and economic development strategy, said Oliver, who served nearly 24 years in prison and now serves as VP of Corporate Social Responsibility and Executive Director of Checkr.org, Checkrs philanthropic foundation.

Businesses in Alabama and across the country are proving whats possible when you recognize and value the unique strengths that talent with records bring to the table.

A 2023 report by the Society for Human Resource Management found that after HR professionals viewed Being Free, they were more likely to recognize the strengths of formerly incarcerated individuals and the benefits of hiring them. Tailored resources for both people re-entering the population after prison and for hiring professionals are needed, advocates said.

Birmingham is a unique laboratory for innovation that helps people get back to work, and strengthens the regions economy in the process, said Ron McKeithen, a Reentry Coordinator at Alabama Appleseed who spent 37 years in prison before joining their team.

By elevating the work of local leaders who are already realizing the potential of fair chance hiring, were proving that hiring formerly incarcerated people can be a win-win for the economy and society.
An argument between two acquaintances turned deadly Sunday afternoon, leaving one man dead and another in custody.

According to Mobile police, officers were summoned to Bel Air Apartments just after 4 p.m. Sunday on a report of a man being shot.

When they arrived, the found 24-year-old Aeron Lao, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Alec Tran, was located at the scene and taken into custody.

Preliminary investigation determined the two men knew each other and got into an argument before Tran allegedly shot Lao, according to police.

Tran was booked into the Mobile Metro Jail, with a bond hearing set for Monday.
We are VW. We are UAW.



And we are voting YES for our union!#StandUpVW pic.twitter.com/CYIRKU8pfy  UAW (@UAW) March 18, 2024

The United Auto Workers announced Monday that workers at Volkswagens Chattanooga plant have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a vote to the join the union, marking the first big test of its nationwide unionization drive.

The petition comes after a supermajority of workers there have signed union cards, and less than 100 days after a campaign began to unionize the plant.

It is the German automakers only U.S. assembly plant and employs more than 4,000 autoworkers. It is also the only Volkswagen plant globally with no form of employee representation.

Workers there are the first to ask for a vote in the unions campaign, which was announced last fall after the UAW won strong contracts with Detroit automakers.

The UAW said it would simultaneously target more than a dozen nonunion auto plants including those run by Tesla, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Kia, Toyota, Honda, and others.

Under U.S. law, a company can voluntarily recognize and negotiate with a union once a majority of workers have signed union cards, or can refuse to do so unless the group first wins a government-run election. The UAW set a benchmark of 70% signing union cards before petitioning for a vote.

The Chattanooga plant has, however, been the site of unsuccessful union votes. Employees at the VW plant voted narrowly against unionization during ballots in 2014 and 2019.

But the UAW drive comes as part of a broader campaign to organize in Southern auto plants situated in right-to-work states that have traditionally resisted union involvement.

Late in February, the UAW announced that a majority of employees at Mercedes-Benzs U.S. International (MBUSI) plant in Vance had signed union cards. Thats less than two months after the union began organizing at the plant.

That came after the union announced 30% percent of the employees at Hyundais Montgomery plant had also signed cards.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A former Birmingham-area physician has been indicted on peeping Tom accusations.

A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Paul Douglas Roller, 58, on one count of criminal surveillance and two counts of aggravated criminal surveillance/invasion of privacy. The indictments were issued Feb. 9, and made public Monday.

The indictments list three separate victims.

Roller, who lives in Birmingham, was initially arrested by Homewood police on two of the charges in July 2020. His medical license was permanently revoked after that arrest nearly four years ago.

Roller specialized in geriatric medicine.

At the time of his arrest, Homewood police Sgt. John Carr said officers on May 3 responded to a home in the Edgewood community on a report of a peeping Tom. A report was completed, evidence was collected from the scene, and the case was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division.

Detectives analyzed the collected evidence and upon further investigation, to include the execution of two search warrants, were able to identify Roller as the suspect.

He was arrested and later released on bond.

The Alabama Medical Licensure Commission in 2021 announced it had permanently revoked Rollers license.

The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners is the state agency responsible for regulating the practice of medicine in Alabama. The Medical Licensure Commission issues licenses and rules on formal charges brought against physicians.

The board stated Roller was charged with engaging in unprofessional conduct and being unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety to his patients.

The commission said Roller has denied the allegations but consented to the revocation of his medical license and agreed never to seek reinstatement.

A trial date has not been set.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation police officers (ECOs) on Wednesday seized an 11-foot, 750-pound alligator from a residence in Hamburg, N.Y. where it was being kept illegally as a pet.

The homeowner once had a DEC license for the alligator, but it expired in 2021 and was not renewed.

He also built an addition for the gator and installed an in-ground swimming pool where he allegedly allowed people to swim with it unsecured.

The gator has numerous health issues, including blindness in both eyes and spinal complications. ECOs transferred it to a licensed caretaker who will care for it until it can be properly transported for permanent care.

Authorities are analyzing evidence seized during the warrant, and consultation with a licensed veterinarian will determine any future potential charges.

I first saw Albert through the window when I heard that there was an alligator living next door and I didnt believe it, neighbor Laura Lautner told The Buffalo News.

Lautner told the newspaper she befriended Tony Cavallaro, who has been living there since 2006, and has had Albert, an 11-foot, 750-pound alligator, for the last 34 years.

They changed the rules 2 years ago about what you need to do to have an Alligator. Ive had him 34 years and abided by all of them and renewed my permit annually as required, Cavallaro wrote in a change.org petition.
Kaitlan Collins, host of CNNs The Source with Kaitlan Collins and a Prattville native, is speaking out against the politicization of libraries amid book challenges.

Collins has long spoken out against misinformation and does not shy away from controversial topics. She covered the White Houses response to national topics of interest like the COVID-19 pandemic and the unrest after the death of George Floyd amid a national racial reckoning.

Her CNN colleague Jake Tapper has called Collins as an activist for truth and facts.

As someone who loved going to the library growing up, its so disappointing to see whats happening in my hometown, where the librarys director was fired for simply fulfilling an open records request. Libraries should be havens for curious kids to learn, not political battlegrounds, Collins said in a Tweet.

Many Prattville residents protested after the dismissal of the Autauga-Prattville Library director and at least four staff members who protested his firing.

Autauga-Prattville Library Board of Trustees Chairman Ray Boles said Fosters termination came after Foster gave a reporter redacted emails about the new book policy and about potentially moving more than 100 childrens and young adult books to the adult section that discussed sexual orientation, gender identity or gender discordance.

Protests continue as the board trustees appointed a new interim director on Saturday, just days after the slew of terminations.
Authorities are asking for the publics help finding a suspect in a weekend hit-and-run that injured a child.

The crash happened Saturday in the 2500 block of McDaniel Drive in Anniston.

A 4-year-old was hurt, but the extent of the injuries was not released.

Police officials said the suspect vehicle has been described as a blue, two-door Hyundai coupe driven by a heavy-set Black female.

Anyone with information is asked to call investigators 256-238-1800 or 256-240-4032.
This is an opinion cartoon.

This one time, at band camp - I mean Space Camp, an Alabama lawmakers Dont Say Gay expansion bill turned into a joke in search of a punch line.

Say hello to Mack Butler, a Republican from Rainbow City  imagine that. Hes so embarrassed by his towns name that hes trying to over-compensate by being a bully to the LGBTQ community. (Butler is the creepy wide-smiling fellow depicted in the cartoon, protecting an innocent teen from indoctrination. Youre welcome, dude.)

Lets turn this over to John Archibald, who knocks it out of the park with his column: Archibald: Where is Alabamas Dont say Baptist bill? - al.com

A few excerpts:

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.

Related: Beware all wolves who pose behind the Bible - al.com

Related: Alabama lawmaker wants Space Camp added to Dont Say Gay bill due to transgender counselor - al.com

Related: Space Camp employees receiving very specific threats, officials say: This is not okay - al.com

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.

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.

Read all of Archibalds column here.

And heres a spot-on column on the subject by Alabama Political Reporter columnist Josh Moon:

Related: Opinion | The real threats to Alabamas children (alreporter.com)

More cartoons by JD Crowe

Alabama Republi-chickens are scared to death of DEI - al.com

Is Katie Britt auditioning for VP, SNL or The Handmaids Tale? - al.com

Burn the freaking books: Alabama libraries under fire from witch hunters - al.com

GOP owns this IVF minefield: Theocracy is a dangerous playground - al.com

Latest Alabama star in transfer portal hits Nick Saban hard - al.com

True stories and stuff by JD Crowe

The mysterious Bubble Guy of Fairhope and the art of bubble Zen - al.com

How I met Dr. Seuss

Robert Plant head-butted me. Thanks, David Coverdale

I was ZZ Tops drummer for a night and got kidnapped by groupies

Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @jdcrowe@al.com.
ERDENE, Mongolia, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Shen Minjuan and Mongolian Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg on Monday visited the central Mongolian province of Tuv to hand over relief materials provided by China to 500 herdsmen affected by the extreme wintry weather.

This winter, Mongolia has been hit by a severe "dzud," a Mongolian term to describe a severely cold winter when many livestock die because the ground is frozen or covered in snow.

They handed over the relief materials including warm clothes, family packages, food and other necessities to herder families in Erdene soum (administrative subdivision) of the province.

"As an important neighbor of Mongolia, China has paid close attention to the dzud situation from the beginning and took the lead in extending a helping hand to Mongolia," said Shen. "This is not only what we should do as neighbors, but also once again reflects the deep friendship between the two countries that share weal and woe."

Battsetseg, who is also president of the Mongolian Red Cross Society, expressed her thanks to China. "Our country has been suffering from the dzud that is more severe than in previous years, and many herder families across the country have been severely affected," she said.

"During this difficult period, China's central and local governments, the Red Cross Society, and the Chinese Embassy and Chinese-funded enterprises in Mongolia have promptly extended a helping hand to Mongolia," Battsetseg said.

More than 4 million head of livestock have died so far this winter due to the dzud, according to the country's State Emergency Commission. The promotion of livestock husbandry is seen as the most viable way to diversify the landlocked country's mining-dependent economy.

At the end of 2023, the number of livestock in Mongolia stood at 64.7 million, according to the National Statistics Office. 
The Great North American Eclipse will move across the U.S. on April 8. And, if youre fortunate enough to live along the path of totality, you may be able to enjoy the full effect of the moon blocking out the sun  at least for a few minutes.

The path of totality will start in Mexico and move across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine before heading out over the North Atlantic. Small portions of Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee will also experience almost the entirety of the eclipse.

According to NASA, a total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking the face of the sun. Weather permitting, people along the path of totality will see the suns corona, or outer atmosphere, which is usually obscured by the bright face of the sun.

The longest duration of totality will be 4 minutes, 28 seconds near Torreon, Mexico. Most other places along the path of totality will experience the eclipse anywhere from 3.5 to 4 minutes, according to NASA. IN these places, the moon will completely cover the sun and the sky will become dark like its dawn or dusk.

Those outside the path of totality will experience a partial solar eclipse, where the sky will appear slightly darker than it was before the eclipse depending on how much the moon blocks the sun.

Another sign of the eclipse? A temperature drop. NASA said you can expect the temperature to drop about 10 degrees depending on the cloud cover at your location.

NASA has an interactive map that traces the path of the eclipse and shows you the time it will be visible across the U.S. You can put in your ZIP code or city and track it here. The map even gives you a guide to just how much of the sun will be covered at certain times during the day.

READ MORE:

Total solar eclipse on April 8: Why this eclipse will be much different than the 2017 version

Solar eclipse 2024: Where to get free glasses to watch April 8 total solar eclipse

April 8 eclipse: Where to get 2 free pair of glasses to see total solar eclipse
One person was injured in a shooting Monday afternoon on the campus of Alabama A&M University near Huntsville, the university said.

Alabama A&M Police Chief Montrez Payton would not say whether an officer shot someone or if an officer was shot in the incident, adding that further information on the shooting would be released by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, which is investigating the incident.

A campus police officer was on the fifth floor of the Knight Complex residence hall conducting a routine patrol around 1:50 p.m. Monday when the officer heard shots fired below him, Payton said.

As the officer responded to see where the shots were coming from, he made contact with a person in the southwest stairwell of the residence hall.

Multiple shots were exchanged in that stairwell, Payton said. An individual was hit multiple times.

The victim was taken to Huntsville Hospital with undisclosed injuries.

Unfortunately, were saddened by these occurrences and also, these things are starting to become more frequent as we see in todays climate, the chief told reporters shortly after the shooting.

Alabama A&M urged everyone to stay clear of the Knight Complex until further notice.

Just seven months ago, the Knight Complex was the scene of another shooting.

The Aug. 22 shooting injured two people and led to the arrests of two suspects.

That shooting was termed as an isolated incident stemming from an altercation between two people.
MANILA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A woman was killed after the motorcycle she and her husband were riding was hit by an overtaking bus along a highway in Rizal province of the Philippines at dawn on Monday, police said.

Police said the accident occurred around 4 a.m. while the couple traveled along a highway in Taytay town. The woman died at the crash site, while her husband sustained injuries in the left arm.

Initial investigation showed the bus driver grew impatient and decided to past the slow-moving motorcycle in front of the bus.

Police detained the bus driver as the investigation continues. 
We can't continue to be passive as our systems crumble around our feet. Bad things happen when the canaries in the mine start chirping.

Boeing, Airbus, and other worldwide aviation companies have execution issues at all levels. Daher, a French aviation companys CEO Didier Kayat said at a recent press conference:

"After COVID-19, where has the workforce gone? In the future, economic historians may explain what happened. We see behavioral changes, a new relationship to the concept of work."

Graphic: Crew with logs for construction of Alaska Central Railroad, Camp Johnston, September 17, 1905.

Evans and Anderson, Wikimedia Commons.org. Public Domain.

There is a shortage of qualified people willing to work everywhere. Dedication to the concept of work, the commitment employees are willing to give, and the sacrifices we all used to take for granted can no longer be assumed. The consequences are monumental:

Safety is compromised Our standing in the world is deteriorating vs. countries that don't seem to have our "lazy" genes. Our military can't find enough qualified candidates to serve. Our limitations are dictating our choices. Attacks on our historical anchors of success threaten our existence. We are handing the means to destroy us to our economic, military, and political enemies.

Problems can be seen everywhere: Dozens are injured after a Boeing jet has a mechanical problem. A tire falls off a Boeing 777. The door plug comes off in flight on a Boeing 737-9 Max. A Boeing 737 Max 8 runs off the runway in Texas. A United flight en route to Florida from Houston made an emergency landing after flames erupted from its left engine. Other examples occur on a near-daily basis.

The issue is systemic. Airline and aircraft maintenance organization executives make that clear:

Triumph Chairman Daniel Crowley says, "The problem is a change in the workforce makeupand we certainly have that coming out of the pandemic, where companies like Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing and others have had a large influx of new employees."

Boeing Senior Vice President Ihssane Mounir says, "The airplane is the teller of truth."

Boeing's Doug Ackerman said, "OEM studies for production defects are not finding any new failures that need new fixes. Rather, it carries out long-established details that confound new employees and contractors."

What allows people to treat work so cavalierly today? What's happened to starting at the bottom and working your way up? Why are the traditions of starting a family and buying a house a low priority today? The answers are of paramount importance to us all.

Every generation goes through the same cycles:

Childlike

Maturing

Self-sustaining

Peaking

Retirement

Something has interrupted those cycles necessary to maintain our established systems and provide for the next generation. Although it would be easy to blame the nonsensical decisions made due to COVID four years ago, COVID was nothing more than an event that accelerated changes already underway. They started during the Clinton years.

Are DEI initiatives at the root of all this? A dear friend provided her answer:

"You know, Allan, the first time I heard the phrase 'Politically correct' or incorrect - whichever was used as satire. People laughed and thought it was a funny expression. I, however, having come from a communist upbringing, instantly knew it was what we should call censorship. And it has gotten worse by the minute. And no matter how many clever words like woke and the like are devised to express and name what "the other side" is thinking or doing, the accurate word is Communism. It is here; it is everywhere. The end of capitalism is now in place, and it will take generations before it can be recovered. I know. I have lived it. America still does not believe that it is happening to us, this country, our home. America is still naive and trusting, and everyone is taking advantage of her. I am sad."

The Marxists, Communists and Destroyers have taken over our world, undermining our foundations to the point Biden had to back down from referring to a killer as "illegal." Today's Newspeak requires them to be called undocumented or newcomer. Sadly, Biden still couldn't say Laken Riley's name correctly; he has different priorities.

New York City admits recidivism is the problem. Last year, the NYPD released a study that showed that just 327 people were responsible for 30% of all shoplifting arrests in NYC in 2022. The study also showed that 67% of defendants released under bail reform, who had a prior violent felony arrest in the previous year, were rearrested within two years of their arraignment. Almost half  49%  were rearrested for a felon. Ditto for Chicago, San Francisco and other Blue Cities with similar laws.

We have a legal way for asylum seekers to enter our country. We have 328 Ports of Entry where they can legally claim asylum. Yet almost none go to a Port of Entry in favor of illegally entering our country. Whatever happened to consequences?

The solution? Guard the border with force. This may seem harsh, but either use a legal pathway or risk being shot at the border. With such a policy, how long would it take to regain control of our borders? Repeat criminals? Put them in jail and throw away the key. Deport those with minor infractions back to their countries of origin because they demonstrate indifference to our laws. America cannot be the dumping ground for the world.

America is a nation based on law and civil cohesiveness. When we started waving the white flag in 2011, when the Occupy Wall Street movement commenced, we began to send the message that we wouldn't fight back. Now we're paying a dear price for those choices.

Our best America requires we be actualized, not missing in action. We must not be silent about the downward spiral we see around us! We must expect and even require the best of everyone, subsidizing only the most needy.

We must do better.

Author, Businessman, Thinker, and Strategist. Read more about Allan, his background, and his ideas to create a better tomorrow at www.1plus1equals2.com
Remember the United Negro College Fund ads?

A mind is a terrible thing to waste?

These ads presumed our kids were being educated well enough to go to college; that graduates were not merely literate, but better than literate. Curious. Excited about learning. Educated broadly enough to have identified a line of work they wanted to pursue, such as chemistry or medicine or business or the arts or any one of a thousand paths any high school graduate might choose.

The latest news about educational attainment in two of Barack Obamas hometowns, Washington D.C. and Chicago, is alarming.

From The Federalist:

Large urban school districts are failing in ways that should be a national emergency. Washington, D.C., high schools have a 60 percent chronic absenteeism and a 47 percent truancy rate. (You read that correctly.) In 53 Illinois schools, not one student can do math at grade level, and there are reportedly 30 where no one can read at grade level. If Democrats cared about kids, they would be moving heaven and earth right now to fix these schools. They dont care about educating kids, but Democrats and their union funders will fight a national political battle to make sure your kids can access pornography in schools.

Not one. NO ONE??? This, in an environment where it is safe to assume everything imaginable was done to lower the "pass" threshold, cook the books, skew the results, because thats what unchecked, unchallenged, well-funded institutions with monolithic power do, and thats what these teacherss unions have in these two cities.

The United Negro College Fund has been in running these ads for over forty years but the United Negro College Fund might need a brother organization by now: the United Negro K-12 Literacy Fund. Hmmm Brother Brother? You know who has, quite literally, a brother organization? Barack Obama! My Brothers Keeper, a non-profit which has done what exactly? Well get back to that, but back to the breakdown in urban education.

It wasnt always like this. The always wonderful Thomas Sowell, who regularly reminds us that the black family survived Democrat-run slavery but could not survive Democrats Great Society, tells us:

Back in 1899, in Washington, D. C., there were four academic public high schools-- one black and three white. In standardized tests given that year, students in the black high school averaged higher test scores than students in two of the three white high schools.

Mind you, this is just a couple of generations (at most) after Emancipation. The children attaining these results had parents and/or grandparents who either were slaves or remembered slavery very, very well.

What happened? Well, I can tell you what didnt happen that may have helped save at least one mind, if not more: Barack Obama.

He was very quick to say if it saves just one life when talking about taking away our Constitutional right to guns, but that standard seems inapplicable in other, shall we say, more politically fraught arenas, like the importance of giving children a primal benefit they have a right to: an ever-present father. As Americas first black president, he had a unique opportunity to help in this area which is in desperate need of help: 72% of black babies are born to unmarried mothers. This issue entered the public consciousness in 1965, when a now famous government report by future senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan described a tangle of pathology' among blacks that fed a (then) 24 percent black illegitimacy rate. An almost perfect mathematical reversal in the wake of good intentions. Again, as Thomas Sowell says, the black family survived slavery, but not big government.

So what could Barack Obama have done that didnt involve a big government program? Easy answer, and it should have come easily to a narcissist like him: just talk constantly about what a great role model he is. Thats all he had to do. Talk about himself and how great he is - in a very specific Brookings Institution (below) kind of way. At every possible opportunity.

Of all that came out of his presidency, most of it poisonously bad, the one thing he could have done, and should have done, and was the greatest missed opportunity imaginable, and in my opinion, a honest-to-God, very real tragedy, was to make a much bigger deal of his status as a married father of black children. He should have been constantly driving home the point that the way to succeed in life is to do what Brookings found  which is exactly what he did: stay in school, get a full-time job, get married after 21, and before you have a baby. In that order. Everyone, regardless of demographics, has a 98% chance of avoiding poverty if you do that, and a 74% chance of being in the middle class.

Does My Brothers Keeper mean anything? Or nah? A check on their News page on March 16, 2024 showed their last news item was dated April 11, 2023. Gosh, kind of a lots happened since then, huh? Seems theyre not very busy. Too bad. Chicago led the nation in 2023  again  in the number of homicides. Hey, if youre dead, youre not failing at school, right?

What a sad state of affairs, truly.

Maybe Im just old-fashioned, but Im thinking if a kid is sitting at the library doing his history homework, hes less likely to be getting shot or doing the shooting. And chances are, a kid sitting at the library doing his history homework probably has a mother and or father on the scene who cares about whether or not he actually does his homework. Something Barack & Michelle Obama could have been pro-active, relentless, even noisy role models for, had they simply chosen to be, during or after their time in the White House. You dont even have to agree with them. On anything. Even how they raised their kids (super expensive private schools, of course). Simply using their enormous stage to make being married parents cool again would have been enough. Enough to save who knows how many minds from terrible waste.

But what weve seen from them hardly qualifies as actually caring about people who look like them. What weve seen a lot of since they left is what we saw a lot of while they were at 1600 Penn.: glamorous vacations & insufferable pontificating about how very, very disappointed they are in all of us.

We must do better. Yes we must, Barack. Were so very, very sorry.

We are. So very, very sorry indeed that you, yes, you, didnt use the biggest stage imaginable to preach the biggest, most urgently needed message imaginable: honor yourself, honor your commitments, and be good, honorable men other young men can look up to and emulate.

Thats the tragedy of it, the waste, the absolute waste of his presidency and post-presidential life. Theres still time to save his legacy and do the right thing, as his Marthas Vineyard friend Spike Lee famously said in his movie of the same name. I hope he does. Maybe over cocktails at his palatial island home this August they can talk about it. Then act. Meaningfully.

The black lives in his Chicago and D.C. hometowns either matter or they dont.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
If all the Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity functionaries and their supporters were a corporation -- DIE, Inc. -- it might rival Apples market value. Its product of eviscerating America has been widely successful. Just look at the universities (think Claudine Gay), falling military enlistments, the prevalence of woke marketing for such iconic brands as Bud Lite, the demonization of white male government employees and the like. Moreover, like all successful corporations, it is constantly innovating to expand market share. After all, America still thrives, so opportunities remain for further evisceration.

The latest DIE Inc. venture focuses on reducing Americas dependence on imported semiconductors. The significance of this latest DIE venture cannot be exaggerated. The good news is that Americans finally realized the dangers of this dependency. Even President Biden has acknowledged the issue. According to a recent White House press release, over time, the United States went from producing nearly 40% of the worlds chips to just over 10%, undermining Americas national security and making our economy vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions. To achieve this technological self-sufficiency, the Biden administration proposed the CHIPS and Science Act.

The CHIPS Act was passed by Congress, and in August of 2023 and Biden optimistically announced that $53 billion would soon be invested in chip building together with a 25% tax credit and a National Semiconductor Technology Center to oversee the project. The initial response was positive -- according to the Commerce Department, some 460 companies worldwide have expressed an interest in moving production facilities to the United States and thus provide thousands of high-paying jobs. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), the world's largest semiconductor and a key supplier to the American high-tech industry, committed itself for two major U.S.-built facilities in Arizona. Similarly Micron announced a $40 billion dollar commitment that promised 40,000 new jobs.

Nevertheless, despite the lure of federal subsidies and tax deductions, the initial enthusiasm has cooled, and America continues to rely heavily on imported chips. Whats happening? The answer is: DIE.

In their analysis, Matt Cole and Chris Nicholson explain that those hoping to build advanced U.S. chip factories have encountered all the usual DIE-imposed box-checking requirements, and this agenda is hardly hidden. DIE is explicit: diversity is critical to strengthening the U.S. semiconductor ecosystem.

Th ese chipmakers must hire and train the right number of women, people of color, and justice involved individuals (i.e., ex-cons). The bill calls for using minority-owned businesses and cooperation with minority-serving institutions. There are 19 sections in the legislation dealing with minority groups, including hiring a Chief Diversity Officer at the National Science Foundation to promote national security.

Perhaps as a sop to conservatives, the legislation calls for hiring veterans and rural people. Chipmakers are also required to hire women when constructing these factories and remove degree requirements from job descriptions. That manufacturing cutting-edge chips is exceedingly difficult technically, is irrelevant since we need a workforce that looks like Amerca when competing with our foreign tech rivals.

The cost of this social engineering is enormous. These proposed chip plants will often be located away from large minority populations, so workers of color must be relocated and then trained to the highest levels regardless of past academic shortcoming and is it just assumed that these employees would embrace a strong work ethic -- being punctual, working dutifully, avoiding drugs and alcohol, cooperating with other employees and so on. Firms will naturally need large recruitment and legal departments to resolve the inevitable tensions in this diverse workforce while addressing the litigation that comes from terminating underperforming minority employees.

Faced with such nearly impossible-to-implement DIE rules, chip makers are looking elsewhere. The worlds largest, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), is shifting its second of two promised Arizona plants to Japan while seriously considering locating in Germany. Intel, an American company, originally promised a factory in Columbus, Ohio but is now instead building factories in Poland and Israel despite the risk of armed conflicts. Samsung, a Korean chipmaker, has delayed it promised Texas factory and is closely looking at investing more at home rather than the U.S.

Avoiding building in the United States is hardly surprising. Generous subsidies cannot compensate for incompetent, litigation-prone workers. U.S. lawmakers obviously prize social engineering over national security.

DIE should be considered as a tax on Americans. Now, all the extra training of inept workers and extra efforts at quality control, among countless other diversity costs, will mean that a computer that should cost $2500 will cost, perhaps, $2800. Assuming, of course, that these diversity-made chips ever reach the market.

This tax per se is not the issue. Americans happily pay taxes, but the unstated assumption is aways that they receive something of value in return. Homeowners may whine about property taxes, but they also realize that absent this tax, there would be no schools, police, fire department and other vital benefits. Likewise, Americans have made great sacrifices but always with the understanding that these sacrifices were necessary for a worthy cause. During WW II, for example, Americans tolerated rationing to help the war effort. A link must exist between sacrifice and benefit.

What do we get by paying this DIE tax? At one level the answer is simple: the thousands of DIE functionaries earn often-handsome salaries from enforcing their agenda. But what about those outside the DIE industry? Does this DIE tax yield a better society in general or progress for Blacks in particular? Do these diverse bureaucrats reduce the likelihood of rioting?

It would be hard to claim that the DIE benefits are plain to see beyond enriching DIE functionaries. Who benefits when Northwestern University hires a Safe Space Ambassador? Indeed, racial gaps in educational attainment, wealth, health outcomes, levels of crime and incarceration, life expectancy and similar indices of well-being, the needle has scarcely moved while the divisive, overheated rhetoric of todays race relations continues unabetted. A recent headline from the NY Post made this troubling point graphically: Maryland city equity official says she wants US to burn to the ground: 'MY ideology can rise from the ashes. If anything, much of todays DIE message is anti-White and attacks whiteness as profoundly evil. It would be bizarre to insist that the cost of DIE is a worthwhile investment in Americas future.

Conceivably, this DIE tax is inching America toward a Sputnik moment when an unexpected disaster shifts public opinion. Imagine another shortage of sophisticated computer chips and the subsequent economic chaos. People will ask didnt we spend hundreds of billions to prevent this? Where are these ultra-modern factories? The response may well be, Were still working on it, but production is delayed due to extra training necessary for bringing under-served inner-city youth up to speed and recruiting women backhoe operators. Meanwhile, if you own a new car that cannot be repaired, just use public transportation, or ride a bike.

Yes, a pushback against DIE has begun, but this may take decades before its requirements are eliminated in the private sector. In the meantime, the U.S. will remain dependent on importing cutting-edge chips from abroad, many manufactured by American firms. Yet one more example of DIE, Incs market clout. If one had only invested a few dollars a few decades ago in DIE, one would be a billionaire by now.

Image: Pixabay
President Bidens and former President Trumps recent visits to the Texas border left no doubt that the Biden administrations open border policy has led to an invasion crisis. An estimated 7.2 million illegals have entered the U.S. under his presidency, an amount equal to the population of 36 states. While Biden continues to call for border security, Congress has gotten nowhere in the failed attempt to pass a law that would resume the Trump administrations efforts to build a wall. Similarly, the Biden administrations repeated promises to secure the border ring hollow despite being touted in the mainstream media echo chamber.

Working quietly in the background, Terry Steinberg, the EVP of Provengo, LLC, a Government Services Administration (GSA) approved defense contractor, along with the Provengo team, has crafted a solution to border security that constitutes an offer Texas Governor Greg Abbott cant refusean offer from a respected private corporation to provide Army Corp of Engineers-approved perimeter security technology that the Pentagon has been using for years to secure forward-deployment military bases in harms way around the world. Provengo LLC is a small business emerging technology company headquartered in North Merrick, New York.

(Note: Dr. Corsi has no contract to represent Provengo LLC Hesco and is not remunerated for his support for this product.)

The Provengo solution involves Terrablock, a military-grade, rapid-deployment perimeter-security barrier produced by HESCO, a well-established and widely respected private corporation that provides security products to federal and state governments as well as private industry. As described by Hesco, Terrablock is a patented range of surface-mounted, high-security barriers designed, engineered, and tested to provide hostile vehicle mitigation and protection from ballistics and blast explosions, and to deter unauthorized penetration.

Image: A Terrablock wall. YouTube screen grab.

Dropped in the field, Terrablock is easily assembled and secured in place by dirt-filled ballast gabion baskets. Terrablock is perhaps best understood and appreciated by watching the many videos available on the internet demonstrating the versatility of Hescos perimeter defense structures and security technology.

Hesco Terrablock XR is a proven, cost-effective, versatile, and humane border solution, complete with anti-climb 358 welded mesh, a pins and coil design, optional ballistic protection, and a surface-mounted design. Terrablock XR doesnt need foundations or any site preparation. It can be deployed at a moments notice so you can rapidly respond to changing circumstances. The accompanying ballast can remain filled or emptied after installation, giving you the flexibility to choose how and when to deploy the barriers.

Terrablock XR barriers also contain a Perimeter Intrusion Detection System (PIDS) that detects any attempted breach and notifies authorities where a breach is happening. HESCO engineers have a suite of perimeter protection products that can be adapted to the difficult terrain in Texas, including securing the Rio Grande from intrusion.

The Terrablock solution is a smart wall capable when combined with state-of-the-art electronic surveillance technology. It can be installed along the Texas border in a matter of months, not years, and will then detect intrusions and communicate with Border Patrol and National Guard security force units strategically positioned to prevent border penetration.

Since the U.S. Army first deployed Terrablock in 1991, during the first Gulf War, the Department of Defense used Hesco perimeter security solutions in Afghanistan, the Army Corp of Engineers used it for flood control in Charleston, South Carolina, and the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have used it to provide building and embassy security.

In November 2019, as I know first-hand, Provengo LLC briefed the federal government on a proposal to use Hesco Terrablock to build President Trumps border wall quickly, economically, and effectively. A copy of the Provengo proposal was placed on President Trumps desk, and 9 additional copies were distributed in the White House. The Assistant Secretary of DHS examined the proposal in detail, requesting additional information. The proposal drew serious consideration and favor at these top levels of government.

Unfortunately, the authorizing legislation at that time called for the construction of a steel wall at a specified height. However, the Biden administration hasnt felt bound by those mandates. In October 2023, it waived 26 federal laws to build a new section of border wall to be built in the Rio Grande Valley. The way seems clear today for the state of Texas to consider seriously implementing a border security solution of its own.

If the federal government wont take effective steps to secure the Texas border, Governor Abbott has asserted the states right to protect the citizens of Texas from harm.

Texas has a right as a state to stop criminals from coming into our state, to make arrests of those criminalsand we have National Guard as well as Texas Department of Safety officers who are there to make those arrests and deny illegal entry. And Joe Biden actually does have an option here. Joe Bidens option is to enforce the laws of the United States and stop this illegal entry.

Having promised to keep the citizens of Texas safe from criminals embedded within the migrant border invasion, how can Governor Abbott refuse to implement a rapid-deployment solution the Department of Defense utilizes to keep troops safe when dropped into hostile foreign lands?

Since 2004, Jerome R. Corsi has published over 30 books on economics, history, and politics, including two #1 New York Times bestsellers. In 1972, he received his Ph.D. from the Department of Government at Harvard University. His doctoral dissertation in 1972 was entitled Prior Restraint, Prior Punishment, and Political Dissent: A Moral and Legal Evaluation. His book, Volume I, in his Great Awakening Trilogy, The Truth About Energy, Global Warming, and Climate Change: Exposing Climate Lies in an Age of Disinformation, received highly positive reviews from prominent climate scientists. Volume II, The Truth About Neo-Marxism, Cultural Maoism, and Anarchy: Exposing Woke Insanity in an Age of Disinformation, was published in August 2023. Dr. Corsi has resumed podcasting on his new website TheTruthCentral.com, which is now on the Internet in its first development phase.
Like some of you, I was a bit surprised to hear a president shout at the State of the Union address.

We want an upbeat man with a little passion.

What we got was a man bent on reminding his base that he was fit to twist and shout on Saturday night.

So the bad news is that he shouted and the good news is that he got no bounce, as they say in politics these days.
Its been apparent to anyone who isnt in total denial that rabid antisemitism now lives at the very heart of the Democrat party. October 7 proved that its completely taken over the Democrats ideological nesting grounds and incubators (aka academia). Worse, antisemitisms political facethat is, anti-Israel policiesis now an integral part of Bidens administration. Biden needs the votes of the Israel haters, which means hes gotten into bed with, and is forcing America into bed with, people who are indistinguishable from the Nazis at their most virulent.

Its old news that Biden is trying to force Israels Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, out of office. Its also old news that Sen. Chuck Schumer openly called for Bibis ouster and that Biden approved of that demand.

For those who note that presidents have called for regime change in the past, heres the rule of a principled American government: As president, youre allowed to call for regime change in nations that are your geopolitical enemies and have non-democratically elected governments. However, youre not allowed to call for regime change in an allied country that has true democratic elections and that is in the middle of an existential war.

The Biden attack on Israel, though, goes beyond a war of words. The administration is actively trying to destroy Israels ability to wage war. As Biden stated in his State of the Union speech, hes setting up a pier immediately outside of Gaza to bring supplies. Ostensibly, theyre for civilians, but only a moron would believe that they are not replenishing Hamas.

Not only will the supplies allow Hamas to survive and fight on (something with which Biden, through his calls for a ceasefire, agrees), but it also hamstrings Israels ability to launch rockets at Hamas lest the IDF hit Americans. (Meanwhile, nothing stops Hamas from sending tens of thousands of missiles into civilian centers in Israel.)

But even thats not all. There are more anti-Israel initiatives from Biden:

Biden is also slapping sanctions on Israelis who have not been convicted of any crime; this week, he also sanctioned two geographic areas under Israeli control in the West Bank. At the same time, he gave Iran a $10 billion sanctions waiver. Meanwhile, the Senate  at Schumers direction  is refusing to pass billions of dollars in military aid for Israel. And there are reports that the Biden administration is slow-walking deliveries of ammunition already promised to Israel.

This last is especially devastating. Israel has the weapons and the manpower but, without the ammo that Biden is effectively refusing to deliver, she is completely disarmed.

So, why is Biden treating an ally in this way, especially an ally engaged in a war against an enemy that openly seeks that allys total extermination? Simple: Biden wants to win, and he thinks he cannot do so without appeasing the antisemitic wing of his party. Or, as James Carville bluntly stated,

This Gaza stuff, this is not just a problem with some snot-nosed Ivy League people, he said. This is a problem all across the country. And I hope the president and Blinken can get this thing calmed down because if it doesnt get calmed down before the Democratic convention, its going to be a very ugly time in Chicago. I promise you that. [snip] You and I know that this is a problem in the party. And I think the president knows that, really knows that, hes being told that. And theyre gonna have to tell Bibi Netanyahu, Hey, dude, we are not going to lose our election because you stand to go to jail. You have to think of something else.'

In other words, if Biden loses, its the Jews fault. Put yet another way, Biden had better pander to the Muslims who make up important voting blocks in Michigan and other Democrat-leaning swing states.

So, who are these Muslims, and what do they want? Well, it turns out that, contrary to the claims of their Western front people, they dont just want to share the land with Israel (something that already happened when Ariel Sharon pulled out of Gaza). Instead, they want to fulfill Hitlers dream by killing all the Jews:

Michigan Friday Sermon by Imam Abdou Zindani: One Day the Muslims Will Slaughter the Jews like Sheep; Oh Allah, Make Us Soldiers for You, Make Us Die the Way You Want Us to Die #antisemitism pic.twitter.com/mAw1dhZVnq  MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) March 18, 2024

Miami imam says Muslims will seize homes and properties of Jews, prays for 'annihilation' of 'enemies of Islam' - https://t.co/JRB3OP5T0a  Robert Spencer (@jihadwatchRS) March 16, 2024

Friday Sermon by Florida Imam Dr. Fadi Kablawi: Oh Allah, Make This Ramadan a Blessed Month of Victory; By Allah, We Will Seize, Enjoy, Live in the Jewish Settlements; We Will Inherit the Land, Homes, Property of the Jews #Antisemitism pic.twitter.com/NP7pkjVetX  MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) March 12, 2024

Then theres this lovely fellow in Wisconsin:

Only jihad can bring victory, Alhagie Jallow, imam at the Madinah Community Center in Madison, Wis., preached on Oct. 13, less than a week after Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel en masse. [snip] According to a translation of Jallows sermon that the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) released earlier this month, the imam said: Oh Jews, you unjust, criminal, corrupt oppressorsstop! You will all most definitely be killed. The Jews, the aggressors, the evil.  You describe them, what they do.

None of the above are random crazies on the street corner. These are spiritual leaders who are preaching ideas that are entirely consistent with (a) Mohameds teachings and (b) what pours out of mosques across the Muslim world.

To win the election, Joe Biden is forcing America to side with the Nazis. And I dont mean this in the sense of everyone I dont like is a Nazi. I mean this in the sense that Biden is making common cause with the people who share Hitlers dream of violently slaughtering every Jew in the world.

Biden has always been a morally sketchy person but he is now a complete black hole of immorality. Enabling genocide against the worlds sole Jewish nation, which is also an American ally, is the capstone of a career built on moral corruption.

As a reminder, Bidens career has included but has not been limited to hanging out with Jim Crow segregationists in the Senate, lying about the man who was in the accident that killed his first wife, lying about his academic credentials and plagiarizing speeches, the high-tech lynching against Clarence Thomas, violating national security laws, allegedly assaulting women, and funneling massive bribes to his family in exchange for selling out his country.

If you are uncomfortable voting for Trump, remember that the only alternative is Biden. A protest vote for someone other than Trump means Biden will win because Trump needs every possible vote to overcome the margin of cheating.

Im co-hosting a fundraiser for Donald Trump next week. Heres why.



pic.twitter.com/K4vf2Tv4l5  Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 15, 2024

Image: X screen grab.
After years of creating financial insecurity, Democrat policies are finally creating some jobsunfortunately though, not the right kind of jobs. Here are the details, from a report at the Los Angeles Times on Saturday:

Sophisticated burglary tourists fly from South America to rob wealthy homes, LAPD says 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.  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.  Once in the country, police say, they plan heist sprees and fence the loot before dispatching their earnings back home. 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.

As AOC might say, these thieves are just trying to feed their families.

The article also notes that the 17-year-old suspect was first arrested a few weeks back, only to be (presumably) immediately released, at which point it appears he continued his alleged crime spree, before being arrested again in Arizonalets give credit where credit is due, and give a round of applause to the woke and equitable justice policies of the infamous Soros-backed prosecutors, including LA countys own George Gascon.

I guess when Joe Biden said these non-citizens were coming here to work, he was technically being honest (thats a first!); are these the jobs they keep telling us that Americans wont do? Because in that case, it makes sensealthough, my first thought was that these non-citizens would be taking our honest jobs, since we taxpayers would be subsidizing their low wages with our forced support of the massive welfare state. Well, I mean, it turns out thats true too; see a blog from today on Tyson Foodss decision to fire American and hire illegal.

Burglary Tourism: non-citizens working the jobs that honest Americans just wont do. pic.twitter.com/8EHbL4Dywr  Olivia Murray (@americaliv1) March 18, 2024

Whats a trip to Hollywood without a couple of keepsakes? As John Nolte of Breitbart News said, Well, at least someone wants to visit that shithole.

Image from X.
This past Friday, Senator Charles Schumer of New York, the Democrat Majority Leader, and a Jew in the state with the largest Jewish population in this nation, called for the removal of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Though this is interference in democratic Israeli politics, the most disturbing aspect is the idea that underlies this demand. Earlier, President Joe Biden indicated that it was time for him to have a come to Jesus moment with Netanyahu. Though it's quite insulting to use this phrase with the Jewish leader of the Jewish State, again the most troubling aspect is the implication underlying this statement.

The media and the administration have referred to the deaths of innocent Gazan civilians and has claimed that over 30,000 civilians have died since the IDF invaded the Gaza Strip. There is now evidence that this number is impossible. Mark Levin interviewed University of Pennsylvania statistics professor Abraham Wyner who has analyzed the numbers released by the Hamas Ministry of Health. Even though these people are terrorists and less than honest, there is a total lack of critical analysis by American governmental statisticians and journalists. These numbers underlie the call for Netanyahus removal (whom the Left finds as repulsive as Donald Trump) since they claim he is indiscriminated in the conduct of the Israeli-Hamas War. Further, the Israeli War is damaging the Bidens (an ultimately Obamas) dream for an arrangement with Iran. In the end, Biden would be willing to let Israel go it alone and deny necessary military supplies.

Writing in Tablet magazine, Wyner details the statistical anomalies that are being used to justify the public criticism of Israeli policies. First, the early period of civilian casualties is almost perfectly linear. This is not realistic. This means that there is very little daily variation in casualties, not plausible. There should be some correlation between innocent women and childrens deaths, but this is not the case since the relationship does not line up. Further the death of men is consistently about 30% while the total of women and children stays regularly at 70%. This is also impossible since there should be variation daily.

Another aspect is puzzling since the male adult population of Gaza is about 25%. This means that a higher percentage of males is being killed than total. This would be expected, since the males tend to be the Hamas soldiers. But the numbers are inadequate. Hamas acknowledges the loss of 6,000 of its military which is 20% of the total reported deaths. This would mean that Israel is not killing enough combatants or that almost all the men are soldiers in Hamas army. Israel claims to have killed 12,000 Hamas fighters. This is reasonable and double the number Hamas claims. If true, then over 40% of the casualties are fighters, not civilians. Wyner says the ratio of fighters to civilians in urban combat deaths is 1.4 to 1.0, which is extremely low under these circumstances. The is better than our U.S.. military experience in urban fighting.

The conclusion is that American foreign policy is being driven by domestic election concerns after the primary results in Michigan and Minnesota, where thousands of Democrats expressed their displeasure with the U.S. support of Israel and consequently Biden. Bidens attempt to build a floating port will not solve this animosity, but will increase the risk to our military. Bidens motivation is clearly related to his concern about his eroding polling numbers. Further, the legal proceedings against Trump have not slowed him down.

As for Schumer, his situation is more complex. Clearly, he wants to push back against any primary run by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. But he is also demonstrating the self-loathing anti-Semitism that has plagued Jews for millennia. The short story The Jewbird, written by Bernard Malamud 60 years ago, alludes to this issue. The non-religious Jews who hold significant positions in the Biden administration represent the sad situation confronting Israeli-supporting American Jews.

I do not blindly support Israel, but the small nation is besieged on its own territory. A two-state solution is not acceptable to most Israelis today. Schumer is correct when he says Oct 7th changed everything. Unfortunately, negotiation, which was the way of the past, is over. Israel will seek total victory and not stop short under American and world pressure. Their victory against terrorists is our victory. The limit this time will only be weaponry. The existence of Israel is at risk, which after the Holocaust will never again willingly walk to its death. Democrats want to maintain their power at any cost, including the loss of our best ally in the Middle East.

Image: Easy-Peasy AI
In 2001, Barack Obama said something interesting about the Constitution. It was, he said, a charter of negative liberties setting out what the government cannot do. Thats a very peculiar formulation because, rather than seeing the Constitution from the peoples viewpoint as a leash on tyranny, he saw it from the governments viewpoint as an irritating restraint on its power. Today, when the Supreme Court heard oral argument in a pivotal free speech case arising from the governments pressure on social media during COVID, Ketanji Brown Jackson made the same point, only more explicitly. These people really hate that you have the right to talk back.

The case is Murthy v. Missouri. Multiple plaintiffs (state attorneys general and epidemiologists, consumer and human rights advocates, academics, and media operators) filed suit complaining that the government did indirectly that which it cannot do directly: Namely, it censored them, not by using its direct police power, but by putting pressure on social media outlets to censor any speech that ran counter to the governments preferred COVID narrative (i.e., lockdowns, masks and, above all, forced vaccinations):

The plaintiffs argue that the defendants used public statements and threats of regulatory action, such as reforming Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, to induce social media platforms to suppress content, thereby violating the plaintiffs First Amendment rights. The States of Missouri and Louisiana also alleged harm due to the infringement of the free speech rights of their citizens.

If youre following the oral argument in this case, its clear that Ketanji (Am I A Women?) Brown Jackson (aka KBJ), the Supreme Courts affirmative action hire, is desperate to protect the government. Just three snippets show her desire for government censorship, with the First Amendment as something to be brushed aside.

Image: Ketanji Brown Jackson (edited). YouTube screen grab.

As a refresher, the First Amendment makes it clear that there are no go zones for the government because humans have inherent rights that a contractual government (and that is what our government is, via the contract known as the Constitution) cannot take away:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Over the years, the Supreme Court has acknowledged that there are occasions in which the government can control speech. For example, states may criminalize showing pornography (which is a form of speech) to minors, although you wouldnt know that from the deference shown to the gay pornography flooding American schools. Thats because minors are a special, protected class. Going back to Anglo-Saxon times, the government may also criminalize speech that directly and immediately incites lawless action, such as riots or murder. We also police provably defamatory and fraudulent speech.

However, what the government cannot do per the agreement it made under the Constitution is silence opinions, especially opinions with political consequences. And yet, during COVID, the Biden administration used mafia-style threats (nice little social media company ya got here. Itd be a shame if something happened to it) to push social media outlets into censoring speech with which the government disagreed. And no, it doesnt matter that some of the media outlets happily acceded to those unconstitutional demands.

Individuals and principled state attorneys general sued, leading to todays Supreme Court arguments. Jonathan Turley has an excellent real-time thread if youre interested in some of the details. Im interested only in KBJs tyrannical take on speech. Three quotations show her fundamental misunderstanding of or, more likely, disdain for free speech.

First, KBJ seems confused about the analysis. The free speech analysis works, first, by determining whether the government censored speech; second, by using a strict scrutiny standard to determine whether there was a compelling state interest to do so; and third, if there was a compelling state interest, by determining whether the government used the least burdensome way possible to protect that interest.

However, in the following go-round with Louisianas Solicitor General, KBJ seems to believe that you just need to prove a state interest, and the government then has carte blanche to shut down speech. She eventually backs down, but her initial belief shines through:

Kentaji Brown Jackson grills LA solicitor general, says that because the govt can occasionally censor, they can also occasionally coerce:



KBJ: Whether or not the government can do this depends on the application of our First Amendment jurisprudence.



There may be pic.twitter.com/LmoL7bZDQY  System Update (@SystemUpdate_) March 18, 2024

And what constitutes carte blanche? An emergency:

...Justice Jackson just nudged Fletcher back from his concession that, if there was coercion, there might be a first amendment violation. Jackson suggested that some coercion might be allowed in "a once in a lifetime pandemic." That question is chilling for free speech advocates  Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) March 18, 2024

In other words, once the government declares somethinganythingto be a once in a lifetime whatever, its got the power.

But the most chilling thing of all was KBJs statement taking to its logical extreme Obamas disdainful assessment of the entire concept of the Constitution; namely, that its a brake on the governments power to get the job done:

KBJ doubles down: My biggest concern is that your view has the First Amendment hamstringing the government in significant ways.



That is, quite literally, the entire point of the First Amendmentof the entire Bill of Rights. pic.twitter.com/gWMCaHDG1W  System Update (@SystemUpdate_) March 18, 2024

We want our government to be hamstrung. The government controls the military, the police, the courts, and the prisons. The only thing protecting us against that aggregation of power is the governments fidelity to the Constitutions premise that we have inherent rights, as well as its willingness to abide by constitutional jurisprudence saying that, if the government infringes on those rights, it may do so only under the most compelling circumstances and in the most delicate way possible. But for KBJ, its the First Amendment that is the problem, for it is an irritant hamstringing a government that knows best.

Ive been calling 2024 a year of clarity. Democrats believe that they are home-free and, therefore, can finally and fully let the mask drop. The Obama pretense of abiding by the Constitution and the Rule of Law is over. The Biden administration doesnt even bother to pretend. In South Carolina, a representative made it clear that politicians, once elected, should ignore their know-nothing constituents. And in schools across America, teachers and administrators openly demand that children be sexualized and alienated from parents.

KBJs insistence that the Constitution is a barrier in the way of a benevolent, all-powerful government is just one more curtain pulled back on the Marxist revolution that the Democrat party has planned for us. The only vote for freedom in the upcoming election is for Donald Trump and those federal politicians who will support him. Any other vote will bring us four more years of Biden and the end of the Constitution.
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If you thought 2023 was a record year for illegals crossing into the U.S, think again.

A new forecast holds that the U.S. is on track for a record additional 3.2 million illegal aliens coming into the states.

According to the Washington Examiner's Paul Bedard:

A record 3.2 million migrants are expected to cross into the United States this year, 1 million more than during past spikes in the Reagan and Clinton eras, according to a new outlook. We forecast U.S. southwest border encounters by Customs and Border Patrol at 2.7 million for FY 2024, based on the last three months of data, adjusted seasonally. Apprehensions look to come in just a hair above 2023 levels. Inadmissibles, those presenting at official crossing points without appropriate documentation, are slated to rise by almost 200,000, Princeton Policy Advisors said in its latest analysis.

Which points to the biggest problem with Joe Biden's open borders crisis: It's not stopping.

There is no end in sight to each year being a record year for illegal aliens rolling into the U.S. despite Biden's claims to have taken measures to stop the illegal flow and get it all under control.

He's expanded and spread out the numbers of ways foreign nationals can get into the U.S. without authorization -- from the CBPOne border app to take asylum applications and set a port of entry date, to expanded asylum admissions for Nicaraguans, Haitians, Venezuelans and Cubans, supposedly vetted and with sponsors in the U.S., which is already falling apart as a claim.

He visited the border, never mind that it was a non-busy stretch of the border. Bedard noted that he neglected to talk with communities in the U.S. most affected by the crisis and ignored going to the funeral of a Border Patrol agent killed on the job.

Biden sent his men to Mexico City to work out a deal with the Mexicans to stop the flow, and even went himself, too, last year. The flow is now bigger.

Investigative reporter Todd Bensmann reported that there was even evidence of a secret "dirty border deal" between Biden and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to tamp down the flow of illegals until election day in the states in order to help both men's chances either for re-election or their party's reelection in each country.

But this was to no avail -- the border crossings are now higher than ever. Three million this year, four million next year, five million the year after. There is no end in sight so long as Democfrat policies remain in place.

And that shouldn't surprise anyone.

According to a Gallup poll taken in 2021, 900 million people worldwide would like to migrate, most of them to the U.S. The supply of migrants who want to come to the U.S., legally or not, is 16% of the world's population. The demand for residence in the U.S. on any terms is not going down down.

Bedard continued:

Undocumented entry has exploded under the Biden administrations Open Borders policy, rising from an estimated 1.1 million in 2021 to our forecast of 3.2 million for 2024, the report said. President Steven Kopits added in his report that at 3.2 million, the flood of illegal immigrants will likely swamp new job openings, creating preelection tension from blue-collar and low-wage workers over President Joe Bidens open border policies. We forecast that undocumented entry will exceed U.S. job growth in 2024. Thus, the resentments seen last year will likely become exacerbated as the U.S. economy is unable to fully absorb arriving migrants. For President Biden and Democrats, this represents a huge risk. The path to defeat in November is not principally through disaffected independents and moderate Republicans, but rather through low-wage blacks and Hispanics who will turn to Trump in fear that another four years of Open Borders will gut their wages, Kopits said in his report shared with Secrets.

Bedard also points out that there's a such thing as "full up" in the states, too.

In other words, the migrants entering now will not actually be able to find jobs, as jobs created in the U.S. are well below the numbers of migrants entering. That's just hard numbers.

The informal economy, such as we see in the bedlam taking over Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's district, with illegals selling stolen goods, donated goods, any goods, as well as their bodies, on the streets is also exploding.

There is also that emerging 'colonia' on the outskirts of Houston that is largely populated by illegals, an emerging shantytown if there ever was one.

A society that once had a taxed, rule-of-law economy with title deed and property rights, is now rapdily moving towards a third-world "informal" economy, where no taxes are paid and any "order" that exists is made and enforced by gangsters. You see that all over in the world's shantytowns.

How exactly, does that transformation service the interests of the U.S.?

More to the point, the majority of new jobs filled during the Biden administration have been filled by immigrants, legal and illegal. Biden's "great American jobs comeback" is not exactly about employing Americans. The data show that American workers are being shut out of these jobs in favor of immigration, meaning the urban and rural working classes of all colors aren't getting these jobs, and if they are, their wages are being down by the migrants.

As for Mexico and other countries that ship large numbers of migrants -- those wages American workers would have made --- have become migrant remittances to the home countries. Mexico and several other of these countries have seen record remittances since Biden's open borders policies, repurposed from the wages of U.S. workers.

As for housing, schooling and medical care -- there's already a shortage of those, too. Bedard didn't bring it up, but where are all these millions of migrants flowing in without cessation actually going to live and obtain the services they require?

The question goes unanswered though we are hearing from blue-city mayors warning about going bankrupt on the cost of migrant services if the migrant flow is not stopped.

It's not stopping.

Let's not even get into the high cost from crime and terrorism that also come of letting in all comers. The U.S. will soon become the headquarters of every illegal criminal organization in the world as criminals roll in. Nor the nations denuded of their workforces such as we see among Central American states, nor the nations that are falling into chaos in places like northern Mexico and Haiti as a result of the empowerment of gangs made rich on migrant "fees."

It's not going to stop under Joe Biden. And the consequences of that will be a tranformed America that is indistinguishable from the third world. Like bankruptcy, it happens gradually then suddenly.

One better hope and pray that President Trump is re-elected in 2024 to put a stop to it. We are staring down an abyss now.

Image: Screen shot from WPLG Local10 video, via YouTube
SINGAPORE, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The non-oil domestic exports (NODX) in Singapore contracted 0.1 percent year-on-year in February, after the 16.7 percent expansion in January, according to the government agency Enterprise Singapore Monday.

Non-electronic NODX declined by 1.5 percent year-on-year last month, reversing the 21.1 percent growth in January.

NODX to Singapore's top markets as a whole rose in February. China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the United States and Indonesia were the top contributors to the growth, the data showed.

The total trade grew by 3.5 percent year-on-year in February, following the 14.1 percent expansion in the preceding month. 
By

Recent news from chaos in Haiti suggested that some gang leaders were engaged in cannibalism. A two-year-old video of a man eating a human leg from a street fire, and another hacking off a corpse's leg at the knee like a hunk of meat, as well as the fact that the leader of the chaos, a gangster named 'barbecue,' suggested some kind of barbarism going on. With jails emptied of criminals, and a mass Haitian exodus headed to the U.S. likely, it was reasonable to worry that criminals with those "values" might just try to get into the U.S. as refugees, particularly since vetting is close to nonexistent under Joe Biden's open borders policies.

Well, it turns out that isn't the only group of depraved criminals coming to the U.S.

The Mexican "stewmakers" are here, too.

In fact, they're already here and they've been busy.

In case you haven't heard of what 'stewmakers' or 'pozoleros' as they are called in Spanish, are, you probably don't want to know. They are soulless cartel gangsters who kill and chop up and cook their victims, dissolving their bodies in vats of acid. The cops caught a bunch of them operating around Chula Vista just south of San Diego.

Investigative reporter Ioan Grillo at Crashout Media had an original report:

After strangling the two victims, the gangsters threw their bodies head-first into barrels of acid, using the techniques of an infamous Tijuana killer known as El Pozolero or The Stewmaker. They buried the remaining bones and flesh in arid ground under a horse ranch. The macabre burial site was not in Mexico however but north of the border in San Ysidro on the outskirts of San Diego. The 2007 murder was the work of a gang called Los Palillos, a breakaway from the Tijuana Cartel that went on a kidnap and murder spree that took the lives of at least fourteen victims in the United States, both in California and as far away as Kansas City, Missouri. They also dressed up as U.S. cops, shot at a real Chula Vista officer, and held hostages (mostly other cartel affiliates) for ransom in suburban San Diego homes. Cartel sicarios slay the vast majority of their victims in Mexico, which has suffered more than 400,000 murders since 2006. The traffickers prefer to keep things quiet in the United States where they are making billions of dollars selling drugs. However, there have been a few notable sprees of cartel violence on U.S. soil. The Zetas unleashed a string of homicides in southeast Texas and El Mano Negra quietly did hits for decades. But perhaps the worst cartel spillover was the Palillos murder trail in Southern California the 2000s.

It's shocking to think that activity has already happened here -- and nobody reported on it until now.

What it says is that some of the most depraved criminals in the world have been coming here under open borders, the kinds of criminals never before seen on our shores. While these acts happened a few years ago, to media non-chalance, and while cannibals haven't been proven recently from Haiti, it's obvious some of these terrible people are out there and perfectly capable of getting in. The world's worst people in fact are getting in. We are just starting to hear the full story.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License

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Nobody in America thinks about Niger in Africa, but Niger matters in the war against radical Islam and in the worlds balance of power. Now, though, we must think about Niger because it appears that Bidens foreign policy incompetence, combined with Americas general weakness, has led to the new military junta kicking America out of a forward base that allowed it to attack radical Islam in the region and a country thats one of the worlds biggest uranium suppliers.

Because Niger isnt on anyones radar, heres a bit of background:

Niger, a former French colony, is a landlocked nation in northwestern Africa. Its home to multiple ethnic groups, but theyre bound together by one thing: Islam, which accounts for over 99% of the population. Despite being one of the worlds poorest countries, its also home to some of the worlds largest uranium deposits, making it a very important country.

Its not just uranium that makes Niger an important country. For a long time, Niger has cooperated with the American military, allowing it to have outposts there. These outposts enabled the U.S. to keep an eye on and attack violent Islamist groups in North Africa. They also served as a counterbalance to Russia, which is desperate to gain influence there (as, seemingly, is China).

Image: YouTube screen grab.

As with almost all African countries, Niger has had an endless modern history of tyranny and poverty. The latest tyranny cycle occurred last July when a military junta overthrew a democratically elected president (and Im sure that election was as honest as 2020s in America). The current leader is Abdourahamane Tchiani (aka Omar Tchiani), who supported the losing president in that election.

According to an analysis shortly after the coup, its probable that the State Departments inattention and the Biden administrations ineptitude contributed to the coups success. Given the many coups sweeping the region, it wasnt hard to guess that more were in the works. An administration with its eye on the ball wouldnt have been as surprised as Biden and his team were. The same essay has a long list of flabby Africa policies in the White House that kept it from knowing what was happening and responding appropriately.

When Tchiani first took over, the Biden administration did not want to acknowledge that a coup had even happened because that would mean that it could no longer provide the military and economic aid that helped keep Niger tied to America. Biden even issued an ineffectual call for Tchiani to release Nigers deposed president.

By October, Biden was forced to acknowledge reality: What happened in Niger was a coup (i.e., the violent overthrow of a democratically elected government). At that moment, U.S. money and military assistance dried up, which arguably gave the Biden administration leverage in working with a desperately poorand now completely chaoticnation.

However, the U.S., both in the White House and in Congress, still tried to maintain that useful military presence in Niger, which had (as of October) around 1,000 American military personnel. (Sen. Rand Paul wanted to withdraw the troops because of his concern that they were in danger.) As of January, showing some wisdom, the Biden administration was still trying to maintain an anti-terrorist presence in Niger.

However, the Biden administrations efforts have not only been unavailing but, as the news today shows, theyve been a total failure, because Niger just gave America the boot:

Nigers junta has ended a military agreement that allowed US personnel to be deployed in the country. Saturdays announcement came in the week that a delegation from Washington had been in Niamey for talks with the countrys military leadership. The US used its base in Niger to monitor regional jihadist activity. This latest announcement by the junta, in power since last July, comes as it moves closer to Russia and after French troops were kicked out in December.

The actual statement itself makes plain that the American delegation deeply offended the sensibilities of the newly (self) installed government:

As you can see when you watch the video and work your way through the slightly loopy translation, Tchianis government perceived the U.S. delegation as high-handed and deeply disrespectful (the government of Niger strongly denounces the condescending attitude accompanied by the threat of reprisals) The whole statement drips with a strong sense of ill-usage and personal insult. This could, of course, all be ex post facto rationalization but it appears, too, that the bumbling Biden administration utterly failed to be diplomatic in its diplomacy.

Perhaps it was inevitable that a military coup in an Islamic country would lead to Americas ouster, but the long history of Nigers cooperation with America suggests otherwise. Up until about 10 minutes ago, it appeared that Niger appreciated Americas presence, which helped keep disruptive radical Islamists outside of its borders. With America out (following on Frances heels), the way is cleared for Russia, China, and Iran to get Nigers uranium, a real game changer in the worlds power structure.

When America has a weak president, the world goes to hell in a handbasket. Thats not just bad for those parts of the world that benefitted from the worlds policeman keeping order. This imminent uranium debacle shows that its very bad for us, too. Add this to the list of things (e.g., the economy and immigration) that Trump should include when he asks voters, as Ronald Reagan once did, Are you better off now than you were four years ago?
The media and other Democrats know that Joe Biden and his policies are unpopular, so for the last eight years, theyve sought to destroy Donald Trump, no matter how much they have to intentionally lie and mislead the public, and this latest iteration is beyond absurd.

While speaking at a recent campaign rally, Trump said there would be a bloodbath in the auto industry if China flooded the American market with cheap electric vehicles flowing through Mexicobut instead of showing the full quote, much of the media, along with Biden campaign workers and Democrats like Pelosi, decided that with polls as bad as they are, they should intentionally mislead the public that Trump had called for violence if he doesnt win in November.

Heres this, from RedState:

With New Bloodbath Claim Against Trump, Were Watching Hoax-Making In Progress

And, the X post from the Biden-Harris HQ account:

Biden-Harris campaign statement on Trump tonight promising a bloodbath if he loses pic.twitter.com/8mBYh4QKnf  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) March 17, 2024

The fact that the media and the White House got together so quickly to intentionally mislead the public shows how coordinated the actions are. Most of the media are just campaign workers for Democrats to push their policies no matter how destructive and unpopular they areand this is just the umpteenth example.

Biden and others have repeatedly lied about what Trump said in Charlottesville seven years ago for the sole purpose of ginning up racial hate and division of Trumpthis was the very fine people hoax.

The media and other Democrats know that Trump instructed his supporters to march peacefully and patriotically to the Capitol, yet they mostly hide it from the public. They know that the FBI said what happened was not an insurrection on January 6th, yet they continually mislead the public and claim that it was. They know that the January 6th committee intentionally hid from the public Trumps suggestion to bring 10,000 members of the guard to the Capitol, but they in turn hid this truth from the public. Obviously Trump did not want violence that day or he wouldnt have requested the guard show up. Why didnt Pelosi and others secure the Capitol?

For eight years, the media and other Democrats have falsely claimed that Trump acted like a dictator. Now they repeat the talking point that Trump said he would be a dictator from day one of his second term without showing the full quote. What he said was, he would open up drilling to lower oil prices and he would reclose the borderthese are things the public want him to do.

During Trumps term, pictures were shown of kids in cages at the border. Trump was falsely blamed even though the pictures were from the Obama-Biden years. The purpose of the false story was to portray Trump as a racist who didnt care about children or families. For the last three years, the media and other Democrats have mostly been silent as Bidens open border has destroyed the country. They dont seem to care that 85,000 illegal children have been lost, and they dont appear to care about how many have died, or were trafficked and abused. Now, they are pretending to care because the polls are bad, so they intentionally mislead the public that the illegal immigration problem is because of Trump and Republicans.

On abortion, the media and other Democrats call Trump and others extremists for supporting sensible and popular gestational age limits. They lie to the public that this bans abortions to intentionally mislead the public.

When Trump and others want to give people freedom of choice on what kind of health care they can purchase, the media lied, claiming it was an attempt to block people from getting health care or insurance.

When Republicans sensibly suggest a requirement for a photo ID to vote, the media and other Democrats falsely claim that somehow that would oppress votes of minorities. The media and other Democrats acted as if minorities somehow arent capable of getting a photo ID which is required for so many daily aspects in their life.

When Trump and other Republicans wanted kids to go back to school, and people to go back to work, during COVID, the media and other Democrats falsely claimed that they wanted people to die, calling people killers and murderers.

It is truly a shame that the media will support such a corrupt and incompetent person for president, no matter what he does, and how willing they are to spread misinformation to the public as they claim they report facts and always blame others for spreading falsehoods.

To most of the media, the only misinformation is when anyone dares disagree with Democrat policies and talking points.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license, no attribution required.
Corporate outsourcing used to mean sending American jobs overseas; now, in a weird and ironic turn of events, its become a domestic plague too.

And Tyson Foods is leading the way in American workers displacement; heres the story, from Fox News yesterday:

As Tyson Foods announced it is shuttering an Iowa pork factory that will lead to more than 1,000 lost jobs, the company reportedly met with and hired migrants in Manhattan for positions at a Tennessee plant.  At least 87 migrants from Central and South America were hired in two separate groups, according to Tribune News Service. The same report said Tyson employs about 42,000 immigrants and that the companys corporate social responsibility executive said, We would like to employ another 42,000 if we could find them.

Now another report, shared via Yahoo, said this:

Tyson currently employs over 40,000 immigrants in its 120,000-plus-strong workforce in its US businesses. Theyre boosting this number significantly by collaborating with the Tent Partnership for Refugees, which is a non-profit focused on helping immigrants in the US.

(More than one-third of Tysons employees are immigrants and I have little confidence that even a majority of them are legal.)

Instead of American companies hiring third-world foreigners outside of the U.S., our politicians simply import those people here to take our jobsbefore providing free room and board, free food, free health insurance, prepaid debit cards loaded with thousands of dollars, free public education, free college tuition, and many other free amenities. (It goes without saying, we are the ones paying for all of this.)

As Ohios J.D. Vance said:

All we know is that they are firing American workers and hiring illegal aliens to replace them. This is the entire point of illegal immigration  and Republicans, weve got to hammer this point home.

At this point, I must remind you that Tysons Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer is an Ivy League grad, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a disciple of Klaus Schwab: John R. Tyson is an alumnus of the World Economic Forums Young Global Leaders project. The picture becomes a little clearer doesnt it?

Also, from Fox:

In a statement to FOX Business on the shuttering of the Iowa factory, a Tyson spokesperson said the closure emphasizes our focus to optimize the efficiency of our operations to best serve our customers.

Translation, via someone in the comments:

Translation: hire the cheapest labor, no matter if theyre citizens or not, to make as much profit as possible, with zero concern for our customers as we know quality will be [a] thing of the past.

Another commenter also pointed out something very interesting:

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) allows for-profit employers of any size to reduce their federal tax liability by up to $9,600 per new hire by hiring people who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment.

(For the IRS link, click here.)

But, as Tyson would have you believe, this is all about providing these poor, disadvantaged refugees with job opportunities! Because this massive corporation abusing animals, peddling toxic glyphosate-covered GMO food, and laying off Americans (unfortunately we come with social security numbers and tax burdens) really cares about people and ethical business practices over profit. Yeah, sure.

Tyson Foods is on a mission to fire American, and hire foreigner. Too bad this is another product I cant walk away from, because I never bought it to begin with.

Image: Public domain.
As Ive noted before, from time to time Ill check in on the Young Global Leaders website, making mental notes of the newcomers. YGL is an initiative of the World Economic Forum to drive public-private co-operation in the global public interest. For context, it appears as though selected candidates will undergo a year-long initiation process, which includes WEF programming, networking opportunities, and seminars. After graduation, members of the class may apply to be incorporated into the alumni community.

Naturally, I focus on those in the North America region because those are the names I most often recognize. Yet today, while writing a blog on Tyson Foods and its decision to fire Americans and hire illegals (click here to read that one), I realized that YGL seems to be scrubbing the names of certain American acolytes.

I only discovered this when I went looking for Tyson Foods CFO John R. Tyson because he did not pop up in either the New Class tab or the Community tab (I always check both because I dont know at what point during the year classes begin and end). I was able to find him, but only if I typed Tyson into the search barand boom! There he was.

Then, it got me thinkingwas anyone else missing? By golly, yes they were! Two names (at least) that I found rather interesting: Representative Colin Allred, a Texas Democrat, and Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo. (Now, Ive taken some heat in the past with readers being upset that Ive noted this inconvenient fact regarding Marias alliances, but dont shoot the messenger is apropos.)

And even more interesting things happen when you type Bartiromo or Allred into the search bar: Unlike Tyson, these two seem to be completely gone from the website. Now, of course, since these two profiles have seemingly been erased from YGL, I went to the Wayback Machine, which proved invaluable.

Here is Maria Bartiromo, screenshotted January 10, 2021 and here is Representative Allred, screenshotted May 26, 2022. Heres an old press release from Allreds office announcing his selection into the 2022 class, and, if you follow Bartiromos LinkedIn profile to her linked personal website, you arrive at Bartiromo.com, and find that she apparently overseas [sic] the Board of the Young Global Leaders [emphasis added] of the World Economic Forum.

Lastly, heres a 2008 Bloomberg article highlighting Bartiromo as a YGLer  as well as Anderson Cooper, Elon Musk, Gavin Newsom, and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Did Allred and Bartiromo decide to leave the alumni community? What about Cooper, Musk, Newsom, and DiCaprio? Because none of their names appear on the YGL website either.

Is it all just a bunch of glitches?

Maybe, or maybe its because the battle for the American way of life is hitting fever pitch as we roll into the 2024 election, and anti-American globalists, especially ones we might consider our allies, need to fly under the radar.

Image: Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
Right now, the generative AI market has its Pantheon of leaders including Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, and others. Well, this year, were going to add Apple to it. The company is working on its own AI tools for iOS. Well, according to a new report, it appears that Apple could be looking to Gemini to power its AI.

Right now, were going on a rumor, so youll want to take this news cautiously. If this is true, then Apple is only in talks with Google about using its AI, so it may just be considering this. We will have to wait a bit longer to get any more solid information on this.

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Apple might turn to Gemini for its AI products

Right now, Google Gemini/Bard is a bit of a mixed bag. Its had its issues over the past year. For example, the company had to disable Geminis ability to create images of human beings due to generating images of people with historically inaccurate skin tones. We also cant forget the unveiling of Bard which cost Google millions of dollars in stocks because it gave an inaccurate answer.

However, despite its flaws, its still one of the most powerful families of AI models out there, and it looks like Apple might be considering using it. Ever since February this year, weve known that Apple has been working on its own AI products for the iPhone. We have no idea what the company is planning on doing.

Right now, many of the AI tools we use on phones revolve around translation, speech transcription, and text generation. Were certain Apple will touch on these, but we know that the company is also working on bringing something fresh to the table.

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Not as planned

From the looks of it, it appears that Apple might not be progressing as planned. We all expected the company to use its own proprietary AI models for its artificial intelligence, but it is in talks with Google about using Gemini. This is both surprising and not surprising. Its surprising because Apple is tapping potential competition to help make its AI.

However, its not surprising because Apple is very late to the AI game. Companies like Google and OpenAI have been working on artificial intelligence for years before Apple decided to hop on the bandwagon. So, it didnt have as much time to craft and train a proper model. We all know Apple performs some pretty amazing feats in tech, but it cant quickly whip up an AI model in a couple of months that will live up to Apples standards.

This wont go unnoticed by regulators

When two of the biggest companies in the world shake hands on something like this, theres no doubt that regulators across several countries will take notice and more importantly, take action. Were fairly certain that, since the worlds largest smartphone maker could be partnering with one of the worlds largest AI companies, regulators will see this as an anti-competitive move.

Googles Gemini is already on the Pixel 8 Pro and the Galaxy S24 series, and its set to come to more Snapdragon-powered and MediaTek-powered phones. So, its already going to be pretty ubiquitous over the next coming years. So, if Google spreads Gemini to the iPhone, then it will pretty much own the on-device AI market. That will not sit well with regulators, so well just have to see how this pans out
Apple had launched its AirTags back in the year 2021. Since then, it gained enormous popularity. The device was meant to help the users to keep track of their items and gadgets and to even find them in case theyre lost. The actual purpose of the product was quite useful. However, much like anything else, Apples AirTags also have its pros and cons. Some stalkers even started using this gadget to stalk and track the victims and Apple might even face a lawsuit because of this.

Judges say Apple will have to face a lawsuit over its Apple AirTags

A lawsuit that was filed in the North California district court blames Apple for allowing the use of AirTags to stalkers. The lawsuit says that the AirTags have become the weapon of choice of stalkers and abusers. It further alleges that the gadget is not as safe as the original consumer would expect it to be. The court soon listed the lawsuit.

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Responding to the lawsuit, Apple says that they have already added a feature in the gadget to prevent its use by stalkers. The feature will notify the owner by playing a loud sound if the AirTags go beyond a certain set distance. If anyone else AirTag is also traveling with the user for a long time, then they will receive a notification on their iOS gadget regarding this. They will also get an option to play loud sounds on it to locate it.

The lawsuit also claims that AirTags increases the risk of stalking for customers who do not use Apple goods. This is because Android users receive no warning or alarm when an unknown AirTag remains in their neighborhood for an extended period of time.

However, the US District Judge Vince Chhabria denied Apples bid to not list the lawsuit in court. The judge further states that Apple must confront the lawsuit challenging them over the claim of negligence regarding the potential stalking hazards caused by its AirTags. The situation seems not to be in the favour of the brand. However, it would be worth noticing how the brand tackles the lawsuit in the future.
Huawei is expected to sell 60 million smartphones in 2024. This information comes from Techinsighhts, relayed by Revegnus. Out of those 60 million smartphones, 15 million will be flagship smartphones, by the way.

These would be great numbers for Huawei, but a far cry from what was reported in November last year. A report surfaced claiming that Huawei plans to ship out 100 million smartphones in 2024.

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Huawei is allegedly planning to sell around 60 million smartphones in 2024

It seems like a report from back in October 2023 was more accurate. That one claimed that Huaweis plan is to sell 60-70 million smartphones in 2024. That is much closer to this projection, of course.

So, if Huawei does end up selling 60 million smartphones in 2024, that would basically double its sales numbers from 2023. Needless to say, that would be great news for Huawei, especially considering the US ban and everything.

Revegnus did note that Huawei cannot trade with SK Hynix and Samsung due to US sanctions. That means that both of those companies will lose business. The more phones Huawei sells, the more business theyll lose, basically, as that income would go their way if not for the ban.

The company revived its Kirin chips last year

As many of you know, with the Huawei Mate 60 series last year, Huawei reverted back to its chips. It launched the Kirin 9000S processor, in collaboration with SMIC. That is a 7nm chip, and it enables 5G connectivity in Huawei phones once again.

Huawei is allegedly getting ready to release a couple of more processors this year. The big new iteration is expected with the Huawei Mate 70 later this year. The Huawei P70 series will allegedly include a new version of the Kirin 9000S.

The Huawei P70 series is expected to arrive in early April. Huawei is expecting a huge growth in the Huawei P series sales in 2024, a 100% growth.
Samsung is preparing to roll out a new update to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. It will improve the phones camera performance, particularly the zoom quality. The device captures darker photos at certain zoom levels. The Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ may also get this update.

Samsung announces a Galaxy S24 Ultra update to improve camera zoom

The Galaxy S24 Ultra has one of the best cameras on any smartphone today. You get a 200MP main camera, a 50MP 5x zoom camera, a 10MP 3x zoom camera, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP selfie camera. The phone captures excellent photos and videos in most lighting conditions and shooting parameters. You can take out your phone and capture the shot without fiddling with settings. The image will come out brilliant in most scenarios.

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However, there is still plenty of room for improvement in some areas, like camera zoom. At certain zoom levels (1.6-1.9x and 4.6-9.9x), the images come out darker than normal if you have locked the auto exposure. The difference in exposure is easily noticeable when you capture the same scene at 1.9x and 2x zoom. While unlocking auto exposure will solve the problem, inconsistent behavior at different zoom levels is still an issue.

This may not be a major problem for everyone, as most people likely use the on-screen zoom shortcuts (1x, 3x, 5x, 10x, etc.) to capture any scene. The problem doesnt occur at these zoom levels. You will notice a drop in image quality or exposure only when zooming in to the specified levels using the zoom slider while keeping auto exposure locked. Thankfully, Samsung says an upcoming update for the Galaxy S24 Ultra will fix this issue.

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The company hasnt provided a timeline for the update. We will let you know when the rollout begins. In the meantime, you can try unlocking auto exposure and autofocus when capturing zoom shots with your Galaxy S24 Ultra. Simply tap the area you want to focus on once and press the lock shape that appears on the screen. You can press and hold the area to lock auto exposure and autofocus.

The other two models should also get this update

The Galaxy S24 series arrived on the market at the end of January. Samsung has already rolled out two updates to the devices. The first update brought some camera and display improvements, while the second update was just a security patch. All three models received these updates. The next camera update should also roll out to the entire lineup. Samsung may release the update later this month or in April.
ULAN BATOR, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia's foreign exchange reserves exceeded 5 billion U.S. dollars for the first time, the country's central bank reported on Monday.

As of Friday, the forex reserves stood at 5.016 billion dollars, the Bank of Mongolia said, adding that the figure is an increase of 95 million dollars compared to the beginning of this year.

The growth of forex reserves will support the financial activities of the private sector by positively affecting the credit rating of the country, strengthen public confidence in the Mongolian national currency, the Tugrik, and promote the country's economic stability, said the bank.

Due to the deepening of a current account deficit caused by external and internal economic conditions, Mongolia's forex reserves had shrunk to 2.6 billion dollars in August 2022, hitting the lowest level since 2017. 
Its common knowledge by now that all default services on Pixel devices are Google services. This makes sense but not to the EU. Thanks to the new Digital Markets ACT (DMA), Google Pixel users can change their default search engine in the EU.

If you use a Pixel device, you will see the Google search bar on your home screen. This is your fast track to the Google app. Its not customizable at all, and thats just how the company wants it. Now, you can access Google Gemini through the Google app. This negates the need to download the Gemini app on the Google Play Store.

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Pixel users in the EU can change their default search engine

This is a phenomenon that only the EU could bring. Obviously, since Pixel phones are all manufactured by Google, the company will add its own services to create a unique user experience.

However, thats not within the EUs plan. According to some new reports, in the EU, Pixel users are able to change the default search engine. This means that the search bar at the bottom can be customized to use other search engines.

A screenshot posted by Mishaal Rahmen (via 91Mobiles) shows this in action. We see the ability to select different search engines for the search bar. This includes engines like DuckDuckGo. When you change the search engine, you will see the icon on the left side of the widget change to match the search engine you chose.

Right now, Google is in the process of rolling out this change. So, theres a chance that some users will not be able to access it just yet. Also, this is going to be an EU-exclusive feature. So, dont expect it to come to the United States.

This is something that is obviously against Googles plans. Having the Google search engine as the default means that Google will have more control over the data that people produce. So, we can tell that Google is not happy about this.
Rich Communication Services or RCS messaging is broken for some Samsung Galaxy smartphone users. RCS is reportedly fumbling with messages or dropping them entirely.

RCS offers enhanced functionality compared to standard text messaging (SMS) and has built-in encryption and read receipt support. Googles long-standing dream is fast becoming a reality, oftentimes forced, for Android smartphone users and the cracks could be showing.

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RCS is broken on Android smartphones but primarily affects Galaxy devices

Several Samsung Galaxy smartphone users have complained that messages sent using RCS as the backend, arent reaching their intended recipients. Strangely, switching over to Googles Messaging app, ensures the messages are delivered normally and reliably.

Some users have observed that people whose chats are constantly switching between RCS and conventional SMS are using Samsung devices. This is probably due to the users who are unable to use RCS falling back to the traditional SMS backend, which is crude but reliable.

As the RCS bug has just been discovered, and it is affecting only a few Android smartphone users, it is not clear what may have gone wrong. Moreover, neither Samsung nor Google have reportedly issued any statement acknowledging the problem affecting RCS messages.

How to fix/mitigate the RCS bug not letting messages through

It is quite likely the RCS bug is a server-side issue. Hence, it may need Google or Samsungs intervention. However, several end-users have been trying to address the problem, with some success.

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One of the methods to try and fix RCS messages is to force-close the malfunctioning app, go to its settings, and clear its cache memory. Users must not clear All Data as this might erase all messages. While this method appears to work, its efficacy is questionable as the issue reappears after some time, forcing users to repeat the steps.

So far, the RCS bug has primarily affected Samsungs One UI. It hasnt impacted smartphones made by Xiaomi, Realme, and others.

This suggests Samsung may have to release a server-side fix. Hence, affected Samsung Galaxy smartphone users could switch to other popular messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or Telegram while the company addresses the RCS bug.
According to a new rumor, the Samsung Galaxy S25 will arrive with a different design and a larger display. This information comes from Yeux112, who posted the information on Naver. The info was relayed by Revegnus.

The Galaxy S25 is said to feature a different design and a larger display

According to what was said, the Galaxy S25 will arrive with considerable changes in the overall design. Were not really sure what those design changes are, but we can apparently expect a different design to greet us.

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That is not all that surprising as Samsung has been sticking to the same design for a while now. Something fresh is definitely not out of the question, and the Galaxy S25 is tipped to deliver that change.

Now, the vanilla model will also include a larger display. The source claims that the device will feature a 6.36-inch display. The Galaxy S25 comes with a 6.2-inch panel, so were looking at a display size increase here

It will have the same display size as the Xiaomi 14, allegedly

The Xiaomi 14, for example, has a 6.36-inch panel, which is coupled nicely with very thin bezels. Still, that device is not exactly small, so the Galaxy S25 will also be larger than the Galaxy S24 if it gets that display increase.

As many of you know by now, the iPhone 16 is also expected to get a display increase. The device is tipped to include a 6.3-inch panel. The iPhone 15, for those of you out of the loop, has a 6.1-inch panel.

It seems like the Galaxy S25 series will bring some notable changes next year. Were still far away from their arrival, though, so take this information with a grain of salt. The devices are not expected to arrive until the first quarter of next year. Theyll most likely arrive in January.
KIEV, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian government approved the Plan for the Ukraine Facility, which was required by the European Union (EU) to allocate 50 billion euros (about 54.5 billion U.S. dollars) in financing for Kiev in 2024-2027, the cabinet's press service reported Monday.

"The Plan for the Ukraine Facility provides for the implementation of structural reforms in the public sector, and the implementation of many economic reforms aimed at the development of the business climate and entrepreneurship," said a statement on the government's website.

Under the plan, Ukraine is to implement more than 150 indicators in 69 reform directions by 2027, it said.

According to the statement, Kiev is counting on receiving 4.5 billion euros (about 4.9 billion dollars) under the Ukraine Facility program this month and another 1.5 billion euros (about 1.6 billion dollars) in April.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Telegram that his country will get 16 billion euros (about 17.4 billion dollars) from the EU this year if it implements the reforms under the approved plan. 
The Banksy artwork was defaced with white paint after it appeared on the side of a residential building on Hornsey Road in Finsbury Park, London. (PA) (Victoria Jones/PA Wire)

A mystery man spotted at the scene of Banksy's latest work has quashed speculation that he is the elusive street artist.

The art world and social media were briefly buzzing with claims that the famous Bristol graffiti artist had been photographed at his latest mural on the side of a building on Hornsey Road in Finsbury Park, north London.

The artwork, a splash of green paint on a wall made to look like a real tree in front of it has foliage, as well as a stencil of a person holding a pressure hose, was confirmed by Banksy on his Instagram to be his after it appeared on 18 March.

Fans claimed a man photographed on Saturday working at the mural, which was defaced with two streaks of white paint by vandals, bore a strong resemblance to Robin Gunningham, who the Mail on Sunday claimed was the real Banksy in 2008.

Banksy fans had thought the man on the right might be the elusive street artist. (SWNS) (SWNS)

The man in the foreground, who says he is George Georgiou, the father of the building's landlord, works next to the Banksy mural in Finsbury Park, north London. (SWNS) (SWNS)

However, the man in the photo at the latest mural has spoken out, saying he is not Banksy but the father of the building's landlord.

George Georgiou told The Sun: "It's nonsense. I'm the landlord's father. I know nothing at all about the work."

He said he had spent nearly 2,500 installing perspex on the mural and has organised 24-hour security to protect it from vandals, who defaced it just two days after it appeared.

He said: "I'd like to get a roller and go over it, get it over and done with, just paint it. It's not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination."

His son, Alex Georgiou, whose company owns the building with the mural on, said when it was discovered: Its quite mad to be honest, to come down here and just to see all the crowds of people looking at the building.

The painting by Banksy on a wall in Finsbury Park, London. (@psychologyamyb/X) (@psychologyamyb/X)

Members of the public look at a new piece of artwork on Hornsey Road in Finsbury Park, London, by street artist Banksy. (PA) (Ella Nunn, PA Images)

The artwork was painted on a building on Hornsey Road in Finsbury Park, London. (PA) (Ella Nunn, PA Images)

The question is, what do I do with it now? What am I meant to do with it now? I definitely plan on keeping it on there and letting people enjoy it, everyones loving it which is great, I just cant really believe it still to be honest."

Georgiou said there was not currently anyone living in the building, which was on the lettings market. He joked that he might be able to increase the price of the property, but later clarified he would not be looking to profit from the artwork unless a Banksy "superfan" wanted to buy the whole building.

Former Labour Party leader and MP for Islington North, Jeremy Corbyn, poses for a selfie by the mural. (Getty Images) (Anadolu via Getty Images)

It is understood Islington Council does not intend to remove the mural. (Getty Images) (Future Publishing via Getty Images)

It is understood that the cherry tree in front of the artwork is around 40 to 50-years-old and in declining health. The councils tree service had been maintaining it for some time to help prolong its lifespan and would continue to try to keep the decaying tree alive.

Read more: Banksy migrant ship detained in Italy for 'breaking rules'

Has Banksy's identity ever been revealed?

Over the years, there have been various theories and claims about Banksy's identity, but none have been confirmed.

Banksy's intentional anonymity allowed him to operate without facing legal repercussions for his often unauthorised street art, which can be considered vandalism in some jurisdictions.

It also allowed him to operate however he pleased without fear of being followed by fans or the media.

Read more: Banksy artwork sold at auction for three times estimate by band who changed name for piece

Banksy does not support the sale of his art. (Getty) (Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

Many have tried to guess who the artist is and the general assumption is he lives in or near Bristol, but other than that very little was known about him.

In the recording of The Banksy Story (available on BBC Radio 4), he described himself as a painter and decorator and explains why he likes to glue works of art to buildings like the Louvre, saying: You dont want to get stuck in the same line of work your whole life long, do you?

The podcast was the latest clue as to the identity of the elusive artist, after a village pub near Glastonbury was rumoured to have been bought by him and refurbished to the tune of 1m.

At the time Owain Powell, who runs the The Crown in Pilton, Somerset, with partner Rowena Draper, denied Banksy's involvement.

What is Banksy's real name and how has he remained anonymous?

Last November, it emerged that Banksy revealed his real name in a newly unearthed BBC interview from 2003.

Former BBC reporter Nigel Wrench interviewed the renowned street artist ahead of the 2003 Turf War show in east London, where he was heard confirming his first name.

Wrench asked Banksy if he could include his real name in the interview, asking the artist if he is called Robert Banks, in which he replied:  Its Robbie.

The elusive artists real identity has never been officially revealed but a 2003 interview sheds light on who the real Bansky is. (BBC)

According to the recording, his real name is Robert Banks, but since emerging to the scene in the early 1990s, he has always chosen to keep his identity a mystery  often wearing masks in the rare interviews he does.

He also never reveals the place he will be doing his next artwork, which is often only noticed after members of the public circulate them on social media.

How does Banksy make money?

Banksy generates income through various means, despite his anonymous persona and unconventional approach.

Part of his persona even rejects the concept of "commercial success" and has in the past encouraged people not to buy his work.

Banksy has become famous for his distinctive street art. (Getty) (Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

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Speaking to Village Voice in 2013, the artist said: "Graffiti art has a hard enough life as it is, before you add hedge-fund managers wanting to chop it out and hang it over the fireplace.

"For the sake of keeping all street art where it belongs, Id encourage people not to buy anything by anybody, unless it was created for sale in the first place."

Despite this, he has still likely made a significant sum of money from his work.

Read more: Art fan who pushed Banksy to make a piece in Herne Bay 'heartbroken' after work destroyed by builders

Banky's satirical graffiti has become famous across the world. (Getty) (Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

He has published several books in his time, including best-seller Wall and Piece and likely generates royalties from that.

Banksy has also directed an award-winning documentary called Exit Through The Gift Shop, exploring modern and underground art, which generated more than 3m in profit.

On occasion, Banksy has offered the purchase of some of his art through Pest Control, which is the only way he approves of its sale.

His recent Cut & Run exhibition in Glasgow, attracted about 180,000 visitors, during its 10-week show  his first solo show in 14 years.

Where is Banksy from and how much is he worth?

Although it is hard to know where an anonymous artist is from he rose to fame in the early 1990s with spray-painted murals on walls in Bristol and has stayed connected to it ever since.

Banksy has been linked The Crown pub in Somerset. (Getty and SWNS)

The latest Mail report suggests that Banksy is Bristol-born, 53-year-old and public school-educated.

Banksy's art is all over the world in London, New York City, Paris, Bethlehem and elsewhere.

It is difficult to guess how much the artist is worth, but his creations are estimated to be worth nearly 40m.

Read more: Banksy giant seagull mural worth millions removed from house

'The Armed Dove' street art by Banksy near the Israeli separation West Bank Wall in Bethlehem. (Getty) (NurPhoto via Getty Images)

However, this valuation is based on the sale of his art which he has not condoned, and the profits usually go to the people who owned the site where the art was located.

Some of the profits of Banksy's art may have made its way back to him but no one knows for sure.

Is Banksy married?

Although never revealed publicly, Banksy fans have identified Joy Millward, who runs a lobby group that campaigns on behalf of charities, as a potential candidate for his wife.

She is married to Robin Gunningham, who has several times been named as the most likely person to be Banksy, including the latest report.

Millward and Gunningham maintain an extremely private life and very little is known about them.

Whether this is a personal choice, or because they are sick of the speculation around supposedly being Banksy and Banksy's wife or if Gunningham is in fact Banksy, we may never know.
Delivery giant Deliveroo is offering free childcare to its riders and access to educational courses.

The firm announced a new partnership with childcare app Bubble which it said will build on its flexible model for riders, offering 15 hours of free childcare to 1,000 riders.

Deliveroo said a recent survey of its riders in the UK and Ireland found that the majority with caring responsibilities looked after children and would find care support useful.

Ari Last, chief executive of Bubble said: Were really proud to be working with Deliveroo on this partnership which recognises the vital importance of care to a large proportion of riders.

We are thrilled to help riders be better able to work flexibly and efficiently; plus we know the benefits of offering this type of support has a hugely positive impact on wellbeing and fulfilment.

Deliveroo also announced a new partnership with Lynx Educate, offering a range of educational courses for riders including business management and coding, project management and photography.

Camilla Kater of Deliveroo said: Were committed to investing in our riders development, welfare, and future, and the flexible work we offer is often a stepping stone to progress in other careers, or a way to juggle earning with caring responsibilities.

The new free childcare offering not only gives parents more flexibility and opportunity to ride when they want, but means they can use the time in their busy lives to develop through our expanded education and skills programme.

Alongside this platform, these new initiatives provide our riders with a unique opportunity to think about the future, upskill, and broaden their learning.

Tom Warnett of the GMB union, said: GMB and our courier representatives are working hard to ensure the on-demand food delivery sector is well paid, safe and provides long-term career opportunities.

GMB welcomes this initiative as something we know is very important to riders. This is a positive step and there is a lot more work to do.
Dillian Whyte made a winning return to the ring with a three-round victory over Christian Hammer in Ireland.

The former WBC interim heavyweight champion, fighting for the first time since clearing his name of doping offences, proved too strong for his Romanian-born opponent in Castlebar, County Mayo.

Hammer failed to get up from his stool for the fourth round, forcing the referee to stop the bout and hand Whyte his 30th professional victory.

Dillian Whyte cleared his name after testing positive for a banned substance (James Manning/PA)

The 35-year-old Briton had not fought since his victory over Jermaine Franklin at Wembley in November 2022.

He had been lined up to face Anthony Joshua last August but the proposed match-up never happened after Whyte tested positive for a banned substance.

Whyte protested his innocence and was cleared to resume his career after it was accepted he had consumed a contaminated supplement.
Disruptors such as smaller parties and community activists could be a key factor in the forthcoming local elections, according to one elections expert.

In a briefing to journalists ahead of local polls on May 2, Lord Hayward said some Labour councillors leaving the party in response to the national leaderships refusal to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza could lead to losses.

After the election of George Galloway as MP for Rochdale, after Labour withdrew support for its candidate, Lord Hayward said the party could face strong challenges in areas where the local Muslim community have organised.

He also said that Green candidates in cities such as Bristol and Sheffield, with big student populations, could also gain support from Labour because of a perception that the party has rolled back on its 28 billion green investment plans.

Some Labour councillors have resigned from the party because of its stance on Gaza (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Other independent candidates could also be successful, Lord Hayward said, in part because the Liberal Democrats are no longer the obvious choice for voters disillusioned with the two main parties.

The Lib Dems could face a challenge from the Reform party, particularly in parts of the South West where a majority voted for Brexit, he added.

Lord Hayward said: Historically, if you didnt like either of the big parties, you went for the Liberal Democrats.

The Liberal Democrats now face a different issue. There is a series of alternatives who will be fighting the elections and, in many cases, fighting them head to head.

The Liberal Democrats are perceived by many voters now as part of the establishment, and they have made good gains in a number of places in local council elections.

But they are what I would describe as a more anti-establishment, old-fashioned party, then you have got these new groups, Reform, the Greens, Muslim communities, residents and independents.

Lord Hayward would not be drawn on the scale of disruption he expects smaller parties and local groups to cause, saying a lack of information about nominations in different areas prevents any conclusions being made.

Launching his re-election campaign on Monday, Sadiq Kahn said the race to become London mayor will be the closest ever, with Londoners facing a stark choice between him and Conservative candidate Susan Hall.

Lord Hayward said: It shouldnt be the closest ever. If it is close, it would be astonishing and it would be a major victory for the Tory Party.

Sadiq Khan has said the race to become London mayor will be the closest ever (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Under a Conservative government it would be normal to view London as a Labour city. Under a Labour national government those circumstances might change.

Lord Hayward also suggested Labour could have success elsewhere, with the position of Tory mayors Ben Houchen in Tees Valley and Andy Street in the West Midlands appearing vulnerable.

He said: It is astonishing that Ben Houchen and Andy Street were elected in the first place, and it is even more astonishing that they were elected a second time around.

But clearly they will be under very substantial pressure this time given the difficulties and the changing circumstances of the opinion polls and recent by-elections, council and parliamentary, which have been pretty awful for the Conservative Party.
EasyJet has said its first new UK base in more than a decade will give passengers additional flight options and could reduce fares.

The airlines new operation at Birmingham Airport will also create 140 direct jobs for pilots and crew, and support a further 1,200 indirect jobs, according to the carrier.

It is easyJets first new UK base since it launched at Southend Airport in 2012.

EasyJet has previously operated flights to and from Birmingham Airport using planes based elsewhere.

Basing three planes at the West Midlands airport will allow the airline to launch 16 new routes this summer to destinations such as Antalya in Turkey, the Greek island of Kos, and Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt.

It will also increase frequencies on its existing network, equating to more than 50% additional flights each week.

Speaking at a press conference at the airport, easyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said: This is going to provide a huge amount of additional connectivity, which not only will serve the holidays community, but also a very critical part of the business community as well.

He went on: We are here to compete. Ultimately, the people who will take advantage of that is the consumers who will make sure they get great fares.

Mr Lundgren expressed his belief that the airport has much untapped potential which will provide the opportunity to grow further in future years.

He said the airline industry always has fares wars going on, adding: I think its great because it does give consumers a great opportunity to travel in a way that is not only for rich and privileged people.

Our average fares across the network still sell for only 50.

Birmingham Airport chief executive Nick Barton said: Today sees our growing partnership with easyJet reach new heights as the airline bases three aircraft here at Birmingham Airport.

Customers can now take advantage of the airlines 16 new routes and have the flexibility of flight-only or a full package holiday.

EasyJet has been a partner airline for 17 years. Its expansion here at Birmingham Airport is testament to the service, quality, price, reliability and choice of destination that its customers have come to expect.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: EasyJets decision to set up this new base at BHX (Birmingham Airport) will be warmly welcomed by thousands of holidaymakers across the West Midlands and beyond.

The increase in destinations is not only great news for those heading off to the sun this summer but also for our business community, helping them forge new overseas trade links.

Street artist Gent 48 in front of his new mural at Birmingham Airport, marking the opening of easyJets newest UK base (Fabio De Paola/PA)

EasyJet marked the base opening by commissioning street artist Gent 48 to create a mural celebrating the best of Birmingham by representing its culture and traditions.

Musician Ozzy Osbourne, late poet Benjamin Zephaniah and 11-year-old fundraiser Ryan Hulance are among those honoured in the artwork.

Gent 48, aka Josh Billingham, said: There is far more to Birmingham than meets the eye.

I hope that my latest work inspires visitors to look more closely at the incredible people and culture the city has to offer.
Francesco Acerbi has left the Italy national squad ahead of upcoming friendlies in the United States after he was alleged to have racially abused Napoli defender Juan Jesus.

The Inter Milan defender is alleged to have racially abused Brazil international Jesus during Sundays 1-1 draw in Serie A, something Acerbi has denied.

The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said Acerbi has explained his version of events to Italy coach Luciano Spalletti and his team-mates and it has been agreed he will take no part in games against Venezuela and Ecuador.

Official statement from FC Internazionale Milano   Inter (@Inter_en) March 18, 2024

A statement on the FIGC website read: Francesco Acerbi, who arrived at the national team camp in Rome this morning, explained to head coach, Luciano Spalletti, and his team-mates his version of the alleged racist expression reported by Juan Jesus during Inter vs Napoli last night, as required by the internal policy of Club Italia.

From the Nerazzurri defenders report, in waiting for what happened to be reconstructed in compliance with the autonomy of sporting justice, it emerged that there was no defamatory, denigrating or racist intent on his part.

However, it was agreed that Acerbi should be left out of the squad for the next two friendlies scheduled in the United States in order to let things settle for the national team and the player himself, who will return to his club today.

Acerbi (right) played for Inter in the 1-1 draw with Napoli on Sunday (Antonio Calanni/AP)

As a result, Roma defender Gianluca Mancini, who was already part of a reserved squad list, has been called up.

An Inter statement added: FC Internazionale Milano takes note of the official statement released by the FIGC in relation to the events involving Francesco Acerbi during last nights match against Napoli, and of the fact that FIGC and Acerbi have agreed that the player will not be involved in the national teams next two friendlies scheduled in the United States.

FC Internazionale Milano will meet with the player as soon as possible to shed light on the exact details of what happened last night.
Irish premier Leo Varadkar has told the US President it is possible to be for Israel and for Palestine during a speech at a White House event for St Patricks Day.

He said the Irish people are deeply troubled by what is happening in Gaza because we see our history in their eyes through forced emigration, a denied identity and hunger.

But the Taoiseach also said we also see Israels history reflected in our eyes through a diaspora whose heart never left home and had a nation and language revived.

He said that lessons can be learned from the peace process in Northern Ireland particularly the concept of parity of esteem and the key role of the United States.

I believe it is possible to be for Israel and for Palestine and I believe you do too.

Because the life of a Palestinian child is equal to that of an Israeli one, he said.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Joe Biden during the St Patricks Day Reception and Shamrock Ceremony (Niall Carson/PA)

And the aspiration of the Palestinian people to have a homeland, and a fully-fledged State, in the land of their forefathers is equal to that of Israels.

Mr Varadkar made the comments at an event where he handed Mr Biden a bowl of shamrock in a tradition repeated for St Patricks Day every year.

Quoting the former US president John F Kennedy, Mr Varadkar said he had told the Irish parliament months before he was killed, that Ireland should be the protector of the weak and of the small.

When somebody dies before their time, as he did, their words can assume a kind of prophecy, a sort of sacred promise to the future.

As a country, we have tried to live up to the mission he set for us when he predicted that one day we would do something to give to the world a future of peace with freedom.

Mr Biden, who often celebrates his Irish heritage, paid tribute to immigrants who left Ireland for the US during his speech: The Irish spirit can never be overcome.

He also said the US and Ireland are aligned on support for Ukraine and increasing aid to Gaza.

US President Joe Biden shows emotion as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks (Niall Carson/PA)

Our countries stand proudly for liberty and against tyranny. We stand together and oppose Russias brutal war of aggression in Ukraine.

He added: The Taoiseach and I agree for the urgent need to increase humanitarian assistance in Gaza and get the ceasefire deal that brings hostages home and moves towards a two-state solution.

The ceremony marks the end of Mr Varadkars week-long visit to the US.

While usually the undocumented Irish and economic ties are to the fore during the trip, this year event have been dominated by the war in the Middle East.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast to coincide with the trip and to push for a more aggressive policy on Gaza from the government as meetings were held with senior US figures.

Mr Varadkar has said throughout the trip that, instead of a boycott, Ireland should engage in discussions to highlight issues such as the spiralling number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (left) at a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House (Niall Carson/PA)

Asked whether he could have partaken in the Oval Office meeting with US President Joe Biden on Friday and then withdrawn from the shamrock ceremony on Sunday, Mr Varadkar said earlier in the day: I suppose all these things go together.

I dont think it would have been a wise decision or appropriate for me to take the time in the Oval Office and do that meeting and then turn around a day or two later and say that I wouldnt participate in a ceremony that goes back 40 years.

He said it would be a misimpression if people thought the trip to Washington DC was just a single event that lasts for an hour where there are speeches and a bowl of shamrocks handed over.

Although he said previously that the US should not be sending arms to Israel, the Taoiseach added he wasnt shocked that the US would continue to, as it was long established policy.

I appreciate we live in a world where everyone has to be angry all the time and is encouraged to get angry and then when youre not angry, youre asked why arent you angry?

Thats not the way I operate.

He added: What you do then is you do all you can to work for a ceasefire, to encourage our American and European partners to work towards that, to increase our humanitarian aid for Palestine, which weve done.

So were doing everything we can, thats practical, given our influence in the world, to push for a ceasefire and for lasting peace.

I understand why other people may become consumed by anger.

Its just never a way that Ive done my job.

The Irish premier held a bilateral with the US President in the Oval Office on Friday where the two leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Irish-US trade relations.

Mr Biden agreed with Mr Varadkar when he said there needed to be a ceasefire as soon as possible.
The Princess of Wales has been filmed smiling alongside her husband during a visit to a farm shop in Windsor.

Kates recovery from surgery appears to have progressed after footage obtained by The Sun showed her and William at the local business on Saturday.

In the video the princess can be seen with her hair down, wearing a black jacket and leggings, chatting with William and carrying a large white bag.

The Windsor Farm Shop is a short drive from their Adelaide Cottage home in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

People flock to the shop, which was the idea of the late Duke of Edinburgh, to buy locally sourced goods and produce from the royal estates.

The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Nelson Silva, who saw the royal couple, told TMZ: I noticed a couple choosing loaves of bread and the woman turned her face and I felt like I had seen the face before. It was familiar.

I went to my car and as they came out of the shop I just filmed them. I think they walked out through a gate out of the grounds. They just vanished and I didnt see a car.

Kate looked happy and relaxed. They look happy just to be able to go to a shop and mingle.

Kate looked relieved, like it was a success going to a shop. It felt natural.

The royal couple also spent Sunday morning watching Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis taking part in a sporting event, according to The Sun.

Kates absence from public life, following abdominal surgery on January 16, has led to wild conspiracy theories on social media about her whereabouts and health.

Details of her condition have not been disclosed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that Kate wished her personal medical information to remain private.

The online speculation increased after irregularities were spotted in a Mothers Day photograph of Kate and her children, which led to the princess admitting to editing the image and apologising for any confusion caused.

The future Queen has been photographed in public twice since her operation.

William and Kate at the British Academy Film Awards in 2019 (Tim Ireland/PA)

In a picture published on March 4, she was a front-seat passenger in a car driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, in the Windsor area.

She was also spotted sitting next to William in a chauffeur-driven car last Monday, when he attended the Commonwealth Day service in London and she was driven to a private appointment.

A change to the biographies of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Duke of York on The Royal Family website was also disclosed on Monday.

It is understood the changes, which included giving Harry and Meghan one joint biography page, were part of a routine content update.

It was reported at the weekend that Kate may speak about her health during public engagements which are not expected to resume until after Easter.

The Sunday Times reported a source as saying: 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. If she was going to do it, thats how she would do it.

William and Kates children attend Lambrook School in Berkshire, which will start its summer term on April 17. Kate is expected to resume official engagements after this date.
Labour will seek to bring about a new chapter in Britains economic history, the shadow chancellor will vow in a speech to business and finance leaders.

Rachel Reeves will vow to reject managed decline in a key pre-election message to the business and economic community during the annual Mais Lecture in the city of London on Tuesday.

The shadow chancellor, and former Bank of England economist, will also propose reforms to the Treasury that will increase the role of the departments Enterprise and Growth unit.

I remain an optimist about our ability to rise to the challenges we face, the Shadow Chancellor will say.

If we can bring together public and private sectors, in a national mission  directed at restoring strong economic growth across Britain.

A new chapter in Britains economic history. And unlike the 1980s, growth in the years to come must be broad-based, inclusive and resilient.

A potential Labour Government will seek to drive growth through stability, investment and reform, she will tell the audience.

It will pledge to utilise planning reform, strengthen devolution and lay out a new industrial strategy.

The Shadow Chancellor will also propose reforms to Treasury operations around budgets and spending reviews (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

Ms Reeves claims Labour will also plan to create half a million jobs across the UK through a new National Wealth Fund, to invest in growing industries.

Nevertheless, the ambitious pledges come a week after the Shadow Chancellor stressed that were not going to be able to turn things around straight away if voted into power in the election, expected to take place in the latter half of 2024.

On Tuesday, she will say that the Treasury must be ready to get to work from day one to improve economic growth.

This will include Treasury reform by bolstering the Enterprise and Growth unit set up by the last Labour Government, to integrate it into the budget and spending review processes.
Celebrity Big Brother star Louis Walsh has described Zeze Millz as righteous in a heated debate about the three most heartless housemates on the show.

During Sundays installment of the ITV1 reality programme, housemates had to follow strict rules as they completed quests as part of this weeks shopping task.

The house was transformed into a twisted fairytale kingdom and former X Factor judge Walsh, 71, and TV presenter Millz, 34, who were both deemed the most evil housemates, had to reign over their subjects whilst dressed as king and queen.

Louis and Zeze bickering like an old married couple for 1 minute and 42 seconds #CBBUK pic.twitter.com/Aifwd5Dufd  Celebrity Big Brother UK (@bbuk) March 17, 2024

The duo argued as they were tasked with choosing the most heartless housemates and Millz refused to let Walsh pick Ibiza Weekender star David Potts.

Youre obsessed with making David do things, she said.

You just want to see him suffer, you just want to see David go through hell again, she added.

Walsh told Millz he had the final say on who to pick, to which she said: No you dont, you actually dont.

Ive made my decision, Im not changing, he said.

Millz said: We clearly can see that before Walsh interupted and said: Can you just shut up about it?

The CBB Fairytale Experience, Glasgow #CBBUK pic.twitter.com/iEeBqvWinY  Celebrity Big Brother UK (@bbuk) March 17, 2024

Millz said: Dont tell me to shut up either. Please dont tell me to shut up. Thank you.

Youre so righteous. I cant do anything. I cant say anything, Walsh added.

Millz responded: No, you cant. Get the violins out for Louis.

Walsh had also accused Millz of loving attention.

You love the attention, admit it, he said.

You love it, he added.

Who has the courage to put themselves up for eviction?  #CBBUK pic.twitter.com/Uadm18QUjC  Celebrity Big Brother UK (@bbuk) March 17, 2024

You like it more than anybody else.

You do. (You are) confident and loud. Youre full of yourself.

You want to get to the top, thats the only way to get to the top, by being pushy.

During the shopping task, which the housemates lost, the evil rulers were given luxury food while the others were made to eat gruel and tidy up.

Elsewhere in the episode, Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin put himself forward to receive the killer nomination meaning he will be put up for the public vote and risk being eliminated from the show.

Celebrity Big Brother continues at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A Boeing 737-800 plane of United Airlines 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 on Friday.

Boeing has encountered many quality and safety concerns for years with its aircraft, resulting in an extended grounding of certain planes and delivery suspensions.

Here is a timeline of safety incidents involving Boeing aircraft in recent years:

-- October 2018 and March 2019

A total of 346 people were killed in the crashes of Indonesia's Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines in October 2018 and March 2019 respectively, both of which were Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The 737 MAX was grounded for nearly two years in many countries and regions around the world.

-- Feb. 20, 2021

A United Airlines Boeing 777-200 suffered a unilateral engine failure shortly after takeoff, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. Before landing, the malfunctioning engine exploded and caught fire, but fortunately no one was injured.

-- March 31, 2022

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 with 198 passengers bound for Washington D.C., took off from Salt Lake City. En route, the flight crew declared an emergency due to a broken windshield, and then the plane landed safely in Denver.

-- June 6, 2023

An Air India Boeing 777 flying from New Delhi to San Francisco suffered engine troubles and made an emergency landing at Magadan Airport in Russia.

-- Jan. 5, 2024

A door stopper of a built-in emergency door fell off the side of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 shortly after takeoff. An inspection by investigators found that four bolts that were supposed to hold the door stopper in place were missing. The accident occurred only about two months after the plane was delivered to Alaska Airlines.

-- Jan. 13, 2024

A Boeing 737 of Japan's All Nippon Airways was found to have a crack in the front glass of the cockpit during flight, and the plane immediately returned to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo.

-- Jan. 20, 2024

A wheel in the landing gear of a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 passenger plane suddenly fell off and rolled off the runway when the plane was taxiing and preparing to take off at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.

-- Feb. 19, 2024

A United Airlines Boeing 757-200 flying from San Francisco to Boston was diverted to Denver International Airport due to wing damage.

-- March 4, 2024

A United Airlines Boeing 737 from Houston to Fort Myers was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff due to an engine fire.

-- March 7, 2024

A tire fell off the left main landing gear of a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 bound for Osaka, Japan, when it took off from San Francisco.

-- March 11, 2024

A Boeing 787-9 of Chile-based LATAM Airlines flying from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand, experienced a "technical failure" in flight, causing violent shaking of the fuselage and many injuries. 
Uptake of clean heat pumps to replace boilers has been less than half the expected levels under a flagship programme, a report has warned.

The Government needs to engage every household in the shift to clean heating, the National Audit Office (NAO) said, as it warned that low uptake of heat pumps was slowing progress on cutting emissions from homes.

It added that ministers should consider spelling out sooner what role hydrogen could play in driving the move away from fossil fuel heating.

Efforts to encourage people to install heat pumps have been slow because costs have remained high and public awareness is low, a report from the independent public spending watchdog said.

Uncertainty around how significant a role hydrogen could play in home heating is hampering investment and effective planning, the report said.

Decarbonising home heating is a key part of cutting emissions (Tim Goode/PA)

Heat pumps, a renewable technology which uses electricity to draw heat from the ground, air or water for heating buildings, are a key element of the bid to make homes greener.

The Government has ambitions for the installation of 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028, a rise from 55,000 in 2022, and up to 1.6 million a year by 2035.

Ministers have said they would make a decision in 2026 on the role that hydrogen  which could potentially be put through pipes instead of gas  could play in shifting millions of homes from gas boilers.

Tackling pollution from home heating is one of the biggest decarbonisation challenges, with climate advisers estimating a price tag of 162 billion investment between 2020 and 2050.

But it is key to meeting the UKs net zero  producing zero emissions overall  target by 2050, as heating homes accounted for 18% of the countrys greenhouse gases in 2021.

The report warned that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said assumptions about levels of consumer uptake of heat pumps were optimistic, and it has achieved lower than expected uptake of heat pumps through its flagship boiler upgrade scheme grant.

Just 18,900 of the clean heating units were installed under the grant scheme from May 2022 to December 2023, less than half the up to 50,000 expected by that point.

Since the grant to help households install heat pumps was increased from 5,000 to 7,500 in September, the number being installed has risen, with uptake nearly 40% higher in January this year compared to a year ago.

But the NAO warned more data was needed to see if the uplift was sustained, and warned there were two major stumbling blocks to increased installation.

The first is cost, with the price of heat pumps reducing by 6% since 2021 against an expectation by the Government it would fall 25% by 2025  and they are still four times more expensive than a gas boiler, the report said.

Although heat pumps are significantly more efficient than boilers, electricity prices are much higher than gas, and the Government is around two years behind on its pledge to rebalance the energy costs  for example by moving green and energy efficiency levies from electricity to gas, the NAO said.

The second problem is low consumer awareness, with research showing that around 30% of people have never heard or knew hardly anything about the need to change the way homes are heated to reach net zero.

Meanwhile, trials on hydrogen have been delayed or abandoned in the face of local opposition, and while saying it would make a decision on the technology in 2026, since then the Government has indicated it will only play a small role in the switch from fossil fuel heating, adding to uncertainty.

Ministers should consider whether it is possible to make decisions on the role of hydrogen before 2026, and they need to bring in an overarching long-term consumer engagement plan to deliver on clean heating goals, the NAO said.

While some have advocated a street-by-street approach to switching people over to heat pumps, the NAO said such a model would require careful planning and public engagement and should be kept under review.

The Government also needs to consider the cost implications of a reduced role for gas networks as more people switch to alternatives, speed up work to rebalance the costs of electricity and gas, and report annually to Parliament on its progress in installing heat pumps, the public spending watchdog said.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO said: Government needs to engage every household to achieve its objective to decarbonise home heating as part of the transition to net zero.

DESNZs progress in making households aware and encouraging them to switch to low-carbon alternatives has been slower than expected.

Responding to the report, Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, said: DESNZ need to be realistic about levels of consumer demand, raise public awareness of heat pumps and work with industry to make heat pumps more affordable for households.

A DESNZ spokesperson said: By helping rather than forcing families to install heat pumps, with a 50% bigger heat pump grant, we have boosted applications by nearly 40%.

Our Welcome Home to Energy Efficiency campaign is running on TV, radio and newspapers, reaching 16.6 million households with advice and information about how heat pumps, insulation and solar panels can cut their emissions and energy bills.
A man will face trial accused of trying to smuggle seven migrants into the UK in the back of a specially adapted van.

Anas Al Mustafa, of Heather Crescent, Swansea, is charged with assisting unlawful entry to the UK following a major response in Newhaven ferry port, in East Sussex, on February 16.

Emergency services including ambulances, police and Border Force were in attendance at the scene and six people were taken to hospital.

At Lewes Crown Court on Monday, the 42-year-old handyman, aided by an Arabic interpreter, pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Previously at Brighton Magistrates Court, the court heard that while on the ferry, seven Vietnamese nationals concealed in a van escaped by breaking through a wall.

They were trying to get out of the vehicle while others from the outside were trying to break them out, the prosecutor had said.

A trial date has been set for August 5.
Military equipment no longer used by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) should be given to the Army Cadet Force, a Conservative MP told the Commons.

Former military officer James Sunderland said old uniforms and weapons which would otherwise be disposed of would be useful to cadet units.

During a debate on the cadet expansion programme, Mr Sunderland said better training facilities should be provided for cadets.

The Bracknell MP said: It goes without saying that higher operating costs should be mitigated too, that more transport should be available, that more opportunities are provided to train alongside our regular forces and that better event training and more updated equipment can be delivered.

Former military officer James Sunderland said old uniforms and weapons would be useful to cadet units (UK Parliament/PA)

Whilst it is a considerable outlay for the MoD to provide uniforms, weapons and other personal kit, it should be possible for other serviceable ex-military equipment, that would otherwise be disposed of, to be provided to cadet units.

Mr Sunderland also said volunteers should be paid for their time. He said: It would be massively positive for all of our adult volunteers to be given a financial incentive for their time.

Not only would this be recruitment and retention positive, it would send a clear signal that the MoD is taking the broader benefits more seriously. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of the Cadet movement.

The cadets is a voluntary youth organisation sponsored and supported by the Army but not part of it.

The cadets is a voluntary youth organisation sponsored and supported by the Army but not part of it (John Stillwell/PA)

Defence minister Dr Andrew Murrison praised the cadets, telling the Commons: It is a wonderful thing for our communities to have cadets. I have seen them in my own constituency and they are an important part of the local fabric, supporting occasions from Remembrance Sunday to armed forces day and beyond, and we are very lucky to have them indeed.

However, Dr Murrison suggested his own experience in the cadets was not quite as happy as the stories told by Mr Sunderland of his own time.

The minister said: I remember joining the Air Cadets briefly. I was told I was going to fly aircraft.

After about two months it dawned on me that wasnt going to happen, and it was going to be marching up and down for as long as I could put up with it, which wasnt very long.

So I have to say I departed company from cadets much sooner than he did, but there it is.
Electricity tower in Brisbane. Companies say they are energy agnostic but the challenges of introducing a new energy source requiring complex regulations, particularly for the storage and disposal of nuclear energy waste, are steep. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

Australias big private electricity generators have dismissed nuclear energy as a viable source of power for their customers for at least a decade.

They say they will remain focused on developing renewable sources as coal and gas plants exit the grid.

The comments  from AGL Energy, Alinta, EnergyAustralia and Origin Energy  follow an announcement by the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, that the Coalition would back both large-scale and small modular nuclear reactors (SMR) as a way to cut electricity prices and increase grid reliability.

Energy Australia, whose Hong Kong-listed owner CLP currently operates two large nuclear power stations in mainland China, said the company was committed to Australias clean energy transformation, reducing emissions as quickly and affordably as possible while maintaining system reliability.

Related: CSIRO chief warns against disparaging science after Peter Dutton criticises nuclear energy costings

We know that Australia will need some form of controllable long-duration, zero-carbon storage or generation to deliver net zero by 2050, an EA spokesperson said, adding that green hydrogen or nuclear had potential to play a role.

Given long lead times for development, [nuclear is] a potential option for the late 2030s or 2040s.

Alinta said it had not been approached by the Coalition and nuclear energy was not something were exploring.

To be a viable option, the regulatory environment would need to be amended and many other considerations would need to be assessed, the Alinta spokesperson said.

Damien Nicks, AGLs chief, said nuclear energy was not a part of the companys plans to develop coal and gas plants into low-emissions industrial hubs.

There is no viable schedule for the regulation or development of nuclear energy in Australia and the cost, build time and public opinion are all prohibitive, Nicks said on Friday. Policy certainty is important for companies like AGL and ongoing debate on the matter runs the risk of unnecessarily complicating the long-term investment decisions necessary for the energy transition.

An Origin spokesperson said the company was focused on accelerating the take-up of renewables and storage, including the construction of big batteries at its Eraring coal-fired power plant in New South Wales and at its Mortlake gas-fired plant in Victoria.

At this stage, our primary focus is adding more supply from these mature low-emissions technologies, however we will continue to watch progress with any emerging technologies that may be able to contribute to emissions reduction over time, the spokesperson said.

Related: Peter Dutton wanted a plebiscite on marriage equality. Why not hold another on his nuclear fantasy? | Paul Karp

Australias electricity prices have jumped in recent years, including a hike in the default market offer in 2022 that the Morrison government delayed until after the election that year  lumping Labor with the increase.

The slow rollout of wind and solar farms, however, has stoked concerns the electricity sector wont have sufficient capacity to meet demand as ageing coal plants shut.

While companies stress they remain energy agnostic, the challenges of introducing a new energy source requiring complex regulations, particularly for the storage and disposal of nuclear energy waste, are steep, they say. They point to the absence of commercially proven SMRs and cost blowouts of large-scale plants such as the UKs Hinkley Point C, which has been touted as the worlds most expensive power station.

Guardian Australia sought comment from Ted OBrien, the oppositions energy spokesperson. If youre not serious about nuclear, youre not serious about net zero, OBrien said last December. Were open to all technologies from renewables to carbon, capture and storage, zero-emissions nuclear energy, and so much more.

One senior executive told Guardian Australia power bills would triple if the nuclear path was pursued.

NSWs chief scientist, Hugh Durrant-Whyte, dismissed the comparisons by nuclear energy advocates of places such as Ontario, Canada. That country had spent decades building a nuclear industry employing 70,000 people.

Nobody in this country has even the faintest idea how to build a nuclear power plant, Durrant-Whyte, a former nuclear adviser to the UK government, told NSW upper house estimates earlier this month.
Kemi Badenoch plans to cut red tape for businesses - Jordan Pettitt/PA

Costly red tape including climate risk reporting will be axed for up to 40,000 businesses under post-Brexit reforms planned by Kemi Badenoch.

The Business Secretary is on Monday set to announce reforms expected to save medium-sized firms 150 million a year as the government looks to kick-start growth and improve productivity.

Under the proposals, medium-sized companies would no longer have to spend time and money compiling an annual strategic report for shareholders, as had been required under European Union rules.

Ms Badenoch will also announce that the number of people a company can employ before it is legally classed as large will rise from 250 to 375.

The move will see 5,000 companies reclassified as medium-sized, meaning they are subject to far less red tape.

Changing the rules

Under the current rules, all medium and large companies have to produce an annual strategic report setting out the risks and opportunities they face.

For large firms, requirements include detailing climate-related risks and opportunities.

As a result of the new reforms, 37,000 existing medium-sized businesses and the 5,000 reclassified large firms will no longer have to comply.

When Britain was in the EU, it was Brussels that set the thresholds which determined whether a business was classed as small, medium or large.

The reforms are expected to be announced in a consultation later this year and it is estimated they may save businesses 148 million a year.

Ms Badenoch said: Almost every job in the UK is owed to what is, or what previously was, an SME [small and medium-sized enterprise]. They are the engines of economic growth for this country.

Whether its through cutting red tape, unlocking investment or lowering business costs, todays announcements show that this government is committed to doing all it can to turbo-charge SMEs so that they can go further and faster than ever before.

Major speech on economy

In his first major speech since the Budget, Rishi Sunak will on Monday announce a package of pro-business reforms as he looks to turn the economy around.

During a visit to Warwickshire, the Prime Minister will pledge 60 million in new investment to help smaller businesses take on 20,000 more apprentices. He will also unveil a new taskforce designed to boost private investment into women-led businesses in an attempt to boost the number of new startups.

Mr Sunak said on Sunday]: Whether its breaking down barriers and red tape for small businesses, helping businesses hire more young people into apprenticeships and skilled jobs or empowering women to start up their own businesses  this government is sticking to the plan and leaving no stone unturned to make the UK the best place to do business.

Labour dismissed the reforms, saying it was getting harder and harder to run a successful business under the Tories.

Jonathan Reynolds, the shadow business secretary, said: All this ongoing Conservative chaos comes with a cost as under the Tories we have seen a record high in the number of businesses having to close their doors for good.
Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Westminster on Monday as he dropped into Number 10 for informal talks with Rishi Sunak.

The former US president was seen strolling along Downing Street, and briefly posed for the cameras in front of the famous black door.

He then went inside for an hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister, during which the pair discussed artificial intelligence over cups of tea.

Number 10 said the visit was a courtesy call, given that Mr Obama was already in the country on other business, and that his team had requested it.

Barack Obama leaves Number 10 after meeting Rishi Sunak during a visit to London - Carl Court/Getty Images Europe

Mr Obama, who was in the White House from 2009 until 2017, was in London promoting the work of his Obama Foundation charity, which promotes equal opportunities for girls and young men of colour, focusing on education and safer communities.

It was not clear whether Mr Obama  whose slogan was yes we can  gave Mr Sunak any political tips as the Prime Minister tries to reverse Tory fortunes.

Mr Sunaks spokesman said: He was making an informal courtesy drop-in as part of his trip to London, where he is conducting work of the Obama Foundation. Its obviously not an official meeting  he was dropping in as part of his personal capacity.

Downing Street would not say whether Mr Sunak would be happy to meet with other former presidents, such as Donald Trump, were Mr Trump to visit the UK. Im not going to speculate on future hypothetical meetings, said the spokesman.

David Lammy, Labours shadow foreign secretary, was also set to meet Mr Obama on Monday night. The pair are old friends, having known each other since before the former presidents run for the White House in 2008.
Rachel Reeves says the Treasury's Enterprise and Growth Unit will have an enhanced role in policy-making - Hollie Adams/Bloomberg

Britain faces a 1979 moment, Rachel Reeves will argue on Tuesday as she vows that a Labour government would work with businesses to create a decade of national renewal.

Delivering the annual Mais Lecture in the City of London, Labours shadow chancellor will liken the economic challenge awaiting the next government to that faced by Margaret Thatcher.

She will promise to hard-wire economic growth into future budgets by giving the Treasurys Enterprise and Growth Unit an enhanced role in policy-making.

Labour, which is 20 points ahead in the polls, will now come under intense pressure to spell out more details of its economic policy.

The party recently abandoned a core 28 billion green investment pledge, but its plans for tax and spending are largely shrouded in mystery.

Ms Reeves will also make it clear that she and Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, have rejected the economic approach of Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader, and will emphasise the importance of profit-making to the economy.

She will say: I remain an optimist about our ability to rise to the challenges we face if we can bring together public and private sectors in a national mission, directed at restoring strong economic growth across Britain.

When we speak of a decade of national renewal, that is what we mean. As we did at the end of the 1970s, we stand at an inflection point.

And as in earlier decades, the solution lies in wide-ranging supply-side reform to drive investment, remove the blockages constraining our productive capacity, and fashion a new economic settlement drawing on evolutions in economic thought.

A new chapter in Britains economic history. And unlike the 1980s, growth in the years to come must be broad-based, inclusive, and resilient.

The speech, which paints a big picture of Labours economic strategy, is designed to be a deliberate embrace of the private sector and how it can partner with the Government.

There was an initial upbeat response from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which said the strongest route to sustainable growth is unlocking business investment.

On Monday, Rishi Sunak addressed business leaders and insisted he could personally deliver the country a brighter future as he continued his fightback against speculation that some Tory MPs want to oust him.

Last week, The Telegraph revealed that some on the Right of the party want to install Penny Mordaunt, the moderate Commons leader, in his place.

But Mr Sunak said on Monday: Im not interested in all-Westminster politics. It doesnt matter. What matters is the future of our country, and thats what I am squarely focused on.

Ben Wallace, the former defence secretary and a Boris Johnson ally, said it was too late to switch leader, given that the general election will be held at the latest in January next year.

He told Times Radio: There comes a moment in time in the electoral cycle where you effectively put on your best suit, you stand up and you march towards the sound of the guns and you get on with it.

Ms Mordaunt has not commented publicly, but allies have dismissed claims she is involved in any plot against the Prime Minister as nonsense.

Previous speakers at the Mais Lecture, which has given politicians a chance to spell out their economic thinking, have included Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, George Osborne and Mr Sunak.

While Ms Reevess speech will compare the economic difficulties and need for fundamental reform to the situation faced by Baroness Thatcher, it will also criticise how Nigel Lawson, the then chancellor, triggered a boom that led to recession.

The remarks suggest the Labour shadow chancellor believes an economic overhaul like the ones seen after 1979 and after Sir Tonys New Labour came to power in 1997, is needed if Labour wins the next election.

The comments also indicate that she is rejecting the big government Labour economic policy pursued in the 1970s of large-scale public ownership, which still held appeal for Mr Corbyn and John McDonnell, his shadow chancellor.

The Thatcher economic revolution resulted in the mass privatisation of industries, a scaling back of trade union influence and, later in her premiership, a marked reduction in the tax burden.

Sir Keir faced a Labour backlash in December when he used an article for The Telegraph to argue that Thatcher was one of the few prime ministers who had effected meaningful change in Britain.

Ms Reeves has said she would be an iron chancellor, evoking the former prime minister in her speech at the Labour conference last year.

Her speech in the City of London will echo criticisms voiced by Right-wing figures in the Conservative Party, including Liz Truss during her short-lived premiership, of the Treasurys approach to making policy.

Ms Reeves will insist that a Labour government must reject managed decline and focus on economic growth, saying it would be hard-wiring economic growth into Budget and spending review processes with a reformed and strengthened Enterprise and Growth Unit.

She will add: Growth achieved through stability, built on the strength of our institutions. Investment, through partnership between active government and enterprising business. And reform of our planning system, our public services, our labour market and our democracy.

In the face of a more unstable world, the task is not only to recognise the acute risks but also to identify the opportunities. To reject managed decline and pursue the long overdue task of renewing our common purpose, rethinking outmoded assumptions, and rebuilding growth on strong and secure foundations.

The reference to public service reform echoes the stance of other Labour shadow cabinet ministers, for example that the NHS will need a major overhaul if the party wins power.

Ms Reeves remains under pressure to explain how she will fund around 2 billion a year of extra spending, including on the NHS, which had been covered by a promise to abolish non-dom tax status. Jeremy Hunt adopted that policy in his Budget earlier this month, leaving Labour with a black hole in its proposed finances.

Under the leadership of Ms Reeves and Sir Keir, the party has decided to largely match the spending and taxation plans of the Tories, blunting Conservative claims that it plans to raise taxes in office.

Laura Trott, the Tory MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said of the speech: Rachel Reeves may be promising a new chapter, but it will be the same old Labour. No plan, just more borrowing and more taxes  exactly how the last Labour government wrecked our economy.

Louise Hellem, the CBIs chief economist, said: The shadow chancellor is right that the strongest route to sustainable growth is unlocking business investment.

Key to that is a long-term, sustainable vision of what the UKs economy could be in 2030 and a plan to realise it, delivered through collaboration between business and government. The UK is at its best when politicians and businesses work together.
The system is key to the "strategic command and control" of the armed forces - CPL TIM HAMMOND/MOD

The IT company whose faulty software is at the centre of the Post Office scandal is reportedly still managing a top-secret UK military system.

Defects in Fujitsus Horizon platform led to more than 900 sub-postmasters being wrongfully prosecuted, after they were blamed for apparent shortfalls in their accounts, which did not actually exist.

However, a source told the i newspaper that the Japanese firm has been managing a secretive computer system facilitating the strategic command and control of UK Armed Forces for decades.

The UK intelligence source also claimed Fujitsu was still overseeing the contract, despite it being reallocated to another firm almost two years ago.

The delay in moving Fujitsu away from the project is reportedly because of the deep ties the IT giant has with UK Government departments, the highly sensitive nature of the contract and waits for new staff to receive security clearances.

Fujitsu's Horizon software led to the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of Post Office workers - LEON NEAL/GETTY

The Government doesnt want to go near them [Fujitsu] after the scandal and they now have the challenge of replacing them across some key areas of defence, a UK intelligence source told the i.

But they have been extended time and time again because the new suppliers havent been able to get going.

The newspaper did not reveal further details about the military project, citing national security as a reason for not doing so.

Errors in the Horizon system were confirmed in a 2019 High Court judgement, on a case brought by former sub-postmaster Alan Bates and more than 500 others.

The ruling found that bugs, errors and defects in the system caused shortfalls in Post Office branch accounts, which saw some innocent postmasters jailed for theft and false accounting as a result.

Contracts worth billions

Earlier this year, Fujitsu informed the Cabinet Office that it would not bid for UK public contracts while the public inquiry into the Post Office scandal was ongoing.

Yet data published by the Treasury Committee in February showed public organisations affiliated with the Treasury have held more than 3.4 billion worth of contracts with Fujitsu since 2019.

Paul Patterson, the companys European director, told MPs in January that he was truly sorry about the scandal and said the firm had accepted its part in the appalling miscarriage of justice.

A UK Government spokesperson told the i that it didnt recognise the delays caused by security vetting, insisting instead that Fujitsu is in the transition period between contracts, continuing to deliver their obligations as contractually agreed.

They added: More broadly, it is right that Fujitsu has withdrawn from bidding for new public sector contracts until the Post Office Horizon inquiry concludes.

The Telegraph has contacted Fujitsu for a comment.
Mr Kanizi, who arrived in the UK in 1977 from northern Cyprus, has run the Golden Chippy for 20 years - DAVID ROSE

A fish and chip shop owner at the centre of row over a Union flag mural says he will no longer back down to the council because he has received so much support since his story was published in The Telegraph.

Chris Kanizi had initially agreed to paint over the design outside the Golden Chippy, in Greenwich, south-east London, after council officials allegedly told him it was inappropriate for the area.

But the 65-year-old has since changed his mind because of the support he has received since The Telegraph broke the story.

Im so encouraged with the support Im getting, he told The Telegraph. There have been people ringing up, saying start a petition and have a protest.

Painted a month ago, at a cost of 250, the mural shows the flag held by a humanoid fish and a slogan saying A Great British Meal.

But the artwork has fallen foul of planning chiefs at Greenwich council, who called it an unauthorised advert and ordered its removal.

Mr Kanizi said he is now liaising with lawyers and retired planning officers as he prepares to contest the councils decision.

Im going to fight it, he said. Ive got retired planning officers giving me advice and solicitors saying they will take on my case for free.

Well fight them to the end.

Top-rated restaurant

Mr Kanizi, who arrived in the UK in 1977 from northern Cyprus, has run the Golden Chippy for 20 years and lives two doors down. The shop was deemed Londons top-rated restaurant on TripAdvisor in 2016.

He has not yet been served a formal planning enforcement notice by the council, which would require the murals removal in a specified time.

But Mr Kanizi said he would appeal any future notice, which could see a final decision made by a government planning inspectorate.

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.

In 2016, the council ordered Mr Kanizi to remove a much larger sign  about 17 feet high  featuring a very similar design, from above the door.

Local residents told The Telegraph they wanted the latest artwork to stay.

Its a bit different and adds a bit of spice, said Miranda Stinton, 27. You cant go wrong with a bit of street art.

Danny Cahill, 41, added: Its not offensive and everyone else is always flying those Palestinian flags.

A similar planning battle was recently fought in Shropshire when taxi driver John Brockhurst was banned from flying the English and British flags on his cab.

Mr Brockhurst had the ruling overturned after contacting his MP, and he said Mr Kanizi should do the same.

He should fight it, he told The Telegraph.
Haiti has been engulfed for three weeks in a gang uprising by well-armed groups saying they want to topple prime minister Ariel Henry - JOHNSON SABIN/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK

Fourteen bodies were found in an affluent suburb of Haitis capital Port-au-Prince on Monday, as international efforts accelerated to fill a political vacuum created by weeks of gang violence that has forced the impending departure of the prime minister.

Local residents told AFP they did not know the circumstances of the deaths but said that the Laboule and Thomassin neighbourhoods, in the suburb of Petion-Ville, had been under attack by what they said were armed criminals since dawn.

Witnesses said gang members attacked a bank, a gas station and homes in the area, and gunfire continued to ring out in Petion-Ville in the afternoon.

Amid the violence Monday morning, a judge narrowly escaped an attack on his home, a relative told AFP.

Haiti has been engulfed for three weeks in a gang uprising by well-armed groups saying they want to topple prime minister Ariel Henry.

Last week, Henry agreed to step aside to allow the formation of an interim government, following pressure from neighbouring Caribbean countries, including the Caricom (Caribbean Community) regional body and the United States.

The situation remains dire even as Washington voiced hope Monday that a transitional body to lead the country, set up at a crisis meeting a week ago, could be ready as soon as today.

I understand that Haitian stakeholders are very close to finalising membership and remain in active discussions with Caricom leaders as it relates to the make-up of the Transitional Presidential Council, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters in Washington.

Free and fair elections

The announcement of this council, we believe, will help pave the way for free and fair elections and the deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission, he said, referring to a UN-backed, Kenyan-led force that aims to bring stability to Haiti.

The council, which will include seven voting and two observer members representing a broad spectrum in Haiti and its diaspora, will be in charge of naming an interim government before elections, which have not been held since 2016.

The US remarks came as the United Nations announced that the first helicopter flights had begun in an air bridge set up between Haiti and neighbouring Dominican Republic to deliver aid.

Unicef, the United Nations childrens agency, offered a bleak assessment of the situation in the country over the weekend, saying Sunday it was almost like a scene out of Mad Max, and warning people were suffering famine and malnutrition with aid groups unable to gain access.

That same day, a curfew was extended until Wednesday in the Ouest department, which includes Port-au-Prince. A state of emergency is set to end on April 3.

Several countries including the US and European Union member states have evacuated diplomatic personnel from Haiti due to the crisis.

Meanwhile, efforts are continuing to organise Nairobis security mission to back up Haitis overwhelmed police force.
Islamic extremists in eastern Uganda on March 8 killed a Christian for leading Muslims to faith in Christ, sources said.

Kiisa Masolo, 45, had returned to his home in Nakitiku village, Bunabuka parish, Bubeza Sub-County in Sironko District at 7 p.m. after preaching on the streets of Nakaloke and Busajjabwankuba when seven masked men dressed in Islamic attire broke in and took him away, said his mother, Norah Nandege.

After whisking him away, three men remained behind and told me that, Allah is very displeased with your son, and were out to punish him, Nandege told Morning Star News. Then the three men left.

She called a clan leader who arrived but told her they should wait til the next morning before taking action, she said. When her son did not show up the following morning, she reported the kidnapping to the Local Council 3 chairperson, and a search began.

After four hours of search, the body of my son Masolo was found lying lifeless in the bush with a written Arabic note which we could not read, Nandege said. A person fluent in Arabic was called to read the script which stated, We had warned you not to convert our Muslim brothers and sisters to Christianity, but you failed to heed to our warning. This has finally cost your life.

Muslims had left several warnings and threats on Masolos mobile phone telling him to stop converting Muslims to Christianity, she said.

I tried to advise my son to be very cautious with his life, but he used to tell me that his life was in the hands of God and that he was called to carry out the preaching of the gospel of Christ, Nandege told Morning Star News. Since then, I knew that the life of my son was in danger, and he might not live for long due to the many threatening messages of Allah who was out to kill him.

Masolos body, which had deep cuts in the head and neck, was taken to Mbale city mortuary for postmortem and further investigation. He was a member of Calvary Temple in Mbale.

The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented.

Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12 percent of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country.

 2023 Morning Star News. Articles/photos may be reprinted with credit to Morning Star News. https://morningstarnews.org. Morning Star News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that relies solely on contributions to offer original news reports of persecuted Christians. By providing reliable news on the suffering church, Morning Star News mission is to empower those in the free world to help and to encourage persecuted Christians that they are not forgotten or alone.
Most primary and middle schools in France are not open on Wednesday afternoons - Lorado/E+

Divorced parents in France with shared custody will be granted the right to work four days per week under a trial scheme to be tested this year.

On Sunday, Gabriel Attal, the French prime minister, announced that starting from September, civil servants in some ministries who are in alternating residence arrangements will move to four days in the weeks that the children are in their homes.

Parents are expected to allocate Wednesdays as their day off because primary and most middle schools do not have classes that afternoon.

Mr Attal, 35, had already tested the four-day week when he was budget minister two years ago. Staff had no in working hours meaning they had slightly longer days when in the office.

It has yet to be decided whether total working hours will be reduced for single working parents or whether staff will make up the difference in the weeks when they dont have children at home to respect the monthly average based on the standard French 35-hour week.

The French government is urging unions and employers to negotiate the future four-day week arrangements.

Half a million children

Nearly half a million children in France shuttle, usually weekly, between the homes of the two parents.

A bill before parliament now aims to change the law to make alternating shared custody the norm for courts handling divorce.

The French are widely in favour of a four-day week for all with no reduction in working time but longer days. Some 77 per cent of working individuals said they supported the idea in a poll last month.

France noted the success of a large four-day trial in Britain involving 61 companies that was staged over six months in 2022. Involving 3,000 private-sector employees, it resulted in a 71 per cent drop in the number of burn-outs and a 65 per cent reduction in the number of sick days.

Frances maximum 35-hour week, introduced by a Socialist government in 2000, has allowed some companies and public sector employers to set up four-day working weeks but it is only enjoyed by around 10,000 people.

Mr Attal has said he wants to broaden the practice to the whole workforce as part of a drive to improve the quality of working life in France.

The plan is due to be discussed at a government seminar on work to be held next week.
One of the 12 Ggurijnar Hermi hammock stations on the trail. Each spot has been chosen for its views. Photograph: Ggurijnar Hermi

It was a summers morning in the Lepontine Alps in Ticino, Switzerlands Italian-speaking canton, and there was the vague threat of a storm on the horizon. I was already out on a trail through larch and hazelnut forest, backpack shouldered, aiming for a mountain pass. Up ahead, a herd of short-haired goats grazed, their bells chiming merrily, while behind me the peaks that tower over the Maggia Valley shuffled in and out of view from behind the clouds  each top grimacing, stone teeth chipped and bared.

I hike in Switzerland every summer, but this time Id been drawn to a new adventure, billed as the worlds first hammock hiking trail, west of popular Locarno. Launched last year, it begins in the village of Bosco Gurin and appeals to those who like combining vertiginous hikes with the more horizontal pastime of lounging in a hammock. Its low-key, low-impact travel, offering a chance to get to know one of Switzerlands most extraordinary valleys.

I had scheduled a swim at the first hammock, a snack at the second, a rest at the third, and ideally, a nap at the fourth

So far, the project, called Ggurijnar Hermi, has a dozen stations equipped to take one or more hammocks, each site measured for ideal span and height, with fixed rubber straps attached to pine trees, and clip-on carabiners for split-second set-up. The sites are also chosen for their soothing views. One is an easy uphill stroll from Bosco Gurins 15th-century church. Another, with space for up to seven, sits by a riverbank, with firepit and woodshed stocked with timber. Others are scattered on the upper valleys signposted trails. My plan was to walk the whole circuit, which a hiker of average fitness can tackle in around two days. It meant committing to the elements and re-evaluating the idea of time well spent in the mountains.

I began with an anticlockwise ramble to four of the sites, including one directly below the 2,137-metre Passo Quadrella, a mountain col offering a quick escape route into Italy. I had scheduled a swim at the first, a snack at the second, a rest at the third, and planned to sleep at the fourth, by the river.

In my rucksack was a lightweight rented hammock (14 a day/35 a night, a map is also provided) from the Panetteria Sartori bakery (one of three places in the village that stocks them), which was also handy for picking up supplies  a nut-filled pastry felt essential.

I walked uphill from the village and soon found the first set of support points, dangling over a natural pool

The hammock trail is a community-spirited initiative and part of the idea is to engage, support and communicate with locals, so they can share their passion for the valleys quiet places with outsiders.

Before setting out, Id chatted to the projects architect, Zita Sartori, who was inspired to create the trail and share some of her favourite spots after being given a hammock as a birthday present during lockdown in 2021. Hammocks are a great tool to understand the landscape in a new way, she told me. The point is not to post photos on Instagram. It is to stay outside and think differently.

Alone, I walked uphill from the village and soon found the first set of support points, dangling over a natural pool. The ritual of unfolding and hanging my cradle was simple, and I thought about surrendering my day to a long, lazy afternoon. The pool was clear but looked very cold. Instead of a swim, I simply swayed back and forth above it like a metronome, listening to its sounds in silence.

The air turned drizzly and I pushed further up the mountain towards the second station, hidden in a belt of trees. A red kite soared. Under a pop of blue from behind the clouds I unfurled the hammock again. Ahead I could see Grossalp, a huddle of empty stone houses built around 1235 by Walser settlers, who came east from the canton of Valais to escape conflict with feudal lords. To me, it looked like a mini kingdom, almost existing outside history.

The Walsers didnt want to own the land; they wanted to live simply, quietly and independently without taking anything away from the land, Francesca Pedrocchi, vice-president of Bosco Gurins Museum Walserhaus, told me before I began my hike. We can still learn something from them today, she added, about mindfulness towards the environment. In some small way, it felt like I was following in her ancestors footsteps, continuing their migration and starting again in a new place each time.

By mid-afternoon, I was swinging beside a waterfall below Passo Quadrella. Id been prepared to spend the rest of my day there, contemplating moody clouds and listening to the slap of water on rock, but storm clouds had gathered and, with heavy rain now forecast, I made the steep descent at pace. The drizzle turned into a storm, so instead of slinging my hammock in the open air by the riverside, I made a beeline for Bosco Gurin. Some compensation lay in the fact that the villages main employer, Hotel Walser, balances community engagement with sustainability, and its kitchen firmly supports local farmers.

Stone streets led to fountains where locals have filled their buckets for centuries

Bosco Gurin is often described as one of the most beautiful villages in Ticino. Woodsmoke spools from chimneys, houses are painted with allegorical scenes: a horse-riding angel spearing a crocodile; an ibex haloed by a mountain. Stone streets lead to fountains where locals have filled their buckets for centuries. It reminded me of a summer I spent in Tibet, and the well-orchestrated modernity of Zurich and Basel felt light years away.

Next day dawned to lingering mist, a white smear on the mountaintops and no one on the trails. I had more stops to visit and, picking up where I left off, turned to the Weltu forest, following a trail alongside the Rovana River. I spent the best part of the morning at the site where I would have overnighted, nursing a flask of coffee in my hammock and listening to the rumbling cough of the river. With binoculars, I scanned the trees for hawks.

The wilderness that had so taken Sartori and first led her to thinking differently about her own environment was now working on me. By lunchtime, Id climbed to higher ground, through the silent orchards of Bawald-Wolfstaful, and along a ridgeway. For the rest of that afternoon, my hammock  now attached to the underside of an obsolete wooden avalanche shelter  was my bunk, my window on to the valley. And for those final moments on the trail, the rest of the world was a mere ripple in the distance.

The trip was provided by Ticino Tourism. For more information about the Ggurijnar Hermi hammock trail, visit ggurijnar-hermi.ch. Hammocks can be rented from Panetteria Sartori, Museum Walserhaus and Casa Moni B&B. Doubles at Hotel Walser from 184 half-board. More information at myswitzerland.com




The Scottish Tories accused Humza Yousaf of showing 'open contempt' for hundreds of thousands of voters - Mike Boyd/PA

Humza Yousaf has displayed open contempt for hundreds of thousands of voters by calling for a Tory-free Scotland, Douglas Ross has said amid a mounting backlash.

The Scottish Tory leader said the call to expel Conservatism from the country was insulting for almost 700,000 people who backed his party in the 2021 Holyrood election.

Mr Ross urged Tory voters to punish Mr Yousaf for using such divisive language by making him suffer at the ballot box in the forthcoming general election.

Douglas Ross, the, Scottish Tory leader, said 'if we unite once more, we can beat the SNP' - Ken Jack/Getty Images

His intervention came as the First Minister set his sights on wiping out the Conservatives in Scotland, aiming to win all six of the seats they won in the 2019 election.

Mr Yousaf told an SNP gathering in Perth on Saturday: If we are to truly make Scotland Tory free, we need to reject not just Tory politicians, but Tory policies, Tory ideas and Tory values.

But Pete Wishart, the SNPs longest-serving MP, said he would not use Mr Yousafs rhetoric as he tries to hold on to his seat.

The Perth and North Perthshire MP said that about 20,000 people voted Tory in his seat at the last election and they have a right to have their view and vote respected.

This was despite Mr Wishart stating he was trying to make my country Tory free in a tweet on his birthday, barely a week ago.

The general election will be Mr Yousafs first national contest as SNP leader but there has been mounting speculation he could be ousted if support for the party collapses.

Polls have indicated the SNP is on course to lose at least half the 48 seats it won in the 2019 election, with Labour again becoming the largest Westminster party in Scotland. The Conservatives are also confident of making gains from the Nationalists.

Mr Ross said: These insulting comments demonstrate the SNPs open contempt for the almost 700,000 Scots who voted Scottish Conservative at the last election.

Humza Yousafs divisive rhetoric shows why we are asking pro-UK voters to vote together for the Scottish Conservatives. If we unite once more, we can beat the SNP and end their campaign to divide Scotland for good.

Spreading division

He said voters in the constituencies where there is a straight fight between the Tories and the SNP should back his party if they are sick and tired of Humza Yousaf spreading division.

But Jamie Hepburn, the SNPs independence minister, insisted Mr Yousafs Tory-free strategy was a very clear and straightforward message to voters.

He denied it was unravelling, following Mr Wisharts rebellion, saying of the Tories: Its time for them to go and I think its a very clear and straightforward message.

The Tories time is up

We know that in most seats the battle is a direct one between the SNP and the Tories. People want the Tories to go, we have the chance to get rid of Tory MPs in Scotland and make Scotland Tory free, and the way to do that is by voting SNP.

He added: I think if we look at the opinion polls, people are already coming to the conclusion that the Tories time is up and if people want to get rid of the Tories, as seems to be the case from the opinion polls, and thats certainly thats the sense I get on the doorsteps, then it is a very straightforward proposition.
The NSW Icac says it found no evidence that planning official Katie Joyner corruptly used insider information in buying a property in Gordon, northern Sydney, last year. Photograph: Sydney Criminal Lawyers

A New South Wales corruption watchdog investigation into a senior planning bureaucrat alleged to have used insider information for personal gain through the governments housing plan has been closed after investigators found no evidence of corrupt conduct.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption announced on Monday afternoon that after a month-long inquiry following claims made about Katie Joyner, a planning director, in the parliament, it would close the investigation.

The commission is satisfied there is no evidence that Ms Joyner or any other person engaged in corrupt conduct, and has accordingly determined to close its investigation, an Icac spokesperson said.

The claims were made by the Liberal MP for Wahroonga and shadow attorney-general, Alister Henskens, speaking under parliamentary privilege in February.

He said he had received credible evidence to suggest Joyner had used information gained through her work for personal gain after she and her partner, Gary Boyd, purchased a property within 400m of Gordon railway station for $3.8m in August last year.

Henskens said documents showed that around the time the National Housing Accord was signed and before the state governments transport oriented development (Tod) scheme was announced, the public servant bought a home in an area to be rezoned under the policy and attempted to form a property syndicate.

Related: NSW planning official referred to corruption watchdog Icac over house purchase allegation

Henskens claimed shortly after purchasing the north shore property that she contacted neighbours about banding together to sell their properties to a developer promising a significant uplift on its current value because of the governments likely housing policies.

A strong circumstantial case that the propertys acquisition was motivated by inside information as to the planned Tod policy can be made out, Henskens told the parliament.

The claims were then referred to the Icac to investigate.

An Icac spokesperson said: During the course of its investigation, the commission obtained and reviewed relevant records using its powers pursuant to section 21 and section 22 of the Icac Act, conducted a number of interviews, including with Ms Joyner, and conducted forensic reviews of electronic devices.

The commission also undertook a review of the timeline of the Tod process, and when Ms Joyner became aware of the relevant Tod affecting the area in which she purchased property.

The Icac found no evidence that Joyner, nor any other person, had engaged in corrupt conduct.

Henskens said on Monday evening that he had noted the Icacs statement.

I have not yet had the opportunity to discuss this statement with my confidential source, he said.

Until I have had those discussions, I wont be making any further public comment.

Planning and public spaces minister, Paul Scully, said it was an extremely embarrassing situation for the shadow attorney-general.



His assessment and judgement of what he identified as a highly circumstantial case has proved to be nothing more than a baseless political attack, Scully said in a statement on Monday evening.



The leader of the opposition should ask Mr Henskens to apologise.
People in Dublin celebrate Ireland's patron saint's day - Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

The Irish navys sole active ship did not join a hunt for cocaine shipments dropped at sea by drug smugglers because it was taking part in St Patricks Day celebrations.

LE George Bernard Shaw was the only active ship because of a combination of a manpower crisis, which has led to crew shortages and mechanical problems.

Police believe they shut down a major drugs smuggling pipeline on Friday after making 10 arrests, including of several divers, in south-west Ireland.

The men were suspected of planning to pick up waterproof containers of South American cartel cocaine, worth tens of millions of euros, thrown overboard with tracking devices off the coast of Cork.

Gardai investigating a suspected attempt to land the illegal drugs near Skibbereen made a formal request to the Irish Naval Service for help.

But the sole available ship was on its way to Dun Laoghaire to take part in the St Patricks Day celebrations in the County Dublin town, the Irish Times reported.

Tours were offered to the public as the ship remained docked in Dun Laoghaire over the weekend. On Sunday, the crew took part in the St Patricks parade.

That meant it could not help in the massive search of the huge expanses of water where the cocaine, some of it thought to be destined for the UK and European markets, is thought to be hidden.

Ground zero for smuggling narcotics into Europe

Defence Forces told the Irish Times they had received the request. Because it was an inshore coastal operation, the Naval Service Diving Section was deployed instead.

It is not clear that the Shaw would have been sent had it been available but it was reported to be equipped for drugs searches.

Cathal Berry, a former officer and the independent MP for Kildare, told the newspaper it was unacceptable that there was just a single ship on duty.

Irelands Atlantic coast is now ground zero for smuggling narcotics into Europe. This is primarily due to the precarious state of the Irish navy. There is no substitute for hulls on the water providing a visible maritime presence to deter and disrupt smugglers, he said.

The active fleet was reduced to just two ships last year due to the personnel crisis. Military sources said the Shaw had been the only available ship for the last three weeks.

Ireland has fewer ships to patrol its waters than at any other time since the 1970s.

In February Leo Varadkar, the prime minister, defended Irelands commitment to security after a report by the London-based Policy Exchange think tank accused Dublin of freeloading on defence by relying on the Royal Navy to protect its waters.
Displaced Palestinians gather in the yard of Gaza's al-Shifa hospital after Israeli forces took control. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Israeli forces are in control of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, after an overnight raid on the medical complex, and have told thousands living nearby to evacuate towards the south of the Palestinian territory.

Daniel Hagari, an Israeli military spokesperson, said early on Monday that troops were conducting a high-precision operation in limited areas of Shifa hospital based on  intelligence information indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists to command attacks.

Hours later, the Israeli Defense Forces said it had taken over the sprawling complex, claiming it had killed or wounded an undisclosed number of Hamas militants, while also detaining 80 people. At least one Israeli soldier was reported as wounded.

The IDF has used leaflets and social media to urge civilians around Shifa to leave the vicinity, telling them to head immediately along Gazas coastal road to al-Muwasi, an area 18 miles (30km) south.

There is very limited transport available in Gaza, and many residents of Gaza City, particularly children and elderly people, are weak after months without adequate food. It was not immediately clear how they would be able to comply with the Israeli instructions.

The Israeli military issued grainy drone footage of the Shifa raid that it said showed troops coming under fire from a number of buildings within the hospital complex. The IDF said troops had been instructed on the importance of avoiding harm to patients, civilians, medical staff and equipment.

Witnesses said al-Rimal area of Gaza City, where the hospital is located, had been hit by airstrikes.

Suddenly, we started to hear sounds of explosions, several bombings and soon tanks started to roll. They came from the western road and headed towards al-Shifa, then sounds of gunfire and explosions increased, Mohammad Ali, 32, a father of two, who lives just over a mile from the hospital, told Reuters via a chat app.

We dont know what is happening, but it looked as if it was a re-invasion of the Gaza City, he added.

Hamas said the Israeli military had committed a new crime by directly targeting the hospital buildings without caring about patients, medical staff or displaced people in it.

Gazas health ministry said the raid had caused a fire at the entrance of the complex, resulting in cases of asphyxiation among displaced women and children in the hospital.

It said communication had been cut off, with people trapped inside the surgery and emergency units of one of the buildings.

There are casualties, including deaths and injuries, and its impossible to rescue anyone due to the intensity of the fire and targeting of anyone approaching the windows, the ministry said, as it accused Israeli forces of another crime against health institutions.

Related: Netanyahu vows to press ahead with assault on Rafah

The claims made by health ministry officials, the IDF and Hamas could not be independently verified.

An Israeli raid in November on Shifa  Gazas largest hospital  drew widespread international condemnation and the new operation underlines the difficulties faced by Israel in Gaza.

Since February, the IDF has returned to fight in parts of the territory that were thought to have been cleared of Hamas militants after fierce battles last year. Residents of Gaza City told the Guardian this month that few Israeli troops were stationed amid its ruined streets but had withdrawn to positions on outskirts and at key road junctions.

Hagari said there was no need for patients or medical staff to evacuate Shifa but that there would be a passageway for civilians to exit the hospital.

The fighting and the devastation in northern Gaza has forced thousands of Palestinians to seek shelter at Shifa, living in makeshift tents in its grounds.

Reports on social media described scenes of panic and unverified footage showed people attempting to flee along a street in the dark as the Israeli operation began.

Israeli forces have raided a number of hospitals in Gaza during a military campaign launched after the surprise attack by Hamas into southern Israel in which the militants killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 others hostage.

The intensity of the offensive has eased somewhat in recent weeks but the death toll continues to rise. Israels campaign against Hamas has killed at least 31,645 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the territorys health ministry.

Last week, the UK called for an investigation into an Israeli raid on Nasser hospital in Khan Younis in February, after a report that medical staff faced violent and humiliating treatment in detention after the attack.

Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields by running military operations from hospitals and other medical centres. The militant group denies these claims.

After its November raid on Shifa, the Israeli military said it had found weapons and military equipment hidden there as well as a 55-metre tunnel in the basement. The IDF shared footage it said proved hostages had been held there, which Hamas also denies.

Evidence produced by the IDF did not appear to substantiate claims made before the raid that the militant group had built a well-equipped command centre in multiple connected bunkers beneath the hospital.

Aid agencies have been working to restore services at Shifa for several weeks, but have found it difficult to reach northern Gaza to bring in equipment and supplies.

The latest raid comes amid hopes that a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel can be agreed in a new round of talks expected to start within days.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has said no amount of international pressure would stop Israel from realising its war aim of crushing Hamas and has pledged to launch a long-anticipated offensive in Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza that is now home to more than 1 million people displaced from elsewhere in the territory.
MSF volunteers look on during the incident on Saturday. Photograph: Simone Boccaccio/Sopa Images/Rex/Shutterstock

An NGO performing search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean has accused the Libyan coastguard of hampering an attempt to save more than 170 people making the perilous journey across the sea to Europe.

In a statement, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said its ship had come to the rescue of two boats in international waters on Saturday: a small fibreglass boat carrying 28 people and a double-deck wooden vessel with 143 people onboard, which appeared to be in distress.

The organisation said that as it approached the larger boat, the Libyan coastguard (LCG) also came near and performed dangerous manoeuvres that put the people onboard, mostly Syrian refugees, at even greater risk.

In a video taken by crew on a support aircraft operated by the maritime rescue NGOSea-Watch, a patrol vessel moves into position between two rigid dinghies operated by MSF, one of which has already started taking people onboard. The positioning makes it impossible for the second dinghy to move towards the vessel in distress.

Speaking in a video posted on X, an MSF official said the Libyan patrol vessel had started to perform dangerous manoeuvres, blocking the RIBs [rigid inflatable boats].

A man on the aircraft footage is heard saying: They are trying to intimidate the second RIB. A womans voice on the plane is heard saying: What they are doing is, like, really, really, really dangerous.

Juan Matias Gil, the head of the MSFs search and rescue mission in Rome, said the Libyan coastguard had attempted to tow away one of the dinghies. We were never going to allow this. We [the ship Geo Barents] are running under the Norwegian flag so the boat is Norwegian territory in international water. We dont know where we would have ended up if they had managed to board our boat, he said.

Gil said the interference with its mission lasted for around two hours despite communicating in English and Arabic with the Libyan coastguard, which under international law is obliged to rescue anyone in distress. It was only after tense negotiations and calls to the Norwegian and the Italian and Libyan authorities did they finally leave but not before making further threats towards us, MSF said.

The people onboard the ships were mostly from Syria and included a number of children under 13 and a number of unaccompanied minors, Gil added.

The incident came after survivors said as many as 60 people had died last week in the Mediterranean after setting out from Zawiya on the Libyan coast. The 25 survivors said their dinghys engine had broken down after three days, leaving the group adrift for days before being rescued by another humanitarian group, SOS Mediterranee.

Improved weather has prompted an increase in the number of people being smuggled across the Mediterranean in dangerously ill-suited vessels.

Later on Saturday, with the assistance of the maritime rescue coordination centre in Libya and the Italian authorities, MSF recused 75 people from an overcrowded fibreglass boat that had capsized, 45 of whom had fallen into the water.

According to the latest data from Frontex, the EU border agency, 4,315 people made the crossing from north Africa to the EU across the Mediterranean in January and February, with an increase in numbers expected in the coming weeks.

The International Organization for Migration said last week the Mediterranean continued to be the most dangerous route for migrants and refugees with more than 3,000 deaths and disappearances in 2023 and 300 so far this year.

The EU, which provides financial support to the Libyan coastguard for training and for vessels, said all authorities had acted in compliance with international law.

A spokesperson for the European Commission said: We are not able to control the actions by individuals. When it comes to search and rescue it is clear that search and rescue is an international obligation for everyone and international maritime law is very clear. All actions that put peoples lives at risk must be avoided at all times.

Libyan representatives in Brussels have been contacted for comment.
Women at a street market in Banjul, the Gambia, in 2021. About three-quarters of women between 15 and 49 in the Gambia have undergone FGM. Photograph: Zohra Bensemra/Reuters

A decision on whether to overturn a ban on female genital mutilation (FGM) in the Gambia has been postponed for three months after MPs called for more consultation.

FGM was outlawed in the country eight years ago and is punishable by up to three years imprisonment.

Related: FGM ban in the Gambia under threat as calls grow to repeal law

Hundreds of people protested outside parliament on Monday, most supporting a repeal of the ban, Agence France-Presse reported.

According to the countrys health survey, three-quarters of women between 15 and 49 have undergone FGM, and anti-FGM campaigners fear the proposed bill is undoing years of work.

Jaha Dukureh, the founder of an anti-FGM group, Safe Hands for Girls, said: It was the most heartbreaking thing to watch men invalidate our experiences and reduce our pain to western influence.

The bill was sent to committee. This can be good and it can be bad. The good thing that came out of today is that FGM is still illegal in the Gambia. Sending the bill to committee means that we have a little more time but that means that in 2024 we are still debating cutting off the genitals of girls in my home country.

The bills referral to a parliamentary committee means it will be examined for at least three months before returning to parliament for debate and a vote.

Introducing the bill to parliament, the MP Almameh Gibba said overturning the ban would uphold religious loyalty and safeguard cultural norms and values. Opponents of the ban have often framed it as contrary to Islamic rules, while anti-FGM campaigners say the practice does not have any basis in the Quran.

Speaking before Mondays decision, Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, the special rapporteur on the rights of women in Africa for the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights, said she was concerned that if the FGM law was scrapped, laws around early and forced marriage could follow.

We have to hope that civil society is fully galvanised and vigorously advocating, said Sallah-Njie, who is from the Gambia.
An man pours water into a cup for his son at his home in Chicago, Illinois, on 29 July 2022. Photograph: Jamie Kelter Davis/The Guardian

About 129,000 Chicago children under the age of six are exposed to poisonous lead in their household drinking water because of lead pipes, according to a study published on Monday.

The study used artificial intelligence to analyse 38,000 home water tests conducted for the city of Chicago, along with neighborhood demographics, state blood samples and numerous other factors.

Related: Revealed: the shocking levels of toxic lead in Chicago tap water

It found that Black and Latino residents are more likely to have lead-contaminated water because of lead pipes. And it estimated that the 19% of Chicago children who use unfiltered tap water as their primary drinking source have about twice as much lead in their blood as they would otherwise.

These findings indicate that childhood lead exposure is widespread in Chicago, and racial inequities are present in both testing rates and exposure levels, said the study, published by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Health in Jama Pediatrics. We estimated that more than two-thirds of children are exposed to lead-contaminated drinking water.

The federal government has said that there is no safe level of lead in drinking water. Studies have shown that even small amounts of the highly poisonous metal can affect childhood brain development and contribute to preterm births, heart problems and kidney disease. Yet Chicago still has 400,000 homes served by potentially water-contaminating lead service lines  more than any other US city.

I think residents have reason to be concerned, said public health professor Benjamin Huynh, who authored the study with Elizabeth Chin and Mathew Kiang. I think this should be a call to get your water tested for lead, see what the results are, then make your decisions accordingly.

Huynh said the idea to conduct the research came after seeing the Guardians analysis of 24,000 city water tests, which found one-third of home water tests had more lead than the federal limit for bottled drinking water, which is 5 parts per billion (ppb).

The Johns Hopkins study used a more stringent measure, and flagged as concerning any home tests that detected more than 1ppb. Huynh said this was based on the fact that no level of lead consumption is considered safe and lead service lines can often create spikes in lead levels that go undetected, especially after they are disturbed by nearby construction. Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics has called for state and local governments to limit the lead in school drinking fountains to no more than 1ppb.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a municipal action level of 15ppb, meaning that cities are only required to notify the public when at least 10% of a small sample of homes tested are above that amount.

By this measure, Chicago is in compliance.

Nothing is more important than the health and safety of Chicagos residents and, particularly, our children, city spokesperson Megan Vidis said in an emailed statement. Chicagos water continues to meet and exceed all standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency.

She said that the city has introduced five programs to remove Chicagos 400,000 lead service lines and offers free water testing to any resident.

While the EPA is proposing to require most cities around the nation to remove all lead service lines within 10 years, it is giving Chicago 40 years to do so because of the large number of unreplaced pipes in the city.

If were looking at 40 more years of contaminated drinking water, what does that mean for the children? Huynh said. What can we do about that in the meantime?

Chakena Perry, Chicago water advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council, called for the city to distribute water filters to families with lead service lines and do everything possible to speed up the work to remove them.

Clean drinking water is something that everyone deserves no matter their zip code or their life circumstances, said Perry.

The citys newly elected mayor, Brandon Johnson, has vowed to replace 40,000 lead lines by 2027.

But the study authors and other experts say this is not enough.

With 400,000 lead service lines, Chicago officials need to be way more aggressive in protecting their children and the population in general, said water safety engineer Elin Betanzo, who was one of the first to flag Flints lead water issues. Theres really no reason for anybody to be drinking lead in their water.
New York Department of Environmental Conservation officers secure an 11-ft alligator for transport after it was seized from a home in Hamburg, NY, on 13 March. Photograph: NYDEC/AP

A blind alligator weighing more than 700lbs and stretching more than 10ft in length was recently seized from a home in upstate New York, potentially setting up a legal battle between the animals owner and authorities.

The states environmental conservation department on 12 March seized the 30-year-old, 750lb and 11ft-long alligator called Albert Edward from a home in the Erie county community of Hamburg.

According to authorities, the owner neither had a proper permit for the animal nor properly secured it. The owner reportedly installed an in-ground swimming pool for the purposes of keeping the alligator and allowed people to get in the water to pet the otherwise unsecured animal.

The owner had previously held a license from the states environmental conservation department for the alligator. However, the license expired in 2021 and was not renewed.

Authorities, after they seized the animal, discovered that the alligator had various health issues, including blindness in both eyes and spinal complications. The alligator was then turned over to a licensed caretaker for temporary housing and care until the animal could be set up with a more permanent arrangement, authorities said.

Speaking to the New York Times, Albert Edwards owner, 64-year-old Tony Cavallaro, said that visitors would only briefly get in the pool to pose with the animal, often when the alligator was sleeping.

I did everything by the book the whole time, Cavallaro said, adding: They changed the rules, and I should be grandfathered in. I shouldnt have to abide by them.

Hes always had a problem with his eyes, Cavallaro said of Albert Edward, explaining to the Times that he bought the alligator at a reptile show in Columbus, Ohio, in 1990. Cavallaro said he owned more than 100 reptiles at one point in his life.

In a statement reported by the Times, New Yorks environmental conservation department said it is illegal to own an alligator in the state unless one has a special license.

The department said the license authorizes an individual with appropriate training, experience and facilities with required safeguards to possess animals listed as dangerous animals for scientific, educational, exhibition, zoological, or propagation purposes.

The license does not allow possession of any dangerous animal as a pet, the addition of new or replacement dangerous animals without an accompanying license amendment, nor the possession of dangerous animals at a facility which cannot ensure the health and safety of the public or indigenous fish and wildlife populations.

Yet authorities information about the case against Cavallaro has done little to stem a tide of public sympathy which has greeted him since Albert Edward was taken from him.

A petition called Help us return Albert the alligator to his owner had been signed by about 95,400 individuals as of Sunday.

Writing on the petition page, Cavallaro said, As everyone has probably already heard, the DEC and [Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] took Albert away from me saying that I put people in harms way with him. Every one who has met Albert or knows Albert knows that this is not true. I took care of him better than most people take care of their kids. They changed the rules [two] years ago about what you need to do to have an alligator. Ive had him 34 years and abided by all of them and renewed my permit annually as required.

He added: I tried renewing it when they changed their rules and had questions to ask. They ignored my emails and phone calls to make sure I did everything right even though I should be grandfathered in. I will have a court date when they provide it. I ask  all of my friends and people who love Albert [to] 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.
China's internet company Meitu sees 29.3 pct revenue growth in 2023

Xinhua) 09:30, March 18, 2024

XIAMEN, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese internet company Meitu generated 2.7 billion yuan (about 380.4 million U.S. dollars) in revenue last year, up 29.3 percent year on year.

Meitu recorded an adjusted net profit attributable to the parent company of 370 million yuan, an increase of 233.2 percent year on year, according to the company's financial report disclosed on Friday.

The company, headquartered in the city of Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, attributed the growth mainly to its surging paid subscriptions of photo, video and design products, which brought 1.33 billion yuan in revenue, a robust annual increase of 52.8 percent.

By the end of last year, Meitu registered a record high paid subscribers of more than 9.11 million. It also had 250 million monthly active users, up 2.6 percent year on year.

In 2023, the company invested 640 million yuan in research and development, which accounted for 23.6 percent of its annual revenue, continuing its exploration and layout in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).

Founded in October 2008, Meitu is an AI-driven technology company that aims to "beautify" users with its image products and beauty management services.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
It reads like a horror story, and most of it is quite unbelievable that it can, let alone that it did, happen. The story of Paul Nthenge Mackenzie of the Good News International Church is a tragic event in Kenyas recent history.

Mackenzie, a former taxi driver, closed his church, which he founded in 2002, in August 2019 and urged his members to join him in the Holy Landthe expansive Shakahola Forest spanning over 800 acres. By the time his plans were discovered, he had led close to 500 people to death.

Mackenzie intended to establish the Church in the Wildernessa group of brave individuals willing to live and die for their faith. In this context, the forest symbolized Bethlehem, while the outside world, seen as corrupt, represented Babel. The followers were regarded as holy people who had distanced themselves from the worlds corruption and were being prepared by their leader to meet Jesus. They resided in districts named after biblical locations such as Jericho, Galilee, and Bethlehem. Ironically, these devoted believers lived in makeshift polythene and mud houses without clean water and toilets. Mackenzie had mastered the art of mind control, leading his followers blindly like sheep to the slaughterhouse.

It is now clear that the end-time preacher had a well-planned operation. Reports suggest that he had an organized hierarchy with sentries to keep it tightly knit. Mackenzies leadership structure saw him as chairman, assisted by a vice chair, a secretary, an assistant secretary, a treasurer, and an assistant treasurer. His wife played a role in attracting new members. As believers gathered in Shakahola forest in Kenyas South coast, Mackenzies methods were initially subtle. He created a pretend Christian sanctuary to deceive believers into feeling a false sense of togetherness and hope. Once everyone was on board, serious life-threatening activities began. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic bolstered his end-time messages and confirmed his belief that an apocalypse was imminent, which attracted more followers.

According to media reports, Mackenzie duped his victims into burning their academic documents, selling their property, and giving the money to him. He also convinced them to throw away their phones, making them completely unreachable, and to take a vow to fast until death. He convinced his followers that starving to death was the fastest way to meet Jesus. Children were not allowed to go to school because education was from the devil. Seeking medical attention was also prohibited because medicine was evil.

Mackenzie instructed that children were to die first, followed by teenagers, women, and finally, men. Believers were told to fast outdoors to speed up dehydration, which was easier in Malindis hot and humid climate. The men were even forced to dig mass graves. Those who resisted, especially children, were tortured by a group of guards. Autopsies revealed that the victims died from starvation, while others were strangled, beaten, or suffocated. Some victims were even missing body organs, suggesting that the cult may have been involved in organ harvesting. Those who were rescued were severely ill.

Mackenzie held what he called harusi (weddings), which were essentially funerals for those who had died of starvation. He compared it to uniting with Christ and assured his followers that he would be the last to starve himself to death. At the time of writing, more than three hundred and fifty bodies had been exhumed, and the police are still discovering mass graves throughout the forest. There are also reports of over five hundred people missing.

It is truly baffling how one person could deceive so many into willingly leading themselves to their deaths without raising any suspicion. The massacre could have been prevented.

Some escapees and rescued victims initially reported the matter to the police, but their concerns were met with little interest. Furthermore, Mackenzie was already on the polices radar since his first arrest in 2017 for radicalization and the promotion of extremist beliefs. Yet, it seems that no one took his dangerous nature seriously. The police did very little to stop the massacre from occurring, and the public also failed to notice the warning signs. Why did no one raise an alarm when children were missing from school? Why didnt the schools protest the disappearance of these children?

This is not the first time we have heard of such horrifying acts being carried out in the name of faith. We have seen believers reject conventional medicine in favor of relying on prophets and pastors to heal them. This indoctrination has resulted in people surrendering their right to life to these fraudulent individuals. Those who have fallen victim to these teachings seem to have been convinced that by isolating themselves and surrendering to a specific god, they are fulfilling scripture and will receive a heavenly reward.

The Shakahola incident has sparked debates about constitutional freedom of worship, the regulation of thousands of churches with questionable doctrines, some of which are promoted through TV stations, and the corrupt and extremist preachers who take advantage of the impoverished masses. The rise of freelance preachers, without any hierarchy or order, who deliver passionate sermons and perform miracles for profit, has contributed to the chaos in the faith sector. The horrors of Shakahola are a result of rogue pastors who exploit desperate believers searching for meaning in their difficult lives. There is a pressing need for a thorough re-evaluation of faith within the context of radicalization, extremism, and prosperity theology.

President Ruto, Kenyas first evangelical president, has established a Commission of Inquiry and a Task Force to investigate the events at Shakahola and provide recommendations for a legal and regulatory framework to govern religious institutions in Kenya. The report is still being prepared.

There is a need to incorporate content on religious extremism and indoctrination into the curriculum of primary and secondary schools. Children at this age have malleable and impressionable minds. Their personality and worldview start to form, and whatever they are taught may contribute to who they will become. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher who lived over 2,000 years ago, famously said, Give me a child until he is seven, and I will show you the man. This resonates with Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it (English Standard Version). Thus, as we shape these impressionable minds, we must be mindful of what we teach them.

Recommended areas addressing extremism and indoctrination may include the sanctity of human life, human identity within our cultural and religious context, and responsible citizenship. In addition, life skills to mitigate the social, economic, and political factors that may foster extremism, radicalization, and indoctrination should be included. Subjects like critical thinking skills, religious consciousness, and entrepreneurship can be valuable. Both government and religious institutions need to develop alternative narratives to challenge dominant narratives that promote radicalization, extremism, and indoctrination. These alternative narratives should be integrated into the nations academic, social, and religious fabric.



David Tarus serves as ACTEAs Executive Director. Previously, he serves as a lecturer and Deputy Principal at AIC Missionary College, an affiliate institution of Scott Christian University. David is a graduate of McMaster Divinity College (PhD in Christian Theology with a focus on Systematic Theology), Wheaton College Graduate School (MA, Historical and Systemic Theology, and Scott Christian University (Bachelor of Theology). He is the author of A Different Way of Being: Toward a Reformed Theology of Ethnopolitcal Cohesion for the Kenyan Context, co-editor of Christian Responses to Terrorism: The Kenyan Experience, and several articles. His research interests are in theological anthropology, ecclesiology, and socio-political issues. He is an ordained minister of the African Inland Church, Kenya, and serves as Associate Pastor, AIC Milimani Nairobi.
Everyone knows that Pennys rivals are just trying to stir up trouble, one Mordaunt supporter said. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Penny Mordaunts rivals in a future Conservative leadership contest have been blamed for briefing coup rumours meant to ruin her chances of eventually taking over from Rishi Sunak, the Guardian has been told.

The Commons leader, who came a close third in the leadership contest won by Liz Truss in 2022, has in recent days been at the centre of speculation over an alleged plot to try to oust the prime minister to avert a general election disaster for the Conservatives.

But her allies insisted on Monday that it was nonsense that she had been talking to Tory rightwingers as part of any plot. Everyone knows that Pennys rivals are just trying to stir up trouble, one supporter said.

Shes loyal to Rishi and doesnt want to add legitimacy to all this fluff by publicly denying the claims.

On a visit to the Midlands on Monday, Sunak said he was not interested in Westminster politics and insisted that his party was united as he tried to quell speculation that he could become the latest Tory leader to lose his grip on power.

Those loyal to Sunak say they do not believe Mordaunt herself is the source of rumours that she might stand against him.

I dont know who is putting it about but I dont think it is her, said one supportive cabinet minister. My best guess is those who are likely to stand against her at a leadership election in the future are trying to spoil her candidacy now by making her look disloyal.

Senior figures from across the party came to Mordaunts defence, with one former cabinet minister from the Boris Johnson era suggesting that the speculation was a result of a three-bottle lunch between supporters of her rivals and members of the press.

The reports about a potential Mordaunt coronation emerged on Friday evening in the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph, which said a meeting had taken place between leading figures on the Tory right and prominent supporters of Mordaunts last leadership bid.

The former cabinet minister said: Theres a lot of unhappiness in the party towards Rishi and the No 10 operation. But we dont know whether there briefing is coming from a 12-year-old junior spad in a Whitehall department or a cabinet minister.

One minister from the centre of the party said the claims were pretty unfair to Mordaunt, who they said had been doing the constituency party dinner circuit for years.

A senior party figure on the One Nation wing said Mordaunt was being used by supporters of her rightwing rivals for the Tory crown  including Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman and Simon Clarke  to launch a leadership contest.

Theyre using her to try to take over from Rishi. None of the rightwingers can get the centre of the party onboard. Even if theres a coronation, Penny still loses the election and it takes her out of play for the longer term, the MP said.

Related: Our chances? Zero  and getting worse: inside a Tory death spiral

A leading rightwing MP said it was unlikely their colleagues would back Mordaunt, even as a compromise candidate, because of her liberal position on social issues such as trans rights. I dont sense any appetite for trouble-making though, they said. I believe this is just Pennys rivals trying to do her down.

While Sunaks supporters have dismissed the idea that electing a fourth party leader within a single parliament could revive the partys fortunes, many remain unhappy about the way in which his Downing Street operation has worked in recent weeks.

Even the prime ministers allies say he was slow to remove the whip from the former deputy chair Lee Anderson for his comments about the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, and then indecisive once more over what to do about the Tory donor Frank Hester.

Many say they are frustrated by Downing Streets inability to stick to a single message.

The national insurance cuts in the budget had the potential to cut through, said the cabinet minister. But it wont do that if we dont keep talking about it. Just because we havent seen an eight-point narrowing in the polls in the week after the budget doesnt mean we should stop talking about it.

Allies say Sunak has been frustrated by the latest bout of infighting and he has no intention of calling an early election to fend it off, as has been suggested by some in the party. The plan is still to do it in the last quarter of the year, said one.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump shake hands during a bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, on 28 June 2019. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Donald Trumps continuing lavish praise and support for Vladimir Putin are fueling alarm among former intelligence officials and other experts who fear another Trump presidency would benefit Moscow and harm American democracy and interests overseas.

Trump praised the Russian president as a genius and pretty savvy when Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, and has boasted he would end the war in a day, sparking critics fears that if hes elected again Trump would help Russia achieve a favorable peace deal by cutting off aid to Kyiv. Trump also recently greenlit Russia to do whatever the hell they want to Nato members who dont pay enough to the alliance.

Related: A campaign for vengeance: critics warn of a radical second Trump term

Trump views Putin as a strongman, said Fiona Hill, a senior fellow at Brookings Institution and a national security official in the first two years of Trumps administration. In a way theyre working in parallel because theyre both trying to weaken the US, but for very different reasons.

More recently, instead of criticizing Putin for the death of Alexei Navalny, Russias leading opposition figure, who the Kremlin once tried to kill with poison, and who died suddenly last month in an Arctic penal colony, Trump weirdly equated the four criminal prosecutions he faces with Navalnys fate.

The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has made me more and more aware of what is happening in our country, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform

Trumps adulation for autocrats was displayed again this month at Mar-a-Lago, where he hosted Viktor Orban, the far-right Hungarian prime minister who is a close Putin ally and foe of Ukraine aid, whom Trump extolled. Theres nobody thats better, smarter or a better leader than Viktor Orban, Trump said.

In turn, Orban lauded Trump as a man of peace, and said if Trump is re-elected, he wont give a penny to Ukraine and the war will end.

Ex-officials fret, too, that Trump would gut US intelligence by appointing far-right loyalists such as retired Lt Gen Michael Flynn, who briefly served in 2017 as Trumps national security adviser and later plead guilty of lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador during the transition.

Deep concerns about another Trump presidency are rooted in part on his acceptance of Putins word in 2018 that Russia didnt meddle in the 2016 election, despite strong evidence to the contrary from US intelligence officials, a bipartisan Senate panel report and an inquiry by special counsel Robert Mueller.

In paring back the US government and appointing loyalists, Trump will get rid of vital security expertise Fiona Hill

A two-year investigation by Mueller found that Russian interference to help Trump win in 2016 was sweeping and systematic.

There were other significant signs of Trump cozying up to Russia during his presidency, including a bizarre Oval office meeting with the Russian ambassador and foreign minister where Trump shared classified information.

Now veteran intelligence officials and other experts say they have strong worries should Trump become president again, in light of the ongoing Putin-Trump bromance.

Putin much prefers the chaos agent of Trump because it undermines the US, Hill said. Trumps not worried about national security, but focused on himself. In paring back the US government and appointing loyalists, Trump will get rid of vital security expertise.

Trump is shockingly ignorant about foreign affairs, Hill added. Trump rarely read materials he was given before meetings. Trump is less a threat to Russia, and more to the US given his approach to governance.

Other ex-officials raise related concerns.

I think Trump and Putin are natural bedfellows, said Douglas London, a retired senior CIA operations officer and author. They complement each other well. They have common goals and objectives.

Given Trumps oft stated agenda to seek retribution against his enemies, London worries that via executive orders Trump will use the CIA like his own Praetorian guard. Trump could do this by using the agencys unique capabilities and authorities to spy on, silence and perhaps even bring harm to his enemies.

There is literally nothing about Trump that suggests he would put our countrys interests ahead of his own interests under almost any circumstances Sheldon Whitehouse

Similarly, key Democrats are deeply worried about the international and domestic repercussions if Trump wins the presidency again.

There is literally nothing about Trump that suggests he would put our countrys interests ahead of his own interests under almost any circumstances, said Sheldon Whitehouse.

So when he has a close and long standing, almost servile, relationship with a foreign enemy, who is also a multi-billionaire oligarch, the recipe for disaster is self-evident, the Democratic senator said.

Trumps efforts to placate Putin and undercut US intelligence were underscored by their infamous 2018 meeting in Helsinki, Whitehouse noted.

Weve seen Donald Trumps assault on our national intelligence community prefigured by his horrifying performance with Putin where he said that he accepted Putins representations about election inference, election meddling and other mischief, putting our own intelligence agencys determinations to the contrary, right under the bus.

Likewise Charlie Dent, the ex-Republican Representative, voiced fears about another Trump presidency given Trumps adulation for Putin. Trump identifies with illiberal, populist and authoritarian leaders, Dent said. Trump has autocratic inclinations, and Putin is simply an autocrat.

On the campaign trail, Trump has sparked new criticism with bizarre statements underscoring his authoritarian instincts.

One example: as Trump has ratcheted up his attacks on prosecutors who have charged him with 91 felony counts including 17 for conspiring with others to overturn his 2020 loss to Joe Biden, he even cited cynical comments by Putin last fall that echoed Trumps false charges of political persecution.

Even Vladimir Putin says that Bidens  and this is a quote  politically motivated persecution of his political rival is very good for Russia, because it shows the rottenness of the American political system, which cannot pretend to teach others about democracy, Trump told a New Hampshire rally this year before the state primary.

Related: Among the exvangelicals: Sarah McCammon on faith, Trump and leaving the churches behind

Trump speaking favorably about Putin and using him as a credible source, is the language of extremist politics, said Steven Levitsky, a Harvard government professor and coauthor of How Democracies Die. Trump is an authoritarian personality if there ever was one in American politics.

In a cagey twist, after Putin last month said hed prefer a Biden victory this year because hes more experienced, and more predictable, Trump tried to capitalize on the former KGB spys comments by thanking Putin for paying him a great compliment.

Putins trying to make as much mischief as possible, said Hill. It inoculates Trump and Putin if Biden is re-elected. Putin is covering all his bases.

Still, ex-intelligence officials see Trumps pro-Putin affinities leading to a politicized intelligence community if Trump wins again, weakening intelligence sharing with allies and benefitting Russian interests.

Trump almost certainly will politicize the intelligence community by going forward with his public promise of installing people on the extreme fringes of rightwing politics such as Michael Flynn and Kash Patel, said Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior intelligence service official.

Patel, a former defense department official in the Trump years who has been touted as a possible acting attorney general or top CIA official if Trump wins again, late last year echoed Trumps talk of seeking retribution against his enemies. Patel told Steve Bannons War Room: We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in the government but in the media  who helped Joe Biden rig elections

Polymeropoulos stressed that appointments of Flynn or Patel by Trump would damage US ties with key allies. Youll see old allies not sharing critical intelligence, and for good reason. Theyll slowly reduce sharing, so as not to provoke the ire of Trump, but their source protection concerns will be paramount and over-ride all else. The intelligence will dry up.

If Trump wins, forget the Brits or French  two of our best bilateral intelligence partners in Europe  ever sharing anything significant with us on Russia, for example.

Likewise, London sees a second Trump presidency posing extraordinary dangers for the US and its allies. Trump terribly underestimates Putin. Its in his interests to keep the US preoccupied domestically and politically polarized, he said.
Vladimir Putin has claimed he had agreed to a prisoner swap involving Alexei Navalny before the opposition leaders sudden death in an Arctic prison last month.

Speaking in central Moscow after early results indicated he had won Russias presidential election in a landslide, Putin said unnamed people made an offer to release Navalny in a swap deal with the west a few days before he died.

The person who spoke to me hadnt finished his sentence, and I said I agree. But, unfortunately, what happened happened, Putin said.

It was the first time Putin has commented on Navalny since his death, which he called a sad event.

I agreed under one condition: we swap him, and he doesnt come back. But such is life, said Putin. When things like that happen you cannot do anything about it  thats life.

Allies of Navalny have previously said that Putin had the opposition leader killed in jail to sabotage a prisoner swap in which Navalny would have been exchanged for a convicted hitman jailed in Germany.

Navalnys longtime ally Leonid Volkov said on Sunday that Putins comments were an admission that he had Navalny killed. Putin killed Alexei Navalny. And now he has decided he doesnt need to pretend any more. Hes confirmed it himself, Volkov wrote on X.

The Guardian and other western media have reported that Navalny was part of discussions on a prisoner exchange, although details of the deal remain unclear. Putin did not specify who Navalny would have been traded for, mentioning some people who are behind bars in western countries.

Maria Pevchikh, a close ally of the opposition leader, said in a video last month that Navalny was in line to be exchanged for Vadim Krasikov, a Russian FSB hitman who is serving a life sentence in Germany for the assassination of a Chechen former separatist in Berlin.

Putins statements on Sunday were interpreted by his critics as an attempt to distance himself from involvement in Navalnys death.

Putin already knew that Navalny was about to be killed, and thats the only reason he agreed easily [to the swap], so that now he can say: Well, you see, it wasnt beneficial for me, I wanted to trade him, said Roman Dobrokhotov, an investigative journalist who was close to Navalny.

Russias foreign intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, claimed that Navalny died of natural causes. Putins foes and critics have often met with violent deaths.

After Navalnys funeral in Moscow, his team urged voters to turn up at the polls en masse at noon on Sunday to honour his memory.

Thousands formed long lines in Moscow, St Petersburg and at embassies across the world at midday in a symbolic show of dissent against Putins rule.
There are fewer than 400 breeding pairs of Philippine eagles left, spread across three islands. Photograph: Vincent Mundy

Christian Daug whistles with all the spirit he can muster. The male and female were perched there yesterday, he says, pointing to a dead tree amid the sea of flora that smothers the tallest mountain on the Philippine archipelago.

He whistles again as we look out over the jungle from a wooden observation post. This area is one of the last remaining strongholds of Pithecophaga jefferyi: one of the worlds largest and rarest eagles. Measuring about a metre in height when perched, with a wingspan that can reach more than two metres (6.5ft), it is known locally as the monkey-eating eagle. The enormous raptors prey primarily on macaques, but also feed on pythons, chickens, cats and dogs.

Daug is one of a group of local tribespeople who have joined the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) on its monitoring and research mission in Mount Apo natural park on Mindanao island. With only an estimated 392 breeding pairs remaining, scattered in fragments of jungle over three heavily logged Philippine islands, every nest site and bird is precious.

I wish I could whistle like that, says senior PEF biologist Rowell Taraya. Weve been monitoring the pair near here for two years, but still didnt spot their nest, he says as we trek to the next post. They aggressively guard their territory  which is huge, every pair needs at least 8,000 hectares [20,000 acres]  so they are really hard to monitor.

The hours pass, with no sign of an eagle. With daylight fading, we set up our hammocks and sleep.

New day, new tactics, says Taraya at dawn. No eagle can resist this. He holds up a wooden cage with a two-metre-long python inside. Monkeys rustle in the canopy above. Finally: Eagle! Taraya whispers, as a raptor swoops above and lands on a branch a few hundred metres away. Just a bit more patience and well be able to get a good look at her, he says.

But then, our luck changes. Taraya picks up his walkie-talkie to answer a call. Its the army, warning that a group of militants have been spotted nearby. Everythings OK, he says, turning off the radio, but we need to pack up and get out of here pretty quickly.

Mindanao island has a reputation for kidnappings for ransom  which have sometimes ended in beheadings when demands were not met. It is just one of the intimidating challenges that PEF faces in its mission to save the Philippines sacred eagles from extinction.

***

Glad you made it out alive, says a grinning Jayson Ibanez, director of research and conservation at the PEF, on the fringes of Davao City, capital of Mindanao. But we actually have bigger problems than the militants.

As well as the creep of long-running conflicts and militarisation in the region, the eagle centre is dealing with the expanding city. In the 1950s, when we started, this site used to be in the jungle. But as you probably noticed on your way here, we are almost consumed by the citys expansion now, says Ibanez.

Weve given up on the captive breeding programme here, as they become habituated to human presence, he says. Despite the staffs best efforts to avoid human imprinting, the eagles they released kept flying back to human settlements. We even had one case where one of the young birds we released flew to a village and tried to carry away a three-year-old child.

In the jungle outside Davao, the new Philippine eagle breeding centre is under construction, buried in deep undergrowth. It will soon house eagles, which the centre hopes will produce offspring suitable for rewilding. Here, it is far enough away from human activity, so its more suitable for breeding and hopefully eventually releasing eagles which arent imprinted, says Ibanez.

The expansion of human activity has already driven Philippine eagles close to extinction: they are categorised as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with a decreasing population at the last assessment, carried out in 2016. The primary threats are deforestation for mining, timber and agriculture, and patches of hunting  including by farmers who blame the birds for carrying off young livestock. Throughout Mindanaos central highlands, growing human settlements can be seen patchworked among rainforest ecosystems, where forests, villages and farmland hug the hillsides.

***

In Guilang-guilang village, Bukidnon province, we are met by Atu Honorio Sumohoy, the local Bukidnon tribe chief. His village is one of several working with the PEF and other conservation organisations on sacred nature-based solutions. The strategy aims to simultaneously bolster protection of Indigenous land rights, cultural practices and biodiverse ecosystems, to protect crucial habitats within Indigenous lands.

The Bukidnon people consider the eagle as sacred, and Sumohoy carries out a ritual killing of three cockerels as a sacrifice to ask permission from the forest spirits for [the visitors] acceptance here  especially of the eagle which is considered the messenger of the creator, says Ibanez.

Related: If we cant fish any more, were going to die: the volunteer sea patrols protecting precious Philippine waters

Kalumbata (the eagle) is the messenger of God, Sumohoy says later, chewing on the boiled cockerel. Our ancestors forbid the hunting of Kalumbata because if it happens, one life will also be lost in the community in exchange for the killed eagle.

Dr Jessica Lee, the head of avian species programmes and partnerships at Mandai Nature, a conservation group in Singapore, has been working closely with the PEF since 2019. She says working with local communities like the Bukidnon, on sacred nature solutions can result in a triple mutual benefit: species protected, habitat protected, community benefit.

Its just as lovely to know the eagles are safe and respected in the jungles here as it is seeing local women leading the local Philippine Eagle forest guard programme for example  getting paid for protecting the forest and the eagle  and their way of life, she says.

Were in a situation where we need to be bold. Time is not on the eagles side Dr Munir Virani

Soon, the PEF hopes to expand its projects, with plans to translocate several breeding pairs of eagles to neighbouring Leyte island in June. Translocations are risky, says Dr Munir Virani, chief executive of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund, which is supporting the move, but the organisations hope they can establish another viable population.

Were living in an era of massive ecological pressures and rapid climate change, so naturally it requires a new set of responses, Virani says. Were in a situation where we need to be bold. Time is not on the eagles side.

Back in Mount Apo natural park, a rain cloud fills the valley below, signalling that it is almost time to leave  until someone calls: Look up, right above. Eagle!

Youve got a Queen of England havent you? says 23-year-old biology graduate and PEF volunteer Celline Tadeo, as we watch the resident female soaring back to her home. And weve got our queen of the jungle.

Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield on X for all the latest news and features
Russian troops fighting for Ukraine have captured their second village in two days, the soldiers reported.

The Siberian Battalion, a pro-Kyiv militia, claims to have raised its flag in the village of Kozinka, Belgorod, together with the Russian Volunteer Corps.

The groups posted an image of them holding up their flags on Telegram, captioned: Flags of the Siberian battalion and RDK in the village of Kozinka of the Russian Federation.

The announcement comes after two separate volunteer groups yesterday announced they had raised their flag in Gorkovskii, 16 miles to the east.

The battalions form part of a coalition of volunteer forces who have taken part in cross-border raids on Ukraines eastern front over the past week, capturing prisoners and settlements in Belgorod and Kursk.

Follow the latest updates below

03:16 PM GMT

Thats all for today

Thanks for tuning in to todays live blog. Well be back tomorrow to bring you all the latest from the Russia-Ukraine war.

Key moments from today:

Lord Cameron has said Vladimir Putins election victory highlights the depth of repression in Russia.

Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, offered his warm congratulations to Vladimir Putin on his election victory, saying he looked forward strengthening the two nations special relationship.

Vladimir Putin is planning to capture a buffer zone of Ukrainian territory that would put Russian regions out of range of Ukraines long-range Western weapons.

Russia and China have harnessed Vladimir Putins election victory to signal ever closer ties between the two world powers.

Negotiations on Ukraines accession to the European Union can start in the next two months, Denys Shmyhal, Ukraines prime minister, has said.

The European Union has labelled the results of elections held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine null and void.

Russian overnight strikes have left two people dead and 16 injured, including children, Ukraine reported.

President Zelensky has blamed Ukraines lack of long-range strikes on the short-sightedness of allies, in an apparent snub to Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor.

Ukraine is relying on mass drone strikes to compensate for an artillery shell shortage, but experts have warned they cannot tip the balance of the war.

03:07 PM GMT

Cameron: Putin election result reveals depth of Russias repression

Lord Cameron has said Vladimir Putins election victory highlights the depth of repression in Russia.

These Russian elections starkly underline the depth of repression under President Putins regime, which seeks to silence any opposition to his illegal war, the foreign secretary said in a statement, referring to the conflict in Ukraine.



Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy.

His comments come as western leaders roundly condemn the election outcome. Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuanias foreign minister, described the scripted process as a tragic farce, while Emmanuel Macron, the French president, indicated that he would not congratulate Putin.

Putin secured a fifth term in Sundays elections that will allow him to rule until at least 2030.

03:05 PM GMT

Modi hails closer ties with Russia after Putin election victory

Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, offered his warm congratulations to Vladimir Putin on his election victory, saying he looked forward strengthening the two nations special relationship.

Look forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come, Mr Modi wrote on Twitter.

In doing so, he joined Chinas President Xi Jinping, who said Beijing would maintain close communication with Moscow to promote the no limits partnership they agreed in 2022, just before Russia invaded Ukraine.

India and China, along with Russia, are members of the BRICS group of emerging economies that aims to contest US hegemony in the global economy.

02:59 PM GMT

Pictured: An effigy of Putin in Kyiv

A Ukrainian serviceman walks by an effigy of Russian President Vladimir Putin dressed in a prisoner outfit during a rainfall in Kyiv - Vadim Ghirda/AP

02:26 PM GMT

Putin plans to capture Ukrainian buffer zone to take Russia out of ATACMS range

Vladimir Putin is planning to capture a buffer zone of Ukrainian territory that would put Russian regions out of range of Ukraines long-range Western weapons.

I do not exclude that, bearing in mind the tragic events taking place today, that we will be forced at some point, when we deem it appropriate, to create a certain sanitary zone in the territories today under the Kyiv regime, Putin said on Monday.



The presidents comments came after being asked whether he thought it necessary for Russia to take control of Kharkiv, which borders Belgorod, a Russian province that has come under aerial attack from Kyivs forces in recent weeks.



Against the backdrop of (Ukrainian) drone attacks and the shelling of our territory: public facilities, residential buildings, measures must be taken to secure these territories, said Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman.



They can only be secured by creating some kind of buffer zone so that any means that the enemy uses to strike us are out of range.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential aide, described the comments as a direct manifest statement that the war will only escalate.

02:17 PM GMT

Do not recognise Putin election win, says Kremlin critic

Former oligarch and prominent Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky on Monday called on Western governments not to recognise Vladimir Putins election win, affirming that the opposition was united against the Russian ruler.

It is now about... finally publicly recognising Putin as illegitimate, Mr Khodorkovsky told journalists in Berlin.

We have high expectations for Western society, who we ask to turn to their governments to ask them not to recognise Putin as legitimate, he said in an event at the Center for Liberal Modernity think tank.

01:43 PM GMT

Putin election victory heralds closer ties with China

Russia and China have harnessed Vladimir Putins election victory to signal ever closer ties between the two world powers.

After congratulating Putin on securing a fifth term in office, Xi Jingping, Chinas president said: China attaches great importance to the development of China-Russia relations and is willing to maintain close communication with Russia to promote the sustained, healthy, stable and in-depth development of (bilateral ties), CCTV, a Chinese state broadcaster, reported.

Putin responded in kind, heaping praise on his Chinese counterpart in a sign of the two countries deepening alliance against the US-led West.

Putin said he was sure that in the coming years we will only strengthen and build up our relations and achieve common successes for the benefit of the Chinese and Russian peoples, Tass, the Russian state news agency, reported.

The most important thing is the coincidence of state interests. This creates a very good tone for solving common problems in the field of international relations, Putin added.

01:23 PM GMT

Pictured: Rogue Russian troops capture second village in two days

The Siberia Battalion, pro-Kyiv troops fighting for Ukraine, claims to have captured the village of Kozinka, Belgorod - Telegram

12:53 PM GMT

The war in pictures

Houses and cars burned during the 2022 Russian occupation of settlements in Kyiv are left in ruin - Kateryna Mykhailova/Getty Images

Ukrainian firefighters rescue a civilian from a building in Kryvyi Rih after a Russian missile strike - Getty Images

12:31 PM GMT

Breaking: Russia releases final election results

Vladimir Putin has won Russias sham elections with 87.28 per cent of the vote at the final count, Russian media reported.

His closest rival, Nikolai Kharitonov, claimed just 4.31 per cent of the vote.

12:25 PM GMT

UAE leaders congratulate Putin on re-election

United Arab Emirates leaders have sent a message of congratulations to Vladimir Putin following his re-election as Russian President, WAM, the UAE state-run news agency, reported.

Those who have sent messages of support to Putin include Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, the Manchester City owner, the news agency said.

12:05 PM GMT

Ukraine hopes EU accession talks will begin within two months

Negotiations on Ukraines accession to the European Union can start in the first half of 2024, Denys Shmyhal, Ukraines prime minister, has said.

The European Commission on March 12 proposed a draft framework for membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, another candidate to join the bloc, which currently includes 27 countries.

We hope that our European partners will approve it without any additional amendments as the European Commission proposes, Mr Shmyhal said.

The EU agreed to commence accession talks with Kyiv in December 2023, but indicated Ukraine would have to undertake several reforms before it could be accepted into the bloc.

Ukraine aims to execute (its) homework in a very fast way, said Shmyhal, who believes that this process will take not more than two years.

EU member states are reportedly expected to approve the next formal steps toward starting the accession talks later this week.

11:30 AM GMT

China says Putin re-election fully reflects support of Russian people

Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, congratulated Vladimir Putin on winning another term as president and said China was set to maintain close communication with Russia to promote their partnership, Chinese state media reported.

Your re-election is a full demonstration of the support of the Russian people for you, Xi said, according to Xinhua News. I believe that under your leadership, Russia will certainly be able to achieve greater achievements in national development and construction.

Iran, North Korea, Uzbekistan, and Venezuela also congratulated Putin on his victory.

Nicolas Maduro, Venezuelas autocratic president, said that it was a flawless electoral process which demonstrated [the nations] democracy in an exemplary manner.

11:07 AM GMT

Watch: Putin breaks silence on Navalnys death after election

Vladimir Putin has broken his silence on the death of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in an Arctic prison last month.

Speaking at his campaign headquarters after claiming a landslide victory in Russias sham elections, the Russian president claimed he was prepared to exchange Navalny, describing the opposition leaders death as a sad event.

Concerning Mr Navalny. Yes, he passed away, its always a sad event, said Putin. He added that a few days before Navalny died, he had been approached by colleagues with the idea of trading the Russian dissident in a prisoner exchange with Western countries.



I said: I agree. Only on one condition: well exchange him so that he does not return, he said.



Putin secured a fifth term in Sundays elections that will allow him to rule until at least 2030.

10:20 AM GMT

Russian elections in occupied Ukraine are null and void, says EU

The European Union has described the results of elections held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine as null and void.

Sham elections took place in the occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson over the weekend where residents were forced to vote in favour of Putin, the Kyiv Independent reported.

The EU said the election has taken place in a highly restricted environment exacerbated by Russias illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

The EU added that it regretted the decision of Russian authorities not to invite international observers to its elections.

This runs contrary to Russias commitments and has denied Russias voters and institutions an impartial and independent assessment of these elections, the bloc of 27 nations said in a joint statement.

10:04 AM GMT

France condemns vote in Ukraines occupied regions

France has condemned so-called elections held in Ukrainian regions temporarily occupied by Russia as a new breach of international law and of the United Nations Charter.

France does not recognise and will never recognise the holding and the results of these so-called elections and reaffims its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, its foreign ministry said in a statement.

The country also condemned Russias setting up of polling booths in the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and in Transnistria without the consent of Georgian and Moldavian authorities.

10:02 AM GMT

EU says Russian election took place in highly restricted environment

The Russian election took place in a highly restricted environment exacerbated by Russias illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU has said.

The bloc said it regretted the decision of Russian authorities not to invite international observers to its elections.

This runs contrary to Russias commitments and has denied Russias voters and institutions an impartial and independent assessment of these elections.

It also said that so-called elections held in the territories of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily occupied were null and void.

09:44 AM GMT

Pictured: Putin wins rubber stamp election

Russia's Central Electoral Commission head Ella Pamfilova (left) is seen on a screen as she attends a briefing at the Central Election Commission in Moscow - MAXIM SHIPENKOV/EPA-EFE

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with his confidants and volunteers of his campaign headquarters in Moscow - GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/AFP

08:56 AM GMT

Two dead and 16 injured in Russian overnight strikes

Russian overnight strikes have left two people dead and 16 injured, including children, Ukraine reported.

A double missile attack on the southern city of Mykolaiv killed one person and injured nine, including two children, Vitalii Kim, the regional governor, reported. He added that the citys lighting and transport infrastructure was also damaged in the attack.

In Sumy on Ukraines eastern border, one person was killed and another injured after Russia bombarded the settlement Velyka Pysarivka with more than 340 strikes, the local military administration reported.

Further south in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk, a series of Russian drone strikes hit a gas station and left five people injured, Serhii Lysak, the regional governor, said.

To the north east in Kharkiv, Russian forces struck a village near Kupiansk, injuring a 62-year-old man, Oleh Syniehubov, the regional governor, reported.

The strikes come despite Ukraine destroying 17 of the 22 Shahed drones that Russia launched overnight, the Air Force reported.

08:31 AM GMT

Zelensky blasts short-sighted allies over refusal to supply long-range weapons

President Zelensky has blamed Ukraines lack of long-range strikes on the short-sightedness of allies, in an apparent snub to Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor.

Speaking in his evening address, the President thanked Canada for joining a drone coalition, before adding: The short range of our armys capabilities is an obvious short-sightedness of some partners.

Later in his speech, Mr Zelensky thanked Germany for its weekly steps to support our country and people.

Mr Zelensky has been caught in long-running wrangle with the German chancellor over Berlins refusal to send long-range Taurus missiles to Kyiv - a decision on which the Bundestag is divided.

Mr Scholz last week doubled down on his refusal to send the missiles, which would enable Ukraine to strike targets deep behind the frontline, branding the move irresponsible.

08:06 AM GMT

Cheap Ukrainian drones cannot match artillery power, warn experts

Ukraine is relying on mass drone strikes to compensate for an artillery shell shortage, but experts have warned they cannot tip the balance of the war.

At the moment in Ukraine, we are seeing the use of drones on an unimaginable scale, Ulrike Franke, a researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), told AFP.

In its 2024 budget, Kyiv earmarked 1.15 billion euros (980 million) for drones. Meanwhile, President Zelensky announced that the country will produce one million drones this year, after setting up a specific drone branch in February.

Despite Ukraines success using drones to target Russias oil infrastructure and its Black Sea fleet in recent weeks, experts have warned there are limits to the tactics effectiveness.

Even large numbers of small drones cannot match the potency of artillery fire, said Stacie Pettyjohn in a study by CNAS, an American security think-tank. Drones can supplement indirect fire weapons, but they are not substitutes, she added.

07:53 AM GMT

Russia will not be intimidated, says Putin after landslide victory

Vladimir Putin said Russia would not be intimidated as he hailed an election victory that paves the way for the former spy to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than 200 years.

I want to thank all of you and all citizens of the country for your support and this trust, Putin told a news conference at his campaign headquarters in Moscow, hours after polls closed.

No matter who or how much they want to intimidate us, no matter who or how much they want to suppress us, our will, our consciousness - no one has ever succeeded in anything like this in history. It has not worked now and will not work in the future. Never, he added.

With more than 99 percent of voting stations having submitted results, Putin had secured 87 percent of all votes cast, RIA, the state-owned news agency, reported.

07:44 AM GMT

Putin is a modern-day Stalin, says Shapps after Russian leader wins sham election

Vladimir Putin is behaving like a modern-day Stalin, Grant Shapps has said after the Russian president won a fifth term in office.

Writing for The Telegraph, the Defence Secretary accused Putin of having stolen the Russian election after having opponents such as Alexei Navalny imprisoned or murdered.

Mr Shapps writes: He of course is going nowhere after stealing Sundays so-called election, where political opponents are either imprisoned or murdered.

Shockingly, at the end of his next five-year term he will have been in power almost exactly as long as the dictator Joseph Stalin. Putin is behaving like a modern-day Stalin.

Read Grant Shappss full op-ed here.

07:40 AM GMT

Putin strolls to victory  but his opponents humiliate and outfox him

On paper, at least, it must have looked so straightforward. Vladimir Putin wanted to fix a presidential election to show the world that ordinary Russians love and admire him and support his war in Ukraine, writes James Kilner.

With total domination of the media, which pumps out hardcore pro-Kremlin propaganda, complete control of the central election committee, which cancels Putins opponents, and a well-oiled vote-rigging machine, surely nothing could go wrong.

Except it did, spectacularly.

Putin was humiliated and outfoxed by his opponents in an empowering and subtle nationwide protest that reminded suppressed Russians opposed to his authoritarian rule that they are not alone.

Read Jamess full report here.
Vladimir Putin has broken his silence on the death of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in an Arctic prison last month.

Speaking at his campaign headquarters after claiming a landslide victory in Russias sham elections, the Russian president claimed he had been prepared to exchange Mr Navalny, describing the opposition leaders death as a sad event.

Concerning Mr Navalny. Yes, he passed away, its always a sad event, said Putin. He added that a few days before he died, there was an idea to exchange Mr Navalny for some people held in correctional facilities in Western countries.

I said, I agree. Only on one condition: well exchange him so that he does not return, he said. But this happens. Thats life.

The comments were Putins first about Mr Navalnys death and one of very few times the Russian president has uttered his name in public.

The Russian opposition leader was reported dead on February 16 by prison authorities at the Siberian penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence for a string of convictions that his allies viewed as politically motivated.

Putin claimed a landslide victory in this year's election - MAXIM SHIPENKOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mr Navalny felt ill after a walk, almost immediately lost consciousness and died soon after, prison authorities said at the time amid widespread suspicion that the Kremlin was responsible.

Seen as Putins most vociferous critic, he had been poisoned and harried through the courts but had refused to flee Russia.

Maria Pevchikh, head of the Anti-Corruption Foundation formerly headed by Mr Navalny, said in the week afterwards that an agreement had been reached to swap the opposition politician in a prisoner exchange, but he died while the negotiations were in the final stages.

One Russian source with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters that both Mr Navalny and his wife had agreed to the plan, with Vadim Krasikov, an FSB officer serving a murder sentence in Berlin, the likely candidate for an exchange.

Members of Mr Navalnys team reacted with fury to Putins comments, with Maria Pevchikh, chairwoman of Mr Navalnys foundation, calling the Russian president a lying piece of scum.

Kira Yarmysh, Mr Navalnys former press secretary, wrote on Twitter: Putin killed Alexey Navalny.

Mr Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya joined thousands in Berlin where she cast her vote - HANNIBAL HANSCHKE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Putins comments come as the president secured a fifth term in Sundays elections despite thousands of voters across Russia and in major European countries spoiling their ballots as part of the Noon against Putin protests.

The movement, supported by Mr Navalny, encouraged voters to arrive at polling stations en masse at midday on Sunday, the final day of the elections, and destroy their ballots.

Yulia Navalnaya, Mr Navalnys widow, joined thousands of protesters in Berlin, and was greeted with rapturous applause and chants of Yulia, Yulia.

Ms Navalanaya later posted on Twitter that the protests give me hope that everything is not in vain, that we will still fight.
A burnt out police van in the aftermath of the protest. Photograph: Peter Powell/PA

Seven men have been jailed for violent disorder after their involvement in racially aggravated trouble outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Merseyside.

Violence broke out from a large group gathered outside a hotel in the Merseyside town of Knowsley on 10 February last year, with the crowd chanting get them out.

Footage shown at Liverpool crown court showed rocks, fireworks and other missiles thrown at the police cordon formed at the scene. The court saw how a police carrier van was damaged and set on fire after the group had stolen riot shields, helmets and personal property.

In his closing remarks, judge Denis Watson KC said the crowd had let a grotesquely distorted and false narrative without evidence gain traction  namely that all those housed at the hotel were sex offenders or Isis rapists and the police were protecting them.

Watson said Brian McPadden, 61, played a leading role in participating in the violence over several hours  and jailed him for three years and six months.

John Tippler, 59, whom the court heard described as aggressive and confrontational  and was heard on footage saying there is no black on the union jack send the fuckers back  was handed a two-year sentence.

Warren Cullen, 21, who was on a community order at the time of the protest, was jailed for 20 months. Liam Jones, 25, who submitted a letter from a health professional describing poor mental health after service in the army, was sentenced to 27 months.

Thomas Mills, who brought a banner urging people to shout to get the hotel occupants out was sentenced to two years and eight months.

Paul Lafferty, 42, was handed the same sentence, while Jonjo ODonoghue, 21, was sentenced to three years and six months in a young offender institution.

Harry Boynton, 20, was given a 16-month suspended sentence on the condition of 200 hours of unpaid work and a curfew.

Watson acknowledged those sentenced were not organisers or members of the English Defence League but had contributed to sustained and extremely hostile mob violence on the night.

He said: The violence which was directed at asylum seekers was racially aggravated. They are a vulnerable minority group and are entitled to look to the courts for protection.

In determining the culpability of any one offender it is quite wrong and misleading to look only at what he did in isolation, for in civil disturbances the actions of an individual must be seen in the context of the general disorder to which each contributes, where violence feeds on itself and events gain a momentum of their own. The contribution by weight of numbers is a very significant one.
The sisters were taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist hospital, where Samyia died and Sanyia was released after being treated for injuries. Photograph: kali9/Getty Images

Early Sunday morning in New Yorks Park Slope neighborhood, 19-year-old twins Samyia and Sanyia Spain were stabbed by an unknown assailant following an altercation. The sisters were taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist hospital, where Samyia died and Sanyia was released after being treated for her injuries.

Sanyia said in an interview with the New York Daily News that the attacker made advances towards both girls, and violently retaliated when they declined. The teens were with a group of friends and relatives inside a bodega moments before the stabbings occurred.

The twins had been at a family game night when they decided to walk along with their brother to the store Slope Natural Plus for a snack, according to Sanyia. After Samyia refused to give her phone number to the unknown man, who appeared drunk, he became irate, Sanyia said. He argued with the teens before leaving the bodega and returning minutes later.

He pushed little Samyia, and then I pushed him, Sanyia told the Post. And then everybody else started pushing him out the door.

The employee working at the bodega kicked the man and his associates out and locked the door behind them. Later, when the Spain sisters crew prepared to depart, the employee unlocked the door, let them out and locked the door behind them.

The aggressor and his party, however, had not left the area. Sanyia saw the man and two of his group standing close by, with the attacker holding a knife.

He had a knife in his hand and was saying: Im gonna stab yall in the face, Sanyia told the Post. Im telling everyone to back up. And he pushed little Samyia to the ground.

The twins older brother punched the attacker in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. From there, the two groups began fighting. During the altercation, Sanyia was stabbed in the arm and Samyia was stabbed in the chest and neck, later succumbing to her injuries.

This is not the first time a violent attack has happened at the bodega. Three years ago, Nichelle Thomas, who was 52, was shot to death by her ex-girlfriend in front of the store, in a killing that was caught on video.

No arrests have been made in the Spain sisters case, though the investigation is ongoing, police said.

Rejection killings, or, instances in which people, typically women or girls, are killed for rejecting a mans romantic or sexual advances are not widely tracked. While these events are sometimes included in domestic violence statistics, which are also poorly tracked and documented, they are inconsistently differentiated from other types of intimate violence.



According to the Violence Policy Center, more than 45,000 women and girls were killed by males from 1996 to 2020. A 2020 report noted that Black women and other women of color are disproportionately affected by homicide at the hands of men.
Thomas Stafford, right, shaking hands with Alexei Leonov in the docking tunnel between Apollo and Soyuz on July 17 1975 - AFP

General Thomas Stafford, who has died aged 93, was not one of the 12 astronauts to walk on the Moon, but in May 1969, as commander of Apollo 10, he played a crucial part in a dress rehearsal for a lunar landing which took him to within nine miles (14km) of the lunar surface and cleared the way for Apollo 11 two months later.

He also commanded the first Soviet-American link-up in space in July 1975, which initiated the thaw in the 30-year Cold War between the two superpowers. In order to match the rank of General Alexei Leonov, the colourful cosmonaut who commanded the two-man Soyuz spacecraft with which Stafford docked the three-man Apollo, Stafford was made a brigadier (one-star) general, the first astronaut to reach such high rank.

The two commanders floated towards each other in the docking tunnel between Apollo and Soyuz, ending up in an awkward bear hug, and clasping hands  the first international handshake in space. Leonov said, in English: Very good to see you! Stafford voiced the same sentiment in Russian, but in such a broad Oklahoma accent that Leonov later said there were three languages spoken on the mission: Russian, English and Oklahomski.

Nasa had calculated that the symbolic handshake would take place above Bognor Regis, but a delay meant it happened over the French city of Metz instead.

Thomas Stafford, pictured in 1969, as commander of the Apollo 10 mission at the Kennedy Space Center - Bettmann

Three years of planning, as well as the flight itself, were dogged by political jealousies and rivalries, and it was only the warm personal friendship that developed between the two commanders that saved it. As it was, during the three days when the two craft were docked or manoeuvring at an altitude of 125 miles (200km) above the Earth, Americas Apollo provided the world with splendid pictures of Soyuz, but the Russians provided none of Apollo, due, they said, to camera problems.

As a result the Soviet people had the impression that the Russians were in control, whereas it was the much more versatile Apollo spacecraft, with its larger fuel reserves, which carried out the docking and most of the manoeuvres. Mutual respect between astronauts and cosmonauts gradually overcame national differences, however, and 30 years later the US-led international space station could not have survived without Russian support.

Thomas Patten Stafford was born on September 17 1930 in Weatherford, Oklahoma, graduating with honours from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1952 with doctorates in laws, science and humane letters. He was commissioned into the US Air Force and in 1955 assigned to Hahn Air Base, Germany, where he flew F86 fighters and co-authored flight testing manuals for pilots.

Thomas Stafford in 1966 describing his Gemini missions - Don Uhrbrock

He was selected for Nasas second group of aspiring astronauts in 1962 and flew the first two of his four space flights during the series of 10 Gemini missions  a two-man spacecraft in which he played a pioneering role learning orbit rendezvous techniques to enable vehicles to dock in space.

Unlike those on the preceding one-man Mercury flights, the Gemini astronauts had computers enabling them to control and manoeuvre independently of ground control. As backup commander Stafford had to take over the second of these flights, Gemini 9, when the prime crew were killed in an air crash.

Staffords fellow crew member, Gene Cernan, made history with a two-hour spacewalk, and the new controls enabled the pair to splash down just over half a mile (or less than a kilometre) from the recovery ship. Stafford then headed mission planning and software development for Project Apollo, playing a leading role in organising the series of missions that made the final moon landings possible.

Thomas Stafford, left, and Walter Schirra, right, splash down on December 1965 after Gemini 6 - Popperfoto

Commanding Apollo 10 during the final rehearsal, Stafford undocked from Apollo and, with Cernan, flew the lunar module almost to the Moons surface, returning eight hours later to make the first docking in lunar orbit with the parent spacecraft. There was no temptation for them to land, as they had insufficient fuel to take off again. During their return, with John Young piloting Apollo, the spacecraft reached 24,791 statute miles per hour, the highest speed attained by Man.

Following the Moon landings Stafford was appointed head of the astronauts, responsible for flight crew training and selection. In this capacity he played a major role in plans for a joint Soviet-US flight.

This was part of an agreement on the peaceful exploration of outer space made by President Nixon and the Soviet prime minister Alexei Kosygin in May 1972. It suited both superpowers, filling the gap between the end of the Moon race and the next developments in space exploration.

Thomas Stafford, left, with Alexei Leonov - Reg Lancaster

The two crews were selected and announced two years ahead of the 1975 flight date, the first time Russia had named cosmonauts before they had actually flown. Both countries picked veterans, since diplomacy as well as experience was required: Tom Stafford for the US with Deke Slayton, the only one of the original seven astronauts who had never flown, and Vance Brand, with years of back-up experience. General Leonov, who had made the worlds first spacewalk and had established his own power base in Russia, was named to command Soyuz, supported by Valeri Kubasov.

For the Americans, the first shock was that they would not dock as expected with a Salyut space station, but directly with the Soyuz spacecraft, with much less opportunity to penetrate Soviet space secrets. Many thought the docking would never take place, especially when Tom Stafford told the Russians that the mission would have to be cancelled, after they blocked his requests to go to Baikonur in Kazakhstan to inspect the Soyuz.

This alarmed his Nasa bosses, since 4,000 jobs depended on the mission. But the Soviets also needed it to go ahead, and the next day Leonov threw an arm around Stafford and said: What is the problem? Of course you can go to Baikonur.

The Soviets then produced their first-ever press kit  at 204 pages long, it was twice the size of Nasas  and a simultaneous countdown of spacecraft 10,000 miles (16,000km) apart began. Despite consternation when Deke Slayton told a news conference that the Soviets had a lousy political system and he wanted no part of it, the two-day docking finally took place.

It was not without some confusion, however, with Leonov rebuking Soviet Mission Control for their impatience, telling them: We are preparing to receive our guests. President Ford talked to all five spacemen, but congratulations from Brezhnev had to be read by a Soviet television newscaster.

Leonov, a talented artist, lightened up the political bickerings by drawing and showing to the cameras his caricatures of the American astronauts  including one of the bald Stafford as if he had a full head of hair  and the friendships they established played a major part in the subsequent gradual thaw in East-West relationships.

For Nasa, however, the celebrations at the end of a successful mission were marred by a mishap during re-entry when the exhausted American astronauts failed to operate some switches correctly, with the result that poisonous gases were sucked into the spacecraft. All three suffered blistered lungs and were in hospital in Honolulu for a fortnight.

When he left Nasa in 1975, Stafford began a new and varied career, assuming command of the USAF Flight Test Centre at Edwards, California, with the rank of major general. Three years later he was promoted lieutenant general, and sent to USAF headquarters, Washington, DC, as deputy chief of staff, research and development.

The 1975 joint Apollo-Soyuz mission crew: Stafford, back left, with Leonov, back right; front row, from left, Donald Slayton, Vance brand and Valery Kubasov - Bettmann

There he initiated work on the F117A stealth fighter and on the technology that led to the revolutionary B2 stealth bomber, and was a defence adviser to President Reagan. By 1990 he was chairing a committee advising on how to achieve President George H W Bushs vision of returning to the Moon followed by the exploration of Mars  a so-called road map for the ensuing 30 years of the USs manned space-flight programme.

When that work was completed, under the Clinton Administration in 1994, Stafford co-founded a technical consulting firm and became a director of six corporations, including the worlds largest hard disk drive maker. He also served on various Nasa boards, advising on problems ranging from the Hubble space telescope to those concerning the space shuttle and international space station.

Thomas Stafford was awarded many honours, and in his home town of Weatherford, Oklahoma, the airport was named after him.

With his first wife, the former Faye L Shoemaker, Stafford had two daughters. He later married the former Linda Ann Dishman of Oklahoma, with whom he had two sons.

Thomas Stafford, born September 17 1930, died March 18 2024
While UK's electoral integrity is intact it wants to work with other democracies to combat interference - Charlotte Graham

The UK is developing a tool for democracies to combat the deceptive use of artificial intelligence by foreign states like Russia and China as the world embarks on a major election year.

The plan to collectively fight digital threats was announced by Oliver Dowden, the Deputy Prime Minister, during a summit of global democracies in South Korea on Monday.

It comes in a year in which around half the world will go to the polls amid fears of malicious attempts to influence some results.

Mr Dowden said he was confident the UK election would not be manipulated by foreign states because we have such entrenched and strong democratic institutions, citing the Electoral Commission, the integrity of our political parties and cooperation with the private sector on cyber threats.

He told The Telegraph Britain must be prepared for where risks could arise and tool up for it alongside other democracies.

It is pretty well signposted that there are concerns around the use of AI in elections, particularly in the deepfake sphere. So it is right that we try and galvanise support around cross-governmental and cross-tech work rather than waiting for an incident to happen.

This year, around four billion people in 76 nations  the most of any year on record  will face elections, from sham polls in Russia and North Korea that cement the power of autocratic leaders, to free and fair votes that will be a stress test for even the most robust democracies.

From Taiwan to India, Mexico and South Africa, presidential and parliamentary contests will have a profound impact on human rights, the cost of living and the prospects for either calming tensions or fanning flames in an increasingly volatile world.

A showdown between Joe Biden, the US president, and Donald Trump, his predecessor, is widely viewed as the biggest global wildcard and could significantly alter the trajectory of US foreign policy on Ukraine, the Middle East and China, with far-reaching implications.

Such a politically consequential year worldwide has stoked concerns about potential attempts to manipulate voters through social media.

I think its a relevant consideration for all elections, and Im not just postulating on this  weve seen it, said Mr Dowden.

He said AI-generated deepfake footage of Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, was an example of what the world was up against. Last year, a heavily manipulated video appeared to show Mr Zelensky telling soldiers to surrender to Russia. It was debunked.

The British initiative is designed to be actor agnostic and not state specific, in order to respond to evolving situations.

Mr Dowden called out the usual four big states  Russia, China, Iran and North Korea  as presenting long-standing threats of malign interference, naming them as the greatest originators of those kinds of threats.

He added: Thats where the greatest cyber challenges emanate from, but we need to be future-proof and guard against where future risks may arise from as well.

The British concept of pulling together like-minded governments to jointly fight online attempts to undermine democracy is still in its infancy, but Mr Dowden discussed the plan with Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, who is also attending the summit in Seoul.

He said the idea was to build on a tech accord already agreed earlier this year between 20 leading technology companies to counter harmful AI-generated content meant to deceive voters.

The UK was trying to extend that to cooperation between governments to agree on principles for international action to tackle risks and to hold states accountable for using AI to interfere in elections.

Improving public awareness of the risks of deepfakes would be one of the biggest aims, he said, adding: They shouldnt take images for granted. They really need to question are they valid?
While there has been a longstanding debate over how involved churches and their leaders should be when it comes to public policy issues, a majority of Evangelicals only agree on two issues they think churches and their leaders should be very involved with  abortion and what is acceptable in public expressions of faith.



Everything else, according to a newly released report by Infinity Concepts, called Evangelicals in The Public Arena, is up for debate. The more religious Evangelicals see an issue, however, the more they are likely to support churches and church leaders public involvement, the findings of the study show.

Data from the study gathered in late 2023 and early 2024 from 1,039 Evangelical Protestants show 54% of Evangelicals believe churches and church leaders should get involved publicly about abortion, while 51% support involvement when discussing what is acceptable in public expressions of faith.

When Jason Yates, CEO of My Faith Votes, sought to encourage Christians to vote in 2020, for example, he presented voting as an opportunity for Christians to add salt and light to the political process.

Were called to be an influence in our culture, in our society. I often talk about the verse Galatians 6:10 that says as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, especially those in the faith, and I describe our opportunity to vote as an opportunity to do good, he told The Christian Post. Its not the good that the world necessarily knows or believes but its a good of who we serve.

When presented with 11 different public policy issues in the study, however, Evangelicals were divided on how churches and their leaders should be engaging on them publicly.

While 22% of respondents said they would rather not see public involvement from churches and their leaders on any of the 11 issues, 78% of Evangelicals support public involvement in at least one issue. And the more politically conservative Evangelicals are, the more likely they are to support churches and church leaders, being very involved in every one of the 11 issues tested in the study.

Of the 11 issues presented in the study, Evangelicals found the issue of what is acceptable in public expressions of religion to be mostly religious.

Election integrity and fairness, gun laws, the Second Amendment, the First Amendment and free speech, criminal justice and sentencing reform were considered mostly political issues by a majority of Evangelicals.

Racial justice, school choice, and transgenderism are largely seen as social issues by a majority of Evangelicals. Abortion, however, isnt as straightforward. Some 42% of Evangelicals say it is a religious issue, while 36% called it a social issue.

Evangelicals are also similarly divided when it comes to antisemitism, with 43% calling it a social issue while 38% see it as a religious issue. Donor privacy is seen as a social issue by 49% of Evangelicals, while 37% see it as a political issue.

The study also found that while a majority of Evangelical Protestants, 63%, describe themselves as politically conservative, 24% identified as moderate and 12% said they are politically liberal. White, high-income, and Evangelicals older than 55 were found to be more likely to identify as conservative.

Regardless of how Evangelicals described themselves, the study found that they all pray, attend church, participate in small groups, study the Bible, and consume Christian media with similar frequency.

The majority of liberal Evangelicals also believe abortion is sin (62%), and that sex before marriage (70%), homosexual activity or sex (70%), and pornography (80%) are sinful.

Overall, conservative Evangelicals view very liberal people in a far more negative light than liberal Evangelicals view very conservative people. Conservatives are more likely to use terms such as immoral, radical, evil, and the enemy to describe liberals, researchers noted.

However, there is evidence that the very liberal and the very conservative may be about equally negative toward their political opposites. The challenge is that there are not enough very liberal people in the Evangelical population to give us a robust sample of those individuals in this study, they added. Those who are right in the middle politically rarely have strongly negative views of the very conservative or very liberal.



Originally published by The Christian Post
The US supreme court in Washington DC on Monday. Photograph: Bonnie Cash/Reuters

The supreme court heard oral arguments on Monday in a case that could upend the federal governments relationship with social media companies and with lies online. Plaintiffs in Murthy v Missouri argue that White House requests to take down coronavirus misinformation on Twitter and Facebook constitute illegal censorship in violation the first amendment.

The arguments began with Brian Fletcher, the principal deputy solicitor general of the justice department, making an argument that none of the governments communications crossed the line from persuasion into coercion. He also pushed back against descriptions of events in lower court rulings, stating that they were misleading or included quotations taken out of context.

When the government persuades a private party not to distribute or promote someone elses speech, thats not censorship, thats persuading a private party to do something that theyre lawfully entitled to do, Fletcher said.

The justices, most prominently the conservatives Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, questioned Fletcher on where exactly the line is between threatening companies and persuading them. Fletcher defended the governments actions as part of its broader ability to try to reduce public harm.

The government can encourage parents to monitor their childrens cellphone usage or internet companies to watch out for child pornography on their platforms, even if the fourth amendment would prevent the government from doing that directly, Fletcher said.

The opening arguments from Benjamin Aguinaga, the solicitor general of Louisiana, argued that the government was covertly coercing platforms to censor speech in a violation of the first amendment. The suit, the culmination of years of a Republican-backed legal campaign, was filed by state attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri. Jim Hoft, founder of the conservative conspiracy theory site The Gateway Pundit, as well as other rightwingers, also joined the plaintiffs.

The government has no right to persuade platforms to violate Americans constitutional rights, and pressuring platforms in backrooms shielded from public view is not using the bully pulpit at all, Aguinaga said in an opening statement. Thats just being a bully.

Several justices, including the liberals Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, similarly asked Aguinaga what kind of government outreach over potential harms would violate the first amendment and which would be warranted. Kagan suggested that the government has historically interacted with both platforms and the press over content that could be harmful, such as threats to national security. Sotomayor, meanwhile, heavily criticized factual inaccuracies in the plaintiffs case.

I have such a problem with your brief, counselor. You omit information that changes the context of some of your claims. You attribute things to people it didnt happen to  at least in one of the defendants, it was her brother that something happened to not her, Sotomayor said. I dont know what to make of all this.

Aguinaga apologized, saying he was sorry if the brief was not as forthcoming as it should have been.
Northern Ireland will become a weak spot in the UKs migration policy if the Rwanda Bill does not apply in the region, a DUP MP has said.

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill aims to compel judges to regard the east African country as safe in a bid to clear the way to send asylum seekers who cross the Channel in small boats on a one-way flight there.

During a debate in the Commons on amendments to the Rwanda Bill, MP for East Antrim Sammy Wilson expressed his partys support for the sentiment of the Rwanda plan, but said if it was not applied in Northern Ireland the region could become a channel for illegal migration.

Amendments Mr Wilson said the party would support the Government in voting down included amendment one, which would ensure the Bill complies with domestic and international law, and amendment four which would allow the presumption that Rwanda is safe to be challenged in the courts.

Mr Wilson told MPs: We cannot go on with the pressures that mass illegal immigration puts on society, and the cost which it puts on society and on the government and on the tax-payer.

For that reason we will oppose most of the Lords amendments which as the minister has rightly pointed out and other speakers have pointed out during this debate, many of them were designed to weaken this bill, to undermine it and to ensure that it doesnt work and that we just remain with the old flawed system that we have been trying to put aside.

The minister has said that the reason why the Government opposes them  and hes right  that he doesnt want to see the Bill weakened, but could I say the Bill is ready weakened.

Its weakened in respect of one part of the United Kingdom, and I seek assurances from the minister as to how he comes to the conclusion that by pushing the Bill through in its present form it is going to safeguard all parts of the United Kingdom against illegal immigration being channelled through different parts.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson expressed his partys support for the sentiment of the Rwanda plan, but said if it was not applied in Northern Ireland the region could become a channel for illegal migration (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr Wilson said that Northern Irelands geographic separation from mainland UK by the Irish Sea did not mean the region was less susceptible to illegal migration.

He said: The implications of course are that if Northern Ireland becomes the weak spot in all of this then this becomes meaningless.

And people think the boats arent going to come from France across the sea into southern Ireland, its a 24-hour journey, but remember Belfast, already out of 77 cities in the United Kingdom, has the second highest number of illegal immigrants per 10,000 of the population.

So already it is a channel, through the Republic into Northern Ireland and then of course into England, so this is an issue that needs to be addressed.

He added: The real difficulty is and the real danger is if Northern Ireland does become that channel then well finish up not just with a border for goods, but well finish up with passport control for people moving from Northern Ireland.

Earlier in the debate, DUP MP Jim Shannon (Strangford) intervened to ask for clarity on the Rwanda Bills compatibility with article two of the Windsor Framework.

Mr Shannon said: Can the minister confirm that our concerns as the Democratic Unionist Party we put forward at the last debate, and I put forward to the minister himself, have been taken on board?

Because we dont see that in the legislation before us today, and if we dont see it then its going to be very hard for us to support the Government on this.

Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson replied: The Government continues to believe there is no incompatibility between the Bill and article two of the Windsor framework.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps accused Vladimir Putin of behaving like a modern-day Stalin after the election in Russia saw the president tighten his grip on power following the stifling of any real opposition.

Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said the election was not free and fair after early results on Sunday showed Mr Putin won nearly 88% of the vote.

The result, released by Russias Central Election Commission, would be a record for Mr Putin, extending his nearly quarter-of-a-century rule for another six-year term.

Mr Putin, who hailed his win as an indication of trust and hope in him, faced competition from only three candidates who had not criticised his rule nor his invasion of Ukraine.

All serious challengers were wiped out before voting began.

Arch foe Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

Meanwhile, independent monitoring of the election was extremely limited, with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) not invited to observe the three-day vote.

The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring. This is not what free and fair elections look like.  David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 17, 2024

Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Shapps said: He (Mr Putin) of course is going nowhere after stealing Sundays so-called election, where political opponents are either imprisoned or murdered.

Shockingly, at the end of his next five-year term he will have been in power almost exactly as long as the dictator Joseph Stalin.

Putin is behaving like a modern-day Stalin.

This is a tyrant the West must stand up to  we have the means, but  we need to show we have the collective will to win.

Lord Cameron tweeted: The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring.

This is not what free and fair elections look like.

Flowers were left outside the Russian embassy in London on the day of the funeral of Vladimir Putins opponent Alexei Navalny (Lucy North/PA)

Earlier on Sunday, before the exit poll, Cabinet minister Mark Harper also criticised Russias elections.

He told Sky Newss Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: I dont think people have any illusion about whether theyre free or fair, and its particularly reprehensible that theyre trying to conduct those elections in parts of Ukraine, which is the sovereign state which Vladimir Putin has invaded.

Asked whether the UK would recognise Mr Putins regime, the Transport Secretary said: We of course have diplomatic relations with Russia, but we make our position to them very clear about their invasion of Ukraine.

Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, a former secretary-general of Nato, said the West should not be intimidated by Mr Putin.

I think that Putin is likely to double down again, hell claim this as a boost for himself and an endorsement for the military action he has taken, he told the BBCs The Westminster Hour.

He said while western nations get spooked by Mr Putins threat of using nuclear weapons, we should not be intimidated by nuclear blackmail because he knows that we have got means of retaliating.

Russian nationals living in the UK took to polling stations on Sunday to spoil presidential election ballots in protest against Mr Putin.

The Russian Democratic Society, described as a community of Russian immigrants in the UK, organised a Noon Against Putin demonstration outside the Russian embassy in London.

It came as associates of Mr Navalny urged people across Russia to protest by crowding near polling stations at noon on Sunday.
Comedians Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett will return to host the Bafta TV Awards this spring.

The TV stars, who appear in reality travel series Rob And Romesh Vs together, hosted the annual awards ceremony for the first time last year and will present it again on May 12 at Londons Royal Festival Hall.

Beckett, 38, said: Romesh and I are absolutely buzzing to be back hosting the Baftas.

Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan attending the Bafta TV Awards 2023 at the Royal Festival Hall, London in 2023 (Yui Mok/PA)

Weve not seen or spoken to each other since last year when we hosted so it will be good to catch up.

Its a real privilege to continually get work together even though our friendship is fake and completely fabricated for commercial gain.

My teeth arent even that big I wear false ones so I can joke about them.

On top of that Romesh isnt even Asian he just pretends to be so he can do his mums accent.

Ranganathan, 45, joked that he thought he had done enough last year to be asked to host it solo this year, adding: Hosting it with Rob again is also an honour I suppose.

The nominations for all 47 categories in the Bafta TV Awards and Bafta TV Craft Awards, which celebrates behind-the-scenes talent in the television industry, will be unveiled on Wednesday March 20 at 12pm.

Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan at the Bafta TV Awards in 2021 (Ian West/PA)

Emma Baehr, executive director of awards and content at Bafta, said: Rob and Romesh were utterly brilliant hosts of the Bafta Television Awards with P&O Cruises last year, cementing their reputation as one of the nations most treasured comedy duos, so we couldnt be happier that they are returning to host Britains biggest celebration of TV on 12 May.

The innovation, breadth and quality of British-made TV is one of our countrys biggest superpowers, inspiring, entertaining and informing like no other medium.

We are really looking forward to celebrating the many talented people who bring TV to life on-and-off screen, and the must-watch shows broadcast in 2023, with the nominations for the Bafta Television Awards and Bafta Television Craft Awards out this Wednesday.

Ranganathan is a comic, presenter and actor from Crawley who has presented TV comedy series The Ranganation and co-hosted this years Red Nose Day on BBC One.

London-born Beckett is a stand-up comedian who has appeared on panel shows including 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

He is also the narrator of Celebs Go Dating and co-hosts podcast Parenting Hell alongside fellow comic Josh Widdicombe.

The star-studded ceremony will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer on Sunday May 12.
Rishi Sunak said he still hopes to get a flight carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda off the ground this spring as he braced for a parliamentary showdown over the scheme.

MPs are expected to reject changes made by the Lords to the Governments Rwanda legislation, setting up a battle with peers which could delay the Bills passage until after Easter.

Downing Street said the Government believed it had the right Bill and it remains our plan to get it through as quickly as possible.

Prime Minster Rishi Sunak said he remained committed to sending asylum seekers to Rwanda in the spring (Carl Recine/PA)

Officials are identifying and have identified the cohort of people who will be the first to board flights to Rwanda, No 10 said.

Were obviously continuing to work at pace on that, such that the first flights are ready to go in the weeks after the Bill passes, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said.

When the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill was in the Lords, peers rewrote it with a total of 10 changes which watered down the legislation.

With a Tory majority in the Commons, the Government will seek to reverse the defeats from the Lords, sending the Bill back to the upper chamber on Wednesday  a process known as ping-pong.

The Commons goes into its Easter recess at the close of business on March 26, with peers heading away from Westminster a day later, meaning that if the Lords maintain their resistance to the legislation it is unlikely to pass before the break.

But officials believe that will still leave just enough time for Mr Sunak to meet his pledge of getting a plane in the air this spring.

The Prime Minister said: I am still committed to the timeline that I set out previously, which is we aim to get a flight off in the spring.

Its important that we get the Rwanda scheme up and running because we need to have a deterrent.

We need to make it clear that if you come here illegally, you wont be able to stay and we will be able to remove you. That is the only way to properly solve the issue of illegal migration.

Weve made good progress. Boat numbers were down by a third last year. That shows that our plan is working, but in order to finish the job, we need the Rwanda scheme through.

The Times reported that the first flights were unlikely to take off before mid-May, and that Kigali wanted to test the policy with a pause of two months after it accepted the first tranche of migrants.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said we dont recognise that specific story but added: We are going to work with the government of Rwanda to ensure that there is smooth processing of each cohort of illegal migrants.
Steve Borthwick will begin plotting New Zealands downfall this week as he looks to build on Englands encouraging end to the Guinness Six Nations.

A stunning victory over Ireland in round four and agonising near-miss against France in Lyon on Saturday have generated excitement around a team that is now playing their most ambitious rugby for four years.

While finishing third in the table will hardly have set alarm bells ringing in the All Blacks camp ahead of the summer tour, the threat posed by Englands attack against two of the best international sides will have been noted.

Borthwick will head to New Zealand for a scouting mission on Monday, accompanied by head of strength and conditioning Aled Walters, who will also continue preparations for the first leg of the tour in Japan.

Ive got to go and put plans in place for where we are going to be and how we will do it, so that we prepare properly, Borthwick said.

I did Japan just before the start of the Six Nations, with a visit there, and then Aled is going to Japan as well, after New Zealand.

In a weeks time we will understand exactly where we are going with our training programmes, our locations, our venues, so we give the team the best opportunity to get the result we want.

Ill be taking the very best players that are available for selection at that point in time.

England head coach Steve Borthwick is bound for New Zealand (PA)

After a humdrum start to the Six Nations, England came alive in the final two rounds by scoring seven tries and only losing to France when Thomas Ramos landed a long-range penalty in the final minute.

George Ford insists the revival was borne out of their deflating nine-point loss to Scotland on February 24, a result that sparked considerable soul-searching due to the high error count.

Our mindset since the Scotland game has been to really go at teams with the ball in hand, Sale fly-half Ford said.

Be a threat, ask questions, fire shots, be that attacking team and be on the front foot a lot more. You have seen that in the last two weeks.

We had to front that up after Murrayfield. We had to make a choice. It was off the back of that game when we had to have a few honest conversations about things and decide what team we want to be.

We were putting bits and parts together, but we didnt have the feeling weve had the past two weeks. Weve probably made a good thing out of a bad there.

You never want to go through those situations, but when you do youve got to learn and come out the other end of them.

Were improving and theres a good base. We still need to improve on that but the pennys dropped in terms of what type of team we want to be. And how dangerous we can be.

We all play rugby because we want to score points and want to score tries. Youve got to do all the other things as well but were in a good place now  and we want to get better.
A college student who wrote a how-to terror guide on weapons and bombs dedicated to misfits and social nobodies has been jailed for 13 years.

Jacob Graham, 20, whose idol was US terrorist Theodore Kaczynski  the Unabomber, also spoke of feeling wronged by his college and going on a rampage, Manchester Crown Court heard.

Bespectacled Graham, using the name Destro the Destroyer, recorded dozens of video messages from the back bedroom of his mothers home where he lived in Norris Green, Liverpool, sending numerous manuals and giving instructions on weapons, explosives and poisons.

A student at Hugh Baird College in Bootle, he also blamed the Government for his unsatisfactory life, the court heard.

He was found guilty by a jury last month following a five-week trial at Manchester Crown Court of one count of the preparation of terrorist acts, four counts of possession of information for terrorist purposes and two of dissemination of a terrorist publication, between May 2022 and May 2023.

Graham was cleared of one count of preparation of terrorist acts.

Prosecutors alleged that while he was not about to commit a terrorist act or encourage others to do so, he did assist other extremists he communicated with online.

Mr Justice Goose jailed the defendant for 13 years with a five-year extended licence. He must also notify police of his whereabouts for 30 years, the judge ordered.

Passing sentence, he said Graham appeared to be an ordinary young man, with an interest in fireworks, military and outdoor pursuits.

Jacob Grahams house, in Norris Green, Liverpool (GMP/PA)

But he added: In reality, you are a dangerous young man, you described yourself as the first UK home-grown terrorist.

You searched the internet for information and files that explained how to make explosives, weapons and ammunition.

You offered yourself as a very knowledgeable and experienced terrorist.

I am satisfied, you are a dangerous offender.

There is significant risk to members of the public of serious harm by you committing serious, specified terrorist offences.

Graham showed no reaction, but as he left the dock to go down to the cells, he smiled at his mother in the public gallery, who had burst into tears as he was jailed.

Jurors heard Graham was motivated by a hatred and contempt for the Government, whom he perceived as tyrannical and oppressive of those he termed working class people.

An image of improvised firearm shown in the trial of Jacob Graham (GMP/PA)

He has above average intelligence and regarded himself as a leader, his probation report concluded.

He acquired a large number of instructions needed to construct bombs, firearms and ammunition  and sourced and obtained chemicals as well as a 3D printer.

He also carried out chemical experiments, the court heard.

After he was arrested on May 26 last year, police found a number of chemicals, each of which could be used as ingredients in various explosive mixtures, jurors heard.

Also found was a 3D printer, which had the potential to be used to print parts of home-made firearms, including the carbine FGC-9 MKII.

Police also found an online arsenal of information on his computer devices, including on the manufacture of deadly weapons and explosives, many of which could be made at home with basic skills and using materials or ingredients that could be gotten hold of relatively easily.

He wrote a guide he titled the Freedom Encyclopaedia, which was dedicated to misfits, social nobodies, anarchists, terrorists (future and present) who wants to fight for freedom against the Government.

The guide, written between September and December 2022, goes on to explain in detail how to make weapons, explosives, fuses, pipe bombs, gunpowder, nail and car bombs.

Graham claimed his activities were merely escapism and fantasy and told police he just had a strange hobby.

Frida Hussain KC, defending, cited the impact of lockdown and said Graham was aged only 18 or 19 when he offended, within his own home, and there was no clear ideological, political or religious motivation to his terror offences.

At the time he was going through a difficult period in his life, she added.
Rishi Sunak will pledge to create up to 20,000 more apprenticeships with plans to fully fund training for young people and cut red tape for small businesses.

The Prime Minister will set out a package of reforms he said will unlock a tidal wave of opportunity at a conference for small firms in Warwickshire on Monday.

Underpinned by 60 million of new investment for next year, the Government will pay the full cost of apprenticeships for under-21-year-olds in small businesses from April 1.

The move is aimed at reducing burdens for employers and providing more professional training places for young people.

Ministers will also raise the amount of funding that companies who are paying the Governments apprenticeship levy can pass on to other businesses.

Business groups have long called for reforms to the levy  paid by large firms with the aim of creating more apprenticeship places  with millions of pounds said to be going unspent and returned to the Treasury every year.

The change means that from April 6, businesses can share up to 50% of unspent funds, up from the 25% they are currently able to transfer to another employer.

Combined, the Government expects these policies to enable up to 20,000 more apprenticeships.

Rishi Sunak meeting small business owners in West Yorkshire (Molly Darlington/PA)

Mr Sunak said: Growing up in my mums pharmacy, I know first-hand how important small businesses are, not just for the economy, but as a driver for innovation and aspiration, and as the key to building a society where hard work is always recognised and rewarded.

Whether its breaking down barriers and red tape for small businesses, helping businesses hire more young people into apprenticeships and skilled jobs or empowering women to start up their own businesses  this government is sticking to the plan and leaving no stone unturned to make the UK the best place to do business.

Taken together, these measures will unlock a tidal wave of opportunity and make a real difference to businesses and entrepreneurs across the country.

The Prime Minister will also announce a 50% uplift to the thresholds that determine a companys size, in a move he hopes will make 132,000 more businesses qualify as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and avoid non-financial reporting requirements.

Alongside measures to streamline reporting requirements, the reform, expected to come into effect in the autumn, could to save thousands of UK SMEs around 150 million per year, according to the Government.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch will unveil a 660 million northern powerhouse investment fund at the conference (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said: Almost every job in the UK is owed to what is, or what previously was, an SME. They are the engines of economic growth for this country.

Whether its through cutting red tape, unlocking investment or lowering business costs, todays announcements show that this Government is committed to doing all it can to turbo-charge SMEs so that they can go further and faster than ever before.

Mr Sunak will also announce a new industry-led taskforce to bolster private investment in women-led businesses.

It will seek to raise a bespoke funding pot for female founder teams, who have received only 2% of equity capital investment for the past decade.

Barclays head of business banking Hannah Bernard, who will co-chair the panel, said it will address the significantly higher barriers female entrepreneurs face to get their businesses the support and investment they need.

Mr Sunak and other Cabinet ministers will mingle with business leaders at the conference, which will convene around 150 SMEs and business groups from across the UK.

Labours shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: After 14 years of Conservative economic failure, small business leaders tell us it is getting harder and harder to run a successful business.

All this ongoing Conservative chaos comes with a cost as under the Tories we have a seen a record high in the number of businesses having to close their doors for good.

With our Plan for Small Business, Labour will deliver the change that business owners need to prosper and grow by fixing business rates, tackling late payments, boosting exports and giving small businesses a fair chance at public contracts.

Labour is proud to back our small businesses and our plan is a serious blueprint to create the long-term environment businesses across the country are crying out for.
Tata Steel UK will begin shutting down operations at its Port Talbot-based coke ovens from Wednesday, impacting about 200 staff, the company has announced.

The steel group said it had been forced to make the closures earlier than previously planned because they can no longer be run safely.

Coke ovens are used to turn coal into coke, a key raw material which is used in the process of making steel.

Tata has about 40 remaining coke ovens, with many having already been shut down since they started running in 1981.

Tata confirmed in January that it will close blast furnaces at its plant in Port Talbot, South Wales, which is expected to result in the loss of more than 3,000 jobs.

Under the plans, its two high-emission blast furnaces will be closed, along with the coke ovens where closures were due to begin from July.

But Tata said it had been forced to cease operations earlier due to significantly deteriorating operational stability.

It means that about 200 workers employed at the Port Talbot coke ovens will be impacted. But it is understood that there will be no immediate redundancies and Tata is expecting to redeploy staff elsewhere in the business.

Once the ovens are shut, Tata will have to buy in all the coke it needs for the steelmaking process.

Tata said the condition of its coke ovens had worsened, making operation untenable (Tata Steel UK/PA)

Rajesh Nair, Tata Steel UKs chief executive, said: The performance of the coke ovens has been deteriorating over many months, despite some herculean efforts by the teams there.

The condition of the ovens has now worsened to a level making continued operation untenable.

We will now begin the process of safely closing and purging the coke ovens, and ceasing operations at the adjoining by-products plant.

The boss said he had always been struck by the spirit and camaraderie of the workforce there who have always given everything to the plant, often in very difficult circumstances.

He added: We have been clear in our current restructuring proposals that many of our heavy-end assets in Port Talbot are at their end-of-life capability.

As part of our efforts to stem our current losses, and given the condition of the assets, we propose to close the heavy end iron and steelmaking assets at Port Talbot within this calendar year in a phased manner.

Tata said it is investing 1.25 billion into electric arc furnace technology at Port Talbot, which will secure steelmaking in the region for the long term and help transition to a lower-carbon process.

Alun Davies, the national officer for steel at steelworkers union Community, said: The early closure of the coke ovens is a massive blow but we knew they have been deteriorating and our number one concern is the safety of our members.

Tata know the unions will not accept any compulsory redundancies and we are working to conclude negotiations on an enhanced redundancy and retention package.

Labour MP Jo Stevens, shadow Welsh secretary, said: This is another difficult day for our Welsh steel industry due to understandable safety concerns.

Those workers affected need assurances about their immediate future.

A UK Labour government will invest in our steel industry to ensure the transition to green steel is fuelled by the skills, talent and ambition of Welsh steelworkers.
Flowers have been left near the scene of a horrible incident where a devoted family man was killed trying to stop his car being stolen.

Chris Hanley, 57, died after being found unresponsive on Olympic Street, in Beswick, Manchester, just before 11am on Saturday.

Police say initial inquiries suggest he was hit by a black Land Rover car and the victim was killed trying to stop his car from being stolen.

Despite the efforts of members of the public and emergency services at the scene, the victim was pronounced dead.

A 35-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder and a 43-year-old man arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender are in custody for questioning.

Flowers at the scene in Beswick (Pat Hurst/PA)

In a tribute issued through police, Mr Hanleys family said: As a family we are heartbroken and shocked at the sudden loss of Chris, a loved and devoted family man who adored his grandchildren, tragically and unfairly, taken way too soon.

Residents on Olympic Street in Beswick, around half a mile east from Manchester city centre, said they were first alerted by a car revving its engine before emergency services arrived on the scene.

All I heard was a car revving, said one local resident, who asked not to be named.

He added: Thats what woke me up. I looked out the window shortly afterwards and saw some police cars go past followed by an ambulance. The street was full of blue lights.

One of the people who responded first, she was an off-duty nurse, she was the first person there and may have called the police.

It has been a bit of a shock, but no-one knows who he was, so we are all in the dark. Its not like you know one of your neighbours and he has been killed. We dont know who he was or if he was local.

Its a quiet residential area, we have a few Air BnBs in the area, making it quite noisy on a Saturday night, but Ive been here since 2007 and its been quiet and no incidents like this.

Another resident, who did not wish to speak at length, said: It was horrible. Im still shocked.

These houses are OK but we are surrounded by estates. Weve had quite a bit of trouble around here, more so than where I used to live in Longsight.

Bunches of flowers have been left at the roadside on Holly Street, at the bottom of Olympic Street, which had a damaged street sign, but locals said this was not as a result of Saturdays incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Smith from Greater Manchester Polices Major Incident Team said: At the centre of this investigation is a grieving family, who we will do all we can to get answers for.

Our investigation is moving at pace, and I have a team of detectives who continue to work relentlessly to capture a picture of what happened in the events leading up to this incident.
A Christian youth organization will soon launch an eight-week evangelism tour at elite secular universities, with the hope of reaching approximately 75,000 students with the Gospel.



The Christian Union, a nonprofit evangelism ministry, will launch its third annual CU Rise event on Sunday. This years theme is Jesus Disrupts.

Matt Bennett, founder and president of Christian Union, told The Christian Post that the theme was chosen to introduce students to how radical Jesus is.

We are doing a much more extensive outreach this year, including national media outreach, so in terms of exposure, we expect this will be our biggest year yet, said Bennett.

The schools that the campaign will focus on include Brown University of Rhode Island, Columbia University of New York, Cornell University of New York, Dartmouth College of New Hampshire, Harvard University of Massachusetts, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University of New Jersey, Yale University of Connecticut, and Stanford University of California.

Jesus ministered among the downtrodden as well as the influential, and these nine universities produce a disproportionate number of future leaders for the nation and the world, Bennett told CP.

Also, students at these schools are, on average, less exposed to the Gospel message than college students elsewhere. God loves all people and wants them to be saved if possible.

The campaign seeks to reach students through what Bennett described as a multifaceted plan incorporating digital media as well as on-campus events.

This will include promoting the Jesus Disrupts campaign extensively on social media, as well as offline advertisements placed around the nine school campuses.

There will also be student-on-the-street interviews asking youth about Jesus and religion, with these set to be combined into videos that will be posted on social media platforms.

Additionally, according to Bennett, flyers, posters, stickers, and shirts promoting the Jesus Disrupts message will be distributed at the nine schools, and evangelistic gatherings will be held.

Students today at the nations most rigorous schools are largely unaware of the most important message in the history of humanity, Bennett told CP. Jesus Christ has brought more good into the world than any other person, and these students deserve to know.

He also is the only one who can forgive sins and transfer us from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. We need to do everything we can to give these students the opportunity to believe in Him.



Originally published by The Christian Post
Ofcom, as the media watchdog, enforces rules that govern broadcasters in the UK.

The broadcasting rules do not allow politicians to act as newsreaders, and breaches were found by the regulatory authority when former House of Commons leader Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, minister without portfolio Esther McVey and backbencher Philip Davies acted in this capacity on GB News.

Ofcom says this violates the due impartiality rules that the channel signed up to.

Married couple Ms McVey and Mr Davies are no longer part of the GB News line-up, and last hosted programmes on the channel last year.

The issues surrounding a ruling that five episodes, broadcast on GB News broke these rules, are explored below:

 What is due impartiality?

We've found five GB News programmes featuring politicians acting as news presenters in breach of due impartiality rules.  Read our full statement here: https://t.co/PJsAXd8TNg pic.twitter.com/rcZgVlsx8k  Ofcom (@Ofcom) March 18, 2024

Ofcom states that news must be presented with adequate or appropriate impartiality, known as due impartiality, rule 5.1, which does not mean that there has to be a 50-50 balance but broadcasters should be aware of context and there are additional special considerations depending on the type of item being explored.

Another section of due impartiality, rule 5.3, states that: No politician may be used as a newsreader, interviewer or reporter in any news programmes unless, exceptionally, it is editorially justified.

In that case, the political allegiance of that person must be made clear to the audience.

Why is the issue of politicians presenting news contentious?

Ofcom says: The rationale for the restriction on politicians acting as newsreaders, news interviewers or news reporters is clear  politicians represent a political party or position and are therefore inherently partial on topical issues.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, pictured in Westminster (James Manning/PA)

 What did Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg say?

The breaches refer to five episodes of GB News programmes which include Sir Jacob Rees-Moggs State Of The Nation, Friday Morning with Esther And Philip and Saturday Morning With Esther And Philip.

An hour-long programme on May 9, which features Sir Jacob as the lead presenter, received 40 complaints, and Ofcom said it contained both news and current affairs and therefore was a news and current affairs programme.

This was due to Sir Jacob delivering this report: We said wed bring some updates about the Donald Trump civil case.

The jury deliberating in the rape trial of Donald Trump has found the former US president not guilty of the rape charges made against him.

Ofcom said the Sir Jacob was clearly delivering news and reporting a breaking story though it acknowledged it was a factual statement.

It also cited scrolling text which read: Breaking. Trump trial verdict. Ex-President found not guilty of raping in the 1990s.

The watchdog also said: It was immaterial that the story did not concern UK politics.

In another episode of the Tory MPs programme on June 13, Sir Jacob talked about fatal stabbings in Nottingham, which took place on the same day.

They were classified as a breach by Ofcom after five complaints as the former Commons leader provided an update about the attacks, which means he presented a news story directly to viewers.

This morning we heard the terrible news that three people were murdered and three more injured, following a series of attacks in Nottingham City Centre, he said before continuing and then introducing the news reporter, who was live at the scene.

What did Esther McVey and Philip Davies talk about?

Conservative MPs Esther McVey and Philip Davies (David Mirzoeff/PA)

The weekly two-hour discussion programme Friday Morning With Esther And Philip attracted a complaint after covering a range of issues including a teenager being sentenced for terrorism offences and the UK economy.

Ofcom said its reporting of the rail strikes and the Duke of Sussexs court case against Reach, which owns the Mirror newspapers, meant this was news content as the presenters said they would be providing the latest on this from our reporters on the scene; the latest news; and live reaction as it happens.

In its defence, GB News said that Friday morning was not an appropriate time to broadcast such a programme presented by two politicians, as it would be unavoidable for the presenters to discuss and analyse them as they unfolded and the channel dropped the programme from the schedule after the complaint.

On June 23, during another edition of the programme the husband and wife team talked about the junior doctors strike, Brexit, vaping at Glastonbury and a meeting at Downing Street.

Ofcom took issue with presenters covering a breaking news story when they said: Now, junior doctors in England have announced a five-day strike action for July.

There was also a banner on the screen saying: Breaking. Junior Doctor Strike. Five days industrial action announced the British Medical Association.

Ofcom also objected to them introducing a report with Ms McVey saying that GB News is live now to Downing Street to catch up with our GB News economics and business editor Liam Halligan.

An episode of Saturday Morning With Esther And Philip on June 13, attracted two complaints and covered a conference organised by the Conservative Democratic group, Eurovision and former Conservative MP, Andrew Bridgen, joining the Reclaim Party along with other issues.

Ofcom to carry out audience research regarding politicians presenting programmes. pic.twitter.com/XLZzButbqV  Ofcom (@Ofcom) June 12, 2023

During the course of the programme, they also interviewed London Mayoral Candidate for the Reform Party, Howard Cox, about a protest against the expansion of Londons Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez)

Ofcom believes that Ms McVeys introduction signalled to the audience that this was a developing news story, which viewers would get updates on, and she talked about her personal opinion.

She said: Howards top priority is to scrap Ulez, so lets go live to Orpington, where he is attending an anti-Ulez protest rally.

So well say you are the voice of the motorist trying to scrap these Ultra Low Emission Zones. Tell us whats happening with you now. Whats the protest about?

 What has GB News said?

GB News said that it is deeply concerned by Ofcoms ruling and will meet with the media watchdog to raise concerns about the chilling development.

The statement also said: Ofcom is obliged by law to promote free speech and media plurality, and to ensure that alternative voices are heard.

Its latest decisions, in some cases a year after the programme aired, contravene those duties.

GB news claimed that Ofcom has arbitrarily changed the test and this ruling was a chilling development for all broadcasters, for freedom of speech, and for everyone in the United Kingdom.

It said it takes its obligations very seriously and is committed to having politicians as presenters on the channel.

 Could there be sanctions?

GB News has been warned about potential sanctions if there are further breaches.

This could mean the channel being fined up to the maximum financial penalty of 250,000 or 5% of the broadcasters revenue, or having its licence shortened or revoked along with having to broadcast a correction or not to re-air the programme.

 Will Ofcom change the rules?

Ofcom announced in June 2023 that it is carrying out audience research regarding politicians presenting programmes after introducing this rule in 2005.

It said: Given the rise in the number of current affairs programmes presented by sitting politicians and recent public interest in this issue, we are conducting new research to gauge current audience attitudes towards these programmes.

This will be carried out by an expert research agency and we aim to publish the findings later this year.
Humza Yousafs comments about making Scotland Tory free are treating voters with open contempt, his opponent Douglas Ross has said.

The Scottish Conservative leader responded to remarks made by the SNP leader at a meeting of activists in Perth at the weekend.

The SNPs longest-serving MP Pete Wishart said he would not use the Tory free message in the upcoming general election campaign.

At the start of the year, Mr Yousaf said the upcoming election is the chance to make Scotland Tory free and, addressing the SNPs campaign council on Saturday, he used the phrase Tory free multiple times.

Humza Yousaf addressed SNP activists on Saturday (Mike Boyd/PA)

Mr Ross said: These insulting comments demonstrate the SNPs open contempt for the almost 700,000 Scots who voted Scottish Conservative at the last election.

Humza Yousafs divisive rhetoric shows why we are asking pro-UK voters to vote together for the Scottish Conservatives. If we unite once more, we can beat the SNP and end their campaign to divide Scotland for good.

The one thing Humza Yousaf is correct about is that in many seats up and down Scotland, the election will be a straight fight between the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives. He should suffer at the ballot box for pushing such divisive language.

We are calling for voters in those constituencies who are sick and tired of Humza Yousaf spreading division to back the local Scottish Conservative candidate so we can defeat the SNP and get the focus back on Scotlands real priorities, such as fixing our public services.

Ahead of an expected Westminster vote in the latter part of this year, the SNP has set its sights on wiping out the Conservatives in Scotland, aiming to win all seven of the seats they currently hold north of the border.

Jamie Hepburn (centre) defended the straightforward message (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Polling analysts have said the SNP faces a challenge from Labour north of the border and in October the pro-independence party lost a by-election race in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.

At the last general election, the SNP won 48 out of 59 Scottish seats.

Earlier on Monday, the SNPs independence minister Jamie Hepburn defended his party leaders remarks as clear and straightforward.

Asked on the BBCs Good Morning Scotland radio programme whether the rhetoric is unravelling, he said: I dont think so, I think its a very clear and straightforward message.

Mr Hepburn said: Its time for them to go and I think its a very clear and straightforward message.

POLITICS SNP

We know that in most seats the battle is a direct one between the SNP and the Tories, people want the Tories to go, we have the chance to get rid of Tory MPs in Scotland and make Scotland Tory free, and the way to do that is by voting SNP.

He added: I think if we look at the opinion polls, people are already coming to the conclusion that the Tories time is up and if people want to get rid of the Tories, as seems to be the case from the opinion polls, and thats certainly thats the sense I get on the doorsteps, then it is a very straightforward proposition.

On Sunday, Mr Wishart  the partys Perth and North Perthshire MP since 2001  said he would not be using the Tory free messaging.

Much as I will be doing everything possible to ensure that the Tories are kept out of Perth and Kinross-shire I wont be using this Tory free rhetoric as part of my campaign, he said on X, formerly Twitter.

However, the Scottish Tories pointed out Mr Wishart had already used the phrase in a post on X just over a week ago.
An 11-year-old Chicago boy died trying to protect his mother in a stabbing attack, officials said.

On March 13, Crosetti Brand, 37, barged into the home of his ex-girlfriend who had a protective order against him, police said Friday.

"This is something that should have never happened," Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling said in a Friday press conference announcing the arrest. Brand had been released from prison on parole the day prior.

The boy's mother, 33, was critically injured in the incident but was able to speak with detectives at the hospital in the days after. Another son, 5, was also present at the time of the incident, but uninjured CPD said.

Brand has been charged with nine felony counts, including first degree murder, attempted first degree murder and home invasion with a dangerous weapon. The state filed a motion to detain ahead of his first appearance in court Friday, and court records show he is still in custody.

"An innocent child's life was taken as he tried to protect his mother," Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said. "And a mother was attacked in what should have been the safest place for her, her home."

Previously: A Missouri law forbids pregnant women from divorce. A proposed bill looks to change that.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling speaks during a press conference Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at City Hall in Chicago. On March 15, he announced the arrest of a man suspected of stabbing an 11-year-old boy to death.

11-year-old confronted with assailant while leaving for school

Officials at the press conference said the boy was leaving for school when he opened the front door and Brand forced his way in.

Brand had been released on parole the day prior while serving a 16-year sentence for home invasion and aggravated assault. CPD said Brand had also threatened the woman when out on parole in October, which sent him back to custody for parole violation.

Brand and the woman had been in a relationship more than 15 years ago, and she had an order of protection against him. Additionally, CPD said Brand had previously been convicted of violating orders of protection against him.

The woman, who sustained multiple stab wounds during the attack, is pregnant, multiple outlets reported.

Detectives found video evidence of Brand running from the scene and the knife used in the incident, officials said at the press conference.

Brand's attorney information was not immediately available.

Foxx also spoke Friday, appearing to become emotional. She said she related to the boys, having seen domestic violence growing up and wanting to step in to protect the parent.

"A mother was attacked in what should have been the safest place for her, which was her home," Foxx said.

Boy remembered as a loved member of the community

Chicago Alderperson Andre Vasquez representing the North Side neighborhood of Edgewater, where the incident took place, also spoke at the press conference.

He said approximately 80 kids between the ages of 11 and 14 attended a vigil for the boy Thursday night, a sign of his popularity at school and with his dance troop.

The dance school he attended said he brought "the brightest light," to the group in a post on Facebook.

"His work ethic, determination and constant smile filled every room," the post reads. "We are incredibly blessed to have been apart of his life."

USA TODAY is not naming the boy out of respect for the family's privacy.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boy, mother fatally stabbed in attack at Chicago home: Officials
President Joe Biden signed an executive order Monday aimed at expanding research on womens health care, including strengthening data standards.

The president also announced more than 20 new actions and commitments by federal agencies, including $200 million for research at the National Institutes of Health. The White House described the investments as a first step toward a Fund on Womens Health that Biden called on Congress to invest in during his State of the Union address this month.

The executive actions follow first lady Jill Bidens announcement last month of $100 million in funding for womens health.

In remarks at a Womens History Month event at the White House on Monday afternoon, the president touted that women are not underrepresented in his administration despite being underrepresented across the board.

Were proud to have an administration that looks like America, with more women serving in a senior position than any time in American history, Biden said. He praised Vice President Kamala Harris, his Supreme Court pick Ketanji Brown Jackson and women serving in the Pentagon's top ranks, including the first woman confirmed to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Biden stressed that research has taken much too long" to address women's health care and said his executive order directs "the most comprehensive set of executive actions ever taken to improve womens health.

The president criticized Republicans who opposed the Covid-era economic stimulus bill called the American Rescue Plan that he signed into law, saying that its increase in the child tax credit cut child poverty nearly in half. He also warned that his opponents are underestimating the power of women at the ballot box.

Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade to support national ban on abortion have no clue about the power of women," he said, referring to conservatives who support the Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn the landmark ruling.

"Theyre going to speak out again in 2024 and send me a Democratic Congress that supports reproductive freedom, he added, referring to women voters. I promise you, I promise you we will restore Roe v. Wade again as the law of the land.

Carolyn Mazure, chairperson of the White House Initiative on Womens Health Research, said during a press call Sunday afternoon that there has never been "such a comprehensive effort from the federal government to spur innovation, womens health and ensure that relevant federally funded research works harder for women."

"This is a huge opportunity for transformative change and will help improve the health and lives of women all across the country, Mazure said.

She noted that although women make up half of the population, research into womens health has been underfunded and understudied.

While weve made tremendous progress over the last two decades, from revolutionary discoveries in certain disorders affecting women to increasing the number of women enrolled in clinical trials, we still know too little about how to effectively prevent, diagnose, and treat a wide array of health conditions in women, conditions that have different symptoms for women and men," including heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and Alzheimers disease, as well as conditions unique to women, such as endometriosis and fibroids, Mazure said.

The president and the first lady launched the White House initiative on womens health research in November. Jill Biden has spearheaded the effort by traveling across the country to tour research institutions and speak with women and health care innovators about the need to transform womens health research, Mazure said.

Jen Klein, director of the White House Gender Policy Council, said the announcements on womens health research build on the presidents call on Congress to invest $12 billion in new funding for it during his State of the Union address, which includes establishing a central fund for womens health at the NIH that, in part, will create a nationwide network dedicated to studying the subject.

The president is directing federal agencies "to integrate womens health across the federal research portfolio," prioritizing investment in research and innovation through entities like the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health ARPA-H and the Small Business Innovation Research program, Klein said. The effort aims to galvanize research on womens midlife health, including post-menopause diseases and conditions such as heart attacks, Alzheimers disease and osteoporosis, and "to assess unmet needs to support womens health research by identifying gaps in federal funding and requiring agencies to report on their progress in improving womens health, she said.

The executive order comes in the wake of widespread backlash over a recent Alabama Supreme Courts ruling on in vitro fertilization treatments that said embryos are considered to be children, prompting state Republicans to swiftly pass bills to protect the procedure.

Biden has repeatedly condemned the Supreme Courts overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling in 2022, and Democrats have made reproductive rights a major focal point in their 2024 campaigns.
The Biden administrations legal battle over social media content moderation will reach the Supreme Court on Monday, when the justices are set to hear arguments over whether federal officials violated the First Amendment by urging platforms to remove posts they deemed false or misleading.

Two Republican attorneys general brought the case in a challenge to the administrations efforts to curb misinformation online  an effort they described as a government campaign of censorship. They purported federal officials coordinated and colluded with social media platforms to identify disfavored speakers, viewpoints, and content.

At the heart of the case were attempts by the Biden administration to police online misinformation about the legitimacy of the 2020 election and COVID-19, when doubts about vaccines ran rampant.

The question is how you draw the line between government speech that is permissible and government speech that imposes coercive power on the platforms  or excessive entanglement, excessive cooperation between private speakers and the government, said Bob Corn-Revere, chief counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

And thats the difficult line that the court is going to try and draw, he said.

A Louisiana-based federal judge sided with the attorneys general last summer and barred Biden administration officials from contacting social media companies relating to any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.

But court watchers criticized the district court judges decision as overbroad, and in September, a three-judge panel on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals narrowed the judges order.

However, the 5th Circuit panel agreed with the lower court that Biden administration officials likely did violate the First Amendment by urging social media companies to take down specific content, ruling that federal agencies cannot coerce social media platforms to remove posts countering the governments stance.

At first, the 5th Circuit judges found that the White House, FBI and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention crossed the line into coercion, while the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and State Department did not. After rehearing the case, the panel ruled that CISA did overstep.

After the Supreme Court took up the case, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey  one of the two GOP attorneys general who brought the case  said his team looks forward to dismantling Joe Bidens vast censorship enterprise at the nations highest court.

The Biden administration has argued that barring talk between federal officials and social media companies limits the governments ability to address matters of public concern, prevent national security threats and relay information.

Of course, the government cannot punish people for expressing different views, and it cannot accomplish the same thing indirectly by threatening to punish private actors for disseminating those views, the Justice Department wrote in its brief to the Supreme Court.

But so long as the government seeks to inform and persuade rather than to compel, its speech poses no First Amendment concern  even if government officials state their views in strong terms, and even if private actors change their speech or conduct in response, the brief continued.

Tech groups have vigorously asserted their positions in amicus briefs to the Supreme Court, many arguing that the justices should steer clear of labeling them state actors because of their communication with the government.

They are private platforms. They have their own First Amendment rights. And just because they have been pushed into a corner by an administration and basically strong-armed into playing ball, they dont want to have that be the factor that converts them into state actors, Corn-Revere said.

David Greene, director of civil liberties at the digital rights advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation, said in a statement that there are times when communication between government officials and social media platforms is permissible, appropriate and even good public policy. But when the government crosses the line into co-option of content moderation, it becomes a serious threat to freedom of speech.

The Supreme Court must independently review the record and make the searching distinctions that the lower courts did not, Greene said.

The case adds to a Supreme Court term dominated by critical social media issues that could have resounding implications for online speech.

Earlier this term, the justices heard cases probing whether public officials can block critical constituents from their personal social media accounts and whether the U.S. Constitution allows states to stop social media companies from removing posts over their viewpoints.

Later Monday, the justices will consider whether a New York state official infringed on the National Rifle Associations speech by discouraging banks and insurers from working with it  a case that draws parallels to the Biden administrations social media case.

If the justices questioning follows current trends, the Biden administration could face sharp criticism on and some alarm about the governments relationship with social media companies.

During arguments last month over the two state social media laws, Justice Samuel Alito quipped that deeming what he called censorship as content moderation verges into an Orwellian temptation to recategorize offensive conduct in seemingly bland terms.

Justice Elena Kagan drew attention to the fine line between First Amendment-protected action and state action by citing former President Trumps account on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in arguments for the social media blocking case.

The high court issued a stay of the 5th Circuits injunction until after it decides the case on its merits, meaning administrative officials could continue contacting social media companies while the justices consider the case.

Alito, along with fellow conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, forcefully dissented.

At this time in the history of our country, what the Court has done, I fear, will be seen by some as giving the Government a green light to use heavy-handed tactics to skew the presentation of views on the medium that increasingly dominates the dissemination of news, Alito wrote in his dissenting opinion. That is most unfortunate.

But Corn-Revere warned that the issue before the court is not a partisan one; federal and state officials across party lines could be equally restricted by a ruling to curb the bullying of social media platforms into doing the governments bidding.

It is an effort by the Court, I believe, to lay down rules for what the limits are of the government being able to put its thumb on the scale, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Congress is beginning the week without a deal to avert a partial government shutdown by Friday's deadline -- as funding for the Department of Homeland Security trips up negotiations.

The Friday deadline is for the remaining six of 12 spending bills after Congress passed the first six earlier this month -- averting a partial government shutdown in the process.

This funding package will need to clear both chambers by Friday at midnight.

MORE: Senate passes 6 funding bills to avert partial government shutdown before midnight deadline

PHOTO: In this photo illustration on May 24, 2019 the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) logo is seen displayed on a smartphone. (Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images, FILE)

It was widely expected that negotiators would release legislative text for a government funding package by Sunday, but they blew through that deadline, raising questions about the prospects of a shutdown. Lawmakers are in crunch time to prevent a shutdown: the House has a rule requiring 72 hours for members to review legislation before voting; the Senate also can take a few days to process House-passed bills.

If there's no bill text Monday, that potentially pushes votes off until the end of the week or weekend -- increasing the chances of shutdown -- unless House Speaker Mike Johnson speeds up the process.

Congress has nearly shut the government down, at least partially, five times since October.

The hang-up, according to GOP leadership sources, is funding for DHS, which would keep the agency funded at current levels. That would essentially be a cut  a strong signal given the surge of migrants at the southern border and that immigration is a key wedge issue in an election year.

MORE: Immigration emerges as key 2024 election wedge issue for Trump, vulnerability for Biden

A major sticking point is funding for border enforcement -- something Republicans want more money allocated to after a record number of migrant encounters at the southern border late last year.

Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing for more money for pay equity in the Transportation Security Administration.

PHOTO: The U.S. Capitol building is seen from the base of the Washington Monument as the sun sets over the National Mall on March 16, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Talks on funding for DHS were already in bad shape last week and congressional leaders ended up proposing a full-year continuing resolution to fund the department. The White House threatened to reject the CR over the weekend, according to a GOP leadership source.

During the White House press briefing Monday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said DHS is in need of additional funding to do their jobs effectively.

"We believe DHS needs additional funding to deal with the security operations and much more at the border," Jean-Pierre said.

Raj Shah, a spokesman for Johnson, said House Republicans are working together to "reach consensus."

"House Republicans will continue to work in good faith to reach consensus on the appropriations bills that reprioritizes DHS funding towards enforcing border and immigration laws," Shah said in a statement.

In a letter Monday, the House Freedom Caucus -- made up of many of the House's most conservative members -- urged Republicans to dismantle Biden's "disastrous" border policies.

"A vote to fund this government without policy reforms is a vote for these policies," the letter said.

Sources says the other five funding bills are complete and agreed upon. The other bills include funding agencies such as the departments of Defense, State and Education.

PHOTO: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks during The Friends Of Ireland Speaker Luncheon on March 15, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Tom Brenner/Getty Images)

Asked about the threat of a shutdown during the press briefing, Jean-Pierre said the White House is "hopeful that Congress can get to the bottom of this."

"This is important. It's critical we keep the government open -- it's not just DHS," adding that many other federal programs Americans rely on will be impacted.

This debacle is the latest challenge for Johnson, who has worked to come up plans to avert several shutdowns with his party's razor-thin majority. He has had to rely on House Democrats' votes to prevent shutdowns -- something that landed his predecessor Kevin McCarthy in hot water with the party and contributed to his ouster last year.

Many House Republicans have not aligned with Johnson on his plans to fund the government, with many pushing back on his plans to use continuing resolutions.

At the Republican retreat in West Virginia last week, Johnson said he was confident they'd be able to avert a shutdown.

ABC News' Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report.

Government shutdown looms as Congress sorts through DHS funding originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A bipartisan deal to fund swaths of the government and avert a shutdown later this week is hitting a snag as negotiations over the annual Homeland Security Department (DHS) spending bill sputter.

The package initially planned for release Sunday would have included five full-year funding bills covering the departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and State, along with the Internal Revenue Service and general government and foreign operations.

Congressional leaders had also planned for a stopgap measure for DHS, seen as the toughest funding bill in the bunch, as deep partisan divisions remain in Washington on the border and immigration.

However, the timeline for the packages release is slipping after recent involvement from the White House in negotiations, Republicans say.

A source familiar with the matter said part of the dispute is that Democrats are pressing for more funding for pay equity for the Transportation Security Administration, while Republicans want more dollars for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements detention and enforcement efforts.

The Hill has reached out to the White House and Democratic congressional leadership for comment.

The development comes after a White House official told Politico on Sunday that Republicans wanted to underfund DHS after rejecting an offer from Democrats for an extra $1.56 billion in funding for border security.

However, Raj Shah, deputy chief of staff to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), pushed back on the report Sunday, saying this statement from an unnamed White House staffer is misleading and counterproductive to reaching a bipartisan agreement to avoid a government shutdown.

House Republicans will continue to work in good faith to reach consensus on the appropriations bills that reprioritizes DHS funding towards enforcing border and immigration laws, Shah added.

Congress has until Friday to pass legislation to keep various parts of the government funded or risk its first partial government shutdown in years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Given the ongoing challenges she is likely to face, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis may best help her prosecution against former President Donald Trump by taking a back seat after a scathing ruling described an "odor of mendacity" surrounding her testimony about a relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, legal experts said.

Crucially, Judge Scott McAfee didn't actually conclude that Willis had perjured herself or received a material financial benefit from hiring or dating Wade. However, he said reasonable people "could easily be left to wonder" whether Willis resumed a romantic relationship with Wade or was receiving financial benefits unless one of them stepped aside. Wade resigned later on Friday.

The Georgia case alleges that Trump and 18 co-defendants  four of whom have taken plea deals  participated in a multi-pronged conspiracy to steal the 2020 presidential election.

While Willis can still prosecute the case following the ruling, she may well face challenges to her law license at the State Bar of Georgia  even if experts don't expect those challenges to succeed based on existing evidence. She could also have to deal with other state regulators. Even before the decision, a conservative group asked the State Bar to open disciplinary proceedings against Willis and Wade.

"She survived today, she survived this opinion, but this is not going away," Andrew George, a trial lawyer and adjunct professor at the Georgetown Law Center, told USA TODAY within hours of the ruling.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case on March 1 in Atlanta.

"The scrutiny is going to only build and build because her presentation and Mr. Wade's presentation during this process were not convincing," George said.

Ethics challenges likely to come

McAfee himself alluded to the possibility of further repercussions in his Friday decision, which criticized Willis' "tremendous lapse in judgment" and "unprofessional manner."

"Other forums or sources of authority such as the General Assembly, the Georgia State Ethics Commission, the State Bar of Georgia, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, or the voters of Fulton County may offer feedback on any unanswered questions that linger," McAfee wrote.

That statement, coupled with his "odor of mendacity" comment, was "an invitation" for someone to bring up an ethics charge for lying, Ryan Goodman, a New York University law professor, said on CNN.

"I can't imagine that somebody won't take up that invitation  it just takes a group of lawyers to file an ethics complaint," Goodman said.

Chandelle Summer, a Georgia lawyer who has worked as both a prosecutor and public defender in the state, told USA TODAY she expects bar complaints against Willis will be coming in light of the case's high profile.

"It's such a politically charged case, I don't think they're going to leave any stone unturned," Summer said.

Special prosecutor Nathan Wade looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case on March 1 in Atlanta.

Within hours of McAfee's ruling, there were calls to go after Willis' law license.

"For Fani Willis to KEEP HER JOB on the Trump case, or even keep her law license after GPS data clearly showed she lied is INSANE," right-wing commentator Glenn Beck posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Unproven claims and 'unprofessional' witnesses: How judge arrived at DA Fani Willis ruling

Disbarment unlikely with existing evidence

Still, experts said Willis is unlikely to face disbarment given the evidence available so far didn't definitively show she lied under oath.

"If it were proven that she lied under oath, I think that would be grounds for disbarment," George said. "However, that would probably require more proof than currently exists."

Data from Wade's cellphone, introduced by Trump's legal team, showed Wade was in the vicinity of the condo Willis was staying in 35 times the year before Willis and Wade acknowledged a romantic relationship, including twice late at night. But Willis testified that Wade visited the condo before they were romantically involved.

McAfee said the cellphone data didn't prove when the romantic relationship started.

"Even after considering the proffered cellphone testimony from Defendant Trump, along with the entirety of the other evidence, neither side was able to conclusively establish by a preponderance of the evidence when the relationship evolved into a romantic one," McAfee wrote.

Summer expected the State Bar to rely on McAfee's opinion, which found the appearance of impropriety in the case, but not the existence of an actual conflict of interest.

"The State Bar is probably not going to get involved in this case in terms of prosecuting Fani Willis or Nathan Wade unless they can prove that the relationship existed prior to his hiring and that they lied about it  unless they can prove perjury," Summer said.

Lesser punishments possible

George noted that Willis could be hit with a lesser punishment by the State Bar based on accusations surrounding her conduct, which include not just perjury but also allegations of receiving financial kickbacks from Wade after hiring him for a lucrative position.

"It could be a temporary suspension, it could be a citation, essentially, a listing on a naughty list, if you will," George said. "It very well may not happen to her, but if she were to face any kind of negative consequence from the State Bar, that would be potentially very damaging to her," George said.

In this handout provided by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office, former U.S. President Donald Trump poses for his booking photo at the Fulton County Jail on August 24, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. Trump was booked on 13 charges related to an alleged plan to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Trump and 18 others facing felony charges have been ordered to turn themselves in to the Fulton County Jail by Aug. 25.

However, Willis and Wade fought back against claims of wrongdoing. They both testified that she repaid him in cash for roughly her share of expenses for shared vacations that were shown on his credit card.

And McAfee concluded Willis wasn't motivated to prosecute the case by wanting to get money from Wade. While the defense teams argued financial kickbacks could be an incentive for Willis to prolong the case, McAfee noted prosecutors asked for a trial within six months of the indictment.

Anthony Michael Kreis, a Georgia State University law professor, was skeptical that Willis would face any repercussions as part of the State Bar's disciplinary process. He told USA TODAY a lawyer is almost never disciplined by the bar without either a criminal conviction or an allegation of mishandling client funds, and perjury in particular is "really hard to prove," especially when trying to nail down and categorize an adult relationship.

"Whether that's a relationship or dating or just flirting, that's really something that's so subjective and so beholden in the eye of the beholder, that you can't really prove that with a kind of degree of accuracy," Kreis said.

Other investigations, election coming, appeal

Beyond any potential issues with the State Bar, Willis faces threats of unpleasantness  or worse  from other authorities in Georgia. She is already under investigation by the Georgia Senate, which solicited testimony earlier this month from the attorney in the Georgia election case who brought the original motion for Willis to be disqualified.

Georgia's governor also signed a law Wednesday to provide legislative fixes to a new commission with the power to sanction and remove state prosecutors. The commission could eventually look into Willis.

Although such investigations could bring further political baggage for Willis, Kreis didn't expect her to take any major hits from them.

"Unless there's just incredibly inculpatory evidence to suggest that she received some kind of kickback, I just don't see anything really coming out from that," Kreis said.

Willis also faces a primary election in May against a former prosecutor in heavily Democratic Fulton County, and if she survives she will go to a general election in November. Those will be added forums to keep the allegations alive.

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee presides in court, 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. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz, Pool) ORG XMIT: GABA123

Defendants in the election case could also continue pursuing the issue in the courts by seeking an appeal before the case has been fully resolved at the trial level. That would mean asking McAfee for what's called a "certificate of immediate review."

"It's a case of such importance that I think that the judge very well could grant a certificate of immediate review," Summer said.

Kreis put the odds at 50-50 that McAfee would allow that immediate appeal, but thought the appellate court was very unlikely to then take up the issue.

"Judge McAfee's opinion is written in such a way that is thorough enough and detailed enough, and the findings of fact are sufficiently in the DA's favor here, that there is a really minuscule likelihood that this will be taken up on appeal," Kreis said.

Should Willis remove herself?

Former Justice Department prosecutor Andrew Weissmann said on MSNBC that the way forward is for Willis to voluntarily recuse herself so that anything that happens to her in terms of ethics doesn't taint the case.

"I don't know that she has it in her, but I think she has to say, 'I'm going to appoint a chief assistant who's going to oversee this case,'" he said. "She clearly has no credibility with this judge and these issues are going to be taken up  and the judge invites these issues to be taken up  by all sorts of other Georgia regulators."

Several of the defendants, including Trump and Rudy Giuliani, are charged with making false statements and writings or conspiring to do so. The charges relate to different parts of the alleged conspiracy, including putting together a false election certificate to try to flip Georgia's presidential election votes.

George noted those charges, in particular, saying Willis isn't well positioned to lead the prosecuting team.

"It is very hard to avoid an appearance of impropriety where the prosecution team is led by somebody whose honesty before a court was found to be in doubt by the court," George said.

Formally recusing herself could create more legal problems for the Georgia case than it would solve by opening up questions about whether the entire DA's office needs to back out, Kreis said.

"It would basically concede that there was a conflict that she needed to step away from and that her office's power has been tainted by that," Kreis said.

Kreis said she could alternatively informally delegate responsibility to someone else to make all the big decisions and to handle day-to-day decisions, while still being behind the case.

"That might be a middle ground that she could achieve without running the risk of additional questions about the legal authority for her to recuse formally," Kreis said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump case prosecutor Georgia DA Fani Willis may still be in danger
At his fertility clinic in New York City, Dr. Alan Copperman has just finished one of several egg retrievals hell do that day. While Copperman has been helping people at all stages of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) processfrom preparing for egg retrieval to the implantation of embryosfor more than three decades, hes now relying on a new partner to help him make decisions: artificial intelligence.

We've gone from such a macro level, to using information rather than anecdotal experience to help drive decisions and interventions, said Copperman, who is the founder of fertility clinic RMA of New York and clinical professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai.

Copperman and his team of statisticians use a suite of licensed software created by Alife, a San Franciscobased company that aims to improve IVF outcomes through AI. The companywhich raised a $22 million Series A round backed by Lux Capital, Union Square Ventures, and Maveronsaid it trains its models on millions of de-identified data points from patient cycles to help clinicians and patients make decisions based on what has worked best for patients who are most similar, taking into account factors such as age, ancestry, weight, and existing diagnoses.

Alifes suite of AI-enabled tools is designed to cover every step of the fertility process. Its Stim Assist tool uses a machine-learning algorithm trained on 40,000 cycles to analyze a womans data. It then delivers recommendations, such as the dosage of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) a woman should take to optimize the number of healthy eggs before a retrieval cycle, and predicts the best day for retrieval. The idea is, by relying on the data and finding what worked for a similar patient, women can potentially save money on medicine and unnecessary future rounds. One complete round of IVF, including medicine, costs an average of $23,474, according to an analysis by FertilityIQ.

After the egg is fertilized to create an embryo, Alife's Embryo Assist helps labs streamline the process by grading and ranking embryos to determine the highest likelihood of success. The platform uses historical data from 12,600 embryo transfer outcomes in five U.S. clinics and an algorithm to rank the embryos. While AI is at the core of the software, Alife also includes an option for manual ranking done by humans, which allows clinicians to compare their rankings to the AI to see if they agree or made similar choices.

I think one of the things we keep hearing is how much there is confusion in the process, a lack of transparency, and not great resources, said Paxton Maeder-York, founder and CEO of Alife. A big component of what we're trying to do is work with the clinics to help enable more patients to be able to receive the best quality care possible at a more affordable price, so that more people can just have access to these important areas of care.

With more millennials delaying their family plans, same-sex couples seeking to expand their families, and insurance plans covering treatments like IVF and egg freezing, visits to fertility clinics are on the rise. In the United States, approximately 2.3% of infants born every year are conceived using assisted reproductive technology, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which releases a new report every two to three years about the state of fertility clinics in the United States. By the year 2100, the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART) estimates there will be more than 400 million babies born from IVF, accounting for about 3% of the worlds population.

Copperman doesnt only use Alifes software to help inform decisions for patients. He also uses it to streamline his staffing and scheduling to ensure he can meet the demand.

It's nice to know a week in advance that there are going to be 15 patients that are going to be heading toward an egg retrieval on Sunday, because you want to staff the weekend appropriately. Its also great in visualizing data in advance at various parts because certain people are scheduled depending upon when they get their period, he said. But once somebody starts, it actually bakes in metrics and helps divide their predictive algorithms so we can advance where your needs are going to be on a system level.

Building AI that works well across demographics

According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 42% of adults in the United States say they have used fertility treatments to grow their families or know someone who has, compared to 33% five years ago. Of those polled, 48% of white people were most likely to have received fertility care or know someone who had, compared to 26% of Black people. Even still, there are clear disparities across race and income that need to be closed in order to make fertility care accessible to everyone.

AI has shown tremendous potential across industries, but it can also exacerbate existing biases and disparities due to the lack of holistic training data. (Take for example, various controversies over the last few years regarding technology in health-related wearables.) Maeder-York said his team has been deliberate at building a database of de-identified training data that is representative of demographics in the United States to avoid this exact issue.

Working with the diversity and inclusion task force at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Alife team conducted an internal analysis to confirm it had a diverse database that could yield meaningful recommendations. The team looked at ancestry, BMI, types of medical diagnoses that may be relevant, and other factors to ensure the teams private data was an accurate snapshot of the people in the United States. Measuring for bias and inclusiveness in their models also happens to enable the team to conduct more granular research to help under-served communities.

We have a really unique data set where a lot of this data hasnt been collected broadly, so we're able to do really interesting research to specifically tailor to some of the health disparities that we see in IVF, Maeder-York said. Unfortunately, we know that minority women, especially Black women, have an 8% lower success rate. We can start trying to answer some of those questions and really tailor the algorithms and the treatment for those patients to help them have the best chance of having a baby.

Dr. Kylie Dunning, a reproductive biologist and associate professor at the University of Adelaide, who has authored research on the use of AI in IVF, said the challenge over the next few years will be for more peer-reviewed research that validates AI-assisted approaches.

Thats a real critical need for us to know if these approaches are actually better than standard practice to ensure we arent offering false hope, she said.

In the future, Dunning said she hopes to see more collaborative efforts between clinics, researchers, and other entities to standardize information and build larger datasets, which she said could make a bigger, better outcome in predicting success.

As Alife continues to grow its business and make its software available to more clinics, Maeder-York is hopeful that big data coupled with AI can help make that process a little smoother during what can be a financially and emotionally draining journey.

It can cost as much as $70,000 to have a baby, he said. Anything we can do with advanced analytics and to better our software to help more patients get pregnant faster at a lower cost is really the goal of the company.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The U.S. and China are both making enormous gains in artificial intelligence capabilities as the rival superpowers battle it out to harness the rapidly evolving technology for economic and military dominance.

While the conventional wisdom has been that America is a few years ahead of China in this race, Beijing is striving to close the gap, committing tens of billions of dollars toward its goal of becoming the world leader in AI innovation by the end of the decade.

The U.S. and China are in a heated battle for world dominance in artificial intelligence technology.

The U.S. is actively working to keep its adversary at bay, but both countries have their own sets of challenges to overcome in a competition that is far from over.

TIKTOK CEO REFUSES TO ANSWER IF CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS INFLUENCE OVER PLATFORM AS CONGRESS MULLS BAN

Doug Calidas, the former chief of staff to Sen. Amy Klobuchar, is a fellow at the Harvard Belfer Center where his research focuses on how the U.S.-China rivalry impacts American technology, politics and policies. In an interview with FOX Business, he broke down the state of the AI race between the U.S. and China, which he says both nations are "taking very seriously."

Calidas explained that in terms of policy, there are two prongs to America's approach. One is investing in U.S. capabilities to push the U.S. ahead, and the other is trying to slow down China. The U.S. is doing both.

READ ON THE FOX BUSINESS APP

America is actively working to restrict China's ability to get the most cutting edge chips and chip manufacturing equipment, and Calidas said the U.S. government has also started taking some measures to try to prevent China from getting access to the best AI algorithms and systems.

Although there has been a great deal of funding in this sector for years, he said, after OpenAI grabbed everyone's attention with its release of ChatGPT in November of 2022, "the money started pouring in for all kinds of VC funds and every company is now trying to be an AI company."

The release of generative AI chatbot ChatGPT and its capabilities sparked a flood of private investment in AI technology.

But in the public sector, "the federal government has talked a lot about trying to fund research and development  particularly for national security purposes  of evolving AI, [but the] rhetoric has been stronger than the action," Calidas said.

The high watermark was the Chips and Science Act that came out in the summer of 2022, and that was primarily funding for semiconductors because there was a concern that if we somehow lost access to imports from Taiwan, and possibly South Korea, the US would not have the ability to manufacture the most cutting edge chips. So, the aim is to produce them here at home.

WHY THE CHINA CHIPS BILL MAY BE A MISTAKE

There was also a big push to overhaul the scientific research and development apparatus in the US, he explained, but since that time, "Congress hasn't funded it very much, and it just shows that even if people care a lot about something, it's hard to get new money in DC for anything, including this."

Calidas pointed out that despite China lagging the U.S. when it comes to AI, Beijing does have certain advantages.

"China really doesn't put a lot of stock in civil rights and privacy rights," he said. "They can collect data from their citizens all across the facial recognition databases and all this stuff."

But he says facial recognition is probably the only area of AI where China is arguably ahead of the U.S. "We could probably catch up if we really wanted to," he said, "but we don't use it as much as they do because they use it for a lot of law enforcement purposes that we just don't agree with."

A display shows a facial recognition system during the 1st Digital China Summit at Strait International Conference and Exhibition Center on April 22, 2018 in Fuzhou, China.

Still, the US also has incredible data, given all the leading current systems were trained on internet-scale databases.

As for disadvantages in the race, China actually has a lot more onerous regulations on the development of AI systems, particularly with generative AI, according to Calidas.

ELON MUSK TO MAKE GROK CHATBOT OPEN-SOURCE, TAKING SWIPE AT OPENAI

Generative chatbots like ChatGPT are "terrifying" to the Chinese government, he said, because "one of the ways that Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party have stayed in power is tightly controlling access to information."

The risk of allowing Chinese citizens the ability to ask questions about, for example, what happened in Tiananmen Square in the 1980s, is not something the CCP would allow, so they have clamped down on the use of generative AI systems by the broader public.

Iconic photo of "Tank Man," the Beijing demonstrator who blocked the path of a tank convoy near Tiananmen Square during protests against the Chinese government in 1989.

Yet, he said, Chinese leadership has realized that if they completely clamp down on generative AI systems, they're going to lose the AI race, "so they have their own struggle."

"First and foremost is military power," Calidas says. "The U.S. versus China military rivalry is very real."

The belief is that fighting in the next generation or two is going to be absolutely transformed by AI.

Calidas pointed to the example of drone swarming. A few drones are easy to defend against, he said, but if a military has thousands of them and they are all moving in formation in real-time based on an AI feedback system, that is difficult to defend against.

Members of offensive swarm drone system fly drones to demonstrate skills during a ceremony to celebrate India's 73rd Army Day in New Delhi on January 15, 2021. AI-controlled drone swarms are considered the future of warfare.

As such systems speed up, he said, the ability to have more sophisticated AI systems integrated into the military is going to be a huge advantage, "So both nations want it, and both nations are terrified of the other one having it before they do."

Because many AI systems have developed so far in just a few years' time, the thinking is that the more advanced they get, they will accelerate the development even more quickly. "So there's a fear that if you fall behind, now, you could fall behind for the long run."

Military strength is based largely on economic power, and AI is expected to play an enormous role in economic growth over the next few generations.

Calidas says currently, China is ramping up its spending on AI and other emerging technologies, while the recent U.S. budget that came out for the federal appropriations for fiscal year 2024 "really shortchanged" investments in science and technology research, including for AI.

"If you care about the competition between the U.S. and China, then [that] really is bad policy," Calidas said.

He doesn't believe there are policymakers who specifically wanted to shortchange that funding, noting that there are a lot of competing items in the budget that people care about, so AI was not at the top of the list.

"Voters [are] not specifically thinking about science and research funding for AI," Calidas said. "But it's really important, and I feel like if we don't fix that and fund this stuff better in coming years  we're really going to regret it."





Original article source: Can China catch the US in the AI race?
Emergency Field Hospital Being Delivered to Samaritan's Purse Canada to Increase Global Medical Response Capacity

State-of-the-art tent hospital arriving in Calgary March 19 via DC-8 and 757 cargo planes

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Samaritan's Purse

March 18, 2024

CALGARY, Alberta, March 18, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Tuesday, March 19, Samaritan's Purse will transport one of its Emergency Field Hospitals to Calgary to increase Samaritan's Purse Canada's capacity to launch international, life-saving medical responses. The tent facility will arrive at the Calgary International Airport onboard the Christian relief organization's DC-8 and 757 Cargo planes.

The hospital will be strategically positioned in the Samaritan's Purse Canada warehouse and have customizable units that include an emergency room, laboratory, surgical facilities, and everything needed for inpatient and outpatient care in the event of an international crisis.

"As our world faces increasingly large and frequent disasters, all of our global Samaritan's Purse offices are committed to responding in Jesus' Name at a moment's notice," said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "Our emergency field hospitals have helped us save lives and bring the hope of the Gospel in the midst of crises around the world, and this facility will equip our Canada office to respond wherever God calls us next."

Since 1973, Samaritan's Purse Canada has been providing desperately needed relief around the world in Jesus' Name--including food, water, and temporary shelter for victims of war, poverty, disease, and natural disasters.

"We are thankful that the Lord has provided us with this resource," said Fred Weiss, executive director of Samaritan's Purse Canada. "We'll be able to deploy this field hospital along with Canadian disaster responders to provide expert care that will save lives and reduce suffering while sharing the message of eternal life through Christ."

Since its inaugural deployment to Ecuador in 2016, the Samaritan's Purse Emergency Field Hospital has been deployed more than 20 times and provided emergency medical relief to tens of thousands of patients in disaster-stricken areas including war-torn Ukraine, Turkey following a deadly earthquake, and Iraq in the midst of the conflict in Mosul. All of these deployments have included Canadian doctors, nurses, and other staff.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 19, at 08:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with media opportunities beginning at 08:00 a.m.

WHERE: Calgary International Airport 5107'53.4"N 11402'17.3"W (Along Aero Dr. NE--specific GPS pin provided upon request)

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

Interview Fred Weiss, executive director of Samaritan's Purse Canada

Interview Melanie Wubbs, who has deployed with the Emergency Field Hospital and helped lead medical responses in locations such as Haiti, Ukraine, and Turkey

Gather b-roll footage of the cargo planes as they taxi on the tarmac

Broadcast quality b-roll and photos of previous DC-8 and Emergency Field Hospital missions in addition to the unloading of the Emergency Field Hospital in Calgary available upon request

About Samaritan's Purse

Samaritan's Purse is a Christian relief and development organization that takes its name from Jesus Christ's biblical story of the Good Samaritan. Like that Good Samaritan, who found a beaten man and helped restore him, we aid victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. Besides emergency medical relief, our work includes Operation Christmas Child and providing safe water, vocational skills, and agricultural supplies and training to families in the developing world. Visit SamaritansPurse.ca for more information.

SOURCE Samaritan's Purse

CONTACT: Stephen Sneed, 403-975-7214, News@Samaritan.ca
Icelandic police declared a state of emergency late 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. 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.



The skyline of Reykjavik is against the backdrop of orange-colored sky due to molten lava flowing out from a fissure on the Reykjanes peninsula north of the evacuated town of Grindavik, in western Iceland, on March 16, 2024. / Credit: HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP via Getty Images

According to the IMO, it occurred close to the same location as a previous eruption on Feb. 8. Lava appeared to flow south towards the dykes built to protect the fishing village Grindavik, it said. Lava was also flowing west, as it had on Feb. 8. The length of the fissure was estimated to be 1.8 miles, said the IMO.

Minutes before the eruption, the agency had issued a statement saying that seismic activity indicated that there was an increased chance of an eruption.



"I've never experienced anything like that before," said Melissa Ezair, a tourist visiting the area who said she had just sat down to dinner with her husband when they heard the siren.

"We heard the sound go off and that's when me and my husband looked at each other, and they said evacuation en route."

On Sunday, scientists said the eruption appeared to be weakening and would probably peter out within hours, The Associated Press reported.

The eruption came after the IMO said Friday 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 had only been cleared to return to their homes on Feb. 19 after having been evacuated on Nov. 11, 2023, 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 Dec. 18 that spared the village.



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 Feb. 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.

Jim Gaffigan raises a glass to bourbon

"Jeopardy!" host Ken Jennings

Dozens of Americans back in U.S. after fleeing Haiti turmoil
One person was killed and three were injured after gunfire erupted Sunday, prompting police to shut downtown Jacksonville Beach, Florida, as it was packed with spring break visitors celebrating St. Patricks Day.

The gunfire  which erupted in three separate locations  began when police broke up a group of 250 to 400 teenagers who had gathered under a pier and were staging fights, Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith told reporters Monday.

It was just one episode in a spate of deadly gun violence that erupted across the country over the weekend, including shootings that left two people dead and five injured in Washington, DC, and three people dead  including the accused gunmans 13-year-old sister  in Pennsylvania.

The Jacksonville Beach shootings came after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis deployed state troopers to cities around Florida this month to help manage spring break crowds.

That decision followed a year after Miami Beach was forced to issue a state of emergency and midnight curfew following fatal shootings during last spring break season.

And in Volusia County last week, sheriffs deputies confronted and arrested a 16-year-old after he pulled a gun out in a crowd of spring breakers, according to a police social media post Thursday.

Heres how the gun violence in Jacksonville Beach unfolded:

Around 7:50 p.m., after police dispersed the crowd under the pier, two people near a Best Western hotel shot at each other. Both were wounded and so was a bystander. Two of the three wounded remain in serious condition, Smith said Monday. One of the suspects, who Smith said is known to police as a gang member, self-reported to the hospital.

At around 8:13 p.m., officers saw a man display a pistol and fire a shot as he ran by a bar. A foot chase with officers ensued, Smith said, but the suspect got away. No one was injured, Smith said.

Around 8:30 p.m., police responded to another shooting behind another downtown bar. A 21-year-old man was killed, Smith said, describing the suspect as a 6-foot-tall Black male with a short beard.

Because they were dealing with multiple unknown shooters and victims, police decided to issue an active threat alert, lock down all bars and evacuate the downtown area, Smith said.

Authorities issued a shelter in place order for the area that was lifted shortly before 11 p.m. The police department also brought in a SWAT team to help look for remaining suspects and escort patrons from businesses, Smith said.

No officers fired weapons during the incidents, showing amazing restraint and concern for the thousands of people running around them in the downtown area, Smith said.

Smith urged anyone with information about the shootings to come forward to assist police in the ongoing investigation.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNNs Amy Simonson contributed to this report.

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(Photo Credit: DANIEL LEAL / Contributor | AFP via Getty Images)

Actress Cara Delevingne has expressed immense gratitude toward firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department for rescuing her two cats from her burning Hollywood home. Reports say the two-floor California residence worth $7 million went up in flames on Mar. 15.

Although Delevingne wasnt around at the time of the fire, her two felines and a person staying on the property were in the house.

Cara Delevingne thanks firefighters for rescuing her cats

The Los Angeles fire crew arrived at Delevingnes burning residence on Friday shortly after 4:00 a.m. after receiving reports of the inferno, The Mirror reported. A total of 94 firefighters and 13 engines responded to battle the massive blaze.

Its reported that Delevingne was out of the country when the incident took place. For this reason, she feared the worst for her cherished felines when news of the fire reached her.

Taking to Instagram to share the devastating news with her followers, the supermodel-turned-actress wrote, My heart is broken today. I cannot believe it. Life can change in a blink of an eye so cherish what you have.

Fortunately, the fire crew managed to rescue Delevingnes two cats and the third occupant in the nick of time. According to Sky News, it took more than two hours for firefighters to contain the blaze, which left the mansion badly damaged.

Authorities confirmed the felines are safe and sound. A relieved Delevingne once again took to Instagram to applaud the fire crew for their life-saving efforts. Furthermore, she clarified her cats were alive, contrary to what she initially thought.

Delevingnes Instagram post read, 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.

Unfortunately, one firefighter suffered an injury involving a ladder as he tried to extinguish the blaze. Moreover, the person staying at the residence with Delevingnes cats was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation treatment.

The post Cara Delevingne Praises Firefighters for Rescuing Cats from Burning Home appeared first on CatTime.
CANNES, FRANCE - APRIL 17: Denise Richards attends the ' Paper Empire ' photocall during the MIPTV Media Market on April 17, 2023 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/WireImage,)

Sami Sheen is enjoying the beautiful spring weather as much as any of us!



The 20-year-old model turned her driver's side seat into a runway on a recent outing to the farmers market, posting a series of flirty photos from her selfie shoot on Instagram on Sunday, March 17.

She wore her brown hair in matching braids, leaving several strands loose to frame her face and offer an artfully messy touch to the look. Her makeup was relatively subtle with a swatch of pink on her lips and cheeks and a bold winged eyeliner with mascara. For accessories, she wore a pair of pearlescent drop earrings and a strand of faux pearls around her neck to match the white crewneck sweater she had on.

In the first snap, she looked off to the side with a gentle pout to her lips, while in the third she playfully stuck her tongue out at the camera. The second and fourth photos were posed similarly, with the camera held at a lower angle on one, as she offered a subtle smirk.

"farmers market day ," she captioned the snaps.

The new photos come just over a week after exiting her teenage years. The daughter of Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen celebrated her 20th birthday on March 9 with an oceanside picnic, where she cut into a pastel pink, heart-shaped cake on the beach surrounded by friends.

The sunset provided an equally pink backdrop to the sweet occasion, perfectly complimenting the theme of the evening.

Next: Denise Richards' Daughter Sami Sheen Pays Tribute to Her 'Wild Things' Role With Little Bikini
The wide road that passes in front of Haitis Toussaint Louverture International Airport has a post-apocalyptic stillness these days. Where cars and crowds of people once massed, only tendrils of smoke rise from smoldering piles of trash, sending a bitter taste into the air.

An armored police vehicle hulks nearby; the few police officers on watch cover their faces with balaclavas. This street looks nearly abandoned, as if in the wake of a disaster  an experience that people in Port-au-Prince know better than most. But leaving the city isnt an option this time; the airport, under siege by gangs, has been forced to close.

Since the start of the month, criminal groups have been attacking with unprecedented coordination the last remnants of the Haitian state  the airport, police stations, government buildings, the National Penitentiary. The culmination of years of growing gang control and popular unrest, their joint assault forced Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign last week, a stunning capitulation that has nevertheless proven futile in restoring calm.

Port-au-Princes gangs are still choking off the supply of food, fuel and water across the city. Perhaps the last functional part of the state, Haitis National Police, continue to fight, battling to reclaim ground block by block across the city. But the very life of the city they are fighting for seems to be waning, as intensive urban warfare grinds down on basic human ties.

The social fabric is fraying as businesses and schools stay shuttered. Many residents self-isolate, afraid to leave their homes. Some have turned to vigilantism. Fear, mistrust, and anger reign. Death is on everyones mind.

Vigilante justice, approved by the police

In the Port-au-Prince neighborhood of Canape Vert on Monday, crowds seized a man they accused of belonging to a nearby gang  forcing him to walk down the road toward a cemetery before killing him and setting his body on fire in the street, sources in the community told CNN.

Videos seen by CNN showed remains smoking on the pavement in front of a shuttered supermarket, adding to a stretch of thick black soot. At this corner, the indelible mark of extrajudicial executions is all that remains of hundreds of suspected criminals killed by residents, their bodies disposed of by flame according to a local security source.

Gangs have long haunted the residents of Port-au-Prince, but their reach has dramatically expanded over recent years, covering 80% of the city today, according to UN estimates. Seeing their city shrinking, many Haitians in this region and beyond have organized among themselves in a vigilante movement known as bwa kale.

The anti-gang movement has seen communities form neighborhood defense committees with shared fortifications, surveillance systems, checkpoints and even patrols.

Their solidarity is effective; in 2023, for example, several areas of the citys hilly residential areas joined forces with local police to push back the Ti Makak gang, ultimately expelling it from the area entirely, according local sources and a February 2024 report by the Swiss-based Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

But the line between defense and mob justice is easily crossed. Vigilante groups have also lynched hundreds of people suspected of gang membership or common crimes, according to an October 2023 United Nations report.

Speaking to CNN in a car-filled lot next to a church, whose open doors revealed a wedding in progress, one militia member told CNN that his group had repelled repeated gang attempts to seize Canape Vert.

This is the way the gangs operate: they take over areas with big businesses and force them to pay them while they remain in control, he said, noting that the area contains several high-profile businesses, including two national cellular companies and a major hotel. He spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity out of concerns for his safety.

We constantly receive threats; they say they will come and attack us, destroy the neighborhood. So we block the streets and the police to do the searches; no civilians are involved in searching cars, he added. The militia is armed only with machetes and our bare hands, he said.

People apprehended by these vigilante groups are often accused of being spies for the gangs, according to a local security source.

The bandits send the spy on a motorcycle to come see if theres a barricade in the road, and how many people are manning it. But if someone comes looking suspicious, theyll question him, find out who he is, check his telephone. If he has messages with bandits, they have to take him, the source said. Then they burn them.

Its not a war, he emphasizes. The neighborhood is trying to protect itself. But he recognizes that theres no judicial process for those.

Local police meanwhile tell CNN that they know the militia well and even rely on them, with one commander crediting the group with saving the Canape Vert police station from a particularly intense gang attack last spring. Over a dozen suspected gang members in that instance were killed and burned outside the police station, according to the commander, who requested anonymity for his security.

Refugees in their own city

Just five minutes away by car, another community is trying desperately to hold together in even more trying conditions: a displacement camp  one of dozens of sites across the city where tens of thousands of city residents congregate, after being forced from their homes by violence and arson.

Marie Maurice, 56, had seen the gang take territory closer and closer; on February 29, when the warning came of an imminent gang attack, she didnt waste any time. She left all her belongings behind and fled with the others nearly an hour on foot to the public Argentine Bellegarde school for shelter, she said.

Nearly three weeks weeks later, children here fly kites made of discarded foil and plastic, drive homemade toy cars cut from empty soda cans, with bottle caps for wheels and stones for passengers.

The adults also make a show of normalcy, but with a sense of futility; theyve elected a leader to liaise with local police and to advocate for aid organizations to bring food and water, for example, but little aid has actually come due to roadblocks across the city.

Maurice tries to keep her familys little corner of the crowded space clean, washing the floor with water that she has to walk 20 minutes to purchase. But no one in her family has enough to eat or even space to cook, living off a shared bite or piece of street food each day. Even a mint might count as a meal, she told CNN.

On the day we met her, she hadnt eaten at all.

Beyond the difficulty of daily survival, several residents of the camp say they know theyve worn out their welcome and that relations are worsening with their neighbors. There have been clashes with locals anxious for them to move on, fearing that the influx of outsiders could attract gang attention.

Anticipating the effects of dwindling resources and worsening violence, the International Organization for Migration has repeatedly warned of a sharpening climate of mistrust in Haiti that would fray traditional social safety nets, leaving people with nowhere to go.

High levels of insecurity are creating a climate of mistrust between certain host communities and displaced populations, thus deteriorating social cohesion, the organization said in an August 2023 report, which also noted that more and more displaced Haitians are ending up in such camps rather than relying on friends and family.

The little school where Maurice lives is already far past capacity. But every day, more people join them from other parts of the city, further straining what few resources the site provides  the buildings septic tank is full and the toilets backed up, one resident showed CNN. Its water cistern is nearly dry.

Today, 1,575 people are now living packed into the grid of open-air classrooms  just a handful compared to the over 360,000 who have been displaced across the country according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Divided by fear

Port-au-Prince has been terrorized for years by frequent kidnappings, torture, and rape by the gangs. But today, as Haitis elite haggles over the composition of a presidential transitional council  and the international community remains unwilling to intervene  talk of a political solution sounds more than ever like wishful thinking as long as gunshots ring out in the evenings, puncturing the citys hush.

The proliferation of police, gang and civilian checkpoints meanwhile is fracturing Haitis capital into wary and anxious fiefdoms. Increasingly, the only thing that everyone shares is trauma.

Marie-Suze Saint Charles, 47, says her own sons are too terrified of the constant violence to even visit her in the hospital, where she is recovering from a shooting on March 1 that shattered her leg, after being attacked on her way back from work.

One son, 17, was also shot and is in a different hospital. Her other sons  eight and thirteen years old  refuse to leave the house. She is not sure who, if anyone, is feeding them.

They are scared of the street, she told CNN from her hospital bed. They dont even want to come see me. They are too scared to go outside.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Martin Coulter

(Reuters) -Apple is in talks to build Google's Gemini artificial intelligence engine into the iPhone, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the situation.

The negotiations are about licensing Gemini for some new features coming to the iPhone software this year, the report said, adding that the terms or branding of an AI agreement or how it would be implemented have not been decided.

Alphabet shares jumped more than 6% in early U.S. trading, while Apple was up 2.5%.

It is unlikely that any deal would be announced until June, when Apple plans to hold its annual conference of developers, and the iPhone maker also recently held talks with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI about using its model, according to the report.

Apple, Alphabet-owned Google and OpenAI did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

A potential deal between the firms could help Google expand the use of its AI services to more than 2 billion active Apple devices, boosting the search giant's efforts to catch up with Microsoft-backed OpenAI.

It could also help allay investor fears about the slow roll-out of AI apps by Apple, which has lost the crown of the world's most valuable firm after a 10% decline in its shares this year.

The firms have a years-long partnership that makes Google the default search engine on Apple's Safari web browser, and a genAI tie-up may help the Alphabet unit navigate fears that services like ChatGPT could threaten its search dominance.

But the agreement could also invite sharper scrutiny from U.S. regulators, who have sued Google on grounds that it unlawfully stifled competition by paying billions of dollars to Apple to maintain its monopoly in search.

"This strategic partnership is a missing piece in the Apple AI strategy and combines forces with Google for Gemini to power some of the AI features Apple is bringing to market," said Daniel Ives, an analyst at Wedbush.

"This is a major win for Google to get onto the Apple ecosystem and have access to the golden installed base of Cupertino with clearly a major licence fee attached to this," he said, referring to Apple's California headquarters.

Google in January partnered with Apple's rival Samsung to deploy its genAI technology in the South Korean firm's Galaxy S24 series of smartphones, as part of its efforts to boost the use of Gemini after some missteps during its roll-out.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said last month that the company was investing "significantly" in generative AI and would reveal more about its plans to put the technology to use later this year.

The Bloomberg report said Apple was planning to use its own homegrown AI models for some new capabilities in its upcoming iOS 18, but was seeking a partner to power genAI features, including functions for creating images and writing essays based on simple prompts.

(Reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza, Janane Venkatraman, Varun H K and Susan Fenton)
By Trevor Hunnicutt, Doina Chiacu and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday that an Israeli military operation in Rafah would deepen anarchy in Gaza and they agreed that teams from each side would meet in Washington to discuss it, the White House said.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters the two countries would have a comprehensive discussion on the way forward in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis is raging after six months of fighting.

The meeting could happen this week or next, Sullivan said, and no Rafah operation would proceed before the talks.

"Anarchy reigns in areas that Israel's military has cleared, but not stabilized" in Gaza and a humanitarian crisis would deepen if Israel were to go ahead with an offensive in Rafah, Sullivan said, summarizing Biden's message to Netanyahu.

"We've had many discussions in many different levels between our military, our intelligence, our diplomats or humanitarian experts, but we have not yet had the opportunity to have an all-encompassing comprehensive, integrated, strategic discussion...," he said.

The two leaders have had increasingly tense relations over Gaza. Sullivan described the conversation as "businesslike" and said it did not end abruptly. Biden did not threaten to limit U.S. aid to Israel, he said.

Biden told Netanyahu that he needs a coherent strategy for Gaza, Sullivan said, "rather than Israel go smashing into Rafah." He reiterated U.S. support for the Israeli effort to destroy Hamas militants who attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7.

Sullivan also confirmed that Marwan Issa, the No.3 leader within Hamas' ranks, was killed in an Israeli operation last week. Hamas has not commented.

The call was the first between the two leaders since Feb. 15 and comes amid sharp tensions between Israel and its most steadfast ally over Netanyahu's handling of the war in Gaza.

Netanyahu said the two men discussed Israel's commitment to achieve all the targets it had set out for the war: eliminating Hamas, releasing all the hostages and ensuring Gaza would no longer pose a threat to Israel.

This would be done "while providing the necessary humanitarian aid that helps achieve those goals," he said in a statement.

In a speech on Thursday, Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer, a longtime supporter of Israel and the highest-ranking Jewish elected official, called for new elections in Israel and said Netanyahu was an obstacle to peace.

Biden praised the speech the following day and said that Schumer had echoed the concerns of many Americans.

Netanyahu responded harshly on Sunday, telling CNN in an interview that Schumer's speech was "totally inappropriate".

Netanyahu reaffirmed to a cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israeli forces would thrust into Rafah, the last relatively safe place in the tiny, crowded enclave, despite international pressure for Israel to avoid further civilian casualties.

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Doina Chiacu and Steve Holland, writing by David Ljunggren; Editing by Susan Heavey, Alex Richardson, Heather Timmons, Cynthia Osterman and Deepa Babington)
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese military and state-run media on Sunday accused the United States of threatening global security, days after a Reuters report which found Elon Musk's SpaceX was building hundreds of spy satellites for a U.S. intelligence agency.

SpaceX's Starshield unit is developing the satellite network under a classified $1.8 billion contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Reuters reported on Friday, citing five sources familiar with the programme.

A social media account run by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said the SpaceX program exposed the United States' "shamelessness and double standards" as Washington accuses Chinese tech companies of threatening U.S. security.

"We urge U.S. companies to not help a villain do evil," Junzhengping, an account run by the PLA, posted on social media platform Weibo on Sunday. The account has 1.1 million followers.

"All countries worldwide should be vigilant and protect against new and even bigger security threats created by the U.S. government," the post said.

Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge, a magazine overseen by the ruling Communist Party, was quoted in an interview as saying the SpaceX satellite project posed "a challenge to global security and stability".

"The United States' high-profile intelligence reconnaissance of countries or regions it is concerned about will inevitably cause some hot issues to become more sensitive or even escalate," Wang told The Global Times, a Chinese state-controlled newspaper, in an interview published on Sunday.

Musk runs other companies including electric vehicle maker Tesla that has a large manufacturing presence in China. Neither Junzhengping or the Global Times mentioned Musk or Tesla.

In response to the Reuters' story, the NRO acknowledged its mission to develop space-based surveillance systems, but declined to comment on the extent of SpaceX's involvement.

SpaceX, the world's largest satellite operator, did not respond to several requests for comment about the contract.

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.

Chinese researchers in the PLA have over the past two years studied the deployment of Starlink in the war in Ukraine and repeatedly warned about the risks it poses to China.

China has said it also plans to start building its own satellite constellations.

Space X, NRO, and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on China's reaction to the contract.

(Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Joe Brock and Miral Fahmy)
MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Kremlin said on Monday that President Vladimir Putin's re-election showed the Russian people were consolidated around him and that Moscow was not interested in Washington's criticism as the United States was de-facto at war with Russia in Ukraine.

Putin won 87%, or 76 million votes, by far the biggest landslide in post-Soviet Russian history, according to official results after nearly all the votes had been counted. Turnout was more than 77%, also the biggest in Russia's post-Soviet history.

"This is the most eloquent confirmation of the level of support from the population of the country for its president, and its consolidation around him," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

The White House said the Russian elections were "obviously not free nor fair" as Putin had imprisoned his opponents and prevented others from running against him.

"We strongly disagree with this assessment from the United States," Peskov said.

"Such assessments are expected and predictable, given that de-facto the United States is a country deeply involved in the war in Ukraine. This is a country that is, in fact, at war with us."

"This is not an opinion that we are ready to listen to and that is even important to us."

Peskov said that if the West wanted to talk about the illegitimacy of the Russian election it would be suggesting that the 87% of votes cast for Putin were illegitimate, something he said would be ridiculous.

"This is absurd," Peskov said.

Asked about calls from some Russian opposition activists to declare the Russian election illegitimate, Peskov said that people such as Alexei Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, had lost touch with Russia.

"There are a lot of people who have completely broken away from their homeland. The Yulia Navalnaya that you mentioned is moving more and more into this camp of people," Peskov said.

He said such people "lose their roots, ties with their homeland, lose understanding of their homeland and stop feeling the pulse of their country."

(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
By Dave Sherwood

HAVANA (Reuters) -Hundreds in Cuba's second-largest city, Santiago, engaged in a rare public protest on Sunday, according to social media and official reports, prompting Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel to call for dialogue in an "atmosphere of tranquility and peace."

Protesters in Santiago took to the streets with chants of "power and food," according to videos posted on social media, as blackouts in places extended for 18 hours or more a day, jeopardizing frozen food and ratcheting up tensions on the island.

Cuba has fallen into a near unprecedented economic crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic, with vast shortages of food, fuel and medicine stoking a record-breaking exodus that has seen upwards of 400,000 people migrate to the United States.

Diaz-Canel confirmed the Santiago protest on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, shortly after the rally concluded.

"Several people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation of electrical service and food distribution," Diaz-Canel said. "The disposition of the authorities of the Party, the State and the Government is to attend to the complaints of our people, listen, dialogue, explain the numerous efforts that are being carried out to improve the situation, always in an atmosphere of tranquility and peace."

Diaz-Canel also said "terrorists" from the United States were seeking to foment further uprisings.

"This context will be taken advantage of by the enemies of the Revolution, for destabilizing purposes," Diaz-Canel said on X.

Police had arrived in Santiago to "control the situation" and to "prevent violence," according to an account posted on social media by state-run CubaDebate.

It was not immediately clear whether anyone had been arrested during the protest.

Beatriz Johnson, a Santiago Communist Party official, said protesters in the eastern Cuban city had been "respectful" and had listened "attentively" to the government's explanations of food and electricity shortages.

Videos on social media suggest the rally was peaceful.

The Cuban capital, Havana, and outlying neighborhoods surveyed by Reuters appeared calm late into Sunday evening. Reuters could not immediately confirm the veracity of videos on social media of alleged protests in other Cuban cities.

The U.S. embassy in Havana said it was monitoring the protests in Santiago and elsewhere.

"We urge the Cuban government to respect the human rights of the protesters and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban people," the embassy said on X.

Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez blasted the U.S. Embassy comments late on Sunday, blaming Cuba's "acute economic situation" on the long-standing U.S. trade embargo and sanctions.

"The US Government, especially its embassy in #Cuba, must refrain from interfering in the country's internal affairs and inciting social disorder," Rodriguez said on X.

Protests on the island are exceedingly rare but have cropped up more often in recent years as economic crisis rocks the country.

Although the Cuba's 2019 constitution grants citizens the right to protest, a law more specifically defining that right is stalled in the legislature, leaving those who take to the street in legal limbo.

Rights groups, the European Union and the United States have critiqued Cuba's response to anti-government protests more than two years earlier on July 11, 2021 - the largest since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution - as heavy-handed and repressive.

Cuba's government said those jailed were guilty of assault, vandalism and sedition.

(Reporting by Dave Sherwood, additional reporting by Anett Rios, Nelson Acosta, Mario Fuentes, Alexandre Meneghini and Alien Fernandez. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
A Bloody Mess: FDA-Approved Chemical Abortion Pills Loaded with Lies, Injury and ER Visits; 'Amici' Brief Heads to US Supreme Court, Representing 2,743 Women Injured by Abortion, Including Alveda King and Abby Johnson NEWS PROVIDED BY

The Justice Foundation

March 18, 2024 SAN ANTONIO, Texas, March 18, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Justice Foundation has filed an Amici brief with the US Supreme Court representing 2,743 women who have experienced tragic consequences of abortions, some using the chemical abortion pills. These women hurt by abortion want to help the Court render a just decision in the Chemical Abortion Pill (mifepristone/misoprostol) case. This Women Injured by Abortion Brief provides a unique woman-only view of the horrors, damage, and/or emergency room visits that have already occurred. This harm to women will exponentially increase if these pills are allowed to become less regulated and more widely-distributed. The women represented in Women Injured By Abortion -- including Martin Luther Kings niece, Alveda King, and Pro-Life Activist and former Planned Parenthood Director Abby Johnson  are asking the highest court in the land to stop all distribution of the reckless Chemical Abortion Pills; reverse the FDA approval of the drug; and protect women from the lies, injuries and predatory practices of the abortion industry. More reports come in daily. Here is a small sampling of some of the witness accounts in the brief: One woman who had the chemical abortion pill says, "Within 30 minutes of inserting the Misoprostol, I began to hemorrhage and pass clots. I experienced intense cramping. I had never experienced pain so severe. Now that I have had children, I realize that I was experiencing labor-like contractions. I began to vomit from the pain. I was passing clots the size of lemons. I remember passing my baby. I scooped my baby up in my hands and for a moment, wasnt sure what to do. No one had prepared me for that moment. I didnt expect to recognize my baby. It felt wrong to flush my baby down the toilet, but I didnt know what else to do. In the end, I dropped my child in the toilet, closed my eyes, and flushed. Abby Johnson, p. 6 of the Women Injured By Abortion Brief. It was one of the most horrific experiences of my life. I was told by the abortion clinic that it wasnt a big deal, that it was easy and private. . . . The bleeding and the pain started almost immediately and it was intense. The pain lasted for two days and I felt like I was in full-blown labor. I was alone in one of my bathrooms in the apartment. . . .  K.L., p. 8 of the Women Injured By Abortion Brief. [E]xpect heavier than normal bleeding and cramping . . . [T]hey gave me a written prescription for Hydrocodone . . . and I began to question just how heavy this period was about to be . . . As I waited . . . at . . . Walmart . . . for my hydrocodone, I felt the rush of blood. . . . I . . . look[ed] down at my jeans and was shocked to see . . . I was covered in blood; from the top of the inseam down to my knees. . . . Tears began to flood my eyes . . . horror and embarrassment. . . . I couldnt imagine this was. . . a heavier than normal period, . . . my shock . . . turn[ed] into sorrow when I . . . found the sac with my tiny baby in it. . . . I held her for a moment before folding up the toilet paper and setting it into the feminine products bin. . . . from A.C., p. 20 of the Women Injured By Abortion Brief. Another woman says, I took the second pill while laying on my bed, expecting some mild menstrual cramps as they had told me. Thats not what it was at all  I experienced very intense, painful cramps as my body expelled my babys body into the toilet. My baby was disposed of in a toilet. A toilet. I wish so much now that I wouldve taken the remains of that precious little body and buried it.  C., p. 9 and 10 of the Women Injured By Abortion Brief.



In yet another example, one of the Women Injured By Abortions attorneys Allan E. Parker, J.D., President and Founder of The Justice Foundation, says: I remember my first call from a woman who had a chemical abortion pill, sobbing uncontrollably, she said They lied to me! They said it wasnt a baby! This is a baby! I can see the hands and legs! Can I bury my baby in the backyard? The Justice Foundation, founded in 1993, seeks to protect the fundamental freedoms and rights essential to the preservation of American society by litigation and education to promote those rights. Operation Outcry is a ministry of The Justice Foundation that seeks to end the horrors and trauma of abortion in America and around the world by mobilizing women and men hurt by abortion to share their true experiences while stewarding confidentiality. The public is encouraged to add more testimonies at www.operationoutcry.org. For interviews with Abby Johnson, Alveda King or other women and/or President Allan Parker, J.D., please contact info@txjf.org. SOURCE The Justice Foundation CONTACT: info@txjf.org



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WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid by former Donald Trump adviser Peter Navarro to avoid reporting to prison to serve a four-month sentence for defying a congressional subpoena.

Chief Justice John Roberts issued the brief order.

Navarro had asked the Supreme Court to intervene ahead of his arrival Tuesday at a federal Bureau of Prisons facility in Miami. He was sentenced to four months of incarceration in January following his conviction last year for defying the House Jan. 6 committees subpoena.

Roberts wrote Monday that a lower court had found Navarro had forfeited any request to remain on bail pending his appeal under a law called the Bail Reform Act.

Navarro's arguments were related to his claim of executive privilege, with his lawyers saying it was 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. Roberts noted the court of appeals said Navarro was "still obligated to appear before Congress and answer questions seeking information outside the scope of the asserted privilege."

"I see no basis to disagree with the determination that Navarro forfeited those arguments," Roberts added.

A federal appeals court rejected his stay request last week, saying 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."

Navarro is an election denier who was closely involved in efforts to overturn Trump's 2020 loss to Joe Biden.

You are not a victim, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta told Navarro at his sentencing in January. You are not the object of a political prosecution  you arent. You have received every process you are due.
WASHINGTON  A majority of Supreme Court justices on Monday appeared highly skeptical about claims the Biden administration crossed the line from persuasion to coercion when it told social media platforms to remove problematic content.

At issue is an injunction imposed by a federal judge, currently on hold, that would limit contacts between government officials and social media companies on a wide range of issues.

During oral arguments, justices across the ideological spectrum questioned whether the conduct of government officials was unlawful and whether plaintiffs that brought the lawsuit could even show they were directly harmed. Among the issues raised was the lack of evidence that government officials threatened punitive action if the social media companies failed to cooperate.

Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, along with five social media users, filed the underlying lawsuit alleging that U.S. government officials went too far in putting pressure on platforms to moderate content. The individual plaintiffs include Covid lockdown opponents and Jim Hoft, the owner of the right-wing website Gateway Pundit.

The lawsuit makes various claims relating to activities that occurred in 2020 and before, including efforts to deter the spread of false information about Covid and the presidential election. Donald Trump was president at the time, but the district court ruling focused on actions taken by the government after President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.

Several justices questioned whether the nature of the communications was problematic, with liberal Justice Elena Kagan noting that officials sometimes have fraught communications with journalists.

"This happens literally thousands of times a day in the federal government," she said.

Chief Justice John Roberts, a conservative, similarly pointed out that the federal government is "not monolithic," meaning that a complaint from one department is not necessarily a sign that another agency would take action if a post was not removed.

"That has to dilute the concept of coercion significantly doesn't it?" he said.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, another conservative, indicated that the argument made by Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga that mere encouragement by the government could constitute unlawful conduct "would sweep in an awful lot" of routine activity.

Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked Aguinaga whether, under his interpretation of the law, it could be potentially unlawful for the government to ask social media platforms to take down a viral post encouraging teens to jump out of windows.

"Is it your view that the government authorities could not declare those circumstances a public emergency and encourage social media platforms to take down the information that is instigating this problem?" she said.

Aguinaga said the government's conduct could cross the line if it goes beyond expressing concerns about content and then asks for posts to be removed.

Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh also appeared skeptical of the plaintiffs' arguments that there was coercion involved.

"What do you do with the fact that the platforms say no all the time to the government?" he said.

The justice who appeared most sympathetic to the plaintiffs was conservative Samuel Alito.

The evidence showed that White House officials and others suggested they were on the "same team" as the social media companies, demanded answers and "cursed them out" when they did not get the responses they wanted, Alito said.

"There is constant pestering of Facebook and some of the other platforms," he added.

Alito also referred to reporters present in the courtroom.

I cannot imagine federal officials taking that approach to the print media representatives over there. If you did that to them, what do you think the reaction would be? he said.

Last July, Louisiana-based Judge Terry Doughty barred officials from communication of any kind with social-media companies urging, encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.

The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals narrowed the scope of Doughtys injunction. But the appeals court still required the White House, the FBI and top health officials not to coerce or significantly encourage social media companies to remove content the Biden administration considers misinformation.

When agreeing to hear the case, the Supreme Court in October blocked the appeals court ruling, with three conservative justices  Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch  noting they disagreed with that decision.

The justices on Monday are also hearing a similar case on claims that a New York state official inappropriately pressured companies to end ties with the National Rifle Association, the leading gun rights group.

Both cases concern a practice known as jawboning, in which the government leans on private parties to do what it wants, sometimes with the implicit threat of adverse consequences if demands are not met. Those challenging the government actions say that in each case there was a violation of the Constitutions First Amendment, which protects free speech rights.

In the NRA case, the group claims that its free speech rights were violated by the actions of Maria Vullo, then-superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services.

Vullos office had been investigating insurance companies that the NRA had worked with to provide coverage for members. The NRA alleged that Vullo, in meetings with insurance companies, made back channel threats that they cease providing services to the NRA.

Speaking out after the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in which 17 people were killed, Vullo also urged insurance companies and banks to reconsider any relationships they had with gun rights-affiliated groups.

The NRA is appealing a 2022 ruling by the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said Vullos actions did not constitute unlawful conduct.

Vullo argued in her defense that it was part of her job to warn companies about the reputational risk of doing business with the NRA.

The case attracted additional attention after the American Civil Liberties Union, which often backs liberal causes, signed on to represent the NRA. The ACLU said that while it disagrees with the NRAs positions, it would defend the gun rights groups right to speak.
By Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Guatemala's new liberal president, Bernardo Arevalo, at the White House next week to discuss bolstering democracy and addressing the "root causes" of migration from Central America, officials told Reuters.

Harris has led the U.S. administration's efforts to address the causes of a spike in migration from countries in Central America to the United States, and drawn criticism from Republicans for becoming a failed "border czar."

Her meeting with Arevalo on March 25 was designed to underscore U.S. support for the new Guatemalan leader after the anti-corruption crusader's own inauguration was delayed in January by opponents seeking to weaken his authority.

Immigration has become a major topic in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, and one that Republicans have sought to wield as a weapon of vulnerability against Biden and his fellow Democrats.

The president has worked to turn that around, placing blame on former President Donald Trump, his rival for the White House, for torpedoing a plan in Congress to cut migrant crossings at the U.S. border with Mexico.

Harris has focused her part of the immigration portfolio on tackling core reasons that people are leaving countries such as Guatemala, and her meeting with the new president will touch on that, her office said.

"The Vice President and President Arevalo will discuss additional efforts to address the drivers of irregular migration from northern Central America," Harris' spokesperson Kirsten Allen said in a statement.

Areas of discussion would include civilian security, "good governance," human rights and labor protections, gender-based violence, and economic opportunity, she said.

Arevalo has pledged to bring sweeping changes to Central America's most populous nation to tackle violence and the rising cost of living, key drivers of migration to the United States.

A White House official said Harris had been involved in ensuring there were free and fair elections in Guatemala.

In December the U.S. government imposed visa restrictions on nearly 300 Guatemalan nationals, including 100 lawmakers out of the 160-member unicameral Congress, accused of undermining democracy in Central America's most populous country.

Bolstering democracy at home is also a key theme of Biden and Harris' re-election campaign. The president has accused Trump, who sought to overturn Biden's victory in the 2020 election, as threatening U.S. democracy.

(Reporting by Jeff MasonEditing by Bernadette Baum)
Thousands of North Carolina residents are no longer facing a combined millions of dollars in debt to a Charlotte-area collector.

State Attorney General Josh Stein secured a consent judgment for more than $23 million in consumer debt forgiveness for over 20,000 N.C. residents from Gordon Scott Engle of Cornelius and his Texas-based debt collection companies, according to a news release Tuesday. More than 650 people also will receive full refunds totaling over $223,000.

Engle owns Turtle Creek Assets Ltd., Turtle Creek Rentals LLC, and Royal Park Holdings Inc.

This debt collector operated illegally in North Carolina and took advantage of hardworking people, Stein said in a statement.

Engle also must pay $2,000 for each business registration violation, $1,475 in unpaid business registration fees, and $20,000 in attorney fees and investigative costs, according to the consent judgment filed Monday in Wake County Superior Court.

Engle and his companies also are permanently banned from collecting debt in North Carolina.

The case against Engle and his agencies

In 2019, Stein sued Engle and his debt collections companies, alleging unfair and deceptive practices, according to court documents.

From 2012 to 2018, Stein claimed, Engle illegally used his debt collection companies to purchase unpaid consumer debt from Aarons Inc., a national retailer of household furniture, appliances and electronics.

Since 2018, Engle collected or attempted to collect on unpaid debts from North Carolina residents, even though he did not have the correct registration or permits to operate in the state, according to the case filing by Stein.

The debt agencies sent customers fake court notices claiming they had committed a criminal violation and needed to return the property within 48 hours, Stein said in 2019 after receiving a temporary retraining order against Engle and his companies.

When consumers contacted TCA or TCR, they received more debt collection threats, including threats of arrest, Steins office said in a statement. Criminal complaints were even filed in several counties resulting in court summonses against the North Carolina residents, according to Steins office.

Engle and his companies deny any wrongdoing but agreed to the compromise to avoid the burden of continuing litigation, according to the consent judgment.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is seeking to reassure passengers after a string of safety incidents raised concerns.

In a letter sent out early Monday to United customers, he said the incidents, though each unrelated, had caught the companys attention and sharpened [its] focus.

Our team is reviewing the details of each case to understand what happened and using those insights to inform our safety training and procedures across all employee groups, Kirby wrote.

Within just the past two weeks, United planes were involved in at least four separate incidents, including two that required them to make emergency landings; a runway roll-off and a lost tire.

Kirby said United was already in the process of adding an additional day of in-person training for all pilots starting in May, a more centralized curriculum for maintenance operators, and more resources focused on supplier network management.

United is one of Boeings largest customers. The manufacturer remains under multiple federal investigations in the wake of a January incident that saw a door panel blowout midair, forcing an emergency landing. The incidents, among others, have also raised questions about general flight safety, about which some experts have urged customers not to worry.

A United spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the carriers future relationship with Boeing.

However, last week, Kirby said his airline was putting its orders for Boeing Max 10s on hold and would now weigh whether to order more Max 9s or switch to a plane made by Boeing's rival, Airbus.
The uncle of one of three men killed in a building collapse in Boise, Idaho, says his nephew was working so his family in Guatemala could have a car and a roof over their heads.

Oscar Tzy said that mourning his nephew, Mario Sontay, 32, has been the "toughest part" of losing him in the Jan. 31 collapse of a hanger that was being built to house private jets at the Boise Airport.

I used to talk to him often," Tzy, 43, said in Spanish through an interpreter, speaking by phone from Guatemala. "Long calls on the weekend. We cant believe hes gone.

Mario Sontay. (via Attorney Enrique Serna)

Also killed were Mariano Coc Och, 24, a Guatemala native, and Craig Durrant, 59, a co-founder of Big D Builders, which was overseeing the project. Nine people were injured.

The cause of the collapse is under investigation by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which could not be reached for comment Monday.

Tzy said Sontay never complained to family members about safety conditions at the job site. He also never mentioned how he felt about building a hangar for wealthy, private-jet passengers when he struggled to get by most of his life.

Instead, he focused on his job, Tzy said.

Sontay, an experienced iron worker, left San Pedro Carcha, Guatemala, four years ago with the hope of providing a better life for his wife, their daughter and his parents.

Mario was very versed in the steel industry, in all components of assembling, Tzy said, adding that his nephew was so talented, Sontay figured he could land decent-paying jobs in the U.S.

Tzy did not say whether Sontay entered the U.S. with appropriate legal documents.

Almost half the people in Guatemala live in poverty, according to Brookings Institution, a public policy think tank in Washington.

For the first few years, Sontays plan worked, his uncle said. As his familys main financial provider, Sontay bought a house in San Pedro Carcha for his wife and daughter, a car for his parents and sent money to his loved ones in his home country every week.

It abruptly ended on Jan. 31.

Since Sontay's death, his family has struggled to make ends meet, and his father is suffering from several health ailments, Tzy said.

Theyre all scrambling to cover for each other and raise money," he said. "Theyre trying to find a way to live.

Tzy said Sontay's ultimate goal was to save enough money to move back to Guatemala, where he would teach a new generation how to construct buildings from the ground up.

Mario wanted to spread his knowledge and teach iron workers how to build churches, Tzy said.

Caleb Durrant, 30, the son of Craig Durrant, said recently that he spoke to his father just hours before he died. They exchanged greetings and chatted about construction, the industry they both worked in.

He was a leader, who liked learning about different things, Caleb Durrant said. I miss him being here.

Och's family in Guatemala could not be reached.
Abaca Press/Gripas Yuri/Abaca/Sipa USA/Newscom

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in Murthy v. Missouri, which raises the question of when government efforts to suppress "misinformation" on social media violate the First Amendment. Neglecting that central question, The New York Times portrays the case as part of a conspiracy by Donald Trump's supporters to undermine democracy by promoting false claims that mislead voters and threaten the peaceful transfer of power.

"In a world of unlimited online communications" where "anyone can reach huge numbers of people with unverified and false information," Times reporters Jim Rutenberg and Steven Lee Myers ask, "where is the line between protecting democracy and trampling on the right to free speech?" This is not the first time that Myers has described freedom of speech as a threat to democracy. Last year, he worried that "the First Amendment has become, for better or worse, a barrier to virtually any government efforts to stifle a problem that, in the case of a pandemic, threatens public health and, in the case of the integrity of elections, even democracy itself." The purported conflict between free speech and democracy is a bizarre and highly misleading way to frame the issues raised by Murthy.

When Biden administration officials persistently pressured social media platforms to curtail speech those officials viewed as dangerous, Rutenberg and Myers say, they were trying to "balance free speech with democratic rights" and "seeking a delicate balance between the First Amendment and social media's rising power over public opinion." The implication is that government officials have the authority to weigh freedom of speech against competing values on a case-by-case basis. But that is not the way the First Amendment works.

The First Amendment bars the government from "abridging the freedom of speech," full stop. As interpreted by the Supreme Court, that command applies to all sorts of speech, no matter how inaccurate, misleading, controversial, offensive, or hateful it might be, unless it fits into one of several narrowly defined exceptions, such as defamation, true threats, fraud, obscenity, and incitement to "imminent lawless action."

The speech that worries Rutenberg and Myers, such as false claims about COVID-19 vaccines and fraud in the 2020 presidential election, does not fit into any of those exceptions. It is therefore constitutionally protected, precluding any ad hoc attempt to balance the value of allowing it against the risks that might entail.

The Biden administration concedes as much. "No one disputes that the government would have violated the First Amendment if it had used threats of adverse government action to coerce private social-media platforms into moderating content," it says. "But no such threats occurred here."

The dispute in Murthy centers on whether federal officials' interactions with Facebook et al. amounted to "significant encouragement" of censorship and/or crossed the line between persuasion and coercion. While civil liberties groups disagree about the answer to that question, they agree that it needs to be addressed.

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is urging the Supreme Court to uphold the 5th Circuit's conclusion that "executive branch agencies violated the First Amendment by interfering with private moderation decisions." Those agencies, FIRE says, "used both carrot and stick tactics to achieve indirectly what the Constitution prohibits [when it is done] directly: governmental control over social media moderation decisions."

FIRE sees "substantial evidence" that the White House, the FBI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security

Agency "engaged in unlawful 'significant encouragement' by placing persistent pressure on platforms to change their moderation policies." Some federal officials, it says, "became so entangled with social media platform moderation policies that they were able to effectively rewrite the platforms' policies from the inside."

FIRE also agrees with the 5th Circuit that some of these communications qualified as coercive. "White House officials issued 'urgent, uncompromising demands to moderate

content' and used 'foreboding, inflammatory, and hyper-critical phraseology' when social media companies failed to moderate content in the way they requested or as quickly as officials desired," it says. "Demands to remove specific posts 'ASAP,' the use of words and phrases like 'you are hiding the ball,' and officials warning they are 'gravely concerned' made clear the threats to social media companies were 'phrased virtually as orders.' And officials repeatedly 'refuse[d] to take "no" for an answer and pester[ed]' the social media companies until they 'succumb[ed].' More ominously, they 'threatenedboth expressly and implicitlyto retaliate against inaction.'"

The record "contains copious evidence that the social media platforms understood communications from the White House and FBI agents to be threats and acted accordingly," FIRE says. "For example, a social media platform expressly agreed to 'adjust [its] policies' to reflect the changes sought by officials. And several social media platforms 't[ook] down content, including posts and accounts that originated from the United States, in direct compliance with' a request from the FBI that they delete 'misinformation' on the eve of the 2022 congressional election. When the White House and FBI 'requested' the platforms to jump, they ultimately, if reluctantly, asked how high."

FIRE adds that the White House and the FBI "threatened 'adverse consequences' to social media platforms if they failed to comply." When the platforms' content moderation "was too slow for the White House's liking, officials publicly accused them of 'killing people'" and "privately threatened them with antitrust enforcement, repeal of Section 230 immunities, and other 'fundamental reforms' to make sure the platforms were 'held accountable.'"

In addition to those "express threats," FIRE says, "both White House and FBI officials' statements contained implied threatened consequences because those officials are backed by the 'awesome power' wielded by the federal executive branch. For example, White House officials frequently alluded to the President's potential involvement should social media platforms not moderate content to their satisfaction." And "as a federal enforcement agency that conducts various internet investigations," the FBI "has tools at its disposal to force a platform to take down content."

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which filed a Murthy brief in support of neither side, sees the situation somewhat differently. It worries that too broad an injunction against government interaction with social media platforms could preclude useful and constitutionally permissible contacts that inform Facebook et al. of misinformation threats they might want to counter by applying their own rules. But even EFF thinks some of these contacts can plausibly be viewed as coercive. EFF mentions Deputy Assistant to the President Rob Flaherty's "communications to Facebook regarding specific Tucker Carlson and Tomi Lahren posts expressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy," which it describes as "at least a close case that should likely be resolved against the government."

Rutenberg and Myers' article, by contrast, barely acknowledges that Murthy raises any legitimate First Amendment concerns at all. Instead they worry that the Supreme Court's decision "could curtail the government's latitude in monitoring content online." To be clear: Rutenberg and Myers think that would be bad.

As they see it, Trump's stolen-election fantasy poses a clear and present danger to democracy, as evidenced by the Capitol riot that interrupted congressional ratification of Joe Biden's victory. They note that Trump, after being banished from social media in the wake of the riot, is now back on those platforms, free to promote his phony grievance as he tries to unseat Biden in this year's election. Worse, "Facebook and YouTube announced that they would reverse their restrictions on content claiming that the 2020 election was stolen." As a result, "the torrent of disinformation that the previous efforts had slowed, though not stopped, has resumed with even greater force."

Trump's banishment, of course, was the result of private decisions by private companies, as was his restoration. The decisions at issue in Murthy, by contrast, were made in the context of unrelenting government pressure that the Biden administration argues was constitutionally permissible. Rutenberg and Myers clearly agree.

When social media platforms crack down on controversial speech at the government's behest, users are apt to think twice before expressing opinions that might offend the authorities. But Rutenberg and Myers are not worried about such self-censorship. Instead they worry that constitutional objections to the government's social media meddling have had a "chilling effect" on efforts to curtail online speech.

To emphasize the need for such intervention, Rutenberg and Myers quote Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. "We're in the business of critical infrastructure, and the most critical infrastructure is our cognitive infrastructure," Easterly said at a 2021 conference, "so building that resilience to misinformation and disinformation, I think, is incredibly important." She promised to "work with our partners in the private sector and throughout the rest of the government and at the [Department of Homeland Security] to continue to ensure that the American people have the facts that they need to help protect our critical infrastructure."

Ensuring that Americans "have the facts" is one thing. It involves responding to "misinformation and disinformation" by citing countervailing evidence. But when fighting "misinformation and disinformation" entails government-encouraged censorship of controversial speech, it raises obvious First Amendment concerns. The very idea of a government agency charged with guarding "our cognitive infrastructure" should set off alarm bells for anyone who values freedom of thought and freedom of speech.

The fact that Rutenberg and Myers do not hear those bells suggests they assume that Orwellian mission can only affect speech they do not like, because the government will inerrantly distinguish between "misinformation" and worthwhile content. That is a pretty shortsighted view for people whose work depends on a constitutional provision that bars the government from enforcing such judgments.

The post <i>The New York Times</i> Again Worries That Free Speech Endangers Democracy appeared first on Reason.com.
Niger is pulling its military cooperation deal with the United States and ordering some 1,000 American military personnel to leave the country, a startling development that comes after U.S. officials last week traveled to the capital of Niamey to raise a number of concerns about Niger growing closer to Russia and Iran, the Pentagon said Monday.

The ruling military junta Saturday revoked a major accord known as the status of forces agreement, which allows U.S. forces in Niger. Biden administration officials are aware of this and are working through diplomatic channels to seek clarification, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters.

But just last week, a delegation from Washington that included Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander and U.S. Africa Command head Gen. Michael Langley met with officials with Nigers National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.

The U.S. delegation was there to raise a number of concerns.  We were troubled on the path that Niger is on. And so these were direct and frank conversations to have those in person, to talk about our concerns and to also hear theirs, Singh said.

Pressed on what the U.S. issues were, Singh said officials expressed concern over Nigers potential relationships with Russia and Iran.

The Biden administration officials also raised alarms over whether Niger was close to an agreement to give Iran access to its uranium reserves, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The future of a U.S. military presence in Niger has been in question since a military junta in late July put the countrys president on house arrest and took control of the government.

The State Department, which did not officially declare the takeover a coup until October, cut back on U.S. aid in the country but still allowed humanitarian assistance. Washington also paused security operations in Niger, where U.S. forces largely help with counterterrorism efforts in the region against an Islamist insurgency.

But following a recent trend by countries in Africas western Sahel region, Niger has appeared to turn to Russia as a partner over Western nations.

The American presence in the territory of the Republic of Niger is illegal, Nigers military spokesman Col. Amadou Abdramane said on national television, as reported by The New York Times. He also said the presence of American troops violates all the constitutional and democratic rules, which would require the sovereign people  notably through its elected officials  to be consulted on the installation of a foreign army on its territory.

The development is a major setback for U.S. efforts in the Sahel, where just six years ago it opened a $110 million base in northern Niger used to fly surveillance drones.

Nigers declared ousting of U.S. troops also follows Frances withdrawal of its forces from the country last year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Twin 19-year-old sisters were each stabbed in a Brooklyn deli early Sunday, leaving one dead and the other receiving treatment in hospital, police and witnesses said.

Police said in a short statement that Samiya Spain died from a stab wound to her chest. Her sister, who has not yet been identified, suffered a wound to her arm but was in a stable condition, police said.

NYPD said the attack took place at about 2:20 a.m. inside a deli in the Park Slope neighborhood, on the corner of Saint Mark's Place and 4th Avenue, a short walk from Spain's home on Nevins Street.

"Upon arrival, officers observed a 19-year-old female with a stab wound to the chest and a second 19-year-old female with a stab wound to the arm," police said.

Emergency medical services took both women to the New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital where one was pronounced deceased.

"There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing at this time," police added.

A witness, who asked not to be named, told NBC New York that an argument began after a man complimented the women and said he found them attractive, but was rejected. He called them names, the witness said, then left the deli.

"He walked down the block angry. And then two or three minutes later he comes up and starts banging and kicking on the glass door trying to get in," the witness said, adding that the deli staff had locked the door to prevent him re-entering.

"The second they opened the door, he ran back into the door and started attacking them, the witness said.

Alphonso Goodson, the girls grandfather, told the New York Post: "He walked in and started hitting on her. She said, I dont want to be bothered with you. Leave me alone. Then the storeowner put him out."

"He was waiting for them, Goodson said. "He took it the wrong way. He came after them. That was wrong. That was dead wrong. I hope they catch this guy."

Tony Herbert, a Democrat New York Assembly candidate for Brooklyn, called for tougher penalties for violent crimes in a news conference Sunday.

"We have make sure that people understand that if you pull out a knife on somebody, you're going to go to jail," he said.
File photo of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, police cruisers.

Three separate shootings occurred within one hour Sunday evening, fatally wounding one person and injuring three others in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Police Chief Gene Paul Smith told reporters on Monday.

According to Smith, there were three separate unrelated shootings, with all three incidents happening with officers in the area amid ramped up patrols.

The first shooting happened near a Best Western hotel around 7:50 p.m. The shooting happened in the presence of officers, and the police were immediately able to respond and give aid. Smith said that two shooters fired and wounded each other. A third person, he said, was an "innocent bystander" not from the area. All three people were in serious condition but stable, as of Monday morning, according to Smith.

No arrests have been made from this incident.

In the next incident at 8:13 p.m., officers saw a person run by with a pistol near a bar where shots were fired. A foot chase occurred and Smith said the suspect got away. No one was injured at the scene of the second incident, according to Smith.

Eighteen minutes later, officers heard gunfire behind another nearby bar. Smith said officers were on the scene of the third shooting within seconds. Smith said a 21-year-old male died at the scene.

Smith said three people brandished firearms during the third incident, only one of whom fired their gun. That suspect also got away, Smith said.

"Based on multiple shooters unknown, multiple victims unknown, I decided to issue an active threat alert through our reverse 911, lock down all bars and immediately evacuate the downtown area," he said.

Smith said no officers fired their weapons due to the risk to bystanders as the area was crowded with St. Patrick's Day revelers.

"We would have applied that deadly force if we could have," Smith said.

Authorities had ordered people in the area to shelter in place, which was lifted shortly before 11 p.m.

SEE MORE: Man faces charges in 2 states after alleged killings of family members

Evan Rajta, who owns the Salt bar and restaurant in Jacksonville Beach, told WJXT-TV that one of the shootings occurred after a fight broke out.

My whole staff was prepared and we have armed security. We were well-prepared. We helped the gentleman that was shot, our staff did, Rajta told WJXT. Our head of security had some medical gear on him, and they helped him out.

Smith said that police had stepped up patrols after learning of hundreds of teens and young adults would gather at a pier Sunday afternoon to fight each other.
Three members from the Extinction Rebellion NYC climate activist group disrupted the March 14 performance of the Broadway revival "An Enemy of the People," which brought the Jeremy Strong and Michael Imperioli-led production to a brief pause.

In videos posted to X (formerly Twitter) by Time Magazine's Moises Mendez II, two activists can be seen in the middle of their demonstration, with one shouting: "No theater on a dead planet," before being escorted out by production staff.

Climate protesters from Extinction Rebellion disrupted tonights #AnEnemyOfThePeople show in NYC three separate times and the cast joined in to getting them out. Jeremy Strong stayed in character because dramaturgically it made sense. pic.twitter.com/3Keg4fIDQg  Moises Mendez II (@MoisesFenty) March 15, 2024

The incident first sparked about halfway through the stage play, during a town hall scene where selected audience members are invited to fill in the role of the meeting's attendees, which led several theatergoers to assume the protest was part of the performance.

According to a report by Deadline, the disruption came after Strong, who was portraying Doctor Thomas Stockmann, delivered a line from the script asking the audience for objections.

The three activists then made successive demonstrations, all revolving around climate change and the needed action to address it. One of the protesters even had a shouting match with the Emmy-winning actor Imperioli, still in character as Peter Stockmann.

Imperioli then addressed the incident on an Instagram post later on the night, writing: "Tonight was wild... No hard feelings Extinction Rebellion crew. Michael is on your side but Mayor Stockmann is not."

As of now, there's no confirmation whether or not charges have been or would be filed, however, there had been a sighting of an NYPD vehicle with active lights outside the Circle in the Square Theatre following the incident, as per Deadline.

About Broadway's 'An Enemy of the People'

The revival of the Henrik Ibsen classic itself shares a political undertone to the incident that transpired last Thursday night, March 14, as its story revolves around the morally driven character of Doctor Thomas Stockmann in his quest to alert a small Norwegian town that its spa's water is poisoned.

This revelation was then met with public outcries in fear of possibly facing financial loss as the spa is the town's main source of income, and narratively, this outcome is the play's way of examining the moral intricacies behind outrage and the struggles that whistleblowers carry.

"An Enemy of the People" is directed by Tony winner Sam Gold and adapted by Tony-nominated playwright Amy Herzog. Joining both Strong and Imperioli as production leads is "The Haunting of Hill House" actress Victoria Pedretti, who plays the role of Petra Stockmann.

The cast also includes David Patrick Kelly (Once) as Morten Kiil, Katie Broad as Randine, Bill Buell (Ink), Caleb Eberhardt (Choir Boy) as Hovstad, Matthew August Jeffers as Billing, David Mattar Merten, Max Roll (Good Night, Oscar), Thomas Jay Ryan as Aslaksen, and Alan Trong as Captain Horster.

For more information about the play, visit its official website by clicking here.

Read Also: Hailey Whitters and Ben Rector Spread Country Pop Hues With New Duet Single 'Color Up My World'

 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Heres everything you need to know about the worlds most famous heat ranking system before you add chiles to your next meal.

Getty Images

You mightve heard the Scoville scale used to describe some of the worlds hottest chile peppers, like Carolina Reaper and Pepper X, but even everyday cooking peppers like bell peppers and jalapenos can be measured in Scoville heat units. Heres everything you should know about this heat ranking system.

What does the Scoville scale measure?

The Scoville scale is a measurement of pungency (aka spiciness) in members of the genus Capsicum, which includes peppers and chiles. Its based on their levels of capsaicinoids like capsaicin, which are responsible for a burning sensation in the mouth and on the skin. The higher the perceived capsaicinoid levels, the higher the Scoville heat units (SHU).

How does the Scoville scale work?

Created by American pharmacist Wilbur Scoville in 1912, the Scoville scale involves preparing a solution with chile samples, then adding an increasing amount of a sugar-water mixture until professionally trained tasters can no longer detect any heat. Scoville heat units represent the amount of times the mixture has to be diluted until a burning sensation is no longer present. Mild bell peppers, for reference, have 0 Scoville heat units, while spicy Thai chiles can range from 50,000 to 100,000 units. The scale increases exponentially, so mild hot chile peppers will have twice the SHU of mild chiles, and so on.

Today, heat in chile peppers is often measured by a more objective test called high-performance liquid chromatography, which identifies the individual capsaicinoids in dried and ground chile peppers.

What is the hottest chile pepper in the world?

In 2023, the Guinness World Records recognized Pepper X as the hottest chile in the world. Bred by Ed Currie, a South Carolina hot pepper grower and owner of PuckerButt Pepper Company, it boasts an average heat level of 2.69 million Scoville heat units. The Pepper X beat the previous world record held by the Carolina Reaper, also grown by Currie, which has an average heat level of 1.57 million Scoville heat units. The Dragons Breath chile, though never tested by the Guinness World Records, is reported to have 2.48 million Scoville heat units.

How to use the Scoville scale

While its mostly used as a reference tool (and, as noted above, is not the most objective measure of heat), you may turn to the Scoville scale when youre using chiles in a recipe. If youre substituting jalapenos with serrano peppers, for example, youll want to keep in mind that the latter can have over twice the Scoville heat units of the former, and adjust the amount of chiles as needed.

Use the guide below to find out where your favorite chiles fall on the Scoville scale.



Scoville scale levels

Mild (0 to 2,000 SHU)

Bell pepper, Ancho poblano, Lombardo, Anaheim, Golden Greek pepperoncini

Mild Hot (2,000 to 50,000 SHU)

Jalapeno, cayenne, arbol, Fresno, serrano, tabasco, lemon drop

Hot (50,000+ SHU)

Thai peppers, chiltepin, Charleston, pequin, Rocoto

Spicy Hot (100,000+ SHU)

Scotch bonnet, Pimenta de Neyde, Jamaican yellow

Very Hot (250,000+ SHU)

Habanero, Fatalii yellow, Red Devils Tongue

Really Hot (500,000+ SHU)

7 Pot Yellow, 7 Pot Bubblegum, Red Savina

Fiery Hot (1 million+ SHU)

Ghost pepper/Bhut Jolokia, 7 Pot Lucy, Naga Viper, Komodo Dragon

Extreme Hot (1.5 million+ SHU)

Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, 7 Pot Dougash



Heat level of common chile peppers in Scoville heat units (SHU)

Bell pepper: 0

Anaheim: 100 to 5,000

Jalapeno: 2,000 to 8,000

Fresno: 2,500 to 10,000

Serrano: 10,000 to 25,000

Chile de arbol: 15,000 to 30,000

Cayenne: 30,000 to 50,000

Thai chile peppers: 50,000 to 100,000

Habanero: 100,000 to 350,000

Scotch bonnet: 100,000 to 325,000

Ghost pepper: About 1 million



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Read the original article on Food & Wine.
As another spring break weekend drew to a close in Miami Beach, visitors were still peppering stretches of Ocean Drive while navigating day three of the midnight curfew.

Fewer people on the roads likely spelled success for the citys Breaking up with Spring Break campaign, which sought to decrease crowds through a series of measures that include increased parking fees and a 12 a.m. curfew instituted on Friday.

Much of Sunday was quiet with crowds on Ocean Drive mirroring those on a busier weekend, but a far cry from the rowdy spring break seasons Miami Beach had previously welcomed. Police remained a common sight on the street, with officers stationed on virtually every corner.

Amid crowds thinning for the night, commotion broke out at Oh! Mexico restaurant on Washington Avenue, with dozens of police officers rushing over within minutes. After the brief response, several officers detained a man in relation to an argument.

Miami Beach police officers patrol along Ocean Drive on their ATVs during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Since spring break began, officers have made about 265 arrests, police spokesperson Christopher Bess told the Miami Herald. Four of those arrests were related to the curfew.

While the throngs have thinned, the citys crackdown on spring break  including the newly enacted midnight curfew  hasnt stopped vacationers and locals alike from heading to the historic neighborhood. Three South Beach nightclubs  M2, Mynt Lounge, and Exchange  filed a lawsuit Friday to try to overturn the curfew, but a judge upheld the citys curfew.

READ MORE: Miami Beachs spring break curfew stands, despite lawsuit from clubs. Heres why

The department, Bess said, on Sunday night scanned the license plates of cars entering via the MacArthur and Julia Tuttle causeways. Officers were then tipped off about wanted or missing persons and stolen vehicles, and those drivers were pulled over.

So far, so good, Bess said. Were almost at the finish line.

Check out the South Beach festivities Sunday evening:

A creator called the Flash Pool swings his swords during spring break on Sunday, March 17, 2024, down Ocean Drive in South Beach. I just wanted to come out here and do something positive for me, said Flash Pool.

Dressed like Marvels Deadpool, The Flash Pool whipped swords out of the holsters on his back, swinging them around. The Flash Pool, in costume, has been filming special effects and sword tricks videos to build a platform on social media.

He said he got into creating content in cosplay last summer and uses it to channel his creativity during difficult times. The Miami native was planning on staying in but decided to make his way to Ocean Drive to have fun and make passersby smile.

I needed an outlet to get away from being in a bad state of mind, The Flash Pool said.

Marcus Hide, center, who now lives in Boston, celebrates his bachelor party with his friends from Ireland during spring break and St. Patricks Day on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Finnegans Way on Ocean Drive in South Beach.

At Finnegans Way, Marcus Hide, his relatives and friends were observing St. Patricks Day with drinks and green attire. They were also marking Hides last days as a bachelor.

Hide, who lives in Boston, said the rest of the group traveled to Miami Beach from Ireland. They were stunned to learn that there was no St. Patricks Day parade  and that the holiday isnt widely celebrated in South Florida.

I guess there arent a lot of Irish people who live here.

Gigi Furah, center, gets flowers bought for her from Racks, right, while on spring break with Sarah Nyamug, left, and other friends from Michigan on Sunday, March 17, 2024, down Ocean Drive in South Beach.

Toru Ikeda and Phil Harley celebrate St. Patricks Day while walking along Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Chris, left, and Kris Johnson, center, from New York, shake hands with a Miami local during spring break on Sunday, March 17, 2024, on Ocean Drive in South Beach.

A man speaks with Miami Beach police officers after they confronted him on Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Miami Beach police officer White patrols along Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Claude Leger, 24, of Tallahassee, stands across from the Clevelander Hotel on Ocean Drive and 10th Street during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Women dance on the sidewalk along Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Miami Beach police make a traffic stop on Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

People walk passed the Waldorf Towers down Ocean Drive during spring break on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in South Beach.

Leo Carrera, 35, and Paulo Arenas, 27, of Miami, spar across from the Art Deco Hotels along Ocean Drive during spring break on Miami Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 17, 2024.
On Wednesday, the House approved a bill where ByteDance would be forced to sell TikTok or face a practical U.S. ban from app stores and web-hosting services if it is signed into law, according to a story in USA Today.

The bill gained bipartisan support passing the House 352 to 65. The bill is now on its way to the Senate where its fate is uncertain, and on March 8, President Joe Biden said he would sign it should it make it to his desk.

If signed into law, the bill would prevent app stores like Apple and Google from distributing or updating TikTok and web hosting companies from distributing it, according to an article in USA Today.

Social media influencers Bailey Lavender of Greenville and Spartanburg's Jorden Hall are worried about the possible TikTok ban.

How SC representatives voted on TikTok

 Nancy Mace (R-1): NAY

 Joe Wilson (R-2): YEA

 Jeffrey Duncan (R-3): YEA

 William Timmons (R-4): YEA

 Ralph Norman (R-5): YEA

 James E. Clyburn (D-6): NAY

 Russell Fry (R-7): YEA

Bailey Lavender talks TikTok's free mental health services

TikTok is not just an app where people do momentary trends. Greenville TikToker Bailey Lavender, 29, views it as a place where those struggling with mental health issues can connect. They can also receive support from mental health professionals who provide their services for free.

Lavender has used the platform since 2020, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, to create funny videos based on her experiences as a hairstylist. She has long been a voice of encouragement for her over 2.3 million followers, offering them advice on topics like weight loss, anxiety and depression. She has also shared personal stories about difficult moments she has experienced as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Other hard topics she shares include her past when she felt trapped in a toxic relationship, as well as her and fiancee Charley McFarland's current infertility struggles.

She believes TikTok has strongly pushed the narrative that there is help out there for its users should they choose to seek it within the app.

"A lot of people are laughing at the fact that so many Americans are worried about an app where they see people doing dances and such on there, but it's so much more in depth than that," Lavender said. "Small businesses are affected, people's mental health is affected. Sometimes people don't have the ability to get it  their insurance doesn't cover it, they don't have the means to pay for it. There are therapists on social media out there who are giving advice for free to try to help them because not everything has to be paid for."

McFarland, 29, who manages Lavender's brand along with several others, has also weighed in on the possible TikTok ban. She is passionate about the subject because being a brand manager is her full-time job.

"My entire job is to make sure that whenever they (creators) do these marketing things that I have all this stuff lined up," she said. "So if TikTok goes away, then my job is eliminated and I have to figure out another platform to help them, where these other creators go on, where we can do marketing."

If TikTok were to be banned, Lavender is not sure what she would do when it comes to marketing. The social media site is the place that helped boost her brand, including her local hairstyling services.

"I grew that with an Instagram and Facebook, but mainly TikTok," she said. "That's where I really padded my books and got to the point where I was no longer able to take on new clients. I truly worry that if that was completely taken away, that marketing would look very different and be a lot more difficult for people like myself who are small business owners and entrepreneurs trying to just survive out here, pay our bills."

Bailey Lavender's rise on TikTok: Greenville hairstylist Bailey Lavender is TikTok star. How she gained 2 million followers.

Jorden Hall uses her platform for body positivity

Jorden Hall, a TikToker in Spartanburg, began her influencer career in March 2020 and has been using it to spread kindness, love and body positivity. TikToking has been Hall's full time job.

In December 2023, Hall went viral for resurrecting the "Angel Tree Trend," a trend where people purchase items for children in need through the Salvation Army.

Jorden Hall, a Spartanburg based social media influencer, talks about the good social media can be used for.

The TikTok ban will not only result in influencers, like Hall, losing their ability to spread awareness, share creativity and empower others but will also take away their source of income, they say.

Hall said her platform is used for women of different sizes, all over the world, to love and embrace each other.

"Social media can also be a very positive place and show the good in, not only people, but also the world," Hall said. "On my platform, I represent women who have bodies outside of normal beauty standards, showing that we deserve a space to be celebrated and love the bodies that we are in. My platform is a safe space for women looking for confidence building, fashion advice and body acceptance."

If the ban does occur, Hall fears that women will not have a space to be represented.

"If the White House bans TikTok, it will rip away an inclusive, body-positive space that women have longed for," Hall said. "It will not keep me from speaking out for my fellow woman, that is for sure. I will always fight for the women who are typically put on societys back burner. The White House wanting to ban TikTok is essentially taking away our right to free speech."

As influencers arise, many people have used the platform as a full time job. Users promote their businesses, services and ideas through the platform, gaining new customers from videos they post, gifts from livestreams or are paid through the company to share their own ideas.

Hall said that if the nation goes through with the ban, her career will be stripped away from her.

"If TikTok is banned, my career will be immediately ripped from me. Its baffling that everything I have worked for over the years can be taken away with just a vote," Hall said. "It will not only be my career but also millions of other content creators across the United States. TikTok has helped so many small businesses grow their reach over the years."

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville, Spartanburg influencers react to US efforts to ban TikTok.
YEREVAN, 18 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. On March 18, the Armenian National Assembly President Alen Simonyan received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to Republic Armenia Petr Piruncik.

According the readout issued by the press service of the National Assembly, the purpose of the Ambassadors visit was to convey the letter of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Marketa Pekarova-Adamova about her official visit to Armenia, the successful cooperation and the perspectives of Armenia-Czech Republic, Armenia-EU cooperation.

On behalf of the delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, as well as on my behalf, I would like to express my gratitude for the warm reception during our official visit to the Republic of Armenia. Our mutual discussions were very inspiring for me, and I deeply believe that it is only the beginning of our closer cooperation.

As a token of our support, your ambitions for making closer Armenia to the EU, please, accept the European flag enclosed to the letter.

Please, accept, Your Excellency, assurances of my highest consideration, the letter says.

According to the source, Alen Simonyan thanked his Czech colleagues for dynamically developing relations between Armenia and the Czech Republic and fruitful visit to Armenia.

Armenia highly appreciates Marketa Pekarova-Adamovas visit and the unreserved support of the Czech Republic for the establishment of peace in the region, and in the rapprochement of the Armenia-EU relations. Armenia is ready to strengthen the relations with the European Union as much, as the European side will allow. I once again thank you for fruitful cooperation, the Speaker of Parliament said.

The sides exchanged ideas also on the establishment of peace in the South Caucasus, the return of the Armenian captives being held in Azerbaijan and other themes.
The whole-of-government agreement is described as a "flexible arrangement that enables suppliers to enter or change their products and services over time".

The second iteration of the Digital Marketplace will replace the original, which was launched in 2016 as part of an effort to boost participation of small businesses in federal tenders.

The marketplace will become part of the DTA's BuyICT - an umbrella platform that brings together all of the governments ICT procurement schemes.

"The panel is part of the DTA's broader strategy to transform the way the government buys and uses digital products and services," the DTA said of the new marketplace.

"We want to make it easier, faster and more cost-effective for government agencies to access the best digital solutions in the market. We also want to create a fair and competitive environment for sellers and to foster a vibrant and diverse digital ecosystem in Australia."

Suppliers have until 11 April 2024 to apply through BuyICT.gov.au.

In January, the DTA began coordinating a trial looking at how Australian public service agencies can use generative AI.

This aims to examine speeding up routine tasks with Copilot for Microsoft 365 between January and June. According to the DTA, over 7,400 public servants are participating in the trial.

Last year, the DTA opened itself up to commercial off-the-shelf software solutions to its Software Marketplace Panel.

The panel, the Software Marketplace  Whole of Australian Government Software Licensing and Services Panel in full, provides access to a myriad of products and services to the federal government.
Superloop has ordered Aussie Broadband to dispose of 38 million shares after infringing on the former's corporate constitution due to its presence in Singapore.

Aussie Broadband announced last month that, when it submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire Superloop for an implied value of around $467 million, it also acquired 19.9 per cent of Superloop's shares.

In addition to rejecting the deal that same day, Superloop has now come out to say that Aussie Broadband purchased too many shares and has to dispose of approximately 8 per cent of them.

In an announcement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Superloop said the purchase infringes against its constitution, which states that any given individual or collective is not allowed to own more than 12 per cent of shares on offer without first receiving permission from Singapore's Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), a government authority that regulates the countrys info-communications and media sectors.
The swift action by the Indian Navy led to the surrender of 35 pirates aboard the vessel, previously known as MV Ruen

Indian Navy Ship Kolkata successfully coerced all 35 pirates to surrender ensured safe evacuation of 17 crew members from the pirate vessel without any injury, Saturday, March 16, 2024. (PTI)

New Delhi: In a daring operation, Indian Navy elite commandos MARCOS conducted a high-stakes mission on Saturday by boarding a merchant vessel hijacked by Somali pirates in December. The vessel had since been repurposed as a mother ship for launching further hijacking attempts in the high seas.

The swift action by the Indian Navy led to the surrender of 35 pirates aboard the vessel, previously known as MV Ruen, and ensured the safe evacuation of 17 crew members who had been held hostage.

"In the last 40 hours, INS Kolkata, through coordinated efforts, successfully compelled all 35 pirates to surrender and safely evacuated 17 crew members from the pirate vessel without any injuries," stated the Indian Navy.

INS Kolkata, along with other naval assets including INS Subhadra, MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, and P8I maritime patrol aircraft, intercepted the pirate ship Ruen approximately 1,400 nautical miles (2,600km) from the Indian Coast. Through strategic manoeuvres, the Indian Navy forced the pirate vessel to halt its operations. Additionally, Indian Navy's MARCOS were deployed via air-drop from a C-17 aircraft to execute the operation.

Further, the vessel has been thoroughly searched for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition, and contraband.

The MV Ruen, a Malta-flagged commercial vessel, was hijacked on December 15 in the Arabian Sea and diverted towards Somalia. It is suspected that the Somali pirates utilised the MV Ruen to hijack a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia earlier this week. This incident marked the first successful hijacking involving Somali pirates since 2017, following a crackdown by international navies in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

Earlier reports indicated that the pirates aboard the ex-MV Ruen had opened fire when intercepted by the Indian Navy.

"In self-defence and to counter piracy, the warship took necessary actions as per international law, using minimal force to neutralise the pirates' threat to shipping and seafarers. The pirates were urged to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may have been holding against their will," stated the Indian Navy in an earlier statement.
The bench said there was no manner of doubt that SBI is required to make complete disclosure of all details which are in its possession

New Delhi: In a stinging rebuke to the State Bank of India, the Supreme Court on Monday told it to stop being selective and make a complete disclosure of all details on the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme by March 21 to the Election Commission. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud said the details to be disclosed include the unique bond numbers that will reveal the link between buyers and recipient political parties.

The bench said there was no manner of doubt that the SBI is required to make complete disclosure of all details which are in its possession.

The bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B.R. Gavai, J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said the EC shall forthwith upload on its website the details received from the State bank of India.

In a landmark verdict, a five-judge Constitution Bench had scrapped the scheme, terming it unconstitutional, and ordered disclosure by the EC of donors, the amount donated by them and the recipients by March 13.

On March 11, the SBI, which unsuccessfully argued for an extension of time till June 30 to disclose electoral bonds details, faced searching questions from the top court which wanted to know about the steps taken to comply with its directions.

On Friday, the top court admonished the SBI for furnishing incomplete information and issued a notice to the bank to explain the reasons for the non-disclosure of unique alphanumeric numbers.

During the hearing on Monday, the bench noted the submission of senior advocate Harish Salve, representing the SBI, that there was no reservation on the part of the bank in disclosing all the details of electoral bonds which are in its possession.

In order to fully effectuate the order and to obviate any controversy in the future, the chairman and managing director of SBI shall file an affidavit on or before 5 pm on Thursday (March 21) indicating that SBI has disclosed all details of the electoral bonds which were in its possession and custody and that no details have been withheld, the bench said.

During the proceedings, the bench asked the SBI to disclose all conceivable information on electoral bonds, including bond serial numbers, if any.

We had asked all details to be disclosed by the SBI which includes electoral bond numbers as well. Let SBI not be selective in disclosure, the bench mentioned orally.

The apex court had, in its verdict in the electoral bonds case, asked the bank to disclose all the details of the bonds and it should not wait for further orders on this aspect, the bench said.

The top court refused a hearing on unlisted pleas of industry bodies, Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India and Confederation of Indian Industry in the case. The industry bodies, through senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, wanted an urgent hearing on their interim application against the disclosure of the bond details.

Mr Salve told the bench it should not seem that the bank is playing with the court as it had no difficulty in disclosing the details of electoral bonds.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner NGO in the case, said that major political parties have not given the donor details and only some parties have given it.

There is enough assistance by public-spirited citizens, solicitor-general Tushar Mehta said, claiming that these sponsored NGOs are fudging figures.

The apex court also refused to take note of a letter by senior advocate Adish C. Aggarwala, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, seeking a suo motu review of the judgment on the disclosure of electoral bond details.

Apart from being a senior counsel, you are president of the SCBA. You know the procedure," CJI Chandrachud said, adding: You have written a letter asking me to invoke my suo motu jurisdiction. What is the locus to mention? These are all publicity-oriented stunts. We will not permit it.

Do not make me say anything more. It will be distasteful, the CJI told Mr Aggarwala, who had written a letter in his personal capacity.

The solicitor-general said that on behalf of the Central government: I completely disassociate myself with what Mr Aggarwala has written. It is completely unwarranted and ill-advised.

He also said that after the apex court's verdict on electoral bonds, witch hunting has started at some other level, not at the governmental level. Those before the court started giving press interviews, deliberately embarrassing the court and this creates a non-level playing field, Mr Mehta said.

The S-G also referred to social media posts and said these were intended to cause embarrassment. He stressed that the Centre's case was that they wanted to curb black money.

To this, the CJI said: Mr Solicitor, we are only concerned about enforcing the direction which we issued (on February 15). As judges, we decide according to the Constitution. We are governed by the rule of law. We are also the subject matter of comments in the social media and the press.

Surely, as an institution, our shoulders are broad enough. Our court has an institutional role to play in a polity which is governed by the Constitution and the rule of law. That is the only job, the CJI said.

The CJI said once the court delivers a judgment, it becomes the nation's property and is open for debate.

Mr Mehta said his purpose was to inform the apex court that there is something else playing out which neither the court intended nor the scheme intended.

I have something to share and I have been watching this very painfully outside the court. Your lordships sit in a kind of a silo. Your lordships are in an ivory tower, not in a negative sense of the term, but what we know here, your lordships never come to know, Mr Mehta said.
Modi woos women voters, attacks family politics of BRS, Congress

Addressing a public meeting, jam-packed with large number of women voters at Jagtial town in Karimnagar district of North Telangana where the saffron party is considered to be having greater support, the Prime Minister offered his obeisance to women by terming them as `Shakti Swaroopini and recalled that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders have insulted women at their meet in Shivaji Park, Mumbai on Sunday. (Age Image)

Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday deployed all his oratory skills to woo women voters with Nari Shakti, besides launching a scathing attack on corrupt and family politics of Congress and BRS leaders.

Addressing a public meeting, jam-packed with large number of women voters at Jagtial town in Karimnagar district of North Telangana where the saffron party is considered to be having greater support, the Prime Minister offered his obeisance to women by terming them as `Shakti Swaroopini and recalled that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders have insulted women at their meet in Shivaji Park, Mumbai on Sunday.

Stating himself as mai Bharat mata ka poojari huan. Har maa, beti ka poojari huan, the Prime Minister said he is ready to take up the challenge from opposition leaders and announced that he will sacrifice his life for the protection of women, who are regarded as Shakti. They are for Shakti ka Vinaash, whereas we always do Shakti Puja and the battle outcome on June 4 will decide who will win, the Prime Minister said.

Pointing out that his government has named the place where the Chandrayaan has landed on the moon as `Shiv Shakti,, Modi said he always gave high regard to women in the society and appealed to a large number of women, mostly beedi and farm workers in the meet to show their power in the Lok Sabha polls by voting BJP MPs.

Modi said the BRS government has ditched Telangana people, by looting the states resources for 10 years. The Congress too after coming to power, made Telangana state as their ATM. The money looted from the state is going to fund a family in Delhi. The same money is being spent to spread lies and against the integrity of the nation, he charged.

Charging the Congress and the BRS as partners-in-corruption and indulging in cover firing to protect each other, the Prime Minister asked why the BRS leaders are silent and not questioning the Congress government for not honouring its poll promises. The Congress leaders also did not initiate action against those involved in the Kaleshwaram scam to put them behind the bars. It reflects the hidden secret deal between them, Modi pointed out and announced that he will not spare those leaders involved in looting the hard-earned money of Telugu people. This is Modi's guarantee.

Modi also pointed out that all the scams in the country have its roots in family politics. Right from 2G Spectrum Scam, Bofors Scam, National Herald Scam, Fodder Scam, Land for Jobs scam and the latest Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scam and Delhi Liquor Policy Scam, all scams have their genesis in family politics. Asking people to reject the parties involved in family politics on May 13, the Prime Minister said he would put all his energies to make Viksit Telangana to see a Viksit Bharat.

Listing out the major infrastructure works carried out in Telangana by his government, the Prime Minister said his government revived Ramagundam Fertiliser Factory by spending Rs 6,500 crore and asked why the BRS and Congress governments have failed to revive the Nizam Sugar Factory in Bodhan.

The Prime Minister introduced Bandi Sanjay, the party nominee from Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat, Dharmapuri Arwind from Nizamabad, and Gomasa Srinivas from Peddapalli to voters.

To reach out to people, the Prime Minister's speech was intermittent with several Telugu words like Nalugu vandalu daatali, BJP ki vote veyyali among others. He also laid stress on how Telugu people are working hard in many nations, bringing laurels to the country.

Earlier, the BJP Telangana president G. Kishan Reddy welcomed the Prime Minister to the public meeting.
Voters face a crucial choice in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections amidst complex political dynamics and campaign strategies.

The 2024 Lok Sabha schedule has set up the finish line, June 4, when the votes will be counted and the results will be known. Till that final conclusive vote is checked, this election is really a matter of choice. Will the voter succumb to the familiarity of the buzz around the magic touch of Narendra Modi or will the voter take the risk of making a choice by scrutinising the baggage that Mr Modi and his party and government have accumulated in the past 10 years?

It could be argued that the choice between scrutiny and unconditional endorsement is what voters routinely do, so there is nothing special about the act in 2024. Not true. There is something, or rather there is more than one thing, that makes the issue of choice or preference a tough call for voters.

And, the BJP and its Sangh Parivar apparatus is just as conscious of this dilemma as is the voter. The Opposition and potential alternative to the BJP and its invincible star power is not a challenger of substance; the Congress is as shambolic as it has always been; the parties in alliance in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive bloc have separate strategies that they believe will ensure their future by securing their regional bases. The voter has to decide for or against the BJP amidst this scenario.

In 2024, Mr Modi as the unparalleled helmsman and vote catcher, the BJP as a vast and micro-managed organisation and the Sangh Parivar as the nerve centre of the right-wing Hindu Rashtra-Akhand Bharat ideology will all have to work much harder to take on challenges of their own creation. This is an entirely new test for the ruling side and its power base.

Having robbed itself of its best mobilisation gambit, the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and its baggage of dubious historical veracity by meeting Mr Modis deadline of consecrating the temple before the election, the overarching narrative of Hindutva currently lacks a focus, a purpose and a unifying appeal. The best thing about the Ram Temple story since the 1990s was its value as a switch that could be used to turn on or turn off the emotional mobilisation of the BJPs core constituency and voters swayed by the Hindutva appeal. In 2024, the temple is up and running and its future and fate will be the same as all the other temples that are taken for granted across India.

The big test for the voter will be to buy the story the Modi government is marketing that the electoral bonds through which the BJP raised Rs 6,060 crores since 2019 was a noble act aimed at cleaning up money paid to political parties by bringing in transparency. Was the money used as part of a barter or was the money given without strings is the choice that voters will have to make. Till the voters actually decide, there is no way of knowing whether the issue is important in deciding the future of Mr Modi.

Money power is something that voters understand very well. If the Election Commission is to be believed, the influence of money is more in some states than in others. A key campaign issue for Mr Modi is the role of money in politics, which he deploys as much against the Congress as he does against the regional and smaller parties by painting them all guilty of securing power and amassing money for the perpetuation of a particular dynasty. Therefore, EBs and why money was handed over by various companies to political beneficiaries will certainly be part of the public discourse.

The other issue that Mr Modi, inexplicably, chose to revive may not be as electrifying as he and the BJP had perhaps hoped. Notifying the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act were not welcomed as the answer to the prayers of Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist and Jain non-citizens whose families originally came from Akhand Bharat, or Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. After the mandatory but muted celebrations, there is no rush to submit applications and get certified as citizens; in fact, there is an obvious wariness about doing so.

The CAA issue was a last-minute job by the Modi government to keep the controversy  contestation on religious identity  alive as a key element. It did not take with voters regardless of how the Opposition predictably responded, from Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal to Pinarayi Vijayan in Kerala to M.K. Stalin in Tamil Nadu, who for different reasons emphatically rej-ected its implementation.

As the campaign kicks off, Mr Modi will have to generate the mania that musters the masses and propels them to the polling booths. Expectations are low from the united Opposition as a national alternative to the BJP, which effectively deprives Mr Modi of a credible target for his sharpest attacks.

Instead, he has the hard task of taking on the far better organised and certainly battle-hardened regional and smaller parties by calibrating his campaign to fit the priorities of each state, separately.

Having to be accountable for acts of omission and commission, state by state, is a complex matter. What is common to the states from the perspective of regional and smaller parties is the Centres discrimination against the people or outright deprivation of benefits or wasting public money on projects that do not solve peoples problems of joblessness, price rise, unaffordable costs of education, impoverishment due to a health shock, negative savings and the general lack of opportunities that makes taking risks even less attractive than ever before. What is common to the states is also the promise that a double-engine sarkar is the panacea for all ills. What is also common is that the double-engine is backed by Modis guarantees.

This particular narrative has been successful in keeping the BJP in power across North India and out of power across the South. The reason is that India looks very different from the South; it is richer for starters, and the BJPs labharthi schemes are mostly inconsequential as the states had delivered these benefits before Mr Modi thought it electorally expedient. All Lok Sabha elections are historic. The 2024 one will also be historic; Indian democracy, or rather the voter, will get to make a choice of chugging along like a blinkered beast of burden or seizing the initiative by calling the political class to account. Opinion polls indicate voters will choose preserving the status quo. In politics, that is a dangerous place to be for those who want to stay in power and those who want to win power.
Sandwiched between Montgomery, Alabama's labyrinthian train tracks and winding rivers, a long-abandoned land area is now repurposed into a physical manifestation of lawyer and social activist Bryan Stevenson's vision of reckoning with the tortured history of slavery: the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park.

Within the 17-acre-big site, set to be available to the public later this month, are about 50 sculptures from acclaimed contemporary artists like Kehinde Wiley, Simone Leigh, and Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, all of whom aimed to evoke America's painful past.

Stevenson told CBS that artists have the unique ability to showcase "the humanity and the dignity of people" amid events that are "brutal and violent," and the park is a collection of such artists' works.

He added that this initiative is his collective's way of tackling an otherwise "challenging subject" head-on and helping people come to terms with a past intertwined "with the lives of enslaved people" in an artistic form that is more easily digested and confronted.

Equal Justice Initiative's New Initiative Highlighting Racial Injustices

The park is the latest initiative by Stevenson and his similarly Montgomery-based organization, Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), of which he is the founder and director.

Across three decades, Stevenson and his team have helped people on death row through legal services and have overturned over 140 convictions and sentences to date. According to him, understanding today's racial injustices starts by confronting the past where it's rooted.

So far, EJI has built three cultural sites in line with its mission, which includes the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Sculpture Park, all of which revolve around America's history of lynching.

As per Stevenson, all he hopes to do is "honor" the 10 million individuals who were once enslaved in the country and their struggles, suffering, and eventual perseverance.

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Confronting the Past Through the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park

Would-be park visitors will begin the experience across the Alabama River, the same system of streams that tens of thousands of enslaved Africans once took when they first arrived in the country by boats.

Stevenson said that these people marched for over half a mile soon after they landed. He also explained a routinely occurring heartbreaking event called "the weeping time," where the enslaved people constantly feared being separated from their loved ones.

The park itself showcases a mix of historical artifacts and artistic installations that provide a glimpse into this painful past, including a 170-year-old plantation dwelling, a whipping post, and a myriad of thought-evoking sculptures.

One notable piece is by American conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas, which is entitled "Strike." The silver-hued sculpture standing half as tall as the trees that surround it depicts two arms, one holding a baton and one stopping the "strike" of the other.

This particular piece represents the violence of slavery and the eventual resistance that was propped up to oppose it.

About the piece, Thomas said: "In this case, the gesture of just stopping the brutality begins the opportunity for us to find peace."

For more information on the park, including visitation schedules, visit The Legacy Sites website by clicking here.

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 2024 Classicalite All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
by Nirmala Carvalho

In the year when the Islamic holy month and Lent overlap, Profs Gaetano Sabetta and Nadjia Kebour of the Pontifical Urbaniana University and Jesuit Fr Victor Edwin have coordinated an initiative of interfaith dialogue between Rome and India as a way to learn to disagree better, respecting each other.

Delhi (AsiaNews)  Young Christian students in Delhi and Rome are taking part in a special initiative of accompaniment in prayer and dialogue with their Muslim brothers and sisters during the holy month of Ramadan. This takes on a special significance in India today.

The initiative is the work of two professors at the Pontifical Urbaniana University, Prof Gaetano Sabetta, an Italian Christian, and Prof Nadjia Kebour, an Algerian Muslim who has lived in Rome for years, along with some students and other friends from the Focolare Movement in Delhi and Fr Victor Edwin SJ, a member of the Association for Islamic Studies in the capital of India.

[S]ome young Christian students in Rome and Delhi are accompanying their Muslim friends in their prayers during this month of Ramadan, said Prof Gaetano Sabetta and Prof Nadjia Kebour speaking to AsiaNews.

This coincides with the period of Lent, which is also marked by prayer, fasting, and sharing in the name of God. We thus have a confluence of religiously and spiritually significant periods that can stimulate unprecedented encounters between different believers in and towards a renewed interfaith understanding, they explain.

Both Delhi and Rome are centres of their respective Hindu-Muslim and Christian civilisations, and such an initiative is undoubtedly of great religious and moral significance.

In fact, the idea follows similar experiences elsewhere. The initiative of accompanying Muslim brothers and sisters in prayer originated on the island of Mindanao where Christians started with a programme called 'Accompanying Ramadan, Sabetta and Kebour note.

This spiritual practice of accompaniment and sharing was then taken up in some parishes in the city of Liverpool by adding some information about Ramadan. Given the paramount importance of the Qur'an to Muslims, it was thought that this prayer guide could be supplemented with some brief information about the Muslim holy book.

This has led to short daily reflections on the suras of the Qur'an that Card (Michael) Fitzgerald, as a Christian, wanted to offer to all Christians and others as an opportunity to spiritually accompany our Muslim brothers and sisters during their month of Ramadan, eventually becoming a book titled Journeying With Muslims-Listening, Praying and Working Together.

Several students from Rome and Delhi are involved, coordinated by the three scholars.

It is part of a broader movement of interreligious dialogue and encounter that also involves the practice of Interfaith Scriptural Reasoning (ISR), said the two professors from Pontifical Urbaniana University. ISR is a tool for interfaith dialogue that brings people of different faiths together to read and reflect on their scriptures.

[I]t is not about seeking agreement, but about exploring the texts and their possible interpretations across faith boundaries and learning to disagree better. The result is often a deeper understanding of each others scriptures and their own, and the development of strong bonds between faith communities.

As such, It is a small open door for every Christian to enter into the Muslim religious world and thus benefit and rejoice by overcoming all prejudices", which is how a young Christian student described the experience.

Our hope can only be to promote a falling in love between religions and cultures. A falling in love that passes through mutual knowledge and relative sharing, including through common actions to be carried out for the common good, the two Urbaniana scholars add.

There is no lack of difficulties, given the prejudices resulting from mutual ignorance and oversimplification, and the difficulty of getting closer to the other, but nothing can stop this slow but steady movement of interfaith drawing closer to the one God.
by Melani Manel Perera

Yesterday a hundred women received free medical treatment and counselling provided by the Dabindu Collective and the Seeduwa Health District, including, among others, breast check-ups, pap smears, and blood tests. As a result of the countrys economic woes and the need to work, many Sri Lankans have not been able to seek medical care or undergo check-ups.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  A one-day free medical clinic was held yesterday for Free Trade Zone (FTZ) workers, with free medical examinations, counselling, and medical drugs.

The initiative was meant to address structural deficiencies and poor access to care for FTZ female employees.

For one of the women, This medical clinic is a big help and a big relief for us. It is a great opportunity for the women employees who cannot go to a medical centre.

Organised by the Dabindu Collective, in cooperation with the Seeduwa Public Health District, the clinic was held from 8 am to 4 pm, at Dabindus Katunayake office, and served about a hundred women.

Dabindu Collective executive director Chamila Thushari told AsiaNews that the medical clinic focused on women, especially the youngest, because they are under great pressure and face serious limitations due to widespread poverty.

Given the countrys economic crisis, it is increasingly hard for many Sri Lankans to receive medical treatment or pay for healthcare.

Workers in special zones who are underpaid lack the money to undergo medical check-ups; for this reason, says Thushari, "we have paid special attention to their health".

To this end, Public Health Office chief Dr Ravi Silva, along with Drs Supipi de Silva and Chaminda Senarath, a public health nurse, six female assistants, and a public health inspector from Seeduwa contributed to the "one-day mobile medical clinic for 100 people.

The women underwent various examinations and received different counselling, including a physical check-up, blood pressure measurement, blood test for diabetes, body fat index measurement, blood cholesterol test, breast ultrasound and self-test, pap tests for cervical cancer, thyroid test, family planning and reproductive information, and health education.

In addition to the examinations, the women received awareness-raising information from Dr Ravi Silva on family planning, abortion, and diseases related to the reproductive system, cancer and related problems, and possible treatments.

Since FTZ workers are not paid if they do not go to work, they are very reluctant to consult a doctor or go to the hospital for their illnesses, said Chamila Tushari speaking to AsiaNews. Also, they don't have enough money to meet their health needs because of the high prices of tests and medical treatment."

For Dr Silva, it was important that female workers take advantage of the mobile clinic to be examined, especially the pap smear.

Among those who were tested, about three or four had some kind of breast infection, and steps were immediately taken to refer them for further medical consultations and advanced examinations," he said.

Dabindu executive director Thushari said that several women were referred for emergency treatment or further consultations based on their condition, including three or four women with some kind of breast problem, 16 with high cholesterol, and several with high blood pressure.

Today we got great support from the clinic. All those who came here had some need or suffered from some kind of discomfort. We all had a chance to get a good check-up, Budhika Sanjeevani, a young FTZ employee, told AsiaNews.

The doctors, she added, recommended the necessary treatments or check-ups. We are really happy, and thank the Dabindu Collective for giving us such a great opportunity.
by Santosh Digal

Renamed the 'Lasallian Institute for Evangelisation and Catechesis', it has been training religion teachers for public schools in the capital and other areas of the country since 1952. Archbishop Fisichella praised its commitment "in the development of leadership in catechesis and faith education".

Manila (AsiaNews) - The De La Salle Catechetical Centre in Manila, founded in 1952 by Br Andelino Manuel Castillo to train teachers of the faith capable of evangelising young people in the capital's government schools, changed its name a few days ago. It is now called Lasallian Institute for Evangelisation and Catechesis.

"Beyond a simple name change," said Br Armin Luistro, a Filipino, Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, an Institute born in France and arrived in the Philippines in 1922, at the inauguration hosted by De La Salle University in Manila, "it marks a new direction for the Centre in the light of the principles set out in the Directory for Catechesis.

The emphasis on evangelisation and catechesis, values that underpin the Institute's educational activities, is an opportunity to return to the origins of the charism, to what is "the legacy of John Baptist de La Salle," the founder, Luistro said, recalling that "the existence and teaching of the Brothers is an essential component of the Church's evangelising mission. Also present at the event was Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the section for fundamental questions of evangelisation in the world of the Dicastery for Evangelisation.

Fisichella recalled the centrality of the ministry of catechism in the mission of the Church, recalling the documents of the Directory and the apostolic letter "Antiquum ministerium". He then expressed appreciation for the work carried out by the Lassalian Brothers present in the Philippines, defined by the pro-prefect as "catechetical experts", especially in light of their commitment and dedication "in evangelization and in the development of leadership in catechesis and education to faith."

Since 1952 the Center has pursued the objective of providing religious education to children enrolled in public schools. In the early days the mission consisted of offering assistance and catechesis to poor and disadvantaged people, following the vocation of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

At the beginning it was Bro. Castillo to involve 29 catechist students from high school and university departments, which soon became around one hundred. After an initial phase of experimentation, a more structured proposal followed in 1957, defined by Castillo as "essential", from which the figures of "professional catechists" emerged.

A method was developed in synergy with public school administrators in order to train full-time religious education teachers. The initial difficulties were mainly financial. A number of charitable organisations affiliated with the university came to the rescue, raising funds for the project.

In addition, parish priests also contributed a portion of the salaries of catechists employed in their parishes and neighbouring public schools. Today, there are 16 public schools and parishes in the Diocese of Paranaque and the Archdiocese of Manila where the Centre offers its services.

These activities continue even after the name change: they consist of research, pastoral workshop work and the continuous development of leaders in pastoral ministries. Director Lysander Rivera is convinced that 'the Church today needs compassionate, competent and committed teachers of religion.

The mission is to meet young people in schools in more developed areas, but also in rural areas. Not only in the Philippines, but throughout Asia, driven by the Church's 'vocation to explore new ways and creative ways of sharing the Gospel,' Rivera continues. In the Southeast Asian country, this is already happening.

Here "the Brothers of the Christian Schools have been dedicating themselves to the charism of their founder of teaching minds, touching hearts and changing lives, for more than a century", stated Br. on the occasion of the inaugural ceremony. Raymundo Suplido, president of the University.
The Malaysian cabinet is sending one of its ministers to China to propose investments in a rare-earth refinery. It is unclear whether Beijing will make an exception to its ban on the export of technologies for the extraction and separation of rare earths. A local plant is also designed to cut a thriving illegal trade in critical minerals.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Malaysia is turning to China to develop its rare earth elements (REEs) and reduce illegal mineral exports.

According to the Straits Times, Malaysias Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Chang Lih Kang is set to visit China in late April to find an investor in a processing plant in Malaysia.

Although China banned the export of technologies for rare-earth extraction and separation last December, Malaysia hopes to convince Chinese authorities to make an exception to set up an alternative supply chain.

We are going to explore opportunities to play a greater role in the rare-earth supply chain, Minister Chang said.

China, which had an estimated 44 million metric tonnes in rare earth reserves in 2023, produces more than 60 per cent of the worlds total mined output of REEs, and accounts for 85 per cent of rare-earth processing capacity, holding a de facto monopoly.

Rare earths are a group of minerals crucial the production of modern technologies, from wind turbines and electric car batteries to smartphones to ballistic missiles. Despite their name, they are found in great quantities in some countries.

Malaysia already has a processing plant, the largest outside China, operated by Lynas, an Australian company, but at present it lacks the capacity to process locally mined ore.

China, on the other hand, is the only country that has the technology to process all 17 elements that make up the rare earth group.

Malaysia has over 16 million tonnes of non-radioactive REEs, valued at around RM 800 billion (US$ 170 billion), Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said in June 2023, but some experts believe that increasing demand could push their value to RM 1 trillion (US$ 212 billion).

According to trade data for 2023, Malaysia exported RM 975 million (IS$ 205 million) in REEs to China, making it Chinas second-largest source of mineral imports after Myanmar.

For Malaysia, the construction of a rare-earth refinery in Malaysia would cut back on illegal exports.

Last week, Minister Nik Nazmi told parliament that only 3,000 tonnes, or less than a sixth, of the 19,000 tonnes of rare-earth oxide produced by China in 2023 from Malaysian ore came from legal exports. That is a loss of RM 200 million (US$ 45 million).

For this reason, a ban on the export of unprocessed rare earths came into force at start of the year.

Only one legally certified mine has received an exemption until the end of March, when it must decide whether to shut down or begin costly stockpiling.

In September, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that the ban was aimed at "guarantee[ing] maximum returns for the country".

The Malaysian government expects the rare earth industry to add RM 9.5 billion ringgit (US$ 2 billion) to GDP and create 7,000 new jobs by next year.

Experts warn though that the ban will have no effect on rare earth smuggling. Fines for such (smuggling) offences can be as low as RM 10,000 (US$ 2,100), which a smuggler can make in a day, a source told The Straits Times.

The Malaysian government promised to draft a plan for rare-earth processing, but it is presently on hold.

In the meantime, lawmaker Howard Lee Chuan How has been appointed to head a new parliamentary caucus on critical minerals. "We need to have a Petronas of critical minerals," Lee said, referring to the state-owned oil and gas company.

For Lee, Malaysia needs industry-specific rules instead of relying on general mining regulations to make the sector profitable and counter illegal exports.
Today's news: only 51.7% of South Koreans want to get married, 28.3% intend to have children 'with certainty'; Hanoi reports annual crop losses of three billion dollars, Mekong Delta in crisis; Elections in India scheduled between 19 April and early June; The Israeli government instituted the annual national day of remembrance of the 'catastrophe' on 7 October; Russian President Putin re-elected with 87.17% of the vote.

PAKISTAN - AFGHANISTAN

Eight people, all women and children, were killed today in at least two cross-border Pakistani army airstrikes in Pakistan, in an action that the Taliban in Kabul describe as "reckless". Tensions on the border between the two countries have increased with the return to power of Koranic students in summer 2021. The operations follow the killing of seven Pakistani soldiers over the weekend, following which President Asif Ali Zardari promised "retaliation" .

SOUTH KOREA

Only half of the adult population in South Korea plans to get married, and less than half want to have children in the future. This is what emerges from a research released yesterday, on a sample of 1059 bachelors between 19 and 49 years old according to which only 51.7% intend to settle down while 24.5% exclude it completely, 19.1% are undecided. By gender, more men were willing to marry (56.3%) than women (47.2%). Only 28.3% want to have children.

VIETNAM

Hanoi faces around three billion dollars a year in crop losses as more and more saltwater seeps into farmland. The most serious situation is in the Mekong Delta, an area better known as the "rice bowl of Vietnam" because it provides subsistence to tens of millions of people in the country. Fruit trees account for 29% of damage in the Mekong Delta, crops account for 27%, and rice accounts for nearly 14%.

INDIA

India will elect a new Parliament in seven phases between April 19 and early June, the Election Commission said over the weekend, in what will be the world's largest election with around a billion voters. The last of the seven phases of voting will be held on June 1st and the votes will be counted from June 4th, for what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called "the greatest festival of democracy".

CHINA - SINGAPORE

The Chinese embassy in Singapore is urging expats in the city-state to stay away from all types of betting, warning that overseas gambling violates Beijing's laws. The warning follows the crackdown imposed by the government against those abroad in South-East Asian countries who are addicted to betting, whether illegal or otherwise, who will not receive help from the embassies in the event of problems.

ISRAEL - PALESTINE

The Israeli government decided yesterday "unanimously" to establish an annual national day of remembrance for "the catastrophe" of October 7, with reference to the Hamas attack in the south that triggered the war in Gaza. A ceremony will be held "every year at 11 am for the soldiers fallen in war and another at 1 pm in memory of the murdered civilians" for a total of at least 1160 deaths. The war in the Strip has already killed 31,600 people, 13 thousand children. During the night the army launched a new operation against al-Shifa hospital.

RUSSIA

President Vladimir Putin was re-elected with 87.17% of the votes, with approximately 70% of the ballots counted. This was announced by the Election Commission, which indicates the candidate of the Communist Party Nikolai Kharitonov in second place with 4.19% of the votes, Vladislav Davankov (New People) and Leonid Slutsky (LDPR) in third and fourth place respectively with 4.08 % and 3.15%. The turnout in the three days of voting was high, with 74.22% of those entitled to vote. In his first speech, the Kremlin leader commented for the first time on the death of Alexei Navalny, speaking of a "sad event".

TURKEY - AZERBAIJAN

Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, insisted in a joint press conference in Baku with his counterparts from Azerbaijan and Georgia on the reopening of the "Zangezur corridor" (Lachin for Armenians). For the head of Ankara's diplomacy it is the best possibility to guarantee stable peace in the region, taking into account all the countries involved.
An investigation reveals the effects of an amendment passed in November affecting thousands of people. The seizures are aimed at creating 'reserve building areas', a temporary measure to speed up recovery. Citizens protest: 'We are able to repair our homes'.

Istanbul (AsiaNews) - The relief and luck, amidst the devastation, of seeing one's house still standing while the earthquake had razed entire neighborhoods all around, followed, less than a year later, by the bitter surprise of seeing it seized by the government with a short and cold text message on the phone notifying the expropriation measure.

This is what happened to 61-year-old Habip Yapar, originally from southern Turkey, who was also hit by the earthquake of 6 February 2023 and who, last October, had to symbolically hand over the keys to his home in the province of Hatay to officials of the Ministry of Treasure.

Yapar's story emerged in an investigation published today by Reuters, which affected many thousands of other fellow citizens who survived the earthquake and were affected by an amendment to the urban planning law.

Turkish Urban Planning Minister Mehmet Ozhaseki said in early February that the government needs the new powers established in the law amendment to speed up the redevelopment of neighborhoods in cities severely damaged by the earthquake.

Hatay, on the border with Syria, suffered the most damage during the deadliest earthquake in the country's modern history and, since then, reconstruction seems to have lagged behind the ambitious deadlines - and plans - set by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to the regulation, approved in November, the seizures were aimed at creating "reserve building areas", a temporary measure to speed up the recovery and the affected people would have the right to a new property after paying the cost of construction, without however providing details on the financial burden.

Although earthquake insurance is mandatory, the rule is not always enforced and often only covers part of the costs of rebuilding or purchasing a property. The Reuters investigation, which interviewed dozens of residents, lawyers and officials, found that thousands of homeowners were caught off guard by the seizure plans, and many learned from social media that their properties would be affected.

Like Yapar, dozens of people in the coastal town of Samandag received messages before the amendment was even passed in November. Five months later, the government has still provided no information on the payments, what will happen if they are unable to make it, any compensation they may be entitled to, and when and for how long exactly their bonds will be in the executive's possession.

Yapar lives with his wife, adult son and daughter in a temporary tent shelter. And like him, at least 215 thousand survivors of Hatay live in container camps or tents. A retired civil engineer, he had been saving to repair his two-storey house but with the transfer of ownership to the government he is unable to start the work and is currently scheduled for demolition. He has filed a lawsuit against the demolition, denying that the building is irrecoverable and unusable. We can - he states - rebuild our homes on our own and we don't want a cent from the State.

The story of the 61-year-old engineer is not an isolated case in Hatay, because several lawsuits have already been initiated in the courts against forced expropriations, while there are no official comments from the Ministry of Urban Planning and the president's office. Meanwhile, several opposition parties have submitted parliamentary questions to ask the ministry for more information on the new law, but they have remained unanswered.

Hatice Altinoz said she and her son Ahmet had to leave their damaged apartment in Antioch because it is in an area largely cleared for reconstruction. The authorities, she points out, did not provide us with a container to stay in because our building had not collapsed, so I moved into my daughter's container house.

My family and I - comments Dilay Dolar, 57 years old, entrepreneur - have worked hard to own these assets [...] But now it is not clear what the future holds for us.

Recently Msgr. Paolo Bizzeti, apostolic vicar of Anatolia and president - recently reconfirmed - of Caritas Turkey, had warned of "critical issues" in post-earthquake management both due to the "enormous dimensions" of the tragedy and the uncertainties. Regulatory plans will be needed - warned the prelate - ideas and projects, management that is not clientelistic.

In total, Erdogan promised 254 thousand new homes for the province of Hatay; construction has been completed on fewer than 7,300 of these so far, according to data from the governor's office.
Chuck Garvey, guitarist and vocalist of the jam band moe. He survived a stroke in 2021 that left him unable to speak and with nerve damage to his right hand. He overcame these challenges and will return to the stage on Tuesday night at Belly Up.
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SUV

EV

American Honda sales in February 2024 were up by 32%, and the year-to-date figure is also vastly positive, thanks to a surge of 21.2% in deliveries for both cars and trucks from Japanese automakers. However, it's not all roses and daffodils because the jump was entirely supported by the mainstream Honda brand, while Acura 'dragged its feet' and wrapped the total after the first two months with a 7.5% drop in terms of sales.Luckily, there are perspectives for recovery because Honda and Acura both are preparing a lot of novelties like the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX (plus ZDX Type S) all-electric crossover SUVs, Honda's odd CR-V fuel cell vehicle, the refreshed 2025 Civic and Civic Hybrid, or the upgraded Odyssey. No worries, Acura has even more novelties planned  such as "significant enhancements" for the best-selling MDX, "appeal and functionality upgrades" for the RDX, and an all-new base Acura crossoverjoining the lineup alongside the Integra liftback sedan.But what if that is not enough to revert the slump? No worries, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators is also here to lend a helping hand based on the rumor mill's latest leaked patent images. Not long ago, a new Acura sedan surfaced in design patent images, and it looked as if the PrecisionConcept was its pattern. Naturally, everyone thought that was the upcoming third generation of the facelifted TLX 'premium sport sedan' looking all futuristic.Since then, Acura has refuted the apparition, claiming that while the leaked patent images are legitimate, they don't depict any model that is coming to market. Instead, they were merely created for an internal concept that will never see the light of day. There you go, case closed. Well, not exactly, and not really. We have witnessed automakers dispute the rumor mill's findings only to prove they were just hiding the truth behind a ribbon.Also, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators doesn't really care about the official confirmations  when they see something they like; they sure create a design project based on it. That is exactly what happened here with the Halo oto channel on YouTube, which provides fresh automotive info corroborated with their virtual designs; now, there are new CGI ideas about the potentially upcoming 2026 TLX based on those leaked patent images.Compared to the current 2024 TLX, the design is indeed quite futuristic and akin to a concept car, but in the end, that doesn't mean it's not feasible for the next generation or that Acura should continue with the rather bland styling it currently employs for the last of its surviving passenger cars  Integra and TLX, plus their Type S high-performance counterparts. What do you think?
SUV

They are both made on the same platform and share the same South Korean parent company. However, they still differ slightly because the Hyundai Palisade was first presented in late 2018, followed shortly by the Kia Telluride in early 2019. Only the latter is produced locally in the United States, while the former is built at home, in Russia, and in Vietnam.Curiously, Kia's Telluride has managed to outsell the Hyundai Palisade every year since they were launched, with the sole exception of 2020. However, the margin is slim, and Hyundai probably thinks it can best its Kia sibling with a gentle nudge from its behalf. So, while Kia is preoccupied with making sure the all-electric EV9 counterpart has a good start on the US market, Hyundai is trying to maneuver the Palisade in a better position with the impending arrival of the second generation of the mid-sizeIt was late February 2024 when we first glimpsed the all-new 2025 or 2026 Hyundai Palisade thanks to our spy photographer partners, and it's clear that the all-new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe has a massive influence over the styling of its larger sibling. Expected to transition to an all-new architecture, the Palisade might keep its mighty V6 to make sure everyone understands it's slotted above the Santa Fe but will probably also welcome electrified powertrain options in the lineup.Inside, it will sport a massive widescreen display to make sure it's continuing with the times, but we still don't know anything about its true design since the testing program is at its early stages and the SUV is clad in loads of camouflage as its premiere is probably a year or so away. Well, no worries; those who are too impatient for Hyundai's official release can always turn to the imaginative realm of digital car content creators for some potential CGIs Nikita Chuicko, the virtual artist better known as kelsonik on social media, thinks now is the right CGI time to play with the next Hyundai Palisade as he tries to virtually peel away the many layers of camouflage and envision what's underneath. Of course, take all of these renderings with a healthy dose of salt because nothing has been announced officially from Hyundai just yet. However, we wouldn't be surprised if the real world's Hyundai Palisade came close to this unofficial design project because this pixel master is working for various automotive publications to envision the hottest upcoming models.So, what do you think? Does the Santa Fe influence suit the next-generation Hyundai Palisade, or is the South Korean automaker losing its touch and should try a different approach to make sure the two models don't become unlawful competitors?
This 30-year-old sailing yacht bears an instantly recognizable name, Captain Cook, and is even more impressive than you'd expect. Basically rebuilt by its most recent owners and turned into a luxurious pleasure craft by contemporary standards, this gorgeous Turkish vessel has started a new chapter under new ownership.

There's nothing that a genuine yachting connoisseur loves more than to restore a classic masterpiece to its original glory and equip it for contemporary operations. Ahmet and Cigdem Ongun purchased a gorgeous sailing yacht built in 1993 and decided to invest in a full restoration. The old vessel was practically rebuilt and sumptuously restyled. It was a long-term project with a spectacular outcome.Captain Cook was originally built at the Gulluk Shipyard more than three decades ago. During the restoration, its hull was almost fully rebuilt, yet the owners made sure that the original proportions would remain intact; they didn't want to turn this into a bigger yacht but to keep the perfect size that made it so well-balanced and stable on the water. The original two-tone paint scheme was replaced by a more modern, uniform look.Onboard, the revamped yacht reveals a sophisticated British Colonial interior decor and a three-stateroom layout that can accommodate up to six guests. Having only three staterooms meant that each could boast generous spaciousness and sophisticated, marble-clad en-suite bathrooms. The surprisingly spacious main salon with two separate areas is complemented by an equally generous outdoor lounging area on the deck.At 30 meters (98.4 feet), Captain Cook exudes the relaxed ambiance of a classic masterpiece and the luxurious comfort of a contemporary pleasure craft. Its eclectic spirit merges Turkish roots with high-end Italian fabrics and timeless British colonial elements such as dark wood and vintage furniture.Originally built for an Austrian millionaire, it was named Miss Austria in honor of the Austrian contestant who won the Miss Universe title that year (1993). For many years, it would later operate as a romantic honeymoon charter yacht in the Caribbean.In an interesting twist of fate, the Turkish schooner would end up being refitted at a Brooklyn shipyard after an unfortunate encounter with a hurricane while sailing in the Atlantic. In the early 2000s, it was renamed Miss Sabrina and became a luxury day cruiser for a high-end hotel. After years of adventures and several ownerships, things had come full circle  the old schooner was back in Turkey, where Ahmet found it and saved it.Although the meticulous restoration process and its rich history are worth much more than that, Captain Cook was recently snatched for less than $1.5 million. It was a real bargain, considering the vessel's gorgeous, luxurious styling, classic craftsmanship, and adventurous past that fully confirmed its sea-worthiness.Hopefully, Captain Cook will also become available for charter under the new ownership so that many others can enjoy its unique spirit.
Over the past few years, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) stole the spotlight when it comes to incredible pieces of hardware that are meant to unlock the mysteries of the Universe. And for good reason, as this incredible and very expensive tool is doing science like nothing before it.

Photo: NASA

Photo: NASA

But it, too, will soon be dwarfed by something much better, because this is the nature of things. And that something better is called the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, formally known as the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST).Named after the American scientist who is considered the mother of another impressive telescope, the Hubble, Roman will basically use infrared and optical instruments to look far back in space and time and unravel even more mysteries of our Universe. It will mainly look at dark energy and exoplanets, but also at stars and everything that sits between them.The Roman is scheduled to lift off onboard a Falcon Heavy rocket no sooner than 2027 (two years ago the launch was targeted for 2026).The spacecraft (we'll call the entire assembly that because, well, that's what it technically is) is centered around the main telescope, a 2.4 meter (7.9 feet) wide primary mirror. Backing it are two specialized instruments, the Wide Field Instrument (WFI) and the Coronagraphic Instrument (CGI).The former, a multi-band visible and near-infrared camera, will be pointed at the sky and should give NASA a much wider (by about 100 times) field of view than what the Hubble is capable of. Thanks to this trait, it should be able to uncover about 2,600 exoplanets in five years, which is how long the primary Roman mission is expected to last.The second instrument, the CGI, is there to block out the direct light of a star, allowing the Roman telescope to directly see planets discovered with the help of the WFI.All of the above is part of the telescope's primary mission, but NASA is looking forward to accepting scientific ideas from interested parties. And the first-ever general astrophysics survey was just announced.It's called the Galactic Plane Survey, and NASA describes it as "an unprecedented survey of the plane of our Milky Way galaxy," meant to map "more of our galaxy's stars than all previous observations combined."The idea is too recent to be fully detailed, but the people behind it have been working on fine-tuning the details for years, and first submitted a white paper on the project in 2021. It took NASA and its partners a long time to accept it, and they did so because the Galactic Plane Survey "was the top-ranked submission" for Roman science.You see, although we now know a lot about the distant Universe, the same cannot be said about the immediate neighborhood, the Milky Way galaxy. Its plane, the imaginary plane that cuts it into two halves, top and bottom, is so large that it could take an impossible amount of time to study it all. Then, the dust floating around the galaxy makes it difficult to distinguish anything of value with our current tools.There have been attempts at getting a better picture of what lies beyond the galactic center. The Spitzer Space Telescope, for instance, was used to look at the galactic plane, and it did reveal some star-forming regions there. But it still didn't give us a proper look at the place because of its limitations and raised more questions than answers.It's very possible that Roman will answer those questions. Looking deeper into the place than anything else before it, it should provide a "pretty close to a complete census of all the stars in our galaxy," and it should be able to do that in just about a month.That's because the Roman could easily cover 1,000 square degrees of the sky, potentially revealing in the process 100 billion cosmic objects. By comparison, say the scientists behind the idea, it would take the James Webb decades to do the same thing.Compared to the Gaia mission of the European Space Agency (ESA), which mapped over one billion stars within about 10,000 light-years, Roman has the potential to map 100 billion of them located as far as 100,000 light years, and even beyond.Of course, finding them doesn't also mean we'll immediately know where all the stars in our galaxy are. It will probably take many years for astronomers to go through the immense amount of data Roman will generate during its survey of the stars.But along with knowledge about the Milky Way's star locations we should also get a better comprehension of stars' temperatures, their current stage, composition, and size. There are even hopes our kind will get a better understanding of the main components of the Milky Way, namely the central region (the bulge), the bar, and the spiral arms that give it its distinctive shape.
Google Maps might be the world's number one mobile navigation app, but it doesn't mean it's always right.

Unfortunately, people keep learning this the hard way, sometimes ending up in the most unusual and dangerous places after following Google Maps' suggested routes. Locals in the Kodagu district in Karnataka, India, are fed up with Google Maps sending drivers to the wrong route to end up on their roads, so they erected a dedicated sign to tell everybody that "Google Maps is wrong."The road sign shared on X (formerly Twitter) this week tells motorists that "this road does not go to Club Mahindra." While we don't know the story behind the sign, I can assume that whoever erected the sign was annoyed by the hordes of drivers following Google Maps to find the so-called Club Mahindra.The road sign has a clear goal: to tell motorists they're not following the right route, so they shouldn't use Google Maps to find the club.Erecting a traffic sign to tell motorists not to trust sat-nav software is an approach others have used in several regions . Drivers have become dangerously addicted to Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze, trusting everything these apps say and following their directions blindly. In some cases, authorities had no option but to install signs to tell motorists to ignore Google Maps and follow the traffic signage as they drive to a popular destination.It doesn't mean everybody follows these recommendations. Earlier this year, a dozen drivers returning from the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Las Vegas used Google Maps to avoid the traffic jam on the interstate, eventually leaving the paved way for a route through the desert . While the suggested route had red flags all over the place, several drivers took Google Maps' advice and started driving on the desert path, hoping it'd lead somewhere.It didn't, with the dozen drivers reaching the end of the path and struggling to return to the paved road. Several drivers damaged their cars, requiring towing once they returned to safety. Google later apologized for the mishap, removing the suggested route from Google Maps and no longer recommending the route through the desert.Common sense is more important than what a navigation app says, and authorities tell drivers to always keep an eye on traffic signage. If a suggested route looks dangerous, especially if it tells you to leave the paved road, you shouldn't take it, as you could end up in the middle of nowhere with nobody around to help you. Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps are fantastic apps, but the smallest error in their routing engine or a map inaccuracy could make them suggest routes that you wouldn't otherwise follow if you paid attention to traffic signs.
At the end of February, Tesla opened the Supercharger network to Ford EVs, the first to gain access as part of the NACS deal. Rivian is now the second carmaker to benefit after a recent software update paved the way for the Tesla Supercharger support in the Navigation app.

EV

Ford was the first carmaker to adopt Tesla's NACS plug in May 2023, opening a path that later all majormakers followed. Rivian was among the first to pledge allegiance to the NACS standard and has become the second ( after Ford ) to offer its owners access to Tesla's Supercharger network. Not only that, but the Superchargers are now appearing in the Rivian app and the navigation system. This means that planning a road trip will take into account charge stops at the Supercharger stations, as required.Tesla opened its chargers to third-party EVs in North America early last year when it fitted selected chargers with a special adapter called Magic Dock. In order to charge their EVs at a Supercharger station, Rivian owners had to install the Tesla app, make an account, and pay through the app. Thanks to the NACS deal, EV makers can use Tesla stations without installing its app or creating an account. It's still advisable to do it, though, as Tesla subscribers get preferential tariffs.Over the weekend, some Rivian owners discovered they could charge their EVs at Tesla Superchargers using a third-party adapter . They had to use the Tesla app and decoy their car as a Ford to start charging. However, Tesla quickly closed the loop, and subsequent attempts resulted in the dreaded "unauthorized vehicle" warning. It was disappointing, but thankfully, the situation didn't last very long. On Sunday night, Rivian got access to Tesla Superchargers, this time for real.This means that Tesla chargers are now listed in the Rivian app and the navigation system, and you can add them to your trip as charge stops. Even better, Rivian owners can use plug & charge to pay for charging without thinking about anything else. In that case, you pay the standard tariffs using the default payment method stored in the Rivian account. However, as with Ford owners, you can pay up to 25% less if you are a Tesla subscriber and initiate the charging via the Tesla app.Rivian rolled out the Supercharger support to its customer vehicles on March 11, with the 2024.07.02. The update was rushed through the validation process, with the internal testing starting only two days prior, on March 9. Normally, testing takes about a week before rolling out to customer vehicles. This signals that Rivian was in a hurry to have this update installed. The same update improved the navigation app with faster rerouting guidance, improved route selection, and the ability to add up to 10 stops during route planning.
All-electric vehicles (EVs) have been the center of attention this last winter. Charging woes, bewildering real-world range numbers, and high insurance rates are just some of the hot topics that somewhat tarnished the polished image of battery-powered rides and made prospective buyers think twice before considering getting one for themselves. If you didn't buy an EV but still want a new car that's affordable (tax included!), here are our suggestions.

EV

Internal combustion engine

Photo: andreas on Pixabay

Nissan's triumvirate

2024 Nissan Versa S  $16,390 ($17,373 with tax);

2024 Nissan Sentra S  $20,890 ($22,143 with tax);

2024 Nissan Kicks S  $21,050 ($22,313 with tax).

CVT

Photo: Nissan

The Hyundai duo

SUV

Photo: Hyundai

The Kia duo

Photo: Kia

Mitsubishi, VW, Toyota, and Chevy have something, too!

Photo: VW

The past few months have been riddled with news about all-electric vehicles not performing well in cold weather. Then, charging issues (stalls not working, long queues, and frozen plugs), depreciation, chaotic pricing, expensive insurance, and unexpectedly costly high-voltage battery replacements (fret not; it's not a common phenomenon) have created the perfect storm formakers. Their sales are suffering.In January and February, the best-selling models were the Ford F-150 (the Maverick also gets an honorable mention) and the Toyota RAV4 , respectively. Tesla and General Motors might have had better sales numbers, but we would never know because they don't report monthly figures.-powered vehicles (ICEVs) and full hybrids (also known as self-charging hybrids) are making a comeback. But we'll see what's what soon. We have to wait for Tesla to confirm its quarterly deliveries. Don't forget that the Model Y was 2023's world's best-selling car!But if you can't charge at home , be bothered to learn everything about EVs, get a used EV, and deal with the current state of the public charging infrastructure, there are a few brand-new cars out there that are worthy of your attention. Believe it or not, sub-$25,000 (with an approximate tax rate of six percent included) rides are still available.And don't think you're alone in this. A recent Cars.com survey revealed that most American shoppers are interested in vehicles that are priced below $30,000. That's the out-the-door (OTD) price. So, it's a bit more evident than ever that automakers should think less about revolutionizing their lineup and more about making it affordable.The Japanese automaker may need to find a partner in Honda and keep its relationship with Renault intact to secure its future in the all-electric era (or start a new one with Fisker), but it surely has the right rides for anyone on a budget.The cool thing is that Nissan doesn't have just one set of affordable wheels or two. There are three: The Sentra and the Kicks both come with thegearbox as standard. But for only $1,670 more, you can add the CVT and some extra equipment to the Versa. The automatic transmission gets better fuel efficiency (an extra 5 mpg, per the EPA), so it might be worth the financial penalty.If there's one automaker out there with the biggest glow-up, then it must be Hyundai. Its latest cars look clean and futuristic without embracing a divisive identity. The South Korean marque may have gone all-out with designing some of the best or most interesting-looking EVs, hybrids, and ICEVs, but it hasn't forgotten its roots.The 2024 Hyundai Venue SE, a lifted hatchback (or compact), starts from $19,900 ($21,094 with six percent tax), while the modernized Elantra SE has a price tag of $21,625 ($22,923 with tax).The former provides a truly entry-level experience while trying to remain versatile, and the latter wants to be a commuting appliance you'll trust. Both come with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an 8-inch infotainment screen, 15-inch wheels, and some useful driver-assistance systems.Design-wise, the Elantra looks better than the wannabe Santa Fe. However, it's up to you. Just keep in mind that the rear passenger might be happier to travel with you if you choose the sedan.Staying true to its nature as a thriving member of the Hyundai Group, Kia wants cost-conscious people to buy a Forte LX for $19,990 ($21,189 with tax) or a Soul LX for $20,190 ($21,401 with tax).The former will soon be replaced by the upcoming K4 and become a bit more expensive, while the latter is already a hit. In some parts of the US, they are as popular as the white Tesla Model Y in California.If Hyundai or Kia cars attracted your attention, don't forget about their "street cred." The "Kia Boyz" trend really tarnished both brands' image. Even now, some youngsters are attempting to break into Kia and Hyundai vehicles because they believe it can be done with a basic USB cable.Kia also features the Rio on its main website. Sadly, the very affordable hatchback has been discontinued. You can only buy some 2023 MY inventory units or slightly used ones.No, it's not an optical illusion. Mitsubishi is still going strong and has the Outlander to thank for that. The plug-in hybrid version is especially good. However, a brand-new $sub-25,000 tax-included Mitsubishi is a rare but welcoming sight. The 2024 Mirage comes in hatchback and sedan forms, and it'll set you back $16,695 ($17,697) and $17,795 ($18,863), respectively. Both rides have the CVT gearbox.VW's generous portfolio isn't that good for potential buyers looking for deals, but the Jetta S still has a starting price of $21,345 ($22,626 with tax). But that's the cost of the sedan equipped with the six-speed manual transmission. It might be a good idea to have one if you live in a place where cars are stolen often, but if you want comfortable journeys, the 8-speed Tiptronic is the one to get.However, it's quite the upgrade. We're moving very close to the price limit: $23,460 ($24,868 with tax).Toyota's reputation for reliability doesn't mean that it must sell affordable cars. The Corolla is the only sub-$25,000 vehicle it sells. The 2024 MY unit comes in hybrid and non-hybrid form and is available as a sedan or as a hatchback.The Corolla sedan's starting MSRP is $22,050 ($23,373 with tax). If you want the less gas-hungry hybrid or the gas-powered hatchback, prepare to come up with $1,450 more.The Corolla Cross might have fitted on our list of budget-friendly rides, but factoring in tax would have taken us over the $25,000 mark. Too bad. That's a crossover with a lot of potential. It can be a great commuting appliance.Last but not least, Chevy! The Trax and the Trailblazer are solid choices. The Trax is a favorite of ours because it has a great MSRP of $20,400 ($21,624 with tax) and offers a roomy interior that's paired with a fresh, modern exterior. On the other hand, the shorter 2024 Trailblazer starts from $23,100 ($24,486 with tax). We know which one we are choosing! Share your pick with us in the comment box below.Whatever you choose from this list, just don't forget about insurance, registration, and other fees. Adjust your budget accordingly and make sure that you're searching everywhere before settling on a particular model. Local dealers may keep prices high artificially, and you don't have to support such incorrect business practices.Finally, don't hesitate to share your own findings with us. Some of our readers may like your budget-friendly suggestions!
Three months into 2024, the list of highly desirable Hot Wheels cars is getting longer and longer. You'll see new castings and recolors in each ongoing series. And that gives collectors plenty of options, as long as they have the budget to keep up.

I'm telling you, running after every single release is exhausting. Buying every new model takes time and effort, even if you can afford it all. Having a "battle" plan helps. And it might be better for you just to stand aside and watch from afar for most of the hunting season.Then, when the hype levels have decreased, you can step in and start buying in batches. You just need to write down the names of the cars you like during the year and then begin adding them to your virtual basket around November. This way, you may get everything you need in time for Christmas.Playing by Mattel's rules regarding certain products can allow you to get some cars at a lower price. The new RLC Overdrive membership has proven controversial among collectors, but it could still be a cheaper way to buy exclusive castings. Taking to eBay or collector markets will often leave you at the mercy of scalpers (they have none), and you can end up paying up to ten times the retail value of the item you wanted. The Collector Edition series is another smart marketing move from the El Segundo-based manufacturer:"Come buy $20 worth of Hot Wheels at a certain store, and you get a special Collector's item that you can't purchase elsewhere." And it works like a charm. Creating scarcity activates people's fear of missing out. Sure, using Spectraflame paint jobs and Real Riders wheels is also a big incentive. Mattel will require people to buy its products from Dollar General stores for the first Collector hunt of the year. Developing a series of store-exclusive recolors acts as a further incentive to lure enthusiasts in.The '64 Lincoln Continental is on this list alongside the '69 Ford Mustang Boss 302, the Honda Super Cub Custom, and the Koenigsegg Gemera. The Mustang will probably raise the most interest here, given that it also has a Falken livery. The Nissan Silvia (CSP311) is the first Collector Edition car for 2024, and it's bound to be quite popular. Mark Jones designed this casting for its 2019 Fast & Furious debut, which featured a Tokyo Drift-inspired "Mona Lisa" livery.This premium-exclusive model has only had one more iteration since: the 2020 Japan Historics one. It featured Turbine Real Riders wheels, whereas the most recent variation marks the return to the Classic 4-spoke RR design. Spectraflame Red is the new theme for 2024, a nice change from the pink/purple colors of 2023. As expected, you'll find several CSP311s for sale on eBay, ranging between $18 and $64. I've already seen a sneak peek of what's coming up in the Collector Edition series this year, and the casting I'm most excited about is the Alfa Romeo 155 V6 TI.
Vanilla Ice and the man who sold him the Lamborghini that previously belonged to 50 Cent, tell the story of the purchase. The second owner of the Lambo, Fred Fishback, had no idea who the rapper was, though. 50 Cent forgot something in the car he sold.

Fred bought a blue Lamborghini Murcielago, which used to belong to 50 Cent . "All the wheels were scratched up," Robert Matthew Van Winkle, aka Vanilla Ice, says. The second owner of the Lambo says it all has to do with driving it in New York City. The dealer who sold it to him explained that it came with the celebrity factor: "It belonged to a famous rapper."Fred Fishback replied: "The only rapper I know is Vanilla Ice." Well, Vanilla Ice made his debut with Ice Ice Baby back in 1990, when Fred was in his heyday. He really wanted the car, regardless of its background, so he bought it. Since then, he has done some research on 50 Cent and even brought his book, the New York Times bestseller From Pieces to Weight.Curtis James Jackson III, famously known as 50 Cent, bought the Lambo as a reward after he recorded his "Get Rich or Die Trying" album. It was a time when the rapper painted all his cars, a Rolls-Royce Ghost included, in what he called "50 Blue." The Italian automaker was not offering it in such a shade.50 Cent had forgotten something in the car. Fred found a quarter and was sure hed find another one in there because, hey, it was 50 Cents car that he was dealing with. Instead, he found a glove.When Fred took the car to a Lamborghini dealersh ip to take a look and see if there was anything that needed to be fixed, everyone went bananas. They see Lamborghinis every day, but it is not every day that they see 50 Cents Lamborghini.Fred fitted a rear wing to the car for some downforce. That surely isn't for driving in New York. A Kreissieg exhaust also showed up on the car for some extra drama.However, the Murcielago is slowly turning into a classic. Lamborghini unveiled the Coupe in 2001 as the successor to the Diablo and came up with the Roadster in 2003. And this is what 50 Cent used to drive.It came with a 6.2-liter naturally aspirated V12 engine, which pumped out 572 horsepower (580 metric horsepower) and 479 pound-feet (479 Newton meters) of torque. It did 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in 3.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 207 mph (333 kph).Vanilla Ice is definitely a car guy. He owns a Ferrari F8 Spider painted in Avorio (Ivory) and has been the owner of a "good old Mustang," the one he calls his "baby," since the early 1990s, that he restored once and is going to restore once again. Now, he also has a Lamborghini Murcielago which formerly belonged to 50 Cent.
Ford Galaxie models launched in the mid-'60s had the impossible mission of competing against the record-breaking Impala.

Despite the Impala dominating the full-size market, the Galaxie continued to be a solid alternative, still bringing home the bacon and making Ford proud about it. The 1966 model year was particularly successful in this regard, as the Galaxie 500 was the third best-selling convertible in the United States after the Impala and the Mustang.Speaking of the 1966 Galaxie, I'm certain connoisseurs can think of only one thing: the 7 Liter version of the car that was specifically introduced to provide customers looking for performance with a new mind-blowing option.The Galaxie 500 7 Liter was fitted with a 428 ci (7.0 liters) unit donated by the Thunderbird . The same engine was available on the Mercury S-55 and generated 345 horsepower. It was a fantastic competitor for the Impala SS, which was already a big name in the full-size world.The 1966 Galaxie 500 posted on eBay by seller 68jbat comes with a 390, with the owner claiming the vehicle is still in working condition after a long time in a barn. We don't get many specifics about the car's tenure in hiding, but the engine is still original, coming with a four-barrel carburetor and a 3-speed manual transmission.The Galaxie also exhibits a questionable change, as the owner explains that the car was three on the tree, but a previous owner converted it to a floor configuration. That's all the info we get in this regard, so if you're a fan of this setup, the Galaxie might be your next project.The 390 starts and runs, so it looks like most of the restoration work will be aimed at dealing with metal problems. The Galaxie is rusty, and a floor patch behind the driver's seat is required. A new trunk panel is also needed, but the owner says they'll include it in the sale.It's hard to find something to complain about on this Galaxie, as the car looks like a typical barn find. It's rusty but comes with an all-original engine and flexes a solid frame, checking the essential boxes for a complete restoration.The selling price is as mysterious as it gets, as the owner listed the car on eBay in a reserve auction. This means they have already configured a minimum selling price, so despite the top $2,000 bid, the car will stay where it is until someone sends a bigger offer to unlock the reserve. The bidding will end in nine days, so there's still plenty of time to take this car home.Meanwhile, if you want to check out the Galaxie in person, you must drive your trailer to Winamac, Indiana.
Dishonoring our fallen By Mark Alexander

web posted March 18, 2024 As part of our Mission of Service to the men and women in our Armed Forces, and in honor of many Veterans now serving on our National Advisory Committee, The Patriot Post has become one of the nation's leading advocates for America's military personnel and their mission. As such, we provide millions of Americans with the right perspective on that mission as it pertains to our critical national security interests. Additionally, we fund worthy military and family support groups through Patriot Foundation Trust and Liberty Fund. On rare occasions, we have engaged military support groups that we believe are misrepresenting themselves or their services or those that lack financial accountability. Ten years ago, that included the Wounded Warrior Project, which at the time was allocating 45% of its revenue to fundraising, salaries, travel, etc. They received low marks from the American Institute of Philanthropy and Charity Watch. In the years since we exposed this issue, Wounded Warrior has substantially improved their operations, and their rating by Charity Navigator, the nation's largest oversight and review organization for charitable groups, is now a very respectable four stars and 98%. I take no pleasure, once again, in calling out an organization that serves military personnel and their families. Six months ago, I came across a social media page named Honoring Our Fallen, which was operated by a nonprofit organization under the same name. The page immediately caught my attention because the latest post was of a commercial aircraft arriving at Los Angeles International Airport under the honor spray arches of fire engines, and many additional photos of honor guard, military, and law enforcement personnel on the tarmac, who followed procedures associated with receiving a combat casualty, the remains of a service person killed in action. Many reading this have witnessed or seen similar videos of airport honor receptions, with pilots asking for passengers to respectfully remain seated as a flag-draped casket is ceremonially removed from the plane's cargo hold by uniformed personnel, and, with the deceased family, taken by police escort from the tarmac. These solemn receptions are reserved to honor the valor of those killed in action  or should be. Considering the initial valor reception post I saw, though we are no longer suffering casualties in Afghanistan, we still have Special Forces deployed around the world. Thus, I thought this valor reception might have been for the return of one of those operators killed in action. Or perhaps this ceremony was for remains that had been recovered and returned from a former combat theater. Maybe the reception was for someone killed in a military training accident. Since the 9/11 Islamist attack on our nation, more military personnel have died in training accidents than in combat. Training for war is a dangerous business. And recently, there have been several high-profile fatal accidents involving Osprey, Apache, and Blackhawk rotary-wing aircraft. But oddly, when I researched the name associated with the initial Honoring the Fallen post, there was no service person by that name who had been killed in combat or in training. On further review, I determined that the individual in question was actually killed in a car accident unrelated to his work at a domestic military base. There was no record of this young man having served in a combat theater. Scrolling further down the page, there were other similar valor reception posts, but none of those were combat casualties. I was not able to identify any recent full military honor receptions at LAX arranged and promoted by Honoring Our Fallen that were associated with a combat death or military training accident. Instead, in each case, as with the original post that caught my attention, these valor receptions were arranged for young people who had died in non-military related accidents, illnesses, etc., and most in the U.S. This piqued my curiosity. The "Honoring Our Fallen" organization is operated by a former civilian public affairs officer for a California training base, Laura Herzog, who, according to the bios provided, "served as the lead for Hero Missions (fallen soldiers returning from Afghanistan & Iraq)" among her other duties. In other words, she arranged local receptions and family services to fittingly honor the valorous actions of those killed in combat during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thus, I would think that Herzog would be able to clearly distinguish between what constitutes a fitting ceremony for the return of combat casualties and those who died under circumstances unrelated to their military service. Over the last 40 years, I have both attended and/or been part of the planning for the interment of many military personnel and Veterans, including Medal of Honor recipients. Most were at National Cemeteries. Some of those ceremonies were for warriors killed in action, some were for former POWs, and others were for retired military Veterans who served our nation honorably. I have some sense of what constitutes a fitting ceremonial sendoff for these individuals based on their service. But most of the Honoring Our Fallen airport valor reception posts do not make clear how the persons they are arranging services for were killed, obscuring whether the airport ceremonies they are providing are fitting for a combat casualty. I have received sparse responses to inquiries regarding the cause of death for the individuals receiving the valor receptions at LAX, but after researching the individuals named in the posts, it is clear that these receptions are not for those killed in combat. However, the Honoring Our Fallen social media pages do have fitting tributes to service personnel from around the nation, some of whom have been killed in combat, but those posts are mostly unrelated to the honor services provided by this organization. While virtually all of the organization's social media posts are infused with the word "hero," the generations of warriors I have known who have distinguished combat service records universally reject being called a "hero," though many have clearly done heroic things. In fact, of all the Medal of Honor recipients I have met, none tolerate being called "hero," deflecting that word to those with whom they served. And they have earned the right to apply the word "hero" as they see fit. The word "hero" is grossly overused today, and consequently, its meaning is diluted when applied to those who have earned it. It's outstanding that, in their local California region, Honoring Our Fallen supports the families of military personnel and veterans who have died, including the provision of motorcycle escorts to cemeteries and graveside honor guard services. They also organize other services, including flagging local Veteran gravesites and retreats for mothers and widows of the deceased. Further, I have reviewed their available financial information, which is sparse, but the returns indicate that only a small percentage of their revenue is used for salaries. However, Charity Navigator gives the organization a poor rating, I assume because, like many small organizations, they don't have the staff to provide sufficient reporting. To be clear, the reason I have contacted the organization in recent months to question their non-combat hero receptions  what they label as "Angel Flights" or "Honor Flights"  is because they have a growing social media following, now 252,000. Those page followers need to know that the public, high-profile hero receptions they are arranging for those who did not perish in combat dishonor our fallen who were killed in action. In addition to the disruption of airport operations and the allocation of equipment and personnel for those receptions, which the authorities involved may also assume is for a combat casualty, most of those on planes and in terminals witnessing these receptions also assume they are to honor the valorous actions of someone killed in combat. Likewise, that dishonors our fallen who were killed in action. Before reluctantly writing this assessment, I talked with senior military officers about these posts, and they were not as charitable in their responses. There was discussion equating these honor receptions to stolen valor  not by the deceased or their families, but by the organization arranging it as if it was to honor valorous actions. I applaud those who honor deceased American military personnel and Veterans, including those whose deaths are unrelated to military service. But Honoring Our Fallen has unfortunately, in my opinion, blurred the lines in terms of valorous ceremonial airport receptions for combat deaths versus those for non-combat deaths, and in doing so, their best intentions aside, they dishonor our fallen. I hope that moving forward, Honoring Our Fallen will reserve valor receptions for those who have earned them and, for clarity, provide more information in their posts about how those they are serving perished. Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. Home
The world tends to laugh at or mock the millionaires who splurge on luxurious, oftentimes very polluting vessels they call their floating vacation home for the summer. So how's this for a sustainable, absolutely noble spin on luxury private seafaring?

Photo: Axel de Beaufort/Perini Navi/Art Explora

ArtExplorer has been delivered to the owner and is, as such, one step closer to fulfilling its noble mission that comes with a heightened focus on sustainability as well. ArtExplorer is not just the world's largest sailing catamaran as of the moment of writing but also the first and only one of its kind: it's a sailing cat with luxury features and the capability to double as a floating museum.Perini Navi, which is part of The Italian Sea Group as of 2021, built the ArtExplorer on a naval architecture by Guillaume Verdier Architecture and Nacira Design. The exterior and interior designs are penned by architect Axel de Beaufort, but owner Frederic Jousset also gets a credit in the styling of the interior spaces.Frederic Jousset is a French entrepreneur and multi-millionaire with a declared mission to democratize art by creating border-free environments where it can be brought to the masses free of charge  and with minimal carbon footprints. To that end, he set up an international non-profit group called Art Explora and commissioned the ArtExplorer cat to be built out of his own money.In much simpler words, the cat will be sailing the world carrying pieces of art and creative laboratories of all kinds. Once it docks in a marina, it immediately becomes available for public viewing to the masses, free of charge but with previous online appointments.By integrating modern and sustainable tech, ArtExplorer comes with a considerably reduced carbon footprint, so it'll be able to bring culture to the people of the world with less pollution. It's still powered by twin C7 Caterpillar diesel engines but they're backed by e-power. The cat is able to move in and out of protected areas on electric motors, sail at speeds of up to 10 knots (11.5 mph/18.5 kph) even in less windy conditions, and run off solar energy for six hours at full load.ArtExplorer measures 154 feet (47 meters) in length and has a beam of 55.7 feet (17.1 meters). It will function as a floating museum for the next two years, after which it will enter the charter market to offset the costs of democratizing art without entrance fees. Jousset also plans to use it himself in his spare time, and he's considering extending its use as a museum on exceptional occasions once the two-year window closes.One trade publication notes that Jousset has officially taken delivery of the cat, which is now in Malta. Its public debut was at the 2023 edition of the Monaco Yacht Show in September.
AMG

Photo: Pininfarina

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The impressive hypercar, which is capable of neck-snapping performance, has just joined the Forza Horizon 5 videogame, part of the European Automotive Car Pack, which also includes the 2021 Bentley Continental GT Convertible, 2019 Jaguar XE SV Project 8, and 1987 Mercedes-BenzHammer Wagon.Thus, you will need an Xbox console or a gaming PC to thrash it in various environments, from historic cities and hidden ruins to breathtaking beaches and lush jungles. Gamers can create their own bespoke styling using the Livery Editor, choosing between numerous wheel designs, hundreds of exterior paint finishes, and thousands of virtual body kits.Like the one featured in the famous videogame franchise, the real Pininfarina Battista is also available with many customization items, with the company quoting 128 million possible configurations. The automaker's chief design officer, Dave Amantea, says that each one that leaves their Cambiano Atelier factory "is a unique expression" of its owner's "personality" and "a true one-of-one."Named after Pininfarina's founder, the Battista hypercar celebrated its debut at the Geneva Show in 2019. Production commenced three years later, and a few months later, the first copies arrived in the United Statesand. It's been said that only 150 will be made. Each hypercar takes around ten weeks to assemble by the team comprising ten craftspeople. The hand-paint process extends the period to 18 weeks.Pininfarina's stunning Battista is not just about personalization, as it is dizzying fast. The company quotes the 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) sprint as taking 1.79 seconds and 1.86 seconds from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 kph). After taking off, the hypercar will reach 120 and 124 mph (193/200 kph) in 4.49 and 4.75 seconds, respectively, and it will come to a full stop from 62 miles an hour in just 101.7 feet (31 meters), which is a record But what powers the Battista? That would be four electric motors, one driving each wheel. It has 1,873 horsepower (1,900 ps/1,397) combined, and the thrust is rated at 1,726 pound-foot (2,340 Nm) of torque. It also has all-wheel drive with torque vectoring and can top out at an electronically limited top speed of 217 mph (350 kph).It has a curb weight of 5,075 pounds (2,302 kg), measures 193.4 inches (4,912 mm) from bumper to bumper, and uses a 120battery pack that takes less than 22.5 minutes to recharge from 20 to 80 percent. With the battery fully charged, the Pininfarina Battista can travel 296 miles (476 km).
18 March 2024 23:59 (UTC+04:00)

By Adalet Verdiyev

Today, the leadership of Armenia is doing side split and in a state of tension. Nikol, who faced blows from inside, sometimes from neighbors, and sometimes from former allies, was criticized by former Armenian Defense Minister, representative of Garabakh Armenians, Khojaly murderer Seyran Ohanyan.

Seyran's main criticism is related to the destruction of the Armenian army. Serzh Sargsyan sometimes voices criticisms in the same way.

However, these two killers of children and women led the Armenian army together for 15 years. They sucked the blood of the Armenian army and created a little opportunity for some generals who are close to them to win. But these two killers got the main wealth.

During the years when Ohanyan led the Armenian army, there were more cases of mass corruption, brutal dedovshchina (hazing and abuse) and crimes. Thief with code laws were introduced to the Armenian army during Ohanyan's time. Seyran himself sat at the top of the corruption pyramid, so there was no one to fight against these villains in some form. Seyran led his entourage to privatize the territories belonging to the military units for a penny and then sell them at the market price. Some 80 percent of the bribes from tenders reached Seyran and he was able to share.

Soon after the election of the Prime Minister, Pashinyan began inspecting the military units and found out that the soldiers of the Armenian army were serving without underwear. By order of Seyran, the commanders of military units forced the parents of soldiers to send underwear to their children. There are enough materials about this in the Armenian press. Seyran used a large amount of funds for this from the budget, and the Armenian soldier served without underwear. Serzh Sargsyan also knew these problems, but he did not voice them. Probably the native Seyran knew the way to share the funds he earned with Serjik.

The Azerbaijan Army ended the high-income life of Ohanyan and his corrupt generals in April 2016. The April war destroyed the myths about the false power of the Armenian army.

Sargsyan was forced to dismiss Ohanyan and several deputies under the pressure of the population, fed up with the fairy tales. However, Ohanyan was not arrested, and in the next two years, the Armenian army continued to serve without underwear.

The problems of Seyran and other Armenian generals started after Pashinyan came to power. Nikol disagreed that the army would be without underwear and began to investigate other budget allocations. Assuming that the situation would end in prison, Seyran was elected to the Armenian parliament with the help of his fellow countryman Robert Kocharyan, who was in the opposition. Seyran thought that he would gain immunity with this.

Today, Ohanyan, Sargsyan, Kocharyan, who criticize Pashinyan, and their limited entourage have become rich and accumulated wealth at the expense of Armenian soldiers. Those who forced the Armenian soldier to serve in the military without underwear for years, those who sapped the marrow of the unfortunate Armenian army, use the defeated state of Armenia and talk one-on-one, they are not ashamed to get into people's minds, they even show the way to the poor Armenian people by speaking in the press.

However, thanks to not only Pashinyan, but also Ohanyan, Sargsyan, Kocheryan and other executioner leaders from the Armenian clan, Armenia has fallen into the current miserable situation, and it will not be easy to find a way out of this situation.

Adalet Verdiyev is a military expert, analyst and a reserve Azerbaijani officer.

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18 March 2024 15:00 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Armenia's intention to create discord between Azerbaijan and the West was watered down this time as well. Does a group of the Armenian diaspora, which has been annoying the European Parliament, the UN, and other international organisations for a long time, while observing the scene that is emerging today, think to themselves and ask a question - are we deceiving ourselves, our nation, our 'friends' or others?

A short tour of the processes makes it clear that neither the European Parliament nor the Western countries as a whole are working on a specific plan against Azerbaijan. This is just a false impression spread by Armenia through black PR, biased media, and political mouthpieces. If this is so, why does the West not impose sanctions on Azerbaijan or refuse partnership with Azerbaijan over energy?

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's visit to Azerbaijan not only expressed that Azerbaijan's political weight is quite heavy, but also gave several messages to Armenia.

Azerbaijan cannot be put on the same scale as Armenia, and our alliance is not in the form of a sisterly alliance of Yerevan and Paris; this alliance is multifaceted and has more strategic importance.

"I welcome that Azerbaijan is developing closer and closer ties with several NATO allies and that your country is playing a more and more important role in delivering gas, but also, in the future, power electricity to key NATO allies in Europe."

Azerbaijan has always stood by its partners in hard times. It is not for nothing that Azerbaijan received the title of the most reliable partner in Europe. At a time when Europe and the West are experiencing an energy crisis, Azerbaijan's joint activity with the West as a stable supporter in this matter literally confirms what the NATO head said. As Stoltenberg emphasised in another speech, "Azerbaijan also plays an important role in the strengthening of Western societies.

But how long will Armenia, which tries to prevent this and tries to use every means to create polemics on the agenda with meaningless shows, waste time with such insignificant activities?

Azerbaijan's cooperation with NATO has a history of 32 years. The relations of our country, which has been cooperating with the North Atlantic Alliance since 1992, are further strengthened by the PfP (Partnership for Peace) agreement signed in 1994 at the initiative of the national leader Heydar Aliyev. This was followed by the signing of the Security Agreement between NATO and Azerbaijan in 1995, which played an incentive role in the ratification of the Cooperation for Peace agreement the following year.

It should be noted that NATO-Azerbaijani cooperation has a consistent historical chronology. On February 13, 1997, former NATO Secretary General Javier Solana's visit to Azerbaijan and his speech in the Azerbaijani parliament once again demonstrated that there is continuous cooperation in the relations of the NATO leadership with Azerbaijan.

It is significant to note that within the framework of its Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme based upon the PfP Framework Document, Azerbaijan has been participating annually at more than 200 events. The Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme enables Azerbaijan to benefit from various activities such as courses, exercises, and conferences organised by NATO allies and some partners.

In addition to cooperation with the North Atlantic Alliance, Azerbaijan attaches great importance to cooperation with NATO in the field of anti-terrorism, which the international community must tackle together. NATO has been actively engaged in the fight against terrorism and focuses on improved threat awareness and preparedness, developing adequate capabilities, and enhancing engagement with partner countries and other international actors. Azerbaijan is building its interaction with the NATO and Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) countries in a wide range of areas relevant to the fight against terrorism, including the military response to terrorism, enhancement of national counter-terrorism training capabilities, intelligence and information sharing, border security, and civil protection anti-terrorist measures.

The military cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO can be highlighted in a special way. During the press statement together with the American general, President Ilham Aliyev gave a brief example from the recent history of this cooperation: The NATO-Azerbaijan partnership has already had a long history - more than 30 years of good partnership. Azerbaijan participated in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan. That was a great experience for us. Our military servicemen were among the last of the coalition forces in Afghanistan to leave that country at the end of August 2021. So, this once again demonstrates our strong commitment to our cooperation.

It is a matter of pride that Azerbaijan, which has a high reputation within the framework of NATO and other international organisations, is also taking the initiative in the regional peace process and today continues the last stage of the restoration of relations with Armenia. Achieving the restoration of territorial integrity and being in close partnership with NATO cannot be considered the result of ordinary political power. Azerbaijan takes comprehensive steps to maintain its leadership in the region and confirms this with real evidence at every moment.

Apart from military cooperation, Azerbaijan is also the West's most reliable energy partner, and in this regard, the importance of the country is very high for both the Alliance and European countries.

The most important fact is that the demand for Azerbaijani gas is increasing day by day, and NATO countries are also included in these ranks. This not only increases the importance of Azerbaijan but also increases its responsibility. The head of state expressed his attitude towards this issue while making a press statement with the NATO Secretary General and stressed that the list of energy partners will be expanded in the next year.

Two more NATO member states became our partners with respect to natural gas supply. Today, Azerbaijan is exporting natural gas to eight countries, six of which are member states of NATO, and two are partners to NATO. I'm sure that in the coming years, the number of our partners will grow. The European Commission calls Azerbaijan a reliable partner and a pan-European gas supplier. This is, of course, a big advantage and also a big responsibility, the president said.

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews Deputy Editor-in-Chief; follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

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17 March 2024 22:34 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has held an expanded meeting over dinner with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

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17 March 2024 23:01 (UTC+04:00)

I welcome that Azerbaijan is developing closer and closer ties with several NATO allies and that your country is playing a more and more important role in delivering gas, but also, in the future, power electricity to key NATO allies in Europe, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a joint press conference with President Ilham Aliyev.

Azerbaijan plays an important role for the resilience of our societies, the NATO Secretary General underlined.

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17 March 2024 22:54 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan was unanimously selected as the host country for COP29. This is a sign of recognition of our efforts in the green transition, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Having rich natural resources and fossil fuels, we invest largely together with our partners in renewable sources. I invited Mr. Secretary General to visit us this November in any capacity and to be part of our important conference, the head of state underlined.

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18 March 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

On March 18, another group of former internally displaced persons, consisting of families temporarily settled in dormitories, sanatoriums, pioneer camps and administrative buildings in various territories of Azerbaijan, was sent to the city of Fuzuli from the Garadagh district of Baku, Azernews reports.

At this stage, another 34 families (123 people) moved to the city of Fuzuli.

The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Fuzuli, which were restored or rebuilt on the basis of instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Fuzuli residents thanked President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care, expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani Army, which liberated the lands from occupation.

Until today, a permanent settlement in the city of Fuzuli has been provided for 596 families - 2,245 people.

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18 March 2024 13:10 (UTC+04:00)

On March 18, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, made a phone call to the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, Azernews reports.

President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Vladimir Putin on his victory in the presidential election and wished him success in his presidential endeavors for the development and prosperity of the country.

Vladimir Putin thanked the President of Azerbaijan for his attention and congratulations.

During the phone conversation, they expressed confidence that the alliance and strategic partnership between the two countries would continue to strengthen and exchanged views on the prospects for cooperation.

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18 March 2024 17:13 (UTC+04:00)

The eleventh edition of the Global Terrorism Index 2024 (GTI) has released the ranking of countries by the level of terrorist threat, Azernews reports.

According to the GTIs recent report, Azerbaijan ranked 89th in the latest ranking as one of the safest countries worldwide, along with Denmark, Finland, and Qatar.

Iran (4.464) ranked 26th, Turkiye (4.168) 29th, the United States (U.S.) (4.141) 30th, Russia (3.016) 35th, France (2.647) 38th, Norway (1.747) 53rd, Armenia (0.423) 76th, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (0.233) 79th, and Lithuania (0.059) 87th.

Burkina Faso, Israel, Mali, Pakistan, Syria, and Afghanistan are the most affected by terrorism, according to the report.

The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) is a comprehensive study analysing the impact of terrorism for 163 countries, covering 99.7 percent of the worlds population. It takes into account the number of terrorist incidents, deaths from terrorism, counter-terrorism, the effectiveness of terrorism investigations, and many other indicators.

The GTI report is produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), using data from Dragonflys TerrorismTracker database and other sources.

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Have we entered an era of global cooling? By Tom Harris

web posted March 18, 2024 With all the sound and fury about global warming, an important, and many scientists now assert, more likely scenario is usually ignoredthe possibility of far more dangerous global cooling. It is more dangerous because many more people die due to the cold than the heat. A 2015 study in the British Medical journal The Lancet found that: "Cold weather kills 20 times as many people as hot weather, according to an international study analyzing over 74 million deaths in 384 locations across 13 countries." Indeed, history shows that cold periods are far more hazardous than warm times. That is why geologists call past warm epochs "optimums" and cold times "dark ages." The plot of temperature versus time for Central Greenland below (used with the permission of the originator, petrophysicist Andy May ) is a good illustration of the natural climate change we have seen over the past four thousand years and the related societal impacts. Note how cold periods coincided with hardships for humanity while, in most cases, warm periods were beneficial. Yet cities such as Ottawa, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Montreal, municipalities each of which experience cold weather, at times very cold, all essentially ignore the dangerous impacts of cooling in their climate change plans. Ottawa's Climate Change Master Plan is especially misguided. Despite the City's assertion that "Ottawa must be an energy-conscious city where people can live, work and play in all future climate conditions," cooling adaptation is entirely ignored. As I told the City of Ottawa Environment and Climate Change Committee in my April 18, 2023 testimony : "As the seventh coldest capital city in the world, it is irresponsible for Ottawa to only prepare for warming when cooling is far more dangerous and, some scientists say, more likely. It would be like going camping in an area known to be infested with black bears and mosquitos and only planning for the mosquitos. Yes, the bugs can drive you crazy, but the bears can kill you. Similarly, heat in Ottawa is not fatal except for the elderly and other vulnerable citizens, people we need to protect. But everyone can die when it is minus 30 with no heat." In my articles of past three weeks, I have written about the new theory of cosmoclimatologyhow phenomena in space, especially changes in the output of the Sun, affect the climate on Earth. While it is scientifically interesting to learn about what drove climate change in the past, what really matters from a public policy perspective is what this research can tell us about climate change in the future. This then helps us make sensible decisions about where we should focus our efforts to ensure future generations are well-prepared for whatever nature throws at us next. As I explained in previously, Earthly temperature trends apparently follow in accordance with solar cycles. This should seriously concern councillors from all of these cities since leading solar researchers are convinced that we are headed for a Grand Solar Minimum by about the year 2070 when the Sun may be at its weakest in the past 300 years. This could result in significant global cooling, which these municipalities must prepare for. The first time I heard about the coming Grand Solar Minimum was at The Heartland Institute's Fourth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC-4) that took place in May 2010 in Chicago. In that important conference, Dr. Habibullo Abdussamatov, a Russian expert in solar terrestrial physics, head of the Space Research Laboratory of the Pulkovo Observatory in St. Petersburg and, later, the 2013 gold medal winner from the European Scientific-Industrial Chamber, gave a presentation titled, "THE SUN DICTATES THE CLIMATE." Abdussamatov explained that: "Natural bicentennial variations in the average annual values of the TSI [Total Solar Irradiance, the amount of solar energy reaching the top of Earth's atmosphere] caused by cyclic variations in the radius of the Sun together with secondary feedback effects led to 18 Little Ice Ages, established within the last 7,500 years. Every time the TSI experienced its peak (up to 0.2%) a global warming began with a time lag of 15+/-6 years defined by thermal inertia of the Ocean (despite the absence of anthropogenic influence [i.e., climate changed caused by humans]) and each deep bicentennial descent in the TSI caused a Little Ice Age." Amazingly, Abdussamatov said that the Sun's radius varies by up to 250 km during the familiar 11-year sunspot cycle (we are just starting cycle 25 now) and up to 700 km during the bicentennial, or 200-year cycle. And this greatly influences solar output. Specifically, when the Sun was very weak, every 200 years or so, the Earth went into a Little Ice Age. He explained that such research enables scientists to study how TSI has changed in past centuries and even millennia and determine how it correlates with past climate on Earth and so what the future holds as these cycles continue. Frighteningly, we are nearing a Grand Solar Minimum right now, a time period when many of the cycles of the Sun hit rock bottom. Abdussamatov predicted a deep minimum in TSI about 2042 and "a deep global temperature minimum about 2055  2060. The last time the Sun was this weak, the Earth was in a particularly cold phase of the most recent Little Ice Age that lasted from about 1350  1850, a period of great misery for people around the world. Abdussamatov gave a similar talk at The Ninth International Conference on Climate Change, which took place in 2014 in Las Vegas. The conference attracted some 650 scientists, economists, policy experts and Abdussamatov's presentation was more assertive this time and was titled " 2014- The Beginning of the New Little Ice Age ." In that talk, he updated his estimates to the start of the Grand Minimum of TSI being anticipated by about solar cycle 27 around the year 2043 which would be followed by "a phase of deep cooling [similar to] the 19th Little Ice Age  approximately in 2060  11 [years], with possible duration of 45  65 years." He also presented the following graph: Abdussamatov concluded his 2014 presentation: "The Sun is the main factor controlling the climatic system and it is more powerful than abilities of human beings." In 2020, Abdussamatov published a block-buster paper, " Energy Imbalance Between the Earth and Space Controls the Climate " in the journal Earth Sciences. Once again, he did not pull his punches and repeated his forecast of a Grand Solar Minimum by about 2043. The Russian scientist slightly updated his prediction of when we could expect the next Little Ice Age to really bite hard, "Solar cooling has started. As a result, the Earth has, and will continue to have, a long negative energy balance, which will ensure a slight decrease in temperature. However, this slight decrease in temperature is extremely important as a trigger mechanism for the subsequent chain effects of secondary causal effects of feedback that will greatly enhance the cooling. This will certainly lead to the onset of a phase of deep cooling of the climate approximately in the year 2070  11 [years]." And "The total rate decline in TSI from cycle to cycle is currently accelerating and will reach maximum its acceleration in the next solar cycle. The observed consistent downward trend decline of TSI in four consecutive cycles suggests that such a decrease bring backs to a similar decrease during the Maunder minimum in 1645-1715." Some people may be tempted to dismiss Dr. Abdussamatov's forecasts, as well as the work of Svensmark, Veizer and Shaviv that I discussed in the past two articles as unique in the scientific community. However in "Modern Grand Solar Minimum will lead to terrestrial cooling" in the August 4, 2020 edition of the journal Temperature, Northumbria University professorValentina Zharkova who holds a Ph.D. from the Solar Division of the Main Astronomical Observatory, Kyiv, Ukraine wrote: "During this modern grand minimum, one would expect to see a reduction of the average terrestrial temperature by up to 1.0C, especially, during the periods of solar minima between the cycles 2526 and 2627, e.g. in the decade 20312043." And then there is the 2021 paper, "How much has the Sun influenced Northern Hemisphere temperature trends? An ongoing debate" by 23 scientists from 14 countries, the abstract of which reads, in part: "It appears that previous studies (including the most recent IPCC reports) which had prematurely concluded [that the Sun's output contributed negligibly to Earthly climate change] had done so because they failed to adequately consider all the relevant estimates of Total Solar Irradiance and/or to satisfactorily address the uncertainties still associated with Northern Hemisphere temperature trend estimates." And I could name many more scientists who also attribute most recent climate change to variations in TSI. Contrary to the claims of climate activists that "the science of climate change is settled," the science is very much unsettled and quickly evolving in directions that will make today's climate scare look like a dangerous and expensive mistake. Tom Harris is Executive Director of the Ottawa, Canada-based International Climate Science Coalition . Home
18 March 2024 17:24 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans Minister of Defence, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, has met with a delegation led by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry of Defence.

At the official welcoming ceremony hosted by Azerbaijans Defence Ministry, J. Stoltenberg passed along the guard of honour and signed the "Book of Honour" in accordance with the protocol.

Colonel General Z. Hasanov welcomed the delegation and expressed his satisfaction with seeing them in Azerbaijan.

The Minister thanked NATO for supporting the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan during the 30-year occupation and the current period.

The delegation was given detailed information about the reforms carried out in the Azerbaijan Army in accordance with the instructions of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ilham Aliyev, as well as mine clearance, restoration, and construction works in the liberated territories and the current situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conditional border.

The Minister of Defence spoke about the success achieved in cooperation with NATO and noted the importance of further developing mutual relations.

The Secretary General expressed his gratitude for the hospitality and highly appreciated the professionalism of the servicemen of the Azerbaijan Army in peacekeeping missions and their activities in other areas within the framework of partnership with NATO. He emphasised that the close cooperation of the Azerbaijan Army with the Turkish Armed Forces will make a significant contribution to Azerbaijan-NATO relations.

The sides also discussed prospects for development in cybersecurity and mine clearance, as well as other areas of bilateral military relations, and exchanged views on regional security and other issues of common interest.

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18 March 2024 17:56 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Traditional costumes are more than just pieces of clothing; they are intricately woven symbols of culture, history, and identity. The beauty and significance of traditional costumes were on full display at the exhibition "Culture of Clothing and Jewellery Art of the Turkic Peoples", Azernews reports.

The exhibition, dedicated to the Novruz holiday and the 15th anniversary of its inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, opened its doors at the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, showcasing a stunning collection of traditional women's costumes and jewellery from the Turkic peoples.

From Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan, Hungary to Turkiye, each exhibit demonstrated the rich heritage and artistic expression of these diverse cultures.

Acting Director of the National Carpet Museum, Mira Mammadkhanov, highlighted the importance of preserving and celebrating traditional costumes as a way to honour the unique traditions and way of life of the Turkic peoples.

The Advisor to the Culture Minister, Jahangir Selimkhanov, emphasised the cultural significance of these exhibits, while the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Aktoty Raimkulova, stressed the importance of recognising and celebrating the beauty of these artefacts.

The exhibition featured a range of materials, from colourful silks to intricate embroidery, each piece telling a story of craftsmanship and artistry. The ornate patterns and designs of the costumes offered viewers a glimpse into the intricate traditions and customs of the Turkic peoples.

The presented exhibits are preserved in the collections of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, the Association of Hungarian Folk Artists, and private collector Virginija Morgan-Hayat's. Each exhibit showcased the unique beauty and craftsmanship of traditional costumes, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural traditions of the Turkic peoples.

One of the highlights of the exhibition was a performance by the team from the Children and Youth Development Centre No. 3, who presented traditional dances of the Turkic peoples. The vibrant colors and graceful movements of the dancers brought the ancient traditions and customs to life.

The exhibition, which runs until March 31, was followed by a master class and lecture.

A master class on decorating eggs with Azerbaijani and Hungarian patterns was organized in the National Carpet Museum within the framework exhibition. A master class for adults was held by Hungarian folk artists Beatrix Jokaine Gombosi and Anna Jokai.

Young guests reflected the heroes of Azerbaijani fairy tales in eggs in a master class conducted by the staff of the Children's Department of the museum.

At the end, the guests got acquainted with the museum`s rich collection.

The master class was co-organized by the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum and the Hungarian Embassy in Azerbaijan.

Founded in 1967, the National Carpet Museum holds more than 14,000 exhibits of the finest Azerbaijani carpets.

Initiated by eminent carpet artist Latif Karimov, the museum is beautiful inside and out.

The museum's new building is designed in the form of a rolled carpet. Now, the museum hosts multiple events, including international symposiums, conferences, and various exhibitions.

In 2019, the museum received national status for its significant contribution to popularising and promoting Azerbaijani carpet weaving art.

In 2020, the Carpet Museum enriched its collection with a beautiful pile of carpets purchased by the Culture Ministry at the Sartirana Textile Show in Italy.

The 19th-century Guba carpet "Ugakh" was donated to the Carpet Museum, while the Garabagh carpet "Chelebi" enriched the collection of the museum's Shusha branch.

Moreover, the Carpet Museum won the Travellers' Choice Awards for the fourth time in a row last year.

The award proves once again that the professional activity of the National Carpet Museum is highly appreciated by visitors from all over the world.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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18 March 2024 15:53 (UTC+04:00)

It is the fourth time that I have lit the holiday bonfire in the liberated lands of Garabagh. In 2021, it was in Shusha, in 2022 in Sugovushan, last year, in the village of Talish, and this time, the holiday bonfire was lit in the city of Khankendi, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Novruz holiday, Azernews reports.

The head of state noted that this brings great happiness.

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18 March 2024 09:30 (UTC+04:00)

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Monday, the South Korean military said, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul for a multilateral ministerial conference, Azernews reports, citing Honyap news agency.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missile launches in the area of Pyongyang between 7:44 a.m. and 8:22 a.m., which flew around 300 kilometers and landed in the East Sea.

"North Korea fired at least three missiles, and their trajectories were similar to those of KN-24," a senior military official said.

The KN-24 is a solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of up to 410 km and a payload of 400-500 kg.

The South Korean military said it immediately detected and tracked the missiles, and shared the information with the U.S. and Japanese authorities, while a comprehensive analysis is under way.

"We strongly condemn North Korea's latest missile launch, which is a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the JCS said.

The launch comes about a month after the North fired a new surface-to-sea cruise missile, the Padasuri-6, from its eastern coast on Feb. 14.

It marks the North's second ballistic missile launch of the year since the first on Jan. 14, when it test-fired a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile carrying a hypersonic warhead.

Pyongyang conducted five rounds of cruise missile tests this year, raising concerns over the weapons systems that are harder to detect and shoot down.

The launch comes days after Seoul and Washington wrapped up the annual Freedom Shield exercise, which focused on bolstering deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

North Korea has long denounced the allies' military drills as rehearsals for an invasion against it, while Seoul and Washington have rejected such claims, describing their exercises as defensive in nature.

Earlier in the day, Blinken arrived in Seoul to attend the Summit for Democracy, a ministerial conference that brings together top government officials from some 30 countries.

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18 March 2024 23:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

With the help of powerful space telescopes, astronomers observe the "activity" of some unusual asteroids, their comet-like tails, as well as clouds of gas and dust. As part of NASA's Active Asteroids project, it was announced that activity had been detected on fifteen asteroids, challenging traditional knowledge about the Solar System, Azernews reports, citing foreign media outlets.

More than 8 thousand volunteers analyzed more than 430 thousand images from the dark energy camera (DECam) on the Victor M. Blanco telescope in Chile to find these fifteen rare objects. Nine volunteers co-authored an article on the results, which has now been published in the Astronomical Journal.

Volunteer Virgilio Gonano from Udine, Italy, said: "For an amateur astronomer like me, it's like a dream come true. Congratulations to the friends who have checked all the signals and pictures."

The study of these rare active asteroids provides scientists with additional information about the formation and evolution of the Solar System, including the origin of water on Earth. These objects can also help in future space exploration, as the same ices that form comet tails can power rockets or provide breathing air for astronauts.

Tiffany Shaw-Diaz, a volunteer from Dayton, Ohio, said: "I have been a member of the Active Asteroids team since the initial data analysis process began. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this project has become a significant part of my life. I look forward to classifying topics every day, if time or health permits, and it is a great honor for me to work regularly with such respected scientists."

The Active Asteroids Project was founded by Colin Orion Chandler, a researcher at the Asteroids and Other Celestial Bodies Project at the University of Washington and the DiRAC Institute.

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18 March 2024 23:30 (UTC+04:00)

The volume of Chinese-Ukrainian trade in January-February grew by 46.6% year-on-year to $1.5 bln, the General Administration of Customs of China reported, Azernews reports, citing TASS.

As follows from the published statistics, exports of goods from China to Ukraine over two months reached $550.42 mln (an increase of 69.6% compared to the same period last year), while imports increased by 36% ($954.06 mln). Compared to January-February 2023, the positive balance of the Ukrainian side increased by 7.3%, to $403.64 mln.

In February, trade turnover between the two countries decreased by 13.3% compared to January and reached $698.54 mln. Exports from China fell by 32.7% (to $221.25 mln), imports from Ukraine remained virtually unchanged and amounted to $477. 28 mln.

Ukraine is the leading supplier of corn to China. According to the General Administration of Customs of China statistics, this agricultural product in terms of value accounted for almost half of Chinas imports from this country. Other Ukrainian goods purchased by China include sunflower and rapeseed oil, barley, ferronickel, beef, soybeans, other food products, raw materials, and semi-finished products.
18 March 2024 21:50 (UTC+04:00)

The Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Iran Fariddin Nasriyev met with the director of the Razigaran Arg-e Azadi Consulting Engineers Company Alirizo Anisi, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz news agency.

At the meeting, the diplomat spoke about the modern development of Uzbekistan, its potential, large-scale reforms being implemented in our country in all areas.

The Iranian businessman said that he considers Uzbekistan one of the leading countries in Central Asia and expressed his readiness to implement joint projects with Uzbek partners in the restoration of cultural heritage sites.
Feature: Spirit of Flying Tigers essential for sound China-U.S. relations

09:35, March 18, 2024 By Yang Shilong, Xu Xingtang ( Xinhua

Jan Berris, vice president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, views the "Sino-American Friendship in Guangxi" photo exhibition in New York, the United States, March 11, 2024. The event was held by the Guangxi People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic ties. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua)

NEW YORK, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The enduring spirit of the Flying Tigers, a microcosm of long-lasting friendship between the Chinese and American peoples, is crucial for sound steady growth of one of the world's paramount bilateral relationships.

This sentiment was echoed by speakers at the "Sino-American Friendship in Guangxi" photo exhibition opening earlier this week in New York City. The event was held by the Guangxi People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic ties.

"The Chinese government values the generous support provided by the Flying Tigers during the war and attaches great importance to renewing the spirit of the Flying Tigers," said Liao Pinhu, vice chairman of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in a keynote speech on Monday, referring to an American volunteer air squadron based in Guilin, Guangxi, which joined forces with China against Japanese aggression during World War II.

"The people of Guangxi cherish our friendship with the American people, and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides have become increasingly closer," said Liao.

Facilitated by the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, Guangxi and the U.S. side launched the Flying Tigers Friendship Schools and Youth Leadership Program last year, providing a new platform for friendship and collaboration, Liao said.

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping highlighted the historical significance of the Flying Tigers and their crucial role in jointly fighting for human dignity and justice.

As the two largest economies in the world, neither the United States nor China can bear the consequence of a clash between them, said Huang. "Actually we have one choice, that is to work together, join hands like we did 80 years ago ... We can still carry on with the same spirit and move ahead to create a relationship with which we both prosper."

Calling the spirit of the Flying Tigers a shared American and Chinese legacy, Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, reiterated the group's commitment to promoting this significant part of World War II history through educational programs and exchanges, particularly among young Americans and Chinese.

"I don't think there's any two nations that sacrifice so much for each other. And that's what we'll be teaching our students," said Greene, adding nearly 500 Flying Tigers veterans and several hundred of their family members have visited China.

Jan Berris, vice president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, said that the legacy of the Flying Tigers is "something that brought together the two peoples of our countries in ways that they had to face and resolve life-and-death situations."

"While we don't have anything as dramatic on our plate today, we do have the fact that the relationship between our two countries has been deteriorating over the past several years. We are now in a period where there is a reversal. And many people in this room are working very hard to make that change and make that reversal," said Berris.

"I think it's up to all of us in this room to do whatever we can to help bring back not the life-and-death aspect of the relationship, but the focus on the importance of people-to-people relationships, people getting to know one another and realize that we really have no choice," said Berris, describing the Flying Tigers as "a shining light of an example of how our two peoples can work together."

Monday's event, which attracted nearly 200 people from various walks of life from New York City and New York State, also featured a display that showcased Guangxi's 12 ethnic groups with people wearing their respective traditional attire.

Liao Pinhu (4th R), vice chairman of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jeffrey Greene (4th L), chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping (3rd R), Jan Berris (1st R), vice president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and George Geh (3rd L), CEO of China Institute, pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony of the "Sino-American Friendship in Guangxi" photo exhibition in New York, the United States, March 11, 2024. The event was held by the Guangxi People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic ties. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua)

Margaret Mills Kincannon, vice-chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, and her husband view the "Sino-American Friendship in Guangxi" photo exhibition in Flying Tigers uniforms in New York, the United States, March 11, 2024. The event was held by the Guangxi People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to commemorate the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic ties. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
'My way or the highway' noisy disruptors on the right impeding MAGA's progress By Rachel Alexander

web posted March 18, 2024 A strange new phenomenon is sweeping the conservative base on the right, where mostly unknown armchair warriors are declaring that only their plans and solutions are valid, while everyone else is wrong and must be a grifter, controlled opposition, establishment or RINO. It is causing disruption on the right at a time when MAGA is finally uniting and becoming stronger within the Republican Party, impeding conservatives when they have a perfect opportunity to make some major strides. These disruptors no longer follow Ronald Reagan's mantra, "The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is an 80 percent friend and not a 20 percent enemy." Instead, their philosophy is, "We may agree on 99% of the issues, but I will spend all my time beating you up over the 1% we disagree on." Many of these activists appear to have unlimited amounts of free time, creating videos and posting on social media so much they acquire modest followings. Some of them frequently invoke the Bible, mentioning God and praying, which has the effect of causing other Christians to warm up to them. They spend hours scouring legal pleadings -- and many pleadings can be a couple hundred pages long when attachments are included -- so unless you have time to read all of the pleadings too, it is difficult to argue back and refute all of their arguments. Here in Arizona, the disruptors are attacking the attorneys for Kari Lake and Abe Hamadeh over how they are conducting the legal challenges contesting the results of the 2022 elections. Instead of supporting their legal efforts -- which are like David v. Goliath because the judicial system has become so corrupt and biased -- these armchair warriors tear down their attorneys, who are already under intense fire facing bogus bar complaints . These critics aren't election attorneys, are rarely attorneys at all and some don't even live in Arizona. However, they are successfully diverting the attention of many conservatives away from more productive things. Every day on X, I encounter posts from people attacking Lake's or Hamadeh's attorneys, demanding to know why they aren't taking the legal route that one of these armchair warriors has come up with. Lake has some very accomplished attorneys, like Kurt Olsen, who represented Donald Trump on his 2020 legal challenges. There are plenty of rational reasons why these attorneys aren't pursuing the other approaches, the main one probably being the judges will laugh them out of court. Yes, the judges should abide by the Constitution, and yes, these alternative legal arguments sound wonderful and noble in theory. They sound convincing to a lot of folks who are not election attorneys (I used to be the Maricopa County Elections attorney). But practically, with judges terrified of ruling in favor of Republicans on election issues, attorneys are forced to operate within a very narrow framework. Creative legal arguments that call for a judge to make an uncommon ruling are going to fail every time, and will likely get the attorneys disbarred. While it sounds great in principle to say that attorneys should be willing to lose their bar licenses over taking a dramatic nouveau approach in court, if they keep being disbarred, there will be none left to represent us. Former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas, who was wrongly disbarred by the left, often says the left is driving conservative attorneys to extinction. Not every conservative attorney has the resources to try novel legal arguments from armchair warriors in court knowing they will probably end up disbarred; many have huge law school loan debt and families to support. The best approach is likely looking at the 92 election lawsuits from 2020 and going with the arguments that worked on judges there. Of those cases, only 32 were decided on the merits, but 24 were decided in favor of Trump and/or the Republican plaintiffs. Other ways this damaging approach is playing out is nitpicking stalwart conservative leaders. Lake is the biggest conservative phenomenon in Arizona since Barry Goldwater -- and her credentials are solid, she says things even I wouldn't dare say -- but the armchair warriors endlessly criticize her; the grass is always greener. They'd rather go with a fringier candidate who will be unable to garner the massive support she has, raise as much money or attract key national attention. The late, great William F. Buckley Jr., my favorite conservative, coined the Buckley Rule, which is to support the candidate furthest on the right who is electable. Some of these armchair warriors aren't even Republicans, much less MAGA -- in Arizona some of them are from the Patriot Party -- yet because they apparently have all the free time in the world to post on social media, they are creating a demoralizing impression on the right that our very best candidates are full of flaws. The reality is fringier candidates almost always flame out once they come under heavy public scrutiny. There's a reason candidates like Lake have risen to where they're at -- they've been vetted by all kinds of political operatives familiar with weeding out bad candidates. The armchair warriors have one thing in common: an endless supply of criticism but no viable solutions. Many of their criticisms sound valid on the surface -- until you realize they could be used to nitpick and cancel the best candidates ever like Reagan. They sneakily criticize our best candidates for flaws that our worst candidates have, but the evidence is always tellingly shaky and missing the connecting dots. While Arizona is facing some of the worst instances of this, it is erupting all across the country. At this point, it can no longer be ignored, because it is getting in the way of productive work. While MAGA activists spend hours of time on social media following these disruptors down every little rabbit hole, they are not preparing for the 2024 election and figuring out how to thwart the massive election fraud that we all know is coming. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative. She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home
This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is CJ Staff A federal judge could decide soon whether to block North Carolina's Judicial Standards Commission from investigating state Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls. US District Judge William Osteen heard nearly three hours of arguments Thursday on Earls' motion for a preliminary injunction against the judicial standards group.Osteen offered no timeline for his decision about the injunction when he left the courtroom shortly before 5 p.m.Earls argues that the commission's investigations into her conduct have chilled her speech about matters of public interest.Her attorney, Pressly Millen, argued that the commission is looking into political speech that cannot be regulated for its content under the First Amendment to the Constitution.Osteen took interest in one particular comment that might not enjoy protection. He noted that Earls had been quoted as saying of her newer Supreme Court colleagues:If Earls meant that her colleagues placed political beliefs ahead of the standards a judge uses to determine a case, she essentially accused them of violating judicial standards, Osteen suggested. Such an accusation could run afoul of North Carolina's Code of Judicial Conduct.Osteen also questioned whether an injunction makes sense at this point in Earls' lawsuit. The Judicial Standards Commission has launched an investigation of Earls with no final outcome. Most similar investigations lead to cases being dismissed without any impact on the judge or justice, court filings suggested.Yet Osteen also raised questions for the commission's lawyers. He mentioned concerns about thefor addressing Earls' complaints. If the judicial commission recommends any action against the justice, her colleagues would end up deciding whether to punish her through censure or a more severe punishment. That group includes the conservative justices she discussed in the targeted comment.Osteen suggested the federal courts might offer a better avenue to resolve the dispute.The commission's lawyers urged Osteen to abstain from injecting the federal court into a state judicial proceeding. The commission also suggested that its investigation amounted to aapproach to the compelling state interest of ensuring state judges do nothing to question the judicial system's integrity.In its latest court filing Wednesday, the commission rejected Earls' arguments about the investigation of comments she made in a published article. The commission oversees compliance with the state Code of Judicial Conduct.according to the court filing.the judicial group argued.Sixteen self-described civil rights organizations and 20 legal ethics professors filed court documents on Oct. 20 supporting Earls.Meanwhile, Earls submitted multiple new court filings on the same day. One supported her request for a preliminary injunction. The other opposed the commission's attempt to have Earls' case dismissed.Earls said in her most recent court declaration.She cited her recent decisions to edit the contents of a Yale Law Review article and to decline a request to write for Slate magazine. She also mentioned her decision not to answer an audience question about proposed court rules changes during a September speech for the Greensboro Bar Association.Earls said.The civil rights groups submitted their briefLed by the left-of-center Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the 16 groups listed in the brief include the NAACP, League of Women Voters, and Planned Parenthood.The 20 legal ethics professors who submitted a separate brief include at least one representative of each of North Carolina's law schools. The list also features professors at Georgetown, Northwestern, Cornell, and other out-of-state law schools.the law professors wrote.the law professors added.The Judicial Standards Commission filed paperwork on Oct. 6 to dismiss Earls' suit and to block her request for a preliminary injunction.according to a brief supporting the dismissal motion filed Friday in US District Court.The judicial standards group acknowledged that it notified Earls on Aug. 15 of aof statements attributed to her in a published article. The statementsaccording to the commission's lawyers.The 14-member Judicial Standards Commission is chaired by state Appeals Court Judge Chris Dillon. Dillon, a Republican, was initially appointed to the chair's post by then-Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley, a Democrat. Current Chief Justice Paul Newby, a Republican, reappointed Dillon.The commission now has six Democrats, five Republicans, and three unaffiliated members. They conduct business in two seven-member panels.The commission offered 283to judges in 2022. Those opinions offer ato judges.executive director Brittany Pinkham declared to the federal court.That same year the commission had 560 complaints pending against judges across North Carolina. Just 28 reached the formal investigation stage, Pinkham said. Anof formal investigations ended with the complaint's dismissal.Pinkham indicated to the federal court.Earls' lawsuit says the commission has initiated two investigations against her this year related to public commentsThe publication Law360 published a June 20 interview titledShe was responding to a May 17 article in the North Carolina Bar Association's publication. That article focused on the race and sex of lawyers arguing cases as the state's highest court.according to the complaint.The First Amendmentthe complaint added.Earls argues that the investigation into her commentsShe accuses the commission ofThe justice labels the August notice part of aher free-speech rights. Her complaint cites an earlier investigation in March. It related to comments Earls made about rule changes and a proposed legislative change linked to the state's courts.District Judge William Osteen admonished both Earls and the Judicial Standards Commission in September forlanguage in their court filings.
All of Durham seems in a lockdown of sorts. There are helicopters overhead, police cars going in every direction, all major roads blocked and in total gridlock. #ncpol  David Larson (@DavidLarson83) November 2, 2023

How many of those who blocked the freeway during rush hour were arrested? Who made the decision not to remove them from blocking the flow of traffic? Did the mayor or any other Durham politician direct the police chief to allow the protest to continue? Is it the policy of the DPD to allow citizens to block streets without a permit for hours, or was an exception made due to it being a protest? Will future similar incidents be treated the same way, or will the incident spur a change of policy?

This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is CJ Staff On Thursday, Nov. 2, a group of protesters blocked the Durham Freeway (NC-147), the main artery through Durham and a major connector for the Research Triangle area, during rush hour. They held banners against Israel's response to the Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas on Israeli civilians and called for a ceasefire.As the hours ticked by, those stuck in traffic began wondering what was causing the delay, and vented on social media. Carolina Journal opinion editor, David Larson, was one of those stuck in traffic, which added over an hour to his commute from Raleigh home to Hillsborough. Confused by the sirens, helicopters, and blocked roads, he said:At 7:53 pm, many hours later, the Durham Police Department posted that the protesters had decided, on their own volition, to leave the highway and march downtown. The police statement suggested that the police would close additional streets on behalf of those protesting.Carolina Journal called and emailed the Durham Police Department and asked them:As of publication, there was no response to those specific questions. The chief did send a more-general response:CJ also reached out to state Sen. Mike Woodard, a Democrat and leading candidate for mayor, but received no answer as of publication.Reaction from conservative activists and politicians, though, came quickly and showed deep frustration with how rule-of-law was set aside for the left-wing demonstrators.Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, released a statement blasting the City of Durham's response:Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a frontrunner in the Republican gubernatorial primary, also blasted both the protesters and the response:Update: NC House Speaker Tim Moore also released a statement on the illegal protest:
At a rally in Ohio, where there are a lot of auto workers, President Trump predicted a "bloodbath" in the automobile industry if he is not returned to office. Given the radical environmentalism of Joe Biden and his regime, that is an accurate prediction of what would happen to America's automobile industry if Biden or someone like him goes back into the White House.

It did not take long however, for our ultra-partisan and highly politically corrupt corporate media, aka Big Media, which styles itself the "mainstream media" to invent a hoax around Trump's prediction for the automobile industry under Biden. They simply left out the key part about the automobile industry, and accused Trump of predicting a literal bloodbath in society if he is not reelected. As so often they do, our corrupt media has taken something way out of context and invented a false threat from it. Fake news seems to be today's trademark of the MSM.

And, of course, the Biden cheerleaders took this gross distortion and ran with it like it was fact.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/leftist-corporate-media-unleash-bloodbath-hoax-after-trumps-speech

https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2024/03/17/elon-musk-nukes-joe-scarboroughs-wicked-take-on-the-bloodbath-hoax-n2171513

https://redstate.com/bonchie/2024/03/17/what-the-press-still-doesnt-understand-about-its-trump-hysteria-n2171517

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/03/17/biden-campaign-establishment-media-attack-trump-with-fake-interpretation-of-bloodbath-comments-in-ohio-rally/

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/2923602/medias-descent-into-political-advocacy/

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2024/03/17/biden-communications-director-tyler-trumps-bloodbath-comments-endorsement-of-political-violence/

America's crooked media play politics in their distortions just like Josef Goebbels did in the Third Reich.
Border Patrol agents arrested 22-year-old Basel Bassel Ebbadi, a Lebanese national, after he illegally entered the United States from Mexico near El Paso. Im going to try to make a bomb, Ebbadi told Border Patrol agents when asked why he came to the U.S., according to an exclusive report by the New York Post.

Agents captured Ebbadi on March 9 after he crossed the border from Mexico into Texas. The agents transported the Lebanese man to the El Paso hardened facility for processing and investigation. Two days later, Ebbadi told the agents he was going to make a bomb. The agents moved the man to isolation and contacted the Tactical Terrorism Response Team to conduct an interview.

https://www.breitbart.com/border/2024/03/18/report-self-proclaimed-hezbollah-terrorist-arrested-at-border-in-texas/

"Biden flew this illegal dirtbag into our Country..."

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/haitian-national-arraigned-rape-14-year-old-girl-massachusetts-hotel

How many terrorist have stayed silent and were let in and flow to where they wanted at our expense? How many are being flown in direct from other countries with no checks?
Under the cover of Covid, and now in the shadow of the infamous Election Irregularities of that fated 2020 presidential election, with current emerging alleged election fraud in Nevada and Pennsylvania inconveniently slipping into the public discourse, there is proved a colluded ongoing Election Interference in the nomination of the Republican candidate, the likes of which has never occurred in our Constitutional Republic's history, albeit, the question remains: Do you support the plain-sight Election Interference of the Democratic Socialist party, employing its minions in their Propagandistic Media, and their Two Tiered Justice System?

98.7% No, I do not support Election Interference; I am a patriot unto our Constitution.1.3% Yes, I do support Election Interference; the alternative, Donald Trump, to this mentally diminished president is far worse.0% "What, me worry" if elections are rigged?
The parallels between Yahya Sinwar and Yasser Arafat By Yoni Ben Menachem

web posted March 18, 2024 In discussions with a senior official in the Fatah movement, parallels between Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat were drawn. Notably, both harbored a fervent desire, driven by distinct motivations, to liberate Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. They aimed to emulate the esteemed Muslim commander Salah al-Din Al-Ayoubi, renowned for freeing Jerusalem from Crusader control in the 12th century AD. Both Arafat and Sinwar held profound reverence for the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem, willing to sacrifice their lives to secure them and be commemorated in the annals of Muslim history as liberators from Israeli control. While Arafat has since died, under circumstances clouded in mystery and speculation of potential foul play, Sinwar's fate remains uncertain, with his demise seemingly inevitable. The Tunnels and the Mukata'a If Sinwar meets his end in the tunnels of Gaza, it will mirror Arafat's protracted confinement in the Mukata'a headquarters in Ramallah, which eventually culminated in his death. Investigations into Arafat's demise suggested poisoning, with some attributing it to Palestinian factions with ties to Israel. During the hunt for Sinwar in Gaza's tunnels, the IDF uncovered documents implicating him in the October 7, 2023, massacres in communities surrounding Gaza and various terrorist attacks against Israel. Similarly, investigations at the Mukata'a in Ramallah in 2002 yielded evidence linking Arafat to terrorist activities against Israel. Sinwar's attempted terrorist onslaught, known as the "Al-Aqsa Flood," in October 2023 aimed to coerce Israel into accepting an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders. This mirrors Arafat's aspirations during the Second Intifada, which ultimately failed, leading to Israel's re-occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. Both Sinwar and Arafat's campaigns of terror not only failed in their objectives but also hindered prospects for a political resolution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The Second Intifada is remembered as a tragic failure in Palestinian history, prompting PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas to renounce armed resistance in favor of peaceful means. Similarly, Sinwar's "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation is poised to become another bleak chapter in Palestinian history, exacerbating the plight of Gazans and evoking comparisons to the "Nakba" of 1948. Sinwar and Arafat's militant endeavors dragged Israel into bloody conflicts, exacting a heavy toll on lives lost on both sides. However, Israel's resilience, bolstered by national unity and a steadfast commitment to combat terrorism, ensured its victory in these strugglesa testament that must not be forgotten. In conclusion, despite the absence of a foreseeable solution, both sides are bracing for future confrontations, underscoring the enduring complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yoni Ben Menachem, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center. He served as Director General and Chief Editor of the Israel Broadcasting Authority. bHome
William Salko, DO, a physician formerly of Richland, Wash., and healthcare staffing company Jackson & Coker LocumTenes, agreed to pay $700,000 to settle allegations of participating in a kickback scheme.

Dr. Salko and JCLT allegedly billed Medicare for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment and diagnostic laboratory testing as part of the scheme, according to a March 15 Justice Department news release.

In 2021, Dr. Salko was retained through JCLT to provide telemedicine services for Nationwide Health Advocates. Nationwide-employed telemarketing companies obtained personal information from Medicare beneficiaries to generate physician's orders for equipment or testing, which were signed by Dr. Salko and then billed to Medicare.

Nationwide paid JCLT, which then paid Dr. Salko for each order he reviewed. Dr. Salko did not provide treatment to any of the patients that he placed orders for.

David Santana, former owner and president of Nationwide, pleaded guilty to healthcare conspiracy charges in September 2023.

JCLT fully cooperated with the U.S. during the investigations and has taken action to improve its legal and compliance efforts, according to the settlement agreement.
A Vermont dentist was recently arrested and charged with one felony count of prescription fraud.

The Vermont Attorney Generals Office said March 18 that an investigation was launched into Catherine Cech, DMD, after it received information that Dr. Cech allegedly used her DEA registration number to purchase controlled substances for personal use.

Dr. Cech pleaded not guilty to the charge March 18, according to a news release.
A South Bay physician has asked the California Department of Public Health to conduct an "impact assessment" of Scripps Health's recent decision to close the labor and delivery unit at Scripps Mercy Chula Vista (Calif.) Hospital and transfer obstetrics services 12 miles north to its Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego campus.

In a letter to the state's health department, Kofi Sefa-Boakye, MD, requested an investigation be conducted, writing that the San Diego-based health system has a moral obligation to keep the labor and delivery unit at the Chula Vista facility open since it predominantly services low-income mothers, according to a March 18 report from The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Dr. Sefa-Boakye, who has delivered babies in the region for more than three decades, expressed concerns about the care for patients who may arrive at the hospital with severe pregnancy complications, such as placental abruption, seizures and septic shock.

"We're just concerned about the women possibly arriving there after the unit is closed and not being able to be cared for appropriately and increasing the maternal morbidity and mortality and the neonatal morbidity and mortality in the South Bay," Latisa Carson, MD, another obstetrician and gynecologist who has years of experience delivering babies at Scripps Mercy Chula Vista, told the news outlet.

The health system has said consolidating obstetrics care with Scripps Mercy San Diego is necessary to open up capacity for patients in need of a medical-surgical bed at Mercy Chula Vista.

"Scripps Mercy Chula Vista's emergency room visits average 170 patients per day, and frequently top 200 or more per day," a March 7 Scripps Health memorandum shared with employees and previously obtained by Becker's said. "We have been exceeding our licensed med/surg capacity every day over the past 12 months, resulting in long waits for many of our Emergency Department (ED) patients to be placed in an available med/surg bed."

The memorandum announcing the change to staff also stated that only about half of beds in the OB unit at Mercy Chula Vista are in use on average, and that the change is expected to bring in 28 additional medical-surgical and observation beds.

The full transition is expected to take three to four months, officials previously said. According to The San Diego Union-Tribune's report, the health system has said it will continue to contract with obstetricians to be available for emergency cases at Mercy Chula Vista, though staff have raised concerns about not having a sufficient team to handle emergencies.

"The people who would be 'stabilizing' and delivering would be the emergency room staff," a nurse who has worked at the hospital for more than a decade and asked to remain anonymous told the news outlet. "Obstetrics and gynecology is not their forte; it's not what they are trained to do."

Meanwhile, health system officials have reiterated that an "organized approach" is being taken to ensure a smooth transition.

"We will make sure that we can make safe handoffs, safe transfers, maintain a safe continuity of care," Tom Gammiere, Scripps' senior vice president and regional chief executive in south San Diego County, told the news outlet.

The change in services will affect around 135 employees at Scripps Mercy Chula Vista, and Scripps has said it is working to identify other opportunities for affected employees within the system. Severance paperwork has reportedly been provided to 136 workers, and they have been made aware of a notice for 51 full-time equivalent positions in the labor and delivery and postpartum departments at Mercy Hospital San Diego, a Scripps spokesperson told Becker's. Additionally, there are 11 full-time and part-time positions posted at other Scripps sites in OB services.

"Scripps is committed to maintaining safe, high-quality emergency obstetrics services at Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista, both now and after the consolidation with Scripps Mercy San Diego is complete," the health system said in a statement March 19. "We are continuing to work on the specific operational details of our OB services plan at Chula Vista as we move through the early stages of the 90-day regulatory notice period. We will ensure safe labor and delivery services with appropriate staffing, as well as safe handoffs and transfers after delivery, including neonatal transfers requiring intensive care with our partners at Rady Childrens Hospital. In addition, Scripps is providing full transparency to the California Department of Public Health and is completing all regulatory requirements related to this transition."
UnitedHealth Group has advanced more than $2 billion to providers and is launching software for medical claims preparation beginning March 18 following the cyberattack on its Change Healthcare subsidiary in late February.

The software will be made available to thousands of providers in the next several days, with "third-party attestations available prior to services becoming operational. Following this initial phase, remaining services restoration will continue through ongoing phases of activation until all customers have been connected."

"We continue to make significant progress in restoring the services impacted by this cyberattack," UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty said in a news release. "We know this has been an enormous challenge for health care providers and we encourage any in need to contact us."

As of March 7, the company has restored 99% of pharmacy network services. Change's electronic payments platform was restored March 15, with payer implementations currently underway.

The cyberattack has been called the most significant and consequential in American history, crippling financial operations for hospitals, insurers, pharmacies and medical groups nationwide. An AHA survey of nearly 1,000 hospitals conducted between March 9 and 12 found that 94% of hospitals have felt financial impact from the attack, and more than half have reported a "significant or serious" impact. Seventy-four percent of hospitals reported a direct effect on patient care.

Provider claims to payers have dropped by more than one-third, according to an analysis of 1,850 hospitals and 250,000 physicians nationwide by Kodiak Solutions. Through March 9, the total estimated cash flow impact for hospitals reporting data to Kodiak is $6.3 billion in delayed payments.

HHS previously called on UnitedHealth to "take responsibility to ensure no provider is compromised by their cash flow challenges" and to expedite the delivery of payments. For all payers, HHS has asked that interim payments be made to affected providers and that prior authorization and other utilization management requirements be put on hold temporarily. The federal government has also accelerated payments to hospitals and physicians.

On March 12, AHIP President and CEO Mike Tuffin said suspending prior authorization requirements could do more harm than good and that individual plans and providers are in the best position to assess how to maintain appropriate payments in a timely manner. According to Bloomberg, a main concern among payers around advanced funding is how money will be recuperated in the future. Federal health officials are expected to meet with insurance industry representatives March 18.



Until March 31, UnitedHealth has suspended Medicare Advantage and D-SNP prior authorizations for most outpatient services, and utilization review of inpatient admissions. No other large insurers have made the decision to relax prior authorizations enterprise-wide. The federal government has also launched an investigation into UnitedHealth over the cyberattack within the context of HIPAA compliance.
An ongoing clash between UnitedHealthcare and New York City-based Mount Sinai will have effects on some of Amazon's One Medical patients, a spokesperson from One Medical confirmed to Becker's.

One Medical informed its patients in New York that UnitedHealthcare coverage for providers in New York City may cease starting March 22. This is due to stalled contract negotiations between Mount Sinai and UnitedHealthcare, The New York Times reported March 14.

According to the Times, Mount Sinai wanted a better rate from United and urged the company to pay more for its physician visits and hospital stays, but United declined. So now, if no agreement is made by March 22, Mount Sinai's hospitals will not be in network for patients who have UnitedHealthcare or Oxford insurance, even though they're part of the same company.

One Medical is affiliated with Mount Sinai's clinically integrated network and offers services in accordance with Mount Sinai's agreements with insurers, therefore affecting their patients.

"Our members' access to high-quality care is One Medical's number one priority. We are deeply disappointed by this situation and the impact it may have on our members and providers, as well as patients of other Mount Sinai providers, and are exploring every avenue to limit disruption to our patients' care," a One Medical spokesperson told Becker's.

United told the Times it is in discussion with Mount Sinai, stating it has "provided the health system with multiple proposals that include meaningful rate increases that ensure they'd continue to be reimbursed at market-competitive rates."

Meanwhile, Brent Estes, senior vice president for Mount Sinai, told the publication that United "has offered us virtually nothing more than the prior contract."

Mr. Estes said Mount Sinai is "bracing for our physicians to be out of network."
A number of healthcare organizations have recently closed medical departments or ended services at facilities to shore up finances, focus on more in-demand services or address staffing shortages.

Here are 16 department closures or services ending, announced, advanced or finalized that Becker's has reported since March 1:

1. Mee Memorial Hospital in King City, Calif., has started transitioning patients to another dialysis clinic as it plans to close its dialysis center in June. The hospital's dialysis center opened in 1995, and officials said it is in need of renovations and equipment upgrades amid advancements in dialysis services.

2. Beginning April 1, Seton Medical Center Coastside in Moss Beach, Calif., will temporarily close while structural repairs caused by storm damage are made. Officials with the facility, which is owned by Alhambra, Calif.-based AHMC Healthcare, told local news outlets it will be closed for six to nine months.

3. Mercy Health-Fairfield (Ohio) Hospital, part of Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health, is closing its labor and delivery services and transferring them to Mercy Health-Anderson Hospital and Mercy Health-West Hospital, both in Cincinnati, effective May 1.

4. Columbia City, Ind.-based Parkview Whitley Hospital, part of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Parkview Health, is closing its family birthing center and relocating it to the new Warsaw, Ind.-based Parkview Kosciusko Hospital, tentatively scheduled for Sept. 1.

5. West Monroe, La.-based Glenwood Regional Medical Center, part of financially troubled Dallas-based Steward Health Care, closed its inpatient rehabilitation unit March 20.

6. Wahiawa (Hawaii) General Hospital temporarily closed its emergency department, effective March 18, due to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning issues. The closure will allow the hospital to fix its HVAC system, with a work completion timeline unclear.

7. Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health is temporarily shuttering its pharmacy on Eastern Michigan University's campus in Ypsilanti. The closure is expected to last from March 22 to late summer amid supply and staffing issues. The pharmacy has had ongoing operational issues.

8. Renovo, Pa.-based Bucktail Medical Center is closing its long-term care facility May 14. CEO Laura Murnyack, BSN, RN, said officials explored options to keep the facility open, but "its increasing costs severely undermine Bucktail's fiscal position."

9. Adventist Health Tulare (Calif.) is pausing obstetrics services June 6 for an unspecified amount of time. Hospital officials said they are working to recruit providers to eventually reopen the department. The planned closure comes after year-over-year births at the hospital declined 60%.

10. Daviess Community Hospital in Washington, Ind., will close its inpatient behavioral health unit May 1 as it looks to put more resources into outpatient mental health services.

11. Adventist Health Tillamook (Ore.) is closing three medical offices by April 12 after yearslong efforts to recruit additional qualified medical providers into the rural communities.

12. Scripps Mercy Chula Vista (Calif.) hospital, part of San Diego-based Scripps Health, is transferring its obstetrics care services and Rady Children's neonatal intensive care unit to its Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego campus. The decision to consolidate the obstetrics unit with Scripps Mercy San Diego, which will take three to four months to transition, is designed to allow room for adult medical and surgical patients in need of a bed at the Chula Vista hospital,

13. Northampton, Mass.-based Cooley Dickinson Hospital, part of Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham, is closing its South Deerfield, Mass.-based Sugarloaf Pediatrics practice and transitioning services to Amherst, Mass.-based Northampton Area Pediatrics, effective July 1.

14. New York City-based Mount Sinai Health's Beth Israel campus ended its stroke and cardiac services March 10 due to voluntary staff departures since the planned closure of the hospital was shared in September.

15. Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic Health System announced March 1 that it will not reopen its clinic in Janesville, Minn.

16. Marshfield (Wis.) Clinic Health System closed urgent care services at its Marshfield Medical Center-Weston (Wis.) location, effective March 8.
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic has completed its $150 million buyout deal with Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. in a bid to unload its overseas hospital investment, postbulletin.com reported March 15.

Mayo sold its 25% stake in a hospital in the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, to Abu Dhabi Health Services Co.

"Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) has acquired Mayo Clinic's interest in Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC)," Sharon Theimer, Mayo Clinic's communications manager for international media relations, told the publication. "Moving forward, SSMC will be wholly owned and operated by SEHA. Mayo Clinic and SEHA remain committed to serving patients from the UAE, the surrounding region and abroad. We are not releasing further details at this time."

Mayo did not provide details as to why it entered into the buyout deal.

Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City was established in 2019, and in 2020, collaborated with Mayo, which made a substantial investment of $50 million in cash and other non-material assets, acquiring a 25% equity stake.

Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City was Mayo Clinic's first international hospital.
Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth named Lisa Wood, MSN, RN, as director of nursing for surgical services at an Oregon hospital.

Ms. Wood will begin her new role March 24 at Peace Harbor Medical Center in Florence, Ore., according to a news release from the nine-hospital system. She has worked on and off for PeaceHealth for more than 20 years in multiple nursing roles. Ms. Wood previously served at the system's Sacred Heart Medical Center in Springfield, Ore.
The CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has published an evidence-based guide to support hospital leaders in crafting a well-being strategy for their employees.

The six-step guide was published March 18 as part of the first federal campaign focused on combating burnout among healthcare workers and is structured to support "organizational-level changes that will impact and improve the mental health of their employees," the agency said in a news release about the new guide.

The "Impact Wellbeing Guide: Taking Action to Improve Healthcare Worker Wellbeing" is based on six steps that were pilot-tested and refined by a working group of six CommonSpirit Health hospitals in the last six months of 2023.

Six key steps outlined in the guide:

Conduct a review of hospital operations to determine how they support professional well-being.

Build a dedicated team to support professional well-being.

Remove barriers to seeking care, such as intrusive mental health questions on credentialing applications.

Create a suite of communication tools meant to share updates with the workforce about the organization's journey to improve well-being.

Integrate professional well-being measures into an ongoing quality improvement project.

Create a 12-month plan to continue to advance efforts on professional well-being.

The guide comes as burnout levels remain high across the industry. Nearly half of physician respondents indicated they were burned out in Medscape's 2024 report on burnout and depression. Fifty-six percent of nurse respondents reported experiencing symptoms of burnout in a McKinsey & Co. survey last spring, which was published in November. Meanwhile, bills meant to bolster protection for hospital workers and support their mental health are receiving growing recognition in Congress.
Two new federal studies found no significant evidence of brain injury among more than 80 patients with ''Havana syndrome," The Washington Post reported March 18.

For the studies, published March 18 in JAMA, researchers with the National Institutes of Health conducted extensive testing on 86 federal employees and family members who've experienced what the government has called "anomalous health incidents." Patients were assessed between June 2018 and November 2021 at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Researchers found no significant differences between participants with Havana syndrome symptoms and control participants in terms of auditory, vestibular, cognitive or visual function. MRI scans also showed no signs of brain injury. Researchers said the findings are positive but don't discount many patients' debilitating symptoms.

"These symptoms are real, and they feel it, and we acknowledge it," lead author Leighton Chan, MD, chief of rehabilitation medicine at NIH Clinical Center, told the Post.

About 200 U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers have reported symptoms potentially linked to Havana syndrome since the mysterious illness was first identified in 2016. People believed to have the condition report hearing a loud sound and pressure in their heads before experiencing dizziness, unsteady gait and visual disturbances, according to a 2020 report from the National Academies of Sciences.

Last March, a U.S. intelligence report determined the cases were not caused by actions of a foreign adversary, contradicting a long-standing theory that an enemy was using pulsed radio frequency energy to secretly target U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers.
















A Joann store in Garfield Heights, Ohio. The fabric and crafts retailer, which has four stores in the San Antonio area, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It said Monday it expected to emerge from bankruptcy as early as the end of next month. Tony Dejak/AP file photo

Fabric and crafts retailer Joann, which operates four stores in the San Antonio area, filed Monday for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, unable to sustain its debt load after a sales boom during pandemic lockdowns faded.

Hudson, Ohio-based Joann Inc. said it expects to emerge from bankruptcy as early as the end of next month. After that, it will likely become privately-owned by certain lenders and industry parties, the company added  meaning its shares would no longer be publicly traded on stock exchanges.

Joanns more than 800 stores and its website will continue to operate normally during the bankruptcy process. Vendors, landlords and other trade creditors should not see any pay disruptions, the company said, pointing to a deal it had struck with most of its shareholders for financial support.

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In addition to Mondays filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Joann said it had received about $132 million in new financing and expected to reduce its balance sheets funded debt by about $505 million.

Scott Sekella, Joanns chief financial officer and co-lead of the CEOs interim office, said the transaction support agreement marked a significant step forward in addressing the companys capital structure needs. He added that the retailer remains committed to operating as usual so it can best serve our millions of customers nationwide.

Joanns bankruptcy filing arrives amid both a slowdown in discretionary spending overall and as consumers are taking a step back from at-home crafts, at least relative to a boom seen at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Crafts, which did extremely well during the pandemic, have fallen back into slight declines as people find other things to do, Neil Saunders, managing director of research firm GlobalData, told the Associated Press  noting that many are now sacrificing these artsy activites to spend money on experiences outside of the house such as going out to eat or attending sporting events.

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That puts pressure on all retailers with skin in the crafts market. But, Saunders added, challenges specific to Joann include the companys sizeable debt and rising competition.

Rivals like Hobby Lobby, for example, offer lower prices while casual crafters can now go to stores like Target for ample art supplies and kits, he said  adding that Joann has also let its specialist type service slide some with previous staffing cuts.

There is still a place for Joann, but its going to take a lot of work to get back into a stable position, Saunders said. I think this bankruptcy was always inevitable. And actually, despite the disruption it causes, its a very good first step for getting the company back on track.

Joann listed more than $2.44 billion in total debts and about $2.26 billion in total assets in Mondays Chapter 11 petition, which was filed in Delaware, citing numbers from October 2023.

Joann previously went private in 2011  when it was purchased by Leonard Green & Partners for about $1.6 billion. A decade later Joann, still majority owned by the equity firm, returned to the public market with an initial public offering at $12 a share.

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The company was born back in 1943, with a single storefront in Cleveland, Ohio, and later grew into a national chain. Formerly known as Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, the company rebranded itself with the shortened Joann name for its 75th anniversary.
Medicaid's fund recovery practice is facing scrutiny as more families are forced to sell their homes after their loved one dies, The New York Times reported March 16.

In 1993, Congress mandated that when Medicaid beneficiaries older than 55 use long-term care services, states must try to recover the expenses from the beneficiaries' estates after their death. Most states allow those beneficiaries to retain assets worth only $2,000, and although homes are exempt, many families still sell them to pay back Medicaid.

"It is the only public benefit program from the United States of America that requires states to seek to get money back," Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky told the Times. She reintroduced a bill called the Stop Unfair Medicaid Recoveries Act to end the practice altogether.

Her staff calculated that 17,000 families in Illinois lost homes to Medicaid recovery since 2021. An independent agency found that states collected $733 million through estate recovery in fiscal 2019, which amounts to about half a percent of Medicaid's long-term-care expenditure. Only eight states collect more than 1 percent of expenditures.

Some states are reducing the financial hit to low-income families, which reportedly is the demographic hit hardest by the policy.

Massachusetts, Georgia, South Carolina and Illinois, for instance, will not pursue recovery against estates valued below $25,000. Other states provide applicants with a fuller explanation of the consequences of signing up for Medicaid.
The Environmental Protection Agency banned ongoing uses of asbestos, a carcinogen that is linked to more than 40,000 annual deaths, the White House said March 18.

Decades of research has tied asbestos exposure to lung cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer. The chemical is commonly used in insulation materials, fire retardants, building materials, automobile friction products, packaging and heat-resistant fabrics, according to the EPA.

The ban on manufactured and imported products containing asbestos follows "more than three decades of inadequate protections," the White House said in a news release.

The EPA is also pushing to address health concerns related to methylene chloride, carbon tetrachloride, perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene  "all of which are dangerous and sometimes fatal chemicals used in commercial and industrial settings," the release said.

The efforts are part of President Joe Biden's Cancer Moonshot, which aims to cut the nation's cancer death rate in half by 2047.
As of March 15, the New York State Department of Health has cited 18 hospitals for violations of the state's clinical staffing law.

Erin Clary, a spokesperson for the department, provided the number to Becker's but declined to comment further.

"As previously stated, the department cannot comment on open investigations," she said. "As these cases may be the subject of an ongoing investigation, we cannot comment further at this time."

The 18 hospitals cited is an increase from the 15 cited as of Feb. 16.

The citations follow the state health department's adoption last June of a proposed regulation requiring hospitals to assign at least one nurse for every two patients in critical care units.

The regulation was a result of rule-making necessitated by the addition of Section 2805-t to the Public Health Law under Chapter 155 of the Laws of 2021, state officials said at the time. It is part of a state law signed in 2021 mandating hospitals establish clinical staffing committees.

Under Section 2805-t, hospitals are required to establish clinical staffing committees to create and submit minimum staffing plans to the state's health department. Those found in violation must submit a corrective action plan, which must be implemented upon state approval. Hospitals that don't comply could face a fine of up to $2,000 per citation and/or any other related civil penalties.

Meanwhile, the Communications Workers of America District 1, which represents 145,000 workers in 200 CWA local unions in New York, New Jersey, New England and Eastern Canada, has filed thousands of complaints against New York health systems  raised under hospitals' clinical staffing plans filed with the New York Department of Health.

Hospitals' staffing plans, which were posted in July 2022, are available here.
A report released March 7 by the National Commission on Certification of PAs provides a glimpse into supply and demand of board-certified physician assistants/associates in the U.S.

The report, titled "2022 Statistical Profile of Board Certified PAs by State," reflects aggregated responses from PAs who were board-certified as of the end of 2022. As of Dec. 31, 2022, there were 168,318 board-certified PAs, including in U.S. territories and other areas, and 140,815 provided responses for at least a portion of the report. The report also provides five-year comparisons using data from 2018 and, additionally, reflects data obtained from other NCCPA data collection strategies. Read more about the methodology and data here.

As part of the report, certified PAs were asked if their principal place of employment is currently recruiting/hiring PAs. If so, they were asked to provide the length that PA positions have remained unfilled.

Here is the number of certified PAs who said their primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs, by state, and of those, how many said positions have remained unfilled for at least six months. Also included is the number of certified PAs who said they plan to retire in the next five years.

Alabama

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 24.8%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 22.3%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 4.1%

Alaska

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 39.8%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 38.1%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 12.7%

Arizona

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 34.8%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 24%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 7.1%

Arkansas

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 24.3%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 18.4%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 4.4%

California

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 37.9%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 26%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 6.2%

Colorado

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 32.4%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 18.8%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 6%

Connecticut

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 50.2%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 25.4%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 5.3%

Delaware

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 42.5%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 21.9%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 8.1%

District of Columbia

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 51.3%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 20.8%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 2.9%

Florida

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 30.3%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 18.6%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 6.4%

Georgia

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 32.8%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 21.5%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 6.1%

Hawaii

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 31.9%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 34.3%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 7.4%

Idaho

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 31.6%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 20.5%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 6.2%

Illinois

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 39.1%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 18.7%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 3.6%

Indiana

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 34.5%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 18.7%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 3.2%

Iowa

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 29.3%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 14.2%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 8.8%

Kansas

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 25%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 17.5%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 6.1%

Kentucky:

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 24.3%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 16.2%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 5.8%

Louisiana

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 31.9%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 21.1%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 2.6%

Maine

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 46.3%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 32%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 10.9%

Maryland

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 42%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 27%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 7.2%

Massachusetts

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 44.8%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 22.6%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 4.2%

Michigan

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 32.1%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 18.6%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 6.1%

Minnesota

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 43.4%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 17.8%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 4.4%

Mississippi

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 20.8%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 10%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 2%

Missouri

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 36.6%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 17.8%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 4.2%

Montana

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 37.5%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 34.7%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 9.7%

Nebraska

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 27.6%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 19%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 5.4%

Nevada

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 33.4%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 25%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 7.3%

New Hampshire

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 40.3%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 31%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 6.7%

New Jersey

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 38.4%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 18.7%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 3.1%

New Mexico

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 42.9%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 37.2%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 12%

New York

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 47.2%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 26.4%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 5.3%

North Carolina

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 34.7%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 20.5%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 6.9%

North Dakota

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 34%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 22.9%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 13.4%

Ohio

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 38.4%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 14.8%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 4.3%

Oklahoma

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 29.5%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 20.8%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 6.7%

Oregon

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 39.1%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 28.3%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 5.7%

Pennsylvania

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 37.4%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 21.7%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 4.5%

Rhode Island

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 38.4%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 21.2%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 5.1%

South Carolina

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 29.2%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 17.5%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 5.3%

South Dakota

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 30.5%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 17.3%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 9.7%

Tennessee

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 26.3%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 17.6%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 4.3%

Texas

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 31.8%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 18.1%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 5.5%

Utah

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 28.6%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 12.1%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 4.8%

Vermont

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 38.7%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 25%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 11.9%

Virginia

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 39.1%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 23.9%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 5.3%

Washington

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 44.6%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 26.3%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 8.1%

West Virginia

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 32.4%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 22.5%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 4.4%

Wisconsin

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 42.9%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 23.3%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 6.8%

Wyoming

Primary place of employment is recruiting/hiring PAs: 23.8%

Percentage of employers with positions that have remained unfilled for at least six months: 25.9%

Plan to retire in the next five years: 13.9%
Orthopedic Associates of Hartford (Conn.) opened a storefront clinic in South Windsor, Conn., Hartford Business Journal reported March 18.

The 5,969 square-foot facility is in a shopping center and is an office for up to 20 orthopedic physicians, the report said. It offers specialized care, physical therapy, imaging and cast application and removal.

The center doesn't offer surgery. But the new location is part of Orthopedic Associates of Hartford's push into outpatient care.

"Whats happening in health care is that orthopedics is migrating from being inpatient to outpatient," OAH President Pietro Memmo, MD, said in the report. "This is really the first time that Orthopedic Associates of Hartford has gone a little bit more retail."
Inside the cross-border exodus in search of a cheaper life here in NI

People from the Republic are drawn to live on this side of the border by the lower cost of living

NIs capital city Belfast, where consumer prices are 35% lower than in Dublin, groceries are 14.4% cheaper and utilities are 45.5% less expensive (Photo: Getty)

Gabrielle Monaghan Mon 18 Mar 2024 at 09:00

Alan Duncan, who runs PR firm Agile Communications, has Belfast  and his mother-in-law  to thank for finally being able to get on the property ladder.
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
Celebrity Big Brother star Louis Walsh has described Zeze Millz as righteous in a heated debate about the three most heartless housemates on the show.

During Sundays installment of the ITV1 reality programme, housemates had to follow strict rules as they completed quests as part of this weeks shopping task.

The house was transformed into a twisted fairytale kingdom and former X Factor judge Walsh, 71, and TV presenter Millz, 34, who were both deemed the most evil housemates, had to reign over their subjects whilst dressed as king and queen.

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The duo argued as they were tasked with choosing the most heartless housemates and Millz refused to let Walsh pick Ibiza Weekender star David Potts.

Youre obsessed with making David do things, she said.

You just want to see him suffer, you just want to see David go through hell again, she added.

Walsh told Millz he had the final say on who to pick, to which she said: No you dont, you actually dont.

Ive made my decision, Im not changing, he said.

Millz said: We clearly can see that before Walsh interupted and said: Can you just shut up about it?

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Millz said: Dont tell me to shut up either. Please dont tell me to shut up. Thank you.

Youre so righteous. I cant do anything. I cant say anything, Walsh added.

Millz responded: No, you cant. Get the violins out for Louis.

Walsh had also accused Millz of loving attention.

You love the attention, admit it, he said.

You love it, he added.

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You like it more than anybody else.

You do. (You are) confident and loud. Youre full of yourself.

You want to get to the top, thats the only way to get to the top, by being pushy.

During the shopping task, which the housemates lost, the evil rulers were given luxury food while the others were made to eat gruel and tidy up.

Elsewhere in the episode, Strictly Come Dancing star Nikita Kuzmin put himself forward to receive the killer nomination meaning he will be put up for the public vote and risk being eliminated from the show.

Celebrity Big Brother continues at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
It comes more than a year after she was cut from the role, along with several other female presenters, leaving them in off-air limbo.

Last February McVeigh, alongside four other BBC stalwarts  Maxine Croxall, Kasia Madera, Geeta Guru-Murthy and Karin Giannone  were removed from their presenting roles following the merging of BBC News and BBC World News as part of efforts to streamline the corporations news output.

All were reportedly asked to reapply for their jobs for a second time after they were unsuccessful in gaining a new role on the BBC News Channel.

The five women, alongside other presenters such as Shaun Ley and Jane Hill, were replaced by Matthew Amroliwala, Christian Fraser, Yalda Hakim, Lucy Hockings and Maryam Moshiri.

The BBC said the five chief presenters announced were recruited via a competitive interview process in accordance with BBC HR procedures.

Ms Hakim left the BBC last year to front a new international news and affairs programme on Sky News.

The removal of McVeigh, who is from Co Armagh, from her role caused controversy, with former Krypton Factor and BBC North West presenter Gordon Burns and LBCs Iain Dale among the critics.

However, last month, almost a year after their departure from on-air reporting, McVeigh and Guru-Murthy, alongside Brown were appointed as chief presenters on the channel.

On Monday McVeigh took to social media on Monday to celebrate her return.

"Been a while since I posted one of these, the presenter wrote on X, formerly Twitter, sharing a photograph of the front doors to BBC New Broadcasting House in London.

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She later followed up the photo with a second post on X featuring her at the news desk writing: ...and Im back. In Studio C with #NewsNow until 1500GMT - so good to be bringing you the news again.

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A Queens University graduate, McVeigh grew up on a farm outside Armagh and went to school in Dungannon and began her career in journalism with the Ulster Gazette and Tyrone Courier.

She then presented BBC NIs Newsline before moving to BBC Network News, with her reports appearing on BBC One, BBC News and BBC Radio. She had been a presenter on the BBC News Channel since 2006.

Paul Royall, editor of BBC News said: Annita, Ben and Geetas knowledge, experience, and presenting talent make them valuable additions to the team, bringing trusted BBC News to more than 100 million viewers around the world on the UKs most-watched news channel.
Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed to be nestled between U.S. 290 and U.S 87 in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy Conceptual renderings show the development DC Partners has proposed in Fredericksburg. Courtesy

A Houston-based developer wants to build a hotel, condominiums and space for shops and restaurants at a prominent intersection in Fredericksburg, adding to the surge of development in cities dotting the fast-growing Hill Country region.

But the citys Planning and Zoning Commission is putting a kink in the $176 million plan.

This is not good for the community as a whole, Commissioner Tim Dooley said this month of the proposal from DC Partners. The commission is to take it up again at a special meeting today.

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The developer is proposing a hotel with 200 rooms and meeting space, 45 condos and 40,000 square feet of retail on 22 acres at U.S. 290 and U.S. 87, an intersection at one end of the citys popular Main Street stretch of restaurants, tasting rooms and stores.

DC Partners has made multiple revisions since submitting its initial plan a year ago. Those include removing a 258-unit apartment complex, adding more green space around the historic Klinglehoefer House and reducing the height of some buildings  all because of commissioners concerns about density and traffic.

But their worries have not been allayed. A motion to recommend a zoning change for the development failed at a March 6 meeting. The nine-member panel makes suggestions to the City Council, which decides whether to approve or deny such requests.

Dooley said he remains concerned about traffic at probably the most convoluted intersection we have in the entire community, even though the developers traffic impact analyses show less traffic after the design changes. Dooley also said residents hes talked to are opposed to the project because its just too much.

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Think forward

Commissioner Jim Jarreau agreed the traffic isnt going to disappear but said the Texas Department of Transportation should be blamed for the difficulty of the intersection. He also joked that Dooley has not seen what traffic is like in other cities. He added that some residents are frustrated by the increase of short-term rentals and that some tenants may stay at the developments hotel instead.

Communities that said no to a lot of forward movement have died  I dont want us to be Dallas, because I left there. I dont want us to be San Antonio, because I left there. But I do think that we have to think forward, Jarreau said. We cant stop because we dont like something.

Before a limited partnership affiliated with DC Partners acquired the property in 2022, another firm had sought to develop it.

The city issued a request for proposals for a hotel and conference center and approved a pitch by Murphree & Co., a Houston-based venture capital firm now known as Murphree Venture Partners.

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It planned to build a $76 million project called the Seven Hills Resort and Conference Center, which was to include a 150-room hotel, 17,500 square feet of meeting space, a rooftop bar, an outdoor amphitheater, retail and restaurant space, a spa and park. It said construction would begin in 2018 and conclude in 2020.

Then-Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau President Ernie Loefflet said the facility would significantly strengthen the group-market appeal of the city and draw leisure travelers.

But the pandemic happened and construction never began.

Sought proposals

The city put out a new request for proposals. It received responses from DC Partners and another firm seeking tax rebates for its project, but council members voted against offering those perks, said Anna Hudson, Fredericksburgs director of development services.

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DC Partners executives said they wanted to proceed anyway and build a hotel with meeting space along with retail and residential elements instead of a conference center, Hudson said. The firm is asking for an amendment to a planned unit development that was approved for Murphree & Co.s proposal.

DC Partners was founded in 2011 and has completed 11 projects across Texas totaling more than 4 million square feet, according to information from the firm. That includes the Arts Residences at the Thompson Hotel at 123 Lexington Ave. in downtown San Antonio, a luxury complex with condos and hotel rooms.

The firm used the federal EB-5 program to finance that project and appears to be using it to fund the Fredericksburg development as well. The program created by Congress in 1990 allows wealthy foreign investors to apply for visas in exchange for providing at least $800,000 or $1 million, depending on the location, for certain commercial developments.

Houston EB-5, which is affiliated with DC Partners, puts the cost of the Fredericksburg development at $176 million. DC Partners did not respond to emails seeking comment.

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A special meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled for today to discuss the zoning change again.
Unions have raised concerns about Ofcom proposals which could allow Channel 4 to allocate 91% of its production budget to projects in England.

The broadcasting regulator is consulting on the licence renewal for Channel 4 as the current licence ends on December 31 this year.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), representing a number of unions which work in broadcasting, says the made outside England quota should be increased to at least 16%, with a specific Scottish quota of 8%.

Union leaders say Scottish production companies could lose out under the proposals and a joint letter has been sent to Channel 4 and Ofcom.

STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: It would be utterly incompatible for Channel 4  a public service broadcaster  to have its production funding allocated in this way that completely neglects the other regions of the UK.

Public broadcasting should benefit the public as a whole, not just a certain section of the UK.

Freelancers, creatives and artists rely on a thriving Scottish production scene to put food on the table and pay the bills.

She continued: These proposals from Channel 4, which seem to have been accepted by Ofcom, make it harder for workers in Scotlands creative industries to benefit and get their fair share.

We would urge a complete rethink from both Ofcom and Channel 4. Public service broadcasters such as Channel 4 should serve us all.

An Ofcom spokesman said: We will carefully consider all responses to our consultation before publishing our final decision this summer.

Channel 4 said it has a voluntarily increased its nations and regions commitments from 35% to 50% and has regularly surpassed them.

The broadcaster operates commercially and does not have its own in-house production facilities.

A spokesman for Channel 4 said: Channel 4 is fully committed to driving growth and investment in the nations and regions and has made demonstrable progress over recent years.

Whilst we of course look to ensure that our commissioning spend benefits all three devolved nations, no commercial broadcaster, including Channel 4, has nominal or voluntary quota for the individual nations.

We are fully committed to the nations and regions  our 4 All The UK strategy has introduced regional hubs, creating more than 500 roles out of London with a commitment to reach 600 by 2025; we have voluntarily increased our nations and regions commissioning quota from 35% to 50%; we have worked with screen agencies across the UK to introduce bespoke commissioning development initiatives; we have invested millions in the nations and regions through our 4Skills programme delivering 57,000 training, learning and development opportunities in 2023.

These interventions have seen Channel 4s out of London commissioning spend steadily increase over the licence period to a record 228m in 2022.
As gay lawyer Will Truman, McCormack starred opposite Debra Messings Grace Adler, a straight interior designer, in the ground-breaking comedy from 1998 to 2006 before returning for the rebooted version in 2017.

McCormack, who is straight, was asked on ITVs Good Morning Britain about the controversy surrounding actors who are not gay playing characters of a different sexual orientation.

The cast of Will and Grace, from left, Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes (Francis Specker/PA)

He replied saying: Thats a tough one for me, because I didnt become an actor so that I could play an actor.

Theres no part Ive ever played where I wasnt playing something Im not. Its part of the gig.

And Ive always said: If gay actors werent allowed to play straight actors, Broadway would be over.

So this is what we do. Id like to think that I represent it well, you know, literally, I came from the theatre, and one of my best friends was a gay man.

So I think I took their spirit and their message in what was otherwise just a sitcom and, represented it, I hope.

When asked if he could get the Will & Grace role today, the Canadian-born actor said: Well I guess the answer would be, theyd have to say in the casting room: And youre gay, right? But they dont think they can say (that).

So I still think as you say, its hypothetical. I would like to think in general that the best person for the role, the one that comes in and knocks it out of the park, is the one that gets the part.

In 2018, when he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he said he was grateful to the LGBTQ community for the rest of my life for accepting him in the role

McCormack shares a son with Janet Holden, who he married in 1997. They reportedly filed for divorce last year.

He is set to make his West End debut in the musical Wild About You at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in March.

Eric McCormack and Debra Messing. (Isabel Infantes/PA)

Will & Grace returned for three series from 2017 to 2020 with the original members Megan Mullally, who plays rich neighbour Karen Walker, and Sean Hayes, who plays Wills flamboyant friend Jack McFarland, also returning.

The American comedy series has been celebrated for the portrayal of gay characters and attracted big name stars including Sir Elton John and Madonna.

Hayes, who did not come out publicly until 2010, told Playbill in 2016 that the acting industry is different if you are LGBT+ actor, saying Hollywood shouldnt be fascinated that a straight man can play gay any more.

He also said: (Straight actors) could play gay and be adored and worshipped for it, and I thought, Oh. Ill just do that. If I just do a good job, Ill be accepted as an actor, and then Ill just keep playing any role.

But Hollywood doesnt work that way, and audiences dont work that way because theres a stipulation that goes with audiences where if they see a gay person playing straight, they go: Yeah right.
A Belfast-based designer has said that it felt surreal seeing her bespoke St Patricks Day-themed jumpers worn by Irish celebrities in the run-up to the big day.

Dermot OLeary donned his unique knitwear by Mary Callan on last Fridays episode of This Morning  which draws in nearly 900,000 viewers daily.

He also gave her a special shout-out on the programme and thanked her for the bespoke piece of clothing which was made especially for him.

The following day, Irish presenter Laura Whitmore sported her own one-of-a-kind sweater on BBCs Saturday Kitchen.

Mary  who is originally from Newcastle in Co Down  created the range of knitwear as a commission from Tourism Ireland.

Mary Callan

As well as Laura and Dermot, she also created pieces for Derry Girls Sister Michael  actress Siobhan McSweeney  and a scarf for none other than Paddington Bear  each made with a unique pattern and story to tell.

Mary told the Belfast Telegraph that she was approached only five weeks ago to make the creations and that, while there was no guarantee that the celebrities would be wearing the jumpers anywhere public, she was over the moon to see them on TV.

They were all created in this Fair Isle style in a repeated pattern with different shades of green with other colours mixed in, she explained.

Paddington Bear is wearing his scarf on the statue at Paddington station in London, which is so iconic and draws so many people daily.

I made his featuring some typical Irish motifs like shamrocks and the waves of the Wild Atlantic Way, but added in some detail specific to him like marmalade sandwiches.

For the personalised jumpers for each celebrity, Mary explained that they all wanted them to feature typical Irish designs like Celtic knots and shamrocks and pints of Guinness, but with other details unique to them.

Dermot O'Leary in a jumper made by Mary Callan. Credit: This Morning

For Dermot OLearys jumper, the designer included a pattern of Hook Lighthouse from Wexford, as the presenters family is from that part of Ireland.

Ive heard him mention he loves that lighthouse before, so I wanted to include that as well as the Wexford county colours because I know he loves sport, she explained.

Laura Whitmores design was similar but with different details.

Laura Whitmore in a jumper made by Mary Callan. Credit: Laura Whitmore Instagram

Obviously from Bray, shes proud to have grown up beside the seaside and so I added some of those big waves in her pattern and also some Tayto references, Mary told the Belfast Telegraph.

Laura is so glamorous and is known for her fabulous fashion sense so it was amazing to see her wear it and I think it fitted quite well!

For Siobhan McSweeneys jumper, Mary switched out the shamrock pattern for harps instead and added teapots as both a nod to her love of tea and her work on the Great Pottery Throw Down.

I thought the most famous thing is the traditional Irish cottage so I added a few of them into the pattern as well.

Mary said that it was a great project to work on adding that she enjoys telling stories through her knitwear.

It was a lot of work to get the design right and unique to each person, as well as getting the sizing right without physically seeing them, but when I saw the jumpers on TV it felt like it was all worth it, she said.

When they give you a wee shout-out on their social media platforms and on live TV it really is heart-warming.

Paddington statue with Callan Knitwear scarf

No stranger to seeing her designs on our TV screens, last year Mary was asked to design a jumper for Derry Girls when she created the iconic Ulster Fry jumper for Ma Mary.

As part of her business Callan Knitwear, Mary has also designed a sweater for the NI crime drama Bloodlands and was asked to create a cardigan for the movie The Wakening.

However, it is in her own fun fashion designs that she has managed to make a name for herself, combining bright colours with bold patterns to create a popular range of modern jumpers, snoods and scarves.

All of her pieces are hand-loomed, hand-tooled and hand-finished at her workshop in Conway Mill in Belfast.

In the future she is hoping to create a line of blankets with the ethos of zero waste in mind, using wool and materials she has left from other designs.

You can follow her latest work by searching for @callan_knit on Instagram.
A Belfast man accused of punching and splitting a strangers lip in a city centre restaurant claims he was subjected to a sectarian slur, a court heard today.

Ruari Doey, 27, also allegedly struck a police officer in the face after being taken to hospital while high on drugs.

But a judge was told he acted in self-defence after being called a Fenian b****** by another customer inside McDonalds on Donegall Place.

Doey, of Harrington Court, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court charged with common assault, two assaults on police, disorderly behaviour and criminal damage.

He was arrested at the restaurant in the early hours of Sunday morning.

An investigating PSNI officer said: The injured party said another male had punched him in the face, causing a split lip and swelling.

This was an unprovoked attack on a stranger.

Due to the amount of drugs Doey had consumed he was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital for medical treatment.

It was claimed that he started shouting and causing a disturbance in the emergency department, spitting on the floor twice.

When Doey was discharged he allegedly directed his aggression at police transporting him from the hospital.

One officer was kicked before another constable was punched in the eye as he tried to apply the accuseds seatbelt.

Doeys solicitor, Pearse MacDermott, told the court he has little memory of events at the hospital because of the drugs taken.

However, the lawyer confirmed his client is claiming to have acted in self-defence inside the restaurant.

He says he was going into McDonalds when the alleged injured party called him a Fenian b****** and made moves towards him, Mr MacDermott submitted.

CCTV footage from McDonalds will have to be viewed.

Doey was granted bail under conditions which include a ban on any contact with the alleged victim.

District Judge George Conner also ordered: He is not to enter Belfast city centre after 6pm.
A new report shows a number of people travelled to a Swiss assisted-dying facility to end their lives

Three people from Northern Ireland have had an assisted death with Swiss organisation Dignitas since 2002, a campaign group has said.

Research by the Assisted Dying Coalition (ADC)  a group calling for the legalisation of assisted dying in the UK  revealed that hundreds of people have travelled to Switzerland to end their lives in the past 22 years.

The data is only from Dignitas and does not include statistics from other assisted-dying centres in Switzerland, nor data on other UK citizens who are residents of other jurisdictions with assisted dying laws.

ADC said it showed the true inadequacy and disparity of the broken UK assisted dying laws.

Data identifies where UK residents have come from before having an assisted death at Dignitas, the well-known assisted dying centre in Switzerland.

The ADC believes the practice of going abroad to die will only continue in the absence of a compassionate assisted dying law.

In Northern Ireland, assisted dying is illegal and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

However, three people from NI have travelled to Dignitas  two from Co Antrim and one from Co Down.

More affluent UK authorities see higher rates of individuals going abroad, according to the research.

Meanwhile, counties that are further from an airport  thus meaning travel is significantly more difficult and expensive  often see fewer assisted deaths.

A large proportion of all people who have travelled to Dignitas are from London and the south of England.

The report highlights data on the types of cases that go abroad, showing that many suffer from neuro-degenerative conditions.

Some of them would not yet be classed as terminally ill or have less than six months to live, which campaigners argue shows that any assisted-dying law must ensure that eligibility criteria are based on suffering, not months of life remaining.

Nathan Stilwell, assisted dying campaigner for Humanists UK, said the report clearly shows that the UKs assisted dying law is broken, brutal and barbaric.

He added: We must stop exporting compassion to Switzerland and give choice, freedom and dignity to the people in this country who are suffering.

Having a postcode lottery to end suffering, and an unequal system, where only the rich and physically able can take advantage, is absolutely wrong. Thirty-one jurisdictions around the world, accessible to nearly 400m people, prove that compassionate options are available.

Adults of sound mind who are intolerably suffering from a physical, incurable condition deserve the freedom and right to have a dignified end-of-life choice on their own terms.
The restaurant confirmed it would be closed for several days as a mark of respect to Mr Caughey

One of Belfasts most popular pizza restaurants is mourning the loss of its founder and owner who has passed away after a short illness.

Little Italy, which is located on Amelia Street in the city, and features the tagline Belfasts Best Pizza took to social media to announce the passing of Jack Caughey.

It is with immense sadness that we must share the news of the passing of the founder and owner of Little Italy, Jack Caughey.

After a short illness, Jack passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family.

Little Italy has always been a family business and will remain as such with Jacks daughter, son-in-law, sister, niece and nephews all working hard to continue his legacy.

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The restaurant also confirmed it would be closed for several days as a mark of respect to Mr Caughey.

Little Italy will be closed for a number of days so the family can celebrate the life of this very special man, they added on Facebook.

The pizzerias post attracted hundreds of comments, many of which shared their fond memories of the restaurant owner.

Been going here since before my daughter was born in the 90s and he was always a lovely fella. Thinking of his family, said one user.

Another described him as a true gentleman: This is such a shock; Jack was a true gentleman. 27 years ago I would have been in waiting on the 15 odd pizzas for Shenanigans staff every weekend and Jack allowed me behind the counter to wait.. watching him work with Older Jack beside him and the speed in which he made so many pizzas are beautiful memories. He always remembered names and faces and was so kind. Im so sorry to hear this news. Thoughts with all the family. RIP.

The restaurant confirmed it would be closed for several days as a mark of respect to Mr Caughey

Former employees of Little Italy also shared their memories of their previous boss, with one user writing: It was a pleasure to work for you. You were the kindest man. Rest peacefully Jack. Thinking of all your family.

The Northern Ireland Takeaway Association also shared their condolences, writing: Very sad news. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jack's family and friends.

A post on Funeral Times said Mr Caughey passed away peacefully on Sunday at Marie Curie Hospice with his funeral taking place at First Ballynahinch Presbyterian Church on Wednesday.
Rose Dugdale, the English aristocrat who led a notorious IRA art heist, has died at the age of 82.

She passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday morning at a nursing home in Dublin.

Dugdale took part in the 1974 art raid at Russborough House in Co Wicklow, when 19 high-value paintings were stolen by an IRA gang. The haul included a Vermeer, a Goya, two Gainsboroughs and three Rubens.

The film telling the story of the art heist, Baltimore, will be released in cinemas this Friday.

Actress Imogen Poots plays Dugdale in the thriller directed by Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy.

Martina Anderson, a former Sinn Fein MLA and MEP, said she was proud to call Rose a comrade and friend.

Fiachra McGuinness, son of the late deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, also posted a tribute.

Very sad to hear the passing of Republican legend Rose Dugdale," he said.

Daithi Doolan, the Sinn Fein Leader on Dublin City Council, said she passed away on Monday morning.

"She was a true revolutionary who inspired others. She dedicated her life to Irish freedom, he said.

Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh said: "Rose was a committed republican and was unflinching in her beliefs, and Ireland has today lost a committed republican and activist, and Sinn Fein a valued comrade."

He added: "Rose for many decades lived in Dublin, in the south inner-city, Drimnagh, and in recent years in a nursing home in Chapelizod, and was an active member of Sinn Fein.

"She was extremely committed to her community, both in her work for Sinn Fein, where she was a hugely popular figure locally and nationally, but also in a wide variety of community groups.

"She was also a great educator of Sinn Fein activists and representatives, many of whom benefited from her vast knowledge and life experiences, and who are all feeling the loss of a dear friend and comrade today."

Born in Devon in 1941, she infamously carried out bombings, raids and robberies and later served nine years in prison for her involvement with the terror group.

In January 1974, Dugdale was involved in the hijacking of a helicopter that was used to bomb the RUCs barracks in Strabane, Co Tyrone.

She was best known for her involvement in the raid on Russborough House in April 1974.

The elderly owner of the mansion, Alfred Beit, and one of his staff were struck with revolvers and tied up, watching the gang cut rare paintings from their frames.

Dugdale was jailed for nine years over the art theft and the hijacking of a helicopter.

While in Limerick prison she gave birth to a son named Ruairi  who now lives in Germany  and married fellow republican Eddie Gallagher.

Later she settled in Dublin and in her latter years lived in a retirement home.

In an interview with RTE during a series on women involved in the IRA, Dugdale, who in the early 2000s turned to environmental campaigning, said she had hoped she had contributed to the cause.

She also said she respected what had been done in the Good Friday Agreement and hoped she had a played a part in the success of armed struggle.
The east Belfast woman said she had also been accused of going out with someone in Sinn Fein.

Mrs Ervine was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to the Irish language

Belfast language rights activist Linda Ervine has spoken about the intimidation she faced in the early days of establishing Irish classes in the east of the city.

Mrs Ervine  who is from a unionist background  leads the TURAS project, which aims to connect people from Protestant or unionist backgrounds to their history through the language.

She has also been involved in establishing Scoil na Seolta, NIs first integrated Irish medium primary school and received an MBE in 2021 for services to the Irish language.

Speaking on RTEs Tommy Tiernan Show on Saturday, Mrs Ervine recalled how people she knew in her community were liking threats being made to her online after the classes were established.

"There was at the beginning. Im not saying were out of the woods yet, but at the beginning it was very difficult, she said.

"They put up posters; they superimposed my face onto a Sinn Fein poster and posted them round the estate. In real life they werent getting a lot of support. Online they got a lot of support.

"One of the most difficult things for me is that I saw people that I knew, that I was related to, who were going in and liking the threats and intimidation.

"Online, they said I was a traitor, I was a Sinn Fein supporter. Ive even been accused of going out with somebody in Sinn Fein.

"Anything to undermine what you do, thats what they attack. For me, Ive always found my way of dealing with that is to be very up front, to be very straight.

"I invite them in for a cup of tea. Very few of them come in for the tea, but the ones who have, some Ive actually made friends with, but they never gave me any trouble again.

Mrs Ervine was awarded an MBE in 2021 for services to the Irish language

In a candid and at times emotional interview, Mrs Ervine also discussed her journey through mental illness and her experience being saved and joining the Presbyterian Church.

"I always prided myself on not believing in God; I probably saw it as a weakness, she said.

"I suffered from mental illness for a long time and when I was 27 I came to what I saw as being the end of my tether. I prayed for death and I believe the Lord gave me life instead

"I was a granny at 33 and my neighbour was taking my granddaughter over to the local Presbyterian Church.

"She was going to be in the nativity play. My daughter asked me if I would go over. For me, a church was a place to avoid, because you didnt want to hear about all that mumbo jumbo.

"But when I went, I dont know, something happened. I decided I would go back, so I started taking my granddaughter.

"I used to sit at the front and cry; overwhelmingly cry. I didnt know this was an answer, but I just felt drawn to it.

Linda said her time learning Irish had helped her contextualise the places and areas around her community.

"I think its more strange that you wouldnt want to learn something that you are surrounded by, she said.

"Its in our place names, its in our surnames. Its in the words we use in everyday speech, its in the structures that we use. Why would you not want to learn it and be aware of that?

"If you dont have a knowledge of the language, you dont have knowledge of what is all around you.
TUV leader Jim Allister and Reform UK's Richard Tice at the former's party conference on Saturday. Pic: Pacemaker Press

A DUP MP has accused the TUV of taking a wrecking ball approach to unionism after the party announced a partnership with Reform UK.

TUV leader Jim Allister said he wants each constituency to have a candidate either from his own party or Reform UK in the Westminster election.

But it has led to speculation that it could split the unionist vote in some constituencies where DUP MPs are vulnerable, notably Gavin Robinson who is defending an 1,819 majority in East Belfast.

East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell hit out at the TUVs arrogance.

Mr Campbell said: On the basis of a range of recent election results no Reform or TUV candidate can realistically win. Yet they arrogantly describe fellow unionists as not being unionists.

"This is Alice in Wonderland language where words will mean what they want them to mean.

Their wrecking and splitting approach will be music to the ears of those who want to see fewer unionist MPs elected to Westminster.

He said the approach by the TUV would in effect weaken and divide unionism and continue to do so in the long term.

The TUV responded less than an hour later, accusing Mr Campbell of arrogance.

TUV councillor Allister Kyle said: It is the DUP who have divided unionism.

The arrogant assumption by Mr Campbell that he can sit in a party which has as a core policy the division of the United Kingdom by way of the Protocol and not be challenged by Unionists who believe in the Acts of Union needs to be put to bed.

He added: TUV has been inundated with people welcoming our link up with Reform UK and the national vision which it shows.

"They are excited to have the chance to vote for politics which they believe in and which are shaping conversation across the United Kingdom.

On Saturday Mr Allister announced a formal "partnership" with Reform UK at the party's annual conference, which was attended by Reform UK leader Richard Tice.

The pair signed a "memorandum of understanding" at the conference.

Speaking to the BBC on Monday morning, Mr Allister said: "What I'd like to see is that every constituent has an opportunity to vote for someone in this alignment  in some areas as a TUV candidate, in other areas as a Reform UK candidate."

TUV leader Jim Allister and Reform UK's Richard Tice at the former's party conference on Saturday. Pic: Pacemaker Press

He added: "It's about affording unionism the morale boost of having a linkage across the United Kingdom.

"A pan-UK approach is needed. It affords people the opportunity to play into national politics rather than the Toytown politics of Stormont," he said.

Asked whether he himself would be running, Mr Allister said he had responsibilities in Stormont.

"It's not about me," he said.

The row comes six weeks after devolved government was restored after an end to the DUP's two-year boycott.

The party had been protesting against trading arrangements under the Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework but ended their boycott after securing a deal with the government aimed at addressing unionist concerns.

Mr Allister strongly opposed the DUP's decision.
A woman told investigators that she had been "kidnapped and drugged" and that she shot and killed a man in Gillespie County, according to authorities. Sujata Jana / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

The Gillespie County Sheriffs Office is investigating after a woman called 911 to report she had been kidnapped and drugged and that she had shot a man to death near a Hill Country winery.

The woman placed the 911 call on Friday, and told officials she had been kidnapped and drugged and that she had shot someone, according to a Facebook post from the sheriffs office.

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Deputies went to the scene, which was in the 10800 block of U.S. 290 between Fredericksburg and Stonewall, about 70 miles north of central San Antonio. They found the body of a man in a car parked on the highway, according to the sheriffs office. The man was identified as 49-year-old Lance Damon Reid, who was from the Houston area, according to the sheriffs office.

The woman was found nearby and spoke with investigators at the scene and at a local hospital, according to the sheriffs office.

The two had recently met and were familiar with one another, and were on a planned weekend trip together when this occurred, the sheriffs office said in a Facebook post.

No charges have been filed related to the incident. The investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriffs office.
First Minister said she relayed a demand for an immediate ceasefire.

US President Joe Biden during the St Patrick's Day Reception and Shamrock Ceremony at the White House. Pic: Niall Carson/PA

First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly meet with President Joe Biden in the China Room of the White House, Washington DC. Pic: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye

NI First Minister Michelle ONeill has said she raised grave concerns over the situation in Palestine during a meeting with US President Joe Biden on St Patricks Day.

The Sinn Fein Vice President said she had relayed the need for an urgent ceasefire in the region directly to Mr Biden during the joint engagement with Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

"I again raised my grave concerns directly with President Biden on the genocide of Palestinian people, and the demand for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza, full provision of humanitarian aid; an end to illegal settlements in the West Bank, and East Jerusalem; and a sovereign Palestinian State, she said.

Our peace process is an example to the world. We know the cost of conflict and the value of peace, how the United States has been a critical partner for peace in Ireland, and why this same foreign policy approach needs to be applied to Gaza and the Middle-East.

"We are absolutely committed to continue to offer our support and solidarity to the people of Palestine, and to lend all our experience to this end.

US President Joe Biden during the St Patrick's Day Reception and Shamrock Ceremony at the White House. Pic: Niall Carson/PA

Ms ONeill said she had also raised the issue of job creation during the meeting with the US President.

"We reflected on our very successful week of engagements in the United States, she said.

"We discussed our efforts with US investors where we set out our stall and made our pitch on why the North is a great place to invest in order to create jobs.

"The doors have been opened, the goodwill exists and now we want to follow through and secure investment in the coming weeks and months.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the pair had discussed the importance of NIs relationship with the USA.

Throughout our engagements this week, we have been promoting Northern Ireland as a great place to live, visit and invest in, she said.

We are a global leader in sectors such as cyber security, RegTech, FinTech, advanced manufacturing and health sciences with a young, skilled and dedicated workforce.

"I am confident those influential decision makers we have met with have been very impressed by what they have heard.

"This week has also been key in extending our network and relationships within the U.S., demonstrating that we are open for business and committed to building stability and prosperity through investment.

It comes after Mr Biden said Ireland was a global voice of liberty during his St Patricks Day speech at the White House.

Mr Biden said his mother used to repeatedly say: Joey, as long as youre alive, you have an obligation to strive and youre not done until youve seen the face of God. So keep moving.

That belief inspired generations of Irish women and men to keep going, even in the face of enormous setbacks. And it convinced millions of Irish immigrants, including my ancestors, and many of yours who are here today, to leave their beloved homeland and begin a new life in America.

And it let Ireland become a global voice of liberty, which it still is, of equality and peace.

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire

NIs leaders have completed a week of engagements in the US capital as part of the annual St Patricks Day celebrations.

Politicians in both NI and the Republic of Ireland had faced calls to boycott the annual programme of events as a show of opposition to the growing number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

The SDLP said it has not sent any party representatives to the US this year due to the conflict in Gaza.

During an interview with the Sky News programme Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said it was her responsibility and duty to speak to anyone she could in an effort to stop the spiralling death toll.

"Weve had very frank conversations with individual members on the Hill, with the administration itself and our message has been very clear, she said.

"We come here as friends, as people who have had the benefit of great support from the United States for our own peace process.

"We acknowledge that, but in respect of Palestine they have got it dangerously badly wrong and the ceasefire now has to be the absolute priority for everybody concerned.
The lads were sporting their UVF teeth while David Wee Mac Matthews was showing off his recent hair transplant

East Belfast loyalists splurged on a ritzy weekend in Dublin while their pals in Belfast face a murder trial.

Lee Finzer Finlay and David Wee Mac Matthews sampled a taste of the champagne life with a pricey weekend at the five star Westbury Hotel with their glamourous partners.

The happy couples enjoyed some fine dining and were snapped outside the Temple Bar where a drink can set you back 10.

The lads were sporting their UVF teeth while Matthews was showing off his recent hair transplant.

Matthews and his wife have just returned from a luxury holiday in Dubai.

The couple tied the knot last summer in a two day bash at the five star Galgorm Spa Resort in Co Antrim.

Posing outside The Temple Bar the couples are dressed head to toe in designer clothes. The lads are sporting exclusive Moncler jackets  if you have 2,000 to spare you can have one too.

Finzer and his partner have also been snapped living it up in Dubai and he has forked out an estimated 20,000 on pricey veneers for his teeth.

The shiny white teeth have become a loyalist trade mark  particularly in east Belfast.

Finzer and Wee Mac have been snapped showing off their teeth along with another east Belfast loyalist Andy Thompson.

The display of wealth has not gone down well back in Belfast.

Sources in the east of the city say there is anger at the ostentatious lifestyles being flaunted on social media at a time when associates of the two men are facing a murder trial and others are lying in jail.

The UVF leadership has moved against the East Belfast, it was only a few years ago they were dubbed the Ulster Veneer Force for their predilection for cosmetic surgery.

Partners and girlfriends were dubbed the `Gucci Gang for showing off their wealth.

Wee Mac, son of alleged former UVF chief Stephen Matthews, had been facing charges over his alleged involvement in a paramilitary show of strength in the Pitt Park area of the city in 2021.

The charges were dropped but his father is still facing a criminal trial alongside fellow prominent east Belfast loyalist Derek Lammey.

The days of flashing the cash are coming to an end, an east Belfast told the Sunday World.

Theres a lot of bitterness, especially when people are in jail and on trial.

Five people are on trial for the 2019 murder of Ian Ogle who was beaten and stabbed to death close to his home in Cluan Place off the Newtownards Road.

Two men, Mark Sewell and Jonathan Brown, have already pleaded guilty the remaining charge deny involvement.

Given the pressure that has been put on east Belfast UVF, its not a good look to have these running about spending money like its going out of fashion, said the source.
Nina Carberry is to seek a nomination to run as a Fine Gael candidate in the European elections (Niall Carson/PA)

Former jockey Nina Carberry is to seek a nomination to run as a Fine Gael candidate in the European elections.

The decision of the former Cheltenham winner to seek the nomination in the Midlands North West constituency was announced in an email and video sent to constituency members on Monday.

Ms Carberry, 39, has appeared on RTEs Dancing With The Stars and was a judge on the Irelands Fittest Family competition since retiring as a jockey.

There are five seats available in the constituency in the European poll in June.

In her message to party members, Ms Carberry said: In the Ireland and Europe of today, it is more important than ever for those who believe they can make a difference to put their hand up to make things happen.

As a mother of two, that is why I want to contest the European elections for Fine Gael this June to ensure a bright future for all.

She added: The Midlands North West constituency is vast and diverse, spanning rural, urban and commuter belt areas.

Having spent two decades travelling the country, meeting people through racing and community events, I have seen first-hand the challenges faced by these communities.

Her message continued: I would consider it a huge privilege to run for election for Fine Gael and have the chance to represent the people of Midlands North West.

I have proven myself in sport and business, and look forward to bringing my drive and determination to this new opportunity.

In the last European elections, Mairead McGuinness and Maria Walsh won seats for Fine Gael in the constituency.

Colm Markey replaced Ms McGuinness when she stepped down to become a European Commissioner.
Mr Fetherstons remains were found at the foot of the Dublin mountains (Brian Lawless/PA)

Detectives investigating the murder of a man who disappeared in Dublin in 2009 have made an arrest.

A man aged in his 40s was detained on suspicion of murdering Kenneth Fetherston after gardai searched a home in the Midlands on Monday.

Mr Fetherston, 26, was reported missing in September 2009. His remains were found at the foot of the Dublin mountains four months later.

He had left his apartment at the Tallaght Cross Hotel in Tallaght shortly before 9am on September 22 and the last known sighting of him alive was at Landys Industrial Estate in nearby Knocklyon.

He had been driving a red Honda Civic 93 D 44862 when he went missing and that vehicle was found in a lay-by on the N11 near Gorey in Co Wexford on September 26.

Mr Fetherstons remains were found close to the Military Road in Rathfarnham on January 31 2010.

In 2020, the Garda Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT), part of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), started a review and investigation into the circumstances of the murder.

Investigating gardai attached to the SCRT, supported by colleagues from the GNBCI and local Garda, carried out the search and arrest operation on Monday morning.

The man has been detained at a Garda station in the Eastern Region under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
Mr Obamas visited the Prime Minister in No 10 for around an hour (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Former US president Barack Obama has met with Rishi Sunak in a courtesy visit to Downing Street.

Mr Obama spent around an hour inside the No 10 study with the Prime Minister on Monday afternoon.

He said Im tempted! when asked about his opinion on the state of Russian democracy by the media as he left with the US ambassador to the UK, Jane D Hartley, just after 4pm.

It is understood Mr Sunak and Mr Obama discussed a range of subjects, including artificial intelligence, in a largely one-on-one meeting.

Mr Obama left No 10 alongside the US ambassador to the UK (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

It comes as Mr Sunak faces intense speculation about a plot to replace him as Prime Minister before the general election.

Number 10 said Mr Obama paid a courtesy visit to Downing Street to discuss the work of his foundation with Mr Sunak.

The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: He was making an informal courtesy drop-in as part of his trip to London, where he is conducting work of the Obama Foundation.

The spokesman added: I think President Obamas team made contact and obviously the Prime Minister was very happy to meet with him and discuss the work of the Obama Foundation.

Mr Obama served two terms in the White House from 2009 to 2017 before he was succeeded by Republican Donald Trump.

The 62-year-old previously visited Downing Street and then-prime minister David Cameron in April 2016.
Children in the UK must be protected from asylum seekers who are pretending to be under 18-years-old, a Conservative MP told the Commons (David Woolfall/PA)

Children in the UK must be protected from asylum seekers who are pretending to be under 18 years old, a Conservative MP told the Commons.

Caroline Johnson said the Government has a duty to prevent children from being accommodated or educated with those who are pretending be a child.

Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel urged the Government to implement measures set out in the Nationality and Borders Act to safeguard children.

During a debate on the House of Lords amendments to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, Dr Johnson said: One of the things the Government clearly has to do, is it has a duty to protect all children.

Former home secretary Dame Priti Patel urged the Government to implement measures set-out in the Nationality and Borders Act to safeguard children (Victoria Jones/PA)

One of the challenges is that we know we do have people who will pretend to be a child when theyre not.

The Sleaford and North Hykeham MP added: The Government has to protect children from being deported to places they shouldnt be deported to.

It also has a duty to protect children in the United Kingdom from being accommodated or educated with people who are not children and who therefore cause them harm in that place.

Dame Priti told MPs that she was made aware of a 42-year-old who was masquerading as a child during her time as home secretary.

The Conservative MP for Witham said: We must recognise the fact that actually it was the Nationality and Borders Act that put forward the amendments and the changes around safeguarding children in our own education system and in our local government system as well, that is vital.

I think this is a moment now the Lords have tabled this amendment to reflect upon actually implementing these measures and these proposals.

Its absolutely vital, it really is.

Dame Priti added: It was while I was home secretary it was brought to me the case of a 42-year-old who was masquerading as a child and in fact it became a national story.

And it is through that, that we did look at the age assessment measures and we worked with scientists but also we looked at other EU countries and what they were doing.

I would urge the Government to get on and implement this, time has lagged too long now, you know its almost two years.

But these safeguards and protections are absolutely critical.

Labour peer Baroness Lister of Burtersett put forward amendment seven which seeks to protect asylum seekers who say they are unaccompanied children.

The amendment would allow asylum seekers to appeal against an age assessment decision before they are sent to Rwanda.
Angry locals have called for politicians and police to get a grip on the situation over fears gangland thugs are turning it into a Wild West

Northern Irish tourists planning a visit to the crime-ridden Costa del Sol resort of Puerto Banus have been warned they might be best packing bullet-proof vests alongside their shorts and sandals this summer.

Angry locals have called for politicians and police to get a grip on the situation over fears gangland thugs are turning it into a Wild West which will scare away holidaymakers.

They vented their fury over the weekend following the second shooting in the affluent destination, part of the municipality of Marbella which has traditionally been described as a jet-set paradise, in the past week.

Extraordinary footage of the latest incident, which left a man seriously injured with gunshot wounds, showed bystanders running for their lives as others screamed in terror before loud shots ran out and a black car reversed at speed.

The shooting outside a shisha bar-restaurant near one of the entrances to the port in Banus, where a seedy world of prostitution, drugs and gangsters lies behind the designer shops and Ferraris lining the waterfront in summer, occurred around 1.30am on Saturday.

Police have confirmed a 20-year-old man was hurt. He had left the scene by the time the first police patrol cars arrived and it later emerged he had been taken to a hospital in Malaga where he was operated on for knee injuries.

Saturdays drama followed a shooting incident at British-owned eatery La Sala a minutes drive away on Monday lunchtime, where visitors over the years have included the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Erling Harland, Jurgen Klopp and Harry Maguire.

A gunman fired several bullets into the window of the popular celeb restaurant, just a minutes drive from the spot where the new shooting occurred, before escaping on a motorbike with an accomplice.

Fortunately no-one was injured in the drama, which occurred around 12.30am when it was already open with workers and some customers inside although not at its busiest.

The venues shareholders include former Premier League star David Bentley, who was once branded the next David Beckham.

Respected Spanish news website El Espanol described the La Sala incident earlier last week as a very severe warning, highlighting the fact another restaurant less than 300 feet away was one of two eateries attacked by arsonsists in the area on the same night last December.

It added: In Marbella these mafia-style warnings tend to go more unnoticed because they tend to be carried out with more discretion.

At the end of December last year two restaurants were set on fire. But that occurred during the night and with no witnesses.

Disgusted local residents are now branding Puerto Banus the Wild West and openly expressing their fears the whole of Marbella, voted the best European destination of 2024 earlier this month by specialist website European Best Destinations, could suffer the effects of the ports dark underside.

Sales worker Lina Nouri raged: Two shootings in less than 10 days. What reputation has Puerto Banus got now!

Antonio Mayor said: Is this whats it like? In the summer lets put our swim shorts and sandals on as well as a bullet-proof vest.

Another local wrote on social media, expressing her fears a stray bullet could kill an innocent person if the problems persist: My god, that you go out for a quiet night out and this happens is incredibleand a boy aged just 20 and the car reversing at top-speed, its horrible.

A stray bullet could end up entering a house.

A worried mum said: I have two teenagers who go out and when they head to Puerto Banus I dont sleep, because Im so afraid.

Costa del Sol-based Ignacio Kindelan, in a direct message to Marbellas mayoress Maria Angeles Munoz whose stepson Joakim Peter Broberg is facing trial for crimes including money laundering and membership of a criminal gang, said on Instagram in a mix of English and Spanish: What the f##k!!! Its time to do something mayoress.

This has crossed the line. The Wild West is going to f##k all of Marbellas business.

Another concerned local said: Years ago Puerto Banus was a wonderful paradise.

Lets see if the police increase and reinforce surveillance in Banus and stop sitting on roundabouts doing routine stops all day. Theyd be much more effective.

Veronica Dentice added: What a shame!!! This will scare tourists away at Easter. There are honest people who need to work.

Referring to a previous shooting last July, when tourists were forced to run for cover after a gunman appeared from nowhere and fired towards a restaurant near another of Puerto Banus entrances, she added: After that incident visitors disappeared.

Before the La Sala shooting a man of Nordic origin was shot in the arm and leg in Nueva Andalucia, a residential area a short drive inland from Puerto Banus.

Witnesses said two men got out of a car late on February 10 and one fired the shots before they fled in the same vehicle.

In July 2022 a man was stabbed and four people shot at Opium Beach Club just east of Marbella town centre.

A 40-year-old Dutch national was arrested after the early-hours drama in front of hundreds of revellers.

One of the most seriously-injured victims was a 32-year-old Irishman who after hospital treatment was arrested on suspicion of being involved in an altercation moments before the shooting in a VIP area of the stage where South African DJ Black Coffee was playing to a packed crowd.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking on a visit to his campaign headquarters after a presidential election in Moscow, Russia (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

Russias Central Election Commission has confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has won his fifth term with a record number of votes.

The results on Monday came after Putin unleashed the countrys harshest crackdown on the opposition and free speech since Soviet times.

Only three token candidates  and no one who opposes his war in Ukraine  were allowed to run against Putin as he sought another six years in power.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on a visit to his campaign headquarters after the presidential election in Moscow, Russia (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

Putin hailed overwhelming preliminary results as an indication of trust and hope in him  while critics saw them as another reflection of the preordained nature of the election.

He said at a meeting with his campaign staff after the polls closed: Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead.

But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience.

They failed in the past and they will fail in the future.

Putin has led Russia as president or prime minister since December 1999, a tenure marked by international military aggression and an increasing intolerance for dissent.

Russias Central Election Commission said that with nearly 100% of all precincts counted, Putin got 87.29% of the vote.

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Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova said that nearly 76 million voters cast their ballots for Putin, his highest vote tally ever.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un along with the presidents of Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela quickly congratulated Putin on his victory, as did the leaders of the ex-Soviet Central Asian nations of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, while the West dismissed the vote as a sham.

The UKs Foreign Secretary David Cameron wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: This is not what free and fair elections look like.

In the tightly controlled environment, Alexei Navalnys associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to go to the polls at noon on Sunday  and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.

Among those heeding call was Yulia Navalnaya, Mr Navalnys widow, who spent more than five hours in the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin.

She told reporters that she wrote her late husbands name on her ballot.

Voters queue at a polling station in Moscow, Russia on March 17 (AP Images)

Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Mrs Navalnaya replied: Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr Putin.

There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because hes a killer, hes a gangster.

But Putin brushed off the effectiveness of the apparent protest.

He said at a news conference after the polls closed: There were calls to come vote at noon. And this was supposed to be a manifestation of opposition.

Well, if there were calls to come vote, then I praise this.

Putin referenced Mr Navalny by name for the first time in years at the news conference, declaring that he had been ready to release him in a swap for unidentified inmates in Western custody just days before the opposition leaders death.

Yulia Navalnaya, centre, widow of Alexei Navalny, stands in a queue with other voters at a polling station near the Russian embassy in Berlin (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP)

Some Russians waiting to vote in Moscow and St Petersburg told The Associated Press that they were taking part in the protest, but it wasnt possible to confirm whether all of those in line were doing so.

A voter in Moscow, who identified himself only as Vadim, said he hoped for change, but added that unfortunately, its unlikely.

Like others, he didnt give his full name because of security concerns.

Meanwhile, supporters of Mr Navalny streamed to his grave in Moscow, some bringing ballots with his name written on them.

Meduza, Russias biggest independent news outlet, published photos of ballots it received from their readers, with killer inscribed on one and The Hague awaits you on another.

The latter refers to an arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges from the International Criminal Court.

Voters queue at a polling station in Moscow, Russia (AP Images)

Some people told AP that they were happy to vote for Putin  unsurprising in a country where state TV airs a drumbeat of praise for the Russian leader and voicing any other opinion is risky.

Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said, I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now.

Voting took place over three days at polling stations across the vast country, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online.

Several people were arrested, including in Moscow and St Petersburg, after they tried to start fires or set off explosives at polling stations, while others were detained for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, said Russians were searched when entering polling stations, there were attempts to check filled-out ballots before they were cast and one report said police demanded a ballot box be opened to remove a ballot.
A alleged German terrorist has been captured after 30 years on the run

Daniela Klette is one of three members of the third generation of the Red Army Faction who had been in hiding since the 1990s.

In 1970s Germany a campaign of terror raged  with assaults, kidnappings, and assassinations, spreading fear across the country.

Born from a radical student movement, the Baader-Meinhof Gang, also known as the Red Army Faction, would write their names into history with the blood of others, leaving chaos in their wake.

And now, dramatic scenes in Berlin have led to a major arrest  that of an unassuming, neighbourly 65-year-old woman, who was on the run from authorities for three decades. But the manhunt is now intensifying as police desperately search for the remaining members of the long-dormant terrorist outfit.

Daniela Klette is one of three alleged members of the third generation of the notorious urban guerrilla Red Army Faction (RAF) who had been in hiding since the 1990s. (AP)

Fionnan Sheahan is joined by Berlin-based freelance journalist James Jackson to profile the notorious Red Army Faction and to examine the new developments in this decades-long story
In October, Frank Alanis, an assistant city manager in Progreso and president of the school board, was indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. On Monday, his brother, Progreso Mayor Gerardo Jerry Alanis, was arrested on similar charges. The small Texas border town has a long history of public corruption. Courtesy of Progreso ISD

The mayor of the Texas border town of Progreso has been arrested on federal charges that he conspired with his brother and two other men to distribute cocaine.

Gerardo Jerry Alanis, 31, and the other defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess more than 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of cocaine with intent to distribute. If convicted, each would face a minimum 10-year federal prison term under the nations mandatory sentencing laws. They also could be fined up to $10 million each.

Federal agents arrested Alanis on Monday morning, said Angela Dodge, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas. The arrest was reported earlier by ValleyCentral.com.

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Alanis, his brother Frank and two other men are named in a federal grand jury indictment filed March 5 in U.S. District Court in Brownsville.

Frank Alanis was arrested in October after he was charged in an earlier indictment. At the time, he was board president of the Progreso Independent School District and an assistant Progreso city manager.

The new superseding indictment names Gerardo Alanis as well as his brother. It cites three specific dates in 2020 and 2021 on which the defendants allegedly conspired to distribute cocaine. The amounts of cocaine involved ranged from 13.62 kilograms (30 pounds) to 26.36 kilograms (58 pounds), according to the indictment.

In the indictment, prosecutors served notice on the Alanis brothers and their alleged co-conspirators that if they are convicted, the government would seize through forfeiture any money or property connected to the alleged crimes.

The property subject to forfeiture includes a gated compound on La Siesta Circle in La Feria, northeast of Progreso, the indictment said.

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In the October indictment, a federal grand jury charged Frank Alanis, a Weslaco man named Jose Rosbel Salas and three others with conspiring to possess controlled substances, mainly cocaine, with intent to distribute. Salas pleaded guilty. Frank Alanis pleaded not guilty and was released on bond.

Progreso, a Rio Grande Valley town of 6,000 people located 230 miles south of San Antonio, has a history of public corruption.

In 2014, then-Mayor Omar Leonel Vela pleaded guilty in connection with a scheme to shake down businesses for hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for contracts with the city and the school district.

Vela pleaded guilty to federal bribery and conspiracy charges. Federal prosecutors said the mayors father, Jose Vela, who was director of maintenance and transportation for the Progreso school district, dominated local government and the school board through his sons, Omar and school board President Michael Vela.

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The country has been at war with Russia for over two years

Russias army has made some real advances in eastern Ukraine, forcing the Ukrainians onto the back foot.

Adviika, a town on the border of the Donbas region, fell to Russia last week, in one of Putins biggest wins since capturing the city of Bakhmut in May 2023.

Ukraine says the frontline has now stabilized but warns that without substantial supplies of ammunition, they wont be able to hold back the Russians.

The Pope has controversially said Ukraine should show the courage of the white flag and open talks with Russia, but his deputy later clarified Russia should first halt its aggression.

Meanwhile Vladimir Putin says it would be ridiculous for Russia to start negotiating just because Ukraine is running out of ammunition.

As EU countries sealed a 5 billion deal on military aid for Ukraine last week, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that a Donald Trump presidency will force the war to end. He says the country cannot support itself without US help.

How bad are things for Ukraine?

What would Russias terms be?

What would life be like for Ukraine under Russian rule?

Ciaran Dunbar is joined by Trinity College Dublin Slavic and East European Studies teaching fellow Conor Daly, along with former British Army Colonel and security consultant Philip Ingram.
Safe house fixer behind IRA murders of married double agents, say Kenova probe sources

Estate agent and Special Branch informer shot dead by Provos linked directly for first time to Mahon executions

Catherine and Gerard Mahon

Ciaran Barnes Mon 18 Mar 2024 at 09:30

Murdered IRA double agent Joe Fenton is suspected of direct involvement in the double killing of a husband and wife who were working as RUC informers.
Protesters shout slogans as tires burn during a protest against alleged favoritism by President Joko Jokowi Widodo in the Feb. 14 presidential election, outside the General Elections Commission in Jakarta, March 18, 2024.

Hundreds of Indonesians called for President Joko Jokowi Widodos ouster over alleged electoral fraud as they rallied outside the elections commission on Monday, while authorities braced for more protests with official results of last months national polls expected this week.

Many observers and university academics allege that the outgoing leader meddled with and showed favoritism in the Feb. 14 general election, particularly the presidential polls. The official results, expected out on Wednesday, will likely confirm that those were won by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and his running mate, Jokowis eldest son.

The protest in Jakarta by a group called the National Coalition to Save Democracy saw some participants set tires on fire, but there was no violence even as its spokesperson, Merry Samiri, alleged the elections were marred by overt and widespread irregularities.

We will continue our demonstrations until March 20, when the General Elections Commission announces the election outcomes, Merry said, as protesters displayed banners demanding Jokowi be brought to justice and key election officials fired.

We feel that democracy has been utterly violated by Jokowi, and we demand that the House of Representatives impeach him.

Authorities deployed more than 2,000 police officers to secure key locations in anticipation of further unrest after the coalition threatened over the weekend to hold larger protests against the election results.

Fawwaz Ihza Mahenda, a student leader who participated in Mondays demonstration, said that under Jokowis two-term administration, democratic principles had been compromised and there had been backsliding in hard-fought democratic reforms.

The presidents [election] interference and misuse of social aid for political gain represent the tip of the iceberg in terms of institutional quality neglect during Indonesias current development process, he told BenarNews.

Indonesians rally outside the election commission building demanding President Joko Jokowi Widodos removal over alleged meddling in last months elections, Jakarta, March 18, 2024. [Eko Siswono Toyudho/BenarNews]

Prabowo, who had contested the presidential polls twice before and lost to Jokowi, won the February election by a landslide, unofficial but reliable vote counts showed. He is set to be inaugurated on Oct. 20, when Jokowi makes way for him after a decade as president.

The longstanding rivalry between Prabowo and Jokowi came to a surprising halt in 2019 when Jokowi invited Prabowo to serve as his defense minister.

Last year, Prabowo extended an invitation to Jokowis son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to be his running mate for the presidential election, in what many said was a strategic move, given the incumbent presidents high popularity rating.

This decision was made possible by a controversial Constitutional Court ruling in October 2023, which cleared the path for Gibran to run for office.

The ruling led to allegations of nepotism and political maneuvering in the judiciary due to the court leaderships ties to Jokowi.

Critics, who had previously accused Jokowi of overseeing a decline in democratic standards, saw this ruling as further evidence of their concerns.

Indonesia had earlier been praised for its successful transition from Suhartos authoritarian rule to a vibrant democracy.

However, from the constitutional courts October decision to Prabowos all-but-assured ascension to power, questions are being raised about the state of democracy in the country.

For instance, critics mention the defanging of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), an institution that once stood as a beacon of hope in Indonesias struggle against entrenched corruption.

Critics also say Jokowi has suppressed free speech and criticism, and resorted to arbitrary arrests and attacks on government dissidents.

Additionally, two watchdog groups labeled the February election the worst since Indonesias transition to democracy in 1998, citing issues ranging from campaign finance to electoral fraud.

Prabowos opponents, former Jakarta Gov. Anies Baswedan and former Central Java Gov. Ganjar Pranowo, have contested the results and plan to file a suit in the Constitutional Court, alleging widespread fraud, including the misuse of state resources, intimidation, and vote-buying.

The two also pledged to collaborate on urging a parliamentary inquiry to look into these issues.

Mondays protests reflect a broader public dissatisfaction with both the presidential and legislative elections, Arifki Chaniago, executive director of think tank Aljabar Strategic, told BenarNews.

[I]t is their right to protest, he said.
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte (right) comforts a survivor during a wake in Cotabato for four soldiers killed in an ambush by militants, March 18, 2024.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday promised swift justice for four soldiers killed by Filipino Islamic State militants in the southern Philippines over the weekend.

The military said suspected members of Daulah Islamiyah, a militant group, waylaid troops from the 3rd Cavalry of the 40th Infantry Battalion on Sunday in Maguindanao del Sur province, a hotbed of Islamic militancy. The troops were returning to base after distributing supplies to villagers near the town of Datu Hoffer.

We strongly condemn the cowardly ambush that targeted four of our courageous soldiers in Maguindanao del Sur on March 17, Marcos said in a statement. The despicable act only strengthens our resolve to eradicate terrorism from the region and our entire nation.

Marcos said his administration remained resolute in our pledge to ensure that justice is swiftly served for the fallen troops. He said he has instructed the military to quickly release financial assistance to the families of the fallen soldiers.

Reports reaching Marcos office said the troops had left a remote village where they had distributed food for residents in observance of Iftar, the breaking of the daily fast that Muslims observe during Ramadan.

Leaders of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which includes Maguindanao del Sur, did not comment on the attack as they had not seen a report about it, according to military officials.

The autonomous region is home to a fragile peace between Manila and former Moro Islamic Liberation Front separatist guerrillas, who administer BARMM. The region has struggled with violence since its birth in 2019.

On Monday, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. extended his condolences to the families of the four brave soldiers who were killed. He said they were ambushed by at least 10 armed men.

The AFP vows to hunt down the perpetrators and neutralize these ruthless killers to finally put a stop to their violent acts that disrupt peace and stability in the region, Brawner said, referring to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

To the military, neutralize means the killing, arrest, capture or surrender of an enemy.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte (second from left) speaks with military officers and a survivor of one of four soldiers killed on March 17 during a wake in Cotabato, March 18, 2024. [Philippine Army handout]

Brawner said the military efforts would focus on members of Daulah Islamiyah, which literally translates to the Islamic State. It includes fighters from several Filipino militant factions, including the Maute Group, which had provided men and logistics during a five-month siege of Marawi city by pro-IS fighters in 2017.

That siege, considered by security analysts as the biggest attack by the Islamic State in the region, was meant to take Marawi by force to make it the base in the region. Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern fighters attacked Marawi, leading to a five-month battle that killed at least 1,200 militants, military, police and civilians.

Sundays attack came a little more than two months after two army intelligence operatives were killed in an ambush while gathering information against suspects linked to a bombing during a Catholic Mass in Marawi city in December 2023 that left four dead.

Jojo Rinoza and Gerard Carreon contributed to this report from Manila.
Then-Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat waves after a meeting with coalition partners in Bangkok, May 18, 2023.

Thailands Election Commission petitioned the Constitutional Court on Monday to dissolve the Move Forward Party and ban its top leaders from politics for 10 years.

The progressive party won the most seats in last years general election but was blocked from heading the countrys first civilian ruling coalition in nine years by lawmakers aligned with the Thai military.

There is credible evidence suggesting that the Move Forward Party [MFP] has engaged in activities aimed at overthrowing the democratic regime under the monarchy, EC Secretary-General Sawang Boonmee told reporters after submitting the petition electronically.

The petition follows a January Constitutional Court ruling that statements by the partys former leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, and its campaign promise to reform Thailands strict lese-majeste law had amounted to hostile intentions toward the democratic system.

In the May 2023 election, the Move Forward Party shook Thailands political landscape through outperforming parties supported by the military and by advocating for military and monopoly reforms, as well as changes to Article 112 (lese-majeste) that outlaws insults against the monarchy and royal defamation.

The MFP proposals found support among young and urban voters, yet the party found itself excluded from power. Efforts by the military and royalist factions effectively thwarted its endeavors to form a government.

Pita was prevented from assuming the office of prime minister by the Senates conservative bloc, largely because of perceived risks that his leadership and the partys platform posed to the monarchical system.

Chaithawat Tulathon, current leader of the Move Forward Party, pledged to contest the allegations while acknowledging that the battle would be challenging given the Constitutional Courts previous ruling.

We must argue that there is insufficient reason for such a ruling to dissolve the Move Forward Party, Chaithawat said. Normally, the court must conduct an inquiry  at the very least allowing the accused party to refute the allegations.

Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat (center) speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Thai parliament in Bangkok after the Constitutional Court ordered the party to stop campaigning for lese-majeste reform, Jan. 31, 2024. [Jack Taylor/AFP]

Constitution

The monarchy is constitutionally enshrined in Thailand and any criticism of the royal family is fiercely contested by conservative factions. Analysts see a high likelihood of Move Forwards dissolution given the recent court ruling against it.

Isa Gharti, a public policy researcher at Chiang Mai University, said the probability of the Move Forward Party being dissolved was high. Still, factors that could influence the Constitutional Courts decision include whether the ECs evidence is substantial enough and the courts interpretation of the law.

Its certain that the supporters of the Move Forward Party will feel disappointed and deprived of a political choice, potentially leading to societal tension and a loss of faith in the electoral system, Gharti told BenarNews.

If the court rules to disband Move Forward, it could reshape Thailands political landscape by removing the key opposition voice. On the other hand, the potential move risks galvanizing the partys supporters.

Thailand has seen opposition parties disbanded in recent decades. In 2020, the Constitutional Court ordered the dissolution of the Future Forward Party, finding that the partys act of borrowing money from its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, for the 2019 election campaign was unconstitutional.

That ruling led to a 10-year political ban for the partys executive members, which led to the creation of the Move Forward Party by several of its former members.

Today, as the EC seeks to dissolve the Move Forward Party over alleged attempts to overthrow the constitutional monarchy, Thai Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang emphasized the need for the government to compromise with the military because of its role in politics.

Change should be gradual, he said during an interview with Nikkei News.

Addressing Thailands history of frequent military coups, Sutin, in an interview with Nikkei News, advocated for an educational approach to democratic values within the country, rather than seeking to enforce civilian control through constitutional and legal means.

Regulating the militarys activities through the constitution and the law is pointless, Sutin told Nikkei.

Ruj Chuenban in Bangkok contributed to this report.
Tom Andrews, who serves as the U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, speaks with Radio Free Asia (RFA), an affiliate of BenarNews, during an interview at RFA headquarters in Washington, March 13, 2024.

Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, is set to present his latest report on the strife-torn country to the U.N. Human Rights Council on Tuesday.

Andrews, who spoke to BenarNews affiliate Radio Free Asia (RFA) last week before he was to head to the councils headquarters in Geneva, will be giving an account of the situation in Myanmar since the junta announced in early February that it was activating conscription.

The Southeast Asian country has been mired in conflict since a military coup in February 2021 ousted a civilian government, and this move represents the latest evidence of the desperation of the military junta, Andrews told RFA Burmese.

He said the junta was losing troops and territory and thats the reason they activated compulsory military service  so they can replenish their troops  he said, adding, [i]ts not going to work.

First of all, we know that the lines before the Thai embassy, for example, of people trying to get visas to get out are significant, he said in a reference to Thailand that shares a frontier with Myanmar.

We know that people are looking for any and every way out of the country, he added.

For Thailand, meanwhile, Andrews said, a lot is at stake, because it has a long border with Myanmar, including close to the conflict areas.

And I think that Thailand is taking a hard look at this situation, he said.

In this context, RFA asked Andrews in an interview about his participation in a seminar about Myanmar that was hosted by the parliament of Thailand in early March.

Excerpts of Ye Kaung Myint Maungs interview with Tom Andrews:

Radio Free Asia: You recently participated in a seminar about Myanmar hosted by the parliament of Thailand. Can you share some insight about that seminar?

Tom Andrews: I was very impressed.  It was a very thoughtful discussion of the issues facing the people of Myanmar, the humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, and the fact that it was held, you know, at Parliament House was, I think, a very important sign and very practical to invite a number of people with different perspectives and ideas to bring those ideas forward and exchange them in an open forum.

I think it was a very positive thing.  And the chair of this committee that held this hearing was very thoughtful, looking to see how to build a much stronger position between Thailand and Myanmar and build for a future.

People fleeing fighting between the Myanmar military and ethnic armies shelter at the Thai-Myanmar border, on the Thai side of the Moei river, in Mae Sot district, Tak province, Thailand, April 7, 2023. [AFP]

RFA: Thailand has traditionally played a very crucial role in addressing the crisis in Myanmar. Now a new Thai government, they held this seminar. Do you see this as a positive development?

TA: I think that Thailand has a great deal at stake, probably more than most countries. That huge border that they have, the tremendous pressure on that border, people facing horrific conditions in these conflict areas means that Thailand has a great deal at stake. And I think that Thailand is taking a hard look at this situation.

And I think the fact that the parliament was open to this process of entertaining new ideas, holding a process where many views are presented, I think those were all very, very positive signs and hopefully will lay the groundwork for a much better, stronger future for both countries.

RFA: Another issue is the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Many countries have said they will stick to ASEANs five-point consensus on Myanmar. But experts claim it is not working. What kind of change do you think ASEAN can bring? [The consensus points include ending violence, starting dialogue, providing humanitarian aid, appointing a special envoy, and an ASEAN envoy visiting Myanmar.]

TA: Well, first of all, the five-point consensus was created in April of 2021, a few months after the coup by ASEAN to try to  through the principle of engagement and consensus  find common ground out of this crisis.  My recommendation to ASEAN is to enforce that five point consensus, hold accountable [junta leader] Min Aung Hlaing to that first point [ending violence] of the five-point consensus and make sure that discussion, engagement of any kind must begin by ending the violence . Its just got to be the bottom line.

RFA: What kind of consequences or punishment could ASEAN possibly bring in enforcing this five point consensus?

TA: This is a situation that the entire international community needs to work together on. And I think theres three things that the junta needs to continue these atrocities. It needs money, it needs weapons, and it needs legitimacy. And I think that everything that we can do as an international community to deny them all three, we need to be doing.

So, for example, with ASEAN: ASEAN no longer invites Min Aung Hlaing, the senior general, to those meetings of heads of state of ASEAN.  I think that should be extended to any and every meeting of ASEAN, that no one representing the military junta should be allowed to engage with ASEAN.  We also have to focus on accountability. We also have to make sure that they understand  that is, the junta understands  that it may take some time, but we are going to hold you responsible for these atrocities.
Former SAC President Naydeen Gonzalez-De Jesus has been reassigned to a new role in the Alamo Colleges District central administration. Courtesy

San Antonio College President Naydeen Gonzalez-De Jesus has been forced out  a little more than a year after taking office  following calls for her dismissal by students and staff.

Gonzalez-De Jesus came under intense criticism last fall over her handling of a faculty-organized forum on Palestine.

In an announcement to employees on Monday, the Alamo Colleges District said she was reassigned to a new administrative role, addressing needs throughout the community college district. Her title is presidential project executive.

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In this capacity, Dr. Gonzalez-De Jesus will be focusing on district-wide initiatives to address the needs of target populations within our colleges and communities, including expanding services for incarcerated individuals, enhancing resources for bilingual and Spanish-speaking families, and identifying partnership opportunities in support of district-wide initiatives, the district said.

Francisco Solis is now the interim president of San Antonio College. Alamo Colleges District

Francisco Solis, who has served in various roles at SAC, most recently as interim vice president for academic success, is now interim president after announcing his retirement last year, the district said.

The ACD did not connect the new assignment to the past criticism of Gonzalez-De Jesus and did not directly address a question about whether she was given a choice whether to accept it.

Related to her transition to a new role, the change is aimed at optimizing resources and skills within the organization, a district spokeswoman said.

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Students last year accused Gonzalez-De Jesus of trying to shut down plans for a faculty-led teach-in about Palestine on the near-downtown campus, which serves about 19,000 students. The event was postponed, then held several days later.

Gonzalez-De Jesus, selected among four finalists for the SAC presidency after a national search, took office Jan. 9, 2023.

Gonzalez-De Jesus was previously executive vice president of student success at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Before that, she held leadership positions at community colleges in New Jersey and was a public diplomacy officer for the U.S. Embassy in Argentina. She was SACs 13th president and only the second woman ever to lead the school.

On Oct. 28, SACs Student Government Association unanimously supported a vote of no confidence in Gonzalez-De Jesus. A few days later, on Nov. 1, anonymous members of SACs senior executive team sent Mike Flores, chancellor of the Alamo Colleges District, a confidential letter outlining concerns about behaviors she has exhibited over the past nine months that have culminated in an extremely hostile work environment that is no longer functional.

In a Nov. 21 email, Gonzalez-De Jesus apologized to the SAC community for misunderstandings over the initial planned event. But at a Dec. 5 meeting of the college district board, four students told the trustees that Gonzalez-De Jesus should be disciplined or removed.

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Former SAC President Naydeen Gonzalez-De Jesus has been reassigned to a new role in the Alamo Colleges District central administration.

Shes also had supporters, several of whom defended her in comments to Alamo Colleges trustees. Addressing the board in December, Lydia Flores, a part-time SAC administrative support employee, said Gonzalez-De Jesus has been an agent of change who tried to address cronyism, racism, ageism and disregard for policies and procedures.

Nammie Ichilov, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio and an adjunct professor at SAC, told the board the guarded approach Gonzalez-De Jesus took to the Palestine teach-in was valid in light of growing concern of antisemitism, otherwise known as Jew hate, on college campuses.

In December, Texas Public Radio broadcast a report that included a recording of the college president invoking the Ku Klux Klan during a meeting with students to explain the need to permit a diversity of viewpoints.

If I invite someone from the KKK, I will also need to invite someone that completely does not agree with the KKK, right? so both points of view are represented, Gonzalez-De Jesus could be heard saying.

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Axel Smith, a student who has demonstrated against the killing of Palestinians in Israels counteroffensive, was among the students who asked district trustees in December to reprimand Gonzalez-De Jesus. He said the presidents reference to a hypothetical representative of the KKK showed insensitivity.

In light of the controversy and unrest on U.S. college campuses over the Israel-Hamas war and other conflicts, the district said its working with an outside firm to ensure an impartial and thorough determination of the pertinent facts and recommend possible changes in policy.

The district also is updating its Freedom of Expression policies in collaboration with faculty, staff and students, and partnering with a facilitator to meet with members of the SAC community to enhance trust and aid in student success, the district said in a statement last year.

San Antonio College has nearly 19,000 students and currently leads the five Alamo Colleges in enrollment with a campus just north of downtown. Courtesy San Antonio College

The districts policy on free speech embraces the right of individuals to express their views in compliance with local, state and federal laws. Free speech cannot intrude upon or interfere with the academic programs and administrative processes.

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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.
President Vladimir Putin extends his reign over Russia in a landslide election whose outcome was never in doubt, declaring his determination to advance deeper into Ukraine and dangling new threats against the West
EAGLE PASS, TEXAS - MARCH 17: In an aerial view, an immigrant faces coils of razor wire after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico on March 17, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Texas National Guard troops have fortified Eagle Pass with vast a amount of razor wire as part of Governor Greg Abbott's "Operation Lone Star" to deter migrants from crossing into Texas. The U.S. southwestern border stretches nearly 2,000 miles, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean and is marked by fences, deserts, mountains and the Rio Grande, which runs the entire length of Texas. The politics surrounding border and immigration issues have become dominant themes in the U.S. presidential election campaign. John Moore/Getty Images EAGLE PASS, TEXAS - MARCH 17: In an aerial view, a Texas National Guard soldier stands atop a barrier of shipping containers and razor wire while guarding the U.S.-Mexico border as people play golf nearby on March 17, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Texas National Guard troops have fortified the U.S.-Mexico border with vast a amount of razor wire as part of Governor Greg Abbott's "Operation Lone Star" to deter migrants from crossing into Texas. The U.S. southwestern border stretches nearly 2,000 miles, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean and is marked by fences, deserts, mountains and the Rio Grande, which runs the entire length of Texas. The politics surrounding border and immigration issues have become dominant themes in the U.S. presidential election campaign. John Moore/Getty Images EAGLE PASS, TEXAS - MARCH 17: In an aerial view, immigrants wait under an international bridge after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico and passing through coils of razor wire on March 17, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Texas National Guard troops have fortified the U.S.-Mexico border at Eagle Pass with vast a amount of razor wire as part of Governor Greg Abbott's "Operation Lone Star" to deter migrants from crossing into Texas. The U.S. southwestern border stretches nearly 2,000 miles, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean and is marked by fences, deserts, mountains and the Rio Grande, which runs the entire length of Texas. The politics surrounding border and immigration issues have become dominant themes in the U.S. presidential election campaign. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) John Moore/Getty Images EAGLE PASS, TEXAS - MARCH 17: In an aerial view, a Texas National Guard soldier stands atop a barrier of shipping containers and razor wire while guarding the U.S.-Mexico border on March 17, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Texas National Guard troops have fortified the U.S.-Mexico border with vast a amount of razor wire as part of Governor Greg Abbott's "Operation Lone Star" to deter migrants from crossing into Texas. The U.S. southwestern border stretches nearly 2,000 miles, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean and is marked by fences, deserts, mountains and the Rio Grande, which runs the entire length of Texas. The politics surrounding border and immigration issues have become dominant themes in the U.S. presidential election campaign. John Moore/Getty Images EAGLE PASS, TEXAS - MARCH 17: In an aerial view, immigrants ponder next moves after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico and passing through coils of razor wire on March 17, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas. Texas National Guard troops have fortified the U.S.-Mexico border at Eagle Pass with vast a amount of razor wire as part of Governor Greg Abbott's "Operation Lone Star" to deter migrants from crossing into Texas. The U.S. southwestern border stretches nearly 2,000 miles, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean and is marked by fences, deserts, mountains and the Rio Grande, which runs the entire length of Texas. The politics surrounding border and immigration issues have become dominant themes in the U.S. presidential election campaign. John Moore/Getty Images National Guard soldiers guard Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Sunday Feb. 4, 2024. Jay Janner/Associated Press

WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court on Monday indefinitely delayed a Texas law that would empower state authorities to arrest and deport migrants, an effort by Republican legislators to give the state immigration enforcement powers long left solely to the federal government.

For the second time, Justice Samuel Alito extended a stay halting the law, known as Senate Bill 4. The order was released minutes after a 4 p.m. CDT deadline, prompting initial confusion over whether the court decided to let the law stand.

Alito offered no explanation in the single-page order and did not set a deadline on the latest extension, blocking the law indefinitely while a longer legal battle plays out over its constitutionality.

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The Justice Department, El Paso County and civil and immigrant rights groups are suing to stop it, arguing that the law runs afoul of more than a century of court precedent on immigration powers and would interfere with the federal governments enforcement efforts. The law faces a separate legal challenge from four Texas residents who could face arrest and removal if it takes effect.

Texas Republicans, who passed the law last fall, say it is necessary to protect the state against an invasion of migrants seeking asylum in the United States and from Mexican drug cartels. They say the state has to step in because the federal government is not doing enough to stop border crossings, which have hit records under the Biden administration.

Before the order was issued, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick addressed the Supreme Courts conservative majority members in a TV news interview Monday, saying, To the Supreme Court justices who are watching Fox, I am sure this morning as they get up early, we are being attacked  by land, by sea, by air, literally.

The law would make it a crime to enter the state from Mexico without permission, and it would allow any law enforcement officer in Texas to arrest migrants they suspect of entering illegally and empower judges to order their removal.

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The dispute is still in the early stages, but a federal judge in Austin last month blocked the law, calling it patently unconstitutional.

Judge David A. Ezra wrote that immigration enforcement is left to the federal government and that the law conflicts with key provisions of federal immigration law, to the detriment of the United States foreign relations and treaty obligations. Ezra, who was appointed by then-President Ronald Reagan, was especially critical of the states argument that it is defending against an invasion, writing: To discuss invasion at length is to take the argument more seriously than it deserves.

Even accepting that some small number of immigrants do traffic drugs or have cartel affiliations, he wrote, Texas cannot genuinely maintain that noncitizens crossing the border are an organized military force aimed at conquest or plunder.

The conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals set aside Ezras ruling, teeing up the pending decision by the Supreme Court. The appeals court has a hearing on the law set for early next month.

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Texas Republicans have cast the law as an invitation for the Supreme Court to revisit a landmark ruling from 2012 that held that only the federal government has the power to enforce immigration laws.

In that case, the high court struck down portions of an Arizona law that authorized police to arrest anyone suspected of being in the country illegally. Then-Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the opinion. Arizona may have understandable frustrations with the problems caused by illegal immigration while that process continues, but the state may not pursue policies that undermine federal law, he said.

Texas, however, has been unable to sway the Supreme Court in more recent immigration cases.
WILLIAMSTOWN  For one local school of traditional Irish dancers, their craft is about more than keeping history alive. It's about friendship and family.

The Scoil Rince Breifne O Ruairc Irish dance school put that philosophy in motion on Sunday for St. Patrick's Day at The Store at Five Corners in Williamstown, during a performance that featured a live accompaniment from a large group of traditional musicians. About ten dancers from the school performed on their tip-toes over a 90-minute set for St. Patricks Day. It was one of multiple performances the troupe had planned for the holiday, but this was the largest ensemble the group would play with.

The dancers launched into a set of slip jigs, Donegal ramblers and reel dances on Sunday accompanied by an instrumental section replete with violins, banjos, guitars, flutes and drums  a jam session of traditional musicians that play at The Store at Five Corners monthly.

Jennie Darby, the founder and leader of the school, said the group doesn't often get to perform alongside a group of live musicians this large. Some of the dancers, who also perform in the schools Irish music group called Gaelica, picked up their fiddles and struck along with the band, too.

I think that when you bring the live musicians and the live dancers together, theres a synergy that happens that we cant replicate in class when were dancing to recorded music, Darby said. When we are able to do that  it brings me more joy to feel that were being supported by these live people who are also invested in what were doing.

Darby sent songs to the performers ahead of time, and was able to adjust their tempo to what the dances required.

The dancers spun, leapt and tapped in set sequences atop wooden boards and around broom handles for various performances during the set. Darby said that her students usually dont know what theyre performing on a given day until about 15 minutes before the show after shes had a chance to make a setlist.

They just have this repertoire that they already know, and we have this language, Darby said. Ill say I want you to dance 16 bars, or I want you dance eight bars and I want you to do this particular hornpipe (a hard-shoe dance routine), and they know what I mean and they just go and they do it.

For the hosting Store at Five Corners, the event was a chance to give a new group of families memories of the old country store in Williamstown.

Were so thrilled its a community gathering space, said Karen Charbonneau, president of the board for the Store at Five Corners Stewardship Association. To see everyone fill the building is great.

MaryEllen Meehan, another board member, said that the performance was wonderful and that she was glad to see an event like this engage the community. She was also happy to see another generation keeping up the Irish step dance tradition; her daughter used to perform, too, she said.

Its very special, Meehan said. These traditions can be so easily lost if you dont keep them up, so I give a lot of credit to the teachers.

For Myles Patton, 15, a dancer with the group, the camaraderie is a reason to keep coming back.

Everyone on the team is like my family, Patton said. I feel like weve been so many places together. I think whats really cool is that we get to experience really cool things together.

One of those cool things was the troupes visit to Ireland last year, which saw them performing the traditional dances for locals in Ballina, County Mayo, the Irish sister city of Pittsfield.

Patton and Maris Darby laughed that the troupe thought they would get sick of each other at some point during the trip to Ireland, but it never came to pass. The group is tightknit and always together, Patton said.

The trip overseas actually served to bring the group closer together, they said.

The friendships you make along the way are so amazing, Maris Darby said.
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Investing in health and hygiene is not just a moral imperative, it is an economic necessity: Bhubaneswar Kalita

Today, India is undertaking a transformative journey, one that looks at illness to wellness from a completely new prism. As we delve into the significance of health and hygiene, let us acknowledge Indias remarkable evolution in this realm. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a doctor to population ratio of 1:1000, we have achieved a ratio of 1:900 which is an improvement over the guidelines. Investing in health and hygiene is not just a moral imperative, it is an economic necessity, said Bhubaneswar Kalita, Chairperson, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, and Family Welfare at ASSOCHAMs 2nd Awareness Summit on Illness to Wellness.

The government has increased the number of medical colleges, and we will have one medical college in every district and shortage of doctors in rural areas will soon be a thing of the past, he added.

Delivering the welcome address, Anil Rajput, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM National CSR Council said, This initiative was launched in 2014 with the belief that we have the scientific knowledge to create a world in which most of the diseases could be either eliminated or controlled by preventive healthcare awareness. We are driven by a commitment to promote health and wellness for all with a focus on empowerment, education, collaboration and sustainable impact. Over the years we have endeavoured to maximise outreach and impact, from organising camps and awareness campaigns on a slew of critical ailments, to holding regular webinars on key health developments with the overarching objective of providing remedies and motivation.

Prof. (Dr) Anil Agarwal, Medical Director, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education Research, Government of NCT of Delhi, New Delhi in his address said, Reaching out to school children is a good approach as the younger you start the more ingrained will the awareness be. Imparting basic life-saving skills to students in schools and colleges will be very effective in combating sudden death.
Exit polls indicate that Vladimir Putin is expected to secure a resounding victory in Russia's election, ensuring his continued leadership for another six years. This projected outcome would mark a significant milestone in post-Soviet politics.

Exit poll conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) shows Putin secured an impressive 87.8 percent of the vote as the polls closed on Sunday.

Putin Wins Russia Election 2024

According to Reuters, the voting percentage in Russia's post-Soviet history has reached its highest point. The initial results from FOM's early polls seem to be accurate.

Various media outlets reported that the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Russia has released a preliminary statement declaring Putin as the winner of the election, with approximately 87 percent of the votes. According to reports, the commission also mentioned that voter turnout across the country was approximately 75 percent.

The outcome is set to grant Putin his fifth term as Russia's president, a position he has held for over 20 years since his initial election in late 1999. According to Reuters, this victory will make Putin the longest-serving leader in Russia since Catherine the Great in 1796, surpassing the record previously held by former Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin.

Before Putin came into power, the Russian Constitution limited presidents to serving only two consecutive terms of four years. However, amendments were made in 2008 during Putin's tenure, which extended the presidential term to six years.

Reuters said the rule preventing presidents from serving more than two terms was removed in 2020 through amendments.

According to FOM's exit polls, the second-place spot was secured by Nikolai Kharitonov, the communist candidate, who garnered just under 5 percent of the vote. In third place was Vladislav Davankov of the New People party, who received over 3 percent of the vote. Leonid Slutsky, a candidate with strong nationalist views, finished in fourth place according to the exit polls.

Putin's victory was widely expected, as two other candidates who opposed the Ukraine invasion were disqualified from running.

A massive protest erupted on Sunday as thousands of individuals sought to cast their ballots in opposition to Putin during the election. Putin has encountered growing resistance following the passing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who tragically died in a remote Arctic penal colony last month. Navalny expressed support for the upcoming protest shortly before his passing.

His overwhelming victory in the election follows the untimely demise of his most vocal opponent, Alexei Navalny, who passed away in an Arctic prison colony under questionable circumstances. Numerous individuals, including his bereaved spouse, have accused Putin of being responsible.

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Navalny, joined the protest on Sunday and expressed her determination to persist in her fight against Putin.

Read Also: Russians Mob Polls in Apparent Protest of Putin, Set for Reelection: 'My Conscience Will Be Clear'

Putin Renews Warning Against West

Putin announced his victory tonight, emphasizing the need for a stronger and more effective Russia. He remains focused on reshaping the global landscape and implementing strategies to challenge Western influence.

In the midst of widespread 'Noon Against Putin' protests in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Russian embassies worldwide, the leader chose to mark the overwhelming vote in the capital and urged authorities to take action against those who invalidated their ballots.

He criticized the West, warning that the deployment of its troops in Ukraine could potentially escalate tensions to the point of a global conflict. However, he also mentioned that there seemed to be little appetite for such a scenario.

The election victory, which could have been announced even before a single ballot box was examined, ensures that the Russian President's era of domestic repression and confrontations with the West will persist until at least 2030.

If he is given the opportunity to govern for another six years, it would make Putin the longest-serving Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the 18th century, showcasing his deep knowledge and interest in history, Daily Mail reported.

Since the little-known KGB agent's victory on New Year's Eve 1999, he has effectively consolidated power by asserting control over oligarchs and suppressing any significant opposition, resulting in Russia becoming an authoritarian state.

During his tenure, there was a significant economic boom in Moscow as the country capitalized on its abundant energy resources. However, his administration later implemented strict measures to suppress any form of dissent.

Related Article: Putin Fires Naval Commander-in-Chief After 'Significant' Black Sea Losses, Intelligence Report Reveals

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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, opens new tab over the use of Starlink satellite connectivity in the Ukraine war, the sources said.

The Wall Street Journal reported, opens new tab 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.

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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.
A woman has been arrested by US Marshals for the alleged murder of her 5-year-old son in 2022. According to officials, the child's body was found hidden in a suitcase.

Dejaune Anderson was arrested in Los Angeles County in Arcadia, California. According to a statement released by the Indiana State Police, she was taken into custody while trying to board a train.

The arrest was made based on a warrant issued in Indiana. Anderson is currently facing serious charges, including murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice. These charges are considered to be felonies.

"It's a sombre 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, I'm just excited (for the detectives). We're all very excited, lifted up and buoyed by the fact that she's behind bars and can be brought back to Indiana so we can continue this trail for justice for Cairo," Huls mentioned adding that detectives were headed to California to continue their investigation.

Anderson was located in California following a tip provided by a concerned citizen, according to investigators. In April 2022, the lifeless body of 5-year-old Cairo Jordan was discovered inside a suitcase in a remote area of southern Indiana, approximately 35 miles northwest of Louisville, Kentucky.

Authorities suspect that the crime took place in Kentucky, with the victim's body later discovered in Indiana. According to state police, an autopsy revealed that Cairo's cause of death was dehydration resulting from vomiting and diarrhea.

In October 2022, another woman named Dawn Coleman was taken into custody. She stands accused of helping Anderson in the disposal of Jordan's body. Coleman has admitted to charges of aiding, inducing or causing murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, and obstruction of justice.

"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.She said Anderson asked her to help put Cairo in a trash bag and then into the suitcase," Washington County Sheriff's officials previously said in a statement.

Last year, she received a 30-year prison sentence, with five years suspended on probation.

In April 2022, a local resident stumbled upon Cairo's body a week after his supposed demise while out mushroom hunting in a densely forested region.

Over a hundred individuals attended the funeral service for the unidentified Jordan, which was organized by the community of Washington County at the time.

Crown Hill Cemetery was where the boy's remains were laid to rest bearing the words, "In loving memory of a beloved little boy known but to God."

His complete name was engraved onto the headstone after the identification of the body by the police. Huls stated that Jordan continued to live on in the affections of community members long after his passing.

Consistently, neighbors have inquired with authorities for updates ever since the discovery of his remains. "There's still flowers to this day that are placed at his gravesite, (with) people praying for him and his family and that justice will be done," according to Huls.

Related Article: NYC Man Dead After Getting Punched, Slamming on Pavement in Brooklyn Parking Spot Argument: Police

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A DUP attempt to veto a new EU law applying in the North by using one of the democratic consent processes in the Windsor Framework is a stunt, the SDLP has claimed.

The unionist party is to use an applicability motion at Stormont on Tuesday to allow the Northern Assembly to vote on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products.

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Under the rules of the Windsor Framework, a deal agreed by the British government to allay unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, some EU laws still apply in Northern Ireland.

The framework contains mechanisms by which the Stormont Assembly can object to or consent to new or amended regulations.

One of these is the applicability motion.

The DUP is to bring the motion on Tuesday, proposing that the new law, which means legally defining and protecting certain products which are tied to a geographical area, should be applied to Northern Ireland.

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DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said the vote would be a watershed moment for the Assembly (Niall Carson/PA)

However, its MLAs will vote against the motion they have introduced, with party leader Jeffrey Donaldson stating it would substantially expand EU intellectual property law in Northern Ireland.

Mr Donaldson said the vote is a watershed moment for the Assembly.

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He said: Although the required procedure necessitates that such a motion is brought to the Assembly in the affirmative, there is no doubt about our motivation.

It is only a means to an end. We will vote decisively against the motion and against the imposition of this EU regulation.

He added: A decision by the Assembly to withhold consent for this new EU rule will practically demonstrate that we have removed the democratic deficit within our devolved context.

The DUP leader said the British government can only adopt the new EU regulation in Northern Ireland with the consent of both unionists and nationalists voting in the Assembly.

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Stormont Opposition leader Matthew OToole said the DUP motion was a stunt (Liam McBurney/PA)

But SDLP Stormont leader Matthew OToole accused the DUP of being in a rush to prove their anti-EU machismo.

He added: The DUPs stunt in blocking Northern Ireland participation in new protections for craft manufacturing could have real world consequences for our amazing craft producers.

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Should the DUP succeed in blocking the applicability motion tomorrow, the SDLP opposition will make representations to the (Westminster) Joint Committee that the new law should apply to Northern Ireland and no credible concerns about east-west disruptions have been articulated set against the very real potential harm to local craft producers.

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If the applicability motion does not pass the Assembly with cross-community consent, the British government would be expected to veto the new EU law unless a minister considers it does not create a new regulatory border between Britain and Northern Ireland, or if exceptional circumstances apply.
Rose Dugdale, the English aristocrat who led a notorious IRA art heist, has died at the age of 82.

The death of the disinherited heiress comes just days before a film about her life is to be released in cinemas.

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The rebellious former debutante from Devon turned her back on a life of privilege to join the IRA in the 1970s, and went on to mastermind a multimillion-pound fine art heist.

The Oxford graduate was the ringleader of the 1974 IRA raid on the Russborough House estate in Co Wicklow, in which 19 valuable paintings were stolen.

She was involved in other IRA operations, including a failed bid to drop bombs on to a police station in the North using a helicopter hijacked in Co Donegal.

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Sinn Fein TD @aosnodaigh extends sympathies following passing of Rose Dugdale



"Rose was a committed republican and was unflinching in her beliefs. Ireland has today lost a committed republican and activist, and Sinn Fein a valued comrade."https://t.co/MGMbQde5O6 pic.twitter.com/4X1YyGI8Qx Advertisement  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) March 18, 2024

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The republican bombmaker was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison for her IRA activities. She was pregnant at the time and gave birth to a son inside Limerick prison.

The film telling the story of the art heist, Baltimore, will be released in cinemas this Friday.

Actress Imogen Poots plays Rose Dugdale in the thriller directed by Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy.

She had been living in a care home in Dublin in recent years.

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Sinn Fein TD for Dublin South Central, Aengus O Snodaigh, extended his sympathies to her friends and family.

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He said: I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rose Dugdale this morning, and on my own behalf and that of Sinn Fein I wish to offer heartfelt condolences to her friends, family and party members.

Rose was a committed republican and was unflinching in her beliefs, and Ireland has today lost a committed republican and activist, and Sinn Fein a valued comrade.

He added: Rose for many decades lived in Dublin, in the south inner-city, Drimnagh, and in recent years in a nursing home in Chapelizod, and was an active member of Sinn Fein.

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She was extremely committed to her community, both in her work for Sinn Fein, where she was a hugely popular figure locally and nationally, but also in a wide variety of community groups.

She was also a great educator of Sinn Fein activists and representatives, many of whom benefited from her vast knowledge and life experiences, and who are all feeling the loss of a dear friend and comrade today.
Northern Ireland will become a weak spot in the UKs migration policy if the Rwanda Bill does not apply in the region, a DUP MP has said.

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill aims to compel judges to regard the east African country as safe in a bid to clear the way to send asylum seekers who cross the Channel in small boats on a one-way flight there.

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During a debate in the UK parliament on amendments to the Rwanda Bill, MP for East Antrim Sammy Wilson expressed his partys support for the sentiment of the Rwanda plan, but said if it was not applied in Northern Ireland the region could become a channel for illegal migration.

Amendments Mr Wilson said the party would support the British government in voting down included amendment one, which would ensure the Bill complies with domestic and international law, and amendment four which would allow the presumption that Rwanda is safe to be challenged in the courts.

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Mr Wilson told MPs: We cannot go on with the pressures that mass illegal immigration puts on society, and the cost which it puts on society and on the government and on the tax-payer.

For that reason we will oppose most of the Lords amendments which as the minister has rightly pointed out and other speakers have pointed out during this debate, many of them were designed to weaken this bill, to undermine it and to ensure that it doesnt work and that we just remain with the old flawed system that we have been trying to put aside.

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The minister has said that the reason why the government opposes them  and hes right  that he doesnt want to see the Bill weakened, but could I say the Bill is ready weakened.

Its weakened in respect of one part of the United Kingdom, and I seek assurances from the minister as to how he comes to the conclusion that by pushing the Bill through in its present form it is going to safeguard all parts of the United Kingdom against illegal immigration being channelled through different parts.

DUP MP Sammy Wilson said Northern Ireland could become a channel for illegal migration (Liam McBurney/PA)

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Mr Wilson said that Northern Irelands geographic separation from Britain by the Irish Sea did not mean the region was less susceptible to illegal migration.

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He said: The implications of course are that if Northern Ireland becomes the weak spot in all of this then this becomes meaningless.

And people think the boats arent going to come from France across the sea into southern Ireland, its a 24-hour journey, but remember Belfast, already out of 77 cities in the United Kingdom, has the second-highest number of illegal immigrants per 10,000 of the population.

So already it is a channel, through the Republic into Northern Ireland and then of course into England, so this is an issue that needs to be addressed.

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He added: The real difficulty is and the real danger is if Northern Ireland does become that channel then well finish up not just with a border for goods, but well finish up with passport control for people moving from Northern Ireland.

Earlier in the debate, DUP MP Jim Shannon intervened to ask for clarity on the Rwanda Bills compatibility with article two of the Windsor Framework.

Mr Shannon said: Can the minister confirm that our concerns as the Democratic Unionist Party we put forward at the last debate, and I put forward to the minister himself, have been taken on board?

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Because we dont see that in the legislation before us today, and if we dont see it then its going to be very hard for us to support the [British] government on this.
US President Joe Biden has been told by Stormonts leaders that they appreciate his support during a positive meeting at a St Patricks Day reception.

First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met Mr Biden at the White House on Sunday as the traditional March 17th events rounded off a week of engagements.

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Ms ONeill said business figures they spoke to were left with a clear understanding on why they should invest in Northern Ireland, while Ms Little-Pengelly said the week had been key for extending relationships in the US.

Sinn Fein had come under pressure to boycott St Patricks events in the US over support for Israels military operation in Gaza.

Speaking after the meeting on Sunday, Sinn Fein Stormont leader Ms ONeill said the aim of the US trip was to seek out investors and companies and showcase everything Northern Ireland has to offer.

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The Stormont leaders itinerary included the Ireland Funds Gala; a roundtable discussion with the US Chamber of Commerce; and the Speaker Mike Johnsons luncheon in the US Capitol with Mr Biden and Irish premier Leo Varadkar.

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Both Emma and I have had a very positive experience, meeting business leaders from a wide range of sectors who were left with a clear understanding of why they should invest in the north.

First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly meeting Joe Biden and Joseph Kennedy in the China Room of the White House. Photo: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA.

We also impressed upon President Biden that we appreciate his continued support, including the work taken forward by the Special Envoy Joe Kennedy III.

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Over the coming months we will continue to build on the connections we have made in the United States in order to grow our economy for the betterment of our citizens.

Ms Little-Pengelly said they discussed with Mr Biden the importance of US engagement and investment in securing a thriving, brighter future for everyone.

Throughout our engagements this week, we have been promoting Northern Ireland as a great place to live, visit and invest in.

We are a global leader in sectors such as cyber security, regtech, fintech, advanced manufacturing and health sciences with a young, skilled and dedicated workforce. I am confident those influential decision-makers we have met with have been very impressed by what they have heard.

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This week has also been key in extending our network and relationships within the US, demonstrating that we are open for business and committed to building stability and prosperity through investment.

Earlier in the week Mr Biden hailed the return of powersharing in Northern Ireland as a very positive step forward, while Mr Varadkar said his abiding memory from the trip was seeing the powerful appearance of the two politicians on stage together.

Speaking on Sunday night, Mr Varadkar said that lessons can be learned from the peace process in Northern Ireland, particularly the concept of parity of esteem.

He told the reception event: Mr President, as you know today we are joined here in the White House by Michelle ONeill as First Minister of Northern Ireland and Emma Little-Pengelly as deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland.

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A joint office in which they are co-equal. Two courageous women demonstrating every day whats possible by putting aside old animosities and working together.

The Good Friday Agreement is working again and I thank you all so much for making that possible.

I think they have got off to a great start. The Irish Government is working with them and the Executive in Belfast to build on the peace and prosperity that has been achieved in the last 26 years and to make sure it is shared by all.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the US President it is possible to be for Israel and for Palestine during a speech at a White House event for St Patricks Day.

He said the Irish people are deeply troubled by what is happening in Gaza because we see our history in their eyes through forced emigration, a denied identity and hunger.

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But the Taoiseach also said we also see Israels history reflected in our eyes through a diaspora whose heart never left home and had a nation and language revived.

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He said that lessons can be learned from the peace process in Northern Ireland particularly the concept of parity of esteem and the key role of the United States.

I believe it is possible to be for Israel and for Palestine and I believe you do too.

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Because the life of a Palestinian child is equal to that of an Israeli one, he said.

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and US President Joe Biden during the St Patricks Day Reception and Shamrock Ceremony Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

And the aspiration of the Palestinian people to have a homeland, and a fully-fledged State, in the land of their forefathers is equal to that of Israels.

Mr Varadkar made the comments at an event where he handed Mr Biden a bowl of shamrock in a tradition repeated for St Patricks Day every year.

Quoting the former US president John F Kennedy, Mr Varadkar said he had told the Dail months before he was killed, that Ireland should be the protector of the weak and of the small.

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When somebody dies before their time, as he did, their words can assume a kind of prophecy, a sort of sacred promise to the future.

As a country, we have tried to live up to the mission he set for us when he predicted that one day we would do something to give to the world a future of peace with freedom.

Mr Biden, who often celebrates his Irish heritage, paid tribute to immigrants who left Ireland for the US during his speech: The Irish spirit can never be overcome.

He also said the US and Ireland are aligned on support for Ukraine and increasing aid to Gaza.

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US President Joe Biden shows emotion as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Our countries stand proudly for liberty and against tyranny. We stand together and oppose Russias brutal war of aggression in Ukraine.

He added: The Taoiseach and I agree for the urgent need to increase humanitarian assistance in Gaza and get the ceasefire deal that brings hostages home and moves towards a two-state solution.

The ceremony marks the end of Mr Varadkars week-long visit to the US.

While usually the undocumented Irish and economic ties are to the fore during the trip, this year's event has been dominated by the war in the Middle East.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast to coincide with the trip and to push for a more aggressive policy on Gaza from the government as meetings were held with senior US figures.

Mr Varadkar has said throughout the trip that, instead of a boycott, Ireland should engage in discussions to highlight issues such as the spiralling number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (left) at a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Asked whether he could have partaken in the Oval Office meeting with US President Joe Biden on Friday and then withdrawn from the shamrock ceremony on Sunday, Mr Varadkar said earlier in the day: I suppose all these things go together.

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I dont think it would have been a wise decision or appropriate for me to take the time in the Oval Office and do that meeting and then turn around a day or two later and say that I wouldnt participate in a ceremony that goes back 40 years.

He said it would be a misimpression if people thought the trip to Washington DC was just a single event that lasts for an hour where there are speeches and a bowl of shamrocks handed over.

Although he said previously that the US should not be sending arms to Israel, the Taoiseach added he wasnt shocked that the US would continue to, as it was long established policy.

I appreciate we live in a world where everyone has to be angry all the time and is encouraged to get angry and then when youre not angry, youre asked why arent you angry?

Thats not the way I operate.

He added: What you do then is you do all you can to work for a ceasefire, to encourage our American and European partners to work towards that, to increase our humanitarian aid for Palestine, which weve done.

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So were doing everything we can, thats practical, given our influence in the world, to push for a ceasefire and for lasting peace.

I understand why other people may become consumed by anger.

Its just never a way that Ive done my job.

The Taoiseach held a bilateral with the US President in the Oval Office on Friday where the two leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Irish-US trade relations.

Mr Biden agreed with Mr Varadkar when he said there needed to be a ceasefire as soon as possible.
Mike Lynch, the multi-millionaire tech tycoon who was once hailed as shining example of British ingenuity, is set to face claims he defrauded Hewlett-Packard in the 11 billion dollar sale of his software company Autonomy at a trial in California on Monday.

The criminal trial in San Francisco revolves around HPs acquisition of Autonomy, a deal that was celebrated as coup when it was announced in 2011, only to blow up into a costly debacle.

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The alleged villains in the trial are former Autonomy CEO Lynch along with Stephen Chamberlain, Autonomys former vice president of finance.



Mike Lynch leaves the Rolls Building in London following the civil case over the sale of his software firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011 (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

They are both defending themselves against 16 felony counts of fraud and conspiracy in a trial expected to run until late May or June and include evidence from more than 40 witnesses.

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If convicted on all counts by a jury, Lynch and Chamberlain each could face a sentence of more than 20 years in prison.

Autonomys former chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2019 after being convicted on 16 counts of fraud and conspiracy.

The trial targeting Lynch and Chamberlain is also expected to cast a spotlight on Meg Whitman, who was hired to become CEO of the company started 85 years ago by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in a Palo Alto garage.

Whitman dipped into her estimated fortune of three billion dollars to finance an unsuccessful campaign to become California governor as the Republican Party nominee in 2010.

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She then joined HPs board and was tapped to replace company CEO Leo Apotheker, who had negotiated the Autonomy acquisition before being replaced in September 2011 just before the deal was completed.



The trial is also expected to cast a spotlight on Meg Whitman, who was hired to become CEO of the company (Jeff Chiu/AP)

At the time, HP was struggling to remain relevant amid a technological shift to mobile computing being driven by the then-rising popularity of smartphones.

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The upheaval depressed demand for desktop and laptop computers, a market that had been one of HPs financial cornerstones.

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In an effort to lessen its dependence on PCs, HP snapped up Autonomy to gain ownership of software focused on helping businesses quickly sift through vital information stored in email, phone records and other repositories.

But HP uncovered evidence that Autonomy had been cooking the books to inflate its value after the takeover was completed, prompting Whitman to write off nearly nine billion dollars of the acquisition price.

It would also spur accusations of criminal conduct, leading to the indictment of Lynch and Chamberlain in 2018.

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The trial was delayed during a civil trial about the alleged fraud in London that culminated in a judge siding with HP in a 2022 ruling that indicated the damages would be less than the five billion dollars (3.9bn) that HP wanted.

The final amount of damages hasnt been determined.

Lynch, 58, was extradited to the US last May, and has since been living under court-mandated restrictions in San Francisco while being allowed to remain out of prison on a 100 million dollar bail bond secured by 50 million dollars in cash while awaiting trial.

Court documents estimate that Lynch made more than 800 million dollars on Autonomys sale to HP.

In the London civil trial, Lynch maintained he never participated in any underhanded dealings at Autonomy and painted himself as a scapegoat for a bumbling management team led by Whitman, who he depicted as being out of her depth.

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Lynch also hailed Autonomy as one of the most successful companies England has ever produced.

Whitman, 67, denigrated Lynch as an unstable executive whose complaints about her decisions became less and less focused and grounded in reality before she ousted him from HP in 2012.

Now the US ambassador to Kenya, Whitman isnt expected to be called to give evidence in Lynchs criminal trial, even though her leadership of the company is likely to be put under a microscope during the proceedings.
Migratory birds seen at wetland near Yellow River in N China's Inner Mongolia

Xinhua) 10:10, March 18, 2024

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)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to move forward with sending Israeli troops into Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah, despite deep international concerns over the risks to more than a million Palestinians who have sought refuge there.

Netanyahu said that Israel will not abandon the civilians trapped in Rafah when its forces begin a long-feared assault on Rafah.

Netanyahu To Press On With Rafah Assault Plan

During a press conference in Jerusalem with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Netanyahu said, "Our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah goes hand in hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah. We will not do it while keeping the population locked in place. In fact, we'll do the very opposite, we will enable them to leave."

The German leader warned that an Israeli attack on Rafah would make regional peace "very difficult."

Netanyahu's remarks came hours after he told a cabinet that Israeli forces would proceed with the planned ground offensive in Rafah despite concerns about mass civilian casualties.

In a video released by his office, Netanyahu claimed that no amount of international pressure would stop them from realizing all the goals of the war, which are to eliminate Hamas, release all their hostages, and ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel. He noted that they will have to operate in Rafah to do this.

Furthermore, Netanyahu's remarks came as talks were expected to resume in Qatar for a truce in Gaza, where Israel has pursued a military campaign against Hamas for more than five months.

According to Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Rafah, the Palestinians are "closely following" Netanyahu, who has been adamant about invading the very densely populated area.

He said that from the Palestinian perspective, under such a threat looming on the horizon, they are completely feeling unsafe, wondering about their next destination.

US President Joe Biden, who continued to support Israel despite widespread allegations of genocide, has said that an Israeli attack on Rafah would be a 'red line' if there were no credible civilian protection plans in place.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that Washington wanted a clear and implementable plan for Rafah that would guarantee civilians are "out of harm's way."

On Friday, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also pleaded with Israel "in the name of humanity" to refrain from attacking Rafah, the last major population center in Gaza yet to face a ground invasion since Hamas's historic October 7 attack in southern Israel.

Read Also: Israel Accused of Killing 20 Waiting for Aid in Gaza Day After Schumer Called For New Elections

US Chuck Schumer Demands for New Israel Elections

US Senate Leader Chuck Schumer demanded on Thursday that Israel should hold new elections, which infuriated Netanyahu's Likud Party, which declared that Israel "is not a banana republic."

Netanyahu said new elections would stop the war and paralyze the country for at least six months. He added that if they stop the war before all of its goals are achieved, it means that Israel has lost the war, and noted that they will not allow that.

According to a statement released by Gaza's health ministry on Sunday, at least 92 Palestinians have died in the last 24 hours due to the ongoing fighting. Twelve members of the same family whose house was struck in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, were among the dead.

Related Article: Israel-Hamas Gaza Cease-Fire Talks Set To Resume in Qatar: Egyptian Officials | HNGN - Headlines & Global News



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Donald Trumps lawyers told a New York appeal court on Monday that it is impossible for him to post a bond covering the full amount of his $454 million (419 million) civil fraud judgment while he appeals.

The former presidents lawyers wrote in a court filing that obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount of the judgment is not possible under the circumstances presented.

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With interest, Mr Trump owes $456.8 million (421.36 million). In all, he and co-defendants including his company and top executives owe $467.3 million. To obtain a bond, they would be required to post collateral worth $557 million, Mr Trumps lawyers said.

A state appeals court judge ruled last month that Mr Trump must post a bond covering the full amount to pause enforcement of the judgment, which is to begin on March 25th.

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Judge Arthur Engoron ruled in February that Mr Trump, his company and top executives, including his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr, schemed for years to deceive banks and insurers by inflating his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals.

Among other penalties, the judge put strict limitations on the ability of Mr Trumps company, the Trump Organisation, to do business.

Mr Trump is asking a full panel of the states intermediate appellate court to stay the judgment while he appeals. His lawyers previously proposed posting a $100 million bond, but appeals court judge Anil Singh rejected that. A stay is a legal mechanism pausing collection while he appeals.

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Judge Singh did grant some of Mr Trumps requests, including pausing a three-year ban on him seeking loans from New York banks.

A real estate broker enlisted by Mr Trump to assist in obtaining a bond wrote in an affidavit filed with the court that few bonding companies will consider issuing a bond of the size required.

The remaining bonding companies will not accept hard assets such as real estate as collateral, but will only accept cash or cash equivalents (such as marketable securities).

A bond of this size is rarely, if ever, seen. In the unusual circumstance that a bond of this size is issued, it is provided to the largest public companies in the world, not to individuals or privately held businesses, the broker, Gary Giulietti, wrote.

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Mr Trump appealed on February 26th, a few days after the judgment was made official. His lawyers have asked the Appellate Division of the states trial court to decide whether Engoron committed errors of law and/or fact and whether he abused his discretion or acted in excess of his jurisdiction.

Mr Trump was not required to pay his penalty or post a bond in order to appeal, and filing the appeal did not automatically halt enforcement of the judgment.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, has said that she will seek to seize some of Mr Trumps assets if he is unable to pay the judgment.

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Former president Donald Trump outside a courtroom in New York after an earlier hearing (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP)

Mr Trump would receive an automatic stay if he were to put up money, assets or an appeal bond covering what he owes. He also had the option, which he is now exercising, to ask the appeals court to grant a stay with a bond for a lower amount.

Mr Trump maintains that he is worth several billion dollars and testified last year that he had about $400 million in cash, in addition to properties and other investments.

In January, a jury ordered Mr Trump to pay $83.3 million to writer E Jean Carroll for defaming her after she accused him in 2019 of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. Mr Trump recently posted a bond covering that amount while he appeals.

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That is on top of the $5 million a jury awarded Ms Carroll in a related trial last year.

Elsewhere on Monday, a New York judge ruled that the infamous Access Hollywood video in which Donald Trump bragged about grabbing women sexually without asking permission will not be shown to jurors at the former presidents hush-money criminal trial.

Judge Juan M Merchan said prosecutors can still question witnesses about the tape, which was made public in the final weeks of Mr Trumps 2016 White House campaign. But it is not necessary that the tape itself be introduced into evidence or that it be played for the jury, the judge said.

Judge Merchan issued rulings on the Access Hollywood tape and other issues even after deciding last Friday to postpone the trial until at least mid-April to deal with a last-minute evidence dump that Mr Trumps lawyers said has hampered their ability to prepare their defence.

The judge scheduled a hearing for March 25th, the trials original start date, to address that issue.
A US mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on holiday has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole.

Kristel Candelario (32) had pleaded guilty last month to aggravated murder and child endangerment as part of a plea deal with Cuyahoga County prosecutors, who dismissed two murder counts and a felonious assault charge.

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Authorities have said Candelario left her daughter, Jailyn, in their Cleveland, Ohio home when she went on holiday to Detroit and Puerto Rico in June 2023.

When she returned 10 days later, she found the girl was not breathing in the playpen and called 911. Emergency responders found the child was extremely dehydrated and pronounced her dead shortly after they arrived.

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A post-mortem examination by the Cuyahoga County medical examiners office determined that the toddler died of starvation and severe dehydration.

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County Common Pleas Court Judge Brendan Sheehan told Candelario she committed the ultimate betrayal by leaving her daughter alone without food.

Just as you didnt let Jailyn out of her confinement, so too you should spend the rest of your life in a cell without freedom, Judge Sheehan said.

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The only difference will be, the prison will at least feed you and give you liquid that you denied her.

Candelario, who has struggled with depression and related mental health issues, said she has prayed daily for forgiveness.

Theres so much pain that I have in regards to the loss of my baby, Jailyn, she said. Im extremely hurt about everything that happened. I am not trying to justify my actions, but nobody knew how much I was suffering and what I was going through  God and my daughter have forgiven me.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed that Moscow will not relent in its invasion of Ukraine and plans to create a buffer zone to help protect against long-range Ukrainian strikes and cross-border raids.

The Kremlins forces have made battlefield progress as Kyivs troops struggle with a severe shortage of artillery shells and exhausted frontline units after more than two years of war.

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The front line stretches over 1,000km (620 miles) across eastern and southern Ukraine.

Advances have been slow and costly, and Ukraine has increasingly used its long-range firepower to hit oil refineries and depots deep inside Russia. Also, groups claiming to be Ukraine-based Russian opponents of the Kremlin have launched cross-border incursions.



Burned cars after shelling from Ukraine, in Belgorod, Russia, over the weekend (Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov telegram channel via AP)

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We will be forced at some point, when we consider it necessary, to create a certain sanitary zone on the territories controlled by the (Ukrainian government), Mr Putin said late on Sunday.

This security zone, Mr Putin said, would be quite difficult to penetrate using the foreign-made strike assets at the enemys disposal.

He spoke after the release of election returns that showed him securing a fifth six-year term in a landslide election devoid of any real opposition following his relentless crackdown on dissent.

Monday marks the 10th anniversary of Russias seizure of Ukraines Crimea Peninsula, which set the stage for Russia to invade its neighbour in February 2022.

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However, Mr Putin has been vague about his goals in Ukraine since that full-scale invasion floundered.

Mr Putin again warned the West against deploying troops to Ukraine. A possible conflict between Russia and Nato would put the world a step away from a third world war, he said.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently said that sending Western troops into Ukraine should not be ruled out, though he said the current situation does not require it.

Commenting on the prospects for peace talks with Kyiv, Mr Putin reaffirmed that Russia remains open to negotiations but will not be lured into a truce that will allow Ukraine to re-arm.

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However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has apparently shut the door on such talks, saying Mr Putin should be brought to trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which last year issued an arrest warrant for Mr Putin on war crime charges.



US Senator Lindsey Graham speaks to the media in Kyiv on Monday (Vadim Ghirda/AP)

With crucial US aid being held up in Washington, US Senator Lindsey Graham arrived in Kyiv on Monday, the US Embassy said.

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Ukraine desperately needs the around 48 billion dollars (37.7 billion) that the package of support would provide, especially artillery shells and air defence systems.

Ukraines air force said it intercepted 17 out of 22 Shahed drones launched by Russia over various regions of the country overnight. Russia also fired five S-300/S-400 missiles at the Kharkiv region and two Kh-59 at the Sumy region, both in northeastern Ukraine, it said.

Authorities say the intensity of ground attacks and airstrikes has increased recently in the Sumy region, prompting the evacuation of 56 people, including 26 children, from one border village over the past week.

In the past two and a half months the region has been struck more than 3,000 times, after some 8,000 strikes over all of last year, the Ukrainian regional government says. The number of aerial bomb attacks has tripled, and Russian saboteurs are highly active, according to officials.
Ukraine launched a new wave of attacks inside Russian territory, according to local officials, as Russians cast ballots on the final day of a presidential vote set to extend President Vladimir Putins rule for another six years.

Authorities said at least two people were killed, including a teenager.

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They also said that a drone fell on a refinery in the Krasnodar region, sparking a blaze that was extinguished a few hours later.



Photo released by Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov shows emergency employees working by damaged and burned cars after shelling in Belgorod (AP Images)

A worker at the refinery died of a heart attack, officials said.

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Refineries and oil terminals have been targets of Ukrainian drone attacks in recent days, according to Russian officials, as part of stepped up assaults on Russian territory including long-range drone attacks and alleged incursions by Ukraine-based Russian proxies.

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The Russian Defence Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four in the Moscow region.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that a fifth drone, close to the capitals Domodedovo airport, was downed on Sunday morning.

No casualties or damage were reported.

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According to the Defence Ministry, two drones were shot down over the Kaluga region, just south of the Russian capital, and four in the Yaroslavl region, northeast of Moscow.



Russian President Vladimir Putin described the attacks as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten residents and derail Russias presidential election (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

The attacks on the Yaroslavl region, which is located about 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border, were some of the furthest launched by Ukraine so far.

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More Ukrainian drones were downed over the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions that border Ukraine, and the southern Krasnodar region, the Defence Ministry said.

Shelling of Belgorod on Sunday morning killed a 16-year-old girl and wounded her father, while a second assault later in the day killed another man and wounded 11 others, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

Elsewhere, a drone strike at a military installation in Moldovas breakaway republic of Transnistria on Sunday destroyed a helicopter and ignited a fire, officials said.

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The areas pro-Russia authorities blamed the strike on Ukraine.

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The Bureau for Reintegration Policies said in a statement that they didnt confirm any attack on Transnistria, and described the reports as an attempt to cause fear and panic in the region.

There have been a series of Ukrainian drone raids over the past few days which Putin described as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten residents and derail Russias presidential election.



Photo released by Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov shows a damaged truck and a bus in Belgorod (AP Images)

Those enemy strikes havent been and wont be left unpunished, he vowed during Fridays meeting of Russias Security Council.

Im sure that our people, the people of Russia, will respond to that with even greater cohesion.

Two Russian ballistic missiles hit the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv on Sunday, wounding at least five people, the regions Governor Vitaliy Kim wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

The Ukrainian military also said that 14 Russian drones had been shot down over the Odesa region Sunday, following a Russian ballistic missile assault on the southern port city Friday that killed at least 21 people.
Sir Keir Starmer has praised Sadiq Khans commitment to clean air in London after last year urging the mayor to reflect on the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez).

The Labour leader, who lives in north-west London, said he did not want his children to breathe in dirty air as he appeared alongside Mr Khan for the launch of the mayors re-election campaign.

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The Ulez scheme was expanded last August to cover the entirety of Greater London, a controversial move overseen by Mr Khan.

Health and environmental campaigners supported the bid to improve air quality, but opponents have cited the financial impact as a key concern, with the Tories also using it as an attack line against Labour.

Thrilled to have launched the off-peak Friday fares scheme 



We've trialled all-day discounts on Tube & bus travel on Fridays to bring Londoners back to the city centre.



I'm delighted by the positive response and savings made for Londoners. pic.twitter.com/RauDwpkgGz Advertisement Advertisement  Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) March 18, 2024

People who drive in the zone in a vehicle that does not meet minimum emissions standards are required to pay a 12.50 daily fee or risk a 180 fine, reduced to 90 if paid within 14 days.

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Sir Keir had asked Mr Khan to reflect on the policys impact following last Julys Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election result, in which Labour said Ulez was a dividing issue that saw the Conservatives retain the seat.

Appearing alongside the London mayor at the launch of his campaign to win a third term in office, the Labour leader said: I say to people who challenge me on cleaner air: Ive got two kids. Theyre 15 and 13.

I wouldnt give them dirty water to drink and I wouldnt want them to breathe in dirty air.

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Crime is driven by inequality and lack of opportunity. Tackling that inequality is paramount.



Give us five minutes and find out all were doing to divert vulnerable young Londoners from violence and exploitation  pic.twitter.com/YU4sputPgD  Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) March 18, 2024

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In a display of strengthened ties between the party leadership and the London mayor, Sir Keir said he would be able to enact great change with my friend Sadiq if Labour were able to govern from both Downing Street and City Hall.

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Mr Khan has put housebuilding at the centre of his re-election pitch, opening his campaign with a pledge to build 40,000 new council homes by the end of the decade.

He touted the rare, precious prospect of Labour rule both nationally and in London, saying Sir Keirs victory at the general election would mean the capital could go from rowing against the tide of a Tory government to having the winds of a Labour government at our backs.

The pair have raised the possibility of a Labour administration in Westminster and in City Hall. Photo: Stefan Rousseau/PA.

In a speech at the launch in central London on Monday, he said: Theres been one constant  on abject failure on (the Conservative Governments) behalf to appreciate the gravity of this crisis.

We saw it when the last home secretary claimed homelessness is, quote, a lifestyle choice. We saw it last week when the latest housing minister said housing is never really the problem.

After years of a Tory Government trying to drag London backwards, a Labour government would be transformative, propelling us forwards and helping to accelerate delivery of the homes Londoners desperately need and deserve.
Detective Superintendent Craig Bellis heads the federal polices Taskforce Avarus, its joint-agency money laundering arm. In the past three years, Bellis has seen a significant increase  in the prevalence, the use and the continued expansion of cryptocurrencies involved in money laundering. In the 2022-23 financial year, the AFP seized more than $41 million in cryptocurrency, equalling 11.7 per cent of all its seizures. If you walk into a shop in the middle of the CBD that looks like a bank ... you feel confident when youre providing them with your money. Detective Superintendent Craig Bellis In one operation on February 1 last year, more than $29 million in cryptocurrency purchased with the proceeds of crime was uncovered across 13 Sydney-wide search warrants. The digital payments were discovered alongside 18 designer watches, 17 designer handbags, and at least 46 pieces of luxury jewellery  an insight into how elusive dirty currency feeds the affluent lives of crypto kings. The raids also discovered 20 illegally bought properties in Sydney, including two mansions worth a combined $19 million, and more than $1 million in luxury cars  all of which were seized.

These criminals were among the highest-ranking organised crime members in Australia, Bellis said. The AFP allege this group were at the centre of a whole range of varying, transnational, serious and organised crime. So by going overt on that group, and taking out that capability, the AFP had a direct impact on multiple criminal groups across this country at the very highest level. One of the 46 items of luxury jewellery seized in the police operation. Credit: AFP Detective Superintendent Amelia McDonald, the federal polices national superintendent for the Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce, explained the difficulties in seizing cryptocurrency compared to tangible assets. Historically, weve trained all of our detectives to have an investigative mindset; now, its having a digital mindset as well, she said.

So, with a warrant with police searching a house, its being able to upskill across the enterprise as to what the investigators should be looking for. The challenge with crypto will be the speed at which it can transfer. And in the absence of that being in our possession  it can dissipate very quickly. One police operation included the seizure of more than $29 million in cryptocurrency. Credit: AFP Research shows cryptocurrency is increasingly influencing the black market of drug importation. A 2023 Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre report outlined how law enforcement intercepted many packages containing MDMA and cocaine sent by post from Europe to an individual in Australia. They found he had registered an online account with a black market website and used the account to buy, import and sell illicit drugs using cryptocurrency. The offender was sentenced to three years and six months in jail. But Bellis said prosecuting these criminals is not easy. You cant get away from the fact that its ability to cross jurisdictions immediately is incredibly appealing to criminal groups, because they can transfer value both domestically and internationally at a moments notice, he said.

Also, its a store of value. If youve got $50 million in cash, its much harder to hide than on some sort of crypto device  a USB key  whatever it may be. So theres a number of reasons why and how theyre using it in this space. Loading As well as infiltrating the money laundering and drug market, everyday people were falling victim to crypto scams. Bellis explained offenders exploit both the formal and informal remittance sector. They operate under the nose of everyday Australians, he said. I think, if you walk into a shop in the middle of the Sydney CBD that looks like a bank, feels like a bank, has customer service, has all their Know Your Customer Regulations up on the walls, you feel confident when youre providing them with your money that its getting dealt with the way that it should be.

Even those looking for love can fall victim to digital deceit. Syndicates use dating sites, employment sites and messaging platforms to gain vulnerable victims trust before directing them to subscribe to a financial investment service that deals in cryptocurrency, which have been maliciously manipulated to show a false positive return on investments. They then manipulate the data to encourage further investment and hide the fact the money has been stolen. Asked if the AFP has the capability to trace the anonymous blockchains underpinning digital currency, McDonald said: We absolutely do. Without revealing specific methodology, McDonald said the force has the largest dedicated cryptocurrency capability for Australian law enforcement and works with state, territory and international police. We have detectives, financial investigators, we have forensic accountants, and the capability of these teams means that they can actually investigate, trace and ultimately help bring them before the courts to prosecute in support of an investigation, she said. While they have prosecuted more than a dozen criminals related to crypto-scams, they were all in the early stages of court processes, so conviction statistics were not available.

Despite the AFPs capabilities, there remain undeniable gaps in legislation. And when a case does make it to court, a lack of cryptocurrency literacy makes it difficult for juries to understand the intricacies of alleged crimes. A 2021 report by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission stated it would support legislation and policies that assist law enforcement agencies to combat crime in the digital domain, the same way they are empowered in the real world. Findings from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reveal Australians lost $221 million to crypto-related scams in 2022. It prompted Treasurer Jim Chalmers to announce plans to offer greater protection for consumers and review gaps in regulations. Australians are experiencing a digital revolution across all sectors of the economy, but regulation is struggling to keep pace and adapt with the crypto asset sector, Chalmers said at the time. Whether legislative change can come fast enough to prevent the financial suffering of many more Australians remains to be seen, though McDonald said the AFP was committed to continuing to upskill in the ever-evolving space.
Finks bikie boss Brent Reker had ruthless tattooed above his right eye. He was physically imposing, and prison staff feared him.

But the 35-year-old inmate had serious mental health issues, had self-harmed in front of staff members and was listed as being most at-risk if locked down in a cell.

The death in custody of Finks bikie boss Brent Reker is the subject of a coronial inquest. Credit: Facebook

In the hours before he was found dead in his prison cell in December 2019, Reker asked staff to give him time to collect some personal photos after learning he was being moved out of the Moroka unit at Ravenhall Correctional Centre, where he had made friends, and into a locked-down unit.

This was done, an inquest into his death was told, without a psychiatric assessment because Forensicare staff feared him. Forensicare provides mental health care in Victorian prisons.
A trial date has been set for Perth businessman Chris Marco, who is fending off 50 fraud charges brought by the corporate watchdog that he conned nine investors out of $36.5 million.

Marco fronted the WA Supreme Court on Monday, where he sat in the dock alongside his ex-assistant of five years, Linda Anne Marissen  who is defending some 34 charges of her own amid claims she aided in a Ponzi scheme.

Accused fraudster Chris Marco and lawyer John OConnor (right) arriving at the WA Supreme Court on Monday. Credit: Jesinta Burton

Senior counsel for the Crown Steven Whybrow, SC, told the court preliminary discussions among the parties indicated the trial could run for between six and eight weeks.

But Whybrow said that would hinge on how many of the key facts in the large-scale fraud case could be agreed upon, and the earliest that trial could take place was July 2025.
A premature cut to government funding 20 years ago could end up costing Australia $38 billion, with experts warning a national fire ant outbreak would slug the economy more than the combined earnings of the Tasmanian and Northern Territory economies.

The Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis at University of Melbourne told a Senate inquiry that fresh modelling shows that if the fire ant population spread across the country, it would cost nearly $38 billion over three decades  the equivalent of 2.8 per cent of GDP.

Fire ants could reside in every state and territory of Australia if left unchecked. Credit: iStock

Chief executive Andrew Robinson told the inquiry agriculture, tourism and native animals would suffer the most, but the cost to human health was not included in his analysis.

Fire ant bites typically cause a burning sensation that lasts up to an hour and, in the worst cases, can cause a fatal anaphylactic shock. An incursion was found in south-east Queensland in 2001, prompting ongoing eradication efforts. Outbreaks have been detected in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania in the past year.
On St. Patrick's Day, an active shooter killed one person in the bustling downtown area of Jacksonville Beach, according to police.

Around 8:00 p.m., according to Jacksonville Beach Police Department spokeswoman Tonya Tator, three individuals suffered injuries. The beach in Jacksonville is currently under lockdown.

"The suspects remain at large," she stated. The agency encourages people with knowledge of the incident to come forward. Officers evacuated the area while they gathered evidence and searched for the suspects. The exact number of suspects remains undisclosed.

Desperate revelers fled onto the sands in response to the sound of gunfire emanating from the promenade. While the suspects remain at large, the police have cordoned off an eight-block area and have closed the beachfront bar district in its entirety "until further notice."

Officers report that they are still investigating whether multiple offenders were involved. The incident occurred on the promenade adjacent to Jacksonville Beach Pier, near 2nd Ave N and 1st St N.

An intense police presence was captured on camera near the 2nd Avenue shore access and 1st Street. The JBPD verified one deceased and two victims in critical condition.

It was a shooting. Here is some eye witness video from FB pic.twitter.com/jNlkKB9Jhl  Jared BayBay (@Jayrod2009) March 18, 2024

Witnesses stated that they observed people fleeing and a victim needing CPR in the vicinity of Joe's Crab Shack. Christine Hofmann, the mayor of Jacksonville Beach, stated that she had come to offer her help to the officers. Several agencies were present at the location.

She stated that business owners showed courage during a hectic weekend that included St. Patrick's Day and The PLAYERS.

Sunday evening, shortly after 9:00 p.m., the Jacksonville Beach Police Department initially disclosed that they were responding to an active shooter situation in the downtown area.

The Department issued a directive for individuals in the vicinity to remain indoors until further notice shortly after 11 p.m. Officers reported that they were in the process of gathering suspect descriptions.

As the widely anticipated Spring Break vacation commences, law enforcement agencies throughout the entire state of Florida have been placed on heightened alert.

Governor Ron DeSantis announced earlier this month that seventeen law enforcement agencies had requested additional Florida Highway Patrol troopers to assist in patrolling their communities during spring break. In contrast, the Jacksonville Beach Police Department was not among them.

"Please call 904-270-1661 if you have any information that could be of assistance to us," read a post on the Jacksonville Beach Emergency Preparedness X account and the police Facebook page.

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
One of the Albanese governments most senior cabinet ministers has declared the United States is not Australias most trusted security partner, sparking opposition demands for an apology to the global superpower.

Trade Minister Don Farrell said he believed New Zealand was in fact Australias closest security ally when asked about the governments decision to reinstate funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) even though the Biden administration has not done so.

Trade Minister Don Farrell says he believes New Zealand is Australias closest international partner. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

I take issue with your first statement there. Im not sure the United States is our most trusted ally, Farrell said in a response to a question from Liberal senator Claire Chandler.

I would have said our closest international ally is New Zealand.
London: A day after Vladimir Putin claimed a record victory in presidential elections tightly controlled by the Kremlin, the Russian president marked his win and the 10th anniversary of his annexation of Crimea with an open-air concert in Moscows Red Square.

Putin, Russias longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, extended his quarter-century rule after winning 87.3 per cent of the vote with no serious challenger in the election that finished on Monday (AEDT).

Russian President Vladimir Putin is displayed on huge screens at a Red Square concert marking his election win and the 10-year anniversary of Crimea. Credit: AP

We will move on together, hand in hand, Putin told the crowd in Red Square, while referencing a rail link from Russia into Ukraine that would eventually extend to Crimea. This is precisely what really makes us stronger  not words, but deeds.

The three candidates who competed with him for the presidency were each brought onto the stage, where they spoke of their dedication to the motherland. Communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov finished second with just under 4 per cent, newcomer Vladislav Davankov third, and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky fourth, partial results suggested.
These latest estimates are another milestone towards the CSLR being able to meet compensation claims from the victims of financial misconduct, the CSLR board said. We are committed to a robust and rigorous process that allows us to make the best estimates based on the best information available.
'Flat-Out Lies': Sen. Van Hollen Accuses Netanyahu of Targeting UNRWA to Undermine Palestinian Statehood (Photo: Slowking4/Wikimedia Commons/DFI 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html))

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has vehemently denied allegations that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) collaborated with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, calling the accusations "flat-out lies." In an interview on CBS News's "Face the Nation," Van Hollen argued that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is using these claims to justify his long-standing goal of eliminating the U.N. agency.

The allegations against UNRWA surfaced earlier this year when Israel claimed that 12 of the agency's employees were involved in Hamas's deadly October 7 attack on southern Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of more than 240 hostages. Despite the lack of substantial evidence to support these claims, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that "serious action" was taken, including the termination of the alleged members' contracts.

Van Hollen, however, maintains that the accusations are baseless, pointing out that the person in charge of UNRWA's operations on the ground in Gaza is a 20-year U.S. Army veteran. "You can be sure he's not in cahoots with Hamas," the senator asserted. He further suggested that Netanyahu's opposition to UNRWA stems from his desire to undermine the Palestinian people's hopes for a homeland of their own and his opposition to a two-state solution.

The allegations against UNRWA have led several nations, including the United States, to pause their funding to the agency. Republicans in Congress have intensified calls to block further funding, while Democrats have acknowledged the severity of the accusations while emphasizing that they apply to a small fraction of UNRWA's 30,000-plus employees.

Van Hollen warned of the dire consequences of cutting UNRWA funding in Gaza, which has been devastated by Israel's bombardment following the October 7 attacks. "If you get rid of UNRWA in Gaza today, it is the primary distribution system for food and aid," he said. "So if you cut off funding for UNRWA and Gaza entirely, it means more people will starve, more people won't get the medical assistance they need."

The senator also called for a thorough investigation into the allegations against the 14 UNRWA employees accused of involvement in the Hamas attack, stressing the importance of holding those individuals accountable. However, he cautioned against punishing the 2 million innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza who are already suffering from starvation and hardship.

Last week, Van Hollen joined a group of senators in demanding that President Biden comply with the Foreign Assistance Act and cut off military aid to Israel if Netanyahu's government continues to block humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The senators argue that Section 620I of the act requires the administration to halt the sale and transfer of weapons to Israel under such circumstances.

As the debate over UNRWA's role and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues, the international community faces the challenge of addressing the immediate needs of the Palestinian people while navigating the complex political landscape of the region. The outcome of this ongoing discussion will likely have significant implications for the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the prospects for a lasting peace in the Middle East.
Jaremy Smith , Suspect in New Mexico State Police Officer's Fatal Shooting Captured After Manhunt (Photo: New Mexico State Police)

The suspect in the fatal shooting of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare has been taken into custody following a two-day manhunt. Jaremy Smith, 33, of Marion, South Carolina, was captured on Sunday after a foot pursuit and officer-involved shooting with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office in Albuquerque, according to authorities.

Sheriff John Allen announced at a news conference that a gas station clerk in southwestern Albuquerque reported seeing a man matching Smith's description, leading to his capture. "A foot pursuit ensued," Allen said. "Shots were fired. Some shots strike Smith, we don't know the amount right now or how many, that's still under investigation. But Smith was then taken into custody without further incident."

The arrest comes two days after Officer Hare, 35, was shot and killed while responding to assist Smith with a flat tire along Interstate 40 on Friday morning. According to State Police Chief Troy Weisler, Smith exited his white BMW and approached Hare's patrol car on the passenger side. "A short conversation ensued about repairing his tire when, without warning, Smith pulled out a firearm and shot Officer Hare," state police said in a statement.

Smith then allegedly walked to the driver's side of the patrol vehicle, shot Hare again, and pushed him into the passenger seat before driving away in the officer's vehicle. When Hare failed to respond to calls from dispatch, another officer was sent to assist and eventually caught up with the stolen patrol car, which had crashed. Smith was believed to have fled on foot, while Hare was found nearby and transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The investigation took a tragic turn when authorities discovered that the white BMW driven by Smith belonged to Phonesia Machado-Fore, 52, a paramedic from Marion County, South Carolina, who had been reported missing by her family on Thursday evening. Machado-Fore's body was found on Friday outside of Lake View in neighboring Dillon County.

New Mexico State Police had informed the Marion County Sheriff's Office that Machado-Fore's vehicle was involved in the fatal shooting of Officer Hare. "Federal, state, and local authorities worked across the country in an attempt to identify the driver as well as find Mrs. Machado-Fore," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Before his arrest, state police revealed that Smith had an "extensive criminal history" in South Carolina, including armed robbery, auto theft, and evading officers, among other crimes. The investigation into the relationship between Smith, Machado-Fore's death, and Officer Hare's murder is ongoing.

State Police Chief Weisler expressed gratitude that no deputies were injured during Smith's capture on Sunday, and stated that the focus in the coming days would be on determining whether anyone assisted the suspect. Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace vowed to "not stop until we bring the person or persons responsible for [Machado-Fore's] death to justice."

The loss of Officer Hare, a father of two who graduated from the police recruit school in 2018, has deeply affected the law enforcement community and the public. "On a cold, dark and windy morning, he offered help to a person he thought was in need," Weisler said. "That person killed him in cold blood. The last words Officer Hare uttered on this earth was to offer help to a man who was about to kill him."

As the investigation continues, authorities are working to piece together the events that led to the tragic deaths of Officer Hare and Phonesia Machado-Fore, while ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice.
Three people were killed, and an infant is in critical condition after a white Mercedes SUV slammed into a bus shelter in San Francisco over the weekend.

Police said that two of the victims, including a child, died at the scene on Saturday afternoon in the city's West Portal neighborhood. Three other people, including the driver of the car involved in the incident, were injured and taken to hospitals for treatment.

Meanwhile, a third fatality was recorded after a woman later died at a hospital.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, an infant has been taken to hospital for life-threatening injuries.

Read Also: Indiana Mom On The Run After 5-Year-Old Son's Body Found in Suitcase Arrested in California

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said on Saturday that it and the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) would investigate the cause of the crash.

"We do not believe that traffic engineering was a factor in this case," an SFPD spokesperson told SFGATE via email.

Meanwhile, San Francisco Mayor London Breed said on X, formerly Twitter, that she had visited the scene of the collision on Saturday and called the incident "heartbreaking."

In response, residents left flowers at a makeshift memorial where the crash occurred, the Chronicle reported. The advocacy group Walk San Francisco also planned to do a vigil on Monday evening (Mar. 18) at the site.

Related Article: BREAKING NEWS: Active Shooter Reported in Jacksonville Beach, 2 People Shot

@ 2024 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has showed no willingness to abandon his nuclear weapons tests. (Photo: KCNA/via REUTERS/file photo)

North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Monday, just days after the United States concluded joint military drills with South Korea, which Pyongyang considers provocative. The missile tests also coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Seoul for a multinational democracy summit, further heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

According to Japan's Defense Ministry, at least three missiles were fired, each traveling approximately 350 kilometers before landing in waters outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the missile launches, with the Yonhap News Agency reporting that the North had launched the missiles from North Hwanghae Province.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan strongly condemned the North's latest actions, stating, "This series of North Korean actions threatens the peace and security of our region and the international community and must not be tolerated." Kishida added that Japan was working closely with the United States and South Korea to analyze the launches and monitor the possibility of further provocations, including additional satellite launches.

South Korea's military identified the missiles as similar to the KN-24, a short-range ballistic missile with an estimated range of 410 kilometers, which is believed to have been exported to Russia and used on the battlefield in Ukraine. The South Korean Presidential Office stated that Secretary Blinken had reassured Seoul of the United States' commitment to defending its ally, emphasizing the policy of "extended deterrence" and the use of the full range of U.S. military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, to ensure peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The missile launches come amid increased military activity by North Korea, with leader Kim Jong Un recently observing paratrooper drills and personally operating a new battle tank. These exercises follow large-scale joint U.S.-South Korean military drills that concluded last week.

Pyongyang has conducted numerous weapons tests this year, including launches of new strategic cruise missiles and submarine-launched weapons designed to carry small nuclear bombs. Kim has also escalated his rhetoric against the South, labeling Seoul as Pyongyang's "primary enemy" and threatening to enshrine in his country's constitution a goal of "completely occupying, subjugating and reclaiming" its southern neighbor.

Experts believe that Kim's regime has taken more aggressive steps in response to the shift in rhetoric, with missile launches now being described as "combat readiness drills" rather than mere tests. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, commented on the timing of the latest launches, stating, "Strikingly, while South Korea conducted defense training last week alongside international partners, Kim Jong Un personally supervised several military exercises, and now while Seoul hosts a summit of democracies, North Korea fires more missiles."

Easley added that the Kim regime's actions aim to demonstrate strength to its domestic audience, suggest costs on the Korean Peninsula for Seoul's international security cooperation, and warn Washington against increasing pressure on Pyongyang.

The United States has condemned the missile launches and called on North Korea to refrain from further destabilizing acts. A State Department spokesperson emphasized that despite the provocations, the U.S. remains committed to a diplomatic approach in dealing with the North and urged Pyongyang to engage in dialogue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses during the inauguration, dedication and foundation stone laying of various projects, in Ahmedabad (PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday will address a public meeting at Shivamogga, the home turf of former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

This will be his second such meeting in Karnataka since the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates. The first was on Saturday at Kalaburagi, the home turf of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

BJP is expecting a huge turnout at the Allama Prabhu ground (Freedom Park) for the meet in the home district of Yediyurappa, who is a member of the party's all important Parliamentary board.

Yediyurappa's elder son B Y Raghavendra is the BJP candidate for the Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, where former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa has announced he will contest as an independent candidate as he is upset over the denial of ticket to his son K E Kantesh to contest from Haveri LS constituency.

Eshwarappa has even announced that he will skip Modi's public meeting. The disgruntled leader had earlier stated that the Prime Minister "resides in his heart".

BJP state chief B Y Vijayendra, who is Yediyurappa's second son and Shikaripura MLA, visited Allama Prabhu ground along with senior party functionaries to supervise the preparations and gave necessary directions to ensure that the meeting goes smoothly. The saffron party is aiming to better its 2019 performance, where it won 25 of the 28 seats, in 2024 as well.

In 2019, Congress and JD(S) had won one seat each, while a BJP-backed independent Sumalatha Ambareesh had clinched one. Party leaders have expressed confidence that the BJP would win all 28 seats in Karnataka this time.
National Cooperative Export Ltd (NCEL), the government's export agency, has announced plans to purchase 1,650 tonnes of onions from private traders at Rs 29/kg for export to Bangladesh, according to a report by The Economic Times (ET). This move marks the first official export of onions from India in over three months, following the government's ban on exports from December 8 to March 31.

In the first week of March, the Centre permitted the export of 64,400 tonnes of onions to countries that had made formal requests through diplomatic channels. Of this quota, 50,000 tonnes were allocated to Bangladesh, with the remaining 14,400 tonnes going to the UAE.

India's export restrictions on onions were implemented to address surging domestic prices, which had led to concerns about affordability and availability. The ban also contributed to a spike in international prices due to reduced global supply, particularly during the peak demand period associated with Ramadan in traditional markets like Bangladesh, West Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Onion exporters highlighted the prevalence of smuggling activities, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the trade volume during normal conditions since the imposition of the export ban.

Currently, wholesale onion prices in Maharashtra's Nashik district range from Rs 7/kg to Rs 16/kg. Prices are expected to decline further with the ongoing arrival of fresh rabi harvest.

While the exact selling price of onions to Bangladesh by NCEL remains undisclosed, the ET report predicts substantial profits for the export agency, with onions currently priced at Rs 80-90/kg in the Bangladeshi market.

India typically dominates the global onion market between the months of January to March. This year, however, the arrival of new crops from Egypt and Turkey in May is expected to alleviate global shortages.

Between April 1, 2023, and August 4, 2023, a total of 975,000 tonnes of onions were exported from India, with Bangladesh, Malaysia, and the UAE emerging as the top importing countries in terms of value.

The Indian government initially imposed restrictions on onions in October 2023 by implementing a minimum export price (MEP) of $800 per tonne until December 31, 2023. Additionally, a 40 per cent export duty was imposed on onions until the same date.
The apex court also refused to entertain another application seeking disclosure of the details of electoral bonds sold from March 1, 2018, to April 11, 2019.

Not ordering disclosure of details of electoral bonds prior to April 12, 2019 was a "conscious choice" by the Constitution bench, the Supreme Court said on Monday while refusing to entertain the submissions of ASSOCHAM and CII against the disclosure of bond details on the ground of their plea not being listed.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud referred to the April 2019 interim order passed by the apex court in the case.

On April 12, 2019, the top court had issued an interim order directing that the information about the donations received and donations which will be received must be submitted by political parties to the EC in a sealed cover.

On Monday, the bench refused a hearing on unlisted pleas of industry bodies, Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) against the disclosure of bond details.

When senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for ASSOCHAM and CII, referred to the applications filed by the industry bodies, the CJI said, "We have no such application on board."



Rohatgi said how the details can be asked to be divulged now when the electoral bonds scheme had introduced anonymous financial contributions to political parties.

"With effect from April 12, 2019, we had directed the collection of details. Everyone was put to notice at that time. This is why we did not ask for disclosure of bonds sold prior to the interim order. This was a conscious choice by the Constitution bench," Justice Chandrachud said.

ALSO READ: Industry bodies ask SC to defer release of electoral bond numbers

The industry bodies were well aware of the ongoing proceedings in the electoral bonds case, the bench, also comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said and asked Rohatgi as to why they chose not to approach it earlier.

Justice Gavai said now such unlisted applications cannot be taken up for hearing.

Echoing his views, the CJI said if such an unlisted application is allowed to be taken up, then how can the bench deny same relief to other lawyers.

The apex court told the State Bank of India to make "complete disclosure" of all details related to the electoral bonds scheme by March 21.

It said the details to be disclosed include the unique bond numbers that would reveal the link between the buyers and the recipient political parties.

The bench said there is "no manner of doubt that the SBI is required to make complete disclosure of all the details" which are in its possession.

It said the Election Commission shall forthwith upload on its website the details received from the SBI.

The apex court also refused to entertain another application seeking disclosure of the details of electoral bonds sold from March 1, 2018, to April 11, 2019.

In a landmark verdict on February 15, a five-judge Constitution bench had done away with the scheme, calling it "unconstitutional", and ordered disclosure by the Election Commission of donors, the amount donated by them and the recipients by March 13.

Last Friday, the apex court had admonished SBI for furnishing incomplete information and issued a notice to the bank to explain the reasons for the non-disclosure of unique alphanumeric numbers.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the order of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker disqualifying six Congress rebels, who had cross-voted in the recent Rajya Sabha polls in the state.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta issued notice to the office of HP Assembly speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania and sought its response to the plea in four weeks.

The bench said that pending adjudication of their plea, rebel HP Congress MLAs will not be allowed to vote or participate in the proceedings of the Assembly.

"On the question of by-election on six vacant seats, we will have to examine whether the elections which have been notified by the ECI are to be stayed during the pendency of plea," the bench said.

It posted the matter for listing on May 6 and gave the rebel MLAs a week to file their rejoinder.

The filing of nominations for six vacant assembly seats starts on May 7.

The six rebels -- Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma and Devinder Kumar Bhutto -- were disqualified on February 29, for defying a Congress whip to be present in the House and vote in favour of the Himachal Pradesh government during the cut motion and budget.

Following the disqualification of the rebels, the House's effective strength has gone down to 62 from 68, while the number of Congress MLAs has shrunk to 34 from 40.
Land is getting hard to find in a sprawling industrial park in southern India where workers are scrambling to build modern new warehouses and factories for companies betting on the country's economic boom or diversifying their supply chains beyond China.

"It is one of the most wanted places in India for European and American companies," said S. Raghuraman, an official of the Greenbase industrial park, near plants run by Apple supplier Foxconn and truckmaker Daimler.

Inquiries for leasing space in the park, run by Blackstone and real estate tycoon Niranjan Hiranandani, have gone through the roof, he added.

"We are in talks with at least three clients looking to shift their base from China."

To meet the burgeoning demand, Greenbase aims to invest $800 million to quadruple its industrial park space to 20 million sq ft (1.9 million sq m), a target it revealed for the first time.

That is just the latest sign of a rush for leased warehouse space that peaked in the last quarter of 2023 at its highest in two years, says real estate firm Colliers, as India's economic growth of more than 8 per cent outstrips advanced nations.

Businesses in India have traditionally relied on dingy, stuffy low-rise sheds known as godowns for their storage needs, but these are unsuited to the needs of foreign industrial giants whose investment Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to lure.

So developers such as Greenbase are scouting for land nationwide, grappling with thorny acquisition issues, as they line up millions of dollars in new investment.

Prime targets are firms looking to expand manufacturing facilities beyond China as tension with the United States and other countries takes off some of its shine.

Companies in the booming e-commerce and manufacturing industries also see India as a hub for exports while looking to boost sales to industries and domestic consumers amid a population of 1.4 billion.

"We thought this is the right moment to enter India as there is a huge potential runway for growth over the next 15 to 20 years," said Sandeep Chanda, the India managing director of one of the world's biggest developers, U.S.-based Panattoni.

One lure has been spanking new facilities, from ports to highways, added in an $808-billion infrastructure splurge over the last seven years, boosting connectivity and putting the spotlight on previously overlooked plots of land.

In a 100-million-euro ($109-million) plan, Panattoni is building its first warehouse complex near the capital, New Delhi, playing up its access to expressways and a rail freight corridor.

It plans to strike land deals for four more parks within a year. And Chanda sees room to grow, saying India leases just 45 million sq ft (4 million sq m) of new warehouses a year, a fraction of the 200 million sq ft (19 million sq m) in China.

Avendus Capital estimates China has three times more than India's 412 million sq ft (38 million sq m) of the "Grade A" warehouses, fitted with automated storage and retrieval systems, that industries from e-commerce to engineering favour.

By comparison, Blackstone says the United States has 13 billion square feet (1.2 billion sq m) of warehousing stock.

CHINA ALTERNATIVE

Colliers says the 7.7 million square ft (715,000 sq. m.) of warehouse space leased in the last quarter of 2023 in the top five Indian cities it tracks was the highest in the last two years.

During that period, the supply of "Grade A" warehouses rose 336 per cent in Tamil Nadu's capital of Chennai, near the Greenbase park, for the highest growth among the five cities and outperforming the group's average of 55 per cent.

Colliers expects automobile, engineering, retail and e-commerce companies to drive further growth.

Danish wind turbine maker Vestas just added 20 per cent more space to its assembly and warehouse operations at Greenbase, said Raghuraman, adding that though China is the firm's main hub, "They want to make India an alternative."

Vestas "continuously matures and evolves our global supply chain network and manufacturing footprint," it said.

Prologis, the world's largest warehouse owner, has returned to India after ending an initial foray in 2007, when it found the market "too challenging".

Now the company is focusing on "high-growth, high-consumption" areas, said Joseph Ghazal, its chief investment officer. "India has seen strong economic growth, and we believe there is a high level of demand."

While developers zero in on big cities and warehouses, Bahrain-based Investcorp is taking the opposite tack by betting on smaller warehouses, said Gaurav Sharma, its India investment head.

Investcorp plans to raise about $120 million for a fund to partner with developers and build up to eight warehouses in India, a strategy that Reuters is the first to report.

But developers often find they first have to resolve complex land issues.

India's infrastructure drive fuels high demand for land, leaving few plots in good locations, so that surging prices hit developers' returns as rentals fall behind, executives said.

Real estate consultants CBRE say land prices around the Greenbase park rose a fifth in 2023 to $3.6 million for 10 acres (4 hectares), or an area half the size of Buckingham Palace, with increases of more than 50 per cent for some plots near New Delhi.

Sometimes a single piece of land can have as many as 50 owners.

Panattoni needed eight months to complete acquisition formalities for its complex near the capital.

"Land takes its own sweet time," Chanda said, referring to the period spent untangling ownership concerns.
A strong foundation for a 'Viksit Bharat' or developed India has been laid under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP leader and party's Sirsa Lok Sabha candidate Ashok Tanwar said.

Tanwar, who quit the Aam Aadmi Party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party two months ago, said it is "Modi ji's guarantee" that India will soon become the world's third largest and reach the top spot in the years to come.

He said the people of the country want to give a third term to Modi as the prime minister and the people of Haryana also want to contribute by giving all the 10 seats to the BJP like they did in the 2019 parliamentary election.

Tanwar had quit the Congress in 2019 and joined the AAP in 2022. In between, he had floated his own party and even joined the Trinamool Congress for a brief period.

The BJP has fielded Tanwar from the Sirsa Lok Sabha seat from where he is a former MP. The seat is presently represented by BJP's Sunita Duggal.

Tanwar said a strong foundation for a 'Viksit Bharat' has been laid under Prime Minister Modi's leadership.

During the past 10 years, the country has witnessed development at a fast pace in various fields, Tanwar told PTI.

The NDA government at the Centre and the BJP-led government in Haryana took several steps to empower various sections, including women, he said.

So many projects of public welfare, especially benefitting the poor, weaker sections and farmers, have been undertaken by both governments, he said.

There is a lot of thrust on infrastructure development which helps accelerate growth and generate employment as well, he said.

Training guns on the Congress in Haryana, Tanwar said, "The opposition is running away from a contest. They know whosoever enters the fray will lose badly. We are confident that Haryana will once again contribute all the 10 seats to achieve the target of 400 plus seats for the NDA".

On the Congress' claims that no development took place in Haryana during the nine-and-half-year rule of the BJP-led government, Tanwar said had that been the case, the people would not have kept Congress out of power for a long period.

Asked if he was expecting a BJP ticket before leaving the AAP, Tanwar said he had joined the saffron party "unconditionally".

Tanwar said as a disciplined soldier of the party, he was ready to accept any responsibility entrusted to him by the BJP.

"This party is karyakarta-centric party, a cadre-based party and doesn't believe in 'parivarvaad'," he said.

"This is a party which does not stick to one family or one person. In this party, disciplined soldiers are prepared and later they are given various responsibilities," he said.

Tanwar said, "Not even once did the party let me feel that I was a newcomer. Right from the top leadership, everyone has been supportive. The chain of command is clear here -- work collectively and achieve the target."



Polling in Haryana's 10 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the sixth phase of the seven-phase elections on May 25. Assembly polls in the state are due later this year.
Iraq will reduce its crude exports to 3.3 million barrels a day (bpd) in the coming months to compensate for exceeding its OPEC+ quota since January, the oil ministry said on Monday, a pledge that would cut shipments by 130,000 bpd from last month.

OPEC's second-largest producer Iraq pumped significantly more in January and February than an output target established in January when several members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies (OPEC+), including Iraq, agreed to support the oil market.



OPEC+, whose de facto leader is Saudi Arabia, has highlighted the importance of compliance with the pledged cuts even as oil prices have rallied this year. Brent crude on Monday traded above $86 a barrel, the highest since November.



Iraq's oil ministry said in a statement on Monday it was committed to voluntary cuts agreed with OPEC+, which limit it to producing 4 million bpd.



Initially in place for the first quarter, the voluntary cuts have since been extended to the end of June.



Secondary sources, which provide data on OPEC+ production, reported Iraq's output at 4.2 million bpd in February.



Of this, Iraq exported an average 3.43 million bpd in February, the oil ministry said earlier this month, meaning Monday's pledge amounts to a cut of 130,000 bpd from last month's rate.



Iraq said in February it would review its production and address any excess output above its OPEC+ cuts.



That statement followed a visit to Iraq by Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, during which Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani told him it was important for the two countries to align their views to maintain stability in the oil market.



The OPEC+ voluntary cuts in place until June are the latest in a series of curbs by the group since late 2022 to support the market in the face of expectations weak economic growth will limit oil demand when supply is rising from producers beyond OPEC+.
British Council

News Summary

British Council, the UKs international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, announced the winners of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2023-24 in India. The alumni of UK universities were recognised for their outstanding achievements as business professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, and for their contribution to strengthening ties between the UK and India.
A missile was launched by North Korea into the Sea of Japan on Monday morning, following recent military exercises conducted by the US and its southern neighbor, which North Korea considers to be provocative.

According to Japan's Defense Ministry, North Korea launched a total of three missiles. The first two were fired simultaneously at 7:44 a.m., followed by the third missile approximately 37 minutes later.

Japan Confirms North Korea's Latest Missile Tests

In a parliamentary session, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida informed that the North Korean missiles landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone. Fortunately, no damage or injuries have been reported.

During a conference in Seoul, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken witnessed North Korea's recent missile testing activities, marking their first known launches in about a month.

Experts had previously anticipated that North Korea would continue conducting missile tests and escalate its aggressive rhetoric leading up to the US presidential election in November, to strengthen its position in future diplomatic negotiations.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff in South Korea have confirmed the occurrence of a missile launch. However, they have not provided any further information regarding the distance covered by the weapon. According to a report from South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, it was revealed that the North had fired additional short-range ballistic missiles from North Hwanghae Province.

On Sunday, North Korea conducted missile tests, which were the first ones since it launched cruise missiles in mid-February.

Amidst the South Korea-US military drills that concluded on Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a range of military training exercises, which included tanks, artillery guns, and paratroopers.

However, the North refrained from conducting any missile tests while its rivals were engaged in training. The Korean Peninsula continues to experience heightened tensions following a series of missile tests conducted by North Korea since 2022.

Several tests were conducted using missiles with nuclear capabilities, specifically intended for targeting South Korea and the mainland US. The US and South Korean forces have taken steps to enhance their training exercises.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Wins Russia's Election in Landslide, Extending One-Man Rule

Summit for Democracy

Over the weekend, the South Korean military conducted exercises involving marines, attack helicopters, and amphibious assault vehicles. The drills were designed to increase troop presence and strengthen western islands near the sea border with North Korea. In 2010, the islands were subjected to shelling.

Blinken is one of the senior officials from various countries who will be attending the Summit for Democracy conference, set to commence on Monday. In addition, he is scheduled to have a meeting with the foreign minister of South Korea, Cho Tae-yul.

The summit is an attempt led by US President Joe Biden to address the pressing issue of democratic backsliding and the erosion of rights and freedoms on a global scale.

During its most recent ballistic launch on January 14, North Korea successfully tested a new booster engine and a maneuverable warhead by firing what it claimed to be an intermediate-range hypersonic missile powered by solid fuel. One month later, a series of cruise missiles were launched off the country's east coast, with claims of a new anti-ship missile being among them, Reuters reported.

Related Article: Kim Jong Un Overseeing Air Warfare Drills, Calls for 'Realistic' Combat Preparation

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World-leading flat-panel satellite antenna company, Kymeta (www.kymetacorp.com), announced today at SATELLITE 2024 that the Osprey u8 HGL, a hybrid geostationary/low Earth orbit (GEO/LEO/LTE) terminal purpose-built for military users, is shipping out of their facility in Woodinville, Washington. This marks the first commercially available multi-orbit terminal and the first multi-orbit terminal on Eutelsat OneWebs LEO network. Kymeta announced the official launch in October last year and is fulfilling a backlog of orders.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318848741/en/

Kymeta - The Future of Military SATCOM is now. On the move GEO-LEO-LTE from one single terminal - Osprey u8 HGL (Graphic: Business Wire)

In February, the Kymeta team demonstrated in the field the capabilities of the new Osprey u8 HGL delivering resilient, auto-PACE ready communications for the armed forces to meet the demands of challenging and rugged military environments. The multi-orbit, multi-network capabilities of the Osprey u8 HGL terminal will offer even greater availability, while being durable, low power consuming, having low visibility, and easy to use.

The Osprey u8 HGL includes a field swappable modem cartridge and a OneWeb modem to enable connectivity with the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO network. At launch an iDirect 950mp cartridge is available enabling TRANSEC services over GEO. Other cartridge configurations will be available soon enabling end users to customize their terminal configuration based on their mission needs.

Initial feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with one military member stating: This is everything weve been looking for in a terminal, form function and features. The LEO to GEO switching far exceeded our expectations. Its amazing that Kymeta is already delivering on the communitys urgent need for multi-orbit SATCOM.

Others in attendance at Army field demonstrations commented, I cannot wait to get started with these! and Wow! It tracks satellites over some very difficult terrain.

The Kymeta Osprey HGL has a unique capability to address government requirements in support of government PACE plans, said Ian Canning, Chief Operating Officer, OneWeb Technologies. The Osprey supports multi-network/orbit requirements through the concurrent LTE/satellite configuration with the added benefit of now being able to add OneWeb LEO capabilities.

Jon Osler, Senior Vice President Global Sales and Services of Kymeta, commented: In the contemporary military landscape, mobile connectivity has become indispensable for achieving success. Unlike any other sector, the military relies heavily on dependable, adaptable, and resilient on-the-go communication systems to fulfill its operational and training needs. We take pride in our longstanding partnership with the military, delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet and exceed expectations.

This milestone further establishes Kymeta as the leader in the multi-X revolution. Attendees of SATELLITE 2024 in Washington, DC, March 18 20 are encouraged to visit Kymetas meeting room 156 to see the Osprey u8 HGL in person and to speak with a member of the Kymeta team.

About Kymeta

Kymeta is the industry leader in flat panel satellite antennas, providing purpose-built solutions across a variety of enterprise and military applications and unlocking the commercial value of space to address the vast, unmet demand for ubiquitous broadband and truly mobile connectivity for customers around the world. Its innovative metasurface technology, coupled with a software-first approach, delivers the first commercially available, metamaterial-based and electronically steered flat panel satellite antenna. Kymetas low-cost, low power and high throughput solutions make it easy to connect on the move or while stationary  for any vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or fixed platform  enabling industries on earth to transform their operations by harnessing capacity in space.

Kymeta is a privately held company based in Redmond, Washington.

For more information, visit kymetacorp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318848741/en/
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March 18, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Canada remains a steadfast and strategic partner in advancing shared priorities with southern African countries. Last week, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, concluded his visit to the region with high-level engagements in Madagascar and Mozambique. In Mozambique, he announced $65.8 million in funding for international development projects to support country-led strategies and solutions.

Minister Hussen began his trip in Madagascar, where he met with participants in Generation Unlimited, a UNICEF initiative supported by Canada aimed at building green skills for youth employment while creating mentorship and internships.

The Minister visited Malagasy program partners of Trade Facilitation Office Canada and participated in a meaningful session with women leaders representing small and medium-sized enterprises during which he highlighted the impactful roles women play in driving economic development and fostering entrepreneurship in the region.

He also met with government leaders, including Prime Minister Christian Ntsay; Rafaravavitafika Rasata, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Max Fontaine, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development; Herindrainy Olivier Rakotomalala, Minister of Mines; Manambahoaka Valery Fitzgerald Ramonjavelo, Minister of Transport and Meteorology; Lalatiana Rakotondrazafy, Minister of Technical Education and Vocational Training, and representatives of organizations and partners, including Issa Sanogo, UN Resident Coordinator; Atou Seck, the World Banks Country Manager for Madagascar; Claire A. Pierangelo, the Ambassador to Madagascar and the Comoros; and Isabelle Delattre Burger, the EUs Ambassador and Head of the Delegation to Madagascar and the Comoros.

These discussions covered a range of topics, including development cooperation, climate actions, the International Organization of La Francophonie, trade, youth employment and mining cooperation.

The Minister concluded his trip in Mozambique, where he met with Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss areas of Canada-Mozambique collaboration, including Canadas support of Mozambiques national peace process and the implementation of the Maputo Accord for Peace and National Reconciliation. He also met with Armindo Tiago, Minister of Health; Manuel Jose Goncalves, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Carla Louveira, Vice Minister of Economy and Finance; Edson Macuacua, Vice Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education; Manuel Bazo, Vice Minister of Education and Human Development; and Paulo Beirao, the Ministry of Gender and Social Actions Permanent Secretary. Minister Hussen also met with Solomon Quaynor, the African Development Banks Vice-President, Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization, and Cesar Abogo, the banks Country Director, discussing the banks priorities in the region and economic development partnerships. Finally, the Minister met with Catherine Sozi, the UNs Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, to discuss the complex crisis in northern Mozambique, the impacts of climate change and opportunities for collective action on gender-based violence.

In recognition of how Canadian investment in Mozambique addresses local needs and supports the African Union agenda, including the African Unions 2024 Year of Education, the Minister visited the Chibututuine Teacher Training Institute and a nearby model primary school to observe the positive impact of quality teacher training on basic education. The project is implemented by CODE, a Canadian NGO, in partnership with the Associacao Progresso [progress association], a Mozambican NGO.

During the visit, Minister Hussen engaged with Graca Machel, an influential African elder, activist and former first lady of both Mozambique and South Africa. They discussed the importance of Mozambican civil society organizations leadership in tackling gender-based violence, advancing education and vocational training and ending child marriage.

At the conclusion of his visit, the Minister delivered remarks reaffirming Canadas commitment to gender equality and womens empowerment at the Invest in Women conference, an event recognizing Mozambiques Womens Month. The event was held in collaboration with the Foundation for Community Development, a Mozambican NGO founded by Ms. Machel.

While visiting Mozambique, the Minister announced $65.8 million in new development funding assistance for 6 projects in Mozambique. The funding will support projects, described below, in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights, mental health and education for women and girls.
(Photo : NY Enviornmental Conservation Police)

Tony Cavallaro, the owner of Albert, the 740-pound alligator removed from his home by New York State officials, said he will fight to have his "pet" returned.

Officials recently seized a New York man's 11-foot, 750-pound pet alligator, which he allegedly kept illegally and let people pet in a pool.

It happened last week in the Erie County town of Hamburg.

State Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECO) say they learned the owner of the home, identified as Tony Cavallaro, had built an addition to his house and installed an in-ground swimming pool to keep the roughly 30-year-old alligator named Albert.

They also claim he allowed members of the public to get into the water to pet the alligator.

Authorities say he used to have a license for the alligator, but the license expired in 2021 and was not renewed. Cavallaro, however, says he had renewed his permit for years until rules surrounding it changed two years ago and officials ignored his requests to answer questions about the changes.

"I took care of him better than most people take care of their kids," Cavallaro said, according to an online petition to reunite the pair.

ECOs, Hamburg Police and the Erie County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said they took Albert away from the home "in the interest of public safety and the health, safety, and protection of the alligator."

Albert has numerous health-related issues, including blindness in both eyes and spinal complications, officials said.

Authorities turned Albert over to a licensed caretaker who will house and care for the alligator until he can be properly transported for permanent care.

They are still looking at evidence to decide if Cavallaro should face charges.

In the interim, Cavallaro asked neighbors to support him in court so he could get Albert back.

"I am very upset and angry about this whole incident," he wrote in the petition.

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Fans of British mobility brands will have a new reason to celebrate as Mutt Motorcycles is set to open a new location in Metro Manila. The B...
Chinese state broadcaster China Media Group recently aired the countrys first animated series produced using generative AI models in all production areas.

Titled Qianqiu Shisong, the series includes 26 seven-minute episodes and features animated retellings of traditional Chinese poems and verses. The show was produced using China Medias CMG Media GPT, a machine-learning model co-developed by the network and the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (SAIL).

The series launch coincided with a ribbon-cutting for CMG and SAILs new AI studio, which the broadcaster plans to use to boost research and development for future programs.

At the launch of the facility, SAIL researcher Wang Yanfeng said:

Facing the countrys major needs, CMG has applied novel AI technology to develop new productive forces. We started the project six months ago, and CMG produced the animated series presented to you today using its massive database and adopting the text-to-video AI technology.

CMG Media GPT was trained using traditional Chinese poetry and large amounts of video and audio materials from China Medias catalog. SAIL says the model can create images and scenes in a traditional Chinese ink-wash style that features historically accurate architectural designs and clothing details.

In a release, SAIL explained:

The CMG Media GPT provides animation producers with a low-cost and efficient concept-design tool for character and scene designs.

According to the lab, artificial intelligence was used in every stage of the development and production processes, from design to video generation and post-production. SAIL says its model can drastically cut down on the production time and cost of animation production.

In a WeChat post, the deputy head of the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party and head of the China Media Group, Shen Haixiong, elaborated on the broadcasters intentions to fully embrace artificial intelligence technology, writing:
Southern African transitions

ICR Research By

Published 18 March 2024

The cement markets of southern Africa have been gradually transitioning into more competitive areas with new investments. ICR reviews the young markets of Angola and Zambia as well as the more established market of South Africa.

While Angola, South Africa and Zambia all witnessed a post-pandemic economic recovery, 2023 provided each country with its own set of opportunities and challenges.

In Angola higher oil prices and output coupled with broad-based growth in the non-oil sector enabled the domestic economy to see a pick-up in GDP growth to three per cent in 2022, extending gains made since the pandemic, according to the IMF. As a result, the country has been able to significantly reduce its government gross debt from 86.8 per cent of GDP in 2021 to 66.7 per cent in 2022. However, 2023 proved more challenging in terms of economic growth and reducing government debt with GDP growth slowing to 1.3 per cent and government gross debt increasing again to 84.8 per cent of GDP. Downside risks to the economy include a larger-than-expected drop in global oil prices, a return to global food pressures and adverse weather affecting agriculture.

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Misr Cement becomes an exclusive agent for MAN in south Upper Egypt

18 March 2024

Misr Cement Maintenance has collaborated with Kastour Egypt for Trade and Industry, the exclusive agent of the International German truck brand MAN along with other brands.

The agreement was signed by Kastour Egypt for Trade and Industry, represented by Eng Kastour Mamdouh Kastour, chairman and managing director, and Misr Cement Maintenance, represented by Eng Bassam Abdel Rasoul, group chieft echnical officer.

Misr Cement Maintenance's centre is now the authorised service and maintenance hub in the south of Upper Egypt for Kastour Egypt for Trade and Industry, to maintain all its vehicles, trucks and buses of the German brand "MAN," in the agreed-upon governorates. It will also distribute spare parts for all affiliates of Kastour Egypt for Trade and Industry.

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DCMI in talks to acquire CEMEX Holdings Philippines

18 March 2024

Philippines-based D M Consunji Inc (DCMI), an engineering-based construction firm, is looking to expand into the cement business with the potential acquisition of CEMEX Holdings Philippines (CHP). According to The Philippine Star, the acquisition is seen as benefitting DCMI as cement is a key input in some of its major businesses. It could also help mange the costs of its property arm.

Although there has been no confirmation of when a deal could be completed, both DCMI and CHP are reported to be looking at the numbers in the hope a deal can be struck. Reuters has previously reported that such a deal could be worth around PHP40bn (US$715m) based on CEMEX Philippines book value of PHP3/share.

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After a month-long silence, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally spoke Monday, amid heightening tensions between the two leaders over Israel's handling of its war with Hamas.

"President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to discuss the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, including the situation in Rafah and efforts to surge humanitarian assistance to Gaza," the White House said.

This is the first time the two leaders have communicated since the highest-ranking Jewish official in US history, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, expressed the necessity to replace Netanyahu, calling for new elections.

The remarks came as a surprise, considering Schumer and Netanyahu's close relationship. However, from the Senate floor, Schumer declared Netanyahu an obstacle to peace in the Middle East, saying he has "lost his way" by putting his political survival ahead of the best interests of Israel.

Biden agreed with Schumer's comments, noting it was a "good speech." To avoid any miscommunication, the White House later stated Biden was not calling for new elections or Netanyahu's replacement.

"That's going to be up for the Israeli people to decide," John Kirby, the White House spokesman for national security issues, told reporters on Friday.

One of the most contentious issues between Biden and Netanyahu is the future-- if any, of Rafah. Located on Gaza's 7.5-mile border with Egypt, Rafah is the only crossing that is not controlled by Israel.

On Sunday, Netanyahu announced his intention to move forth with a military campaign against Rafah, despite the United States and other Israeli allies' advice to heed action against the southern Gaza Strip city.

More than one million Palestinians displaced by the war have fled to Rafah, reported USA TODAY.

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Romania has reportedly started construction on a huge expansion of a military base near the Black Sea that will be the largest used by the NATO alliance, and it sits within 300 miles of land occupied by Russian forces.

The Mihail Kogalniceanu Romanian Air Force is located in Constanta, Romania which sits 275 miles across the Black Sea from Crimea.

When fully constructed, the 2.5 billion ($2.7 billion) base will reportedly be the size of a small city and house 10,000 NATO troops and their families, according to Euronews.

The massive project includes building runways, hangers, housing, a hospital and schools.

In July 2015, the NATO Investment Committee approved a significant renovation plan for the base.

The investment will be implemented in four stages over 20 years and include various works such as terrain arrangement works, runway and taxiway construction..

The new flight line will provide a flight traffic control post, aircraft operating platforms, lighting and radar systems.

The project also includes administrative and social facilities, transit and storage areas, aircraft maintenance areas, military equipment warehouses, perimeter fence and access post control, according to NATO.

The base currently hosts 5,000 NATO soldiers, mainly American but there are no families currently housed at the base.

Planes from several NATO members are cycled through the base to help secure the airspace over the Black Sea region.

The U.S. also used the base to support operations when combat troops were in Afghanistan.

Moscow has consistently warned the US and its allies against NATO's eastward expansion and military buildup near Russia's borders.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a direct warning of nuclear retaliation against the West, alleging that NATO and the US are planning to attack Russia.

The 71-year-old Russian president has emphasized the formidable capabilities of Russia's weaponry and underscored the risk of a conflict involving nuclear weapons, posing a serious threat to global civilization.

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Frank "Bud" Edward Ellis, 88, of Canton, Georgia, passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at his residence. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend.

He served his country during the Korean War in The United States Marine Corps. Bud was a dreamer from a small town, a loving brother and had always had a fascination with Carousels from a young age. From Okland City, In., Bud had fond memories of visiting the Carousel at the local zoo twice a month growing up which sparked a fire in him that he carried into his adult career. Bud had a short run as an aviations mechanic in the Marine Corps. After his service, Bud married his childhood sweetheart Johnnie and received a masters degree in art and sculpture from the University of Indiana.

After moving to Chattanooga, Bud taught emotionally disturbed children and even went on to adopt three children with his wife. After accepting a position teaching at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, he and Johnnie went on to open the Horsin Around carving school. Where through his experiences and help through friends along the way he realized his lifelong dream of building and restoring a carousel that now sits in Coolidge Park in Downtown Chattanooga where he had a hand in each piece that was carved on the carousel. After his wifes death in 2002 he was lost and through prayer found Judy, they were married at the very same carousel that he had a hand in building.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on Monday, March 25, at the First Presbyterian Church in Soddy Daisy, with Minister Robie Hembree, and Minister Peter Choi officiating.

Interment will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, March 25, with U.S.M.C. honors.

The family will receive friends from 9-11:15 a.m. on Monday, March 25, at First Presbyterian Church in Soddy Daisy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul C. Ellis, Sr. and Violet LaFollette Ellis; first wife. "Johnnie" Lamon Ellis; son, David Ellis; sister, Patricia Whittington; brother, Paul Ellis, Jr.; and granddaughter, Leann.



Survivors include his wife, Judith Ellis; children, Marnie Butinsky and Chris Ellis; children by marriage, John Proctor, Jim Proctor, and Jerry Proctor; sister, Cynthia Ellis; grandchildren, Candis Ellis, Ricky Ellis, Madi Furlong, Kyle Furlong, Amberly, Paige, Nathan, Autumn, and Michael; numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family, and friends.

In lieu of any local services, please send any flowers to: First Presbyterian Church 10612 Dayton Pike Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379 423-332-2327 South Canton Funeral Home, dedicated to the families we serve, 770-479-3377. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.thescfh.com



Arrangements are by Ponders Brainerd Chapel, 4203 Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, Tn. 37411, 423 531-4002, www.selectedindependentfuneralhomes.org.
During March Jehovahs Witnesses launched a campaign to invite fellow residents of Chattanooga to a special events next Sunday."On Sunday, March 24, millions of Jehovahs Witnesses around the world will gather to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ, an observance Jesus himself instituted in the Gospels," officials said.Worldwide the Memorial is a very special event for Jehovahs Witnesses, said Rafael Cueto, local spokesperson for Jehovahs Witnesses. In appreciation for Jesus sacrifice we invite our family members, co-workers and neighbors to join us in remembering this solemn and joyful occasion."The annual observance of the Lords Evening Meal will feature a talk highlighting the significance of Jesus death and what it means for all of mankind," officials said.Free and open to the public, the one-hour event will begin and conclude with prayer."Before the Memorial, a special talk titled, The ResurrectionVictory Over Death," was delivered at local Kingdom Halls this past weekend.The 30-minute, Bible-based public talk focused on the scriptural hope of a resurrection of the dead in the near future," officials said.For more information about next Sunday's event and how to attend, visit jw.org.
Hamilton County Sheriffs Office personnel arrested a juvenile suspect on Monday, in connection to a social media threat made against a school faculty member at Tyner Middle School earlier this month.

The post contained images of the faculty member as well as several threats.



The student is being charged with communicating a threat concerning a school employee and civil rights intimidation.
Since 1987, March has been recognized as National Womans History Month, so it is fitting that we acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of women to our countrys judiciary this month. From the four women serving as Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court to the women serving on the lower federal courts and as justices or judges of state courts, the nation has much for which to be thankful.

Women Were Historically Under-Involved in the Judiciary.

If we could step back a hundred years and visit any courthouse, whether state or federal, we would see that the overwhelming makeup of the bench and the courts staff would be male. Historically, very few women could be found in any position at any level of the court system. This male-dominated system was not uncommon for the time, but not at all representative of our country.

With men making up the predominant proportion of judiciary personnel, a huge pool of talent went untapped. Including women in the court system has enriched and enhanced it. Now, women serve at all levels of the judiciary.

Women Now Serve as Judges.

When we think of the judiciary, we first think of judges, who are the faces and voices of the judiciary. As stated above, four of the nine justices on our highest court are female. On the lower federal courts, women make up 32 percent of sitting judges. A 2023 report by Forster-Long, LLC indicated that women make up 36 percent of state final appellate court judges, 39 percent of state intermediate appellate court judges, 33 percent of state general-jurisdiction court judges, and 36% of state limited- and special-jurisdiction court judges. These numbers show that women are continuing to join the state and federal judiciary. Though women are still underrepresented on the bench, this trend provides hope that there will continue to be a rise in the proportion of female judges across the country.

Women Serve in Various Other Capacities in the Judiciary.

Although we often think of judges when we think of the judiciary, there are many other individuals behind the scenes whose work enables the judges to do their jobs. One such position is that of law clerk. On the federal level and in many state courts, judges have law clerks to assist them with their responsibilities. Law clerks are lawyers who help judges complete the high volume of legal research required to move cases toward resolution. Often, law clerks are fresh out of law school and serve in the judiciary for a few years before moving on to other types of legal practice. Some lawyers also serve as career law clerks. Clerkships are prestigious positions that often benefit lawyers throughout their career. Historically, it was not uncommon for all of a judges clerks to be men. In 2018, the New York Times reported that, for the first time, more than half of the Supreme Courts law clerks would be women. Other reports indicate that approximately half of law clerks at most levels are now women.

The judiciary also has court administrators and staff who make the work of judges possible. On the federal level there is the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the top administrative body for federal courts. Women have headed the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, as well as headed state court administrative offices that serve the same or similar purposes.

And in every court there is a Clerk of Court whose office consists of staff members called court clerks. The court clerk position differs from the law clerk position in that court clerks handle administrative mattersthey receive filings, maintain dockets and court records, and interface with the public. One job-search site, Zippia.com, estimates that 81% of courtroom clerks are women. When judges conduct a trial or hearing, there must be an official record of the proceeding. Court reporters are responsible for recording these trials or proceedings. If you watch a trial scene in an old movie, you will see a male acting as court reporter. That was an accurate portrayal of how the position was staffed in years past. Now, the Association for Court Reporters and Captioners reports that women make up 89 percent of their members.

Regardless of the capacity in which they serve, whether at the top of the profession on the Supreme Court or in other capacities, women provide invaluable service to the judiciary. Their talents and contributions make our courts better, and their continued inclusion helps the judiciary to better reflect our nation.

Curtis L. Collier

United States District Judge

Chair, Eastern District of Tennessee Civics and Outreach Committee

Carrie Brown Stefaniak

Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier

Past President, Chattanooga Chapter of the Federal Bar Association

Erienne Reniajal Lewis

Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier



Rachel Elaine Noveroske

Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier






Lee University president Dr. Mark Walker has notified the schools board of directors that he will not seek a second four-year term, but will conclude his presidency on May 5.

Dr. Walker announced his decision to the Lee faculty and staff in a meeting Monday afternoon at Pangle Hall on campus. My wife Udella and I have enjoyed our four years in this role, he said, but after lots of prayer and reflection, we are confident that our time as president is now complete.

May 5 is the date of Lees spring commencement exercises, which will be Dr. Walkers final activity as president.

Board chairman Wade Lombard, a Texas businessman, praised Dr. Walkers commitment to Lee during his four years as president and a prior term of three years as Vice President for ministerial development. We on the board have worked closely with Dr. Walker during these last four years, and all of us appreciate his hard work and dedication to our students and mission.

Prior to coming to Lee in 2017, the Walkers served for 25 years as senior pastors of Mount Paran North Church of God in Marietta, Georgia. Udella Walker is a graduate of Lee, as are their two children, Dr. Justin Walker, a member of the Lee faculty, and Ashten Walker Dick, a resident of Birmingham.

In accepting his desire not to seek a second term, members of the Lee Board of Directors expressed appreciation for his contributions at Lee. He has the heart of a pastor, one said in Mondays meeting, and that has certainly shown in his care for students and their love for him. Others noted the many challenges which the president faced during his term, which began in August 2020 at the height of the COVID crisis.

Mr. Lombard said the school is planning various events during April to celebrate the Walker presidential legacy and express appreciation for his accomplishments.

The Lee board also voted unanimously to ask Dr. Paul Conn, a long-time veteran of the Lee administration who was Dr. Walkers predecessor, to accept a one-year appointment as President and Chancellor, to lead the school through this transition and begin the search for a new permanent president. Dr. Conn has accepted the appointment, to begin May 5.
Orange Grove Centers Director of the Morton J. Kent Habilitation Center Dr. Rick Rader will address the United Nations at its headquarters in New York City this Thursday. Each year, March 21 commemorates World Down Syndrome Day, the date of 3/21 reflecting the fact that Down syndrome occurs when a persons genetics contain a third, extra copy of the 21st chromosome.In his address, Dr. Rader plans to highlight the importance of medical education, and how the lack thereof is one of the main obstacles in providing people with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities with comprehensive healthcare.Under the current standards of medical education, you can become a physician, a fellowship trained physician, a board-certified physician, even the dean of a medical school without ever having examined, cared for or treated an individual with Down syndrome, or any patient with an intellectual, physical or behavioral disability, Dr.Rader said as he prepares for his address.A 2021 study conducted by researchers at the Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital found that over 80 percent of surveyed physicians believe that people with disabilities have a worse quality of life than people who do not have disabilities. That is shortsighted; because this training, and what the medical student learns about compassion, empathy and clinical confidence will be applied to every patient, every family and every community, said Dr. Rader. The only way for students to learn how to communicate, listen, provide supported decision making and look beyond the genetics is for them to have direct contact with the patient. You cannot learn this from a video, a power point, or a didactic lecture, it needs to be face-to-face encounters. The patients with disabilities become our teachers, our mentor, and our guides.Officials said, "Each year, approximately 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with Down syndrome, one of the most well-known and recognizable developmental disabilities that affects a persons physical features and ability to learn, among other symptoms. The quality of life for people with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can be improved by meeting their various needs in the realms of health care, parental care and support, medical guidance, and by community-based support to help facilitate their participation in mainstream society."Dr. Raders invitation to address the U.N. reflects new concerns about 'health equity,' defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as 'the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest levels of health.' Health equity can be achieved only through ongoing societal efforts to address historical and contemporary injustices, to overcome economic, social, and other obstacles to health and health care, and by eliminating preventable health disparities."Dr. Rader, a self-described medical futurist, began his work at Orange Grove Center in 1994. Orange Grove recently celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2023, and the Morton J. Kent Habilitation Center, of which Dr. Rader is the director, is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary. According to Dr. Rader, the Habilitation Center was created to identify, create and promote the emerging best practices in providing comprehensive and collaborative healthcare to people with disabilities across the lifespan. [The Habilitation Center] mentors medical and dental students from around the world and contributes to teaching, advocacy, and research in areas such as aging, dementia, self-determination and community inclusion.Dr. Rader is cross trained in internal medicine and medical anthropology, and is board-certified in adult developmental medicine. He has received two presidential appointments to the Presidents Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and to the National Council pm Disability, where he co-authored the seminal Health Equity Framework Report. He has also been a consultant to four U.S. Surgeon Generals on health disability. He is the President of the American Association on Health and Disability and a founding president of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. He has published over 300 articles in the area of developmental disabilities.
Amanda Drane is an energy reporter for the Houston Chronicle. She can be reached at amanda.drane@houstonchronicle.com.

Amanda covers the Texas energy industry and the people affected by it, with a particular focus on oil, gas, chemicals and the transition to cleaner energy. Before joining the papers business desk in May 2020 she worked as a City Hall reporter in Massachusetts, where she won regional awards for covering issues such as police accountability and the exploitation of undocumented restaurant workers.
King Charles and Kate Middleton have both taken time away from royal duties for medical purposes. But the biggest difference is that Charles has continued to be spotting amid his cancer diagnosis while Kate Middleton is missing.

There are some token differences between what Kate Middleton is going through and what King Charles is going through. Both the Princess of Wales and the King of the United Kingdom are taking leaves from royal duties in order to work through medical issues  yet Kate seems to be taking the brunt of the questions from the public. It likely stems from one thing: Charles has shown himself since his cancer diagnosis, and Kate has not.

Charles was recently spotted once more as he undergoes cancer treatment, while Kate remains entirely away from the spotlight. Why?

King Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles with Kate Middleton | Karwai Tang/WireImage

King Charles isnt making Kate Middleton look too great

Back in early 2024, Charles shocked the world when Buckingham Palace announced that the king, who had only been officially crowned in May 2023, was undergoing cancer treatment. The palace did not reveal what type, what stage, or what his treatment plan is. Charles has remained away from royal duties, but hes continued to show himself in some capacity. And on March 13, Express reported that Charles was once again spotted in the back of a car; he even waved to crowds as he drove by. Its unclear where he was going, but he continues to operate as king in an official capacity despite that he isnt actually attending royal engagements. Camilla Parker Bowles was in the car with her husband.

While Charles continues to be spotted, Kate has gone completely into hiding. The Wales family even attempted to heavily edit a photo, which was posted on Mothers Day and suggested Kate was doing fine. It was pulled from news outlets upon closer inspection.

Kates lack of public appearances has led to a slew of conspiracy theories. And the fact that Charles continues to be spotted in public despite undergoing cancer treatments leads many to believe that something dark is going on with the Princess of Wales.

King Charles with Kate Middleton and Prince William | Danny Lawson/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Kate Middleton is supposed to return to royal duties after Easter

Kate has made headlines in recent weeks due to her absence from royal duties. The princess underwent a planned abdominal surgery back in January 2024, yet the internet has been abuzz with theories about where Kate could be. The rumors continue to spiral  some have even said Kate is deceased.

The biggest rumor floating around appears to be trouble in paradise between Kate and William, who have been together since they were practically still teenagers. People have even suggested that William has been having a secret affair and might have fathered other children. And while it all sounds too bizarre to be true, the fact that the royal family has remained quiet through it all only keeps the rumors flying.
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In the chaos of the opening months at Money Cat, a modern Japanese restaurant in Upper Kirby, chef de cuisine Jio Dingayan and his colleagues spent more time in the kitchen than their own homes.

When Dingayan needed a break, he found comfort behind a pottery wheel: the focus, steady hands and attention to detail required in throwing clay was similar to how cooks work in kitchens.

The amount of force the 23-year-old chef pushed down on a mound of wet clay was not too different from the exactness in ensuring strands of buttery pasta crowned with lobes of sea urchin were al dente. Or when he helped check to make sure cutlets of chicken katsu were fried to a golden, crispy texture.

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Cooking in a restaurant requires you to strive for perfection, Dingayan said. Ceramics can feel that way, but you have a different sense of freedom.

Chefs and foodies across the country have jumped into ceramics the past few years, especially during the pandemic. But for professional cooks, whose worlds are often peppered with buzzwords like "artisanal" and "handcrafted," pottery has become as much an outlet for their creativity as a desire to control everything that appears on the plate.

Chefs are artists, too. Theres a control in creating it yourself, Dingayan said.

HOUSTON EATS: The Chronicles top 100 restaurants

Chef Jio Dingayan has joined a growing number of chefs giving ceramics and pottery a spin, an activity that's been especially popular with foodies since the pandemic. For some chefs, it's also a way for them to put a personal stamp on their restaurants. Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

At Michelin-starred restaurants, fine-dining chefs have long held reputations for overseeing every detail large and small.

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Today, it feels normal for a growing number of chefs to treat pottery like produce. Theyre searching for plates, bowls and cups that best present their creations.

At Jun, chefs and owners Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu spent time in a ceramics studio learning how to work with clay. While they sourced handmade plates from Oaxaca, they also made a few items, including water pitchers and small utensil holders.

Brandi Key, the culinary director of Dish Society and Daily Gather, also went to Third Coast Clay in the Heights, where Garcia and Lu learned to work with clay. She signed up for classes during the pandemic after scrolling through Instagram and becoming obsessed with pottery content.

She was seeking inspiration because her day-to-day job had no longer required her to be behind the stove or cutting board at all hours.

I felt very comfortable (with pottery) because Ive always used my hands, Key said.

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Many chefs focus on dinnerware with the same intensity they reserve for a perfectly grilled fish filet or a clear pho broth simmering with the fragrance of star anise and ginger.

Jio Dingayan is working on creating his own set of dinnerware to use at Money Cat

At Money Cat, Dingayan and the team bought plates from Era Ceramics, which has been used at local restaurants such as Justin Yus European-inspired Theodore Rex and Tyson Cole's crowd-favorite modern Japanese spot Uchi.

The Era plates were not only sturdy, but the neutral, cool tones also complemented the minimalist design of Money Cats dining room.

Dingayan visited the Eras Ceramics studio in Smithville, about an hour southeast of Austin, before the restaurant opened in January 2023. He even got some tips for making his own dinnerware.

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Chefs who have fallen for pottery often describe the experience as meditative and soothing when compared to the pressures of running a restaurant.

When Key first tried pottery, she was focused on precision and would use a ruler to make sure everything was perfect. Now shes more comfortable with having a little bit of imperfection because its a piece of the story.

Shes created fish bowls, shot glasses and little cups to store salt and herbs. One day, Key said she hopes to install a pottery wheel in her home.

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Jio Dingayan, chef de cuisine at Money Cat, throws clay as he makes a bowl at Potters Place in Stafford Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

The number of chefs and home cooks who have become interested in ceramics is not a complete surprise to Third Coast Clay owner Lotus Bermudez.

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I think food tastes better in a handmade vessel, Bermudez said. Theres something really intimate about putting a cup to your lips or eating from a plate someone made with their own hands.

That connection is really important for people in the food industry, Bermudez added.

Third Coast Clay's studio space has grown since opening a decade ago, and according to Bermudez, attendance has more than tripled in the past few years. They fire 1,500 to 3,500 pieces of pottery in a kiln each week, she said.

Ceramics became so popular that in summer 2020, HBO Max debuted episodes of The Great Pottery Throw Down, a show that mimicked The Great British Bake Off. Celebrities such as Seth Rogen and Brad Pitt have regularly posted their pottery projects on social media.

Autumn Bonsai dessert at Money Cat Kimberly Park

The hands-on aspect of pottery is appealing to many chefs, said Dingayan, who worked as a pastry chef before he moved over to the savory side as chef de cuisine at Money Cat. He throws clay at a studio in Stafford about once a week.

Dingayan said he hopes to one day offer a 10- to 12-course tasting menu at Money Cat  all served on his own ceramics.

The restaurant is currently home to about 40 of Dingayans pieces. He handmade a vessel to pour dry ice into a bonsai dessert, which is composed of a miniature tree made of chocolate anchored by fruit-flavored mousse, ice cream and sponge cake soaked in hojicha tea.

In addition to the matcha bowls and water carafes Dingayan has already created, he plans to design more plates. He recently traveled to Japan and attended a workshop to learn Japanese techniques for his dinnerware, which are all dishwasher safe.
On October 7, 2023, my mother-in-law called.

Have you seen the news? she asked urgently. Terrorists have attacked Israel. Where are the kids? Are they at home with you? Can you keep them home from school this week?

She knows antisemitism all too well. Her husband is a Jew who traces his lineage back to the tribe of Levi. His ancestors immigrated to America from Poland and Russia in the early 1900s. They maintained their heritage and ancient faith through centuries of opposition, faithfully attending synagogue, reading from the Torah, and celebrating holidays such as Passover. They broke bread and drank wine in remembrance of when God rescued their people out of slavery in Egypt.

Today, my father-in-law is a Christian. As we break the matzoh, we remember Jesus, whose body was broken for us. As we drink the wine, we remember his blood poured out for the salvation of many. This meal, while it reminds us of our Savior who freed us from slavery to sin, is also a promise of what is to come. For the generations who have suffered, this meal is a reminder of Gods redemption. It gives us hope.

Though he rarely talks about it, my father-in-law has told us stories about his childhood growing up in Miami. His family went to synagogue every Saturday, and he and his Jewish friends attended Hebrew school five days a week. His father owned a grocery store in the 1950s and 60s, working sunup to sundown every day except the Sabbath. He supported his family in a community where Jewish, Black, and Hispanic people were often unwelcome.

I remember going to the beach and seeing signs on the bathroom doors that read, No dogs or Jews allowed, my father-in-law told me. I remember seeing swastikas spray-painted on some sites around town. At my fathers grocery store, he would sometimes receive antisemitic remarks from his customers. His grocery store was broken into over 30 times.

Finally, his father was robbed at gunpoint and his uncle shot and killedthe motive unknown.

I used to find it surreal that such hatred has thrived in the US so recently. As a woman of English and Danish descent born in the 1980s, antisemitism seemed almost alien to me. I imagined racists as uneducated yokels, few and far between, who occasionally made themselves a nuisance on social media.

I never dreamed that Ivy League professors and Western world leaders would soon justify terrorism and rapefrom Columbia University professor Joseph Massad, who described the Hamas attack as awesome and a stunning victory, to Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who was slammed by Democrat and Republican lawmakers alike for making antisemitic comments online.

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This attack on Israel will embolden them here, said my worried mother-in-law over the phone. The girls could become a target because of their last name.

Though I found it hard to comprehend my mother-in-laws warning, in the weeks and months following, I saw why she feared for them. Multiple Jewish synagogues, schools, and even private homes became targets of violence and vandalism. Protesters chanted, From the river to the sea, a phrase used by Hamas to promote the genocide of Jews and the eradication of Israel. Jewish people, including the elderly, were attacked in California and New York. University students have experienced antisemitism, harrassment, and assault. Vitriol online exploded.

As my heart breaks for the kidnapped and bereaved, and for the Palestinian children and civilians caught in the crossfire of this terrible war, I cannot ignore the burgeoning threat to my own family. Its hard enough being a parent and worrying about internet safety, child predators, and playground bullies. Worrying about racism was something Id never had to anticipate.

My daughters are all in elementary school. Theyve never been to synagogue, but weve taught them about Passover and Hanukkah. They love it when I prepare Jewish dinners and are fascinated by their grandfathers Hebrew Bible. When their school hosted an international parade, they proudly waved the flag of Israel. The thought of someone harming them simply because of their heritage seems ludicrous.

But Ive learned to never underestimate the insanity of evil. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil, writes the author of Ecclesiastes, and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead (9:3).

Thousands of years ago, God chose the Jews to be his people. Although it was a profound blessing and honor, they became an object of malice for other nations and ethnic groups and for the spiritual forces of evil.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, God warned the Serpent in Genesis 3:15, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. That promised offspring, that one who would vanquish Satan, is Jesus Christ, born a Jew.

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For centuries since Eden, Satan has tried to thwart Gods promise through bloody wars, persecution, and genocide. He vainly hoped to annihilate Eves offspring, to prevent the coming of the one who would crush him. When Moses was an infant in Egypt, Pharoah ordered the murder of every Jewish baby boy. Nevertheless, the line of Christ endured.

After Jewish slaves painted their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, God passed over Egypt, judging their enslavers yet sparing his people. Later God instructed them to celebrate Passoverthe day God passed over them, preserving the lineage of their coming Messiah.

When Jesus was an infant in Jerusalem, Herod again ordered all the Jewish baby boys in Bethlehem to be slaughtered in a vain attempt to kill the King of the Jews. Thanks to Joseph, Jesus survived. Our Messiah endured. Eves promised offspring had dodged the striking Serpent, at least for a few decades.

Thirty years later, Jesus was nailed to a cross, and Satan likely thought he had finally won. He probably imagined, in his twisted and prideful mind, that hed defeated God. The Branch of Jesse, the promised Savior, was tortured, murdered, and buried in a tomb. But Jesus rose from the dead three days later, dealing a devastating blow to the Devil.

It was through the nation of Israel that salvation came into the world. It was Jewish hands that wrote down the bulk of the Word of God. It was to a Jewish girl that the Son of God was born. Today, the offer of salvation extends beyond Israel to the whole world.

Many will point to the political and cultural roots of this current war, and those roots do run deep. But the deepest root is a hatred birthed when God cursed the Serpent.

The dark underbelly of antisemitism, historic bloodbaths like the Holocaust, and vitriolic hatred of Jewish people border on nonsensical unless you understand them as demonic at the core. However grim the conflict may become in our world, this is first and foremost a spiritual war. Our enemies are native to the heavenly realms, and their cause is far older than the Gaza Strip (Eph. 6:12).

This world may not always welcome my children or others who are different. But the gospel reminds us to hope in what is unseen and eternal, not in what is seen and temporary (2 Cor. 4:18).

As my family gathers around the table to celebrate Passover, I think of all the Israeli families who are missing their loved ones. Never again will they drink the wine or break the bread together. Never again will they sit as a whole family around a table. Never again will they hold hands in prayer together.

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But there is a promise of another Passover, the final Passover, where Christ will again break bread and drink wine with his disciples. One day, Jesus will return to pass over the whole earth. Every eye will see him, even of those who pierced him. His enemies will be judged, and his people will be freed from slavery to sin and the tyranny of death. All those with the blood of the Lamb on the doorposts of their hearts will be spared.

To us, Passover, which we now celebrate in the form of the Lords Supper, is more than a commemoration. When Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples, he said, Do this in remembrance of me (Luke 22:19). And yes, we do remember Jesus body and his blood. But we also remember a promise. This is an anticipation. This is a waiting and a longing. This is a sign of the covenant that one day God will pass over the whole world, free us from oppression, and bring us into the Promised Land.

No longer will we wander in a spiritual wasteland. No longer will the enemies of God frighten, threaten, or harm us. No longer will evil seem to have the upper hand. Eves promised offspring, the King of the Jews and the Light of the World, will fill our universe with the splendor of his glory as we join him for the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Jennifer Greenberg is the author of Defiant Joy: Find the Hope to Light Your Way, Even in Darkness and Not Forsaken: A Story of Life After Abuse: How Faith Brought One Woman From Victim to Survivor. Speaking Out is Christianity Todays guest opinion column.

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Government restrictions on religion are at a global high.

Social hostility toward religion, however, has ticked downward.

So concludes the Pew Research Center in its 14th annual analysis of the extent to which 198 nations and territoriesand their citizensimpinge on religious belief and practice.

Some sort of harassment of religious groups was recorded in all but eight.

The 2024 report, released earlier this month, draws primarily from more than a dozen UN, US, European, and civil society sources, and reflects conditions from 2021, the latest year with fully available data.

The global median on Pews 10-point scale of government restrictions reached 3.0 for the first time ever, continuing a steady rise since the baseline score of 1.8 in 2007. Overall, 55 nations (28%) recorded levels marked very high or high, only two lower than last years total of 57.

Nicaragua was highlighted for harassment of Catholic clergy.

Regional differences are apparent: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) scored 5.9, up from its baseline score of 4.7. Asia-Pacific scored 4.2, up from 3.2. Europe scored 3.1, up from 1.7. Sub-Saharan Africa scored 2.6, up from 1.7. And the Americas scored 2.1, up from 1.0.

Pews 20 measures of government restrictions included efforts to ban particular faiths, prohibit conversion, limit preaching, or give preferential treatment to one or more religious groups.

Some pertained to COVID-19, such as Canadas fines against open churches.

A further 13 measures for acts of religious hostility by individuals or groups included religion-related armed conflict or terrorism, mob or sectarian violence, harassment over attire for religious reasons, and other forms of religion-related intimidation or abuse.

Social hostilities toward religion continued to trend downward since a high of 2.0 in 2018, decreasing to 1.6, the lowest score since 1.2 in 2009. But 43 nations (22%) still recorded levels marked very high or high, though significantly fewer than the 65 offending nations in 2012.

Nigeria was cited for clashes between Muslim herders and Christian farmers.

The order of regional differences in social hostility matches that of government restrictions. MENA scored 3.6, returning to near its baseline score of 3.7 after peak years from 20122014. Asia-Pacific scored 1.9, up from 1.7. Europe scored 1.9, up from 1.2. Sub-Saharan Africa scored 1.3, up from 0.4. And the Americas scored 0.8, up from 0.3.

Only four nations recorded very high status in both categories: Afghanistan, Egypt, Pakistan, and Syria.

Joining them as repeat offenders for government restrictions were Algeria, Azerbaijan, China (highest with a score of 9.1), Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Pakistan joined the list this year with Turkmenistan, while Brunei and Eritrea dropped out.

Fewer nations were designated very high on social hostilities, but repeat offenders also included India, Israel, and Nigeriahighest with a score of 8.9. No new nations joined the list this year, while Iraq, Libya, Mali, and Somalia dropped out.

Grading took place on a scale. The top 5 percent of nations in each index were categorized as very high, while the next 15 percent were high. The following 20 percent were categorized as moderate, while the remaining 60 percent were low. (Though Pew recognizes North Korea as a clear offending nation, it was not included in the report due to the inability of independent observers to have regular access.)

Most nations in both indexes showed little to no change in their rating. Only 16 recorded a moderate increase of 1.01.9 or higher in their combined score, while only nine nations experienced a similar decrease. And only one country, Sudan, witnessed a decline of 2.0 or more for government restrictions, as a new constitution, now in limbo amid civil war, decriminalized apostasy.

For social hostilities, only Turkey and Bolivia declined similarly, the latter due to no reportsas in previous yearsof Protestant missionaries expelled from indigenous areas. Conversely, Uganda and Montenegro witnessed 2.0 increases in their scores, the latter due to vandalization of mosques and harassment of Christian proselytization.

Most common, according to Pew, is government harassment. More than 9 in 10 nations (183 total) tallied at least one incident. Social harassment occurred in more than 8 in 10 nations (160 total), and 157 nations experienced both.

Pew also tallied the type of force or violence inflicted around the world. Property damage was most common with 105 offending nations, with Europe registering the highest with 71 percent occurrence. The MENA region led percentage occurrence in all other types, with physical assaults recorded in a global total of 91 nations, detentions in 77, displacement in 38, and killings in 45.

Ethiopia was noted for the deaths of 78 priests during its civil war.

Christians and Muslims remain the religious groups receiving harassment most widely. The number of nations harassing Christians increased from 155 to 160, up from a baseline total of 107. Nations harassing Muslims decreased from 145 to 141, but still up from the baseline number of 96. Harassment of Jews also declined from 94 to 91, but was only recorded in 51 nations in 2007.

An other category of Baha'is, Sikhs, and Zoroastrians followed, harassed in 64 nations, followed by folk religions in 40. Violations against Buddhists (in 28 nations), Hindus (in 24), and an unaffiliated category of atheists, agnostics, and humanists (in 27) were less widespread.

A new feature in Pews report tracked nations that provided benefits to religious groups. With a total of 161 countries qualifying, 127 supported religious education, 107 offered funds to construct or maintain religious buildings, and 67 compensated clergy to some degree. Of the latter, more than half (36 nations) gave preferential treatment to certain religions. And of the total, 149 governments nonetheless harassed believers or interfered in their worship.

Saudi Arabia, Pew noted, gives stipends to imams yet restricts their sermons.

In addition to a tally of nations, Pew also organized data to measure the impact of restrictions and hostilities on a wide scope of humanity. Among the 25 largest nationsrepresenting 5.8 billion of the 7.8 billion world population in 2021Egypt, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, and Nigeria recorded the highest overall levels. Japan, the United States, South Africa, Italy, and Brazil ranked lowest.

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Home News Catholic Charities can't claim religious tax exemption, Wisconsin Supreme Court rules

A Catholic Charities affiliate does not meet the definition of a religious organization and must pay into Wisconsin's unemployment insurance program, the state's high court has ruled.

In a 4-3 ruling released Thursday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision that the Catholic Charities Bureau of the Diocese of Superior does not meet the criteria for an organization that operates "primarily for religious purposes."

Justice Ann Walsh Bradley authored the majority opinion and was joined by Justices Rebecca Dallet, Jill Karofsky and Janet Protasiewicz. Justices Rebecca Bradley, Brian Hagedorn and Annette Ziegler dissented.

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The ruling identifies the purpose of Catholic Charities and its entities as to "provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same." The Catholic Charities Bureau of the Diocese of Superior oversees several sub-entities that minister "to those facing the challenges of aging, the distress of a disability, the concerns of children with special needs, the stresses of families living in poverty and those in need of disaster relief."

As Walsh Bradley noted in her opinion, Wisconsin state law exempts companies that are "operated primarily for religious purposes and operated, supervised, controlled, or principally supported by a church or convention of associated churches" from having to make payments to the state's unemployment insurance program as required by Wisconsin's Unemployment Compensation Act.

The majority opinion stated that while the Catholic Charities Bureau of the Diocese of Superior and four of its sub-entities are "operated, supervised, controlled, or principally supported by a church or convention of associated churches," specifically the Catholic Church, they are "not operated primarily for religious purposes" and therefore have to pay into the state's unemployment insurance program.

"CCB and the sub-entities, which are organized as separate corporations apart from the church itself, neither attempt to imbue program participants with the Catholic faith nor supply any religious materials to program participants or employees," Walsh Bradley wrote. "An objective examination of the actual activities of CCB and the sub-entities reveals that their activities are secular in nature."

The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which has represented the Catholic Charities Bureau throughout its litigation, indicated in an update Thursday that it plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The legal group maintains that the lower court ruling against its client is "deeply problematic."

"By separating Catholic Charities from the Diocese, the court ignored the Catholic Church's determination regarding how to structure their own religious ministry. By concluding that Catholic Charities' activities are not religious because Catholic Charities serves all those in need and doesn't proselytize, the court penalized faiths that make caring for those in need  regardless of their religious background  a religious obligation," a Becket Fund statement reads.

"And, by engaging in a standardless inquiry to determine 'how religious' Catholic Charities and their subsidiary ministries are, the court of appeals entangled secular courts in deeply religious questions, violating the separation of church and state."

The litigation over the Catholic Charities Bureau's designation as a religious organization dates back to 2016, when the charitable organization sought a ruling from the State's Department of Workforce Development asserting that it was exempt from having to pay into the state's unemployment insurance program.

Following the Department of Workforce Development's decision, the Catholic Charities Bureau and its sub-entities appealed the decision to an administrative law judge, who reversed the ruling. After the Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission reversed the judge's decision, a circuit court in the state sided with the CCB. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals reversed the lower court's decision, prompting the plaintiffs to seek relief from the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Becket has characterized the idea that the Catholic Charities Bureau is not exempt from paying into the state's unemployment insurance program as a misinterpretation of state law and a violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

"Wisconsin's unemployment compensation statute, Wisconsin's Constitution, and the U.S. Constitution all require that courts look to the undisputed religious purpose of the Diocese of Superior when determining whether Catholic Charities qualifies for a religious exemption from the State's unemployment compensation program," the law firm insisted.

"Catholic Charities requested an exemption from the state's unemployment program so that they could enroll in the Wisconsin Bishops' Church Unemployment Pay Program (CUPP), a more efficient unemployment compensation program that provides the same level of benefits as the State's program."
Home News Christian Institute founder Colin Hart dies at age 60: 'A servant-hearted man'

The founder and director of the United Kingdom-based advocacy organization The Christian Institute, Colin Hart, died on Wednesday from complications due to a suspected heart attack at age 60.

Founded by Hart in 1991, The Christian Institute promotes Christian principles and campaigns on public policy issues impacting the Church, such as religious freedom, assisted suicide, abortion, LGBT issues and education.

The institute has also represented Christians facing legal troubles, scoring a significant 2018 legal victory for Belfast-based bakers who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding.

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The organization announced the death through a statement from Acting Director Ciaran Kelly, who wrote that Hart was "called home by the Lord to be with Him in glory."

"He died suddenly Wednesday afternoon of a suspected heart attack," Kelly stated. "We deeply mourn this great and unexpected loss. But we do not mourn as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13). Rather, we give thanks to God for a servant-hearted man who devoted his life to The Christian Institute in the service of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

In the recent days following the founder's death, representatives from various Christian organizations expressed gratitude for Hart and offered prayerful words of comfort and condolences to grieving loved ones.

The Rev. Richard Turnbull, the chairman of trustees for The Christian Institute, said in a statement that he gives "thanks for Colin's vision, gifts and life, and pray for his family and friends."

"Many of you will have known Colin and will want to offer your own thanks and prayers to the Lord. The work continues as Colin would desire. Thank you for your support. Please keep all the staff and Trustees in your prayers."

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian legal organization Christian Concern, paid tribute to Hart in a statement, stating that he was "guided by the timeless wisdom of Hebrews 12:1 'ran the race set before him with endurance.'"

"Sometime around 1998, having returned from a two-year stint in America, I contacted Colin Hart and said, 'Colin, I think the Christian Institute could really do with a London office. What do you think? Would you consider me to run it?'" Williams said.

"Well, he never did give me an answer and that conversation became a bit of folklore between us. It was 10 years later, in 2008, that Christian Concern was incorporated," Williams added.

"As Colin and I knew one another and worked hard in our ministry space for well over two decades, we both joked and complained at how, as we travel across the country visiting churches, people often get us and our organizations muddled up. It was often amusing to be with one another when, in style, we appeared so different and yet in substance we were not."

Through the years she knew Hart, the spirit of love and respect developed so they could encourage one another to hold firm with their eyes fixed on Jesus and lift their teams "to see God's will done on earth as it is in Heaven."

"The legal, political and cultural landscape of the U.K. is different because of Colin Hart's life. God has the story written and is welcoming him home. It is our loss," she said.

Williams remembers Hart would often "joke" about how "God had not blessed him with charisma."

"I beg to differ. Colin had true charisma. He had the deep, God-given charisma of grace. He was a serious, determined, quiet, strong and powerful leader. He was unflinching in determining a task and executing it," Williams said.

"He was diligent and never distracted. Once he had decided on a pathway he walked it. He also displayed deep love for Jesus, service, loyalty and humility. This is why he was able to build such an effective and loyal team around him, some of whom have been with him practically all their working life. This says a huge amount about the character of the man," she continued.

"As for me, aside from all the core qualities I've listed above, I will also remember, miss and celebrate his lovely humor, which over time became the hallmark of our times together. I was also truly impacted by the way in which he loved and honored his parents, alongside his staff and the founders of the Christian Institute."

Along with the staff of Christian Concern and the Christian Legal Centre, William said she will be praying for Hart's family and for the Christian Institute as they respond to the sudden and "tragic" loss.

Funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days.

At this time, Hart's loved ones ask for prayers as they navigate their grieving process and additional prayers for The Christian Institute as it handles practical matters following the sudden death.
Home News Kamala Harris stepdaughter removes UNRWA fundraising link from Instagram after backlash

Vice President Kamala Harris' stepdaughter has removed a link to a fundraising page for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from her Instagram page after she received backlash for promoting the agency whose employees were accused of participating in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Reports emerged this weekend that Emhoff, 24, used her Instagram to fundraise for UNRWA, an organization aiding Palestinian refugees. Emhoff included a UNRWA donation link in her Instagram bio even as the agency faces severe scrutiny and funding cuts from Western nations, including the United States.

In January, UNRWA said that it terminated staffers accused of involvement in Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attack on southern Israel that killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and led to the abduction of over 240. The allegations led to at least nine countries halting their support for the agency amid the Israel-Hamas war.

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Emhoff's fundraising efforts for UNRWA ceased following media exposure, particularly after a report by The New York Post.

NEW from me



Kamala Harris stepdaughter Ella Emhoff publicly raising money for relief group allegedly tied to Oct. 7 terrorist attack in Israelhttps://t.co/TpToL2MDE7  Jon Levine (@LevineJonathan) March 16, 2024

"Yesterday we urged VP Kamala Harris' stepdaughter Ella Emhoff to stop fundraising for UNRWA, a terrrorist-infested agency," Hillel Neuer, executive director of United Nations Watch, wrote on X Sunday. "Today, Ms. Emhoff scrubbed UNRWA. We commend her for that, and hope to continue the conversation."

Reports from Israeli officials have claimed that a significant portion of UNRWA's workforce, possibly over 10%, have ties to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

These accusations were bolstered by a detailed dossier presented to the U.S. government, highlighting instances of UNRWA employees' involvement in violent acts, including a kidnapping and a massacre at an Israeli kibbutz, resulting in 97 fatalities.

The U.S. response, articulated by State Department spokesman Matthew Miller at the time, was one of deep concern. The fallout from these events has precipitated a financial crisis for UNRWA, as Western countries, traditionally significant donors, have withheld funds. Despite this, some nations like Canada, Sweden and Australia have resumed their financial support.

Congressional Republicans, citing the agency's alleged connections to Hamas, advocate for a permanent end to U.S. financial support. In contrast, Democrats want funding to be continued, arguing that it is essential for humanitarian aid in Gaza and emphasizing the need to separate the agency's broader mission from the actions of individual employees.

On X, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wrote on Sunday, "@UNRWA enabled Hamas's violence using American money. This organization shouldn't receive one more penny from our nation."

A lawsuit was filed earlier this month in Delaware against a U.S. nonprofit linked to UNRWA on behalf of Oct. 7 survivors and family members.

The lawsuit was initiated in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware by Lishay Lavi, Noach Newman, Adin Gess, Maya Parizer, Natalie Sanandaji, Yoni Diller, Hagar Almog, David Bromberg, Lior Bar Or and Ariel Ein-Gal, Fox News reported, adding that it targets the UNRWA USA National Committee, alleging a direct connection between UNRWA USA and UNRWA in supporting Hamas.

The plaintiffs allege that the nonprofit provided material support to Hamas, implicating UNRWA in the broader network of terror financing.

U.S. senators, including Rubio, Tom Cotton, Ted Cruz and Eric Schmitt, have publicly condemned UNRWA, linking its operations to Hamas's terrorist activities. Their legislative efforts, notably the Defund United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Act, aim to sever U.S. financial ties with the agency, reflecting a broader strategy to counteract Hamas' influence and ensure U.S. taxpayer funds do not support terrorist activities.

"We now know that funding UNRWA is funding Hamas," said Sen. Cotton of Arkansas. "The fact that the administration attempted to release millions of dollars to go to UNRWA before suspending funding temporarily makes this legislation necessary to ensure the Biden administration doesn't send another dime of taxpayer money to this organization that has terrorists as members."

Cruz of Texas states that "UNRWA provided and continues to provide support for terrorism by Hamas and other Palestinian groups."

"The organization is an acute threat to the national security of the United States," Cruz said. "Nevertheless, the Biden administration has been pathologically obsessed with undermining Israel and sending resources to UNRWA, and they will no doubt end their 'pause' in funding as soon as they possibly can."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently held a meeting, where Netanyahu reportedly presented evidence of UNRWA's alleged complicity in Hamas's military strategies, including the existence of tunnels beneath its Gaza headquarters, purportedly used by Hamas for military purposes.
Home News Citing 'profound differences,' Pence refuses to endorse Trump for president

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served alongside former President Donald Trump for four years, has declined to endorse his former boss as he looks all but certain to capture the Republican nomination for president in the 2024 presidential election.

Pence, who had a falling out with Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, in which a group of the former president's supporters stormed the United States Capitol as the Congress was about to debate the certification of the votes of the 2020 presidential election, discussed who he planned to vote for in the 2024 presidential election in an appearance on Fox News The Story on Friday. Pence briefly sought the Republican nomination for president last year before becoming the first major candidate to drop out last October.

When host Martha MacCallum asked Pence if he planned to endorse Trump, the former vice president responded, It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year.

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While maintaining that he was incredibly proud of the Trump-Pence administration's record, which he described as a conservative record that made America more prosperous, more secure and saw conservatives appointed to our courts and a more peaceful world, Pence noted that profound differences between the two on a range of issues prevented him from endorsing the former president.

Pence insisted that a difference in views on his constitutional duties as it relates to presiding over the certification of presidential election results in his capacity as vice president was only one such difference that kept him from endorsing Trump. I have watched his candidacy unfold, Pence said. 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.

Pences remarks about the former presidents views on the sanctity of human life refer to comments Trump made during a September 2023 interview where he called the six-week abortion ban signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who also ran for president before dropping out earlier this year, a terrible thing. The former vice president also lamented Trumps reversal on getting tough on China and supporting our administrations effort to force a sale of ByteDance TikTok.

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Advocacy Controlled Applications Act, which seeks to protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications, such as TikTok and any successor application or service and any other application or service developed or provided by ByteDance Ltd., or an entity under the control of ByteDance Ltd, in a 352-65 vote last week.

Majorities of both Republicans and Democrats supported the measure, which makes it unlawful for an entity to distribute, maintain, or update (or enable the updating of) a foreign adversary controlled application such as TikTok if it did not separate from its Chinese Communist Party-linked parent company ByteDance. Trump pushed back against banning TikTok in a March 7 post on the social media platform Truth Social.

If you get rid of TikTok, Facebook and Zuckerschmuck will double their business, he wrote, referring to the social media platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg. I dont want Facebook, who cheated in the last Election, doing better. They are a true Enemy of the People!

Pence cited his former boss positions on the national debt, abortion and TikTok as examples of how 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. At the same time, the former vice president indicated that I would never vote for Joe Biden, adding, How I vote when that curtain closes  that will be for me.

Pence did not completely close the door to voting for Trump, however, and pushed back on the idea that he would support or run as a third-party candidate, telling MacCallum that he would keep my vote to myself. He vowed to spend the rest of the 2024 presidential campaign talking about what we should be for, specifically referring to the broad mainstream conservative agenda thats defined our party and always made America strong and prosperous and free.

Where Im going to spend my energies is on making sure that my fellow Republicans, independents and many, many Democrats around the country know that 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 thats always made this country prosperous and free, and Im going to advocate for that, he added.

Pence is not the first of Trumps former rivals in the 2024 Republican primaries to decline to endorse the presumptive nominee. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, stopped short of endorsing the former president after dropping out of the race earlier this month, while former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has remained critical of Trump after suspending his campaign at the beginning of the year.

Trump is expected to face off in a rematch against Biden in the fall. The former president has floated several possibilities as potential running mates, but Pence, who ran alongside him in 2016 and 2020, is not one of them.
A Mexican spider monkey seized by federal authorities in March 2022. The woman accused of smuggling the monkey in the U.S., Savannah Nicole Valdez, was sentenced in federal court on Monday, March 18, 2024. Courtesy/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

After serving time for trying to sneak a spider monkey into the country, a Katy woman was arrested again after using her family to sell another spider monkey and some toucans to federal investigators.

A federal judge sentenced Savannah Nicole Valdez, 21, to 16 months in prison Monday after she pleaded guilty to smuggling spider monkeys into the country and selling them in the Houston area, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Valdez ran afoul of the Endangered Species Act twice since the beginning of 2022, according to federal prosecutors. Mondays sentencing was related to a charge for selling wildlife in violation of underlying federal law in October 2023, court documents show.

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In March 2022, Valdez was caught near the U.S.-Mexico border, days after running from an immigration checkpoint with a monkey in her car. Border agents found the monkey hidden in a wooden box in her car, according to court documents. In November 2022 she pleaded guilty to charges of smuggling goods and high speed flight from an immigration checkpoint and was sentenced to time served and two years supervised release.

Valdez linked to online ad for wildlife

While special agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were investigating first arrest, they matched her cellphone number to Craigslist advertisements offering to sell keel-billed toucans and yellow-head Amazon parrots, also protected by the Endangered Species Act.

After her guilty plea and release on the first charge, the agents called the phone number. Valdez offered to sell the caller a toucan and a Mexican spider monkey, according to court documents.

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Valdezs mother showed up at the Memorial City Mall on July 28, 2023, with two toucans and was arrested by the undercover agents. Valdezs mother told the agents she had been communicating with her daughter. Four days later one of Valdezs sisters contacted the agents, saying she still had a spider monkey for sale. Two sisters met the agents at a Katy gas station with the monkey. When the women were searched, agents found that Valdez had used Facebook Messenger to direct the women to the delivery site.

Valdez in October 2023 was arrested and charged with selling wildlife in violation of underlying federal law, according to court documents. She reached a plea agreement on the charge on Oct. 4, 2023.

Valdez was sentenced to 15 months in prison on the selling wildlife charge Monday, and another month in prison for violating the terms of her release on the smuggling charge.

Can you own a monkey in Texas?

It is legal to own monkeys in Texas, though local laws might prohibit people having the animals as pets in some cities. However, federal law prohibits monkeys of any kind from being imported as pets. People who bring monkeys into the United States for scientific or educational reasons are supposed to declare the animals and quarantine them to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

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Home News Pro-life mobile clinic parked beside Oregon Planned Parenthood facility gets local support

A pro-life mobile clinic parked alongside a Planned Parenthood facility in an Oregon city since last year has received considerable support from the community.

Stanton Healthcare, a pro-life pregnancy resource center based in Idaho, sent its 36-foot mobile clinic to Ontario, Oregon, the day that Planned Parenthood opened up an abortion facility there last year.

The Planned Parenthood facility is located less than an hour from Boise and was opened in response to Idaho banning abortion in most circumstances, except for rape, incest, and life-threatening medical emergency for the mother, following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that the U.S. Constitution doesn't confer a right to abortion.

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The mobile clinic has remained in the area to provide healthcare services and alternatives to abortion, with the exception of recent months, when it left the area to be winterized and to undergo repairs.

The mobile clinic is slated to return to Ontario this week, a town on the border of Idaho.

In an interview with The Christian Post on Thursday, Stanton CEO Brandi Swindell said that the mobile clinic efforts have received support from the local community and a couple of nearby border towns in Idaho.

"We've been able to build just a beautiful collaboration with businesses, churches, individuals, all coming together to make sure that the needs of women are met there in Ontario," Swindell said.

"We started a prayerful presence out there in front of Planned Parenthood. There are sidewalk advocates that are out there, so it's really turned out to be a really beautiful campaign or initiative to stand with women."

Although the mobile clinic has not been present for the past couple of months, Swindell said her organization had used a shop in downtown Ontario to continue providing assorted resources to mothers and families.

According to Swindell, the shop owner is normally out of town for the winter and gave Stanton Healthcare permission to use the shop for providing maternity resources.

"We actually had somebody there in the community in Ontario, who is a shop owner who absolutely loves what we're doing with Stanton, wants us in her community, who invited us to utilize her shop right there in downtown Ontario to set up a pop-up maternity and baby supply boutique," Swindell told CP.

"She said, 'You can use my shop free of charge' and she basically handed over the keys and said, 'You have my blessing; whenever you guys want to do a pop-up shop, you go ahead and set up maternity clothes, baby supplies, all the stuff you need.'"

"And so, at our baby boutique, we were able to do our pop-up boutiques and do that wellness aspect of our care specifically for those important things like diapers and wipes and baby clothes and maternity supplies, all that kind of stuff that's really critical."

By contrast, Swindell contends the Planned Parenthood clinic is struggling to maintain its business in the town as the local community is more conservative than other parts of the West Coast state.

"One thing that has definitely happened is that they do not have a lot of community support there in Ontario. They've had trouble keeping what would be typical operational hours and that's because they're not getting the staffing that they need," she told CP.

"There's been days where they've unexpectedly closed and what we've been able to find out, as far as we can tell, is that they're having real staffing issues. There's not this big energy to make Ontario an abortion headquarters."

Regarding their relationship with the neighboring abortion clinic, Swindell says officials with the local Planned Parenthood tried a couple of times to get the police to move their mobile clinic. However, those efforts have been unsuccessful, and "they have given up on that."

"The bottom line is Planned Parenthood in Ontario is not thriving. It's not. We think we've been a part of that. The community, people of good will, have been a part of that," Swindell added.

"And it's about standing with women. Instead of offering them the 'quick fix' of abortion, we need to offer them hope, we need to offer them quality medical services."

The Christian Post reached out to Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette, the regional affiliate that oversees the Ontario abortion clinic, for their perspective on this story. However, they did not return comment by press time.
Home Books Christian author challenges commercialized image of St. Patrick with prayer devotional

In a culture awash with symbols of luck and celebration associated with St. Patricks Day, an author is on a mission to shed light on the lesser-known aspects of Irelands patron saint, focusing on his profound spiritual legacy and prayer life and how it applies to Christians today.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Aaron Burns, author of Praying with Saint Patrick, delved into the little-known story of St. Patrick, a figure far removed from the commercialized imagery of four-leaf clovers and green beer.

His interest in St. Patrick's life, he said, was piqued by the saint's incredible journey from a victim of human trafficking to a missionary who profoundly impacted Ireland and Christianity.

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Young Patrick said he wanted nothing to do with prayer, or religion or any of that nonsense until he's kidnapped by Irish pirates at the age of 15, and then is taken over to Ireland, Burns said.

He spent six years as a slave, tending sheep in the mountains of Ireland. And he tells us that it's there that he began to pray, bringing to mind the things that he'd been taught as a boy. His faith became real to him through this incredible suffering and trials. And then, God miraculously allows him to escape, and God says, Now that you're home, I'm calling you to take the love of Christ to the people who had slaved you. And that's his journey. Watching his heart be so transformed by God's love, and then taking that love and giving it back to the people who enslaved them is very powerful and inspiring to me.

In Praying with Saint Patrick, Burns, who also directed the Great American Pure Flix film, Birthright Outlaw, aims to rediscover the historic and spiritual legacy of one of Christianity's most well-known figures while inviting readers to explore a deeper, prayerful connection with their faith.

The devotional is structured around 40 prayers that reflect various stages of St. Patrick's life, from his youth, through his captivity and slavery in Ireland, to his later years as a missionary and bishop. Burns told CP he aimed to provide readers with a narrative that blends historical context with personal reflection, allowing them to connect with Patrick's journey and apply his prayerful mindset to their own lives.

"Prayer is such a challenging thing for modern, Western Americans," Burns said.

He pointed to a significant issue in contemporary society: the separation of spiritual life from physical life, creating a vast gap between the connection to God and daily existence. This division, according to Burns, represents a "huge danger" as it leads to a disconnection from the spiritual dimensions of life.

But in St. Patrick's era, the boundary between the spiritual and the physical was much thinner, with the natural world imbued with a sense of the supernatural.

"In Patrick's day, the people of Ireland lived in fear of nature because there was such a demonic presence, and their religion, that shapeshifters and werewolves and real demonic possession and all these things were very prevalent," Burns explained. This closeness to the spiritual world made prayer a vital, daily practice for protection, guidance and support, he said.

One of the ways Burns encourages this reconnection is through the practice of praying St. Patrick's famous "Breastplate" prayer, a powerful invocation for protection and strength drawn from the saint's own words.

"I've prayed this prayer on many mornings," Burns said.

In his research, Burns was particularly moved by two prayer requests from St. Patrick that shaped the book's direction. The first was Patrick's hope for spiritual descendants, a wish that was fulfilled through the saint's lasting influence on Irish Christianity and beyond.

He prayed, I pray that I would be able to have spiritual descendants. I never had kids of my own, but I would love to leave a spiritual legacy that people would follow Christ the way that I did,'" Burns shared. "And God answered that prayer with a resounding yes. In his lifetime, we see the end of the human trafficking that Patrick himself was a victim of; we see the end of child sacrifice. The poor, underprivileged and enslaved resonated with the message of the Gospel and God's love that was shared with them. And the natural organic church just blossoms in Ireland, and over the next 300 years.

The second prayer request, Burns said, was Patrick's desire for his legacy to point people toward Christ rather than the commercialized and politicized images that prevail today. That prayer, he said, has yet to be fulfilled.

He says, I pray that anyone who hears of St. Patrick wouldn't think of me, but think of Christ and what God has done, Burns said. That prayer has not been answered yet. ... So part of the inspiration for me in writing this book was to be able to be a small part of answering this 1,500-year-old prayer to share the Good News of what God has done and to inspire us to live like Patrick and say, Where's my Ireland? What is God calling me to do?

Reflecting on the commercialization of St. Patrick's Day, Burns discussed the historic journey from the saint's original ministry to today's largely secular celebrations. He lamented the loss of the true essence of St. Patrick's legacy, overshadowed by commercial and political interests over the centuries.

He was a follower of Christ and was sanctified through his life, he said. But in his letters, you'll discover a very real man who talks about, even in his old age, his daily battle against temptation and sin. He talks about the great sins that he committed in his youth and how he's still wrestling with those, and wrestling with betrayal in temptation, and discouragement and frustration, and seasons of waiting, and all of these things.

He is so much more complex and so much more real than the stained glass window, perfect saint. That wasnt him at all. I think the transformative power of God that was unleashed in Ireland in Patrick's time became something that politicians and even, later, church leaders looked back on and wanted to tap into.

Still, the author said St. Patrick would have mixed feelings about his modern legacy, appreciating the celebration of God's work in Ireland but urging contemporary believers to remember the deep faith, prayer and miracles that marked his life and mission.

He would be thrilled with the fact that people are celebrating what God did in Ireland, Burns said. He isn't a stodgy, stuffy guy; he would have fun at a party, he would love to go to St. Patrick's Day party, I'll tell you that. But he would be going around telling people, Look at the prayers that God answered. Look at the lives that were transformed. Look at the slaves that were set free. Look at these poor women who moved from a place of abject poverty and slavery into freedom in Christ.' And he would be telling you stories of answered prayers and miracles and wanting you to be encouraged."

As nations celebrate St. Patricks Day, Burns said he hopes his devotional offers a timely reminder of the power of faith and the transformative potential of prayer, urging believers to reflect on the purpose behind their celebrations and to rediscover the spiritual legacy of one of Christianitys most enduring figures.

It's a gift to your faith to see someone who is so in love with Jesus, who was so in love with the people of his day, that he would sacrifice everything for them, Burns said. Patrick was just 400 years after the time of Jesus, and were still talking about him 2,000 plus years later. His faith is so real and relevant. He is one of those markers along the way of the transformative power of the Gospel and of what God can do through us when we invite him to.
Home News Thousands of Russians joined protest against Putin who secured 5th term as Russia's president

Thousands of Russians have taken to the streets in protest against President Vladimir Putin, who has clinched a fifth term as Russias president, amid allegations of electoral manipulation and the absence of genuine opposition. The election, resulting in an 88% win for Putin, has been marred by controversy, with claims of vote rigging and suppression of dissent.

In the wake of the election, Putin, addressing supporters at United Russias headquarters, celebrated the victory on Sunday, claiming the results to be a manifestation of the Russian peoples united will, The Telegraph reported.

Putin extolled the efforts of Russian forces in Ukraine, framing his win as a collective triumph.

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No matter how hard they tried to scare us, suppress our will, our conscience, no-one has ever succeeded in history. They failed now, and they will fail in the future, the BBC quoted the Kremlin leader as saying.

However, the elections credibility was immediately questioned, with critics pointing to the lack of competition and the alleged coercion of voters.

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, who died under suspicious circumstances in a Russian prison, emerged as a symbolic figure in the opposition movement. She urged Russians to demonstrate their discontent at polling stations, leading to widespread participation in flash mob protests across the country and at Russian embassies globally. The protests, marked by queues of dissenting voters and defaced ballots bearing anti-war and pro-Ukraine messages, underscored the deep-seated opposition to Putins regime.

The elections integrity was further compromised by reports of vote manipulation, including pressure on state employees to support Putin and tampering with electronic voting results. Independent observers like Golos have dismissed the election as fraudulent, citing instances of bribery and data falsification, according to the Telegraph.

In some regions, notably the Donbas area of Ukraine, Putins vote tally reportedly reached 95%, a figure met with skepticism by international observers.

The action has achieved its goals, Radio Free Asia quoted Ivan Zhdanov, the head the Anti-Corruption Foundation formerly headed by Navalny, as saying in a YouTube video. The action has shown that there is another Russia, there are people who stand against Putin.

International reactions to the election were swift and critical.

The U.K.s Foreign Secretary and the White House dismissed the election as neither free nor fair, highlighting the illegal voting in occupied Ukrainian territories and the suppression of political opposition.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the election as a sham, calling for Putin to face justice at The Hague.

Despite the Kremlins efforts to project unity and strength, the election has exposed significant rifts within Russian society.

The Noon Against Putin protests, a grassroots initiative, demonstrated the resilience of the opposition, with participants across Russia and abroad making a stand against Putins rule. These protests, coupled with the detention of demonstrators and acts of defiance at polling stations, have revealed a populace that is far from unanimously supportive of Putins prolonged leadership.

Putins tenure, now extended to nearly three decades, positions him as one of Russias longest-serving leaders, surpassing even Soviet-era figures in terms of longevity in power. This election, ostensibly a referendum on Putins leadership, particularly his aggressive stance on Ukraine, has instead highlighted the authoritarian underpinnings of his regime.
Home Opinion Unspeakable ethics, unnatural law

I want to believe  and so do you  in a complete, transcendent, and immanent set of propositions about right and wrong, findable rules that authoritatively and unambiguously direct us how to live righteously.

So wrote Yale Law School professor Arthur Leff at the beginning of his 1979 work, Unspeakable Ethics, Unnatural Law, where he discussed our options for law and order, both with and without God. Leff begins by saying that all of us, deep down, want to be able to point to something that draws the line between good and bad, and quarantines off whatevers bad from the rest of civil society.

That desire makes sense because law and order requires two things to be successful: 1. a standard that provides a measure of right and wrong; and 2. an authority to enforce the standard so it is effective. One without the other is a big swing-and-miss.

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The problem is that consensus on number one is pretty hard to come by these days, primarily due to the rabid desire for autonomy in just about everyone. This is why Leff immediately follows up his opening statement with: I also want to believe  and so do you  in no such thing, but rather that we are wholly free, not only to choose for ourselves what we ought to do, but to decide for ourselves, individually and as a species, what we ought to be.

Yep, theres the rub.

Look at any country, anywhere, at any point in history and you see this play out in its cultural court of opinion all the time. Why? Because, as Leff says,  whenever we set out to find the law, we are able to locate nothing more attractive, or more final, than ourselves.

The problem is, we arent actually as attractive as we think we are. As God observed very early on, The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Gen. 6:5). Elsewhere in Jeremiah, you read the same thing: The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jer. 17:9).

This being the case, is it any wonder why you get National Guard troops being deployed to New York subways for safety reasons and teenagers beating their teachers unconscious because their Nintendo game is taken away from them?

So, if were that scary bad, then it stands to reason that using our judgments as the final standard by which law is determined is a pretty chilling prospect. Leff puts it like this: Given what we know about ourselves and each otherlooking around the world, it appears that if all men are brothers, the ruling model is Cain and Abel.

That should put some ice water down your back.

But thats what you're left with if you have no transcendent source of objective moral values. It really is an egads moment when you realize its not that whatever is is right, but that whatever is is as right as anything else that can be.

The disturbing thing is that many seem pretty darned comfortable with that. Further, should something challenge it, people are increasingly going the extra mile and stiff-arming not only the idea of God and His transcendent law but anything that comes close to resembling it.

For example, the United States Constitution.

Leff says, As long as the Constitution is accepted, or at least not overthrown, it successfully functions as a God would in a valid ethical system: its restrictions and accommodations govern.

And thats a no-go for some these days. Not surprisingly, the number of people saying the Constitution has to go or at least be extensively rewritten to accommodate modern ideas is growing. For example, Donald Trump collected a lot of ire for suggesting the suspension of the Constitution during the 2020 election although some have debated if thats what he meant.

In any event, be careful of what you ask for. As Leff insightfully notes, when you shake loose of God, you reach an exhilarated vertigo, a simultaneous combination of an exultant We're free of God and a despairing Oh God, we're free. Its the naturalistic thinkers version of damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-dont.

And damned you are because, as Leff notes, history has shown that neither reason, nor love, nor even terror, seems to have worked to make us good, and worse than that, there is no reason why anything should. Only if ethics were something unspeakable by us, could law be unnatural, and therefore unchallengeable. As things now stand, everything is up for grabs.

Sadly, it seems so.

This is why poet Steve Turner ends his poem Creed, which highlights the inevitable results of naturalistic-only moral thinking, by saying: If chance be the Father of all flesh, disaster is his rainbow in the sky and when you hear State of Emergency! Sniper Kills Ten! Troops on Rampage! Whites go Looting! Bomb Blasts School! It is but the sound of man worshipping his maker.

How much better it is to acknowledge our Creator who is the source of unchanging goodness and safety for His creation. If only we all could be wired to say with David, O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have observed Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word (Ps. 119:97101).

One day that will materialize. But according to Scripture, it appears the world will have to go through Hell on earth first before it happens.
Home Opinion Whats driving 'deconstruction'?

In the last few years, more and more younger Christians have been encouraged to deconstruct their faith. Often, it begins with a well-known Christian author, pastor, musician, or public figure announcing that they are no longer a Christian. They make an announcement online to their large following on Twitter/X or YouTube, recounting why they are letting go of core tenets of Christianity. Usually, its in the name of inclusivity and tolerance that they embrace non-biblical views and lifestyles, such as same-sex marriage, transgenderism, and abortion. Young believers are encouraged to follow suit.

There are countless stories. A teenager grows cynical about Christianity, citing school friends and social media stars who label biblical ethics as first optional and then totally irrelevant. A close friend embraces same-sex marriage or LGBTQ ideology, claiming that affirmation is what Jesus wouldve done and is the only compassionate response. A spouse begins to claim that God is unloving to allow evil and suffering, or that Scripture might be useful but is not authoritative. A small group leader uses the latest social media controversy to judge and interpret Scripture, rather than the other way around.

If any of this sounds familiar, the name for it is deconstruction. And its impacting families and Christian communities everywhere.

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Thankfully, a new book, The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why Its Destructive, and How to Respond explains deconstruction for what it really is and helps Christians respond with grace and wisdom. It is perhaps the definitive book on the deconstruction phenomenon and its impact on the Church today. Authors Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett cut through confusion by defining what deconstruction is, why its appealing to so many, and how its dangerous.

According to Childers and Barnett, deconstruction is simply a modern term for falling away from the faith, something thats not new. As they write in the book,

Deconstruction is a death of sorts. Those who deconstruct experience a death of their beliefs, their community, their confidence, their relationships, and, quite possibly, their faith. Its not difficult to see why its so painful. Christianity isnt something one experiences in isolation.

Of course, this isnt anything new. People have been questioning and defecting from the faith for centuries. However, thanks to social media, deconstruction is more public than ever before. This means that,

[D]econstruction doesnt affect only the one going through it. It also impacts those who love the person going through it. When deconstruction leads to a rejection of faith, that can feel like a death both to the one deconstructing and to their loved ones. Like physical death, deconstruction can leave loved ones shocked, confused, and grieving.

But their book doesnt stop there. Childers and Barnett provide wisdom for those with loved ones in the process of deconstructing, from understanding the grief of separation from faith to practical tips on how to help make the Church a place that welcomes hard questions.

This is a book to help readers understand what deconstruction is and what it isntand understand common deconstructionist terms like exvangelical. It equips loved ones to identify the patterns of deceptive thought that lay underneath deconstruction and acquire wisdom for thoughtfully examining ones own faith without merely punting to deconstruction. And it offers helpful tools for believers to relate in loving and truthful ways with those who are deconstructing around them.

Childers and Barnetts timely book is a reminder that Christians struggling with doubts are not alone. Many Christians have struggled with doubts when it comes to the faith. In fact, in the Bible, those like Job and authors of the Psalms encourage us to take our questions to God, Who is the Source of all truth and wisdom. As Childers and Barnett write, One of the beautiful realities we find in Scripture is that we have permission to be real with God  even when that means expressing our frustrations, our worries, and our doubts.

Ultimately, Childers and Barnett point us beyond the discouragement of deconstruction to the rock-solid hope we have in Christ. Only when Christians understand the entire story of Gods world, rooted in this hope, can we engage doubts  whether our own or others  from a place of confidence, not fear or anger. This month, you can claim a copy of The Deconstruction of Christianity for a gift of any amount to the Colson Center. To make your gift, go to colsoncenter.org/march.

Originally published at BreakPoint.
Teaching children God's perfect design for marriage

Relationship and sex education in schools has been a topic of concern for parents in recent years. Criticism has been aimed particularly at the delivery of the subject and children's exposure to inappropriate content.

Christian charity Lovewise seeks to aid parents, youth groups and schools by providing resources on marriage, sex and relationships from a Christian perspective.

Julie Maxwell, Deputy Director of Lovewise, opened the organisation's recent conference recalling her disbelief at what her children, now in their 20s, were taught at school: "I was shocked by the graphic nature of the material. Even more disturbing was the lack of teaching on marriage."

She continued: "The overarching message of what they were being taught was sex was something that grown-ups do when they love each other and so long as everyone was consenting, that's all fine."

Maxwell said she had attempted to challenge what was being taught but to no avail, and decided to take her children out of sex education lessons. Other children, she said, were also taken out.

"I started looking for alternatives at which point I found Lovewise," she said.

The right to withdraw children from sex education currently remains in place in primary and secondary schools in England while relationship education is mandatory.

Professor Stuart Burgess, of the University of Bristol, led a talk on following God's perfect design for marriage in which he said it was "incredibly well designed".

"What happens before marriage has huge consequences and that is the focus of Lovewise," he said.

"Abstinence before marriage is far safer, and abstinence is far more likely to lead to romantic fulfilment."

He continued: "I have heard of Christians saying it is too difficult to abstain and there is no point in trying. It is a ridiculous objection because all of God's commands are really difficult. It is hard not to steal, it is hard to keep the Lord's day but it does not mean we just give up."

He added, "There are more warnings on sexual immorality than there are on any other topic in the Bible."

Professor Burgess went on to share that the Bible outlines "promises to support marriage", stating "he who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord" and that marriage is "healthy for society".

He continued: "If we go back 100 years people would only court if they were interested in marriage, but today people court for fun. The purpose of courtship was to investigate marriage.

"Even in the Church today we are starting to see young people having relationships for fun not because they are necessarily interested in marriage."

He added, "I very much think that Lovewise has a vital ministry not just to Christians in the church but also to society."
War in Gaza 'needs to end now', says Archbishop

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has called for an end to the war in Gaza after meeting with a Palestinian priest.

The Archbishop met Rev Fadi Diab of St Andrew's Anglican Church in Ramallah, Palestine, on Friday.

Welby called the war "cruel and horrific" and said that the arming of settlers in illegal settlements in the West Bank had "intensified violence and contributed to a level of death and destruction not seen since the Second Intifada."

During their meeting, the Archbishop heard how the war has "upended life in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and created untold misery and suffering to thousands of families".

"Countless" families have been pushed into poverty by roadblocks and the suspension of work permits, while the withholding of tax receipts to the Palestinian Authority has "pushed basic services and critical infrastructure to the edge of collapse", the Archbishop said.

Welby called for an immediate end to the war and the release of all remaining Israeli hostages.

"This war and its killing needs to end and it needs to end now. All hostages need to be released. Immediate and unrestricted aid must be secured to address the famine-like conditions in Gaza," he said.

"I give thanks to the ministry of Father Fadi Diab at this critical time, and I pray that God will guide and watch over him, the wider Diocese of Jerusalem, and all Christian churches as they provide comfort and support to those most in need."
Upholding one-China principle an unstoppable historical trend

10:23, March 18, 2024 By Shi Renxuan ( People's Daily

The separatist activities for "Taiwan independence" are the most destructive elements to the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi when answering questions from Chinese and foreign media about China's foreign policy and external relations recently.

To truly safeguard cross-Strait peace, the world must unequivocally oppose "Taiwan independence." The stronger the commitment to the one-China principle is, the greater the guarantee for the peace across the Strait will be, said Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

This solemn stance on the Taiwan-related issues made by the Chinese government has given a serious warning to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and external forces behind them, once again sending a powerful message that the historical trend of upholding the one-China principle is unstoppable.

Taiwan is China's Taiwan. The elections in Taiwan held this January are just local elections in one part of China. The result does not change, even in the slightest terms, the basic fact that Taiwan is part of China. Nor does it change the historical trend of Taiwan's return to the motherland.

Since the elections ended, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokespersons promptly shared the reaction of the international community to the elections. In just a few days, more than 100 countries and international organizations have reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle and their support for China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia said in a statement that Serbia, in accordance with its consistent policy and advocacy for adherence to the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations, supports the one-China principle, that it does not recognize the statehood of Taiwan.

The Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade reaffirmed Hungary's commitment to the one-China principle in the country's foreign policy.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Prime Minister of Nepal, said Nepal opposes "Taiwan independence," never allows others to use Nepal's territory to engage in any activities that harm China's interests, and opposes any interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

The spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said that the Russian side opposes any form of Taiwan's independence, and called on all outside forces to refrain from provocative actions undermining regional stability and international security.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, and any election or action carried out in Taiwan should not affect this fact.

Leaders of the Maldives, Sierra Leone and other countries issued joint press communiques or joint statements with the Chinese side during their visits to China, reaffirming their commitment to the one-China principle, opposition to external interference in China's internal affairs, and support of all efforts made by China to achieve national reunification.

These voices of justice and peace reflect the broad consensus of the international community in firmly upholding the UN Charter and the basic norms governing international relations, and embody the trend of the times and of history.

The one-China principle is what underpins peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change; the Chinese government's position of upholding the one-China principle and opposing "Taiwan independence" separatism, "two Chinas" and "one China, one Taiwan" will not change; and the international community's prevailing consensus on upholding the one-China principle and long-standing and overwhelming adherence to this principle will not change.

A few countries, out of geopolitical considerations and ideological confrontation, have chosen to stand in opposition to the vast majority of countries in the international community, obscuring and hollowing out the one-China principle. While paying lip service to not supporting "Taiwan independence," they announce arms sales to Taiwan and collude with the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

The Democratic Progressive Party authority has obstinately adhered to the separatist position of "Taiwan independence" and refused to recognize the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus. It made provocations in pursuit of "independence" in collusion with external forces. Such acts of undermining the one-China principle are despicable and deplorable. These are the root causes of the tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

The Chinese government and people have a clear stance on such plots and tricks. Whoever engages in "Taiwan independence" on the island will be held accountable by history. Whoever in the world connives at and supports "Taiwan independence" will get burned for playing with fire and taste the bitter fruit of their own doing.

Standing up for the one-China principle is the right thing to do. It has the overwhelming support of the international community and represents the prevailing trend of the world. A total of 183 countries have established diplomatic relations with China based on the one-China principle. Taiwan's number of so-called "diplomatic allies" has been reduced to 12, and these countries only account for less than 0.3 percent of the world's population. It's obvious to see which one represents the mainstream and the general trend.

On Jan. 15 this year, the day after the elections in Taiwan concluded, the Nauru government announced its recognition of the one-China principle and severed the so-called "diplomatic relations" with the Taiwan authorities. The country said it is willing to resume diplomatic relations with China.

On Jan. 24, China and Nauru signed a joint communique on the resumption of diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level. Nauru's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea said during his visit to China that the one-China principle is an irresistible trend in the world.

It is believed that more members of the international community will see the historical trend and choose to establish or resume diplomatic relations with China. The international community's prevailing consensus on upholding the one-China principle will become more solid. The Chinese people's just cause of opposing "Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference and striving for national reunification will win more understanding and support.

Some day, there will be a family photo of the whole international community in which all members uphold the one-China principle. It is only a matter of time.

(Shi Renxuan is an observer of international affairs.)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Nine-year-old fourth grader, at Pugh Elementary, Amber Mean Robles stands with her mom, Ibex, as she speaks to the Houston Independent School District, Board of Managers, during a meeting Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023 in Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Houston ISD community members seeking to stay informed and share their input on district decisions can do so by attending the district's monthly school board meetings.

HISDs appointed Board of Managers typically hold meetings on the second Thursday of every month, although some meetings may be held at a different time due to district holidays or breaks. During meetings, the board often votes to make notable changes to district policies, such as adopting the District of Innovation designation or approving a new principal evaluation system.

If you want to attend or speak at one of HISDs monthly board meetings, heres what you need to know:

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THE REPORT CARD: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicles weekly newsletter recapping HISD news

How do I attend an HISD school board meeting?

Board meetings are open to the public at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, which is located at 4400 W 18th St, Houston, TX, 77092. The monthly board meetings are typically held at 5 p.m. in the board auditorium.

Anyone can attend the meetings, regardless of if they are registered to speak, although seating is available on a first come, first served basis. Doors will usually open 30 minutes before the meeting is set to begin, according to the district.

The remaining monthly board meeting dates for this academic year are scheduled for March 21, April 11, May 9 and June 13.

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If I cant attend a board meeting in-person, can I still watch?

Yes. HISD live-streams their monthly board meetings in several places, including AT&T U-verse HISD TV Channel 99, Comcast HISD TV Channel 18 and on HISDs website.

If you miss a meeting, you can view the recording on HISDs website after it ends. The district says it aims to upload recordings within 24 hours after a meeting.

How do I learn what is on the board meeting agenda?

HISD posts the agenda within 72 hours of each board meeting on its website. It also will post a separate packet with more details about the agenda items and any other relevant documents before the meeting.

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The posted agenda will list what is on the consent agenda, which is usually approved without discussion, and any items pulled from the consent agenda that the board members may want to discuss further.

The agenda will include any reports that the district plans to present at the meeting and what the board is scheduled to discuss in its private closed session. The district also publishes a Q&A detailing board members questions about the agenda items and the districts responses before the meeting.

How do I register to speak at a board meeting?

Anyone can speak in-person or virtually on any of the listed agenda items if they register in advance to comment. Speakers can also register to make comments during the hearing of the community if they want to speak about district-related topics that are not listed on the agenda.

Once the agenda is published, you can register to speak by clicking on the posted meeting and clicking eComment. Youll need to create an account and then select the items youd like to speak on.

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You can also register by filling out this form and emailing it to BoardServices@houstonisd.org.

The deadline to register to speak is noon the day before the meeting. This year's monthly board meetings are held on Thursdays, which means the deadline to register is Wednesday.

What should I know about speaking?

If there are 30 or fewer people registered to speak, youll have up to two minutes total for your comments, even if you have registered to speak on multiple items.

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However, the monthly school board meetings this year have almost always exceeded 30 speakers, and sometimes they will exceed that limit by dozens of people. If that is the case, the Board of Managers can limit speakers to one minute each.
Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate.

Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele
Barbara Jordan speaks at Forum Club luncheon on July 15, 1991 about President Bush's nomination of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court. Betty Tichich/Houston Chronicle

For many years, Brad Englert and other alums of the LBJ School Of Public Affairs at the University of Texas would meet at the schools Barbara Jordan National Forum and recall stories of being in her classroom.

Jordan, a Houstonian and the first Black congresswoman from the South, was a professor at the school from 1979 to 1996.

But Englert said the group hadnt gotten together for a while when he started thinking a few years ago about his classmates and others who learned from Jordan. They werent getting any younger; and at some point, the stories they remembered of their time in her class might get lost.

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Could we capture these stories? Englert asked himself.

Englert then contacted the school about collecting memories from himself and other alums who learned from Jordan.

The result of that inquiry was published last month online on the schools website. Remembering Professor Barbara Jordan: An LBJ School Oral History features interviews with 28 alums from different lines of work, government-related or otherwise.

Links to a transcript and the full audio are available on the projects webpage.

Shes like the ethos of what we do at the school, said Alyssa Vidales, LBJ School multimedia producer, who spearheaded the project. Pursuing policy for the common good. Seeing the potential in democracy and public policy to make a real change in this world.

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The project was done in collaboration with The Drag, an audio production house operated by students and faculty at the university.

The final interview cuts are not long, ranging between six and 11 minutes, but they are jam-packed with stories and wisdom about Jordan and the influence she had on her students lives. Multiple people spoke of stopping to think at points in their lives to ask themselves: What would Barbara Jordan do?

LBJ School Dean JR DeShazo said it is inspiring as an educator to see Jordans effect on her students.

Theres not a single alumni that I met with that had been taught by Barbara Jordan that when I met them didnt bring up their experience with her in the classroom, DeShazo said. She had a tremendous impact on the people that she touched when she was a teacher here.

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One of those students was Englert, who worked at Accenture for more than two decades, with 10 years as a partner. He then returned to the university, where he was the chief information officer for seven years, and now runs an advisory firm.

He called Jordan the soul of the school and said the final oral history was beyond his expectations from when he pitched it to the school.

To be honest, I teared up, Englert said. It was tremendous.

AN TRUE IMPACT: Congresswoman Barbara Jordan broke down barriers for a lasting legacy

The oral history project is the latest way UT has honored Jordan and her massive legacy. The university unveiled a statue of her in 2009.

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In addition to the oral history project and the forum, the LBJ School has the Barbara Jordan Chair in Ethics and Political Values.
90 de idei de startup-uri din 5 tari au fost acceptate la cel mai mare accelerator autohton de startup-uri la etapa idee, Upcelerator by Dreamups, editia Orange Digital Center
Homelessness charity Crisis UK has responded after a trade union boss criticised it on social media over its actions taken against an employee.

The charitys chief operating officer Louise Harris said it was regrettable that Crisis has had to dismiss a member of staff, who was also a trade union representative.

Writing on social media , Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: The actions of Crisis UK against trade union reps will not be allowed to continue.

Unite wont tolerate attacks on our workplace representatives at the hands of hostile employers.

Crisis is on notice that this dispute will escalate unless they row back on their actions.

Harris said in response: Dismissal is always a last resort - and we are acutely aware of the impact it has on the individual and those around them.

We follow extremely thorough processes before coming to any decision. While we cannot comment on the specifics of this case, due to an on-going process, at its heart was a very serious matter.

We are firmly committed to working in partnership with our Unite representatives and their members  and know from the work we have done together that our staff benefit when we collaborate well.

We always engage with our union representatives, as only together can we create the best possible workplace for our staff. We have made it clear that we wish to continue positive dialogue.

80 redundancies from restructure

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the charity confirmed that it made 80 redundancies as a result of recent restructure.

Last year, the 65m charity proposed a restructure of its services , involving more than 100 roles being made redundant due to financial pressures.

In September, it confirmed the closure of two of its Skylight advice centres, one covering south Yorkshire, the other Coventry and Warwickshire.

Last year we had to take the tough decision to carry out a restructure to ensure we are financially sustainable in the long-term and can continue to support people facing homelessness, they said.

Very sadly, this involved the closure of two services and 80 redundancies across the organisation.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
By wedninth, Adobe

A charity supporting armed forces veterans plans to close while an investigation into accounting concerns at the organisation continues, the regulator has confirmed.

The Charity Commission opened a compliance case into Forgotten Veterans UK (FVUK) last May due to concerns over its accounts for the year ending October 2021, which failed to provide records for 151,000 in donations and 89,000 in expenditure.

Since then, FVUK filed accounts for 2021-22, which include a section from an auditor that calls the charitys bookkeeping very poor and states that they are awaiting receipts for two payments worth more than 12,000.

However, the auditor writes: Although the bookkeeping is very poor, it is in my opinion that the expenditure within the accounts is in line with the nature of the charity.

FVUK has now informed the Commission of its intention to close, said the regulator, which updated its guidance on how to close a charity this month.

Missing receipts

The Commissions intervention came after the charitys former chief executive and co-founder Gary Weaving was arrested over allegations of harassment and exposure.

Subsequently, Weaving stepped away from the charity and ceased all duties as CEO. Portsmouth Police said that Weaving was released without charge and no further action was taken.

FVUK was founded by Weaving and the sole remaining trustee Tony Reid in 2016. Reid stepped away from the charity in 2019 for health reasons, he told Civil Society last year, before returning last January.

Last year, Reid told Civil Society he was confident that there is not any misappropriation of funds in the 2020-21 accounts, which were filed 279 days late.

In August 2023, the charity published a since-deleted social media post stating that it had suspended all of its operations due to reputational damage.

FVUK did not respond to a request for comment.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Safe Passage recruits interim boss

Wanda Wyporska has been appointed as interim CEO of refugee charity Safe Passage International. She replaces Beth Gardiner-Smith, who held the role for five and a half years.

Most recently, Wyporska was CEO of the Black Equity Organisation before leaving in November 2023.

Before that, she led the Society of Genealogists for a year and a half and held senior roles at the Equality Trust, League Against Cruel Sports, Unionlearn with TUC and more.

On her appointment, she said: Coming from a refugee and migrant family, I know just how important it is for people fleeing war and persecution to be able to reunite with loved ones and to have safe ways they can reach protection.

Guys and St Thomas Foundation hires CEO

Laurie Lee has been appointed as CEO of the Guys and St Thomas Foundation, one of the largest independent charitable foundations in the UK.

Lee has been interim CEO of the foundation since last April, and took over from Kieron Boyle, who stepped down after seven years at the helm.

Lee was CEO of Care International UK for eight years and held director roles at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the governments department for international development.

Susanne Given, chair of the Guys & St Thomass Foundation, said: Were delighted that Laurie will be leading the organisation and the incredibly important work that were doing to improve health equity.

He brings extensive experience to the role from across several senior third sector and government roles.

New leader for Leukaemia Care

The Worcestershire-based charity Leukaemia Care has appointed Colin Dyer as its chief executive. Dyer will replace Zack Pemberton-Whiteley, who was in post for three years.

Dyer joins from the Charity from Special Olympics Great Britain, where he was CEO for two years. Prior to this, he spent 12 years leading WellChild.

Chris Matthews-Maxwell, chairman of Leukaemia Care, said: The board is delighted to appoint a person of Colins extensive and varied experience, who will be joining the charity at an interesting time of its growth and development.

Royal College of Psychiatrists appoints CEO

The Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), which has a total income of over 22m, has announced Sonia Walter as its permanent CEO. She was appointed on an interim basis in December following the departure of Paul Rees after seven years in post.

Walter joined RCPsych in 2000 as assistant conference manager and was promoted several times before becoming director of professional standards in 2019 where she led on the charitys events, training and workforce.

She said: I have dedicated my professional life to the goals of the college, so it is a tremendous privilege to have been appointed as chief executive.

I know the pressures our members face, and I will work tirelessly to develop innovative ways of supporting their professional needs.

New CEO for Police Care UK

Renata Gomes has been appointed as chief executive of Police Care UK, the charity for police officers who are harmed during service. Gomes succeeds Gill Scott-Moore, who stepped down last year after a decade at the helm.

Gomes joins from Blind Veterans UK Group, where she was chief scientific officer for four years. In 2016, she was a senior lecturer in haematology and cardiovascular medicine and has worked in research at various universities.

Police Care UK chair, Derek Ray-Hill, said: Renatas experience in clinical matters, science, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and business management is the ideal combination to deliver this.

She will take Police Care UK forward to expand our capabilities and ensure we are at the forefront of combating stress and trauma in policing.

Scottish leisure charity appoints CEO

Edinburgh Leisure has announced Jen Holland as its new CEO. She succeeds June Peebles, who retired last month after she spent 38 years working at the charity, with 10 spent as CEO.

Holland joins the charity from the Scottish Borders Council where she was director of strategic commissioning and partnerships, having worked at the council for almost five years.

Scott Haldane, chair of Edinburgh Leisure, said: While everyone  staff and customers alike  was sad to see June go, she has left behind an organisation that is mature and certain of its purpose.

A charity dedicated to make a positive difference by creating opportunities for everyone to get active, stay active and achieve more.

Postal Museum announces chair

Sue Wilkinson has been appointed as chair of the Postal Museum. She succeeds Rick Wills, who had an eight-and-a-half-year tenure.

Wilkinson was formerly CEO of the Reading Agency for five years. She was director of policy at Museums, Libraries and Archives Council for 12 years and is a qualified teacher.

She said: The museums inspiring vision is one I am very much looking forward to supporting and developing.

It is a great honour to have been appointed as chair of trustees.

Cancer52 appoints vice chair

Cancer52, which represents 115 cancer charities, has appointed Rebecca Porta as its vice chair of the board. She previously served as interim chair.

Porta is currently CEO of the Cancer52 member charity the Urology Foundation. Formerly, she was CEO of male cancer charity Orchid Cancer Appeal for over 11 years.

Anne MacDowell, chair of Cancer52, said: Rebecca brings an immense wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm, and commitment to the board.

Her ability to foster collaborations and drive growth positions her perfectly for the role of vice chair. As Cancer52 continues to thrive, were excited to benefit from Rebeccas expertise and vision.

Become recruits chair and vice chair

Leslie Murphy has been appointed as the chair of Become, a charity for children in care and care leavers.

Murphy was formerly CEO of Crisis, a director of the Princes Trust and is currently chair for the homelessness charity Pathway.

Meanwhile, Marvin Campbell has been appointed as vice chair of Become. Campbell is a senior consultant at Deloitte and most recently he supported the engagement and policy recommendations for the childrens social care review.

Katharine Sacks-Jones, CEO of Become, said: We are very excited about the positive impact we will have in the years ahead with Leslies support and guidance.

Were fortunate to also be joined by Marvin as vice chair who brings a huge amount of personal and professional experience to the board.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
On Saturday, Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Ohio. Before he began, an announcer instructed the crowd to rise in tribute to the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on January 6, and Trump himself stood and saluted the national anthem as recorded by the J6 Prison Choir. During his speech, Trump promised to help the insurrectionists if he wins reelection, referring to them as patriots and hostages. He claimed that the 2020 election, the result of which precipitated the insurrection, had been rigged against him, and said that if he doesnt win in November, I dont think youre going to have another election, or certainly not an election thats meaningful. He made confusing remarks about Joe Biden beating Barack Hussein Obama in a nationwide election, and referred to some immigrants as animals, adding, I dont know if you call them people, in some cases. Theyre not people, in my opinion. He used a vulgarity to refer to Fani Willis, who is prosecuting him in Georgia for attempting to overturn the 2020 election. He referred to the governor of California as Gavin New-scum.

These remarks were covered prominently by several major outlets. But it was a different comment that dominated discussion of the rallyone in which Trump predicted (or threatened) a bloodbath for the country if he isnt reelected. Trumps invocation of the word drove headlines across the media landscape. On TV, Republican politicians were asked to respond to it.

In response, several of themin addition to Trumps campaign and other boosters of the former presidentclaimed that the media was taking the bloodbath comment out of context: it came during a section of Trumps speech about the state of the US auto industry, and was clearly meant, these people said, in an economic sense. Many Trump critics countered that it was fair to highlight the remark, arguing, variously, that Trump doesnt deserve the benefit of the doubt given his long history of violent rhetoric, that its not at all clear that he was only referring to the auto industry, and that even if he was, his use of the word bloodbath was still hyperbolic to the point of demagoguery. Othersfrom the left to more Trump-skeptical precincts of the rightsuggested that Trumps use of bloodbath was at worst ambiguous, and that the media didnt need to focus on it given other things he indisputably did say at the rally. I think its important we start demanding the media vigorously cover the insane, anti-constitutional, violent and dictator-loving rhetoric Trump uses on a regular basis, Sarah Longwell, a leading anti-Trump Republican, said. But when you take things out of context you do more harm than good.

The to-do over Trumps remark can be seen as the latest installment in the debate (which weve covered often here at CJR) as to how the media ought to handle his rhetoric, given its frequent violence and dishonesty. Nearly a decade after Trump rode down the escalator, it is a debate that media outlets have still yet to resolve. Even before the Ohio rally, it reared its head again last week. Various media critics took CNBC to task for hosting a rambling phone-in interview with Trump without sufficiently pushing back on his talking points. (Watching the interview, CNNs Oliver Darcy felt transported to 2015, back when news outlets allowed Trump to phone in to news shows and deliver a drive-by of lies to their audiences.) The New Yorkers Susan B. Glasser, meanwhile, took the media as a whole to task for failing to devote sufficient coverage to a prior, equally unhinged Trump rally in Georgia, arguing that his flood of lies and BS is now seen as old news from a candidate whose greatest political success has been to acclimate a large swath of the population to his ever more dangerous alternate reality.

Such discourse, and the fallout from the Ohio rally in particular, is illustrative not only of the changing contours of the debate over how to handle Trumps speech, but also of its persistent unsolvability and the muddle that inevitably follows. It demonstrates how well-intentioned observers, united in wanting to get the truth about Trump across to the public, still differ on how to do so. And it shows that how we choose to frame Trumps words continues to matter, even if some among us would seemingly prefer they speak for themselves.

The debate over how to handle Trumps speech has fairly closely tracked my time covering the US media. To oversimplify grotesquely, the dominant approach to the question, as I perceive it, has evolved through different phases. There was the phase when news networks gleefully carried Trumps rallies live, even if (or perhaps because) they thought he had no shot of being presidenthe was a curiosity, a gimmick; above all he was a ratings draw. (We might call this the damn good for CBS phase.) Then there was the phase of treating his rallies as a form of anthropology, a key to unlocking his suddenly very real mass appeal. Then there was the phase of seeing it as irresponsible to broadcast Trump live (at least without some form of real-time fact-checking-by-chyron) due to the information pollution streaming perpetually in his wakea phase that arguably reached its zenith with Trumps COVID briefings in 2020, and their associated exhortations to inject bleach.

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As noted, though, these phases are oversimplifications; during all of them, different mainstream media actors recommended taking, or actively did take, a different path. In 2019, Lenore Taylor, the editor of The Guardians Australian edition, turned heads among US media observers when she argued in a widely shared op-ed that watching a full, unfiltered Trump press conference had changed her perception of a man she thought she knew well. Taylor realized how much the reporting of Trump necessarily edits and parses his words, to force it into sequential paragraphs or impose meaning where it is difficult to detect, she wrote. In most circumstances, presenting information in as intelligible a form as possible is what we are trained for. But the shock I felt hearing half an hour of unfiltered meanderings from the president of the United States made me wonder whether the editing does our readers a disservice. Those who feared normalizing Trumps lies, in other words, might have been normalizing his incoherence instead.

Nowafter years of relative dormancy, with a heavy emphasis on relativethe debate is back, and a view similar to Taylors seems, to my eye, to have gained purchase, spurred, perhaps, by the free pass granted to Trump on questions of age and gaffe-making (at least when compared with Biden), a widespread public amnesia about Trumps most extreme comments (which my colleague Cameron Joseph wrote about recently), and a diminished place in the discourse for the art of close fact-checking (which I wrote about last week). In January, The Atlantics McKay Coppins argued that if the glut of attention in 2016 desensitized the nation to Trump, the relative dearth in the past year has turned him into an abstraction; to counteract this, he suggested, all politically engaged Americans (including journalists) should attend a Trump rally to remind themselves of the stakes. Whether or not its news in the conventional sense, Glasser wrote in her recent New Yorker essay, its easiest to understand the threat that Trump poses to American democracy most clearly when you see it for yourself. Readers, she advised, should watch his speeches. Share them widely. Dont look away.

Again, though, not everyone seems to agree with such prescriptions, and so the debate has continuedincluding inside major networks. After Trump won the Iowa caucuses in January, MSNBC did not broadcast his victory speech, with Rachel Maddow telling viewers that to do so would come at the cost of knowingly airing lies; two months later, after Trump cleaned up on Super Tuesday, MSNBC did air at least part of his victory speech, triggering an on-air discussion about the best way to balance fact-checking and exposure. (Yes, on-air graphics were mentioned.) CNN has more consistently aired Trumps words of late, but not without some internal discussion. According to the New York Times, after Trump won Iowa, network executives debated the fine line between journalistic responsibility and handing Trump free publicity.

As Ive covered this debate over the years, my thinking on it, too, has gone back and forth. I certainly see the appeal of the arguments advanced by Taylor, Coppins, and Glasser. It does feel as if too many people, journalists included, have become desensitized to much of Trumps rhetoric and that upping our dosage could help inoculate us againand as I wrote in 2020, in the wake of Bleachgate, the seriousness inherent to our craft can accidentally imbue Trumps most rambling words with some sense of meaning when we render them in our coverage. Still, in a busy news cycle, it also still strikes me that it isnt journalistically tenable to ask audiences to mainline hours of straight-from-the-source Trump, and thats before we get into the persistent, very valid concerns around handing him free airtime and letting him lie unfiltered. (Theres a fine line between exposure and stenography, even if the intention is to shock.) And its hard to imagine people who are already tuning out Trumps remarks wanting to consume more of them.

The reason this debate has cycled on for so long is because there isnt a satisfying answer: giving our audiences more direct exposure to Trump comes with legitimate benefits and risks, as does filtering that exposure; one could reasonably fear, meanwhile, that both scenarios might redound to Trumps advantage in different ways. The debate will surely continue. But it strikes me thatnow as alwaysjournalists have certain unavoidable responsibilities in how we frame the story of Trumps language, responsibilities that even greater exposure to his words cannot mitigate. These come back to the essential element of the bloodbath controversy: context.

Ultimately, journalists cannotand probably should notmake voters feel a certain way about Trump, or even make them pay attention. But we can make sure that we are presenting the full truth of his remarks to those who are. This could involve broadcasting more of his words, but it doesnt have toto my ear, at least, airing his whole Ohio speech wouldnt have cleared up precisely what he meant by bloodbath, because his words during that section were rambling and ambiguous (even if my sense is, on balance, that he was using the word in an economic sense). Broadcasting the whole speech would have exposed viewers to all the other things Trump did and said, not least saluting the January 6 insurrectionists. But news coverage summarizing the speech did that, too; at least, some of it did.

And establishing context for the Ohio speech requires more than just watching itit requires a full, consistent accounting of how often Trumps rhetoric is violent, and inarguably so. The bigger problem here, as I see it, is not that we arent airing Trumps rhetoric, but that we often arent covering it at all, at least not as a big storyindeed, this weekends focus on the bloodbath comment likely stemmed more from its perceived novelty than anything else. (Trump has saluted the J6 Prison Choir before.) When it comes to covering Trumps language, novelty is not a good guide to newsworthiness (especially given how often he repeats himself). Its no surprise readers become desensitized if journalists appear to be too.

As Ive written before, the debate over whether to carry Trump live, while important, also often rests on a false dichotomy: there are different ways of doing so. And whichever we choose, we will still, always, have to decide how to talk and write about what Trump said. Over the weekend, even otherwise sharp stories on his Ohio rally resorted to euphemisms to describe the speech as a wholediscursive, headline-seizing, freewheelingthat gave only a fuzzy impression of what it was actually like. If Trumps word choices matter, so, too, do ours.



Other notable stories:

ICYMI: Young People Get Their News from TikTok. Thats a Huge Problem for Democrats.

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
A Broward County jury has decided that the Cleveland Clinic Florida should pay almost $32 million to the estate of a man who was not put in intensive care after suffering septic shock and who later died.

The jury found the hospital was negligent and jurors awarded $30 million for present and future pain and suffering, loss of companionship and guidance, to the minor daughter of the patient, Saverio Sasso. About $1.9 million was awarded for medical expenses, funeral services and loss of support.

Sasso, 51, was admitted to the Cleveland Clinic emergency department in September 2018 after reporting severe back pain. In the previous 24 hours, Sasso had visited urgent care facilities with burning sensation during urination, nausea, fever and a urinary tract infection, the amended complaint reads.

At the time his fiance brought him to the Cleveland ER, he was at high risk of septic shock from the internal infection, the lawsuit notes.

But instead of placing him in an acute intensive care unit as his condition warranted, he was placed in an intermediate step-down unit for observation, the complaint charges.

His condition worsened overnight. The next day, a rapid response team was called and personnel attempted to intubate Sasso. The procedure was unsuccessful until an anesthesiologist arrived. But that left the patient deprived of oxygen for 14 minutes, the suit contends. Sasso died a week later.

The not-for-profit Cleveland Clinic denied most of the allegations in the complaint and said that Sassos death was related to congenital medical conditions, and was not due to negligence by the hospital staff.

The plaintiffs attorneys, Diana Santa Maria, David Carter and Dane Ullian, also asked the judge to sanction the clinic officials. The clinic deliberately withheld emails that allegedly supported the fact that the intubation was initiated by a resident rather than a fellow at the hospital, the March 7 sanctions motion reads.

During the trial, the Cleveland Clinic also offered new stories that were suspiciously coincident in an attempt to deflect damaging evidence, the estates lawyers said.

The Cleveland Clinic issued a statement to Insurance Journal about the verdict.

The well-being of our patients is our top priority, the statement reads. While we respect the jurys verdict and appreciate the time they committed to hear the case, we do not agree with the outcome and are evaluating our options.
Apple Inc. reached a $490 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit brought by a group of investors who accused Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook of misleading them in 2018 about the companys sales prospects.

Cook made false statements about the companys business in China that caused Apple stock to trade at artificially inflated prices, the investors said in their complaint, which alleged violation of securities laws. Lawyers disclosed the proposed settlement in a request for judicial approval filed Friday in federal court in Oakland, California.

The settlement comes as Apple continues to face headwinds in China, where iPhone sales fell by a surprising 24% over the first six weeks of this year, according to independent research released earlier this month. Attorneys for the investors described the settlement as the third-largest securities class-action recovery in the districts history.

Apple denied any violation of law, but said in the filing it agreed to the settlement in recognition that further litigation will be protracted, overly burdensome, expensive, and distracting.

Apple shares were down 1.1% on Friday amid a broader pullback in the stock market.

The case is Apple Inc. Securities Litigation, 19-cv-2033, US District Court, Northern District of California (Oakland).

Top photo: CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA  JUNE 05: Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks before the start of the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference at its headquarters on June 05, 2023 in Cupertino, California. Apple CEO Tim Cook kicked off the annual WWDC23 developer conference. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
In many states, city police departments and county sheriffs are the main agencies charged with keeping the peace; constables arent even in the vocabulary.

But in Texas, constables have been part of the fabric of law enforcement for nearly two centuries.

And Harris Countys constables have bigger staffs and much more sweeping responsibilities than any of their peers in Texas.

A Houston Chronicle Investigation Unchecked Forces Many Houstonians have no idea what a constable is, but Harris County constables have amassed unprecedented reach and power. An ongoing Chronicle investigation digs into how that happened and why it matters. CLICK TO READ THE SERIES

There are eight independently elected constables in the county, and they collectively employ 1,765 sworn deputies  hundreds more than any other county constables' offices in the state.

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The constables now account for $236 million a year of Harris Countys budget, while the sheriffs patrol budget is $293 million. And in recent years, they have waged an increasingly aggressive campaign for more resources and recognition.

Why do we have constables in Texas?

The simple answer is: Back in 1836, the Texas Constitution required each county to elect a sheriff and a sufficient number of constables, and no one has changed it.

For a more complicated answer, read on.

What authority does a constable have?

In Texas, a constable is a licensed peace officer who is elected. All law enforcement officials who work under a constable are known as deputy constables.

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Constables and their deputies have all the same powers of a city police officer or sheriffs deputy. They can investigate, arrest, detain and use force against civilians they suspect are involved in criminal activity.

Harris County has eight constable precincts. The most populous is Precinct 5, which covers the western part of the county and has 1.2 million people. Precinct 5 is led by Republican Constable Ted Heap.

Precinct 4 is the second-largest in the county by population, with 1 million people. Led by Republican Constable Mark Herman, that precinct covers the north and northwest parts of Harris County.

In 1985, Precinct 4 Harris County Constable Dick Moore supervised 13 contract deputies who worked out of a subdivision-owned substation in Kingwood, April 25, 1985. Today, hundreds of neighborhoods, school districts and other local entities pay the constables for these additional patrols through the "contract deputy" program. Brent Manley/Houston Chronicle

Whats the difference between a sheriff and a constable?

The only real difference is that counties have only one sheriff, who is elected countywide. In Harris County, thats Democrat Ed Gonzalez. By contrast, most counties must have between four and eight constable precincts, according to state law.

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What is the jurisdiction of a constable?

Constables can exercise their powers anywhere within the county  in Harris County, that includes the area within the Houston city limits  no matter which precinct employs them.

Most constables across Texas have a limited role in law enforcement  they stick to serving warrants and civil papers like subpoenas, restraining orders, or eviction notices. It's different here in the Houston region, however, where each constable's office has its own dispatch system and command staff. Hundreds of deputy constables patrol the region and crisscross the same zones monitored by other law enforcement agencies, such as the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Houston Police Department.

Who pays for the constables?

The county budget, which is funded in large part by property taxes paid by all Harris County residents, pays for the constables. Neighborhoods and civic clubs also pay a portion of the constables' budgets through the county's contract deputy program.

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The program, which allows neighborhoods to pay the constables or the sheriff for extra patrols, is controversial. The constables have far more contracts than the sheriff, and this year, they are collecting $74 million from the contract deputy program. That doesnt include millions more from county taxpayers, who subsidize almost all the contracts to some degree.

Those county-wide subsidies are based on the understanding that contract deputies would spend some of their time patrolling areas outside of their assigned neighborhoods. But county administrators do not track how much time deputies actually spend protecting taxpayers outside of contracts.

Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman swears in nearly 500 state-certified officers in January 2017. Courtesy photo

What do constables in Harris County actually do?

That depends a lot on where you live and who you ask. Harris Countys constables and their supporters say they provide a vital law enforcement function in fast-growing rural and suburban areas, responding to calls that other law enforcement officers cant get to.

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Critics and some experts say that constables are redundant and theyd serve the community better if they were consolidated with the sheriffs office, which handles the vast majority of violent crime across Harris County.

The Chronicles analysis of constable activities shows that they spend the bulk of their time making traffic stops and dealing with minor disturbances, alarms and other non-criminal activity. On a typical night last year, people arrested by deputies in the eight constable precincts accounted for just 6% of the Harris County Jail population, according to county records.

Why have the constables been demanding more resources?

The constables say that Democratic county leaders, including County Judge Lina Hidalgo and three of the four county commissioners, are starving them of funding at a time when violent crime is a major concern for Houstonians.

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A Hopkinton, Massachusetts couple has been arrested and charged in connection with separate schemes to defraud their workers compensation insurance carriers, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and their mortgage lender.

According to the U.S. Attorney, Ronaldo Solano and Adriana Solano were indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on mail, wire and bank fraud charges.

According to the indictment, between 2012 and 2020, the Solanos  who operate a roofing and construction company based in Framingham under the names H&R Roofing & Construction Inc. and H&R Roofing & Siding Corp.  avoided more than $627,000 in workers compensation insurance premiums by underreporting their payroll and paying workers through a shell company called Target Roofing.

The indictment alleges that at various points they told their insurers they had no employees or that all employees did administrative work only. They allegedly provided incomplete bank and tax records and accepted premium refund checks from two unnamed insurers, one in Burlington, the other in Boston, according to the court documents.

Prosecutors did not stop at investigating the couples payroll and workers compensation.

Separately, prosecutors have alleged that, between 2021 and 2022, the couple also submitted a loan application on behalf of H&R Roofing & Siding Corp. to the SBA under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program, which provided for pandemic relief under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In the application, they allegedly requested $2 million in relief funds for working capital and other eligible business expenses.

After receiving the pandemic relief funds, prosecutors charge that they transferred $1 million of the funds to a personal bank account they shared, from which they allegedly used more than $825,000 for a down payment towards a home in Hopkinton.

The indictment further claims they borrowed another $770,500 from a mortgage lender to fund the purchase of the Hopkinton home but did not disclose to their lender that they were using EIDL funds for the down payment.

The details in the indictment are allegations. The Solanos are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland mother who left her 16-month-old daughter home alone for 10 days while she vacationed in Puerto Rico and Michigan was sentenced Monday to spend the rest of her life in prison.

Kristel Candelario posed for photographs on the beach and at a club with her friends while Jailyn slowly starved to death within the walls of a playpen in her home.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Brendan Sheehan said Candelario committed the ultimate betrayal by leaving her daughter alone with no food.

Just as you didnt let Jailyn out of her confinement, so too you should spend the rest of your life in a cell without freedom, Sheehan said. The only difference will be, the prison will at least feed you and give you liquid that you denied her.

Sheehan sentenced Candelario, 32, to life in prison with no chance at parole, the maximum sentence she faced after she pleaded guilty Feb. 22 to aggravated murder and child endangering.

Sheehan could have imposed a sentence that would have allowed her to become eligible for parole after as few as 20 years or as many as 38 years.

Candelario, speaking for the first time since her arrest last summer garnered international media coverage, said that she hid a deep struggle with depression from the outside world and prayed daily for forgiveness.

God and my daughter have forgiven me, she said through a Spanish-language interpreter, looking around the courtroom.

She added, not a day goes by when I do not think of her. I pray to God that one day I will see her again.

The courtroom was filled with Cleveland police homicide detectives, law enforcement officers and first responders who worked on Jailyns case. A homicide detective, his sergeant and the forensic pathologist from the Cuyahoga County medical examiners office who preformed the autopsy all fought back tears as they described Jailyns death as one of the worst cases of their careers.

Candelario, a former substitute teacher who lived on West 97th Street, left her daughter on June 6 and drove to Detroit, where she stayed with a man for a few days. She then took a Spirit Airlines flight to Puerto Rico on June 8, returned on June 11, and stayed in Michigan with a second man until she returned home on June 16.

Cleveland police detectives reviewed more than 600 videos captured by a Ring doorbell camera at Candelarios neighbors that showed Candelario loading a suitcase into her car and driving off on June 6. Another video captured the sounds of Jailyn screaming just after 1 a.m. June 9, nearly three days after she had been left alone.

Candelarios car was seen on video returning to her home on 7:36 a.m. June 16. Eleven minutes later, she placed a frantic 911 call in which she screamed for help.

My daughters dying, Candelario sobbed into the phone.

Before paramedics showed up, Candelario put Jailyns body in fresh clothes. The girl was pronounced dead. She weighed 13 pounds. At a doctors appointment two months earlier, she weighed 20 pounds, said Anna Faraglia, an assistant county prosecutor.

Candelario told Cleveland homicide detectives in an interview in her living room about two hours after she returned home that she had been home all week and that Jailyn vomited and had little appetite for a few days. She spoke calmly as she said she woke up that morning and found Jailyn non-responsive.

As she spoke to police, Jailyns body lay beneath a bed sheet on the floor next to her feet.

Elizabeth Mooney, the forensic pathologist who worked the case, said that Jailyn had feces caked on her hands, under her fingernails, on the bottoms of her feet and on her teeth, a sign that she had tried to eat her own feces to survive. She showed symptoms of severe dehydration, which caused her kidneys to fail.

Mooney said that, based on the decomposition and state of Jailyns body, she had likely died two or three days before her body was discovered, meaning she survived inside her playpen, alone, for nearly a week.

This was a type of suffering that not any of us could fully fathom, Mooney said.

Sgt. Teresa Gomez teared up as she recalled helping T. J. Powell, the lead homicide detective, unravel Candelarios cover story.

Jailiyn died a long and agonizing death, afraid and alone, while her mother enjoyed the beach and sunshine, Gomez said.

Candelarios defense attorney, Derek Smith, made no excuse for the mothers actions.

They were narcissistic, selfish, abhorrent and absolutely the worst parenting imaginable, he said.

Smith said that Candelario was treated for depression in February 2023 after she showed up to Hillcrest Hospital completely numb on one side of her body. Doctors initially believed she may have had a stroke, but they determined it to be a side-effect triggered by anxiety and stress, Smith said. They prescribed her multiple medications, but Candelario stopped taking them when she ran out in the weeks before her trip. Candelario also tried to die by suicide around that time.

Smith, who said he has struggled with depression and anxiety, said that the photographs of Candelario on the beach do not tell a persons entire story.

You cant tell what a person is dealing with on the inside, Smith said. She was hiding [her depression], from herself from her parents.

Candelarios parents also spoke on her behalf. They apologized to both Candelario and Jailyn for missing the signs that their daughter was struggling on the inside.

Depression and anxiety consumed her to the point of depriving her of good judgment and reason, Candelarios father, Klever Candelario, said.

Faraglia, the prosecutor, said that Candelario had the wherewithal to change Jailyns clothes and concoct a cover story to police after she discovered her daughters lifeless body when she returned from her trip. She also cited recordings of phone calls Candelario made from jail in November and January in which she recalled how much fun her trip to Puerto Rico was.

She abandoned her daughter and left her for dead, Faraglia said. The thought of this child dying every day while shes having fun, humanity cant stomach that. Animals take care of their infants better.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Euclid police are preparing to provide details on a deadly police chase that killed a Cleveland woman on St. Patricks Day.

Cleveland Councilman Mike Polensek said Monday that Euclid police were chasing two suspects who carjacked two women on the East Side of Cleveland late Friday night as the victims were leaving a club.

About 3 p.m. Sunday, Euclid officers spotted the suspects in the stolen vehicle, but the suspects did not stop for officers, Polensek said. He said the chase, which reached more than 100 mph, continued onto Interstate 90 eastbound before the suspects crashed into a bystanders car near Calcutta Avenue and East 156th Street in Cleveland.

Inside the car was Michelle Wall, 44, who died at the scene, according to the office of the Cuyahoga County medical examiner and Polensek. He said she lived in his Collinwood neighborhood, and he previously had spoken with her.

It could have been any of us on St. Patricks Day  that afternoon, just leaving her home and going somewhere, Polensek said. She has children. And now theyre left motherless.

Euclid police have not provided details on the crash. Capt. Mitch Houser said the department would be making a release Tuesday.

Sundays pursuit is the second Euclid police chase to leave the citys jurisdiction in a week. Last week, a police chase ended when a driver hit spike strips and lost control in Willoughby Hills. Police started the pursuit after receiving a report of gunshots in the area, and an officer saw a car speeding away from the scene.

According to the Euclid police policy, officers may pursue fleeing vehicles only when there is probable cause to believe that a person in that vehicle is fleeing from having committed a recent violent felony.

In instances involving fleeing vehicles and arrest warrants for violent felonies, it is the preferred course of action NOT to pursue in those cases, the policy states.

The policy also says fleeing to avoid apprehension does not justify continuation of a pursuit.

Polensek said the exit where the crash happened is one of the most dangerous exits there (is) in that entire length of I-90.

He said the city has put up new guard rails and signs several times because of the number of accidents that occur in the area. He said drivers have crashed into houses and light poles at the intersection several times.

He said he was not clear whether Euclid police notified Cleveland officers of the pursuit.

We cant bring Miss Walls back, Polensek said. But what we can do is ask for justice and demand justice on behalf of her and her family and loved ones. Thats what we want. We want justice on behalf of her family. And we want these suspects held accountable.

Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reached out to Walls family and requested more information from Euclid police.
AKRON, Ohio  A 41-year-old man died after he was shot early Sunday morning while walking down a street moments after he left a bar, police say.

Police found the wounded victim near the intersection of Inman Street and Davies Avenue just before 4 a.m. Officers gave the man medical aid until an ambulance arrived, but he was pronounced dead at Summa Health Akron City Hospital.

Investigators say the victim might have been involved in a fight at the Pour House Bar on the 700 block of East Archwood Avenue before the shooting. After leaving the bar, he was walking on Inman Street when he was confronted by an unknown suspect. The suspect, armed with a handgun, shot the victim multiple times, police say.

The suspect fled in an unknown direction after the shooting. The incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information can call detectives at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Individuals also can text TIPSCO with tips to 274637. Download the Akron PD app and submit information by texting Tips411 or by accessing the link at www.AkronCops.org.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has issued a state of emergency for counties recovering from tornadoes and severe weather that claimed the lives of three people and injured at least 25 last week.

DeWine is sending the National Guard to assist with the cleanup in Logan County, where an EF-3 tornado killed three people as it created a path of destruction. The tornado devastated the villages of Lakeview and Russells Point and damaged an RV park, county spokesperson Sheri Timmers said.

Other counties included in the emergency declaration are Auglaize, Crawford, Darke, Delaware, Hancock, Licking, Mercer, Miami, Richland, and Union. The declaration orders all relevant state departments and agencies to lend services, equipment, supplies, and personnel to assist in the response and recovery effort.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the National Weather Service has confirmed at least eight tornadoes touched down in Ohio during last weeks severe weather.
In this Friday, April 27, 2018 photo, attorney Paul Alexander looks out from inside his iron lung at his home in Dallas. Smiley N. Pool/AP Caregiver and friend Kathryn Gaines washes the face of attorney Paul Alexander beside his iron lung at his home in Dallas. Alexander died Monday, March 11, 2024 at a Dallas hospital. Smiley N. Pool/AP Attorney Paul Alexander chats with caregiver and friend Kathryn Gaines as he drinks coffee and she eats breakfast beside his iron lung at his home in Dallas. Smiley N. Pool/AP

His mother knew immediately that something was wrong when he came in after playing on a hot and rainy Texas day. She sent 6-year-old Paul Alexander to bed and began pampering him, giving him his favorite coloring books, the ones featuring cowboys. She prayed the sickness spreading across Dallas would spare her child. Sensing something was amiss, the boy colored page after page like he was running out of time.

Indeed, the boys temperature spiked. His back and neck stiffened as the virus attacked his nervous system, but doctors advised his parents to keep him home away from a hospital filled with other sick kids. When the little boy had trouble breathing, though, they rushed him to the hospital where he received an emergency tracheotomy and woke up in an iron lung.

I figured Id gone to hell, Alexander told the Dallas Morning News more than six decades later, all but his head still inside a giant metal tube that artificially compressed and inflated his lungs. Just a few years after he contracted the virus in 1952, the U.S. mounted a massive polio vaccine campaign. By the time of Alexanders death on Monday last week at 78, he was among the last polio survivors to use an iron lung. The world lost not only a man who overcame tremendous odds but a leading advocate for vaccines during a time when they are under attack.

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That he lived so long was unlikely. Doctors told his parents they expected hed die soon after being transferred home in a special truck with a generator to keep the iron lung going. Instead, Alexander began setting goals for himself. Promised a puppy by his nurse if he learned to breathe on his own, he taught himself to gulp air like a fish using his tongue and throat muscles. It worked and he got the puppy. After a couple of years, he could sustain the effort for a few minutes, eventually building up to hours, allowing him to finish high school second in his class  first if hed been able to complete the science labs  and then law school at the University of Texas. He wrote by holding a pen in his mouth, and for more than 30 years practiced bankruptcy and family law.

The iron lung, he told the Dallas Morning News in 2018, is home to me now, its my friend and its my enemy. Pausing as the machine filled his lungs back up, he continued, It keeps me alive. The machine had no computer or touch screen, only on and off switches, and a hand crank to adjust the respiration rate.

The anachronistic effect of Alexanders presence was particularly jarring when he posted videos on TikTok as ironlungman, talking about his life and taking questions. Hed given numerous interviews over his life and written a memoir, but social media gave him an intimate connection to more than 330,000 followers. Some viewers, for example, reacted with joy to the stickers that decorated his iron lung. Near where his head emerged from the contraption hung a cross with the words for God so loved the world.

Alexander was straightforward about the suffering and loneliness he endured, and he urged parents to get their children vaccinated.

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I want to talk to the world about polio and the millions of children not protected against polio, he said on TikTok. They have to be before theres another epidemic.

He was right to be vigilant. The virus virtually disappeared in the U.S. after 1979 and has nearly been eradicated worldwide, with remaining cases typically occurring in remote and impoverished areas. Yet, in 2022, polio began to show signs of reemerging in the U.S. when the virus was detected in wastewater samples from Rockland County, N.Y.

What could explain the reemergence of a disease so horrifying it could leave young kids unable to even breathe on their own?

This is happening because of an aggressive antivaccine campaign in the U.S, Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Childrens Hospital, told the editorial board by email. If it was up to the Texas antivaccine lobby, polio could one day return, so we must double down and work hard to debunk antivaccine propaganda and rhetoric.

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During the COVID pandemic, both vaccine hesitancy and outright anti-vaccine beliefs among some groups increased. In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed laws prohibiting local governments and private companies from mandating COVID vaccines, but changes to public school requirements did not pass. To be clear, the COVID vaccine was never on the required list for students. On top of that, Texas law allows parents to seek exemptions from the standard ones  polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and others. The percentage of families taking that exception has been ticking up. Ahead of the 2024 primary election, John Perez, a Spring Branch ISD board member who ran for the Texas House and was backed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, told us hes against mandates for any kind of vaccine. Perez lost, but his relatively strong showing at the polls should serve as a warning.

With the death of Paul Alexander, we lost one of the best messengers on vaccines. On archived social media, only his bald head is visible, popping out of the velvety collared opening of the iron lung. He looks at the camera from an upside-down position because hes laying on his back. The disorientation has the effect of opening us to the simplest of truths: Every breath is precious. Every individual should have a chance to live to their fullest potential. And no more children should go through what he did as a 6-year-old, desperately coloring in cowboys as if he knows its his last chance.
Students at Texas A&M students in Doha, Qatar. The Texas A&M University System board of regents voted Thursday to close the Qatar campus. Emre Rende/For the Texas Tribune

For over 20 years, Texas A&M University has partnered with the Qatar Foundation to offer engineering degrees in Doha, Qatar. The campus was opened to offer engineering education from a prominent Western university to students from Qatar and surrounding countries. So I was surprised and disappointed when I learned that the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents chose to cancel the contract, effective 2028, with the state-run Qatar Foundation that entirely funds the campus.

The board, of course, has every authority to cancel the contract. But for the hundreds of students currently enrolled in the Qatar program, the decision was unexpected, leaving their futures and the value of their degree in jeopardy. Faculty and staff were also caught off guard.

A news release from Texas A&M stated the board decided to reassess the contract due to the heightened instability in the Middle East and to advance the universitys mission by concentrating its focus in Texas. Given a history of national and international activities in other components of Texas A&M, these statements are difficult to understand.

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In the early days, I had a small role in the decision to partner with the Qatar Foundation. They made their request to Texas A&M a few months before I ended my time as university president. In response to that request, then-Provost Ronald Douglas took a small delegation of faculty and administrators to Doha to evaluate whether we should pursue the opportunity in Qatar. This group returned with a strong positive assessment.

It wasnt until Robert Gates became president in August 2002 that A&M moved forward on the opportunity. With the help of his provost, David Prior, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the program and, subsequently, the first contract was accepted by the Board of Regents.

It is sensible to speculate that Gates, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, supported the partnership after a careful evaluation of its long-term benefits to the university, the state and our nation. In the environment of a now-terminated contract, it is ironic to look back and recognize that our partnership was negotiated and accepted in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

As is well known, our nation has significant long-term relationships with Qatar. For example, Qatar is the home of our Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East. Over 10,000 American troops can be housed at the base. The relationship between our countries led our government to recognize Qatar as a major Non-NATO Ally.

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In addition to military relationships, U.S. companies such as Chevron Phillips Chemical, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips successfully hold interests in Qatar. These companies  and others, I am told  have benefited from the availability and quality of the Aggie engineers produced by Texas A&M Qatar.

Until the recent decision, the partnership between A&M and the Qatar Foundation has been viewed as successful. Any student of higher education will acknowledge that international partnerships are often difficult to manage and sustain. This particular partnership was an exception.

One indicator of that success is reflected in the Qatar Foundations decision to invest in the construction of an outstanding to house the Texas A&M engineering programs in Education City. A&M is one of six American universities with a campus branch in the sprawling Doha development.

JAMES OSBORNE: What Texas oil companies have at risk as Middle East tensions rise

In 2017, I was invited to the dedication of the new engineering building. I was surprised and, admittedly, amazed by the way our A&M history and traditions had made an impact on the students. The practice of organizing student exchanges between College Station and Education City was effective in creating bonds between the two campuses. As an engineering faculty member, I personally taught Qatar exchange students. Without exception, they were good students with a strong pride in their Aggie education.

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It is going to be interesting to see the future impacts of the Qatar programs over 1,500 engineering graduates who have received A&M degrees and the Aggie ring. As of 2016, 40% of the Qatar program graduates were women. This fact goes against the stereotypical image of how majority-Islamic nations evaluate the role of women.

Despite the strength of the A&M-Qatar partnership, last November it was called into question. An explosive report by the American nonprofit, the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP), alleged that the Qatari government supported a secret deal to control nuclear weapons development research at A&M, without providing evidence. Shortly after it was published, Texas A&M President Mark Welsh responded with an effective rebuttal to the disinformation propagated in the report. Subsequently, ISGAP published a criticism of the A&M response. In a recent statement, ISGAP appears to be taking credit for inspiring the decision to end the contract though a university spokesman has denied the claim.

I am troubled by the disinformation spread by ISGAP. For almost 150 years, Texas A&M has been populated by patriotic people willing to defend and protect our nation. Driven by that understanding, it is my opinion that the board should employ the services of an independent group to study and evaluate the management of Texas A&Ms contract with Qatar. An objective evaluation from a group that is independent of A&M would serve to make public the facts surrounding the Texas A&M and Qatar partnership. If the findings show improper management by A&M, then they should be made public. If they show ISGAP was wrong, that also should be made public. A study by an independent group would be consistent with how the university I know has historically conducted its business in what I believe to be an open and transparent fashion.

I have other opinions, but a broad criticism from a long-departed former president and faculty member is not helpful to a university I love and respect. I just hope Texas A&M finds a way to protect the interests of the current students, faculty and staff of the Qatar campus. Some of these individuals have been with the Qatar campus for all of its 21 years. They deserve to be kept in mind.

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Jeremy Wallace has covered politics and campaigns for more than 20 years. Before joining the Hearst Texas newspapers in 2017 he covered government and politics for the Tampa Bay Times, The Miami Herald and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Previously he covered Congress for the Boston Globe and Detroit Free-Press. Originally from San Antonio, he attended the University of North Texas and earned his bachelors degree from the University of Missouri.

Jeremy also authors the Texas Take with Jeremy Wallace newsletter, where he shares insights from inside the Capitol along with the occasional Willie Nelson reference. You can sign up here.

You can follow him on Twitter, @JeremySWallace, or email him at Jeremy.wallace@chron.com.
Demonstrators chant after being escorted outside by police during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor Mayor John Whitmire shouts over demonstrators chanting during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston Annie Mulligan/Contributor Demonstrators chant after being escorted outside by police during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor Demonstrators interrupt Mayor John Whitmires speech to demand a ceasefire during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor Mayor John Whitmire pauses during his speech to look at demonstrators at the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston Annie Mulligan/Contributor Demonstrators chant after being escorted outside by police during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor Demonstrators chat and interrupt Mayor John Whitmires speech to demand a ceasefire during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor Demonstrators chant after being escorted outside by police during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor Demonstrators chant and demand a ceasefire after being escorted outside by police during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor Al Green makes an impassioned impromptu speech after demonstrators were escorted off the premises during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston Annie Mulligan/Contributor Demonstrators wearing red gloves interrupt Mayor John Whitmires speech during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor A demonstrator interrupts Mayor John Whitmires speech to demand a ceasefire during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor Demonstrators chant after being escorted outside by police during the Houston Iftar 25th Annual Ramadan Dinner at the Bayou Events Center on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Houston. Annie Mulligan/Contributor

A group of pro-Palestine demonstrators protested Mayor John Whitmire's appearance at the annual Houston Iftar dinner Sunday, calling for the mayor to support a cease-fire in Gaza after his refusal to do so prompted some Muslim leaders and organizations to boycott the city's premier iftar event.

Sporting red latex gloves to symbolize the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in Israel's monthslong bombardment of Gaza, dozens of protesters, led by the group Houston for Palestinian Liberation, stood up at the beginning of Whitmire's keynote address Sunday evening at the Bayou City Event Center. They unfurled a banner that read "No ceasefire, no iftar," as they chanted pro-Palestine slogans. The group has become heavily involved in organizing pro-Palestine protests around Houston, and its members have regularly addressed local officials at recent City Council meetings.

Whitmire drew the ire of the protest group and prominent Muslim organizations in Houston after a meeting with Muslim community leaders earlier this month in which he reportedly refused to support a cease-fire in Gaza. Organizations, including the Islamic Society of Greater Houston, Al Noor Masjid, Muslims United Political Action Committee and the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Houston chapter, boycotted Sunday's iftar event, saying in an open letter that they would not attend unless Whitmire and other Houston-area officials who "failed to call for a ceasefire" were uninvited.

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Whitmire began by thanking the organizers and attendees for inviting him.

I will be a better mayor when I leave here tonight than the mayor who got here because of your kindness, because of your success, Whitmire said.

Shortly after he began speaking, protesters started to reiterate their calls for a cease-fire. Whitmire endeavored to speak over them.

He said that despite its many challenges, Houston has become a more diverse city, more welcoming of the Muslim community, than it was when he first became a state senator in the 1970s. But he acknowledged there was still work to be done to make it more inclusive.

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His words did little to silence the protesters, whose shouts grew louder over the course of his speech.

"Death on both sides is a terrible thing," Whitmire said to the crowd of 2,000 as the demonstrators were eventually escorted out of the building by Houston Police Department officers. "You think I don't see the pictures of starving young people, children that have done nothing? Of course, they're in my thoughts."

After the room was cleared of protesters by police and security guards, Whitmire said he would support Houston's Muslim community by protecting places of worship, adding that he would "bring in other agencies, have random checks and prevention at our mosques." A Whitmire spokesperson said the mayor was referring to the Texas Department of Public Safety and other Houston-area law enforcement agencies.

Whitmire has criticized former Mayor Sylvester Turner for lack of diversity in the uppermost rungs of City Hall, particularly among the city's Asian and Hispanic communities. The new mayor has since committed to bringing on diverse hires, and he expanded on that promise Sunday night by vowing to include Muslims in his boards and appointments.

"I want City Hall to look like Houston, and that means the Muslim community," he said.

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Inside the crowded event center, the night continued without further interruption. Patrons prayed and broke their fast with fruit and food catered from Houston's popular Fadi's Mediterranean Grill when the sun set around 7:30 p.m. Other Houston-area politicians, like U.S. Rep. Al Green, also spoke at the dinner.

Nish Dada, one of Sunday's protesters, said Houston for Palestinian Liberation staged the protest because its members were upset that Whitmire and others were still invited to the event despite the calls for a boycott.

"We're not comfortable with them breaking bread or breaking fast with our community when they aren't representative of them," Dada said of the local officials who attended Sunday and who have not supported a cease-fire. "This was just a great opportunity for politicians to virtue signal without providing any tangible benefits."

Dada and the other demonstrators held their own iftar event afterward, she added, breaking their fast with pizza and dates.

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On Monday, Whitmire's spokesperson Mary Benton said the mayor wants to "unite the community and not get involved in resolutions on international affairs.
Patrons enter the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum for the public reopening of the museums west end galleries on the National Mall in Washington, U.S. October 14, 2022.

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., agreed to settle a lawsuit by a group of students, parents, and chaperones from a Catholic school in South Carolina who were told by security guards to remove hats bearing an anti-abortion message during a visit there last year, a court filing Monday revealed.

The federally funded museum agreed to pay the more than a dozen plaintiffs a total of $50,000 to settle the suit, according to the filing in U.S. District Court in Washington. The payment includes attorneys' fees.

The settlement also calls for the museum's director to give the plaintiffs a tour of the facility, which is the largest of the Smithsonian Institution's museums, and for the director to apologize to them for the guards' actions on Jan. 20, 2023, the filing says.

And the Smithsonian agreed to notify security personnel at all of its museums and the National Zoo about its policy allowing hats and other articles of clothing bearing messages, "including religious and political speech."

The settlement comes four months after the National Archives Museum in Washington agreed to pay $10,000 to a smaller group of plaintiffs and to settle a similar lawsuit.

The plaintiffs in that case were told by National Archives guards to either cover clothing bearing "pro-life" messages or leave that federally operated institution, also on Jan. 20, 2023.
(This is CNBC Pro's live coverage of Monday's analyst calls and Wall Street chatter. Please refresh every 20-30 minutes to view the latest posts.) Early analyst calls featured one firm calling for more gains for Nvidia and an upgrade to a major beverage and snacks maker. HSBC raised its price target on Nvidia to $1,050, which implies upside of nearly 20% for the chipmaker. Elsewhere, Morgan Stanley upgraded PepsiCo to overweight, noting that prior headwinds have now subsided. Check out the latest calls and chatter below. All times ET. 8:25 a.m.: BTIG reiterates Domino's as top pick BTIG is "even more confident" on Domino's Pizza's ability to deliver its financial targets over the next several years after meeting with the pizza chain's management, the firm said in a note Monday. The firm reiterated its buy rating and top pick designation. Not only is there excitement over its partnership with Uber Eats, but Domino's is benefitting from its revamped rewards program, analyst Peter Saleh wrote in a note to clients. "This revamp is driving increased loyalty membership and accelerating transaction counts, that we believe can continue for several years, and are not limited to the first three quarters of this year," he said. His $515 price target suggests nearly 17% upside from Friday's close.  Michelle Fox 8:10 a.m.: Wells Fargo raises estimates for Carnival, sees rebound ahead for stock Carnival's cruise business is off to a strong start to its fiscal year, according to Wells Fargo. Analyst Daniel Politzer said in a note to clients Monday that Carnival looks poised to beat Wall Street expectations for adjusted EBITDA, a key metric related to profitability. That should help the stock close the gap to its peers, according to Politzer. "Near term, we think CCL is ripe for a catchup trade (-12% YTD vs. cruise peers -1% and SPX +7%). CCL has solid fundamentals w/ booking trends exhibiting strong momentum, a reasonable valuation at 8.6x FY24 EBITDA (vs. NCLH's ~10x), and a fast-improving [balance sheet]," the note said. Carnival is scheduled to release its first quarter results on March 27. Wells Fargo has a $22 price target on Carnival, which is 35% above where the stock closed on Friday.  Jesse Pound 8:09 a.m.: Meta Platforms is a top 2024 pick, Mizuho Securities says Meta Platforms is a top 2024 pick investors are underestimating, according to Mizuho Securities. Analyst James Lee added the social media behemoth to its top picks for the year, saying a look into Instagram and other key products from Meta suggest there's significant revenue upside ahead. "Our deep dive into META's key products indicates upside to consensus FY24 revenue forecast, and meaningful optionality in strategic assets," Lee wrote on Sunday. "We note that improving monetization in Reels, geographic expansion and Amazon partnership of Shops, and unified ranking to optimize video placements give us incremental confidence in our above-the-Street revenue growth of 20%." Furthermore, we expect the company's L-T investments in WhatsApp, GenAI for creative, and LLM Llama could generate incrementally 65% of upside to rev/user over time," Lee wrote. The analyst already has a buy rating on the stock, and his $575 price target implies roughly 19% upside from Friday's close of $484.10. Meta shares were up by 1.4% in the premarket.  Sarah Min 7:29 a.m.: Morgan Stanley lifts price target on Micron Technology Morgan Stanley sees some downside in store for shares of Micron Technology despite the memory chipmaker's recent run higher. Analyst Joseph Moore adjusted the firm's price target to $78 from $74.75 a share, citing the market's "clear desire to pay higher multiples for AI stories." But the adjusted price objective still implies more than 16% downside from Friday's close. Along with the price shift, Moore retained the firm's underweight rating, citing oversupply concerns and a cautious view of the dynamic random access memory market. "We expect Micron to report upside around the quarter - but weakening trends in the core business put the onus on AI to carry the stock from here," he said. "We are constructive on the [high bandwidth memory] opportunity, but in our view, it's more than priced into shares at current levels."  Samantha Subin 6:58 a.m.: Citi upgrades Regions Financial, says market is 'discounting' returns Investors may be underestimating Regions Financial , according to Citi. " RF is currently earning top quartile returns, but the market is discounting these returns in part due to concerns on credit risk given performance last cycle and possibly impact on fees from regulatory reform," wrote analyst Keith Horowitz in a Sunday note. Given this perspective, he upped the firm's price target to $23 from $20 a share, reflecting 21% upside from Friday's close. Shares are down about 2% this year and rose less than 1% before the bell. Regions Financial shares are currently trading at a discount on a cost-of-equity basis as the market "questions sustainability of these returns," Horowitz wrote. "However, given strong capital position and improved credit profile, we think RF is poised to outperform and see an attractive entry point here," he said. Horowitz also sees potential tailwinds from a repricing in deposits once the Federal Reserve begins rate cuts.  Samantha Subin 6:26 a.m.: Goldman Sachs lowers Tesla price target amid production, demand woes Goldman Sachs trimmed its price target on Tesla from $220 to $190 a share as the company faces a slew of production and market headwinds. "For Tesla, while we continue to believe that Tesla is well positioned for longer-term growth given its strong position in the EV and clean energy markets  we believe that softer near-term EV market conditions are weighing on earnings," wrote analyst Mark Delaney in a Sunday note, retaining his neutral rating. The updated price target reflects roughly 16% upside from Friday's close. Shares have already fallen 34% this year as the company grapples with minor factory shutdowns, rising competition in China, and slow demand for electric vehicles. Delaney also expects a muted ramp of the Model 3 in the United States. He also noted that data suggests lower-than-anticipated volumes and deliveries in the first quarter, along with slower sales. The stock rose 3% before the bell.  Samantha Subin 6:05 a.m.: Raymond James downgrades New York Community Bancorp to underperform It's time to sell shares of New York Community Bancorp , according to Raymond James. "We downgrade NYCB shares to Underperform from Market Perform and establish a fair value estimate of $3 to reflect our view that credit costs are likely to impair earnings for the next several years, as incremental disclosures in the bank's 10-K suggest that several years of earnings will be needed to support the balance sheet remix," wrote analyst Steve Moss in a Monday note. The fair value estimate of $3 implies 23% downside from Friday's close. The stock is already down about 62% this year following a string of events since it disclosed in January that it was dramatically boosting its allowance for potential loan losses on its balance sheet, and highlighted potential commercial real estate risks. NYCB YTD mountain NYCB in 2024 While New York Community Bancorp announced a $1 billion capital raise , Moss noted that the company's $7 billion interest-only exposure to rent-regulated multi-family suggests "aggressive underwriting." "We believe this will result in an expensive resolution through [pre-provision net revenue], given new management's stated intention to sharply reduce [commercial real estate] exposure," he wrote. "Further, recent disclosures have had an adverse mix on NYCB's deposit base that will likely reduce the bank's earnings power."  Samantha Subin 5:50 a.m.: Bank of America hikes price target on Taiwan Semiconductor, calls company a 'key enabler of AI' Bank of America boosted its price target on shares of Taiwan Semiconductor as the company situates itself as a "key enabler of AI with long-lasting leadership." "We raise PO to NT$880 (US$155) as we expect the structural advanced node demand to be stronger, supported by AI strength, computing power, power and saving requirement," wrote analyst Brad Lin in a Monday note. The price hike reflects about 14% upside from Friday's close. The stock has surged more than 31% this year and gained 1.7% before the bell Lee also sees upside potential from Intel outsourcing central processing unit tiles to Taiwan Semiconductor, forecasting an increase from 3% in 2024 to 6% in 2025. This should "bode well for TSMC's industry leadership" and underscores its dominance within power, performance, area and costs, he added.  Samantha Subin 5:43 a.m.: Morgan Stanley upgrades PepsiCo It's time to buy shares of PepsiCo , according to Morgan Stanley. Analyst Dara Mohsenian upgraded the beverage and snack giant to overweight from equal weight, calling it a top pick. His price target of $190 indicates upside of 15.4% over the next 12 months. Shares climbed about 2% in the premarket following the rating change. PEP YTD mountain PEP year to date "Post Q2 of 2023 EPS, we downgraded Pepsi's stock to an [equal weight] ... concerned that valuation was priced to perfection and consensus/PEP guidance on [organic sales growth] was clearly too high with an unrealistic volume rebound as pricing dissipated. Both of these issues have now played out, and we would be aggressive buyers here ahead of a powerful inflection in H2 after PEP bottoms fundamentally in Q1, and returns to above consensus and peer OSG, with PEP's valuation compression overdone." PepsiCo shares have lagged this year, losing 3%, while the S & P 500 has ripped more than 7% higher to record levels.  Fred Imbert 5:43 a.m.: HSBC hikes Nvidia price target ahead of GTC Conference HSBC sees more upside in store for shares of Nvidia as the chip giant defends its AI position and reaches new markets. "We are encouraged by Nvidia's AI product roadmap which focuses on moving beyond GPUs and towards owning the entire value chain," wrote analyst Frank Lee, adding that the company's GB200 AI platform and AI roadmap should help Nvidia gain more pricing power and reach new total addressable market opportunities. Given this backdrop, analyst Frank Lee boosted the firm's price target to $1,050 from $880 a share, reflecting nearly 20% upside from Friday's close. The stock rose about 2% before the bell. NVDA YTD mountain NVDA year to date The price hike from Lee comes as Nvidia readies for its GTC Conference , where the chip darling is expected to announce a slew of AI updates, including its latest graphics processing unit. The stock has already rallied 77% in 2024. To be sure, Lee does anticipate a transition period for the company that could create uncertainty as it moves from its older generation H100 GPUs to its B100 model. This could create some capacity tightness that prevents Nvidia from beating estimates over the next few quarters. "That said, next year is a different story," he wrote, adding that AI GPU revenue could hit $4.4 billion by the 2026 fiscal year. "We see Nvidia widening its gap again with B100 and GB200 AI roadmap."  Samantha Subin
Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch  an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street. (We're no longer recording the audio, so we can get this new written feature to members as quickly as possible.) Markets bounce : Stocks kicked off the new trading week on a higher note, driven by strength in the mega-cap tech stocks ahead of Nvidia 's GTC conference and reports that Apple may partner up with Alphabet to bring the Gemini AI model to the iPhone. The report is easing concerns about Gemini's credibility and sending Alphabet shares to their highest levels since early February. Disney gets a win : A major proxy advisor weighed in on the Disney -Trian board battle. Glass Lewis said Monday it recommends Disney shareholders vote for the company's director nominees and not the slate forth by Trian's Nelson Peltz. Disney's annual meeting is April 3. Although the Glass Lewis decision is a potential setback to Trian's chances of getting enough votes to put Peltz and former Disney CFO Jay Rasulo on the board, Jim Cramer still sees the merits of this contest. "Disney's board is dysfunctional but the stock's going higher because of the activist pressure. The pressure is good. Nelson was valued as a board member at Procter & Gamble , Mondelez , and Heinz . I don't get the aversion. But the stock is going higher." The comeback kids: GE Healthcare climbed back above $90 per share and has put together two positive sessions in a row. It's a good sign considering the stock fell roughly 3.6% last Wednesday to $88.48 after General Electric announced a sale of 14 million shares through a second offering. "GE Healthcare almost digested the GE block. The company works closely with Nvidia on AI. Nvidia mentions the company in its health-care work," Jim said. Shares may also be getting a boost from signs that China has provided stimulus for hospital and teaching equipment. Analysts at Evercore ISI wrote about this last Friday, noting it should also provide a lift to life science tools companies like Club name Danaher . Another recovery in the making is DuPont , which needs to get to $74.69 to fully recover all its losses tied to an awful preannouncement in January. The company's management team recently spoke at a few investor conferences, noting that orders have picked up to the low double digits from 8% when they reported. That order growth provides visibility into a quarter that will be the bottom for its Water & Protection business. But Electronics is the best part of the company's growth story and perhaps this recent comeback is also about the strength it is seeing there. Jim said, "DuPont must be seeing green shoots in cellphone. Maybe Samsung." Keep in mind, DuPont also has exposure to more advanced chips, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing being one of its key customers. Quick hits : "Worries about GLP-1 usage impacting beverage and snacks group may be receding with the PepsiCo upgrade. It's a good sign for those who are worried about Constellation Brands , which has been a real horse lately," Jim said. Citi opened a "positive catalyst watch" on Constellation Brands last Wednesday. Separately, Jim said, "I am looking at Cloudflare . They hired Stephanie Cohen, who is brilliant, from Goldman Sachs ." Cohen has reportedly left the investment bank to become Cloudfare's chief strategy officer. Up next: The focus at 4 p.m. ET will be on Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. That's when he's expected to take the stage at the AI chip giant's annual GTC developers conference. While there's plenty of anticipation around Jensen's upcoming keynote, Jim said, "There are better days to buy Nvidia than around GTC. Give it a rest." We can't wait for Jensen's sit down with Jim on "Squawk on the Street" on Tuesday and for a two-part interview on "Mad Money" on Tuesday and Wednesday. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is AAPL, GOOGL, DIS, GEHC, DD, STZ, NVDA. See here for a full list of the portfolio holdings.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

Traders work on the floor during morning trading at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 06, 2024 in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images
Elon Musk said his March 3 meeting with Donald Trump in Florida was not planned, and that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee did not ask Musk to contribute to his campaign.

"I was at a breakfast at a friend's place, and Donald Trump came by. That's it," Musk said in an interview with former CNN anchor Don Lemon, which aired Monday morning.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also said he would not loan any money to Trump as the former president faces mounting legal bills.

The previously reported meeting initially fueled speculation that Musk  one of the world's richest men, and a vocal critic of Democratic incumbent President Joe Biden  might endorse or financially back Trump.

Musk told Lemon he did not go to Florida with the express purpose of meeting with Trump. Rather, Musk said he was staying at a friend's house when he was asked if it would be all right if Trump stopped by for breakfast.

"Okay, fine," Musk said he replied.
When asked directly, Woods told the CERAWeek by S&P Global energy conference that acquiring Hess is not one of Exxon's objectives in the dispute with Chevron. Exxon would not have waited for Chevron to announce its deal if the company were interested in purchasing Hess, the CEO said during the interview.

HOUSTON  Exxon is not trying to acquire Hess as the oil major battles with Chevron over lucrative oil assets in Guyana, CEO Darren Woods said Monday.

Chevron's pending $53 billion acquisition of Hess is largely a play to gain a foothold in Guyana's massive oil assets. Exxon is claiming a right of first refusal over Hess' Guyana assets under a joint operating agreement that governs the Stabroek oil block, which is estimated to have 11 billion barrels of oil and gas.

Exxon controls 45% of the Stabroek block, while Hess has a 30% stake. The China National Offshore Oil Corporation, or CNOOC, controls the remaining 25%.

Exxon escalated the dispute with Chevron by seeking arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris earlier this month. Chevron rejects Exxon's claim to a right of first refusal, but has told investors in financial filings that its deal with Hess would not close if an arbitration court rules in its competitors' favor.

"We want to make sure the rights afford to us under the JOA are recognized and conformed with," Woods told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" in a separate interview at CERAWeek. Woods said Exxon is also trying to find out how much value Chevron's deal is placing on Hess' Guyana assets.

"It gives us the opportunity to  make sure that we're making a decision that's in the best interest of the company and the shareholders," Woods said.

Exxon wrote the joint operating agreement that governs the Stabroek block, Woods said. "We're pretty familiar with the intent and objectives and language of that document."
As investors deliberate what's next for the artificial intelligence trade, Goldman Sachs has some long-term winners that can come out on top. Generative AI is broadly anticipated to benefit companies as a whole. But, for the moment, it has bolstered only a handful of companies in what Goldman Sachs is calling the first phase of the AI trade. In these early days, Nvidia has been the notable exemplar, rising more than 70% this year. In fact, investors will seek insight into where the AI chipmaker will go from here this week at Nvidia's GTC Conference, with many analysts increasing their price forecasts for the stock ahead of the event. Nvidia shares were up more than 2% on Monday. But other names are starting to emerge. Analyst Ryan Hammond anticipates there will be four total stages in the AI trade, with the next, second phase chiefly benefiting companies that build and maintain infrastructure for AI, such as chipmakers, cloud providers and other firms. In the third phase, he expects companies using AI to lift their revenue will get a boost. Goldman Sachs anticipates the long-term winners are in the fourth and final phase. These companies will boost their bottom lines with the productivity gains unlocked by AI. Hammond expects companies in the software and services, commercial as well as and professional services sectors will be the biggest beneficiaries of the AI adoption here. "'Phase 4' (Productivity gains) will focus on all companies harnessing AI technology to improve productivity, with the largest potential efficiency gains in labor-intensive industries with jobs more exposed to AI automation," Hammond wrote in a Thursday note. Here are some of the names the firm surfaced. One megacap name that surfaced was Amazon , which is already higher this year by more than 15%. However, Goldman Sachs said the productivity gains to be had from AI would boost earnings per share for the company by roughly 39%. Pinterest was another name that was identified by the Wall Street firm. The image-sharing platform has underperformed this year, and is down more than 7%. But Goldman Sachs said baseline earnings can jump 162% because of AI. The big-box retailer that can see sizable gains is Walmart . The company is up more than 15% this year. Goldman Sachs expects Walmart can eventually use automation to lower its labor costs. It predicts about 31% of its wage bill is exposed to AI. That means over time, Walmart could see a boost of 44% to earnings per share. The New York Times and Kohl's were other names that surfaced.
Struggling shares of Alphabet and Apple jumped Monday on a Bloomberg report saying the companies are in talks for Google to license its Gemini AI model for use in future iPhone releases. If true, this looks like a win-win for the two Club holdings, both of which have had their own issues in the generative artificial intelligence race. The concerns around Apple are fears about it being late to the AI game. However, Apple has not turned into the ubiquitous consumer technology it is today and the second most valuable U.S. company by being first to market. Apple, instead, comes in later and establishes the market by making better mousetraps. One day after reports the decadelong Apple Car project was dead and the resources would be shifted to artificial intelligence, CEO Tim Cook told shareholders last month that Apple sees "incredible breakthrough potential for generative AI, which is why we're currently investing significantly in this area." Alphabet, on the other hand, had been working for decades on AI and getting beat to market by ChatGPT from Microsoft-backed startup OpenAI worried investors. In response to ChatGPT, Google did not do itself any favors by rushing Bard to market last year and recently running into a viral firestorm over the historically inaccurate images its Gemini AI photo generator churned out. The Gemini image feature was quickly pulled for more testing, and corners of Wall Street were questioning whether Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai should go. While Microsoft may be viewed as the current AI leader, Alphabet linking up with Apple could change the dynamic thanks to the latter's massive installed base of over two billion active devices; iPhones are roughly 75% of that. It would be a major win for Alphabet both in terms of investor sentiment and user adoption, which should, in turn, provide the Google parent additional means of monetizing its vast investments in the groundbreaking technology. The Bloomberg report notes that Apple has also held talks with OpenAI, but that a tie-up with Alphabet would expand the companies' existing partnership through which Google is the default search engine on Apple devices. CNBC could not independently verify the Bloomberg report. Apple declined to comment and Alphabet did not immediately respond when contacted by CNBC. "Apple doesn't need to build AI. It can partner with the best because of its 1.5 billion installed base of iPhones," Jim Cramer said Monday. At this point, the possible financial terms of a potential deal are unknown. However, in a note to clients Monday, analysts at Wells Fargo estimated a generative AI upgrade to Apple's Siri could boost usage of the digital assistant by about 50%, to around 450 million queries per year. If half of those queries lean on the Gemini model, the firm estimates a $4.8 billion sales opportunity for Alphabet, resulting in an additional $1.4 billion in operating income and 9-cent increase to earnings per share. In its successor to Bard, Alphabet has three versions of Gemini: Ultra, Pro, and Nano. The Nano version is designed for on-device tasks, meaning it doesn't rely on transmitting data back to the cloud. It's unclear whether Apple would go for the more limited on-device version or the more robust cloud-based version. It likely depends on how exactly Apple would seek to leverage the Gemini model. An on-device approach seems to be more in line with Apple's intense focus on user privacy, especially if it's the type of integration that would allow AI to access an iPhone user's photos, calendars, contacts and health data, and so on. On-device processing should certainly be possible thanks to the speed offered by Apple's custom silicon. The aforementioned Siri is an obvious area in need of a generative AI upgrade. That said, we do know that Apple has been hard at work on its own generative AI model, Ajax. So, it's possible that Apple's model isn't as far along as many had thought, or that Apple seeks to lean on Ajax for the more privacy-oriented tasks and use a more robust version of Alphabet's Gemini model for those more taxing tasks where privacy is not as great a concern. What ultimately comes of this remains to be seen, but Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June seems like as good a time as any for an official AI announcement. GOOGL YTD mountain Alphabet YTD Alphabet's single-session 5% increase on Monday's report is not something we're going to chase. It's just not our style, and the news is not yet confirmed. The stock's 6.5% year-to-date gain is second only to Apple's 9% decline in 2024 as the worst performers of our Super Six mega-cap tech stocks, which also include Amazon , Meta Platforms , Microsoft and Nvidia . However, if true, this would prove a major, and much-needed, win for Alphabet in generative AI. It would boost investor sentiment and provide Alphabet an opportunity to monetize its AI investments. We've already seen that from Microsoft with its Copilot artificial intelligence assistant, and we've been thus far disappointed in Alphabet's efforts. This is exactly the kind of thing that we need to see from Alphabet to get us feeling better about the position. Ahead of Monday's news, we felt Alphabet stock couldn't be bought because the team wasn't executing. However, we also felt it couldn't be sold because Alphabet has a monstrous amount of cash and generates incredible amounts every quarter, providing significant optionality. Monday's news is an example of that optionality at play. If Alphabet shares come in a bit or consolidate then we may get an opportunity to upgrade shares back to our 1 rating. Jim said on CNBC on Monday, "My Charitable Trust owns it, and we have just been lamenting Alphabet for months. Well, no lamentation today." Any Alphabet-Apple AI partnership would be sure to draw regulatory scrutiny, but we can cross that bridge when, and if we get to it. AAPL YTD mountain Apple YTD As for Apple, we've been expecting an update on its generative AI efforts at some point this year. Monday's news isn't quite the update we were looking for, but it does serve to increase our confidence that something more material and definite is going to be announced at this year's WWDC. By implementing artificial intelligence into the core of the iPhone, not simply as some app or browser-based tool, we could finally see features on the next iPhone, beyond a better camera and minor enhancements here and there, that prompt a major upgrade cycle  a true AI iPhone. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long GOOGL, AAPL, AMZN, META, MSFT, NVDIA. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED.

A smart phone displaying Google with Google Gemini in the background is being featured in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on February 8, 2024. Jonathan Raa | Nurphoto | Getty Images
India wants to be among the world's top five semiconductor producers in the next five years, said Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister of electronics and information technology, railways and communications.

The chip industry "is a very complex market, and global value chains and global supply chains are extremely complex in the current context," Vaishnaw said on CNBC's Street Signs Asia on Friday. "We think in the next five years, we would be among the top five semiconductor nations in the world."

As of December, Taiwan holds about 46% of global semiconductor foundry capacity, followed by China (26%), South Korea (12%), the U.S. (6%) and Japan (2%), according to market intelligence firm TrendForce.

India will stand to benefit as more companies look to reduce reliance on China as U.S.-China tensions show no signs of ending soon.

He said India sees itself as a "trusted value chain partner" for electronic device manufacturers, industrial and defense electronics, power electronics  "practically every electronics manufacturer, which requires semiconductors to be designed... and manufactured."

"Some people call it 'friendshoring.' I call it 'trust shoring' because there is a global trust in India," Vaishnaw said.

On Thursday, U.S. chip giant Qualcomm opened a new design center in Chennai. The facility will focus on wireless technology design and create 1,600 jobs in the country.

"We started investing in India before it was popular. We have been building a presence in India for more than a decade now," Qualcomm CEO told CNBC affiliate CNBC TV-18. "A lot of our chips are designed in India, and that presence in India is also creating opportunities for a number of Indian companies."

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three semiconductor plants. One of those plants is a joint venture between Tata Electronics and Taiwan's Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. PSMC Chairman Frank Huang told the Economic Times the goal is to create India's first semiconductor chip by 2026

"Made in India chips manufactured in India will help create a strong and significant presence for India in global value chains  it will make India a semicon hub for the world," Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said in a press release.
President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address during a joint meeting of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Biden is joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA). Chip Somodevilla/TNS Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks during a Get Out the Vote Rally March 2, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia. (Win McNamee/Getty Images/TNS) Win McNamee/TNS

The claim: During his 2024 State of the Union address, President Joe Biden referred frequently to his predecessor, who happens to be the expected Republican nominee trying to deny him reelection this year.

Without using Donald Trumps name, Biden focused part of his March 7 speech on his many contrasts with his presidential predecessor, which Biden said extended to management of the nations finances.

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Trumps administration added more to the national debt than any presidential term in American history, Biden said. Check the numbers, folks.

PolitiFact ruling: Half true. Trump did accumulate more debt during his term than any previous presidents single term, and also more than Biden has accumulated so far in his tenure. But Bidens tenure isnt over yet.

Projections say that Bidens four-year term debt will exceed the total debt accumulated under Trump. Also, assigning debt to a particular president can be misleading because so much of it traces back to decades-old, bipartisan legislation that set the parameters for Social Security and Medicare.

Discussion

Experts say its hard to draw a straight line between any president and the debt accrued on their watch. But beyond that, there are different ways to view the numbers, and some of them are not favorable to Bidens assertion.

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Biden left out that the debt under his watch is on pace to exceed Trumps one-term debt accumulation by the end of his current term, Jan. 20, 2025. During his first three years, Biden already had accumulated $6.32 trillion in debt. For his final year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has projected a deficit of $1.582 trillion. Add those two figures together and you get $7.902 trillion as Bidens four-year total.

Treasury Department data shows the gross federal debt rose by about $7.8 trillion on Trumps watch.

President Barack Obama during his two presidential terms oversaw a debt increase of more than $9.5 trillion, which exceeds Trumps total.

But the White House told PolitiFact that Biden used any presidential term to refer to single, four-year terms, and the figure during Trumps four-year term was higher than any previous four-year presidential term.

That backward-looking distinction is notable.

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So far, debt under Bidens watch has risen by a little less than $6.7 trillion. Thats smaller than Trumps total  but again, Biden is on pace to exceed Trumps mark by the time his term ends.

Another way to analyze this debt is more favorable to Biden, though the White House did not offer it as justification after PolitiFact inquired.

The day after Bidens speech, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a Washington-based group that studies fiscal policy, wrote that Trump had signed legislation or executive orders that added $8.4 trillion of new borrowing over 10 years, about half of it in pandemic relief.

The group said this was more than any prior president in dollar terms, and also more than Biden. The group said it had not recently updated its estimate for Biden but said that it was significantly smaller than Trumps amount.

However, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budgets method highlights a challenge of assigning debt to any president.

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Using the groups method, much of the debt allocated to Trump will not show up in the federal ledger until years after he left office in 2021. This reality gets even trickier once mandatory payments are considered.

Much of the current federal debt stems from mandatory payments, such as those for Social Security and Medicare. These began spiking when the baby boom generation started drawing heavily from these programs around 2010.

Generations of politicians in both parties approved and modified these programs long before Trump took office.

It is always challenging to figure out how much spending was on whose watch, Steve Ellis, president of the federal budget-watching nonprofit group Taxpayers for Common Sense, told PolitiFact for a related 2023 fact-check.

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Trumps biggest single federal debt spikes came from the initial rounds of coronavirus relief legislation in 2020. Trump signed them, but they passed with broad bipartisan support.
Jim Cramer's daily rapid fire looks at stocks in the news outside the CNBC Investing Club portfolio. Tesla : Shares rose 5% after the electric vehicle maker announced plans to increase prices of its Model Y cars in April. "The stock is reacting positively. ... It's just been the worst stock in the [ S & P 500 ]. Totally understand. Not a fan of it, but not against it," Jim Cramer said. Hertz Global : Stephen Scherr is stepping down as CEO of the rental-car company, which last year pivoted on its strategy of adding EVs to its fleet of vehicles. Shares of Hertz tumbled more than 7% Monday. "I'm not a fan of the rental car business. I never have.  Stay away," he said. PepsiCo : Shares rose more than 3% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the consumer packaged goods stock to a buy-equivalent rating from equal weight. "Good analyst. Downgraded it when he felt they were going to miss the targets. Upgrades it now. I like that kind of thing," Cramer said. "I think Pepsi has really been in the grips of the GLP-1s. I don't think that's changed. I think you can still get another 4, 5 points out of it, though," he added, referring to the increasingly popular class of weight-loss drugs made by the likes of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly , which is part of the CNBC Investing Club portfolio. Super Micro Computer : Shares fell more than 2% Monday, coinciding with the buzzy maker of artificial intelligence servers officially joining the S & P 500. "It's time to take profits in Super Micro. It's been a great run off of this. You can revisit it at a lower level," Cramer said. Vertiv Holdings : Bank of America boosted its price target on Vertiv shares to $90 each from $80, citing more sustained revenue and earnings growth projections due to AI-related expansion in data centers overall. Vertiv makes electrical products used in data centers, among other areas. "It's the pick-and-shovel of the data center," Cramer said of Vertiv. He noted the Club owns electrical equipment maker Eaton Corp. as a way to play the growth of data centers due to AI's power-intensive needs.
People are seen watching television at Seoul's Yongsan Railway Station showing North Korea's first test-firing of the new strategic cruise missile Pulhwasal-3-31. North Korea fired ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday for the first time in two months, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Seoul for a conference hosted by President Yoon Suk Yeol on advancing democracy.

North Korea fired ballistic missiles into the sea on Monday for the first time in two months, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Seoul for a conference hosted by President Yoon Suk Yeol on advancing democracy.

South Korea's military said multiple short-range missiles were fired from a region south of the North's capital, Pyongyang, landing east of the Korean peninsula. It did not provide further details and said it was sharing information on the launch with the United States and Japan.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the launches after his country's coast guard also reported the firing of what it said appeared to be a ballistic missile and specified that it had already ended its flight.

Japan later said that it had detected what appeared to be a second ballistic missile launch by the North, and that both fell outside its exclusive economic zone area.

"North Korea's series of actions threaten the peace and security of our region and the international community, and are absolutely unacceptable," Kishida said, calling the launch a violation of U.N. resolutions.

North Korea's military has been conducting exercises using conventional weapons in recent weeks, often personally overseen by the isolated state's leader, Kim Jong Un.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was upbeat after winning a fifth term in power in Russia's presidential election over the weekend. He chose the moment to make his first public remarks on the death of his political nemesis, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, mentioning his name for the first time in years. Putin won Russia's presidential election with a landslide 87% of the votes, exit polls suggested late Sunday, with votes still being declared Monday morning, both in Russia and from polls of Russians abroad. The head of Russia's electoral authorities stated Monday morning that voter turnout was a "record-breaking, unprecedented" 77%, up from 67.7% in 2018.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the media at his campaign headquarters in Moscow on March 18, 2024. Natalia Kolesnikova | Afp | Getty Images

In the highly stage-managed election, each of Putin's three "opponents" on the ballot paper  who belonged to Russia's "systemic" opposition  garnered around 3-4% of the vote. Anti-war candidates were barred from the election and most Russian opposition figures are either in self-imposed exile, have been imprisoned, or killed in Russia, such as Navalny, who died in a Russian Arctic penal colony last month. Navalny's family and supporters accused Putin of ordering Navalny's death. The Kremlin denied it had any involvement in the 47-year-old's death, with Russian authorities saying it was due to "natural causes."

Putin talks about Navalny

Addressing his supporters and the press at his campaign headquarters last night, Putin was relaxed and upbeat, pledging to defend and strengthen Russia. He also used the moment to make his first public comments on Navalny's death, and mentioning his most vocal critic's name for the first time in public in years.

Russian presidential candidate and incumbent President Vladimir Putin speaks after polling stations closed, in Moscow, Russia, March 18, 2024. Maxim Shemetov | Reuters

When asked by NBC's Keir Simmons about the death, Putin responded by calling his death a "sad event" and claiming he had been prepared to involve Navalny in a prisoner swap with the West. "As for Mr. Navalny. He has perished, this is always a sad event. Well, we have had other instances when people died in prison. Has nothing like that ever happened in the U.S.? It has happened, and not once," Putin told the assembled press and supporters Sunday night, in comments translated by NBC. "By the way, this will be unexpected but several days before Mr Navalny perished, I was told by some of my colleagues and the administration employees, some people, that there is an idea to exchange Mr Navalny for some people in prison in Western countries. Believe me or not, the person talking to me hardly finished their sentence when I said: 'I agree!' he claimed. Putin said he had agreed to the proposal on the condition that Navalny should never return to Russia, where he was the figurehead of Russia's opposition movement. "But unfortunately, the thing that happened happened," Putin said, adding, "Such things happen, you can't do anything about it. This is life"

Laudator Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stands in front of a projection of a portrait of Alexei Navalny as she presents him with the Bambi in the Courage category at the 75th Bambi Awards at Bavaria Film Studios. As there has been no sign of life from the imprisoned Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny for days, concerns about the 47-year-old are growing. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images

Navalny's supporters said last month that there had been late-stage talks between Russian and Western officials about a possible prisoner exchange involving Navalny before his sudden death, which was announced on Feb. 16. Last month, Navalny's allies also said that talks with Russian and Western officials about a prisoner swap involving Navalny were underway. The politician's longtime associate Maria Pevchikh said the talks were in their final stages just days before the Kremlin critic's sudden and unexplained death.

Putin was rumored to loathe Navalny, famously refusing to even utter his biggest critic's name. Putin's comments on Sunday night are believed to be the first he has mentioned Navalny's actual name in years. The Moscow Times noted last month that since as far back as 2017, Putin has not referred directly to the Kremlin's biggest opponent, instead alluding to Navalny as "that character," "this gentleman," "a poor excuse for a politician" and "a certain political force." The Russian media had followed Putin's cue, airbrushing Navalny out of their media coverage. Last night, when reporting Putin's comments, they described the opposition leader as a "blogger." The opposition leader's death was barely mentioned in the Russian press at all.

Predictable win

During Putin's 24 years in power, opposition figures have been harassed, intimidated and imprisoned, with a number dying in mysterious circumstances.

A general view of the Russia's Central Election Commission (CEC) Headquarters in Moscow, Russia on March 17, 2024. Putin won Russian presidential election with 87.97% of the vote, first official results showed Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images

The erasure of political opponents has made the reelection of Putin a foregone conclusion in recent elections, and in 2024 the Kremlin was seen to be looking for a landslide victory to legitimize Putin's foreign policies, particularly the war against Ukraine. "We have many tasks ahead. But when we are consolidated  no matter who wants to intimidate us, suppress us  nobody has ever succeeded in history, they have not succeeded now, and they will not succeed ever in the future," he said as he addressed supporters and the media late Sunday night, according to comments translated by Reuters. Russian pro-Kremlin media hailed Putin's record win, with news agency RIA Novosti describing it as "a record in the history of modern Russia." By the end of Putin's next term in power, in 2030, Putin will have overtaken Soviet dictator Josef Stalin as the longest-serving leader in Russia's modern history.

Expatriate Russian citizens, including a young group with an anti-Vladimir Putin placard, wait to vote at the Russian Embassy in Russian elections on March 17, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Sean Gallup | Getty Images
A new report from a U.N. commission of inquiry on Ukraine, published Friday, said it had found further evidence of systemic torture of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces.

"The Commission has 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 summary stated.

The three-member panel said Russia had shown a "disregard for basic principles of humanitarian laws and of human rights obligations," and said the evidence confirmed the necessity of further investigation to establish whether Moscow is guilty of "crimes against humanity."

It highlighted new evidence of "widespread and systemic" torture used by Russian authorities against Ukrainian prisoners of war in several detention facilities across the country.

"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 commission stated.

The commission's report has been submitted to the 47-member UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, which will determine whether the commission's mandate should be renewed for another year to continue its investigative work.

Russia has denied torture and other forms of mistreatment of POWs.

- Elliot Smith
Saudi Arabia's behemoth sovereign wealth fund is in talks to buy the kingdom's national airline Saudia, Bloomberg reported over the weekend, citing people familiar with the matter.

The reported move for the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which oversees $925 billion in assets, would track with its goals to invest heavily in tourism and transport assets, as it aims to turn Saudi Arabia into a tourist hub and diversify its economy away from oil.

According to the initial report, the acquisition would see the PIF take over the airline's ownership from the government to increase its efficiency and ability to make profit. It could then either be privatized or merged with Riyadh Air, a separate airline owned by the PIF and launched in March 2023 to compete with other more established Gulf airlines.

Founded in 1945, Saudia has a fleet of 144 aircraft  93 Airbus planes and 51 made by Boeing  and flies to more than 100 destinations, according to its website.

It is not yet known how the airline would be valued. Talks are said to be in early stages, and could be delayed or axed altogether, Bloomberg reported.

Read the full report here.
The Paris-based International Energy Agency forecast last year that peak oil, gas and coal demand would come in 2030. Nasser said demand is unlikely to peak anytime soon, let alone by that year. Nasser suggested that the IEA is focusing on demand in the U.S. and Europe and needs to focus on the developing world as well.

"A transition strategy reset is urgently needed and my proposal is this: We should abandon the fantasy of phasing out oil and gas and instead invest in them adequately reflecting realistic demand assumptions," the CEO said to applause from the audience.

"In the real world, the current transition strategy is visibly failing on most fronts as it collides with five hard realities," Nasser said during a panel interview at the CERAWeek by S&P Global energy conference in Houston, Texas.

HOUSTON  Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said Monday that the energy transition is failing and policymakers should abandon the "fantasy" of phasing out oil and gas, as demand for fossil fuels is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

Nasser said alternative energy sources have been unable to displace hydrocarbons at scale, despite the world investing more than $9.5 trillion over the past two decades. Wind and solar currently supply less than 4% of the world's energy, while total electric vehicle penetration is less than 3%, he said.

Meanwhile, the share of hydrocarbons in the global energy mix has barely fallen in the 21st century from 83% to 80%, Nasser said. Global demand has increased by 100 million barrels of oil equivalent per day during the same period and will reach an all-time high this year, the CEO said.

Gas has grown 70% since the start of the century, Nasser said. The transition from coal to gas is responsible for two-thirds of the reductions in carbon emissions in the U.S., he said.

"This is hardly the future picture some have been painting," Nasser said. "Even they are starting to acknowledge the importance of oil and gas security."

Developing nations in the global south, meanwhile, will drive oil and gas demand as prosperity rises in those nations, which represent more than 85% of the world's population, the CEO said. These nations receive less than 5% of the investment targeting renewable energy, he said.

Nasser said the world should focus more on reducing emissions from oil and gas in addition to renewables. The CEO said efficiency improvements alone over the past 15 years have reduced global energy demand by almost 90 million barrels per day oil equivalent. Wind and solar, meanwhile, have substituted only 15 million barrels over the same period, he said.

"We should phase in new energy sources and technologies when they are genuinely ready, economically competitive and with the right infrastructure," Nasser said.
While chip darling Nvidia has grabbed headlines for its impressive stock performance, driven by excitement around artificial intelligence, an under-the-radar German company has quietly seen its shares nearly double in 2024. ParTec , a developer of supercomputing systems, has surged over 95% year-to-date as investors have started to take notice of its potential. While the company has been listed for less than a year on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, its roots date back to 1999, when it was founded as a spin-off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany. The small-cap firm, with sales totaling 52 million euros ($56 million) in the first half of last year, bagged a 300 million euro ($327 million) contract to build the first ultra-powerful supercomputer on the continent The system, Jupiter, is expected to be capable of at least one quintillion  or billion billion  calculations per second. JY0-DE 1Y line How are investors taking it? Hendrik Leber, fund manager at Acatis Datini Valueflex Fonds, owns ParTec shares and says he sees the company as a "very clear" investment opportunity. "Europe wants to spend a couple of billion on supercomputing in the next couple of years, and they want to spend it locally in the EU. ParTec has the technology to do it and will be well-positioned for these public tenders," Leber added. What exactly does ParTec do? ParTec, with between 60 and 70 employees, provides the software systems needed to set up supercomputers, primarily for research. "Their main product is software 'middleware', and possibly quantum computers in the future," senior equity analyst Miguel Lago Mascato of equity research firm Montega told CNBC Pro. Lago Mascato expects the company's shares to rise by another 21% to 130 euros over the next 12 months. While competitors like Hewlett Packard can also bid on supercomputing projects, Lago Mascato said ParTec's middleware gives them a "unique selling point." Patents and royalties Earlier this year, independent auditors valued ParTec's 150 patents for building and designing supercomputers at 767 million euros, which the company expects will "significantly strengthen" its equity base. However, some are skeptical that the company will be able to monetize its patent portfolio. "At this point in time, our visibility for ParTec realizing licensing income from their patent portfolio in the near future is very low," Lago Mascato said bluntly. However, fund manager Leber dismissed concerns around the lack of royalties and pointed toward the 300 million euro Jupiter contract as an example of real cash flow. "Orders are very real and economic profits are also very real," Leber said. "I don't care about synthetic valuations of patent portfolios. I see the very realistic computing centers, and that's where the revenues and profits come from." Liquidity risks Another risk factor investors should be aware of with ParTec is the limited liquidity in its shares. Less than 13% of the company's shares are freely floated. Due to the thin trading volumes, Leber noted that even a 2 million euro stock placement took about a month to complete. This lack of liquidity means the stock price may not always efficiently reflect the company's underlying value. Future opportunities with AI ParTec sees significant opportunities beyond traditional supercomputing by providing systems tailored to train large AI models. Bernhard Frohwitter, chief executive of ParTec, told CNBC Pro that there was significant demand for systems with contextual understanding beyond just language models. Large language models, such as those behind ChatGPT, generate text, images, and videos by predicting the next word or pixel in a sequence. However, Frohwitter said companies are demanding AI models that require "interior logic" in physics, mathematics, and mechanics instead. ParTec is already "under enormous pressure from institutions, governments even, to build such machines" capable of training these foundation AI models, Frohwitter added. "We are in the process. In a few months, we will offer artificial intelligence machines that can do the training, data management, inference, and all that together," he said.
Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. Nvidia  Shares climbed about 1% in light of the company's GTC Conference . Investors see the event as a bellwether for artificial intelligence, as Nvidia is expected to unveil new products and updates. Zillow  Shares pulled back less than 1%, adding to Friday's 13% pullback. The stock came under pressure after the National Association of Realtors reached a settlement with home sellers that could lead to lower commissions for realtors. Alphabet , Apple  Shares of the Google parent company gained nearly 5% following a Bloomberg report that said Apple was discussing licensing Alphabet's Gemini artificial intelligence engine into the iPhone. Apple climbed roughly 1%. HashiCorp  The stock gained more than 8% after a Bloomberg News report said the San Francisco-based software provider has been working with a financial advisor to weigh a potential sale. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing  Shares of the chipmaker added 0.2% after a report from Reuters said the company is considering building a packaging facility in Japan. Separately, Bank of America raised its price target on the stock, noting, "we expect the structural advanced node demand to be stronger, supported by AI strength, computing power, power and saving requirement." Tesla  The electric vehicle maker added more than 6% after the company said it planned to raise the price of its Model Y by $1,000 beginning in April. PepsiCo  The beverage stock rose more than 4% after an upgrade to overweight from equal weight by Morgan Stanley . PepsiCo's business fundamentals should bottom out early this year and then rebound in the second half, according to Morgan Stanley. Uber Technologies  The stock fell roughly 1% after the ride-sharing giant agreed to pay more than $175 million to Australian taxi drivers to settle a class action lawsuit. The lawsuit alleged Uber operated illegally in the country before obtaining approval.  CNBC's Pia Singh and Jesse Pound contributed reporting.
Check out the companies making headlines before the bell. Google  Alphabet Class A shares were trading 5.6% higher following a Bloomberg report that said Apple is in talks with Google to license and build its Gemini artificial intelligence engine into future iPhones. Super Micro Computer  Shares gained 2.5%. The technology firm, which makes servers that help with artificial intelligence applications, joins the S & P 500 on Monday before trading begins. The stock has jumped more than twentyfold in the past two years and is up 276% year to date. Nvidia  The stock moved 2.7% higher ahead of its highly anticipated GTC Conference , where the chipmaker is expected to announce various AI updates. Earlier Monday, HSBC upped its price target to $1,050 from $880 a share, saying it is encouraged by Nvidia's AI product roadmap, which could one day own "the entire value chain." HashiCorp  Shares jumped 9.8% on news that the San Francisco-based software provider has been considering options including a sale. Bloomberg reported the development, citing individuals familiar with the matter. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing  The U.S.-listed shares gained 1.5% after a Reuters report , citing sources familiar, said Taiwan Semiconductor is deliberating building advanced packaging capacity in Japan. Tesla  Shares rose 3.2% even after Goldman Sachs cut its price target on Tesla by $30 to $190 as the electric vehicle maker faces issues with rising competition and slower demand. The firm maintained that Tesla is "well positioned for longer-term growth," however, citing the company's strong position in EV and clean energy markets. PepsiCo  Shares of the beverage company rose 1.2% after Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to overweight from equal weight. PepsiCo's fundamentals are set to rebound in the second half of the year, according to the bank's analysts.  CNBC's Alex Harring, Samantha Subin, Jesse Pound, Brian Evans, Yun Li, Sarah Min, and Michelle Fox Theobald contributed reporting.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the Pieper-Hillside Boys & Girls Club in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on March 13, 2024. Sara Stathas | Bloomberg | Getty Images

How student loan forgiveness used to be taxed

Before that Covid-era change, any student loan debt canceled by the government was considered taxable and levied at the borrower's normal income tax rate. The federal tax bill could be hefty. According to a rough estimate by higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz, under previous tax rules, a borrower with a remaining balance of $10,000 after 20 or 25 years of payments could have to write the IRS a check for $1,200, assuming they're single and have an income less than $35,000. Yet, depending on a borrowers' circumstances, their federal tax bill could be as high as $15,400, Kantrowitz said. Borrowers can also owe state taxes on the forgiven debt.

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'Replacing education debt with tax debt'

Many student loan borrowers who get forgiveness aren't able to afford a tax bill, Kantrowitz said. "These borrowers have had low income for decades and are unlikely to have any assets," he said. "The tax liability might be as much as half of their annual income, or more, on top of their current tax liability." If borrowers sign up for a payment plan with the IRS, they're merely "replacing education debt with tax debt," Kantrowitz said. The millions of borrowers enrolled in income-driven repayment plans would be most affected by ending taxation of forgivable education debt. These plans, which cap a borrowers' monthly bill at a share of their discretionary income, lead to debt erasure after 10 to 25 years of payments. There are currently four different plans, each with different rules. Other student debt forgiveness plans, including a popular one for public servants and another that cancels the debt for those with serious disabilities, are already nontaxable.
ByteDance investors might actually benefit more in divesting from TikTok, at least that is what some US lawmakers claim the "forced sale" will result in.

In a CBS interview on Sunday, Wisconsin Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher argued that there is a "financial interest" for ByteDance investors in the proposed ban of the app in the U.S.

According to Gallagher, the turnover of TikTok to a U.S. company would offer a better user experience and decrease fears of China's propaganda in the app as it moves away from the Beijing-based company.

It is worth noting that the bill pushing to prohibit TikTok in the U.S. primarily aims to ban all ByteDance-owned apps, as well as apps "controlled by foreign adversary companies."

The U.S. also only contributes 10% to TikTok's total market as the majority of its profits come from Asian countries.

TikTok Buyers Pop Up Ahead of App Ban

Several potential buyers have already surfaced over the past days to wrest away TikTok from its parent company, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

As of press time, TikTok has yet to announce intentions to sell away its U.S. division. Instead, it has been reiterating its earlier warnings that TikTok will face a ban once the bill gets passed.

It is estimated that at least 170 million Americans use TikTok every day. This is in addition to over 7 million U.S. businesses operating on the app, making the platform one of the most profitable social media services in the country.

Also Read: Potential TikTok Buyers Emerge Ahead of App Ban

Senate to Slow Down Deliberation of TikTok Ban

After the rapid approval of the TikTok ban bill in the House of Representatives last week, Congress indicated intentions to slow down in its deliberations.

The New York Times earlier reported that the Senate could hold the proposed ban for weeks or even months as several senators have yet to decide whether to support the bill or not.

Majority of the senators who have yet to declare their position on the bill are set to run for another term in the upcoming 2024 U.S. Elections.

The only notable politician who announced support for the ban while still running for re-election was U.S. President Joe Biden, saying he would sign the bill once it passes Congress.

Related Article: What Happens if TikTok is Banned in the US?
Former U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a news story about New York Attorney General Letitia James as he speaks to the media at one of his properties at 40 Wall Street following closing arguments at his civil fraud trial on January 11, 2024 in New York City.

Donald Trump does not have enough cash to obtain an appeal bond that would prevent New York's attorney general from seizing his real estate assets to satisfy a $454 million civil fraud judgment, his lawyers indicated in a court filing Monday.

Trump's lawyers in the filing said it has proved "impossible" for the former president to get a bond that would secure the full judgment he faces while he appeals the verdict ordering him to pay it.

The filing asks a panel of five Manhattan appeals court judges to let Trump avoid having to post a bond while he challenges a judge's verdict that he, the Trump Organization and other defendants committed business fraud.

If the panel does not approve that request, Attorney General Letitia James could begin a process to seize Trump's properties on March 25.

James, who had successfully sued Trump in the case, previously said she would take that step if he did not post an appeal bond or pay off the judgment.

The filing in Manhattan Supreme Court's appellate division says Trump's team contacted about 30 surety companies but did not find one willing to underwrite the bond.

Trump's lawyer wrote that obtaining a bond of that size would require "cash reserves approaching $1 billion," which neither the former president nor the Trump Organization company has.

Under New York court rules, Trump must post an appeal bond to avoid James moving to collect on the fraud judgment.
Worker walks outside the new semiconductor plant by Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (JASM), a subsidiary of Taiwan's chip giant TSMC, in Kikuyo of the Kikuchi district, Kumamoto prefecture. Taiwan's TSMC is looking at building advanced packaging capacity in Japan, according to two sources familiar with the matter, a move that would add momentum to Japan's efforts to reboot its semiconductor industry.

Taiwan's TSMC is looking at building advanced packaging capacity in Japan, according to two sources familiar with the matter, a move that would add momentum to Japan's efforts to reboot its semiconductor industry.

The deliberations are at an early stage, they added, declining to be identified as the information was not public.

One option the chipmaking giant is considering is bringing its chip on wafer on substrate, or CoWoS, packaging technology to Japan, according to one of the sources who was briefed on the matter.

CoWoS is a high-precision technology that involves stacking chips on top of each other, boosting processing power while saving space and reducing power consumption.

Currently, all of TSMC's CoWoS capacity is in Taiwan.

No decisions on the scale of or the timeline for a potential investment have been made, the source said.

TSMC, formally known as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, declined to comment.

Demand for advanced semiconductor packaging has surged globally in tandem with the artificial intelligence boom, spurring chipmakers including TSMC, Samsung Electronics and Intel , to boost capacity.
A Volkswagen EV ID.4 crossover at the Volkswagen of America plant in Chattanooga, Tenneessee, on June 8, 2022.

DETROIT  Volkswagen workers at a plant in Tennessee have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board for a vote to join the United Auto Workers, the union announced Monday.

The filing comes after a "supermajority of Volkswagen workers have signed union cards in just 100 days," the union said, marking a major milestone in the labor group's organizing drives of nonunionized auto plants in the U.S.

The UAW has previously failed to organize foreign-based automakers in the U.S. Most recently, plants with Volkswagen and Nissan fell short of the support needed to unionize. In 2019, VW workers at the Chattanooga, Tennessee, plant rejected union representation in an 833-776 vote.

The Chattanooga plant is VW's only U.S. assembly plant and employs more than 4,000 autoworkers who would be eligible to vote for union representation.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby on Monday sought to reassure customers about the carrier's safety after a series of flight problems in recent weeks.

In one incident this month, a tire fell from one of the carrier's Japan-bound Boeing 777s shortly after takeoff, damaging cars in a San Francisco airport parking lot. In another, a missing panel from the plane was discovered after the older Boeing 737 landed in Oregon on Friday.

"Safety is our highest priority and is at the center of everything we do," Kirby said in an email to customers. "Unfortunately, in the past few weeks, our airline has experienced a number of incidents that are reminders of the importance of safety."

Kirby said the incidents, which the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating, were "all unrelated" but that the team is reviewing the details "and using those insights to inform our safety training and procedures across all employee groups."

The string of recent mishaps occurred during heightened scrutiny of the aviation industry after a door plug panel blew off an Alaska Airlines ' nearly new Boeing 737 Max 9 on Jan. 5.












Visa services provider,, expects 15-20% volume growth next year aided by its latest acquisition and strong demand across geographies.The wholly-owned subsidiary of BLS International entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire 100% stake in Turkey-based visa and consular services provider, iDATA and its subsidiaries for450 crore.BLS also announced new contracts with the Czech government in Botswana, and won a couple of new contracts with the Hungary government in different parts of the world.The company was already working for the Hungary government in three, or four countries. Now, it has won four new countries with the Hungary government.In the last one and a half years, the company has won 10-11 new contracts, in addition to renewal re-winning of its major contracts like Spain, it also won the Indian contract in Canada.With the iData acquisition , BLS expects consolidation of its operations across the globe, that will lead to reduction of its expenses.iDATA currently operates more than 37 visa application centres in over 15 countries and serves diplomatic missions of Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic.During October-December, BLS revenue stood at438 crore compared to438 crore in the previous year. Profit after tax (PAT) surged by 90% to87 crore.The cash reserve on its books was754 crore as of December 31, 2023.The current market capitalisation of the company is13,976.55 crore.
Indian coffee quick service restaurant (QSR), Third Wave Coffee on Monday, March 18, announced the appointment of

Rajat Luthra  former Chief Executive Officer of KFC India and Nepal its new CEO with effect from April 1, 2024. Luthra will replace Sushant Goel, the current CEO and co-founder, who will now serve on the companys board.

Luthra has around three decades of experience in the fast-manufacturing consumer goods (FMCG) and QSR sectors and has served as the CEO of KFC India and Nepal for more than 10 years.

Since the brands inception in 2016, Goel, along with co-founders Ayush Bathwal and Anirudh Sharma, scaled the company to over 100 outlets across India. As CEO, Sushant was responsible for steering the companys business strategy and forging robust investor relations.

In his role as a board member, Goel will continue the strategic direction of the company and develop new initiatives for Third Wave Coffee.

On this development, Goel commented, 

As CEO and co-founder, I have had the privilege of leading the company through its formative years and I am incredibly proud of the journey that we have embarked on. The brand is ready to embark on its next leg of growth.

Now, as I transition to the board, I am excited to continue contributing towards our vision and growth from a different vantage point. Rajat is a veteran in the QSR industry, and I am filled with optimism on what the future holds for Third Wave Coffee under his stewardship

, the co-founder added.

The Indian coffee brand which has over 100 stores across eight Indian cities started as a roastery with a single store in Bengaluru s Koramangala in 2016. Recently, the company raised $35 million in Series C funding from

Creaegis and existing investor Westbridge Capital.

Representatives of the investor companies Westbridge Capital and Creaegis said, 

His vision, dedication, and unwavering commitment as CEO have been pivotal in propelling our company to new heights. As Sushant transitions to his new role on the board, we are confident that his guidance and strategic insights will continue to steer us towards even greater success.

Talking about the new CEO, they said, 

Together, under Sushant's continued guidance and Rajat's leadership, we are poised to embrace new opportunities and drive the company to new heights.


One example of what pesticide applicators would face if the state were to lift its preemption on pesticides: the light-shaded asphalt is Denver County; the dark is unincorporated Arapahoe County. The tree in the middle straddles both counties, which raises questions about which pesticide an applicator could use to treat the tree, or how to protect one side of the tree from pesticides that are permitted in one county but not the other. (PHOTO: Alex Brown)
The US Supreme Court on Friday released its first set of precedents as to when a Federal official can be sued for blocking critics on social media.

Under the new guidelines, officials are considered to engage in governmental action if they have "actual authority to speak on behalf of the state on a particular matter" and "purported to exercise that authority in the relevant posts."

Officials will only be able to block critical or unwelcome comments in the case that a "post that merely repeats or shares otherwise available information is more likely personal," according to Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Lower courts were advised to revisit previous social media rulings in accordance with the new standards.

Reuters first reported the Court ruling.

Also Read: US Supreme Court Questions Texas, Florida Over Self-Regulation on Social Media

US SC: Officials are Accountable on Stifling Critcs

The unanimous ruling is in regard to the two cases from California and Michigan accusing elected officials of violating the First Amendment by blocking critics from their personal social media pages.

The court upheld the citizens' rights to sue officials after two elected local school board members in Poway, California, blocked parents of three students after they "spammed" repetitive comments on the officials' postings.

The spamming was in relation to the board's response to issues of racism and finances within the school.

The other case, Lindke v. Freed, involved a city manager in Port Huron, Michigan, who blocked a local resident from scrutinizing the local government's pandemic policies.

The Supreme Court first heard arguments on both cases last October.

US Supreme Court Deliberates on Social Media Guidelines

The ruling on the cases from California and Michigan is only the latest in the growing number of precedents the court is set to decide in regulating free speech on social media.

Just last month, the court also heard the cases from Texas and Florida requesting to have the power to self-regulate posts on social media.

The lawsuits were in relation to social media platforms banning posts supporting the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot, many of which involved Republican officials.

Both Texas and Florida are demanding to overturn previous court rulings preventing the state from having the power to bar social media companies from removing certain posts and accounts.

The Court is also set to face another case this Monday as to whether US President Joe Biden and his Cabinet can be banned from contacting social media companies.

Related Article: New York City is Suing Social Media Sites for Exploiting Children's Mental Health
(Posted March 18, 2024)

By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor

On the afternoon of April 8, parts of Ohio, including parts of Madison County, will experience a total solar eclipse, a rare celestial event that happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun, causing the sky to darken as if it were dawn or dusk.

The last time a total solar eclipse passed through Ohio was 1806. Following this years event, the next total solar eclipse to pass through the state wont happen until 2099.

The April 8 solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The path of totality runs along a narrow band stretching from Texas to Maine. Viewers outside the path of totality will still see a partial eclipse.

It is estimated that a partial eclipse will start in Ohio around 1:54 p.m., with totality expected in parts of the state between 3:08 and 3:19 p.m. The timing and duration of totality will depend on the location. The eclipse will end in Ohio around 4:26 p.m.

Madison County sits along the outer southeastern edge of the 124-mile wide path of totality through the state. According to NASAs Eclipse Explorer, an online interactive map that allows users to access eclipse information by zip code, the Plain City area will experience 2 minutes and 13 seconds of totality, the West Jefferson area will experience 32 seconds of totality, and the London area will experience 20 seconds of totality. Mount Sterling sits outside the path of totality, but will still experience 99.7 percent coverage. By comparison, Kenton in Hardin County sits in Ohios centerline of totality and will experience 3 minutes and 56 seconds of totality.

Preparing for eclipse travelers

With all that said, Madison County authorities are preparing for an influx of visitors to the area looking to view the eclipse. This could result in increased traffic and increased impacts on restaurants, gas stations, and the like.

Madison County will probably see an increase in travelers. Every county will be different, said Madison County Sheriff John Swaney.

Deb Sims, director of the Madison County Emergency Management Agency, said her office will staff its emergency operations center from 12 to 5 p.m. on April 8, just in case incidents crop up.

We might have extra traffic with people who are not necessarily from here. It could cause congestion and confusion. Being prepared is a good idea, Sims said.

Schools closed

Because the potential for increased traffic would coincide with the end of the school day, all schools in Madison County have opted to close for the day, holding no classes for students, citing safety concerns. This includes Jonathan Alder Local Schools, London City Schools, Madison-Plains Local Schools, West Jefferson Local Schools, Tolles Career & Technical Center, Shekinah Christian School, and St. Patrick Catholic School.

Despite the district being at the southern edge of totality, the area is expected to be heavily impacted by solar tourism on this day, said London City Schools Superintendent Lou Kramer in announcing the school closure.

St. Patrick School plans to hold eclipse-related lesson on April 5 and send students home with eclipse viewing glasses that day. West Jefferson Local Schools has announced they, too, will be send eclipse viewing glasses home with students on April 5.

Events on eclipse day

To date, the only public event the Madison Messenger knows of scheduled to take place on April 8, the day of the eclipse, is being hosted by Mt. Sterling EyeCare from 2 to 4 p.m. at Mason Park in Mount Sterling. The business will have eclipse viewing glasses available and refreshments, including moon pies and sun chips.

Otherwise, none of Madison Countys municipal government entities plan to hold eclipse-related events on April 8. Instead, town leaders are encouraging residents to experience the eclipse from their homes.

The village of Plain City has created a webpage dedicated to the eclipse. A message on the website states: We encourage residents to enjoy the eclipse from the comfort of their yards. This provides a safe option for witnessing this remarkable phenomenom without the need to venture out and risk being caught in traffic.

Giveaways and contests

This doesnt mean local municipalities arent getting into the spirit of the big event. The village of West Jefferson gave away 300 pairs of eclipse viewing glasses the week of March 1.

Plain City did the same, giving away 2,000 eclipse glasses on a first-come first-served basis to Plain City residents only starting March 11 at the village municipal building, 800 Village Blvd. The village also gave away childrens eclipse science boxes, courtesy of COSI.

Plain City also is holding an eclipse coloring contest for Plain City residents who are 10 years old or younger. Submissions are due by 4 p.m. March 21. A coloring sheet can be downloaded at www.plain-city.com/eclipse or picked up at the municipal building or Plain City Public Library, 305 W. Main St. Winners in each age category will get an eclipse prize package.

COSI has supplied the city of London with 500 science kits focused on the eclipse. The city plans to distribute the kits to London City Schools and St. Patrick Catholic School to distribute to students.

Library programs

Madison Countys libraries have jumped on the eclipse as an opportunity to present educational programs.

 Plain City Public Library has several programs planned related to the eclipse and space.

On March 19, library visitors are invited to explore space through virtual reality using a variety of apps. Call the library at (614) 873-4912 for an appointment.

On March 20 from 6 to 7 p.m., visitors are invited to bring a plain back shirt to the library to create a solar eclipse t-shirt. The library will provide fabric paint and stencils to make an eclipse design.

On March 21 at 6:30 p.m., the library will host an interactive, educational evening of space-related stories. This program is for children ages 8 and younger and their families.

 London Public Library is planning a Sun Party for 11 a.m. March 23. Children ages 4 and older are invited to learn about the sun in preparation for the upcoming eclipse. Participants will get to make a pinhole viewer and an ultraviolet detection bracelet. They will learn how to use household items to study eclipses.

Additionally, the library will begin distributing free eclipse glasses on March 25 with a limit of two sets of glasses per household.

 Hurt/Battelle Memorial Library in West Jefferson is hosting Great American Eclipse, a program presented by the Whiz Bang Science Show, at 11 a.m. March 25. Participants will learn about solar eclipses and the history and science behind them. All ages are welcome. Attendees will receive solar eclipse glasses after the program.

 Mount Sterling Public Library is holding eclipse-themed evenings at 6 p.m. March 21 and March 26. The fun, educational programs are family-friendly.

Information Resources

For more information about the April 8 total solar eclipse, including viewing safety tips, visit the Ohio Emergency Management website, https://ema.ohio.gov/, or NASAs website, https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/.
At this point, the best thing Mozilla Corp. has going for it is that it is not a publicly traded company, because if it was, its stock would be getting slaughtered. The companys CEO, Mitchell Baker, recently departed, and recent reports put its share of the browser market in the low single digits.

But Mozilla is no stranger to challenges. It was born into adversity, launched after the collapse of Netscape Communications in 2003. As one of its last acts, Netscape open-sourced the code for its eponymous browser. The Mozilla Foundation was formed to take up the project abandoned by Netscape and create a new, modern browser. And it did so with Microsoft owning virtually the entire browser space by that point.

Mozilla released the Firefox browser in 2004 as the only viable alternative to Microsofts Internet Explorer. Fast and nimble, Firefox ran circles around the aging, bloated IE. Mozillas browser saw a steady gain in market share, peaking in mid-2010 at 34%. But it would be all downhill from there as Google Chromes star rose throughout the ensuing decade. With Google putting its full weight behind Chrome, both Mozilla and Microsoft saw significant loss of market share.

Firefox came so late to the mobile space that it never had any ground to lose. For iPhone users there was Safari, built on WebKit, Apples open-source browser engine. On the Android side of things, Chrome was preinstalled.

Squeezed on all sides, Mozilla has tried in recent years to position Firefox as a privacy-focused browser, but to no avail: Firefoxs market share has dwindled to just 3.3% while Chrome commands 68.8%, according to W3Counter. The federal government's Digital Analytics Program (DAP), which monitors traffic to government websites for the past 90 days, puts Firefox at only 2.2% of the market.

Consumers and business users adopt what works best for them, and they are free to change browsers on a whim or to try the newest and latest features, said Todd R. Weiss, an independent consultant.

Without a price tag or commitment for browsers, it is hard to grow brand loyalty, especially as the products, their security, features, improvements, and reputations change constantly over time, he said. That is what happened to Firefox, as it happened to Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and other previously popular browsers over the last several decades.

Part of the problem is Mozillas business model. Mozilla Corp., which manages Firefox, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation, and all profits are reinvested in the foundations open-source projects. It is hard to monetize free, which is why there has never been an open-source company the size of Microsoft, Oracle, or SAP.

Mozilla basically lives off donations. They have no marketing budget. If they want to survive, they need to find a path to profit so they become self-sustaining and can afford to compete with the products they offer, said Rob Enderle, president of the Enderle Group.

They need some out-of-the-box-thinking and a focus on creating a revenue stream that will sustain them. Without that, they are on a path to corporate death, with the only question being when theyll have to turn out the lights, he added.

Mozilla doesnt appear to be in any danger of closing up shop just yet. According to its most recent annual report for calendar year 2022, the company is sitting on more than $1 billion in cash, equivalents, and short-term investments. Its debt is minimal.

But it is also wholly dependent on Google. Of the $593 million in revenue for 2022, $510 million of that was royalties paid by Google. Those royalties come from making Google the default search engine in the Firefox browser. Subscriptions and ad revenue were just $75 million.

Mozilla has tried to break its Google dependency by diversifying its products, offering everything from an encrypted email service to a VR-focused browser. But critics say it has spread itself too thin, with too many projects taking resources from Firefox. The departure of CEO Baker last month, appointment of an interim CEO through the end of the year, and subsequent round of layoffs have done little to instill confidence in Firefoxs future.

The shakeup at the top is usually not a good sign, said Joe Karasin, president of digital marketing firm Karasin PPC. I suspect that there are further problems on the horizon, as Firefox hasn't really innovated anything new in the past few years, and they allowed DuckDuckGo to really own the private browser messaging and space.

Mozilla declined our request for comment.

Another problem exacerbating the issue has been Google and Microsoft pressing the accelerator on AI tools, while Firefox has not incorporated AI on any real level and is only just now starting to pivot toward AI integration.

As the bigger brands continue to innovate, companies like Mozilla will eventually be among the long list of also-rans in the browser market, said Karasin. As the world has trended toward mobile browsing, iPhones have built-in Safari browsers, and Androids obviously have Google Chrome. Firefox has been downloaded over 100 million times from the Google Play Store, but how many monthly and daily active users it has is anyone's guess.

But Weiss holds out hope for a turnaround for Firefox. Im not sure if Firefox can do anything to reverse these trends, but it is possible if they add more features that users love from browsers such as Chrome and even Safari, he said. Maybe the Firefox team needs to be listening better.

Its worth noting that Firefox is the only mainstream browser built on an independent, open-source browser engine whose roots dont go back to Apples WebKit engine. Google based its Blink engine on WebKit, and Blink powers both Chrome and Chromium, the open-source browser upon which most other modern browsers are built, including Opera, Brave, and Microsoft Edge. Continuing to develop Firefoxs Gecko engine  and thus preventing a browser monoculture  is important for the health of the web, say open-web advocates.

Firefox is worth maintaining and trying to grow again, Weiss said. It has good bones.

One glimmer of hope for Firefox and other alternative browsers has appeared in the wake of Apples recent rollout of iOS 17.4 to comply with the Eurpean Unions Digital Markets Act. When iPhone users in the EU open Safari, they see a spash screen that lets them choose a default browser. Both Firefox and Brave have reported spikes in iOS installations among EU users since the rollout.

When consumers get a clear choice of iOS browsers, theyre choosing alternatives to Safari. Maybe thats why Google still hasnt implemented a browser choice screen on Android, Brave posted on X. Absent such a screen, Android users must actively seek out and download alternative browsers from the Google Play Store.

So Google has won for now, but lets not forget that Microsoft won this crown once as well, and Google took it from them. However, Google has a search service tied to Chrome, something Internet Explorer did not have until Bing launched in 2009. That makes Google less likely to repeat Microsofts mistake and pull development resources from Chrome.

And there are plenty of alternatives to Chrome in addition to Firefox  Edge, Opera, Safari, Brave, and Vivaldi among them  none of which have yet to make a measurable dent in Chromes hegemony. For now, at least, Chrome rules the roost.
It has been said by experts that mental health and physical health are linked, with each exerting significant influence on the other.

In a recent study, researchers highlight the connection between obesity and mental health, particularly emphasizing the impact on women. The researchers examined 1,821 participants aged 46 to 73. Findings indicated that obesity, measured by BMI and waist/height ratios, correlated with increased depression and decreased well-being, particularly pronounced in women. Lifestyle factors did not appear to mitigate these mental health issues.

Biological and social factors

The relationship between obesity and depression can be attributed to a combination of biological and social factors. Obesity can induce prejudice, discrimination, and social stigma, exacerbating depressive symptoms. Additionally, physical discomforts such as joint pain contribute to the cycle of depression.

While the study utilized validated scales and equal sex representation, its limitations include a predominantly European-Caucasian sample from a single primary care center. Additionally, the cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causal relationships.

What the experts are saying

In a report, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center psychologist Eva Panigrahi explained that there is a biological link between obesity and depression. Chronic physiological outcomes, cardiovascular diseases and adverse childhood experiences are among the factors that contribute to this connection.

Bariatric surgeon Dr. Mir Ali emphasized the impact of obesity on mental health. Discrimination against people with obesity perpetuates social stigma, exacerbating psychological distress. Examples of such discrimination include attributing laziness and lack of intelligence to people with obesity.

Treatment methods

Addressing depression associated with obesity requires a combination of different approaches. The researchers suggest targeted interventions integrating weight management to alleviate depression on a population scale.

Antidepressant medication management that does not stimulate weight gain is also recommended, alongside evidence-based psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Incorporating strategies to manage both depression and weight is crucial for effective treatment.
Counterview Desk



In a representation to the chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, human rights defender Kirity Roy, who is secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), has said that Border Security Force (BSF) personnel are creating "illegal obstacles" for farmers seeking to harvest their ripened yields and transport them to the market in village Jhaukuthi of Cooch Behar district.



When an affected farmer complained to district officials, including polic, the BSF Company Commander made visits at his shop and terrorized him of physical harms and threatened him to implicate him in false criminal cases. He even threatened the farmer by saying that he will not permit to bring the onion sprouts to market, and he could contact anybody, but this was not going to help.

Text:

I wish to draw your attention over an incident of highhandedness and illegal obstacle created by Border Security Force personnel to harvest the ripened yields, then transport them to market/ house. Mr. Aziz Fakir, son of Mr. Kepatulla Fakir, and Mr. Sajahan Fakir, son of Mr. Kepatulla Fakir, of village Jhaukuthi of Balabhut Gram Panchayat under Toofangung I Block of Cooch Behar district have cultivated onion in their .66 acre of agrarian land which is situated at the other side of the border fence.

At the time of cultivation, they priorly informed and took permission of the Talai Border Outpost of F Company of 14 BSF Battalion. While the above-mentioned persons visited the BSF Company Commander of Jhaukuthi BOP, Mr. Dida Ram, on 01.03.2024, to take permission to harvest the onion sprouts from their agrarian lands having dag numbers 941and 762 and khatian number 420/1 and 5014 and bring the yields to market for sell, the said Company Commander told them that he will visit the land and then only provide the permission. On 03.03.2024, the farmers again visited the mentioned BOP but the Company Commander did not pay any heed.

After that Mr. Samsheuddin Karmakar; the husband of Gram Panchayet Member; Ms. Aswiya Bibi visited the BOP with same purpose but he was driven out from the BOP with a caution for not to visit the BOP with this purpose. Mr. Samsheuddin Karmakar while visited the mentioned fields, found that two sacks of onion sprouts were confiscated at the Jhaukuthi Four Alfa BSF outpost while the farmers tried to bring it to the market.

The two sacks consisting around 120 kilograms of onion sprouts were lying at the river bank for 7 days and getting rotten. Then while Mr. Aziz Fakir, the affected farmer, visited the mentioned Company Commander on 04.03.2024, Mr. Fakir was driven out with threats and humiliations. Mr. Saji P.N, one BSF personnel attached with G Branch, even accused the farmer by saying that the onion sprouts are being smuggled in from Bangladesh as he has not cultivated the yields, so the permission for transport would not be given.

While Mr. Samsheuddin Karmakar; the husband of Gram Panchayet Member, Ms. Aswiya Bibi, accompanied the farmers to brought the onion sprouts to the BSF outpost, they were restricted by the posted BSF personnel and when he tried to discuss the matter with Mr. Dida Ram, the Company Commander, Mr. Samsheuddin Karmakar was forced to go away. Mr. Aftar Byapari, Prodhan of Balabhut Gram Panchayat, contacted Mr. Dida Ram, the Company Commander, to resolve the issue but Mr. Dida Ram did not pay any heed to his request.

Then the aggrieved farmers made written submissions to the Sub Divisional Officer, Toofangunj, the Block Development Officer of Toofangunj Block I and Officer in Charge of Toofangunj Police Station. The Block Development Officer of Toofangunj I Block sent a notice to the Assistant Commandant of Madhya Jhaukuthi BOP on 06.03.2024 to resolve the issue but the arrogant BSF personnel has not taken any corrective measure.

Mr. Dida Ram, the Company Commander, made visits to Mr. Aziz Fakir at his shop and terrorized him of physical harms and implicating Mr. Fakir in false criminal cases. He even threatened Mr. Fakir by saying that he will not permit to bring the onion sprouts to market while Mr. Fakir can contact anybody, none could deter him from his decision.

Immediate stop of this illegal act of BSF to harass the farmers and facilitate the harvest of their yields and subsequent transport of produce to market.

Mr. Dida Ram, the Company Commander, and Mr. Saji P.N of G Company must be booked for denying constitutional rights under appropriate legal provisions.

The aggrieved farmers must be compensated for financial loss they incurred due to these illegal acts of BSF personnel.

Hence, I demand for:
We love looking at early faltering attempts at science because it gives us a chance to point and laugh. When we learn that some old doctor used to remove everyones teeth to cure madness, we know he was the real mad one, and were sure glad we werent around to run into him.

Those old medical treatments werent always as crazy as they sound, however. We abandoned them because we came up with better stuff, not because the treatments themselves had no merit to them. In fact, sometimes, the crazy old methods really healed people.

5 Removing Peoples Blood and Treating with Ultraviolet Rays Exactly four years ago, the world was shutting down thanks to a spreading virus. It was a strange time, and most of us are embarrassed to have ever been part of it. Around a month into this, the president suggested a few strange possible treatments, earning much mockery. Perhaps an injection of disinfectant could do the trick, he said (some people responded by drinking bleach, though not as many as initially reported). He also suggested bringing ultraviolet light inside the body, which sounded even more absurd. You cant inject light, critics noted. That doesnt make sense. Psychonaught/Wiki Commons If someone ever talks about injecting light, theyre probably on heroin. However, there really was a treatment in the 1940s and 1950s that used UV light on infected patients. It was called ultraviolet blood irradiation, and it consisted of taking some blood out of the patient, blasting it with UV rays, then pumping it back in. It started intuitively enough, with the observation that UV disinfects surfaces, so maybe it can do something similar for infected blood. Early experiments showed that, nope, you cant sterilize blood that way. Crazily enough, though, while the process didnt work as intended, it did treat the illness. First, despite not being able to zap all germs as wed hoped, it killed some, and this triggered an immune response, beyond the response already sparked by the live germs. Second, the light affected a bunch of dissolved substances in the blood, changing them for the better. Third, the UV hit a bunch of blood cells, and while this actually meant killing a bunch of blood cells, it was an overall net positive. UV gave the blood a jolt rather than fully scrubbing it, so there was fortunately no need to remove all the patients blood to make the process work. Just run five percent though the UV machine, and that did the trick. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology So come, hook yourself up to the Knott Hemo-Irradiator. Advertisement Doctors used UV to treat pneumonia, tuberculosis and polio. Patients came away better, and plenty of people whod otherwise have died survived. We later turned away from this tool, not because it worked poorly but because antibiotics replaced it. UV even has some advantages over antibiotics (it works on viruses, and theres no evidence germs can grow resistant to it). And yes, researchers late in 2020 declared that it might be worth giving UV a chance at wrestling against COVID. This isnt, by the way, because UV rays have miracle properties. Its more a result of something called biphasic dose response, which says seemingly anything can convince the body to work better, if you only get the dose just right. So, come on, scientists, get to work figuring the right dosage for medicinal Thin Mints. We have faith in you. Advertisement

4 Drop an Electric Fish on Their Head Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) sounds like a quack cure even in its modern form. Running electric shocks through someones head? Weve seen that on TV  its a way to lobotomize troublemakers! Showtime Now shell never be able to reveal the truth! Advertisement In reality, ECT is legit, causes zero pain and is effective on a handful of mental illnesses. Here as well, its a question of dosage: Licking power lines is dangerous, but the correct voltage applied to the skull is not. The biggest problem with ECT is its a treatment, not a cure, which means you have to keep doing it. Advertisement But were not here to debate ECT, a practice thats done regularly today. Were here to talk about how people stumbled into ECT thousands of years ago, before they understood much of anything about either mental illness or electricity. This was the time of Ancient Rome, back in the first century. Even if they knew about electroshock therapy, they didnt have generators that could create electricity. What they did have was fish. NOAA Electric fish That animal above is the electric ray, Narcine bancroftii. Its like an electric eel, except its not an eel  its a ray. The emperors physician, Scribonius Largus, would place this live fish on the head of anyone suffering from severe migraines. The ray would shoot out some electricity, and a shock that might paralyze prey had a most healing effect on the headache sufferer. Advertisement By the way, since no one really knew what electricity was back then, or for many years after that, they didnt call the electric ray an electric ray. They called it a torpedo. Thats a word that means paralysis (torpor comes from the same root), and when people centuries later wanted a name for their new weapon that shot through water, they looked to that paralyzing fish.

3 Giving Patients Malaria Good news: In the last couple years, we finally developed a malaria vaccine. While its not fully effective, people will take any help they can get because this is a disease that kills half a million every year. Malaria isnt something you want to catch. A hundred years ago, however, doctors gave it to patients on purpose. David Clode The doctors name was Moss Quito, M.D. Advertisement Advertisement This was a treatment for syphilis. Malaria was often fatal, but insane late-stage syphilis was always fatal, so if the former could cure the latter, it was a fair trade. Once you know this was one disease countering another, this may sound like the famous story of Edward Jenner giving people cow pox to prevent smallpox, a predecessor to vaccines. But it was actually weirder than that. Inducing malaria was a form of whats known as pyrotherapy. The agent of healing wasnt the malarial parasites themselves but the fever that sprung up as a response. This fever burned up the syphilis, concluded doctors. You couldnt achieve the same thing by merely heating the patient up, because when doctors tried (using electric currents, ones stronger than used in ECT), the patient cooked and died before the syphilis did. Pyrotherapy sounds like a type of restoration magic wielded by dark wizards, but it worked at kicking syphilis, and it won the doctor who pioneered it the 1927 Nobel Prize in medicine. via Wiki Commons He later applied to be a Nazi, but fans would rather ignore that part of his life. Advertisement For a while, the big stumbling block for malaria therapy was that hospitals didnt have enough malaria. They took to cultivating malaria in previously uninfected patients, a breach of ethics so bad that doctors would like to just forget malariotherapy was ever a thing. Still, that wasnt why the practice died out. Instead, this was one more tool made redundant by antibiotics. Antibiotics are great. They eliminate so many diseases  and so many treatments.

2 Soak the Intestines in Wine People 2,000 years ago, of course, didnt have antibiotics. We didnt know what germs were at all back then, so you might imagine we had no means of combatting them. And yet, the Roman physician Galen knew enough about infection to boil his instruments before sticking them in peoples bodies. Patients under his care fared pretty well as a result. Bernard Gagnon Some died, but they didnt all die, so he beat the competition. Advertisement Advertisement When it came time to clean the actual patients, Galen could not use boiling water. Boiling people, we've established, is only a good idea if you want to cook them, and a stigma existed in Rome against cannibalism. So, when a gladiators torso ripped open and intestines spilled out, Galen would instead soak the guts in wine. The alcohol did a decent job at disinfecting the wound. Galen didnt arrive at this solution through a study of what substances kill germs. Again, no one back then knew exactly what germs were (though they had some theories about seeds that transmit disease). No, Galen turned to wine because wine seemed like a marvelous substance. He wrote a lot about wine, talking about which varieties he liked best and making some scientific conclusions that havent quite held up. Szilas/Wiki Commons The science has not aged like a fine wine. Advertisement Wine should be an ingredient in theriaca, said Galen, which was a substance that could cure anything. Red wine is good for people who are short on blood, since it looks so much like blood that it must help your body produce some more. Undiluted wine can cure you after a venomous animal bites you because venom cools your body, while wine heats it. He also wrote that wine is unhelpful for children, but very useful to the elderly. And okay, he got that one right.
Win-win cooperation the right choice for China, Australia

Xinhua) 10:49, March 18, 2024

People visit the AliExpo 2024 in Sydney, Australia, March 15, 2024. Alibaba launched a two-day e-commerce event AliExpo 2024 in Sydney on Friday to help inspire reading about opportunities in China and Southeast Asia and provide attendees with relevant information. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

China and Australia can leverage their strengths through their joint efforts to build a more prosperous and secure future for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- As two major Asia-Pacific countries critical to global economic growth, enhancing the ties between China and Australia is mutually beneficial and echoes the expectations of neighboring nations.

There is no historical grievance or contemporary hostility between China and Australia, and their common interests vastly outweigh any differences. Both sides must ensure that cooperation continues as the cornerstone of the bilateral ties.

Since taking office in 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government has remedied its predecessor's irrational anti-China policies, prompting a positive response from China. As a result, China-Australia ties have gradually bottomed out, recovered and stabilized.

Albanese's visit to China last year was highly successful, with leaders of both nations agreeing to advance the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. During the visit, the Statement on Joint Outcomes of the China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting was issued, outlining a blueprint for the future development of bilateral relations in the next stage.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is slated soon to hold the seventh China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue during his visit to Australia with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.

The visit comes as the two countries mark the 10th anniversary of establishing the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides should seize this moment to review their past relationship and extract valuable insights and lessons to foster a stable and enduring bilateral relationship moving forward.

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao co-chairs the 16th China-Australia Joint Ministerial Economic Commission with visiting Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell in Beijing, capital of China, May 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

China has long stood as Australia's most important trading partner, with bilateral trade comprising nearly one-third of Australia's total foreign trade.

The two economies are highly complementary: China boasts an enormous market in demand, an extensive industrial supply chain, and a large number of high-caliber workers and entrepreneurial talent, while Australia is home to rich and high-quality mineral resources, world-leading specialized expertise, a highly developed service industry and a well-established legal system.

There is no justification for such economically interdependent nations to fall victim to unfounded notions of "decoupling" or an imagined "new Cold War."

Instead, the two sides should fully exploit the potential of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and bolster ties in emerging areas such as climate change and green economy.

As the world's most dynamic region, the Asia-Pacific relies on close China-Australia relations. Together, they play a crucial role in fostering regional stability, driving economic growth, and tackling shared challenges like climate change and maritime security.

China and Australia can leverage their strengths through their joint efforts to build a more prosperous and secure future for the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
(Photo : Unsplash/Ant Rozetsky)

Nippon Steel announced that no layoffs or plant closures will occur in its proposed fourteen billion nine hundred million dollars acquisition of US Steel on Friday despite serious opposition from President Biden and unionized steelworkers.

Nippon Steel's Commitment to Workers' Welfare

Japan's Nippon Steel, which announced the proposed acquisition in December, stated that the deal aimed to address political concerns from President Biden and the United Steelworkers (USW) union about its potential impact on workers.

Nippon Steel stated that as part of their proposal to the USW, US Steel would invest one billion four hundred million dollars upon completion of the transaction, increase the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by over 140%, and assure no layoffs or plant closures. Reuters reported that initially, the company suggested there would not be layoffs or closures before September 2026 but later clarified that none would happen because of the deal.

READ ALSO: Granite City in Crisis: Indefinite Shutdown Warns 1,000 Layoffs

The Biden Administration's Serious Scrutiny on Nippon Steel's Deal

The decision follows Biden's statement on Thursday, in which he emphasized the importance of US Steel remaining an American-owned and operated company, given its iconic status in the country's steel industry for over a century.

The Biden administration indicated in December that the proposed deal warranted serious scrutiny due to US Steel's production of steel critical for national security, given that Japan has been a treaty ally of the US since 1951 under a mutual security agreement.

The proposed deal is under review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US (CFIUS), which operates within the Treasury Department and is authorized to recommend blocking the deal. Nippon Steel stated that it is moving forward with the regulatory review, including CFIUS, while relying on the rule of law, objectivity, and due process they expect from the US Government.

An Exciting Development of Two Companies Transforming The Steel Industry

US Steel mentioned in a regulatory filing that it anticipates the transaction to conclude later this year, describing it as an exciting development for both companies, which, when pushed through, will "share their world-leading technologies and manufacturing capabilities to be at the forefront of innovation and digital transformation" in the steelmaking industry that would benefit their customers.

Nippon Steel's statement also highlighted its history of operating facilities in the US and collaborating with American companies in the steel industry supply chain. It boasts its successful operation of facilities with over 4,000 American employees, including 620 USW-represented employees, such as Burnham's Standard Steel, PA, and Follansbee's Wheeling Nippon Steel.

Nippon Steel's press release mentioned its longstanding relationship with the US, spanning over 70 years. During this time, it has imported metallurgical coal from states like Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and Alabama, and it plans to continue this relationship in the future.

The company also stated that by investing more and sharing advanced technologies with US Steel, Nippon Steel aims to enhance customer quality and competitiveness in critical industries reliant on American steel while bolstering American supply chains and economic defenses against China.

The United Steelworkers (USW) Opposition

In a press release issued Thursday following the President's announcement, the United Steelworkers (USW) union agreed with President Biden's concerns regarding the sale's potential long-term impacts on economic and national security.

The USW statement continued by highlighting concerns about the vulnerability created by allowing a foreign-owned corporation to acquire one of the nation's largest steel manufacturers, especially regarding defense and critical infrastructure needs, emphasizing the necessity for US Steel to remain domestically owned and operated, said the President, which they said should settle the debate.

Former President Donald Trump, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, voiced his opposition to the deal in late January, saying that he would block it immediately and expressing disappointment in saving the steel industry. Still, US Steel is now being bought by Japan, which describes it as "terrible."

RELATED ARTICLE: Industrial Companies Take Bold Steps on Labor Issues, Extending Onsite Childcare to Ease "Tough Choices" for Workers

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
These days, you cant commit even a tiny hate crime without getting canceled/arrested for violating federal law. It truly is political correctness gone mad, by which we mean the proper end result of societal due process but wearing funky socks. The woke mob demands that everyone be given equal opportunity regardless of gender, race or economic status, even though some people dont want that. And they call that democracy.

But this struggle actually isnt as new as it might seem. You might be surprised to learn just how far back the history of wokeism goes and even that some of your favorite historical figures were crushed beneath its wheel.

7 Abraham Lincoln Lincoln most famously presided over the abolition of slavery in the United States, making him both a universally beloved political figure and an enormous cuck. No one is saying it was the wrong move, but denying the South their American right to not be America anymore was some nanny-state shit, and you cant deny that emancipation put former slaves on equal legal footing with other citizens in many respects.

6 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King is another figure you cant just come out and say you dislike, and there are huge advantages to keeping up the charade. He advocated for non-violence, so people who would have happily kicked his ass love to quote him whenever anyones getting too demanding. Unfortunately, he also advocated for forcing the government to treat all people equally, not allowing employers to just do whatever they want to their workers, and just letting all eligible citizens vote, and that simply cannot stand.

5 Mahatma Gandhi Gandhi also advocated for non-violence, but he was far less quotable, so its not clear why he was even so revered. He spent his life promoting economic, class, religious and gender equality, so thats a lot of equality. The man was basically a walking diversity seminar. He was also not a fan of the British colonization of India just because they ruined curry and oppressed the indigenous population. You know what they say about British imperialism: love it or put up with it. He was also always running around in those kicky little skirts, so he was clearly an enemy of traditional masculinity. Advertisement

4 William Shakespeare Speaking of gender traitors, everyone whos seen the historical reenactment Shakespeare in Love knows that William Shakespeares plays were performed solely by male actors, even the female roles. That makes Shakespeare a pioneer of drag shows, a groomer of groomers, and just because the reason for it was to keep women in their proper place in the home doesnt make it okay. He was also a teacher, aka a cultural marxism indoctrinator. Bet he looooved him some Marx. Advertisement

3 Albert Einstein This is a tough one. On the one hand, he fled his native Germany upon Hitlers rise to power, which indicates some seriously anti-patriotic soy boy tendencies. On the other hand, the Nazis were bad because the U.S. defeated them. Not for any particular reason  they just happened to be on the other side, and being against America is bad. What were we talking about again? Oh, right. As a mathematician, Einstein was also an ivory tower elite, so he was probably all about that affirmative action and trigger warnings and what have you. Just look at the guy  total long-haired hippie. Advertisement

2 Susan B. Anthony Susan B. Anthony was a woman, which means she was especially susceptible to the woke mind virus. (If only there were a vaccine for that! But still, dont take it.) Indeed, marching in her bloomers for womens right to vote, she might as well have been wearing a pink pussy hat over her purple hair and not much else for the SlutWalk. Not that women shouldnt have rights  they should just politely wait for them to be magically handed down by a vague and unaccountable authority. It goes without saying that she was also a teacher, and not just because it was one of the few occupations socially acceptable for a woman of her station. For the Marxism. Advertisement
Photo: Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty Images

On early Sunday afternoon, local police began shutting down the streets around Keter Torah synagogue in Teaneck, a normally quiet suburb in New Jersey. A wall of cops assembled on the street in front of the building, dividing two angry throngs: on one side demonstrators with Israeli flags, and on the other demonstrators with Palestinian flags. The groups hurled increasingly familiar insults at one another ranging from asshole to baby killer. Inside, approximately 400 prospective buyers were attending a real-estate convention called the Great Israeli Real Estate Event.

The Great Israeli Real Estate Event is an annual exhibition produced by Gideon Katz, a self-described expert in marketing Israeli real estate to the global Jewish community. Its aim is to help American and Canadian buyers answer questions about buying property in Israel, and to showcase available properties. This year, the event had planned stops in synagogues in Montreal and Toronto before Teaneck; then it would be onto Lawrence and eventually, on March 13, Flatbush. Initially, hed considered canceling because of the war. But ultimately, he decided to lean in instead. This was actually an ideal time for Americans to invest in Israeli properties, Katz said on local Israeli news channels, due to rising fears of antisemitism, along with the fact that real-estate experts predict that land value in Israel will increase once the war is over. In a world where uncertainty looms and anti-Semitism shows its face more boldly than ever, the decision to invest in a home in Israel is not just wise, he wrote in an advertisement for the event. Its exhilarating!

At most of the events was a company called My Home in Israel, brought along to showcase available properties in both Israel and the Palestinian territories it occupies: multiple units in a building near Givat HaMatos in East Jerusalem, townhouses in near Ariel University in the heart of the West Bank, and a five-bedroom villa with a pool in the luxury enclave of Efrat south of Bethlehem. The latter apparently transcends mere housing; it embodies architectural brilliance. Conceived by the esteemed architects at Shahar Ben Hamo, this project graces the slopes of Fig Hill, promising a setting of unrivaled serenity.

From the first stop, in Montreal, protesters have shown up to condemn the sale of houses built on settlements illegally expropriated from Palestinians in the West Bank. In Toronto, a man attacked pro-Palestinian protesters with a nail gun. Things escalated ahead of Teaneck, when a video of a Jewish resident named Rich Siegel denouncing the event went viral. Theres a genocide going on, he said in the video. What this real-estate event is going to do is fan the flames. The Teaneck protests were especially large, drawing both locals and out-of-towners.

The event began getting so much attention that an unrelated company, with an extremely similar name, got caught up in the fracas. Home in Israel, a Netanya-based company that works in partnership with Keller Williams, has also been touring through Canada, New Jersey, and New York over the past month. Because of their names, people began conflating the two. After the Teaneck event, Home in Israel attempted to publicly distinguish itself from My Home in Israel. A representative from Home in Israel told the Times that they have no properties in the settlements, though some of their listings are in neighborhoods available exclusively to Jews (unlike the U.S., restrictive covenants are legal in Israel). And in response to the imbroglio in Toronto earlier this month, Keller Williams also clarified that it is not affiliated with My Home in Israel and advised agents to stay away from further events that might draw protests. (Adding to the confusion: There is also a third company, called My Israel Home, which has also recently been on a North American tour. Its available properties are largely in the Jerusalem area on the Israeli side of the 1949 armistice line, though its website shows one property sold in the West Bank settlement of Ganei Modiin.)

The Great Israeli Real Estate Event ultimately decided to cancel its final stop, which was supposed to be held at Flatbushs Khal Bnei Avrohom Yaakov synagogue. At the recommendation of the NYPD, an Israel real estate sales event that was scheduled to take place at the Shul on Avenue N and East 27th Street tomorrow will not take place at this location, the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition wrote in a notice to its community. The Rabbonim are asking all those who were planning to counter-protest to please not attend. But according to the WhatsApp channel Flatbush Scoop, the event actually did go forward  it was just moved to Zoom. Israel real estate event in Flatbush with planned protest MOVED TO DIGITAL LIVESTREAM, read one message in the chat. Recording will be available afterwards. Everything you need to know about buying in Israel!
Belgiums Duvel Beer Hit By Ransom Attack

Four breweries owned by Belgian beer firm Duvel has ground to a halt after a cyber-attack.

The company says it fell victim to the suspected ransomware attack "during the night from Tuesday 5th to Wednesday 6th March."

Belgian brewer Duvel has insisted it will have enough beer to keep supply flowing after it was hit by a cyber attack that brought production to a standstill.

The company, one of the best-known Belgian beer brands, was hit by a suspected ransomware attack on Tuesday night that shut down five of its production facilities, four of which are in Belgium along with one in Kansas City, Missouri.

Duvel is a Belgian beer brand best known for its strong and fruity golden pale ale bearing the same name. The brewery also makes other popular abbey beers such as Vedett, Maredsous, and La Chouffe that are enjoyed all over the world.

Initially, five of its production facilities were shut down - one has since come back online.

Duvel said it was currently unable to give further details "as the investigation into the cause of the cyber-attack is ongoing."

"The built-in command systems and alarms in the IT-system worked well, so our IT department was immediately informed of the attack," the company said in a statement.

"The servers were immediately shut down, which also shut down production at the four Belgian production sites and the production site in Kansas City."

Duvel said that one plant, in Puurs-Sint-Amands in Belgium, was now back up and running, but production at the other four was still halted.

Duvel, which also produces beers such as Chouffe, Vedett and Liefmans made 583m (497m) in revenue in 2022.

That year it produced around 230 million litres of beer. It is not yet known whether the supply of its products will be affected by this incident.

The company said to local publishers that it was a ransomware attack.

A ransomware attack is where hackers threaten to block or leak files unless they are paid.

Duvels communications manager Ellen Aarts told the Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad that ransomware had been detected by its IT department.

Duvel was founded in 1871 by Jan-Leonard Moortgat in Antwerp, Belgium, and sells beer with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of around 8.5pc, significantly higher than many typical British ales.

The brewery made more than 230m litres of beer in 2022, according to its latest report, posting sales of (583m) 497m. As well as its namesake beer, it brews the brands Chouffe, Vedett and Liefmans.

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Cyber Security Intelligence: Captured Organised & Accessible
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Renato Calalang, a 60-year-old Melbourne resident, fell prey to a well-known scam defrauding millions of innocent victims. Calalang, who had saved nearly $150,000, was shocked to receive an email from someone posing as the owner of a bank in his native Philippines.

An Inheritance Email Scam

The bank representative, claiming to be Steve Golds, informed Calalang that a cousin had passed away, leaving him a three million eight hundred thousand euros inheritance. People globally are advised to be cautious of such emails, particularly when they promise large sums of money. Still, Calalang believed the email's legitimacy since he had a cousin named the same as the one mentioned in the email.

Golds instructed Calalang to provide personal details like his name, address, occupation, and age to claim the millions of Euros and open a bank account in the Philippines. However, he had to first deposit funds into a Commonwealth Bank (CBA) account, from which the money would be transferred overseas.

Victim Relying on His Tenureship with CBA Bank

This reassured him further because he had been banking with CBA for many years. He felt secure, believing that if anything went wrong, he could rely on Commonwealth Bank for assistance, he told news.com.au.

Over several months, Calalang was repeatedly asked to deposit money, with promises that it would bring him closer to receiving his inheritance. He even spoke to a persuasive representative from the Filipino bank, who assured him his actions were fine.

READ ALSO: Finance Worker Victimized by a Deepfake Chief Financial Officer Pays $25 Million Through 15 Bank Transfers

CBA Telling The Victim that He Was Scammed

He followed each time with the deposits until his entire retirement savings were depleted. When he eventually realized something was amiss, he contacted CBA and Scamwatch. Unfortunately, there was little that could be done to help him.

The 60-year-old shared his devastation, recounting how he sought help from the Commonwealth Bank in September 2023 and explained the situation. After a two-month investigation, he was informed that he had fallen victim to a scam, which they could not retrieve because the overseas bank refused to cooperate.

Nothing Left

While he acknowledged his responsibility for sending the money, he was taken aback by the fact that CBA did not detect the suspicious deposits. The scam has deeply affected him, disrupting his retirement plans and severely impacting his self-esteem. He continues to struggle emotionally, feeling sick just by thinking about the deception.

The bank stated that Mr. Calalang made several transfers to various banks over two months in response to the scammer's promise of a significant inheritance. When Mr. Calalang informed CBA about the transfers, the bank promptly tried to recover the funds but could not.

CBA also emphasized the importance of vigilance when transferring money, advising people to "Stop. Check. Reject." before making payments. They suggested consulting with a trusted family member or friend before sending money to an unfamiliar recipient, especially if it involves promising a large sum in return. Additionally, individuals were urged to contact their bank immediately if they suspect they have been scammed or notice any unusual transactions.

RELATED ARTICLE: Warning Signs of Employment Identity Theft: What You Need to Know

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Governor Kathy Hochul stands along a line of officers and dignitaries as the remains of state trooper John Grassia and Casey Frankoski from Albany International Airport were transported to awaiting vehicles after being flown in on an Air National Guard C-130 Monday, March 18, 2024. Grassia and Frankoski, were both killed in a UH-72 Lakota crash near the Mexico border in Texas while on a support mission with the National Guard on March 8.
The English, as a people, have an international reputation for hypocrisy. Whether unfair or not, it is foolish for Parliament to confirm such a prejudice, especially among our former British colonies still members of the Commonwealth.

Yet that is what MPs seem set to do this Friday, when they vote on the second reading of a Bill to ban the import of hunting 'trophies' of allegedly endangered species, principally from Africa, with the purported purpose of protecting wildlife and destroying the big game hunting business.

And the hypocrisy? Big game trophy hunting is permitted in this country, and the Bill before MPs, sponsored by Labour's John Spellar and the Conservative Henry Smith, has nothing to say about that.

The President of Botswana, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, said the 'very same proponents' of the proposed ban 'want us to live under the same conditions they rejected for themselves'

Smith had been the proposer of an identically worded Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill last year, which passed through the Commons but ran out of time in the Lords.

When the Upper House debated it then, Lord [Peter] Lilley pointed out: 'If I did wish to ban this practice, I would begin by banning it at home and stopping the export of trophies from this country

'[But] this Bill does not do that; it leaves us free to do these things within our own country and export these things to other countries  [It] simply bans the importation of trophy animals from abroad  in practice, from developing countries.'

The UK exports large numbers of such 'trophies', including antlers, horns and beaks. The most prized are the heads and antlers of Scotland's red stags: wealthy folk from abroad come here for this 'big game'.

One such British business offers what it calls 'Red Stag Stalking', and, on its website, enthuses about the best time to come, which is during 'the rut'.

It tells potential clients: 'The rut is short, but well worth it. During this season  the hills are alive with the deep roars of animals chanting across the landscape to attract their potential mate  Experiencing the rut in the Scottish Highlands is the pinnacle of big game hunting.'

The website also has a section entitled 'Trophies': 'At the end of every trip, we offer a trophy prep service, where heads are cleaned and bleached and then dried before shipping.'

The most prized trophies are the heads and antlers of Scotland's red stags: wealthy folk from abroad come here for this 'big game'

It is true that deer, of almost every sort, are not an endangered species: the populations have soared in the UK.

But if it is the very idea of big game trophy hunting which is unconscionable, which is the view of the Bill's supporters, then it is indeed disgusting hypocrisy to seek to block imports from African countries while continuing our own identical practices and exports.

Don't the leaders of African countries know it. At the weekend, I got in touch with the President of Botswana, Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi, and his words were lacerating: 'This is blatant hypocrisy. The numbers of our own iconic species thriving in their numbers are causing problems in their environment, themselves, and in our human population.

'It is also ironic that the very same proponents of this [proposed] ban want us to live under the same conditions they rejected for themselves.'

What Dr Masisi meant by this is that in the UK, we hunted to extinction all those species which threatened us, such as bears and wolves, but we have not the slightest appreciation of what it is for people in his country to live alongside wildlife that kills humans and competes for resources (such as land which might otherwise be used for farming).

Botswana is also fundamental to understanding a vital point that proposers of the trophy import ban wilfully ignore: controlled hunting in Africa has actually protected what Masisi calls 'iconic wildlife', whereas bans have had catastrophic outcomes for those same species.

While Henry Smith MP (above) describes Kenya's ban on paid hunting as 'an African success story', in the 34 years after the ban, Kenya's elephant population was cut almost in half

When, under a previous President, Botswana introduced a wildlife hunting ban (now overturned) there was a massive rise in poaching, and as a number of conservation groups wrote in a letter to British ministers: 'One figure will help you understand the impact of the ban: there was a 593 per cent increase in fresh elephant carcasses being found.'

Similarly, while Henry Smith MP describes Kenya's ban on paid hunting as 'an African success story', in the 34 years after the ban, Kenya's elephant population was cut almost in half, whereas in Northern Namibia, where hunting is still organised, the elephant population has soared.

The income that foreign hunters bring in  vastly larger in terms of the local economies than similar activities within the UK  give those living in the region not just gainful employment but also a big incentive not to poach or poison.

Or as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species stated: 'Well-managed and sustainable trophy hunting is consistent with and contributes to species conservation, as it provides both livelihood opportunities for rural communities and incentives for habitat conservation.'

I've also spoken to Maxi Louis, the director of the Namibian Association of Community-Based Natural Resource Management Support Organisations. She told me: 'I don't speak for the trophy hunters, but for our communities.'

And Louis has just sent an excoriating letter to British MPs, ahead of this week's second reading of the proposed trophy banning Bill: 'The reason we have legal hunting is that it pays for protected land for our big animals.

'As our human population grows, it is crucial for our lions and elephants to have such space. Our rhinos also require armed guards to safeguard them from ruthless poaching gangs financed by Chinese criminals.

'When there are no guards, massive numbers of these animals get killed by these brutal gangs. Legal hunting pays for the guards and kills far fewer.'

Louis went on to point out to our MPs: 'Britain got rid of its last wolves 264 years ago. David Attenborough says your country 'is one of the most nature-depleted in the world'.

'By contrast, wildlife in Africa is flourishing. Because of our management. We ask for no more virtue-signalling. It is arrogant, ignorant and racist.'

This last point should resonate, not least among Labour MPs. Last year, after the original bill failed to get through the Lords, Steve Reed, then, as now, Labour's Shadow Environment Secretary, declared: 'We must stop the selfish trophy hunters who want to slaughter then display endangered animals' body parts.'

That might go down well in Westminster. But in nations such as Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania  ranked first, second and third in the world 'for the conservation of megafauna' (big animals)  such an approach is seen as the old colonial master demanding higher standards from the erstwhile colonies than the British would ever impose on themselves.

As for the suggestion by a number of MPs behind the proposed ban that the affected countries 'could apply for compensating UK donations', how condescending. As the high commissioners from six African nations wrote furiously in response, this was promoting 'a beggar-like dependency on aid'.

Perhaps the most disgusting aspect of this is that many British MPs know well that organised big game hunting in Africa is not just a benefit to those economies but also to responsible wildlife conservation  and yet they will not vote against the bill.

And the reason they daren't vote against it? Because they are terrified of being seen, somehow, as accomplices in the death of Cecil the lion.

They should have more moral courage  and less hypocrisy.
When I was a young nurse of 18, I experienced something that changed me profoundly.

My months on the gynaecological ward had been the happiest and most rewarding of my short career  until one day, when I was asked to help during the termination of a pregnancy at 27 weeks.

Back then, the legal limit for abortion was 28 weeks. This was reduced to 24 in 1990.

The expectant mother, who was only 16, had been injected in her uterine cavity with the hormone prostaglandin. Several excruciating hours later, the foetus  a little boy  was delivered.

He was dropped in a bedpan, and the ward sister handed him to me, saying: Take this into the sluice room and leave it there until I come. Stay with it.

As I closed the sluice-room door, I removed the paper covering from the bedpan. I have never forgotten what I saw. There lay a tiny baby boy, blinking, covered in mucus, blood and amniotic fluid, gasping for breath, his little arms and legs twitching.

I was shocked to my core. Weeping, I rocked the bedpan in my arms. I wanted to pick him up but he was so small, I didnt know how to. After a minute or so, I couldnt bear it any longer, and I was about to run for help when I heard the ward sisters unmistakable footsteps approaching.

Nadine Dorries as a trainee nurse

As she took the bedpan from me, he stopped breathing. I checked my fob watch: a little boy had been born, lived and died in the space of seven minutes. Mine was the only face he saw, my sobs the only sounds he heard.

Distressed, I turned to the ward sister and said: He was breathing. Through her dark-rimmed glasses she glared at me, saying: No he wasnt. You didnt see that.

I was stunned. He was breathing, I insisted. She looked embarrassed and muttered: The mother probably got her dates wrong. Maybe she was more than 27 weeks.

At this, I was almost inconsolable. I had become a nurse to help people  not to facilitate killing babies who might have lived. The sister snapped: If you want to be a nurse, you had better toughen up fast. Get out. I ran from the sluice room.

I cant bring myself to tell you how she disposed of the body of that tiny newborn.

Dont get me wrong: Ive always believed in safe, legal abortions. When you criminalise the procedure, you dont stop it from happening, you merely push desperate women into dangerous backstreet clinics.

But ever since that horrendous experience, Ive appreciated what a complicated and emotionally fraught issue this is.

Which brings me to important events taking place in the Commons this month. Two Labour MPs  Dame Diana Johnson and Stella Creasy  have tabled amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill currently making its way through Parliament. Their aim is to legalise abortion  until the very point of birth  for women using the pills by post method at home.

Doctors working in clinics still have to abide by the 24-week legal limit. But, increasingly, thats almost a side issue: abortifacient pills ordered online and taken at home now account for 87 per cent of terminations in Britain  up 40 per cent since 2011.

Until the pandemic, a woman seeking a termination had to attend a clinic and undergo an ultrasound to confirm how far along she was. She would then take the first pill under supervision in the clinic, and the second pill at home, where the foetus would be delivered.

I was a health minister during the pandemic, and was involved in the intense discussions about the ethics and legality of pills by post. We didnt want expectant mothers to become lawbreakers in their own homes, and we were depending on women to tell the truth about when they had become pregnant: not just for the sake of their foetus but for their own physical and mental safety as well.

Matt Hancock, of course, was Health Secretary during Covid. He gave me his absolute assurance that pills by post would be temporary and that, after the pandemic, we would revert to the safer method.

But in June 2021, he resigned in disgrace for breaking his own strict lockdown rules with his married mistress Gina Coladangelo.

Sajid Javid took Matts place as Secretary of State, and the man who called himself The Saj capitulated to pressure from hardline pro-choicers and feminists, making this deeply unsatisfactory arrangement permanent.

I warned at the time that women would be prosecuted for ordering pills by post when their pregnancies were too advanced to qualify for them. And so it has come to pass.

In May 2020, Carla Foster, who was in a vulnerable situation, obtained the pills at home while eight months pregnant. Last year, she received a 28-month prison sentence, reduced to 14 months suspended on appeal.

Predictably, there has been a surge in similar investigations  and not only of women who have lied about how far along they were, but also of women who have suffered miscarriages at home and found themselves subjected to harsh and intrusive questioning.

Abortifacient pills ordered online and taken at home now account for 87 per cent of terminations in Britain

Between 1967  when the Abortion Act first legalised the procedure  and 2022, just three women were prosecuted for late-term abortions. In less than two years, there have been at least six such prosecutions.

The 46-year-old Stella Creasy insists that abortion is a human right and a medical matter. (There is no right to life for the unborn as far as these people are concerned.)

No doubt she and her Labour colleague Diana Johnson believe their case has been strengthened by the recent rise in prosecutions. But the truth is that they and other feminists have helped to create the very problem they now seek to repair.

As Ive said, Im pro-choice. Ive always believed in making it as easy as reasonably possible for women under 12 weeks pregnant to secure terminations. It remains a nonsense that two doctors signatures are required at that early stage. The easier we make early-term abortions, the less traumatic the procedures are on pregnant women.

In both 2008 and 2012, as a backbench MP, I secured debates in Westminster to reduce the legal limit for abortions from 24 weeks to 20. I failed  even though babies have been born at 23 weeks or even less, and gone on to survive and thrive.

So while nobody relishes seeing desperate and vulnerable women being prosecuted for undergoing procedures they felt they had no choice about, the rights of the unborn have to be balanced against those of the living. The original rules were brought in for good reason: and they protect would-be mothers as much as babies.

In sending the message to women that abortion is fine until birth, Creasy and Johnsons amendments risk placing vulnerable women in life-threatening situations: encouraging them to end late-term pregnancies at home in the absence of proper care.

And even if a late-term foetus is safely aborted, the psychological scarring can be acute  as I know from my experience all those years ago.

My hope on defeating this rests with Miriam Cates. Shes one of the few Tory MPs who does her actual job and isnt constantly vying to be Prime Minister. She is a mother of three, a woman of faith and principle.

Miriam has vowed to rally MPs to vote down the entire Criminal Justice Bill if it comes back to Westminster with the decriminalisation amendments attached.

Lets hope on behalf of women and unborn babies everywhere she is successful.
Rachel Wright-Turner is 4.6million richer today. Did she win the Lottery? Well, yes, but not in the conventional sense.

She didn't buy a ticket, pick the right numbers on Thunderball or get lucky in the EuroMillions draw.

Her 4.6 million jackpot is courtesy of the taxpayers of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham after she sued the council for wrongful dismissal.

An employment tribunal upheld her claim for disability discrimination and harassment, brought when she was sacked from her 125,000-a-year job as director of public service reform.

Ms Wright-Turner formerly worked at the neighbouring Kensington and Chelsea Council as a 'humanitarian assistance lead' with those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, which killed 72 people.

After moving to Hammersmith and Fulham she developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, had a panic attack during a meeting with other officials in a pub and was taken to hospital. She was subsequently sacked while on sick leave.

Her case was detailed in The Mail on Sunday and she was clearly badly treated by her superiors, who lied about the reasons for her dismissal. After a six-year legal battle, the tribunal gave her the highest sum ever awarded against a public body.

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

Ms Wright-Turner has had a rough few years and deserved some level of compensation. But 4.6million? That's a pools win, equivalent to 25 a head per Hammersmith and Fulham resident. It's money the council won't have to spend on services.

The size of the settlement is extraordinary. But, hey, it's only taxpayers' money. So it's nobody's money really. Easy come, easy go.

What's equally striking about this story is the fact that Ms Wright-Turner was being paid 125,000 a year as a director of public service reform, whatever that is when it's at home.

There are thousands upon thousands of these trebles-all-round non-jobs across the public sector.

Yesterday, the Mail reported that London Mayor Genghis Khan employs 1,100 staff on salaries of 100,000 and above. The number of six-figure pay deals has almost doubled since Khan became mayor. Transport for London has 18 employees earning more than 250,000 a year. What do they all do?

Poorer Londoners with 'non-compliant' cars are being charged 12.50 a day to drive in the expanded ULEZ zone in order to fund this gravy train.

Khan's mouthpiece said the mayor has to offer such high salaries 'to attract the staff needed to help deliver on the issues that matter most to Londoners'.

How's that working out for you, then? London is increasingly shabby. Shopfronts are boarded up, businesses are moving out, the roads are permanently gridlocked and public transport is expensive and strike-ridden. Not to mention no coppers on the streets amid a frightening knife crime epidemic, despite the hiring of more than 300 employees on a hundred grand a year in the Mayor's policing directorate.

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

Police officers stand guard at the cordon as a huge fire engulfs the Grenfell Tower block

Falling burning debris at the scene of a huge fire at the Grenfell Tower block in June 2017

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

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

This isn't just about London, though. Trawl through the payrolls of any local authority and you'll stumble across legions of highly paid box-tickers and diversity enforcers.

Meanwhile, councils are constantly pleading poverty and declaring bankruptcy while at the same time failing horribly to provide even the most basic public services.

Why are they hiring 'directors of public service reform' on 125,000 a year when they can't be bothered to empty the dustbins once a week or mend the pavements?

This column made a good living for years documenting the ludicrous public sector bonanza advertised weekly in the jobs pages of the Guardian. The Mail christened it 'Jobzilla'  a monster devouring billions every year.

Back then, no Town Hall was complete without an assortment of anti-nuclear outreach co-ordinators and lesbian bereavement counsellors.

Today  in Basket Case Britain, where none of our 'world-class' public services actually work properly  they can't survive unless they have a fully staffed, lavishly rewarded yuman resources department, peddling politically motivated notions of diversity, equality and inclusion.

These jobsworths never get sacked. They either get promoted upwards or shuffle from one council to another, picking up a fancy, meaningless title and pay rise on the way.

Yet when it comes to deciding on the 'savage cuts', they are the people who decide to get rid of roadsweepers and close libraries.

You rarely hear of a director of public service reform getting the old heave-ho. But when they do, it seems they can now look forward to a 4.6million Lottery-style pay-off at taxpayers' expense.

Nice work if you can get it.

The Boys In The Bubble are getting terribly excited about Penny Mordaunt taking over from Rishi Sunak. Some reports suggest she could be a 'stalking horse' candidate.

Rishi's now at the same stage as John Major, head of a fag-end Tory Government destined for defeat. Never mind a stalking horse, I reckoned a real horse could beat Major.

So this column ran a phone-in poll asking readers to vote either for Major or Red Rum as Prime Minister. Red Rum romped home. As for Penny Lane, I've always thought she'd look best hanging off the front of the Mary Rose. But she does have her admirers.

At Christmas, she gave a triumphant speech at a Central London hotel to an all-male lunch, largely comprised of Brexity Gammons, me included.

The Prime Minister has got a lot to think about and is now at the same stage as John Major: head of a fag-end Tory government destined for defeat

Reports have suggested Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt could be a 'stalking horse' candidate to take over from Rishi Sunak

She knocked it out of the park.

Not so sure if she's PM material, but a few hundred gentlemen of a certain age agreed that any woman who could carry a ceremonial sword erect for that long would do very nicely for them.

We've gone from 'illegals' to 'asylum seekers' to simply 'migrants'.

In the U.S., the Left have switched from calling the millions crossing the southern border illegally 'undocumented' to referring to them as 'newcomers'.

Some of us are old enough to remember when The Newcomers was a short-lived TV drama, set in a New Town and starring the lovely Judy Geeson.

But, trust me, it won't be long before the BBC and others start describing the thousands of cross-Channel 'migrants' landing in Kent as 'newcomers'.

When that happens, remember you read it here first.

Snake and chips, anyone? Snake and kidney pie? As the price of fish goes through the roof, it's being suggested that we switch to eating farmed python.

Scientists in Thailand and Vietnam reckon that snake meat could replace beef, lamb and chicken.

Pythons grow very quickly and produce 'two enormous fillets, low in fat and high in protein'. They're also cold-blooded and more energy efficient than cattle, so would help us hit our ambitious Net Zero targets.

If snake meat catches on, we could soon see chip shops called 'Monty Python's Frying Circus' popping up next to those dodgy KFC knock-offs between the nail bars and pound shops which infest Britain's battered High Streets.

Scientists in Thailand and Vietnam reckon that snake meat could replace beef, lamb and chicken

Workers in Vietnam take meat from dead Burmese pythons, which has been described as chewy and a bit like chicken

Still, I'm not so sure about munching snake tartare, or any other exotic animal, based on evidence from the Far East.

Not so long ago, we learned that the Chinese in Wuhan were partial to the odd pangolin. And look how that turned out.

The M25 closes for ten minutes and the Bog Roll Bandits are back in business, clearing supermarket shelves of dried pasta, sliced bread, you name it.

Just as our Greatest Generation never got over the excitement of World War II, today there seem to be millions pining for lockdown all over again. Don't panic!
The Tories have only themselves to blame. That is my firm feeling as, to widespread disbelief and derision, an unknown number of Conservative MPs are plotting to get rid of Rishi Sunak.

The Tories' big mistake was to remove Boris Johnson, who had led them to their largest election victory for 32 years. Admittedly Boris was a flawed prime minister, but he had earned that great position. Strike him down, and hark what discord follows.

The crown briefly rested on Liz Truss's unsteady head until, after plunging the economy into freefall, she was forcibly removed. In a few weeks she succeeded in making the Tories more unpopular than they had been for two decades. They haven't recovered.

Rishi Sunak is nice, clever, capable and decent, but, let's face it, he's not obviously prime ministerial material, though the same point could fairly be made of his opponent, Sir Keir Starmer.

It is my firm feeling that an unknown number of Conservative MPs are plotting to get rid of Rishi Sunak

The Tories' big mistake was to remove Boris Johnson, who had led them to their largest election victory for 32 years

Like other callow British politicians who have risen to the top of their parties in recent years, Rishi was promoted too quickly. He saw only Boris's failings, rather than his own shortcomings. He was too young and inexperienced for the highest office of a great country.

And now they are coming for him, as the Tories plumb new depths in the polls and look forward to electoral Armageddon.

Penny Mordaunt is reportedly being fitted up by some Right-wing Tory MPs as a leader who might be acceptable to their more centrist colleagues. The poor deluded souls evidently believe that, on the basis of a poll or two and an infinite amount of hope, the British electorate will warm to her.

Or might Kemi Badenoch take over? She is playing a clever game, yesterday downplaying the seriousness of the rebellion, and calling for loyalty to Rishi. She knows enough history to realise that the first person to wield the dagger seldom wears the crown. But that she craves it for herself there can be little doubt.

What idiocy this is! Despite being the most successful political party that has ever existed, the Tories can sometimes be madder than March hares. For them to choose a fourth prime minister in this Parliament would invite public contempt.

Doubtless the rebels say to themselves, as they study polls predicting the largest Tory wipeout since 1906, that it can't get worse than this. But it can. It could. In fact, it would if Penny Mordaunt or Kemi Badenoch or any of the other touted candidates were to replace Rishi.

Let's consider Penny in the most detail since she is supposedly the front runner. She won a certain amount of fame, and superficial popular acclaim, by carrying the heavy Sword of State with admirable aplomb at King Charles's coronation last May.

Of her views on the economy  if she has any  we know little or nothing. In truth, she is politically a blank canvas, though recently she let it be known that she wants defence expenditure to be increased, which is certainly a point in her favour (and, since he refuses to do it, one against Mr Sunak).

Kemi Badenoch is playing a clever game, yesterday downplaying the seriousness of the rebellion, and calling for loyalty to Rishi

Penny Mordaunt is reportedly being fitted up by some Right-wing Tory MPs as a leader who might be acceptable to their more centrist colleagues

Grant Shapps has been an MP since 2005, and filled many ministerial positions inside and outside the Cabinet, so he can hardly be accused of inexperience

On gender issues she has baldly declared that 'trans men are men, trans women are women' before backtracking in July 2022 when standing for the Tory leadership against Ms Truss and Mr Sunak. Absurdly, unidentified Right-wing plotters reportedly suggest that Penny might be prepared to let them deal with this contentious issue if she became PM.

It's true that Ms Mordaunt has demonstrated acerbity and imperiousness in her role as Leader of the Commons. But I suspect that as Prime Minister her weakness on many political issues would be easily exposed by a forensic interviewer, and even by the somewhat leaden-footed Sir Keir Starmer.

As for Kemi Badenoch, she's probably an intellectual notch up from Penny, having conducted herself ably, if not yet triumphantly, during various trade negotiations as Business Secretary.

Yet, like so many would-be leaders in modern politics, she lacks political experience, having become an MP only in 2017. As recently as 2016, she was digital director of the Spectator magazine, a job not normally seen as one of the great offices of State.

We shouldn't forget Grant Shapps. He has been an MP since 2005, and filled many ministerial positions inside and outside the Cabinet, so he can hardly be accused of inexperience. But his political beliefs are not always clear to those who have followed his career, and he hasn't made much of an impression on the general public.

Stories of his exploits have recently filled the papers. He had to abandon a trip to Odesa in Ukraine because the Russians had learnt of it, and then they jammed the satellite signal on his RAF aircraft. We've been invited to believe that, since the Russians are taking such an interest in Mr Shapps, he must be an important man.

Also stirring in the undergrowth, we may be certain, is the abrasive and outspoken Suella Braverman, as well as the more temperate and cerebral Robert Jenrick. They hold the view, not yet mainstream, that they are perfectly qualified to occupy No 10.

Can it be seriously maintained that any of the people I have mentioned would be more likely to win the election than Mr Sunak, or even simply to do less badly? I don't believe so.

Also stirring in the undergrowth, we may be certain, is the abrasive and outspoken Suella Braverman

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick is also thought to be in contention

This is not mere intuition. Research published in the most recent issue of the Mail on Sunday suggests that no potential leader in current Tory ranks would produce a greater electoral bounce than Rishi Sunak.

Note that this poll didn't consider Boris Johnson, holed up in his Oxfordshire retreat. I wouldn't exclude the possibility of his coming back if a seat were found for him, but doubt that he would wish to lead the Tories to probable defeat at this election. More likely he'll wait until they beg for his return.

No, the best bet now is Rishi. It is childish to suppose that any of the alternatives would do better than him. In all probability they would do even worse. The country has had enough of this Tory in-fighting and internecine warfare.

Mr Sunak is right to want to hold out until the autumn, right to believe (as he said yesterday) that the economy will improve, and right to hope that at least a few illegal immigrants will be bundled off to Rwanda once the legislation is finally passed, as it soon will be.

It's very unlikely to be enough, of course. I've no doubt the Conservative Party will lose hundreds of seats in May's local elections, whereupon its MPs will again turn on Mr Sunak, if he lasts that long. The inevitable outcome of each further bout of squabbling is the haemorrhaging of more support.

Sticking with Rishi is the only way. There's always the remote possibility of a Labour scandal that may dent the party's fortunes. It's also quite likely that, as the pressure grows on Sir Keir Starmer, his political and moral deficiencies will become more obvious.

There's still some hope  as long as Mr Sunak isn't dumped a few months before the election. I fear, though, that the Tory Party sealed its fate  and Rishi wrote his own political obituary  when Boris Johnson was jettisoned. Now they will have to live with the consequences of what they did.
(Photo : Unsplash/Mediensturmer )

Aneesh Raman, a speechwriter for President Barack Obama from 2011 to 2013, recalls significant career advice from the president: "Focus on what you want to do, not who you want to be."

Before entering politics, Obama began his career in community organizing in Chicago. Although he did not initially aspire to be president, Raman explains to CNBC Make It that Obama aimed to build communities in a unique manner, which eventually led him to the presidency.

Focus on The Impact You Want to Create

Instead of fixating on your desired job title, Raman suggests focusing on the impact you want to create through your work and the skills necessary to achieve it. Then, assess whether specific jobs or employers can provide the skills needed to reach your objectives.

Raman, currently serving as a vice president and workforce expert at LinkedIn, emphasizes the importance of this advice, particularly for young professionals. He highlights the reality that individuals may eventually fill roles that are currently non-existent. LinkedIn's recent identification of rapidly growing jobs in 2024, such as chief growth officer and sustainability analyst, underscores this point, as many of these positions did not exist two decades ago.

He suggests breaking down your career into these stages:

Between 20 and 35, focus on developing core skills aligned with your interests, strengths, and areas for improvement.

Between 35 and 45, utilize your unique skill set to address specialized issues within your field of expertise, such as healthcare, or broader topics like economic opportunity.

Beyond age 45, consider the impact you wish to have on your organization and the world.

Prioritizing Interests Over Worrying on Job Titles or Salary

In a #ThisIsWorking episode, Obama advises young people to prioritize their genuine interests over pursuing impressive titles or high salaries. He believes that the most successful individuals are those who have a sincere passion for a particular field, like computing. As an example, he points to Bill Gates, who attributes his success to following his passion and ultimately becoming a world-class professional.

READ ALSO: Barack Obama's Three-Word Job Advice Could Be Your Key to Success

Raman suggests that this framework offers the most secure path for a sustainable career, which allows you to control your development of skills and expertise, unlike focusing solely on job titles. While you might aspire to a specific VP position, you cannot control its availability in the future.

Embracing a Squiggly Line

Raman favors what he terms a squiggly line career path, which is not strictly linear but still maintains a common thread. His career reflects this approach. Alongside his role in the Obama administration, Raman served as a CNN war correspondent in the Middle East, held positions as head of economic impact at Facebook, and acted as a senior advisor in the Office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

He mentions that his career job titles may not make sense, but his skills primarily involve storytelling and building coalitions focused on economic opportunity.

RELATED ARTICLE: Career Advice from Working Moms Who Make It Work

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith's claim that Meghan is as narcissistic as the Duchess of Windsor coincides with a new documentary about Wallis Simpson's extravagance when the Duke was wartime governor of the Bahamas.

In the Channel 5 film, author Dr Andrew Lownie reveals that Wallis had her hairdresser flown in from New York.

'They had flowers flown in from Miami, they spent extravagantly on wines, which they were able to get tax-free,' he said, adding that when the Duchess travelled to the US she brought 85 pieces of luggage.

Meghan travels much lighter with Harry, no doubt, folded neatly in his crate engraved with 'HRH'.

In the Channel 5 film, author Dr Andrew Lownie reveals that Wallis had her hairdresser flown in from New York. Pictured: Wallis Simpson (left) and Meghan Markle (right)

Meghan travels much lighter with Harry, no doubt, folded neatly in his crate engraved with 'HRH'. Pictured: Sally Bedell Smith

The kerfuffle over Meghan's new business recalls the King's battle over his Duchy Originals brand of organic food grown on the Highgrove estate in 1990.

The old guard at the palace urged him to cease and desist. Royals, they argued, shouldn't turn themselves into tradesmen.

He refused to listen, as his profits were to be diverted to charity. He gained his mother's support and the royal tills have been jingle jangling with cash ever since.

Screenwriter Jemima Goldsmith comes to the defence of William and Kate, saying the jokes about them online will seem 'cruel and regrettable' with hindsight: 'It is too easy to forget, especially on Twitter, that these are real people.'

A close friend of Diana's, the heiress's past concerns for William's feelings included demanding her then boyfriend, The Crown creator Peter Morgan, amend the script.

'When I realised that particular [Diana] storyline would not necessarily be told as respectfully or compassionately as I had hoped, I requested that all my contributions be removed from the series and I declined a credit.'

Screenwriter Jemima Goldsmith (pictured) comes to the defence of William and Kate

A close friend of Diana's, the heiress's past concerns for William's feelings included demanding her then boyfriend, The Crown creator Peter Morgan, amend the script. Pictured with Princess Diana in Pakistan in 1996

Rishi's ruling out a May election, making October probable, could cause a diplomatic headache with the PM scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting taking place nearly 10,000 miles away in Samoa.

Attendance is considered non-negotiable.

Being out of the country in the run-up to polling day wouldn't be wise, but if Sunak thinks he will lose he could time the poll so that Starmer and his foreign secretary would to be out of the country for the first few days of his premiership, rather than settling into Downing Street.

A no-show would only play into the hands of many Commonwealth leaders who want to break historic links with the old country.

Rishi's ruling out a May election, making October probable, could cause a diplomatic headache with the PM scheduled to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting taking place nearly 10,000 miles away in Samoa

Being out of the country in the run-up to polling day wouldn't be wise, but if Sunak thinks he will lose he could time the poll so that Starmer and his foreign secretary would to be out of the country for the first few days of his premiership, rather than settling into Downing Street

The fortune Steve Harley, who has died aged 72, pocketed for his song 'Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)' was enhanced when it was used for a Viagra TV commercial.

'Yeah, I took the shilling for that,' he told Classic Rock magazine. 'I bought an Aston Martin. The ad was cheesy, but I liked it. It was perfect for their product.' His earlier hit Mr Soft wouldn't have been as apt!
Today host Dylan Dreyer has revealed that she tries to 'get all three' of her sons in the shower with her every night because she's 'a very efficient mom' and it saves time - but admitted she feels 'beyond overwhelmed' raising three boys aged seven and under.

Weighing in on Bradley Cooper's recent comments about how he used to shower with his father when he was a child and is 'totally' fine with walking around naked at home, the 42-year-old meteorologist admitted that her kids 'don't care' about seeing her in the nude either.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com at the 2024 Hudson River Park Friends Playground Committee Luncheon in Manhattan, Dylan revealed that the family showers are 'getting a little weird' now that her oldest son Calvin is seven-years-old, so he tends to have a bath instead.

When asked her thoughts about Bradley's remarks, as well as Sara Haines' comments about letting her kids see her naked, Dylan said: 'It's funny because I'm also a very efficient mom so when I have to shower at night, if I can get all three in the shower with me so I can get everybody bathed at once, we're good to go!'

Today host Dylan Dreyer has revealed that she tries to 'get all three' of her sons in the shower with her every night so that she can get the kids 'all bathed at once'

Dylan and her husband Brian Fichera pictured with their sons Calvin, seven, Oliver, four, and two-year-old Russell

Dylan admitted the joint showers are 'getting a little weird' now that her eldest son Cal is seven

The 42-year-old meteorologist spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com at the 2024 Hudson River Park Friends Playground Committee Luncheon

She continued: 'It's getting a little weird now that my oldest is seven, so he doesn't do the shower thing anymore, he'll be in the bath while I take a shower. But you know, I put the towel on pretty quickly, I don't linger.

'The other two have no idea what's going on so they don't care. They'll run around naked all day long, I think they're just so proud of their bodies and their parts, they love it!' the TV host laughed.

Dylan married NBC News producer and cameraman Brian Fichera in 2012, and the couple have certainly got their hands full with Calvin, four-year-old Oliver, and two-year-old Russell.

Explaining how she juggles a successful broadcast career with being a mother of three, Dylan said: 'I have to compartmentalize because if I think of everything all at once, I am so beyond overwhelmed.

'When I'm at work, I'm at work. When I go home, I'm home. And when I go home, I'm picking them up from school, I'm putting the little boy down for a nap, I'm making lunch, I'm making dinner, I'm trying to make their day special.

'But I also hit breaking point at the end of the day where they're boys and they're yelling at each other and I'm like "everybody needs to stop talking right now because I'm done, I'm done!" she admitted.

'God bless my husband because he comes home from work, he doesn't want to talk to me, I don't want to talk to him because we're like, "we've been talked to all day, we're done", and we respect that about each other and then the weekend comes and it's it's just the five of us again.'

Dylan also opened up about how she and Brian are choosing to raise their children and said: 'I am so cognizant that I'm raising boys, and I don't want them to feel lesser than.

The mother-of-three said that she 'hits breaking point at the end of the day'

Dylan admitted that sometime she feels 'beyond overwhelmed' raising three kids aged seven and under

Dylan pictured filming NBC's morning show Today at Rockefeller Plaza in August 2023

The TV star, pictured here with her boys on Christmas Day 2023, said she has to 'compartmentalize' when juggling her career and motherhood

'I'm all for equality but I think the quality is what we need to strive for, so I don't want to bring boys down and I want to raise them to be confident and strong and to fight for what they want and know that that's okay.

So when I wrote my children's books, I wanted them to be honest for girls and for boys. I wanted everybody just to be able to be kids and I want to raise them in a way where they know that they can do whatever they want, but you have to be kind along the way and I feel like my husband and I lead by example.'

When she does get a rare quiet moment to herself, Dylan revealed that an 'ideal night' on her own would be getting into her pajamas, getting into bed and reading 'a good romance novel.'

'I want to just space out I don't want to think and I just want that moment alone,' she said, before saying she does think it's possible for women to have it all.

'I think it takes some work; you know to juggle everything. But I mean I'm very blessed because there are times where I feel like I have it all and do I want to strive for more? Yes. But that's the drive in me, I'm always looking for the next thing.

'But if you ask me right now in this moment, and I think about my boys and my husband and my work life, I'm very blessed.'
An engaged couple who ditched bustling London for their dream home in the countryside have revealed how they 'dipped' into their wedding budget to pull it off - before going over their initial 350,000 renovations budget.

Rollo, an acquisitions manager, and Olivia, a solicitor, snapped up the 576,000 'tired' three-storey barbershop in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, as part of their bid to get onto the property ladder.

Appearing on Channel 4's George Clarke's Amazing Renovations tonight, the soon-to-be wedded couple were initially excited to renovate the centuries-old building before stumbling on a mountain of problems - including a whopping 418,000 renovation bill.

Presenter George Clarke also pointed out that the house, first built in the 17th century before becoming a barbershop in the 19th century, was 'knackered' and warned that the transformation could put them way over their one-year deadline.

Meanwhile with their nuptials on the way, Rollo admitted that their finances were strained, forcing them to dip into their wedding fund and 'count pennies'.

Engaged couple Olivia and Rollo ditched bustling London for their dream home in the countryside but 'dipped' into their wedding budget to pull it off (pictured: Olivia and Rollo on Channel 4's George Clarke's Amazing Renovations)

Rollo, an acquisitions manager, and Olivia, a solicitor, snapped up the 576,000 'tired' three-storey barbershop in Amersham, Buckinghamshire (pictured: the newly renovated and former shop front)

Speaking to George, Rollo said: '[The property] was on the market for 650 [thousand] originally and we paid 576 [thousand]. We had to dip into our wedding budget.' 'Not just dip, scrape!' added Olivia.

Rollo continued: 'We're basically counting pennies to get it across the line. Our budget is 350 [thousand] with a bit of contingency'.

George immediately flagged that the project was a 'big commitment', adding: 'It's tired and been messed around and knocked about many times over the years and it is very utilitarian.'

The family-run barbershop was established in the 1800s and included a shop floor at the bottom, along with three bedrooms and a 'creepy loft' on the second floor.

Previously named Amersham Hairdressing saloon, the former unisex salon ran as a business for over 100 years before being sold to the couple in 2020.

After standing for more than 300 years, the Grade II listed building now lay in a state of disrepair and would need an abundance of work to turn it into their dream open plan home.

Months into the renovation, George visited the site where he came across a shocking structural 'disaster'.

He noticed that a stud wall the builders removed from the shop floor was load bearing, plus many of the roof's timbers appeared too 'rotten' to save. The news meant rebuilding the roof which would cost the couple more time and money.

The couple stumbled on a mountain of problems - including a whopping 418,000 renovation bill (pictured: part of the barbershop was turned into a family living room with a stunning fireplace)

Olivia and Rollo transformed the second floor into a living space with a modern bedroom

They also oversaw the building of this 'massive' family bathroom with green and wood finishing

Rollo didn't take it very well: 'It's not something we had budgeted for and budgets can only be squeezed so far.

'But it was something that quite quickly became apparent that needed to be done and needed to be done then.

'So there was never really an option. It just had to be done and we had to like it or lump it unfortunately'.

Making matters even more strenuous were Rollo and Olivia's impending overseas nuptials which they had planned to take place at the same time as the renovation.

After eight months of building, George revealed that the happy couple had tied the knot, and he hoped that married bliss would relieve some pressure.

Back at home, Olivia appeared pleased with the progress but she said her now husband didn't feel the same and feared he was 'upset' about the state of the roof.

Rollo commented: 'They've [builders] used a lot of old tiles and blended it in so it [the roof] looks like it's been there forever and in reality it costs a fortune. I would like it to look a bit shiny for a while!'

Their modern take on the ceiling (pictured) didn't come easy as they were forced to rebuild the entire roof

The master bedroom, pictured, after the renovations were completed at the three-storey build

The pair told presenter George Clarke it felt 'surreal' to climb the property ladder

George stuck around to help guide them through the rest of the plan - and the results were 'unrecognisable'.

After 14 months, the couple completed a stunning renovation of the old barbershop into a home complete with three bedrooms, an ensuite bathroom and a spacious office.

George also praised them for the work done on their 'massive' family bathroom in addition to the conversion of their sprawling loft to a gym and home office.

Later on in the episode, George asked the newlyweds how they felt about finally boarding the property ladder.

'It's still pretty surreal' said Rollo. Full of emotion, Olivia added: 'We're just very, very lucky to have such a beautiful home... it's very overwhelming actually.

'You push through, push through, push through, and it's like suddenly I can be like "phew" and just feel everything'.

While the couple revealed that they had put away 20 per cent of the sum for 'contingency', Rollo lamented that they were forced to blow through it.

He said: 'It being a listed building they always present challenges so I think we came into it with a sensible contingency. [We spent] 418-ish [thousand]... we were creaking at the seems by the end but we got there.

'And who knows what the future holds? I think we're going to be here for a long time and we can put down some routes and build a life down here'.
A six-foot-tall woman has opened up about her struggle to date due to her height - claiming that her immense size often leaves men 'insecure.'

Like most young women in their 20s, Saranya Kari, 26, from Texas, is on a quest to find her soulmate.

But the student, who is six-feet tall, has had a rough time connecting with Mr. Right, and she thinks her long physique is to blame.

Saranya believes that men who are shorter than her 'hate' not having the attention on them, so she has now decided to only date people who are taller than her.

A six-foot-tall woman has opened up about her struggle to date due to her height - claiming that her immense size often leaves men 'insecure'

Like most young women in their 20s, Saranya Kari, 26, from Texas, is on a quest to find her soulmate

But the student, who is six-feet tall, has had a rough time connecting with Mr. Right, and she thinks her long physique is to blame

But that has been just as difficult because she has found that many guys 'lie' about their size on dating apps - and are shocked to see how tall she is in the flesh.

'It's hard being this tall and [being a] female and trying to date,' she admitted to What'sTheJam recently.

'Honestly, as much as [shorter men] claim to love being with a taller woman, they actually were insecure about it.'

Saranya explained that many guys that she has matched with online have heights over six-foot listed in their profiles.

But when she meets them in person, she has often been left disappointed when she discovers that they are actually shorter than her.

'When you are dating behind a screen, anything can be lied about,' she continued.

'I have lost track of how many times a man has claimed they are taller than six-foot and then I show up and realize they are not.

'I [once] matched with someone who claimed he was over six-foot. He was also cute, so I decided to go on the date.

But that has been just as difficult because she has found that many guys 'lie' about their size on dating apps - and are shocked to see how tall she is in the flesh

'Honestly, as much as [shorter men] claim to love being with a taller woman, they actually were insecure about it,' she told What'sTheJam recently

Growing up, Saranya said she was insecure about her height due to nasty comments that she'd get from her peers in school

'I show up and I am looking around for this guy, but then someone approaches me and he was five-foot-10 at best.

'He looked shocked and said: "Oh wow, I didn't expect you to actually be this tall." I was genuinely confused because on Hinge I have it stated as six foot for my height.

'The rest of the night he tried to convince me he was six-foot  or that he was six foot if he wore the right shoes. Honestly, I should have left after realizing he lied to me.'

She called the process 'frustrating' and admitted that she sometimes feels 'defeated.'

She believes that men who are shorter than her 'hate' not having the attention on them

'I start thinking I'm going to have to settle for someone shorter than me or someone my height because of how many times I get let down,' she said.

Growing up, Saranya said she was insecure about her height due to nasty comments that she would get from her peers in school.

'I hated my height because as a female I stood out like a sore thumb,' she recalled of her childhood.

'I actually started to hunch myself, because it made me insecure that my height drew so much attention and my partners didn't like it.

'I have also gotten hate [online], but a majority to maybe all of the negativity is from men.

'They call me a liar, they say that I am a hypocrite, they say I should stay single.'

But now, she has learned to embrace her size.

'It bothered me at first, but now I am not phased by it at all. The positives really do outweigh the negatives,' she concluded.

'Now, I love my height. I love every inch of it  in heels and without heels.'

But now, she's learned to embrace her size. She added, 'It bothered me at first, but now I am not phased by it at all. Now, I love my height. I love every inch of it'

Saranya has shared some of her frustrations about dating at her height to TikTok, where the videos went viral, racking up over 312,000 views and 23,000 likes

Users flocked to the comments to share their reactions, with many people sharing their own, similar experiences

Saranya has shared some of her frustrations about dating at her height to TikTok, where the videos went viral, racking up over 312,000 views and 23,000 likes.

Users flocked to the comments to share their reactions, with many people sharing their own, similar experiences.

One user said: 'I'm 5ft10. Every guy I've dated thought they were six-foot and they were always shorter than me. Total boy math. Humbled pretty quickly standing side by side.'

Another user commented: 'Same. I'm 5ft10 and my sister is 6ft4 and men are personally and thoroughly offended by our existence.'

'It's not the height. I don't care. It's the LYING about it, shows bad character,' someone else said.

'Me being 5ft9 looking down at the "six-foot tall" guy lol,' read a fourth reply.

A different user added: 'I'm six-foot even. I used to tell guys I was 5ft10 so that I could see their little hearts break when I tower over them.'
Tara Katims also took part in pilates and cooking classes during her Mumbai trip

An American travel influencer has been slammed for promoting a 'tour of the slums' during her visit to India.

Tara Katims, 24, who is from the US but recently moved to Mexico, posted a video advising her followers how to best spend 72 hours in Mumbai.

The full-time solo traveller documented her activities on her TikTok account @tarkatims, which included a Pilates class, going clubbing and a cooking class, as well as a 'tour of the Dharavi slums'.

Tara said she is 'so glad' she went on the tour, despite being 'so nervous' - but she has been blasted online for turning other people's 'poverty' into her own 'tourism'.

Recommending the two-hour tour to her fans in a video, Tara said: 'I'm not going to lie I was so nervous going into this experience, but I'm so glad I did. If you're the kind of person that likes to stay in touristy spots when they travel, this probably isn't for you.

American travel influencer Tara Katims (pictured) has been slammed for promoting a 'tour of the slums' during her visit to India

Tara, 24, said her 'favourite part' of visiting India was going on a tour of the Dharavi slums

'I saw this listing on Airbnb for a tour that's given by a man who actually used to live in the slums himself.

'His motivation around starting these tours was to help break the stigma that comes with growing up in the slums. People can be denied jobs after growing up in the slums and so much more.

'The tour takes you through the different industries in the slums and you get to see daily life there and the NGOs and organisations that are going in there to try to help it.

'You can easily come to India and only see the beautiful parts, but the reality is, this is how most people in Mumbai live.'

But despite saying she would '10/10 recommend' the tour, Tara was slammed online by those who were left shocked that she was promoting the tour to her 15,000 followers.

One social media user wrote: 'Slum tour girl bye people live here - poverty is not tourism its not for u to be entertained - instead of posting a slum tour maybe promote a charity which helps them.'

A second added: 'Absolutely not how most of the people in Mumbai live. This is a large slum but just one small area of Mumbai. At least try to be accurate.'

A third said: 'I understand the intention behind this video but calling it a slums tour gives the whole idea a really poor taste,' while another commented: 'Using the world SLUMS tour is NOT going to help break the stigma.'

The 'Dharavi Slums Tour' is advertised on Airbnb as a two-hour tour hosted by Jitrenda, who grew up in Mumbai

Tara said she is 'so glad' she went on the tour, despite being 'really nervous' - but she has been blasted online

However, some people were quick to rush to Tara's defence, as one said: 'How is she being insensitive the listing literally says Dharavi Slums Tour she didnt make up the name.'

The 'Dharavi Slums Tour' is advertised on Airbnb as a two-hour experience hosted by Jitrenda, who grew up in Mumbai.

It costs 6 per person and has an average rating of 4.98 stars from 300 reviews - aiming to 'dispel the negative image of the slum and plan to put part of the profits from tour for social activities', according to the listing on Airbnb.

The Dharavi residential area is considered one of the biggest 'slums' in the world, with a population of around one million, and was used as the backdrop in the Oscar-winning British film, Slumdog Millionaire.

Search results for such tours bring up hundreds of results, including listings on the likes of TripAdvisor and Airbnb.

In 2019, The Telegraph reported that tours of the area had become India's 'most popular' tourist attraction, despite controversy over the ethics of taking part.

'Slums' are areas of densely packed housing and are often associated with poverty.

However, many no longer use the word 'slum' due to its derogatory associations and negative connotations.

Tara has been blasted online for turning other people's 'poverty' into her own 'tourism'

Some say the use of the word slum is an attempt to de-legitimise land when trying to re-purpose it.

The UN defines slums as: 'Individuals living under the same roof and lacking one or more of the following conditions: access to improved water, access to improved sanitation, sufficient living area, housing durability and security of tenure.'

Tara has travelled round the world, posting videos of her trips to the likes of Mexico City, Nepal, India and Egypt.

She previously revealed she would never visit Egypt alone as a female traveller due to being harassed in Cairo.
The family and friends of Australian-born Bianca Censori, the wife of Kanye West, are said to be concerned for her wellbeing. From the photographs and stories I have seen online, I can't say I blame them.

Censori, 29, an architect with a masters degree from Melbourne University, and West, 46, the rapper ex-husband of reality star Kim Kardashian, married in secret in December 2022 and have been causing controversy ever since.

Censori has been seen in increasingly risque and compromising situations, from appearing to perform a sex act on her husband in Venice to wearing ever-more revealing clothes.

In addition, West has posted disturbing images of her on his Instagram page for his 20million followers to view. They include shots of his wife in fetish gear, performing domestic chores, all uploaded to a chorus of criticism.

Censori has no social media accounts of her own  apparently banned by her husband, who says it is for her own protection.

Bianca Censori and Kanye West married in secret in December 2022 and have been causing controversy ever since... there are reports that he dictates what she wears, eats and when she can speak

Censori has been seen in increasingly risque outfits, including this X-rated look in Paris recently when she wore no underwear with sheer stockings and top

There are further reports that West dictates what his wife wears, what she can eat and when she can speak.

Of course, what we see is just a snapshot of a marriage, and, for his part, West has said he just wants to show off his beautiful wife.

Yet former girlfriend, Julia Fox, 34, who dated West for a month in 2022, made some serious allegations in her memoir, Down The Drain, about someone she refers to only as 'the artist'.

She revealed that 'the artist' attempted to control what she wore by sending her a wardrobe of clothes he had pre-approved. He also tried to persuade her to have breast implants.

When it comes to Censori, photographs of her before she met West show a happy, smiling young woman partying with her friends in Melbourne, wearing cocktail dresses, shorts and T-shirts.

By contrast, the photographs of her taken last month during Paris Fashion Week wearing a fur stole and sheer tights, with what seems to be no underwear beneath (a choice that could well see her face charges for indecent exposure) seem alarming.

Even though Censori insists she is comfortable in her own body, it's clear to her family and friends that something has changed.

Over the years, I have had a number of patients who have been in coercive and controlling relationships  a form of psychological abuse whereby the perpetrator carries out a pattern of manipulative behaviours within a relationship.

What is shocking for those on the outside is how the victim is often unaware that it is even happening.

I've sat in front of people (mostly women, but men can be the victims of coercive control, too), and told them I'm worried they are being controlled, and they have shaken their head in utter denial.

One woman wasn't allowed to see her family, have her own bank account and had to keep a tracker on her phone so her husband knew where she was at all times. She didn't see this as disgraceful, chilling behaviour.

Censori has no social media accounts of her own - apparently banned by her husband, who claims it is for her own protection

He had convinced her it was because he cared about her so much and wanted to know she was always safe.

The manipulator is often very clever in how they gain control  it happens gently at first and in small, subtle ways. They might suggest a partner isn't very good with their finances, or is being ripped off in some way, and it would be better if they took sole control of the money.

Perhaps, after an argument with their family, the controller will encourage someone to cut off contact, saying their family don't deserve them.

It's usually couched in terms of wanting to help the other person be happier. Bit by bit, the victim's sense of self is destroyed, their confidence eroded.

Sometimes it can happen so gradually that the person doesn't realise  until, one day, they wake up and realise they hardly know themselves any more.

As they will often be deliberately distanced from friends and loved ones, opening their eyes to what's really happening is all the more challenging.

But people can and do escape these kinds of toxic relationships, and the first step is always recognising the signs they might be being manipulated. Women's Aid highlights ten key red flags to watch out for:

Isolating you from friends and family;

Depriving you of basic needs, such as food;

Monitoring your time;

Taking control over aspects of your everyday life, such as where you can go, who you can see, what you can wear and when you can sleep;

Monitoring you via online communication tools or spyware;

Depriving you of access to support services, such as medical services;

Repeatedly putting you down, saying you're worthless;

Humiliating, degrading or dehumanising you;

Controlling your finances;

Making threats or intimidating you.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. But if any of these ring a bell for the relationship you're in, then it might indicate coercive control, a recognised form of domestic abuse. It is a crime and the law is on your side.

For more information, visit womensaid.org.uk or call the National Domestic Abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Lawyer Paul Alexander, who died last week, spent more than 70 years confined to an iron lung after he contracted polio as a boy. His remarkable story puts most of us, with our everyday gripes and complaints, to shame.

Paul Alexander died last week after spending more than 70 years confined to an iron lung after he contracted polio as a boy

Meghan's vindictive timing Maybe it was just a coincidence that the Duchess of Sussex launched her new lifestyle brand just 45 minutes before Prince William gave an emotional speech at the 25th Diana Legacy Awards?

Perhaps it was yet another coincidence when, a few hours later, Meghan and Harry announced the winner of Archewell's $100,000 civil rights awards. But I suspect they don't do much by accident.

The Duchess of Sussex launched her new lifestyle brand just 45 minutes before Prince William gave an emotional speech at the 25th Diana Legacy Awards

In which case, it seems cruel to try to steal the limelight from Prince William in this way, especially when it was a celebration of his mother's legacy.

It comes across as petty and bitter. I'd hoped the brothers would find some way to reconcile. But there can be no hope of healing while one side behaves like this.

For all the Sussexes' talk of how 'empathy and compassion are the building blocks of a better world', it's just hot air. It's not compassionate to try to upstage a family member, especially at a sensitive time. It's mean and vindictive.



Lily Allen said last week that having children 'totally ruined' her career because she chose to prioritise them over singing and acting projects. She insisted 'you can't have it all'. I think she's right.

But why is it women should feel torn between a career and a family, while men tend not to be? To me, this is where the real sexism lies. If having children means you can't have it all, that should apply to fathers as much as mothers.

Dr Max prescribes... an ice bath A study from the University of Warwick showed that plunging into a cold bath can reduce inflammation in the body and promote good health.

Reducing inflammation is important, as it can be linked to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer, as well as depression and anxiety. Admittedly not quite as appealing as the idea of a warm bath, but maybe it could be worth a try?
Relationship experts have weighed in on the new 'boysober' trend that has prompted Gen Z to take vows of celibacy in order to 'find themselves'.

Hope Woodward, 27, who grew up in Tennessee, coined the phrase and made the decision to ditch sex and relationships of any kind for 365 days in a bid to find emotional clarity.

She outline the rules for going boysober in 2024 on her TikTok, which include 'no dating apps, no dates, no exes and no situationships.'

'You're not single if someone is taking up your brain space', Hope added.

Since her theory, many other women from across the globe have followed in her footsteps and said they were also going boysober, with many reporting that they feel better than ever before.

Relationship experts have said that the trend is a positive thing, as online dating can be 'mentally overwhelming'.

Comedian Hope Woodward (pictured) has vowed to take a year off from sex and relationships and called it gong boysober

Georgina Sturmer, a counsellor and member of the BACP said boysober can be good for taking a break from online dating, which can be 'mentally overwhelming'

Georgina Sturmer, a counsellor and member of the BACP, told Indy100: 'The dating scene can be fun and exciting. But it can also feel overwhelming. Choosing to become "boysober" feels like an active choice for women to focus on their own identity and needs.

'Rather than being pulled into pleasing someone else or looking after someone else, or moulding themselves into somebody else.'

Another woman who has tried going boysober is 28-year-old Carly Galluzzo from New York.

She started dating when she was 16 but after hearing about the boysober trend she decided to give it a go.

Carly said: 'I decided to be single for the first time in forever. I haven't been talking to anybody, I broke up with all my situationships.

'I am now on the opposite side where I think relationships and pairing up is actually... very weird.' She concluded: 'More people should be single'.

Keeley Taverner, an expert on toxic relationships, told the outlet that this trend has come about due to a fatigue of 'friends with benefits' and women being messed around by potential partners.

'Time and energy can be channelled into personal development without the drain of fret and worry that can be all-consuming when dating in modern times,' she said.

After Hope shared her plan of going boysober, other people have followed suit, including Carly (pictured) from New York

Content creator Mariana (pictured right) has also gone boysober and claimed she is now living her 'best life'

Another TikTok called Mariana Garrido Costa, from Lisbon, has also hopped on the trend. She shared a clip with the writing: 'POV you're living your best life because you're boysober and there's absolutely no drama in your life.'

Mariana sat on the tube with her friend in the post. She added in the caption: 'Im telling you guys you should try it.'

Founder and a relationship expert at The Matchmaker UK, Lara Besbrode told the newspaper that she thinks women are increasingly wanting to focus on their 'own growth,' rather than that of a relationship.

She said: 'Women are making a conscious decision to prioritise their well-being and achievements, finding joy and fulfilment in their independence and reshaping societal expectations about happiness and relationship status.'

Elsewhere, people have taken to the comment section of Hope's TikTok to share their thoughts on the trend.

One said: 'I had 2023 boysober and now I dont know how to let it go because I enjoyed the peace and quiet too much.'

A second added: 'I did a boysober all 2023 and it was the best decision. I am now slowly dating again and in such a better mind set.'

'I was boysober this year and it was amazing I love spending time with myself and my friends and feel so great and grew, a third wrote.

A fourth added: 'Been like this the past year, its so liberating.' Similarly, another said: 'Im so ready for my boy sober journey.'
A helpless mother-of-two has revealed how her daughter suffers from a rare condition which sees her 'eating the house' - including the walls, sofa and glass.

Stacey A'Hearne, 25, from Blackwood, Wales, must constantly monitor three-year-old Wynter to stop her munching on potentially dangerous items around the house.

Her little one suffers from pica - an unusual eating disorder which sparks sufferers' cravings for inedible household objects.

The little one has even been caught smashing up a photo frame to try and eat shards of glass and even took chunks out of a brand new sofa.

'She is literally eating the whole house,' Stacey said.

'I bought a brand-new sofa and she's taken chunks out of it. She's really fussy with normal food but she'll sit and each a sponge.

Stacey A'Hearne, 25, from Blackwood, Wales, must constantly monitor three-year-old Wynter to stop her munching on potentially dangerous items around the house

Stacey bought a new sofa and her daughter quickly took chunks out of it

Little Wynter will eat foam, pictured a piece of her high chair missing

The little one also wakes up and nibbles on her cot

Stacey, a full-time carer for Wynter, first noticed her daughter's unusual eating habits when she was a baby, but didn't think anything of them as she hit the usual milestones.

But since Wynter's cravings got worse and she became non-verbal, the mother-of-two has made a desperate plea for help - and is exhausted monitoring her 24/7.

Stacey has caught Wynter, who also has autism, eating plaster off the walls, foam from inside the sofa, and gnawing on the side of a highchair.

She has even watched the toddler smash photo frames and attempt to eat the shards of glass.

And the little girl has started waking up in the night to chew on her cot and blanket she's sleeping in.

The parent must be on 'high alert' due to the severity of Wynter's condition and hoping to help other parents of children with pica.

'She's smashed about eight photo frames and tried to eat the glass.

'No matter what she finds a way to eat things that she shouldn't,' she said.

'Luckily, she's never really hurt herself as I very closely monitor her. But it's a full-time job watching her'.

Stacey first noticed Wynter putting things in her mouth as a baby and didn't think it was anything serious.

Wynter, three, has developed an unusual eating disorder called pica

Stacey also has another child, pictured above is one-year-old Everly who does not share her sister's unusual disorder

Wynter, 3, with her little sister Everly

Wynter was hitting the usual milestones - like talking and walking - until around 13 months old, when things changed 'overnight'.

She became non-verbal and her unusual eating habits began to escalate.

Stacey reached out to her health care visitor who made some referrals to the doctors who said her daughter had the eating disorder pica.

Stacey said: 'Babies always put things in their mouth, but when she was doing it a lot I started to think it wasn't normal.

'Pica can be more common in children who have autism - which Wynter has too. I think it's a sensory thing, and she craves the different textures.

'She has very severe autism which means she doesn't speak much and has some behavioural issue'.

What is Pica? People suffering from Pica frequently crave and eat substances with no nutrition, such as dirt, paint, ice, sand, glue and chalk. The condition, which gets its name from the Latin word for magpie  a bird known for its large and indiscriminate appetite  affects up to 30 per cent of children aged between one and six. Although the condition sounds bizarre, it is actually classed as serious eating disorder that can cause serious health problems such as lead poisoning and anaemia. However, in some cases, a lack of certain nutrients, such as iron or zinc deficiency may trigger the unusual cravings. Pica is most common in people with learning or developmental disabilities, such as autism, or those who've suffered a brain injury. It can also be a problem for some pregnant women or people with epilepsy. In many cases, the disorder lasts several months, then disappears on its own. Otherwise, treatment can involve replacing missing nutrients causing the cravings, giving medication to deal with a learning disability or giving rewards for eating normal food. Children also usually grow out of pica, for children with intellectual disabilities removing problematic items and supervision are both very important. The main form of treatment for pica is therapy, with different therapy methods available depending on the situation and individual needs. Advertisement

She has caught the tot eating plaster off the walls, wool from the inside of her toys, plants and candle wax.

She said: 'I put Wynter in the highchair with snacks, but she'll choose to eat the highchair.

'Her autism really affects her sleep, and she wakes up quite a lot. Her pica really comes out to play at night.

'She wakes up at 2am and I've found her eating the cot and the blankets.

'It is exhausting to have eyes on her 24/7 but I've got into a good routine, and I understand her needs.'

Stacey has found that providing 'sensory play time' has helped distract Wynter from her pica cravings.

She raises her two daughters with her partner, their dad, Ryan, 30, who doesn't live with them.

The Welsh woman, pictured above with her one-year-old daughter Everly is desperate for help, even though doctors insist there's nothing she can do

Stacey A'Hearne, 25, has a three-year-old toddler called Wynter, who developed an unusual eating disorder which causes her to attempt to eat inedible object

She said: 'Children with autism like sensory things they can touch or sounds.

'I've got a chewable necklace for her specifically designed for people with pica, that she can chew on with different textures.

'Also things like different shaped pasta is something she'll eat  which she can touch or play with.

'The doctors said there's not much we can do. It's not good for her but it's not extremely dangerous - as long is it's not glass.

'I just have to keep a really close eye on her and hopefully, she eventually grows out of it'.
Prince William feels hurt by the treatment of his wife Kate Middleton and is 'seeing elements' of the hounding his mother Diana experienced, a royal expert has claimed.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, Sunday Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah addressed the outlandish online conspiracy theories surrounding the Princess of Wales' illness, following her abdominal surgery on January 16.

Speaking about the social media interest over Princess of Wales health she said: 'Having seen his mother go through quite a lot of that, the hounding of his mother, I think he feels he is seeing elements of that being breached again in terms of the demands and screeches at his wife over her medical privacy and that is hurting him.'

Asked by host Susanna Reid if William feels 'sensitive' about the similarities, Roya added: 'He always has been, ever since he has been a child and since he has been with Catherine since university.'

Elsewhere the royal expert revealed Kate could address her health condition at public engagements next month, according to her close friends.

Roya said: 'I think she is going to be much more open about what's happened, I think she will do it in a natural organic way like on an engagement.

'We have seen William at engagements in the past few weeks and everyone is asking him how is Kate, saying please give these flowers to your wife. I think when she's out and about she will be asked about it.

'I'm not saying she will go into every detail about what surgery she has has but she might find a way to speak about her recovery about the places it's taken her mentally and physically, we know mental health is an important thing for them, that is the way she is going to let the people know has been going on.'

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.

However Kate was reportedly spotted looking 'happy, healthy and relaxed' on a visit to a local farm shop over the weekend.

Roya said: 'She has been at the children's school, school parents have seen her in the past few weeks, she has been seen at this farm shop, so she has been out and about.'

After the royal correspondent spoke to a friend of the Prince and Princess of Wales who 'saw them and spoke to them last week' she said they have 'felt under pressure' over the social media reaction to Kate's Mother's Day family snap.

Prince William feels like he's 'seeing elements' of the hounding his mother Diana experienced with his wife, according to Sunday Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah (pictured) who appeared on Good Morning Britain today

Prince William is feeling 'hurt' over the speculation around his wife Princess of Wales' health

Speculation only intensified when Kate 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.

'Even feeling under pressure it has been very clear to me they are not going to change over the next few weeks on what they were always going to do, so when we will hear from her, it's not until she feels ready regardless of the coverage.

This is a woman who has been in the media since her early 20s and she has barely put a foot wrong, I think we should lay off her a little bit, Roya added.

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.'

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.

Princess Diana died aged just 36 in car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, after years of been hounded by the paparazzi

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 may use it as an opportunity to speak about her health, it has been reported.

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.
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium has taken time out of her studies to carry out a rare royal engagement as she welcomes a very special guest to her home nation.

The royal, 20, who is studying at Oxford University, hosted former US president Barack Obama this weekend as she joined her father King Philippe in Brussels.

Elisabeth looked stately in a sharp royal blue suit with a wrap jacket and wide-leg trousers as she smiled alongside the ex-president, who was flanked on the other side by the Belgian monarch.

Although the Belgian royals were welcoming a very special guest of honour, it was Elisabeth who appeared to steal the show as fans took to social media to praise her stunning outfit and professionalism.

After the Belgian Royal Palace posted the snap of the three figures on Instagram, the photo was flooded with comments in praise of the future Queen of Belgium.

Royal fans have gone wild for a new photo of Princess Elisabeth, the future Queen, dressed in a sharp blue suit as she welcomes ex-US president Barack Obama to her home nation

'The Crown Princess is looking so awesome in blue,' one person wrote.

Another said: 'Such a beautiful blue outfit for the Princess.'

Many royal fans were thrilled to see their future Queen carrying out royal engagements, considering that she is currently putting her studies first.

'Wow for Princess Elisabeth!' one person wrote, adding: 'The king can be proud of his daughter.'

The Princess's appearance comes after speculation about her love life at Oxford University was quashed amid reports she was dating an 'ordinary' young man.

The future Queen of Belgium has been romantically linked to a 20-year-old student from Manchester after the pair (thought to be pictured) met at Oxford University

Royal fans went wild after seeing Elisabeth carrying out a rare public engagement and wearing a royal blue suit

Belgian media reported last month that the 20-year-old had found love with Nicholas Dodd, 20, from Rochdale.

It was reported that the pair met when Elisabeth began studying history and politics at Lincoln College.

Mr Dodd reads History at the same college according to Het Laatste Nieuws, a Dutch-language newspaper based in Antwerp, Belgium.

The local publication, quoting an 'important source', claimed 'ordinary' Nicholas and the Princess had an 'instant connection' after finding themselves in the same study group and developed a relationship that 'transcends friendship'.

However, the rumours were quashed when Dodd's family said the reports were 'false'.

'They just go to the same college and study together. Just like all his other friends, I can't comment any further,' an unnamed family member told Manchester Evening News.

When asked about the rumours, the Royal Palace refused to comment, according to French-language, Belgium-based television station RTL.

'We do not react to rumours concerning the private lives of members of the royal family', a statement apparently read.

Nicholas has been described as an 'intelligent and studious young man', who appeared on the Rochdale Sixth Form College website after being accepted into Oxford University.

He wrote: 'I applied to Oxford because I wanted the opportunity to study at a world-class university.

Priness Elisabeth smiles and shakes hands with King Charles at an event

Princess Elisabeth , 22, grew up in the royal palace of Brussels, attending royal engagements - she was just nine when she delivered a speech at the opening of the Princess Elisabeth Children's Hospital

Princess Elisabeth in a new portrait released to celebrate her 22nd birthday

'I felt I should apply because there was nothing to lose in trying! It was also worth it because the experience developed my analytical skills so even if my application failed, the skills I learned will still help me now and in approaching my work in the future.

'I would recommend applying to Oxbridge even if you have doubts in yourself. You have nothing to lose and if you dedicate some time to it then it will be a worthwhile experience in itself,' he added.

Born on October 25, 2001, Princess Elisabeth is the eldest of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium's four children.

When her father became King in 2013, Elisabeth became the heir to the throne and Duchess of Brabant.

Elisabeth began attending royal engagements from a young age and was just nine when she delivered a speech at the opening of the Princess Elisabeth Children's Hospital.

In contrast Nicholas went to Rochdale Sixth Form and during term time lives with his mum in a 300,000 home after losing his dad Andrew to cancer in 2007.

Princess Elisabeth is the eldest of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium's four children

Like a number of other European royals, including Princess Leonor of Spain and Princess Alexia of the Netherlands, Elisabeth attended Atlantic College in Wales before moving on to Oxford.

Nicknamed 'Hippie Hogwarts', the school curriculum has included unusual activities such as Tai Chi and Tibetan literature. It has a remarkable cliff-top location in a 12th-century castle in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Elisabeth enrolled on a 67,000, two-year course to study for her International Baccalaureate diploma at the school, which she has now completed.

Before her two-year course in Wales, she attended the Dutch-speaking secondary school Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege in Brussels. The Princess also went to the Yale Young Global Scholars Program at Yale University.

She then completed a one-year course in social and military sciences at the Royal Military Academy which is said to teach in-depth about the four components of Belgian defence: Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical.

When Elisabeth ascends to the throne after her father, she will make history as she becomes Belgium's first ever Queen

Alongside her training, in October 2021, the Princess began studying History and Politics at Lincoln College, Oxford

Alongside her training, in October 2021, the Princess began studying History and Politics at Lincoln College, Oxford. Here, she rows for Lincoln College Boat Club under the name 'Elisabeth de Saxe-Coburg'.

According to Belgian newspaper Le Soir, the princess completed a written entrance exam in history 'anonymously' so that her social status would not affect her marks.

Elisabeth is believed to have chosen the course herself, in agreement with her parents, and reportedly consulted with graduates from various universities and made her decision based on what would be most useful to her in her role as queen later in life.

An accomplished 21-year-old by any measure, the official royal website says Elisabeth enjoys walking in nature, reading and playing the piano  although like 'all youngsters her age', writes the palace, 'her taste in music is varied.'
The decision to adapt the popular Naver webtoon "Chicken Nugget" into a TV series was a significant challenge due to its unconventional and bizarre plot, its director said Monday.

"I found the story to be truly original. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before," director Lee Byeong-heon said during an interview with a group of local reporters in Seoul.

"Working on the adaptation was challenging and demanded courage," he said, adding, "I had to find the meaning of why I should do it. There were many thoughts going through my mind."

Based on the eponymous Naver webtoon, the series depicts the peculiar journey of a father (played by Ryu Seung-ryong) whose only daughter (Kim You-jung) undergoes a bizarre transformation into a chicken nugget after entering a mysterious machine. Alongside him is an intern (Ahn Jae-hong) at the machine company, who secretly admires the boss' daughter and becomes entangled in the strange events.

The story doesn't stop there. Along the journey, various genres are intertwined, including sci-fi, drama, thriller and even time travel.

"It's a completely new style of comedy. I was curious about how audiences would respond to the story," he said.

"When I first read the original work, I perceived the story as tackling prejudice based on appearance. My aim was to broaden this theme into something more compelling and meaningful," the director said.

The writer-director gained prominence with his box-office hit "Extreme Job" (2019), which drew more than 16 million moviegoers in Korea, making it the country's second most-viewed film ever. His 2019 JTBC drama, "Be Melodramatic," achieved sleeper hit status for its thought-provoking and sympathetic portrayal of human relationships.

"The work (Chicken Nugget) may appear lighthearted or even absurd, but the creators approached it with seriousness," he said. "The mood on set was dead serious."

"Whenever I felt uncertain about my decision to adapt it, I reminded myself that it would find its audiences who would love the story despite the possibility of receiving mixed reviews," he said.

The 10-part series premiered Friday and, as expected, has elicited diverse responses from global audiences, with some finding the plot hilarious and refreshingly original, and others considering it outrageous and totally absurd.

Unexpectedly, some Middle Eastern viewers have raised concerns about a scene in the last episode, where Saudi Arabia's royal family members request two tickets for a sold-out concert, alleging that it is disrespectful to them.

The director disputed the allegations, saying the scene was crafted with the sole purpose of showcasing the immense popularity of Go Baek-joong, who became a global superstar.

"When I was writing the script, royal family members of Saudi Arabia were visiting Korea," he said, noting that their presence inspired him to include the scene.

"My intention was to illustrate that Go has achieved global recognition, to the extent that even powerful figures like members of the royal family would seek concert tickets to see him perform." (Yonhap)
Queen Letizia of Spain opted for business chic with a touch of added glam as she took to the podium to chair a medical research forum today.

The Queen, 51, wore a red tweed jacket with gold buttons, paired with black trousers, as she walked onto the stage to open the forum.

The mother-of-two also sported black patent slingback kitten heels to complete her outfit.

Her brunette tresses were styled in a straight, sleek cut to frame her face, and she chose neutral make-up for the occasion.

The forum, hosted by The Fundacion Mutua Madrilena, supports four key aims: furthering medical research, running social and cultural projects and promoting road safety among young people.

Regal in red! The Queen of Spain stunned as she arrived onstage at the Fundacion Mutua Madrilena event in Madrid

The Foundation's website says its work in its four areas of interest is carried out in a 'sustainable way'.

Her solo appearance at the event comes after she joined with her husband King Felipe to welcome disability champions to the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.

The royal couple were captured speaking to the representatives and shaking their hands, before posing for an official group photograph.

Letizia took to the podium to chair the forum which aims to promote social and cultural change, medical research and road safety

The Queen of Spain, 52, looked elegant in the scarlet jacket paired with black trousers during her appearance

Letizia enjoyed rousing applause as she stood up to take to the stage and deliver an opening speech at the event

The Queen of Spain showed off her sleek and coiffed hairstyle as she appeared at the forum

Letizia put on a very elegant display in a black long-sleeve fine knit sweater, which she complemented with a pair of tailored green Hugo Boss trousers.

The mother-of-two looked fresh and on-trend, as she showed off her recent haircut and swapped her usual heels for a comfortable pair of loafers, also from Hugo Boss.

The high-waisted trousers were embellished with green panelled pockets and flattered her frame, while an added black belt also emphasised her stunning figure.

The Spanish queen kept her look very simple and pared back with no obvious jewellery in sight, but opted for radiant and glowing make-up.

Meanwhile her husband King Felipe VI, 56, appeared in good spirits, joining Letizia to greet the disability champions.

He too opted for a formal look, pairing his grey pinstriped suit with a peach-coloured tie.
A debate broke out on Good Morning Britain on whether pet owners should get 'pet-ernity leave'.

Love Island's Kady McDermott, from Hertfordshire, thinks pet owners should should be entitled to the same rights as parents to take time off and employers should 'be accommodating' if people need time off.

While The Apprentice star and Entrepreneur Simba Rwambiwa, from Birmingham, said pet owners should take annual leave if they need time off for their pets, after research from Burns Pet Nutrition suggested one in 10 dog owners revealed they want to receive 'pet-ernity leave'.

This would be a benefit similar to maternity or paternity leave that would provide designated leave to care for their pooch.

Kady said her pomeranian Coby is just like her child and she has previously taken time off work to care for him.

She said: 'I was on a photoshoot, he was ill and they let me go home, so there was photographers and everything and we just stopped.

She added: 'My mum has four dogs and luckily her employer is really understanding, so if she had a vet appointment they will leave her leave early.

'I think it's really crucial if people have pets that they let you leave early, the employer should be accommodating.'

However Simba disagreed saying people shouldn't compare their pets to children and employees should take 'annual leave' for vet visits.

He said: 'We can't sit here and say a child's life has the same value as a dogs, we should keep maternity and paternity leave as that and take annual leave if you want to take your pet to the vet.

'I love pets, I have a rabbit myself but he lives with my dad because my focus is with my son that is the priority.

He added: 'Where does it end, we can't keep allowing people to leave work for a variety of reasons, where does it stop.'

Kady disagreed saying: 'There shouldn't be any difference, pets are a choice but also kids are a choice.

Love Island's Kady McDermott thinks pet owners should should be entitled to the same rights as parents to take time off and employers should 'be accommodating' if people need time off on Good Morning Britain

While The Apprentice star and Entrepreneur Simba Rwambiwa said pet owners should take annual leave if they need time off for their pets

'Some people can't have kids or decide not to have kids. I'm not saying people should take weeks off for a vet appointment but a day or two.'

Viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to leave their own thoughts on the controversial topic.

One person said: 'My dog is as important to me as people's children are to them. I'd happily take annual leave and/or unpaid leave though to make sure they're OK. I don't think they should be treated as children simply because it would be very easy to play the system to have time off with a pet.'

Another said: 'No but employers should be more understanding and allow workers to come in late or leave early if they have a vet appointment booked. They can make up the time if necessary. Animals shouldn't have to suffer because owners are afraid of disciplinaries.'

Someone else wrote: 'I've had dogs all my life, love animals but they are NOT children, fair enough if your animal is sick and you need an emergency vets appointment maybe ask for a couple of hours off but if your employer says no its got to be annual leave, fair enough'

A fourth said: 'Where will it end? When my dog died several years ago now, I went to work the following day. Upset, absolutely but not enough to take time off work for it. It's getting to the point where we'll be off work for anything.'

UK law states workers can take a 'reasonable amount of time off to deal with an emergency', such as caring for an ill child or mourning a death in the family.

Kady said her pomeranian Coby is just like her child and she has previously taken time off work to care for him

Viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to leave their own thoughts on the controversial topic

But dog owners are now demanding those same rights to look after their four-legged friends, which 67 per cent claim to view as their 'children'.

Pet leave has been on the rise over the last few years with companies around the globe and across various sectors, from tech firms to pet food bands and even beloved Glasgow-based craft beer maker BrewDog, having adopted the policy.

The pet food maker surveyed more than 2,000 pet owners on what type of 'parental rights' they believe they should have.

Fifty-six per cent said they feel they shouldn't have to dip into their holiday balance to take their dog to the vet, while 40 per cent of participants indicated wanting time off to care for their sick pup at home.

More than half of Britain's dog owners feel they should be entitled to same rights to take time off as parents have, a study by Burns Pet Nutrition has revealed

More than half are calling for compassionate leave that would allow them 'adequate time to grieve' when their dog passes.

But the survey's most shocking find is that 15 per cent of owners, or one in every 10, feel they should be able to take pet-ernity leave when their dog welcomes a litter of puppies.

Twelve per cent of owners also believe they should be permitted to arrive late or leave work early to drop-off or collect their beloved pooch from doggy day care.

But while dog owners appear to be in favour of pet-ternity programmes, the general workforce may not be onboard with employers offering new dog or pet owners additional time off.

UK-based recruitment firm Reed polled over 2,600 people on LinkedIn in November last year and found that 58 per cent were opposed to pet leave. Twelve per cent said employers should 'maybe' offer pet-ernity leave as a benefit.

The survey also found that 67 per cent of pet owners view their dogs as their 'children'

Millennials and Gen-Z dog owners appear to be the most passionate about pet parental rights, according to Burns Pet Nutrition's study, likely because they consider their dogs to be their children.

Eighty-two per cent of owners aged 18 to 24 said they view their pets as their children, with 21 per cent of them being exclusively pet-parents.

Twenty per cent of this age demographic believe they should receive pet-ernity leave.

Similarly, 14 per cent of owners between the ages of 25 and 34, and 17 per cent aged 35 to 44, believe they should be entitled to the benefit.
Cadbury has revealed the launch of two new chocolate bars.

Two nutty bars have added to the lineup of the Dairy Milk range.

Nutty Praline Crisp and Caramel Nut Crunch will be part of the new range, with 70 per cent more filling than usual

Both flavours have a praline bar comes in the standard 180g size and contains a creamy almond and hazelnut filling and a layer of crispy wafer.

And the caramel chocolate, a 200g size bar has a creamy toffee filling, a caramel layer filled with chopped hazelnuts.

One of Cadbury's two new nutty chocolate bars in the UK is filled with a creamy toffee filling, a caramel layer filled with chopped hazelnuts

Maria Jackson, Cadbury Dairy Milk brand manager said: 'We're delighted to be launching this innovative and exciting addition to our beloved Cadbury Dairy Milk range.

It comes shortly after the British brand had fans delighted after bringing back a fan favourite bar.

The chocolate giant had brought back Creme Egg Bars back in January, much sooner than its usual Easter debut.

Foodies spotted the chocolate in UK store B&M, with Instagram account @dobbins_eats sharing a snap of the bar.

B&M shared the post, adding: 'We're just going to present this without comment and let you make your own decisions', and revealed the 123g bar sells for 1.50.

Hundreds of people shared their excitement, with one person saying they were 'her favourite'.

The praline bar on the other hand contains a creamy almond and hazelnut filling and a layer of crispy wafer

Another said she couldn't wait to try it out'.

Although a different user snarkily joked: 'Oooh, just in time for the Easter promotions!'

But one user felt guilty about her Cadbury indulgence: 'I was naughty and had one the other day and it was well good'.

And a different user went as far as describing the snack as 'one of her favourite chocolates'.

The same bar is also sold at Sainsbury's, Iceland and Waitrose.
Crown Princess Leonor of Spain had a royal inspection from her father this week.

King Felipe visited the future queen, 18, and her classmates at the military training centre in Zaragoza.

Leonor, who is the daughter of Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, put on her best camo as she joined the manoeuvres carried out by the students of the General Military Academy at San Gregorio National Training Centre on Monday.

The Spanish King, who also donned the army uniform as the Commander-in-chief of all the Spanish armies Land, Navy and Air Force, shook his daughter's hand as she stood among other military trainees.

The royals later sat next to each other as they enjoyed lunch with the military students at the national training centre.

The Princess, who turned 18 in October last year, has been making solo appearances and training at the Military Academy to ensure she's ready for her future in the monarchy.

Spain's future queen, the daughter of King Felipe (pictured) and Queen Letizia , put on her best camo as she attend the manoeuvres carried out by the students of the General Military Academy at San Gregorio National Training Centre on Monday

Crown Princess Leonor of Spain donned her camouflage gear during military training as King Felipe visited his daughter at the training centre in Zaragoza

The royal was pictured wearing a helmet and camouflage gear she carried out lessons with the group.

It comes after Leonor was the picture of confidence as she made her debut appearance at the country's new year Military Easter ceremony in January.

Proud parents Queen Letizia and King Felipe were also in attendance at the Royal Palace in Madrid as the heiress presumptive marked the start of the new year in full military dress.

The annual ceremony welcomes in the start of the new military year, with the custom dating back to the Spanish King Charles III in the 18th century.

The princess was clearly confident as she stood beside her mother and father in her military uniform.

In September, the future Spanish queen enrolled at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza in northern Spain, where she will undergo three years of military training.

After a year at the academy, it is expected that Leonor will move to a naval academy in Spain, before heading for her final year of training at the General Air Academy.

She was the picture of military precision in January, with her hair slicked back in a braided bun and not a crease in her dark grey uniform, which featured a blue sash.

Princess Leonor carried out manoeuvres with the students of the General Military Academy

The royals later sat next to each other as they enjoyed lunch with the military students at the national training centre

The Spanish King also donned the army uniform as the Commander-in-chief of all the Spanish armies Land, Navy and Air Force

The Princess, who turned 18 in October last year, has been making solo appearances and training at the Military Academy to ensure she's ready for her future in the monarchy

Her mother Letizia was typically chic in a high-neck silk blouse and skirt, which she paired with pointed black heels.

She completed her simple ensemble with a sleek, ponytail hairstyle, and opted for simple, fresh make up to mark the start of the new year at the Royal Palace.

The Spanish queen shrugged on a black jacket with a fur-affect collar as the family headed outside for a section of the ceremony to greet those in the Military Easter.

Her husband, King Felipe, was equally dressed up for the annual ceremony.

Like his eldest daughter, Felipe was in his military uniform, complete with a red sash around the waist and numerous glittering medals.

The father of two daughters with his wife Queen Letizia, King Felipe served in the military for almost three decades until he acceded to the throne in 2014.

The royal was pictured wearing a helmet and camouflage gear she carried out lessons with the group

King Felipe VI of Spain cut a sharp figure in full military dress at the General Military Academy at San Gregorio National Training Centre

Throughout his long military career King Felipe was promoted multiple times, achieving the status of lieutenant colonel in the Army, frigate captain in the Navy, and lieutenant colonel in the Air Force in 2009.

On becoming King on June 19, 2014 when his father abdicated, King Felipe was made Commander-In-Chief of the entire military.

Given his own experience in the army, King Felipe must be especially proud of his eldest daughter, Princess Leonor, who will begin three years of military training in August.

The heir to the Spanish throne will one day become a commander-in-chief of the Spanish armed forces.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has showed off her style credentials once again during her trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh, today.

The heir to the Swedish throne, 46, donned an eye-catching pleated swan print dress from Swedish designer Jennifer Blom when visiting the Foreign Service Academy to how the country uses digital solutions.

Putting her best fashion foot forward for the visit, which was part of the royal's work with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Victoria teamed her statement frock with a vibrant cherry red clutch bag.

Victoria first wore the colourful dress in 2017, when she joined other members of the Swedish royal family to celebrate 100 years of independence in Finland.

Today, she opted for classy pale blue pointed heels and a practical beige shopper bag, which she elegantly slung over one shoulder.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has showed off her style credentials once again during her trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh, today

The mother-of-two looked in high spirits as she was shown how Bangladesh uses digital solutions as a way to increase service in society.

She also decided to wear her brunette tresses in her typical hairstyle of an elegant low chignon for today's visit.

Victoria went for natural makeup, wearing only a touch of lip gloss, mascara and foundation as she smiled for the cameras.

She choose to wear a simple gold chain along with large hoop earrings, a bracelet, a watch and three rings.

During her visit, the heir received a pale pink shawl, which she wrapped around her neck, made from traditional fabric used in the country.

She was also presented with flowers from Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Minister of state for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology.

Victoria attended the event: Innovate Together for Zero Digital Divide at the Foreign Service Academy, a training institution for foreign service officers from the Bangladesh Civil Service.

The royal heard about how technology has created various opportunities in sectors such as education and health, as Mr Palak announced Bangladesh's aim to ensure that citizens have equal access to the digital world.

Victoria was there as part of her role of a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, which she has held since October last year.

The heir to the Swedish throne, 46, donned an eye-catching pleated swan print dress from Swedish designer Jennifer Blom when visiting the Foreign Service Academy to how the country uses digital solutions

Princess Victoria is presented with flowers by Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Minister of state for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology

Victoria went for natural makeup, wearing only a touch of lip gloss, mascara and foundation as she smiled for the cameras

Victoria was there as part of her role of a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, which she has held since October last year

During her visit, the heir received a pale pink shawl, which she wrapped around her neck, made from traditional fabric used in the country

In her role as UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, she plays a key role in increasing awareness and engagement for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaking at the time, Victoria said: 'It is a great honour to have been named Goodwill Ambassador for UNDP. It gives me additional opportunities to support the work for the Sustainable Development Goals.

'I look forward to immersing myself in UNDP's work to prevent many of the difficult challenges the world faces today that affect people all over the world.'

This comes as Victoria celebrated her name day with her husband Prince Daniel, 50, and their children, Princess Estelle, 12, and Prince Oscar, eight, in Stockholm last week.

According to tradition, certain names align with particular dates and the Crown Princess Victoria's is celebrated on March 12.

Wrapped up warm in a 500 wool coat from Andiata, the Princess smiled for the cameras alongside her daughter, who is third in line to the Swedish throne.

The family listened to the Guard of Honour band, before clapping at the song dedicated to the heir.
A woman has sparked uproar after suggesting brides-to-be send 'sorry you can't make it' cards to guests who fail to meet the RSVP deadline for weddings.

Nishma Mistry put together a draft message to send to family and friends who miss the invitation deadline after seeing the 'frustrations' of brides.

The 39-year-old, who has been married herself for 14 years, runs the Asian Bride Sorority and was constantly hearing complaints from brides who were irritated by guests who had not let them know if they were attending their nuptials.

The marketing manager, who is originally from London but now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, explained that South Asian weddings in particular often have hundreds of guests and several days of events, therefore, getting a headcount is very important.

Nishma Mistry put together a draft message to send to family and friends who miss the invitation deadline after seeing the 'frustrations' of brides

The 39-year-old, who has been married herself for 14 years, runs the Asian Bride Sorority and was constantly hearing complaints from brides who were irritated by guests who had not let them know if they were attending their nuptials

Nishma recalled how, ahead of her own wedding, she was frustrated by having to call around all of her 550 guests to see if they were coming so she could sort out catering and table plans.

She wishes she had thought to send a message at the time and decided to help brides-to-be by putting together a draft statement.

It reads: 'We're sorry you can't make it to our wedding.

'Our RSVP deadline has passed and you unfortunately did not respond.

'We would have loved to have you attend, but final numbers have now been turned in and your presence will be missed. Bride and groom.'

Despite some calling it 'tacky' and 'harsh', Nishma had lots of support from brides.

She shared: 'I see the frustration of not getting RSVPs back. I thought let me draft something.

'I got some criticism of it being a bit too harsh. People are saying it is a bit tacky. But people have the invite for four months. It's inconsiderate.'

Nishma recalled how, ahead of her own wedding, she was frustrated by having to call around all of her 550 guests to see if they were coming so she could sort out catering and table plans

Nishma admitted the wording may need perfecting but backs the need for it.

She said: 'Everyone is allowed to have an opinion. In South Asian culture there are often 500 people and several events.

'I had 550 guests. The wedding ceremony was one day. The reception was one day. We had a pre-wedding event with 200 people and a civil wedding.

'I had to call everyone and ask "are you coming?" It was such a waste of time.

'You have a list a size of your arm to get done and you're trying to appease everyone.

'People don't realize the importance of responding back.

The marketing manager, originally from London, but now living in Atlanta, explained that South Asian weddings often have hundreds of guests and several days of events

'I don't think anyone had to RSVP in our culture before. I don't know if it was an etiquette.'

Nishma says she got a mixed response but many brides could resonate with it.

One said: 'I absolutely love it. The people have a problem with it are the people that would not RSVP.'

Another said: 'No I wish I did this. Even people who did RSVP didn't show up it made me so angry thinking about all the money we spent on them.'

Nishma concluded: 'Lots of brides replied saying "I'm stealing this." If I was getting married now I'd tweak the wording and send it.'
The IRA activist who was involved with the group for decades has died in Dublin

Rose Dugdale, an heiress who turned her back on her fortune to join the IRA in response to Bloody Sunday, has died aged 83, according to reports.

Born in 1941 to a millionaire from Chelsea, Rose gave up her life of luxury to join the terror group and served nine years in jail after pleading guilty to involvement in a helicopter bombing and an art heist.

During her imprisonment, she gave birth to the son of a fellow IRA member Eddie Gallagher, whom she also married during her time behind bars.

After her release in 1980, she continued to take an active role in campaigning and became an IRA bomb-maker.

Politicians from Sinn Fein, with whom Dugdale aligned herself following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, have paid tribute to her after she passed away at the care home where she was living in Dublin, run by the Poor Servants of the Mother of God.

Rose Dugdale, an heiress turned IRA member after she was radicalised by Bloody Sunday, has died at the age of 83

Her death comes just a month before the story of her life is set to be explored in a new film Baltimore, in which she will be played by the actress Imogen Poots.

Bridget Rose Dugdale was born in March 1941 to Col Eric Dugdale and his wife Carol.

Col Dugdale worked as an underwriter for Lloyd's of London, while Carol had been a student at Slade School of Art.

The affluent couple owned a house in Chelsea and a 600-acre estate near Axminster, Devon.

When she was 17-years-old, Rose, who had been educated at a school in Kensington, met Queen Elizabeth II and curtseyed in front of her as she joined more than 1000 debutantes from high-profile families who were presented to the monarch.

A 'wanted' sign for Rose's arrest was issued to police stations across the country after she broke into her parents' home and stole their artwork

From there, Rose went to Oxford University to study PPE - but her introduction into society as an underwriter's daughter was a far cry from how she would come to be known.

It was at university that her rebellious nature found an outlet, and during her studies Rose gate-crashed the Oxford Union debating society dressed as a man to protest against the bar on women members. After graduating, Dugdale acquired two more degrees and became a government economist.

Rose Dugdale pictured with a gun in later life when she became reliant on a wheelchair. She passed away at the age of 83 in a Dublin care home

Rose was born into an affluent family who owned an estate in Devon and a house in Chelsea. Pictured with her mother Carol when she was a baby

But she was becoming increasingly radicalised by the student protests of the late Sixties, a visit to Cuba and the events of Bloody Sunday in 1972.

That year, she resigned from her job, sold her Chelsea home and moved into a flat in Tottenham with her married revolutionary socialist lover Walter Heaton, a former Guardsman who had done time for minor offences.

A year later, in 1973, the couple were arrested and charged with stealing paintings and silverware worth 82,000 from the Dugdale family home in Devon  allegedly to send the proceeds to the IRA.

At the trial, which made headlines nationally, she pleaded not guilty, claimed to have been coerced by others, denounced her family and background, cross-examined her father who was a witness for the prosecution, and told him: I love you, but hate everything you stand for.

Rose's activism began when she was a student at Oxford University. Pictured in disguise as a man before gatecrashing a men-only debating society

When they were found guilty, she told the jury: In finding me guilty you have turned me from an intellectual recalcitrant into a freedom fighter. I know no finer title.

She was given a two-year suspended sentence on the grounds that she was most unlikely to commit any further criminal acts, while Wally got six years.

Dugdale denounced the disproportionate sentences as a blatant example of capitalist injustice, and disappeared to join an IRA active service unit.

In 1974, famous oil painting The Guitar Player was stolen from Kenwood House in north London with a ransom note demanding the transfer of IRA bombers, sisters Dolours and Marian Price, to a Northern Irish prison.

Dugdale also posed as a French woman to steal further valuable artwork, before three paintings were discovered in a cottage she was renting in Cork and the rest in the boot of a borrowed car outside.

After she pleaded guilty to involvement in an art heist and a helicopter bombing, Rose was jailed for 9 years in 1974

She pleaded proudly and incorruptibly guilty and was sentenced to nine years for her part in the robbery, as well as a helicopter bombing on an RUC station in Strabane, Northern Ireland - although the bombs never went off.

After her sentencing, Rose's father issued a statement which read: 'I don't want to appear hardhearted, but I've done everything I can for her. She knows perfectly well she could turn to me if she wanted to.'

When she was jailed at Limerick Prison, Rose was pregnant with the child of her accomplice in the helicopter bombing, Eddie Gallagher.

She gave birth to their son, Ruairi, in prison on 12 December 1974, and married Gallagher while still imprisoned in 1978 after being given special dispensation to marry.

When she was released from jail in 1980, Dugdale became an active voice in Sinn Fein - and, according to a biography of her published in 2022, also became an expert bombmaker for the IRA.

Heiress, Rebel, Vigilante, Bomber, by Sean O'Driscoll, reveals how, from the mid-1980s, Rose found love with a new partner Jim Monaghan, who was also a prominent IRA member, and the pair made weapons together - including a powerful explosive that was detonated outside the Glenanne Barracks in May 1991, killing three soldiers and injuring 11.

Rose was known for using her trials as a platform for her political message, and declared herself a 'freedom fighter'

The explosive was also used in 1992 to destroy the Baltic Exchange in the City of London.

O'Driscoll told the Guardian: 'Rose Dugdale did not kill anyone directly, but she was indirectly responsible for the deaths of a lot of people.'

However, as the 1990s progressed and the Good Friday Agreement was eventually signed, Rose's extreme views saw her become gradually more marginalised in a Sinn Fein party that was beginning to accept the idea of peace.

She didn't stop speaking out, and in 2007 put her voice behind the Shell to Sea campaign against proposed construction of a raw gas pipeline through Rossport.

Rose also became a director at Dublin Community Television.

In 2011, she told Irish republican newspaper An Phoblacht that she believed the IRA had 'achieved its objective' in managing to 'get your enemy to negotiate with you'.

She added: 'I did what I wanted to do. I am proud to have been part of the Republican Movement, and I hope that I have played my very small part in the success of the armed struggle.'

A film, Baltimore, is set to be released next month documenting Rose Dugdale's extraordinary transformation.

Actress Imogen Poots, who plays Rose in the film, appeared on Woman's Hour today where she discussed what it was like to emulate the heiress-turned-IRA bomber.

'She's certainly not a dull protagonist for a second,' Imogen said, shortly before news of Rose's death was announced.

'The psychological landscape of a person like her is so intriguing and complicated.'
The Princess of Wales looked 'full of energy and incredibly happy' in footage showing her smiling alongside her husband Prince William during a visit to a farm shop in Windsor, a body language expert has claimed.

In the video obtained by The Sun, Kate, 42, who is recovering from abdominal surgery, can be seen with her hair down, wearing a black jacket and leggings, chatting with the Prince of Wales, 41, and carrying a large white bag.

Captured by a member of the public on Saturday, the royal couple are filmed exiting Windsor Farm Shop, which is a short drive from their Adelaide Cottage home in the grounds of Windsor Castle, and returning to their car.

The princess' absence from public life, following her surgery on January 16, has led to wild conspiracy theories on social media about her whereabouts and health.

Analysing the footage, Judi James told FEMAIL that Kate's 'upbeat and cheerful' demeanour 'is quite extraordinary body language behaviour for a leading royal out "incognito" in public and it suggests a point is, quite naturally, being made in terms of reassuring fans and quashing all the rumours.'

The Princess of Wales looked 'full of energy and incredibly happy' in footage showing her smiling alongside her husband Prince William (pictured in September 2022 in Swansea) during a visit to a farm shop in Windsor, a body language expert has claimed

The body language expert added: 'It is completely stunning to see the most sought-after woman in the world and the subject of speculation and rumours on social media suddenly appearing like this looking not just healthy, full of energy and incredibly happy but also making no apparent attempt to hide while out in public.

'While William keeps his face partially hidden under his cap and his head lowered, Kates body language here suggests a desire to be seen.

'Her head is up and her long hair is billowing while she wears a cheek-rounded smile that seems to signal she is completely upbeat and cheerful.'

Details of Kate's condition have not been disclosed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that the royal wished her personal medical information to remain private.

The online speculation increased after irregularities were spotted in a Mother's Day photograph of Kate and her children, which led to the princess admitting to 'editing' the image and apologising for any 'confusion' caused.

This was preceded by William's sudden announcement he was pulling out of his godfather's memorial service last month on what was only described as a 'personal matter' just 45 minutes before he had been due to give a reading.

The future Queen has been photographed in public twice since her operation.

In a picture published on March 4, she was a front-seat passenger in a car driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, in the Windsor area.

She was also spotted sitting next to William in a chauffeur-driven car last Monday, when he attended the Commonwealth Day service in London and she was driven to a private appointment.

The online speculation surrounding Kate increased after irregularities were spotted in a Mother's Day photograph (pictured) of the royal and her children, which led to the princess admitting to 'editing' the image and apologising for any 'confusion' caused

The royal couple also spent Sunday morning watching Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis taking part in a sporting event, according to The Sun.

It was reported at the weekend that she may speak about her health during public engagements which are not expected to resume until after Easter.

The Sunday Times reported a source as saying: '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. If she was going to do it, that's how she would do it.'

William and Kate's children attend Lambrook School in Berkshire, which will start its summer term on April 17. Kate is expected to resume official engagements after this date.

Sources close to the Wales' have told the Mail they have found the speculation surrounding Kate hugely hurtful and hard to deal with, but were determined to focus on what was important to them - their family and the princess' recovery.

Captured by a member of the public on Saturday, the royal couple are filmed exiting Windsor Farm Shop (pictured), which is a short drive from their Adelaide Cottage home in the grounds of Windsor Castle , and returning to their car

It is anticipated that the new image, showing the couple going about their normal lives, will go some way to calming many of the wilder rumours that have gripped people across the globe.

The snap was taken at 12.43pm on Saturday by a member of the public who was also at the farm shop, just a mile's drive from the Wales' Adelaide Cottage home, on their Apple iPhone 12 Pro phone.

The person concerned said they were visiting the shop to 'kill time' while on the way to meet someone to buy an item from Facebook when they recognised William and Kate and were struck by how 'happy' they looked.

They spotted the couple again in the car park and decided to capture the moment to share with their own delighted family.

'When I went inside I looked around and noticed them. They all looked happy,' the person, who wishes to remain anonymous, said.
Thousands of Brits are prescribed the 'little blue pill' every year on the NHS

Popular erection pills such as Viagra and Cialis have been linked to more than 200 deaths in Britain, MailOnline can reveal.

None of the fatalities  all of which have occurred since 1998  are proven to have been caused directly by the drugs.

But the UK's drugs watchdog is aware of the link.

However, experts insist the pills are safe and many incidents could actually reflect deaths linked to sex in men with heart issues instead.

Men can buy sildenafil, Viagra's main ingredient, and other impotence pills over the counter for as little as 15 and tablets available online for as little as 1.30 per pill.

Any reported suspected side effects are logged under the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) 'Yellow Card' scheme.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Officials use the same database, set-up in the wake of the 1960s thalidomide scandal, to track the safety of Covid vaccines.

Although impossible to prove, it allows doctors, pharmacists and patients to report adverse reactions believed to be caused by drugs used in Britain.

This can lead to them being reviewed, having warnings added to the labels or being taken off the market completely.

MailOnline found 2,441 reports for sildenafil, tadalafil (branded as Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra) and avanafil (Spedra) in the MHRA database.

Of these, 1,600 were for serious reactions, but only sildenafil and tadalafil recorded any fatalities (205, in total).

Most of the reported deaths were linked to incidents involving the heart or the brain

Forty-five deaths were reported in women, even though they don't gain the same sexual arousal benefits as men when taking the drugs.

Such medications also, less famously, treat pulmonary hypertension, a type of high blood pressure in the arteries that supply the lungs.

The same mechanism by which the drugs increase blood flow to the penis also relaxes blood vessels in the chest to treat pulmonary hypertension, hence why some women and children might take it.

Overall, people in their 60s accounted for the highest number of reported fatalities (66), nearly a third of the total.

For deaths with a stated cause, the majority related to disorders of the arteries that supply the heart, with 50 such deaths.

Most of these (31) were specifically linked to heart attacks.

Another large category for reported deaths was nervous system disorders, with 18 fatalities.

The majority of these related to cerebral haemorrhages  bleeds caused by blood vessels rupturing in the brain which can trigger strokes, a known rare potential side effect of the drugs.

Mental health issues were also reported in relation to the medications, including five cases of suicide.

Other less serious adverse reactions were also reported.

A total of 57 Brits reported suffering diarrhoea after taking the medications. Another eight reported an unusual level of flatulence.

Sildenafil, Viagra's main ingredient, is used to treat both impotency as well pulmonary hypertension. Pictured here is the Viagra branded version

Cialis, the active ingredient of which is the drug tadalafil is another popular erectile dysfunction medication in the UK

Four reported hallucinations, with one experiencing an unusual state of euphoria.

Some (37) ironically reported having increased, spontaneous or painful erections as an unwanted side effect.

These are, most likely, people taking the medications for non-impotency related reasons and to whom the drugs' other purpose may have come as a surprise.

However, some Brits found the opposite effect, with over a dozen reports that taking the pills decreased their libido or ability to get erections.

Millions of British men now take drugs to help impotency.

The latest NHS backed data shows 22million prescriptions for these drugs were handed out by GPs in England between 2019 and 2023, at the cost of 91million.

This data doesn't cover over the counter purchases, with many high street pharmacies, as well as online shops, now selling their own brand versions.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Man breaks out in pustules in never-before-seen reaction to 5 erectile dysfunction drug sold on high street Doctors say medics should be aware of the 'potential adverse reaction, considering the growing use of tadalafil'. The unidentified man, who now lives in Portugal, denied taking any drugs when he originally visited his doctor complaining of the rash. Pictured, pustules on his chest Advertisement

The drugs are already known by medics to be dangerous in some circumstances. For example, those with known heart problems are advised to avoid taking them.

Even leaflets handed out with sildenafil acknowledge cases of sudden death in men having taken the drug though it insists such cases are rare and mostly in men with heart problems.

'It is not possible to determine whether these events were directly related to sildenafil,' it also adds.

However, with many people unaware of the 'Yellow Card' system other side effects linked to impotency drugs may have been missed.

Professor Amr Raheem, a consultant andrologist at mens health business Adam Health, said it was critical to remember the context in which people used impotency drugs when looking at the MHRA data.

'It's imperative to understand that sexual activity, akin to any form of physical exertion, carries a risk of cardiac events, especially in individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions,' he said.

'The main issue, therefore, is the potential for cardiac events during the physical activity involved in sexual intercourse, rather than the direct effect of the ED (erectile dysfunction) medication.'

He added that while no drug was 100 per cent safe, medications like sildenafil and tadalafil have a very good track record.

'Millions of men have benefitted from these drugs, which have been subject to extensive testing and research, affirming their safety and efficacy,' he said.

But Professor Raheem added that, given the nuances in how these medications can interact with other conditions, supervision from a qualified health professional before taking the medication was critical.

Millions of British men now take drugs to help impotency. The latest NHS backed data shows 22million such prescriptions for these drugs were handed out by GPs in England between 2019 and 2023 to the cost of 91million (stock image)

'This is especially pertinent now that Viagra and Cialis can be obtained without a prescription in the UK,' he said.

An MHRA spokesman said: 'Sildenafil and tadalafil have been used for many years to treat erectile dysfunction without any serious safety concerns.

'The side effects known to be associated with their use are listed in the information provided to healthcare professionals and patients.

'This information also contains guidance on which patients cannot safely take these medicines and which other medicines and medical conditions increase the likelihood of experiencing side effects.'

The spokesman added they continually review the safety of all medicines, including sildenafil and tadalafil, including Yellow Card reports.

READ MORE: I discovered 'female Viagra' in my 40s - now I'm having sex like I'm in my 20s again Roxanne Merchant, 44 from Leeds, said her sex life is as good as it was when she was 20. She describes the treatment as like 'the female version of Viagra' Advertisement

They added: 'The nature of Yellow Card reporting means that reported events are not always proven side effects and some events may have happened anyway.'

Every drug has to go through safety trials before being made available to the public.

But there is an unavoidable risk that rare reactions or interactions with other illnesses and conditions may have been missed.

Systems like MHRA's Yellow Card reports allow experts to track potential side effects through active monitoring, though some MPs are concerned the system isn't proactive enough.

Such reports cannot prove the product in question is to blame.

For example, a heart attack recorded in a patient taking an impotency drug may simply be a coincidence, and nothing to do with the medication.

Adverse reactions linked to impotency drugs have been reported before in medical literature.

MailOnline reported last month how a Brazilian man suffered a never-before-seen reaction which saw him break out in pustules across his body after taking tadalafil, sold as Cialis in the UK.

Other reports have linked taking sildenafil to eye problems, including vision loss.

No medication is risk free and erectile dysfunction pills are no exception.

The NHS says about one in 100 people will experience common side effects from taking sildenafil, the UK's most prescribed erectile dysfunction drug.

These include headaches, nausea, hot flushes, indigestion, a stuffy nose and dizziness, according to the NHS.

The health service warns that people taking the pills for longer periods, such as for pulmonary hypertension, are more likely to experience these than those taking the pills for erectile dysfunction.

More serious side effects requiring urgent medical care are estimated to affect less than one in 1,000 people.

These include seizures, suffering a prolonged and potentially painful erection especially for over two hours, chest pain, and in very rare cases a life threatening allergic reaction to the medication called anaphylaxis.
America is often labeled the most depressed or drugged-up nation, but that may have been overblown.

Figures of global antidepressant use per capita suggests that Iceland has the largest share of citizens on the drugs.

Figures compiled by Our World in Data analyzed the number of prescriptions dolled out in 22 countries, broken down as a rate per 1,000 people.

Using data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), it showed Iceland topped the list, with 161.1 per 1,000 people, the equivalent of one in six people.

Iceland had the highest rate of antidepressant prescriptions, with 161 per 1,000 residents. Meanwhile, South Korea came in last place with 27 per 1,000

The two main classes of antidepressants are tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs tend to be more common

The country - which suffers notoriously long, dark winters - has fewer than 400,000 residents.

Portugal and Canada followed closely behind, with 139 and 130 scripts per 1,000, respectively.

The US has a rate of 110 per every 1,000 people , putting it in fifth place.

The UK followed closely behind in seventh place, with 108 prescriptions per 1,000 Brits.

Meanwhile, South Korea took the bottom spot, with 27 prescriptions per 1,000 residents, where depression and therapy have largely been considered taboo.

The findings come as one in three Americans report suffering from clinical depression at some point, and one in five currently have the disorder.

The two main classes of antidepressants are tricyclic antidepressants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Tricyclic antidepressants are an older class of drug that are prescribed less often due to more intense side effects, including insomnia, bed-wetting, and chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia.

These work by increasing levels of mood-boosting hormones norepinephrine and serotonin.

Some examples of tricyclics approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) include amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and protriptyline (Vivactil).

SSRIs are more common and include drugs like citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft).

These work by blocking serotonin from being reabsorbed by neurons.

The US was not included in OECD's rankings, though CDC estimates put it in fifth place

The percentage of adults who said they have been diagnosed with depression during their life

Iceland has the highest rate of antidepressant use, OECD found, with 161.1 scripts per 1,000 people.

However, experts believe it's not due to the dark, cold winters and early sunsets - it's due to how cheap drugs are.

As of 2023, the World Happiness Report ranked Iceland as the third-happiest country in the world behind Finland and Denmark.

The report found that it had the highest feeling of social support and the second-highest generosity score.

Additionally, Al Jazeera estimates that drug prices in Iceland are seven times cheaper than therapy, which could explain why so many residents take them.

Though the US was not included in OECD's ranking, the CDC estimates that 110 of every 1,000 Americans are on antidepressants, which is roughly 11 percent.

The agency has also noted that these more common in women, 18 percent of whom have taken them in the past 30 days compared to eight percent of men.

In a report released last year, the CDC found that up to one third of Americans suffer from depression, with counties in West Virginia ranking the highest.

Researchers believe depression is higher in counties in West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Washington due to the prevalence of other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and other social factors, including poverty.

West Virginia and Kentucky have the highest rates of obesity in the country. West Virginia is also one of the nation's poorest states.

'There was considerable geographic variation in the prevalence of depression, with the highest state and county estimates of depression observed along the Appalachian and southern Mississippi Valley regions,' researchers wrote in the report.

Additionally, a CDC report released last month found that 37.9million Americans were living alone in 2022, up 4.8million  15 percent  from the numbers in 2012.

It also found that the proportion of the adult population living in single-person households had doubled since the 1960s  from 13 percent to more than 29 percent.

The report warned there was an 'increased risk of adverse mental health' for those living alone  adding that people living alone were 64 percent more likely to have symptoms of depression than those who live with others.

Researchers also said these rates may be driving the sense of despair and high rates of mental health problems across the US.

The UK came in two spots below the US, with 108 prescriptions per 1,000 people.

NHS data suggests that eight million patients across England are prescribed these drugs for issues like depression and anxiety.

However, a 2023 agency report also notes that one in four of them - some two million - have taken the medications for at least five years.

And England also dished out about 1 million antidepressant prescriptions for teens in 2022, NHS data shows.

South Korea came in at the bottom of the list with 27 prescriptions per 1,000 residents.

Researchers in a European Journal of Public Health study attributed this low rate to the drugs not being available in all areas of the country.

Another study found that South Koreans are more likely to see depression as a sign of weakness.
By Yoon Ja-young

Hana Bank signed a business agreement with Hire Diversity, a platform company for foreign students, to provide financial services and financial education for foreign students in Korea, the bank announced Monday.

The agreement comes as more international students are studying in the country each year, in line with the governments Study Korea 300K Project, which aims to host more students from overseas in Korea. While the changes in demographic structure are reducing the number of Korean students entering colleges, schools and the government are focusing on attracting foreign students.

Hana Bank said it will offer convenient and safe financial services and education for the students following the agreement. They will include both offline and online financial services for foreign students through its app Hana EZ, financial education to encourage sound financial transactions, joint production of financial education content and additional financial services for foreign residents in Korea.

We recently became the first bank in the banking industry to support the issuance of Hana Certificates in 16 languages through Hana EZ, our app supporting overseas remittance service in multiple languages, a Hana Bank official said.

As the countrys top bank in terms of foreign exchange services, we will do our best to ensure that not only international students but also all foreign customers staying in Korea can carry out financial transactions more conveniently and safely.

Hire Diversity is a platform company that provides administrative services for foreign students in Korea. Through its HireVisa app, it offers resident registration number issuance service, real estate deposit protection and health insurance premium double payment exemption service, among others.
Hospitals are concealing evidence when patients are harmed, claims the outgoing NHS ombudsman.

Rob Behrens said ministers, NHS bosses and board members are not doing enough to end the health service's 'cover-up culture'.

He accused the NHS of, on occasions, acting in a 'dreadful' way to prevent bereaved families from finding out the truth, and claimed some parts of the 160billion-a-year service still put 'reputation management' first.

During investigations, Mr Behrens had stumbled across 'the disappearance of crucial documents after patients have died'.

Latest figures suggest there are around 11,000 avoidable deaths per year in the NHS due to patient safety failings.

Rob Behrens (pictured) said ministers, NHS bosses and board members are not doing enough to end the health service's 'cover-up culture'. He accused the NHS of, on occasions, acting in a 'dreadful' way to prevent bereaved families from finding out the truth, and claimed some parts of the 160billion-a-year service still put 'reputation management' first

During investigations, Mr Behrens had stumbled across 'the disappearance of crucial documents after patients have died'. Latest figures suggest there are around 11,000 avoidable deaths per year in the NHS due to patient safety failings

Mr Behrens, who will soon step down as ombudsman for England after seven years in the post, told the Guardian: 'NHS leaders, including ministers, set the tone for the whole organisation.

'Time and again we hear that patient safety is a priority but actions too often suggest otherwise.

'We need to see urgent significant, joined-up intervention to accelerate improvements in culture and leadership, not just in trusts or primary care, but also in NHS England and government.

'Culture is determined not only from the core of an organisation but also from its top leadership.'

While the NHS was staffed by 'brilliant people' working under intense pressures, Mr Behrens said that to often his investigations into patients' complaints had revealed cover-ups.

These have included, 'the altering of care plans and the disappearance of crucial documents after patients have died and robust denial in the face of documentary evidence', he said.

Mr Behrens also singled out avoidable deaths as being too common, particularly in maternity care, mental health and the treatment of sepsis  the body's life-threatening response to an infection.

He warned that the NHS's legal 'duty of candour' was not requiring hospitals to be open about failures and urged ministers to reform how the NHS deals with complaints and regulatory checks and balances.

It comes just months after a scathing report by the ombudsman last year also found the NHS was beset with a culture of 'defensiveness' when patients are harmed, with hospitals 'routinely' failing to accept their errors.

He today acknowledged, however, that Martha's Rule  set to be introduced next month in England  was a major step forward.

Under the rule, patients and relatives have the right to a second medical opinion and review of treatment.

It follows a campaign by the parents of 13-year-old Martha Mills who died in hospital in August 2021 after developing sepsis.

But Mr Behrens also told The Guardian he was alarmed by a recurring pattern of hospitals intimidating whistleblowers rather than taking their concerns seriously.

He pointed to University Hospitals Birmingham trust for referring 26 of its medics over 10 years for alleged misconduct to the General Medical Council, which regulates doctors, in alleged attempt to punish them for raising concerns.

None were found to have committed any wrongdoing.

Following his remarks, Paul Whiteing, chief executive of the patient safety charity Action Against Medical Accidents, said the Countess of Chester NHS trust's failure to act on doctors' concerns over the serial baby killer Lucy Letby  including forcing them to apologise to her for doubting her integrity  was an example of Mr Behrens's concerns.

Last year, a third of NHS personnel during their work saw errors, near misses or incidents that could have hurt staff or patients, according to the latest annual NHS staff survey, he added.

'Martha's Rule', which formalises access to a critical care team for a second opinion, will be available 24/7 and advertised throughout hospitals. The move follows the death of 13-year-old Martha Mills in 2021. She developed sepsis while under the care of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in south London

Martha's parents, Merope Mills (pictured), an editor at the Guardian, and her husband Paul Laity, raised concerns about Martha's health a number of times but these were brushed aside

Responding to Mr Behrens, an NHS spokesperson said it was 'absolutely vital that everyone working in the NHS feels they can speak up and that their concerns are acted on.

'The NHS has updated its freedom to speak up guidance [and] brought in extra background checks for board members to prevent directors involved in serious mismanagement from joining another NHS organisation.'

They added: 'As the ombudsman is aware, there have been major efforts to prioritise patient safety in England and progress in creating a more positive safety culture amongst the workforce, which has led to higher levels of patient safety incident reporting than ever before and a widespread focus on improvement, including through the new patient safety incident response framework.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'The safety of all patients is of vital importance, and we have made significant improvements to strengthen protections for patients including publishing the first NHS patient safety strategy.

'We are determined to make the health service faster, simpler and fairer. We are putting record levels of investment into the NHS, and training and retaining staff through the long-term workforce plan to properly resource our NHS for decades to come.'
An English woman who woke up with a Welsh accent  despite never visiting the country  is pleading for help to get her voice back.

Zoe Coles, 36, fears the distinctive accent is 'stuck' and won't disappear after she developed the voice overnight in June 2023.

The mother-of-two, of Stamford in Lincolnshire, is often asked if she's from Cardiff and can now roll her Rs.

Ms Coles, a former bartender, now gets 'anxious' whenever she leaves home as she feels like she 'doesn't fit in any more' because of her new voice.

She believes she has the extraordinarily rare foreign accent syndrome (FAS). There have only been around 150 cases documented worldwide since its first mention in 1907.

Zoe Coles, 36, (pictured) fears the distinctive accent is 'stuck' and won't disappear after she developed the voice overnight in June 2023, nine months ago

Zoe Coles shared her story on social media and revealed she has been stuck with a Welsh accent for nine months. Ms Coles said she gets 'anxious' still and doesn't feel like she fits in

It is usually the result of a head or brain injury, with strokes being the most common cause.

FAS can also occur after trauma to the brain, bleeding in the brain or a brain tumour.

Other causes reported in medical journals include multiple sclerosis and conversion disorder.

Ms Coles, who also has functional neurological disorder (FND), says that her accent returns 'back to English' when she has bad flare-ups.

She said: 'When I am having a bad flare-up and I cant walk my old accent will return back to English.

'I have no idea why because it is so rare not much is known about it.'

Ms Coles, who originally developed a German accent before it morphed into Welsh, added: 'I am struggling a lot, you are born with a voice, you grow up and develop a way of speaking.

'That has been taken away from me.

'Even though it has given me a confidence boost, I would love everything to go away and life to go back to normal.'

Ms Coles is appealed for help on TikTok to find an expert or neurologist who can help her deal with the sudden change. But experts have told her there is nothing they can do

FND relates to a problem with how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body.

Some patients can suffer limb weakness, seizures, walking difficulties, twitching and sensory issues, according to charity FND Action.

One study has suggested that foreign accent syndrome may 'sometimes represent an FND'.

In videos shared on her TikTok account @zoecoles1, she revealed that FND leaves her in chronic pain and sometimes makes it impossible to talk and walk.

She explained she often experience ticks, memory problems, slurred speech and pain in her legs.

She said: 'I was a full-time working mum, I could get up and clean the house in two hours, have a shower, get ready, go shopping, go to work and come home.

'Now I have to be assisted in the shower in case my legs go on me, I can't do the house work in two hours it is more like two days.

'I get so tired so quickly, I can do the shopping because I can hold the trolley but I can't do much more.

'It completely wipes me out.'

Speaking about her accent, Ms Coles said: 'Part of me has learned to get on with it but I have come across a few Welsh people who asked me where I am from.

'That is really difficult, I don't want to lie and say I am from somewhere in Wales.

'I have no clue about Wales, I have never been.'

Ms Coles has seen a neurologist and has been told there is nothing they can do.

She said: 'I want to raise awareness and show that this is real life.

'I am speaking out because I want people to see that these things really do happen.

'This is a reality for me as much as I don't like it, I love the accent and I have adapted to it.

'However it still causes problems for me, I still get head pains and tingling in the face.

'It isn't just the accent, it is so hard for me.'
The disease has spread to her appendix, ovaries, rectum, abdomen and bowel

lison Varley, from Ossett, was diagnosed with goblet cell carcinoma in 2021

A mother has told how doctors believe she is the only person in the world to have ever been diagnosed with her cancer.

Alison Varley, of Ossett in West Yorkshire, said she is 'terrified' and that medics are 'struggling' with her never-before-seen illness.

The 42-year-old starts chemo today but fears she may not make Christmas, bluntly admitting: 'I don't know if it's going to work.'

Mrs Varley was diagnosed with a specific type of goblet cell carcinoma in 2021 after seeking help for what she assumed was a chest infection that left her struggling to breathe.

Antibiotics failed to help, prompting her husband Matthew to eventually call her an ambulance.

Alison Varley, of Ossett in West Yorkshire, said she is 'terrified' and that medics are 'struggling' with her never-before-seen illness. The 42-year-old starts chemo today but fears she may not make Christmas, bluntly admitting: 'I don't know if it's going to work.' Mrs Varley, pictured with her husband Matthew and daughters Delilah and Daisy

Mrs Varley was diagnosed with a specific type of goblet cell carcinoma in 2021 after seeking help for what she assumed was a chest infection that left her struggling to breathe. Antibiotics failed to help, prompting her husband Matthew to eventually call her an ambulance. Pictured, Mrs Varley with her son Charlie

Hospital scans later revealed she had fluid on her lung  and a mass on her ovary.

Goblet cell carcinomas develop in the appendix and are thought to strike just one in every million people. They are more common in people in their 50s and 60s.

Mrs Varley said she was told the genetic make-up of her cancer is 'like no other in the world'.

Since her diagnosis in late 2021  just six months after her third child, Delilah, was born  the cancer has spread to her rectum and abdomen.

Recalling the news, Mrs Varley said: 'I thought I had a chest infection and could not breathe very well.

WHAT IS GOBLET CELL CARCINOMA? Goblet cells line the internal organs and make mucus. The name refers to the fact they are shaped like miniature wine goblets when examined under a microscope. Goblet cell carcinomas start in the appendix and are a type of neuroendocrine tumour (NET). They typically affect people over the age of 50. The first symptom is appendicitis, or sometimes prolonged pain and an unusual lump in the lower right side of the abdomen. Studies have shown the overall 5-year survival rate stands around is 100 per cent, 76 per cent, 22 per cent, and 14 per cent respectively for stages I, II, III, and IV goblet cell carcinomas. An important predictor of survival is the initial size of the tumour and whether or not cells have spread from its original location to other parts of the body. Sources: International Journal of Surgery Case Reports, Current Problems in Cancer: Case Reports, BMC, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust Advertisement

'I went to the doctors and was given a week's course of antibiotics. They didn't touch it.

'I went back and had three more days and my husband said to call 111 and they sent an ambulance.

'They did a CT scan and found five litres of fluid in my right lung. They tried to drain the fluid and did a CT scan and found a large mass on my ovary.'

She added: 'It's rare upon rare upon rare. There is no one with my cancer. The genetic make-up of it is like no other in the world.

'There are people with goblet cell, but not the genetic make-up.

'That's why they're [doctors are] struggling with me because there is no one in front of me [with it.]'

Goblet cell carcinoma often exclusively affects the appendix and is usually only discovered during tests or treatments for other conditions, such as an appendicectomy or small bowel resection.

It can be treated in some cases via surgery, to remove the appendix and surrounding tissue.

In others, however, as the body fights the disease, a mass of fluid can form.

According to Neuroendocrine Cancer UK, chemo and immunotherapy is offered when there is a higher risk of the cancer returning.

Mrs Varley, who is under the care of St James's University Hospital in Leeds, The Christie in Manchester and Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, underwent surgery to remove her appendix followed by a full hysterectomy.

Immunotherapy initially successfully reduced the size of the tumours in her abdomen and rectum.

But, she claimed, it triggered an adverse reaction causing a growth in the cancer.

She added: 'They stopped that immediately. If a cancer grows while under treatment it can aggravate it further. I was more or less put on a "watch and wait" [list].'

Over the course of nine months with no treatment, her cancer grew 'slightly'.

Since then, however, Mrs Varley has also suffered pain in her bowel. A colonoscopy last week discovered the tumour had grown further.

'An oncologist came to see me and he said the cancer has grown and he thinks it is in the bowel,' she said.

Mrs Varley, who is under the care of St James's University Hospital in Leeds, The Christie in Manchester and Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, underwent surgery to remove her appendix followed by a full hysterectomy. Immunotherapy initially successfully reduced the size of the tumours in her abdomen and rectum. But, she claimed, it triggered an adverse reaction causing a growth in the cancer. Pictured Mrs Varley with her daughters Daisy and Delilah

'It has grown quite a bit which is shocking. I only had a colonoscopy in November and he said it was clear and fast forward to March.'

Mrs Varley, who also shares her son Charlie, 20, and Daisy, four, with Matthew, began chemotherapy today, which she believes will last around three months, to help prevent further tumour growth.

'I'm absolutely terrified. I'm scared for my kids,' she added.

'It's worrying because I'm going to be trying chemotherapy. I don't know if it's going to work.'

In a bid to support day-to-day costs as Mr Varley takes unpaid leave to care for Daisy and Delilah, her friends have launched a JustGiving page, raising more than 3,000 in just two days.

Mrs Varley said: 'It's hard not to talk about dark things when you're in my shoes.

'I don't know if this is going to be my last Christmas or birthday with them. I don't know what is going to happen. They said it [the cancer] was stable but all of a sudden it's growing. I don't understand.'

The donations 'really do mean the world', she added.

'When I'm poorly and curled up in my bed because I can't move, my kids will have food in the cupboards and I can put the heating on when it's cold.'
Middle-aged Americans are lonelier than their peers in Europe and may explain why people in the US tend to die younger, according to a new report.

Researchers looked at data involving 53,000 adults in the US and 13 European countries, focusing on the answers from individuals age 40 to 65.

They found middle-aged Americans consistently scored higher on a metric used for comparing loneliness levels in the US with those of other countries, according to the results published by the American Psychological Association.

The authors of the report highlighted three main cultural norms that could be driving an epidemic of loneliness in the US: a focus on individualism, weaker family ties, and widespread use of social media.

The above graph shows that multiple generations adults born after 1946, late baby boomers particularly, were consistently lonelier than the silent generation when they reached middle age. Each group has a long, thin line showing the overall trend over the years, and short, thick lines show how loneliness changes each year within that age range

Loneliness has been linked to a range of mental and physical health effects, including sleep disorders and metabolic conditions that affect a person's weight

Dr Frank Infurna, a psychologist at Arizona State University and lead author of the study, said: 'Loneliness is gaining attention globally as a public health issue because elevated loneliness increases ones risk for depression, compromised immunity, chronic illness and mortality,

'Our research illustrates that people feel lonelier in some countries than in others during middle age. It also sheds light on reasons this may be occurring and how governments can address it with better policies.'

Persistent feelings of loneliness have been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, various forms of dementia, and death.

Lonelines has been found to increase stress and therefore levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can contribute to heart disease and its risk factors, including high blood pressure. Loneliness may also lead to unhealthy behaviors such as overeating and leading a sedentary lifestyle, contributing to rates of obesity.

In addition to contributing to feelings of depression and anxiety, loneliness and being alone can weaken a person's immune system and possibly leading to cognitive decline and various forms of dementia.

A US government report last year revealed some of the physical effects of loneliness included a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease; a 32 percent increased risk of stroke; and a 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia for older adults.

Life expectancy in the US is lower than that of several other countries. In 2022, the CDC estimated the life expectancy at birth in the US increased to 77.5 years, up 1.1 years from 76.4 years in 2021, but still down 1.3 years from 78.8 years in 2019, before the Covid pandemic.

Life expectancy in the US is now lower than peer nations with similar GDPs. Germany's life expectancy is 80.7 years, Canada's is 81.3, France's is 82.3, and Japan's is 84.1.

Researchers from the US and Germany examined a series of studies that collect data over a long period of time.

They looked at data from 2002 to 2020 from the US and 13 European countries across three different generations: the Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1946), baby boomers (born from 1946 to 1964) and Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980).

Dr Frank Infurna, a psychologist at Arizona State University and lead author of the study, said: We focused on middle-aged adults because they form the backbone of society and empirical evidence demonstrates that U.S. midlife health is lagging other industrialized nations.

Middle-aged adults carry much of societys load by constituting most of the workforce, while simultaneously supporting the needs of younger and older generations in the family.

They zoomed in on baby boomers specifically, dividing the group in their analyses into early baby boomers  those born from 1946 to 1954  and late baby boomers from 1955 to 1964.

On average, middle-aged early baby boomers in the US felt lonelier than their peers in Europe. The same was true for middle-aged late baby boomers in the US, who reported feeling lonelier compared to their peers in England, Continental Europe, Mediterranean Europe, and Nordic Europe.

In Generation X, middle-aged adults from the US felt more lonely compared to people of the same age group across Europe, though, the difference in loneliness levels between the US and England was not big enough to be considered statistically significant.

Dr Infurna said: The cross-national differences observed in midlife loneliness should alert researchers and policymakers to better understand potential root causes that can foster loneliness and policy levers that can change or reverse such trends.

Late baby boomers born from 19551964 were lonelier than those in other countries

Early baby boomers in the US were also lonelier than their peers in Europe and England

Gen X saw a similar trend showing higher loneliness scores in the US compared to other countries

The researchers said that the United States deep-seated values of individualism may be to blame. A longstanding ethos in the US is one that prioritizes individualism, individual achievement, and growth to attain personal goals and the elusive American dream.

As a result, social support groups and connections with others can become neglected. Job insecurity and income inequality as well as lack of childcare and access to healthcare are all believed to exacerbate loneliness.

The researchers said: 'Social and economic inequalities likely have powerful effects on midlife loneliness through undermining ones ability to meet basic needs, restricting opportunities for upward economic mobility, and constraining peoples ability to lead lives one has reason to value.'

And rates of loneliness in the US are on the rise.

A 22 study from Cigna, one of America's largest health insurers, surveyed around 10,000 Americans on their current feelings in December 2021.

Over half, 58 percent, reported that they felt lonely. This nearly matches the pre-pandemic total - from 2019 - of 61 percent of adults feeling lonely.

Social media does not appear to help. Scrolling and viewing others having fun or taking part in interesting activities can compound loneliness even further.

At the same time, the number of Americans living alone has hit a new record level at 37.9 million, up 4.8 million, or 15 percent, from 2012.

The latest research was published in the journal American Psychologist.
Experts have sounded the alarm about potentially flawed research touting ketamine as a wonder drug for depression - after X boss Elon Musk admitted to taking it 'every other week'.

Musk, 52, appeared in a heated interview last week with former CNN anchor Don Lemon, where the two butted heads on several topics, including Musk's use ofthe drug - which has psychoactive effects.

Though Musk said it was 'pretty private to ask somebody about a medical prescription,' he has previously hailed the benefits of using it for depression.

He also told Lemon that those that are struggling with depression should 'talk to their doctor about ketamine instead of SSRI's [the most commonly prescribed mental health drug].'

However, experts have cautioned that much of the emerging research painting ketamine as a wonder drug has minimized harmful side effects like bladder damage and suicidal intent.

The drug was also named partly responsible for the tragic death of actor Matthew Perry, who was receiving ketamine therapy for depression at the time.

In an interview with former CNN anchor Don Lemon, Elon Musk said he takes a 'small amount' of ketamine every other week on average

The Friends star accidentally drowned in his hot tub after consuming similar quantities of ketamine as a hospital patient under general anesthetic, an autopsy stated.

Ketamine is an anesthetic turned street drug and off-label mental health treatment

Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic that is used to stop humans and animals from experiencing pain during operations. It works by blocking the activity of the neurotransmitter N-methyl-D-aspartate (NDMA), which controls actions in the nervous system.

Ketamine suppresses NDMA, rapidly diminishing sensations, preventing pain, inducing sleep, and inhibiting memory.

For this reason, it is usually taken in small doses for non-anesthetic purposes, such as to treat depression.

In small quantities, it gives users a feeling of euphoria, out-of-body experiences, and hallucinations.

Musk told Lemon: 'There are times when I have a negative chemical state in my brain, like depression I guess, or depression that's not linked to any negative news, and ketamine is helpful for getting one out of a negative frame of mind.'

Musk said that he will take a 'small amount' of ketamine every other week on average, and often 'there will be several weeks go by that I don't use it.

When asked if he has ever 'abused' the tranquilizing drug, he said: 'I don't think so... if you use too much ketamine you can't really get work done, and I have a lot of work.

'Putting in 16-hour days, that's normal for me, and it's rare for me to even take off a weekend day, so I don't really have a situation where I can be not mentally acute for an extended period of time.'

'I can't really get wasted.'

Model and influencer Chrissy Teigen, 38, said that she did ketamine therapy last year and 'saw' her late son, Jack. Jack, Teigen's son with musician John Legend, 44, died from partial placenta abruption

Friends star Matthew Perry was killed by ketamine and drowning, with his death ruled an accident. He is pictured at the 2022 GQ Men of the Year Party

In the 1970s, the FDA approved the use of ketamine via prescription as an anesthetic.

The World Health Organization lists ketamine as one of its 'essential medicines' for anesthesia and pain management, but it is not FDA-approved for treating psychiatric conditions.

However, in recent years multiple medical trials have been conducted testing the drug for its supposed mental health benefits. Some studies have shown promising outcomes.

Researchers have found that the compound targets neurotransmitters in the brain that are responsible for mood.

Healthcare providers have used the findings of these early studies to support their prescriptions of the drug for other conditions it is not approved for - such as depression.

Ketamine has also been used as a party drug since the late 2000s, with revellers taking it before raves for its dissociative effects.

Last May, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that adults with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) who took ketamine had fewer symptoms and improved quality of life.

And a 2022 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry involving 400 participants found that 72 percent of those who used ketamine had improved mood, and 40 percent reported no depressive symptoms after 10 infusions.

However, there were several caveats. For example, the study relied on self-selected patients, indicating that they may be more comfortable using this type of drug than the average person.

There was also no control group, and the researchers did not track potential adverse events.

Additionally, research was performed by MindPeace Clinics, a ketamine therapy clinic in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington DC, which could indicate bias as the service makes money from prescribing the drug.

Ketamine clinics, such as this one in Miami, have popped up all over the country to treat mental health conditions and other disorders. However, these uses are not approved by the FDA

Experts have cautioned that the nature of ketamine research could inherently leave it open to flaws.

In 2021, Dr Ben Medrano, psychiatrist and medical director of ketamine clinic Field Trip Health, told The New Yorker that psychedelic treatments would 'never be easily verifiable in a laboratory or a double-blind study' because it is impossible to 'blind' participants to whether they received the drug or the placebo.

Blinding means that patients are randomly assigned to groups whereby some get an active drug and the others get a placebo. Participants are not supposed to know which group they are in.

An insufficient number of these high-quality blinding studies has long been linked to benefits being overestimated and adverse effects ignored.

Some researchers also worry that limited research on ketamine's use for conditions like chronic pain could lead to physicians overprescribing it and ignoring safety risks.

Dr Padma Gulur, a pain specialist studying ketamine use at Duke University, told the Associated Press: 'Theres a paucity of options for pain and so theres a tendency to just grab the next thing that can make a difference.'

'A medical journal will publish a few papers saying, "Oh, look, this is doing good things," and then theres rampant off-label use, without necessarily the science behind it.'

Dr Gulur and her colleagues tracked 300 patients receiving ketamine at Duke and found that more than one third of them reported significant side effects that required medical attention, such as hallucinations, troubling thoughts, and visual disturbances.

This is not the first time hallucinations have been reported. Last year, actress Chrissy Teigen revealed that while she was using ketamine recreationally, she 'saw' her late son Jack, who died in the womb three years earlier.

In Dr Gulur's research, ketamine also did not result in lower rates of prescribing opioids, a common goal of therapy, she said.

A 2020 study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry claimed the FDA ignored serious side effects when approving esketamine, a more potent form of ketamine, for treatment-resistant depression.

Esketamine is sold as a nasal spray under the brand name Spravato.

The researchers said that 'safety signals - deaths, including suicides, and bladder damage - were minimized' in trials.

They found that five studies were submitted by drugmaker Janssen to the FDA, and only one had positive effects, and it was likely that 'participants would have been unmasked (unblinded) by the noticeable psychoactive effects of esketamine.'

'Expectation effects might therefore inflate the apparent difference between placebo and esketamine.'

Meanwhile, six deaths occurred during the trials, three of which were suicides. 'Two of the participants who died by suicide showed no previous signs of suicidal ideas during the study,' the researchers wrote.

The others deaths were from heart issues including heart attacks triggered by ketamine increasing blood pressure.

'A significant number of participants on esketamine developed signs of bladder irritation, reminiscent of "ketamine bladder,"' the researchers wrote.

These include urinary tract infections, pain, and discomfort.

According to the National Library of Medicine, ketamine use by an individual with a pre-existing heart condition 'can lead to catastrophic outcomes,' including 'increased heart rate, cardiac output, and blood pressure.'

Additionally, researchers at Columbia University found that mice who were given ketamine for 10 days had brain changes similar to those that occur in schizophrenia, a chronic and severe mental disorder that often causes patients to lose touch with reality.

Ketamine has also gained popularity in infusion clinics for depression. However, Dr Maryann Amirshahi, medical director of the National Capital Poison Center in Washington DC, previously told DailyMail.com that these could be unregulated.

'A lot of the time, you don't know what you're getting, and you don't know what the oversight may be. There's a lot of variability,' she said.

'There's the potential for dosing errors if they're not properly staffed with a pharmacist.'
For many new mothers, the time spent breastfeeding their babies, however difficult or tiring it can be, is a unique and cherished experience.

But Sophia Graham treasures every second her 13-week-old son Cas feeds, because each drop of milk she produces feels like a remarkable achievement.

That's because Sophia, 31, a maternity support worker from Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, has a little-known condition that affects thousands of women who struggle with breastfeeding. In fact, there is so little awareness about it that many healthcare professionals haven't heard of it.

Sophia tried and tried to breastfeed her first child, Marlow, for four and a half months before she reluctantly gave up.

Her condition is called insufficient glandular tissue (IGT). This is the most common cause of primary lactation failure, where the mother produces little or no milk due to problems affecting the mammary glands themselves (secondary lactation failure relates to problems related to the milk being removed, such as the baby not latching on or tongue tie).

IGT typically affects those with smaller breasts, but larger-breasted women can also have it  it's thought hormones during puberty and polycystic ovaries may be to blame.

Sophia Graham, 31, a maternity support worker from Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, has insufficient glandular tissue which is the most common cause of primary lactation failure

Breastfeeding can be a divisive issue  some women say they don't wish to breastfeed yet feel pressure to do so due to the 'breast is best' message; others want to, but struggle, and can be left feeling like they've 'failed'.

The UK has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding worldwide, with just 0.5 per cent of women still breastfeeding by the time their baby is 12 months old; this compares with 35 per cent in Norway and 16 per cent in Sweden.

However, in some cases it is simply not physically possible  yet many of those affected may not realise this, according to Dr Justice Reilly, a lactation specialist based in Glasgow.

But their sense of failure can last for years. 'Maternal mental health and the impact of breastfeeding grief can impact the next generation,' says Dr Reilly.

'I have had patients in their 50s and 60s talk about how difficult they found it to breastfeed their babies  and how they're still upset by this. They also don't have the knowledge to pass on to their daughters and granddaughters.'

As she explains, the 'vast majority of new mothers are able to make milk with the right support. But 'of course, any normal human function does not work 100 per cent of the time'.

IGT can be a problem for an estimated 5 per cent of women, says Dr Reilly.

IGT is a disorder in the milk-making tissue of the breast. But she explains: 'It's important to recognise that with skilled early support, most women with IGT can still breastfeed and make milk, it may just be in a different way from how they expected.

The problem is that getting a diagnosis and the right advice is hit and miss.

'Often women are just told their breasts have an unusual appearance and they 'might have IGT',' she says.

'From there, their confidence is low, they may breastfeed less and mistake normal unsettled infant behaviour for low milk supply, start supplementing early with formula milk and, in turn, start to undermine their supply.'

Even if someone knows they have IGT, they still might not get the right advice.

Most new mothers will make milk even before they try to breastfeed, thanks to changes in hormones after the placenta is delivered: this means bringing their baby near their breast or stroking their skin, for instance, will stimulate the hormone oxytocin, which causes milk release from breast tissue.

After that initial hormonal shift, milk production becomes more dependent on 'negative feedback'  i.e. the more milk removed, the more production is stimulated, and vice versa, which makes the first four to six weeks crucial.

For milk to be removed well, the baby has to be positioned to be attached at the breast (not just the nipple), be able to form a vacuum and make a 'ripple' motion with their tongue, explains Dr Reilly.

But too many women are sent home from hospital 'breastfeeding' where the baby's mouth is at a nipple but no milk is flowing, she says. 'But they're told 'the latch looks good'.'

For some, an electric pump can be an adequate substitute to help up-regulate production during this time.

'However, often pumps are not properly fitted, the settings need to be adjusted, or someone simply doesn't respond as well to a machine as well as they would to their baby,' says Dr Reilly.

'It's not just in hospitals, but the health visitor education on breastfeeding is poor.'

When Sophia was diagnosed with the problem in her 20s, she wasn't 'overly concerned', she says.

The UK has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding worldwide, with just 0.5 per cent of women still breastfeeding by the time their baby is 12 months old (stock image)

Her main worry was her breasts' appearance: while she developed breasts at the same time as her peers, theirs grew, but hers remained 32AA.

'I thought it was because I was petite and I might catch up but I never did,' she says. Her breasts were also 'very widely spaced apart'.

'At the time I was worried about aesthetics, not how they worked,' she recalls. 'I asked [my GP] if I could get augmentation on the NHS.'

Sophia was referred to a breast surgeon who said she had hypoplasia  where tissue has not developed properly  and that she might have trouble breastfeeding as she'd have insufficient glandular tissue to make milk.

(She was not eligible for NHS surgery; she had an augmentation privately at 25.)

Characteristics of IGT include wide breast spacing, a large areola in proportion to the breast size, and the majority of the breast tissue being behind the areola as opposed to being evenly distributed.

'It's not so much the size of the breast  it can occur in large breasts, as well as in small ones  but the shape,' says Dr Reilly.

Women who have IGT often report minimal breast changes during pregnancy and irregular periods during puberty  the thinking is that it can be rooted in breast development in the womb, during puberty or pregnancy.

Dr Reilly adds: 'In recent years there has been a link made between IGT and being underweight or overweight in puberty.'

During puberty, glandular breast tissue (the part of the breast that makes milk) is laid down during each menstrual cycle, and 'a lack or periods or irregular periods during this time can result in mammary hypoplasia [lack of glandular tissue], which can be a cause for low milk production,' explains Caoimhe Whelan, a lactation consultant with a specialist interest in IGT, based in Dublin.

It's also linked to polycystic ovary syndrome  it's thought that the high levels of male and female hormones caused by the condition can inhibit normal growth and development of glandular breast tissue and milk coming in.

But IGT is not diagnosed based on appearance alone, says Dr Reilly. In fact it's rarely diagnosed unless a woman has trouble breastfeeding.

'Often the baby is not gaining weight, despite good attachment at the breast and active suckling,' she says.

'Or the patient can find it difficult to express in the first few days, even if a well-fitted pump is attached.'

Two years after Sophia married Callum, 32, a creative producer in 2019, she gave birth to their first son, Marlow.

Remembering what the surgeon had said about breastfeeding, she saw the infant feeding team at her local hospital during pregnancy and also paid privately to see a lactation consultant.

'It was always my plan to breastfeed,' says Sophia.

'I managed to get Marlow to latch on and a lot of colostrum [the mother's first milk, which is packed with antibodies] came out. I was so relieved.'

But within days that changed. 'He'd latch, but nothing would come out and he'd get frustrated,' she says. 'A nurse kept telling me to just bottle feed, but I was determined to try.'

When Marlow was not gaining weight as expected, Sophia began pumping with a hospital-grade breast pump. But she'd sit for hours and only produce tiny amounts  nowhere near what a newborn typically drinks.

Sophia says she became 'fixated' on trying to breastfeed. Life was a cycle of trying to feed, pumping, reluctantly giving a bottle of formula, then trying again. She cried all the time and felt guilty.

'Also no one seemed to know about IGT when I suggested it might be the problem,' she says. 'I felt fobbed off and full of grief.'

Soon the baby refused to latch at all. As Sophia says: 'He learnt that suckling from me brought little reward but a bottle was instant.'

When Marlow was four-and-a-half months old, Sophia tearfully made the decision to stop breastfeeding altogether. She says: 'I felt like a failure. I knew it wasn't my fault, but why could my body not do what other women's could?'

This is a typical response, suggests a study by Caoimhe Whelan that's being published in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine today  she spoke to nine women who'd experienced problems with low milk supply; eight also had IGT.

Her research revealed that learning they had IGT had a huge impact: the women reported feeling devastated when they realised they couldn't breastfeed in the way they'd hoped, experiencing 'guilt, shame, sadness, anger, grief and a sense of failure, particularly in the first few months postpartum', Caoimhe Whelan told Good Health.

'And they felt let down by their GPs, midwives and health visitors  who appeared to have very little knowledge about IGT, and little understanding of why breastfeeding meant so much to them; that it was not just about milk, but about bonding with their babies, and about a way to be a mother.'

She adds: 'Mothers were also unhappy with advice given to them in voluntary breastfeeding support groups, where they were often advised to just keep doing skin-to-skin and keep trying. They were made to feel that they weren't trying hard enough.'

One issue, says Dr Reilly, is that 'few people do a full breastfeeding assessment', which includes examining the baby's suckling skills.

'This includes recognising when the baby is not actively feeding  for example, by counting the suck to swallow ratio, looking for deep chin drops indicating swallows, recognising when the baby is 'flutter sucking' and falling asleep rather than actively feeding.

'If this is the case, then things like stripping the baby down to a nappy and blowing gently on their face to wake them up can help ensure they are feeding properly  as can using breast compressions and switching sides frequently to keep the milk flowing, or simply positioning them in such a way that they attach deeply, to help them remove more milk.'

She adds: 'The problem is when someone is told they have low supply they often have no idea if it is a primary cause like IGT, or it was secondary to ineffective milk removal.'

Caoimhe Whelan adds: 'This is why it is important for a mother to seek out skilled support from a certified lactation consultant.'

When, just over two months ago, Sophia had another baby, Cas, she was prepared  and researched things that can help women with IGT to breastfeed.

'I use a nursing supplementer  a device that lets a baby get supplementary formula milk at the breast without using bottles,' she says.

It has a container that holds extra milk, with a thin tube attached that can be positioned at the nipple, near your baby's mouth, delivering the milk as they breastfeed. As they swallow, they continue sucking, stimulating breast milk production.

Sophia says: 'It meant because Cas was latching more, I began to make a bit more milk. Not lots, but more than with Marlow.'

This is not uncommon, says Dr Reilly  'I have one patient with IGT who still nursed to the recommended two years alongside formula and donor milk.

'She then had a second baby and made more milk for them, because we typically see more glandular development with each pregnancy.'

Caoimhe Whelan adds that 'one of the lovely things about using a supplementing nursing system is that it can give a positive experience of breastfeeding, even if the mother does not make much milk. Breastfeeding is about more than just milk. It's about connection, and using a supplementer can help with that.'

Sophia says she feels she's 'definitely bonded quicker with Cas, in part due to the feeding journey being much smoother'.

'There has been a significant increase in the milk I produce, it's more like 70 per cent breast milk and 30 per cent formula,' she says. 'If I'd had this support with Marlow, it might have been a completely difference experience.'

She adds: 'I now work as a maternity support worker and one of my roles is to help new mums breastfeed. I see lots of women like me who I think have IGT, but no one seems to know about it.'

Having IGT does not mean you can't breastfeed, says Caoimhe Whelan.

'IGT is a devastating diagnosis for many, but with individualised and sensitive support they can have experiences of breastfeeding they are happy with. There is usually a way to make it work.'

How should you treat a baby who can't feed because of 'tongue tie'?

Jenna Farmer had always planned to breastfeed, but because she has Crohn's disease, towards the end of her pregnancy she saw a lactation consultant to ensure the medication she was taking wouldn't impede her.

In fact, the issue she actually faced turned out to be something else entirely  her son, Jude, had 'tongue tie'.

The condition shortens the flap of skin that joins the tongue to the floor of the mouth (the frenulum), making it more difficult to latch on to the breast.

It's thought to affect anything from 4 to 11 per cent of babies, but the number of cases reported has risen 15 per cent compared with 2016, according to NHS statistics.

As parents face a long wait of up to eight weeks  a crucial period of time when it comes to ensuring breastfeeding success  some pay privately for the procedure, which involves a simple scissor snip (older children, such as Jude, need laser surgery that could cost of hundreds of pounds).

Jenna said: 'The specialist told me something I needed to hear: lactation failure was not my fault.'

Yet in a paper published in the British Medical Journal in 2020, ear, nose and throat specialists warned that the procedures ('frenulotomies') are being performed too often  as one of the authors, Stephen Borowitz, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Virginia in the U.S., told Good Health.

'While frenulotomy appears to be generally safe  the most common complication is 'minor' bleeding  there are numerous reports of far more serious and even life-threatening complications.'

He 'strongly suspects' a reason for the rise in cases 'is largely due to ever-increasing pressure on women to exclusively breastfeed, while simultaneously giving them the (in my opinion, largely false) impression that if they don't, they aren't doing what's best for their babies'.

Even then, there is no evidence that the procedure improves breastfeeding success, he says.

Lactation specialist Dr Justice Reilly explains: 'While a tight membrane under the tongue definitely can impact breastfeeding, how much really depends on the anatomy of the mum and baby, the milk supply, flow rate and essentially how they 'fit' together.'

Yet despite the rise in overdiagnosis, some babies' problems are being missed.

When Jenna, 37, a married PR consultant from Warwickshire, initially tried to feed Jude, 'the colostrum [the first milk produced] came in, he latched on and I thought I was so lucky because it had happened so easily'.

But she adds: 'As the hours passed, he'd latch, then stop and just give up. I thought it was because he was so young and just tired. But two days passed and he didn't get any better. Doctors and midwives tried to help and said his latch was good but then he'd come off. By now I was in tears, exhausted, and in pain trying to feed.'

Within days  'despite me trying to feed around the clock and on demand'  Jude lost 12 per cent of his body weight. 'I was told I'd have to bottle-feed alongside breastfeeding, which I was upset about, but agreed to.' By eight weeks her milk had dried up.

Jude was late to speak, making a few sounds rather than words despite being two years old. 'He would also roll the food in his mouth or spit,' Jenna explains. 'Then one day when he was about two-and-a-half I posted a video of him eating and was contacted on Facebook by a stranger who was a speech and language therapist. She was convinced Jude had a serious tongue tie.

'I was shocked  no one had ever diagnosed that, even when he wouldn't feed as a newborn. I took him to see a specialist who said Jude had 'one of the worst tongue ties' he'd ever seen.'

After he had the procedure, 'Jude was a changed boy', says Jenna. 'He fed well and suddenly caught up with speech.

'It was then the specialist told me something I needed to hear: lactation failure was not my fault. The tongue tie had stopped Jude eating, then my stress, anxiety and lack of regular feeding made my milk dry up. But why was I left to feel it was my fault?'
Scientists have found a new way to detect any type of skin cancer in a matter of seconds.

Currently, the 270,000 new skin cancer cases diagnosed each year in the UK are identified using a microscope-type device or scans such as computer tomography (CT).

These scans use high-frequency radiowaves (a type of radiation) to create a detailed image of what is happening inside the body but involve a hospital visit and bulky equipment.

While they can detect the disease in its early stages, the higher frequency radiowaves the scans use can also damage healthy cells in the body. They are also time-consuming and expensive.

But now researchers at Queen Mary University of London and Glasgow University have come up with another solution which they claim could revolutionise the diagnosis of skin cancer.

Scientists have found a new way to detect any type of skin cancer in a matter of seconds (Stock Image)

They have developed a sensor that uses less harmful, low-frequency terahertz (THz) radiation which is more accurate than using a microscope and just as accurate, but safer, than CT scans.

This is the same technology that will be used in the next generation of 6G mobile phones.

While traditional scanning techniques build up pictures of the tissue, the THz scan looks at how the tissue reacts to certain radio frequencies. This means it can identify even a small number of cancer cells, say the researchers.

They claim the new sensor can detect skin cancer 'within a matter of seconds' and with 'exceptional sensitivity'.

In future it could be incorp- orated into a hand-held device so patients can be diagnosed more conveniently, even at home.

In a study, published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, the scientists tested the sensor on 3D synthetic skin to see if it could detect subtle cell changes.

After shining the THz radiation on skin samples, they monitored the radiowaves and found that with cancerous tissue the radiowaves bounced back with three particular characteristics.

This was then fed into a computer programme which creates graphs on a screen.

They have developed a sensor that uses less harmful, low-frequency terahertz (THz) radiation which is more accurate than using a microscope and just as accurate, but safer, than CT scans (Stock Image)

This technology allows 'for more accurate differentiation between healthy and cancerous cells and to measure the malignancy degree of the tissue', said Dr Shohreh Nourinovin, a research associate at Queen Mary's School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, who led the study.

In lab tests, the sensor successfully identified normal skin cells and basal cell carcinoma cells in less than five minutes.

T he researchers say this ability to detect early-stage cancer holds immense potential for improving patient outcomes.

Professor Qammer Abbasi, co-director for Communication Sensing & Imaging Hub at Glasgow University's James Watt School of Engineering, who was involved in the study, says the new technology could be 'particularly beneficial for people who are unable to travel to hospital or live in remote areas'.

He envisages it being used to screen people for skin cancer. If it detects a cancer, more detailed checks would be required.

'The earlier we can diagnose skin cancer, the better the outcome. This technology could save countless lives,' he adds.

Commenting on the technology, Dr Hattie Brooks, research information manager at the charity Cancer Research UK, said: 'While more research is needed before this biosensor can move from the laboratory bench to bedside, it's exciting to see promising new innovations that could one day help more people affected by some types of skin cancer to get diagnosed at an earlier stage.'
China has crowned its best circumcision surgeon, after hosting an utterly bizarre competition.

More than 100 of China's top surgeons took part in the three-hour-long online contest in December last year, showcasing pre-recorded videos of their work which they talked through before a strictly controlled, 'serious' audience.

Judges then rated the surgeons based on technique, explanation and innovation.

Organizers Guo Tao and host Wang Xin, both urologists, said their goal was break the taboo around circumcision, which is regarded as uncivilized in China.

However, there is sometimes a medical need for the procedure, including a foreskin that is too tight.

One of the surgeons who took part in the circumcision competition, which was hosted online in December 2023

An anti-circumcision activist holds placards in Las Vegas, US, including one that calls for the imprisonment of doctors who carry out the procedure

Two months after the competition took place, a spectator shared a photo from the unique event on the Chinese social media platform Weixen, the South China Morning Post reported.

Each surgeon that took part presented a pre-recorded six-minute circumcision video with live commentary.

Some doctors demonstrated creativity in their work, including homemade penis protection devices to be worn after the operation and careful application of post-op ointments.

The winning doctor, urologist Jiang Qiqi, emphasized the value of circumcision using comic illustrations, and was praised by judges for his 'humanistic' approach that is rare among Chinese doctors, the South China Morning Post said.

People watching the contest had to complete a strict identity verification process to confirm that they were 'serious observers.'

One female viewer said: 'At first, seeing so many male reproductive organs made me feel a bit curious and embarrassed, but I quickly adapted and focused on the surgeries.'

For many people in mainland China, circumcision is viewed as a shameful body modification and there is a lack of understanding on the procedure.

The winning doctor said: 'In traditional Chinese beliefs, anything related to "sex" tends to be sidelined.'

One contender shared the story of a patient who had extreme pain in his penis during sex, which led to severe self-consciousness. The doctor discovered the man had penile cancer as a result of his excessive foreskin.

Another told of a patient who, in 2022, believed circumcision would enhance his sexual performance but was too embarrassed to see a doctor.

He purchased tools online and attempt an at-home procedure, which left him with a painful injury.

'There is a common misconception in China. In fact, circumcision doesn't necessarily equate to enhanced sexual function,' said contest host Wang.

Circumcision - the removal of the foreskin - is typically done by extending the foreskin with forceps to separate it from the head of the penis and then cutting it with a scalpel.

In China, the operation costs between 2,000 to 4,000 yuan at a regular hospital - equivalent to US$270-US$540.

The procedure normally takes around half an hour and does not require hospitalization.

Roughly a third of men globally have been circumcised for either religious, cultural or health reasons.

Male circumcision rate is relatively low in China. In 2016, it was estimated that 14 percent of Chinese men are circumcised.

In America, the national rate of newborn circumcision declined from 64.5 per cent in 1979 to 58.3 per cent in 2010, but it is still comfortably above the 32 percent in Canada and 10 percent in the UK.

At various points over the 19th and 20th centuries, foreskin removal was touted as a cure for paralysis, masturbation, or most recently infection.

But the medical community is now somewhat circumspect.

In 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) was slapped down by the European Medical Community after it said the 'benefits' of circumcision 'outweigh the risks'.

AAP guidelines have not changed, but they do say that the benefits are not enough to recommend universal circumcision and it should therefore be a parental decision.
Landlords who sell up will likely face a higher tax bill than they did two years ago, despite Jeremy Hunt cutting the rate of capital gains tax on the sale of second homes in the Budget, according to new data.

Analysis from the estate agent Hamptons shows that successive cuts to the capital gains tax (CGT) personal allowance will mean the average landlord will typically be worse off when they sell.

The typical higher rate taxpayer landlord could pay 454 more than they would have before April 2022, while a standard rate taxpayer could pay 1,674 more.

The annual CGT personal allowance was reduced from 12,300 to 6,000 from 6 April last year and this is being further slashed to 3,000 from 6 April this year.

Higher-rate capital gains tax pre-April 22, vs April 24: This graph shows how Hunt's tax cut will in fact feel more like a tax hike for many landlords selling from 6 April

In the Budget earlier this month Jeremy Hunt announced the Government will cut the CGT rate for higher rate taxpayers from 28 per cent to 24 per cent, with the rate for basic rate taxpayers remaining unchanged at 18 per cent.

CGT is charged on the profit landlords and second homeowners make on a property that has increased in value when they come to sell it.

> What is capital gains tax and how much will I pay?

Hunt alluded to the 'Laffer curve' after announcing the CGT cut in the Budget, claiming the lower rate would result in more tax revenue.

The laffer curve refers to the idea that increasing tax rates beyond a certain point ends up being counter-productive and actually resulting in less tax revenue.

He joked during his Budget speech: 'Perhaps for the first time in history both the Treasury and the OBR have discovered their inner Laffer curve.'

But the analysis by Hamptons suggests the opposite could be true, as the majority of landlords will not feel they are getting a tax cut at all.

Why most landlords may be worse off when selling

Taken alone, the CGT rate reduction from 28 per cent to 24 per cent will save the average higher-rate tax paying landlord 3,800 when they sell, according to Hamptons.

This is based on the average landlord selling their buy-to-let for 110,000 more than they paid for it last year, before any allowable expenses are deducted.

However, when this cut to higher rate CGT is combined with the drop in the annual CGT personal allowance, it will add 454 or around 4 per cent to the average CGT bill.

This table shows the average higher-rate taxpayer CGT bill by length of buy-to-let ownership

Hamptons found that 89 per cent of higher-rate tax paying landlords who sell will see their CGT bill rise in April, by an average of 454.

The change to the personal allowance also means that all lower-rate tax paying landlords will see their CGT bill rise from April, by 1,674 on average.

Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons said that whether a landlord stands to gain or lose from the changes, will depend on their overall asset wealth.

The lower personal allowance coupled with lower tax rates means any higher-rate tax paying landlord reporting gains of less than 68,000 will find themselves worse off.

Meanwhile, those reporting larger gains will find themselves better off.

Given that the average landlord who sold in 2023 (having bought since 1995) reported a gross gain of 110,000, it means almost all landlords - whether lower or higher-rate taxpayers) will find themselves paying more tax if they sell.

'Recent changes to CGT will hit landlords making the smallest gains hardest,' said Beveridge.

'Typically, these will be newer millennial investors who have seen less price growth, or those selling cheaper homes in less expensive parts of the country.

'Meanwhile, older investors who've been landlords for longer and have accumulated bigger gains are much more likely to benefit from the tax cut.'

Beveridge also pointed out that many serious landlords will not be impacted by the CGT changes due to them owning via a limited company, rather than in their own name.

A record 50,004 limited buy-to-let companies were set up across Britain in 2023, surpassing 2022's previous record of 48,540 by 3 per cent.

'The Chancellor's changes to CGT rates only apply to higher-rate taxpaying landlords with homes in their own names,' she added.

'Meanwhile, the growing number of investors with homes held in companies pay corporation tax on their sale proceeds after costs instead.

'While tax efficiency has been the major draw of a company structure, increasingly it's also the certainty and stability it offers.

'Chancellors have generally proved less likely to tinker with company tax rules than individuals.'

Average higher-rate taxpayer CGT bill by region: Investors selling up in cheaper markets are more likely to be negatively impacted by the changes

Hunt said the change to CGT has been made to support the housing market.

He believes it will encourage more landlords and second home owners to sell their properties, making more properties available for buyers including those looking to get on the housing ladder for the first time.

However, Beveridge said the CGT personal allowance would have the opposite effect.

She said: 'Although the Chancellor made it clear he was hoping to encourage landlords to sell up and add new housing supply into the market for first-time buyers, the reality is that the capital gains tax changes taken as a whole will likely act as a disincentive.

'Most landlords leaving the market this year will end up paying more tax than two years ago, not less.'
(PA) - EasyJet has said its first new UK base in more than a decade will give passengers additional flight options and could reduce fares.

The airline's new operation at Birmingham Airport will also create 140 direct jobs for pilots and crew, and support a further 1,200 indirect jobs, according to the carrier.

It is easyJet's first new UK base since it launched at Southend Airport in 2012.

EasyJet has previously operated flights to and from Birmingham Airport using planes based elsewhere.

Basing three planes at the West Midlands airport will allow the airline to launch 16 new routes this summer to destinations such as Antalya in Turkey, the Greek island of Kos, and Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt.

It will also increase frequencies on its existing network, equating to more than 50% additional flights each week.
Brokerage industry expects Samsung Electronics to enter improvement phase

By Lee Yeon-woo

Brokerage firms expect the stock price of Samsung Electronics to reach 100,000 won ($75.08) this year, according to multiple sources, Sunday. Market observers believe that the firm's performance has entered a phase of improvement, given the rebound in the semiconductor industry and the increase in smartphone shipments.

As of Sunday, four securities firms have forecasted that the share price of Samsung Electronics will reach 100,000 won. This wave of optimistic forecasts began after Hana Securities raised their target price from 95,000 to 100,000 won, subsequently followed by Meritz Securities and SK Securities. Mirae Asset Securities projected the highest target price of 105,000 won.

As of Friday, Samsung Electronics shares traded at 72,300 won ($54.28).

Analysts attribute the upward adjustment in forecasts to several key factors: the growth in shipments of NAND flash memory, a rise in DRAM prices and an increase in smartphone shipments. These developments are expected to have a positive impact on the company's operating profits.

"For the first quarter of this year, Samsung Electronics' operating profit from the memory semiconductor sector is anticipated to return to profitability for the first time in six quarters, since the third quarter of 2022," said Kim Dong-won, an analyst at KB Securities.

Expectations are also high for its performance in the High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) market. The company is set to begin shipments of its 8-layer HBM3E in the third quarter of this year. HBM, a high-value semiconductor, has experienced a surge in demand, driven by the rapid growth in AI.

Samsung Electronics has seen a lackluster stock price trend for some time due to a downturn in earnings. Last year, the company's operating profits plummeted by roughly 84 percent year-on-year, with its flagship semiconductor division posting a loss of around 15 trillion won.

As a result, the stock price fluctuated between 50,000 and 70,000 won throughout last year. This led to a significant reduction in the number of shareholders, with 1.16 million shareholders, or 18.2 percent, departing compared to the previous year.

Yet, following the anticipation of its improved performance, individual investors have net purchased 1.9 trillion won worth of Samsung Electronics shares from Jan. 2 to March 15. According to the Korea Exchange, the stock has emerged as the top choice for net buying by individual investors.
Drugs giant Pfizer will offload a quarter of its stake in Sensodyne toothpaste producer Haleon for over 2billion.

The pharmaceutical group plans to lower its holding in Haleon, which also makes Panadol painkillers and Nicorette gum, from 32 per cent to 24 per cent.

It will sell about 630 million shares in the company at an offer price that is expected to be announced on or around 19 March and decided by a bookbuilding process.

Share sale: Pfizer plans to lower its holding in Haleon, which makes Sensodyne Toothpaste, Panadol painkillers and Nicorette gum, from 32% to 24%

Haleon said it would purchase 315million worth of shares as part of the offer, having committed to repurchase 500million of its own stock this year.

Based on Haleon's latest share price, Pfizer could receive approximately 2.3billion in total from the sale.

Pfizer announced last May that it was looking to sell down its Haleon stake to fund shareholder returns and reduce debts incurred from the $43billion takeover of biotechnology company Seagen.

Dave Denton, Pfizer's chief financial officer, said the sale would happen in a 'slow and methodical' manner in order not to compromise Haleon's market valuation.

Haleon was formed in 2019 when Pfizer and fellow pharmaceutical firm GSK merged their consumer healthcare businesses, whose brands ranged from painkiller Advil to Aquafresh toothpaste and Beechams cold and flu relief.

It was spun off two years ago with a market value of about 31billion in what was the largest European listing since commodities business Glencore went public in 2011 on the London Stock Exchange.

A few months before the demerger, Ben & Jerry's owner Unilever offered 50billion to acquire the joint venture.

However, GSK rejected the bid on the basis that it 'fundamentally undervalued' the company and its future prospects.

Since Haleon was listed in July 2022, London-listed GSK has gradually lowered its stake in the firm from 12.9 per cent to 4.2 per cent, having recently offloaded shares worth 1.86billion across October and January.

GSK - formerly GlaxoSmithKline - is pursuing the disposals in order to bolster its balance sheet, fund its drug pipeline and complete acquisitions.

Last month, the group agreed to spend $1billion upfront and up to $400million in success-based milestone payments for respiratory drugs specialist Aiolos Bio.

Haleon shares fell 2.1 per cent, or 6.85p, to 315.45p by late Monday afternoon, meaning they remain just below their 3.30 debut list price.
The terrace at the House of Lords was packed when Lord Austin of Dudley hosted a reception for Israeli energy-tech innovators last week.

Among those present, as coffee and pastries were passed around, were representatives of the London Stock Exchange seeking initial public offering (IPO) opportunities, Shell UKs top climate transition guru and Britains ambassador to Israel Simon Walters making his first trip home to the UK since the atrocities of October 7.

The atmosphere was suitably upbeat and speeches from Austin and Walters conveyed the impression that nothing had changed since Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embarked on his all-out war on Hamas.

Austin noted that Britain remained Israels third largest trading partner, and in spite of the Gaza conflict trade between the two nations was now worth 7billion a year.

Among other things one in five medicines prescribed by the NHS, saving countless British lives, are from Israel.

Danger signs: A gloomy Tel Aviv skyline. The war in Gaza and a perverse reaction to events, fuelled by social media, has tarnished Israel's reputation and standing in the world

Walters was equally effusive. He expressed solidarity with friends in Israel and noted that it was vital that life goes on, including co-operation between the countries on research and innovation.

It was a surprisingly upbeat message given the increasing exasperation of his boss Lord Cameron over humanitarian assistance to Gazas struggling population and relentless broadcast media assault on the behaviour of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

As intriguing as the green solutions offered by Israels Climate First initiative are, such as drone tech which can monitor the performance of 300 wind farm towers a day (against the current six), it was hard to think much of this was likely to be adopted any time soon.

Gaza and a perverse reaction to events, fuelled by Tik Tok and other social media, has tarnished Israels reputation and standing in the world.

Just how damaging the relentless anti-Israel rhetoric is to the country was demonstrated in recent days when BP and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company suspended talks with Tel Aviv on a 1.6billion energy project.

The overseas investors had planned to take a 50 per cent stake in Tel Aviv listed NewMed Energy, which has interests in the vast natural gas fields off Israels Mediterranean coastline.

The would-be investors pulled back, citing uncertainty created by the external environment. It is thought to be the biggest corporate deal to have been disrupted since the start of the Gaza war, which has cost an estimated 31,000 lives.

The suspension of the deal is particularly sensitive because it is among the first signs of a breach in the Abraham Accords of 2020 marking a new era of economic, commercial and political co-operation with Gulf states.

The close ties, which turned Dubai into a top tourist spot for Israelis, has been a cause of consternation on the arc of radicalism, bankrolled by Iran, which runs through the region.

Many analysts believe that Iran financed and encouraged the Hamas assault of October 7 in an effort to prevent the Abraham Accords being extended to Saudi Arabia, a move which would have frozen out opportunities for Palestinian advancement.

Instead, Israels retaliation  which some argue was a trap laid by Hamas  has incited radical elements across the region.

The most damaging impact has been on shipping through the Red Sea. Remarkably, so far, the expected surge in energy prices has not occurred.

Nevertheless, the Houthi attacks are impacting Western economies. Britains economic recovery in January, when output rose by 0.2 per cent, would have been far stronger if manufacturing supply chains had been unimpeded.

Israels own booming, high tech-driven economy is being devastated by the war.

Even before the conflagration, the danger signs were there as some of the tech giants, which dominated the skyline of Tel Aviv and Haifa, pulled back from new investment amid protests against the Netanyahu-led governments anti-democratic judicial call up reforms.

In the final quarter of 2023, the countrys output plunged by 19.4 per cent. The reversal was triggered by the call up of some 300,000 reservists for military duty.

At the same time, large swathe of Israelis, some 120,000, have been moved from vulnerable neighbourhoods along Israels northern borders with Lebanon and Syria.

Many are being housed, at government expense, in tourist hotels in the South.

The countrys solid public finances have been decimated. It was recently announced that the country is to raise 47billion in debt and taxes to finance the hole in the national budget.

To put the figure in context, it is almost the same amount of money which a UK government would need to fully abolish national insurance.

There have been some shards of light from afar even as the war has progressed.

The hedge fund financier Bill Ackman, in an act of solidarity, bought a 25 per cent stake in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

The government in Jerusalem dug deep to offer tech giant Intel a 2.5billion subsidy to build a 20billion semi-conductor plant in Israel taking advantage of the countrys highly tech-skilled workforce.

So far the deal looks secure. But the sheer brutality of the conflict, as the BP decision shows, is changing the geo-political dynamics of being too close to Israel.

Efforts to create a more positive narrative, seen at the Climate First event in the Lords, is admirable.

But there are severe doubts as to how long it will take to turn the tide of opprobrium.
Britains answer to Bill Gates was the driving force behind Silicon Valleys biggest ever fraud, a court heard last night

Prosecutors accused Mike Lynch of committing a massive fraud when he fooled computer giant Hewlett-Packard into buying his software company Autonomy for 8.6billion in 2011.

Lawyers claimed Lynch spun a fabulous tale about Autonomys finances but in reality it was a multi-year, multi-layered fraud.

He has denied 16 counts of conspiracy and fraud at the court in San Francisco.

But if found guilty after the two-month trial, Lynch faces 20 years in prison.

US trial: Mike Lynch (pictured) allegedly committed a 'massive fraud' when he fooled computer giant Hewlett-Packard into buying his software company Autonomy for 8.6bn in 2011

The case has already proved to be a fall from grace for Lynch, 58, who was awarded an OBE for services to enterprise in 2006.

He has served on the board of the BBC and in 2011 was appointed to the science and technology council of then prime minister David Cameron.

But since his arrest and extradition to the US ten months ago, Lynch has been living in an apartment in San Francisco where he has been forced to wear an ankle tag to monitor his movements as part of a 78million bail bond.

The case is about the sale of Autonomy which turned Lynch into one of Britains most celebrated tycoons with comparisons to Gates, the Microsoft founder. Lynch, who was raised in Chelmsford, Essex, made more than 500million from the deal,.

But it soured almost immediately and sparked a decade of civil and criminal litigation, culminating in the trial that began last night.

Prosecutor Adam Reeves told the court that Lynch lured in HP with a series of claims about Autonomys finances.

Reeves said: HP ate it up  they thought this kind of software company is exactly what they needed.

A year after the deal was announced, HP was forced into a 6.9billion write-down it blamed on serious accounting improprieties.

Reeves said Autonomy used accounting tricks like back-dating contracts to make its revenue appear bigger than it was.

Another trick was to pay more than necessary for services Autonomy did not need so vendors would purchase its products.

Autonomys former vice president of finance, Stephen Chamberlain, is on trial and has also pleaded not guilty.

Lynchs lawyer Reid Weingarten, who has previously represented financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has said he was innocent.

HP was to blame because it was out of its depth and didnt understand Autonomys software, Weingarten and his team have claimed.
Share deals: Bytes chief exec Neil Murphy

One of the UKs biggest software companies said it was saddened and shocked as it launched an investigation into secret share dealing by its former boss.

Bytes, which is listed on the FTSE 250, said long-serving chief executive Neil Murphy took part in unauthorised share trading on more than 100 separate occasions.

Murphy, 60, who oversaw the companys stock market flotation in 2020, made a shock exit last month after receiving a request for information over his share dealings by financial regulators.

Although he initially said he would give his response to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in a scheduled board meeting on February 21, he instead surprisingly quit on the morning of the meeting.

Murphy confessed to 119 unauthorised and undisclosed trades between January 2021 and 2023.

His lawyers have since identified a further 15 trades conducted by Murphy on behalf of his wife, Alison.

In total, these trades were worth around 1.5million

A Bytes spokesman said that the board is saddened and shocked by Murphys actions, which it finds hard to comprehend.
Ukraine fight: Chemring said it has been granted 57m by the European Commission

Chemring has been handed nearly 90million to boost defence production in Europe.

The London-listed defence firm yesterday said it has been granted 57million by the European Commission as part of a scheme to make ammunition and missiles for Ukraine.

Chemring has also won a 32million grant from the Norwegian government to increase production in the country. The EU funding is part of a 427million programme to ramp up ammunition manufacturing capacity to help countries refill their stocks and deliver to Ukraine.

It includes measures to support production capacities and tackle identified bottlenecks throughout the industrial supply chain.

Both grants support Chemrings decision to invest in doubling the capacity of this facility over the medium term, and reinforces Chemring Nobels position as a key strategic supplier to Nato, a spokesman for the company said.

Shares climbed 4.8 per cent.
The mother of Claudia Lawrence is in talks with City of York council to use her daughter's house for a good cause, 15 years after her disappearance.

Joan Lawrence wants the cottage to be put towards a charitable purpose.

'Whether it be a family who are homeless, or someone who has had to escape their own home such as housing a homeless family or acting as a shelter for someone fleeing domestic abuse.' she said.

But who exactly is Claudia Lawrence and what happened to her?

Read on below for a full timeline of the key events surrounding her disappearance in 2009 and the subsequent search to find her.

Claudia Lawrence was born in Malton, North Yorkshire on February 27 1974 and has not been seen or heard since speaking to her parents on the phone on March 18 2009

Who is Claudia Lawrence?

Claudia Lawrence was born in Malton, North Yorkshire on February 27 1974.

She was raised in the Hewton area of York by her father Peter Lawrence, a solicitor, and her mother, Joan.

She worked as a chef at the University of York, providing catering for students of Goodricke College at the site's Roger Kirk Centre, where she usually worked morning shifts.

What happened to Claudia Lawrence?

2009

March 18 - Miss Lawrence speaks with her parents over the phone and, at 8.23pm, sends her friend a text. She has not been seen or heard from since.

March 19 - There are two potential sightings reported of a woman with a man: one by a cyclist on Melrosegate bridge at 5:35am and another 30 minutes later, when a commuter noticed a couple outside the university who looked like they were arguing.

The man was described as skinny, about 56 and wearing a dark hoodie.

Later evidence also shows that Claudia's phone was deliberately turned off by someone at about 12:10 on this day.

March 20 - Miss Lawrence's father, Peter, contacts North Yorkshire Police after his daughter fails to keep an arrangement to meet a friend at the Nags Head pub. She also fails to attend work.

March 23 - Mr Lawrence describes his daughter's disappearance as a 'living nightmare' during a news conference in York.

The mother of Claudia Lawrence is now in talks with City of York council to use her daughter's house for a good cause, 15 years after her disappearance

April 24 - Detectives say that Miss Lawrence's disappearance is being treated as a suspected murder investigation.

A 10,000 reward is offered for information that could lead to the conviction of those responsible.

2010

May 6 - Mr Lawrence calls for an urgent independent inquiry into the police investigation of his daughter's disappearance and suspected murder.

July 29 - Police confirm they are reducing the number of officers dedicated to the inquiry into Miss Lawrence's disappearance.

2013

October 29 - A new forensic search of Miss Lawrence's home is announced as police launch a fresh review of the case.

2014

March 19 - Five years on from Miss Lawrence's disappearance, officers discover at her home the fingerprints of people who have still not come forward to the investigation.

May 13 - A 59-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder. He is released on police bail and eventually released without charge on November 17, 2014.

2015

March 23 - A man in his 50s is arrested on suspicion of murdering Miss Lawrence and is released on police bail the following day.

April 22 - Three more men, all in their 50s and from the York area, are arrested on suspicion of murder and are released on bail.

The Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill, also known as Claudia's Law, came into force afetr years of campaigning by Claudia's father, Peter

September 17 - A file of evidence on four men arrested on suspicion of murder is sent by North Yorkshire Police to the Crown Prosecution service (CPS) so it can consider whether to bring charges.

2016

March 8 - Police say the CPS has decided the four men will not face charges.

2017

January 17 - Mr Lawrence says he is 'hugely depressed and disappointed' as the investigation into his daughter's disappearance is scaled down.

2019

March - Nearly a decade on from her disappearance, Miss Lawrence has still not been found.

Her father says in an interview that 'it's very difficult' to conceive of her still being alive.

July - The Guardianship (Missing Persons) Bill, also known as Claudia's Law, came into force.

This followed years of campaigning by Mr Lawrence and allows relatives to take control of their missing loved ones' financial matters.

2021

February 15 - The death of Peter Lawrence in announced.

Police officers searching the land at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits near York on August 24 2021 in connection with the disappearance

March 18 - Speaking after taking over the police investigation, Detective Superintendent Wayne Fox said it is not too late for people to come forward and stop the 'unrelenting anguish' caused to the chef's loved ones.

August 24 - A new search operation is announced at the gravel pits at Sand Hutton, about eight miles from York.

The search, which takes in a lake and fields, last two weeks but police later say they have found 'nothing of obvious significance'.

2024

March 11 - Claudia's mother Joan reveals she is in discussions with City of York Council to put her daughter's home to good use.

Ms Lawrence hopes that the building can be put to good use after revealing that she finds returning to her daughter's home, frozen in time, very painful.

'It's so haunting coming back in but I'm tied to it now. It takes so much out of me every time I walk through the front door.' she told The Mirror.
A growing number of young British people are turning to apps to 'borrow' people's dogs as vets bills continue to soar - with one service revealing how it has more than a million users.

Following reports of pet owners being quoted thousands of pounds at vet surgeries, many dog lovers are facing the harsh reality that owning a furry friend is not a realistic prospect at the moment.

To combat this problem, apps such as BorrowMyDoggy are paving the way for animal lovers to still get their daily fix by renting a dog for a limited period of time.

By signing up to the community, people can select a dog near them to either walk with, play or have overnight stays after an initial meet and greet with the owner.

Rikke Rosenlund, who started BorrowMyDoggy in 2013, revealed how the vast majority of owners 'underestimate the exceptionally expensive cost of pets'.

Domi Chlopek pictured with her dog that she 'borrowed' through the BorrowMyDog app

Ms Chlopek said 'having a dog is a lot of responsibility and money' and people only realise that until after they get one

The BorrowMyDog app currently has more than one million members across England and Ireland

'You have to deal with things like food bills, groomers, but also the time of having a dog,' she told MailOnline.

'We encourage people when getting a dog to try and understand the cost of having insurance. Our company offers the opportunity to enjoy having a dog without the full-time responsibility.

'After I had the idea in 2012 and we soft launched in 2013, in three days we already had 85 members. Now, we have over one million across England and Ireland.'

Domi Chlopek, who uses the service, told how being at university and travelling meant she 'wouldn't have the time or money for my own dog'.

'I know a few people do it to try out and see if having a dog would work for them, but having a dog is a lot of responsibility and money and I think people only realise that once they see what its like looking after them!'

Letti, from Lancashire, said she has been 'borrowing' her dog Molly for almost two years because she is unable to afford a dog on her own yet.

Speaking to BorrowMyDogs, she said: 'To me, dogs are angels on earth. Having not long moved to the UK, I wasn't in a position to have a dog of my own again yet... but it leaves an emptiness in your life.

'Then someone suggested BorrowMyDoggy. It's absolutely changed my life and is a win-win-win for dog, owner & borrower!'

Joanne, from Kent, similarly said it is 'unfeasible' for her to own a dog so that is why she uses the service.

'I adore dogs but it's not feasible for me to have one of my own just yet,' she stated,

'BorrowMyDoggy means I get to hang out and play with a dog without having to worry about the long-term commitment just yet!

'It's changed my life for the better and has a huge impact on my mental wellbeing.'

A spokesperson for charity Dogs Trust also added that sharing a dog is an increasingly popular 'cost-effective' way to benefit from the joys they bring.

'As the cost of caring for a dog continues to rise, sharing a dog with another person or family may seem a cost-effective way of benefitting from the joy dogs bring into our lives.

'However, it is not as simple as just splitting the week down the middle. Dogs benefit from routine, so its important that they are fed and exercised at a similar time each day and know where their bed is.'

Naomi posted this video of her rented dog for the day to her TikTok account

A post from the BorrowMyDog Instagram page shows a university student with her 'borrowed dog'

Another 'dog borrower' pictured with her furry friend, which was posted to the page's Instagram account

In terms of the current vet bills crisis, one owner revealed last week how her cat passed away because she couldn't 'even begin to afford' the 3,000 bill she was quoted for tests and treatments.

Another also said he was quoted more than 5,000 for his dog's leg injury on holiday in France.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) warned pet owners may be paying too much at the vet for their animal's medicine, prescriptions and care.

The CMA's review found that consumers may not be given enough information - including price lists - to enable them to choose the best practice and treatment for their pet.

Dominic Bonini from Newmarket in Suffolk said he had to pay 6,000 up front on treatments for his four-year-old dog Shambu.

The Shiba Inu was diagnosed with patellar luxation which can lead to arthritis.

The treatment for the disease cost 3,786 in a specialist referral veterinary hospital and included an operation.

After the surgery, Shambu broke a tooth which cost 1,900 to have extracted.

Mr Bonini said: 'It's a hell of a lot of money. We have the insurance which I'm glad we had. I suppose we are fortunate we can afford to pay but not everyone is in the same boat.'

Animal charities have also revealed how rising numbers of people are turning to pet food banks with roughly 70 per cent of pet owners worried about the cost of caring for their animal, new RSPCA research suggests.
Liberal MP Taylor Martin stood aside from the parliamentary partyroom when a barrage of 'ugly' text messages he sent his former girlfriend describing her as a 'f***ing idiot' and a 'dumb sl*t' were publicly exposed.

But in a move that has sparked anger within the party, Daily Mail Australia can reveal Mr Martin voted at a key NSW state council meeting in the Grand Ballroom of Sydney's Fullerton Hotel on February 24.

Mr Martin, who earns $172,000 as a member of the NSW Legislative Council, was excused from sitting with his colleagues in Parliament when his abusive texts to then-sitting federal MP Lucy Wicks were published in the press last July.

In the messages, which he admitted were 'ugly', Mr Martin called Ms Wicks a 'f***ing idiot', a 'dumb s***', a 'sicko', an 'absolute c*** of a person' and a 'f***ing pig ignorant b***h'.

The messages sparked an external investigation that has dragged on for more than eight months - and Mr Martin has sat on the crossbench at Macquarie Street ever since, distanced from the party.

So his presence at the Liberal state council meeting last month - where he cast a vote supporting his friend, powerbroker Alex Hawke, from being expelled by the party over an intra-party feud over preselections - shocked some party members.

Taylor Martin MLC was stood down from the NSW Liberal parliamentary party room back in July amid uproar over text messages he sent to former MP Lucy Wicks

Mr Martin was spotted among the hundreds of Liberal branch members attending the state council meeting in the Grand Ballroom of Sydney's Fullerton Hotel on February 24. He voted against an unsuccessful motion to expel party powerbroker Alex Hawke from the state party. Hawke has not publicly commented on the effort

One attendee told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Martin's presence at the council meeting was extraordinary, given he no longer sits in the parliamentary party room.

'It doesn't pass the pub test,' the attendee said.

'He has been stood down from the party room, it's just a reality that he should not have been there.'

Other witnesses said Mr Martin was smiling and 'jovial' as he chatted with his colleagues and factional allies.

Mr Martin attended a crucial Liberal state council meeting on February 24, where his vote helped to secure his ally Alex Hawke's position within the party (pictured in 2017 next to Mr Hawke, and two seats down from Lucy Wicks)

The wedding came just five months after Mr Martin publicly apologised for past conduct, after his former boss and partner Lucy Wicks lodged a formal complaint accusing him of 'five years of abuse'

Membership in the parliamentary partyroom is separate to being a branch member.

But the Liberal Party never clarified that Mr Martin's votes would still be counted during behind-closed-doors meetings outside of Parliament.

Timeline twist in text investigation

READ MORE: Taylor Martin's texts to Lucy Wicks revealed Advertisement

As the investigation into Mr Martin approaches its ninth month, Daily Mail Australia can reveal questions have been raised about the timeline of the complaints process.

A source with knowledge of the investigation said concerns about Mr Martin were first raised back by Ms Wicks to a member of the state executive in November 2021 - much earlier than reported.

It's understood the matter was not followed up for several months before she again returned to the Liberal Party in February 2022, expressing the same concerns to another elected MP.

It is understood that Ms Wicks then took her complaint directly to then-Attorney-General Mark Speakman in February 2023, ahead of the state election, where Premier Dominic Perrottet was defeated.

By the time Ms Wicks' complaint was made public in July 2023 - when she was named in the media without her consent - Mr Martin was in the throes of wedding planning with his new fiancee Brittany.

Within eight weeks of his wedding, his new wife Brittany had left the relationship.

By the time her complaint was made public in July 2023 when she was named in the media without her consent, Mr Martin was in the throes of wedding planning with his new fiance Brittany

Taylor Martin timeline

November 2021: Lucy Wicks reportedly discusses complaint with colleagues February 2022: Lucy Wicks reportedly makes verbal complaint to party, sources claim February 2023: Ms Wicks reportedly takes complaint directly to Opposition Leader Mark Speakman April 2023: Taylor Martin proposes to girlfriend, Brittany July 2023: Complaint against Mr Martin is made public Mr Martin publicly apologises for comments he made in leaked text messages, says there is 'more to the story' and vows to cooperate with investigation Ms Wicks is publicly named as the MP who made the confidential complaint Mr Speakman reveals Mr Martin has stood down from the party room pending an external investigation into the complaint December 2023: Mr Martin marries Brittany in luxury ceremony at Grounds of Alexandria February 2024: Brittany leaves Mr Martin following an incident at their home in which police were later notified. Police say it was a personal matter and no charges were laid Mr Martin attends state council to vote on the future of his ally and friend, Alex Hawke, in the state party Advertisement

In the process of leaving, there was a heated altercation out the front of their Central Coast home in which police were later notified.

'A report was made to police at Wyong Police Station in February; however, it is of a personal nature and as there are no associated charges,' a NSW Police spokesperson said in a statement.

'No further information is available.'

Mr Martin publicly apologised for his texts to Ms Wicks shortly after they were made public and vowed to assist with the investigation.

He said: 'I was young and inexperienced and I found myself involved in a situation that was way beyond me. There were heated words during my attempts to go separate ways that I sincerely regret.

'It was an ugly and undignified parting of ways.'

Mr Martin was elected to the Legislative Council in 2019 and is serving an eight-year term due to expire in 2027.

There was some confusion when he wasn't given a portfolio when Mr Speakman announced his shadow cabinet in May 2023 after becoming Opposition Leader, after the Coalition lost the state election.

There had been whispers that Mr Martin was in the running for a promotion, and questions raised about whether Mr Speakman was aware of Ms Wicks' allegations at the time he was crafting his shadow cabinet.

In addressing questions about the timeline of complaints, a Liberal Party spokesperson said: 'There is an ongoing independent external investigation relating to the allegations, and neither the Party nor Mark Speakman are able to provide commentary so as not to prejudice the investigation or deny procedural fairness to those involved in this process.

'The investigator briefed to conduct the external investigation is aware of everyone's desire to have the report completed as expeditiously as possible.'

Daily Mail Australia put questions to Mr Martin's representatives.
Comes after Maxwell's lawyers filed an appeal earlier this week to overturn her conviction for sex trafficking for luring girls as young as 14 to Jeffrey Epstein

DailyMail.com can reveal the disgraced British socialite has been moved to the D South unit - aka the 'honor dorm' - reserved for 30 to 40 best-behaved inmates

FCI Tallahassee officials agreed to transfer Ghislaine Maxwell from the squalid B South unit where 120 inmates are crammed into tiny cubicles of four bunks

A federal appeals court may not overturn her 20-year sentence for pimping girls for Jeffrey Epstein - but at least Ghislaine Maxwell has escaped a violence-plagued prison wing nicknamed the 'snake pit'.

Bosses at FCI Tallahassee agreed to transfer the notorious madam out of the jail's squalid B South unit where 120 inmates are crammed into tiny cubicles of four bunks, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Insiders say fights and bullying are routine as convicts squabble over what to watch on TV and face long lines to use phones and computers.

But Maxwell's cushy new digs in D South  the so-called 'honor dorm'  are reserved for 30 to 40 of the low-security Florida lockup's best-behaved prisoners.

There are two bunks per cell but so few occupants that the disgraced British socialite, 62, is almost guaranteed to have her own room as well as four times the storage.

Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence with a release date of 2037, has escaped a violence-plagued prison wing nicknamed the 'snake pit' at FCI Tallahassee, DailyMail.com has learned

The disgraced British socialite has been moved to cushy new digs, known at the facility as the 'honor dorm', reserved for the best behaved inmates. Pictured above is one of the single level housing units in the female prison at FCI

Maxwell had been previously confined to the 'snake pit', a squalid unit where 120 inmates are crammed into tiny cubicles of four bunks. Pictured: A typical inmate cubicle in a single-level housing unit in the female prison

'In the snake pit there are fights every day. The bullies jump the lines to use the phones and won't let you watch what you want on TV,' a prison source exclusively told DailyMail.com.

'The conditions in D South are more like the sort of thing Maxwell will have experienced when she attended boarding school as a young girl.

'Everything is well-ordered, there's less problems, less drama, fights are unheard of. Everyone gets along because they are so happy to be there.'

Maxwell's lawyers told New York's Second Circuit appeals court this week that she should never have been prosecuted for grooming Epstein's victims because of a provision in his 2008 sweetheart plea deal.

Epstein agreed a much-maligned 13-month work-release arrangement with Florida federal prosecutors which let him spend just a few hours per week in jail for soliciting underage girls for sex.

The deal also granted immunity to a list of the warped financier's alleged co-conspirators - although it didn't mention Maxwell, his ex-lover and chief accomplice, by name.

Maxwell's attorney Arthur Aidala argues she should be covered by the clause but the government says it makes no difference because the deal only applies to Florida.

If the three-judge panel chooses not to toss her 2021 conviction, federal prisoner 02879-509  or Max as she's known behind bars - won't be eligible for release until July 2037.

FCI Tallahassee has been portrayed as more akin to a holiday camp where inmates can learn new languages, enjoy yoga classes and take part in softball tournaments.

FCI Tallahassee has been portrayed as more akin to a holiday camp where inmates can learn new languages, enjoy yoga classes and take part in softball tournaments

Early reports revealed how the disgraced British socialite had struggled to cope with her new life behind bars, refusing to eat and complaining bitterly to prison authorities that her clothes didn't fit

In a self-serving prison interview last year (pictured) Maxwell denied knowledge of Epstein's crimes, insisting she regretted ever meeting him

But conditions in the aging federal facility are far from fancy for the approximately 750 women and 300 men in a small satellite unit, with a recent inspection uncovering rodent infestations, rotting food and walls smeared with filth.

The ceilings and windows of all five housing units, each divided into north and south, were found to be in such dire need of repair that inmates resorted to plugging leaks with feminine hygiene products.

Worst of the lot is B South, the raucous, crowded home to newcomers where the disgraced daughter of the late UK newspaper tycoon Robert Maxwell has been locked up since July 2022.

DailyMail.com reported last May how two Cuban felons were thrown into solitary after they passed Maxwell a threatening note demanding she buy them items from her $360 commissary allowance.

Maxwell's 'bunkies' then complained that she was stinking out their cubicle because of her reluctance to use the showers, the most likely setting to take a beat down in prison.

The Oxford graduate ran screaming for help when one blazing argument ended with an inmate threatening to bash her with a padlock.

She tattled on another cellmate, a transgender firearms offender nicknamed Batman, for having noisy sex with a girlfriend in the bed above her.

Maxwell has also made enemies with the staff by constantly filing misconduct allegations, accusing guards, cleaners and pastors of everything from sexual harassment to discriminating against her Jewish faith.

'Max was in their faces every day until she got her move to D South. She even called the prison chaplain an anti-Semite,' another source explained.

'It looks like they eventually caved and decided she would be less of a headache if she got her own way and lived alone.

'She's been crowing about how much quieter it is and how she can finally stretch her legs. But the girls are really mad she jumped the line.

'There are people here who have not had a single write-up in 10 years and they are still fighting to get a spot.'

Earlier this week Maxwell's lawyers filed an appeal to overturn her conviction for sex trafficking for luring girls as young as 14 to Jeffrey Epstein

Maxwell's close relationship with Epstein was well-documented in public over the years, yet she still denies having knowledge of the dead financier's crimes

Maxwell was convicted on December 29, 2021 on five of the six counts she faced for helping the late financier and convicted sex offender sexually abuse underage girls

Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking minors and multiple counts of conspiracy after a federal trial heard how she lured girls as young as 14 into Epstein's clutches.

Her lawyers asked if she could serve her time at FCI Danbury, the white-collar Connecticut lockup that inspired Orange is the New Black.

She was instead shipped 1000 miles south to Tallahassee where working-class Latinos and blacks make up much of the prison population.

DailyMail.com revealed last month how Maxwell has been writing a tell-all memoir from behind bars to combat what she describes as 'misinformation' about her ties to Epstein's sick grooming empire.

But prison pals don't expect the trafficker to finally come clean because the purpose of the book is to clear Maxwell's name and prove she didn't do anything wrong.

Federal inmates are prohibited from cutting publishing deals but there's nothing to prevent her from writing a 'private manuscript' and mailing it to a lawyer or loved one for distribution.

She doesn't have a computer but has access to a typewriter and can bone up on the legal system via her job in the law library.

In a self-serving prison interview last year, Maxwell denied knowledge of Epstein's crimes, insisting she regretted ever meeting him and had no idea he was 'capable of evil.'

But jurors heard during her 2021 trial she acted as the boss of Epstein's Palm Beach, Florida mansion where she would ensure a constant supply of teenage girls were available for sordid 'massages'.

Epstein was due to go on trial before Maxwell but killed himself in custody in August 2019 before his case could be heard.
It's the ultimate representation of luxury, quality and high-living.

But thanks to the cost-of-living crisis and a tasty cheaper rival, Champagne appears finally to have lost some of its sparkle.

With budgets tight, more and more drinkers are turning to cremant - a similar tasting French sparkling wine - for their celebratory tipple.

Waitrose reported sales of cremant have overtaken the Spanish fizz cava. Over the past three months sales of cremant are up by 51 per cent compared with the same period last year.

'That's mind-blowingly phenomenal,' said Alexandra Mawson, Waitrose's champagne and sparkling wine buyer.

Waitrose reported sales of cremant, a French sparkling wine, have overtaken the Spanish fizz cava (stock image)

Over the past three months sales of cremant are up by 51 per cent compared with the same period last year (stock image)

'We have never seen cremant sales as big as we are at the moment.'

Meanwhile, the chain's champagne sales are down four per cent, in line with a national trend.

Ms Mawson told the Sunday Times: 'Champagne will always be the icon of the sparkling world, steeped in centuries of heritage and prestige, and an absolute go-to for the most important celebrations, such as getting engaged.

'However, recent pressures on household finances have allowed for the emergence of wider styles, and customers have looked to cremant as a value alternative for life's more regular celebratory occasions.'

Ocado said sales of its M&S Cremant de Bordeaux were also up 47 per cent in a year.

Champagne must be produced in the Champagne region of France while cremant is a French sparkling currently made in eight regions outside Champagne (stock image)

Cremant is produced using the same methods as champagne but is aged for less time than the more famous and expensive upmarket sparkling rival.

Champagne must be produced in the Champagne region of France while cremant is a French sparkling currently made in eight regions outside Champagne.

The biggest difference between them is the price. The Wine Society's Champagne Brut NV costs 33.81 compared to the Society's Celebration Cremant de Loire 2020 which is priced at 13.31.

You can currently buy a bottle of Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut NV for 42, but a bottle of Cremant d'Alsace is available for just 9.99.

Despite the price pressures the champagne industry is still huge, with worldwide appeal.

Last year almost 300 million bottles were shipped - down 8.2% on the previous year.

Total cremant sales have continued to grow, with a new sales record of 96 million in 2021.
By Lee Kyung-min

Simply comparing dividend payout ratios between Korean financial groups and foreign banks operating in Korea is a common mistake in approach, an expert said Monday.

"Many people make the mistake of comparing the payout ratios between local and foreign entities, but that is not the right way to understand dividend policies," Kwon Heung-jin, a researcher at the Korea Institute of Finance, said.

His comment follows reports on Standard Chartered Korea and Citibank Korea having decided to send a combined 370 billion won ($277 million) in dividends back to their head offices based on last year's performance.

SC held a board meeting Friday and decided to send 50 billion won in dividends back to its head office.

The figure, in addition to the 200 billion won paid last November, raises the total to 250 billion won.

Considering the bank's net income last year reached 350.6 billion won, its dividend payout ratio was 71.31 percent. This net income was down 10.1 percent from the previous year.

Citibank Korea held a board meeting on Feb. 15 and decided to pay a dividend totaling 138.8 billion won.

Its dividend payout ratio was 50 percent, unchanged from the previous year.

The report prompted criticism that the foreign banks are causing outflow of "national wealth" as the dividend payout ratios are much higher than local financial groups' dividend ratios that remain below 30 percent.

The country's major financial groups, meanwhile, are facing pressure that they should pay more dividends to shareholders. Those pressuring the banks cite the high dividend payout ratios of more lenient global players.

Kwon pointed out that the financial groups determine total dividends paid to shareholders after the holding firms collect the opinions of CEOs of subsidiaries. However, dividends paid by foreign banks in Korea are tied closely to their head offices' capital relocation strategies, according to the researcher.

"The two entities have obvious reasons to vary in their dividend policies. The ratios must be interpreted under a broader context," he said.

Similarly, the question of how much dividends should be paid out or whether there is an adequate amount at all is a bit off, in his view, since dividend policies are set by the financial entities, with shareholders always demanding more.

"It's all an internal decision. Some taking issue with what they consider underwhelming payout ratios offered by financial groups compared to foreign banks is just too uninformed way of looking at it," Kwon added.

SC Korea and Citibank Korea said their dividend policies are in line with global standards of capital soundness.
Two women were 'hurt' and 'humiliated' after they were allegedly kicked off a flight for being 'too big' and told they should have booked two seats each.

Angel Harding and her friend had boarded their Air New Zealand flight from Napier to Auckland on Friday when she felt a sudden pain in her left arm.

She turned to find a female flight attendant attempting to push the armrest down while speaking to her in an 'aggressive manner' because the pilot couldn't take off until they were in the correct position.

Their confusion grew after a loudspeaker announcement that all passengers would be required to disembark from the plane following an 'inconvenience'.

'After [the attendant] hung up the phone, she came over and said, "You two should have booked four seats, you two should have bought two seats each",' Ms Harding told 1News.

The pair then realised that they were the 'inconvenience'.

Angel Harding claims she was discriminated against by a New Zealand flight attendant for her size after they were kicked off a flight from Napier to Auckland on Friday

A flight attendant made an announcement asking all passengers to disembark the plane. Ms Harding said she and her friend were then told they should have booked two seats each

After the women, who both required wheelchairs due to medical conditions, had disembarked from the plane, they were separated from the other passengers.

An Air New Zealand worker stood beside them as their friend, a third woman who had been sitting separately, was wheeled back onto the flight.

The women were told they would need to rebook, but due to high demand, the next available flight was two days later on Sunday.

Ms Harding said she was confused because they had flown from Kerikeri to Auckland and then Auckland to Napier without a problem.

She told the flight attendant that neither she nor her friend could afford two seats each and that she had no family to stay with within the area.

Air New Zealand then offered to pay for the women's food, accommodation, and flights and allow them access to the Koru Lounge, before they were able to board a flight later that day.

They are now seeking compensation for 'hurt, humiliation and trauma' and claim they were discriminated against because of their size.

'My thoughts are they took me off because of my build, because of my size - our size had a lot to do with it,' Ms Harding said.

'They didn't say it was, they said it was an inconvenience.'

The woman are now seeking compensation for 'hurt, humiliation and trauma' and claim they were discriminated against because of their size (pictured, an Air New Zealand plane)

An Air New Zealand spokesman said if a customer requires extra room and there is space available, staff will work to re-accommodate them on the aircraft.

However, the airline 'strongly recommends' that customers get in touch with the airline before their flight to ensure a safe and comfortable journey.

'We are committed to treating all customers with respect and dignity and we apologise that these customers received an inconsistent experience. We will continue to work with the customer directly to address their concerns.'

Australia and New Zealand don't have prescriptive legislation that requires larger-bodied passengers to book more than one seat on flights.

Some airlines will seat larger-bodied passengers next to an empty seat if required.

The Australian Human Rights Commission has previously flagged that a person with obesity who is made to pay more for a flight may have grounds to claim for unlawful disability discrimination. However, the laws remain unclear.

In Canada, people with obesity earned the right to book two seats for the price of one following a Supreme Court ruling against Air Canada in 2008.
Dewey, whose mother was murdered in the attack, has aspirations to train as a trauma therapist and to work on domestic violence advocacy

Surgeons at Mott Children's Hospital reconstructed her nose using a section of her own rib bone with a technique developed during the First World War

A Michigan woman whose face was 'pulverized' after her stepdad shot her has received a new nose reconstructed from her own rib cage bone.

Amedy Dewey, 24, was left legally blind and with severe facial injuries when her stepfather shot her in the face, killed her mother before finally turning the gun on himself in a vicious January 2018 attack.

Dewey, who has already suffered through 20 surgeries following the shooting, finally received a new nose to replace the one she lost.

A six-hour surgery, including removing a six centimeter section of bone from her rib cage, allowed surgeons to reconstruct a nose for Dewey using a technique developed during the First World War.

Amedy Dewey, 24, was left legally blind and disfigured when her stepfather shot her in the face in 2018

She has aspirations to train as a trauma therapist and to work on domestic violence advocacy

Dewey, pictured before the attack, is now legally blind and has needed 20 surgeries to her face

Dave and Lisa Somers, were both found shot dead by their car in Lowell, Michigan, on January 6 2018

On the way to the surgery Dewey and her aunt stopped at a gas station and a little girl asked her why she did not have an eye.

Dewey told the child that it had had to be removed after a 'very bad man hurt me', she recalled to USA Today.

'I have family members that are scared of me' Dewey told the outlet.

'When I get little kids that don't know me at all, and they go and do that, it makes me feel like I'm a human being again, not this object that they're staring at.'

Surgeons at Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, led by craniofacial specialist plastic surgeon Dr. Christian Vercler, removed the rib bone, chiseled it down before inserting the bone under Dewey's skin and wiring into place.

Vercler, who has performed many of Dewey's other surgeries, told USA Today that repairing a face from a gunshot wound involved improvisation rather than following a step-by-step plan in a more standard procedure.

Vercler had previously used bone from Dewey's rib cage to reconstruct part of her cheek bone that had been blown away by the bullet wound.

The technique was created during the First World War by Dr. Harold Gillies, the father of modern plastic surgery.

'He's pretty famous for pioneering a lot of facial reconstruction techniques,' Vercler told USA Today.

The shotgun wound left Dewey with severe facial injuries

Surgeons at Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor, led by craniofacial specialist plastic surgeon Dr. Christian Vercler (pictured center) reconstructed a nose for Dewey

Dewey took her mother's cuddly toy with her to the surgery in Ann Arbor

The surgery took nearly six hours, much longer than the initially projected three, but Vercler was happy with the results

'You can imagine, in World War I, with the trench warfare, a lot of these guys, if they didn't get killed from a blast to their faces, as they came up over the trench, they were devastated.

'And so they would ship them all back from (the) eastern front to England, and Gillies would make up ways to reconstruct their faces.'

Adding: 'It's all about understanding the anatomy and how you can move parts.'

'It's all about understanding the anatomy and how you can move parts,' Vercler said. 'That's sort of been a principle that's been around for a long time.'

The surgery took nearly six hours, much longer than the initially projected three, but Vercler was happy with the results.

'Everything went really well, you know, challenging as always,' he said.

'I think it's big, but nobody else does,'Dewey told the outlet a couple of weeks after the surgery.

'It's just a me thing. I haven't hadn't had a nose in five years' she explained.

Dewey, 24, with her boyfriend, Charles Austin, 21, at her home in Scottville earlier this year

Dewey now with her grandmother and is studying at community college

Dewey told USA Today that her stepfather was often violent and reached for his gun when angry

Dewey hugs her father Robert Dewey, 47, before her nose reconstruction surgery

Dewey now lives in Luddington with her grandmother where she is studying at community college.

She has aspirations to train as a trauma therapist and to work on domestic violence advocacy.

'I am a survivor,' she told the broadcaster. 'What I went through, I don't want people to go through that.

'And especially teenagers and young women who feel like they don't have a voice' she said.

'People need to realize that he was showing signs before any of this even happened,' she explained.

'I want people to see this and hear this and be like, holy c**p, I'm in a similar situation.'

Dave and Lisa Somers, both 51, were found shot dead near their car on Interstate-96 near Lowell, Michigan, on January 6 2018.

Dewey, just eighteen at the time, was shot in the face by Somers, but miraculously survived.

The couple married in 2013 after meeting through a county-wide adult softball team.

Lisa had three children from prior relationships, her daughter Amedy and two sons, Adam and Dylan Helminiak. She accused her husband of having an affair - which allegedly caused the argument that resulted in their deaths.

Dewey told USA Today that her stepfather was often violent and reached for his gun when angry.

Almost two-thirds of intimate partner homicides in the US involve a gun, according to data from the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund.
A Victoria Police officer who was fired for refusing to get a Covid vaccination has been permanently banned from rejoining the force, despite being 800 police short.

Tristan Penfold would love to rejoin the police, but has been told there is no way back in Victoria or any other state.

Mr Penfold joined the police in 2019, but was suspended in late 2021 for refusing to get vaccinated, and was dismissed from the force in January 2022.

He had said he was willing to get a Novavax jab - favoured by some people who did not want to get mRNA-based vaccines such as those made by Pfizer and Moderna - but it was not available in Australia at the time.

Appearing on Sunrise on Monday morning, Mr Penfold said he and several other anti-vax former cops 'would love to return and fill a much-needed hole'.

A Victoria Police officer who was fired for refusing to get a Covid vaccination has been permanently banned from rejoining the force, despite being 800 police short.

Poll Should police who were dismissed for refusing to get a Covid vaccination be allowed to rejoin? Yes No Not sure Should police who were dismissed for refusing to get a Covid vaccination be allowed to rejoin? Yes 365 votes

No 67 votes

Not sure 11 votes Now share your opinion





Victoria Police has 800 vacancies in the force, leading to 43 suburban stations to reduce their hours of opening.

Mr Penfold said being a police officer 'meant everything' to him.

'It meant the community, making a better place for my daughter to live and better place for everyone,' he said.

'Unfortunately, the Chief Commissioner (of the Victoria Police) is not interested in rehiring us.'

The rising crime rate and dwindling police resources has made no difference to the force's policy.

'All former police... seeking reemployment are required to undergo suitability assessments prior to returning to Victoria Police,' a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.

'The application process for all new and former police includes assessment by a suitability panel.

'The panel considers any probity issues including previous disciplinary matters and members who have resigned under investigation or have been terminated are not eligible to reapply.'

Mr Penfold said there are no other disciplinary reasons the police are unwilling to rehire him.

He said refusing to get vaccinated against Covid is 'the only blemish on my career. That stands the same for some of my colleagues as well'.

He was unable to say, though, how many are in the same boat as him.

'The number ranges in anywhere from 35 to somewhere in the hundreds depending on how you stack the numbers,' he said.

Tristan Penfold (pictured), who said being a cop 'meant everything' to him, would love to rejoin the force, but has been told there is no way back in Victoria or any other state

'I won't say all of them wish to return. The damage has been done, unfortunately, for some. However, there are a good number, like myself, that are ready to return.'

Despite the vaccine mandate no longer applying, Mr Penfold said the situation is that 'Once terminated, you may never reapply or be rehired by Victoria Police'.

'That will carry across to other states too,' he said.

In a plea to have the Victoria Police change their mind on the issue, Mr Penfold said 'there's no reason to continue having a deficit in members' now that the vaccine mandate is over.
Flying taxis will be whizzing around British skies by 2028, the Government has announced.

The vehicles are expected to make journeys more than three times quicker than by car.

Speeding at over 150mph for up to 100 miles, the aircraft are cheaper, greener and quieter than helicopters.

Ministers will today set out ambitious plans to turn this science-fiction idea into reality by overhauling current regulations and infrastructure.

The Government believes flying taxis will 'routinely' be in the air above us by 2028, and potentially operating without a pilot by 2030.

Speeding at over 150mph for up to 100 miles, flying taxis are cheaper, greener and quieter than helicopters and the government hopes they'll be in the air by 2028

Ministers will set out ambitious plans to overhaul current regulations and infrastructure and enable flying taxis to take to the air in 2028 and operate without a pilot by 2030 (File Image)

Sharing the airspace will be high-tech drones delivering 999 supplies and tackling crime, according to the plans.

Although the average price of an air taxi ride is unknown, the technology is expected to boost the UK economy by 45billion by the end of the decade.

The idea of flying taxis and drones operating alongside planes and helicopters in the near future is all down to dramatic improvements in cutting-edge battery technology, which are now more powerful and lighter than ever before, according to aviation and technology minister Anthony Browne.

Several firms already have flying taxis  technically known as electric, vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs)  ready to go, but there is currently no licence for them to operate.

The VX4, designed by British firm Vertical Aerospace, can take four passengers up to 100 miles at a cruise speed of 150mph, and is much quieter than a helicopter.

A journey from Liverpool to Leeds takes just 26 minutes, compared with an hour and a half in a car. Or 20 minutes from Brighton to Heathrow, which currently takes four times as long by car.

Under the Future of Flight Action Plan, the Civil Aviation Authority has been tasked with setting up a certification process so companies can begin to operate the aircraft.

The Government says it will also support the development of 'vertiports'  essentially, airports for take off and landing that do not need a runway.

Although the average price of an air taxi ride is unknown, the technology is expected to boost the UK economy by 45billion by the end of the decade (File Image)

In addition, the plan sets out how drones, flown remotely, will tackle crime, save lives, deliver parcels and repair infrastructure.

Several successful trials have already been carried out in controlled areas, but regulation is now needed for drones to be used more widely and at greater scale.

Last year, a drone team from West Midlands Police identified two offenders and another suspect in an operation that would have taken officers on the ground hours longer. And Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust found that drones helped significantly cut delivery times of surgical implants between hospitals.

Mr Browne said: 'Cutting-edge battery technology will revolutionise transport as we know it  this plan will make sure we have the infrastructure and regulation in place to make it a reality.

'From flying taxis to emergency service drones, we're making sure the UK is at the forefront of this dramatic shift in transportation.'
The Victoria and Albert Museum was facing calls last night for it to be stripped of its public funding after naming Margaret Thatcher in a list of 'unpopular public figures' alongside Hitler and Osama bin Laden.

Britain's first female prime minister is described as a 'contemporary villain' in a current display on British humour through the ages.

This appears under a set of Victorian Punch and Judy puppets with a caption headed: 'That's the way to do it?'

The words state: 'Over the years, the evil character in this seaside puppet show has shifted from the Devil to unpopular public figures including Adolf Hitler, Margaret Thatcher and Osama bin Laden, to offer contemporary villains.'

A puppet of Baroness Thatcher from the satirical television show Spitting Image is also included in the comedy exhibition at the London museum whose director is former Labour MP Tristram Hunt.

Britain's first female prime minister, Margaret Thatcher (pictured), is described as a 'contemporary villain' in a current display on British humour through the ages

This appears under a set of Victorian Punch and Judy puppets with a caption headed: 'That's the way to do it?' Pictured: Judy and Baby puppets

A puppet of Baroness Thatcher from the satirical television show Spitting Image (pictured) is also included in the comedy exhibition at the London museum whose director is former Labour MP Tristram Hunt

According to 2022-2023 figures, the museum received most of its income, more than 67million, from the taxpayer via the Department of Culture.

What the sign says 'Punch and Judy is seen as traditionally British, but it evolved from the 16th-century Italian street performance commedia dell'arte. Although aimed at a family audience, the original narrative in its Victorian heyday featured domestic violence, hangings and racist caricatures - a jarring and unacceptable combination for modern audiences. Over the years, the evil character in this seaside puppet show has shifted from the Devil to unpopular public figures including Adolf Hitler, Margaret Thatcher and Osama bin Laden to offer contemporary villains.' Advertisement

Last night the V&A was branded 'disgraceful' and 'moronic' amid calls for ministers to axe its financial backing.

Sir Connor Burns, a former trade minister and Conservative MP for Bournemouth, said: 'Whoever wrote that caption should be called out publicly for being a moron, or perhaps more usefully sent to read a Ladybird book of modern world history.

'It is sadly symptomatic of the woke, luvvie-dom nonsense that persists in our public institutions.

'They should be given a serious rap across the knuckles and a clarion instruction to grow up.'

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith agreed.

'Given the fact that MPs are now regularly receiving death threats, myself included, from extremists and others, this V&A exhibition is ill-thought and mendacious,' he said.

'They must live in a bubble, away from the real world, to think that it is rational to propose that a politician of the stature of Margaret Thatcher would equate to any of those mass murderers and vile human beings.

'This sort of idiocy begs the question about funding. It would be a good idea if those who thought of this did a hard day's work in among the rest of us, rather than sitting on their lofty perch producing stupid ideas.'

Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Baroness Thatcher and director of The Heritage Foundation's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, also commented.

According to 2022-2023 figures, the museum received most of its income, more than 67million, from the taxpayer via the Department of Culture. Pictured: Adolf Hitler

Last night the V&A was branded 'disgraceful' and 'moronic' amid calls for ministers to axe its financial backing. Pictured: Osama Bin Laden

'Disgraceful from the Victoria and Albert Museum. It should be stripped of public funding,' he wrote on X.

Political commentator and businessman Russell Quirk told GB News: 'Thatcher was the mother of entrepreneurship. How anyone can say she was a villain  she was one of political history's heroes.

'She stood up against the militant unions to make sure they didn't destroy the economy and social fabric of Britain. She should be applauded rather than labelled a villain. She gave ordinary people access to wealth, aspiration and success, and for that she should be heralded a hero.'

It is not the first time the museum's treatment of Baroness Thatcher, who died in 2013, has provoked controversy.

In 2015 the V&A was widely criticised for refusing to accept a selection of her suits and handbags.

Her family offered hundreds of items, from her wedding dress to her red prime ministerial dispatch box, because they wanted them kept together on public display rather than auctioned off and scattered across the world.

But, according to reports, the museum 'politely declined', saying it collected only items of 'outstanding aesthetic or technical quality' rather than those with 'intrinsic social historical value'.

It is not the first time the museum's treatment of Baroness Thatcher, who died in 2013, has provoked controversy. Pictured: Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum Tristram Hunt

In 2015 the V&A was widely criticised for refusing to accept a selection of her suits and handbags. Pictured: The Victoria and Albert Museum

Bosses later claimed no formal offer had been made. A year on, the V&A did put on an exhibition of some of the former Conservative prime minister's clothes, including the distinctive royal blue suit she wore as she voted in the 1987 general election.

At the time Claire Wilcox, senior curator of fashion, said this constituted 'a record of the working wardrobe of one of the most influential and powerful women of the 20th century'.

The V&A is the world's largest museum of decorative art and design with more than two million objects.

It was contacted yesterday but no-one was available for comment.
Jacqui Lambie has warned the Albanese government is in 'serious trouble' after Labor's vote collapsed in the Queensland elections - and called for the resignation of a senior minister.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles cut a forlorn figure on Sunday after Labor lost a former safe seat to the Liberal National Party in a state by-election, and haemorrhaged votes in the local council elections.

Mr Miles admitted his party needed to do more on 'cost of living, community safety, health and housing'.

But Senator Lambie Lambie has warned the electoral shockwaves will go far beyond Queensland and predicted voters will desert Labor in droves at the next federal election.

'If I was the federal Labor Party I'd be watching very, very carefully and being very careful what they do over the next 12 months,' Ms Lambie told Today.

'Because if this is in any indication of what it's going to look like next May, they're in serious trouble.'

The Tasmanian Senator also demanded Immigration Minister Andrew Giles resign over the detainee fiasco which has seen dozens of individuals, including murderers and rapists, released on Australia's streets after a controversial High Court decision.

'He (Mr Giles) should go,' Ms Lambie told the program.

'I'm sick and tired of watching ministers that sit there, that bugger up and there are no repercussions for them.

'That is why you will never get change in politics until people are held responsible or accountable for their actions.'

In November last year, a landmark High Court ruling, which overturned indefinite detention, triggered the release of over 150 detainees into the community.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles (pictured) cut a forlorn figure yesterday after the Labor party haemorrhaged votes in the state's local council elections and lost a former safe seat to the LNP

Jacqui Lambie has warned the electoral shock waves will be felt far beyond Queensland, predicting that voters will desert Labor in droves at the next federal election (pictured: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese)

These included convicted murderers, rapists and people smugglers.

The fall-out prompted the passing of emergency legislation to allow courts to re-detain the worst offenders.

Mr Albanese's government does not support the High Court decision but it has received heavy criticism over the way it has dealt with the aftermath.

Ms Lambie said that the issue would turn voters away from Labor.

'I am terribly worried about these people being out in the loose, on our streets, it is a real problem and something needs to be done about it,' she said.

'And I suggest that they fix it because I tell you, the votes will go down if they cannot fix this.'

Mr Albanese told reporters on Saturday said that the government's hands were tied on the High Court issue.

'The High Court made a decision last year, it wasnt one that the government supported, but we have to comply with the law and we have,' he said.

'The priority we have is community safety, well continue to ensure that is the case.'

Next month, the government will defend a fresh High Court appeal made by an Iranian man who is attempting to overturn a Federal Court ruling that will see him deported to Iran where he fears he will be persecuted because of his sexuality.
Sydney's rental crisis is now so bad a housing charity is leasing tiny micro units to highly-paid, six-figure income professionals struggling to afford a typical apartment.

The Nightingale Marrickville complex in the city's inner west is offering weekly rents of $395 to $440 for a studio apartment with just 22 to 31 square metres of floor space.

The smallest units are less than a tenth of the size of Sydney's average new house with 254 square metres of interior space.

But demand is so strong for a micro unit in the five-level complex that prospective tenants have to apply via a ballot for one of 54 available apartments, with priority given to essential workers, asylum seekers and 'individuals who work in the arts'.

The rental price of the units near Marrickville train station covers water and electricity for the first year, and is designed to be 20 per cheaper than the equivalent micro apartment on the private rental market.

The units are also significantly cheaper than the 2204 postcode's median weekly unit rent of $691 in a suburb with an ultra-tight 0.8 per cent rental vacancy rate.

The very small apartments are mainly available to those with a job, making it different to traditional public housing for those on welfare.

Sydney's rental crisis is now so bad a housing charity is leasing tiny micro units to highly-paid, six-figure income professionals struggling to afford a typical unit

The Nightingale Marrickville complex in the city's inner west is offering weekly rents of $395 to $440 for a studio apartment with just 22 to 31 square metres of floor space

Individuals earning up to $97,000 and couples on a combined income of $126,125 are eligible to apply.

Single parents with one child can earn up to $145,500 - or more than double Australia's middle income of $67,600.

The units are coming onto the market as long rental inspection queues snake across Sydney's inner suburbs every weekend in the midst of an immigration-fuelled rental crisis.

The vast number of immigrants means supply has been unable to keep up with demand, with Australia approving just one new home for every four new migrants.

Now Nightingale Housing, a non-profit Melbourne-based housing charity, has partnered with Fresh Hope Communities, the benevolent arm of Churches of Christ in NSW and the ACT which owns the land.

Under the deal, churches provide land, enabling a housing provider to offer rent well below market value in a build-to-rent project.

This approach could see the New South Wales government offer land for housing providers to provide affordable accommodation.

State Planning Minister Paul Scully said build-to-rent projects offered an alternative to existing arrangements, where individual investors but not companies or charities could claim negative gearing tax breaks from the federal government if they made a rental loss.

'We're in a housing crisis and we want to build opportunity in every area of the housing market,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'Build-to-rent is an important, long-term rental option for people in need who cannot afford to buy a home or choose to rent long term.

The units are also significantly cheaper than the 2204 postcode's median weekly unit rent of $691 in a suburb with an ultra-tight 0.8 per cent rental vacancy rate

Now Nightingale Housing, a non-profit Melbourne-based housing charity, has partnered with Fresh Hope Communities, the benevolent arm of Churches of Christ in NSW and the ACT which owns the land

'We must look at every opportunity for new homes for people who need them, especially young people, essential workers and families.'

Demand is so strong for the 54 micro apartments in the 'teilhaus' complex on Illawarra Road that a ballot closes on Monday afternoon, after less than two weeks.

Applicants have been required to provide pay slips, tax returns and a letter from their employer and must be 18 or over, except in exceptional circumstances.

Priority is being given to essential workers like teachers, police officers, ambulance paramedics, firefighters, social and charity workers, and 'individuals who work in the arts'.

Nightingale Housing is also focusing on workers on low or casualise wages, single women 55 and over, those with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and 'vulnerable minority groups' like asylum seekers.

An immigration influx has made it very hard for prospective tenants to find somewhere to live, with Sydney having a very tight rental vacancy rate of 1.1 per cent.

In Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's home suburb of Marrickville, it's even harder with the rental vacancy rate at just 0.8 per cent and a median weekly unit rent of $691, SQM Research data showed.

The smallest units are less than a tenth the size of Sydney's average new house with 254 square metres of interior space

Individuals earning up to $97,000 and couples on a combined income of $126,125 are eligible to apply

For an average, full-time worker on $98,218, that would constitute 37 per cent of income, putting someone in rental stress, based on someone spending more than 30 per cent of their pay before tax on housing.

Demand from international students is particularly strong in inner-city areas of Sydney with a monthly record of 55,330 migrants, on a net basis, flooding into in the country in January, the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed last week.

During that month, 12,850 new residential buildings were approved which meant only one new home was approved for every four new residents.

A record 518,000 migrants moved to Australia in 2022-23 but this has since slowed to a still-high level of 481,620.
It is the fifth-largest settlement in Australian history

Uber will cough up almost $272million to compensate taxi and hire car drivers who lost out when the rideshare company 'aggressively' moved into the Australian market.

A class action against Uber was expected to go to trial at the Supreme Court of Victoria on Monday but Maurice Blackburn Lawyers said it would be abandoned after the rideshare giant agreed to the mammoth settlement.

It was the fifth-largest class action settlement in Australia's history and holds Uber to account, five 'gruelling' years after lawyers launched the action on behalf of more than 8000 taxi and hire car owners and drivers, the law firm said.

The drivers and car owners lost income and licence values because of Uber's aggressive arrival into the market and the company tried to deny them compensation at every turn, Maurice Blackburn principal lawyer Michael Donelly said.

Uber will pay almost $272million to compensate rideshare and taxi drivers in the fifth-largest settlement in Australian history (stock)

Lawyers argued drivers and car owners lost income and licence values because of Uber's aggressive arrival into the Australian market (pictured, taxis in Sydney)

'On the courtroom steps and after years of refusing to do the right thing by those we say they harmed, Uber has blinked, and thousands of everyday Australians joined together to stare down a global giant,' Mr Donelly said.

'We are extremely proud to have succeeded today in holding Uber to account, in securing ... a $271.8 million sum that will finally put real money back into the accounts of people who have been devastated.'

The class action succeeded where other cases had failed, including some brought in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia against governments, Mr Donelly said.

The law firm expected the trial to be officially abandoned in court on Monday morning.
A respected snake catcher who almost died after being bitten by a tiger snake has revealed why the near-death experience hasn't deterred him from doing what he loves.

Mark Pelley was bitten by the world's fifth most venomous snake while on a callout in Diamond Creek in Melbourne's north on March 10.

The venom from the bite on his hand went straight into his circulation system and caused a 'hot, searing pain' to spread from his fingers to the rest of his body.

Mr Pelley told Daily Mail Australia that despite the excruciating pain, he finished capturing the snake before applying a pressure bandage to the wound.

He called triple zero before getting in his car and driving several minutes down the road to his home, where he stumbled underneath the shade of a tree.

Here, the pain intensified, and Mr Pelley began to lose consciousness.

'I could hear and see, and I could feel what was going on at first,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'But then voices began to fade, and I remember I was looking up at the blue sky, and it would just go black, and I would experience nothing.

'Then somewhere deep inside of me, I remembered I had children, and I woke up again - this happened a few times.'

Melbourne reptile expert Mark Pelley (pictured in hospital) was bitten by the world's fifth most venomous snake on a property in Diamond Creek in Melbourne's north on March 10

Mr Pelley was bitten on the hand and rushed to hospital

In the ambulance, the snake catcher tried to focus on his daughter Aishah as he developed a pounding headache and fell in and out of consciousness.

In the emergency room, Mr Pelley began vomiting, his pupils dilated to 9mm, and his face and neck became stiff as if he was paralysed.

Despite his worsening condition, the father-of-four suddenly realised that he was one of very few snake catchers in his small town.

'I thought the last thing I could do was leave a message for the community, to tell them to leave snakes alone and be safe around snakes,' he said.

He recorded the message from his hospital bed and asked his daughter to share the video on Instagram just before he stopped breathing.

Mr Pelley received two doses of antivenom as well as 20 bags of plasma and platelets after a tiny cut began to haemorrhage and his organs failed.

The following morning, his kidneys started to function as normal, and he was able to process the high levels of creatine kinase in his body, which are caused by damage to the heart muscle and can cause a heart attack.

After four tough days in the ICU, Mr Pelley began to recover with his daughter keeping friends and family updated through progress videos on Instagram.

The tiger snake is one of the deadliest snakes in the world due to its potent venom

Mr Pelley spent several days in the ICU after he was bitten by a tiger snake while on the job

Mr Pelley's daughter Aishah (pictured) has raised over $39,000 for her dad

On Saturday, Mr Pelley stood up and began walking despite still experiencing problems with his vision, numbness and a loss of taste.

'Dad's bloods have returned to near normal. His kidneys are 100% and muscle wastage has significantly reduced,' Aishah wrote.

'Now he's walking around the ward and in true Dad style, is slowly gaining pace and trying to figure out what pilates and yoga he can get up to.

'It will be a long recovery but there is no one on earth I know more motivated and resilient than Dad.'

Mr Pelley had a few choice words for the online trolls that had targeted his family.

'I remember being in hospital and my daughter worrying about me but also worrying about the people saying nasty things. I said to her "you are never criticised by people who are doing more than you",' he said.

'The people who have all these nasty things to say to me - this is truly a reflection of their own issues - to laugh when someone is knocked down.'

Mr Pelley (pictured) received two doses of antivenom as well as 20 bags of plasma and platelets after a tiny cut began to haemorrhage and his organs failed

Mr Pelley also shared a message to people in lieu of his terrifying close call.

'Please do not let what happen to me be an excuse to think badly of snakes,' he said.

'Snakes only bite when they're scared. If you leave snakes alone you can avoid what happened to me and if you are bitten, seek medical attention.'

Mr Pelley says the near-death experience has not deterred him from wanting to protect the community from snakes and vice versa.

He said he and his family have been overwhelmed by the support and that he's aiming to be back 'hanging with snakes again' as early as next week.

'I can't wait to get back into it, I completely miss it,' he said.

'I never expected people to be so kind and good, what happened to me and the support truly showed the kindness and support of the community.'

On Sunday, Mr Pelley was reunited with his daughters and family pets with Aishah sharing the sweet moment his dogs ran from the house to greet him (pictured)

On Sunday, Mr Pelley was reunited with his daughters and family pets with Aishah sharing the sweet moment his dogs ran from the house to greet him.

Aishah said seeing her dad walk inside the house after being carried out unconscious a week ago 'means the world' to her and her family.

'Dad still has pain, numbness, can't taste, vision issues, and weakness but is waddling around the house and already did a bunch of migration work for clients even though he was told to rest. There is still a long road of recovery ahead,' she wrote in an update on Sunday.

'Thank you everyone for your ongoing support. My sisters and I with dad have a long road ahead of recovery but we appreciate the continued kind words and physical/financial help.'

A GoFundMe page started by Aishah has raised almost $40,000 to help with the expenses of caring for up to 100 animals as well as the construction of a new reptile facility after the old office was flooded in January.
A humble family-owned suburban supermarket in South Australia has been crowned the best in the world at a glamorous awards night in Las Vegas.

Saints Road Foodland in Salisbury Plains in north-east Adelaide beat thousands of rival stores worldwide to be named the IGA International Retailer of the Year.

The award was presented at the Independent Grocers Alliance Awards of Excellence ceremony on March 11 where 6,000 IGA-affiliates from more than 30 countries competed for the honours.

The Adelaide store was opened in 2019 as part of the South Australian Foodland chain by the Chapley family, who have provided 'world-class' produce since 1951.

Locals quickly rallied around the supermarket's emphasis on selling high-quality South Australian produce and customer service.

Independent Adelaide supermarket, Saints Road Foodland (pictured), has beaten out over 6,000 stores across the world to be awarded the best in the world

READ MORE: Bob Katter blows up at political rival over key cost of living issue plaguing Australians Advertisement

The supermarket's director, Spero Tsapaliaris, and Foodland chief executive, Franklin dos Santos, both travelled to Las Vegas to accept the award.

Mr dos Santos said the team were 'incredibly proud' of the achievement which 'puts Foodland IGA on the global stage'.

'Saints Road Foodland is more than just a supermarket, its a destination,' he said.

'When you think about the worlds best supermarkets you think about all the bells and whistles of the finest quality fresh produce... [and] an abundance of variety and first-class service.

'This globally recognised store has all of that and more.'

Mr dos Santos added the store's focus was to provide a 'unique shopping experience' to customers and bring a 'foodie enthusiast paradise' to north Adelaide.

'What you don't necessarily think about are all the details on top of that that contribute to make the store extra special,' he said.

'The Saints Foodland store is seamlessly efficient and environmentally friendly which in this day and age is a necessity.'

The supermarket (pictured) took home the award for International Retailer of the Year which was awarded by the Independent Grocers Alliance at an awards night in Las Vegas

Locals rallied arounf the store soon after it opened in 2019 as it focused on providing a 'foodie paradise' with high-quality produce and customer service (pictured, Foodland worker)

The award was just the most recent pinnacle for the supermarket after taking home numerous accolades during the Australian IGA awards for 2023.

The store was crowned National Retailer, National Large Store and National Large Grocery and General Merchandise Department for the year.

The international title has long been held by Australian stores, with last year's award going to Ritchies IGA in Maclean, on NSW's North Coast.

The Chapley family's other store in Adelaide's Frewville has previously scored back-to-back wins at the awards in 2016 and 2017.
Wider adoption of electronic voting needed to enhance shareholder rights: expert

By Lee Yeon-woo

Data released on Monday revealed a notable trend among listed companies scheduling their annual general meetings at the end of March, a pattern that has become more prominent over the last five years. This scheduling trend poses challenges for shareholders who wish to attend the meetings of multiple companies.

Although electronic voting is considered a crucial method for minor shareholders to assert their rights without physically attending meetings, its implementation by companies remains surprisingly low.

A report jointly published by the Korea Securities Depository (KSD) and the National Assembly Library, released on Monday, revealed that in 2023, a staggering 94.2 percent of listed companies scheduled their annual general meetings at the end of March. This compares to 90.4 percent in 2019, 82.6 percent in 2020, 91.8 percent in 2021 and 92.3 percent in 2022.

This trend persists into the current year, as evidenced by the schedule for this week alone, during which a total of 371 companies are set to hold their annual general meetings. The schedule becomes even more congested next week, with 1,684 businesses, accounting for 64 percent of all listed companies, slated to hold their meetings between March 25 and March 29.

The primary reason for this concentration lies in the fact that, in Korea, the fiscal year ends in December for most listed companies. According to the Commercial Law, companies are mandated to hold their annual general meetings within three months following the end of the fiscal year. Prior to this, companies must finalize their financial statements and undergo an external audit. The Korea Listed Companies Association estimates that, even under the most expedited scenarios, completing these preparatory steps requires at least six weeks.

Market observers also speculate that some companies intentionally schedule their meetings close to each other. This tactic may serve to dilute any potential criticism of management or negative discussions that arise during the meetings, as the sheer volume of news generated from the meetings of numerous companies could overshadow individual concerns.

Regardless of the intentions of the companies, the simultaneous scheduling of meetings compromises shareholder rights. According to data from the KSD, as of last December, there were 14.03 million minority shareholders, each holding an average of 5.97 shares.

To address this issue, an electronic voting system was introduced in 2010. Despite being introduced over a decade ago, the system has not achieved full adoption and widespread use. In 2023, the participation rate of electronic voting stood at only 11.62 percent.

"For companies, especially major shareholders, the incentive to implement electronic voting systems that facilitate the exercise of minor shareholders' rights is lacking, primarily due to the costs associated with setting up such infrastructure," said Hwang Sei-woon, a senior research fellow at Korea Capital Market Institute.

Some have gone a step further by proposing the adoption of online annual general meetings. This would enable shareholders to participate in the entire process remotely through online platforms.

In response, the KSD established a specialized unit in early March, with the goal of developing this system by next year. The Ministry of Justice also proposed an amendment to the Commercial Law last October to facilitate its adoption.

However, for this practice to be broadly adopted, listed companies must amend their bylaws during their general meetings, even after the amendment is passed by the National Assembly. The KSD anticipates that electronic annual general meetings will begin to be implemented from 2026.
A teenager from Georgia has died after she suffered a stroke, leading to irreversible brain damage due to Covid, her family said.

Katelyn Bowling, who was 15, already had cerebral palsy, but after a bout of COVID-19, family members say she had stroke which severely affected her motor skills.

According to her aunt, Sonya Bowling, Katelyn died on Wednesday.

In a short statement, Bremen City Schools, west of Atlanta, said they were 'deeply saddened' at learning of Katelyn's passing.

15-year-old Katelyn Bowling, from Georgia, passed away after experiencing a stroke that led to irreversible brain damage

Katelyn is pictured alongside her teacher Cassandra Mason and several other of her friends

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family pay for medical expenses

'Please remember the Bowling family in your thoughts and prayers,' school officials.

Before Katelyn's death, a teacher urged people who knew the teen to pray for the girl.

'Anyone who knows me knows how much I've talked about this girl right here! She is the most incredible loving, sweet, sassy, and funniest girl I've have EVER known!', wrote Cassandra Mason.

'I love her with my whole entire heart. Please also pray for her parents who are just besides themselves at the moment', Mason added in a Facebook posting.

Katelyn Bowling, 15, died last Wednesday but was laid to rest during a ceremony on Sunday. She is pictured with her father, Eric Bowling

Katelyn is seen in various photos including several with her teacher Cassandra Mason

The family have now set up a GoFundMe after they had to miss work to care for Katelyn and is now struggling to make ends meet.

On an obituary page set up for the girl, many left messages of condolence.

'Goodbye sweet Katelyn. You made such an impact on so many in your short life. You will be missed by so many,' Deirdre Morris wrote.

'Every time I saw her she was had a smile on her face and every time I was sad I came and saw her and it made me feel better,' said Skyler Pate.

'This sweet girl was a huge light in this world. Her smile was so contagious. I remember working with her. Getting to see her everyday was such a joy. Until we meet again beautiful Katelyn,' added Felecia.
Samyia and Sanyia Spain, 19, were harassed at the deli on Sunday morning

An identical twin teenage girl has died after being stabbed outside a New York City bodega by an attacker who had tried to make advances on her.

Samyia Spain, 19, and died from stab wounds to the chest and neck, and her twin sister Sanyia was hospitalized with wounds to her arm after they were set upon outside Slope Natural Plus on Fourth Avenue at 2.20am on Sunday.

The twin girls had been partying with friends when they went to the deli in the early hours of the morning. They rejected the attacker's romantic advances before he stabbed them both, according to witnesses.

'He had a knife in his hand and was saying, 'I'm gonna stab y'all in the face,' heartbroken Sanyia told the Daily News after being released from hospital.

'I'm telling everyone to back up. And he pushed little Samyia to the ground.

Samyia Spain was enjoying a night out with her identical twin sister Sanyia when she was fatally attacked at a bodega in her native Brooklyn

The store in Park Slope was the scene of another notorious murder just three years ago when Latisha Bell, 38, shot dead her girlfriend of 20 years, Nichelle Thomas, 52, in broad daylight

Both women were taken to New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital where Samyia was declared dead and her sister remains in a stable condition

The pair are thought to have been in the same club as their attacker and an accomplice earlier in the evening before they were followed to the store which was heaving with late-night revelers.

As they waited to be served a friend told Sanyia that a man was talking to her sister.

'I grabbed her phone and I was like, 'Come with me, come with me',' Sanyia said.

'I was like, 'Why are you talking to that boy?' She said, 'I don't want to talk to that boy.''

Sanyia said her sister refused to give him her telephone number but gave him her Instagram handle instead.

'She said she wasn't going to follow him back,' Sanyia recounted. 'That's it. She said no.'

Moments later the mood became ugly as the man returned to the store.

'He pushed little Samyia, and then I pushed him,' Sanyia said, 'And then everybody else started pushing him out the door.'

A knife was pictured in a cordoned off area of the bloodstained street in the aftermath

The men became angry and were kicked out by the manager who locked the door on them, she added.

'When we were done waiting for our food, he let us out of the store,' Sanyia said. 'After he let us out the store, he had locked the door behind us.

When they saw the harasser armed with a knife and waiting with two of his friends outside, the twins' brother stepped in and a fight broke out.

'As I was going to grab (Samyia's phone), he stabbed me in my arm,' Sanyia said.

'Samyia then asked him to give her the phone back, and he stabbed her in the neck.

'She said, 'I'm about to faint,' as soon as she said I'm about to faint, I called 911.'

Another witness said that chaos erupted as the extent of Samyia's injuries became apparent.

'Everybody started tending to her,' the explained.

'One of her friends took off their shirts and started putting compression on her neck to try to slow down the bleeding. She was gushing blood just all over the street.'

Both women were taken to New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital where Samyia was declared dead and her sister called their grandfather Alphonso Goodson, 66.

'She says, 'Granddaddy, Samyia got stabbed and she died,' Goodson told the Daily News.

'I couldn't believe it. When I got the call, I came as soon as I could.

A friend described Samyia as 'very lovable'. 'She didn't start any trouble. All she wanted to do was have fun' they added

'We're all taking it very hard. My daughter, she's taking it pretty hard. We never expect nothing like this to happen. He walked in and started hitting on her,' he added.

'She said, 'I don't want to be bothered with you. Leave me alone.' Then the storeowner put him out.

'He started kicking on the door, he started banging on the door.

'I don't know if they called the police, but at that time [the storeowner] should have called. And then when they left the store, that's when he attacked them.

'He was waiting for them.

'He took it the wrong way. He came after them. That was wrong. That was dead wrong. I hope they catch this guy.'

The store was the scene of another brutal murder in 2021 when Latisha Bell, 38, shot dead her on-off girlfriend of 20 years, Nichelle Thomas, 52, in broad daylight.

Bell was convicted of murder last month and is in jail awaiting sentencing.

Police have appealed for help finding Sunday's killer who was wearing a ski-mask according to witnesses and fled after the attack leaving a knife on the bloodstained street.

'She was a very good person,' one friend told The NY Post. 'She was in school, she was working. She was very lovable. She didn't start any trouble. All she wanted to do was have fun.'

Samyia had started working at Walgreens after returning to Brooklyn with her sister from North Carolina.

'They wanted to come back to the city because this is what they know,' Goodson said. 'It was too quiet down there.'

Samyia wrote on social media about getting a tattoo shortly before setting off on her night off, and posted her last message at 9.23pm on Saturday: 'My friends looking for me in the club but I'm drunk making new friends.'

Deli worker Mohammed Albher said the twins were regular customers at the store.

'They used to come every day,' he added, 'They come, shake my hand. Say, how are you? I don't want to see nobody hurt  nobody, nobody, she's a nice girl.'

A friend of the twins said they did not know their attacker before he struck. 'It was some random person, it's surprising, very surprising. It was a kitchen knife,' they added.

'You know who I blame? The government, for the simple fact, y'all cut all these mental health off, and now look who's running out here.

'Those are the people that don't get in trouble. There are a thousand cameras and there is no arrest.'
A young lawyer has been identified as the man killed in a suspected hit and run in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Mitch East, 28, who was educated at Harvard Law School, was found with critical head and chest injuries by a passerby in Fletcher Street, in Tamarama, just after 4am on Sunday.

Despite the best efforts of police and paramedics, he died at the scene.

Mr East, who grew up in New Zealand, had just been dropped off in the street by an Uber driver moments before he was struck, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Mr East studied law in his home country, securing notable positions working as a senior advisor on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch terrorist attack and as a solicitor at large national firm Meredith Connell.

He moved to Australia around mid 2022 to work for his current employer, major firm Arnold Bloch Leibler.

An Arnold Bloch Leibler spokesperson told Daily mail Australia all staff were notified about the tragedy via an email on Monday morning.

Lawyer Mitch East (pictured) was killed in a suspected hit and run in Sydney's east during the early hours of Sunday morning

Police are searching for the driver of a white Subaru Outback which was spotted on CCTV travelling on Fletcher Street around the time of the crash

Mr East has been remembered as a 'highly talented' and 'popular' lawyer

'[In the email] Arnold Bloch Leibler's Managing Partner Henry Lanzer and Managing Sydney Partner Paul Rubenstein paid tribute to Mitch, describing him as a highly talented lawyer and popular and valued member of the firm, whose loss will be deeply felt,' the spokesperson said.

'The partners expressed heartfelt condolences to Mitch's parents, his partner and many close friends, both within and outside of Arnold Bloch Leibler.'

It is understood some of Mr East's relatives happened to be in Sydney at the time of the tragedy and were promptly notified of his death.

It comes as police revealed they are searching for the driver of a white Subaru Outback which was spotted in the area on CCTV around the same time as the crash.

Appearing on Sunrise on Monday, NSW Police inspector Jason Hogan urged the driver to come forward.

'It is a cowardly act to drive away after colliding with another human,' he said.

'They really need to attend their local police station before we knock on their door.'

Inspector Hogan would not confirm whether detectives believe the driver is local, but said police are currently following 'all lines of enquiries' as to where the person may live.

Officers are pictured processing the crime scene in Tamarama on Sunday

Mr East was educated at Harvard Law School and moved to Australia from New Zealand for his law career

As part of the investigation, Inspector Hogan said officers are canvassing local areas, businesses and transportation companies for further footage which may identify more clues.

Locals have reported hearing a car alarm going off and a loud bang around the time of the crash.

Detective Assistant Superintendent Adam Solah said officers had contacted the man's family.

'The family are obviously very upset and distraught, and our hearts go out to them, having to find out such difficult news,' he said.

Police are also calling for witnesses or anyone with CCTV footage that may able to assist to come forward.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the website.
Visits to British tourism sites are below pre-pandemic levels and the Government's failure to scrap the tourist tax has hit visitor spending, research revealed yesterday.

There were 146.6million visits to major UK venues in 2023, down 11 per cent from 163.9million in 2019 before the pandemic and resulting lockdowns, according to trade figures.

The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva) said people were 'out of the habit' of visiting museums and galleries since the Covid lockdown restrictions eased.

The cost of living crisis has also affected households' decisions about how they spend their money.

And the Government's failure to reverse a 2020 decision to end tax-free shopping for foreign visitors has led to a 'significant decrease' in spending at attractions by overseas tourists, Alva said.

Visits to British tourism sites are below pre-pandemic levels and the Government's failure to scrap the tourist tax has hit visitor spending, research revealed yesterday

There were 146.6million visits to major UK venues in 2023, down 11 per cent from 163.9million in 2019 before the pandemic and resulting lockdowns

The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions said people were 'out of the habit' of visiting museums and galleries since the Covid lockdown restrictions eased

The Mail's Scrap The Tourist Tax campaign has called for an end to the levy, backed by cross-party MPs and more than 500 business leaders.

Alva said: 'We are absolutely missing out on expensive items being bought by visitors from around the world, particularly from America, the Middle East and the Far East.

'We know that we're losing out to places like Paris, Milan, Madrid and Rome.'

The British Museum was the UK's most popular tourist venue last year with 5.8million visitors going through its doors.
The Los Angeles Police Department has launched a task force to try to crack down on 'burglary tourists' who use the US tourism visa system to commit crimes.

Cunning criminals from Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru target wealthy neighborhoods in places with relaxed criminal justice laws to conduct home burglaries - before returning home with the loot while out on bail.

The troubling trend of 'lanzas internacionales' - translated to 'international thieves' - dates back at least two years across America, while the problem has also reared its ugly head in the United Kingdom.

Authorities in Los Angeles announced the task force after a 17-year-old Chilean national was caught in Arizona following a series of jewel heists across the California city. The FBI set up its own task force to combat the thieves in 2022.

The suspect and his two accomplices - 32-year-old Grecia Romanduski Gaete Castillo and 23-year-old Sebastian Jesus Parraguez Soto, all from Chile - were taken into custody, where they admitted to breaking into several homes in the region.

The Los Angeles Police Department has started a task force attempt to stop 'burglary tourists' who have been using the United States' tourism visa system to commit crimes

Suspects: 32-year-old Grecia Romanduski Gaete Castillo (pictured right) and 23-year-old Sebastian Jesus Parraguez Soto (pictured left) were taken into custody

In fact, the 17-year-old - who has not been identified because of their age - was initially arrested weeks earlier in the Los Angeles area with three other Chileans for robbing homes.

The teenager falsified Venezuelan identification and continuously got away from the LAPD by making excuses that his parents had left him alone in the country with a friend of the family.

He then disappeared after he was turned over to the child and family services unit.

Experts say the issue has been increasing over the past five years, as South Americans continue to use the tourist visa system to rob Americans.

Law enforcement experts say the foreign cells of professional burglars - mostly from Columbia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru - enter the country illegally or exploit a 2014 visa waiver program intended to spur tourism from dozens of trusted countries.

The program, known as ESTA - Electronic System for Travel Authorization - allows South Americans to enter the United States for an unlimited number of 90-day periods.

After entering the country, they carry out strings of break-ins and other crimes, bringing home up to hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen goods, the FBI said.

In more conservative Orange County, District Attorney Todd Spitzer has gone full boar on the crime tourists who have been behind hundreds of break-ins.

Scottsdale Police released video footage of recent thefts by South American 'burglary tourists'

Experts say the issue has been increasing over the past five years, as South Americans use the tourist visa system to rob Americans

'The number of crimes tied to these kind of crews are way, way up,' said LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton

Spitzer's argued that the Chilean government, led by socialist President Gabriel Boric, refuses to give the US criminal histories of Chileans who use the program, which other South American countries typically do.

He's even sued the federal government for not disclosing negotiations with Chile over visa requirements and is calling for new laws to stop these criminals from getting into the country.

'The number of crimes tied to these kind of crews are way, way up,' said LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton, despite overall burglaries being down.

He said that in one part of Los Angeles alone there were 94 burglaries believed to be committed by the 'crime tourists' in 2023.

Hamilton told the LA Times that these groups are rarely armed but are more likely equipped with what's known as 'jamming' devices to access a home's WiFi and potentially unlock home security systems in affluent neighborhoods.

'They often target homes often connected to open spaces, hiking trails and canyons that give them access,' Hamilton said.

The LAPD sent out a tweet pledging to use the task force to stop the problem.

They said: 'LAPD recognizes the increase in burglaries where homes in affluent neighborhoods are targeted.

Hamilton said that these groups are rarely armed but are more likely equipped with what's known as 'jamming' devices to access a home's WiFi and potentially unlock home security systems in affluent neighborhoods

The LAPD sent out a tweet earlier this week pledging to use the task force to stop the problem

'We're in the process of connecting with other agencies impacted by these organized groups coming to the country specifically to engage in this criminal activity.'

They also tend to target people with less comprehensive alarm systems or only alarm systems for the first floor of their homes.

'Some of these residential burglars have been recorded going through second-story homes,' Officer Jessica Cuchilla with Huntington Beach Police told the OC Register.

'In these instances, the reason why they're going in through there is because people don't install alarm systems on their second story.'

Chilean Felipe Leiva Solis, 33, was apprehended multiple times last year after being suspected of being part of 'an organized burglary ring responsible for a minimum of ten residential burglaries in Glendale,' authorities said.

He was arrested alongside Abraham Pablo Herrera Montecino - AKA Juan Eduardo Salomon Castro - and Francisco Alegria Velasquez, two more members of the alleged crew.

One detective with the LAPD said in a court declaration that Leiva Solis was part of a crew linked to over 30 thefts in the West Los Angeles area alone, and saying he used a fake passport to open an account with Bank of America to wire $23,000 home.

Three other members of the alleged crew were found with over $1million in stolen apparel from a single burglary on December 27 in Beverly Hills.

'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.

Chilean Felipe Leiva Solis, 33, was apprehended multiple times last year after being suspected of being part of 'an organized burglary ring responsible for a minimum of ten residential burglaries in Glendale,' authorities said

Solis Leiva was arrested alongside Abraham Pablo Herrera Montecino - AKA Juan Eduardo Salomon Castro (pictured left) - and Francisco Alegria Velasquez (pictured right), two more members of the alleged crew

The problem has been growing over the last five years, experts say. A home camera captured the moment a group of thieves, who police believe are 'crime tourists' from South America, robbed a San Francisco Bay area home in 2022

The thieves made of with bags full of stolen property and an SUV from the luxe home

Cameras at the home caught close-ups of two masked suspects at the front door

Leiva Solis is being held without bail ahead of a court appearance next week, having pled not guilty to three counts of burglary and one count of conspiracy to commit burglary.

Shep Bryan, owner of Maximum Security Safes in Santa Ana, said that these thieves have 'changed what a typical burglary is.'

Bryan told the OC Register he's had several clients ask them how to protect safes, which the criminals will use commercials to tear from bolted-down positions.

Nancy Silverberg, 69, came home to Laguna Hills on Valentine's Day 2023 to see her door 'gouged out' and a hole in her patio roof, believing a thief to have tried to get to the second floor window before follow through the patio cover.

She reported $150,000 in jewelry and watches stolen, including what she called 'sentimental pieces' that cannot be replaced.

These burglars are suspected to use ladders, rain gutters, or stacked patio furniture to get into master bedrooms.

Christine, 55, who wouldn't give her last name, said she came home one night in 2022 to her sliding door completely shattered.

Burglars had taken $25,000 in handbags, wallets and jewelry, adding she's 'never had anything like this' in her ritzy Dana Point neighborhood.

Nancy Silverberg, 69, came home to Laguna Hills on Valentine's Day 2023 to see her door 'gouged out' and a hole in her patio roof, believing a thief to have tried to get to the second floor window before follow through the patio cover

Christine, 55, who wouldn't give her last name, said she came home one night in 2022 to her sliding door completely shattered. Burglars had taken $25,000 in handbags, wallets and jewelry, adding she's 'never had anything like this' in her ritzy Dana Point neighborhood

The visiting criminals are emboldened by their discovery of a 'sweet spot' in the American criminal system because their offenses don't meet the requirements for federal investigation, and are often overlooked.

What's more, no cash or low bail law allow the repeat offenders endless opportunities to continue to the brazen heists, even after being caught.

After entering the country, they reportedly carry out strings of break-ins and other crimes, bringing home up to hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen goods, the FBI estimates.

FBI Special Agent Daniel Gimenez said members of a criminal tourist gang in Texas made between $20,000 to $100,000 per jobs.

In 2022, the FBI busted one of the groups in Virginia who exploited the state's lax bail laws to steal more than $2 million in a string of burglaries targeting high-end homes of Asian and Middle Eastern families before skipping bail and fleeing back home.

The network of thieves were also connected to a series of burglaries at homes across the Carolinas, Georgia and Texas, as well as a $1.2 million jewelry heist in Southern California.

The FBI say the investigation began after a string of break-ins in homes in Fairfax County, near Washington DC. But they were unable to make any arrests.

The agency didn't get its first real break in the case until two of the suspected criminals tied to the ring were discovered after their car broke down in a suburb in Atlanta, Georgia in 2019.

In more conservative Orange County, District Attorney Todd Spitzer has gone full boar on the crime tourists who have been behind hundreds of break-ins

The LAPD has followed the FBI's lead and started a task force to combat the problem

Upon pulling over, a sheriff's deputy questioned the two men, who were Puerto Rican. The two told the officer that they were heading back from one of the men's girlfriend's houses.

However, twigs stuck in one of the men's clothing made the officer suspicious of their story, putting the pair on the local police's radar.

The men, who were not arrested at the time, were later caught in a break-in attempt in the area, and were handed over to federal investigators who eventually linked them to the suspected syndicate.

The break in the case soon led investigators to a number of other burglars who used underhanded tactics like using jammers to block key fobs to break into cars, or cutting security systems and letting the batteries drain on back ups before looting stores.

Feds then arrested four thought to be involved with the syndicate: Mario Valencia Asprilla, Jhonny Valencia-Valencia, Diego Montano Chasoy and Freddy Hernandez Angulo. All four are Colombian and thought to be behind the Fairfax robberies, police said.

A fifth member of the group, Josue Rodriguez Rolon, was also arrested in June. It remains unclear how any of the suspects came to enter the country.

With that said, Rolon has since been freed on bond, and is now considered a fugitive, court documents reveal. Montano Chasoy, meanwhile, was deported, but the other three remain in custody.

All three are scheduled to stand trial this year in Fairfax court on multiple burglary charges and other counts.

Detectives said Asian and Middle Eastern homeowners were targeted because the thieves believe that people of those cultures keep a lot of high value jewelry at home and have cash-oriented businesses.

Dan Heath, a supervisory special agent with the FBI's criminal investigations division, said 'South American theft groups,' are a growing plague throughout the United States - and in countries including India , Britain and Australia, where they often employ similar tactics.

In January 2022, British authorities took down dozens of crime tourists from Chile who stole more than $200,000 in a spring of robberies across the UK.

Police in Fischer, Indiana, also reported a series of home burglaries targeting expensive jewelry believed to be linked to criminal tourists.

'A lot of these burglaries have been targeted specifically around jewelry, so more high-end homes, their jewelry is stored out in the open and they can be really high-valued items,' Fischer Officer Jessica Stout told Fox 59.

Police in Nassau County, New York arrested their own band of criminal tourists in March of that year after police caught six men, all from Chile, breaking into a wealthy home, stealing thousands of dollars in jewelry and cash.
The mother of a soldier who was killed during parachute training has told a packed funeral service attended by the PM how her life changed forever with a knock on the door.

Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon died during special forces training at RAAF Base Richmond in northern Sydney on March 6.

A funeral service was held at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Cessnock, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Hunter MP Dan Repacholi and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton each attending.

Streets and car parks in the town's CBD were closed overnight in preparation for the full military funeral - with diggers lining the streets as his casket passed.

Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon died after a parachuting incident during special forces training on March 6

Arm-in-arm, pallbearers carry the casket of Lance Corporal Fitzgibbon into St Joseph's Catholic Church on Monday morning

The 33-year-old was the only son of former Rudd government defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon.

His mother Di Fitzgibbon told the service her life changed with a knock on the door and that she would miss her son 'with all my heart'.

'We have laughed so much about your various exploits these past weeks because your mother's worry is no longer attached,' she said through tears.

The soldier's sister, TV reporter Grace Fitzgibbon, told tearful attendees she was shattered by the loss but would continue to carry her brother's memory 'in my bones'.

'As your little sister, I promise to step up and protect our family through anything life may throw at us,' the Seven News journalist said.

'Whenever there are questions to be answered or decisions to make I'll simply ask myself: "What would Jack do?" I love you more than you will ever know.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was among the mourners. Above, he embraces Joel Fitzgibbon

Soldiers lined the streets to farewell Lance Corporal Fitzgibbon

Grace's older sister Caitlin choked up talking about how the serviceman would not get to meet his first nephew, but how she knew her brother would watch over him.

'Your last message to me was telling me that a big Hulk baby boy is what we want,' she said. 'That big boy will know everything there is about his Uncle Jack.'

Lance Corporal Fitzgibbon's time in the army included an operational deployment to Papua New Guinea and roles with the 2nd Commando Regiment.

The regiment's commanding officer, who cannot be identified because of his role within special forces, said the signaler had died serving his country after a decade with the ADF.

'The nature of a soldier's life is inherently dangerous and not with risk and consequence,' the officer told the service.

'Jack will never be forgotten and his service as one of the most adept signals operators will inspire those to come.

'He leaves behind an honourable legacy and will be missed. Rest now, your service is done.'

The Defence Department confirmed an investigation had been launched into his cause of the death and all parachuting activities were temporarily paused.

Former defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon and his wife Di lead mourners

His sister, TV reporter Grace Fitzgibbon, shared powerful tributes to her brother on social media

He will be remembered for his courage, humour and service, the memorial service heard

In a statement released through the department, Joel Fitzgibbon said the family was 'heartbroken at the loss of our wonderful Jack'.

'Serving in the special forces was Jack's dream job and we take some comfort from the fact that he died serving his nation in a uniform of the ADF,' he said.

'Jack was a dedicated, highly skilled, and courageous soldier. He was an experienced parachutist.

'Our lives will never be the same without Jack, but we will always remain proud of him and his many achievements.'

Lance Corporal Fitzgibbon served with the 2nd Commando Regiment, which is part of the Special Operations Command in the Army.

'Jack was loved for his courage and known for his sense of humour and his service to the country,' Brigadier James Kidd told reporters the day after his death.
Looking at the latest polling data, it's hardly surprising Tory backbenchers are in rebellious mood.

A seat-by-seat study suggests up to 200 could be out on their ear, as Sir Keir Starmer is swept to power on a record landslide.

So, with unemployment staring them in the face, they are scrambling round for anything which might mitigate the predicted scale of the disaster.

For some, thoughts immediately turn to dropping the pilot. They have understandably been disappointed with Rishi Sunak's failure, so far, to improve the party's fortunes.

Ditch him now, their theory goes, and there's still time to turn things around. Commons leader Penny Mordaunt is being touted as a compromise candidate with the charisma to kick-start a fightback.

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt has been suggested as a possible replacement to Rishi Sunak

For some, thoughts immediately turn to dropping the pilot. They have understandably been disappointed with Rishi Sunak 's failure, so far, to improve the party's fortunes

A seat-by-seat study suggests up to 200 Tory MPs could lose their seat and Sir Keir Starmer could be on the cusp of a record landslide victory

But would a palace coup change things for the better? Would having a fourth leader in two years suggest a party comfortable in its own skin  or just a fractious rabble?

There are so many splinter groups in the party now it's hard to keep up. New conservatives, one-nation conservatives, red wall, blue collar, spartans, herbivores, and various 'research' groups.

They speak with so many tongues, it's the political equivalent of the Tower of Babel.

Whether Mr Sunak can unite them in the next eight months remains to be seen. He'll try to get back on the front foot this week trumpeting good news on the economy and forward movement on the Rwanda plan.

The local elections will be the next big hurdle. A Tory wipeout would inevitably strengthen calls for a change. But the insurgents should be ever mindful of psephology's first rule  disloyalty and division do not win elections.

Slight at the museum

One could understand student activists or bitter trade unionists bracketing Margaret Thatcher with Adolf Hitler and Osama bin Laden as 'contemporary villains'.

The former are too young to know what a hopeless state this country was in before she came along. The latter can't forgive her for routing them back in the 1980s.

London's Victoria and Albert Museum, however, should know better. In an exhibition on British humour, it categorises her with the Nazi dictator and world's most notorious terrorist as 'unpopular public figures' lampooned in seaside puppet shows.

In an exhibition on British humour, the V&A categorises Mrs Thatcher with the Nazi dictator and world's most notorious terrorist as 'unpopular public figures' lampooned in seaside puppet shows

Unpopular with whom? This is a woman who rescued the British economy from oblivion, helped win the Cold War, and enabled millions to own their own homes.

She also won three successive general elections, two with landslide majorities. She may be unpopular with the Left, but only because they never could beat her.

So is it more than coincidence that the director of the V&A, Tristram Hunt, was formerly a prominent Labour MP?

Putin's sham victory

Stand by for the least surprising election result since the last time Russia went to the polls. Having exiled, imprisoned or murdered his rivals, Vladimir Putin is to be 'crowned' for a fifth time.

If he serves his six-year term he will overtake Stalin as Russia's longest-serving leader, having suppressed all dissent.

This sham election reminds us that Putin heads a gangster state, which poses a clear and present danger to world peace.

Britain, and all of Nato, must commit the resources needed to thwart his imperial ambitions. They cannot allow themselves to be outgunned by this brutal red czar.
A Los Angeles woman who led police on a high-speed chase drove her luxury SUV into the ocean - abandoning her two dogs inside her vehicle, which was knocked on its side by the powerful surf.

The Boston Terriers were rescued by lifeguards shortly after midnight on Sunday after the woman swam away from her waterlogged BMW X3 in the Pacific Ocean.

The woman was pulled from the roiling waves after swimming 'like a professional athlete' from the doomed car and towards the fishing pier on Venice Beach, California.

'It was like something out of an action movie, with this car barreling through on the sand and plunging into the water' an onlooker, who gave her name as Sarah Jane, told DailyMail.com. She said she was surprised the woman survived.

According to the California High Patrol, officers attempted to pull the car over for speeding on the 10 freeway in downtown Los Angeles.

A woman has been rescued from the Pacific Ocean after driving her SUV into the sea during a high speed chase with the LAPD on Sunday

The woman was seen paddling in the water, while a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department boat attempted to rescue her by tossing a flotation donut into the ocean which she grabbed onto and was then hoisted onto the boat

The next morning, her car was hauled out of the water - much to the bewilderment of passersby

The chase ended in Venice when the woman  said to be in her 20s  drove her car across the sand and into the Pacific Ocean.

'It was cold, dark and the waves were choppy,' said Sarah Jane, a tourist visiting from England.

'I really don't know how she managed to survive, let alone swim such a long distance.'

While onlookers on the pier tried to help by yelling out to the woman, some were not as supportive when they discovered the driver had left two of her dogs in the car.

Video footage shows the dramatic moment two lifeguards approach the submerged car holding flashlights while looking for any other passengers.

As one lifeguard peers in, he motions to the other lifeguard suggesting someone is in the vehicle.

Next, the lifeguard opened the backseat door while waves slammed against the car - only to pull out a small dog, a Boston Terrier.

The lifeguard is then seen walking back towards the sand where two red lifeguard pickup trucks are parked with other onlookers watching in disbelief.

The car is seen rocking in the waves after the woman, who was being pursued by police, drove the vehicle on the sand and into the water

Rescuers rushed to get the woman and her dogs out of the Pacific Ocean

A spotlight is shone on the woman, who was in the water after plunging into it

The suspect then swam out into the ocean before being picked up by a police boat a short distance from the shore

A large police presence was seen at the beach on Saturday night and Sunday morning

'Another dog, another Boston Terrier, managed to get out of the car when it was still in motion hurling down the sand.

'He was seen nervously scampering around on the sand, until someone picked him up and held him or her trying to calm it down,' said Josh Sullivan, who was walking his own dog at the time of the incident.

The woman was seen paddling in the water, while a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department boat attempted to rescue her by tossing a flotation donut into the ocean which she grabbed onto and was then hoisted onto the boat.

According to Officer Erik Larson with the California Highway Patrol, the chase began at 11:21pm Saturday in El Monte and ended at 12:03 Sunday in Venice Beach.

'Both dogs were picked up by animal control,' Larson told DailyMail.com

An officer told DailyMail.com that the woman was taken to the hospital and the dogs remain with Animal Care Services.

The next morning, beach goers unaware of the incident were surprised to find a car being towed from the water up onto the land and later taken away.

The front window was shattered and mounds of sand could be seen in the front and back seat. Skid marks in the sand could also be seen.

One person joked it was an early start to Saint Patrick's Day in Venice Beach. CHP was withholding the identity of the woman, saying they will release it on Monday morning.
A second individual has been charged in relation to the 2005 theft of Judy Garland's ruby slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz,' according to an indictment released on Sunday.

Jerry Hal Saliterman, 76, of Crystal, Minnesota, was charged with theft of a major artwork and witness tampering. He did not enter a plea when he made his first appearance Friday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul.

Seen as a mystery until the FBI recovered them in 2018, the iconic ruby red and glass beaded slippers were taken from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, almost two decades prior.

The indictment says that from August 2005 to July 2018 Saliterman 'received, concealed, and disposed of an object of cultural heritage' - specifically, 'an authentic pair of `ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie `The Wizard of Oz.'

The indictment claimed Saliterman knew they were stolen, and that he threatened to release a sex tape of a woman and 'take her down with him' if she doxed him.

A second man has been charged in connection with the theft of Judy Garland's ruby slippers that she wore in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz

Saliterman was in a wheelchair and hooked up to an oxygen machine during his Friday court appearance.

When U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright asked the suspect whether he understood the charges against him, he responded with 'yes' but he said nothing about the allegations.

In court, the case was not publicly discussed. The indictment was not made public until Sunday, despite the magistrate's Friday order for its unsealing.

Another man charged in the 2005 case has already pleaded guilty to the theft

'Hes not guilty. He hasnt done anything wrong.' Salitermans attorney, John Brink, told the Associated Press said after Friday's hearing.

Saliterman, who was released on his own recognizance, declined to comment on the matter.

Terry Jon Martin, 76, the man who originally stole the slippers, pleaded guilty in October to theft of a major artwork, admitting to smashing the glass of the museum's door and display case with a hammer. He was sentenced in January to time served because of his poor health.

According to court filings, Martin's attorney stated that an old friend of Martin's with ties to the mob informed him the shoes' $1 million insured value had to be supported by genuine diamonds.

While hoped to take what he thought were real rubies from the shoes and sell them. Martin took the shoes to person who deals in stolen goods, known as a fence. The fence confirmed the rubies weren't real, so he discarded them.

According to Martin's defense attorney Dane DeKreys memo, Martin was unaware of the cultural significance of the ruby slippers and had never seen 'The Wizard of Oz.'

The documents unsealed Sunday do not indicate how Martin and Saliterman may have been connected.

To return to Kansas from Oz, Garland's character Dorothy had to click the heals of the ruby read slippers three time, repeating the iconic phrase, 'There's no place like home.'

She wore several pairs during filming, but only four authentic pairs are known to remain.

The FBI never disclosed exactly how it tracked down the slippers.

In 2017, the bureau said a man approached the insurer in and claimed he could help recover them but demanded $200,000 in return.

The FBI recovered the slippers in a sting operation in Minneapolis in 2018.

According to federal prosecutors, the slippers' market value is estimated to be around $3.5 million.
Detectives have made a desperate plea for anyone with information about Claudia Lawrence's disappearance to break their silence, as officers mark 15 years since the university chef went missing.

Ms Lawrence, then 35, was reported missing when she failed to turn up for work at York University on March 18 2009.

Her disappearance was quickly treated as a murder inquiry by North Yorkshire Police and has since become one of the well-known unsolved crimes over the last two decades.

Over the years the parents of Ms Lawrence, who would have turned 50 in February, have campaigned for their daughter to be found but sadly her father, Peter, died three years ago before ever knowing what happened to his child.

Today, on the 15th anniversary of the woman's disappearance, Acting Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox has insisted the inquiry into the suspected murder is not closed.

Claudia Lawrence, then 35, was reported missing when she failed to turn up for work at York University in March 2009

Sadly her father, Peter, died three years ago before ever knowing what happened to his child. Pictured: The father and daughter together

Police officers searching the land at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits near York in connection with the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence in 2021

Mr Fox said: 'Having been appointed senior investigating officer in October 2020, I am fully aware of the complexities that exist in this inquiry, which sadly has to be treated as that of a suspected murder.

'However, the single barrier to unlocking the answers for Claudia's loved-ones and bringing those responsible for her disappearance to justice, remains the same - silence.

'Silence from the people who know, or may suspect, what happened to Claudia but have, so far, for reasons that are only known to them, been unable to come forward to the police or even pass on information to Crimestoppers anonymously.

'There may be many reasons as to why they have been unable to come forward, however, my plea to them on reaching 15 years of living with the knowledge you have is to do the right thing and make a report.

'You can help bring an end to the pain and uncertainty for Claudia, her mum and all who love her.'

Officers believe that the chef - who lived in the Heworth area of York - was murdered, although no body has ever been discovered.

North Yorkshire Police has conducted two investigations and questioned nine people but no charges have ever been brought.

The last major police operation in the relation to the case was in 2021 when officers spent a number of days conducting an extensive search of flooded gravel pits at Sand Hutton, near York.

Ms Lawrence (pictured) was 35 when she mysteriously vanished after failing to turn up for work at the University of York on March 18 2009

Claudia's mother Joan Lawrence has previously said she has been in a 'living nightmare' following disappearance 15 years ago

After Claudia vanished, the inside of her house remained eerily untouched, with all of her clothes still hung up

Mr Fox said the investigation has been in a 'reactive phase' since 2017 but he said: 'I again want to make it clear that the investigation is not closed.

'Even after such a passage of time, our Cold Case Review Unit continues to receive information.

'Every new piece of information is carefully assessed against the significant volumes of material that has been gathered over the full course of the investigation.'

He said the scale of the 2021 operation 'clearly demonstrates that, if information is capable of being effectively developed, North Yorkshire Police will work tirelessly in our continued search for the truth.'

Mr Fox said: 'Speaking purely as a parent, my thoughts as we enter the 15th year since Claudia Lawrence was reported missing, remain with her mum Joan. I cannot begin to understand the pain that Joan and her family feel every single day.

'For such pain and despair to continue for 15 years without knowing where your child is, or what happened to them, well that is far beyond what any mum or dad should ever have to live with.

'Joan has lived with unending uncertainty and trauma since the last conversation she had with Claudia on the telephone on the evening of March 18 2009.'

Mr Fox said he was also thinking of Ms Lawrence's father Peter, who campaigned for his daughter to be found, but died three years ago without ever knowing what happened to her.

Police officers searching the land at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits near York in connection with the disappearance in August 2021 but have yet to crack the case

Claudia's house was swarmed by forensic officers after her sudden disppearance

He added: 'That she has been denied the opportunity of fulfilling her potential and living life in a way that made her happy, be that in career aspiration, travelling the world or the possibility of raising children, is tragic in the extreme.

'Let us not forget that Claudia's family and closest friends have also been denied the opportunity of living and sharing these types of momentous moments with her. That is equally sad and can surely only magnify the pain that they continue to feel 15 years on.'

Earlier this month, Mrs Lawrence revealed she wanted her daughter's cottage to be put towards a charitable purpose, explaining that she was already in discussions with the City of York Council.

She told the Mirror: 'Whether it be a family who are homeless, or someone who has had to escape their own home such as housing a homeless family or acting as a shelter for someone fleeing domestic abuse.

'It's so haunting coming back in but I'm tied to it now. It takes so much out of me every time I walk through the front door.'

Speaking ahead of what would have been her daughter's 50th birthday in February the grief-stricken mother said: 'All I want on Claudia's birthday is to know what has happened. No matter how old your children are, they are still your babies.

'This is draining for all of us. As a family, we have had to live in a state of limbo for far too long.'

Many of Claudia's personal possessions were removed by police as they launched a search for her

Parts of the home were packed up in the years after her death, with Ms Lawrence now wanting to pass the house on to a good cause

She added that 'no parent should have to endure this amount of pain' and that she relives the horrors of her daughter's disappearance every day.

Police activity around Claudia's case increased in 2021 when the North Yorkshire force spent two weeks searching a lake and nearby woods just outside York but hopes of a breakthrough were later dashed.

Teams of police experts, search dogs, divers and forensic archaeologists spent two weeks scouring a lake and nearby woods for potential spots where her body could have been left but nothing was found.

That same year, Claudia's father, Peter Lawrence, died aged 74. At the time of his illness, he was adamant investigators should continue looking for his daughter whatever happened to him.

Retired solicitor Mr Lawrence had tirelessly campaigned for information to try to find his daughter and had battled for legislation to help families in similar positions.

Mr Lawrence received an OBE for helping to shape the 2017 Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act, known informally as Claudia's Law.

The law, known informally as Claudia's Law, created a new legal status of guardian of the affairs of a missing person, allowing someone to act in their best interests after they have been gone for 90 days or more.

The new legislation means families can oversee the financial and property affairs of their missing loved one, if the person has been missing for 90 days - lessening what can be a huge burden at a traumatic time.

Although police believe that Claudia is dead, Ms Lawrence still maintains hope that her daughter is still alive until she has evidence to suggest otherwise.

She said the best present she could wish for on her daughter's birthday is 'answers'.
1st branches of global bakeries, Korea's top bakers gather in Seoul

By Park Jin-hai

Before the doors of Shinsegae Department Stores Gangnam branch even swing open, a dedicated crowd forms a line outside Sweet Park, the department store's recently launched dessert haven.

Their eyes are on Beton bakery's heavenly salted butter rolls. These irresistible pastries, warm, buttery and with just the right touch of salt, have captivated the taste buds of Seoul's food enthusiasts.

Beton, originating from Seoul's trendy Seongsu-dong neighborhood, has gained popularity for its salted butter rolls, particularly among Korea's Generation MZ, encompassing both Millennials and Gen Z. This acclaim has led the bakery to be part of Sweet Park, the city's latest foodie hotspot.

A bakery employee make their way to the end of the line, gently informing those waiting at the back that there's a chance they might not get their hands on their preferred variety of the sought-after rolls, due to high demand and a limit of four per person.

One of them is Park Hye-seon, 41, near the end of an ever-growing line after noticing the crowd waiting for the bakery's bread.

I really like trying something new and I dont mind the long line. I've already heard about failed attempts to secure this bread, so I came prepared," she says.

The queues, sometimes stretching over 100 meters, are evidence of the soaring popularity of Sweet Park, Shinsegae Department Store's expansive dessert hub.

Korean debuts of global dessert shops

Since opening its doors on Feb. 15, Sweet Park has become a magnet for dessert aficionados, drawing over 1.4 million visitors in just over a month. This surge in interest has seen the department store's dessert sales skyrocket by 202 percent compared to the same timeframe last year, highlighting Sweet Park's status as the premier destination for sweet treats in the country.

Nestled on the basement floor of Shinsegae Department Stores Gangnam branch, adjacent to Seoul Express Bus Terminal, Sweet Park sprawls over 5,300 square meters, housing some 43 delicacy brands.

Under the motto of a Dessert theme park never seen before, the dessert oasis features the first Korean outlets for international names such as Pierre Marcolini, Mille & Un and Gariguette.

Belgium's luxury chocolatier Pierre Marcolini, celebrated as the world's best pastry chef, opens his first Seoul outpost here, bringing his bean-to-bar philosophy and artisanal chocolates directly to Korean customers.

As an advocate of the bean-to-bar movement, Marcolini personally handpicks the finest cacao beans from farms around the world and gets directly involved in the whole process of chocolate-making, from roasting the cacao beans to molding them to solid bars.

Kim Ji-hoon, a manager for Pierre Marcolini Seoul, said he didnt expect such rave reactions from Korean customers.

In neighboring Japan, Marcolini is already a star and has many followers, but we didnt expect the same, because he is relatively lesser-known here. However, when the store opened here, it was a whole different story, he said. On the first day of business, the most popular six-piece chocolate set sold out really fast and within three days, all our best-selling selections ran out. So we had to quickly restock by air.

Gariguette, a viral dessert from Japan, has made its Seoul debut to much fanfare in Sweet Park as well.

Its signature Napoleon is a mille-presse, a round take on the classic mille-feuille, encasing strawberries and custard cream in layers of delicate pastry. Customers have the option to mix and match two flavors, such as Earl Grey cream with apricots or pistachio cream with raspberries.

As customers wait for their order number to be called, the store's open kitchen offers a transparent view of the dessert's preparation, allowing everyone to witness the meticulous crafting process.

Soi Park, 34, alongside her older sister Jeong-ha, arrived 20 minutes before the department store's opening to secure Beton's sought-after salted butter rolls before heading to Gariguette.

"Seeing the crowd queued up for Beton, I joined without even knowing what the line was for. Then I discovered it was for the famous bread. It's interesting how the sight of a long queue attracts more people, extending the line even further," Jeong-ha said. "Having all these sweets in one spot is truly a blessing... Its proximity to the terminal makes it convenient for travelers to grab and go with their desserts."

Echoing her sister, Soi added, "I came here because I wanted to try the trending ones. People tend to eat with their eyes first nowadays, so I'm thrilled to try Gariguette's strawberry mille-presse," as she took photos of the Japanese delicacy.

Mille & Un, a Parisian bakery run by Korean baker Seo Yong-sang, specializes in French flan, or custard pie. Seo distinguished himself as the first Korean to earn the eighth spot for Paris' best baguette in 2013 and later won first place in Paris' flan competition in 2023. His appearance on the Korean talk show "You Quiz on the Block" caught attention when he unveiled that his acclaimed baguettes are delivered to the Elysee Palace.

Wide array of delicacies

Chef Stage showcases some of Korea's finest patisseries, such as Honeybee Seoul's ice cream label OUCH!, Quelquechose's celebrated macarons and an assortment of madeleines from Le Soleil. Biscuiterie M.O, a subsidiary of Maison M.O, presents a selection of small cakes and cookies, complemented by crepes suzette and souffle, flambeed on site.

The Bread Selection section serves as a mini "bread pilgrimage," presenting a handpicked collection of Korea's cherished breads from time-honored local bakeries, showcasing their culinary heritage and craftsmanship.

Highlights include Jean Boulangerie's "mammoth bread," a sandwich-style bread with layers of pea paste, chestnut cream and red beans, alongside Taegeukdang, the nation's oldest bakery, known for its ice cream "monaka," or wafer-filled with ice cream.

Sweet Park also introduces BAKE the SHOP, combining the Japanese brand's famed dessert trios of cheese tarts, apple pies and butter sandwich cookies under one roof.

Man behind Sweet Park

Yang Jung-mo, the F&B vice president at Shinsegae Department Store and the visionary behind Sweet Park, unveiled that his team spent nearly three years reviewing over 300 candidates in and out of the country to curate the selection for Sweet Park.

When the busiest, I traveled to six to seven stores and tasted their delicacies each day. Persuading those acclaimed chefs to open their stores here was the most difficult part, he said.

He said social media publicity and media coverage are not the main reasons to select the brands. We have selected the dessert makers who have their own recipes and have genuine artisanship in making their treats."

He recounted Pierre Marcolini gave him both the hardest and the proudest moments.

The Belgian chocolatier at first just wanted to open a popup, saying that he cannot gauge the local demand for his luxury chocolate. To change his mind and make him open his first store in Seoul, I presented him a local agency and medium- and long-term blueprints for his business in Korea. It was really a painstaking process, but also the proudest moment. It was more so when I see the rave customer reactions," Yang said.

In addition to the new Sweet Park zone, Shinsegae Department Stores Gangnam branchs entire food area has been undergoing renovations, for the first time in 15 years.

Currently a quarter of our huge project has been unveiled. We are left to open premium food hall, supermarket and deli. When the project is completed, our Gangnam branch will have the largest food market, he said.
Dramatic pictures have captured the moment more than 60 migrants were rescued after fleeing Syria in the hopes of reaching Europe.

Their small fibreglass boat got into difficulty and capsized in the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday night as a rescue team from Doctors Without Borders were scrambling to bring the migrants - many of them women and children - to safety.

Pictures showed babies clinging to their mothers and scared children huddling together in the centre of the boat while young men were perched on the corners of the small vessel on the verge of falling into the rough waters in near Libya.

None of the passengers in the boat appeared to be wearing life jackets and most of them were dressed in light clothes despite the dropping temperatures at sea at night.

One end of the fibreglass boat started sinking into the sea as migrants were desperately trying to stay out of the water and waving to rescuers for help, who quickly passed out life jackets.

The small boat then fully capsized, pulling the remaining migrants into the cold water as rescuers threw in dozens of floating devices to rescue them before pulling them onto rescue boats.

Their small fibreglass boat got into difficulty and capsized in the Mediterranean Sea on Saturday night as a rescue team from Doctors Without Borders was trying to bring the migrants - many of them women and children - to safety

Pictures showed babies clinging to their mothers and scared children huddling together in the centre of the boat

Young men were perched on the corners of the small vessel on the verge of falling into the rough waters in near Libya

Young children were rescued by a Doctors Without Borders team on Saturday night

Migrants were in the water after their boat capsized. Luckily the Doctors Without Borders team had already handed out lifejackets to the group

While all sixty migrants from this boat could be saved, others were not so lucky and lost their lives in the Mediterranean last week.

On Thursday, charity rescue group SOS Mediterranee said that as many as 60 people are feared to have drowned on a vessel carrying migrants across the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy or Malta.

It rescued 25 people in a 'very weak' condition in coordination with the Italian Coast Guard on Wednesday and that two unconscious people were flown to the Sicilian island of Lampedusa some 60 miles to the north.

The other 23 were in serious condition, exhausted, dehydrated and with burns from fuel on board the boat.

The survivors reported that some 60 people who departed from Libya with them more than a week ago had perished during the journey.

'The survivors departed from Zawiya, Libya, seven days before they were rescued,' SOS Mediterranee posted on X.

'Their engine broke after three days, leaving their boat lost (and) adrift without water and food for days. Survivors report that at least 60 people perished on the way, including women and at least one child,' it added.

The small boat then capsized, pulling the remaining migrants into the cold water as rescuers threw in dozens of floating devices to rescue them

A rescuer was handed a baby by one of the migrants on the boat before it capsized

None of the passengers in the boat appeared to be wearing life jackets and most of them were dressed in light clothes despite the dropping temperatures at sea at night

Life jackets and floating devices helped the migrants to stay afloat, waiting to be pulled into a rescue boat

An SOS Mediterranee spokesman said the survivors were traumatised 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.

There was no immediate comment from the Italian Coastguard.

The IOM said it was 'deeply troubled' by the report. 'Urgent action is needed to strengthen maritime patrols and prevent further tragedies,' it said on X.

SOS Mediterranee also said it picked up a further 113 people, including two children, from a wooden boat and 88 from a packed rubber dingy, in rescue operations on Wednesday and Thursday.

It said it had been instructed to sail to the Italian Adriatic port of Ancona, about 930 miles away, but had asked for a closer disembarkation port given the poor condition of the migrants, some of whom are on oxygen masks.

On Friday, the crew of the European charity ship Ocean Viking said they had 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 SOS Mediterranee was carrying 359 shipwreck survivors, it said, adding the ship had been assigned to the distant port at Ancona, in Italy's central Marche region.

'Such a long navigation should never be imposed on persons rescued at sea,' the rescue organisation wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The central Mediterranean is one of the world's deadliest migration routes. According to the UN migration agency (IOM), almost 2,500 migrants died or went missing attempting the crossing last year, and 226 since the start of 2024.

Humanitarian groups often rely on accounts of survivors when pulling together the numbers of dead and missing at sea, presumed to have died.

The UN International Organisation 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.

That is out of a total 279 deaths in the Mediterranean since January 1.

A migrant is helped evacuate a partially deflated rubber dinghy by the rescue personnel of the SOS Mediterranee humanitarian ship Ocean Viking in the Central Mediterranean Sea, Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Migrants rest onboard the rescue ship Ocean Viking run by NGO SOS Mediterranee in the central Mediterranean Sea, March 13, 2024

Migrants are helped evacuate a partially deflated rubber dinghy by the rescue personnel of the SOS Mediterranee humanitarian ship Ocean Viking in the Central Mediterranean Sea, Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Charity groups like SOS Mediterranee and others complain that Italy's right-wing government is obstructing their rescue activities, forcing them to travel to distant ports to disembark migrants and often temporarily impounding their ships.

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 February 8 until a judge lifted the block 10 days later.

Italy and other European Union governments are trying to curb the number of sea migrants making the crossing from North Africa, and have offered money or equipment to Libya and Tunisia to stop departures from their shores.

Data from the Italian Interior Ministry record that 5,968 migrants have arrived by sea so far this year, down from 19,937 at the same stage in 2023.
One person has been killed and two other have been injured after a gunman opened fire in the beachfront Bar District at Jacksonville Beach in Florida.

Around 10 gunshots rang out, sending hundreds of people who had been celebrating St. Patrick's Day on the warm spring evening rushing out onto the beach in order to escape the terror.

The two injured victims were hospitalized and are now in stable condition, police have confirmed. Their identities, as well as that of the deceased, were not immediately available.

Revelers ran onto the sands in sheer terror as gunshots could be heard ringing out from the boardwalk.

Police have closed off an eight block area and have completely shut down the beachfront Bar District 'until further notice' while the suspects are still at large. Officers say they are still trying to work out if there were in fact multiple shooters.

Mayor Christine Hoffman, during a news conference overnight, said the violence may be the result of 'several different incidents' that were 'potentially unrelated'. She added that the situation remains under active investigation.

People could be seen running onto Jacksonville Beach to escape from the gunshots on Sunday night in the Bar District

One of three people injured could be seen being loaded into the back of ambulance on Sunday at downtown Jacksonville Beach

The shooting happened in the Bar District of Jacksonville Beach on Sunday night

Shell casings can be seen on the ground at a Jacksonville Beach parking lot

Police shut down an eight block area of the beachfront and Bar District area

Jacksonville Beach Mayor Christine Hoffman, left, said the violence may be the result of 'several different incidents' that were 'potentially unrelated'. Sgt Tonya Tator, right, with the Jacksonville Beach Police confirmed the shooting happened out in the open rather than in a bar

The incident happened on the boardwalk close to Jacksonville Beach Pier near 2nd Ave N & 1st St N.

'We got here and everybody was safe and next thing you know there was things going down,' said the owner of Salt Bar & Restaurant to News4Jax.

'People got scared. There was a few people who were worried about getting shot from blind bullets, but the boardwalk is a public beach and sometimes people come out that maybe shouldn't be here.'

Jacksonville Beach Police Department first revealed they were working an active shooter incident in the downtown area just after 9pm on Sunday night.

The force urged those in the area to 'shelter in place' until the all-clear was given just before 11pm. Officers say they are working on getting descriptions of the suspects.

The blue lights of police cars could be seen from the beach area of Jacksonville Beach

Police have now completely shut down the beachfront bar district area while the suspects are still at large

The downtown area had been packed with drinkers on Sunday night for St. Patrick's Day and Spring Break

Sergeant Tonya Tator with the Jacksonville Beach Police said authorities are still looking for suspects.

'If anyone knows or sees anything, they are asked to call the Jacksonville Beach Police Department', Tator told reporters, while confirming the shooting happened 'out in the open', rather than inside a bar.

The downtown area was busy with plenty of revelers celebrating St. Patrick's Day and enjoying Spring Break.

Jacksonville Beach Mayor Christine Hofmann said she was at the scene to show support for officers. Multiple agencies were at the scene from across the region.

Hofmann said business owners acted bravely on what was a particularly busy weekend.

'We have a lot going on out here. The fact we had a couple of bad actors out here that really made a dangerous situation for everyone is extremely tragic and unfortunate,' Hoffman said to First Coast News.

People could be seen milling around on the street outside after the first set of gunshots rang out

One of the three people who were shot was hit in a city parking lot

Police could be seen gathering evidence late into the night, in the hours following the shooting

Jacksonville Beach Police Department said they were working an active shooter incident in the downtown area just after 9pm on Sunday night.

Law enforcement agencies have been on heightened alert across the entire state of Florida with the popular Spring Break getaway underway.

Earlier this month, Governor DeSantis said 17 law enforcement agencies had requested extra Florida Highway Patrol troopers to help patrol their communities because of spring breakers.

The Jacksonville Beach Police Department, however, was not one of them.

If you have any information about the shooting, call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500.
The panel in charge of drawing up New York's plans for slavery reparations is under fire after it emerged that members attacked black senator Tim Scott, blamed white people for climate change and slammed Israel within days of October 7.

Governor Kathy Hochul urged New Yorkers 'not to excuse' the state's role in slavery as she set up the task force at the end of last year.

But she is facing calls to fire panelist Ron Daniels after he labelled Scott 'Uncle Tim' and branded him a front man for white supremacy.

'Uncle Tim' Scott, Who Picked Cotton On the Plantation, Is 'Still On the Plantation,' Daniels described the black Republican in a 2021 tweet.

'Picked to Be the 'Black Face' To Suppress/Black Power/Black Freedom On Behalf of White Supremacy/White Power and That's 'The Cotton Picking Truth' #BewareofUncleTim.'

Panel member Ron Daniels, the founder and president of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century, has drawn fury for his comments on Israel, climate change, and Black Republicans

Fellow panelist Lurie Daniel Favors is a vigorous supporter of efforts to defund the police

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill in December making the state only the third in the country to institute an official reparations commission

Daniels, the founder and president of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century, was one of three panel members nominated by state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

'White Folks Messed Up the Weather = Black Folks Save the Planet,' Daniels tweeted three years ago.

'With silence, comes complacency. No Homeland. No Peace. No Justice, No Peace in Israel,' he tweeted in October last year above a picture of a large Palestinian flag.

'There will never be peace in Israel until the Palestinians have a home. Military force will quench the thirst of the Palestinian people for justice. No Homeland, No Peace!'

Lurie Daniel Favors, another of Heastie's appointments, has been virulent in her calls to defund the police, tweeting in 2019: 'Police all across the country are literally proving *daily* why #DefundThePolice is necessary.

'I'm old enough to remember summa y'all claiming activists were going too far,' the executive director of the Center for Law and Social Justice at City University New York added.

'The commission on reparations was ridiculous from the start. This proves it,' State Conservative Party chairman Gerard Kassar told the New York Post.

'These sound like people who have preconceived notions of what they view as white privilege. Unbelievable. There's no way these appointees should serve on the commission given their comments.'

New York became just the third state of set up a panel to consider the payment of reparations to the descendants of African Americans who were held in slavery when the appointments were made in December.

Daniels tweeted his support for Palestine within days of the October 7 attack on Israel

A 2021 tweet blamed 'white folks' for global warming

A 2021 tweet on Senator Tim Scott accused the South Carolina Republican of being 'Uncle Tim' a front man for white supremacy

Lawyer Lurie Daniel Favors hosts her own radio show and runs the Center for Law and Social Justice at the City University of New York

Daniels and Daniel Favors were both appointed to the nine-man panel by New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie

The vexed question was forced to the forefront in the aftermath of George Floyd's death at the hands of a white police officer in 2020, but has suffered a series of setbacks in recent months.

Black lawmakers in Washington seek at least $14 trillion for a federal scheme to 'eliminate the racial wealth gap' between black and white Americans.

But California's black lawmakers last month unveiled a package of bills on reparations for black residents that makes no mention of the $1.2 million payouts they were promised earlier.

A survey last year of 6,000 registered California voters found that only 23 percent supported cash reparations, while 59 percent were opposed.

And while black Californians would like to receive payouts, very few of them believe they ever will.

A Washington Post-Ipsos poll last year found that three-quarters of black people said the descendants of slaves should get government compensation.

But only 14 percent expected to see any in their lifetimes.

Campaigners in Chicago are now concentrating their efforts towards black-only carve-outs on the $6,000-a-year property taxes that are typical in the Illinois city.

Billboards have gone up over Chicago in a push to waive property taxes for hard-up black households

Six in ten respondents opposed payouts to the descendants of slaves, while four in ten said the federal government should 'definitely should not pursue' such a policy

'We have a problem, where our black citizens in Chicago are being kicked or forced out of Chicago, and they are going to the southern states to live comfortably,' said Howard Ray Jr of the city's Reconstruction Era Reparations Act Now group.

The cost of just setting up New York's panel is expected to be between $5 million and $10 million before any figure for reparations is proposed.

'The reparations of slavery were paid with the blood and lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans who fought to end slavery during the Civil War,' said state Senate Republican Minority Leader Robert Ortt.

'This commission will stoke further division in New York and waste millions of taxpayer dollars that could be spent educating the public about our history and improving communities.'
One of the UK's highest ranking military figures based in Afghanistan was sent back from tour early after sharing a bottle of champagne with his colleagues, it has been reported.

Military commentator Maj Gen Charlie Herbert OBE was assigned a post in Kabul in June 2017 to serve as a deputy advisor to the ministry of interior - the government department in charge of law enforcement, civil order and fighting crime.

As part of his role, he trained and mentored senior Afghan officials which included having meetings with government officials. He would also help create better links between other government departments.

The Major's role was meant to last 12 months but he reportedly came back to Britain three months before the end of the contract after a complaint was made about his behaviour, according to the Telegraph.

It alleged he used inappropriate language and conduct in the workplace which is said to have included hosting parties at the British embassy and drinking booze openly with Afghan colleagues.

Military commentator Maj Gen Charlie Herbert OBE was assigned a post in Kabul in June 2017 to serve as a deputy advisor to the ministry of interior

The Major's role was meant to last 12 months but he came back to Britain three months before the end of the contract after a complaint was made about his behaviour

When back in the UK, the Maj General took up a position at the defence academy in Swindon before retiring from the army completely in 2019

The top army senior said he was cleared of the other allegation and 'continued to serve with the Army for another 18 months before leaving voluntarily to take up a new role supporting the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in Somalia'.

When back in the UK, he took up a position at the defence academy in Swindon before retiring from the army completely in 2019.

He has since become a commentator on military affairs including the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Maj Gen Herbert told the paper he was 'short-toured' because he 'shared a bottle of champagne' with work colleagues, which led him to move post. He said the other complaints were probed and thrown out.

He said: 'After investigation by the British Army, the allegations referred to were found to be unproven and vexatious with the exception of a single one that I shared a bottle of champagne with some work colleagues, in breach of a US rule on the consumption of alcohol.'

An Army spokesman told MailOnline: 'Soldiers at all levels of the British Army are held to the highest standards. If any individual fails to meet these standards, appropriate action is taken.'

The major was in Afghanistan while the US was leading western efforts to try and stabalise the country so the country could eventually operate without the assistance of NATO.

However, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, 20 years after it was removed from power by the US-led military.
The Israel Defence Forces announced early on Monday morning that they are undertaking a new operation is underway at Gaza's largest hospital.

Troops are carrying out a 'precise operation' following intelligence that senior Hamas officials were using the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as a command center to plan and carry out terror attacks, the IDF said in a statement.

Loud bangs caused the sky to light up in unverified video footage posted on social media with one person claiming the area was 'under siege' and a 'complete mess' in what was described as an 'Israeli bombardment'.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that the operation was targeting limited areas within the hospital complex based on 'concrete intelligence that demanded immediate action'.

'Our targeted mission isn't just an operational necessity; it's a global imperative,' he said in video footage posted on the IDF's X page.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that the operation at the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza was targeting limited areas within the hospital complex

Troops are carrying out a 'precise operation' following intelligence that senior Hamas officials were using the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as a command centre to plan and carry out terror attacks, the IDF said in a statement

'Our war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza. We seek no harm to the civilians that Hamas is hiding behind' Hagari said.

He added: 'We call upon all Hamas terrorists hiding in hospitals, surrender immediately. Medical facilities should never be exploited for terror. Hamas must be held accountable.'

IDF doctors and Arabic speakers accompanied security forces on the operation to help communicate with patients and staff, the Times of Israel reported.

The patients and medics were not told to evacuate but pathways were cleared for civilians, the outlet reported.

The Israeli army said 'the IDF will continue the humanitarian effort and provide food, water and additional supplies to the patients and civilians in the complex' once the mission is complete.

The hospital became the focus of the Israel-Hamas war in November as Israel closed in on what it says is a facade for a Hamas stronghold - claims the hospital and Hamas denied.

The hospital became the focus of the Israel-Hamas war in November when the IDF said it found tunnels it claimed were used by Hamas

Smoke and explosions rise inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, Sunday, March 17

Israeli troops, some wearing face masks and firing guns in the air, stormed the hospital that month.

They claimed to have found a tunnel shaft during the raid which they said was used by Hamas terrorists.

The IDF released a video it said showed a tunnel entrance in an outdoor area of Al-Shifa hospital, two days after Israeli troops entered its grounds to hunt for a Hamas command centre they say is beneath the medical facility.

During the raid, Israel said its troops found the bodies of two hostages - Yehudit Weiss, 64, and Israeli soldier Noa Marciano, 19 - from a building adjacent to the hospital.

The new operation comes just one day after Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel won't accept a Gaza peace deal that leaves his country 'weak' and 'unable to defend itself against hostile neighbors.'

The Israeli Prime Minister said a potential agreement like that would 'set peace backwards and not forward' during a joint press appearance with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Jerusalem.

He also reiterated that 'Israel has to have the necessary security responsibility' in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left), and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) shake hands after a joint press conference following their meeting in Jerusalem on March 17

This comes as Netanyahu vowed that civilians crammed into Rafah will be allowed to leave before Israel launches a new offensive on Hamas in another blow to ceasefire hopes.

His comments, alongside visiting Scholz, follow international fears over the fate of the roughly 1.5 million people who have sought refuge in Rafah, most of them displaced from Gaza's war.

The office of the right-wing premier, whose security and war cabinets were to discuss the latest international efforts towards a truce deal, had on Friday said he approved the military's plan for an operation in Rafah as well as 'the evacuation of the population'.

'Our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah goes hand-in-hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah. It's not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place,' Netanyahu said at a press appearance with Scholz.

As others have done, Scholz raised the question: 'How should more than 1.5 million people be protected? Where should they go?'

An Israeli soldier on top a tank on the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Sunday, Sunday, March 17

Palestinians, including children, collect remaining belongings from the rubble of destroyed houses after Israeli attacks on the house belonging to the Sabit family as Israeli attacks continue on Gaza Strip on March 17

A view of the area after Israeli attack over an apartment building in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on March 16

The United States - which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance - has said it wants a 'clear and implementable plan' to ensure civilians are 'out of harm's way'.

Before meeting Scholz, Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting that 'no amount of international pressure will stop us from realising all the goals of the war', and that to do this, 'we will also operate in Rafah'.

Israel has repeatedly threatened a ground offensive against Hamas in Rafah, where people shelter in tents crammed up against the Egyptian border.

UN World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged against a military operation there, 'in the name of humanity'.

Tedros said 'this humanitarian catastrophe must not be allowed to worsen'.

Netanyahu leads a coalition of religious and ultra-nationalist parties. His failure to bring home the hostages taken by Hamas militants during their attack which started the war has led to mounting protests within his country as well as domestic calls for early elections.

Hamas's unprecedented attack from Gaza on October 7 resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has carried out a relentless bombardment and ground offensive which has killed at least 31,645 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.
Confronting footage has emerged of two New Zealand brothers accused of wrestling a gun-wielding police officer to the ground while on holiday in Thailand.

Hamish, 36, and Oscar Day, 38, were one week into their trip and riding motorbikes through the Phuket town of Chalong on Saturday when police attempted to pull the pair over for alleged traffic offences.

The traffic cop alleged the tourists had been speeding and failed to stay in the left lane.

The pair were then allegedly involved in a high-speed police chase which ended when the men eventually pulled over before they were filmed allegedly brawling with Chalong Police Senior Sergeant Maj Somsak Noo-iad.

New Zealand tourists Oscar and Hamish Day have been detained by Thai police over the alleged assault of traffic cop (pictured)

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The officer's gun was allegedly discharged during the incident but the bullet did not hit anyone, The Bangkok Post reported.

A woman in the background can be heard shouting at the men: 'You stop, you stop. He have gun. You stop.'

A man with a Kiwi accent replied: 'The policeman was trying to attack us.

Senior Sergeant Noo-iad suffered arm injuries in the alleged attack and was later hospitalised.

Nearby officers moved in and arrested the two tourists, who were charged with a string of offences including robbery, obstruction of police duty, physical attack against a policeman, driving without a licence and bribery.

The pair have now engaged a lawyer and spent the last two nights in custody.

They will face court Phuket Provincial Court on Monday, where police are expected to oppose bail.

The men are the sons of high profile millionaire business and property owners Laurence and Katrina Day.

'It's very, very concerning,' Mr Day told the New Zealand Herald.

'The family is distraught. We're praying for a good outcome.

The Day brothers are accused of being involved in a wild brawl with the Thai policeman

'They were just on holiday. It's very difficult. At the moment they're okay. It's a very trying time.'

He added that his sons had been enjoying their trip to Thailand until their arrests and had another 10 days to go on their holiday.

Tourists found guilty of breaking Thailand's strict laws can be fined or jailed if convicted, and face deportation and a ban from re-entering the country.
A young woman who pulled three unconscious men from the surf has recounted her life-saving heroics, revealing that she acted on impulse and 'did everything' she could to rescue them.

One man died but two others were saved at Apollo Bay, on the Great Ocean Road south of Melbourne, after Brianna Hurst, 33, sprang into action on Sunday afternoon.

Ms Hurst, a marketing manager from Melbourne, had taken her Labrador Tobi for a walk and was sitting on the sand at Marengo Beach when she heard a man shouting for help.

'I jumped into action without really thinking what I was doing,' Ms Hurst, a former swimming teacher, told reporters.

'On reflection I feel like I did everything I could have done to help them.'

Brianna Hurst, a 33-year-old marketing manager from Melbourne, had just taken her Labrador Tobi for a walk and was sitting on the sand at Marengo beach near Apollo Bay on Sunday afternoon when she heard a man shouting for help (pictured: emergency services on the scene)

Ms Hurst took around five minutes to pull the three men in their twenties to the shore, one by one, after finding them floating face down in the water.

'It was pretty hard. I had to swim out to get him, about 20 metres. He was pretty heavy, he's much bigger than me,' Ms Hurst said.

'All of them were unconscious when I pulled them out.'

Other beachgoers helped perform CPR and called an ambulance but tragically one of the men died.

On Monday afternoon, one of the men remained in a critical condition at the Alfred Hospital and the other was in a stable condition at Barwon Health in Geelong.

Victoria Police Senior Sergeant Stephen Bull praised Ms Hurst for 'putting herself in extreme danger' to save others.

Ms Hurst (pictured) took around five minutes to pull the three men in their twenties to the shore one by one after finding them floating face down in the water

One of the men died while the other two remain in hospital (pictured: a man is stretchered away from the beach)

Paul Shannon, of Lifesaving Victoria, said the 2023-24 had been the states worst for drownings (pictured: Marengo beach)

'She's put herself in danger to rescue three people that she didn't know at great risk to herself so there's no other word that I can use other than heroic,' Sergeant Bull told reporters.

Ms Hurst downplayed her heroics and said she just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

'It was probably just luck that I felt confident in the water and that wasn't a barrier for me helping them,' she said.

She warned non-confident swimmers not to enter the water.

'I would classify it as a dangerous beach,' Ms Hurst added.

Paul Shannon, of Lifesaving Victoria, said the 2023-24 summer had been the states worst for drownings.

There have been 27 deaths since December 1 last year.

'Summers been pretty tragic, were on a par for the worst summer since records have been kept,' Mr Shannon told reporters.

He urged people to only swim between the flags and to download the Beachsafe app to check conditions before swimming at unpatrolled beaches.
A former high-flying real estate executive has told a court that he stole a taxi from Sydney's CBD to get away from a group of men who were attempting to kill him.

Brett Henson had a dispute with a taxi driver, Sayeed Ali Khan, over a broken door handle shortly before 9pm on November 4, 2022, telling a court stealing the taxi was the 'only option' to save his life.

Police allege he stole the silver taxi from Hunter St in the CBD while intoxicated after threatening Mr Khan.

The 42-year-old told Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Monday that he was 'petrified' after the argument.

Mr Henson had attempted to get into the cab but told the court that he was flung backwards to the ground when the door handle broke. He denied he fell due to alcohol intoxication.

Former Mirvac executive Brett Henson is seen at Sydney's Downing Centre Court on Monday

He told the court that Mr Khan, who isn't accused of any wrongdoing, said he would 'add it to the bill' when he got home, but the driver then asked him to get the money out of an ATM.

The former Mirvac executive said Mr Khan was 'extremely aggressive' and had been trying to 'extort' money before a group of five men set upon him. Mr Henson told the court the group involved Mr Khan.

'They were taking the side of the taxi driver trying to get money out of me, trying to get my phone or wallet. I said to leave me alone,' Mr Henson said.

'When they were chasing me I said 'just call the police' and they responded with 'we are the police'.'

Mr Henson is fighting a range of driving offences at a hearing in the local court, including stealing a motor vehicle and dangerous driving.

The former prominent real estate figure was arrested in late 2022 after photos of the incident were circulated by NSW Police. He is now unemployed.

He told the court that the men, who were all 'much bigger' than him, told Mr Henson they were the 'Muslim brotherhood'.

CCTV footage allegedly shows Mirvac executive Brett Henson falling over on to his back after having an altercation with a Sydney taxi driver

Mr Henson attempted to run away from the group but told the court they wouldn't leave him alone and surrounded him for 10 minutes.

'I was petrified, trying to get away from these guys,' Mr Henson told the court.

He told the court that he got 'belted' and landed on the ground with his shirt ripped open, resulting in bruises on his arms, hip and chest.

The court was told the men were saying 'let's f**king get him'.

'I needed to get away from there, there was no other way I can escape ... I can't call the police ... there's no other option,' Mr Henson told the court.

Mr Henson managed to get away from the group and jumped into the taxi.

He told the court that he was terrified of the group so he drove through multiple red lights before he finally stopped at an intersection in the eastern suburbs.

When asked by his lawyer what was going through his head, Mr Henson said: 'These guys are going to kill me.

'I would be a victim of a king hit and my family would be up here instead of me being here today explaining.'

CCTV footage released by police allegedly shows Mr Henson stealing a taxi in Sydney's CBD in November, 2022

Under cross-examination from a police prosecutor, Mr Henson told the court that he was being 'aggressively' pursued by the group.

'They were harassing me, hounding me,' he said.

Police allege Mr Henson drove dangerously before the car was dumped in Woollahra with 'significant damage'.

Mr Henson's lawyer Paul McGirr told the court during the first part of the hearing last year that his client took the cab because he was 'under duress'.

Mr Khan last year told the court that Mr Henson was 'aggressive' and shouted at himself, other cab drivers and bystanders gathered on the busy CBD street.

Mr Khan claimed Mr Henson had said '(do) you want to fight with me?'

In his opening submission, Mr McGirr said ID would 'not be an issue' in the case while also relegating allegations of his intoxication to be a 'side issue'.

Mr Henson was reportedly a senior capital transactions manager for property developing giant Mirvac at the time of the alleged offence and owns a $3.3m house in Bronte.

The hearing continues before magistrate Gregory Moore.
A charter flight carrying dozens of American citizens fleeing spiraling gang violence in Haiti landed in Miami on Sunday, U.S. State Department officials said.

There were 166 seats available on the first flight out of the chaos-ridden nation but just 47 U.S. citizens took up the offer of returning on the government-chartered flight which arrived at Miami International Airport.

The evacuation came after the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince urged U.S. citizens to leave 'as soon as possible' as chaos gripped the island nation.

Many had simply been visiting family members or on vacation when carnage broke out. All of those on board were required to have a valid U.S. passport.

The country's airports were targeted by gangs together with its main port.

There was a major prison breakout of two of the country largest detention facilities leading to the escape of thousands of prisoners, including several notorious gang leaders.

Marie Lucie St. Fleur, left, sits in the arrivals area at Miami International Airport after arriving on the first evacuation flight out of Cap-Haitien, Haiti on Sunday

Orlando resident Abson Louis, 46, is grateful to be back as he looks for his friends after landing in Miami following the suspension of flights from Haiti nearly two weeks ago

Passengers smile after being greeted in the arrivals area after arriving on the first evacuation flight out of Cap-Haitien, Haiti

Flights were suspended nearly two weeks ago. 47 Haitian-Americans were evacuated and returned to the United States on Sunday

Another passenger is seen having arrived on a charter flight carrying dozens of American citizens fleeing spiraling gang violence in Haiti having landed at Miami Airport

Passenger Avlot Quessa, who lives in Boston, traveled from the center of the country to board the charter flight after going to Haiti last month for was supposed to be a weeklong trip to visit his mother.

'It's just terrible. The suffering, you can only imagine,' Quessa told The Miami Herald of the nearby Caribbean nation.

'Haiti is my homeland and it's very stressful to see the homeland going through this act of violence, destruction ... and they are our neighbors.

'I ended up staying 20-plus days' he said noting that it was 'good to be back'.

However, Quessa said he also felt bad for the people he left behind: 'I also need to think about the people back home.

'They are only miles away from Miami. We cannot turn our eyes back on Haiti.

'Look at how much we invest in Ukraine and Israel. So no one is going to tell me that color doesn't matter.'

A protester reacts while tires burn in the street during a demonstration following the resignation of its Prime Minister Ariel Henry, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, last week

More than 200 gangs are believed to operate in Haiti, with nearly two dozen concentrated in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. They now control 80% of the capital and are vying for more territory

National Police patrol the area near the empty National Penitentiary after a small fire inside a jail in downtown Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It is the same prison that armed gangs stormed on March 2 allowing hundreds of inmates to escape

National Police stand guard outside the empty National Penitentiary last week following a breakout of inmates

A woman hangs clothes at the fences of a school that Haitian people are using as a shelter in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Smoke billows out from an empty cell block at the National Penitentiary following a fire, as a powerful gang leader in Haiti has issued a threatening message aimed at political leaders

A man throws garbage next to the body of a man who was murdered in the street in the capital

Haitian citizens get off a truck to be deported on the border between Haiti and Dominican Republic, as gang violence continues in the aftermath of the resignation of Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry last week

People line up to receive food at a shelter for families displaced by gang violence, in Port-au-Prince

Children line up to receive a plate of food at a shelter for families displaced by gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

A father lifts his daughter to the front of a line of people waiting to receive a plate of food, at a shelter for families displaced by gang violence

A woman squeezes through a human chain of volunteers as she is given the go ahead to pass through for a plate of free food, at a shelter for families displaced from their homes

A man eats a meal as a child covers his face after receiving containers of free food at a shelter for families displaced by gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, March 14, 2024

Haiti's main airport in the capital, Port-au-Prince, remains closed following gang attacks that have raged through the country in recent weeks, pushing many people to the brink of famine.

Government and aid agencies this weekend reported the looting of aid supplies as the situation worsened.

The State Department announced on Saturday that it would offer limited charter flights for American citizens from the less chaotic northern city of Cap-Haitien.

Officials said they could not provide ground transportation to Cap-Haitien and that U.S. citizens should consider the charter flights 'only if you think you can reach Cap-Haitien airport safely.'

'We encourage U.S. citizens still in Haiti who seek to depart to contact the Department of State using the crisis intake form on our website if they have not already done so,' the agency said.

Haitian citizens are seen protesting in the streets of Port-au-Prince, early last week

A motorcyclist passes burning tires during a demonstration in the Haiti capital of Port-au-Prince

Armed members of the G9 and Family gang stand guard at a roadblock in the Delmas 6 neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti

People walk along a street in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, last week

A police vehicle passes by the National Penitentiary following a fire last week

'It feels good to be home,' said 46-year-old Abson Louis - another of those on Sunday's flight.

He had been in Cap-Haitien when the situation deteriorated and will now return to his Florida home in Orlando.

'It has been real stressful. It's devastating over there. I think a lot of people are waiting to have the same opportunity to be here, to get out of the chaos.

'We're grateful the current administration is doing something about people getting left behind, American citizens, Haitian citizens, that are left behind. Hopefully, things will get better,' Louis said.

People taking the U.S. government-coordinated flights must also sign a promissory bill agreeing to reimburse the government.

Another passenger on Sunday's flight, Marie Lucie St. Fleur, 69, of West Palm Beach, said she feels most at home in Haiti and it pains her to see what her homeland is enduring.

'I don't feel well at all. I would like to live in my country and I can't,' she said while sitting in a wheelchair.

The State Department said government officials in Miami were helping the newly arrived evacuees to determine their next steps.

The U.S. military last week flew in additional forces to bolster security at the U.S. Embassy, which is in a neighborhood largely controlled by gangs.
Insiders claim that President Joe Biden has been privately 'seething' over his disastrous polling numbers to his staff and is 'angry and anxious' about his 2024 re-election efforts.

The story comes after Biden did not get the typical polling bump after his State of the Union address last week  and his approval now sits at a new low of 37.4 percent.

However, reports of the president's rage date back to January, when aides had told him his polling numbers had dipped in the key swing states of Michigan and Georgia due to his handling of Israel's war on Hamas, though he still believed he'd done the right thing.

'He began to shout and swear,' NBC reports, citing a story that interviewed 20 lawmakers, present and past administration officials and Biden allies.

'President Biden makes national security decisions based on the country's national security needs alone  no other factor,' White House Spokesman Andrew Bates said in response.

Insiders claim that President Joe Biden has been privately 'seething' over his disastrous polling numbers to his staff and is 'angry and anxious' about his 2024 re-election efforts

Post-State of the Union polling shows that President Joe Biden did not get a boost in the hypothetical general election matchup with Donald Trump after his 'fiery' speech

However, allies claim Biden's frustrations are intensifying, as he's questioning travel choices and the seeming inability to communicate his agenda to the American people.

His weak approval rating is well below the last three presidents who failed to win a second term: George H.W. Bush (39 percent), Jimmy Carter (43 percent) and his November opponent, Donald Trump (48 percent).

Biden, 81, is allegedly unhappy with those who are described as wanting to 'minimize the chances of a flub' and says he's cocooned and wants to take his case to the public and antagonize Trump.

The president's temper toward staff has been detailed in the past, often yelling at staff and shouting obscenities.

'He's probably a little mad at himself for not being more forceful with the staff,' one Biden White House insider claimed, adding that he often gets conflicting advice on how to handle the perception that he's too old to do the job.

Many questioned by NBC agreed that Biden needed to just be clearer about what he's done for the country in his first term, citing clean energy projects, high-tech manufacture and infrastructure.

'There's a real story to tell,' said Biden supporter and ex-Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu.

'It's a winning message and it's about jobs, prosperity and evolution. If that message can be communicated, I think the American people will respond.'

The story comes after Biden did not get the typical polling bump after his State of the Union address last week  and his approval now sits at a new low of 37.4 percent

His weak approval rating is well below the last three presidents who failed to win a second term: George H.W. Bush (39 percent), Jimmy Carter (43 percent) and his November opponent, Donald Trump (48 percent)

However, some Democrats like Washington State Congressman Adam Smith are losing patience.

'Biden stood up in front of the whole world and said, 'I'm ready. I'm the guy who can take down Donald Trump,' he said.

'So, he goddamn well better do it. We don't have time for him to be worried about whether or not people are saying things right or the poll numbers are where they should be. I want focused energy and not defensive anger.'

However, campaign chairwoman Jen O'Malley Dillon remains confident that once Trump is the clear opponent, Biden can beat him again.

'We know that he lost in 2020,' she said. 'In order to win, he's got to expand his base of voters to find new people to be with him. And that is not something he's shown that he's really focused on.'

Biden and former President Donald Trump both reached the number of delegates needed for their respective parties for the nomination in 2024 in Tuesday's primary elections.

This means there will be a rematch between the two geriatrics in November despite the majority of Americans saying they don't want that.

A Yahoo News/YouGov survey conducted the few days after Biden's speech to a joint session of Congress on Thursday shows the current president's chances against Trump actually diminished following his fiery remarks.

'Biden stood up in front of the whole world and said, 'I'm ready. I'm the guy who can take down Donald Trump,' Congressman Adam Smith said. 'So, he goddamn well better do it'

Campaign chairwoman Jen O'Malley Dillon remains confident that once Trump is the clear opponent, Biden can beat him again

Biden, 81, was passionate throughout his State of the Union and took several hit at his 'predecessor' and Republicans in the chamber. But his age was still on display as he coughed, mumbled and stumbled over some parts of his speech

Before the speech, Trump was up 45 percent to 44 percent against Biden in the poll taken in late January. While the latest taken March 8-11 is still within the polling margin of error and equates to a statistical tie, Trump is now at 46 percent to Biden's 44 percent in a hypothetical general election matchup.

The same poll shows Biden's approval rating dipped from 40 percent to 39 percent pre and post speech. His disapproval went from 56 percent to 55 percent.

But a FiveThirtyEight average shows the number of Americans who approve of Biden's job as president has dipped to a new all-time low of 37.4 percent.

A post-State of the Union Harris X poll puts Biden's approval at a flat 37 percent and disapproval at 58 percent. But among those in that survey who did watch the State of the Union, 13 percent more approved of Biden's job as president compared to those who did not tune-in.

In previous years, State of the Union addresses were a way for presidents to try and appeal to everyone  and oftentimes there was a polling bump associated with the remarks.

For example, Trump's approval jumped a few percent after his 2019 address in February of that year.

Before his State of the Union his approval was sitting around 37 percent, according to Gallup polling. But after the remarks the same polling showed the then-president jumped to 44 percent.

Another poll taken after Biden's remarks to a joint session of Congress shows the president's approval rating at a new low of 37 percent

Overall, Biden's last address of his first term wasn't exactly the reset the White House was hoping for amid low approval and increased criticism over the president's age and fitness for office.

Fifty-one percent of those who watched the State of the Union say Biden seemed 81, according to the YouGov poll. Another 24 percent say he seemed 'older' than they expected. Only 17 percent say he came off 'not as old.'

Most polling over the last year shows Americans don't want Biden and Trump, 77, as the two options in the 2024 presidential election.

But after Tuesday's primary elections in Georgia, Mississippi and Washington state, that's exactly the general election ballot Americans will be presented with come November.
By Kwak Yeon-soo

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's young daughter has been referred to as a "great person of guidance," fueling speculation that she is her father's potential heir.

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's state-run newspaper, used honorifics exclusively for Kim and his daughter, believed to be named Ju-ae, in the coverage of their inspection of a greenhouse farm in Pyongyang. Saturday's issue of the newspaper referred to them as the "great persons of guidance" while delivering the news that the two had attended a ceremony marking the completion of the Kangdong Greenhouse Farm in Pyongyang on Friday.

"The great persons of guidance, together with cadres of the Party, the government and the military, went around the farm," it said.

This was the first time Kim's daughter had been described as such by the North. North Korea's state media carried news of her public appearances on 26 occasions, 23 of them military-related and three economy-related.

On Saturday, she was seen using binoculars to observe paratrooper drills with her father.

Experts say Ju-ae's repeated exposure in state media highlights her special role in North Korean politics and potential rise to power.

"The North Korean term 'hyangdo' means guidance and is used only to refer to top leaders or successors," Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Center for Korean Peninsula Strategy at the Sejong Institute, said. "The level of personal worship for Ju-ae suggests that she will likely succeed Kim Jong-un to be the next leader of North Korea."

Cheong added that her role has been expanded to the economy and other areas, hinting at the North Korean leader's strong willingness to promote Ju-ae as his successor.

Seoul's unification ministry also said, Monday, there is a possibility that the teenager could become his successor in what could mark the third hereditary power succession.

"Given the level of protocol and the expression shown in North Korea's official media, the possibility of Kim Ju-ae's succession cannot be ruled out," ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam told reporters in a regular press briefing.

Ju-ae made her first public appearance in late 2022 when she accompanied her father to the launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile. Since then, she has been spotted at many of her father's public activities, including military drills. Her title had been changed over time, from "beloved child" to "respected child" to "morning star general."
There were emotional scenes at the site where a young lawyer was killed in a suspected hit and run as his heartbroken relatives arrive in Australia to support his grieving girlfriend.

Mitch East, 28, had just been dropped off by an Uber outside his Fletcher Street unit block in Tamarama, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, when he is believed to have been struck by a vehicle just after 4am on Sunday.

A passerby discovered Mr East, who was educated at Harvard Law School, with critical head and chest injuries. Despite desperate efforts of paramedics, he could not be saved and died at the scene.

Devastated family members on Sunday flew into Sydney from Mr East's home country, New Zealand, after receiving the tragic news.

Daily Mail Australia understands Mr East and his long-term girlfriend moved across the ditch about two years ago to pursue work opportunities.

Lawyer Mitch East (pictured) was killed in a suspected hit and run in Sydney's east during the early hours of Sunday morning

Mr East's mother was greeted outside her apartment's unit by a female friend on Monday after arriving in Australia from New Zealand

Mr East's shattered mother and his girlfriend were seen outside the couple's Fletcher Street unit on Monday as grieving friends stopped by to drop off flowers.

At one point, Mr East's mother embraced a female friend when she arrived at the home and the pair went for a walk down the street.

In moving scenes, a big group of Mr East's colleagues descended on the apartment block about 4pm with large bouquets, which they placed on the ground outside the couple's home.

Men and women could be seen embracing each other as they paused for a moment in silence at the memorial site.

Mr East studied law in his home country, securing notable positions working as a senior advisor on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch terrorist attack and as a solicitor at large national firm Meredith Connell.

He moved to Australia around 2022 to work for his current employer, major firm Arnold Bloch Leibler.

An Arnold Bloch Leibler spokesperson told Daily mail Australia all staff were notified about the tragedy via an email on Monday morning.

A group of Mr East's colleagues placed large bouquets outside his apartment block on Monday

Mr East has been remembered as a 'highly talented' and 'popular' lawyer

'[In the email] Arnold Bloch Leibler's Managing Partner Henry Lanzer and Managing Sydney Partner Paul Rubenstein paid tribute to Mitch, describing him as a highly talented lawyer and popular and valued member of the firm, whose loss will be deeply felt,' the spokesperson said.

'The partners expressed heartfelt condolences to Mitch's parents, his partner and many close friends, both within and outside of Arnold Bloch Leibler.'

It comes as police revealed investigators are searching for the driver of a white Subaru Outback which was spotted in the area on CCTV about the same time as the crash.

Appearing on Sunrise on Monday, NSW Police inspector Jason Hogan urged the driver to come forward.

'It is a cowardly act to drive away after colliding with another human,' he said.

'They really need to attend their local police station before we knock on their door.'

Inspector Hogan would not confirm whether detectives believe the driver is local, but said police are currently following 'all lines of enquiries' as to where the person may live.

Officers are pictured processing the crime scene in Tamarama on Sunday

Mr East was educated at Harvard Law School and moved to Australia from New Zealand for his law career

As part of the investigation, Inspector Hogan said officers are canvassing local areas, businesses and transportation companies for further footage which may identify more clues.

Locals have reported hearing a car alarm going off and a loud bang around the time of the crash.

Detective Assistant Superintendent Adam Solah said officers had contacted the man's family.

'The family are obviously very upset and distraught, and our hearts go out to them, having to find out such difficult news,' he said.

Police are also calling for witnesses or anyone with CCTV footage that may able to assist to come forward.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact police immediately.
Pro-Palestine protesters screamed over politicians during Question Time as they called for a ceasefire in Gaza and accused the nation's leaders of 'genocide'.

Member for Bean, David Smith, was interrupted in the House of Representatives on Monday afternoon when he was drowned out by furious chants.

A group sitting in the House's public gallery yelled, 'Shame, shame' while the Canberra politician quizzed Attorney General Mark Dreyfus on Labor's new Administrative Review Tribunal - which will review government decisions.

The calls from protesters continued as Mr Dreyfus attempted to answer.

'You support genocide!' demonstrators yelled.

Other protesters singled out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's response to the conflict.

'Albanese, your hands are red. 15,000 children dead!,' the mob chanted.

Member for Bean, David Smith (pictured), was interrupted during Question Time by pro-Palestine protesters

Others called for a 'ceasefire now'.

It's estimated that more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel declared war on the terror group Hamas.

The conflict was ignited on October 7 when militants crossed the Gaza Strip into southern Israel killing more than 1,100 people and taking about 240 as hostages.

Some Palestinian supporters have criticised the Australian government for not denouncing Israel.

Labour's Mr Dreyfus responded to Mr Smith's questions about the new Administrative Review Tribunal by highlighting the practice of 'stacking' in the Liberal Party.

'As many as 85 former Liberal MPs, failed Liberal candidates, former Liberal staffers and other close associates of the Liberal were piled into plum jobs without any merit based selection process,' he told the floor.

'They did it again and again, including on the eve of the last election.

'Decisions of the [Administrative Review Tribunal] have life-changing impacts for thousands of Australians; from people with a disability seeking support through the NDIS to vulnerable families trying to get the right Social Security payments.'

The pro-Palestine demonstrators yelled 'shame' at the politicians and called for a ceasefire (pictured, a Free Palestine rally outside Brisbane's Parliament House earlier this month)

As he continued, protesters were removed from the public gallery by security.

At the end of his response, Mr Dreyfus joked: 'I hope you heard the last part of my answer.'

Greens Senator Max Chandler-Mather later applauded the protesters online.

'Solidarity with the protesters for Palestine in Question Time today peacefully fighting for a ceasefire and an end to the genocide in Gaza,' he said.

'Their voices reflect the wishes of millions of people across Australia. History will remember you well.'
A top Australian fashion designer who moved to Paris while her company owes a multi-million dollar debt to creditors has announced that she's expecting her second child this year.

Kym Ellery, 39, revealed her growing baby bump in an Instagram post on Thursday, when she shared a series of images including her latest ultrasound.

She slipped her pregnant figure into a black sparkly gown designed by 'uncle' Duran Lantink.

'And then there was four,' she captioned the series of photos on her page.

Top Australian fashion designer Kym Ellery announced that she is expecting her second baby this year

The 39-year-old revealed her growing baby bump in an Instagram post on Thursday, when she shared a series of images including her latest ultrasound (pictured)

'Another love bundle soon to arrive, we cannot wait to meet you baby girl.'

Social media users congratulated the designer, who said she's 'feeling great'.

The celebrated fashionista soared to success after moving from Perth to Sydney and becoming an overnight sensation who found fame at Paris Fashion Week.

But it all came crashing down in April 2019 when her company Ellery Land collapsed owing $2,569,738.55 to creditors, including several family-run manufacturers.

She has now rebuilt her fashion empire in Paris, while the companies she left behind are still struggling to recover from the brutal financial blow that came on the eve of Covid lockdowns.

This comes after Ellery moved from Australia to Paris in 2019, leaving behind almost $2.6million worth of debts owed to shattered creditors

Kym Ellery has now rebuilt her fashion empire in Paris, while the companies she left behind are still struggling to recover from the brutal financial blow that came on the eve of Covid lockdowns

'All I can say is that ultimately I was doing my best,' Ellery said in 2023.

Since leaving the country she has flaunted her overseas success in a series of photoshoots and promotional interviews while living in a luxury apartment in Paris.

She even gave birth to her first-born, Armand.

Ellery denies she fled Australia to dodge her company's debts which include a long list of devastated fashion warehouses, jewellery manufacturers and modelling agencies.
Also turned the protagonist into the killer in The Pale Horse

Broadcaster has changed the identity of the murderer in Ordeal by Innocence

The BBC 'should stop straying from Agatha Christie's storylines or come up with their own ideas', an award-winning author has said.

Andrew Wilson, who has spent years researching the famous murder mystery novelist, says the Corporation has committed a number of offences against her original work.

The broadcaster has gone as far as to change the identity of the murderer in Ordeal by Innocence and turn the protagonist into the killer in The Pale Horse, despite taking no ones life in the book.

In the most recent adaptation, Murder is Easy, the investigator was switched from a retired British policeman returning to London from the Far East to a young Nigerian man coming to take a job at Whitehall.

Wilson says Christie was 'precious' about her work and had objected to TV adaptations which departed from her storylines whilst she was alive.

He argues that the BBC should 'write their own novels' because their recent adaptations 'haven't been as good as they could be' because they didn't stick to Christie's original plot.

The recent adaptation of Agatha Christie's Murder Is Easy has seen David Johnson (right) play a young Nigerian man who has come to England to take a job as an investigator

A portrait of the famous and prolific mystery writer Dame Agatha Christie - who was 'precious' about her work and had objected to TV adaptations which departed from her storylines

Wilson told the Telegraph: 'The last seven years on the BBC  some of them have been faithful, And Then There Were None was a brilliant production  but some of them are less faithful. I'm thinking of Ordeal by Innocence, in which the murderer was changed and the way they killed was changed.

READ MORE: Now Agatha Christie novels are being rewritten Advertisement

'And I just think if you want to do that, don't adapt an Agatha Christie. Write your own novel. Because one thing about Agatha Christie that makes her so brilliant, and what makes her so enduring, is that she's such an extraordinarily good plotter.

'Screenplays, really, are all plot. It's all about story, how character and story interact, and I think some of the adaptations, particularly the BBC ones, haven't been as good as they could be.'

Wilson, who has written four books featuring Christie as a character, also recalled how she was 'appalled' by the 1960s films starring Margaret Rutherford as Miss Marple because they had strayed too far from the original stories.

He said: 'She was ashamed that shed done that for money, and it took her and her relatives such a long time before they trusted anyone.

'Thats why there is quite a big gap before the big films like Death on the Nile and Murder on the Orient Express in the 1970s.'

The Ordeal by Innocence and The Pale Horse adaptations were both written by Sara Phelps, who also gave Hercule Poirot a backstory as a Catholic priest in her version of The ABC murders.

In the BBC's adaptation of Ordeal by Innocence, starring Bill Nighy (right) and Alice Eve (left), saw the identity of the murderer changed

Murder is Easy was adapted by writer Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, who said the change to the investigator's identity was in homage to her family.

Responding to criticism of her plot changes in 2020, Phelps said she had 'taken liberties' in order to make a concise, entertaining TV programme.

She added: 'But I always go for the beating heart of what she's [Christie] getting at and she always throws you little clues, little quantum details.'

Christie's great-grandson James Prichard, who also runs the novelist's estate, said allowing Phelps to change the ending of Ordeal by Innocence was one of the hardest decisions of his working life.
Vladimir Putin today warned the West that a direct conflict between Russia and NATO would push the planet to the brink of World War Three.

The Russian President, who just secured another six-year term in office after romping to an overwhelming victory in highly criticised elections this weekend, made the unsettling comments in response to a statement by his French counterpart last week.

Macron told French outlet Le Parisien on Friday that Western ground operations in Ukraine might be necessary 'at some point' - just days after he declared his nation 'ready' to use nuclear weapons in an uncharacteristically brash retort to Russian nuclear sabre-rattling.

Asked about Macron's remarks and the risks of a conflict between Russia and NATO, Putin quipped: 'everything is possible in the modern world.'

'It is clear to everyone, that this will be one step away from a full-scale World War Three... I think hardly anyone is interested in this,' Putin told reporters after winning the biggest-ever landslide in post-Soviet Russian history.

Putin added that NATO military personnel were present already in Ukraine, saying that Russia had picked up both English and French being spoken on the battlefield.

'There is nothing good in this, first of all for them, because they are dying there and in large numbers,' he said.

The Russian President went on to say he wished Macron would stop seeking to aggravate the war in Ukraine but to play a role in finding peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his press conference at his campaign headquarters, early March,18,2024, in Moscow, Russia. Putin has won the 2024 Presidential Elections, hosted on March 15-17

A Russian howitzer fires toward Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location

Pictured: HMS Prince of Wales leads a fifteen ship formation amid NATO exercises off the coast of Norway

NATO troops take part in Nordic Response 24 - a phase of the larger NATO exercise Steadfast Defender. The exercise involves air, sea, and land forces, with over 100 fighter jets, 50 ships, and over 20,000 troops practicing defensive manoeuvres in cold and harsh weather conditions

Ukrainian tank-men are seen on a BWP infantry fighting vehicle prepare for combat as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in the direction of Lyman in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on March 17, 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron has claimed Western ground operations in Ukraine might be necessary

'It seems that France could play a role. All is not lost yet.

'I've been saying it over and over again and I'll say it again. We are for peace talks, but not just because the enemy is running out of bullets,' Putin said.

'If they really, seriously, want to build peaceful, good-neighbourly relations between the two states in the long term, and not simply take a break for rearmament for 1.5-2 years.'

Putin also dismissed US and Western criticism of the Russian presidential election, which the White House said was not free and fair, retorting that US elections were also undemocratic and criticising the use of state power against Donald Trump.

'The whole world is laughing at what is happening there,' Putin said of the United States. 'It is just a catastrophe - it is not democracy - what on earth is it?'

Basking in the glory of yet another election win, the Russian President hailed his citizens' indication of 'trust' and 'hope' in him - despite the fact they had no real choice.

'Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future,' Putin said at a meeting with volunteers after polls closed.

According to Russia's Central Election Commission, Putin had some 87% of the vote with over 99% of precincts counted early this morning.

But British Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron was quick to admonish Putin and the widely criticised elections this morning.

These Russian elections starkly underline the depth of repression under President Putins regime... Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner - this is not democracy,' his statement read.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on a visit to his campaign headquarters after a presidential election in Moscow, early Monday, March 18, 2024

Ukrainian Emergency Services attend a damaged residential building following a Russian strike last week

Servicemen of the 18th Sloviansk Brigade of the Donbas battalion of the Ukrainian National Guard attend their training on a shooting range near a frontline in the Donetsk area, Ukraine, 15 March 2024

(L-R) French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk join hands at a press conference at the Chancellery in Berlin on March 15, 2024. The three heads of state came together for a meeting of the so-called Weimar Triangle for urgent consultations on further European military backing for Kyiv

Italian Marines take position during an amphibious assault demonstration, part of the Nordic Response 24 military exercise on March 10, 2024

Macron for half a decade sought to cultivate a partnership with Russia but has now become an implacable foe of the Kremlin, warning that Putin poses a threat not just to Ukraine but the security of all Europeans.

Weeks after taking office in 2017, Macron signalled his intentions towards Russia by rolling out the red carpet for Putin at a summit in the former royal residence of the Versailles Palace.

In 2019, the Russian leader was invited to the French president's Mediterranean summer residence where Macron addressed Putin as 'dear Vladimir' and famously declared Russia was part of a Europe that extended from 'Lisbon to Vladivostok'.

Even after Putin ordered Russian tanks into Ukraine in the February 2022 invasion, Macron sought to keep up a channel of dialogue with the Russian leader, speaking to him on multiple occasions until September that year and insisting on the need 'not to humiliate Russia'.

But Macron openly acknowledges his position has now undergone a major turnaround, citing a 'hardening' in Russia's stance at home and abroad, which has seen the prison death of opposition figure Alexei Navalny that supporters have blamed on the Kremlin, as well as a flurry of cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns against countries including France.

Macron's refusal to rule out putting troops on the ground in Ukraine 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.

'France's strength is that we can do it'.

Servicemen of the 18th Sloviansk Brigade of the Donbas battalion of the Ukrainian National Guard leave an American M-113 APC during their training on a shooting range near a frontline in the Donetsk area, Ukraine, 15 March 2024

Finnish Marines prepare to board on a Swedish CB90-class fast assault craft ahead of an amphibious assault demonstration during the Nordic Response 24 military exercise on March 10, 2024

Marines in action during an amphibious assault demonstration, part of the Nordic Response 24 military exercise

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 consideringthe deployment of 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.

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.'
The dozen previously known mistresses of John le Carre are 'just the tip of the iceberg', his biographer has claimed.

Adam Sisman revealed the details of the former MI6 spy's affairs in a book last year and said many more women have come forward since its publication.

Using different names to book into hotels and using safe houses, his mistresses included a woman 40 years younger than him, his friend's wife and his son's au pair.

Out of respect for his wife Jane, the spy author - real name David Cornwell - asked his biographer not to detail his infidelity while he was still alive.

The official biography was published in 2015, and after the author's death in 2020, Sisman wrote The Secret Life of John le Carre.

Appearing at the Oxford Literary Festival, the biographer said 'I'm quite sure that is just the tip of the iceberg,' The Telegraph reported.

The dozen previously known mistresses of John le Carre are 'just the tip of the iceberg'

Out of respect for his wife Jane, the spy author - real name David Cornwell - asked his biographer not to detail his infidelity while he was still alive. Pictured together in 2001.

Sisman said that David met one of these mistresses in September 1982 - a young woman in her mid-20s. Sue Dawson, who lived in Chelsea, abridged books for audio release on cassette tapes. She described herself then as 'generally up for anything'

The official biography was published in 2015, and after the author's death in 2020, Sisman wrote The Secret Life of John le Carre

The newspaper reported Sisman as saying he's identified 12 mistresses in the book but 'I think there were at least a dozen more'.

He went on to say that several more women have come forward since the book was published, adding 'they just kept popping up'.

He said: 'I did talk to David about this, and he would usually hang his head in his hands and say, 'Oh, no.'

'I said: 'We can't ignore this aspect of your life,' The Telegraph reported.

John le Carre is reported as saying he didn't want to 'humiliate' his wife Jane, to which Sisman replied 'It's a bit late for that.'

The author used versions of his mistresses into his novels as characters, his biographer said.

Jane died two months after her husband passed away, aged 89.

The marriage of spy novelist David Cornwell - better known to the world by his pen name, John le Carre - to his second wife Jane was often characterised in public as an ideal partnership. 'I think we're more monogamous than most couples,' he once said to Sisman.

His first marriage fell apart after the Bonn affair in the early 1960s, when he was writing his breakthrough novel The Spy Who Came In From The Cold.

When Sue asked him what he would do if Jane ever found out about their affair, his answer was unequivocal: 'I'd deny you  I would deny you utterly,' his biographer claimed

The author used versions of his mistresses in his novels as characters, his biographer said

After marrying second wife Jane, he tried to persuade the ex-model to move in with them as a menage a trois, claiming her 'input' was important to his work.

So many women shared his bed that one neighbour in West Cornwall kept a tally of more than 50 conquests.

Writing in the Mail previously, his biographer said: 'Most of them were younger than he was, some of them much younger. One was the au pair looking after his youngest son. With another woman, almost 30 years his junior, he had two affairs: the first in the mid-1980s, the second 14 years later. His last that I know about was with a journalist more than 40 years younger.

'When David decided to seduce a woman, he would pursue her relentlessly. A handsome man even in late middle age, he could be scintillating company, witty and attentive, with a fund of entertaining stories and a deep reservoir of experience to draw upon.

'He wrote erotic letters to them, making them feel missed and desired. He lured those with literary ambitions into imagining that they might write together. He had the ability to make people love him even when they knew that they shouldn't, and to want to protect him and share his life.'

His biographer previously said that the author was 'playing at being a spy' in his affairs.

'They required considerable trade-craft, with codes, dead letter boxes, and safe houses - flats where he would go and supposedly write undisturbed, in reality places where he could take women without fear of discovery,' he wrote in the Mail.

He added: 'Sympathetic male friends were enlisted to act as 'cut-outs', receiving post that otherwise might be intercepted by Jane. He arranged assignations abroad, booked into hotels under assumed names (usually 'Cosgrove' or 'Cosgrave'), used a dedicated travel agent (a former intelligence colleague, or so he told one of his lovers), and listed women in his address book under code names.'

Sisman said that David met one of these mistresses in September 1982 - a young woman in her mid-20s. Sue Dawson, who lived in Chelsea, abridged books for audio release on cassette tapes. She described herself then as 'generally up for anything'.

When she asked him what he would do if Jane ever found out about their affair, his answer was unequivocal: 'I'd deny you  I would deny you utterly,' his biographer claimed.
Exeter University has issued an urgent warning to students against using heroin after a rise in overdoses over a 'contaminated' batch.

Its Cornwall campus put out the message on Friday, warning students who are drug users not to try the substance while alone, suggesting using a 'buddy app'.

The Russell Group university also advised recipients to carry at least two doses of anti-overdose medication with them.

The university said that heroin along with 'street benzos' advertised as substances like Xanax and Valium have been contaminated, leading to an increase in overdoses in Falmouth.

The Exchange at Penryn, which is shared by Falmouth University and Exeter University

The university put out the message on Friday, warning students who are drug users not to try the substance while alone, suggesting using a 'buddy app'

The Telegraph reported that the warning told 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 suggested having a 'sober sitter' nearby and to sample new drugs in small doses.

The university also clarified that it doesn't condone using drugs but wants to do what it can to keep students who take them safe.

Recent data from the Office for National Statistics show drug poisonings in the county have reached a 30-year high.

Alice Gregory, a law and business student at the university, told The Telegraph she is disappointed the message didn't do more to condemn drug taking.

She said it is 'terribly irresponsible' the message didn't tell students 'they should not be taking Class A drugs and that taking them is completely illegal'.

A spokesman for the University of Exeter told MailOnline: '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.

Alice Gregory, a law and business student at the university, told The Telegraph she is disappointed the message didn't do more to condemn drug taking

It's not the first time a university has been criticised for advising students how to take drugs

'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.'

It's not the first time a university has been criticised for advising students how to take drugs safely.

The University of Sheffield issued guidance in 2018 telling students who take drugs with a needle not to 'inject alone' and gives a step-by-step guide on how to take specific substances.

Students at the university criticised the move. Final-year Spanish student Sab Jones said: 'How can they write 'if you are injecting drugs, never inject alone'? It's like an oxymoron.

'That is basically saying, 'it's dangerous, but do it with a friend'. It means not only putting yourself at risk, but someone close to you also at risk. I'm ashamed that this policy is real and on their website.'

Drama student Bliss Hunter added: 'I think it's a bizarre thing to tell students  it's dangerous and it advocates taking drugs which is completely wrong.

The online guide gave instructions about crushing the MDMA, 'dabbing the end of your finger into the powder' and how long to wait before 'considering redosing'.

A university spokesman said at the time: 'The university and its students' union does not condone substance misuse in any shape or form.

'We do, however, understand some students may try drugs during their time at university.

'With this in mind, we think it is important to ensure that, while we cannot condone this, if a student does choose to take drugs, they are as informed as possible.'

The guidance was issued following the death of Joana Burns, 22, who didn't normally take drugs but was experimenting as part of a 'final fling' to celebrate the end of her third-year exams.

She was a maths student at Sheffield Hallam University, but was visiting the Sheffield union.

She had created two home-made 'MDMA bombs' by splitting the 7 powder into two cigarette wrappers. She started fitting in the early hours and died in hospital.

MailOnline has contacted Exeter University for comment.
St Patrick's Day revellers will likely be waking up with sore heads today after millions downed pints of Guinness and donned leprechaun hats and shamrocks while celebrating the Irish holiday.

The streets of London, Leeds and Newcastle were among those heaving with huge crowds all day yesterday and into the night, with many partygoers cloaked in flags and dressed in green.

Huge parades of Irish marching bands, dance troupes and sculptures marched through cities and towns across the country to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland - with London's parade was the biggest in the UK with an estimated 50,000 participants.

There were huge queues outside the biggest Irish bars with a sea of green waiting to get inside Waxy O'Connor's in London, which is well praised for its live music in the six-floor Soho venue.

And there will be a few sore heads this morning after million pints of Guinness were consumed.

LEEDS: A group of friends take to the streets to celebrate St Patrick's Day with a green jersey and a Leprechaun hat on display

LEEDS: A group of students decked out in green pose for a picture as they enjoy the festivities

LEEDS: Four students jump for joy in shamrock-themed green outfits

LEEDS: A group of revellers in green jerseys and t-shirts strike a pose

LEEDS: Revellers in leprechaun hats gather outside a pub

LEEDS: An excited woman poses for a picture as revellers in shamrock-themed outfits enjoy the festivities

There were also countless gigs, shows and events held up and down the country to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

In Leeds, students decked out in green took to the streets to celebrate the day in jovial fashion.

And in Newcastle, there were similar scenes as revellers got involved in the festivities.

Meanwhile, the Irish Guards paid a touching tribute to their absent colonel, the Princess of Wales, during their annual St Patrick's Day Parade yesterday afternoon.

Kate, 42, was replaced in yesterday's traditional parade in Aldershot by Lady Ghika, the wife of Lieutenant colonel Major General Sir Christopher Ghika.

LONDON: Thousands gather at Trafalgar Square to enjoy live traditional Irish music at the end point of the parade

LONDON: A child in a leprechaun-themed outfit takes part in the parade at Trafalgar Square

LONDON: Partygoers watch the parade in central London

LONDON: A woman cloaked in an Irish flag smiles as the parade goes by

ALDERSHOT: The Irish Guard's parade went ahead as normal as the members of the regiment took part in the festivities

ALDERSHOT: Lady Ghika, the wife of Major General Sir Christopher Ghika, stood in for the Princess of Wales at this year's Irish Guards St Patrick's Day parade

NEWCASTLE: A group of four friends dressed as leprechauns soak up the atmosphere

NEWCASTLE: Partygoers gather outside a pub as the celebrations got underway

NEWSCASTLE: Students donned green cowboy hats as they celebrated the patron saint of Ireland

NEWCASTLE: A crowd of partygoers in leprechaun hats and green fancy dress strike a pose

NEWCASTLE: Revellers dressed in green yesterday afternoon as they soaked up the atmosphere

NEWCASTLE: Green and black leprechaun hats were a common sight yesterday

Dressed in a plum coat dress, Lady Ghika presented the Irish Guards' mascot, Seamus the dog, with a shamrock, as is tradition at the parade.

At the end of the parade, the troops raised their hats and gave three cheers in honour of the absent Princess.

It was a long weekend for some as many revellers got the party started early on Saturday night.
Tourists are being urged to stay out of the water in Bali as authorities warn that an incoming tidal wave could hit the island.

The Bali Denpasar Center for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics issued extreme weather warnings last week after a surge of powerful waves smashed the coastline.

The agency warned visitors travelling to Bali to be on alert for 'moderate to heavy rain', and 'lightning and strong winds' across most areas of the coast.

Authorities have also declared that tourists should not to enter the water until conditions clear, following high wave alerts.

Tourists are being urged to stay out of the water in Bali as authorities warn that an incoming tidal wave could hit the island

The Bali Denpasar Center for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics issued extreme weather warnings last week after a surge of powerful waves smashed the island's coastline

#EXCLUSIVE DANGER: THE GREAT INDONESIA DISASTER



SUDDEN TIDAL WAVE AT SOUTHWESTERN COAST OF WEST JAVA PROVINCE, INDONESIA



Thursday, 14th March 2024 pic.twitter.com/honcXpYuyA  Agraprana Pahlawan (@skynewsagra) March 15, 2024

Those currently in the affected areas have taken to social media to show how destructive the waves have already been at some of the region's most popular beaches.

A video emerged of the wild weather hitting Canggu Beach in Bali.

The footage shows a man desperately trying to saving items being swept away from beach stalls.

Another video, taken on a boat heading from the Gili Islands to Penida Islands, shows huge waves crashing through the windshield and onto passengers seated inside.

The head of UPT Balawista Kuta I, Ketut Ipel, told local media last week that the waves could be sudden and dangerous if not taken seriously.

A video has emerged of the wild weather hitting Canggu Beach in Bali. The footage shows a man desperately trying to saving items being swept away at beach stalls

Another video, taken from the seat of a passenger boat heading from the Gili Islands to Penida Islands, shows huge waves crashing through windshields and on to passengers seated inside

'Thursday's wave was quite large, even reaching land; we from Balawista are taking preventive steps and are more alert to anticipate things that we don't want,' he said, adding some red flags had been plotted along parts of the coastline as a way of urging beachgoers not to swim in the water.

'We always urge beach visitors to obey the signs that we have installed in places that are prone to sea accidents. I predict conditions like this will last until Purnama Kedasa (full moon on 25 and 26 March). Maybe that will be the highlight. But hopefully not.'

Tourists are also warned to be aware of falling trees, flooding, and landslides around the island.

It is understood that an Australian woman and her partner tragically died after a landslide swept away their Bali villa while they were still sleeping last week.
British drug-smuggling grandmother Lindsay Sandiford faces death by firing squad on Indonesia's 'execution island' after more than a decade on death row - if her sentence is not overturned.

The 67-year-old was sentenced to death in 2013 after she was convicted of trying to smuggle 1.6million worth of cocaine into Indonesia in her suitcase.

Known as the Queen of Kerobokan Prison, the facility where she has been behind bars for 12 years, Sandiford has enjoyed steak dinners and led knitting circles with her fellow inmates during her time in the jail, according to her cellmate.

But the treatment she can expect if she is taken to Nusa Kambangan - known as 'Indonesian Alcatraz' - is far removed from the conditions she has become accustomed to.

Despite its picturesque white sandy beaches and palm trees, the island is a notorious prison hub, with its four active jails hosting 2,000 of the country's most dangerous criminals including drug dealers and murderers.

The pensioner fears she will be 'publicly humiliated' ahead of her death, and expects to be carted across the country to the island and marched out in front of the press before being executed by gunmen.

The 67-year-old was sentenced to death in 2013 after she was convicted of trying to smuggle 1.6million worth of cocaine into Indonesia in her suitcase

Prisoners are usually executed by firing squad. Pictured: Indonesian police at Nusakambangan prison as Indonesia prepared for drug executions in July, 2016

A view of Sodong port in Nusa kambangan island, the main entrance gate to Nusa Kambangan - known as 'Indonesian Alcatraz'

Sandiford may have to endure a long journey to Nusa Kambangan, being taken from her cell and flown to Yogyakarta before boarding a government vessel to the island

If her capital punishment goes ahead, Sandiford will have to endure a long journey to Nusa Kambangan, being taken from her cell and flown to Yogyakarta before boarding a government vessel to the island.

Like convicted drug smugglers before her, she would be taken from her prison cell at midnight, with her hands and feet shackled, The Mirror reports.

She would then be brought around two miles up a winding dirt track and frogmarched through the woods into a 'death zone', known as Nirbaya.

Prisoners are offered blindfolds at this point, and are dressed in a white apron with a red target on their chest.

They are asked if they have any final requests before being lined up in front of a group of marksmen.

The executioners would aim for the heart, but if the prisoner survives they are then shot point blank in the head.

Sandiford revealed that she is no longer frightened of death, but is more worried about the process of being taken to face her fate.

'It won't be a hard thing for me to face any more. It's not particularly a death I would choose but then again I wouldn't choose dying in agony from cancer either,' she told The Mirror.

'I do feel I can cope with it. But when it happens I don't want my family to come. I don't want any fuss at all. The one thing certain about life is no one gets out alive.'

She went on: 'Dying doesn't bother me. I never thought I'd last this long to be honest. What I am uncomfortable about is the public humiliation. You're dragged halfway around the country and paraded in front of the press before being executed and that will be the worst thing for me.

'My attitude is, 'If you want to shoot me, shoot me. Get on with it'. I've done a terrible thing, I know, but the worst thing is the ritual public humiliation they seem to enjoy.'

A glimmer of hope has appeared for Sandiford after it recently emerged that she may have her sentence converted into a whole life term due to a law change which will be introduced in January.

Lindsay Sandiford has been imprisoned since 2013 for trying to smuggle 1.6 million cocaine

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

This is due to her good behaviour behind bars for more than ten years.

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.

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 Dr Felicity Gerry KC called for the grandmother to be returned to Britain.

'The death penalty, particularly for women caught up in the drug trade, should be abolished,' the lawyer, who visited Sandiford in 2015, told the Mirror.

'The [British] Government should be taking active steps to facilitate Lindsay's return to the UK, either to serve a sentence near her family or to consider her release.'

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.

The drug mule was caught flying into Bali from Bangkok with 10.16 lb of cocaine in 2012.

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

A general view shows the Kerobokan jail in Denpasar on the Indonesian island of Bali

The entrance gate to Nusakambangan prison (pictured in 2016)

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.

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.

But the last execution in the country was carried out in July 2016, when three Nigerians and one Indonesian were shot for drug offences.

Sandiford is believed to have been friends with Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran - who were executed for their role in the Bali Nine trafficking gang in 2015.
Carrier rocket for China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe arrives at launch site

Xinhua) 09:38, March 16, 2024

BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The carrier rocket for the Chang'e-6 lunar probe has arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Friday.

The Long March-5 Y8 carrier vehicle will undergo assembly and testing at the launch site together with the lunar probe, which has already been transported to the site, the CNSA added.

Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch in the first half of this year. The probe is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history.

The CNSA announced that scientific instruments from France, Italy and the European Space Agency/Sweden will be onboard the lander of the Chang'e-6 mission, and a Pakistani payload on the orbiter.

At present, the preparatory work at the launch site is underway as planned, the agency said.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Kou Jie)
Chinese hybrid rice harvested at Brunei farm

Xinhua) 11:12, March 18, 2024

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Brunei held a ceremony on Saturday to celebrate the harvest of a Chinese hybrid rice experimental field, according to the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) of Brunei.

The ceremony was held at Lekiun Agricultural Development Area where a variety of rice for non-irrigation paddy farms was harvested. The seedlings of three rice varieties were planted on Dec. 14 last year as part of a suitability study to develop the local paddy industry using high-yielding hybrids from China, local daily Borneo Bulletin reported on Sunday.

"The harvest today is a good start for the two countries to deepen cooperation on hybrid rice. In the future, China will continue to strengthen cooperation with Brunei in terms of hybrid rice seeds and expert guidance, and provide more support," said Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Xiao Jianguo.

The MPRT, through the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, is teaming up with Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center in China to find rice hybrids suitable for the conditions in Brunei, in particular non-irrigated farms, Borneo Bulletin reported.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Monday, the South Korean military said, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul for a multilateral ministerial conference.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missile launches in the area of Pyongyang between 7:44 a.m. and 8:22 a.m., which flew around kilometers and landed in the East Sea.

"North Korea fired at least three missiles, and their trajectories were similar to those of KN-24," a senior military official said.

The KN-24 is a solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of up to 410 kilometers and a payload of 400-500 kilograms.

The South Korean military said it immediately detected and tracked the missiles, and shared the information with the U.S. and Japanese authorities, while a comprehensive analysis is under way.

"We strongly condemn North Korea's latest missile launch, which is a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the JCS said.

The launch comes about a month after the North fired a new surface-to-sea cruise missile, the Padasuri-6, from its eastern coast on Feb. 14.

It marks the North's second ballistic missile launch of the year since the first on Jan. 14, when it test-fired a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile carrying a hypersonic warhead.

Pyongyang conducted five rounds of cruise missile tests this year, raising concerns over the weapons systems that are harder to detect and shoot down.

The launch comes days after Seoul and Washington wrapped up the annual Freedom Shield exercise, which focused on bolstering deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

North Korea has long denounced the allies' military drills as rehearsals for an invasion against it, while Seoul and Washington have rejected such claims, describing their exercises as defensive in nature.

Earlier in the day, Blinken arrived in Seoul to attend the Summit for Democracy, a ministerial conference that brings together top government officials from some 30 countries. (Yonhap)
The IDF has released footage that it claims shows 'saboteurs' opening fire on Israeli troops from inside the Al-Shifa hospital, where 80 people were detained during a military raid.

The IDF said early on Monday morning that it was undertaking a major operation at Gaza's largest hospital. A spokesperson said that more than 80 people were arrested during the raid.

Troops carried out a 'precise operation' following intelligence that senior Hamas officials were using the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as a command center to plan and carry out terror attacks, the IDF said in a statement.

Local media has reported that civilians have now been made to leave the area around the hospital, hours after they were told that an evacuation was not necessary.

IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted a video to X that he said showed 'saboteurs' firing on IDF troops in the area.

The military released grainy aerial footage that it said shows people 'shooting towards our forces from Al-Shifa Hospital.'

The IDF said early on Monday morning that it was undertaking a new operation is underway at Gaza 's largest hospital

A spokesperson said that more than 80 people were arrested during the raid.

Local media has reported that civilians have now been made to leave the area around the hospital, hours after they were told that an evacuation was not necessary

A figure can be seen seemingly throwing something from a building, before the video abruptly blurs and unblurs with a tank in frame. MailOnline could not verify the claims that the footage showed people shooting.

The video then cuts to what appears to be footage taken from a ground vehicle, which shows a smoke plume rising to roughly three stories after seemingly going off in front of a tank.

The IDF says this part of the footage showed someone 'activating an explosive device towards our forces from inside Al-Shifa Medical Complex'.

But the smoke plume has an inexplicable white halo of light around it, and the tank doesn't appear to react to the purported explosion in any way.

The footage then cuts to a shot of a gateway, with a tank and a group of apparently armed men.

The IDF circled what appeared to be either an explosion or a bullet causing a large chunk of a wall to fly off and said again it was evidence of someone 'shooting towards our forces inside Al-Shifa Medical Complex', though it is unclear who fired the shots in the video.

The smoke plume has an inexplicable white halo of light around it, and the tank doesn't appear to react to the purported explosion in any way

A figure can be seen seemingly throwing something from a building, before the video abruptly blurs and unblurs with a tank in frame

The tape abruptly cuts to footage that was seemingly taken later that shows several apparently armed men running past the tank as either a bullet is shot or an explosion is set off

The tape then abruptly cuts to footage that was seemingly taken later that shows several apparently armed men running past the tank as either a bullet is shot or an explosion is set off.

The final shot in the tape is another aerial shot of a dense complex of buildings. The IDF highlights what appears to either be explosion being set off as several people run away from in.

The IDF then highlights another apparent explosion, though it is unclear who caused this to happen.

People sheltering in the hospital said Israeli forces backed by tanks and artillery had surrounded the medical complex and that snipers were shooting at people inside. They said the army raided a number of buildings and detained dozens of people.

'We're trapped inside,' said Abdel-Hady Sayed, who has been sheltering in the medical facility for over three months. 'They fire at anything moving. - Doctors and ambulances can't move.'

Mohammad Ali, 32, a father of two, who lives around one kilometre from the hospital, told Reuters via a chat app: 'Suddenly, we started to hear sounds of explosions, several bombings, and soon tanks started to roll, they came from the western road and headed toward Al Shifa, then sounds of gunfire and explosions increased.

'We don't know what is happening, but it looked as if it was a re-invasion of the Gaza City,' he added, saying that the military activities began at around 1:00 a.m.

Gaza's Health Ministry said the Israeli army was directing gun and missile fire at a building used for specialized surgeries. It said a fire broke out at the hospital's gate.

The ministry said around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes seeking safety.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that the operation was targeting limited areas within the hospital complex based on 'concrete intelligence that demanded immediate action'.

'Our targeted mission isn't just an operational necessity; it's a global imperative,' he said in video footage posted on the IDF's X page.

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated that the operation at the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza was targeting limited areas within the hospital complex

Troops are carrying out a 'precise operation' following intelligence that senior Hamas officials were using the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as a command centre to plan and carry out terror attacks, the IDF said in a statement

'Our war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza. We seek no harm to the civilians that Hamas is hiding behind' Hagari said.

He added: 'We call upon all Hamas terrorists hiding in hospitals, surrender immediately. Medical facilities should never be exploited for terror. Hamas must be held accountable.'

IDF doctors and Arabic speakers accompanied security forces on the operation to help communicate with patients and staff, the Times of Israel reported.

The patients and medics were not told to evacuate but pathways were cleared for civilians, the outlet reported.

The Israeli army said 'the IDF will continue the humanitarian effort and provide food, water and additional supplies to the patients and civilians in the complex' once the mission is complete.

Loud bangs caused the sky to light up in unverified video footage posted on social media with one person claiming the area was 'under siege' and a 'complete mess' in what was described as an 'Israeli bombardment'.

The hospital became the focus of the Israel-Hamas war in November as Israel closed in on what it says is a facade for a Hamas stronghold - claims the hospital and Hamas denied.

The Israeli army said 'the IDF will continue the humanitarian effort and provide food, water and additional supplies to the patients and civilians in the complex'

A view of damage to homes in Hamad Town after their towers were destroyed by Israeli air strikes on March 17, 2024 in Khan Younis

The hospital became the focus of the Israel-Hamas war in November when the IDF said it found tunnels it claimed were used by Hamas

Smoke and explosions rise inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Sunday, Sunday, March 17

Israeli troops, some wearing face masks and firing guns in the air, stormed the hospital that month.

They claimed to have found a tunnel shaft during the raid which they said was used by Hamas terrorists.

The IDF released a video it said showed a tunnel entrance in an outdoor area of Al-Shifa hospital, two days after Israeli troops entered its grounds to hunt for a Hamas command centre they say is beneath the medical facility.

During the raid, Israel said its troops found the bodies of two hostages - Yehudit Weiss, 64, and Israeli soldier Noa Marciano, 19 - from a building adjacent to the hospital.

Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian facilities to shield its fighters, and the Israeli military has raided several hospitals since the start of the war, which was triggered by Hamas' October 7 attack into southern Israel.

Most of Gaza's medical facilities have been forced to shut down for lack of fuel and medical supplies, even as scores of people are killed and wounded each day in Israeli strikes.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Monday that at least 31,726 Palestinians have been killed in the war, including 81 in the past 24 hours. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Humanitarian aid is airdropped to Palestinians in Gaza City, Gaza Strip

A horse waits by a cart as people inspect the damage and extract items from their homes in Hamad Town

A person is helped after being rescued from a destroyed building, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise attack out of Gaza that triggered the war, and took another 250 people hostage. Hamas is still believed to be holding about 100 captives, as well as the remains of 30 others, after most of the rest were freed during a cease-fire last year in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker another cease-fire and hostage release, but the gulf between the two sides remains wide, with Hamas demanding guarantees for an end to the war and Israel vowing to continue the offensive until it destroys the militant group.

Israel's offensive has driven most of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes and the U.N. says a quarter of the population is starving.

The new operation comes just one day after Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel won't accept a Gaza peace deal that leaves his country 'weak' and 'unable to defend itself against hostile neighbors.'

The Israeli Prime Minister said a potential agreement like that would 'set peace backwards and not forward' during a joint press appearance with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Jerusalem.

He also reiterated that 'Israel has to have the necessary security responsibility' in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left), and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (right) shake hands after a joint press conference following their meeting in Jerusalem on March 17

This comes as Netanyahu vowed that civilians crammed into Rafah will be allowed to leave before Israel launches a new offensive on Hamas in another blow to ceasefire hopes.

His comments, alongside visiting Scholz, follow international fears over the fate of the roughly 1.5 million people who have sought refuge in Rafah, most of them displaced from Gaza's war.

The office of the right-wing premier, whose security and war cabinets were to discuss the latest international efforts towards a truce deal, had on Friday said he approved the military's plan for an operation in Rafah as well as 'the evacuation of the population'.

'Our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah goes hand-in-hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah. It's not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place,' Netanyahu said at a press appearance with Scholz.

As others have done, Scholz raised the question: 'How should more than 1.5 million people be protected? Where should they go?'

An Israeli soldier on top a tank on the border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, Sunday, Sunday, March 17

Palestinians, including children, collect remaining belongings from the rubble of destroyed houses after Israeli attacks on the house belonging to the Sabit family as Israeli attacks continue on Gaza Strip on March 17

A view of the area after Israeli attack over an apartment building in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on March 16

The United States - which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance - has said it wants a 'clear and implementable plan' to ensure civilians are 'out of harm's way'.

Before meeting Scholz, Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting that 'no amount of international pressure will stop us from realising all the goals of the war', and that to do this, 'we will also operate in Rafah'.

Israel has repeatedly threatened a ground offensive against Hamas in Rafah, where people shelter in tents crammed up against the Egyptian border.

UN World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged against a military operation there, 'in the name of humanity'.

Tedros said 'this humanitarian catastrophe must not be allowed to worsen'.

Netanyahu leads a coalition of religious and ultra-nationalist parties. His failure to bring home the hostages taken by Hamas militants during their attack which started the war has led to mounting protests within his country as well as domestic calls for early elections.

Hamas's unprecedented attack from Gaza on October 7 resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has carried out a relentless bombardment and ground offensive which has killed at least 31,645 people in Gaza, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.
North Korean state media has referred to Kim Jong Un's daughter - Kim Ju Aye- as 'hyango' - igniting speculation that she may be next in line for the leading role in North Korea.

The North Korean term means a 'great person of guidance' and is exclusively reserved for leaders and their heirs.

Since 2022, the child whose age is unknown has regularly been referred to as the 'morning star of Korea' and 'beloved child' by North Korean outlets.

Analysts also believe her regular appearances alongside her father are a recurring theme, indicating a rise in her political standing.

But as questions arise about the plan of succession, who are the siblings of North Korea's leader? MailOnline take a look at the country's first family.

Speculation has began to rise that Kim Jong Un's daughter Ju Aye may be next in line to take over as North Korea's leader (pictured Kim Ju Aye and Kim Jong Un)

But as question arise about the plan of succession, who are the siblings of Korea's leader? MailOnline take a look at North Korea's first family (pictured: Kim Jong Un)

Who are Kim Jong Un's sisters?

Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong-il, had five wives officially, however the late North Korean leader only perceived one of them as legitimate.

Kim Young-sook, who was the daughter of a high ranking military official was the only partner Jong-il considered to be his 'official' partner.

The pair share two daughters - Kim Sul-song who was born in 1973 and Kim Chun-song who is believed to have been welcomed into the world between 1976 and 1977.

There are very few details reported about Kim Chun-song beyond her birth date.

According to Al-Jazeera, the couple's eldest daughter Kim Sul-song was the former leader's favourite child.

Sul-song is an established academic, and possesses the ability to speak several languages,

She also reportedly collaborated closely with her father as well as grandfather Kim il-Sung.

The 49-year-old was in charge of her father's schedule, security and travel plans, Al Jazeera reports.

However since the 2000s, the sister of the present North Korean leader has become a more discrete figure in the country's politics - despite continuing to be a high-ranking player.

Although she owns multiple large trading companies, it is not clear what her current role is in her brother's political regime.

Jong-il's youngest child Kim Yo-Jong (pictured 2019) showed a keen interest in North Korean politics from an early age and now holds the position of deputy director of the country's state media and cultural affair

Some believe Sul-song is a probable candidate to take over if anything were to happen to Kim Jong-un.

Similarly to her older sister, Jong-il's youngest child Yo-Jong showed a keen interest in North Korean politics from an early age.

The youngest sister of Kim Jong Un holds the highly esteemed position of deputy director of the country's state media and cultural affairs.

She is also in charge of Kim Jong Un's schedule as well as managing his bodyguards and meetings.

Who are Kim Jong Un's brothers?

The late Kim Jong-nam (pictured), who passed away on February 13, 2017 after being targeted with nerve agent, was the eldest son of Jong-il

His father decided he was more of use to the country abroad, where he served as an ambassador on Kim Jong-il's behalf (Pictured front: Kim Jong-Il and his son, Jong-Nam. Back: Kim Jong Il's sister-in-law, Song Hye-rang with her children, Lee Nam-ok and Lee Il-nam)

The late Kim Jong-nam, who passed away on February 13, 2017, was the eldest son of Jong-il.

He was the product of the late North Korean leader's relationship with South Korean actress, Song Hye-rim.

The 45-year-old grew up with his mother's family and lived outside of the secretive country intermittently for a decade.

He was educated in both Russia and Switzerland before eventually making his return to North Korea.

According to Al-Jazeera, he would express his unhappiness regarding North Korean politics to his father.

He eventually landed a position in the country's police force helping them to with their IT systems.

When it came to succession, the water was always murky as it remained unclear if Jong-nam would eventually take his father's place.

The former North Korean leader eventually decided his eldest son was more of use outside of the secretive country.

Jong-nam was responsible for several of the family's accounts and would act as an ambassador on his father's behalf.

The eldest son of Jong-il was open about not wanting to succeed his father as leader of the country.

His father requested that his eldest son not be targeted by assassins in his will, according to Al-Jazeera.

In 2017, he was exposed to nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia and died.

It has not been confirmed who assassinated Kim Jong-nam.

Kim Jong-chul (pictured: 2015) is the other son of former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. Jong-il reportedly said the 35-year-old didn't have the right personality for North Korean politics

Kim Jong-chul, 35, is the other half-brother of North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un.

Birthed from Jong-il's fourth marriage to Ko Yong-hui, similarly to his older half brother, he also did not take an interest in politics.

Instead, similarly to his father he enjoys writing, films and listening music, with a particular fondness for American blues, rock music and electric guitars.

In comparison to his sisters, his role in the regime is smaller, working as a contributing writer for the country's official publications.

According to Al Jazeera, the late Kim Jong-il said Jong-chul did not have the right personality for North Korean politics.
Police searching for missing chef Claudia Lawrence have begged for more information on the 15th anniversary of her disappearance - after making 12 arrests without charging anyone over the mystery.

North Yorkshire Police detectives today made a new plea for anyone with information about her to finally break their 'silence'.

Claudia's mother Joan continues to campaign for any help finding the cook last seen on March 18, 2009 and who would have turned 50 last month.

Claudia's father Peter, who was separated from Joan since 1999, died three years ago before ever knowing what happened to his child.

The force's Acting Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox has insisted the inquiry into Claudia's suspected murder has not been closed.

Claudia Lawrence, then 35, was reported missing when she failed to turn up for work at York University in March 2009

Sadly her father Peter died three years ago before ever knowing what happened to his child. Pictured: The father and daughter together

Police officers searching the land at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits near York in connection with the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence in 2021

He said today: 'Having been appointed senior investigating officer in October 2020, I am fully aware of the complexities that exist in this inquiry, which sadly has to be treated as that of a suspected murder.

'However, the single barrier to unlocking the answers for Claudia's loved ones and bringing those responsible for her disappearance to justice, remains the same - silence.

'Silence from the people who know, or may suspect, what happened to Claudia but have, so far, for reasons that are only known to them, been unable to come forward to the police or even pass on information to Crimestoppers anonymously.

'There may be many reasons as to why they have been unable to come forward, however, my plea to them on reaching 15 years of living with the knowledge you have is to do the right thing and make a report.

'You can help bring an end to the pain and uncertainty for Claudia, her mum and all who love her.'

Officers believe that the chef - who lived in the Heworth area of York - was murdered, although no body has ever been discovered.

North Yorkshire Police has conducted two investigations and questioned 12 people but no charges have ever been brought.

The last major police operation in the relation to the case was in 2021 when officers spent a number of days conducting an extensive search of flooded gravel pits at Sand Hutton, near York.

It is believed 12 arrests have been made but no names of those questioned have been confirmed.

These included a 59-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder in May 2014, as were three men in their 50s in the York area the following April.

Ms Lawrence (pictured) was 35 when she mysteriously vanished after failing to turn up for work at the University of York on March 18 2009

Claudia's mother Joan Lawrence has previously said she has been in a 'living nightmare' following disappearance 15 years ago

After Claudia vanished, the inside of her house remained eerily untouched, with all of her clothes still hung up

A file on four men held on suspicion of murder was sent by North Yorkshire Police to the Crown Prosecution Service in September 15, but the CPS decided in March 2016 that the suspects would not face charges.

Mr Fox told today how the investigation has been in a 'reactive phase' since 2017 but he said: 'I again want to make it clear that the investigation is not closed.

'Even after such a passage of time, our Cold Case Review Unit continues to receive information.

'Every new piece of information is carefully assessed against the significant volumes of material that has been gathered over the full course of the investigation.'

He said the scale of the 2021 operation 'clearly demonstrates that, if information is capable of being effectively developed, North Yorkshire Police will work tirelessly in our continued search for the truth.'

Mr Fox said: 'Speaking purely as a parent, my thoughts as we enter the 15th year since Claudia Lawrence was reported missing, remain with her mum Joan. I cannot begin to understand the pain that Joan and her family feel every single day.

'For such pain and despair to continue for 15 years without knowing where your child is, or what happened to them, well that is far beyond what any mum or dad should ever have to live with.

'Joan has lived with unending uncertainty and trauma since the last conversation she had with Claudia on the telephone on the evening of March 18 2009.'

Mr Fox said he was also thinking of Ms Lawrence's father Peter, who campaigned for his daughter to be found but died three years ago without ever knowing what happened to her.

Police officers searching the land at Sand Hutton Gravel Pits near York in connection with the disappearance in August 2021 but have yet to crack the case

Claudia's house was swarmed by forensic officers after her sudden disappearance

He added: 'That she has been denied the opportunity of fulfilling her potential and living life in a way that made her happy, be that in career aspiration, travelling the world or the possibility of raising children, is tragic in the extreme.

'Let us not forget that Claudia's family and closest friends have also been denied the opportunity of living and sharing these types of momentous moments with her. That is equally sad and can surely only magnify the pain that they continue to feel 15 years on.'

Detectives have previously released CCTV footage which shows two people walking near Ms Lawrence's home on the evening she vanished.

Police said the footage - recorded just one hour before she spoke with her parents for the last time - could 'hold the key' to unlocking the mystery.

It shows a tall man walking down Heworth Place, which leads to the rear of Miss Lawrence's house, before returning just over a minute later with what appears to be a bag over his shoulder.

The same figure is then seen stopping in the glare of the streetlight, as someone else walks past, before continuing on to Heworth Place in the same direction as the second man.

Earlier this month, Mrs Lawrence revealed she wanted her daughter's cottage to be put towards a charitable purpose, explaining that she was already in discussions with the City of York Council.

She told the Mirror: 'Whether it be a family who are homeless, or someone who has had to escape their own home such as housing a homeless family or acting as a shelter for someone fleeing domestic abuse.

'It's so haunting coming back in but I'm tied to it now. It takes so much out of me every time I walk through the front door.'

Speaking ahead of what would have been her daughter's 50th birthday in February the grief-stricken mother said: 'All I want on Claudia's birthday is to know what has happened. No matter how old your children are, they are still your babies.

'This is draining for all of us. As a family, we have had to live in a state of limbo for far too long.'

She added that 'no parent should have to endure this amount of pain' and that she relives the horrors of her daughter's disappearance every day.

Police have previously released CCTV footage which shows two people walking near Ms Lawrence's home on the evening she vanished

A man is seen walking down Heworth Place, which leads to the rear of Ms Lawrence's house, before returning just over a minute later with what appears to be a bag over his shoulder

Many of Claudia's personal possessions were removed by police as they launched a search

Parts of the home were packed up in the years after her death, with Ms Lawrence now wanting to pass the house on to a good cause

Police activity around Claudia's case increased in 2021 when the North Yorkshire force spent two weeks searching a lake and nearby woods just outside York but hopes of a breakthrough were later dashed.

Teams of police experts, search dogs, divers and forensic archaeologists spent two weeks scouring a lake and nearby woods for potential spots where her body could have been left but nothing was found.

That same year, Claudia's father Peter Lawrence died aged 74. At the time of his illness, he was adamant investigators should continue looking for his daughter whatever happened to him.

Retired solicitor Mr Lawrence had tirelessly campaigned for information to try to find his daughter and had battled for legislation to help families in similar positions.

Mr Lawrence received an OBE for helping to shape the 2017 Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act, known informally as Claudia's Law.

The law, known informally as Claudia's Law, created a new legal status of guardian of the affairs of a missing person, allowing someone to act in their best interests after they have been gone for 90 days or more.

The new legislation means families can oversee the financial and property affairs of their missing loved one, if the person has been missing for 90 days - lessening what can be a huge burden at a traumatic time.

Although police believe that Claudia is dead, Ms Lawrence still maintains hope that her daughter is still alive until she has evidence to suggest otherwise.

She said the best present she could wish for on her daughter's birthday is 'answers'.
A script-writer and military veteran says he fears that the TV super producer who he claims sexually assaulted him has 'done it before' and has told other potential victims to come forward.

'When viewed in retrospect, everything about it to me screams that Im not the first one hes done this to... If you come forward, just know that you will be protected, your identity will be protected,' the John Doe told NewsNation in an exclusive interview.

John Doe first came forward with his allegations against Laurence Andries, 66, the producer behind hits such as Alias, How to Get Away With Murder and Six Feet Under, earlier this month.

Since then, Andries has been charged with sodomy, oral copulation and sexual penetration while the victim was unconscious by the use of a drug.

Doe went on to describe the night he was allegedly sexually assaulted.

'I just went out with someone I thought was a friend and I believe that he drugged one of my drinks... Its like remembering a dream of a dreamI felt like Id been hit by a truck. I felt like my entire body was bulldozed. My head felt like it was literally hit by a sledgehammer.'

John Doe first came forward with his allegations against Laurence Andries, 66, the producer behind hits such as Alias, How to Get Away With Murder and Six Feet Under, earlier this month

In a new interview, John Doe urged any other potential victims to come forward

Andries was behind TV hits such as Six Feet Under, Blue Bloods and Supernatural

'I trust everything about him. I felt I could trust him. I really did. But it was a friendship. I really thought we were friends,' Doe continued.

John Doe said that when he learned that Andries previously served as a counselor at Camp Becket in Western Massachusetts, he came to the conclusion that it's likely he was not the first victim.

Doe also said that he's known Andries for ten years with the producer acting as a mentor to him when he got involved in the industry.

'My entire life has been altered by this I feel like he did something to me that hes sick, he violated something sacred inside of me,' Doe also said.

Andries, Hollywood veteran, was nominated for an Oscar in 1994 for his writing on the live action short Kangaroo Court.

He has also worked on other hit shows such as Alias, How to Get Away with Murder, Supernatural and Being Mary Jane.

Andries serves as an advisor the Writers Guild Foundation, where he also served as VP of programming, according to their website.

Many military veterans turned writers have previously posted about Andries, describing him as a beloved mentor on social media.

Freelance writer Adam Korenman spoke highly of Andries in a 2019 post.

Andries has also worked on other hit shows such as Alias, How to Get Away with Murder, Supernatural and Being Mary Jane. He is seen with Viola Davis

'Some of the best career advice I ever heard came from Larry Andries, an incredible writer/producer/human,' Korenman wrote.

'He said, "Don't be an as*****." No matter what kind of writer you want to be, treat everyone with respect. Be empathetic. It'll make you a better writer and person.'

Anyone with information about additional potential crimes involving Andries has been asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department.

He has continued to post on Facebook following his arrest.

In his last post, from February 24, he wrote alongside a selfie: 'The future looks bright, and wonderfully immersive.'
Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer has revealed that he is worried about 'what happened to the truth' amid the furore sparked by the Princess of Wales' Mother's Day photoshop blunder.

Kensington Palace found itself at the centre of a social media frenzy last week after officials released an altered image of Kate with her children following her abdominal surgery in January.

The image - which had been released in a bid to quell vicious rumours about the Princess' health - only further intensified online conspiracy theories after six of the world's top picture agencies including Britain's prestigious Press Association issued a 'Kill notice' on the image.

In an extraordinary mea culpa, Kate then admitted she had edited the photo and apologised for sparking 'confusion'.

Earl Spencer has now revealed that he does 'worry about the truth' amid ongoing speculation.

Earl Spencer made the comments on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

Earl Spencer during a pre-recorded interview at Spencer house with Laura Kuenssberg

The photograph of Kate was 'killed' by six of the world's top picture agencies

Kate posted the apology on the Prince and Princess of Wales' Instagram account

In an interview broadcast yesterday, the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg asked him about his late sister Diana and the dangers of online speculation.

She said: 'And if you look at what is happening now around the current Princess of Wales, do you think the dangers of that online sort of conspiracy world are more potent than the press intrusion that you have fought against?'

Earl Spencer replied: 'No, I think it was more dangerous back in the day. If I look back to 1997 and Diana's death, I think 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. Not because they had a moral judgement but because it was unacceptable to the public.'

Ms Kuenssberg asked: 'Do you worry though about what happened to the truth?'

Diana's brother then replied: 'I do worry about what happened to the truth'.

Meanwhile, a source close to Kate and Prince William say the couple will disclose more information about her recovery in due course, according to The Sunday Times, which reports her return is expected after April 17.

The friend argued Kate 'is not a show pony' and it is 'entirely right' for the couple to not want to be 'drawn into a game about what is going on with her health'.

'In Kate's case, there is almost nobody else in the world whose face, body, clothes are more judged than hers,' the insider said.

'What is happening is exactly what they said would happen  she would spend two weeks in hospital and be back after Easter. So what if they haven't pushed her out there to wave from the back of a car? She is not a show pony.'

Kate pictured at the Christmas Day morning church service in Sandringham last year

William and Kate spotted leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey last week

Kate with William and their children on Christmas Day at Sandringham

A friend said the Waleses are fully aware about the circulating rumours but claimed: 'They're not like [Prince] Harry, obsessing and scrolling through Twitter, but they know it has broken through. They follow the news and see the BBC breaking news alerts.'

The insider added that the speculation around the couple's marriage is 'just cruel', especially while William, Kate and their children are 'going through the hardest time they've had to go through as a family'.

Kate was admitted to the London Clinic - the private hospital where the King underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate - for the planned abdominal surgery.

She left the hospital on January 29 - almost two weeks later - and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

Details of her condition have not been revealed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that the Princess wished her personal medical information to remain private.

Kate 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.

William will also take time away from public duties during their children's Easter holiday, the newspaper reported.
Sadiq Khan today told pro-Palestine activists that their protests are causing 'hurt and fear' for the Jewish population of London.

The Mayor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that demonstrators should carry out their protests in a 'respectful' and 'lawful' way.

Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters have marched through the streets of London following Hamas' sickening October 7 attacks on Israel and the outbreak of the war in Gaza.

But there have been growing concerns that the demonstrations, combined with exploding rates of anti-Semitism amid the Middle East crisis, are creating 'no-go zones' in the capital for Jewish people - with Britain's counter-extremism tsar among those issuing warnings.

Mr Khan neither condemned the protests nor called for them to stop when speaking to presenter Justin Webb. He instead called for those taking part to be 'conscious' of how their actions might impact the Jewish community.

He told the Today programme: 'I respect fully the right for freedom of expression and free speech, but be cognizant and conscious that some of the things you are saying may be lawful, but it's causing real anguish, hurt and fear to our friends, neighbours and colleagues for no other reason than that they are Jewish.'

Speaking on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, the London Mayor asked demonstrators to carry out their protests in a 'respectful way' ahead of the mayoral elections in May

Pro-Palestinian activists on a National March for Palestine in London on December 9, 2023

A pro-Palestinian protester stands on a giant lion by Nelson's Column

He also stressed the importance of protesting to 'living in a democracy' and said no MP should be calling for them to cease.

'Protest is intrinsic to living in a democracy,' Mr Khan said. 'But it should be lawful, peaceful and safe. So we shouldn't be saying things that causes upset. Of course you have a right to protest. Nobody should be saying you shouldn't protest, that's wrong.'

Earlier this month, the Home Office's independent adviser Robin Simcox slammed the Government for letting extremists go 'unchallenged for too long' and allowing them to 'lurk just below the terrorism threshold'.

Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Simcox said Britain has a 'permissive environment for radicalisation developing that needs urgently addressing'.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has previously called for the Met Police to take tougher action against protesters.

Sunak had promised to deal with the 'root causes' of the problem and ensure that 'no extremist organisations or individuals are being lent legitimacy by their actions and interactions with central government'.

But Met Police Commissioner later defended the force's policing of protests, declaring 'we have to police the law as it is, not as others would wish it to be'.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march in London on October 14, 2023, in support of Gaza

Robin Simcox (pictured) slammed the Government for letting extremists go 'unchallenged for too long', allowing extremist groups to fester

There were 4,103 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK last year, according to figures.

This is nearly double the previous record in 2021, covering all types of 'hate' against Jewish people.

Last week, Michael Gove unveiled a new definition of extremism, warning that divisions in the wake of Hamas's terror attack on Israel posed a 'real risk' to British democracy.

Groups meeting the multi-pronged definition  even if they are non-violent  will be banned from receiving taxpayers' money and from contact with ministers or senior civil servants.

The new definition will apply to organisations only, rather than individuals, and has been signed off by the Cabinet.
A suspected Banksy artwork has appeared overnight on the side of a building near Finsbury Park in London.

The artwork shows a splattering of green which has been painted behind a bare tree to look like foliage, with a stencil of a person holding what appears to be a pressure hose next to it.

The artwork has already been gathering Banksy fans to the location on Hornsey Road in north London as they inspect it to see if it could be the real thing.

James Peak, who created the BBC Radio 4 series The Banksy Story, rushed to the scene after receiving a tip-off.

He told the BBC: 'To my mind it looks like a dead cert.

A suspected Banksy artwork has appeared overnight on the side of a building near Finsbury Park in London

The artwork shows a splattering of green which has been painted behind a bare tree to look like foliage, with a stencil of a person holding what appears to be a pressure hose next to it

The bare wall pictured one year ago on March 2023 showing no greenery

'But as ever with Banksy - you never quite know, until he fesses up by posting it on his website.'

READ MORE: Banksy confirms he is behind tree mural which appeared overnight on the side of a building in north London Advertisement

Banksy fans have been keeping a careful watch on the secretive artist's social media channels to see if the Finsbury Park painting, which appeared on Sunday, gets confirmed.

Mr Peak said the artwork had the hallmarks of a Banksy due to its clear message that nature is struggling and it is up to us to get it back.

He said another clue was the fact it was done with minimum effort but still looked really cool.

Banksy's eye for detail could also be on display as the colour of the paint matches the one used for street signs by Islington Council.

The lack of leaves, despite it being Spring, could also have inspired Banksy to make the painting.

Pictures from the scene one year ago, in March 2023, showed the tree looking similarly bare with no greenery.

But in July 2022 the tree was pictured with a lot more green foliage.

The possible Banksy has delighted many residents of Islington who took to social media to celebrate the artwork.

The artwork has already been gathering Banksy fans to the location on Hornsey Road in north London as they inspect it to see if it could be the real thing

The bare wall pictured in July 2022 showing the tree with a lot more green foliage

Banksy's eye for detail could also be on display as the colour of the paint matches the one used for street signs by Islington Council

One social media user was left puzzled after the artist seemed to have left zip ties at the scene

Local Islington Labour councillor Flora Williamson wrote on Twitter/X: 'By far the most exciting thing to happen on todays canvass session on hornsey road was seeing that Banksy had come to Tollington over night.

'Lots of local interest - Im a fan of it.'

A resident of the area Amy wrote on Twitter: 'Proud new caretakers of an apparent new #Banksy piece in Finsbury Park Woke up this morning to it on the side of flat. You can just about see us smiling proudly on our balcony.'

Paul Drinot wrote on social media: 'If this is a Banksy, its the best thing thats happened to the Hornsey Road in years.'

One social media user was left puzzled after the artist seemed to have left zip ties at the scene - posting a picture of several black ones in a bunch.

The Banksy mania could even see the building's value rise if the piece gets confirmed.

One local joked on social media: 'Banksy came overnight and now my rent will skyrocket.'

The possible reveal of the Islington mural comes after the last time Banksy's art was revealed in London, it ended in scandal.

Two men were arrested and were bailed for allegedly using bolt cutters to steal the artwork which pictured a stop sign featuring three military drones.

Once Banksy announced on social media the artwork belonged to him in an Instagram post shortly after midday on December 23, two men allegedly appeared at the scene and cut down the artwork before running off.

The 'Banksy bandit' suspects allegedly stole the stop sign piece of art from a Peckham street in broad daylight in December

The piece of art was chopped off with bolt cutters just an hour after it was officially unveiled by the underground artist on December 23

Two men were bailed pending further inquiries last month but the police have yet to recover the artwork

A pair of bolt cutters were left behind at the scene following the brazen action

Police have yet to recover the peice of art, but one gallery owner told the BBC at the time it could be worth up to 500,000.

The artwork was widely interpreted by followers of the artist as calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The Instagram revelation led to a stream of locals descending on the site and taking photos of the installation on their phones.

But at around 12.30pm, the peaceful scene was shattered by the arrival of two men, one of whom balanced precariously on an Lime e-bike while hurriedly hacking the sign down with bolt cutters.

Banksy did not comment on the drama of the theft, but had been warned by a social media user: 'The sign will be snatched pronto.'

Pieces by the rogue artist have previously been sold for millions of pounds.

The drones on the piece resembled those on another artwork, Civilian Drone Strike, which depicted them destroying a house while a little girl and her dog watch on in horror.

It was sold for 200,000 to raise funds in opposition to a London arms fair.

The stop sign drones resemble those on another artwork, Civilian Drone Strike, which depicted them destroying a house while a little girl and her dog watch on in horror - it was sold for 200,000

'Love is in the Bin', a Banksy artwork that half-shredded itself during a 2018 auction, sold for 18.6 million - four times its estimate - in 2021

The video showing Love is in the Bin getting shredded after auction went viral

Prints of three of Banksy's works are seen above at Sotheby's in February 2022. Centre is Kissing Coppers, next to Girl with Balloon and 'Vandalised Oils (Choppers)'

Banksy's real identity has never been fully confirmed - and speculation continues to surround the mysterious artist.

His career began in the 90s, and he is known by millions of people thanks to the appearance of dozens of iconic artworks in unexpected locations around the world, with many having gone on to sell for millions.

For years his identity has been a hot topic, with names such as Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja and Gorillaz founder Jamie Hewlett being floated around.

Also suggested is public schoolboy Robin Gunningham, who was 'unmasked' as Banksy by the Mail On Sunday in 2008 after an investigation into his past.

Regardless of who he his, Banksy's works are hot property on the art market.

In 2021, his 'Love is in the Bin' work was bought for more than 18million, with its value having been boosted after a shredder hidden in its frame cut it to pieces moments after it was sold for the first time in 2018.

Banksy is suspected of being the pseudonym of Bristol-born, 53-year-old, public school-educated Robin Gunningham. He is thought to be the man pictured above

Pictured: Banksy's Sweep It Under the Carpet mural

Banksy's career timeline Early 1990s: His work begins appearing in Bristol

Late 1990s: He moves to London and gains public recognition

2000s: Banksy becomes the most famous graffiti artist in the UK and begins hosting exhibitions across the country and abroad

2003: He disguises himself as a pensioner and installs one of his own works in a vacant spot in the Tate Britain, London

2004: He sneaks into the Louvre in Paris and hangs his own version of the Mona Lisa

2010: He directs Exit Through the Gift Shop: A Banksy Film moves to New York and is now the most famous graffiti artist in the world Advertisement

The work, previously known as 'Girl with Balloon', was just one of more than a dozen of Banksy's creations that have sold for more than 2million.

Banksy uses art as a form of activism, regularly making societal and political statements with their works.

Having also sprayed his tag across Bristol, Banksy then evolved with the times and began creating more sophisticated pieces, whilst always keeping his identity hidden.

One of Banksy's earliest works is the The Mild Mild West.

The large mural was painted in 1999 in Bristol's Stokes Croft and shows a teddy bear throwing a Molotov cocktail at three riot police.

It was painted by the artist over three days in broad daylight and is still in the city today, among some of Banksy's other works.

The exhaustive MoS investigation into Banksy's identity heard from dozens of friends, former colleagues, enemies, flatmates and even family members.

The search began with an image of a man in Jamaica at work with his stencils and cans of spray paint.

Although Banksy denied the image showed him, the Mail's investigation was later backed by researchers at Queen Mary University.

A Banksy anti-Brexit mural appeared on the side of a building in Dover, Kent, in May 2017

They used 'geographic profiling' - a technique more often used to catch criminals or track outbreaks of disease - to plot the locations of 192 of Banksy's presumed artworks.

The sites indicated 'hot spots' which were narrowed down to pinpoint an individual. Peaks within these clusters were found to correlate to a pub, playing fields and residential addresses closely linked to Mr Gunningham and his friends and family.

Mr Gunningham attended Bristol Cathedral School and was born in July 1973. A school photo of him bore a striking resemblance to the man in the Jamaica photograph.

A former school friend described him as being 'extremely talented' at art and admitted he would 'not be at all surprised' if he was Banksy.

In anonymous interviews he has done, Banksy has said he first became interested in graffiti at school.

And a fellow artist he was living with in Bristol in 1998, Luke Egan, went on to exhibit with Banksy at Santa's Ghetto, an art store in London's West End.

However, Mr Gunningham's family denied that he was Banksy and the link was never explicitly confirmed.
Police agencies are also working with Signature Flatbreads UK on the issue

The Food Standards Agency watchdog warned that 'metal' could be present

Eight-packs of Aldi tortilla wraps are being recalled over 'contamination' fears

Packs of 99p Aldi tortilla wraps are being pulled from the shelves amid a police investigation into fears they have been deliberately tampered with.

The Government's Food Standards Agency watchdog warned that 'metal' could be present in the wraps after they could have been sabotaged.

It said Signature Flatbreads UK, the makers of the Village Bakery 8 Tortilla Wraps, are 'recalling the product and are working with the relevant food and police agencies to investigate the cause of the contamination'.

The FSA official notice said yesterday: 'Signature Flatbreads UK is taking the precautionary step of recalling Village Bakery 8 Tortilla Wraps White because of a possible presence of metal, as the product may have been tampered with.

'The possible presence of metal makes this product unsafe to eat.'

Packs of Aldi's 99p Village Bakery 8 Tortilla Wraps tortilla wraps are being pulled from the shelves amid a police investigation into fears they have been deliberately tampered with as 'metal' could be present

The recall notice said that no other Aldi products have been affected, and apologised for not meeting 'our normal high standards'

Customers have been urged not to eat the wraps and instead return them to the point of sale for a full refund (stock image)

They added, however, that the recall is not linked to any similar recent notices relating to metal contamination.

Another notice issued at the weekend by the FSA for the 'possible presence of metal' concerned bags of Taj Chopped Spinach, costing about 1.50 a bag, on sale in Asda.

The tortilla wraps notice today said: 'No other Aldi or Signature Flatbreads UK products are affected.'

The FSA said the affected Village Bakery 8 Tortilla Wraps, made by Signature Flatbreads UK, come eight to a pack, weighing 62g, with a 'best before' date covering all dates up to and including 29 April 2024.

Notices will be displayed at the point of sale in all stores selling the wraps, explaining to customers why they are being recalled and telling them what to do if they bought the product.

Buyers have been urged not to eat the product and instead return it to where it was bought from in exchange for a full refund.

An Aldi spokesperson said: 'As a precautionary measure, our supplier is recalling Village Bakery 8 Tortilla Wraps White because this product may have been contaminated with pieces of metal.

'We would like to reassure our customers that no other Aldi products are affected and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.'

Any customers with queries or concerns have been advised to contact Aldi customer services at 0800 042 0800 or visit help.aldi.co.uk.

The supermarket's recall notice added: 'We apologise this did not meet our usual high standards and thank you for your co-operation.'

Signature Flatbreads, from Dunstable, Berkshire, was launched in 2015 and is a 'third generation flatbread bakers which has grown from a small family business to a global leader in flatbread production' according to its website.

It says it has 'state of the art bakeries in the UK and India'.

The weekend's Taj Chopped Spinach alert saw the FSA warn that the 1.50 bags - sold at Asda - could contain shards of metal.

According to March 17's flatbread notice, Taj's spinach scare does not appear to be linked to the warning about 'deliberate contamination' of the tortilla wraps, though both involve metal.

Anyone eating a product laced with metal could start spitting blood if they slice open their mouth and throat by not spotting the splinters.

The FSA said that the Taj spinach product is sold in Eden Farms as well as Asda.

'Taj Foods is recalling Taj Chopped Spinach because it may contain pieces of metal.

'Customers who have already bought the product are being urged not to eat it and instead return it to the point of sale.

Earlier last weekend, a seperate recall notice was issued by the FSA for the 'possible presence of metal' in bags of Taj Chopped Spinach

The 450 gram packets of spinach are sold in Asda and Eden Farms (stock image)

'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.'

The relevant packages of spinach weigh 450g, with batch codes 144009 and 144010 and a best before date of January 2026.

Import and export company Taj Foods, based in Woodford Green, Essex, called the spinach recall a 'precautionary step', adding: 'We apologise for inconvenience caused by this situation.'
Patrick Spens painted picture in response to disasters in Morocco and Libya

A man who was warned that a mural of Mary Poppins on his home was 'harmful graffiti' - while crowds of tourist lap up a new Banksy piece which appeared overnight on the other side of London.

Patrick Spens commissioned the artwork of the magical nanny on the roof of his home in Earl's Court, west London in response to natural disasters in Africa.

But after being threatened with enforcement action by Kensington and Chelsea Council, who gave him two months to apply for planning permission, he has hit back at the local authority for trying to 'whitewash a symbol of hope'.

It comes as elusive street artist Banksy took credit for a new tree mural which popped in north London.

Referring to the new artwork which appeared overnight in Finsbury Park, he said: 'There's a new Banksy out today. I bet the council won't demand its removal!'

An artist who painted a mural of Mary Poppins on the roof of his home has been asked by the council to remove it

Patrick Spen commissioned the artwork as a 'symbol of hope' in response to natural disasters in Africa

Patrick Spen (pictured, sat down) has collected signatures from local residents to stop the council 'whitewashing' his painting

'I bet they won't remove the Banksy!' A new mural by the elusive street artist appeared on the side of a building near Finsbury Park in London

He had a picture of the iconic nanny painted on the roof of his home in Earls Court last year, only for the council to deem it 'harmful graffiti'.

The mural is a black silhouette of Poppins with her signature umbrella and handbag in a red heart.

Kensington and Chelsea council say that as his home is in a conservation area, the painting is a breach of planning rules and have given him two months to apply for permission or have it removed.

Mr Spens, 55, told MailOnline: 'I was in a really bad place at the time. I was sitting at home with my daughter on the roof and I was saying 'God, the world's in a terrible place at the moment. I want to paint something as a symbol of hope', and she said 'just get on with it'.'

Mr Spen, who is a retired consultant, commissioned Saffina Tarbuck, the grandaughter of comedian and TV host Jimmy Tarbuck to paint the picture in the dark so that no one would complain.

The artwork was in response to floods in Libya and the Al Haouz earthquake in Morocco - both of which claimed thousands of lives.

But he said the council wrote to him last month with an ultimatum, giving him two months to put in a planning application and 'canvas local support', while telling him that it would 'most likely be rejected'.

'People are saying that it's appalling that the council are concentrating a picture of Mary Poppins.

'Surely there's more important things for the council to focus on?'

'Everyone could do with a bit of Mary Poppins' magic dust at the moment', he added.

Kensington and Chelsea Council said the painting was 'harmful graffiti' and would spoil the conservation area

The magical nanny was created by Australian-British author P L Travers in her eponymous series of children's books.

Poppins was famously portrayed by Julie Andrews in the Academy Award-winning 1964 Disney film.

Responses to Mr Spen's online petition slammed the council for targeting 'innocent fun'.

Drawings and murals have previously been the subject of rows between residents and local authorities.

This weekend, furious locals slammed a council for removing a mural of the Union Flag on the side of a fish and chip shop in south east London.

The owner of the Golden Chippy in Greenwich said that the mural, deemed by the council as an 'unauthorised advert' was a tourist attraction.

A spokesperson for Kensington and Chelsea council said: 'The Council has been made aware of a painting on an external wall in a conservation area which has been done without the benefit of planning permission.

'We are currently working with the owner to rectify the situation. We have given the owner the opportunity to either apply for retrospective planning permission, or alternatively remove the painting.'
A plane travelling from Thailand to the UK was forced to make a swift landing at a London airport after a passenger reportedly attempted to commit suicide in a cabin toilet.

EVA Air BR67 flight from Bangkok to London had started its descent into the capital when flight attendants realised someone was occupying one of the cabin bathrooms.

With passengers required to exit the bathroom and strap into their chairs for the descent, crewmembers went to check on the occupant - and made a gruesome discovery.

A male passenger was found in a state of serious distress and had sustained injuries that prompted cabin crew and an onboard doctor to administer immediate first aid.

The individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, was stabilised and rushed to a hospital upon landing.

FlightAware said the plane landed at Heathrow at 7:03pm local time 17 minutes ahead of schedule.

EVA Air BR67 flight from Bangkok to London had started its descent into the capital when the man was discovered in the toilet (stock image)

A statement from EVA Air read: 'During the descent of EVA Air's flight no. BR67 from Bangkok to London Heathrow on 15th March, a passenger was found in one of the bathrooms, where it was suspected that he had made a suicide attempt.

'With the assistance of EVA Air's flight attendants and a medically qualified passenger on board, the affected passenger was immediately given first aid treatment.

'On the flight's arrival in London at 7.03pm, the passenger was transported to the hospital for further treatment by medical personnel, and the matter was passed to the police for a follow-up investigation.'
North Korea said Monday its ambassador to Cuba has paid a farewell visit to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel before concluding his mission in what marked Pyongyang's rare state media report on the Caribbean country after its surprise establishment of diplomatic ties with South Korea.

The meeting between Ambassador Ma Chol-su and Diaz-Canel took place Saturday, with the Cuban president expressing his will to continuously advance their traditional socialist ties and conveying a message of friendship to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

The report came after South Korea and Cuba forged formal diplomatic ties on Feb. 14 in a move that many speculated would deal a diplomatic blow to the North, which has long maintained brotherly ties with Cuba.

The North had stayed mum on the announcement and refrained from mentioning Cuba in its state media reports with the exception of a Feb. 15 news article on Cuba's criticism of Israel over its conflict with the Hamas militant group.

The KCNA did not provide further details on Ma's replacement.

It remains unclear whether Ma's return is a routine transfer or a decision affected by the establishment of South Korea-Cuba diplomatic ties.

Ma was appointed to the post in October 2018. He is reported to have received the Friendship Medal from the president during their meeting in recognition of his diplomatic service in Cuba for the past five years. (Yonhap)
Whether they're deemed inappropriate, too much like graffiti or politically 'offensive', murals have all too often been removed despite being beloved by locals.

The most recent incident in London saw a south-east London business owner ordered to get rid of a Union flag mural from the side of his award-winning fish and chip shop in Greenwich.

The mural - featuring the British flag alongside the phrase 'A Great British Meal' - was deemed 'inappropriate' by Greenwich council and branded an 'unauthorised advert'.

So as another painted wall is set to be stripped bare, MailOnline takes a look at why councils in and around London have chosen to conceal celebrated works of art.

'Offensive' Banksy mural

A beloved Banksy mural was removed by a council in Clacton-on-Sea in 2014 for containing 'offensive and racist remarks'.

The mural, which featured on Banksy's website, showed pigeons holding up signs directed at one colourful migratory swallow. One banner said 'Go Back to Africa' while another read 'Migrants not welcome'.

A Banksy mural was removed by a council for containing 'offensive and racist remarks' in 2014

At the time, communications manager for Tendring district council, Nigel Brown, said the council had received a complaint that 'offensive and racist remarks' had been painted on a seafront building.

'The site was inspected by staff who agreed that it could be seen as offensive and it was removed this morning in line with our policy to remove this type of material within 48 hours,' he said.

It was suggested around the time that the council did not realise Banksy was the artist behind the work before removing it from the wall.

David Bowie tribute

Hand painted lyrics from David Bowie's hit song Heroes was washed off the railway bridge in Orford Road, Walthamstow Village, in 2020.

The mural - which read 'We could be heroes, just for one day' - was reportedly removed following a complaint, and because it was deemed inappropriate for a conservation area.

A petition calling on the council to reinstate the mural received more than 500 signatures in just two days - with locals claiming the lyric wall 'cheered' them up as they walked along the pavement.

Deputy leader Cllr Clyde Loakes said at the time: 'We are sorry for the removal of the much-loved David Bowie 'We Could Be Heroes' mural on the Walthamstow Village railway bridge.

Hand painted lyrics from David Bowie's hit song Heroes was washed off the railway bridge in Orford Road, Walthamstow Village, in 2020

'We understand residents' concerns and are looking at how we can put this right as soon as possible.'

'Inappropriate' fish and chip shop mural

Furious residents this week slammed a council's order to remove a Union flag mural from the side of an award-winning fish and chip shop.

Chris Kanizi, 65, who owns Golden Chippy, in Greenwich, south-east London, was told to paint over the mural of the humanoid fish, which is adored by tourists.

The Cyprus-born chef, who has been running Golden Chippy for 20 years and lives two doors down, said tourists have been attracted to the area because of the mural, which was deemed 'inappropriate', according to the Telegraph.

Greenwich council said they received a number of complaints about the mural which they deemed to be an 'unauthorised advert'.

Golden Chippy owner Chris Kanizi standing beside the Union Flag mural painted on the side of his restaurant

Mr Kanizi paid a local artist 250 to paint the mural, which is loved by tourists

However, locals have hit back at the council's order and questioned why they don't take down some of the graffiti in the area instead of the 'fantastic' mural, which features the phrase 'A Great British Meal'.

One local woman said the council 'wouldn't complain' if it was a Banksy and questioned why other artists can't 'lighten up the streets'.

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.'

'Harmful' Mary Poppins mural

A mural of Mary Poppins was today labelled 'harmful graffiti' and must be removed, a London council said.

Patrick Spens painted a picture of the iconic nanny on the roof of his home in Earls Court last year, but has now been threatened with enforcement action by Kensington and Chelsea Council.

A mural of Mary Poppins was today labelled 'harmful graffiti' and must be removed

An artist who painted a mural of Mary Poppins on the roof of his home has been asked by the council to remove it

He painted the mural, a black silhouette of Poppins with her signature umbrella and handbag as a 'symbol of hope' in response to natural disasters in Africa.

But the council say that as his home is in a conservation area, the painting is a breach of planning rules and have given him two months to apply for permission or have it removed.

'Offensive' mural of Queen Elizabeth II

Two murals of the late Queen Elizabeth II with a tattoo and thigh-high stockings was allegedly whitewashed without warning due to being 'offensive' in 2017.

Cafe owner Said Effafali, of Camden, said he was told by officials that the images, painted on his building by celebrated graffiti artist Loretto, were 'a disgrace to our Queen'.

Street cleaning contractors Veolia at the time began painting over the murals during an alleged surprise visit to the Food Bazaar cafe in Gray's Inn Road, Holborn.

One of the murals portrayed the Queen lifting up her gown to show a tattoo on her leg, while in other - which had been on the property wall for more than a year - showed the monarch wearing a frilly dress and stockings.

Two murals of the late Queen Elizabeth II with a tattoo and thigh-high stockings was allegedly whitewashed without warning due to being 'offensive' in 2017

One of the murals portrayed the Queen lifting up her gown to show a tattoo on her leg, while in other showed the monarch wearing a frilly dress and stockings

Banksy removed 'on the grounds of safety'

Last year a large Banksy mural was part-ruined by council workers who removed a key section of the artwork less than 24 hours after it was discovered in Margate, Kent.

The mural, created to highlight the issue of violence against women, portrayed a bruised 1950s housewife in an apron and washing-up gloves shoving a man into a freezer.

But one day after the artwork was spotted, council workers removed the freezer to leave an empty space.

Thanet District Council said at the time: 'We are aware that the graffiti artist known as Banksy has confirmed that the mural that has appeared recently in Margate is his.

'The graffiti is situated on a wall of a privately owned property.

The Banksy mural was created to highlight the issue of violence against women

'A fridge freezer which is believed to have been part of the installation has been removed by council operatives on the grounds of safety as it was on public land.

'The fridge freezer is now in storage and will be returned once it has been made safe to the public.

'We will be contacting the owner of the property to discuss the options to preserve the artwork for the district.'
The Covid 'race for space' looks to be over with London's population almost certainly above its pre-pandemic peak of 10.1million, according to a report.

Analysis by the Centre for Cities has highlighted the shift in the trend for the capital, after an exodus when the country was beset by lockdowns and people were often working from home.

It found that numbers fell by 75,000 between mid-2019 and mid-2021, the equivalent the population of Harrogate.

However, around 66,000 of that had been recouped by mid-2022. That was partly due to net migration to the rest of the UK returning to previous levels.

The bulk was attributed to immigration from abroad, which has been reaching new records.

The report said the population of London is 'now almost certainly higher than it has ever been', although official figures have not been updated yet.

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The Centre for Cities analysis pointed out that net migration to London from overseas remained positive throughout the pandemic. It was 38,170 in 2019-20 and 73,660 in 2021-22.

The report suggested that the increase in outflows from the capital was 'relatively small' and an 'amplification of existing trends'.

'Given there was no large increase in the availability of houses elsewhere in the country this should be no great surprise,' it said.

'London has for many years lost population to the rest of England and Wales, with the difference between births and deaths and international migration driving the growth of the Capital's population.'

The report said the 'appeal of quitting London diminished as it reopened, pandemic restrictions eased, and professionals were required to spend at least part of the week in the office'.

'The question now is whether in the coming years population growth will 'overshoot' to compensate for the increased outflows during the pandemic,' the report said.

Official projections published in January suggested that net migration will add 6.1million to UK numbers over the next 12 years - nearly all the growth from the most recent estimate of 67million in mid-2021.

The rate of expansion has been upgraded after net inflows hit a new record of 745,000 in 2022, with the population now anticipated to hit 70million by mid-2026.

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The ONS came with the caveat that they are based on current trends rather than being predictions, and could come down if the government succeeds in curbing net migration.

The estimates assembled by an expert panel assume long-term net international migration of 315,000 a year from mid-2028 onwards.

Both David Cameron and Theresa May were targeting an annual level below 100,000.

The Conservative manifesto in 2019 pledged 'numbers will come down'. At that point the level was around 240,000.
A US explorer claims his company has the technology to locate the doomed MH370 on the tenth anniversary of its still unsolved disappearance.

Tony Romeo and his company, Deep Sea Vision, first made headlines worldwide earlier this year then they claimed to have found the remains of Amelia Earhart's plane.

March 8 marked the 10-year anniversary of the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 which vanished from radar after taking off from Kuala Lumpur with 239 people on board.

In a new interview with 60 Minutes in Australia, Romeo, the CEO of Deep Sea, said he believed his company was capable of making the breakthrough.

The company is planning to send one of its underwater drones, called the Hugin 6000, down to the ocean floor to search for the missing aircraft.

Deep Sea Vision CEO Tony Romeo is pictured on 60 Minutes

The missing aircraft - a Boeing 777-200ER plane - is seen taking off in France in 2011

One of Deep Sea Vision's drones it plans to use to search for MH370 is pictured

Romeo, who sold his commercial property investments to fund his search, managed to take a sonar image of an aircraft-shaped object on the ocean floor in December

Romeo spent $11 million to fund the trip and buy the high-tech gear needed for the search including an underwater 'Hugin' drone manufactured by the Norwegian company Kongsberg

'It flies at 50 meters above the seafloor and it just goes back and forth, back and forth, back and forth,' Romeo told 60 Minutes on Sunday.

'Big eyes, looking at everything it can see, sucks and stores data, comes back up to the surface, we pluck a thumb drive into it, pull the data out, and we watch it on a computer exactly what it looked at.'

Romeo described the company's technology as being 'unbelievable' and just short of being able to read a credit card number on the seafloor.

He said the company's modified drones could scour four times the area covered in previous attempts to find MH370.

Asked if he thought he could find MH370, Romeo said: 'I think we can.

'I feel like we've proved our credibility, we've proved our competence,' he told 60 Minutes.

'We've proved our ability to take equipment and use novel techniques.'

Deep Sea Visions is preparing to submit a search proposal to the Malaysian government.

'And I believe that the Malaysian government wants answers,' Romeo said.

British pilot Simon Hardy (pictured) has said he believes that the plane was sunk into the ocean at a spot that has never been searched before

The most persistent theory has centred on the pilot - Zaharie Ahmad Shah (pictured) - and suggestions that MH370's disappearance was a deliberate act by him

'I refuse to believe that they do not want a huge accident, a huge crash like this to go unresolved. It just isn't fair, it wouldn't be fair to the families.'

According to his LinkedIn page, Romeo is an entrepreneur who worked in real estate in South Carolina before founding Deep Sea Vision in 2022. He is a qualified attorney with a law degree from the Charleston School of Law.

Romeo also studied at the Air Force Intelligence School and is a former US Navy intelligence officer.

In January, Romeo told USA Today that the search for Earhart's plane took him and his team over 100 days.

'The Pacific Ocean is huge, which Amelia Earhart found out for herself. Its an incredible distance to cover. We were out there for 100 days, over rough seas, and not a lot of ports to reprovision. Thats where we need different equipment so we can take a closer look, see how its laying on the sand, and work with others who have an interest in this.'

Earhart's plane disappeared in 1937. She and navigator Fred Noonan where headed to Howland Island from Lae, New Guinea, where they were due to meet up with the US Coast Guard to refuel. The pair never made the rendezvous.

In a separate interview with the Washington Post, Romeo said that finding Earhart's plane was 'something I've been dreaming about since I was a little kid.'

MH370 inexplicably returned over Malaysia, passing Thai, south Indian, and Indonesian radar

Estimated MH370 flight path, with the island of Sumatra in the top right

Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik creates a sand sculpture of the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 on Puri beach in eastern Odisha state on March 7, 2015

Just what happened to MH370 remains one of the world's great mysteries.

Peter Waring, 41, was drafted into the international search effort to find the 239 people on flight MH370 six months after it disappeared on March 8 2014.

The plane is believed to have gone down in the South Indian Ocean. But several government-backed and private searches over nearly ten years have failed to turn up any substantial information.

The official story given claims that Zaharie Ahad Shah, the pilot in charge of the vessel, executed a sudden U-turn less than an hour into the flight, before it plummeted into the Indian Ocean near an area known as the 7th Arc.

But Waring, an expert in mapping sea floors, believes MH370 was deliberately crashed into an area known as the Geelvinck Fracture Zone, nearly a thousand miles away from the 7th Arc.

He told the Sun that investigators have wrongly worked under the assumption that the plane was out of Shah's control after its final contact with authorities on March 8 2014.

'I think [the search team] may have gone wrong with the assumption that the aircraft wasn't under control at the end,' he said.

'We were taking this quite seriously during the search, that the aircraft may have continued to be under control in one form or another after it crossed the 7th Arc.

'Once that had happened that means that the aircraft was probably further south.

'...if the aircraft was still under control at the seventh arc then the size of the Indian Ocean they could of of reached is so unimaginably large that you wouldn't have been able to afford to search it all.

'There was a whole lot wasted effort looking in the wrong areas.'

The pair's proposed trajectory for the downing of MH370

Despite a frantic search by governments and private companies the plane was never found and the fate of its 237 passengers remains unknown

Officers carrying pieces of debris from an unidentified aircraft apparently washed ashore in Saint-Andre de la Reunion, eastern La Reunion island, France on July 29, 2015

He says he believes the theory of Simon Hardy, a Boeing 777 expert who posits that Shah was 'suicidal' and deliberately flew the plane towards the Geelvinck Fracture Zone.

Hardy, brought into the search effort in Waring's final months with the team, suggested he flew into the trench, around half a mile deep and seven miles wide on the sea floor, knowing it would be difficult to find.

Hardy believes that Shah was in control of the plane when it went down around 1,500 miles off the west coast of Australia.

Shah, who is missing and presumed dead along with all the others on the plane, has been accused of planning murder due to personal problems.

Some theorise that he locked his co-pilot out of the cockpit, closed down all communications, depressurised the main cabin and then disabled the aircraft so that it continued flying on auto-pilot until it ran out of fuel.

His personal problems, rumours in Kuala Lumpur said, included a split with his wife Fizah Khan, and his fury that a relative, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, had been given a five-year jail sentence for sodomy shortly before he boarded the plane for the flight to Beijing.

But the pilot's wife angrily denied any personal problems and other family members and his friends said he was a devoted family man and loved his job.

Peter said on his podcast, The Search for MH370 - Deepest Dive, that the search team's success was measured in how much of the ocean they scanned, rather than whether the search area was correct.

He said: 'It was clear to me, that no matter what new evidence arose or what new analysis was undertaken, that the box [search area] would remain the same.'

Frustrated, he left the project for a new posting in September 2015.

He also criticised the search team's disregard for safety protocols.

'This is arguably the most rough area of ocean in terms of sea state in the world, ships are moving so slowly you could walk faster,' the former naval officer said.

'Not only was the ship moving very slowly, which you don't do in bad weather, but they were dragging this thing[search equipment] behind them that was two miles deep in the water.

'It's really dangerous, we were very lucky no one got hurt and or killed and it annoyed me that we were so flippant with their [crew's] safety.'

Waring added that the search was rushed and incorrectly done, given the immense pressure on the Malaysian government to find the plane as soon as possible.

'There was a lot of political pressure to have milestones, part of my job was to report each day on how much of the search area had been covered the previous day,' he said.

'The metric of success was only how much of that box we had completed, not if the box was in the right place to begin with.'
A motorist has captured footage of the bizarre moment he spotted a wallaby bouncing along a main road in Devon - which is more than 10,000 miles from its home in Tasmania.

The driver spotted the marsupial near Crediton in south Devon and pulled over to film his encounter.

A video was then sent last week to documentary filmmaker and wildlife researcher Tim Whittard, who investigates reports of out-of-place animals.

He said: 'It's quite a remarkable sighting.

'The witnesses do not want to be named, but were both completely bemused by the experience - the driver said she had never expected to see a wallaby casually hopping down the road, and thought it was a baby kangaroo at first.

The wallaby was spotted on the side of the road near Crediton in south Devon. The marsupial is more than 10,000 miles from its home in Tasmania

A video was then sent last week to documentary filmmaker and wildlife researcher Tim Whittard, who investigates reports of out-of-place animals. He said: 'It's quite a remarkable sighting'

The wallaby is over 10,000 miles from its home of Tasmania in Australia. The red-necked wallabies in Britain are believed to have escaped from private collections, although may have been deliberately released

In January, another wallaby, named Wes the Wallaby, in Devon made headlines after he was reported missing from his home on Greendale Farm Shop near Exeter. The farm shop have offered 150 in vouchers for anyone that finds him

'I'm not at all surprised by the sighting though, the presence of red-necked wallabies in the UK has been quite well reported on in recent years, and it is clear we have a small breeding population of them here in Britain.'

In January, another wallaby in Devon made headlines after he was reported missing from his home at Greendale Farm Shop near Exeter.

Wes the wallaby, as he is known, was last seen hopping across the shop's car park and the shop has offered 150 in shop vouchers to anyone who found him.

A post on the farm shop's Facebook page said: 'If anyone happens to see him please notify us immediately.

'Do not approach him but please keep an eye out for him and call us immediately so our team can collect safely.'

MailOnline have approached Greendale Farm Shop for the latest information on the whereabouts of Wes.

Usually native to Tasmania, the red-necked wallabies in Britain are believed to have escaped from private collections, although may have been deliberately released.

Their coat is grey/brown in colour, and as their name suggests, they have red fur around their shoulders and neck.

They are very similar in appearance to kangaroos but are much smaller in size.

Mr Whittard added: 'They are said to be solitary animals, and can be crepuscular or nocturnal, so are likely to be more active at dawn and dusk, or during the night, which explains why the animal was seen after dark.'
Eerie photos reveal a collection of rusting warships lying untouched in a Turkish underwater graveyard as divers bravely explore the remains of the sunken HMS Majestic that was destroyed in a fierce World War I battle.

History enthusiasts and shipwreck fans flood to The Gallipoli Historical Underwater Park, Turkey, to take in the majestic views of a underwater graveyard of battle vessels in a one-of-a-kind museum.

Located near the Turkish seaport of Canakkale, next to the ancient Greek ruins of Troy, the underwater museum is home to an impressive 12 wrecks of warships and two natural reefs that can be accessed through 14 different diving points.

Visitors are escorted back in time 106 years as they dive into the waters and explore the untouched collection of mighty battleships.

The British Royal Navy's HMS Majestic is just one of 12 shipwrecks at the park that was deployed during the ferocious Battle of Gallipoli - which claimed the lives of around 13,000.

The famous HMS Majestic was a British warship sunk by a German U-Boat which hit it with a torpedo off Cape Helles, sinking the vessel with a loss of 49 crew.

Divers inspect HMS Lundy, which served as a minesweeper on behalf of the British Government during World War I, at the Historic Gallipoli Underwater Park in Canakkale, Turkey

Divers swim over the Turkey's most famous shipwreck HMS Majestic - a British warship sunk by a German U-Boat which hit it with a torpedo off Cape Helles, sinking the vessel with a loss of 49 crew

The HMS Lundy, built in 1908, was built as a 188-ton trawler and the exact way the ship sank remains unknown

Divers explored the Mesudiye which made history as the first shipwreck of the Battle of Gallipoli

The 128-meter-long HMS Majestic, which was beaten by the artillery fire of the Turkish troops in Landing at Cape Helles during the Battle of Gallipoli, attracts the attention of diving enthusiasts

The Gallipoli dive site has been open to researcher divers for years, with special permits granted by the government, but since 2021 has been open to everyone - including tourists

It is the seventh wreck that divers visit on their journey down into the depths of the murky waters - sitting largely intact 80ft below the surface of the ocean off the coast of the village of Seddulbahir.

The 128-meter-long beauty, which was sunk by the German submarine 'U-21' under the command of Otto Hersing on May 27, 1915, has become one of the most popular wrecks to visit among divers.

HMS Louis and other wrecks including SS Milo, Ertugrul Bay Massena, Saghalien, Maria Delle Vittorie, Vincenzo Florio, Tuzla Web, HMS Louis, Arburnu Lighter, Helles Barges, HMS Lundy, Arburnu Barge, Kucukkemikli Barges, Mesudiye, and HMS Triumph, can also be visited by those brave enough to enter the deep waters.

HMS Triumph - a 11.9 tonne fighter ship - is located the deepest out of the 14 at over 235ft, as it continues its campaign as a monumental tomb with 73 people lying on it.

The site, which was opened in 2021, is reportedly one of the best preserved battle zones, and therefore included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

By using 3D maps and technology to locate the shipwrecks, the park is able to make them accessible to divers across the world who want to experience the underwater monuments.

'In the underwater park themed with the World War I where the stories of the wrecks of battle ships and what happened in Gallipoli during the battle are depicted, you will have the chance both to dive and learn about the stories of the wrecks accompanied by their three-dimensional models,' the park states on its website.

'For these reasons, Gallipoli Historical Underwater Park Project is one of the most important diving centres of the world'.

In shocking images of the wrecks, viewers can see huge skeletons of once powerful battle vessels reduced to rusted bars and sheets of metal.

A view of British Royal Navy's HMS Louis sunk during the Battle of Gallipoli, covered in moss as it has been laying underwater for decades

The World War I shipwrecks, which were opened to diving tourism in 2021, have become one of the favorite routes for those who want to explore history under water

The British Royal Navy destroyer HMS Louis, which is located in the Historic Gallipoli Underwater Park

The site is home to an impressive 12 wrecks of warships and two natural reefs that can be accessed through 14 different diving points

Coated in thick green and orange rusticles, the eerie bones of the ships lay on the seabed ready for the eyes of divers.

Explorers are also met with a diverse collection of fish and aquatic species while touring the damages.

Images also show how well-preserved the ships are, despite the decades of them being slowly tuned to dust within the waters.

Divers can be seen swimming close to the fragile wrecks, exploring the machinery that once played roles in some of history's most famous battles.

'It's like a time machine that takes you back to 1915 and World War I,' said Savas Karakas, a diver and documentary maker who was one of the first to inspect the wrecks when they opened to the public in October 2021.

'It's a good opportunity for us to remember our past,' said professional underwater photographer Ethem Keskin of the wrecks, some lying just a few metres under the sea and others up to 80 metres.

'I thought about the moment they sank and you feel the stress of war.'

Turkey set out to create a site that would become the go-to destination for divers looking to connect with the events that shaped the present world and continue to offer the tours to those interested.

Other hotspots include the Chuuk Lagoon in Papua New Guinea - famous for its World War II wrecks - and the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, which still suffers the ills of US nuclear testing in the 1940s and 50s.

'Now Gallipoli is becoming an alternative,' Karakas said at the time of Gallipoli's opening.

'This is history, and each shipwreck is like a medal on our chest.'

A diver is seen inspecting the wreck of one of the 14 ships at the site, which has played host to a number of historic battles - the last of which was the Battle of Gallipoli

The wrecks are now covered in thick rusticles after being submerged underwater for several decades

A diver could be seen exploring the popular wreck of the 128-metre long HMS Majestic

The mighty HMS Majestic was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine 'U-21' under the command of Otto Hersing on 27 May 1915

The Gallipoli Historic Underwater Park is allegedly one of the best preserved battle sites - earning it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

The wrecks are overgrown with moss and rust, and divers can even come face-to-face with a diverse variety of fish and other aquatic life

Plans to turn the wrecks into an underwater park were floated first in 2017, following the centennial of the 1915 - 1916 campaign.

Officials had hoped to open the the park in the summer of 2021, but were forced to delay until October due to the Covid19 pandemic.

'There was history and treasure lying underwater for more than 100 years,' Ismail Kasdemir, head of the Canakkale Historical Site said at the time.

'The diving community was curious.'
Millions of Brits are waiting more than a month to see their GP, as shocking new data uncovers the scale of the nation's health crisis.

The latest NHS statistics showed almost 15 million people across England booked in to see their GPs in January.

But staggeringly, 1.6 million appointments - almost one in 10 - took place more than 28 days after being booked, with a further 1.4 million taking place between 22 and 28 days.

News of the latest figures come amid stark warnings from health chiefs that the NHS is in crisis, with more people waiting longer than ever before to see a doctor.

The situation is so dire, some patients are in so desperate they have reportedly been heading to overstretched A&E departments in hope of being treated - or are giving up entirely and paying privately, as waiting times soar to record highs.

Have YOU waited a month to see a GP? Email tom.cotterill@mailonline.co.uk

The latest figures show the areas where the most patients have had to wait more than 28 days for a GP appointment in England

Staggeringly, 1.6 million appointments took place more than 28 days after being booked - with a further 1.4 million taking place between 22 and 28 days after being (file picture)

The NHS said the latest GP waiting data included a number of routine or scheduled appointments, which are deliberately made in advance. However, it's not known how many of these make up the statistics.

Analysis of the latest information from England's 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICB) on GP appointments has revealed the places in England with the most people waiting four weeks or more to see a doctor.

READ MORE: Patients are delaying cancer checks because of difficulties booking GP appointments, damning study reveals Advertisement

Topping the list in January was London, where more than 100,000 people in the capital had to wait more than 28 days. While those waiting between three and four weeks has topped 131,000.

A close second was NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, which covers 2.4 million people in communities like Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield. Almost 100,000 people (99,929) waited at least 28 days for a GP.

North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, which boasts on its website about 'consistently' being 'rated amongst the best in the country', is the third worst in England for GP waiting times, with a backlog of 97,536 waiting 28 days or more.

NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board, which covers Manchester, Rochdale, Wigan, Bolton and Stockport, had 70,362 patients on its month-long waiting list.

While on the south-coast, NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board, had the fifth highest backlog in England, with 69,808.

Wes Street, Labour's shadow health secretary, hit out at the latest figures, telling MailOnline: 'For too many people the front door of the NHS, access to a GP, is broken. Delayed access to GP appointments means patients are waiting in pain worried about their health. And it means treatable conditions can escalate to more serious illnesses. It's also more expensive for the NHS as people report to A&E instead, or conditions become harder to treat.'

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MailOnline analysis previously revealed the 10 GP practices with the highest patient to GP ratios in all of England

The struggle to see a GP is the latest crisis to hit the NHS, which has previously seen scores of junior doctors going on strikes (pictured is a strike action on February 28)

'Labour will get the NHS back on its feet and fix the front door to the health service, training thousands more GPs every year. We will bring back the family doctor, so patients can easily book appointments to see their regular doctor in the manner they choose.'

The situation comes as health chiefs from the British Medical Association (BMA) warned waiting times across the NHS have 'rocketed'.

Dr Katie Bramall-Stainer, chairman of GPC England at the BMA, said: 'It is clear that Government want to take away access to your family GP, and they're succeeding.

'We need patients to join us in the fight back. The numbers don't add up: over 63 million patients are now registered with practices across England - that's 6 million more compared with a decade ago - but with almost 2000 fewer GPs, and we have lost over a thousand GP surgeries since then. Every full time GP who works 60 hours a week is now responsible for almost 2,300 patients - this is not safe.

'No wonder GPs are reducing their hours and their days due to burning out.'

The total number of patients waiting more than 12 hours for an emergency admission decreased by around 18 per cent, from about 54,000 in January 2024 to approximately 44,000 in February 2024, the BMA said.

But this number is still about 27 times higher than in February 2020  pre-pandemic.

While almost 150 million patients were seen same-day in England in 2023, a whopping 17.6 million took place at least one month after patients booked them  or one in every 20.

In the first 10 months of 2023, 14.9 million appointments took place more than 28 days after being booked.

The stark figure was significantly higher than the 12.8 million waits for the whole of 2022, with the previous record of 15.2 million in 2019.

In October 2.6 million appointments took place more than four weeks after being booked. which equated to about one in 13, the Times reported.

The figure was almost a million more than in the same month before the Covid pandemic hit, and 700,000 more than October 2022.

There were also 28,000 excess deaths from January to June this year, with the biggest rise noted in adults aged 50 to 64. Many were dying from preventable conditions including diabetes and heart disease.

In a damning revelation, the Times found that Ronald Leslie Harris, from Hereford, killed himself in June after waiting weeks to see a GP over mental health troubles.

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Meanwhile, Kaine Carlon, 34, was found dead at home in January. He had undiagnosed type 1 diabetes and was unable to make a GP appointment, his flatmate revealed.

Private health insurers have also reported a rising demand for GP appointments. Vitality said a staggering 40 per cent of claims related to private healthcare consultations, up from four per cent in 2015.

Speaking at the end of last year. Spire Healthcare warned its network of private GPs had carried out 41 per cent more appointments than in 2023

Experts have blamed the GP appointment crisis on a rising population and shrinking workforce - as well as the fallout from the pandemic.

Many family doctors are choosing to retire in their 50s, move abroad or leave to work in the private sector because of complaints about soaring demand, paperwork and a toxic environment.

How many people left waiting 28 days or more for GP appointments across England Midlands - 325,772 North East and Yorkshire - 317,533 South East - 264,651 South West - 245,949 East of England - 220,354 North West - 160,309 London - 100,724 Advertisement

The latest junior doctor strike, which will see disgruntled workers walk out for a total of nine days in the run-up to Christmas and in January, will also impact NHS waiting lists, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said.

He has urged the medics, who earn up to 60,000, to 'do the right thing' and call off the industrial action, which will rock hospitals during what is typically their busiest time of year.

The NHS waiting list stands at 7.7million, with hundreds of thousands of patients who have been stuck in the system for over a year. However, the figure for October is down 65,000 on last month in a sign that waiting lists are shrinking slowly but surely.

Louise Ansari, national director at Healthwatch England, said getting GP appointments was the main reason why patients approach the watchdog.

She said that challenges with long phone queues or online tools meant some patients 'no longer try to book appointments at all'.

NHS England data shows that the waiting list fell 0.8 per cent in October.

However, the 7.71million toll still marks one of the highest figures logged since NHS records began in August 2007 and a rise of 490,000 on October 2022.

Within the latest set of figures, the NHS revealed that almost 14.5 million appointments in England took place on the same day as being booked.

While 2.6million only had to wait for 24 hours, and 6.2 million waiting between two days and a week.

The total numbers waiting between eight and 14 days was 3.8 million, while those having to hang on for appointments for between 15 and 21 days was 2.1 million.

Speaking of the latest GP figures, an NHS spokeswoman said: 'Many appointments in general practice are for follow up reviews or routine appointments which need to be booked in more than four weeks in advance for clinical reasons.

'In fact, general practice teams are seeing and treating over a million people a day  a record number  and half a million more appointments are delivered every week than before the pandemic, while the NHS is also improving access to GP appointments by recruiting over 34,000 additional staff and by increasing the number of GP training places by 50 per cent by 2031/32 as part of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson previously said: 'We are making it easier for patients to see and contact their GP.

'There are now 44 more appointments on average in every GP practice, per working day compared to October 2019 and the government has met its manifesto commitment to deliver over 50 million more appointments every day.'
Migrant deportation flights to Rwanda may not take off for weeks even if a new law designed to get them off the ground as soon as possible is passed this week.

Whitehall officials believe it will take six weeks for the first aircraft to head for east Africa once all legal challenges have been exhausted, with 150 deportees expected to be handed notice letters this week.

But that first flight could be the first for some time, The Times reports that the government in Kigali wants a pause after it lands in order to make sure the system is working properly.

A source told the paper: 'It'll take them two months to process and move out of the reception centre, but then they will be able to take more and be able to process them quicker.'

It means that regular flights may not start until late summer at the earliest, with the first arrivals due to be hosted in a hostel with a capacity of 200.

It comes as MPs and peers begin what is expected to begin several days of Parliamentary 'ping-pong' over the legislation, after the House of Lords made a series of amendments.

No10 today urged peers and any rebellious MPs to allow the law to pass, with a spokesman for the pM saying: 'We believe the bill as it stands is the right bill to get flights off to Rwanda this spring. We believe it is the right bill to deter people from coming here in the first place.'

Whitehall officials believe it will take six weeks for the first aircraft to head for east Africa once all legal challenges have been exhausted, with 150 deportees expected to be handed notice letters this week.

It means that regular flights may not start until late summer at the earliest, with the first arrivals due to be hosted in a hostel with a capacity of 200 (pictured)

The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, which seeks to compel judges to regard the east African country as safe in a bid to clear the way to send some asylum seekers on a one-way flight there.

It is designed to deport Channel migrants to the east African country within days of their arrival in the UK.

Ministers believe it will break the business model of the people smuggling gangs. It has been mired in legal challenges for two years, but the new legislation will declare Rwanda a safe country and severely limit the scope for courts to intervene.

The Commons will on Monday get a chance to debate and vote on amendments passed by the House of Lords.

Peers voted by majorities of more than 100 votes on a series of changes to the Bill earlier this month, with the size of the defeats the biggest to have been suffered by Rishi Sunak as PM.

But Home Secretary James Cleverly said that blocking the bill only helped people smugglers who risked peoples lives while making huge sums of money cramming migrants into rickety boats to cross from France.

Peers supported a move to ensure the controversial Bill is fully compliant with domestic and international law.

They also demanded that Parliament cannot declare Rwanda a safe country for housing asylum seekers until a new treaty with Kigali is fully implemented.

In a further change, the Lords voted in favour of establishing a monitoring mechanism able to determine whether the safeguards in the treaty have been, and continue to be, fully implemented.

Labour is expected to oppose the government again, with Sir Keir Starmer pledging to scrap the Rwanda scheme even if it is shown to be working.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper yesterday accused the Tories of overseeing 'chaos, collapsing confidence and calamitous costs' in the immigration and asylum system She said that a new returns and enforcement unit was needed to accelerate work on removals and fix processing issues.

It will work to identify, shut down and punish workplaces that are illegally employing and exploiting asylum seekers and co-operate with the police on arresting traffickers of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children from hotels.

Officers from the unit will also be posted to foreign countries to negotiate more returns agreements.

The unit will be backed with a new fast-track asylum casework system for safe countries so arrivals can be processed and returned within weeks.

Labour said the team will be funded through savings made from clearing the asylum backlog and ending the use of hotels to house migrants, currently costing taxpayers 8 million a day.
Holly Willoughby was reportedly left 'distraught' after learning about the plot

A security guard accused of plotting to kidnap and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby appeared in court today.

Gavin Plumb, 36, has pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting murder and incitement to commit kidnap the former This Morning host.

The defendant is accused of planning to assemble a kidnap and restraint kit and encouraging another man to travel to the UK from the USA to carry out the alleged offences.

During a short case management hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court today, Plumb listened closely to legal arguments put to the trial judge, Mr Justice Edward Murray.

Gavin Plumb, 36, appeared for a short case management hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday morning

Holly Willoughby (pictured) returned to Dancing On Ice after taking a break from the limelight

Plumb has pleaded not guilty and is set to face a trial next year

Wearing a grey sweatshirt and with closely cropped hair and a chin beard did not speak during the 30-minute hearing.

A trial date has been fixed for June 24 this year.

Ms Willoughby, 42, pulled out from presenting the This Morning show on October 5 just moments before going on air after police informed her bosses about the alleged plot.

The presenter then stepped down as host of the ITV flagship daytime show on October 10, saying on social media it was an 'honour to just be part of its story', but that she felt 'I have to make this decision for me and my family'.

She was reportedly left 'distraught' after learning about the alleged plot.

Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard have now taken over as hosts of This Morning.

Holly Willoughby returned to the TV screens earlier this year to present Dancing On Ice.
Hundreds of protesters descended on a Brooklyn neighborhood Saturday to protest a planned homeless shelter that will house only men.

The shelter, proposed by the city, will be a 32-room hotel with a community facility, and will provide services like case management, housing placement, and community partnerships that will work to provide the men with jobs.

The planned site is located in heavily residential Bensonhurst, where locals have expressed unease over the site's proximity to several schools.

City officials have shot back that the neighborhood is one of few in the five boroughs without a shelter, and that residents have had ample notice, being notified back in November.

Unswayed, residents, business owners, and politicians in the mostly Asian neighborhood came together Saturday to say no to the city's plans, as Mayor Eric Adams' administration works to address the city's rapidly rising homeless rate.

Scroll down for video:

Thousands of protesters descended on the streets of Bensonhurst Saturday to protest a planned homeless shelter that will house only single men

Thousands in the mostly Asian neighborhood came together Saturday to say no to the city's plans, as Mayor Eric Adams' administration works to address the city's rising homeless rate. the city's shelter system skyrocketed more than 50 percent over the past year

'We're concerned that the homeless will affect the safety of kids,' local father Michael Huang told Fox 5 from the hectic procession of the proposed site, which will house the mentally ill.

'It's just going to cause more problems than we already have,' added longtime resident Marie Brullo.

'It's going to increase crime.'

She, like others, forecasted unrest once the shelter comes to fruition, citing how the number of homeless in the city's shelter system skyrocketed more than 50 percent over the past year - driven by an unrelenting surge of migrants.

'People are going to be fighting against them,' she said, citing how she's lived in the neighborhood since 1966.

'It's going to be a war here.'

Others - including Democratic Assembly Member William Colton and City Council Member Susan Zhuang - said more of the same, promising more fighting before the facility is finished.

'This is the wrong place and the wrong policy homeless shelters don't help homeless people, and we are not going to be silent about it,' said Assemblyman Colton.

'We can do the right thing for them, affordable housing, great, use the money,' added another protester.

'But don't tell us taxpayers with our money what to do with it.'

'We're concerned that the homeless will affect the safety of kids,' local father Michael Huang told Fox 5 from the hectic procession about the proposed site, which will house the mentally ill

'It's just going to cause more problems than we already have,' another resident in the predominantly Asian, residential neighborhood said. 'It's going to increase crime'

Locals have expressed unease over the planned site's proximity to several schools. The building on 25th Avenue and 86th Street that will house the men is seen here

City officials have shot back that the neighborhood is one of few in the five boroughs without a shelter, and that residents have had ample notice, being notified about it back in November

Unswayed, hundreds of residents, business owners, and politicians in the mostly Asian neighborhood came together Saturday to make their stance about the planned facility known

Among them Democratic Assembly Member William Colton (center) and City Council Member Susan Zhuang (right), who promised more fighting before the facility is finished

'We can do the right thing for them, affordable housing, great, use the money,' added another resident. 'But don't tell us taxpayers with our money what to do with it'

'This is the wrong place and the wrong policy homeless shelters don't help homeless people, and we are not going to be silent about it,' the assemblyman said, as he urged city officials to reconsider the already laid plans

A spokesperson for the Department of Social, meanwhile, said: 'This will be the first shelter in this community district offering New Yorkers experiencing homelessness the critical opportunity to receive quality care as they get back on their feet.

'As part of our equitable shelter siting approach, we are ensuring that every community has the safety net resources to help their vulnerable neighbors.'

Officials reiterated: '[T]his community district has no shelters so we look forward to bringing this vital resource to the community.

'Working together with our not-for-profit provider-partner Project Renewal, we will be providing robust wraparound supports as dedicated staff work closely with shelter residents to help them stabilize their lives and move into permanent housing.'

The retaliatory statement concluded: 'As we have always done, we will continue to maintain open lines of communication with the community and remain committed to ongoing engagement as we work collaboratively to support our neighbors in need.'

Project Renewal is a New York-based nonprofit that helps homeless and low-income men and women who often have a drug addiction or mental illness - two traits officials have confirmed some of the shelter's future inhabitants will have.

A spokesperson for the Department of Social, meanwhile, said: 'This will be the first shelter in this community district offering New Yorkers experiencing homelessness the critical opportunity to receive quality care as they get back on their feet'

'As part of our equitable shelter siting approach,' officials added, 'we are ensuring that every community has the safety net resources to help their vulnerable neighbors'

Sighs seen at the Saturday expressed ire over the planned site's vicinity to multiple local schools and playgrounds, in an area known for its immigrant population and working-class demographic

In turn, attendees Saturday toted signs urging Adams' administration to reconsider, with one telling civic staffers: 'We need jobs! Not Shelters!'

Others pointed to the planned site's vicinity to multiple local schools and playgrounds, in an area known for its immigrant population and working-class demographic.

'No shelters near playgrounds or schools', one sign read.

'Community's safety first!' insisted another. 'No homeless shelter.'

Some addressed former NYPD Captain Adams directly, promising: 'Kick shelters out - or we'll vote you out.'

Meanwhile, it's been nearly a year-and-a-half since the first-term mayor launched his controversial homeless outreach effort, as hundreds of the thousands of New Yorkers living on city streets are believed to have untreated mental illness.

In most cases, officials have classified most of these maladies as 'severe', with several fitting that criteria committing violent crimes in the past year.

A simultaneous stream of migrants has hampered the progressive's ongoing attempt, which has seen several facilities installed in residential neighborhoods like Manhattan's Upper West Side in recent months.

The empty facility at 2501-2511 86th Street in Brooklyn is seen here.Adams announced a 60-day limit for asylum seekers this past July - a deadline that has likely contributed to the rise in unhoused New York's taking advantage of the city's homeless shelter system in the past year

It comes a year-and-a-half after the first-term mayor launched a controversial homeless outreach effort, as hundreds of the thousands of New Yorkers living on the streets are said to have untreated mental illness

This, in turn, has spurred swift public outcry, with residents irate over several the installations proximity to where children play and congregate.

Project Renewal has played a large role in these plans - as an average of 83,985 people take advantage of the city's more than 365 shelters each day, a preliminary management report released by Adam's office in January revealed.

That's up compared to the 54,738 individuals living in these facilities - which includes 47 repurposed hotels - that time in 2022.

Those numbers represent an uptick of at least 53 percent - a number that officials earlier this year blamed on Joe Biden and the rules his administration has place at the border and beyond.

'The flow of asylum seekers to New York City drove a 147 percent increase in entries to shelter for families with children and a 185 percent increase in entries to shelter for adult families,' the report said.

The report, meanwhile, added that the number of single adults entering these shelters - all run and overseen by the DHS - plummeted by 13 percent compared to a year ago.

Adams in January implored the federal government to reassess its policies pertaining to migrants, as they continue to add to the city's already alarming homeless rate.

The average length of stay also dropped - by about 29 percent for families and 10 percent for singles - but Adams that same month implored the federal government to reassess its policies pertaining to migrants, as they add to the city's already alarming homeless rate.

'We're getting close to anywhere from 2,500 to peaking at 4,000 a week,' Adams told Scotto during the interview, before which he took Fox 5's Rosanna Scotto on a rare tour of the recently reopened asylum seeker center at Midtown's Roosevelt Hotel.

'What happens when there's no more room?' Scotto asked at one point during the interview, during which the 63-year-old Brownsville native sat opposite her, in front of several American - and one New York - flags.

'We were not just saying we're out of room as a soundbite,' Adams answered, citing the more than 161,000 migrants whom have arrived and sought city aid since spring 2022.

'We're out of room, literally', the Democrat declared.

'People are going to be eventually sleeping on the streets.'

The assertion spurred Scotto - apparently tired of the situation like countless other New Yorkers - to ask Adams what it would take for him 'to close the front door.'

Adams replied that he could not, due to laws that prohibit both state and local officers from enforcing federal immigration laws.

'I don't have the authorization to tell people that they can't come into New York City,' Adams explained to an unaware Scotto, who went on to ask: 'Why not?'

'It's against the law,' he replied, seemingly angry at the question. He then said it a second time, asserting once more: 'It's against the law.'

The mayor made the assertion during a sitdown with Fox 5's Rosanna Scotto , where he revealed the city's 'sanctuary' status has hindered his ability to handle the crisis

He added: '[But] [w]e cannot by law tell someone if they come into the city, you cannot come into the city.

'We can't even turn them over to ICE.'

The mayor's assertion - while decidedly different from some of his statements early on in the crisis - was true, with The New York for All Act broadly prohibiting officials from funneling migrants into ICE custody.

When asked if the local police could notify the federal agency, he cited a portion of the guidance sharing sensitive information with federal authorities.

'The law states that we cannot notify ICE,' the mayor reiterated. 'I cannot break the law and enforce the law.'

'We're getting close to anywhere from 2,500 to peaking at 4,000 a week,' Adams told Scotto during the Tuesday interview, before which the reporter took a rare tour of the recently reopened asylum seeker center at Midtown's Roosevelt Hotel

When asked why officials were doling out so many benefits to migrants - such as hotel rooms, food, clothing, cellphones and even health insurance - Adams said they had now diverted to the bare essentials

When asked why officials were doling out so many benefits to migrants - such as hotel rooms, food, clothing, cellphones and even health insurance - Adams said they had now diverted to the bare essentials.

'We have never witnessed this level of migration in this hemisphere,' Adams said, mentioning the 'destabilization' of Venezuela.

'We are being inundated, and we have now moved to another phase of saying all of those services that you're talking about we're down to food, shelter, clothing. That's it.'

He proceeded to point out that '[the crisis at the border] is a national problem,' adding that 'it's unfair for local municipalities and cities to handle [it].'

As the dual crises continue, the city has opened more than 210 emergency shelter sites - not to be confused with its 366 homeless shelters - to address the arriving migrants.

Adams announced a 60-day limit for asylum seekers this past July - a deadline that has likely contributed to the rise in unhoused New York's taking advantage of the city's separate homeless shelter system seen in the past year.

Over the last two years, our city has been managing an ongoing national humanitarian crisis, providing shelter and care to approximately 183,000 new arrivals  a number larger than the population of most US cities.



Today, the City of New York came to an agreement with The Legal pic.twitter.com/03caz0dKSH  Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) March 15, 2024

This past week, Adams' administration made headway in rolling back a 1981 law guarantees emergency housing for homeless people amid the migrant invasion, which accounts for approximately 183,000 new arrivals - a number 'larger than the population of most US cities,' Adams said Friday as he reached an agreement that limits how many single adult migrants can reapply for a shelter bed after 30 days.

'Over the last two years, our city has been managing an ongoing national humanitarian crisis, providing shelter and care to approximately 183,000 new arrivals,' Adams said.

'Today, the City of New York came to an agreement with The Legal Aid Society which gives us additional flexibility under the 1981 consent decree known as Callahan that addresses the Right to Shelter.'

He added in a video recording shared to X of the 'right to shelter' law: 'We have been clear since day one that the right to shelter was never intended to apply to large-scale migrant populations arriving without housing or legal work status.'

That said, the change did not change the current 60-day shelter limit that is in place for migrant families, nor did it pertain to homeless New Yorkers - the demographic that will inhabit the Bensonhurst facility.

It will see all newly arriving migrants will still receive a shelter bed for 30 days - though, after those 30 days, migrants with extenuating circumstances can reapply for a bed.

The city, meanwhile, is expected to continue offering migrants bus and plane tickets to enable them to travel to other cities in an attempt to reduce the city's burden, as the two front crisis continues.
Thousands of UFO fanatics flocked to a small city in central France in the hopes of finally meeting extra-terrestrial life.

The event, organised by fringe group Alliances Celestes, reportedly drew around 2,200 people who each paid between 150 to 190 (128 to 162) to attend the three day conference held in Zenith Limoges Metropole building in Limoges, a small city with a population of around 130,000.

Organisers said they wanted to prepare people for the arrival of aliens or 'new-style encounters.'

The event's website reads: 'The mission of this citizen delegation is to accompany humanity in this process, in order to properly inform and reduce the fear and stress that this type of encounter can generate.'

Though media was banned from the event, video of the conference was leaked to BFMTV, and showed thousands of people attentively listening to someone speaking on a set on the stage.

A Limoges, en ce moment, se tient un congres... pour preparer l'arrivee des extraterrestres

L'evenement inquiete les autorites, qui craignent des derives sectaires

3000 personnes sont au rendez-vous.

Bfmtv. com s'est rendu sur place en camera cachee @BFMTV pic.twitter.com/GPWZRNC8UR  Marie Gentric (@MarieGentric) March 18, 2024

The event, organised by fringe group Alliances Celestes, reportedly drew around 2,200 people who each paid between 150 to 190 (128 to 162) to attend

The stage was decorated with white furniture, including several seats and what appeared to be a high table on the right

The conference was held in held in the Zenith Limoges Metropole building (pictured) in Limoges, a small city with a population of around 130,000.

The stage was decorated with white furniture, including several seats and what appeared to be a high table on the right.

The background of the set was made up of 'futuristic' windows that portrayed stars rushing past the 'alien room' they were in.

The speaker can be heard telling conference attendees: 'We are in contact with civilizations. When I say in contact, it is with communication and a partnership, a collaboration.

'But they have a big problem, these civilizations, which is that they don't know how to communicate with the citizens of Earth.

'For what? Because the citizens of Earth are afraid.'

Two French reporters managed to sneak in, and said they saw Alliances Celestes' director Jean-Michel Raoux dressed in a blue and yellow outfit claiming he was a being from the planet 'Niam.'

Raoux reportedly claims he regularly meets with aliens and that he has the power to bring aliens to different parts of the Earth.

While many in France dismissed the event as a harmless conference, political figures warned that these events draw in conspiracy theorists and extremists

One person invited to the conference was QAnon sympathiser Antoine 'Q' Cuttitta

The crowd also heard from Anne Givaudan, a 'galactic reporter' who claimed she was from the land of 'Shambhala'. She told the conference's attendees that she has witnesses human-hybrid animals in Antarctica.

'That's why it's time to get up and say to ourselves, what are we doing? Do we trust beings who have always deceived us in all areas? A new world must emerge,' she told a crowd.

But while many in France dismissed the event as a harmless conference, political figures warned that these events draw in conspiracy theorists and extremists.

One person invited to the conference was QAnon sympathiser Antoine 'Q' Cuttitta.

The conspiracy theorist regularly posted conspiratorial videos to YouTube before the platform shut his channel down.

According to Conspiracy Watch, Cuttita helped set up the Human Health Alliance International, a group known for its embrace of 'alternative' medicine. It ran a platform that offered to connect patients with debilitating illnesses with 'aromatherapists', 'energeticians', 'magnetizers', 'massotherapists' or even 'naturopaths.'

'I was stunned that such an event took place in Limoges,' Thierry Miguel, vice-president of the Haute-Vienne department council tweeted.

'Who are these eccentrics who invite themselves to Limoges to put the ideas of charlatans and conspiracy theorists into people's heads?'

Miguel said he plans to organise a public meeting on the role of science and social progress.

'We cannot stand there with our arms crossed in the face of possible charlatans who will come and talk to us about theories from another time,' he told BFMTV.

'When a society is dysfunctional, it takes refuge in values like these. But we must strive to demonstrate the truth from the false by relying on science.'
The United States on Sunday condemned North Korea's ballistic missile launches this week as a violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions, and called for the recalcitrant regime to return to dialogue.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the North fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Monday morning (Korea time), days after Seoul and Washington concluded their major springtime military exercise.

"The United States condemns the DPRK's March 17 ballistic missile launches. These launches, like the other ballistic missile launches in recent years, are in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions," a State Department spokesperson said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency.

DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The spokesperson stressed that the launches pose a threat to the North's neighbors and undermine regional security.

"We remain committed to a diplomatic approach to the DPRK and call on the DPRK to engage in dialogue," the official said. "Our commitments to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remain ironclad."

The latest launches came as Seoul is set to host the third Summit for Democracy, a U.S.-led initiative to promote solidarity among democracies, from Monday through Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Seoul to attend the ministerial segment of the forum, while U.S. President Joe Biden is set to attend it virtually. (Yonhap)
A New Orleans school bus driver is being hailed as a hero after she ushered students, some as young as kindergartners, off of her vehicle moments before it blew up.

Kia Rousseve who just started working for the school district in February, that she was making her fifth stop on a regular morning around 7am on March 13 when she noticed that her bus was losing power in the Central City section of the city.

'I seen the smoke and then a little girl came and told me the bus was on fire underneath. I got them off,' Rousseve, 28, told WVUE. The exact cause of the blaze remains under investigation but the driver believes that a faulty alternator is to blame.

The hero driver went on to say that despite getting all of her children off safely and having nothing to do with the fire, she was still subjected to a drugs test, which she passed.

Rousseve said that she helped the children escape through the front door rather than the emergency exit.

Kia Rousseve, 28, just started working for the school district in February and was about halfway through her route when the fire broke out

'I seen the smoke and then a little girl came and told me the bus was on fire underneath. I got them off,' Rousseve, 28, said in an interview

'I turned the bus off and got off. When I got off, the bus blew up. All I heard was boom, boom, boom. I was like oh my God, the bus blew up,' Rousseve said

'I turned the bus off and got off. When I got off, the bus blew up. All I heard was boom, boom, boom. I was like oh my God, the bus blew up,' Rousseve said.

In a separate interview with NOLA.com, Rousseve said: 'If I would have been still on that bus... I would have blew up with the bus.'

Rousseve she was thinking of her own child as she rescued the children. 'I feel great about saving other kids lives and saving my life,' she said.

Rousseve has been driving buses in New Orleans since 2021.

In the wake of the incident, Rousseve said that she's struggled to sleep and is afraid to get behind the wheel of her bus again. 'I'm really ... not sleeping. It's just been a lot going on,' she told the website.

'Her ability to stay calm in the face of danger, ensuring not a single child came to harm is nothing short of heroic. It's a poignant reminder of the crucial role bus drivers play in our children's lives, often going unnoticed until a moment of crisis thrusts hem into the spotlight,' a statement being shared on social media about Rousseve reads, according to NOLA.com.

According to a study from the Department of Transport, bus fires are reported daily in the US but few are as explosive as the one endured by Rousseve and her passengers.

In March 2023, a school bus was recorded engulfed in flames in the BW Cooper section of the city. While two months later, a tourist bus in the city also caught fire.
A young woman thrown in prison for six months following a routine 'stop and search' by police was awarded a $320,000 pay out, with bodycam footage revealing the officer's actions were unlawful.

The video shows Ebonie Madden in 2019 being bailed up with her companion, Dylan Turner, on a South Penrith street, in Sydney's west.

Mr Dylan is seen holding a black bag which is confiscated and searched by Senior Constable Michael Darnton and another officer.

But when Senior Constable Darnton uncovers a knife inside, he places Ms Madden in cuffs - and she was later charged with resisting arrest, possessing a knife and theft.

'You are under arrest for custody of a knife in a public place,' Senior Constable Darnton told Ms Madden before Mr Turner interjected and said: 'It's mine, chief.'

Ebonie Madden was jailed for six months in 2020 after police searched her and a companion, Dylan Turner, on a South Penrith street, in Sydney's west

Senior Constable Darnton, who ignored the comment, later told a court that he and the other officer 'did not hear' Mr Turner.

The clip also shows a third officer, Danielle Munt, telling the pair, 'that's what happens when you're mouthy, you get searched'.

The officer later admitted in court the comments were 'unprofessional'.

Ms Madden spent six months behind bars in 2020, but in December 2022, she won a $320,000 compensation payout from NSW Police after a judge found that Senior Constable Darnton did not have reasonable grounds to justify conducting a search.

The court also ruled that she had been subject to malicious prosecution and false imprisonment, saying 'the clear inference is that Darnton's motivation was other than a legitimate exercise of police powers'.

That ruling was upheld on appeal in February.

A spokesman for NSW Police told the ABC the force will review the Court of Appeal judgement and consider ways to improve the way they handle such matters.

In December 2022, Ms Madden won $320,000 after a judge found that Senior Constable Darnton did not have reasonable grounds to justify conducting a search

However, new data has revealed that there may be thousands of unlawful searches being conducted around the state.

Civil litigator and criminal lawyer Peter O'Brien and UNSW Professor Vicki Sentas fear police officers may be abusing their powers, saying it's likely that the vast majority of searches in this state are conducted unlawfully.

'[Australia] has one of the largest per capita police populations in the world  so when there's a quiet night, police often feel the need to be proactive,' Mr O'Brien said.

'And what that actually means, in many instances, is that they are overstepping their mark.'
Banksy today confirmed he was behind a mural which appeared overnight on the side of a flat block in north London - prompting locals to worry their rent could now skyrocket.

The artwork in Finsbury Park shows a splattering of green paint behind a bare tree to resemble foliage, with a stencil of a person holding a pressure hose depicted next to it.

Some residents said they were 'proud and delighted' at the thought of the anonymous artist choosing their street for his latest mural when it emerged on Sunday after being painted overnight.

But James Roebuck, 26, who lives in the block, said: 'Banksy came overnight and now my rent will skyrocket.'

Banksy - Britain's most famous street artist - is renowned for choosing homes at random to use for his artwork, often shooting up their value by millions.

It can lead to problems though, with the owner of one building in Shoreditch painting over one of the artist's etchings after they became irritated by a security light constantly being activated by Banksy fans turning up to view it.

Meanwhile, homeowners Garry and Gokean Coutts spent 200,000 removing a mural of a seagull from their house in Lowestoft, Suffolk, when they were forced to hire security after it became a target for vandals and thieves.

One Banksy artwork that appeared in London in December - a traffic stop sign covered with three military drones - was stolen less than an hour after appearing on a street in Peckham.

The Banksy artwork has appeared on the side of a building near Finsbury Park in London

The artwork shows a splattering of green which has been painted behind a bare tree to look like foliage, with a stencil of a person holding what appears to be a pressure hose next to it

The bare wall pictured one year ago on March 2023 showing no greenery

Banksy officially confirmed the painting was his at 11.13am on Instagram

Banksy, who has 12.3million followers on Instagram, always confirms an artwork is his by posting a picture of it.

This came for the Finsbury Park painting at 11.13am today.

Prior to the official announcement, the artwork had already been gathering fans at the site on Hornsey Road in north London.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was 'delighted' to see the artwork in his Islington North constituency.

'Banksy's come to Finsbury Park with a bit of greenery in a place that needs a bit more greenery. We're the most densely populated constituency in the country and I'm just delighted,' the MP said.

'It gives the idea that we could do with much more greenery everywhere and I think that's a really nice message.'

James Peak, who created the BBC Radio 4 series The Banksy Story, rushed to the scene yesterday after receiving a tip-off.

Prior to the announcement he was already sure it was a Banksy.

Mr Peak said the artwork had the hallmarks of a Banksy due to its clear message that nature is struggling and it is up to us to get it back.

He said another clue was the fact it was done with minimum effort but still looked really cool.

Banksy's eye for detail could also be on display as the colour of the paint matches the one used for street signs by Islington Council.

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was 'delighted' to see the artwork in his Islington North constituency

The lack of leaves, despite it being spring, could also have inspired Banksy to create the painting.

Pictures from the scene one year ago, in March 2023, showed the tree looking similarly bare with no greenery.

But in July 2022 the tree was pictured with a lot more green foliage.

The artwork's appearance has delighted many residents of Islington who took to social media to celebrate.

Wanja Sellers, a Hornsey Road resident who lives a few doors down from the mural, said: 'We're so proud and delighted that Banksy chose our road and chose Finsbury Park for his work.

'The bright green colours represent Islington, which is lovely, and also, of course, St Patrick's Day, which is nice and festive.

'Choosing the colours of our borough just makes it feel like a personal message to us residents. We just feel so proud.'

Councillor Roulin Khondoker, executive member for equalities, culture and inclusion, said in a statement to PA: 'Culture is a powerful way to tell meaningful stories and we welcome this artwork in Islington, a borough that celebrates creativity.

'This fantastic piece from Banksy has sparked a real buzz across Islington and beyond, and we very much want the artwork to stay for people to enjoy. We want to find more ways that we can tell important stories through art and culture.

'Trees are a vital part of our work to tackle the climate emergency. We've planted nearly 900 in the last year alone, and we work hard to care for our trees and help them to thrive.'

It is understood that the cherry tree in front of the artwork is around 40 to 50-years-old and is in declining health. The council's tree service had been maintaining it for some time to help prolong its lifespan and would continue to try to keep the decaying tree alive.

The artwork has already been gathering Banksy fans to the location on Hornsey Road in north London as they inspect it to see if it could be the real thing

The bare wall pictured in July 2022 showing the tree with a lot more green foliage

Banksy's eye for detail was on display as the colour of the paint matches the one used for street signs by Islington Council

Banksy's career timeline Early 1990s: His work begins appearing in Bristol

Late 1990s: He moves to London and gains public recognition

2000s: Banksy becomes the most famous graffiti artist in the UK and begins hosting exhibitions across the country and abroad

2003: He disguises himself as a pensioner and installs one of his own works in a vacant spot in the Tate Britain, London

2004: He sneaks into the Louvre in Paris and hangs his own version of the Mona Lisa

2010: He directs Exit Through the Gift Shop: A Banksy Film moves to New York and is now the most famous graffiti artist in the world Advertisement

Lidia Guerra, another Hornsey Road resident, said: 'The way it's been done, with the paint spraying down, reminds me of a weeping willow, so there's perhaps a message about the struggle of nature with the dead tree in front.

'It's just great - when we read about it last night, we knew we had to come and see it as soon as possible.

'We feel so proud to think he chose our street.'

Chris Beskin, another resident of Hornsey Road, said he welcomes the mural, saying it is a 'great thing to have in our area'.

'I'm absolutely delighted to see this on our street - I think it's great and sends a strong message, I'd like to see more of it, to be honest, the more the merrier,' he said.

'I think it's probably one of his biggest pieces in a while - and the fact he's done it on the wall means it can't just be stolen or easily removed.'

Mr Beskin went to see the mural with his neighbours on Monday morning.

Fellow resident Carolyn said: 'It's just lovely to see how this piece of art has brought everyone together.

'People have come out to chat in the streets and came out early this morning to speculate together.

'It's brought the community together, which has been really nice to see.'

One social media user was left puzzled after the artist seemed to have left zip ties at the scene

Paul Drinot wrote on social media: 'If this is a Banksy, it's the best thing that's happened to the Hornsey Road in years.'

One social media user was left puzzled after the artist seemed to have left zip ties at the scene - posting a picture of several black ones in a bunch.

The last time Banksy's art was revealed in London, it ended in scandal.

Two men were arrested and bailed for allegedly using bolt cutters to steal the artwork which pictured a stop sign featuring three military drones.

Once Banksy announced on social media the artwork belonged to him in an Instagram post shortly after midday on December 23, two men allegedly appeared at the scene and cut down the artwork before running off.

Police have yet to recover the piece of art, but one gallery owner told the BBC at the time it could be worth up to 500,000.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Peak said Banksy's incorporation of the tree into his Islington artwork would make it impossible to steal.

He said: 'I don't think anyone is going to be able to nick this... how are you going to steal a tree?'

The 'Banksy bandit' suspects allegedly stole the stop sign piece of art from a Peckham street in broad daylight in December

The piece of art was chopped off with bolt cutters just an hour after it was officially unveiled by the underground artist on December 23

Two men were bailed pending further inquiries last month but the police have yet to recover the artwork

A pair of bolt cutters were left behind at the scene following the brazen action

Homeowners Garry and Gokean Coutts spent 200,000 removing a mural of a seagull from their house in Lowestoft, Suffolk, after their house became a target for vandals and thieves

This Banksy was painted on the side of an office building in Holywell Row, Shoreditch, in 2006 but was painted over by the owner after they grew annoyed at art lovers turning up to see it

The stop sign artwork was widely interpreted by followers of the artist as calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The Instagram revelation led to a stream of locals descending on the site and taking photos of the installation on their phones.

But at around 12.30pm, the peaceful scene was shattered by the arrival of two men, one of whom balanced precariously on an Lime e-bike while hurriedly hacking the sign down with bolt cutters.

Banksy did not comment on the drama of the theft, but had been warned by a social media user: 'The sign will be snatched pronto.'

Pieces by the rogue artist have previously been sold for millions of pounds.

The drones on the piece resembled those on another artwork, Civilian Drone Strike, which depicted them destroying a house while a little girl and her dog watch on in horror.

It was sold for 200,000 to raise funds in opposition to a London arms fair.

The stop sign drones resemble those on another artwork, Civilian Drone Strike, which depicted them destroying a house while a little girl and her dog watch on in horror - it was sold for 200,000

'Love is in the Bin', a Banksy artwork that half-shredded itself during a 2018 auction, sold for 18.6million - four times its estimate - in 2021

The video showing Love is in the Bin getting shredded after auction went viral

Prints of three of Banksy's works are seen above at Sotheby's in February 2022. Centre is Kissing Coppers, next to Girl with Balloon and 'Vandalised Oils (Choppers)'

Banksy's most famous works: His identity remains cloaked in mystery, his work the subject of endless speculation and his art a major tourist attraction. Since the 1990s Banksy has dominated the street graffiti with his well known satirical installations of humorous images usually paired with anti-war or anti-capitalist slogans. The so called 'Banksy effect' has seen people buy up his work for small fortunes. His Love Is in the Bin was sold in London in 2021 for a staggering 18.6million - a record for one of his pieces. But his art has also been the target of several council campaigns to clean up graffiti and paint over the murals, sparking outrage from his many fans. The elusive artist confirmed his latest work on Monday morning, a tree mural which appeared overnight in Finsbury Park, north London. Banksy confirmed on Monday morning that a tree mural which appeared overnight in Finsbury Park was his own The elusive artist previously unveiled a piece depicting three aircraft on a stop sign in Peckham, south east London Banksy's famous mural 'Rage, The Flower Thrower (Love Is In The Air)' which is painted on a car wash in a suburb of Bethlehem Another of Banksy's most famous artworks is the Girl With Balloon (2004) Appache Attack helicopters with pink bows on them on the outside wall of an office building in Holywell Row, Shoreditch, east London, in 2006. Banksy had the work covered over in black paint Banksy's works often carry political messages. This anti-Brexit mural appeared on the side of a building in Dover, Kent, in May 2017 Banksy's Sweep It Under the Carpet mural in Chalk Farm, London shows a maid sweeping dust under a sheet behind which is a brick wall Prints of three of Banksy's works are seen above at Sotheby's in February 2022. Centre is Kissing Coppers, next to Girl with Balloon and 'Vandalised Oils (Choppers)' A Banksy work from the Bristol Underground Scene entitled Bomb Hugger and footed by his signature 'Mobile Lovers', depicting a couple seemingly in love while glued to their phones, appeared at the Broad Plain Boys' Club in 2014 Naked Man was sprayed on the wall of a sexual health clinic on Park Street, Bristol This Banksy seagull mural on the wall of a house in Lowestoft, Suffolk was removed last April This mural called Morning Is Broken shows a young boy with a cat opening curtains made of corrugated iron One of Banksy's artworks in Ukraine. Simply reading 'Borodyanka Ukraine' after the area located north west of capital Kiev following Russia's invasion in 2022 Season's Greetings conveyed a message about the impact of pollution on communities and appeared on the outside of a steelworker's garage in Port Talbot in 2018 KISSING COPPERS: This mural, which was first unveiled outside the Prince Albert Pub AACHOO!: This work depicts a woman sneezing so hard that she loses her false teeth GOD BLESS BIRMINGHAM: An artwork depicting two reindeer pulling along a man named Ryan on a bench in Birmingham's jewellery quarter ART BUFF: This mural portraying a woman wearing headphones while staring at a plinth. It appeared in Folkestone in 2014 A Banksy artwork depicting Cosette from Victor Hugo's novel and later hit musical Les Miserables. She is shown with tears in her eyes as gas moves towards her HULA HOOPING GIRL: A mural in Rothesay avenue, Nottingham depicting a young girl playing with a tyre painted on a wall next to an abandoned bicycle missing a wheel Advertisement
Three members of a family were killed when a Mercedes SUV plowed into the bus stop they were waiting at in order to take them for a day trip to the San Francisco zoo on Saturday.

Two of the victims, a father, 40, his young child, 1, were pronounced dead at the scene of the tragedy in the West Portal section of the city. Three others were rushed a to a local hospital where another victim where the child's mother, 38, was pronounced dead. The deceased were all related.

An infant, around three months old, was also among those taken to the hospital, that child is being treated for life-threatening injuries, an official said. The driver of the white Mercedes SUV that crashed into shelter was also treated.

Friends were seen leaving flowers for the victims at the sight of the horror crash. One friend said the mother was from Portugal and the father of the child was from Brazil, according to ABC San Francisco.

'They were an amazing family... They never took the bus,' friend Rogerio Faleiro, told The San Francisco Chronicle through tears. Faleiro said that the family recently sold their car.

The area around a bus stop near Muni's West Portal Station is fenced off after a sport utility vehicle crashed into the stop, killing multiple people and injuring others

A vigil that was set up Sunday at the location of the horrific incident

'They were an amazing family... They never took the bus,' friend Rogerio Faleiro, told The San Francisco Chronicle through tears

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said Saturday it was investigating the cause of the crash in collaboration with the San Francisco Police Department

A heart shaped cutout at the scene of the memorial reads: 'Remembering the precious lives lost on March 16, 2024.'

Just 24 hours after the crash, city workers were seen clearing the debris fro mthe site in front of yellow police tape, reports The Chronicle.

A witness told the newspaper that she heard the crash and that is sounded like 'an explosion.' The witness, Nikki Mashburn, said that the victims suffered head injuries.

'When the paramedics showed up, you could tell  they didnt know what to do first,' Mashburn said.

While another witness, Gabriel Cinquepalm, told The Chronicle that the driver of the SUV was a woman in her 70s. He said that after the crash, she got out of her vehicle with a look as if to say: 'What have I done?' and that she was screaming at the sky.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said Saturday it was investigating the cause of the crash in collaboration with the San Francisco Police Department.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said on X, formerly Twitter, that she had visited the scene of the collision on Saturday. She called it 'heartbreaking.'

Residents left flowers at a growing memorial where the crash occurred, the Chronicle reported. The advocacy group Walk San Francisco planned a vigil Monday evening at the site.
While the multiple indictments against Donald Trump have emboldened his base over the last year, new polling shows that one-third of Americans are less likely to support the former president in 2024 if he is convicted in the hush-money payment case.

But the data, as usual, is split along party lines  with the vast majority of Republicans thinking Trump is innocent in all four cases against him and one in three saying a conviction would only bolster their support ahead of the November election, according to a Politico Magazine/Ipsos poll released on Monday.

Seventy percent of Americans say in the latest survey that Trump is not immune from prosecution despite his insistent claims he cannot be targeted in election fraud cases because he was acting in his capacity as president.

There are four cases against Trump  two claiming election interference, one about his business falsifying records for a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels and the last on mishandling of classified documents after leaving office.

New polling shows 44% of Americans say their support of Donald Trump won't be impacted by whether or not he is convicted in the Stormy Daniels hush money payment case

Trump speaks to press after leaving the courtroom in the Stormy Daniels record falsification case in Manhattan court last month. A hearing scheduled for March 25 was pushed-off for at least three weeks in another tactic by Trump's team to delay the trial

Previous polling shows Trump's MAGA base becoming more enthusiastic after each indictment.

If Trump is charged in the hush-money case where is accused of falsifying business records, nearly one-third (32 percent) of Americans say they are less likely to support him in 2024.

But 44 percent say that a conviction would have no impact on their support for the former president and 13 percent they would actually be more likely to back Trump in 2024 if he were convicted in the hush money case.

Fifty percent of Americans say that they think Trump is guilty in the falsifying records case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alan Bragg.

But broken down by party, 60 percent of Republican respondents say Trump is not guilty while 86 percent of Democrats and 54 percent of independents say that he is.

The Stormy Daniels case was brought in March 2023 and were the first charges against Trump in what would become a series of indictments leading up to the presidential election in November.

Trump faces 34 criminal charges of falsifying business records related to payments made to Daniels before the 2016 presidential election for her silence about their alleged affair.

The case was set to start next week on March 25 but was delayed by at least three weeks on Friday to allow Trump's team to review records from federal prosecutors.

When it comes to the Justice Department's election subversion case against Trump, 42 percent of Americans say a conviction of lack thereof would not have an impact on their likely support for the former president in 2024.

Thirty-two percent say that a conviction would make them support Trump less and 12 percent say they would back his candidacy more in 2024 if he is found guilty.

The Stormy Daniels case charges Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to Daniels before the 2016 presidential election for her silence about their alleged affair

The Ipsos polling also found that 70 percent of Americans don't think U.S. presidents should be immune from facing criminal prosecution for any crimes alleged to have happened while they were in office.

Again, the issue is split along party lines with 92 percent of Democrats thinking presidential immunity should not be a thing, while 75 percent of independents feel the same and only 48 percent of Republicans say they don't agree with the immunity argument.

A minuscule 3 percent of Democrats think that presidents should be immune from alleged crimes while they are in office compared to the 24 percent of Republicans who feel this way and 8 percent of independents.

The Supreme Court will consider on April 25, 2024 Trump's claim he is immune from allegations he conspired to obstruct the 2020 presidential election. He says that he was acting as president and should not have feared prosecution for his actions as chief executive.

Forty-six percent of Americans say they don't trust the 6-3 conservative majority court to issue a fair ruling in the presidential immunity case, while 29 percent are unsure and 24 percent say they do think the high court will issue a non-partisan ruling.
A graphic designer who raped his Airbnb host and told her he would leave a 'good review' after the attack has been jailed for seven years.

Italian Diego Dellarovere, 43, forced himself on the woman at her flat in south London on May 7, 2021 after she welcomed him as her first ever guest.

Dellarovere had offered her a relaxing massage and started rubbing her shoulders - despite her protests - as they shared a glass of wine.

In her police interview, the video of which was played to the jury, the woman said she made it clear she did not want to be massaged by Dellarovere but he put on spa music and said he had oil.

The court heard the Airbnb host struggled to push him away and said, 'I don't want this', before he pulled down his trousers and underwear, and forced her to perform a sex act on him.

Italian Diego Dellarovere, 43, forced himself on the woman at her flat in south London on May 7, 2021

Dellarovere told jurors said there was a 'chemistry' between himself and the Airbnb host

The Italian graphic designer came to the UK in May 2021 because his fiance was here

The woman said she hid her knife block as she was scared he would stab her and barricaded herself in her bedroom with her pets.

Dellarovere told jurors they sat on the sofa, drank wine and chatted and there was 'chemistry' between them.

He said they chatted about spiritual stuff and he gave her a relaxing 'Reiki' massage.

Dellarovere said he kissed and touched the woman before she performed a sex act, but insisted it was all consensual.

He denied rape, sexual assault and assault by penetration but a jury unanimously convicted him on all three counts after a trial.

Smartly dressed in a dark suit and tie, Dellarovere had made a praying motion with his hands after the verdicts were read out.

Dellarovere appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court via videolink from HMP Thameside as the judge, Mr Recorder William Featherby, KC, told him: 'The facts are that on or shortly before May 7, 2021 you booked yourself through Airbnb into a let in Croydon, even though you resided elsewhere in London at the time.

'It has never been clear to me and I think it was unclear to the jury why you did that. With great respect to Croydon, it's not a conventional destination for a tourist.

'The victim of your crimes had put her spare room on Airbnb for the first time. You were her first guest and her room was the only letting she had available.

'You arrived and shortly after went out ostensibly to find a meal. You returned and the two of you shared a glass of wine.

'Unfortunately you lost control of yourself and got carried away, and you committed the three offences to which I have referred.

'You raped the victim in her own home in a gross abuse of her hospitality..'

Wearing a grey sweatshirt, Dellarovere sat unmoved as he listened to a victim statement read out in court:

'On May 7, 2021, I was raped by a stranger who was staying at my home as an Airbnb guest.

'My home is a place where I'm meant to feel safe, however this incident has ruined that for me.

'The far-reaching consequences of this incident have left an indelible mark on every facet of my life'.

Dellarovere's Facebook page shows the Italian enjoying holidays at some of the most exotic locations in the world.

One photo shows Dellarovere and another holidaymaker at Thailand's Maya Bay, made famous by the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach.

The woman had left two voice notes with her friend, who knew she had been hosting an Airbnb customer in her flat, the next day.

In the first note, left at 10.39am, the woman said: 'I have got a bit of a story to tell you about Diego.'

In the second she explained that they had sat on the sofa chatting, when he began making advances.

'I was chatting with him, chatting about his life, what he does, and I was like "is he getting a bit handsy?" He's Italian and they do that so I'll leave that slide.'

Dellarovere told the woman he would leave a good review after the attack

The judge said it 'was never clear' why Dellarovere booked into the Airbnb when he lived in London

She said: 'At one stage that conversation went quiet and he went to give me a hug then started licking and sucking and kissing my neck, and he was quite forceful about it.

'At one stage he had managed to get my top off and then I was like "you need to stop this" but it was a good half hour more [before] stopping his advances.'

'I was like "I think you should go to bed" and he went to bed and I barricaded my door.'

She said her guest then started texting her from his bedroom. 'He kept texting me, "do you want to come in, I'll give you a massage.

'"Are you sure you don't want to share a bed with me, I won't do anything, I will just lie by your side", and I was like "what?"'

Dellarovere left that morning and told the host: 'I'll leave a good review.'

The woman said she left a neutral Airbnb review about Dellarovere as a guest and he replied with an 'angry face emoji'.

They exchanged WhatsApp messages before Dellarovere blocked her.

Dellarovere told the court the woman had willingly performed a sex act after he gave her a massage.

Aided by an Italian interpreter he said: 'There was a sort of chemistry. We were laughing and joking, everything was very natural.'

Dellarovere insisted everything that happened between them was consensual and they later exchanged text messages.

In one message he wrote: 'Seize the moment. Life is beautiful.'

He explained that this was a reference to the fact she had taken the initiative in performing a sex act, saying: 'When I pulled down the trousers she was the one who grabbed the penis. She did that.'

Later in the text exchange the woman had told Dellarovere: 'You are a predator', and his reply ended with the word 'predator??????'.

He later wrote: 'You really need more light in your soul, more freedom. The men are not all about evil. Why did you send that message?'

Dellarovere told the court: 'I said "goodbye", there was nothing more to explain. You need more light in your soul because you are making up everything.'

Father-of-one Dellarovere said he originally came the UK in May 2021 'because my fiance was here, and I was with her'.

He also explained that he had decided to stay at an Airbnb property in Croydon 'for my lifestyle'.

In a text message Dellarovere said: 'You need more light in your soul because you are making up everything'

Dellarovere said he kissed and touched the woman before she performed a sex act on him, but insisted it was all consensual

'I like to explore new places, and in that period it was a Covid period, and I couldnt travel or visit other places and the idea to go on a night out - it was close to my lifestyle.'

He said he had chosen this place because 'it was cheap, and because there was a park close by and I like nature.'

Dellarovere, of Holland Road, West Kensington, denied rape, sexual assault and digital penetration on May 7, 2021 but was convicted on all three counts. He was jailed for seven years.

Detective Constable Natalie Alchin, who led the investigation, said: 'Dellarovere forced himself on this woman in her own home. Somewhere she should have felt safe and I have no doubt that she was terrified.

'I am pleased our investigation has resulted in him receiving a significant custodial sentence and I would like to praise the victim for the support she has shown the investigation. We do not underestimate the impact that would have had on her.

'The Met continue to be committed to tackling violence against women and girls and I hope the outcome of this investigation gives other victims of sexual offences to come forward and report them to us.'
Thousands of Turkish citizens affected by last year's brutal earthquakes are claiming authorities have seized their houses without warning and may force them to pay undisclosed fees to contribute to a 'redevelopment' plan.

Huge swathes of southern Turkey and northern Syria were flattened by the punishing quakes, the worst of which erupted on February 6, 2023.

Some 58,000 people are believed to have died in what was the region's deadliest tremor in modern history, with more than 200,000 people in Turkey still living in tent encampments after their homes were demolished.

But even those whose houses remained standing have been forcibly evicted after new legislation passed in November allowed the government to seize properties ahead of a planned reconstruction.

According to the regulation, the seizures were to create 'reserve building areas' - a temporary measure to allow construction firms to begin work on new developments.

The law stipulated that those affected would be entitled to a property after paying towards the construction costs, but gave no details of the financial burden and no way to opt out.

Now, interviews with nearly two dozen residents, lawyers and local officials show that thousands of homeowners were blindsided by the seizure plans, with many learning on social media their properties would be affected.

FILE: Local residents waiting for news of their relatives, sit by a bonfire near the rubble of collapsed buildings in Hatay, on February 14, 2023

Smoke billows from Iskenderun Port fire as people walk past collapsed buildings on February 07, 2023 in Iskenderun, Turkey

A building transferred to the Treasury under a new urban transformation law is demolished, in Hatay, Turkey, January 30, 2024

Smoke billows from the Iskenderun Port as rescue workers work at the scene of a collapsed building on February 07, 2023 in Iskenderun, Turkey

Debris removal efforts on the first anniversary of the earthquake in Adiyaman, Turkiye

Unlike many of his neighbours and friends, Habip Yapar was relieved to find his home survived the quakes.

Then a text message appeared on his phone in October telling him the government was taking ownership of the apartment.

The message sent to Yapar, 61, declared that the deeds for his property in Hatay province were being transferred to the Treasury.

And like Yapar, dozens of other citizens in his coastal home town of Samandag received text messages even before the amendment was passed in November.

Five months later, the government has yet to inform affected people about how much they will pay, what happens if they are unable to, any compensation they might be entitled to, and exactly when and for how long their titles will be in the government's possession.

Retired civil engineer Yapar had been saving money to repair his two-storey home. But with ownership now being transferred to the government, he cannot start work, even though he denies the house is beyond repair.

The house is scheduled for demolition, and Yapar now lives with his wife, adult son and daughter in a temporary tent shelter.

At least 215,000 survivors of the quakes in the Hatay region of Turkey are living in container camps or tents.

'We can rebuild our houses ourselves, and we do not want a cent from the state,' Yapar, who is one of several homeowners to have filed a lawsuit with local courts to block the demolition order on his house.

'It's like going to a restaurant where they bring you a dish, but you don't know the price. You have to pay whatever the bill is,' said Ecevit Alkan, chairman of the Environment and Urban Law Commission at Hatay Bar Association.

Hatice Altinoz stands beside her belongings, as she waits for a truck to load them, after she received a text message telling her that the government is transferring her property to the Treasury under a new urban transformation law, in Hatay, Turkey, February 2, 2024

Hatice Altinoz's belongings are seen lying in the dirt

People leave candles at the site of a demolished building during the first anniversary of the earthquake, in Antakya on February 6, 2024. The disaster, which killed more than 53,500 people in Turkey and nearly 6,000 in Syria

People take part in a ceremony commemorating last year's devastating earthquake on February 06, 2024 in Hatay, Turkey

Many people have been made homeless by the seizure notices.

Hatice Altinoz said she and her adult son Ahmet had to move from their damaged apartment in Hatay's Antakya because the building is in a reserve area largely cleared for reconstruction.

'Authorities did not provide us a container to stay in because our building had not collapsed, so I moved to my daughter's container house,' Altinoz said.

Antakya residents Omer and Dilay Dolar, said they learned on social media that their five properties were in a designated area, where few buildings are standing.

'My family and I worked so hard to own these assets,' said Dilay Dolar, 57, an entrepreneur. 'But now it is unclear what the future will hold.'

Hatay's federal government-run governor's office said on its website in February nearly 44,000 homes will replace transferred property.

It did not give figures on how many people's property will be seized in the process.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised a total of 254,000 new homes would be built in the province, but so far construction has been completed on less than 7,300 of those, data from the governor's office shows.

The bar association's Alkan said nearly 50,000 people will be affected by the property seizures, based on the population in neighbourhoods designated as reserve areas in the province.

In Samandag, Mayor Refik Eryilmaz said he welcomed the government's plan for a modern bazaar and new housing in the declared reserve areas.

But, he said, it was wrong for the government to send text messages to his town's property owners without explaining the project or the legal and financial arrangements.

'The government authorities have failed to provide a satisfactory explanation to the public, which is problematic,' Eryilmaz, from main opposition party CHP, said in an interview.

Some residents see politics at play. Hatay is an opposition-run district where Erdogan is keen to make inroads in local elections on March 31.

A speech he gave in the province to mark the first anniversary of the quake was widely interpreted as a veiled message that reconstruction aid would flow more smoothly with a ruling party administration.

Erdogan later emphasised that reconstruction efforts did not differentiate between government supporters and opponents.

An area where vehicles were recovered from the rubble caused by the earthquakes centered on Kahramanmaras and turned into a vehicle graveyard is shown February 26, 2024 in In Hatay, Turkey

A drone view shows a cleared residential site where buildings stood before last year's earthquake, in Hatay province, Turkey, February 2, 2024

People gather to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake and remember their lost family and friends, in Hatay, Turkey February 6, 2024

A man sits near his loved one's dead body near the collapsed buildings on February 07, 2023 in Hatay, Turkey

Now, with information still scarce, the homeowners and lawyers who spoke to Reuters were mistrustful and feared the state could keep property if owners are not able to pay.

Orhan Ozen, a lawyer in Samandag, said the law violates property rights and does not specify how owners will be protected after their properties are handed over to the Treasury, despite promises of a smooth rebuilding process.

'The balance between the public interest and the citizens is being ignored,' Ozen said, adding that the lack of detail in the law has sown uncertainty, including what will happen to a new property if the owner dies before paying it off.

In one plea seen by Reuters, the urbanisation ministry said the request for a stay should be dismissed on grounds that plaintiffs only have rights over individual properties, not the broader area designated by the ministerial decision.

Samandag's central bazaar is among around 1.6 hectares in the district seized for renovation under the plans. Ali Tas, who runs a toy shop in the bazaar, said he was willing to work in a container for a while if the bazaar ultimately looks good.

But Hasan Fehmi Cilli, a 56-year-old doctor, said neither he nor his neighbours whose offices and shops are operating in the bazaar but are slated for redevelopment had given their consent.

'There are lots of uncertainties. Will the state provide us a property in the same location, on the same plot, and of the same size?' said a visibly angry Cilli.

The urbanisation ministry and Erdogan's office did not respond to questions from Reuters.
Famine is expected between now and May in the north of the Gaza Strip, a UN-backed report said on Monday, after more than five months of war shattered the Palestinian territory, killed thousands and cut off supplies.

Across the whole of the besieged enclave, the number of people facing 'catastrophic hunger' has risen to 1.1 million, about half the population, the report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said.

'Famine is now projected and imminent in the North Gaza and Gaza Governorates and is expected to become manifest during the projection period from mid-March 2024 to May 2024,' it said.

The assessment by the UN-backed initiative - a scale used by UN agencies, regional bodies and aid groups - comes amid global pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave of 2.3 million people.

Some 300,000 people are cut off by fighting in the north.

The EU accused Israel on Monday of provoking famine and using starvation as a weapon of war - claims that Israel rejects, saying it does not target civilians and is only interested in eliminating the militant Islamist movement Hamas.

Fadi Al-Zant, a 6-year-old cystitis patient, (pictured) is being treated at Kamal Adwan Hospital under harsh conditions due to lack of access to medicines, and is suffering from malnutrition

Across the whole of the besieged enclave, the number of people facing 'catastrophic hunger' has risen to 1.1 million, about half the population

The number of people deemed at risk of catastrophic hunger in Gaza is nearly double the figure reported in December,

The number of people deemed at risk of catastrophic hunger in Gaza is nearly double the figure reported in December, when the last IPC on Gaza was issued and there was already record levels of hunger across the population.

'From mid-March to mid-July, in the most likely scenario and under the assumption of an escalation of the conflict including a ground offensive in Rafah, half of the population of the Gaza Strip (1.11 million people) is expected to face catastrophic conditions,' the IPC said.

Israel has said it has a plan to assault Rafah, the southern Gaza city bordering Egypt, to root out Hamas fighters, but it is also involved in mediation talks about a possible truce.

The IPC analysis said famine could still be avoided if Israel and Hamas stop fighting and aid organisations gain increased access.

'The actions needed to prevent famine require an immediate political decision for a ceasefire together with a significant and immediate increase in humanitarian and commercial access to the entire population of Gaza,' it said.

'All efforts must be made to ensure the provision of food, water, medicines, and protection of civilians, as well as to restore and provide health, water, and sanitation services, and energy.'

The IPC gathers evidence - such as how many households face an extreme lack of food - to draw up its Acute Food Insecurity scale, which is then used for decisions such as how resources are allocated.

The IPC analysis said famine could still be avoided if Israel and Hamas stop fighting and aid organisations gain increased access

The UN estimates that famine is 'imminent' in the northern governorates of Gaza

A woman hangs clothes to dry among car wrecks in the courtyard of a UNRWA school

With only a small fraction of the basic supplies coming in by land, aid donors have turned to deliveries by air drops and from the sea

Under the IPC classification, famine exists in areas where at least one in five households has or is most likely to have an extreme deprivation of food and face starvation, death, destitution and extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition.

The UN estimates that famine is 'imminent' in the northern governorates of Gaza, where around 300,000 people live, and is projected to occur anytime between now and May.

With only a small fraction of the basic supplies coming in by land, aid donors have turned to deliveries by air drops and from the sea. But UN agencies said these are no substitute for land deliveries.

Famine in the highest rating the IPC can give out of five. Phase one is 'Minimal' or no food insecurity in households. Phase two is when households are 'Stressed', phase three is when they are in 'Crisis', and phase four is 'Emergency'.

Phase five, 'Catastrophe / Famine' is when households experience 'extreme critical levels of acute malnutrition and mortality'.

For famine to be declared, three things must be evidenced: At least 20 percent of households must face an extreme lack of food; One out of three children must be acutely malnourished; There must be two deaths for every 10,000 inhabitants, or four child deaths out of 10,000 children per day, due to starvation or malnutrition and disease.

Once these criteria are met, it is up to government authorities and UN agencies to declare a famine.

Israel has had a strict level of control on goods and people going in and out of the Gaza Strip since at least 1991, after it officially banned Palestinians from leaving Gaza

Pink aid parcels, reportedly to mark International Women's Day, are airdropped over the northern Gaza Strip on March 5, 2024

Yezen Al-Kfarna, a 10 year old Palestinian boy who suffers malnourishment due to the ongoing Israeli blockade

Following Hamas' political win in the Gaza Strip in 2007, Israel massively tightened its grip on the Gaza Strip

The last famines declared by the UN were in South Sudan in 2017 - involving almost 80,000 people - and in Somalia in 2011 - affecting some 490,000.

The WFP said: 'The famine threshold for acute food insecurity has already been far exceeded, while acute malnutrition among children below five years is proceeding at record pace towards the second famine threshold.

'Non-trauma mortality - the final famine indicator - is accelerating, but data remains limited, as is typical in war zones.'

Melanie Ward, the CEO of Medical Aid for Palestinians, said today:

'The Israeli government has created a situation where famine is now imminent in Gaza. This is not happening because the rains have failed or there has been a poor harvest. It is because starvation is being used as a weapon of war; the Israeli authorities refuse to allow enough food into Gaza to sustain life.

'Children in Gaza are being starved at the fastest rate the world has ever known, and their survival depends on more food, fuel and water entering Gaza immediately, as well as a lasting ceasefire.'

'Today's IPC report also shows that one in three children under two-years-old in the north of Gaza are now acutely malnourished, a dramatic deepening of the crisis from February when the figure was one in six.

'Acute malnutrition at this crucial stage affects a child's development, irreversibly damaging their brains and their immune systems, putting them at a disadvantage for life and sharply increasing the likelihood that they will die young, even if they make it through the next few weeks.'

Israel has had a strict level of control on goods and people going in and out of the Gaza Strip since at least 1991, after it officially banned Palestinians from leaving Gaza.

Following Hamas' political win in the Gaza Strip in 2007, Israel massively tightened its grip on the Gaza Strip. Only a 'humanitarian minimum' level of goods were allowed in, and all trade was ceased.

Between 2007 and 2023, the restrictions placed on the Gaza Strip varied in response to a range of geopolitical events, but international groups consistently criticised Israel for not doing enough to alleviate the suffering citizens in the enclave.

The World Bank found in 2015 that blockages against the Gaza Strip had caused a loss in GDP of more than 50% since 2007.

Rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and the Norwegian Refugee Council, accused Israel of turning the Gaza Strip into an 'open-air prison', a characterisation that was in 2010 endorsed by David Cameron when he was Prime Minister of the UK.

The World Bank found in 2015 that blockages against the Gaza Strip had caused a loss in GDP of more than 50% since 2007

For years, international groups consistently criticised Israel for not doing enough to alleviate the suffering citizens in the enclave

Lord Cameron, now the UK's foreign secretary, said earlier this month that it is 'incredibly frustrating' that Israel isn't doing enough to help ordinary Gazan citizens

Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that he would not agree to a ceasefire deal because of Hamas' 'unrealistic demands.'

Lord Cameron, now the UK's foreign secretary, said earlier this month that it is 'incredibly frustrating' that Israel isn't doing enough to help ordinary Gazan citizens during a 'terrible humanitarian crisis'.

He told the BBC that hunger and disease can be alleviated if 'Israel opens more crossing points, if they allow more UN staff into Gaza to help process the aid and get it round the different bits of Gaza'.

'And they could also do things like full resumption of the water and the electricity that goes into north and south Gaza,' he added.

'We've set out these points repeatedly and it's incredibly frustrating that these things haven't happened when you think of the terrible humanitarian situation in Gaza.'

Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that he would not agree to a ceasefire deal because of Hamas' 'unrealistic demands.'

Hamas this week presented a counteroffer to Netanyahu and his cabinet that would've allowed for several hostages to be released in exchange for a staggered withdrawal of Israeli troops as well as more prisoners to be released from Israeli prisons.

A US official told the New York Times on Friday that Hamas is no longer calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in exchange for prisoners and hostages to be returned.

But within hours of receiving the proposal, Netanyahu said: 'Hamas is continuing to hold to unrealistic demands.'

He later said: 'Regarding the hostages  Hamas's demands are still ludicrous.'
A primary school pupil went on an animal killing spree at a Dutch petting zoo last week as the horrified manager claims the young boy 'showed no emotion after the act'.

The nine-year-old carried out the violent massacre in Hoek van Holland, a town in the Netherlands, where he killed up to nine rabbits and two guinea pigs, according to local reports.

The boy had allegedly visited the petting zoo on multiple occasions under supervision but this time he had made the journey alone.

Local media reported that the boy walked into the petting zoo late on the afternoon of March 11 and went searching for the rabbits and guinea pigs.

But in a shocking turn of events, the child ended up strangling most of them to death, in an incident of which the motives remain a mystery.

A nine-year-old boy went on an animal killing spree last week at a petting zoo in Hoek van Holland, Netherlands

He is alleged to have killed up to nine rabbits and two guinea pigs before police caught him

The manager of the petting zoo claimed the young boy 'showed no emotion after his act'.

The animal killer was quickly caught by police and the boy's parents arrived on the scene.

Following the bizarre incident, baffled experts have expressed their shock at the boy's massacre and have called the incident 'sick'.

Manager Ali Dorenbos of the Rekerhout petting zoo in Alkmaar told De Telegraaf: 'It makes you completely sick!'

She has previously had to deal with animal abuse, recalling: 'The sheep were shot with bows and arrows, their udders were pulled, and the goats were shaken by their horns.'

Calves were also beaten blue and chickens and ducks were hanged.

One more expert, Anne-Marie Le Buhan of the Het Geitenweitje Foundation in Laren, was also left stunned by the grisly act.

'Horrible. How? This is very extreme. And was there no supervision?' she asked.

The boy will not be prosecuted following the incident in Hoek van Holland because he is under the age of twelve, but reports have stated that he will be entering a care program.

'I feel sorry for the animals, but also for the little boy who apparently feels so bad that he has to do this,' said psychiatrist Esther van Fenema.

According to the psychiatrist, animal abuse can be a 'worrying sign of behavioral disorder in children' that needs to be thoroughly investigated.

'If you kill an animal in the house; explain to the child why. Even if it is an insect. So that it learns that you don't wring the neck of a guinea pig, which is harmful,' she added.
Moscow's American ambassador plans file a complaint to US authorities for alleged security failings after 'traitors' blocked the entrance to the Russian embassy in DC during the country's presidential election.

Anatoly Antonov, Russia's ambassador to the US, warned he will be sending a diplomatic note to Washington on Monday protesting the actions of the secret service during Sunday's election, local Russian media reported.

The ambassador claims secret service officers allowed protesters to create 'obstacles' for Russian citizens who came to the embassy to cast their votes.

President Vladimir Putin has sealed his control over Russia for six more years after winning re-election with 87 per cent of the vote, figures published by the country's electoral commission revealed.

Western leaders denounced the election, which was heavily protested at polling stations across the globe, as a 'sham' and have condemned Putin's landslide victory as 'unfair and undemocratic'.

Meanwhile, Putin said in his victory speech that Moscow will not relent in its invasion of Ukraine and plans to create a buffer zone along the border to help protect against long-range Ukrainian strikes and cross-border raids.

Anatoly Antonov, (pictured) Russia's ambassador to the US, warned he will be sending a diplomatic note to Washington on Monday protesting the actions of the secret service during Sunday's election

Antonov plans file a complaint to US authorities for alleged security failings after 'traitors' blocked the entrance to the Russian embassy in DC during the country's presidential election. Pictured are the demonstrators outside the embassy in DC on Sunday

President Vladimir Putin, pictured during his victory speech, has sealed his control over Russia for six more years after winning re-election with 87 per cent of the vote, figures published by the country's electoral commission revealed

Thousands of people turned up at polling stations in Russia and capitals across the world on Sunday to protest the re-election of Putin.

Protesters assembled outside the embassy in DC on Sunday as Russian citizens lined up to vote in the presidential election.

The demonstrators were seen waving Ukrainian flags, as well as white-blue-white Russian anti-war protest flags, as they gathered on the sidewalk near embassy grounds. They also carried placards denouncing Putin.

But Antonov has slammed American authorities for their response to the demonstration.

'The secret service allowed traitors to block the entrance to the Russian embassy and interfere with Russian citizens,' he said, RIA Novosti reported.

'We will send a corresponding note and, if necessary, we will express the most severe protest regarding the issue of ensuring the security of the Russian embassy.'

Last week, ahead of the polling, Antonov claimed his embassy had received a number of threats in connection with the presidential election.

'We are getting a great many provocative calls, threats,' Russian news agencies quoted Antonov as saying on state television last Thursday.

'We know that there are plans for anti-Russian acts, around our embassies and consulates, and there will be attempts to gain entry to our embassy. Not so much to disrupt the election, because that won't work, but to make things more difficult and just to spoil our mood.'

Protesters assembled outside the embassy in DC on Sunday as Russian citizens lined up to vote in the presidential election. The demonstrators were seen waving Ukrainian flags, as well as white-blue-white Russian anti-war protest flags, as they gathered on the sidewalk near embassy grounds

Protesters in DC carried placards denouncing Russia's president as they participated in the 'noon against Putin' demonstration outside the embassy on Sunday

Sunday's protest action, called 'noon against Putin', encouraged Russians who oppose the veteran Kremlin leader to go their local polling station at midday to spoil their ballot. Russian citizens are seen queueing outside the embassy in DC on Sunday as the protest was underway

Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya, pictured in Berlin on Sunday, was among those heeding the call for protest. She spent more than five hours in the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin and told reporters that she wrote her late husband's name on her ballot

Alexei Navalny's death, reported by penitentiary officials on Feb. 16, sent shockwaves around the globe. Russian authorities say Navalny (pictured during his trial in March 2017) died in the Arctic prison of natural causes, but his wife Yulia Navalnaya has accused Putin of having him killed - an accusation the Kremlin vehemently rejects

Sunday's protest action, called 'noon against Putin', encouraged Russians who oppose the veteran Kremlin leader to go their local polling station at midday to either spoil their ballot paper or vote for one of the three candidates who were standing against Putin.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had endorsed the protest in a message on social media facilitated by his lawyers before he died.

Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny's widow, was among those heeding the call for protest on Sunday. She spent more than five hours in the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin and told reporters that she wrote her late husband's name on her ballot.

Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Navalnaya replied: 'Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because he's a killer, he's a gangster.'

Sobol Lyubov, a lawyer and member of Navalny's team, attended the DC demonstration on Sunday and said she was 'glad that such a truly huge number of people' had turned up.

'The coward in the Kremlin will continue repression to maintain his power! But we can and must resist him!' Lyubov told the protest. 'Thank you to everyone who came to their polling stations today to protest against the criminal authorities!'

Despite the action at the polls, election commission results on Monday showed that Putin has secured a fifth term with an overwhelming number of votes.

Anti-Putin demonstrators told signs in support of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny during the 'noon against Putin' demonstration in DC on Sunday

Protesters rally outside Moscow's embassy in DC on Sunday as Russian citizens queue to cast their ballots in the presidential election

Demonstrators queue outside the Russian embassy in DC on Sunday. Anatoly Antonov alleged the protesters 'blocked' the entrance to the embassy in a bid to prevent voters from casting their ballots

Anti-Putin protest held outside Russian Embassy in Washington. https://t.co/P0lCLhnPNK pic.twitter.com/rpRmqQotRC  Sky News (@SkyNews) March 18, 2024

After facing only token challengers and harshly suppressing opposition voices, Putin was set to extend his nearly quarter-century rule for six more years.

Putin has led Russia as president or prime minister since December 1999, a tenure marked by international military aggression and an increasing intolerance for dissent.

Early Monday, Putin hailed overwhelming preliminary results as an indication of 'trust' and 'hope' in him - while critics saw them as another reflection of the preordained nature of the election.

'Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future,' Putin said at a meeting with his campaign staff after polls closed.

Any public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine has been stifled. Independent media have been crippled. His fiercest political foe, Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

Beyond the fact that voters had virtually no choice, independent monitoring of the election was extremely limited.

Russia's Central Election Commission said Monday that with nearly 100 per cent of all precincts counted, Putin got 87.29 per cent of the vote.

Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova said that nearly 76 million voters cast their ballots for Putin, his highest vote tally ever.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the presidents of Bolivia, Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela quickly congratulated Putin on his victory, as did the leaders of ex-Soviet nations Belarus, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, the West dismissed the vote as a sham.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: 'This is not what free and fair elections look like.'

A long queue formed outside Russia's embassy in DC on Sunday as citizens tried to cast their ballots in the election

Demonstrators are seen waving white-blue-white Russian anti-war protest flags outside the embassy in DC on Sunday

A demonstrator holds a placard featuring Alexei Navalny's portrait that reads 'Putin is a killer' during the 'noon against Putin' protest in DC on Sunday

In the tightly controlled environment, Navalny's associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to go to the polls at noon on Sunday - and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.

But Putin in his victory speech brushed off the effectiveness of the apparent protest.

'There were calls to come vote at noon. And this was supposed to be a manifestation of opposition. Well, if there were calls to come vote, then...I praise this,' he said at a news conference after polls closed.

Putin referenced Navalny by name for the first time ever at the news conference, declaring that he was ready to release him in a swap for unidentified inmates in Western custody just days before the opposition leader's death.

He rejected Western criticism of the vote and tried to turn the tables at the West, charging that the four criminal cases against Republican candidate Donald Trump were a use of the judiciary for political aims and describing denigrating democracy in the US as a 'catastrophe.'

'The whole world is laughing at it,' he said.

Some Russians waiting to vote in Moscow and St Petersburg told reporters that they were taking part in the protest, but it wasn't possible to confirm whether all of those in line were doing so.

A voter in Moscow, who identified himself only as Vadim, said he hoped for change, but added that 'unfortunately, it's unlikely.' Like others, he didn't give his full name because of security concerns.

Meanwhile, supporters of Navalny streamed to his grave in Moscow, some bringing ballots with his name written on them.

Meduza, Russia's biggest independent news outlet, published photos of ballots it received from their readers, with 'killer' inscribed on one and 'The Hague awaits you' on another. The latter refers to an arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges from the International Criminal Court.

Russian citizens queue outside the Russian embassy in DC on Sunday to cast their votes in the final day of the presidential election

People take part in an anti Putin rally as voters queue outside the Russian embassy in Washington, DC on Sunday, March 17, 2024

Russian citizens queue outside the Russian embassy to cast their votes in Washington, DC

Voting took place over three days at polling stations across the vast country, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online.

Several people were arrested, including in Moscow and St Petersburg, after they tried to start fires or set off explosives at polling stations while others were detained for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, said Russians were searched when entering polling stations, there were attempts to check filled-out ballots before they were cast, and one report said police demanded a ballot box be opened to remove a ballot.

That left little room for people to express themselves.

Still, huge lines formed around noon outside diplomatic missions in London, Berlin, Paris and other cities with large Russian communities, many of whom left home after Putin's invasion of Ukraine.
The unification ministry handling inter-Korean affairs said Monday there is a possibility that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's daughter could become his successor in what could mark the third hereditary power succession.

The ministry made the assessment, noting a change in the expression the North's state media used to refer to the teenager believed to be named Ju-ae.

In a Saturday report on Kim Jong-un's visit to a newly built greenhouse farm with Ju-ae on Friday, the North's Korean Central News Agency used the rare expression of "the great persons of guidance" in an apparent reference to the North Korean leader and his daughter.

The expression of guidance has been reserved to refer to the North's supreme leader or its ruling Workers' Party, according to the ministry.

"Given the level of protocol and the expression shown in North Korea's official media, the possibility of Kim Ju-ae's succession cannot be ruled out," ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam told reporters in a regular press briefing.

Ju-ae, believed to be born in 2013, has gained the spotlight since Nov. 18, 2022, when her father brought her to the launch site of a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile in her first public appearance.

Ju-ae's visit to the Kangdong Greenhouse Farm, built on the site of a military airfield near Pyongyang, marked her third public activity in the economy-related sector since she first made a public appearance. She mostly accompanied her father to military events.

The National Intelligence Service, South Korea's spy agency, earlier said it sees Ju-ae as Kim's "most likely successor," citing her public activities and the level of the North's respect toward her.

In December 2023, Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho said the North Korean leader seems to be "in a hurry" to bring his daughter to the forefront, indicating she could be anointed to succeed her father.

Kim Jong-un took over the communist country following the death of his father, Kim Jong-il, in 2011. The late Kim inherited power from his father, the country's founder, Kim Il-sung, who died in 1994. (Yonhap)
The pair attempted to move into Engeland's house and allegedly sent phony text messages to trick loved ones into thinking he was still alive

The pair are accused of luring Engeland through a dating app before murdering him and taking control of his finances

Philip Brewer, 32, and Christina Hardy, 47, were arrested in connection with the death of Curtis Engeland

An elderly Washington state man was poisoned with fentanyl by a couple who gained his trust through a gay dating app before moving into his house and assuming control of his finances, police say.

Philip Brewer, 32, and Christina Hardy, 47, were arrested in Southern California Thursday in connection with the death of Curtis Engeland, 74, whom they allegedly defrauded and murdered.

Engeland was reported missing on February 23, but his body was discovered more than 100 miles from his home in the city of Cosmopolis earlier this week.

Police have detailed the elaborate scheme the couple allegedly used to steal thousands of dollars from the victim and buy a car using his money. Authorities say they then killed Engeland during a confrontation at his home and injecting him with fentanyl.

The accused then made 'extravagant purchases just hours after killing' and impersonated the victim to trick his family into believing he was still alive, investigators said.

Washington man Curtis Engeland, 74, was murdered by a couple who wanted to move into his house and take control of his finances, prosecutors allege

Philip Brewer, 32, met Engeland through gay dating app Scruff and went on two dates with him in January before stealing his wallet, cellphone and keys. Brewer and Christina Hardy, 47, were arrested in Southern California after killing Engeland in late February and fleeing Washington state

According to court documents, Brewer and Engeland met on the gay dating app Scruff and went on their first date in January. They met at a Renton Starbucks and Engeland gave Brewer a ride home to his apartment in south Seattle.

The next day, Engeland picked up the younger man to go on a hike. The pair then went to Engeland's home to watch a movie, but the 74-year-old fell asleep.

'When he woke up...he realized Brewer was gone. Engeland's cell phone that had been laying near him on the couch was gone,' documents state.

'Engeland had an uneasy feeling and went to his bedroom to check for his wallet that was left in the pants he was wearing earlier that day. His wallet, along with a set of keys to include his house, car, and safety deposit box key, were missing.'

Over the weeks that followed, the suspects allegedly transferred $6,200 from Engeland's home equity line of credit account, plus $5,000 from his checking account.

According to police, the duo spent more than $25,000 on a car using Engeland's credit card and pawned his cell phone. Surveillance video from a Renton grocery store show Brewer and Hardy making 'fraudulent transactions,' documents state.

Authorities believe the suspects confronted Engeland at his home on the evening of February 23 and used the man's car to flee Mercer Island the same night.

The pair allegedly made 'extravagant purchases just hours after killing' him and are accused of impersonating the man to dupe family and friends into thinking he was still alive.

The following day, Engelands roommate, who was in the process of moving in with him, reported him missing.

The man, who told police he was romantically involved with Engeland, said he received a text at 3 am that was 'suspicious in nature due to the time and subject matter,' documents state.

The text claimed Engeland would be traveling for three to six weeks and unable to respond due to 'taking care of a memorial service,' adding that someone named 'Christina' would be renting out part of his house while he was away.

On Engeland's bedside table was a handwritten note reading, 'Will be back later on the week. Unexpected matters have come up. Please call me,' with a phone number. His car was missing from the driveway, and in its place sat a rental car the roommate had never seen before.

The suspects allegedly transferred tens of thousands of dollars from Engeland's bank accounts

Authorities believe the suspects confronted Engeland at his home on February 23 and used the man's car to flee the same night

Later that day, the roommate phoned police to tell them Brewer was in Engeland's home. When officers arrived, they found both suspects as well as Brewer's son.

Hardy allegedly told police they met Engeland through a Craigslist ad for a house sitter before establishing a friendship.

She claimed Engeland 'offered to rent her and Brewer his basement for $500/month,' documents state. The suspects also told police they had received text messages from Engeland saying 'he would be gone for 3-6 weeks.'

When asked about Engeland's missing car, the suspects said the 74-year-old had given them permission to drive it.

Two of Engeland's siblings then arrived at the home. They told police that recent text messages from Engeland's phone 'were not written by him as he was a former English teacher and always texted in complete, grammatically correct sentences.'

The siblings added that they had no knowledge of Engeland's plans to leave or rent out his home. The suspects left shortly after the siblings said they did not want them staying in the house.

Mercer Island police discovered Engeland's car in a supermarket parking lot with the trunk open and a 'large amount of blood' inside a cardboard box 'leaking onto the trunk liner.'

Less than two weeks later, the 74-year-old's body was found in Grays Harbor County after police traced GPS location history from the suspects cell phones.

On March 14, the California Highway Patrol pulled over a man who was dating Hardy's daughter. The man, who had been speeding, said he was running from Brewer and Hardy and had been staying with them for several days in Blythe, California.

According to court documents, the man said Brewer and Hardy had confessed to killing Engeland in Washington by 'injecting him with fentanyl and then put him in the trunk of a car and drove him somewhere to dump the body.'

The man claimed Brewer and Hardy were 'planning to "kidnap" Hardy's daughter to take her back to Washington to watch their children because they were going to prison,' documents state.

The man also said Brewer and Hardy had admitted to 'injecting him with fentanyl and then put him in the trunk of a car and drove him somewhere to dump the body.' The pair were arrested the same day.

The following day, a roommate reported the 74-year-old missing, claiming he had received suspicious texts from Engeland's number

The suspects were arrested on March 14 and will be extradited back to Washington. They are accused of poisoning the elderly man with fentanyl and stabbing him to death

Following an autopsy, the King County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Engeland's death a homicide. The man 'suffered blunt force trauma to his face' and had a stab wound in his neck as well as a 'yet to be quantified amount of fentanyl in his system.'

Authorities believe Brewer stabbed Engeland in the neck while Hardy held him down before the pair dumped his body.

Jail records show the two are currently being held as fugitives from justice at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio, California.

The King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has filed first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree identity theft and first-degree theft charges against the pair.

Prosecutors have requested the suspects each be held on $5 million bail due to the 'cold and calculated manner in which they murdered the victim and so quickly overtook his finances, identity, and home.'

In a press release, Mercer Island Police Chief Ed Holmes extended his condolences to Engeland's loved ones.

'First and foremost, we must acknowledge Mr. Engelands family - when this incident was first reported to police as a missing person, we hoped for a better outcome,' Holmes said.

'The family remained determined to help our investigation over the past few weeks and we hope some comfort can be found through the hard work being done to bring justice for Curtis and his loved ones.'
A worried grandfather is calling for a popular kitchen appliance sold at Kmart to be recalled after it burst into flames without warning.

Nick Morgan's purchased the Anko 7-Cup Rice Cooker for $14 from the discount chain's Chermside store in Brisbane, only to find it smouldering in his kitchen.

The appliance, which he'd used sparingly, caught alight in his North Brisbane home, which he shares with his daughter and eight-month-old granddaughter.

According to Mr Morgan, his daughter's quick thinking saved the family's entire home from being lost.

Nick Morgan's purchased the Anko 7-Cup Rice Cooker for $14 from Kmart's Chermside store in Brisbane , only to find it smouldering in his kitchen

The appliance (pictured), which he'd used sparingly, caught alight in his North Brisbane home, which he shares with his daughter and eight-month-old granddaughter

He said she left the kitchen momentarily and came back to the smell of burning plastic and smoke pouring out of the ricer cooker.

'[Then] she took out the bowl and saw there was a flame in the bottom of the cooker,' Mr Morgan said.

It is understood that this is not the first occasion where the Anko appliance has caught fire, with numerous product reviews stating that the item 'blew up' and 'needs to be recalled immediately'.

Kmart said it takes 'the quality and safety of all our products very seriously' and 'encourages' customers who experience an issue to contact their customer service team.

'While this product complies with all required standards we investigate any quality issues that are raised with us,' a spokesperson told Yahoo News.

On their Product Review page, the company said it's 'concerned' by the amount of customers claiming the product is 'very dangerous'.

It is understood that this is not the first occasion where the Anko appliance has caught fire, with numerous product reviews stating that the item 'blew up' and 'needs to be recalled immediately'

Kmart said it takes 'the quality and safety of all our products very seriously' and 'encourages' customers who experience an issue to contact their customer service team

'A massive spark came out of the button area and tripped the power to my house,' one dissatisfied customer said.

Another said: 'Do not buy this rice cooker, it will catch fire.'

'Have bought three in the last five months. All three have burnt out on first use with the last one smoking the house out so badly we had to rush it outside,' a third person wrote.

It is believed the heating element in the rice cooker can overheat if the inner pot is damaged or not placed flat on the heating plate during use.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Kmart for further comment.
Mike Lynch, the multi-millionaire tech entrepreneur once hailed as UK's answer to Steve Jobs, will face a jury in California on Monday at a trial over the accusation he defrauded Hewlett-Packard in the $11 billion sale of his software company Autonomy.

Federal prosecutors in San Francisco accuse Autonomy co-founder Lynch and former finance executive Stephen Chamberlain of inflating the company's revenue starting in 2009 -- a scheme prosecutors say resulted in HP's disastrous acquisition of the company in 2011.

Since May 2023, Lynch has been under house arrest inside of his townhouse in San Francisco's swanky Pacific Heights section.

Autonomy's unraveling ranks among the worst corporate deals, leading to the firing of HP's chief executive officer and an $8.8 billion writedown.

The implosion launched more than a decade of legal battles for Lynch.

Mike Lynch has been under house arrest in his San Francisco townhouse in an affluent part of the city since 2023

The entrepreneur is accused of over inflating the value of his company Autonomy prior to selling to HP

HP substantially won a civil lawsuit against him and Sushovan Hussain, Autonomy's former chief financial officer, in London in 2022, and it is seeking $4 billion in damages.

Hussain was separately convicted on U.S. charges in 2018. Months later, prosecutors brought charges against Lynch and Chamberlain.

Lynch fought his extradition, but was ultimately brought to the U.S. to face the charges after Britain's High Court refused him permission to appeal last year.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who is overseeing the trial, granted Lynch bail secured by a $100 million bond, but restricted him to a home in San Francisco under 24 hour guard.

Lynch's attorney has said in court that his net worth is around $450 million.

Prosecutors accuse Lynch and Chamberlain of padding Autonomy's finances through backdated agreements and "roundtrip" deals that fronted cash to customers through fake contracts. Part of the purpose was to entice buyers like HP, prosecutors said.

At the trial scheduled to run into late May, jurors may hear from dozens of witnesses, including Leo Apotheker, the former HP chief executive who was fired weeks after the Autonomy deal was announced.

Lynch's attorneys have said in court that he is considering testifying in his own defense at the trial, where he faces 16 counts of fraud and conspiracy. Chamberlain faces 15 counts.

Both men are presumed innocent. The 12-person jury must reach a unanimous verdict to find either of them guilty.

Hussain was convicted on 16 counts at a jury trial before Breyer in 2018. He was released from prison in January after serving a five-year sentence.

In the civil lawsuit, a British judge ruled in January 2022 that Lynch had masterminded an elaborate fraud to inflate the value of Autonomy, meaning the Silicon Valley company substantially succeeded in its civil case.

Lynch had said HP did not know what it was doing with Autonomy, and was out of its depth in understanding his technology.
Approximately 1.4 million Haitians are on the verge of famine

The UN children's agency chief said the situation in Haiti is the 'worst in decades' as millions face famine amid a rise in gang violence and looting.

Seven bodies were reportedly found in Petion Ville in the Ouest Department of Haiti on Monday after an overnight shooting.

UNICEF said one of its containers holding 'essential items for maternal, neonatal, and child survival, including resuscitators and related equipment' was looted in the capital of Port-au-Prince's main port on Saturday.

Looting and overall violence has further cut some of the country's most vulnerable from basic supplies, coming 'at a critical moment when children need them the most,' the agency said.

That same day, the Guatemala's Foreign Ministry said the offices of its honorary consul in Haiti was ransacked, but didn't give any details of damage or thefts, nor did it say who was responsible.

'It's like a scene out of Mad Max. Honestly, that's what it seems like.

'Gangs, vigilantes responding to the gangs,' UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell told CBS News.

A person lifts a sheet to look at the identity of a body lying on the ground after an overnight shooting in the Petion Ville neighborhood

Looting and overall violence has further cut some of the country's most vulnerable from basic supplies

UNICEF said one of its containers holding 'essential items for maternal, neonatal, and child survival, including resuscitators and related equipment' was looted in the capital of Port-au-Prince's main port on Saturday

Paramedics carry the body of a person who was killed in the street by gang members on Monday

A man throws garbage next to the body of a murdered person, in Port-au-Prince on Friday

Gangs have raged through Haiti in recent weeks, attacking key institutions and shutting down the main international airport

Shortages of electricity, fuel and medical supplies have affected hospitals nationwide, with six out of ten facilities not able to function. Pictured: men transporting bags of coal

'Many, many people there are suffering from serious hunger and malnutrition and we're not able to get enough aid to them.'

Gangs have raged through Haiti in recent weeks, attacking key institutions and shutting down the main international airport. The gangs, led by a man nicknamed 'Barbeque' have risen to power without clear leadership in the country and the prime minister's resignation.

Approximately 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 said.

'Haiti is facing a protractive and mass hunger,' Jean-Martin Bauer, Haiti director for the United Nations' World Food Program, told The Associated Press.

'We have supplies for weeks. Im saying weeks, not months, that has me terrified.'

The country's top gang leader Jimmy 'Barbeque' Cherizier has threatened the families of political leaders who would support a planned transition council replacing outgoing PM Aruel Henry.

Haiti Libre reported the Haitian National Police raided Barbeque's territory on Friday as part of a strategy to unblock roads, seize firearms and facilitate the free movement of citizens.

According to police several gang members were killed during the operation.

There was a major prison breakout of two of the country largest detention facilities leading to the escape of thousands of prisoners, including several notorious gang leaders.

In Port-au-Prince, some hospitals have been forced to close over safety concerns, and only two surgical operating facilities are operational, according to UNICEF.

Shortages of electricity, fuel and medical supplies have affected hospitals nationwide, with six out of ten facilities not able to function.

'Now they've basically taken over the capital, they've taken over the airport. What that means for people is that we can't get aid in again, it's very difficult for us to do that,' said Russell.

'I mean, it's literally one thing after another for Haiti, and I think right now, it's the worst that anyone has seen in decades.'

The UNICEF executive director has compared the situation in Haiti to the post-apocalyptic movie Mad Max. Pictured: A scene from Mad Max-Fury Road

Seven bodies were reportedly found in Petion Ville in the Ouest Department of Haiti on Monday after an overnight shooting

In Haiti shortages of electricity, fuel and medical supplies have affected hospitals nationwide, with six out of ten facilities not able to function. Pictured: people take shelter in a school yard

Paramedics work to recover the bodies of people killed in the street by gang members

Approximately 1.4 million Haitians are on the verge of famine, and more than 4 million require food aid,

The country's top gang leader Jimmy 'Barbeque' Cherizier (pictured) has threatened the families of political leaders who would support a planned transition council replacing the ousted prime minister

Haitians are seen carrying buckets of water towards the blaze as official authorities remain largely absent throughout the ongoing crisis

'Haiti is facing a protractive and mass hunger,' Jean-Martin Bauer, Haiti director for the United Nations' World Food Program said. Pictured: A man eats a meal as a child covers his face after receiving containers of free food.

While Haiti's main airport in Port-au-Prince remains closed following gang attacks, the U.S. State Department said it would be offering limited charter flights for American citizens from the less chaotic northern city of Cap-Haitien.

But it warned that U.S. citizens should consider the flights 'only if you think you can reach Cap-Haitien airport safely.'

A charter flight carrying dozens of American citizens fleeing spiraling gang violence in Haiti landed in Miami on Sunday, U.S. State Department officials said.

There were 166 seats available on the first flight out of the chaos-ridden nation but just 47 U.S. citizens took up the offer of returning on the government-chartered flight which arrived at Miami International Airport.

The evacuation came after the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince urged U.S. citizens to leave 'as soon as possible' as chaos gripped the island nation.

Passenger Avlot Quessa, who lives in Boston, traveled from the center of the country to board the charter flight after going to Haiti last month for was supposed to be a weeklong trip to visit his mother.

'It's just terrible. The suffering, you can only imagine,' Quessa told The Miami Herald of the nearby Caribbean nation.

'Haiti is my homeland and it's very stressful to see the homeland going through this act of violence, destruction ... and they are our neighbors.

'I ended up staying 20-plus days' he said noting that it was 'good to be back.'

However, Quessa said he also felt bad for the people he left behind: 'I also need to think about the people back home.

'They are only miles away from Miami. We cannot turn our eyes back on Haiti.

'Look at how much we invest in Ukraine and Israel. So no one is going to tell me that color doesn't matter.'
The heartbroken parents of a woman who vanished two years ago say they will sell their home to fund a private investigator as they accused police of botching a probe into her disappearance.

Catrin Maguire, 22, went missing after buying a return ticket to her home town of Holyhead in Anglesey, Wales - leaving her parents desperate for information.

Gerry and Wendy Maguire have vowed to never give up their search after a reported sighting of her in a camper van and are now planning a separate new inquiry after they 'lost faith' in police.

The move comes after North Wales Police released a damning report about the force's own work on the case, finding six 'unacceptable' failings in their investigation.

Catrin was described as a 'happy-go-lucky' university student with no known mental health issues before her disappearance in November 2021.

The parents of Catrin Maguire (pictured) want a new investigation into her disappearance

Gerry and Wendy Maguire say they will remortgage or sell their home if necessary

Ms Maguire, 21, was last seen on November 15, 2021, after returning to home town Holyhead

She was last seen at 1.18pm on November 15 that year, walking near the cafe of the South Stack Cliffs RSPB nature reserve after catching a train home from university.

But the family say a number of new leads have come forward - and that they have 'lost faith' in any police investigation after not being told of possible sightings.

The family want to hire a private investigation team to examine, saying the team would be 'starting afresh' after the police probe's failings.

Mr and Mrs Maguire hope a 25,000 fundraiser will help cover the costs - but if it fails to do so, they will consider remortgaging or selling their house for the money.

Mr Maguire said: 'We feel that passionately that we need answers and closure - it's the only way forward.'

Any money left over from the GoFundMe appeal will be donated to Mon-SAR rescue team, Holyhead RNLI and Missing People UK.

Catrin's parents, who believe she is still alive, issued a message to her saying: 'Wherever you are, whatever has happened, just get in touch. Let us know you're safe. We miss you terribly. We love you and want you home and back with us.'

Catrin is described as being about 5ft 5in with a slim build.

On the day she disappeared she was wearing a black duffel coat and was carrying a light-coloured handbag.

Mr Maguire, 52, from Holyhead in Anglesey, said she travelled back to her home town from university in Bangor and had a return ticket.

He said: 'A witness has told us he saw Catrin at around 4.30pm to 4.45pm that day at the bottom car park of South Stack. He reported it to the police but this information was not relayed to us at the time.'

Catrin's family and their friends have spent a huge amount of time searching for her, both in Holyhead and Bangor.

Catrin Maguire had travelled back to home town from university in Bangor on a return ticket

When she disappeared she was wearing a black duffel coat and had a light-coloured handbag

They have distributed countless flyers and posters around both areas and spoken to students at the university, but the disappearance remains a mystery.

Another witness recently came forward to the family about a reported sighting of Catrin on New Year's Day 2022 in Holyhead Breakwater Country Park.

Mr Maguire said: 'She saw a woman of exactly Catrin's description getting out of a red campervan with a man, and he had two young children.

'She was that concerned, thinking this was the person being searched for, that she called 101. The operator took her information and never got back. We weren't told.'

It took months for Mr Maguire, who has a removals business, and his wife, a local authority employee, to return to work.

He said: 'People ask how we manage. We don't. We put one foot in front of the other.'

Mrs Maguire said: 'Even when you go on holiday it's always there.

'When you have a nice time you think, "Do I feel guilty now? Why should I be smiling? Catrin is missing and I'm out with friends."'

In an internal report, North Wales Police admitted failings in its response as well as upholding allegations that three officers in the missing person case showed an 'unprofessional attitude and disrespect'.

The force also said there were failings over the lack of a family liaison officer and over the performance of a call handler.

The professional standards report was drawn up by North Wales Police after a complaint on behalf of Mrs Maguire's family by Ynys Mon MP Virginia Crosbie.

North Wales Police's Chief Supt Sian Beck said in a statement, when the force was contacted by MailOnline: 'Our thoughts remain with Catrin's family.

'We understand their need to find out what has happened and we will continue to review any further information we receive.

'We would appeal to anyone with information that hasn't already been shared with us to contact us quoting reference 40695.'

North Wales Police deputy chief constable Nigel Harrison previously said last November: 'Following concerns raised by Catrins family an internal investigation concluded that the level of service they received in some aspects of our engagement with them fell below the standard we would expect and which they deserved.

'I would like to apologise to them for the distress this caused. Sadly at this moment in time there is no further information available which would enable us to progress the case further but should any come to light it will be reviewed.'
The pro-Palestine vandalizers covered the front of the cafe with red paint, meant to resemble blood

Protestors spray-painted: 'FORM LINE HERE TO SUPPORT GENOCIDE' on sidewalk outside of Effy's Cafe in NYC

Effy's Cafe, a Jewish-owned staple on New York City's Upper West Side, was mercilessly vandalized by a group of pro-Palestinian protesters who claim the cafe's owners and patrons are 'supporting genocide.'

The sidewalk in front of the 96th Street restaurant, where patrons are accustomed to standing and waiting for a table inside the popular cafe, was marred with graffiti.

The sidewalk now reads in large capital letters: FORM LINE HERE TO SUPPORT GENOCIDE.

Red paint, suggestive of blood, was smeared across the charming cafe's facade.

Shortly after the cafe was vandalized, people in the area worked together to try to remove the graffiti with a power-washer.

Effy's Cafe, and its Jewish owner, Efi Jacoby, are only the latest targets of a growing antisemitic movement in New York City that has seen massive protests and other acts of vandalism.

Effy's cafe, located in the Upper West Side, is only the latest Jewish-owned business to be attacked by antisemitic protestors

Effy's Cafe, and its Jewish owner, Efi Jacoby, are only the latest targets of a growing antisemitic movement in New York City

Effy's is a cornerstone of the Upper West Side Jewish food scene.

It is noted for its breakfast food, pastries, coffee, falafel, wraps, salads, and sandwiches.

Customers also frequent the kosher-certified cafe for its warm and friendly atmosphere.

During the pandemic, Jacoby announced that he would be closing Effy's permanently, leaving numerous loyal diners heartbroken by the news.

But despite financial uncertainty, Jacoby changed his mind and decided to keep the restaurant open.

'After a depressing eight months and a lot of losses, we decided to open up and get my people back to work for our sanity,' Jacoby told Ilovetheupperwestside.com.

The sidewalk in front of the 96th Street restaurant, where patrons are accustomed to standing and waiting for a table inside the popular cafe, was marred with graffiti

After the war erupted between Israel and Hamas, following Hamas' brutal attack on Israel on October 7, there have been countless examples of vandalism and violence perpetrated against Jewish businesses in New York City

In October, shortly after Hamas' incursion, vandals drew a large swastika on the wall of 2nd Ave Deli, a famed Jewish eatery.

In November, protestors used a similar shade of red paint to write the words 'FREE GAZA' across the front window of Breads Bakery, a Jewish bakery near sixth avenue and 49th street.

Also in November, the NYPD reported a spike in hate crimes in the immediate aftermath of the Hamas attack.

While hate crimes overall were down about 9 percent in NYC this year, the month of October saw 101 hate crimes - up from the 43 seen in September and 45 in October, 2022, police said in early November.

The majority of the crimes - 69 - were against Jews, as anti-Semitic crimes rose 331 percent since September and 214 percent since October of last year.

There were also been eight hate crimes against Muslim New Yorkers - a 700 percent increase since September and 800 percent since October, 2022, when there were zero.
Experts said the nation had made significant progress in education pre pandemic but had lost it all when students were taken out of the classrooms

Four years ago, students were forced into remote learning as a nationwide stay-at-home order was announced in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several schools reopened by fall 2020, most of them in rural and Republican-led states. Others would not completely reopen for another year, usually in Democratic-led states and large cities.

Many public health and education specialists now widely agree that prolonged school closures did not help stop the spread of COVID, despite the fact that children had substantial and long-lasting academic losses.

In a study titled referred to as the Education Recovery Scorecard, researchers from Harvard, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Dartmouth, and the testing company NWEA (formerly known as Northwest Evaluation Association), analyzed data from 7,800 school districts to determine how factors such as remote learning time and federal funding allocation influenced student achievement.

The study found that students in districts where they learned remotely for the most of the 20202021 school year fell, on average, more than half a grade behind in math, whereas students in districts where they learned in person for the majority of the year lost just over a third of a grade.

A study called the Education Recovery Scorecard fell more than half a grade behind in math during the 2020-2021 school year

The study found that the average student was lagging by approximately one-third of a year in reading

Students' reading skills were not as negatively impacted from remote learning compared to math, but the damage was still significant; the average student was lagging by approximately one-third of a year in reading.

Taking a look at post-pandemic test scores, data from spring 2023 show that students are still not caught up from their pandemic losses.

Dr. Sean O'Leary, a pediatric infectious disease specialist who helped write school reopening procedures for the American Academy of Pediatrics in June 2020, told the New York Times that he believes students could have returned to in-person learning much earlier than they did.

'There's fairly good consensus that, in general, as a society, we probably kept kids out of school longer than we should have,'

Students that were remote for 90 percent of the school year during 2020-2021 have even more to catch up on than students who were allowed back earlier.

Income and family background also made a big difference in terms of how much academic decline the students experienced.

In an interview with Harvard Magazine, Sean Reardon, a sociology professor at Stanford who helped spearhead the study, said he was astounded by how much students in minority and lower-income communities were affected.

'The pandemic effects weren't equally visited on every community in terms of their consequences for children,' Reardon said.

'I wasn't surprised, but I was just dismayed and struck by how large the disparities were. In the most affluent communities in the U.S., on average, kids didn't really fall behind much at all, but in the poorest and highest minority placesit's as if they didn't have any schooling for the better part of a year.'

Prior to the pandemic, Tom Kane, a professor and director of the Center for Education Policy Research at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard, told Harvard Magazine that the nation had made 'important progress' in education that many 'people aren't aware of,' such as narrowing the black-white achievement gap.

'It's been painful to watch a lot of that progress being reversed,' said Kane.

'Some 40 percent of the increase between 1990 and 2019 evaporated between 2019 and 2022.'

Sean Reardon said he fears the effects of the pandemic on education could be permanent

The duration of school closures, the frequency of COVID-19 deaths, the panic and fear in the severely impacted neighborhoods, and the reduction of social activities were contributing factors in the decline of student progress.

'The pandemic was a public health and economic disaster that reshaped every area of children's lives, but it did so to different degrees in different communities, and so its consequences for children depended on where they lived,' Kane and Reardon wrote in an op-ed collaboration with the New York Times.

Reardon told Harvard Magazine he fears the learning losses from the pandemic are irreversible analyze he past 10 years of test scores.

'Unless we have some sustained systematic effortsyou sort of bake in that extra inequality into this cohort going forward,' said Reardon.
This is the shocking moment a delivery man plummets down an empty lift shaft while delivering food in a building undergoing construction - leaving him with a shattered spine.

CCTV footage captured the moment the man, known only as Ke, walked into the building in Wenzhou, China, on the evening of March 12.

Geared up with a winter jacket and a biker's helmet, he seemingly fails to notice the giant pitfall ahead of his path.

Holding two carrier bags of food, the delivery worker continues walking down the corridor, appearing to be in a rush to deliver the meal.

In a heart-stopping moment, Ke's foot slips over the solid ground and right into an empty space - sending him plunging into the abyss.

Delivery man Ke was on a job in Wenzhou, China, when he entered a building that was under construction

The man was captured on CCTV stepping into the large gap between the floors, seemingly not realising the hole was there

He plummeted from the third floor to the second and sustained severe injuries to his spine as a result of the fall

He completely disappears from sight as he falls through the hole and onto the floor beneath him, while still clinging onto his deliveries.

Speaking to local media on Saturday, Ke said that the incident took place in a factory building where the lighting in the corridor was poor.

He accidentally stepped into the lift shaft and fell from the third floor to the second floor, sustaining severe injuries to his spine.

Ke said: 'There were no barriers around, so once I stepped on it, I fell down. My lumbar spine was injured, and my bones were shattered.'

He was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery and is currently recovering.

Local police also confirmed the incident but did not say if the factory would be faced with any legal consequences for not properly marking off the hazard area.

The incident comes after a man faced a similar situation in 2017.

A delivery worker, 37, suffered serious brain injuries after he fell down a lift shaft in Shenzhen, southeast China.

The man was also found to have cuts and wounds all over his body that he would have to rely on a ventilator to breathe.

And in 2016, two warehouse workers plummeted down a lift shaft while riding an out of control cart.

According to local reports, they were unable to stop their vehicle as the floor was too slippery.

The pair reportedly suffered minor injuries.
President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on Monday for more government funding that focuses on women's health, spending $200 million next year to better understand issues including reproductive challenges and midlife conditions like menopause.

The White House calls it the 'most comprehensive' action by a president on women's health research and it comes at a time Biden if heavily courting female voters to support him in the 2024 election.

First lady Jill Biden is leading both the effort to mobilize female voters and the White House Initiative on Womens Health Research. She will join the president and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Monday afternoon when Biden formally signs the order at a reception in honor of Women's History Month.

President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on women's health at a time he is heavily courting female voters

Women make up half the population but their health has been long been understudied. It wasn't until the 1990s that the federal government mandated women be included in federally funded medical research.

'For far too long women's health research has been underfunded and understudied,' said Dr. Carolyn Mazure, the head of the White House initiative on women's health.

'We still know too little about how to effectively prevent, diagnose and treat a wide array of health conditions in women.'

Biden's order comes at a time women's health issues dominate the news: after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a series of anti-abortion laws were signed into law in several states.

And, as a part of a ripple effect of that ruling, other women's reproductive issues have come under fire. In Alabama, for instance, the future of IVF was thrown into question statewide after a judge's ruling.

Democrats see the attacks on women's health as a way to rally this important voting bloc to the president come November.

Women were a critical part of Biden's winning electorate in 2020, giving him 55% of their vote.

Black women and suburban women were the cornerstones of Biden's support while Donald Trump had a modest advantage among white women and a bigger share of white women without college degrees.

President Joe Biden kisses Jill Biden after he established the first-ever White House Initiative on Women's Health Research in November

First lady Jill Biden is leading both the effort on women's health and tp mobilize female voters - above she speaks at women's health issues in Massachusetts last month

Jill Biden has taken the lead in courting female voters for her husband and attacking Trump for his support of anti-abortion laws.

Biden's order will push federal agencies to use federal funds to research health conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

As part of it, the National Institutes of Health will increase by 50 percent investments in small businesses focused on women's health. The Defense Department also plans to invest $10 million to learn more about cancers and mental health issues affecting women in active military service.

NIH is also launching a new effort around menopause and the treatment of menopausal symptoms that will identify research gaps and work to close them, said White House adviser Jennifer Klein.

In his State of the Union address Biden called on Congress to provide $12 billion for women's health initiatives.

'Women are more than half of our population but research on women's health has always been underfunded,' Biden said at the time.

In November, Biden put first lady Jill Biden in charge of his Women's Health Initiative, signing the order in an Oval Office ceremony.

The first lady announced $100 million in funding last month for women's health.
Keir Starmer has praised Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion saying he did not want his children to 'breathe dirty air'.

The Labour leader offered backing to the controversial policy at the official launch for the London Mayor's reelection campaign.

Sir Keir previously sat on the fence after the spread of the 12.50-a-day charging zone was blamed for his party losing the Uxbridge & South Ruislip by-election in July.

But at the joint event this morning, he insisted he supports 'everything Sadiq is doing' on clean air.

'I say to people who challenge me on clean air. I say I've got two kids. They're 15 they're 13 and I don't give them dirty water to drink and I wouldn't want them to breathe in dirty air,' Sir Keir said.

Mr Khan, who is hot favourite to beat Tory Susan Hall and secure a third term in City Hall, also took a swipe at critics.

Speaking to reporters, the London mayor said of the scheme: 'When we first planned to bring it in in central London, there were people who were hostile and anti. It came in and the sky didn't collapse.

'We then expanded it to inner London, lots of complaints and concerns and by the way the Tories have been consistent in opposing it at all levels, the sky didn't fall in.

Keir Starmer (right) offered backing to the ULEZ policy at the official launch for Sadiq Khan's (left) re-election campaign.

Sir Keir previously sat on the fence after the spread of the 12.50-a-day charging zone was blamed for his party losing the Uxbridge & South Ruislip by-election in July

'We then expanded it to outer London and here's the great news  19 out of 20 cars seen travelling on an average day are compliant they don't pay a penny more.'

Mr Khan said he would have gone 'further and faster' if he was not being 'held back' by a Tory government.

Despite polls indicating he is on track for a big win on May 2, Mr Khan said the contest would be a 'two-horse' race and the 'closest' ever between himself and Ms Hall.

He said: 'It's a choice that will determine if London's brightest days are ahead of us or behind us, and if the next generation of young Londoners will be better off than the last.

'So please don't leave it to chance. Vote for the future you want for our amazing city on May 2.'

Mr Khan also fended off criticism of his performance on crime, saying London was on a par with 'any global city'.

'You compare London to any global city and we are the safer city,' he said, pointing to research suggesting there are fewer homicides in the UK capital than in other major cities.

'New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris. Don't take my word for it  look at the research done by UCL.

'But I'm not complacent I've met too many victims of crime, I've met too many bereaved families. That's why I'm saying this year is a moment of maximum opportunity.'
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday the United States will always work with South Korea to firmly respond to North Korea's provocations, according to the presidential office, after Pyongyang fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea.

Blinken made the remark during a meeting with President Yoon Suk Yeol on the sidelines of the third Summit for Democracy hosted by South Korea this week.

"Secretary Blinken said the United States will always be with South Korea to respond firmly to North Korea's provocations and for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the presidential office said in a press release, adding the top U.S. diplomat called for continuing close coordination and communication between the allies, while further strengthening their "extended deterrence," the U.S. commitment to using the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally.

Blinken's comment came hours after North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea.

Yoon welcomed the secretary to Seoul, saying the recent flurry of senior-level exchanges shows the strength of the alliance, which has evolved into a "global comprehensive strategic alliance."

He also called for working closely together to leave behind a "better democracy" for future generations in line with this week's summit's theme, "Democracy for Future Generations," noting the alliance is stronger because the two countries share a belief in liberal democracy.

Blinken conveyed U.S. President Joe Biden's greetings to Yoon, saying Biden is grateful to South Korea for hosting the gathering this year. (Yonhap)
Education watchdogs want a Seattle school to discipline a math teacher who was caught raising money for Palestinian extremists and for her posts linking Israel with Nazi Germany.

Members of the National Education Association (NEA), a major union, and the Conservative Ladies of Washington group, said Sobia Sheikh should be held accountable for her fundraising and online activism.

Sheikh, a math teacher at Mariner High School, was exposed this month for urging a colleague to wire money to a charity led by a radical Palestinian cleric who denies Hamas atrocities and supports the use of sex slaves.

The school says it has 'addressed the issue' with Sheikh, but would not say what action it took.

Seattle area math teacher Sobia Sheikh urged a colleague to wire money to an extremist cleric

Jeannie Magdua, a member of the Conservative Ladies of Washington group, says the state's schools have gone 'woke'

The case spotlights tensions between parents and teachers in America's culture wars, and raises tough questions about whether educators should float political ideas while at work.

Jany Finkielsztein, a public school educator and member of the NEA's Jewish Affairs Caucus, said Mukilteo School District needed to take action over Sheikh.

Poll Should Sobia Sheikh face disciplinary action for her posts and fundraising? Yes No Not sure Should Sobia Sheikh face disciplinary action for her posts and fundraising? Yes 438 votes

No 13 votes

Not sure 6 votes Now share your opinion





'School administrators must set clear expectations and deter teachers like Sobia Sheikh from pushing and supporting extreme political views without consequences,' Finkielsztein, also an analyst at the CAMERA Education Institute, told DailyMail.com.

'Urgent action is needed to address the rise of antisemitism in schools, ensuring transparency and oversight to prevent the indoctrination of anti-Israel falsehoods and hate among American students.'

Jeannie Magdua, a teacher at a private Christian school and member of the Conservative Ladies of Washington group, said Washington parents were losing faith in the state's public schools.

'The radical political activism among teachers, like Sobia Sheikh, is one of the reasons I withdrew my child from public school,' Magdua told DailyMail.com.

'Until there is a shift toward education and away from wokeness, the K-12 system will continue to lose students.'

Mariner High School serves 2,100 students in Everett, Washington  part of Mukilteo School District

DailyMail.com readers agree  our opinion poll showed that 96 percent of some 500 respondents said Sheikh should face disciplinary action.

Another 3 percent said she should not, and 1 percent was not sure.

Diane Bradford, the school district's spokeswoman, told DailyMail.com that it has 'addressed the issue with all parties and is not willing to further discuss personnel issues through the media.'

Sheikh's controversial social media posts 'do not represent the district,' added Bradford.

'We understand this conflict raises strong feelings and that Americans have the right to voice their opinions,' she said.

Sheikh, a math teacher at Mariner High School, was exposed earlier this month for urging a co-worker to send funds to Waqforever in an email thread about helping Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war.

The charity is fronted by Ali Hammuda, a bearded UK-based Islamic cleric, whose extremist views include endorsing sex slaves and denying Hamas atrocities in Israel on October 7.

Sheikh, who has served on the NEA board, also shared her own hard-line views, including Facebook posts that compare Israel to Nazi Germany.

One of Sheikh's posts shows Adolf Hitler and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which they make similar salute gestures

Another bears the phrase 'Israel is the new Nazi Germany' and says 'Israel steals Palestinian organs'

The Palestinian-British cleric Ali Hammuda fronts the Waqforever charity that helps Gazans

Her email was uncovered in a public records request by Nicole Neily, president of Parents Defending Education, a conservative group that works to keep politics out of classrooms.

District superintendent Alison Brynelson started the controversial email thread to her staff on October 27.

She proposed donating to charity to ease suffering in the Israel-Hamas war, which began earlier that month.

Teresa Hoffman, a school counselor, then wrote to Sheikh, asking for recommendations for a charity.

Hoffman wrote: 'I trust your judgement of where I can donate to support Palestinians needing emergency relief.'

Sheikh replied on October 30 with a link to Hammuda's charity, saying: 'You should be able to select US Dollar.'

On its website, Waqforever says it provides 'food, disaster relief, and essential medical supplies' in Gaza, where Palestinian health chiefs say more than 31,000 people have died in five months' of war.

It is fronted by Hammuda, a Palestinian-born preacher connected to a mosque in Cardiff, Wales, who airs extreme views and was suspected of radicalizing teenage Muslims.

In a 16-minute YouTube video posted in October, Hammuda denied a 'huge massacre' of Israeli festival-goers occurred on October 7.

Hammuda made his controversial comments as ISIS fighters kept women captives as sex slaves in Iraq and Syria

The video has since been removed for violating the platform's hate speech rules.

In it, Hammuda accused the media of 'concocting stories that a huge massacre took place at a rave where 260 people were killed as they were dancing and singing,' according to the Daily Express.

'Where is the evidence for all this? Where is the proof?' the cleric asked his 161,000 YouTube subscribers.

'How is this to be understood other than to say there was no massacre of 260 people, there was no mass rape that took place at all, there was not the beheading of a single child, let alone 40 of them?'

It's not the first time Hammuda's sermons courted controversy.

An undercover reporter recorded him preaching to teenage Muslim boys in 2014, saying that it is 'permissible' under Islam to have sex slaves, in a Doomsday interpretation of holy texts.

He told them: 'Towards the end of time there will be many wars like what we are seeing today, and because of these wars women will be taken as captives, as slaves, yeah, women will be taken as slaves.

Radical cleric Hammuda denies the Hamas atrocities of October 7, though there is plenty of evidence that they did happen

Palestinians transport a captured Israeli civilian, center, from a kibbutz into the Gaza Strip during the Hamas incursion of October 7,

'And then, er, her master has relations with her because this is permissible in Islam, it's permissible to have relations with a woman who is your slave or your wife.'

Hammuda has since said those comments were taken out of context, that he was discussing scholarly texts, and that he did not support sexual enslavement.

'I do not approve of sex slaves and consider it to be an abhorrent abomination,' he later wrote.

Two young men and one 17-year-old who worshiped at Hammuda's mosque, who became known as the three 'Cardiff jihadis,' travelled to Syria to fight alongside ISIS in 2014.

The mosque, Al-Manar, denied links with radicalism.

DailyMail.com asked Hammuda and his charity if any donations end up flowing to Hamas militants, but did not get a response.

Another of Sheikh's social media posts suggests that schools are part of a broader political struggle

Sheikh, the Seattle teacher, has also courted controversy over the Israel-Hamas war.

On Facebook, she has shared posts that compare Israel to Nazi Germany.

One post shows Adolf Hitler and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which they make similar salute gestures.

Another bears the phrase 'Israel is the new Nazi Germany' and says 'Israel steals Palestinian organs.'

Hamas' raids on southern Israel on October 7 killed around 1,200 Israelis and saw 253 abducted.

The attack, and Israel's devastating military response on Gaza, are divisive political issues in the US that could impact the 2024 presidential election.

Mariner High School serves 2,100 students and has witnessed a series of tragedies over the decades, including a drive-by shooting in 2018 and a pepper spray incident in the wake of the 9/11 attacks of 2001.
Residents living on a 'warzone-like' estate have described how drug dealers and prostitutes have invaded their community leaving them feeling like prisoners in their own homes.

The Little Ilford estate in Newham, East London, is home to pensioners and families with young children, and is a short walk away from two stations on the Elizabeth Line.

But residents say the estate has deteriorated dramatically in recent years and disgusting sights of used needles, human excrement, and blood-stained rags are now a near-daily occurrence.

Elderly tenants who have called the estate home for more than 30 years say things have never been this bad and that they're scared someone may die before problems are resolved.

Drug paraphernalia litters the communal areas of the Little Ilford estate in Newham

Rough sleepers have began to occupy spaces inside the tower block

A damaged door inside one of the tower blocks at the Little Ilford estate in Newham

Calvin Terry, who has lived on the Little Ilford estate for around 30 years

They complain that police take forever to arrive when they're called, or simply don't turn up at all.

Residents say drug users who behave like 'zombies' use crack and heroin in communal areas of their tower blocks, which have become like 'prisons'.

Dealers even break into storage sheds on the estate and use them to run their drug operations.

'We've had enough,' Calvin Terry, who has lived on the estate for around 30 years, said.

'This is our home. We shouldn't have to live like this.

'We have homeless people living in the shed area, leaving it like a pigsty, urinating everywhere...

'They use our building as a toilet. It's not fair.'

Little Ilford - also known as the Warrior Square estate - sits on the border between the London boroughs of Redbridge and Newham between two stations on the Elizabeth Line - which cost nearly 19billion to construct.

Immediately outside the estate is a huge sign that reads: 'Welcome to Newham, London, a place where people choose to live, work and stay.'

The irony the sign has come to represent is not lost on residents living on the estate.

'We have prostitutes on the corner who fight all night. It's like a war zone,' 69-year-old Mr Terry claimed.

Residents say drug users who behave like 'zombies' use crack and heroin in communal areas of their tower blocks, which have become like 'prisons'

Locals complain that police take forever to arrive when they're called, or simply don't turn up

Residents said their pleas for help have gone unanswered by both the police and the council

'They use our building as a brothel. They come in here and defecate and have sex and use drugs.

'The staircase is full of needles and used condoms.

'We have children here, working people, OAPs - a nice crowd. But everyone's scared.

'We do as much as we can to get evidence but it's dangerous. When you film these people, they don't like it.'

The Met Police said tackling the problems was 'among our top ward priorities'.

However, residents said their pleas for help have long gone unanswered by both the police and the local council.

Mr Terry said he'd witnessed intermittent trouble on the estate during his near three-decade tenure, but never to this extent.

'It's like living in a prison,' he said. 'We're afraid in our own homes. Nobody wants to go outside after dark.

'People have been asked to get out of the building but they threaten to stab people.

'I'm terrified that eventually, someone will get hurt.'

Another resident, who has lived in Charlbury House on the estate for two decades, agreed that the situation had now become 'scary'.

Mr Terry said he'd witnessed intermittent trouble on the estate during his near three-decade tenure, but never to this extent

One resident filmed a man on the floor of the shed area, packing drug paraphernalia including lots of syringes into a backpack, whilst another said they discovered a couple using drugs

'I've walked out the back and seen prostitution in full effect,' said the male resident, who gave his name as Max.

'There are times when it spikes but recently it really has been quite nasty.

'We've had groups of people squatting, defecating, injecting drugs, drinking. You find urine on the stairs, by the bin rooms, the exits...

'On a daily basis I'm blocking people from coming in and they're trying to push past me.

'There's so much activity that it's scary. Honestly, it's bloody scary.'

Another resident, who gave his name as Zac, said he'd also seen a 'dramatic' decline on the estate over the two decades he's lived there.

'The number of homeless people, the prostitution - just the sheer disrespect,' he said.

'You find condoms in the bin room and I've seen human excrement in the bin room and the lifts, vomit...

'I've seen people jacking up with heroin and smoking crack in the stairwell..'

Another resident, who gave her name as Sandra and has lived on the estate for over a decade, says she's stopped letting her young nephew visit as it's become too dangerous.

'We'd go up the staircase and there were needles everywhere,' she said.

'Two or three years ago there was a guy in the block who'd be up in the early hours, walking up and down with a machete.

'We were told nothing could be done. It was a year before he was moved.'

Some intruders have ripped the locks off residents' storage sheds and begun living in them or using them as drug dens.

'You wouldn't believe what we've found in here before,' Mr Terry added.

Another resident, who gave her name as Sandra and has lived on the estate for over a decade, says she's stopped letting her young nephew visit as it's become too dangerous

Another resident, who gave his name as Zac, said he'd also seen a 'dramatic' decline on the estate over the two decades he's lived there

'They've been converted into little offices where dealers pack their drugs into little envelopes to sell them.'

One resident filmed a man on the floor of the shed area, packing drug paraphernalia including lots of syringes into a backpack, whilst another said they discovered a couple using drugs on a communal staircase.

'I called 101 but couldn't get anyone on the phone so I called emergency,' he said.

'They said they'd be out in an hour. That was six days ago. They never came.

'I called the council's antisocial behaviour team the next day but after an hour and a half with no answer I hung up.

'I think they've been cut back and are understaffed. Fifteen years ago you'd call and someone would answer.

'Now the service is appalling. It makes you feel pretty isolated. You feel like an outcast.'

Parcels have also recently begun to go missing from outside residents' doors, with Mr Terry suggesting that 'the addicts obviously have to get their money from somewhere'.

A delivery driver's vehicle and a resident's car were both also recently broken into.

But when the resident asked for CCTV footage of the incident from the council, he says he was told the cameras that would've caught it 'didn't work'.

'This is our home,' Mr Terry said.

'It may be meagre, we may not be rich - but we have our pride. We pay our council tax but we're not receiving a service.

Bloodied tissues and other soiled items have become a regular sight the Little Ilford estate

Despite police insisting they regularly patrol the area and encouraging residents to report any offences they see, residents feel that not enough is being done to reclaim the estate

'What does it take? Does someone have to get killed before anyone decides to do anything?'

Zac added that he'd lost his faith in anyone, including the police, tackling the situation at Little Ilford.

'It's a shame,' he said, 'because I really love my flat.

'But when you come out and see urine and burger sauce smeared around the building, it's not a nice place to live.'

Max added that it felt as though the entire estate had sadly developed a 'prisoner state of mind'.

'We feel like our lives are shit, where we live is shit,' he said.

'No one cares about us and this is as good as it gets... And that's pretty sad.'

Despite police insisting they regularly patrol the area and encouraging residents to report any offences they see, residents feel that not enough is being done to reclaim the estate from criminals.

'I have the highest respect for the police, but there is no prevention here,' Mr Terry said.

'You'd think they could drive through every couple of hours at night, when most of this happens, but there's no preventative policing.

'I can't remember the last time I saw a copper on this estate.'

Inspector Ganesh Rasaratnam, from the Met Police's North East Command Neighbourhood Policing Unit, insisted regular patrols were carried out in the area.

'We understand the misery to residents that can be caused by drugs and/or sex worker-related antisocial behaviour,' he said.

'We regularly patrol hotspot areas, including Little Ilford, and will continue to do so.

'However, crime is rarely committed while police are present and it is important that local people report offences and provide information so that we can build intelligence on those responsible and take action against them.'

Newham Council also said it conducted site visits with police to identify and tackle antisocial behaviour 'across our housing estates'.

It said it had improved ground maintenance and communal spaces and set up groups where residents could raise concerns.

A spokesperson for the borough council said: 'We will continue to arrange regular walkabouts with residents, local groups and partner agencies and councillors to continue our efforts to make our estates safer and more secure living environments for all residents.'
A special forces police officer has been killed and two others injured in a shoot-out in Belgium, while the injured suspect was taken to hospital where he later died.

A house raid in the southern city of Charleroi by officers was launched this morning by the Directorate of Special Units (DSU) as part of an investigation into drug, weapons and vehicle trafficking, according to local authorities.

The suspect opened fire from behind a closed door as officers entered the residence, wounding the three officers, the prosecutor's office said.

Officers at the scene retreated to attend to the injured officers and reinforcements were called in, according to Belgian media.

The unnamed gunman is said to have barricaded himself in before officers managed to arrest him. He was injured and taken to hospital, where he later died.

A 36-year-old officer was killed while another was seriously wounded and a third sustained minor injuries. The wounded officers were also in their 30s, VRT News reports.

A forensics team attending the scene at the home in the suburb of Lodelinsart, Charleroi

Police officers stand guard near a house where a police officer was killed during an operation in Lodelinsart, Belgium

The police crime scene unit inspects a house where a police officer was killed on March 18, 2024

Pictures have shown a forensics team attending the scene in the suburb of Lodelinsart, with police in place around the area.

'During an intervention this morning, a special forces police officer was killed,' Vincent Fiasse of the Charleroi public prosecutor's office says.

'A second officer was seriously injured and is currently fighting for his life.'

Tributes have poured in for the officers affected, with interior minister Annelies Verlinden saying: 'Today is a black day for the police.

'With surprise we heard about the death of our colleague this morning. Our thoughts are with the family and colleagues of the victims. We will do all we can to support them.'

Police cordons were in place at the scene of the deadly shooting on the morning of March 18

Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said his thoughts are with the family of the dead officer and injured colleagues.

'The work of our law enforcers deserves respect. It is despicable to make them a target'.

Charleroi is in the Hainaut region of Wallonia, located around 60km south of the capital Brussels.
A woman's paragliding flight to conquer her fears ended in tragedy when she slipped off her seat mid-flight and fell to her death in a Colombian forest.

Daniela Barrios, 27, uploaded a photo to her social media account prior to the deadly flight and advised her friends and family that she was finally ready to get the better of her flying phobia.

'Join me on my crazy things,' her captioned read. 'Let's overcome a fear.'

Barrios and the pilot took off from the El Castillo mountain in the Quidio municipality of Calarca on Saturday afternoon and during the flight fell from her seat while they were flying over the Pradera Alta trail, according to the Calarca Fire Department.

Daniela Barrios was died in Quindio, Colombia on Saturday after she fell from a paraglider mid-flight

Prior to her tragic paragliding flight, Daniela shared a photo of herself on social media with a message that read: 'Join me on my crazy things. Let's overcome a fear'

It's close to nine hours for search-and-rescue workers to locate Daniela Barrios body in a forested area in Calarca

The pilot, whose name has not been released, was unable to stop and continued the flight until he was able to land.

A witness saw her fall from the paraglider and immediately sought emergency assistance.

A search-and-rescue mission was launched around 3pm and concluded around midnight when firefighters located Barrios body.

She did not show vital signs when she was found and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Daniela Barrios leaves behind a seven-year-old son. The 27-year-old died after falling from a paraglider in Quindio, Colombia on Saturday

A search-and-rescue unit secures the lifeless body of Daniela Barrios after locating the 27-year-old in the forest

'Apparently, the young woman slipped from the seat where the co-pilot is sitting,' Calarca fire department commander, captain Javier Arconde said, as quoted by El Tiempo newspaper.

'The pilot had to follow his route because he had no way to stop, he was able to land well but she fell.'

Barrios, who owned a lingerie line, leaves behind a seven-year-old son.

Arconde said the cause of the accident is under investigation.
Five days from a government shutdown, Congress and the White House remain at an impasse over how to move forward on the second half of federal spending for fiscal year 2024.

The hangup is over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) portion of a package that would fund six agencies of government.

Republicans had wanted to write a full year continuing resolution, or CR, for DHS, continuing funding for the agency at 2023 levels. But the White House and Democrats say that funding is not sufficient and want more leeway to spend funds as they see fit.

Negotiators for Speaker Mike Johnson and President Biden worked over the weekend on a spending bill that would fund six agencies of government

Funding negotiations for State-Foreign Operations, Defense, Labor-HHS, Legislative Branch and Financial Services-General Government are essentially wrapped up.

And now a group of over 40 Republicans led by Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good, R-Va., and Policy Chair Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote a letter urging colleagues to vote 'no' on the deal that hasn't even been released yet.

They demanded elements of the conservative border bill, H.R. 2, be attached to any spending deal - an idea that would almost surely trigger a government shutdown.

Negotiators had hoped to release the text of the so-called minibus, which wrapped six appropriations bills into one package, on Sunday. It's now unclear when they'll release it.

They need to give lawmakers 72 hours to read over the text, meaning even if they release text on Monday it would come up for a vote in the House on Thursday, one day before the deadline for a partial government shutdown. Lawmakers previously set deadlines of March 8 four government agencies and March 22 to fund the other eight in their fourth CR to kick the deadline down the road.

Government funding for 2024 was supposed to be wrapped up by the start of the fiscal year, October 1.

Two men scale the cyclone fence installed by the Texas National Guard as hundreds of migrants queue up along the border wal;, awaiting processing by the Border Patrol in hopes of receiving asylum on March 15, 2024, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Southern border crossings reached a record 302,000 in December before falling to 124,000 in January and 140,000 in February

The White House made an 11th-hour request for an additional $1.56 billion in funding, a source familiar with talks confirmed to DailyMail.com, which would be an increase over the 2023 level of $61.8 billion amid a swell of migrant crossings.

Republicans shot down the ask, arguing it was not sufficiently died to border security enforcement.

Meanwhile, Republicans are demanding more money for detention facilities and migrant beds and Democrats are demanding a pay raise for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers.

The White House wants more leeway for 'anomalies' to make sure they can shift around funding as new problems emerge. Anomalies are 'exceptions to the duration, amount, or purposes.'

Southern border crossings reached a record 302,000 in December before falling to 124,000 in January and 140,000 in February.

The bill is also expected to include restrictions on funding for the U.N.s Palestinian refugee agency, commonly referred to as UNRWA, after Israel claimed 12 of the agency's 30,000 employees were believed to have colluded with Hamas in the October 7 attack.

Congress previously passed a $460 billion funding deal on March 8 just hours before the money allocated for the agencies ran out.

The deal 'secured key conservative policy victories' in the roughly $460 billion measure despite a 'divided government' and rejected 'left-wing proposals,' Speaker Johnson said at the time.

That bill included funding for six federal agencies - including Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD.

It also imposed 'deep cuts' to the EPA (10%), ATF (7%) and FBI (6%), which Johnson said has 'threatened our freedoms and our economy.'

The next votes in the House are expected at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday for legislative business.
Sadiq Khan today became the latest senior Labour politician to back a return to party ranks for Diane Abbott, after a Tory donor was revealed to have suggested the black MP 'be shot'.

The London mayor today admitted he was 'partial' in the row over whether her suspension over alleged anti-Semitic remarks should go on.

Launching his London re-election bid today he branded Ms Abbott a 'fighter against racial injustice and social injustice'.

Last week it was revealed top Tory donor Frank Hester suggested she be gunned down, and that her views made him 'want to hate all black women'.

Hackney North MP Ms Abbott was suspended in April and an anti-Semitism probe launched after she was forced to apologise for a letter she wrote to The Observer suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people were not subject to racism 'all their lives'.

Yesterday Harriet Harman, the former deputy leader of the party, branded Ms Abbott a 'trailblazer' and said it would be 'sad' if the 70-year-old ended her career as an independent. If she is not given back the Labour whip she would have to run as an independent if she stood at the election later this year - against an official Labour candidate.

Launching his London re-election bid today alongside Sir Keir Starmer Mr Khan branded Ms Abbott a 'fighter against racial injustice and social injustice'.

Hackney North MP Ms Abbott was suspended in April and an anti-Semitism probe launched after she was forced to apologise for a letter she wrote to The Observer suggesting Jewish, Irish and Traveller people were not subject to racism 'all their lives'.

Yesterday Harriet Harman, the former deputy leader of the party, branded Ms Abbott a 'trailblazer' and said it would be 'sad' if the 70-year-old ended her career as an independent.

The London mayor told reporters he had not spoken on Monday with Sir Keir Starmer about the Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP returning to the party, despite the Labour leader joining him at the launch of his campaign for re-election.

Mr Khan said he had 'cheered when he was a 16-year-old boy' when Ms Abbott was elected, describing her as having been a 'fighter against racial injustice and social injustice'.

'The problem is if I say publicly what should happen, my concern is that will influence what the complaints process does,' he said.

Asked whether his preference for Ms Abbott having the whip reinstated was what was holding him back, he said: 'Listen, I'm partial. That's why I'm the wrong person to talk about this.'

It came as Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch defended No 10's handling of the Frank Hester affairas she branded the continued interest in the story 'pure media bubble speculation'.

Told on BBC Breakfast that some commentators felt Rishi Sunak was 'following your lead' last week in labelling Mr Hester's remarks 'racist', Ms Badenoch said: 'I disagree with that. I believe that they were establishing the facts of the matter.

'I gave a personal opinion. And to be honest, I don't want a Prime Minister who is just going to be lurching out, making comments every five minutes in response to the media.

'What he is not doing is following the media's lead, and I'm very pleased that he agreed with me, but I was making my comments in a personal capacity as the only black woman in the Cabinet.'

She added: 'The only reason why it (Mr Hester's remarks) is still dominating the front page is because you are not interested in the work that the Government is doing.

'You are interested in the story from last week, which has been apologised for and everyone has moved on... This is something that is pure media bubble speculation. It is not what the country cares about.

'I'm not frustrated - I'm very happy to answer the questions. But I think it is more reflective about what the BBC is interested in, rather than what the Government is doing.'
A Chinese battery giant has sued a small Michigan town over its opposition to plans to build a $2.4billion factory in its community, sparking accusations it is trying to 'bully' residents into submission.

Gotion, which 'pledges allegiance' to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), stepped up its war with Green Charter Township on Friday by filing a federal complaint accusing local officials of trying to scupper the project illegally.

The row centers over a deal agreed between Gotion and the previous township board, which was booted out by residents in a recall election in November over its support for the project.

Gotion has now accused the new board, which opposes the project on national security and environmental grounds, of failing to honor a contract that allows it access to crucial water supplies.

The lawsuit marks a dramatic escalation in a tussle which has sparked fierce debate over the perceived Chinese infiltration of American society.

Residents of the idyllic Green Charter Township in Michigan are leading a fightback against a Chinese-linked battery firm being built in their community.(L-R) Residents Kelly Cushway, Lori Brock, Debbie Diegert and Jeff Thorne protest the deal

A graphic rendering of the battery plant Gotion seeks to build in Green Charter Township

The town is divided over whether the project will boost the local economy or threaten national security and damage the surrounding environment

Township trustee Jeff Thorne described it as an 'aggressive move', accusing the Chinese firm of trying to intimate residents into submission.

'They are flexing their muscles,' he told DailyMail.com. 'It's a bully pit move. They're trying to say: "We're big, we've got lots of money and will take you to federal court".

'They assume we don't have the time or resources to counter that.

'But that's not true. We've rolled up our sleeves. We're in this for the long haul.'

The site is already under construction and Gotion completed the purchase of 270 acres of land in the community in August last year.

The firm says the project will bring 2,350 'well-paying' jobs to the town, located around 60 miles north of Grand Rapids.

It is also set to receive $175 million in state tax incentives and a 30-year tax abatement worth an estimated $540 million as part of its deal to locate in Mecosta County.

But politicians and residents have raised concerns over allowing a CCP-subsidiary to move into a site that is just 100 miles away from a US military camp where the Michigan National Guard has been training troops from Taiwan - a territory neighboring China some security experts, including among the US military, say Beijing is preparing to invade.

They have also cited environmental concerns, opposing the construction of an industrial factory in a rural idyll where rivers feed the Great Lakes of Michigan.

In November, residents kicked out their township board in a seismic recall election and inserted officials opposed to the project in their place.

Physical therapist Jeff Thorne, 64, who was elected as a town trustee last year, accused Gotion of trying to 'bully' residents into accepting their plans for a giant EV battery plant

Jason Kruse, pictured here, led a revolt against the township of Green Charter's local government on Tuesday after they backed China-linked company Gotion

Set to be built on the outskirts of Big Rapids, the planned plant would be set only a few miles from one of the state's National Guard bases

A billboard expresses the feelings of many residents of the 3,200-strong township, who oppose the building of a battery factory in the area by CCO-subsidiary Gotion

Led by supervisor Jason Kruse, the new board has made clear it wants to halt construction.

But Gotion has previously suggested that resistance was futile, with the project already signed off by the previous board in a binding deal.

Its lawsuit, however, suggests it is concerned the board's actions could scupper its plans.

In its filing, the firm claimed that the township has reneged on its contractual obligations after initially adopting a resolution approving the company's plans to connect Big Rapids' water system to the project.

The resolution, adopted by the old board, has since been ditched by its successors.

Gotion said the water resolution 'is a critical part of the project's success', with a potential need for up to 715,000 gallons per day in the initial phases of the operation.

It is seeking a preliminary injunction from the court to direct the township to connect the water lines to its plant.

'To prevent the township's sudden recalcitrance from unraveling an endeavor already years and millions of dollars in the making, this court should order the township to comply with its obligations under the parties' agreement,' Gotion said.

The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Michigan, highlighted the new township board's hostility to the project, citing comments made by Kruse to DailyMail.com last year in which he said it 'can be stopped, 100 percent'.

The board supervisor added Monday that he was 'saddened and disheartened' by Gotion's decision to sue the township.

'This is a classic case of David v. Goliath,' he told DailyMail.com. 'We won't be bullied by a large corporation, not allowing us to have a say in what happens within our township.'

Trustee Thorne said the view among the board was that the contract between Gotion and their predecessors was 'null and void' because it had not been 'properly executed'.

He claimed the proposal had never come back for a second reading or been fully scrutinized by residents.

China owns 383,935 acres of US farmland as of December 2021, with almost half of it in Texas

Although it is backed by Volkswagen with operations in Germany, Gotion's parent company is based in China.

Critics of the Michigan project have highlighted a clause in its business filings that states the company 'shall set up a party organization and carry out party activities in accordance with the constitution of the Communist Party of China'.

The company has publicly denied allegiance to the Communist Party, but China has moved in recent years to enhance the CCP's influence in Chinese firms, where maintaining a party unit is often required under law.

In a statement late Friday, Chuck Thelen, vice president of North American manufacturing for Gotion Inc., expressed regret that the lawsuit was necessary.

'It's unfortunate that Gotion has had to resort to litigation to get the township to comply with their obligations under the agreement,' Thelen said. 'We're unable to comment further since this is now an ongoing legal matter.'

The CCP has a stake in 383,935 acres of American agricultural land as of December 2021, according to the latest figures released by the US Department of Agriculture.

It has sparked a national debate over why the US is allowing a hostile state to buy up vital land across the country amid concerns over espionage and security.
The CEO of United Airlines is trying to reassure fliers that the company is safe following a string of concerning incidents involving Boeing jets.

Scott Kirby sent an email to customers saying that 'safety is our highest priority and at the center of everything we do' according to CNBC - while Boeing's market value dropped by 12.15 percent over the past month.

It comes after a series of terrifying incidents unfolded on United Airlines flights in recent months - from a wheel falling from an Osaka-bound jet early March to a panel blowing off a plane shortly after it took off from San Francisco last week.

'Safety is our highest priority and is at the center of everything we do,' Kirby said in an email to customers on Monday.

'Unfortunately, in the past few weeks, our airline has experienced a number of incidents that are reminders of the importance of safety.'

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the worrying incidents, which Kirby described as 'all unrelated' in the email.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby (pictured) sent an email to customers saying that 'safety is our highest priority and at the center of everything we do' according to CNBC - while Boeing's market value tumbles

Boeing's market value dropped by 12.15 percent over the past month, including a 5.42 percent dip over the last five days alone

Kirby said United Airlines is reviewing the details of each incident 'and using those insights to inform our safety training and procedures across all employee groups'.

The aviation industry has come under the microscope after a string of recent mishaps unfolded, beginning with a door blowing off an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 on January 5.

In the latest incident, a United Airlines plane from San Francisco built by Boeing was grounded Friday after it was found to be missing a panel after it touched down.

The plane is a Boeing 737-824, and successfully touched down in Medford Airport in Oregon despite the missing part.

No injuries were reported and the Boeing aircraft was not new or a MAX, Jackson County Airport Director Amber Judd said.

The incident - only the latest from the embattled manufacturer - is the sixth involving a Boeing plane in 10 days.

Judd further clarified the part fell off midflight, as feds continue to look into Boeing's production practices.

United Airlines, meanwhile, issued a statement, confirming that the 139 passengers and six crew members who had been on board were all safe.

It read: '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.

'We'll also conduct an investigation to better understand how this damage occurred.'

A United Airlines plane built by Boeing was grounded Friday after it was found to be missing a panel after it touched down following a flight. Pictured: The missing part on the 25-year-old Boeing 737-824

Jackson County Airport Director Amber Judd reiterated the plane was not a new aircraft, unlike the slew of incidents seen in recent months. An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-MAX 9 lost a door mid-flight in January, with several incident involving Boeing-made planes occurring since

United went on to reveal that it was the wing-to-body fairing that ripped off - a part is located on the underside of the aircraft where the wing meets the aircraft body.

The panel sits just adjacent to where the landing gear deploys, and serves as a protective shell between the wing and the fuselage.

According to the online flight tracker FlightAware, the flight took off from San Francisco International at 10:20am PDT, and landed in Oregon at 11:36am.

The same aircraft, tail number N26226, was supposed to embark on a flight from Medord to Denver later in the day - a trip that has since been postponed due to the panel blowout.

United brass acknowledged the delay in a statement to its website, saying: 'We're sorry for the delay. Our Maintenance team needs to service equipment on the exterior of your aircraft before we depart.

'We'll keep you updated as we get more information'.

Just three days before, a Boeing plane was forced to land due to hydraulic fluid spewing from its landing gear area. It was also a United Flight.

Also under investigation, the forced landing happened as the San Francisco-bound 777-300 embarked from Sydney, with fluid filmed leaking from its undercarriage.

It also comes less than a week after a former Boeing staffer was found dead by an apparent suicide, while doing depositions for a suit he filed against the firm alleging he witnessed second-rate parts being fitted on planes.

After the incident last Monday - and another hours before that saw 50 passengers injured on the firm's flagship 787-Dreamliner - Boeing lost more than $4billion overnight.

The FAA has since revealed the firm failed 33 of 89 audits during an exam of Boeing's 737 Max - a model it had been planning to update with the long delayed Max 10.

The incident comes just three days after another incident, where a Boeing plane was forced to land due to hydraulic fluid spewing from its landing gear area. Now being investigated, the technical failure also occurred in midair on a United flight

Meanwhile, ex Boeing Quality Manager John Barnett - who had been in the midst of a whistleblower retaliation suit against the manufacturer - was found dead from what police said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound Saturday, while meeting Boeing lawyers in South Carolina

Barnett was found dead inside his truck on Saturday in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn in Charleston, pictured above

A file photo show Boeing employees walk the company's new, flagship 787-10 Dreamliner down towards the delivery ramp at the company's facility in South Carolina

After the incident - and the several before - United Airlines requested the firm halt work on the unreleased jets: an apparent sign of carriers' diminishing faith.

The Boeing whistleblower found dead, 62-year-old John Barnett, had given stark warnings over the aviation giant's 787 Dreamliner and 737 Max models specifically in an interview, just weeks before his demise.

In the midst of a deposition in a whistleblower lawsuit in Charleston related to production of the 787 Dreamliner plane, Barnett was found with a 'self-inflicted' gunshot wound in the parking lot of a hotel in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating nine incidents this month alone involving United planes.
President Joe Biden repeatedly measures himself against Barack Obama, sometimes bragging about outperforming his former boss  and bringing up their complex relationship in his interview with special counsel Robert Hur.

As he faces reelection, Biden finds himself presiding over string of job gains after pulling troops out of a war he pleaded with Obama to end  but gaining little traction in the polls and still plagued by commentary on his gaffes as compared to his eloquent former partner.

Biden sometimes brags to aides that 'Obama would be jealous' when speaking about his own accomplishments, Axios reported.

Facing a tough reelection against Donald Trump, Biden continues to chew over his fateful decision not to seek the presidency in 2016 after eight years as Obama's vice president.

He even brought it up unprompted while Hur and prosecutors were grilling him during October interviews about classified documents stored in his home, office, and garage.

President Bidencompare himself to former President Barack Obama, and even brought up Obama's posture on 2016 during an inverview with special counsel Robert Hur

He spoke about how his late son Beau was urging him to seek office around 2017 and 2018, then referenced the internal White House debate over whether former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  a former Obama rival whom he brought into his administration  would have been a stronger candidate.

He brought up Obama, but underlined it was 'not a mean thing to say.'

'He just thought that she had a better shot of winning the presidency than I did. And so I hadn't, I hadn't, at this point  even though I ' m at Penn, I hadn't walked away from the idea that I may run for office again,' Biden said.

Biden has obvious regrets about that decision, given how Donald Trump defeated Clinton  in part due to beating her in blue collar battlegrounds Michigan and Pennsylvania that Biden considers his strength.

Barack Obama thought Hillary Clinton 'had a better shot of winning the presidency than I did,' said Biden

With Biden bowing out while grieving over the death of his son, Beau, in 2015, Hillary Clinton captured the Democratic Party's nomination and lost to Donald Trump, with her electoral college defeat caused by close losses in rust belt battlegrounds

The president has told aides privately he 'could have beaten Donald Trump' in 2016, according to Axios.

Some of Biden's aides  he has surrounded himself with longtime loyalists in addition to bringing in former Obama aides  share the president's scars about being sold short.

'The Obama people thought Biden would suck as president. They didn't think he'd be organized enough to execute,' said a former aide.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates dismissed the idea of intrigue.

'We recognize that the actual level of drama in this White House is insufficient to meet some reporting quotas, but President Biden does not make such comments in private. As President Biden has said, President Obama is family to him,' he said.

In addition to their personal bond, they agree overwhelmingly on the issues facing the country, including building an economy that works from the bottom-up and middle-out, protecting our critical freedoms, and opposing attacks on our democracy. There are no stronger supporters of President Bidens leadership and agenda than President Obama, his team, and alumni of the Obama-Biden Administration  many of whom serve during this presidency. And the President talks to both former President Obama and President Clinton often,' he said.

Biden still shows confidence in his ability to take on Trump, despite polls showing him trailing nationally and in the battlegrounds.

'Im the only one who has ever beat him. And Ill beat him again,' Biden told the New Yorker this month.

Biden also spoke at length in the Hur interview about the handwritten memo he wrote Obama arguing against a troop buildup in Afghanistan.

It was for a last-ditch policy argument Biden sent to Obama personally.

He was so willing to talk about it that he went against his lawyers advice when a prosecutor asked why he wrote it.

'Is that an appropriate question?' asked Biden lawyer Bob Bauer.

'I'll tell you why I wrote it. But it's none of your business why I wrote it,' Biden joked at first. 'I wrote it because I was trying to change the President's mind, and I wanted to let him know I was ready to speak out no matter unless he told me don't say a word,' he said.

He also talked up Obama's belief in his foreign policy chops. 'The President thought that I knew a lot more about Afghanistan than he did and other members of the administration,' said Biden.

He also describes himself as passing on policy bromides to Obama, who rose from the Illinois statehouse to beat Clinton and Biden in a primary to become the nation's first black president.

'I would often have breakfasts like this on a whole range of issues,' he told Hur. 'I'd bring senators down. The bad joke is, with President Obama, I would always say to him, Mr. President, all politics is personal.'

According to a Washington Post profile this month, Biden leans on Bill Clinton and Barack Obama for advice, but contacts Clinton more often.

No matter the scorecard, there is one Obama accomplishment that can't be tested until November: winning election to a second term.
Strain disappeared after he was kicked out of a bar in Nashville on March 8

The last person to potentially see missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain said he caused a 'commotion' at a Nashville homeless encampment where the student's bank card was found.

Strain, 22, was last seen on March 8 at Luke's 32 Bridge Food + Drink on Broadway, which is owned by country superstar Luke Bryan, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.

The Delta Chi fraternity member was in Tennessee on a group trip for their annual spring formal when he was kicked out of the bar around 10 p.m. for unknown reasons.

On Sunday, police confirmed that a bank card belonging to Strain was found on the embankment near Gay Street, which is a three-minute walk from the Downtown Smoke & Vape Shop on Church Street where he was last seen on video.

'We heard a commotion. We looked back up. He almost fell over. The last bush right there caught him,' an unidentified man who lives in the camp told WZTV.

Authorities continue to search for missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain who was last seen on March 8 at Luke's 32 Bridge Food + Drink on Broadway

Video from the embankment of the Cumberland River where missing Mizzou student Riley Strain's bank card was found Sunday. https://t.co/936b648cFw pic.twitter.com/t8iK8FSgDR  WKRN News 2 (@WKRN) March 18, 2024

The last person to potentially see missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain said he caused a 'commotion' at a Nashville homeless encampment (pictured) where the students bank card was found

A bank card belonging to Strain was found on the embankment near Gay Street, which is a three-minute walk from the Downtown Smoke & Vape Shop on Church Street where he was last seen on video

'He was very, very, very intoxicated. I never seen anybody stumble that hard before,' the man said. 'I yelled get up. They said, "He's just drunk. He's okay."'

Nashville's Office of Emergency Management used a dive team for the first time in their water searches on Saturday, but nothing conclusive was found.

On Friday, it emerged that Luke's 32 was being investigated after allegedly serving him too much alcohol.

The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission said: 'The TABC has opened an investigation into this matter to see if any violations have occurred.'

In a statement from Luke's 32 Bridge, they said: 'We proactively provided detailed information quickly after his visit to our business.

'This included all security camera footage, photos of Riley, transaction records and staff accounts.

'During Riley's visit, our records show he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters.'

At 9:35pm, the bar said their security team made the decision to escort him from the venue.

Cops made the initial suggestion that Strain may have been overserved on the Friday, when he and his friends hit the town and visited Luke's 32 Bridge.

Surveillance footage released by the Nashville police show him wobbling and appearing confused as he crossed a closed road near the water

He reportedly told his Delta Chi fraternity brothers he would meet them back at their hotel, but was nowhere to be seen when the group returned from their night out.

The next morning, his fraternity brothers tried to find Strain using his Snapchat location but were unsuccessful and called police to report him missing.

His last cellphone location was recorded between Gay Street and James Robertson Parkway close to the bar where he was last seen.

Surveillance footage collected by police from Downtown Smoke & Vape Shop on Church Street showed Strain near the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Church Street.

The seemingly intoxicated student was wearing a two-toned black and brown shirt and blue jeans and took a tumble, then quickly got back up and continued down the street.

Another camera caught near the intersection of Gay Street and 1st Avenue North just before 10pm taking large strides with his head down as he stumbled through the streets.

Additional surveillance footage released by the Nashville police show him wobbling and appearing confused as he crossed a closed road near the water.

'We feel like when he came out, because they had been to a couple of other places, that he had got turned around on the direction,' Strain's stepfather Chris Whiteid said.

Strain's family has said they're living through a nightmare ordeal as they continue to look for him.

Footage shows the seemingly intoxicated student, wearing a two-toned black and brown shirt and blue jeans, stumbling through the streets of downtown Nashville

The student had reportedly FaceTimed his mom earlier in the evening, and she said nothing seemed out of the ordinary, even though she knew he was bar hopping

The student had reportedly FaceTimed his mom earlier in the evening, and she said nothing seemed out of the ordinary, even though she knew he was bar hopping.

His mother, Michelle Whiteid, said he's 'a great kid' and normally 'very communicative.'

'We miss him and we want him back so bad,' she told WKRN. 'He's always texting me, calling me, FaceTiming me,' she added. 'He's always in touch with me. He's very communicative.'

In an appeal for information about Riley's whereabouts, Nashville Metro PD described him as 6-feet6-inches tall, weighing 165lbs with blonde hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 615-862-8600.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Monday congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin for being reelected as Moscow's leader, state media said, amid deepening military cooperation between the two nations.

Putin won a landslide victory in Russia's election Sunday for a fifth term in office, which will extend his 24-year rule for another six years.

Kim's congratulatory message will be delivered to Russia's foreign ministry via North Korea's top envoy to Russia, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Following the Kim-Putin summit in September last year, North Korea and Russia have been deepening military cooperation amid suspicions that Pyongyang has provided munitions and artillery to Moscow for use in Russia's war in Ukraine.

Kim used an Aurus Senat limousine, gifted by Putin, during last week's public event for the first time, state media reported Saturday. The KCNA said the gift is "clear proof" of the two nations' friendly ties.

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. (Yonhap)
Neighbours have expressed 'pride and delight' after Banksy confirmed he was behind a new tree mural on a block of flats in North London.

The anonymous street artist's announcement followed a morning of speculation surrounding the mural which appeared on a building in Finsbury Park overnight.

Now residents have revealed that the artwork has 'brought the community together'.

Wanja Sellers, a Hornsey Road resident who lives a few doors down from the mural, said: 'We're so proud and delighted that Banksy chose our road and chose Finsbury Park for his work.

'The bright green colours represent Islington, which is lovely, and also, of course, St Patrick's Day, which is nice and festive.

Neighbours have expressed 'pride and delight' after Banksy confirmed he was behind a new tree mural on a block of flats in North London

The street artist's announcement followed a morning of speculation surrounding the mural which appeared on a building in Finsbury Park overnight

Now residents have revealed that the artwork has 'brought the community together'

'Choosing the colours of our borough just makes it feel like a personal message to us residents.

'We just feel so proud.'

The artwork shows a splattering of green paint behind a bare tree to resemble foliage, with a stencil of a person holding a pressure hose depicted next to it.

The bright colours match those used by Islington Council for street signs in the area.

Lidia Guerra, another Hornsey Road resident, said: 'The way it's been done, with the paint spraying down, reminds me of a weeping willow, so there's perhaps a message about the struggle of nature with the dead tree in front.

'It's just great - when we read about it last night, we knew we had to come and see it as soon as possible.

'We feel so proud to think he chose our street.'

Chris Beskin, who went to see the artwork with fellow neighbours this morning, said he welcomes the mural, saying it is a 'great thing to have in our area'.

The bare wall pictured one year ago on March 2023 showing no greenery

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was 'delighted' to see the artwork in his Islington North constituency

He said: 'I'm absolutely delighted to see this on our street - I think it's great and sends a strong message, I'd like to see more of it, to be honest, the more the merrier.

'I think it's probably one of his biggest pieces in a while - and the fact he's done it on the wall means it can't just be stolen or easily removed.'

Meanwhile Carolyn said: 'It's just lovely to see how this piece of art has brought everyone together.

'People have come out to chat in the streets and came out early this morning to speculate together.

'It's brought the community together, which has been really nice to see.'

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was 'delighted' to see the mural in his Islington North constituency.

'Banksy's come to Finsbury Park with a bit of greenery in a place that needs a bit more greenery.

'We're the most densely populated constituency in the country and I'm just delighted.

The 'Banksy bandit' suspects allegedly stole the stop sign piece of art from a Peckham street in broad daylight in December

The piece of art was chopped off with bolt cutters just an hour after it was officially unveiled by the underground artist on December 23

'It gives the idea that we could do with much more greenery everywhere and I think that's a really nice message.'

But James Roebuck, 26, who lives in the block, said: 'Banksy came overnight and now my rent will skyrocket.'

Banksy's career timeline Early 1990s: His work begins appearing in Bristol

Late 1990s: He moves to London and gains public recognition

2000s: Banksy becomes the most famous graffiti artist in the UK and begins hosting exhibitions across the country and abroad

2003: He disguises himself as a pensioner and installs one of his own works in a vacant spot in the Tate Britain, London

2004: He sneaks into the Louvre in Paris and hangs his own version of the Mona Lisa

2010: He directs Exit Through the Gift Shop: A Banksy Film moves to New York and is now the most famous graffiti artist in the world Advertisement

Estate agent Alex Georgiou, who bought the property in 2012 for 400,000 according to land registry records, looked to allay neighbours' fears by insisting he wouldn't be charging more off the back of the area's overnight fame.

The 40-year-old found out about Banksy's tree mural late on Sunday night and came down to see it for the first time on Monday morning.

The building, which he estimates is worth around 1.3m today, now consists of three flats, and as he welcomed the influx of interest, he joked that he would considering selling up if 'a massive Banksy fan was prepared to pay over the odds'.

He added: 'It's quite mad to be honest, to come down here and just to see all the crowds of people looking at the building.

'The question is, what do I do with it now? What am I meant to do with it now?

'I definitely plan on keeping it on there and letting people enjoy it, everyone's loving it which is great, I just can't really believe it still to be honest.'

When asked about the possibility of raising the rent, Mr Georgiou said: 'No, no, no, no.

'I was having a bit of a laugh with the girls who were saying I was gonna put the rent up 250 per cent but no no. I doubt it.

'Unless we have a massive Banksy fan who is prepared to pay over the odds. But a property is worth what a property is worth.

'You know what, if somebody offered me millions and they can have the building and take the flats with it. Feel free.

'They can come knocking if they want. Give me a number in an envelope and whoever has the biggest number can have it.

'How do you protect it, you know? It is on the side of a building, and it's such a big thing. It's not like his normal stuff where it's quite small. This is the whole size of the building.'

Banksy - Britain's most famous street artist - is renowned for choosing homes at random to use for his artwork, often shooting up their value by millions.

It can lead to problems though, with the owner of one building in Shoreditch painting over one of the artist's etchings after they became irritated by a security light constantly being activated by Banksy fans turning up to view it.

Meanwhile, homeowners Garry and Gokean Coutts spent 200,000 removing a mural of a seagull from their house in Lowestoft, Suffolk, when they were forced to hire security after it became a target for vandals and thieves.

One Banksy artwork that appeared in London in December - a traffic stop sign covered with three military drones - was stolen less than an hour after appearing on a street in Peckham.

Two men were later arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage.

The stop sign drones resemble those on another artwork, Civilian Drone Strike, which depicted them destroying a house while a little girl and her dog watch on in horror - it was sold for 200,000

The bare wall pictured in July 2022 showing the tree with a lot more green foliage

Banksy, who has 12.3million followers on Instagram, always confirms an artwork is his by posting a picture of it.

Today's announcement at 11.13am today.

Prior to the official post, the artwork had already been gathering fans at the site on Hornsey Road in north London early this morning.
The father of a 22-year-old nursing student allegedly killed by a migrant this past month has expressed ire over politicians using her death for political purposes.

Jason Riley, the father of 22-year-old Laken Riley, delivered the remarks on the Today show Monday - before declaring that the suspected killer, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, would not have been here in the first place 'if we had secure borders'.

The sitdown comes as the Georgia woman's death during a jog on February 22 continues to dominate headlines after the fact.

Earlier this month, Joe Biden uttered her name - albeit incorrectly - in what appeared to be an impromptu moment during his State of the Union speech. GOP frontrunner Donald Trump has met with the girl's mother and stepfather, has and blamed her death on Biden's policies at the border.

As a result, some have accused Republicans of using Riley's death to advance their political agenda - a dynamic Jason Riley, on Monday, criticized.

Making it clear he does support the GOP frontrunner as a candidate, he said he would prefer politicians like him and Marjorie Taylor Greene would refrain from using his daughter's death as a political tool.

Scroll down for video:

Jason Riley, the father of the late 22-year-old, made the remarks on the Today show Monday

Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student was killed while out jogging on February 22

Her dad said that the suspected killer, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, would not have been here in the first place 'if we had secure borders'

'I'd rather [my daughter's death] not be such a political, how you say - it started a storm in our country,' Jason said of his daughter's death.

'It's incited a lot of people,' he said, before asserting: 'There's people on both sides that have lashed out at our families.'

He went on to add how he '[wished he] would have been there to protect her' that fateful day in Augusta - during which the Augusta University student embarked on a jog before turning up dead - and that '[he wished] it would have been [him].'

Pivoting to the political claims, he proclaimed: 'I think [her death] is being used politically to get those votes.'

'Laken has been a rallying cry for secure borders and for the illegal immigration policies of this current administration,' the mourning dad continued, before disclaiming: 'but there's many women we don't get to hear about.'

The remarks referred to multiple politicians' use of his daughters names at campaign rallies and speeches in recent weeks, in what's poised to be a hotly contested election year.

On the day of Biden's befuddled State of the Union address, a bill in honor of Laken - eponymously named the Laken Riley Act - was passed the GOP-led House.

If signed, it would require US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to take undocumented immigrants into custody for theft-related offenses, after the suspect and his brother were arrested and released months before the murder after being found in possession of stolen merchandise from a local Walmart.

The declaration referred to politicians' use of his daughters names at campaign rallies and speeches - as well as in an eponymous immigration bill - in what's sure to be a hotly contested election year

Donld Trump this month blamed Augusta University's nursing college student's death on Biden's policies at the border

He went on to meet with Jason Reilly's wife and her second husband backstage at the Rome, Georgia rally on March 9, as well as the roommate who reported her missing when she left for a jog last month and never came back

In the days since, 'Say her name' has surfaced as the mostly Republican procession's war cry, with Georgia's most divisive firebrand in Marjorie Taylor Greene quick to take part

Others in that stable include United States Senator Joni Ernst, who last month produced a poster with Riley and another slain woman's face - the other belonging to 21-year-old Sarah Root, killed by an undocumented migrant during a traffic accident in 2016

At the time, then-president Trump claimed the Nebraska woman was sacrificed 'on the altar of open borders', before using her death to eventually bolster federal immigration laws

Riley's dad, in turn, proclaimed: 'I think [her death] is being used politically to get those votes'

The suspect has since been arrested and charged with felony murder, false imprisonment, and kidnapping, nearly two years after illegally entering the US from Venezuela, where his brother is said to be a member of the gang Tren de Aragua.

Trump, in turn, told attendees at an event Rome, Georgia, that his successor 'intentionally released' Ibarra into the country with his relatively lax policies at the border, claiming Riley would still be alive if he were president instead.

In the days since, 'Say her name' has surfaced as the mostly Republican procession's war cry, with Georgia firebrand Taylor Greene quick to take part.

Others in that stable include United States Senator Joni Ernst, who last month produced a poster with Riley and another slain woman's face - the other belonging to 21-year-old Sarah Root, killed by an undocumented migrant during a traffic accident in 2016.

At the time, then-president Trump claimed the Nebraska woman was sacrificed 'on the altar of open borders', before using her death to eventually bolster federal immigration laws.

Resulting laws like Title 42 - implemented during the pandemic - have since been nixed, with Riley's death now reigniting discourse surrounding the subject.

Meanwhile, immigration is poised to be a key issue in the upcoming presidential election, where Georgia will be a swing state massively important to clinching a victory for either candidate.

In 2016, Trump barely won the southern state with 50.4 percent of the vote, but it flipped blue in 2020 - with Biden beating him by 0.3 percent.

Joe Biden this told told MSNBC he regretted calling Riley's suspected killer an 'illegal' during his State of the Union address, claiming he instead should have used the word 'undocumented'

Trump rally attendees at the Forum River Center in Rome, Georgia on Saturday, March 9, 2024 hold posters with images of Laken Riley, 22. An illegal immigrant was charged with her murder

One of the election fraud lawsuits against Trump was brought in Georgia by liberal Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis - a suit the former president has called a sham and the result of a politically motivated 'witch hunt.'

He, in turn, seized the chance to speak on the issue at his rally in Georgia this past month, where he criticized his competitor for remarks given to MSNBC where he appeared to express regret over categorizing Riley's alleged killer as an 'illegal' as opposed to 'undocumented.

'Joe Biden went on television and apologized for calling Lakens murderer an illegal,' he told the crowd in Rome. 'Biden should be apologizing for apologizing to this killer.'

He continued: 'Joe Biden has no remorse, he's got no regret, he's got no empathy, no compassion, and worst of all, he has no intention of stopping the deadly invasion that stole precious Laken's beautiful American life.

The White House went on to insist that Biden's remarks did not constitute an apology, claiming their is a difference between that and expressing regret.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, was prepared to give Biden a pass on the language when asked about it on CNN not long after, appearing to dismiss the comment after an odd exchange with anchor Dana Bash.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, was prepared to give Biden a pass on the language when asked about it on CNN not long after, appearing to dismiss the comment after an odd exchange with anchor Dana Bash

Nancy Pelosi on Joe Biden saying Laken Riley was killed by an illegal:



He should have said undocumented.



pic.twitter.com/BRhIJpIqrn  ALX  (@alx) March 8, 2024

'Now he should have said undocumented, but that's not a big thing, ok? What's the big thing,' Pelosi said.

'We usually say "undocumented". He said "illegal". I dont think its a big deal.'

'I don't think its a big deal because I think his focus was on the sympathy for the family. Its a terrible tragedy.'

Days before, Biden mistakenly called Laken 'Lincoln', weeks after she was found dead from blunt force trauma following a run near her dorm.

'Lincoln, Lincoln Riley,' said Biden while holding up a pin Greene had handed him calling on him to say her name. 'An innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal.

'But how many of thousands of people being killed by legals? To her parents I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself, I understand,' he added.

That comment drew rebukes from several progressive Democrats who said it was dehumanizing to call a person an 'illegal.'

In response, Riley on Monday said that while he is perturbed his daughter's death has become so political, he is happy that it has opened up discussions about how secure the southern border and help women, including those who are victims of human trafficking.

'Laken has been a rallying cry for secure borders and for the illegal immigration policies of this current administration, but there's many women we don't get to hear about,' he said.

'I understand them wanting to come here for a better life,' he said of migrants, 'but when you have gang members and people who can commit violent crimes, especially against women, I think we can stop some of that.'

The suspect - who officials confirmed illegeally entered the country via Texas in 2022 - remains booked in Clarke County Jail on charges including malic murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault, as well as felony kidnapping and concealing the death of another

He added of his daughter: 'She was only 22. She had a lot of life left to give to the world,'

'If everybody could live like Laken,' he went on, 'it would make the world a better place.'

The suspect, meanwhile, entered the US illegally in 2022 near El Paso, Texas, immigration officials have confirmed.

He is alleged to have killed Riley during a run near her college's intramural fields the morning she was reported missing, before being found in some nearby woods with visible injuries.

Ibarra was named a suspect the very next day, after investigators analyzed yet to be seen surveillance footage from the college campus.

The Venezuelan citizen remains booked in Clarke County Jail on charges including malic murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault, as well as felony kidnapping and concealing the death of another.
The Supreme Court is hearing a critical First Amendment case that will determine whether the Biden administration pressured social media companies to censor posts it disliked on topics like COVID-19 and 2020 election security.

The case alleges the Biden administration leaned on social media platforms to unconstitutionally throttle conservative viewpoints on the COVID-19 vaccine, the legitimacy of the 2020 election results and Hunter Biden's laptop scandal.

According to filings, employees at Facebook's parent company Meta, Twitter, now X, and YouTube were in direct communication with Biden administration officials who directed they take down 'misinformation.'

The case will test whether the administration's communication with the social media giants turned to coercion or 'jawboning' - where the government unlawfully persuaded the companies to censor speech it disliked.

A lawsuit was originally filed in 2021 by the Attorneys General of Missouri and Louisiana, along with five individual social media users.

Missouri v. Biden case examines whether the Biden administration coerced social media companies to throttle speech it disliked

President Joe Biden and his administration worked with Meta, Twitter and YouTube to remove content on COVID-19 and the 2020 election that the government deemed was misinformation

The case has already been affirmed by two lower courts, including the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled federal officials cannot attempt to 'coerce or significantly encourage' changes or removal in online content.

In October, the Supreme Court put the lower court's injunction on hold pending the review of the case by the justices.

The social media companies themselves are not involved in the case.

Ben Aguinaga, Louisiana solicitor general, opened up the Supreme Court argument by stating: 'Pressuring platforms in back rooms shielded from public view is not using the bully pulpit at all. That's just being a bully.'

'We really want everybody to understand how important it is that the federal government not be able to capture big tech platforms and interfere with our ability to communicate with our constituents,' Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Monday morning in a video posted to X.

'What the government did here was a huge threat to the First Amendment,' she continued.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey similarly wrote on X that Monday's hearing 'is the most important First Amendment case in a generation.'

The Biden administration, meanwhile, has argued it has appropriately used its bully pulpit - or executive influence - to flag concerning communications to the companies.

Social media apps Facebook and Twitter (now X) play critical roles in this case

Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the Biden administration's top lawyer, meanwhile, has argued the states 'still have not identified any instance in which any government official sought to coerce a platform's editorial decisions with a threat of adverse government action.'

The states also can't 'point to any evidence that the government ever imposed any sanction when the platforms declined to moderate content the government had flagged  as routinely occurred,' Prelogar wrote.

Still, filings in the case reveal multiple instances where communications between the executive branch and the companies preceded posts being removed at the request of government officials.

Many of the posts that were discussed between the White House officials and social media companies involved communications about COVID-19 and the associated vaccines.

Other posts that received suppression, according to the states, referenced election interference, the state of the economy, criticisms of President Biden, mail in voting and more.

The Supreme Court's ruling is expected by the end of June.

Republicans have also been investigating social media companies in a series of actions over the past year.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has subpoenaed executives from Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft back in February soon after Republicans took control of the committee over any 'collusion' with the federal government to suppress free speech.

The subpoenas demanded internal communications between the company and the federal government over content moderation, deletion, or 'suppression' of content and related documents.

The thread of documents shared by the chairman began with an email from April 2021 to Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg.

It stated: 'We are facing continued pressure from external stakeholders, including the [Biden] White House' to remove posts.

An additional April 2021 email from Facebook's president for global affairs Nick Clegg to his team said that senior adviser to Biden Andy Slavitt was 'outraged . . . that [Facebook] did not remove' a particular post.'

The post had to do with the COVID-19 vaccines that the White House wanted labeled as 'misinformation' and removed off the social media platfrom.

Clegg responded to the White House saying that removing that content would 'represent a significant incursion into traditional boundaries of free expression in the US.'

According to additional emails, Facebook sought to 'repair' its relationship with the Biden administration.

'Given what is at stake here, it would also be a good idea if we could regroup and take stock of where we are in our relations with the [White House], and our internal methods too,' Clegg wrote in another email.
Former President Donald Trump on Monday mocked the breathless media coverage of his weekend rally in Ohio, accusing news organizations of fake outrage over his warning of a 'bloodbath' in the auto industry if he did not win a second term.

Headline writers, political pundits and the Biden campaign lined up to accuse Trump of threatening political violence if November's election did not go his way.

But he defended his comments in a post on Truth Social, pointing out that he was talking about the impact on U.S. car manufacturers if they were were not protected from foreign imports.

And he quickly used the attacks to his advantage, sending out a fundraising email accusing his detractors of deliberately misquoting him.

'The Fake News Media, and their Democrat partners in the destruction of our nation, pretended to be shocked at my use of the word bloodbath, even though they fully understood that I was simply referring to imports allowed by Crooked Joe Biden, which are killing the automobile industry,' he said, deploying capital letters with his characteristic abandon.

Former President Donald Trump on Monday morning hit back at coverage of his rally speech

'The United Auto Workers, but not their leadership, fully understand what I mean.

'With the electric car mandate being pushed by Biden, there soon wont be any cars made in the USA - unless I'm elected president, in which case auto manufacturing will thrive like never before!!! MAGA2024.'

The controversy erupted after Trump delivered a typically fiery speech in Dayton, Ohio, where we warned that defeat for his campaign would spell the end of American democracy.

'If we don't win this election, I don't think you're going to have another election in this country,' he said.

He also referred to migrants as 'animals' and people convicted for their part in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as 'hostages.'

Yet it was another portion of the speech that attracted the most reaction.

He promised to impose a 100 percent tariff on imported cars to protect the U.S. industry against cheap Chinese imports if he were elected.

'Now if I don't get elected, it's gonna be a bloodbath for the whole ... that's gonna be the least of it, it's gonna be a bloodbath for the country, that'll be the least of it,' he said.

In response, the Biden campaign said Trump was 'a loser who gets beat by over seven million votes and then, instead of appealing to a wider mainstream audience, doubles down on his threats of political violence.'

'Now if I don't get elected, it's gonna be a bloodbath for the whole ... that's gonna be the least of it, it's gonna be a bloodbath for the country, that'll be the least of it,' Trump said

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio

And former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki dismissed the Trump campaign's defense that he was talking about the auto industry.

'The full context is that this is much bigger than one single speech,' she told the audience of her MSNBC show. 'This embrace of political violence, this dehumanising language, this is what Donald Trump has been preaching for years.'

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNN: 'We just have to win this election because he's even predicting a bloodbath. What does that mean?

'He's going to exact a bloodbath? There's something wrong here.'

But some Never Trump Republicans said parts of the media had been too quick to judge, warning that it played into the hands of the former president's persecution complex.

Critics including Nancy Pelosi (pictured) and a retired FBI boss blasted the incendiary 'bloodbath' comment as a 'threat' - while MAGA supporters said it had been taken out of context because it came in reference to a clampdown on foreign car imports

His campaign sent out fundraising emails on Monday morning.

'They used edited clips to viciously misquote me. They said that you were a dangerous threat to our country,' they said.

'They even had Nancy Pelosi push this hoax live on CNN! She lied directly to the American people!

'The fake news and their allies in the Democrat [sic] Party truly hate our country.'

Trump last week won enough delegates in the Republican primary to ensure that he will clinch his party's nomination.

Polls suggest he has a narrow lead over President Joe Biden, even as he faces four criminal cases, including two related to his efforts to overturn the results on the 2020 election.
The owner of the block of flats daubed with the latest Banksy artwork has urged wealthy fans to make him an offer - but insisted he won't put up the rent for his tenants after the street was flooded with tourists today.

Locals in Finsbury Park, north London, said this morning they feared their rent would 'skyrocket' after the elusive street artist's latest piece appeared on the side of a building.

But estate agent Alex Georgiou, who bought the property in 2012 for 400,000 according to land registry records, looked to allay neighbours' fears by claiming he wouldn't be charging more off the back of the area's overnight fame.

However, he welcomed interest from potential buyers, as he bullishly told MailOnline: 'You know what, if somebody offered me millions and they can have the building and take the flats with it. Feel free.'

The block, which he estimates is worth around 1.3m today and now consists of three flats, has been the subject of huge activity since the piece was spotted late on Sunday night.

Mr Georgiou, 40, ran down to see if for the first time this morning and said the addition had created a 'buzz' around the building.

The Banksy artwork has appeared on the side of a building near Finsbury Park in London

The artwork shows a splattering of green which has been painted behind a bare tree to look like foliage, with a stencil of a person holding what appears to be a pressure hose next to it

The bare wall pictured one year ago on March 2023 showing no greenery

'It's quite mad to be honest, to come down here and just to see all the crowds of people looking at the building,' he said.

When Banksy officially announced the artwork was his on Monday morning, locals in the area began to worry rents could rise.

But when asked about the possibility of tenants being charged more, Mr Georgiou said: 'No, no, no, no.

'I was having a bit of a laugh with the girls who were saying I was gonna put the rent up 250 per cent but no no. I doubt it.

'Unless we have a massive Banksy fan who is prepared to pay over the odds. But a property is worth what a property is worth.

'You know what, if somebody offered me millions and they can have the building and take the flats with it. Feel free.

'They can come knocking if they want. Give me a number in an envelope and whoever has the biggest number can have it.

'How do you protect it, you know? It is on the side of a building, and it's such a big thing. It's not like his normal stuff where it's quite small. This is the whole size of the building.

'The question is, what do I do with it now? What am I meant to do with it now? I definitely plan on keeping it on there and letting people enjoy it, everyone's loving it which is great, I just can't really believe it still to be honest,' he said.

Mr Georgiou founded local estate agent Alex Marks with his brother Anthony in 2009

Banksy officially confirmed the painting was his at 11.13am on Instagram

The building is split into three flats which are all currently being rented out

When asked about the current worth of the building, Mr Georgiou estimated it would go for around 1.3million in the current market.

Mr Georgiou founded local estate agent Alex Marks with his brother Anthony in 2009.

The brothers were raised in the local area and hope the Banksy will help improve it.

The artwork in Finsbury Park shows a splattering of green paint behind a bare tree to resemble foliage, with a stencil of a person holding a pressure hose depicted next to it.

Some residents said they were 'proud and delighted' at the thought of the anonymous artist choosing their street for his latest mural when it emerged on Sunday after being painted overnight.

But James Roebuck, 26, who lives in the block, said: 'Banksy came overnight and now my rent will skyrocket.'

Banksy - Britain's most famous street artist - is renowned for choosing homes at random to use for his artwork, often shooting up their value by millions.

Banksy artworks in the past have greatly increased the price of buildings

Crowds have been decending on the area to see the Banksy for themselves

It can lead to problems though, with the owner of one building in Shoreditch painting over one of the artist's etchings after they became irritated by a security light constantly being activated by Banksy fans turning up to view it.

Meanwhile, homeowners Garry and Gokean Coutts spent 200,000 removing a mural of a seagull from their house in Lowestoft, Suffolk, when they were forced to hire security after it became a target for vandals and thieves.

One Banksy artwork that appeared in London in December - a traffic stop sign covered with three military drones - was stolen less than an hour after appearing on a street in Peckham.

Banksy, who has 12.3million followers on Instagram, always confirms an artwork is his by posting a picture of it.

This came for the Finsbury Park painting at 11.13am today.

Prior to the official announcement, the artwork had already been gathering fans at the site on Hornsey Road in north London.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was 'delighted' to see the artwork in his Islington North constituency.

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said he 'delighted' to see the artwork in his Islington North constituency

The artwork has already been gathering Banksy fans to the location on Hornsey Road in north London as they inspect it to see if it could be the real thing

'Banksy's come to Finsbury Park with a bit of greenery in a place that needs a bit more greenery. We're the most densely populated constituency in the country and I'm just delighted,' the MP said.

'It gives the idea that we could do with much more greenery everywhere and I think that's a really nice message.'

James Peak, who created the BBC Radio 4 series The Banksy Story, rushed to the scene yesterday after receiving a tip-off.

Prior to the announcement he was already sure it was a Banksy.

Mr Peak said the artwork had the hallmarks of a Banksy due to its clear message that nature is struggling and it is up to us to get it back.

He said another clue was the fact it was done with minimum effort but still looked really cool.

Banksy's eye for detail could also be on display as the colour of the paint matches the one used for street signs by Islington Council.

The lack of leaves, despite it being spring, could also have inspired Banksy to create the painting.

Pictures from the scene one year ago, in March 2023, showed the tree looking similarly bare with no greenery.

But in July 2022 the tree was pictured with a lot more green foliage.

It is understood that the cherry tree in front of the artwork is around 40 to 50-years-old and in declining health. The council's tree service had been maintaining it for some time to help prolong its lifespan and would continue to try to keep the decaying tree alive.

The artwork's appearance has delighted many residents of Islington who took to social media to celebrate.

The bare wall pictured in July 2022 showing the tree with a lot more green foliage

Banksy's eye for detail was on display as the colour of the paint matches the one used for street signs by Islington Council

Wanja Sellers, a Hornsey Road resident who lives a few doors down from the mural, said: 'We're so proud and delighted that Banksy chose our road and chose Finsbury Park for his work.

'The bright green colours represent Islington, which is lovely, and also, of course, St Patrick's Day, which is nice and festive.

'Choosing the colours of our borough just makes it feel like a personal message to us residents. We just feel so proud.'

Councillor Roulin Khondoker, executive member for equalities, culture and inclusion, said in a statement to PA: 'Culture is a powerful way to tell meaningful stories and we welcome this artwork in Islington, a borough that celebrates creativity.

'This fantastic piece from Banksy has sparked a real buzz across Islington and beyond, and we very much want the artwork to stay for people to enjoy. We want to find more ways that we can tell important stories through art and culture.

'Trees are a vital part of our work to tackle the climate emergency. We've planted nearly 900 in the last year alone, and we work hard to care for our trees and help them to thrive.'

Banksy's career timeline Early 1990s: His work begins appearing in Bristol

Late 1990s: He moves to London and gains public recognition

2000s: Banksy becomes the most famous graffiti artist in the UK and begins hosting exhibitions across the country and abroad

2003: He disguises himself as a pensioner and installs one of his own works in a vacant spot in the Tate Britain, London

2004: He sneaks into the Louvre in Paris and hangs his own version of the Mona Lisa

2010: He directs Exit Through the Gift Shop: A Banksy Film moves to New York and is now the most famous graffiti artist in the world Advertisement

Lidia Guerra, another Hornsey Road resident, said: 'The way it's been done, with the paint spraying down, reminds me of a weeping willow, so there's perhaps a message about the struggle of nature with the dead tree in front.

'It's just great - when we read about it last night, we knew we had to come and see it as soon as possible.

'We feel so proud to think he chose our street.'

Chris Beskin, another resident of Hornsey Road, said he welcomes the mural, saying it is a 'great thing to have in our area'.

'I'm absolutely delighted to see this on our street - I think it's great and sends a strong message, I'd like to see more of it, to be honest, the more the merrier,' he said.

'I think it's probably one of his biggest pieces in a while - and the fact he's done it on the wall means it can't just be stolen or easily removed.'

Mr Beskin went to see the mural with his neighbours on Monday morning.

Fellow resident Carolyn said: 'It's just lovely to see how this piece of art has brought everyone together.

'People have come out to chat in the streets and came out early this morning to speculate together.

'It's brought the community together, which has been really nice to see.'

One social media user was left puzzled after the artist seemed to have left zip ties at the scene

Paul Drinot wrote on social media: 'If this is a Banksy, it's the best thing that's happened to the Hornsey Road in years.'

One social media user was left puzzled after the artist seemed to have left zip ties at the scene - posting a picture of several black ones in a bunch.

The last time Banksy's art was revealed in London, it ended in scandal.

Two men were arrested and bailed for allegedly using bolt cutters to steal the artwork which pictured a stop sign featuring three military drones.

Once Banksy announced on social media the artwork belonged to him in an Instagram post shortly after midday on December 23, two men allegedly appeared at the scene and cut down the artwork before running off.

Police have yet to recover the piece of art, but one gallery owner told the BBC at the time it could be worth up to 500,000.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Peak said Banksy's incorporation of the tree into his Islington artwork would make it impossible to steal.

He said: 'I don't think anyone is going to be able to nick this... how are you going to steal a tree?'

The 'Banksy bandit' suspects allegedly stole the stop sign piece of art from a Peckham street in broad daylight in December

The piece of art was chopped off with bolt cutters just an hour after it was officially unveiled by the underground artist on December 23

Two men were bailed pending further inquiries last month but the police have yet to recover the artwork

A pair of bolt cutters were left behind at the scene following the brazen action

Homeowners Garry and Gokean Coutts spent 200,000 removing a mural of a seagull from their house in Lowestoft, Suffolk, after their house became a target for vandals and thieves

This Banksy was painted on the side of an office building in Holywell Row, Shoreditch, in 2006 but was painted over by the owner after they grew annoyed at art lovers turning up to see it

The stop sign artwork was widely interpreted by followers of the artist as calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The Instagram revelation led to a stream of locals descending on the site and taking photos of the installation on their phones.

But at around 12.30pm, the peaceful scene was shattered by the arrival of two men, one of whom balanced precariously on an Lime e-bike while hurriedly hacking the sign down with bolt cutters.

Banksy did not comment on the drama of the theft, but had been warned by a social media user: 'The sign will be snatched pronto.'

Pieces by the rogue artist have previously been sold for millions of pounds.

The drones on the piece resembled those on another artwork, Civilian Drone Strike, which depicted them destroying a house while a little girl and her dog watch on in horror.

It was sold for 200,000 to raise funds in opposition to a London arms fair.

The stop sign drones resemble those on another artwork, Civilian Drone Strike, which depicted them destroying a house while a little girl and her dog watch on in horror - it was sold for 200,000

'Love is in the Bin', a Banksy artwork that half-shredded itself during a 2018 auction, sold for 18.6 million - four times its estimate - in 2021

The video showing Love is in the Bin getting shredded after auction went viral

Prints of three of Banksy's works are seen above at Sotheby's in February 2022. Centre is Kissing Coppers, next to Girl with Balloon and 'Vandalised Oils (Choppers)'

Banksy's most famous works: His identity remains cloaked in mystery, his work the subject of endless speculation and his art a major tourist attraction. Since the 1990s Banksy has dominated the street graffiti with his well known satirical installations of humorous images usually paired with anti-war or anti-capitalist slogans. The so called 'Banksy effect' has seen people buy up his work for small fortunes. His Love Is in the Bin was sold in London in 2021 for a staggering 18.6million - a record for one of his pieces. But his art has also been the target of several council campaigns to clean up graffiti and paint over the murals, sparking outrage from his many fans. The elusive artist confirmed his latest work on Monday morning, a tree mural which appeared overnight in Finsbury Park, north London. Banksy confirmed on Monday morning that a tree mural which appeared overnight in Finsbury Park was his own The elusive artist previously unveiled a piece depicting three aircraft on a stop sign in Peckham, south east London Banksy's famous mural 'Rage, The Flower Thrower (Love Is In The Air)' which is painted on a car wash in a suburb of Bethlehem Another of Banksy's most famous artworks is the Girl With Balloon (2004) Appache Attack helicopters with pink bows on them on the outside wall of an office building in Holywell Row, Shoreditch, east London, in 2006. Banksy had the work covered over in black paint Banksy's works often carry political messages. This anti-Brexit mural appeared on the side of a building in Dover, Kent, in May 2017 Banksy's Sweep It Under the Carpet mural in Chalk Farm, London shows a maid sweeping dust under a sheet behind which is a brick wall Prints of three of Banksy's works are seen above at Sotheby's in February 2022. Centre is Kissing Coppers, next to Girl with Balloon and 'Vandalised Oils (Choppers)' A Banksy work from the Bristol Underground Scene entitled Bomb Hugger and footed by his signature 'Mobile Lovers', depicting a couple seemingly in love while glued to their phones, appeared at the Broad Plain Boys' Club in 2014 Naked Man was sprayed on the wall of a sexual health clinic on Park Street, Bristol This Banksy seagull mural on the wall of a house in Lowestoft, Suffolk was removed last April This mural called Morning Is Broken shows a young boy with a cat opening curtains made of corrugated iron One of Banksy's artworks in Ukraine. Simply reading 'Borodyanka Ukraine' after the area located north west of capital Kiev following Russia's invasion in 2022 Season's Greetings conveyed a message about the impact of pollution on communities and appeared on the outside of a steelworker's garage in Port Talbot in 2018 KISSING COPPERS: This mural, which was first unveiled outside the Prince Albert Pub AACHOO!: This work depicts a woman sneezing so hard that she loses her false teeth GOD BLESS BIRMINGHAM: An artwork depicting two reindeer pulling along a man named Ryan on a bench in Birmingham's jewellery quarter ART BUFF: This mural portraying a woman wearing headphones while staring at a plinth. It appeared in Folkestone in 2014 A Banksy artwork depicting Cosette from Victor Hugo's novel and later hit musical Les Miserables. She is shown with tears in her eyes as gas moves towards her HULA HOOPING GIRL: A mural in Rothesay avenue, Nottingham depicting a young girl playing with a tyre painted on a wall next to an abandoned bicycle missing a wheel Advertisement
he trees are blooming earlier ever since they were donated by Japan in 1912

Blossoms in Central Park are currently on view as temperatures rise

The Cherry blossom trees in the nation's capital have reached their earliest 'peak bloom' in two decades

Cherry blossom trees have reached 'peak bloom' in Washington, D.C., and New York City, but experts caution this early florescence is a symptom of warming temperatures worldwide.

The famous cherry blossoms in the nation's capital experienced their earliest peak bloom in 20 years on Sunday - tying for their second-earliest peak bloom ever.

This means 70 percent of the Yoshino cherry trees along the National Mall and the Tidal Basin have opened their flowers.

'That's what's lovely about D.C.,' Cherry blossom fan Jenny Blakemore told USAToday. 'You walk around anywhere in D.C. and find cherry blossoms and find your secret little trees that make you feel happiness.'

Blakemore joined hundreds of other fans in D.C. and the Big Apple over the weekend who came out to enjoy the site of the beautiful trees and warmer temperatures.

The cherry blossom trees in Washington, D.C., have reached their earliest 'peak bloom' in 20 years

As of Sunday, 70 percent of the Yoshino cherry trees along the National Mall and the Tidal Basin had opened their flowers

Cherry blossom season is also underway in New York City, where trees in Central Park have begun to bloom

The DC bloom comes at the heels of one of Washingtons warmest recorded winters, with temperatures soaring to 80 degrees by late January, the earliest occurrence on record.

The bloom was days shy of the record for the earliest peak bloom in history, which was reported on March 15, 1990. National Park Service data shows that the trees have bloomed earlier and earlier since they were donated by Japan in 1912.

In 2021, the trees reached their peak on March 28, the same year Kyoto registered its earliest bloom in over 1,200 years.

Winter is the fastest-warming season in the nation's capital, according to Climate Central. An analysis by the nonprofit found that D.C. has added 20 more days to its growing season since 1970.

National Weather Service data shows the average spring temperature in D.C. has risen by 3.6 degrees from 1970 to 2023.

The National Mall's official account on X, formerly Twitter, rang in the occasion with a tweet.

'PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! Did we say PEAK BLOOM?! The blossoms are opening & putting on a splendid spring spectacle. See you soon,' the post read, accompanied by a photo of pink blossoms.

Cherry blossom season is also underway in the Big Apple.

By the second week of March 2023, some of the famous trees in Central Park had already reached peak bloom.

Like D.C., the Big Apple has also seen an increase in temps. Statewide, the thermometer has risen by 0.6F each decade since 1970, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Peak bloom in the nation's capital follows one of the region's warmest recorded winters, with temperatures soaring to 80 degrees by late January

Winter is the fastest-warming season in Washington, D.C., according to historical National Parks Service data

The famous cherry blossoms have bloomed earlier and earlier since they were donated by Japan in 1912

Since 1970, D.C. has added 20 more days to its growing season, meaning trees are flowering sooner

The average spring temperature in D.C. has risen by 3.6 degrees from 1970 to 2023

With warming temperatures, however, comes a potential impact to tourism, as the window to view the peak bloom may grow shorter despite the earlier bloom

Early blossoming also makes the trees vulnerable to sudden cold fronts that can decimate numbers. Roughly half of the Yoshino blossoms in D.C. were lost to a late frost in March 2017

PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! PEAK BLOOM! Did we say PEAK BLOOM?!

The blossoms are opening & putting on a splendid spring spectacle. See you soon.

! https://t.co/h04Gu0ksc1 #CherryBlossom #BloomWatch #WashingtonDC pic.twitter.com/ElYKjPB3UH  National Mall NPS (@NationalMallNPS) March 17, 2024

Blossoms are currently available for viewing on the Great Lawn of Central Park, while trees at Cherry Hill, Pilgrim Hill and Sheep Meadow are still in their pre-peak stage, according to the Central Park's official website.

Peak bloom times also vary depending on the type of tree.

Okame cherry blossoms, for instance, tend to peak earlier than other species and bloomed in the first week of March last year.

The attraction draws millions of visitors each year, but climate change may put tourism in jeopardy.

Warmer temperatures may trigger the flowers to open earlier or shorten their full-bloom phase, making their overall viewing window shorter.

Early blossoming also makes the trees vulnerable to sudden cold fronts. Roughly half of the Yoshino blossoms in D.C. were lost to a late frost in March 2017, according to the National Park Service.

Visitors to the Big Apple can view cherry blossoms on Central Park's Great Lawn

Trees in other parts of the park including Cherry Hill, Pilgrim Hill and Sheep Meadow are still in their pre-peak stage

Peak bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions including rain and colder temperatures

A warmer spring won't guarantee early blooms, either. Cherry blossoms must be exposed to temperatures of about 45 degrees to enter into a necessary dormancy period before flowering in the spring.

Without it, the trees can suffer from delayed blossoming and reduced flower and fruit production.

The National Park Service noted that peak bloom varies annually depending on weather conditions across the board.

'Cool, calm weather can extend the length of the bloom, and a rainy, windy day can bring an abrupt end to the ephemeral blossoms,' the service explained.

A late frost, meanwhile, 'can prevent the trees from blooming at all.'
As a District Attorney of San Francisco, Harris oversaw more than 1,900 convictions for the use or possession of marijuana

Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed! she said

Marijuana reform advocates want Vice President Kamala Harris to apologize for locking up people for the use and possession of marijuana, even as she tries to rehabilitate her image as a compassionate reformer.

Harris held a roundtable meeting with reform advocates at the White House on Friday, calling for criminal justice reform on the issue.

Nobody should have to go to jail for smoking weed! she said during the event with rapper Fat Joe and others.

However, marijuana reform advocates say Harris' work on reform is hypocritical.

As a District Attorney of San Francisco, she oversaw more than 1,900 convictions for the use or possession of marijuana according to public records. Harris also opposed the legalization of marijuana for recreational use until she ran for Californias Senate seat in 2015.

She absolutely has no moral authority to speak on this issue whatsoever, marijuana legal reform advocate Steve DeAngelo told the DailyMail.com after Harris event at the White House.

She has no right to speak about cannabis at all except to apologize for her hypocrisy.

US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a roundtable conversation about marijuana reform at the White House

Rapper Fat Joe joined Harris to talk about criminal justice reform on the issue of marijuana

In addition, during her 2010 campaign for Attorney General of California, Harris opposed a ballot proposition that would legalize marijuana which led to a big defeat for the movement.

Advocates like DeAngelo understand why President Joe Biden and Harris are highlighting the popular issue ahead of the 2024 election, but urged them to actually do something that would make a critical impact.

Theyre giving out cookie crumbs when they could actually be helping folks in a very serious way, Jason Ortiz, the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Last Prisoner Project told DailyMail.com.

Ortiz said that despite Bidens 2022 federal pardon of thousands of marijuana convictions, zero cannabis prisoners had actually been released from prison as a result of his action. (The list of pardon applied to individuals already out of prison.)

The Last Prisoner Project is advocating for Biden to use his clemency powers to release 3,000 federal cannabis prisoners, and are planning to mobilize a protest outside the White House in April to raise awareness of the issue.

Ortiz described the White House event hosted by Harris as a bit of a slap in the face to advocates, even though he appreciated her using her platform as vice president to raise the issue. But he called for Biden and Harris to do more.

He said an apology from Harris would go a long way, specifically as someone who was part of the problem for so many years.

Her approach and her talking points, and comments on this issue ring a bit hollow, especially for the folks still incarcerated and probably were incarcerated in California under her regime, Ortiz said.

Advocates for legal reform also prefer to use the word cannabis, to talk about marijuana use, using the scientific definition to describe the plant.

Flanked by US musician Fat Joe (L) and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (R), US Vice President Kamala Harris (C) speaks during a roundtable conversation about marijuana reform

Steve DeAngelo is an advocate for cannabis legalization and criminal justice reform

DeAngelo described the Harris event as a cynical and pathetic display of political hypocrisy.

Kamala Harris has been trying to play both sides of the fence on this issue for years and years and years, he said.

When running for re-election in 2014, Harris only laughed when asked by reporters if she supported legalized marijuana.

And during her campaign for president, Harris laughed during a 2019 interview with The Breakfast Club when revealing her own use of marijuana.

I have. And I inhaled. I did inhale, she said, admitting to smoking a joint in college. It was a long time ago, but yes. I just broke news!
Former President Donald Trump is expected to bring Paul Manafort, 74, back into the fold, as a campaign adviser later this year.

The Washigton Post reported Monday on the presumptive Republican nominee's plans, citing four sources close to the former president.

Manafort was Trump's campaign chairman in 2016 but left in August before the general election after his ties to Russian-backed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych exposed Trump's pro-Russian vulnerabilities.

He was later charged with tax evasion, bank fraud and hiding foreign bank accounts over money he raised working for Yanukovych, which he and his deputy Rick Gates tried to hide from authorities.

Manafort was sentenced to seven years in prison, but was put on house arrest during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then pardoned by Trump in December 2020, when the Republican had less than a month left in office.

Paul Manafort, seen in a January 2022 interview on Fox News Channel, is expected to be hired by former President Donald Trump's 2024 campaign into a possible fundraising role

Manafort, Trump's 2016 campaign chairman, was sentenced to seven years in prison over financial crimes discovered as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. Trump pardoned Manafort in 2020, after he had been released on house arrest due to the pandemic

The Post reported that Trump is determined to rehire Manafort due to the ex-aide's loyalty to the former president - and because Manafort served actual jail time.

Discussions have centered around the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a potential fundraising role for the campaign.

Trump's campaign spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment from DailyMail.com.

Bringing Manafort back will renew questions about Trump's coziness with Russia.

Over the weekend, Trump made headlines when he appeared skeptical that Russian President Vladimir Putin was responsible for the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

'I don't know,' the ex-president said to journalist Howard Kurtz on Fox News' MediaBuzz. 'Perhaps. I mean, possibly, I could say probably. I don't know. He's a young man, so statistically, he'd be alive for a long time. You go by the insurance numbers, he'd be alive for another 40 years.'

'Something happened that was unusual,' Trump added.

When Kurtz pointed out that Navalny had previously been poisoned, Trump also wouldn't answer in the definitive.

'I don't know. You certainly can't say for sure,' Trump said.

Those comments were just the latest that showed Trump reluctant to criticize the authoritarian Russian leader.

Manafort's financial crimes were uncovered during Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether there was any coordination with the Trump campaign.

The final report found that the Trump campaign welcomed Russian interference ane expected to benefit from it but that there was insufficient evidence on whether there had been collusion.

Trump was never charged with any crimes related to the Mueller report - though his plans to pardon Manafort were included in the section detailing possible examples of obstruction of justice.

Democrats reacted to The Post's report with glee on Monday.

'Convicted felon Paul Manafort will fit right in with the C-Team of election deniers, conspiracy theorists, and absolute weirdos that make up Donald Trump's MAGA takeover of the GOP,' said the Democratic National Committee's Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd in a statement.

'This latest report just confirms that Trump's soft-on-crime approach for the violent insurrections who stormed the Capitol on January 6 extends to tax cheats and fraudsters as well,' Floyd continued. 'Given the RNC's desperate financial state, we can't imagine what could go wrong with hiring a convicted con man like Manafort to help run a multimillion-dollar convention.'
President Joe Biden's recent footwear choice has sparked speculation he is donning more stable shoes to help prevent his more frequent trips and falls leading into the 2024 election.

An Inside Edition report discovered the sneakers Biden, 81, was seen wearing over the last month are the Hoka Transport, a 'commuter-friendly' shoe for 'performance.'

The laces have a pulley mechanism giving wearers a bypass to tying their shoes.

The Republican National Committee (RNC), under new Trump-aligned leadership, jumped on the report and posted a video of it to the RNC Research social media over the weekend.

'Biden's handlers are forcing him to wear a new pair of 'lifestyle sneakers' because he trips so much,' the account wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The $150 bulky, black shoes were immediately noticed by observers who questioned the President's choice of footwear with his suit when he was departing the White House last month.

The chunky black sneakers President Joe Biden was seen waring in the last few months are $150 Hoka 'lifestyle' shoes called Transports

The shoe features a thick heal and a pulley lace system and is marketed as a sneaker for 'commuters' and 'city-dwellers'

CBS Inside Edition host Les Trent went to a shoe store to try on the Hoka sneaker.

'As you can see, they look quite comfortable,' he said with the shoe now on his foot. 'They have quite a wide sole  no doubt, great for stability.'

'And the President does have a history of stumbling,' Trent noted.

A webpage for the Hoka Transport says the 'stability' of the sneaker is 'neutral' rather than 'moderate or stable.'

'The Transport features a symmetrical bed of cushion without additional prescriptive technologies. Designed to provide the support you want and nothing you don't,' reads a description of the sneaker's features.

Mostly, the Hoka shoe seems to be for traversing the city.

The website notes of the Transport: 'Conceived at the intersection of lifestyle and performance, this commuter-friendly style offers a multitude of sustainability features across the outsole, midsole, and upper. Designed with the city-dweller in mind.'

After President Biden was spotted wearing a very sturdy pair of sneakers last month, increased speculation emerged that aides are taking precautions to prevent him for taking a tumble.

Biden's frequent slips, trips and falls increased speculation over the last few years of his declining health and fitness for office as the 2024 election approaches in November.

President Joe Biden steps off Marine One when arriving at the White House last month to speak with reporters  donning his Hoka sneakers

The sneakers have a pulley mechanism for the laces so wearers do not have to tie their shoes and they retail for $150

President Joe Biden, right, and first lady Jill Biden arrive at the White House on February 19, 2024 with Biden wearing black, chunky sneakers with a blue suit

On February 19, Biden was spotted exiting the White House to board Marine One wearing the sturdy all-black sneakers with a thick sole, now known to be the Hokas, paired with his blue suit.

The Hoka shoe company was founded in France but the global headquarters is now located in the United States. They primarily manufacture their shoes in Vietnam and China.

Online reviewers praise the shoes for being 'super comfortable' despite their clunky appearance and 'easy to get on and off.'

It's not the first time that President Biden has caused a stir with his footwear choice

Last Summer, the president was spotted wearing a pair of sneakers to board Air Force One on a trip to a NATO summit. The president wore a pair of slip-on Skechers without socks, prompting photographers to take notice.

Biden began wearing sneakers more often after he tripped on a sand bag and fell sprawling on stage during an Air Force Academy commencement ceremony in 2023.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump holds gold Trump sneakers at Sneaker Con Philadelphia

Democrats fear Biden is just one bad fall away from a serious injury that could put the future of his presidency in jeopardy.

The president's allies have urged him to walk shorter distances while on camera and also endorsed the idea of wearing more comfortable shoes to make his appearance seem less stiff and to stabilize him as he walks.

Biden also started using the short staircase to board Air Force One, and has a military aide waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs to monitor his entry and exit.

The president fractured his foot shortly after the 2020 presidential election, as he was forced to wear an orthopedic boot for several days. At the time, Biden said he had exited the shower and tripped over a rug when he was pulling his dog's tail.

Since then, Biden's gait has become more halting and stiff. Biden also refused to wear an orthopedic boot for a lengthy period of time, according to the New York Times, likely having an effect on his posture.

President Joe Biden started taking a shorter set of stairs to the underbelly entrance of Air Force One after he tripped on the longer staircase several times. Pictured: Biden and first lady Jill Biden board Air Force One at Philadelphia International Airport on February 3, 2024

Biden's physical stumbles and missteps only add to questions about his age as a growing number of Americans question whether he should be running for reelection.

Polling show Americans are increasingly concerned Biden is no longer mentally or physically fit for office.

An ABC News/Ipsos poll earlier this year shows that 86 percent of Americans believe Biden is too old for another term.

Biden first displayed his new shoes just hours after former President Donald Trump personally unveiled last month three sets of TRUMP branded sneakers at Sneaker Con in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

One pair, the 'Never Surrender' model, is sparkling gold and accented with red, white, and blue and retails for $399.
President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, their first call in more than a month and as tensions are growing between the two countries over the war in Gaza.

It was the first time the two men have talked since Biden was caught saying on a hot mic he was going to have a 'come to Jesus' meeting with Netanyahu and after Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called on Israel to have new elections.

A White House spokesman said: 'President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to discuss the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, including the situation in Rafah and efforts to surge humanitarian assistance to Gaza."

The leaders last spoke on February 15.

Before the latest call Biden had praised Schumer's remarks as a 'good speech' that 'expressed serious concern' shared by 'many Americans' - although he stopped short of calling for new elections.

Netanyahu snapped back at Schumer, calling his remarks 'totally inappropriate.'

'That's something that Israel, the Israeli public, does on its own,' the Israeli prime minister told CNN. 'We're not a banana republic.'

President Joe Biden will speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, their first call in more than a month

Netanyahu also vowed to continue his attacks on Hamas into the southern city of Rafah where more than 1 million displaced Palestinians have fled, despite growing international pressure for a cease-fire.

American officials have said they would not support a Rafah offensive unless Israel produced a viable plan for evacuating civilians. White House spokesman John Kirby said the administration had not seen such plans as of last Friday.

Tensions have ratched up between the U.S. and Israel over how to get food and aid into the Gaza Strip. Biden is under intense pressure at home and abroad to get a temporary ceasefire into place.

The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 31,500, according to the Health Ministry, with another 73,500 injured.

The UN has warned the Gaza strip faces famine conditions and Israel has not helped as much as it could in getting food and medicine into the area, citing concerns the supplies will be taken by the Hamas terrorists they are fighting against.

Last week, Schumer said Netanyahu had 'lost his way' and had become an 'obstacle to peace' due to putting together a coalition of 'far-right extremists' to lead the Israeli government in its war against Hamas after the October 7 terror attacks.

Schumer also accused Netanyahu of letting his political survival supersede the best interests of Israel and of being too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza.

Israeli officials reacted with fury to Schumer's remarks.

'Israel is a sovereign democracy. It is unhelpful, all the more so as Israel is at war against the genocidal terror organization Hamas, to comment on the domestic political scene of a democratic ally. It is counterproductive to our common goals,' Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog said.

Senator Chuck Schumer said Netanyahu had 'lost his way' and had become an 'obstacle to peace' due to putting together a coalition of 'far-right extremists' to lead the Israeli government in its war against Hamas after the October 7 terror attacks

President Joe Biden (second right) speaks with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (left), Secretary of State Antony Blinken (second left), and Senator Michael Bennet (right with back to camera) as he made his remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Biden also has show signs of frustration with Netanyahu.

He was caught on a hot mic, saying the two men will need to have a 'come to Jesus meeting.'

Biden made the comment on the House floor after his State of the Union address while he was speaking with Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

In the conversation on the House floor, which played out live on television cameras that had recorded Biden's speech, Bennet congratulated Biden on his address to the nation and urged him to keep pressing Netanyahu on humanitarian crisis.

Blinken nodded along in agreement.

Biden answers using Netanyahu's nickname, saying: 'I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, but you and I are going to have a 'come to Jesus' meeting.'

Biden's bodyman Jacob Spreyer then leans in and whispers to the president, apparently warning Biden he is on a hot mic.

'I'm on a hot mic here,' Biden says after Spreyer spoke to him. 'Good. That's good.'

Biden has already ordered US airlifts of aid to the Gaza strip. And, in his speech, he announced that he's directing the military to build a port on the Gaza coast to bring relief to the population there.

'The United States is a leading international efforts to get more humanitarian assistance to Gaza,' he said.

He noted the temporary pier 'will enable a massive increase in humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza.'

That does not mean U.S. military personnel will be on the ground in the war torn region.

White House officials offered no time line for when the pier will be built or where exactly it will be located but said its construction will allow more shipments of food, medicine and other essential items to be delivered to the 2.2 million Palestinians.

They said the White House will coordinate with the Israelis regarding security on the ground and with the United Nations and humanitarian groups on getting aid delivered.

Biden's bodyman Jacob Spreyer (left) leans in to warn the president about the hot mic

President Joe Biden has been showing his frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - above the two men meet in Tel Aviv in October

The temporary pier will allow for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day, the officials said. It will be an additional route for humanitarian aid, which is currently limited to two land crossings into the southern part of Gaza.

Other countries will be involved in its construction but it's unclear if Israel will be.

The project could take more than 30 to 60 days to construct and would involve hundreds or thousands of U.S. troops on ships just off shore. It will also require armed escorts and other protective measures.

Some of Biden's own Democrats have been frustrated with his handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

During that section of Biden's State of the Union Address , Democratic Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Alyanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Cori Bush held up 'lasting cease-fire now' signs.

The president has seen a concerning number of Democrats vote 'uncommitted' in primaries in key battleground states like Michigan and Minnesota, most of whom are unhappy with his treatment of Palestinians.

In Minnesota on Tuesday, nearly 20 percent of Democratic voters in the state voted uncommitted. The week before, more than 100,000 voters in Michigan voted the same.

A famine has not yet been declared for Gaza but 20% of households suffer from an extreme lack of food, 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition and 2 in 10,000 people dying per day 'due to outright starvation or to the interaction of malnutrition and disease,' the World Food Program said.

In his address on Thursday, Biden called on the Israelis to do more to alleviate the suffering even as they try to eliminate Hamas. He called the situation in Gaza 'heartbreaking.'

'To Israel, I say this humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,' Biden said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was furious when his war cabinet member Benny Gantz (above), his possible political opponent, had meetings at the White House

Palestinians rescue a man and his children from the rubble of a destroyed house following an Israeli air strike in the town of Al-Zawaida in the Gaza strip

The White House has been gone from all-out support for Israel to showing its frustration with Netanyahu. The administration is pushing for a ceasefire in the region to get hostages out and critical aid in.

Last month, Vice President Kamala Harris met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the White House - in a move that infuriated Netanyahu.

Gantz, a centrist political rival of Netanyahu who frequently criticizes the prime minister, sat down with several senior Biden administration officials during his trip to Washington D.C., including Harris, Blinken, National Security Council Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk and Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser.

He also met with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders.

Gantz, who polls show could be a formidable candidate for prime minister if a vote were held today, is viewed as a political moderate. If the heavy fighting subsides, Gantz will leave the government, which would increase pressure for early elections.

Netanyahu was reportedly furious at Gantz's White House meeting.
South Korea and the United States reaffirmed Monday their shared commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, hours after the North fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles in the latest provocation in about a month.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed the commitment during bilateral talks in Seoul, after the South Korean military confirmed Pyongyang's launch of several missiles toward the East Sea.

The latest launch came shortly before South Korea kicked off a three-day session of the U.S.-led Summit for Democracy formed to strengthen partnerships among like-minded democratic nations.

Blinken arrived in South Korea on Sunday to attend the forum and hold talks with Cho, their second such meeting in less than a month.

"The ministers condemned North Korea for firing several missiles right before the Summit for Democracy and said the North's continued provocations will only work to strengthen the coordination among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, and with the international community," Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Cho and Blinken expressed concerns over any potential unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the Yellow Sea and agreed to work closely on the issue.

They also agreed to continue cooperation to cut off the North's illicit funding channels for its nuclear and missile programs, such as cyberactivities, the dispatch of its workers overseas and ship-to-ship transfers.

In addition, Blinken reaffirmed the U.S.' firm defense commitment to South Korea's security, the ministry said.

Noting that Seoul's hosting of the democracy summit illustrates the bilateral alliance based on the shared values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law, the two sides agreed to make efforts to pass on the legacy of democracy to future generations. (Yonhap)
The British embassy in Moscow was today forced to give an official statement confirming King Charles III is still alive after Russian media claimed he had died.

A host of Russian news sites and their associated social media accounts reported earlier today that the King had died aged 75 as a result of cancer complications, citing unnamed 'media' sources in an inexplicable stream of posts.

It came as an image of a clearly fake statement from 'Buckingham Palace' reporting Charles' 'unexpected death' was circulated on social media.

Minutes later their stories were updated after they were forced to climb down following reports the King was in fact not dead.

The British embassy in Moscow then furiously posted on X: 'Reports of the death of King Charles III of Great Britain are fake!'

The British Embassy in Kyiv followed soon after with a statement that read: 'We would like to inform you that the news about the death of King Charles III is fake.'

A host of Russian news sites and their associated social media accounts reported earlier today that the King had died aged 75

The post shared on X by the British Embassy in Moscow which read 'reports about the death of King Charles are FAKE'

Ukraine's British embassy also gave an official statement confirming King Charles III is still alive after Russian media claimed he had died

A tweet by Gazeta.ru perpetuated the rumours that Charles had died

The fake palace announcement was dated today and said: 'The King passed away unexpectedly yesterday afternoon'

Several prominent outlets reported the bogus news but it was not immediately clear whether they had made an error or whether Vladimir Putin's propaganda machine was directly behind it.

The sick stunt involving the monarch followed criticism in Britain and other Western countries of Vladimir Putin's election 'victory' in a 'rigged' presidential election.

The British embassy's Telegram channel posted a notice in Russian to stress the reports were fake.

'Reports about the death of King Charles III of Great Britain are fake,' said the announcement, shortly after the British Embassy in Ukraine issued a similar message.

Early outlets running the fake report were Readkovka and Mash - staunchly pro-Putin outlets - but they later corrected their stories.

Mash media outlet wrote: 'Britain's King Charles III has died, Buckingham Palace reports. The son of Elizabeth II ascended the throne less than a year ago - the coronation took place on May 6, 2023. He was 75 years old.'

It updated to say 'the message turned out to be fake' while adding: 'Let us remember that a few months ago he was diagnosed with cancer.'

But the outlet later stated: 'The fake news about the death of Charles III quickly spread and was just as quickly debunked.

'The King of Great Britain is alive and continues to go about his business. At least that's what Buckingham Palace says.'

Even Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova joined the fray, posting: 'London looks pathetic.'

The Russian state news agency RIA Novosti ran a denial story on rumours of the death of King Charles III

The Kremlin-linked pro-war media outlet Readovka was one of the first Russian media sources to post a fake Buckingham Palace statement about the death of King Charles III

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova joined the fray, posting: 'London looks pathetic'

The sick stunt involving the monarch followed criticism in Britain and other Western countries of Vladimir Putin's election 'victory' in a 'rigged' presidential election

Pro-Kremlin BAZA online media posted: 'The Russian media reported the death of British King Charles III with reference to a document allegedly published by Buckingham Palace.

'The screenshot of the message about the death of Charles III turned out to be fake.'

The fake palace announcement was dated today and said: 'The King passed away unexpectedly yesterday afternoon.'

Independent outlet Meduza stated: 'A number of media and Telegram channels reported the death of the British King Charles III - with reference to a fake statement from Buckingham Palace.

'A screenshot of the statement, which became a news source, is provided, in particular, by the BAZA Telegram channel.

'This statement is not on the website or social networks of the royal family.'

Russian state news outlet RIA Novosti clarified that reports running in the Russian media were wrong.

'The press service of Buckingham Palace denied to RIA Novosti the rumours about the death of King Charles III,' said their report.

'He continues to conduct official and private affairs.

'The basis for it was a certain message, the authorship of which was attributed to Buckingham Palace and which, apparently, turned out to be a fake.'

State news agency TASS reported that the story was fake.

The Kremlin's own newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, published by Putin's government, wrote: 'King Charles III continues to carry out work and private affairs, Buckingham Palace said.

'Previously, many Telegram channels published unverified and false information about the death of the monarch.'

MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
Google has 'interfered' with US elections '41 times' since 2008 according to a report by a conservative think tank - something the search engine giant strongly denies.

The Media Research Center's study also claims that Google's new AI tool Gemini 'won't answer negative questions' about Joe Biden.

'MRC researchers have found 41 times where Google interfered in elections over the last 16 years,' MRC Free Speech America vice president Dan Schneider and editor Gabriela Pariseau wrote in the report's summary.

'From the mouths of Google executives, the tech giant let slip what was never meant to be made public: That Google uses its 'great strength and resources and reach' to advance its leftist values,' the authors added.

Google has strongly denied the claims in the report, calling them 'baseless, inaccurate complaints that have been debunked by third parties' including 'many that failed in the courts'.

The Media Research Center's study claims that Google's new AI tool Gemini 'won't answer negative questions' about Joe Biden

Dr Epstein, who is cited in the report, said that the American corporation's search algorithm 'likely shifted at least 2.6 million votes to Hillary Clinton' in 2016

The report cited research by AllSides researcher Dr Robert Epstein, who found that 'Google's results and get-out-the-vote reminders favored Democrats and shifted the 2020 election results by at least 6 million votes.'

Dr Epstein added that the American corporation's search algorithm 'likely shifted at least 2.6 million votes to Hillary Clinton' in 2016.

'Google's outsized influence on information technology, the body politic and American elections became evident in 2008,' the authors summarized.

'After failing to prevent then-candidate for president Donald Trump from being inaugurated following the 2016 election, Google has since made clear to any discerning observer that it has been  and will continue  interfering in America's elections.'

'Its impact has surged dramatically, making it evermore harmful to democracy,' they added.

'In every case, Google harmed the candidates  regardless of party  who threatened its left-wing candidate of choice.'

MRC Free Speech America, a division of the conservative Media Research Center, also blasted Google's AI service Gemini, for allegedly 'refusing to answer questions damaging' to Biden.

It said the engine also appeared to favor left-leaning Democrat candidates. This included Barack Obama over John McCain in 2008, and Obama over Mitt Romney in 2012.

The site is also accused of using its algorithm to exclude autofill results that were potentially damaging to Hillary Clinton in 2016, and 'not doing the same for then-candidates Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders'.

Google condemned the report as inaccurate.

Google has strongly denied the claims in the report, calling them 'baseless, inaccurate complaints that have been debunked by third parties' including 'many that failed in the courts'

The site is also accused of using its algorithm to exclude autofill results that were potentially damaging to Hillary Clinton in 2016, and 'not doing the same for then-candidates Donald Trump or Bernie Sanders'

'There is absolutely nothing new here - just a recycled list of baseless, inaccurate complaints that have been debunked by third parties and many that failed in the courts,' the search engine said.

'Politicians on the left have a long history of making similar claims too.

'We have a clear business incentive to keep everyone using our products, so we have no desire to make them biased or inaccurate and have safeguards in place to ensure this.

'Numerous conservatives have been particularly successful in using our platforms to spread their message to a wide audience.'

Google said third parties including the Economist, Stanford and Ahrefs conducted similar studies and 'found no evidence to support claims of political bias'.

'Our algorithms look at features and qualities of sites, not individual pages and never political ideology,' a Google spokesperson said.

'Reputable third parties have looked at our results and found no evidence to support allegations of bias.'

They added that Dr Epstein 'has continued to make deeply misleading claims that have been widely debunked, including for omitting data that would have changed his findings'.

On the Gemini claims, they said: 'As we announced last December, out of an abundance of caution, were restricting the types of election-related queries for which Gemini will return responses.

'These restrictions include questions related to candidates / political parties and notable office holders. For these queries, Geminis response will direct the user to Google Search for the latest information.'
He has appealed his three-year suspension and said it is too harsh of a penalty

A Pennsylvania weight loss doctor was suspended after he was suspected of performing vaginal exams on a couch and asking patients about their tampon use.

Dr. Prabhakara Tumpati was accused of inappropriate actions in 2017 and in October, the state's Board of Medicine found that he violated professional standards.

According to disciplinary records, Tumpati inappropriately touched female patient's genital areas on an office couch, inquired about their use of tampons and allowed a medical assistant to dispense weight loss medications without clearance.

Tumpati, who is described as a weight and sleep medicine physician, has denied that the inappropriate exams took place and plans to appeal his three-year suspension in court, according to state records.

He still has two other offices in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Brooklyn, New York. His lawyer said that he does not practice in the New Jersey office.

Tumpati's lawyer, Peter Good, with Caldwell & Kearns, told The Philadelphia Inquirer: 'We understand that discipline may have been appropriate, but we believe the boards sanction was harsher than it needed to be.'

Dr. Prabhakara Tumpati, a weight and sleep medicine physician, had his license suspended in Pennsylvania after multiple female patients accused him of inappropriate examinations that took place in 2017

According to disciplinary records, Tumpati inappropriately touched female patient's genital areas on an office couch, inquired about their use of tampons, and allowed a medical assistant to dispense weightless medications without clearance

It is unclear why Tumpati was not disciplined for six years. In his appeal to the Commonwealth Court, Tumpati said the board misused their power when they issued a harsher penalty.

'There was no immediate concern to impose a sanction sooner,' his lawyer said in the appeal.

Two of the reported complaints were filed by patients in July and September 2017, the Inquirer reported.

A 30-year-old female patients reported that during her visit, Tumpati instructed her to lower her pants and underwear before he performed a vaginal exam on her, according to the legal documents.

During the exam, he started to quiz her on her tampon usage, records said.

During his time with the second patient, Tumpati allegedly touched her stomach with an ungloved finger before he moved down below her waistband and led to her inner thigh, documents revealed.

Tumpati denied what took place with the 30-year-old woman and told the board that she had a skin condition that he thought required examination, documents said.

He said he decided not to document the skin condition in her chart because it was not related to weight loss.

He has appealed Pennsylvania's decision to suspend his license for three years and said that the board misused their power when they issued a harsher penalty. (pictured: his Philadelphia office)

He still has two other offices in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Brooklyn, New York. His lawyer said that he does not practice in the New Jersey office. (pictured: Tumpati's Brooklyn office)

In October of that year, the Pennsylvania Department of State sent professional conduct investigator, Sherilyn Gillespie into his Philadelphia office to act as a patient.

Gillespie, who went undercover as a patient seeking weight loss treatment, reported that during her visit Tumpati told her to lie down on his office couch for the examination.

According to disciplinary records, he then proceeded to pull up the investigator's shirt, pulled her pants down and without caution, reached his hands into her underwear and ran his ungloved thumb over her hysterectomy scar multiple times.

In response to Gillespie's claim, the doctor said he chose to examine her scar because weight loss medications are known to cause birth defects.

Tumpati said that with each patient, he wore gloves and washed his hands before their examinations. His lawyer said that his couch was there to mimic a 'Grandma's living room' to help patients feel at ease.

Each patient involved in the disciplinary records said they all received weight loss medication cocktails from a medical assistant.

The board punished Tumpati for having a medical assistant who is not qualified to dispense drugs, which included regulated weight loss medications that went unreported, documents said.

The board called his behavior with patients 'appalling' when they decided to suspend his license. They added he 'exhibited a complete disregard for the patients' emotional and physical well-being.'

Tumpati said that with each patient, he wore gloves and washed his hands before their examinations. His lawyer said that his couch was there to mimic a 'Grandma's living room' to help patients feel at ease

The board called his behavior with patients 'appalling' when they decided to suspend his license. They added he 'exhibited a complete disregard for the patients' emotional and physical well-being'

The state department has recommended his practice go under probation for one year, but the board requested three.

His suspension is allowed to be shortened after one year, and his discipline could be minimized to probation for the remaining two years.

According to his website, both his locations in Pennsylvania are still listed as p[em, along with his one in New York and New Jersey.

Public records showed that he can still practice medicine in the other two states.

When The Philadelphia Inquirer called his Brooklyn office, the location was accepting appointments.

His practice that he shares with one another doctor and medical staff offers weight loss treatments like IV nutrition, body contouring, microdermabrasion, weight loss shakes and bars, and injectable drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Chinese authorities have arrested three teenage boys over the brutal death and botched burial of their 13-year-old classmate.

The young boy, who has only been identified by his surname, Wang, was reportedly found buried in an abandoned vegetable shed in Handan, north China, last week.

His face was badly damaged by a shovel that was used to bury him, the state-owned Global Times reported.

According to Wang's father, the boy left his home at around 1pm on March 10, and wasn't heard from since around 5pm.

The boy's family searched from 5pm to 10pm, but they could not find him.

After police got involved and checked surveillance footage, they found that the boy last spent time with his three now-detained classmates, all of whom denied they had met him.

The young boy, who has only been identified by his surname, Wang, (pictured) was reportedly found buried in an abandoned vegetable shed in Handan, north China , last week

READ MORE: Shocking moment delivery driver falls down empty lift shaft and shatters his spine while delivering food in building undergoing construction

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But by checking Wang's WeChat messages, Wang's father found his son had transferred some money to one of the three bullies.

After being presented with the evidence, they quickly broke down and admitted to burying him in the abandoned vegetable shed.

An autopsy has since revealed he suffered severe injuries to the head and back

Wang's father said the teenager had a good character, and was always keen to help his family with chores around the house.

He had previously been reluctant to go to school, but his parents dismissed these concerns as they did not realise he was being bullied for a long time.

Police are still investigating his death.

The case has triggered a wave of grief across China, with tens of thousands of posts about it being made on social media platforms Weibo and Douyin.

One social media user said in a comment that got 50,000 likes: 'The whole country is watching this case, hope the police can be fair and give the victim's family a satisfying answer.'
A Donald Trump-supporting New Mexico politician has had his Supreme Court challenge to a ruling barring him from office rejected due to an amendment designed to prevent Confederates from holding office after the Civil War.

Former Otero County commissioner Couy Griffin, a cowboy pastor who rode to national political fame by embracing then-President Donald Trump was kicked out of office over his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Griffin is the only elected official thus far to be banned from office in connection with the Capitol attack, which disrupted Congress as it was trying to certify Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory over Trump.

At a 2022 trial in state district court, Griffin received the first disqualification from office in over a century under a provision of the 14th Amendment.

Though the Supreme Court ruled this month that states dont have the ability to bar Trump or other candidates for federal offices from the ballot, the justices said different rules apply to state and local candidates.

Former Otero County commissioner Couy Griffin was kicked out of office over his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol

Griffin is a cowboy pastor who rode to national political fame by embracing then-President Donald Trump

'We conclude that States may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office,' the justices wrote in an unsigned opinion.

The outcome of Griffins case could bolster efforts to hold other state and local elected officials accountable for their involvement in the Jan. 6 attack.

Griffin, a Republican, was convicted in federal court of entering a restricted area on the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6 and received a 14-day prison sentence.

The sentence was offset by time served after his arrest in Washington, where he had returned to protest Bidens 2021 inauguration. That conviction is under appeal.

Griffin contends that he entered the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6 without recognizing that it had been designated as a restricted area and that he attempted to lead a crowd in prayer using a bullhorn, without engaging in violence.

The recent ruling in the Trump case shut down a push in dozens of states to end Trumps Republican candidacy for president over claims he helped instigate the insurrection to try to prevent Biden, a Democrat, from replacing him in the White House in 2020.

The accusations of insurrection against Griffin were filed on behalf of three New Mexico residents by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a left-leaning group that also brought the lawsuit in Colorado to disqualify Trump.

Congress had gathered in the Capitol Building to count Electoral College votes when droves of Trump supporters rioted, broke into the building, injured police officers, called for the hanging of Vice President Mike Pence and stalled the proceedings for hours

Ex-president Donald Trump attracted criticism recently for referring to January 6 rioters as 'hostages'

CREW has outlined the case for investigating several current state legislators who went to Washington on Jan. 6.

In Griffin's 2022 trial in state district court, New Mexico Judge Francis Mathew recognized the Jan. 6 attack as an insurrection and ruled that Griffin aided that insurrection, without engaging in violence, contributing to a delay in Congress election certification proceedings.

Griffin's appeal of the disqualification asserted that only Congress, and not a state court, has the power to enforce the anti-insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment by legislation, and it urged the Supreme Court to rule on whether the events on Jan. 6 constituted an 'insurrection' as defined in the Constitution.

It also invoked Griffin's rights to free speech protections.

'If the decision ... is to stand, at least in New Mexico, it is now the crime of insurrection to gather people to pray together for the United States of America on the unmarked restricted grounds of the Capitol building,' Florida-based defense attorney Peter Ticktin argued on behalf of Griffin in court filings.

At trial, Mathew, the judge, called Griffin's free-speech arguments self-serving and not credible, noting that the then-commissioner spread lies about the 2020 election being stolen from Trump in a series of speeches at rallies during a cross-country journey starting in New Mexico, calling on crowds to go with him to Washington on Jan. 6 and join the 'war' over the presidential election results.

Mathew said recordings by a videographer accompanying Griffin outside the U.S. Capitol showed that the county commissioner 'incited the mob, even after seeing members of the mob a short distance away attack police officers and violently try to break into the Capitol building.'

The New Mexico Supreme Court later refused to hear the case after Griffin missed procedural deadlines.

On the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack this year, Griffin cast himself as the victim of political persecution as he spoke to a gathering in the rural community of Gillette, Wyoming, at the invitation of a county Republican Party.

'God is really allowing me to experience some amazing days,' Griffin said. 'Jan. 6 was a day like no other. It was a day where a type of patriotism was expressed that Id never seen before, and I was honored to be there.'

In 2019, Griffin forged a group of rodeo acquaintances into the promotional group called Cowboys for Trump, which staged horseback parades to support Trumps conservative message about gun rights, immigration controls and abortion restrictions.

While still a county commissioner, Griffin joined with Republican colleagues in refusing to certify results of the June 2022 primary election based on distrust of the voting systems used to tally the vote, even though the countys election official said there were no problems.

The board ultimately certified the election on a 2-1 vote with Griffin still voting no based on a 'gut feeling.'

Griffin withstood a recall petition drive in 2021. After his disqualification from office, Griffin was tried and acquitted by a jury in his home county in March 2023 of allegations that he declined to register and disclose donors to Cowboys for Trump.
A teenager stabbed to death outside of a Brooklyn bodega was stabbed to death because she refused to follower her killer on Instagram, it has been revealed as her older sibling branded the murderer a 'coward.'

Sanyia Spain, whose twin sister, Samyia, was brutally stabbed to death outside a Park Slope bodega Sunday, provided new insight on the killing. The 19-year-olds were taking a break from a family game night around 2:20am and decided to get some snacks from a bodega with their brother.

A man encountered the twins and made advances, including asking to connect on social media.

'She said she wasn't going to follow him back,' the victim's twin told NY Daily News. 'That's it. She said no.'

That is when the man attacked, killing Samyia and sending Sanyia to the hospital.

Another older sibling, Danasha Goodson, labeled the killer a 'coward' in a social media post. Police have not made any arrests in the case as officials tell DailyMail.com that detectives are still conducting interviews.

Samyia Spain was enjoying a night out with her identical twin sister Sanyia when she was fatally attacked at a bodega in her native Brooklyn

The attack occurred after Samyia refused to follow the assailant back on Instagram

Sanyia (pictured) was also stabbed in the brutal attack that came after they rejected a man's advances

Goodson also warned people not to donate to a GoFundMe that went up for Samyia, saying it was fake. The listing has since been removed.

The pair are thought to have been in the same club as their attacker and an accomplice earlier in the evening before they were followed to the store which was heaving with late-night revelers.

As they waited to be served a friend told Sanyia that a man was talking to her sister.

'I grabbed her phone and I was like, 'Come with me, come with me',' Sanyia said.

'I was like, 'Why are you talking to that boy?' She said, 'I don't want to talk to that boy.''

Later, the man and his friends followed the sisters to the bodega in Park Slope.

'He pushed little Samyia, and then I pushed him,' Sanyia said, 'And then everybody else started pushing him out the door.'

The men became angry and were kicked out by the manager who locked the door on them, she added.

'When we were done waiting for our food, he let us out of the store,' Sanyia said. 'After he let us out the store, he had locked the door behind us.

When they saw the harasser armed with a knife and waiting with two of his friends outside, the twins' brother stepped in and a fight broke out.

'I'm gonna stab y'all in the face,' the attacker exclaimed before the brutal assault.

After Samia was stabbed, she said: 'I'm about to faint.'

At some point in the melee, the assailant had taken Samyia's phone- possibly to follow himself back- and when Sanyia asked for her sister's phone back, he stabbed her in the arm.

The attack happened at the Natural Plus bodega on Fourth Avenue in Park Slope

Samyia's identical twin, Sanyia, was slashed in the arm by the attacker after she asked for her sister's phone to be returned

'As she said I'm about to faint,' her sister remembered; 'I called 911.'

Another witness sad that after the severity of Samyia's injuries became apparent, everyone rushed to help her. The remnants of the sister's blood outside the bodega remained on Monday.

'Everybody started tending to her,' they explained.

'One of her friends took off their shirts and started putting compression on her neck to try to slow down the bleeding. She was gushing blood just all over the street.'

Both women were taken to New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital where Samyia was declared dead and her sister called their grandfather Alphonso Goodson, 66.

'She says, "Granddaddy, Samyia got stabbed and she died,"' Alphonso Goodson told the Daily News.

'I couldn't believe it. When I got the call, I came as soon as I could.

'We're all taking it very hard. My daughter, she's taking it pretty hard. We never expect nothing like this to happen. He walked in and started hitting on her,' he added.

'She said, "I don't want to be bothered with you. Leave me alone." Then the storeowner put him out.

'He started kicking on the door, he started banging on the door.

'I don't know if they called the police, but at that time [the storeowner] should have called. And then when they left the store, that's when he attacked them.

'He was waiting for them.

'He took it the wrong way. He came after them. That was wrong. That was dead wrong. I hope they catch this guy.'

Police have appealed for help finding Sunday's killer who was wearing a ski-mask according to witnesses and fled after the attack leaving a knife on the bloodstained street.

Authorities are searching for him everywhere, and told the Daily Mail that 'the detectives are still doing their interviews.'

Samyia had refused to follow the suspect back on Instagram, causing the suspect to launch into the attack

Another older sibling, Danasha Goodson, labeled the killer a 'coward' in a social media post. Police have not made any arrests in the case as officials tell DailyMail.com that detectives are still conducting interviews

'She was a very good person,' one friend told The NY Post. 'She was in school, she was working. She was very lovable. She didn't start any trouble. All she wanted to do was have fun.'

Samyia had started working at Walgreens after returning to Brooklyn with her sister from North Carolina.

'They wanted to come back to the city because this is what they know,' Goodson said. 'It was too quiet down there.'

Samyia wrote on social media about getting a tattoo shortly before setting off on her night off, and posted her last message at 9.23pm on Saturday: 'My friends looking for me in the club but I'm drunk making new friends.'

Deli worker Mohammed Albher said the twins were regular customers at the store.

'They used to come every day,' he added, 'They come, shake my hand. Say, how are you? I don't want to see nobody hurt  nobody, nobody, she's a nice girl.'

A friend of the twins said they did not know their attacker before he struck. 'It was some random person, it's surprising, very surprising. It was a kitchen knife,' they added.

'You know who I blame? The government, for the simple fact, y'all cut all these mental health off, and now look who's running out here.

'Those are the people that don't get in trouble. There are a thousand cameras and there is no arrest.'
The United Nations children's agency chief said the situation in Haiti is the 'worst in decades' as millions face famine amid the swell of looting and violence

Army veteran and Republican Rep. Cory Mills helped 13 more Americans escape war-torn Haiti over the weekend - as around 1,000 are still trapped in the country trying to escape.

The Florida congressman revealed he had helped volunteers for a children's ministry evacuate. Among the 13 Americans was a two-month-old baby and a three-year-old girl.

'Like many they made all attempts to work through the government but with no success,' Mills said in a statement.

The State Department said Monday that 1,000 U.S. citizens have filled out a crisis intake form seeking assistance to get out of Haiti.

'It is not hyperbole to say that this is one of the most dire humanitarian situations in the world,' State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said. 'Gang violence continues to make the security situation in Haiti untenable, and it is a region that demands our attention.'

Mills' weekend trip followed one he made last week that helped rescue 10 Americans.

He's led successful rescue missions in Israel and Afghanistan in the past.

'Americans are in danger,' said Mills. '[Biden's] pattern of abandonment and failed leadership should be noted come November.'

Mills, second from right, pictured with the Americans he helped rescue from Haiti over the weekend in his second evacuation mission in the country

'Americans are in danger,' said Mills. '[Biden's] pattern of abandonment and failed leadership should be noted come November'

Meanwhile dozens of U.S. citizens were evacuated on a flight chartered by the State Department over the weekend as the nation remains wracked by gang violence.

There were 166 seats available on the first flight out of the chaos-ridden nation but just 47 U.S. citizens took up the offer of returning on the government-chartered flight which arrived at Miami International Airport.

The U.S. embassy in Haiti has warned Americans to get out of the country 'as soon as possible.'

The main airport in Haiti in Port-au-Prince remains shuttered due to gang attacks, and the State Department is offering only limited charter flights from the less chaotic northern city of Cap-Haitien.

U.S. officials say they cannot provide ground transportation to the city and U.S. citizens should make their way to the charter flights 'only if you think you can reach Cap-Haitien airport safely.'

'We encourage U.S. citizens still in Haiti who seek to depart to contact the Department of State using the crisis intake form on our website if they have not already done so,' the agency said.

People on the U.S. government-coordinated flights are required to sign a promissory bill agreeing to reimburse the government.

Gangs have raged through Haiti in recent weeks, attacking key institutions and shutting down the main international airport

A man throws garbage next to the body of a murdered person, in Port-au-Prince on Friday

UNICEF said one of its containers holding 'essential items for maternal, neonatal, and child survival, including resuscitators and related equipment' was looted in the capital of Port-au-Prince's main port on Saturday

Meanwhile the United Nations children's agency chief said the situation in Haiti is the 'worst in decades' as millions face famine amid the swell of looting and violence.

Seven bodies were reportedly found in Petion Ville in the Ouest Department of Haiti on Monday after an overnight shooting.

UNICEF said one of its containers holding 'essential items for maternal, neonatal, and child survival, including resuscitators and related equipment' was looted in the capital of Port-au-Prince's main port on Saturday.

The unrest has further cut some of the country's most vulnerable from basic supplies, coming 'at a critical moment when children need them the most,' the agency said.

That same day, the Guatemala's Foreign Ministry said the offices of its honorary consul in Haiti was ransacked, but didn't give any details of damage or thefts, nor did it say who was responsible.

'It's like a scene out of Mad Max. Honestly, that's what it seems like.

'Gangs, vigilantes responding to the gangs,' UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell told CBS News.

'Many, many people there are suffering from serious hunger and malnutrition and we're not able to get enough aid to them.'

Gangs have raged through Haiti in recent weeks, attacking key institutions and shutting down the main international airport. The gangs, led by a man nicknamed 'Barbeque' have risen to power without clear leadership in the country and the prime minister's resignation.

Approximately 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 said.

'Haiti is facing a protractive and mass hunger,' Jean-Martin Bauer, Haiti director for the United Nations' World Food Program, told The Associated Press.

'We have supplies for weeks. I'm saying weeks, not months, that has me terrified.'

Looting and overall violence has further cut some of the country's most vulnerable from basic supplies

A person lifts a sheet to look at the identity of a body lying on the ground after an overnight shooting in the Petion Ville neighborhood

The country's top gang leader Jimmy 'Barbeque' Cherizier has threatened the families of political leaders who would support a planned transition council replacing outgoing PM Aruel Henry.

Haiti Libre reported the Haitian National Police raided Barbeque's territory on Friday as part of a strategy to unblock roads, seize firearms and facilitate the free movement of citizens.

More anti-terrorism U.S. Marines have been dispatched to Haiti to beef up security at the American embassy 24 hours after the country's prime minister announced his resignation amid mounting chaos.

The elite Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (F.A.S.T) was sent in as bedlam continued and after top gang leader Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier called for a 'bloody revolution'.

Ariel Henry stepped down as prime minister on Tuesday as the Caribbean nation was pushed to the brink of civil war and bodies were left strewn in the streets.

On Wednesday, the European Union said it is sending humanitarian aid worth 20 million euros ($21.8 million) to Haiti.

'An unprecedented level of gang violence is dramatically increasing humanitarian needs across the country,' European Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari said.

'The funding will help humanitarian partners to address the most urgent needs of the population.'

Henry agreed to step down in a bid to staunch spiraling violence that has left public services shattered and many people displaced.

Gangs who rule much of the capital Port-au-Prince had demanded Henry's departure after they launched a series of attacks on police stations, prisons and other infrastructure.

In a blow to international efforts to stabilize the country, Kenya on Tuesday said it was pausing plans to spearhead a multinational police mission backed by the United Nations.

Heavily-armed gangs have been in firefights with cops and soldiers, tried to seize the airport and targeted government sites.

The U.S. Southern Command said F.A.S.T. was deployed to the embassy in the nation's capital, Port-au-Prince.

The embassy is still open, but most staff have been airlifted out and operations are limited.

'U.S. Southern Command is prepared with a wide range of contingency plans to ensure the safety and security of U.S. Citizens in Haiti,' U.S. Southern Command said.

A Republican congressman has helped rescue Americans stranded during the violence and slammed the Biden administration for a 'pattern of abandonment' of U.S. citizens.

Last week Mills evacuated 10 U.S. citizens who were working at the Have Faith Orphanage at Port-au-Prince.

'This mission reiterates a disturbing reality under President Biden's leadership: American lives are continually jeopardized,' Mills said. 'I have led missions to rescue Americans multiple times when Joe Biden has deserted them.

'There's a clear pattern of abandonment,' Mills said, citing his rescue missions in Afghanistan during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal.

He also safely evacuated Americans from Israel in late 2023.

'Yet again, this group was left behind by Biden and his State Department after requesting their help in-country

Gang leader 'Barbecue', a former police officer, has claimed responsibility for the surge in violence.

Gangs are believed to be in control of around 80 percent of the capital.

More than 200 gangs are estimated to operate around Haiti, mostly in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.

More than 20 of them are based in the capital and rally around two main coalitions: G9 Family and Allies led by 'Barbecue'; and G-Pep, led by Gabriel Jean-Pierre, who is allied with Johnson Andre, leader of the 5 Seconds gang and known as 'Izo.'

Henry had been unable to enter Haiti because the violence forced the closure of its airports.

He arrived a week ago in Puerto Rico, where he announced his resignation in a recorded statement.
A thief, who stole Rolex watches and jewellery worth 100,000 from his wealthy girlfriend while she was having a massage at a five-star Soho hotel, has been jailed.

Abdow Abdurahman, 39, snatched the valuables from Riana Roopnarine while she was visiting him in London from New York.

The pair were staying at the W Hotel when Ms Roopnarine went downstairs for a massage.

When she returned to her room, her belongings, which included a Rolex Datejust and a Rolex Yachtmaster, had gone and a note had been left by Abdurahman saying he would make it up to her.

The thief claimed he needed 50,000 to pay off debts after his business had fallen into hard times.

Abdow Abdurahman (pictured), 39, who stole Rolex watches and jewellery worth 100,000 from his wealthy girlfriend while she was having a massage, has been jailed

When she returned to her room, her belongings, which included a Rolex Datejust that retails for 11,250 had gone

He then went back to the room and by the time Ms Roopnarine returned to join him he had left and locked the suite having run away with the watches which included a Rolex Yachtmaster that retails at 10,500

Abdurahman fled before he was due to be sentenced last December but eventually handed himself in on January 24.

He was jailed for 24 months, with one month consecutive for absconding, after admitting one count of theft at Southwark Crown Court.

In a victim impact statement Ms Roopnarine said: 'I can recover from the financial loss, but I cannot recover from the emotional loss, as the gold jewellery was passed on to me from my ancestors, and that is something I can never get back.

'This theft by someone I trusted and cared for deeply left me emotionally shattered.

'The betrayal and violation of trust resulted in me feeling an overwhelming sense of heartbreak and sadness and a deep sense of personal betrayal.'

The pair had met while on holiday in Jamaica and booked a room for the luxurious London hotel on February 26.

During their stay, the couple went down for a massage but Abdurahman complained that an Indian meal the night before had caused him stomach problems.

He then went back to the room and by the time Ms Roopnarine returned to join him he had left and locked the suite.

The pair were staying at the five star W Hotel (pictured) in Soho when Ms Roopnarine went downstairs for a massage

The thief left a note which read: 'It was a life or death situation. I will make it up to you.'

The victim then called the police and on March 10 Abdurahman was arrested.

Judge David Tomlinson told Abdurahman: 'I accept that at the time of the offence you had a legitimate business that was struggling financially.

'I accept that you are remorseful and you wish you could turn back the clock.

'However, it does seem that earlier attempts by Ms Roopnarine to approach you in the immediate aftermath of the theft were frustrated. It seems that you blocked her.

'The fact that you absconded rather undermines the credit that you would have been entitled to.

'You took advantage of her vulnerability and trust rather than intentionally targeting her.'

Andrew Hill, defending, said: 'I don't accept that this was pre-planned, why would he know that she would be coming with jewellery?

'His business was in trouble and he owed money.

'He was 50,000 in debt.'

In a victim impact statement read at Southwark Crown Court (pictured) Ms Roopnarine said: 'I can recover from the financial loss, but I cannot recover from the emotional loss, as the gold jewellery was passed on to me from my ancestors, and that is something I can never get back'

Detective Constable Terry Henry, who led the investigation, said: 'Abdow undermined the trust of a woman who would have done anything for him, had he just asked.

'Instead he went behind her back and not only stole her irreplaceable and cherished possessions but also left her heartbroken.

'Abdow tried to take what he thought was the easy way out, but thanks to our extensive CCTV analysis and detailed victim and witness statements, we were able to provide enough evidence to convince the jury of his guilt.'
Donald Trump's lawyers told a New York appellate court Monday that it's impossible for him to post a bond covering the full amount of his $454 million civil fraud judgment while he appeals.

The former president's lawyers wrote in a court filing that 'obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount' of the judgment 'is not possible under the circumstances presented.'

They revealed they had spoken to 30 underwriters to back the bond, which is due next week. Their efforts included 'countless hours of negotiating with one of the biggest insurance companies in the world'.

With interest, Trump owes $456.8 million. In all, he and co-defendants including his company and top executives owe $467.3 million. To obtain a bond, they would be required to post collateral worth $557 million, Trump's lawyers said.

'Defendants' ongoing diligent efforts have proven that a bond in the judgment's full amount is 'a practical impossibility,'' the filing said. 'These diligent efforts have included approaching about 30 surety companies through 4 separate brokers.'

New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, has said that she will seek to seize some of Trump's assets if hes unable to pay the judgment.

The development comes days after Trump was able to post a $91.6 million bond in the E. Jean Carroll defamation following a jury award he is also appealing.

The filing suggests that Trump's empire of real estate and golf properties leaves him insufficiently liquid to meet the massive judgements against him.

Multiple bond companies decline to 'accept hard assets such as real estate as collateral,' they noted, and will 'will only accept cash or cash equivalents (such as marketable securities).'

The firms would likely charge 18 per cent up front, another staggering sum and one Trump would not be able to get back even if he prevailed on appeal.

Trump testified during the fraud case that he had $400 million in cash.

Donald Trump's lawyers told a New York appellate court Monday that it's impossible for him to post a bond covering the full amount of his $454 million civil fraud judgment while he appeals

A state appeals court judge ruled last month that Trump must post a bond covering the full amount to pause enforcement of the judgment, which is to begin on March 25.

Last week, James office wrote in a filing that Trump tried to move the addresses of multiple assets from Trump Tower to Florida.

Her office complained that Trump's lawyers 'announced for the first time that various entity defendants operating in New York are allegedly now located on a golf club in Florida.'

That included DJT Holdings LLC, 401 North Wabash Venture LLC and other entities.

'Defendants attempted that relocation even as they claim to this Court that those assets 'cannot be summarily disposed of or secreted out of the jurisdiction,' according to the filing.

Judge Arthur Engoron ruled in February that Trump, his company and top executives, including his sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr., schemed for years to deceive banks and insurers by inflating his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals.

Among other penalties, the judge put strict limitations on the ability of Trump's company, the Trump Organization, to do business.

Trump is asking a full panel of the state's intermediate appellate court to stay the judgment while he appeals.

His lawyers previously proposed posting a $100 million bond, but appeals court judge Anil Singh rejected that. A stay is a legal mechanism pausing collection while he appeals.

A real estate broker enlisted by Trump to assist in obtaining a bond wrote in an affidavit filed with the court that few bonding companies will consider issuing a bond of the size required.

The remaining bonding companies will not 'accept hard assets such as real estate as collateral,' but 'will only accept cash or cash equivalents (such as marketable securities).'

'A bond of this size is rarely, if ever, seen. In the unusual circumstance that a bond of this size is issued, it is provided to the largest public companies in the world, not to individuals or privately held businesses,' the broker, Gary Giulietti, wrote.

The former president's lawyers wrote in a court filing that 'obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount' of the judgment 'is not possible under the circumstances presented. Trump is pictured during the fraud trial in January

The lawyers added that other bond companies are not accepting assets such as real estate as collateral and would likely charge up to 18 percent of the full amount upfront

Attorney General Letitia James has threatened to seize real estate assets if Trump does not pay the judgement against him or post bond

Trump appealed on February 26, a few days after the judgment was made official. His lawyers have asked the Appellate Division of the state's trial court to decide whether Engoron 'committed errors of law and/or fact' and whether he abused his discretion or 'acted in excess' of his jurisdiction.

Trump wasn't required to pay his penalty or post a bond in order to appeal, and filing the appeal did not automatically halt enforcement of the judgment.

Trump would receive an automatic stay if he were to put up money, assets or an appeal bond covering what he owes.

He also had the option, which he's now exercising, to ask the appeals court to grant a stay with a bond for a lower amount.

Trump maintains that he is worth several billion dollars and testified last year that he had about $400 million in cash, in addition to properties and other investments.

Last month, his lawyer Alina Habba insisted he did have the cash to cover the bond.

'I can tell you what the rules are. Within 30 days, even if we choose to appeal this, we have to post the bond, which is the full amount and then some. We will be prepared to do that,' she said.

In January, a jury ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her after she accused him in 2019 of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s.

Trump recently posted a bond covering that amount while he appeals.

That's on top of the $5 million a jury awarded Carroll in a related trial last year.
Derrick Gant, a rapper who's known as Phat Geez, was murdered in Pennsylvania.

The 28-year-old was shot outside his home in North Philadelphia near the 1200 block of North Taney Street. According to FOX 29, a car pulled up around 10 pm Sunday and one of the occupants had 'an exchange' with Gant before he started shooting.

Gant was shot multiple times in the chest and rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Police have made no arrests in the case. The motive and a description of the suspects and their vehicle has not been released.

The late rapper released the music video for No Gunzone only one month before his death. The video features the rapper, at one point, singing over a murdered body - covered by a sheet - along a sidewalk with crime scene tape in the area.

Derrick Gant, who is a rapper known by his stage name Phat Geez, was murdered outside his home in Philadelphia last night

The 28-year-old rapper had a brief encounter with multiple people in a car around 10 pm Sunday near the 1200 block of North Taney Street

Gant rose to fame after he released his song Life in 2014 featuring Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill.

He released his first mixtape Cut from a Different Cloth later that year and was releasing music under PricelessLifestyle Records prior to his death.

One of Gant's final songs called No Gunzone was named in reference to an Instagram account of the same name that promotes anti-violence efforts in Philadelphia.

Several social media users have paid their respects on various platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram since the brutal killing.

One of the individuals who commented on Gant's death was Mill himself.

Gant rose to fame after he released his song Life in 2014, which featured Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill. Mill was one of the social media users who responded to Gant's death

One of Gant's final songs called No Gunzone was named in reference to an Instagram account of the same name that promotes anti-violence efforts in Philadelphia

The music video for No Gunzone was released one month before his murder. One of his final Instagram posts that he made yesterday was a clip of the video

'Rip phat geez..Philly is a terrible place for black people to live you see too much death!!!! Smh,' Mill wrote on X this morning.

Mill also posted a tribute to Gant on his Instagram Story.

'I think it's time we fully break the streets up in Philly! A lot of dummies with guns,' he wrote.

Media personality Mina Saywhat also commented on Gant's death and shared a video of her interviewing the late rapper.

'I can not believe Phat Geez is gone. Philly is in a state of emergency,' she wrote.

'I was watching out interview & music gave him hope.'

Meek Mill and media personality Mina Saywhat have posted tributes to Gant

Social media users have been paying their respects for the late rapper on X and Instagram following the news of his death

Gant's death comes one year after rapper YNG Cheese was killed in a Philadelphia shooting.

The rapper, whose real name is Devin Spady, was shot along with two other individuals that suffered minor injuries.

Spady's death currently remains unsolved.

Despite Gant's shocking death, the Philadelphia Police Department, indicated that the number of homicide deaths in the city is down 30 percent from this time last year.

Police are asking anyone with information about Gant's murder to call 215-686-TIPS or 911.

A $20,000 reward is also being offered to the person who provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has guided firing drills involving super-large multiple rocket launchers and called for perfecting readiness to collapse the capital of the enemy with the "core striking means," state media said Tuesday.

On the previous day, Kim oversaw the "salvo" drills of artillery units in the country's western region using the 600mm multiple launch rocket system, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The South Korean military said Monday it detected the firing of multiple short-range ballistic missiles from areas near Pyongyang and they flew about 300 kilometers toward the East Sea. Experts said they might be the KN-25 super-large multiple rocket launcher.

Calling a super-large multiple rocket launcher one of "the core striking means" of its military, Kim said the weapon system has an important role in the country's war preparations, the KCNA said.

"He said that it is necessary to further impress upon the enemies that if an armed conflict and a war break out, they can never avoid disastrous consequences," the report said.

"The destructive offensive means possessed by our army should more thoroughly fulfill their missions to block and suppress the possibility of war with the constant perfect preparedness to collapse the capital of the enemy and the structure of its military forces," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA, apparently referring to Seoul.

North Korea also conducted a test simulating the midair detonation of a shell of such a weapon system at a preset altitude above the target, it added.

The North's super-large multiple rocket launch system is classified as a short-range missile that could put the entire South Korean territory within range. Pyongyang has claimed a tactical nuclear warhead could be mounted on such a weapon.

Photos carried by the KCNA showed six missiles being launched simultaneously, but the South Korean military said it assesses that the North staged even more launches.

"(The photos) appear to show the first simultaneous launches, and (we) assess that there were more launches afterward," Lt. Col. Lee Chang-hyun, a spokesperson for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a briefing.

Lee said South Korea and the United States are continuing to track the North's weapons development activities, noting that they are assessing the state media report while leaving various possibilities open.

The provocation came as South Korea and the United States wrapped up the 11-day annual Freedom Shield exercise Thursday.

It marked North Korea's second ballistic missile launch this year since Jan. 14, when it test-fired a solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile carrying a hypersonic warhead.

North Korea refrained from conducting missile tests during the joint military drills by Seoul and Washington. Instead, its leader Kim Jong-un guided military training involving artillery and tank units as well as paratroopers.

The North's latest missile launch was also timed with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Seoul. Blinken arrived in South Korea on Sunday to attend the third Summit of Democracy hosted by South Korea, a U.S.-led multinational gathering formed to boost solidarity and shared values among democratic countries.

In January, the North's leader called for revising the country's constitution to define South Korea as its "primary foe" and codify a commitment to subjugate the South Korean territory in the event of war. (Yonhap)
A mid-air birth has netted a newborn boy a package of free flights on a Mexican airline.

Haitian Wilene Tulus, 42, started having contractions moments after her Aeromexico flight departed from Mexico City to the norther border city of Ciudad Juarez and went into labor on Friday.

Tulus and her husband, Dieumete Saintil, 40, had recently abandoned violence-torn Haiti and boarded flight 113 for their trip to the border region with the United States, where they had an appointment with U.S. immigration agents to discuss their asylum application.

Tulus, who has another son, alerted the flight attendants of her condition about 20 minutes after the flight was in the air.

Wilene Tulus, of Haiti, became a mother for the second time last week Friday when she went into labor on an Aeromexico flight that was flying from Mexico City to the northern border city of Ciudad Juarez, where she and her husband had an asylum hearing at the U.S. border

An airline crew member carries the newborn boy moments after his mother gave birth on an Aeromexico flight last Friday

An Aeromexico crew member poses with the Haitian newborn delivered on an aircraft in the middle of a flight from Mexico City to the northern border town of Ciudad Juarez

The crew received assistance from one of the passengers, Dr. Leticia Olivares, who delivered the baby without any issues.

A video filmed by a passenger showed one of the flight attendants walking with the newborn down the aircraft isle and placing him in the arms of Tulus before the crew, doctor and Haitian family were cheered on by the passengers.

The mother and the child were treated by paramedics at Abraham Gonzalez Airport in Ciudad Juarez and rushed to separate Chihuahua state government-operated medical facilities for treatment.

Tulus was discharged Saturday and reunited with her newborn Sunday.

'They were separated, because the birth took place in an environment that was not controlled or under adequate hygiene measures,' the Chihuahua Health Institute said in a statement.

'So, the minor had to be transferred to the Children's Specialty Hospital, where there is adequate personnel and equipment to give him the specialized care in case of any complications.'

Wilene Tilus (center) and her husband Dieumete Saintil (right) told Mexican authorities they fled Haiti due to violence

Aeromexico, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary, revealed that it gifted the baby boy 90 free flights.

'We are very excited to have been part of this great story that is just beginning,' Mexico's flag carrier said in a statement.

'Aeromexico thanks the doctors for their professionalism, recognizes the extraordinary work of the crew of flight attendants and pilots, in addition to reiterating that the safety of clients and collaborators is our highest priority.'

Aeromexico guidelines allow women who are one to 33 weeks pregnant to fly without submitting a medical certificate.

However, any past 33 weeks are required to be medically cleared and have to show proof 48 hours via the airline's website before they are scheduled to fly.

The Mexican carrier does permit women with high risks pregnancies to travel on its aircraft as along as they also present a medical certificate online hours prior to their flight departure.
Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Downing Street for talks with Rishi Sunak today.

The former US president, 62, waved and smiled as he strolled up to the famous No10 door this afternoon.

The visit, which lasted around an hour as the pair chatted in the PM's study, was described as a 'courtesy call' as Mr Obama happened to be in London.

It was the first time the two leaders had met, with the pair said to have discussed a range of subjects, including artificial intelligence, one-to-one in Margaret Thatchers former study over a cup of tea.

No 10 said little about the content of their conversation, but both men have two daughters and a shared agenda of promoting education and opportunities for girls.

Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Downing Street for talks with Rishi Sunak today

The former US president waved and smiled as he strolled up to the famous No10 door this afternoon

It is not clear why Mr Obama is in the UK, and his visit was not included in the government's business diary for the day

The agenda is a central mission of Mr Obamas foundation, and speaking at a business event in Warwickshire earlier, the Prime Minister said: I want my girls to grow up in an economy and society where there is no limit to their aspirations.

Upon leaving the meeting he smiled and said 'I'm tempted' when he was asked his opinion on the state of Russian democracy by reporters before getting in a Range Rover with US ambassador to the UK Jane D Hartley just after 4pm.

Mr Obama later held private talks with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

One of the highest profile previous trips by Mr Obama was 2016, when he notoriously stood alongside David Cameron and warned that Britain would be 'at the back of the queue' for a trade deal after leaving the EU.

That intervention amid the referendum battle sparked fury from Brexiteers, although they also regarded it as helpful to their anti-establishment campaign.

The UK has not signed a trade deal with the US, although there was a major push for one when Donald Trump was president.

One of the highest profile previous trips by Mr Obama was 2016, when he notoriously stood alongside David Cameron and warned that Britain would be 'at the back of the queue' for a trade deal after leaving the EU

Mr Obama was in the White House from 2009 to 2017, with Joe Biden serving as his vice president.

The PM's official spokesman said: 'He was making an informal courtesy drop-in as part of his trip to London, where he is conducting work of the Obama Foundation.'

The spokesman added: 'I think President Obama's team made contact and obviously the Prime Minister was very happy to meet with him and discuss the work of the Obama Foundation.'

Mr Obama served two terms in the White House from 2009 to 2017 before he was succeeded by Republican Donald Trump.

When approached by DailyMail.com, a spokesperson for Obama declined to reveal the purpose of the visit and instead referred to the PM's official spokesman statement.
An alleged killer has denied kidnapping and murdering a popular Turkish DJ who was tortured and beaten to death.

Koray Alpergin, 43, and his girlfriend Gozde Balbudak, 34, were kidnapped after they returned home from an Italian restaurant in Mayfair.

The pair were then held at the Stadium Lounge restaurant near Tottenham Hotspur's stadium before Mr Alpergin was tortured and killed on October 14, 2022.

Ms Balbudak was locked into a toilet for two days before she was released by the gang.

Mr Alpergin's naked burned body was eventually dumped in woodland in Loughton, Essex, before it was found by a dog walker.

Koray Alpergin was kidnapped and tortured to death after going to an Italian restaurant in Mayfair in October 2022

His girlfriend Gozde Balbudak was also kidnapped and locked in a toilet for two days before she was released

He was the owner of Turkish radio station Bizim FM and had connections with celebrities such as rapper P Diddy and Salt Bae.

Kyrie Mitchell-Peart, 31, of Whetstone, north London, denied murder, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of false imprisonment when he appeared at the Old Bailey via video-link on Monday.

He is due to stand trial on July 1 with Isay Stoyanov, 43, who is also charged with murder, two counts of kidnap and two of false imprisonment.

Stoyanov, of Tottenham, is yet to enter pleas to the charges.

Dylan Weatherley, 20, of Tottenham, also appeared at at the Old Bailey on Monday charged with murdering Mr Alpergin, as well as the kidnap and false imprisonment of the couple.

Mitchell-Peart and Weatherley were remanded in custody until April 18.
A driver who had only recently moved country in search of a job has been handed a prison sentence for amassing more than two dozen speeding tickets in just 19 days.

The 23-year-old Frenchman had been in Norway for just over a month when he was caught speeding 25 times between February 6 and 25, according to local media.

The worst offence was on February 20, when he was caught at the wheel of a Kia driving more than 70mph in a zone with a speed limit of around 40mph, according to a court ruling.

The man 'represents a danger in traffic', the Oslo district court said in documents seen on Monday.

According to daily Aftenposten, most of his infractions were registered by fixed speed cameras, whose existence he was not aware of.

The French driver was caught speeding on 25 occasions. Stock image shows Trollstigen mountain road in Rauma Municipality in Norway

The man had his sentence reduced by three days, from 24 to 21, due to his full confession.

But he will have to manage for a while without his driver's licence, which the court suspended for a year.

Speeding fine rates in Norway went up significantly last year, according to The Local, with most increasing by around 30 per cent.

Meanwhile, what is thought to have been one of the world's highest speeding penalties was handed out across the border in Finland last year.

Multimillionaire businessman Anders Wiklof was fined 121,000 (104,000) for driving 18.6mph over the speed limit.

Speeding tickets in the country are calculated as a percentage of offenders' incomes.
The medals of a WWII bomb disposal hero who defused 15 bombs in 18 months and saved Charing Cross station at the age of 19 during the London Blitz are being sold by his family for 3,000.

Charlie Halls from Shoreham, West Sussex, was 101-years-old when he died in March 2023.

When he was 19 he was presented with the prestigious George Medal by King George VI, who looked at him and said: 'You are only a boy!'

Charlie's commanding officer jumped in and told the King 'the boy who stands with me is a man, not a boy.'

Charlie Halls from Shoreham, West Sussex, was 101-years-old when he died in March 2023

When he was 19 he was presented with the prestigious George Medal (pictured) by King George VI

Charlie with his brothers in their Navy uniforms (Left to right: John, Charlie and Fred)

Charlie sprung into action when a deadly three ton German parachute mine landed next to platform four at the London train station on April 16, 1941.

Miraculously, it did not explode on impact despite hitting the ground at 40mph.

Charlie ripped off cushions from some of the train carriages to pack round the live device.

As he returned to it he saw his comrade dive off the bridge after the mine began ticking with just 22 seconds before it went off.

Charlie later recalled: 'I went back to get the tools and I see him dive off the bridge into the bank, so I ran the other way because I was halfway there, and I got behind the wall of Charing Cross station and waited, and nothing happened.'

After five minutes the pair returned to the device and spent several hours making it safe.

His family are now selling his wartime medals at auctioneers Tennants of London.

Oonagh Drage, a military speciast at Tennants,, said: 'The medals we are privileged to handle before sale often come with moving stories of bravery and sacrifice, but Charlie Halls' story really stands out.

'The extraordinary courage and heroism of his actions in the face of such grave dangers is remarkable.'

Charlie was born in 192 and joined the Royal Navy aged just 15.

He was serving in the Aden when the Second World War was declared and escorted North Sea convoys on HMS Manchester in late 1939 and early 1940.

Charlie trained as a bomb disposal expert and was very busy during the Blitz tackling unexploded ordnance across the capital.

Amazingly, Charlie survived the war without suffering any major injuries and eventually returned to the sea.

He served on corvette class ships HMS Cyclamen and HMS Hyderabad, escorting convoys to Gibraltar and in the Mediterranean.

His final wartime assignment was on board the submarine HMS Satyr and he left the navy in 1948.

Charlie's medal group consists of the George Medal, 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star and War Medal.

The sale takes place on Wednesday.
A man accused of attempting to smuggle a group of Vietnamese migrants into the UK in the back of specially adapted van is to face trial later this year.

Anas Al Mustafa, 42, was arrested after seven migrants had to be freed from the back of a van at Newhaven ferry port.

They were rescued after the security staff allegedly broke down a false wall in the back of the van that had been concealing them.

The migrants were allegedly banging on the van wall after running short of oxygen and were heard by ferry staff.

All seven of the migrants were taken to hospital - one in a critical condition - and were treated by medics.

Anas Al Mustafa, 42, was arrested after seven migrants had to be freed from the back of a van at Newhaven ferry port

Several police vehicles, ambulances and Border Force rushed to the scene in a full-scale emergency response

Al Mustafa of Swansea appeared at Lewes Crown Court today where he faced a charge of assisting unlawful immigration into the UK by transporting seven individuals in a specially-adapted van.

Asked how he pleaded Al Mustafa, who spoke through an Arabic interpreter, said: 'No. Not guilty. I did not know anything about them.'

Rosalind Crook, defending, told the court: 'He wasn't aware anyone was in the back of that van so did not know he was assisting the entry into the UK of illegal immigrants.'

The incident happened on Friday February 16 as the Seven Sisters ferry travelling between Dieppe in France and Newhaven docked in the East Sussex port.

Several police vehicles, ambulances and Border Force rushed to the scene in a full-scale emergency response.

The incident happened on Friday February 16 as the Seven Sisters ferry travelling between Dieppe in France and Newhaven docked in the East Sussex port

The migrants were treated by paramedics and given oxygen at the scene before they were taken to hospital.

Ferry operator DFDS, which runs services between Newhaven and Dieppe in France, confirmed the migrants were found on board the vessel and had been given 'immediate' medical attention.

At an earlier hearing in magistrates court, David Holman, prosecuting, said: 'The van the defendant was responsible for was driven onto the ferry and whilst still on the ferry seven people began banging on the van.'

Al Mustafa is set to face trial at Lewes Crown Court in August.
One of the suspects in the Long Island body parts case has been jailed after violating parole by shoplifting - but the other three suspects remain free thanks to laxed New York bail laws.

Amanda Wallace, 40, is one of the four defendants charged with concealing a human corpse and tampering with evidence earlier this month.

The bodies were those of Malcolm Craig Brown, 53, and Donna Conneely, 59, were found in Babylon Park earlier this month, a couple whose connection to the suspects remains unclear.

None of the four have been charged with murder, and laxed New York State bail laws means they were allowed to go free on parole.

Wallace was however taken back into custody on Friday after stealing nail polish and false eyelashes from a CVS.

Amanda Wallace, 40, was arrested on Friday night, and charged with petit larceny on Friday for stealing items from a CVS, and is expected back in court on Friday

Stephen Brown, 44, appeared at Suffolk County District court on Monday, and given the same supervision release conditions, and is due back in court on April 1

Malcolm Craig Brown, 53, and Donna Conneely, 59, were murdered before having their remains butchered and scattered in Babylon park, NY

Jeffrey Mackey, 38, and Alexis Nieves, 33, were all also arrested in connection to the brutal murders, and are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday in Suffolk District Central Islip Court.

All four have been released back on the streets thanks to the state's 'no bail' laws with the exception of Wallace who was charged with petit larceny and is behind bars.

Suspects facing charges relating to mutilation and disposal of murdered corpses are no longer eligible for bail after New York reformed its bail laws in 2019.

Suffolk County DA Elect Raymond Tierney said the decision to free them with ankle tags was 'absurd' and blamed the 2019 'Bail Reform' law for the judgment.

Wallace was attached to her GPS monitor at the time of the theft. An employee of the store called police around 10.50pm. A short time later, she was arrested and charge with petit larceny, according to the Suffolk County Police Department.

Wallace, who admitted to the misdemeanor, told an officer she 'forgot' her money and 'didn't feel like walking back over,' as per court documents, Newsday reported.

Wallace was remanded by Judge James McDonaugh Suffolk District Court in Central Islip on Monday and cuffed.

Amanda Wallace, 40, and Steven Brown, 44, walking with attorney Ira Weissman

Brown and Wallace walking into the courthouse on Monday

At one point, Wallace is trying to conceal her face with her hand

Judge McDonaugh told Wallace: 'At bare minimum, under those circumstances, I would think that Ms. Wallace would be able to get through nine days without being rearrested.'

Prosecutor Dena Rizopoulos, asked the judge that Wallace be held on a $10,000 cash bail on the petit larceny charge.

She told the judge Wallace was wearing her GPS monitor during the theft, and called it a 'total lack of regard to the court, people are going to ask that bail on the reset.'

Wallace's attorney, Keith O'Halloran told the judge that a remand and the $10,000 bail is an outrageous request by the district attorney's office.

He said his client is 'not in a position to post exorbitant bail.' He asked a lower bail be set that would not amount to automatic remand.

OHalloran, entered a plea of not guilty on the petit larceny charge.

But, Judge McDonaugh ordered Wallace held without bail on the body parts case for not complying with the conditions of her earlier release.

He also set bail for the petit larceny charge in the amounts of $5,000 cash bail, $10,000 surety bond or a $50,000 partially secured bond.

Wallace and her boyfriend, Steven Brown, 44, Jeffrey Mackey, 38, and Alexis Nieves, 33, were all released without bail earlier this month after a severed head and arms were found in two parks in Suffolk County.

On February 26 and March 5, police found the severed body parts in West Babylon and in Babylon, Bethpage State Park.

The defendants were all charged with first-degree hindering prosecution, tampering with physical evidence by concealing or destroying, and concealment of a human corpse.

On Monday, defendant Steven Brown appeared in court with his attorney Ira Weismann.

Judge McDonaugh said he was extending his supervised released status and stated that condition remains the same including, wearing his supervised electronic monitoring device at all time, and staying in Suffolk County.

Brown was ordered back in court on April 1.

After the hearing, Weismann told the media that his client was cooperating with his parole requirements.

Wallace is due back in court on Friday.

After the hearing, Brown walked out of the courtroom with his attorney. His eyes were focused on the floor, as he walked and did not respond to any questions, specifically how he felt leaving the court house without Wallace.

Wallace's attorney briefed a group of reporters outside the courtroom and said the district attorney's office filed new charges against his client.

'Based on those new charges he asked that Wallace be held without bail,' O'Halloran said.' 'The judge granted that application.'

'So again, we need to start a new investigation. We have no paperwork on the new cases. We have no discovery on the old case. '

'We're still looking for the information that would tie her to either of these two cases. We're going to have to review whether or not the judge acted properly in remanding her without bail.'

He added: 'The district attorney's office hasn't provided us with any discovery or any evidence on the original case so we have no knowledge of what the prosecutor was talking about there.'

O'Halloran confirmed Brown and Wallace are in a relationship.

He said that she has children, though remains unclear the number of children Wallace has, and if Brown, who also lives in Amityville, is the father to any of those children.

He said that he has not represented her in family court.
Sen. Eric Schmitt, who filed the case as Missouri attorney general exclusively told DailyMail.com he hopes the court sides with his home state

Legal scholars noted after the arguments that he justices seemed skeptical of the state's claims

The Supreme Court expressed skepticism about a Republican-led effort to stop the Biden administration's coercion with social media companies, sparking GOP outrage at 'un-American' collusion they say must be reigned in.

The court heard a critical First Amendment case Monday that could determine whether the Biden administration illegally pressured social media companies to moderate posts it disliked on topics like COVID-19, 2020 election security and other conservative views.

The questions posed by the justices Monday during oral arguments provided insights into where they stand on the matter - and most seemed skeptical of the Republican-led states' arguments against the administration.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., who led the landmark case while previously serving as Missouri attorney general, exclusively told DailyMail.com he hopes the court 'sides with the Constitution and protects freedom of speech.'

'This case deals with speech in the virtual town square,' he continued. 'We must ensure that the federal government is not able to outsource their censorship to third parties, which is what this case directly deals with.'

'Biden White House officials coercing and colluding with some of the largest companies in the world to censor Americans was an unprecedented attack on the First Amendment,' he added.

The lawsuit was originally filed in 2021 by the Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, along with five individual social media users.

Missouri v. Biden case examines whether the Biden administration coerced social media companies to throttle speech it disliked

Anti-vaccine activists rallied outside the Supreme Court Monday

President Joe Biden and his administration worked with Meta, Twitter and YouTube to remove content on COVID-19 and the 2020 election that the government deemed was misinformation

'My biggest concern is that your view has the First Amendment hamstringing the government in significant ways,' liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga.

House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, fired back in a reactionary interview saying Brown Jackson is wrong.

That's exactly what the First Amendment is 'supposed to do for goodness,' the Republican stated.

'It was literally one of the craziest things I've ever seen,' he added. ''That is frightening because she really believes that.'

Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts noted how the government is 'not monolithic.'

He said social media companies have communications professionals 'have people they go to, probably in the government, to say, 'Hey, they're trying to get me to do this,' and that person may disagree with what the government's trying to do.'

'That has to dilute the concept of coercion significantly, doesn't it?' Roberts added.

Trump-appointed Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested that the government working with publishers is not uncommon, noting that there are 'press people throughout the federal government who regularly call up the media and berate them.'

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., who filed the case during his time as Missouri attorney general, said he hopes the Supreme Court sides with his home state

2. Most of the justices seemed to be hung up on how the governments encouragement and exhortation constitutes coercion, even though the central feature of the case is that it shows how tech companies act as government agents without the need for a metaphorical gun to the head.  Ilya Shapiro (@ishapiro) March 18, 2024

Protestors demonstrated outside of the Supreme Court Monday during the hearing

However, conservative Justice Samuel Alito noted how the Biden administration appeared to leverage its influence over the companies, saying 'it's treating Facebook and these other platforms like their subordinates.'

'This was censorship by surrogate,' House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, who is himself investigating tech companies for colluding with the federal government, continued.

'This was big government telling Big Tech to take down speech they disagreed with,' he added.

The Judiciary Committee earlier wrote on X that the 'un-American' collusion between the Biden administration and Big Tech must end.

Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., similarly said its a 'bad idea' to allow the federal government 'to go to the the social media companies and say, 'no one should be allowed to say that.''

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., called the case a 'critical examination of government overreach.'

'The Biden administration and FBI's efforts to influence Big Tech into silencing dissent tramples on the 1st Amendment. Our focus must be on preventing government censorship, not compelling private entities to act as censors. This case could redefine our free speech.'

Following the arguments, some legal scholars also noted how the court appears unconvinced of the states' case, noting how the justices appear 'hung up' on the claim the Biden administration 'coerced' the companies.

'Although the trial judge called it 'the most massive attack against free speech in US history,' there doesn't seem to be a SCOTUS majority ready to rule against [government] actions to suppress social-media posts & accounts,' Ilya Shapiro, Manhattan Institute director of constitutional studies, wrote on X Monday.

'Most of the justices seemed to be hung up on how the government's encouragement and exhortation constitutes 'coercion,' even though the central feature of the case is that it shows how tech companies act as government agents without the need for a metaphorical gun to the head,' Shapiro continued.

George Washington University law professor and Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley also noted the plaintiffs' struggles during the hearing.

'Counsel for Louisiana faced withering questioning from the three most liberal justices but also some tough questions from others, particularly Roberts and Kagan,' he wrote on X.

Aguinaga, the lawyer for Louisiana, opened up the Supreme Court argument by stating: 'Pressuring platforms in back rooms shielded from public view is not using the bully pulpit at all. That's just being a bully.'

The Biden administration, meanwhile, argued it has appropriately used its bully pulpit - or executive influence - to flag concerning communications to the companies.

'When the government persuades a private party not to distribute or promote someone else's speech that's not censorship that's persuading a private party to do something that they're lawfully entitled to do,' Biden administration lawyer Brian Fletcher argued Monday.

'There are lots of contexts where government officials can persuade private parties to do things that the officials couldn't do directly.'

Fletcher noted how lawmakers used their influence to convince colleges to do more to prevent the spread of anti-semitism in the wake of the October 7 massacre, saying that could be viewed as the government infringing the students' First Amendment protections.

Some Supreme Court justices appeared hesitant to agree with some claims made by the plaintiffs Monday

Lawyers for the Biden administration argued that the White House did not coerce the social media companies to act on their behalf

...The argument is over. Counsel for Louisiana faced withering questioning from the three most liberal justices but also some tough questions from others, particularly Roberts and Kagan. Jackson expressed the most deferential view of the government's ability to coerce speech.  Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) March 18, 2024

Social media apps Facebook and Twitter (now X) play critical roles in this case

Still, filings in the case reveal multiple instances where communications between the executive branch and the companies preceded posts being removed at the request of government officials.

Many of the posts that were discussed between the White House officials and social media companies involved communications about COVID-19 and the associated vaccines.

Other posts that received suppression, according to the states, referenced election interference, the state of the economy, criticisms of President Biden, mail in voting and more.

According to filings, employees at Facebook's parent company Meta, Twitter, now X, and YouTube were in direct communication with Biden administration officials who directed they take down 'misinformation.'

The case has already been affirmed by two lower courts, including the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled federal officials cannot attempt to 'coerce or significantly encourage' changes or removal in online content.

In October, the Supreme Court put the lower court's injunction on hold pending the review of the case by the justices.

The social media companies themselves are not involved in the case.

The Supreme Court's ruling is expected by the end of June.
He added that Trump didn't ask for cash or an endorsement, but Musk said he is 'leaning away from Biden' if he were to offer one

The Tesla CEO, 52, laughed as he said that Trump 'likes to talk' and 'did most of the talking', stressing that it was not 'groundbreaking'

Musk insisted his March 3 meeting with Trump in Florida was unscheduled, and it was simply 'breakfast at a friend's place'

Elon Musk shared more details of his meeting with Donald Trump in his Don Lemon X interview on Monday morning, revealing the pair met a mutual friend's Palm Beach home for 'breakfast'.

'I was at a breakfast at a friend's place, and Donald Trump came by, that's it,' he said, adding with a laugh: 'He did most of the talking.'

Musk did not name their mutual friend.

Trump did not ask for an endorsement or a donation, he said.

Musk (pictured with Trump in 2016 with Steve Bannon) said he would only consider giving an endorsement in the 'final stretch' of the election - and he is 'leaning away from Biden'

'He did most of the talking... the normal things he says,' Musk said with a laugh. 'President Trump likes to talk.'

'And so, he talked... I don't remember him saying anything that he hasn't said publicly, and that was it, it was just a breakfast.'

Lemon didn't ask who the mutual friend was that set up the meeting, which was believed to take place in the wealthy enclave of Palm Beach, Florida.

'Did he ask you for money?' the former CNN anchor asked, to which Musk responded with a quick 'no' - a common theme in their interview that also included a number of other hostile exchanges.

When the March 3 meeting was revealed, it sparked rumors that Musk could put his $188 billion fortune behind the former president.

Musk has since insisted he will not support or fund any candidates.

When asked about his relationship with Donald Trump, Musk brushed off implications that the two of them are close and said a recent meeting was a chance encounter over breakfast

'While I'll voice my opinion (on the presidential race), I think I don't want to put my thumb on the scale voluntarily that is significant,' he said in the Lemon interview.

'I'm not paying his legal bills, in any way shape or form,' Musk said. 'And he did not ask me for money.'

While rejecting claims he wants to put his billions into politics, Musk didn't rule out endorsing a candidate, but said he would only do so 'in the final stretch.'

'But I don't know yet, I want to make a considered decision before the election, and if I do decide to endorse a candidate, then I will explain exactly why,' he said.

After initially saying he does not currently have a preference, Musk quickly clarified with a laugh: 'Let's say I'm leaning away from Biden, I've made no secret of that.'

When Lemon countered that this seems like an endorsement of Trump given that the general election will almost certainly see him square off against Biden, Musk implied that may not be the case.

'We'll see in the final analysis are the choices for president, and at that point I may or may not endorse one of the candidates. If I do, I'll provide a very detailed explanation of why.'

Don Lemon has shared the first interview from his comeback show with Elon Musk, where he interrogated the billionaire over his alleged heavy drug use

Musk cancelled his deal with Lemon to exclusively share the show on X after the episode, which the former CNN anchor claimed left the billionaire 'so upset'

The Don Lemon Show episode 1: Elon Musk



TIMESTAMPS:

(02:23) News on X

(10:07) Donald Trump and Endorsing a Candidate

(13:04) The New Tesla Roadster

(16:46) Relaxation and Video Games

(17:54) Tweeting and Drug Use

(23:19) The Great Replacement Theory

(30:03) Content Moderation pic.twitter.com/bLRae4DhyO  Don Lemon (@donlemon) March 18, 2024

The opportune meeting was revealed in Don Lemon's comeback show released on Monday, that saw him and Musk become embroiled in several arguments and hostile exchanges.

The former CNN anchor claimed last week that Musk was 'so upset' by the interview that he cancelled their deal to exclusively share the show on X.

In the wide-ranging grilling - which at times sounded more like a deposition than an interview - Lemon took issue with the Tesla CEO's stance on woke ideology, racism, trans rights and drug use.

The pair frequently disagreed, and traded barbs about neither having 'evidence' to back up their claims. Musk told him that users on X would correct any discrepancies in real time as they watched the interview.

When quizzed over his prescription ketamine use, Musk appeared to take offense to Lemon's questioning and said it is 'pretty private to ask somebody about a medical prescription.'

As of Monday morning Musk has not responded to the release of the interview, however several commentators have waded in to condemn Lemon's approach to the interrogation.

'The Don Lemon interview is the worst piece of media I've ever seen,' said commentator Benny Johnson. 'Nothing else even comes close. Offensive to the eyes & intellect... Oh this is painful.'

Others noted the seemingly low viewership numbers that the show received in the hours after it was shared, drawing just over 80,000 views in five hours. In comparison, Tucker Carlson's first X show drew a total of 120 million views.

Conservative pundit Liz Wheeler criticized the questioning over Musk's drug use, saying: 'My jaw dropped. Don Lemon had the AUDACITY to ask Elon Musk what doctors prescribe him medication for Kudos to Elon for handling that INSANELY rude question with class.'

Drug Use

As the topic fell on Musk's private life, he brushed off claims he is a heavy partier and seemed to try and direct the conversation back towards his work.

'I think anyone who smokes pot can tell I don't know how to smoke pot,' he said, adding his infamous toke on the Joe Rogan podcast in 2018 was just 'one puff.'

Musk has previously hailed the benefits of ketamine use for treating depression, and told Lemon that those that are struggling with their mental health should 'talk to their doctor about ketamine instead of SSRI's.'

'There are times when I have a negative chemical state in my brain, like depression I guess, or depression that's not linked to any negative news, and ketamine is helpful for getting one out of a negative frame of mind,' he added.

When asked if he has ever 'abused' the tranquilizing drug, Musk continued: 'I don't think so... if you use too much ketamine you can't really get work done, and I have a lot of work.'

'It's a prescription from a real doctor, not a, you know...' he added, as the conversation stalled and became awkward.

'Putting in 16-hour days, that's normal for me, and it's rare for me to even take off a weekend day, so I don't really have a situation where I can be not mentally acute for an extended period of time.

'I can't really get wasted.'

Musk noted that he will take a 'small amount' of ketamine every other week on average, and often 'there will be several weeks go by that I don't use it.'

Musk said that his infamous weed smoking on the Joe Rogan was just 'one puff', and 'anyone who smokes pot can tell I don't know how to smoke pot'

Cancelled show

The show's release on Monday comes a week after Lemon's comeback was rocked before the interview was ever published, as he claimed Musk axed their deal in response to Lemon's line of questioning.

On X, Musk countered that he decided to end 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, referencing Lemon's ex-CNN boss.

A source added to the New York Post that Musk was 'underwhelmed' at the end of the interview, and canned it after 'realizing how bad it was.'

The two have since traded barbs online in the week since, as Musk branded Lemon a 'pompous fool' while Lemon challenged him to 'actually watch it.'

Allegations also emerged that Lemon had made a number of demands in his X contract, which included a Tesla Cybertruck, an equity stake in X and a $5 million upfront bonus.

Much of the interview centered on Lemon asking Musk about his private life and allegations that have been made against him, including at one point directly asking him: 'Do you suffer from depression?'

'I ask as someone who has suffered from depression,' Lemon said in an attempt to qualify the question.

'I wouldn't say that I have a case of extended depression, it's just once in a while I get into a negative chemical mind state,' Musk responded.

The two also failed to agree on the facts in Lemon's questioning, as when Lemon claimed that hate speech has increased since Musk bought X, he replied: 'That is false.'

The two have since traded barbs online in the week since the show's deal was canned, as Musk branded Lemon a 'pompous fool' while Lemon challenged him to 'actually watch it'

Racism and DEI

Musk has courted controversy since buying Twitter, now X, in April 2022, and has used it as a platform to take on 'woke' issues including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in corporate America.

He argued that 'trying to make everything a race issue is divisive or corrosive to society', and felt that race is given too much importance in the minds of many.

'I think we should not make this a constant subject I think we need to move on. I think we need to treat people as people,' he continued.

'But I think we want to look to the future rather than the past. Because if you look at history everyone was a slave. We are all descended from slaves, it's just a question of whether it was less recently or more recently.'

Musk argued that DEI lowers standards, using the example of surgeons to claim that if they received their job through DEI, they may be more likely to make a medical mistake.

Lemon then interrupted that there was 'no evidence of that', leading to a tense moment as Musk repeated, 'I think there is' while Lemon insisted there wasn't.

'They literally lowered the standards at Duke University... are you saying they didn't?' Musk said. 'I believe that is a false statement you're making.'

Lemon claimed Musk was 'insulting' him with his views on race, which Musk angrily responded to as he claimed the ex-CNN host was 'putting words in my mouth'

Musk grew irate as Lemon repeated that he was citing a 'hypothetical' scenario where a surgeon kills a patient as a result of DEI, angrily responding: 'I didn't say it was happening, I said it will!'

'Do you believe that women and minority pilots are inherently less intelligent and less skilled than white pilots?' Lemon asked, again angering Musk as he responded with a quick 'no.'

'I'm just saying we should not lower the standards for them,' he said, challenging Lemon to read replies on X for 'all the evidence' that standards are lower under DEI.

Lemon claimed that Musk was 'insulting' him as he implied that Musk was arguing that he hadn't been discriminated against in his life, which the Tesla chief batted off and insisted that wasn't what he was saying.

'You keep putting words in my mouth,' he responded.

'I'm saying that we as a country should move beyond questions of race and gender, and we should treat people as individuals.'

The interview also fell on Musk's past comments on transgender rights. His daughter Vivian, formerly Xavier (far right, seen as a six-year-old in 2010), came out as transgender several years ago, and has said she no longer wants to be 'related to (Musk) in any way, shape or form'

Trans Rights

Lemon also took aim at Musk's past remarks on trans rights, bringing up an old tweet where Musk said that having pronouns in your bio means the 'woke mind virus ate your brain.'

Musk's daughter Vivian came out as transgender several years ago, and they appear to be estranged. When she sought a legal name change in 2022 to Vivian Jenna Wilson, she said: 'I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.'

The topic of transgender rights has since become a common theme of Musk's jokes, and Lemon said he 'writes a lot about that on the thing' - presumably meaning X.

'Do you know what the term woke actually means?' Lemon asked.

Musk countered that the term has 'come to mean a lot of things', to which Lemon cut him off by noting the original meaning was to have an understanding of 'inequities in society.'

Great Replacement Theory

Musk sparked backlash late last year after branding an anti-Semitic post about the 'Great Replacement Theory' the 'actual truth'.

The theory alleges that Jewish communities are orchestrating the reduction of white populations in Western countries by replacing them with mass immigration.

His tweet led a number of advertisers to leave X, and Musk later visited Auschwitz in an apology tour where he admitted the post was 'foolish.'

He has also claimed that Democrats push immigration to get 'more votes', a claim that Lemon took issue with in his interview as he noted that undocumented immigrants can't vote, so 'how is that possible?'

'You're conflating two things,' Musk responded, as he argued that he 'doesn't subscribe' to the Great Replacement Theory.

'Immigrants have, at least from what I've read, a very strong bias to vote Democrat,' he said.

While they cannot legally vote, Musk said that censuses also count non-citizens, and the states that have higher immigration therefore receive more representation in Congress.

He cited higher numbers of illegal immigrants in California and New York, and claimed that not counting them in Congressional representation would lead Democrats to lose approximately 20 seats in the House.

When Musk claimed the same is true with the presidential Electoral College, Lemon responded that the Electoral College system actually mathematically helps Republicans.

In another tense exchange, Musk responded: 'I think that statement is true, but I think that what I said is also true.'

While much of the interview centered on Musk himself and his personal life, Lemon also quizzed him on the upcoming release of the new Tesla Roadster (pictured)

Tesla

While much of the interview centered on Musk himself and his personal life, Lemon also quizzed him on the upcoming release of the new Tesla Roadster.

Musk has said that deliveries of the vehicle, which has been in the works since 2017, may finally be ready for 2025, and has claimed it will be the fastest car of all time with a 0-60mph acceleration in under a second.

'Are there any kind of updates?' Lemon said, adding a jab that Tesla stock has dropped. 'What's next for the company?'

'The stock's going to go up and down, but what really matters is, are we making and delivering great products?' he replied.

'The Tesla products are outstanding,' Musk continued. 'Last year, the Tesla Model Y was the best selling car of any kind in the world.

'We launched the Cybertruck, that's obviously being very well received... So, it's a really special product.'

At the conclusion of the show, Lemon remarked that he knew Musk had to leave soon so he offered him a 'rapid fire' final question - if the billionaire would 'change anything that you've done' from any stage of his life.

'I have made many mistakes over the years,' he said. 'If I had a time machine I'd go back and fix them, but I don't have a time machine.'

Lemon closed the interview with a brief monologue saying: 'And that's it. And as Elon would say, you be the judge.

'Let me tell you something about this show. The conversation doesn't end just because the camera stops. We'll see you next time.'
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham traveled to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the U.S. grapples over sending additional military aid to the war-torn country.

Zelensky posted a video about hosting the South Carolina senator on Monday in which the Ukrainian leader said they discussed comprehensive assistance for Ukraine.

'I informed Senator Graham of the frontline situation and our army's priority needs,' Zelensky wrote. 'It is critical that our partners continue to provide military and technical assistance, such as air defense systems and missiles.'

The Republican senator's visit comes as the Biden administration has been putting pressure on the House to approve $60 billion in supplemental aid which has already passed in the Senate.

Graham, despite his visit to Ukraine, voted against that package.

'The continued support of Ukraine by international partners, particularly the United States, is now more important than ever in implementing plans to de-occupy our territories and protect our people. Democracy and freedom must prevailnow and always,' Zelensky wrote in a post accompanied by a video of his meeting with Graham.

'We'll talk about all of the above' Graham said in the video. 'Before we say anything, I just admire what you and your people have been able to do for two years.'

'I remember we were told Kyiv would fall in four weeks. You're still here. Still fighting,' he added.

Following the visit, Graham released a statement in which he called the meeting 'very productive' and reiterated that he supports former President Trump's idea of 'turning aid from the United States into a no-interest, waivable loan' as the 'most likely path forward.'

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on March 18, 2024

Sen. Graham's visit comes after he voted against the latest supplemental aid package to allies including $60 billion for Ukraine. The aid passed in the Senate but has been held up by Republicans n the House

Last week, the White House announced the U.S. was preparing to send another $300 million military aide package to Ukraine despite House Republicans failing to move on aid in Congress.

The additional support is instead paid for from savings from previously negotiated weapons contracts. The package includes anti-aircraft missiles, ammunition artillery rounds, anti-armor systems and more.

But administration officials have emphasized the additional aid does not replace the need for the security package on the hill.

The House has not passed a Senate-passed $95 billion security package that bolsters aid for Ukraine, Israel as well as the Indo-Pacific.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson had resisted putting up the bill up for a vote as many in his conservative wing oppose sending Ukraine any more funding.

But late last week at the House GOP retreat, Johnson said he does expect to hold a standalone vote on Israel and Ukraine aid.

While Johnson acknowledged the urgency for funding, he said the House would not work through foreign aid until the government funding fight over the 2024 fiscal year is done. His office did not have details yet on a timeline.

Johnson revealed that he expects the House to hold a standalone vote on Israel and Ukraine aid as pressure builds from the Senate after it passed foreign aid package last month

A local resident collects belongings in the ruins of a destroyed house on the outskirts of Makiivka (Makeyevka) in the Donetsk region of Ukraine as the Pentagon has found a work around to send more weapons to the war-torn country

It comes as the White House recently warned Ukrainian soldiers are running out of ammunition as they fight Russian forces in the war that has now raged for two years since Russia's invasion.

The U.S. believes that without additional American military support, 'countless lives' will be lost this year, the Washington Post reported.

The lack of a supplemental could overtime potentially lead to Ukraine's collapse a senior U.S. official told the Post.

Graham had been a vocal supporter for aid to Ukraine and has visited the war-torn country multiple times.

But he suddenly reversed course when the aid package came before the Senate for a vote last month and voted against it.

Graham said that he had spoken to former President Trump about the package and the ex-president was against it.

In a statement at the time, Graham also said the U.S. needed to deal with the U.S. border first and the aid package should be a loan as Trump had suggested.

The United States has provided roughly $75 billion in aid to Ukraine since the beginning of 2022 including more than $46 million in military aid as well as other financial and humanitarian assistance.

During the meeting with Graham, Zelensky thanked the United States for its two years of support from Congress but said his country is now in a 'very challenging period.'

Graham told Zelensky in the video Russian President Vladimir Putin will go down in history 'the way all the people like Putin go down in history, just a matter of time.'
Health minister urges medical professors to persuade trainee doctors to return to hospitals

By Jun Ji-hye

Both the government and doctors are showing subtle changes to their positions amid the protracted confrontation over the medical school quota hike policy, raising cautious expectations that a breakthrough in the ongoing health care standoff caused by the nationwide walkout of trainee doctors could be reached in the near future.

The presidential office said Monday that the government is open to dialogue with doctors regarding the policy, while the head of the medical school professors association offered an official apology to the public for having caused significant medical service disruptions.

Their comments raised the possibility  and hopes  that the both sides could take a step back and make a concession in any form, at a time when over 10,000 trainee doctors, comprising interns and resident doctors, have embarked on a mass resignation for about a month to protest the governments plan to add 2,000 more slots to enrollment quotas at medical schools starting next year.

The current admissions quotas of the 40 medical schools in Korea are set at a total of 3,058.

During a radio interview, Jang Sang-yoon, senior presidential secretary for social policy, said the government is open to dialogue at any time to discuss the matter with doctors. When asked about the need to make even a little change to the governments position over adding the 2,000 slots, he said, We are open to that agenda.

Jangs comments were considered a subtle change in tone, given that the government has so far stressed that boosting the medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 is a minimum necessary measure aimed at addressing a shortage of doctors with no room for negotiation or compromise.

Jang said, however, that the government will continue trying to persuade doctors by providing scientific and logical evidence justifying its decision to raise the quota.

On the same day, Bang Jae-seung, chief of the emergency committee of medical school professors, made an apology to the public for the disruptions to medical services, as the ongoing government-doctor conflicts have resulted in postponement or rescheduling of surgeries and other medical procedures.

The apology came just two days after the medical professors group announced a decision to submit resignations en masse starting next Monday in a collective action to put further pressure on the government.

I could feel the anger of the public when I read comments posted to news articles or YouTube videos, Bang said. Without the people, doctors will not exist, either. I will promote communication to listen to the difficulties experienced by the public.

Bang offered an apology to trainee doctors, too, for leaving them suffering from excessive working hours in the name of education and training.

I didnt have a critical opinion about that as I learned things under the same environment. As a teacher, I sincerely apologize, he said.

Bang stressed that professors decision to tender resignations was a last resort to pressure the government to find a breakthrough and trainee doctors to return to work, as the ongoing situation should be resolved before April to prevent the real collapse of the medical system.

Since the government announced on Feb. 6 its decision to hike the medical school quota, over 90 percent of the countrys 13,000 trainee doctors have walked off the job, claiming that the policy will compromise the quality of medical training and education.

The professors threat of mass resignation added fuel to the already mounting concerns that medical professionals, such as nurses, who have maintained their duties filling the vacuum left by protesting trainee doctors, have reached their physical and emotional limits.

Doctors who operate local clinics are also moving to join the collective action by reducing consultation hours at night and during weekends, while nearly 8,000 medical students, about 40 percent of the total, have applied for a leave of absence in protest.

Amid growing concerns, President Yoon Suk Yeol met with doctors at Asan Medical Center in Seoul and asked veteran physicians to trust the government, engage in dialogue and persuade striking trainee doctors to return to work. This marked the president's first visit to a hospital since the trainee doctors' walkout began about a month ago.

"I assure you, there will be no compromise in the quality of medical services," Yoon said. "I ask you to stop adhering to the position that doctors cannot engage in any dialogue unless the government adjusts the number of new slots in the enrollment quota, and persuade your juniors by emphasizing the importance of the future."

Later in the day, Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong met with the heads of the countrys top five hospitals  Seoul National University Hospital, Asan Medical Center, Samsung Medical Center, Severance Hospital and Seoul St. Marys Hospital.

During the meeting, the health ministry once again urged the heads of the hospitals to make comprehensive preparations to avoid any delays in surgeries and other medical treatments for patients in critical or emergency condition.

"The government will also take necessary measures to ensure the continued operation of the emergency health care system," Cho said.
King, the mother of a young boy herself, is accused of bribing the victim to keep him quiet about the abuse

She sent the boy lewd photos and instructed him to delete her messages

Lauren Angelica King, 32, is accused of abusing a student at Royal Palm Exceptional Center in Fort Myers

A Florida teacher is accused of sexually abusing a 12-year-old student and buying his silence with expensive gifts.

Lauren Angelica King, 32, was arrested March 7 and charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior after sending sexually-charged text messages to a student who she later assaulted.

Before her arrest, the mother of one worked as an Instruction Support Employee at Royal Palm Exceptional Center in Fort Myers, Florida.

According to court documents, King began texting the victim on January 28, giving him her number and instructing him to delete the conversations between them.

Over 4,000 messages were exchanged over a one-month span, police said. Contained within those texts were nude photos and a video of King performing a sex act, police said.

Lauren Angelica King, 32, was arrested and charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior after sending sexually-charged text messages to a student

King, a mother of a young boy, worked as an Instruction Support Employee at Royal Palm Exceptional Center in Fort Myers, Florida, prior to her arrest

She is accused of exchanging thousands of text messages with a 12-year-old student and buying him expensive gifts

King also allegedly asked the student what he wanted for his birthday and promised to bring him money. She later met with him outside school hours and had sex with him in a car outside an apartment complex, police said.

To keep him from speaking up about the abuse, King bribed the child by sending him $235 for his birthday in addition to food and a sweatshirt, authorities said. She showered him in expensive gifts including an iPhone, Beats headphones and a computer.

King also tried to make the boy jealous, telling him she was having sex with other students, documents claims.

The 12-year-old told his family what happened and they reached out to Fort Myers Police on March 3.

Authorities say a relative also called King after finding the boy texting her. She told the family 'she would quit and leave the area' within a week.

The student told investigators King inappropriately touched him in the classroom, and she allegedly told the student they would both get in trouble if anyone found out.

She also said, 'if they ever go through your phone, you're getting arrested,' according to court documents.

The 32-year-old was placed on administrative leave when the allegations came to light. As of Friday, the Lee County School District said King was no longer employed.

King allegedly met with the student outside of school hours and had sex in the back of a car

The student told investigators King inappropriately touched him in the classroom, and she allegedly told the student they would both get in trouble if anyone found out

During her court appearance on March 8, a judge implied that there may be other victims, stating that the abuse was not an isolated incident

The 32-year-old was placed on administrative leave pending the results of an internal investigation and no longer works for the Lee County School District

Speaking to Fox 4, the victim's father said he suspects his son 'feels like he let us down.'

'But he really doesnt understand the severity of whats going on here,' the father continued.

'Its hurtful that I send my child to school and these people that are put into position of authority, that I trust to watch over my children, they return them back to me like this.'

In a statement, Lee County Public Schools said it did not 'tolerate the alleged behavior' and noted that King was 'immediately removed from the school when the allegations were reported pending the outcome of an investigation.'

King was arrested at Enclave Apartments off Central Avenue and taken to the Lee County Jail, where she is being held on a $350,000 bond.

During her court appearance on March 8, the judge overseeing the case raised the possibility of other victims coming forward, claiming it was not an isolated incident.

Faudlin Pierre, a lawyer representing the boys family, issued a statement decrying the district for failing to protect its students.

'The school district of Lee County failed systemically. Schools should be sanctuaries where children feel safe, yet this district allowed a child predator to infiltrate our most vulnerable spaces,' the statement read.

'This predator targeted our client, and it was only due to his vigilant parents that she was stopped. The school district bears responsibility for allowing such a dangerous individual near our children.

'The arrest of Ms. King serves as a grave indictment against the district, and it must own up to its critical failure in safeguarding our students.'

If the 32-year-old bonds out, she will be required to wear a GPS monitor and will be placed under house arrest. She is forbidden from contacting anyone under 18 years old and can only leave her home for court or attorney appointments.

King is expected back in court on April 8.
The Kennedy family showed their Irish green for Joe Biden in back-to-back events at the White House in a snub to their fellow family member Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is making an independent bid for president.

Nearly the whole clan joined the president for a St. Patrick's Day celebration on Sunday, splashing a picture with Biden across social media, and Maria Shriver led the charge for the president at an event on women's health on Monday.

Many Democrats fret RFK Jr.'s bid could hurt Biden in crucial battleground states in November, taking votes away from the president and handing a victory to Donald Trump. The Kennedy clan has made it clear they do not support their family member, calling RFK Jr.'s bid's 'dangerous.'

Maria Shriver joined President Joe Biden at the White House on Monday for his signing of a new executive order on women's health

Many members of the Kennedy clan joined President Joe Biden at the White House on Sunday for St. Patrick's Day - and splashed the above photo across social media

Maria Shriver praised Biden repeatedly on Monday for his commitment to women's health.

And, while she didn't mention Trump by name, it was clear whom she was referring to when she said: 'This is an undertaking that could only be put into a motion by a president who respects women sees women who understands women and who want the best for women who wants us all to achieve our highest potential.'

Shriver was on hand for Biden's signing of an executive order for more government funding that focuses on women's health, spending $200 million next year to better understand issues including reproductive challenges and midlife conditions like menopause.

She has worked with Jill Biden on women's health issues. Vice President Kamala Harris was also on hand for the ceremony.

'This is the first time a President of the United States has ever signed an executive order that mentions the word menopause,' Shriver joked to much applause.

Biden, for his part, basked in the glory of the prominent Irish-American family from Boston.

'Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day here at the White House and today is Women's History Month - two of the best days of the year back to back,' he said on Monday.

And he praised the women on stage with him: 'I'm smart enough to know when you have Jill, Kamala and Maria - some is the most smartest accomplished women in the room you should hush up as my mother says.'

Many more Kennedys were on hand Sunday when Biden celebrated St. Patrick's Day. Kerry Kennedy - one of RFK Jr.'s sisters - posted a picture of the family on X. It was taken on the White House colonnade and the president is front and center.

'It's not enough to wish the world were better, you must make the world better,' she wrote. 'President Biden, you make the world better.'

Biden responded: 'From one proud Irish family to another  it was good to have you all back at the White House.'

Many other family members shared the photo, including Joe Kennedy III, who serves as Biden's envoy to Northern Ireland.

'Small family gathering this afternoon!,' he wrote.

Many Kennedy family members have disavowed RFK Jr. for his skepticism about vaccines and talked of conspiracy theories.

Many Kennedy family members have disavowed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his skepticism about vaccines and talked of conspiracy theories.

President Joe Biden gives first lady Jill Biden a kiss

Jill Biden and Maria Shriver watched President Joe Biden sign the executive order

At his event on Monday, Biden focused on women's issues, a group his campaign is courting as he makes a bid for a second term.

The White House called the new executive order the 'most comprehensive' action by a president on women's health research.

First lady Jill Biden is leading both the effort to mobilize female voters and the White House Initiative on Womens Health Research.

'Joe is the first president to make investing in women's health research, investing in your health - in our health - a top priority for the White House,' she said. 'On behalf of all of us - Thank you Joe.'

Women make up half the population but their health has been long been understudied. It wasn't until the 1990s that the federal government mandated women be included in federally funded medical research.

Biden's order comes at a time women's health issues dominate the news: after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a series of anti-abortion laws were signed into law in several states.

And, as a part of a ripple effect of that ruling, other women's reproductive issues have come under fire. In Alabama, for instance, the future of IVF was thrown into question statewide after a judge's ruling.

Democrats see the attacks on women's health as a way to rally this important voting bloc to the president come November.

'There is so much at stake at this moment and we each face a question, what kind of country do we want to live in. Do we want to live in a country of liberty, freedom and the rule of law or a country of disorder, fear and hate? Each of us has the power to answer that question with our feet and with our vote,' Harris said on Monday.

Women were a critical part of Biden's winning electorate in 2020, giving him 55% of their vote.

Black women and suburban women were the cornerstones of Biden's support while Donald Trump had a modest advantage among white women and a bigger share of white women without college degrees.

Jill Biden has taken the lead in courting female voters for her husband and attacking Trump for his support of anti-abortion laws.

Biden's order will push federal agencies to use federal funds to research health conditions and diseases that disproportionately affect women.

As part of it, the National Institutes of Health will increase by 50 percent investments in small businesses focused on women's health. The Defense Department also plans to invest $10 million to learn more about cancers and mental health issues affecting women in active military service.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly of Northen Ireland meeting with President Joe Biden and Joseph Kennedy at the White House

NIH is also launching a new effort around menopause and the treatment of menopausal symptoms that will identify research gaps and work to close them, said White House adviser Jennifer Klein.

In his State of the Union address Biden called on Congress to provide $12 billion for women's health initiatives.

'Women are more than half of our population but research on women's health has always been underfunded,' Biden said at the time.

In November, Biden put first lady Jill Biden in charge of his Women's Health Initiative, signing the order in an Oval Office ceremony.

The first lady announced $100 million in funding last month for women's health.
A group of Florida lawmakers is calling on the Biden administration to authorize the Navy to patrol the waters off the U.S. coast in anticipation of a 'mass migration' from Haiti.

GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, together with Republicans Anna Paulina Luna and Daniel Webster, urged President Biden 'an anticipated mass migration from Haiti aliens en route to the United States' through Florida, which would then grant the Navy authorization to 'conduct maritime interdictions and repatriation of Haitians.'

According to U.S. code, when the president declares a national emergency the Navy can assist the Coast Guard in sending migrants back to their home country before they reach U.S. soil.

GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, together with Republicans Anna Paulina Luna and Daniel Webster, urged President Biden 'an anticipated mass migration from Haiti aliens en route to the United States' through Florida, which would then grant the Navy authorization to 'conduct maritime interdictions and repatriation of Haitians'

'What are we doing to prepare for that wave, and to ensure that these people are not paroled into the United States, as the administration has done with people on the southern border, but instead, are repatriated back at the dock at Port au Prince?' Gaetz asked during an Armed Services hearing last week.

Rebecca Zimmerman, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, said the U.S. is not yet seeing 'large numbers' of Haitians trying to cross into Florida from its coasts, but 'we are alert to that possibility.'

'I think youre right, that the driving conditions in Haiti could very well press more people,' she went on.

Gaetz said he's spoken with the Coast Guard and what they need is more naval vessels to back them up.

Haiti is about 600 miles southeast of Miami, and boats of immigrants fleeing the country are commonplace in Florida.

The ongoing violence in Haiti, where gangs control around 80 percent of the nation's capital of Port-au-Prince, has left around half the population, around 5.5 million people, in dire need of humanitarian assistance, according to the U.N.

People who were detained for deportation to Haiti stand inside a police truck on the border bridge that connects Dajabon, Dominican Republic with Haiti, Monday, March 18, 2024

People who were detained for deportation to Haiti stand inside a police truck on the border bridge that connects Dajabon, Dominican Republic with Haiti, Monday, March 18, 2024

The United Nations children's agency chief said the situation in Haiti is the 'worst in decades' as millions face famine amid the swell of looting and violence.

Seven bodies were reportedly found in Petion Ville in the Ouest Department of Haiti on Monday after an overnight shooting.

UNICEF said one of its containers holding 'essential items for maternal, neonatal, and child survival, including resuscitators and related equipment' was looted in the capital of Port-au-Prince's main port on Saturday.

The unrest has further cut some of the country's most vulnerable from basic supplies, coming 'at a critical moment when children need them the most,' the agency said.

That same day, the Guatemala's Foreign Ministry said the offices of its honorary consul in Haiti was ransacked, but didn't give any details of damage or thefts, nor did it say who was responsible.

A body lies inside a taxi, left, and another on the ground behind, after an overnight shooting in the Petion Ville neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, March 18, 2024

'It's like a scene out of Mad Max. Honestly, that's what it seems like.

'Gangs, vigilantes responding to the gangs,' UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell told CBS News.

'Many, many people there are suffering from serious hunger and malnutrition and we're not able to get enough aid to them.'

Gangs have raged through Haiti in recent weeks, attacking key institutions and shutting down the main international airport. The gangs, led by a man nicknamed 'Barbeque' have risen to power without clear leadership in the country and the prime minister's resignation.

Approximately 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 said.

'Haiti is facing a protractive and mass hunger,' Jean-Martin Bauer, Haiti director for the United Nations' World Food Program, told The Associated Press.

'We have supplies for weeks. Im saying weeks, not months, that has me terrified.'

The country's top gang leader Jimmy 'Barbeque' Cherizier has threatened the families of political leaders who would support a planned transition council replacing outgoing PM Ariel Henry.

A man throws garbage next to the body of a murdered person, in Port-au-Prince on Friday

Looting and overall violence has further cut some of the country's most vulnerable from basic supplies

Gangs have raged through Haiti in recent weeks, attacking key institutions and shutting down the main international airport

Haiti Libre reported the Haitian National Police raided Barbeque's territory on Friday as part of a strategy to unblock roads, seize firearms and facilitate the free movement of citizens.

More anti-terrorism U.S. Marines have been dispatched to Haiti to beef up security at the American embassy 24 hours after the country's prime minister announced his resignation amid mounting chaos.

The elite Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (F.A.S.T) was sent in as bedlam continued and after top gang leader Jimmy 'Barbecue' Cherizier called for a 'bloody revolution'.

Ariel Henry stepped down as prime minister on Tuesday as the Caribbean nation was pushed to the brink of civil war and bodies were left strewn in the streets.
Vladimir Putin hailed the 'return' to Russia of annexed Ukrainian territories at a concert in Red Square today after winning a presidential election slammed by a watchdog as the most fraudulent and corrupt in the country's history.

The annexation of the Black Sea peninsula Crimea in 2014 was a precursor to Moscow's seizure of four other Ukraine regions in 2022 that it has declared parts of Russia, in actions condemned as illegal by most countries at the United Nations.

Putin told the large, flag-waving crowd in Moscow today that the 'return' of those other regions to Russia had turned out to be 'much more grave and tragic' than Crimea's, but it had been accomplished.

The ex-spy won over 87 percent of the vote in a three-day ballot which included voting in parts of Ukraine held by Russian forces.

But an independent Russian vote monitoring group said that the presidential election that Putin won was the most fraudulent and corrupt in the country's history.

Vladimir Putin (pictured) hailed the 'return' to Russia of annexed Ukrainian territories at a concert on Red Square today after winning a presidential election slammed by a watchdog as the most fraudulent and corrupt in the country's history

Law enforcement officers stand guard in front of spectators during a rally, which marks the 10th anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, March 18

Participants perform on the stage during a concert, which marks the 10th anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, March 18

People attend a rally, which marks the 10th anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, March 18

Two years after Putin launched what he calls his 'special military operation', Russia has not fully captured the four regions in Ukraine, but voting in Russia's three-day presidential election that ended on Sunday was held in the parts of Ukraine that its forces control. Ukraine said the exercise was illegal and void.

Putin said officials had reported early on Monday that rail links had been restored from Rostov in southern Russia to the Russian-controlled cities of Donetsk, Mariupol and Berdyansk, and further upgrades would follow.

Putin's victory is widely expected to further tighten his grip on Russia, where dissent is no longer tolerated under fast-accelerating repression.

Moscow has presented last weekend's presidential election as proof that Russians have rallied around Putin more than two years into the Ukraine offensive.

In power since the last day of 1999, Putin is now on course to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than two centuries.

'Hand in hand, we will move forward and this will make us stronger... Long live Russia,' Putin told the crowd attending the pop concert to mark 10 years since Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Putin boasted of a new rail link in areas of Ukraine captured by Russian forces, saying those regions had 'declared their desire to return to their native family'.

He appeared at the concert alongside the three candidates who ran against him after hosting them at a Kremlin meeting in which they all congratulated him.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin's victory showed Russians were consolidating 'around his path', calling it 'an exceptionally perfect result'.

All of the 71-year-old's major opponents are dead, in prison or in exile and voting took place a month after Putin's main challenger Alexei Navalny died in prison.

Authorities had called on Russians to take part in the vote out of patriotic duty.

The three-day vote - also held in occupied Ukraine - was marred by spoiled ballots and Ukrainian bombardments.

Dancers in mainly white outfits were among performers at a concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea at the Red Square in Moscow on March 18

'Hand in hand, we will move forward and this will make us stronger... Long live Russia,' Putin told the crowd attending a pop concert to mark 10 years since Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine

People attend a rally, which marks the 10th anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, March 18

People attend a rally, which marks the 10th anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, March 18

Law enforcement officers stand guard outside the Kremlin during a rally and a concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea held at Red Square, in Moscow on March 18

Russian incumbent President Vladimir Putin, who was declared winner of the presidential election by the country's electoral commission, and defeated candidates Nikolai Kharitonov, Vladislav Davankov and Leonid Slutsky in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, March 18

Thousands gathered on Red Square to celebrate Putin's election victory and to mark ten years since Russia annexed Crimea

Putin appeared cheerful as he spoke to the crowd at the concert marking the 10th anniversary of Crimea's reunification with Russia at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, March 18

People attend a rally in Berlin, near the Russian embassy where voters lined up to cast their ballots in the Russia's presidential election

Vladimir Putin speaks at a press conference at his campaign headquarters after being named the winner of the Russian election

Vladimir Putin attends a meeting of trusted advisers and campaign workers after claiming victory in the Russian presidential election

Thousands responded to the opposition's call to protest the election by forming long queues at polling stations - both inside and outside Russia.

Yulia Navalnaya - who has vowed to continue her late husband Alexei's work - queued with crowds in Berlin Sunday and said she had written his name on her ballot paper.

Moscow had warned Russians not to take part in the protests and on Monday dismissed the opposition.

'There are many people who... have completely broken away from the motherland,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

'Yulia Navalnaya, whom you mentioned, belongs to this group of people who lose their roots,' he added.

Moscow has regularly blasted the hundreds of thousands of Russians who fled their country in the aftermath of the Ukraine offensive as traitors.

Ballots were also spoiled by green dye and there were several incidents of voting booths being set on fire.

Putin on Sunday warned that Russians who spoiled their ballots 'have to be dealt with' and dismissed opposition protests as having 'no effect'.

Calling such people 'scumbags,' Russia's election chief warned those who tried to disrupt voting would face five years in jail, and former president Dmitry Medvedev said they could be charged with treason.

At least 74 people were arrested across Russia on Sunday's final day of voting, according to rights group OVD-Info.

Putin on Sunday also said Navalny's name for the first time in public - breaking his years-long tradition of never referring to his opponent by name.

It was the first time he had commented on Navalny's death in prison on February 16th.

Putin said that he had green-lighted an initiative for a prisoner swap including Navalny for Russians held in Western jails - confirming allegations made by Navalny's team.

'I agreed on one condition: for us to exchange him and for him not to return,' Putin said. He said Navalny died days later. 'But this happens. There is nothing that you can do about it. That's life.'

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, talks to a woman during a rally near the Russian embassy in Berlin

Navalny's allies broadcast videos on YouTube of lines of people queuing up at different polling stations across Russia at midday

The Kremlin casts Navalny's political allies - most of whom are based outside Russia - as dangerous extremists out to destabilise the country on behalf of the West

An effigy of Russian President Vladimir Putin bathing in a bath of blood is seen at a rally in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin on the final day of voting for the 2024 election

Protests took place outside the Russian embassy in London earlier on Sunday before the polls closed

The queue for Russians wanting to vote at the Russian embassy in London went far down Bayswater Road, just north of Hyde Park

He did not say how Navalny died. Navalny's team alleges that he was killed on the eve of a prisoner swap. Navalny is the latest Putin opponent to die in mysterious circumstances.

The Kremlin said Putin held phone calls with his ex-Soviet allies in Central Asia, Belarus and Azerbaijan after the vote.

He also received congratulations from countries such as China, North Korea, Venezuela and Myanmar, Russian state media said.

But the result was met with scathing statements from Western leaders - in contrast with the previous four elections Putin has won since 2000.

'This election has been based on repression and intimidation,' the EU's foreign minister Josep Borrell said.

The UK also slammed the vote as unfair.

'Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy,' Britain's foreign minister David Cameron said in a statement.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin was a 'dictator' who wanted to 'rule forever.'

Election watchdog Golos (Voice) said the election could not be considered genuine because 'the campaign took place in a situation where the fundamental articles of the Russian Constitution, guaranteeing political rights and freedoms, were essentially not in effect'.

'Never before have we seen a presidential campaign that fell so far short of constitutional standards,' the group said in a statement.

The Kremlin on Monday hailed the result, on a record turnout of 77.4 per cent, as showing that the Russian people had 'consolidated' around Putin. It said Western attempts to portray the election as illegitimate were absurd.

The United States, Germany, and others have said the vote was neither free nor fair due to the imprisonment of political opponents and censorship.

Founded in 2000, Golos is the only Russian electoral watchdog independent of the authorities. Branded a 'foreign agent' in 2013, it was barred from sending observers to polling stations.

One of its leaders, Grigory Melkonyants, is in prison awaiting trial on what Golos says are politicised charges.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky led the world condemnation of Putin's crushing victory saying the Russian despot is 'sick for power'

Foreign Secretary David Cameron joined Zelensky in dismissing the vote saying it was not what free and fair elections look like

Russia's electoral commission said the vote took place under proper scrutiny. It said there were a third of a million Russian observers, nominated by candidates, parties and social organisations, as well as hundreds from abroad.

But Golos said candidates and parties had refrained from sending observers in some regions. In others, observers were withdrawn after voting commenced, it said.

'In private conversations, representatives of candidates and parties admitted that this was done under pressure,' Golos said.

Other 'undesirable' observers were removed from polling stations and given summonses to appear at military registration offices during the voting period, while others were detained and searched, it added.

Golos said examples of voter intimidation included the presence of law enforcement officers in polling stations and reports that officers peered over voters' shoulders to read their ballots.

One officer at a polling site in the Moscow region 'snatched the completed ballot from one voter's hand and checked who she voted for', the group said.

Officers at another Moscow site demanded a local electoral official open a sealed ballot box and hand over one of the slips, Golos said.

These incidents could not be independently verified.
Nearly two dozen artifacts that were looted following the Battle of Okinawa in World War II have been returned to Japan after a family from Massachusetts discovered them in their late father's personal items.

Many of the artifacts recovered depict Okinawan royalty, which indicated that the pieces were stolen in the final days of World War II, according to the FBI.

In January 2023, the family contacted the FBI Boston Field Office when they discovered the antiques in the attic of their deceased father, who was a World War II veteran but never served in the Pacific Theater.

'They came across some what appeared to be very valuable Asian art. There were some scrolls, there were some pottery pieces, there was an ancient map,' Special Agent Geoffrey J. Kelly said.

'They looked old and valuable. And because of this, they did a little research and they determined that at least the scrolls had been entered about 20 years ago in the FBI's National Stolen Art File.'

More than 20 artifacts that were looted following the Battle of Okinawa in World War II have been returned to Japan including this tapestry that depicts Okinawan royalty

A hand drawn map of Okinawa dating to the 19th century was one of the items recovered

In January 2023, a Massachusetts family contacted the FBI Boston Field Office when they discovered the antiques in the attic of their deceased father

The National Stolen Art File is a database for stolen art in the U.S. and abroad that is available to the public to help identify items of stolen art, antiquities and other items.

Important documents and treasures of the Ryukyu Kingdom were taken during the World War II Battle of Okinawa, and In 2001 the Prefectural Board of Education in Japan registered many of these missing articles with the National Stolen Art File, according to the FBI.

The 22 items found in Massachusetts include six painted scrolls from the 18th-19th centuries - three of which were one piece and appear to have been divided into three pieces - and a hand-drawn map of Okinawa dating back to the 19th century.

Various pieces of pottery and ceramics were also recovered including detailed plates and bowls and a turtle statue.

A typewritten letter was also found with the artifacts in Massachusetts that helped confirm they were looted during the last days of World War II.

The scrolls were unfurled for the first time in many years after the FBI transported the artifacts from Massachusetts to Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., and revealed portraits of Okinawan royalty in vivid reds, golds, and blue accents.

Various pieces of pottery and ceramics were also recovered including detailed plates and bowls and a turtle statue

The 22 items found in Massachusetts included this vase and six painted scrolls from the 18th-19th centuries, three of which were one piece and appear to have been divided into three pieces

A typewritten letter was also found with the artifacts in Massachusetts that helped confirm they were looted during the last days of World War II

'When taken together, they really represent a substantial piece of Okinawan history,' said Kelly.

'It's an exciting moment when you when you watch the scroll unfurl in front of you. You witness history, and you witness something that hasn't been seen by many people in a very long time.'

Denny Tamaki, the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture, announced the return of the artifacts on March 15.

'This case highlights the important role the public plays in recognizing and reporting possible stolen art,' said Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of FBI Boston.

'We'd 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 Japan.'
North Korea put on a show of force Monday firing short-range ballistic missiles into the sea for the first time in weeks as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Korea for a conference on advancing democracy.

South Korea's military reported that several missiles were fired from the capital Pyongyang at around 8am and flew about 180 miles. They landed off the east coast.

It condemned the launches as a 'clear provocation and said it was sharing information on them with the United States and Japan.

The apparent test came soon after joint U.S.-South Korea military drills and amid fears that North Korea is building missiles for export to Russia and its war in Ukraine.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula remain high, and North Korea recently condemned joint U.S.-South Korean military drills as 'reckless' and part of an invasion plot.

People in South Korea watch television coverage of North Korean missile launches. The apparent tests were condemned by the U.S., Japan, and South Korea

In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center left, and his daughter inspect training of the Korean People's Army airborne units in North Korea Friday, March 15, 2024

The U.S. State Department also weighed in on the launches by the secretive regime of Kim Jong Un Monday, saying they violated several United Nations Security Council resolutions as well as posing a threat to the region.

Japan's defense ministry said three missiles were launched and traveled with a maximum altitude of about 30 miles.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned the launches after his country's coast guard also reported the firing of what it said appeared to be a ballistic missile and specified that it had already ended its flight.

South Korea's Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said the North has been testing a new type of short-range missile in recent weeks amid fears they were being made for Russia.

'It is unclear whether the missiles are for frontline reinforcement or exports to Russia,' he told a news conference.

'But there is a significant possibility that they were making final performance checks before exporting them to Russia.'

North Korean leader Kim was one of the few world leaders to send congratulations to Russian President Vladimir Putin after he claimed victory in a stage-managed election.

'I will firmly join hands with you as we meet the demands of the times to provide a new turning point for the Russian-DPRK (North Korean) friendship that has long historical roots and traditions, and push forward to build a strong nation,' he was reported to have said in a message to Putin.

Soon after the missile launch, Blinken met South Korea's president and foreign minister for talks on North Korea and the alliance between Seoul and Washington.

A South Korean K1A2 tank fires during a joint live fire exercise as part of the annual Freedom Shield joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States at a military training field in Pocheon, South Korea

Members of South Korea's Army Special Warfare Command prepare for their military training with U.S. Special Operations Command

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during the Third Summit for Democracy in Seoul

He also used the third Summit for Democracy to emphasize the need to ensure that developments in artificial intelligence and other technologies sustain democratic values.

'Revitalizing democracy will also require us to shape the technological future, that's inclusive, that's rights respecting, directed at driving progress in people's lives,' he said.

'As authoritarian and repressive regimes deploy technologies to undermine democracy and human rights, we need to ensure that technology sustains and supports democratic values and norms.'

The U.S. has about 80,000 troops in South Korea and Japan.

Two weeks ago, American and South Korean forces launched joint exercise, provoking the anger of Pyongyang.

In a statement carried by state media, the Norths Defense Ministry said it strongly denounces the reckless military drills of the U.S. and (South Korea) for getting more undisguised in their military threat to a sovereign state and attempt for invading it.
In property, location is everything and and having a room with a spectacular view can go a long way to bumping up its value.

In Cornwall, one such plot has gone on the market for just 20,000, providing its owners with picturesque views over St Michael's Mount and Mount's Bay.

However, there is one thing potential buyers should be aware of before taking the plunge on this detached property - it's a restroom.

The former Cornwall Council public toilet is part of a 0.12-acre lot at Long Rock near Penzance, and is set to be auctioned this Wednesday.

Buyers would have a long sandy beach directly in front and a view out onto St Michael's Mount a spectacular castle on the rock which dates from the 14th Century and was originally the site of a Benedictine Chapel.

The former public toilet is the cheapest seafront property in Cornwall as it goes up for auction with a guide price of 20,000

The 0.12-acre plot sits just above the beach and is 10 per cent of the price of a one-bedroom flat in Long Rock

The property boasts stunning views over St Michael's Mount and Mount's Bay on the Cornish coast

The site is less than 10 per cent of the price of a regular home in the area - a one-bedroom flat nearby without the stunning sea view is on the market for 200,000 and a two-bedroom flat with a sea view is selling for 350,000.

Senior auction appraiser Katie Semmens said: 'This is a rare and exciting opportunity to acquire this freehold detached former block of public conveniences with land to either side.

'Located in a truly spectacular position on the seafront, it boasts stunning views towards St Michael's Mount and Mount's Bay.

The auction listing describes the former public toilet as a 'rare and exciting opportunity'

The former Cornwall Council public toilet is listed as a detached property with land to either side

'Occasionally these type of properties come to auction although rarely in this type of location.

'They may offer a variety of future uses, all subject to all necessary consents.'

The online auction by Clive Emson Land and Property Auctioneers starts at 11am on Wednesday, March 20, and is lot number 76.
A husband who was beaten by his wife for two decades has found new love after his wife tormented him for years was put behind bars for her incessant campaign of cruelty.

Richard Spencer, who was subjected to violent attacks at the hands of his wife Sheree at their seven-bedroom home in Bubwith, East Yorkshire, was pictured today hand-in-hand with his new partner.

The happy couple were pictured leaving BBC Breakfast studios in Manchester after he spoke about his new tell-all documentary, My Wife, My Abuser: The Secret Footage, which is airing on Channel 5 tonight.

Richard's wife was jailed for four years last month after he secretly recorded the abuse on cameras installed to monitor their children. He handed over 43 images of his bruised face to police, taken on different dates following savage assaults'.

Explosive clips from police interviews shared by police, show Spencer casually lying about her husband being the abuser in a desperate bid to cast him as the villain - only for her face to turn ashen when she was confronted with the full audio footage.

Richard Spencer, who subject to violent attacks at the hands of his wife Sheree at their seven-bedroom home in Bubwith, East Yorkshire, was pictured today hand-in-hand with his new partner today leaving the BBC Breakfast studios in Manchester

Mr Spencer was beaten at the hands of his wife Sheree during a 20-year long campaign of terror

Sheree Spencer was jailed for four years last month after he secretly recorded the abuse on cameras installed to monitor their children

In furious wine-fuelled tirades, Spencer would call Richard 'fat boy,' 'a p***y' and 'dumb dumb' and caused bruises and scratches that he would need to cover with make-up before going outside.

In one clip, Spencer - a leading prison reformer - is seen wielding a knife in their children's room as she shouts abuse at her husband.

On another occasion she defecated on the floor and forced him to clean it up while on a third she beat him with a wine bottle so hard it permanently disfigured his ear.

When probed by officers on the nanny-cam footage that showed her clutching a 'carving knife', Spencer said she 'went to push him [Richard] back'.

The officer presses on: 'You've got a knife in your hand, what are you doing pushing him with a knife in your hand? So you must know exactly what's happening here. Could you explain that to me please?'

Spencer says: 'I wanted to give him it because he had threatened me, that he wanted to kill me, he'd rather kill me than divorce me. And I did reach for a knife - if he wants to kill me, just do it.'

Officers said Spencer went into autopilot as she explained the scenario - she was saying 'I was saying I wanted to die and I was giving Richard the knife and saying you're going to have to kill me because I can't live like this any more'.

Richard (pictured outside the BBC Breakfast studios in Manchester),was subjected to violent attacks at the hands of his wife Sheree at their seven-bedroom home in Bubwith, East Yorkshire

Spencer, 45, was jailed for four years for making her husband Richard's life a living hell with daily beatings and verbal attacks that left him cowering on the floor in a foetal position

Mr Spencer, who was subjected to verbal abuse and daily beatings from his wife, that left him cowering on the floor in a foetal position, took photos of his injuries

Spencer is heard slurring as she says to her husband: 'Shame, it takes that level of violence.'

MailOnline previously revealed that Spencer had gone to desperate lengths through the courts to try and prevent the documentary from being broadcast.

But Mr Spencer felt his harrowing experiences should be seen to raise awareness of the type of abuse men can suffer in their daily lives at the hands of violent partners but Sheree tried to block it.

He told MailOnline: 'Sheree tried to stop the documentary being broadcast in the crown court but failed, then she applied for a prohibited steps order through the family court, which luckily was rejected and thrown out at the first hearing.

'The broadcast has been delayed due to the legal challenges for about six months, but now it is finally going to be shown. I'm hopeful that the film will be well received and will make a difference.'

The hidden nanny cam gave a vital way out for battered husband Mr Spencer after he endured years of physical and verbal abuse from his wife, that left him 'broken' on the floor in a foetal position.

Mr Spencer had met his wife in a nightclub in 2000, and the pair married on a Thai beach in 2009.

After they welcomed the eldest of their three daughters in 2015, Mr Spencer installed the nanny cam so they could keep watch over her.

The husband said there were two cameras set up - one in the playroom and one in the bedroom, explaining 'they were there for reassurance, to keep an eye out because it's a big house'.

Sheree's reign of domestic terror finally ended in June 2021 when the police were called to their family home by a concerned welfare worker

Mr Spencer handed police 36 photographs he took of himself, showing cuts and bruises to his face and body

The couple met in 2000 in a nightclub and married in Thailand in 2009 before having three daughters

Hull Crown Court heard that mother-of-three Spencer had carried out most of the attacks on her husband in the family home.

Spencer worked at the highest levels for HM Prison and Probation Service and bragged to friends that she had the ear of former prime minister Boris Johnson.

She was a project manager in the department's directorate of strategy and performance.

A former friend said: 'She would brag about being only two down from the prime minister in her field and had meetings with Boris Johnson, who she spoke of as though he were a friend.

'She was bragging about her high flying career while subjecting her poor husband, a lovely man, to daily abuse, degradation and humiliation.'

It was described as 'a great irony' that Spencer had done so much work aimed at investigating the effect of custodial sentences on the family.

Within months of becoming a couple in 2000, Richard endured her violent rages, which happened whether she was drunk or sober.

The worst of the assaults on him happened in April 2021 when his wife attacked him with the empty wine bottle.

The hidden nanny cam gave a vital way out for battered husband Mr Spencer after he endured years of physical and verbal abuse from his wife, that sometimes left him 'broken' in a foetal position

Explosive clips from police interviews show Sheree casually lying about her husband being the abuser, only for her face to turn ashen when confronted with the clips

Mr Spencer, who stands at 5ft 10in, told the court that although he was bigger and physically stronger than his petite wife, he did not fight back when she began to attack him.

He said he became almost immune to the physical abuse she meted out, even though she would cause him immense pain by sinking her teeth into him.

But he said the mental scars left by 16 years of her hate-filled attacks were what would leave the most lasting effect.

Sheree's reign of domestic terror finally ended in June 2021 when the police were called to their family home by a concerned welfare worker.

Her arrest that day on suspicion of assaulting her husband opened a door into the hell he had kept private for his entire married life.

Mr Spencer said: 'In trying to block the footage being shown, she continued trying to exert control even from jail, but fortunately justice prevailed.

'Its astonishing to me that shes living a relatively easy life in prison, having been moved to an open jail after six months of her sentence.

'The judge in her case described it as the worst case of coercive control she had ever seen, so why she was considered for open prison so early is beyond me.

'She is due for release next February but she is able to go out for family and friend meetings and has been working in a cafe.

Mr Spencer, now happily settled with a new partner, decided to take part in the Channel 5 documentary to help other abused men speak out

'It doesnt seem a just sentence for someone who committed such serious offences.'

Since his ex-wife's imprisonment, Mr Spencer has joined a campaign called ManKind Initiative, which supports male victims of domestic abuse.

He has also found love again and told media he is happily settled with his new partner.

Speaking to media after Sheree was jailed last year, he said: 'I have become resigned to the fact that I will never fully recover from her abuse and that it will have a permanent damaging impact on mine and my family's life.

'Sheree's abuse towards me evolved and escalated over time, she used repeated acts of physical assault, threats, verbal abuse, and humiliation to punish and exercise control over me.

'The abuse was hidden from the outside world, including friends and family. Sheree manipulated me into believing that I was a responsible and willing participant in the abuse. She remorselessly proclaimed that I deserved to be punished, and that it was a justifiable consequence of me disappointing her in some way.

'Little by little, I lost my independence and willpower and just accepted that was how my life was going to be. I complied with Sheree's demands, and she controlled most aspects of my everyday life, including things like what activities I could participate in and when, which room I could sleep in, and even which toilet I could use.

'Gradually I became isolated from family and friends and was left deep in debt causing me to feel trapped.

'After a while, I learnt to cover my face with my hands and curl up into a foetal position to try and avoid sustaining any visible facial injuries, so that I could still take the children to school and nursery.'
Conservative influencer Isabella DeLuca has been arrested over her part in the January 6 Capitol riot - including stealing a table from the government building.

The firebrand Donald Trump fan was detained Friday in Irvine, California on five charges including theft of government property.

FBI papers say that DeLuca was caught on camera 'removing, and aiding and abetting other rioters in removing, a table' from a Capitol office known as ST-2M before 'passing it to rioters outside through another broken window'.

The table 'was subsequently used to assault law enforcement officers guarding the Lower West Terrace Tunnel' according to the record.

FBI agents were tipped off about DeLuca's involvement in the riot three days later and they interviewed her on January 21, the day after Joe Biden became president.

Conservative influencer Isabella DeLuca has been arrested over her part in the January 6 Capitol riot - including stealing a table from the government building

FBI papers say that DeLuca was caught on camera 'removing, and aiding and abetting other rioters in removing, a table' from a Capitol office known as ST-2M before 'passing it to rioters outside through another broken window'

The tipster told agents that DeLuca had posted about being in the Capitol building on social media but later deleted the post.

In her telephone interview, DeLuca claimed that she went to the Capitol with some friends, but did not enter the building, according to FBI records.

Her social media records showed that she took an Amtrak train from New York's Penn station to DC in order to join the riot.

The train broke down near Baltimore, Maryland, and DeLuca posted an Instagram story appealing to her followers for 'a ride to DC'.

She eventually hitched a lift in the early hours of January 5 in time for the protest.

At 2.55pm on January 6, she wrote on Twitter: 'Fight back or let politicians steal and election? Fight back!'

Surveillance footage from the Capitol shows DeLuca inside and outside the Capitol building that afternoon.

Her face is covered by a neck gaiter in some shots - but FBI agents said they have identified the person as DeLuca.

She can be seen standing on a ledge appearing to help rioters move a table from the office.

'The table legs were broken off at some point during the melee,' the FBI document reads.

Another rioter named in court records as Timothy Desjardins can be seen picking up one of the table legs and using it 'to assault law enforcement officers'.

Meanwhile, another protester picked up the table top and launched it at officers.

The firebrand Donald Trump fan was detained Friday in Irvine, California on five charges including theft of government property

FBI agents were tipped off about DeLuca's involvement in the riot three days later and they interviewed her on January 21, the day after Joe Biden became president

The tipster told agents that DeLuca had posted about being in the Capitol building on social media but later deleted the post

Just before 6pm, DeLuca messaged friends on Instagram saying 'it's insanity here' and 'I got maced and had a sound bomb go off right next to me'.

In the early hours of January 7, someone messaged DeLuca on Instagram saying: 'I'm wondering why you support the breaking into the Capitol'.

She replied: 'According to the constitution it's our house.'

On January 8, she published more comments linking herself to the riot.

'I got maced pretty bad about three times, and on top of that it was extremely windy, so it was blowing everywhere,' DeLuca wrote on an Instagram post.

'While I do believe some people were placed there to cause chaos I don't believe that people were faking being maced.

'Even if they were not directly hit, the wind was carrying it and affecting everyone.'

'I used milk to get the mace/tear gas out of my eyes,' she added. 'I've heard for some people holding onions near their eyes and nose can protect them from the tear gas. I'm not 100% sure tbh.'

On January 14 she wrote: 'I was there on Jan. 6. I have mixed feelings. People went to the Capitol building because thats Our House and thats where we go to take our grievances.

'People feel, as do I that an election was stolen from them and it was allowed.'

The next day, DeLuca wrote on Instagram that she wanted Trump to declare martial law and overturn the election.

'If Trump declares martial law in 7 states, his campaign allies could take control of the states ballots & overturn the results of the election in Trumps favor. Which would be ideal,' she wrote.

In her telephone interview, DeLuca claimed that she went to the Capitol with some friends, but did not enter the building, according to FBI records

DeLuca is charged with theft of government property and aiding and abetting theft of government property; entering or remaining in restricting buildings or grounds; and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.

She is also accused of disorderly or disruptive conduct in the Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

As her arrest papers were unsealed Monday, she received messages of support on X, including people saying they were 'praying' for her.

The comments came in response to her tweet saying: 'The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?'

More than 1,300 people have been arrested in connection with the January 6 riot at the Capitol, with 950 convictions so far.

Around 500 people have been handed jail time, ranging from a few days to 22 years in federal prison.
A British holidaymaker has been raped onboard a cruise ship while at sea, with police in Majorca arresting a Kenyan entertainer who was working on the vessel.

The 27-year-old man was held when the ship, named as MSC Fantasia, docked in the island capital Palma from Naples in Italy on Friday morning. It is believed the suspect was retained in a cabin until the ship docked in Palma.

A female passenger, 33, from the UK alleged she had been raped while at high sea. The Kenyan man, who has been arrested over the alleged attack, has not been named and has been described locally as an entertainer on the cruise liner.

Local reports said the suspect and the alleged victim had been dancing together before the alleged rape.

The man has since been released on bail following a court appearance. It was not immediately clear if he is allowed to leave Majorca or has had to surrender his passport.

The 27-year-old man was held when the ship, named as MSC Fantasia, docked in the island capital Palma from Naples in Italy on Friday morning. It is believed the suspect was retained in a cabin until the ship docked in Palma (pictured: police at the port on Friday)

A female passenger, 33, from the UK alleged she had been raped while at high sea. The Kenyan man, who has been arrested over the alleged attack, has not been named and has been described locally as an entertainer on the cruise liner (file image of MSC Fantasia)

A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Majorca confirmed today a man had been arrested on Friday after being accused of raping a passenger on a cruise liner.

The spokesman said: 'A Kenyan national was arrested and handed over to the courts for further questioning yesterday. I am not in a position to say any more at this stage.'

Local reports said the man held had declined to answer questions from a judge who tried to quiz him.

The British woman is said to have left the ship so she could get examined in a hospital.

Under normal circumstances she would have been expected to leave so she could assist local police and ratify her complaint in court and it is understood that she gave a statement to police.

Investigators are now examining the suspect's mobile phone pending an ongoing investigation.

MSC Fantasia, the ship identified as the one where the alleged sex attack occurred, docked in Palma on Friday in the first stop after leaving Naples on a seven-day round-trip of the Western Mediterranean.

It is due to return to Naples on Wednesday after leaving Genoa today. Earlier stops have included Barcelona and Marseille.

The ship's captain is said to have alerted police so they could wait for the vessel to dock and make the arrest on Friday.

A spokesman for MSC Cruises said: 'We are aware of the incident that was reported on board MSC Fantasia.

'This was reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities and we are assisting with their investigation.

'The safety of our passengers is our number one priority. We have an uncompromising code of conduct and do not tolerate any behaviour that puts our passengers at risk.

'As there is a criminal investigation underway we cant provide any further comment.'

This comes after a court in the Spanish city of Valencia in April 2019 released an 18-year-old Italian suspected of raping a British teenager, 17, on a Panamanian-flagged cruise liner called the MSC Divina after it left port in the Majorcan city of Palma.

MSC Fantasia, the ship identified as the one where the alleged sex attack occurred, docked in Palma on Friday in the first stop after leaving Naples on a seven-day round-trip of the Western Mediterranean (file image of MSC Fantastia)

The teenager was freed after the judge tasked with questioning him concluded he had no powers under Spanish law to launch a criminal investigation.

Panamanian, Italian and British officials were informed of the ruling and offered the chance to prosecute. It never subsequently emerged whether any of the three countries decided to take action.

Regional Spanish newspaper Levante EMV reported at the time the British teenager, who was travelling with her parents, told police her sex attacker forced her into his cabin before raping her.

READ MORE: Cruise passengers warn against the one thing you should never do on board Advertisement

A court official in Valencia confirmed the judge had issued a ruling saying the embassies of all three countries should be informed about the case, explaining why he had been forced to release the Italian man and saying potential evidence collected by the Spanish authorities could be made available on request.

The official, acting on the condition of anonymity as is normal in Spain, said after the detainee's release: 'A duty court in Valencia was informed a minor was being seen in hospital and a rape protocol was mobilised.

'The police arrested the suspect and he was handed over to the courts along with a police report on the case.

'The court subsequently established it had no jurisdiction over the case because the alleged crime happened in international waters on board a Panamanian-flagged ship so to all effects in Panamanian territory.

'The detainee was subsequently freed once it was established he had no link to Spain such as a Spanish address.

'In the same written ruling in which he agreed to free him, the judge decided the embassies of Panama, Italy and Britain should be informed about the incident so they could look at their legislation and if they decide this is an issue they can pursue through their own courts, ask for the potential evidence that was collected by the Spanish authorities such as DNA tests.

'The procedure is that the court informs the embassies of those three countries so they can decide if they have jurisdiction to prosecute and can request the evidence through the normal international mechanisms of judicial cooperation.

'What they do or don't do after that will depend on officials from those three countries and is not something the judge here has any decision over.

'The Italian man is not under investigation in Spain because there is no case against him here.'
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday highlighted the importance of making technological advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation in a way that will "safeguard" the democratic principles against attempts by authoritarian states to erode democracy.

Blinken made the remarks during the ministerial conference of the Summit for Democracy forum in Seoul, a third such session of the U.S.-led multination gathering formed to reinforce the democratic bloc against challenges posed by a rise in authoritarianism.

"Revitalizing democracy will require us to shape a technological future that's inclusive, rights-respecting, directed at driving progress in people's lives, as authoritarian and repressive regimes deploy technologies to undermine democracy and human rights," he said in the opening remarks.

"We need to ensure that technology sustains and supports democratic values and norms," Blinken said, stressing that such technological progress in AI and digital tools will spur the democratic renewal for the future.

"Democracy is a shared aspiration for people around the world. That demand for representative democracy remains strong," Blinken said.

Blinken called Korea a "champion of democracy" for the world that has transformed into one of the strongest and most dynamic nations over a single generation.

Blinken called for a "collective effort" among the governments and people to safeguard the democracies.

Co-hosted by Korea, Britain, the United States and Ecuador, the ministerial conference brought together top government delegations from some 30 countries on the first day of the three-day gathering.

President Yoon Suk Yeol attended Monday's opening session.

In Monday's session, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said the interplay of AI and digital technologies present both opportunities and challenges in a world that is witnessing a "retreat from the democratic values" amid the rising geopolitical tensions.

"While these technologies enhance democratic engagement, they also amplify threats of misinformation, disinformation and digital surveillance, undermining the very foundations of democratic societies," Cho said in the opening speech.

Cho called for collaboration among stakeholders to steer the technological revolution in a way that promotes democratic values for the benefit of future generations.

"Korea is committed to standing in solidarity with the international community to safeguard and advance these values," he said.

Following the ministerial conference, Cho and Blinken will hold separate talks on the alliance, democratic cooperation and other issues of mutual concern, including the situation on the Korean Peninsula and around the region.

The meeting between Cho and Blinken comes only weeks after the two met one-on-one in Washington late last month. Blinken arrived in Seoul on Sunday.

Blinken is also expected to pay a visit to Yoon.

On the margins of the forum, Cho will also meet separately with his counterparts and chief delegates of the participating nations, including Britain, the European Union, Indonesia, Ecuador, Guyana, Mauritius, the Gambia, India and Australia, his office said.

The Summit for Democracy is a multination forum led by the U.S. to strengthen solidarity and reinforce the democratic bloc with like-minded countries in the face of various challenges posed by a rise in authoritarianism.

Korea is hosting this year's summit from Monday through Wednesday. It is the first country to host the forum besides the United States since its launch in 2021.

Tuesday's session will feature panel discussions and workshops by civil society groups, academia and international organizations. The leaders' session will take place virtually Wednesday, in which U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to attend via video links. (Yonhap)
Seven men who set fire to a police van and threw missiles and paving slabs at officers during a violent protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Merseyside, Liverpool, have been jailed.

Thomas Mills, 47, Brian McPadden, 61, Paul Lafferty, 42, and Jonjo O'Donoghue, 21, were found guilty of violent disorder at Liverpool Crown Court in January after the demonstration outside the Suites Hotel in Knowsley on February 10 last year.

The four defendants, all from Kirkby, Merseyside, apart from O'Donoghue, who is from Liverpool city centre, were part of a larger group who threw missiles and paving slabs at police and set fire to a police van during the incident, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Police were made aware on February 9 last year that a protest, said to have been organised by the English Defence League (EDL), was expected to take place outside the hotel, which was providing temporary accommodation for asylum seekers, the following day.

Fire fighters douse a burned out police riot van in Knowsley, Liverpool after the violent protest outside an asylum seekers hotel

The scene outside the Suites Hotel in Merseyside, Liverpool as the protesters set fire to a police van

The Suites Hotel in Merseyside, Liverpool, that was temporarily housing asylum seekers

There was 'ill-feeling' in the local area after a video was shared on social media appearing to show an asylum seeker from the hotel asking a 15-year-old girl for her phone number and a kiss, the court previously heard.

There was no evidence that any of the defendants were members of a far-right group.

The four defendants had all admitted being present at the demonstration but denied being part of the violence which resulted in three police officers being injured and a police van being set alight.

A fifth defendant, Daniel Fulham, 39, who told the court he was in the area walking his Jack Russell dog, was found not guilty of violent disorder and of a lesser offence of abusive or threatening behaviour with intent to provoke violence.

Mills, McPadden, Lafferty, and O'Donoghue were sentenced at the same court on Monday, along with four others who previously pleaded guilty to violent disorder.

McPadden and O'Donoghue were sentenced to three years and six months in prison, and Mills and Lafferty were sentenced to two years and eight months.

Liam Jones, 25, was sentenced to 27 months in prison, John Tippler, 59, was sentenced to two years in prison, Warren Cullen, 21, was handed 20 months in prison, Harry Boynton, 20, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment suspended for 18 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work, 40 days of rehabilitation (RAR) and an electronically monitored curfew for three months, while Christopher Shelley, 45, is yet to be sentenced and remains on an outstanding arrest warrant.

Thomas Mills, 47, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison

Brian McPadden, 61, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison

Paul Lafferty, 42, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison

Jonjo O'Donoghue, 21, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison

Seven youths, aged between 13 and 17, have already been sentenced after they admitted violent disorder.

Six were given referral orders and one was fined.

Jared Skeete, 19, was sentenced to three years' detention last April after he pleaded guilty to violent disorder, having thrown fireworks and snorted ketamine while shouting abuse at police.

Three women - Cheryl Nicholls, 44, Nicola Elliott, 52, and Jennifer Knox, 41 - were found not guilty of violent disorder halfway through the trial following a direction to the jury from the judge, who said there was 'insufficient evidence'.

Senior Crown Prosecutor David Jones of CPS Mersey-Cheshire said: 'This was not a peaceful protest as these men claimed. It descended into violence and hostility - most of it directed at the police, who had to use all their protective gear to protect themselves and prevent violence spilling over into the hotel.

Warren Cullen, 21, was sentenced to a year and eight months in prison

John Tippler, 59, was sentenced to two years in prison

Liam Jones, 25, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison

'This has been a complex prosecution, which evolved as more people were identified from CCTV at the scene. Some pleaded guilty, others went to trial, but the hard work of both Merseyside Police and the Crown Prosecution Service has led to a successful conclusion.

'The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in law - but this protest descended into criminality and those involved have now been brought to justice.

'The disorder on that night shocked many in the local community and it is important that residents are assured that behaviour like this will meet with the full force of the law.'

Detective Chief Inspector John Fitzgerald, of Merseyside Police, said: 'This incident stemmed from misinformation, speculation and rumours on social media in February last year that was robustly investigated and no further action was taken against anyone who was involved.

'The violence outside the hotel resulted in 83,686 of damage to our vehicles and facilities which could have been used to protect our residents. Officers were bombarded with various missiles and dispersal zones were put in place in the aftermath of the disorder to prevent any further incidents.

'It is completely unacceptable to intimidate and target particular communities in Knowsley in this appalling manner and those who did caused fear and distress to those residents inside the hotel and to the local community.

'We will always respect the right to protest when these are peaceful but such violence that endangered our officers and others will not be tolerated.'
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been hit with a lawsuit accusing him of a 1993 sexual assault in a cop car, allegations that he has previously denied.

The former cop's accuser, Lorna Beach-Mathura, 67, alleged in a court filing on Monday that Adams, 63, offered to help her get a promotion in his capacity as head of the Guardians Association, an inter-police organization to help black employees.

According to the lawsuit, Adams drove Beach-Mathura to a vacant lot to speak about the promotion, before telling her that he also 'needed a favor' from her.

He then allegedly tried to force her into oral sex, but when she refused, he masturbated on her from inside the car, the lawsuit claimed.

Adams has 'vigorously' denied the allegations when they surfaced last year, and claims that he has never even met Beach-Mathura - who has a history of launching over a dozen lawsuits against her exes, employers and corporations.

In a statement on Monday, New York City Corporation Counsel Hon. Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix said: 'While we review the complaint, the mayor fully denies these outrageous allegations and the events described here; we expect full vindication in court.

'Additionally, in 1993, Eric Adams was one of the most prominent public opponents of the racism within the NYPD, which is why the suit's allegations that he had any sway over promotions of civilian employees is ludicrous.'

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (pictured on Sunday) has been hit with a lawsuit accusing him of a 1993 sexual assault in a cop car, allegations that he has previously denied

Lorna Beach-Mathura (pictured) claims that Adams attacked her after promising to help her with a promotion. She has a history of launching dozens of lawsuits at exes, employers and corporations

Adams (pictured in 1993) was 33 at the time of the alleged sexual assault, and was the head of the NYPD Transit Bureau's Guardians Association, an inter-police organization for black employees

Beach-Mathura's new court filing alleges sexual assault, infliction of emotional distress, sexual harassment and retaliation, which she says came after reporting the incident.

She also alleges gender discrimination, and alleges that her career in the police department was severely hampered by being a black woman.

After beginning her law enforcement career in 1981 in the NYPD Transit Bureau, she claims she was repeatedly passed over for promotions and was discriminated against.

After becoming frustrated after an NYPD official allegedly told her that she would have to transfer to ever be promoted, she went to Adams, then-33, in his capacity as Guardians head, for help.

In scathing wording in the lawsuit, it is claimed that Adams 'preyed on her perceived vulnerability, demanding a quid pro quo sexual favor and sexually assaulting Plaintiff, revealing himself not to be the 'Guardian' he purported to be, but a predator.'

She claims that Adams picked her up after work, while he was still purportedly on duty, and drove her to an empty parking lot.

Although she thought it was unnerving, his status as a high-ranking Guardians leader and police officer reassured her - until he 'requested oral sex from her', the lawsuit claimed.

'While repeatedly cajoling, demanding, and begging Plaintiff for oral sex, Defendant Adams unzipped his pants and pulled out his erect penis,' the filing continued.

Adams pictured when he was a lieutenant decades ago. The lawsuit scathingly says that he revealed 'himself not to be the 'Guardian' he purported to be, but a predator'

Adams (pictured in 2000) has 'vigorously' denied the claims against him, and says that he never even met Beach-Mathura

When she refused, Adams then allegedly told her to 'give him a hand job', and Beach-Mathura said she was 'stunned' and 'sickened' by the alleged turn of events.

Her continual refusal then led Adams to masturbate in the car next to her, which she says she sat through out of fear as she felt that, as a cop, he had a gun on him, the lawsuit alleged.

'Defendant Adams gruffly informed Plaintiff that he had to get back to work. It was clear that he was angry at her for refusing his sexual demands,' the filing claimed.

Adams was initially hit with the allegations in November when she filed a summons against him, which he 'vigorously' denied and claimed he had never met Beach-Mathura.

'It did not happen. That's not who I am. That's not who I am in my professional life. It's just something that never took place,' he said at the time.

'As you know I have been in public life now almost 40 years. People know my character, they see how I am, how I carry myself.

'I can emphatically state, this never took place and I do not recall ever meeting the accuser. It is just not who I am. I would never do things that harm someone.

'Right now you just have to really stay focused...you just have to let go and let god.'

Adams pictured in November after being hit with the allegations, where he told reporters that the attack 'absolutely did not happen'

Adams' accuser has previously filed a slew of lawsuits against her exes, employers and major corporations, and has even written a book comparing herself to an Erin Brockovich-type figure where she boasts of her legal battles.

When she first filed against Adams in November, Beach-Mathura sought $5 million in damages over the alleged 1993 parking garage encounter.

The same plaintiff has launched more than a dozen civil suits over the past three decades, routinely alleging negligence or discrimination, often representing herself and even appealing one ruling all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

These include a 2008 case against American Airlines in which the accuser claimed she was sent sprawling from a wheelchair at an airport check-in desk during a Buddhist pilgrimage to Japan.

That same year, she also sued a Florida condo association for negligence but the case was tossed on day one of the trial when she left court during the lunchtime recess and never returned.

Her past also includes a stint as a teacher, which appears to have been marred by abuse and violence from unruly students, culminating in a boy allegedly 'body slamming' her to the floor in 2005.
Alarming footage shows the moment a fleet of cops unloaded 36 shots at a would-be robber during a hostage situation.

The incident took place this month at a Denver 7-Eleven, and saw 43-year-old suspect Christopher Cauch fatally gunned down.

Cops were called to the convenience store after Cauch took two of the clerks hostage, responding to reports of a robbery in progress and potential stabbing.

As they arrived, bodycam footage from one of the four shows them being directed by staffers to the backroom where Cauch was held up.

Surveillance footage from the room showed how Cauch began holding a sharp object to one of the 7-Eleven workers' necks as the officers closed in. Thirty-six rounds within five seconds ensued, seeing the suspect meet a brutal end.

Alarming footage shows the moment a fleet of cops unloaded 36 shots at a would-be robber during a hostage situation at a 7-Eleven in Denver on March 1. The suspect, identified as 43-year-old Christopher Cauch, is seen here at left

As cops closed in, footage shows Cauch meeting a brutal end - shot in a hail of 36 bullets fired by at least two officers

'Put your hands up! Put your hands up!' one of the officers is heard shouting in a newly released clip of the harrowing encounter, which took place the evening of March 1.

Cauch responds by slamming the still-slightly ajar door shut, as all the lawmen's guns remain drawn.

The officer filming is then heard radioing his colleagues to tell them the suspect 'has a knife', all while Cauch appears to be holding the door closed with his body.

Simultaneous surveillance footage from the store, meanwhile, shows the situation inside - with Cauch seen holding the object to one of the staffers' necks while another cowers in fear.

From the footage, he appears to be attempting to force the door closed.

Outside, the officers slowly advance, eventually coming within a few inches of the now shut door.

'Denver police! Open the door!' the officer shouts, as his three colleagues look on with their service weapons brandished.

'Open the door!' one of the other peace officers exclaims - after which a muddled response can be heard from within the room.

The incident took place at this 7-Eleven on Federal Boulevard, where the suspect is said to have pulled up in a stolen car around 7:30pm

Arriving officers are then directed to a back office where the suspect was held up with two staffers, holding them as hostages with a sharp object

'Put your hands up! Put your hands up!' one of the officers is heard shouting in a newly released clip of the harrowing encounter, which took place the evening of March 1

Cauch responds by slamming the still-slightly ajar door shut, as all the lawmen's guns remain drawn.

Outside, the officers slowly advance, eventually coming within few inches of the now shut door. 'Denver police! Open the door!' the officer shouts, as his three colleagues look on with their service weapons brandished

the officers go on to produce a battering ram, and begin trying to force their way inside.

The two closest officers, including the one filming, are then heard conversing with each other, eventually coming to the tentative conclusion that they were in the midst of a 'barricaded subject situation.'

'Looks like it's a robbery,' the filming officer adds, before ordering the suspect to open the door and lay on the ground.

Then, after speaking with some of the others present, one of the other officers tells the two that there are two others inside the room with the suspect.

The door, at this point, is locked, and the filming officer begins to try to kick it down, with little success.

The officer goes on to ask for a key, as several other officers are seen arriving on the scene.

Instead of a key, the officers go on to produce a battering ram, and begin trying to force their way inside.

After more than 20 attempts, the door finally begins to give way, after which the officer with the ram asks his colleagues if 'they're ready.'

Footage from inside shows Cauch watching in panic as the door begins to come down, before trying to force it close again as the officers enter.

After more than 20 attempts, the door finally begins to give way, with officers coming face to face with the suspect - seen here scrambling with a hostage in tow as the two fall over a computer chair

Footage from inside, meanwhile, shows Cauch watching in panic as the door begins to come down, threatening one of the men with a six-inch metal nail-pulling shaft

Once inside, two of the officers - the one filming and a woman armed with an assault-style rife - begin to open fire, unleashing a stream of bullets DPD brass would later quantify as 36.

The footage from both vantages then cuts out due to its graphic nature, but within seconds, the suspect is seen lying on the back office floor.

Despite the barrage of bullets, neither he nor the other staffer - seen cowering in fear behind some boxes as the rounds rip - were stuck, cops said. State officials are vetting the incident

Once inside, two of the officers - the one filming and a woman armed with an assault-style rife - begin to open fire, unleashing a stream of bullets DPD brass would later quantify as 36.

Just before the shots ring out, Cauch is seen desperately grabbing one of the hostages while holding the-then unidentified object to his neck, eventually scrambling over and falling on a computer chair with the worker.

The footage from both vantages then cuts out due to its graphic nature, but within seconds, the suspect is seen lying on the back office floor.

The weapon Cauch refused to drop was later identified as a six-inch metal nail-pulling shaft, cops said - adding that the staffer seen with the tool to his neck reported some slight pain as a result, but no serious injuries.

Despite the barrage of bullets, neither he nor the other staffer - seen cowering in fear behind some boxes as the rounds rip - were stuck, cops said.

All the officers involved are now on modified duty, Denver Police Department Major Crimes Unit Chief Matt Clark added - noting that the ordeal was still being vetted.

His department released the footage on Thursday, revealing that Cauch had carjacked a vehicle in nearby Lakewood earlier in the day, before descending on the 7-Eleven.

The whole ordeal was over within a half-an-hour, cops said - revealing Cauch arrived at the store around 7:30pm, before being shot dead before 8pm.

The shooting is now being probed by by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Denver District Attorneys Office, and the Office of the Independent Monitor and Colorado State Patrol.

DailyMail.com has reached out for comment.
The woman who led cops on a dramatic high-speed car chase in Los Angeles that ended with her plunging her luxury SUV into the Pacific Ocean has been pictured and identified for the first time by DailyMail.com.

Jessica Reynolds, 39, a real estate appraiser from Portales, New Mexico, was arrested early Sunday morning after being pulled out of the water by Sheriff's deputies at Venice Beach Pier.

Bystander footage shared on social media at the time showed Reynolds frantically trying to swim away from cops who were attempting to rescue her after driving her silver BMW X3 across the sand and into the ocean, and abandoning her two dogs in the waterlogged SUV.

An arrest report obtained by DailyMail.com confirms Reynoldshad attempted to swim 'several hundred yards into the ocean before requiring rescue from the Marina Sheriff Department and the U.S. Coast Guard.'

She was taken to Marina Hospital for treatment and placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold. She was booked on charges of evading police.

Jessica Reynolds, 39, was arrested after plunging her car into the Pacific Ocean after leading California Highway Patrol on a high-speed chase on Saturday night

New video obtained by DailyMail.com shows Reynolds thrashing in the water while attempting to swim back to shore before being rescued by the USCG

Reynolds, a real estate appraiser from New Mexico, was taken to Marina Hospital for treatment and later booked into custody on charges of evading police

Authorities also managed to rescue Reynolds's two Boston Terriers before the vehicle was dragged away by the current, according to the report.

The dogs were then taken into custody by Animal Control.

According to charging sheet, the high speed pursuit began at 11:49pm after police had attempted to pull Reynolds over for speeding.

Jessica Reynolds is a real estate appraiser who works in Lincoln, Otero and Chaves Counties in New Mexico

But in scenes mimicking that of an action movie, the traffic stop quickly devolved into chaos after Reynolds failed to stop, forcing police to give chase on the I-105.

The pursuit entered the West Los Angeles area at speeds of up to 85mph, eventually leaving the freeway at Jefferson Blvd and leading police through several city streets at 35-65mph.

Reynolds eventually made her way on to Washington Blvd towards Venice Beach where she continued to avoid capture and drove straight into the ocean just a couple of minutes after midnight.

Witness Frederic Stevens told Traffic News LA: We saw a car speed into the parking lot and then it disappeared for a second and then it hurtled over and we saw tracks in the sand.

'It just drove into the water  stuff flying everywhere.'

Officials from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol can be heard relaying the shocking turn of events as they unfolded, in dispatch audio obtained by DailyMail.com.

Officers are heard describing the suspect as a 'female approximately 40 years of age.'

'Vehicle went into the ocean just south of the pier. Occupant is still in the vehicle,' one officer says in the clip.

'Driver is out of the vehicle, she's going towards the ocean away from the car Driver is trying to swim into the ocean.'

An arrest report obtained by DailyMail.com confirms the woman had attempted to swim 'several hundred yards into the ocean before requiring rescue from the Marina Sheriff Department and the U.S. Coast Guard

Reynolds led police to Venice Beach Pier after refusing to pull over for speeding

She was seen paddling in the water, while deputies aboard a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department vessel attempted to rescue her by tossing a flotation donut into the ocean

'Requesting coast guard. Wearing black shirt and possible Levis, trying to swim into the ocean.

'Driver still swimming into the ocean away from the car.'

Reynolds was ultimately pulled from the roiling waves after swimming 'like a professional athlete' from the doomed car towards the fishing pier on Venice Beach, California.

'It was like something out of an action movie, with this car barreling through on the sand and plunging into the water' an onlooker, who gave her name as Sarah Jane, told DailyMail.com on Saturday.

She said she was surprised the woman survived.

According to the CHP, officers attempted to pull the car over for speeding on the 10 freeway in downtown Los Angeles.

The chase ended in Venice when the woman drove her car across the sand and into the Pacific Ocean.

'It was cold, dark and the waves were choppy,' said Sarah Jane, a tourist visiting from England.

'I really don't know how she managed to survive, let alone swim such a long distance.'

While onlookers on the pier tried to help by yelling out to the woman, some were not as supportive when they discovered the driver had left two of her dogs in the car.

According to the California High Patrol, officers attempted to pull the car over for speeding on the 10 freeway in downtown Los Angeles

One of the dogs managed to get out of the vehicle and swim to shore while the second was rescued by lifeguards

Video footage shows the dramatic moment two lifeguards approach the submerged car holding flashlights while looking for any other passengers.

As one lifeguard peers in, he motions to the other lifeguard suggesting someone is in the vehicle.

Next, the lifeguard opened the backseat door while waves slammed against the car - only to pull out a small dog, a Boston Terrier.

The lifeguard is then seen walking back towards the sand where two red lifeguard pickup trucks are parked with other onlookers watching in disbelief.

'Another dog, another Boston Terrier, managed to get out of the car when it was still in motion hurling down the sand.

'He was seen nervously scampering around on the sand, until someone picked him up and held him or her trying to calm it down,' said Josh Sullivan, who was walking his own dog at the time of the incident.

A woman has been rescued from the Pacific Ocean after driving her SUV into the sea during a high speed chase with the LAPD on Sunday

A spotlight is shone on the woman, who was in the water after plunging into the surf

On Sunday morning, her car was hauled out of the water  much to the bewilderment of passersby

The woman was seen paddling in the water, while a Los Angeles Sheriff's Department boat attempted to rescue her by tossing a flotation donut into the ocean which she grabbed onto and was then hoisted onto the boat.

According to Officer Erik Larson with the California Highway Patrol, the chase began at 11:21pm Saturday in El Monte and ended at 12:03 Sunday in Venice Beach.

'Both dogs were picked up by animal control,' Larson told DailyMail.com

An officer told DailyMail.com that the woman was taken to the hospital and the dogs remain with Animal Care Services.

The next morning, beach goers unaware of the incident were surprised to find a car being towed from the water up onto the land and later taken away.

The front window was shattered and mounds of sand could be seen in the front and back seat. Skid marks in the sand could also be seen.

One person joked it was an early start to Saint Patrick's Day in Venice Beach. CHP was withholding the identity of the woman, saying they will release it on Monday morning.
Thousands are without power after four substations were destroyed as gangs run wild in the nation

Gangs killed at least two dozen people near Port-au-Prince on Monday

Haitians attempting to escape the escalating violence and fled to neighboring Dominican Republic have been rounded up and deported.

Photos show migrants, including children, held in caged vans being sent from the Dominican Republic to the other side of the island, which is Haiti.

The deportations come even as gang violence has erupted in Haiti, spearheaded by a gang leader named 'Barbeque.' The violence has come as the country is without a full-time leader and has led to concerns of famine in the Caribbean nation.

Gangs attacked two upscale neighborhoods near the capital city of Port-au-Prince and killed at least two dozen people in the rampage on Monday.

Gunmen looted homes in the communities of Laboule and Thomassin before sunrise, forcing residents to flee as some called radio stations pleading for police.

'We woke up this morning to find bodies in the street in our community of Petionville,' Douce Titi, who works at the mayor's office, told the Associated Press.

Haitians attempting to escape the escalating violence and fled to neighboring Dominican Republic have been rounded up and deported

The Dominican Republic maintains vigilance at its border as violence rocks Haiti

People and cars pass by the covered body of a person who was shot dead in Port-au-Prince on Monday

On Mondays and Fridays, the Dominican Republic opens its border to Haitians who want to shop at the food market located at the end of the border bridge

The Dominican government has been deporting troves of Haitians who try to overstay their welcome and advised Haitians not to seek refuge in their territory of Hispaniola

Haiti's power company announced on Monday that four substations in the capital and elsewhere 'were destroyed and rendered completely dysfunctional'

'Ours is not that kind of community. We will start working to remove those bodies before the children start walking by to go to school and the vendors start to arrive.'

Haiti's power company announced on Monday that four substations in the capital and elsewhere 'were destroyed and rendered completely dysfunctional.'

As a result, swaths of Port-au-Prince were without power, including the Cite Soleil slum, the Croix-des-Bouquets community and a hospital.

The company said criminals also seized important documents, cables, inverters, batteries and other items.

In total, more than 350,000 people have been internally displaced in Haiti and over 15,000 of them in the last two weeks, reported the BBC.

On Mondays and Fridays, the Dominican Republic opens its border to Haitians who want to shop at the food market located at the end of the border bridge.

However, the Dominican government has been deporting troves of Haitians who try to overstay their welcome and advised Haitians not to seek refuge in their territory of Hispaniola.

Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry, 74, resigned on March 12 after gangs warned of civil war and 'genocide' if he did not step down amid bloody uprising.

On Saturday, the office of Dominican President Luis Abinader issued a statement saying that 'Henry is not welcome in the Dominican Republic for safety reasons,' alluding that his passage in the country could see the violence spread to the other side of the island.

'Given the current situation, the presence of the Haitian prime minister in the Dominican Republic is not considered appropriate,' Abinader said Sunday, hours after word spread of the US embassy evacuation.

The politician added that 'this decision reflects the firm position of the Dominican government to safeguard its national security and stability,' and billed the security situation in Haiti as 'totally unsustainable'.

Gangs attacked two upscale neighborhoods near the capital city of Port-au-Prince and killed at least two dozen people in the rampage on Monday

Gunmen looted homes in the communities of Laboule and Thomassin before sunrise, forcing residents to flee as some called radio stations pleading for police

Haiti's power company also said criminals also seized important documents, cables, inverters, batteries and other items

The UN children's agency chief said the situation in Haiti is the 'worst in decades' as millions face famine amid a rise in gang violence and looting

He added the violence currently being seen in the country 'poses a direct threat to the safety and stability of the Dominican Republic,' while predicting 'the situation could deteriorate even further if a peacekeeping force is not implemented urgently.'

The UN children's agency chief said the situation in Haiti is the 'worst in decades' as millions face famine amid a rise in gang violence and looting.

UNICEF said one of its containers holding 'essential items for maternal, neonatal, and child survival, including resuscitators and related equipment' was looted in the capital of Port-au-Prince's main port on Saturday.

Looting and overall violence has further cut some of the country's most vulnerable from basic supplies, coming 'at a critical moment when children need them the most,' the agency said.

That same day, the Guatemala's Foreign Ministry said the offices of its honorary consul in Haiti was ransacked, but didn't give any details of damage or thefts, nor did it say who was responsible.

'It's like a scene out of Mad Max. Honestly, that's what it seems like.

'Gangs, vigilantes responding to the gangs,' UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell told CBS News.

'Many, many people there are suffering from serious hunger and malnutrition and we're not able to get enough aid to them.'

Approximately 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 said.

In total, more than 350,000 people have been internally displaced in Haiti and over 15,000 of them in the last two weeks

Paramedics work to recover the bodies of people killed in the street by gang members

The President of the Dominican Republic has said the violence in Haiti is a direct threat to their country

Haiti's top gang leader Jimmy 'Barbeque' Cherizier (pictured) has threatened the families of political leaders who would support a planned transition council replacing the ousted prime minister

'Haiti is facing a protractive and mass hunger,' Jean-Martin Bauer, Haiti director for the United Nations' World Food Program, told The Associated Press.

'We have supplies for weeks. I'm saying weeks, not months, that has me terrified.'

The country's top gang leader Jimmy 'Barbeque' Cherizier has threatened the families of political leaders who would support a planned transition council replacing outgoing PM Aruel Henry.

Haiti Libre reported the Haitian National Police raided Barbeque's territory on Friday as part of a strategy to unblock roads, seize firearms and facilitate the free movement of citizens.

According to police several gang members were killed during the operation.

There was a major prison breakout of two of the country largest detention facilities leading to the escape of thousands of prisoners, including several notorious gang leaders.

In Port-au-Prince, some hospitals have been forced to close over safety concerns, and only two surgical operating facilities are operational, according to UNICEF.

Shortages of electricity, fuel and medical supplies have affected hospitals nationwide, with six out of ten facilities not able to function.

'Now they've basically taken over the capital, they've taken over the airport. What that means for people is that we can't get aid in again, it's very difficult for us to do that,' said Russell.

'I mean, it's literally one thing after another for Haiti, and I think right now, it's the worst that anyone has seen in decades.'
A secondary school was plunged into lockdown leaving pupils 'trapped' after 'threats' were made to two students by a former pupil.

Armed police surrounded St Hild's Church of England School, in Hartlepool, this afternoon and patrolled the corridors with pupils barred from leaving the premises at the end of the school day.

Swathes of worried parents and guardians were pictured standing on pavements as they gathered outside the school gates.

Some took to social media to say their 'anxiety is through the roof' as they relayed messages they had received from their 'terrified' children inside the building.

Pupils were left in tears and 'scared to death' after seeing armed officers patrolling through the school corridors, according to some parents.

Is YOUR child a pupil at the school? Email kitty.lawton@mailonline.co.uk

St Hild's CofE school in Hartlepool was plunged into lockdown after 'threats' were made to two pupils

The force said in a statement officers attended 'as a matter of precaution following some concerns raised'

They were eventually released 90 minutes later just after 5pm when they were escorted off the premises year-by-year under police guard.

A 16-year-old boy is tonight being held in police custody after being arrested at his home address, Cleveland Police said.

The force said in a statement officers attended 'as a matter of precaution following some concerns raised after a threat was made to two boys at the school by a former pupil'.

The force said in an earlier statement: 'There is currently a precautionary police presence in the area of St Hild's School in Hartlepool, following some concerns raised after a threat was made to two boys at the school by a former pupil.

'The school have followed their own safeguarding procedures and have activated a lockdown at the school whilst officers make enquiries.

'Police are currently working closely with the school and the local community to offer reassurance, ensure everyone's safety, and to return the school to normality as soon as possible.'

Many parents thanked the school, which has 700 pupils, for keeping their children safe as others detailed the emotional toll it had had on their kids with some declaring they wouldn't be going to lessons tomorrow.

One mother said her 12-year-old son was stuck in his classroom with 'police with guns outside'.

Armed police surrounded the secondary school and were patrolling the corridors with students stopped from leaving their classrooms

Swathes of worried parents and guardians were pictured standing on pavements as they gathered outside the school gates

An armed officer stands guard outside the school gates. The students were eventually allowed off the premises 90 minutes after the lockdown started

A 16-year-old boy is tonight being held in police custody after being arrested at his home address, Cleveland Police said

Another said her daughter, 11, is now 'scared to death'. She said: 'My daughter is only 11 and she's sobbing a lot.'

There was some confusion among parents after school leaders said 'there is an issue in the community - not the school building or with any of our pupils'.

In an update posted on its Facebook page just before 5pm, St Hild's said: 'We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the parents and carers for their unwavering support.

'As we navigate through this partial lockdown, please rest assured that we're dedicated to caring for your child with utmost diligence and care.

'In partnership with Cleveland Police, we're diligently following established safeguarding procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of all our pupils.

'Your trust and cooperation mean the world to us as we work together to create a secure environment for our young ones.'

The lockdown was lifted just after 5pm.
Rudy Giuliani claimed in an interview Sunday that backing former President Donald Trump's 2020 election fraud lies will 'help me in heaven,' as he admitted he will get disbarred in Washington, D.C.

Giuliani taped a St. Patrick's Day episode of his Uncovering the Truth podcast with Dr. Maria Ryan and continued to falsely claim that Trump won the 2020 race against President Joe Biden.

He told Ryan he was going to reveal some 'confidential stuff' adding, 'the bar association is going to crucify me not matter what.'

'I will be disbarred in New York, I will be disbarred in Washington and it will have nothing to do with anything I did wrong,' Giuliani said. 'And I consider that something that will help me in heaven for sticking to my principles and not being a weakling like all these weaklings who are afraid to represent Trump.'

The former New York City mayor and lawyer for Trump is already suspended from practicing law in New York and on Friday the D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility recommended that Giuliani be disbarred.

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Sunday that touting former President Donald Trump's election fraud lies will 'help me in heaven,' as he admitted he would be getting disbarred in New York and Washington, D.C.

Rudy Giuliani is facing charges in Georgia over making false statements and soliciting false testimony as he worked for former President Donald Trump to overturn President Joe Biden's 2020 election win

The report to the D.C. Bar committee said that Giuliani's actions trying to overturn Biden's win were 'frivolous and destructive.'

More than 60 lawsuits were filed, with Giuliani leading the efforts, and he lost all of them.

Giuliani was charged with making false statements and soliciting false testimony as part of the Georgia election fraud case and turned himself in and got a mugshot taken in August.

Still the former New York mayor, known for getting the country through the 9/11 terrorist attacks, insisted Trump had been wronged.

'You know who won in 2020, I know who won in 2020 and I know that damn ballots get burned and I know how high it goes,' he charged during the 50-minute podcast.

He said that the 88 indictments against Trump in four separate cases were a 'massive due process violation' because the presumptive Republican nominee wouldn't have time to prepare for them all.

And suggested it was a political hit job because the charges came from 'one political party and they communicate with each other.'

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (left) and President-elect Donald Trump (right) pose for a picture at Bedminster in November 2016, a few weeks after Trump won the 2016 race. Giuliani became Trump's attorney and led efforts to overturn Biden's win four years later

The ex-mayor also slapped Biden around, calling him a 'dodo' a 'dum dum' and other more offensive insults.

Giuliani said Biden was the 'dumbest man I've ever met' for taking a pin from Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene ahead of the State of the Union address, which took place earlier this month.

Green had handed Biden a pin that said Laken Riley's name - the nursing student who was murdered by an illegal immigrant - which Republicans use to cast additional criticism at the Democratic president's immigration policy.

Giuliani called Biden's staff 'useless' and claimed 'they're so afraid he's going to faint or fall they let him take' the pin. 'They don't read it for him, which they know they have to, because he can't read.'

'And then in the middle of it he tries to do this silly, childish fourth grade act that he's going to mention her name: "I'm not afraid to mention the name of Lincoln Riley,"' Giuliani said. 'It's Laken Riley, dodo.'

The president did indeed butcher Riley's first name during a heated back-and-forth with Greene amid his State of the Union speech.

Giuliani also thought that Biden should be addressing the savage beating of Missouri teenager Kaylee Gain.

'What's happened to the president of the United States?' Giuliani said, slapping Biden with a number of insults including that it was 'immoral' not to speak out against what happened to 16-year-old Gain. 'He's hiding on this because he's afraid of his vote,' Giuliani charged.

'And this comes after hiding on Laken Riley who was killed by one of his illegal Venezuelan immigrants. Who are only coming in because of his policies,' the former mayor added.
A grieving family has demanded answers after a beloved grandfather's harrowing ordeal in hospital ended in his death.

Russell Bates, 76, enjoyed belated Christmas celebrations with his family on December 30 before he blacked out and had a fall.

He was rushed to Queensland's Logan Hospital, where he spent the first seven hours in a corridor waiting for a bed due to ambulance ramping.

Within a fortnight, the retired school principal was dead after a series of health system failures, his heartbroken family says.

Mr Bates' family claims he was repeatedly misdiagnosed as a direct result of staff shortages at the hospital.

Over 10 days in hospital, they say his health rapidly deteriorated despite concerned relatives pleading for doctors to carry out more tests.

Doting grandfather Russell Bates (pictured) died within 12 days of being admitted to hospital

READ MORE: Mother demands answers after her baby died in a Queensland hospital just hours after birth Baby Thea Ann Flaskett died just four hours after being born at Redcliffe Hospital, north of Brisbane, just after midnight on September 11 Advertisement

By day five, his heart was failing and on day 10, Mr Bates was rushed to ICU with hospital-acquired pneumonia.

He also had a perforated bowel and sepsis.

Mr Bates underwent emergency surgery but two days later, his family made the heartbreaking decision to turn his life support off.

The family believe Mr Bates would still be alive today if it wasn't for a series of failures.

'He walked in there a relatively healthy man up until that minor fall and left in a body bag,' his daughter Michelle Dunne told Seven News.

'I kept telling them and telling them, "please do more tests".'

Mr Bates' son David added: 'The nurses were so concerned about Dad. They were running around the hospital looking for people to help him.'

The family claim they were told by a surgeon that their dad 'wasn't sick enough' to operate.

Nurses then urged Mr Bates' family to use Ryan's Rule - a three-step process to ensure a patient is thoroughly checked if their condition is getting worse or not improving as well as expected.

But the family claim it resulted in more mistakes by doctors, despite their assurances.

'We seemed powerless,' Ms Dunne said.

'The kidney doctor on day 11 said to us, "We wish we'd known about this three days ago, he could've had a chance". That broke me.'

David fought back tears as he recalled his final conversation with his father moments before he was wheeled in to undergo emergency surgery.

'The 10 minutes we got to say goodbye, I said to Dad, "how much fight do you have left in you?" He said "I'll keep fighting, mate, if you do" - and we are,' he said.

Mr Bates' cause of death is yet to be determined.

The family has also been told that the coroner's office is yet to receive the autopsy report which could take up to two years.

Russell Bates' health quickly deteriorated in hospital before he was rushed to ICU on day 10. His life support was switched off two days later

Logan Hospital has launched a 'comprehensive review' into Mr Bates' care.

An independent review into Mr Bates' death is also underway.

'Logan Hospital has been in contact with Mr Bates' family and is committed to providing ongoing support,' Logan and Beaudesert Health Service executive director Anne Coccetti said.

'As this incident is now with the coroner, Logan Hospital is unable to provide further comment.'

Queensland health minister Shannon Fentiman has also offered to meet with Mr Bates' family to hear what happened.

The family issued a plea to the minister and Queensland Premier Steven Miles.

'Enough is enough - fix your system,' David said.

'Us fighting isn't going to bring Dad back but how can we get message out to the health minister, to the government, to ensure this doesn't happen to someone else's family.'

His sister added: 'It's got to stop.'
President Joe Biden told Benjamin Netanyah that it would be a 'mistake' to launch an offensive on Rafah and got the Israeli prime minister to agree to send a team of Israeli officials to Washington to discuss the situation.

'A major ground operation there would be a mistake, it would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza, and further isolate Israel internationally,' White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in the press briefing on Monday where he gave a read out of the leaders' call.

He also confirmed Israel killed Hamas's number three military official, Marwan Issa, in a strike earlier this week. Israel claims Issa was one of the planners of the Oct. 7th attack that started the war.

The Southern city of Rafah contains about 1.5 million displaced Palestinians and has been in Israeli sight lines. The administration has been concerned about civilian casualities there in case of an attack.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan: 'There are ways for Israel to prevail in this conflict, to secure its long-term future, to end the terror threat from Gaza and not smash into Rafah'

On their call, the first time Biden and the Israeli prime minister have spoken in a month, Biden asked Netanyahu to send a team of military, intelligence and humanitarian officials to Washington to discuss Israel's planning for Rafah and to lay out an alternative approach that would target Hamas and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a full-scale invasion.

Netanyahu had agreed to the request for a meeting, Sullivan said.

'There are ways for Israel to prevail in this conflict, to secure its long-term future, to end the terror threat from Gaza and not smash into Rafah,' Sullivan said.

He noted Biden also questioned Netanyahu over a lack of a 'coherent and sustainable strategy to defeat Hamas.

Extreme food shortages in parts of Gaza have already far exceeded famine levels, and mass death is now imminent without an immediate ceasefire, the United Nations has warned.

The World Food Program also warned that 'famine is imminent' in northern Gaza, where 70% of the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger, and that a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gazas population to the brink of starvation.

Sullivan called the report 'alarming.'

'We're proud to be the largest contributor of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, but there's more we can do and there's more others can do as well. This has to be an all hands on deck effort,' he said.

Biden and Netanyahu's conversation came as tensions are growing between the two countries over the war in Gaza.

Sullivan denied reports the call ended abruptly, saying each man got their say. He described it as a 'business-like' conversation.

It was the first time the two leaders have spoken since Biden was caught saying on a hot mic he was going to have a 'come to Jesus' meeting with Netanyahu and after Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called on Israel to have new elections.

The leaders last spoke on February 15.

Before the latest call Biden had praised Schumer's remarks as a 'good speech' that 'expressed serious concern' shared by 'many Americans' - although he stopped short of calling for new elections.

Netanyahu snapped back at Schumer, calling his remarks 'totally inappropriate.'

'That's something that Israel, the Israeli public, does on its own,' the Israeli prime minister told CNN. 'We're not a banana republic.'

The Southern city of Rafah contains about 1.5 million displaced Palestinians

President Joe Biden will speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, their first call in more than a month

Netanyahu also vowed to continue his attacks on Hamas into the southern city of Rafah where more than 1 million displaced Palestinians have fled, despite growing international pressure for a cease-fire.

American officials have said they would not support a Rafah offensive unless Israel produced a viable plan for evacuating civilians. White House spokesman John Kirby said the administration had not seen such plans as of last Friday.

Tensions have ratched up between the U.S. and Israel over how to get food and aid into the Gaza Strip. Biden is under intense pressure at home and abroad to get a temporary ceasefire into place.

The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 31,500, according to the Health Ministry, with another 73,500 injured.

Last week, Schumer said Netanyahu had 'lost his way' and had become an 'obstacle to peace' due to putting together a coalition of 'far-right extremists' to lead the Israeli government in its war against Hamas after the October 7 terror attacks.

Schumer also accused Netanyahu of letting his political survival supersede 'the best interests of Israel' and of being 'too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza.'

Israeli officials reacted with fury to Schumer's remarks.

'Israel is a sovereign democracy. It is unhelpful, all the more so as Israel is at war against the genocidal terror organization Hamas, to comment on the domestic political scene of a democratic ally. It is counterproductive to our common goals,' Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog said.

Senator Chuck Schumer said Netanyahu had 'lost his way' and had become an 'obstacle to peace' due to putting together a coalition of 'far-right extremists' to lead the Israeli government in its war against Hamas after the October 7 terror attacks

President Joe Biden (second right) speaks with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (left), Secretary of State Antony Blinken (second left), and Senator Michael Bennet (right with back to camera) as he made his remarks about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Biden also has show signs of frustration with Netanyahu.

He was caught on a hot mic, saying the two men will need to have a 'come to Jesus meeting.'

Biden made the comment on the House floor after his State of the Union address while he was speaking with Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

In the conversation on the House floor, which played out live on television cameras that had recorded Biden's speech, Bennet congratulated Biden on his address to the nation and urged him to keep pressing Netanyahu on humanitarian crisis.

Blinken nodded along in agreement.

Biden answers using Netanyahu's nickname, saying: 'I told him, Bibi, and don't repeat this, but you and I are going to have a 'come to Jesus' meeting.'

Biden's bodyman Jacob Spreyer then leans in and whispers to the president, apparently warning Biden he is on a hot mic.

'I'm on a hot mic here,' Biden says after Spreyer spoke to him. 'Good. That's good.'

Biden has already ordered US airlifts of aid to the Gaza strip. And, in his speech, he announced that he's directing the military to build a port on the Gaza coast to bring relief to the population there.

'The United States is a leading international efforts to get more humanitarian assistance to Gaza,' he said.

He noted the temporary pier 'will enable a massive increase in humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza.'

That does not mean U.S. military personnel will be on the ground in the war torn region.

White House officials offered no time line for when the pier will be built or where exactly it will be located but said its construction will allow more shipments of food, medicine and other essential items to be delivered to the 2.2 million Palestinians.

They said the White House will coordinate with the Israelis regarding security on the ground and with the United Nations and humanitarian groups on getting aid delivered.

Biden's bodyman Jacob Spreyer (left) leans in to warn the president about the hot mic

President Joe Biden has been showing his frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - above the two men meet in Tel Aviv in October

The temporary pier will allow for hundreds of additional truckloads of assistance each day, the officials said. It will be an additional route for humanitarian aid, which is currently limited to two land crossings into the southern part of Gaza.

Other countries will be involved in its construction but it's unclear if Israel will be.

The project could take more than 30 to 60 days to construct and would involve hundreds or thousands of U.S. troops on ships just off shore. It will also require armed escorts and other protective measures.

Some of Biden's own Democrats have been frustrated with his handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

During that section of Biden's State of the Union Address , Democratic Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Alyanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Cori Bush held up 'lasting cease-fire now' signs.

The president has seen a concerning number of Democrats vote 'uncommitted' in primaries in key battleground states like Michigan and Minnesota, most of whom are unhappy with his treatment of Palestinians.

In Minnesota on Tuesday, nearly 20 percent of Democratic voters in the state voted uncommitted. The week before, more than 100,000 voters in Michigan voted the same.

A famine has not yet been declared for Gaza but 20% of households suffer from an extreme lack of food, 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition and 2 in 10,000 people dying per day 'due to outright starvation or to the interaction of malnutrition and disease,' the World Food Program said.

In his address on Thursday, Biden called on the Israelis to do more to alleviate the suffering even as they try to eliminate Hamas. He called the situation in Gaza 'heartbreaking.'

'To Israel, I say this humanitarian assistance cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,' Biden said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was furious when his war cabinet member Benny Gantz (above), his possible political opponent, had meetings at the White House

Palestinians rescue a man and his children from the rubble of a destroyed house following an Israeli air strike in the town of Al-Zawaida in the Gaza strip

The White House has been gone from all-out support for Israel to showing its frustration with Netanyahu. The administration is pushing for a ceasefire in the region to get hostages out and critical aid in.

Last month, Vice President Kamala Harris met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the White House - in a move that infuriated Netanyahu.

Gantz, a centrist political rival of Netanyahu who frequently criticizes the prime minister, sat down with several senior Biden administration officials during his trip to Washington D.C., including Harris, Blinken, National Security Council Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk and Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser.

He also met with Republican and Democratic congressional leaders.

Gantz, who polls show could be a formidable candidate for prime minister if a vote were held today, is viewed as a political moderate. If the heavy fighting subsides, Gantz will leave the government, which would increase pressure for early elections.

Netanyahu was reportedly furious at Gantz's White House meeting.
The family said they want 'justice through the legal system' - but pleaded with other teenagers not to retaliate against the girl who attacked Kaylee

In a devastating statement released through their attorney, Kaylee's relatives have said they won't know the extent of her injuries until she wakes up

The 16-year-old suffered a skull fracture when her head was repeatedly smashed into the ground during a brawl near her St. Louis high school on March 8

Missouri schoolgirl Kaylee Gain's family has spoken out after she was left in a life-threatening condition by a bully who repeatedly smashed her head into concrete.

The 16-year-old suffered a skull fracture and frontal lobe damage during a violent brawl caught on camera near her St. Louis high school on March 8.

In a devastating statement released through their attorney, Kaylee's relatives have said they won't know the extent of her injuries until she wakes up.

The family added they want 'justice through the legal system' - but pleaded with other teenagers not to retaliate against the girl who attacked Kaylee.

They confirmed Kaylee suffered 'a fractured skull that resulted in brain bleeding and swelling' and she still has not regained consciousness 10 days later.

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

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 full scope and extent of Kaylee's injuries and prognosis for recovery cannot be determined until, with God's grace, she regains consciousness, and the family asks that you continue to keep Kaylee in your thoughts and prayers as she fights to recover,' they said through their attorney Bryan M Kaemmerer.

'Although the family would like justice to eventually be served through the legal system, their focus at this time is dedicated exclusively to Kaylee's recovery.

'The family also asks all members of the community at large to come together to denounce teen violence and buying as there have been far too many recent examples of teen violence that have resulted in significant injuries, and even deaths in some instances.

'Kaylee's parents want to make a special request to their fellow parents in the community to ask them to reinforce to their children that physical violence and bullying are never appropriate, and to emphasize to their children that lives of both the perpetrators of teen violence and the victims of violence can be permanently and forever changed as a result of violent incidents that last only a few minutes.

'Lastly, the family wants to emphasize that they do not want any retaliation of any kind to occur toward anyone that was either directly or indirectly involved in this incident.'

The statement ends by asking for prayers for Kaylee's 'full recovery' and hopes that 'teenagers realize that momentary violent actions can have life-altering consequences' through reading about the highly-publicized attack.

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

Kaylee's grandmother Terry Nordstrom Thompson previously blasted the 'unforgiveable' attack on her granddaughter in a Facebook post.

Thompson shared a post that said: '[You] ever just cry yourself to sleep begging God to heal everything you're going [through]', captioning it 'everyday right now'.

Kaylee Gain, 16, is yet to regain consciousness 10 days on from the attack

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.

Kaylee 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.

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's 'shocked and devastated' parents have been staying by their daughter's side 'day and night' since he was hos

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 16-year-old suffered a skull fracture and frontal lobe damage during a violent brawl caught on camera near her St. Louis high school March 8

Kaylee's family said they want 'justice through the legal system' - but pleaded with other teenagers not to retaliate against the girl who attacked her

The statement urged community members to respect the families of those involved and 'pledge to help work toward the betterment of our entire community.'

The district recently came under fire for disenrolling more than three dozen middle schoolers in late February and early March.

The school district's public relations director, Jordyn Elston, told STLPR that the students were ejected because of 'expired residency information.'

Of the 40 students who received letters informing them of the district's decision, 38 were re-enrolled within a week after providing updated information, the district said.

The St. Louis County Police Department is investigating the incident. A fundraiser for the teen's family has so far gathered $343,000 in donations.
New undersea tunnel sets record

11:17, March 18, 2024 By Luo Wangshu ( Chinadaily.com.cn

Workers watch as the Zhanjiang Bay Undersea Tunnel of the Guangzhou-Zhanjiang High-speed Railway is completed on Friday. The tunnel is currently the longest of its kind in China. The Guangzhou-Zhanjiang High-speed Railway is an important part of the national high-speed railway network, with a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour. [Liu Dawei / Xinhua]

An undersea tunnel of a high-speed railway was completed in South China on Friday, setting a new record in the construction of high-speed railway tunnels in China.

As the Yongxing tunnel boring machine reached the receiving well in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, the Zhanjiang Bay Undersea Tunnel, a pivotal project of the Guangzhou-Zhanjiang High-speed Railway, was completed after 33 months of construction, marking a significant milestone in the construction of the new railway.

It has also demonstrated the remarkable progress and technological achievements in China's high-speed railway infrastructure.

The Zhanjiang Bay Undersea Tunnel spans a total length of 9,640 meters, with a shield section measuring 7,551 meters.

It is designed as a single tunnel with double tracks, crossing the seabed of the Zhanjiang Bay and the urban area of Zhanjiang.

The tunnel used one Yongxing tunnel boring machine to excavate the tunnel, crossing a 2,500-meter sea section and a 5,051-meter section of land.

Notably, the tunnel is China's longest single-headed undersea high-speed railway shield tunnel, showcasing the country's remarkable engineering prowess.

"Single-headed shield refers to the method of using a single tunnel boring machine to excavate continuously from one end to the other," said Yin Yihao, an engineer from China Railway's 14th Bureau Group, which was responsible for the tunnel's construction.

Yin also noted that in traditional large-diameter shield tunneling, other methods are commonly employed, such as using tunnel boring machines to excavate from both sides and carry out seabed docking in the middle.

However, Yin said that these traditional methods were not applied in the Zhanjiang Bay Undersea Tunnel due to the complicated geological conditions.

"The single-headed shield tunnel is safer and more efficient in this case," he said.

The Yongxing shield tunneling machine, with a diameter of 14.33 meters, is about as tall as a 5-story building. The machine dug as deep as about 50 meters beneath the water during construction, bearing a great deal of pressure.

"The maximum burial depth of the shield tunnel in the sea area is 52 meters, with water and soil pressure of 5.2 bars, equivalent to bearing 5.2 kilograms of pressure on an area the size of a fingernail," said He Ziliang, another engineer from the China Railway's 14th Bureau Group, adding that the team tailored the Yongxing shield tunneling machine specifically for these geological conditions.

Yongxing can excavate at an average speed of 260 meters a month, with a record of 510 meters per month.

Wu Chunzhao, a senior engineer of the China Railway Design Corp, the general contractor of the railway, explained the reason for building an undersea tunnel instead of a bridge.

"Building a tunnel preserves the beautiful urban skyline of the Zhanjiang Bay, and also avoids the impact of the project on the marine ecological environment," he said.

Wu also noted that a bridge will affect the large vessels' navigation, but the tunnel will not do this.

"It also mitigates the impact of typhoons, which often happen in this area. High-speed rail operations are easily affected by severe weather, such as typhoons, and the subsea tunnel effectively mitigates the safety issues of high-speed rail operations caused by typhoons," he added.

The tunnel is a key project of a high-speed railway linking Guangzhou and Zhanjiang in Guangdong.

According to Hu Jijun from Guangdong Guangzhou-Zhanjiang High-Speed Railway Corp, the investor of the railway, the completion of the tunnel has laid a solid foundation for the completion of the railway, which is expected to be operational by the end of 2025.

The 401-km Guangzhou-Zhanjiang High-Speed Railway, with a designed speed of 350 km per hour, is an important part of China's high-speed railway network. After its opening, the rail travel time between Guangzhou and Zhanjiang will be reduced to about 90 minutes from more than 2.5 hours.

The opening of the railway will further improve the coastal high-speed railway corridor, facilitating the construction of a comprehensive transportation network in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and also boosting the high-quality development of the region.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Korea has replaced its ambassador to Mongolia in just 15 months, the foreign ministry said Monday.

Choi Jin-won, director-general for international administrative cooperation at the interior ministry, has been appointed as the new ambassador, according to the ministry.

Cho is a career diplomat who served as the counselor of the Korean Embassy in the United States and deputy director-general for bilateral economic affairs at the ministry.

Kim Jong-gu, the current ambassador to Mongolia, is accused of involvement in handing over personal information of veterans of the Vietnam War, which was used to secure the minimum number of members required in forming a new political party.

Kim assumed his post in December 2022. (Yonhap)
A college student who wrote a 'how-to' terror guide on weapons and bombs dedicated to 'misfits' and 'social nobodies' called 'Freedom Encyclopaedia' has been jailed for 13 years.

Jacob Graham, 20, who whose 'idol' was US terrorist Theodore Kaczynski - the 'Unabomber', also spoke of feeling wronged by his college and going on a 'rampage', Manchester Crown Court heard.

Bespectacled Graham, using the name 'Destro the Destroyer', recorded dozens of video messages from the back bedroom of his mother's home where he lived in Norris Green, Liverpool, sending numerous manuals and giving instructions on weapons, explosives and poisons.

A student at Hugh Baird College in Bootle, he also blamed the Government for his 'unsatisfactory' life, and said he wanted to kill 50 MPs the court heard.

He was found guilty of one count of the preparation of terrorist acts, four counts of possession of information for terrorist purposes and two of dissemination of a terrorist publication, between May 2022 and May 2023 by a jury last month following a five-week trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Jacob Graham, 20, has been jailed for 13 years after being found guilty terrorism acts which included writing a 'how-to' guide on making weapons and communicating with terrorists online

Graham, whose idol was US terrorist Theodore Kaczynski - the 'Unabomber' recorded dozens of video messages from the back bedroom of his mother's home in Liverpool

The college student wrote instructions needed to construct bombs, firearms and ammunition - and sourced and obtained chemicals as well as a 3D printer from the comfort of his bedroom

Police found a bow and arrow in Graham's home. The left-wing anarchist said he had wanted to go on a rampage in Manchester and even threatened to kill 50 MPs.

Graham was cleared of one count of preparation of terrorist acts.

Prosecutors alleged that while he was not about to commit a terrorist act or encourage others to do so, he did assist other extremists he communicated with online.

Mr Justice Goose jailed the defendant for 13 years with a five-year extended licence. He must also notify police of his whereabouts for 30 years, the judge ordered.

Passing sentence, he said Graham appeared to be an 'ordinary young man, with an interest in fireworks, military and outdoor pursuits'.

But he added: 'In reality, you are a dangerous young man, you described yourself as the first UK home-grown terrorist.'

Graham showed no reaction, but as he left the dock to go down to the cells, he smiled at his mother in the public gallery, who had burst into tears as he was jailed.

Jurors heard Graham was motivated by a hatred and contempt for the Government, whom he perceived as tyrannical and oppressive of those he termed 'working class' people.

He has above average intelligence and regarded himself as a leader, his probation report concluded.

Graham, using the name 'Destro the Destroyer', wrote and gave out manuals explaining how to create weapons and even wrote a 48-pafe manifesto called 'Freedom Encyclopaedia'

The student conducted chemical experiments in his room and police found a number of chemicals, each of which could be used as ingredients in various explosive mixtures

Jurors heard Graham was motivated by a hatred and contempt for the Government, whom he perceived as tyrannical and oppressive of those he termed 'working class' people

He lived with his mother in a terraced house in Norris Green, Liverpool

He was arrested by police after he came to the attention of Greater Manchester's counter-terrorism unit during an investigation into chemicals the student had bought.

He acquired a large number of instructions needed to construct bombs, firearms and ammunition - and sourced and obtained chemicals as well as a 3D printer.

He also carried out chemical experiments, the court heard.

He was brought to the attention of Greater Manchester's counter-terrorism unit during an investigation into chemicals the student had bought.

After he was arrested on May 26 last year, police found a number of chemicals, each of which could be used as ingredients in various explosive mixtures, jurors heard.

Also found was a 3D printer, which had the potential to be used to print parts of home-made firearms, including the carbine FGC-9 MKII.

Police found an 'online arsenal' of information on his computer devices, including on the manufacture of deadly weapons and explosives, many of which could be made at home with basic skills and using materials or ingredients that could be got hold of relatively easily.

He wrote a 48-page guide he titled the Freedom Encyclopaedia, which was dedicated to 'misfits, social nobodies, anarchists, terrorists (future and present) who wants to fight for freedom... against the Government'.

He added: 'People who cannot read this - commies, femboy haters, Animal abusers, Pro-Israel, Northern Ireland Unionists.

The defendant wrote a 48-page guide dedicated to 'misfits, social nobodies, anarchists, terrorists (future and present) who wants to fight for freedom... against the Government'

Police also found was a 3D printer, which had the potential to be used to print parts of home-made firearms, including the carbine FGC-9 MKII

Graham claimed his activities were merely 'escapism and fantasy' and told police he just had a 'strange hobby.'

Mr Justice Goose said Graham was a 'dangerous offender' who appeared as an 'ordinary young man'

'People who can read this - terrorists, anarchists, republicans and Fenians, up the 'ra, Government haters, femboys, freedom lovers.'

The guide, written between September and December 2022, goes on to explain in detail about the intricacies of how to make weapons, explosives, fuses, pipe bombs, gunpowder, nail and car bombs.

Graham claimed his activities were merely 'escapism and fantasy' and told police he just had a 'strange hobby.'

Frida Hussain KC, defending, cited the 'impact of lockdown' and said Graham was aged only 18 or 19 when he offended, within his own home, and there was no clear ideological, political or religious motivation to his terror offences.

'At the time he was going through a difficult period in his life,' she added.

But Mr Justice Goose said Graham was a 'dangerous offender'.

He said: 'You searched the internet for information and files that explained how to make explosives, weapons and ammunition.

'You offered yourself as a very knowledgeable and experienced terrorist.

'I am satisfied, you are a dangerous offender.

'There is significant risk to members of the public of serious harm by you committing serious, specified terrorist offences.'

Detective Superintendent Andy Meeks of CTPNW said: 'Jacob Graham's actions in consuming ad producing extremist literature, and the hatred he displayed, remain deeply disturbing and I am pleased the investigation has secured a lengthy jail sentence.

'This investigation is a stark reminder of the damaging and dangerous content that can be found online and that poses a grave risk to young and vulnerable people.

'I would encourage parents and carers to have open and frank conversations with children about what material they are accessing online. If you have concerns about someone falling victim to online radicalisation, and you notice a shift in their beliefs or attitude, I would encourage you to seek help sooner rather than later.'

Following the sentencing, the senior counter-terrorism officer has warned that children and young people are increasingly being radicalised online after spending long periods on the internet during the pandemic.

Home Office figures released last week showed that the number of children arrested on suspicion of terror offences reached a record high last year.

Forty-two young people aged 17 and under were detained under the Terrorism Act in the year to December 2023, nearly one in five of all terror suspects.

It is more than double the figure two years ago, and the figure is six timeshigher than ten years ago.

Police have warned that 'terrorist groomers' are exploiting the amount of time children spend online out of the sight of families, schools, social workers and mental health services.
A cute one-year-old baby boy who was mauled to death by the family dog at their Connecticut home has been pictured.

Police were called to a East Hartford home around 3pm Wednesday for reports that a child had been bitten several times by a dog, which neighbors have described as being a 'cross-breed of Dalmatian and Pit bull'.

Lennox had turned one year old only a few days earlier, and was playing on the trampoline with his mother when the dog viciously attacked them.

The Dalmatian-Pit Bull mix, who had never exhibited signs of aggression, jumped on the trampoline and took Lennox.

'If the dog would have been aggressive or anything like that,' Lennox's dad, Ricky Rohena, told NBC, 'he wouldn't have been around the baby.'

Lennox had only just turned one year old when he was killed by the family's dog, a Dalmatian-Pit bull mix

The dog (pictured above) had never previously shown signs of aggression, the parents claimed

The dog killed Lennox the same day he was supposed to celebrate his first birthday

There were two dogs involved in the attack, although 'one was the primary aggressor,' according to investigators.

Lennox's mother, Keyshla Torres, who is pregnant, was also injured in the attack.

'I witnessed it,' she tearfully recounted. '[The dog] got onto the trampoline, then he grabbed the baby.'

'I hope he didn't suffer. I hope he was numb to it.'

Rohan Green, the Torres' neighbor, heard the wailing and screaming and hurried across the street to help. He tried to fight the dogs back and protect Lennox and his mother.

'I tried to fight off two Pitbulls and help the baby as much as I could,' he said. 'One minute seemed like forever.'

Lennox's family was planning on celebrating his first birthday at a Chuck E. Cheese the day the baby was killed.

Lennox and his mother were playing on the trampoline when the dog attacked them

Authorities are conducting an investigation into Lennox's death

The two dogs have been removed to a shelter and are being quarantined

Emergency responders performed lifesaving measures and took the infant to a local hospital, but the boy died 'despite the valiant efforts of medical professionals'.

The boy's death is under investigation, police spokesman Officer Marc Caruso said, adding that two dogs were removed from the home.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones as they mourn their loss,' Caruso said. 'May they find solace and strength during this challenging time.'

The owner is understood to have kept two dogs on the property, both of which have been removed from the home and quarantined.

A memorial has been erected outside Lennox's home and 'Happy birthday' balloons have been tied to the fence.
On Sunday, a teenager was stabbed to death outside a Brooklyn bodega

There have been more subway shooting victims so far this year compared to all of last year

New York City Mayor Eric Adams claimed the Big Apple is the 'safest big city in America,' just days after a horrific train shooting and the governor deployed National Guard troops to crack down on subway offenders.

'This is the safest big city in America. We inherited a city where crime was up 40 percent, that's not the reality. Our subways are safe  this is great,' Adams said at the city's St. Patrick's Day parade.

There have been more subway shooting victims so far this year compared to all of last year, reported WABC.

While transit crime is down by 15 percent for the month of February compared to 2023, it is up 13 percent compared to last year.

'It has been disturbing to see the subway crime go up,' said Chris Herrmann, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice who studies crime.

Subway crime isn't the only problem the Big Apple has faced as numerous high-profile incidents involving violence and filled headlines and worried locals and visitors.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams claimed the Big Apple is the 'safest big city in America,' despite more subway shooting victims so far this year compared to last year

'The big red flag for the NYPD is we've surpassed the number of shootings in the subway system for all of 2023 and here we are it's only the beginning of March.'

According to New York City Police Department data, for the week ending March 17, robbery is up 5.8 percent year to date, felony assault is up 3.8 percent and transit crime is up 6.9 percent.

The mayor's comments come as the city has seen a spate of crime, including the murder of a teenage girl at a bodega and a rush-hour subway shooting.

Brooklyn bodega stabbing

On Sunday night, a teenager was stabbed to death outside of a Brooklyn bodega because she refused to follower her killer on Instagram.

Twin sisters Samyis and Sanyia Spain were taking a break from a family game night around 2:20am and decided to get some snacks from a bodega in Park Slope with their brother.

On Sunday night, a teenager was stabbed to death outside of a Brooklyn bodega because she refused to follower her killer on Instagram

A man encountered the twins and made advances, including asking to connect on social media.

That is when the man attacked, killing Samyia and sending Sanyia to the hospital.

Police have appealed for help finding Sunday's killer who was wearing a ski mask according to witnesses and fled after the attack leaving a knife on the bloodstained street.

Rush hour subway shooting

Two men erupted into a wild brawl on a New York City subway Thursday, moments before the agitator was shot in the head with his own gun.

The 36-year-old man who was shot, Dajuan Robinson, accused the other man, Younece Obuad, of being a 'migrant beating up cops' in furious scenes while other passengers scrambled to get away.

Two men erupted into a wild brawl on a New York City subway on Thursday, moments before the agitator was shot in the head with his own gun

He was then shot in the head with his own handgun by the other man, 32, after it was wrestled away from him in the melee on a Brooklyn A train on Thursday evening.

Obuad will not face charges as Brooklyn prosecutors have ruled he acted in self-defense.

Robinson was quickly identified as the aggressor in the encounter, as he appeared to target Obuad and a female companion on the busy subway, while screaming about migrants.

National Guard Deployed

Last week's shooting on the nation's busiest transit system occurred less than a week after New York Governor Kathy Hochul stationed nearly 1,000 National Guard members in a bid to clamp down on the rampant violence on the subway.

Hochul joined efforts from Adams to halt a surge in attacks in the underground system - which he said is being fueled by a failure to stop repeat offenders.

Adams' crackdown includes subway riders being subjected to 'random' bag checks while the number of plainclothes cops patrolling the station will see a big increase.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul stationed nearly 1,000 National Guard members in a bid to clamp down on the rampant violence on the subway

A subway worker was slashed in the neck as he stuck his head out of a train window on February 29

The announcement came just days after a subway worker was slashed in the neck as he stuck his head out of a train window on February 29.

Alton Scott, 59, was attacked around 3:40 a.m. while on a southbound A train at the Rockaway Avenue and Fulton Street Station in Brooklyn.

Authorities said the conductor had his head out of the train window when he was slashed once in the neck.

He was taken to Brookdale University Hospital where he received 34 stiches and was later released.

Catsuit Killer

On February 8, Queens sex worker Denisse Oleas-Arancibia was strangled to death and hit over the head in the Soho 54 hotel.

Her suspected killer, Raad Noan Almansoori, 26, was arrested in Arizona after police said he stabbed two women there - one in a McDonalds and the other while stealing her car.

On February 8, Queens sex worker Denisse Oleas-Arancibia was strangled to death and hit over the head in the Soho 54 hotel

Her suspected killer, Raad Noan Almansoori, 26, was arrested in Arizona after police said he stabbed two women. He is pictured in a catsuit moments after the hotel killing

Surveillance footage of Almansoori caught after the murder of Oleas-Arancibia shows him wearing her bodysuit along a well-lit Manhattan street.

Almansoori was on bail at the time of the murder for attacking and sexually assaulting another escort in Florida in April 2023. After being arrested on that charge, he later posted his own bail in September of last year.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has ordered her staff not to extradite Almansoori and said she is looking out for his victims' families and cannot guarantee the suspect will remain locked up due to Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's lax bail policies.

Times Square Migrant Attack

A gang of migrants attacked police officers sent to disperse them in Times Square on January 27.

Up to 14 people are believed to have been involved in the attack, although NYPD officials have repeatedly revised the number of suspects.

According to the indictment, the assault happened after two police officers instructed the defendants to move to West 41st Street. When an officer grabbed Brito and pushed him against a building, Brito tried to escape and struggled with the officer while being held on the ground.

A gang of migrants attacked police officers sent to disperse them in Times Square on January 27

That's when the other migrants jumped in and began assaulting the cops, according to police.

A total of eight migrants have been charged since the attack on cops. Police are still on the lookout for at least eight other suspects they believe were involved in the melee.

Yohenry Brito, 24, Yorman Reveron, 24, Kelvin Servita Arocha, 19, Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, 19, and Wilson Juarez, 21, were all sent to Rikers Island to await trial after being arraigned.

They all face charges of second-degree assault and obstructing governmental administration, except Juarez, who is charged with tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution. They are all due back in court on April 13.
Supermarkets that steamroll their customers and suppliers could be stripped of investments and properties under proposed laws.

The Greens will push divestiture powers in the Senate this week, allowing the government to step in and break up food retail giants.

The Nationals and some independents are also calling for such 'big stick' laws.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled it out, likening divestiture powers to the former Soviet Union.

'We have a private sector economy in Australia and not a command and control economy,' he told ABC Radio Brisbane in February.

'We're not the old Soviet Union.

'What we have the power to do is to encourage competition and encouraging new entrants.'

Albanese said a forcible break-up would lead to many workers losing their jobs.

Supermarket giants have had it too easy for too long, Greens senator Nick McKim said, as households struggled to balance strained budgets with high food prices.

Supermarket giants have had it too easy for too long, Greens senator Nick McKim said,

'We need to stop supermarket corporations ruthlessly using their market power to gouge prices while raking in billions of dollars in profits,' he said.

'The market domination of Coles and Woolworths gives them the power to crush farmers, squeeze out competition and shaft their customers.'

Divestiture powers targeting the supermarket duopoly were nothing new, Senator McKim said.

The United Kingdom, United States, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands have similar laws.

The powers would also cover big banks and energy giants to ensure competition across different sectors, Senator McKim said.

Coles and Woolworths have been accused of strong-arming suppliers, stitching up farmers and shafting customers.

The retailers have defended their prices and relationships, saying they were trying to balance fair prices for producers against low prices for customers.

The supermarkets are under pressure on several fronts, with a parliamentary inquiry and at least two external investigations underway.

The supermarkets are under pressure on several fronts, with a parliamentary inquiry and at least two external investigations underway

One of those is into the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct, which governs the relationship between supermarkets and producers.

'Many farmers have certainly spoken to me about how hard they find it to deal with the supermarket chains and the lack of transparency that exists in those negotiations,' Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said.

'This review of the code marks an important step towards understanding how our supermarket sector is working to deliver fair prices for everyday Australians and for our hardworking farmers.'
Another report claimed a student was hit in the face with a plastic bat after passing out when he was forced to drink vodka

The parent of one pledge alleged that her son was made to stand out in the cold and scrub floors into the early morning

Five fraternity chapters remain under investigation for allegations of violence and alcohol abuse

Several fraternities at the University of Maryland have been accused of conducting brutal hazing ceremonies that saw participants burned with cigarettes and forced to lie on beds of nails.

The school lifted a blanket suspension on most Greek life organizations Friday followed a weeks-long investigation into allegations of abuse at a handful of fraternities.

Though five Greek organizations remain under investigation, according to WJZ.

The investigation began when the Office of Student Conduct received an anonymous report from a parent on February 21, court documents show.

The parent claimed their son was being forced by his chapter to stay outside in the cold for hours, resulting in a trip to the University Health Center for suspected hypothermia.

He was also made to clean the off-campus houses of chapter members and scrub floors until 2:30 am, the report alleged.

Several fraternities at the University of Maryland have been accused of conducting brutal hazing ceremonies that saw participants burned with cigarettes and forced to lie on beds of nails. The allegations sparked a massive investigation that ended on Friday

In a letter to the community, Vice President for Student Affairs Patty Perillo (pictured) detailed the school's next steps that included developing 'more comprehensive and evidence-based educational opportunities for all chapter members regarding alcohol and other drug use'

Six days later, the office received another anonymous email alleging that multiple fraternities were engaging in hazing activities with new recruits, according to investigators.

The news claims said new members were being paddled, burned with cigarettes and torches and forced to lay on nails.

Students were also forced to consume non-food items such as living fish, chewing tobacco and urine, were spat on and forced to clean chapter members' houses, court documents allege.

At one event, 'one individual passed out' and fraternity members 'refused' to give water to prospective members, according to the allegations.

Instead, they were 'forced' to drink 'straight vodka as they did nothing to help' the unconscious student. Rather, 'they hit him in the face with a plastic bat and poured beer on him until he woke up,' court documents reveal.

On March 1, the office received another anonymous message from the mother of a new fraternity member.

She claimed her son's chapter had been 'locking new members in the basement and breaking glass on the floor for the new members to clean up,' documents state.

Upon reviewing data from the university's Health and Counseling Centers, the office determined there had been an uptick in the number of visits by chapter members in the month of February.

The school lifted a blanket suspension on most Greek life organizations Friday, but five remain under investigation. Pictured: The McKeldin Library on the University of Maryland campus

Based on concerns about 'ongoing violations of the Code of Conduct relating to hazing and alcohol and drug use,' the office 'determined that immediate action was warranted to prevent harm to the Universitys students,' according to court documents.

Despite Friday's lifting of the ban, five chapters remain under investigation. They have not been publicly named by the school, but court documents note that Kappa Alpha Order is being probed over allegations of hazing and alcohol abuse.

The other four fraternities were not identified in court documents, but Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Sigma Kappa, Sigma Nu and Zeta Beta Tau were the only Greek life organizations not cleared to resume activities Friday, according to the university.

The embattled institution was also hit with a lawsuit by several fraternities who argued that the school had violated students' First and Fourteenth Amendment rights during its investigation.

But the Maryland Attorney General's Office filed a memorandum in opposition to the fraternities' request for a temporary restraining order against school officials.

The office argued the university was 'fully authorized pursuant to its Code of Student Conduct' to impose restrictions amid an investigation into hazing and alcohol abuse, 'which threatened the health and safety of its students.'

In a letter to the community, Vice President for Student Affairs Patty Perillo detailed the school's next steps.

These included developing 'more comprehensive and evidence-based educational opportunities for all chapter members regarding alcohol and other drug use' and establishing reporting mechanisms 'to share possible instances of hazing or other concerns in real time.'

The embattled institution was also hit with a lawsuit by several fraternities who argued that the school had violated students' First and Fourteenth Amendment rights in its invetigation. Pictured: Maryland's Symon's Hall

Friday's development came after the Fraternity Forward Coalition, a fraternity advocacy group, was brought in to conduct interviews with members of the school's Greek life organizations about the university's investigation.

The organization alleges students' phones were searched as they were 'compelled to participate in a meritless investigation' by administrators who threatened 'disciplinary retribution for non-compliance.'

After the ban was lifted, the group released another statement. 'Finally, on the eve of Spring Break, the University of Maryland does the right thing,' it read.

'Sadly, it took them two weeks and the threat of a judge's ruling to do it. We are astonished by the schools willingness to repeatedly violate their students civil liberties...and their own administrative procedures in chasing a meritless investigation.'

The group has vowed to continue to pursue litigation against school representatives.
A Iraqi surgeon who was racially harassed after blowing the whistle on his 'untouchable' white and Indian colleagues over the death of 25 patients has been awarded more than 400,000 in compensation.

Manuf Kassem, 63, won the huge payout after he sued the NHS over the treatment he received from top medical chiefs after alleged wrongdoing.

The associate specialist surgeon raised concerns that 25 patients at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust suffered 'complications, negligence, delayed treatment and avoidable deaths'.

As a result, senior directors at the Trust - including medical director Dr Deepak Dwarakanath - subjected him to harsh treatment, threats, and he faced career-limiting suspensions, an employment tribunal heard.

At a hearing in Teesside, Dr Kassem said his career had been 'damaged forever' as he is unfit to work and that the ordeal 'destroyed his life on a personal level' as he now suffers from mental health issues.

Manuf Kassem, 63, won the huge payout after he sued the NHS over the treatment he received from top medical chiefs after alleged wrongdoing

The trust, which runs the University Hospital of North Tees and University Hospital of Hartlepool among other facilities, was successfully sued by Dr Kassem

He successfully sued the Trust for race discrimination, harassment, and detriment caused by whistle-blowing. Now, the surgeon has been awarded 431,768 in damages.

The father of two began working at the Trust from 2002 and worked without incident, with no patient complaints or serious issues.

From 2011 Dr Kassem was asked to change roles which led him to being worried about his specialist associate status and was berated by another surgeon.

At a grievance meeting in 2017, he said he was concerned over the care of 25 patients.

The tribunal judgement said: '[Mr Kassem] presented... details of 25 patients whom he alleged had 'suffered complications, negligence, delayed treatment and avoidable deaths'.

'In this respect the Tribunal records that the [Trust] accepted that him raising these concerns amounted to a protected disclosure.

'Additionally, at this meeting, unlike the first investigation meeting, Mr Kassem made express reference to issues of ethnicity and race.

'Having named five surgeons whom he described as being 'untouchable', he is recorded as having said, 'it was dependent upon nationality if you are white or from India you would receive different treatment'.'

The tribunal heard that another medic described a 'culture within a culture' at the Directorate where Dr Kassem worked, adding that there was a 'group within a group the members of which got better support, better juniors and better pay'.

Dr Kassem had raised concerns that 25 patients at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust suffered 'complications, negligence, delayed treatment and avoidable deaths'

Dr Kassem told the tribunal: 'Priority is given to doctors from India, I was treated less favourably as I am from Iraq.

'I was not given any other role in the Directorate while Doctors from India are given significant roles all the time, this is because I am from Iraq.'

The Trust claimed the 25 patients had experienced appropriate processes.

However, it was 'clear that Mr Kassem had seriously upset a number of his colleagues by raising the 25 patient safety issues, which reflected upon their clinical practice', the tribunal heard.

It was heard he 'offended' Indian surgeons and that the offended medics got the support of Dr Anil Agarwal, clinical director, and Dr Dwarakanath, who were both Indian.

Dr Kassem was suspended from an emergency on-call rota and then permanently removed in 2020, hindering his career progress. He was also subjected to threats and disciplinary processes. He remains employed but is unfit to work.

Employment Judge Andrew Morris ruled the surgeon was discriminated against and that surgeons 'were no longer willing to work with him' as he blew the whistle.

Judge Morris outlined the impact it had on Dr Kassem.

Judge Morris said: 'He referred... to such removal [from the rota] rendering his job non-viable and depriving him from the formal accreditation of attainment of competencies necessary to progress to permanent consultant grade.

'As a result of the discrimination his career had been damaged forever and he had suffered permanent damage to his mental health necessitating taking daily medication to manage depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances.

'This had also destroyed his life on a personal level. He was persistently sad and had physical symptoms of headaches, muscular pain and tension, and changes in sleep patterns even when tired.

'The effect had been immense; he was lethargic and felt exhausted. He had feelings of guilt and shame and withdrew from his family. He had been severely depressed and commenced treatment after having approached his GP in July 2019.

'As a result of the discrimination he had suffered and the impact of his physical and mental health he is permanently unfit to undertake emergency and on-call duties.

'The discrimination he had experienced led to him no longer having the confidence to do emergency surgery, which had been his passion.

'He does not have the necessary capacity to make decisions under pressure or work unsocial and long hours through the night.'
Lawyers for Donald Trump and Georgia codefendants have renewed their move to try to disqualify Fani Willis from their case, appealing a judge's ruling by invoking his own words about the 'odor of mendacity' after sensational testimony.

The new filing Monday comes after Judge Scott McAfee on Friday ruled that Willis and her office could keep prosecuting Trump on the condition that her former lover Nathan Wade steps down from his role as special counsel, which he did.

He cited 'potential dishonesty' in testimony after a dispute over when the prosecutors began their affair, but also ruled that conduct he slammed as inappropriate wouldn't keep defendants in the election overturn case from getting a fair trial.

'In its Order, the Court found that District Attorney Willis actions had created an appearance of impropriety and an odor of mendacity that lingers in this case, as well as of the continuing possibility that an outsider could reasonably think that District Attorney Willis is not exercising her independent professional judgment totally free of any compromising influences,' write lawyers for Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and other codefendants, making use of some of the strongest language that McAfee included in his ruling.

Defendants filed a motion seeking appeal of Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee's decision to allow DA Fani Willis to remain on the Trump case on the condition that former special prosecutor Nathan Wade step down

'Despite this, the Court declined to disqualify District Attorney Willis, finding that eliminating only the Special Assistant District Attorney would cure the lingering appearance of impropriety,' they continue. But they say case law requires dismissal of the case or at the 'very least' the disqualification of Willis and her entire office should be disqualified.

They filed their brief seeking review with the state Appeals court. The lawyers say McAfee's March 15 order 'substantially' impacts their due process rights, and say it could contain 'structural errors' that could require a retrial in the case that is already a sprawling affair following the indictment of Trump and 18 codefendants.

They pointed to other tension within McAfee's order, including calling Willis' speech at an Atlanta black church 'legally improper' even while declining to rule it as forensic misconduct. Trump lawyer Steven Sadow has repeatedly referred to the speech as playing the 'race card' in the case.

Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, escaped with a slap on the wrist Friday as McAfee dramatically ruled she could stay on the Trump election interference case in Georgia.

But she could only do so if her prosecutor 'lover' Nathan Wade removed himself from the case, which he did Friday afternoon.

In a 23-page ruling Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee slammed Willis for a 'tremendous lapse in judgment' and for acting in an 'unprofessional manner'.

However, he said not enough evidence had been shown to establish her romantic relationship with Wade amounted to an 'actual conflict of interest' - which would have led to her disqualification from the Trump case.

Trump's lawyers slammed the decision to let Willis stay on the case and said they would pursue 'all legal options' in response.

Judge McAfee ruled Willis should not be disqualified from leading a case she has brought against Donald Trump and 18 codefendants, in which they are accused of conspiring overturn the results of the November 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden.

But the judge said: '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 added that 'an odor of mendacity remains' in the case but the court was not 'under an obligation to ferret out every instance of potential dishonesty from each witness.'

McAfee had self-imposed a deadline of this week to rule after holding bombshell hearings featuring testimony by Willis herself about her 'romantic' relationship with Wade.

At issue in his decision was when the affair between the two prosecutors Willis and Wade began, and whether it posed an actual conflict of interest or the appearance of one.

The judge and clashing attorneys explored those issues in sensational hearings that featured angry testimony by Willis.

She was confronted by defense lawyers and there was conflicting testimony about whether the couple were involved in a 'romantic' relationship before Wade joined her team in 2021.

The hearings also featured details about cruises and luxury travel the pair engaged in  and whether it constituted any sort of improper benefit to Willis that allowed her to gain financially from the prosecution of Trump and his allies.

In his ruling Judge McAfee said: 'The prosecution of this case cannot proceed until the State selects one of two options.

'The District Attorney may choose to step aside, along with the whole of her office.

'Alternatively, Wade can withdraw, allowing the District Attorney, the Defendants, and the public to move forward without his presence or remuneration distracting from and potentially compromising the merits of this case.'

This handout image released by the Fulton County Sheriff's Office on August 24, 2023 shows the booking photo of former US President Donald Trump. Former US president Donald Trump was photographed for a police mug shot after his arrest on August 24 at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia

The judge stressed that 'no ruling of mine is ever gong to be based on politics.'

He then sorted through whether Wade and Willis had an actual financial conflict.

Judge McAfee wrote: Whenever a private attorney - like Wade - is paid by the billable hour, a motive exists to extend or prolong the assignment.

'This, however, is a tension that the legal profession has long accepted.'

His ruling goes through the various trips the pair took, including to Aruba and Napa Valley.

But he found Willis did not get a direct financial benefit from her decision to hire Wade.

He also essentially accepted her claims that she reimbursed Wade in cash for expenses during their travels.

Such a reimbursement practice may be unusual and the lack of any documentary corroboration understandably concerning.

'Yet the testimony withstood direct contradiction, was corroborated by other evidence (for example, her payment of airfare for two on the 2022 Miami trip), and was not so incredible as to be inherently unbelievable. However, as the District Attorney herself acknowledged, no ledger exists.

'Other than a best guesstimate, there is no way to be certain that expenses were split completely evenly - and the District Attorney may well have received a net benefit of several hundred dollars.'

ulton County District Attorney Fani Willis looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, Friday, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta

Trump and the other defendants are charged with a racketeering conspiracy to overturn the state of Georgia's election results in 2020 after it voted for Joe Biden.

The ruling on whether Willis should be disqualified has high-stakes implications for Trump and his codefendants as well as the nation.

A disqualification of Willis would throw off the schedule for the Georgia case at a time when some of Trump's other trials are in peril.

Judge McAfee's ruling comes shortly after he dismissed three charges against Trump from the sprawling racketeering indictment brought by Willis and her prosecutors' office.

McAfee wrote Wednesday in an order that six of the charges in the indictment must be quashed.

But the order leaves intact many other charges in the indictment and the judge wrote that prosecutors could seek a new indictment on the charges he dismissed.

The six charges in question have to do with allegedly soliciting elected officials to violate their oaths of office.

That includes two charges related to Trump's infamous phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, on Jan. 2, 2021 asking him to 'find' 11,780 votes.

Willis and Wade acknowledged the affair in filings and testimony

Explosive allegations of an affair

The relationship between Willis and Wade burst onto the national scene after lawyer Ashleigh Merchant, who represents Trump codefendant Michael Roman, issued a court filing in January.

It alleged that Willis and Wade had an 'ongoing, personal relationship' even as Wade got paid more than $600,000 serving as special prosecutor on the case.

It claimed they engaged in 'a personal, romantic relationship that has ultimately yielded substantial income to the special prosecutor.'

That prompted a response from Willis that denied any improper conduct even while confirming the affair.

'Much of Defendant Romans motion relies on supposition and innuendo regarding the private relationship between District Attorney Willis and Special Prosecutor Wade,' according to the filing.

'District Attorney Willis has no personal conflict of interest that justifies her disqualification personally or that of the Fulton County District Attorney's Office,' she writes.

'While the allegations raised in the various motions are salacious and garnered the media attention they were designed to obtain, none provide this Court with any basis upon which to order the relief they seek,' she wrote.

John Floyd III, father of Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis, testified about living with her while she dated a man named 'Deuce,' and said he didn't know his daughter was later dating prosecutor Nathan Wade

Fulton County Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade faced a series of questions about out of town trips with Willis and the ways he and Willis paid for them

Dramatic testimony by former friends of both Willis and Wade

A mid-February hearing featured testimony by former Willis friend and colleague Robin Yeartie, who directly contradicted Willis and Wade by saying there was 'no doubt' the two were in a romantic relationship before Wade got hired. She said she was 'certain' about it.

She said the DA, a former college friend, told her about it personally.

Defense lawyers called Terrance Bradley, a former friend of Wade's, also appeared under subpoena. He was a former law partner of Wade's who also acted as his divorce lawyer. His appearance brought a fight over attorney-client privilege, as defense lawyers tried to force him to testify about conversations they said would speak to the personal relationship and when it began.

The drama peaked when a furious Willis slapped back at 'extremely offensive' allegations she slept with her prosecutor ex-boyfriend Nathan Wade the first time they met.

'It's a lie, it's a lie,' she said. She accused Merchant of 'trying to implicate that you slept with somebody the first day you met the.'

'Im not on trial, no matter how hard you try to put me on trial,' she told Merchant, who during a dramatic moment got to question the DA she is facing in court after exposing her affair.

She also lashed out at the media for 'printing lies for the world to see' and the attorneys for suggesting they hadn't verified any information about their luxury work trips and their 'good' sex life.

In Wade's own earlier testimony, he shot back at Donald Trump's lawyer Stephen Sadow's questions, steering his answers to literal comments about sex.

Wade told him that his relationship with Willis ended in the summer of 2023, prompting Sadow to ask if they had 'any personal relationship at all' at that point.

'Are you asking me have I had intercourse with the district attorney?' Wade shot back.

'The answer would be no.'

'You say personal. Were very good friends,' he told Sadow. 'Probably closer than ever because of these attacks. But if youre asking me about specific intercourse, the answer is no.'

Terrance Bradley, a former law partner of Wade's, was the first witness to appear. He and his lawyer raised attorney client privilege issues when he got asked about the relationship. He later got confronted with texts with lawyer Ashleigh Merchant

Robin Latrice Yeartie testified that Fulton County DA told her about meeting special prosecutor Nathan Wade at a judicial conference in 2019, in a bombshell hearing to determine if Willis gets disqualified from the case of Donald Trump and codefendants

Clash over when the affair began

Both Willis and Wade testified their romantic relationship began after Willis brought him on.

They also confirmed information in Merchant's initial filing about luxury trips and cruises together.

But Willis denied any financial conflict, saying she always paid her way, and said she did so in cash.

'If youre a woman and you go on a date with a man you better have $200 in case,' she further advised.

Willis said on her 'worst days' she had $500 cash. 'At my best days, I probably had $15,000 in my house, cash,' she said.

She also said her belief in storing a stash of cash came from her father, something her father, backed up in his own time on the stand.

John Floyd III, a former Black Panther, flew in from California to testify that his daughter always carried cash at his insistence, that she was dating a deejay named 'Deuce' in 2019 when he moved in with her. He said he didn't meet Wade until after Wade and Willis started prosecuting Trump.

Defense lawyers charged that Willis kept her relationship with Wade a secret from her office as well as from her father.

Fulton County Special prosecutor Anna Cross, who is representing the DA in the matter, announced a decision not to question Willis further after her appearance, which moved the case onto other matters.

Attorney Ashleigh Merchant initiated the effort to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the Georgia election interference case against former President Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump speaks , Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Rome, Ga

Wade's lawyer Terrence Bradley doesn't recall relationship origins despite texts

Another critical moment came during testimony by Wade's former law partner Terrence Bradley.

Bradley on the stand was unable to call details of the origins of the relationship.

'I do not have knowledge of it starting, or when it started,' he said.

'I dont recall any specific dates,' he said under questioning. 'I dont have anything  it wasnt a specific date  There wasnt something I can attribute to him telling me whatever. You are asking for a date, asking for a year  and I am telling you at this time I am telling you that I do not have the date.'

He kept that line even amid questioning about his texts with Merchant where he made statements that the relationship started earlier than Willis and Wade claimed.

'I was speculating, I didnt have a  no one told me. I was speculating,' he testified.

That included a text when he told Merchant the two had begun dating when Willis was a judge in South Fulton.

'Why would you speculate when she was asking you a direct question about when the relationship started?' Sadow pressed him.

'I have no answer for that,' Bradley responded.
QUESTION Was Star Trek's engineer Montgomery Scott a war hero?

James Doohan joined the Royal Canadian Artillery as a gunner aged 19, in September 1939. After rising through the ranks, he was recommended for officer training.

On D-Day, Lieutenant Doohan led troops up Juno Beach as part of the initial wave of 3,000 men. After surviving the run up the beach, he established his command post in a shell hole just beyond the village of Graye-sur-Mer.

But there were still pockets of German resistance around and, late that night, as he made his way back to his command post, Doohan was hit by several machine-gun bullets.

The middle finger of his right hand was smashed; a medic in a shell-hole dug four bullets out of his left leg; and another bullet would have killed him if he hadn't had a silver cigarette case his brother had given him in his tunic pocket.

James Doohan as Lt. Commander Montgomery 'Scotty Scott' in Star Trek

James Doohan joined the Royal Canadian Artillery as a gunner aged 19, in September 1939

He was taken to England, where surgeons amputated what was left of his finger, and he spent about six weeks recovering.

Once fit to return to duty, he retrained as an air observation pilot. Qualifying in early 1945, he was attached to the 1st Canadian Army in Holland with 666 Squadron, where he was remembered as 'a good officer and an exceptional pilot'. By the end of the war he had been promoted to captain.

Back in Canada, James Doohan retrained as an actor, and 20 years later he landed the role that would make him a TV legend: Captain Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott, the Starship Enterprise's chief engineer, in Star Trek.

Kaz Wood, Bognor Regis, West Sussex.

QUESTION What is David Hilbert's 'Infinite Hotel Paradox'?

German mathematician David Hilbert (1862-1943) used the concept of a hotel with an infinite number of rooms to illustrate properties of one type of infinite set.

TOMORROW'S QUESTION...

Q : Is there solid evidence that King Arthur did exist? Mike Allen, Dursley, Glos. Q : Why did the Queen Mother refuse to give interviews? Peggy Klein, London SE6. Q: Who voices the Mission: Impossible 'This tape will self-destruct' message? Roland Hand, Brentwood, Essex. Advertisement

Suppose the hotel has an infinite number of guests. It might appear to be fully occupied, but there is always room for another guest. The problem is to decide which room to allocate to the new guest, since every room is currently occupied.

The answer is to send a broadcast to all existing guests asking them all to move to the next room along, thus vacating Room 1 for the new guest. Thus infinity + 1 = infinity.

This scheme can accommodate any finite number of new guests, but what if an infinite number of new guests arrived?

A broadcast to all existing guests asking them to move to the room number that is double their current room number frees up an infinite number of odd-numbered rooms for the infinite new guests. Thus infinity + infinity = infinity.

Not all infinities are the same. The above illustrates the countable infinite set, where (given infinite time) it is in principle possible to count every member of the set.

This includes the set of all positive whole numbers, all positive and negative whole numbers, grid squares on an infinite plane, and so on, because it is possible to devise strategies that count each element in turn. There are many other types of infinity which do not fit this definition, such as the set of all real numbers.

Ken Wood, Newport, Gwent.

QUESTION Was the first synthetic dye in the world invented by a teenager?

Yes, William Henry Perkin, the son of a carpenter in London, did it at the age of 18 in 1856. He started work aged 15 at London's Royal College of Chemistry, now part of Imperial College, where he was employed as an assistant to Professor August von Hofmann.

Part of his duties was to help the professor in his search for a way to synthesise quinine, at the time the only known cure for malaria.

Quinine could be obtained only from the bark of the cinchona tree, which grew in South America. With the British in India, demand for quinine exceeded supply, so the search was on for a substitute.

William Henry Perkin, the son of a carpenter in London, invented the first sythentic dye at the age of 18 in 1856 (stock photo)

By Easter 1856, not having any success, the professor elected to go back to Germany for a holiday, leaving his assistant to his own devices.

Working around the clock, Perkin decided to try substituting aniline for the potassium dichromate they had been experimenting with, and produced a flask with a layer of black sludge.

This did not seem to be any better than the brown sludge their previous experiments had yielded.

Before going to bed, he tried to wash out the flask with alcohol as usual, and was astonished to find it  and everything it came in contact with  turned a vivid purple.

He had accidentally made the first synthetic aniline dye. From this he made his fortune; the professor never forgave him.

Denis Sharp, Littlehampton, West Sussex.
A man and woman have been rushed to hospital after being mowed down by a car in an alleged hit-and-run in Sydney's west.

Emergency services arrived at Cygnus Close, in Doonside, just before 9pm on Monday following reports of a 'neighbour dispute'.

A man, 41, and woman, 42, were hit by a SUV and are now both in Westmead Hospital.

A man and woman have been rushed to hospital after being mowed down by a car in an alleged hit-and-run in Sydney 's west

Paramedics are seen in Doonside after a couple were allegedly mowed down by a car

The driver of the SUV is under police guard at Blacktown Hospital

The woman suffered serious head injuries while the man, who is fighting for life, suffered injuries to his head, chest and leg.

The 27-year-old man allegedly behind the wheel of the SUV fled on foot but was arrested a short time later, 7 News reported.

He remains under police guard at Blacktown Hospital and charges are yet to be laid.

More to come

The woman suffered serious head injuries while the man, who is fighting for life, suffered injuries to his head, chest and leg
Two teenagers have died and a third was left fighting for his life after a horror crash with a lorry.

Both of the males, aged 17 and 19, who died were backseat passengers in the Vauxhall Corsa involved in the smash on Sunday.

The 17-year-old male driver was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, and was last night said to be in a critical condition.

A 17-year-old female, who was a front-seat passenger in the hatchback, was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, but later released after treatment.

The lorry driver, a 29-year-old man, was arrested in connection with a road traffic offence and released pending further inquires. Police Scotland said he was not injured.

Ambulance crews, firefighters, police and the air ambulance attended the accident on the A91 near the Bannockburn interchange in Stirling

The A91 in Stirling, between the Bannockburn Interchange and Greencornhills Roundabout, was shut for 11 hours after the fatal accident at around 3.50pm.

Stephanie McNib was travelling from Glasgow when she passed through the interchange around 40 minutes later.

She said: 'As I got round the roundabout I had never seen so many blue lights and emergency service vehicles.

'I could see three fire engines, five or six police or more, three or four ambulances and there was an air ambulance helicopter in the field.

'It was very bad, my thoughts are with the families.' Crash scene investigators scoured the site for any clues as to what caused the horrific accident and have urged drivers who witnessed the crash to contact them.

Road Policing Sergeant Elaine Scott said last night: 'My thoughts are with everyone involved in this incident and their families and friends at this difficult time.

'We will continue to offer support as our investigation progresses. It's vital we establish exactly what happened here and I'm appealing to anyone who saw the crash, or either vehicle prior to it, to contact us.

'Regardless of how significant you believe the information you have is, we want to hear from you.'

She added: 'I'd ask drivers with dashcam footage of the area around the time to please review this and bring anything of significance to our attention.'

There are heightened concerns about road safety in the area.

The lorry driver, a 29-year-old man, was arrested in connection with a road traffic offence and released pending further inquires. Police Scotland said he was not injured

Evelyn Tweed, Nationalist MSP for Stirling, said: 'I am deeply saddened to hear that two young men have died following [the] accident at Bannockburn.

'Unfortunately we have now seen several deaths on Stirling's roads in recent weeks.'

Ms Tweed said she has written to the Scottish Government to 'establish what support is available to improve road safety'.

Sunday's tragedy is the latest deadly road accident in the area.

Earlier this month pedestrian Helen Sinclair, 65, died when she was hit by a Volkswagen Tiguan near Stirling's Blackgrange Roundabout on the A907.

The road was closed for around eight hours after the fatality.

Ms Sinclair's family said they were 'devastated following our tragic loss' and wanted to'express thanks to everyone who was there at the incident and gave assistance'.

And Jonathan Marshall Watson, of Buchany, Stirlingshire, died in February following a crash on the A84 near Stirling.

The 48-year-old had been driving an Audi A3 when it crashed on the Doune to Stirling road. His family paid tribute to the 'keen musician and astrophile'.

A spokesman for Transport Scotland said its 'sympathies are with family and friends at this difficult time' following Sunday's double tragedy.

He added: 'As the police investigation into this accident is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.'
3rd Summit for Democracy kicks off in Seoul

By Lee Hyo-jin

President Yoon Suk Yeol highlighted Korea's evolving role as a leading democracy, Monday, emphasizing the need for global solidarity to safeguard democracy from the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI).

"Just over 70 years ago, Seoul was in ruins following the invasion by communist forces. Yet, Korea rose from this devastation, driven by a firm belief in universal values of freedom, human rights and the rule of law, and has since advanced democracy," Yoon said during a welcoming speech at the opening ceremony of the Summit for Democracy.

He also addressed the impact of AI and digital technology on democracy, sharing concerns that fake news and disinformation are threatening democratic values.

"The dual nature of digital technology brings both benefits to daily life and threats to democracy. We must share our experiences and wisdom to ensure that AI and digital technologies enhance democracy while safeguarding the safety of individuals and the society," he said.

Yoon's speech marked the beginning of the third Summit for Democracy, taking place in Seoul from Monday through Wednesday. Launched by the United States in 2021, the initiative aims to gather like-minded nations to address challenges threatening global democracy. Korea is the first foreign nation to host the event outside the U.S.

Under the theme "Democracy for future generations," the three-day event was to bring together approximately 300 participants, including delegates from the U.S., Britain, Australia, Ecuador and other nations. The participants also included civic activists and members of academia.

South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul also gave a speech during the opening ceremony.

"Peace is guaranteed when countries that value freedom and human rights come together as one. Korea's own journey is a living testament to this truth," Cho said.

He added, "Our story showcases the political, economic and cultural potential that is unleashed when embracing the ideas of freedom, human rights and the rule of law. As Korea aspires to become a global pivotal state, we are committed to standing in solidarity with the international community to safeguard and advance these values."

Following Cho's remarks, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave a keynote speech in which he hailed Korea as the "champion of democracy" and stressed the need for collective action to safeguard democracies.

"Safeguarding our democracies is a collective effort, one that depends on our governments and our people working together. All people, all nations, all sectors have contributions to make, and none of us has a monopoly on ideas," Blinken said.

The opening ceremony was followed by a ministerial conference and multi-stakeholder roundtable under the theme, "Artificial intelligence, digital technology and democracy."

Tuesday's events will feature panel discussions and workshops by civic groups and international organizations.

The leaders' session will be held virtually on Wednesday evening, with the theme "Technology, Elections, and Fake News." Yoon will chair the second session of the summit, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Kenyan President William Ruto will chair the first and third sessions, respectively.

On the sidelines of the summit, Yoon held a meeting with Blinken, during which the American said the U.S. will always work with South Korea to firmly respond to North Korea's provocations, according to the presidential office. Ahead of the summit, Pyongyang fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea.



Yoon welcomed Blinken's trip to Seoul, saying the recent series of senior-level exchanges shows the strength of the alliance, which has evolved into a "global comprehensive strategic alliance."



Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of Korea and the U.S. held separate talks on the sidelines of the multinational gathering on Monday. During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues, including strengthening their alliance and matters concerning the Korean Peninsula and surrounding regions.

According to the foreign ministry, Cho told Blinken that Seoul will continue its efforts for unification, advancing universal values of freedom and human rights, despite Pyongyang's recent actions defining inter-Korean relations as hostile and rejecting the concept of unification.

Moreover, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the ultimate goal of North Korea's denuclearization and expressed concerns regarding potential unilateral actions by Pyongyang in the West Sea.
Homeowners along the route of a 70-mile monster pylon scheme could see the value of their property slump by up to 30 per cent, experts have warned.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) want to create an overhead power line stretching from the west of Aberdeen to just north of Dundee as part of a 20billion upgrade of the grid system.

The plans, consisting of two substations and miles of towering 187ft steel structures in the North-East, have already faced strong opposition with campaigners fearing the unsightly pylons will destroy the rural landscape.

But property experts claim homeowners could be the biggest losers after a study suggested they stand to collectively lose 1million a mile on the value of their properties as a direct result of the scheme.

Ian Thornton-Kemsley, from property consultants Galbraith, said reductions of between 10 per cent and 30 per cent arising from new pylon lines were not unheard of.

Its a big issue, he added. I dont believe they [SSEN] have analysed how many residential properties are affected.

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) want to create an overhead power line stretching from the west of Aberdeen to just north of Dundee

Galbraiths study looked at a one-mile section of the line where 21 properties worth an estimated 10million were affected.

The firm believes there could be at least a 10 per cent devaluation across the board with more valuable properties facing an even greater percentage loss.

Independent Home Reports are already issuing warnings in the area about the future marketability of houses close to pylons.

Mr Thornton-Kemsley lives on the route near Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, where two cottages he owns will be less than 650ft from the proposed pylons, which will run 70 miles from Kintore, Aberdeenshire, to Tealing in Angus.

He said: SSEN have suggested house values would not be affected by pylons installed nearby at recent consultations. That flies in the face of existing evidence including a paper by Ofgem supporting the undergrounding of cables by SSEN.

Landowners affected by the route stand to lose out, but they are in the minority. There will be a far greater number of house owners affected by the route and they will not get compensation.

Mr Thornton-Kemsley also feared borrowers could be put at financial risk as the value of their homes could shrink below the mortgage balance owed.

SSEN has been holding consultations in communities along the proposed route, which hundreds of protesters have attended.

At one in Stonehaven in Kincardineshire the Save Our Mearns campaign group called for a stop to the monster pylons.

In a statement, Kate Matthews, one of the groups founders, said: SSEN are proposing 21 different projects across North and North East Scotland for OHL [overhead lines] and substations. The cumulative impact is horrendous. Our communities are going to pay heavily for net zero again and again.

SSEN said it had not seen any clear, objective evidence that the 400kV Kintore to Tealing project will have a direct impact on the value of properties.

A spokesman added: Once the alignment for the overhead line is finalised, we will engage with property owners about any evidenced impacts with each case considered on its own merits within the relevant statutory frameworks.

We have engaged with local communities including homeowners as part of our ongoing consultation process, and several events have taken place this month at locations along the proposed route.
A seven-year-old girl from Arizona is fighting for her life and is now on a ventilator after she had to have three of her limbs amputated to save her life.

Victoria Pasten-Morales fell ill suddenly with the symptoms of a fever and pain followed by vomiting. But her condition became serious and escalated within hours.

The second-grader was admitted to Phoenix Children's Hospital where she has been in intensive care for the last two weeks.

During that time, she has undergone eight surgeries and now has a long road to recovery together with the support of her parents and three siblings.

Doctors say Victoria contracted the bacterial infection, group A streptococcus which causes sepsis - often known as blood poisoning.

The youngster was admitted to Phoenix Children's Hospital where she's undergone eight surgeries, battling group A streptococcus, losing three limbs as a result

Victoria is being supported by her loving family which includes three siblings and her parents

Aside from the devastating loss of her limbs, the bacteria has now affected her kidneys and lungs meaning she now requires a ventilator to breathe.

The little girl is still in the ICU but is awake and able to communicate with doctors and her family. It is not known how the youngster contracted the infection.

'Everything happened very fast. It occurred very fast. We don't know where it came from, but it all happened in less than 12 hours,' mom, Obdulia Morales, said to Fox 10.

'Her lips and hands started turning blue,' Obdulia said. 'Not even the doctors can tell us how she got this bacteria.'

'Unfortunately, they had to amputate both feet and her right hand. Her left hand is still recovering,' dad, Victor Pasten, added. 'Diseases come unexpectedly. From morning to night, everything can change in just one second.'

The family say their lives have been changed forever and have set up a GoFundMe to help deal with the medical expenses.

Victoria Pasten-Morales, 7, is fighting for her life, and on a ventilator after three limb amputations following a sudden bacterial infection

Victoria's parents say their lives have been changed forever and have set up a GoFundMe to help deal with the medical expenses.

Despite everything she's gone through, the second grade is still offering kisses to her family from her intensive care hospital bed - a testament to her unwavering strength

The second-grader is seen enjoying a snack at her school while dressed as Minnie Mouse

Despite trauma, Victoria's eyes still light up when her family enters her hospital room

'It's not going to be easy for her. It's going to be hard but, she's strong. She's a warrior,' mom, Obdulia said.

The family say that despite the trauma of the last two weeks, Victoria's eyes still light up when her family come into the room and she is still able to blow kisses.

Sepsis is a medical emergency health experts call a 'silent killer.' It's caused by the body's extreme reaction to an infection.

Sepsis occurs when chemicals released in the bloodstream cause the immune system to go haywire.

Instead of sending infection-fighting white blood cells to attack a foreign invader, it targets healthy tissues and organs.

Infections that lead to sepsis most commonly start in the lungs, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal tract, but almost any infection can lead to sepsis - even things as innocuous as paper cuts.

Bacterial infections are one of the most common causes of sepsis. Blood tests can look for an increase in white blood cells, which indicates an infection is present

READ MORE: Sepsis symptoms in children: Five warning signs all parents should know Advertisement

Also known as flesh-eating disease, necrotizing fasciitis is a severe, rapidly spreading infection that kills one in five sufferers, according to the CDC. It's most commonly caused by group A strep.

Symptoms include a red or warm area of the skin that spreads quickly, severe pain, and fever. As necrotizing fasciitis spreads, it can cause ulcers or blisters on the skin, skin color changes, pus or oozing, dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, and nausea.

The CDC estimates 700 to 1,150 cases occur in the US every year.

Sepsis can closely resemble the flu, which makes it extremely difficult to spot early.

There is no single test for sepsis, but doctors look for signs of infections with measures such as blood tests.

Sepsis can progress to septic shock, which is characterized by a severe drop in blood pressure.

Signs of septic shock, according to the Mayo Clinic, include not being able to stand up, extreme fatigue or not being able to stay awake, and a major change in mental status.

The CDC recommends seeking help immediately if you have signs of sepsis. If left untreated, sepsis and septic shock are fatal.
The family of a man murdered in an unprovoked attack at a bus stop have paid tribute to the loving husband and father.

Nashir Ahmed, 65, was attacked as he stood with a friend on Ferry Road, Edinburgh, at around 8.30pm on Sunday, March 10.

Emergency services were called and the pair were taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where Mr Ahmed later died.

As police continue to hunt for the killer, his family said: Nashir was a loving husband and father.

He was a big part of our family and we are devastated at losing him.

He was heavily involved in Edinburghs Bangladeshi community and will be greatly missed. He loved life and cared for all his family and friends. We will always remember his warmth and his kindness.

Nashir Ahmed, 65, died in hospital after an unprovoked attack in Edinburgh

Nashir was attacked when he was waiting for a bus at Ferry Road

Mr Ahmeds 48-year-old friend received treatment for serious leg and facial injuries but has since been discharged from hospital.

The attacker is described as black, around 30 years of age, with short, dark hair. He was wearing a red tartan scarf and a long black jacket with a hood.

Detective Chief Inspector George Calder said: A family has been left feeling bereft as they come to terms with losing someone so integral to their lives.

The circumstances are heart- breaking, and I cant possibly imagine the pain they are feeling during these difficult times. We continue to follow up several lines of inquiry and I would reiterate my appeal to anyone who has any information about this crime or the person responsible to contact us.

Any small piece of information could be crucial in our ongoing investigation, so please do pass it on.

Tributes to Mr Ahmed have also poured in on social media.

One said: So sad. Nashir was a popular man in our community in Edinburgh. He was a gentleman. He originally came from Narayanganj and lived in Edinburgh for many years. A woman said: Thats horrendous. Thats a busy part of town where Ive been a million times. Poor man.

My deep condolences to his loved ones and my thoughts go out to the other victim.

Police have stepped up patrols in the area, with officers said to be aware that incidents of this nature can cause concern to the local community.

Police Scotland urged anyone who witnessed the despicable and senseless crime, or who may have dash-cam or private CCTV footage of the area, to get in touch by contacting 101.
Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Downing Street for talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday while across the pond, the White House played down reports of a rivalry between President Joe Biden and his old boss.

The former US president waved and smiled as he strolled up to the famous No10 door on Monday afternoon.

It comes after Axios reported Biden and Obama do not speak frequently, but behind closed doors, Biden talks about Obama a lot.

The report claimed Biden 'often measures himself against the man he served as vice president, current and former aides say.'

It stated there is a rivalry, particularly on Biden's side. But the White House pushed back on the reporting Monday.

'The two presidents, President Obama and President Biden, have a very good relationship,' said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. 'You all have seen it over the past several years.'

She said the two 'are like family to each other.'

Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Downing Street for talks with Rishi Sunak today

It is not clear why Mr Obama is in the UK, and his visit was not included in the government's business diary for the day

Obama appearing with Biden and Vice President Harris at the White House in 2022

Obama has visited the White House several times since Biden took office in 2021.

The former president first returned to the White House since he left office in April 2022 to celebrate the Affordable Care Act with Biden.

He was also there later that year for the unveiling of the official White House portraits of him and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

More recently, the pair released an ad together for the ACA at the end of last year.

Later this month, Obama will join Biden and former President Bill Clinton for a first of its kind fundraiser in New York City as Biden makes a bid for a second term.

Obama has publicly praised Biden often and has already appeared in a Biden reelection campaign ad.

He is expected to be a top surrogate for his former vice president as Biden runs for reelection in a likely rematch against former President Trump.

Obama and Biden together at the White House in September 2022 for the ceremony to unveil the official Obama White House portraits

Obama and Biden at the White House in April 2022 for an event to mark the passage of the Affordable Care Act

Obama's Downing Street visit, which lasted around an hour as the pair chatted in the PM's study, was described as a 'courtesy call' as Mr Obama happened to be in London.

It was the first time the two leaders had met, with the pair said to have discussed a range of subjects, including artificial intelligence, one-to-one in Margaret Thatchers former study over a cup of tea.

No 10 said little about the content of their conversation, but both men have two daughters and a shared agenda of promoting education and opportunities for girls.

The former US president waved and smiled as he strolled up to the famous No10 door this afternoon

The agenda is a central mission of Mr Obamas foundation, and speaking at a business event in Warwickshire earlier, the Prime Minister said: I want my girls to grow up in an economy and society where there is no limit to their aspirations.

Upon leaving the meeting he smiled and said 'I'm tempted' when he was asked his opinion on the state of Russian democracy by reporters before getting in a Range Rover with US ambassador to the UK Jane D Hartley just after 4pm.

Mr Obama later held private talks with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

One of the highest profile previous trips by Mr Obama was 2016, when he notoriously stood alongside David Cameron and warned that Britain would be 'at the back of the queue' for a trade deal after leaving the EU.

That intervention amid the referendum battle sparked fury from Brexiteers, although they also regarded it as helpful to their anti-establishment campaign.

The UK has not signed a trade deal with the US, although there was a major push for one when Donald Trump was president.

Mr Obama was in the White House from 2009 to 2017, with Biden serving as his vice president.

The PM's official spokesman said: 'He was making an informal courtesy drop-in as part of his trip to London, where he is conducting work of the Obama Foundation.'

The spokesman added: 'I think President Obama's team made contact and obviously the Prime Minister was very happy to meet with him and discuss the work of the Obama Foundation.'

A spokesperson for Obama declined to reveal the purpose of the visit instead referring DailyMail.com to the 10 Downing statement.
A Seattle landlord was forced to take matters into his own hands and confront a squatter he says owes $80,000 in rent and is refusing to leave his $2 million home.

Jaskaran Singh rented out his five bedroom house on 123rd Avenue near Seattle in Washington, to the man's family in the summer of 2022.

He received the first and last month's rent, but said the tenant then stopped paying, leaving him $80,000 out of pocket.

Singh filed for eviction but after the tenant was granted a stay with a court date set for April 5, Singh took matters into his own hands, confronting the tenant and organizing a protest with 200 people outside the home.

Singh told KOMO News: 'I have suffered an $80,000 loss. This should stop. This is a fight against injustice.'

Jaskaran Singh (right) confronted a squatter in his $2 million Seattle home on Saturday

He says the man owes him $80,000 in back rent and is refusing to leave the property

The $2 million home has five bedrooms and is 1,600-square-feet

The moment Singh confronted the tenant was caught on camera.

During the protest, Singh walked up to the front of the 1,900 square foot home and knocked on the door.

The tenant, who has not been named, opened it and came out.

Singh said: 'You haven't paid the rent for the last one year.'

The tenant tried to go back in the house but Singh said: 'Wait, I need to talk... In six months you haven't paid the rent. This is my house.'

The tenant then walked back into the house and shut the door.

Singh told KOMO News: 'He's not ready to pay. Hes exploiting the system basically.'

Singh filed eviction proceedings when the tenant first started missing payments, but the Housing Justice Project (HJP) stepped in on the tenant's behalf, applying for a stay on the eviction and paying some of the back rent.

The HJP even paid a three-month advance on the rent to give the family time to move out.

But when the three months were up in May 2023, Singh says the family still did not leave and they started missing rent payments again.

Singh told KOMO News: 'He never paid rent after May 2023 of last year, so its been almost 11 months now.'

The tenant reportedly claims that he lost his job in the pandemic and has been unable to find more work as a consultant in the medical field.

But Singh's lawyer, Stephen Freeborn, told KOMO News: 'The guy can't pay his rent, but he has two brand new cars parked in the driveway.'

Singh and his lawyer organized a protest outside the home on Saturday with around 200 people attending, holding placards and chanting 'No pay, no stay'.

Seattle-based journalist Jonathan Choe filmed the protest.

King County Republican Party Vice Chair Kory Hahn, led a 'Get out, con man!' chant in Korean and said: 'If you're not going to pay, you shouldn't stay there.'

200 people turned up at the address on Saturday to protest and call for the tenant to leave

They held placards reading 'landlord lives matter' and led chants of 'no pay, no stay'

Jaskaran Singh told KOMO News that this is a 'fight against injustice'

Police had to intervene when some protesters went and banged on the door of the home.

Freeborn told KOMO News: 'I was there, and I thank them for all coming. It was not just a community rally, but there were people that came from as far away as Tacoma, Olympia.

'We had representatives from the Democratic and Republican parties which I was surprised and happy to see because this should not be a partisan issue. This should be a bipartisan issue because it affects everybody.

'Im glad things like this (the protest) are starting to happen because theyre afraid that nobody listens. Nobody is listening to them.

'These landlords are dying on the vine which is bad for the economy.'

According to KOMO News, the tenant has been granted a temporary restraining order against the Singh.
Welcome to Scotlands biggest city, where you can be fined for driving your old diesel banger  but get off scot-free if youre found with heroin.

And soon, in the centre of Glasgow, addicts will be able to inject the drug in a shooting gallery under medical supervision, free from the threat of prosecution.

Police can dish out meaningless warnings to people caught with Class A drugs, sparing them the inconvenience of a court appearance and full criminal record  and theres no fine either.

Yet if you venture into the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in a non-compliant vehicle, you can be fined 60, rising to 480 for repeat offenders in cars, or a maximum of 960 for buses and HGVs.

Injection

The planned shooting gallery, or safer drug consumption facility, will cost more than 2million a year at a time when overall health spending is falling  despite tax rises to boost patient care  and more than 800,000 people are languishing on waiting lists.

Police in Scotlands biggest city can dish out meaningless warnings to people caught with Class A drugs  but fine drivers snared in the Low Emission Zone

Police and prosecutors have effectively agreed to turn a blind eye to the fact that addicts will be bringing their own heroin for injection in comfortable surroundings with medics on standby.

Drug dealers who gravitate towards the facility in the Gallowgate area might find little disincentive to ply their trade given that across Scotland police numbers are at their lowest level since 2008.

Ditching more than 24,000 minor criminal investigations a year  as Police Scotland chiefs plan to do  means people might give up on reporting dealers and anti-social behaviour, and many already have.

The signal being sent out here is unmistakable: there is no real sanction for drug possession and misuse, and a low-income worker who cant afford to replace their diesel car will face a stiffer punishment for driving it in the LEZ than someone whos caught with heroin.

The reek of cannabis in towns and cities shows that the law is widely ignored because smokers know the chances of police stopping them are virtually zero.

A member of the Scottish Police Authority, the civilian oversight body for the single force, raised the issue of cannabis fumes in 2022. He was told by Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham that the evidence was anecdotal but that hed look into it.

One of Mr Grahams last significant acts in the job hes about to retire  was to announce that police would stop fully investigating lower-level crimes in cases where there were no credible lines of inquiry.

He never did get round to telling us whether his cannabis inquiries, assuming they took place, had borne fruit.

This is a force which wont even disclose how many Recorded Police Warnings have been issued for heroin and cannabis possession. It claims it would be too expensive to extract the data.

Its all part of a public health approach which means top brass can talk tough on the war on dealers while allowing those who fund them to go free with barely a slap on the wrist.

In some areas, there arent enough cops to break down the doors of drug dealers, as a senior officer in Fife recently admitted.

Yet suspected drug deaths in Scotland are up by 10 per cent in a year to an average of around three a day, more than anywhere else in Europe  incontrovertible proof that the current strategy, such as it is, isnt working.

The scale of this failure is hard to overstate, given that the SNP Government made driving down drug deaths a national mission. Humza Yousaf trotted out the usual platitudes last week when the latest bleak figures were published. But theres no indication of a concerted drive to target dealers or punish those who keep them in business.

Ministers are focusing instead on the Glasgow safer consumption centre  a misleading name, given that theres no truly safe way to inject Class A drugs.

Its supporters argue its safer to inject under supervision than doing so on the streets, where there are no medics present, and therefore they reduce the probability of an overdose.

And in theory it should mean fewer needles in parks or on pavements.

Its a plan borne of desperation but also wilful ignorance, as no one involved is willing to admit that the evidence in favour of shooting galleries is decidedly threadbare.

Fatalities

Drug deaths in Canada, where they were pioneered, have soared since their introduction, to the extent that last month one expert said the shock had worn off as the fatalities continue to mount.

Angie Staines, who runs 4B Harm Reduction Society, a street outreach group in the city of Edmonton in Alberta, said: Its just so apparent how everything is failing.

More than 2,500 people died of illicit drug poisonings last year in British Columbia, the highest yearly death toll ever recorded in the province, while across Canada, cities big and small are grappling with an unprecedented surge in overdoses.

Back in 2019, Dr Mark Lysyshyn, medical health officer at Vancouver Coastal Health, said the rise in overdose deaths was because not all drug users took advantage of the facilities. He said: Safer consumption rooms cant save the people who dont go to them. That means the solution for the backers of these clinics is always that we need more of them  never that theyre simply not working as planned.

The longer-term agenda is clear. Last year the SNP Government called for the decriminalisation of all drugs for personal use.

It wants the UK Government to change the law to allow people to be treated and supported rather than criminalised and excluded.

Dystopian

Thats the potential future, but the present is already chillingly dystopian.

We revealed last year that 80,000 of taxpayers money had been spent on hiring taxis to take drug addicts to an NHS clinic to be injected with free heroin.

This isnt a shooting gallery because at this clinic the health service provides the pharmaceutical-grade heroin, rather than addicts bringing in their own.

Addicts with chaotic lifestyles are picked up and ferried to the 4million clinic, where they are given the Class A drug.

The Mail also revealed last year that the facility had cost taxpayers more than 165,000 per patient  and logged 26 overdoses among current or former patients since 2019 when it was set up.

Doubtless in the months and years ahead we can expect more official expressions of regret over drug deaths, and further pledges of concrete action. But it seems no one is interested in looking at the statistics, or taking them seriously.

Nicola Sturgeon once admitted that she and her colleagues, who wasted many years on their doomed campaign for independence, had taken their eye off the ball as drug-related fatalities spiralled to terrifying levels.

That was a shameful failure  but the answer cannot lie in yet more soft-touch justice and liberal ideology which, however well-intentioned, cannot and will not bring an end to this national tragedy.
Two iconic tourist spots in northern NSW will be officially known by their Indigenous names after calls from the community to recognise their significant cultural heritage.

Walgan, meaning 'shoulder' in the Bundjalung language, will be the dual name for Cape Byron, the Australian mainland's most easterly point.

The area is a popular tourist spot in Byron Bay and is significant to the Arakwal and other Bundjalung people as a place for important gatherings and ceremonial practices.

Nguthungulli, said to be the Father of the World, will be the dual name for Julian Rocks, one of Australia's top diving sites located 2.5km from Cape Byron.

The Australian mainland's most easterly point Cape Byron (pictured) will be renamed Walgan which means 'shoulder' in the Bundjalung language

READ MORE: Aussie paradise looks set to take Indigenous name DESI has proposed to change the name of Magnetic Island National Park to Yunbenun Advertisement

It is a significant and sacred Aboriginal site associated with several dreaming stories of the Arakwal and other Bundjalung people.

The NSW Geographical Names Board approved a submission from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to officially give the areas dual names.

The board and Byron Shire Council will also formally name a reserve in the suburb of Bangalow as Piccabeen Park.

'Piccabeen' is a Bundjalung word used to describe the Bangalow palm and baskets made from its fronds.

The move comes after Queensland's Fraser Island was renamed K'gari in 2023 and Magnetic Island last month became Yunbenum.

In 2020, the King Leopold Ranges in Western Australia became the Wunaamin Miliwundi Ranges, while moves are underway to rename Lake Macquarie in NSW, with Galgabba one of the options under consideration.

Customer Service Minister Jihad Dib said the NSW government was committed to preserving and promoting Indigenous language and culture through place naming.

'All Australians share a relationship to the land and the names we give to places convey their significance, sense of history and identity,' he said.

'Dual-naming acknowledges the significance of Aboriginal culture and represents a meaningful step towards the process of unity in NSW.'

Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty Minister David Harris said the Arakwal and other Bundjalung people have had unbroken connections to these places through story, kinship and language since the first sunrise.

'It is only right to honour that history and that connection through names that bring story and language to life for all Australians to enjoy,' he said.
Police have launched an urgent hunt for two missing girls, aged 13, who vanished from an East Sussex seaside town and may have travelled to London.

Ruby and Lacey were reported missing yesterday after they left St Leonards on Sea in East Sussex. It is believed that they were last in Stockwell, Lambeth, at 4.30pm today.

Ruby is about 5ft 5ins tall, of medium build, with long curly brown hair and was last seen wearing a white tracksuit.

Lacey is about 5ft 4ins tall, of slim build, with long curly blonde hair and was last seen dressed in all black.

The Met Police has launched an urgent appeal for the two 'vulnerable' teenagers and appealed for help from the public in the search.

Ruby (pictured) is about 5ft 5ins tall, of medium build, with long curly brown hair and was last seen wearing a white tracksuit

Lacey (pictured) is about 5ft 4ins tall, of slim build, with long curly blonde hair and was last seen dressed in all black

Detective Sergeant Julie Morrow, from the Missing Persons Unit, said: 'It is important that we find these two girls as due to their young age, they are vulnerable.

'I hope to find them both safe and well.

'If you have any information about their whereabouts, or have seen two girls matching their descriptions then please contact police by dialling 999 or 101 quoting reference 01/102759/24 and 01/104794/24.'
Labour MP Clive Lewis was warned of 'severe' consequences after he was accused of swearing at a House of Commons doorkeeper as he was heard shouting 'sh**' during a Rwanda Bill debate.

Mr Lewis, the MP for Norwich South, could be heard loudly saying 'sh**' before he walked out of the chamber as MPs voted on the Government's Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill. It was unclear what had prompted the shout.

Deputy Speaker Sir Roger Gale rose to tell the Commons: 'I'm informed that a Member swore at one of the doorkeepers this evening who on my instructions lock the doors. If that person is identified the consequences will be very severe.'

MPs have a time limit to vote during a division and doorkeepers are instructed to lock the doors to the voting lobby once this elapses.

Mr Lewis later apologised for swearing in the Commons chamber and said his 'outburst' was not directed at anyone in particular.

His remark came as 10 amendments from peers to the bill were overturned in a victory for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Labour MP Clive Lewis (pictured) was warned of 'severe' consequences after he was accused of swearing at a House of Commons doorkeeper

Deputy Speaker Sir Roger Gale said an MP had swore at a House of Commons doorkeeper

The Labour MP could be heard swearing during a debate about the Rwanda bill in the House of Commons

The Norwich South MP told the Commons: 'I'd like to put on record, if I could, my apologies to the chamber, to Members and members of staff, for an earlier outburst I had.

'If I could very quickly explain, I received a message which caused me some consternation and surprise, to which I made an outburst in general at no-one specifically.

'If I could do it again I'd probably have said something like "my giddy aunt", rather what did come out of my mouth, and for that I apologise.

'But just to clear the air and put on record the fact that it was directed at no-one in particular.'

Deputy Speaker Sir Roger Gale, who earlier said it had been alleged an MP had sworn at a doorkeeper, said: 'I appreciate the honourable gentleman's candour in identifying himself and the fullness of the nature of his apology, which is accepted.'

Rishi Sunak has maintained hopes of spring flights carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda as the Government overturned all attempts by the House of Lords to change to its deportation legislation.

The Government saw off 10 amendments from peers to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, after a minister had accused the Lords of trying to 'wreck' the legislation.

The parliamentary showdown over the flagship Bill will continue on Wednesday, when peers may again seek to press for changes in a process known as 'ping-pong'.

The Commons goes into its Easter recess at the close of business on March 26, with peers heading away from Westminster a day later, meaning that if the Lords maintain their resistance to the legislation it is unlikely to pass before the break.

MPs voted by majorities ranging from 57 to 78 to reject the series of amendments made to the Bill by peers, an indication of a relatively stress-free Monday for the Government.

Mr Lewis, the MP for Norwich South, could be heard loudly saying 'sh**' before he walked out of the chamber (file image of the Commons)

His remark came as 10 amendments from peers to the bill were overturned in a victory for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured)

Migrants gesture and take pictures as they cross the English Channel on a small boat, on March 6

Mr Lewis (pictured) later apologised for swearing in the Commons chamber and said his 'outburst' was not directed at anyone in particular

The parliamentary showdown at the Houses of Parliament (pictured) over the flagship Bill will continue on Wednesday, when peers may again seek to press for changes in a process known as 'ping-pong'

The amendments overturned included an attempt by peers to ensure the Bill complies with domestic and international law, and a requirement that Parliament cannot declare Rwanda to be a safe country until the treaty with its promised safeguards is fully implemented.

Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson said Rwanda has a 'long and proud history' of integrating asylum seekers and refugees and said the UK Government had 'published evidence' in support of Rwanda being a safe country.

He also told the Commons: 'They are wrecking amendments.'

The proposed legislation seeks to compel judges to regard the east African country as safe in a bid to clear the way to send asylum seekers who cross the Channel in small boats on a one-way flight to Rwanda.
More than 100 illegal migrants have already been earmarked for the first wave of Rwanda deportations, it can be revealed today.

Home Office officials have identified a group who are least likely to be able to launch successful legal challenges against removal.

The pool includes between 100 and 150 names, the Mail can disclose. The candidates for removal, most of whom are believed to have arrived in Britain by small boat across the Channel, will be the first to board chartered planes to Rwanda's capital Kigali after they have been issued with deportation paperwork.

The first flight is likely to take place next month, just weeks after the Safety of Rwanda Bill is expected to become law. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's official spokesman confirmed the first migrants had already been identified and vowed they would be 'ready to go' as soon as possible.

It came as MPs last night voted to reject all ten amendments made to the Bill by unelected peers earlier this month.

More than 100 illegal migrants have already been earmarked for the first wave of Rwanda deportations (File Image)

Migrants will stay in the Hope Hostel in Kigali, Rwanda (pictured) after being deported from the UK

Ministers hope to see the first deportations take off before May 2 local elections

Illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson told the Commons that the amendments watered down the measures and sought to introduce delays.

'This Bill is an essential element of our strategy to protect our borders, stop the boats and prevent the tragic loss of lives at sea by dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossings across the Channel,' Mr Tomlinson said.

Labour frontbencher Stephen Kinnock said his party backed all the Lords' changes and condemned the Rwanda scheme as a 'debacle'.

It remains unclear how hard peers will fight to reinstate their amendments to the Bill when they consider it again tomorrow. The legislation could become law by the end of this week, or just after Easter if the process of parliamentary 'ping pong' leads to delay.

Home Office teams are 'preparing for all eventualities' once the legislation is passed, it is understood, including probable legal challenges and even potential protests by groups opposed to the scheme.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: 'Everyone is trying to block us, including the Labour Party because they don't have a plan to tackle this problem. We do, I'm determined to see it through, get the deterrent up and running as quickly as possible.

'I am still committed to the timeline that I set out previously, which is we aim to get a flight off in the spring.'

The PM's official spokesman said: 'We are identifying and have identified the cohort of people who will be the first to board flights. We are continuing to work at pace on that so the first flights are ready to go in the weeks after the Bill passes.'

He added: 'We expect the first flights to take off in the spring  that timeline remains unchanged whether the Bill is passed before or after Easter.

'The PM's message is clear: we must get these flights off the ground to deter people from attempting these perilous crossings across the Channel and save lives.'

Ministers hope to see the first deportations take off before May 2's local elections.

The new Bill gives Parliament final say on whether it is safe for migrants to be removed to Rwanda and introduces a range of safeguards. It is designed to overcome the Supreme Court's concerns after it declared the policy unlawful.

The Rwanda scheme has been in legal limbo for almost two years after it was first unveiled as a way of deterring migrants from crossing the Channel by small boat.
China rebuked Korea on Monday for Taiwans participation in a U.S.-backed democracy summit in Seoul, where the islands Digital Minister Audrey Tang delivered an unannounced video message.

Tang told the third Summit for Democracy that Taiwan suffered disproportionately from concerted cyberattacks and the democratically governed island was willing and able to work with all stakeholders to ensure AI develops safely and sustainably.

Taiwan is a key global supplier of the semiconductor chips critical for such technology applications.

The conference being hosted by Korea is an initiative of U.S. President Joe Biden aimed at finding ways to stop democratic backsliding and the erosion of rights and freedoms.

China, which claims Taiwan as its own, although the island rejects its sovereignty claims, said it was firmly opposed to Korea having invited Taiwan to participate.

"There is only one China in the world," foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular news conference in Beijing on Monday. "Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory."

He urged Seoul to abide by the one-China principle and stop providing a platform for Taiwan independence forces to boost their prestige.

Koreas foreign ministry did not immediately respond when asked about Lins comments.

Conservative Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has charted a course closer to the United States. But China is Koreas largest trading partner, and Yoon has also tried to placate Beijing to avoid widespread economic blowback.

Tangs participation in the event was not announced in advance by authorities in either Taiwan or Korea.

A session program distributed on Monday listed only a possible video message in fine print at the end, while Tangs ministry did not flag the appearance in her daily schedule of public events given to reporters.

Taiwans foreign ministry said Tangs comments were made in a pre-recorded video message. The Korean announcer who introduced Tangs video said she was appearing in a private capacity as an expert on the issues.

A democratic, rather than technocratic approach, is ideal to tackle the challenges of artificial intelligence, such as by mobilizing citizens to identify and counter misinformation, Tang told the gathering.

Tangs invitation to Bidens first democracy summit in 2021 also drew protest from China, while U.S. officials cut short the video feed of her remarks after a map in her slide presentation swathed Taiwan in a color different from that of China. (Reuters)








Ben Wallace has called for a cross-party commitment to 3 per cent of GDP as a minimum spending level on defence as he warned British forces may have to fight in Ukraine.

The former defence secretary said the country could not wait for the economy to improve before crucial funding was poured into our armed forces.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under increasing pressure to ratchet-up investment into the military after this newspaper highlighted shocking black holes in the UK defence budget.

Mr Wallace said: 'I would like really to campaign across the House to make sure the main parties realise the dangers we face and that it should be in their manifestos.

'In the General Election campaign, or in the lead up to the manifestos, the parties should be asked why they're not spending 3 per cent, because the soldiers  all the men and women of this country who serve our national security  need to be protected.'

Former defence secretary Ben Wallace has called for a cross-party commitment to 3 per cent of GDP as a minimum spending level on defence as he warned British forces may have to fight in Ukraine

The former defence secretary said the country could not wait for the economy to improve before crucial funding was poured into our armed forces

A Merlin helicopter from 820 Naval Air Squadron loaded and fired flares from HMS Prince of Wales, while embarked for Exercise Steadfast Defender

Mr Wallace added: 'You don't invest at five to midnight. You start investing now.

'We need to set our defence spending, not in the terms of when economic conditions allow, which is the Prime Minister's and the government's policy, but when the threat demands it.

'Ultimately that is what defines how much we spend, not the economic conditions. It is what the threat is and what we need to do to defend ourselves.'

Mr Wallace also suggested it 'could not be ruled out' that British troops might have to be sent to Ukraine to confront the forces of Vladimir Putin.

Speaking to Times Radio, he added: 'We should use that phrase, 'we cannot rule them out'.

'I mean, ultimately, part of deterrence is ambiguity... keeping the adversary guessing about how far we would go and what we would do.

'That's what Putin does masterfully  he keeps everyone guessing. It is important we never shut off avenues, and we keep people guessing.

'And I think the best thing is to make sure he realises we think what he is doing in Ukraine is very, very serious. I think president Putin  and we just saw that from the sham election  is the closest to Adolf Hitler we've had in this generation.'

F-35B Lightning jets on the flight deck of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales as it heads to join the largest Nato exercise since the Cold War

An RAF Typhoon FGR4 aircraft returning to their base following strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen

The pressure on Mr Sunak to increase defence spending has intensified following the Mail's campaign for an immediate rise.

Four former defence secretaries  Lord Hammond, Sir Michael Fallon, Sir Gavin Williamson and Sir Malcolm Rifkind  have all backed this newspaper's call for an increase. Defence is among the issues uppermost in the minds of Conservative backbenchers said to be concerned about Mr Sunak's leadership of the party.

Penny Mordaunt, a former naval reservist, has been muted as a possible replacement should MPs seek to oust him ahead of the election. Dampening speculation Mr Sunak could be forced out, Mr Wallace suggested the national vote was simply too close for another leadership challenge.

He added: 'There could a moment in time in the electoral cycle where you effectively put your best suit on, stand up, march towards the sounds of the guns and you get on with it.'
Humza Yousaf is facing a furious backlash after insisting that he would make no apologies for his insulting anti-Tory general election campaign rant.

The First Minister is accused of showing open contempt towards Scotlands many Conservative supporters after he said he wanted the country to be Tory-free.

Nationalist colleagues doubled down on the offensive remarks yesterday and insisted they would not be changing the SNPs election campaign tactics.

It comes just a day after one of the partys own veteran politicians disowned the comments and refused to endorse the use of vulgar slurs.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross condemned the divisive rhetoric and said it was insulting to the huge number of Scots who backed his party. He said: These insulting comments demonstrate the SNPs open contempt for the almost 700,000 Scots who voted Scottish Conservative at the last election. The damage has already been done. I remember Nicola Sturgeon having to correct herself when she said she detested the Tories.

Humza Yousaf proudly called himself the continuity candidate and I think this divisive language that we heard from Nicola Sturgeon has been continued. Humza Yousafs divisive rhetoric shows why we are asking pro-UK voters to vote together for the Scottish Conservatives. If we unite once more, we can beat the SNP and end their campaign to divide Scotland for good.

First Minister Humza Yousaf makes no apology for his insulting anti-Tory general election campaign rant

The one thing Humza Yousaf is correct about is that in many seats up and down Scotland, the election will be a straight fight between the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives. He should suffer at the ballot box for pushing such divisive language.

We are calling for voters in those constituencies who are sick and tired of Humza Yousaf spreading division to back the local Scottish Conservative candidate so we can defeat the SNP and get the focus back on Scotlands real priorities, such as fixing our public services.

Mr Yousaf sparked the row on Saturday during a rabble-rousing speech to the SNPs campaign council. He said: In this election, we have the chance to make Scotland Tory-free.

We can make history. And theres only one way to do it. Most seats across Scotland are a straight fight between the SNP and the Tories  and the SNP are in second place in each seat the Tories hold.

Let us resolve, here and now, to win all of those Tory seats.

From Aberdeenshire to the Borders, lets free this country of the Tories once and for all.

We need to reject not just Tory politicians, but Tory policies, Tory ideas and Tory values.

The rhetoric was criticised by long-serving MP for Perthshire Pete Wishart and other activists.

Mr Wishart told followers on social media: Much as I will be doing everything possible to ensure that the Tories are kept out of Perth and Kinross-shire I wont be using this Tory free rhetoric as part of my campaign.

Lesley Riddoch, the nationalist broadcaster and author, compared the message to comments made by UK Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner who called Tories scum.

Appearing on Kaye Adams BBC show, she said: Ironically, if youre actually trying to campaign in a conservative area, slagging off the Tories as kind of scum, to borrow Angela Rayners phrase, doesnt really work with voters who might have considered voting either way.

So Im not sure this is landing terribly well.

Reacting to the comments from Mr Wishart, Mr Yousaf said: I love Pete and, of course, hes used that phrase before himself. I make no apologies  none-whatsoever  (for) saying to people theres a historical opportunity for Scotland to ensure we dont have a single Tory MP come the next general election.

Jamie Hepburn, Mr Yousafs independence minister, yesterday stood by the message and said: Its time for them to go and I think its a very clear and straightforward message.

Rather than own their failures, SNP will always sow division

Commentary by Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative Leader

Every so often the mask slips and the SNP betray their contempt even visceral hatred  for those who dont share their beliefs and vision for Scotland.

We saw it from Nicola Sturgeon a few months before she quit as First Minister when she told the BBC: I detest the Tories and everything they stand for.

When this provoked an outcry, she desperately tried to backtrack by claiming she was referring to Conservative policies, rather than individual politicians or, more pertinently, the hundreds of thousands of people in Scotland who vote for my party.

But the words she had used were unambiguous and not remotely nuanced.

That fact, coupled with the best part of a decade spent stoking divisions across Scotland, ensured nobody bought her attempted clarification.

We saw the same ugly contempt from the SNP towards the biggest opposition party  and everyone who votes for us  at the weekend when Nicola Sturgeons successor articulated his general election strategy to deliver a Tory-free Scotland.

Douglas Ross, Scottish Conservative Leader

The only difference is that Humza Yousaf has since doubled down on his divisive rhetoric, rather than seeking to row back.

His comments are not worthy of a First Minister, who ought to represent all Scots rather than just hardcore Nationalists.

They are deeply insulting to the almost 700,000 people who voted Scottish Conservative at the last general election  because hes effectively calling for them to be cancelled, their views and values to go unvoiced and unheard.

Many others who dont vote Conservative, but who value open debate and diversity of opinion, will be equally dismayed by them.

There was one thing Humza Yousaf did get right in his ugly diatribe, though. He correctly identified that in swathes of seats the election will be a straight fight between the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives.

From Aberdeenshire to the Borders  to quote the First Minister  there are a host of constituencies where only my party or his can win.

And voters in those areas who are repelled by Humza Yousafs remarks  not to mention his partys appalling record in government  know they have to unite behind the Scottish Conservative candidate to beat the SNP. Perhaps this explains why some within his own party have called out their leaders Tory-free bile.

Pete Wishart, the SNPs longest-serving MP, who represents Perth and North Perthshire, pointed out that the 20,000 people in his constituency who voted Conservative at the last election deserve to have their views respected rather than rubbished.

Admittedly, Mr Wisharts credibility is somewhat undermined by him having tweeted the same unpleasant rhetoric a few days earlier  not to mention his long history of insulting political opponents. But, while his volte-face is clearly motivated by self-preservation rather than integrity, this weeks version of Mr Wishart has hit the nail on the head.

The SNP have long had an ugly us and them intolerance for their political opponents or enemies as former party president Mike Russell tellingly put it.

The Scottish Conservatives  as the strongest defenders of Scotlands place in the Union and the harshest critics of the SNPs self-serving obsession with independence  are invariably treated to the worst of their invective.

That will continue as Humza Yousaf  leading a divided, scandal-ridden party and with an appalling record in government to defend  tries to shore up his base by intensifying his independence push ahead of the election.

The First Minister doesnt want to talk about huge NHS waiting lists, the rising tide of violence in classrooms, the failure to dual key trunk roads or provide a reliable ferry fleet for our island communities.

Hes desperate to avoid discussing police and council cuts or the fact hes made Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK.

Why? Because he and the SNP are responsible and accountable for all of these things. If he talks about these failures, he either has to own them or  as is his wont  seek to blame the UK Government (despite the biggest block grant on record being provided).

Thats why hed rather reach for  has to reach for  the SNPs comfort blanket.

Its why he is sowing division, insulting his rivals and renewing his push for independence  which, were repeatedly told, will be page one, line one, of his manifesto.

The SNP leader is picking fights and insulting voters not from a position of strength, but from a position of weakness.

If those voters who are scunnered with Humza Yousafs ugly rhetoric and failure in government unite behind the Scottish Conservatives in key seats across the country, together we can expose that weakness and defeat the SNP.
Whistleblower says prison staff had 'blood on on their hands' over treatment

Brent Reker was found dead in the Ravenhall Correctional Centre in 2019

Prison officers feared a notorious bikie boss was organising a mass self-harm incident with fellow inmates in the days before he was found dead in his cell.

Those fears saw Finks boss Brent 'BJ' Reker transferred out of a specialist mental health unit into another section of the prison just an hour before he died.

The 35-year old national president was found hanging at the Ravenhall Correctional Centre in December 2019 after barricading himself in his cell.

A Victorian coroner is investigating why Reker, who was on remand for serious, violent drug and weapon offences, was moved and whether that contributed to his suicide.

Daily Mail Australia revealed last year a prison guard whistleblower believed prison staff had 'blood on their hands' over his death.

The guard, who wished to remain anonymous, had worked closely with Reker before he hanged himself after being transferred to a unit for troublesome inmates.

'He was a massive, massive suicide risk. He tried to kill himself multiple times while he was at the Melbourne Assessment Prison, and that's a maximum security prison that is run specifically for those with mental health issues,' she said.

Reker had become suicidal after the Director of the Office of Public Prosecutions won an appeal in the Supreme Court that saw his bail revoked in February 2019.

The bikie had initially been bailed over an alleged bashing, described as a revenge attack over the release of naked photos of his friend Tara Egglestone online.

Brent Reker as he looked before having his face inked. Reker had previously spent time in a Perth jail after being convicted of a standover

Reker allegedly arranged for Finks bikies to target the home of Nick Gold. Another co-accused, Tara Egglestone (pictured), claimed he had posted naked photos of her online

On Monday, Counsel assisting the coroner, Leading Senior Constable Fiona Nation, said Reker had been moved from Port Phillip Prison to a specialist mental health unit at Ravenhall in November 2019, after previous attempts to take his own life.

The Moroka unit provides prisoners who have complex mental health issues with specialised care, treatment and programs.

However, about three weeks later prison staff became concerned Reker was wielding influence over other prisoners in that unit, and removed him from the program.

Unit supervisor at the time, Malcolm Garth, told the inquest that while he was aware Reker had told prison staff he and other inmates had planned to self harm together, he didn't believe it was a real threat.

'Just between you and me, the guys are all going to slash up on Sunday.,' Reker had told a prison doctor.

Mr Garth said Reker and others were annoyed prisoners were missing out on doctor and dentist visits and Reker had also made similar threats when trying to get a job while in jail.

'One of the issues in the cohort of prisoners we have in the Moroka program was that they have complex and challenging behaviours,' Mr Garth told the inquest.

'A lot of that is around attempting to manipulate people by making fake threats to get them to do what they want ... I think those particular comments were probably some form of an attempt to manipulate us to get an outcome.'

Reker (middle) pictured with other members of the Finks motorcycle gang

Reker, 35, was on remand facing charges over an alleged bashing, described as a revenge attack over the release of naked photos of a woman online

Following a series of meetings, the decision was made to remove Reker from the unit.

A psychiatrist was supposed to speak to Reker before he was transferred, but it never happened because the clinician was unable to be contacted.

About 2.30pm on December 12, officers began transferring Reker out of the unit.

In body-worn camera footage shown to the inquest, Reker was argumentative when told about the move.

A psychiatrist was sent to Reker's new cell about 3.30pm, but he did not respond and the cell door was blocked by a mattress.

Corrections staff raised a 'code black' medical emergency and Reker was found lying unconscious on the floor of the shower in his cell at 3.38pm.

The inquest heard that despite his repeated threats of self harm and relatively recent suicide attempts, Reker was listed on the lowest risk category, which meant his mental health history wasn't necessarily shared with prison staff.

Coroner Paul Lawrie is investigating the events leading up to Reker's move out of the specialist unit, his mental health history and risk assessment of him by staff.

For confidential crisis support, call Lifeline 13 11 14 and beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Membership fees for the Qantas Club are set to increase by 17 per cent as the airline looks at fitting its lounges with $100million worth of renovations.

The price increase will see new annual fees jump from $699 to $828, including the $129 joining fee, while renewal fees will rise from $540 to $629.

The new prices will be introduced from April 18. Current members whose renewal expires after that date can renew before the deadline to avoid the increase.

Qantas has justified the price hike by pointing to increased operational costs since it last raised membership fees seven years ago.

Qantas Club members are expected to see $100million worth of improvements rolled out across the airline's 24 domestic lounges.

Annual membership fees for the Qantas Club will increase by 17 per cent from April 18, 2024

Qantas Club members can access the airline's 24 domestic lounges and more than 600 international lounges

Members also have access to more than 600 international lounges through Qantas and its Oneworld partners.

A spokesman said the increase 'follows a reduction in the membership fees for several years during the pandemic'.

David Flynn from Executive Traveller believes the higher price will see a lull in new Qantas Club members.

'Many travellers will find it's simply better value to have a meal and a drink or two in the terminal, especially when there's so much more choice on the menu compared to the Qantas Club buffet,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

Frequent flyer expert Adele Eliseo of the Champagne Mile pointed out there are several ways to access Qantas lounges without membership.

'You can actually get access to Qantas Club by attaining the top tier of their 'points club plus' which requires 350,000 points to achieve,' she said.

'There's also a number of (Qantas linked) credit cards that offer lounge passes which can be sufficient for many travellers.'

New members joining Qantas will pay $828, including the $129 joining fee, while renewal fees will rise to $629

David Flynn from Executive Traveller believes the higher price will see a lull in new Qantas Club members

While Qantas Club fees are competitive compared to other international memberships, like $991 with United Airlines and $1,300 with American Airlines, there are cheaper Australian options

She recommended travellers consider how many times they plan to fly per year to determine whether the increased membership fee can be justified.

While Qantas Club fees are competitive compared to other international memberships, like $991 with United Airlines and $1,300 with American Airlines, there are cheaper Australian options.

Virgin Australia offers access to its seven domestic lounges for $399 per year.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Qantas for comment.
Getting on an airplane should be the start of a relaxing trip to another location.

But nothing triggers panic quite so much as seeing your baggage precariously balancing on towing vehicles from outside the plane window prior to departure.

Thankfully, these human-driven baggage tow 'tractors' could soon be a thing of the past.

British Airways is to start using a self-driving baggage robot called 'Auto-DollyTug' at Gatwick Airport later this year.

The machines will pick up suitcases from the terminal building and ferry them across the tarmac in closed containers to awaiting aircraft.

The self-driving vehicle, developed by Coventry-based firm Aurrigo, will transport baggage from terminals to awaiting aircraft, where they will be stowed using human-operated lifts

READ MORE: Britain's first self-driving city centre bus service set to be introduced The self-driving shuttle bus arrives in Sunderland as a ribbon cutting ceremony takes place Advertisement

Once they reach the aircraft, they will be loaded using human-operated lifts into the cargo hold.

Auto-DollyTug is the creation of a firm called Aurrigo, based in Coventry, which has a wide range of autonomous vehicles including buses and shuttles.

It hopes Auto-DollyTug will be more efficient and faster than current procedures, while reducing the amount of luggage that goes missing.

David Keene, Aurrigo's CEO and co-founder, said it's often 'lotto time' for passengers at an airport baggage carousel.

'First of all, you might have a long wait,' he told the Telegraph.

'Secondly, your bag might not have made it  and that really dents the customer experience.

'Everyone tends to blame the airline, because that's who you're flying with, but it's not actually the airlines handling the bags in a lot of cases.

'So taking that back and being able to own the customer experience is a really important part of it.'

Steve McGowan at British Airways owner IAG said: 'IAG is exploring innovative ways to help its airlines run their operations as smoothly and punctually as possible.

'We are working with Aurrigo to trial the use of autonomous baggage trollies, to help support the work of the fantastic baggage teams at our Group airlines and our ground handling partners.'

Aurrigo has been testing a fleet of Auto-DollyTugs at Changi Airport in Singapore since the Covid pandemic.

The autonomous carries baggage in closed containers - a bit like shipping containers - rather than just being perched on open trailers

Aurrigo has been testing a fleet of Auto-DollyTugs at Changi Airport in Singapore since the Covid pandemic

Baggage tow 'tractors' are human-driven vehicles with open trailers full of suitcases. Pictured is a baggage tow tractor at Venice Marco Polo Airport, Italy

READ MORE Future of transport? 'Floating' hyperloop train hits record 387mph China's 'T-Flight' train aims to go even faster (1,243 mph) when commercialised Advertisement

They have also been previously tested Auto-DollyTug at Heathrow Airport but will now enter full-time service as part of a trial for British Airways flights at Gatwick from May at the earliest.

At the same time, they will also come to Cincinnati airport in Ohio.

To get around Gatwick, Aurrigo will use a 3D 'digital twin' of the airport that's built into its software.

This allows each robot  which ranges in cost to from about 100,000 to 250,000  to learn routes and navigate potential hazards.

It also uses 360 cameras and LiDAR  a sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure distances of objects.

And rather than take jobs previously owned by human workers, Aurrigo expects the Auto-DollyTugs to tackle staff shortages that have plagued the airline industry.

These shortages have led to delayed flights, cancellations, long queues and soaring ticket prices.

Aurrigo is also known for designing and building Britain's first self-driving city centre bus service, which is about to start service in Sunderland in the coming months.

Three of the zero emission shuttle buses will take passengers on a three-mile route between Sunderland bus interchange, the university campus and the Royal Hospital.

Aurrigo has also designed and built Britain's first self-driving city centre bus service. The route will be the first driverless bus service launched in a UK city centre

Under the initial pilot scheme there will be two 'safety attendants' on board to 'oversee and manage' the self-driving vehicle's operation.

This is standard procedure for self-driving trials, as the humans can intervene in case anything goes wrong.

The company also has another vehicle called the Auto-Pod, a four-seater battery-powered vehicle designed for transportation of people in cities.

In Milton Keynes, MailOnline took a ride in the Auto-Pod, which is operated by an Xbox controller but stops at bollards and can't navigate around lorries.
Stunning new images have been released of a 'devil comet' that is the size of Manhattan.

The new pictures show the giant ice ball has been hiding a spiraling swirl of red, green and blue gas around its icy core.

The spirals, which look like a yin-yang symbol, are caused by the comet ejecting streams of cryomagma while it spins and because it makes a full rotation within two weeks, the jets of ice are twisted into the swirls seen in the images.

Stargazers are see the comet with the naked eye by the end of March and during April 8's solar eclipse - across the 115-mile strip from Maine down to Texas - if they're in regions away from city lights and have a clear view of the night sky.

Astrophotographer Jan Erik Vallestad captured images of the swirling devil comet

The devil comet, called P12/Pons-Brooks appeared in July 2023 for the first time in 71 years

Astrophotographer Jan Erik Vallestad captured the close-up images using specialized software to zoom in on the comet's coma  a scientific term for a cloud of icy dust.

The comet, known as the 'devil comet,' got its name last year when a photo captured it with a horseshoe shape at its crest, which resembled horns.

But Vallestad's recent images, taken from Norway, provide a much more detailed picture of Pons-Brooks as it travels closer to the sun.

He explained that most astronomers are focusing on the comet's tail, which grows longer with each passing night, but Vallestad decided to hone in on the comet's core.

'I focused solely on the core here, disregarding almost everything else,' said Vallestad, adding that many astronomers believe the comet's outbursts are a sign of cryovolcanic activity, 'so this might be further evidence toward just that.'

Stargazers might be able to see the Pons-Brooks comet with the naked eye during April 8's solar eclipse

The devil comet got its name last year when a photo captured it with a horseshoe shape at its crest, resembling horns.

The comet, named 12P/Pons-Brooks, is 10.5 miles wide and experiences periodic volcanic-like 'flare-ups' that make it shine 100 times brighter than usual as it gets closer to the sun.

Pons-Brooks can only be seen with a telescope, binoculars or through a long-exposure photograph toward the Pisces constellation in the early evening.

Cryovolcanic activity occurs when a comet experiences volcano-like eruptions of ice and gas.

The comet's solar radiation causes fissures in its nucleus  which is made up of rock, dust and frozen gas  to crack open and spray water, ammonia and methane, called cryomagma, from its core into space.

The comet will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere until May and the Southern Hemisphere into June

The next time the Pons-Brooks comet will appear is in 2095

Latvia-based astrophotographer Juris Sennikovs mimicked Vallestad's technique to locate the spiral as well.

'After seeing [the] image from Jan Erik Vallestad, I processed my image of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks in a similar way,' Sennikovs told Spaceweather.

'Much to my surprise, I also got a spiral around the comet's core. Without processing one can easily miss this structure,' he added.

To see Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, look toward the Great Square of Pegasus and in the next few weeks, the comet will move toward the Aries constellation

Those wishing to view the comet now can do so by looking to the westward area of the night sky toward the Square of Pegasus.

READ MORE: Huge space rock three times the size of Mount Everest that is racing towards Earth Arizona-based amateur astronomer Eliot Herman, who has been monitoring the comet, said it abruptly brightened almost 100-fold on October 31 and continued to get brighter in the following days. Advertisement

In the coming weeks, it will shift toward the Aries constellation and if it flares up, it will become so bright that it can become viewable without a telescope.

The devil comet's flare-ups in brightness are 'probably caused by the ices feeling the warmth of the sun for the first time, turning to the gas phase and escaping the nucleus, dragging other dust or ice with it,' Lori Feaga, a professor who studies comets at the University of Maryland, told The Washington Post.

Pons-Brooks was first discovered by French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons in 1812 and again in 1883 by William Brooks, giving it its name, although astronomers say there is evidence that the comet was spotted as early as the year 1385.

It was last seen 71 years ago when it traveled close to the sun and it will be visible in the Northern Hemisphere until early May when it starts to fade but will remain visible in the Southern Hemisphere into June.

Pons-Brooks' most recent flare-ups occurred in July 2023 and on October 15, November 1 and 14, December 14 and January 18, and the next time the comet will be seen is in 2095.

'It is interesting to study during this [visit] because we only get a chance every 70 years  and the technology and telescopes have greatly improved since its last appearance,' Feaga told The Post.

She added: 'On this [visit] we should be able to get a better handle on the comet's chemical make-up.'
Although it may seem like an eternal feature of Earth, the Atlantic Ocean could be swallowed by a vast subduction zone, dubbed the 'Ring of Fire', a new study warns.

Scientists in Portugal say this subduction zone is currently located beneath the Gibraltar Strait, the narrow gap of water between Spain and Morocco.

But the experts think it could grow and expand westwards into the Atlantic and eventually become responsible for a 'closing' or shrinking of the ocean basin.

This will happen 'soon' in geological terms  in approximately 20 million years  at a time when humans could still be alive on the planet.

Subduction zones are locations on Earth where one tectonic plate dives below the other, and are known for powerful seismic activity.

It's well known that Earth's lithosphere (its rocky, outermost shell) is formed of around 15 tectonic plates, each of different shapes and sizes. Powerful seismic activity can be detected along the tectonic plate's borders, where the plates rub up against each other. This diagram shows tectonic plate boundaries with newly formed crust in red

The Strait of Gibraltar is between the countries of Spain (north) and Morocco (south). This 10-mile strait that separates the two countries (as well as Europe and Africa) is where two major tectonic plates (the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate) collide

What is subduction? Earth's lithosphere (its outermost shell) is formed of around 15 tectonic plates of different shapes and sizes. Seismic activity can be detected along the tectonic plate's borders, where the plates rub up against each other. But in the ancient past, large plates have since disappeared into Earth's mantle by means of 'subduction'. This is the geologic process in which one edge of one plate is forced below the edge of another - and over time an entire plate can be lost. Advertisement

The new study has been led by Joao Duarte, a professor in tectonics at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, Portugal.

He and his colleagues warn that entire oceans can close up if new 'subduction zones' form  and this process may have already started with the Atlantic.

'We have good reason to think that the Atlantic is starting to close,' Professor Duarte told MailOnline.

'Subduction zones are what cause the oceans to close, by pulling their ocean floor back into the mantle, bringing the continents together.'

The 10-mile Gibraltar Strait that separates Spain and Morocco (as well as Europe and Africa) is where two major tectonic plates meet  the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate.

In this subduction zone, the African plate is subducting below the Eurasian plate, resulting in seismic activity and the risk of earthquakes.

Currently, the subduction zone below the Gibraltar Strait is 'sleeping', meaning the velocity at which the plate is sliding down into the Earth's mantle is 'very very slow'.

Professor Duarte and colleagues say subduction zones can grow so that they enter another part of the ocean  a process dubbed 'subduction invasion'.

In subduction zones, the Earth's tectonic plates converge and one plate sinks beneath another (pictured)

Map highlighting the Atlantic subduction zones, the fully developed Lesser Antilles and Scotia arcs on the western side and the Gibraltar arc on the eastern side

READ MORE: Nearly 75% of US now at risk of damaging earthquakes Scientists updated the National Seismic Hazard Model with new data Advertisement

Currently, the subduction zone below the Gibraltar Strait is about 125 miles long (although it plunges up to a depth of more than 350 miles), making it one of the smallest subduction zones in the world.

But 20 million years from now, it could reach a length of about 500 miles, Professor Duarte said.

For the study, the team used computer modelling to simulate the life of the subduction zone since its birth during the Oligocene epoch (34 million to 23 million years ago).

Modelling its fate into the future, they found it will move westwards through the narrow Gibraltar Strait over the next 20 million years.

The model predicts that the extended subduction zone will form a new Atlantic subduction system  the so-called 'Ring of Fire', named after the Pacific Ocean version that already exists.

Subduction slowly pulls the ocean floor under, dragging the continents closer together as the ocean basin shrinks.

Therefore, this new Ring of Fire could 'close up' the Atlantic, making it cease to exist  albeit in an estimated 20 million years.

'The results suggest that the arc will propagate farther into the Atlantic after a period of quiescence,' the team say in their study, published in the journal Geology.

Maps showing the evolution of the Gibraltar subduction zone from 30 million years ago to 50 million years into the future

'The models also show how a subduction zone starting in a closing ocean can migrate into a new opening ocean through a narrow oceanic corridor.

'Subduction invasion is likely a common mechanism of subduction initiation in Atlantic-type oceans and a fundamental process in the recent geological evolution of Earth.'

The finding that the Gibraltar subduction is still currently active also has important implications for seismic activity in the area.

Events such as the 1755 Great Lisbon Earthquake are a reminder of the existing seismic threat and require 'preparedness'.

The historic event  with an estimated magnitude of 7.7  killed around 12,000 and almost completely destroyed Lisbon and adjoining areas.
The public is in an uproar after hearing Apple is 'in talks' to use Google's 'woke' Gemini to power AI features in the upcoming iPhone.

A new report has claimed that the Cupertino-based company could tap Gemini to power iOS 18 features that would create images and write essays based on simple prompts.

The announcement means a 'woke iPhone is coming up,' according to the public who fear Gemini's tendencies to generate images and chat responses with liberal biases will be unleashed to the smartphone.

The deal has some iPhone owners threatening to walk away from Apple if it goes through, and others believe it is simply 'embarrassing' the smartphone maker had to turn to Google as its AI provider.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai apologized for the 'problematic' images depicting black Nazis and other 'woke images'

Google temporarily disabled Gemini's image generation tool last week after users complained it was generating 'woke' but incorrect images such as female Popes

READ MORE: Google Gemini draws backlash The AI chatbot called comparison of Barbara Streisand to Stalin 'complex' and put journalists on par with Mao. Advertisement

Google temporarily disabled the AI's image-generating capabilities last month after it generated historically inaccurate pictures including Black Nazi soldiers and a female pope, and last week it came to light that Google had restricted Gemini's ability to answer election questions.

The chatbot's restrictions came after outraged users found it even more 'woke' than the AI generator - it refuses to condemn pedophilia, says some women have penises and claims straight actors can't play gay roles.

Bloomberg News reported the possible deal between the two tech giants on Monday, citing people familiar with the situation.

The negotiations in question involve Apple licensing Gemini for some new features coming to the iPhone software this year, the report said, adding that the terms or branding of an AI agreement or how it would be implemented have not been decided.

It is unlikely that any deal would be announced until June, when Apple plans to hold its annual conference of developers, and the iPhone maker also recently held talks with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI about using its model, according to the report.

A potential deal between the firms could help Google expand the use of its AI services to more than two billion active Apple devices, boosting the search giant's efforts to catch up with Microsoft-backed OpenAI.

Customers voiced distaste for the news, suggesting that Gemini is the answer to a question that nobody asked

Not only has Gemini been accused of being too woke, it has also been accused of being in some cahoots with the Chinese Communist party

It could also help allay investor fears about the slow roll-out of AI apps by Apple, which has lost the crown of the world's most valuable firm after a 10-percent decline in its shares this year.

The firms have a years-long partnership that makes Google the default search engine on Apple's Safari web browser, and a genAI tie-up may help the Alphabet unit navigate fears that services like ChatGPT could threaten its search dominance.

But some experts argued that the news reveals how behind the curve Apple is when it comes to AI.

'Apple turning to Google for a garbage AI product shows how far behind Apple is getting in actually innovating anything useful for its consumers,' wrote economist Don Johnson on X.

'They charge more for the same things & innovating for Apple is removing a headphone port, adding 7 cameras, and bolstering revenue streams by charging for crap that didn't previously cost money.'

Economist Don Johnson noted that the potential deal won't bring Apple up to speed, but rather shows the company can not innovate on its own

'Embarrassing for Apple to have to turn to Google as its AI provider,' said Maxim Lott, echoing a sentiment shared by many as the news spread that Apple may use Google's AI engine

Journalist Maxim Lott echoed the sentiment, noting the scandals over Gemini's wokeness.

The agreement could also invite sharper scrutiny from U.S. regulators, who have sued Google on grounds that it unlawfully stifled competition by paying billions of dollars to Apple to maintain its monopoly in search.

In Google January partnered with Apple's rival Samsung to deploy its genAI technology in the South Korean firm's Galaxy S24 series of smartphones, as part of its efforts to boost the use of Gemini after some missteps during its roll-out - including the controversy over its 'too woke' images.

Google has also been accused of favoring the Democratic party in the past 16 years, in a new report from the conservative watchdog group Media Research Center.

The report accused Google of favoring the Democratic party dozens of times with seemingly preferential rules about the content of search results, the nature of autocomplete prompts, and other manipulations that favored Democratic candidates over Republicans.

If the deal goes through, Apple will likely announce it in June at the company's annual developers conference - where Apple makes big announcements like a new iPhone

The chatbot is being restricted in India , where elections are being held in April. Its part of Google previously announced efforts to slow misinformation ahead of elections in the U.S.

Google denied the claims.

'There is absolutely nothing new here - just a recycled list of baseless, inaccurate complaints that have been debunked by third parties and many that failed in the courts. Politicians on the left have a long history of making similar claims too.

'We have a clear business incentive to keep everyone using our products, so we have no desire to make them biased or inaccurate and have safeguards in place to ensure this.

'Numerous conservatives have been particularly successful in using our platforms to spread their message to a wide audience,' a Google spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said last month that the company was investing 'significantly' in generative AI and would reveal more about its plans to put the technology to use later this year.
A new government study tracking over 80 self-reported victims of 'Havana Syndrome' found no signs of brain injury  despite also identifying 'real symptoms' of the mystery ailment that researchers called 'quite profound' and 'disabling.'

Persistent dizziness and balance issues were among those real symptoms for 28 percent of the embassy officials and other patients studied, according to the report.

But one Georgetown neurologist, who conducted early research into the syndrome for the Pentagon's Special Operations Command, tells DailyMail.com their findings risk creating 'a false conclusion that nothing happened to these people's brains.'

His critiques add alarming corroboration to past anonymous accounts from a former US intelligence community PhD who told DailyMail.com last year, 'We know that the Soviets had sonic weapons.'

'Anyone in the intelligence community will tell you the US has had these kinds of energy weapons for a while,' that anonymous intel agency PhD said last March.

After US officials and embassy staff reported hundreds of cases in nearly 70 countries, new reports of Havana syndrome declined sharply starting in early 2022. But the mystery of what caused the ailments and the alarm remains. (Above a timeline map of key incidents)

Above, an August 5, 2021 motorcade passes the US embassy in Havana as part of a protest demanding an end to the six-decade US economic embargo of Cuba

Dr. James Giordano, who teaches neurology at the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC, was more cautious about the syndrome's exact cause.

'Let's not call it a weapon,' Dr. Giordano told DailyMail.com.

'One of the considerations, here, was that if, in fact, these individuals were exposed to some form of electromagnetic and/or acoustic stimulus,' Dr. Giordano explained, 'the nature of the damage would be functional, rather than structural.'

He described the new study as consistent with his own 2017 and 2018 analysis of Havana Syndrome patients for US Special Operations Command, which found lasting problems in patients' brain function but not to their brain structure  consequences similar to so-called 'mini-strokes' or transient ischemic attack cases.

In a statement one year ago this March, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said the 'symptoms reported by US personnel were probably the result of factors that did not involve a foreign adversary, such as preexisting conditions, conventional illnesses, and environmental factors'

'Let me be very definitive, we're not talking about a functional neurological disorder, which is a psychosomatic disorder,' Dr. Giordano told DailyMail.com.

'We're talking about a disruption of neurological function, that then created a host of effects, including downstream physiological effects that manifested themselves cognitively, motorically, and behaviorally.'

Unlike the 'mass hysteria' explanation that has plagued the State Department's self-reported victims of Havana Syndrome, the neurologist likened the findings to a variety of other long-term brain conditions where physical evidence of the damage quickly dissipates.

'Sometimes when there's a mini stroke,' Dr. Giordano said, 'it very often does not produce what is a structurally evident artifact [in the brain] that is durable.'

'You may see some initial changes during the TIA [transient ischemic attack] in evolution,' he added, 'but with time those are resolved.'

Cases of 'decompression sickness,' or the bends, he noted, have also manifested like mini-strokes or Havana syndrome, delivering long-lasting impairments to brain function that were not paired with visible forms of lasting brain damage.

The new study, published today by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), performed MRI scans on 81 out of 86 State Dept employees and their adult family members who reported 'anomalous health incidents (AHIs).'

The research team, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Maryland, weighed the results of these MRIs against the MRIs of 48 control participants.

Above, a now public directed-energy weapon, an Active Denial System from the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Directorate. The device was on display in 2017 before a 'counter-personnel' demo during Weapons and Tactics Instructor course 2-17 at Site 50, Wellton, Arizona

Above, a now-deleted page on the Navy's website discloses a project with the codename Medusa, a prototype of a microwave weapon made for the Marine Corps in 2004 which had a 'temporarily incapacitating effect' and was small enough to fit in a car

While the NIH team could not rule out a temporary injury, of the kind Dr. Giordano described, they nevertheless came up with 'a lack of evidence for an MRI-detectable difference between individuals with AHIs and controls,' NIH's Dr. Leighton Chan said.

But 24 of those 'Havana syndrome' patients (28 percent) did show testable signs of a condition called 'persistent postural-perceptual dizziness' (PPPD).

PPPD, which can be brought on by inner-ear problems or stress, occurs when brain networks fail to communicate properly, a functional problem that occurs without permanent signs of brain injury.

Neuropsychologist Dr. Louis French, a co-author on the new NIH study who treats Havana syndrome patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, described the phenomena as a form of 'maladaptive response.'

He compared it to patients who have developed a slouch to alleviate their back pain, who then persist in having problems with their posture after that pain is corrected.

Dr. French said he hoped their findings offer 'some reassurance for patients.'

'It allows us to focus on the here and now,' he explained, 'getting people back to where they should be.'

In June 2023, the State Department became sufficiently convinced of the reality of Havana syndrome (whatever the cause), that six-figure payments to victims, roughly between $100,000 and $200,000, were being prepared for embassy personnel.

The specific amounts, according to the Associated Press, were scaled to the extent and severity of the victims' injuries, 'which have included brain damage not limited to vertigo, cognitive damage, eyesight and hearing problems.'

Despite the lack of visible scarring seen in their MRI tests, the NIH doctors behind the new study voiced sympathy for the afflicted diplomats and the legitimacy of their health complaints.

'These individuals have real symptoms and are going through a very tough time,' Dr. Chan, NIH's chief of rehabilitation medicine and the study's lead author, noted.

'They can be quite profound, disabling and difficult to treat.'

In a critical op-ed that was published by JAMA alongside the new study, Stanford microbiologist Dr. David Relman, expressed fears that NIH's methods were 'diluting important 'signals'' by lumping alleged victims and real victims into the same pool.

Dr. Relman, who aided in two past government investigations into the Havana Syndrome mysteries, wrote that those signals might have been found if more 'discrete clusters' or subsets of the patients had been studied separately.

But the Stanford medical researcher also felt there were other issues, including forensic evidence lost to the passage of time.

'As a general problem, clinicians lack generic, noninvasive, and sensitive methods for measuring brain function at the level of molecules, cells, and pathways,' he noted.

The new NIH study, he wrote, depended on a few key pieces of evidence in blood samples which have been used in the past to detect signs of traumatic brain injury, but will disappear over time: glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light.

'Even if one assumes the relevance of traumatic brain injury to AHIs,' Dr. Relman wrote in his op-ed, 'it is known that blood levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light increase within hours of mild traumatic brain injury, peak after about 24 hours, and return to baseline 3 to 7 days later.'

'There's no environmental cause that causes the body damage that I saw,' an anonymous PhD source told DailyMail.com last year. 'I don't know how you create damage inside of a body, like what was seen, that comes on all of a sudden, and could be called "pre-existing conditions"'

Georgetown's Dr. James Giordano, who also serves as the executive director of the Institute for Biodefense Research, told DailyMail.com: 'I agree with that editorial.'

'Something I've said all along is you don't want to conflate those key cases in Havana with those subsequent cases,' Dr. Giordano said, 'because they may not necessarily be the same thing. And in some cases, they're quite different.'

'Our paper that came out from the Strategic Multilayer Assessment [SAM] group at the Pentagon,' the neurologist said, 'was explicit that one thing you should not do is conflate the actual group in Havana with those other reports.'

Dr. Giordano said that these SAM conclusions, from reports filed in February and May 2021, would naturally also apply to any later AHI cases that went into the 'verification pipeline' more recently.
The creatures have also been previously reported in a Canadian lagoon

Wildlife officials are warning locals about 'alien egg pods' spotted in an Oklahoma lake, saying the creatures will show up in large numbers this summer.

Images of the bizarre sightings surfaced online, showing large, jelly-like balls with a hard exterior hanging from submerged tree limbs.

While photos of the strange animals have sparked confusion, and a little fear online, with some people saying they have to be from outer space.

However, officials reassured the public that the animals were simply bryozoans, which have been around for hundreds of millions of years - long before the first dinosaurs walked the Earth.

The creatures clone themselves into large masses to filter tiny particles out of the water for food - ultimately cleaning up the lake.

Images of the bizarre sightings surfaced online, showing large, jelly-like balls with a hard exterior hanging from submerged tree limbs

The pond-dwelling jellies were recently spotted in McGee Creek Reservoir, located on the southwest edge of the Ouachita Mountain Range.

Bryozoan clumps are actually hundreds of creatures, known as zooids, each a fraction of a millimeter long, living together in a slimy mass.

They lack any respiratory or circulatory systems, but have a central nerve ganglion that allows the animal to respond to stimuli.

The tiny invertebrates possess both male and female reproductive organs, allowing them to self-clone and spread spread through clumps of cells on the organism known as statoblasts.

Each statoblast can reproduce asexually if it breaks off from a colony, allowing bryozoan clumps to spread in large numbers in the right conditions.

The animals feast on phytoplankton and bacteria lurking in water.

Fossil records show that ancient bryozoans date back as far as 470 million years, suggesting they may have evolved from an ancient marine worm.

While photos of the strange animals have sparked confusion, and a little fear online, with some people saying they have to be from outer space

However, officials reassured the public that the animals were simply bryozoans , which have been around for hundreds of millions of years - long before the first dinosaurs walked the Earth

The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) shared images to its Facebook account.

'What is that??? If you're out boating somewhere like McGee Creek Reservoir you may notice these strange jelly-like balls hanging from submerged tree limbs,' reads the post.

'These are Bryozoans, and they'll likely show up in large numbers this summer. Don't be alarmed these microorganisms are native and are of no danger to you or wildlife.

'In fact, they are an indicator of good environmental quality and clear water!'

The post was met with hundreds of comments, with one user sayin: 'My oldest son thought they were body snatchers just waiting to hatch and take our bodies.'

'They look like alien egg pods from outer space,' another comment reads.

Others were freaked out by the reports, saying they thought something was wrong with the water.

Zooids only survive in waters warmer than 60F, which is why more are set to appear in the coming months as temperatures increase during the summer season.

The larger masses are covered in a substance known as chitin, which is what is on the exterior of crabs, and harden when dried up to preserve the organism until it can be rehydrated.

Most colonies are attached to a structure such as a rock or submerged branch, which was observed in the photos shared by Oklahoma's wildlife officials.

Some colonies take the form of rounded, jellylike masses, while others resemble antlers or mosses, or trace delicately like vines across rocks, or create furry-looking colonies.
Police questioned a leader of the Korean Medical Association (KMA), the country's biggest doctors' group, for the third time Monday over suspicions of instigating a mass walkout by trainee doctors.

After arriving at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's office in the district of Mapo, Park Myung-ha, chief of the KMA emergency committee's organizational affairs, called on the government to open negotiations with doctors about the decision to increase the country's medical school enrollment quota.

"We ask the people to think again about our resistance toward the wrong government policy, and we plead the government to come out to the dialogue table with sincerity to conduct discussions from square one," Park said.

Park vowed to take on the investigation with an "unwincing mind," repeatedly denying his involvement in the collective resignations of trainee doctors.

More than 10,000 interns and resident doctors have stayed off the job in protest of the government's decision to increase the medical school quota by 2,000 from the current 3,058. Doctors say the hike will lead to a surplus of physicians, and compromise the quality of medical education and services. (Yonhap)
Officials are on the hunt for the killer of an endangered chick found dead in Louisiana.

The Dallas Zoo, where the chick was born, announced the death last week, saying the bird was found with gunshot wounds two months after being released into the wild - it was part of a conservation program to increase the dwindling population.

Zoo and wildlife officials are offering a $12,500 reward for information leading to an arrest or indictment.

Whooping crane chickens are protected under the Endangered Species Act and individuals who harm the creature see up to one year in jail and $50,000 in fines.

Officials are on the hunt for the killer of an endangered whooping crane chick found dead in Louisiana

It is with a heavy heart that we announce our whooping crane chick, released to the wild in November 2023, was found deceased with a fatal gunshot wound on January 9 near Mamou, Louisiana, the Dallas Zoo shared in a post on X.

If you have any information relevant to this case, please reach out to USFWS at 985-882-3756 or the LDWF Lake Charles Office at 337-491-2588.

The chick was found dead in an agricultural pond on the south side of Besi Lane.

A necropsy determined that the crane was shot, which resulted in a fracture of the spine and internal hemorrhaging.

The whooping crane was released by the zoo into the wild of Western Louisiana, which the team celebrated as a conservation win at the time.

Staff said the team had been working on the project for five years, starting with adult whooping cranes breeding to hatch viable eggs.

The zoo received a whooping crane egg, then put under their incubating pair and the couple raised the chick as their own. Pictured is the chick with one of its adopted parents

The Dallas Zoo released the chick (pictured) into the wild last November - two months before it was found dead in Louisiana

The egg came to Dallas Zoo from the International Crane Foundation, which staff then put under their incubating pair and the couple raised the chick as their own.

The crane was introduced with three others from the Audubon Institute to acclimate the birds before they head off into the wild.

With this release, the whooping crane population in Louisiana now stands at 85 cranes, the Dallas Zoo said in a November statement.

Were so proud to be a part of the ongoing effort to save this iconic species from extinction.

The Dallas-raised chick was found dead on January 9 in Mamou, sparking an investigation by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF).

The reward for information about the dead chick includes the USFWS offering up to $5,000, the LDWF up to $2,500, the International Crane Foundation up to $2,500 and the Dallas Zoo up to $2,500.

The whooping crane stands up to five feet tall, making it North Americas tallest bird, and is distinguishable by its unusual whooping sound.

There are less than 600 in North America.

In the 1940s, only 21 whooping cranes remained in the wild due to overhunting and habitat loss, which sparked conservation programs that bolstered the population.
Kanye West has been working to 'turn things around' with the mother of his wife Bianca Censori after she flew out to 'save' her daughter over fears she was being controlled, insiders have claimed.

Bianca's loved ones have frequently expressed their fears for the 29-year-old Aussie since she married Kanye, 46, in December 2022 - with some going as far as staging an intervention, while her father Leo was reportedly keen to confront the rapper over his daughter's X-rated clothing.

Bianca's mother flew from Australia to the US last week with the intention of 'saving' the Yeezy designer, according to insiders, who claim she is taking time 'to see for herself' whether her daughter truly does have everything under control.

'Bianca's mom had to see for herself after Bianca told her family she has this under control,' a source told DailyMail.com. 'This has been a wonderful opportunity for Alexandra to get to spend time with Bianca and assess the situation for herself.'

Alexandra (far right) reunited with her daughter Bianca Censori this week, with an insider claiming that she is taking time 'to see for herself' regarding the couple's dynamic

Bianca (second, left) pictured with her mother Alexandra, second right is Bianca's sister Alyssia and far right is Bianca's other sister Angelina

Bianca's concerned mom rushed out to try and 'save' her daughter, but has reportedly had her fears eased during this time together.

The insider continued: 'Right now is a pivotal time and Alexandra was lowkey believing she would come to save her daughter. But this is not the case.

'Kanye has started to turn things around since the release of Vultures in the sense that he is not going off on as many unhinged rants.

'He also knows how to sweet talk a mom. This has been really a good experience, and everyone is so relieved to see her with Alexandra.'

A desire to be involved in the lives of any future grandchildren may also be a driving force.

'Alexandra knows that Bianca wants children, and she does not want to miss the opportunity to be a part of her grandkids lives,' the source added.

Alexandra posed for pictures with her scantily-clad daughter as the group disembarked from a private jet in Los Angeles on Wednesday ahead of Kanye's performance at Rolling Loud music festival.

Bianca left little to the imagination in a completely sheer G-string leotard that almost completely exposed her physique.

Bianca's loved ones have frequently expressed their fears that the Aussie has changed due to Kanye's alleged 'controlling ways'

Despite the shock her antics are said to be causing loved ones, Bianca has claimed that 'she knows what she is doing and she has this under control'

The source added that the past few days have been great for Bianca - who has been feeling happier in her marriage following some rocky moments, and even enjoyed some quality time with Kanye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian earlier this week.

'This week has been really huge for Bianca in terms of growth', the insider stated. 'She has not only got the opportunity to spend time with her mom but also with the mom of her step kids.'

They added: 'It is very maternal and she is in a good safe place. Everyone is hoping she stays here because no one wants her to go back to Kanye's robot.'

Earlier this week, sources revealed to DailyMail.com that Bianca had insisted to loved ones that she 'knows what she is doing' and is not being coerced by her husband like many have feared.

'Bianca has talked to her family and she has told her friends the same thing since she was last back home, namely that she knows what she is doing and she has this under control,' the insider explained.

Indeed, the architectural designer appears to have a goal in mind when it comes to what she will do with her newfound level of fame, and is said to be making smart investments within her marriage.

While many believe the rising fashion star has simply become the Grammy-winner's 'trophy wife,' Bianca has long been someone who works with Kanye to build his empire.

The architectural designer has made headlines thanks to a number of racy outfits since she started dating the rapper

On top of heading the architecture for Kanye's brand, Yeezy, since November 2020, Bianca is listed as a joint officer and manager of Oxpaha LLC, which Kanye founded in October 2023.

'She has a lot invested in her marriage to Kanye and her game plan is starting to become apparent,' the source continued.

'She has ownership in his clothing line, in his music  she is the only model in his latest video and on the cover of Vultures  in his real estate investments, and more,' the insider added.

'She is a very smart woman and it appears she is just as involved in her outrageous outfits as he is.

'She has always been risque, but she knows that this is her minute and that her minute wont last forever.'

Kanye and Bianca have been making important moves through, Oxpaha, with all of Kanye's recent trademark applications - including clothing items used for his album release - filed under the company.

A 7,416-square-foot commercial building on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, which it is believed he will use as a multi-purpose unit for his Yeezy fashion and music businesses, was also purchased last year under Oxpaha.

Bianca was named special power of attorney for the property deal, highlighting her importance within the rapper's business dealings.

Bianca appears to have a goal in mind when it comes to what she will do with her newfound level of fame

A source stated: 'She has a lot invested in her marriage to Kanye and her game plan is starting to become apparent'

She was also listed as a business partner in VZW Acquisition group for many years before she first connected with Kanye.

In December, Leo and Alexandra were said to have been fearful that their daughter was simply a rebound in the wake of Kanye's divorce from Kim Kardashian - which was finalized in November 2022, less than one month before he married Bianca.

'Her parents found it suspect that he married Bianca one month after his divorce from Kim was finalized,' a source said at the time. 'They really didn't want Bianca to be his rebound from such a high-profile marriage.'

Bianca grew up in an upper-class neighborhood in Melbourne and attended the prestigious Carey Baptist Grammar School.

One of her former classmates previously described her as a 'social butterfly who was friends with everyone' before finding fame.
Married At First Sight star Jack Dunkley has been granted a temporary protection order against his ex-girlfriend Courtney Jade.

The personal trainer, 34, made a request for the order at Southport Magistrates Court on March 7.

A temporary protection order is made before a court decides whether to make a domestic violence order.

Court documents seen by Daily Mail Australia confirm a hearing for the application has been adjourned until April 18.

The order states Courtney 'must be of good behaviour towards the aggrieved and not commit domestic violence against the aggrieved'.

Married At First Sight star Jack Dunkley has been granted a temporary protection order against his ex-girlfriend Courtney Jade

The order states Courtney 'must be of good behaviour towards the aggrieved and not commit domestic violence against the aggrieved'

She must also not make any attempt to contact Jack or make 'adverse comments' about him online or 'approach or remain within 100 metres' of him, except when appearing in court.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Courtney for comment.

Jack's relationship with Courtney has been heavily discussed on Married At First Sight after she alleged he told her he had a 'work opportunity' before appearing on the dating show.

Jack - who has been paired up with on-screen bride Tori Adams - came under questioning from the other couples regarding the timeline of his break-up amid speculation surrounding his past relationship.

In August, Courtney accused Jack of breaking up with her under the guise of a 'work opportunity in America,' only for her to discover he was starring on MAFS.

Jack's relationship with Courtney has been heavily discussed on Married At First Sight after she alleged he told her he had a 'work opportunity' before appearing on the dating show

Jack's relationship with Courtney has been heavily discussed on Married At First Sight after she alleged he told her he had a 'work opportunity' before appearing on the dating show

Jack has been paired up with Tori Adams on the Channel Nine dating experiment, and viewers have been watching their relationship develop

'Breaks up with me right after I met his family and he told me he loves me. Tells me it's for [a] 'work opportunity in America' only to find out he's on MAFS in Sydney,' Courtney wrote on The Wash's Instagram pictures.

Since the show has aired, Courtney has shared further posts to Instagram about her relationship with Jack and accused him of ditching her just weeks before filming.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia in February, Courtney also confirmed that she was approached with offers to 'crash' the show, but wanted nothing to do with MAFS.

'I do wish I did [crash the reunion] after finding out he's downplayed our relationship and disrespected me,' she said.

'But I also want nothing to do with that show so I stayed out of out. That's all I have to say.'
Roxy Jacenko has hit back at controversy over her plans to 'give away' a $10 million mansion.

The luxury waterfront home in Sydney's Cronulla is potentially up for grabs for people who sign up to Jacenko's online business course, Brand Bootcamp.

Punters who pay for the course, which starts at $29, will be entered in a giveaway to win the house and other luxe prizes.

But the PR maven has faced scrutiny over the competition, after Crikey claimed the chances of winning the home are 'minuscule'.

The publication reports that according to the terms and conditions, the winner would have to 'select both of the two winning envelopes out of 250 available options in order to win the house'.

Roxy Jacenko has hit back at controversy over her plans to 'give away' a $10 million mansion

The luxury waterfront home in Sydney's Cronulla is potentially up for grabs for people who sign up to Jacenko's online business course, Brand Bootcamp

Roxy told Daily Mail Australia in a statement on Sunday she felt the competition presented a good offer to entrants.

'How often can you pay $29, get an online course valued at $299 and go in to play for a chance to win a $10million property, and if you don't win, you can walk away with $250K cash  no questions asked?' she said.

'$250K is a 20 percent down payment to invest in a property, should you so wish. I ordered a salad with chicken the other day when in Sydney, it was $32 and it gave me indigestion and not much else,' she continued.

'$29 to get access to an online course, a home or $250K cash, a Rolex watch or a Hermes handbag looks far more appetising.'

Punters who pay for the course, which starts at $29, will be entered in a giveaway to win the house and other luxe prizes

But the PR maven has faced scrutiny over the giveaway, after Crikey claimed the chances of winning the home are 'minuscule'

As for the chances of winning, Jacenko explained, 'Odds of winning the prize game is 1 in 31,125. If we look at odds of winning Powerball in Australia: 1 in 134,490,400'.

The competition's first prize is a three storey, four bedroom, five bathroom, Mediterranean-style mansion reportedly valued at $10 million.

'Australia has never seen a giveaway of this magnitude,' Jacenko had earlier said.

'It's my turn to change one lucky Australian's life and turn them into multimillionaires, basically overnight.'

According to the terms and conditions, the winner would have to 'select both of the two winning envelopes out of 250 available options in order to win the house'

Roxy told Daily Mail Australia in a statement on Sunday she felt the competition presented a good offer to entrants. 'How often can you pay $29, get an online course valued at $299 and go in to play for a chance to win a $10million property, and if you don't win, you can walk away with $250K cash  no questions asked?' she said

Some confusion has additionally arisen over who owns the home, with earlier reports claiming Roxy purchased it in 2020 for $3.36 million.

However, the Daily Telegraph reported on Sunday the property is in fact owned by two Bankstown-based businessmen.

'The property is owned by my business partners of Roxy's Brand Bootcamp. A title search will show that,' Jacenko told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday.

Named Zephyr, the home was up for auction in December last year with hopes of earning $10 million.

The property, which appeared on the TV series Australia's Best House, reportedly failed to sell and was taken off the market, before it cropped up in Roxy's giveaway.
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It's the movie role that can transform unknown actors into global mega stars - and now Brits have had their say over who they want the next James Bond to be.

Since Daniel Craig put down his martini and hung up his tux, movie fans have been eagerly waiting to find out who will be next to pick up 007's gun.

One of Hollywood's most iconic roles, actors who played the suave, steely-eyed and devastatingly charming spy include Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton.

Now, thousands of Bond fans have been casting their vote over who they want to replace Craig in the franchise.

And topping the list is Luther star Idris Elba, who was the overwhelming favourite for the gig following a study of 2,000 Brits.

The poll, commissioned by Lottoland, saw the 51-year-old beating the likes of Venom star Tom Hardy, Superman's Henry Cavill and the Oscar-winning man with the golden gong, Cillian Murphy, to the prized role.

Some of the other top 20 A-listers fans suggested to be in the running included some left-wing stars, like House of the Dragons' Emilia Clarke, James Norton, Emily Blunt and Helen Mirren, The Sun revealed.

Fans of James Bond revealed which actor they would most like to see replace Daniel Craig in the spy flicks - Idris Elba (seen on Saturday)

Daniel Craig has played James Bond for five instalments of the spy flicks, since Casino Royale in 2006

Superman Henry Cavill is another Bond making the top 20 of the poll

Also in the running is Venom star Tom Hardy who was the second favourite to replace Daniel Craig as 007

From Sean Connery (left) to Roger Moore (right), the men chosen to play Bond are typically steely-eyed, testosterone-fuelled, with deadly charm

Pictured: Pierce Brosnan as 007

The top 20 actors Brits want to be the next James Bond 1. Idris Elba 2. Tom Hardy 3. Henry Cavill 4. James Norton 5. Cillian Murphy 6. Tom Hiddleston 7. Tom Holland 8. Jamie Dornan 9. Aaron Taylor-Johnson 10. Richard Madden 11. Rege Jean Page 12. Luke Evans 13. Leo Woodall 14. Emilia Clarke 15. Emily Blunt 16. Helen Mirren 17. Barry Keoghan 18. Theo James 19. Lupita Nyongo 20. Sam Heughan Advertisement

Bond is famed for turning those who play 007 into global superstars.

And the franchise isn't shy of casting left-field stars to take on the role. The late Sean Connery, one of the most recognisable Bonds, had only featured in a series of TV films when he accepted the role of the titular British spy in 1962's Dr. No, catapulting him to international fame.

But while Idris was the top choice, fans may end up disappointed after the actor ruled himself out of playing the role last year so he could focus on his deal with Netflix, where he is starring in Luther: The Fallen Sun.

Idris brought up the persistent discussions about him taking over as Ian Fleming's famed British spy in February 2023.

When asked about the Luther film at the World Government Summit in Dubai, he said: 'It's very dark.

'We've been working on the television show for about 10 years and so the natural ambition is to take it to the big screen, and so we're here with the first movie.

'You know, a lot of people talk about another character that begins with J and ends with B, but I'm not going to be that guy.

'I'm going to be John Luther. That's who I am.'

Back in August 2022, it was reported Idris had walked away from 'years of talks' with movie bosses to take over the famous role.

He had been the bookies' favourite to replace Daniel Craig as the super spy, but is keen to pursue other roles - and has even put forward a list of proposed names to producer Barbara Broccoli of actors to play 007.

A source told The Sun: 'Fans and Barbara wanted Idris but he wants to create something for himself.

'However, he's put forward names to play 007. He's 'informally' in the decision-making process as he's been in talks with producers for so long.'

MailOnline contacted reps for Idris and James Bond producers at the time.

While Aaron Taylor-Johnson, once hailed as the 'one to beat' to become the next 007, placed 9th

He's the man with the golden gong, but could Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy be the next 007

How about Marvel's cheeky trickster, Loki? Tom Hiddleston features sixth on the list

But there are some left-field entries, too, including Emily Blunt as the first female Bond

And House of the Dragon star Emilia Clarke - who once played Sarah Connor in the Terminator franchise - is also a female front runner

While at the premiere of his movie The Harder They Fall in 2021, Idris said when asked if he'll be considered as the next 007 he said: 'No, I'm not going to be James Bond.'

He also told The Express about the rumours: 'I'm probably the most famous Bond actor in the world, and I haven't even played the role.'

Idris then added: 'Enough is enough. I can't talk about it anymore.'

Despite this Ladbrokes awarded the actor 3/1 on taking on the role after Daniel announced 2021's No Time To Die would be his last outing as the character.

The bookmakers said at the time: 'We've seen a flurry of interest in Idris Elba and have slashed his odds accordingly, so much so that he's now the clear favourite as far as we're concerned to replace Daniel Craig as 007.'

Also rumoured to be in the running at the time were Tom Hardy at 5/1, Rege-Jean Page 4/1 and Richard Madden 20/1.

Daniel Craig has been Bond since his first outing in 2006's Casino Royal, before announcing 2021's No Time To Die would be his last time as 007

Grantchester's James Norton (pictured in 2021) placed fourth in the poll for the future famed spy

Others in the running for Bond include Scottish Game of Thrones star, Richard Madden

Rege Jean-Page (pictured in July 2022) also made the list, placing just behind Madden in 11th

Spider-Man Tom Holland was also on the list to replace Daniel Craig as Bond

James Bond producer Barbara previously admitted it will take a long time to choose Craig's 007 replacement.

The filmmaker insisted it's not as easy as picking an actor to take on the iconic role of the suave spy.

Speaking to Variety, Barbara said: 'It's a big decision.

'It's not just casting a role. It's about a whole rethink about where we're going.'

Earlier that same year, the blockbuster franchise's producer confirmed Idris was 'part of the conversation' to be the next 007.

She told Deadline's Crew Call podcast: 'Well, we know Idris, we're friends with him, and he's a magnificent actor.'

'And, you know, it's been a part of the conversation, but it's always difficult to have the conversation when you have someone in the seat.'

Hunky Fifty Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan also features in the top 20 for the next Bond

As does Welshman Luke Evans, who has starred in a string of Hollywood blockbusters - including the Hobbit, Fast & Furious 6 and Dracula Untold

Flying high off his recent role in the Netflix smash, Saltburn, could Barry Keoghan be the next to step into the shoes of 007?

Perhaps an unlikely choice but Leo Woodall's role in Neflix's One Day has seen his popularity surge - sitting 13th in the table for future Bonds

Barbara added that there is no rush from Bond bosses to name the actor as they wanted to let the cast and crew savour the Craig's final movie No Time To Die.

She said: 'I think we have decided that until No Time To Die has had its run and Daniel has been able to  well, we've all been able to savour, reap the benefits of Daniel's wonderful tenure, we're not gonna think about, or talk about anybody else.'

The producer also hinted at a re-imagining of the franchise. explaining: 'It's a reinvention of Bond. We're working out where to go with him, we're talking that through.'

She added though that any casting announcements are a way off, saying: 'We're reinventing who he is and that takes time,' she continued. 'There isn't a script and we can't come up with one until we decide how we're going to approach the next film.

'I'd say that filming is at least two years away.'

All the previous actors to star as James Bond James Bond has been thrilling cinema-goers worldwide with his adrenaline-fuelled secret missions to exotic places for more than 60 years. The British spy, codenamed 007, has found himself fighting villains and terrorists on the moon, under water and at the top of a skyscraper. And since his big screen debut in 1962, only six actors have played Bond (seven, if you include the portrayal of 007 by Peter Sellers in 1967's comedy spoof 'Casino Royal'). The hunt is now on to find the latest Bond, with front-runners including Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill and Cillian Murphy. Now, we look back at all the previous actors to star as 007. Sean Connery: 1962-1971 Sean Connery was the first Bond to hit the big screen in a dashing debut as 007 The first star to hit the screen as Bond was the devastatingly charming Sean Connery, starring in 1962's Dr. No. The acclaimed Scotsman went on to feature in five more Bond flicks, before retiring as 007 in 1971's Diamonds are Forever. George Lazenby: 1969 He may only have had one outing as James Bond, was met with a mixed reception However, George Lazenby made his only appearance as the British spy in 1969's 007 On Her Majesty's Secret Service. He's version of Bond, however, was met with a mixed reception. Some lauded him for a more serious portray of the spy. But others felt he was uncharismatic, and lacked the suave and charm of Connery. Roger Moore: 1977-1985 Roger Moore was one of the longest-serving Bonds, featuring in seven films Roger Moore became the next Bond, featuring in seven films from 1977's Live and Let Die, to his final outing in 1985's A View to a Kill. Moore's turn as 007 brought without some outlandish and ludicrous plot lines, which featured him battling on the moon in Moonraker. Timothy Dalton: 1985-1989 Timothy Dalton was next to take on the mantle, debuting as Bond in 1987's The Living Daylights. Timothy Dalton was next to take on the mantle, debuting as Bond in 1987's The Living Daylights. Dalton's portrayal brought a gritter and more serious Bond to the screen, with a darker sense of humour. He featured in one more Bond film, A Licence to Kill, in 1989 before being replaced. Pierce Brosnan: 1995-2002 Pierce Brosnan was the next bond, debuting in 1995's Goldeneye It took six years for Dalton's replacement, Pierce Brosnan, to get his outing in the 1995 smash-hit Golden Eye. Brosnan went on to do three more Bond films during his seven-year stint as 007, which wound with Die Another Die in 2002. Daniel Craig: 2006-2021 Daniel Craig's take on Bond saw a beefed up version of the British spy taking to the screens (pictured in-character in 2020) Daniel Craig stepped Bond's in 2006 with a cinematic reset of the titular spy, replacing the gadgetry of previous installments with a grittier and more muscular reinvention of 007. His opening portrayal of a more haunted Bond in his debut film, Casino Royal, was critically celebrated - hailed as one of the best Bonds in years. Craig would feature in four more films before finally downing his last Martini - shaken, not stirred - in 2021's No Time To Die, becoming the first Bond to be killed on screen. Advertisement

Conned, James conned! Amazing special effects behind the explosions, locations and death defying stunts in Bond films shows the camera DOES lie

By PAUL HARRIS FOR THE DAILY MAIL

They are some of the most dramatic and memorable scenes in the history of James Bond movies.

But in the increasingly complex world of cinematography, not everything is quite what it seems.

From the spectacular image of a seven-storey building collapsing under 007s feet, to the simple cameo of a mouse scurrying across a floor, the camera sometimes has to lie.

Crash! An explosion collapses a Mexico City building around 007, played by Daniel Craig in Spectre. Or rather, a stunt man runs for his life along a mock-up at Pinewood studios before a Craigs head is plonked by computer on his shoulders. The mock-up took three months to build and the visual effects weeks to complete

Boom! MI6 headquarters in London goes up in flames in Skyfall. Or rather, a model at Pinewood studios does. Dame Judy Dench (M in the 2012 movie) was filmed on Vauxhall Bridge one quiet Sunday morning reacting to the explosion. A model of the landmark buildings upper section was then blown up, using the exact camera angle and matching natural light before the images were superimposed

Oh no! Bonds beautiful Aston Martin DB5  almost a national treasure to car-lovers  is history. Except that it isnt. A special effects team blew up an old BMW, then Beggs visual effects for Skyfall layered a one-third scale miniature of the DB5 over the original film.

Steve Begg, special effects designer, with third scale miniature Aston Martin DB5 and (top) the same model exploded for Skyfall (2012) - as the film sees an explosion destroy James Bond's prized Aston Martin DB5

Now  for your eyes only, as the secret agent might put it  the man who made the impossible imaginable for countless Bond aficionados reveals the trickery behind some of those shots.

Visual effects maestro Steve Begg, who helped to blow up MI6 headquarters in London, caused outrage when he sunk a Venetian palazzo into the Grand Canal and drew criticism for destroying Bonds beloved Aston Martin DB5, recently won a prestigious industry award that recognised his exceptional artistry.

Unlike other artists, however, the greatest compliment anyone can pay is that they didnt notice his work. Now these before-and-after pictures of scenes that feature explosions, aircraft crashes (not forgetting the little mouse) reveal the truth behind the deceptions.

Im entertaining people by misleading them, he told the Daily Mail. The more successfully I mislead them, the better Ive done my job.

Mr Begg, 56, grew up watching childrens TV programmes such as Thunderbirds and Terrahawks. He later fulfilled a dream to work with their celebrated creator Gerry Anderson.

Begg describes that apprenticeship as a masterclass in blowing things up in miniature  perfect grounding for his graduation to Bond films.

Bang! The evil Blofelds desert lair is destroyed in the film industrys biggest explosion - using 70 tons of TNT explosives, created by special effects supervisor Chris Corbould for Spectre. But the buldings existed only through computer trickery, and the only real structure in the otherwise desolate landscape was a door frame and some stage-marks for the actors

Yikes! A helicopter spirals perilously overhead in a chase filmed for Spectre. The aircraft was real and the pilot did actually perform the death-defying corkscrew manoeuvre. But not over crowds in Mexico City, which are the shots that feature in the 2015 film. Authorities banned the stunt so it was filmed 100 miles away over an old aerodrome in the jungle. Then the jungle was removed and crowd scenes substituted as the backdrop

In real life a helicopter films stunt flying 100 miles south of Mexico City (bottom) over an aerodrome. In Spectre (top) the scenes are created to look like flying above crowded Mexico City with the help of special effects

Splat! Another helicopter ploughs into a mansion in Skyfall and bursts into flames. This could be very expensive, even for a Bond film budget. Until, that is, you gauge the true dimensions by the chap on the right of the picture. The aircraft and building were large scale replicas; the film was superimposed on the explosion

Splash! An elegant Venetian palace crumbles and plunges into the Grand Canal for the 2006 version of Casino Royale. The real building (still intact, incidentally) was filmed from the opposite bank. Scrupulous measurements were taken to recreate the scene back at Pinewood, where a 90-ton model was collapsed into a tank. Visual effects then slotted the mocked-up palace back into the waterscape

Eek! Much of the famous Parkour-style chase for Casino Royale was filmed live with stunt men. But Daniel Craigs high-speed ascent on a crane hook was created by superimposing his image on that of a stunt man before the background was added on screen

Crunch! The spectacular train chase in Skyfall was one of the films highlights, and a triumph for special effects. But Health and Safety considerations (yes  even in Bond films) meant visual effects had to create the crunching and clawing of a mechanical digger ripping off the back end of a carriage from under Bonds feet

Some of his most convincing effects rely heavily on good old-fashioned models. So when the DB5 goes up in flames, fear not. Its only a mock-up the size of a pedal-car.

Increasingly, however, his cinematic deception has come to involve the use of computer generated images (CGI). The evil Blofelds desert headquarters in Spectre, for example, is actually just a barren swathe of Moroccan wilderness. The buildings are simply images created nowhere more exotic than Pinewood.

And the mouse? Most people assume when they see a building collapsing that it must be CGI , he said. But not a little mouse running around. Im very proud of that mouse.

Top - James Bond (right) with Bond girl Madeleine (Lea Seydoux) as they watch the demise of Blofeld's base - filmed in Erfoud , Morocco. Bottom - The 24th Bond film features the largest film detonation of all time, with 70 tonnes of TNT used. The explosion lasted 7.5 seconds

Left: Final film sees a full background of buildings. Right: Special effects later add the street scene behind using green screen filming as Berenice Marlohe walks (second left) with Daniel Craig as James Bond through a set designed as the lair of Silva (played by Javier Bardem)

(Oh)! Hugely expensive-looking buildings and backdrops feature in many Bond films. Or do they? The grand lair of Bonds enemy Raoul Silva in Skyfall owes most of its magnificence to mock-ups enhanced by Steve Beggs visual effects, as do some of the street scenes

Squeak! This mouse becomes a star of Spectre when it scurries through a hole in a wall to reveal the villainous Silvas secret hideaway. The options were to shoot countless takes using a real mouse (no doubt risking the wrath of the National Union if Miceworkers); or to make one. The intricately detailed CGI version, subsequently clothed in fur and animated, was startlingly realistic
Khloe Kardashian confirmed that she and her sister Kourtney were 'banned' from giving speeches at family functions.

The 39-year-old reality television personality reposted a photo that was shared on her 44-year-old sister's story, in which she was seen while addressing the attendees of the launch party for her wellness brand, Lemme.

The elder sibling of the entrepreneur - who may have used a filter for a recent snap - also wrote a message to explain that the ban was put in place after she, as well as her sister, 'gave a drunken speech together at @kimkardashian's second wedding.'

Khloe went on to clarify that they were specifically told not to give any more public speeches.

'This is a True story although she used the word "gave up" we were been BANNED from speeches ever since that wedding. It was not pretty for either one of us,' she said.

Khloe Kardashian, 39, confirmed that she, as well as her sister Kourtney, 44, were 'banned' from giving speeches in a post that was shared on her Instagram Story on Friday

The elder sibling of the entrepreneur wrote a message to explain that the ban was put in place after they 'gave a drunken speech together at @kimkardashian's second wedding'

However, the reality television personality added that she was in favor of having her speech privileges reinstated by her loved ones.

'I'm pretty sure mostly every person in attendance enjoyed our speech that evening. I vote to bring back Kourt and Kokes speeches back! Who's with me,' she wrote.

Kim, who tied the knot with Kris Humphries in October of 2011, separated from her former husband after just 72 days, and their marriage formally ended in 2013.

Khloe opened up about her ban during a 2014 appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, where she stated that she was not given the chance to speak during her sister's third wedding ceremony.

The 43-year-old model tied the knot with Kanye West during a ceremony that took place in Florence, Italy, in May of 2014.

The Good American co-founder recalled: 'I wasn't allowed to give a speech because I just ramble, and I think I'm maybe giving a compliment and I'm not saying the right thing.'

Khloe went on to state that the rapper made a humorous reference to her speech ban while addressing the wedding guests.

'Kanye was giving his speech and was like, "Khloe, I know you want the mic," he was like taunting me. It was, like, one ranter to another ranter, "I want that mic,"' she recalled.

However, the reality television personality added that she was in favor of having her speech privileges reinstated by her loved ones

Khloe opened up about her ban during a 2014 appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, where she stated that she was not given the chance to speak during her sister's third wedding ceremony; Khloe seen with Kim and Kourtney

Kim also spoke about her wedding during a 2014 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live and recalled that her younger sibling slightly overindulged during her wedding rehearsal dinner, which took place in France; Khloe is seen in 2022

Kim also spoke about her wedding during a 2014 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live and recalled that her younger sibling slightly overindulged during her wedding rehearsal dinner, which took place in France.

She stated via Us Weekly: 'I think everyone just had such a good time at Versailles that they drank too much. Khloe drank a little too much the night before and I had to wake her up.'

The model added that Khloe 'was laying down and getting her makeup done while she was sleeping, she was so hungover!'

Kim and West remained together until they separated in 2021, and they went on to finalize their divorce the following year.
Casualty

Rating:

Until Saturday night, there were only three things certain in life: death, taxes, and Charlie Fairhead at the centre of events in Holby City Hospital.

He's been a solid, dependable presence  the Chief Inspector Barnaby of the wards  since the very first episode of Casualty (BBC1) in 1986.

Back then, Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, Berlin was still divided, and the UK and France announced an exciting project to put a tunnel under the Channel.

Over the years, he's been shot in the chest, and survived. He was knocked down by an ambulance on his wedding day, and survived. He had a heart attack after rescuing Dr Hanna from drowning in freezing water, and survived.

You'd think the scriptwriters were trying to get rid of him, but somehow he always managed to spring free: until Saturday, that is, when he officially bowed out.

Until Saturday night, there were only three things certain in life: death, taxes, and Charlie Fairhead at the centre of Holby City Hospital but the lovable character has finally retired

He'd been stabbed in the previous week's episode after being Charlie-like and confronting an angry teenager with a large knife

As is supposedly traditional at such times, Charlie's life flashed before us and we were shown his early days on the job (had he not gone into nursing, he could have been a Tony Blair stunt double)

This being Casualty, it wasn't a traditional retirement do. He spent most of it on a hospital trolley, unconscious after a knife wound to the stomach.

He'd been stabbed in the previous week's episode after being Charlie-like and confronting an angry teenager with a large knife. You'd think he'd have learnt by now.

If he'd been a regular Casualty viewer, he'd have demanded a transfer to a different hospital. As he hovered between life and death, his colleagues bickered about his treatment. Dr Stevie had a crisis of confidence and left the treatment room, threatening to hang up her stethoscope.

Elsewhere, Mel Sinclair was also in danger of being written out. She was lying badly injured in her car after being forced off the road by husband Harry. And wouldn't you know it, Stevie was the only emergency doctor available to help. Her crisis continued at the crash scene.

As is supposedly traditional at such times, Charlie's life flashed before us and we were shown his early days on the job (had he not gone into nursing, he could have been a Tony Blair stunt double).

It turns out that, at the start of his career, he comforted a young girl whose parents had been caught up in a bombing. As he led her by the hand through the busy hospital, was there a single viewer who didn't see the enthralled look on her face and think: 'Hang on, this little girl is going to be Doctor Stevie, isn't she?'

Actor Derek Thompson, who played Charlie, says his final two episodes were among the best of his career. It's hard to disagree

He finally left the hospital in a bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle  exactly the same way he arrived all those years ago. Casualty will never be quite the same again

And so it proved.

It was a clever touch, and how fitting that it was Stevie who spotted Charlie needed an emergency procedure when nobody else was available. She went into action with her scalpel, saving both his life and her career.

Actor Derek Thompson, who played Charlie, says his final two episodes were among the best of his career. It's hard to disagree.

He finally left the hospital in a bright yellow Volkswagen Beetle  exactly the same way he arrived all those years ago. Casualty will never be quite the same again.
Mamamia co-founder Mia Freedman has issued a stern warning to her social media followers, telling them to be on their best behaviour in her Facebook group.

The media personality, 52, shared a post to her Mamamia Outlouders page, warning fans to not criticise other followers on the page.

'A reminder to JUST KEEP SCROLLING if there is a post in this group that doesn't interest you. No need to police what others in the group, show or website are or are not talking about,' she began.

'Given how much content we create across all our platforms, it's highly unlikely you will be across everything that is being covered by us.'

Freedman then told followers what they should be doing if they see a post they are not interested in on the group page.

Mamamia co-founder Mia Freedman (pictured) has issued a stern warning to her social media followers, telling them to be on their best behaviour in her Facebook group

'Mamamia has always been about not shaming or criticising women for what they want to talk about or what they are interested in at any given moment.

'We will often share stories in this group that are relevant and interesting to many of the 40,000 that are here. If it's not for you? JUST KEEP SCROLLING,' she concluded.

In August, Freedman made headlines after she lashed out at Karl Stefanovic for refusing to appear on her No Filter podcast despite being friends with the Today host when she worked at Channel Nine.

The media personality, 52, shared a post to her Mamamia Outlouders page, warning fans to not criticise other followers on the page

Freedman took a swipe at Stefanovic, 49, via Instagram on when she uploaded a photo of herself watching him on TV.

Tagging Stefanovic's Instagram account, the 52-year-old former Nine executive and on-air presenter wrote: 'Hey [Stefanovic] why won't you come on No Filter?'

In a second post, she shared a photo of Stefanovic presumably taken by Freedman taking a stroll by the water.

Freedman told followers what they should be doing if they see a post they are not interested in on the group page

'My dude. You interview people for your job. You're waaaay better at it than me. You've interviewed me for years when I was on [Today]. I was at your 40th! We were friends,' she wrote.

When she was 19, Freedman was hired by Wilkinson as an intern at Dolly magazine.

Freedman rose quickly through the ranks to become a fashion editor at the title, before freelancing for a period and then becoming the editor of Cosmopolitan aged 24.

She previously worked alongside Stefanovic at Nine after she was hired by the company to host chat show The Catch-Up in 2007, as well as serving as a regular commentator on the Today show.
Gwyneth Paltrow glowed in a sweet selfie that she took with her husband, Brad Falchuk, which was uploaded to her Instagram stories on Sunday.

The Goop founder, 51 - who was recently spotted on a coffee run with close friend, Mary Wigmore - could be seen resting on a comfy, white pillow with the television writer, 53, cozied up next to her.

She sported what appeared to be a dark navy, bikini top as well as a pair of brown shades that offered a stylish flare to the look.

Her blonde locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly cascaded down past her shoulders in natural waves.

Falchuk also glanced up towards the camera as the lovebirds - who tied the knot in 2018 - posed for the quick snap together.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 51, glowed in a sweet selfie that she took with her husband, Brad Falchuk, 53, which was uploaded to her Instagram stories on Sunday

While the Oscar winner didn't add a lengthy caption to her fans, the mother-of-two opted to simply add the text, 'Dimanche,' which translates to Sunday.

Gwyneth and Brad first crossed paths on the set of the hit series, Glee, back in 2010 - but did not begin dating until four years later.

In January 2018, the pair became engaged and said 'I do' later that same year in September during a romantic ceremony in the Hamptons.

Paltrow was previously married to Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin, from 2003 until they separated in March 2014.

The former couple's divorce was finalized in 2016 and during the course of their marriage, welcomed two children: daughter Apple, 19, and son Moses, 17.

Brad also has two children from his first marriage to Suzanne Bukinik - which lasted from 2002 until the pair divorced in 2013.

Despite being active on apps such as Instagram, Gwyneth recently admitted during an interview with Sky News earlier this month that she felt social media can be both 'difficult' and also 'uncomfortable.'

'I find it really difficult to be honest, I don't intuitively want to do it, I don't post, I don't like to read comments,' she expressed.

Gwyneth and Brad first crossed paths on the set of the hit series, Glee, back in 2010 - but did not begin dating until four years later

The Oscar winner was previously married to Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin, and the former couple share two children: daughter Apple, 19, and son Moses, 17

She added, 'I find it all bit of an overwhelming proposition; however, I do understand it's this great way to connect with an audience...'

'And to share things that you're working on or if you're trying to build enterprise value you have to have engagement from people and customers.'

As a business owner, Paltrow explained that both she and others in the sector 'struggle' in regards to how much needs to be shared on social media.

However, the star revealed that when she is on apps such as Instagram, she is an 'authentic' person who stays true to who she is.

'I can't fake it, if I'm going to go on there, I'm going to be myself and I'm going to be honest, that's just me for better or for worse, I think I'm a very authentic person, one way or another, that's my style.'

Gwyneth also touched on the topic of how she felt social media affects younger individuals, including girls.

'I think we're still learning as parents, in the U.S. as well there has been talk of putting warning labels on smart phones for kids.'

'There's a ton of research that it's incredibly detrimental, that especially girls who are digitally native of that generation have a lot more anxiety than girls in generations before them.'

The Iron Man actress explained that she kept her children from having their own phones until they turned 12-years-old.

Despite being active on apps such as Instagram, Gwyneth recently admitted during an interview with Sky News earlier this month that she felt social media can be both 'difficult' and also 'uncomfortable'

She added, 'I find it all bit of an overwhelming proposition; however, I do understand it's this great way to connect with an audience...'; seen earlier this month in L.A.

During an interview with Bustle last year in October, Gwyneth admitted to the outlet when talking about social media: 'I wish I could not be on it.'

'But at the same time you do want to have a sense of what's going on. Then, of course, I need it for work, and they always make me do these stupid things on it all the time.'

And a few months earlier in August 2023, Paltrow notably took a brief break from Instagram. At the time, she penned to her fans, 'Taking this full moon energy with me as I go into a social media break. Going to work on being present. Happy summer.'

The star has been keeping busy, and earlier this month, launched an AI-powered meditation app, Moments Of Space, as part of her latest business venture. The app focuses on an 'eyes-open' approach when it comes to mediation.

'I thought, "If there's an eyes-open version of this, does that really work?' she recently told Elle when promoting the app, which she feels would be great for, 'beginners or anybody who thinks, "I can't sit still, I have too much going on in my head. Or, I don't have the time."'

'Just such an amazing way to have all of the scientific benefits of meditation. And you can do it for a really short amount of time, throughout the day, and its pretty impactful.'

She further explained that it is 'simple' and added, 'You start by just picking a point and looking at it. And there's a real softening that happens.'

And a few months earlier in August 2023, Paltrow notably took a brief break from Instagram. At the time, she penned to her fans, 'Taking this full moon energy with me as I go into a social media break. Going to work on being present. Happy summer'

The star has been keeping busy, and earlier this month, launched an AI-powered meditation app, Moments Of Space, as part of her latest business venture. The app focuses on an 'eyes-open' approach when it comes to mediation; seen in February in Beverly Hills

'You just become aware of the space around [you]. And you let that space be there and then you go inward, but all with the eyes open.'

The topic of social media was brought up once again, including her Ask Me Anything moments on Instagram.

'So I should preface this by saying, I'm really uncomfortable with social media as a whole. My team asks me to do this every month, and I'm always like, "Noooo, it's Ask Me Anything time."'

'But I feel like if I'm going to do it, I should really do it. And to do a franchise called Ask Me Anything, but be really guarded and have rehearsed answers, would just suck for everyone. So I'm just myself...'
North West gave her first on-camera interview about her debut album Elementary School Dropout with the 13-year-old reporter behind Jazzy's World TV while at Rolling Loud California last Thursday.

'It's gonna be great,' the 10-year-old aspiring rapper smiled backstage at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, CA.

'When's it gonna drop?' Jazzy asked.

North replied: 'Like... I don't know.'

When asked if there would be any collabs with her famous father Kanye 'Ye' West, West raised her arms and coyly exclaimed: 'Mmmm, maybe! We don't know yet!'

North West (R) gave her first on-camera interview about her debut album Elementary School Dropout with the 13-year-old reporter (L) behind Jazzy's World TV while at Rolling Loud California last Thursday

Jazzy then thanked the precocious fifth grader 'for her time' and said she 'liked the mysterious vibe you got going on there.'

It was Kim Kardashian who facilitated the Jazzy's World TV exclusive just as she did with little North's first-ever interview, at age four, within her Interview cover story.

Instagram users reacted to West's first onscreen interview by calling her 'a legit clone' of the 46-year-old rapper with all 'the mannerisms' with some noting she 'looked nervous' and needed to 'get some media training.'

The PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie actress clearly adores and looks up to Ye, and she first started officially following in his footsteps way back in March 2020 during Paris Fashion Week.

Ye beamed as his mini-me dropped bars about her 'cool shoes' - lyrics stolen from five-year-old YouTube star ZaZa's 2019 original track, What I Do? - during his Yeezy season eight presentation at Espace Oscar Niemeyer.

After public outrage, the 43-year-old reality star clarified that her daughter North's impromptu version was just a 'remix' and gave a 'shout out to Zaza' whose real name is Zahara Bean.

West once made a huge fuss about his eldest child being on TikTok (where she and Kim share 18.9M followers), but he ironically had no problem prominently featuring her guest rap on his song Talking/Once Again that dropped February 7.

In it, North rapped: 'It's your bestie. Miss, Miss Westie. Don't try to test me. It's gonna get messy. It's gonna get messy. Just just bless me! Bless me!'

'It's gonna be great,' the 10-year-old aspiring rapper smiled backstage at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, CA

'When's it gonna drop?' Jazzy asked

North replied: 'Like... I don't know'

When asked if there would be any collabs with her famous father Kanye 'Ye' West, West raised her arms and coyly exclaimed: 'Mmmm, maybe! We don't know yet!'

Jazzy then thanked the precocious fifth grader 'for her time' and said she 'liked the mysterious vibe you got going on there'

It was Kim Kardashian (R) who facilitated the Jazzy's World TV exclusive just as she did with little North's first-ever interview, at age four, within her Interview cover story

Instagram users reacted to West's first onscreen interview by calling her 'a legit clone' of the 46-year-old rapper with all 'the mannerisms' with some noting she 'looked nervous' and needed to 'get some media training'

Turns out it was just a soft launch for West's debut studio album, which she officially announced March 10 during the 24-time Grammy winner's Vultures 2 listening party at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ.

'Hi, it's Northie, and I've been working on an album. And it's called Elementary School Drop Out!' the avid painter said onstage to cheers from the crowd.

The title Elementary School Dropout is a direct homage to Ye's 2004 debut studio album, The College Dropout, which went on to be certified four-times platinum and win best rap album at the Grammy Awards.

West and Kardashian's six-year marriage ended in divorce in 2021 and he pays her $200K/month in child support for North as well as son Saint, 8; daughter Chicago, 6; and son Psalm, 4.

The Atlanta-born hip-hop star and Ty Dolla $ign will next release Vultures 3 independently on April 5 via iTunes, Apple Music, and his YZY website.

The Calabasas socialite will next continue her role as sinister publicist Siobhan Corbyn in the nine-episode 12th season of American Horror Story: Delicate, which resumes April 3 on FX.

Kim also executive produces and stars in the 10-episode fifth season of The Kardashians, which premieres May 23 on Hulu.

The PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie actress clearly adores and looks up to Ye, and she first started officially following in his footsteps way back in March 2020 during Paris Fashion Week

Ye (L, pictured in 2020) beamed as his mini-me dropped bars about her 'cool shoes' - lyrics stolen from five-year-old YouTube star ZaZa's 2019 original track, What I Do? - during his Yeezy season eight presentation at Espace Oscar Niemeyer

After public outrage, the 43-year-old reality star clarified that her daughter North's impromptu version was just a 'remix' and gave a 'shout out to Zaza' whose real name is Zahara Bean

West once made a huge fuss about his eldest child being on TikTok (where she and Kim share 18.9M followers), but he ironically had no problem prominently featuring her guest rap on his song Talking/Once Again that dropped February 7

Turns out it was just a soft launch for North's debut studio album, which she officially announced March 10 during the 24-time Grammy winner's Vultures 2 listening party at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ
By Lee Hae-rin

Korean archer An San, who won three gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics in Japan in 2021, caused a stir with an online post that described a Japanese-themed restaurant as a traitor to the nation. The restaurant owner accused the Olympians remark of wrongly branding his business as being a pro-Japanese collaborator.

The 23-year-old shared a photo of a signboard saying international departures bound to Japan on Instagram Saturday, with a comment that read How come there are so many traitors to the nation in Korea.

The photo is no longer available, as it was an Instagram Story that disappeared 24 hours after upload.

The sign in Ans post was part of the entrance to a Japan-themed restaurant at a shopping mall's food complex in the southwestern city of Gwangju, where a Japanese hot pot pub brand created and operated by Koreans is in business.

Ans post triggered online users to harass the business owner, who ended up uploading a letter of plea to end the controversy.

Spreading rumors and wild speculation has suddenly turned me into a descendent of pro-Japanese collaborators and my brand is accused of betraying the country, the brand owner surnamed Kwon said in a social media post Sunday.

Kwon added that he opened the restaurant brand after going through hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic and created a brand themed with a trip to Japan before the reopening of borders.

Kwon said that he and others who run the restaurant brand are bombarded with malicious comments with anti-Japan sentiments from the controversy and asked the public to stop the online harassment.
A Married At First Sight fan has taken to social media to reveal the uncanny resemblance between the show's current grooms and famous movie characters.

The fan shared the hilarious post to Facebook on Monday to show the striking similarities.

A photo of Jack Dunkley, 34, chatting at the dinner table was contrasted with a midget Oompa Loompa character from the beloved 1971 children's movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

They also highlighted boxer that Jayden Eynaud's, 26, looks like the Cowardly Lion from the 1939 Judy Garland movie The Wizard of Oz.

Both have a flowing brunette mane of hair and striking facial features.

A Married At First Sight fan has taken to social media to reveal the uncanny resemblance between the show's current grooms and famous movie characters

A photo of Jack Dunkley, 34, chatting at the dinner table was contrasted with a midget Oompa Loompa character from the beloved 1971 children's movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factor

The other hilarious doppelgangers were Sesame Street Muppet Bert for Tim Calwell, 30, KFC founder Colonel Sanders for Richard Sauerman, 62, and comedian Jim Jefferies for Tristan Black, 29.

Earlier this year, the MAFS relationship experts said this year's show is one of the 'craziest' seasons yet.

Sexologist Alessandra Rampolla, 49, told The Daily Telegraph in January that she will be watching the series alongside viewers to see the chaotic events unfold.

'I am ready to watch the craziness unfold. The experts don't see what happens during the week, so to watch the episodes gives me the full experience,' she said.

Rampolla added that rather than focus on how many couples are successfully matched, viewers should look to the show as a guide for recognising red flags in a relationship.

'It's not about how many couples we get right. We're showing Australia and the world what not to put up with and what not to do.

They also pointed out the resemblance between groom Richard Sauerman and KFC founder Colonel Sanders

'It's about learning about interactions and being better partners and getting discussions going so we can all do better. And if love pops up, it's a celebration.'

Meanwhile, fellow relationship expert Mel Schilling, 51, was quick to dismiss claims the show was not a successful dating experiment, with only four couples from 10 seasons still together.

'I don't focus on that at all. There are so many ways to measure success in this show. I focus more on whether people have grown, developed and gained something out of the process.'

Married At First Sight continues Monday on Channel Nine at 7.30pm.
She's gearing up for the 19th season of her competition series America's Got Talent, which will air on NBC this summer.

And Heidi Klum was seen back at work for day two of auditions on Sunday as she arrived at the series' studio in the Pasadena on Sunday.

The longtime supermodel, who regularly puts on catwalk-like strolls to set, showed off her fab figure in a fitted black dress that hugged her curves.

She covered up somewhat by wearing a long furry coat with a rainbow of colors consisting of yellow, blue, red, burgundy, green, white and black.

The fashionista also wore a pair of black stiletto heeled boots, while carrying a blue purse, which was a perfect match to the blue in her rainbow jacket.

Heidi Klum, 50, turned heads when she arrived at the America's Got Talent studio in Pasadena on Sunday in a black ensemble that was partially covered with a long multicolored coat

Rounding out her overall look, Klum wore cool dark sunglasses while styling her blonde tresses long and straight down past the middle of her back with a center part.

During her walk to the entrance, the German-born star shared a few greetings to fans who had gathered on the streets and couldn't resists saying hello.

Flashing a big smile nearly the entire time, the former catwalk queen also offered up a few waves as she was ushered inside the studio ahead of another day's work on AGT.

During her drive to the studio, Klum took to her Instagram page to answer some questions from fans.

One person asked where she was driving to at that moment, which she promptly let them know she was heading in for another day of work.

'I am right now driving right now to the America's got Talent set, and today is day two of auditions,' she said while staring directly into the camera. 'And auditions are always my favorite because everyone comes; literally everyone. It's so many people.'

She went on to add that these particular days are long 'but so much fun to get to meet everyone and see everyone's talent.'

'So yeah, today is day two of that, and we have three weeks of that so maybe some of you that are watching this are coming and I can't wait to see all of you, good luck,' the OG top model added.

During her drive, Klum also let one fan know she had turquoise nails for day two of auditions, and then she showed off her 'beautiful flower ring,' which she revealed she made many years ago.

Before signing off from Instagram, the leggy beauty was asked to showcase her outfit of the day.

Not long after, Klum shared video of herself getting her makeup done ahead of meeting with her colleagues and fans in the studio.

She then shoot a little video of the judges sitting at their throne together, all while the live studio audience began to cheer with excitement behind them.

The fashionista also wore a pair of black stiletto heeled boots, while carrying a blue purse, which was a perfect match to the blue in her rainbow jacket

'I am right now driving right now to the America's got Talent set, and today is day two of auditions,' Klum said after signing on to her Instagram. 'And auditions are always my favorite because everyone comes; literally everyone. It's so many people'

Klum also let one fan know she had turquoise nails for day two of auditions

Klum showed off her 'beautiful flower ring,' which she revealed she made many years ago

With the help of a popular app, the longtime supermodel added a butterfly to a clip of herself showcasing her outfit of the day

Not long after, Klum shared video of herself getting her makeup done ahead of meeting with her colleagues and fans in the studio

The TV star snuggled up next to her 'sister' Sofia Vergara for a photo of the two beauties side-by-side

Finally, the TV star snuggled up next to her 'sister' Sofia Vergara for a photo of the two beauties side-by-side.

The upcoming season 19 was officially renewed during last season's finale in late September 2023.

And while an official premiere date hasn't been released just yet, the last two seasons debuted at the end of May, though AGT began airing at the beginning of June in some previous years.

Terry Crews will be back to continue his run as the host of America's Got Talent for his sixth season in a row, while Klum returns to the judges panel with Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel and Simon Cowell.
Ross Adams has quit Hollyoaks after after nine years one the soap, he revealed in an update on Sunday.

The actor, who has starred as Scott Drinkwell since 2015, revealed that while he was offered a new contract the crew were 'having a pretty rough time' and he felt it best to leave.

His departure comes after Channel 4 bosses cut budgets and slashed the number of episodes.

The broadcaster announced that from September episodes would be cut from five to three, with the loss of 135 jobs.

Lime Pictures, who make the soap for Channel 4, opened the consultation period and asked those who want to go to stick their hands up.

Ross Adams has quit Hollyoaks after after nine years one the soap, he revealed in an update on Sunday

The actor, who has starred as Scott Drinkwell since 2015, revealed that while he was offered a new contract the crew were 'having a pretty rough time' and he felt it best to leave

Sharing an update to Instagram Ross said he wished to 'try other things and more challenging roles.'

Alongside a photo of his first and last day on set, he wrote: 'Ok So I have some pretty big news that I want to share with you. After nearly a decade, I have made the decision to leave Hollyoaks.

'It was always a dream of mine to act in a soap and playing Scott Drinkwell (and his alter-ego Anita Tinkle) made that dream a reality.

'Its been a total joy and allowed me to do things I could never have dreamed of; from winning a British Soap Award, to writing an episode last year.

'I love the show; the wonderful cast and one of the most dedicated crews in the business - all of whom are having a pretty rough time at the moment.

'So, deciding not to sign another contract was one of the hardest decisions Ive ever had to make.

'Sometimes though, youve just got to be brave - and now feels like the right time for me to try some other things that Ive been super keen to do. I really hope youll all come with me for the ride! Big love, Ross x.'

Ross added in an interview with Metro.co.uk: 'Hollyoaks were kind enough to offer me another contract, but last year I did a documentary about adoption and I really enjoyed doing that.'

Alongside a photo of his first and last day on set, he wrote: 'So I have some pretty big news that I want to share with you. After nearly a decade, I have made the decision to leave Hollyoaks'

He added: 'I love the show; the wonderful cast and one of the most dedicated crews in the business - all of whom are having a pretty rough time at the moment'

He continued: 'After playing Scott for so long, you do get comfortable. Id have happily stayed there forever but I think sometimes you have to push yourself.'

Revealing his character will not be killed off, the actor explained: 'I feel like hes had a really rough ride and I dont know what my exit is going to be but I just hope he has a happy ending. Its all hes ever wanted and hes never quite got there.'

Last week it was announced Jamie Lomas, who portrays gangster Warren Fox in the soap, has reportedly told bosses he will be leaving later this year.

Actor Jamie, 48, has decided it is time for him to leave when his current contract ends later this year.

A source told The Sun: 'Jamie has been at the centre of some of the soaps biggest storylines and has been back in Hollyoaks now for nearly eight years which is a long time.

'Its been a long stint which he has loved but with all the changes going on he felt the time was right to move on.

'He told bosses last week and they are already working on his exit storyline. The door will be left open and it is hoped hell be back again as Warren Fox on day.'

Jamie is currently involved in a twin baby storyline with Jennifer Metcalfe and Richard Blackwood in a soap first.

Mercedes slept with both Jamies character Warren and Richards character Felix, falling pregnant with twins.

It was recently discovered that both of the men were fathers with each being the biological father of one twin.

Jamie was previous nominated for Villain of the Year and Best Actor at the British Soap Awards in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2017.

Last week it was announced Jamie Lomas, who portrays gangster Warren Fox in the soap, has reportedly told bosses he will be leaving later this year

The actor made the decision to quit after Channel 4 bosses have cut budgets and slashed the number of episodes

Channel 4 announced a round of job cuts on January 8 in a bid to tighten its budgets in the wake of a 'sharp and protracted advertising slowdown'.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: 'Channel 4 is a wholly commercially funded and self-reliant broadcaster known for producing iconoclastic programmes and generating enormous value for the UK creative economy.

'Like every organisation, we are having to deal with an extremely uncertain economy in the short term and the need to accelerate our transformation to become a wholly digital public service broadcaster in the long term.

'As a result, we need to continue to divest from our linear channels business and simplify our operations to become a leaner organisation.'
Channing Tatum left a hilarious comment on Lenny Kravitz's shirtless photo on Instagram.

On Friday, the 43-year-old actor joked that his future father-in-law, 59, would 'hurt someone' with the steamy snap showing off his ripped physique and toned abs.

In his caption, the Magic Mike star  who held hands with his fiancee Zoe Kravitz, 35, at the rockstar's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony earlier this week  wrote: 'Jesus Christmas Lenny.'

'Wtf you're gonna hurt someone on this platform. Hahaha,' he added.

In response to Tatum's comment, one social media user wrote: 'Here's the thing, we WANT him to hurt us,' to which he responded, 'baahahahaha.'

Channing Tatum, 43, left a hilarious comment on Lenny Kravitz's shirtless photo on Instagram

On Friday, the actor joked that his future father-in-law, 59, would 'hurt someone' with the steamy snap showing off his ripped physique and toned abs

In Kravitz's photo, he was seen posing shirtless and basking in the sun in only a pair of jeans and oversize shades.

For his caption, he wrote that he was 'standing in love and gratitude'.

Other stars followed suit and also left comments praising Kravitz and his fit body.

Kelly Rowland wrote: 'And just like..I'm headed to the gym!!!'

Colman Domingo commented, 'Well gat d***!'

Kravitz's post comes shortly after he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Tatum accompanied his fiancee to celebrate his future father-in-law.

The couple first sparked romance rumors over two years ago when she cast him as the tech mogul Slater King in her upcoming 2023 feature directorial debut Blink Twice  originally titled P**** Island.

After two years of dating, the pair were rumored to have gotten engaged after the Batman actress was seen sporting a flashy diamond ring at a Halloween party in October 2023.

In response to Tatum's hilarious comment, one Instagram user wrote: 'Here's the thing, we WANT him to hurt us,' to which he responded, 'baahahahaha'

Tatum and the Batman actress, 35, reportedly got engaged in October 2023 after two years of dating. The couple first sparked romance rumors in 2021 when she cast him in her upcoming directorial debut feature film Blink Twice; seen in September 2021

And for the pair's next collaboration, Blink Twice is set to premiere in theaters on August 23.

The story follows Slater King as he meets a cocktail actress named Frida (Naomi Ackie) at his fundraising gala.

The tech billionaire invites her to join him and his friends for an intimate gathering at his private island, but strange things start to happen during their vacation.

As Frida begins to question his intentions, she realizes something is amiss and she must uncover the truth in order to survive.
Konnie Huq has urged her former employer the BBC to bring back children's TV to BBC One in the afternoon after claiming the nation has lost the 'era of family viewing'.

The television presenter, 48, who was Blue Peter's longest-serving host from 1997 to 2008 also hit out at the broadcaster's kids programming budget, saying it was currently being diluted over a number of channels.

BBC stopped airing children's shows on u it's main channel in 2012 moving it's programmes to dedicated CBBC digital channel in a bid to cut costs.

Konnie, who shares two sons with Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker, 53, told The Mirror: 'Blue Peter was on three times a week on BBC1, in what was still an era of family viewing.

'That's why the BBC should bring back children's programmes on BBC1 after [kids] get home from school. I think it would be a better way to use the children's programming budget, rather than diluting the budget over a whole two channels.

Konnie Huq, 48, has urged her former employer the BBC to bring back children's TV to BBC One in the afternoon after claiming the nation has lost the 'era of family viewing'

Konnie, who was Blue Peter's longest-serving host from 1997 to 2008 also hit out at the broadcaster's kids programming budget, saying it was currently being diluted over a number of channels (pictured on Blue Peter in 1999)

'Then you could have Blue Peter back, and programmes like Newsround. Just give us an hour a day, that's all I ask.'

A spokesperson for the BBC told MailOnline in response: 'We are the biggest commissioner of culturally relevant and home-grown childrens programming in the UK, providing families with moments to enjoy British story telling together broadcast on both BBC One and CBBC  like The Famous Five and Quentin Blakes Box of Treasures, returning this Easter after popular debuts at Christmas.

'We also recognise the way families watching TV is constantly evolving and why we provide content curated just for children accessible whenever they want to watch on our digital platforms.'

Last year the BBC was told to up its game after it emerged most of the cartoons it offers for older children are foreign animations.

Despite the corporations charter tasking it with providing distinctive output, it has been buying up huge amounts of shows for youngsters that were made in countries including Japan and the US.

Research shows about 60 per cent of the animated shows for older children on the corporations iPlayer service are foreign.

For this age group there are 285 hours worth of foreign cartoons, compared with 84 hours of British-made content for older children.

Analysis of the CBBC section of the corporations streaming service reveals that this includes 125 hours of the popular Japanese anime series Pokemon.

BBC stopped airing children's shows on u it's main channel in 2012 moving it's programmes to dedicated CBBC digital channel in a bid to cut costs (Newsround hosts pictured)

Konnie, who shares two sons with Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker , 53, said: 'Blue Peter was on three times a week on BBC1, in what was still an era of family viewing (pictured 2020)

She also said: 'That's why the BBC should bring back children's programmes on BBC1 after [kids] get home from school. I think it would be a better way to use the children's programming budget, rather than diluting the budget over a whole two channels'. (pictured on Blue Peter)

The 100% Cartoons section of iPlayer, for CBBC viewers, which is for older children, shows the scale of foreign imports it is using to appeal to these youngsters.

This includes more than 300 episodes of Pokemon, as well other Japanese shows including 50 episodes of Dragon Quest. US shows include Dragons  Riders Of Berk, Arthur, and We Bare Bears.

There are also shows from countries including Canada, Australia and France.

British-made cartoons on the service include Danger Mouse, Dennis & Gnasher and Shaun The Sheep.

Tory MP Giles Watling, who sits on the culture, media and sport committee, was critical of an overreliance by the corporation on foreign cartoons.

He said: We just need to promote our own culture and the BBC is the absolute ideal tool to do that  [it] needs to up its game and encourage and promote local talent.

Corporation sources have pointed to the fact that the BBC has tripled its investment in UK animation for the seven to 12 age group, but this takes a while to deliver.

The BBCs TV budget is set to drop by 100million this year as part of savings. It is set to slash the amount of original TV programmes it shows by 1,000 hours a year.
The judges weren't impressed with her friend Julia Davo, 20, a waitress from Brooklyn, Alyssa, 21, begged them to give her a second chance on the show.

Previous contestant Alyssa Ragu outshined her own friend who was auditioning for a chance to go to Hollywood on Sunday's two-hour episode of American Idol on ABC.

Alyssa, 21, begged them to give her a second chance on the show after Katy Perry, 39, and Luke Bryan, 47, weren't impressed with her friend Julia Davo, 20, a waitress from Brooklyn,

'Just for giggles I'd love to sing you something,' said Alyssa, who had competed on the show when she was 15 and made it to the top ten.

'Yeah come on,' Katy said. 'Give it to us. One last chance on the oval.'

Julia stepped aside as Alyssa sang Mariah Carey's song My All.

Previous contestant Alyssa Ragu outshined her own friend who was auditioning for a chance to go to Hollywood on Sunday's two-hour episode of American Idol on ABC

The judges applauded.

'I have never competed on this show as an adult so I don't know if that's out of the question,' Alyssa said.

'Are you telling me that you want to audition for this season like six years later?' Katy said.

'I know it's in your hands but it's like why not?' Alyssa said. 'I'm 21 and I love breaking rules.'

Katy gave her a no, but Lionel Richie, 74, and Luke gave her a yes.

'I like having you around,' Luke said.

Luke handed her the Golden Ticket sending her to Hollywood.

'You deserve it,' Julia said, hugging her. 'You worked so hard for this.'

Julia Davo, 20 a waitress from Brooklyn, failed to impress the judges

Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry welcomed Alyssa back

Alyssa sang Mariah Carey 's song My All during her impromptu audition

Katy gave her a no, but Lionel and Luke gave her a yes.

'There's a plot twist,' said show host Ryan Seacrest, 49.

When the show opened, auditions were taking place in Tuskegee, Alabama, where Lionel went to school.

'Coming back to Tuskegee was wonderful,' Lionel said.

Deida Jeudy, 16, was the first contestant to audition during the episode. She performed River by Leon Bridges and said she was trying out to inspire her three visually impaired younger brothers. The judges gave her a standing ovation.

Lionel told her she was a 'natural.'

'Your voice is so timeless and you come off as like a cool 16 year old,' Katy said.

The judges voted her on.

Deida Jeudy, 16, was the first contestant to audition during the episode

Deida Jeudy, 16, was the first contestant to audition during the episode. She performed River by Leon Bridges and said she was trying out to inspire her three visually impaired younger brothers

Back in Los Angeles, Elleigh Marie Francom, 20, from American Fork, Utah, tried out next. She said her father was in the Air Force and was away from home a lot. She sang I Can't Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt.

'You started out somewhat average and then you landed it in a space that was oh my God,' Katy said.

'I think she's top ten,' Luke said. 'I just loved it.'

The judges had her bring out her family to tell them together that she was going to Hollywood.

The show included appearances from some of the judges' teachers. Ryan brought Katy's music teacher Agatha Carubia. Luke's high school drama teacher Robbie Davis also stopped by and Lionel's first teacher Dr. Benjamin Ace Outland also made an appearance on the show.

Back in Los Angeles, Elleigh Marie Francom, 20, from American Fork, Utah, tried out next

he sang I Can't Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt

'You started out somewhat average and then you landed it in a space that was oh my God,' Katy said

Athena Jett, 20, from Las Vegas, brought her sister Angelina to her audition. Angelina first handed Katy a crochet purse she had made for Katy's daughter. Athena performed Somebody New by Sophia James. Her sister Angelina cried after she was done.

'I am worried about putting you in the ring,' Katy said.

Angelina then suggested that her sister sing Never Enough from The Greatest Showman instead.

'This is why we do this show,' Katy said crying. 'Athena you were a hard no but whatever just happened showed me something that I think even surprised yourself .that was phenomenal!'

The judges voted her on.

Athena Jett, 20, from Las Vegas, brought her sister Angelina to her audition

Angelina first handed Katy a crochet purse she had made for Katy's daughter

Katy held Angelina and swung her around

Athena hit all the right notes after her little sister got her to perform twice

Angelina then suggested that her sister sing Never Enough from The Greatest Showman instead

The judges voted Athena on

In Nashville, Quintavious Johnson from Franklin, Tennessee, went next. He sang Alabaster Box by CeCe Winans.

'What you gave us today was just inspiring,' Lionel said. 'Great performance.'

He got three yeses and his family cheered for him when he came out with his Hollywood golden ticket.

Lillian Hackett, 17, a high school student from Lovettsville, Virginia, played an original song for the judges.

'I think there's just something real artistic about you that I like,' Luke said.

Lillian also got three yeses and moved on.

In Nashville, Quintavious Johnson from Franklin, Tennessee, went next

He sang Alabaster Box by CeCe Winans

Lillian Hackett, 17, a high school student from Lovettsville, Virginia, played an original song for the judges

Lillian also got three yeses and moved on

Payton Riley, 15, from Montgomery, Texas, played her original song called Fireflies about a break up with her first boyfriend. She cried thinking about how she still missed her ex.

'I think that you are really talented and a really good songwriter,' Katy said. 'My first boyfriend at 16 he dumped me in the parking lot of the guitar center. Always, all that to say, Payton, it gets better.'

Katy told her to come back when she was older. Lionel agreed, but Luke gave her a yes.

Jacob Holcombe, 23, a camp director from Walhalla, South Carolina; Anna Grace, 18, a college student from Pembroke, North Carolina and DJ Williams, 18, a camp counselor from Itta Bena, Mississippi all sang Jealous by Labrinth for their performance. DJ got voted on but Jacob didn't.

Katy said she would put her reputation on the line for Anna but because Luke wasn't sure they did a 'moo-off' where they both got on their hands and knees and moo'ed at each other. The first one who laughed lost, which was Luke, so Anna moved on.

Payton Riley, 15, from Montgomery, Texas, played her original song called Fireflies about a break up with her first boyfriend

Jacob Holcombe, 23, a camp director from Walhalla, South Carolina, tried out

Anna Grace, 18, a college student from Pembroke, North Carolina, auditioned in Nashville

DJ Williams advance

Anna also got a ticket to Hollywood

Dave Fio said he prepared for the show by going sober and hitting the gym and had already lost 65 lbs so far.

He sang Save Me by Jelly Roll.

Luke asked him to sing something else.

Lionel said no but Katy gave him a yes and Luke then decided to vote him on.

'This golden ticket is for every chubby kid who didn't think he was enough,' Dave said.

Dave Fio said he prepared for the show by going sober and hitting the gym and had already lost 65 lbs so far

He sang Save Me by Jelly Roll and advanced

Reagan Mills, 24, from Ennis, Texas, performed Easy On Me by Adele while playing the piano.

Katy joined him at the piano to help draw out an inspired performance,

Luke brought in Reagan's mother to sing with him.

'The boy is rocking out,' Lionel said. 'You have everything we are looking for.'

All the judges gave him a yes.

Reagan Mills, 24, from Ennis, Texas, performed Easy On Me by Adele while playing the piano.

Amari, a waitress, performed her version of Toxic by Britney Spears that included some voice trumpet.

She shared with the judges that when she transitioned that she lost a lot of friends.

Amari sang a second song She Used to Be Mine by Sara Bareilles because she said it reminds her of who she could have been but that she was happy the way she was no.

'You really live in a great space,' Luke said. 'That was a really powerful thing to watch you do, a very emotional performance.'

Katy gave her a yes. Luke gave her a no but then Lionel gave her a yes voting her on.

Amari, a waitress, performed her version of Toxic by Britney Spears that included some voice trumpet

Katy brought her mother Mary to play a pickleball match against Luke and Lionel to prove her hometown was the best.

Conall Gorman, 19, from Montclair, New Jersey, played an original song called Backseat for the judges on his guitar.

Katy told him that he had an interesting voice.

The judges gave him three yeses and voted him on.

'I was so nervous in there,' Conall said.

Katy brought her mother Mary to play a pickleball match against Luke and Lionel to prove her hometown was the best

Mary and Katy crushed Luke and Lionel

Conall Gorman, 19, from Montclair, New Jersey, played an original song called Backseat for the judges on his guitar

Michael Rice, 26, a street performer from Hartlepool, England was the last contestant of the episode. He said his mother had him when she was only 17. He said his father wasn't around for his childhood.

He said he rekindled his relationship with his father when he was 17 but then his dad died shortly after.

He sang the Kelly Clarkson song Because of You.

The judges got up and gave him a group hug.

'That was the most emotional and most giving,' Lionel said. 'Congratulations man that was powerful.'

Michael cried.

'You sang your a** off,' Luke said.

Michael Rice, 26, a street performer from Hartlepool, England was the last contestant of the episode

The judges heaped praise on Michael and sent him to Hollywood as he got emotional and cried

The judges gave him three yeses and voted him on.

'I want your dream to continue,' Lionel said.

'I'm actually going to Hollywood, baby,' Michael said.

American Idol will return next Sunday on ABC.
Bethenny Frankel put on a stylish display as she touched down at Sydney Airport on Monday morning ahead of bringing her smash hit tour to the Australian city.

The American reality TV star and CEO of lifestyle brand Skinnygirl, 53, looked as fashionable as ever as she strolled through arrivals with her daughter Bryn, 13.

Bethenny showed off her toned legs in skintight cream leggings, which she styled with a loose beige T-shirt and a denim jacket.

She tucked her brunette tresses beneath a wide-brimmed straw hat and kept comfortable in a pair of white trainers as she arrived in Sydney from Melbourne.

The Real Housewives of New York City star toted her essentials in a black shoulder bag and shielded her eyes with oversized sunglasses.

Bethenny Frankel put on a stylish display as she touched down at Sydney Airport on Monday morning ahead of bringing her smash hit tour to the Australian city

The reality TV star and CEO of lifestyle brand Skinnygirl, 53, looked as fashionable as ever as she strolled through arrivals

She was joined by her daughter Bryn, 13, who she shares with her ex-husband Jason Hoppy, as they are making the most of the big trip Down Under

She was joined by her daughter Bryn, who she shares with her ex-husband Jason Hoppy, as they are making the most of the big trip Down Under for her tour.

Bryn looked every inch her famous mum's mini-me in a white hoodie and grey tracksuit bottoms as she smiled and chatted with her mother.

Bethenny debuted her popular speaking tour, In Conversation with Bethenny Frankel, in Melbourne last weekend and she is now bringing it to Sydney.

She will be taking to the stage at the ICC's Darling Harbour Theatre on Friday to discuss her success and rise to fame with the audience.

According to an event description, she will have a 'candid conversation about unparalleled success, from brand building prowess to memorable moments on Real Housewives of New York and The Apprentice'.

She will also host a live Q&A where she will answer the audience's questions about entrepreneurship and reality TV, while she will also be joined on stage by MC Sally Obermeder.

Bethenny showed off her toned legs in skintight cream leggings, which she styled with a loose beige T-shirt and a denim jacket

She tucked her brunette tresses beneath a wide-brimmed straw hat as she made a low-key arrival in Sydney

The Real Housewives of New York City star shielded her eyes with oversized sunglasses as she enjoyed a hot beverage upon landing

She toted her essentials in a black shoulder bag and kept comfortable in a pair of white and pink trainers

Bethenny kept it low-key as she opted for a comfortable ensemble for the flight as she touched down for her third visit to Sydney

Bethenny already debuted her popular speaking tour, In Conversation with Bethenny Frankel, in Melbourne last weekend and she is now bringing it to Sydney

She will be taking to the stage at the ICC's Darling Harbour Theatre on Friday to discuss her success and rise to fame with the audience

It is Bethenny's third time ever visiting Sydney and she wasted no time in exploring the sights as she took to Instagram to share a video of herself out-and-about.

She looked effortlessly chic in a denim jacket and a vibrant green wide-brimmed hat as she raised excitement for her upcoming show.

She told her followers: 'OK Sydney, we're in your neck of the woods now! This is my third trip to Sydney, which goes to show you how much I love it and love you, I love Australia, I'm thrilled to be here!'

Bethenny recently gushed over being able to turn her work trip to Australia into a mother-daughter bonding holiday and has kept busy sightseeing with Bryn during her downtime.

Bethenny recently gushed over being able to turn her work trip to Australia into a mother-daughter bonding holiday and has kept busy sightseeing with Bryn during her downtime

She told Woman's Day: 'It's a long trip, but it's totally worth it, and to be able to bring my daughter, it's something not to be taken for granted, I'm really excited to be sharing it with her.'

Of her and Bryn's plans in Sydney, she added: 'I did the [Harbour] Bridge Climb last time and I think Bryn might like that, she loves animals, so to see a koala in some sort of intimate setting, and I guess she's got to see a kangaroo too!'

When asked if her daughter might follow in her reality TV footsteps, Bethenny insisted that it is not something that her daughter would consider doing.

'She wouldn't because she doesn't like it, but I mean she might if it was something cute and fun, but she wouldn't if it was something like Housewives,' she revealed.
Robert Downey Jr. reflected on how it felt to finally win his first Oscar for best supporting actor last week for his scene-stealing turn as antagonist Rear Admiral Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer.

'It's crazy that Al Pacino, one of my favorite human beings on earth, presented best picture [to Oppenheimer],' the 58-year-old Iron Man alum said in his People cover story.

'And it's also crazy that, I think, deservedly he won the first time I was nominated [in 1993 for Chaplin], for Scent of a Woman.'

But that's not how Robert's late father - Robert Downey Sr. - felt about him losing best actor as the girl-crazy silent screen legend to the iconic 83-year-old as a blind and alcoholic Army veteran.

'Senior went to his grave going, "[You] got robbed for Chaplin,"' Downey - who was also nominated in 2009 for his blackface role in Tropic Thunder - recalled.

Robert Downey Jr. reflected on how it felt to finally win his first Oscar for best supporting actor last week for his scene-stealing turn as antagonist Rear Admiral Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer (pictured March 10)

'He wouldn't say he really thought any of my other movies were very good or even that he thought Chaplin was any good, but he did know that I got robbed.'

The Downey's Dream Cars producer-host continued: 'I think that he would feel that justice was done and that he can rest. But the problem is, he never cared about any of this s*** anyway.'

The prolific independent filmmaker passed away, at age 85, in 2021 from complications of Parkinson's disease.

Robert memorably portrayed the adult and older versions of Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough's 1992 biopic, which received mixed reviews and only earned $12M back from its $31M budget.

When Downey delivered his acceptance speech, he gave a sweet shout-out to his 'veterinarian, I mean wife' Susan considering 'she found me a snarling rescue pet and loved me back to life. That's why I'm here.'

Robert frequently credits the 50-year-old producer with helping him overcome his drug and alcohol addiction in 2003 after meeting on the set of Gothika, and they're proud parents of 12-year-old son Exton and nine-year-old daughter Avri.

In 2015, the twice-rehabbed ex-con received a full and unconditional pardon from Governor of California Jerry Brown for his prior drug convictions.

Speaking of which, Downey's eldest son Indio Falconer Downey celebrated 18 months of sobriety last November.

The 58-year-old Iron Man alum (M) said in his People cover story: 'It's crazy that Al Pacino (top), one of my favorite human beings on earth, presented best picture [to Oppenheimer]'

Robert continued: 'And it's also crazy that, I think, deservedly he won the first time I was nominated [in 1993 for Chaplin], for Scent of a Woman'

But that's not how Downey's late father - Robert Downey Sr. (L, pictured in 2021) - felt about him losing best actor as the girl-crazy silent screen legend to the iconic 83-year-old as a blind and alcoholic Army veteran

The Downey's Dream Cars producer-host recalled: 'Senior went to his grave going, "[You] got robbed for Chaplin." He wouldn't say he really thought any of my other movies were very good or even that he thought Chaplin was any good, but he did know that I got robbed. I think that he would feel that justice was done and that he can rest. But the problem is, he never cared about any of this s*** anyway'

Robert memorably portrayed the adult and older versions of Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough's 1992 biopic, which received mixed reviews and only earned $12M back from its $31M budget

When Downey delivered his acceptance speech, he gave a sweet shout-out to his 'veterinarian, I mean wife' Susan considering 'she found me a snarling rescue pet and loved me back to life. That's why I'm here'

Robert frequently credits the 50-year-old producer (L, pictured March 10) with helping him overcome his drug and alcohol addiction in 2003 after meeting on the set of Gothika, and they're proud parents of 12-year-old son Exton and nine-year-old daughter Avri

In 2015, the twice-rehabbed ex-con received a full and unconditional pardon from Governor of California Jerry Brown for his prior drug convictions (pictured in 2015)

Speaking of which, Downey's 30-year-old son Indio Falconer Downey celebrated 18 months of sobriety last November (pictured October 17)

The four-time Golden Globe winner explained: 'I think it's hard to explain away certain behaviors when there are ways to heal. So I both have a lot of empathy for, and I also am a little bit skeptical about anyone who doesn't lean into what they can do to improve the state of their compass. That's all'

Robert will next executive produce and star as four different characters in Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar's seven-episode spy thriller The Sympathizer, which premieres April 18 on Max

The four-time Golden Globe winner welcomed the 30-year-old musician during his 12-year marriage to Deborah Falconer, which ended in 2004.

'I think if you develop a moral psychology, things are a lot easier,' Robert explained.

'And I think it's hard to explain away certain behaviors when there are ways to heal. So I both have a lot of empathy for, and I also am a little bit skeptical about anyone who doesn't lean into what they can do to improve the state of their compass. That's all.'

The Downeys have been married 18 years, they founded their production company Team Downey a decade ago, and their other upcoming projects include Netflix series Sweet Tooth, Amazon MGM Studios' crime thriller Play Dirty, and the long-delayed Sherlock Holmes 3.

But first, audiences can catch the Manhattan-born high school drop-out executive producing and starring as four different characters in Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar's seven-episode spy thriller The Sympathizer, which premieres April 18 on Max.

Each of Robert's antagonistic characters reportedly represent a different arm of the American establishment and he told People: 'It wasn't particularly subtle, it wasn't meant to be, but I'm already proud of what I've seen.'

Cowboy Bebop star Hoa Xuande plays the main character - a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States.

The small-screen adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer Prize-winning 2015 debut novel will also feature Sandra Oh, Kieu Chinh, Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, and Alan Trong.
Sami Sheen posed a series of selfies on Sunday during a wholesome trip to the farmer's market.

The daughter of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards, 20 - who recently posted explicit content to OnlyFans with her new boyfriend - could be seen striking a variety of poses while sitting inside a vehicle.

The media personality sported a long-sleeved, white sweater while her darker locks were parted in the middle, and styled into two separate braids.

She accessorized the casual ensemble with a dainty, beaded necklace as well as dangly, heart-shaped earrings.

Her makeup was classically done for the weekend excursion, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a black, winged eyeliner.

Sami Sheen, 20, showed off her dewy complexion as she posed for a series of radiant selfies that were shared to Instagram on Sunday during a trip to the farmer's market

The media personality sported a long-sleeved, white sweater while her darker locks were parted in the middle, and styled into two separate braids

A light pink blush was added to her cheekbones, while a glossy pink tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch.

In the caption of the post, Sami penned to her 159K fans and followers, 'farmers market day,' followed by emojis including a strawberry.

The latest photo series comes shortly after the model posted very explicit content for her first 'boy/girl collab' to her OnlyFans account - which she first started at the age of 18.

For $75, subscribers can have access to images and videos of Sami simulating sex in the shower, DailyMail.com confirmed earlier this week.

In the X-rated content, Sami is joined by her new boyfriend Aiden David - who also has an OnlyFans page of his own.

In a message that she wrote to her subscribers, Sami said, 'I'm ready to show you what I look like with a guy.'

She then also added, 'Okay, I'm nervous so please don't tell anyone but I just really want you to see this, so I'm giving you a discount.'

However, the media personality later shared a selfie of herself along with a disclaimer to clear up any possible confusion of what the content entailed.

She accessorized the casual ensemble with a dainty, beaded necklace as well as dangly, heart-shaped earrings

For $75, subscribers can have access to images and videos of Sami simulating sex in the shower, DailyMail.com confirmed earlier this week

However, the media personality later shared a selfie of herself along with a disclaimer to clear up any possible confusion of what the content entailed

She typed, 'just wanna clarify that my B/G collab does NOT consist of any s3x tapes. not sure where people are getting that info from but it's wrong!!! just don't want any subs getting mad at me for false advertisement :).'

In conclusion Sami added, 'but anyways, the collab is still rlly hot and u should go take a look hehe,' along with a link to the content.

Also this week, it was revealed to DailyMail.com exclusively that friends of Denise Richards fear she is 'damaging' Sami by 'enabling her sex work.'

'Denise is enabling her daughter to continue her OnlyFans knowing damn well that it is damaging her reputation and making her family upset,' an insider stated.

'Sami described herself as a sex worker recently and Denise's [Bravo] cast members think it's disgusting that she's setting this kind of example for her fans.'

The source continued, 'But they also said that the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree and that Denise is not only approving of this, but enabling it.'

Her father, Charlie Sheen, has a differing viewpoint on the situation, with the insider stating that the actor, 'is not at all happy but he knows that it is ultimately Sami's decision to live the way she wants to live.'

'She is making insane amounts of money from this and that is what is driving her.'

When Sami made the choice to join OnlyFans, the actor at first did not 'condone' Sami's decision.

In the X-rated content, Sami is joined by her new boyfriend Aiden David - who also has an OnlyFans page of his own

Also this week, it was revealed to DailyMail.com exclusively that friends of Denise Richards fear she is 'damaging' Sami by 'enabling her sex work'

Her father, Charlie Sheen, has a differing viewpoint on the situation, with the insider stating that the actor, 'is not at all happy but he knows that it is ultimately Sami's decision to live the way she wants to live'

In a statement to E! News, the Two And A Half Men star had expressed, 'I do not condone this, but since I'm unable to prevent it, I urged her to keep it classy, creative and not sacrifice her integrity.'

He then added, 'She is 18-years-old now and living with her mother. This did not occur under my roof.'

Denise later responded to her ex-husband's statement and also informed the outlet, 'Sami is 18, and this decision wasn't based on whose house she lives in.

'All I can do as a parent is guide her and trust her judgement, but she makes her own choice.'

However, shortly after, Charlie's view on the situation altered and he told the publication that Richards, 'has illuminated a variety of salient points, that in my haste, I overlooked and dismissed.'

'Now more than ever, it's essential that Sami have a united parental front to rely upon, as she embarks on this new adventure. From this moment forward, she'll have it abundantly.'

Richards also took the step to start an OnlyFans account of her own to further show her support for Sami.

And late last year in November, Sami revealed that she had successfully undergone breast augmentation surgery.

And late last year in November, Sami revealed that she had successfully undergone breast augmentation surgery

Earlier this month, the media personality also celebrated her 20th birthday and shared snaps from a sunset beach picnic

She also debuted her new relationship with Aiden David as the pair shared a kiss while on the sandy shore

Sami documented the journey before and after the surgery, such as uploading a mirror selfie while wearing a hospital gown. 'It's surgery time!!!!!' she wrote.

Earlier this month, the media personality also celebrated her 20th birthday and shared snaps from a sunset beach picnic. She also debuted her new relationship with Aiden David as the pair shared a kiss while on the sandy shore.

A small wooden table was placed on a large blanket and topped with a pink runner, elegant floral arrangements as well as ornate dinnerware.

'cheers to a new decade!!' Sami captioned the photo series, along with cake and champagne glasses emojis, as well as the hashtag '#20.'
Cardi B opened up about how she lost herself due to the fear of criticism while promoting her upcoming second studio album.

The 31-year-old rapper in a conversation with Speedy Norman on 360 With Speedy released on Friday was asked about releasing an apology to her fans earlier this month on social media for losing herself.

'I just feel like I lost myself like with everything like, you know like a lot of like music commenters and everything and a lot of people just be like, you know, ''She's afraid to drop an album, she's afraid to drop music'',' Cardi explained.

'Like last year, I barely dropped music. It's just like I was just afraid to do everything,' she added.

'I was afraid to go live, I was afraid to post a picture, I was afraid to go to the club, and then the next day seeing people, what they going to say about me, and everything. I was afraid to do everything,' Cardi said.

Cardi B, shown earlier this month in Beverly Hills, California, opened up about how she lost herself due to the fear of criticism while promoting her upcoming second studio album

Cardi also shared that she hasn't taken a break from the Internet after becoming popular on social media as her rap career blossomed in 2015.

'I love talking about politics and everything. I don't even want to talk about it anymore because I'm just so afraid of just getting dragged every single f***ing day like I'm tired,' said Cardi, who urged her fans to vote for Senator Bernie Sanders during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Cardi revealed that she recorded a remix of the Ice Spice song Munch but decided not to release it.

'I did do a thing for Ice Spice, but I just did not like how it sound. I love the record, I did not like how I sound. You know it being on a drill beat, it's not as easy as it look.  I was like, 'They're gonna drag me and they're going to drag the song bad'',' Cardi said.

Cardi - full name Belcalis Marlenis Cephus - earlier this month on Instagram Live apologized to her fans for pulling away.

'I want to apologize to my fans. To my fans, to myself, and to the people that love me for losing myself... Just losing myself and not being myself because of negative things that put me in a wall,' she posted.

'I want to apologize if you ever felt that like, I wasn't giving my all because of things. I'm just a f***ing human b****, I'm trying to do this s***. You know what I'm saying? I'm trying,' she added.

Cardi on 360 With Speedy said her next 'super soon' announcement would be about the release of her second studio album.

The 31-year-old rapper, shown in December 2023 in Arizona, in a conversation with Speedy Norman on 360 With Speedy released on Friday was asked about releasing an apology to her fans earlier this month on social media for losing herself

'I just feel like I lost myself like with everything like, you know like a lot of like music commenters and everything and a lot of people just be like, you know, ''She's afraid to drop an album, she's afraid to drop music'',' admitted Cardi, shown last September in New Jersey

Senator Bernie Sanders is shown having an online chat about politics with Cardi in 2019

This will be her first new studio album since her 2018 debut album Invasion Of Privacy solidified her as a major hip-hop star.

Invasion Of Privacy featured the hit singles Bodak Yellow, Bartier Cardi, Be Careful, I Like It and Ring.

Cardi became the first female rapper to win for Best Rap Album at the 61st annual Grammy Awards

The New York City native last September released a collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion, 29, titled Bongos.
The presidential office said Monday it would be "highly inappropriate" for the ambassador to Australia to return home immediately, apparently dismissing the ruling party chief's call for the envoy's return for an investigation into a Marine's death.

Ambassador Lee Jong-sup has been the subject of intense scrutiny since the presidential office appointed him earlier this month while he was under a travel ban over his alleged interference in a military probe into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun. Chae was killed during a search mission amid heavy rains last July and Lee was the defense minister at the time.

The presidential office's statement came a day after ruling People Power Party chief Han Dong-hoon told reporters the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) should summon Lee, and the ambassador should return home immediately, suggesting the issue was creating a burden ahead of the April 10 parliamentary elections.

"The appointment of former Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup as ambassador to Australia was a fair personnel decision choosing the right person in consideration of the security cooperation among Korea, the United States, Japan and Australia in the Indo-Pacific region and our large-scale arms exports to Australia," the presidential office said in the notice to the press.

"Amb. Lee will respond immediately at any time to the subpoena requests of the CIO, and it is highly inappropriate for the chief of an overseas mission to return home and wait indefinitely when the CIO has not even summoned him because it is not ready to investigate," it said.

Lee appeared before the CIO for questioning prior to his departure to Australia and has promised to return any time an investigation need arises. (Yonhap)
David Guetta is expanding his family.

The DJ, 56, revealed that he and girlfriend Jessica Ledon, 32, have welcomed their first child together - a son.

The French born record producer shared a joint Instagram post with the actress on Sunday, announcing the happy news along with a heartwarming family photo.

The pair  who recently enjoyed a beach day in Miami  also revealed their newborn's unusual name in the caption, writing: 'Love is in the air  Welcome Cyan.' The name means 'light blue-green.'

Guetta also shares two children with his ex-wife Cathy Lobe, 56. They have a daughter, Angie, 16, and a son, Tim Elvis, 19.

David Guetta, 56, revealed that he and girlfriend Jessica Ledon, 32, have welcomed their first child together  a son  in a joint Instagram post on Sunday

The French born record producer and the actress announced the happy news along with a heartwarming family photo; they are seen on Feb 3 in Beverly Hills

Their family, friends and followers quickly took to the comments to congratulate the couple, with David's son confirming the gender of the baby by writing, 'Little brother gonna be strong!' along with a red heart emoji.

Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka commented, 'So beautiful! I am so happy for you both.

Dutch DJ Tiesto added, 'I am so happy for you two!! Congrats brother!'

They announced the pregnancy at the the Latin GRAMMY Awards in Seville, Spain, in November, as David lovingly placed his hand on Jessica's baby bump.

Jessica showed off her blossoming baby bump in a sheer green dress with a halter neckline and a hood.

David looked delighted as he cosied up to his actress girlfriend.

The couple began dating in 2015, and it was reported that David had given the brunette beauty a promise ring in lieu of an engagement ring, as he 'no longer believes in marriage'.

David and his ex Cathy married from 1992 but decided to part ways in 2014; Cathy had been an important business collaborated throughout the DJ's career.

The pair also revealed their newborn's unusual name in the caption, writing: 'Love is in the air  Welcome Cyan.' The name means 'light blue-green'

They announced the pregnancy at the the Latin GRAMMY Awards in Seville, Spain, in November (pictured)

The couple began dating in 2015, and it was reported that David had given the brunette beauty a promise ring in lieu of an engagement ring, as he 'no longer believes in marriage'

The pair parted amicably and raise their son and daughter together.

David and Jessica, who is over 20 years his junior, were rumored to have split in February.

The DJ and the actress were said to have called time on their seven-year romance as their busy schedules and travel commitments meant their lifestyles were no longer 'compatible.'

A source told The Sun at the time that David was in Ibiza for the summer for his residency while Jess lived in the States put pressure on their relationship.

They explained: 'David had grown apart from Jess and their lifestyles just weren't compatible anymore.

'They have so much history together that all of us around them thought they were made for each other but it hasn't worked out that way.'

However, even then, it wasn't definitely over as hope remained for them to be together - which has now proven to be the case.

David's accolades include two Grammy Awards, an American Music Award and a Billboard Music Award, and last year he sold his songs to Warner Music for a nine-figure sum.

Guetta already shares two children with his ex-wife Cathy Lobe, 56. They have a daughter, Angie, 16, and a son, Tim Elvis, 19

David and his ex Cathy married from 1992 but decided to part ways in 2014; Cathy had been an important business collaborated throughout the DJ's career; seen at the 2012 Grammys in LA

David was seen on Saturday in Miami Beach with Jessica as they hung out with a female friend while soaking up some sun

The French DJ's girlfriend looked as if she had already given birth, though they did not share what day the baby arrived

The French DJ made roughly $100m (72m) in the deal, which also covers his future recordings.

Yet his career hasn't been without controversy.

In 2020, the multi-millionaire was branded 'tone-deaf' after he paid tribute to George Floyd - an African-American man who was murdered by a police officer - by remixing Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream speech.

David was performing in a benefit show for COVID-19-related causes when he gave a 'shout out' to George's family before remixing the speech into a bass-heavy track.
Robert Irwin has jetted off to South Africa alongside his mother Terri Irwin to commence filming on Channel Ten's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!

However sister Bindi, 25, was notably absent when her little brother was dropped off at Brisbane Airport by her husband Chandler Powell, 27.

According to New Idea, the Irwin trio opted for an emotional goodbye at home alongside Bindi's two-year-old daughter, Grace Warrior, while a source told the publication: 'Bindi promised Robert they will FaceTime him every day'.

The source also addressed reports of jealousy between the siblings: 'A lot of people have suggested that Bindi is feeling a bit left out... nothing could be further from the truth.

'She's mighty proud of her little brother'.

Robert Irwin, 20, (left) has jetted off to South Africa alongside his mother Terri Irwin to commence filming as the new host of Channel Ten's I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! Australia

The show's filming will reportedly be the longest time the Irwin siblings have spent apart.

Terri, 59, made the journey with Robert, leaving behind Bindi and Chandler to hold down the fort at Australia Zoo.

According to reports, the matriarch will make cameo appearances on the program.

Dropping the duo off at Brisbane Airport was Robert's (left) brother-in-law Chandler Powell, 27, while noticeably missing from the send off was sister Bindi, 25 (right)

The source told New Idea that there is still a chance Bindi and her family will jet to South Africa for an 'emotional reunion between the Irwin siblings.'

It comes after Robert recently revealed why he accepted the offer to host the new season of I'm A Celebrity.

The zookeeper-turned-reality TV host told Yahoo Lifestyle, hosting the show is important in continuing the legacy of his father Steve, who tragically passed away when Robert was just three years old.

According to New Idea, the Irwin trio opted for a bittersweet goodbye at home alongside Bindi's two-year-old daughter, Grace Warrior

'I love that I have a real purpose and a legacy that I get to continue from my family, and my dad particularly, and I get to create my own - of wildlife conservation, of fun, of passion and positivity,' he said.

'And no show does it better than I'm A Celebrity when it comes to just fun, family, positive, let's give it a go. Plus, every contestant's working for a charity.'

He said he is a 'huge fan of the show' and it is a 'privilege and a real honour' to co-host the series alongside Julia Morris.
Rebecca Gibney has taken to social media to announce a major life change, revealing she will be relocating from her lavish home in Dunedin, New Zealand.

The Halifax f.p. star, 59, shared a video capturing her exquisitely designed five bedroom property on the South Island and explained she was moving for family.

'There have been major changes happening for us. We have decided to leave our beautiful beachside home and head north - to stalk our son,' she wrote.

'Actually, for a variety of reasons, but stalking Zac sounds better! On to new adventures. Love you Dunners.

'Thanks for being my haven. I will miss you and your beautiful people,' she added.

Rebecca Gibney has taken to social media to announce a major life change, revealing she will be relocating from her lavish home in Dunedin, New Zealand

Rebecca's 19-year-old son Zachary is studying acting at a drama school in Wellington on New Zealand's North Island.

Gibney had lived on the 12.5 hectare property since 2017 with her husband Richard Bell.

In December, Gibney revealed that the secret behind her long and loving marriage is friendship, not fireworks.

The Halifax f.p. star, 59, shared a video capturing her exquisitely designed five bedroom property on the South Island and explained she was moving for family. Gibney is relocating to Wellington to be closer to her 19-year-old son Zachary

The Australian actress told Stellar her 22 years with her husband Richard have been filled with support and comfort.

'You've got to have an open line of communication and honesty  and really be prepared to answer hard questions and discuss hard things,' she said.

She went on to explain that because the pair found love 'later in life', in their 30s, they knew exactly what they wanted from a relationship.

Gibney will be listing her five bedroom beachside home in Dunedin as she prepares to move to NZ's North Island

'You realise that it's not about the fireworks and all that. Certainly we had that, but we both knew going into it we wanted the long-term thing' she said.

'You know, maybe the romance might wane, [but] compromise is key as well. You have to be able to step back and go, it is better to be kind than right sometimes? Get your ego, your pride out of the way.

'This argument, is it going to matter in five minutes, five years, 50 years? Probably not. So, you know, take your foot off the gas.'

Rebecca and production designer Richard married in 2001 and share one son, Zachary.
Married At First Sight stars Sara Mesa and Lauren Dunn were spotted having what appeared to be a tense exchange during a boozy lunch with friends last week.

The close pals put on a very animated display and gestured wildly as they left North Bondi Fish in Sydney.

Photographs also showed them huddled up together as nutritionist Sara, 29, looked visibly upset, while Lauren, 32, put her arm around her.

Sara has been embroiled in a 'cheating' scandal on MAFS in recent days after Eden Harper revealed she had met her ex-boyfriend behind her groom Tim Calwell's back.

She recently opened up about struggling with the public backlash she's faced, while Lauren has also weighed in on the controversy and how it impacted their mutual friend Eden.

Married At First Sight stars Sara Mesa and Lauren Dunn were spotted having what appeared to be a tense exchange during a boozy lunch with friends last week

The close pals put on a very animated display and gestured wildly as they left North Bondi Fish in Sydney

Lauren was seen looking annoyed with Sara outside the popular Sydney haunt

During their outing, Sara was visibly distressed as she had an intense conversation with Lauren after leaving the eatery.

Lauren was also seen standing with her hands on her hips, looking disgruntled.

Following the conversation the pair shared a hug, with Lauren putting her arm around an upset Sara.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment.

Sara recently opened up about the aftermath of her infamous cheating scandal, detailing the emotional turmoil and public backlash she's faced.

The controversy blew up after Eden revealed text messages between herself and Sara, in which she disclosed a 'secret' meet-up with her ex-boyfriend.

She put her hands on her hips as the pair exchanged tense words

Things appeared to have become heated between the pair as they seemingly had an argument after leaving the lunch

They were both seen gesturing animatedly as they stopped outside the restaurant to speak

The two MAFS stars have formed a close friendship on the series and have frequently been seen out together since filming

Sara wore a black mini dress for the outing while Lauren put on a leggy display in a white summer dress

'Watching it all back has been really rough,' Sara told Daily Mail Australia of the huge backlash.

She admitted reliving her experience has prompted her to confront aspects of her behaviour she's not proud of.

She said: 'It's made me feel really sad, especially for the way that I've treated Tim. I have so many regrets... It's like putting up a mirror to a lot of the things that I need to work on myself, and in relationships.'

Reflecting on her actions, Sara expressed remorse and the desire to have handled things differently, saying she would have told Tim about the meet-up if she could go back.

Lauren also recently weighed in on the controversy surrounding Sara's rendezvous with her ex-boyfriend and how it impacted their mutual friend Eden.

The pair were seen leaning close to one another during the fiery conversation

The pair later shared a hug and seemed to patch things up

'I did know about Sara meeting up with the ex, Eden knew, I knew that nothing happened and it was honestly a non issue,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'However, I can say in hindsight that it was very hurtful to Tim to find out the way he found out, because lying about something makes someone feel like there's something to hide.'

Reflecting on the aftermath, Lauren noted: 'Sara and I have discussed this and she definitely knows now that what she did was wrong and it just created more problems than would have been created if she just told him the truth.'

Lauren also expressed her discomfort with how the situation was handled, particularly by Eden, who was caught between a rock and a hard place.

'I really don't feel like she really wanted to do it in that way and I think that's what was making her so anxious at the retreat,' Lauren said.

They were seen locked in a close embrace

Sara was seen leaning on Lauren's shoulders as they left the restaurant

Sara wore a pair of kitten heels while Lauren kept it casual in sandals

Lauren walked with her arm around Sara's shoulders

Lauren had earlier been seen smiling as she spoke to a friend while enjoying a drink and some lunch

The outing comes after recent dramatic scenes on MAFS

Sara has been embroiled in a 'cheating' scandal on MAFS in recent days after Eden Harper revealed she had met her ex-boyfriend behind her groom Tim Calwell's back

Sara recently opened up about struggling with the public backlash she's faced, while Lauren has also weighed in on the controversy and how it impacted their mutual friend Eden

Despite the scandal, Lauren made it clear her relationship with Eden remains intact.

'Eden and I definitely had a friendship, and we continue to have a friendship,' she revealed.

'It definitely didn't ruin the friendship. I was just disappointed with how it was it came out.'
Lindsay Lohan's latest film Irish Wish has been savaged by film critics, with one branding it an 'AI-generated harbinger of doom'.

The Netflix movie, released on March 15, received a dismal 34% movie score via Rotten Tomatoes.

'There are no leprechauns in this abysmal romantic comedy,' wrote The Guardian's Wendy Ide. 'Otherwise, though, pretty much no theme-park Ireland cliche is left unturned'

The Janeen Damian-directed project features Lindsay as Maddie, a book editor whose world crumbles when her secret crush gets engaged to her closest friend. After reluctantly accepting the role of bridesmaid for the wedding in Ireland, Maddie soon realizes her heart's true desire lies elsewhere.

'As a fairy-tale romantic rendering of Ireland, Irish Wish is almost offensively bad,' John Nugent of Empire said of the film.

Lindsay Lohan 's latest film Irish Wish has been savaged by film critics, with one branding it an 'AI-generated harbinger of doom'

The Netflix movie, released on March 15, received a dismal 34% movie score via Rotten Tomatoes

Variety's Owen Gleiberman quipped, 'The movie is as frothy as the foam on a pint of Guinness, as formulaic as the last disposable Netflix rom-com.'

Rachel Handler of Vulture didn't hold back either, calling it a 'crypto-fascict, AI-generated harbinger of doom' that 'could have only been written by a malevolently programmed artificial intelligence.'

'Theres so little feeling in Irish Wish,' said Kimber Myers of Crooked Marquee.

'Ive cared more about (and cried more during) actual greeting card commercials than anything in this film.'

Johnny Oleksinski of The New York Post wrote, 'This high-fructose-corn-syrup movie remains air-headed, thats for sure, but its far less campy and therefore a drag.'

Despite the negative reviews, Lindsay received praise for her performance.

'[Lohan] is an undeniable star and has always succeeded as a screwball comedienne,' said Marya E. Gates with RogerEbert.com.

Oleksinski added, 'Lohan is her usually charming self throughout, wasted once again in a cardboard streaming project.'

Lohan, who welcomed son Luai with husband Bader Shammas in July 2023, also served as a producer on the film.

'Shes very involved with structuring the image for the film,' Netflixs director of original film Christina Rogers told Bustle.

'She meets with our directors and helps make that decision; she has a lot of input in her wardrobe and how she presents [the film] on social media.'

The Mean Girls actress also discussed her professional journey, hinting at a potential interest in directing.

'I feel sometimes Im directing my directors, and I dont know if they like it or not.'

'There are no leprechauns in this abysmal romantic comedy,' wrote The Guardian's Wendy Ide. 'Otherwise, though, pretty much no theme-park Ireland cliche is left unturned'

The Janeen Damian-directed project features Lindsay as Maddie, a book editor whose world crumbles when her secret crush gets engaged to her closest friend

'As a fairy-tale romantic rendering of Ireland, Irish Wish is almost offensively bad,' John Nugent of Empire said of the film

Despite the negative reviews, Lindsay received praise for her performance

'[Lohan] is an undeniable star and has always succeeded as a screwball comedienne,' said Marya E. Gates with RogerEbert.com

She's also eyeing a big biopic of another famous red-headed actress.

'I really want to play Ann-Margret, and were trying to find a writer for that story,' she told Bustle.

'Shes a triple threat, and shes an amazing woman on top of that. So I just really want to do her justice and help tell a great story for her.'

Irish Wish is now streaming on Netflix.
Mira Sorvino tearfully recalled how she stopped getting major studio film offers in 1998 shortly after rejecting Harvey Weinstein's sexual advances 'for the third time.'

'For a time, I had a lot of wonderful offers and then, my career was stifled by Harvey Weinstein. So, I stopped doing [major] studio movies after 1998,' the 56-year-old Oscar winner lamented to People editor-in-chief Wendy Naugle during 90s Con on Sunday.

'I stopped being a viable movie actress. I still did indies and I still did television, but that was very hard...I didn't know at the time what was happening. It became, you know, a sort of feeling like fate was just not going on my side but it was going to be just a matter of time until I was gonna get back my status.'

It was 2017 when Mira first publicly accused the disgraced 71-year-old producer of smearing her as 'difficult' as punishment to filmmakers like Peter Jackson, who had been considering her for a role in The Lord of the Rings.

Harvey is currently serving hard time for two different rape convictions, starting with a 23-year sentence at Wende Correctional Facility in New York immediately followed by a 16-year sentence in California.

Mira Sorvino (L, pictured in 1996) tearfully recalled how she stopped getting major studio film offers in 1998 shortly after rejecting Harvey Weinstein's (R) sexual advances 'for the third time'

The 56-year-old Oscar winner lamented to People editor-in-chief Wendy Naugle (L) during 90s Con on Sunday: 'For a time, I had a lot of wonderful offers and then, my career was stifled by Harvey Weinstein. So, I stopped doing [major] studio movies after 1998'

Sorvino found serenity in raising four children - daughter Mattea, 19; son Johnny, 17; son Holden, 14; and daughter Lucia, 11 - from her 19-year marriage to Christopher Backus, whom she met in 2003 when he was her 21-year-old server at WeHo hotspot SUR.

'I got married. I became a mother,' the Sound of Freedom star beamed.

'I became a UN Goodwill Ambassador in Human Trafficking, [which has] just been a huge part of my life. It's a position I've held since 2009, officially. But yeah, my family. My family is my everything and I don't see my worth as being a famous actress. I see my worth as being a good person.'

Mira was joined on the 'And the Award Goes to' panel inside Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford by fellow Oscar winners Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon.

'I don't think people talk enough about the people who facilitated the Harvey Weinsteins of the world that are still functioning that are equally responsible that knew when they were sending people to a hotel, who didn't pay attention when someone complained,' Susan blasted.

'Sexualization is like a mainstay of this business. So it's very confusing to be, you know, a young girl and know that they're checking on your viability, according to how sexy you are. You know that right? You do know that there's something going on. They call it a chemistry thing or whatever they want to call it.

'But that is part of what you're bringing to the table. Whether you like that or not, that exists. There was this big flourish of this whole thing and then Harvey Weinstein, thank God was punished against all odds. But I don't think we've done the cleanup afterwards that we should be doing.'

Fans paid $190 for a socially-distanced photo with Davis and Sarandon, and they paid between $100-$120 for autographs from the Thelma & Louise stars.

Mira continued: 'I stopped being a viable movie actress. I still did indies and I still did television, but that was very hard...I didn't know at the time what was happening. It became, you know, a sort of feeling like fate was just not going on my side but it was going to be just a matter of time until I was gonna get back my status'

It was 2017 when Sorvino first publicly accused the disgraced 71-year-old producer (pictured on trial in 2022) of smearing her as 'difficult' as punishment to filmmakers like Peter Jackson, who had been considering her for a role in The Lord of the Rings

Harvey is currently serving hard time for two different rape convictions, starting with a 23-year sentence at Wende Correctional Facility in New York (pictured) immediately followed by a 16-year sentence in California

The Sound of Freedom star found serenity in raising four children - daughter Mattea, 19; son Johnny, 17; son Holden, 14; and daughter Lucia, 11 - from her 19-year marriage to Christopher Backus (pictured August 27)

Mira gushed: 'I got married. I became a mother. I became a UN Goodwill Ambassador in Human Trafficking, [which has] just been a huge part of my life. It's a position I've held since 2009, officially. But yeah, my family. My family is my everything and I don't see my worth as being a famous actress. I see my worth as being a good person'

Sorvino was joined on the 'And the Award Goes to' panel inside Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford by fellow Oscar winners Geena Davis (L) and Susan Sarandon (M)

Susan blasted: 'I don't think people talk enough about the people who facilitated the Harvey Weinsteins of the world that are still functioning that are equally responsible that knew when they were sending people to a hotel, who didn't pay attention when someone complained'

Fans paid $190 for a socially-distanced photo with Davis and Sarandon, and they paid between $100-$120 for autographs from the Thelma & Louise stars

The DWTS #32 contestant charged $75 for a a socially-distanced photo, $60 for a selfie, and $60 for autographs as she met with fans including Romy and Michele's High School Reunion super fan Stacey DeLuca (M) who got her 'Romy' autograph tattooed on her forearm

Mira has no less than six upcoming films including a sequel to David Mirkin's 1997 cult classic comedy co-starring Lisa Kudrow (L, pictured in 2023) about inseparable BFFs who lie about their lives at their 10-year high school reunion

Meanwhile, Sorvino charged $75 for a a socially-distanced photo, $60 for a selfie, and $60 for autographs as she met with fans including Romy and Michele's High School Reunion super fan Stacey DeLuca who got her 'Romy' autograph tattooed on her forearm.

'Now that's devotion!' the DWTS #32 contestant - who boasts 413K Instagram/X followers - marveled.

Mira has no less than six upcoming films including a sequel to David Mirkin's 1997 cult classic comedy co-starring Lisa Kudrow about inseparable BFFs who lie about their lives at their 10-year high school reunion.

'Robin Schiff, the writer, is finishing up her draft to present to the studio,' Sorvino announced to Us Weekly on February 1.

'Lisa and I are wrapping up our deals as executive producers on it with the studio. We're full force ahead.'

The Golden Globe winner - who graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University - is also known as the nepo-baby of the late Goodfellas star Paul Sorvino.
Chris Pratt is back at work shooting the second season of The Terminal List, which tells the story of a Navy Seal who seeks to avenge the murder of his family.

But come Sunday, the leading man took time out to spend some time at church in Los Angeles with his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger and his three children.

The couple were spotted moments after leaving a service and heading back to their parked vehicle while Katherine joked around with Chris' 11-year-old son Jack, whom the Jurassic World star co-parents with his ex-wife, actress Anna Faris.

The blended family of five, which also includes Chris and Katherine's daughters Lyla, three, and Eloise, 10 months, seemed to be in good spirits, and they grinned broadly.

Katherine, who is the daughter of former California governor and Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger, looked fashionable in baggy black pants with a dark green button-down shirt over a white T-shirt.

Chris Pratt, 44, led his family back to their vehicle after attending church with his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger, 34, in Los Angeles on Sunday

She wore her dark locks pulled back into a stylish bun.

Katherine also carried two bag of essentials as her husband made sure the kids were ready to be strapped into their seats.

Pratt, 44, could be seen carrying little Layla in his arms as he led the family out of the church.

He opted for a casual look with brown khaki-style pants with a dark blue button-down shirt, while sporting a full beard and mustache.

Pratt and Schwarzenegger met in church in 2018, before getting engaged in January 2019 and marrying in June of that year.

'I was in the front row of church  which is like, you kind of don't want to be like, "Woah, who's that?" at church. You know what I mean?' Pratt revealed during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show.

'But I was sneaking some glances and wondering, "Who is that? Anyway, what am I doing? Come on, I'm broken, help me. But who's that?"' he recalled.

'So we kinda hit it off. And we didnt start dating right away, but we met there and later on ended up going out.'

Pratt has been open about his faith and that he has attended Zoe Church in Los Angeles, which counts former Hillsong adherent Justin Bieber among its fans.

The father-of-three's facial hair may be part of his look for The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, which began shooting season two this previous week.

The series was the number one show on Amazon Prime's Top 10 list within two weeks of its premiere in July 2022.

The actor portrays Lieutenant Commander James Reece, a US Navy Seal with eight combat deployments, who's the Troop Commander of Alpha Platoon, SEAL Team 7, and Task Force Odin's Sword.

Schwarzenegger shared a laugh with her stepson Jack, 11, while Pratt held on to baby Layla

The Hollywood leading man offered up a peace sign to fans before leaving with is family

Pratt announced he began shooting season two of The Terminal List: Dark Wolf earlier in the week with a photo of a traditional movie clapper

The actor, who portrays Lieutenant Commander James Reece, a US Navy Seal with eight combat deployments in the series, could also be seen on set in the post

The cast also includes the likes of Constance Wu, Taylor Kitsch, Riley Keough, Arlo Mertz, Jeanne Tripplehorn, as well as wife's younger brother Patrick Schwarzenegger.

This past Wednesday, the Minnesota native shared a couple of photos taken on set to mark the beginning of the new shoot.

'Dark Wolf. Day 1. #TheTerminalList,' he wrote in the caption, alongside a photo of a traditional movie clapper, and a second image of himself on set, all decked out in his military fatigues.

So far, there's no official word on when season two of the action thriller series will debut on Amazon Prime Video.
Michonne convinced Rick Grimes that his life was with her and not the Civic Republic Military on Sunday's episode of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.

The spin-off series episode titled What We opened after Michonne [Danai Gurira] grabbed Rick Grimes [Andrew Lincoln] and pulled him out of a flying helicopter during a storm. They survived the fall escaping the CRM and hid inside a modern apartment in a building.

'I can't believe you did that,' Rick said.

Michonne revealed to Rick that they had a son named Rick Junior and that she had been pregnant when the bridge exploded.

'He's almost eight,' Michonne said.

Michonne convinced Rick Grimes that his life was with her and not the Civic Republic Military on Sunday's episode of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live

Rick told her that he tried everything to be with her, but that they needed to go back to the CRM.

'I'm trying to get us out of here alive and you pull us out of a goddamn helicopter!' Rick said.

'That's because I don't like who you are with them,' Michonne said. 'What they make you. It isn't you.'

Michonne asked if he just was going to let them win. Rick said they won the day Jadis Stokes (Pollyanna McIntosh), who had whisked Rick away in a CRM helicopter saving him, brought him back.

'She will destroy our whole world if I try to leave,' Rick said. 'I was making her let you go. I got that much out of her.'

Rick said Jadis was threatened by them.

'We can stop her,' Michonne said.

Michonne said they could kill Jadis but Rick said the CRM will know where to find them. Michonne then suggested they could go back and destroy Jadis's evidence on them so they couldn't find them.

Rick told her that he tried everything to be with her, but that they needed to go back to the CRM

'That's because I don't like who you are with them,' Michonne said. 'What they make you. It isn't you'

'She will destroy our whole world if I try to leave,' Rick said. 'I was making her let you go. I got that much out of her'

Michonne then suggested they could go back and destroy Jadis's evidence on them so they couldn't find them

'We kill her and then we go home,' Michonne said. 'Do you still love me?'

'Always, I've never stopped loving you,' Rick said.

Rick then looked out the window and saw their helicopter had crashed into the side of a building.

'You saved our lives,' Rick said.

'It's gone,' Michonne said. 'So we're gone.'

'Yeah,' Rick said.

'We can go home,' Michonne said. 'Jadis will think we died in there.'

'I'm not going home,' Rick said.

Their helicopter crashed into the side of a building and the CRM sent another chopper to destroy it and any evidence

'We can go home,' Michonne said. 'Jadis will think we died in there'

'I'm not going home,' Rick said

Michonne said his son and Judith talk about him and call him the brave man.

'We just got a way out,' Michonne said. 'They think we're dead and you want to stay, with an army that kept you against your will for years.'

'I have to make sure you're protected,' Rick said.

Rick said he stayed to make sure Rick and Judith were protected.

'Do you remember the life we had,' Michonne said. 'You don't choose to stay in prison. When the doors open you leave!'

Rick said he wanted to stay to change the CRM from the inside. Michonne didn't think that made sense.

'I don't want to do this, I have to,' Rick said.

Michonne got angry and said she was going back to her kids.

'I don't want to do this, I have to,' Rick said

Michonne got angry and said she was going back to her kids

'You're lying, you'll see it and it will be too late,' Michonne said.

She walked out of the apartment and waited in the hall crying. She turned back and looked at the door and then left.

Rick finally left the apartment and went after her just as a CRM helicopter hovered towards the building. Michonne got to the lobby and saw the dead were surrounding the building.

Rick ran to the lobby to save Michonne just as the CRM fired a rocket into the building. They ran to the basement of the building to find a way out and escape the zombies walkers. Rick told her that CRM destroyed any evidence that they existed which is why they fired to destroy the helicopter.

'The only time I feel safe is when I'm with you,' Michonne said. 'We don't have to be afraid.'

'Yes, we do,' Rick said. 'I'm not the brave man. You shouldn't have come.'

Rick and Michonne then tried to escape the building, killing a walker in their path. A chandelier then fell onto Michonne's leg trapping her.

'You should go,' Michonne said as hordes of walkers approached.

'That is never happening,' Rick said.

Rick and Michonne then tried to escape the building, killing a walker in their path

Finally, he was able to lift the chandelier off her leg.

'Thank you,' Michonne said.

'You never have to thank me ever,' Rick said.

They escaped to an apartment and Rick held her and the two of them kissed and then made love. Later they hugged and Rick asked about their son.

Rick said he noticed how skinny the walkers were. He said he still wanted to change the CRM. Rick asked Michonne about the 'X' scar on her back. She said she let this woman, an old college body, into Alexandria.

'I was seven months pregnant,' Michonne said. 'She stole Judith and then some other kids. She was sick, twisted. Did this to me and Daryl.'

Michonne said they killed her and stopped looking for him for a while to care for the baby and Judith. She saw his hand that he cut off and said he was still trying to come home.

The building started to rumble and Rick told them they needed to leave.

'I was seven months pregnant,' Michonne said. 'She stole Judith and then some other kids. She was sick, twisted. Did this to me and Daryl'

The building started to rumble and Rick told them they needed to leave

'We are not moving until we decide,' Michonne said. 'It's not time to go until we know where we are going.'

'You're the love of my life,' Rick said. 'I couldn't just let you go.'

'Then come home with me,' Michonne said. 'It's that simple.'

Michonne said she lied to him and actually didn't know if Judith was okay. She told him that he was hurting her for not coming with her.

'What did they take from you?' Michonne said.

'Carl, they took Carl,' Rick said crying. 'I lost him again. When I got taken, I fought and I fought.'

Rick said his love for Michonne kept him going.

'I can't live without you,' Rick said. 'Without you I die.'

Rick broke down crying and said he was worried about losing her again.

Rick broke down crying and said he was worried about losing her again

'When I saw you I got so scared,' Rick said. 'I needed to get ahead of it. I had to.'

Rick said he wouldn't survive losing her. She then showed him the iPhone that had Carl's picture drawn on it.

'If Carl was here right now what would he say?' Michonne said. 'What would he want you to do with this new chance to be with those you love?'

'Despite all the odds, I found you Rick,' Michonne said. 'We go home Rick and we figure out how to protect it together.'

Rick and Michonne kissed and then got dressed to leave the crumbling building. They fought the walkers together in the hall.

They ran out of the building as it crashed and got into a yellow pickup truck parked outside. They kept kissing.

They ran out of the building as it crashed and got into a yellow pickup truck parked outside

'We can make this whole damn world ours if we want to,' Rick said.

'Yes, we can,' Michonne said.

Michonne drove them off and Rick looked at her and smiled.

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will return next week on AMC.
Georgia May Jagger dared to bare on the racy cover of CR Fashion Book.

The model, 32, put her phenomenal figure on display as she posed braless in an open blazer, showcasing her cleavage.

Beaming broadly, the daughter of Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger flashed her trademark gap-toothed smile, which was accentuated with a slick of scarlet lipstick.

For another racy snap, Georgia donned a sheer white jumper and trousers as she posed up a storm outdoors.

The British-American beauty also modelled a pale yellow satin dress that clung to her slender physique and flashed her tanned and toned pins.

Georgia May Jagger dared to bare on the racy cover of CR Fashion Book as she put her phenomenal figure on display posing braless in an open blazer, showcasing her cleavage

For another racy snap, Georgia donned a sheer white jumper and trousers as she posed up a storm outdoors

She also posed up a storm in a selection of coats, showcasing her enviably long legs in a black trench coat as well as a brown leather mac.

CR Fashion Book Issue 24 Audacious will be available on newsstands on March 29.

Georgia's shoot comes after her father Sir Mick, 80, hinted that his share of the Rolling Stones' back catalogue will be given to charity instead of his children.

Rocker Mick said his eight children 'don't need $500million (400m) to live on', so he has seemingly come up with another way to donate his fortune.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, he said leaving the money to charity might 'do some good in the world'.

The Stones were forced to learn how to handle themselves financially after facing serious problems with ownership rights.

They still don't own the rights to their catalogue before 1971  which includes many of their biggest singles such as Satisfaction, Paint it Black and Jumpin Jack Flash.

The band hired accountant Allen Klein to stabilise their finances in the 1960s.

The British-American beauty also modelled a pale yellow satin dress that clung to her slender physique and flashed her tanned and toned pins

She showcased her flexibility as she posed in a little black dress with a racy cut out

She also posed up a storm in a selection of coats, showcasing her enviably long legs in a black trench coat teamed with chunky patent heels

Beaming broadly, the daughter of Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger flashed her trademark gap-toothed smile, which was accentuated with a slick of scarlet lipstick

She looked incredible in a sheer black dress as she posed up a storm on a bed in the shoot

Allen had worked with The Beatles and the Kinks and negotiated a lucrative deal for the Stones with Decca.

Yet when the partnership ended he managed to retain ownership of their catalogue for the years in which he managed them  from 1965 to 1970.

The Stones received millions of pounds in royalties  but not as much as if they'd owned the music outright.

Other music stars have sold the rights to their work in recent years, including Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon and Sting.

No decisions have been taken on the Stones' catalogue.

For another snap she changed into a brown midaxi dress as she larked around in front of a mirror

Her golden locks were swept away from her pretty face and styled in a chic chignon bun
Michelle Keegan took to Instagram on Sunday, to update her followers on her whereabouts.

The former soap star, 36, displayed a glimpse of her toned midriff in a low-key outfit while revealing she is back in Australia.

Michelle has jetted To Sydney to film Ten Pound Poms series two, and celebrated her arrival by captioning her post: 'Back to the land down under.'

The actress looked effortlessly chic in her casual ensemble, which comprised baggy, light-wash jeans, a slightly cropped white tank top and a beige cardigan.

She wore mint green trainers and carried a beige woven tote as she posed in front of a graffitied wall for her social media cover snap.

Michelle Keegan, 36, displayed a glimpse of her toned midriff in a low-key outfit on Instagram on Sunday, while revealing she is back in Australia to film Ten Pound Poms series two

The BBC has begun filming the second series of drama Ten Pound Poms (Michelle pictured with co-stars Faye Marsay, who plays Annie, and Warren Brown, who plays Terry)

The BBC revealed last month that Michelle was reprising her role of Kate in the hit show as an image of the star in character was posted by the channel.

The star looked incredible in a long grey wool long coat which she teamed with a burgundy handbag and matching gloves.

Styling her hair in voluminous curls, Michelle added a black beret with the outfit as she posed with her co-stars Faye Marsay, who plays Annie, and Warren Brown, who plays Terry.

Warren, who shared the snap to Instagram, penned: 'Cameras are rolling and we are off! Ten Pound Poms Season 2!'

Ten Pound Poms follows a group of Brits - Kate, Terry and Annie - who leave the country in the promise of a better life in Australia, for just ten pounds.

The first season of the drama, which is produced by Eleven and co-produced by Stan and the BBC, was loved by fans.

And the new series will pick up after the dramatic cliffhanger finale of series 1.

The show's official synopsis reads: 'After a challenging first year in Australia, the new series will follow nurse Kate Thorne (Michelle Keegan) and the Roberts family (led by Faye Marsay and Warren Brown) into 1957 on their adventure down under, as they are determined to make this new country everything they hoped it would be for a fresh start.

Ten Pound Poms follows a group of Brits who leave the country in promise of a better life in Australia. Kate, Terry and Annie jumped at the chance, which cost them just ten pounds

'Will Kate, Terry and Annie finally get a slice of the Australian dream they were promised?'

In series two new characters the Skinner family from Ireland and the unscrupulous land-lord Benny Bates will be introduced to viewers.

Writer, creator and executive producer Danny Brocklehurst gushed after the second series was announced: 'The positive viewer response to Ten Pound Poms was a true delight.

'We tapped into a little-known part of our recent history and told stories which reflected the realities of the real Poms that made the trip.

'I couldn't be more thrilled to be teaming again with the BBC, Stan and Eleven to continue our characters' adventure down under.'
The presidential office said Monday it has never used "coercion" against members of the press, apparently responding to controversy over a senior presidential secretary's intimidating remarks to reporters last week.

Hwang Sang-moo, senior presidential secretary for civil and social agenda, has come under fire after he told a reporter from public broadcaster MBC during a group luncheon to "listen carefully" while recalling the 1988 stabbing of a journalist by soldiers of the military intelligence command.

The attacked journalist wrote a column criticizing the military at the time, and Hwang's remarks were interpreted as a warning to the media against running anti-government stories.

On Sunday, ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon called on Hwang to step down voluntarily.

"Our government has never surveilled members of the press by mobilizing intelligence agencies or carried out tax inspections of media outlets by mobilizing the National Tax Service, as past administrations did, nor do we have the intention or system in place to do so," the presidential office said in a notice to the press.

"In particular, the presidential office has never used coercion or pressure against members of the press over specific issues, nor do we plan to do so."

The presidential office added, "It is our government's administrative philosophy to strictly respect the freedom of the press and the responsibility of media organizations." (Yonhap)
Footage of ABBA which was thought to be 'lost' will be shown for the first time as part of a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the band's Eurovision win.

The Swedish band soared to victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with their song Waterloo, cementing their place in history.

To celebrate 50 years since the iconic win, the BBC will broadcast a host of programmes for a dedicated Saturday night of ABBA specials in early April, one of which is called More ABBA at the BBC.

Viewers will be treated to some of Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad best performances on UK soil.

One of these performances - ABBA's So Long on Top of the Pops - has not been seen since its broadcast in 1974 as the footage was missing from the BBC Archives and thought to be lost forever, until a Top of the Pops fan unearthed a home recording.

Footage of ABBA which was thought to be 'lost' will be shown for the first time as part of a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the band's Eurovision win (pictured in 1974)

The rare recording was then restored and will be shown for the first time, 50 years on.

Of the recording, a sourced told The Sun: 'Finding the lost Top Of The Pops recording was a real coup for the BBC and it will be part of a series of huge programmes to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Abbas Eurovision triumph.'

The programme will show some of the Swedish supergroup's other best UK appearances from shows including Wogan, The Late, Late Breakfast show and The Mike Yarwood Christmas Show.

Bringing viewers right up to date, the programme will also capture the excitement and sounds of their currently-running technology-powered stage shows.

To mark the celebration, BBC Two and BBC Pop Music TV will also present 60-minute documentary When Abba Came to Britain.

The documentary looks at the time Agnetha, Anni-Frid, Benny and Bjorn spent in the UK from 1974 to 1982 and examines their ground-breaking legacy, from Eurovision to ABBA Voyage.

Featuring previously untransmitted interviews with ABBA, the documentary takes a look at the ongoing love affair between the UK and the Swedish supergroup.

It is produced by Wise Owl Films - the Leeds-based team behind BBC Two's award-winning When X Came To Britain strand (Bob Marley, Nirvana, Motown, Tina Turner and Blondie) and The Hacienda: The Club That Shook Britain.

The band's fascination with British music, including The Beatles in the 1960s, has resulted in a close relationship between this island and the Swedish band.

One of these performances - ABBA's So Long on Top of the Pops - has not been seen since its broadcast in 1974 as the footage was missing from the BBC Archives (pictured in 1974)

To celebrate 50 years since the iconic win, the BBC will broadcast a host of programmes for a dedicated Saturday night of ABBA specials in early April (pictured in 1974)

Viewers will be treated to some of Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad best performances on UK soil (pictured in 1974)

Bringing viewers right up to date, the programme will also capture the excitement and sounds of their currently-running technology-powered stage shows

The documentary will include a wealth of BBC and non-BBC performances, as well as long forgotten news footage, which all show how ABBAmania took hold in the UK in the 1970s and 1980s.

The story is brought up to date with the quartet's return to Britain in 2022, choosing to launch their ground-breaking 'comeback' concert - ABBA Voyage  in London.

Featured in the programme are a host of people involved with ABBA throughout the years, including musicians who performed with the band.

Tour manager Thomas Johansson recalls the performance in Glasgow (1979) which inspired the hit Super Trouper, an ABBA superfan who travelled from Liverpool to London aged 14 to meet the band and staff who worked at their British-based record label will all recount their tales.

The British Eurovision judge who scored them 'nul points' in 1974 will get a say, and so too will the producers behind ABBA Voyage.

It will also feature interviews with musicians who were heavily influenced by the band, including Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie and Blossoms.

Rachel Davies, Commissioning Editor, BBC Pop Music TV says: 'When Abba came to Britain is a love letter from this country to the beloved Swedish super-group, celebrating the special relationship we have as a nation with Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Anni-Frid.

'We focus on the stories of individuals who were lucky to be caught up in their world. A must watch for pop fans of all ages.'

To mark the celebration, BBC Two and BBC Pop Music TV will also present 60-minute documentary When Abba Came to Britain (pictured as an unknown band in 1973)

The story is brought up to date with the quartet's return to Britain in 2022, choosing to launch their ground-breaking 'comeback' concert - ABBA Voyage  in London (pictured in 2021)

Featured in the programme are a host of people involved with ABBA throughout the years, including musicians who performed with the band (pictured in 1976 with Basil Brush)

Mark Robinson of Wise Owl Films says: 'There can be fewer bands, if any, who have straddled generations of British music fans in a more impressive way than ABBA.

Their original fans might now be in their fifties and sixties, but their children, and even their grandchildren, will be just as familiar with their biggest hits thanks to the likes of Mamma Mia! and Voyage.

'This film shows the enduring and often emotional impact that ABBA have left on British fans and musicians across the decades, but we will also chart the key role that Britain played in the band's history  from the music of groups like The Beatles to playing host to defining moments in their career'.

Other programmes due to be broadcast for the celebration include ABBA at the BBC, ABBA in Switzerland, The Joy of ABBA and ABBA: Against The Odds.
Aleksandra Markovic is set to marry her fiance Nik Stojan.

The former Married At First Sight star held a lavish bridal shower over the weekend to celebrate the impending nuptials.

The star's party was decorated in romantic pink and white tones with a stunning outdoor spread.

Long tables sat upon a lawn and were adorned with pink tapered candles and pink and red blooms.

A retro style cake in a blush tone with bright red icing was on offer for guests to enjoy.

Aleksandra Markovic is set to marry her fiance Nik Stojan. Both pictured

The former Married At First Sight star held a lavish bridal shower over the weekend to celebrate the impending nuptials

The happy couple shared a sweet kiss

Family and friends cosied up to the couple as they posed for photos at the lavish shindig.

Aleksandra stunned in a silver spangled sleeveless gown with a daring thigh high split.

She had her brunette hair high up in a retro do and added a large white bow to the ponytail.

The former reality star added a pair of pale heels and chose a peachy makeup look with a nude lipstick.

The star's party was decorated in romantic pink and white tones with a stunning outdoor spread

Long tables sat upon a lawn and were adorned with pink tapered candles and pink and red blooms

A retro style cake in a blush tone with bright red icing was on offer for guests to enjoy

Aleksandra stunned in a silver spangled sleeveless gown with a daring thigh high split

She had her brunette hair high up in a retro do and added a large white bow to the ponytail

The gorgeous set up is pictured complete with clear plastic chairs

Nik meanwhile looked handsome in a tight white shirt and black skinny jeans, giving his beloved a smooch at one point.

The 31-year-old business owner took to Instagram in October to announce her engagement to her long-time boyfriend Nik.

'Mrs S to be. And in every lifetime, it will always be you!' she captioned the post.

Aleks shared a romantic montage capturing the heart-fluttering moment her partner made the big move.

The former reality star added a pair of pale heels and chose a peachy makeup look with a nude lipstick

A close look at the detail on the tables, including fragrant roses

Nik meanwhile looked handsome in a tight white shirt and black skinny jeans, giving his beloved a smooch at one point

Family and friends cosied up to the couple as they posed for photos at the lavish shindig

The 31-year-old business owner took to Instagram in October to announce her engagement to her long-time boyfriend Nik

Aleks flaunted a dazzling diamond rock in the stunning photoshoot.

Nik took his lady love by surprise on the big day with a romantic setup in a secluded forest spot.

He walked her over to a beautifully adorned tent with a huge, heart-melting poster asking the golden question: 'Will you marry me?'

Aleks' announcement was quickly inundated with comments from fellow MAFS stars.

'Mrs S to be. And in every lifetime, it will always be you!' she captioned the post

Nik had taken his lady love by surprise on the big day with a romantic setup in a secluded forest spot

He walked her over to a beautifully adorned tent with a huge, heart-melting poster asking the golden question: 'Will you marry me?'

Aleks' announcement was quickly inundated with comments from fellow MAFS stars

Cathy Evans gushed, 'Congratulations you beautiful couple'

Cyrell Paule, not one to mince words, cheered on with, 'Haha Yesssss girl congratulations! Lucky guy'

Cathy Evans gushed, 'Congratulations you beautiful couple'.

Cyrell Paule, not one to mince words, cheered on with, 'Haha Yesssss girl congratulations! Lucky guy'.

And Ines Basic wrote, 'cestitam!! prelijepo', which translates to 'congratulations, beautiful' in Slovenian.

Fans will remember Aleksandra Markovic from her stint on the Channel Nine dating show back in 2020 where she was paired with real estate agent Ivan Sarakula.

And Ines Basic wrote, 'cestitam!! prelijepo', which translates to 'congratulations, beautiful' in Slovenian

Chocolate coated strawberries sat in teacups

Fans will remember Aleksandra Markovic from her stint on the Channel Nine dating show back in 2020 where she was paired with real estate agent Ivan Sarakula

Aleks, who originally hails from Perth, moved to Sydney two years ago to further her career as a model and influencer

She had expressed interest in moving when she appeared on MAFS in early 2020, and took the plunge a few months after filming wrapped

'Being on MAFS gave me a lot more opportunities, you're more recognised now so people know who you are,' she told Perth Now of her move to the east coast

Aleks, who originally hails from Perth, moved to Sydney two years ago to further her career as a model and influencer.

She had expressed interest in moving when she appeared on MAFS in early 2020, and took the plunge a few months after filming wrapped.

'Being on MAFS gave me a lot more opportunities, you're more recognised now so people know who you are,' she told Perth Now of her move to the east coast.

'The move to Sydney and finding a job in Sydney was a little bit easier because people had already met me through MAFS.'
Arlene Phillips has revealed she found out she had been dropped from her role as judge on Strictly Come Dancing when a journalist called her.

The dancer and choreographer was axed from Striclty in 2008 after four years as a judge.

She was the only judge on the panel, which also included Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli and Craig Revel Horwood not have her contract renewed, with girl band star Alesha Dixon, 44, drafted in as a replacement.

The axing caused uproar among fans and calls of sexism while Harriet Harman, the minister for women and equality, blamed ageism when the debate reached the House of Commons.

In a new interview with the Guardian, Arlene explained she was most angry at the way the BBC handled the axing, explaining how the first she heard about it was when a radio show called her for a comment.

Arlene Phillips has revealed she found out she had been dropped from her role as judge on Strictly Come Dancing when a journalist called her

'I was a grownup when I did that show, so I resent that the BBC didn't come to me as soon as they had the thought,' she said. 'More than knocking my confidence, I think it swirled around me, and I thought: "I need to find myself."

'I needed all the mental preparation that I could muster to go: "Hang on a minute  you had a big career before this and you've got work lined up."

'I think I stepped up and out of it as fast as I could. When the rollercoaster goes down, find the up.'

Last year Arlene paid tribute to her former Strictly colleague Len who passed away aged 78 after being diagnosed with bone cancer.

'It was such a loss, and it was so sudden for many of us because only a few people knew, Bruno knew, but few people actually knew. It was a real shock, particularly as Len and I, we were there at the pilot,' she told BBC Breakfast in September.

'We made the pilot and it was wonderfully, brilliantly chaotic, and Len and I spent many hours trying to form what the show would be and we were the bodies that were lucky enough to do that.'

Arlene is still throwing herself into work at the age of 80 and only last week experienced another career high when she received an Olivier Award nomination.

The star, alongside her associate James Cousins, has been nominated for the Gillian Lynne award for best theatre choreographer for their work on Guys and Dolls.

Arlene is already a two-time Olivier Award nominee for Best Theatre Choreographer in 1994 and 1999, as well as winner for the 2023 Special Recognition award alongside Derek Jacobi.

The dancer and choreographer was axed from Striclty in 2008 after four years as a judge alongside Bruno Tonioli, Len Goodman and Craig Revel Horwood (pictured in 2004)
Jenny Powell looked chic as she stepped out with her lookalike daughter Constance in Cheshire on Monday.

The presenter, 55, cut a stylish figure in a grey suit jacket and checked trousers while out and about with her 23-year-old daughter.

Jenny has two children, daughters Constance and Pollyanna, 14, from her previous relationship with Toby Baxendale, a British entrepreneur.

She completed her outfit with a green and orange scarf and wore comfortable white trainers.

Meanwhile walking next to her, Constance wrapped up warm in a fur black coat and a leggy mini skirt.

Jenny Powell looked chic as she stepped out with her lookalike daughter Constance in Cheshire on Monday

She added to her outfit with long, black suede boots and wore her dark tresses in loose waves over her shoulders.

Back in 2022 Jenny revealed that Connie was approached by ITV to take part in Love Island.

And the TV personality couldn't contain her surprise when her daughter shared the attempt to get her on the dating show, admitting: 'I spat my coffee out'.

Sharing that ITV bosses reached out to Connie, who bares a striking resemblance to her mother, via Instagram, the presenter continued that she left the decision in the hands of her daughter.

Following an appearance on Loose Women together, it appeared that Connie caught the eye of ITV bosses - who approached her to be on the show shortly after.

Jenny explained to The Sun: 'After I appeared on Loose Women with my eldest daughter Connie, Love Island producers got in touch.

'They asked her if she'd be interested in going on the show.

'She is gorgeous, so I left it to her.'

The presenter, 55, cut a stylish figure in a grey suit jacket and checked trousers while out and about with her 23-year-old daughter

Back in 2022 Jenny revealed that Connie was approached by ITV to take part in the dating show Love Island

But unable to hide her shock, the star continued: 'I spat my coffee out when she told me and I said, 'What did you say?'.

Despite the show's best efforts, artist Connie wasn't interested in the offer - sharing that she's already loved up.

As her mother continued: 'And she replied, 'That I've got a boyfriend and I'm doing a History of Art Degree in UCL'. And she left it at that.'

Detailing that Connie would 'never do it', Jenny shared: 'I think they contacted her through Instagram.'
Louise Thompson has called out 'keyboard warriors' who have criticised the speed of her recovery after she was recently hospitalised for a fourth time.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 33, spent two weeks in hospital last month after losing 'cups of blood' due to Ulcerative Colitis while in Antigua on a family holiday.

Following her discharge after the 12-day stint, Louise was then admitted to hospital three times in one week over extreme pains, ultrasounds and check ins.

She is now back home recovering with her partner Ryan Libbey and their son Leo, two.

Sharing photos of her family weekend, Louise noticed some fans had been defending her in the comments, prompting her to speak out about her recovery.

Louise Thompson has called out 'keyboard warriors' who have criticised the speed of her recovery after she was recently hospitalised for a fourth time

The former Made In Chelsea star spent two weeks in hospital after losing 'cups of blood' due to Ulcerative Colitis while in Antigua on a family holiday

Posting on Stories Louise shared a comment from one of her fans which read: 'Some horrible comments on here... for god sake be kind.'

She wrote: 'Thank you to this gem for speaking up and calling out the keyboard warriors. I feel very supported by you guys and 99.9% of the people out there in the big bad world are nothing but pure gold.'

'It's so reassuring to see people stick up for one another. I really notice it, especially when it comes to my fellow mental health, birth trauma or IBD sufferers.'

'What an amazing community we have. In this case I woke up and checked the comments and couldn't actually see anything negative so i'm guessing any spiteful comments were deleted over night.'

She later admitted though that she had seen one negative comment about her weekend activities.

'I did notice one message yesterday that commented on the fact that i'm back to 'travelling' and almost insinuated that i'm doing too well,' she wrote.

'I've realised you can't win and you'll never be able to please everybody.'

'Am I allowed to bounce back quickly from my recent surgery? I bloody hope so. I'll be 7 weeks post surgery (sometime on Wednesday night?) and the advice is to move.'

Sharing photos of her family weekend, Louise noticed some fans had been defending her in the comments, prompting her to speak out about her recovery

She later admitted that she had seen one negative comment about her weekend activities. 'I did notice one message yesterday that commented on the fact that i'm back to 'travelling'

'The recommendation is that it will take me 12 weeks to get back to my 'normal' activity, but it's really good for my mental state to try and live a life as 'normal' as possible, so i'm not going to hide at home on the sofa like I have been doing for long enough.'

'I have no plans to travel this year... in fact I'm petrified of travelling and being further than 2 miles from my local hospital, but I felt strong enough to hop in the car with Ryan and Leo and drive to Oxford for lunch on Sunday.'

'It was beautiful and I bumped into some old school friends and I'm really glad I did it.'

Louise, the elder sister of Sam Thompson , has faced series of health issues since the birth of Leo-Hunter in November 2021.

She was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis during her last stint in hospital which is the inflammation of the lower end of the digestive system. The condition sadly has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time.

Louise spent the weekend with her partner Ryan and their toddler son, enjoying time near their London home before heading to Oxford for the day

'The recommendation is that it will take me 12 weeks to get back to my 'normal' activity, but it's really good for my mental state to try and live a life as 'normal' as possible' she replied

Before Louise's latest health scare, she was posting photos from her family trip with Ryan, Leo and her father to Antigua And Barbuda.

A post on January 28 featured a carousel of snaps of herself with little Leo, alongside which she wrote an emotive caption about 'learning to lean into and be grateful for those imperfect in-between moments because nothing lasts forever'.

Louise revealed after welcoming Leo that she and he nearly died during the traumatic labour.

On December 23, 2021, Louise announced the birth of her son on her Instagram page and revealed she had been discharged from hospital to recover at home.

She said: '5 weeks ago I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy Leo-Hunter Libbey weighing in at 7lbs. Unfortunately it wasn't the easiest start for either of us. One ended up in NICU and the other ended up in ICU.'

Louise pointed out that 'I have no plans to travel this year... in fact I'm petrified of travelling and being further than 2 miles from my local hospital'

She explained that she 'felt strong enough to hop in the car with Ryan and Leo and drive to Oxford for lunch on Sunday'

Louise was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis during her last stint in hospital which is the inflammation of the lower end of the digestive system. The condition sadly has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time

Louise said that Leo recovered quickly, but she had to deal with 'many bad things', saying: 'To dance with death twice brings a whole new view of the world.'

In December, two years after Leo's birth, she reflected on the time since the traumatic series of events.

She said: 'Here's a reminder that a lot can change in a year. A lot can change in 6 months. Indeed a lot can change in a month but it's hard to witness the change until you create some sizeable distance from it.

'I'm crying writing this. I'm feeling very emotional today. I can't lie it feels nice to purge my pain. I encourage you to try writing and crying too.

'Sometimes it helps. But the main reason I'm writing this is because I really want you guys to know that you must keep moving forward. Don't give up. Because there will be a time when you will want to wear a pretty party dress again. You will shine again.'

The reality star announced last month she is releasing a book, Lucky, where she will tell the story of the near-death experience.
Mel B has reignited hopes of a surprise Spice Girls 30th anniversary reunion at Glastonbury - days after Shania Twain was announced in the Legends slot.

The line-up for Glastonbury 2024 was unveiled last week, with Dua Lipa, Sza and Coldplay set to take to the Pyramid stage.

When US country music star Shania bagged the iconic Sunday Legends slot, Spice Girls fans thought that meant the possibility of a surprise appearance to celebrate 30 years of the girl band had been ruled out.

But speaking on Hits Radio Breakfast Show on Monday, Mel teased that there might be hope yet for Spice fans.

'You don't know that we're not doing Glastonbury,' Mel, 48, coyly explained.

Mel B has reignited hopes of a surprise Spice Girls reunion at Glastonbury (pictured L-R Melanie Brown, Victoria Beckham, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton, crouched is Melanie Chisholm in 1996)

Mel (pictured on Friday) teased that there might be hope yet for Spice Girls fans

She added: 'We are talking about doing something together - I can't say what it is 'cos I always get into trouble, loose lips sink ships and I'm not about to sink the ship!

'I've had the kibosh put on me this time round but my aim is to get us back in to the studio, that would be nice.'

Reports had claimed that all five original members would reunite in 2024 for a headline slot at Worthy Farm.

In 2019, the band embarked on a 13-date UK tour without Mrs Beckham, nicknamed Posh Spice during her time with the group.

At the time she told Vogue: 'It took me a lot of courage not to go on tour with the Spice Girls again, but to be the one who says: "You know, I'm not doing it because things feel different now than they used to."'

She was sounded out once again recently about returning to the Spice Girls for what would have been the first concerts with the original full line-up since the London Olympics closing ceremony in 2012.

A headline slot at next year's Glastonbury had been one of the possible dates discussed and promoters were hopeful that Victoria would agree to join Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, Melanie Chisholm and Emma Bunton for a performance there.

A source told The Sun at the time: 'Victoria will be 50 next year, and the girls turning 30 seems like two anniversaries too good to miss.

'There will be no new music, and Victoria is adamant she doesn't want to perform live unless for an incredibly exciting one-off opportunity.

'The group have been in talks to headline Glastonbury and this would sit with Victoria's 'cool' aesthetic, and, certainly, hubby David and their four kids would love it.'

Spice Girls fans thought the possibility of a surprise appearance to celebrate 30 years of the girl band had been ruled out (pictured in 1996)

Mel added: 'We are talking about doing something together - I can't say what it is 'cos I always get into trouble, loose lips sink ships!' (Spice Girls pictured in 1997)

Taking to the Pyramid Stage this summer will be Dua Lipa , Coldplay and SZA, with Shania Twain playing the legendary Sunday slot (the Pyramid Stage pictured in 2022)

Glastonbury Festival's 2024 line-up has been branded 'the worst ever' by disappointed fans who have slammed the 'embarrassing' bill

It comes after the line up for Glastonbury 2024 was dubbed 'the worst ever' by disappointed fans.

Taking to the Pyramid Stage this summer will be Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA, with Shania playing the legendary Sunday slot.

Yet fans were unimpressed by the announcement, with many underwhelmed by Coldplay - who have headlined Glastonbury four times prior - while others were surprised by the addition of SZA, who has never scored a UK number one.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, many expressed their disappointment at the line-up and their annoyance that rumours Madonna was set to appear weren't realised.

Annoyed festivalgoers shared: 'Interesting Glastonbury line up. Very disappointed Madonna said no. Also who the hell is Sza?????'; 'Thought SZA was one of the Wu Tang Clan #glastonbury'; 'Coldplay AGAIN? Jesus. And, sorry, who is Sza? Genuinely.'

'I'm now old to the point where #Glastonbury has announced a headliner who I've never heard of in my life. It's over.'; 'Sorry but that #Glastonbury line-up.'; 'I've never heard of one of the Glastonbury headliners #Glastonbury';

'Never in the history of #Glastonbury has there been a more underwhelming set of headliners. Imagine wading through two foot deep mud to be greeted by a Coldplay headline set'; 'That's gotta be the worst #glastonbury line up like ever';

'What is that lineup? I genuinely haven't heard of 70% of these acts.'; 'That might just be the worst #Glastonbury lineup I've ever seen. Thoughts and prayers to those who managed to get a ticket.'

'Good God that's the worst Glastonbury line up ever'; 'What a downgrade from last year #glastonbury'; 'Never heard of SZA? #glastonbury'; 'That is an awful line up. The headliners are embarrassing #Glastonbury'

'I have been many times and as much as there is much more that just the music, for me this is a terrible line up. #Glastonbury'; 'That must be the most mediocre set of headliners at Glastonbury ever.

'One artist you have to google and the mediocrity dad rock of Coldplay. Shania Twain is stretching the definition of legend if you look at it from a UK perspective. Very disappointing #glastonbury'

While fans may not be impressed with the headliners, it marks the first time in the event's history that female acts have taken two of the three headline slots.

Taking to the Pyramid Stage this summer will be Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA (pictured) with Shania Twain playing the legendary Sunday slot

It marks the first time in the event's history that female acts have taken two of the three headline slots (Dua Lipa pictured)

Coldplay (L-R) Jonny Buckland, Chris Martin, Will Champion and Guy Berryman will be taking to the Pyramid Stage for a fifth time

Glastonbury bosses have been accused of choosing too many male acts to headline. Last year the line-up was all male, with Arctic Monkeys, Guns N' Roses and Sir Elton John taking the top slots.

Other acts on this year's line-up include Brit Award-winning rapper Little Simz and Afrobeats star Burna Boy, making his Pyramid Stage debut.

Big names like LCD Soundsytem, PJ Harvey, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Kiwanuka, Janelle Monae, Paul Heaton, Keane, Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Ayra Starr will also be hitting the stage.

13-member boyband Seventeen are set to become the first K-pop band to perform on the Pyramid stage.

Heading up the Other stage will be IDLES, Disclosure and The National, with The Streets, Two Door Cinema Club, Avril Lavigne and breakout stars The Last Dinner Party also set to play on the festival's second-biggest platform.

Joining these will be Camila Cabello, Bombay Bicycle Club, Bloc Party and Confidence Man.

Alongside the announcement on Glastonbury's official social media pages, bosses wrote: 'Here is the first Glastonbury Festival 2024 line-up poster. Many more acts and attractions still to be announced.'
Anne-Marie and her rapper husband Slowthai's baby joy has been revealed, after they were seen with their newborn daughter for the first time.

The Voice star, 32, kept her pregnancy out of the public eye and welcomed a baby daughter called Seven - in tribute to her favourite number - two years after the couple's secret Las Vegas wedding, which was revealed last week.

On Thursday, the family-of-three were spotted hitting the road in London, with both musicians looked delighted to be spending time with their daughter.

Seven went from reclining in her pram to being cradled by Northampton-born Slowthai, 29, real name Tyron Kaymone Frampton, who was later seen sparking up a cigarette while Anne-Marie continued to push the buggy.

Anne-Marie was in full mum mode for the outing as she combined her trademark trendy style with comfort, comprising an over-sized checked shirt and Adidas tracksuit bottoms while Slowthai was in a similarly baggy look.

Anne-Marie and her rapper husband Slowthai's baby joy has been revealed, after they were seen with their newborn daughter for the first time

The Voice star, 32, kept her pregnancy out of the public eye and welcomed a baby daughter called Seven - in tribute to her favourite number - two years after the couple's secret Las Vegas wedding, which was revealed last week

Little Seven went from reclining in her pram to being cradled by Northampton-born Slowthai, 29, real name Tyron Kaymone Frampton before he sparked up a cigarette while Anne-Marie continued to push the buggy

In a glowing depiction of a father's love, Slowthai planted gentle kisses on his daughter's head

Anne-Marie kept her pregnancy out of the public eye and welcomed a daughter called Seven in tribute to her favourite number (the couple pictured prior to their wedding)

Over the weekend, the family-of-three were spotted hitting the road in London, with both musicians looked delighted to be spending time with their daughter

Anne-Marie was in full mum mode for the outing as she combined her trademark trendy style with comfort, comprising an over-sized checked shirt and Adidas tracksuit bottoms while Slowthai was in a similarly baggy look

The couple shared a tender giggle as they both took to the handle of the pram

They were engrossed in chat as they stepped out down the street

The new parents appeared to be taking on their new role with aplomb

The tender moments between the trio were documented by the delighted new mum

Anne-Marie is pictured at the BRITs in 2022

Anne-Marie went make-up free for the outing where she was charged with pushing the pram while her husband held on to little Seven and posed for snaps taken by the doting new mother, who looked as loved up as ever.

Once he returned the tot to the pram, he used the hands-free window to enjoy a cigarette and later planted kisses on their little girl's head.

Anne-Marie's pregnancy came after their secret wedding, with sources telling The Sun: 'Anne-Marie and Slowthai have had a baby daughter they've named Seven...

'It is Anne-Marie's lucky number and she even has 0707 tattooed on her because she sees them as her angel numbers...

'She was born last month in and both of them are absolutely delighted. Anne-Marie has always wanted to be a mum so this is an amazing time for her.'

Anne-Marie has previously spoken about her affection for the number seven and what it represented in her life. She said: 'When you see double numbers, your angels are supposed to be with you and seven is my favourite number...

'Because of where the mirror is, when I look in the mirror I see it.'

Last week, the couple's marriage was revealed. The Kiss My songstress had previously sparked speculation she had tied the knot after she was pictured wearing a diamond ring on her finger in Notting Hill in March last year.

Anne-Marie went make-up free for the outing where she was charged with pushing the pram while her husband held on to little Seven

Anne-Marie was gazing adoringly at the tot as they made their way down the street

They shared a number of tender moments centered around their little girl

Slowthai looked like the cat who got the cream as he held on to his daughter

Anne-Marie was feeling snap happy as Slowthai posed with the tot

It was clear to see the couple were a trendy pair in their streetwear

She went for pure comfort in a loose-fitting look as they emerged

The couple are said to have wed in secret in Las Vegas during a break from her tour

The couple are said to have wed in secret in Las Vegas during a break from her tour.

A source said: 'Anne-Marie and Slowthai got married in secret two years ago. She had an eight-week break from her tour and they went to Las Vegas and got married.'

Insiders added Anne-Marie's record label have voiced concerns Slowthai's upcoming trial could impact her female-friendly image.

MailOnline has contacted Anne-Marie and Slowthai's representatives for comment.

The couple were first spotted together on night out in May 2022.

Tyron faces trial before July 1 having been accused of raping a woman twice in September 2021 following a concert that took place in Oxford during a UK tour.

The Northampton-born rapper appeared before the city's magistrates last May.

He has 'categorically denied' the claims, however, he was removed from the Glastonbury, and Reading and Leeds Festival line-ups after his court appearance.

His stage name originates from his childhood nickname  Frampton had a speech impediment which caused him to speak slowly and with a drawl.

Slowthai looked every inch the adoring father as they enjoyed their stroll down the street

They could not stop grinning as they made their way down the street

Anne-Marie looked to be taking to the task swimmingly as she headed down the road

Anne-Marie took over duties while Slowthai enjoyed his cigarette in peace

Anne-Marie wore a diamond ring on her finger, sparking wedding speculation

Slowthai is associated with 'gritty and rough instrumentals and raw, politically charged lyrics.'

He rose to popularity in 2019 and has previously centred his songwriting around Brexit and Theresa May's tenure as Prime Minister.

His first album Nothing Great About Britain was nominated for a Mercury prize in 2019 and reached the Top 10.

In December a row broke out after he was put forward for three BRIT Awards amid his upcoming trial.

He made the long lists for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act respectively ahead of the ceremony in March. He was included in the long list as he has released music within the eligibility period.

Slowthai is associated with 'gritty and rough instrumentals and raw, politically charged lyrics.'

She gave her newborn the look of love as they stepped out

Slowthai draped an inked-up hand around his daughter's neck as they emerged

The pair shared a series of tender moments as they emerged with their daughter
James Norton appears alongside Bill Nighy and Thomasin McKenzie in a new first look teaser trailer for upcoming emotive Netflix film JOY.

From the producers of An Education and Brooklyn, JOY is based on the remarkable true story of the worlds first 'test-tube baby' Louise Joy Brown.

Louise was was the first IVF baby born at Oldham General Hospital in 1978 and Netflix have set about telling her story and the tireless 10-year journey to make it possible.

It's told through the perspective of Jean Purdy, [Thomasin McKenzie], a young nurse and embryologist, who joined forces with scientist Robert Edwards, [James Norton], and surgeon Patrick Steptoe, [Bill Nighy] to unlock the puzzle of infertility by pioneering in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

The film celebrates the power of perseverance and the wonders of science as it follows this maverick trio of visionaries who overcame tremendous odds and opposition to realise their dream, and in doing so allowed millions of people to dream with them.

James Norton, (right) joins Bill Nighy, (left) and Thomasin McKenzie, (centre) in new trailer for Netflix show JOY - based on the true story of the worlds first 'test-tube baby' Louise Joy Brown

The film is told through the perspective of Jean Purdy, [Thomasin McKenzie], a young nurse and embryologist, who joined forces with scientist Robert Edwards, [James Norton], and surgeon Patrick Steptoe, [Bill Nighy] to unlock the puzzle of infertility by pioneering in IVF

The film celebrates the power of perseverance and the wonders of science as it follows this maverick trio of visionaries who overcame tremendous odds and opposition to realise their dream, and in doing so allowed millions of people to dream with them

The birth of Louise on July 25, 1978, was reported exclusively by the Daily Mail with the headline And here she is.. the Lovely Louise.

Her mother, Lesley Brown, had been unable to conceive naturally because her Fallopian tubes were blocked.

She had been trying for a baby for nine years when she signed up for IVF.

She was among 282 women who tried the experimental procedure, with doctors attempting 457 egg collections but only 167 cycles resulting in fertilisation.

From 12 embryos successfully implanted into women, five became pregnant, and Louise was the one live birth.

Her sister, Natalie, was the 40th IVF baby and the first to have a child of her own.

Since then, another six million children have been born using fertility treatment.

The UKs first test tube baby was photographed for only the second time beside the small glass dish in which, as a bundle of fertilised cells, she spent her first days.

Louise, who married her husband two years after meeting him in 2004, has criticised the devastating impact on couples from the NHS rationing IVF and said she is glad fertility treatment is now more accepted.

The mother of two said: Had anything been slightly wrong with me, that, I think, would have been the end of IVF.

Asked for her advice for other couples, she added: My mum just believed it would happen and it did. Just keep on persevering and if you believe it will happen, then hopefully it will.

Louise was was the first IVF baby born at Oldham General Hospital in 1978 and Netflix have set about telling her story and the tireless 10-year journey to make it possible

Lesley Brown, Louise's mother, had been unable to conceive naturally because her Fallopian tubes were blocked

Louise's birth was reported exclusively by the Daily Mail on Jul 25, 1978 with the headline And here she is.. the Lovely Louise
Kylie Jenner certainly is a popular lady.

Last week she was surrounded by her close friends at the launch party for her debut fragrance Cosmic in Los Angeles, California.

The 26-year-old was seen cozying up to the pretty ladies in photos shared to Instagram.

Do you know who they are?

Hint: all three of the women with Jenner at the party are influencers of some type.

Not seen at the event were Kylie's sisters Kourtney, Kim and Khloe Kardashians. Kendall Jenner did not appear to be there either.

Mom Kris Jenner was in attendance, however. 'Beautiful night celebrating the launch of Kylies debut fragrance, Cosmic @kyliejenner @kyliecosmetics!  @cicibussey,' wrote the momager.

Kylie Jenner certainly is a popular lady. Last week she was surrounded by her close friends at the launch party for her debut fragrance Cosmic in Los Angeles , California . The 26-year-old was seen cozying up to the pretty ladies in photos shared to Instagram. Do you know who they are?

Here the ladies are seen again as they supported the fragrance mogul

One is Yris Palmer who was in a low cut white dress with a diamond necklace as she held a white-and-pink Chanel purse. Her strawberry hair was worn up with long bangs pulled over her forehead.

The girl in the cowgirl hat and silky dress is Maguire Grace Amundsen, who is an influencer with an Amazon store.

The girl with raven hair who wore all black is Lauren Perez.

She is the founder of Anablue, which is a hair oil that uses traditional Moroccan ingredients. Last year her product won Byrdie Scalp Cleanser of the Year Winner.

She is a lash extension expert who founded Star Lash.

The company offers top-of-the-line lush eyelash extensions. 'It's about giving my clients that Star quality look with beautiful eyelash extensions that look and feel natural!' Yris has said

Palmer is also a YouTuber, and social media influencer who talks about beauty products.

One is Yris Palmer who was in a low cut white dress with a diamond necklace as she held a white-and-pink Chanel purse. Her strawberry hair was worn up with long bangs pulled over her forehead

The girl in the cowgirl hat and silky dress is Maguire Grace Amundsen, who is an influencer with an Amazon store

The girl with raven hair who wore all black is Lauren Perez. She is the founder of Anablue, which is a hair oil that uses traditional Moroccan ingredients

And Kylie posed with model Ella Thomas, star of Love Island UK

Maguire raised her wine glass as she posed with Alix Earle

Maguire, Yris and Lauren side by side at the splashy event

Also at the event was influencer Alix Earle who hung out with Maguire. Brittany Xavier was also in the mix.

And Kylie posed with model Ella Thomas, star of Love Island UK.

Kylie was also seen in her home in Holmby Hills where she resides with her kids Stormi, six, and Aire, two.

The makeup mogul oozed glamour while striking a series of playful poses with her back to the camera and wavy brunette locks pulled back into an elegant updo.

A second picture showed the mother-of-two serving a smoldering stare towards the camera as she made her way to the star-studded occasion, attended by TikTok star Alix Earle and influencers like Brittany Xavier.

Jenner showcased her jaw-dropping figure in a racy red gown

'Out of this world,' she captioned the slideshow. 'Looooved this glam last night celebrating the launch of COSMIC.'

Minutes later, she uploaded snaps from the bash as well as some full-body pictures of herself, which gave fans a glimpse of her entire outfit.

She accessorized her floor-sweeping dress with a pair of white platform heels.

Once inside, Jenner mingled with attendees and was seen sipping a glass of rose.

The bar was stocked with her new canned vodka soda, Sprinter, and sister Kendall Jenner's award-winning 818 Tequila.

The TV personality's perfume, which has been described as a sweet and elevated scent, contains notes of star jasmine, blood orange, golden amber accord, red peony accord, vanilla musk accord and cedarwood.

Her comment section was full of messages praising her glamorous look.

'The most gorgeous of the night,' one fan commented.

A second picture showed the mother-of-two serving a smoldering stare towards the camera as she made her way to the star-studded occasion

'Out of this world,' she captioned the slideshow. 'Looooved this glam last night celebrating the launch of COSMIC'

Another wrote: 'Kylie so beautiful and stunning.'

'The red looks so good on you,' a third wrote.

Earlier this month, Jenner told fans that the creation of Cosmic took years and 'many many rounds to create the perfect signature scent.'

Her fragrance became available March 7, just months after launching her clothing brand, Khy.

The TV personality's new perfume, which has been described as a sweet and elevated scent, contains notes of star jasmine, blood orange, golden amber accord, red peony accord, vanilla musk accord and cedarwood

The bar was stocked with her new canned vodka soda, Sprinter, and sister Kendall Jenner's award-winning 818 Tequila

Jenner's comment section was full of messages praising her glamorous look

'The most gorgeous of the night,' one fan commented

Jenner has kept busy in recent months as she continues to keep fans on their toes with her elaborate rollouts.

'Khy aims to redefine the modern wardrobe by offering edited collections that seamlessly blend luxury with everyday style, spanning a diverse range,' the website for her fashion brand reads.

In July, reports began to surface that she was launching her own fast-fashion line with the help of Emma Grede.

Grede cofounded denim company Good American with Kylie's sister, Khloe Kardashian, in 2016, and Kim Kardashian's shapewear line, Skims, in 2019.

Jenner officially announced Khy in late October, with the first drop launching November 1.
Mauricio Umansky has described how cameras began rolling immediately after the world learned he had split from Kyle Richards - and if he has spoken with the Hiltons since Paris Hilton slammed him for discussing their family feud.

Speaking with TMZ last week, Mauricio, 53, revealed how cameras arrived to Aspen, Colorado just one day after news broke he and Kyle, 55, were separating after 27 years of marriage.

Viewers got a glimpse of what unfolded in a trailer for the upcoming second season of Mauricio's show Buying Beverly Hills, where he was seen having an emotional conversation with his daughters about the separation.

Mauricio said what transpired between him and his daughters on camera was 'as real as it can get.'

'The reality is that when all of that happened and kind of that story dropped, we were all together. We were all in Colorado. We're all in Aspen. We were filming Buying Beverly Hills at the time, the cameras were arriving the next day. Kyle was going to be departing, the cameras were arriving.

Mauricio Umansky has described how cameras began rolling immediately after the world learned he had split from Kyle Richards - and if he has spoken with the Hiltons since Paris Hilton slammed him for discussing their family feud

'It was real, it was as real as it can get, that's reality TV, we decided just to be vulnerable and to be open and to allow it to happen on television.

'We hope that the audience can learn from the way that we're handling what we're handling but it's definitely going to play out on the show.'

The star also addressed the anger that erupted from him discussing his departure from Hilton & Hyland on his show, admitting he was 'sad' the Hilton family were upset by what he shared.

However, he doesn't believe he said 'anything bad.'

'I'm sad that they're angry. At the end of the day, I don't feel like I said anything bad, I just told what happened in the story and at the end of the day it was two businessmen making two business decisions.'

Mauricio explained that ultimately what occurred between him and Rick Hilton was a 'business decision' and he was merely trying to do what was in the best interest of his family and for his future.

'So, you know everybody makes decisions in life and then you live with them,' he added. 'I just don't think it's that bad. I'm sorry that they're hurt, but I hope that goes away soon because family's family and we should be good.'

Mauricio also revealed he had not spoken with the family since Paris Hilton blasted him on social media for speaking about his exit.

Viewers got a glimpse of what unfolded in a trailer for season two of Mauricio's show Buying Beverly Hills, where he was seen having an emotional conversation with his daughters about the separation

Mauricio said what transpired on camera was 'as real as it can get'

Asked if there had been any talk with the Hiltons of repairing the relationship: 'There has not been any talk about any of that stuff, I mean quite honestly I have not spoken to them ever since in the last two days since Paris made that comment.

'Again, I don't have any hard feelings and I certainly don't feel like I said anything where they should have hard feelings. Hopefully it'll just blow over and I didn't mean any harm.'

Mauricio's statements come after his niece Paris blasted him for publicly discussing the family feud.

Mauricio is the estranged husband of Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills Kyle Richards, whose sister is Paris' mother Kathy Hilton.

Umansky has also come under fire by Paris Hilton for discussing his departure from Hilton & Hyland

Mauricio is the estranged husband of Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills Kyle Richards, whose sister is Paris' mother Kathy Hilton

Nowadays Mauricio is a real estate broker with his own company - but he used to work with Paris' father Rick at the real estate agency Hilton & Hyland.

On his series Buying Beverly Hills, Mauricio spilled the story of how he left Hilton & Hyland in 2011 to launch a rival agency, triggering an explosive rift between Kyle and her family, to the point the Hiltons stopped speaking to her.

Paris slammed her uncle for 'using the Hilton name every chance he gets to plug his lame show' after it emerged he spoke about the feud on his show.

'My father is a consummate gentleman and has always taken the higher road,' she wrote on Instagram. 'He would never speak negatively about his family -- especially in the press. Frankly we are all sick of him using the Hilton name every chance he gets to plug his lame show. It is enough already..'

Paris defended her father and denounced Mauricio for 'using the Hilton name every chance he gets to plug his lame show'; she is pictured with her parents Rick and Kathy

In a Twitter preview for his series Buying Beverly Hills, Mauricio can be seen discussing his departure from the Hilton fold.

The dashing reality star explained that he wanted to become a partner at the company but 'got kind of f***ed by Hilton & Hyland.'

He laid out his version of events: 'And when I say: "f***ed," you know, like, today I'm happy, but there was 100 agents at Hilton & Hyland. They did a billion dollars for the first time a year, I was 19.6% of their production, and I went to Rick and said: "I'd really like equity, right? And to be a partner."'

To hear Mauricio tell it, Rick then took the matter to Hilton & Hyland's president Jeffrey Hyland and came back with no for an answer.

'Then I went home,' said Mauricio: 'I talked to Kyle, I go: "This is really gonna cause a lot of stress between you and your sister and your family, and I don't wanna do this move of leaving and starting a company if you're not comfortable."'

In a Twitter preview for his series Buying Beverly Hills, Mauricio can be seen discussing his departure from the Hilton fold

Nowadays Mauricio is a real estate broker with his own company; Umansky pictured 2020

Kyle however 'was 100% supportive,' and Mauricio broke away from Hilton & Hyland to embark on his own enterprise, The Agency.

His old bosses, he recalled, asked: 'How did you not give us any warning or any issue?' prompting Mauricio to incredulously respond: 'Warning?'

In a confessional, Mauricio diplomatically said: 'I think Hilton & Hyland is an amazing company and I would never be caught dead speaking poorly about them because I don't think poorly about them, and I am Rick's brother-in-law.'

He added: 'But unfortunately it got sour because it really affected the family - Kyle more than anybody. You know, her family stopped speaking to her, but she understood that what was done to me was wrong and she stood by me, and at the end of the day, I needed that.'
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said Monday it has never allowed Ambassador to Australia Lee Jong-sup to leave the country, rejecting the presidential office's claim that Lee's departure came under the CIO's consent.

Lee Jong-sup, who served as defense minister, was appointed as the ambassador to Australia earlier this month while he has been under a CIO investigation for alleged interference in a military probe into the death of a young Marine, who died during a post-flood search operation for civilian victims last year.

Lee left for Australia earlier this month to take office after the justice ministry lifted an overseas travel ban on him, stirring criticism from both the ruling and opposition parties.

Responding to calls for Lee's return for an investigation, the presidential office on Monday stated it would be "highly inappropriate" for him to return home immediately when no summons of him has been issued or prepared.

The presidential office also claimed Lee left for Australia "after not only having his travel ban lifted by the justice ministry but also receiving permission to leave from the CIO."

The CIO immediately responded in its press release, saying it has no authority to lift a travel ban and has not granted Lee permission to leave the country in connection with the investigation.

The CIO also stated that it had submitted its opinion to the justice ministry that Lee's travel ban should be retained.

The presidential office hit back at the CIO for disputing its statement, calling the action "highly inappropriate."

"Ambassador Lee voluntarily appeared before the CIO before his departure, underwent four hours of questioning and said he would appear again if the next investigation date was set," a senior presidential official told Yonhap News Agency. "The CIO agreed to inform him after determining the next investigation date ... Wasn't that effectively allowing his departure?"

The official added the justice ministry lifted the travel ban accordingly and that the CIO should "immediately investigate him tomorrow if it is so urgent." (Yonhap)
The full trailer for Netflix drama Scoop was unveiled on Monday, which dramatises the notorious interview between Prince Andrew and Emily Maitlis.

In the clip Rufus Sewell was seen embodying the shamed Duke Of York as he met with the BBC journalist, played by Gillian Anderson.

Yet a standout moment in the trailer came from Billie Piper, who portrays Sam McAlister, the Newsnight producer who secured the 2019 interview.

Attempting to woo the prince into speaking with the BBC about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Sam probes: 'With respect, you know how people see you.'

As the late queen's third child looks on blankly, he muses: 'Spell it out', prompting Sam to blurt out 'Randy Andy'

The first full trailer for Netflix drama Scoop was unveiled on Monday, which dramatises the notorious interview between Prince Andrew and Emily Maitlis (portrayed by Rufus Sewell and Emily Maitlis)

In the clip Rufus Sewell was seen embodying the shamed Duke Of York as he met with the BBC journalist, played by Gillian Anderson

After an excruciatingly awkward silence, the prince smirks: 'With respect?'

The trailer begins with Sam announcing: 'An hour of television can change everything', before cutting to a montage of Emily presenting the news and the headlines about Prince Andrew's friendship with Epstein.

With the BBC under pressure to secure an interview with the royal, Sam is seen working her charm on Prince Andrew's private secretary Amanda Thirsk, played by Keeley Hawes.

While Amanda warns there is a 'red line' when it comes to securing the interview, the scene cuts to Emily huddled in the back of a car on her way to meet the royal as she quips: 'I've never been smuggled into a palace before.'

The BBC team then have their first meeting with the prince, and that awkward exchange between Sam and 'randy Andy' before she piles on the pressure by reasoning: 'You can't stay silent.'

Pressure is then on for Sam and Emily to ensure everything goes to plan, with Esme Wren, the editor of Newsnight (played by Romola Garai) warning: 'Make no mistake, if we don't get the tone right, the story won't be him. It'll be us.'

It then cuts to Emily sitting down with the prince in a set up she dubs 'like a Western' while the royal walks away admitting: 'I thought that all went very well.'

The trailer ends with the world's media latching onto the car crash interview and the prince visibly under pressure as the news cycle spirals out of his control.

A standout moment in the trailer came from Billie Piper, who portrays Sam McAlister, the Newsnight producer who secured the notorious 2019 interview as she tells the Prince he's known as 'Randy Andy'

With the BBC under pressure to secure an interview with the royal, Sam is seen working her charm on Prince Andrew's private secretary Amanda Thirsk, played by Keeley Hawes

While Amanda warns there is a 'red line' when it comes to securing the interview, the scene cuts to Emily huddled in the back of a car on her way to meet the royal

The trailer ends with the world's media latching onto the car crash interview and the prince visibly under pressure as the news cycle spirals out of his control

Based on the book Scoops, by Sam McAlister, the film captures the tension behind booking the royal for the interview, as well as the tension among the cast during the interview.

In the infamous interview, Emily discussed Virginia Giuffre's claims that she was forced to have sex with Andrew three times when she was 17 under the orders of Epstein.

The prince strongly denied the claims throughout the interview.

The discussion, in which Andrew made a series of claims - including insisting he couldn't have been with Virginia at the time of the alleged encounter because he was dining at a Pizza Express in Woking and that a medical condition left him unable to sweat - has since gained notoriety and is widely acknowledged to have embarrassed the royals.

The interview was described as a 'car crash' and on November 20, 2019, a statement from Buckingham Palace said Prince Andrew was suspended from public duties 'for the foreseeable future'.

In May 2020, it was announced that the prince was permanently stepping down from his public roles.

In January 2022, Virginia was given the go-ahead to sue Andrew for unspecified damages in a New York civil court.

Despite vowing to fight the claims and repeatedly protesting his innocence, the prince agreed to pay a huge sum to settle the case before it ever reached a jury. interview, then the film.

Netflilx describes the production as portraying: 'The inside track of the women that broke through the Buckingham Palace establishment to secure the scoop of the decade that led to the catastrophic fall from grace of The Queen's 'Favourite son'.

'From navigating Palace vetoes, to breaking through to Prince Andrew's inner circle, the high stakes negotiations and intensity of rehearsal - to the jaw dropping interview itself.

'SCOOP is the insider account of the inner workings of the Palace and the BBC, twin bastions of the British Establishment, spotlighting the journalists whose tenacity and guts broke through the highest of ceilings - and into the inner sanctum and calculations of a man with everything to lose.'

Rufus Sewell (left) plays The Duke Of York

Gillian Anderson (left) stars as Emily Maitlis

Billie Piper (left) plays the producer Sam McAlister

Keeley Hawes (left) stars as Prince Andrew's former personal secretary Amanda Thirsk

What the dramatisation does not show, however, is the alleged tension between TV star Emily and producer Sam.

Sam was said to earn around a tenth of Emily's 325,000 annual salary and while Emily would get taxis for work journeys, Sam forked out for buses from the BBCs central London HQ to Buckingham Palace for meetings with Prince Andrews former private secretary.

The disparity is perhaps all the more galling for single mum Sam after Emily gave an in-depth interview to Radio Times in 2020 explaining how the story came about - not once mentioning McAlister.

In the piece - headlined How we did it, Newsnights Emily Maitlis and Esme Wren on the Prince Andrew interview that shocked the world, Wren, now editor of Channel 4 News, said: We delivered a quite exceptional piece of journalism.

One former colleague said: While those who work behind the scenes dont always get credit, for Emily to go out there and not mention Sam in such a high-profile interview seems pretty unfair and wrong.

'Emily was on a significant salary and then you had Sam grafting behind the scenes on about 30,000 a year. Without Sam there would have been no Prince Andrew interview. Its as simple as that.

As for how she felt overlooked, a source said: Sam tried to laugh at it. It seemed deeply baffling that two women would not mention another, far more junior woman in an interview where they were talking about how the interview came about.

But friends of Sam say the omission was a factor in her decision to leave the BBC in 2021 to go freelance and become a champion of behind-the-scenes production staff.

Emily, 53, has always refused to comment on the rift.

Now Emily is making her own show based on the interview, A Very Royal Scandal, currently in production for Netflix rival Amazon Prime.

With money no object for either streaming giant, they have been battling it out for the ultimate Hollywood cast for their adaptations.

Scoop boasts an A-list roster - according to friends McAlister is over the moon to have secured the The Crowns Anderson  while A Very Royal Scandal has Hollywoods Michael Sheen as the Prince.

He recently said he doesnt want his portrayal to be hatchet job: Inevitably you want to bring humanity to the character.

Based on the book Scoops, by Sam McAlister, the film captures the tension behind booking the royal for the interview (left: Rufus and Gillian, right: Emily and Prince Andrew)

Golden Globe winner Ruth Wilson will take the role of Maitlis and The Thick Of Its Joanna Scanlan will play Thirsk in A Very Royal Scandal.

As for the scripts, Scoop boasts British playwright and screenwriter Peter Moffat with Philip Martin, who worked on seven episodes of The Crown in 2017, directing.

Emily has arguably gone one better for her three-part series, signing Bafta-nominated director Julian Jarrold, who headed up The Crown and worked on Sky Atlantics drama This England.

However, she faces a race against time to get her production ready before Netflix's Scoop, which will be released on the streaming platform on April 5.
Macaulay Culkin, 43, and his fiancee Brenda Song, 35, have become one of the most loveable couples in Hollywood.

The pair - who were recently seen in a rare appearance at a Clarins party over the weekend - have been going strong since 2017.

The couple, who both began their careers at a young age, first met on the set of Dads.

She starred on the show with Seth Green and Giovanni Ribisi during its one and only season from 2013-2014, and Culkin had apparently visited his friend Ribisi on set.

Culkin claimed Song at first brushed him off, which she protested when they both appeared on the actor's Bunny Ears podcast.

They met again when each was cast in Green's comedy-drama Changeland, shot in Thailand in 2017, and that' when they really got to know each other.

Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song made a rare appearance together at a Clarins party in Los Angeles over the weekend

The pair don't speak often about their relationship, but the Righteous Gemstones actor offered a peak into their situation during an appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience in 2018.

'I have a good life now. I've got a special lady friend. We have a dog and a cat. It's one thing to exchange keys. It's another to get a cat,' he explained of their commitment.

Both Culkin and Song began their careers at an early age.

After parts in 1988's Rocket Gibraltar and 1989's Uncle Buck, he was cast in 1990's Home Alone.

The movie about a young boy who must defend his family home against some bungling burglars after he's left behind by his parents in the scramble to catch a flight for a Christmas vacation was an instant hit.

Culkin became an international star at the age of 10.

The film made $476.7 million. He returned to the character of Kevin again in 1992's Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, which was nearly as successful as the original, earning $359 million worldwide.

The young actor showed his dramatic skills in the 1991 dramady My Girl, with Anna Chlumsky and Dan Akroyd.

Culkin, 43, looked handsome in black jeans, a white shirt and a black athleisure jacket. Song, 35, showcased her sleek form in a strapless robin's egg blue top and a pair of long, acid washed straight leg jeans

The couple first met in 2013, when Culkin made a guest appearance on the sitcom Dads, in which Song starred. They met and fell in love after both were cast in Changeland, written, directed and starring Dads star Seth Green

The actress shared a group photo that included Culkin and other cast and crew members from Changeland in 2017 writing Epic first #summerslam ! Shout out to @sethgreen ( aka the king of group selfies ) for this amazing night and epic selfie. Haha'

In a group photo from the Changeland Premiere in 2019, the private pair did not pose together. 'Two years ago almost to the day, I went to Thailand and made @changelandmovie with my best friends. Its out today in theaters and VOD!! Please check it out!' she wrote

Song began modeling at the age of six and started acting the next year with an appearance the short-lived series Thunder Alley.

After years of appearing in guest spots on various shows, she was cast as a regular in Disney's Phil of the Future. That show was cancelled after one season, but she got her own starring role in Disney's Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior as a California teen who learns she's a reincarnated female warrior destined to save the world.

The couple didn't hit it off after their initial 2013 meeting on the set of Dad. When the actress appeared on her then-boyfriend's Bunny Ears podcast, Culkin said his future love 'totally brushed me off, completely.'

Culkin became an international star at the age of 10 when he starred in the hit holiday movie Home Alone, released in 1990. The film made $476.7 million

He reprised the role as Kevin again in 1992's Home Alone 2: Lost in New York which was nearly as successful as the original, earning $359 million worldwide

Song began her career at a young age as a model at age six and became an actress soon after. She appeared in several Disney projects before starring in Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior in 2006

The actress has a knack for comedy and starred with Kat Dennings in Dollface from 2012-2022

'I was focused,' the actress asserted, joking it was 'the manbun' that put a barrier between the two.

That seemed to change once Culkin cut his hair and was cast in Changeland.

Rumors of their romance were sparked when they were seen on a double date at the theme park Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.

Song, who is active on social media, shared a group photo in 2017 that included director and actor Seth Green and her secret beau.

'Epic first #summerslam! Shout out to @sethgreen ( aka the king of group selfies ) for this amazing night and epic selfie. Haha,' she wrote next the the snap with Culkin wearing rabbit ears.

Rumors of the couple's romance were sparked in 2017 when they were spotted on a double date to Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA (Pictured in Santa Monica in September 2018)

In a rare admission about his personal life, the actor told Rogan during the 2018 interview, 'I'm going to make some babies, this one's a good one. I'm probably going to put some babies in her... We've definitely been practicing' (Pictured in Santa Monica in October 2023)

She shared another group shot from the Changeland premiere, writing, 'Two years ago almost to the day, I went to Thailand and made @changelandmovie with my best friends. Its out today in theaters and VOD!! Please check it out!'

In a rare admission about his personal life, the divorced actor told Rogan during the 2018 interview, 'I'm going to make some babies, this one's a good one. I'm probably going to put some babies in her... We've definitely been practicing.'

The former child star was married for two years to actress Rachel Miner. Both were 17 when they wed in 1998, but separated two years later and finalized their divorce in 2002.

Song and Culkin welcomed their first child, Dakota Song Culkin in on April 5, 2021. They got engaged in January 2022 and welcomed their second son, Carson in December of the same year.

The couple welcomed their first child, Dakota Song Culkin in on April 5, 2021. They got engaged in January 2022 and welcomed their second son, Carson in December of the same year (Pictured in Los Angeles in December 2023)

'You are absolutely everything,' he said in an emotional speech when he received his star in December. 'You're my champion. You've given me all my purpose. You've given me family. I love you. I love you so much' (Pictured in Los Angeles in December 2023)

Both are busy with their careers and seem a lot of their work voicing characters for animated series.

The ever private pair have not announced any wedding plans, but when the American Horror Story star received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he gave some insight into their commitment to one another.

'You are absolutely everything,' he said in an emotional speech. 'You're my champion.'

'You're the only person happier for me today than I am. You're not only the best woman I've ever know, you're the best person I've ever known,' he said in a faltering voice as Song wiped away tears from her eyes. 'You've given me all my purpose. You've given me family. I love you. I love you so much.'
The cast of the beloved family drama 7th Heaven reunited at 90s Con in Connecticut over the weekend.

Barry Watson, Beverley Mitchell, David Gallagher, Catherine Hicks and Mackenzie Rosman were all there.

Notably absent was the lead of the show, Jessica Biel, 42.

The actors all told behind-the-scenes stories from the show which had an impressive 11 seasons.

Hicks delivered the real zinger of the panel when she revealed that Mitchell, 43, and Biel, had crushes on Watson, 49.

'Jessie and Beverley had such a crush on him,' Hicks, 72, revealed. 'They were, like, so in love with him. [Beverley] was 15 and Jessie was 14.' Barry was in his twenties.

Gallagher, 39, then blurted out: 'We were all in love with Barry!'

Jessica Biel and Beverley Mitchell - seen in May 2023 - both had crushes on their 7th Heaven costar Barry Watson, said costar Catherine Hicks during 90s Con in Connecticut over the weekend

Barry was much older than the girls; seen here in 2013

'I'd come out of my trailer, they were always lingering around,' Watson recalled as the audience laughed. 'They were trying to act naturally.'

Mitchell pointed out that her trailer literally was right next door and so close together the exterior walls touched.

However, Watson quipped that Beverley and Jessica would be sitting on the steps of his trailer when he opened the door.

The popular series followed a reverend, played by disgraced actor Stephen Collins, and his wife as they handled the ups and downs of raising their five kids in California.

And while many classic television shows are getting the reboot treatment, 7th Heaven will not be joining those ranks.

'The kids grew up, and Stephen's gone, and, no, no, you let it go,' Hicks told TMZ last year. 'And I don't act anymore. I don't have the tears in me. They're gone.

'Because I was playing a homemaker, I wasn't there for my real daughter, but now I'm home for my real daughter,' Hicks added.

'Because she never got me then when she was little. So, it's really fulfilling.

Hicks delivered the real zinger of the panel when she revealed that Mitchell, 43, and Biel, had crushes on Watson, 49

'Jessie and Beverley had such a crush on him,' Hicks, 72, revealed. 'They were, like, so in love with him. [Beverley] was 15 and Jessie was 14.' Gallagher, 39, then blurted out: 'We were all in love with Barry!' The cast seen in 2002

'I'd come out of my trailer, they were always lingering around,' Watson recalled as the audience laughed. 'They were trying to act naturally.' Mitchell - seen in 2019 - pointed out that her trailer literally was right next door and so close together the exterior walls touched

However, Watson quipped that Beverley and Jessica would be sitting on the steps of his trailer when he opened the door; Jessica on March 10

The popular series followed a reverend, played by disgraced actor Stephen Collins, and his wife as they handled the ups and downs of raising their five kids in California

And while many classic television shows are getting the reboot treatment, 7th Heaven will not be joining those ranks

'The kids grew up, and Stephen's gone, and, no, no, you let it go,' Hicks told TMZ last year. 'And I don't act anymore. I don't have the tears in me. They're gone'; Mitchell and Watson seen here

Collins was caught on tape admitted to the sexual abuse of three minor girls from the ages of 11 to 14 in 2014, causing the actor's marriage to end.

He married a fan of the show, left Hollywood and moved to Iowa and try to heal and stay out of the limelight.

He never faced any legal repercussions for his crimes as the statute of limitations expired.

It will be getting a rewatch podcast, however as Beverley revealed and told fans to 'stay tuned to social media' for news on its debut.
Duncan Bannatyne's wife Nigora took to Instagram on Monday to share a series of sweet snaps from her birthday celebrations.

In a duo of posts shared with her 29,400 followers, the stunner posted a montage of pictures and videos showing their idyllic trip with friends.

The former dental surgery receptionist ladled praise upon her husband as well as her 'beautiful family and friends' for their 'kindness and energy'.

In an accompanying caption, she wrote: 'I am thankful for my wonderful husband @duncan.bannatyne my beautiful family, friends .the kindness, the energy and the endless love and support from you through good and bad. Im thankful Im blessed...

'To connect, lean, grow, be inspired to do well and able to share our lives togethertheres not enough words to express my appreciation and gratitude to you all!'

Duncan Bannatyne's wife Nigora took to Instagram on Monday to share a series of sweet snaps from her birthday celebrations

In a duo of posts shared with her 29,400 followers, the stunner posted a montage of pictures and videos showing their idyllic trip with friends

The former dental surgery receptionist ladled praise upon her husband as well as her 'beautiful family and friends' for their 'kindness and energy'

Nigora was sure to show Duncan's adoring tendencies, as she shared a snap of the businessman with a rose in his mouth while he lay in bed.

The couple also cosied up in a series of stunning backdrops during the getaway, which saw Nigora keen to showcase her sizzling figure in bikinis.

Nigora is Duncan's third wife after previously tying the knot with Gail Brodie and Joanne McCue, in 1987 and 2006 respectively.

Thrice-wed Duncan has four children with Gail and two with Joanna. Uzbekistan-born Nigora is also a parent to daughter Gabrielle from a former relationship.

Duncan proposed to Nigora in 2016 with a 40k ring in Monte Carlo after they first started dating in 2015 when Duncan met her after visiting the dental surgery on London's Harley Street where she was working in 2014.

The couple married in Portugal in 2017 before jetting off to Croatia to enjoy their honeymoon. Duncan and Nigora previously spoke to OK! Magazine about the moment they first met.

The couple also cosied up in a series of stunning backdrops during the getaway, which saw Nigora keen to showcase her sizzling figure in bikinis

Nigora is Duncan's third wife after previously tying the knot with Gail Brodie and Joanne McCue, in 1987 and 2006 respectively

Duncan was looked ready for the sun in the snaps as he posed in a Hawaain print top

The business mogul insisted she was on his mind from the minute he saw her at the dental surgery.

He said: 'I spotted her in there one day while getting some crowns done. Just as I was building up the courage to speak to her, the buzzer went for my appointment.

'When I went home I couldn't stop thinking about her, I felt obsessed! I felt in love with her.'

Nigora added: 'On day one. He was like "I'm madly in love with you." I thought he was joking and was speechless!'

She looked incredible in the stunning snaps

Taking to her Instagram Story, Nigora slipped into a skimpy pink bikini which boasted a ruffled one shoulder top and tie side bottoms as she posed for a mirror selfie

She was swooning over the pictures of her husband
Gisele Bundchen revealed how her daily routine has changed since the end of her 13-year marriage to Tom Brady in 2022 during a new interview with WSJ. Magazine.

While reflecting on her post-divorce schedule, the supermodel, 43, admitted that her 'life is a little different' as she navigates sharing custody of her children Benjamin, 14, and Vivian, 11.

'I have my kids sometimes, sometimes I don't have my kids. There's a different ritual when I'm with them and when I'm not,' she explained. 'When my kids are with me, they have so many activities. It's difficult to manage my schedule and their schedule.'

She continued: 'The most important thing for me every day is to put the oxygen mask on me first.'

Gisele Bundchen revealed how her daily routine has changed since the end of her 13-year marriage to Tom Brady in 2022 during an interview with WSJ. Magazine

To ensure she is taking care of herself, the Vogue cover girl said she likes to 'go to bed at about 10 p.m.' and wake up to meditate 'around 5 a.m.'

'I like to have lukewarm water with a little lemon and Celtic salt,' the mom-of-two said of how she starts her mornings.

The mom-of-two goes on to stretch, then feed and walk her beloved German Shepherd.

When asked how she remains so positive, the Brazilian beauty said: 'To live in a state of gratitude is like a protection in your life.'

'We can look at things like, why is this happening to me? I believe we are here because we all have something to learn and to evolve and to grow,' she told the outlet. When I look back, the biggest, most challenging experiences in my life were all happening for me. They showed me that I was stronger than I thought I was.'

As for the one thing she will never eat, the former Victoria Secret Angel stated she believes white sugar is poison.

'Theres so many other ways you can sweeten your things that are delicious. Honey, maple syrup, dates,' she noted.

Ahead of the release of her cookbook, Nourish: Simple Recipes to Empower Your Body and Feed Your Soul, designed for people short on time who want to eat healthy, Bundchen confessed she is 'not a chef.'

While reflecting on her post-divorce schedule, the supermodel, 43, admitted that her 'life is a little different' as she navigates sharing custody of her children Benjamin, 14, and Vivian, 11 (seen in 2007)

'I have my kids sometimes, sometimes I don't have my kids. There's a different ritual when I'm with them and when I'm not,' she explained. 'When my kids are with me, they have so many activities. It's difficult to manage my schedule and their schedule'

She continued: 'The most important thing for me every day is to put the oxygen mask on me first'

'Im the farthest thing from a chef,' the model said. 'But Im like, how do I make things that are easy and nutritious?'

Some of her recipes include a gluten-free vegetable pizza, pesto chicken lettuce wraps and nut and seed bread.

While reflecting on her nearly 30-year career, Bundchen recalled a defining moment in her life as a young model.

To ensure she is taking care of herself, the Vogue cover girl said she likes to 'go to bed at about 10 p.m.' and wake up to meditate 'around 5 a.m.'

Ahead of the release of her cookbook, Nourish: Simple Recipes to Empower Your Body and Feed Your Soul, designed for people short on time who want to eat healthy, Bundchen confessed she is 'not a chef'

'Im the farthest thing from a chef,' the model said. 'But Im like, how do I make things that are easy and nutritious?'

'One of the big moments for me was when I arrived in Sao Paulo,' she said. 'I was 13 years old, it was the beginning of my career and I didnt know anyone in Sao Paulo. I was leaving a village of 10,000. When I got there, my wallet was gone.'

Bundchen explained a woman gave her two quarters, which she used to call her dad, who told her she could come home.

'At that moment, I decided Im not going to go back home just because somebody stole my wallet,' she said. 'When I finally got to [the models house in Sao Paulo that day], I felt so capable. That was the biggest first thing that happened because in the fashion career, people used to mistreat you, especially when you started.'

The five-foot-11 bombshell concluded: 'Not everyone was kind, lets put it that way. But I got some calluses from that first experience, it gave me a lot of strength for what was to come.'
They announced their separation in February and have been living apart while co-parenting

Vanderpump Rules alums Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright shocked fans after announcing their split last month - just weeks before the launch of their new Bravo show The Valley.

While some have speculated that the breakup could be a publicity stunt to promote their reality TV comeback, Dailymail.com can confirm that their separation is very much the real deal both in front of, and behind the cameras.

The former couple noticeably avoided each other all night at the premiere party for The Valley, which was held at Jax's bar in Studio City on Thursday.

The pair only came together when it was time to shoot official press photos, and then went back to keeping their distance once the cameras went down.

Unlike the other couples on the show, Jax and Brittany were only together when they had to pose for group photos.

EXCLUSIVE: Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright's split isn't a ploy to promote their reality TV comeback on Bravo's The Valley. (Pictured together in 2023)

The former couple noticeably avoided each other all night at the premiere party for The Valley, which was held at Jax's bar in Studio City on Thursday

The pair came together for an awkward group shot with their castmates to cut a Valley-themed cake

Their co-stars Jesse and Michelle Lally -who have also just split- kept their distance too, while lovebirds Janet and Jason Caperna were inseparable all night.

Jesse and Michelle announced their separation after six years of marriage to Us Weekly, just hours after The Valley premiere party.

Jax arrived at the venue hours before his estranged wife and appeared to be in good spirits as he mingled with guests and co-stars.

The 44-year-old seemed overjoyed to be back on television and perched himself in front of a TV when the first episode of The Valley started playing.

Brittany, 35, arrived much later and was less jubilant than her House of Villains star husband.

After posing for photos and doing some press, Brittany spent the rest of the night close to her girlfriends, which included co-stars Kristen Doute and Michelle Lally, her publicist Lori Krebs, and comedian Heather McDonald.

Meanwhile, Jax spent a lot of time with executive producer Alex Baskin, Bachelor In Paradise's Wells Adams, and some of his former Vanderpump Rules castmates including Tom Schwartz and Tom Sandoval.

Jax arrived at the venue hours before his estranged wife, and appeared to be in good spirits as he mingled with guests and co-stars. (Pictured with Wells Adams)

Jax poses with Michelle Lally, who also just split with husband and Valley castmate Jesse

The 44-year-old seemed overjoyed to be back on television and perched himself in front of a TV when the first episode of The Valley started playing

Jax was all smiles as he posed up a storm with Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz

After The Valley premiere wrapped in Studio City, Jax, along with Kristen, Schwartz, Sandoval, and some other Valley cast members continued the party at The Bourbon Room in Hollywood.

Brittany was noticeably absent from the group, but a source tells Dailymail.com that Jax was 'enjoying the party' and seemed 'upbeat and excited'.

While there's speculation that Jax and Brittany's breakup may be due to infidelity, Jax told several guests that wasn't the case.

The former bartender insisted that there was no cheating this time, stating that a lot of their issues are down to 'communication' problems.

Jax's castmates on The Valley also defended the reformed Lothario against cheating allegations on The Vanderpump Rules after show last week.

'I can tell you he is one hundred per cent not cheating,' Zack Wickham stressed.

Kristen added, 'I'm with Jax and Brittany literally almost daily and I've never heard anything. I've never thought that - and I'd be the very first person to call him out if I thought so.'

Brittany spent most of the night leaning on her female friends for support, including comedian Heather McDonald

The 35-year-old spent some time with her publicist Lori Krebs at the event

Brittany surrounded herself with her female co-stars from The Valley

Instead of working the room like Jax did, Brittany spent a lot of the night seated with her castmates

Despite some awkwardness between them, Jax and Brittany seem to be working through things in the days following The Valley party.

The former couple, who have been living apart since their separation last month, reunited at their Los Angeles home over the weekend to take their son Cruz to the zoo.

They documented the outing on social media, and then came together again on Sunday for St Patrick's Day at Jax's bar in Studio City.

Brittany and her estranged husband initially met in 2015, and their relationship became Instagram official in May of that year.

Although Jax admitted to infidelity in December of 2017, the couple ultimately remained together and became engaged the following year.

The only time Jax and Brittany came together was when they had to take group photos to promote the series

The pair kept their distance as The Valley's executive producer Alex Baskin stood between them for a photo

Jesse and Michelle Lally awkwardly stood together at the event, just hours before confirming their split to the world

As their castmates relationships imploded, Jason and Janet Caperna were inseparable all night

The pair held a wedding ceremony in Kentucky in June of 2019, and they welcomed their son Cruz in 2021.

They remained together until last month, when the Brittany revealed that she had separated from her husband during an episode of the their podcast, When Reality Hits.

The Valley is the former couple's long-awaited return to the Bravo universe.

Jax rose to fame in 2012 as an OG member of the Vanderpump Rules cast with Tom Sandoval, Tom Schwartz, Katie Maloney, Kristen Doute, Stassi Schroeder, Scheana Shay and restaurateur Lisa Vanderpump

Brittany joined the show in season four as Taylor's new girlfriend from Kentucky and they later wed on air in season eight.

But the couple exited the show in 2020 after being 'fired' by Bravo in a sweep that also saw Doute and Schroeder leave.

The Valley is the former couple's long-awaited return to the Bravo universe and will document their crumbling marriage

The highly-anticipated series will premiere on Bravo on March 19

The Valley premieres Tuesday, March 19 and give fans a play-by-play of Brittany and Jax's crumbling marriage.

And this cheating speculation has flooded over to the current season of Vanderpump Rules as it was briefly alluded to by Jax and Brittany's former co-stars Katie, Scheana, and Lala Kent.

In response to Katie accusing him of 'running around town' and being unfaithful, Jax vehemently denied the claim during a conversation with Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz.

'Katie loves to f**king just start s**t. Thats what she does,' he told his former pals.

He continued: 'She plays at home and she sees something on her phone on Reddit, and she will start the rumor mill. Thats what she does. Shes spreading all kinds of s**t.'

Vanderpump Rules alums trade bottle service in West Hollywood for baby bottles in brand new series The Valley, available to stream only on Hayu internationally, the same day as the US, and Bravo and Peacock in the US
Cardi B wants to work with Rihanna, but before she reaches out to the star, she wants to present her with a 'perfect record.'

The WAP hitmaker admitted she 'sounds stupid' trying to make music that sounds like the We Found Love hitmaker's previous projects.

But she isn't going to let it stop her from coming up with a song that could work as a duet for the pair.

While speaking on the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game podcast, she said: 'I love Rihannas music.

'But, I dont [make] music like that. I sound kinda stupid trying to sing like that. I sound stupid trying to make music like that.'

She added: 'So, if I ever get that perfect record  I can not wait until I feel like, "This songI know shes going to like it."'

Cardi B wants to work with Rihanna , but before she reaches out to the star, she wants to present her with a 'perfect record.' Seen on March 10 in Beverly Hills

While speaking on the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game podcast, she said: 'I love Rihannas music'' seen in 2022

However, the 31-year-old songstress admitted that she is anxious about Riri's response and feedback on the possible project.

'I dont want to send her nothing like, "What is this? Take this thing out of my face."'

The New York native has already released popular duets with stars like Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, GloRilla, Flo Milli, and many more.

However, the Bodak Yellow hitmaker previously admitted she is 'too shy' to ask male artists to collaborate with her.

The hip-hop star - who has appeared on songs with the likes of Bruno Mars and Maroon 5 - has said she doesn't have the nerve to ask some of her favorite male counterparts to jump on a track with her because she gets 'starstruck' easily and fears she will sound 'corny'.

When speaking to Billboard in 2020, she said: 'When female artists are rising, you dont have to put one down because the others are rising. Every single time a female rapper comes out, people wanna start fake beef.

'Maybe because they dont see me [with other women] as often as people want to. The thing is, Im shy  and really shy to reach out to male artists, to be honest with you. Thats why a lot of collabs that I want, I havent gotten yet because Im scared to reach out. I always get a little starstruck. I be thinking Im corny, even though Im funny.'

The mother-of-two also admitted she gets embarrassed when she sings songs that showcase her emotions and love life.

When asked if she was able to get more personal on her upcoming second studio album she said: 'Kinda sorta, but then again, when it comes to me writing or putting ideas of my personal life [in the music], I get really shy.

Having teased the record since 2019, Cardi's second album and is slated for a 2024 release; Cardi seen left in December and Rihanna right this year

Rihanna seen in NYC in 2018 for Fenty Beauty

'When I perform songs like Be Careful or Ring, I usually close my eyes because I get really shy about showing that lovey-dovey side. Even to my engineer, I start giggling. I be like, "Oh, my God, I cant. This is so embarrassing."'

Her sophomore album is set to be an eagerly anticipated sequel to 2018's Invasion of Privacy. While it is her second album on Atlantic Records, the new project will be her first in six years.

In September of last year, Cardi revealed in an interview with Andy Cohen that her next album is near completion.

Having teased the record since 2019, her second album and is slated for a 2024 release.

Cardi B is in the process of co-parenting her children with estranged rapper husband, Offset

Cardi B is in the process of co-parenting her children with estranged rapper husband, Offset, from the hip hop group Migos.

After secretly marrying in 2017, the couple had two children: Kulture, 5, and Wave, 2. The couple have been on and off since calling OFF their 2020 divorce.

Even after spending a sultry and romantic night together for New Years, she insists they are not getting back together.
Chloe Sevigny cut a casual figure as she stepped out in New York City on Monday.

The American Psycho actress, 49, who was slammed in January for complaining about women in athleisure and walking their dogs taking over the city, looked relaxed as she pushed an empty stroller with a companion.

Sevigny, who welcomed a son Vanja, now three, with husband Sinisa Mackovic, in May 2020, wore a blue patterned sweater, teamed with baggy jeans and a grey jacket with shearling collar for her walk.

Her blonde locks were styled in soft waves and she sported chic shades while going make-up free.

The Oscar nominee toted a cup of coffee as she walked before heading home.

Chloe Sevigny cut a casual figure as she stepped out in New York City on Monday

Earlier this year the actress sparked criticism after she gave her controversial thoughts on New York becoming a 'state for the rich', telling Rolling Stone: 'Yeah. The athleisure and the dogs are taking over, and thats really unfortunate.

'Everybodys in Lululemon and has a f*****g dog and its driving me crazy. Im sorry, dog lovers. There are too many of you.

'Im not going out to clubs in Ridgewood, so Im sure its there somewhere, but Im not experiencing it. I hope there are places for people to go when they want to. I miss the megaclubs and the accessibility.

'I would like to know that they were there [in Manhattan] and not in Ridgewood, which seems very far. At the same time, the city seems closer as far as going out to other boroughs with Uber. We would do car services, and it was harder to access areas because of subways and buses not going to certain areas.'

Chloe and Sinisa secretly tied the knot at New York's City Hall in March 2020.

Less than two months after exchanging vows, they welcomed their first child together.

Two years after their marriage, they celebrated with their loved ones by throwing a bash in Darien, Connecticut  where the Big Love alumna grew up.

According to Vogue, the pair were initially introduced through a mutual friend but did not meet in person until they crossed paths later at a Gagosian opening.

The American Psycho actress, 49, who was slammed in January for complaining about women in athleisure and walking their dogs taking over the city, looked relaxed as she pushed an empty stroller with a companion

Sevigny welcomed a son Vanja, now three, with husband Sinisa Mackovic, in May 2020

They saw each other at social settings various times before they started dating.

When they found out they were expecting, Sevigny and Mackovic celebrated with a couple's getaway in Turks and Caicos.

It was there her now-husband proposed and, shortly thereafter, the couple eloped in New York City.
Olivia Munn was seen for the first time since revealing her breast cancer diagnosis last week as she stepped out with partner John Mulaney over the weekend.

The actress, 43, revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer last year and had undergone a double mastectomy in a devastating Instagram post last week.

Munn held hands with Mulaney, 41, with whom she shares son Malcolm, two, as they headed to a friend's in West Hollywood.

The star wore a white blouse, blue jeans and black boots as she walked with her boyfriend, with her locks worn sleek and straight.

Mulaney wore a black top and brown jeans as he carried some flowers during the outing.

Olivia Munn was seen for the first time since revealing her breast cancer diagnosis last week as she stepped out with partner John Mulaney over the weekend

The actress, 43, revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer last year and had undergone a double mastectomy in a devastating Instagram post last week

In her post, Munn revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and had undergone four surgeries in the past 10 months.

In her post announcing her diagnosis, Munn wrote: 'In February of 2023, in an effort to be more proactive about my health, I took a genetic test that checks you for 90 cancer genes. I tested negative for all, including BRCA (the most well-known breast cancer gene).

'My sister Sara had just tested negative as well. We called each other and high-fived over the phone. The same winter I also had a negative mammogram.

'Two months later I was diagnosed with breast cancer.'

She continued: 'In the past ten months I have had four surgeries, so many days spent in bed I can't even count and have learned more about cancer, cancer treatment and hormones than I could ever have imagined.

'Surprisingly, I've only cried twice. I guess I haven't felt like there was time to cry. My focus narrowed and I tabled my emotions that I felt would interfere with my ability to stay clearheaded.

'I've tended to let people see me when I have energy, when I can get dressed and get out of the house, when I can take my baby boy to the park. I've kept the diagnosis and the worry and the recovery and the pain medicine and the paper gowns private.

'I needed to catch my breath and get through some of the hardest parts before sharing.'

Munn held hands with Mulaney, 41, with whom she shares son Malcolm, two, as they headed to a friend's in West Hollywood

The star wore a white blouse, blue jeans and black boots as she walked with her boyfriend, with her locks worn sleek and straight

Mulaney wore a black top and brown jeans as he carried some flowers during the outing

The couple looked united as they walked days after the health reveal

Mulaney carried two vases as they made their way to the car

The couple looked close as they chatted before climbing into a car together

Olivia went on to praise her OBGYN for deciding to calculate her Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score, adding: 'The fact she did saved my life.'

'Dr. Aliabadi looked at factors like my age, familial breast cancer history, and the fact I had my first child after the age of 30. She discovered my lifetime risk was at 37 per cent.

'Because of that score I was sent to get an MRI, which led to an ultrasound, which then led to a biopsy. The biopsy showed I had Luminal B cancer in both breasts. Luminal B is an aggressive, fast moving cancer.

'30 days after that biopsy I had a double mastectomy. I went from feeling completely fine one day, to waking up in a hospital bed after a 10-hour surgery the next.'

Olivia, who attended the Oscars 2024 at the weekend alongside John, added: 'I'm lucky. We caught it with enough time that I had options. I want the same for any woman who might have to face this one day.'

She then urged her followers to ask their doctors to calculate their Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score as well as insisting women keep up with their annual mammograms and breast MRIs.

Olivia looked pensive as she chatted with John in the street

John held his love's hand as they walked in LA

Olivia wore a blouse and jeans for her outing

The couple share two-year-old son Malcolm Hiep Mulaney together

In her post, Munn revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and had undergone four surgeries in the past 10 months

Olivia praised her OBGYN for deciding to calculate her Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score, adding: 'The fact she did saved my life'

Olivia revealed she had also undergone a double mastectomy, adding: 'I went from feeling completely fine one day, to waking up in a hospital bed after a 10-hour surgery the next'

She shared the health update in a statement posted Wednesday

Mulaney left this sweet comment on Munn's post

'I'm so thankful to my friends and family for loving me through this. I'm so thankful to John for the nights he spent researching what every operation and medication meant and what side effects and recovery I could expect.

'For being there before I went into each surgery and being there when I woke up, always placing framed photos of our little boy Malcolm so it would be the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes,' the star wrote.

Olivia concluded: 'Thank you to the friends who've had breast cancer and the friends who connected me to friends who have had breast cancer for guiding me through some of my most uncertain and overwhelming months.

'I am extremely grateful for nurses, patient coordinators and staff at the Cedars-Sinai in LA and Saint John's in Santa Monica. I want to specifically thank my surgical oncologist Dr. Armando Giuliano, my reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Jay Orringer, my oncologist Dr. Monica Mita and especially my guardian angel, Dr. Thais Aliabadi.'

Olivia wrote in her caption: 'I hope by sharing this it will help others find comfort, inspiration and support on their own journey.'

Mulaney penned a sweet message to his other half after she shared the startling health update.

Mulaney commented on a post his girlfriend made announcing her diagnosis on Wednesday.

Munn at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party with Maloney over the weekend

The comedian gushed both he and their son 'adore' Munn as he thanked her for 'fighting so hard' to be with there them.

'Thank you for fighting so hard to be here for us. Malc and I adore you,' he commented, along with a red heart emoji.

Mulaney, who was previously married to Anna Marie Tendler, has been in a relationship with Munn since 2021.
Eiza Gonzalez, who is of Mexican heritage, posed for the Spring 2024 cover of InStyle this month.

The 34-year-old brunette beauty looked stunning in an all grey ensemble.

She opted for a skin tight tank top that flaunted her toned figure with trendy flowing pants. Her snake shaped diamond necklace acted as a shining statement piece.

And she added natural makeup with a bold red lip that made her pout pop.

During her interview she touched on her love life.

And Eiza admitted that after being cheated on, she now only dates men who have been in therapy.

Eiza Gonzalez , who is of Mexican heritage, posed for the Spring 2024 cover of InStyle this month

During her interview she touched on her love life. And Eiza admitted that after being cheated on, she now only dates men who have been in therapy. Seen March 1 in Paris

The actress shared that when she was a teen idol, she learned that her boyfriend had recorded an intimate video with another girl. She claims that she learned of his infidelity from 'the cover of a magazine,' just like everyone else.

But - it did not leave her in shambles. She decided to take the unfortunate situation and make something positive out of it. Since, she found her upmost success.

The Mexico City native reflected on the scandal saying she coped with a mix of partying and crying as a young actress in Los Angeles.

So, she worked tirelessly to distract herself from the failed relationship with her career.

While distraught and emotional she revealed that her mother pushed her and made moves as she healed. When she updated her IMDB page and got a manager in the United States, the jobs started rolling in.

With 10 years of experience acting and signing in Mexico as that point, she had the resume to back her up.

After modeling in her home country, she finally landed a role in the hit 2017 film Baby Driver and she has only continued to amass more success.

Acting provided her with a platform where she could fully express herself by playing other characters

'And then it all happened,' she said noting the turning point, 'It all stemmed from my boyfriend cheating on me with a s*x tape. What are the odds?'

On Monday she set her foot down saying, 'If you've not gone to therapy, I'm not dating you.'

But its not her ex who she owes her career to. Rather, her late father and grandparents who passed in the same year when she was just 12.

The actress called it 'the most tragic thing that has ever happened to me. It was really weird, because I was in the saddest part of my life...but I was the happiest Ive ever been.'

Her mother enrolled the heartbroken Gonzalez in a variety of extracurricular activities, including as acting, dance, and painting, to keep her mind off the trauma.

'The moment that I was acting and the moment that I was singing and the moment that I was on that stage, I was more alive than ever,' she said as she reminisced about her first time acting.

Gonzalez landed her first acting role at 15 in Mexican soap opera Lola, Erase una Vez (Lola: Once Upon a Time) where she played a girl who led a double life...much like Hannah Montana.

Her grief persisted despite her acting career. However, it provided her with a platform where she could fully express herself by playing other characters.

'Im living all the feelings I want to live,' she said about the unique perspective acting provides her, 'Im ridden with fear, but I welcome the fear. Its the only time in my life that the fear feels friendly.'

'Every single time that something really tragic has happened, something amazing has happened right afterwards,' she said; seen March 8 in Austin, Texas

The star, who has been linked to A-list actors Liam Hemsworth, Timothee Chalamet, and Jason Momoa, expressed that her job has provided her with the life lessons she needed:

'I feel like Ive lived 20 lives,' she described, '[But] every time that something tragic happens to me, I never complain about it.'

'Every single time that something really tragic has happened, something amazing has happened right afterwards.'
President Yoon Suk Yeol called on the international community Monday to collectively find ways to promote democracy and protect the safety of individuals in the use of new digital technologies.

Yoon issued the call during the opening of the ministerial conference of the 3rd Summit for Democracy, a gathering hosted by Korea this year under the theme "Democracy for Future Generations."

"With a strict sense of duty, we must share our experiences and pool our wisdom in order that artificial intelligence (AI) and new digital technologies can promote democracy, and also protect the safety of individuals and society," the president said, noting the ministerial meeting, under the theme "AI, digital technologies and democracy," will offer an opportunity to explore both the conveniences and challenges of digital technologies.

"AI and the innovation of digital technology are realizing in the real world humanity's imaginations beyond the limits of time and space," he said. "On the other hand, disinformation and false information helped by AI and digital technology are not only violating individuals' freedom and human rights, but also threatening the democratic system."

Yoon recalled that in September last year, he unveiled Korea's Digital Bill of Rights in New York, outlining the values and principles of a digital society that helps expand people's freedoms.

"I said the benefits of digital technologies must be enjoyed evenly by everyone, and that they should not threaten the safety of individuals and society," he said. "I also said we must constantly strive for digital innovation for the sustainable prosperity of humanity, and that the international community must band together for AI and digital technologies to contribute to world peace and prosperity."

The Summit for Democracy was launched in 2021 and has been led by the United States with the aim of strengthening democracy and confronting authoritarianism around the world.

The leaders' plenary is scheduled to be held virtually Wednesday evening, the final day of the three-day summit, with Yoon, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Kenyan President William Ruto opening the meeting. (Yonhap)
Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori risked a wardrobe malfunction in one of her most daring outfits yet as DailyMail.com exclusively revealed he has been working to 'turn things around' with her mother.

The 46-year-old mogul's 29-year-old wife's outfit was literally hanging on by a thread while out and about in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

Bianca - who has raised many eyebrows with her outrageous fashion choices - nearly spilled out of her daring ensemble as her massive cleavage was merely held up by a see-through rubber strap.

As if the wild neckline was not already eye-popping enough, the ensemble was entirely sheer as her curvaceous figure was on full display.

Her stockings featured garter straps as she finished off the racy look with sheer heels which blended into the outfit.

Kanye West 's wife Bianca Censori risked a wardrobe malfunction in one of her most daring outfits yet as DailyMail.com exclusively revealed he has been working to 'turn things around' with her mother

The 46-year-old mogul's 29-year-old wife's outfit was literally hanging on by a thread while out and about in Los Angeles on Sunday night

Bianca - who has raised many eyebrows with her outrageous fashion choices - nearly spilled out of her daring ensemble as her massive cleavage was merely held up by a see-through rubber strap

Bianca's raven-colored locks were slicked back and tucked behind her ears as she showcased her natural looks with complementary make-up topped off with shiny lip.

Perhaps even just as shocking were Kanye's fashion choices as he opted to wear black Nike gloves after ending their working relationship in 2015 before he began collaborating with Adidas.

He teamed the gloves with a black jogging suit consisting of a quarter zip jacket with matching trousers and boots.

The two enjoyed a romantic day in the suburbs of Los Angeles as they hit the drive through at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers in Burbank.

Bianca then hit the tanning salon on her own.

Then the happy couple enjoyed dinner together at LA Middle-Eastern restaurant Saffy's.

This comes as DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Kanye has been working to 'turn things around' with the mother of his wife Bianca after she flew out to 'save' her daughter over fears she was being controlled, insiders have claimed.

Bianca's loved ones have frequently expressed their fears for the Aussie since she married Kanye, 46, in December 2022 - with some going as far as staging an intervention, while her father Leo was reportedly keen to confront the rapper over his daughter's X-rated clothing.

As if the wild neckline was not already eye-popping enough, the ensemble was entirely sheer as her curvaceous figure was on full display

Her stockings featured garter straps as she finished off the racy look with sheer heels which blended into the outfit

Bianca's raven-colored locks were slicked back and tucked behind her ears as she showcased her natural looks with complementary make-up topped off with shiny lip

Perhaps even just as shocking were Kanye's fashion choices as he opted to wear black Nike gloves after ending their working relationship in 2015 before he began collaborating with Adidas

He teamed the gloves with a black jogging suit consisting of a quarter zip jacket with matching trousers and boots

The two enjoyed a romantic day in the suburbs of Los Angeles as they hit the drive through at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers in Burbank

Bianca then hit the tanning salon on her own

Then the happy couple enjoyed dinner together at LA Middle-Eastern restaurant Saffy's

The two hopped in a black SUV together

Kanye seemingly buckled Bianca's seatbelt for her

The stunner was in good spirits as she shared a laugh with her man

Bianca's mother flew from Australia to the US last week with the intention of 'saving' the Yeezy designer, according to insiders, who claim she is taking time 'to see for herself' whether her daughter truly does have everything under control.

'Bianca's mom had to see for herself after Bianca told her family she has this under control,' a source told DailyMail.com. 'This has been a wonderful opportunity for Alexandra to get to spend time with Bianca and assess the situation for herself.'

Bianca's concerned mom rushed out to try and 'save' her daughter, but has reportedly had her fears eased during this time together.

The insider continued: 'Right now is a pivotal time and Alexandra was lowkey believing she would come to save her daughter. But this is not the case.

'Kanye has started to turn things around since the release of Vultures in the sense that he is not going off on as many unhinged rants.

'He also knows how to sweet talk a mom. This has been really a good experience, and everyone is so relieved to see her with Alexandra.'

A desire to be involved in the lives of any future grandchildren may also be a driving force.

'Alexandra knows that Bianca wants children, and she does not want to miss the opportunity to be a part of her grandkids lives,' the source added.

This comes amid news that Bianca's mother Alexandra (left) reunited with her daughter this week, with an insider claiming that she is taking time 'to see for herself' regarding the couple's dynamic Bianca (second, left) pictured with her mother Alexandra, second right is Bianca's sister Alyssia and far right is Bianca's other sister Angelina

Bianca's loved ones have frequently expressed their fears that the Aussie has changed due to Kanye's alleged 'controlling ways'

Despite the shock her antics are said to be causing loved ones, Bianca has claimed that 'she knows what she is doing and she has this under control'

Alexandra posed for pictures with her scantily-clad daughter as the group disembarked from a private jet in Los Angeles on Wednesday ahead of Kanye's performance at Rolling Loud music festival.

Bianca left little to the imagination in a completely sheer G-string leotard that almost completely exposed her physique.

The source added that the past few days have been great for Bianca - who has been feeling happier in her marriage following some rocky moments, and even enjoyed some quality time with Kanye's ex-wife Kim Kardashian earlier this week.

'This week has been really huge for Bianca in terms of growth', the insider stated. 'She has not only got the opportunity to spend time with her mom but also with the mom of her step kids.'

They added: 'It is very maternal and she is in a good safe place. Everyone is hoping she stays here because no one wants her to go back to Kanye's robot.'

Earlier this week, sources revealed to DailyMail.com that Bianca had insisted to loved ones that she 'knows what she is doing' and is not being coerced by her husband like many have feared.

'Bianca has talked to her family and she has told her friends the same thing since she was last back home, namely that she knows what she is doing and she has this under control,' the insider explained.

Indeed, the architectural designer appears to have a goal in mind when it comes to what she will do with her newfound level of fame, and is said to be making smart investments within her marriage.

While many believe the rising fashion star has simply become the Grammy-winner's 'trophy wife,' Bianca has long been someone who works with Kanye to build his empire.

The architectural designer has made headlines thanks to a number of racy outfits since she started dating the rapper

On top of heading the architecture for Kanye's brand, Yeezy, since November 2020, Bianca is listed as a joint officer and manager of Oxpaha LLC, which Kanye founded in October 2023.

'She has a lot invested in her marriage to Kanye and her game plan is starting to become apparent,' the source continued.

'She has ownership in his clothing line, in his music  she is the only model in his latest video and on the cover of Vultures  in his real estate investments, and more,' the insider added.

'She is a very smart woman and it appears she is just as involved in her outrageous outfits as he is.

'She has always been risque, but she knows that this is her minute and that her minute wont last forever.'

Kanye and Bianca have been making important moves through, Oxpaha, with all of Kanye's recent trademark applications - including clothing items used for his album release - filed under the company.

A 7,416-square-foot commercial building on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, which it is believed he will use as a multi-purpose unit for his Yeezy fashion and music businesses, was also purchased last year under Oxpaha.

Bianca was named special power of attorney for the property deal, highlighting her importance within the rapper's business dealings.

Bianca appears to have a goal in mind when it comes to what she will do with her newfound level of fame

A source stated: 'She has a lot invested in her marriage to Kanye and her game plan is starting to become apparent'

She was also listed as a business partner in VZW Acquisition group for many years before she first connected with Kanye.

In December, Leo and Alexandra were said to have been fearful that their daughter was simply a rebound in the wake of Kanye's divorce from Kim Kardashian - which was finalized in November 2022, less than one month before he married Bianca.

'Her parents found it suspect that he married Bianca one month after his divorce from Kim was finalized,' a source said at the time. 'They really didn't want Bianca to be his rebound from such a high-profile marriage.'

Bianca grew up in an upper-class neighborhood in Melbourne and attended the prestigious Carey Baptist Grammar School.

One of her former classmates previously described her as a 'social butterfly who was friends with everyone' before finding fame.
Zoe Kravitz looked effortlessly cool in a long beige coat, layered over a bright red hoodie, while out with a friend in New York City on Monday.

The High Fidelity star attempted to go incognito as she sported a pair of oversized black shades over her dark brown eyes on her latest outing after watching her dad, Lenny Kravitz, receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last week.

The Big Little Lies actress completed her laid-back look with a pair of corduroy trousers, grey sandals and her hood pulled over her head.

As she smoked a cigarette on a loading dock, the actress, 35, chatted with a pal, who sported a blue and red plaid jacket, jeans and a pair of black leather booties.

Zoe Kravitz looked effortlessly cool in a long beige coat, layered over a bright red hoodie, while out with a friend in New York City on Monday

She appeared to be wearing the engagement ring her fiance Channing Tatum proposed to her with last October on her left finger.

The bride-to-be's seven-carat 'rare elongated cushion-cut diamond' is estimated to have cost the 43-year-old groom-to-be between $475K and $550K - according to Page Six.

Kravitz originally met Channing in January 2021 when she cast him as tech billionaire Slater King in her feature directorial debut Blink Twice, which Amazon MGM Studios will release August 23 in US theaters.

Before meeting Tatum, the SAG Award nominee was married to Reptile actor Karl Glusman for 18 months before their divorce was finalized in August 2021.

Zoe was said to have previously romanced Chris Pine, Noah Gabriel Becker, Penn Badgley, Ezra Miller, Michael Fassbender, Ben Foster, and Twin Shadow.

The Magic Mike's Last Dance producer-star is father to 10-year-old daughter Everly 'Evie' Elizabeth Maiselle Tatum from his eight-year marriage to Step Up love interest Jenna Dewan, which ended in 2019.

Last month, Kravitz changed the title of her Mexican-set suspense horror drama after vowing she'd never rename P***y Island since it's 'the seed of the story.'

'The title came from that world. The title is the seed of the story,' the YSL Beauty brand ambassador explained to the Wall Street Journal in 2022.

As she smoked a cigarette on a loading dock, the actress, 35, chatted with a pal, who sported a blue and red plaid jacket, jeans and a pair of black leather booties

She appeared to be wearing the engagement ring her fiance Channing Tatum proposed to her with last October on her left finger

'You learn a lot about what it takes to make a film. It's pretty wild. I will never be the same on a movie set again.'

The LA-born beauty will eventually reprise her role as Bonnie Carlson in the third season of Max's Big Little Lies according to producer-star Nicole Kidman who confirmed on November 17: 'We will be bringing you a third one just FYI.'

But it's unclear if Zoe will still portray grieving painter Katherine in Mona Fastvold's big-screen adaptation of Rachel Lyon's 2018 novel Self-Portrait as there's been no updates since last May.

She is the daughter of four-time Grammy winner Lenny Kravitz and The Cosby Show alum Lisa Bonet, who ended their six-year marriage in 1993.

Last week, she showed her support for her father, Lenny Kravitz, as he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Last week, Zoe brought her fiance to her father's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star ceremony.

The Batman star paid loving tribute to her dad in a speech on the day, saying: 'Being your daughter has been one of the great adventures of my life. Since you were so young when I was born, in many ways we have grown up together, weve been through a lot, weve seen a lot. Ive seen a lot.

'Ive seen you change in the most beautiful ways, Ive seen you stay the same in the most important ways, Ive seen you show up and take care of the people you love, Ive seen your incredible dedication to your art  but mostly, Ive seen through your shirts.

Zoe brought her fiance to her father's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star ceremony (pictured together)

'According to my dad, if it doesnt expose your nipples, its not a shirt. And sure, it used to embarrass me when youd pick me up from school as a kid, but I got to say at this point, I respect it.

'My whole life people always ask me whats it like to have such a cool dad, and the answer is, awesome. Its awesome  but not for the reasons some might think.

'Your rad-ness doesnt come from your shades, or leather pants, or knitted shirts, it comes from your true love of life.

'Everything you do is an expression of that love  your music, your lyrics, your live performances, your homes, your love of food, of family, of good conversations, stupid jokes, dance parties, late night kitchen talks  you absolutely devour life.
As her alma mater faces funding issues, Alicia Keys is investing in the next generation of performing arts.

Along with her label Roc Nation, the Grammy winner, 43, donated $60,000 to a GoFundMe organized by 7th grade student Tennyson Artigliere to save the theater program at the Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS) in New York City.

In addition to the $53,000 already raised, her donation will allow the fundraiser to surpass its $102,000 goal, which is required to maintain the school's partnership with theater company Waterwell.

Fellow alum Jeremy Allen White previously urged his followers to donate as well, sharing a link to the GoFundMe on his Instagram Story.

'This is where I went to high school, it's an incredible program with some incredible teachers,' the Golden Globe winner wrote. 'Please help IF YOU ARE ABLE. I have donated.'

Alicia Keys just donated $60,000 to help save the theater program at her alma mater, the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City

The contribution, which was made along with her label Roc Nation, helped 7th grade student Tennyson Artigliere surpass the GoFundMe campaign's $102,000 goal

Keys also told Artigliere she will continue to help raise money for the program until the city is able to fund it, according to the Daily News.

'When I told my class, people couldn't believe it,' said 12-year-old Artigliere.

Although the funds raised are enough to continue the school's partnership with Waterwell after the April 12 deadline, a spokesperson for PPAS told the Daily News that other arts partners are under consideration.

The school's PTA and parent body will vote on how to allocate the funds in the coming weeks.

'I wanted to save my school, I wanted to make a difference,' said Tennyson. 'The day I received the email that the performing arts program would be cut, I immediately messaged my school group chat.'

She added: 'We brainstormed about what we could do. We wouldn't let the program that brought so many students so much happiness and brought us together be cut short.'

Keys' cause is a personal one, as she was also 12 when she enrolled at PPAS, getting signed to her first label shortly after graduation.

The artist has since gone on to win 16 Grammy Awards, most recently taking home this year's Best Immersive Audio Album for her the re-release of her 2003 sophomore studio album The Diary of Alicia Keys.

Keys also told Artigliere she will continue to help raise money for the program until the city is able to fund it

It's a personal cause for Keys, who was also 12 when she enrolled at PPAS, getting signed to her first label shortly after graduation

Fellow PPAS alum Jeremy Allen White also donated to the campaign, urging his followers to do the same

Last year, Keys debuted her off-Broadway musical Hell's Kitchen, loosely based on her teen years living in Manhattan Plaza.

Meanwhile, White won his second Golden Globe this year for his starring role in The Bear, which also earned him an Emmy Award in 2023.

Other notable PPAS alums include Britney Spears, Claire Danes, Jesse Eisenberg, Lana Candor, Sarah Hyland, and Josh Peck.
Jackie 'O' Henderson has revealed the surprising celebrity her ex-husband wanted her to date if he had died during their marriage.

The 49-year-old radio host admitted on the Kyle and Jackie O show Tuesday morning that her ex Lee Henderson, whom she married in 2003 before splitting in 2018, wanted her to date a well-known Aussie TV personality.

Jackie recalled her former husband telling her he'd want to be with this particular celebrity because he knew 'he would be a good guy' for her.

'He said Dr. Chris Brown!' Jackie excitedly told her co-host Kyle Sandilands.

'Because he's a vet, he's caring, a nice guy. We love animals... saving animals.'

Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured), 49, has revealed the surprising celebrity her ex-husband wanted her to date if he had died during their marriage

Kyle, initially shocked with the revelation, later agreed with Jackie that the hunky Bondi Vet was a good match for Jackie.

'Chris Brown is a handsome man. He's a very nice person,' he said.

Jackie has been single since divorcing her ex-husband Lee Henderson in 2018.

Last month, the radio star opened up about the struggles she's faced with loneliness on the dating scene.

Speaking with fans at Luke McLeod's book launch for Everyday Enlightenment, the radio titan admitted she is 'desperate' to find love and companionship once more.

The 49-year-old radio host admitted on Tuesday morning that her ex Lee Henderson (left) wanted her to date a well-known Aussie TV personality

Lee said he'd want to be with Channel Seven star Dr. Chris Brown (pictured)

She explained she had lunch with McLeod last year when they got onto the topic of her love life and how she felt she was 'missing something'.

Jackie went on to tell her fans that Luke gave her a piece of advice in that moment which 'changed my life'.

He said she was giving off too much 'desperate energy', and if she really wanted to attract love in her life, then she needed to be grateful for what she already has.

Jackie and Lee married in 2003 before announcing their separation in October 2018. Pictured with daughter Kitty, now 12

The Hendersons met in the year 2000, married in 2003, welcomed Kitty, now 12, in late 2010, and announced their separation in October 2018.

They have since finalised their divorce and remain on friendly terms as they co-parent their daughter.

While Jackie has not dated anyone since her split from Lee, the British photographer Lee has moved on with jujitsu instructor Gabriella Motta.

The former Popstars host was previously married to English radio presenter 'Ugly Phil' O'Neil for three years until their split in 1999.
As the chatelaine of Longleat, her husband's majestic family seat in Wiltshire, Strictly Come Dancing star Emma Weymouth is, very understandably, used to taking centre stage.

But next month it looks as if she'll be eclipsed  at least for an hour or two  by a parade of similarly glamorous women, albeit a generation or two her senior.

All of them, I can reveal, will be ex-lovers of Emma's late father-in-law, Alexander, the 7th Marquess of Bath, who died in 2020 aged 87, after enjoying a succession of so-called 'wifelets'  75 of them in all  earning himself the soubriquet 'the Loins of Longleat'.

'His dear friends' is how one of them, Bridget, an Australian fashion designer, describes the group, before explaining why she has co-ordinated the gathering, which, she says, will be held at Heaven's Gate, a beauty spot on the 9,000-acre estate.

Alexander's ashes were scattered there  not by his son, Ceawlin, or by his daughter, Lenka, but by the undertakers in lockdown.

Alexander, the 7th Marquess of Bath, died in 2020 aged 87, after enjoying a succession of so-called 'wifelets'  75 of them in all  earning himself the soubriquet 'the Loins of Longleat'

Alexander's ashes were scattered there  not by his son, Ceawlin, or by his daughter, Lenka, but by the undertakers in lockdown

'We never had a chance to say goodbye,' says Bridget. 'But we are still here. We grieve. So we decided to do something about it.'

They plan to meet on April 4, alongside one or two of the marquess's platonic friends.

'We feel we need to be together, light candles, speak some readings of our love for Alexander,' Bridget says.

Ceawlin, 49, refrains from commenting.

But he has, of course, been there much longer than any of his father's old friends  including Jamaican-born bombshell and one-time Bond girl Sylvana Henriques, who, as I disclosed last month, hopes to retrieve the portrait Alexander painted of her and which used to hang on a staircase alongside those of his other wifelets.

Alice and Reese on top table

Having won over pals such as Princess Beatrice with her themed dining sets, Alice Naylor-Leyland is proving popular in Hollywood, too.

The socialite, 37, launched her first pop-up shop of her 'Mrs Alice' tablescapes spring collection at the weekend in California, where she was joined by Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon.

In a picture she shared online of the pair together (above), she wrote: 'No better welcome to Los Angeles than this ray of Sunshine.'

Alice Naylor-Leyland, 37, launched her first pop-up shop of her 'Mrs Alice' tablescapes spring collection at the weekend in California, where she was joined by Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon

Alice's husband, Tom Naylor Leyland, is heir to a baronetcy and the 176million Fitzwilliam land owning fortune. Alice has three children with Tom, whom she first met when she was 17.

She says: 'I'm now a working mum seven days a week, and he accepts and supports that.

He might have been a man who is like, 'I just want you making granola with the kids.' Yet he doesn't want that.'

Kate: Say sorry to children

Talk about new-age parenting. Broadcaster-turned-child therapist Kate Silverton is urging parents to apologise to their children after telling them off.

The former BBC newsreader and mother of two says, 'Let's say you lost your rag and you shout. You can actually go to your children afterwards and genuinely say, 'Sweetheart, I am so sorry. I got that wrong and didn't speak to you as kindly as I should have done.' It doesn't matter what the incident was.'

Silverton, 53, who has a daughter, Clemency, 12, and a nine-year-old son, Wilbur, with her former Royal Marine husband Mike Heron, adds on the Happy Place podcast: 'We're modelling the behaviour we want to see.'

Kate Silverton is urging parents to apologise to their children after telling them off

Hands up! Scarlett's in the picture

Has some good finally come from the unnecessary furore over the Princess of Wales tampering with the picture of herself and her three children, which was published on Mother's Day?

Well, writer Scarlett Curtis seems to think so  she no longer wants to Photoshop her hands in pictures.

'I have freaky hands. Every time I post a picture on Instagram I get comments about my hands,' says Scarlett, 28, daughter of Four Weddings And A Funeral film-maker Richard Curtis and broadcaster Emma Freud.

She adds: 'I've Photoshopped my hands in pictures before. They look like a skeleton . . . But I'm done Photoshopping them.'

Scarlett Curtis no longer wants to Photoshop her hands in pictures

Big steps for dancing duo

Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova was 'disappointed' not to be in one of last year's couples on the BBC ballroom show.

Now, the dancer, 34, and her boyfriend, Strictly's Kai Widdrington, 28, are branching out on their dance tour, Behind The Magic.

'When you're doing other things you can tell your story and pour everything you have in you out there,' she tells me at the Ballet Icons Gala at the London Coliseum.

Nadiya Bychkova, 34, and her boyfriend, Strictly's Kai Widdrington, 28, are branching out on their dance tour, Behind The Magic

Pictured: Strictly Come Dancing star Nadiya Bychkova

Potty-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay is famed for flying off the handle, but his protegee Anna Haugh prefers a calmer approach.

'If, say, someone messes up, if someone is late, I give people the benefit of the doubt because that way you can get down to the truth. In hospitality, it's all about looking for the goodness,' she tells me at The London Murphia List. 'Gordon might not articulate that way, but the man is a natural host, and a good host gives and then gets back.'

Potty-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay (pictured) is famed for flying off the handle, but his protegee Anna Haugh prefers a calmer approach

The old adage that sex sells has paid off for bonkbuster author Dame Jilly Cooper, 87, who has sold more than 11 million copies of her books in the UK alone.

Yet historian and author Lady Antonia Fraser, who has written 39 books, refuses to take a leaf out of Dame Jilly's racy books.

'She's an institution and a great person, but I wouldn't dare write about sex,' she tells me at a party in London.

'I write solemnly about historical figures and wouldn't know where to start.'
But experts say that might just make workers cram more work into less time

It seems like a policy with obvious mental health benefits.

Working fewer hours a week will surely make the nation less stressed and ultimately more productive, you might think.

This is the argument put forward by self-described 'democratic socialist' Bernie Sanders, who is gaining support for his bill that would require businesses to offer a four-day workweek.

The legislation, which has been tabled in the US Senate, is said to improve the mental wellbeing of workers across the country.

It will, 'allow Americans to enjoy a better quality of life,' said Senator Sanders in a recent hearing.

Experts have told DailyMail.com that there are several reasons why a four day working week could spell problems for the nations' mental health.

However, there are increasing concern among scientists that, contrary to popular thought, this type of ruling may in fact prove detrimental to the mental health of American workers.

'The truth is that there are problems with this attractive idea that tend to be ignored by the enthusiasts,' Abigail Marks, a professor at the Newcastle University Business School in the UK, who studies the future of work, wrote on the Conversation.

Speaking to DailyMail.com Marks said that a 32-hour workweek in our current systems 'wouldn't work'.

'People would be more stressed for the hours they are on the clock, and then they'd have to take work home with them to compensate.'

'Im hugely supportive of anyone working fewer hours, but I think the reality is going to be very difficult.'

A series of recent studies have suggested that extra stress and burnout could be significant risks of a four day working week.

In 2021, experts from Auckland University in New Zealand studied 45 employees at a medium-size company initiating a four-day work week.

They found that for many of the workers, the 32-hours made for a more stressful work environment.

That's because for many employees, their workload didn't decrease, they just had less time to complete it. Leaders at the company observed their employees 'trying to jam 100 percent into 80 percent' of time.

Another harm revealed in the study was a reduction in interactions with peers and colleagues - as employees struggled to fit their tasks into fewer days.

Daily interactions can be a key social support for workers. The US Centers for Disease Control link a feeling of social connectiveness in the workplace with better sleep and an increased ability to recover from stress, anxiety and depression.

'Its really important for them to have those coffees or watercooler conversations with their colleagues,' Brendan Burchell, a sociologist at the University of Cambridge told Wired.

Senator Bernie Sanders has tabled a four day working week bill - arguing it will benefit the mental wellbeing of millions of Americans.

In addition, a June 2022 Gallup poll of 12,313 employees found that 34 percent of respondents who worked four-day a week reported frequently feeling burnt out, compared with 29 percent of those who worked five-day a week.

Respondents who worked four-day weeks felt they felt more disengaged with their workplace.

In a recent blog by experts from Maryville University, researchers raised the concern that a shorter working week may mean companies won't take time to address other problems in the workplace.

'It may not work for all employees. Instead, research shows that employees want flexibility, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.'

In a report of a six-month trial of the four-day work week in the UK, an anonymous employee from a craft brewery said this condensed schedule actually helped him.

Burnout is already a problem among American employees, with more than 40 percent saying they are suffering from it, according to a study of 10,000 Us and UK workers.

'Being busy doesnt make you stressed, being out of control is what makes you stressed We want to be more busy, less stressed,' he said.

However the study only lasted six months, and experts say further research is needed on longer term effects.

Some researchers think that adjusting the length of shifts instead of the days of the week worked would be more effective. Marks is one such proponent.

'Without reducing the intensity of workloads and tackling overworking more broadly, a mass scale four-day week risks intensifying already intense workloads,' she told the BBC.

'A six-hour workday may be more effective than a four-day week among organisations that are able to do so.'
Around 40 percent of Americans will undergo cancer treatment at some point in their lifetime.

And the toxic tumor-fighting chemicals in chemotherapy and invasive operations, which often involve removing entire organs, cause the death of around a quarter of patients, according to British research.

But one specialist says that there's one thing you can do to give yourself the best chances of getting through it.

Dr Lauren Yancey, an eye surgeon based at the Georgia vision Institute who researches cancer-related vision loss, has explained the one activity that can bolster the body before treatment, drastically improving the chance of survival.

'What's your best fighting chance against cancer?' she said in a video posted to her TikTok channel, which has had five million views. 'It's actually muscle mass.'

She adds that, in her experience, when people are diagnosed with cancer they like to focus on a factor they can be 'proactive' about that may help increase their prognosis.

'Here's your number one tip from me on how you can best survive cancer if you get it, which we all know, as humans, our chances of getting cancer in our lifetime is super high.

'If you're going to go through cancer treatment, the best possible thing you can have before you start that journey is good muscle mass.

'We know that chemotherapy drugs deplete skeletal muscle. If you don't start with a good muscle mass, you're already starting with your tank on zero.

Around a quarter of cancer patients are killed by the treatment that is intended to help them. One of the most common reasons for this is due to depleted muscle mass, studies show.

'Not only can weight lifting and weight training and building muscle mass help you in your day to day life, it could end up being the thing that saves your life if you ever have to have cancer treatment.

'We need to be strong and healthy...and strong means healthy.'

A 2021 study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network concluded that muscle mass was not only correlated with survival from advanced cancer, but also symptom burden.

Experts say that having sufficient muscle is crucial for posture, balance, power and, of course, strength.

The more you have, the more likely you are to retain independence and engage in physical activity - which has a host of benefits for the body's immune system.

As well as increasing protein intake, cancer specialists suggest patients should engage in weight-bearing exercises such as lifting dumbells or press ups as often as possible.
US Bank filed to shut 19 branches in a single week this month.

It was by far the worst offender among five banks that notified their regulator between March 3 and 9 of plans to shut a total of 25 branches.

Citizens Bank and KeyBank also said they would shut two branches each - three of those were in Pennsylvania. Axiom and Bank of Hillsboro said they would shut one each.

Many of the US Bank closures were in rural locations - five were in Idaho and three were in Missouri. The remainder were in Arkansas, California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Ohio and Wisconsin.

'US Bank's footprint includes Midwest and western mountain states with lots of smaller towns and wide open space,' said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.

US Bank notified its regulator of plans to shut some 19 branches in a single week

Pictured is a US Bank location in St. Maries, Idaho, which is due to close, according to a recent bulletin filed by the bank's federal regulator

Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate

He added that even in rural areas banking services are increasingly shifting online. Cutting branches can save banks millions each year.

'Even among customers outside major metropolitan areas, routine transactions continue to migrate out of the branch and are being done digitally,' he said.

The week prior was unusually light on branch closures.

Bank of America notified its regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that it would close only three.

Steven Reider, the founder of Bancography, an Alabama consulting firm that advises banks on branch planning said retail banking is undergoing 'a rural to urban conversion'.

Banks are consolidating around cities, placing more focus on dominating those markets fully.

For example, Chase is moving into Kansas City with force, Fifth Third is making similar moves into Charlotte and PNC is targeting Austin.

So far in 2024, Bank of America and US Bank have been among those cutting branches most aggressively.

In the first two months of the year, DailyMail.com analysis showed that banks had filed to close 222 branches.

Bank of America, US Bank and Citizens collectively accounted for nearly half of those.

The average freestanding bank branch costs around $2.6 million a year - so being able to shut them and encourage customers to go online can lead to big savings.

Below are the closures for the past two full weeks for which the OCC has figures - February 25 to March 2 and March 3 to 9.

For branch closures reported in the rest of this year, click here.

Bank branch closures (March 3 - March 9) Bank City State Location U.S. Bank NA Sheridan AR 101 North Oak Street U.S. Bank NA Fair Oaks CA 5450 Dewey Drive U.S. Bank NA Chariton IA 917 Braden Ave U.S. Bank NA Chariton IA 926 Court St U.S. Bank NA Boise ID 4700 North Eagle Road U.S. Bank NA St. Maries ID 138 North 8th Street U.S. Bank NA Rigby ID 183 South State U.S. Bank NA Buhl ID 819 Main Street U.S. Bank NA Rupert ID 612 5th Street U.S. Bank NA New Athens IL 1100 Spotsylvania Street U.S. Bank NA Dillsboro IN 12899 Bank Street U.S. Bank NA Danville KY 111 South 4th Street U.S. Bank NA Salisbury MO 218 South Broadway U.S. Bank NA Eldon MO Highway 54 and Aurora U.S. Bank NA Richmond MO 100 East North Main Street U.S. Bank NA Glendive MT 123 West Bell U.S. Bank NA Cuyahoga Falls OH 2226 State Road U.S. Bank NA Proctorville OH 7537 County Road U.S. Bank NA North Fond Du Lac WI 718 Wisconsin Ave Citizens Bank, NA Levittown PA 6800 New Falls Road Citizens Bank, NA Bala Cynwyd PA 121 East City Line Avenue KeyBank NA Boise ID 6700 West State Street KeyBank NA Pittsburgh PA 4934 Second Avenue Axiom Bank, NA Palmetto FL 508 10th Street East Bank of Hillsboro, NA Edwardsville IL 2496 Troy Road
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung urged President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday to immediately sack the senior presidential secretary for civil and social agenda for making intimidating remarks to reporters last week.

The secretary, Hwang Sang-moo, has come under fire after he told a reporter from public broadcaster MBC during a group luncheon to "listen carefully" while recalling the 1988 stabbing of a journalist by soldiers of the military intelligence command.

The attacked journalist wrote a column criticizing the military at the time, and Hwang's remarks were interpreted as a warning to the media against running anti-government stories.

"The president should immediately sack Hwang and apologize to the people," Rep. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, said during a party meeting. "The Yoon Suk Yeol administration is truly a regime of violence that oppress people and suppresses and threatens the press."

Hwang offered an apology, and the presidential office said earlier in the day that it has never used "coercion" against members of the press.

Even ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon suggested that Hwang should step down over the remarks. (Yonhap)
The recent South Carolina primary victory of Donald Trump over Nikki Haley has reignited discussions surrounding gender biases in political elections

Donald Trump has won the South Carolina primary, defeating Nikki Haley, the last major Republican candidate in the race for Presidential nomination. On the eve of the poll, one of the South Carolinian Republican supporters in her home State, reportedly commented that yes, Ms Haley did some fine things as governor, but, Donald Trump is the man, which perhaps reflected the predominant public mood. Now, is this a case of a perceptible preferential bias among voters in favour of male candidates compared to female candidates?

Many voters seem to use gender as one of the ways to evaluate candidates, predict a candidates beliefs and competency  and use it as a shortcut for information about the candidates  and these subtle biases in some electoral contests, put a candidate at a disadvantage because of his or her gender, said Kira Sanbonmatsu, a political science professor, Ohio University, who authored a 2000 study on gender and voters preferences. A study in French parliamentary elections across different polling stations found that votes for women are lower in municipalities with more traditional gender-role attitudes (Barbanchon and Sauvagnat, 2019). However, a 2018 research contended that gender, through which men and women identify with masculinity and femininity with sets of roles, traits and ideals, strongly conditions the impact of sex on the voting pattern, but, it differs from case to case, depending on where one places oneself on a masculinity/femininity continuum.

Many men, who do not strongly identify with hyper-masculinity, are equally or more liberal than women on various issues, while, many highly feminine women with very traditional gender identities, are more conservative on some issues, and thus, gender cannot be automatically treated as a first-order or meta identity, the study added. There is also a competing view that gender is not a strong pull on the vote or on political attitudes, and that there are few male-female gaps in attitudes in voting (Amanda Bittner, University of Newfoundland& Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant, Queens University, 2017).

A study in Spain, after it adopted a law in 2007, that obliged political parties to include at least 40 per cent of women on every list for every election, didnt find any evidence that it had either worsened womens relative electoral performance or voters lower electoral support for exogenous reasons (Bagues and Campa, 2020). Nevertheless, in the 2018 midterms in the USA, sex and gender did play a prominent role, leading to large partisan gaps between men and women in casting their ballots. A study in India revealed that a woman voter is more likely to vote for a male candidate, than a man to vote for a woman, as it is more about perception of society, than the candidates suitability.

Sadly, womens under-representation in electoral politics is a reality! World Economic Forums Gender Equality Report, underlined that so far only 25% of a hypothetical 100% gender gap has been closed in womens political participation. Many political scientists explained the gap from the angle of supply and demand constraints, as there is a shortage of potential candidates, and also lower appeal of women politicians in electoral battles. Several socio-economic and cultural barriers keep women away from politics, and create a higher opportunity cost of running for elections (Fox et al., 2001).

Women also tend to be less in number in professions that become a conduit for a political career (Welch, 1977, Clark, 1994). Studies also mentioned the ambition deficit, as many women, despite having the requisite professional and economic credentials, often fight shy of entering competitive politics (Niederle and Vesterlund, 2007&Fox and Lawless, 2004). Family and relational considerations dissuade many of them, as recent research in Sweden found that female politicians in mayoral positions experienced a significant increase in the likelihood of divorcing their partner(Folke and Rickne, 2020). On the other hand, women are routinely demotivated by being told that they do not belong here, signifying a structured system of oppressive gender hierarchy in politics. Sexism among party leaders is also rampant, more so, if they are aware of voters bias against women, as a votes-maximising strategy.

While, India witnessed an increasing turnout of women voters, in the 2019 election, but, the number of women candidates remained less than 9 per cent. Those who did get party tickets, mostly, have family political connections or are dynastic politicians. The gender quota at PRIs hasnt created much larger candidacy responses at the state level. However, a study (Bhalotra et al. 2018), analysing electoral data over three decades ( 1980-2007) found that a womans electoral victory leads to an 18.5 percentage point higher probability of having a woman as a major party candidate in the next election.

Now, as of November 2021, gender quotas have been adopted in 132 countries, either in the form of voluntary party or compulsory legislative quotas. A study (1995-2012) disclosed that such measures enhanced womens representation from 11 percent to 21 percent. Some critics argued that it is anti-democratic, and manipulate voters choices, while, a section of womens rights activists claimed, they are disrespectful in the assumption that women cannot get seats on their own, and are often negatively labelled as quota women. Nevertheless, it brought women in many least-developed countries like Rwanda, Uganda, and Tanzania to the political front, and increased their substantive representation on issues that are traditionally seen as gendered. India has already passed the Womens Reservation Bill, 2023, its implementation cannot be put off to an uncertain date!

(The author is former Director General, Doordarshan & All India Radio, views are personal)
The Election Commission (EC) on Monday issued orders for the removal of six Home Secretaries  including the top bureaucrats from Gujarat, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh including the transfer of West Bengals Director-General of Police Rajiv Kumar, who is considered close to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The reshuffle, not an uncommon move by the Election Commission before major polls, also includes the transfer of the Home Secretaries of Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, as well as the secretaries of the general administrative departments of the Chief Ministers of Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh.

This aims towards upholding the principles of free, fair and transparent for the conduct of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The officials who have been removed in these seven States were found to be holding dual charges in the office of Chief Minister in respective States which may potentially compromise or be seen to be compromising the impartiality and neutrality required during the electoral process, especially in matters relating to law and order, deployment of forces, sources said.

Sources said the decision to shift the West Bengal DGP was taken as the officer was removed earlier too from active election management-related duty during the 2016 Assembly election in the State and in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The EC has asked the State Chief Secretary to post Rajeev Kumar to a non-election related assignment, and, as an interim arrangement, post an officer immediately junior to him as DGP.

The State has been asked to send a panel of three officers who would be posted as the DGP. Criticising the removal of West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar, the Trinamool Congress on Monday claimed it was a glaring example of BJPs control over the Election Commission (EC).

Addressing a Press conference in Kolkata, TMC general secretary Kunal Ghosh claimed that BJP was gripped by the fear of losing the Lok Sabha seats in the state. The BJP is trying to misuse all institutions, including the EC. They are even meddling with the appointment of the election commissioners by changing the recruitment panel. The step taken today is a glaring example of the BJPs control over the EC, Ghosh said.

It doesnt matter if BJP changes even 100 such officers because the people of Bengal are with Mamata, he added. Elections for the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal will be held over seven phases, beginning on April 19.

Kumar was appointed as the DGP in December 2023 after the retirement of Manoj Malaviya. Previously, he has served as the chief of Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar Police.

He also headed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Task Force (STF), and served as the principal secretary of the department of information technology and electronics. In 2019, the CBI accused Kumar of allegedly suppressing and destroying evidence in the investigation of the Saradha scam while leading a SIT set up by the State Government to probe the matter.

This step comes as part of the Commissions resolve and commitment to maintaining a level playing field and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process, which has been emphasised by CEC Rajiv Kumar time and again and recently during the Press Conference for announcement of Schedule for General Elections 2024.

The Commission meeting chaired by Rajiv Kumar, comprising Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu was held on Monday at 12 pm, the sources said.

IPS officer Vivek Sahay was appointed as the new DGP of West Bengal on Monday, shortly after Rajeev Kumar was removed from the position by EC. Vivek Sahay is a 1988 batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre.

He has previously served as the Director General (DG), Provisioning and the Director General of Home Guards. Sahay was also in charge of Mamatas security, however, the Election Commission suspended him in March 2021 following an attack on the CM which caused her severe leg injuries. He was later reinstated to the post of Director of Security.
After the electoral bonds data was released as part of the disclosure of 2018-19, some political parties have shied away to acknowledge donors and said they were unaware of the content in the packet delivered at their premises at some point of time while the maximum amount of recipients of funds the BJP, the Congress, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have not shared any details about their donors.

Some said they received the funding instruments through drop box or by post without any name.

In a related development, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose all details related to electoral bonds, including the date of purchase and redemption, the name of the purchaser and recipient, denomination, and alphanumeric numbers and serial bonds.

The court also ordered chairman of SBI Dinesh Kumar Khara, to file an affidavit by 5 pm on Thursday, indicating that all details in its custody have been disclosed and that no details have been withheld.

The data related to electoral bonds disclosed that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) mentioned not readily available in the column for listing out the names of donors while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) said the electoral bonds were sent to the party office and were dropped in the drop box.

The party said some bonds were sent through messengers from various persons who wished to support the party, many of whom prefer to remain anonymous.

The NCP, then led by Sharad Pawar, expressed inability to furnish details of donors against each bond as the party had not maintained details or issued any receipts.

The letter by the NCP to the Election Commission said several of its office-bearers were busy with the election campaign. Wherever possible we have indicated the name of the person through whom bonds were received by the party, the NCP said.

The BJP cited the amendments to the Representation of People Act, 1951 and the relevant portions of the Reserve Bank of India Act and the Income Tax Act for not revealing its donors.

It is duly submitted that the electoral bonds were introduced with the aim of bringing only accounted funds in political funding while protecting the donors from any consequences, therefrom, the BJP said in its letter to the Election Commission.

The Congress shot off a letter to the State Bank of India (SBI) seeking details of donors of electoral bonds, the amount, the bank account in which it was credited and the date.

The SBI responded to the Congress that the details of the electoral bonds were available with the political parties and shared the statement of the bank account which was shared with the Commission.

The DMK, which received most of its donations from a lottery firm, reached out to its donors to seek details of the electoral bonds as demanded by the Supreme Court in 2019.

The DMK, which received almost 77 per cent of its funds from lottery king Santiago Martins Future Gaming, said it had reached out to the donors of the party to get details of the donations they had made.

The scheme also does not require the details of the donor to be furnished to the donee. ... Be that as it may, following the directions of Supreme Court, we contacted our donors and we were able to collect the details from them, the DMK said.

The Goa unit of the Congress reached out to its donor VM Salgaonkar and Brothers to get details of the electoral bonds worth Rs 30 lakh given by them to the party.

The RJD said the details about donations worth Rs 1.5 crore were not readily available. The Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) has told the Election Commission that someone delivered to its office an envelope with electoral bonds worth Rs 10 crore in 2019, which were redeemed by the party.

Earlier, during the hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said after the March 11 order (on SBIs plea time till June 30 to furnish details of electoral bonds to the EC), those before the court started giving press interviews deliberately embarrassing the court and as nobody can rebut that from this side.

Based upon the twisted and other statistics, any kind of posts are being made. I know your lordships cannot control that, Mehta said, appearing for the Centre. The CJI, however, said the court is only concerned about enforcing its directions issued in the verdict.

As judges, we decide according to the Constitution. We are governed by the rule of law. We are also the subject matter of comments in the social media and the press. But surely, as an institution, our shoulders are broad enough, the CJI said.

Our court has an institutional role to play in a polity which is governed by the Constitution and the rule of law. That is the only job, Justice Chandrachud said.

The CJI said once the court delivers a judgement, it becomes the nations property, open for debate. Mehta said his purpose was to inform the apex court that there is something else playing out which neither the court intended nor the scheme intended.

I have something to share and I have been watching this very painfully outside the court. Your lordships sit in a kind of a silo. Your lordships are in an ivory tower, not in a negative sense of the term, but what we know here, your lordships never come to know, the solicitor general said.

Mehta said the SBIs application, seeking an extension of time till June 30 to furnish the details of electoral bonds to the EC, came up for hearing on March 11 and the court clarified the position.

Thereafter, a series, a barrage of social media posts at least intended to cause embarrassment started during these two days... , Mehta said. The apex court told the SBI to make complete disclosure of all details related to the electoral bonds scheme by March 21.
Next time when devotees throng the Thrikkayil Mahadeva Temple at Kochi, they will be blessed by Mahadevan, an elephant resplendent in his golden Nettippattam and other paraphernalia like Aalavattam, Venchamaram and of course the coloured umbrella. As the devotees chant the panchakshara sloka "Nama Shivaya" and "Shivashtakam", Mahadevan, standing three meters tall and weighing 800 kg would clap his ears and wag his tail. He will also bless the devotees by placing his trunk on their heads. The pilgrims can rest assured that Mahadevan would not do anything to upset them.

So what makes Mahadevan different from elephants in other temples? He is a mechanical elephant and a peace loving one. "There will not be any threat to the devotees or for that matter anybody because of him. He enjoys the offerings placed in front of him and blesses all those who come in search of divine blessings," Khushboo Gupta, Director of Advocacy Projects, PETA India, working on animal rights and safety.

This is a major relief to festival aficionados across Kerala where elephants paraded in front of temples misbehaving because of factors like psychological issues or musth. When the pachyderms come under the spell of musth, they run amok and attack whoever comes in front of them. The elephant Mahadevan does not belong to this category.

Gupta told The Pioneer that this is the second elephant which is being offered to temples in the State. A major controversy is about parading elephants during temple festivals (known in Malayalam as Pooram) that are held during February to May. "The scorching summer heat takes a heavy toll on the pachyderms and some of them become violent causing major disasters. They are forced to stand throughout the day as musicians play the percussion instruments. It is a matter of prestige for the temple authorities to parade as many elephants as possible," said Gupta.

According to Ramesh, an elephant lover from Palakkad, the Arattupuzha Pooram in Thrissur showcases nearly 80 elephants every year while the Thrissur Pooram has a parade featuring 70 elephants. Animal lovers have been crying foul over the cruelty meted out to these innocent animals which are expected to live in dense forests eating wild grass and drinking water from the streams.

Elephants, which are forced out of their "residential areas" in deep forest because of deforestation and encroachments by human beings, come to the periphery of the jungles in search of food and water.

But the ingenious humans blame the animals for trespassing into their settlements, a process by which the victims are blamed as aggressors.

South Indian actress Priya Mani too joined the PETA in its endeavour to make the festivals a dignified event. Authorities of the Thrikkayil Mahadeva Temple are ready to rent out the services of Mahadevan to other temples so that devotees in those regions too could enjoy a peaceful festival. Now, the mechanical elephants would make critics of "live" elephants keep their mouths shut.
Brain dead youth enlightens eight lives

In the midst of profound grief, the family of an 18-year-old, a bright student pursuing his graduation, faced a heart-wrenching decision. The boy had succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident at Aakash Healthcare in Delhi.

However, in a remarkable display of empathy and courage, his parents decided to donate his organs, ensuring that the boys legacy would live on through saving the lives of others. Pushpa Jindal, the boy's aunt, a prominent educationist and social activist, played a pivotal role in persuading the grieving parents to consider organ donation. The boy's organs were swiftly allocated to patients in critical need across various hospitals by NOTTO. His heart found its new home at Fortis, while his lungs were transplanted into Niranjan Vishwakarma at Medanta. The gift of kidneys went to Kush Dhamija at Max Vaishali and another recipient at Aakash Healthcare, while Ravi Kumar Srivastava received his liver, also at Aakash Healthcare. Additionally, his corneas were donated to Shroff Eye Hospital.

A team of doctors at Aakash Healthcare, including Dr. Ajitabh Srivastava (Director & Senior Consultant, Liver Transplant & Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery), Dr. Ashish George (Senior Consultant, Liver Transplant, GI Surgery, and Hepatobiliary Surgery), Dr. Vikas Agarwal (Director & HOD  Robotic Urology, Kidney Transplant, Uro Oncology, Andrology & Male Infertility), and the Anaesthesia Team: Dr. Namita Sharma (Senior Consultant & HOD - Anaesthesia & Pain Management), Dr. Sanjay Agarwal, Dr. Vandana Dudeja, ensured the successful harvesting of the boy's organs. Dr. Aashish Chaudhry, orthopedic and Managing Director of Aakash Healthcare, emphasised the critical need for organ donations in India. "Cadaveric donations are crucial in bridging this gap," he said, highlighting the potential of a single donor to save up to eight lives.

GIMS workshop on essential newborn care

The Department of Pediatrics at GIMS, Greater Noida recently conducted an interactive session on Essential newborn care in collaboration with ECHO platform. Essential newborn care is of paramount importance as it significantly impacts the immediate and long-term health outcomes of infants, said the experts. Director GIMS Dr Brig Rakesh Gupta stressed on importance of essential newborn care in improving the overall outcome of neonates in our country. Dr Ruchika Bhatnagar Associate Professor (Pediatrics), GIMS. Dr Anjali from ECHO India coordinated the session which had key messages: Maintain the body temperature and prevent hypothermia

Maintain the airway and breathing

Initiate breast feeding within an hour of birth

Counsel mother/caregiver for immunization, danger signs and follow-up

Timely and appropriate referrals.

Dr Anita Kumari Prof & HOD Paediatrics, Dr Priyanka, Dr Sujaya, Dr Pinky, Dr Ruchi, Dr Rajeev and Dr Sanju were among the participants.

National Birth Defect Awareness Month 2024 launched

During an event held in Delhi early this month, Dr. VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, unveiled the National Birth Defect Awareness Month 2024, stressing the imperative need to address birth defects to cut down child mortality rates. Theme is "Breaking Barriers: inclusive support for children with birth defects.

He asked students to specialize in Pediatrics during their PG studies, underlining the vulnerability of kids to defects detected at birth. He stressed the importance of addressing the isolation experienced by families affected by birth defects. Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra echoed Dr. Paul's sentiments, emphasizing the criticality of early identification of birth defects such as Club Foot, Hearing impairments, retinal defects, and cleft lips.
Chief Electoral Officer, Jharkhand, K. Ravi Kumar said that in view of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, the District Election Officer should ensure minimum facilities at all the polling stations as per the guidelines given by the Election Commission of India. He said that the officials should also physically inspect the available facilities in all the polling centres under their area and should also take immediate action against the officials and employees who are negligent in the election work.

Kumar was addressing a meeting today through video conferencing with the election related officials of all the districts regarding the physical facilities available at the polling stations.

Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) Chairman Aditya Ranjan, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Subodh Kumar, OSD Geeta Choubey, election related officials of all the districts and officials of the Chief Electoral Officer's office were present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, addressing a workshop organized for media representatives in his CEO office today, Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar said that the role of media is important for clean, fair and peaceful voting. He said that they should play their role in making voters aware to exercise their franchise without any inducement and for ethical voting.

In the workshop, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Neha Arora informed the media representatives in detail about the guidelines of the Election Commission of India on various points of election expenditure monitoring. While Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sandeep Singh spoke about the Model Code of Conduct, Assistant Chief Electoral Officer Dev Das Dutta spoke about various matters related to elections; Deputy Electoral Officer (Headquarters) Sanjay Kumar spoke about various topics related to media like fake news, paid news. About and System Analyst SN Jameel gave detailed information about the use of various IT applications of the Election Commission. After this, the doubts of all the media representatives were resolved in a question-and-answer session.
The Lok Sabha election dates have been officially announced, prompting all political parties to gear up for the upcoming contest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set an ambitious target of over 400 seats for the National Democratic Alliance. Achieving this goal hinges significantly on winning a substantial number of seats in key states such as Uttar Pradesh. Consequently, both Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath have adopted the slogan of 80 in 80 for UP.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is banking mainly on the huge population benefitted by Central and state governments welfare schemes in the past seven years to achieve 100 per cent success rate in UP in the Lok Sabha elections. This particular demographic, constituting the primary beneficiary class, holds significant sway in UP, surpassing any other caste or community in numbers.

Notably, this demographic openly supported Chief Minister Yogi during the 2022 assembly elections and could again play a pivotal role in ensuring Prime Minister Modis triumphant return to power for the third consecutive term.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, Chief Minister Yogi has endeavoured to extend the reach of both Central and state government schemes to every corner of the state. Up to 15 crore individuals benefit from the free ration provided by the government. The assistance is provided to all the disadvantaged and underprivileged sections of society irrespective of caste or community they belong to, without any kind of discrimination.

Initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic to alleviate hardships, this scheme persists, garnering continued support from the populace who previously backed Chief Minister Yogi in the 2022 elections and remain steadfast in their allegiance.

Furthermore, approximately 1.75 crore households in the state have received cooking gas (LPG) connections through the Central governments Ujjwala Scheme. Additionally, the MNREGA scheme has provided immediate employment to a significant number of people in rural areas of UP.

The beneficiary category encompasses families granted permanent residences under the PM Awas Yojana within the state. Approximately 56 lakh houses have been constructed during the tenure of the Yogi government, providing homes to individuals who previously resided in rented accommodations.

Furthermore, through the PM SVANidhi Yojana, loans have been extended to 17 lakh street vendors. Additionally, 2.61 crore toilets have been constructed, while ownership certificates have been distributed to 66.59 lakh beneficiaries. The government has supported 32.71 lakh destitute women and 50.21 lakh elderly individuals through old-age pensions.

Additionally, numerous students benefit from scholarships worth crores of rupees provided by the government annually. As a result of these efforts of the government, six crore people in the state have transcended the multidimensional poverty line. Furthermore, various schemes such as Har Ghar Nal Yojana and electrification have facilitated the betterment of countless lives.

The Yogi administration has undertaken extensive outreach efforts to engage with beneficiaries of both Central and state schemes. Through this initiative, every beneficiary has been contacted, and their issues have been promptly addressed.

Additionally, the continuity and smooth functioning of schemes catering to this demographic have been closely monitored to rectify any technical glitches that may arise. Swift resolutions have been implemented for such issues.

The scheme implementation has prioritised transparency to ensure that only eligible individuals receive benefits. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) was introduced for this purpose, ensuring that the money was credited to beneficiaries accounts directly, thereby eliminating the risk of swindling.
In the past five months three prisoners have fled away from Bhopal's Hamidia Hospital all of them were serving prison in serious offences the negligence of the jail staff has come to light in their escape and at the same time top officers also suspect the collusion of police personnel.

After the negligence taking cognizance Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone-3 Riyaz Iqbal is writing a letter to the Jail DG. In which strict action will be taken after investigating the collusion of employees. The police are also investigating the escape of the three prisoners at their own level.

However, two of the absconding prisoners have been arrested and sent back to jail. The search for the third continues.

The latest case is of February 27 2024. Police have not been able to locate prisoner Ghanshyam Ajay Gaur, who escaped from Bhopal's Hamidia Hospital. The negligence of the police personnel has come to light in this case. He took the prisoner to Hamidia. Leaving him alone there, he went to drink tea. Taking advantage of this the prisoner escaped.

According to Kohefiza police, Ghanshyam Ajay, arrested in the attempted murder case, was transferred from Silvani jail to Bhopal for the treatment of hernia.

Ghanshyam Ajay was brought to Bhopal jail for hernia treatment.

Earlier 2 months ago, on December 29, 2023, Bhopal Central Jail prisoner Nadeem Khan alias Fire Brigade escaped. He was also taken to Hamidia Hospital for treatment. He has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for attempted murder. There are 16 cases registered against him. When he was arrested, he told during interrogation that he had escaped by dodging the jail guard to meet his girlfriend.

On October 14, 2023, prisoner Rajat Saini had escaped from Hamidia Hospital after opening his handcuffs. He had murdered his friend and burnt the body in Khajuri area. The absconding prisoner Rajat Saini was arrested by the police from the forests of Budhni. He brutally murdered an innocent youth Aman Dangi in Khajuri Road police station area in the year 2022 after absconding from Gwalior jail after getting parole. Rajat has been sentenced to death in the murder case.
In the heart of Kaithal district of Haryana, a family finds solace amidst grief as they choose to turn their tragedy into a beacon of hope for others. The courageous decision of Manoj, father of the late 20-year-old Sahil, stands as a testament to the power of compassion even in the face of profound loss.

Sahils promising journey was abruptly cut short by a tragic accident on March 10, this year, leaving his family shattered. After the accident, Sahil was promptly admitted to a nearby hospital on the same day, and later transferred to PGIMER on March 10. Despite efforts to stabilize his condition, he succumbed to a severe head injury on March 13, 2024.

The medical team at PGIMER conducted a comprehensive evaluation, resulting in the determination of Sahil's brain death on the same day. During this challenging period, Sahil's father exhibited remarkable courage and altruism by consenting to donate all of his sons organs and tissues. Its something no family should have to go through, expressed Manoj.

We said yes to Organ Donation, knowing that his organs will continue to beat, see, and offer a new chance at life to others brings some solace. It is our hope that his legacy of generosity will inspire others to consider organ donation. We knew it was the right thing to do, said Manoj.

He said, We have done it so that our son lives through others. We have done it for our own peace and solace. We want to motivate people on organ donation to realize that death is not the end of things, people can live on through others, through this, said the father of the donor while maintaining his calm despite the grave tragedy.

Sahil's legacy of generosity continued as his heart, kidneys, and corneas were donated, offering a new lease of life to four patients. Despite their grief, Sahils family found solace in the knowledge that his spirit lives on through others. Their selfless act of organ donation not only honours Sahils memory but also inspires countless others to consider the gift of life.

The journey of Sahils heart, orchestrated by the tireless efforts of medical professionals, exemplifies the profound impact of organ donation. With the intervention of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), Sahils heart found its way to a matching recipient in MGM Chennai, bridging the gap between despair and hope.

Reflecting on this noble act, Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER)s director Prof Vivek Lal expressed profound gratitude to Sahils family. The donation made by Sahils family stands as a testament to the profound impact of altruism, he remarked. No words are enough to convey our gratitude to them, added Dr Lal.

Sharing details, PGIMERs Medical Superintendent and Nodal Officer, NOTTO (North), Prof Vipin Koushal said: Time being the crunch factor, a synergized and well-coordinated effort by PGIMER made sure that the sentiments of the family are honoured. With NOTTOs proactive intervention, the heart was airlifted by a 4 pm flight on March 14 coinciding with the retrieval timings. Green corridor was created from PGIMER to International Airport, Mohali with active cooperation and liasoning of PGI security, UT Administration, and Police. Otherwise, it would have been almost impossible to carry out this task.
Boiler blast injures 40 workers in Indian factory

Xinhua) 11:21, March 18, 2024

NEW DELHI, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Over 40 workers were injured after a boiler burst in the dust collector inside a spare parts manufacturing facility in the northern Indian state of Haryana, officials said Sunday.

The blast took place Saturday evening at the industrial area of Dharuhera in Rewari district, about 68 km southwest of New Delhi, India's national capital.

A police official said the injured who suffered burns have been taken to Sir Shadi Lal Trauma Center and all of them are in stable condition.

Television images from the factory, namely Lifelong India, showed people running out of the factory gate with columns of smoke leaping into the evening sky.

Civil Surgeon Surender Yadav said they rushed 10 ambulances to the spot to ferry the injured.

"Following a tragic incident of boiler blast inside a factory, we have alerted the hospitals. We have sent the ambulances to the factory," Yadav said. "Over 40 people are injured and there is one serious patient who has been referred to Rohtak."

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh has expressed grief over the explosion and instructed the local administration to immediately provide first aid and complete treatment to the injured.

Singh has also given instructions for a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

Accidental explosions are common in Indian factories as owners usually ignore safety standards.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ruling party calls for probe into envoy to Australia, presidential secretary's dismissal

By Nam Hyun-woo

The interim leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), Han Dong-hoon, finds himself in a standoff with President Yoon Suk Yeol regarding the appointment of Koreas ambassador to Australia, Lee Jong-sup, who is under investigation on suspicions of influence peddling. Inappropriate comments made by a senior presidential secretary have also generated controversy.

The confrontation is perceived as an election tactic, seizing upon those issues as an opportunity to bolster the party's dwindling support ratings. With less than a month remaining before the April 10 general elections, the party apparently aims to rejuvenate its standing by criticizing controversies linked to the president.

Han told reporters Sunday evening that Lee, who left for Australia on March 10, should return home immediately to face investigators.

I believe this is not an issue of partisan conflict that is annoying the general public, Han said. I believe the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) should summon Lee as soon as possible, and he should return home immediately.

Lee, a former defense minister, is under investigation by the CIO regarding allegations of tampering with a Marine Corps inquiry into the death of a soldier named Chae Su-geun. Chae died during a search and rescue operation in July 2023.

After leaving the defense minister post in disgrace, Lee was appointed as the new envoy to Australia on March 4. This move has sparked criticism from the opposition, characterizing it as the president "evacuating a crime suspect." Seouls Ministry of Justice lifted his travel ban on March 8, and Lee left for Australia two days later.

Han also addressed remarks made by senior presidential secretary for civil and social affairs, Hwang Sang-moo. During a luncheon with reporters on Thursday, Hwang mentioned an incident in 1988 involving agents from the Korea Defense Intelligence Command (KDIC) attacking a reporter who had criticized the military. This comment was directed at broadcaster MBC, which has been critical of Yoon.

Although Hwang issued a public apology over the weekend for his remarks, the PPP leader reiterated his stance by saying, "I have previously stated that the senior secretary's comments were inappropriate ... I believe he must decide whether to retain his position."

Hans comments came as the ruling party suffered declining support ratings over the past week, especially in Seoul and the surrounding Gyeonggi Province. But the PPP appears to lack a solution to deal with the problem.

According to a Realmeter poll released on Monday, the PPPs support rating stood at 37.9 percent, down 4 percentage points from a week earlier. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) also suffered a 2.3-percentage-point drop during the same period, but maintained a lead with 40.8 percent.

In Seoul, the support rating for the PPP plummeted from 38.6 percent a week ago to 31 percent on Monday, and sank from 42.1 percent to 36.7 percent in Incheon and Gyeonggi. The poll was conducted on 1,000 voters from March 14 to 15.

Other members of the PPP, particularly several candidates participating in the elections, have also voiced criticism regarding these matters. Their aim is to distance themselves from the president and appeal to swing voters.

Kim Eun-hye, a PPP candidate for Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province and Yoons former senior secretary for public relations, wrote on her Facebook that the public demands the immediate return of the ambassador and the resignation of Hwang.

Several candidates from the ruling party have been disqualified from their candidacy due to indiscreet remarks made in the past, she wrote. A senior secretary of the presidential office cannot be an exception. Hwang should step down from his post.

Eight PPP candidates, including Ham Un-kyung of Seouls Mapo-B constituency, released a statement on Saturday, urging Lee to return promptly and cooperate with the CIO investigation.

However, both the ambassador and the presidential office are refuting those claims.

The ambassador told broadcaster KBS on Sunday that "if the CIO decides to summon me, I will return as soon as tomorrow," and characterized the criticism surrounding his appointment as a "political offensive and distortion" of the facts.

The presidential office also released a statement on Monday asserting that Lees appointment was "appropriate and just," emphasizing that it was made because "the CIO has never summoned Lee during the past six months."

Lee said he will comply with the CIO's summons whenever it is issued, and the CIO also confirmed that it will call him for the next investigation. Also, not only the justice ministry but also the CIO approved Lees departure to Australia."

In a separate statement, apparently addressing the controversy surrounding Hwang, the office also said, "the government has never investigated journalists or initiated tax probes on media companies, and it has no intention or mechanism to do so."

PPP Secretary-General Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok told reporters Monday that the party's stance on the cases of Lee and Hwang is "not a conflict between the PPP and the presidential office." However, he added, "The party is attuned to the public sentiment on the frontline, so the (PPP interim leader's) comments were reflective of the current public sentiment regarding the issues."

The Realmeter poll surveyed 1,000 voters from March 14 to 15 at the request of Energy Economy Newspaper. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commissions website.
Youtuber Elvish Yadav was arrested on Sunday by Noida police in connection with a probe into the suspected use of snake venom as a recreational drug at a party here four months ago

Yadav, a winner of reality show Bigg Boss OTT, was later produced in a special court in Surajpur which sent the 26-year-old social media influencer to 14-day judicial custody, they said.

He was among six people named in an FIR lodged at Noida's Sector 49 police station on November 3 last year. The five other accused, identified as snake charmers, were arrested in November but are currently out on bail, the officials said.

The case was lodged under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Indian Penal Code sections 120B (party to criminal conspiracy), 284 (negligent conduct related to poison that endangers human safety) and 289 (negligent conduct with respect to animals), according to police.

Charges under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act have also been added in the case in which Yadav, a resident of Haryana's Gurugram, has been arrested, police said.

"Elvish Yadav was called for questioning in the case. He was arrested after adequate evidence, including those linked to the NDPS Act, was found in the case. Further investigation is underway," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Vidya Sagar Mishra said.

The Noida police said during investigation in the case, it had collected some samples which have been confirmed by forensic laboratory as "snake venom".

"The accused has been arrested by a team of Sector 20 police station which was investigating the case," Additional DCP (Noida) Manish Mishra said. During probe, the case was transferred from Sector 49 police station to Sector 20 police station, he added.

On Sunday afternoon, Yadav was produced in the Sunday special court of the Remand Magistrate who sent him to jail for 14 days, according to police.

The Youtuber was then lodged in the Luksar jail in Greater Noida, police added.

Yadav has refuted the charges of involvement in the case and has been questioned by police in the past.

Sub-inspector, who was also the in-charge of Sector 49 police station where the FIR was registered, was shunted within days of the case being registered on the complaint of an official of animal rights group People For Animals (PFA).

Five people were arrested from a banquet hall in Sector 51 on November 3 and nine snakes, including five cobras, rescued from their possession while 20 ml of suspected snake venom was also seized.

However, police had said Yadav was not present at the party hall and they were probing his role in the whole case of snake venom use as a recreational drug. PFA chairperson and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi accused Yadav of involvement in illegally selling snake venom and sought his immediate arrest.

On November 4, Yadav was briefly stopped for questioning by police in Rajasthan's Kota while he was travelling with his friends in a car but was let off soon.
The BJP on Sunday hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party after the Enforcement Directorate summoned chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in a second money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and ninth summons in the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy case.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva accused Kejriwal of repeatedly flouting the law by skipping the nine summons sent to AAP chief by Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday and claimed that him taking a bail for evading ED summons confirms the validity of the summons.

He said, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, after disrespecting the summons which he previously claimed were illegal, has now taken bail, confirming the validity of the summons. Taking potshots at Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who is in jail in the liquor scam policy, Sachdeva questioned the conduct and language of the AAP leaders and said that they resemble thugs and looters. "Arvind Kejriwal's former Deputy Chief Minister has been in jail for over a year in the liquor scam case, and another MP has also been in jail for a long time, but the repeated assertion by the Aam Aadmi Party that there was no scam in the liquor policy is ludicrous in itself."

He further took a jibe at Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi and said, "Firstly, what was the need to change the liquor policy in Delhi, and if the new liquor policy was good, why did it have to be withdrawn as soon as the investigation began?"

Delhi BJP stated that the new policy was aimed to push Delhi's youth into addiction and to loot money from them. He further said that Kejriwal's second summon is in the Delhi Jal Board case, stating that it is another proof of looting.

He said, The people of Delhi know how the Jal Board has been looted, and the BJP has always said that the Jal Board scam is bigger than the liquor scam.

When Kejriwal came to power, he made big promises to end the tanker mafia, while at that time the Jal Board was making a profit of Rs 1200 crore, but today it is incurring a loss of Rs 80,000 crore.

BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj who is also contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the New Delhi seat,claimed that Arvind Kejriwal is accountable for the Delhi excise policy case and he is repeatedly disrespecting the ED summons by not appearing before the probe agency for questioning. Swaraj, refuted Atishi's claims and pointed out it is Mr Kejriwal who has "zero knowledge" of the law. "Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is educated. His entire cabinet is full of educated people... The investigation is being done in the liquor policy case. Arvind Kejriwal becomes accountable and will have to explain why the Aam Aadmi Party is doing so much corruption... When you are sent a summon, it is your responsibility to respect it and respond, but whenever you disrespect the summons, then you are committing a new crime... Arvind Kejriwal has disregarded the last eight summons..." Swaraj, said.

Earlier, reacting to the summons to AAP national convenor in the second case, Delhi minister Atishi told reporters on Sunday that, Nobody knows what this DJB case is about.

This seems to be a backup plan to arrest Arvind Kejriwal anyhow and stop him from campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls.

Atishi said two summonses asking Kejriwal to appear before the federal agency next week were received hours after the Lok Sabha poll date announcement on Saturday. One of them is related to the excise policy case and the other to the DJB, she added. The AAP leader charged that the BJP was using ED and CBI as its "goons" to finish off political opponents.
Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Pratap Sarangi on Sunday said his party has made full preparations for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha and a short-listing process of the probable candidates has been completed.

He informed that the names of selected candidates, which would be sent to the party high command, would be announced from New Delhi by party president JP Nadda.

The BJP State election committee met here under the chairmanship of party State president Manmohan Samal on Saturday and discussions were held on candidates for the elections.

Party Odisha election in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar said, "We have enough time; and the names of candidates will also be announced."

The BJP has decided to reach out to 1 crore people in Odisha with a letter written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, the suspense over any BJP-BJD alliance continued on Sunday with both the parties observing a mysterious silence over it. Though top leaderships of both parties are reportedly pushing for a coalition, grassroots workers and ticket aspirants of the two parties are opposing the proposition, arguing that such an arrangement is illogical and will demoralise the BJP and BJPs rank and file.

Union Minister Amit Shah, in an interview to a national television channel on Friday, had said, Prime Minister Modi and party national president JP Nadda will take a decision on Odisha affairs.
Vijaya Jadhav, the Deputy Election Officer (DEO) and Deputy Commissioner of Bokaro, convened a meeting of the Standing Committee on Monday at the conference hall of the Collectorate to ensure the smooth, impartial, transparent, and peaceful conduct of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Members of the committee, including representatives from various political parties, were present at the meeting.

During the session, the District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner advised the representatives of political parties to adhere to the rules prescribed by the Election Commission of India. Detailed information regarding the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was provided to all present prior to the discussion.

Present at the occasion were Senior officer Mumtaz Ansari, Bermo SDO Ashok Kumar, Nodal Officer & DTO Vandana Shejwalkar, District Assistant Election Officer Pratibha Kujur, Traffic DSP Ashish Kumar, and others.
Confident of its own performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the Bahujan Samaj Party has snubbed the Mahan Dal which offered to support the BSP without any conditions.

Mahan Dal president Keshav Dev Maurya claimed that he has met senior BSP leaders, including Akash Anand and BSP Rajya Sabha member Ashok Siddhartha, in Lucknow and is ready to field three candidates on BSP symbol if the party agrees to their support.

He also said that his party would campaign in support of BSP candidates not just in Uttar Pradesh but also in other states like Madhya Pradesh, if the arrangement worked.

However, BSP state president Vishwanath Pal, on Sunday, refuted Mauryas claims on support from Mahan Dal and said, I am not aware of any such talks.

A senior BSP functionary said that the party president had not even accepted Keshav Dev Mauryas request for a meeting.

This clearly shows that the party is in no mood or any alliance, he said.

Formed in 2008, the Mahan Dal claims influence among voters from Maurya, Shakya, Kushwaha as well as Saini communities, in parts of central and western Uttar Pradesh, especially in regions like Etah, Bareli, Agra, Firozabad, Moradabad and Sambhal.

According to sources, the Mahan Dal is eyeing three Lok Sabha seats  Etah, Agra and Farrukhabad.

Mahan Dal had contested the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the Congress, which had given it seats to contest on the symbol of the grand old party. But the Mahan Dal failed to win any seat. The two parties did not come together after the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

In the 2022 UP assembly elections, Mahan Dal became an alliance partner of the Samajwadi Party. But after the polls it snapped ties with the SP and offered support to the BSP.

It again entered into an alliance with the SP during the Madhya Pradesh elections last year and claimed to have contested three seats in the state on the SP symbol.

Asked about his frequently changing alliance partners, Maurya said that they were unable to develop a relationship with Congress.

We could never develop a relationship with Congress after 2014. We have a soft corner for Samajwadi Party, but it started giving importance to leaders like Swami Prasad Maurya and there were indications that the SP does not need our support, he said.

Maurya said his community, comprising Maurya, Shakya, Kushwaha, feel closer to the ideologies of BSP as they are believers of Lord Buddha and Dr BR Ambedkar.

Our community, especially Maurya, Shakya, Kushwaha, feels more inclined towards BSP ideologically, Maurya said.
Jamshepur: Manipal Tata Medical College launches a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering bus drivers, security personnel, and support staff to become lifesavers. The Life Saver Training Programme provided essential medical treatment and life-saving training to participants.

The programme, held at the college's mechanical lab, witnessed the participation of key figures including Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Dean of the Mechanical Lab, Dr. Ayan Pati from the Anesthesia Department, and Dr. Shyamal Maiti, Head of the Department. Dr. Anjaneyulu Kanauri led the workshop as the primary trainer, supported by Dr. Abhishek Kumar, Dr. Soni Narayan, Dr. Swat Shikha, and Dr. Jayati Batanaik.

Thirty-two individuals received comprehensive basic life support training during the workshop. The primary objective of the initiative is to empower ordinary citizens to act as first responders in emergencies, particularly targeting bus drivers, security personnel, and other community members in the Jamshepur area.

"Common people can become lifesavers in critical situations," stated a representative from Manipal Tata Medical College. "By equipping bus drivers and security personnel with life-saving skills, we aim to mitigate risks and save lives in our community."

The Life Saver Training Program underscores Manipal Tata Medical College's commitment to enhancing public safety and healthcare accessibility in the Jamshepur region. Moving forward, the initiative plans to expand its reach to include additional groups through partnerships with Life Saver Training Organizations.
Amidst concerns of potential law and order disruptions and security threats during the Lok Sabha Elections, Chandigarh District Magistrate Vinay Pratap Singh on Sunday issued a stringent order under Section 144 Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to prohibit the carrying of all types of firearms and ammunition within the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Chandigarh is going to polls in the seventh and the final phase on June 1.

The decision comes in response to apprehensions regarding the misuse of arms by anti-social elements, which could lead to public nuisance and jeopardize public safety. Citing the possibility of disturbances that could disrupt the electoral process and endanger lives, the order underscores the imperative to maintain public peace and tranquility during this crucial period of democratic exercise.

The issuance of the order aligns with the instructions and guidelines laid down by the Election Commission of India in their directive, dated June 8, 2023. The Commission emphasized the importance of taking proactive measures to prevent incidents that could impede the conduct of free and fair elections.

Under the terms of the order, all arms license holders within the boundaries of Chandigarh are directed to promptly deposit their firearms and ammunition at the nearest police stations. The proactive measure aimed at mitigating the risk of potential incidents involving the misuse of firearms, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process and ensuring the safety of citizens.

However, certain exceptions to the prohibition have been outlined in the order. Paramilitary personnel and government servants are exempted from the restrictions if called upon to carry firearms in connection with their official duties, provided they are in their service uniform. Additionally, individuals exempted by the Election Commission of India or the Screening Committee constituted as per their instructions are also excluded from the prohibition.

The restrictions, which come into effect from zero hours on March 16, 2024, will remain enforceable for a period of 60 days, up to and including May 14, 2024. Any individual unwilling to deposit their weapon may seek recourse by appealing to the Screening Committee for consideration. This decisive action aims to uphold the sanctity of the electoral process and ensure the peaceful conduct of elections in Chandigarh.
A 57-year-old CISF ASI who was badly injured while extinguishing a fire at Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) in Bhopal, died on Sunday. They had reached here on February 26 to extinguish the fire.

As soon as he picked up the fire extinguisher, he tried to open it. He burst out. Due to which his jaw was fractured. There was also a serious head injury. He was undergoing treatment for the last 21 days.

Govardhan Prasad Sharma, originally a resident of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, lived with his family in the BHEL complex.

His son Shubham Sharma said my father was posted as ASI in CISF. On February 26, a fire broke out while drilling at the BHEL plant. The father was on duty at this time, he tried to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher.

As soon as the cap of the device was opened, it exploded. The cap which came out at high speed hit his jaw. Due to which many fractures occurred in the jaw. There were injuries on the face and head also. After the incident, he was admitted to a private hospital by his friends. Since then he has been undergoing treatment.

According to family members, Govardhan Prasad Sharma's condition also improved. But, on March 13, his health suddenly deteriorated again after did not regain consciousness after this. He died on Sunday morning. Police have handed over the body to the relatives after postmortem. The last rites will be performed in Raipur.
Action will be taken within 100-min upon receiving complaints

To register complaints regarding violation of model code of conduct, Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal on Sunday said that the Election Commission has created a C-Vigil app, on which any citizen can make video or audio to report any violation. Action will be taken within 100 minutes upon receiving complaints, he said.

Agarwal, interacting with the media in Chandigarh, said that EVMs are completely safe and cannot be tampered with. People should have full faith and must vote without any doubt or fear. Along with EVMs, VVPATs are also being used to bring more transparency in the system, he added.

When asked about security related measures for the polls, Agarwal said that to conduct free, fair and transparent elections, a total of 15 companies of central armed police forces have already arrived, and the Home Ministry has sought for 200 more companies. Additionally, Haryana Police and home guard personnel will be deployed for security during the elections. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 98 companies of CAPF were deployed in Haryana to conduct the election, he added.

Agarwal said that along with the announcement of general elections, the Model Code of Conduct has been enforced. Now, the Haryana government cannot announce new development projects, and the projects already underway will continue.

He further said that in Haryana, 1,99,38,247 voters can participate in this Lok Sabha Elections. During previous elections, about 70 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Haryana.

Of the total, 2,64,760 voters are aged over 85. Similarly, there are 11,028 voters over 100 years, and 41 voters over 120 years. Arrangements will be made for voters to choose between voting at polling stations or from their homes, he said.

The number of service voters is 1,08,572. The number of voters in the age group of 18 to 19 is 3,65,504 and the number of voters in the age group of 20 to 29 is 39,31,717.

The entire election process will be completed before June 6. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used for voting, and adequate EVMs are available. Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines will also be placed at all polling stations. 10 to 15 percent reserved EVMs will be available with the Sectoral Magistrate, wherever there is a complaint, EVMs will be made available.

Regarding recruitment processes during the election period by Haryana Staff Selection Commission and Haryana Public Service Commission, Agarwal mentioned the formation of a committee under the Chief Secretary, which will meet at least twice a week and send its recommendations to the Chief Electoral Officer. Permission will be sought from the Election Commission for immediate appointments if required.
In a significant move on March 11, the Centre notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), marking a pivotal step towards its implementation more than four years after its passage by Parliament in December 2019. The CAA stands to benefit thousands of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Christian migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014 and seek citizenship. This legislation provides a pathway to citizenship for those who have faced religious persecution in their respective home countries, embodying India's commitment to humanitarian values and inclusivity.

The CAA simplifies the process for eligible migrants, reducing the period of citizenship by naturalisation from 11 years to five. Under the newly-notified rules, applicants are required to establish their countries of origin, religion, date of entry into India and proficiency in an Indian language to apply for citizenship. The stringent documentation requirements under The Citizenship Act, 1955 have been considerably relaxed, acknowledging the challenges faced by these marginalised communities.

Previously, a valid passport issued by Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan, along with a copy of a valid Residential Permit of India, was essential. However, under the new rules, various documents such as birth certificates, educational institution certificates, identity documents, licences, land records or any other valid document proving the applicant's citizenship of these countries are accepted. Moreover, documents demonstrating familial ties to citizens of these countries are also admissible, providing greater flexibility and inclusivity.

Furthermore, the requirement for a certificate attesting to the applicant's proficiency in an Indian language has been simplified. Instead of a formal certification, a declaration of proficiency and the ability to converse in the language are deemed sufficient, easing the burden on applicants.

Establishing the date of entry into India, a crucial aspect of the citizenship process has also been streamlined. The rules enumerate various documents, including visas, residential permits, government-issued letters, educational certificates and utility bills, that can serve as evidence of entry. This broad spectrum of acceptable documents ensures that individuals can substantiate their claims through diverse means, facilitating a smoother application process.

The administration of the citizenship application process has undergone notable changes as well. In response to opposition from certain States, the Centre has revised the process to minimise State interference. Empowered Committees and District Level Committees, constituted by the Centre, will oversee the application process, relegating State involvement to a minimal role. This centralised approach ensures uniformity and efficiency in processing applications, aligning with the broader national interest.

Critics often overlook the government's longstanding efforts to address the plight of refugees from neighbouring countries. Initiatives dating back to 2002 under various administrations demonstrate India's commitment to accommodating persecuted minorities. From granting Long Term Visas (LTVs) to extending citizenship eligibility to specific groups, successive governments have endeavoured to provide relief to vulnerable communities.

The CAA represents a culmination of these efforts, offering a structured framework for granting citizenship to deserving individuals. By recognising the historical and contemporary challenges faced by persecuted minorities, the legislation embodies India's ethos of pluralism and compassion. The streamlined application process, relaxed documentation requirements and centralised administration reflect the government's commitment to facilitating the integration of marginalised communities into the national fabric.

The notification of CAA rules heralds a new era of empowerment and inclusivity for persecuted minorities seeking refuge in India. The unnecessary negative propaganda by the vested interest groups that the CAA is against any particular religious community and shall take away their citizenship is not only ill-informed but also assertions distant from the truth, intended to confuse the nation for political and other gains and are part of a deliberate campaign to dent the image of the government and the nation abroad. However, on the contrary, by providing a clear pathway to citizenship and simplifying the application process, the legislation reaffirms India's status as a beacon of hope and refuge for those facing religious persecution. As the curtains rise on the rules of this landmark legislation, it is imperative to uphold the values of compassion, tolerance and inclusivity that define the Indian ethos.

(The writer is an advocate, Orissa High Court, Addl. Central Government Standing Counsel, CAT, Cuttack Bench, Consulting Editor-Legal Affairs and Public Policy, The Pioneer and a Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law and Media Studies, School of Mass Communication, KIIT University. Views are personal)
By Kwak Yeon-soo

The presidential office and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) engaged in a blame game Monday, as the anti-corruption agency said it had never approved Defense Minister-turned-Ambassador to Australia Lee Jong-sup to leave the country as he is a key suspect in an investigation into the death of a Marine.

Earlier the same day, the presidential office said it would be "highly inappropriate" for Lee to return home unless he is summoned by the CIO for further questioning.

"Lee left for Australia after not only having his travel ban lifted by the justice ministry but also receiving permission to leave from the CIO," it said in a statement.

In response, the CIO denied allowing Lee to leave the country.

"We have no authority to lift a travel ban and have not granted Lee permission to leave the country," the CIO said in a statement.

The CIO also said that it had submitted its opinion to the justice ministry that Lee's travel ban should be retained.

The presidential office struck back, saying that Lee voluntarily appeared before the CIO for questioning before his departure to Australia and promised to return at any time to face questioning.

"The CIO said it would notify him of the summons, and it appears that the agency is not ready to investigate," a presidential official said.

Lee's appointment as the ambassador to Australia earlier this month has sparked controversy, as he has been under investigation for his alleged involvement in downplaying the military's internal probe concerning the death of a Marine named Chae Su-geun, who died during a search-and-rescue operation in July 2023. Lee was the defense minister at the time.

Lee had been banned from leaving the country since the beginning of this year over an alleged influence-peddling case related to the death, according to the CIO. However, the justice ministry lifted the travel ban that allowed Lee to leave for Australia.

Both the ruling and opposition parties voiced criticism over his appointment.

Han Dong-hoon, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party, called on Lee to immediately return to Korea and face questioning as it is causing a headache for the conservative party ahead of the April 10 general elections.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea recently submitted a bill calling for a special counsel investigation into the presidential office and the foreign and justice ministries over Lee's departure.

The presidential office said it has no plans to withdraw Lee's appointment, adding he is the perfect fit for expanding cooperation in the arms industry and other security areas.
Miscreants looted about 120 grams of gold jewellery and cash from a lawyer's house at Pohala Chowk in Mulabasanta village under the Pattamundai police station in Kendrapada district on Sunday night.

Four to five criminals broke open the window grill of Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Bhimsen Pradhan's house and tied him up. When his wife shouted for help, the robbers threatened her with a sharp weapon and then decamped with the jewellery, cash and other valuables.

Though some police personnel in a van were there on duty at a stones throw distance from the APP house for a religious programme, they had no inkling about the dacoity.

Even the dacoits took away the hard disk of the CCTV installed in Bhimsen's house in a bid not leave any clues about the crime and destroy the evidence.

On being informed, a Pattamundai police team reached the spot and started an investigation into the incident.
The office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer has set up flying squads and control rooms across the city's seven Lok Sabha constituencies to check incidents of voter intimidation.

In a public notice issued on Sunday, the poll office in Delhi said district election functionaries or returning officers will enforce the Model Code of Conduct in letter and spirit.

Polling for Delhi's seven Lok Sabha seats will be held on May 25 in the sixth phase of the general elections, with 1.47 crore people eligible to exercise their franchise, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission of India on Saturday.

According to the notice, flying squads have been formed to register cases against both the "giver" and the "taker" of bribes and for taking action against those engaged in threat and intimidation of electors.

"All the citizens are hereby requested to refrain from any illegal activities as above and in case anybody offers any bribe or is having knowledge about the bribe or case of threat/intimidation of electors, then he/she should inform on the toll free number of the 24x7 complaint monitoring cell of the returning officers/district set up for receiving complaints," it said. The poll body has also urged people to inform of incidents related to Model Code of Conduct violation, including defacement of any public property/any property in public view, distribution of cash, liquor, gifts or offering/attempting to offer bribe by candidates/political parties to the returning officers of their respective constituencies.

If there is threatening/intimidation of electors and instances of other electoral malpractices, it should be reported to the district election officer, it said.

According to Section 171 B of the Indian Penal Code, any person giving or accepting gratification in cash or kind during the election process, with a view to inducing any person to exercise his/her electoral right, is liable to punished with imprisonment up to one year or fine or both.

Section 171 C of the Indian Penal Code states that any person who threatens a candidate or elector or any other person with injury of any kind is liable to be punished with imprisonment up to one year or fine or both.

The Delhi poll body has also set up a 'single window system' in the offices of all seven returning officers in the city for receiving applications and issuing permissions/decisions to political parties and candidates for public meetings/rallies/processions/loudspeakers and use of vehicles for election campaigning as well as use of non commercial/remote/uncontrolled airports/helipads etc during the election period.

Political parties/candidates seeking permission has to apply online through the "Suvidha Candidate" mobile app or "ENCORE" on the Election Commission of India website at least 48 hours before an event, along with expenditure plan details.

Parties/candidates seeking permission can also apply to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Permission) at the single window in the office of the returning officer concerned.
The Election Commission of India has directed the State government to remove the Home secretary Shailesh Bagauli. He is among the Home secretaries of six States, whose transfer has been directed by the ECI. Bagauli is also secretary to chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Congress has requested the ECI to remove the officiating director general of police Abhinav Kumar. In a letter written to the chief election commissioner (CEC) of India, the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Karan Mahara has said that DGP Kumar should be removed for ensuring the free, fair and transparent conduct of Lok Sabha 2024 elections. He said that prior to his elevation as DGP of Uttarakhand, Kumar was deployed as the special principal secretary of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and his closeness to the ruling party is well known. In the letter the PCC president added that in the Ankita Bhandari murder case the police investigation is underway but in a statement given to the media, the DGP appeared to be behaving as the spokesman of the ruling party.
Abhishek Prasad alias Pintu, press advisor to former Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday morning reached the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office. The Central probe agencyED has summoned Prasad for questioning in connection with land scam and illegal mining case. The ED had earlier raided the hideouts of Pintu and several other persons on January 3, 2024. For questioning in the same case, ED had asked Sahibganj DC to appear in the ED office on January 11, Vinod Singh on January 15 and former CM's press advisor Abhishek Prasad alias Pintu on January 16. However, Pintu has written a letter to ED with a plea that his wife is ill, hence he should be given time after January 22 for questioning. After which ED sent summons to Pintu and called him for questioning on March 18.

ED had received many important data from the house of Abhishek Prasad alias Pintu. ED is also expected to get important evidence from the seized mobile phone. ED had sent a letter to the state police on August 8, 2022 regarding the business relations of architects Vinod Kumar Singh, Hemant Soren and Abhishek Prasad. In this letter, ED had sought information about Vinod Singh, the director of Grid Consultant Architect Company and under the influence of his political connections; he had made huge income and created property in the name of his family members.

The EDs probe began primarily on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Sahibganj police in 2022 against Hemant Sorens MLA representative Pankaj Mishra, who has been referred to as the kingpin of illegal mining by the anti-money laundering agency.

Bishnu Yadav and Pavitra Yadav, who operated Maa Amba Stone Works, the firm allegedly involved in illegal stone mining in Sahibganj, were also named in the FIR, lodged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act and the Jharkhand Minor Mineral Concession Rules (JMMC) Rules, 2004.

In August last year, the Jharkhand High Court had asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary enquiry, which is generally a precursor to an FIR by the agency.

Then in November, the agency registered an FIR and booked Pankaj Mishra, Pavitra Kumar Yadav, Rajesh Yadav, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, Bacchu Yadav, Sanjay Yadav, and Suvesh Mandal for their alleged role in pilferage and illegal extraction of stone at Sahibganjs Nimbu Pathar.

Meanwhile, sources said that before Holi i.e. on March 18, March 19 and March 20, ED will interrogate three important people of the state. ED has summoned land scam suspect Preeti Kumar on March 20 at 11 am. Ranchi's Hatia DSP Pramod Mishra has been summoned on March 19. Abhishek Prasad alias Pintu has been called for questioning today on March 18. Whereas after Holi, on April 4, ED will interrogate Congress's Barkagaon MLA Amba Prasad in the case of land robbery, extortion and money laundering of money earned in cases registered under the Arms Act. In this case, Amba's father Yogendra Sao is to be interrogated on April 3 and Amba's brother Ankit Raj is to be interrogated on April 5. ED has also summoned Dhanbad's Govindpur CO and Hazaribagh's former CO Shashibhushan Singh on April 2.
ECI Removes Himachal Home Secretary

Shimla: In a significant development ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled to commence on April 19, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued directives for the removal of the Himachal Pradesh Home Secretary, along with counterparts from five other states. Additionally, the Commission has instructed the removal of secretaries of the General Administrative Departments (GADs) in Himachal Pradesh. While the poll panel officials refrained from immediate elaboration on the rationale behind this decision, sources close to the matter suggested that the move aims to ensure level playing fields and maintain the integrity of the poll process. Furthermore, the Commission has directed all state governments to transfer officers involved in election-related duties, especially those who have served three years or are stationed in their respective home districts.

Sukhbir asks all 5 AAP ministers contesting polls to resign immediately

Bathinda: SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday demanded all five AAP Ministers, contesting the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, to resign from their ministries immediately in the interest of public welfare. Sukhbir, addressing gathering while covering Bhucho Mandi and Bathinda Urban assembly constituencies as part of SADs Punjab Bachao Yatra, said: The state cannot afford paralysis in governance due to absence of these ministers from their offices for the next two and a half months. Also as key ministries including Agriculture, Health and Transport are involved the Ministers  Dr Balbir Singh, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Laljit Singh Bhullar  should resign from their posts immediately.

HP Cong appoints election in-charges for all 4 LS seats

Shimla: Congress party in Himachal Pradesh on Monday appointed its election in-charges for all four parliamentary constituencies in the State. Elections to the four Lok Sabha seats and bypolls to the six assembly constituencies, that fell vacant with the disqualification of six rebel Congress MLAs, will be held on June 1. The state Congress president and sitting MP from Mandi Pratibha Singh has appointed Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh the election in-charge in Mandi, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri in Hamirpur, Education Minister Rohit Thakur in Shimla, and Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar in Kangra. Congress also appointed Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan as in-charge of publicity and publication; while Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi is in-charge of administration and coordination.

Extensive campaign by HP Excise Dept to curb illicit liquor trade

Shimla: To ensure free and fair elections in Himachal Pradesh, a comprehensive campaign has been launched by the State Taxes and Excise Department to control illicit liquor trade and offering free gifts to woo voters. Department has set up 22 interstate checkpoints and 59 mobile teams have also been deployed in all the districts. Teams have made arrangements to take strict action against people involved in illegal liquor trade in border areas and illegal trading routes within the state. The state Taxes and Excise Commissioner Dr Yunus said that action against illegal liquor was being taken across the State. So far, in this financial year, 16,718 liters of illegal liquor has been seized in various districts and 1,15,666 liters of liquor (lahan) has been destroyed as per provisions of Himachal Pradesh Excise Act, 2011.

Killing of a cop a day after poll announcement shows total collapse of law and order: Bajwa

Chandigarh: After a police constable was killed in a village near Mukerian, the Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday rebuked the Punjab Governments claim of being fully geared up to ensure free and fair elections in the state. A day after election commission announced poll schedule, a Punjab Police Constable Amritpal Singh was killed in broad daylight in Mansoorpur village of Mukerian sub-division on Sunday by a petty gangster Sukhwinder Singh. The incident exposed AAP government's false claims about controlling the crime in the state, he added. Senior Congress leader said that despite raising the issue of growing gun crime and gangsterism in the state umpteen times, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds Home Portfolio, failed miserably to show sincerity on the issue.

Raghav Chadha's Absence: Jakhar Asks Mann to Come Clean on Suspense

Chandigarh: Taking a swipe at the seemingly forced absence of Raghav Chadha at this critical juncture just ahead for Lok Sabha polls, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar on Monday asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to come clean on reasons behind internal rift and rebellion within the party. Raghav ji has been the apple of Kejriwals eye so much so that he has been acting as the Super CM in Punjab demeaning elected CM Bhagwant Mann; and now his removal from the scene with parliamentary polls already announced raises genuine doubts about rumblings within AAP, he said, adding, If there is some health issue, I wish Raghav ji speedy recovery.
An encounter between Punjab Police and gangsters in Hoshiarpur districts Mukerian subdivision on Sunday resulted in the untimely demise of a dedicated and young Punjab Police constable. The tragic incident unfolded when a police team, including Constable Amritpal Singh, was dispatched to Mansoorwal village to apprehend a notorious gangster, Sukhwinder Singh alias Rana Mansoorpuria, known to be operating in the area. However, what was meant to be a routine operation quickly escalated into a violent confrontation.

As the police team approached Mansoorwal village, they were met with unexpected resistance from the gangster, who opened fire indiscriminately. In the chaos that ensued, Constable Amritpal Singh was struck by gunfire, sustaining critical injuries. Despite immediate medical attention and being rushed to the hospital, the constable succumbed to his injuries due to severe blood loss.

Constable Amritpal Singh, aged 35, was a valued member of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff in Hoshiarpur. Described as dedicated and committed to upholding the law, his untimely demise has left a void in the hearts of his colleagues and loved ones.

Following the tragic incident, Hoshiarpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surendra Lamba, along with a team of officers, swiftly mobilized to the scene to assess the situation and initiate further action. The priority now is to apprehend the assailant responsible for the fatal shooting. A comprehensive manhunt has been launched to track down the perpetrator, with law enforcement agencies coordinating efforts to bring the culprit to justice.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Vipan Kumar said that a gangster was injured during a prompt response by the police. Following the altercation, the gangster fled the crime scene after discarding his weapon. The entire area has been sealed off as search operation continues, with police combing through homes and fields surrounding the crime scene. Approximately 10 firearms have been recovered from the vicinity.

DSP Kumar informed that a separate FIR would be filed in the matter, incorporating various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 302, and the Arms Act.

The police informed that the gangster Rana Mansoorpuria originally hails from Mansoorpur village in Mukerian, and is facing charges under various sections, including arms trafficking, in Hoshiarpur.

The Hoshiarpur police have announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to the arrest of gangster Rana Mansoorpuria. The suspect was last seen wearing a white kurta and pajamas. An alert has been issued across the State, with the suspect's photo circulated to police stations in every district. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the suspect.
A filmmaker has set Delhi's famous and largest crematorium Nigambodh Ghat as the backdrop of her upcoming book on the yoginis. The filmmaker set out to paint sixty-four yoginis on the canvas, and as a part of the effort she visited temples dedicated to yoginis all across the country.

Noting that Hindu women conventionally don't visit crematorium, Dr S Beena Unnikrishnan in her book, Whispers of the Unseen: The Quest for the Sixty-Four Yoginis, writes that she finally visited the Kali Temple at the Nigambodh Ghat in the company of her spiritual mentor, who she addresses as Dr David in the book.

Dr. Beena states that the Nigambodh Ghat is the oldest of the crematoriums in the national capital while recalling that it has got the name because "the Lord Brahma after bathing in the river Yamuna recovered his lost memory".

She mentions the significance of the Delhi crematorium, saying that "this is the only place that can remind us of the power of our breath and life".

Dr Beena mentions that the "Kali Temple is located at the far-left corner of the cremation ground, and one had to walk between burning pyres to see the goddess... the Kali Temple was a small one, and you need to bend down a little to see the goddess." The filmmaker gives a vivid description of her spiritual mentor making a 'Manas pooja (a ritual where offerings are made from the mind, symbolic of material ones such as flowers and water)' to the Kali Temple at the Nigambodh Ghat.

The author gives an account of the blazing sun in the summer when she spent hours at the Nigambodh Ghat while rains afterwards doused the burning pyres.

She writes that she was dazzled after her spiritual mentor re-ignited the fire at a wet pyre of a young man by pointing his finger.

Dr Beena writes that this was an unforgettable incident when she witnessed the yogic power of her spiritual mentor with whom she visited several yogini temples across the country.

Bibek Debroy, Chairman, Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council, in his foreword for the book lauds Dr Beena while underlining that there has not been much work on yoginis.

Recalling her visit to the Nigambodh Ghat, Dr Beena writes: "Just as I entered Nigambodh Ghat, my legs froze. I was unable to move. There were more than ten bodies awaiting their turn at the pyre at the crematorium. There was not a single woman in sight.

Summer was at its peak in Delhi, and the heat emanating from the burning pyres made me dizzy."
Cong Struggles to Fill Vacancies Left by Disqualified MLAs

As Himachal Pradesh braces for a crucial electoral showdown, the political landscape simmers with anticipation ahead of the Lok Sabha elections on four seats and simultaneous bye-elections for six assembly constituencies. With the disqualification of six rebel Congress MLAs, the electoral battleground in the hill state has intensified, setting the stage for a fierce contest between the ruling Congress and the principal opposition  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The bye-elections, slated to coincide with the Lok Sabha polls, carry immense significance as they could potentially alter the balance of power in the state assembly. Following the disqualification of the rebel MLAs, the Congress strength in the 68-member assembly has dwindled from 40 to 34, leaving the party precariously positioned. The BJP, with 25 members and the support of three independents, eyes the vacant seats as an opportunity to strengthen its grip on the state legislature.

For the BJP, selecting candidates for the bye-elections presents a formidable challenge, given that the rebels had emerged victorious against BJP candidates in the 2022 polls. Meanwhile, the Congress grapples with the task of identifying new contenders to fill the void left by the disqualified MLAs. Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, affirmed that while the disqualification of the rebel MLAs would influence candidate selection, the ultimate decision rests with the party leadership.

Of the six assembly seats slated for bye-elections on June 1, four fall within the Hamirpur Lok Sabha constituency, amplifying the electoral significance of this parliamentary seat. The disqualification of Congress rebels Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma, and Devinder Kumar Bhutto has reshaped the political landscape of Hamirpur, intensifying the battle between the Congress and the BJP.

The disqualification of the rebel MLAs stemmed from their support for the BJP's Rajya Sabha candidate, underscoring the broader power struggle within the state legislature. With the looming specter of the Rajya Sabha polls looming over the electoral horizon, both parties are poised for a head-to-head confrontation.

In Hamirpur, the BJP's sitting MP and Union Minister, Anurag Thakur, seeks re-election for the fifth time, aiming to maintain the party's stronghold in the constituency. Notably, Hamirpur has served as a bastion for the BJP, with prominent leaders like JP Nadda hailing from the region.

However, the Congress is not without its own strongholds, as Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and his deputy Mukesh Agnihotri represent key assembly segments within the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency. The electoral battle in Hamirpur is emblematic of the broader struggle for dominance between the Congress and the BJP in Himachal Pradesh.

As political tensions escalate, all eyes are on the upcoming elections, which will determine the trajectory of governance in Himachal Pradesh. With the electorate poised to cast their votes amidst a backdrop of political upheaval, the stage is set for a fiercely contested electoral showdown on June 1.

In tandem with the Lok Sabha polls and assembly bye-elections, Himachal Pradeshs Chief Electoral Officer Maneesh Garg, a day before, had announced the commencement of the model code of conduct, marking the official onset of election preparations in the state. With over 56 lakh voters poised to participate in the electoral process, meticulous planning and stringent enforcement of electoral guidelines are underway to ensure a smooth and transparent election process.

HP CEO Garg announced that 56.38 lakh voters are set to participate in Lok Sabha elections for four seats and Assembly by-elections for six segments on June 1. With the model code of conduct (MCC) enforced until June 4, Garg detailed the demographic breakdown of voters: 28,79,200 men, 27,59,187 women, and 35 third-gender individuals.

Notably, 1,38,918 first-time voters aged 18 to 19 years will partake, alongside 56,320 voters with physical disabilities and 60,995 aged over 85. Voters with over 40 percent disability may opt for home voting.

Himachal Pradesh boasts 7,990 polling stations equipped with electronic voting machines (EVMs), ensuring accessibility for all. Of these, 150 stations will be operated solely by women, 29 by staff with disabilities, and 54 by youth.
Youth should make EV a part of their life

Chandigarh: For a secure future, youth should make Electric Vehicles as a part of their life, said Chandigarh Renewable Energy for Science and Technology Promotion Society (CREST) project director Sukhwinder Singh, while addressing the representatives of EV manufacturing companies and the city residents who were present for participating in the valedictory program of three days expo on Renewable Energy and Electric Vehicle Expo organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with CREST on Sunday. Chandigarh Administration is offering subsidies to EV buyers in the city, and youths should play an important role in taking forward this campaign at new levels, he said.

PUs Indian Theatre Dept organizes a national seminar

Chandigarh: Celebrating the World Theatre Day, Panjab Universitys Department of Indian Theatre on Sunday organized a national seminar on Theatre: Indispensable in the Digital Age. National School of Drama, New Delhi, director Chittaranjan Tripathy gave the keynote address, while Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh, director Abhishek Sharma (an Alumni of the Department) was present among the dignitaries.

Punjab Kings players visit Chandigarh Spinal Rehab

Chandigarh: The players of Punjab Kings XI team  captain Shikhar Dhawan, Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma and Harpreet Brar  on Sunday visited the Chandigarh Spinal Rehab in Sector-28, bringing smiles to the inmates. The players interacted with the patients with spinal injuries, and also took a round of the Centre to see rehabilitation facilities. An audio visual presentation was also given to apprise the players about the activities of Chandigarh Spinal Rehab. Centres founder-CEO Nicky P Kaur said that it was a big moment for everyone at Chandigarh Spinal Rehab to welcome the players.

Mauritian Musical Group enthrals city music lovers

Chandigarh: Patyatann  a Mauritian musical group  on Sunday gave a scintillating performance at Strawberry Fields School, Sector 26. The 90-minute show brought alive five versatile musicians  Sarasvati Mallac, Anthony Bouic, Kan Chan Kin, Cledy Francois, and Stephan Paul. Formed in 2012, the group came up with compositions in Sanskrit, French, and Creole, as well as their Mauritian stories, sounds and rhythms with the public.
Director General of Police, Jharkhand, Ajay Kumar Singh along with Director Generals of Police and senior police officers of the border states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh in view of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 held a meeting of the Inter-State Coordination Committee was held through video conferencing.

At the beginning of the meeting, Additional Director General of Police Operations, Sanjay Anandrao Lathkar, while welcoming all the present officials and senior officials of the Border States through video conferencing, highlighted the importance of this meeting for the preparation of Lok Sabha elections 2024. In the meeting, the DGP, Jharkhand mainly discussed about active sharing of intelligence information, appointment of nodal officer, action being taken in the light of Left Wing Extremism scenario, mutual discussion on problems arising in the border areas. The outline of the action plan of the mechanism for cooperation, effective prevention of smuggling of drugs and illicit liquor, curbing the activities of Naxalites/criminal elements in the border areas and inter-state coordination meetings at all levels were discussed.

Inspector General of Police, Operations-cum-State Police Nodal Officer, Jharkhand stressed on timely exchange of intelligence for effective action against the activities of Naxalites operating in the border area, smuggling of illegal weapons, narcotics and illicit liquor. Also, emphasis was laid on establishing coordination and running active campaigns against Naxalite groups operating in the border states of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and West Bengal.

In this meeting, there was discussion on making the check posts/blocks established in all the border states more effective and an effective strategy was made so that concrete action could be taken against criminals and smuggling of illegal weapons, narcotics, illegal drugs and illicit liquor.

There should be frequent coordination meetings at all levels, the updated list of criminals, fugitives and history sitters active in the border areas will be shared.

In order to further strengthen the coordination meetings being held at the headquarters level as well as regional/regional level, also at the police station level of the border districts, emphasis was laid on taking immediate effective action by forming a mutual consensus.

In this meeting, RK Mallik, ADG, Headquarters, Dr. Sanjay Anandrao Lathkar, ADG, Operations, Akhilesh Jha, IG, Ranchi, Jharkhand, Amol Vinukant Homkar, IG, Operations, were present in this meeting from Jharkhand Police Auditorium. -Co-State Police Nodal Officer, Jharkhand, Prashant Kumar, IG, Special Branch, Aseem Vikrant Minj, IG, Anoop Virthare, DIG, Indrajit Mahatha, DIG Dhananjay Kumar, DGP, Odisha, Arun Kumar Sarangi, Director (Intelligence), SK Priyadarshi, ADG (Operations) S. Devdoot Singh and other senior police officers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh Police through video conferencing were present.
Seoul needs prudent steps to address possible dangers

The European Parliament passed the AI Act on Wednesday, which is the world's first comprehensive statute designed to address the potential danger of artificial intelligence (AI). The passage came five years after the introduction of a relevant bill. At first, the legislative process hit a snag due to differing stances held by the 27 member countries of the European Union.

As the rapid advancement of generative AI fueled a sense of urgency, discussions gained momentum. The resounding endorsement of the AI Act signifies the collective acknowledgment among EU members regarding the urgent need to address the potential risks linked with AI.

In a related context, President Yoon Suk Yeol voiced caution on Monday regarding the challenges AI-generated fake news pose to democratic societies.

"Fake news and false information [made with] AI and digital technology are infringing upon individual freedom and human rights while threatening the base of democracy," Yoon said during the opening of the ministerial meeting of the 3rd Summit for Democracy held at Hotel Shilla in Seoul.

The EU's act is scheduled for phased implementation from the second half of this year. Enterprises involved in producing high-risk technologies, such as autonomous driving and medical equipment, are mandated to disclose pertinent data paired with strict pretests. Furthermore, the act specifies that individuals seeking to deploy high-risk technologies must engage human supervisors in the process.

Those trying to use deep-fake images or videos also need to clarify that they are generated by AI. Except in cases of investigating serious crimes, the utilization of real-time biological recognition systems will be prohibited. Any business found violating these regulations will face significant penalties amounting to 7 percent of their annual sales or up to 35 million euros ($38 million).

Concerns have grown regarding the potentially perilous outcomes that AI can cause. Recently, anxiety has escalated surrounding the potential hazards of fabricating facts using generative AI. There have been many cases of stock price manipulation and even election outcomes affected by fake images and videos made by AI.

It is becoming increasingly apparent that unless AI development is steered in a human-centric direction through regulation, humanity could encounter catastrophic consequences. Failure to properly regulate AI and artificial general intelligence (AGI) under appropriate guidelines could lead to a dire scenario. AGI, which surpasses human capabilities, poses a particularly significant risk if left unchecked.

It is natural for governments around the world to go all out in preparing measures to cope with the potential damage that AI can cause.

In a similar vein, the Yoon Suk Yeol administration should marshal all available resources to regulate AI effectively and mitigate potential adverse effects. Korea took the initiative by introducing the AI Basic Act early last year, encompassing fundamental concepts, industry promotion, and regulation. However, the pertinent bill has languished in the National Assembly, showing no indications of advancement as rival parties focus on preparations for the upcoming April 10 general elections.

We need to focus on introducing appropriate standards that can minimize the adverse impact of AI. Using AI properly will guarantee an innovative, bright future for humans. We must adopt measures to ensure sustained prosperity facilitated by advanced technologies. However, we must also exercise caution in implementing overly stringent regulations, as this could potentially hinder Korea's competitiveness in the global AI race.

Global AI giants are rushing to make huge investments in the AI sector. Seoul has a long way to catch up with the advanced countries in state-of-the-art AI technology. Now is the time to positively consider audacious assistance to AI companies, while cautiously approaching ethical problems that can be triggered by the technology.
Former Delhi Health Minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain returned to Tihar Jail on Monday, hours after the Supreme Court dismissed his regular bail plea in a money laundering case. Jain arrived at Tihar jail in the evening. The formal procedure of lodging him in the prison is on, a jail official said. Jain left his Saraswati Vihar residence in northwest Delhi around 6 pm to surrender at the jail.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court rejected an oral request by Jains counsel to allow him to surrender in a weeks time. A bench of justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal asked Jain, who is out on interim bail, to surrender forthwith. On January 17, the top court had reserved its verdict on his regular bail plea.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, a close associate of former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath and some other functionaries of the opposition Congress joined the ruling BJP on Monday.

The Bahujan Samaj Party's state in-charge also joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Syed Zafar, a former Congress spokesperson, joined the BJP in Bhopal in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and the party's state head VD Sharma.

Zafar, a native of Chhindwara, was considered a close associate of Congress veteran and former chief minister Kamal Nath.

As per his profile on X, he was currently holding the post of MP Congress general secretary.

However, state Congress media department chairman K K Mishra said Zafar was not holding any post in the party at present.

Earlier this month, there were speculations that Kamal Nath might switch over to the BJP, but he refuted such reports as "creation of media."

Besides Zafar, MP Congress general secretary Maneesha Dubey, some other party leaders and BSP's state in-charge Ramsakha Verma also joined the BJP after being influenced by the welfare schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and policies of the BJP, a spokesperson of the ruling party said.

Earlier this month, former Union minister Suresh Pachouri, former MP from Dhar Lok Sabha seat Gajendra Singh Rajukhedi and several other Congress leaders joined the BJP.
After dodging eight summons related to the liquor scam policy scam, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday skipped the Enforcement Directorate summons in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board, with the Aam Aadmi Party terming the notice illegal. The AAP accused the BJP government at the Centre of using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to target Kejriwal and stop him from campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls.

The AAP accused the BJP government at the Centre of using the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to target Kejriwal and stop him from campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls. The summons is illegal. The BJP wants to fight the Lok Sabha elections using ED, it alleged. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva hit back, saying Kejriwal, who is also AAP national convener, has lost his honour by repeatedly skipping the ED summons and alleged that there was a scam in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The Delhi chief minister was summoned by the ED to appear before it on Monday in a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board. He is also facing inquiries in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case and has previously disregarded eight summonses in that matter, terming those illegitimate.

The ED has issued a ninth summons to Kejriwal to appear for questioning on March 21 in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.

The AAPs Delhi unit convener Gopal Rai, when asked about the summonses to Kejriwal, said, It is beyond understanding when will the ED stop serving the political agenda of BJP. The ED served notices and the chief minister replied to them saying they were illegal. The ED went to court against him. When the matter is in court, what is the urgency of sending another notice, he asked. If the BJP wants to arrest Kejriwal, they do not need summons, Rai said, adding, They can arrest him anytime. If you believe in the Constitution and law, wait for the courts decision. We are also waiting. The court will hear the matter on April 1, the AAP leader said.

Delhi BJP leader and the partys candidate for the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat Bansuri Swaraj said that Kejriwal, by skipping ED summonses, was proving he was a careless leader. Even today Kejriwal ran away from probe. Different courts... Have rejected the bail applications of AAP leaders like Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain. Kejriwal is indifferent to the fact that the bail of his party leaders was rejected and he is running away from the probe, she told PTI-Video. The ED has filed two complaints before a magisterial court in Delhi, seeking Kejriwals prosecution for skipping multiple summonses issued to him in the money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. Last Saturday, the court granted him bail in the two complaints. Delhi Cabinet minister and AAP leader Atishi alleged that the ED was being used as a political tool.

Why is the ED continuously sending summons to Arvind Kejriwal when the court is hearing a case related to the legality of the summonses? The court is considering this matter. Why is the ED not respecting the law and waiting for the courts order? she said

Why is the ED sending summonses when he (Kejriwal) has been granted bail? As soon as the elections were announced, the national convener of a party was sent summonses in two cases. This is being done to stop Arvind Kejriwal from campaigning in Lok Sabha polls, Atishi alleged. She said the ED should respect the legal process and till the time the court gives its decision, they should stop sending these illegal summonses.
After the announcement of Lok Sabha Elections 2024 by the Election Commission of India, District Election Officer Ananya Mittal addressed the press conference in the Collectorate Auditorium. 09-Date of issuance of notification of Jamshedpur Lok Sabha elections, last date of nomination, scrutiny, date of withdrawal of names. Detailed information was given regarding voting day, counting of votes, number of voters and other preparations. Senior Superintendent of Police Kishore Kaushal, Deputy Development Commissioner Manish Kumar, PD ITDA Dipankar Chaudhary, SDM Dhalbhum Parul Singh, Deputy Election Officer, Priyanka Singh, District Public Relations Officer, Panchanan Oraon and others were present.

District Election Officer said that voting for 09-Jamshedpur Lok Sabha constituency will be held on 25th May and counting of votes will be held on 04th June. Under the election process, notification will be issued in Jamshedpur Lok Sabha constituency on 29th April, candidates will be able to file nominations till 06th May, scrutiny will take place on 07th May, candidates will be able to withdraw their names till 09th May.

Giving information about polling stations and voters under the Lok Sabha constituency, he said that a total of 1841646 voters will be able to exercise their franchise at 1887 polling stations in the district, out of which 924246 are male voters, 917272 are female voters and 128 are transgender voters. The total number of polling stations is 1134.

To conduct the election process smoothly, 15 cells have been formed in the district, which include Election Cell (Communication Plan & Electoral Roll), Personnel Cell, EVM Cell, SVEEP, Material Cell, Expenditure Account Cell, Welfare, Ballot Cell, Vehicle Cell, Training Cell, MCC & Law & Order, DCC, Suvidha, C-Vigil, Media & MCMC, Control Room/ Complaint redressal & Voter Helpline, Observer Cell, PwD's Cell.

The District Election Officer said that on the instructions of the Commission, under the mandatory service, officers and employees of various cells will be made to vote through postal ballot before the voting day. For this, centers will be made in the cooperative college and collectorate premises. He also told the media persons that since they will also be busy on the day of voting, hence all the media persons can also vote through postal ballot. He also appealed to the media persons for cooperation in making 100% voters aware about the exercise of their franchise.

The District Election Officer said that necessary preparations have been made by the district administration to conduct a free, fair and peaceful election process. All the cells have been activated, which is also being regularly reviewed by the senior officers of the cells. Under the SVEEP program, voter awareness programs have been run on a large scale, in future also it will be taken to the masses and voters will be made aware for 100 percent voting.

Wheel chair facility will be provided for the convenience of voters with disabilities and those aged 85+. However, there is a provision of postal ballot facility for disabled voters and voters aged 85+ who would like to vote at home. Any voter or common citizen can get necessary information regarding their BLO and polling station through Voter Helpline App and toll free number-1950. Information regarding your candidates can be obtained through KYC App.

The District Election Officer said that the training program is almost complete and preparations are complete. The essential basic facilities available at all polling stations are being regularly reviewed and instructions have been given to rectify the deficiencies as soon as possible. Polling parties will be sent from two places, namely Co-operative College and LBSM College respectively.

Strict monitoring on social media

Jamshedpur

Senior Superintendent of Police said that as soon as the code of conduct came into force, all FST and SST teams have been activated. Intensive monitoring is being done at inter-district and inter-state check points. Instructions have been given to all the police station in-charges to carry out the warrant/ attachment action in mission mode. Prohibitory action is being taken under the Model Code of Conduct. He talked about keeping strict vigil on social media. Also appealed not to forward any kind of misleading news to others without confirmation from the administration, which could create any kind of hindrance in conducting the election process.
The Delhi Police has arrested a 25-year-old man, who allegedly shot at two people when they spotted him stealing the Engine Control Modules (ECM) of their vehicles in south Delhi. According to police, the accused, identified as Shivam, has been found to have committed more than 200 cases of ECM theft in Delhi even after being released from jail in September last year.

Shivam, who was arrested in 40 cases previously, has 200 cases registered against him since last year, they said. The accused is a lone wolf and used to target only ECMs of high-end vehicles, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest) Rohit Meena said.

On the intervening night of March 2 and 3, complainant Shiv Kumar Yadav reported that he was sleeping inside his taxi at the taxi stand near Safdarjung bus terminal, police said. After hearing some noise, he noticed a man trying to steal something from another taxi.

Yadav informed the taxi driver about the matter who further reached the spot to nab the accused from behind. The accused shot Rakesh, the driver of another taxi and fired another bullet on Yadav and fled from the spot, said the DCP.

The officer further said that different teams were formed to nab the accused and the CCTV footage for more than 25 kilometres from Kotla Mubarakpur to Matiala in Uttam Nagar was checked.

We later identified the accused as Shivam and he was arrested. The accused was produced before the city court and police took his two days remand. During interrogation, the accused disclosed to have committed the present crime as well as disclosed to have shot at another person in Okhla area, while committing the theft of ECM from a mini truck, said the DCP. The accused also disclosed that after release from jail in September last year, he again started to steal ECM of high-end cars and mini trucks, and has stolen more than 200 ECM since then, police said.

He used to carry illicit firearms and ammunition to run away quickly if get caught by the public or police red-handed.

He used to sell the stolen ECMs to one Mohammad Yamin who was arrested by the team of south district police, the DCP said. Police said that four stolen ECMs were recovered from his possession besides other tools to remove ECMs from cars and Rs 48,000 cash.

The accused, who is a resident of Uttar Pradesh had come to Delhi first with his friend for work.

He worked as a guard, but he became a drug addict. Initially, to earn easy money, he started stealing ECMs of four-wheelers with his friend.

We have arrested Mohammad Yamin (38), who used to purchase ECMs. Further investigation into the matter has been started, said the DCP, adding further investigation is on into the matter.
The opposition BJP on Monday demanded a probe into the allegation of question paper leak during the preliminary examination of the state's Public Service Commission.

The BJP has demanded a CBI probe and cancellation of the examination held on Sunday. BJP State president and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi in connection has written a letter to Chief Secretary (Jharkhand) for a CBI probe in alleged paper leak of Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) PT examination and JSSC examination held in January this year. Out of two examinations, the government has denied paper leak in JPSC examination while in JSSC examination the state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe in paper leak.

The BJP leader in his letter has mentioned that students have informed him that the paper booklet number and OMR answer sheet number were found to be unequal and this has been published in all the major newspapers and visual media.

Marandi further stated that recently, a similar case had come to light, where a case of question paper leak had come to light in the General Graduate Qualified Combined Competitive Examination-2023 conducted by JSSC in 735 centers across the state for 2025 posts, after which JSSC dated 28.01.2024. All the shift examinations held on 10th and the examination to be held on 4th February were canceled due to unavoidable reasons, in this context too, I wrote a letter (letter no. 139/BLM/24) to the Chief Secretary, State Government on 01st February 2024, informing the CBI. Due to repeated cancellation of examinations and incidents of paper leaks, questions are raised on the impartiality of JSSC and JPSC, due to which all the participants have to suffer the consequences.

In the last 4 years, the dreams of poor and tribal children of Jharkhand have been made a mockery. The people sitting at the top of power are engaged in serving their own interests and not for the public. State officials also have the same attitude. In the last 4 years, no such examination has been conducted in which there were no cheating, irregularities or irregularities. The officers and leaders sitting at the top leadership, who fill their pockets with the money of state money and corruption, have forgotten that their work is public service.

Marandi, targeting the state government, alleged that there is no such ineffective, poor and disorganized State Service Commission anywhere in the country. He alleged that an institution, which has been given the responsibility of conducting examinations for the last 4 years, is continuously failing in it. If it is happening then why are the officers taking salaries in the name of public service? All officers involved in such criminal acts should be dismissed with immediate effect.

Marandi urged the CS to take cognizance of the above incident and recommend to CBI for investigation against the officers involved in the General Graduate Qualified Combined Competitive Examination-2023, JPSC Preliminary Examination conducted by JSSC and such misdeeds.

Earlier, on Sunday a section of job aspirants created a ruckus in some examination centres in Chatra, Jamtara and Dhanbad districts on Sunday, alleging that the question paper of the Jharkhand PSC preliminary examination was leaked.

A purported video also went viral in which students were seen writing papers outside the examination hall in Jamtara district, however, the authenticity of the video is still to be proved.
The Bharatiya Janata Party State in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam has stressed that there will be no interefence by the party in any FIR or investigation against any politician joining the BJP. Talking to mediapersons on the day when the Pradesh Congress Committee president Karan Mahara alleged that tainted politicians are joining the BJP to escape the legal consequences of their actions, Gautam said that the BJPs central leadership has made it clear that there will be no interefernce in FIRs or proceedings underway against any accused leader who joins the BJP. Any person who has robbed the money of the nation and funds intended for the poor should be in jail, he added.

The partys State in-charge also said that there are mainly two ideologies in the nation. One ideology believes in taking forward our ancient culture and values, is dedicated to serving the public and is working towards making India a self-reliant and developed nation. The other ideology as displayed by the INDIA bloc terms Lord Ram fictional, talks of destroying Shakti, calls for destruction of the ancient Sanatan Dharma, says that people go to temples to molest girls and supports the Tukde Tukde gang. This ideology gains appreciation in Pakistan and supports China. The doors of the BJP are open to those who support the ideology it is pursuing, he said.

He further said that the people have seen the performance of the government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We have been presenting our report card regularly to the public. The people have experienced our work and the nation has decided to re-elect PM Modi. In Uttarakhand, we are aiming to win all the five Lok Sabha seats by a margin of more than five lakh votes. The opposition is in dire straits as it was finding it difficult to even find candidates for all the seats with some of its leaders also refusing to contest the elections, Gautam said.

Meanwhile, Gautam along with chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the BJP State president Mahendra Bhatt attended a meeting held at the partys state office with all the five Lok Sabha candidates, constituency coordinators and senior office bearers of the party. The party leaders deliberated upon the election strategy to ensure that the party meets its target of achieving a resounding victory in all the parliamentary constituencies in the State.
One killed in a road accident when three vehicles collided in Raisen district on Sunday. Three others injured in the accident.

The incident occurred near Deewanganj along the Bhopal-Vidisha Highway, approximately 25 km from the district headquarters.

According to Salamatpur police station in-charge Ramesh Raghuvanshi, a jeep collided with a stationary truck, and subsequently, a container truck collided with the jeep from behind. Tragically, the driver of the jeep succumbed to the collision, while two other occupants of the vehicle along with the stationary truck driver sustained injuries.

All three vehicles involved in the accident incurred damage, causing a disruption in traffic flow for a duration of two hours, with long queues of vehicles observed along the road. The injured individuals were promptly attended to, with the truck driver receiving treatment at Vidisha Medical Hospital, while the other two injured persons were referred to Bhopal for further medical care.

In response to the incident, authorities have initiated a formal investigation, with a case already registered. Further details and circumstances surrounding the accident remain under scrutiny as the investigation progresses. STAFF REPORTER n BHOPAL

One killed in a road accident when three vehicles collided in Raisen district on Sunday. Three others injured in the accident.

The incident occurred near Deewanganj along the Bhopal-Vidisha Highway, approximately 25 km from the district headquarters.

According to Salamatpur police station in-charge Ramesh Raghuvanshi, a jeep collided with a stationary truck, and subsequently, a container truck collided with the jeep from behind. Tragically, the driver of the jeep succumbed to the collision, while two other occupants of the vehicle along with the stationary truck driver sustained injuries.

All three vehicles involved in the accident incurred damage, causing a disruption in traffic flow for a duration of two hours, with long queues of vehicles observed along the road. The injured individuals were promptly attended to, with the truck driver receiving treatment at Vidisha Medical Hospital, while the other two injured persons were referred to Bhopal for further medical care.

In response to the incident, authorities have initiated a formal investigation, with a case already registered. Further details and circumstances surrounding the accident remain under scrutiny as the investigation progresses.
A day after the announcement of the poll schedule for General Elections-2024, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Sunday embarked on a rigorous campaign to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections in the border state. Punjab Police has intensified its security measures, focusing on adherence to the Model Code of Conduct and robust deployment strategies.

DGP Yadav, accompanied by Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla, held a virtual briefing for senior police officers across the State, including officers from headquarters, Range ADGsP, IGsP, DIGs; and CPs or SSPs, to evaluate security arrangements ahead of the General Elections 2024. Emphasizing strict adherence to the Model Code of Conduct and ECI guidelines, DGP Yadav underscored the importance of maintaining law and order during the electoral process.

In light of the election schedule, the Punjab Police has initiated a special campaign targeting Proclaimed Offenders (POs), Parole Jumpers, and individuals with non-bailable warrants (NBWs). Additionally, vigilance has been heightened to curb the sale of illicit liquor, narcotics, and psychotropic substances. The Commissioners of Police and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) have been directed to ensure compliance with ECI norms regarding the deposition of weapons.

Special DGP Arpit Shukla outlined the comprehensive security measures undertaken by Punjab Police. A stringent audit of police forces has been conducted, with a mandate to muster 75 per cent of personnel for deployment during elections. CPs and SSPs have been instructed to conduct flag marches to reassure the public and deter anti-social elements. Furthermore, intensified border controls aim to intercept criminal activities, including smuggling and illicit trade.

He said that the checking at inter-state borders has been intensified to check the movement of criminals, bootleggers and drug smugglers. The 25 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed in vulnerable districts of the state to instill confidence among the general public as well as to dominate sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas in the state, he added.

The 25 companies include five coys of Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF), 15 coys of Border Security Force (BSF) and five coys of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Meanwhile, the Spl DGP said that all the Police officers have also been circulated the guidelines issued by ECI.

Punjab CEO Sibin C Releases Election Prog

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C on Sunday unveiled the election roadmap for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in the State. Highlighting the key dates, he announced that the gazette notification for the elections will be issued on May 7 (Tuesday). The deadline for nominations is slated for May 14 (Tuesday), followed by scrutiny on May 15 (Wednesday). Candidates can withdraw their nominations until May 17 (Friday). Polling day is scheduled for June 1 (Saturday) in Punjab, with counting of votes on June 4 (Tuesday) nationwide, including Punjab. The election process is expected to conclude on June 6 (Thursday).

Emphasizing the immediate implementation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) across Punjab following the poll panels announcement on March 16, Sibin C stated that the MCC would apply to all candidates, political parties, the State Government, and the Union Government. He encouraged stakeholders to access the MCC manual through ECI's website link: https://www.eci.gov.in/handbooks-manuals-modelchecklist.
As Punjab braces itself for the Lok Sabha elections in the seventh and the final phase on June 1, the political landscape is ablaze with anticipation and activity. With the countdown underway, parties are gearing up for what promises to be a fiercely contested battle for the states 13 parliamentary seats. Amidst shifting loyalties, resurrecting alliances, and strategic maneuvers, each major political party is positioning itself to secure dominance in this crucial electoral battleground.

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), buoyed by triumph in the 2022 state assembly elections, stands firm in its decision to contest independently. Leveraging promises fulfilled by the Bhagwant Mann Government and its track record in Delhi, AAP aims to capitalize on its popularity coupled with the development work, especially in education and health sectors. However, criticisms over law and order and unfulfilled promises pose significant challenges for the ruling party. Moreover, the looming possibility of losing votes if the BJP and SAD revive their alliance presents a significant threat to AAPs electoral prospects.

Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is banking on its stronghold among the Sikhs and farmers, emphasizing issues close to their hearts. However, its limited urban vote base and internal rifts pose challenges. Despite declining farmer appeal and reluctance to ally with BJP amidst ongoing agitations, SAD sees an opportunity in the disunity among INDIA bloc partners.

The states regional party is going all out to bring together all the dissenter factions and disgruntled leaders under the banner of SAD-Badal. As a part of the same, SAD chief Sukhbir Badal engineered the home coming of party veterans Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa along with his son Parminder Singh Dhindsa, and Bibi Jagir Kaur. Going a step further, Sukhbir named senior Dhindsa as partys patriarch. Earlier, five-time Chief Minister and Sukhbirs father Parkash Singh Badal was Akali patriarch.

Moreover, the party is vehemently raising the panthic issues, especially the seeking the release of Bandi Singhs  the Sikh prisoners, who have completed their jail terms, but are still languishing in jails across the country.

On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeks to leverage Sikh leaders inclusion and Prime Minister Narendra Modis charisma to sway voters in Punjab. Initiatives targeting Sikh sentiments offer hope, but the party grapples with unresolved farmer grievances and delays in alliance formation.

Even though it is currently holding serious deliberations with its old ally Akali Dal, both parties have been unable to reach a mutual agreement on seat allocation. For 2022 state assembly elections, Akali Dal joined hands with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and managed to secure four seats, including one of BSP. On the other hand, the BJP allied with the dissenter groups of SAD and the Congress, but could bag just two seats.

However, the saffron party is confident to perform well in the impending polls considering the big names of Punjab politics it has managed to bring in its fold from other parties in the past couple of years. From the likes of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, his former Union Minister wife Preneet Kaur, Sunil Jakhar  now the state BJP president, former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, among many others, the saffron brigade  which is already riding high on Modi factor  is banking on their popularity and support base.

While exploiting divisions within opponent ranks and focusing on national-level narratives offer opportunities, failure to address rural discontent and strategic missteps pose significant threats to the BJPs electoral prospects.

In contrast, the Congress party is relying on its established vote base across the urban and rural areas, eyeing an opportunity to capitalize on farmer agitation and target the BJP. However, intra-party conflicts and leadership defections weaken its position. Despite efforts to exploit anti-BJP sentiments and rally farmer support, fragmentation of its voter base and vulnerability to AAPs rising popularity and BJPs narrative dominance remain pressing threats.

The party has failed miserably not only to check the exodus to other parties, especially AAP and BJP, but also the continuous power struggle within its ranks. With so many leaders emerging as a separate power centers of their own, the Congress is struggling to keep its flock together and also to gain traction among the state voters.

Vote Share

Analyzing the vote share dynamics from past elections reveals the shifting sands of Punjabs political landscape. While the Congress enjoyed a significant lead in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, its fortunes waned in the 2022 state assembly polls. AAP, on the other hand, witnessed a meteoric rise in its vote share, catapulting to power with an overwhelming majority. The decline in the combined vote share of SAD and BJP underscores the evolving voter preferences and alliances within the state.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress emerged as the frontrunner with a notable vote share of 40.12 per cent. However, its fortunes took a downturn in 2022 state assembly elections, with its vote share plummeting to 22.98 per cent  indicating a shift in voter sentiment towards other parties, particularly AAP.

Conversely, AAP witnessed a remarkable surge in its vote share, from 7.38 per cent in 2019 Lok Sabha elections to an astounding 42.1 per cent in the 2022 assembly polls. This surge propelled AAP to a landslide victory, securing 92 seats out of 117 and forming its first government in Punjab with a three-fourth majority. The substantial increase in AAPs vote share underscores its growing popularity and organizational strength within the state.

SAD and BJP, erstwhile allies, experienced a decline in their combined vote share from 37.08 per cent in the 2019 polls to 18.38 and 6.60 per cent, respectively, in the recent state assembly elections.

However, navigating Punjab's complex voter behaviour, which varies between state and general elections, remains a critical challenge. As parties recalibrate their strategies to appeal to diverse voter segments, the upcoming Lok Sabha elections hold the promise of reshaping the political trajectory of the state.

Past Electoral Trends

Reflecting on the past three Lok Sabha elections provides valuable insights into Punjabs electoral dynamics. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress, ruling party in the State, emerged as the dominant force, securing eight out of 13 seats. The remaining seats were divided between the SAD-BJP alliance, which secured four seats  two each, and AAP winning a single seat in Sangrur.

However, in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, AAP emerged as a significant contender, surprising many with its performance. Despite the Modi wave sweeping across the nation, AAP managed to secure victories on four out of 13 seats, challenging the traditional dominance of Congress, and the SAD-BJP alliance, which is ruling the state since 2007. While SAD also bagged four seats, its ally BJP could secure two seats, with Congress managing to get three seats in its kitty.

The 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Congress got majority of eight seats, with Akali Dal and BJP bagging four and one seats respectively.

The absence of a formal alliance between SAD and BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections adds a layer of complexity to the electoral dynamics. While talks of a potential tie-up have surfaced, the lack of progress reflects the uncertainty surrounding the alliances prospects. The ongoing farm protests further complicate matters, with the SAD-BJP alliance facing challenges in regaining lost ground among farmers.
By Kim Sung-woo

Governments around the world have introduced various policies to reduce carbon emissions. Imposing carbon taxes on products and emission trading systems that allow companies to trade their carbon emission reduction performance are a few examples. They are all geared toward encouraging carbon reduction by incorporating carbon emissions as part of the cost of doing business. The problem is that different countries impose different prices on carbon, depending on how strong or lenient their regulatory stance is. Differences in the prices of carbon lead to differences in the costs of producing similar products across different countries. To reduce the unfair gap in product prices driven by the gap in carbon prices, the EUs Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) imposes tariffs based on the difference between the carbon price of the country where the product was produced and that of the EU when importing the product with high carbon emissions. Under the CBAM, the EU will first impose tariffs on six imported goods, i.e., steel, cement, aluminum, fertilizer, electricity and hydrogen, in January 2026 after a two-year transition period from October 2023.

In the U.S., five bills related to a carbon border adjustment have been proposed since June 2023. Among these proposed bills, PROVE IT ACT (Providing Reliable, Objective, Verifiable Emissions Intensity and Transparency Act) was proposed in July 2023 and was passed by the legislation review committee on Jan. 18 this year. If passed into law, the PROVE IT ACT will require the U.S. Department of Energy to review the carbon intensity of the manufacturing process of 22 designated items (including steel, cement, hydrogen, core minerals, natural gas and solar energy) in major countries. The U.K. government also announced that it would implement the Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) in 2027, and it would finalize the BCA items this year, which will be followed by further discussions on its implementation. The U.K. government is expected to include carbon-intensive products such as iron, steel, aluminum, fertilizer, hydrogen, ceramic, glass and cement in the BCA list. Australia and Canada are also contemplating policies similar to CBAM or BCA.

Last January, I was invited to the EU-Asia Policy Workshop hosted by Institut Montaigne in France to introduce Koreas response to CBAM and carbon prices in Korea. Earlier this month, I also had an opportunity to share challenges that Korean companies are going through in the wake of CBAM at the Border Carbon Adjustment Workshop organized by Chatham House and attended by experts from various countries, including the U.K., EU and Brazil. During the series of fervent discussions on introducing CBAM and responding to CBAM, I could sense that CBAM is no longer an idea sketched in a blueprint and has already become part of stakeholders action items.

CBAM is an unprecedented system for everybody, and we are expecting a bumpy road ahead. In the case of EU CBAM, which is already in operation, companies had to submit their first quarterly reports on per-product carbon emissions by January 2024. While the European Commission published in August 2023 the CBAM Implementing Regulation that sets forth items to report, procedures and emission calculation formula, only a few met the timeline. Only 10 percent of the obligated companies fulfilled the reporting requirement in Germany and 11 percent in Sweden. After all, the EU extended the time to report by one month.

Companies in non-EU countries, such as Korea, are experiencing even more challenges. About 1,700 Korean companies are required to report their carbon emissions under CBAM and most of them are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). According to a survey released by the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business in October 2023, 78.3 percent of 300 SMEs said they did not know about the EU CBAM. In addition, 54.9 percent of 142 companies that had exported to the EU or were looking to enter the EU market as of 2022 said they have no special response plan. Some raised practical issues in totaling the operating time of each machine for production and the amount of power spent, thereby being left with no guidance on how to put relevant data into a report, which often consists of several tens of thousands of rows in a spreadsheet. Meanwhile, larger companies with experience in participating in the domestic emission trading system for the past 10 years are relatively more prepared to transition to CBAM. Some companies organized a dedicated team to prepare for CBAM a year in advance and submitted reports earlier than the regulatory deadline.

If carbon border adjustment is an inevitable wave, transitioning to the new system as soon as possible is the key to maintaining ones competitive edge. SMEs are among the most vulnerable to this sweeping wave. They often do not even have any dedicated person in charge of thinking about carbon emissions reduction. Since reducing carbon emissions requires managing emissions across the supply chain, the government has reason to provide more support for SMEs to achieve the target emission reduction for the whole society. In addition to this support system tailored to SMEs, wider support for businesses of all sizes is also required, such as by improving the emission trading system in Korea to create an environment that is more compatible with carbon border adjustment and incentives for reducing carbon emissions for their products.





Kim Sung-woo is head of the Environment & Energy Research Institute at Kim & Chang.








With a view to creating public awareness, a Walkathon on Financial Literacy and Awareness was organised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) here on Sunday. This was the last walkathon in a series held in all 30 districts of Odisha by the RBI from December 2023.

The walkathon, which started from the RBI office, was flagged off by RBI Regional Director (Odisha) Dr Sarada Prasan Mohanty. Senior officials from RBI and all banks along with over 300 participants from different target groups, viz., students, Self Help Groups, entrepreneurs, farmers, senior citizens took part in the event.

The walkathon was followed by a field-level financial literacy event. At the outset, RBI, Bhubaneswar General Manager Anita Patnaik welcomed the participants. The Regional Director, in his keynote address, stressed on the importance of financial literacy and awareness and highlighted the steps taken by the RBI in this regard.

Various sessions on financial literacy, exchange facility of soiled and mutilated notes, digital banking, various types of frauds, cyber security, Integrated Ombudsman Scheme of RBI, etc., were taken by the officers from various departments of RBI. State Bank of India Chief General Manager Dinesh Pruthi; NABARD Chief General Manager Dr Sudhansu KK Mishra and SLBC Odisha General Manager-cum-Convener Goutam Patra also attended the event.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Friday a joint plea filed by Himachal Pradeshs six rebel Congress MLAs challenging their disqualification.

Their plea challenges the decision of State Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania, who disqualified them under the Tenth Schedule for defying a party whip to be present in the House and vote in favour of the Himachal Pradesh Government during the cut motion and budget on February 28.

The development a day after these six Congress rebels and three independent MLAs allegedly cross-voted against Congress candidate Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the Rajya Sabha elections, resulting in his defeat and the victory of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Harsh Mahajan.

As per the cause list issued by the Apex Court, a Bench led by Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta will preside over the case.

The six Congress legislators facing disqualification are Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma, Davinder K Bhutto, and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal. Following their disqualification, the effective strength of the House has gone down to 62 from 68, while the number of Congress legislators has decreased to 34 from 40.

In early March, these MLAs petitioned the Supreme Court, contesting the decision of the State Assembly Speaker to disqualify them from their legislative positions. Their disqualification stemmed from allegations of cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha polls and their failure to adhere to the party whip during the budget voting session in the assembly, noted Speaker Pathania.

In his ruling, Pathania cited the anti-defection law, declaring the actions of the six MLAs as grounds for their disqualification, consequently stripping them of their membership in the House. However, the disqualified MLAs have argued in their defense that they were not given the mandated seven days to respond to the notice issued against them.

After Bypoll Announcement, Rebel Cong MLAs Planning To Withdraw Plea

After the announcement of schedule for by-polls on six state assembly seats, coinciding with the impending Lok Sabha elections slated for June 1, the rebel Congress legislators are planning to retract their plea lodged before the Supreme Court, seeking reinstatement of their assembly memberships.

Sources privy to the matter indicate that the rebel faction, recognizing the strategic opportunity presented by the concurrent polls, has opted to forego the pursuit of a judicial remedy.

The BJP's purported eagerness to synchronize the assembly by-polls with the parliamentary elections, ostensibly to leverage the charismatic appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has spurred the rebel Congress camp into action. By aligning themselves with the BJP's electoral machinery, these erstwhile dissenters envisage a pathway to political rehabilitation, with aspirations of securing renomination to the state assembly under the saffron banner.
As drug addiction is emerging to be a serious problem having dangerous consequences, well coordinated and active de-addiction awareness drive has been mooted by the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of PwDs (SSEPD) in the State.

The department has sought the cooperation of various spiritual organisations and NGOs in this regard to have visible impact.

Representatives of as many as 19 organisations have given consent for handholding support to the department, while components such as preventive and value education, massive awareness generation, capacity building and focused intervention in vulnerable areas have been emphasised.

The department has planned for inclusive activities with the NGOs, publication of an online newsletter pertaining drug de-addiction and its success and sustained social media campaign

SSEPD Secretary Bishnupada Sethi said initiative would be a joint exercise with collective responsibility to fight the drug menace. Stressing on awareness drives, Sethi said value education, corrective measures, running of wellness centres would make the partnering visible and effective.

The department has signed non-financial MoUs with 19 spiritual organisations and NGOs for drug de-addiction campaign. In a programme at the Capital Hospital here on Thursday, representatives of the organisations discussed threadbare on the issues of participatory interventions.
Late night killing of a teacher by a police head constable following an altercation in the Civil Lines area of Muzaffarnagar on Sunday led to widespread agitation by the teachers community.

The agitated teachers held demonstrations in several districts, including Varanasi and Prayagraj, and boycotted the evaluation work of Uttar Pradesh Board examination answer sheets.

The teachers are demanding that the murder accused be booked under the National Security Act, the victims family be given Rs 10 crore as compensation and a family member of the slain teacher be given a PCS-rank job.

They are also demanding that the last rites of the slain teacher be performed with state honours and in future teachers should not be sent on duty in trucks or containers.

The teachers said the protest would be called off only after getting written assurance on all the demands and till then the teachers would not evaluate the answer sheets.

The deceased, Dharmendra Kumar, was part of a team of the Education department from Varanasi that had brought Uttar Pradesh Board examination answer sheets to the local SD Inter College in Muzaffarnagar, Superintendent of Police (City) Satyanarain Parjapat said.

The team included another teacher and two class four employees and was accompanied by a police team from Varanasi, he added.

The teams from the Education department and Varanasi police were waiting in a vehicle for the college gate to open when the incident took place late on Sunday night, he said.

Kumar had an altercation with head constable Chander Prakash while they were in the vehicle following which Prakash shot at the teacher using his service weapon, the police officer said.

The injured teacher was rushed to the district hospital where he was pronounced dead, the SP said.

The body was sent for post-mortem and a case was registered against the head constable. All others present in the vehicle were taken into custody for questioning, he added.

Meanwhile, as the news of the killing of the teacher spread like a wildfire, protests started in Varanasi against the murder of Dharmendra Kumar.

The teachers, on the call of former teacher MLA Chetanarayan Singh, stopped the evaluation work of the Board answer sheets at all evaluation centres in Varanasi, Prayagraj and other districts of UP.

They gathered at Queens Inter College in Varanasi on Monday noon to express condolence on the death and protest against the sensational killing.

Evaluation of UP Boards high school and intermediate exam answer copies is going on since Saturday at nine evaluation centres of Prayagraj district. The teachers stopped the evaluation work soon after learning about the killing of Dharmendra Kumar.

A total of 11 lakh answer sheets are to be checked in Government Inter College, Anglo Bengali Inter College, KP Inter College, Crosthwaite Girls Inter College, CAV, Bharat Scout Guide Inter College, Agrasen Inter College, Kulbhaskar Inter College and Kesar Vidyapeeth Intermediate College in Prayagraj.

In Muzaffarnagar, teachers staged a sit-in protest in front of Chaudhary Chhotu Ram Inter College on Circular Road and raised slogans against the murder of the teacher.

Police and administrative officials were pacifying the teachers.
Chhattisgarh Police on Monday arrested three security guards of a government hospital for extorting money from relatives of a pregnant woman to enter the facility in Raigarh city.

Ravishankar Gautam, Omprakash Patel and Shivendra Shukla were from a private security firm, Bundela Securities Bilaspur, Raigarh Superintendent of Police Divyang Patel said.

They on Sunday demanded Rs 100 per person to issue entry passes to relatives of a woman who had come for delivery at the Sant Baba Guru Ghasidasji Memorial Government Hospital here.

The video of the incident went viral following which Raigarh Collector Kartikeya Goel directed the hospital administration to take immediate action.
The trial court of the additional session judge, Muzaffarnagar (UP) on Monday sentenced Milap Singh and Virender Pratap, then policeman in PAC of Uttar Pradesh to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1,00,000 in the Rampur Tiraha case which took place at Muzaffarnagar in 1994 during the Uttarakhand statehood movement. The infamous incident which occurred 30 years ago saw violence and rape of women protesters. Reacting to the court order, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the victims of the Rampur Tiraha case and their family members who had been waiting for justice for a long time will get relief from the decision.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), it was alleged that the Uttarakhand Sangharsh Samiti had organized a rally at Red Fort, Delhi on October 2, 1994 and the people from the mountainous regions were coming to Delhi in buses to participate in the said rally. The UP government had made elaborate security arrangements by deploying police force at different places to check the rallyists. When the rallyists reached near Rampur Tiraha in Muzaffarnagar on the night of October 1, 1994, they were restrained by the police and taken into custody. A total of 345 rallyists including 47 women were detained. Among the detained female rallyists, instances of rape and molestation had surfaced. A writ petition was filed by the Uttarakhand Sangharsh Samiti before the Allahabad High Court. In pursuance of order of Allahabad High court dated October 7, 1994, the CBI conducted a preliminary enquiry. Based on the preliminary enquiry report submitted by the CBI, the Allahabad High Court directed the bureau to register an FIR. The CBI registered a case in January 1994 on the allegations that a bus carrying participants of the rally was stopped at Rampur Tiraha in Muzaffarnagar and headlights and window panes were smashed and the police personnel deployed hurled abuses at the rallyist. It was also alleged that both police personnel belonging to PAC had entered the bus and committed crimes including molestation and rape of the victim. After completion of investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet on March 21, 1995. A total of 15 witnesses were examined during the trial. The trial court found the both accused guilty and sentenced them accordingly.

CM Dhami said that youth and women faced cruel treatment in the Rampur Tiraha incident with some of the statehood activists also losing their life. He termed the incident unfortunate while reiterating that fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the statehood activists is a priority and responsibility of the State government.
Chhattisgarh Chief Electoral Officer Reena Babasaheb Kangale announced on Monday that voter buddies will be deployed at all polling centres to aid disabled and elderly voters.

She said this in a meeting with representatives of political parties in Raipur.

She briefed them about the Model Code of Conduct, election expenditure guidelines, campaigning guidelines, and more.

A voter support centre will be set up at each polling station. All polling stations have ensured basic facilities like ramps, drinking water, electric lighting, toilets and more, she said.

Chhattisgarh will see balloting on April 19 and 26, and May 7, and the results will be announced nationally on June 4.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed that about three-five lakh people will apply for Indian citizenship under the CAA in the state, asserting that the applicants will comprise only those who were excluded from the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC).

He also said that seven lakh Muslims and five lakh Hindu-Bengalis, among others, were left out of the NRC list.

Many Hindu-Bengalis had come at different points of time and stayed at refugee camps. When they applied for inclusion in NRC, they submitted a stamped paper as proof of having stayed at such camps.

But, Prateek Hajela (former NRC state coordinator) did not accept the paper. As a result, names of many Hindu-Bengalis were not included in the NRC, Sarma said in an interview to a local television channel here.

He said that while many among the 5 lakh Hindu-Bengalis who had applied for inclusion in NRC will submit applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019, many others will take legal recourse.

Applicants excluded from the NRC also include 2 lakh "proper Assamese" like those having the Das (surname), the 'Koch-Rajbongshi' (community) and 1.5 lakh Gorkhas, the CM claimed.

Applications under the CAA will be three-five lakh, with a 10 per cent margin of error. There won't be any 15 or 18 or 20 lakh or 1.5 crore applicants in Assam. After being in politics for so long, I have that much grip on the state, the BJP leader asserted.

The Supreme Court-monitored NRC was published on August 31, 2019 and excluded 19 lakh of the 3.4 crore applicants.

The Centre had earlier this month implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, notifying the rules four years after the 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.

The NRC was updated on the basis of the Assam Accord, which sets midnight of March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for granting citizenship to Bangladeshis who had entered the state.

Sarma claimed that so far, no applications under the CAA have been made in the state, while in Gujarat, 12 families applied through the designated portal and were granted citizenship.

Till the first phase of elections here on April 19, it will be almost 40 days since implementation of the CAA. But, not even 50,000 applications will be registered in Assam (till that time), the chief minister asserted.

He maintained that the CAA will be a game changer and a boon for the BJP.

Earlier, soon after the act was implemented, Sarma had said he will be the first to resign if even one person, who has not applied for NRC in the state, gets citizenship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his 'Shakti' remark, saying the INDIA bloc was trying to destroy it.

Addressing a public rally in Shivamogga, Modi said, Yesterday (Sunday) in Mumbai Shivaji ground, INDI Alliance made an announcement that they want to destroy Shakti'. If they want to destroy Shakti' then worshipping Shakti' is our resolve."

Gandhi had said after the conclusion of his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday: Our fight against Modi is not on a personal level. Modi is a mask' who works for a shakti' (power). He is a shallow man who doesn't have a 56-inch chest,

In his speech, Modi said: When I heard the announcement to eliminate Shakti from Shivaji Park, I thought how it would have hurt Bal Thackeray's soul."

The Prime Minister noted that the announcement of "eradicating Shakti" was made at Shivaji Park where every child grows up with the Mantra of Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji'.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi neither understands Hindu religion nor democracy, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Monday in an attack on him for his "fight against shakti" remarks.

At a rally in Mumbai, Gandhi commented, "We are not fighting against a political party...We are not fighting against (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi, nor are we fighting against one person. But, one face has been projected in the forefront. "In Hindu dharma, there is a word 'shakti'. We are fighting against a 'shakti' (power). The question arises as to what is that 'shakti'...," he said at the INDIA bloc rally on Sunday.

The Congress MP's remarks invited strong criticism from BJP leaders. Asked about Gandhi's comments, Chief Minister Yadav, a senior BJP leader, said the Wayanad Lok Sabha MP has no understanding of Hinduism or democracy.

"Rahul Gandhi neither understands Hindu religion nor democracy. Neither does he know about a fair electoral process like EVM which increases the prestige of Indian democracy in the world," the CM told reporters at state BJP headquarters.

Yadav emphasised Congress leaders should also think whether they consider Gandhi a leader after these comments. The former Congress president, under attack for his "fight against shakti" remarks, on Monday clarified that he was not talking about any religious power, but the 'shakti' of unrighteousness, corruption and falsehood.

"The 'shakti' (power) that I mentioned, Modi ji is the mask of that power and we are fighting against it. It is such a power that today it has captured India's voice, India's institutions, the CBI, I-T, ED, Election Commission, the media, Indian industry and the entire constitutional structure of India in its clutches," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.

Earlier, the chief minister Yadav participated in a meeting at the BJP's state headquarters. Yadav, state BJP president VD Sharma, Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste, among others, discussed Lok Sabha preparations in Mandla, Balaghat and Chhindwara constituencies, a party spokesperson said.

The party presidents of these districts and cabinet ministers were present in this meeting, the spokesman said.
Apple on Monday fended off criticism that it has not done enough to open up its closed eco-system as required under the European Union's Digital Markets Act, saying it has complied with the landmark legislation.

The DMA sets out a list of obligations and prohibitions for Apple, Alphabet's Google, Amazon, TikTok owner ByteDance, Meta Platforms and Microsoft which the six companies had to abide by on March 7.

Apple has in recent weeks announced a series of changes from allowing apps developers to distribute their iPhone apps directly to consumers instead of through Apple's App Store to letting developers distribute their apps to users in the European Union outside of the App Store.

The company told apps developers, business users and rivals at a day-long hearing organised by the European Commission that it has redesigned its systems to comply with the DMA.

"We were guided first and foremost by ensuring that we've complied with the law. And then second, that we did it in a way that was consistent with our values and consistent with the language that we've developed with our users over a very long period of time. And we think we've accomplished that," Apple's lawyer Kyle Andeer told the hearing.

"And I think we're focused on it from a user perspective. Now, it's not to say that we're not focused on the impact of developers, but I think from our perspective first and foremost, we'll be tracking very carefully what's the impact of all of these different changes on the user experience that we've delivered to our customers for 15, 16 years through the iPhone?"

Meta will present its compliance efforts at a separate hearing on Tuesday, Amazon on Wednesday, Alphabet on Thursday, ByteDance on Friday and Microsoft next Tuesday.

Companies that fail to comply with the DMA risk investigations that can lead to fines of as much as 10% of their global annual turnover. (Reuters)
A court here on Monday sentenced Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan to seven years in prison and a imposed a fine of Rs 8 lakh on him over the forced demolition of a house in Dungarpur in 2016.

The MP-MLA court also sentenced three others to five years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh on each of them in the case, senior prosecution officer Amarnath Tiwari said.

The court of Judge Vijay Kumar convicted Azam Khan, a former Uttar Pradesh minister, Azhar Ahmed Khan, a former chairperson of the municipal corporation, Ale Hasan, a former police circle officer, and Barkat Ali, according to Tiwari.

Three other accused -- Jibran, Farman and Omendra Chauhan -- in the case were acquitted by the court, the officer said.

Seven people, including Azam Khan, were booked in 2019 for the forced demolition of the house in 2016 when the SP was in power in Uttar Pradesh.

The case was registered at the Ganj police station in Rampur, Tiwari said.

They were booked under Indian Penal Code sections 447 (punishment for criminal trespass), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 395 (punishment for dacoity), 412 (dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), he said.

The case was filed against them after change of government in the state.

Azam Khan (75) is currently serving a sentence in the Sitapur jail in another criminal case.
An estimated 5,000 to 6,000 militants from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have taken shelter in neighbouring Afghanistan, Pakistans Special Representative to Afghanistan Ambassador Asif Durrani has said, amidst a slew of terrorist attacks in this country.

Durrani was speaking on Saturday at a programme hosted by an Islamabad-based think tank, the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), on the topic of Afghan peace and reconciliation: Pakistans interests and policy options which was the 12th of the series of consultative talks on the Afghan issue, the Dawn newspaper reported on Sunday.

He said about 5,000 to 6,000 TTP militants were in Afghanistan. If we include their families, then the number goes up to 70,000, Durrani said. Durrani said Pakistans peace talks with the banned TTP failed in the past because the militant group was neither ready to surrender nor swear allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan. The special envoy said it was apparent someone else was paying for their upkeep as the interim Afghan government could not afford the per-day expenditure of such a large number of people.

The third primary reason for the deadlock in talks was that the group didnt want to face law for the heinous crimes it committed, including the attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar, he added. Durrani said Pakistan had told the interim government in Kabul that the latter needed to make TTP surrender and disarm the group and detain its leadership. He clarified that TTP is the red line for Pakistan.

His comments came after the Pakistan Army announced the death of at least seven of its personnel, including a Lieutenant Colonel and Captain, when six terrorists attacked a security forces post in Mir Ali of North Waziristan District on Friday.

The TTP has been attacking Pakistani military personnel since a ceasefire deal with the dreaded militants and the government fell flat in 2022.

Referring to the Pakistan-Afghan border crossing issue, the envoy said Islamabad should implement the one-document regime on all border crossings with Afghanistan, according to the report.

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.
President Mohamed Muizzu has said the surveillance of the Maldives territory should not concern any external parties as he announced measures to boost its defence forces, including the maiden deployment of drones to guard the archipelagic nation in the Indian Ocean.

Muizzus latest comments came while speaking at a ceremony to launch the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) Air Corps and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), a press release by the Presidents Office said. Muizzu announced new initiatives to strengthen the Maldives military capabilities at the ceremony. The pro-China Maldivian leaders remarks 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.

Asserting that Maldives isnt a small nation, Muizzu said the country is capable of monitoring its jurisdiction.

The Maldives isnt a small nation, he said, noting that the island nation stretches along nine hundred thousand square kilometres and 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 said this would not impede the Maldives close relations with all countries. Muizzu said his government would double the capacity of the Coast Guard, expand the Air Corps fleet, and enhance land-based vehicles and platforms. Muizzu after assuming the office last year had asked India to withdraw nearly 90 military personnel from the island nation.

India 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. Muizzus administration has also said that it would review more than 100 agreements signed with India by the previous governments.

Muizzu 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 on Friday.

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 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 island nation in the Indian Ocean.

During the same function, Muizzu also thanked Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his continuous assistance in augmenting the Maldives military capabilities.

He said Erdogan played a pivotal role in realising his goal of using drones for the first time to patrol the huge maritime area of the Maldives.

He said the Maldives received three UAVs and hoped to increase the number through the close bilateral ties between Turkiye and the Maldives. The President added that most of it was received through grant aid from Turkiye.
A suspected attack by Yemens Houthi rebels targeted a ship early Sunday in the Gulf of Aden, potentially marking their latest assault on shipping through the crucial waterway leading to the Red Sea. The British militarys United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre offered few details in an announcement about the attack, saying only it happened off the coast of Aden, the port city in southern Yemen home to the countrys exiled government. The Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile attacks in the same area, disrupting energy and cargo shipments through the Gulf of Aden.The rebels did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack, though it typically takes the Houthis several hours before acknowledging their assaults.

Separately, the US militarys Central Command said it carried out a series of strikes targeting the Houthis.

It said it destroyed five drone boats and one drone before takeoff from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen on Saturday. It was an unusually high number of drone boats to be destroyed.

Separately, the US military shot down one Houthi drone over the Red Sea, while another was presumed to have crashed.

There were no reports of damage or injuries from ships in the vicinity, Central Command said. The Houthis have attacked ships since November, saying they want to force Israel to end its offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas.The ships targeted by the Houthis, however, largely have had little or no connection to Israel, the US or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.

The assaults on shipping have raised the profile of the Houthis, who are members of Islams minority Shiite Zaydi sect, which ruled Yemen for 1,000 years until 1962.

A report Thursday claimed the Houthis now have a hypersonic missile, potentially increasing that cachet and putting more pressure on Israel after a cease-fire deal failed to take hold in Gaza before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Hypersonic missiles would pose a more serious threat to American and allied warships in the region.

Earlier in March, a Houthi missile struck a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, killing three of its crew members and forcing survivors to abandon the vessel. It marked the first fatal attack by the Houthis on shipping.

Other recent Houthi actions include an attack last month on a cargo ship carrying fertiliser that later sank after drifting for several days.
Ukraine launched a new massive wave of drone attacks Sunday as Russians cast ballots on the final day of a presidential vote set to extend President Vladimir Putins rule for another six years. The Russian Defence Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four in the Moscow region.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties or damage. According to the Defence Ministry, another two drones were shot over the Kaluga region just south of the Russian capital and the Yaroslavl region northeast of Moscow. The attacks on the Yaroslavl region, which is located about 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border, were some of the farthest launched by Ukraine so far.

More Ukrainian drones were downed over the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions that border Ukraine and the southern Krasnodar region, the Defence Ministry said. Belgorod Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said the Ukrainian shelling killed a 16-year-old girl Sunday and injured her father.

A drone fell on a refinery in the Krasnodar region, sparking a blaze that was extinguished a few hours later, according to regional authorities. A worker at the refinery died of a heart attack, officials said. Refineries and oil terminals have been key targets of Ukrainian drone attacks.

The attacks followed a series of other Ukrainian drone raids and other attacks over the past few days that Putin described as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten residents and derail Russias presidential election. Those enemy strikes havent been and wont be left unpunished, he vowed during Fridays meeting of his Security Council. Im sure that our people, the people of Russia, will respond to that with even greater cohesion.

As the war dragged into a third year, Russian forces have made some slow and incremental gains along the front line, relying on their edge in firepower, while Ukraine has fought back with more drone attacks deep inside Russia and cross-border raids.

On Saturday, two people were killed and three others were wounded in the Ukrainian shelling of the Russian border city of Belgorod which has faced regular attacks.

The Russian military also claimed it thwarted another attempted cross-border incursion by Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups on Saturday.

The Russian Volunteer Corps  which includes Russians fighting alongside Ukrainian forces  released a video on social media Saturday alleging to have captured 25 Russian soldiers. The claim 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.
BBY has seen steady revenue growth, actively managing expenses, and focusing on real estate management and cybersecurity threats. Key performance indicators show competitive market share and ROI exceeding cost of capital. Risks include external factors like pandemics and legal issues. Corporate governance highlights sustainability initiatives and commitment to diverse representation. Forward guidance aligns with strategic initiatives for sustainable growth, factoring in economic conditions and new ventures. Despite challenges, the company shows dedication to long-term success through investments and adjustments based on market trends.

Executive Summary

Financials

Total revenue has steadily increased over the past three years, with a growth rate of 3.6%. This growth can be attributed to successful sales strategies and increased market demand for our products. Operating expenses are being actively managed through an enterprise-wide initiative to align spending with critical strategies and optimize cost structures. Restructuring charges were related to employee termination benefits and were not expected to be material in the future. The companys net income margin is 3.6%. It has declined. In comparison to industry peers, the companys net income margin is lower than average.

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Management Discussion and Analysis

Management has focused on effective real estate portfolio management to support the omnichannel strategy. This includes securing suitable locations and evaluating factors like customer behavior. The success of these initiatives in driving growth and profitability has not been explicitly stated in the context. Management assesses the companys competitive position by monitoring pricing, maintaining efficient operations, leveraging vendor partnerships, and emphasizing customer service. They highlight market trends of price competitiveness, the importance of value to customers, and the impact of strong competition from various retailers and service providers. The major risks identified by management include cybersecurity threats that could potentially affect operations. Mitigation strategies involve oversight by the Audit Committee, updating the Board on cybersecurity posture regularly, and ongoing risk identification and mitigation processes.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Risk Assessment

The companys key performance metrics are revenue and profitability measures. They may not be in line with long-term goals due to challenges in forecasting growth rates and profit margins. The companys ROI exceeds its cost of capital, indicating it is generating value for shareholders. The companys market share has remained competitive against multi-channel retailers, e-commerce businesses, and mobile network carriers. There are no explicit mentions of plans for market expansion or consolidation.

External factors such as pandemics, natural disasters, changes in consumer demand, economic factors, product sourcing issues, cyber-attacks, and disruptions in services by third-party vendors could significantly disrupt the companys operations and financial performance. BBY assesses and manages cybersecurity risks through a risk-based information security program. The Board oversees managements processes for identifying and mitigating cybersecurity risks, with updates provided to the Audit Committee and full Board regularly. The Chief Information Security Officer plays a key role in monitoring the companys cybersecurity posture. Yes, there are contingent liabilities and legal issues that could impact the companys financial position and reputation. BBY addresses them through detailed disclosures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, as stated in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Corporate Governance and Sustainability

The composition of the board of directors is not provided. There are no notable changes in leadership or independence mentioned in the information given. BBY focuses on employee engagement, retention, representation, and a culture of belonging in its workforce. Board committees support inclusive culture through HR policies and recommend diverse candidates for board elections. BBY discloses sustainability initiatives such as reducing carbon emissions through energy efficiency programs and investing in renewable energy systems. They demonstrate commitment to responsible business practices by focusing on the circular economy and reducing natural resource use in operations.

Forward Guidance

The companys forward-looking guidance aligns with its strategic initiatives by providing investors insight into managements expectations, helping stakeholders understand future prospects. However, risks and uncertainties may impact actual results, highlighting the importance of financial performance in achieving goals. BBY is factoring in the growth of demand for its products and services and the impact of general economic and business conditions worldwide. It plans to capitalize on these trends by adjusting expense levels and investment plans based on sales estimates and focusing on sustainable revenue growth. The companys forward-looking guidance mentions new ventures and emerging strategic shifts that indicate a commitment to long-term growth and competitiveness. These investments may impact liquidity and profitability but show a dedication to future success.

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This article was created using artificial intelligence technology from Klickanalytics.
Wayfinding Financial LLC increased its position in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Free Report) by 7.2% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 2,881 shares of the energy producers stock after buying an additional 194 shares during the period. Wayfinding Financial LLCs holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $334,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Orion Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. RVW Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $28,000. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group grew its holdings in ConocoPhillips by 63.1% during the 3rd quarter. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group now owns 287 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in ConocoPhillips during the 1st quarter valued at $31,000. 80.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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ConocoPhillips Stock Up 0.2 %

NYSE COP traded up $0.26 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $120.04. The company had a trading volume of 17,549,004 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,937,875. The firms 50 day moving average is $111.85 and its 200 day moving average is $115.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.29. The company has a market capitalization of $141.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.25, a P/E/G ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.23. ConocoPhillips has a fifty-two week low of $91.53 and a fifty-two week high of $127.35.

ConocoPhillips Increases Dividend

ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The energy producer reported $2.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates 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 for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.47 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.71 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that ConocoPhillips will post 8.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Monday, February 19th were issued a dividend of $0.78 per share. This is a boost from ConocoPhillipss previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.60%. ConocoPhillipss payout ratio is presently 25.61%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on ConocoPhillips from $153.00 to $141.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, December 8th. Johnson Rice cut ConocoPhillips from an accumulate rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Susquehanna reduced their price target on ConocoPhillips from $152.00 to $133.00 and set a positive rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Raymond James reduced their price target on ConocoPhillips from $140.00 to $137.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price target on ConocoPhillips from $139.00 to $132.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $134.61.

Read Our Latest Analysis on ConocoPhillips

Insider Buying and Selling

In other ConocoPhillips news, VP Christopher P. Delk sold 8,505 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.06, for a total transaction of $953,070.30. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, VP Christopher P. Delk sold 8,505 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.06, for a total transaction of $953,070.30. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Heather G. Hrap sold 4,548 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.55, for a total transaction of $502,781.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 2,654 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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 quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock.

About ConocoPhillips

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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.

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Sound Income Strategies LLC boosted its stake in shares of Global Medical REIT Inc. (NYSE:GMRE  Free Report) by 7.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 977,499 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 63,843 shares during the quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC owned 1.49% of Global Medical REIT worth $10,850,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in GMRE. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in shares of Global Medical REIT by 57.6% during the 2nd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,943 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,076 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new position in Global Medical REIT during the second quarter valued at about $43,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its position in Global Medical REIT by 227.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,646 shares of the companys stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 3,920 shares during the period. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Global Medical REIT during the 2nd quarter worth about $55,000. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. acquired a new stake in Global Medical REIT in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $65,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.46% of the companys stock.

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Global Medical REIT Trading Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:GMRE traded up $0.06 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $8.74. The companys stock had a trading volume of 995,603 shares, compared to its average volume of 362,840. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $9.71 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.70. Global Medical REIT Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $8.04 and a fifty-two week high of $11.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.17 and a current ratio of 0.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $573.13 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 38.00 and a beta of 1.13.

Global Medical REIT Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 22nd will be paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 21st. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.61%. Global Medical REITs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 365.22%.

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded Global Medical REIT from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, February 28th.

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Global Medical REIT Profile

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Global Medical REIT Inc (GMRE) is a net-lease medical office real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and acquires healthcare facilities and leases those facilities to physician groups and regional and national healthcare systems.

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Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE:KTB  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 3,160,000 shares, a growth of 24.9% from the February 14th total of 2,530,000 shares. Approximately 5.8% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 501,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 6.3 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kontoor Brands

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of KTB. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kontoor Brands by 3.1% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,866,900 shares of the companys stock worth $169,796,000 after acquiring an additional 117,815 shares during the last quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. raised its holdings in Kontoor Brands by 34.3% in the 3rd quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. now owns 47,094 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,068,000 after buying an additional 12,018 shares during the last quarter. Comerica Bank bought a new position in Kontoor Brands in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $92,290,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its holdings in Kontoor Brands by 214.9% in the 3rd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 26,414 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,163,000 after buying an additional 18,026 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its holdings in Kontoor Brands by 89.8% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 69,011 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,030,000 after buying an additional 32,656 shares during the last quarter.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Edward Jones lowered shares of Kontoor Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands from $83.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands from $56.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands from $56.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Kontoor Brands currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $70.40.

Kontoor Brands Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of KTB stock traded down $0.39 during trading on Friday, reaching $59.01. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,764,540 shares, compared to its average volume of 592,872. The company has a quick ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 2.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.05. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $60.25 and a 200-day moving average price of $53.70. Kontoor Brands has a one year low of $37.10 and a one year high of $64.49. The company has a market cap of $3.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.13.

Kontoor Brands Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. Kontoor Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 49.26%.

Kontoor Brands Company Profile

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Kontoor Brands, Inc, a lifestyle apparel company, designs, produces, procures, markets, distributes, and licenses denim, apparel, footwear, and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler and Lee brands. The company operates through two segments: Wrangler and Lee. It licenses and sells apparel under the Rock & Republic brand name.

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Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA  Get Free Report) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report issued on Saturday.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on MWA. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Mueller Water Products from $14.00 to $15.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, February 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of Mueller Water Products from $15.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Mueller Water Products has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.00.

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Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MWA

Mueller Water Products Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE MWA opened at $15.42 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.89, a current ratio of 3.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. Mueller Water Products has a 52 week low of $12.11 and a 52 week high of $16.93. The firms fifty day moving average is $14.79 and its 200 day moving average is $13.79. The company has a market cap of $2.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.84, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.34.

Mueller Water Products (NYSE:MWA  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The industrial products company reported $0.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.09 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $256.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $250.64 million. Mueller Water Products had a net margin of 6.35% and a return on equity of 13.86%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 18.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.13 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Mueller Water Products will post 0.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Thomas J. Hansen sold 6,044 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.77, for a total value of $83,225.88. Following the transaction, the director now owns 94,525 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,301,609.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, Director Thomas J. Hansen sold 6,044 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.77, for a total value of $83,225.88. Following the transaction, the director now owns 94,525 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,301,609.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Arsdell Stephen C. Van purchased 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The stock was purchased at an average price of $15.42 per share, for a total transaction of $154,200.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 80,603 shares in the company, valued at $1,242,898.26. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 81,463 shares of company stock worth $1,218,642 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.40% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Mueller Water Products

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Mueller Water Products by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 15,003,366 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $216,048,000 after buying an additional 147,482 shares during the last quarter. SageView Advisory Group LLC purchased a new position in Mueller Water Products in the 4th quarter worth about $163,000. Speece Thorson Capital Group Inc. raised its position in Mueller Water Products by 0.6% in the 4th quarter. Speece Thorson Capital Group Inc. now owns 983,831 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $14,167,000 after buying an additional 6,294 shares during the last quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV raised its position in Mueller Water Products by 10.2% in the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 24,103 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $347,000 after buying an additional 2,231 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its position in Mueller Water Products by 330.7% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 244,307 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,518,000 after buying an additional 187,580 shares during the last quarter.

About Mueller Water Products

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Mueller Water Products, Inc manufactures and markets products and services for the transmission, distribution, and measurement of water used by municipalities, and the residential and non-residential construction industries in the United States, Israel, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Water Flow Solutions and Water Management Solutions.

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By Park Jae-hyuk

A group of migrant women were selected recently as this years first winners of an award from KT Group Hope Sharing Foundation, thanks to their decade-long contribution to multicultural families in Korea, according to the telecommunication firm, Monday.

The migrant women are members of Rainbow Happy Job Cooperative, a social enterprise established in southwestern Seouls Guro District in 2014. It is Koreas first cooperative founded by migrant women.

The cooperatives leader is Kim Hong-ri, who was born in China and naturalized in Korea after migrating with her husband in 2002.

She founded the cooperative with other migrant women, after teaching Chinese in Korea.

The cooperative has carried out various activities for multicultural families and migrant women.

At child care centers and kindergartens in Guro District, the cooperative has introduced the unique cultures of each foreign country and participated in multicultural festivals and other events to raise awareness about multicultural households.

In addition, it has helped more than 30 migrant women from 18 countries become multicultural instructors introducing their different cultures to Korean society and have confidence in looking for jobs in this country.

Since 2021, the cooperative has supported needy residents of Guro District, including victims of the COVID-19 pandemic and flooding.

I founded the cooperative to improve systems and raise awareness about multicultural families and migrant women, Kim said. Through various activities, we will do our best for multicultural families and migrant women to settle in our community.

KT Group Hope Sharing Foundation has been awarding prizes since 2021 to individuals and groups for their social contributions. Starting this year, its employees participate in volunteer work for local communities alongside the award winners.

We will continue supporting the prize winners and carrying out volunteer work for local communities with them, a foundation official said. We will give awards to any people making social contributions, regardless of their age and where they live.
Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU  Free Report) by 13.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 21,744 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 2,516 shares during the quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLCs holdings in Prudential Financial were worth $2,255,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in PRU. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. bought a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Headinvest LLC acquired a new position in Prudential Financial during the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the 1st quarter worth approximately $36,000. Union Savings Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of Prudential Financial in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 54.92% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Prudential Financial

In related news, SVP Robert Axel sold 6,436 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.86, for a total transaction of $719,930.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 7,901 shares in the company, valued at approximately $883,805.86. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, SVP Timothy L. Schmidt sold 7,912 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.13, for a total value of $855,524.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 14,754 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,595,350.02. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Robert Axel sold 6,436 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $111.86, for a total transaction of $719,930.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 7,901 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $883,805.86. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 29,255 shares of company stock worth $3,215,664 in the last ninety days. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Prudential Financial Stock Up 1.0 %

PRU stock traded up $1.10 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $112.84. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,355,660 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,618,085. The company has a quick ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 0.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $106.62 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $100.06. The company has a market capitalization of $40.51 billion, a PE ratio of 16.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.36. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a 12 month low of $75.37 and a 12 month high of $113.50.

Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The financial services provider reported $2.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.67 by ($0.09). The firm had revenue of $13.02 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.99 billion. Prudential Financial had a return on equity of 14.52% and a net margin of 4.89%. Prudential Financials quarterly revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.42 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 13.42 earnings per share for the current year.

Prudential Financial Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a dividend of $1.30 per share. This is an increase from Prudential Financials previous quarterly dividend of $1.25. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. Prudential Financials dividend payout ratio is currently 77.73%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on PRU shares. TheStreet upgraded shares of Prudential Financial from a c+ rating to an a- rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Raymond James lowered shares of Prudential Financial from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $118.00 price objective (down previously from $119.00) on shares of Prudential Financial in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $108.00 to $112.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $105.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and ten have issued a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Prudential Financial presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $105.60.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Prudential Financial

Prudential Financial Profile

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Prudential Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through PGIM, Retirement Strategies, Group Insurance, Individual Life, and International Businesses segments.

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Sarasin & Partners LLP trimmed its holdings in shares of Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL  Free Report) by 30.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 35,992 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 15,903 shares during the quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLPs holdings in Welltower were worth $3,245,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WELL. Headlands Technologies LLC lifted its position in Welltower by 479.6% during the 3rd quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC now owns 313 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 259 shares during the period. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Welltower in the 2nd quarter valued at about $26,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Welltower in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Welltower by 117.8% in the 3rd quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 342 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 185 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Welltower by 97.4% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 298 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 147 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.61% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have commented on WELL shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Welltower in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a buy rating and a $115.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada cut Welltower from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and increased their target price for the company from $92.00 to $97.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 28th. Mizuho increased their price target on Welltower from $90.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. KeyCorp increased their price target on Welltower from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 5th. Finally, Scotiabank cut their price target on Welltower from $97.00 to $96.00 and set a sector outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Welltower currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $93.00.

Welltower Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of WELL traded down $0.35 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $91.35. 6,279,936 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,668,868. Welltower Inc. has a 52-week low of $65.18 and a 52-week high of $94.63. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $90.38 and a 200 day simple moving average of $87.55. The firm has a market cap of $51.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 142.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 3.22 and a current ratio of 3.22.

Welltower (NYSE:WELL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.15 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.94 by ($0.79). Welltower had a return on equity of 1.47% and a net margin of 5.12%. The firm had revenue of $1.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.72 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.83 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Welltower Inc. will post 4.02 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Welltower Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.61 per share. This represents a $2.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 22nd. Welltowers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 381.25%.

Welltower Profile

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Welltower Inc (NYSE:WELL), a REIT and S&P 500 company headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, is driving the transformation of health care infrastructure. Welltower invests with leading seniors housing operators, post-acute providers and health systems to fund the real estate and infrastructure needed to scale innovative care delivery models and improve people's wellness and overall health care experience.

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Sarasin & Partners LLP decreased its position in Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:FMX  Free Report) by 23.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 160,353 shares of the companys stock after selling 48,590 shares during the period. Sarasin & Partners LLPs holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano were worth $20,902,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Operose Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Fomento Economico Mexicano in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Advisory Services Network LLC increased its position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 44.3% in the first quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 342 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the period. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. increased its position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 117.0% during the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 421 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 227 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano during the third quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Castleview Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 51.2% during the second quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 434 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 147 shares during the period.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. They issued a neutral rating and a $134.00 target price on the stock. UBS Group lowered shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 12th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Bank of America reissued a neutral rating on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Finally, HSBC raised shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $124.00 to $152.00 in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $130.60.

Fomento Economico Mexicano Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE FMX traded up $2.70 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $127.98. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,286,977 shares, compared to its average volume of 632,265. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $131.18 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $122.18. The company has a current ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 1.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. has a 1 year low of $85.66 and a 1 year high of $143.43.

Fomento Economico Mexicano (NYSE:FMX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 23rd. The company reported $1.07 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $11.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.21 billion. Fomento Economico Mexicano had a net margin of 8.53% and a return on equity of 9.63%. Research analysts anticipate that Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. will post 5.7 EPS for the current year.

About Fomento Economico Mexicano

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Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. The company produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

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Japan Display Inc. (OTCMKTS:JNNDF  Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 8,614,400 shares, a decline of 9.4% from the February 14th total of 9,508,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently  days.

Japan Display Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:JNNDF remained flat at $0.15 during trading hours on Friday. Japan Display has a 12 month low of $0.14 and a 12 month high of $0.29. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $0.17 and a 200 day moving average price of $0.21.

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About Japan Display

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Japan Display Inc designs, manufactures, and sells displays in Japan and internationally. The company offers products for healthcare and medical fields, such as interfaces, display devices, high resolution display devices, and VR systems; industrial use LCD modules; LCD modules for automotive and mobile applications; color OLED display modules for wearables; and Landscape IPS LCD modules for single-lens reflex and high-end compact digital cameras.

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Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Edison International (NYSE:EIX  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 2,811 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $201,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bleakley Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in Edison International by 2.4% in the 2nd quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 7,052 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $490,000 after buying an additional 162 shares during the period. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. increased its stake in shares of Edison International by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 6,604 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $418,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Edison International by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,461 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $409,000 after acquiring an additional 164 shares during the last quarter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Edison International by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. now owns 4,432 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $281,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MML Investors Services LLC increased its stake in shares of Edison International by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 44,495 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $3,141,000 after acquiring an additional 180 shares during the last quarter. 88.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Edison International Stock Up 0.5 %

EIX traded up $0.35 during trading on Friday, reaching $68.80. 4,035,561 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,467,467. The stock has a market cap of $26.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.96. Edison International has a twelve month low of $58.82 and a twelve month high of $74.92. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $67.87 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $67.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 0.79.

Edison International Dividend Announcement

Edison International ( NYSE:EIX Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The utilities provider reported $1.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.12. Edison International had a net margin of 8.35% and a return on equity of 12.63%. The business had revenue of $3.71 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.19 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.14 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Edison International will post 4.99 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 28th will be paid a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.53%. Edison Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 100.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently commented on EIX. Barclays upped their price target on Edison International from $69.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. TheStreet cut Edison International from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Guggenheim raised Edison International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the company from $66.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on Edison International from $81.00 to $80.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 7th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Edison International from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Saturday, February 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Edison International presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $73.50.

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About Edison International

(Free Report)

Edison International, through its subsidiaries, generates and distributes electric power. The company supplies electricity to approximately 50,000 square mile area of southern California to residential, commercial, industrial, public authorities, agricultural, and other sectors. It also owns solar, hydro, and natural gas electric generating facilities.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Wipro (NYSE:WIT  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Thursday morning.

A number of other research firms have also commented on WIT. BNP Paribas started coverage on shares of Wipro in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. They set an underperform rating and a $5.20 price objective on the stock. TheStreet raised shares of Wipro from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, January 12th. Finally, Wedbush raised their price objective on shares of Wipro from $4.00 to $6.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Wipro has a consensus rating of Reduce and an average price target of $4.82.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on WIT

Wipro Stock Performance

WIT opened at $6.13 on Thursday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $5.97 and its 200-day moving average is $5.31. The stock has a market cap of $31.98 billion, a PE ratio of 24.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a current ratio of 2.29, a quick ratio of 2.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. Wipro has a twelve month low of $4.32 and a twelve month high of $6.45.

Wipro (NYSE:WIT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The information technology services provider reported $0.06 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.07 by ($0.01). Wipro had a net margin of 12.42% and a return on equity of 15.68%. The business had revenue of $2.67 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.76 billion. On average, analysts predict that Wipro will post 0.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wipro

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of WIT. Sivia Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Wipro in the 4th quarter valued at $377,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Wipro by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,517,287 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $69,721,000 after purchasing an additional 44,600 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Wipro by 3.8% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 2,313,160 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $12,884,000 after purchasing an additional 84,519 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in shares of Wipro by 44.0% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,866,359 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $10,396,000 after purchasing an additional 570,001 shares during the period. Finally, V Square Quantitative Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Wipro during the 4th quarter worth about $353,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.36% of the companys stock.

About Wipro

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Wipro Limited operates as an information technology (IT), consulting, and business process services company worldwide. It operates through three segments: IT Services, IT Products, and India State Run Enterprise Services (ISRE). The IT Services segment offers IT and IT-enabled services, including digital strategy advisory, customer-centric design, technology and IT consulting, custom application design, development, re-engineering and maintenance, systems integration, package implementation, cloud and infrastructure, business process, cloud, mobility and analytics, research and development, and hardware and software design services to enterprises.

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Bank of America upgraded shares of Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO  Free Report) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report published on Friday, MarketBeat reports. Bank of America currently has $210.00 price target on the oil and gas companys stock, up from their prior price target of $156.00.

A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on VLO. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. They set a buy rating for the company. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Raymond James boosted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $154.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $155.83.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on Valero Energy

Valero Energy Trading Up 2.7 %

Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $163.70 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $54.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.53. The stocks 50-day moving average is $139.38 and its 200-day moving average is $133.86. Valero Energy has a 52-week low of $104.18 and a 52-week high of $166.10. 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 (NYSE:VLO  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.95 by $0.60. Valero Energy had a return on equity of 31.62% and a net margin of 6.10%. The business had revenue of $35.41 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.76 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $8.45 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 15.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Valero Energy will post 15.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 1st were given a $1.07 dividend. This is a boost from Valero Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 31st. Valero Energys payout ratio is currently 17.31%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Valero Energy

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in VLO. BKM Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Valero Energy during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Live Oak Investment Partners bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new stake in shares of Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Quarry LP grew its stake in Valero Energy by 1,676.9% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 231 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. 77.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Valero Energy

(Get Free Report)

Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol.

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Wayfinding Financial LLC lessened its holdings in Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Free Report) by 3.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 27,883 shares of the auto manufacturers stock after selling 1,062 shares during the quarter. Wayfinding Financial LLCs holdings in Ford Motor were worth $339,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Snider Financial Group lifted its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 100,345.2% during the 1st quarter. Snider Financial Group now owns 219,805,167 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $3,717,000 after purchasing an additional 219,586,336 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Ford Motor during the 4th quarter worth $419,237,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 81,406.2% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 30,201,290 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $351,241,000 after purchasing an additional 30,164,236 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Ford Motor by 133.1% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 20,721,009 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $313,509,000 after purchasing an additional 11,832,600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Holocene Advisors LP purchased a new stake in shares of Ford Motor during the 2nd quarter worth $53,665,000. Institutional investors own 52.73% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the company. Piper Sandler began coverage on Ford Motor in a research note on Friday. They issued a neutral rating and a $13.00 price target for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $12.00 price objective on shares of Ford Motor in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. HSBC began coverage on Ford Motor in a report on Monday, December 4th. They issued a hold rating and a $11.30 price objective on the stock. Redburn Atlantic began coverage on Ford Motor in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. They issued a sell rating and a $10.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, UBS Group lowered Ford Motor from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $12.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $13.75.

Ford Motor Trading Down 0.2 %

NYSE F traded down $0.02 on Friday, reaching $12.06. 88,254,036 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 55,537,867. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $12.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $11.66. The stock has a market capitalization of $47.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.33. Ford Motor has a fifty-two week low of $9.63 and a fifty-two week high of $15.42.

Ford Motor (NYSE:F  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.17. Ford Motor had a return on equity of 18.95% and a net margin of 2.47%. The business had revenue of $43.21 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $43.06 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.51 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Ford Motor will post 1.89 earnings per share for the current year.

Ford Motor Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a Variable dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th were issued a $0.33 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 15th. This represents a dividend yield of 4.7%. Ford Motors dividend payout ratio is presently 55.56%.

Insider Activity at Ford Motor

In related news, CAO Mark Kosman sold 26,898 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $12.53, for a total value of $337,031.94. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 7,102 shares in the company, valued at approximately $88,988.06. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 0.80% of the companys stock.

About Ford Motor

(Free Report)

Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments.

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Aurora Investment Managers LLC. bought a new position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 2,707 shares of the medical research companys stock, valued at approximately $206,000.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in EW. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 51,633,416 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $3,577,163,000 after purchasing an additional 325,808 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 0.4% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 27,053,304 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $2,551,938,000 after purchasing an additional 108,102 shares during the period. Capital International Investors increased its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 4.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 27,015,032 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $2,548,023,000 after acquiring an additional 1,255,926 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 20,512,235 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,934,919,000 after acquiring an additional 66,763 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 9.2% in the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 16,434,401 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,138,575,000 after acquiring an additional 1,390,427 shares in the last quarter. 79.25% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Donald E. Bobo, Jr. sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.67, for a total value of $756,700.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 39,503 shares in the company, valued at $2,989,192.01. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Edwards Lifesciences news, VP Daniel J. Lippis sold 1,715 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.98, for a total transaction of $156,030.70. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 17,213 shares in the company, valued at $1,566,038.74. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Donald E. Bobo, Jr. sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.67, for a total transaction of $756,700.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 39,503 shares in the company, valued at $2,989,192.01. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 196,859 shares of company stock worth $16,445,296. Insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Edwards Lifesciences Stock Performance

NYSE EW traded up $0.57 during trading on Monday, hitting $92.88. 866,059 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,155,025. The stock has a market capitalization of $55.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.28, a PEG ratio of 4.63 and a beta of 1.05. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a 12-month low of $60.57 and a 12-month high of $95.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 2.40 and a current ratio of 3.38. The business has a 50 day moving average of $82.87 and a 200-day moving average of $74.99.

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The medical research company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.64. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 23.35% and a return on equity of 23.56%. The firm had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.50 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.64 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 13.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Mizuho lifted their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Citigroup lowered shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $82.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Wolfe Research lowered shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $57.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $78.00 to $84.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $87.38.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences Company Profile

(Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names.

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BKM Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF (NYSEARCA:EELV  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 44,541 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,071,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of EELV. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF by 14.6% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 16,298 shares of the companys stock valued at $421,000 after acquiring an additional 2,080 shares in the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. bought a new position in Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $275,000. UBS Group AG raised its holdings in Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF by 49.3% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 236,846 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,118,000 after buying an additional 78,192 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF by 2,576.6% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 84,527 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,184,000 after buying an additional 81,369 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC bought a new position in Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $2,890,000.

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Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA EELV traded down $0.19 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $23.92. The companys stock had a trading volume of 9,969,598 shares, compared to its average volume of 311,208. Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF has a 52 week low of $21.78 and a 52 week high of $24.48. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $23.71 and a 200-day simple moving average of $23.27. The stock has a market cap of $795.34 million, a P/E ratio of 11.58 and a beta of 0.61.

About Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF

The Invesco S&P Emerging Markets Low Volatility ETF (EELV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in total market equity. The fund tracks a volatility-weighted index of emerging markets firms. EELV was launched on Jan 13, 2012 and is managed by Invesco.

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By Ko Dong-hwan

Domestic food companies, many of whom posted record profits in 2023, should lower the prices of their products as costs of flour and other imported raw ingredients have declined, industry experts and consumer advocates said Monday.

But companies are uncomfortable with such a demand, saying product prices are dependent on more than the price of raw ingredients alone and that they have already faithfully followed the government's campaign to stabilize food prices in recent years.

The Korea National Council of Consumer Organization said it supports the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs' ongoing efforts to mitigate the rising food prices in the country.

These efforts are mostly evident in natural produce and manufactured food products.

Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung and Vice Minister Han Hoon have been visiting retail stores nationwide and companies' manufacturing factories in the past weeks to check the prices of fruits, vegetables and manufactured goods.

The consumer organization said that the prices of flour and cooking oil  like wheat and soybean oil  have been declining since the third quarter of 2022, which food companies should see as a reason to lower their products' prices.

"Whenever raw ingredients' prices have increased, the companies promptly applied that to their pricing by increasing the prices of their consumer goods," Huh Son-young, an official at the organization's market price monitoring bureau, said. "Likewise, now that the raw ingredients' prices are slowing down, they should lower their prices accordingly."

The drop of raw ingredients' prices has been mentioned by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations as well. FAO's Food Price Index last month stood at an average of 117.3 points, a decrease from 118.2 points in January. The decline has been continuous since July 2023, when it was recorded at 124.6 points.

FAO's cereal price index last month was 113.8 points on average, a 33.1 percent decrease from March 2022 when it was 170.1 points and just weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine. The vegetable oil price index last month stood at 120.9 points on average, more than halved from March 2022 when it peaked at 251.8 points.

"To stabilize food prices, not just the government but food producers and distributors must contribute to the goal by promoting price discount events or price reductions," Song said on March 10 when she visited a store of Korea's major supermarket chain Nonghyup Hanaro Mart in Seoul.

On Monday, Han visited Orion's manufacturing plant in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, to make sure the major food company won't hike its product prices and promised tariffs on potatoes and sugar the company imports will remain at zero for a further period.

Major food companies in Korea, meanwhile, saw record sales last year, with some of them seeing their operation profits increase from the previous year.

Orion's operating profit stood at 492 billion won ($369 million) last year, up from 467 billion in 2022. Nongshim and Samyang Foods also saw their operating profits last year rise from 112 billion and 90 billion won in 2022 to 212 billion won and 147 billion won, respectively. Binggrae and Pulmuone also saw record operating profits of 112 billion won and 62 billion won, respectively, in 2023.

Along with the boosted performances came wage increases. Orion's average yearly salary last year was 88 million won, a 10 percent year-on-year increase. Binggrae raised it by 11.8 percent to 60 million won and Lotte Wellfood by 7.1 percent to 56 million won.

Huh said behind those record performance figures could be the companies' "unjust" intentions to use their profits out of consumers to cover their costs for raw ingredients.



Han last Wednesday gathered representatives of the country's 19 major food firms and requested them to support the government's food price stabilization campaign.

"We understand the situation the government is in right now," an official from the food industry said. "But our products' prices are more complicated than the raw ingredients alone, as they involve all kinds of manufacturing costs like labor wages and logistics. We've been supporting the government's food market stabilization policy for the past two years. It would be difficult for us to further lower the prices."
Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI  Get Free Report) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Monday. Investors acquired 13,991 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 56% compared to the average daily volume of 8,963 call options.

Albertsons Companies Stock Performance

ACI stock remained flat at $20.80 on Monday. 834,524 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,585,627. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09, a quick ratio of 0.19 and a current ratio of 0.85. The firm has a market cap of $11.98 billion, a PE ratio of 8.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.49. Albertsons Companies has a fifty-two week low of $19.14 and a fifty-two week high of $23.88. The stocks fifty day moving average is $21.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $22.04.

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Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 9th. The company reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.14. The business had revenue of $18.56 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.36 billion. Albertsons Companies had a net margin of 1.71% and a return on equity of 83.38%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.82 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Albertsons Companies will post 2.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Albertsons Companies Dividend Announcement

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 9th. Investors of record on Friday, January 26th were given a $0.12 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 25th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.31%. Albertsons Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.51%.

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on ACI. Tigress Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $27.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research report on Friday, January 12th. Roth Mkm increased their price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated a market perform rating and issued a $27.25 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $24.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $25.56.

Read Our Latest Report on Albertsons Companies

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Albertsons Companies

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Albertsons Companies during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in Albertsons Companies by 255.1% in the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,463 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 1,051 shares during the period. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Albertsons Companies in the 4th quarter valued at $45,000. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd bought a new stake in Albertsons Companies in the 2nd quarter valued at $46,000. Finally, Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Albertsons Companies in the 4th quarter valued at $51,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.64% of the companys stock.

About Albertsons Companies

(Get Free Report)

Albertsons Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of food and drug stores in the United States. The company's food and drug retail stores offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, fuel, and other items and services. It also manufactures and processes food products for sale in stores.

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Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE:ARI  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 3,990,000 shares, an increase of 17.7% from the February 14th total of 3,390,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 881,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.5 days.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance news, CEO Stuart Rothstein sold 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.45, for a total transaction of $458,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 541,675 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,202,178.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its stake in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 15,016 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $209,000 after purchasing an additional 857 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its stake in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 6.0% in the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 15,230 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $126,000 after purchasing an additional 861 shares during the last quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY lifted its position in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 11.7% during the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 8,666 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $93,000 after acquiring an additional 907 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its position in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 84.8% during the 2nd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,230 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 1,023 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NFJ Investment Group LLC lifted its position in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. NFJ Investment Group LLC now owns 314,951 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,389,000 after acquiring an additional 1,049 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.74% of the companys stock.

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Price Performance

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Dividend Announcement

NYSE ARI opened at $11.15 on Monday. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a 12 month low of $8.58 and a 12 month high of $12.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 67.74 and a quick ratio of 67.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.58 billion, a PE ratio of 37.17 and a beta of 1.67. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $11.19 and its 200 day simple moving average is $10.91.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.56%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finances dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 466.67%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on ARI shares. UBS Group started coverage on Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. They issued a neutral rating and a $10.50 price target for the company. Bank of America downgraded Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $10.50 price target for the company. in a research note on Monday, March 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $10.38.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on ARI

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that originates, acquires, invests in, and manages commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

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Armstrong Henry H Associates Inc. cut its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 3.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,934 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 363 shares during the period. Armstrong Henry H Associates Inc.s holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $993,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC boosted its holdings 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 valued at $680,000 after buying an additional 1,173 shares during the period. Retirement Income Solutions Inc bought a new position in Exxon Mobil during the 1st quarter worth about $275,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 318.8% in 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 purchasing an additional 13,065 shares in the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC boosted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 95.6% during the first quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 15,843 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,308,000 after buying an additional 7,744 shares during the period. Finally, Bridgefront Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Exxon Mobil during the first quarter worth about $237,000. Institutional investors own 58.53% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

XOM has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. TD Cowen raised Exxon Mobil from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $115.00 price target for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $120.00 price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Monday, February 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Exxon Mobil from $134.00 to $127.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 8th. Erste Group Bank restated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price objective on Exxon Mobil from $133.00 to $132.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $127.53.

Exxon Mobil Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:XOM traded up $1.15 on Monday, reaching $112.42. 6,029,367 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 18,835,248. The company has a fifty day moving average of $103.01 and a 200-day moving average of $105.91. Exxon Mobil Co. has a twelve month low of $95.77 and a twelve month high of $120.70. The company has a market capitalization of $446.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.64, a PEG ratio of 4.07 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a current ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18.

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $2.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.28. The firm had revenue of $84.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.03 billion. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 10.45% and a return on equity of 18.51%. The businesss revenue was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $3.40 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.12 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Exxon Mobil Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 14th were given a dividend of $0.95 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 13th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.38%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is 42.74%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, 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 sale, the vice president now owns 30,189 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,169,845. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.06% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.

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Shares of Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW  Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of Reduce from the twelve brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $6.59.

Several equities research analysts recently commented on MPW shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Medical Properties Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $8.00 to $5.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $8.00 to $5.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Mizuho dropped their price objective on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $9.00 to $7.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Medical Properties Trust from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $6.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 1st.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Medical Properties Trust Stock Up 4.8 %

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MPW. Cohen & Steers Inc. grew its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 6,809.0% in the 2nd quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 46,120,255 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $427,070,000 after buying an additional 45,452,713 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Medical Properties Trust in the 4th quarter valued at $25,655,000. State Street Corp grew its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 11.7% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 36,158,910 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $774,593,000 after buying an additional 3,800,294 shares during the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG grew its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 880.2% in the 3rd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 3,951,543 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $21,536,000 after buying an additional 3,548,423 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Man Group plc acquired a new position in Medical Properties Trust in the 4th quarter valued at $32,630,000. 76.46% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MPW stock opened at $4.40 on Monday. Medical Properties Trust has a 12 month low of $2.92 and a 12 month high of $10.74. The firm has a market cap of $2.64 billion, a PE ratio of -4.68, a P/E/G ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.19. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.67 and a 200 day simple moving average of $4.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 2.26 and a quick ratio of 2.26.

About Medical Properties Trust

(Get Free Report

Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed in 2003 to acquire and develop net-leased hospital facilities. From its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest owners of hospital real estate with 441 facilities and approximately 44,000 licensed beds as of September 30, 2023.

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Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC acquired a new stake in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FNDX  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 85,796 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,314,000. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF comprises approximately 4.8% of Bruce G. Allen Investments LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th biggest position.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Gradient Investments LLC lifted its stake in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 2,886.7% in the 3rd quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 448 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 433 shares during the last quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp bought a new stake in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new stake in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 109.0% during the 1st quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 788 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 411 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Comerica Bank bought a new position in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF during the third quarter worth $45,000.

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Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of FNDX traded up $0.42 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $65.79. The company had a trading volume of 276,783 shares, compared to its average volume of 567,564. The business has a fifty day moving average of $63.42 and a 200-day moving average of $59.85. The firm has a market cap of $13.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.88 and a beta of 1.00. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF has a 12 month low of $51.92 and a 12 month high of $66.02.

Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF Profile

The Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF (FNDX) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Russell RAFI Large Company US index. The fund tracks a fundamentally selected and weighted Russell index based on sales, cash flow and dividends\u002Fbuybacks. FNDX was launched on Aug 15, 2013 and is managed by Charles Schwab.

Further Reading

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Camden Property Trust (NYSE:CPT  Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 2,770,000 shares, an increase of 14.0% from the February 14th total of 2,430,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,160,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.4 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CPT has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Camden Property Trust in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a hold rating and a $90.00 target price for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Camden Property Trust in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $112.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Camden Property Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 12th. Truist Financial reissued a buy rating and set a $113.00 target price (down previously from $121.00) on shares of Camden Property Trust in a research note on Wednesday, March 13th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reissued a market perform rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Camden Property Trust in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Camden Property Trust presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $103.65.

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Read Our Latest Research Report on CPT

Camden Property Trust Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE CPT traded down $1.03 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $97.46. The companys stock had a trading volume of 982,265 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,177,201. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $96.47 and a 200 day moving average price of $95.57. Camden Property Trust has a one year low of $82.81 and a one year high of $114.04. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.41, a P/E/G ratio of 3.66 and a beta of 0.83.

Camden Property Trust (NYSE:CPT  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The real estate investment trust reported $2.03 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.72 by $0.31. The company had revenue of $387.59 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $387.33 million. Camden Property Trust had a net margin of 26.15% and a return on equity of 8.07%. Camden Property Trusts revenue for the quarter was up 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.74 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Camden Property Trust will post 6.74 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Camden Property Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a $1.03 dividend. This represents a $4.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This is a boost from Camden Property Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. Camden Property Trusts payout ratio is currently 108.11%.

Insider Activity at Camden Property Trust

In related news, CEO Richard J. Campo sold 38,336 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.22, for a total value of $3,765,361.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 267,132 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $26,237,705.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Richard J. Campo sold 38,336 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.22, for a total transaction of $3,765,361.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 267,132 shares of the companys stock, valued at $26,237,705.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Heather J. Brunner sold 1,325 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.21, for a total transaction of $130,128.25. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,230 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,004,688.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 55,957 shares of company stock valued at $5,495,920 in the last quarter. Insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Camden Property Trust

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale grew its stake in Camden Property Trust by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 97,859 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $9,272,000 after buying an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. MBB Public Markets I LLC boosted its stake in shares of Camden Property Trust by 201.2% in the 3rd quarter. MBB Public Markets I LLC now owns 235,013 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $22,228,000 after purchasing an additional 156,985 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia boosted its stake in shares of Camden Property Trust by 13.8% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 10,519 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $995,000 after purchasing an additional 1,277 shares in the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System raised its holdings in Camden Property Trust by 7.2% during the 2nd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 306,937 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $33,416,000 after buying an additional 20,622 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. bought a new stake in Camden Property Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at $828,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.04% of the companys stock.

Camden Property Trust Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Camden Property Trust, an S&P 500 Company, is a real estate company primarily engaged in the ownership, management, development, redevelopment, acquisition, and construction of multifamily apartment communities. Camden owns and operates 172 properties containing 58,634 apartment homes across the United States.

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Fulcrum Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm purchased 6,673 shares of the asset managers stock, valued at approximately $5,417,000. BlackRock accounts for about 1.4% of Fulcrum Capital LLCs holdings, making the stock its 28th largest holding.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of BLK. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new stake in BlackRock in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new position in BlackRock during the second quarter worth $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in BlackRock in the second quarter worth $33,000. Tyler Stone Wealth Management acquired a new position in BlackRock in the second quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC boosted its stake in BlackRock by 671.4% in the third quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 54 shares of the asset managers stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. 77.01% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently commented on BLK. BNP Paribas raised BlackRock from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $885.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. UBS Group increased their price target on BlackRock from $720.00 to $818.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered shares of BlackRock from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $708.00 price target for the company. in a report on Friday, December 15th. TD Cowen raised shares of BlackRock from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price target for the company from $819.00 to $938.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of BlackRock from $719.00 to $793.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $785.73.

Insider Transactions at BlackRock

In other news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 30,978 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $809.92, for a total transaction of $25,089,701.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 414,146 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $335,425,128.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO Laurence Fink sold 30,978 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $809.92, for a total transaction of $25,089,701.76. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 414,146 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $335,425,128.32. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, General Counsel Christopher J. Meade sold 18,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $282.54, for a total value of $5,085,660.60. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 11,914 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,366,142.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 100,511 shares of company stock valued at $71,864,028. 0.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

BlackRock Price Performance

NYSE:BLK opened at $802.52 on Monday. BlackRock, Inc. has a one year low of $596.18 and a one year high of $845.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 3.48 and a quick ratio of 3.48. The company has a market cap of $119.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.82 and a beta of 1.37. The firms fifty day moving average price is $801.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $736.12.

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The asset manager reported $9.66 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.84 by $0.82. BlackRock had a return on equity of 14.74% and a net margin of 30.81%. The company had revenue of $4.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.65 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $8.93 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that BlackRock, Inc. will post 39.73 earnings per share for the current year.

BlackRock Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 7th will be issued a dividend of $5.10 per share. This is a positive change from BlackRocks previous quarterly dividend of $5.00. This represents a $20.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.54%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 6th. BlackRocks dividend payout ratio is 55.88%.

BlackRock Company Profile

(Free Report)

BlackRock, Inc is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks.

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John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 17,600 shares, a decrease of 6.9% from the February 14th total of 18,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 60,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Institutional Trading of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Abel Hall LLC bought a new position in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $241,000. Aurora Investment Counsel grew its stake in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 6.3% during the 4th quarter. Aurora Investment Counsel now owns 86,761 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,610,000 after acquiring an additional 5,159 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 154,135 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,637,000 after acquiring an additional 5,124 shares in the last quarter. Stephens Inc. AR boosted its holdings in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 101.4% in the 4th quarter. Stephens Inc. AR now owns 20,593 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $619,000 after buying an additional 10,368 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 41.2% in the 4th quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 25,506 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $767,000 after buying an additional 7,440 shares during the last quarter. 17.72% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Stock Performance

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund stock traded down $0.17 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $27.23. 51,987 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 53,268. The firms 50 day moving average is $29.31 and its 200-day moving average is $27.83. John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund has a fifty-two week low of $22.95 and a fifty-two week high of $32.81.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Dividend Announcement

About John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Monday, March 11th will be given a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 8th. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.55%.

(Get Free Report)

John Hancock Financial Opportunities 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. The fund invests in the public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in the stocks of companies operating across the financial services sector.

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M. Kraus & Co decreased its position in Otis Worldwide Co. (NYSE:OTIS  Free Report) by 1.6% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 30,174 shares of the companys stock after selling 485 shares during the quarter. M. Kraus & Cos holdings in Otis Worldwide were worth $2,700,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Otis Worldwide by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 39,127,186 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,010,837,000 after buying an additional 829,784 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Otis Worldwide by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 16,043,265 shares of the companys stock worth $1,428,011,000 after purchasing an additional 236,353 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in Otis Worldwide by 5.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 13,210,697 shares of the companys stock worth $1,034,530,000 after purchasing an additional 681,992 shares during the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its holdings in Otis Worldwide by 32.5% in the 2nd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 12,239,672 shares of the companys stock worth $1,089,453,000 after purchasing an additional 2,999,494 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Otis Worldwide by 2.9% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 10,134,058 shares of the companys stock worth $901,088,000 after purchasing an additional 285,489 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.48% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently commented on OTIS. Argus upgraded Otis Worldwide from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $102.00 target price on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. UBS Group increased their target price on Otis Worldwide from $87.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $100.00 price target on shares of Otis Worldwide in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Vertical Research lowered Otis Worldwide from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Otis Worldwide from $97.00 to $95.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $92.29.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Judith Fran Marks sold 37,312 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.83, for a total transaction of $3,426,360.96. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 192,319 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,660,653.77. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider Montlivault Stephane De sold 18,393 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.10, for a total transaction of $1,675,602.30. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 67,274 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,128,661.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Judith Fran Marks sold 37,312 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.83, for a total value of $3,426,360.96. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 192,319 shares in the company, valued at $17,660,653.77. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.11% of the companys stock.

Otis Worldwide Stock Up 0.4 %

OTIS stock opened at $98.85 on Monday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $91.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $86.15. The company has a market cap of $40.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.06 and a beta of 1.01. Otis Worldwide Co. has a twelve month low of $73.32 and a twelve month high of $98.98.

Otis Worldwide (NYSE:OTIS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.85 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $3.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.57 billion. Otis Worldwide had a negative return on equity of 30.75% and a net margin of 9.90%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.75 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Otis Worldwide Co. will post 3.87 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Otis Worldwide Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 16th were issued a $0.34 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $1.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.38%. Otis Worldwides dividend payout ratio is presently 40.12%.

Otis Worldwide Profile

(Free Report)

Otis Worldwide Corporation engages in manufacturing, installation, and servicing of elevators and escalators in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, New Equipment and Service. The New Equipment segment designs, manufactures, sells, and installs a range of passenger and freight elevators, as well as escalators and moving walkways for residential and commercial buildings, and infrastructure projects.

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Marshall Financial Group LLC increased its position in Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR  Free Report) (TSE:QSR) by 7.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 22,852 shares of the restaurant operators stock after acquiring an additional 1,662 shares during the quarter. Marshall Financial Group LLCs holdings in Restaurant Brands International were worth $1,785,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in QSR. Pacifica Partners Inc. grew its holdings in Restaurant Brands International by 196.0% during the 4th quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 370 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 245 shares in the last quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co purchased a new stake in Restaurant Brands International during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Restaurant Brands International during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. BOKF NA purchased a new stake in Restaurant Brands International during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 73,500.0% in the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 736 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 735 shares in the last quarter.

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Insider Transactions at Restaurant Brands International

In related news, insider David Chan Shear sold 17,556 shares of Restaurant Brands International stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.26, for a total transaction of $1,338,820.56. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 210,535 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,055,399.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider David Chan Shear sold 17,556 shares of Restaurant Brands International stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.26, for a total transaction of $1,338,820.56. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 210,535 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,055,399.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Joshua Kobza sold 161,353 shares of Restaurant Brands International stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.57, for a total value of $12,193,446.21. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 578,125 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $43,688,906.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 408,792 shares of company stock worth $31,016,900. Insiders own 1.25% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler cut their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $85.00 to $84.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Stephens reissued an equal weight rating and issued a $75.00 target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $88.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $82.30.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on QSR

Restaurant Brands International Stock Up 1.1 %

Shares of Restaurant Brands International stock traded up $0.86 during trading on Monday, hitting $79.87. 850,515 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,426,126. The firm has a market cap of $25.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.78. Restaurant Brands International Inc. has a 52-week low of $61.14 and a 52-week high of $83.29. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $77.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $72.50.

Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR  Get Free Report) (TSE:QSR) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The restaurant operator reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $1.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.80 billion. Restaurant Brands International had a return on equity of 32.20% and a net margin of 16.95%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.72 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Restaurant Brands International Inc. will post 3.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Restaurant Brands International Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.58 per share. This is a positive change from Restaurant Brands Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.90%. Restaurant Brands Internationals payout ratio is presently 61.54%.

Restaurant Brands International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Restaurant Brands International Inc operates as a quick-service restaurant company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Tim Hortons (TH), Burger King (BK), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (PLK), and Firehouse Subs (FHS). The company owns and franchises TH chain of donut/coffee/tea restaurants that offer blend coffee, tea, and espresso-based hot and cold specialty drinks; and fresh baked goods, including donuts, Timbits, bagels, muffins, cookies and pastries, grilled paninis, classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, and other food products.

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LG Energy Solution has set up a new R&D center exclusively designed for next-generation battery technologies, the firm said Monday.

Managed directly by the battery makers CEO Kim Dong-myung, LG Energy Solution Future Technology Center aims not only to study cutting-edge technologies but also to develop commercialization processes in the field of batteries.

The center will study comprehensive energy solutions in various fields including secondary batteries for vehicles, light lithium-sulfur for planes and lithium-metal batteries, the company said in a press release.

LG Energy Solution Vice President Chung Geun-chang is expected to head the center. The firm added Chung is a battery technology expert who has been in the business for about 30 years.

The center will do its best to develop top-notch next-generation battery to offer differentiated experiences for our customers, Chung said.

LG Energy Solution invested more than 1 trillion won ($760 million) in the companys R&D operation last year despite faltering demand for electric vehicles. The figure is up 18.4 percent from the previous years 876 billion won, according to the companys 2023 business report.

In November, the firm said it successfully developed a source technology for lithium-metal batteries through a collaboration with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. The related research paper was also published in the international scientific journal Nature Energy.

Lithium-metal batteries are considered to be a next-generation battery replacing conventional graphite-based anode material of lithium-ion batteries.

The company also spent 10.89 trillion won on production facilities last year, jumping 73 percent from 6.29 trillion won the previous year.

LG Energy Solution aims to enhance its competitiveness in technology while strengthening customer experience this year, Kim said. (advertorial)
Marshall Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 26,313 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock, valued at approximately $1,350,000.

Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. State Street Corp increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 92,570,288 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $5,919,870,000 after purchasing an additional 858,922 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 12.8% during the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 69,296,006 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $4,431,517,000 after purchasing an additional 7,878,833 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 39,034,341 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,489,314,000 after purchasing an additional 225,065 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter valued at $1,873,696,000. Finally, Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 5.8% during the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 25,292,711 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,467,989,000 after purchasing an additional 1,394,158 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.98% of the companys stock.

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Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

NYSE BMY traded down $0.37 during trading on Monday, hitting $51.97. 6,192,324 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 17,288,666. The stock has a market capitalization of $105.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.49, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.38. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12-month low of $47.58 and a 12-month high of $71.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.43. The business has a 50 day moving average of $50.54 and a 200-day moving average of $52.88.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.55 by $0.15. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 50.95% and a net margin of 17.83%. The firm had revenue of $11.48 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.19 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.82 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up .6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 6.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 5th will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.62%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 4th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is presently 62.18%.

Bristol-Myers Squibb announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a stock buyback plan on Thursday, December 7th that authorizes the company to buyback $3.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the biopharmaceutical company to purchase up to 2.9% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are typically an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on BMY shares. Societe Generale downgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 11th. Redburn Atlantic downgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $77.00 to $54.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $58.00 to $51.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. StockNews.com raised shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Bank of America downgraded shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $68.00 to $60.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have given a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $61.12.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile

(Free Report)

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia.

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Range Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Free Report) by 4.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,263 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 495 shares during the period. Johnson & Johnson comprises 1.1% of Range Financial Group LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Range Financial Group LLCs holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $1,765,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in JNJ. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 6.4% in the 4th quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,576 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,031,000 after buying an additional 397 shares in the last quarter. Financial Network Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Johnson & Johnson by 29.6% in the 4th quarter. Financial Network Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,357 shares of the companys stock valued at $369,000 after purchasing an additional 538 shares during the last quarter. Vickerman Investment Advisors Inc. raised its position in Johnson & Johnson by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Vickerman Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 18,025 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,825,000 after purchasing an additional 282 shares during the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC raised its position in Johnson & Johnson by 29.5% in the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 5,426 shares of the companys stock valued at $850,000 after purchasing an additional 1,237 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Johnson & Johnson by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,112 shares of the companys stock valued at $958,000 after purchasing an additional 214 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.40% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently commented on JNJ shares. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $181.00 price target on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Johnson & Johnson from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $170.00 to $163.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective 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. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and set a $215.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded 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 report on Friday, December 1st. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned 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 an average target price of $177.31.

Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE JNJ opened at $158.12 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $380.87 billion, a PE ratio of 11.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.53. Johnson & Johnson has a 12 month low of $144.95 and a 12 month high of $175.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $159.58 and a 200-day simple moving average of $156.91.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $2.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.01. Johnson & Johnson had a net margin of 37.79% and a return on equity of 37.27%. The firm had revenue of $21.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.02 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.35 earnings per share. Johnson & Johnsons revenue was down 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.65 earnings per share for the current year.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 5th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were given a dividend of $1.19 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. This represents a $4.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.01%. Johnson & Johnsons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 34.47%.

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 that occurred 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 141,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,099,078.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of the businesss 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 141,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at $22,099,078.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, major shareholder & Johnson Johnson sold 3,725 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.81, for a total transaction of $96,142.25. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 4,099,575 shares in the company, valued at $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 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.

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Shares of Rio Tinto Group (LON:RIO  Get Free Report) have received a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the seven brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 6,262.86 ($80.24).

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on RIO shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Rio Tinto Group from GBX 7,000 ($89.69) to GBX 7,040 ($90.20) and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 6,200 ($79.44) price target on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a report on Monday, February 19th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Rio Tinto Group from GBX 6,100 ($78.16) to GBX 5,900 ($75.59) and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 22nd.

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Read Our Latest Stock Report on RIO

Insider Transactions at Rio Tinto Group

Rio Tinto Group Trading Up 0.7 %

In other news, insider Peter Cunningham sold 3,939 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 5,216 ($66.83), for a total value of 205,458.24 ($263,239.26). Insiders own 14.67% of the companys stock.

Shares of LON:RIO opened at GBX 4,895 ($62.72) on Monday. Rio Tinto Group has a 12-month low of GBX 4,509.50 ($57.78) and a 12-month high of GBX 5,910 ($75.72). The businesss fifty day simple moving average is GBX 5,282.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 5,309.45. The company has a market capitalization of 61.19 billion, a PE ratio of 1,008.71, a P/E/G ratio of -0.64 and a beta of 0.66. The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 25.47.

Rio Tinto Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 7th will be given a GBX 203.77 ($2.61) dividend. This is a boost from Rio Tinto Groups previous dividend of $137.67. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a dividend yield of 3.9%. Rio Tinto Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 7,074.69%.

Rio Tinto Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. The Iron Ore segment engages in the iron ore mining, and salt and gypsum production in Western Australia. The Aluminum segment is involved in bauxite mining; alumina refining; and aluminium smelting.

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Sanders Morris Harris LLC bought a new position in Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund bought 12,000 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock, valued at approximately $2,702,000. Pioneer Natural Resources comprises approximately 1.3% of Sanders Morris Harris LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 18th largest holding.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources in the 1st quarter worth approximately $42,000. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Pioneer Natural Resources by 59.5% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 2,074 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock worth $519,000 after purchasing an additional 774 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in Pioneer Natural Resources by 52.1% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 3,249 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock valued at $812,000 after acquiring an additional 1,113 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Pioneer Natural Resources by 22.6% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 108,614 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock valued at $27,157,000 after acquiring an additional 20,023 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. raised its stake in Pioneer Natural Resources by 35.9% during the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 3,430 shares of the oil and gas development companys stock valued at $858,000 after acquiring an additional 907 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.72% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Pioneer Natural Resources news, EVP Mark H. Kleinman sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.35, for a total value of $820,225.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 49,856 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,683,753.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, EVP Mark H. Kleinman sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.35, for a total transaction of $820,225.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 49,856 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,683,753.60. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Scott D. Sheffield sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $235.25, for a total value of $2,352,500.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 462,112 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $108,711,848. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.57% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently commented on PXD. Mizuho boosted their price objective on Pioneer Natural Resources from $264.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. StockNews.com began coverage on Pioneer Natural Resources in a research note on Tuesday, March 12th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Argus downgraded Pioneer Natural Resources from a buy rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, November 24th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $243.00 to $224.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, Susquehanna lifted their target price on Pioneer Natural Resources from $237.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, March 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Pioneer Natural Resources presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $254.15.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on Pioneer Natural Resources

Pioneer Natural Resources Stock Up 1.3 %

PXD traded up $3.18 during trading on Monday, reaching $253.14. 641,839 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,224,126. The stock has a market cap of $59.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.45 and a beta of 1.30. Pioneer Natural Resources has a fifty-two week low of $181.51 and a fifty-two week high of $257.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.72. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $230.55 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $232.82.

Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE:PXD  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The oil and gas development company reported $5.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $5.41 by ($0.13). Pioneer Natural Resources had a net margin of 25.28% and a return on equity of 22.42%. The firm had revenue of $5.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.28 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $5.91 EPS. Pioneer Natural Resourcess revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Pioneer Natural Resources will post 20.61 EPS for the current year.

Pioneer Natural Resources Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be given a $2.56 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 1st. This represents a $10.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.05%. Pioneer Natural Resourcess dividend payout ratio is currently 24.70%.

Pioneer Natural Resources Profile

(Free Report)

Pioneer Natural Resources Company operates as an independent oil and gas exploration and production company in the United States. The company explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and gas. It has operations in the Midland Basin in West Texas. The company was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

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Grupo Herdez, S.A.B. de C.V. (OTCMKTS:GUZOF  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 80,600 shares, a decline of 10.7% from the February 14th total of 90,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 134.3 days.

Grupo Herdez Price Performance

OTCMKTS GUZOF traded down C$0.03 on Monday, reaching C$2.65. The stock had a trading volume of 900 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,700. Grupo Herdez has a 12-month low of C$2.06 and a 12-month high of C$2.86. The businesss 50-day moving average price is C$2.59 and its 200 day moving average price is C$2.44.

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Grupo Herdez Company Profile

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Grupo Herdez, SAB. de C.V., a food company, engages in the manufacture, purchase, distribution, and marketing of canned and packed food products in Mexico and internationally. It provides mushrooms, vegetable juices, mayonnaise, honey, mustard, moles, tomato puree, jams, pastas, homemade sauces, ice creams, tea, soy sauce, tuna, coffee, spices, pasta sauces, hot sauces, ketchup, canned chilies, vegetables, olives, nopalitos, guacamole, sauces, enchilada sauces, taco sauce, chiles, tortillas, mayonnaise, marmalades, and organic products under the Aires de Campo, Barilla, Blason, Bufalo, Cielito Querido Cafe, Del Fuerte, Dona Maria, Embasa, Helados Nestle, Herdez, McCormick, Moyo, Nutrisa, La Victoria, Wholly Guacamole, Yemina, Carlota, ChiChi's, Don Miguel, Nutrisa, Nestle Ice Cream, Cielito Dear Coffee, and Moyo brands.

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Ambev S.A. (NYSE:ABEV  Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading on Monday. Stock traders purchased 5,511 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of 439% compared to the typical volume of 1,023 put options.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ambev

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Ambev by 244.5% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 43,146,270 shares of the companys stock worth $108,297,000 after purchasing an additional 30,623,051 shares during the last quarter. Perpetual Ltd increased its position in shares of Ambev by 102.4% during the 4th quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 59,059,948 shares of the companys stock worth $165,368,000 after purchasing an additional 29,873,295 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in shares of Ambev by 39.1% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 48,691,824 shares of the companys stock worth $137,798,000 after purchasing an additional 13,691,138 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of Ambev by 102.1% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 22,177,326 shares of the companys stock worth $62,540,000 after purchasing an additional 11,204,526 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC increased its position in shares of Ambev by 34,240.8% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 8,181,005 shares of the companys stock worth $22,252,000 after purchasing an additional 8,157,182 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.37% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have issued reports on ABEV. Citigroup began coverage on Ambev in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. They set a buy rating for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a neutral rating on shares of Ambev in a report on Friday, March 1st. TheStreet upgraded Ambev from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Morgan Stanley upgraded Ambev from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, December 8th. Finally, Barclays cut Ambev from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $3.50 to $3.00 in a report on Monday, March 4th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $3.20.

Ambev Stock Down 0.4 %

Ambev stock traded down $0.01 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $2.49. The stock had a trading volume of 6,716,743 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,179,736. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $2.62 and its 200-day simple moving average is $2.68. Ambev has a 1-year low of $2.42 and a 1-year high of $3.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a current ratio of 0.89.

About Ambev

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Ambev SA, through its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, and sale of beer, draft beer, carbonated soft drinks, other non-alcoholic beverages, malt, and food products. It offers beer primarily under the Skol, Brahma, Antarctica, Brahva, Budweiser, Bud Light, Beck, Leffe and Hoegaarden, Bucanero, Cristal, Mayabe, Presidente, Presidente Light, Brahma Light, Bohemia, The One, Corona, Modelo Especial, Stella Artois, Quilmes Clasica, Pacena, Taquina, Huari, Becker, Cusquena, Michelob Ultra, Busch, Pilsen, Ouro Fino, Banks, Deputy, Patricia, Labatt Blue, Alexander Keith's, and Kokanee brands.

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TruWealth Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 4.1% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 108,226 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after acquiring an additional 4,261 shares during the quarter. TruWealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $11,912,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ABT. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 137,153,545 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $14,952,480,000 after buying an additional 1,584,552 shares during the period. Capital Research Global Investors grew its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 1.1% in the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 77,225,258 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $8,419,032,000 after acquiring an additional 820,369 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 74,817,109 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $8,156,561,000 after acquiring an additional 1,362,889 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors lifted its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 4.9% in the 2nd quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 59,178,607 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $6,451,127,000 after purchasing an additional 2,747,652 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 14.3% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 38,966,499 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $4,278,132,000 after purchasing an additional 4,886,954 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.70% of the companys stock.

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Abbott Laboratories Price Performance

NYSE ABT traded down $0.64 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $114.85. The company had a trading volume of 2,924,957 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,305,878. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $115.42 and a 200 day simple moving average of $105.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.64. The firm has a market capitalization of $199.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.43, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.75. Abbott Laboratories has a 52 week low of $89.67 and a 52 week high of $121.64.

Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.19. The firm had revenue of $10.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.19 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.65% and a net margin of 14.27%. The companys revenue was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.03 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.62 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 15th will be given a $0.55 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 12th. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.92%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is currently 67.48%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have issued reports on ABT. Raymond James lifted their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $124.00 to $127.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $133.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $128.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $116.00 to $121.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $123.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $120.00.

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Insider Activity at Abbott Laboratories

In other news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 42,500 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total transaction of $4,781,250.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 65,027 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,315,537.50. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Abbott Laboratories news, VP John A. Jr. Mccoy sold 472 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $118.50, for a total transaction of $55,932.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 18,760 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,223,060. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 42,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.50, for a total transaction of $4,781,250.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 65,027 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,315,537.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 56,435 shares of company stock worth $6,451,298 over the last quarter. 1.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Abbott Laboratories Profile

(Free Report)

Abbott Laboratories, together with its subsidiaries, discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells health care products worldwide. It operates in four segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The company provides generic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, irritable bowel syndrome or biliary spasm, intrahepatic cholestasis or depressive symptoms, gynecological disorder, hormone replacement therapy, dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypothyroidism, Meniere's disease and vestibular vertigo, pain, fever, inflammation, and migraine, as well as provides anti-infective clarithromycin, influenza vaccine, and products to regulate physiological rhythm of the colon.

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UiPath (NYSE:PATH  Get Free Report) had its price objective increased by equities researchers at TD Cowen from $25.00 to $28.00 in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an outperform rating on the healthcare companys stock. TD Cowens price target would suggest a potential upside of 21.42% from the stocks current price.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on PATH. Barclays raised their target price on UiPath from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday. Needham & Company LLC raised their target price on UiPath from $25.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Scotiabank started coverage on UiPath in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. They issued a sector perform rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised UiPath from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $22.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Mizuho raised their price objective on UiPath from $18.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $27.13.

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UiPath Stock Up 1.4 %

Insider Buying and Selling at UiPath

NYSE:PATH traded up $0.31 on Thursday, hitting $23.06. The stock had a trading volume of 9,743,614 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,074,664. The stock has a market cap of $13.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -135.46 and a beta of 0.97. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $23.52 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $20.70. UiPath has a 52-week low of $12.38 and a 52-week high of $27.87.

In other UiPath news, CFO Ashim Gupta sold 16,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.47, for a total transaction of $359,520.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 103,505 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,325,757.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Rich Wong sold 200,000 shares of UiPath stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.12, for a total value of $4,624,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 429,418 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,928,144.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Ashim Gupta sold 16,000 shares of UiPath stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.47, for a total value of $359,520.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 103,505 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,325,757.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 411,000 shares of company stock worth $9,418,670 in the last quarter. 31.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On UiPath

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in UiPath by 5.9% during the 3rd quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 139,544 shares of the healthcare companys stock valued at $2,388,000 after acquiring an additional 7,742 shares during the period. Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in UiPath by 55.2% during the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 968,036 shares of the healthcare companys stock valued at $16,039,000 after acquiring an additional 344,499 shares during the period. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in UiPath during the 3rd quarter valued at $203,000. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in UiPath by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 399,181 shares of the healthcare companys stock valued at $6,830,000 after acquiring an additional 10,863 shares during the period. Finally, Symmetry Partners LLC purchased a new position in UiPath during the 4th quarter valued at $205,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 59.04% of the companys stock.

About UiPath

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UiPath Inc provides an end-to-end automation platform that offers a range of robotic process automation (RPA) solutions primarily in the United States, Romania, and Japan. The company offers a suite of interrelated software to build, manage, run, engage, measure, and govern automation within the organization.

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W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW  Get Free Report) had its target price raised by equities researchers at UBS Group from $740.00 to $1,000.00 in a report released on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the industrial products companys stock. UBS Groups price target suggests a potential upside of 0.55% from the stocks current price.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Loop Capital lowered shares of W.W. Grainger from a buy rating to a hold rating and lifted their target price for the company from $925.00 to $1,000.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of W.W. Grainger from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $825.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, December 20th. Oppenheimer raised their price target on shares of 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. StockNews.com raised shares of W.W. Grainger from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on shares of W.W. Grainger from $809.00 to $907.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, W.W. Grainger currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $913.89.

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W.W. Grainger Stock Up 0.0 %

GWW traded up $0.12 on Thursday, hitting $994.49. The company had a trading volume of 187,148 shares, compared to its average volume of 245,558. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 2.88 and a quick ratio of 1.64. W.W. Grainger has a 52-week low of $625.97 and a 52-week high of $1,016.89. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $925.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of $815.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $48.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.62, a P/E/G ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.14.

W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported $8.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $8.05 by $0.28. W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 11.10% and a return on equity of 56.54%. The firm had revenue of $4 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.04 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $7.14 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that W.W. Grainger will post 39.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at W.W. Grainger

In other news, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,813 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $968.88, for a total value of $3,694,339.44. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 4,909 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,756,231.92. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,813 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $968.88, for a total value of $3,694,339.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 4,909 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,756,231.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,122 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $950.22, for a total transaction of $2,966,586.84. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in GWW. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of W.W. Grainger during the 4th quarter valued at about $392,470,000. Stifel Financial Corp raised its position in W.W. Grainger by 536.8% in the 2nd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 447,603 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $352,994,000 after purchasing an additional 377,309 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in W.W. Grainger by 7.2% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,372,006 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,447,721,000 after purchasing an additional 294,558 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its position in W.W. Grainger by 17.2% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,396,928 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $966,451,000 after purchasing an additional 204,507 shares during the period. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its position in W.W. Grainger by 1,568.4% in the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 165,035 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $85,122,000 after purchasing an additional 155,143 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 71.24% of the companys stock.

W.W. Grainger Company Profile

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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.

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Whitener Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV  Free Report) by 1.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 35,115 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 344 shares during the period. AbbVie comprises 2.0% of Whitener Capital Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. Whitener Capital Management Inc.s holdings in AbbVie were worth $5,442,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in AbbVie by 89,097.0% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 29,203,106 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,719,514,000 after buying an additional 29,170,366 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of AbbVie in the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,033,348,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in shares of AbbVie by 29,922.3% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 6,032,374 shares of the companys stock worth $899,186,000 after purchasing an additional 6,012,281 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley lifted its position in shares of AbbVie by 17.9% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 31,571,750 shares of the companys stock worth $5,102,311,000 after purchasing an additional 4,785,277 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its position in shares of AbbVie by 426.5% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 4,652,122 shares of the companys stock worth $754,155,000 after purchasing an additional 3,768,579 shares during the period. 67.86% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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AbbVie Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of ABBV stock traded up $1.22 during trading on Monday, reaching $179.10. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,602,580 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,609,655. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.02, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.76. The company has a market capitalization of $316.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 65.48, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.58. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $171.96 and its 200 day moving average price is $156.29. AbbVie Inc. has a 1-year low of $130.96 and a 1-year high of $182.89.

AbbVie Dividend Announcement

AbbVie ( NYSE:ABBV Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The company reported $2.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.76 by $0.03. AbbVie had a net margin of 8.95% and a return on equity of 162.28%. The company had revenue of $14.30 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.02 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.60 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that AbbVie Inc. will post 11.15 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 15th will be issued a $1.55 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 12th. This represents a $6.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.46%. AbbVies payout ratio is 227.11%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Nicholas Donoghoe sold 2,912 shares of AbbVie stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.72, for a total value of $450,544.64. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 55,903 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,649,312.16. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other AbbVie news, CEO Richard A. Gonzalez sold 138,616 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $177.27, for a total value of $24,572,458.32. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 519,099 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $92,020,679.73. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Nicholas Donoghoe sold 2,912 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.72, for a total transaction of $450,544.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 55,903 shares in the company, valued at $8,649,312.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 306,205 shares of company stock valued at $53,974,299 in the last ninety days. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ABBV has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. HSBC cut shares of AbbVie from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their target price for the company from $167.00 to $156.00 in a research report on Monday, December 18th. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of AbbVie from $181.00 to $189.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of AbbVie from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $173.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 11th. William Blair upgraded shares of AbbVie from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of AbbVie from $187.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AbbVie has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $175.36.

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AbbVie Profile

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AbbVie Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Humira, a therapy administered as an injection for autoimmune, intestinal Behcet's diseases, and pyoderma gangrenosum; Skyrizi to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic disease, and Crohn's disease; Rinvoq to treat rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, atopic dermatitis, axial spondyloarthropathy, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease; Imbruvica for the treatment of adult patients with blood cancers; Epkinly to treat lymphoma; Elahere to treat cancer; and Venclexta/Venclyxto to treat blood cancers.

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Korea's antitrust regulator has launched an on-site inspection into over-the-top streaming platforms Netflix and Wavve on suspicions of their failure to properly notify users of terms of an early subscription cancellation, officials said Monday.

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) sent inspectors to their respective offices in Seoul and secured documents on their terms of use and other customer response policy measures on unsubscribing from the services, according to industry officials.

Netflix and Wavve have allegedly made it difficult for users to cancel their subscription early for a partial refund or have not provided them with enough information on how to cancel the membership within the billing period.

The probe has been led by a newly established FTC team in charge of "swift and intensive" investigation into cases in which many people have been highly interested, the officials said.

The FTC refused to confirm if any probe is going on into the platforms, simply vowing "a stern response to any violations."

Netflix is the No. 1 video-on-demand streaming service in Korea with more than 11.64 million monthly users as of end-2023, and Wavve by Korea's SK Square ranked fourth with 4.05 million users, according to the data by the Korea Communications Commission. (Yonhap)
Shares of Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE:WOLF  Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Hold from the fourteen research firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $46.40.

WOLF has been the topic of several analyst reports. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on Wolfspeed from $55.00 to $45.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on Wolfspeed from $44.00 to $43.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 1st.

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Insider Buying and Selling

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wolfspeed

In related news, CFO Neill Reynolds sold 3,000 shares of Wolfspeed stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.94, for a total transaction of $134,820.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 161,866 shares in the company, valued at $7,274,258.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In other Wolfspeed news, CFO Neill Reynolds sold 3,000 shares of Wolfspeed stock in a transaction on Friday, December 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $44.94, for a total value of $134,820.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 161,866 shares in the company, valued at $7,274,258.04. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website . Also, Director Darren R. Jackson bought 10,000 shares of Wolfspeed stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of $25.80 per share, for a total transaction of $258,000.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 49,021 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,264,741.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . 0.62% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Wolfspeed by 234.5% in the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 168,103 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,405,000 after buying an additional 117,848 shares in the last quarter. Boston Partners acquired a new stake in shares of Wolfspeed in the third quarter valued at $2,032,000. UBS Group AG grew its stake in shares of Wolfspeed by 57.5% in the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 219,080 shares of the companys stock valued at $8,347,000 after buying an additional 80,011 shares in the last quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd grew its stake in shares of Wolfspeed by 86.7% in the third quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd now owns 703,822 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,816,000 after buying an additional 326,810 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Wolfspeed in the third quarter valued at $262,000.

Wolfspeed Trading Up 0.2 %

Wolfspeed stock opened at $26.08 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $29.82 and a two-hundred day moving average of $35.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.50, a quick ratio of 4.58 and a current ratio of 5.13. Wolfspeed has a one year low of $23.54 and a one year high of $70.42. The stock has a market cap of $3.28 billion, a PE ratio of -4.29 and a beta of 1.65.

Wolfspeed (NYSE:WOLF  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported ($0.69) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.79) by $0.10. Wolfspeed had a negative return on equity of 19.35% and a negative net margin of 87.35%. The firm had revenue of $208.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $205.94 million. On average, research analysts anticipate that Wolfspeed will post -3.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Wolfspeed

(Get Free Report

Wolfspeed, Inc operates as a powerhouse semiconductor company focuses on silicon carbide and gallium nitride (GaN) technologies in Europe, Hong Kong, China, rest of Asia-Pacific, the United States, and internationally. It offers silicon carbide and GaN materials, including silicon carbide bare wafers, epitaxial wafers, and GaN epitaxial layers on silicon carbide wafers to manufacture products for RF, power, and other applications.

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Central Bank & Trust Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (NYSEARCA:PCY  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 2,836 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $58,000.

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A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of PCY. Pure Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $228,000. Citigroup Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF by 104.6% in the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 144,029 shares of the companys stock worth $2,631,000 after buying an additional 73,629 shares in the last quarter. Comerica Bank acquired a new position in shares of Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $336,000. Creative Planning acquired a new stake in Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Revisor Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF during the 3rd quarter valued at $199,000.

Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF Stock Down 0.3 %

PCY stock opened at $20.23 on Monday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $20.10 and a 200 day moving average price of $19.38. Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF has a fifty-two week low of $17.30 and a fifty-two week high of $20.86.

About Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF

The Invesco Emerging Markets Sovereign Debt ETF (PCY) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund tracks a tier-weighted index of US-dollar-denominated sovereign debt in emerging markets with at least 3 years to maturity. PCY was launched on Oct 11, 2007 and is managed by Invesco.

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First Hawaiian Bank lifted its stake in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) by 9.3% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 9,352 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after acquiring an additional 793 shares during the period. First Hawaiian Banks holdings in EOG Resources were worth $1,131,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of EOG. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of EOG Resources during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in EOG Resources during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. McIlrath & Eck LLC increased its holdings in EOG Resources by 77.6% during the 3rd quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 238 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC increased its holdings in EOG Resources by 530.0% during the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 252 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 212 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Peoples Bank KS purchased a new stake in EOG Resources during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. 89.21% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

EOG Resources Trading Down 0.8 %

NYSE:EOG opened at $122.79 on Monday. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 12-month low of $98.52 and a 12-month high of $136.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $71.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.44, a P/E/G ratio of 0.38 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 2.44 and a quick ratio of 2.13. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $114.61 and a 200 day simple moving average of $121.71.

EOG Resources Dividend Announcement

EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 23rd. The energy exploration company reported $3.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.14 by ($0.07). EOG Resources had a net margin of 31.40% and a return on equity of 25.38%. The company had revenue of $6.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.18 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.30 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.31 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 16th will be given a dividend of $0.91 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 15th. This represents a $3.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.96%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.98%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Truist Financial dropped their price objective on EOG Resources from $172.00 to $165.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 26th. TD Securities dropped their price objective on EOG Resources from $135.00 to $130.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 23rd. KeyCorp dropped their price objective on EOG Resources from $157.00 to $147.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on EOG Resources from $153.00 to $141.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 7th. Finally, UBS Group decreased their target price on EOG Resources from $165.00 to $145.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $141.80.

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EOG Resources Company Profile

(Free Report)

EOG Resources, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, explores for, develops, produces, and markets crude oil, and natural gas and natural gas liquids. Its principal producing areas are in New Mexico and Texas in the United States; and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The company was formerly known as Enron Oil & Gas Company.

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A retired U.S. Army general has expressed confidence over the future of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, stressing that nobody would be "foolish enough" to undermine it "whoever" wins in the U.S. presidential election in November.

Robert Brown, the president of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), made the remarks on Tuesday, amid speculation that depending on the election outcome, America's policy approach toward the alliance could undergo a shift.

The White House race has shaped up to be a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, while South Korea and other allies have been paying keen attention to their respective campaigns due to potential policy implications.

"In my mind, there's no way anybody would be foolish enough to, in any way, hurt the strong alliance that exists to protect the Korean Peninsula," Brown, a former U.S. Army Pacific commander, said in an interview with the South Korean press corps arranged by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency.

"Whoever is elected, I can't imagine that they would think it would be a good idea to disrupt something that for 70-plus years has preserved peace, and it is the best chance of preserving peace in the future," he added.

With Trump being the presumptive Republican nominee, concerns have persisted that his transactional approach to alliances, as seen during his presidency from 2017-2021, could cause tensions with allies.

Further deepening concerns was Trump's stump speech last month, in which he said that if reelected, he would "encourage" Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" to "delinquent" North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members that fail to meet their defense spending commitments.

Recalling his recent dinner meeting with U.S. military leaders, Brown highlighted the common thread running through the meeting: an "unbelievable" bond between South Korea and the U.S.

"As we started talking, we realized ... our fathers had fought in the Korean War," he said. "(The fathers) had shed blood together with our close allies, and this is a bond that is unbelievable."

Brown went on to emphasize that that bond is not going to go away "by some political, foolish mistakes."

Casting the bilateral alliance as being "critical" to peace on the peninsula and in the broader Indo-Pacific region, he said that "there is no question" about the value of the longstanding partnership.

"I think it's absolutely key that the alliance is what prevents (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un from doing something stupid and trying to cause a war or conflict, or harm in any way," he said.

"I truly believe I can't imagine anyone  based on politics or anything else  not seeing the value of that alliance in the peace and stability on the peninsula."

The AUSA president underlined the need to do "everything" to ensure North Korea does not have any nuclear capability at all, when asked to comment on U.S. officials' recent focus on "interim steps" toward Pyongyang's denuclearization.

The mention of "interim" steps raised concerns among some observers that Washington could focus more on the nuclear non-proliferation than on the long-term goal of the North's denuclearization. In the negotiation lexicon, interim steps usually involve the North's nuclear freeze in return for sanctions relief or other incentives.

"There is a lot of different talks going on on policy and methods," he said. "But I don't see anybody in a policy that would support a nuclear North Korea having that capability."

Drawing a lesson from Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, Brown stressed the need for cooperation among the U.S. and its allies to strengthen the defense industrial base through the co-development and co-production of defense products.

"You've got to cooperate and work with others and co-development and co-production is really the future because it is the biggest fear of the authoritarian regimes that would want more power and want to go after democratic and free nations and disrupt a free and open Indo-Pacific," he said.

He also highlighted the importance of compatibility among the allies' military platforms.

"The more the equipment is compatible, the better it is as you work as allies and partners," he said. "That is the key to security in the future."

Brown, moreover, underscored the "critical" importance of trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan and voiced his hope for its expansion to include other countries to promote regional security.

"I would expand that to other allies that the U.S. has, like Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, India and so on," he said. "That is the best chance at maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and in deterring conflict." (Yonhap)
First Hawaiian Bank reduced its position in shares of Tempur Sealy International, Inc. (NYSE:TPX  Free Report) by 19.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 21,825 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,310 shares during the quarter. First Hawaiian Banks holdings in Tempur Sealy International were worth $1,112,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TPX. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in Tempur Sealy International by 70.7% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 79,640 shares of the companys stock worth $2,224,000 after acquiring an additional 32,989 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its position in Tempur Sealy International by 7.7% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 20,564 shares of the companys stock worth $574,000 after acquiring an additional 1,476 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in Tempur Sealy International by 17.1% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 29,980 shares of the companys stock worth $871,000 after acquiring an additional 4,379 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in Tempur Sealy International by 2.8% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 508,624 shares of the companys stock worth $14,201,000 after acquiring an additional 13,942 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its position in Tempur Sealy International by 10.5% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 70,553 shares of the companys stock worth $1,970,000 after acquiring an additional 6,727 shares in the last quarter. 99.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

TPX has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Tempur Sealy International from $45.00 to $58.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 19th. Piper Sandler raised shares of Tempur Sealy International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their price objective for the company from $41.00 to $61.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. KeyCorp increased their price objective on shares of Tempur Sealy International from $56.00 to $60.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Wedbush reissued an outperform rating and issued a $50.00 price objective on shares of Tempur Sealy International in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $55.50.

Tempur Sealy International Price Performance

NYSE:TPX opened at $53.01 on Monday. Tempur Sealy International, Inc. has a 52 week low of $34.98 and a 52 week high of $56.44. The firm has a market cap of $9.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.56. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $51.78 and its 200 day simple moving average is $46.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.81, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 1.21.

Tempur Sealy International (NYSE:TPX  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.53 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.54 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $1.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.18 billion. Tempur Sealy International had a return on equity of 239.67% and a net margin of 7.47%. Tempur Sealy Internationals revenue was down 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.54 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Tempur Sealy International, Inc. will post 2.75 earnings per share for the current year.

Tempur Sealy International Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 22nd were paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.98%. This is an increase from Tempur Sealy Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.11. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 21st. Tempur Sealy Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 25.12%.

Tempur Sealy International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Tempur Sealy International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, distributes, and retails bedding products in the United States and internationally. It provides mattresses, foundations and adjustable foundations, and adjustable bases, as well as other products comprising pillows, mattress covers, sheets, cushions, and various other accessories and comfort products under the Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, Stearns & Foster, Sealy, and Cocoon by Sealy brand names.

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First Hawaiian Bank reduced its position in Masonite International Co. (NYSE:DOOR  Free Report) by 4.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 14,440 shares of the companys stock after selling 720 shares during the period. First Hawaiian Banks holdings in Masonite International were worth $1,222,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Masonite International during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in Masonite International by 352.5% during the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 267 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 208 shares during the period. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc acquired a new position in shares of Masonite International during the third quarter worth about $32,000. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its stake in shares of Masonite International by 55.0% in the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 513 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Masonite International during the 1st quarter valued at about $46,000.

Masonite International Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:DOOR opened at $130.70 on Monday. Masonite International Co. has a twelve month low of $76.87 and a twelve month high of $131.17. The firm has a market cap of $2.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a 50 day moving average of $111.37 and a 200-day moving average of $96.72. The company has a current ratio of 2.42, a quick ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Masonite International ( NYSE:DOOR Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The company reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.36 by ($0.05). Masonite International had a return on equity of 20.17% and a net margin of 4.18%. The business had revenue of $660.58 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $659.87 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.72 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Masonite International Co. will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

A number of research firms have recently commented on DOOR. Wedbush reissued a neutral rating and set a $133.00 target price on shares of Masonite International in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Robert W. Baird cut Masonite International from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the stock from $106.00 to $92.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and set a $133.00 price objective (up previously from $115.00) on shares of Masonite International in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a hold rating and set a $133.00 target price (up from $119.00) on shares of Masonite International in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Masonite International from $87.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Masonite International currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $116.89.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on DOOR

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP James C. Pelletier sold 262 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.06, for a total transaction of $34,075.72. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 12,739 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,656,834.34. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Robert Paxton sold 721 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.95, for a total value of $93,693.95. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 20,798 shares in the company, valued at $2,702,700.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP James C. Pelletier sold 262 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.06, for a total value of $34,075.72. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 12,739 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,656,834.34. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 1,641 shares of company stock worth $213,329. 1.21% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Masonite International Profile

(Free Report)

Masonite International Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes interior and exterior doors and door solutions for the new construction and repair, renovation, and remodeling sectors of the residential and non-residential building construction markets worldwide. It offers interior doors of wood and related materials, including wood composite molded and flat door facings; exterior doors of steel, fiberglass, or composite materials; and molded panel, flush, stile and rail, steel, and fiberglass residential doors; and architectural doors, as well as Z-articulating cap sill, ADAptive, and ultimate astragals,trilennium, simple solution corner pads, and panolock products.

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Central Bank & Trust Co. increased its position in shares of iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Free Report) by 24.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 248 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the period. Central Bank & Trust Co.s holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF were worth $75,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 34.1% during the 1st quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 26,203 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $7,275,000 after purchasing an additional 6,665 shares during the period. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $42,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 11.6% during the 1st quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 6,211 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,724,000 after purchasing an additional 644 shares during the period. West Michigan Advisors LLC increased its holdings in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 7,595 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,109,000 after purchasing an additional 272 shares during the period. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF during the 1st quarter worth about $33,422,000.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA IWF opened at $330.09 on Monday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $321.45 and its two-hundred day moving average is $295.93. iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF has a 1-year low of $228.25 and a 1-year high of $337.74. The company has a market cap of $84.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.14 and a beta of 1.08.

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF Company Profile

iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 1000 Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment returns that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 1000 Growth Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 1000 index issuers with relatively higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWF  Free Report).

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HOD HASHARON, Israel  March 18, 2024  Weebit Nano Limited (ASX:WBT), a leading developer of advanced memory technologies for the global semiconductor industry, will showcase a live demo of Resistive Random-Access Memory (ReRAM) technology implemented in GlobalFoundries 22FDX platform.

Weebit will demonstrate its embedded ReRAM module on the advanced 22nm fully depleted silicon on insulator (FD-SOI) process at Embedded World 2024, a leading global industry conference held annually in Nuremberg, Germany. The demo confirms the capability of ReRAM in this advanced geometry  a process node where embedded flash is unable to scale. It also highlights some of the numerous capabilities of Weebit ReRAM, including ultra-low power consumption, fast programming time and byte addressability.

The 8Mb Weebit ReRAM demo chip in 22nm has the largest memory capacity of any Weebit module to-date and is implemented in the most advanced process so far. Testing of the chip has been underway since the end of last year, when Weebit received the first 22nm wafers integrating its embedded ReRAM.

Coby Hanoch, CEO of Weebit Nano, said: This new demonstration is a testament to the scalability of our ReRAM, and our teams ongoing efforts to achieve the best possible performance. We have been able to achieve such performance through a combination of analog and digital design prowess as well as physics and materials expertise. The Weebit engineering teams are focused on continuous technology enhancements, which are critical as we look towards rolling out a commercial solution in 22nm  the industrys most common process node.

Demonstration at Embedded World

Customers can see the new demo in Weebits booth #4-658 (Hall 4) at Embedded World 2024, being held in Nuremberg, Germany, April 9-11, 2024. To arrange a 1:1 demo or an in-person meeting with Weebit executives and technologists, email info@weebit-nano.com.

Presentation by Weebits VP of R&D

As part of the Embedded World conference program, Weebits VP of R&D Ilan Sever will deliver a presentation, Smart Memory Partitioning Enhances System Performance, on Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 10:3011:00 am as part of session 5.7 board level HW engineering: Memory. Learn more here: https://events.weka-fachmedien.de/embedded-world-conference/program.

About Weebit Nano Limited

Weebit Nano Ltd. is a leading developer of advanced semiconductor memory technology. The companys ground-breaking Resistive RAM (ReRAM) addresses the growing need for significantly higher performance and lower power memory solutions in a range of new electronic products such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, smartphones, robotics, autonomous vehicles, 5G communications and artificial intelligence. Weebit ReRAM allows semiconductor memory elements to be significantly faster, less expensive, more reliable and more energy efficient than those using existing Flash memory solutions. As it is based on fab-friendly materials, the technology can be quickly and easily integrated with existing flows and processes, without the need for special equipment or large investments. See www.weebit-nano.com.






HIGHLIGHTS The Government of India has greenlit an EV policy, in an attempt to promote EV manufacturing. Companies investing a minimum of USD 500 million in manufacturing facilities for EVs will receive duty concessions. The government not only wants to promote local manufacturing but also aims to boost the Make in India initiative.

The Government of India has greenlit an EV policy, in an attempt to promote EV manufacturing within the country. This policy aims to provide incentives to big companies such as Tesla to establish manufacturing units within India. The government plans to change the countrys EV atmosphere with this move.

So what is the EV policy?

This policy states that companies that invest a minimum of USD 500 million in manufacturing facilities for e-vehicles will receive duty concessions. This is a well-thought-out move as it is aimed to attract big players in the EV manufacturing market to India and pitch the country as a premier destination for EV production.

Also read: Indias EV future prospects from the Formula E race in Hyderabad

This policy has more incentives as it also allows companies to import a limited number of EVs at lower customs duty. The importance of domestic value addition (DVA) is reflected here wherein companies are required to achieve 50% DVA within five years. Further, a bank guarantee reinforces the idea in order to ensure compliance with investment and DVA criteria.

With this EV policy, the government not only wants to promote local manufacturing but also aims to boost the Make in India initiative, build healthy competition among EV players, and further reduce its reliance on imported crude oil.

Also read: Mobile to automobile, Xiaomi seems to offer it all: 3 leaked features of companys first EV

The EV market in India is projected to reach one crore units in annual sales by 2030. This policy aims to work on this growth potential. This could generate five crore direct and indirect jobs and eventually drive economic development while addressing environmental concerns.

This policy could work out in Indias favour as we are in the middle of an EV revolution currently.
HIGHLIGHTS The microsite of the Lenovo Tab M11 is live on Amazon. The Lenovo Tab M11 will feature an 11-inch display. The Tab M11 tablet will pack a 7040mAh battery.

Lava is gearing up to launch the Lenovo Tab M11 tablet in India. The microsite of the Lenovo Tab M11 is live on Amazon, revealing key specifications. Lets delve into what to expect from the upcoming tablet.

According to the microsite on Amazon, the Lenovo Tab M11 will feature an 11-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 400 nits brightness.

Also read: Lenovo Tab M10 5G brings a bunch of upgrades and one of them is in its name

The Lenovo Tab M11 will come equipped with the MediaTek Helio G88 processor.

Also read: Lenovo Tab M9 launched in India: 5 interesting features the tablet can offer to you

The Tab M11 tablet will pack a 7040mAh battery with up to 15W charging support. The tablet is said to offer up to 10 hours of video playback.

Moreover, the Lenovo Tab M11 will come with support for palm rejection, and will be compatible with Lenovo Tab Pen. The tablet weighs 465 grams.

The microsite confirmed that the Tab M11 will receive OS updates until Android 15, and security patches until January 2028.

The Amazon microsite did not reveal the pricing of the Lenovo Tab M11 tablet. Also, when this device will launch in India is still under wraps.

Lets recap the specifications of the Lenovo Tab M10 5G.

The Lenovo Tab M10 5G comes with a 10.6-inch LCD panel with 12002000 pixels and up to 400 nits of brightness. It features a 13MP rear camera, and a 8MP front camera.

The Tab M10 5G is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor. This tablet is said to last up to 12 hours of uninterrupted video streaming on its 7,700mAh battery. The visuals are complemented by dual speakers aided by Dolby Atmos. The audio setup also includes a 3.5mm jack and a single microphone.
FiO venturing into the future of carbon credits with Web 3.0

In the face of an impending climate crisis, the global carbon compliance and voluntary credit market are projected to soar to unprecedented heights, reaching a staggering US$2.68 trillion by 2028, with a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.2%. At the forefront of this transformative shift stands FiO, a US-SG-based Web 3.0 startup poised to offer a fresh perspective on the carbon credit market.

FiO's innovative platform operates on a hybrid blockchain foundation, providing cutting-edge technology that transforms renewable energy data into transferable carbon credit assets. FiO empowers renewable energy companies to create, track, and authenticate carbon assets effortlessly with simple plug-and-play APIs and familiar protocols recognized by legitimate carbon registries.

George Chu, CEO and founder of FiO, articulates the urgency of the situation, stating, "Our solution addresses the existential challenges in the carbon offsets market, mitigating fraud, double-counting, greenwashing, and manipulation."

FiO's strategic focus on technology-based carbon offset credits has garnered significant traction, with 46 projects initiated by renewable energy companies, spanning solar, wind, biomass, and hydrogen energy across North and South America, as well as Southeast Asia in the next three years. Chu underscores the importance of mature industries with complete AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) technology integration, emphasizing the critical role of accurate data recording and verification in evaluating carbon project quality.

Singapore strives to become Asia's largest carbon trading hub. According to Coherent Market Insights, the Singapore Carbon Credit Market is expected to reach US$55.14 Million by 2030, with a CAGR of 21% during the forecast period of 2023-2030.

Established as a US-Singapore-based Web 3.0 technology company, FiO has collaborated with the American Climate Club (ACC), a non-governmental organization dedicated to upholding the credibility of global carbon reduction efforts. FiO's commitment to quality and compliance is further evident through establishing branches worldwide, including the America-Taiwan Climate Club (ATCC), to meet US and European standards.

With 36 carbon projects concentrated primarily in the US, FiO has amassed a carbon storage capacity of approximately 12 million metric tons. Establishing a carbon pool for managing long-term carbon contracts underscores FiO's commitment to meeting enterprise carbon demands.

FiO's partnership with enterprises extends beyond carbon asset creation to include products like "Carbon Assurance," ensuring the authenticity of purchased carbon credits. Additionally, FiO integrates enterprise carbon purchases into Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) assessments, enhancing overall ESG ratings.

In response to the diverse global carbon project standards, FiO has developed an efficient data asset collaboration platform, leveraging blockchain technology to enhance carbon credit liquidity. Continuously integrating international standards such as Verra, Gold Standard, and ACR, FiO ensures compliance with UNFCCC standards.

FiO's holistic approach to carbon project management is underpinned by a commitment to transparency and accountability. Integrating various IoT technologies in the SaaS Pipeline ensures real-time monitoring and carbon calculation accuracy, mitigating risks associated with double counting and fraudulent practices.

As FiO embarks on its mission to identify and monetize carbon assets, its engagement with major energy industry leaders in the US underscores a collective commitment to a sustainable future.

FiO CEO George Chu. Credit: DIGITIMES
Visco Vision expands production capacity for contact lenses amid growing market demand

Taiwan-based Visco Vision, a specialist in contact lenses and a subsidiary of polarizer maker BenQ Materials, anticipates a surge in revenues for 2024, buoyed by strong support from major brand customers in China and Japan.

To satisfy the escalating market demand, the company is carrying out a significant expansion of its monthly production capacity for silicone hydrogel-colored contact lenses, aiming to add five million units by the first half of the year, thus boosting its total monthly capacity to 38 million units.

In 2023, Visco witnessed a 70% decline in revenue from the Chinese market, primarily attributed to a major customer struggling with inventory digestion amid China's economic downturn. However, with the resumption of orders from this customer in the first quarter of 2024, Visco is optimistic about a rebound in China-bound shipment.

Despite a low penetration in the Chinese contact lens market, the post-pandemic recovery has fueled rapid growth, particularly through online channels, where over 300 product brands, including a focus on colored contact lenses, vie for market share. Visco identifies silicone hydrogel-colored contact lenses as differentiated products highly valued by major brand clients in China and Japan, driving sales expansion in both markers.

While Japan traditionally held the second-largest market share for contact lenses globally, China has closed the gap since mid-2023. This trend bolsters Visco's bullish stance on the growth potential of silicone hydrogel-colored contact lenses in these key Asian markets.

In addition to its robust presence in Asia, Visco is strategically expanding its product portfolio and market reach. Plans include launching a new version of multifocal lenses in Europe and introducing toric lenses in Japan. Moreover, the company is exploring opportunities in the US market, leveraging stable shipments from existing online customers while pursuing new channel partnerships.

Spurred by surging demand, Visco is doubling down on its production capacity for colored contact lenses, aiming for a 30% shipment ratio in 2024, up from 20% in the second half of 2023. With an overall monthly production capacity set to reach 38 million units, the company anticipates improved capacity utilization rates and product unit prices, which could positively impact gross profit margins.

Visco's proactive strategies are reflected in its impressive financial performance, with consolidated revenue for February 2024 reaching a record high of NT$327 million (US$10.38 million), marking a 38.46% sequential increase and a remarkable 130.22% year-on-year surge. The combined revenue for the first two months of the year surged by 68.33% compared to the same period last year to a fresh high of NT$564 million for the period.
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Two people killed, five others injured in Washington, D.C. shooting -- U.S. Police

Xinhua) 11:25, March 18, 2024

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and five others wounded in a shooting in Washington, D.C., on early Sunday morning, local police has confirmed.

The shooting was reported at around 3 a.m. (0700 GMT) near the Kennedy Recreation Center, local media quoted the Metropolitan Police Department as saying, adding that the police have been searching for a suspect.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he would keep on with the military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, where aid agencies say famine is looming, while ceasefire talks were set to resume.

Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting that Israel would push into Rafah, the last relatively safe place in the tiny, crowded Gaza enclave after more than five months of war, despite international pressure for Israel to avoid civilian casualties.

"We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen," he said, without clarifying if he meant the assault would last for weeks or would begin in weeks.

Netanyahu later said after meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Jerusalem that Israel would not leave civilians trapped in Rafah when its forces begin their assault.

Israel's allies have piled pressure on Netanyahu not to attack Rafah, where more than a million displaced people from other parts of the devastated enclave have sought shelter, without a plan to protect civilians.

In Washington, at a St Patrick's Day event at the White House with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, U.S. President Joe Biden stressed the need to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and get a ceasefire deal that brings Hamas-led hostages home. Biden said a move towards a two-state solution was "the only path for lasting peace and security."

Varadkar said the people of Gaza desperately needed food, medicine and shelter. "Most especially, they need the bombs to stop. This has to stop on both sides, the hostages brought home, and humanitarian relief allowed in," he said.

Varadkar said Israel must reverse its "precipitous" decision to authorize a land incursion into Rafah.

At a joint news conference with Netanyahu, Scholz said he had spoken with the Israeli leader about the need to provide comprehensive humanitarian aid to Gaza.

"We cannot stand by and watch Palestinians risk starvation," he said, echoing a call from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, visiting neighboring Egypt at the same time, for a ceasefire deal and more aid for Gaza.

"It is critical to achieve an agreement on a ceasefire rapidly now that frees (Israel's) hostages and allows more humanitarian aid to reach Gaza," von der Leyen said after meeting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

At the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu had hit out at his allies, saying: "Are your memories that short? Have you so quickly forgotten Oct. 7, the most horrific massacre of Jews since the Holocaust? Are you so quick to deny Israel the right to defend itself against the Hamas monsters?".

Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said a Palestinian state would be "the greatest reward for terrorism in history."

"Hamas had a de-facto Palestinian state in Gaza. And what did they use it for? To massacre Israelis and the worst savagery that was meted on Jews since the Holocaust," he said.

Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people and seized 253 hostages in the Oct. 7 attack according to Israeli tallies, triggering a massive assault on Gaza.

Israel's air and ground campaign since has killed more than 31,600 people say health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza. It has also driven most of the population from their homes, and brought people to the brink of famine, aid agencies say.

A source familiar with truce talks in Qatar told Reuters the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency would join the delegation attending the negotiations with Qatari, Egyptian and U.S. mediators.

Hamas presented a new ceasefire proposal last week including an exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. Israel's security cabinet is to meet to discuss it before the delegation leaves.

Netanyahu has already said the proposal was based on "unrealistic demands", but a Palestinian official familiar with mediation efforts said chances for a deal looked better with Hamas having given more details on the proposed prisoner swap.

"Some in Israel felt (Hamas) made some improvement on its previous position and it is now in the hands of Netanyahu alone to say whether an agreement is imminent," said the official, who asked not to be named.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, in an apparent reference to the negotiations, said the security establishment "is committed to exhausting every possibility and willing to take advantage of every possibility, including the current one, to return the hostages to their families."

Aid delivery

Trucks of flour have reached northern Gaza for distribution to areas that have had no aid in four months, Palestinian media reported on Sunday.

A convoy of 12 trucks arrived in the north on Saturday carrying supplies to be distributed to the northernmost areas, the media and residents said. On Sunday, Hamas media said 19 aid trucks were heading towards northern Gaza Strip, carrying canned food as well as flour.

At the same time, local residents and Hamas media said Israel stepped up aerial and ground bombardment across Gaza Strip, especially on Khan Younis and Rafah in the south and Deir Al-Balah in the center. The activity could not be confirmed independently and there were no immediate casualty reports.

The Hamas-linked Home Front media outlet reported that the aid was distributed by the "Popular Committees," a group that includes leaders of powerful clans in Gaza. A Hamas source said the route was secured by Hamas security personnel.

Hospitals in the north have already reported children dying of malnutrition and dehydration. (Reuters)
Taiwan develops AI model matching GPT 3.5, geared towards enterprise use

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) has assembled Taiwanese research teams to develop a dedicated Trustworthy AI Dialogue Engine (TAIDE) for the Taiwanese public and businesses.

The model based on Llama 2 with 7 billion parameters is said to have been completed.

Chairman of NSTC, Tsung-Tsong Wu, stated that another model with 13 billion parameters is nearing the level of GPT3.5.

Taiwan's tailor-made AI model

Wu emphasized that the Taiwanese government's aim is not to create a "Taiwanese version of ChatGPT" but to develop a reliable AI dialogue model for value-added applications by enterprises or public-private sectors.

Wu noted that the model based on Llama 2 (with 7B parameters) was activated in March 2023. This large language model enables various industries to continue training and tailor generative AI according to their needs. The TAIDE with 7 billion parameters has no issues summarizing meetings, while the 13 billion parameters TAIDE is closest to Open AI's GPT 3.5 version.

According to data provided by NSTC, due to the limited availability of Traditional Chinese language data, international large-scale language models often produce biased or culturally inappropriate responses for Taiwan. Therefore, Taiwan has developed its own TAIDE within limited time and budget constraints.

Wu also mentioned that some data and content are not suitable for ChatGPT, and to his knowledge, Taiwanese government agencies do not extensively use ChatGPT.

The progress of Taiwan's regulation of AI

Regarding the legislative progress of the "Artificial Intelligence Fundamental Act" raised by legislators, Wu stated that Taiwan must balance innovation and regulation. The content currently leans towards referencing the policy directions of the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

The Executive Yuan's AI Basic Law draft is scheduled to be released by the end of 2024 for legislative review.

On October 3, 2023, the Executive Yuan issued a reference guide for using generative AI, outlining the potential risks to maintaining professionalism and confidentiality in executing public affairs. Each agency may establish usage norms or internal control measures based on business needs for using generative AI.

Taiwania 2

Regarding the construction of high-speed computers and the enhancement of computing power in Taiwan, NSTC stated that the National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC) completed the construction of the high-speed computing host "Taiwania 2" at the end of 2023.

It was built upon a new generation CPU architecture that will provide a computing performance of 3.53 petaflops, more than twice the computing performance of "Taiwania 1." It is set to replace the first host and open for service in the third quarter of 2024 and improve energy efficiency management.

It will be a significant host in Taiwan's large-scale engineering and scientific simulation computing fields. The National Center for High-performance Computing is expected to initiate other large-scale construction projects before 2029.

Wu pointed out that Taiwan's semiconductor industry dominance and the rapid development of generative AI present a golden opportunity for Taiwan's international visibility. NSTC strengthens talent cultivation measures across all stages and collaborates across departments to enhance scientific research talent cultivation.

It aims to construct a resilient scientific research talent ecosystem through diverse channels and deepen international scientific and technological cooperation relationships and exchanges to achieve international linkage in cross-border research environments and R&D activities. This is to attract international talents, startups, and funds to Taiwan. Which Wu believes will prepare Taiwan with sufficient key scientific research manpower and enhance its international competitiveness.
Taiwan strengthens satellite comms in preparation for war

Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom signed a satellite deal with UK government-invested OneWeb.

Following the announcements that Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Development was cooperating with SES, a veteran mid-earth orbit satellite operator from Luxembourg, and Eutelsat OneWeb, a European satellite operator, progress in the sector has been fast. Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom signed an exclusive agency contract with OneWeb for low-earth orbit satellites.

In addition to actively seeking opportunities in the low-earth orbit satellite industry, Taiwan continues negotiating with satellite operators to strengthen its digital resilience. The country hopes to ensure communication services in emergencies.

Officials from the Ministry of Digital Development said that services are expected to be provided in southern Taiwan by the second quarter of 2024. Full satellite coverage across the entire island is expected by the end of the year.

Officials said there are ongoing discussions with other operators but did not provide further details. The collaborations are being implemented according to the Ministry of Digital Development's Program for the Digital Resilience Validation of Emerging Technologies for Contingency or Wartime Applications.

The primary goal is to establish interconnection with OneWeb as soon as possible. Based on current progress, satellite services should commence in southern Taiwan before the second quarter of 2024 and expand to northern Taiwan by the end of the year, achieving full coverage nationwide.

As OneWeb has not yet planned to set up gateways in Taiwan, service provision relies on regions with existing OneWeb ground equipment. Japan provides service in northern Taiwan, while Thailand provides service in southern Taiwan.

OneWeb's progress in Thailand has been relatively rapid. In Japan, the company has applied for a license from the Japanese government with approval still pending.

Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Development has already granted permission to Chunghwa Telecom to collaborate with OneWeb and use the required frequencies. No other companies have applied to date.

Officials from the Ministry of Digital Development confirmed that Taiwan is seeking its own ground equipment for Taiwan. It hopes to gain equipment independence and data security by asking OneWeb to install gateways in Taiwan.

The ministry said that progress in Thailand and Japan does not conflict with installing gateways in Taiwan. From the perspective of risk diversification, having gateways located in other countries can prevent equipment damage in Taiwan during emergencies and ensure continuity of communication services, it said.

For Taiwan, obtaining low-earth orbit satellite services is a crucial step to ensuring communication backups during emergencies. However, cooperating with just one operator is not enough, so Taiwan is continuously seeking to diversify communication sources.

Collaborations with international low-earth orbit satellite operators can lead to deeper connections between Taiwan and other countries. The Minister of Digital Development Audrey Tang has said that the partnership with UK government-invested OneWeb is crucial for Taiwan to establish a trusted supply chain.

By collaborating with an increasing number of operators, Taiwan also hopes to encourage opportunities for Taiwanese companies interested in entering the low-earth orbit satellite supply chain.

Insiders said that Amazon's Project Kuiper and Telesat, a Canadian satellite company have also approached Chunghwa Telecom suggesting that new partnerships are in the pipeline. By collaborating with an increasing number of operators, Taiwan also hopes to encourage opportunities for Taiwanese companies interested in entering the low-earth orbit satellite supply chain.
How this Indian robotic startup adds 'human instincts' to robotic arms

Robotic arms have been a part of various industries for quite some time now. However, most of them still cannot work independently, having to be spoon-fed each process separately. CynLr, a startup based in Bangalore, India aims to bridge this gap by developing layers of perception that extend from 'eye' to 'fingers'.

This encompasses seeing and understanding the environment, recognizing objects in their myriad forms, and intelligently manipulating them based on their properties.

Speaking to Digitimes Asia recently, Gokul N A, founder of CynLr, pointed out that the company aims for training-less systems with basic instincts for object manipulation, akin to human capabilities. This approach negates the need for extensive programming for each new object or scenario, enabling the system to handle objects it has never encountered before.

"Our work starts where conventional robotics endstransforming robotic arms from mere programmable machines into entities capable of learning, adapting, and making decisions based on their 'perception' of the environment," Gokul said.

What it is

Unlike traditional robotic arms, CynLr's focus isn't on the hardware itself but rather on the intelligent and manipulation stack that integrates with these systems. They start with vision technology, enabling our robots to adapt and manipulate objects in ways traditional robots or even COBOTS currently can't.

"Robotic arms are essentially electromechanical systems with no innate intelligence," Gokul said. "They operate through pre-recorded motions, lacking awareness of what they're interacting with. Collaborative robots (COBOTS) offer improvements by working safely around humans without requiring protective barriers, but they still don't understand their surroundings or how to adapt to changes."

CynLr's technology is designed to enhance the ability of robots to comprehend and engage with their surroundings in a complex way. This capability extends to recognizing and adjusting to various object orientations and conditions, where existing robotic systems often falter.

The strategy employed by CynLr incorporates sophisticated vision and sensor systems. These systems transcend pattern recognition, encompassing an understanding of depth, motion, and additional essential factors in real time, offering a more nuanced interaction between robots and their environment.

Why this is relevant

The robotics market, valued at $48 billion in 2019, is complex and fragmented, according to data from the IFR. Robotic arm sales made up $16 billion, while $32 billion went into environment customization for robots. This has limited robotic arms to specific tasks like welding, painting, and palletizing, with welding comprising over 63 percent of sales. Deploying a standard automation solution typically requires 12 to 24 months and costs $150,000 to $250,000.

"CynLr aims to revolutionize this scenario by transforming complex manufacturing lines, which are currently dependent on specialized machines, into versatile, universally adaptable factories," Gokul said. "These factories would utilize simple, dexterous robots that operate without requiring environmental customization, thus removing the need for specialized machinery. This innovation promises to grant factories unparalleled flexibility to adapt to market-driven design changes, enabling easy repurposing and reconfiguration without needing customization, all driven by CynLr's advanced 'Object Intelligence'."

Traditional vision systems in robotics have been limited by their reliance on static pattern and color recognition, struggling with variations in object appearance due to changes in perspective or lighting. Reflective objects pose a particular challenge, as the perceived color can change dramatically based on the environment.

CynLr overcomes these limitations by employing advanced algorithms that mimic human perceptual abilities, enabling robots to interact with objects more naturally and intuitively.

"Current robotic arms are highly precise but lack flexibility, requiring objects to be presented in exactly the right position and orientation," Gokul said. "Our technology, by contrast, allows robots to understand and adjust to variations, much like a human would. This capability extends to recognizing and manipulating objects never encountered before, offering adaptability unseen in traditional automation."

Looking to expand East

CynLr's robotics system is an intricate assembly of around 400 parts sourced from international markets.

The technologies employed are sourced globally, with a supply chain extending across China, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Germany, France, Israel, Denmark, Canada, and Switzerland. CynLr has established a hardware design center in Switzerland and a business development office in the US.

"To enhance its supply chain in sensing technologies and to leverage superior manufacturing capabilities, CynLr is actively engaging with several Chinese partners," Gokul said. "These partnerships focus on producing robotic hands, arms, joints, skin sensors, optics, and specialized PCBs. CynLr is looking to expand its operations further east."
India lowers EV import duty to attract Tesla investments

India approved a reduction in EV import duty for companies setting up manufacturing facilities to attract foreign investments in the EV industry.

According to a statement published by the Press Information Bureau of India by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India, the country will reduce import EV import taxes from 70-100% to 15% if the EV importers meet certain requirements, which included minimum investments of US$500 million or INR41.5 billion.

Under the plan, manufacturers will have three years to establish production facilities and commence commercial operations, and achieve 50% Domestic Value Addition (DVA) within five years at most.

Manufacturers must hit a localization level of 25% by the third year of operation, rising to 50% by the fifth year. Importers meeting requirements can avail themselves of a 15% customs duty for imports of EVs valued at US$35,000 or more in a completely knocked down (CKD) form for five years.

India will cap the duty foregone on imported EVs at the investment made of INR64.84 billion, whichever is lower. A maximum of 40,000 EVs will be allowed for import, with an annual limit of 8,000 units, provided the investment exceeds USD 800 million.

The import duty change is seen as a move to attract global EV manufacturers to invest in India, particularly Tesla, which has expressed a strong interest in selling its cars in India since 2021 but cannot agree with the Indian government on the import taxes. Things began to change when the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk during his visit to the US in June 2023.

Earlier, India imposed a 100% basic customs duty for EVs valued at over US$40,000 in the Completely-Built Unit (CBU) form and a 70% for those valued at less than US$40,000. For EVs in the Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) or CKD form, 35% and 15% import duties were imposed, respectively. Under the previous regime, the Tesla Model 3, sold at nearly US$39,000 in the US and not made in India, will be imposed with a 100% import tax before selling in India.

Local EV manufacturers in India are opposed to lowering import duties on EVs, and a cap of 8,000 per year to be eligible for the 15% import duty would alleviate the concerns of local EV manufacturers like Tata Motors.
Foxconn subsidiary reportedly in talks to set up facility in India

A Foxconn subsidiary is reportedly discussing investing in India, as an increasing number of smartphone suppliers are clustering in southern parts of the country.

The Economic Times quoted sources saying that Rayprus, a Foxconn Group subsidiary engaged in the R&D, manufacturing, and sales of camera modules, is talking with Foxconn about setting up a manufacturing facility near Foxconn park near the airport in Bengaluru. Sources said the companies did not disclose detailed information like the size of the investment, but the talks progressed smoothly.

In May 2023, Foxconn said in the filing that its subsidiary Foxconn Hong Hai Technology India Mega Development acquired a 300-acre land in the Information Technology Investment Region in Devanhahalli Taluk, Bengaluru, with a price of INR3 billion. Foxconn CEO Young Liu was recently honored with the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian awards in trade and industry, thanks to his contribution to India's trade and industrial ecosystem development. The rumor also came after iPhone cover glass supplier Corning set up a manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu.

As Apple expands its supplier base in India, data from the Ministry of Commerce of India shows that India's smartphone exports to the US surged to US$3.53 billion in the first nine months of fiscal 2024 (April 2023 to March 2024), making India the third-biggest smartphone exporter to the US, reports the Economic Times.

Amid the investments and diversification from global smartphone manufacturers in India, smartphone and components manufacturers are clustering in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and the southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, two neighboring states connecting with an industrial corridor.

The mode, where various smartphone parts makers gather in one area, recalls the Nokia model. In the early 2000s, Nokia phone suppliers built their factories in the Nokia Special Economic Zone in Tamil Nadu.
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SEATTLE  An industrial building at 710 Seventh Ave. S. sold last week for a little under $7.9 million, according to King County records.

The seller was MacDougall Thomas LLC, which had owned the property for decades.





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SEATTLE  An apartment building at 310 N. 103rd St. recently sold for a little over $4.4 million, according to King County records.

The seller was The Pan Investment LLC, which acquired the property in 2014 for over $3.8 million.





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SEATTLE  The Terry's Custom Auto Works property, at 1601 Eastlake Ave. E., sold last week for $4.2 million, according to King County records.

The seller was a local family that had owned the property for decades.





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The museum will house a $300 million art collection donated by Richard Hedreen.



Photo courtesy of Richard Hedreen [enlarge] Richard and Betty Hedreen. Richard has donated the collection in honor of his late wife.





Seattle University is planning to build a new art museum at its 55-acre campus on Capitol Hill.





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Taiwan's TSMC is looking at building advanced packaging capacity in Japan, according to two sources familiar with the matter, a move that would add momentum to Japan's efforts to reboot its semiconductor industry.

The deliberations are at an early stage, they added, declining to be identified as the information was not public.

One option the chipmaking giant is considering is bringing its chip on wafer on substrate (CoWoS) packaging technology to Japan, according to one of the sources who was briefed on the matter.

CoWoS is a high-precision technology that involves stacking chips on top of each other, boosting processing power while saving space and reducing power consumption.

Currently, all of TSMC's CoWoS capacity is in Taiwan.

No decisions on the scale of or the timeline for a potential investment have been made, the source said.

TSMC, formally known as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, declined to comment.

Demand for advanced semiconductor packaging has surged globally in tandem with the artificial intelligence boom, spurring chipmakers including TSMC, Samsung Electronics and Intel, to boost capacity.

TSMC Chief Executive C.C. Wei said in January that the company plans to double CoWos output this year with further increases slated in 2025.

Building capacity for advanced packaging would extend TSMC's growing operations in Japan where it has just built one plant and announced another - both on the southern island of Kyushu, a chipmaking hub.

TSMC is partnering with companies including Sony and Toyota with total investment in the Japan venture expected to run to more than $20 billion.

The chipmaker also established an advanced packaging research and development center in Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo in 2021.

Japan is seen as well positioned to take a larger role in advanced packaging given that it has leading semiconductor materials and equipment makers, growing investment in chip fabrication capacity and a solid customer base.

Advanced packaging would be welcomed in Japan which can offer the ecosystem to support it, a senior official at Japan's industry ministry said.

TrendForce analyst Joanne Chiao said, however, that if TSMC were to build advanced packaging capacity in Japan, she expected it would be limited in scale.

It was not yet clear how much demand there would be for CoWoS packaging within Japan and most of TSMC's current CoWoS customers are in the United States, she added.

TSMC's plans in Japan thus far have been supported by generous subsidies from the Japanese government which  after losing ground to South Korea and Taiwan  sees semiconductors as vital to its economic security.

That's spurred an influx of investment from a range of chip firms from Taiwan and elsewhere.

Intel is also looking at establishing an advanced packaging research facility in Japan to deepen ties with local chip supply chain companies, two separate sources familiar with the matter said.

Intel declined to comment.

Samsung is setting up an advanced packaging research facility in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, with government support.

The Korean chipmaker is also talking to companies in Japan and elsewhere about procuring materials as it prepares to introduce a packaging technology used by its rival SK Hynix to catch up in high bandwidth memory chips, Reuters has reported. (Reuters)
Louth County Council has granted planning permission for expansion at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital (OLOL) in Drogheda.

HSE Dublin North East applied to the local authority for planning permission in January of this year, for the construction of a new four-storey medical building at the existing greenfield area bounded by the existing Department of Psychiatry to the west, Mayfield Housing Estate to the south, Twenties Lane to the east, and Drogheda Institute of Further Education to the north.

The new medical building is to accommodate at ground floor level, eight outpatients consulting rooms and associated ancillary accommodation, and at first floor level six outpatients consulting rooms and associated ancillary accommodation.

On the second floor level there are plans for another six outpatients consulting rooms and associated ancillary accommodation, and at third floor level, an internal plant room and external plant enclosure and PV array.

Externally the works comprise a new vehicular and pedestrian entrance along Twenties Lane, connecting to the existing internal roads and footpaths at OLOL Cross Lanes carpark, with 19 new car parking spaces and six new bicycle parking spaces.

They also comprise an ancillary single-storey external store building, together with associated landscaping, site works and site services for all of the above.

Louth County Council granted planning permission for the development to go ahead on 15 March, subject to 13 planning conditions.
A group of around 40 Ukrainian refugees living with host families in Ardee took part in their first St Patricks Day Parade this year, with a message of thanks for the Irish people and one of hope for the country of their birth.

Katerina Karpenko, known simply as Kate in her new home town of Ardee, wanted to gather her community together and thank the town that had welcomed them with open arms, two years ago, as Russia invaded their homeland.

Kate explained: It was not only my idea but the idea of our community and our friends in Drumcar wanted to join us too. So, I applied to the committee to participate in the parade and they said yes. Our main idea is to show our appreciation and gratitude for the Irish people that have welcomed us here.

Kate said that in her two years in the country, her ties with Ireland have grown and she sees that happening across her community as integration increases, people find work and start to raise families here.

All of my friends are now working here and we start to be more independent and some are starting to put down roots here, including myself. I feel comfortable here and there are a lot of possibilities for me here.

Kate fled Ukraine in May 2022 in a car stuffed with six people and several pets. She drove 1,000km and witnessed some of the horrors of war on that traumatic journey to safety.

Friends in Killarney led her to Ireland where she was linked to a network of host families and ultimately, she settled in Ardee.

With a background in sociology and politics back in Ukraine, Kate has become an active member of the local Labour Party and has become something of an informal social worker for the broader Eastern European community in Ardee and beyond.

She said that the Ukrainian communitys participation in this years St Patricks Day Parade was not just about saying thanks to Ireland, it was also about keeping the war in Ukraine and the plight of her people at the forefront of everyones mind.

Our float will have an angel with big wings in the Ukraine and Irish colours. The angel is to represent our hope for the protection of our people, she explains. Kate now works in the NCBI shop in Ardee, which has proven, she said, a great place to get to know the local community.
President Vladimir Putin basked in a victory early Monday that was never in doubt, as partial election results underlined the Russian leaders total control of the countrys political system.

After facing only token challengers and harshly suppressing opposition voices, Putin was set to extend his nearly quarter-century rule for six more years. Even with little margin for protest, Russians crowded outside polling stations at noon on Sunday, the last day of the election, apparently heeding an opposition call to express their displeasure with the president.

Putin hailed the overwhelming early results as an indication of trust and hope in him  while critics saw them as another reflection of the preordained nature of the election.

Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future, Putin said at a meeting with volunteers after polls closed.

Any public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine has been stifled. Independent media have been crippled. His fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

Beyond the fact that voters had virtually no choice, independent monitoring of the election was extremely limited. According to Russias Central Election Commission, Putin had some 87 percent of the vote with about 98 percent of precincts counted.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: This is not what free and fair elections look like.

In the tightly controlled environment, Navalny's associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to go to the polls at noon on Sunday  and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.

Among those heeding call was Yulia Navalnaya, Navalnys widow, who spent more than five hours in the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin. She told reporters that she wrote her late husbands name on her ballot.

Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Navalnaya replied: Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because hes a killer, hes a gangster.

But Putin brushed off the effectiveness of the apparent protest.

There were calls to come vote at noon. And this was supposed to be a manifestation of opposition. Well, if there were calls to come vote, then ... I praise this," he said at a news conference after polls closed.

Unusually, Putin referenced Navalny by name for the first time ever at the news conference.

Some Russians waiting to vote in Moscow and St. Petersburg told The Associated Press that they were taking part in the protest, but it wasnt possible to confirm whether all of those in line were doing so.

A voter in Moscow, who identified himself only as Vadim, said he hoped for change, but added that unfortunately, its unlikely. Like others, he didnt give his full name because of security concerns.

Meanwhile, supporters of Navalny streamed to his grave in Moscow, some bringing ballots with his name written on them.

Meduza, Russias biggest independent news outlet, published photos of ballots it received from their readers, with killer inscribed on one and The Hague awaits you on another. The latter refers to an arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges from the International Criminal Court.

Some people told the AP that they were happy to vote for Putin  unsurprising in a country where state TV airs a drumbeat of praise for the Russian leader and voicing any other opinion is risky.

Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said, I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now.

Voting took place over three days at polling stations across the vast country, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online.

Several people were arrested, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, after they tried to start fires or set off explosives at polling stations while others were detained for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, said Russians were searched when entering polling stations, there were attempts to check filled-out ballots before they were cast, and one report said police demanded a ballot box be opened to remove a ballot.

That left little room for people to express themselves. Still, huge lines formed around noon outside diplomatic missions in London, Berlin, Paris and other cities with large Russian communities, many of whom left home after Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

If we have some option to protest I think its important to utilize any opportunity, said 23-year-old Tatiana, who was voting in the Estonian capital of Tallinn and said she came to take part in the protest. (AP)
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday congratulated Vladimir Putin on his election victory, hailing the Russian president as a force for progress as Moscows ties with Beijing deepen.

Putin faced no genuine competition on the way to what state media reported was a record landslide win -- one that paves the way for the former spy to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than 200 years.

Both he and Xi, who often tout their deep friendship, have torn up political convention to secure unprecedentedly long terms in power.

In a congratulatory message reported by Beijings state broadcaster CCTV, Xi told Putin his re-election fully reflects the support of the Russian people for you.

I believe that under your leadership, Russia will be able to achieve greater achievements in national development and construction, Xi said.

For his part, Putin heaped praise on Beijing on Monday, saying he was sure that in the coming years we will only strengthen and build up our relations, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

The most important thing is the coincidence of state interests. This creates a very good tone for solving common problems in the field of international relations, Putin reportedly said.

Ties between Beijing and Moscow have deepened even as Putins invasion of Ukraine has roiled Moscows relations with Western nations.

China has notably refused to condemn Russias attack on its European neighbor, calling for peace negotiations and a general end to hostilities.

Western nations have argued that the equivocation has given Putin much-needed political and diplomatic cover to wage an unprovoked war of aggression.

New paradigm

Once socialist allies, China and Russia endured a tempestuous relationship during the last century but have since drawn closer, and their friendship has come to represent a bulwark against the US-led West.

The two sides depict their relationship as a union of equals and a shining example for other countries to emulate, with Beijings foreign minister this month hailing a new paradigm for major power relations that differed completely from the Cold War era.

The relationship rests on the basis of non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third parties, Wang Yi said during annual political meetings in Beijing.

Wang Yiwei, professor of international studies at Beijings Renmin University of China, said the partnership means not only that China and Russia dont come into conflict with each other, but also that... they dont gang up to confront others, such as NATO.

Instead, he said, the two nations maintain a kind of strategic collaboration that serves common interests such as a multipolar world and global strategic stability on the Eurasian continent.

But Ja Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said ties were not so evenly balanced in practice.

The new paradigm, especially when contrasted to the Cold War, is one where (China) is the senior partner... and Russia the junior partner, he told AFP.

Neither Moscow nor Beijing have a firm alliance commitment to each other.

However, there will be some level of cooperation... especially when it comes to preventing what they see as the United States working against their interests.

Military, trade ties

China has denied supplying Russia with arms needed to bludgeon Ukraine, but Western powers allege it is still packing Moscows war chest in other ways.

Beijings backing takes the form of support to Russias defense industrial base, including by providing dual-use material and components, according to a U.S. intelligence report published last month.

Last week, Chinese and Russian warships held joint naval exercises with Iran, another nation whose ties with the West have frayed in recent years.

Russian news agencies cited Moscows defense ministry in saying the purpose of the drills was to work out the safety of maritime economic activity.

The joint drills with Iran demonstrate that Moscow and Beijing can work with others to complicate US interests, Chong told AFP.

Meanwhile, trade between China and Russia soared to record highs last year, according to official customs figures.

Chong said that bilateral commerce was one of the elements that helps keep the Russian war machine going in the face of (Western) sanctions.

This probably helps keep the United States and its allies... less focused on Asia and (China) than it otherwise could be, relieving some pressure on Beijing, he added.

In return, Beijing is getting cheap fossil fuels and also key military technologies from Russia. (AFP)
HONORE Kamegni and Viviane met in Waterford more than 20 years ago and have worked hard to build a life for themselves and their two daughters in Cork ever since.

The Green Party local election candidate for Cork City South East explained that his wife moved to Cork for a job shortly after their wedding, and they have thrown themselves into the community since.

Community

Viviane told The Echo that they met when they were both living in Waterford in 2002  through a family friend  adding that they built a community there of people they consider family, saying: We spent time together and we became very close.

We did not have much money at the time, we were doing what we could. I was working at a restaurant, we were just modest people, she said.

The pair had a daughter together, Sonia, and Honore decided to propose, going to a woman that the couple consider like a godmother for advice  with Viviane adding that she has always been there for us.

Honore Kamegni and his wife Viviane.

The proposal happened one evening when we were at our godmothers house. She and I had made the plan, but Viviane did not know anything, he explained, adding that he had just told her they were going around for a chat and a cup of coffee.

I asked her the question, if she wanted to be my wife. I could not forget this moment, she looked me in the eyes and said yes loudly to me, then I put the ring on her finger, he said.

We had nothing at the time, except for our daughter Sonia, but despite that they went straight into organising their wedding, he said, explaining that everything just went very, very quickly from that evening.

Viviane explained that they had a small wedding, saying: When he proposed, we didnt have too much, we didnt have money for a honeymoon and the community helped us a lot with the ceremony.

Married

The couple then got married in December 2005 in Waterford.

Viviane got a job in Cork Airport shortly after and moved in April, while Honore stayed in Waterford until July before following to Cork  where their second daughter, Paris, was born in 2007.

After working in Cork Airport, Viviane went back to UCC to do a masters degree. She then started working for Apple in 2014, while Honore studied HR management in MTU.

Anniversary

The pair will be celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary next year, and Honore says: We are living a very happy life, we are doing our best to integrate ourselves and working hard to make sure our daughters get the best of everything.

Honore Kamegni and his wife Viviane.

Their eldest daughter is studying to be a doctor at the moment at an American university in Barbados, while their second daughter is in Midleton College.

Their eldest considered studying in Germany, but she didnt want to have to learn all the medical terminology in a different language as she wants to practice medicine in Ireland after graduating.

However, her moving so far away worried Honore and Viviane at first.

We were worried at the start, but she is happy where she is now and getting on well.

We are very proud considering all the worries about if she was going to like it.

Shes a very hard-working student, and she has been preparing since she was in primary school to do medicine, Viviane said.

The course comprises three years of theory in Barbados, then a placement in the US for two years, and she comes home only once a year for Christmas, but Honore and Viviane have been able to go visit her and do some travelling in the US.

Politics

Back home, the couple are very busy, with Honore working for An Post since 2008 and being involved in the community, including Special Olympics Ireland since 2005, along with being an active member in both Mahon and Blackrock Tidy Towns.

Last year, he decided to get involved in politics because of his concern of the effect of climate change on his childrens futures, and he is running in the upcoming local elections.

I joined the Green Party because I wanted a safe planet for my children, and I was very lucky to be offered to stand in an area that I am used to. I know the people in my constituency, I know the area and the issues, and they are very happy to see me when I come to the doors.

I want to continue to serve them but on a different field, he said.
CORK northsider and international renewable energy entrepreneur John Mullins has told The Echo that he will take on and debate both far-right and far-left opponents in the coming campaign for Junes European Parliament elections and declared he wasnt afraid to speak out on one of the most contentious issues in Irish politics today, immigration.

This economy would not function but for the fact that we have migration and the reality is that you cant be selective about this, if people are being persecuted in a country but if theyre here on economic migration and they come from a safe country, regrettably they have to go home, he said.

If you want to work in this country, you can apply for 40,000 visas that are being offered now to non-EU citizens to come to this country on an annual basis.

The Knocknaheeny man, who gained a masters degree in electrical engineering from UCC was confirmed as a Fine Gael candidate alongside incumbent Sean Kelly, last week in Clonmel, a meeting which was presided over by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and attended by TDs, senators, councillors and other Fine Gael party faithful of 10 counties from Wicklow to Clare.

His pitch to get elected is straight forward. Its his business experience, in Ireland and in Europe and further afield. I believe I will be bringing a different profile to European politics, one which is based on the best part of 30 years in business and civic life and I still have plenty of energy to give.

John Mullins said he intends to be a "fresh new voice for Ireland, and for Ireland South.

My intention is to be a fresh new voice for Ireland, and Ireland South, but more importantly to bring the skills Ive built up by working in Europe over the past 25 years, in countries in Eastern, Central and Western Europe.

I know Europe very well, Ive done business there and I know how to negotiate and I want to bring that capability to the fore on behalf of Ireland.

FARMING

On questions closer to home, the Amarenco chief is hoping his negotiating skills will help him should he be elected and described the negotiations which led Irish farmers getting a derogation on the Nitrates directive which allows them to spread 220 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per hectare. Instead of going to 170kg, which would have been an absolute disaster for farmers, we went to 220kg  that was negotiated as a derogation by the Irish Government.

I absolutely do understand the stacking effect of all of these issues on farmers is a real concern and thats why I will be looking for a new form of rural contract during my campaign which will keep farmers on the land and that will actually bring people back into rural Ireland, working in rural Ireland, and that will be assisted by the National Broadband Plan.

I certainly want an easing of congestion in urban areas and that people are given a choice to resettle in rural Ireland  I think thats very important, that communities grow, that GAA clubs have more boys and girls in the future, we need to make sure that we try to decentralize more on this island. He pointed also to the mitigation which was negotiated to the EU Nature Restoration Act which was passed recently in the Parliament thanks, in part, to the last-minute decision by FG MEPs to vote for it though their EU party voted against. The mitigation they got was that a farmer enters this only on a voluntary basis and the onus on the Irish Government is to fulfill that 20% requirement that is needed between now and 2030 on nature restoration law and that means, essentially, State lands coming to the fore rather than private farming land.

It would certainly be my intention as an MEP to ensure that the Government steps up to the plate so that we wont see voluntary become compulsory for farmers.

Farmers incomes are volatile at best we need to make sure that we have a carrot for farmers to continue farming and protecting our environment, which they have done for generations, rather than actually trying to beat them with progressive sticks.

Clearly, from my background, I believe in pragmatic environmentalism but not ideological environmentalism. Hes looking forward to the coming campaign which he acknowledges will be challenging but hes also looking forward to the debate and, in particular, taking the argument to extremists on both sides on the hustings.

Im going to be extremely strong with attitudes on the far-right in Europe and the far-left.

CONFLICTS

He said that people want to see the Ukrainians able to return home but the obstacle was the invasion of that country by Vladimir Putins Russia.

How will they go home, if four MEPs, one from Ireland South, Mick Wallace, votes against 50 billion of an aid package so that Ukrainian people can help themselves to self-determination and to take on Putin and his cronies.

Regarding the latest escalation of the conflict between Israel and Palestine in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on a rock concert on the Israeli border on October 7, killing more than 1200 people and taking hundreds more hostage, he condemned the attack as an act of absolute terrorism and said Hamas was a terrorist organisation that does the most horrible of things.

He said that he had been working in the Israel/Palestine region over the last five or six years and had an insight into what was happening there. We need to keep on steadfastly supporting the two-state solution for Palestine, he added.

The stance of the EU Commission President, Ursula Von der Leyen, in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 attack was to express strong unequiovcal support for Israel and this led many to question whether she should be re-appointed when her term comes to an end later this year due to the increasing death toll among Palestinian civilians due to the Israeli onslaught.

If elected as MEP, the Cork man said he would support the re-appointment of Von der Leyen and pointed out that there are many different viewpoints on the question of support for Israel across the EU and these differing perspectives should be respected. Since that, maybe, error of judgement in the initial number of days, I think she has dealt with the matter on a consensual basis across Europe.

People make mistakes and, in general, she has done a very good job for Europe.
A VAGUE deadline for the publication of the emerging preferred route of the proposed Cork Luas is simply so not good enough for the people of Cork, a Labour Party local elections candidate has said.

Peter Horgan was speaking after information obtained by the Labour Party revealed that there is no exact date for the publication of the emerging preferred route , which has twice been delayed already.

The party was informed by the deputy chief executive of the National Transport Authority (NTA), Hugh Creegan, that the spend up to the end of January on the project was just over 2,587,201.

Proposed route

In response to the question about a date for the publication of the proposed route, Mr Creegan said the publication of the emerging preferred route of the proposed Luas Cork is currently expected to be in quarter two of this year.

Speaking to The Echo following the latest update, Mr Horgan, who is a candidate in the citys South East ward, was critical over the delays in announcing the emerging preferred route .

Over 2.5m spent and no idea where the route will intersect in the city or in areas like Blackrock, he said.

Mr Horgan said he feared Dublin-based decisions [are] being made on desktops with no on-the-ground lived experiences. We are expecting the statutory final plans of bus corridors and still have not even seen a preferred route for the light rail, which will intersect with those corridors. Meanwhile those in power either do not care or just are not listening, said Mr Horgan. The minister for transport is adopting a hands-off approach to Cork City.

It is time for a change on how we approach public transport in this city. Its time for a public transport champion in City Hall."

Late last year, the NTA had said that work on identifying a precise route for the proposed Luas light rail transit system, which will run from Ballincollig in the west to Mahon Point in the east, was progressing well.

Discussions

The authority had said that, in discussions with Cork City Council over the summer, it was agreed that some additional work should be undertaken in relation to the city centre section prior to commencing the public consultation stage.

The emerging preferred route had been expected to be revealed before the end of 2022. However, this was delayed. It was then expected to be published in July last year but was further stalled to facilitate the additional work on the city centre section.

Commenting following the latest update from the NTA, Labour Partys spokesperson on transport, Duncan Smith, said it is now a critical point in providing public transport infrastructure right across the State, especially in Cork.

How the agencies that deliver that infrastructure need to be looked at with a critical eye, the Dublin Fingal TD said.

Restructuring the board [of the NTA] to ensure a fuller representation outside of Dublin; with on-the-ground experiences, must form part of that, and we in Labour will not be found wanting in progressing that change, he said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said the Government is committed to improving public transport options in Cork over the coming years.

They said a public consultation on the proposed Cork light rail project will launch in the coming months and that the project is one of a number of public transport projects proposed in the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy to deliver an accessible, integrated transport network that enables the sustainable growth of the Cork metropolitan area, both now and for the decades to come.
SOME local and regional roads in Cork can expect to be upgraded once every 50 years because they receive less per kilometre than all but two other counties in the State, councillors attending a recent meeting of Cork County Council were told.

County Cork has 12,000km of roads, Irelands largest network. Figures show that Cork County Council received 6,011/km in the 2023 allocation from Government for local and regional roads. This compares to, for example, the 10,062.97/km for Limerick City and County Council.

Allocation

The councils director of roads services Niall Healy said that if Cork were to receive a similar allocation to Limerick it would have received an additional 47.5m, bringing the allocation for 2024 to 118.8m rather than the 71.3m which was allocated for Corks local and regional roads.

While an additional 13m was allocated for repairing flood-damaged roads in East Cork, this figure wasnt included in the county council analysis because it was an additional allocation granted due to the exceptional damaged caused during Storm Babet and other rainfall events.

The analysis was shared with the meeting after a motion that had been approved at a recent meeting of the West Cork Municipal District was proposed for consideration at full council by Fianna Fails councillor Joe OCarroll, who said that West Cork was being badly left behind.

Its being made very clear to us by the engineers in West Cork that the amount of money they get each year for roads, road maintenance and upkeep, in West Cork is only good enough for 2% of the roads that they have, he said.

That means that every road you have in West Cork, regional or whatever you want to call them, will never ever again get a visit for 50 years.

Shocking

Councillor Karen Coakley, a West Cork independent councillor, highlighted the streets of Skibbereen which she said were in an absolutely shocking state.

Several other councillors got involved in a lengthy debate and the West Cork motion was expanded to include the divisions of South Cork and North Cork.

While councillors were in unanimous agreement that council engineers were delivering when they got funding, they also agreed that the necessary funding wasnt being provided.
A laptop computer was stolen from the Maldron Hotel and now the man accused of carrying out the theft has been released on bail on condition that he would stay out of the hotel for the next six weeks.

Judge Mary Dorgan adjourned the case against Paul OSullivan, 35, who lives at an apartment at Deerpark, Friars Walk, Cork, until April 23 at Cork District Court.

Garda Kate Bohane charged the young man with stealing the computer and cables from a conference room at the Maldron Hotel on South Mall, Cork, on March 12.

Applying for bail, defence solicitor, Eddie Burke said that when gardai stopped the defendant he cooperated with gardai, did not give a false name or anything like that and all of the goods in question were recovered.

Garda Bohane agreed with these suggestions.

Judge Dorgan required him to sign daily at Anglesea Street garda station and to stay out of the Maldron Hotel as conditions of his bail.
PRESIDENT of the Court of Criminal Appeal George Birmingham was praised in Cork on the last sitting of the court outside Dublin before his forthcoming retirement.

His role in investigating child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church was described as pioneering by Judge Helen Boyle of Cork Circuit Court.

Judge Boyle also said: He worked very hard for people high up and low down.

Tom Creed senior counsel, Donal T. McCarthy, barrister, and John Fuller, president of the Southern Law Association, all said that as practitioners in Cork they greatly appreciated that Mr Justice Birmingham had taken the Court of Criminal Appeal out of Dublin for occasional sessions in Cork and other parts of the country.

These speakers described how innovative it was of the president to bring the Court of Criminal Appeal out of Dublin in this manner.

Mr Creed said that following George Birminghams call to the bar in 1976 he developed one of the busiest mixed civil and criminal practices in the country before taking the brave decision to put himself before the people in a different kind of act of public service when he was elected as a TD for Dublin North Central.

In the following eight years he filled various roles as a public representative, not least at Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

On behalf of his colleagues in the Court of Criminal Appeal, Mr Justice John Edwards said that the president had been enormously supportive of the other judges and would be greatly missed.

Mr Justice Birmingham said Cork and Munster had been a special place for him in his life not least because three of his grandparents came from Munster.

He said that in his role as president of the Court of Criminal Appeal the relationship developed through his colleague Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy with the law faculty in UCC had been particularly successful and gratifying.

At a personal level he said, I am thinking of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn attending their own funeral.

Listening to the speeches put me in mind of this  who is this person they all seem to have encountered? He concluded by thanking the speakers and added: I am embarrassed.
MUNSTER Technological University (MTU) is preparing to host more than 200 delegates at an international conference on open education research and policy in Cork later this month.

It will host the 15th annual Association of Learning Technology conference for Open Education Research, Practice and Policy in MTUs Bishopstown Campus on March 27 and 28.

MTU is hosting the conference in partnership with the Association of Learning Technology (ALT), the leading professional body for learning technology in the UK.

More than 200 delegates from North America, the UK and other parts of the EU are set to arrive in Cork for the conference.

Open education seeks to widen access to and participation in education by removing barriers and making learning accessible through the likes of digital technologies and modern education practices.

The event will be co-chaired by Dr Gearoid O Suilleabhain, head of the Department of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL), MTU and Dr Tom Farrelly, senior lecturer, N-TUTORR Project, MTU.

Topics discussed over the two days will include ethical considerations surrounding the use of generative AI for open education resources, and its potential in making educational content more accessible; the connection between open education, open data, the open-source movement, and digital scholarship/librarianship.

The event will also explore the role of Open Educational Resources (OER) in serving marginalised groups and in promoting inclusivity, diversity and equity in open education.

A sectoral white paper on Open Educational Practices will be launched as part of the conference reception on March 27. This is an output from a 40m teaching and learning transformation programme, entitled N-TUTORR.

Further information on OER24 is available at www.oer2024.
SOME 92% of bus drivers witness illegal parking at bus stops daily, according to a new survey published by Bus Eireann.

A group that works with people with disabilities has condemned this illegal parking, saying it affects vulnerable people, while Corks deputy Lord Mayor has called for camera enforcement to clamp down on the issue.

The survey was launched as part of Bus Eireanns Keep it Clear campaign, a campaign designed to raise awareness among drivers about the impact of blocking bus stops.

It said that 11% of bus drivers cited illegal parking as a cause for delays and 71% said it caused major issues for passengers looking to embark or disembark buses, identifying the worst affected passengers as those with mobility issues (42%), the elderly (30%), and passengers with small children and buggies or prams (10%).

Corks Edel OConnell, Head of Communications at Rehab Group said that they fully support the Keep it Clear campaign, explaining, Parking or stopping in designated bus stops not only disrupts the efficient flow of public transportation but also poses significant challenges for individuals with disabilities and mobility issues.

As an organisation dedicated to promoting inclusivity and accessibility, Rehab Group recognises the importance of ensuring clear access to public transportation for all members of the community.

We urge drivers to adhere to traffic regulations and prioritise the needs of vulnerable road users by refraining from obstructing bus stops.

The survey represents phase two of the Keep it Clear campaign, which was launched in 2022 with an IPSOS survey of 1,000 Irish-based motorists, 26% of whom admitted to parking or stopping in bus stops.

Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Green Party Councillor Colette Finn said it is beyond frustrating that there isnt better enforcement of this illegal parking.

My own view is that we need camera enforcement, she said, adding that her party colleague councillor Oliver Moran received a reply from the Department of Transport saying the development of a National Camera-Based Enforcement Strategy is a key priority for 2024.

They added that a working group is being established, with Ms Finn saying, at least it is on the agenda and being progressed, however it is far too slow in my opinion.
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.

On Friday, 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 this 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.
A national vaccination catch-up programme is to take place amid fears of a measles outbreak, as Irelands vaccination rate falls below the World Health Organisations recommended rate.

Dr John Sheehan, a GP at Blackpool Bridge Surgery and Fianna Fail councillor for Cork City North-West, said that Cork was lucky in a sense to have a higher vaccination rate than other areas in Ireland.

The vaccination rate is 90% in Cork, in other parts of the country its as low as 70%, but we need a rate of over 95% so there is some concern, he explained.

The problem is that measles is very contagious, every one infected person can spread it to approximately 15 others so its one of the most contagious diseases. People can be quite sick from it. I have seen just one case in 20 years but that individual was very sick and needed to be hospitalised, and there can be consequences such as hearing loss, brain damage and pneumonia with measles.

Due to the ongoing outbreaks in the UK and across Europe, there is a heightened awareness of measles among clinicians in Ireland.

A fifth measles case in Ireland was confirmed over the weekend, bringing the number of cases so far this year higher than the total number for all of 2023.

A HSE spokesperson told The Echo that they are finalising plans for the broader rollout of a proactive MMR vaccine catch-up programme, which will prioritise the following groups: Children and young adults, healthcare workers, and underserved groups such as refugees, applicants seeking protection and the homeless community.

Dr Sheehan welcomed the catch-up programme, explaining that children are a target group as many have missed their routine vaccinations due to covid lockdowns. People in their late teens and early twenties also have a low vaccination rate he said, explaining: When they were born it was around the time of the scare, which has since been disproven, linking the MMR vaccine to autism.

People in this age group such as students tend to congregate in large groups, meaning that infection would spread quickly, he said, adding that other congregated settings such as homeless shelters and places where Ukrainians and other IPAs are being housed are also being targeted he said. Nursing home are not a target, as anyone born before 1978 is considered immune, he said, explaining the vast majority of them would have had it as a child, a significant number of people were very sick with it, so its not a disease to be taken lightly.

There is also concern around people who are immunosuppressed, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, he said.

Their immunity would be quite low, so were encouraging people to get vaccinated for themselves and children but also for protecting those more vulnerable people.

The HSE is advising people to call their GPs and check if they and their children are vaccinated, and Dr Sheehan said that his surgery has had lots of these calls, adding one of the benefits of having good IT systems is that for most of our patients we have records going back over twenty years and can check very quickly for them.

In relation to infection control, he urged anyone showing symptoms of measles to call ahead before going to their GP.

If a parent thought that their child had symptoms of measles, the last thing we want is someone sitting in a waiting room with it, there is a protocol such as bringing them in through a separate entrance, not using the room for two hours after etc, so we would ask them to ring first so we could try to see them towards the end of a surgery or see them separately.
MORE than 1,800 police officers in the UK recruited under Boris Johnsons manifesto pledge to increase numbers, resigned last year, it was reported recently.

Johnson had promised to add 20,000 police officers to forces in England and Wales by March, 2023, in an attempt to address the austerity cuts there.

More than 15,000 officers had been recruited, according to the government, but, following a freedom of information request, it was found that at least 1,837 of officers who joined under the scheme had already quit.

It was suggested that the figure could be much higher, as 19 of the 43 forces in England and Wales did not provide data.

That sounds familiar. According to the Department of Justice here in Ireland, 164 garda members resigned from the force last year, compared with 109 the previous year, 94 in 2021 and 70 in 2020. A total of 72 resigned in 2019, 77 in 2018 and 41 in 2017.

Its not that long ago that joining An Garda Siochana meant a job for life, but it seems that many of the new recruits these days are finding it isnt the job they thought it was and theyre throwing in the towel in increasing numbers.

Antoinette Cunningham, the soon to retire General Secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, says the job is no longer attractive, largely due to the core issues of health and safety, working conditions, excessive oversight, bureaucratic systems, pensions, and the heightened levels of abuse.

With 33 years experience behind her, shes certainly in a position to comment.

I retired from the force in 2015 so I cant speak about the current working conditions, but its obvious that garda management has a problem with resignations and attracting new members.

Changes to pension, pay and conditions are being cited as the main cause, but reputational damage from some controversies hasnt helped either.

Representative bodies have reported poor morale is also a factor. An abundance of oversight has been cited as another issue, with the Garda Inspectorate, Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission, the Policing Authority and now the Garda Anti-Corruption Unit (GACU) watching every move.

When I joined in 1979, we had more freedom to use our initiative, but we were still a disciplined organisation. We operated to a set of rules laid down in the Garda Siochana Code and if we stepped out of line, we were called to account.

There were rogue operators too, but the vast majority of those I served with played by those rules.

Most were working and living in the community and doing their bit to enhance the quality of life for everyone in a safe environment. Its what An Garda Siochana was instructed to do on its formation in 1922; go out and live and work among the community.

For more than a century, they have become part of peoples everyday lives, but that could get a garda into trouble these days.

There was a newspaper story earlier in the year concerning a garda who was suspended for three years after giving an elderly man in the midlands an unclaimed bicycle that had been lying around the garda station.

It was during Covid, and the older man was living in an isolated area and needed a bicycle to get out to the shops. His own bike was unusable and the garda became aware of this.

The garda knew there was a bike in the station that nobody had claimed so he gave it to the older man to help him out. That good deed brought the wrath of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation down upon him.

In 2020, they raided his home and also called to the home of the older man and took possession of the bicycle.

The Garda Commissioner suspended the long-serving garda for three years while the case was investigated by specialist investigators in the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

At the end of their investigation, it was decided the garda had no criminal case to answer and the officer concerned was reinstated.

That wasnt the end of the matter though. Disciplinary proceedings were instigated against the garda because he neglected to fill out the necessary paperwork.

While that process was underway, he was confined to restricted duties, which meant he could not deal with the public hed sworn to serve.

That case came before a board comprised of a legal professional, a superintendent and a chief superintendent unconnected to the case.

The garda faced five disciplinary charges including discreditable conduct, disobedience, misuse of property, and neglect of duty.

That garda has now been cleared of any wrongdoing by the disciplinary inquiry.

A four-day hearing was held last February, and by early March the board rejected all five disciplinary charges.

The boards decision was sent to the Garda Commissioner, who can decide to accept or reject it.

In light of that, youd have to wonder what all the fuss was about in the first place?

How was a seemingly innocent good deed identified as a case with such potential criminal implications that it required the services of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation to investigate it?

And who made that initial determination?

An Garda Siochana has an obligation to protect people from the risks and effects of corrupt behaviour, and to prevent and prosecute any form of corruption that impacts upon the delivery of a quality policing service to the community.

Thats as it should be, but in recent times, they seem to have gone over the top with their interpretation of corruption.

During my 35 years in An Garda Siochana, I was fortunate enough to serve under many fine officers who held senior positions in the organisation, most of whom were blessed with some degree of common sense.

Unfortunately, that commodity appears to be sadly lacking in the force today.
Cillian Sherlock, PA in Washington, DC

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he will make reference to Gaza during the shamrock ceremony at the White House.

Ahead of what will be his final comments of the US trip for St Patricks Day, the Taoiseach defended the traditional visit to Washington DC.

He said it was not just a single event that lasts an hour but a programme with depth.

Mr Varadkars annual diplomatic meetings in the US capital have been dominated by the war in the Middle East and Irelands opposing position to the US.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast to coincide with the trip and to push for a more aggressive policy on Gaza from the government as meetings were held with senior US figures.

Mr Varadkar has said throughout the trip that instead of a boycott, Ireland should engage in discussions to highlight issues such as the spiralling number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

On Sunday, the trip will culminate in Mr Varadkar gifting a bowl of shamrocks to US president Joe Biden.

Mr Varadkar held a bilateral meeting with Mr Biden in the Oval Office on Friday where the two leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Irish-US trade relations.

Mr Biden agreed with Mr Varadkar when he said there needed to be a ceasefire as soon as possible.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at a bilateral meeting with US president Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House (Niall Carson/PA)

Asked whether he could have partaken in the Oval Office meeting with Mr Biden on Friday and then withdrawn from the shamrock ceremony on Sunday, Mr Varadkar said: I suppose all these things go together.

I dont think it would have been a wise decision or appropriate for me to take the time in the Oval Office and do that meeting and then turn around a day or two later and say that I wouldnt participate in a ceremony that goes back 40 years.

He said it would be a misimpression if people thought the trip to Washington DC was just a single event that lasts for an hour, where there are speeches and a bowl of shamrocks handed over.

Although he said previously that the US should not be sending arms to Israel, the Taoiseach added he wasnt shocked that the US would continue to, as it was long-established policy.

I would struggle to understand why other people would be shocked at that, perhaps they need to spend a bit more time reading foreign policy, because that is the established position of the US.

I appreciate we live in a world where everyone has to be angry all the time and is encouraged to get angry and then when youre not angry, youre asked why arent you angry?

Thats not the way I operate.

He added: What you do then is you do all you can to work for a ceasefire, to encourage our American and European partners to work towards that, to increase our humanitarian aid for Palestine, which weve done.

So were doing everything we can, thats practical, given our influence in the world, to push for a ceasefire and for lasting peace.

I understand why other people may become consumed by anger.

Its just never a way that Ive done my job.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA in Washington DC

US President Joe Biden has been told by Stormonts leaders that they appreciate his support during a positive meeting at a St Patricks Day reception.

First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met Mr Biden at the White House on Sunday as the traditional March 17th events rounded off a week of engagements.

Ms ONeill said business figures they spoke to were left with a clear understanding on why they should invest in Northern Ireland, while Ms Little-Pengelly said the week had been key for extending relationships in the US.

Sinn Fein had come under pressure to boycott St Patricks events in the US over support for Israels military operation in Gaza.

Speaking after the meeting on Sunday, Sinn Fein Stormont leader Ms ONeill said the aim of the US trip was to seek out investors and companies and showcase everything Northern Ireland has to offer.

The Stormont leaders itinerary included the Ireland Funds Gala; a roundtable discussion with the US Chamber of Commerce; and the Speaker Mike Johnsons luncheon in the US Capitol with Mr Biden and Irish premier Leo Varadkar.

Both Emma and I have had a very positive experience, meeting business leaders from a wide range of sectors who were left with a clear understanding of why they should invest in the north.

First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly meeting Joe Biden and Joseph Kennedy in the China Room of the White House. Photo: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA.

We also impressed upon President Biden that we appreciate his continued support, including the work taken forward by the Special Envoy Joe Kennedy III.

Over the coming months we will continue to build on the connections we have made in the United States in order to grow our economy for the betterment of our citizens.

Ms Little-Pengelly said they discussed with Mr Biden the importance of US engagement and investment in securing a thriving, brighter future for everyone.

Throughout our engagements this week, we have been promoting Northern Ireland as a great place to live, visit and invest in.

We are a global leader in sectors such as cyber security, regtech, fintech, advanced manufacturing and health sciences with a young, skilled and dedicated workforce. I am confident those influential decision-makers we have met with have been very impressed by what they have heard.

This week has also been key in extending our network and relationships within the US, demonstrating that we are open for business and committed to building stability and prosperity through investment.

Earlier in the week Mr Biden hailed the return of powersharing in Northern Ireland as a very positive step forward, while Mr Varadkar said his abiding memory from the trip was seeing the powerful appearance of the two politicians on stage together.

Speaking on Sunday night, Mr Varadkar said that lessons can be learned from the peace process in Northern Ireland, particularly the concept of parity of esteem.

He told the reception event: Mr President, as you know today we are joined here in the White House by Michelle ONeill as First Minister of Northern Ireland and Emma Little-Pengelly as deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland.

A joint office in which they are co-equal. Two courageous women demonstrating every day whats possible by putting aside old animosities and working together.

The Good Friday Agreement is working again and I thank you all so much for making that possible.

I think they have got off to a great start. The Irish Government is working with them and the Executive in Belfast to build on the peace and prosperity that has been achieved in the last 26 years and to make sure it is shared by all.




China's wheat importers cancel, postpone about one million tonnes of wheat from Australia

Wheat importers in China have cancelled or postponed imports of about one million tonnes of Australian wheat cargoes, which were scheduled to be shipped in February, March and April, two trade sources with direct knowledge of the deals said.

A decline in global wheat prices to their lowest point in about three and a half years is prompting China, the world's number one wheat buyer, to cancel shipments after large worldwide purchases late last year and in early 2024.

The US government reported the cancellation of more than 500,000 tonnes of US wheat exports to China since the week before March 11.

"Chinese buyers have cancelled some deals for Australian wheat, and they are also moving the shipping time from the first quarter to the second quarter, third quarter," said one Singapore-based trader.

Another trader in the city-state said trading companies have vacated shipping slots across several Australian ports, which were booked for cargoes to be shipped to China.

Benchmark Chicago wheat futures have dropped more than 14% in 2024 to their lowest since August 2020 thanks to the ample global supplies.

Russia, the top exporter, is flooding the global market with cheap wheat as it draws down inventories ahead of an expected bumper harvest.

Refinitiv data showed benchmark Russian wheat export prices slipped below US$200 a tonne last week for the first time since August 2020, marking the lowest early March price since 2017.

Russia is projected to export a record 51 million tonnes of wheat in the crop year that ends on May 31, up from 47.5 million a year ago, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.

One million tonnes of wheat would require about 15 Panamax-size vessels of 68,000 tonnes each to ship, and amounts to more than 4% of Australia's expected total wheat exports of 23 million tonnes in 2023 until 2024.

"Some Chinese buyers who cancelled or postponed purchases are paying penalties in form of carrying cost to Australian suppliers," the second trader said.



- Reuters




Cal-Maine Foods completes acquisition of assets from Tyson Foods

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., the largest producer of fresh shell eggs in the United States, announced on March 14 it has completed a previously announced acquisition of a broiler processing plant, hatchery and feed mill in Dexter, Missouri, the United States, that were closed by Tyson Foods, Inc. in 2023.

The company plans to remodel and repurpose the assets for use in shell egg and egg products production.

Sherman Miller, president and chief executive officer of Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., said: "We are pleased to join the Dexter community and are excited about the opportunities to expand our operations. We intend to partner with the existing strong network of local contract growers who can support our shell egg production capabilities.

"Dexter's central geographic location and strong work force will enhance our supply and distribution capabilities for customers in Missouri and surrounding markets. Importantly, we will also benefit from closer proximity to sources for our primary feed ingredients. We look forward to the new production opportunities, including the potential for additional free-range capacity, in this new community and market for Cal-Maine Foods."



- Business Wire




Australian farmers' confidence reaches two-year high on rainfall and livestock prices surge



A survey revealed that widespread rainfall and rising livestock prices have propelled confidence levels among Australian farmers to their highest point in two years, Reuters reported.

As one of the world's leading agricultural exporters, Australia faced significant challenges in 2023 due to adverse weather conditions caused by the El Nino phenomenon, leading to drought conditions that impacted crop yields and livestock markets negatively.

However, unexpected and extensive rain across southern and eastern Australia during the southern hemisphere summer has revitalized pastures, resulting in improved sheep and cattle prices and the potential for larger harvests.

With some forecasts suggesting a transition from El Nino to La Nina later in the year, which typically brings wetter weather to eastern Australia, optimism among farmers has surged.

According to a quarterly survey conducted by Rabobank among approximately 1,000 agricultural producers, confidence levels have turned positive for the first time since June 2022.

The net confidence level has risen from -41% in the last quarter of 2023 to 15%, indicating a notable shift in sentiment. However, farmers in Tasmania and Western Australia, which experienced less rainfall, expressed less optimism compared to their counterparts in other regions.

Marcel van Doremaele, an executive at Rabobank, noted that farmers exercised caution in spending last year due to reduced incomes and uncertain forecasts. However, with improved seasonal conditions and a more positive economic outlook, farmers are now more confident in boosting their budgets, supported by positive farm margins.

- Reuters




Angel Yeast promotes green development in Egypt





Angel Yeast recently hosted a community Welfare Activity on sustainable and green development and presented gifts to students at a school near its factory in Egypt.

The event was joined by Dr. Ayman Al-Kashef, undersecretary of Egypt's Ministry of Education for Community Participation in Beni Sueif, as well as community event coordinator Hanan Gerges, Angel Yeast representative Li Xiaokun, factory general manager Ahmed Bashir and director of administration and sales manager of Angel Yeast (Egypt) Co., Ltd. Ahmed Azzazy.

"For Angel Yeast, the event was an opportunity to promote green and sustainable development, support students to engage more in the community and educate the young generation on the importance of protecting the environment," Xiaokun said. "We hope to further promote sustainable development through events like this, to engage more people to take action and build a better, green home for all."

According to local media Elmaushir, Angel Yeast (Egypt) Co., Ltd. provides all types of humanitarian assistance and is keen on social participation in a way that connects the company with the local community.

Angel Yeast (Egypt) Co., Ltd. has created a significant number of employment opportunities, and as of now, it employs more than 900 local staff, including 56 supervisors and 14 senior executives, the company said.

Upon the completion of a yeast product expansion project, which will boast 20,000 tonnes of annual production capacity, Angel Yeast will employ up to 1,000 more local employees.

The company has actively established a circular economy model to advance the development of the local agricultural ecosystem and continually promotes environmental governance, emission reduction and clean production following an environment-first strategy, Angel Yeast added.

Angel Yeast is leveraging Egypt's abundant molasses to enhance sustainable production. By converting molasses byproducts into valuable resources, the company is exemplifying the principles of a green circular economy. The wastewater generated during the yeast manufacturing process undergoes treatment to become organic fertiliser, which is then sold to bolster the local agricultural sector.

Angel Yeast has also developed a robust institutional framework and implemented a variety of mechanisms that align with the ISO14001 environmental management system. The company's proactive governance includes the "Environmental Protection Concern Management System," which monitors, reports and addresses potential environmental issues. This system facilitates prompt investigation and resolution of concerns, guaranteeing that operations remain compliant with legal standards and committed to environmental integrity.

With compliance as the red line and technological advancement as the core, Angel Yeast (Egypt) Co., Ltd. has been operating environmental protection facilities smoothly, including those involved in waste treatment and noise control. Furthermore, all pollutant emission indexes are in line with requirements.

Angel Yeast has also implemented yeast fermentation tail gas and environmental tail gas control projects to strengthen odor control.

- Angel Yeast
On January 6, 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft were grounded after a door plug blew from one of the planes fuselages over Oregon during an Alaska Airlines flight. No passengers were seriously injured this time, but in at least three prior incidents, problems on Boeing planes ended in fatal disaster. Why? The Boeing bosses play dice with the lives of aircrews and passengers, all for the sake of profit. The reckless aviation giants history of missing or faulty parts, suppression of safety protocols, and utter negligence is only one symptom of a much larger decay in capitalist production.

[Originally published at socialistrevolution.org]

Despite Boeings ostensibly untouchable reputation on the world marketthe common refrain among pilots once was, if it aint Boeing, I aint goingthe aviation monopoly has a pattern of hushing up safety inspectors, pilots, and its own workers. To cover itself, Boeing employs highly paid lobbyists to secure its interests in Washington.

In 2018, 737 Max crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 364. Both were caused by faulty software that Boeing neglected to instruct pilots on. That same year, an engine on a Boeing 737-700 exploded over Philadelphia, shattering a window and killing a woman.

After investigating the latest malfunction, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that four key bolts were not installed into the door plug on the Max 7 fuselage during manufacturing. As if this wasnt damning enough, Boeings negligence was on display again last month, when a Colombia-bound flight out of Atlanta lost its front wheel while sitting on the runway preparing for takeoff. And yet again just the other day when a Boeing 757-200 performed an emergency landing due to a damaged wing that is still being investigatedbut which some speculate was caused by the misassembling of the wing or a lack of maintenance.

At first, the capitalist media tried to spin the blown door plug as an anomaly. But after the NTSB findings, they had to admit it was the result of a cost-cutting move. Weeks before the blowout, workers at the subcontractor manufacturing the door plugs, Spirit AeroSystems, warned their bosses that a failure like this was bound to happen. Numerous complaints were filed to a federal court regarding the excessive amount of defects on Spirit fuselages. Internal inspection teams report discovering uncalibrated tools which can lead to improperly installed parts. The Spirit bossesbeneficiaries of a $75 million federal handout during the pandemiccovered up systematic quality control problems and retaliated against workers who raised safety concerns.

After the horrific 2018 tragedies, Boeing was criticized for paying too much attention to returning money to shareholders and not enough to engineering. Despite reckless corner cutting and a 42% market share worldwide, the aviation behemoth has been unable to turn an annual profit since 2018. Even after receiving billions in government subsidies and military contracts every year, Boeings net losses over the last five years amounted to $26.7 billion. As for Spirit AeroSystems, 50% of its annual revenue in 2020 came from the 737 MAX. We dont have to guess as to why Spirit suppresses internal safety complaints.

In 2018, 737 Max crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 364. Both were caused by faulty software that Boeing neglected to instruct pilots on / Image: Windmemories, Wikimedia Commons

Last year, Boeing managed to sideline the families of crash victims and secure a sweetheart plea deal when it was brought to criminal court in Texas on charges of conspiracy to defraud the US government by dodging safety regulations. After the grounding of the Max 9, Boeing was forced to withdraw its request to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a safety exemption to rush through the certification of the new Max 7 plane.

This shows, once again, that the capitalist state and its institutions are, as Marx and Engels put it, committees for managing the common affairs of the capitalist class. Occasionally, these institutions must chastise corporations like Boeing to deflect the class anger which their most monstrous crimes can inspire. But despite their hypocritical posturing, the FAA, NTSB, and the courts dont exist to protect the public. They exist to protect the capitalists from the consequences of crises endemic to their system.

To combat its relative decline in the world market following recent disasters, Boeing began outsourcing more and more of its manufacturing. The result is a chaotic decentralization of production. Different stages of manufacturing fall out of sync in a Byzantine labyrinth of subcontractors. The fissures created by the capitalist logic of competition and profit maximization affect Boeings in-house manufacturing as well. A memo circulated by the head of Boeings commercial aircraft unit said, many employees voiced frustration with  how unfinished jobseither from our suppliers or within our factoriescan ripple through the production line. Boeings methods for raising productivity have turned into their opposite.

Airplanes are central to global infrastructure for both trade and travel. They are a social necessity, but the capitalists in charge of producing them do not have societys interests in mind. Only a workers government can ensure safe and quality production by taking control of the commanding heights of the economy, nationalizing aviation and all other major branches of industry, and rationalizing production in a socialist central plan. Workers safety inspection committees could be elected on shop floors, and these committees would be responsible to the workers government, not profit-hungry shareholders. When workers participate in the planning of their own work and enjoy the technological advances they create, their commitment to creating well-made products will only intensify.

This kind of future is entirely possible. But we must fight to make it a reality. We need a mass communist party to organize this struggle, one that understands completely the impasse of capitalism and the way out. The comrades of the Revolutionary Communists of America are building such a partya party that can fight and win.
Trina Solar signed an agreement in Johannesburg, South Africa. According to the agreemen, Trina Solar will provide 135MW Vertex 670W bifacial modules for the Merak 1 project. The project will be put into operation by the end of 2024, which will be an important milestone in South Africa's renewable energy.

Merak 1 project is being built by South African ground-mounted power company SOLA and EPC company WBHO Construction, with all modules supplied by Trina Solar.

South Africa's coal-dominated power system is facing rapid transformation. Clean and renewable solar energy will become an important point for the transformation of South Africa's power system. The Vertex 670W bifacial modules used in the Merak 1 project are the flagship products of Trina Solar with PERC technology. The product not only have the core advantages of high power, high efficiency, high reliability, high power generation and low LCOE, but also generate electricity from the back of the module. In addition, the modules have obtained LCA and product carbon footprint certifications, providing end-users with more green and clean electricity and helping them reduce their carbon footprint with industry-leading carbon footprint performance.
Following Hertz's disastrous misadventure with EVs, CEO Stephen Scherr is stepping down, Bloomberg reported. He'll be replaced by the former COO of GM's robotaxi Cruise division, Gil West, who will also join the board of directors.

A year after emerging from bankruptcy in 2020, Hertz said it would transform its car rental business by purchasing 100,000 Tesla EVs. "The new Hertz is going to lead the way as a mobility company, starting with the largest EV rental fleet in North America," the company said at the time. The announcement helped send Tesla's value soaring to a $1 trillion valuation.

Scherr joined Hertz after that decision was made, but increased Hertz's bet on EVs by placing orders with Polestar and GM as well. The company didn't purchase many EVs from those automakers, but by the end, it had around 60,000 from the three automakers.

Things went sideways after that, though. Tesla drastically cut prices of its Model 3 and Model Y EVs, scorching resale values. In addition, Hertz said that Tesla's vehicles were expensive to repair and unpopular with renters.

As a result, the company started unloading 20,000 EVs, about a third of its electrified fleet. That resulted in a $245 million charge for Hertz and its largest quarterly loss since the pandemic. Other rental car firms have also recently ditched EVs, with Germany's Sixt doing away with its entire fleet.

West, meanwhile, was one of nine Cruise executives dismissed following an incident that saw a pedestrian dragged by a Cruise vehicle after being struck by another car. Authorities accused the company of withholding a video that allegedly showed the victim underneath its vehicle.
A dedicated phone stand is a great way to keep your desk clutter-free while charging your handset at the same time. If you have a phone with wireless charging, we strongly recommend using a wireless charger so you dont have to mess around with pesky cords. The Anker 313 Stand is a good option as it supports 10W high-speed charging with the latest Samsung Galaxy handsets and 5W charging with recent iPhones like the iPhone 15. We especially like how affordable it is ($20 as of this writing), though keep in mind that you need to supply your own power brick.

If you have a phone without wireless charging, we recommend the Lamicall stand, as it has a feeder hole for the charger cord on the back. The stand is made from a high-quality aluminum alloy and the cradle can be tilted back and forth for different viewing angles. If you like, you can position your phone horizontally to watch videos.

If you want to charge several Apple devices all at once, consider a multi-device charger. Our favorite is the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 pad as it features 15W MagSafe charging for the iPhone, fast charging for Apple Watches plus a spot for AirPods or any other Qi-compatible earbud case. The Apple Watch charger is especially notable as it works not just horizontally and vertically, but theres also a knob that lets you accommodate different sizes plus third-party cases. On top of that, the horizontal layout lets you charge any wireless phone at reduced speeds.

Alternatively, if you want a version with a smaller footprint, the BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 wireless charger is a fantastic option. It also has MagSafe 15W charging and itll charge the Apple Watch and AirPods as well. However, the indented earbud pad means you cant charge a second phone on it.

If you want something more affordable, this Anker MagGo charging station is a solid option as well. It only has a single magnetic charging pad on the front for your phone, but it does have a bunch of ports  three AC outlets, two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports  for charging other devices.

One way to really save some space is to get a lamp with a wireless charger built into the base. The IKEA Hektar has a classic look with a 5W induction charger, plus an extra USB port so you can charge two devices at once. Alternatively, this LED desk lamp by AFROG packs in a lot of features in a relatively small footprint. It has a wireless charger, a USB charging port, five lighting modes with seven levels of brightness plus a 30 or 60 minute shutoff timer.

For a more futuristic design, the Taotronics LED desk lamps slim style might be more your speed. It supports fast charging up to 7.5 watts (for iPhones) or 10 watts (for Samsung Galaxy phones) , an extra USB port on the side; five different color temperatures; and an option for a one-hour dimmable desk lamp timer thatll turn off when you go to bed.  N.L.
A gang-led coup in Haiti has led to the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry. US imperialism is scrambling to regain control of the situation and has organised negotiations to create a transitional council to take power. But with the Haitian state in utter disarray, the gangs are moving to solidify their control of the capital Port-au-Prince.

There had been a brief decline in gang-driven killings and kidnappings after the emergence of the Bwa Kale movement in April last year. Bwa Kale was a spontaneous uprising of neighbourhood self-defence groups that erupted across the country to defend against the gangs.

But the Bwa Kale movement was decentralised and very heterogeneous. The movement did not manage to coalesce into a national movement with a united political programme. Some neighbourhoods, such as Canape Vert, remained relatively peaceful after the armed people had driven out the gangs. But in other areas, the neighbourhood self-defence groups got caught up in the gang wars and allied with this or that gang to drive out other rival groups. In other areas, some of the neighbourhood self-defence groups have transformed into gangs themselves.

Some of the gangs have threatened and retaliated against Bwa Kale. Other gangs have taken a different approach, such as G9, the most powerful gang alliance led by Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier. Since May of last year, he has tried to co-opt Bwa Kale, and has been seen in public wearing Bwa Kale t-shirts and has even encouraged people to join and support the movement. He would love nothing more than to bind the Bwa Kale movement to his own powerful gang.

By the end of summer last year, the gangs had recovered from the shock of the Bwa Kale movement. Gang violence was on the rise again. In August, an armed protest against gang violence organised by a church was attacked by a major gang in broad daylight. A prominent prosecutor was then assassinated in September.

The Bwa Kale movement was decentralised and very heterogeneous / Image: Dan Cohen, Twitter

In late September 2023, as plans were being solidified to send Kenyan paramilitary police to Haiti as part of a United Nations mission, Cherizier, the most prominent gang leader, called for an uprising, and announced that his gang was launching the fight to overturn Ariel Henrys government in any way, adding that our fight will be with weapons.

By January 2024, the gangs were in control of around 80 percent of Port-au-Prince. The gangs launched an attack against the Solino neighbourhood in Port-au-Prince. This was seen as a major offensive by the gangs. Controlling Solino would give them easy access to Canape Vert and other neighbourhoods that had previously driven gangs out.

Henry overthrown

Henrys regime had become increasingly weak and isolated. He had assumed power in the wake of the assassination of Jovenel Moise, but had never been elected. His regime had no legitimacy in the eyes of the people  or really in anyones eyes, with the exception of the imperialists of course.

Henry repeatedly promised elections that were never held. The Haitian police and the military are outmanned and outgunned by the gangs. While the Haitian police tried to launch some operations against them, the state was not in a position to do anything substantial to stem the rising tide of gang violence.

The last lifeline of the Henry regime was a potential international force organised by the United Nations. US imperialism has been trying to organise a UN force to support and stabilise the Henry regime for years.

Kenya had agreed in October 2023 to lead a UN force to Haiti, but Kenyas High Court had declared the UN operation unconstitutional. In February 2024, Henry travelled to Kenya to sign an agreement designed to meet the objections of the Kenyan Courts.

A new gang alliance, Viv Ansanm, emerged and quickly launched a coordinated assault on the Haitian state while Henry was out of the country. Within days, the gangs had attacked and torched some 30 state institutions, more than 600 homes, and over 500 vehicles. Thousands were left homeless and tens of thousands were forced to flee the capital in the wake of the attack.

The last lifeline of the Henry regime was a potential international force organised by the United Nations / Image: public domain

Cherizier announced his plans to capture the chief of police and government ministers to prevent Henrys return. Attacks by gangs at the countrys main airport and cargo port had more or less shut the country down. On 2 and 3 March, gangs attacked numerous police stations and stormed two of the largest prisons in Haiti, with some 5,000 prisoners escaping. Many of these prisoners were former or current gang members, who promptly swelled the ranks of the gangs.

With the airport shut down, Henry was unable to return to Haiti and was stranded abroad. At this point, US imperialism had concluded that the situation with Henry in power was untenable. Thus, Henry announced his resignation on 12 March 2024.

Transitional council

US imperialism, along with other Caribbean countries, announced a plan for the creation of a transitional council to replace Henry and take power. The plan was to create a nine-member council with seven voting positions. As reported by France 24:

Votes were offered to Pitit Desalin, Jean-Charles party; EDE/RED, a party led by former Prime Minister Claude Joseph; the Montana Accord, a group of civil society leaders, political parties and others; Fanmi Lavalas, Aristides party; the Jan. 30 Collective, which represents parties including that of former President Michel Martelly; the Dec. 21 Agreement, a group that backed Henry; and members of the private sector. The remaining two nonvoting positions would go to a member from Haitis civil society and its religious sector.

It seems unlikely that this transitional council will ever be in a position to take power. Even if the imperialists are able to announce such a council, it is even less likely that it will be able to stabilise the situation. The proposed council would be composed of the establishment political parties. These parties are all discredited, and along with the Haitian state in general have next to no legitimacy in the eyes of the people. Moreover, in terms of special armed bodies of men (the real basis of political power) the gangs are more powerful than the forces of the state.

The proposed transitional council in Haiti would be immediately faced with attacks from gangs. In fact, the plans for the transitional council are already falling apart. The final composition of the council was to be determined by Wednesday 14 March. But many of the political parties refused to participate and Jean Charles Moise, a prominent member of Pitit Desalin, has allied with Guy Philippe, who helped lead the coup against Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004. They have announced their own three-person council.

On 14 March, Cherizier also issued a message threatening to attack the leaders and political parties that were to form the transitional council. Gangs then launched an attack on a police academy, and the national police chiefs house was attacked and set on fire. Cherizier also said that Henrys resignation was only a first step in the battle.

Hands off Haiti!

The situation in Haiti rests on a knifes edge. The gangs have essentially taken control of the capital. The gangs already outnumber and outgun the police and military, and are spreading their reign of terror throughout the rest of the country.

The situation in Haiti rests on a knifes edge / Image: public domain

Following Henrys resignation, Kenya has announced that its plan to send paramilitary police as part of a UN security force is now on hold. US imperialism is still looking to organise a force, but doesnt want to send its own troops. Canada and France, along with a number of other countries, have already rejected the idea of sending police or troops.

As the situation in Haiti continues to deteriorate, US imperialism will find it increasingly difficult to organise this international force. Everybody can see that a UN security force would face an impossible situation in Haiti. There is little financial reward and plenty of risk for the imperialists.

A UN force would be forced to go to war with the gangs and prop up a non-existent regime. The United Nations has zero legitimacy in Haiti. UN troops involved in the MINUSTAH mission left in their wake a sex abuse scandal and cholera outbreak. Thus, a UN mission in Haiti would not be well received by the Haitian people and is a not viable option for the imperialists.

The imperialists are particularly concerned about getting bogged down in a long-term occupation of Haiti. The gangs are well-armed and entrenched in Haitis cities, especially the capital. Breaking the gangs means urban warfare against an enemy that is difficult to identify, with no clear front lines. Such a conflict could easily escalate and mean opposition at home. Open warfare with the gangs on the streets of Haitian cities could also spark mass opposition in Haiti. Foreign military support would likely also mean conflicts with the mass movement.

However, a UN mission to Haiti cannot yet be entirely ruled out. The imperialists also worry that the political instability in Haiti could spread throughout the region. The Biden regime and other governments in the region are concerned about a mass exodus of refugees from Haiti. The Biden regime has already announced that it is prepared to use the navy to counter any such wave of refugees.

The more the situation deteriorates, the more the gangs threaten to take absolute control, the more pressure the imperialists will feel to do something about it, despite the risks and lack of rewards.

Overthrow capitalism to fight the gangs

The problem of the gangs and the social collapse in Haiti cannot be resolved through police and military action. There is no solution to the problem of the gangs under capitalism. The general sickness of capitalism in Haiti has allowed the gangs to grow and metastasise like a cancer.

Politicians and the bourgeoisie have funded and employed the gangs to further their own interests. The corruption runs so deep that the entire capitalist system, including the state and the police, has become criminalised and gangsterised.

Imperialist troops might be able to defeat the gangs militarily, at great cost to the Haitian masses. However, even this will provide no long-term solution to the problem. An occupation by imperialist troops will do nothing to solve the root causes that have given rise to the gangs. An occupation by imperialist troops will not provide jobs, decent wages, housing, education or healthcare.

Cherizier is the leader of the most prominent gang alliance, and appears to be the most powerful figure on the ground / Image: public domain

Meaningful and significant improvements to living conditions are the only way to deal with the problem of the gangs in the long term. Even if an imperialist military intervention leads to the breaking of the G9 blockade and the defeat of the gangs, with no fundamental change in Haitis economic and political situation, with the same conditions of poverty and misery, the gangs would arise all over again, and the Haitian masses would quickly find themselves in the exact same situation. This would mean a potentially long-term and brutal occupation by imperialist forces to keep the gangs in check.

Cherizier is the leader of the most prominent gang alliance, and appears to be the most powerful figure on the ground. It is possible that Cheriziers gang will take control of the capital, although the establishment of a national regime based on the power of the gangs seems unlikely at the moment. Cherizier has presented himself as a sort of revolutionary strongman who can save the country from the crisis. It is clear, however, that Cherizier is no saviour and that no stable regime will ever be established under the control of the gangs.

Capitalism has utterly failed in Haiti. What is needed is a total revolutionary sweeping away of all the corruption and rot of Haitian capitalism. The Haitian ruling class must be expropriated and their failed regime overthrown. The expropriation of the ruling elite will be a key step in overcoming the powerful connections of the gangs.

An insurrectionary mass movement in Haiti must develop an economic, political and social programme that can eradicate the poverty and misery that leads many to join the gangs. Good jobs, decent housing, adequate food, water and healthcare are the political weapons that can be used to fight the gangs.

There is no way forward under capitalism. No solution will be found under an imperialist occupation. Imperialist troops will defend the status quo of capitalism and the continued rule of the elites and their imperialist allies. The economic and social crisis will continue and worsen. This means condemning the masses to continued poverty and misery, with no end in sight.

Overthrowing the entire capitalist system in Haiti is the task of the Haitian workers and poor themselves. The time is now to build a united revolutionary organisation and to develop a revolutionary programme. This is the only way out of the crisis for the Haitian masses.
During the 2024 GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles, Wayne Brady explained in an interview why some individuals may be confused on the term pansexual.

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Brady, 51, who publicly identified as pansexual in August 2023, explained to PEOPLE, "I had to do research and find out what it was that I was." Addressing a common misunderstanding, he remarked, "I think the biggest misconception...is that people think that you're an indecisive bisexual." Brady emphasized the need to clarify, stating, "It's like, no, no, no, no, no. Let me set you straight."

"What the definition basically boils down to is, regardless of gender, regardless," he continued. "So that means that I am happily free to fall in love with anybody here. If you're gay, if you're straight, if you're non-binary, trans, I don't care."

The 'Let's Make a Deal' host explained that pansexuality focuses on "the person," which, in his perspective, represents complete acceptance and love, stating, "so I win."

Following his public revelation last year, Brady characterized his pansexuality to PEOPLE as akin to being "bisexual - with an open mind." During that period, he disclosed that Robin Williams' death in 2014 had a profound impact on him, leading to an unexpected journey of self-exploration.

RELATED: Bruno Mars' Net Worth Amid Alleged $50 Million Gambling Debt

In addition to undergoing therapy to comprehend his lack of joy in certain life aspects and addressing "love addiction," Brady found himself wondering, "Wayne, um, are you gay?"

"And the answer was no because despite having been in all of these unsuccessful relationships and now dealing with what I know can be diagnosed as love addiction, I started to go, 'Okay, I'm feeling something, but I just don't know how to get there.' "

The Trevor Project defines pansexual as "an attraction to people of any gender or to people regardless of their gender, with the prefix "pan" coming from the Greek prefix for 'all.' "
Sexyy Red revealed she traveled to Mexico over the weekend where she allegedly encountered border patrol officials who followed her afterward.

In the early hours on Sunday, the St. Louis rapper utilized her Instagram Stories to express gratitude to fans for their patience, amid claims of encountering challenges with Mexican law enforcement.

RELATED: Sexyy Red Ask Twitter If She's Wrong To 'Put Drake On Child Support?'

Red, real name Janae Wherry, thanked her supporters for staying out until 3am to see her after her border delay, attributing it to carrying excessive money and jewelry.

Sexyy Red, 25, bid farewell to Mexico, stating, "It's been real, Mexico. Thanks for f**king with a real b***h. Y'all was lit up, on god."

"Damn, we got stopped at the border. Took us hella hours at the border, they still waited on me. It's 3 o'clock. They just now leaving the club, period," she said. "They f**k with a real b***h, and I f**k with them for f**king with me."

"We've been stuck at the border all day. I had too much bands on me, they couldn't handle that s**t. Too much jewelry on me, they couldn't handle that s**t .. They weren't f**king with your girl. They told me I was like Griselda Blanco."

RELATED: Sexyy Red Wants To 'Hit The Block With The Guys' After Giving Birth To Second Baby

The woman the "SkeeYee" rapper was referring to, Griselda Blanco, who was killed in 2012 at age 69, was a Colombian drug lord. She was prominent in the cocaine-based drug trade and underworld of Miami during the 1970s through the early 2000s. She was played by Sofia Vergara in Netflix's 'Griselda.'

She also added: "Y'all hoes can't say y'all went to Mexico and had to get stopped at the border 'cause I had them f**king racks on y'all, 'cause I had jewelry on y'all. Y'all hoes can't say that. Too many buckers. Where my fingers at?"

Sexyy Red expressed her eagerness to retrieve her belongings from the hotel and depart the country following the ordeal she experienced.

She alleged that authorities stopped her yet again and were monitoring her using drones, reassuring her 3.5 million followers that they are not "drug dealers."
Key Points:

Six central banks to announce policy, potential for volatility.

Market expectations: Fed 75bps easing, ECB 100bps cut, BoE 63bps cut.

BoJ may hike for the first time in 17 years; focus on FOMC and BoE meetings.

The week ahead is packed full of important events and data releases.

Six major central banks are due to meet and announce policy.

The BoE will meet on Thursday. This will closely follow the release of UK CPI on Wednesday and the Pound could be in for a volatile week.

Currencies have been mostly rangebound in recent weeks and months as hiking cycles have come to an end in most countries and markets await the next major drivers. The US dollar is a case in point as it has made lower highs and higher lows inside the range set from July-October last year.

One of the potential catalysts for the next major move likely relates to when rate cuts will first be delivered and how quickly and deeply they will be cut. Currently, the market expects about 75bps easing from the Fed, starting in June. This contrasts to the ECB who are expected to cut around 100bps this year, while expectations for the BoE are slightly more hawkish as they price in only 63bps of cuts staring around August. This has contributed in some relative strength in the Pound.

This week has the potential to be volatile as six major central banks meet to decide policy. Rate cuts are not yet on the agenda, but communication will be watched closely and changes in tone and projections will move the markets.

What to Expect from the Banks

The BoJ is due to meet on Tuesday and is one of the more interesting meetings this week as they may announce policy changes. Rather incredibly, the banks next move is very likely to be a hike rather than a cut and this would be the first hike for 17 years. The odds of this happening have been increasing in recent weeks and the last release showed strong wage growth which has pushed the probabilities to above 65%. This hasnt helped the Yen recover much from the multi-year lows however, and USDJPY is trading at 149, just below the 151.9 double top made in 2022 and 2023.

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The FOMC meeting on Wednesday will be the highlight of the week but there is little scope for excitement. No policy changes are expected, and coming so soon after Powell's testimony, it would be a surprise to see any change in the dovish tone. This gives a slight bearish bias to the expected reaction in the USD, but also means we could see a very bullish reaction should the Fed make any hawkish shift.

Thursdays highlight is the Bank of England meeting which could provoke some volatility in the Pound if the tone continues to shift more dovish. Wednesdays CPI could have an influence on any communication but assuming it stays in line with expectations, the BoE may take its time on any new signals. As ING note,

After dropping its hawkish tone in February, we dont see the Bank being in any rush to take further steps to the dovish side of the spectrum just yet, at least barring a major downward surprise in CPI on Wednesday.

This could help Sterling hold on to its position as the strongest G7 currency this year.

The Swiss National Bank and Norges Bank will also announce rates this week.
Sunday, March 17, 2024

I have had the pleasure and honor knowing Patrick Asare for many years. It was only after reading his marvelous, and miraculous, memoir, The Boy from Boadua: One Africans Journey of Hunger and Sacrifice in Pursuit of a Dreamthat our relationship changed.

It changed merely because as I learned more about this incredible manboth from reading his memoir and reading these insightful blogsour relationship deepened. Even if one doesnt have the pleasure of knowing Patrick, as I do, one cant help feel closer to this intelligent and thoughtfuland positivehuman being.

We are, after all, ALL human beings.

We are all in this together. This planet. (It behooves all of us to make the best of it).

But, as Patrick touches upon one serious, thought-provoking blog, after blog, after blog, its becomes quite clear that the entire world has some serious problems (and this, brief guest blogwhich some might deem frivolous or silly, which Patrick has generously allowed me to write, will not be addressing any of those issues).

Insteadand you will kindly forgive my long-winded prefaceI would like to focus on the gift and power of a smile.

When is the last time you smiled at someone? Even to, especially to, a stranger. My guess is it probably not only provided the recipient with a positive benefit but probably you too. How much does that smile cost? ZERO. (I cant speak to the physiological belief or myth that it takes more muscles to frown than smile; but I like the gist of that message, whether its true or not).

You are, no doubt, aware of the expression, the best things in life are free? A smile is one. [Stopping] To smell the flowers is another. We all do need to stop (many things, but that can be a topic for another day) and start smelling the flowers and smile; more.

Will a smile solve anything once it is given, or received? Of course not. But the power of giving or getting a smile cannot be underestimated.

When given the chance I often buy a stranger a cup of coffee, or even maybe a lunch (a reminder that there are many people who are in need of a cup of coffee or a meal) and I feel pretty good about that. Especially when its unexpected, as it always is, from the recipient. Why not? I can afford it. Not everyone can, and I get that. (It doesnt take much, literally and figuratively).

But everyone can [afford] a smile. And that smilewhether given or receivedgoes a long way. Try it. Today. You might like it and you will very likely have made someones day. Including yours!

I now return you to your usual, brilliant, writer and blogger Patrick Asare. No doubt his next blog is already in progress. Thank you my dear friend.

The author of this blog, Jay Levine, is a very dear friend of mine who lives in the great state of Maine with his lovely wife, Elizabeth Ernst. Thank you, Jay, for taking the time to write this beautiful piece. And thank you for your very kind words about menot all of which I deserve by the way.
Monday, March 18, 2024

16 June, 1943

Under a full moon, Noor Inayat Khan lands in occupied France to become the first female wireless operator to transmit vital information about German military operations to London.

Noor Inayat Khan was not what one would expect of a British spy. She was a princess, having been born into royalty in India; a Muslim, whose father was a Sufi preacher; a writer, mainly of short stories; and a musician, who played the harp and the piano. But she was exactly what Britains military intelligence needed in 1943. Able to speak French, she was quickly chosen to join the Special Operations Executive (SOE), a secret British organization set up to support resistance to the Germans from behind enemy lines through espionage and sabotage. Despite those in the SOE who doubted that she was suited for work in the field, she was sent into occupied France because of her excellent radio skills, which were desperately needed. Her work became crucial to the war effort, helping downed airmen escape and arranging vital deliveries of supplies.

Khan based herself in Paris, a dangerous place for any member of the Resistance but especially for those doing radio work. Teams of Germans, many of them dressed in plain clothes, used listening devices hidden in laundry or bakery vans to locate and capture radio operators. Khan had to carry the heavy radio gear with her as she moved from place to place. She moved constantly to evade detection and dyed her hair blonde, then dyed it black a few days later, to avoid being recognized.

Within 10 days of her arrival, she was on the run as all of the other agents in her network were arrested by the Gestapo. The SOE wanted her to return to Britain, but she refused. She ended up doing the work of six radio operators.

Khan could be clever and charming when necessary, often using her gender to trick the Germans, who could not imagine that a frail young woman could be a spy. One morning, as she was hanging the antenna wire for her radio out a window, she was surprised by a voice behind her. It was a German officer. Would mademoiselle need help? He inquired, smiling.

Khan enlisted his help, telling him that she wished to listen to some music on the radio. The officer obliged, never suspecting that he was aiding a spy.

Tragically, in October 1943, Noor was betrayed by a French collaborator and arrested by the Gestapo. Even in captivity and subjected to brutal interrogation and torture, she refused to divulge any sensitive information that could compromise her comrades or the Allied mission. In September 1944, after enduring months of imprisonment and suffering, Noor, along with three other female SOE agents, was executed at the Dachau concentration camp

In recognition of her bravery and service, she was awarded the George Cross by Britain and the Croix de Guerre, with gold star, by France.
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%.
In Houston, a scandal recently broke when it became public that the police department had closed the investigation of over a quarter of a million crimes with a code indicating the case was being dropped for lack of manpower. The cases closed included thousands of murders and sexual assaults. The department did not inform victims or their families that the investigations had been closed. While the disclosure has roiled Houstonians, it should be of no surprise to anyone that law enforcement agencies generally do an abysmal job at solving crimes.

The metric used to measure how effectively law enforcement is solving crimes is a statistic known as the clearance rate. The clearance rate is a fraction, of which the denominator is the number of a particular crime committed over a given period of time, say a calendar year, and the numerator is the number of cases cleared.

A case is typically cleared by the arrest of the person whom law enforcement believes has committed the crime. There are a few other ways a case can be cleared. For example, the law enforcement agency can determine that the report was false and no crime was actually committed.

There has been some criticism of the use of the clearance rate as a metric, primarily because there are some timing issues that can affect the rate. However, it is the best metric we currently have to judge how well a law enforcement agency is solving the crimes reported to it.

The FBI publishes the clearance rates for various crimes as part of its annual report on crime. The FBIs latest report is from 2019. Here is what it reports as the national average for clearing various categories of crimes.

I suspect that if you are seeing these numbers for the first time, you are shocked at just how low the rates are. I find it particularly infuriating that we only solve a third of rapes. Knowing how difficult it is for a rape victim to come forward in the first place, it is a travesty that we do such a poor job of delivering justice for the crime committed against them. And to make matters worse, most law enforcement agencies saw their clearance rates decline since 2019, with the spike in crime that occurred across the country.

Law enforcement predictably responds to criticism of their embarrassingly low clearance rates by complaining that it needs more resources and personnel. There is undoubtedly some validity to their complaint, but Americans are already spending vast sums on law enforcement. Estimates vary, but the consensus is something in the $200-300 billion range annually. That is nearly $400-600 per person. And funding has continued to grow with little or no improvement in clearance rates.

So, while raising the clearance rate may require more resources, it is going to take more than just throwing more money at law enforcement or just adding more boots on the ground. We will have to be much smarter about how we approach solving crimes.

First, we must devote more resources to forensics. While there have been some high-profile scandals about DNA tests being abused, the reality is that we have more forensic tools to solve crimes today than at any time in history. There have been many media accounts about backlogs at crime labs across the county. In Houston, our backlog for rape kits is 173 days, and the backlog for firearm examination is a jaw-dropping 307 days.

Second, we should consider prioritizing investigation over patrol. Seeing a patrol car rolling through your neighborhood may make you feel safer, but taking dangerous criminals off the street will actually make you safer. This is especially true when you consider that criminals rarely commit just one crime. Of course, this strategy only works if prosecutors and judges actually keep habitual criminals off the street once they are caught.

Also, when I look through police department budgets, it always appears that many officers are assigned to duties that are not really law enforcement functions. It is not unusual to see that up to a third of its force is assigned support functions  administrative, airport security, mounted patrol, and other miscellaneous areas. I think every department should take a hard look at what support and administrative services could be outsourced or handled by civilian employees to increase the number of investigators. And there are some areas that should probably be shut down completely. I am not sure a large city still needs a mounted patrol.

Another idea I heard from one retired officer is to bring retired detectives back to work on cases on a contractual basis. I am sure a detailed review of the departments operations would discover other ways to increase our investigative efforts. A better use of technology is likely one of those ways.

Police departments are para-military organizations, and like the military, they are frequently slow to adapt and generally are resistant to change. We need to think outside the current paradigm of law enforcement. For example, one thing that should be on the table is a complete overhaul of how we deal with substance abuse. The war on drugs has been a complete failure, and more police corruption comes from narcotics enforcement than any other area.

But the bottom line is that if we want to solve more crimes, it must be made a priority. The clearance statistics should be reported to the public on a monthly basis. When I was running companies, one of my mantras was, If you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it. We need to start paying attention to the clearance rates. The media needs to start paying attention to the clearance rates. When was the last time you heard a story about how awful the clearance rates are? I suspect never. But most of all, mayors, city councils, county supervisors, and all of those to whom law enforcement ultimately reports, need to start paying attention to clearance rates and demanding answers as to why the rates are so low.

Until we as communities and as a country demand better performance from all of our law enforcement agencies at solving crimes, the vast majority of victims will continue to be denied justice for the crime committed against them. That should be on all of our consciences.
Animal welfare campaigners have launched legal action against the European Commission for its failure to deliver its cage-free farming ban pledge.

The Citizens Committee of the End the Cage Age European Citizens Initiative (ECI) said the EU had "failed to act on its promise to introduce legislation to ban cages."

The Committee further explains that to renege on its promise to ban cages "defeats the very purpose of this new democratic tool", referring to ECIs.

These were introduced with the specific intention of giving EU citizens more influence over decision making in the bloc.

In 2021, the Commission made pledged to introduce legislative proposals for an EU ban on caged farming before the end of 2023.

Papers have been filed at the Court of Justice in Luxembourg outlining the Committees case, with the legal action funded by Compassion in World Farming.

The move is the first to hold the Commission to account over its failure to act on an ECI.

Olga Kikou, of the Citizens Committee of the End the Cage Age ECI, said: The European Commission promised EU citizens it would deliver a ban on cages.

"Not only has it failed the people, it has clearly failed the 300 million animals still suffering every day in cages. There is no justification for any further delay.

"We will not rest until every cage is an empty cage.
Cumbrian dairy farmer Geoff Bone has been presented the John Dennison Lifetime Achievement award for his contribution to the dairy industry.

The 'stalwart of the industry' was presented with the highly acclaimed award at the UK Borderway Dairy Expo on Saturday 16 March.

The accolade was established in 2013, in memory of well-known farmer John Dennison, with the aim to recognise a dairy cattle breeder who is judged to be an exemplary role model in the industry.

Geoff Bone was hailed for his 'unwavering dedication, remarkable contributions, and infectious passion' for the Holstein breed.

In 1997, he joined the Holstein UK classification team, where his expertise have been instrumental for the past 27 years.

On announcing this years winner, Harrison & Hetheringtons pedigree dairy auctioneer, Glyn Lucas said: We received several nominations for Geoff, making it hard to ignore him as the perfect candidate.

"In good days and bad Geoff is always a constant, his character and personality and chirpy way is his trademark.

"It gives me great pleasure to award Geoff, one of the most popular and respected guys in the dairy business, the 2024 John Dennison Lifetime Achievement Award.

Born in the village of Berkermet, Cumbria, Geoff began his career in the dairy industry helping his father, a skilled herdsman, managing top herds of his time, including John Jordans Primsland herd.

Geoff's first job after learning all he could from his father was managing the Newroddige Herd for the Mallaber family, and then moving onto the Hallwood Herd.

It was in 1977 that Geoffs career took a significant turn when the Hallwood herd was acquired by the emerging breeder Alan Swale, owner of the Joylan herd.

This marked the beginning of a formidable partnership, where Geoff's exceptional cow skills combined with Alans drive led to two decades of unprecedented success.

The duo clinched numerous accolades, including victories at the prestigious Royal Shows with cows like Ensdon Helen and Arlene.

Geoff also managed show-winning cows such as Joylan Enhancer Anna, who claimed the Grand Champion title at the European Dairy Event in 1994.

His prowess extended beyond the show ring to cattle sales, where he played a pivotal role in the success of the Joylan business.

Notable highlights include the sale of Joyal Miss America 9, which fetched a remarkable 24,000gns at the Joylan Evening Sale in 1989.

As well as his job with Holstein UK, Geoff has been an enthusiastic part of the Holstein Young Breeders (HYB) movement.

On receiving the prestigious accolade, he said: This is a terrific industry award and I feel supremely humbled to be honoured by the Dennison family today here at Dairy Expo."
Cardi B's anxiety got so bad last year it made her "afraid" to "do everything".

Cardi B felt like she couldn't post on social media or go out in public

The 'Enough (Miami)' rapper has admitted she was too worried about being judged to go out and enjoy herself, post on social media, or release her album.

She said on Complex's '360 with Morman': I just feel like I lost myself like with everything like, you know like a lot of like music commenters and everything and a lot of people just be like, you know, Shes afraid to drop an album, shes afraid to drop music.'

Last year, I barely dropped music. I was just afraid to do everything.

She continued: I was afraid to go live, I was afraid to post a picture, I was afraid to go to the club, and then the next day seeing people, what they going to say about me, and everything.

I was afraid to do everything.

Her fear of being mocked even stopped her from dropping a verse on Ice Spice's 'Munch' remix.

She said: "I did do a thing for Ice Spice, but I just did not like how it sound.

"I love the record... You know it being on a drill beat, its not as easy as it look I was like, Theyre gonna drag me and theyre going to drag the song bad.'

The 'WAP' hitmaker is determined not to let her haters win and has vowed to release her follow-up to 2018's 'Invasion of Privacy'.

She said: Im not letting my anxiety, Im not letting what haters say, Im not letting what fans say stop me.

If I do a song, Im gonna just [redacted] drop it.

After releasing the single 'Like What (Freestyle)' earlier this month, Cardi took to her Instagram Story to share a short video in which she scrolled through numerous music files on her computer, some of which were dated as far back as 27 January 2023.

She said: Look how long Ive had this record for.

Im not letting my anxiety, Im not letting what haters say, Im not letting what fans say [stop me]. If I do a song, Im gonna just drop it.

"Well Ive got no choice because Im dropping my album this year, so stay tuned for the announcement.
Gene Wilders last words were: I love you.

Gene Wilders last words were: I love you

The Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory actor, who died from Alzheimers disease aged 83 in 2016, made the statement to his wife Karen Boyer while they listened to Ella Fitzgeralds rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow in bed.

Karen, 81, who was married to Gene from 1991, says in the new documentary Remembering Gene Wilder: The music was playing in the background  Ella Fitzgerald was singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and I was lying next to him and he sat up in bed and he said, I trust you.

And then he said, I love you. Thats the last thing he said.

Karen added about how Gene amazed her by taking a swim in the days leading up to his death: He hadnt walked alone (in a long time) and it was just a few days before he died, and I looked up and he was walking across the kitchen and then he said, I want to go swimming.

He dove into the pool liked he used to  I saw his little tush in the air  and I was awestruck.

And he took two strokes, he stood up, shook his head the way he always did to get the water out of his ear and said, That's good.

Went back to bed, and I think he just wanted to get in the pool one more time.

Gene  also famed for his roles in The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein  first met speech consultant Karen while he was researching his 1989 movie See No Evil, Hear No Evil.

The pair did not go on a first date for more than a year after their original meeting, but their relationship started after Genes third wife  comedian and actress Gilda Radner  died aged 42 in 1989 of ovarian cancer.

Karen adds in the new film about the late comedian: Gene was wonderful  he was the best husband I think anybody could ask for.

To love and be loved is the best gift anybody could ask for, and we had that.

Karen also says in the documentary, out in cinemas now in New York, she first noticed Gene was having memory troubles when he struggled to remember the title of Young Frankenstein, which she says was his favourite film.

She said: He never really accepted that he had Alzheimers, and maybe by the time we found out thats what it was  his hippocampus didnt let him remember.

So Im not sure that he ever knew. When Id see him slip away further from me I was sick to my stomach but I had to keep smiling and tell him that everything was okay.
Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian were banned from giving speeches at family events after their drunken toast at sister Kim's second wedding.

Khloe Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian are banned from giving speeches at family events

Eldest sister Kourtney, 44, made the revelation in a post on Instagram revealing the pair are no longer allowed to get up and speak during their gatherings after they gave a "drunken speech" when Kim tied the knot with Kris Humphries back in 2011.

Kourtney wrote: "I gave up giving speeches after [Khloe] and I gave a drunken speech together at [Kim's] second wedding and somehow I am here [giving a speech at a work event]."

However, Khloe then weighed in and revealed they didn't "give up" speeches - they were actually "banned".

She wrote: "This is a true story although she used the word 'gave up' we were been BANNED from speeches ever since that wedding. It was not pretty for either one of us."

Khloe then added: "But I'm pretty sure mostly every person in attendance enjoyed our speech that evening. I vote to bring back Kourt and Kokes speeches back! Who's with me?"

Khloe previously opened up about being banned from giving a speech at Kim's third wedding when she married Kanye West in Italy in 2014.

During an appearance on 'The Late Late Show with James Corden', Khloe explained: "I wasn't allowed to give a speech because I just ramble, and I think I'm maybe giving a compliment and I'm not saying the right thing."

She revealed the groom even joked about the ban when giving his own toast. Khloe explained: "Kanye was giving his speech and was like, 'Khloe, I know you want the mic'. He was like taunting me. It was, like, one ranter to another ranter: 'I want that mic'."

Kim previously revealed Khloe had a great time during the wedding rehearsal dinner in France before her big day, but claims she drank a bit too much.

During an appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', Kim said: "I think everyone just had such a good time at Versailles that they drank too much. Khloe drank a little too much the night before and I had to wake her up.

"She was laying down and getting her make-up done while she was sleeping, she was so hungover!"
King Charles is reportedly hoping to make a return to public life by attending the Trooping of the Colour this summer.

King Charles is said to be hoping to attend the Trooping of the Colour over the summer

The 75-year-old monarch took a step back from his public duties after being diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year and he's shelved all his engagements while he undergoes treatment - but a new report suggests he wants to return to the spotlight to attend his official birthday celebrations in London in June.

A source told the Daily Mail newspaper: "There are a number of key events His Majesty would love to attend coming up in the diary and this [the Trooping of the Colour] is at the top of the list."

The Trooping of the Colour is a ceremonial event held annually to celebrate the monarch's birthday. It's also known as the Sovereign's Birthday Parade and takes place in London with the monarch joining a procession of around 1,200 soldiers and musicians and more than 200 horses.

It also involves a fly-past and an appearance by the monarch on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

The Daily Mail's report suggests King Charles had been keen to ride his horse Noble - a gift from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police - during the event on June 15 but he may have to watch from a carriage or a podium instead.

The publication suggests a firm decision on whether the King will be able to attend has not been made yet and it will depend on the advice from his doctors.

The King's team is said to be planning various options that would allow him to attend but only if he "gets the nod" from medics.

It's also not yet clear whether Catherine, Princess of Wales will be able to attend the event after she also stepped away from royal duties following abdominal surgery in January.

She's expected to return to public life after Easter.
Mira Sorvino grew emotional as she discussed how Harvey Weinstein "stifled" her career.

Mira Sorvino thinks Harvey Weinstein damaged her career

The 56-year-old star was inundated with offers after winning the Best Supporting actress Oscar in 1996 for her work on 'Mighty Aphrodite' but after she "rejected" the disgraced movie mogul for "the third time", she struggled to land jobs and was no longer a "viable movie actress".

Speaking on a panel at 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut, People magazine reports she said: "When I was nominated versus won, there were clauses in my contracts that were present at the time that 'if she wins, she gets this...' But I definitely got more money because I made $10,000 for the film I won the Oscar for. I moved into a different echelon at that point.

"For me, it was definitely an upgrade in terms of scripts being offered, but I was basically not known before.

"I mean, it was my 10th film, but I wasn't a household name. I had some press on a few different projects, like 'Quiz Show' and 'Barcelona', but people didn't really know who I was. So it turned me through that Oscar season into a known actress rather than an unknown actress."

"For a time, I had a lot of wonderful offers and then, my career was stifled by Harvey Weinstein. So, I stopped doing [major] studio movies after 1998."

Growing tearful as she noted in 1998 she "rejected him the third time", Mira apologised to the audience and added: "I stopped being a viable movie actress.

"I still did indies and I still did television, but that was very hard."

The 'Shining Vale' actress "didn't know at the time what was happening" to her career, but she claimed work offers had stopped.

She added: "It became, you know, a sort of feeling like fate was just not going on my side but it was going to be just a matter of time 'till I was gonna get back my status."

But Mira - who has four children with husband Christopher Backus - admitted her focus has shifted away from her career and she doesn't find value in "being a famous actress".

She continued: "But then, I got married. I became a mother. I became a UN Goodwill Ambassador in Human Trafficking, [which has] just been a huge part of my life. It's a position I've held since 2009, officially.

"But yeah, my family. My family is my everything and I don't see my worth as being a famous actress. I see my worth as being a good person."

Weinstein, 70, was jailed for 23 years after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault in 2020 following multiple accusations. His sentence was later increased by 16 years.
We return to the stunning Kent coast for another dose of seaside suspense in Whitstable Pearl Series 2, which sees the brilliant Kerry Godliman (After Life, Save Me) reprise her role as the eponymous Pearl, a restaurateur turned private detective. The series sees the return of familiar faces Frances Barber (Queens of Mystery, Mr. Holmes) and Howard Charles (Top Boy, Shadow and Bone) and introduces a new character played by TV favourite Robert Webb (Peep Show).

Following its successful launch on Acorn TV, a third series in the pipeline and the first season about to air on UKTV Drama, its the perfect time to discover this gem of a series.

Whitstable Series 1&2 box set Whitstable Pearl Series 2 DVD

Whitstable Pearl Series 2 and Series 1 and 2 Box set arrive on DVD and digital 25 March 2024 from Acorn Media International.

Set in the picturesque 16th century English seaside resort of Whitstable, one of Kents most stunning coastal towns famous for its native oysters, the enthralling mystery series, based on acclaimed author Julie Wassmers (EastEnders) popular novels The Whitstable Pearl Mystery and Disappearance at Oare is brought to life by iconic Norwegian filmmaker ystein Karlsen (Exit, Dag).

Series two sees the big-hearted Pearl Nolan (Godliman) continue to juggle her impeccable investigative skills while running her restaurant with mum Dolly (Barber), although now her work as a full-time investigator takes centre stage.

Six months after the breakdown of her fleeting romance with DCI Mike McGuire (Charles), Pearl is now happily dating supply teacher Tom (Webb)  whos the definition of a nice guy. But her mother has other ideas and is determined to get her and Mike back together  even though they didnt end on the best of terms.As Pearl develops her crime-busting career, she and Mike are either pitted against each other, racing to solve a case, or forced to work together to get results. No longer partners in love but still very much partners in crime-solving, a series of fresh challenges await our dynamic  if not slightly dysfunctional  duo. Cases include a missing child, a sinister case of night terrors, a perilous twist in the sale of a pub, a slain bride, a 1970s film legend in peril  played by the inimitable screen legend Stephanie Beacham (Coronation Street, Dynasty) in a scene-stealing turn  and many more.

We first meet Pearl, in series 1, as a popular restaurateur whose real passion lies in detective work after her police career was suddenly cut short many years before. When she discovers the body of a close family friend, shes convinced it was foul play and following her instincts, she sets up her own detective agency and embarks on her own murder investigation.

With a loveable lead and stellar supporting cast, don't miss the tide of suspense, heartfelt humour, and British coastal charm of Whitstable Pearl Series 2.

Special features include: A 30 minute behind-the-scenes feature.

Title: Whitstable Pearl Series 2 DVD Release Date: 25 March 2024 Cat.No: AV3746 RRP: 27.99 Cert: 12 Running Time: 270 minutes Available to download and keep from 25 March 2024

Title: Whitstable Pearl Series 1 and 2 DVD Box set Release Date: 25 March 2024 Cat.No: AV3747 RRP: 44.99 Cert: TBC Running Time: 540 minutes Available to download and keep from 25 March 2024

Whitstable Series 2 DVD

Competition opportunity

Chance to Win a copy of The Whitstable Pearl Series 2 on DVD

Prize Provider Aim Publicity

To be in with a chance to win this great prize simply answer the question below then complete and submit the attached entry form.

Question:

Which coastal area is the the picturesque 16th century English seaside resort of Whitstable set?

A. The Lancashire Coast

B. The Kent Coast

C. The Somerset Coast

Good Luck

Closing Date : 28th March 2024
Next year, designer Gaurav Guptas eponymous label will complete two decades in the business. From the most discerning observers of fashion to those who continue to come across his works on famous celebrities that wear his clothes, people instantly recognise his signature sculptural couture. Two seasons ago, he was invited by Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode to showcase at the Paris Haute Couture Week, making this style of clothing a metonym for the brand on a global stage. But this season, at his third showcase, even those well-versed with Gaurav Guptas oeuvre found themselves double checking the looks. The sculptural form was not gone, only elevated to more complex levels. This ability to constantly evolve into something better, reach higher, also resonated with the inspiration behind his latest couture collection. Called Aarohanam, it had the designer looking inward to explore the depths of human consciousness. An unlikely starting point for someone who has previously sought ideas in underwater aquatic environments or further out, into the cosmos, to design his otherworldly clothes  or so we thought.

In his show notes, Gaurav Gupta defines Aarohanam as ascension  to put simply, rising. Originally associated with kundalini aarohanam  a spiritual practice where energy or consciousness, referred to as kundalini, is imagined as a coiled snake laying dormant at the base of the spine until awakened with meditation to climb up the chakras  is translated beautifully with clothes that could not have been farther from ancient. And, of course, the clothes had to be beautiful. No designer can survive this long or come to Paris for showcasing your couture unless you werent already in the league of the best. But it was Gaurav Guptas attention to detail  the physical manifestation of his unfettered imagination, sometimes brazenly straightforward, other times left for you to decipher  which proved that not only is he a good designer but also a great storyteller. And for that its important to delve into those.





The breastplate, first spotted in the works of Issey Miyake in the 80s, followed by Tom Ford in his Spring 2020 show and recreated by Pakistani artist Misha Japanwala and even Indian jewellery designer Suhani Parekh, was seen in Gaurav Guptas collection in itsmetallic iteration. It was ornamented with a gilded snake in reference with the kundalini. In the context of this collection, however, one is forced to wonder if the breastplate is in fact an armour to protect the chakras that lie exactly underneath.









The snake, in fact, was a recurring theme, appearing in its metallic avatars across on the clothes and other times in more subliminal ways. If the embellished balaclavas bore semblance of a snakes shedded exterior, that was not by accident. The breastplate, first spotted in the works of Issey Miyake in the 80s, followed by Tom Ford in his Spring 2020 show and recreated by Pakistani artist Misha Japanwala and even Indian jewellery designer Suhani Parekh, was seen in Gaurav Guptas collection in itsmetallic iteration. It was ornamented with a gilded snake in reference with the kundalini. In the context of this collection, however, one is forced to wonder if the breastplate is in fact an armour to protect the chakras that lie exactly underneath.











Indian karigari, which is always front and centre but in a highly contemporary form in the designers work, was present in the form of mukaish , zardozi and badla embroideries. In this particular sculptured skirt, though, it incites the feeling of a rising flame.





The halter blouse with the crescent moon-shaped underbust is a subtle ode to Gaurav Guptas infinity-like logo (also the premise of his first Paris couture collection, Shunya). In Aarohanam, while black signifies nothingness, this outfit with an embellished cropped jacket and pleated skirt is everything. The halter blouse with the crescent moon-shaped underbust is a subtle ode to Gaurav Guptas infinity-like logo (also the premise of his first Paris couture collection, Shunya). In Aarohanam, while black signifies nothingness, this outfit with an embellished cropped jacket and pleated skirt is everything.







The most interesting detail, though, presented itself on a black ruched dress with cut-outs embellished with medallions bearing the chakras that sit on the models body where they are said to be located. It takes us back to Gaurav Guptas artwork called Awakening first displayed at a textile art exhibit, Sutr Santati, curated by revivalist Lavina Baldota in 2022, that showcased the kundalinis ascent through the chakras with intricate Kashmiri embroidery. The most interesting detail, though, presented itself on a black ruched dress with cut-outs embellished with medallions bearing the chakras that sit on the models body where they are said to be located. It takes us back to Gaurav Guptas artwork called Awakening first displayed at a textile art exhibit, Sutr Santati, curated by revivalist Lavina Baldota in 2022, that showcased the kundalinis ascent through the chakras with intricate Kashmiri embroidery.
Whats a better way to end the year than recounting all the fashion instances that have blown our socks off for being either mind blowing or simply too ridiculous. Both on the Indian and international front, 2023 was, to borrow from the Gen Z parlance (although 90s was still a prevalent trend throughout), giving fashion. Whether because of deliberate search or by virtue of social media algorithms, these fashion stories have permeated all of our feeds and stayed there until the next one came along to take its place. Heres 2023 wrapped in fashion stories that made the best headlines.



A crystal-covered Doja Cat at Schiaparelli SS23 Couture Show

30,000 Swarovski crystals were stuck by hand covering Doja Cats torso and head to match her Schiaparelli bodice and textured skirt. The look was dubbed Dojas Inferno and took 4 hours and 58 mins to achieve.



Kylies dress featuring a giant lion head

Never not being surreal, this Daniel Roseberry-designed look was a part of Schiaparelli's SS23 show and was his take on the lion which appears in Dante's Inferno  the collection's starting point. It roared.



Gaurav Gupta showcased his first-ever Haute Couture Collection, Shunya

He became the third Indian designer to showcase on the official Paris Haute Couture Week calendar. Shunya, the name of his collection combined his fashion prowess of making sculptural one-off pieces with intricate Indian embroidery.



Zendaya in Valentino at the Oscars

Valentino Garavanis love for red roses is the stuff of legend. An ode to the man himself, this bespoke gown features 190 progressively enlarging roses. Looking back, this became Zendaya's last appearance in Valentino before she became Louis Vuittons house ambassador.



Deepika Padukone attends the Oscars in Louis Vuitton



Nicola Ghesquiere designed this off-the-shoulder, old Hollywood-inspired gown to introduce India's Best Original Song Nominee, Natu Natu, at Oscars.



Uniqlos humble crossbody bag was the hottest product of 2023 in Q1



The rounded shoulder/crossbody bag that is retailed in India for INR 1,490 became the most sold product in the world in 2023.



Diors Fall 2023 show in Mumbai



The House of Dior has a longstanding relationship with India. Its Fall 2023 show held at the Gateway of India was an homage to the countrys diverse handicraft techniques, all brought to life at Chanakya ateliers in Mumbai.



Sabyasachi opens his Mumbai flagship store



Sabyasachi transformed a neoclassical structure in the Kala Ghoda area of Mumbai to his flagship store. Every inch of the 25,862 sq feet space is decorated as per the designers maximalist space and doubles also as a museum.



Zendaya and Gigi Hadid wearing saris at the launch of NMACC



While a slew of Indian and international celebrities wore Indian designers, special iconicity was reserved for Gigi Hadid's chikankari sari and kamasutra-inspired jacket blouse, both by Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, and Zendaya's Rahul Mishra pre-draped version.



Cats had a moment on the Met Gala red carpet



Jared Leto and Doja Cat had their own interpretations of Karl Lagerfeld-dedicated Met Gala theme when they dressed up as the late designer's beloved cat, Choupette. The jury's still out if these were purr-fect.



Alia Bhatts pearl dress at the Met Gala

Alia Bhatt's Prabal Gurung design made headlines for its intricate deatiling and as her first Met Gala dress. It featured over 100,000 pearls that were hand -sewn on the basque waist ball gown.



Kim Kardashians pearl dress

Yet another invitee who played into Karl Lagerfeld's love for pearls for Line of Beauty was Kim Kardashian whose custom-made Schiaparelli dress featured more than 50,000 fresh water pearls strung to fall loosely around her body.





Natalie Portman's recrreation of vintage Dior on the Cannes red carpet



Called Junon, the dress with the cascading flower petal bottom was originally designed by Christian Dior in 1949. Natalie Portman's choice to wear a recreation of the dress was perceived as both smart and respectful following Kim Kardashian's Marilyn Monroe dress debate at the previous year's Met.



Jennifer Lawrences flip-flops moment at Cannes

Never not breaking the rules, JLaw chose flip flops to wear underneath her floor grazing Dior dress to save herself the embarrassment of tripping on the stairs of le Palais. Planned or not, it jolted Cannes watchers who are aware of the festivals strict footwear policies.



Pharrell showcased his debut Louis Vuitton collection



Louis Vuitton presented Mens Creative Director Pharrell Williams first collection, the Spring Summer 2024 collection in Paris. Though the show received mixed responses, the Damoflage  his take on the traditional camo  and rejigged version of the house classic Damier were a hit.



A pregnant Rihanna stars in a Louis Vuitton campaign by Pharrell

What has a pregnant Rihanna not done? Performed at Super Bowl in a red Loewe jumpsuit, starred on the magazine of a cover and bared her belly for Pharrells LV campaign.



Cardi B in Gaurav Gupta



Cardi Bs chartreuse off-the-shoulder dress and pillowy jacket by Gaurav Gupta at his 2nd Paris Haute Couture show on the July calendar was a moment savoured by fashion lovers and otherwise.



Rahul Mishra closed his Paris Haute Couture Week show with a lehenga



Traditionally, couture shows always end with a bridal dress. However, at this Paris Haute Couture Week show in July, for the last look, a model walked the runway in a lehenga with a bandeau blouse and a dupatta fashioned as a veil. This was the first time that a lehenga was a part of the couture lineup.





Pier Pailo Piccioli had everyone tricked with the first look of his couture collection that looked like denim but was made from tiny beads handsewn to mimic the acid wash effect.

Beyonce in Gaurav Gupta

A separate story is reserved for documenting all of Beyonce's outfits during her Renaissance album tour, but wearing Gaurav Gupta thrice in a span of a few shows made this collaboration headline-grabbing.



Alia Bhatt became Guccis global ambassador

Alia Bhatt became the first Indian global ambassador of the House of Gucci. Her EMV (earned media value) so far has accounted for 14% of the total that translates to close to 5 million dollars.



Zendaya made her Louis Vuitton debut

Zendaya was introduced as Louis Vuitton's house ambassador and this day dress, with an XXL-runner running down the dress, was the outfit for her first-ever fashion week appearance for the brand.



Sabato de Sarno showcased his first Gucci collection

Ancora, meaning again in Italian, was the name of Gucci's much-anticipated SS24 collection on the Milan fashion week calendar under the new creative director Sabato de Sarno. It shed the house's whimsical design narrative and took it back to the classic Tom Ford era of pared down essentials and chic tailoring.



Naomi Campbell closed the show for Sarah Burton's final presentation as the creative director of Alexander McQueen after 13 years. The model wiped a single tear in her final moments on the runway  a moment that has become relevant in fashion and pop culture.

The subsequent hiring of Sean McGirr in her position also brought the Kering group (McQueen's parent company) under scrutiny that presently has no women designers helming any of its six design houses.



Model Rabanne Victor in a Falguni Shane Peacock lehenga at India Couture Week

Inclusivity and fashion were both running high in this couture presentation by Falguni Shane Peacock at the India Couture Week where model Rabanne Victor wore a bodycon lehenga.



The original Indian supermodels return for a Ridhi Mehra campaign

Styled by Gautam Kalra, the campaign brought back Indrani Dasgupta, Ujwala Raut, Carol Gracias, Kanishtha Dhankar and Archana Akil Kumar to the fore.



Hailey Baldwin and Justin Biebers high-low fashion moment

A dinner date became the source content for memes and raised eyebrows when Hailey chose an off-the-runway Ermanno Scervino look, a Ferragamo bag and heels and Justin showed up in sweats and Crocs.



Rahul Mishra launches AFEW with Reliance Brands Ltd

A first-of-its-kind easy-to-wear line by any Indian designer, AFEW  shorthand for Air, Fire, Earth, Water  was launched amid Paris Fashion Week and features luxe pret that has been given the trademark Rahul Mishra couture treatment.



Law Roach and Falguni Shane Peacock collaborate on a NYFW collection

Falguni Shane Peacock returned to NYFW runway with a collection that was creatively directed by Law Roach (also known as Zendayas stylist). It was the perfect juxtaposition of edginess and feminine silhouettes.



Kareena Kapoor Khans iconic campaign for the Masaba Bride

15 years after launching her brand, Masaba Gupta showcased her exclusive bridal line called The Masaba Bride and used none other than Kareena Kapoor Khan in it.



Maggie Smith stars in a campaign for Loewe

Everyone's favourite Professor McGonagall from the Harry Potter series starred in a Loewe campaign by Jonathan Anderson. Iconic for more reasons than one, the campaign gathered extra steam for breaking fashion's ageist norms.



Balenciaga drops a whimsical towel skirt







Demna served yet another portion of the viral soup from Balenciaga's couldron of gimmicks with this Spring 2024 towel skirt, retailed at a whopping $925 USD only to be beaten by IKEA which released its version of the item for just $10 USD.



Tarun Tahiliani launches his book, Journey To India Modern

From designing unconventional collections to the iconic pre-draped or concept sari, designer Tarun Tahiliani traced his journey of over 30 years in Indian fashion with his book.



Anita Dongre returned to the runway with her collection Rewild23

Also Read: Rahul Mishra Closed His 2023 Paris Haute Couture Week Show With a Lehenga
Image courtesy Poco LocoWomens Day is a day to celebrate, kick back and do what you like. And if you would like to be pampered with a special meal on the day, why not? Restaurants in Mumbai are all gung ho about it, and are hosting specials for the day. Take your pick, whether brunch, lunch, high tea or dinner!

Whats on offer: For a special high tea, enjoy in an array of delectable savouries from Paneer Kathi Roll to Avocado Sev Puri and Jodhpuri Michi Vada to Punjabi Mini Samosa, along with refreshing beverages. The list features Dalgona Coffee, Masala Chai, and Masala Shikanji, alongside an assortment of premium delicacies like Besan Nankhatai, Motichoor Ladoo and Malai Chaap.

Currently ongoing

Whats on offer: Refreshing salads such as Avo Crown, Japanese Spinach Salad, and Royal Thai Salad, or small plates like Turnip Cake, Cottage Cheese & Morning Glory, Crispy Tofu, a variety of dim sum and gyoza such as Molten Cheese Gyoza, Edamame, Cream Cheese & Black Truffle Shavings. Explore the special sushi menu or indulge in hearty dishes such as Mushroom & Sticky Rice Risotto, Katsu Curry Bowl, Spicy Tan Tan Ramen, and much more. Specially crafted cocktails to foo with the meal, and not to forget the desserts! Nutella Bao Donut, Lavender & Blueberry Creme Brulee, Tender Coconut Panna Cotta, and Homemade Japanese Nama Chocolates.

More on that: Ongoing for lunch and dinner

Whats on offer: Celebrate in style at Hotel Marine Plaza! Choose from the breathtaking views at The Bayview, for a lavish lunch buffet or immerse yourself in the flavours of East at the Oriental Blossom.

More on that: A 20% discount for every woman

The Bayview and Oriental Blossom: March 8, 2024

Whats on offer: Butterfly High is teaming up with Tequila Rose to celebrate the day. Sport your favourite shade of pink and join the party, every lady in pink gets a complimentary shot of Tequila Rose. Indulge in other handcrafted cocktails, with innovative combinations.

More on that: March 8 to March 10, 2024.

Butterfly High: Lower Parel, BKC, Oshiwara, Vikhroli, Thane

Whats on offer: A party that promises not only delectable cuisine but also a series of engaging activities tailored specifically for women. Step into a world of creativity with painting activities organised by Huffing Painting designed to inspire and empower women of all ages and backgrounds. Whether participants are seasoned artists or simply looking to explore their artistic talents, the curated painting sessions offer a unique opportunity for self-expression and relaxation.

And dishes are their Berry Sour Cream Tacos and their Pink Mascapornevdesdery. They have also collaborated with Tanqueray for special offers and drinks to choose from with the first drink is on the house!

More on that: March 9, 2024; 4 pm to 6 pm



Whats on offer: Lotus Cafe brings you a special womens day lunch in collaboration with two NGOs, The Helping Hands Foundation and Mouth and Foot Painting Artists. Bringing to you the best of art, fashion, home decor and more as both the organizations showcase their finest, riveting retail collection. Its time to celebrate and honour the women artists as you unwind with your girls and indulge in exquisite artwork that contributes to a worthy cause.

More on that: March 8, 2024, 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm

March 10, 2024, 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm

Whats on offer: A team of all-women chefs will prepare the menu for this brunch, which will include a variety of options such as Eggs Arrabbiata; Overnight Oats, freshly-baked Croissant or Pain au Chocolat. Diners looking to keep it light can try salads or Cecconis signature wood oven-fired pizzas such as Black Truffle, Ricotta and Mushroom or Broccoli, Cherry Tomato and Chilli. Options for main course includes Whole Cauliflower with Pumpkin Aioli, Lamb Chops, and Red Snapper Guazzetto. Diners looking for something heartier can try the zesty pastas.

More on that: Sunday, March 10, 2024; 11 am to 4 pm

Whats on offer: Globally-inspired Indian flavours, perfect for celebrating the day, whats more, a complimentary mocktail to all women guests!

Dive into a world of reimagined classics such as Deconstructed Kebabs, the signature Dal Makhani, Biryani or Paneer Tikka Masala. Pair this with a handcrafted cocktail or a refreshing mocktail.

More on that: Ongoing

This special collaboration sees a Gourmet Retreat & Relaxation Menu. This exclusive menu includes appetisers such as like Jerk Spice Cottage Cheese, refreshing salads such as like Crunchy Green Asian, entrees such as Potato Gnocchi with Spicy Saffron Sauce. On offer are in array of crafted mocktails and decadent desserts such as Lemon Cheesecake, Baked Cheesecake, or Chocolate Mousse.

More on that: March 8, 2024





Anglo-Indian Cafe & Bistro, Lonavla



Whats on offer: The cafe invites all women to join in the celebration amidst the picturesque hills of Lonavala. A creative fusion of European-inspired cuisine with vibrant Indian flavours, the menu marks a tribute to all remarkable women. Also on offer is a unique heart-shaped pizza, symbolising love and unity.

More on that: Ongoing, additionally, enjoy a special 20% discount on all orders throughout the week for all the ladies who lunch together.



Also Read: Radhi Devlukia-Shettys Joyfull Is More Than Just A Cookbook!
For us, every month is about love. This Big Story, too, tells tales of all-encompassing passions  for the planet, for humankind Our world, our bodies and our hearts need some TLC, and were proud to celebrate these women who are concerned with everything from climate change and composting to keeping women front and centre



Shes A Catalyst For Sustainable Change

DR NANDITHA SRINIVASAN

Climate Advocate & Chief Of Social Media Operations  WhyWaste?, Chennai



Working against climate change and resource depletion, taking public health challenges head on, Dr Nanditha Srinivasan is a prominent member of the core WhyWaste? team. She spearheads impactful water conservation projects such as the Half Glass Full Initiative, the WhyWaste? app, and the Youth for Efficient Water Solutions (YEWS) Initiative. Beyond project management, she also serves as the chief of social media operations, leveraging her passion for advocacy to create educational content on water conservation, climate change, and sustainability.



In 2023, Dr Nanditha represented WhyWaste? at the UN Water conference, where she eloquently addressed two sessions. Her commitment to resource conservation is evident in her collaborations with organisations such as No Food Waste and her role as a Magical Mangroves Ambassador for WWF-India.



As a woman in STEM, Dr Nanditha integrates social aspects into her work, highlighting the intersection of environment and public health, thereby making significant strides toward a healthier, more sustainable world.



From Dr Nanditha To You...

Never underestimate the power of your actions  small steps do add up and, if you make your interest undeniable by continuing to take a stance to protect the planet in any way you can, youll start a chain reaction in the communities around you that will reach far beyond what you couldve ever dreamed of.
For us, every month is about love. This Big Story, too, tells tales of all-encompassing passions  for the planet, for humankind Our world, our bodies and our hearts need some TLC, and were proud to celebrate these women who are concerned with everything from climate change and composting to keeping women front and centre

Shes An 11-year-old Global Warrior

PRASIDDHI SINGH

Environmental Activist & Social Entrepreneur, Chennai



At just 11, Prasiddhi Singh is a global warrior fighting for positive change. As the founder of the Prasiddhi Forest Foundation and The Green Pillar, she shows a deep love for the planet and people alike. Prasiddhi has dedicated herself to environmental stewardship, planting over 1.3 lakh trees and creating numerous micro forests across schools, colleges, panchayats, and farmers lands in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Uttarakhand. Her commitment to the wellbeing of the planet extends globally. Prasiddhi has been a youth delegate to the United Nations Climate Change Conference-COP 28, a Youth Speaker at the inauguration of the SDG pavilion UNDESA, and the youngest panellist at the 5th UNFCCC-PCCB Capacity Building Hub. She has also been a child ambassador for the Green Tamil Nadu Mission and a brand ambassador for the nationwide girl literacy campaign Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.



Prasiddhis impact reaches beyond borders; she has conducted over a thousand workshops worldwide on climate change, the circular economy, sustainability, and other pertinent issues, creating an eco-army of 80,000+ eco-warriors. Her accolades  including The Diana Award and the Global Child Prodigy Award  underscore her significant contributions, making Prasiddhi an inspiration to people across the world, both young and old.



From Prasiddhi To You:

Today, as we face this climate catastrophe we  especially us children and youth  need to have a sense of reality, a sense of hope, and, most importantly, a sense of responsibility to protect our planet. Like a small 4-millimetre seed growing into a 400-foot mighty tree, our actions, no matter how small, can create a forest of positive change for our planet. Lets be the guardians of nature, nurturing it with love and respect, for, in its flourishing, we find our own, as simplicity and sustainability are the key to a healthier, happier, equitable and more resilient planet.
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Kareena Kapoor Talks About Her South Debut With Yash: Following the humongous success of KGF Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, Rocking Star, as his fans refer to him, Yash took his sweet time to announce his next project. After much thought and deliberation, Yash finally announced Geethu Mohandas as the director of his upcoming film, Yash 19, titled Toxic.

In the first week of December 2023, the official title and teaser of the first look poster were dropped by the filmmakers, to satiate the fans. Ever since, there have been many rumours and updates about Yash's Toxic movie, especially about the cast and crew. While it was highly believed that Sai Pallavi would be playing the female lead character in the film, the latest buzz almost confirms Bollywood diva, Kareena Kapoor Khan as the film's leading lady, and it has come directly from the horse's mouth.

The teaser of the film's title was released along with the actor's first look glance. The fans of the KGF actor are happy as well as excited for Toxic. The short glance showed many villains similar to the 'Joker' from the DC comics. The film's tagline reads 'A fairytale for the grown-up.' This Geethu Mohandas' directorial is said to be an action-adventure with a mystery drama woven into the story.

Photo Credit:

Kareena Kapoor Talks About Shooting For Her South Debut

Speaking about her grand South debut, Kareena Kapoor answering to a fan on a Zoom meeting said, "Now, like I said, I might be doing a very big South film. Now it's like, all pan-India so I don't know where I'll be shooting, but I'm excited for all my fans to know that it's going to be the first time that I will be doing this," Kareena said during a fan interaction,(sic)."

Meanwhile, Kareena, whose upcoming film with Tabu and Kriti Sanon titled 'Crew' is ready to hit the screens. In addition, the actress is also shooting for director Rohit Shetty's 'Singham Again.'

On the other hand, apart from Sai Pallavi, Raashii Khanna, and Samyuktha Menon's names were also considered for the roles in the film. Most probably, the movie Toxic will feature two heroines.
LONDON and TORONTO, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The FMV Industrial Infrastructure Fund I SCSp, advised by Fair Market Value Capital Partners ("FMV") and the TD Greystone Infrastructure Fund (Global Master) SCSp ("TDGIF"), advised by TD Asset Management Inc. ("TDAM"), today announced that they have jointly acquired a 28% interest in PSA Italy from PSA International ("PSA"), a leading global port operator.

PSA Italy operates three container terminals in the Port of Genoa and Port of Venice that are the premier gateway terminals serving the Northern Italian hinterland, handling a total of two million TEUs in 2023.

Through its investment in PSA Italy, FMV and TDGIF will continue to support PSA Italy's strategy to grow both within the local Italian market as well as the expansion of its hinterland into neighbouring markets including Switzerland and Southern Germany.

Frederic Michel-Verdier, Founding Partner & CEO of FMV said "This investment in PSA Italy is the culmination of a decade long professional relationship with PSA. We are delighted to be partnering yet again with PSA, a truly global leader in the ports and terminal business, on investing in this prime asset. We are impressed by the world-class operation run by PSA Italy's management and employees. PSA Italy is the leading portfolio of gateway terminals in Italy and is uniquely positioned to provide green logistics services to its highly industrious customer base in Northern Italy and beyond. We look forward to building on the strong relationship we have with both PSA and TDAM, through this investment in PSA Italy."

Jeff Mouland, Managing Director and Head of Global Infrastructure Investments for TDAM said "TDAM is thrilled to be partnering with PSA and FMV in this transaction. The port sector is a strategic focus of our fund's global diversification and the ability to further expand our European port portfolio represents a unique opportunity for our strategy. We look forward to building on our investment in PSA Italy and expanding our ongoing cooperation globally."

The transaction has received unconditional clearance from the Italian Government under the Golden Power regime. Additional details of the transaction are not disclosed.

FMV and TDAM were advised by Santander CIB, Ashurst, Moffatt & Nichol, KPMG, McCarthy Tetrault, Cappelli RCCD and Gallagher.

About Fair Market Value Capital Partners

Fair Market Value Capital Partners is a pan-European investment firm that sponsors investment funds that invest in the energy, infrastructure and essential services sectors. FMV aims to generate attractive investment returns through a patient, disciplined approach to investing, combined with a highly operational approach to managing these investments. FMV was founded by a team with over 43 years of combined experience investing across energy, infrastructure and essential services businesses. For additional information on Fair Market Value Capital Partners, please visit www.fmvcapitalpartners.com.

About TDAM

TD Asset Management Inc., a member of TD Bank Group, is a North American investment management firm. TDAM offers investment solutions to corporations, pension funds, endowments, foundations, and individual investors. Additionally, TDAM manages assets on behalf of almost 2 million retail investors and offers a broadly diversified suite of investment solutions including mutual funds, professionally managed portfolios, and corporate class funds. Asset management businesses at TD manage $437 billion in assets. TDAM has a 30-year history of investing in alternatives and approaching 10 years investing in infrastructure, globally. Aggregate statistics are as of December 31, 2023 for TDAM and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. TDAM operates in Canada and Epoch Investment Partners, Inc. operates in the United States. Both entities are affiliates and are wholly-owned subsidiaries of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.

TD Bank Group means The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its affiliates, who provide deposit, investment, loan, securities, trust, insurance and other products or services.

The TD logo and other TD trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or its subsidiaries.

About PSA Italy

PSA Italy operates three container terminals in Italy: PSA Genova Pra', PSA SECH and PSA Venice-VECON. The PSA Genova Pra' terminal is the only terminal in the Port of Genoa capable of handling ultra-large container vessels. With its modern and sustainable port facilities and direct on-terminal road and rail connections, the PSA Genova Pra' terminal ranks as the leading maritime gateway to the Northern Italian industrial and consumer centres and is one of the most efficient gateway operators in North Mediterranean Sea. PSA SECH, located in the Old Genoa Port, provides a complementary service offering to that of PSA Genova Pra' catering to vessels of up to 14,000 TEU. PSA Venice-VECON is the premier terminal of choice in the Port of Venice and is strategically positioned to serve the Veneto region and the Northeast of Italy.

For further information please contact:

Fair Market Value Capital Partners Frederic Michel-Verdier Founding Partner & CEO info@fmvcapitalpartners.com +44 (0)20 3457 2115 TD Asset Management Alicia Skrinjar Manager, Corporate and Public Affairs TD Bank Group alicia.skrinjar@td.com

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Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 17, 2024) - SBH Financial Consultancy, a prominent financial consultancy in Malaysia, has recently formalized a collaboration with Methodist College Kuala Lumpur (MCKL) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at advancing financial education in the nation. The signing ceremony took place on 13th March 2024 at the MCKL campus in Kuala Lumpur.





SBH Financial Consultancy and Methodist College Kuala Lumpur (MCKL) Sign MOU for Financial Education Excellence



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Founded by Sam Tsen, SBH Financial Consultancy has been instrumental in reshaping Malaysia's financial landscape since its inception. Over the years, the consultancy has demonstrated a commitment to empowering individuals and businesses, having provided guidance to over 30,000 clients and reaching an extensive audience through social media platforms annually. This digital outreach underscores SBH Financial Consultancy's dedication to promoting financial literacy on a wide scale.

The collaboration between SBH Financial Consultancy and MCKL represents a significant step towards enhancing financial literacy in Malaysia. This partnership aims to establish innovative pathways for higher education in financial literacy, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas between academia and industry. Through this collaboration, both entities aim to contribute meaningfully to the development of practical financial solutions to address the evolving challenges faced by individuals and businesses in Malaysia.

Furthermore, the MOU underscores a joint commitment to nurturing Malaysia's next-generation workforce, with a focus on promoting the significance of financial technology. Additionally, the collaboration seeks to highlight MCKL's role as a leader in providing quality education, particularly through its exclusive offering of a Diploma in Financial Technology.

"Through the collaborative efforts of SBH Financial Consultancy and MCKL, we aim to redefine financial education in Malaysia. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to empowering individuals and businesses, fostering a resilient, profitable, and sustainable financial landscape. Together, we believe in the transformative power of knowledge to guide individuals towards financial success," said Sam Tsen, Founder of SBH Financial Consultancy.

This collaboration emphasizes the commitment of both organizations to fostering financial education, knowledge exchange, and the development of innovative solutions for the benefit of individuals and businesses in Malaysia.

For media enquiries:

SBH Financial Consultancy

32, Jln Ampang, City Centre

50450, Kuala Lumpur

Telephone: +6018 983 5362

Email: hello@sbhgroup.com.my

Website: https://www.sbhfinancialconsultancy.com/

MCKL - Monisha Sri

Executive, Public Relations & Communications

Telephone: (603) 2274 1851 Ext: 165

Email: monisha.sk@mckl.edu.my

Website: https://mckl.edu.my/

Contact Info:



Name: Wong Poh Yee

Email: hello@sbhfinancialconsultancy.com

Organization: SBH Financial Consultancy

Website: https://www.sbhfinancialconsultancy.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/202048

SOURCE: SBH Corporate Group Sdn Bhd
China, UN organizations co-host side event to promote protection of rights of persons with disabilities

11:25, March 18, 2024 By Liu Zhonghua ( People's Daily

A side event of the 55th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council was held on March 12 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities.

The event was co-hosted by the Chinese Permanent Mission to the UN Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities of the UN Human Rights Council, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Permanent Missions of Mexico, New Zealand and Finland to Geneva, and UN Women.

The event was joined by over 100 people both virtually and in-person, including diplomats from multiple countries, personnel of relevant international organizations and non-governmental organizations, and journalists.

Chen Xu, permanent representative of China to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, said this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities. China is willing to work with all parties to take relevant anniversaries as an opportunity to take practical measures to eliminate the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities and truly realize the goal of "no one should be left behind."

He said China places high importance on the development of the cause of persons with disabilities. It has implemented more than 90 laws to protect the rights and interests of persons with disabilities, including the Law on the Creation of Barrier-free Environment, established a subsidy system covering more than 27 million persons with disabilities, and created "Beauty Workshops" to promote employment for women with disabilities.

He put forward three propositions of China on promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, which are as follows:

First, promote tolerance and eliminate prejudice and discrimination against persons with disabilities. Second, strengthen guarantees, speed up the construction of barrier-free and age-appropriate facilities, and establish and improve a rescue system. Third, increase participation and promote the employment and entrepreneurship of disabled people and their equal participation in economic, social and cultural affairs.

Ambassadors of Mexico, New Zealand and Finland to Geneva delivered speeches. Former Special Rapporteurs on the rights of persons with disabilities of the UN Human Rights Council, chairperson of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as officials with the OHCHR, UN Women, UN Children's Fund and International Committee of the Red Cross shared their views on protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. Participants to the event also had interactive dialogues.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
CHICAGO, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Rice Husk Ash Market, By Application (Building & Construction, Steel Industry, Silica, Ceramics & Refractory, Rubber), Silica Content (80-84%, 85-89%, 90-94%, and greater than 95%), Process, Product, and Region - Global Forecast to 2028", The global Rice Husk Ash Market is projected to grow from USD 2.6 billion in 2023 to USD 3.2 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period.

The rice husk ash market is expected to be driven by its eco-friendly properties and diverse applications across industries such as construction, ceramics, and agriculture. Growing demand for sustainable materials, coupled with increasing awareness regarding the utilization of agricultural waste, is likely to fuel market growth.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Rice husk ash Market"

230 - Tables

35 - Figures

199 - Pages

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"By Silica content, the silica content between 85-89% accounted is expected to account for the largest share of the Rice Husk Ash Market during the forecast period, in terms of volume."

By silica type, the silica content 85-89% is estimated to have the largest market share by volume. Rice Husk Ash with silica 85-89% provides very good insulating properties, low thermal conductivity, and high melting point, making it an ideal material for various industries and segments. With these exceptional properties, rice husk ash with silica is 85-89% contributing to the growth of rice husk ash market.

"By application, building and construction are expected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period in terms of volume."

Based on application, the building and construction are estimated to account for the largest share of the market during the forecast period. This is driven by a combination of cost-effectiveness, improved concrete properties, sustainability, and versatility making rice husk ash a compelling choice for the building and construction industry. With ongoing research, development, and wider adoption, rice husk ash's potential to revolutionize sustainable construction is vast. These factors collectively indicate that the building and construction are projected to maintain its leading position in the rice husk ash market during the specified period.

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"Asia Pacific is projected to register the largest market share during the forecast period."

Asia Pacific is estimated to lead the market during the forecast period, driven by robust economic growth and substantial investments in the agricultural sectors. Notably, emerging economies like China and India have played a pivotal role in establishing Asia-Pacific as a significant market for rice husk ash. Additionally, an increase in high rice production and government support are likely to propel rice husk ash market.

Some of the leading players in this market include Usher Agro Limited (India), KRBL Ltd (India), Guru Metachem (India), Yihai Kerry Investments (China), Jasoriya Rice Mill (India), Rescon India Pvt Ltd (India) among others.

Browse Adjacent Market: Building and Construction Market Research Reports & Consulting

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Commtech player receives four Indian Service Provider Company of the Year Awards for its enterprise solutions

MUMBAI, India, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan announces Tata Communications, the global communications technology (commtech) player as a recipient of multiple awards for its excellence in connectivity and communication solutions for enterprises. Tata Communications was honored with the following:

2023 Indian SD-WAN Service Provider Company of the Year Award

2023 Indian Unified Communications Service Provider Company of the Year Award

2023 Indian Cloud Interconnect Service Provider Company of the Year Award

2023 Indian Managed Multi-Cloud Connect Service Provider Company of the Year Award

Tata Communications has demonstrated leadership through continual product innovation, customer service excellence, sterling reputation, and customer-centric framework, leading to its coveted preferred-partner status.

Tata Communications' IZO SDWAN is a platform-based managed service that enables the entire SDWAN lifecycle of businesses. With its differentiated offering, Tata Communications implements SDWAN with the power of AI, automation, and enhanced security, thereby futureproofing the secure network transformation of enterprises. Furthermore, Tata Communications managed secure access service edge (SASE) portfolio allows enterprises to choose and integrate the best-fit SDWAN and secure service edge (SSE) technology or opt for a single stack of these technologies aligned with their requirements.

Tata Communications GlobalRapide solution is an end-to-end, managed unified communications-as-a-service (UCaaS) that enables enterprises to deliver digitally advanced, sophisticated, and intelligent collaboration experiences to employees.

The company's broad multi-cloud portfolio brings all enterprise workloads onto a single pane while giving each workload the flexibility to run on different platforms, such as public cloud, managed hosting, private cloud, or cloud container services. Among them, Tata Communications' IZO Multi Cloud Connect enables customers to manage end-to-end connectivity from the branch to the digital hub to the cloud, guaranteeing predictable performance through utilization reports and threshold alerts. Customers can benefit from quick and easy cloud connectivity in minutes, a dependable application experience, and a reduction in cloud egress cost.

Benoy Chandrashekaran, vice president and business head of ICT, Frost & Sullivan, said, "Tata Communications, as a cloud solution and managed service partner, addresses all challenges in its end-to-end cloud transformation journey, including application assessment, cloud strategy and roadmap, cloud migration, hybrid cloud management, cloud cost management, security, and compliance requirements. With a legacy of market leadership, the company's compelling value proposition underpins its sustained success."

"Tata Communications pioneers the art of enhancing offerings based on the changing requirements of global businesses, establishing itself as a trusted partner in implementing an organization's digital communications platform, whether in terms of integration with legacy systems or implementing new solutions from scratch. Its innovative solutions streamline network management, simplify operations, and reduce costs," added Riana Barnard, Best Practices research analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

"We are honoured to receive the prestigious recognitions from Frost & Sullivan," said Arijit Bonnerjee, Vice President and Head of India Region at Tata Communications. "The awards are a testament to our relentless pursuit of delivering best-in-class platforms and solutions and exceeding customer expectations. We intend to keep raising the bar with a digital fabric of solutions for businesses, empowering them to thrive in a hyperconnected world."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year Award to the organization that demonstrates excellence, in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognises a high degree of innovation with products and technologies and the resulting leadership, in terms of customer value and market penetration.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Tarini Singh

P: +91-9953764546

E: tarini.singh@frost.com

About Tata Communications

A part of the Tata Group, Tata Communications (NSE: TATACOMM; BSE: 500483) is a global digital ecosystem enabler powering today's fast-growing digital economy in more than 190 countries and territories. Leading with trust, it enables digital transformation of enterprises globally with collaboration and connected solutions, core and next gen connectivity, cloud hosting and security solutions and media services. 300 of the Fortune 500 companies are its customers and the company connects businesses to 80% of the world's cloud giants. For more information, please visit www.tatacommunications.com.

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Der kostenlose Dividenden-Report zeigt ganz genau, wo Sie in diesem Jahr zuschlagen konnen. Das sind die Favoriten von Borsenprofi Dr. Dennis Riedl

CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese yen weakened against other major currencies in the Asian session on Monday. The yen fell to near 2-week lows of 162.56 against the euro, 190.12 against the pound and 149.33 against the U.S. dollar, from last week's closing quotes of 162.24, 189.84 and 149.02, respectively. The yen dropped to a 6-day low of 169.02 against the Swiss franc, from Friday's closing quotes of 168.59. Against Australia, the New Zealand and the Canadian dollars, the yen edged down to 98.00, 90.89 and 110.25 from last week's closing quotes of 97.76, 90.60 and 110.03, respectively. If the yen extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 164.00 against the euro, 191.00 against the pound, 151.00 against the greenback, 172.00 against the franc, 99.00 against the aussie, 93.00 against the kiwi and 112.00 against the loonie. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The board of Statkraft has appointed Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal as the new CEO of the company. She comes from the role as Executive Vice President Nordics at Statkraft, succeeding Christian Rynning-Tnnesen who has decided to step down after 14 years in the position.



The board ran a thorough recruitment process with both internal and external candidates. Vartdal will assume her new role as CEO on 1 April 2024.



"The board is very pleased that Birgitte has accepted the position as CEO of Statkraft. Birgitte has a broad and relevant background as an Executive Vice President at Statkraft, and as CEO and CFO at the shipping company Golden Ocean. She is a very capable and assertive leader with the qualities required to lead a large international company. It is a strength that we are appointing a new CEO from within our own ranks, who knows the company, the organisation, and our key stakeholders well," says Alexandra Bech Gjrv, Chair of the Board of Directors at Statkraft.



Over the past two years, Vartdal has led Statkraft's largest business area, the Nordics. Prior to that, she was headed the business area European Wind and Solar at the company, overseeing the development of wind and solar power in Europe, new business, Group Procurement, and Project Delivery. Vartdal, born in 1977, holds a degree (MSc) in Physics and Mathematics from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and a Master of Science (MSc) in Financial Mathematics from Herriot Watt University in Scotland. She has previously been a board member at Yara and Mowi, and a member of the corporate assembly at Equinor. She currently serves on the board of Renewable Norway and several of Statkraft's subsidiaries.



"I am very happy and humbled to be given the responsibility of leading Statkraft and our more than 6,000 committed employees who work every day to renew the way the world is powered. Statkraft is an important company in the energy transition of Norway, Europe, and the world, and I am proud to be a part of the journey. We will continue to contribute as Norway's largest power producer and be the industry's most important partner by offering stable, green energy at competitive prices in the markets we operate in," says Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, the new CEO of Statkraft AS.



Statkraft accounts for a third of Norway's power production and is Europe's largest producer of renewable energy. The company also has significant operations in South America and India. It invests in, builds, and operates renewable energy in Norway, Europe, and selected international markets. Statkraft has one of the leading energy market operations in Europe and invests in new, green technologies.



"Statkraft is well-positioned and has great opportunities to contribute to the green transition and create green jobs in Norway and internationally. Climate change and the need for energy security increase the demand for renewable energy while technology development and scale reduce costs. This provides opportunities for continued strong and profitable growth as long as we continue to work as efficiently, safely, and sustainably as possible," says Vartdal.



Statkraft originated as a Norwegian hydropower company but has evolved into a leading international renewable energy company with operations in 21 countries. The company has a portfolio of more than 400 renewable projects that could be developed over the coming years. As of the end of the year, Statkraft had an estimated value (enterprise value) of 388 billion Norwegian kroner, making it the second most valuable Norwegian company after Equinor.



"I want to congratulate the board on the appointment of Birgitte as the new CEO. She has a relevant background and knows the organisation and business very well. Birgitte is strategic, analytical, and capable of engaging the organisation. She has a down-to-earth personality that in many ways embodies Statkraft's values: acting responsibly, making an impact, and growing together," says outgoing CEO Christian Rynning-Tnnesen at Statkraft AS.



Rynning-Tnnesen first joined Statkraft in 1992 - 2005 and returned to the company as CEO in 2010 after serving as CEO of Norske Skog. Under Rynning-Tnnesen's leadership, Statkraft's revenue increased from 29 billion kroner in 2010 to 124 billion kroner in 2023, and over the past five years, it has delivered an average return to its owner, the Norwegian state, of 26 percent per year.



"I want to thank Christian for his leadership and significant contributions to Statkraft. There are few leaders in Norway who can look back on the same level of value creation and development in such a large company. Under Christian's leadership, Statkraft has also positioned itself to participate in the further growth within renewable energy. In addition, he ensured that there were strong candidates to take over as CEO, which led us to the best candidate in Birgitte," says Bech Gjrv.



Vartdal will receive the same basic salary as the departing CEO Rynning-Tnnesen, amounting to 6.3 million Norwegian kroner. The CEO, like other senior managers in Statkraft, has a variable salary scheme based on the achievement of specific goals. This scheme offers a maximum of 25 percent of the basic salary.

Vartdal maintains her participation in Statkraft's pension scheme for all employees, and in the scheme with an additional salary of 18 percent of the basic salary above of 12G, which may be utilised for private pension saving as described in Statkraft's guidelines for remuneration to senior executives, approved at the general meeting in 2023. Vartdal will also enjoy other benefits such as car allowances, insurance, and a mobile phone, all in line with the company's policies.



Chair Alexandra Bech Gjrv, new CEO Birgitte Ringstad Vartdal, and outgoing CEO Christian Rynning-Tnnesen will be available to the media at a press conference at Statkraft's headquarters in Oslo, Norway today at 13.00.



For further information, please contact:



Media:



Media Spokesperson Lars Magnus Gunther, tel: +47?912 41 636, e-mail: lars.gunther@statkraft.com

Vice President Torbjrn Steen, tel: +47?911 66 888, e-mail: torbjorn.steen@statkraft.com

Debt Capital Markets:



Vice President Stephan Skaane, tel: +47?905 13?652, e-mail: stephan.skaane@statkraft.com

Senior Financial Advisor Arild Ratikainen, tel: +47?971 74 132, e-mail: arild.ratikainen@statkraft.com

or http://www.statkraft.com





About Statkraft

Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe's largest generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, solar power, gas-fired power and supplies district heating. Statkraft is a global company in energy market operations. Statkraft has over 6,000 employees in more than 20 countries.









Attachments
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Troy Minerals Inc. ("Troy"or the "Company") (CSE:TROY)(OTCQB:TROYF)(FSE:VJ3) is pleased to announce it has completed the staking of a new property highly prospective for rare-earth elements. The Property is 100% owned by the Company and is unencumbered by any royalties at the present time. The Property is located approximately 320 km north of Prince George, BC, and 170 km north-northwest of Mackenzie, BC, on the western side of Williston Lake (Figure 1).

Highlights

Highly prospective property acquired through staking minimizing acquisition costs.

Stream sediment sampling returned strongly anomalous REE concentrations from multiple creeks and drainages, including 3,647 ppm TREE (total rare earth elements) and 2,550 ppm TREE.

Project unencumbered by any royalty or streaming contracts gives the company increased value and potential future financing optionality.

Large property encompassing 9 claims totaling 3,924.88 ha., several mineral occurrences and the past producing Family Farm mica mine.

Property benefits from good infrastructure and access.

Access to the lower elevations is available by various logging roads from Mackenzie. Upper elevations will require the use of a helicopter.

Figure 1: Project location map.

The Property encompasses several BC Minfile occurrences classified as muscovite pegmatites. The Family Farm occurrence is a past producer of muscovite mica from pegmatites, dating back to the 1920's. The occurrence comprises two concordant dikes of white pegmatite, intruding schist and consisting of mostly muscovite, quartz, and feldspar. Accessory minerals include pyrite, tourmaline, garnet and kyanite. The West Mica Mountain prospect located 3.8 km southwest also reports large muscovite mica crystals up to 33cm. These occurrences are hosted in quartzites and quartz-feldspar-muscovite schists of the Neoproterozoic Swannell Formation.

"Our technical team was able to identify this great opportunity to add to our REE portfolio through staking in an area with a lot of REE potential", said Rana Vig, President and CEO of Troy Minerals Inc. "British Columbia is already Canada's biggest producer of the critical metal copper, the only producer of molybdenum, and smelts other key critical minerals such as aluminum, zinc and germanium. British Columbia is an outstanding province for critical metal exploration" he added.

Most recent exploration between 2006 and 2010 was focused on assessing the REE potential with surface geochemical sampling consisting of stream sediment, soil and rock sampling. Stream sediment sampling returned strongly anomalous REE concentrations from multiple creeks and drainages, including 3,647 ppm TREE (total rare earth elements) and 2,550 ppm TREE (Figure 2). Widely spaced soil sampling in the two main valleys returned several anomalous values of 809 ppm and 1,005 ppm from the western valley and 908 ppm and 867 ppm TREE from the eastern valley (Figure 2). Historical rock sampling did not identify any anomalous samples, although the dataset is quite small and limited in scope and was focused on two occurrences.

Figure 2: Geochemisty plan map, silt and soil samples.

An initial phase of data compilation of the historical work will be followed by a field program to confirm historical concentrations and further assess the REE potential.

The Company also announces that it has extended its marketing contract with i2i Marketing Group LLC, previously announced on November 24, 2023. The extension will be for a period of 60 days or until fund exhaustion of US $150,000. The issuer and i2i Marketing Group are at arm's length.

Additionally, the Company also announces that it has engaged Global ATS Holding AG ("Global"), (email: info@ats-holding.ch; phone: 0041789408002; address: Wigartlistr. 12, 8598 Bottighofen, Switzerland) to provide European marketing services for a period of 60 days or until budget exhaustion of 100,000 Euro. Global will distribute online content, organize physical and or online presentations with interested parties, including financial advisors, bankers, institutional sales, analysts, brokers, funds, family offices and others. The Company will not issue any securities to Global in consideration for the marketing services and Global and the Company deal at arm's length.

QUALIFIED PERSONS

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by William Cronk, B.Sc., P.Geo., a consultant to the Company, who is a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Rana Vig | Presidentand Director

Telephone: 604-218-4766

Email: rana@ranavig.com

About Troy Minerals Inc.

Troy Minerals is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. The Company currently holds interest in four assets.

The Lake Owen project (formerly SW2) is a highly perspective Vanadium, Titanium and Iron ore rich project that consists of 91 mineral claims located approximately 50km southwest of Laramie, Wyoming USA. The property is a one billion tonne plus target in a Proterozoic Layered Mafic Intrusive host with strong magnetite-rich cumulates and accompanying V/Ti and Pt/Pd/Au/Rh-bearing sulfide horizons.

The Lac Jacques project is a drive to project with close infrastructure located approximately 250km north of Montreal Quebec, Canada and is comprised of twenty 20 mineral claims totaling 1170 ha. The Property hosts high grade REE mineralization at the surface in a structurally controlled and steeply dipping carbonatite dike up to 25 meters thick with multi-kilometer potential.

The Green Gold project, in which the Company has the right to acquire 100% interest, is comprised of 14 mineral claims with an aggregate area of 11,238 hectares, is located in central British Columbia in the Cariboo Mining Division, approximately 34 km southwest of the city of Prince George.

The Ticktock project, a 1,065-hectare property located within the prolific Golden Triangle region of British Columbia, Canada, lies 23km northwest of the historic Eskay Creek Mine and sits between the Enduro Metals Newmont Lake property and the Aben Resources Forrest-Kerr property.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statement RegardingForward-Looking Information: This release includescertain statements that maybe deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release,other than statements of historical facts, that address eventsor developments that Troy ResourcesInc. (the "Company") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that arenot historical factsand are generally, but not always,identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration activities may not show quality and quantity necessary for further exploration or future exploitation of minerals deposits, volatility of commodity prices, and continued availability of capitaland financing, permitting and other approvals, and general economic, market or business conditions.Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual resultsor developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs,estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the eventthat management's beliefs,estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: Troy Minerals Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
SHENZHEN, China, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CCELL, the world's leading technology brand focused on creating trendsetting vape hardware products and advanced vaporization technology, made its debut last week at Spannabis, one of Europe's largest cannabis shows, and showcased its latest vaporization hardware technologies.

The company stole the show with its diverse portfolio of all-in-one devices. The wide-ranging options include the all-oil-compatible Atom and Voca Max, the 100% rosin-ready Rosin Bar, the compact and discreet Mini Tank, and the environmentally friendly Eco Star, which features a recyclable battery and biodegradable housing, and more. These models vary in terms of oil capacity, extract compatibility, functionality, component materials, and many other aspects, catering to the characteristics of different cannabis oils and meeting the increasingly varied needs of the cannabis market.

As one of the company's main product lines, CCELL's 510 batteries attracted significant attention from show attendees within the cannabis industry and beyond. This includes Fino, the brand's flagship battery designed to offer a highly customizable vape experience, and M3B Plus, which adopted the first-ever 3-bar LED indicators in the M3 series, aiming to create a more intuitive experience for consumers.

AUXO, the company's sister brand, collaborated with CCELL at the event to showcase its premium flower and concentrate vaporizers. With the aim of building deeper connections with local cannabis consumers in Europe, AUXO also presented its Cenote and Calent vaporizers at Choko Social Club Barcelona, one of the most distinct private social clubs in Europe, allowing the local cannabis community to gain hands-on experience with the trendsetting technologies engineered within the AUXO vaporizers.

Visit www.ccell.com to stay informed about CCELL's future announcements.

About CCELL

CCELL is a technology brand and global innovator in the portable vaporizer space that revolutionized the industry by introducing the ceramic heating component. CCELL was born in the headquarters of Shenzhen Smoore Technology Limited, which has more than 10 years of expertise in the vaporization industry. With advanced R&D resources, patented technologies, strong production capabilities, and reliable quality control systems, CCELL is recognized around the world for its exceptional vaporization technology and top-quality devices.

Learn more about CCELL at www.ccell.com as well as on LinkedIn , Instagram , Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube .

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Granicus' annual Digital Public Sector Awards honour transformational achievements improving citizen engagement, service delivery and public sector efficiency

LONDON, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Granicus , the leading provider of public sector experience cloud tools, announced the winners of its Digital Public Sector Awards. Since 2010, Granicus has honoured public sector entities and employees who have embraced modern technologies that drive awareness of community programs, improve citizen experiences, transform outdated processes and inspire civic action.

"The 2023 Granicus Digital Public Sector Award winners exemplify the dedication of organisations and staff to serving and engaging their communities in inspiring, innovative and effective ways," said Ian Roberts, Granicus UK Managing Director. "These organisations, teams and individuals are champions of customer experience and we're honoured to partner with them and celebrate their achievements."

The 2023 awards span seven categories: Changemaker, Changemakers (team), Community Engagement, Citizen Experience, Digital Achievement, New Initiative of the Year and Operational Efficiency. The winners and finalists are listed below.

Changemaker

Winner: Ian Richardson, Haringey Council

Runner Up: Melissa Hamblett, Gloucestershire Constabulary

Changemakers (Team)

Winner: Digital Services Team, Isle of Anglesey County Council

Runner Up: L.B. Barking & Dagenham

Runner Up: Durham County Council

Community Engagement

Winner: Waltham Forest Council

Runner Up: City of Doncaster Council

Runner Up: Journeys and Places, Enfield Council

Citizen Experience

Winner: Dudley Council

Runner Up: Bridgend County Borough Council

Runner Up: Islington Council

Digital Achievement

Winner: Wrexham County Borough Council Digital team

Runner Up: Falkirk Council

Runner Up: Islington Council

New Initiative of the Year

Winner: Stevenage Borough Council

Runner Up: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Operational Efficiency

Winner: Renfrewshire Council

Runner Up: South Central and West

About Granicus

Granicus is the global leader in customer engagement and experience technology and services for the public sector. Now powering almost 30 billion digital interactions globally each year and connecting over 500,000 government professionals with 300 million opt-in subscribers, Granicus is proud to serve as a critical strategic partner to governments as they work to deliver equitable and secure government experiences. With comprehensive cloud-based solutions for communications, government website design, meeting and agenda management software, records management, and digital services, Granicus empowers stronger relationships between government and constituents across the U.S., U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. By simplifying interactions and communicating critical information, Granicus brings governments closer to the people they serve-driving meaningful change for communities around the globe.

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HAMBURG, Germany and HOUSTON, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Graylog, an award-winning Threat Detection & Incident Response solutions provider, has today announced Ross Brewer's appointment as Vice President and Managing Director in EMEA, based in the company's London office. This strategic executive appointment will help the Hamburg-born company build upon its strong momentum across the EMEA region.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of cyber threats and complex IT environments, there is a need for effective threat detection solutions that cover the entire attack surface. Graylog emerges as a standout with its user-friendly and affordable SIEM, Log Management, and API Security options. Offering flexible deployment models across Graylog Cloud, private cloud, and on-premises, Graylog perfectly aligns with the unique requirements of the EMEA region. This contrasts sharply with the predominant market trend of cybersecurity vendors pushing towards cloud-only solutions. In a region where only 53% of businesses have embraced cloud technology , Graylog's approach champions data sovereignty, making it an ideal choice for EMEA businesses seeking tailored cybersecurity solutions.

"We are thrilled to have Ross join us during this exciting growth phase," Joshua Ziel, Chief Sales Officer, expressed. "Ross's expertise in our domain and his proven success in expanding teams across the EMEA region make him a perfect match for the Graylog family. His commitment to enhancing customer outcomes and accelerating development with our partners underscores our confidence in his potential to elevate Graylog's success."

Brewer has almost 40 years of commercial and technical cybersecurity experience, having joined Graylog from SimSpace, where he served as Chief Revenue Officer. Ross has also held senior leadership roles at AttackIQ, LogRhythm, and LogLogic, where he developed an industry reputation for building high-performance teams.

Ross Brewer commented on his appointment: "I am delighted to join Graylog at this juncture. The business is uniquely positioned to serve the needs of EMEA organisations. There remains a strong appetite in key EMEA markets for both self-managed and cloud-based cybersecurity solutions. Graylog is the ideal strategic partner for organisations looking for cybersecurity experts to provide that unrivalled support."

About Graylog

Graylog elevates cybersecurity and IT operations through its comprehensive SIEM, Centralized Log Management, and API Security solutions. Graylog provides the edge in Threat Detection & Incident Response across diverse attack surfaces. The company's unique blend of AI/ML, advanced analytics, and intuitive design makes cybersecurity smarter, not harder. Graylog is also ideal for troubleshooting daily IT performance and availability issues. Unlike competitors' complex, costly setups, Graylog offers power and affordability, simplifying the IT and security challenges. Founded in Hamburg, Germany, and now headquartered in Houston, Texas, Graylog solutions are deployed in over 50,000 installations across 180 countries. Learn more at Graylog.com, or connect with us on X (Twitter) and LinkedIn .

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London, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following a successful gathering of industry professionals and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), CS Global Partners is pleased to provide a recap of its exclusive Citizenship and Residency Investment Event held in Monaco on 14 March 2024.

Luxury real estate professionals, lawyers, and wealth managers from Nice and Monaco were among the distinguished attendees who gathered to explore the vast opportunities presented by citizenship and residency investment programmes.

The event served as a platform for in-depth discussions, networking, and education, fostering meaningful connections and insights among participants.

CS Global Partners showcased its comprehensive suite of services, with a key focus on Citizenship by Investmentin the Caribbean, including Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica. Attendees gained valuable insights into the benefits and intricacies of these programmes, understanding how they can offer unparalleled mobility, security, and investment opportunities for individuals and families.

Event highlights

One of the highlights of the event was an engaging Question and Answers (Q&A) discussion with attendees, where motivations for investors, regions of demand, and recent changes in the wider investor immigration industry were explored. The session provided a forum for exchanging ideas, sharing experiences, and gaining a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of citizenship and residency investment.

Moreover, the event provided a unique opportunity for attendees to educate themselves on the differences between Citizenship and Residency by Investment and to develop new relationships face-to-face, laying the groundwork for potential future collaborations. Participants had the chance to connect with like-minded professionals and CS Global Partners as a collaborator, further enriching their understanding of the industry and expanding their network of contacts.

The event provided a valuable platform for industry professionals and investors to come together, exchange insights and explore opportunities in the ever-evolving landscape of citizenship and residency investment. We look forward to continuing to support our clients and partners as they navigate this dynamic industry.

For attendees interested in staying informed about upcoming events and opportunities in the realm of citizenship and residency investment, CS Global Partners encourages you to keep an eye out for future events scheduled later this year.

Stay tuned for announcements regarding upcoming events, where you can continue to expand your knowledge and connections in this exciting field. We look forward to welcoming you to our future events and continuing our journey together towards unlocking a world of investment possibilities.

For more information about CS Global Partners and its services, please visit our website.

About CS Global Partners

As a leading consultancy committed to empowering individuals and families with global opportunities, we are dedicated to organising informative and engaging gatherings that provide valuable insights and networking opportunities.

Founded in 2012 and situated in Mayfair, London, CS Global Partners is a premier consultancy specialising in personalised citizenship and residency solutions for affluent individuals and families.

Our team comprises skilled multilingual professionals who prioritize client confidentiality, ensuring the delivery of impactful Citizenship and Residency by Investment solutions. At CS Global Partners, our mission is to empower governments and individuals alike, contributing to economic growth, stability, and security to enrich lifestyles.

Attachment
OSLO, Norway, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Photocure ASA (OSE: PHO), the Bladder Cancer Company, announces that its partner Asieris Pharmaceuticals (SSE: 688176) has communicated today the Phase III clinical study results for its non-surgical treatment candidate for cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) Cevira (APL-1702). The results were presented at two recent medical congresses and demonstrated highly statistically significant efficacy and a favorable safety profile for Cevira, with a significant clearance rate of high-risk HPV16 and/or HPV18 compared to placebo (p=0.0001).

Key data from the international multicenter Phase III trial were presented for the first time last week, in oral presentations at the 2024 European Research Organization on Genital Infection and Neoplasia (EUROGIN) Congress, March 13-16 in Stockholm, Sweden, and at the 2024 SGO Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, March 16-18 in San Diego, CA, USA.

Cevira (APL-1702) is a pioneering photodynamic drug-device combination product used as a non-invasive therapy for treating cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). This study is a large prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled international multicenter Phase III clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of APL-1702 for the treatment of cervical HSIL over 12 months. The primary endpoint of the study is the proportion of responders at 6 months after the initial treatment.

Between November 2020 and July 2022, 402 eligible patients from various countries including China, Germany, and the Netherlands were randomized and enrolled in this study. In terms of the primary efficacy endpoint, the response rate in the APL-1702 group was significantly higher than that in the control group, with an increase of 89.4% (41.1% vs. 21.7%, p = 0.0001), which is considered a highly clinically relevant effect. Additionally, APL-1702 showed an improved clearance rate of high-risk HPV16 and/or HPV18, with a 103.9% increase in the APL-1702 group compared to the control group (31.4% vs. 15.4%).

The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was comparable between the APL-1702 group and the control group, with the majority being mild and self-resolving without requiring intervention. The occurrence rates of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) were low in both groups.

The current progress involves ongoing communication with regulatory authorities in China and preparing for the submission of the new drug application for APL-1702. Additionally, active efforts are being made to advance development of the product outside of China.

"We are very pleased to see the strong results of this randomized controlled Phase III clinical trial in which Cevira (APL-1702) demonstrated clear benefit in patients with HSIL. Based on the results, treatment with Cevira has the potential to fill an unmet clinical need as an alternative to conventional surgical therapies for HSIL", said Anders Neijber, Photocure's Chief Medical Officer. "At present, Photocure teams are supporting Asieris' to prepare the new drug application (NDA) for Cevira (APL-1702) in China, with the goal of bringing this innovative therapy to a larger number of patients as soon as possible."

According to the press release, the main cause of cervical cancer is persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV), which leads to precancerous lesions of the cervix. Approximately 25% of individuals with HSIL may progress to invasive cervical cancer within 10 years. Read Asieris' full media release here: https://asieris.com/breakthrough-in-treatment-of-cervical-high-grade-squamous-intraepithelial-lesion-release-of-positive-results-from-multicenter-phase-iii-global-clinical-study/

Cevira (APL-1702) has potential to become a breakthrough photodynamic drug-device combination product that can offer patients the option of non-surgical treatment of high-grade precancerous lesions of the cervix. Photocure developed Cevira through Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, and the global rights for development and commercialization were out-licensed to Asieris Meditech Co., Ltd in 2019. Asieris is a global biopharma company specializing in discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs for the treatment of genitourinary tumors and other related diseases.

Note to editors:

All trademarks mentioned in this release are protected by law and are registered trademarks of Photocure ASA.

This press release may contain product details and information which are not valid, or a product is not accessible, in your country. Please be aware that Photocure does not take any responsibility for accessing such information which may not comply with any legal process, regulation, registration or usage in the country of your origin.

About Photocure ASA

Photocure: The Bladder Cancer Company delivers transformative solutions to improve the lives of bladder cancer patients. Our unique technology, making cancer cells glow bright pink, has led to better health outcomes for patients worldwide. Photocure is headquartered in Oslo, Norway and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: PHO). For more information, please visit us at www.photocure.com, www.hexvix.com, www.cysview.com

For further information, please contact:

Dan Schneider

President and CEO

Photocure ASA

Email: ds@photocure.com

Erik Dahl

CFO

Photocure ASA

Tel: +4745055000

Email: ed@photocure.com

David Moskowitz

Vice President, Investor Relations

Photocure ASA

Tel: +1 202 280 0888

Email: david.moskowitz@photocure.com

Media and IR enquiries:

Geir Bjrlo

Corporate Communications (Norway)

Tel: +47 91540000

Email: geir.bjorlo@corpcom.no

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/photocure/r/photocure-partner-asieris-announces-positive-international-phase-iii-clinical-trial-results-for-cevi,c3947149

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/17498/3947149/2674878.pdf Release

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/photocure-partner-asieris-announces-positive-international-phase-iii-clinical-trial-results-for-cevira-and-data-presentations-at-the-2024-eurogin-congress-and-sgo-annual-meeting-302091288.html
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.

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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."

Aldi officials have not yet identified any locations in Connecticut where it might build new stores.

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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."

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.

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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.

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.

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Drill Programme Preparation Underway Following 750,000 Strategic Financing

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Golden Metal Resources plc (LON:GMET)(OTCQB:GMTLF), a mineral exploration and development company focused on tungsten, gold, copper, lithium and silver within Nevada, USA, is pleased to announce an exploration update on the 100% owned Pilot Mountain project ("Pilot Mountain" or the "Project").

On 11 March 2024 the Company announced that it had completed a strategic fundraise for a total of 750,000. These funds are being used to facilitate the exploration steps outlined below.1

Pilot Mountain Resource and Exploration Highlights:

Pilot Mountain hosts a Mineral Resource estimate ("MRE") of 12.53Mt at 0.27% tungsten trioxide (WO3) with significant copper ('Cu') - silver ('Ag') - zinc ('Zn') credits (see Table 1) 3 . This in-ground resource is believed to be the largest and most advanced undeveloped tungsten resource located in the USA.

. This in-ground resource is believed to be the largest and most advanced undeveloped tungsten resource located in the USA. Exploration targets identified in 2018 outline additional resource potential ranging from 11.0 - 23.0Mt with expected grades from 0.3 - 0.5 % WO3 (see Table 2). 4

Golden Metal carried out a high-resolution induced polarisation geophysical survey in 2022/2023 which identified an additional five priority targets, further highlighting the significant exploration upside that exists at Pilot Mountain.

As a result, the Company is embarking on its first ever drilling campaign which will include the drilling of multiple of these previously untested targets. Drilling permits are expected in approximately six weeks' time. Programme specifics and expected start date will be released to the market in the coming weeks.

One of the key targets of interest is the untested Porphyry South target as it may represent the porphyritic intrusive body (causative porphyry) that could be responsible for the skarn-type mineralisation found at Pilot Mountain (see Figure 1 and 2).

The copper potential will also be further investigated during the upcoming programme which is highlighted by two historical drillholes which returned 17.5m of 1.8% copper (Desert Scheelite) as well as 26.6m of 1.0% copper (Good Hope). 5

The Company is finalising the contract with a Nevada based drilling contractor and expects this to be signed before the end of March.

Alongside the exploration potential which will be tested during the upcoming programme, the development and extraction of the currently defined Mineral Resources at Pilot Mountain is a key focus, given the USA's need for a domestic tungsten supply. As a result, the Company is rapidly advancing plans to commence key permitting studies which will be required for next stage Project development. Further updates on this will be released to the market in due course.

Oliver Friesen, CEO of Golden Metal, commented:

"Since Golden Metal's admission to AIM in May 2023 we have put many important building blocks in place across our exciting Nevada focussed portfolio. With many of these important steps now completed, we move into what I believe will be a potentially transformational period for the Company. This will involve undertaking high impact drilling and project development studies aimed at unlocking significant value at Pilot Mountain in tandem with further exploration across multiple other Golden Metal assets.

"The need for the USA to reshore its critical, battery and defence metal supply chains is approaching all-time highs, and the Company is perfectly positioned to be part of the solution. I encourage everyone to watch Golden Metal closely as we enter what should be a very exciting news-rich period."

Media

Figure 1 - Pilot Mountain Project overview map showing the location of existing known mineralised bodies (Desert Scheelite, Gunmetal, Garnet Mine, Goodhope) and the outline of the five newly delineated exploration targets including the two new targets (Porphyry South and Good Hope West).

Figure 2 (Porphyry South) - Historical digitised ground magnetic geophysics data (Zonge, 2013) showing location of magnetic high. See figure 3 for outline of resistivity anomaly which is coincident with magnetic high feature. Scale, legend and north arrow located bottom left of image.

Table 1: Pilot Mountain Project Updated Mineral Resource Estimate, dated 13 December 2018 3

Resource Tungsten Tri-Oxide Silver Copper Zinc Mt Grade (%) Contained metal (t) Grade (g/t) Cont. metal (t) Grade (%) Cont. metal (t) Grade (%) Cont. metal (t) Desert Scheelite Ind. 9.01 0.26 23,400 20.73 187 0.15 13,200 0.41 37,100 Inf. 1.69 0.25 4,300 12.24 21 0.16 2,800 0.19 3,200 Total 10.7 0.26 27,700 19.38 207 0.15 16,000 0.38 40,300 Garnet Ind. 0 0 0 Inf. 1.83 0.36 6,590 Total 1.83 0.36 6,590 Summary Ind. 9.01 0.26 23,400 Inf. 3.53 0.31 10,890 Total 12.53 0.27 34,290

Further Information

Overview

The Pilot Mountain tungsten-copper-silver-zinc Project is located approximately 200km southeast of Reno, in Nevada, USA. Nevada is ranked first in overall mining investment attractiveness in the Fraser Institute 2023 annual survey2. The Project is located entirely on United States Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") land - allowing for efficient and cost-effective permitting. The Project covers 3,656-acres (14.8km2) and is centred around four existing mineral deposits, including Garnet, Good Hope, Gunmetal and Desert Scheelite, all of which possess significant skarn-style tungsten ('W') - copper ('Cu') - silver ('Ag') - zinc ('Zn') mineralisation.

Project Development

There is currently no domestic United States mined tungsten production, and tungsten is classified as a strategic mineral by the United States Geological Survey (USGS)6. Set against this backdrop, the Pilot Mountain Project hosts a key energy and defense metal deposit located on US soil during a time of increasing need for resource domestication.

Potential production viability was reinforced with a scoping study7 commissioned in 2018 on the Project which indicated the potential for an initial 12-year operational life based on processing ore from an open pit at Desert Scheelite supplemented by potential production from Garnet.

Furthermore, previous independent metallurgical testwork on 694kg of mineralised rock from Pilot Mountain5 highlighted strong metallurgical results including the successful production of two saleable concentrates (scheelite, and copper/silver) from a coarse grind treated by floatation or by flotation and wet high-intensity magnetic separators ("WHIMS").

Shallow mineral resources at the Desert Scheelite and Garnet deposits may be amenable to shallow open-cut mining methods (as modelled in the 2018 scoping study) which would allow for rapid low-cost start-up costs.

Exploration Upside

In 2018 a study was commissioned which looked into exploration potential at Pilot Mountain. Exploration targets were broken into Tier 1 and Tier 2 targets for which a total Exploration Target of 11.0 - 23.0Mt was defined with an expected average grade of 0.3-0.5% WO34 (see Table 2).

Table 2: Pilot Mountain Exploration Targets 4

Target Type Size (Mt) Grade (WO3 %) Description Tier 1 Targets 7-5 - 13.5 0.3 - 0.5 Based on historical drill intersections Tier 2 Targets 3.5 - 9.1 0.3 - 0.5 Based on favourable geology and proximity to known mineralisation Total Exploration Target* 11.0 - 23.0 0.3 - 0.5 Combined Tier 1 & 2

*Exploration Targets are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a Mineral Resource. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determine of a Mineral Resource.

Considering the current Mineral Resource tonnage equates to 12.53Mt, should the exploration targets postulated be converted to Resources they could deliver a very significant increase to the Pilot Mountain Project value.

Additionally, post the publication of these exploration targets, Golden Metal carried out a high-resolution IP geophysics survey which identified five further exploration targets, multiple of which will be tested during the upcoming drilling campaign. These exciting exploration targets are outlined below at:

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/GMET/pilot-mountain-significant-exploration-targets/15986134

https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/GMET/pilot-mountain-further-targets-identified/16005627

References

Strategic Fundraise of 750,000, 2024, March 11

(https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/GMET/strategic-fundraise-of-ps750-000/16369924)

2. Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies, 2022, published 4 May 2023

(https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/annual-survey-of-mining-companies-2022)

3. Thor Mining PLC, regulatory news announcement, 'Increased Mineral Resource Estimate - Pilot Mountain Nevada USA', dated 13 December 2018

(https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/LSE_news/2018/12/13/Thormining_14158543.pdf )

4. Thor Mining PLC, regulatory news announcement, 'Development Plan Pilot

MountainTungsten Project - Nevada USA', dated 1 December 2014

( https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/LSE_news/2014/12/01/Thormining_13057433.pdf )

5. Golden Metal Resources 2023 Admission Document.

( https://www.goldenmetalresources.com/investors/aim-rule-26/ )

6. News announcement: 'The United States Geological Survey has released a new list of 50 mineral commodities critical to the U.S. economy and national security after an extensive multi-agency assessment', 22 February 2022

(https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/us-geological-survey-releases-2022-list-critical-minerals

7. Thor Mining PLC, regulatory news announcement, 'Twelve Year Open Pit Life for Desert Scheelite

Pilot Mountain Scoping Study', dated 7 September 2018

(https://wcsecure.weblink.com.au/LSE_news/2018/09/07/Thormining_14049369.pdf )

8. Unpublished metallurgical testwork report by Guangzhou Research Institute of Nonferrous Metals commissioned by Black Fire Minerals Ltd: 'The Development of Separation Technology from the Pilot, Mountain Tungsten Project, Nevada, USA: Process Mineralogy Mineral processing Preliminary Testing', dated 31 August 2013.

Property Ownership

Golden Metal holds a 100% interest in Pilot Mountain through its wholly-owned Nevada-based operating subsidiary company's including Pilot Metals Inc and BFM Resources Inc.

COMPETENT PERSON STATEMENT

The technical information contained in this disclosure has been read and approved by Mr Nick O'Reilly (MSc, DIC, MIMMM, MAusIMM, FGS), who is a qualified geologist and acts as the Competent Person under the AIM Rules - Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr O'Reilly is a Principal consultant working for Mining Analyst Consulting Ltd which has been retained by Golden Metal Resources plc to provide technical support.

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 (which forms part of domestic UK law pursuant to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018).

Forward Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future events and anticipated results that are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, such as general economic, market and business conditions, competition for qualified staff, the regulatory process and actions, technical issues, new legislation, uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans, uncertainties resulting from working in a new political jurisdiction, uncertainties regarding the results of exploration, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of prospecting rights, uncertainties regarding the timing and granting of regulatory and other third party consents and approvals, uncertainties regarding the Company's or any third party's ability to execute and implement future plans, and the occurrence of unexpected events.

Actual results achieved may vary from the information provided herein as a result of numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors.

For further information visit www.goldenmetalresources.com or contact the following:

Golden Metal Resources plc Oliver Friesen (CEO) Tel:+44 (0) 20 7583 8304 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP Nominated Adviser Sandy Jamieson/Jo Turner/Louise O'Driscoll Tel: +44 20 7213 0880 First Equity Limited Broker Jonathan Brown/Jason Robertson Tel: +44 20 7374 2212

The Projects:

Pilot Mountain Project

The Pilot Mountain project is an advanced exploration and mineral resource definition stage project located in Mineral County in western Nevada. The project covers an area of 14.80 km2 (3,656.1 acres) and is located 200km southeast of Reno and 18km east of Mina, Nevada. It is well situated for the supply of power, water and skilled labour and proximity to transport infrastructure in Mineral County and is centred around four existing mineral deposits: Garnet; Good Hope; Gunmetal and Desert Scheelite, all of which possess significant skarn-style tungsten-copper-silver-zinc mineralisation. The Pilot Mountain project consists of 176 active lode mining claims and 4 filed mill site claims. The four mill site claims filed at the former Dunham mill site have secure access to groundwater supply sufficient for the proposed project.

Garfield Project

The Garfield Project is an exciting copper-gold-silver prospect consisting of 65 lode mining claims covering 5.4 km2 (1,338 acres) located in Mineral County, Nevada, approximately 14km due east of the town of Hawthorne and 120km due west-northwest of Tonopah. Exploration to date has included detailed geochemical sampling and follow up analysis which highlighted the presence of both porphyry and skarn-type mineralisation and alteration at the 'High-Grade Zone'. Further to this, mapping, prospecting and rock sampling was recently completed with results confirming presence of high-grade copper, silver and gold mineralisation as well as leading to the bedrock discovery of the Pamlico Au Zone with individual rock samples up to 18.35g/t Au, 1,225g/t Ag & 1.89% Cu. Following this, geochemical analysis of the full suite of data confirmed the strong presence of porphyry style mineralisation across the Project, as well as potentially overprinting epithermal style mineralisation leading to increased gold-silver prospectivity.

Kibby Basin Lithium Project

The Kibby Basin Project covers two claim packages which are prospective for lithium brine mineralisation. The southern claim package is less than 250m from a 2022 drillhole which returned a significant interval (169m) of lithium brine mineralisation which was determined to be open in all directions. The Project is less than 5km to the southeast of the Company's flagship Pilot Mountain Project.

Golconda Summit Project

Golden Metal is the operator of the Golconda Summit project, which is held under an earn-in right to acquire up to 100 per cent. of the project from the mineral claim owner pursuant to an option agreement. The Golconda Summit project is an exploration stage gold and silver project located in Humboldt County and situated at the confluence of the Getchell and Battle Mountain - Eureka metallogenic trends, and consists of 44 lode mining claims, covering a total area of approximately 3.22 km2 (795.4 acres) located approximately 27km east of Winnemucca.

Stonewall Project

The Stonewall project is an exploration stage gold-silver property prospective for epithermal gold-silver mineralisation. The property consists of 19 lode mining claims covering 1.59 km2 (392.5 acres) located on the northern flank of Stonewall Mountain, on the western edge of the Nellis Airforce Range Restricted Access Area, in Nye County, Nevada, approximately 24km south-east of the historic gold mining town of Goldfield and 60km due south of Tonopah.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Golden Metal Resources PLC

View the original press release on accesswire.com
A recent Future Market Insights report identifies the surging demand for energy storage across diverse industries, including electric vehicles, wearables, aerospace, and stationary systems, as the key driver propelling the Lithium-Ion Battery Material Market at a robust 23.9% CAGR. Download a complimentary sample for deeper insights.

NEWARK, Del., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global lithium ion battery material market is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 43.4 billion in 2024, driven by increasing demand for high density batteries.

The trend is expected to create new opportunities for the market, leading to a projected CAGR of 23.9% between 2024 and 2034, and reaching a total valuation of approximately US$ 371.0 billion by 2034.

Download the Sample PDF report to explore key market insights and trends: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-19277

Ensuring the safety of lithium ion batteries is critical for market growth. Investments in developing safer battery chemistries and manufacturing processes contribute to consumer confidence and market adoption.

The proliferation of wearable electronics, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers, relies on compact and lightweight lithium ion batteries. The growing popularity of wearables contributes to the demand for battery materials.

Advancements in artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and smart grid technologies create new applications and requirements for energy storage, driving demand for lithium ion batteries and their materials.

The aerospace industry is exploring electrification for aircraft propulsion and auxiliary power units. Lithium ion batteries offer high energy density and lightweight characteristics suitable for aerospace applications, driving demand for battery materials.

The electrification trend extends to two wheeled vehicles such as motorcycles and bicycles. Electric bicycles and scooters are gaining popularity in urban areas as environmentally friendly and efficient modes of transportation, contributing to the demand for lithium ion batteries.

Research and development efforts focused on improving the performance and stability of anode and cathode materials, such as silicon anodes and high nickel cathodes, are driving innovation in the lithium ion battery material market.

Besides electric vehicles, stationary energy storage systems for residential, commercial, and utility scale applications are becoming increasingly important. The systems utilize lithium ion batteries to store excess renewable energy or provide backup power, driving demand for battery materials.

Report Scope

Attribute Details Estimated Market Size in 2024 US$ 43.4 billion Projected Market Valuation in 2034 US$ 371.0 billion Value-based CAGR 2024 to 2034 23.9 % Forecast Period 2024 to 2034 Historical Data Available for 2019 to 2023 Market Analysis Value in US$ billion Key Market Segments Covered Segmentation Analysis of the Lithium Ion Battery Material Market By Type: Cathode Material

Anode Material

Lithium Ion Battery Separator

Electrolyte By Application: Automotive

Grid Energy Storage

Consumer Electronics

Others By Region: North America

Latin America

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

South Asia and Pacific

East Asia

The Middle East and Africa Key Countries Profiled The United States

Canada

Brazil

Mexico

Germany

France

France

Spain Italy

Russia

Poland

Czech Republic

Romania

India

Bangladesh

Australia New Zealand

China

Japan

South Korea

GCC countries

South Africa

Israel Key Companies Profiled Umicore

Targray

LG Chem

BTR New Energy

Shanshan Technology

Showa Denko K.K

Kureha Battery Materials

Mitsubishi Chemical

Asahi Kasei

Sumitomo Corporation

Key Takeaways from the Market Study

Global lithium ion battery material market was valued at US$ 34.2 billion in 2023.

From 2019 to 2023, the market demand expanded at a CAGR of 28.4%.

The market in Japan is expected to expand at a CAGR of 25.9% through 2034.

By type, the cathode material segment to account for a CAGR of 23.7% through 2034.

The market in Korea is expected to expand at a CAGR of 26.1% through 2034.

In terms of application, the automotive segment to account for a share of 23.5% in 2024.

"Collaboration among industry players, including battery manufacturers, material suppliers, and technology providers, accelerates innovation and market expansion by combining expertise and resources," remarks by Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.)

Competitive Landscape

Prominent players in the lithium ion battery material market are Umicore, Targray, LG Chem, BTR New Energy, Shanshan Technology, Showa Denko K.K, Kureha Battery Materials, Mitsubishi Chemical, Asahi Kasei, and Sumitomo Corporation, among others.

Key Developments

In 2023, BASF collaborated with Nanotech Energy, marking a pivotal step towards the local production of lithium ion batteries in North America with a reduced carbon footprint and locally sourced recycled content.

Purchase now and gain full access to the Lithium Ion Battery Material Industry report, featuring comprehensive Market Forecast, Company Share Analysis, Competition Intelligence, DROT Analysis, Market Dynamics and Challenges, and Strategic Growth Initiatives.

More Valuable Insights Available

Future Market Insights offers an unbiased analysis of the global lithium ion battery material market, providing historical data for 2019 to 2023 and forecast statistics from 2024 to 2034.

To understand opportunities in the lithium ion battery material market, the market is segmented on the basis of type (cathode material, anode material, lithium ion battery separator, electrolyte), and application (automotive, grid energy storage, consumer electronics, others), across seven major regions (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South Asia & Pacific, East Asia, and the Middle East & Africa).

About the Chemicals and Materials Division at Future Market Insights

The chemicals and materials team at Future Market Insights offers expert analysis, time efficient research, and strategic recommendations with the objective to provide authentic insights and accurate results to help clients worldwide. With a repertoire of over 100+ reports and 1 Billion+ data points, the team has been analyzing the market lucidly in 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides a brief analysis on key trends including competitive landscape, profit margin, and research development efforts.

About the Author:

Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) has over a decade of experience in market research and business consulting. He has successfully delivered 1500+ client assignments, predominantly in Automotive, Chemicals, Industrial Equipment, Oil & Gas, and Service industries.

His core competency circles around developing research methodology, creating a unique analysis framework, statistical data models for pricing analysis, competition mapping, and market feasibility analysis. His expertise also extends wide and beyond analysis, advising clients on identifying growth potential in established and niche market segments, investment/divestment decisions, and market entry decision-making.

Nikhil holds an MBA degree in Marketing and IT and a Graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Nikhil has authored several publications and quoted in journals like EMS Now, EPR Magazine, and EE Times.

Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage in the Chemicals & Materials Domain:

Lithium and Lithium Ion Battery Electrolyte Market Forecast by Liquid, Solid, and Gel from 2024 to 2034. - Review and Access the Sample Report.

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by Lead-acid and Lithium-ion for Forecast Period 2023 to 2033. - Lithium Ion Battery Separator Market by Material, Temperature, Thickness & Region | Forecast 2022 to 2032. - Review and Access the Sample Report.

by Material, Temperature, Thickness & Region | Forecast 2022 to 2032. - Lithium Compound Market Forecast by Lithium Chloride and Butyllithium for 2024 to 2034. - Review and Access the Sample Report.

Forecast by Lithium Chloride and Butyllithium for 2024 to 2034. - Tank Insulation Market Forecast by Hot and Cold Insulation Temperature from 2024 to 2034. - Review and Access the Sample Report.

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Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA

T: +1-845-579-5705

For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com

Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com

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Introducing the World to its All-Round FastCharge 2.0 and HyperSpeed Lab for the first time

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinix, a trendy tech brand crafted for young consumers, is thrilled to announce the latest addition to its product lineup: the NOTE 40 Series. This remarkable series comprises the NOTE 40, NOTE 40 Pro, NOTE 40 Pro 5G, and the most advanced model, the NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G. By setting a new benchmark for fast charging, Infinix showcases its All-Round HyperSpeed Lab to unveil these groundbreaking products at the F1 Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, igniting the exhilaration that emerges when speed and technology converge.

The NOTE 40 Series represents a significant advancement in Infinix's All-Round FastCharge 2.0 technology, introducing innovations such as 100W Multi-Speed FastCharge, Wireless MagCharge, and a self-developed chip that supports multi-function charging modes. Additionally, the series features a vibrant and responsive 3D curved 120Hz AMOLED display and a robust 108MP super-zoom camera system with OIS support. Infinix has also incorporated AI enhancements like Active Halo AI lighting and partnered with Sound by JBL, ensuring an unparalleled level of performance and efficiency.

"The Infinix NOTE 40 Series represents a significant advancement in charging technology, transforming the power experience. With our proprietary Cheetah X1 chip at its core, All-Round FastCharge has entered a new era, offering features like multi-speed charging and extreme temperature charging. We've also introduced the innovative MagCharge accessory kit, providing a seamless charging ecosystem for users. These advancements unlock the full potential of the NOTE 40 Series, enabling users to stay powered up all day, in any scenario, and in any weather, " Weiqi Nie, Product Director at Infinix.

Industry-Leading Charging Capabilities

The NOTE 40 Series introduces All-Round FastCharge 2.0 technology, powered by Infinix's first self-developed Cheetah X1 chip. This chip integrates high-precision power detection, secure voltage detection, and versatile scene support, ensuring exceptional charging efficiency and diverse capabilities. The NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G supports 100W Multi-Speed FastCharge, reaching 50% in just 8 minutes in hyper mode. It also offers low-temp mode and smart mode for tailored charging. The series boasts high-density batteries, enduring 1,600 full cycles while retaining 80% energy. Wireless charging is upgraded to 20W Wireless Magcharge, surpassing its class.

The lineup includes the Infinix MagKit for a convenient magnetic charging experience, including the phone case MagCase, magnetic charging pad MagPad, and magnetic power bank MagPower. Extreme-Temp Tech ensures reliable charging down to -20 C, ideal for snowy environments. Bypass Charging 2.0 filters current to supply power directly to the motherboard during intense gaming session or watching videos, preventing overheating. Reverse charging allows sharing power with other devices wired or wirelessly at speeds up to 10W. PD3.0 protocol support enables charging laptops with the phone's charger, eliminating the need for multiple chargers.

Sleek Urban Aesthetics

The Pro Series is inspired by cityscape aesthetics, featuring a stunning 55 curved display enhanced with durable Corning Gorilla Glass for an elegant and sturdy feel. The NOTE 40 boasts a flat display with an ultra-narrow bezel using the unibody MDA(metal device antenna) design, which hides the antenna into the frame. The 120Hz AMOLED display offers a 1080P resolution and a peak brightness of 1300 nits, ensuring enhanced visibility in all lighting conditions. TUV Rheinland certification for anti-blue light eye protection and a high PWM Dimming rate of 2160Hz provides a flicker-free experience, enhancing visual comfort.

Infinix's new 'Active Halo' feature is another standout, merging AI and design. It brings the NOTE 40 Series to life with lifelike light pulsations on the phone's camera module. The light display changes based on various activities such as receiving calls, and notifications, playing games or music, charging the device, or using the voice assistant, Folax.

Take Your Photos and Videos to New Heights

The NOTE 40 Series offers enhanced camera functionality for mobile photographers and social media content creators. It features advanced in-sensor zoom technology, utilizing its impressive 108MP main camera to capture long-distance moments with 3x Lossless Superzoom, maintaining image clarity and details. The Pro series includes Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) technology, reducing camera shake for sharper and more stable shots.

Users can simultaneously record from the 32 MP front and rear cameras, capturing events or interviews from different perspectives using Dual Video mode. They can also leverage editing features like Vlog Clipper to create engaging vlog content for social media. The NOTE 40 Series is a valuable tool for creative enthusiasts looking to enhance their mobile photography and storytelling abilities.

Mobile Gaming at a Higher Level

The NOTE 40 Series introduces the Dimensity 7020 and Helio G99 Ultimate chipset, utilizing cutting-edge 6nm processes for energy efficiency and high performance. These chipsets are enhanced by AI features on XOS 14, including Folax, Ask AI, and AI wallpaper generator, enhancing creativity and productivity.

For mobile gamers, up to 24GB of extended RAM improves multi-tasking, while the vacuum chamber cooling system reduces temperatures by up to 7C. XBOOST Frame Rate Control optimizes performance for popular MOBA and FPS games, providing a premium gaming experience at peak frame rates. Additionally, the NOTE 40 Series features dual stereo speakers fine-tuned by JBL engineers for immersive sound quality, enhancing the gaming experience.

Pricing and Availability

The NOTE 40 Series will be globally available starting Tuesday, March 19th, in Vintage Green, Obsidian Black, and Titan Gold colorways. Infinix and DesignWorks, a BMW group company, are collaborating on a special Racing Edition, available by midyear.

Prices start at $199 for the NOTE 40, $259 for the NOTE 40 Pro, $289 for the NOTE 40 Pro 5G, and $309 for the premium NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G. Prices and availability for the NOTE 40 Series will vary based on the region. All models have Infinix XOS 14 installed, with the Pro series supporting two years of Android OS upgrades.

In addition, Infinix has launched several compatible IOT products, including a GaN 68W Fast Charger, wireless charging MagPad, MagPower, and MagCase accessories (forming the MagKit), XBuds 3 WE earphones, and XWatch 3 WE smartwatch. These products offer All-Round FastCharge technology to meet users' needs. With the NOTE 40 Series launch, Infinix has introduced a range of ecological chain products, enabling people to enjoy a vibrant life anytime, anywhere.

*The availability of the Active Halo feature varies across devices and colors, please refer to the official website for specific information.

*The availability of Android system upgrades may vary across devices and regions due to diverse regulatory constraints.

Download images here:

Infinix NOTE 40 Series

About Infinix:

In?nix Mobility is a rapidly emerging technology brand that designs, manufactures and markets an expanding portfolio of smart devices worldwide under the In?nix brand, which was founded in 2013. Targeting today's youth with ?rst in class technology, In?nix creates trendy, powerful and attainably priced smart devices that bring the latest technology on the market to users around the world at a time when they need it at a price that they want it.

For more information, please visit: http://www.infinixmobility.com/

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SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Samarkand is to commence its scheduled flight programme on Thursday, 21st March, operating on the Samarkand - Istanbul - Samarkand route with its Airbus A321neo aircraft. In the initial phase, return services will operate twice a week, departing on Mondays and Thursdays from Samarkand International Airport (SKD) to Istanbul International Airport (IST), with a scheduled flight time of about 5 hours.

Air Samarkand has also announced the appointment of Zafar Butaev as its new CEO, succeeding Anton Khodiayan, who will continue serving as an advisor to the airline while reverting to his position as Director General of the airport management company Air Marakanda.

Istanbul is one of the most sought-after destinations from Samarkand, connecting the largest city in Turkey with Uzbekistan through centuries-old cultural, business and tourism ties. Istanbul airport also offers extensive onward travel opportunities to cities worldwide, and Air Samarkand plans to add further flight options on the city pairing in the near future.

Departures from Samarkand are scheduled for 8 am, arriving in Istanbul at 11.10 am, with return services departing from Istanbul at 12:30 pm and arriving back in Samarkand at 7:00 pm (all are local times).

The inaugural scheduled service marks a significant milestone for any airline, and Air Samarkand will offer passengers a world-class standard of comfort and service on the direct flights. There is also significant demand for tourism, cultural and business customers on this route and Air Samarkand looks forward to developing close commercial ties in Turkey as it establishes this new service.

Its modern Airbus A321 is widely used by leading airlines globally and has a proven record for safety, reliability and exceptional passenger comfort. Air Samarkand will operate the latest 'neo' variant of the A321, which is equipped with the new generation CFM International LEAP-1A engines that ensure low noise levels during the flight. The aircraft accommodates 221 passengers in a full economy-class cabin.

Air Samarkand will be offering customers an unprecedented baggage allowance of two checked bags weighing up to 23kg each, plus 8kg of carry-on cabin baggage.

Tickets for flights to Istanbul are available for purchase at easybooking.uz, as well as at travel agencies connected to the Easy Booking system, and at biletbank.com. Further sales will soon open on the airline's own airsamarkand.com website, as well as on other popular online ticket platforms and aggregators.

Notes to Editors

Based at Samarkand International Airport, Air Samarkand has been founded to support a major tourism and commercial drive for the historic city of Samarkand. The airline's primary goal is to provide residents of Samarkand and its neighboring regions with the opportunity to travel direct to in-demand city destinations, removing the need for time-consuming intermediate stops elsewhere, while also enabling new overseas visitors to explore Samarkand and surrounding areas.

Air Samarkand has 12.6 million people in its local catchment area and is already operating direct charter flights and now scheduled services to key popular cities in Asia and Europe, removing the need to use time-wasting flight connections in Tashkent and other regional airports.

The airline has a fleet of modern, safe, reliable and fuel-efficient Airbus aircraft, including the A330, A321, and A321neo models.

Zafar Butaev is an Uzbekistani entrepreneur who has spent more than 15 years working in the tourism, hospitality and service sectors, creating two companies that together now employ more than 500 people. Currently he is also CEO of Silk Road Samarkand, the first multi-functional international tourism centre in Asia. Mr Butaev is a business degree graduate of Tashkent State Economic University, and is fluent in four languages.

www.airsamarkand.com

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Platform standardizes risk event measurement, analytics for ANSPs

MCLEAN, Va., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aireon is ushering in a new era of data analytics with the release of the first of its Data Dashboard products - Safety Dashboard.

This new dashboard will support and enhance air navigation service providers' (ANSP) safety assurance programs by identifying leading indicators of the industry's biggest operational risks. Aireon Safety Dashboard is a powerful tool designed to help ANSPs identify, monitor, and analyze key leading indicators of risk in their airspace. The web-based dashboard provides a visual representation of certain key risk indicators, making it easy to identify trends, patterns, and outliers. Customers will gain new insights with a benchmarking feature that enables them to compare their event data to others, complementing existing safety processes to lead to proactive identification of risk and an enhanced method to monitor mitigation efficacy.

The data is derived from Aireon's trusted and global space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, which is used by more than half of the world's ANSPs to safely manage their airspace. Initial metrics included in the Safety Dashboard are Traffic Collision and Avoidance System (TCAS) alerts, risk of runway overruns and transponder emergency codes.

Aireon is collaborating with existing customers, Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) and its ANSP membership to develop and prioritize future metrics for the dashboard. New metrics will include high-speed rejected take-offs, a collision risk metric leveraging time to conflict, and an Oceanic Risk metric, expected to be implemented in the coming months. Future metrics will include additional approach and landing metrics, environmental risks, and collision risks.

"The Safety Dashboard provides valuable insights for the global ANSP community. Using Aireon's best-in-class data, safety professionals can benchmark their safety performance against others and take actions to identify risks before they escalate into accidents and incidents," said Peter Cabooter, Aireon Vice President of Customer Affairs. "It's the first global safety product that comes with Aireon's surveillance-quality data and has been built with the ANSP in mind."

"In the new era of aviation, it is obvious that building a strong safety culture goes beyond reacting to incidents that occur. It's about anticipating and preventing potential risks, understanding risk exposure, and fostering a proactive approach," said Simon Hocquard, CANSO Director General. "The Aireon Safety Dashboard is a great example of how we can work together leveraging existing data, to enhance our industry's safety efforts. We are looking forward to contributing to the development of the dashboard, cooperating with Aireon and our members," Simon added.

ADS-B pioneer NAV CANADA is the first ANSP to sign-on for the Safety Dashboard. Additional ANSP customers will be announced in the coming weeks.

"Safety is, and always will be, NAV CANADA's main priority, and we welcome any innovations when it comes to safety analysis. The new tool developed by Aireon enables us to better evaluate risk levels in different situations and supports our mission of keeping Canada's skies safe," said Anthony MacKay, NAV CANADA Vice President and Chief Safety and Quality Officer. "Working with aviation partners around the world to identify potential risks and manage them, this initiative highlights that safety is a collaborative endeavor."

The Aireon Safety Dashboard is the first in a series of operational data dashboards to be developed by Aireon. In 2024 and 2025, Aireon will introduce dashboards focused on operational and environmental metrics, including vertical and horizontal flight efficiency; fuel burn and emissions; contrails; and flight plan deviations.

Aireon will demonstrate the Safety Dashboard at Airspace World event in Geneva, Switzerland from March 19-21. To learn more or to schedule a demo, please contact info@aireon.com.

About Aireon LLC

Aireon has deployed a space-based air traffic surveillance system for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft throughout the entire globe. Aireon is harnessing next-generation aviation surveillance technologies that were formerly ground-based and, for the first time ever, is extending their reach globally to significantly improve efficiency, enhance safety, reduce emissions, and provide cost savings benefits to all stakeholders. Space-based ADS-B surveillance covers oceanic, polar, and remote regions, and augments existing ground-based systems that are limited to terrestrial airspace. In partnership with leading ANSPs from around the world, like NAV CANADA, AirNav Ireland, ENAV, NATS and Naviair , as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon is providing a global, real-time, space-based air traffic surveillance system, available to all aviation stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.aireon.com.

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VICTORIA, Seychelles, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 18th, Bitget Wallet, the leading Web3 wallet in Asia, proudly announced the launch of its official ecosystem token, BWB, along with an innovative BWB Points airdrop event. This marks a significant milestone in the platform's commitment to enhancing user engagement and fostering a vibrant community ecosystem.

Introduction of the BWB Token and Its Airdrop Initiative

According to the announcement, the total supply of BWB tokens is set at 1 billion, with a generous allocation of 5% dedicated to community airdrops. These airdrops will be distributed as BWB points, offering users the future opportunity to exchange points for actual BWB tokens. This strategic move aims to energize the community and boost participation.

To engage its diverse user base, Bitget Wallet has rolled out a six-week airdrop campaign from March 18th to April 28th. This initiative is divided into two main parts: the "Initial Airdrop", rewarding loyal users, and the "Task Airdrop", designed for users who complete certain activities. This streamlined approach aims to enhance participation across the board.

For the "Initial Airdrop", Bitget Wallet looked back and rewarded existing users based on their previous use of the wallet, such as how many assets they held, their swap transactions, and their participation in various activities. It also gave bonus airdrops to users who had used the Swap feature in other well-known Web3 wallets such as MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and Coinbase Wallet. Additionally, new users who download the Bitget Wallet App during the campaign will receive an airdrop of 50 BWB points.

On the "Task Airdrop", all Bitget Wallet users have the opportunity to earn BWB points by completing specific tasks. These include keeping assets in the wallet, conducting swap transactions, and inviting friends. Each task offers a different number of points, allowing users to gather points every day.

Speaking about BWB's future, Bitget Wallet's COO, Alvin Kan shared, "We are eagerly anticipating the official release of BWB tokens in the second quarter of 2024, which will empower users to convert their accrued BWB points into tokens. It's important to us that BWB serves as a key to unlocking exclusive benefits for its holders, offering them a voice in community governance, access to ecosystem airdrops, and a dividend in the rewards driven by the growth of Bitget Wallet."

Asia's Leading Web3 Wallet and a Global Top Five Contender

With over five years under its belt, Bitget Wallet has navigated through several market cycles, capitalizing on the rise of DeFi and the mainstreaming of Web3. This strategic navigation has spurred rapid growth in its user base, now exceeding 19 million globally, positioning Bitget Wallet as the largest Web3 wallet in Asia and one of the top five globally.

The wallet's journey of innovation and growth was further propelled by a $15 million Series A financing round led by Dragonfly. This milestone was followed by a significant acquisition in 2023 by Bitget, one of the top ten global centralized exchanges and top five derivatives exchanges, at a valuation of $300 million. This acquisition not only came with a $30 million investment but also marked a pivotal brand upgrade for Bitget Wallet. Today, anchored in the Bitget Group's ecosystem, Bitget Wallet plays a crucial role as the gateway to decentralized ecosystems. The upcoming BWB token will thus serve not only as Bitget Wallet's core asset but also as a fundamental asset and Web3 equity certificate across the Bitget decentralized ecosystem, bridging practical use cases within Bitget Wallet and broader ecosystem engagement.

As the industry shifts towards decentralized asset management and trading, the narrative is also evolving towards a focus on community-driven stories, with Web3 wallets emerging as leaders in this space. Over the years, Bitget Wallet has refined the standards for Web3 wallet products, being the first to offer a full-chain perspective, aggregate DEX prices across all-chains, facilitate seamless cross-chain transactions, and launch an NFT marketplace and Launchpad platform.

Bitget Wallet has evolved beyond a multifunctional Web3 wallet to become a comprehensive platform encompassing a DEX aggregator, NFT marketplace, market analytics tool, Launchpad platform, inscription portal, and a Web3 task platform. This breadth of features and exemplary user experience are the pillars of Bitget Wallet's competitive edge.

Empowering Users with New Assets and Opportunities

Another cornerstone of Bitget Wallet's success is its ability to unveil the latest assets and investment opportunities, enabling users to maximize their earnings through innovative product features and strategic operations.

Focusing on new assets and earning opportunities, Bitget Wallet has consistently centered its development around these themes, embedding them into nearly every key feature to ensure users have access to fresh opportunities and enhanced wealth potential.

Bitget Wallet's unmatched support spans more than 100 major blockchains and numerous EVM-compatible networks, facilitating a seamless Web3 experience. Users can effortlessly manage assets, trade tokens, engage with NFTs, and explore DApps.

At the heart of the wallet, Bitget Swap stands out by supporting multi-chain transactions across more than 40 networks, aggregating data from hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, and offering an extensive selection of tokens paired with innovative features like gas-free transactions and automatic slippage adjustments. Additionally, its intelligent market analysis tools provide users with real-time insights, helping them make informed trading decisions.

To further enhance user earnings, Bitget Wallet has introduced a comprehensive portal featuring Task2Get, Fair Launchpool, and Invite2Get, among others, providing users with a rich array of rewarding tasks and airdrop activities.

Security is paramount for Bitget Wallet, which has established the GetShield security system to safeguard every transaction and interaction. This system addresses a range of security challenges, including on-chain phishing and fraud, through comprehensive measures such as risk token detection, contract analysis, and more. Additionally, Bitget Wallet benefits from a shared $300 million risk protection fund with Bitget, bolstering its risk mitigation capabilities.

Looking ahead, Alvin elaborated, "The launch of BWB marks a new beginning for us. As we enter this new phase, we're excited to introduce more innovative products and expand our ecosystem. Our goal with BWB is to bring a billion users into Web3, uncovering new assets and opportunities, and accelerating our journey towards a more community-driven governance model. We want our users to be an integral part of our growth and to share in the successes of Bitget Wallet's development."

About Bitget Wallet

Bitget Wallet is Asia's largest and leading global Web3 trading wallet with over 19 million users worldwide. It offers a comprehensive range of features, including asset management, intelligent market data, swap trading, launchpad, inscribing, and DApp browsing. Currently, it supports more than 100 major blockchains, hundreds of EVM-compatible chains, and over 250,000 cryptocurrencies. Bitget Wallet enhances liquidity by aggregating it across hundreds of top DEXs and cross-chain bridges, facilitating seamless trading on over 40 blockchains.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | Discord

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GENEVA, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The McWhorter Family Trust proudly unveils its esteemed partnership with Patek Philippe, marking a pivotal moment in the world of horological mastery. In a gesture of recognition and admiration, the Trust grants Patek Philippe the emblem of timepiece mastery, honoring its legacy of unparalleled craftsmanship, innovation, and timeless elegance.



Incorporating Patek Philippe into the McWhorter Family Trust's Portfolio:

The inclusion of Patek Philippe into the McWhorter Family Trust's illustrious portfolio represents a strategic embrace of horological excellence. This strategic decision underscores the Trust's commitment to investing in brands that epitomize heritage, precision, and enduring value. Additionally, it opens avenues for potential indirect investment opportunities in Patek Philippe through avenues such as horological innovations and events.

Strategic Investment Approach of C.K. McWhorter:

C.K. McWhorter, architecting the structure of a Single Family Office (SFO), strategically aligns with Patek Philippe, exemplifying the Trust's dedication to preserving and advancing the art of horology. This strategic partnership underscores the Trust's vision for pioneering investments that resonate with connoisseurs of fine craftsmanship and timeless elegance.

Discreet and Impactful Financial Engagement:

With meticulous precision, Ambassador Noble McWhorter navigates financial frameworks to engage with Patek Philippe in a manner that respects the brand's heritage and values. This discreet yet impactful approach highlights the Trust's strategic foresight and its ability to shape the future of horological investments through private transactions.

Acknowledging Patek Philippe's Commitment to Excellence:

Patek Philippe's unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation has solidified its position as an icon in the world of haute horlogerie. From pioneering complications to groundbreaking designs, Patek Philippe sets the standard for luxury timepieces, embodying the timeless pursuit of perfection.

Crafting a Legacy of Horological Mastery:

The partnership between the McWhorter Family Trust and Patek Philippe signifies a shared dedication to upholding the artistry and heritage of fine watchmaking. Through iconic designs and uncompromising quality, this collaboration embodies the Trust's unwavering commitment to promoting craftsmanship, heritage, and innovation in the world of horology.

Quote from C.K. McWhorter:

"Bestowing Patek Philippe with the seal of timepiece mastery symbolizes our shared commitment to preserving and advancing the art of horology. We are honored to partner with Patek Philippe and support its legacy of excellence and innovation in the world of fine watchmaking."

Closing Statement:

As the McWhorter Family Trust continues its journey of curating a portfolio of exemplary luxury assets, Patek Philippe emerges as a beacon of horological excellence and innovation. Together, they embark on a transformative journey, united by a shared vision of shaping the future of haute horlogerie.

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Commercial Real Estate Owners Can Enhance with EV Charging Installations.

Asia Pacific / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / CBRE Group, Inc.

Asia Pacific electric vehicle (EV) sales have seen exponential growth in the past two years, accounting for nearly two-thirds of global auto sales. The soaring demand for charging facilities across the region provides the opportunity for commercial real estate owners to enhance their assets with EV charging installations, according to the latest CBRE research.

CBRE estimates that the number of public charging points across Asia Pacific region will rise to around 10 million by 2030, with nearly 70% of the new charging points in mainland China, the biggest market for EV sales. India and Singapore are the fastest growing EV sales markets in Asia Pacific.

Commercial real estate offers a wide range of options for EV public charging infrastructure, varying across retail, industrial, office, and on-the-road demand. EV chargers are becoming more common in shopping malls, as customers charge their vehicles while shopping. For industrial and logistics facilities, there is strong demand for direct current fast chargers as occupiers want more charging points for electrified fleets.

To read the full report, click here.

END

Follow us on Twitter: @cbreasia

LinkedIn: company/cbre-asia-pacific

About CBRE Group, Inc.

CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Dallas, is the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2023 revenue). The company has more than 130,000 employees (including Turner & Townsend employees) serving clients in more than 100 countries. CBRE serves a diverse range of clients with an integrated suite of services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CBRE Group, Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CBRE Group, Inc.

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Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: CBRE Group, Inc.

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Poised to be the first of its scale in the Middle East

SOHAR, Oman, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- United Solar Holding Inc. announces the laying of the foundation stone for its polysilicon factory in SOHAR Port and Freezone (SOHAR), Sultanate of Oman. The USD 1.35 billion landmark project is set to be one of the world's largest and the Middle East's first with an annual production capacity of 100,000 tons. Expected to commence operations in 2025, the project underscores a vision for sustainable growth and development.

The polysilicon factory represents a critical advancement in the production of high-quality solar panels, semiconductors and modules that will diversify the Omani economy and accelerate industrialization, aligning seamlessly with SOHAR's drive to foster a green energy sector. By manufacturing materials that reduce solar panel costs, this project is expected to lower operational expenses within the sector, ultimately leading to decreased energy prices and in-turn attract global investments.

In addition, the polysilicon factory will further solidify SOHAR's position as a key player in the global trade network, offering unparalleled access to world markets and attracting downstream industries like solar energy component manufacturing and new modern industries. Amplifying this vision, SOHAR Freezone's strategic location and robust infrastructure offer a compelling value proposition including a bonded corridor to SOHAR Port, excellent links to regional markets, a strong maritime network and ample and easy access to Oman's raw materials and infrastructure, such as utilities, power, and water solutions. This is further enhanced by One-Stop-Shop services, favorable trade agreements like the USA Free Trade Agreement, and competitive energy costs.

Today, SOHAR Freezone is home to various industries from 53 countries reinforcing its position as an engine of economic diversification. The total investment in 2023 grew by 30% and land occupancy grew by 19% compared to 2022. With 85% of Phase I fully leased, Phase II is underway offering a total land area of up to 675 hectares, aiming to meet the expanding needs for industrial and commercial space. The Freezone's commitment to fostering key industries-ranging from petrochemicals and plastics to metals and minerals, and extending to food and pharma, as well as marine services-exemplifies its multifaceted value offering.

About SOHAR Port and Freezone

As one of the fastest-growing ports in the world, SOHAR Port and Freezone continues to leverage on its strategic location and enhance its services, positioning itself as a key logistics hub within the region and across the world boasting container, liquids, and bulk terminals. A powerful combination of the expertise of the Port of Rotterdam and ASYAD Group, it is earmarked as one of the Sultanate's mega-projects, home to logistics, petrochemicals, and metal clusters, as well as the region's first dedicated agri terminal. Today, after 20 years of operation, it serves as the main gateway for import and export in Oman, directly contributing 2.1% of the country's GDP and almost 36,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. With a focus on sustainable development and cutting-edge technology, it is leading the development and modernization of the Sultanate's logistics infrastructure and supporting the economic diversification objectives of Oman's 2040 Vision.

For more information about SOHAR Port and Freezone, please visit soharportandfreezone.om

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Revenue Up 2.5% Year-over-Year to RMB40,341 Million; Excluding COVID-19 Commercial Projects, Up 25.6%

Net Profit Attributable to the Owners of the Company [1] Increased 9.0% to RMB9,607 Million; Diluted Earnings per Share (EPS) Increased 14.9% to RMB3.24

Adjusted Non-IFRS Net Profit Attributable to the Owners of the Company Increased 15.5% to RMB10,855 Million; Adjusted Non-IFRS Diluted EPS Increased 15.7% to RMB3.68 [2]

Free Cash Flow Continued to Increase to RMB7,125 Million; Operating Cash Flow Grew by 23.6% Year-Over-Year

Company to Pay Cash Dividend of RMB2,882 Million, 30% of 2023 Net Profit

SHANGHAI, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WuXi AppTec (stock code: 603259.SH / 2359.HK), a global company that provides a broad portfolio of R&D and manufacturing services that enable companies in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry, today announced its financial results for the year ending December 31, 2023 ("Reporting Period"):

Revenue grew 2.5% year-over-year to RMB40,341 million; excluding COVID-19 commercial projects, revenue grew by 25.6%.

Adjusted non-IFRS gross profit increased 11.2% year-over-year to RMB16,938 million. Adjusted non-IFRS gross profit margin improved 3.3pts to 42.0%. The Company continued to improve operating efficiency; adjusted non-IFRS net profit margin reached 26.9% due to FX impact and efficiency enhancement.

Net profit attributable to the owners of the Company [1] increased 9.0% year-over-year to RMB9,607 million; diluted EPS increased 14.9% year-over-year to RMB3.24. Adjusted non-IFRS net profit attributable to the owners of the Company increased 15.5% year-over-year to RMB10,855 million; adjusted diluted non-IFRS EPS increased by 15.7% year-over-year to RMB3.68.

increased 9.0% year-over-year to RMB9,607 million; diluted EPS increased 14.9% year-over-year to RMB3.24. Adjusted non-IFRS net profit attributable to the owners of the Company increased 15.5% year-over-year to RMB10,855 million; adjusted diluted non-IFRS EPS increased by 15.7% year-over-year to RMB3.68. Free cash flow continued to increase to RMB7,125 million. Due to FX impact and efficiency improvement, the Company's operating cash flow grew by 23.6% year-over-year.

The Company's Board of Directors has decided to maintain a 30% payout ratio, and distribute RMB ~9.8 cash dividend for every 10 shares (RMB 2.88 billion in total).

In 2023, we added over 1,200 new customers, and in total we served more than 6,000 active customers over the past 12 months. Demand from customers across regions globally continued to grow.

As of December 31, 2023, backlog grew 18% year-over-year excluding COVID-19 commercial projects, among which TIDES backlog grew significantly by 226% year-over-year.

Revenue from the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies maintained rapid growth and reached RMB16.11 billion in 2023, which grew 44% year-over-year excluding COVID-19 commercial projects.

The sustained and steady revenue growth is attributed to our unique fully integrated Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization (CRDMO) platform. WuXi Chemistry's D&M pipeline has maintained rapid growth, with a total of 1,255 new molecules added in 2023. By end of 2023, our D&M pipeline reached 3,201 molecules, among which 20 commercial and phase III projects were added during the year. Revenue from D&M services maintained strong growth. Excluding COVID-19 commercial projects, D&M services revenue grew by 55.1%.

As an enabler of innovation, a trusted partner and a contributor to the global pharmaceutical and life sciences industry, the Company is committed to environmental protection and sustainability. We committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in December 2023. We received an "AA" rating from MSCI for the third consecutive year, an "A-" rating in CDP Climate Change for the second consecutive year, and an "A-" rating in CDP Water Security for the first time. In addition, we were upgraded to the "Silver" medal by EcoVadis. Our outstanding ESG performances have also been widely acknowledged by major global ESG rating agencies, including S&P Global, Sustainalytics, and FTSE Russell.

[1] Net profit attributable to the owners of the Company is prepared according to Accounting Standard for Business Enterprises of PRC. Due to the different accounting treatment of long-term equity investments under IFRS, Net profit attributable to the owners of the Company under IFRS was RMB10,690 million. [2] In 2022 and 2023, WuXi AppTec had a fully-diluted weighted average share count of 2,954,165,418 and 2,949,887,619 ordinary shares, respectively.

2024 Outlook

Despite uncertainties in the external environment, revenue is expected to reach RMB 38.3 -40.5 billion in 2024, and maintain positive growth of 2.7-8.6% excluding COVID-19 commercial projects. We will continue to improve operating efficiency. Adjusted non-IFRS net profit margin (NPM) in 2024 is expected to remain at a similar level as last year, taking into consideration of new capacity ramp-up and FX impact. With improved asset utilization and operating efficiency, free cash flow is expected to remain positive and reach RMB 4 -5 billion in 2024, which will continuously cover the cash dividends and investments in talents, while global capacity is expected to be expanded as planned (with capex of RMB ~5 billion).

Management Comment

Dr. Ge Li, Chairman and CEO of WuXi AppTec, said, "We achieved an important milestone in 2023, with revenue surpassing RMB40 billion and adjusted non-IFRS net profit exceeding RMB10 billion for the first time. The Company's unique CRDMO and CTDMO business models have enabled us to better meet the increasing quality demands from customers worldwide while continuing to drive business growth."

"As technology advancement and science innovations continue to emerge, global demand for life saving and innovative drugs continues to grow, along with customers' demand for our enabling services. Nevertheless, the recent proposed legislation in the U.S. Congress would preemptively and unfairly designate our company without due process. As the proposed legislation remains subject to further review and changes, we continue to engage with relevant stakeholders to explore possible solutions and appeal for due process through a transparent consideration of the facts. WuXi AppTec has always been committed to 'doing the right thing and doing it right.' Our company has not been subject to any sanctions, and does not pose a national security risk to any country. Since its founding two decades ago, the value of WuXi AppTec has been to serve as an enabler to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry. Today, we continue to do so as a trusted and valued service partner for our customers by constantly providing relevant capacity and capabilities required for new drug R&D and manufacturing."

"We are truly thankful for our customers' long-term trust and support. We will further enhance our capacity and capabilities and continuously improve our operating efficiency, supporting our customers and partners in their endeavors to bring lifesaving medicines to patients around the world. Together, we can realize our vision that 'every drug can be made and every disease can be treated'."

Business Performance by Segments

WuXi Chemistry: Integrated CRDMO Business Model Drives Steady Growth, with Continu ed Expansion in New Modalities (WuXi TIDES) Revenue from WuXi Chemistry grew 1.1% year-over-year to RMB 29.17 billion; excluding COVID-19 commercial projects, revenue grew strongly by 36.1%. Adjusted non-IFRS gross profit margin improved 4.0pts year-over-year to 45.1%, mainly due to FX impact, while efficiency continued to improve. Drug discovery services ("R") continued to generate downstream opportunities. In the past 12 months, we successfully synthesized and delivered more than 420,000 new compounds to customers, which grew 6% year-over-year. Through our "follow-the-customer" and "follow-the-molecule" strategies, we established trusted partnerships with our global customers, supporting the sustainable growth of our CRDMO business. Development and manufacturing (D&M) services delivered strong growth.



i. In 2023, D&M services revenue declined 0.1% year-over-year to RMB21.62 billion; excluding COVID-19 commercial projects, D&M services revenue grew strongly by 55.1%.

ii. In 2023, we added 1,255 new molecules to our D&M pipeline. By end of 2023, our D&M pipeline reached 3,201 molecules, including 61 commercial projects, 66 in phase III, 326 in phase II and 2,748 in phase I and pre-clinical stages, among which 20 commercial and phase III projects were added during the year.

iii. We commenced operations at the new Taixing API manufacturing site in January 2024, preparing for future business growth.

Specifically, TIDES business (mainly oligo and peptides) continued to expand.



i. In 2023, TIDES revenue grew strongly by 64.4% year-over-year to RMB3.41 billion. By end of 2023, backlog of TIDES grew significantly by 226% year-over-year.

ii. In 2023, the number of TIDES D&M customers increased 36% year-over-year to 140, and the number of TIDES molecules increased 41% year-over-year to 267.

iii. We completed capacity expansion in Changzhou and Taixing. The expanded workshops commenced operations in January 2024, with the total reactor volume of solid phase peptide synthesizers increasing to 32,000L.

WuXi Testing: Drug Safety Evaluation Service & SMO Maintain Leadership Position and Drive Steady Growth Revenue from WuXi Testing grew 14.4% year-over-year to RMB6.54 billion. Adjusted non-IFRS gross profit margin improved 1.9pts year-over-year to 38.6%, mainly due to FX impact, while efficiency continued to improve. Revenue from lab testing services grew 15.3% year-over-year to RMB4.78 billion. Among which, revenue from drug safety evaluation services grew 27.3% year-over-year. We maintained our industry-leading position in the Asia-Pacific region. The 55,000m 2 new facilities in Qidong and Suzhou ramped up smoothly. In 2023, additional 20,000m 2 facilities were GLP-qualified. Revenue from clinical CRO & SMO (Site Management Organization) grew 11.8% year-over-year to RMB1.76 billion.



i. SMO revenue grew 26.1% year-over-year, maintaining an industry leading position in China. In 2023, SMO supported 54 new drug approvals for customers.

ii. Clinical CRO enabled our customers to obtain 21 IND approvals and submit 5 NDA filings.

WuXi Biology: New Modalities Business Drives Growth; WuXi Biology Platform Continues to Generate Downstream Opportunities Revenue from WuXi Biology grew 3.1% year-over-year to RMB2.55 billion. Adjusted non-IFRS gross profit margin improved 1.5pts year-over-year to 42.4%, thanks to FX impact. The Company focused on improving capabilities related to new modalities. In 2023, WuXi Biology revenue from new modalities grew 26% year-over-year, contributing 27.5% of WuXi Biology revenue. The comprehensive early discovery screening platform integrates multi-technologies (HTS, DEL, ASMS, FBDD, CADD etc.) and analysis capabilities of multi-dimensional databases, which can provide extensive and in-depth services to customers. In 2023, it continued to generate downstream opportunities and contributed more than 20% of the Company's new customers.



WuXi ATU: CTDMO Business Model Drives Growth Revenue from WuXi ATU grew 0.1% year-over-year to RMB1.31 billion. Adjusted non-IFRS gross profit margin declined 3.7pts year-over-year to (9.6)%, mainly due to the revenue decline from high-margin projects and under-utilization of capacity. The Company focused on improving our CTDMO integrated enabling platform and strengthening capabilities and capacities. By end of 2023, we provided development, testing and manufacturing services to 64 projects, including 1 commercial project, 5 Phase III projects (1 project in BLA review stage, and 2 projects in BLA preparation stage), 9 Phase II projects and 49 pre-clinical and Phase I projects. In February 2024, the 2 nd commercial product obtained approval. In 2023, we supported a customer to file BLA for plasmid and Lenti-viral Vector (LVV) used in a CAR-T product and passed China's Center for Food and Drug Inspection (CFDI) LVV on-site inspection. Our customer's product obtained approval in November 2023. In addition, we supported a customer to complete the BLA filing for the world's first innovative Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL)-based therapy, and our facilities in Philadelphia (U.S.) successfully passed FDA pre-license inspection (PLI). Our customer's product obtained approval in February 2024. In June 2023, we signed an LVV manufacturing contract used in a commercial CAR-T product. With the process performance qualification now in progress, it is expected to start manufacturing in the first half of 2024. Moreover, we are preparing for the BLA filing for the manufacture of a blockbuster commercial CAR-T product, which is expected to complete process performance qualification in the first half of 2024 and is expected to file pre-approval submission (PAS) to the FDA in the second half of 2024.



WuXi DDSU: the First Year to Receive New Drug Application (NDA) Approval of New Drugs Developed for Customers; Breakthrough to Receive the First Royalty Income Revenue from WuXi DDSU declined 25.1% year-over-year to RMB0.73 billion due to business transitions. Adjusted non-IFRS gross profit margin improved 6.3pts year-over-year to 36.5%, mainly due to favorable project mix. In 2023, 3 new drugs developed for our customers obtained National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) approvals, including 2 for COVID-19 infection treatments and 1 for tumor treatment. We continued to receive the royalty income of the approved new drugs from customers. Moreover, 2 new drug candidates are in the NDA review stage. In November 2023, for the first time, we supported a customer to reach a licensing agreement with one of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies in the field of oncology. In 2023, we supported customers to file INDs for 18 drug candidates and obtain 25 Clinical Trial Approvals (CTAs). Cumulatively, we have submitted 190 new chemical entity IND filings and obtained 169 CTAs for customers, among which 3 projects have obtained NDA approvals, 2 projects are in the NDA review stage, 4 projects are in Phase III, 32 projects are in Phase II, and 73 projects are in Phase I, covering multiple therapeutic areas.



This release provides a summary of the results and is not intended to be a comprehensive report. For additional information, please refer to the WuXi AppTec 2023 Annual Results Presentation and 2023 Annual Report disclosed on the Company's official website, as well as the 2023 Annual Report and other relevant announcements published on the websites of the Shanghai Stock Exchange (www.sse.com.cn) and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (www.hkexnews.hk), and the designated media for dissemination of the relevant information. Investors are advised to exercise caution and be aware of the investment risks in trading Company shares.

Net Profit Attributable to the Owners of the Company is prepared under Accounting Standard for Business Enterprises of PRC ("People's Republic of China Financial Reporting Standards"), in currency of RMB. Besides, all other financial information disclosed in this press release is prepared based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), in currency of RMB.

The 2023 Annual Report of the Company has been audited.

2023 Results by Segments

Unit: RMB million

Segment Revenue Change Adjusted non-IFRS

Gross Profit Change Adjusted non-IFRS

Gross Profit Margin WuXi Chemistry 29,171.49 1.1 % 13,167.70 10.8 % 45.1 % WuXi Testing 6,539.67 14.4 % 2,526.62 20.3 % 38.6 % WuXi Biology 2,552.55 3.1 % 1,082.25 6.8 % 42.4 % WuXi ATU 1,309.60 0.1 % (125.11) Note1 (9.6) % WuXi DDSU 726.45 (25.1) % 265.33 (9.5) % 36.5 % Others 41.05 22.1 % 20.99 33.6 % 51.1 % Total 40,340.81 2.5 % 16,937.79 11.2 % 42.0 %

Notes: 1. Adjusted non-IFRS gross profit of WuXi ATU was RMB(125.11) million in 2023, compared to RMB(76.69) million in 2022, a decline of RMB48.42 million.

2. Any sum of the data above that is inconsistent with the total is due to rounding.

Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss[3] - Prepared under IFRS

RMB Million Year Ended

December 31,

2023 Year Ended

December 31,

2022 Year-over-Year Change Revenue 40,340.8 39,354.8 2.5 % Cost of services (23,968.3) (24,848.3) (3.5) % Gross profit 16,372.5 14,506.5 12.9 % Other income 962.5 644.3 49.4 % Other gains and losses 1,350.3 1,211.7 11.4 % Impairment losses under expected credit

losses ("ECL") model, net of reversal (240.9) (117.3) 105.4 % Impairment losses of non-financial assets (67.4) - N/A Impairment losses of goodwill (49.6) (131.3) (62.2) % Selling and marketing expenses (701.0) (731.6) (4.2) % Administrative expenses (2,994.9) (2,943.8) 1.7 % Research and development expenses (1,440.6) (1,614.0) (10.7) % Operating Profit 13,190.7 10,824.6 21.9 % Share of results of associates (35.1) (52.5) (33.2) % Share of results of joint ventures (32.5) 6.3 N/A Finance costs (193.6) (159.8) 21.1 % Profit before tax 12,929.6 10,618.5 21.8 % Income tax expense (2,131.7) (1,715.9) 24.2 % Profit for the year 10,797.9 8,902.6 21.3 %







Profit for the year attributable to:





Owners of the Company 10,690.2 8,813.7 21.3 % Non-controlling interests 107.7 88.9 21.2 %

10,797.9 8,902.6 21.3 %







Weighted average number of ordinary shares

for calculating EPS(express in shares)





- Basic 2,934,188,474 2,931,932,166 0.1 % - Diluted 2,949,887,619 2,954,165,418 (0.1) % Earnings per share attributable to ordinary

shareholders of the Company (expressed in

RMB per share)





- Basic 3.64 3.01 20.9 % - Diluted 3.61 2.82 28.0 %









[3] If the sum of the data below is inconsistent with the total, it is caused by rounding

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position[4] - Prepared under IFRS

RMB Million December 31, December 31,

2023 2022





Non-current Assets



Property, plant and equipment 25,844.4 23,444.9 Right - of - use assets 2,348.3 1,857.5 Goodwill 1,820.9 1,822.1 Other intangible assets 906.7 926.3 Interests in associates 2,180.4 1,135.7 Interests in joint ventures 35.2 67.3 Deferred tax assets 366.7 492.1 Financial assets at fair value through profit or

loss ("FVTPL") 8,626.0 8,954.3 Other non-current assets 105.8 1,054.9 Biological assets 1,012.5 938.0

43,246.9 40,693.1





Current Assets



Inventories 2,886.1 3,952.6 Contract costs 695.6 678.8 Biological assets 1,154.6 1,037.3 Amounts due from related parties 86.7 123.0 Trade and other receivables 9,372.7 7,590.4 Contract assets 1,234.4 1,048.2 Income tax recoverable 17.5 16.0 Financial assets at FVTPL 11.0 2.0 Derivative financial instruments 414.0 135.6 Other current assets 785.8 1,427.8 Pledged bank deposits 1.6 1.8 Term deposits with initial term of over three

months 3,761.4 - Bank balances and cash 10,001.0 7,983.9

30,422.5 23,997.2





Total Assets 73,669.3 64,690.3







[4] If the sum of the data below is inconsistent with the total, it is caused by rounding.

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position (continued)[5] - Prepared under IFRS

RMB Million December 31, December 31,

2023 2022 Current Liabilities



Trade and other payables 7,333.5 7,253.4 Amounts due to related parties 11.5 14.5 Derivative financial instruments 501.9 115.4 Contract liabilities 1,955.4 2,496.6 Bank borrowings 3,721.6 3,874.1 Lease liabilities 240.5 205.3 Income tax payables 991.9 517.8 Other current liabilities - 22.1

14,756.3 14,499.4





Non-current Liabilities



Bank borrowings 687.0 279.1 Deferred tax liabilities 530.1 440.5 Deferred income 1,079.9 910.9 Lease liabilities 1,098.6 983.8 Convertible bonds-debt component - 502.0 Convertible bonds-embedded derivative

component - 147.9 Other long-term liabilities - 0.1

3,395.6 3,264.3





Total Liabilities 18,151.9 17,763.7





Net Assets 55,517.4 46,926.7





Capital and Reserves



Share capital 2,968.8 2,960.5 Reserves 52,153.6 43,629.4 Equity attributable to the owners of the

Company 55,122.5 46,590.0 Non-controlling interests 395.0 336.7 Total Equity 55,517.4 46,926.7







[5] If the sum of the data below is inconsistent with the total, it is caused by rounding.

Adjusted Non-IFRS Net Profit Attributable to the Owners of the Company[6]

RMB Million Year Ended

December 31,

2023 Year Ended

December 31,

2022 Year-over-Year Change Net Profit Attributable to the Owners of the

Company under PRC 9,606.7 8,813.7 9.0 % GAAP difference[7] 1,083.4 - N/A Net Profit Attributable to the Owners of the

Company under IFRS 10,690.2 8,813.7 21.3 % Add:





Share-based compensation expenses 622.0 684.2 (9.1) %

Issuance expenses of convertible bonds 0.3 1.7 (81.4) %

Fair value gains from derivative

component of convertible bonds (40.2) (508.6) (92.1) %

Foreign exchange related losses 294.4 136.1 116.3 %

Amortization of acquired intangible

assets from merge and acquisition 57.9 56.7 2.2 %

Non-financial assets impairment and

disposal losses 129.1 131.3 (1.7) %

Talent incentive and retention expenses

funded by cash donation from shareholders 151.5 69.7 117.3 % Non-IFRS Net Profit attributable to the

owners of the Company 11,905.2 9,384.7 26.9 % Add:





Realized and unrealized (gains)/losses

from venture capital investments (1,083.0) 20.8 N/A Realized and unrealized share of

losses/(gains) from joint ventures 32.5 (6.3) N/A Adjusted non-IFRS net profit attributable to

the owners of the Company 10,854.6 9,399.3 15.5 %











[6] If the sum of the data below is inconsistent with the total, it is caused by rounding. [7] Due to the different accounting treatment of long-term equity investments under IFRS, it occurs GAAP difference of RMB1,083.4 million.

About WuXi AppTec

As a global company with operations across Asia, Europe, and North America, WuXi AppTec provides a broad portfolio of R&D and manufacturing services that enable the global pharmaceutical and life sciences industry to advance discoveries and deliver groundbreaking treatments to patients. Through its unique business models, WuXi AppTec's integrated, end-to-end services include chemistry drug CRDMO (Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization), biology discovery, preclinical testing and clinical research services, advanced therapies CTDMO (Contract Testing, Development and Manufacturing Organization), helping customers improve the productivity of advancing healthcare products through cost-effective and efficient solutions. WuXi AppTec received an AA ESG rating from MSCI for the third consecutive year in 2023 and its open-access platform is enabling more than 6,000 customers from over 30 countries to improve the health of those in need - and to realize the vision that "every drug can be made and every disease can be treated." Please visit: http://www.wuxiapptec.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain "forward-looking statements" which are not historical facts, but instead are predictions about future events based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to our management. Although we believe that our predictions are reasonable, future events are inherently uncertain and our forward-looking statements may turn out to be incorrect. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks relating to, among other things, the ability of our service offerings to compete effectively, our ability to meet timelines for the expansion of our service offerings, our ability to protect our customers' intellectual property, unforeseeable international tension, competition, the impact of emergencies and other force majeure. Our forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law or listing rules. Accordingly, you are strongly cautioned that reliance on any forward-looking statements involves known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by reference to the cautionary statements set forth in this section. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of this date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Use of Non-IFRS and Adjusted Non-IFRS Financial Measures

We provide non-IFRS gross profit and non-IFRS net profit attributable to the owners of the Company, which exclude share-based compensation expenses, issuance expenses of convertible bonds, fair value gain or loss from derivative component of convertible bonds, foreign exchange-related gains or losses, amortization of intangible assets acquired in business combinations, non-financial assets impairment, etc. We also provide adjusted non-IFRS net profit attributable to the owners of the Company and earnings per share, which further exclude realized and unrealized gains or losses from our venture capital investments and joint ventures. Neither is required by, or presented in accordance with IFRS.

We believe that the adjusted financial measures used in this press release are useful for understanding and assessing our core business performance and operating trends, and we believe that management and investors may benefit from referring to these adjusted financial measures in assessing our financial performance by eliminating the impact of certain unusual, non-recurring, non-cash and non-operating items that we do not consider indicative of the performance of our core business. Such adjusted non-IFRS net profit attributable to the owners of the Company, the management of the Company believes, is widely accepted and adopted in the industry the Company is operating in. However, the presentation of these adjusted non-IFRS financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS. You should not view adjusted results on a stand-alone basis or as a substitute for results under IFRS, or as being comparable to results reported or forecasted by other companies.

SOURCE WuXi AppTec
A file photo of a Connecticut State Police cruiser. Police said they charged one person with driving under the influence after a multi-car crash on I-84 in Farmington Friday afternoon. One person was hurt. FILE PHOTO

MARLBOROUGH  An East Hampton man driving around 105 mph on Route 66 in Marlborough last week admitted he then sped up even more to try to elude a traffic stop, according to Connecticut State Police.

A trooper saw the man's pickup truck traveling toward East Hampton around 8:35 p.m. Wednesday. The trooper was in the area conducting enforcement efforts in conjunction with the high-risk rural road initiative, state police said in a news release Monday.

State police said the vehicle, a GMC K2500 pickup truck, was traveling at a high rate of speed.

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The trooper noted that as the GMC approached vehicles traveling ahead of it, the operator maneuvered into the opposing lane to pass, while being clocked at 105 mph, state police said.

The trooper was ahead of the GMC and activated his cruisers head and taillights. The driver then accelerated, reaching speeds estimated to exceed 115 mph, state police said.

State police said the trooper saw the GMC pass another vehicle by entering the opposing lane of travel at the crest of a hill in a curved section of the roadway. Police said the driver created a risk of serious physical injury" to himself and others.

As the trooper approached the GMC, the vehicle abruptly turned into a residential driveway, state police said. The driver, later identified as 27-year-old Joshua Secore, got out of the truck after the trooper told him to stay inside, police said.

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State police said they believed Secore was about to run away from the scene, so they immediately took him into custody without further incident.

During the course of the investigation, Secore verbally admitted that he was aware that the trooper was about to initiate a traffic stop and that he purposefully accelerated and entered a driveway in an attempt to elude the trooper, state police noted.

Secore was charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an officer and reckless operation of a motor vehicle, according to police. He was later released on a $5,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned in state Superior Court in Manchester on April 12.
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MOUNTAIN VIEW (dpa-AFX) - Apple, Inc. (AAPL) is reportedly in active talks with Alphabet Inc.'s (GOOG) Google to use its Gemini Artificial Intelligence tools to power iPhones in a bid to out-shine its smartphone competitors, according to a Bloomberg report on Monday. It is competing with Google's own Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung's Galaxy S24 smartphones, which already use Gemini. Apple is looking to strike a deal to obtain license to integrate the Gemini AI engine into the iPhone OS. As for the timeframe, Apple could reportedly launch the AI integrated iOS 18 at the Apple Worldwide Developer's Conference in June. Since January this year, Apple has been involved in acquiring, hiring staff and updating hardware to design an iPhone with generative AI capabilities. The iPhone maker has reportedly been developing a large language model of its own, dubbed AppleGPT, which could compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT. The California-based company has acquired 21 AI startups since 2017. However, Apple's own efforts to develop its own AI capabilities are progressing more slowly than expected. Google launched Gemini, its suite of generative AI tools, in February. Generative AI technologies help create text, images, video and computer programming code on their own. However, Gemini has been the subject of controversy after criticism over generating images of white historical figures like the US Founding Fathers, the Pope and Nazi-era German soldiers with inaccurate racial and ethnic depictions as people of color such as black, Native American, or Asian. Apple has also held talks with OpenAI and Anthropic to use their AI tools for the latest iPhone operating software as an alternative to Google's AI tools. Apple may also look to use tools from multiple AI partners. Though Apple and Google are strong competitors in the smartphone market, they are in an ongoing multibillion dollar deal to maintain Google as the default search engine on Apple devices. This deal has already come under significant scrutiny in the past year. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2024) - Quantum eMotion Corp. (TSXV: QNC) (OTCQB: QNCCF) ("QeM" or the "Company"), is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with the The Platform for Digital and Quantum Innovation (PINQ), a non-profit organization (NPO) founded in 2021 by the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy of Quebec (MEIE - Ministere de l'Economie, de l'Innovation et de l'Energie du Quebec) and the Universite de Sherbrooke. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Quantum eMotion's mission to enhance its security platform's resilience against the most advanced security threats, including simulated quantum computer attacks orchestrated using IBM Quantum's Qiskit platform.

IBM and PINQ announced last year the installation and availability of Canada's first IBM Quantum System One, along a partnership to accelerate quantum computing research application development to tackle complex and pressing global challenges. PINQ is the exclusive operator of the cutting-edge 127-qubit IBM Quantum System One located at IBM Bromont.

The project's goal is to thoroughly examine and assess a version of the Kyber algorithm and the Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) that Quantum eMotion currently uses. The project aims to evaluate the QeM security system's performance in a simulated adversarial security setting, ensuring its consistency with the company's strategic goals. Specifically, the project will investigate the technical challenges of the Kyber version through advanced testing, analysis, and possible optimization efforts. Furthermore, quantum attacks will be emulated using Qiskit to confirm the algorithm's resilience against emerging threats.

At the core of this project is a comprehensive review of Quantum eMotion's existing quantum-resistant security framework, identifying its strengths, weaknesses, and potential vulnerabilities. The partnership with PINQ leverages simulation tools like Qiskit to execute quantum attack simulations, rigorously testing the security solution's durability.

Francis Bellido, CEO of QeM, commented: "We are very excited to collaborate with PINQ in this unique endeavor, which has never been done before in this field. This is the first step toward building an open-source test bed for post-quantum security solutions. Eventually, we aim to prove that our security platform can make a significant difference in withstanding the threats posed by quantum computing."

"We are delighted to partner with Quantum eMotion in this groundbreaking project. Our collaboration will enable us to leverage our expertise and resources to rigorously test Quantum eMotion's security platform against the most advanced threats, including simulated quantum computer attacks.", stated Eric Capelle, Executive Director of PINQ. "This partnership is a testament to our commitment to driving innovation and advancing the field of quantum-resistant security solutions."

For more information about Quantum eMotion and its innovative projects, please visit Quantum eMotion website.

About QeM

The Company's mission is to address the growing demand for affordable hardware and software security for connected devices. QeM has become a pioneering force in classical and quantum cybersecurity solutions thanks to its patented Quantum Random Number Generator, a security solution that exploits the built-in unpredictability of quantum mechanics and promises to provide enhanced protection for high-value assets and critical systems.

The Company intends to target highly valued Financial Services, Healthcare, Blockchain Applications, Cloud-Based IT Security Infrastructure, Classified Government Networks and Communication Systems, Secure Device Keying (IOT, Automotive, Consumer Electronics) and Quantum Cryptography.

About PINQ

The Platform for Digital and Quantum Innovation is a non-profit organization created by the Universite de Sherbrooke and the ministere de l'Economie, de l'Innovation et de l'Energie du Quebec (Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy of Quebec) in 2021. Its mission is to support organizations in accelerating their digital transformation, to enhance collaboration, and to simplify technology transfers between industries and research, in addition to training the talents of tomorrow.

For further information, please contact:

Francis Bellido, Chief Executive Officer

Tel: 514.956.2525

Email: info@quantumemotion.com

Website: www.quantumemotion.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/202101

SOURCE: Quantum eMotion Corp.
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2024) - Sona Nanotech Inc. (CSE: SONA), (OTCQB: SNANF) (the "Company" or "Sona") announces that it has submitted a provisional patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), for its proprietary photothermal light device, entitled, "ENDOSCOPE WITH EMR OPTICAL FIBER AND THERMAL SENSOR FOR PHOTOTHERMAL THERAPY".

A prototype of Sona's medical laser was engineered in conjunction with Minnetronix Medical to apply non-thermal, 860 nanometer wavelength high intensity infrared laser light. The device has been designed for use with Sona's patented/patent pending biocompatible gold nanorods which efficiently convert the non-thermal light energy into heat. The device has controls to regulate the intensity and duration of the light exposure and to permit a user to monitor and control the temperature generated in tissue. The device is currently being used for the Company's ongoing pre-clinical efficacy study of its Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy cancer treatment at Dalhousie University.

The Company also recently met with a group of leading surgeons and payer representatives in the U.S as part of its second EXCITE International panel discussion. That roundtable evaluation and discussion, together with its recent pre-submission meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), provided important feedback and guidance to the Company on the development and validation path for its Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy cancer therapy. Sona Nanotech CEO David Regan commented, "Sona's recent roundtable session with its panel of surgeons from leading U.S. academic medical centres and medical payment organizations provided us with invaluable counsel on considerations for both the 'indications for use' for Sona's Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy and the research data that may be required to secure payment codes from payers. This guidance, together with recent feedback received from the FDA, gives us confidence in the appropriateness of our research study pathway and the likelihood of acceptance by physicians and healthcare institutions of our cancer treatment. The Company continues to develop the data on the safety and efficacy of its therapy to support an eventual regulatory submission with its current study at Dalhousie University Medical School."

Finally, the Company recently named Dr. Carman Giacomantonio, MD, MSc., FRCSC, to its Advisory Board. Dr. Giacomantonio is a surgical oncologist and professor of surgery whose research focuses on the mechanism of action of interleukin-2 therapy in the treatment of melanoma and breast and colorectal cancer. Dr. Giacomantonio is the principal investigator for the Company's current pre-clinical efficacy study at Dalhousie University.

Contact:

David Regan, CEO

+1-902-536-1932

david@sonanano.com

About Sona Nanotech Inc.

Sona Nanotech, a nanotechnology life sciences company, is developing Targeted Hyperthermia, a photothermal cancer therapy, which uses therapeutic heat to treat solid cancer tumors. The heat is delivered to tumors by infrared light that is absorbed by Sona's gold nanorods in the tumor and re-emitted as heat. Therapeutic heat (41-48C) stimulates the immune system, shrinks tumors, inactivates cancer stem cells, and increases tumor perfusion - thus enabling drugs to reach all tumor compartments more effectively. The size, shape, and surface chemistry of the nanorods target the leaky vasculature of solid tumors, and the selective thermal sensitivity of tumor tissue enables the therapy to deliver clean margins. Targeted Hyperthermia promises to be safe, effective, minimally invasive, competitive in cost, and a valuable adjunct to drug therapy and other cancer treatments.

Sona has developed multiple proprietary methods for the manufacture of gold nanoparticles which it uses for the development of both cancer therapies and diagnostic testing platforms. Sona Nanotech's gold nanorod particles are cetyltrimethylammonium ("CTAB") free, eliminating the toxicity risks associated with the use of other gold nanorod technologies in medical applications. It is expected that Sona's gold nanotechnologies may be adapted for use in applications, as a safe and effective delivery system for multiple medical treatments, subject to the approval of various regulatory boards, including Health Canada and the FDA.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the anticipated applications of Targeted Hyperthermia Therapy, Sona's preclinical study plans, the potential impact of the planned studies and its product development plans. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions or estimates that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including the risk that Sona may not be able to successfully obtain sufficient clinical and other data to submit regulatory submissions, raise sufficient additional capital, secure patents or develop the envisioned therapy, and the risk that THT may not prove to have the benefits currently anticipated. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Sona disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/202102

SOURCE: Sona Nanotech Inc.
Der kostenlose Dividenden-Report zeigt ganz genau, wo Sie in diesem Jahr zuschlagen konnen. Das sind die Favoriten von Borsenprofi Dr. Dennis Riedl

JERUSALEM (dpa-AFX) - Multiple casualties have been reported in Israeli missile strikes in northern Gaza's Al-Shifa Medical Complex. The Israeli military said it raided Gaza's largest medical complex on receiving information that senior Hamas terrorists are using it 'to conduct and promote terrorist activity.' A surgical building in the hospital is on fire, a doctor at the medical facility said in a social media post. 'This building contains all the operating rooms for all departments. Everyone inside this building has undergone major operations and cannot move from the place,' Dr. Abdullah Mohammed wrote. IDF carried out the military operation after issuing evacuation order to people living in the vicinity of the Al-Shifa Medical Complex. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Der kostenlose Dividenden-Report zeigt ganz genau, wo Sie in diesem Jahr zuschlagen konnen. Das sind die Favoriten von Borsenprofi Dr. Dennis Riedl

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / One of Yum!'s multicultural business employee resource group, UNITE, recently organized an event at the Louisville office to welcome students from W.E.B DuBois Academy. The event aimed to foster a sense of community and mutual support while providing the students with a behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life at Yum! Brands. UNITE members and other employee volunteers sought to provide guidance and inspiration to the students through tailored career mentoring session and empowered them to pursue their future goals. Additionally, the students attended a campus-wide scavenger hunt & tour and made their own Smash'd Potato Bowl in the KFC Test Kitchen.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Viatris



Growing up in Zimbabwe, Happiness Ngwenya couldn't have foreseen how his conventional path through school and higher education would lead to an unconventional journey of career choices. His tenacious and entrepreneurial mindset ultimately helped him find and excel in a dream job at Viatris drawing on his diverse background to lead and inspire those around him.

Happiness quickly learned from his early work experiences that making mistakes was part of the development process, a mindset that further helped him explore new opportunities and take risks. After studying how to run a taxi business, he took the leap to purchase secondhand cars in the United Kingdom, driving them from the port of Durban and exporting them into Zimbabwe where he ran his taxi service for 12 years with some success.

After high school and tertiary studies, he moved with his family to South Africa. Networking for Happiness became second nature: he was inquisitive, open to hearing about other people's experiences and what they did professionally. Learning from them was an opportunity to gain insight into what might be possible. He worked a series of jobs ranging from a college teacher, a retail food franchise and a dairy company; eventually, he moved into sales for an office furniture and stationery company, all the while continuing to expand his networking circle.

Through an ex-colleague, Happiness learned about a job as a driver for Viatris in South Africa, a perfect role for an ex-taxi driver with ambition.

This was the opportunity that he had been looking for: an international organization with prospects to grow and develop.

"Starting at Viatris was a game changer for me," he recalled. "As a driver, I was the first person every guest and company executive met in South Africa. I shook every hand and asked a lot of questions. I wanted to learn how they became successful, and they told me their stories."

While still driving for Viatris, Happiness earned greater responsibilities in office services management. He took the opportunity to sit in company sales and training meetings while waiting for the executives that he'd driven to the meeting, listening attentively to learn more about what the sales team did. At one company conference, he shared accommodations with a sales representative colleague.

"I wanted to learn from him, I was curious and asked so many questions, trying to put together the things I was learning from observation and the conversations I was having," Happiness said.

In 2014 a sales role opened, and Happiness applied and interviewed with an executive from the primary care division. He was delighted that he was able to share some of things that he had learned and got the job. He knew he was on a new path, one that meant a lot for his family's future. Without formal training, he shadowed his colleague, went to every meeting, read every sales brochure and observed the important work they were doing.

He worked hard over the ensuing months and years to exceed targets, grow the business and become an exceptional member of the team -- but he knew there was more to do.

"I've learned from being uncomfortable," he said. "It's been a journey; not an easy one, but perseverance and sustained focus is what has helped me develop in my roles."

By 2020, Happiness was heading up sales for the Retail and Detail divisions, leading a team of eight representatives. He progressed to secure a more senior role as National Sales Manager, leading 12 colleagues. From 2016 to 2019, he won Sales Rep of the Year or was named a runner-up; in 2022, he took home the prestigious Sales Manager of the Year award in South Africa.

He thinks of three pivotal moments in his career: making the leap into sales when he was younger, getting the job at Viatris, and then his move into management.

"I learned to pay attention to detail," he said. "It's not easy coming from a different background, so you need to be agile and determined."

The role at Viatris has not only impacted Happiness' professional life, but his personal life as well: "What I've learned and the skills I've developed through work has strengthened me as a person, it's changed my mental outlook. I've been able to provide for my family, I own properties and I'm proud my teenage son sees my motivation.

The advice I'd give my 20-year-old self today is to be patient, be resilient, be attentive. Your future personal and professional success revolves around development; you can't be stagnant and you must always keep learning."

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View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Viatris on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Viatris

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/viatris

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Viatris

View the original press release on accesswire.com
While summertime and Italy go hand in hand, some of Tuscany's most renowned hotels and resorts celebrate springtime festivities with unique experiences.

Grand Universe La Residenza, a premiere collection of 10 suites and residences, honors Saint Zita during the Festa di Santa Zita, held annually on April 27. The fable goes that in the 13th century, Zita was a saint born into poverty who worked as a servant and would give bread to the poor. One day she was questioned by her employer about what she was carrying in her apron and said it was only flowers, though it was bread. When she opened her apron upon being questioned, it had miraculously turned into flowers, sparing her from punishment. Now, the city of Lucca celebrates with the Festival of the Flowers on the anniversary of her death, April 27. Her mummified body is moved to the center of the San Frediano church and is surrounded by flowers so locals and visitors can pay respects. This year, Grand Universe La Residenza is recognizing this iconic figure with fresh flowers in each room on the anniversary to honor Santa Zita. Grand Universe La Residenza features spacious one- and two-bedroom residences and suites with an ambiance that reflects the storied heritage of Lucca and noble Mansi family. Guests receive exclusive access to the Majordomo, The Butler of La Residenza, alongside other premiere in-room amenities.

Lucca is a city with a history steeped in music. This walled city birthed renowned artists like Puccini and Luigi Boccherini, and today welcomes modern performances by the likes of Justin Bieber, KISS and others. Each spring, the walled city is home to the Lucca Classica festival for vibrant and rhythmic celebrations, this year held April 24 28, 2024. The festival invades the city with live music via performances in squares, historic buildings, churches, theaters and more. To best enjoy the festival, book a stay at Grand Universe Lucca. This 55-room hotel offers authentic dining at Legacy restaurant and cocktails and champagne at its Martin Orsyn Champagne rooftop. Travelers can even take a custom piece of music home with the hotel's Prelude of Existence experience. During this, an Italian composer creates the traveler's personalized theme song based on a brief questionnaire that identifies their key personality traits.

In Lucca's rural region of Garfagnana, Easter celebrations begin on Holy Thursday. The regarded Processione dei Crocioni takes place after mass at Castiglione di Garfagnana, where an anonymous penitent plays the role of Jesus Christ, chained and bearing a cross, and walks through the streets of the village. Overlooking the church and town of Barga is Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort Spa, an ideal home base to celebrate all Easter celebrations. The distinguished resort is offering an Easter in Tuscany experience so that travelers can enjoy the Processione dei Crocioni, followed by a stay that includes breakfast, Easter lunch and brunch and access to the resort's Easter egg hunt.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318454118/en/

Contacts:

305 854 3544

granduniverse@diamondpr.com
Temenos also wins Technology Provider of the Year 2024



GENEVA, Switzerland, March 18, 2024. Temenos also won Technology Provider of the Year at the prestigious industry awards celebrating excellence and innovation in the financial services sector.

The digital experience is a primary area of differentiation and competition for financial institutions. With Temenos Digital (formerly known as Infinity) financial institutions can reimagine the way that they engage with their customers, helping them acquire, service, retain and cross-sell to customers, on multiple channels and devices.

Prema Varadhan, President Product and COO, Temenos, commented: "To win these major awards shows the strength of our banking platform, market-leadership, and speed to value we bring for customers choosing our digital solutions. With Temenos Digital, banks can deliver the same kind of responsive experience as e-commerce brands and keep ahead of changing customer expectations. We have the scale and expertise to evolve the solution much faster than any competitor in the market."

Temenos Digital is the world's best-selling digital banking solution, offering rich functionality for all retail, business, corporate and private banks as well as wealth management firms. Temenos Digital customers include Credem, a top bank in Italy, Sacombank, one of the largest banks in Vietnam with over 15 million customers, United Bank Limited, a top US bank, and a variety of banks across North and South America, from large banks to credit unions.

Temenos Infinity is part of the Temenos banking platform, and its capabilities can be consumed separately or together with other Temenos banking capabilities. The capabilities are packaged, which means they are upgradeable but allow the bank flexibility to innovate at the app level with low code/no code. Temenos provides its clients with the choice to run the platform themselves on-premise, in a hybrid environment, on the cloud or as a SaaS solution.

Temenos is ranked #1 in Digital Banking and Channels in the IBS Intelligence Sales League Table 2023and named a Leader in the "Omdia Universe: Digital Banking Platforms, 2023" report .

About Temenos

Temenos (SIX: TEMN) is the world's leading open platform for composable banking, creating opportunities for over 1.2 billion people around the world every day. We serve c.3000 banks from the largest to challengers and community banks in 150+ countries by helping them build new banking services and state-of-the-art customer experiences. The Temenos open platform helps our top-performing clients achieve return on equity three times the industry average and cost-to-income ratios half the industry average.

For more information, please visit www.temenos.com.
LONDON, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- GSB Gold Standard Corporation AG is one of the leading software and IT powerhouses in Europe. Josip Heit, Chairman of the GSB Group, has been in the process of forging an international media group for years. There will be 40 daily newspapers on all continents by the end of spring 2024, and 30 daily newspapers are already operational on all continents.

Here you can read the original press article:

https://www.MorningChronicle.co.uk/Economy/282570-josip-heit-gsb-group-the-billionaires-success-and-the-announcement-of-an-international-media-conglomerate.html

For many years, the public and media have been interested in Josip Heit, the Chairman of the Board of the GSB Corporate Group. Heit has demonstrated visionary leadership, strategic foresight, and an uncompromising dedication to quality throughout his career. Josip Heit has both practical and aspirational ideas for the GSB Group's future. He intends to advance a diverse and inclusive culture while expanding the company's reach into new markets and sustainable business practices.

"By bringing together different perspectives, we can solve challenges in ways that we might not have thought of on our own. Because success is not an accident. It's about having a vision, clearly defining your goals, and then working towards them with passion and perseverance," says Mr. Heit.

Heit is optimistic about the German media company's growth through the acquisition of these media titles. The company's scale is comparable to that of some of the biggest media organizations in the United States.

About "GSB Group of Companies":

Gold Standard Corporation AG (GSB) was founded in Germany in 2011 and specializes in the trading of minerals and precious metals worldwide. The implementation of blockchain technology enhances transparency, flexibility, and speeds up transactions.

The GSB Group of Companies is a software and IT specialist, including brokerage companies and management companies. Retail clients can gain access to GSB's outstanding and unique platform solutions through service providers, ensuring the highest and most secure comfort for everyone to monitor, control, and manage related transactions in a unique environment.

About Daily Newspaper "MORNING CHRONICLE":

"MORNING CHRONICLE" was founded as a daily newspaper in London (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland) in 1770 and was first published 253 years ago, making it 18 years older than The Times, which was first published in 1785. The legendary English writer and social critic Charles Dickens, who created some of the world's most famous novel characters, such as "Oliver Twist" and "David Copperfield," was employed as a journalist at the London daily newspaper "MORNING CHRONICLE" and wrote daily press articles under the pseudonym "Boz."

"MORNING CHRONICLE" reports in its orientation as a liberal-conservative British daily newspaper, online in the following languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French, mainly on daily political and economic topics from London, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as Europe and the whole world. This makes "MORNING CHRONICLE" the only British daily newspaper that is published around the clock, seven days a week, in five languages in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Contact:

MORNING CHRONICLE

Cecilia Roberts

+447470869360

info@morningchronicle.co.uk

https://www.morningchronicle.co.uk

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2364799/MORNING_CHRONICLE_1.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/morning-chronicle-successful-businessman-and-chairman-of-the-gsb-group-of-companies-mr-josip-heit-announces-an-international-media-conglomerate-302091737.html
HBM Healthcare Investments AG / Key word(s): Monthly Figures

Key Figures 15.03.2024



18.03.2024 / 17:47 CET/CEST



in CHF Performance in % 15.03.2024 MTD FYTD CYTD NAV 243.47 -1.4 -1.5 8.2 Share Price 191.00 6.1 -7.2 4.6 Total Net Assets (in million) 1'674 HBM Healthcare Investments AG Bundesplatz 1 CH-6300 Zug - Switzerland Tel. +41 41 710 75 77 Fax +41 41 710 75 78 E-Mail: hbm@hbmhealthcare.com Web: www.hbmhealthcare.com Wenn Sie keine Mitteilungen von HBM Healthcare Investments mehr wunschen, konnen Sie diese hier a bbestellen . Should you wish to unsubscribe from all HBM Healthcare Investments news, please unsubscribe here. Disclaimer: This message may contain confidential or privileged Information and is intended only for the use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you are hereby notified that you must not use, copy, disclose or take any action based on this message or information herein. If you have received this message by error, please advise the sender immediately and delete this message. The publication is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy securities. Statements regarding the past performance may not be understood as indication for the current or future performance. The value of investments and the income therefrom may fluctuate. A good past performance may possibly not be repeated in the future. It is possible that the investor will not be paid back the full amount invested. Performance data does not take into account any commissions and costs charged when units of the Fund are issued and redeemed. An investment entails risks, which are fully described in the individual offering documents. Some information quoted was obtained from external sources HBM considers to be reliable. HBM cannot guarantee the adequacy, accuracy, timeliness or completeness of or be held responsible or liable for errors of fact regarding such data and information obtained from third parties, and this data may change with market conditions. 06/2023 If the email looks unformatted, please use this alternative link .



End of Media Release


Students pack outdoor lunch tables at Amity Middle School in Orange, Conn. on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media Alfonsina Cassetti works the register as students pay for their lunches electronically with their phones at Amity Middle School in Orange, Conn. on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media Students take their lunch in the cafeteria at Amity Middle School in Orange, Conn. on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media Alfonsina Cassetti works the register as students pay for their lunches electronically with their phones at Amity Middle School in Orange, Conn. on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media A sign at the register denies ala carte purchases for students with negative account balances at Amity Middle School in Orange, Conn. on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media

At the end of a typical academic year, the total amount of money owed to Cheshire Public Schools in student meal debt would be around $1,000, Superintendent Jeff Solan said.

But with nearly four months left in the current school year, the amount owed to the district has soared to more than $19,500, which Solan described as "astronomically high."

Cheshire is among several school districts in Connecticut that have seen huge increases in student lunch debt in 2023-24. The totals, school officials and advocates said, underscore the financial struggles many families are facing as the state has moved away from providing free lunch for all.

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A midyear meal debt report compiled by the School Nutrition Association of Connecticut found a collective debt of $366,403 owed to nearly 50 school districts that participated in a January survey. The negative balance for each district ranged from $518 to $32,000, with an average debt of $3.85 per student, according to the report.

Some school districts said in interviews that their student meal debts were even higher than the figures reported by the SNACT.

A similar spike in student meal debt occurred in the months before the Connecticut General Assembly approved $60 million to continue the universal free meals program for the rest of 2022-2023 school year, according to Lucy Nolan, the policy director at End Hunger Connecticut! The state had administered federal aid to the schools, allowing them to give every student free breakfast and lunch. But many districts ran out of the funds by the end of 2022 and reverted to charging for meals, prompting the additional aid.

Connecticut school districts had offered universal free meals throughout the pandemic but stopped doing so prior to the start of the current school year. Gov. Ned Lamont's proposed budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year includes $11.2 million in funding to extend the current meals program through the end of the next school year.

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Hamden Public Schools decided to offer free meals for the remainder of the year since it is owed $69,875 in unpaid lunches as of last week, according to Tom Ariola, the district's chief operating officer.

Ridgefield Public Schools has seen its student lunch debt climb to more than $54,200 this year, Jill Browne, the district's finance director, wrote in an email last week.

Other districts reported smaller meal balances but still said these amounts were drastically higher than in recent years.

Amity Regional School District No. 5, for example, had accumulated $5,307 in student meal debt as of Feb. 12, Superintendent Jennifer Byars said. A year ago, the district's negative meal balance was $589.

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"So we have essentially had a tenfold increase," Byars said.

The student meal debt for Southington Public Schools stood at $11,900 as of last week, according to Superintendent Steven Madancy. Southington has 4,642 students, or about 73.4 percent of the district, who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals under federal guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"Before the pandemic our student meal debt was not an issue," Madancy said. "In the past we had also been fortunate to have individuals donate funds to pay off any student meal debt."

The surge in meal debt has coincided with the state opting for a more modest meals program that only grants free lunch to students eligible for reduced-price meals in non-Community Eligible Provision schools that participate in the federal National School Lunch Program. The state's program also provides free breakfast to all students in non-CEP schools that participate in the federal School Breakfast Program.

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The CEP allows school districts in low-income areas to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications, the USDA's website states. Connecticut school districts eligible to provide free meals to all of their students through the CEP for the current school year include New Haven, West Haven, East Haven, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Stamford, Danbury, Torrington, Middletown, Hartford, East Hartford, Manchester, according to state Department of Education data.

Additionally, seven school districts and three educational agencies only offered free meals to students at some of their schools during 2023-2024 because they were not eligible to participate in the CEP district wide, data shows. These districts include Hamden, Greenwich, Glastonbury, Stafford and Windsor Locks.

Nolan said providing free meals for all removes the stigma that students who receive free or reduced-price meals can be subjected to under the state's current system. Lunch participation among those students, she added, actually has decreased since the state went away from universal free meals.

"One of the reasons we fought so hard for free-meals-for-all was because free or reduced-price kids dont eat meals when they arent free to everybody," Nolan said. "When the meals were available to everybody ... there wasnt any stigma."

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Newtown Public Schools had amassed $20,211in student meal debt, Superintendent Christopher Melillo said. About 3,600 students in Newtown do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Melillo said offering no-cost meals to all students would be "difficult to fit into a sustainable budget," as the district already is dealing with "high increases due to benefits, contractual obligations and learning loss."

Studies show that students who participate in school breakfast programs have better academic performance, behavior and attendance, as well as decreased tardiness, according to the Food Research and Action Center. School officials said they notice similar results from students who participate in school lunch programs.

"Unfortunately for many of our families, their main, stable food comes from schools," said Joseph Macary, Vernon's superintendent. "If we want students to learn, there are certain physiological things we need to do, and one of them is to be well fed. There's so much research on the brain which shows that if it's not well fed, well-maintained, and healthy, you're not going to learn."

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Macary said Vernon students did not owe any money in unpaid meal dues. Three of the district's seven schools provide free breakfast and lunch to all students through the federal Community Eligibility Provision, though state data shows Vernon is eligible to participate in the CEP district-wide.

New Milford Public Schools has been providing free breakfast and lunch to all students this school year, including the 67 percent who do not qualify for it, Superintendent Janet Parlato said. This was made possible, she said, through the state Department of Education's Paid Lunch Equity Allowance, an exemption that allows districts to use excess funds in their nonprofit school food service accounts to offer no-cost meals to students who are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

In Greenwich, Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones said the district has built funds into its budget to cover any meal debt owed by families who do not qualify for free or reduced-price lunch but still fall below the poverty line.

The district also works with its community partners, such as United Way of Connecticut, to help families who are struggling to pay.

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The greatest challenge is that the federal guidelines are not adequate to meet the needs across the country, Jones said. To utilize the same income guidelines for a place like Greenwich versus a low cost-of-living area in another state is not reasonable. The guidelines need to be addressed at the federal level.

Many school officials and food security advocates said these guidelines don't reflect the high cost of living in Connecticut. They pointed to the many struggling families who are unable to qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the current federal income eligibility guidelines as a reason for the rise.

Byars said she believes Amity's rise in student meal debt could have resulted because "there is a population that does not qualify for federal free/reduced meals who still struggle just above that threshold with food insecurity."

To qualify for a free or reduced-price meal during the current school year, a family of four members must earn a gross annual income of $55,500 or less, according to guidelines from the USDA, which administers the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program.

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But a September 2023 report from the United Way of Connecticut found that, for 2021, a family of four needed to earn about $126,000 to meet the cost of basic expenses in Connecticut.

"There is a huge gap of families who cant afford the school meals but theyre not getting them," Nolan said.

In testimony submitted to the state Department of Education, Solan, Cheshire's superintendent, said that the income requirements for free and reduced-price meals were "not adjusted for regional cost differences" and were "simply way too low" for Connecticut families.

"Rather than simply providing free breakfast for all as some have advocated, we respectfully request that you consider a substantial increase in the income threshold for Connecticut to ensure that students who need access to free or reduced-price meals have it," Solan wrote.

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Some school officials in Connecticut have expressed frustration over their inability to collect mounting dues from students and their families, according to Solan.

Shelton Public Schools Superintendent Ken Saranich recently proposed retaining a collections agency to recoup nearly $20,000 in student lunch debt. He also recommended that the city Board of Education suspend any child whose family owes more than $100 from extracurricular activities, such as field trips or dances, until the deficit is paid in full.

Nolan, though, said that Saranich's suggestion amounted to "lunch-shaming" and was illegal under state law.

"Is that really something that kids are supposed to be responsible for?" Nolan said. "To me, its insane. Why are we making the kids responsible for the parents inability to pay for the meals?"

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A bill passed by the state legislature in 2021 prohibited schools from publicly identifying or shaming a child for unpaid meal charges, including refusing to serve the child a meal, providing the child with an alternative meal option or taking any other disciplinary actions against them.

Kristina Roberge, the food service coordinator at Groton Public Schools, said she worried that the large sum owed to the district in student meal debt could constrain the types of services it is able to provide. As of Monday, Groton schools had a negative meal balance of roughly $33,000, which Roberge called "definitely higher than normal."

"These funds ... have to come out of the district's budget, which means the district has less for other things," Roberge said, adding it could be positions or field trips.

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Roberge also serves as the president of the SNACT, whose members have called on the state legislature to continue providing universal free meals to students. In a meeting with U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, in Washington D.C. last week, Roberge said she stressed the importance of a free-meals-for-all approach.
Regulatory News:

ACTICOR BIOTECH (FR0014005OJ5 ALACT) (Paris:ALACT), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing glenzocimab, an innovative drug for the treatment of cardiovascular emergencies, today discloses the total number of voting rights and shares as of February 29, 2024 (pursuant to Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the General Regulation of the French Financial Markets Authority).

Listing Place: Euronext Growth Paris

ISIN Code: FR0014005OJ5

Web site: acticor-biotech.com

Date Number of shares making up the share capital Theoretical number of voting rights (1) Number of voting rights excluding shares stripped of voting rights (2) February 29, 2024 13.189.141 13.189.141 13.140.554

(1) In accordance with Article 223-111 of the AMF's General Regulation, this number of shares is calculated based on all shares carrying the right to vote, including those stripped of voting rights.

(2) The actual voting rights correspond to the total number of voting rights that can be exercised in a general meeting. They are calculated on the basis of the total number of voting rights attached to the total number of shares minus the shares without voting rights.

About ACTICOR BIOTECH

Acticor Biotech is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, a spin-off from INSERM (the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research), which is aiming to develop an innovative treatment for cardiovascular emergencies, including ischemic stroke.

The positive results of the phase 1b/2a study, ACTIMIS, published in January 2024 in the Lancet Neurology (link to the publication), confirmed the safety profile of glenzocimab and showed a reduction in mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage in the glenzocimab-treated group of stroke patients. These results were confirmed by a post-hoc analysis of brain imaging at 0 and 24 hours using artificial intelligence (Brainomix, UK). This independent analysis confirmed the reduction in the number and volume of intracerebral lesions in patients treated with glenzocimab. The efficacy of glenzocimab is now being analyzed in an international Phase 2/3 study, ACTISAVE, with clinical results expected in Q2 2024.

In July 2022, Acticor Biotech was granted "PRIME" status by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for glenzocimab in the treatment of stroke. This designation will allow the company to strengthen its interactions and obtain early dialogues with regulatory authorities.

Acticor Biotech is supported by a panel of European and international investors (Mediolanum farmaceutici, Karista, Go Capital, Newton Biocapital, CMS Medical Venture Investment (HK) Limited, A&B (HK) Limited, Anaxago, and the Armesa foundation). Acticor Biotech is listed on Euronext Growth Paris since November 2021 (ISIN: FR0014005OJ5 ALACT).

For more information, visit: www.acticor-biotech.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318985032/en/

Contacts:

ACTICOR BIOTECH

Gilles AVENARD, MD

CEO and Founder

gilles.avenard@acticor-biotech.com

T.: +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13



Sophie BINAY, PhD

General Manager and CSO

Sophie.binay@acticor-biotech.com

T.: +33 (0)6 76 23 38 13

NewCap

Mathilde BOHIN

Investor Relations

acticor@newcap.eu

T.: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 95

NewCap

Arthur ROUILLE

Media Relations

acticor@newcap.eu

T.: +33 (0)1 44 71 00 15
CHISINAU, Moldova, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Startup Moldova Summit 2024 , held on March 14, 2024, emerged as a cristical point in Moldova's technological landscape, hosting over 500 attendees and 30 venture capitalists and angel investors. Facilitating more than 350 networking sessions with startups, the summit provided an interactive forum for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and networking. Esteemed figures, including President Maia Sandu and Deputy Prime Minister Dumitru Alaiba, alongside industry experts, convened to explore avenues for fostering innovation and economic expansion within Moldova's tech sector.

President Maia Sandu affirmed, "[Startups] are not just building businesses, but transforming our country into that modern European state awaited by our entire society". The Government of Moldova is actively streamlining administrative processes to strengthen a conducive business environment, a pivotal step in our journey towards digital transformation and bolstering Moldova's entrepreneurial ecosystem within the European integration framework.

The startup community in Moldova burgeons, with over 250 companies fostering innovative solutions across sectors such as Healthtech, EdTech, FinTech, MarTech, E-commerce, PropTech, and more. In the past two years alone, 25 Moldovan startups have secured over 15 million USD in funding from angel investors and venture capital funds. These achievements are a testament to recent reforms in legal, trade, and labor liberalization, coupled with the digitization of our economy. Moldova aspires to achieve a 100% "digital state" rate, with unique tech-enabling frameworks like the Moldova Innovation Technology Park , offering entrepreneurs a single 7% tax incentive, extended until 2035.

Olga Melniciuc, Executive Director at Startup Moldova, envisions, "Through innovation and collaboration, we aim to transform Moldova into a fertile ground for startups, where bold ideas meet the necessary resources to grow and thrive."

The summit spotlighted Moldova's trajectory as a growing tech hub in Central and Eastern Europe. Keynote speaker Dave Parker shared insights on prudent decision-making and agile adaptation in the entrepreneurial journey, resonating with attendees. Additionally, success stories from startup founders like Mihaela Kawinska ( Bloomcoding ), Viorica Vanica ( SelfTalk ), and Nicolae Guzun ( Sumboard ) inspired aspiring innovators.

Industry leaders such as Kristina Poustovan of Google Romania and Andreas Flodstrom of Beetroot emphasized technology's transformative potential in driving societal progress and global impact, further solidifying Moldova's standing in the global tech arena.

The Startup Moldova Summit 2024 stands as a guide of inspiration, uniting people involved to propel Moldova towards a future defined by technological excellence and entrepreneurial dynamism.

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LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / The Food Hog is excited to announce the launch of a unique culinary competition, The Food Hog Global Culinary Challenge, a competition that intersects tradition and contemporary culinary art. This challenge is a quest for the next great international dish through an exploration of re-invented authentic dishes (through the lens of other cuisines) from around the world.

Challenge Details

Participants are tasked with selecting an authentic dish from any culture and creatively combining it with elements from different cuisines and/or incorporating modern cooking techniques. The aim is to create a dish that maintains the essence and authenticity while introducing an innovative twist that reflects the melting pot of modern global culinary practices.

The Food Hog encourages submissions that:

Showcase Culinary Creativity: Entry dishes should blend traditional and modern elements in a way that showcases culinary creativity but is also respectful to the local culture and traditions whose cuisine it represents.

Highlight Cultural Significance: Dishes should come with a story, including but not limited to the cultural background of the original authentic dish as well as the inspiration behind its modern counterpart.

Demonstrate Technical Skill: Whether it's through the use of contemporary cooking techniques, quirky ingredient combinations, or inventive presentation, entries should display at least some extent of culinary expertise.

Judging and Prizes

A panel of culinary experts from The Food Hog, including personalities like Daniel Kiteski and Dirk James, will judge entries based on creativity, authenticity, flavor, and the story behind each dish??. The winner will receive:

Feature on The Food Hog: An in-depth feature story, including a video interview discussing the winner's culinary journey and the inspiration behind the winning dish.

A Culinary Expedition: An all-expenses-paid culinary tour to a destination of the winner's choice renowned for its food culture (i.e. Florence, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Copenhagen, etc.).

Collaboration Opportunities: A chance to collaborate with The Food Hog on a series of articles or videos, sharing their culinary expertise and insights with a global audience.

The Food Hog Global Culinary Challenge is The Food Hog's contribution to global culinary and cultural diversity as well as the innovative spirit of modern cuisine. It invites participants to contribute to a culinary dialogue between the past and the present, and to translate it to an universal language of food that unites culinary enthusiasts from around the globe.

About The Food Hog

The Food Hog is a culinary platform designed to introduce food enthusiasts to authentic recipes, diverse flavors, exotic dishes, and quirky culinary tales from around the world through engaging storytelling that unites individuals through their love for food. The Food Hog has offered an abundance of culinary experiences from around the globe, from Indian street food delicacies and quirky, exotic to less-known cuisines (i.e. Balkan Cuisines, Central Asian cuisines, etc.) and straight-out bizarre delicacies most people probably wouldn't try, the platform showcases a wide array of recipes, reviews, and cultural insights.

For more information about The Food Hog and their culinary explorations, please visit their website .

Media Contact

Organization: The Food Hog

Contact Person: Daniel Kiteski

Website: https://thefoodhog.com/

Email: media@passportsymphony.com

City: Ljubljana

Country: Slovenia

SOURCE: The Food Hog

View the original press release on accesswire.com
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jeddah Historic District today launches the restoration and regeneration of three historic properties in Al Balad into luxury hotels, an area of great historical and cultural significance on the West Coast of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with UNESCO heritage protection. The hotels are part of Jeddah Historic District, a programme which has paved the way in the regeneration of the old town of Al Balad. Named House of Jokhdar, Kedwan and Al Rayess, each hotel has been carefully reinvigorated with the work of historians and the knowledge of locals, utilising local artists, carpenters and architects as well as locally sourced products. The three properties thoughtfully reflect their original layout and design whilst offering luxurious and effortlessly chic modernity.

House of Jokhdar

Comprising of nine light and airy rooms and suites, including the Royal Suite, Dar Neem Suite and Deluxe Suite, the unique hotel has been thoughtfully designed to provide a haven of tranquillity amid the vibrant bustling streets of Al Balad. The luxury hotel has a stunning roof terrace for guests' exclusive use, with stunning views of the historic centre.

Al Rayess

With six suites and rooms, Beit Al Rayess' grandeur is evoked through its impressively high ceilings. Matching its surroundings, the boutique hotel focuses on bridging the gap between old and new, tradition and luxury. Whilst evoking tradition, the amenities and facilities provide modern comforts for guests to feel at home during their stay.

Kedwan

A blend of heritage and contemporary, Beit Kedwan boasts two guestrooms and can also be hired in its entirety, alongside multiple living spaces where traditional Arabian design merges with modern comfort. Beit Kedwan also has an exclusive rooftop terrace for guest use, offering an enclosed space with views of the Arabian skyline where visitors can enjoy their meals.

Each property offers a set menu for both lunch and breakfast at one centralised restaurant for all three properties, where locals and visitors can also enjoy the delicious local flavours.

All guests of the properties will be enveloped in the heritage and history of the area, greeted with coffee and rose-infused tea upon arrival and given the opportunity to personalise their visit ahead of time. Everything from the chocolates in their airport transfer to the scent of incense in their room is personalised, offering guests a home away from home. All guests are also offered complimentary airport transfers on arrival and departure.

The properties are part of a wider restoration of a collection of heritage properties and represent the first 17 keys to open of a further 165 keys that will belong to 34 heritage properties that will open by 2027.

Room rates begin at 2,200 SAR (approx. 463) across all properties, excluding breakfast.

Visit here for more information.

For imagery, see here.

Getting there

Fly direct to Jeddah from London Gatwick in 5 hours and 50 minutes with Saudia.

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PROPEL E Series Advances Sustainability and Performance, Promoting Better Efficiency and Increased Durability For Electric Vehicle and High-Performance Tire Formulations

Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) today announced the global launch of its new PROPEL E8 engineered reinforcing carbon black designed to provide superior tread durability at low rolling resistance for high-performance tire tread applications. This new product addresses the unique challenges posed by the heavier weight and higher torque of electric vehicles (EVs) compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The PROPEL E8 grade complements Cabot's existing solutions within the PROPEL E series, which are also suitable for use in high-performance tires.

As the global mobility landscape shifts to electric, the demand for more robust and efficient tires has become evident. Automotive tire manufacturers are looking for innovative solutions that improve the efficiency of EV tires and enable a longer lifespan. The increased weight and higher torque of EVs have shown to increase tire wear by up to 30%* in comparison to its ICE counterparts. As such, this is generating a rise in end-of-life tires (EOLTs) over the lifespan of an EV as well as higher total cost of ownership. Cabot's PROPEL E8 solution is designed to address such challenges by delivering low rolling resistance with increased tread durability to improve the tire lifespan, maximize range and reduce overall tire waste.

The treads of EV tires require a performance balance difficult to meet with traditional, high surface area ASTM carbon blacks. The PROPEL E8 solution enables better rolling resistance when compared to ASTM N200 and N100 carbon black grades. It also provides high stiffness and modulus with abrasion resistance equal to ASTM N100 series carbon black.

"At Cabot, we recognize the critical role we have in the rapidly changing mobility landscape and how our product portfolio connects to the needs of the EV industry," said Aatif Misbah, vice president and general manager, Sustainable Solutions, Reinforcement Materials segment. "Our PROPEL E portfolio, including our new PROPEL E8 solution, makes us well positioned to support EV tire manufacturers with their various formulation needs as the electrification of vehicle fleets continues to progress at a global scale. Not only do our PROPEL E solutions deliver performance benefits, but by extending tire lifespan, our products are helping to reduce waste and the need for frequent tire replacements, thereby contributing to a more sustainable future."

The PROPEL E8 grade complements the other solutions in its PROPEL E portfolio including grades PROPEL E3, PROPEL E6 and PROPEL E7, which can also deliver performance and sustainability benefits for various high-performance tire formulations. Cabot's PROPEL E series is comprised of high surface area, medium structure reinforcing carbon blacks specifically engineered to increase the overall sustainability of the tire value chain, enabling tread formulators to deliver tires with low rolling resistance for maximum range while enhancing tread durability to extend tire life span, resulting in fewer EOLTs. In addition, PROPEL E3 carbon black considerably reduces hysteresis enabling low rolling resistance, which is a critical design consideration for EV tires to maximize range.

For more information about Cabot's comprehensive suite of products for EV tires and high-performance tire tread applications, visit cabotcorp.com/tire. Furthermore, you can learn more by visiting the Cabot booth C310 at Tire Technology Expo from March 19-21, 2024, in Deutsche Messe, Hannover, Germany.

ABOUT CABOT CORPORATION

Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is a leading provider of reinforcing carbons, specialty carbons, battery materials, engineered elastomer composites, inkjet colorants, masterbatches and conductive compounds, fumed metal oxides and aerogel. For more information on Cabot, please visit the company's website at cabotcorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in the press release regarding Cabot's business that are not historical facts are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.

*Source: PCMag: The Unexpected Problem With EVs: They 'Tire' Quickly

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318539027/en/

Contacts:

Emily Moran

Corporate Communications

emily.moran@cabotcorp.com

(617) 460-4517

Steve Delahunt

Investor Relations

steve.delahunt@cabotcorp.com

(617) 342-6255
Der kostenlose Dividenden-Report zeigt ganz genau, wo Sie in diesem Jahr zuschlagen konnen. Das sind die Favoriten von Borsenprofi Dr. Dennis Riedl

WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Kroger Co. (KR) Monday said it has agreed to the sale of its specialty pharmacy business to CarelonRx, a subsidiary of Elevance Health. Colleen Lindholz, President of Kroger Health, said, 'As part of our regular review of assets, it became clear that our strong specialty pharmacy business unit will better meet its full potential outside of our business. One of the most important considerations was continued operations to ensure minimal disruption to our associates and patients.' The retailer's specialty pharmacy serves patients with chronic illness that requires complex care. Skilled clinicians and superior therapy programs allow patients and prescribers to benefit from education and resources, counseling, side effect management, financial assistance, personalized care and administrative expertise. Kroger Specialty Pharmacy is separate from other Kroger Family of Pharmacies, including in-store retail pharmacies and The Little Clinics, and therefore in-store retail pharmacies and The Little Clinics are not included in this transaction. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2024. It is not expected to have an impact on Kroger's 2024 guidance. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Investment builds on an organic tripling of recurring revenue in 5 years to further extend the company's leadership position in intelligent engineering management

PORTLAND, OR AND LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Jama Software, an industry leading requirements management and traceability solution provider, announced today that Francisco Partners has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Company from shareholders including Insight Partners and Madrona Ventures for $1.2 billion. Marc Osofsky, Jama Software CEO, will personally reinvest and continue to lead the company.

"We are thrilled to work with Francisco Partners and leverage their expertise as we further accelerate our rapid expansion across enterprises, industries and continents," said Marc Osofsky, CEO, Jama Software. "We thank Insight Partners, who have been tremendous supporters of Jama Software's growth over the past six years."

"The engineering management market is in the early stages of a fundamental transformation which Jama Software is at the forefront of. We are ecstatic to be partnering with Marc and his team in continuing to execute on their industry-leading vision and strategy," said Petri Oksanen and Mario Razzini, Partners at Francisco Partners.

Jama Software has rapidly become a market leader in Requirements Management & Traceability and leads the market in customer satisfaction ratings, NPS scores, SaaS scale, security and SOC2 compliance, usability, performance, breadth and depth of integrations, measured process improvement, benchmarking, NLP and more. Jama Software helps companies intelligently improve their development process to reduce defects, delays, cost overruns and recalls.

"We're delighted to have collaborated closely with Marc and the Jama Software team as they've navigated significant growth and emerged as a market leader," said Richard Wells, Managing Director at Insight Partners. "As Jama Software embarks on their exciting new chapter of expansion and innovation, this acquisition by Francisco Partners reflects Jama Software's success and the Company's ability to consistently deliver exceptional value to customers worldwide."

The investment by Francisco Partners is subject to customary closing conditions.

Evercore acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Jama Software and Insight Partners and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP acted as legal advisor. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as financial advisor to Francisco Partners and Paul Hastings LLP acted as legal advisor.

_________________________________

ABOUT FRANCISCO PARTNERS

Francisco Partners is a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology and technology-enabled businesses. Since its launch nearly 25 years ago, Francisco Partners has invested in more than 400 technology companies, making it one of the most active and longstanding investors in the technology industry. With approximately $45 billion in capital raised to date, the firm invests in opportunities where its deep sectoral knowledge and operational expertise can help companies realize their full potential. For more information on Francisco Partners, please visit www.franciscopartners.com.

ABOUT INSIGHT PARTNERS

Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of December 31, 2023, the firm has over $80B in regulatory assets under management. Insight Partners has invested in more than 800 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has offices in London, Tel Aviv, and the Bay Area. Insight's mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with tailored, hands-on software expertise along their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on X @insightpartners.

ABOUT JAMA SOFTWARE

Jama Software is focused on maximizing innovation success in multidisciplinary engineering organizations. Numerous firsts for humanity in fields such as fuel cells, electrification, space, software-defined vehicles, surgical robotics, and more all rely on Jama Connect requirements management software to minimize the risk of defects, rework, cost overruns, and recalls. Using Jama Connect, engineering organizations can now intelligently manage the development process by leveraging Live Traceability across best-of-breed tools to measurably improve outcomes. Our rapidly growing customer base spans the automotive, medical device, life sciences, semiconductor, aerospace & defense, industrial manufacturing, consumer electronics, financial services, and insurance industries.

For more information about Jama Connect services, please visit https://www.jamasoftware.com/

_________________________________

Media Contact:

Karrie Sundbom

Senior Director, Corporate Marketing, Jama Software

marketing@jamasoftware.com

SOURCE: Jama Software

View the original press release on accesswire.com
CryoLogyx, a University of Warwick (UK) spinout redefining cell technology through cryopreservation, closed a 500k seed funding round.

Backers included private UK business angels and the Wider Oxford Technology Angel Network (WOTAN), which includes previous investors Oxford Technology Management.

The funding will be used to support commercialization of the companys cryopreserved cell technology, scale up production of its assay-ready cells, and expand its reach in the UK and Europe.

Spun out from the University of Warwick in 2020 by CEO Dr Tom Congdon and CSO Prof Matt Gibson, who developed a cryopreservation method based on over a decade of research, CryoLogyx provides assay-ready, cryopreserved cells conveniently plated in a variety of formats and optimized for in vitro research. Its proprietary macromolecule cryoprotectant technology, Cryoshield, reduces post-thaw damage to allow for direct use of viable cells from the freezer in less than 24 hours.

CryoLogyxs range of frozen, ready-to-use adherent cell lines offers scientists an efficient, reliable and cost-effective solution with enhanced reproducibility. This could help to support the development of new screening technologies and automation in drug discovery, as well as potential future diagnostic and cell therapy applications. Most recently, the ready-to-use cells enabled scientists at the Warwick Antimicrobial Screening Service to deliver a typical four-week project in four days.

The latest funding follows earlier investment from Oxford Technology Management and private investors, alongside a 300K grant from Innovate UK in 2021. It will allow CryoLogyx to expand its team and scale production of its pioneering cell-based assays to meet increasing demand from the UK and European markets. It will also support the companys R&D program, allowing it to accelerate the development and commercialization of new products and services, broadening its offering to existing and prospective customers, and opening up opportunities for global partnerships.

FinSMEs

18/03/2024
Crypto Rogue Games, an Umea, Sweden and Tallinn, Estonia-based game studio, closed a $1.5m seed funding round.

Backers included Merit Circle, Avalanche, SNZ, Coinfund, Lyrik Ventures, Devmons and Bryan Pellegrino, CEO and co-founder of Layer Zero.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate and expand the development of its upcoming hack n slash Action RPG called Crystals of Naramunz.

Crystals of Naramunz (CoN) is an upcoming free-to-play hack n slash loot-driven action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic steampunk world centuries after a global disaster known as The Nexus. Players take on the role of different heroes and explore a world filled with ruins, dungeons and powerful relics. Inspired by Diablo and Path of Exile, Crystals of Naramunz offers an exciting gaming experience with high replayability due to its deep itemization, power progression, seasonal resets and multiplayer features. Currently in development, the Closed Beta is aimed for June this year.

FinSMEs

18/03/2024
Vawlt, a Lisbon, Portugal-based long-term data storage startup, closed a 2.15m funding round.

Backers included Lince Capital, Basinghall Partners, and Beta Capital and existing investors Armilar Venture Partners and Shilling VC, alongside Carlos Brazao and Alain Fiocco.

The company intends to use the funds to expand the team and accelerate product innovation and intensify support for its global Channel Partner Network.

Founded in 2018 and led by Ricardo Mendes, CEO, Vawlt accelerates and secures the transition to the cloud world facilitating solid, long-term data storage strategies.

At the core of the solution is the Supercloud concept. By distributing data across multiple clouds or on-premises nodes simultaneously, the company creates a resilient, secure, and efficient storage environment. The technology ensures data availability even in the event of cloud outages or security threats, such as ransomware attacks.

FinSMEs

18/03/2024
FILE - In this Aug. 22, 2018 file photo, provided by NASA, Hurricane Lane approaches Hawaii as seen from the International Space Station. NASA/AP NASA astronaut and Expedition 70 Flight Engineer Loral O'Hara removes space physics research hardware from inside the Destiny laboratory module's Microgravity Science Glovebox aboard the International Space Station. NASA (11/6/2023) --- A preflight image of the Janus base nano-matrix (JBNm) enabled cartilage tissue chip. The Compartment Cartilage Tissue Construct investigation uses biological materials that mimic DNA to develop a scaffold for regenerating cartilage tissues and tests the effect of a specific RNA on cartilage growth in space. Image courtesy of the University of Connecticut. UConn jsc2021e007776 (2/5/2021) --- Researchers move the CubeLab containing a new LambdaVision study, which evaluates a manufacturing system that uses a light-activated protein that replaces the function of damaged cells in the eye in an artificial retina...Credits: LambdaVision UConn

Three University of Connecticut science teams are reaching for the stars, sending medical experiments up to the International Space Station with the hope theyll someday help patients back here on terra firma.

Were not conducting research to improve astronaut health, said Kristin Kopperud, program director for biological science on the space station, noting that all of the experiments advance medical treatments. Our main goal is to benefit people here on Earth.

All three experiments  which include nanoparticles that could cure osteoarthritis, the manufacture of an artificial retina, and diagnosing the best treatment for a tumor on a microchip  need the element of microgravity to succeed, the researchers said. One is already onboard. The other two will launch at the end of March.

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Extremely complex procedures are tricky in the limited confines of the space station, Kopperud said.. All must be in small packages as bulky experiments are hard to fit on rockets. But more importantly, there needs to be a reason why an experiment needs to go to space. Its an expensive journey, and in such tight quarters, its important that whatever is being done in outer-space cant be replicated on Earth, she said.

Gravity affects a myriad of processes on Earth so a lot of studies cant be done here on land, Kopperud said. On Earth gravity puts pressure on joints, for example, and that stimulates those joints to renew their cells, turnover cells and maintain continued growth. One of the experiments from UConn will look at delivering drugs to cartilage cells to help treat and possibly reverse osteoarthritis. On Earth those cells are constantly growing. In space you can better isolate the drugs that enhance that growth.

The weightlessness of the heavens is also essential for some of the delicate procedures to be done on the space station.

The way we manufacture our artificial retina is through a process called electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition, said Nicole Wagner, CEO of Farmington-based LambdaVision. The process requires settling 200 microscopic layers of protein into a filmy matrix. Its not an impossible process to do terrestrially, its just very inefficient. Theres a lot of waste.

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Wagner got her doctorate at UConn, and her research for that degree spun out into the LambdaVision startup. The artificial retinas use light-sensitive proteins to replace the rod and cone cells that the eye loses from retinitis pigmentosa, a rare inherited degenerative eye disease where symptoms typically surface in childhood. The light-sensing proteins are embedded in a fine film of the protein scaffold. Minor imperfections in the film can make it unusable, and Earths strong gravitational pull can cause these imperfections to form during the manufacturing process, Wagner said.

In space, Wagner said, limited gravity allows the material to form evenly, reducing imperfections, and making more usable material.

We can make a lot of our thin films in a very small box, said Wagner. Our technology could be one of the first to be manufactured on a space station that could benefit people on Earth.

This is Wagners ninth time sending her retina manufacturing process to the space station. Her most recent launch occurred in January and will return in April.

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Mari Anne Snow, co-founder of Boston-based Eascra Biotech, has a similar problem with Earths gravity. Her company makes protein particles that can deliver drugs to specific tissues.

Right now, theyre working on delivering drugs into cartilage to treat osteoarthritis. Many companies had explored using lipid nanoparticles, the delivery mechanism used in the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. But their reliance on extremely cold temperature made their usefulness limited, Snow said.

Lipid nanoparticles have some significant difficulties, said Snow of its temperature sensitivity. Because of that we thought it was time to come up with a better option.

The technology was developed by Escara co-founder and UConn biomedical engineering professor Yupeng Chen.

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The particles can be targeted at different tissue types using slightly different formulas. The particles stack together to make a tube that brings the medicine into the cell, or tissue, that needs to be healed. Dubbed the Janus nanoparticle for the two-faced Roman god of beginnings, doors and gateways, the particles form better and more evenly in the absence of strong gravity, allowing for a tight binding of material that can be kept stable in ambient temperatures for up to two months, Snow said.

We can bring those nanostructures back down (from space) and we can use that for advanced testing, said Snow. And we can start to become more interesting to pharmaceutical companies or biotech companies or gene editing companies that need a delivery system.

The final UConn spin-off company headed to space is Encapsulate, a biotech startup in Farmington that makes a tiny, microchip-sized laboratory that can be used to experiment on cancer cells. COO Leila Daneshmandi said using this technology allows someone to test different drugs on a patients specific cancer cells.

We develop automated systems that can take a cancer patients cells, grow them outside the body and test all the possible chemotherapy drugs to determine which one is most effective for the patient, said Daneshmandi.

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To get optimal results, the test needed to replicate the 3D structure of a growing tumor. In a culture dish on Earth, cancer cells lie flat. In space, cancer cells grow in their normal 3D tumor shape.

You dont want to have cells behaving a completely different way than they would in the body, said Daneshmandi. You cant really draw a comparison.

Encapsulate CEO Armin Rad said the goal is twofold: First make this technology work on Earth. Second, develop automated systems to mass-test cancer drugs in space for patients and cancer drug developers.

Youd have a large biobank, ship it all up there at once and then over time (automatically) perform the studies, said Rad, adding that this kind of space-based diagnostic and experiment work would be done on slow-growing cancers.

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Rad went on to say that he felt that the situation at UConn was special. All three of these companies are based in the same building or spun off of UConn research. There are currently only 10 biotech startups regularly going to the space station to work with NASA.
Talking about the inclusivity of fashion and managing to bring people from different walks of life together for the last 15 years, Urvashi reveals, You happen to make beautiful friendships and new friendships. Amongst its distinguished muses were veteran actor Ratna Pathak Shah , renowned artist Santanu Hazarika, talented actors Tillotama Shome, Rasika Duggal, Shweta Tripathi, Mallika Dua, Kaustav, and creative-extraordinaries like Vibha Galhotra, Gurjeet Singh, Faraz Ansari and Suvir Saran to name a few.

At the recently held Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI 2024, designer Urvashi Kaur and actor Tillotama Shome spoke exclusively to Firstposts Lachmi Deb Roy about inclusivity of fashion, the relationship Urvashi has built with the people that have been walking the ramp for her in the last 15 years, and much more.

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Urvashi Kaur, the visionary force behind a decade and a half of groundbreaking fashion, commemorated her 15-year journey with a spectacular showcase at Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI. The showcase, titled Voices of Urvashi Kaur, was a testament to the brands effortless subversion of societal-constructs and unwavering commitment to inclusivity, and creative disruption.

While talking about the connection she builds with people that walk the ramp for her at the Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI 2024, Urvashi Kaur said, Just love to me, them accepting me and trusting my vision when I was a nobody. Truly, truly just saying yes and being my first. Tillotama has been that for me. Those who walk the ramp for her are not models or stars, but people from different walks of life.

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Tillotama adds, And Urvashi has been that for me. Im an actor, not a fashionista. I dont identify with any particular trend or I dont really bother about how many Instagram followers or the whole pressure to be visible. And it didnt matter to her either. It mattered to her who I was, It mattered to me who she was. She comes from an army background, my father comes from an air force background. We work hard to be here, And its a friendship really, based on that kind of care.

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Talking about the inclusivity of fashion and managing to bring people from different walks of life together for the last 15 years, Urvashi reveals, You happen to make beautiful friendships and new friendships. Shantanu, I only met him once for maybe half an hour, and Faraaz and I have never, other than that, half an hour, 1 hour at an evening, and he just, reached out and he knew Im gracing this wonderful event. He asked if he could wear me. This is the magic that people, just Just by how our energies are. I think everything is energy, vibration. Thats what the music was also meant to do, it was meant to get you to a place of just losing yourself. Even the artist lost himself. He was like, I didnt even know that the time went by and we didnt want it to be like. We wanted people to just notice because usually everything is so hyped. Right? So when a musical, theatrical performance, and it was performative, but it was real, it was real. We didnt want them to do anything that was fake or just to create drama.

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She adds, No, it was, you want to walk, you walk, you want to sit, you sit, you want to do whatever. We wanted to engage with the audience because the idea is usually a seating is further away. We want people not to come close to the performance so you cant really be a part of it. We wanted you to be a part of it. So that was.

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The show celebrated the collective impact of its multitude of visionaries and changemakers who have shaped not just the brands narrative but pioneered large scale impact across industries. Through this experiential performance, Urvashi Kaurs muses took center stage, clad in timeless silhouettes that embodied the labels ethos of authenticity and individuality. Transcending conventional norms, the show embraced and celebrated the mastery of Kaurs eco-design.

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Ratna Pathak at the Lakme Fashion Week

Amongst its distinguished muses were veteran actor Ratna Pathak Shah , renowned artist Santanu Hazarika, talented actors Tillotama Shome, Rasika Duggal, Shweta Tripathi, Mallika Dua, Kaustav, and creative-extraordinaries like Vibha Galhotra, Gurjeet Singh, Faraz Ansari and Suvir Saran to name a few. Stalwarts in their own right, they symbolized the power of the collective and the might of personal expression. Each muses ensemble was meticulously curated and styled to serve as a tactile extension of their own personal identity.
In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Khan opened up on seeing the era of 1942 being recreated right in front of her that left her in awe, dabbling with different roles, and how the voice of the people can make history and not just impact if used correctly

Sara Ali Khans Ae Watan Mere Watan is all set to release on Amazon Prime Video IN on March 21. She plays a character inspired by freedom fighter Usha Mehta who retaliated against the British Rule during the 1942 Quit India Movement by opening an underground radio station. She used her voice as a tool that later became a threat to the British Raj.

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Sara in Ae Watan Mere Watan will be seen playing a strong character who stood for the freedom of India with a new approach. The trailer is proof that, its going to be a film that will give this actress a shade of her education to relish in her profession. That is the reason she is able to develop a personal connection with the character. She was very keen on playing this part in the film as the story of the film is based on the Indian history that Sara has always been a student of.

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Khan opened up on seeing the era of 1942 being recreated right in front of her that left her in awe, dabbling with different roles and worlds like Netflixs Murder Mubarak , Gaslight, and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, and how the voice of the people can make history and not just impact if used correctly.

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Edited excepts from the interview:

Back in 1985, Amrita Singh and Amitabh Bachchan came together for Mard, a film that was set against the backdrop of the British Raj. 39 years later, its your turn to retaliate against the British regime. How much do you feel cinema has evolved in these 39 years?

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I think its changing quite often. I think that from whatever I understand about it, I think that the audiences are getting more and more accepting of different kinds of content. You just told me a minute ago before this interview started that you liked me in Gaslight. Thats a new kind of film for somebody like me to venture into. Zara Hatke is a different kind of film. Murder Mubarak is totally different to Ae Watan Mere Watan . So I have named you in the past one year, different kinds of films. So in the past 39 years, I dont even know where to start from. But I honestly think cinema is a representation somewhere to some degree of what the audience is want. And I think that were finally reaching a stage where a story of a woman, a story of bravery, a story of sacrifice, a story of national pride that I think deserves to be told is not just a story of 1942. Its a story that echoes relevance I think over the past 1942, including the 39 years that youre talking about. So what I like about this film actually the most is the timeless nature. And what I think is the potent ability to inspire. Thats just innate in this film that I think will truly stand the test of time.

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They say a pen is mightier than a sword, but in this case, we see a radio taking on the brutality of the British regime. Do you feel the voice of the people, if used correctly, it can actually make history and not just impact?

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100%. And I think that the main important function of the radio was to bring those voices together. There were many voices, anti -British Raj, but how do you galvanize them? How do you get them together? How do you align that kind of communication? And the medium of that became the radio, which is an idea that Usha just had because her father, in the film, is a judge. And he is listening to radio, sometimes speeches of Churchill, sometimes about World War II. They were talking about the Japanese fleet. So, Usha was talking about that. So, for us today, we take this kind of communication for granted. Im sitting here, maybe somebody there is watching a reel that I posted two minutes ago. And nobody is even understanding that its wild. But at that time it was. So I think thats very interesting, the way she uses the novel idea of radio to be able to communicate and help align thought processes that were very prevalent but not aligned.

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As an actor, when you saw the world of pre -independent era being recreated right in front of you, were you in awe?

Not just as an actor, I think as a history student more than an actor. I mean, it was impeccable, the world, the scale with which I think Amazon and Dharmatic have come together with this film. Its beyond what I expected. I really, really did not think that it would. I mean, even when I was shooting the Gwalior Maidaan tank scene and it was really hot and I was like, oh my God, Im physically exhausted, Im depleted. But then when I see that shot of myself picking up the flag, saying, Karo ya Maro, I get goosebumps on my own about myself and Im not one of those vain kind of people. Im like the queen of self -deprecation. So if I am feeling that way, weve done something correct. The radio, the world, the characters, Gandhiji, everything is so real that I think it was very important actually. The emotions of this film, our emotions we cant understand today, the novelty of communication, the improbability of the idea of a radio, the fact that freedom is something we take for granted, its very difficult to transport ourselves actually back to that time. So these little, little things definitely helped.

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Watching the trailer, I saw a lot of curiosity in your eyes and I feel that it could be a blend of your characters rage for independence and your curiosity as an actor. Have you blended these both?

I tried. Theres no way I can compare the struggles, the stakes Usha Mehta or any freedom fighter faced in 1942. We all are free citizens and theres no way we can compare ourselves to the pre-independence times. But that spirit of Do or Die that you have is something I realized Sara has in her after playing this character inspired by Usha Mehta, which was lovely for me. You also sometimes dont know what your strength is till youre pushed to your limits, thats another thing Sara and Usha share. It has been five years and now its important for me to bring a film like this to all of you, because you all have given me unconditional love even when I didnt deserve it, but now I have to. And I think Im going to.

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What do you have to say about the world of social media we are living in? Do you feel it can be used as a tool to empower people but is also abused and misused?

Thats with anything. With great power comes great responsibility but with great power also comes tyranny. Its up to you to use the technology for its advantage. Today, I may be recognized by people who may or may not have seen my films because they have seen me on social media. And thats not a bad thing because that gives me reach, but it also leaves me open to criticism by thousands of negative people. I need to filter and channelize it.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attracted a lot of eyeballs back in 2020 when they made the decision of giving up their Royal title. Currently, the spotlight seems to be fading away

There was a time when all the flashbulbs focused on or wanted to focus on the Royal couple Prince Harry and Duchess Of Sussex Meghan Markle. Back in 2020, when they made the decision to give up their Royal title, the media and social media went nearly bonkers. Its been four years but right now, in the United States of America, the spotlight seems to be fading away for them.

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American Riviera Orchard

Markle recently took to Instagram to launch a lifestyle brand but the attention was few and far between.

Right from interviews in the press to a Netflix documentary to incessant articles around and even against them, maybe its the overdose of their content that seems to have done the damage for the couple. The one thats clearly hogging all the limelight is Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales. Right now, a lot of the attention is on Princess Kate. So much is going on with her and the household right now, New York-based showbiz commentator Asia Grace told GBN America.

On the occasion of Mothers Day, Princess of Wales Kate Middleton s family picture surfaced on social media and she admitted to editing it. Its no news she recently underwent an abdominal surgery and the concerns began pouring on social media. The first official photo of Kate, the Princess of Wales, since her abdominal surgery nearly two months ago was issued after weeks of speculation about her whereabouts.

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The photo issued Sunday of Kate in a chair surrounded by her three children was credited to her husband, William, Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, and was said to have been taken earlier in the week in Windsor.

Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months, Kate said on social media. Wishing everyone a Happy Mothers Day.

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The release of the photo followed weeks of gossip on social media about what had happened to Kate since she left a hospital Jan. 29 after a nearly two-week stay following planned surgery. She hadnt been seen publicly since Christmas Day.

The royal family has been under more scrutiny than usual in recent weeks, because both Kate and King Charles III cant carry out their usual public duties due to health problems.
Prime Videos upcoming film Roadhouse is generating buzz not only for its action-packed premise but also for the unique pairing of Hollywood heavyweight Jake Gyllenhaal and UFC champion Conor McGregor. Adapted from David Lee Henry and Hilary Henkins screenplay for Road House, this re-imagination of the 80s beloved hit features Jake Gyllenhaal portraying ex-UFC fighter Dalton. As Dalton assumes the role of a bouncer at a roadhouse in the Florida Keys, the narrative unfolds to reveal that this paradise is not all that it seems.

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Gyllenhaal expressed his admiration for McGregor saying, Conor is a legend, and I was grateful and humbled to work with him and do fight scenes with himand also equally terrified. We needed a character who you really felt could beat Dalton, and we got that in Conors performance as Knox.

Gyllenhaal, known for his dedication to his craft, spoke about McGregors surprising humility. I think we all had great respect for the fight game. The same thing happened with Conor when he came to the movie set. He came in and said, Im a white belt. Im here to learn. I dont know anything about making movies or acting, and I want to learn. That type of humility in that space, I tried to bring the same way on the opposite end. I dont know that much about the fight game. I have great respect for it, and I wanted to learn.

McGregor echoed the sentiment, praising the films fight scenes and stunt team. For real, Ive never seen fight scenes like that in any movie, he said. The connection on the target and the sound and the speed and the place. Ive never seen anything like that in a movie. Thats a hat tip to Garrett Warren and his stunt team who were very helpful for us too, all of us on set and we made magic on that movie. Adding to the collaborative spirit on set, McGregor said, Jake has 75 movies under his belt, I have 75 bar fights under my belt. We were a perfect combination together. The whole cast was very patient with me and very helpful to me. I was very blessed, very lucky to land where I landed in this business.

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Roadhouse, with its unlikely pairing and emphasis on mutual learning, promises to be an action film with surprising depth. The chemistry between Gyllenhaal and McGregor, a seasoned actor and a fighting champion stepping into the world of cinema, will surely be a highlight. After a momentous premiere at the SXSW 2024 Film & TV Festival, the Doug Liman directorial Roadhouse is all set to globally premiere on Prime Video on March 21 in English with dubs in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.
The House of Lakme Grand Finale for Lakme Fashion Week in partnership with the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) witnessed its finale on Sunday. The spectacular finale saw ace designer Rahul Mishra unveiling his Fall-Winter 2024 collection in India for his global luxury ready-to-wear label AFEW. After captivating the audience during the London Couture Week, Rahul Mishra turned to vibrant and glamorous Ananya Panday once again for the grand finale of fashion week.

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To showcase the youthful and edgy collection, Rahul Mishra made his muse, Ananya Panday , dressed in a black mini strapless dress. The dress featured 3D flowers along with intricate design elements including stunning patterns of sequin adornment. What added to the oomph factor were the plunging neckline and figure-hugging silhouette of the dress. Accompanying the ensemble were a pair of thigh-high black leather boots to create a striking monochrome appearance. To elevate the look, the actress also wore funky heart-shaped earrings and statement rings that added an extra touch of boldness.

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Ananya went for long dark extensions to conceal her short hair, styled into a sleek ponytail. On the other hand, her makeup featured dark and smokey hues along with a neutral lip. It can be said that Rahul Mishras Fall-Winter 2024 collection was noteworthy and Ananya Pandays contribution to playing the perfect muse is undeniable.

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Meanwhile, Ananya, before hitting the runway for the grand finale of Lakme Fashion Week, indulged in a quick chat with Lifestyle Asia where she defined her outfit in three words. The actress, while answering the media house who asked them to define her Rahul Mishra outfit in three words, responded by saying - edgy, nature, and sculpted.

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Notably, Ananya Pandays ramp walk at the finale of Lakme Fashion Week marks her other collaboration with Rahul Mishra this year. Earlier this year in January, the duo created a buzz as the actress turned muse for the designer for Paris Haute Couture Week 2024. The 24-year-old actress, with her debut, made history as the youngest Bollywood actress to walk the prestigious ramp in the City of Lights.
After kicking off its Pan-India tour in Kochi last week with its magnificent music launch, The Goat Life team arrived in Mumbai. At the press conference, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Blessy, A.R Rahman, Resul Pookutty, Prasoon Joshi and Jimmy Jean Louis took to the stage to speak about the upcoming film and the 10 year long journey to get there. From its inception, to the hurdles faced and everything in between, the cast and crew went on a trip down memory lane to share their incredible journey on this visual masterpiece. The event also witnessed the launch of the soul-stirring Hindi soundtrack of the film penned by Prasoon Joshi. The trailer, The Hope Song, and a few behind the scenes from the film were some of the many assets played at the insightful press conference.

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Speaking about what the film means to him, Prithviraj Sukumaran shared, Its a very special film for multiple reasons. The journey didnt start in 2018 it started in 2009. 2008-2009 is when Mr. Blessy procured the rights to this wonderful book. Blessy is one of the most coveted filmmakers in the Malayalam film industry. In 2009 I was trying to discover myself as an actor, and thats when the journey started. A lot of things changed in 10 years. From the very beginning Blessy was particular that this wasnt going to be a green screen film. It had to be shot in organic locations. In 2018 we started shooting and then the pandemic came in between, but we never gave up. When the world opened, we went back to Algeria. I dont know if a film crew has ever seen the kind of places we have shot in, we were that deep in the desert. It has been a big 16 year long journey. Im 41 years old and I have been associated with this film for 16 years. Thats a huge portion of an adult life. So thank you for being a part of this film.

Talking about the music of the film, A.R Rahman said, Im very blessed to be in this position because when they first came to me, I didnt understand how big the film was. But Blessy was very persistent. He came and told the story and I gave him a few tunes. Then I finally went to Jordan. Im an explorer and Im my first audience. If I get bored with something I dont do it. Im lucky to have great directors like Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra, Blessy, Mani Ratnam, Imtiaz Ali, Anand L Rai, and many more.

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Speaking about the Hindi version of the songs, Prasoon Joshi shared, I thought there is some divine intervention to do this film, and they gave me very little time to write to the melody given. This was purely composed first and written later, so I had to write to the tune. This is a film that is immersive. You will have to trust the director. You will have to trust the pilot, the creator. You want to feel the pain of the story because thats what this film is trying to do. I felt I should first immerse myself. I could feel the character where this film was coming from. So I must thank all of the people involved with the film for this opportunity.

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The movie is based on the novel Aadujeevitham, one of the most popular best sellers ever from the Malayalam literary world, which has been translated in 12 different languages, including those that are foreign. Penned by noted writer Benyamin and it follows the true story of the life of a young man Najeeb, who in the early 90s migrates from the lush green shores of Kerala in search of the fortunes in a land abroad.

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Produced by Visual Romance, The Goat Life also features Hollywood actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, Indian actors like Amala Paul and K.R. Gokul, along with renowned Arab actors such as Talib al Balushi and Rik Aby in pivotal roles. The upcoming films music direction and sound design are helmed by Academy Award winners A.R. Rahman and Resul Pookutty, respectively.
The UK Royal family is in news for all wrong reasons. And more so after the Kate Middleton photo controversy. The name that is doing the rounds again like last year is Rose Hanbury, she is rumoured to be Prince Williams mistress.

There are shocking similarities of the affairs of Prince William-Lady Rose Hanbury and King Charles (then Prince) and (Queen) Camilla Parkers relationships, when he was married to Princess Diana. If you have seen Netflixs Crown Season 6, you can relate to the affair of Camilla and Charles when he was still married to Diana to William- Rose Hanburys extramarital relationship.

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On the Harry- Meghan front, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attracted a lot of eyeballs back in 2020 when they made the decision of giving up their Royal title. But currently, the spotlight seems to be fading away and moving to Kate Middleton and most importantly on the affair of Prince William-Lady Rose Hanbury.

William and Rose Hanbury s rumoured affair

Remember how the world was frantically googling Rose Hanbury during the time of King Charless coronation. If that name doesnt ring a bell, then you must not be knee-deep in royal gossip, because obviously she is Prince Williams mistress and Princess Kates, ex-best friend.

The rumours, which began in 2019, have again come to light amid the ongoing Kate Middleton Photo Controversy. Sarah Rose Hanbury She is the wife of David Cholmondeley, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley. According to reports, she has spent the Valentines Day with Prince William and the most recent photo of Kate in the car with the Prince, after the photo controversy, is actually Lady Rose and not the Princess. Sad, isnt it.

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How Prince William-Lady Rose Hanburys Affair similar to King Charles-Queen Camillas

Looks like history is repeating. The rumoured affair of Prince William and Rose Hanbury has a lot of resemblance with King Charles and Queen Camilla which apparently brought an end to Princess Dianas marriage with Charles. Known for their extramarital affairs, looks like infidelity runs in the genes of the royal British family. Camilla Parker too had family and kids when he was dating Charles and same is with Rose Hanbury. According to reports Prince William is dating Rose and there is a resemblance gain in this affair. Williams children age is almost how much his age was, when King Charles was having an extramarital affair with Camilla.

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(With added inputs from agencies)
Boeing has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. An emergency door plug blew off a Boeing 737 MAX mid-flight in January. More recently, a plane dropped in flight, injuring passengers, and a Boeing whistleblower died. What is going on at the company and should flyers be concerned?

A Boeing 737 MAX sits outside the hangar during a media tour of the aircraft at the Boeing plant in Renton, Washington. United States federal regulators started a probe after an emergency door plug blew off a 737 MAX mid-flight in January. File photo/Reuters

The American aerospace giant Boeing has been synonymous with safe air travel for decades. Since the 1990s, Boeing and its European competitor Airbus have dominated the market for large passenger jets.

But this year, Boeing has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. In January, an emergency door plug blew off a Boeing 737 MAX mid-flight, triggering an investigation from United States federal regulators.

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More recently, we have seen a Boeing plane lose a tyre while taking off, another flight turn back as the plane was leaking fluid, an apparent engine fire, a landing gear collapse, a stuck rudder pedal, and a plane dropping in flight and injuring dozens of passengers . A Boeing engineer who had raised concerns regarding quality control during the manufacturing process on the companys 787 and 737 MAX planes also died earlier last week , apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

As members of the travelling public, should we be concerned? Well, yes and no.

Boeing alone cannot be blamed

The recent parade of events has certainly been dramatic  but not all of them can be blamed on Boeing. Five incidents occurred on aircraft owned and operated by United Airlines and were related to factors outside the manufacturers control, like maintenance issues, potential foreign object debris, and possible human error.

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A United Airlines 777 flying from San Francisco to Japan lost a tyre on takeoff, a maintenance issue not related to Boeing. The aircraft landed safely in Los Angeles.

A United Airlines flight from Sydney to Los Angeles had to return to Sydney due to a maintenance issue after a fluid was seen leaking from the aircraft on departure.

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A United Airlines 737-900 flying from Texas to Florida ended up with some plastic bubble wrap in the engine, causing a suspected compressor stall . This is a disruption of air flow to an operating engine, making it backfire and emit flames.

A United Airlines 737 Max flying from Tennessee to Texas suffered a gear collapse after a normal landing. The pilot continued to the end of the runway before exiting onto a taxiway  possibly at too high a speed  and the aircraft ended up in the grass and the left main landing gear collapsed.

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The fifth event occurred on a United Airlines 737-8 flight from the Bahamas to New Jersey. The pilots reported that the rudder pedals, which control the left and right movement of the aircraft in flight, were stuck in the neutral position during landing.

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 on 15 March. AP

Manufacturing quality under the lens

The exit door plug failure in January occurred on an Alaska Airlines flight. US regulators are currently investigating Boeings manufacturing quality assurance as a result.

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The door plug was installed by a Boeing subcontractor called Spirit AeroSystem. The door plug bolts were not properly secured and the plug door fell off in flight. The same aircraft had a series of pressurisation alarms on two previous flights and was scheduled for a maintenance inspection at the completion of the flight.

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Spirit got its start after Boeing shut down its own manufacturing operations in Kansas and Oklahoma, and Boeing is now in the process of buying the company to improve quality oversight. Spirit currently works with Airbus, as well, though that may change.

A change at Boeing

Critics say the culture at Boeing has changed since Airbus became a major competitor in the early 2000s. The company has been accused of shifting its focus to profit at the expense of quality engineering.

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Former staff have raised concerns over tight production schedules, which increased the pressure on employees to finish the aircraft. This caused many engineers to question the process, and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fine Boeing for lapses in quality oversight after tools and debris were found on aircraft being inspected.

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Several employees have testified before US Congress on the production issues regarding quality control. Based on the congressional findings, the FAA began to inspect Boeings processes more closely.

This year, Boeing has been in the news for a series of mishaps. File photo/AP

Several Boeing employees noted there was a high staff turnover rate during the COVID pandemic. This is not unique to Boeing, as all manufacturing processes and airline maintenance facilities around the globe were also hit with high turnover.

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As a result, there is an acute shortage of qualified maintenance engineers, as well as pilots. These shortages have created several issues with the airline industry successfully returning to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. Airlines and maintenance training centres around the globe are working hard to train replacements, but this takes time as one cannot become a qualified engineer or airline pilot overnight.

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So, is it still safe to fly on Boeing planes? Yes, it is. Despite dramatic incidents in the news and social media posts poking fun at the company , air travel is still extremely safe, and that includes Boeing.

We can expect these issues with Boeing planes now will be corrected. The financial impact has been significant  so even a profit-driven company will demand change.

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Doug Drury , Professor/Head of Aviation, CQUniversity Australia

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article .
Its another manic Monday. Regional airline, FLY91, will start commercial services today from Goa. PM Narendra Modi will also hold a four-km-long roadshow in Coimbatore ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Heres what else to expect today

FLY91 has a staff strength of around 200 and the count will rise to about 350 to 360 by the end of the first year of operations. PTI

Its a brand new week and theres lots waiting to happen.

Today (18 March), we shall see a PM Modi roadshow in Coimbatore, another summons being sent to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and a new airline taking to the skies in India.

Want to know it all? Read on to find out whats in store for you today.

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FLY91 to start commercial services

Regional airline FLY91 will start commercial services today (18 March) with flights connecting Goa to Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Besides, it will have flights to Sindhudurg from Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

The Goa-based carrier also plans to start flights to Lakshadweep from April, its chief Manoj Chacko said. The airline received its air operator permit from aviation regulator DGCA on 6 March.

At present, FLY91 has two aircraft in its fleet. Chacko said earlier, We aim to connect Bharat.

In the next five years, FLY91 plans to have around 35 planes, connect 50 cities and six bases, Chacko said. The carrier, operated by Just Udo Aviation Pvt Ltd, seeks to enhance air connectivity across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

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PM Narendra Modis 4-km roadshow in Coimbatore is similar to the ones in other Southern cities  the first being in Hyderabad last Friday. File image/PTI

PM Modi to hold roadshow in Coimbatore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a roadshow in Coimbatore today after the Madras High Court granted permission, albeit with some conditions. Earlier, the police had refused permission, citing law-and-order concerns and the conduct of a public exam. The cops also said permission had been refused to other political parties as well, so there was no question of targeting any side.

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PM Modi is touring the south Indian states in his major southward push. The 4-km roadshow in Coimbatore had been planned as a part of that as PM Modi will be holding similar road rallies in other Southern cities  the first being in Hyderabad on Friday.

Kejriwal summoned in Delhi Jal Board case

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The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in a second money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The agency has asked Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it at its Delhi office today, and record his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

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This is the second case registered under the anti-money laundering law in which the ED has summoned Arvind Kejriwal.

Reacting to the summons, Atishi said, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal received another summon yesterday evening by the ED They have asked him to join some investigation related to Delhi Jal Board We are unaware of the case registered by the ED in this matter Arvind Kejriwal has been summoned in this fake case.

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Dharavi, one of Asias largest slums, in Mumbai, India, is seen. File image/AP

Dharavi redevelopment project survey to commence

The Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL)  a joint venture between the Government of Maharashtra and the Adani Group  will begin the survey to collect data of lakhs of informal residents of Dharavi today.

The data will be used by the state government to determine their rehabilitation eligibility criteria under the proposed redevelopment project.

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The survey is the first step towards making Mumbai slum-free. It is the beginning of transforming Dharavi into a worldclass township. We urge all people to support this exercise, which will enable us to execute the rehabilitation process and ultimately provide them with their dream home, said a DRPPL spokesperson.

In November 2022, the Adani Group had also won the Rs 23,000 crore Dharavi Redevelopment Project to redevelop Asias largest slum cluster spread over 600 acres in the heart of Indias commercial capital Mumbai with a bid of Rs 5,069 crore.

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IPL 2024: CSK vs RCB game tickets go live

Are you an IPL fan? Then pay attention. Tickets for the inaugural IPL game between Chennai Super Kings and the Royal Challengers Bangalore will go live today.

The tickets for the game to be played on the 22 March at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai will be sold from 9:30 am onwards through the Paytm app or the insider.in website.
The secretary general of the Maldivian poll body, Hassan Zakariyya, stated that sufficient voters had re-registered for ballot boxes in three foreign countries  India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia

. The six-day window for people to relocate their voting stations for the parliamentary elections expired on Saturday. File image/AP

The parliamentary elections in Maldives will be held on 21 April, 2024, marking the first elections during the holy month of Ramzan, after being rescheduled from 17 March.

On Saturday, the Maldivian election commission announced that ballot boxes for the upcoming parliamentary election will be stationed in Keralas Thiruvananthapuram_._ Ballot boxes will also be placed in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo and in Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur.

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The secretary general of the Maldivian poll body, Hassan Zakariyya, stated that sufficient voters had re-registered for ballot boxes in three foreign countries.

During the re-registration window, voters had re-registered sufficiently warranting ballot boxes in three countries, which are Thiruvananthapuram, India, Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hassan was quoted by The Sun as saying.

Voting will not be held in the UK, UAE and Thailand

Maldives election commission announced on Sunday that around 11,000 Maldivians requested re-registration to relocate their polling stations. The six-day window for people to relocate their voting stations for the parliamentary elections expired on Saturday, media reports said, citing an Elections Commission notification.

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The top electoral body said that ballot boxes for the island nations elections will also be placed in Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), the capital of Kerala, Sri Lankas Colombo and Malaysias Kuala Lumpur after at least 150 people re-register to vote in each of the three countries.

As previously, enough people registered in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. And since 150 people had registered in Thiruvananthapuram, India, we have decided to set up a ballot box there, web portal adadhu.com quoted ECs secretary-general Hassan Zakariyya as saying.

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Maldives election commission received 11,169 application forms requesting re-registration at different voting stations. File image/AP

The top polls body received 11,169 application forms requesting re-registration at different voting stations during this period. It rejected 1,141 forms, taking the total re-registrations to 10,028, the edition.mv news portal reported.

Pointing out that the number of people who re-registered this year is low compared to past elections, Zakariyya said that voting will not be held in the UK, UAE and Thailand.

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The elections

The parliamentary elections in the island nation were to take place on Sunday (17 March), however, the polls date were deferred after an amendment to an Act to refrain from conducting elections during the month of Ramzan.

The parliamentary elections are now scheduled to be held on 21 April.

A total of 389 candidates are contesting for 93 parliamentary seats in Maldives elections, the sun.mv news portal said.

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The highest number of candidates are from the pro-India main Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)  which is contesting 90 seats, followed by the main ruling coalition of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the Peoples National Congress (PNC), which is contesting 89 seats.

Maldives pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu, who belongs to the PNC, rode to power last year on an anti-India stance.

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With inputs from PTI
Russian president Vladimir Putin has claimed a landslide victory in Russia. Soon after the win, he said he would prioritise the Ukraine offensive and warned of World War III. What will he do next?

Russian president Vladimir Putin speaks on a visit to his campaign headquarters after the presidential election in Moscow, Russia, early Monday. He secured 87 per cent of the votes, according to exit polls in the country. AP

The Russian election result is out. No surprises there. President Vladimir Putin has claimed his fifth term in office.

After a three-day election, Putin won by a landslide of 87 per cent, according to the countrys exit polls. With anti-war candidates barred from the election, there was no serious challenger to the Russian president.

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With another six-year term, the leader will remain in office until 2030. Now what he does from here on is concerning.

We take a look at what Putins victory means for the Russia-Ukraine war and the world. And should we be worried about what happens next?

What happened in the Russian election?

The Russian election was predictable but saw some drama. There were sporadic acts of defiance carried out during the voting.

On the last day, Sunday, heeding a call from Opposition leader Alexei Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya , voters turned out in large numbers at noon in Russia and outside Russian embassies to show their dissent against Putin and the war.

The Kremlin did not want this to happen, CNNs former Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty told the publication. The long lines in Russia were significant.

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It is unlikely that the protest could snowball into a sustained movement because of the repressive measures in Russia. At least 80 protesters were arrested on the final day of the polling. In February, the Russian government cracked down on those who came out to mourn Nalavny.

A man shows a protest placard as he queues with other voters near the polling station at the Russian embassy in Berlin. The Russian opposition called on people to head to polling stations at noon on Sunday in protest as voting took place on the last day of a presidential election. AP

In the election, Putin faced three candidates all wetted by the Kremlin. However, when election officials said that the results gave the Russian president more than 87 per cent of the vote, he claimed that the countrys democracy was more transparent than many in the West.

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Voting also took place in the occupied regions of Ukraine, which were annexed but not in complete control of Russia. In some cases, election workers took ballot boxes to peoples homes along with soldiers, forcing them to vote. In these regions, Putins margin of victory was higher than Russia, according to a report by The New York Times.

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Also read: Russia election: Why Putin will never announce a successor

Why the election win matters to Putin

The election results were predictable. Yet this vote was important to Putin. The victory gives him a full three decades of leading Russia as either president or prime minister, adding to his legitimacy.

Just winning has never been enough for Putin. He must win in a fashion that demonstrates that he remains the master of the Russian political system, a distinguished fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations wrote before the election.

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Putin speaks after the presidential election in Moscow, early Monday. He said he would increase the offensive in Ukraine. AP

That is exactly what the Russian president has achieved with the win. The result of the first election since the invasion of Ukraine will be seen as a show of unity behind Putins war efforts. The public support, the Kremlin will claim, remains intact despite the conflict taking a toll on the country with high casualties and amid West sanctions that pressure the Russian economy.

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So what does the win mean for the war?

Putin will see the win in Russia as a mandate to press ahead in the war in Ukraine. The dictator was already seen flexing his muscles on Monday.

He warned the West that a direct conflict between Russia and the US-led NATO military alliance would mean the planet was one step away from World War III , but added that hardly anyone wanted such a scenario. He has vowed to strengthen the countrys armed forces and prioritise what he called Russias special military operation in Ukraine

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These elections are a means for Putin to legitimise his decision to go to war in Ukraine, Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, based in Moscow, was quoted as saying by the Guardian ahead of the polls.

In this image taken from video released by the Russian defence ministry in August last year, a Russian howitzer fires toward Ukrainian positions at an undisclosed location. File photo/AP

There is speculation that the president could order a second military mobilisation to fight in Ukraine. The first came in September 2022, leading to protests and Russians feeling the country. It could be an unpopular move but it might mollify relatives of soldiers who were drafted 18 months ago.

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Russian leaders are now talking of consolidating the whole of Russian society around its defence needs, Brian Michael Jenkins, a senior adviser at the RAND Corporation think tank told The Associated Press (AP).

The precise meaning of this phrase is not entirely clear, but it suggests that Russias leadership understands that the war Putin describes will go on for a long time, and therefore resources must be mobilised In other words, Russian society must be organised for perpetual warfare, he added.

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What does Putins sixth term mean for the world?

The president continues to maintain his iron grip over Russia. He has squashed dissent, the Russian economy has survived sanctions, and recent gains on the battlefield point to a growing advantage towards Putins side.

In the US, which is Ukraines largest military backer, there are early signs of fatigue. The November elections could further disrupt support for Kyiv.

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Meanwhile, Russia continues to strengthen its ties with its allies, especially China. In his victory speech, Putin forecast that the relationship between the two nations would grow stronger in the coming years.

The relations between Russia and China are a stabilising factor, while good personal relations between the leaders of the two nations allow to develop ties even further, Putin said at his campaign headquarters, according to Tass news agency. Our relations have been taking shape over the past two decades. They are very strong and we are complementing each other.

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Xi Jinping and Putin talk to each other during a meeting in Beijing on 4 February 2022. File photo/AP

As tensions between Washington and Beijing rise, Xi Jinping sees Putin as an important partner. Though China maintains neutrality, it has refused to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Chinas stance enabled Xi to stay focused on deeper goals: he sees Putin as a crucial partner in the face of rising tensions with the US and in reshaping a world he believes is unfairly dominated by rules and values set by Washington and its allies. A stable relationship with Moscow, too, allows Beijing to focus on other areas of concern such as Taiwan and the South China Sea, writes Simone McCarthy in the CNN.

But Xi is not alone. North Koreas Kim Jong Un is also growing closer to Putin. He met the president in Russia on a rare trip to a foreign nation recently. Kim is reportedly deploying weapons to Moscow and this comes amid growing coordination between the US and South Korea.

India has also maintained neutrality in the war. It continues to strengthen ties with the US but has not alienated Russia and buys oil from the country at discounted rates. Putin has been all praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi .

So while the West portrays the Russian president as the villain, that is not the case in several countries, especially those with developing economies. For some, taking a neutral approach could be for economic reasons; for others the idea of a new world order without a dominating US is alluring.

With Putins six more years in power, many are likely to be reassured about their stance on Russia.

With inputs from agencies
The tragic death of Angela Chao, CEO of shipping company Foremost Group, last month after her Tesla fell into a pond in Texas has put the spotlight on the cars safety. The 50-year-old had accidentally put the car in reverse instead of in drive  a mistake experienced by other Tesla owners as well

An undated portrait of Angela Chao, CEO of her family's shipping business, the Foremost Group. AP File Photo

The tragic death of a billionaire in the United States after her Tesla fell into water has put the spotlight on the cars safety. Angela Chao, CEO of shipping company Foremost Group, died on a Texas ranch last month after her car reportedly submerged in a pond.

The incident took place on 11 February when Chao was leaving a party at the ranch outside Austin, Texas. While initial reports said she died in a car accident, new details have recently emerged about the tragedy.

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How did Angela Chao die? How has her death raised safety concerns about Teslas electric cars? Lets take a closer look.

Angela Chaos death

Angela Chao, 50, attempted a three-point turn in her Tesla Model X SUV when departing from a party with friends at the private Texas ranch just before midnight on 10 February. However, she accidentally put the car in reverse instead of in drive, as per The Wall Street Journal report.

Due to this, her Tesla drove over an embankment and into a pond. She reportedly called a friend in panic as her electric vehicle got further submerged in the water.

According to a HuffPost report, her friends tried to rescue her, with at least one even jumping into the pond.

Emergency workers arrived about 24 minutes after being called. One of the emergency officials said the car was completely submerged with the victim inside, reported USA Today.

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Two deputies, who were standing on the submerged vehicle, requested tools to break the window of the vehicle to perform a possible rescue, CNN reported citing a report from Blanco County Emergency Services.

An emergency services worker and firefighter went inside the pond with rescue tools.

After several attempts to reach Chao, the car was finally pulled from the pond at about 12:56 AM local time. The CEO was found unresponsive by first responders who tried to resuscitate her but were unsuccessful, reported The Wall Street Journal.

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Her death is now being probed as part of a criminal investigation, the Blanco County Sheriffs Office said, as per Daily Mail.

She is survived by her husband Jim Breyer, an American venture capitalist and founder and CEO of Breyer Capital, and a three-year-old son.

Angela Chao and her husband, Jim Breyer, attend the AFI Awards Luncheon at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on 12 January 2024 in Los Angeles, California. AFP File Photo

Angela Chao took over the family shipping business, the Foremost Group, from her father Dr James SC Chao. A Harvard University graduate, Chao was the sister-in-law of US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

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Her older sister, Elaine Chao, was transportation secretary under former US President Donald Trump and labor secretary under ex-President George W Bush, noted USA Today.

Teslas safety under scrutiny

According to The Wall Street Journal, this was not the first time that Chao mistakenly put her Tesla in reverse. She had told her friends she had mixed up drive and reverse many times earlier.

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In fact, several other Tesla users have previously reported problems with the electric cars gearshift. At least 12 complaints have been filed with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) over Teslas reverse function, as per a Business Insider report.

Of these, seven users said Teslas gearshift design was confusing, sometimes leading to them putting the car in drive when they wanted to shift to reverse, or vice versa.

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The rest of the complainants said their car seemed to switch between drive and reverse without warning, reported Business Insider.

Tesla owners have also flagged the issue on the automotive companys forum. In 2022, a user claimed they had accidentally shifted to reverse instead of drive thrice in the two years that they had the car.

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A Tesla Model X electric sports-utility vehicle is displayed during a presentation in Fremont, California on 29 September 2015. Reuters File Photo

In the 2020 Tesla Model X, users can shift gears with the help of a drive stalk near the steering wheel. Newer models have a touch screen to shift gears, as per FOX Business. It is not clear which model year Chao was driving.

The DOT has also received over 700 complaints about Tesla s phantom braking, which led to the death of at least one person, reported Business Insider. Phantom braking refers to the electric car applying brakes even in the middle of traffic during autopilot mode.

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What to do if your car is submerged?

According to Dr Gordon Giesbrecht, a researcher at the University of Manitoba who studies vehicle submersion, drivers have just a minute to exit their vehicle safely if it drowns, reported FOX Business.

The best way to do this is to open or break the car window, a difficult task without a tool. If you try to call for help, it will only waste the extremely narrow window, usually between 30 seconds and two minutes, to save yourself.

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Instead, you should immediately take off your seatbelt, roll down the window, and escape the vehicle.

In case your car has filled with water, you should wait a few minutes for water pressure inside and outside the car to equalise, before you try to open the door or window, noted Indian Express. During this time, you will need to hold your breath as water enters your car.

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With inputs from agencies
As we head towards May 13 - the day when polling would be held (in Telangana); the BJPs wave will wipe out the Congress and BRS. The entire country today is saying June 4 ko 400 paar, said PM Modi while addressing a rally in Telanganas Jagtial

As the poll campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha election picks up pace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the BJPs wave will wipe out the Congress and BRS from Telangana when on June 4 (counting day) the saffron party alliance crosses the 400-seat mark.

VIDEO | Lok Sabha elections 2024: "As we head towards May 13 - the day when polling would be held (in Telangana); the BJP's wave will wipe out the Congress and BRS. The entire country today is saying 'June 4 ko 400 paar'," says PM Modi (@narendramodi) in Telangana's Jagtial. pic.twitter.com/OHdChBx4Qp  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 18, 2024

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Addressing a rally in Telanganas Jagtial, PM Modi said, As we head towards May 13 - the day when polling would be held (in Telangana); the BJPs wave will wipe out the Congress and BRS. The entire country today is saying June 4 ko 400 paar."

The polling for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections is scheduled for April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, and the counting of votes will take place on 4 June.

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He said the support for the BJP is increasing continuously and the public gathering in Jagtial is testimony to that.

The biggest festival of democracy begins. On May 13 the voters of Telangana will script history," said the Prime Minister.

PM Modis rally in Jagtial, part of the Nizamabad constituency, is expected to have an impact on the neighbouring Karimnagar seat, both of which were won by BJP in 2019. The party is looking to better its tally of four out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, in 2024.

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Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhis remarks we are fighting against a Shakti and Soul of the King is in the EVM which were apparently directed at the Prime Minister, PM Modi said, The INDI alliance in their manifesto said that their fight is against Shakti. For me, every mother, daughter and sister is a form of Shakti. I worship them in the form of Shakti. I am the worshiper of Bharat MataTheir manifesto is to finish Shakti, and I accept the challengeMain jaan ki baazi laga dunga

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#WATCH | Telangana: During his public address in Jagtial, PM Modi says, "The INDI alliance in their manifesto said that their fight is against 'Shakti'. For me, every mother, daughter & sister is a form of 'Shakti'. I worship them in the form of 'Shakti'. I am the worshiper of pic.twitter.com/ccVUoEVVNb  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024

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In an indirect dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday while addressing a public rally in Mumbai, where the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra concluded, said PM Modi cannot win the elections without EVMs.

There is a word Shakti in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti. The question is, what is that Shakti? The soul of the King is in the EVM. This is true. The soul of the King is in the EVM and in every institution of the country, in ED, CBI, and the Income Tax department, Rahul said.

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PM Modi said that the fight is between those who want to destroy Shakti and those who worship Shakti.

Can someone talk about the destruction of Shakti?We dedicated the success of the Chandrayaan mission by naming the point where Chandrayaan landed as Shiv ShaktiThe fight is between those who want to destroy Shakti and those who worship ShaktiMuqabla 4 June ko ho jaaega, said PM Modi.

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Hitting out at BRS, the Prime Minister said that the party misused peoples faith, formed government and then betrayed their trust.

For 10 years, after its formation, Telangana was ruthlessly looted by BRS. And now, Congress has made Telangana its personal ATM, said PM Modi.

Later in the day, the PM will hold a rally in Karnatakas Shivamogga, besides holding a roadshow in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

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The Prime Ministers rally in Shivamogga, which is former Chief Minister and BJP Parliamentary board member B S Yediyurappas home turf, comes at a time when disgruntled party leader K S Eshwarappa has announced plans to contest as an independent from the Shimoga constituency after his son was denied a ticket for the Haveri seat.

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BJP has fielded Yediyurappas elder son B Y Raghavendra from Shimoga.

With inputs from agencies
Can someone talk about the destruction of Shakti?We dedicated the success of the Chandrayaan mission by naming the point where Chandrayaan landed as Shiv ShaktiThe fight is between those who want to destroy Shakti and those who worship ShaktiMuqabla 4 June ko ho jaaega, said PM Modi in Telanganas Jagtial

A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that his party is fighting against a Shakti in a veiled attack on the Prime Minister, PM Modi on Monday said that for him every mother, daughter and sister is a form of Shakti and the 2024 fight is between those who want to destroy this Shakti and those who worship it.

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#WATCH | Telangana: During his public address in Jagtial, PM Modi says, "The INDI alliance in their manifesto said that their fight is against 'Shakti'. For me, every mother, daughter & sister is a form of 'Shakti'. I worship them in the form of 'Shakti'. I am the worshiper of pic.twitter.com/ccVUoEVVNb  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024

Addressing a rally in Telanganas Jagtial, PM Modi said, On Sunday in Mumbai, there was an INDI alliance rally after the announcement of the schedule for elections. They announced their manifesto in the rally. In Mumbais Shivaji Park, they said their fight was against Shakti. For me, every mother, every daughter is a form of Shakti. Mothers and sisters, I worship you as Shakti. I am Bharat Maas pujari.

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#WATCH | Telangana: During his public address in Jagtial, PM Modi says, "Can someone talk about the destruction of 'Shakti'?...We dedicated the success of the Chandrayaan mission by naming the point where Chandrayaan landed as 'Shiv Shakti'...The fight is between those who want pic.twitter.com/VJKksQtM2W  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024

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Can someone talk about the destruction of Shakti?We dedicated the success of the Chandrayaan mission by naming the point where Chandrayaan landed as Shiv ShaktiThe fight is between those who want to destroy Shakti and those who worship ShaktiMuqabla 4 June ko ho jaaega, the Prime Minister added.

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PM Modis rally in Jagtial, part of the Nizamabad constituency, is expected to have an impact on the neighbouring Karimnagar seat, both of which were won by BJP in 2019. The party is looking to better its tally of four out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, in 2024.

He said the support for the BJP is increasing continuously and the public gathering in Jagtial is testimony to that.

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The biggest festival of democracy begins. On May 13 the voters of Telangana will script history, said the Prime Minister.

The polling for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections is scheduled for April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, and the counting of votes will take place on 4 June.

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In an indirect dig at PM Modi, Gandhi on Sunday while addressing a public rally in Mumbai, where the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra concluded, said we are fighting against a Shakti and the the soul of the King is in the EVM.

There is a word Shakti in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti. The question is, what is that Shakti? The soul of the King is in the EVM. This is true. The soul of the King is in the EVM and in every institution of the country, in ED, CBI, and the Income Tax department, Gandhi said.

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Our fight against Modi is not on a personal level. Modi is a mask who works for a Shakti (power). He is a shallow man who doesnt have a 56-inch chest, Gandhi added.

With inputs from agencies
As India gets ready to vote and political parties get busy with swaying voters, this article will help Firstpost readers track Prime Minister Narendra Modis campaign as he holds rallies and meetings across the country

On DAY 3 of Prime Minister Narendra Modis election campaign, he addressed the people from Tamil Nadus Salem on Tuesday.

Notably, the general assembly elections will be held from April 19 to June 1, 2024, in seven phases to elect 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The counting will be held on June 4, 2024.

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Here are highlights from PM Narendra Modis campaign speech:

March 19, 2024

PM Narendra Modi in Salem, Tamil Nadu

1. The PM also shared his plans for boosting infrastructure in the state saying,

The NDA government is building two defence corridors in the country. One of these is being built in Tamil Nadu.

2. The PM hit out at the Opposition parties, DMK and Congress and slammed both over corruption and family rule. Modi said both parties are two sides of the same corrupt coin.

READ MORE: PM in Tamil Nadu: 5 key takeaways from Modis campaign in Salem

3. PM Modi recalled late BJP leader Auditor Ramesh and called the leader a good orator who worked hard for the party.I cant forget Auditor Ramesh. Unfortunately today Ramesh is not among usHe worked hard for the party but he was killed. Today I pay my tributes to him, Modi said.

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4. PM Modi called Tamil language the countrys ancient heritage and said he would take measures to promote Tamil around the world.

PM Modi in Palakkad, Kerala

1. Braving the heat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned in Keralas Palakkad city and was welcomed by thousands of supporters during a roadshow.

The enthusiasm in Palakkad is indicative of the strong support for NDA in Kerala. Here are some glimpses from the roadshow. pic.twitter.com/qbvSDVkrZK  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 19, 2024

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2. Modis Palakkad roadshow follows his recent Pathanamthitta public meeting, where he rallied support for NDA candidates contesting in the southern Kerala constituencies.

March 18, 2024

PM Narendra Modi in Jagtial, Telangana

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1. Hitting out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his Shakti remark , PM Modi said the manifesto of the INDIA bloc targets Shakti of every mother, daughter, and sister

I revere them as Shakti and worship Bharat MataHow can anyone on this Earth talk of destroying Shakti when everyone worships it?

2. Targeting the ruling Bharat Rashtriya Samiti (BRS) and its alliance with Congress, he said the latter, which used to accuse BRS of corruption, is now giving it a supporting hand

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Dynastic politics encourages corruption. Both BRS and Congress are prone to it. Their scams arent restricted to Telangana, the liquor scam is a live example, Modi added

ALSO READ: Five key takeaways from PM Modis election campaign in Telangana

3. PM Modi reiterated his mantra of June 4 ko 400 paar and expressed confidence in BJPs mandate in the upcoming election

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4. Speaking on the Centres developmental efforts, PM Modi stated, A significant achievement of the past 10 years is that we have lifted 250 million people out of poverty.

PM Modi in Shivamogga, Karnataka

1. PM Modi during his speech accused the Congress of trying to divide the country.In response to a remark made by DK Suresh, the Congress lone Lok Sabha member from Karnataka and the brother of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, the Prime Minister accused the Grand Old Party of beginning a dangerous game of dividing the country.

2. This was PM Modis first election rally in the state since the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections went into effect, and his second in the state this month.

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3. When DK Suresh stated in February that if the injustice over tax devolution to states persisted, people in south India could have to demand the creation of a separate nation, it sparked a controversy.

PM Modi in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

1. PM Modi did a roadshow in an open vehicle covering 2.5 km from in Coimbatore. Crowds were heard shouting slogans of Modi Modi, Meendum Modi, We Want Modi, Jai Shri Ram, and Bharat Matha Ki Jai.

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The 1998 Coimbatore terror bombings can never be forgotten. Today while in the city, paid homage to those we lost in those bombings. pic.twitter.com/qxYD31m6uf  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 18, 2024

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2. Modi arrived at R.S. Puram, which was one of the places of the Coimbatore serial blasts, and paid floral tributes to those who had lost their lives.
As India gets ready to vote and political parties get busy with swaying voters, this article will help Firstpost readers track Congress leader Rahul Gandhis campaign as he holds rallies and meetings across the country

The Election Commission of India (ECI), on Saturday, announced that the Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The electorate of the worlds largest democracy will elect the 543 members who will form the 18th Lok Sabha. The counting will be held on June 4, 2024.

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On DAY 2 of Congress leader Rahul Gandhis election campaign, he

March 18, 2024

A political slugfest ensued over Rahul Gandhis Shakti remark, which the BJP said was misogynist and Hinduphobic. The highlights:

With PM Modi and the BJP construing Rahul Gandhis Shakti reference as the religious concept well-known in Hinduism, Congress scrambled to make a clarification. He said he was not talking about any religious power but the Shakti of unrighteousness, corruption and falsehood. In a post in Hindi on X, he accused the prime minister of twisting his words and said Modi ji does not like my words, he always tries to change their meaning by twisting them because he knows that I have spoken a deep truth.

March 17, 2024

Rahul Gandhi undertook the Nyay Sankalp Padyatra in Mumbai and addressed a mega Opposition rally on the last day of his two-month-old Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The highlights:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi engaged in words of war at their respective campaigns in run-up to Lok Sabha elections 2024. The two leaders targeted each other on ideologies, alliances and much more

PM Narendra Modi and INDIA bloc leader Rahul Gandhi geared up their campaigns for the Lok Sabha elections just a day after schedule for the polls was announced by the Election Commission.

PM Modi addressed BJPs first joint rally with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party President Pawan Kalyan at Andhra Pradeshs Boppudi village in Palnadu after the trio agreed to run for the elections together earlier this month.

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also sharpened his attacks on the Modi-led government in his maiden campaign rally from Mumbais iconic Shivaji Park, accompanied by his INDIA bloc allies. The grand old party targeted the BJP-led government on issues from unemployment to EVMs.

Here are some highlights from DAY 1 of rival leaders rallies as they launch into action for Lok Sabha polls.

Narendra Modi

1- PM Modi did not miss to mention his slogan for a double-engine government and Viksit Bharat and promised to expedite development in the state.

The aim of the NDA is to build a developed Andhra Pradesh for a developed India! With the double-engine government of the NDA in Andhra Pradesh, development here will receive even more momentum.

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2- The prime minister slammed the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government and said the state ministers are competing in corruption and people feel betrayed. He hit out at Congress and the ruling YSRCP as pieces of the same cloth".

In the NDA, we all move forward together, butCongress party, which has only one agenda - to use and throw the people of the coalition! Even if Congress may have had to form alliances out of necessity today, their mindset remains the same."

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3- As election results will be announced on June 4, Modi reiterated the saffron partys target of winning more than 400 seats in Lok Sabha polls.

The entire country is saying, 4 June Ko 400 Paar. For a developed India, 400 Paar; for a developed Andhra Pradesh, 400 Paar, Modi said

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5- Urging citizens to vote for the NDA alliance while highlighting the various schemes brought out by the government in the past five years, PM Modi said the farmers of the Palanadu district have been given Rs. 700 crore under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.

Modi is currently on a tour to the southern states, with his next destination being Karnatakas Shivamogga and Tamil Nadus Coimbatore on Monday.

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Rahul Gandhi

1- Rahul Gandhi said that few private companies want to rule the country and that INDI alliance was fighting against the system developed by the Modi-led government.

People believe that we are fighting against a political party or against Narendra Modi. But this is not true. The 20-25 companies that want to rule the country have created a face in Modis name, which has what we call shakti (power) in the Hindu religion. We are fighting against that shakti.

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2- Gandhi also questioned the authenticity of EVMs and said that Kings ( PM Modi) soul rests in EVMs.

Without EVMs, Narendra Modi cannot win elections. We requested election commission, show us the EVM machine andto our experts they refused to show us. We enquired about the machine and the paper coming out from it, but they declined to count those papers.

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3- The Congress leader blamed the Modi-led BP government for using central agencies like ED, CBI and Income Tax against the Opposition and recalled that during his 50-hour questioning, an officer told him. You are not scared of anyone, you can defeat Narendra Modi.

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4- Gandhi commented on top leaders of Shiv Senas (UBT) and NCP quitting Congress in Maharashtra before polls, and said that they left because they were threatened.

Many top leaders from Maharashtra have left Congress party and they cry and call my mother. Sonia ji I am ashamed, I cannot fight them and cannot go in jailJust like this Shiv Sena and NCP people went away. They all went because they were threatened.

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5-Reiterating allegations of corruption through electoral bonds, the Wayanad MP said, that bonds are nothing but a national-level extortion racket.

Electoral bonds are nothing but a national level extortion racket which is run in four ways  by taking a percentage share from companies in lieu of allotting contracts; by issuing threats through the ED, the CBI, and other central agencies; by taking cuts through shell companies; and by taking money after awarding contracts.

Tamil Nadus CM MK Stalin, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, RJD leader and former Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Jharkhand CM Champai Soren, and former CM Hemant Sorens wife Kalpana Soren were some important attendees of the Shivaji Park rally.

Election Commission on Saturday announced that Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1, 2024, with results counting on June 4.
Under regular circumstances, the Indian Navy usually deals with anti-piracy operations by apprehending the pirates, disarming them and ensuring that they do not pose any further threat

Images shared by Indian Navy show the MVRuen vessel hijacked by Somali pirates in December last year and was reportedly being used for hijack more ships. Source: X

After it launched a major operation to successfully rescue the crew of MV Ruen in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy will bring the 35 Somali pirates, who were involved in hijacking the ship, to India.

Over the weekend, the Navy cornered and coerced all 35 Pirates to surrender while ensuring the safe evacuation of all the crew members of MV Ruen.

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INS Kolkata carried out the interception of the Pirate Ship Ruen almost 1400 nautical miles (2600km) from the Indian Coast.

Can India prosecute the pirates?

Under regular circumstances, the Indian Navy usually deals with anti-piracy operations by apprehending the pirates, disarming them and ensuring that they do not pose any further threat.

However, since the Somali pirates opened fire on the Indian Navy and were involved in acts of aggression, they will be prosecuted on Indian soil under international law and guidelines.

Talking to the Times of India, an official said, There is now also the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, which was notified last year, to prosecute such cases. If the pirates are let go, they will re-group and begin their piracy attacks again.

What is the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act?

In December, India passed the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act which provides the government with an effective legal instrument to combat maritime piracy.

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said at the time, Ensuring maritime security is key to safeguarding Indias security and economic well-being.

Under the act, parties or individuals convicted of piracy will be penalized.

It also addresses the issue of death penalties as an exceptional case. In the absence of a specific law or a legal provision in the Indian Penal Code or the Criminal Procedure Code on piracy, this Bill would provide an effective legal instrument to combat maritime piracy. It would enable us to discharge our obligations under the UNCLOS which we had signed in 1982 and ratified in 1995, Jaishankar had said.
Asra Awas shelters were built at Dungarpur, where some residents already owned homes, under the SP regime. In 2016, there were claims that government land had been illegally demolished, and victims accused the authorities of corruption

Following the Dungarpur case, the MP MLA Court rendered a ruling in which it sentenced Azam Khan to seven years and others to five years under IPC Sections 427, 504, 506, 447, and 120B. Azam Khan, contractor Barkat Ali, retired CEO Ale Hasan, and former mayor Azhar Ahmad Khan were all found guilty. During the sentencing, Azam Khan made an appearance via video conference from Sitapur Jail.

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Asra Awas shelters were built at Dungarpur, where some residents already owned homes, under the SP regime. In 2016, there were claims that government land had been illegally demolished, and victims accused the authorities of corruption.

Azam Khan also got a big blow from the Allahabad High Court on Monday. The petition of Azam Khans Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust was rejected by the High Court. Allahabad High Court rejected the petition filed against the termination of the lease of the trust in Rampur by the UP government.

Azam Khans Rampur Public School was being run on leased land. After not getting relief from the High Court, now Azam Khans Rampur Public School will be locked. Apart from the school, many other buildings were also built on the land given on lease. The court had reserved its judgment on December 18 after the completion of the hearing in this case. The division bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Kshitij Shailendra gave the verdict.

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In the hearing held last year, lawyers on behalf of the UP government and Maulana Johar Ali Trust had presented arguments in the High Court. On behalf of Johar Trust, the governments decision to cancel the lease was said to be wrong. The lease of land given to Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust was canceled by the UP government. The decision to cancel the lease of land given to the trust by the UP government was challenged. After the order of the Supreme Court, Allahabad High Court was conducting the hearing. Reference was made to the SIT report filed by the UP government.

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The Supreme Court had directed for immediate hearing of the petition filed by Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust of SP leader Azam Khan. During the then SP government of UP, the entire campus including the building of Murtaza Higher Secondary School of Rampur was given to Maulana Mohammad Johar Trust on a 99-year lease. After the lease of the land was cancelled, an order was issued to close the Rampur Public School running on it. Due to the intervention of the High Court, the school was allowed to remain open for a few days last year.
PM Modi took Opposition to the cleaners over corruption and scuttling Telanganas development due to Parivarvaad; he hailed June 4 results would shape the nations future as well as the next decade for Telangana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched into action after election dates for Lok Sabha were announced on Saturday. The PM reached Telanganas Jagtial, after campaigning in Andhra Pradesh yesterday.

The Prime Minister addressed a massive crowd in the city and redoubled his mantra, 4 June Ko 400 Paar. Telangana is also saying  Abki Baar 400 Paar.

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Earlier, PM Modi, who is touring the southern states, wrote on X, that there is exceptional fervour in the NDAs favour. So far, the PM has visited Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. He is also expected to do a rally in Tamil Nadus Coimbatore today.

Here are some key takeaways from PM Modis rally from Jagtial

1- Hitting out at the INDI Alliance over their Shakti remark, PM Modi said, Leaders of the INDI Alliancestated that the INDIs fight is with Shakti. The manifesto of the INDI alliance targets Shakti, representing every mother, daughter, and sister. I revere them as Shakti and worship Bharat Mata. Their aim to eradicate Shakti is a challenge I embraceHow can anyone on this Earth talk of destroying Shakti when everyone worships it?

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Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that Congress is fighting Shakti whom he referred to as the 20-25 companies that want to rule the country and have created a face in Modis name

2- PM Modi slammed the Opposition over corruption and hindering development in the state due to nepotism.

First BRS looted Telangana, now Congress wants to make the state their ATM. Both parties are silent on each others corruption including the Kaleshwaram loot, PM said

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3- Modi also commented on Congress alliance with Bharat Rashtriya Samithi, and said that former which used to allege corruption is now giving BRS a supporting hand

The BRS and Congress are covering for each other. With inquiry set to take place on both parties, they have started hurling abuses at Modi, the PM said

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Congress, which once used to put corruption allegations on BRS, is now giving it a supporting 'hand'.



BRS and Congress are covering for each other. With inquiry set to take place on both parties, they have started hurling abuses at Modi.



- PM Shri @narendramodi



Watch full pic.twitter.com/r5loJnYCb1  BJP (@BJP4India) March 18, 2024

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4- While taking a dig at Congress, Modi said the money looted by the state government reaches Delhi into coffers of dynastic families. Modi mentioned big corruption scandals that surfaced during the Congress tenure, Be it 2G scam, National Herald scam, Bofors scam, or Fodder scam Behind every big scam, there lies a Parivarvadi party.

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Parivarvadi parties can never work for the development of India or any state.



Be it 2G scam, National Herald scam, Bofors scam, or Fodder scam... Behind every big scam, there lies a Parivarvadi party.



On 13 May, you must ensure that BJP wins elections, to save you from such pic.twitter.com/jFr1ZZp1ML  BJP (@BJP4India) March 18, 2024

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Dynastic politics encourages corruption. Both BRS and Congress are prone to it. Their scams arent restricted to Telangana, the liquor scam is a live example, Modi added

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5- PM Modi highlighted that Telangana will celebrate its 10th anniversary on June 2nd. He emphasized that the government formed after the June 4 results would shape the nations future as well as the next decade for Telangana

On Saturday, the Election Commission announced general elections in the country from April 19 to June 1, 2024 in seven phases. The counting will be done on June 4.
FUKUSHIMA, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - The final release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, which began in August last year, was completed around noon today. This marks the end of the planned discharge of 31,200 tons for this fiscal year.

The government and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) have been analyzing the concentration of tritium in the surrounding marine area, and all results have been below the standard, indicating no issues.

Next fiscal year, the plan is to release approximately 1.7 times more than this fiscal year, totaling 54,600 tons.

Source: TBS
Earlier today, the Election Commission, to ensure a level playing field in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, ordered the removal of the home secretaries of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand along with DGP Kumar

IPS Vivek Sahay has been appointed the new DGP of West Bengal. PTI

Hours after the Election Commission dismissed West Bengals director general of police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar, IPS officer Vivek Sahay was appointed to the post on Monday.

Earlier today, the poll body, to ensure a level playing field in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, ordered the removal of the home secretaries of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand along with DGP Kumar.

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Sahay was appointed by the Governor of West Bengal.

The ECs move follows the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates which are slated to begin on April 19 and will be held in seven phases.

Who is Vivek Sahay?

Sahay, a 1988-batch IPS officer, was the Director General and Commandant General (Home Guards).

Why was Kumar removed?

Kumar, who was appointed as the state DGP last December, has been at the centre of many controversies. In the 2016 Assembly polls, Opposition leaders had accused Kumar, who was the Kolkata police chief at the time, of tapping their phones.

The ex-DGP has been moved to the Information and Technology department, a non-election related assignment, and, as an interim arrangement.

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The decision to shift Kumar was taken as the officer was removed earlier too from active election management-related duty during the 2016 assembly election in the state and in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, poll panel sources pointed out.

In 2019, the Central Bureau of Investigation had knocked on Kumars door in connection to the Saradha chit fund scam.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had sparked the controversy while speaking at a rally that was called to commemorate the conclusion of Bharat Jodo Yatra in Mumbai

Shakti has come to hog Indian political discourse as the country inches closer to a long, and expectedly tortuous, Lok Sabha elections. Congress scion Rahul Gandhi thundered that he was fighting against Shakti. He situated that shakti in the context of the Hindu religion. The BJP and PM Narendra Modi have taken Gandhi to the cleaners, embellishing yet more the anti-Hindu credentials of the grand old party.

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Not at all good optics for the Congress that is entering the polls as part of the love-hate infested I.N.D.I. Alliance.

PM Modi, meanwhile, has not just painted Gandhi and the INDI Alliance in anti-Hindu hues, but also extrapolated to thrash the Opposition for being anti-women, since shakti in Hinduism is invariably associated with the female energy in multifarious forms, both mythologically as well as profanely.

Women are the embodiment of Shakti. Ironically, from Shivaji Park, INDI Alliance made it clear they wanted to destroy Shakti. I accept their challenge. And, I assure them that I will thwart every effort of theirs to destroy Shakti, PM Modi wrote on X.

In yet another post on X, the prime minister wrote: INDI Alliance said in its manifesto that their fight is against shakti, whereas for me every mother and every daughter is a form of shakti. I am a worshiper of Bharat Ma, hence I will risk my life to protect my shakti-swarupa mother, sisters and daughters.

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Can someone talk about the destruction of Shakti? We dedicated the success of the Chandrayaan mission by naming the point where Chandrayaan landed as Shiv Shakti The fight is between those who want to destroy Shakti and those who worship Shakti, PM Modi thundered in Telanganas Jagtial.

The contest will be decided on June 4, he dared the Opposition.

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BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla called Gandhis statement as misogynistic.

Rahul Gandhi in front of Uddhav Thackeray at Shivaji Park, says it very clearly, Hindu dharm has something called Shakti, and we are fighting Shakti. This is the unbridled hatred that Congress and INDI Alliance have for Hinduism, Poonawalla said.

We all know that Udayanidhi Stalin called for the elimination of Sanatana Dharma; A Raja said hes fighting Lord Ram. No action was taken. A series of INDI Alliance members have said that Hindu dharma is a dhokha; Ramcharitmanas is potassium cyanide. Congress party has a long history of Hindu hatred, from denying the existence of Lord Ram to making the statement about Shakti, he added.

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Khushbu Sundar, another BJP leader, spelled out Gandhis gaffe more clearly. Not surprised at this comment made by @Rahul Gandhi. Someone needs to remind him, #Shakti resonates with women. The word Shakti derives from the inner strength of Ma Durga and Kaali. The inner strength every woman possesses, including respected Smt #SoniaGandhi ji, Sundar wrote on X.

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Not surprised at this comment made by @RahulGandhi . Someone needs to remind him, #Shakti resonates with women. The word Shakti drives from the inner strength of Ma Durga and Kaali. The inner strength every woman possesses, including respected Smt #SoniaGandhi ji. Shakti is not https://t.co/wyMPLBNHfV  KhushbuSundar (Modi ka Parivaar) (@khushsundar) March 18, 2024

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Shakti is not about Hinduism, its about courage to fight the odds and the evils, she added. Please do your homework well Mr. Gandhi or kindly ask your team to educated you about it or brief you well about a subject. Your hate towards Hinduism is so evident. Clear signs CONgress on its way to the grave.

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Rahul Gandhi had sparked the controversy while speaking at a rally that was called to commemorate the conclusion of Bharat Jodo Yatra in Mumbai.

In Hinduism, there is a term called Shakti. We are fighting against that Shakti. The question is, what is that Shakti? The soul of the King is in the EVM. The soul of the King in the

EVM and every institution of the country, in ED, CBI and Income Tax department, Gandhi had said in the presence of INDIA bloc bigwigs.
New Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is not the first banker Pakistani politicians have chosen to improve their economy. His predecessors could do really nothing because Pakistan has to change its ideology

More than two decades ago, I told a Pakistani diplomat, Tum sabki ghulami karne ko tayyar ho lakin hamse dosti karne ko nahi (You are willing to be a slave to everyone but remain unwilling to develop any friendship with us).

At that stage, I was handling Indias relations with Pakistan as a middle-level officer at the Ministry of External Affairs. Naturally, the Pakistani diplomat was not pleased with my blunt comment. Ever since I made what some of my former diplomatic colleagues would call a completely undiplomatic comment, I have again and again recalled it.

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It has been strongly playing in my mind these days as Pakistan, under the PML (N) and PPP alliance governments, seeks to repair its dysfunctional economy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has clearly told his people that the first task of his government is to do so. There is no doubt that he has the support of his alliance partner, which is supporting the government from the outside, but also of the military to put the economy right.

What the Pakistani political class and no doubt the Pakistani army also know in their heart of hearts is that the Pakistani economy cannot be fixed unless the country is willing to change course on India. That would mean it would have to develop cooperative and good neighbourly ties with what it considers its permanent enemy.

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There is no indication that the Pakistani establishment is willing to change course on India. Hence, despite whatever help China and other donors may give, Shehbaz Sharifs aim that Pakistan should develop sufficiently to become a member of the G20 by 2030 simply cannot be achieved. As stated, some issues connected with Pakistans present economic crisis need analysis.

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Ever since the new government took office, PM Sharif has sought to give confidence to the Pakistani business community and its donors that he is serious about economic reform and growth. He has sent out signals; the first of these was to avoid appointing Ishaq Dar, his brother Nawaz Sharifs all-time favourite choice as Finance Minister, to helm the Finance Ministry. He has made Dar foreign minister but has given the finance ministry to a well-known professional banker, Muhammad Aurangzeb, who has had no previous political experience.

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Aurangzeb has had a good reputation as a banker. He will be able to engage with the IMF and finance ministry officials of donor countries in the language of economics and finance. He will seek to remove their scepticism about Pakistans will for economic reform. He will seek to smooth the way for the IMF to release the remaining tranche of the present loan agreement. Even after that, it is most likely Pakistan will have to go to the IMF for another loan. Why?

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In an article carried on an international news website, one of Pakistans leading journalists recently wrote, A new programme with the global lender is necessary for the country, which is currently burdened by more than $130 billionat least a third of its gross domestic productin external debts. Pakistan was scheduled to repay $24 billion by June this year but managed to secure some relief from bilateral creditors through rollovers. The country has now to repay nearly $5 billion before the end of the fiscal year in June. Meanwhile, Pakistans current foreign currency stocks stand at a paltry $7.8 billion, enough to cover just about eight weeks of imports.

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It is not only external debt and its restructuring that Aurangzeb will have to grapple with. It is also a fact that Pakistan is in a classic debt trap because its current government revenues are insufficient to meet its debt payments. Hence, it has to raise debt to repay current debt payments or to get them deferred. That only means pushing the can down the road. The IMF loans and the tough conditions that they prescribe have always been controversial, not only in Pakistan but all over the developing world.

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Developing countries have always asserted that the IMF ignores the realities of their conditions, where development has to go hand in hand with considerations of the welfare of the poorest sections of society who need to be subsidised.

Be that as it may, the fact is that no country can perpetually live beyond its means. If it does, the only path is to economic ruin. And Pakistan has lived for far too long beyond its means.

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As this writer has noted earlier, no one wants a country with nuclear weapons to become economically destabilised, but donors are now getting impatient with Pakistans unwillingness to change its ways.

PM Sharif has warned his people that the countrys economic situation needs radical solutions. However, the first few steps that he has announced do not seem to indicate that he is willing to explore the real reasons for Pakistans current economic distress. He said that the requirements of the army would be met.

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The fact is that the Pakistani army not only gets a disproportionate portion of the governments revenues but also the armys economic enterprises, which have made it the countrys leading economic group. Indeed, no other army in the region, with the exception of the Myanmar army, imposes such a heavy burden on the people.

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Apart from assurances to the army, Shehbaz has also asked that wasteful government expenditures be eliminated. This may be a popular palliative, but it is no substitute for creating conditions for domestic and foreign investors to look at the country favourably.

As part of the process, Pakistan has to raise labour productivity, and that can only be done if it radically changes its educational policy, which is getting more and more suffused with religious overtones.

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Another tired mantra that Sharif has reiterated is the support of China and the fact that this iron brother will help in improving Pakistans economy. The CPEC, which is Chinas flagship BRI programme, was supposed to help transform Pakistans economy. That was the grand hope with which Chinese and Pakistani leadersindeed, Shehbaz Sharifs brother Nawaz Shariflaunched the CPEC in 2013. In this period of eleven years, it has helped ease the electric power situation in the country, but nothing more. Even here, Sharif complained that the sustainability of power companies was becoming difficult because of power theft.

All things considered, Pakistan needs to change its course entirely if it wishes to move out of its present economic morass. That has to begin with a changed approach towards India. So long as it continues to persist with its anti-India obsession, it will continue to remain on an economic drip. This is because the army will continue to maintain its grip on the countrys politics and resources. It will also continue to maintain the infrastructure of terrorism and extremist thought.

Aurangzeb is not the first banker Pakistani politicians have chosen to improve their economy. His predecessors could do really nothing because Pakistan has to change its ideology and because the countrys political and strategic classes, which include the army, are unwilling to do so. Hence, Aurangzebs position is unenviable, and his ultimate failure is almost certain.

The writer is a former Indian diplomat who served as Indias Ambassador to Afghanistan and Myanmar, and as secretary, the Ministry of External Affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
We, as a democracy, have managed to cross the hurdles and provide full transparency to our citizens with regards to political financial contributions. This should be celebrated and not just used as a weapon for political mudslinging

In mid-February earlier this year, after a long legal campaign, the Supreme Court of India banned electoral bonds, a source of funding for elections. According to the system of electoral bonds, these bonds must be bought from the State Bank of India but can be donated to political parties anonymously.

This scheme, which had been under scrutiny for a while, was criticised by the top court for putting a premium on opacity and for its potential to be used as a means for money laundering.

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Since the verdict, after many nudges from the Supreme Court, the State Bank of India has finally released their data on the electoral bonds, the names of the purchasers, and the political parties they had donated to.

Since this information has been made public, there has been considerable brouhaha, with some pointing fingers at our current administration for having received a large amount of donations through the now banned electoral bond scheme and insinuating that this amounts to corruption. While we, as a democracy, should welcome the verdict of the highest court of our land and embrace transparency, the surrounding buzz feels misplaced.

What were these electoral bonds? They were a form of political donation, and though the reason for banning them, which was a lack of transparency and the already mentioned possibilities of misuse, is valid, it hardly amounts to bribery or corruption.

In the realm of politics, financial contributions play an important role in the shaping of democratic processes.

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Though some feel that money plays an outsized role in elections, the reality is that an adequately funded campaign is often directly related to successful election outcomes.

Political spending by individuals or organisations supporting candidates, parties, or causes makes such donations an essential component of electoral campaigns and policy making.

While the noisy criticism is targeting our government by using the data released by SBI, in reality, in most democracies around the world, individuals, organisations, and corporations are allowed to make such donations. Running a political campaign and the administration of a nation cost money.

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The political donor database often serves as a crucial element for candidates who do not come from generational wealth or political dynasty families and rely on these contributors to fund their campaigns.

Funds are often used to cover essential expenses like advertising, travel, staff salaries, and voter outreach. Without adequate funding, independent or fresh politicians will always struggle to reach their constituents and communicate their platforms effectively.

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In fact, if data shows that a particular party or candidate has received a larger number of donations than the others, instead of proving any other point, what it demonstrates is who the citizens of this country and its economic ecosystem are willing to put their money behind.

As John Brumby, a member of the Australian Labour Party and the former Premier of Victoria, once said, It is the democratic right of businesses and people to donate to the party.

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Numbers and names released by the SBI are being tossed around by the Indian mainstream media right now, with people using the information that the Centres ruling party is the highest beneficiary of these donations to accuse them of corruption. These claims are unsubstantiated, misled, and, above all, show a worrying mistrust of our solid democracy. Let us examine political donations and their actual influence on policy.

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In a 2017 study by Jorg Spenkuch, a professor of managerial economics and decision sciences at Kellogg School of Management, US, and two co authors, Northwesterns economics doctoral student Harritz Garo and University of Chicagos political scientist Antony Fowler, used an innovative approach to put the quid pro quo or the trade of systems to the test.

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To their surprise, they found no evidence that campaign contributions in the US produce any big benefits for corporations. Just tabulating the amount of money in politics does not tell us anything about what the political process would be like if corporations werent allowed in, Spenkuch said.

To understand whether companies were impacted when they backed a winning party, the authors of the study turned to a tried and tested metric: the companys stock price.

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The authors wanted to see whether, in the days following an election, the stock of companies that gave money to winners performed better across the board than those that gave money to losers. Their rationale was that shareholders would know which candidates the companies had supported and how that would impact the companies post-election.

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Thus, shareholder expectations are a good proxy for how an election would support the companys future success. Going into the study, they expected that companies would derive significant favours from these donations, but they were in for a surprise. On average, the victory of a companys preferred candidate led to its stock price increasing by just 0.05 per cent. This number is so insignificant that it might as well just be considered a fluke.

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Moving back closer home, Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited (MEIL), a major infrastructure company headquartered in Hyderabad, is the second biggest buyer of these electoral bonds, having donated 1,200 crores in the past five years. Their company valuation actually decreased 20.1 per cent YoY (year-over-year growth that compares a companys recent financial performance with its numbers for the same month one year ago) at the end of 2022 and has had no unusually remarkable or unexpected jumps in valuation since.

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All major democracies in the world have their own systems of political funding; countries like the US prefer schemes such as traditional Political Action Committees (PACs), social welfare organisations, and Super PACs that facilitate anonymity and mostly receive contributions through shell corporations. The US is currently struggling with dark money, which refers to political contributions received from anonymous donors that these Super PACs make possible.

Though a 2010 US Supreme Court decision prohibited the use of corporate money in elections, since then dark money or corporate contributions have added enormously to election spending while information identifying the contributors has become less available.

We, as a democracy, have managed to cross these hurdles and provide full transparency to our citizens with regards to political financial contributions. This should be celebrated and not just used as a weapon for political mudslinging.

As citizens who are invested in the integrity of our democracy, it is imperative to remain informed about election finance regulations, request transparency from our representatives, and engage in meaningful discussions about necessary reform.

To prudently discuss the topic of corporate money in politics, we need to evaluate the entire picture and not just non-conformist anecdotes.

The author is a freelance journalist and features writer based out of Delhi. Her main areas of focus are politics, social issues, climate change and lifestyle-related topics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
A hegemon exercising an overarching influence over the weaker states based on sheer brute power is not a characteristic feature of Indian strategic thought

The ambitious dreams of the grand US-India strategic partnership and bonhomie always get punctured by Washington's discomfort with New Delhis stance on issues of critical geopolitical importance to the US. REUTERS/File Photo

During the early phase of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India faced tremendous pressure from the West, particularly the US, to align with the US-led Western bloc and condemn Russia in unequivocal terms.

However, India maintained its principled stand of strategic neutrality, calling both sides for the immediate cessation of hostilities, end to the violence, and to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue. Indias position discomforts many Western capitals, particularly Washington.

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In todays polarised geopolitical discourse, Indias hallmark diplomatic behaviour on various global conflicts, which turns out to be a tightrope balancing between the rival power blocs and nations, does not sit well with the Western International Relations theoreticians and foreign ministries.

The discomfort and unease in bilateral relations can be witnessed in the India-US relationship.

Despite an array of technological and strategic agreements like BECA, LEMOA, and COMCASA, and the common consensus on the emerging challenge of Chinese revisionism, one finds that there is an acute sense of misunderstanding and lack of trust between New Delhi and Washington.

These frictions are visible in several instances, be it the US sermonising India on so-called democratic backsliding, press freedom, minority issues, and human rights; or the recent diplomatic stand-off between Canada and India over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjhar with alleged Indian involvement; or US accusations of the Indian agencies conspiring to kill Khalistani extremist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun.

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The ambitious dreams of the grand US-India strategic partnership and bonhomie always get punctured by Washingtons discomfort with New Delhis stance on issues of critical geopolitical importance to the US.

Today, when Chinese revisionism presents a common challenge to both the US and India, both countries do not see eye to eye on many issues, and one hardly finds any steam in the India-US partnership besides purely transactional technology, defence, and intelligence sharing agreements.

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On closer scrutiny of the facts, it seems that the US is not able to understand the nature and roots of Indias diplomatic behaviour. This lack of understanding comes from the fundamental difference in the geopolitical thought of India and the Western world.

The expert voices in the Indian establishment feel that due to this lack of understanding on the part of the US, the US is not able to accept Indias geopolitical posturing. At the same time, when the US government is in crosshairs with India on issues of democracy, human rights, minorities, and the recent Canada-India row, it is perceived as a bully in Indian popular perception.

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The US needs to understand that Indias stance on the Ukraine issue is not a novelty; instead, in essence, it has always been there, after the emergence of India as a sovereign nation.

During the Cold War, India adopted a non-alignment policy, refusing to align with the Western and Soviet power blocs. However, by the 1970s, India came closer to the USSR because of the overt American support to Pakistan over the Bangladesh issue and the resultant India-Pakistan war. Also, with Russia, India shared socialist sentiments and a rich civilisational connect.

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Despite this tilt towards the Soviets, India reasonably maintained its strategic autonomy. Deeper analysis of Indias history and civilisational ethos suggests that in the Indian world view on statecraft, foreign policy, diplomacy, and war, there is hardly any place for seeing the world in terms of the binaries.

Indias historical and civilisational experience has not witnessed the division of the world into alliances and blocs based on ideological differences.

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The concepts of isms and us versus them were not entirely absent; however, they were never the dominant vectors.

Likewise, the hegemon exercising an overarching influence over the weaker states based on sheer and brute power is also not a characteristic feature of Indian strategic thought.

Indian thought places a high premium on multipolarity in global affairs, where the states retain strategic autonomy and the freedom to pursue independent foreign policy based on their geography, core national interests, and values.

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In such a set-up, the powerful states, or so-called hegemon in Western parlance, do exist, but one rarely comes across the hegemon exercising overriding powers over the weaker states, conquering them by force, blatantly interfering in their internal affairs, forcing humiliating treaties and alliances upon them, and dictating values and beliefs on them.

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Not that such aggressive hegemons have not existed and conquered territories in ancient Indian history, but such behaviour was not accepted as the standard and mainstream behaviour of a powerful state.

The best example of Indias multipolar international relations set-up comes from the 16 Mahajanapadas of the Vedic era. The 16 Mahajanapadas were 16 sovereign states sprawling from Afghanistan to todays Bengal. Among them were powerful kingdoms like Kurus, Panchalas, and Magadhas; however, the powerful ones did not gobble up the smaller kingdoms as a standard practice. Even when the smaller states were defeated in wars and subjugated, it was mostly symbolic.

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In the rarest of the rare cases, the conquerors deposed the ruler and occupied the territory to rule. In fact, the wars were also for specific reasons, and importance was given to Dharma Yuddha (the righteous war), i.e., the war that was fought for the restoration of moral order, not for economic motives and territorial aggrandisement. For example, when Lord Ram defeated Ravana to rescue his wife Sita, whom the demon king of Lanka had abducted, he did not occupy his territory. He handed it over to Ravanas brother, Vibhishana.

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Likewise, in Mahabharata , when Lord Krishna deposed Jarasandha, the demon king who oppressed people and attacked smaller states, he did not assimilate his kingdom into his empire. Instead, he made Jarasandhas son the new ruler of Magadha.

Also, in this set-up of 16 Mahajanapadas, bilateral diplomacy was the most preferred and effective tool for conducting foreign policy instead of overarching and divisive military alliances.

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On the other hand, in the West, the alliance system has been a fundamental part of international relations. In Western historical experiences such as the European geopolitics of the 18th century, the First World War, the Second World War, and the Cold War, military alliances always took centre stage in diplomacy.

Delving deeper into the history of diplomacy, war, and statecraft in the West and India is not the key focus of this piece. However, suffice it to say that some of the fundamental tenets of Indias foreign policy, particularly the primacy of strategic autonomy, aversion to military alliances, strong displeasure and resilience against the pressure tactics of global powers, and preference for bilateral diplomacy and multipolarity in the world order, emanate from its strategic subconscious rooted in its collective civilisational-historical experience and ethos.

Today, it can be seen that India has successfully bypassed the pressure from the West. While fearlessly guarding its strategic autonomy, it has maintained an independent foreign policy based on its national interests, values, history, and geography. Be it the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the China-US rivalry, or the Israel-Hamas war, India has taken a principled stand of neutrality, not siding with any one side.

However, at the same time, Indias posture is not the pessimism of the fence-sitters. This approach to diplomacy can be defined as fearlessly taking reasoned, realistic, pragmatic, and value-based judgements on various global conflicts, listening to ones moral conscience and rationality amidst the dominant scenario of the majority of the states buckling under the pressure of the hegemons to take sides, resulting in polarisation and widening of the rift between the power blocs.

Indias activism in global affairs based on enlightened self-interest is evident in its stance on various global issues. For example, in the Ukraine-Russia case, as mentioned above, India called both parties to immediately end violence and return to diplomacy and dialogue. PM Modi categorically stated that this is not the era of war.

Also, India has found an effective way of navigating the polarised geopolitical landscape through its successful bilateral diplomacy. Over the last two years, India has developed robust bilateral strategic, defence, and economic ties with Greece and Armenia . India also enjoys strong bilateral relations with Germany, France, and Italy.

Recently, amidst the plummeting India-US ties, when the US president declined to attend Indias Republic Day ceremony as a chief guest, the French president replaced him.

With Russia, India enjoys excellent relationships based on trust and mutual respect. Even with China, its arch rival, despite the recent military standoffs in Galwan and eastern Ladakh, India has not closed the bilateral channels. India-China trade ties continue to grow stronger, and on boundary issues New Delhi continues to engage China in negotiations to resolve long-standing disputes amicably.

Though India and the US are on the same page vis-a-vis Chinas revisionist ambitions of world dominance and both countries do subscribe to the idea of a strong India-US strategic partnership to counter China, India carefully maintains a guarded distance from the US and abstains from tilting the balance completely in the favour of the US.

In another interesting example, India maintains strong bilateral ties with both Iran and Israel, the arch-rivals. In West Asia, PM Modi has built an excellent economic and strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Bahrain.

Most recently, Indias successful bilateral diplomacy resulted in Qatar releasing eight Indian nationals facing death- sentences on the charges of espionage. Giving heft to this clever bilateral diplomacy is PM Modis personal chemistry with many nation heads. Five Arab states have given their highest civilian awards to PM Modi, and the UAE has given land for the construction of a Hindu temple, which PM Modi recently inaugurated.

For a Hindu constituency, convincing a monarch of a Muslim state to allow the building of a Hindu temple is a terrific achievement.

Last but not least, India is taking its successful bilateral diplomacy experiment to the next level by investing in mini-laterals in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific. It can be argued that in the 21st century, Indias non-alignment has transformed into multi-alignment exercised through bilateralism and mini-lateralism.

Apparently, most of the above-mentioned countries have accepted Indias independent foreign policy and come to respect it. In many of my informal conversations with the members of Delhis diplomatic community, they have suggested that they have a high regard for Indias strategic autonomy.

Further, they said that India is a powerful nation that can afford to guard its independent foreign policy. Also, it enjoys a unique position to do so because of its history of taking a principled and non-aligned stand on global issues.

However, the US also needs to be a little more perceptive and understand Indias approach to international relations. Also, such an approach is an effective way to prevent the world community from falling into rival military alliances, thereby weakening the deterrence factor and enhancing the chances of a small localised conflict escalating into a world war with nuclear catastrophe.

Bilateralism and mini-lateralism help create an in-built system of checks and balances and prevent a small localised conflicts escalation into a global and regional war involving multiple actors.

The author is the founder and CEO of Usanas Foundation, a foreign policy and national security think tank. A Cornell University grad in public affairs, and the author of Radicalisation in India: An Exploration_. His latest book_ Terror Financing in Kashmir has been published by Routledge in December 2023. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._
We may soon see Googles Gemini, powering Apples upcoming iPhones, as far as the suite of AI features in concerned. Apple and Google are engaged in discussions as to how, the Cupertino-based tech giant can integrate Alphabet-backed Googles AI services into its devices

Not just Google, Apple is also in discussions with OpenAI and Anthropic, in search for an AI engine for the next iPhone. Image Credit: Reuters/Apple

In a potentially groundbreaking move, Apple Inc. is reportedly exploring the integration of Googles Gemini artificial intelligence engine into the iPhone, according to a Bloomberg report. This development, if true, could significantly reshape the landscape of the AI industry.

The discussions which are very much active involve negotiations between the two tech giants to allow Apple to license Gemini, Googles suite of generative AI models. The sources, who requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the deliberations, indicated that Apple has also engaged in talks with OpenAI, exploring the possibility of leveraging its model.

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Should an agreement be reached between Apple and Google, it would build upon their existing search partnership. For years, Google has paid Apple substantial sums to feature its search engine as the default option on Safari web browsers across Apple devices. However, the specifics regarding the terms, branding, and implementation of this potential AI agreement have yet to be finalized.

This partnership could grant Gemini access to a vast user base, given Apples extensive reach with over 2 billion active devices. Nonetheless, it may also indicate that Apples own advancements in AI technology are not as advanced as previously anticipated, potentially drawing further scrutiny from antitrust regulators.

While Apple is preparing new AI capabilities as part of iOS 18, its forthcoming operating system update, the focus remains on features that operate on-device rather than cloud-based functions. As a result, Apple is seeking a partner to handle the heavier computational tasks associated with generative AI, such as image creation and essay writing based on simple prompts.

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Representatives for both Apple and Google declined to comment on the matter, while OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment. Although Apple has been testing its own large language model codenamed Ajax since early last year, sources suggest that its technology still lags behind competitors like Google, making a partnership appear more favorable.

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A potential agreement with Apple would mark Googles most significant partnership for Gemini to date, offering a substantial boost to its AI endeavors. However, such collaboration between the two tech giants is likely to attract regulatory scrutiny, especially amid ongoing antitrust investigations into their existing search partnership.

While discussions between Apple and Google continue, any formal announcement is unlikely until Apples annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. It remains uncertain whether the negotiations will result in a final deal, or if Apple will opt for alternative generative AI providers like OpenAI or Anthropic. Nonetheless, Tim Cook, Apples CEO, has promised significant AI advancements this year, suggesting that transformative features are on the horizon for Apples platforms.

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(With inputs from agencies)
ASML is planning to expand its operations beyond the Netherlands and possibly move manufacturing out of the Netherlands, and is considering France as a destination. This is particularly interesting for China as the country hopes the move will take care of the sanctions on its chip makers

ASML has been barred by the Netherlands and the US from exporting their latest lithography and chipmaking tools to China. Image Credit: Reuters

ASML, the leading provider of advanced chip-making tools, is planning to expand its operations beyond its Dutch headquarters, with France emerging as a potential destination.

However, this development has stirred significant interest in China, where some speculate that Dutch export restrictions on semiconductor manufacturing equipment are prompting ASMLs potential relocation.

Recent reports by Reuters indicate that ASML is considering an expansion outside the Netherlands, with France being among the options. This move comes amidst growing restrictions imposed by the United States and the Netherlands on ASMLs sales to Chinese clients.

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Concerns over a deteriorating business environment, exacerbated by political shifts such as the far-right Party for Freedoms election victory in November, have further fueled ASMLs considerations.

While China may not be the primary consideration in ASMLs expansion plans, social media users and pundits in the country have projected their frustrations onto the European company.

Many believe that ASMLs potential relocation is a response to US-led pressure to limit sales to China, the worlds largest semiconductor market and a significant consumer of ASML products.

However, analysts argue that relocating to France would not alleviate ASMLs export control challenges, as US regulations restricting the sales of advanced equipment to China would likely apply regardless of location.

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Moreover, practical constraints, such as a lack of suppliers and a smaller customer base in France, make relocation impractical. Despite having offices in Germany and France, ASMLs engineer suggests that the overall possibility of relocation remains low due to higher costs.

ASMLs presence in China is substantial, with the country being one of its most important markets for lithographic tools crucial in advanced chip manufacturing. While tightened export controls have impacted ASMLs sales in China, demand for less advanced systems remains strong.

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Nonetheless, ASMLs potential expansion is not solely driven by geopolitical tensions with China. Analysts suggest that concerns over Dutch immigration policies, particularly in light of the Party for Freedoms stance, may also influence ASMLs decision.

The Dutch government is reportedly making efforts to address ASMLs concerns, including ensuring a steady supply of skilled workers, in an attempt to retain the companys presence in the Netherlands. However, ASMLs potential expansion underscores broader geopolitical challenges and the complex interplay between global economic forces and national interests.
A team of Israel-based researchers have found some severe privacy vulnerabilities inherent in several AI chatbots, including ChatGPT. While developers are encrypting their services, hackers can still break-in, using side-channel attacks

Most AI services, despite strong encryption protocols, fail to standup against side-channel attacks. Image Credit: Pexels

A recent study by researchers at Israels Ben-Gurion University has shed light on significant privacy vulnerabilities inherent in several AI chatbots, raising concerns about the security of private conversations.

According to Yisroel Mirsky, head of the Offensive AI Research Lab at Ben-Gurion University, malicious actors can exploit these vulnerabilities to eavesdrop on chats conducted through platforms like ChatGPT.

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Mirsky highlighted that individuals sharing the same Wi-Fi network or local area network (LAN) as the chat participants, or even remote malicious actors, can intercept and monitor conversations without detection.

The research report identifies these exploits as side-channel attacks, a method wherein third parties gather data passively through metadata or other indirect means rather than breaching security barriers.

Unlike traditional hacks that directly penetrate firewalls, side-channel attacks leverage weaknesses in encryption protocols. Despite encryption efforts by AI developers like OpenAI, Mirskys team discovered flaws in their encryption implementation, leaving message content susceptible to interception.

While side-channel attacks are generally less invasive, they pose significant risks, as demonstrated by the researchers ability to infer chat prompts with 55 per cent accuracy. This susceptibility makes sensitive topics easily detectable to malicious actors.

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Although the study primarily scrutinizes OpenAIs encryption practices, it suggests that most chatbots, excluding Googles Gemini, are susceptible to similar exploits.

Central to these vulnerabilities is the use of tokens by chatbots, which facilitate efficient communication between users and AI models. Although chatbot transmissions are typically encrypted, the tokens themselves create a vulnerability that was previously overlooked.

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Access to real-time token data enables malicious actors to infer conversation prompts, akin to overhearing a conversation through a closed door.

To substantiate their findings, Mirskys team employed a second AI model to analyze raw data acquired through the side-channel. Their experiments revealed a high success rate in predicting conversation prompts, underscoring the severity of the vulnerability.

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Responding to these concerns, Microsoft assured users that personal details are unlikely to be compromised by the exploit affecting its Copilot AI. However, the company pledged to address the issue promptly with updates to safeguard customers.

The implications of these vulnerabilities are profound, particularly concerning sensitive topics such as abortion and LGBTQ issues, where privacy is paramount. Exploitation of these vulnerabilities could have serious consequences, potentially endangering individuals seeking information on such topics.

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As the debate surrounding AI ethics and privacy intensifies, these findings underscore the urgent need for robust security measures to protect users privacy in AI-driven interactions.
SpaceX, apparently, has been awarded the contract to develop and manufacture a large constellation of spy satellites for the US Department of Defenses National Reconnaissance Office. Called Starshield, the satellites will operate as a coordinated swarm to monitor ground targets

The US has been increasingly getting dependant on SpaceX and Elon Musk for their space infrastructure. Image Credit: Reuters

In a significant development for the US national security efforts, SpaceX has reportedly been awarded a contract by the Presiden Joe Biden-led US Department of Defenses National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to develop and manufacture a vast constellation of low-orbiting surveillance satellites as per a Reuters report.

This network, dubbed Starshield, is expected to revolutionize the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the US, by operating as a coordinated swarm to monitor ground targets with unprecedented precision.

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According to the Reuters report, SpaceXs involvement in this ambitious project builds upon earlier disclosures by The Wall Street Journal, which uncovered a $1.8 billion contract signed in 2021 between SpaceX and an undisclosed government agency.

Starshield aims to establish a comprehensive surveillance apparatus utilizing a multitude of small imaging satellites working in tandem with relay satellites for seamless data transmission.

The envisioned result is a continuous stream of high-resolution imagery covering every corner of the globe, enhancing the United States intelligence-gathering capabilities to unprecedented levels.

A source speaking to Reuters underscored the potential of this network to render concealment virtually impossible.

Although neither SpaceX nor the NRO have officially confirmed the companys engagement in the endeavour, an NRO spokesperson conveyed to Reuters the agencys commitment to developing an unparalleled space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system.

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This latest contract adds to SpaceXs growing portfolio in the realm of national security space initiatives. Recent reports indicated that SpaceX secured a $70 million deal with the Space Force to furnish satellite communications under the Starshield program.

Its worth noting that SpaceX founder Elon Musk has delineated Starshield as a distinct venture from the civilian-focused Starlink constellation, emphasizing its exclusive dedication to governmental and national security objectives.

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(With inputs from agencies)
Taiwans TSMC is looking to expand outside Taiwan, and plans to set up an advanced silicon packaging capacity in Japan. The semicon giant is looking to set up a chip-on-wafer-on substrate (CoWoS) packaging technology in the country

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, TSMC is reportedly planning to set up an advanced silicon packaging capacity in Japan, sources familiar with the matter disclosed, signalling a potential stride in Japans semiconductor industry revitalization efforts.

The discussions are in preliminary stages, the sources noted, opting to remain anonymous due to the non-public nature of the information. One avenue being explored by the semiconductor behemoth involves the introduction of its chip-on-wafer-on substrate (CoWoS) packaging technology to Japan, as revealed by one source briefed on the matter.

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CoWoS, a cutting-edge technology, entails stacking chips atop one another, thereby enhancing processing capabilities while conserving space and reducing power consumption. Presently, all of TSMCs CoWoS capacity resides in Taiwan. No definitive decisions regarding the scale or timeline of potential investments have been reached, according to the source. TSMC, formerly known as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., declined to provide comments on the matter.

Global demand for advanced semiconductor packaging has surged in tandem with the artificial intelligence boom, prompting chipmakers like TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and Intel to ramp up capacity.

TSMCs Chief Executive C.C. Wei announced plans in January to double CoWoS output this year, with further expansions slated for 2025. Meanwhile, TSMC divulged intentions to augment advanced packaging capacity in Chiayi, southern Taiwan, to meet robust market demand, albeit without specifying details.

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Construction of a new CoWoS facility in Chiayi is scheduled to commence in early May, as per statements attributed to Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan by Taiwans Central News Agency.

By bolstering advanced packaging capabilities, TSMC aims to extend its footprint in Japan, where it recently inaugurated one plant and announced another, both situated on the southern island of Kyushu, a pivotal chipmaking hub. TSMC has forged partnerships with firms such as Sony and Toyota, with total investments in the Japanese venture anticipated to exceed $20 billion.

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Moreover, TSMC established an advanced packaging research and development center in Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, in 2021. Japans robust semiconductor materials and equipment ecosystem, coupled with burgeoning investments in chip fabrication capacity and a stable customer base, positions the country favorably to assume a larger role in advanced packaging, noted a senior official at Japans industry ministry.

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However, TrendForce analyst Joanne Chiao cautioned that TSMCs potential advanced packaging venture in Japan might be constrained in scale, as demand for CoWoS packaging within Japan remains uncertain. Most of TSMCs current CoWoS customers are based in the United States, Chiao added.

TSMCs endeavours in Japan thus far have been buoyed by substantial subsidies from the Japanese government, which views semiconductor production as integral to its economic security following setbacks vis-a-vis South Korea and Taiwan.

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Concurrently, Intel is reportedly contemplating the establishment of an advanced packaging research facility in Japan to deepen collaborations with local chip supply chain firms, according to sources familiar with the matter. Samsung, meanwhile, is setting up an advanced packaging research facility in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, with government backing. Additionally, the South Korean chipmaker is engaging in discussions with Japanese and other companies regarding material procurement as it endeavours to leverage packaging technology to catch up in high-bandwidth memory chips, as reported by Reuters.

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(With inputs from agencies)
OSAKA, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - The Osaka Prefectural Police announced that they had arrested a teenager for possessing plant material suspected of being marijuana under the Cannabis Control Law, but later released him after no cannabis components were detected in the plant material.

On March 13, the Osaka Prefectural Police arrested a teenager residing in the prefecture for allegedly possessing plant material resembling marijuana in his backpack. During the police investigation, the teenager explained that the material was not marijuana. According to the police, officers at the scene conducted a preliminary test on the plant material, which showed a reaction similar to that of marijuana, leading to the teenager's arrest. However, subsequent testing by the Scientific Research Institute did not detect any cannabis components, and the teenager was released.

The Osaka Prefectural Police admitted to the wrongful arrest, stating, "We apologize to the individual who was arrested. We will strive to prevent such incidents from happening again."

Source: ABCTVnews
The rights watchdog said that Russian authorities have over the past decade sought to suppress Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar identities through multiple restrictions, including in education, religion, media and the judicial system

A view shows Red Square, which is closed during preparation for a rally and concert marking the anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea, in Moscow, Russia. Reuters

Amnesty International stated on Monday that Russia has attempted to stifle the Black Sea peninsulas Ukrainian identity since annexing Crimea ten years ago, and that the same set of rules is being applied to other annexated areas of Ukraine.

After Crimea voted in a referendum that the West declared to be invalid to secede from Ukraine, Russia officially seized the peninsula in March 2014.

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A pro-Russian uprising in eastern Ukraine was supported by Moscow later that year, and eight years later, President Vladimir Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of the pro-Western nation.

Russia said in September 2022 that it had seized four additional Ukrainian regions: Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south, and Donetsk and Lugansk in the east.

In 10 years of occupation, Russia has done everything in its power to delegitimise Ukraines sovereignty over Crimea, Amnesty said, describing policies Moscow has used to alter the ethnic makeup of the peninsula.

These policies appear to be a blueprint for Russias designs on other areas of Ukraine it occupies.

The report described attempts to reshape the demographic makeup of Crimea, which is also home to Crimean Tatars who largely boycotted the disputed referendum in 2014.

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Many members of the Muslim minority could not forgive Moscow for the horrors their families went through during forced deportations in 1944 under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

Egregious indoctrination

The rights watchdog said that Russian authorities have over the past decade sought to suppress Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar identities through multiple restrictions, including in education, religion, media and the judicial system.

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Changes to the curriculum and the almost total eradication of Ukrainian language tuition are designed to ensure that younger generations will lack the knowledge and awareness to challenge the Russian narrative surrounding Crimeas history, the report said.

This is reinforced by the silencing of all independent media, the suppression of religious minorities and their practices, and the interdiction of cultural celebrations.

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People in Crimea have been obliged to accept Russian passports or face the deprivation of their human rights, denial of access to essential services and even risk being deported, Amnesty said.

Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine has dramatically worsened the crackdown over any expression of support for Ukraine or for mere suspicion of disloyalty to the occupying Russian authorities, the watchdog said.

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The report cited punishment measures such as work dismissal, fines, house searches, detention and arbitrary arrest and prosecution.

Amnesty said that similar policies were being carried out in other territories of Ukraine currently occupied by Russia.

The watchdog said it had documented the egregious indoctrination and coercion carried out by Russian authorities in schools in the occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions and other occupied territories.

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The report was released following a three-day stage-managed presidential vote expected to see Putin, 71, win another six-year term. He ran unopposed and a month after his top critic Alexei Navalny, 47, died suddenly in an Arctic prison.

Voting was also organised in the five occupied territories of Ukraine, including Crimea.
Bilateral trade and discussions on security are likely to be in the spotlight during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yis diplomatic tour of New Zealand and Australia. This is the top officials first visit to the island nations since 2017

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has made the first stop during his diplomatic tour of Australia and New Zealand. The trip is significant since it is the top ambassadors first visit to either country since 2017.

During the first leg of the whistle-stop tour, Wang met Winston Peters, New Zealands Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, on Monday (local time). Later this week, Wang is set to meet Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra.

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Here are 5 things that are likely on Wang Yis docket for these meetings:

1 - Trade with New Zealand: China is New Zealands largest trading partner. The island nations top exports to the Asian giant include dairy, meat, and wood products. Chinas top exports to New Zealand include machinery and vehicles. Bilateral trade between the two nations, which signed a free trade agreement back in 2008, is likely a high priority during the current talks, especially as China grapples with slowing economic growth back home.

2 - AUKUS: Just last month, Beijing had warned Wellington over its interest in the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) security partnership. New Zealand expressed interest in joining the second pillar of the alliance, which focuses on sharing advanced military technologies. China views AUKUS as part of the US efforts to counter Beijings growing influence in the region and has repeatedly accused the alliance of encouraging nuclear proliferation.

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3 - Trade tariffs on Australia: In 2020, China responded to Australia barring Huawei from 5G contracts and calling for an independent probe into the origins of Covid-19. Beijing imposed tariffs and trade barriers on key exports in 2020. A series of trade disputes between the company raged on for three long years. It was only recently that these were resolved all additional tariffs, except those on wine, rock lobsters and some abattoirs, were removed. On March 12, Bloomberg reported that China has proposed lifting punitive tariffs on wine as well.

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4 - Yang Hengjun: According to AP, the dialogue between the Chinese and Australian foreign ministers is expected to center on Yang Hengjun, a Chinese-Australian writer and businessman, who was arrested in China on espionage charges and handed a suspended death sentence.

5 - Chinas posturing in the Indo-Pacific: Australia and China have often clashed on the latters growing clout in the Pacific region. Australia is a member of groupings- like AUKUS, Five Eyes, and Quad- that China has overtly displayed its dislike of. The ministers dialogue is likely to touch upon their strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific as well.

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With inputs from agencies
Following gang violence that have raged throughout Haiti in recent weeks, forcing many people to the verge of starving, the countrys major airport in Port-au-Prince is still closed. As the situation escalated over the weekend, government and relief groups reported theft of assistance supplies

According to US State Department authorities, a charter aeroplane carrying several US citizens who were escaping the escalating gang violence in Haiti touched down in Miami on Sunday.

According to a statement from authorities, the government-chartered flight carried over thirty US citizens. After the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince earlier this month advised US citizens to evacuate as soon as possible as turmoil engulfs Haiti, it finally arrived at Miami International Airport.

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Boston-based passenger Avlot Quessa travelled from the middle of the nation to catch the charter flight after visiting his mother in Haiti last month for what was intended to be a week-long visit.

Its just terrible  The suffering, you can only imagine, Quessa told the Miami Herald of the nearby Caribbean nation. Haiti is my homeland and its very stressful to see the homeland going through this act of violence, destruction  and they are our neighbors.

Following gang violence that have raged throughout Haiti in recent weeks, forcing many people to the verge of starving, the countrys major airport in Port-au-Prince is still closed. As the situation escalated over the weekend, government and relief groups reported theft of assistance supplies.

On Saturday, the State Department declared that it would provide limited charter flights from the less turbulent northern city of Cap-Haitien to U.S. citizens.

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The officials advised US residents to consider charter flights only if you think you can reach Cap-Haitien airport safely and stated that they were unable to offer ground transportation to Cap-Haitien.

We encourage US citizens still in Haiti who seek to depart to contact the Department of State using the crisis intake form on our website if they have not already done so, the agency said.

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People taking the US government-coordinated flights must sign a promissory bill agreeing to reimburse the government.

Another passenger on Sundays flight, Marie Lucie St. Fleur, 69, of West Palm Beach, said she feels most at home in Haiti and it pains her to see what her homeland is enduring.

I dont feel well at all. I would like to live in my country and I cant, she said while sitting in a wheelchair.

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The State Department said government officials in Miami were helping the newly arrived evacuees to determine their next steps.

The US military last week flew in additional forces to bolster security at the US Embassy, which is in a neighborhood largely controlled by gangs.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, the number of individuals experiencing catastrophic hunger in the Gaza Strip has increased to 1.1 million, or nearly half of the population

According to a U.N.-backed research released on Monday, famine is predicted to strike the northern Gaza Strip between now and May, where 300,000 people are still confined due to conflict.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, the number of individuals experiencing catastrophic hunger in the Gaza Strip has increased to 1.1 million, or nearly half of the population.

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Famine is now projected and imminent in the North Gaza and Gaza Governorates and is expected to become manifest during the projection period from mid-March 2024 to May 2024, it said.

Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers conducted a second attack early on Monday on the main hospital in the Gaza Strip, claiming that Hamas terrorists had reassembled there and were firing on them from inside the compound, where tens of thousands of civilians were reportedly seeking refuge, according to Palestinian sources.

The military claimed to have killed an armed Hamas commander who was hiding inside the medical facility, along with one of its own soldiers.

The last time the army attacked Shifa Hospital was in November, they said that Hamas kept a sophisticated command center both within and underneath the building. The military disclosed weaponry they claimed were discovered within the hospital, along with a tunnel that led to many subterranean chambers. However, the facts did not support the earlier assertions, and detractors charged the army of recklessly endangering the lives of civilians.

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The most recent results of the World Food Programs Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, an international method for determining the scope of hunger crises, were made public on Monday. Two of its three requirements, the overall scarcity of food and the prevalence of malnutrition, were believed to have likely already been reached by the UN-backed Integrated Food-Security Phase Classification, or IPC, which formally classifies famines.

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The third criterion, death rates, was not fully covered by the available data. However, it was anticipated that residents in the impacted areas would soon be at a famine-level of starvation and malnutrition, and that this may already be the case for children under four.

(With ageny inputs)
As the healthcare system continues to dwindle, Haiti now has only one operational public hospital in the capital city of Port au Prince. In the last two weeks, several hospitals have been set on fire and doctors have been murdered while medical supplies including essential medicines dried up

A member of the Dominican Republic security forces stand guard as Haitian citizens get off a truck to be deported on the border between Haiti and Dominican Republic, as gang violence continues. Reuters

Haitis already disarrayed healthcare system is at risk of collapsing, aid workers have said as the Caribbean nation reels under gang violence, leaving little to no hope for the treatment of victims caught in fire.

As the healthcare system continues to dwindle, Haiti now has only one operational public hospital in the capital city of Port au Prince. In the last two weeks, several hospitals have been set on fire and doctors have been murdered while medical supplies including essential medicines dried up.

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Mackynzie Archer, a consultant advising leading medical NGOs in Haiti said, The healthcare system in Port-au-Prince is basically nonexistent, adding that the situation is deteriorating quickly.

In what has become the worst case of violence in Haitis history, with its prime minister forced to step down from his duties, fighting between the armed gangs has paralysed the countrys capital.

Residents reduced to nomads

The gang violence in the Caribbean nation has forced thousands to flee their homes, with the United Nations estimates saying more than 360,000 people have been displaced in the country.

Haitis woes dont end here. With street fighting spiking in recent weeks, hospitals are forced to shut their doors to emergency patients as healthcare institutions are unable to get the staff, power, or supplies they need to treat patients.

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Residents of Port-au-Prince have been reduced to forced nomads, constantly moving between neighbourhoods, seeking refuge with relatives or strangers, or residing in temporary shelter, said Laurent Uwumuremyi, director for Haiti at the American charity Mercy Corps.

Doctors say that armed bandits are looting and destroying hospitals as they ravage cities across the country.

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Talking to the New York Times, Dr Ronald V LaRoche said, They took everything  the operating rooms, the X-rays, everything from the labs and the pharmacies. Imagine! They are taking windows from hospitals! Doors!

Healthcare workers scared to step out

Amid this, healthcare workers are staying at home to avoid being caught in the crossfire or assassinated by teenagers for treating police officials or rival gang members.

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Last week, Dr Nathalie Barthelemy Laurent was killed near her home in Port au Prince after her car was attacked.

According to BBC reporters, there is no medical staff present at the State University of Haiti hospital, one of the main medical care centres in the country.
Grossi said that a team of Iraqi experts would visit the agencys headquarters in Vienna in a few days to hold meetings to set out a road map for the Iraqi peaceful nuclear programme amid growing interest in nuclear energy in the region, including among Arab Gulf countries

Iraq in the past had three nuclear reactors in Tuwaitha, its main nuclear research site, south of Baghdad Image Courtesy Reuters

In Baghdad on Monday, Rafael Grossi, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency, held a meeting with the prime minister of Iraq as part of his tour to assist the nation in creating a peaceful nuclear program.

We have discussed several projects in Iraq, including building a nuclear reactor for peaceful purposes, Iraqi Education Minister Naim al-Aboudi told reporters following a meeting between Grossi and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

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Grossi said that a team of Iraqi experts would visit the agencys headquarters in Vienna in a few days to hold meetings to set out a road map for the Iraqi peaceful nuclear programme amid growing interest in nuclear energy in the region, including among Arab Gulf countries.

We see that in the (United Arab) Emirates, we see that in Egypt, we will see that in Saudi Arabia and of course we should see it here in Iraq, Grossi told reporters.

Iraq in the past had three nuclear reactors in Tuwaitha, its main nuclear research site, south of Baghdad. One was destroyed by an Israeli air raid in 1981 and the two others by U.S. warplanes in the 1991 Gulf war that followed Iraqs 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

Definitely, turning the page on this complex past is of the essence and were doing just that, Grossi said.

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(With agency inputs)
After weeks of stalemate, delegations from Israel and Hamas will hold talks in Doha on Monday to discuss an advancement of a deal that would see the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners

Israel will offer a six-week Gaza truce for the release of 40 hostages in negotiation talks with Hamas that are scheduled to take place in Qatar after both sides failed to reach a deal ahead of Ramzan.

Israeli officials have said that this stage of talks would be covered in at least two weeks, citing difficulties that Hamas foreign delegates may have in communicating with the group in the besieged enclave after more than five months of war.

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After weeks of stalemate, delegations from Israel and Hamas will hold talks in Doha on Monday to discuss an advancement of a deal that would see the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

The talks, led by Mossads head David Barnea, will focus on remaining gaps between Israel and Hamas including over prisoner releases and humanitarian aid.

According to a report by Ynet, negotiation teams have requested a significant amount of time to conduct the negotiations so that it would be possible to improve the deal, and to deliver an outline that we can stand behind.

Meanwhile, Hamas has extended a new proposal 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.

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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.

In the second phase, both sides will announce a permanent ceasefire while Hamas will release all the remaining hostages in exchange for more prisoners.

In the third and final stage, Hamas will hand over bodies that it is currently holding in exchange for Israel lifting the blockade in Gaza.

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The proposal, however, was slammed by Netanyahu who said that the proposal was still based on unrealistic demands.

With inputs from agencies
In a video posted on X, IDF spokesperson Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari said Israel forces know that senior Hamas terrorists have regrouped inside al-Shifa hospital and are using it to command attacks against Israel

A man walks within the premises of al-Shifa hospital during the Israeli operation around the hospital, in Gaza City. FILE/REUTERS.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched an overnight precise operation on the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, acting on concrete intelligence of the healthcare facility being used by senior Hamas terrorists to conduct and promote terrorist activity.

In a post on X, IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari said Israeli troops are conducting high-precision operation in limited areas of Shifa hospital, following concrete intelligence that demanded immediate action.

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Later, IDF and Shin Bet said they were working together in the hospital, adding that while Israeli forces were encircling the complex, terrorists hiding in the hospital fired at the forces.

Hamas terrorists regrouped inside al-Shifa

Hagari went on to say IDF knows that senior Hamas terrorists have regrouped inside the Shifa hospital and are using it to command attacks against Israel.

Surrender immediately

We call upon all Hamas terrorists hiding in hospitals, surrender immediately. Medical facilities should never be exploited for terror. Hamas must be held accountable, Hagari said.

Israels war is against Hamas

Our war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza. We seek no harm to the civilians that Hamas is hiding behind, which is why we will conduct this operation with caution and care, while ensuring that the hospital the hospital continues its important functions.

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IDF troops are currently conducting a precise operation in the area of Shifa hospitalbased on intelligence information indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists to conduct and promote terrorist activity.



Watch IDF Spokeperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari describe pic.twitter.com/jKdUdNpY91  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 18, 2024

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IDF doctors in Shifa hospital to assist those in need

IDF said it has deployed Arabic speakers in the hospital for the convenience of patients so that they can communicate with them in their own language, Hagari said, adding that IDF doctors have been there to assist those in need.

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The Israeli troops also said the patients and the medical teams were not ordered to evacuate the hospital, but pathways were created for civilians to leave the area.

We will also be conducting a humanitarian effort to provide food, water, and other supplies to the patients and civilians in the hospital compound. There is no obligation for patients and medical staff to evacuate the hospital, but there is, and will be a passageway for other civilians to exit the hospital, the IDF spokesperson said.

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IDF warning to Gaza Health Ministry

IDF also shared a call recording of a recent conversation between the head of the Defense Ministrys Coordination and Liasion Administration (CLA) for Gaza and the director of the Gaza Health Ministry run by Hamas about the activities of Hamas terrorists in Shifa, warning him that these operations must stop.

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We have warned of these activities in the past and see that the Hamas terror organization is continuing its military activity inside hospitals and that there are terror operatives in the heart of hospitals, the CLA head said.

I have told you before and I will tell you again, we are willing to provide any humanitarian aid needed, be it gas, food supplies, medical supplies and medicine - to help with the operation of the hospitals - just as we have done in the past, the CLA head added.

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I promise you we are on the same page, Dr Youssef Abu Rish responded to the CLA head, adding that hospitals need to be places that provide services, and no one should harm the patients of the provision of the medical services inside these hospitals.

"We see that the Hamas terrorist organization is continuing its military activity inside hospitals. We are willing to provide any humanitarian aid needed. Our request is simple: an immediate end to all of the terrorist activity in the hospitals."



Over the past few days, the pic.twitter.com/7PHZeO1JW9  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 18, 2024

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In mid-November, the IDF entered the Shifa Hospital, searching the facility for terrorists and weapons. The Israeli forces also found several tunnels in the area, and surveillance camera footage also revealed hostages being dragged into the hospital on October 7 after the attack on Israel.
Since the Taliban regime took office in 2021, tensions along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased. Islamabad claims terrorist organisations are often attacking from the neighbouring nation

The Taliban governments spokesperson alleged that eight peopleall women and childrenwere killed on Monday in reckless airstrikes in the border regions of Afghanistan by the Pakistani military.

Since the Taliban regime took office in 2021, tensions along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan have increased. Islamabad claims terrorist organisations are often attacking from the neighbouring nation.

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Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid stated in a statement that around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Sunday), Pakistani aircraft bombarded civilian homes in the provinces of Khost and Paktika, which are close to the Pakistani border.

He went on, saying that the Taliban administration strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of and an attack on Afghanistans sovereignty.

The strikes come after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack inside Pakistan territory on Saturday, for which the countrys President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation.

Pakistan has decided that whoever will enter our borders, homes or country and commit terror, we will respond to them strongly, regardless of who it is or from which country, he said while attending the funeral prayers of the soldiers, which included a lieutenant colonel.

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Areas along the border have long been a stronghold for militant groups such as Pakistans home-grown Taliban group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates across the porous frontier with Afghanistan.

Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the Talibans return to power, with TTP waging a growing campaign against security officials.

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The Taliban deny harbouring Pakistani militants.

In 2022, Taliban authorities said Pakistani military helicopters carried out strikes along the Afghan side of the border killing at least 47 people.

The TTP issued an official statement denying that Mondays strikes targeted the group, saying their members operate from within Pakistan.

However, a TTP source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media said the strikes in Paktika and Khost left at least nine people dead.

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A house has been attacked where two women and seven children have been killed and a child has been wounded in the Barmal district in Paktika.

A bombardment in the Pasa Mela area of Khost also has casualties.
Nancy Pelosi pointed out the threat to Israels reputation due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus handling of the war with Hamas and the humanitarian situation in Gaza

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has thrown her weight behind Chuck Schumers criticism of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Not only did the career Democrat politician support Schumers call for fresh elections in Israel, she also went on to call Netanyahu ill-informed.

Pelosis remarks are in line with the Biden administrations shifting stance on Netanyahus handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

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Heres a look at what Schumer said and why Pelosi defended him.

Schumers sharp attack

Schumer, the highest-ranking elected Jewish official in the Biden administration, on Thursday took to the Senate floor to call for fresh elections in Israel. The longtime Israel supporter had said Netanyahu has lost his way and branded him an obstacle to peace in the region.

Netanyahu, a bunch of Israeli officials, as well as multiple Republicans (including former President Donald Trump) criticised Schumer. Its inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there, Netanyahu told CNN in an interview. He refused to commit to new elections.

Why Nancy Pelosi defended Schumer

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Pelosi, in an interview given to CNN on Sunday, said Schumers recent remarks about fresh elections in Israel should be listened to because Israels reputation is at risk. She placed this in the context of the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens.

Pelosi said Schumer was concerned about the weakness of the Palestinian Authority and the very, very dangerous attitude of the right-wing Israeli government.

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She called Chuck Schumers speech an act of courage, an act of love for Israel.

That is not all.

Pelosi went on the offensive, saying the Israeli Prime Minister must be unaware or ill-informed of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. She was responding to his claims that Tel Aviv was taking proper steps to increase aid corridors.

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Pelosis statements are in line with the shift regarding the policy towards Israel seen at the White House. The Biden administration is frustrated with the way Netanyahu is handling the crisis in Gaza. They are feeling the international pressure to back a solution that ends the violence at once. The pressure from the Democrats voter base ahead of the crucial 2024 US Presidential elections appears to be equally significant.

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Not to mention, the prospect of a long-time ally nations image being tarnished on an international level due to the decisions taken by Netanyahu is a dangerous one for the US.

With inputs from agencies
SAGA, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - The film 'La Campanella' began production on Sunday with actor Tsuyoshi Ihara and crew arriving at Togari Fishing Port in Saga City to shoot the first scenes.

Bidding farewell to the locals, the team set off to the Ariake Sea.

Based on the true story of Yoshiaki Tokunaga (63), a nori fisherman from Saga City, who took on the challenge of playing the piano piece 'La Campanella,' considered difficult even for professionals, Ihara takes on the lead role in this film.

On the first day of shooting, scenes of setting up poles for nori fishing were filmed with actor Atsushi Ogata, who plays Ihara's son.

Filming is scheduled to continue along the Ariake Sea coast until mid-next month, with the film set to be released in the fall of this year.

Source: KBC NEWS in JAPAN
Alongside President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, whose energy-rich nation is scheduled to host the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in November, Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg made these comments during a news conference in Baku

Officials hoisting Sweden's flag along with that of other NATO nations on Monday, AFP

On Sunday, Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg emphasised the need of combating global warming, referring to it as a crisis multiplier that has consequences for international security.

Alongside President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, whose energy-rich nation is scheduled to host the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in November, he made these comments during a news conference in Baku.

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Praising Azerbaijan for its important role in delivering (natural) gas to key NATO allies, Stoltenberg said the challenge is that the world needs energy, but at the same time we need to fight global warming.

We need to reconcile the need for energy and environment, he said, adding that climate change matters for security, matters for NATO.

Climate change is a crisis multiplier, and we see the effects of climate change all over the world.

Stoltenberg also hailed Azerbaijan for investing in alternative energies, stressing the countrys great potential as a supplier of hydropower and solar power to the European markets.

Environmental organisations have attacked the choice of Azerbaijan, a country that produces oil and gas, to host a climate summit.

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However, the strictly regulated Caspian nation is working to shed its image as an authoritarian regime that pollutes the environment.

Despite being a pan-European gas supplier, according to Aliyev, his nation has a bold plan for the green transition.

The choice of Azerbaijan to host COP 29 from November 1124, he added, was a sign of recognition of our efforts on green transition.

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An oil powerhouse will host the COP29 in 2024 for the second year in a row; the 2023 gathering was held in the United Arab Emirates.

Adding to the controversy, the presidency of the conference has been entrusted to Mukhtar Babayev, a former executive of Azerbaijans state oil company, SOCAR.
During the South Korea-U.S. military drills that ended Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided a series of military training exercises involving tanks, artillery guns and paratroopers. But the North didnt perform any missile tests during its rivals training

A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea. AP

Days after South Korea and the United States concluded their military exercises, which the North sees as a practice for an invasion, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern seas on Monday morning, according to reports from its neighbours.

Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, reported to a parliamentary session that North Korea had launched a number ballistic missiles into the seas separating Japan from the Korean Peninsula. He claimed that no damage or casualties had been detected from the missiles falling outside of Japans exclusive economic zone.

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Kishida denounced North Koreas repeated ballistic missile tests as acts that threaten the peace and safety of Japan, the region and the international society. Days after South Korea and the United States concluded their military exercises, which the North sees as a practice for an invasion, North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles into its eastern seas on Monday morning, according to reports from its neighbours.

Fumio Kishida, the prime minister of Japan, reported to a parliamentary session that North Korea had launched a number ballistic missiles into the seas separating Japan from the Korean Peninsula. He claimed that no damage or casualties had been detected from the missiles falling outside of Japans exclusive economic zone.

During the South Korea-U.S. military drills that ended Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided a series of military training exercises involving tanks, artillery guns and paratroopers. But the North didnt perform any missile tests during its rivals training.

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The 11-day South Korean-U.S. drills involved a computer-simulated command post training and 48 kinds of field exercises, twice the number conducted last year.

Animosities on the Korean Peninsula remain high in the wake of North Koreas barrage of missile tests since 2022. Many of the tests involved nuclear-capable missiles designed to attack South Korea and the mainland U.S. The U.S. and South Korean forces have responded by expanding their training exercises.

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This year, North Korea performed six rounds of missile tests before Mondays launch.

Experts say North Korea likely believes a bigger weapons arsenal would increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the United States. They say North Korea would want to win extensive sanctions relief while maintaining its nuclear weapons.

Worries about North Korean military moves have deepened since Kim vowed in a speech in January to rewrite the constitution to eliminate the countrys long-standing goal of seeking peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula and to cement South Korea as its invariable principal enemy. He said the new charter must specify North Korea would annex and subjugate the South if another war broke out.

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Observers say North Korea may launch limited provocations along its tense border with South Korea. But they say the prospects for a full-scale attack by North Korea are dim as it would know its military is outmatched by the U.S. and South Korean forces.
Varadkar has been one of Europes most vocal critics of Israels Gaza assault, which began when the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas launched an unprecedented offensive on the countrys southern region

Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, from left, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., depart after attending a Friends of Ireland luncheon on Capitol Hill, in Washington. AP

Speaking on Sunday at a St. Patricks Day luncheon at the White House, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar passionately called for a ceasefire in Gaza, saying that the Palestinians need the bombs to stop.

Since 10% of Americans have Irish ancestry, US President Joe Biden has been visiting Varadkar in Washington for a yearly visit that honours the strong links between the two countries.

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The people of Gaza desperately need food, medicine and shelter, and most especially they need the bombs to stop, Varadkar said as Biden, who has come under pressure both internationally and at home over his support for ally Israel, looked on.

The aspirations of the Palestinian people to have a homeland and a fully fledged state in the land of their forefathers is equal to that of Israels, he added.

Varadkar has been one of Europes most vocal critics of Israels Gaza assault, which began when the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas launched an unprecedented offensive on the countrys southern region.

According to an AFP calculation of official numbers, the strike killed around 1,160 people in Israel, the vast majority of whom were civilian.

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Since then, approximately 32,000 people have been murdered in Gaza, the majority of them are women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Mr. Varadkar said that the Irish people are deeply troubled about the catastrophe thats unfolding before our eyes in Gaza.

We see our history in their eyes, a story of displacement, of dispossession, and (in which) national identity questions are denied. Forced emigration, discrimination, and now hunger, he said, invoking his countrys bitter memories of its own struggles against British rule.

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The prime minister, also known as the Taoiseach in Irish, said he has always believed America is a force for good in the world and praised US efforts to secure a humanitarian ceasefire and to create space for lasting peace.

Biden, who frequently refers to his own Irish heritage, has grown more outwardly critical of Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in recent weeks.

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The Taoiseach and I agree about the urgent need to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza and get the ceasefire deal that brings the (Israeli) hostages home and moves towards a two-state solution, he said Sunday.

Netanyahu vowed again Sunday that Israeli troops will enter the southernmost Gaza city of Rafah, where roughly 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering.

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The United States has demanded a clear and implementable plan to protect civilians there, while Varadkar on Sunday called on Israel to abandon the planned incursion.

On Friday, the Irish leader had even more stridently called out the United States support for Israel.

I think none of us like to see American weapons being used in the way they are. The way theyre being used at the moment is not self-defense, Varadkar said after meeting with Biden in the Oval Office.
According to official results after almost all the ballots were counted, Putin won another term as president on Sunday after garnering 87% of the vote, by far the largest landslide in post-Soviet Russian history. Over 77% of voters turned out, making this the highest turnout in Russian post-Soviet history

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin received congratulations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on securing a second six-year term.

Warm congratulations to H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation. Look forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come, the Prime Minister tweeted.

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According to official results after almost all the ballots were counted, Putin won another term as president on Sunday after garnering 87% of the vote, by far the largest landslide in post-Soviet Russian history. Over 77% of voters turned out, making this the highest turnout in Russian post-Soviet history.

Given that the US was effectively at war with Russia in Ukraine, the Kremlin said that Putins reelection demonstrated that the Russian people were united behind him and that Moscow was uninterested in Washingtons criticism.

This is the most eloquent confirmation of the level of support from the population of the country for its president, and its consolidation around him, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Given that Putin had imprisoned his rivals and barred others from competing against him, the White House declared that the Russian elections were obviously not free nor fair.
Critics viewed the early results as another evidence of the elections predetermined character, but Putin celebrated them as a sign of hope and trust in him

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on a visit to his campaign headquarters after a presidential election in Moscow. AP

Russian President Vladimir Putin basked in an unquestionable triumph early Monday, with partial election results showing him handily gaining a fifth term despite facing only weak competitors and ruthlessly repressing opposition voices.

Russians appeared to be responding to an opposition demand to voice their disapproval of Putin, as they gathered outside voting places at midday on Sunday, the penultimate day of the election, with limited room for protest. However, the approaching landslide highlighted that the Russian president, who is extending his almost 25-year rule for a further six years, will tolerate nothing less than complete control of the nations political system.

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Critics viewed the early results as another evidence of the elections predetermined character, but Putin celebrated them as a sign of hope and trust in him.

Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future, Putin said at a meeting with volunteers after polls closed.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring. This is not what free and fair elections look like.

Any public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine has been stifled. Independent media have been crippled. His fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

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Beyond the fact that voters had virtually no choice, independent monitoring of the election was extremely limited. According to Russias Central Election Commission, Putin had some 87% of the vote with about 90% of precincts counted.

In that tightly controlled environment, Navalnys associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war in Ukraine to go to the polls at noon on Sunday  and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.

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Among those heeding call was Yulia Navalnaya, Navalnys widow, who joined a long line in Berlin as some in the crowd applauded and chanted her name.

She spent more than five hours in the line and told reporters after casting her vote that she wrote her late husbands name on the ballot.

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Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Navalnaya replied: Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because hes a killer, hes a gangster.

But Putin brushed off the effectiveness of the apparent protest.

There were calls to come vote at noon. And this was supposed to be a manifestation of opposition. Well, if there were calls to come vote, then  I praise this, he said at a news conference after polls closed.

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Unusually, Putin referenced Navalny by name for the first time in years at the news conference. And he said he was informed of an idea to release the opposition leader from prison, days before his death. Putin said that he agreed to the idea, on condition that Navalny didnt return to Russia.

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Some Russians waiting to vote in Moscow and St. Petersburg told The Associated Press that they were taking part in the protest, but it wasnt possible to confirm whether all of those in line were doing so.

One woman in Moscow, who said her name was Yulia, told the AP that she was voting for the first time.

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Even if my vote doesnt change anything, my conscience will be clear  for the future that I want to see for our country, she said. Like others, she didnt give her full name because of security concerns.

Another Moscow voter, who also identified himself only by his first name, Vadim, said he hoped for change, but added that unfortunately, its unlikely.

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Meanwhile, supporters of Navalny streamed to his grave in Moscow, some bringing ballots with his name written on them.

Meduza, Russias biggest independent news outlet, published photos of ballots it received from their readers, with killer inscribed on one, thief on another and The Hague awaits you on yet another. The last refers to an arrest warrant for Putin from the International Criminal Court that accuses him of personal responsibility for abductions of children from Ukraine.

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Some people told the AP that they were happy to vote for Putin  unsurprising in a country where independent media have been hobbled, state TV airs a drumbeat of praise for the Russian leader and voicing any other opinion is risky.

Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said, I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now.

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Voting took place over three days at polling stations across the vast country, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online. As people voted Sunday, Russian authorities said Ukraine launched a massive new wave of attacks on Russia, killing two people  underscoring the challenges facing the Kremlin.

Despite tight controls, several dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported across the voting period.

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Several people were arrested, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, after they tried to start fires or set off explosives at polling stations while others were detained for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, said that pressure on voters from law enforcement had reached unprecedented levels.

Russians, he said in a social media post, were searched when entering polling stations, there were attempts to check filled-out ballots before they were cast, and one report said police demanded a ballot box be opened to remove a ballot.

Its the first time in my life that Ive seen such absurdities, Andreychuk wrote on the messaging app Telegram, adding that he started monitoring elections in Russia 20 years ago.

The OVD-Info group that monitors political arrests said that 80 people were arrested in 20 cities across Russia on Sunday.

That left little room for people to express their displeasure, but Ivan Zhdanov, the head of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, said that the oppositions call to protest had been successful.

Beyond Russia, huge lines also formed around noon outside diplomatic missions in London, Berlin, Paris, Milan, Belgrade and other cities with large Russian communities, many of whom left home after Putins invasion of Ukraine.

Protesters in Berlin displayed a figure of Putin bathing in a bath of blood with the Ukrainian flag on the side, alongside shredded ballots in ballot boxes.

Russian state television and officials said the lines abroad showed strong turnout.

In Tallinn, where hundreds stood in a line snaking around the Estonian capitals cobbled streets leading to the Russian Embassy, 23-year-old Tatiana said she came to take part in the protest.

If we have some option to protest I think its important to utilize any opportunity, she said, only giving her first name.

Boris Nadezhdin, a liberal politician who tried to join the race on an anti-war platform but was barred from running by election officials, voiced hope that many Russians cast their ballots against Putin.

I believe that the Russian people today have a chance to show their real attitude to what is happening by voting not for Putin, but for some other candidates or in some other way, which is exactly what I did, he said after voting in Dolgoprudny, a town just outside Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has clinched a fifth term, said that just a few days before Navalnys death, his colleagues had told Putin about an idea to exchange Navalny for some people in prison in Western countries

Vladimir Putin speaks at his election campaign headquarters in Moscow, March 17, 2024. REUTERS

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who won the elections unopposed, finally broke silence on his biggest critic Alexei Navalnys death, asserting that he supported an idea to release the opposition leader in a prisoner exchange.

In one of his first comments on Navalnys death, Putin said, It happens. There is nothing you can do about it. Its life.

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Responding to a question by NBC, the Russian president, who has clinched a fifth term, said that just a few days before Navalnys death, his colleagues had told Putin about an idea to exchange Navalny for some people in prison in Western countries.

Believe me or not, the person talking to me hardly finished their sentence when I said: I agree. But unfortunately, the thing that happened happened, Putin said as he declared victory in the elections.

Navalny died in prison in February reportedly due to ill health, a claim rejected by his allies.

Meanwhile, Navalnys allies last month also said that talks with Russian and Western officials about a prisoner swap were underway. The politicians longtime associate Maria Pevchikh said the talks were in their final stages just days before the Kremlin critics sudden and unexplained death in an Arctic penal colony.

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However, they also claimed that Putin had Navalny killed to thwart the prisoner exchange deal.

What condition did Putin set to release Navalny?

While the Russian president claims that he had supported the release of his foe under a prisoner exchange deal, Putin said that such a swap could only happen if Navalny agreed to never return to Russia.

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Navalnys wife, Yulia Navalnaya, who is in Berlin, reportedly refused an offer to come back to Russia to see her husband, Putins press secretary Dmitry Peskov told NBC.

There are several in custody in Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges, and Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan, convicted of espionage and serving a long prison sentence.

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With inputs from agencies
Pollsters predict that the March 23 poll will pit an associate of the Russia-friendly prime minister against a liberal ambassador. Peter Pellegrini, a former prime minister and current speaker of parliament, and Ivan Korcok, a former foreign minister, are the frontrunners among the 11 candidates

Slovakia will have a presidential election this month, which may either soften or harden NATO and EU members attitudes towards Ukraine, whose sovereignty they have questioned.

Pollsters predict that the March 23 poll will pit an associate of the Russia-friendly prime minister against a liberal ambassador.

Peter Pellegrini, a former prime minister and current speaker of parliament, and Ivan Korcok, a former foreign minister, are the frontrunners among the 11 candidates.

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Pellegrini earned the support of Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has refused to offer military help to Ukraine, questioned its sovereignty, and advocated for peace with Russia.

Korcok is firmly pro-Ukraine and shares the views of outgoing President Zuzana Caputova, a vociferous government critic who declined to seek for a second term.

In the event of Pellegrinis victory, we may expect a further deepening of the current government position and current narratives, said Michal Mislovic, a political analyst at the Median polling agency.

If Korcok wins, we can at least expect that he will be a counterweight to the government and parliament in this regard, Mislovic told AFP.

Divisions over Ukraine

Though the office is largely ceremonial, the president ratifies international treaties, appoints top judges including the Supreme Court chief justice and is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

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The head of state can also veto laws passed by parliament.

Pollsters expect a tight race. The latest survey by the Focus agency showed that Pellegrini would take 35 percent of the vote, while Korcok would receive 34.

This would send them to a run-off on April 6, as a second round is held when no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the ballot.

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The war in Ukraine, which began with Russias invasion in February 2022, has been a fixture of the electoral campaign in this country of 5.4 million.

It is a topic that divides the adult population of Slovakia to a large extent, Mislovic said.

Pellegrini also acknowledged that.

The Slovak political scene is divided between those who are in favour of the continuation of the war at all costs, and those who demand the start of peace negotiations, he said.

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I belong to the latter, Pellegrini told AFP.

Schizophrenic approach

The 48-year-old is the chairman of Hlas-SD, a junior member of the government coalition led by Ficos Smer-SD that also includes the small nationalist SNS party.

Analyst Radoslav Stefancik said Pellegrini tended to echo the governments position on Ukraine.

The government takes a schizophrenic approach. On the one hand, it sends verbal signals that it is sympathetic toward the Russian government. On the other hand, it supports the actions of the European Union and NATO in relation to Russia, said the analyst from the University of Economics in Bratislava.

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Korcok, 59, is squarely in the pro-Ukraine camp.

The Russian Federation has trampled international law I do not think Ukraine should give up part of its territory in order to achieve peace, he told AFP.

The first prerequisite for us to be able to talk about a peaceful solution of this war is that Russian missiles stop hitting Ukrainian schools and hospitals, he said.

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Though running as an independent, Korcok is backed by opposition parties that believe a Pellegrini win would pave the way for presidential pardons of government allies found guilty of bribery and corruption.

Other presidential contenders include pro-Kremlin former Supreme Court chief Stefan Harabin, former far-right lawmaker Marian Kotleba and ex-premier Igor Matovic.
According to Yoon, one of the biggest challenges facing the world now is technological inequality, which is the main reason why certain nations lag behind in terms of economic development and democratic advancement

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during an opening ceremony for the 3rd Summit for Democracy in Seoul, South Korea. Reuters

President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea referred to false news and misinformation based on artificial intelligence and digital technology as dangers to democracy on Monday when his nation hosted a meeting of high-ranking international officials from the US, the UK, and the EU.

Speaking at the beginning of the Summit for Democracy, Yoon stated that nations had a responsibility to exchange knowledge and insights in order to use technology and artificial intelligence to advance democracy.

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According to Yoon, one of the biggest challenges facing the world now is technological inequality, which is the main reason why certain nations lag behind in terms of economic development and democratic advancement.

Fake news and disinformation based on artificial intelligence and digital technology not only violates individual freedom and human rights but also threatens democratic systems, Yoon said.

The third Summit for Democracy conference is being held in South Korea at the invitation of US President Joe Biden. The goal of the meeting is to examine strategies for halting the loss of rights and freedoms and democratic backsliding.

The three-day sessions primary agenda items are anticipated to be digital dangers to democracy and how technology may advance both democracy and universal human rights.

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As authoritarian and repressive regimes deploy technologies to undermine democracy and human rights, we need to ensure that technology sustains and supports democratic values and norms, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the summit.

Like-minded governments and their people are working together to promote free and fair elections, Blinken said, noting that safeguarding democracy was a collective effort.

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Neither Blinken nor Yoon mentioned any countries or leaders by name.

European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova said 2024 is an election year around the globe and cited threats such as disinformation campaigns from the Kremlin among other actors.

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied accusations of spreading false or misleading information.

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Hours before the summit started, North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea for the first time in two months in its latest show of force.

The conference also kicked off just after Russian President Vladimir Putin was declared victor in a record post-Soviet landslide in a presidential election on Sunday.

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The result means Putin, who rose to power in 1999, is set to start a new six-year term that will see him overtake Josef Stalin and become Russias longest-serving leader in more than 200 years if he completes it.

A White House National Security Council spokesperson criticised the election and said they were obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him.

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Putin told reporters he regarded Russias election as democratic and said protests organised by supporters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic prison last month, against him had no effect on the elections outcome.

The summit is also being attended by British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, who said democracy faced threats on multiple fronts, including cyberattackers disrupting campaigns, populists embracing falsehoods, and autocrats holding sham elections.

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Speaking at a separate session, Blinken said Washington was releasing the first guidance of its kind for tech companies to help prevent attacks on human rights defenders online.
The health and education ministries urged parents to keep all of their kids inside because of the predicted 45 degree Celsius (113 degree Fahrenheit) heat wave

Beginning on Monday, South Sudan will close all of its schools in anticipation of a severe heat wave that is predicted to linger for two weeks.

The health and education ministries urged parents to keep all of their kids inside because of the predicted 45 degree Celsius (113 degree Fahrenheit) heat wave.

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A statement released late on Saturday stated that any school found to be open during the warning period would have its registration revoked, although it did not say for how long.

According to their statement, the ministries will continue to monitor the situation and inform the public accordingly.

Peter Garang, a resident of Juba, the capital, applauded the decision. According to him, schools should be connected to the electricity grid so that air conditioners may be installed.

South Sudan, one of the worlds youngest nations, is particularly vulnerable to climate change with heat waves common but rarely exceeding 40 C (104 F). Civil conflict has plagued the east African country which also suffered from drought and flooding, making living conditions difficult for residents.

The World Food Program in its latest country brief said South Sudan continues to face a dire humanitarian crisis due to violence, economic instability, climate change and an influx of people fleeing the conflict in neighboring Sudan. It also stated that 818,000 vulnerable people were given food and cash-based transfers in January.
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD): Afghanistan says it has launched retaliating attack at the Pakistani military after five women and three children were killed in air strikes carried out by Pakistan

A view of the border fence outside the Kitton outpost on the border with Afghanistan in North Waziristan, Pakistan. FILE/REUTERS

Eight people, including five women and three children, have been killed in two airstrikes carried out by Pakistan in the border region of Afghanistan, a Taliban government spokesman said.

Retaliating the attack, Afghanistan security forces have launched heavy weapons at the Pakistani military.

Pakistan claims the attacks were launched from Afghan soil, but it has been denied by Afghanistans ruling Taliban.

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For the unversed, the border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the two neighbouring countries, have increased since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad accusing terrorist groups of carrying out regular attacks on them.

Taliban says women, children killed in Pakistan strikes | 12 things to know

1 - In a post on X, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, said, that around 3:00 last night (local time), Pakistani planes bombed houses of civilians in the Barmal district of Paktika province and Afghan Dubai area of Sepera district of Khost province, killing three women and three children. Also, a house was destroyed killing two women

2 - Condemning the attacks, Mujahid, said: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of Afghanistans sovereignty

3 - The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not allow anyone to compromise security by using Afghan territory, Mujahid said

4 - The people of Pakistan and the new government should stop some army generals from the continuation of their wrong policies for the benefit of others like the last 20 years and spoiling the relationship between the two neighbouring Muslim nations, Mujahid added

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5 - The air strikes in Afghanistan came after seven Pakistani troops were killed on Saturday in a suicide bombing and coordinated attacks in a northwestern region, for which President Asif Ali Zardari had vowed retaliation

6 - In Saturdays attack in the countrys restive North Waziristan region, two officers were among the seven Pakistan army personnel killed. All the six terrorists who attacked the check post in Mir Ali area were shot dead

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7 - Hafiz Gul Bahadur group of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan took responsibility for the suicide bombing at the military post. It is considered to be one of the strongest terrorist groups in North Waziristan

8 - There have been no comments from Pakistans army and foreign office, so far, on the strikes in Afghanistan

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9 - Pakistan shouldnt blame Afghanistan for the lack of control, incompetence, and problems in its own territory," Mujahid said

10 - Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will not be in Pakistans control, Mujahid added

11 - Areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border have long been a stronghold for terrorist groups including Pakistans home-grown Taliban group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) which operates across the porous frontier with Afghanistan

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12 - The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan emboldened the TTP, whose top leaders and fighters are hiding in Afghanistan.

With inputs from agencies
TOKYO, Mar 18 (News On Japan) - The manga "Stardust Telepath" is set to be adapted into a live-action drama series, featuring members of AKB48.

The story follows the growth of a high school girl named Umino Hoshiko, who suffers from extreme stage fright and struggles with communication, as she meets an alien transfer student named Akina Yu and builds a rocket. The series also received an anime adaptation in October 2023. It has been announced that members of AKB48, selected through auditions, will appear in the drama. TV Tokyo, which has also handled the adaptation of "Yuru Camp" from Manga Time Kirara, is producing the series.

Rasuko Okuma expressed her surprise and delight: "I'm probably the most surprised of all. At the same time, I'm incredibly happy, to the point where words fail me. I hope my feelings reach everyone through a 'forehead touch'!" Producer Shunno Nakamura from TV Tokyo shared his vision for the project: "Like Hoshiko wishing upon a shooting star, I want to create a drama that can gently push someone's back, making viewers think, 'I wish there was a world like this.'"

Rasuko Okuma's Comment: I never imagined that "Stardust Telepath" would be adapted into a TV drama... I'm probably the most surprised. At the same time, I'm incredibly happy, beyond words. I hope both fans of the original work and those who are new to it will enjoy this new stage of "Stardust Telepath."

Shunno Nakamura (TV Tokyo Producer): The drama "Stardust Telepath" will be a work that fulfills dreams. Until now, when creating dramas, I considered fiction as an "escape route," where anything goes as long as it's resolved in the end. However, when I heard someone say they want to dream precisely because it's a drama, it made me reconsider the role of drama, the true meaning of "fiction," and the significance of delivering creative work."

Source: Natalie
In New Delhi, Kuleba and Jaishankar are expected to co-chair a meeting of the India-Ukraine inter-governmental commission

In January, Jaishankar and Kuleba held a phone conversation focusing on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Kyiv's peace formula Image Courtesy Reuters

Later this month, Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, is expected to make his first trip to India since the start of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine more than two years ago.

People acquainted with the developments claimed that Kuleba is currently finalizing the visit and, if all goes as planned, she would arrive in New Delhi by the end of March.

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In addition to meeting with other senior officials, the Ukrainian foreign minister is scheduled to have extensive discussions with his Indian colleague, S. Jaishankar, they said.

In the next months, Kuleba is anticipated to ask India to endorse a peace summit that is being organized in Switzerland.

In New Delhi, Kuleba and Jaishankar are expected to co-chair a meeting of the India-Ukraine inter-governmental commission, the people cited above said.

In January, Jaishankar and Kuleba held a phone conversation focusing on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Kyivs peace formula.

Following the conversation, Kuleba had said that he conveyed to his Indian counterpart the peace formula and Ukraines plan for the Global Peace Summit of leaders.

Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put forward a 10-point peace plan for ending the conflict that included punishing those responsible for the war crimes, withdrawing all Russian troops from Ukraine and restoring his countrys territorial integrity.

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Under the plan, he also called for ensuring energy security, food security and nuclear safety.

India has been maintaining that the conflict in Ukraine must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

In May last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held in-person talks with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima.

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In the talks, the prime minister conveyed to the Ukrainian leader that India will do whatever is possible to find a solution to the conflict.

(With agency inputs)
The US Defense Secretarys commendation of the Indian Navy was stated in a readout on the phone discussion between Austin and Singh that was released by the Ministry of Defence

The defence ministry said both Singh and Austin also reviewed the bilateral events such as the INDUS-X summit held in Delhi last month Image Courtesy X/@rajnathsingh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh received a message from US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday expressing gratitude for the Indian Navys significant contribution to anti-piracy efforts in the Indian Ocean region.

The US Defense Secretarys commendation of the Indian Navy was stated in a readout on the phone discussion between Austin and Singh that was released by the Ministry of Defence.

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The two ministers reportedly discussed Indias intended purchase of 31 MQ-9B drones from the US through the foreign military sale (FMS) program.

The two ministers talked on how to carry out the comprehensive defense cooperation plan between the US and India, which aims to greatly strengthen strategic relations between the two nations.

The US Secretary of Defence appreciated the important role being played by the Indian Navy in conducting anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean Region, the ministry said.

On Friday, the Indian Navy executed a dramatic mid-sea operation rescuing 17 hostages and capturing 35 armed pirates around 2,600 km from the Indian coast after seizing a Maltese-flagged vessel that was hijacked on December 14.

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The Indian Navy deployed its warship INS Kolkata, long-endurance Sea Guardian drones, P-8I surveillance aircraft and airdropped elite MARCOS commandos from a C-17 plane of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

In the last few weeks, the Indian Navy extended assistance to a number of merchant vessels in the western Indian Ocean following attacks on them.

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In a post on X, Singh said he and Austin discussed a range of issues including the regional security situation.

Had a telephonic conversation with my friend, @SecDef Mr Lloyd Austin and briefly discussed a range of bilateral, regional security and defence cooperation issues, Singh said.

We also discussed ways and means to implement the India-US Defence Cooperation Roadmap which was concluded last year, he said.

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The defence ministry said both Singh and Austin also reviewed the bilateral events such as the INDUS-X summit held in Delhi last month.

Both Ministers briefly discussed a range of bilateral, regional security and defence cooperation issues, it said.

They reviewed the recent bilateral events such as the INDUS-X summit held in New Delhi in February, and the bilateral tri-service exercise Tiger Triumph which commenced in India on March 18, it said.

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The two ministers discussed ways and means to implement the India-US defence cooperation roadmap which was concluded last year. Other defence industrial cooperation issues such as repair of US naval ships in Indian shipyards were also briefly discussed, the ministry said.

Both the ministers had last met in New Delhi in November during the India-US ministerial 2+2 dialogue.

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The India-US defence cooperation has been on an upswing in the last few years.

In June 2016, the US designated India a Major Defence Partner paving way for sharing of critical military equipment and technology.

The two countries have also inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each others bases for repair and replenishment of supplies.

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The two sides also signed COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 which provides for interoperability between the two militaries and for the sale of high-end technology from the US to India.

In October 2020, India and the US sealed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) to further boost bilateral defence ties. The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.

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(With agency inputs)
Even if overseas casinos are legally opened, cross-border gambling by Chinese citizens is suspected of violating the laws of our country, the Chinese embassy said, adding that embassies and consulates may not be able to provide consular protection for violations

The Chinese embassy in Singapore on Monday urged its citizens in the city-state to refrain from engaging in any form of betting, saying that participation in gambling activities outside of China violates Chinese laws.

This warning coincides with Beijings increased efforts to combat Chinese nationals involvement in gambling across Southeast Asia, a region widely favoured by tourists.

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In an official statement, the embassy emphasised the importance of legal compliance and urged the majority of Chinese residents in Singapore to bolster their understanding of legal obligations, specifically advising against involvement in gambling activities.

Notably, Singapore hosts two prominent casinos, one managed by Las Vegas Sands and the other by Genting Singapore.

Even if overseas casinos are legally opened, cross-border gambling by Chinese citizens is suspected of violating the laws of our country, Reuters quoted the embassy as saying, adding that embassies and consulates may not be able to provide consular protection for violations.

China has been intensifying its crack down on cross-border, off-shore and online gambling, sending similar warnings to several countries as it tries to curb these illegal activities and threats to citizens abroad.

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Cross-border gambling may also bring risks such as fraud, money laundering, kidnapping, detention, trafficking, and smuggling, the Chinese embassy in Singapore said in its statement on Monday.

The Chinese embassies in South Korea and Sri Lanka also issued similar warnings recently.

On 22 February, law enforcement agencies in China and the Philippines cooperated to repatriate more than 40 Chinese nationals engaged in offshore gambling, according to a statement from the Chinese embassy in the Philippines.

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The Chinese government has always opposed any form of gambling and opposes Chinese citizens leaving the country to engage in the gambling industry, the embassy said.

In addition, the ministers of public security of China and Vietnam agreed to enhance law enforcement cooperation and signed a memorandum of understanding on working together to combat cross-border gambling.

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The Chinese embassy in Singapore said the Ministry of Public Security of China opened a reporting platform for combating cross-border and online gambling, where Chinese citizens can pass on clues and suspected activity.

With inputs from agencies
President Vladimir Putin secured a landslide victory in the elections for the top political post in Russia. Following the polls, he spoke about a range of things, from the alleged murder of opposition Alexei Navalny to the possibility of World War III.

President Vladimir Putin secured 88 per cent of the votes cast in the Russian elections 2024, registering a landslide victory in the polls that critics say have been neither free, nor fair. This preordained win has cleared the way for the former spy to become the longest-serving Russian leader in over 200 years.

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In his speech following the voting, Putin spoke about a variety of things. Here are the highlights from his address:

1 - Vote of trust for Putin: At his campaign headquarters in Moscow, Putin said his imminent victory in Russian presidential elections were a sign that Russians trust his leadership.

I want to thank all of you and all citizens of the country for your support and this trust, he said.

2 - World War III: Putin said that if a conflict breaks out between Russia and the United States-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), there are risks of World War III. These remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macrons consistent refusal to rule out putting troops on the ground in Ukraine.

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3 - A word for the West: Putin cast his election win as a justification of his decision to defy the West and to invade Ukraine.

No matter who or how much they want to intimidate us, no matter who or how much they want to suppress us, our will, our consciousness  no one has ever succeeded in anything like this in history. It has not worked now and will not work in the future. Never, the Russian President said.

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3 - Elections in annexed Ukraine: Speaking about elections in annexed Ukrainian areas of Donbas, Novorossiya, and Crimea, Putin said: I thought that they would be good, significant, positive, but that they would be such as we see them today, even I, frankly speaking, did not expect that[>This means that we are doing everything right. People are grateful to us for the decisions we made to protect them, and this is the main motivation for all our actions.

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5 - Alexei Navalnys death: For the first time in several years, Putin used late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalnys name to address his alleged murder. The president said he had been ready to release him in a prisoner exchange.

Navalnys death was a sad event, Putin stated.

With inputs from agencies
Qualcomm just announced the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, the companys latest flagship SoC, as it had promised. This uses the same architecture as the 8 Gen 3, but with different clock speeds.

The platform has support for powerful on-device generative AI features, an always-sensing ISP, hyperrealistic mobile gaming, breakthrough connectivity and lossless high-definition sound.

It supports a broad array of AI models including popular large language models (LLM) such as Baichuan-7B, Llama 2 and Gemini Nano, said the company.

There are changes in the modem since it uses Snapdragon X70 modem instead of X75 in the 8 Gen 3, has 4K HDR video capture instead of 8K HDR capture even though it retains the 18-bit triple ISP from the 8 Gen 3. The 8s Gen 3 also retains the Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Mobile Connectivity System with Wi-Fi 7 offering up to 5.8 Gbps speed and dual Bluetooth connectivity for sustained immersion.

There is Real-time Hardware-Accelerated Ray Tracing, but it lacks Global Illumination, and also doesnt have support for Unreal Engine 5 Lumen Global Illumination and Reflections System present in the 8 Gen 3 since there is change in the GPU which offers similar performance as the Adreno GPU present in the 8 Gen 2.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (SM8635) specifications

1 x Kryo Prime CPU (Arm Cortex-X4 based) at up to 3.0GHz, 4 x Kryo Performance CPUs (Arm Cortex-A720 based) at up to 2.8GHz, 3x Kryo Efficiency CPUs (Arm Cortex-A520 based) at up to 2.0GHz, ARMv9 architecture

4nm TSMC Process Technology

Built-in Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 5G modem-RF system

5G speeds of up to 5Gpbs down, 5G mmWave and sub-6 GHz, standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) modes, standalone mmWave and

mmWave-sub6 dual connectivity, FDD, TDD, mmWave: 8 carriers, 22 MIMO, Sub-6 GHz: 44 MIMO, Qualcomm 5G AI Suite, Qualcomm AI-Enhanced Signal Boost, Qualcomm 5G PowerSave Gen 3, Qualcomm Smart Transmit 3.0 technology, Qualcomm Wideband Envelope Tracking, Qualcomm 5G Ultra-Low Latency Suite, Global 5G multi-SIM, including 5G-5G/4G Dual-SIM Dual-Active (DSDA)

mmWave-sub6 dual connectivity, FDD, TDD, mmWave: 8 carriers, 22 MIMO, Sub-6 GHz: 44 MIMO, Qualcomm 5G AI Suite, Qualcomm AI-Enhanced Signal Boost, Qualcomm 5G PowerSave Gen 3, Qualcomm Smart Transmit 3.0 technology, Qualcomm Wideband Envelope Tracking, Qualcomm 5G Ultra-Low Latency Suite, Global 5G multi-SIM, including 5G-5G/4G Dual-SIM Dual-Active (DSDA) Qualcomm Adreno next-gen GPU, Real-time Hardware-Accelerated Ray Tracing, Snapdragon Game Super Resolution, Adreno Frame Motion Engine 2.0, Snapdragon Game Post Processing Accelerator, HDR gaming (10-bit color depth, Rec. 2020 color gamut), Snapdragon Shadow Denoiser, API support: OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0 FP, Vulkan 1.3

Hardware-accelerated H.265, VP9, AV1 decoder, HDR Playback Codec support for HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision

Qualcomm Aqstic audio codec, New Qualcomm Aqstic smart speaker amplifier, Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N), Playback: -108dB, Qualcomm Audio and Voice Communication Suite, Spatial Audio with Head Tracking

Up to 36 MP triple camera, Up to 64+36 MP dual camera, Up to 108 MP single camera with ZSL, Up to 200MP single camera, Qualcomm Spectra Image Sensor Processor (Cognitive 18-bit triple-ISP)

Rec. 2020 color gamut photo and video capture, Up to 10-bit color depth photo and video capture, 4K HDR Video Capture + 64 MP Photo Capture

10-bit HEIF: HEIC photo capture, HEVC video capture, Video

Capture Formats: HDR10+, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision, 4K HDR Video Capture @ 60 FPS, 4K Video Capture @ 60 FPS, Slow-mo video capture at 1080p @ 240 FPS, Bokeh Engine 2 for Video Capture, Pro Sight video capture, Snapdragon Low Light Vision (LLV), Video super resolution, Multi-Frame Noise Reduction (MFNR), Locally Motion Compensated Temporal Filtering

On-Device Display Support: 4K at 60 Hz / QHD+ at 144 Hz, Maximum External Display Support: up to 8K @ 30 Hz, Up to 1080 @ 240 Hz, Variable Refresh Rate support for 240 Hz to 1 Hz, 10-bit color depth, Rec. 2020 color gamut, HDR10, HDR10+, HDR vivid, and Dolby Vision

Qualcomm Hexagon Processor, Fused AI Accelerator, Hexagon scalar, vector, and tensor accelerators, Hexagon Direct Link, Upgraded Micro Tile Inferencing, Upgraded power delivery system, Support for mix precision (INT8+INT16), Support for all precisions (INT4, INT8, INT16, FP16)

Support for LP-DDR5x memory up to 4200 MHz, Memory Density: Up to 24 GB

Wi-Fi 7 Peak speed: 5.8 Gbps, Wi-Fi 6E 802.11be, 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) Multi-gigabit, Integrated 802.11ac 22 (2-stream) MU-MIMO, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.4, LE Audio, Dual Bluetooth antennas

Bluetooth audio: Snapdragon Sound Technology with support for Qualcomm aptX Voice, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, and LE audio, NFC

GPS, Glonass, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC capable, Dual Frequency GNSS (L1/L2C/L5), Sensor-Assisted 6.0,With global map aiding, Urban pedestrian navigation with sidewalk accuracy, Global freeway lane-level vehicle navigation

USB Version 3.1 Gen 2; USB Type-C Support, UFS 4.0

Qualcomm Quick Charge 5 technology

Availability

Qualcomm has confirmed that Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 platform will be adopted by global OEMs and brands including HONOR, iQOO, realme, Redmi and Xiaomi with the first device expected to be announced in March.

Commenting on the launch, Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. said:

With capabilities including on-device generative AI and advanced photography features, Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is designed to enhance user experiences, fostering creativity and productivity in their daily lives. Were elated to introduce the latest addition to our premium Snapdragon 8-series, our most premium mobile offering, bringing a host of exceptional specially selected capabilities to more consumers.
LG Electronics has introduced the LG Objet Collection featuring the MoodUP Refrigerator, in collaboration with leading Indian fashion designers, Gauri and Nainika at the Lakme Fashion Week.

The fridge, inspired by the 1.7 Lakh color combinations of the LG MoodUP Refrigerator, features LED panels on its doors. This innovative fridge allows you to change colors based on your mood and sync music to create a customized ambiance in your home.

The MoodUP French Door Refrigerator boasts a sleek and sophisticated design that enhances any kitchen space. With the MoodUP feature, users can customize the exterior lighting according to their mood, creating a personalized ambiance within their homes.

The refrigerators four doors offer optimal storage convenience, with LED panels providing over 1.7 lakh color combinations to suit individual preferences, all controlled through the LG ThinQ app.

Additionally, the InstaView feature illuminates the interior with a double knock on the designated door, offering a quick peek without fully opening it.

The refrigerator also comes equipped with a built-in Bluetooth speaker, allowing you to connect external devices and providing various modes for music playback, setting the perfect party atmosphere.

It includes intelligent features such as the Smart Color Alarm system and InstaView technology, enhancing convenience and safety in the kitchen, while retractable shelves and advanced temperature management ensure optimal food preservation.

Integrated with LG ThinQ, the refrigerator allows for remote control and monitoring, offering unparalleled functionality and peace of mind. With Door Cooling+ technology ensuring even cooling and Hygiene Fresh+ Technology reducing bacterial activity.

Quick specifications: LG MoodUP Refrigerator

Pricing and availability

The LG MoodUP Refrigerator is priced at Rs. 4,49,999 and is available for purchase at LG.com and retail partners.

Speaking about the launch, Hwang Youngmin, Director Home Appliances & Air Conditioner- LG Electronics India said,

Were excited to introduce our newest innovation, the MoodUP French Door Refrigerator, created in partnership with Gauri and Nainika, showcased at Lakme Fashion Week. This extraordinary product epitomizes our joint vision  dynamic, daring, and imbued with positivity  reflecting the essence of Lifes Good. It underscores LGs unwavering dedication to fulfilling the changing demands of Indian consumers by seamlessly integrating style with state-of-the-art technology. With customizable features and advanced functionalities, the MoodUP Refrigerator sets a new standard in consumer satisfaction, delivering unmatched convenience and performance.

Commenting on the launch, Gauri and Nainika, Indian fashion designers said,
Guangxi's foreign trade hits record high in Jan-Feb

Xinhua) 11:27, March 18, 2024

NANNING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region touched a new high in foreign trade in the first two months of 2024, local authorities said Sunday.

Guangxi's total imports and exports in January and February hit 109.1 billion yuan (about 15.4 billion U.S. dollars), up 18.9 percent year on year.

Exports rose 37.2 percent year on year to 60.59 billion yuan, and imports increased 1.9 percent to 48.51 billion yuan, according to the customs of Nanning, the regional capital.

During the period, the foreign trade of Guangxi's private enterprises reached 73.78 billion yuan, up 43.3 percent, accounting for 67.6 percent of the region's total.

The rapid growth of Guangxi's foreign trade is mainly attributable to the region's continuous expansion of opening up, according to a customs official.

Official data showed that Guangxi's trade with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries reached 80.75 billion yuan in the first two months, an increase of 24.1 percent year on year, contributing to 74 percent of Guangxi's total foreign trade.

Meanwhile, trade between Guangxi and other members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership totaled 66.39 billion yuan, up 40.3 percent from the same period of the previous year.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
TOKYO, Mar 19 (News On Japan) - Monday saw the strongest winds of the year blow across Japan, stoking numerous fires, and creating a dust cloud visible from space.

In a residential area of Hachioji, Tokyo, flames raged fiercely. According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, firefighting efforts were hindered by the strong winds, resulting in six houses covering an area of 430 square meters being burned.

In Nagoya, which experienced the strongest winds of the year, a residential fire broke out in Mizuho Ward. The house at the origin of the fire was burned to the point where its frame was visible. Sparks were blown by the wind, spreading the fire to nearby houses.

Fires also occurred in the neighboring Tokai City.

In Chiba City, a residential fire broke out, with a local resident reporting, "It was worse than I thought. It didn't subside quickly. The wind was strong, so the fire spread sideways."

Due to the intensification of the winter pressure pattern, strong northerly winds blew nationwide, causing rough weather, especially in northern and eastern Japan.

In Fukushima Prefecture, where the maximum wind gusts exceeded 25 meters per second, a man in his 60s riding a bicycle was blown over by the strong wind and injured.

Gusts exceeding 20 meters per second also blew in Tokyo. Around 2 p.m., a truck overturned on the Metropolitan Expressway Ring Road. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, there was a 110 call reporting that the truck overturned and collided with a car due to the wind.

The JR Hachiko Line suspended operations on both the up and down lines. A fallen tree, believed to be caused by the strong wind, is suspected. Among the approximately 100 passengers, some walked on the tracks to the nearest station.

From a satellite 36,000 kilometers above, an image shows brown smoke-like emissions around Narita City. Visible from space, it was a massive dust cloud. Narita Airport resembled a desert landscape. Before 4 p.m., one flight was forced to change its destination to Kansai Airport due to the strong wind.

In the nearby city of Yachimata, soil from peanut fields was lifted by the strong wind. The soil dust that occurs at this time of year is called "yachibokori" after the local name. In severe cases, visibility is almost non-existent, and cars disappear from sight almost immediately.

A company employee in his 30s said, "Visibility is poor, and it's impossible to walk outside without covering your eyes. I'm wearing sunglasses that guard against the dust."

In Tokyo, a grass fire occurred just after 11 p.m. between JR Otsuka and Ikebukuro stations on the Yamanote Line, causing a temporary suspension of service on the entire line and affecting approximately 30,000 passengers. The blaze, involving underbrush within the track premises, was extinguished after about an hour, and service resumed shortly after midnight with delays of up to one hour. The Tokyo Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire.

The winds in the Kanto region have passed their peak, but caution is still needed in northern Japan on Tuesday.

Source: ANN
Officials of Ibn Sina Foundation, OakBend Medical Center, and Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine sign an agreement for a clinical partnership to train medical students and residents in Fort Bend County last week.
TOKYO, Mar 19 (News On Japan) - An emergency meeting began on Monday afternoon at the Suginami Ward Office in Tokyo, involving representatives from public elementary and junior high schools and nurseries, following a mysterious incident where a student's water bottle, brought from home, was found to contain an "abnormal" substance.

Takashi Shiraishi, the Superintendent of Education in Suginami Ward, stated, "As you all know, there was an incident at an elementary school where a foreign substance was found in a student's water bottle."

This is the second such incident in Suginami Ward.

The child noticed something unusual around 11:30 a.m. on March 14th in a classroom at Momoi Fourth Elementary School. When the child tasted the contents of the water bottle for the first time that day, they realized it was not ordinary water and immediately spat it out.

Although the child did not suffer any health problems, the school consulted with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department.

The school held a parent-teacher meeting last weekend, apologizing for causing great concern despite a similar incident occurring in Suginami Ward last month.

The school explained that the water bottle was hung beside the desk and that there were times when the classroom was unoccupied. While the school believes that the incident was not caused by bullying, when parents questioned the possibility of an adult perpetrator, the school responded, "As you said, everyone present in the school that day is under suspicion, including adults and children. We want to investigate and work towards improvement."

Regarding the possibility of an outsider's intrusion, the school said, "Although the security cameras did not capture any suspicious individuals, it is possible for someone to climb into the school if they intended to, so we cannot rule out the possibility of an external intrusion."

The school has suspended the bringing of water bottles until spring break.

A parent with a child at the same school expressed, "It's too late to do anything after something happens, so I can't say I'm not worried. It might be reassuring if the homeroom teacher could manage all the water bottles. But that would probably be a burden on the teacher."

In February, a similar incident occurred at an elementary school approximately 3 km away in Suginami Ward.

These puzzling incidents have occurred just before the end of the school year and promotion to the next grade.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is planning to analyze security camera footage.

Source: FNN
The headquarters of The United Illuminating Co. off of Marsh Hill Road in Orange. The electric utility will launch a pilot program to help customers that own electric vehicle or have heat pumps in their homes reduce their energy usage and their monthly bills. Hearst Connecticut Media file photo An EV charges in the parking garage of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. United Illuminating and Eversource Energy are rolling out a number of pilot programs meant to lower the cost of EV charging. Save the Sound

The United Illuminating Co. will launch a pilot program in June to help customers that have electric vehicles and heat pumps in their homes reduce their monthly energy bill by as much as $400 overall.

It's one of many cost reduction pilot programs being launched by UI and Eversource Energy this summer.

The UI pilot program will allow participating customers with electric vehicles, or EVs, to reduce their energy consumption by between 15 and 20 percent while cutting their energy bills by as much as 30 percent, company officials say. UI and its technology partner in the program, England-based Kraken Technologies, hope to enroll 700 customers in the pilot program.

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Michael Crowley, manager of UI's Smart Grid Innovation Programs, said company officials are in the midst of assessing how many of the utility's customers either own electric vehicles or have heat pumps in their homes, or both. Crowley said company officials are also looking to assess the best way to recruit customers to participate in the pilot program.

"One of the things we're looking into is whether or not we might need to offer incentives for participation," he said.

Kraken's technology will allow the electricity suppliers of UI's customers to automatically match their energy usage to time periods when electricity is the cheapest. Becki Howarth, product lead for Kraken, said the company's technology works via cloud computing and is "designed to meet the customer's needs," when electricity is needed.

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"Once the customer has signed up for it, we say our technology is 'set it and forget it,'" Howarth said.

The pilot program will last for 18 months, Crowley said.

Heat pumps use electricity to provide both heating and cooling to a building. They are efficient at transferring heat from one place to another, depending on where it is needed.

The program involving UI and Kraken Technologies is one of seven pilot programs approved by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in December as part of an effort to modernize and improve the flexibility of the state's electric grid.

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All but one of the pilot programs involves the participation of either UI and Eversource Energy, according to Julia Dumaine, PURA's supervisor of Strategy & Operations.

Eversource Energy is involved in three pilot programs, according to Jamie Ratliff, a company spokeswoman. Of the three projects, the most consumer focused pilot is being done with a California-based company, AmpUP.

The AmpUP program will see Eversource working with the electric vehicle network provider to help provide charging stations in multi-family housing complexes as well as at commercial properties and in public spaces.

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Dumaine said the pilot programs approved by PURA are being funded through nearly $10 million in ratepayer money.
Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli in a public service announcement on the dangers of illegal cannabis products. Screenshot Edible products containing synthetic THC seized last year in raids ordered by Attorney General William Tong. Ken Dixon/Hearst Connecticut Media

Two Connecticut state officials have teamed up to warn parents about the dangers of edible cannabis products made to appeal to children.

State Attorney General William Tong and Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli appear in a public service announcement warning of dangerous products that look like common snack foods, but they're not.

The announcement shows a group of school children passing out packages of what appear to be candy and snacks, but are instead illegal cannabis products that are untested and unsafe, Cafferelli says in the ad.

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We want to keep our kids safe. We want them here, Cafferelli says in a school building. The scene then cuts to an ambulance, where Tong says, Not here.

Tong last year began cracking down on cannabis products sold outside regulated dispensaries, hoping to halt the sale of edibles mimicking popular youth-oriented snack foods, including Fritos, Skittles and Airheads according to a news release.

In unannounced visits to vape shops and gas stations, investigators from the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Consumer Protection continue to routinely find illegal cannabis products for sale, including edibles, blunts and marijuana flower, the release said.

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Tongs office is pursuing 10 cases against smoke shops and gas stations selling the illegal cannabis, in addition to four judgments already secured, totaling $40,000 for alleged violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.

State Rep. Mike D'Agostino, D-Hamden, said the legislature is considering a bill that would give Tong's office broader enforcement authority on such cases, including a $30,000 fine.

"They've been the one agency that's been very aggressive about dealing with these types of unregulated products," he said.
U.S. Central Command Conducts 13th Humanitarian Airdrop into Gaza

U.S. Central Command

Press Release | March 17, 2024

USCENTCOM

March 17, 2024

Release Number 202403017-01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. -- U.S. Central Command conducted an air drop of humanitarian assistance into Northern Gaza on March 17, 2024, at 12:06 p.m. (Gaza time) to provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.

The joint operation included two 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-17s dropped over 28,800 U.S. meals and 34,500 half-liter 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.



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Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: Statement by the High Representative on the anniversary of the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Implementation Annex

European External Action Service (EEAS)

17.03.2024

EEAS Press Team

Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation that Kosovo and Serbia concluded in Ohrid, North Macedonia. The Agreement and its Implementation Annex were achieved after months of intense negotiations under the facilitation by the European Union to help the Parties to make a leap forward in the normalisation of their relations.

In times of an unprecedented full-scale war on our continent, reaching an agreement that promises peace, stability and good neighbourly relations, was a landmark achievement. For the first time during the EU-facilitated Dialogue, the Parties agreed on clear parameters defining the trajectory of the process to normalise their relations. This Agreement and its implementation will clearly demonstrate that both partners' future is in the European Union.

It is regrettable that despite extensive efforts by the EU and the broader international community, there has been so far very limited progress by both Kosovo and Serbia in implementing the obligations they accepted under this Agreement. The EU recalled repeatedly that the Agreement is binding in its entirety under international law. Therefore, any lack of implementation does not only endanger the Parties' European integration, it also damages their reputation as credible and reliable partners.

It is now high time for both Kosovo and Serbia to break the current vicious cycle of crises and tensions, and move into a new - European - era. The Agreement offers a better future for the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia and the entire region.

We expect the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia to show responsibility, vision and leadership by making progress in implementation with no further delay. It is an opportunity they should not miss. The European Union continues to stand ready to help Kosovo and Serbia in every step along the way, but they are the ones who have to take those steps and move forward.

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Yemen to set new rules of war in face of US, UK: Minister

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 17, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Yemeni Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi says Sana'a will set the new rules of war in the face of US and UK attacks on the Arab country.

According to the Al-Masirah TV channel, the minister emphasized the need to continue the Yemeni Armed Forces' military operations against ships affiliated with the US, the UK, and the Israeli regime.

"We will use our might to set new rules of war, for which the Americans, the British, the Zionists, and their followers will pay a heavy price," al-Atifi noted.

He also explained that the Yemenis are not warmongers and aggressors, but the brutal crimes committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza prompted freedom-loving nations such as the Yemeni people to declare their stance.

Yemen's decision to enter the battle against the occupying regime and besiege it in waterways is a governmental, national, Islamic and humanitarian choice, he asserted.

The Yemeni minister further said that Yemen will keep on hindering the sailing of Israeli-linked ships through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, adding that the operation against US-UK vessels will not come to an end until the cessation of war and siege imposed on Gaza.

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Hamas' proposal on Gaza ceasefire 'realistic': Hamdan

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 17, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas leader based in Beirut has hailed the proposal recently put forth by the Palestinian resistance movement on the Gaza ceasefire.

During the negotiations, Hamas demanded an end to the war, the return of the refugees, aid and the beginning of the reconstruction of Gaza, he was quoted by Sama news agency as saying.

Hamdan said that Hamas' proposal is "completely realistic" in a way that the enemy cannot reject it.

Under this plan, we provided specific details regarding the issue of Israeli captives, Palestinians held in Israeli jails and the withdrawal of the occupying forces from Gaza, he noted.

On Friday, Hamas presented a two-phase proposal to mediators and the US. It includes the release of Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, 100 of whom are serving life sentences. The initial release of Israelis would include female troopers, other women, children and elderly in return for the release of 700-1,000 Palestinians.

The proposal also includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from cities and populated areas in the first phase and a complete pullout in the second phase. It also calls for the end of siege as well as the reconstruction of Gaza that has been turned into the rubble by Israeli bombings and shelling that began on October 7, 2023.

Moreover, Hamas urged Egypt, Qatar and the United States to follow and oversee the implementation of the agreement.

Hamdan said on Saturday that Hamas is still awaiting the response from Israel and the United States which is a key backer of the regime in the war on Gaza.

The Hamas official further emphasized that the Zionist regime has failed to achieve any of its declared goals in the war, adding that Benjamin Netanyahu knows what blows his army has suffered in Gaza.

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US, UK keep violating Yemen's sovereignty

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 17, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The United States and Britain launched new attacks on Yemen on Saturday night as part of their aggression against the Arab country in order to protect the Israeli regime's interest in the region.

News sources reported that American and British warplanes struck several areas of the Yemeni province of Hudaydah, the epicenter of such attacks in recent weeks.

Fighter jets bombed the Al-Taif area in Al-Darihami city of Hudaydah on four occasions. according to Yemen's Al-Masirah TV network.

There were immediately no reports of possible casualties and damage from the latest attacks. American and British warplanes had bombed areas of the same province in the past days.

The United States and Britain have carried out a number of joint strikes on Yemen under the pretext of protecting maritime trade in the Red Sea that has sparked criticism, with some countries calling it the violation of Yemen's sovereignty.

Washington and London are angry at Yemen for its operations against Israeli or Israeli-bound vessels in the Red Sea.

The Yemeni army launched its operations over the regime's genocide in the Gaza Strip. It has, though, repeatedly announced that all other ships are free and safe to sail through the strategic waterway.

However, over the past month, Yemenis have also launched attacks on US and British ships in retaliation for the two countries' aggression against the Arab country.

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Hezbollah hits Israeli base with missiles

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 17, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement announced on Saturday that it had struck an Israeli military base with missiles earlier in the day.

Hezbollah issued a statement that in line with its support for the Palestinian nation, the Israeli regime's "al-Baghdadi" military base in the northern occupied territories was the target of its missiles, according to Beirut-based Al Manar TV which is affiliated with the resistance movement.

The Zionist regime or its media outlets have yet to report about casualties or damage at the base which had been the target of Hezbollah missiles before.

Meanwhile, Lebanon's al-Mayadeen news network reported a new wave of Hezbollah rockets fired toward Israeli targets in the Galilee region in the early hours of Saturday.

On Friday, Hezbollah also confirmed targeting two more military bases of the Zionist regime in the northern parts of the occupied Palestinian territories.

Hezbollah and Israel have remained engaged in missile strikes on each other targets since the regime waged its genocidal war on Gaza following the Al Aqsa Storm Operation by the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas in early October.

Hezbollah has largely been targeting Israeli military positions and spy installations and has repeatedly said that it will continue its operation until the Israeli regime ceases its bloody war against Gazans.

However, the Israeli regime has recently stepped up its aerial attacks on residential areas inside Lebanon, killing a number of civilians there, sparking more retaliatory attacks from Hezbollah.

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PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Start of the Government Meeting

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

17.03.2024

Following are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks, today, at the start of the Government meeting:

"Since the start of the war, we have been fighting on two fronts - military and diplomatic.

On the diplomatic front, until now we have succeeded in allowing our forces to fight in an unprecedented manner for five full months. However, it is no secret that the international pressure is increasing.

In the international community, there are those who are trying to stop the war now, before all of its goals have been achieved. They are doing so by hurling false accusations at the IDF, the Government of Israel and the Prime Minister of Israel.

They are doing so by means of an effort to bring about elections now, at the height of the war. They are doing this because they know that elections now will halt the war and paralyze the country for at least six months.

Then let it be clear: If we stop the war now, before all of its goals are achieved, this means that Israel will have lost the war, and this we will not allow. Therefore, we cannot, and will not, succumb to this pressure.

On the contrary, this simple truth only strengthens our determination to continue rejecting the pressure, and fighting to the end - to total victory. No international pressure will stop us from realizing all of the goals of the war: Eliminating Hamas, freeing all of our hostages and ensuring that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel.

In order to do this, we will operate in Rafah. This is the only way to eliminate Hamas's murderous brigades, and this is the only way to use the military pressure necessary to free all of our hostages.

To this end, we have approved the operational plans for action in Rafah, including advancing the steps to evacuate the civilian population from the combat zones. This is an essential stage ahead of the military action.

Those who say that the action in Rafah will not occur are those who also said that we would not enter Gaza, or act in Shifa or in Khan Yunis, and that we would not resume the fighting after the lull.

Therefore, I reiterate: We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen.

To our friends in the international community, I say: Are your memories that short? Have you so quickly forgotten October 7, the most horrific massacre of Jews since the Holocaust? Are you so quick to deny Israel the right to defend itself against the Hamas monsters? Have you so quickly lost your moral consciences?

Instead of pressuring Israel, which is fighting a war, the justice of which is unparalleled, against an enemy of unparalleled brutality, apply your pressure to Hamas and its patron - Iran. It is they who constitute a danger to the region and to the entire world.

In any case, we will withstand any pressure and with G-d's help, we will continue to fight together until total victory."

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Secretary General starts South Caucasus visit in Baku, welcomes NATO's long-standing partnership with Azerbaijan

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

17 Mar. 2024

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Baku on Sunday (17 March 2024), kicking off a three-day, tri-nation tour of the South Caucasus. Meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, the Secretary General welcomed Azerbaijan's long-standing collaboration with the Alliance, saying he looked forward to further strengthening the partnership.

Mr Stoltenberg welcomed the opportunity to discuss energy security, saying: "energy matters for our security and I welcome that Azerbaijan is developing closer and closer ties with several NATO Allies." He further pointed to a track record of work on issues of mutual concern and thanked Azerbaijan for its contributions to NATO-led operations and missions - including in Kosovo and Afghanistan - since Azerbaijan joined NATO's Partnership for Peace in 1994. The Alliance and Baku have also cooperated through NATO's Science for Peace and Security programme on counter-terrorism and cyber security.

On the situation in the South Caucasus, the Secretary General underlined that "peace and stability is not only important here but for security more broadly". He said: "Armenia and Azerbaijan now have an opportunity to achieve an enduring peace after years of conflict." He added: "I can just encourage you to seize this opportunity to reach a lasting peace agreement with Armenia". On Ukraine, Mr Stoltenberg welcomed the much-needed support provided by Azerbaijan, and called on all countries in the region to step up: "more support is needed because the situation in Ukraine is extremely difficult."

The Secretary General called the upcoming COP29 global climate summit in Azerbaijan an important milestone: "It is important for everyone concerned about climate change but also important for our security because those issues are closely interlinked."

On Monday, the Secretary General will meet Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Defence Minister Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov. He will then travel to Tbilisi for meetings with Georgia's leadership. On Tuesday, Mr Stoltenberg will meet with Armenia's leadership in Yerevan.

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DFA Statement on Remarks of Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson

Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs

17 March 2024 - The 14 March 2024 statement of the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of China on the supposed historic rights and sweeping claims of China on the South China Sea is baseless and misleading.

The Philippines has long had sovereignty and exercised administrative control over Bajo de Masinloc, as well as various features west of Palawan which now form the Kalayaan Island Group. These features appeared and were clearly identified in the administrative maps of the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, including the 1734 Murillo Velarde Map of the Philippines.

As has been settled by the 2016 Arbitral Award, China's claims to historic rights, or other sovereign rights or jurisdiction beyond the limits of the maritime entitlements provided by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), are without legal effect.

The Philippines maintains a firm stand against misguided claims and irresponsible actions that violate Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in its own maritime domain. The Philippines has never used the South China Sea issue to heighten tensions, mislead the international community, or undermine peace and stability in the region.

The Philippines urges China to reconsider its unfounded positions and claims. END



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Gov. Ned Lamont tours Gateway Terminal to see the new All-Electric Sennebogen 895 Port Cargo Handling Machine, now in operation in New Haven, Conn. March 18, 2024. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Gov. Ned Lamont tours Gateway Terminal to see the new All-Electric Sennebogen 895 Port Cargo Handling Machine, now in operation in New Haven, Conn. March 18, 2024. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Gov. Ned Lamont, center, speaks with Gateway Terminal President Greg Baribault, left, and Enstructure Co-CEO Philippe De Montigny during a tour to see the new All-Electric Sennebogen 895 Port Cargo Handling Machine, now in operation in New Haven, Conn. March 18, 2024. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  On a platform suspended nearly 40 feet above New Haven Harbor, Gov. Ned Lamont got a first-hand look Monday at the latest piece of machinery designed to help the state meet its ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

From the platform, a gigantic green arm swivels over the docks, barges and cargo ships of the Gateway Terminal with the Port of New Haven. Attached to the end of the arm is a cavernous metal bucket, large enough to easily scoop up the governors state-issued SUV and deposit it into one of the awaiting ships.

At the bottom of the structure, a line of red cable runs underneath the pier and onto land, where it hooks up the rest of the region's power grid.

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The cargo mover, built by the German firm Sennebogen, is the largest machine of its kind to run entirely on electric power, according to the manufacturer. It was installed by Gateway in December utilizing a $3.1 million in state grants, replacing an older diesel-powered crane that belched carbon dioxide and other smog-forming pollutants into the air. New Haven is one of only three ports in the country equipped with the newest Sennebogen machines.

The total $7.5 million cost of the all-electric mover included infrastructure upgrades that allowed Gateway to draw enough power for the machines 500 kilowatt motor, which uses enough electricity to power several hundred homes.

With the infrastructure already in place, Gateway plans to eventually replace its other diesel-powered crane with a second all-electric model, according to the companys president, Greg Baribault.

Over the course of its lifespan, each of the electric cargo handlers will forgo around 350,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

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Wed like to get to a point where we can unload a ship with an electric crane, put it on an electric truck, bring it to our warehouse and unload it with an electric forklift and store it in our warehouse until it goes out to an end user, Baribault said.

During his tour on Monday, Lamont acknowledged that Connecticut and the other states sharing New Englands electric grid will need to vastly increase the supply of available, renewable electricity if they plan to meet their deadlines to slashing carbon emissions by mid-century.

While industrial users such as Gateway account for just 8 percent of the states greenhouse gas emissions, according to a 2021 report, the simultaneous transition to electric vehicles and growth of other energy-intensive users is expected to place incredible strain on the regions power grid.

Were going to need more electric capacity, this is a small piece of that need, but nothing compared to data centers and AI and the eventual electrification of the transportation system, Lamont said. Its something were thinking hard about right now.

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Gateway is also the operator of the State Pier in New London, which was recently retrofitted to become a hub for offshore wind power. Lamont also pointed to discussions surrounding more distant possibilities, such as importing more hydropower from Quebec or even expanding the output of Connecticuts Millstone Nuclear Power Plant  though both of those options remain years away from reality.

In the meantime, Baribault said that the move to electrify Gateway's operations in New Haven is expected to result in savings on both fuel and maintenance.

While the Sennebogens 50-ton lift capacity is slightly less than a traditional crane, its longer arm and speedier maneuvering means that crews can also save time loading and unloading vessels. Baribault said the difference between a crane and a material handler depends more or less how you use it, though cranes typically involve cables supported by a latticework structure.

Even though you lose one or two tons each cycle, youre doing three cycles for every one cycle on that one, Baribault said.

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On Monday, the machine was being used to load scrap metal into a barge destined for Charleston, S.C., where its cargo was to be offloaded and recycled into steel coils and billets. In addition to exporting scrap metal, Gateways New Haven facility also imports steel products, lumber and asphalt both domestically and from ports as far away as Turkey.
Jordan's king urges intl. action to achieve immediate, durable ceasefire in Gaza

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 6:19 PM

Jordan's King Abdullah II has called for urgent international action to secure an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where thousands of people have fallen victim to relentless Israeli ground and air strikes and severe malnutrition is affecting thousands of children.

During a meeting with visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Jordanian coastal city of Aqaba on Sunday, the monarch underlined the need for stepped-up efforts aimed at the protection of civilians, provision of sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid to Gaza, and its sustainable delivery through all available means.

King Abdullah II warned of the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza, which require intensified attempts to prevent the situation from getting worse.

He also warned against the dangerous repercussions of halting funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), highlighting its impact on the Palestinian population in war-torn Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Jordan.

The king reiterated Jordan's rejection of any bids meant to forcibly displace Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as any scenario to segregate the West Bank from Gaza.

He condemned the vicious attacks by extremist Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, and desecrations of holy Muslim and Christian sites in al-Quds.

The Jordanian monarch and the German chancellor also warned of the grave consequences of an Israeli attack on Rafah, where 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have sought shelter, emphasizing that the invasion of the area in southern Gaza would further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the coastal sliver.

Since the start of Israel's genocidal war following Operation al-Aqsa Storm by Gaza-based resistance movements on October 7, 2023, at least 31,553 Palestinians, including many women and children, have lost their lives. Another 73,546 individuals have sustained injuries as well.

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.

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Yemeni forces conduct training drills, simulate counter-offensive against US, UK invasion

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 4:32 PM

The Yemeni armed forces have carried out military training exercises that simulate confronting a potential attack by the US and British troops against the country.

Yemen's Saba news agency reported that Units of the Special Forces of the Central Military District carried out one of their largest combat training and military maneuvers, entitled "The Promised Day Maneuver," on the outskirts of the capital, Sana'a.

"The maneuver simulated violent and widespread confrontation operations against enemy forces after it carried out parachute landings on some Yemeni areas and infiltrated some areas," the news agency said.

The military maneuvers, which took place according to a scenario of complex fire clashes on different terrains, lasted more than two hours with the participation of a thousand fighters from the region.

In a speech delivered during the exercise, Yemeni Defense Minister Major General Nasser al-Atifi affirmed Yemen's capability to defend itself and "deal with an international community that respects only the strong."

Atifi added that "Yemen's engagement in the battle against the hateful and usurping Zionist entity and its maritime blockade is not a luxury but a sovereign, national, Islamic, and humanitarian decision."

The Yemeni defense minister also issued a stern warning that the American and British forces would pay "dearly" for any act of aggression against the country.

"We will enforce new rules of engagement forcefully, and the price will be paid dearly by the American, the British, and the Zionist and those in their orbit," Atifi underlined. "The battle is open, and the blockade is continuing. We will make Washington, London, and their allies realize the non-negotiable sovereignty over our seas and territorial waters."

The drills come amid ongoing air aggression by the US and Britain on Yemen in support of Israel's months-long genocidal war against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the spokesman of the Yemeni armed forces, announced on Friday that they carried out retaliatory operations against three Israeli and American ships in the Indian Ocean with a number of appropriate naval missiles and drones.

Saree stressed that the three operations "successfully achieved their goals."

The announcement came a day after the leader of Yemen's Ansarullah movement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, underlined that the Yemeni forces were to expand their naval operations to the Indian Ocean and through the Cape of Good Hope.

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 Tel Aviv regime has since killed at least 31,645 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 73,676 others in the Gaza Strip.

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Israeli PM vows to invade Gaza's Rafah despite international pressure

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 4:25 PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that Israel would push on with its planned ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah despite growing international pressure.

Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to send ground forces into Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have sought shelter.

"No amount of international pressure will stop us from realizing all the goals of the war: eliminating Hamas, releasing all our captives and ensuring that Gaza will no longer pose a threat against Israel," Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting.

"To do this, we will also operate in Rafah," he said.

Israel approved plans to assault Rafah despite increasing international calls to halt the military operations.

Israel's allies and critics warned Netanyahu against the invasion of Rafah, fearing mass civilian casualties.

US President Joe Biden, who has supported Israel during the war, has said an Israeli invasion of Rafah would be a "red line" without credible civilian protection plans in place.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the large number of civilian casualties that could result from an Israeli assault on Rafah would make regional peace "very difficult".

"[A long-lasting ceasefire] would enable us to prevent such a ground offensive from taking place," he said after talks with Jordan's King Abdullah on Sunday.

Dutch foreign minister Hanke Slot said: "The Netherlands firmly repeats its call to Israel to refrain from such an offensive, which would result in an even bigger humanitarian catastrophe," adding in a post on X that "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire is of the highest importance, resulting in a sustained cessation of hostilities".

The UN agencies already warned Israel last month that a ground invasion of Rafah "could lead to a slaughter in Gaza."

"They could also leave an already fragile humanitarian operation at death's door," UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said.

Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has called on Israel not to launch a ground offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the escalation of violence in Rafah would lead to many more deaths and suffering.

He called on Israel to refrain from the attack in the name of humanity.

Tedros added that people in Rafah are too fragile, hungry and sick to be moved around.

Over five months into Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, the regime continues pounding the blockaded territory with indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery fire.

The Health Ministry in Gaza says at least 92 people have been killed and 130 others wounded over the past day.

The suffering in Gaza is not limited to just being targeted by bombs.

According to UNRWA, malnutrition and famine are striking northern Gaza and are now moving to southern areas.

Since the onset of the Israeli war in early October, at least 31,645 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children.

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Egypt will not allow forced displacement of Palestinians: Sisi

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 4:14 PM

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has reiterated that his country is opposed to any plan to forcefully displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

Sisi said in a Sunday meeting with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen that Egypt would not allow forced displacement of the Palestinians outside their land after reports suggested that the Israeli regime is still seeking to expel people from Gaza amid its brutal war on the territory.

"President El-Sisi stressed the necessity of reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and reaffirmed Egypt's rejection of the forced displacement of the Palestinians outside their land and that it would not allow it," said a statement from the Egyptian Presidency after the meeting.

The statement came as the number of people killed in more than five months of Israeli aggression in Gaza reached 31,645 on Sunday based on figures provided by the government in Gaza which is led by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas.

Israeli intelligence reports leaked in the early stages of the war on Gaza suggested officials in the regime were seeking to implement a plan to forcefully relocate hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza to tent camps in the neighboring Sinai region in Egypt.

Cairo showed its outright rejection to the plans while beefing up security along its borders to prevent any spillover of the conflict from Gaza.

The meeting between Sisi and Von der Leyen came as part of an Egyptian-European Summit in Cairo which many hope could facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza via Egypt.

Along with Qatar and the United States, Egypt has been a mediator in weeks of unsuccessful negotiations between Hamas and the Israeli regime to work out a ceasefire in Gaza.

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Spying equipment destroyed, gathering of troops struck in Hezbollah attacks

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 3:14 PM

Fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement have separately targeted espionage equipment and a gathering of Israeli soldiers stationed at a military outpost close to the border with southern Lebanon in response to the regime's ongoing genocidal war in the Gaza Strip.

Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Manar television channel reported that the fighters carried out an operation on Sunday afternoon against the al-Asi military base, and fired a salvo of rockets at the site. Spying equipment stationed in the base was destroyed as a result.

Earlier in the day, Hezbollah fighters had struck a gathering of Israeli soldiers facing the Lebanese area of al-Wazzani, causing injuries among the troops.

Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling, meanwhile, targeted several southern Lebanese border areas.

Israeli fighter jets bombed the towns of Marwahin, Aita al-Shaab and Aitaroun.

An Israeli drone also fired a missile at Aita al-Shaab, No further details about any casualties were immediately available.

The strike on Aitaroun destroyed a house that had gone up in flames following a strike, Lebanon's official National News Agency reported.

Moreover, Israeli artillery units targeted an area between Aitaroun and Maroun al-Ras, as Israel fired two shells on the Marjeyoun plain in a bid to terrorize local farmers and shepherds.

The Israeli regime has been attacking southern Lebanon off and on since October 7, when it launched the devastating campaign of death and destruction in Gaza.

In retaliation, Hezbollah has launched near-daily rocket attacks on Israeli positions.

At least 322 people have been killed on the Lebanese border, most of them Hezbollah fighters but also 56 civilians.

Israel says at least ten of its troopers and seven settlers have been killed in the area.

The fighting has forced the evacuation of tens of thousands from the northern part of the occupied territories, which have been pummeled by rocket fire and shelling carried out by Hezbollah and allied Palestinian groups.

Hezbollah has already fought off two Israeli wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006. The resistance forced the regime to retreat in both conflicts.

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Yemen working with Russia, China to dismantle unipolar world: Official

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 11:19 AM

Yemen is cooperating with Russia, China and the BRICS countries to bring about the collapse of the Western hegemony and unilateralism in the world, says a Yemeni official.

Ali al-Qahoum, a member of the Yemeni resistance movement Ansarullah's political bureau, said in a post on X on Saturday that the exchange of expertise and experiences between Yemen and BRICS countries will lead to "drowning the US, the UK and the West in the swamp of the Red Sea and on the high seas."

The goal is to "drown the US, the UK and the West in the mire [the crisis] around the Red Sea so that they can be bogged down, weakened and unable to maintain the unipolar [world order]," al-Qahoum said.

He further noted that Yemen has entered into the equation of supporting Palestine and the major and strategic equation of the Red Sea that has resulted in the balance of military, security, political, and economic benefits.

The Ansarullah official said that Yemen was able to represent a major and strategic equation even before other global powers came in line.

"Yemen plans for the foreseeable future and prepares for the historic defeat of the US, the UK and the West, and the collapse of the colonial project and Western hegemony in the region and the world," al-Qahoum added.

Yemen's Armed Forces on Friday announced the start of their new 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 Yemeni forces have been targeting Israeli vessels or those "associated" with the occupying regime in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea in retaliation for the Israeli regime's genocidal war on Gaza, which began on October 7.

The US and Britain formed a naval coalition in December to counter Yemen's operations in the Red Sea and began bombing the Arab country in support of the Israeli regime.

Al-Qahoum said on Saturday that the insistence of Washington and London to press ahead with their acts of aggression against Yemen at the behest of the Tel Aviv regime will inevitably boomerang on themselves, and will definitely fan the flames of the regional crisis.

Yemeni Defense Minister Major General Mohammed al-Atifi said Sunday that the country's military will continue their maritime operations against Israeli-linked vessels as well as US and British interests in the Red Sea area, stressing that the Sana'a government is going to establish "new rules of engagement" against Washington and London.

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Yemeni army to set new rules of engagement against US, Britain: Defense Minister

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 10:44 AM

The Yemeni defense minister says the country's military will continue their maritime operations against Israeli-linked vessels as well as US and British interests in the Red Sea area, stressing that the Sana'a government is going to establish new rules of engagement against Washington and London.

"We are determined to utilize our military might and impose new rules of engagement, which Americans, Britons, Zionists and their vassals will have to pay a heavy price for," Major General Mohammed al-Atifi said on Sunday.

He noted that Yemenis are not belligerent and aggressive, but the barbaric Israeli crimes in Gaza prompted freedom-loving nations of the world, including, Yemenis, to declare their position against such atrocities.

"Yemen's involvement in operations against the usurping Zionist regime and its naval blockade are all a sovereign, national, Islamic and humanitarian decision," Atifi noted.

The Yemeni defense minister emphasized that the country's army will continue strikes against Israeli-affiliated merchant vessels, and will prevent ships from passing through the Red Sea and sailing towards ports in the Israeli-occupied territories.

"Yemeni Armed Forces will not stop their operations against US and British military and commercial vessels," Atifi pointed out.

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.

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Mar. 16: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 8:54 AM

By Press TV Website Staff

Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed at least 31,645 Palestinians so far, including at least 14,500 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 Saturday, March 16, are as follows:

Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Mar. 16:

Targeting several Israeli military vehicles in Al-Zahra city, northwest of the Gaza City.

Carried out a shooting operation at the "Gush Etzion" settlement north of the occupied city of Al-Khalil.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' on Mar. 16:

Targeted an Israeli military troop carrier (APC) with an explosive device and an RPG northwest of the residential town of Hamad, near Khan Younis city, southern Gaza.

Engaged in clashes with Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles with machine guns and explosive devices after they stormed the city of Nablus from several areas.

Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on Mar. 16:

Targeted gatherings of Israeli soldiers south of the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood with a standard 107-caliber rocket barrage.

Al-Am'ari Camp Brigades' operations on Mar. 16:

Targeted the "Psagot" settlement with two highly explosive devices.

Mujahideen Brigades' on Mar. 16:

Targeted the Israeli-occupied settlements in the Gaza Strip with a barrage of rockets.

Targeted a gathering of Israeli army soldiers and their vehicles near Street 10 in the southern part of Gaza City with short-range rockets.

Hezbollah's operations on Mar. 16:

Targeted the Al-Baghdadi site with rockets, achieving direct hits.

Targeted the Rameem barracks with IRAM Burkan rockets, achieving direct hits.

Targeted the Al-Malkiyah military site with mortar shells, achieving direct hits.

Targeted the Al-Samaqa site with a barrage of rockets.

Targeted the Ramtha site with a barrage of rockets.

Targeted an Israeli infantry force on the Karantina hill with a volley of rockets.

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UN experts urge oil firms to halt supplies to Israeli army amid Gaza genocide

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 7:54 AM

UN human rights experts have urged countries and oil companies to cut supplies to Israel's military, underscoring the devastating role of oil in fueling the raging genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Michael Fakhri, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food, in a post on X on Saturday cited research from Oil Change International (OCI), which showed that three companies were supplying oil to the Israeli military through the United States, Brazil, Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Fakhri urged countries to immediately impose economic sanctions, and said countries supplying oil to the Israeli military are likely "complicit in Gaza genocide."

He referred to the research saying that Israel receives regular shipments of oil via Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, and Egypt. Paradoxically, all of these countries have condemned Israel's actions in Gaza.

"Countries should impose a weapon embargo and economic sanctions against Israel. Countries currently supplying weapons to Israel are complicit in genocide and starvation," Fakhri said in an interview with the Press TV website last week.

The UN special rapporteur added that "Israel is also destroying the food system in Gaza" and "the only way" to prevent full-scale famine in Gaza "is to ensure humanitarian aid to enter without any restriction and for a permanent ceasefire."

Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the UN special rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, in another post supported Fakhri's call and said "corporations should cease and desist or face potential liability tomorrow."

The latest analysis by the OCI exposes how the global oil industry is complicit in fueling Israel's war on Gaza as the Israeli regime relies on imported crude oil and refined products to run its large fleet of fighter jets, tanks and other military vehicles.

According to the findings, the US is the Israeli military's key direct source of imported jet fuel and the major oil companies facilitating the fuel supplies include BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies.

Vessels transporting oil and fuel have been advised to deactivate their automatic identification system (AIS) signal prior to arriving in Israel, potentially due to security concerns.

The report also indicates that Palestinian groups and their allies are pushing for an energy embargo, demanding that governments and companies stop all fuel shipments to Israel until it puts an end to the genocide and apartheid regime against Palestinians.

The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is specifically calling for a consumer boycott of Chevron-branded gas stations, saying that countries and oil and gas companies must be held accountable for their roles in perpetuating violence and human rights abuses.

12 Palestinians killed in Israeli bombing in Deir el-Balah

The calls to cut supplies to the Israeli military come as the regime in its latest move has killed 12 people and wounded many in the bombing of a house in Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, near Al Nuseirat refugee camp.

The Wafa news agency reported that most of the victims were women and children as a number of victims are still under the rubble.

Israel's relentless bombing of Gaza has forced the local residents to flee toward the southern city of Rafah, as a key part of the military's preparations for its invasion of Gaza's southernmost city.

Israel's bombardment of Gaza has continued since the ICJ ordered the Israeli government to prevent any genocidal act. The ICJ ruling has legal implications for countries and corporations, which must ensure they are not complicit in genocidal acts.

According to Gaza's health ministry, at least 31,553 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed and over 73,546 others injured since the Israeli regime launched its US-backed onslaught on Gaza on October 7, 2023.

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Hamas put forth 'realistic' proposal for Gaza truce: Official

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 7:08 AM

A senior Hamas official says the resistance group has put forward a "realistic" ceasefire proposal in the Gaza Strip that involves the release of Israeli captives and the withdrawal of occupation forces from the besieged Palestinian territory.

Osama Hamdan, a Lebanon-based Hamas official, made the remarks on Saturday night as reports say the stalled Gaza truce talks are expected to restart in Qatar as soon as Sunday.

"Hamas's recent offer for a ceasefire [in Gaza] is so realistic that the enemy cannot reject it," he said.

"In its proposal, Hamas has provided specific details regarding the issue of captives and the withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza."

Hamdan also noted that Hamas is still waiting for a response from Israel and its supporter in the bloody Gaza war, the United States.

The Zionist regime has not achieved any of its declared objectives of "destroying Hamas" and finding the Israeli captives held in Gaza, he added. "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knows what blows his regime's military has suffered."

The Hamas official further said that the resistance group has insisted on an end to the Israeli aggression against Gaza in all its contacts with mediators.

The upcoming Gaza truce talks would mark the first time both Israeli and Hamas leaders officials join the indirect negotiations since the start of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.

According to Egyptian officials, Hamas's new proposal includes a three-stage plan to end the war.

The first stage would be a six-week ceasefire that would see the release of 35 Israeli captives in exchange for 350 Palestinian abductees held in the regime's jails.

In the second phase, the two sides would declare a permanent ceasefire and swap more prisoners.

In the third stage, Hamas would hand over the bodies it is holding in exchange for Israel lifting the inhumane blockade on Gaza and allowing the reconstruction process to start.

Families of Israeli captives renew call for return of relatives

In a statement released on Saturday, the families of Israeli captives emphasized that victory will be achieved by the return of their relatives not by the elimination of Hamas, Palestinian news agency Sama reported.

They warned that time is running out for the return of captives as Netanyahu is pursuing his own personal interests and dragging his foot on a deal with Hamas.

Meanwhile, Israel's Channel 13 said a number of Israeli ministers believe that Netanyahu is not serious about a truce agreement with Hamas and that he intends to delay difficult decisions.

Israel waged its genocidal US-backed war on the Gaza Strip on October 7 after Hamas carried out its historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

So far, the Tel Aviv regime has killed at least 31,553 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 73,546 others.

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This undated yearbook photo shows Kristjan Ndoj of Shelton, who was shot twice on March 15. Contributed photo  Shelton High School Kristjian Ndojs grandmother, Franga Ndoj, follows the casket as it leaves St. Joseph Church in Shelton after the March 27 funeral for her grandson, 15-year-old Kristjan Ndoj of Shelton. Ndoj was shot March 15 and died March 20, 2014. New Haven Register

SHELTON >> Franga Ndoj, whose grandson Kristjan was fatally shot in March, took a framed color photograph of him down from a shelf in the home they shared and kissed it, with tears in her eyes.

Im not doing well; the past few months have been hard, she said. I think they know who did it, but they arent saying anything. It would be better if they knew what actually happened.

She remembered how Kristjan would leave for school and give her hugs and kisses, then do it again when he returned.

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He was my life, she said, speaking in Albanian.

After almost four months with no arrest in the fatal shooting of the popular Shelton High School sophomore, his grieving loved ones are frustrated and hoping anyone with information will come forward and tell police.

Kristjan Ndoj, 15, was shot March 15 in a driveway of a house at 1 Agawam Trail in the citys Pine Rock section. He had ridden his bike there to visit a friend, police said.

He suffered gunshot wounds to the head and leg. The shots came from a nearby wooded area, according to police. Five days later, he died from his injuries.

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Detective Sgt. Kevin Ahern said this week it is still an active investigation, with the state police Major Crime Squad leading it.

State police Lt. J. Paul Vance urged anyone with information to come forward and contact law enforcement.

Our major crime detectives have reconstructed the scene and have some leads they are following up on, but it is nothing we are prepared to discuss publicly, Vance said.

The victims grandmother mentioned how he had been threatened before the shooting. Police were made aware of this and checked into it.

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However, police believe it to be unrelated to the shooting, sources said.

Police have also been investigating whether someone who lives in the Agawam Trail neighborhood is responsible.

The shooting location is 3 miles away from Kristjans Coram Road home. According to his grandmother, only a short time transpired between Kristjan leaving their house and the family receiving a phone call that he had been shot.

This incident is horribly tragic and appears out of the blue, said attorney Michael Boynton of Milford, who represents the victims family. I dont think anyone knows if (the shooting) was random or by design.

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In April, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection honored six conservation officers for their assistance in the investigation.

On March 17, the states attorneys office in Superior Court in Derby requested the assistance of the Hunting Related Shooting Incident team to assist, and their investigation revealed evidence about the weapon involved and the location of the shooter, according to the DEEP.

The shooting is not believed to be related to hunting, however.

The victim was shot in a densely populated neighborhood, with several houses in close proximity.

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This week, his grandmother, who moved here from Albania about three years ago to be with her family, welcomed staff from the New Haven Register and spoke about the familys ordeal through an interpreter.

He never lifted a hand to anyone, and was always a nice person, Franga Ndoj said. I dont understand who could have done this and why  it doesnt make sense. Everyone spoke kindly of him, then, all of a sudden, he was shot. It has been four months and no one knows who has done it or why.

Boynton said this week that the family is frustrated because there hasnt been anything concrete in terms of a suspect, and it is still an ongoing investigation.

They are praying that someone with any information will come forward to assist in the investigation, he said. They have suffered a horrible tragedy and dont want anyone else to go through what they have gone through.

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Kristjans parents, Fran and Rudina Ndoj, were in Albania traveling and couldnt be reached for comment this week. The parents are also fearful because whoever is responsible remains at large, according to Boynton.

They do have another son, and they are naturally afraid for him, he said.

The family appreciates the work that all law enforcement personnel have done, and they remain confident in the police investigation, according to Boynton. Police have been meeting with the family regularly to provide updates, he said.

Ndojs family immigrated to Connecticut from Lac, Albania, when he was a child.

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We came here to the United States and everything fell apart, Franga Ndoj said.

She came here to be with her family, even though she doesnt speak the language, because being with them was so important to her, she said.

I came here to live and said I could be living under a bridge and it would be fine, as long as I was with my family, Franga Ndoj said. We never expected to come here and have this happen. To be able to go to America was like going to heaven.

She said her grandson was intelligent and always got good grades, and a teacher who visited him at the hospital said he was a great person and student.

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Everyone who has known him always said nice things about him, she said. There was no better boy or son out there.

Kristjan wanted to keep studying and go to college to help support his family, she said.

Franga Ndoj said the family is upset police havent determined what happened and made an arrest.

Maybe they do know something and havent said, she said. This person could be going on with their life every day and people have no idea, and justice hasnt been served.

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Seven-term Republican Alderman Stanley Kudej represents the 2nd Ward where the shooting occurred. Ive been asking questions but getting no answers, he said.

People stop me, and reporters stop me (with questions about the case), Kudej said. Everythings a mystery; its strange. There are a lot of questions.

Hundreds of relatives, friends, classmates and members of a tight-knit Albanian community in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey attended the victims funeral March 27. Mourners from Albania also attended the funeral at St. Joseph Roman Catholic `Church.

At Ndojs funeral, Shelton High School Headmaster Beth Smith remembered Ndoj as an energetic student and a talented athlete.

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Kristjans uncle, Gjin Ndoj said this week his nephew was a nice kid.

Another male family member said that even if police arrest someone in the case and that person goes to prison, it wont bring Kristjan back.

Vance said anyone with information is urged to contact either Shelton police or state police with tips.

If anyone had any details, no matter how insignificant they may seem, please call, and the information will be kept in the strictest confidence, Vance said.

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Call state police with tips at 800-842-0200 or at 860-685-8190.

Reporter Enxhi Myslymi contributed to this story.
Niger's junta breaks military pact with US, calls American presence 'illegal'

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 6:56 AM

Niger's junta has broken its military pact with the United States, calling American presence in the country "illegal".

The ruling Nigerien government announced on Saturday it canceled a 2012 military cooperation agreement with the US.

"The government of Niger, considering the aspirations and interests of its people, responsibly decides to denounce with immediate effect the agreement" that permitted US military personnel and civilian employees from the American Department of Defense on Niger's territory, the government spokesman Amadou Abdramane said in a statement aired on national television.

The cancellation of the military pact between the two countries follows a visit to Niamey earlier this week by a delegation of senior US military officials led by the Under Secretary of State for African Affairs.

Nigerien government's ruling junta's spokesman said despite the meeting between Niger's ruling military junta, Molly Phee, and the head of the US Africa Command, the US officials had not followed diplomatic protocol and had not informed Niamey about the composition of the delegation.

The government spokesman added that Niger regretted the "intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right of choosing their partners and partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism."

Following Niger's military officers' seizure of power and the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, the junta demanded the withdrawal of French troops; however, the US military based in the country maintained a drone base in Agadez in the north with 1,000 troops.

Bazoum, and his previous governments, had allowed the US military presence to train Nigerien forces and take part in what was described as counter-terrorism activities.

However, the new government's spokesman said the Nigerien junta considers the presence of US troops on Niger's territory "illegal" because "it was not democratically approved and imposes unfavorable conditions on Niger, particularly in terms of lack of transparency on military activities."

The junta also canceled two security and defense partnerships with the EU last year.

Instead, the West African country signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen defense cooperation with Russia last December.

Niger has also signed a trilateral defense agreement with neighboring Burkina Faso, and Mali, binding the three Sahel countries to assist one another in the event of a military attack on any one of them.

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US, Britain launch new airstrikes against Yemen's Ta'izz, Hudaydah

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 6:02 AM

The United States and the United Kingdom have launched a string of airstrikes against targets in Yemen's southwestern province of Ta'izz and the strategic western province of Hudaydah as Yemeni forces continue their maritime operations against Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea.

Yemen's official Saba news agency, citing a security source speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that an airstrike hit the At-Ta'iziyah district in Ta'izz province early on Sunday. No further details about any casualties were immediately available.

The development came hours after US and British forces conducted four strikes against the al-Durayhimi district in Yemen's coastal province of Hudaydah.

Houthi: Americans will have to face severe punishment

Meanwhile, a top-ranking member of Yemen's Supreme Political Council has denounced continued US strikes across Yemen, emphasizing that Washington will have to face a severe punishment for the open aggression.

"It is completely out of the question to welcome Americans with wreaths of flowers, as they are wreaking havoc throughout Yemeni soil and territorial waters. Americans should rather expect harsh retaliation and punishment," Mohammad Ali al-Houthi said on Saturday night.

He went on to send out a warning to US military forces, stating that the Yemeni nation's high morale will eventually prevail over them.

"The mountains and plains of Yemen can by no means be occupied by Americans. Our heroic fighters will be the ones who safeguard our lands. You (Americans) are simply perennial losers," Houthi said.

Commenting on the recently concluded "Promised Day" war game, Houthi noted that the combat scenarios and operations performed in the large-scale military exercise indicated the full preparedness of various units of the Yemeni military for defense.

He hailed the participating units for achieving all objectives of the drill, stating they simulated rapid response to any US-British ground invasion of Yemen.

The United States and Britain have been carrying out such strikes on Yemen since Washington and its allies offered the Tel Aviv regime unqualified support and said Yemeni forces bear the consequences of attacks against Israeli-owned ships or merchant vessels heading to the occupied territories.

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.

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Vietnam's next leader faces crunch time with economy, demographics

An aging population and uncertain geopolitics will greet Nguyen Phu Trong successor.

A commentary by David Hutt 2024.03.17 -- January brought a fresh gust of rumors about the whereabouts of Nguyen Phu Trong, the Communist Party of Vietnam general secretary. He hadn't been seen in public for a few weeks and failed to meet with the visiting president of Indonesia, leading some commentators to speculate that his health was deteriorating once again.

We had been here in 2019 when it was rumored - accurately, it turned out - that Trong had suffered a stroke while on a visit down south. This time around, Trong showed up again rather quickly, delivering a speech to the National Assembly on January 15. But rumors of the 79 year-old's failing health are a reminder of his and the country's frailty.

Given that party chiefs tend to rule for two five-year terms, we can assume that the next general-secretary, if voted in at the next Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) National Congress in 2026 and if Trong does actually retire then, will rule until 2036.

It is not overly dramatic to say that the next party chief will govern during the most consequential decade of Vietnam's development.

Not least, that person is likely to enter office facing even more uncertain world politics.

One uncertainty is China, whose economy is in a terrible state and which is set to experience perhaps the worst demographic crisis of any country in known history.

The other is a retreating America. The great debate in the United States right now is whether to maintain its post-1945 interest in world affairs or to descend into nationalism and protectionism.

If Washington chooses the latter - and Donald Trump's possible re-election later this year would be an indication of that - the globalization we've known since 1945 that has depended on U.S. security guarantees, not least to keep the seas safe for world trade, could collapse.

Vietnam has arguably been one of the biggest beneficiaries of globalization - perhaps second only to China in recent decades. More to the point, China and the United States combined account for 46 percent of Vietnam's exports and 40 percent of its imports.

Demographic time bomb

Hanoi can do little to rectify China's troubled economy or dispel America's isolationist tendencies. But it can clean its own house.

The most existential concern, as framed by a headline in the state-run press last year, is its "demographic time bomb." Thailand is set to lose 10 million people of working age by 2050, about a quarter of its current workforce. China, based on conservative estimates, will lose 217 million workers, down from 984 million today.

Vietnam, thanks to its citizens having so many children in the 1990s, will only see its working-age population dip by around 253,000 people by 2050, from 67.6 million now - a 0.3 percent fall. The workforce will have passed its peak by the mid-2030s.

Instead, Vietnam appears set to suffer the problem of too many retirees. Vietnam became an "aging" society in 2011, when 7 percent of its population was aged over 65. It will become an "aged" society, when that demographic is more than 14 percent of the population, in 2034.

Vietnam will be the fourth "aged" society in Southeast Asia, after Singapore, Thailand and Brunei. The percentage of people over 65, those who don't work and are net extractors of state money, will double between now and 2050, from 10 percent to 20 percent.

In fact, people over 60 will go from 14.7 to 26.5 percent of the population over this timeframe. That's the figure to bear in mind since Vietnam's retirement age for men will be 62 in 2028 and 60 for women in 2035.

Moreover, the proportion of retirees will probably be higher than 26 percent of the population since women, who retire earlier, outnumber men by the time they're 60 years old. So it's possible that Vietnam is looking at around a fifth of its population in retirement by 2030 and nearly a third by 2050.

Unlike Thailand and China, whose demographic future is dire, more so than some analysts think, Vietnam won't see a declining workforce at the same time as an increase in retirees, so it won't be left trying to scrape less money from fewer workers for greater welfare payments to more retirees.

However, Vietnam is starting from a lower wealth base. If its GDP per capita doubles between now and 2034, it would still be on par with Thailand's GDP per capita today. If it triples, it will be on par with today's Malaysia, which won't become "aged" until 2042.

Tough decisions won't wait

Vietnam risks becoming old before it becomes rich, unless, that is, it can turbocharge its economy over the coming decade and half. According to the World Bank, Vietnam has until 2042 before its "demographic window of opportunity will close."

The state will have to find vastly more money for its retirees, sapping funds that could be invested in infrastructure and education.

Spending on education has already fallen from around 18 percent of government expenditure in the early 2010s to around 15 percent. Infrastructure spending has been criminally misused. Just look at the badly managed Ho Chi Minh City metro project.

Currently, average social insurance payments are just $240 per month, a little over two-thirds of workers' average income. A lengthy World Bank report noted that "Countries with old-age dependency ratios equal to Vietnam's projected level in 2035 typically spend 8-9 percent of GDP on public pensions, well above the 2-3 percent that Vietnam has spent over the past decade".

By today's GDP, that means the Vietnamese state will need to find something in the range of $18-21 billion annually just for pensions within a decade. That's not counting the additional financial strain of an aged society on the government and on households for health services.

Demographics ought to focus minds in Hanoi on the fact that the good times won't last forever, and the population dividend Vietnam has been gifted since the 1990s will be over quite soon.

Things have to change now. In 2021, for instance, labor productivity was valued at just US$10.22 per hour, compared to US$13.53 in China and US$15.06 in Thailand.

Vietnamese companies have barely any international footprint at the moment. More work is needed to incorporate Vietnam's economy into supply chains in Cambodia and Laos, both of which will see their workforces increase in size by 2050.

Private consumption as a percentage of GDP has fallen since 2015, making Vietnam more dependent on exports. That's risky in this era of deglobalization. Then there are issues over whether upriver damming on the Mekong will decimate Vietnam's food production - thus increasing imports in the future - and how climate change will impact the economy.

This demographic "time bomb" won't quite explode during the tenure of the next party chief assuming he serves two terms until 2036, but preparations for what to do when it detonates will certainly come on his watch.

Although, on a positive note, the economy should return to around a 6 percent growth rate by 2026, according to the World Bank, the next party chief will still have difficult decisions to make.

Trong's signature anti-corruption campaign has improved the CPV's image but it has massively sapped economic development. His successor, who will be selected because he is trusted to continue the campaign, will be pressured to end it.

Administrative reforms are overdue, but these will weaken the party's grip on power. The government will need to massively increase tax collection, not least to pay for the booming retirees, but this will be unpopular and difficult. And if the U.S. does decide on isolationism and China becomes more chaotic, diplomacy will have to be performed on a knife's edge.



Small wonder, then, that the CPV has dallied on choosing Trong's successor.

David Hutt is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) and the Southeast Asia Columnist at the Diplomat. As a journalist, he has covered Southeast Asian politics since 2014. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of RFA.

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.

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Haiti Health Care System Collapses Amid Unrest, Hospitals Looted - Reports

Sputnik News

20240317

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The attack on Haiti's capital has devastated the country's already fragile health care system, with more than half of Port-au-Prince's medical facilities out of service because they have been left without medicine amid gang violence, The New York Times reported Sunday.

The State University Hospital, the largest in Haiti, is closed due to a lack of donated blood and fuel for generators, the report said. Haitian doctors predict a spike in maternal and infant mortality as thousands of women are forced to give birth at home in the coming weeks, the newspaper added.

On February 29, gang violence erupted in the downtown area of the capital Port-au-Prince while Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry was visiting Kenya to seek an agreement for the deployment of foreign forces in Haiti to fight organized crime. The gangs said their goal was to prevent the prime minister from returning to Haiti, and they stormed Haiti's largest prison and freed an unconfirmed number of inmates. The Haitian government declared a state of emergency in the capital region.

Haiti has long been mired in a social and political crisis that escalated after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise on July 7, 2021. The country has faced an unprecedented increase in the activities of criminal groups, while the humanitarian situation has deteriorated due to a multitude of natural disasters.

 Sputnik

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US Working on Response to Possible Israel's Military Operation in Rafah - Reports

Sputnik News

20240317

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The US administration is exploring response options if Israel launches a military operation in the Gazan city of Rafah contrary to Washington's warnings and without a credible plan to protect civilians, NBC News reported, citing US officials.

On Friday, media reported, citing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, that the war cabinet had approved the start of a military operation in Rafah and the Israel Defense Forces was preparing to evacuate local civilians.

Such discussions are taking place in an atmosphere of growing concern on the part of the US administration and disappointment of Democrats in Congress due to the fact that calls from US President Joe Biden were ignored by the Israeli government, the report said.

"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. And so I think that makes the United States look ineffective," Senator Chris Van Hollen was quoted as saying by the broadcaster.

Washington recommended that Israel avoid conducting a full-scale military operation in Rafah and instead carry out smaller and targeted counterterrorism actions, the report added.

"We have been clear about the need to prioritize civilian protection," a spokesperson for the US National Security Council was quoted as saying by the broadcaster.

On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 31,500 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said.

 Sputnik

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UK Maritime Trade Authority Says Vessel Attacked Off Coast of Yemen's Aden

Sputnik News

20240317

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday it received information about an attack on a ship 85 nautical miles east of the Yemeni port city of Aden.

"UKMTO has received a report of an incident 85NM east of Aden, Yemen. The Master of a merchant vessel has reported an explosion in close proximity to the vessel. No damage to the vessel has been reported and the crew are reported safe ... Authorities are investigating," UKMTO said on its website.

The maritime authority also advised ships to pass through the area with caution and report any suspicious activity.

The Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, which controls large parts of northern and western Yemen, vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. This led the United States to announce the creation of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the Red Sea. US and UK forces later launched major strikes against Houthi positions in a bid to degrade the rebels' ability to target commercial vessels.

 Sputnik

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South Ossetia Discussing With Russia Possible Incorporation - Parliament Chairman

Sputnik News

20240317

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The topic of the possible entry of South Ossetia into Russia is being discussed in close coordination with Moscow, South Ossetian Parliament Chairman Alan Alborov told Sputnik.

"We are discussing all these issues in close coordination with the Russian Federation, taking into account our bilateral relations and agreements," Alborov said when asked about the possibility of holding a referendum on this topic.

The two parties pursue a joint coordinated foreign policy, Alborov said, noting that South Ossetia will become part of Russia when the governments of South Ossetia and Russia come to this idea.

On August 26, 2008, following Georgia's armed aggression against Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia recognized the independence of the two breakaway regions. The two republics were subsequently recognized by Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria, while Georgia and the vast majority of UN member states have not recognized them.

 Sputnik

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UNRWA Situation Report #91 on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - All information from 14 - 16 March 2024, is valid as of 16 March 2024 at 22:30

UNRWA

17 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. ISF airstrikes continue also in heavily populated Rafah in southern Gaza.

On 15 March, UNICEF[1] reported the number of children under the age of two suffering from acute malnutrition is increasing at an alarming rate in the northern Gaza Strip. One in three children are now malnourished, compared to 15.6 per cent in January 2024. In addition to the north, concerns remain in Rafah, Middle Areas and Khan Younis, where screenings conducted for the first time in Khan Younis, in the central Gaza Strip, revealed that 28 per cent of children under the age of two were acutely malnourished and more than 10 per cent severely wasted. Malnourished children in Gaza are also at high risk of medical complications and death if they do not receive urgent therapeutic food and appropriate treatment which are currently unavailable in Gaza. According to UNICEF, at least 23 children have reportedly died of malnutrition and dehydration in recent weeks in the north of the Gaza Strip. Another 13,450 children in the Gaza Strip have been killed during the war.

Access to people in Gaza City and Northern Gaza remains very restricted. According to OCHA, only 25 per cent of aid missions planned to the north in February had been facilitated by Israeli Authorities.

The first 15 days of March saw an average of 165 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 16 March, the total number of UNRWA colleagues killed since the beginning of hostilities is 168, an increase of two since the last UNRWA sit rep.

As of 16 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] Acute malnutrition doubles in the space of a month in the northern Gaza Strip - UNICEF - occupied Palestinian territory | ReliefWeb

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WHO: World Ignores Catastrophic Humanitarian Situation in Sudan

By Lisa Schlein March 17, 2024

April marks the one-year anniversary of the war in Sudan, sparked by a power struggle between two rival generals. Aid organizations say the war is having catastrophic consequences for the population of nearly 49 million people  more than half of whom need life-saving humanitarian assistance.

Since the conflict began April 15, 2023, tens of thousands of people have been killed and injured, millions have been forcibly uprooted from their homes and among the 18 million people suffering from acute hunger, 5 million are on the brink of famine, according to the World Food Program.

"And yet this catastrophic humanitarian situation in Sudan today hardly receives the international attention that it warrants," said Dr. Richard Brennan, the regional emergency director for the World Health Organization's regional office for the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Cairo-based Brennan, who went on his first mission to an emergency country early last week since assuming his post just over a month ago, noted that he has visited Sudan multiple times over the past 25 years and seen the country through many crises  such as floods, displacement, conflict and political turmoil.

Nevertheless, Brennan said he was taken aback by "the devastation that decades of fragility, and nearly a year of brutal war, have wreaked on the country."

"In fact, I was just reading the report from my 2014 mission which described a desperate situation with over 6.1 million in need of humanitarian assistance.

"It is extraordinary to reflect that today over 24.8 million people are in need  four times what we observed 10 years ago," he said, adding that the health needs are massive.

"We estimate that almost 14,000 have been killed and 28,000 injured; there are ongoing outbreaks of cholera, measles, dengue fever, and malaria; around 3.4 million children are acutely malnourished; and 70 percent of health facilities in conflict-affected areas are non-functional or only partially functional," he said.

Early last week, Jill Lawler, chief of field operations and emergency for UNICEF in Sudan, led a team of 12 UNICEF staff on a mission to Omdurman - in the greater Khartoum area. Omdurman is a region that has been under near-constant fire since the war broke out.

She described the intolerable conditions under which millions of children are forced to live and told journalists in Geneva Friday about the difficulties of providing medical care to children in need.

She said, "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 had limbs amputated in the hospital in just the past month alone."

She said Al Nau and other hospitals she and her team visited were overcrowded, with two or three patients having to share the same bed. She said medicine and equipment were in short supply, health care workers were overworked, exhausted, and that most "have not been paid regular salaries in months."

"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," she said.

UNICEF projects nearly 3.7 million children in Sudan will be acutely malnourished this year, including 730,000 who need lifesaving treatment. "The scale and magnitude of needs for children across the country are simply staggering," said Lawler, noting that Sudan is the world's largest displacement crisis, adding, "Some of the most vulnerable children are in the hardest-to-reach places."

The World Health Organization reports escalating fighting is preventing desperately needed humanitarian aid from reaching millions of people across the country.

"We are especially concerned about the situation in Darfur states, where no direct humanitarian access has been possible for several months, and only limited aid is reaching people in these areas," said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, in a statement Friday.

Balkhy, who went on the mission to Sudan early last week with her colleague, Richard Brennan, said, "Most health facilities have been looted, damaged, or destroyed. In West Darfur, the local health system has essentially ground to a halt."

"We have consistently shown that when we are provided with sufficient access and resources, we achieve good health outcomes.

"During my meetings with the deputy prime minister and minister of health, I received reassurances that all efforts will be made to facilitate the scale up of the health response throughout Sudan," she said.

UNICEF is appealing to the warring parties 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," Lawler said, adding that providing a lifeline for millions of destitute people will require generous support 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," she said.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 17 March 2024 - Day 752

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 on 11 March 2024, research from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) indicated that Russian arms exports fell by 53% between the periods 2014-2018 and 2019-2023

As a result, Russia dropped from second to third place in the global arms export rankings. Russian arms export volumes were 52% lower in 2023 than in 2022, while only 12 countries received major Russian arms in 2023, compared to 31 in 2019.

The decline is likely due to several factors including Russia prioritising equipment for operations in Ukraine due to continuous battlefield losses, and reduced customer demand due to the risk of associated sanctions and global condemnation of Russia's responsibility for the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day, 63 combat clashes were recorded.

In total, Russian forces carried out 7 missiles and 55 air strikes, carried out 62 shelling from the volcano fire jet systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. As a result of the Russian attacks, unfortunately, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. Destruction and damage suffered multi-storey and private houses.

In the Volyn and Polisky directions, the operating environment without significant changes. The sign of the formation of a Russian offensive group has not been detected.

In the Sivers komu and Slobozhans komu directions, the enemy maintains a military presence in the border areas, conducts diversion-intelligence activities, carries out shelling of settlements from the territory of Russia, increases the density of mine-explosive fences along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces carried out air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Lukashivka of Chernihiv region and Velika Pysarivka, Popivka, Oleksandrivka, Luhivka of Sumy region. Russian artillery and mortar shelling suffered more than 20 settlements, among them Klyusi and Girsk of Chernihiv region; Pustogorod, Iskryskivshchyna, Popivka of Sumy region; Cossack Lopan, Staritsa, Gatishche Kharkiv region.

In the Kupiansky direction, Russian forces carried out 2 unsuccessful assaults of Defense Forces positions in the area of Synkivka settlement of Kharkiv region. Made an air strike in the area of the basove settlement of Kharkiv region. More than 10 settlements were under artillery and mortar fire, including Synkivka, Ivanivka, Brestove Kharkiv region.

In the Limansky direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 1 attack of the enemy in the area of the settlement of Rozdolivka Donetsk region, where Russian forces tried to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops. More than 20 settlements were affected by artillery and mortar shelling, among them Bilogorivka Luhansk region, Terny, Yampolivka, Torske, Serebryanka, Spirne Donetsk region.

In the Bakhmut direction, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 7 attacks of the enemy in the areas of the settlements of Ivanivsk and Klishchievka of the Donetsk region. About 10 settlements were under artillery and mortar fire, including Chasiv Yar, Ivanivsk, New York of the Donetsk region.

In the Avdiyiv direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled 11 attacks of the enemy in the areas of the settlements of Berdychy, Tonenke, Pervomaiske, Orlivka, Alexandropil and Nevelske Donetsk region. Russian forces caused air strikes in the areas of the settlements of netajlove and novoselivka the first. Artillery and mortar shelling occurred to about 20 settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Netailove, Pervomaiske Donetsk region.

In the Novopavlivsk direction, the Defense Forces continue to restrain Russian forces in the areas of Krasnogorivka, Georgiyivka, Novomyhajlivka and Pobeda, where the Russian enemy, with aviation support, has tried 25 times to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces also carried out an air strike in the Shakhtarsky area. About 20 settlements were under Russian artillery and mortar fire, among them Krasnogorivka, Konstantinivka, Vugledar, Purification of Donetsk region.

In the orihiv direction, Russian forces 5 times attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of robotinogo and northwestern palm zaporizhia region. Striked air strikes in the area of the settlement of Staromayors ke Donetsk region. Artillery and mortar shelling occurred about 15 settlements, among them Poltavka, Charivne, Gulyaypole, Mala Tokmachka of Zaporizhia region.

In the Kherson direction during the day, Russian forces carried out 3 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops on the left bank of the Dnieper. Artillery and mortar shelling were suffered by more than 10 settlements, among them Ochakiv of the Nikolaev region; Cossack, Tyaginka, Ivanivka, Sadove of Kherson region.

During the day, the Defense Forces Aviation struck 6 areas of focus, weapons and enemy military equipment.

The rocket troops units have been affected by the 2 areas of focus of Russian personnel.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces, in cooperation with aviation and artillery, have inflicted a fire defeat on enemy formations near Kislovka (Kharkov region).

Three counterattacks by assault groups of 30th, 32nd mechanised, and 57th motorised infantry brigades of the AFU have been repulsed close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses were up to 90 servicemen and four motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system and one UK-made FH70 howitzer have been destroyed.

In Belgorod direction, Russian troops have repelled enemy attacks and foiled all attempts by Ukrainian militant sabotage and reconnaissance groups to infiltrate into the border territory of the Russian Federation near Kozinka (Belgorod region).

As a result of aviation, drone, and artillery actions, up to 65 Ukrainian fighters, one Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicle, and one D-20 gun have been eliminated.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces have taken more favorable lines and positions and defeated formations of 28th, 42nd, and 93rd mechanised, 17th tank, 5th, 92nd assault brigades of the AFU, and the 104th Brigade of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence close to Bogdanovka, Krasnoye, Kurdyumovka, Pershe Travnia, Kleshcheyevka, and Andreevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 200 soldiers, two armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have defeated concentration areas of enemy manpower and hardware close to Tonenkoye, Severnoye, and Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, nine counterattacks by assault groups of 24th, 47th, 53rd mechanised, 59th motorised infantry, 3rd assault, and 78th air assault brigades of the AFU have been repulsed close to Leninskoye, Shumy, Novobakhmutovka, Vodyanoye, Berdychi, and Pervomaiskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 380 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and ten motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, two D-20 guns, one Msta-B howitzer, and two D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, as a result of successful offensive operations, units of the Vostok Group of Forces have liberated Mirnyoe (Zaporozhye region) and also repelled one counterattack by an assault group of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade near Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were over120 troops and three motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, as a result of coordinated actions by units of the Dnepr Group of Forces, manpower and hardware of 65th mechanised and 128th mountain assault brigades of the AFU, 121st and 126th brigades have been hit close to Novodanilovka, Rabotino, and Zherebyanka (Zaporozhye region), as well as Olgovka, Mikhailovka, and Nikolskoye (Kherson region).

The enemy losses were over 40 servicemen and two motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have struck assembly and testing sites for uncrewed boats, one temporary deployment point for a battery of IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems (Odessa region), one workshop for the assembly and training of unmanned aerial vehicles near Priluki (Chernigov region), as well as AFU manpower and military hardware in 127 areas.

Air defence facilities, electronic warfare means, and small arms fire have shot down 168 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 23 Czech-made Vampire MLRS rockets, and one S-200 surface-to-air guided missile that had been converted for use against ground targets.

In total, 577 airplanes, 269 helicopters, 15,849 unmanned aerial vehicles, 486 air defence missile systems, 15,509 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,241 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,434 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,875 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Amari Keys, a singer from Waterbury, is competing in season 22 of "American Idol." American Idol and Fremantle/Contributed photo

Amari Keys, who grew up in Waterbury, got her golden ticket to Hollywood on the March 17 episode of "American Idol."

In between singing two songs, Keys, who also performs as Amari Scott Keys and Amari, shared her story of being a transgender woman and losing contact with some people because of it. She told judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan that she wants to inspire viewers.

"It's the first year I've taken control of my own life," Keys said in the episode. "I think there are a lot of people who can relate to my struggles and what I've been through. I just want them to know that they can do it. That's all."

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Keys sang a slow, jazzy rendition of Britney Spears's "Toxic," which included her using vocals to mimic a trumpet solo.

Following that performance, Perry told Keys that she was "so full of light and joy," but asked her to sing something more personal. Keys selected "She Used to Be Mine," by Sara Bareilles.

The second performance garnered a standing ovation from Perry, who said she voted yes on Keys advancing to Hollywood.

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Bryan praised the emotion behind Keys's second performance, as well as her falsetto. He voted no to her advancing, citing that she got "swallowed up" by some notes.

Richie was the last judge to share his vote.

"That performance was so imperfect, it was perfect," Richie said.

Keys previously told CT Insider that she began singing when she and her mother were experiencing homelessness, because she saw it as a way out of poverty. Ultimately, though, Keys said she found singing to be a way to process her emotions.

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Although she grew up in Connecticut, Keys said that she now lives in Indiana with her boyfriend, James, who went with her to the audition.

This is "American Idol's" 22nd season overall and its seventh season on ABC.
SpaceX's spy satellite network deal a major step toward 'space militarization,' poses new threat to global security: experts

Global Times

By Fan Anqi and Guo Yuandan Published: Mar 17, 2024 09:10 PM

SpaceX's increasing involvement in US' military deployment poses a new threat to world peace and stability, and may even impact the everyday lives of ordinary people around the world, experts warned after the company is reportedly building a powerful spy satellite network using hundreds of its satellites for US intelligence agencies.

In an exclusive report from Reuters on Saturday, the commercial space giant is allegedly building a network of spy satellites under a classified contract worth $1.8 billion with a US intelligence agency called the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Reuters said, citing sources familiar with the program.

A special business unit under SpaceX, Starshield, is undertaking the project, the sources revealed, and if successful, it would significantly advance the US military's ability to quickly spot potential targets "almost anywhere on the globe," the reports said.

The reason the NRO chose SpaceX was mainly due to the company's advantage in the number of small satellites it has in orbit, which allows for maximum coverage of more orbital levels, Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert and media commentator, told the Global Times on Sunday.

"The large number of satellites can enable the monitoring of a certain area without any blind spots, not only in coverage but also in time duration, thereby creating an all-encompassing spy network above the heads of all countries around the world," Wei said.

Starshield was established in December 2022, when the company announced it was "expanding its Starlink satellite technology into military applications." The target customers of Starshield includes the Pentagon and other national security agencies.

While the company tried hard to separate the two units to calm public worries, it is clear to all that the line is not so clear. Starshield will utilize the Starlink satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit to meet the growing needs of the US defense and intelligence agencies, media reports said, further blurring the boundary between civilian and military use.

Prior to this program, the Pentagon was already a big customer of SpaceX, using its Falcon 9 rockets to launch a dozen military payloads into space, according to media reports.

"This move is very dangerous," Wei said, as once space becomes another arena for arms race, the company's assets could be in jeopardy. In addition, if this spy satellite network gets involved in a US-instigated "space war" and thus poses threats to other countries, SpaceX may become a target for retaliation or counterbalance.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, believes that countries and regions will definitely take countermeasures once the network become operational, such as by moving facilities underground or using optical camouflage for concealment. As a result, obtaining sensitive information would still not be "a piece of cake" for US intelligence agencies, Wang told the Global Times.

Nevertheless, observers believe the spy network will pose a new threat to global peace and security. "The US' extensive intelligence reconnaissance of countries or regions of interest will inevitably make some hot-button issues more sensitive or even escalate, and it will also make already complex international relationships more difficult to handle," Wang said.

Wei warned that the satellite system will not only monitor military targets but civilian targets as well, potentially exposing the daily lives of ordinary people to surveillance, which will have significant negative implications for information security and personal privacy protection worldwide.

While the US incessantly hypes China's "growing threat" in space and advocates for "demilitarization," it has not stopped building up its military capabilities in the field, with the true aim of achieving a dominant position in space technology to support its superiority. "Due to the US' instigations, we may eventually have to face the fact that space has become a new battleground," Wang noted.

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China's stability maintenance system kicks into high gear on 'sensitive dates'

On politically significant calendar dates, the authorities take pre-emptive action against potential troublemakers.

By Kai Di for RFA Mandarin 2024.03.16 -- 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.

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.

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.

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 Women's 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 Women's 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.

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.

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 Jinping's 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, it's 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.

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.

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Wang Yi starts first trip to New Zealand, Australia in 7 years

Global Times

By Xu Keyue Published: Mar 17, 2024 10:39 PM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was set to kick off his first trip to New Zealand and Australia in seven years on Sunday, which is expected to solidify and promote healthy bilateral ties while managing differences and attempting to dispel noises from third parties.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand Winston Peters and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia Penny Wong, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, is scheduled to pay an official visit to New Zealand and Australia from March 17 to 21.

Bloomberg revealed on Wednesday that Wang will arrive in Canberra on March 20 for talks with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in his first visit to the country since 2017.

At a time when Beijing is reviewing whether to scrap its wine tariffs, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday the removal of Chinese tariffs on Australian wine will be on the agenda when he meets Wang next week in Canberra.

In New Zealand, Wang will meet with Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters in Wellington for a bilateral meeting and official dinner, according to Radio New Zealand. But no details on the specific date or the schedule was provided.

"We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand's most important and complex ties," Peters, also a deputy prime minister, said in a statement, the country's media outlet The Post reported on Thursday.

"Trade between New Zealand and China, as well as strong people-to-people, cultural and business links, delivered significant benefits to both our countries."

New decade into deeper cooperation

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership, Peters noted that "it is timely to discuss how New Zealand and China can best work together over the next decade, while building a strong understanding of our respective perspectives."

New Zealand's relationship with China - its largest trading partner - has been at the forefront of China's relationships with Western developed countries, Chinese observers commented.

Over the past decade, China and New Zealand have demonstrated the significance of their comprehensive strategic partnership, said Chen Hong, director of the New Zealand Studies Centre at East China Normal University.

Over the past 10 years, significant achievements have been made in economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, as well as in regional trade liberalization and integration, Yu Lei, professor at Shandong University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

During Wang's visit, it is expected that the two sides will achieve certain results in the fields of economic and trade cooperation, enhancing tourism cooperation between the two countries, and regional cooperation, Yu predicted.

Chen told the Global Times on Sunday that the two countries are anticipated to strengthen cooperation and communication in maintaining peace in the Asia-Pacific region, addressing climate change, and jointly promoting stable development of the South Pacific region.

As the two countries will welcome their next decade of comprehensive strategic partnership, Chinese observers also warned some new challenges for the bilateral ties may emerge under the new New Zealand coalition government which took office on November 27, 2023.

For the first time in New Zealand's political history, a tripartite administration took governance responsibilities of the country. But the coalition government has made few substantive public remarks about the New Zealand-China relationship since it came to power, The Post reported.

Therefore, the meeting between Wang and Peters this time is highly expected as the latter said the pair would "discuss regional and global issues, including the importance of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."

Under the new coalition government in New Zealand, Wang's visit is crucial as it can help maintain the positive development of bilateral ties, Chen said.

Considering the two countries face some differences on certain issues, Wang's visit can help effectively address these differences and manage the divergent views between the two sides in order to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, Chen pointed out.

Noises from third parties

There is another factor that could affect Beijing-Wellington ties - coercion from Washington and its allies.

Yu says New Zealand's domestic politics and political parties have significant ties with the US and Australia, making them susceptible to influence.

The Post pointed out that the New Zealand government has joined other countries in the US-led clique in becoming more outspoken about China-related issues including those on Xinjiang and Hong Kong as well as the Taiwan question and South China Sea disputes.

Also, The Guardian, in early February, reported that New Zealand had stepped up its interest in joining the non-nuclear pillar of AUKUS security partnership, citing concerns amid China's growing presence in the Pacific.

Peters and the Defense Minister Judith Collins travelled to Melbourne to meet with their Australian counterparts Penny Wong and Richard Marles for the inaugural "2+2" Australia and New Zealand foreign and defense ministers' meeting in early February. In a joint press conference, Marles announced that an Australian delegation would travel to New Zealand "very shortly" to brief officials on the second pillar of the AUKUS pact - a security partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US.

The second pillar of AUKUS covers the sharing of advanced military technologies, including quantum computing and artificial intelligence. New Zealand has not been offered the chance to join pillar one which is centered on the Australian navy receiving nuclear-powered submarines, media reported.

As a neighbor of Australia and an important member of the Five Eyes alliance, New Zealand had previously expressed concern over AUKUS especially for the risk of nuclear war, Chen said.

He noted that such differing voices led the US to hope to include New Zealand in AUKUS to reduce dissent voices.

But there has been a backlash against joining AUKUS within New Zealand, with many calling on the government to carefully consider the consequences and learn from Australia's previous experience of antagonizing China which led to harming its own national interests, the expert said.

"The US and its allies have been exerting pressure on New Zealand on China-related issues and trying to affect its relations with China, Wellington needs to properly manage the relationship between New Zealand and the US and that between New Zealand and its largest trading partner China," Chen said.

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Policing cooperation agreement between China and Fiji restored

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: Mar 17, 2024 07:59 PM

After reviewing a policing cooperation deal with China for a year, Fiji decided to maintain the cooperation despite Pacific Islands countries (PICs) are facing mounting pressure from some former colonial powers such as the US and Australia, which reflects that such cooperation, fundamentally different from that with Western countries, stems from the strong demand of the PICs, Chinese experts said.

It also shows that the motivation behind the police cooperation is selfless and can genuinely help improve local security, which will contribute to creating a favorable business environment for Chinese-funded enterprises and Chinese businesspeople in the area, representing a tangible mutual benefit, experts noted.

After some media reported on Saturday that Fiji will uphold a policing cooperation with China after it had reviewed it for 12 months amid concern from Australia, the Global Times confirmed with the Chinese Embassy in Fiji on Sunday that the China-Fiji police cooperation has been restored.

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka put on hold the decade-old police cooperation deal between Fiji and China shortly after forming his government in December 2022, citing differences in policing, investigations and legal systems, Reuters said.

The agreement allows for cooperation in a range of areas including the exchange of intelligence, visits, training and the supply of equipment, according to media reports. Fiji's home affairs minister, Pio Tikoduadua, was quoted as saying in a report by the Guardian on Friday that under the cooperation, "there will only be Fijian officers training in China and no embedding of Chinese officers in the Fiji police force now."

The police cooperation between China and PICs is rooted in the strong demand of those countries, Chen Hong, executive director of Asia Pacific Studies Centre at East China Normal University, told the Global Times.

"Under the long-term governance of Western colonial rule, Western countries imposed their old governance systems on the local areas without any adjustments, which resulted in them being implemented without truly taking root. This caused a governance vacuum in these countries after the colonial era ended," he said.

Also, the nature of Pacific Island countries leads to numerous tribes within a single nation constantly in conflict. Together, these factors mean that if social unrest occurs locally, there is almost no sufficient capacity, either in personnel or ability, to respond, Chen noted.

In the past, PICs often had no choice but to request Australian military and police intervention during conflicts but that was a temporary solution that did not address the root causes, as foreign military and police can only temporarily increase enforcement strength, leaving the governance system unable to stand on its own and failing to solve fundamental issues, the expert said.

"Also, Australian military and police have been seen as superior to locals, often disregarding local customs and showing ineffective enforcement during their law enforcement processes. In this context, governments of some Pacific Island countries have decided to seriously consider enhancing their police forces' governance capabilities," he said.

Some experts believe that the cooperation between China and other PICs, for example, the law enforcement cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands, has been a good example for other PICs.

"Former colonial powers like the US and Australia have also engaged in police cooperation with island nations, but their focus has been on how to strengthen control over local military, police and governments. In contrast, China's cooperation with these island countries emphasizes enhancing law enforcement and crime-fighting capabilities without interfering in domestic affairs," Yu Lei, a professor at Shandong University, told the Global Times.

This cooperation with China is highly regarded by local societies but is not welcomed by countries like the US and Australia. This is mainly because, after cooperating with China, the island nations now have a point of comparison and, whether in terms of technology or public sentiment, are more inclined to cooperate with China, Yu said.

China's increasing presence in the South Pacific has caught the attention and even the anxiety of the US.

Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently that the US will open an embassy in Vanuatu "imminently" and is working to get the approval of the parliament in Kiribati for a mission. He also reiterated warnings to Pacific Island countries of the dangers of agreements with China, Reuters reported on Friday.

The US and Australia have traditionally viewed the South Pacific as their sphere of influence, intending to turn the region into a base for containing China, and they have significantly obstructed China's cooperation with PICs, experts said.

"Western and US media also deliberately confuse concepts, intentionally using the term 'security,' which can refer to both social order and national defense security. Thus, they purposefully portray cooperation in social governance and policing as military cooperation, furthering their own militarization in the region," Chen said.

Also, they bribe local opposition parties to intentionally smear the cooperation between China and the local countries. This approach has indeed had some effect, leading new governments to spend a considerable amount of time reviewing cooperation agreements with China, during which the interference from the US and Australia is evident, the expert added.

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PLA Navy landing ships hold combat exercises in South China Sea

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Mar 17, 2024 08:15 PM

A group of landing ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) recently held live-fire exercises in the South China Sea, with analysts saying on Sunday that the flexible vessels capable of carrying tanks in amphibious landing missions are important in the safeguarding of China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.

The PLANS Danxiashan, the PLANS Daiyunshan and the PLANS Wanyangshan recently formed a task force and conducted multi-course realistic combat exercises in an undisclosed area in the South China Sea, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Sunday.

According to the report and publicly available information, the PLANS Danxiashan is a Type 072III tank landing ship, while the PLANS Daiyunshan and the PLANS Wanyangshan are Type 072A tank landing ships.

During the drills, the vessels undertook training courses including live-fire shooting against sea mine targets and side-by-side mooring, CCTV reported.

China has built a large number of Type 072 series tank landing ships since the 1970s, including the original Type 072, the improved Type 072II, Type 072III, and Type 072A, Shanghai-based news outlet thepaper.cn reported.

While the PLA Navy has already commissioned larger amphibious vessels like the Type 071 comprehensive landing ships and the Type 075 amphibious assault ships, the smaller Type 072 series tank landing ships still have their uses, taking advantage of their large numbers and higher flexibility, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday.

Unlike their larger successors that release landing forces remotely from ashore, Type 072 landing ships are designed to operate in waters nearer to shore, ground on shore, then offload vehicles, troops, and cargos directly on shore, the expert said.

The recent exercises came at a time when the Philippines had made repeated provocations over Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea, including Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef) and Huangyan Dao (also known as Huangyan Island) under the instigation of the US.

Analysts noted that Type 072's characteristics make them particularly useful in the safeguarding of China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights over islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

Type 072 series landing ships have participated in multiple major military operations, including the building of the maritime observation station on Yongshu Jiao (also known as Yongshu Reef) in the Nansha Qundao (also known as the Nansha Islands) in the South China Sea in 1988, thepaper.cn reported.

Similarly, the vessels also play important roles in safeguarding national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and development interests in the Taiwan question, observers said.

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North Korean leader calls army for war readiness

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 17, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un has called on the country's armed forces to remain fully prepared for any possible conflict.

Kim reportedly issued the call while attending the exercise of the country's airborne forces and monitoring their simulated exercises, along with his daughter.

He emphasized that the basic task of the North Korean army is to prepare for war, and ordered that the country's airborne forces be ready to implement various surprise war tactics.

Our forces must be ready to face the enemy with a strong will and change the course of history in the event of a war, the North Korean leader added without singling out any country a potential threat,

However, in the past, Kim had issued similar calls and accused the United States of pushing the Korean Peninsula toward a war.

Since last year, North Korea has launched a number of cruise and ballistic missiles, including IBMs in a show of strength against US policies in the region, which Pyongyang said, was making war "inevitable".

North Korea also sees the annual joint Seoul-Washington drills as a military rehearsal for an invasion of the country.

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INDIAN ARMY CONTINGENT DEPARTS FOR SEYCHELLES FOR JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE "EXERCISE LAMITIYE - 2024"

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 17 MAR 2024 10:51AM by PIB Delhi

Indian Army contingent departed for Seychelles today to participate in the Tenth edition of Joint Military Exercise "LAMITIYE-2024" between the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF). The Joint Exercise will be conducted at Seychelles from 18-27 March 2024. 'LAMITIYE' meaning 'Friendship' in the Creole language is a biennial training event and has been conducted in Seychelles since 2001. 45 personnel each from the GORKHA RIFLES of the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) will participate in the exercise.

The aim of the Exercise is to enhance interoperability in Sub-conventional Operations in Semi-Urban environment under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter on Peace Keeping Operations. The Exercise will enhance cooperation and interoperability between both the sides during Peace Keeping Operations. The exercise will also build and promote bilateral military relations in addition to exchanging skills, experiences and good practices between both armies

Both sides will jointly train, plan and execute a series of well-developed tactical drills for neutralization of likely threats that may be encountered in Semi-Urban environment, while exploiting and showcasing new-generation equipment and technology. The 10 days long Joint Exercise will include Field Training Exercise, combat discussions, lectures & demonstrations, which culminates with two days of Validation Exercise.

The exercise will contribute immensely in developing mutual understanding and magnify jointness between the troops of both the Armies. The Exercise will also foster collaborative partnership and help in sharing best practices between the two sides.

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SC/VY/VKT



(Release ID: 2015283)

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India's Muslims See Discrimination in New Religion-Based Citizenship Law

By Shaikh Azizur Rahman March 17, 2024

The Indian government's recent announcement of rules to implement a 2019 citizenship law has sparked protests in India, with many accusing it of polarizing the society ahead of general elections scheduled for next month.

Under the Citizenship Amendment Act or, CAA, "persecuted" religious minorities from Muslim-majority Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who entered India before December 2014, will be allowed to claim Indian citizenship on a fast-track basis.

Since the law applies only to non-Muslims, critics a including rights groups, opposition political parties and Muslim community leaders a say it discriminates against Muslims.

After last week's announcement, Amnesty International described the CAA as "a discriminatory law that goes against the constitutional values of equality and international human rights law."

A spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights was quoted by the Reuters news agency on Tuesday as saying the law is "fundamentally discriminatory in nature and in breach of India's international human rights obligations."

Home Minister Amit Shah has defended the CAA, calling it a "special act" designed to protect persecuted minorities from three countries and saying it has nothing to do with Indian Muslims.

"Indian Muslims need not be afraid because of the CAA. It has no provision to take away the citizenship rights of any Indian," Shah said.

Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis and Christians will be allowed onto a fast track to Indian citizenship under the law. Jews and Bahais are not included among the specified minorities.

Although the measure was approved in 2019, the Modi government put implementation on hold after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets protesting what they called a discriminatory anti-Muslim law.

The protests led to the outbreak of communal violence in Delhi and other places, during which thousands of protesters were arrested and more than 100 were killed. The legislation was further delayed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Indian Citizenship Act, all foreign nationals are required to stay in India for 11 years before being eligible to apply for a passport. That law did not make religion a determinant of one's eligibility for citizenship.

Practitioners of the designated religions will now be eligible to apply for citizenship after having stayed in India for five years. It is the first time that religion has been explicitly made a basis on which people will be eligible for citizenship.

Despite the home minister's assurances, the implementation of the law has reignited fear among India's 200 million Muslims, especially those in certain border states, of having their citizenship revoked should they be unable to produce specific documents.

Those fears could be realized if the government moves ahead with implementation of another law providing for an updated National Register of Citizens, or NRC, under which "all Indian citizens" are to be identified and listed.

People left out of the NRC will face the threat of losing their citizenship through the power vested in quasi-judicial bodies known as foreigner tribunals, which are responsible for determining if a person is staying in the country illegally.

Individuals determined to be "foreigners" will be sent to detention centers, Amnesty International noted in a report.

A provision in the CAA ensures that non-Muslims not included in the NRC are protected from the threats of deportation and internment but grants no such security to Muslims.

The sudden implementation of the CAA, after years of delay and weeks before April 19 general elections, suggests the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using it to polarize the Hindu-majority society and reap electoral benefits, alleged Zafarul-Islam Khan, former chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission.

"Minority Uyghur and Rohingya Muslims have for decades been facing persecution in neighboring China and Myanmar, and are seeking refuge in other countries," Khan told VOA. "If the CAA is aimed to protect all persecuted minorities around India's neighborhood, it should have included those Muslims, too. This is undoubtedly an anti-Muslim law."

The government maintains that the CAA is neither anti-Muslim nor unconstitutional. "This law is to help those who during the partition of the subcontinent had stayed back in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, faced religious persecution there and later came over to India," Home Minister Shah said on Thursday.

The United States has said it is "concerned" about the notification of the CAA.

"We are closely monitoring how this act will be implemented. Respect for religious freedom and equal treatment under the law for all communities are fundamental democratic principles," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters during a daily briefing on Thursday.

On Friday, India said that the statement of the State Department on the issue was "misplaced, misinformed and unwarranted."

"The CAA is about giving citizenship, not about taking away citizenship. It addresses the issue of statelessness, provides human dignity and supports human rights," Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, while asserting that the issue is an "internal matter."

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Iran national oil company signs oil contracts worth $13bn

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 17, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has signed contracts worth $13 billion, marking the country's biggest oil contracts in a decade.

The NIOC signed the contracts with domestic companies to develop upstream projects at six oil fields including Azadegan, Azar 2, Soumar, Saman, Delavaran and Masjed-Soleiman.

Under the contracts, oil production at those fields will increase by 400,000 barrels per day to hit 620,000 bpd, which will generate $15 billion annually, NIOC Managing Director Mohsen Khojasteh said at the signing ceremony on Saturday.

The projects will create 66,000 direct and indirect jobs, he added.

Khojasteh hailed the contracts as another step by the administration of President Ebrahim Raisi to fulfill its promises to develop the oil industry and improve the economy.

"Our plan, since the administration took office, was to prioritize the projects that result in economic growth and benefit the people", Khojasteh said, adding that the company has, among other things, managed to increase the production and sale of oil since August 2021 when the Raisi administration took office.

The contracts were inked two days ahead of the Oil Nationalization Day which marks the anniversary of Iran's taking control of its oil industry in 1951 as a result of a movement led by then-prime minister Mohammad Mosaddeq.

Oil Minister Javad Owji and First Vice-president Mohammad Mokhber were also present at the signing ceremony.

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Iran awards 'historic' oil contracts to domestic companies

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 6:57 PM

The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has awarded contracts worth some $13 billion to domestic companies in what the Oil Ministry has described as a "historic" development because the contracts have been unprecedented in the Iranian oil industry in the past decade.

Iran's Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, Oil Minister Javad Owji and NIOC's CEO Mohsen Khojasteh Mehr attended a ceremony in Tehran on Sunday to sign the contracts for development of six oilfields in south and west of Iran.

The largest of the four contracts signed was dedicated to the development of Azadegan oilfield, a 1,500-square kilometer reserve along the Iranian border with Iraq located some 80 kilometers to the west and southwest of the city of Ahvaz, the capital of Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province.

Oil Ministry's Shana news service said the contract for development of Azadegan had been awarded to Dasht Azadegan Arvand, a consortium of nine domestic companies for a period of 20 years and for a total output of 2.558 billion barrels of oil.

Azadegan is shared between Iran and Iraq and is believed to be the 10th largest oilfield in the world with some 32 billion barrels of oil. The oilfield is known as Majnoon in Iraq where international oil giants have won various contracts to develop the Arab country's section of the oilfield.

The NIOC also awarded a 20-year contract worth $1.036 billion to Sarvak Azar Engineering & Development Company to develop the second phase of Azar oilfield, located along Iran's western border in Ilam province and connected to Iraq's Badra oilfield.

Two Iranian companies won a $245-million contract to develop Soumar, Saman and Delavaran oilfields in western Iran while the Energy Gostar Sina was awarded a $260-million contract to develop Masjed Soleyman oilfield, the first oilfield discovered and developed in the Middle East in the early 1900s.

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From left, sixth graders Jeremiah Hicks, Arianna Melndez and Lizmarie Gragirene on the sax and Israel Machicote on the piano play during a practice session between classes at John S. Martinez Magnet School in New Haven on March 15, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Band/Instrumental Music teacher Jose Lara and sixth grader Bianca Velasquez play the trombone during a practice session between classes at John S. Martinez Magnet School in New Haven on March 15, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media From left, sixth graders Jeremiah Hicks, Arianna Melndez and Lizmarie Gragirene play the sax during a practice session between classes at John S. Martinez Magnet School in New Haven on March 15, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Sixth grader Israel Machicote plays the piano during a practice session between classes at John S. Martinez Magnet School in New Haven on March 15, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media From left, sixth graders Jeremiah Hicks, Arianna Melndez and Lizmarie Gragirene play the sax during a practice session between classes at John S. Martinez Magnet School in New Haven on March 15, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Sixth grader Bianca Darice Lizbeth Gonzalez plays the drums during a practice session between classes at John S. Martinez Magnet School in New Haven on March 15, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

Some of the greatest musicians in the world did not come from privileged backgrounds.

As children, many of America's future Charlie Parkers, Louis Armstrongs, Freddie Hubbards and Art Blakeys can't buy their own instruments.

But at some point, they were able to obtain one and begin the journey to learn how to play.

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The issue recently attracted widespread attention when The Last Repair Shop, a short film on those who work behind the scenes to maintain 140,000 instruments owned by the Los Angeles Unified School District won the Oscar for best documentary short film.

While the work Los Angeles does becomes less common as time goes on, in many of Connecticut's larger cities, a family's economic status is not a barrier to picking up a sax and learning how to honk and wail, music educators say.

"We never turn a student away that wants to play an instrument," said Ellen Maust, supervisor of performing and visual arts for the New Haven Public Schools system. "If they don't have the funds to get an instrument, we will make sure that they have an instrument."

If a family can't pay, more often than not the school will waive fees and just lend them the instrument after they sign a contract, officials from public school systems across Connecticut said. Some schools get donated instruments that are repaired and loaned to students.

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In New Haven, schools tend to have maintenance fees instead of rental fees.

"It's different in every school," Maust said. "Some don't charge anything. Some charge by the kind of instrument it is."

She recommends $40, but parents can just sign a contract to take responsibility for the instrument if there isn't that maintenance fee.

It's not the same everywhere. But in interviews with music educators throughout the state, the idea that money should not be a barrier  and isn't  when it comes to music education was a constant drumbeat.

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Differing needs

On Friday, the new sixth grade jazz combo rehearsed Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man" at John S. Martinez Sea and Sky STEM Magnet School in New Havens ethnically and economically mixed Fair Haven section. The student musicians all have unique circumstances, but share one thing: a love of music.

Jeremiah Hicks, 12, one of three saxophone players, was using an alto sax his parents bought him on Amazon for about $500. He also plays electric guitar  and they picked up that and his amplifier at Guitar Center.

Arianna Melendez, 11, who plays tenor sax after initially trying out the trumpet, uses a saxophone supplied by the school because, at this point, he doesn't have one of his own.

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Bianca Darice Lizbeth Gonzalez, uses the school's Tama kit now but soon will unleash her 4 foot, 9 inch frame on her very own drum set.

"It makes me relax," she said of her decision to play the drums.

Teacher Jose Lara, who played trombone Friday along with his students, said the students pay a maintenance fee but it's flexible.

Jill Russell-Benner, Music Department head for Danbury Public Schools, said she understands the difficulties many families face buying or renting musical instruments for their children.

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I was raised by a single mother and understand first-hand how much of a financial burden instrument rentals are for families," Russell-Benner said. "I believe what we are able to provide our students with the support of the community and district administration is invaluable.

Russell-Benner was intrigued by The Last Repair Shop movie, which is available to watch both on Disney+ and for free on YouTube.

"Like the students we serve each day in Danbury, the repair shop workers all come from diverse backgrounds and through this documentary share their story of how in many ways 'music saved them,'" she said. "The youngsters impacted by music in this documentary mirror our students."

Danbury's rental fees are typically $50 per year, done on a sliding scale for all families, based on need, Russell-Benner said.

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"The rental fee goes directly back to our instrumental program to support our inventory and replace lost, stolen or replacement instruments," she said. "Over the past four years we have been able to add more than 30 additional band and string instruments to our inventory."

Danbury has partnerships with "grantors" that help provide free instruments, she said.

"Our elementary instrumental program has over 1,000 students enrolled in third through fifth grade," she said.

'Hundreds of instruments'

Meanwhile, Bridgeport Public Schools maintains "hundreds of musical instruments" of its own, said Sarah-Jane Henry, that district's director of performing and visual arts.

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"They are all in different states of repair, but using COVID relief money we are refurbishing them, cannibalizing those that are too far gone to provide parts for those that we can repair," Henry said.

"If a student wants to play an instrument, we have the instruments," Henry said. "We have a $30 maintenance fee. But if the parents can't pay it, we can waive it ... We don't say no."

The maintenance fee covers things, such as valve oil for brass instruments or reeds for woodwinds, she said.

Bridgeport also has a partnership with KEYS, a Bridgeport nonprofit that comes into schools to give individual lessons, Henry said.

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"Kids come to school for art and music," Henry said. "So if we can have a rich arts program in our schools, we can get the kids to come to school."

West Haven's fast-growing band and music programs at Carrigan Intermediate School, Bailey Middle School and West Haven High, offers several options for getting instruments, said Scott Shand, coordinator of fine arts for West Haven Public Schools.

"The West Haven community has been very good at donating musical instruments, which we refurbish and keep for students who may not have the means, Shand said.

The district also gets help on repairs.

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"We have students and families who rent from their choice of music store, but West Haven offers options of stores that come to service instruments directly to the schools," he said. "We use Connecticut Music and JC Music to come repair our instruments and students who use them may not have to worry about repair bills," he said.

Horns For Kids

New Haven  and many music programs across Connecticut  also works with a Hamden nonprofit, Horns For Kids, started by two retired music teachers. It accepts instrument donations, refurbishes them and then puts instruments in chidlren's hands through their schools.

"If we're talking about 'The Last Little Repair Shop,' that's them," said Maust.

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Horns For Kids co-directors Fred Rossomondo, who taught music in Wallingford schools for 32 years, and Lee Walkup, who taught music in Shelton for 32 years, both got involved after each retired in 2003.

"Horns For Kids is a charity that we've run since 2003," Rossomondo said. "It's to support music education in schools, and the way we do that is by trying to make available instruments."

Twice a year, they post lists of more than 40 instruments  sometimes 50 or 60  that are available, including woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, keyboards and guitars, he said.

"We've given out like 200 instruments in 20 years, like $2 million in instruments," Rossomondo said.

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He said the donated instruments often need to be fixed and they'll have to decide whether it's worth having them and their seven-member team fix it.

"We'll fix it if they can do it for about $100," he said.

If they ever are given a particularly high-end instrument, they seek to trade it for multiple other instruments, he said.

"We make nothing off this charity, by the way," Rossomondo said. "We pay for the phone. We pay for the gas.

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"But when that kid is given this opportunity, then he has a chance," Rossomondo said. "You can walk into a first rehearsal as a sixth grader in a middle school, get in the band  you don't have to know anyone in the band  and all of a sudden you have 40 friends."

Getting instruments in kids' hands

Meriden Public Schools has been "highly focused for years on equity in the arts," and as part of that acquired their own instruments, said Brian Cyr, the district's fine arts coordinator for music, theater and visual arts, as well as Maloney High band teacher.

"We charge a very small fee to rent an instrument ... $70 for the year," Cyr said. "We never turn a student away because they're not able to afford (it.)"

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In those cases, they'll reduce the fee.

"We just don't want to be in a situation where we're turning away students," he said.

Cyr, also the Connecticut Arts Administrators Association's vice president, said he's mindful people could spend well over $1,000 to buy a saxophone.

"There's such a huge disparity in the quality of instruments," Cyr said. "You can go into a big box store these days and buy a clarinet for $250."

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He cautioned it won't work for the students though.

It's such a low quality that a repair shop that's going to do basic maintenance isn't going to work on it," Cyr said. "They don't want to guarantee that work."

Meriden has close to 800 students playing music in its schools. About 90 percent of them get instruments from the schools and about 40 percent are on some sort of financial arrangement, he said.

Middletown also provides musical instruments for free to students whose families can't afford them, said Communications Director Jessie Lavorgna.

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We wholeheartedly believe cost should not be a barrier to wanting to learn how to play an instrument, Lavorgna said.

Kathleen Steinberg, spokeswoman for Stamford Public Schools, said Stamford provides free instruments for those students in all grades where music education is taught, including grades 4 through 12.

Amy Perras, instructional supervisor for music, art and library media for the Milford Public Schools  and president of the Connecticut Arts Administrators Association  said every district handles instrument distribution a little differently.

"Our students rent instruments from approved vendors at very, very reasonable rates," Perras said.

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But exceptions are made all the time.
Support for Zionist regime a blatant violation of human rights: Iran FM spox

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 17, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has said that support for the Israeli regime is the most blatant violation of human rights, as he criticized Western countries for hypocrisy when it comes to democracy, human rights as well as international peace and security.

"The political, economic, military, financial, legal and international support for the Zionist regime, which has an illegal identity and is terrorist and accused of war crimes and genocide and is a violator of human rights and international humanitarian law, is an example of the most blatant and biggest violation of human rights, and is a non-democratic and dictatorial behavior in international relations", Kanaani said in a post he shared on X social media platform on Sunday.

He also criticized Western countries for pushing for wars in the world despite claiming to advocate human rights and respect global peace and security.

The stance of those countries on the Gaza war, which has so far left more than 31,000 people dead, is another sign showing how much these countries are committed to their own slogans of supporting human rights and international peace, spokesman said, adding that the same countries have also blocked efforts at stopping the genocide in Gaza despite global uproar over the unprecedented crimes against the people of Gaza.

What has happened to the innocent Palestinian nation during the nearly six months of war, especially to women and children, shows a "scandal" of the West and is a clear sign of insincerity of Western countries when it comes to human and moral principles as well as international law.

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Israeli security official threatens to resign

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 17, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Sources revealed the rift between the Zionist officials and the threat of a member of the security and political cabinet to resign.

According to Palestinian media, Gideon Sa'ar, a member of the security and political cabinet of the Zionist regime, threatened to leave the Zionist cabinet if his membership in the war cabinet was not confirmed.

"If I do not become a member of the war cabinet in the next few days, I will resign," he told the Zionist regime's Channel 12.

"I said that I will stay in the cabinet as long as I am effective, and today I will not be effective outside the war cabinet," he added.

After a disagreement with war cabinet minister Benny Gantz about the management of the Gaza war and separation from the Ittihad coalition (consisting of 2 parties, Blue and White and New Hope), Sa'ar asked to join the war cabinet of the Zionist regime.

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PM Netanyahu's Statement after his Meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

The 37th Government

17.03.2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and issued the following statement after their meeting:

"Chancellor Scholz, welcome to you and your delegation. This is the third visit that you are taking as chancellor to Israel, the second visit during the war. We very much appreciate your friendship, the support that Germany has given Israel during these trying times.

We've just had a very serious conversation, an important conversation among friends. You expressed your concern for two things. One, protecting civilians, and second, provision of humanitarian aid. I explained that these are our concerns as well because we agree with both goals. In fact, the army of Israel has done more to minimize civilian casualties than any other army in modern times, and certainly any other army faced with such dense urban warfare and an enemy that seeks to use civilians as human shields, as Hamas does, often at gunpoint.

Secondly, we are doing unusual efforts to increase humanitarian aid by land, by sea, by air, and we'll continue to do more. The main problem that we see is the distribution of this aid once it gets into Gaza, and the fact that it is being looted by Hamas and by others. This is something that we have to have a joint effort to try to prevent. The responsibility for this disruption and for the civilian casualties should be laid at Hamas's door. Israel will do whatever it can to minimize those casualties and maximize humanitarian aid as needed.

We also agree that Hamas has to be eliminated. We cannot have a future for Gaza, a future for peace, a future for Israel if Hamas, a terrorist organization committed to our genocide, remains intact. If it remains intact, it will regroup and reconquer the Gaza Strip and, as they vowed, repeat the massacre again and again and again.

On Thursday, I met families of hostages. One of the hostages, a woman, told me that her captors, she was there with her children, and we got her out. She said the Hamas captor who held her hostage said to her: You know, you're going back now. I suggest you go. Go anywhere, go to California, leave Israel because we will do next time ten times what we did to you now. And after that, even more.

So, we cannot have this genocidal organization that murdered over a thousand Israelis, we cannot have them in power. We cannot have peace if Hamas is there. Hamas has to be eliminated for any possibility of peace and progress.

When we talked briefly also about the day after Hamas, the one thing that I would stress is it's got to be the day after Hamas, after Hamas is eliminated. That will open up other possibilities but none can be realized unless Hamas is eliminated."

Prime Minister Netanyahu added:

"I trust you know that Israel seeks peace, and Israelis believe, all Israelis pray and yearn for peace because we suffer the consequences of war, both as a nation and as families who lost loved ones.

The cost of war is well-known to us. We believe that the key to peace is security. Many believe that the key to security is peace. But peace is unsustainable without a strong Israel. And if we are offered a peace agreement or a path to peace that makes Israel so weak and unable to defend itself, and our neighbors still adhering to the goal of destroying the Jewish state then obviously we will set peace backward and not forward.

We want to move peace forward. For that, Israel has to have the necessary security responsibility in this tiny area. Otherwise, the radicals take over. This is something that we've discussed in detail. We'll have other opportunities.

I want to assure you that we value the support that Germany has given us in international forums and elsewhere. We value your friendship and we look forward to continuing this conversation.

The other thing that I would say is that I assured Chancellor Scholz that our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah goes hand in hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah. It's not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place. In fact, we'll do the very opposite. We'll enable them to leave because our consideration for reducing and minimizing civilian casualties has guided us, and will continue to guide us in the future.

Thank you, Chancellor and thank you all."

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Russia's presidential election is not legal, free and fair

Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Republic of Poland

17.03.2024

On 15-17 March 2024, Russia held a so-called presidential election. The voting took place amid harsh repressions against society, preventing it from making a free, democratic choice.

In breach of international law, the "election" was conducted also on temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine: in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, as well as in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson Oblasts. Other regions where the vote was held included Moldova's Transnistria as well as Georgia's Tskhinvali/South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Such "election" may not be considered legal, free and fair.

Since the start of war in Ukraine, Russia's authorities have considerably stepped up their repressions against political opposition, civil society, non-governmental organisations, and independent media, as well as all citizens brave enough to criticise the actions of Russia's regime, including its aggression against Ukraine. The devastating news about the death of Alexei Navalny, an opposition leader, in a penal colony was the tragic culmination of that activity. In view of Russia's successive implementation of repressive law, limiting the citizens' rights and freedoms, including political ones, along with war censorship, politically motivated prosecutions, and rejection of anti-war candidates, the "election" may not be considered free and fair.

Poland continues to strongly condemn such measures. We also object to Russia's decision to prevent independent Russian observers from observing the vote and not to invite OSCE observers.

The Kremlin's unlawful decision to conduct the election in the temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine deserves particular condemnation. It is an ostentatious violation of international law, including the United Nations Charter, and may only be treated as another attempt to undermine Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Poland does not and will never accept the conduct and the results of the "election" held on these territories. Russia should be held liable for having organised and conducted it on Ukraine's territory.

Poland offers its unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within the country's internationally recognised borders. We demand, moreover, that Russia immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops and weapons from the territory of Ukraine. In addition, we reiterate our call for Russia's authorities to immediately release all political prisoners illegally detained in Russia.

Poland also strongly condemns the fact that the vote took place in Transnistria, Tskhinvali/South Ossetia and Abkhazia without permission of the Republic of Moldova's and Georgia's authorities respectively. In these cases as well, the "election" was held unlawfully, in breach of all standards of international law and democracy.

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Putin Extends Rule With Landslide Victory In Tightly Controlled Vote

By RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time March 17, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended his nearly quarter-century rule with a landslide victory in a tightly controlled election as he seeks to demonstrate overwhelming popular support for his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and increasingly repressive policies.

With more than 60 percent of ballots counted, Putin was set to win another six-year term with 87 percent of the vote, a post-Soviet record. The Central Election Committee said that more than 70 percent of eligible voters cast ballots during the three-day election.

The 71-year old Putin -- who has ruled as either president or prime minister since 2000 -- is now set to surpass Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's nearly 30-year reign to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than two centuries.

The vote is the first for Putin since he launched an ill-fated invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that has killed tens of thousands of Russian citizens, upended the lives of tens of thousands more, and led to a clear break in relations with the West. In holding what has widely been viewed as faux elections, Putin wants to show that he has the nation's full support, experts said.

The Kremlin's goal "is to get as many people as possible to sign off on Russia's war against Ukraine. The idea is to get millions of Russian citizens to retroactively approve the decision Putin single-handedly made two years ago," Maksim Trudolyubov, a senior fellow at the Kennan Institute, wrote in a note ahead of the vote.

In remarks shortly after he was declared the winner, Putin said the election showed that the nation was "one team."

Putin was opposed by three relatively unknown, Kremlin-friendly politicians whose campaign was barely noticeable. The main intrigue was whether Russians would heed opposition calls to gather at polling stations at noon on March 17 to silently protest against Putin's rule.

Russian media had reported in the months leading up to the election that the Kremlin was determined to engineer a victory for Putin that would surpass the 2018 results, when he won 77.5 percent of the vote with a turnout of 67.5 percent.

The Kremlin banned anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin from the ballot after tens of thousands of voters lined up in the cold to support his candidacy. Nadezhdin threatened to undermine the narrative of overwhelming support for Putin and his war, experts said.

Independent election observers were barred from working at this year's presidential election for the first time in post-Soviet history, experts said. Russian elections have been notorious for ballot stuffing and other irregularities.

The vote was also held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers are located.

The United States called the elections neither fair nor free.

'Noon Against Putin'

With options to express resistance severely limited by the lack of competition and repressive laws, opposition leaders called on voters opposed to Putin to gather near polls at noon to show the Kremlin and the country that they were still a force.

Russia's opposition movement suffered a serious blow last month when Aleksei Navalny, Putin's fiercest and most popular critic, died in unclear circumstances in a maximum-security prison in the Arctic where he was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism widely seen as politically motivated.

Long lines formed at polling stations across Russia's 11 time zones at the designated time for the "Noon Against Putin" protest, including in Novosibirsk, Chita, Yekaterinburg, Perm, and Moscow among other Russian cities.

"We're not really expecting anything, but I'd somehow like to make a record of this election for myself, tick the box for myself, so, when talking about it later, I could say that I didn't just sit at home, but came and tried to do something," said one Russian who came to vote at noon.

"The action has achieved its goals," Ivan Zhdanov, the head the Anti-Corruption Foundation formerly headed by Navalny, said in a YouTube video. "The action has shown that there is another Russia, there are people who stand against Putin."

The Moscow prosecutor's office had earlier warned of criminal prosecution against those who interfered with the vote, a step it said was necessary due to social-media posts "containing calls for an unlimited number of people to simultaneously arrive to participate in uncoordinated mass public events at polling stations in Moscow [at noon on March 17] in order to violate electoral legislation."

Lawyer Valeria Vetoshkina, who has left the country, told Current Time that if people do not bring posters and do not announce why they came to the polling station at that hour, it would be hard for the authorities to legitimately declare it a "violation."

But she warned that there were "some basic safety rules that you can follow if you're worried. The first is not to discuss why you came, just to vote. And secondly, it is better to come without any visual means of agitation: without posters, flags, and so on."

Ella Pamfilova, head of Russia's Central Election Commission (TsIK), on March 16 said there had been 20 cases of people attempting to destroy voting sheets by pouring liquids into ballot boxes and eight incidents of people trying to destroy ballots by setting them on fire or by using smoke bombs.

Russians living abroad also took part in the "Noon Against Putin" campaign, with hundreds of people lining up at 12 p.m. outside the Russian embassies in Sidney, Tokyo, Phuket, Dubai, Istanbul, Berlin, Paris, and Yerevan among other capitals.

"It's not an election. It's just a fake. And so we're here to show that not Russians elect the current leader of Russia, that we [are] against him very severely, and that lots of people had to flee their country to be free," said Anna, a Russian citizen living in Berlin and who gathered outside the embassy in the German capital.

Putin was challenged by Liberal Democratic Party leader Leonid Slutsky, State Duma deputy speaker Vladislav Davankov of the New People party, and State Duma lawmaker Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party, none of whom opposed the war.

The Russian leader had the full resources of the state behind him, including the media, police, state-owned companies, and election officials.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia- presidential-election-putin-day-3/32864966.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.

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Russian Opposition Protests Unlikely To Alter Kremlin's Election Narrative As Putin Cruises To A Fifth Term

By Robert Coalson March 17, 2024

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, who died suspiciously in a remote Russian prison last month, cast her ballot for Russian president at the Russian Embassy in Berlin after standing in line for more than six hours on March 17.

"You are probably curious what I wrote on my ballot," she said, "who I voted for. Of course, I wrote in the name 'Navalny.'"

Navalnaya was one of many Russian opposition leaders who urged those who oppose longtime President Vladimir Putin and his seemingly unstoppable bid for a fifth term in the Kremlin to come to their polling station at precisely 12 p.m. in an action called "Noon Against Putin."

The idea was endorsed by Navalny in one his last social-media posts before his death on February 16. He noted that showing up to vote at a particular time was one of the only legal forms of registering dissent left in Putin's Russia.

The protest produced enormous crowds in cities outside of Russia, where hundreds of thousands of Russians remain after fleeing their country in the wake of Moscow's February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the Kremlin's implementation of military mobilization that September.

Some lines also formed inside Russia, although the protest was far from the "millions" that Navalny evidently hoped to see. In a YouTube video, Ivan Zhdanov, head of Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, said the protest "achieved its goals."

"The action has shown that there is another Russia," Zhdanov said, "that there are people who stand against Putin."

Nonetheless, the protest appeared insufficient to impede the Kremlin's narrative about the election, which stressed that the country was united in its endorsement of Putin and his policies of war, repression, and confrontation with the West. Analysts predicted that the final tally of the March 15-17 election -- which was strictly controlled by the authorities, with only token opposition allowed to run against Putin and which came after years of harsh repression of political dissent -- would show that more than 85 percent endorsed another term for the 71-year-old former KGB officer amid a record turnout for a post-Soviet presidential race.

"We all know that Vladimir Putin is not fighting to win any voters," political analyst Nikita Savin told RFE/RL. "Putin holds elections in order to demonstrate the stifling figures of his support and to demoralize the political opposition."

Even in Berlin, where Navalnaya voted, the Russian Embassy noted the long lines of voters in a social-media post that ended with the Kremlin's election slogan: "Together we are strong. Vote for Russia!"

'An Innovation Of This Election'

At least 80 people were detained on March 17, according to OVD-Info, which monitors political repression in Russia, after smaller numbers were detained during the previous two days of voting. Some were held for carrying or wearing portraits of Navalny.

There were at least 14 incidents of people trying to spoil ballots by pouring a staining green antiseptic informally called "zelyonka," ink, paint, or other liquids into ballot boxes. There were two cases of fires being set in polling stations and at least five cases of attempted arson.

Such protests are "an innovation of this election," wrote Stanislav Andreichuk of the banned Golos election-monitoring group on Telegram.

"There were never such cases before, and most likely it is the result of the enormous tension within society and of the aggression that it spawns, for which the authorities bear direct responsibility," he wrote.

In Kostroma, the head of the local branch of the Communist Party, Andrei Tarasov, was detained for allegedly "discrediting the armed forces" by writing "No war" on his ballot, a photograph of which he posted on social media.

In Perm, a 63-year-old woman was badly injured when a firework she had brought to the polling station ignited in a restroom.

"These are acts of despair resulting from the powerlessness that people feel, the sensation that they have nothing to do with this so-called election and, in fact, have no role in the politics of their own country," Andrei Buzin, a co-founder of Golos, told Current Time, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

Such actions, political scientist Mikhail Komin told Current Time, show the degree of "radicalization" in Russian society.

"They show that this radicalized [part of] society resents those in power quite strongly and is actually ready to accept criminal responsibility, because all these people will now be facing prison terms," he said.

'Anyone But Putin'

In recent months, the wives and other loved ones of mobilized Russian soldiers have been holding protests and speaking out about the treatment of their men, who have been in service now for nearly 18 months with no end in sight. Before the current election, the group, called The Way Home, emphasized that they were not anti-war or anti-government. Nonetheless, the protests attracted the attention of the security agencies, convincing the group's leaders that it was useless to hope for change under Putin.

On social-media forums, the group urged its sympathizers to join the opposition "Noon Against Putin" protest and to spoil their ballots or vote for "anyone but Putin."

"We have already come under the pressure of the security agencies," a member of the group in Novosibirsk, who along with the other members quoted asked not to be identified out of safety concerns, told RFE/RL.

"We understood that the only chance for us would be a change of power. Until the very last minute, we hoped. Even when the police began coming to our homes, we thought, well, Putin just hasn't heard our complaints yet and we kept coming up with new petitions and new officials...to send them to. But when Putin directly said there was 'no need' to bring the mobilized soldiers home...it became clear that he would never let them come home alive."

"Now we are writing openly that we have to act and vote in such a way as to bring our husbands home," said the wife of a mobilized soldier from the Altai region. "We know that we have to have anyone but Putin. Who among us in their right mind would vote for him?"

The Way Home is realistic about the impact of their action.

"But it is important to do everything that we can," said a member of the group from the Irkutsk region. "And we mustn't listen to those who say it is useless."

'This Story Will End'

Opposition activist and journalist Sergei Kovalchenko, who co-created the "Noon Against Putin" idea with former St. Petersburg lawmaker Maksim Reznik, told Current Time that the protest was sufficient to show that there was not a consensus in Russia that Putin is the "national leader," as the Kremlin would have it. But what comes next, he said, is not clear.

"I don't have an answer to the question of what we should do after the election," he said. "I think we all have to do what we consider necessary. Be human, first of all. And second, don't change your convictions. Don't give in to the authorities' provocations."

"This story will end, and it will end with the natural end of one person," he added. "I think it is important the people understand that their task is just to survive, to remain human, to preserve their dignity so that later we can build a new country. And it was important that they saw one another and understood that they are not alone."

Ilya Shablinsky, a lawyer and former member of the advisory Russian presidential council for civil society and human rights, told RFE/RL that Putin had insisted on astronomic turnout figures for the election as justification for "some harsh measures that will come later, mainly linked to the war [in Ukraine] and to the goal of extracting more money from the population."

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-opposition- powerless-putin-aggression-repression/32865369.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.

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Putin Says He Agreed To Swap Navalny Days Before His Death

By RFE/RL March 17, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he agreed to swap his fiercest critic, Alekesi Navalny, several days before the opposition leader died in prison last month.

Speaking in Moscow on March 17 shortly after securing a new six-year term, Putin said he agreed to swap Navalny on the condition that he not return to Russia.

Navalny died on February 16 in unclear circumstances in an Arctic prison where he was serving a 19-year term on extremism and other charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Putin did not say whom he wanted in return for freeing Navalny but last month in an interview with former Fox News host and political commentator Tucker Carlson, the Russian leader said he was willing to swap Westerners held in Russian prison for convicted murderer and former Federal Security Service (FSB) Colonel Vadim Krasikov.

Investigative journalist Christo Grozev told RFE/RL in late February that he was involved in a plan to exchange Navalny for Krasikov, who was convicted of murdering a Chechen citizen of Georgian ethnicity.

The plan was presented to Putin in February.

At least three countries participated in the discussions -- the United States, Germany, and Russia -- Grozev said in an interview on February 27 with RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Putin's remarks.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-navalny-swap- agreed/32865377.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.

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Russian Defence Minister inspects work of Black Sea Fleet command post

17.03.2024

During the meeting, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu set the task to conduct with the personnel both day and nighttime constant training to repel terrorist attacks of the enemy, as well as to improve the survivability of ships and vessels, and the protection of infrastructure facilities in the area of responsibility of the fleet.

'Every day it is necessary to conduct training with the personnel to repel air attacks and attacks by uncrewed boats both day and nighttime, so that we have all crews ready,' said General of the Army Sergei Shoigu.

The head of the Russian military department ordered to install additional firepower, large-calibre machine gun small arms systems to defeat enemy drones.

Also within the framework of the visit, the Russian Defence Minister inspected the progress of construction of a new military hospital in Sevastopol, where construction work is underway on an area of 8.5 hectares.

Russian Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov reported that more than 20 buildings and structures are being constructed from scratch, including a modern medical and diagnostic building, helicopter landing sites, an infectious disease department, a blood transfusion station and an oxygen station, etc.

The medical complex will be completed on a turnkey basis this year and will be equipped with the most modern equipment and medical technology. The hospital will offer all types of examinations.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Key Points of Vladimir Putin's Speech at Campaign Headquarters

Sputnik News

20240317

Presidential candidate and Russia's incumbent head of state Vladimir Putin said he would like to thank citizens of Russia who went to polling stations and voted in the presidential election this weekend.

In a speech he delivered at his campaign headquarters, Putin said that the high voter turnout at this presidential election was the result of Russians realizing how much actually depends on them.

"First of all, I want to thank the citizens of Russia. We are all one team. [I want to thank] all the citizens of Russia who came to the polling stations and voted," Putin said

According to him, the voters sought to help create "political consolidation" that would help Russia to "move forward."

"People felt it with their hearts and came to create conditions for the development and strengthening of the homeland, Russia," Putin said.

On Vandalism at Polling Stations

Putin condemned the actions of a number of people who came to polling stations solely to vandalize ballots cast by other voters.

Whereas deciding what to do with your own vote is okay, he explained, trying to interfere with other people's voting is not.

"This is, at the very least, not democratic," Putin remarked.

On Navalny's Death

Referring to the demise of Alexey Navalny who died last month while serving a 19-year sentence in a Russian prison for fraud and extremism, Putin said that his death, while unfortunate, was hardly an extraordinary event.

Noting that there were other instances of convicts dying in Russian prisons, Putin pointed out that the same can be said about the United States as well.

Putin also mentioned that he was willing to go through with a proposed scheme to swap Navalny for an unspecified number of people imprisoned in Western countries, on one condition: that Navalny would never return to Russia afterwards.

On Future Plans

His new presidential term is going to be devoted to achieving the objectives of the special military operation in Ukraine and strengthening Russia's defense capability and armed forces, Putin said.

"First of all, we need to solve tasks of a special military operation, strengthen defense capabilities, strengthen the armed forces - this is happening, we all see, at a very good pace and with excellent quality," he stated.

All plans for the development of Russia, which were previously announced in the presidential address to the Federal Assembly, will be implemented and the goals will be achieved, Putin added.

He also mentioned that he is in no hurry to form the new government. As Putin pointed out, there are still some two and half months left to do that, as per the Russian legislation.

On Foreign Policy Matters

Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia is ready and willing to negotiate a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian conflict, but only if Kiev wants to forge cordial, neighborly relations with Russia instead of getting a reprieve to rearm the battered Ukrainian forces.

Putin noted that he was not aware of French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine during the Olympics. The Russian head of state remarked that Moscow is ready to consider any proposals, but will act in accordance with its own interests.

When asked whether a full-blown conflict between Russia and NATO is possible, Putin simply replied that he thinks "anything is possible" in the world today.

On Russian Collaborators Who Serve Kiev

During his speech, Vladimir Putin shared his thoughts on the so-called Russian Volunteer Corps*, a paramilitary group comprised of Russian nationals who fight in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kiev regime.

Putin compared the group to the so-called army of Andrei Vlasov, a Soviet general who turned traitor and led a Russian collaborationist formation that fought under the Nazi German command in World War II.

"Back then, those people, those traitors and vermin fought on the Nazis' side," Putin said. "Today there are similar people who fight on the side of neo-Nazis, of a neo-Nazi regime."

*recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia and outlawed in the country

A Sputnik

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Shoigu Inspects Black Sea Fleet Command Post

Sputnik News

20240317

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu made a working visit to the Southern Military District and visited the Black Sea Fleet command centre, the Russian Defence Ministry reported.

"Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu, during his working visit to the troops of the Southern Military District at the Black Sea Fleet's command centre, listened to the reports of the Fleet's command and staff officers on the current situation, the nature of the enemy's actions and the performance of combat tasks by the Fleet's units in the area of their responsibility," the ministry announced.

During the meeting, Shoigu ordered continuous day and night drills to repel enemy terrorist attacks by air and sea drones, improve the survivability of ships and vessels, and protect infrastructure facilities in the Fleet's area of responsibility.

Shoigu ordered the Black Sea Fleet to install additional firepower to defeat drones," the Russian Defence Ministry added.

The head of the Russian military has ordered the installation of additional firepower, large-calibre machine gun small arms systems to defeat enemy drones," the defence ministry concluded.

The defence minister was accompanied by Admiral Alexander Moiseyev.

A Sputnik

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Guilford resident John Degennaro has been charged with risk of injury to a minor and enticing a minor. Guilford Police Department / Contributed Photo

GUILFORD  A Church Street resident accused of enticing and grooming a minor he met on Snapchat was overheard on one of his cameras discussing sleeping naked next to the 14-year-old Weston boy and kissing the victim in his car, according to the warrant for his arrest.

John Degennaro, 59, was charged last week with risk of injury to a minor and enticing a minor. Degennaro was originally held on $250,000 bond, but he has since been released and is due in court on March 27, judicial records show.

According to the arrest warrant, the investigation began Feb. 14 after a social worker in Weston notified police that the victim's classmates said the boy had been picked up by a man who brought him to his Guilford home.

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The warrant said the boy was interviewed by police in Weston, but was initially reluctant to talk about the man.

After seizing the boy's phone and IPad, police found photos that were taken at Degennaro's house and location data confirmed he had been there, according to the warrant. Police said they also found text messages between the boy and a friend with the victim describing Degennaro as a "friend with benefits," the warrant said.

A background check showed Degennaro has a criminal record in Connecticut and New York, although none of his convictions involved crimes against children, the warrant stated.

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During an interview with Guilford police, the boy said he met Degennaro on Snapchat and they shared nude photos of each other, the warrant said.

The warrant said the victim told police Degennaro paid for him to take an Uber to the New Haven train station where the man would pick him up and drive him to his Guilford apartment.

The boy said Degennaro took him to the Clinton Premium Outlets shopping center where he bought him ice cream and shoes before getting a pizza for them to watch a movie together at his apartment, the warrant said.

The warrant said the two met a second time and Degennaro brought the victim to Westfarms mall where he bought him two Apple AirTags and Beats headphones.

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The boy said he stayed at Degennaro's apartment those two nights, but said nothing physical happened, the warrant stated.

However, police seized cameras from Degennaro's home and vehicles in which they found footage of the Guilford man talking about sleeping naked next to the victim and audio of them kissing, the warrant stated.

Degennaro declined to be interviewed by police, but asked them, "how many victims" were involved in their case, the warrant stated.
Israeli airstrike hits Damascus suburbs: Report

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Mar 17, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The Israeli regime has reportedly carried out yet another airstrike on the outskirts of Damascus, the capital of Syria.

News sources reported that several loud explosions were heard in al-Qalamoun area in Damascus Countryside in the early hours of Sunday.

Syrian official sources have not yet commented but some sources reported the possibility of an air attack by the Zionist regime.

Israel frequently targets Syria with missiles, especially the position of resistance fighters, who have played a key role in helping the Syrian army in its fight against foreign-backed terrorists, including Daesh.

The Syrian government has lodged dozens of complaints at the United Nations and the UN Security Council against the violation of its sovereignty by the Zionist regime. Damascus say the Israeli regime with such attacks tries to prop up terrorists.

4399

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Strong Syria will benefit region's security and stability: Iran's security chief

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 3:39 PM

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Akbar Ahmadian says a strong Syria will benefit the region's security and stability.

In a meeting with Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas in Tehran on Sunday, Ahmadian said the expansion of mutual relations will serve the interests of both sides and all the regional nations.

He hailed great achievements made by the resistance front in combating Israel during its genocidal war against the Palestinian people in Gaza and said more should be done to support it.

The Iranian security chief also commended the resistance of the Syrian government and nation as a member of the resistance axis in the face of the Israeli regime and terrorist groups.

Regretfully, the United States, Israel and terrorist groups are still occupying parts of Syria, he said.

Ahmadian urged the development of Tehran-Damascus relations in all fields, particularly in the economic and pilgrimage sectors.

The Syrian defense minister, for his part, thanked Iran's support for his country and stressed the importance of further developing all-out ties.

Referring to Israel's war in Gaza over the past five months, Abbas said the world is not the same after the Operation al-Aqsa Storm launched by Gaza-based resistance groups against Israel.

All the developments in the Gaza Strip exposed Israel's vulnerability to the world, he added.

The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7, penetrating deep into the territories occupied by the Israeli regime, by carrying out large-scale air, land, and sea strikes.

The group said the operation was a reaction to the recurring desecration of al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied al-Quds as well as intensified Israeli atrocities against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Since the start of Israel's latest brutal aggression, more than 31,645 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed and about 73,676 others have been injured.

The regime has also intensified the siege of Gaza, leaving the city, home to more than 2.3 million Palestinians, without water, electricity, fuel and internet.

In a meeting with his Syrian counterpart on Saturday, Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani warned against plots by the US and Israel to intensify the crisis across West Asia and voiced Iran's full readiness to assist Syria in enhancing its defense and deterrent power.

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Israeli missile attack on southern Syria injures soldier

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 2:59 AM

The Israeli regime has carried out a fresh missile attack against Syria, this time targeting the Arab country's southern areas and injuring one soldier.

The attack was reported by the Syrian defense ministry, which specified its precise timeline as 00:42 local time on Sunday (21:42 GMT on Saturday).

"The Israeli enemy launched an air aggression from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan [Heights], targeting a number of points in the southern region," it said in a statement.

"Our air defense intercepted the aggression's missiles and shot down some of them. The aggression resulted in one soldier being injured and some material losses," it added.

Syria and the Israeli regime are technically at war due to the latter's 1967-present occupation of the Golan.

The regime has carried out hundreds of attacks against the country after 2011, when the Arab nation found itself in the grip of rampant foreign-backed militancy and terrorism.

Tel Aviv has significantly ramped up the strikes since last October, when it began a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip, in what has been described by observers, as a reckless bid threatening to fan tensions throughout the region.

Most recently, the regime staged an airstrike against a suburb of the Arab country's capital of Damascus late last month, similarly causing some material damage.

Also last month, at least three people were killed when an Israeli unnamed aerial vehicle carried out a strike against the western Syrian province of Homs, close to the border with Lebanon.

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China aims to establish 'de facto' control in Kinmen waters: Experts

ROC Central News Agency

03/17/2024 08:37 PM

Taipei, March 17 (CNA) China is repeatedly trespassing in the waters surrounding Taiwan-held Kinmen in a bid to establish "de facto" jurisdictional control of the area and bolster its sovereignty claims, Taiwanese experts said Sunday.

On both Friday and Saturday, four Chinese Coast Guard patrol vessels entered Kinmen's waters, according to Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA). The agency closely monitored the Chinese ships and broadcast warnings until they departed.

In a statement on Friday, however, the China Coast Guard stated its ships were "legally" patrolling waters off Kinmen.

Chieh Chung (), a researcher at the Taiwan-based Association of Strategic Foresight, told CNA that Beijing is aiming to create a situation of "shared jurisdiction" with Taiwan before eventually controlling the area exclusively.

Beijing sending the ships was not linked to its handling of the aftermath of the deaths of two Chinese nationals following a speedboat collision last month, Chieh said.

Its efforts to establish de facto control echoed the time when Chinese Coast Guard vessels were dispatched to waters around the disputed Diaoyutai Islands, which Taiwan, China and Japan all claim, he said.

Chieh noted, however, that no matter whether it is the Diaoyutai Islands or Kinmen, China has exercised relative restraint because it is aware that any provocation could escalate into regional conflict.

Su Tzu-yun (), a research fellow at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, told CNA that the recent intrusions were part of Beijing's systematic use of non-military tactics against Taiwan, which also include cognitive warfare and economic coercion.

In the Kinmen incident, Su explained, Beijing adopted gray zone operations to undermine the sovereignty of the Republic of China, Taiwan's formal name.

While Beijing's use of new moves against Taiwan is likely to be limited, it will probably increase the frequency it employs existing tactics, Su said, urging the government to improve its risk management for potential conflicts.

(By Lee Ya-wen and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/kb

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Russia repels 35 Ukrainian drone attacks in several regions

Iran Press TV

Sunday, 17 March 2024 11:22 AM

Russia says it has intercepted and downed 35 Ukrainian drones that targeted several regions across the country, including Moscow.

In a post on the Telegram messaging app on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 17 drones were destroyed over Krasnodar, four over Moscow and the rest over six other regions of Kaluga, Oryol, Rostov, Yaroslavl, Kursk and Belgorod.

One of the neutralized drones sparked a fire at the Slavyansk oil refinery in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar.

However, the blaze was quickly contained and caused no casualties. Emergency services said one person died in a suspected heart attack during the incident.

"The drones were neutralized, but a fire broke out as a result of the fall of one of the devices," Krasnodar's operational headquarters said.

Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties or damage reported from the drones shot down over Moscow.

"The Russian Defense Ministry's air defenses in the Domodedovo district have repelled a drone attack on Moscow," he added.

Similarly, Oryol Governor Andrey Klychkov confirmed the downing of a Ukrainian drone over the region and asked citizens to stay calm.

The attacks come at a time, when Russia is holding a presidential election. Moscow had earlier said Kiev is using "terrorist activities" in a bid to disrupt its vote.

Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine in February 2022 partly to counter NATO's further eastward expansion and to stop Kiev's persecution of the pro-Russian population in eastern Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin said the goals were "demilitarization and de-Nazification" of the East European country.

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Ukraine Launches Far-Ranging Drone Attacks Amid Russia's Presidential Vote

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service March 17, 2024

Ukraine launched a massive new wave of drone attacks on March 17 that reportedly killed two people as Russians cast ballots on the final day of a presidential vote set to extend President Vladimir Putin's rule for another six years.

Meanwhile, Russia launched a missile attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolayiv, injuring five people, local officials said. Sumy in the east was also hit.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four in the Moscow region. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties or damage. The attack temporarily shut down three Moscow airports.

According to the Defense Ministry, another two drones were shot down over the Kaluga region south of the Russian capital and the Yaroslavl region northeast of Moscow. More Ukrainian drones were downed over the Belgorod, Kursk, Rostov, and Krasnodar regions.

The attack on Belgorod killed a 16-year-old girl and severely injured her father, local officials said. Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, has been shelled for the past three days, with at least six people killed, local officials said.

RFE/RL is unable to independently confirm death and injury counts on either side of the conflict.

In Krasnodar, Ukraine struck the Slavyansk refinery, triggering a fire and killing one person.

The attack is the latest against Russia's refining industry as Kyiv seeks to disrupt gasoline and jet-fuel supplies to the Russian armed forces as well as oil-product exports. Oil exports account for the lion's share of Russia's federal budget revenues.

Overall, Ukraine has increased the frequency of drone attacks inside Russia as it seeks to bring the Kremlin-launched war to the Russian people. Ukraine has invested heavily in its nascent drone industry as the weapon plays an increasingly important role in the war.

In Mykolayiv, at least two ballistic missiles landed in the city, injuring five and damaging homes and cars, according to local officials.

In Sumy near the Russian border, infrastructure came under fire. Russia has fired more than 800 artillery rounds at Sumy in recent days, or half of what it fired at the region last year.

Russia has been ramping up production of shells and rockets as it pours money into defense spending.

Russia has ramped up air and ground attacks against Ukrainian forces in recent months to take advantage of its superiority in weapons and people. Ukraine is suffering from a lack of manpower and ammunition at the moment amid Kyiv's failure to pass a new mobilization bill and Washington's failure to pass a $60 billion aid package for the embattled country.

Kyiv needs to mobilize several hundred thousand people, a politically unpopular move, if it hopes to drive back Russian forces, experts say. Kyiv could pass a new bill as early as the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Congress could vote in the coming weeks on a new bill that would unleash aid to Ukraine. U.S. intelligence officials have warned that Ukraine could face serious setbacks if it does not receive U.S. aid soon.

With reporting by AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine- drones-moscow/32864971.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.

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Russian Forces Take Control of Mirnoye Village in Zaporozhye Region - MoD

Sputnik News

20240317

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian forces have successfully taken control of the village of Mirnoye in the Zaporozhye Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"Units of the Vostok battalion have liberated the village of Mirnoye in the Zaporozhye Region as a result of successful offensive operations in the South Donetsk direction," the ministry said.

Ukrainian troops lost about 90 men during the day in the Kupyansk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

In the Kupyansk area, units of the Battlegroup Zapad in cooperation with aviation and artillery destroyed enemy formations near the village of Kislovka in the Kharkov region. Three counter-attacks of assault groups of the 30th, 32nd mechanized and 57th motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were repulsed near the locality of Sinkovka in the Kharkov region, the ministry said.

Russian servicemen have destroyed seven brigades of Ukrainian troops in the area of Donetsk, Kiev's losses amounted to up to 200 military personnel, the Russian Defense Ministry added.

Russian air defense systems shot down one Ukrainian S-200 missile, 23 Vampire MLRS shells and 168 drones over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

A Sputnik

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Russian Air Defense Destroys 35 Ukrainian Drones - MoD

Sputnik News

20240317

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian air defense intercepted and destroyed 35 Ukrainian drones over the Moscow, Belgorod, Kaluga, Oryol, Rostov, Yaroslavl and Kursk regions, as well as Krasnodar Territory, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"During the past night and the morning of March 17, attempts by the Kiev regime to carry out terrorist attacks using fixed-wing drones against targets on the territory of the Russian Federation were prevented," the ministry said, adding that 35 drones were intercepted and destroyed.

Earlier, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on attacks by Ukrainian drones on Russian territory, emphasized that Kiev continues terrorist activities, but that the Russian military is on alert and doing everything necessary.

Ukraine has been sending drones and missiles into Russia almost daily since it launched its counteroffensive in early June 2023. The United Nations said in August last year, following a botched drone strike on Moscow, that it did not want to see any targeting of civilian infrastructure.

A Sputnik

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Right now, it is the Ukrainian defense in this war that is determining whether Putin will succeed in expanding the zone of ruins in Europe and the world - address by the President of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

17 March 2024 - 19:59

Dear Ukrainians!

A summary of this day and week.

First of all, I would like to express gratitude to our warriors. It's time to recognize the combat units that have proven themselves the most. Kupyansk direction - the 57th separate motorized infantry brigade named after Kish Ataman Kost Hordiienko. Lyman direction - the 1st operational brigade of the National Guard named after Hetman Petro Doroshenko "Bureviy". Pokrovsk direction - the 55th separate artillery brigade "Zaporizhzhia Sich". Orikhiv direction - the 118th separate mechanized brigade. And Prydniprovsky direction - the 35th separate marine brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Ostrohradsky and the 123rd separate territorial defense brigade. I thank all of you, warriors, for your strength and for the effective destruction of the occupier. I am proud of each of our warriors who achieve results for their unit, for their brothers-in-arms, for the whole of Ukraine.

I would also like to recognize all our friends in the world who have helped us this week, provided us with new support packages, and adopted new decisions for the sake of Ukrainian strength. The United States - thank you for the aid package. It is very important that stability is restored in providing support for our defense. Right now, it is our defense in this war that is determining whether Putin will succeed in expanding the zone of ruins in Europe and the world. Stopping him now is in everyone's best interest. Denmark - thank you for another, already the 16th, package of defense assistance, for the artillery we need. Germany - thank you for your weekly steps to support our country and people. I am grateful to all the countries that joined the Czech initiative to purchase shells for Ukraine. I would also like to acknowledge Greece for its clear understanding of the threats facing everyone in Europe. Canada - I am grateful for joining our drone coalition. This is a weapon that has proven to be extremely effective. And in such difficult war conditions, the short range of our army's capabilities is an obvious short-sightedness of some partners. I would also like to recognize French leadership in Europe today - we appreciate the way President Macron is developing a strategic perspective for Europe, a perspective of real, lasting security that is only possible through Putin's defeat in this war.

One more thing.

These days, the Russian dictator is simulating another election. Everyone in the world understands that this figure, as has often happened in history, has simply become addicted to power and is doing everything he can to rule forever. There is no evil he will not commit to prolong his personal power. And there is no one in the world who is safe from this. I am grateful to every state, every leader, and all international organizations that have called and will continue to call a spade a spade. Everything Russia does in the occupied territory of Ukraine is a crime. There must be a just retribution for everything the Russian murderers have done in this war and for the sake of Putin's lifelong power. He is afraid of only one thing - justice. There is no legitimacy in this imitation of elections and there cannot be. This figure must end up in the dock in The Hague - that is what we must ensure. Everyone in the world who values life and integrity.

Thank you to everyone who is with Ukraine and in Ukraine! Glory to everyone who fights and works for our country and people!

Glory to Ukraine!

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Putin Says Russia Has Advantage on Ukraine Battlefield

By VOA News March 17, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that his forces had an advantage on the battlefield in Ukraine, and that it might be necessary for Russian forces to create a buffer zone on the Ukrainian side of the border to prevent attacks on Russian territory.

Putin's comments came after the latest Ukrainian drone strikes on a Russian oil refinery and Putin claiming a new six-year term in an internationally discredited election.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that "everything Russia does in the occupied territory of Ukraine is a crime."

"There must be a just retribution for everything the Russian murderers have done in this war and for the sake of Putin's lifelong power," Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

Ukraine launched 35 drones across Russia that set off a brief fire at an oil refinery, targeted Moscow and affected electricity supplies in border areas, Russia said Sunday.

Of the drones launched by Ukraine, 17 were destroyed over the southern region of Krasnodar, four over the Moscow region and the rest over six other regions, the Russian defense ministry said on Telegram on Sunday.

"The drones were neutralized, but a fire broke out as a result of the fall of one of the devices," the operational headquarters of the Krasnodar region in southern Russia said on Telegram.

The fire was put out after a few hours, and although it did not directly lead to any deaths, initial reports indicated at least one person died from a heart attack, the post said.

VOA could not independently verify those reports.

Since the war began in February 2022, Ukrainian attack drones launched by the SBU domestic security service have hit 12 Russian oil refineries, Reuters cited a Ukrainian intelligence source as saying.

The Belgorod regional governor said Ukrainian shelling killed one man and wounded 11 others in the region. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the regional governor, had said earlier Sunday that a 16-year-old girl had been killed in the border region after her house caught on fire from a Ukrainian shell.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said that 14 Russian drones were shot down over the Odesa region Sunday. That attack comes just two days after a Russian ballistic missile assault on the southern port city Friday that killed at least 21 people.

The United Kingdom's defense ministry said Sunday that the country's defense secretary, Grant Shapps, had canceled a trip to Odesa earlier this month due to the threat of Russian missiles.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Memorial Town Hall in Hamden. The town's deputy finance director was the highest paid municipal employee in fiscal year 2023. FILE PHOTO

HAMDEN  A union employee in the town's Finance Department earned about $308,000 in fiscal year 2023, topping the list of the town's highest-paid officials during that span, payroll records show.

Rick Galarza, Hamden's deputy finance director, made roughly $156,000 in overtime in 2022-23, largely as a result of understaffing in the department, officials said.

Besides Galarza, the list of Hamden's top 20 wage earners in fiscal year 2023 included one school administrator, seven firefighters and 11 police officers, most of whom supplemented their base salary with overtime and private duty pay, according to the records, which Hearst Connecticut Media obtained through a Freedom of Information request.

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At $308,044, Galarza's gross pay was about $27,000 more than the next highest-paid earner last fiscal year, records show. His budgeted salary was $118,303, Hamden Finance Director Curtis Eatman said. Galarza also earned a stipend worth about $33,700.

As a member of the United Public Service Employees Union, Galarza must be paid for any overtime hours worked, unlike non-union town employees.

Sean Grace, chief of staff to Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett, said Thursday that Galarza's hefty overtime earnings stemmed from shortages in the finance office.

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"Rick has had to take on a lot of additional responsibilities in the department; he works a lot of hours" Grace said. "Hes really central to what we do in terms of managing a $300 million budget."

The town gradually has been bolstering municipal staffing levels since Garrett took office, Grace said. The mayor's proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which she will present at the March 18 Legislative Council meeting, also will call for another increase in staff, he added.

"Our auditors have recommended increasing staff in finance because they recognize thats a need," Grace said.

Retired former Police Chief Timothy Wydra was the second highest earner in fiscal year 2023 with a total salary of $280,965.85, which included $4,165 in overtime as well as a retirement payout of accrued benefits. Wydra joined the Milford Police Department in November 2023.

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Following Wydra as top earners were firefighter Sayyid Abdur-Rahman at $231,704.49, including $1,338 in overtime and a retirement payout of accrued benefits, police officer Michael Sigmon at $222,640.15, including $26,847 in overtime and $72,778.69 in special duty pay, and Superintendent of Schools Gary Highsmith at $219,300, records show.

Galarza was Hamdens acting finance director following the retirement of Salvatore DeCola in 2018. After resigning from the department, Galarza was rehired as deputy finance director in 2020. He previously served as the finance director for the Hispanic Health Council and as the director of management and budget for Hartford for almost 20 years.

Following the top five, here are the rest of Hamden's highest-paid employees in fiscal year 2023:

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Chicago, March 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The RFID market Size is projected to reach USD 40.9 billion by 2032 from USD 15.8 billion in 2023; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.1% from 2023 to 2032. RFID Market, By Offering (Tags, Readers, Software & Services), Tag Type (Active, Passive), Wafer Size, Frequency (Low Frequency, High Frequency, Ultra-high Frequency), Form Factor, Material, Application and Region - Global Forecast to 2032.

Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=446

The global RFID market is experiencing significant growth fueled by several key factors, including the growing need for increased productivity in manufacturing units is driving the adoption of RFID systems. These systems enable streamlined production processes and improved asset tracking, ultimately leading to greater output. Additionally, increasing government regulations and initiatives aimed at enhancing safety and security are further propelling the demand for RFID solutions.

These solutions provide real-time tracking and improved visibility into operations, mitigating potential risks. Furthermore, the rising need for optimized inventory management within logistics and supply chains is another crucial factor driving the market. RFID technology facilitates automated inventory tracking, reduces stock-outs, and streamlines fulfillment processes.

The Healthcare application is expected to grow at the second highest rate during the forecast period

In the healthcare industry, patient monitoring within hospitals has been presenting ample opportunities for the integration of RFID solutions. These technologies offer a means to track and accurately identify patients, thereby facilitating enhanced safety protocols. By leveraging RFID-enabled patient monitoring solutions, hospitals can optimize patient flow and throughput, streamlining routing workflows while concurrently reducing medication errors.

Additionally, these systems facilitate the monitoring of patient movement history and activity levels, ensuring comprehensive room-level patient visibility. Additionally, RFID technology can play a pivotal role in detecting instances of patients falling from beds or wheelchairs. Real-time monitoring capabilities afforded by RFID solutions offer a proactive approach to preventing such incidents.

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https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=446

The Paper Material segment of RFID Tags is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period

The growth of Paper material in RFID Tags can be attributed to significant applications, particularly in labels and ticketing sectors. The surge in adoption of smart ticketing solutions across transportation networks, coupled with the expanding utilization of paper labels for efficient asset tracking, is poised to drive substantial growth in the paper-based RFID tags market. As industries increasingly prioritize streamlined operations and enhanced efficiency, the demand for paper-based RFID solutions continues to surge, leading to the growth of this segment.

The North America RFID market held the largest market share in 2023

North America experiences substantial demand across various sectors, including logistics and supply chain, aerospace, retail, commercial, animal tracking, and healthcare. A pivotal driver behind this dominance lies in the widespread adoption of RFID technology by companies operating within these sectors, particularly in the United States. Across supply chain, retail, transportation, and healthcare domains, RFID tags are extensively employed for asset monitoring, tracking, and auditing purposes.

This widespread integration has propelled the growth of the RFID tags market in North America. Key industry players such as Zebra Technologies Corp., Stanley Black & Decker, Impinj, Inc., Savi Technology, TeleTracking Technologies, are pivotal contributors to the advancement of RFID solutions within the region, further solidifying North America's leadership position in the global RFID landscape.

Key Players of RFID Market:

Zebra Technologies Corp. (US), Alien Technology, LLC (US), CAEN RFID S.r.L. (Italy), Impinj, Inc. (US), Avery Dennison Corporation (US), Honeywell Internartional Inc. (US), NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands), GAO Group (Canada), HID Global Corporation (US), Invengo Information Technology Co., Ltd. (China), Infotek Software & Systems (P) Ltd (i-TEK) (India), Bartronics India Limited (India), Bartech Data Systems Pvt. Ltd., ORBCOMM Inc. (US), GlobeRanger (US), Mojix (US), SAG Securitag Assembly Group Co., Ltd. (SAG) (Taiwan), Linxens (France), Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (US), Identiv, Inc. (US), Confidex (Finland), Datalogic S.p.A. (Italy), Nedap N.V. (Netherlands), Jadak (US).
Dublin, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Generative AI Market - A Global and Regional Analysis, 2023-2033: Focus on Business Process, Type, Technology, Offering, and Country-Wise Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global generative AI market was valued at USD 13.64 billion in 2023, and is forecast to reach USD 233.61 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 32.9%.

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global generative AI market, covering advancements in machine learning and AI technologies, ethical and regulatory challenges faced by businesses, emerging opportunities in ethical AI development and bias mitigation services, and market segmentation based on business process, type, technology, offering, and region.

It highlights recent developments, key market players, and competition dynamics, offering insights into the market's growth trajectory and competitive landscape. Notable players such as OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Amazon.com, Inc., among others, are discussed, shedding light on both established entities and emerging startups in this rapidly evolving sector.

Advancements in Machine Learning and AI Technologies

Advancements in machine learning and AI technology have considerably increased the efficiency of content production processes, allowing enterprises in the generative AI sector to generate high-quality content at scale and at lower prices. For instance, OpenAI's creation of more powerful generative models, such as GPT-4, enables the automatic synthesis of textual material that would otherwise require considerable human work, such as authoring articles, coding, or crafting marketing copy. This not only speeds up content creation but also minimizes the financial load associated with these chores, resulting in increased business development by reallocating resources to innovation and market expansion.

Ethical and Regulatory Challenges

Companies in the generative AI business face major ethical and regulatory difficulties related to data privacy. Regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the U.S. set tight limits for the collecting, processing, and storage of personal data. To prevent large penalties and brand harm, businesses must train their AI models on ethically generated data and follow certain standards.

Ethical AI Development and Bias Mitigation Services

The growing knowledge and concern about AI ethics and potential biases in AI systems have opened up a substantial financial opportunity for firms in the generative AI sector. As enterprises and regulatory agencies stress the necessity of ethical AI, there is an increasing demand for services that can audit, review, and verify AI models are fair, transparent, and responsible. IBM's Fairness 360 Kit, which includes tools for detecting and mitigating bias in machine learning models, demonstrates how businesses are creating solutions to address these ethical concerns.

Market Segmentation



Segmentation 1: by Business Process

Content Creation and Marketing

Human Resource Management

Research and Development

Finance

Content Creation and Marketing Segment to Dominate the Global Generative AI Market (by Business Process)

The generative AI market is led by the content creation and marketing segment, with a 44.95% share in 2022. This is because generative AI automates content generation and marketing by creating text, photos, and videos, saving time and resources. Generative AI personalizes marketing efforts by tailoring information to individual interests, demographics, and behaviors, leading to increased engagement and conversion rates.

Segmentation 2: by Type

Visual

Audio

Text-Based

Others

Text-Based Segment to Witness the Highest Growth between 2023 and 2033

The text-based segment dominated the global generative AI market (by type) in 2022, with a 41.83% share due to the ability of text-based generative AI to develop textual information autonomously and mirror human-like writing which makes it the perfect option for content creators, writers, among others.

Segmentation 3: by Technology

Generative Adversarial Network (GAN)

Variational Autoencoder (VAE)

Transformer

Diffusion Network

Transformer Segment to Witness the Highest Growth between 2023 and 2033

The transformer segment dominated the global generative AI market (by technology) in 2022, with a 48.16% share. This is because of the ability of the transformer to capture relationships between various words in a sentence regardless of their position, making them ideal for tasks that require awareness of long-term dependencies and context.

Segmentation 4: by Offering

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

Machine Learning-Based Predictive Modeling

Computer Vision

Robotics and Automation

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

Natural Language Processing (NLP) Segment to Witness the Highest Growth between 2023 and 2033

The natural language processing (NLP) segment dominated the global generative AI market (by offering) in 2022 with a 38.89% share. This was due to its ability to automate two-way communication strategies, which transforms user interactions with digital interfaces. NLP algorithms, using techniques such as sentiment analysis, named entity identification, and part-of-speech tagging, can extract important insights from textual information such as social media posts and customer reviews, among others.

Segmentation 5: by Region

North America - U.S. and Canada

Europe - U.K., Germany, France, and Rest-of-Europe

Asia-Pacific - China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Rest-of-Asia-Pacific

Rest-of-the-World - South America and Middle East and Africa

Asia-Pacific was the highest-growing market among all the regions, registering a CAGR of 33.24%. Europe is anticipated to gain traction in terms of generative AI adoption owing to the strong legislative framework and targeted investments in AI innovation and research. The European Union has been at the forefront of developing comprehensive laws, such as the proposed AI Act, with the goal of increasing confidence and safety in AI applications while simultaneously encouraging innovation and investment in the AI field to support the growth of the generative AI market in Europe during the forecast period.

Recent Developments in the Global Generative AI Market

In February 2024, Amazon launched Rufus, a generative AI-powered expert shopping assistant trained on Amazon's extensive product catalog, customer reviews, community Q&As, and information from across the web to answer customer questions on a variety of shopping needs and products, provide comparisons, and make recommendations based on conversational context.

In January 2024, SAMSUNG Electronics signed a multi-year partnership with Google Cloud to bring Google Cloud's generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology to SAMSUNG smartphone users around the globe.

In January 2024, IBM signed a collaboration with GSMA to support the adoption and skills of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the telecom industry through the launch of GSMA Advance's AI Training program and the GSMA Foundry Generative AI program.

Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis

The companies that are profiled have been selected based on thorough secondary research, which includes analyzing company coverage, product portfolio, market penetration, and insights gathered from primary experts.



The generative AI market comprises key players who have established themselves thoroughly and have the proper understanding of the market, accompanied by start-ups who are looking forward to establishing themselves in this highly competitive market. In 2022, the generative AI market was dominated by established players, accounting for 88% of the market share, whereas start-ups managed to capture 12% of the market. With the increasing adoption of generative AI solutions across various industries, more players will enter the global generative AI market with each passing year.

Some of the prominent companies in this market are:

OpenAI

Google DeepMind

Amazon.com, Inc.

Adobe

IBM

Microsoft

Meta

Salesforce, Inc.

Intel Corporation

Synthesia Limited

SAMSUNG

NVIDIA Corporation

Cohere

Anthropic PBC

Inflection

List of Chapters

1 Markets

2 Application

3 Products

4 Regions

5 Markets - Competitive Benchmarking & Company Profiles

6 Research Methodology



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/advkiz

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Heating Equipment Market: Focus on Application, Product Type, Fuel Type, and Country-Level Analysis - Analysis and Forecast, 2023-2033" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global heating equipment market is projected to reach $206.5 billion by 2033 from $110.9 billion in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 6.41% during the forecast period 2023-2033.

The global heating equipment market has experienced remarkable growth, with Asia-Pacific taking the lead in adopting and advancing the heating equipment technology. The global shift toward sustainability is a key driver in the global heating equipment market, driving both innovation and investment in heating equipment solutions. This includes improvements in traditional heating systems such as furnaces and boilers, as well as the emergence of alternative options such as heat pumps and solar heating. Increasing emphasis on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability has led to the implementation of regulations and incentives favoring the adoption of high-efficiency heating equipment. This has stimulated demand for newer, more efficient heating systems, particularly in regions with stringent energy standards.







Governments worldwide are implementing policies and incentives to promote renewable heating equipment solutions. In December 2023, the Province of British Columbia (B.C.), U.S., embarked on the development of a policy aimed at enacting the Highest Efficiency Equipment Standards (HEES) for space and water heating commitment as delineated in the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030. Upon their implementation in 2030, these standards will serve as catalysts for the widespread adoption of high-efficiency, low-carbon equipment within residential, small-to-medium commercial, and institutional buildings across British Columbia.

Market Demand Drivers: Rapid Expansion of Global Construction Projects

The global construction industry is experiencing a substantial expansion, buoyed by economic growth, urbanization, and increased infrastructure investment. This broad-scale development serves as a significant catalyst for the heating equipment market, driving demand for state-of-the-art heating solutions across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.



For instance, the residential construction boom, particularly in emerging economies, necessitates the deployment of efficient heating systems to meet the needs of new housing developments. Companies such as Robert Bosch GmbH and Lennox International Inc. are expanding their product ranges to include energy-efficient boilers and heat pumps that cater to this burgeoning market. These systems are designed to provide optimal thermal heat with minimal environmental impact, aligning with the global push toward sustainability.

Market Challenges: High Initial Capital Expenditure

High initial capital expenditure constitutes a significant restraint in the heating equipment market, posing a barrier to both adoption and technological advancement. This is particularly evident in the case of state-of-the-art systems, which, despite their long-term operational savings and environmental benefits, require substantial upfront investment.



For example, while geothermal heat pumps offer considerable energy savings over time, their initial installation is capital-intensive. The requirement for extensive underground piping and the drilling process can be cost-prohibitive for many homeowners and small businesses.



Large-scale heating systems, such as variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems, which are highly efficient and offer superior control, are associated with hefty installation and material costs. This is sometimes exacerbated by the need for specialized labor and training for installation and maintenance.

Market Opportunities: Investment in Sustainable and Energy Efficient Heating Equipment Products

Investment in sustainable and energy-efficient heating products is creating substantial market opportunities within the heating equipment industry. The global push toward sustainability and the increasing focus on reducing carbon emissions are prompting both consumers and businesses to seek out greener, more energy-efficient heating equipment solutions.



This shift in demand is catalyzing innovation and opening new avenues for growth in the sector. One prime example of this trend is the rising investment in heat pump technology. Heat pumps offer a cleaner alternative to traditional heating systems by utilizing electricity to move heat from the air or ground into buildings.

Industrial Impact

Carrier, Johnson Controls, DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, Ltd., Hitachi, Ltd., and LG Electronics are some of the leading players globally in the heating equipment market. Vornado Air, LLC, Dyson, and FUJITSU GENERAL are some of the emerging companies that have remained in the limelight for the last few years in the heating equipment market.



Some of the strategies adopted by heating equipment manufacturers are new product launches, business expansions, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations.



Mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and collaborations have been the most preferred strategies in the market. The electrification of heating equipment systems is expected to gain momentum, especially in regions where electricity generation is becoming cleaner due to the growing share of renewable energy sources. Electric heat pumps could see significant growth as efficiency improves and costs decrease. There's likely to be a continued shift toward renewable energy sources for heating, driven by concerns about climate change and the desire to reduce carbon emissions.

Market Segmentation



Segmentation 1: by Application

Residential

Commercial

Industrial

Residential Application to Dominate the Global Heating Equipment Market (by Application)

Increasingly stringent energy efficiency regulations worldwide have driven homeowners to replace older, less efficient heating equipment with newer, more efficient models. This trend is particularly evident in regions where governments offer incentives or rebates for upgrading energy-efficient appliances.



Consumers are increasingly prioritizing comfort, convenience, and environmental sustainability when choosing heating equipment for their homes. This shift in preferences has led to greater demand for smart, connected heating equipment solutions that can be controlled remotely and integrated with other home automation systems.



The renovation and retrofitting of existing residential buildings with modern heating equipment have also fueled market growth.

Segmentation 2: by Product Type

Heat Pumps

Furnaces

Boilers

Others

Heat Pumps to Dominate the Global Heating Equipment Market (by Product Type)

Heat pumps are known for their high energy efficiency compared to traditional heating systems such as furnaces or boilers. They can extract heat from the air, ground, or water sources, making them a more sustainable option for heating homes and buildings.



With increasing awareness of climate change and the need to reduce carbon emissions, there's a growing demand for eco-friendly heating equipment solutions. Heat pumps produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuel-based heating systems, making them an attractive choice for environmentally conscious consumers and policymakers.



Advances in heat pump technology have led to improvements in efficiency, performance, and reliability. Modern heat pumps can operate effectively even in colder climates, making them suitable for a broader range of applications.

Segmentation 3: by Fuel Type

Natural Gas

Oil

Electricity

Others

Natural Gas to Dominate the Global Heating Equipment Market (by Fuel Type)

Natural gas is often more cost-effective compared to other fuel types, such as oil or electricity, making it an attractive option for heating equipment, especially in regions where natural gas is abundant and relatively cheap.



In many regions, there is already an existing infrastructure for natural gas distribution, making it easier and more convenient for consumers to access natural gas for heating purposes. This established infrastructure encourages the adoption of natural gas heating equipment.

Segmentation 4: by Region

North America - U.S., Canada, Mexico

Europe - Germany, France, U.K., Italy, and Rest-of-Europe

Asia-Pacific - Japan, China, India, South Korea, and Rest-of-Asia-Pacific

Rest-of-the-World - South America and Middle East and Africa

The heating equipment market in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to continue growing steadily, fueled by urbanization, economic development, government support for energy efficiency, and technological advancements.



The Asia-Pacific region has been undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization, leading to increased demand for heating equipment in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. As more people move to urban areas and industries expand, the need for heating systems for buildings, factories, and other infrastructure has grown substantially.



Economic growth in countries such as China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asian nations has resulted in rising disposable income levels and increased construction activities. This has fueled demand for heating equipment in both residential and commercial sectors, including offices, hotels, malls, and residential complexes.



Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on innovating heating equipment to meet the region's diverse needs, including high-performance systems tailored to specific climatic conditions.

Recent Developments in the Global Heating Equipment Market

In July 2023, Budapest, Hungary, hosted the Midea Building Technologies New Product Launch. The next-generation M thermal R290 Nature Series Heat Pump was unveiled by Midea Building Technologies, showcasing the company's ongoing dedication to innovation and sustainable development.

In June 2023, the Vaillant Group, a heating equipment technology supplier based in Remscheid, revealed that the company saw significant growth in its heat pump business in 2022, with sales rising by more than 75%. As a consequence, the company has expanded considerably faster than the European market as a whole, thus strengthening its position in the industry. Currently, one of the top three providers of heat pumps in Europe is the Vaillant Group. The Vaillant Group achieved market shares in China and Europe while increasing its sales of gas-fired boilers by 6% in a market that was typically falling.

In December 2021, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation introduced Ecodan Hydrodan, a newly developed, effective water-to-water heat pump. The packed plug & play solution is made especially to meet residential apartment needs for heating equipment and hot water while maximizing the considerable sustainable energy savings that the upcoming generation of heat networks offers. Additionally, it uses a small amount of low-GWP R32 refrigerant in order to minimize its negative effects on the environment.

In June 2023, the Triton Super and Light Duty water heaters were introduced by Rheem Manufacturing Company. The commercial units can identify and stop water heater issues before they arise, eliminating downtime with up to 98% thermal efficiency. Triton Light Duty, designed with small business owners in mind, provides a more intelligent and durable option than regular units. However, organizations that require maximum hot water supply capacity can benefit from Triton Super Duty's increased capacity. Light Duty and Triton Super complement the current Rheem Manufacturing Company's Triton lineup, which consists of heavy-duty models. The long-term demand currently surpasses production capabilities, positioning them as leaders in the sustainable heating equipment sector.

Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis

The companies that are profiled have been selected based on inputs gathered from primary experts and analyzing company coverage, product portfolio, and heating equipment market penetration.

Some of the prominent names in the global heating equipment market are:

Carrier

DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, Ltd.

Johnson Controls

Midea Group

Lennox International Inc.

Other companies mentioned in the report include:

LG Electronics

Robert Bosch GmbH

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD.

Hitachi, Ltd.

FUJITSU GENERAL

Ingersoll Rand

Emerson Electric Co.

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Vaillant Group International GmbH

Rheem Manufacturing Company

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 153 Forecast Period 2023-2033 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $110.93 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2033 $206.5 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.4% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/opz1kq

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HOUSTON, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- W&T Offshore, Inc. (NYSE: WTI) (W&T or the Company) today announced modifications to the first-lien non-recourse term loan (the Term Loan) between its wholly-owned special purpose vehicles (the SPVs) and Munich Re Reserve Risk Financing, Inc. ("MRRF"), which is expected to provide additional liquidity to the Company over 2024 without increasing the Companys net leverage. The Term Loan was initially arranged on May 19, 2021 (Closing Date) and had a principal balance of $215 million which has been amortized down to around $114 million as of December 31, 2023. There have been a few alterations to the Credit Agreement signed by the SPVs and MRRF on May 19, 2021 (the Original Credit Agreement).



Key highlights of the transaction are as follows:

Effective extension of weighted average maturity by deferring principal payments of around $30 million that would have been due over the four quarters of 2024  no change in the final maturity date of May 19, 2028 (Maturity Date); Mandatory principal repayments to restart in first quarter of 2025 with the option, but not obligation, to catch up on deferred amortization through excess cash flow sweep;

No change in coupon (will stay at 7.00% fixed rate) and cash interest will be due each quarter of 2024 on the remaining principal balance (around $114 million as of December 31, 2023);

The revised optional prepayment premium schedule will be as follows: Through and including the third anniversary of the Closing Date, a cash amount equal to the present value at 7.00% discount rate of the aggregate dollar amount of scheduled interest payments on the Term Loan that would have become due and payable from the applicable prepayment date through and including the Maturity Date (similar to the Original Credit Agreement), If such prepayment or repayment is made on any date from the third anniversary of the Closing Date through and including the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date, a cash amount equal to 3.0% (3.0% in the Original Credit Agreement as well) of the prepaid or repaid principal amount of the Term Loan, If such prepayment or repayment is made on any date from the fourth anniversary of the Closing Date through and including the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, a cash amount equal to 3.0% (2.0% in the Original Credit Agreement) of the prepaid or repaid principal amount of the Term Loan, If such prepayment or repayment is made on any date from the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date through and including the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date, a cash amount equal to 2.0% (1.0% in the Original Credit Agreement) of the prepaid or repaid principal amount of the Loan, and From the sixth anniversary of the Closing Date through and including the Maturity Date, a cash amount equal to 1.0% (no premium in the Original Credit Agreement) of the prepaid or repaid principal amount of the Loan.

Amendment fee of $200,000 to be paid in four quarterly installments of $50,000 each starting in first quarter of 2024 (no other fees); and



In the original transaction, the Company transferred 100% of its Mobile Bay Area producing assets and related gas treatment facilities to the SPVs in return for the net cash proceeds from a $215 million Term Loan amortized over seven years. Through its 100% ownership in the SPVs, W&T retains the upside value in the Mobile Bay Assets.

Tracy W. Krohn, W&Ts Board Chair and Chief Executive Officer, commented, We are pleased to have enhanced our already-strong liquidity with a modification to our term loan with Munich Re that defers principal payments of around $30 million that would otherwise have been due in 2024. The collateral value of our Mobile Bay asset remains strong which helped facilitate this change in terms and demonstrates W&Ts track record as a prudent custodian of MRRFs capital. Our strong liquidity position and ability to generate meaningful free cash flow continues to position W&T to pursue additional accretive acquisitions which has been the foundation of our strategy for many years.

About W&T Offshore

W&T Offshore, Inc. is an independent oil and natural gas producer with operations offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and has grown through acquisitions, exploration and development. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had working interests in 53 fields in federal and state waters (which include 44 fields in federal waters and nine in state waters). The Company has under lease approximately 597,100 gross acres (440,000 net acres) spanning across the outer continental shelf off the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama, with approximately 435,600 gross acres on the conventional shelf, approximately 153,500 gross acres in the deepwater and 8,000 gross acres in Alabama state waters. A majority of the Companys daily production is derived from wells it operates. For more information on W&T, please visit the Companys website at www.wtoffshore.com.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release, including those regarding the impact of the Term Loan amendment on the Companys leverage profile, the potential benefits of the Term Loan amendment, the potential benefits of the Mobil Bay properties, the Companys future performance and indebtedness are forward-looking statements. When used in this release, forward-looking statements are generally accompanied by terms or phrases such as estimate, project, predict, believe, expect, continue, anticipate, target, could, plan, intend, seek, goal, will, should, may or other words and similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words.

These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially including, among other things, market conditions, commodity price volatility, uncertainties inherent in oil and gas production operations and estimating reserves, uncertainties of the timing and impact of bringing new wells online and repairing and restoring infrastructure due to hurricane damage, the ability to achieve leverage targets, unexpected future capital expenditures, competition, the success of our risk management activities, governmental regulations, uncertainties and other factors described or referenced in W&Ts most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q found at www.sec.gov or on our website at www.wtoffshore.com.

These forward-looking statements are based on the Companys current expectations and assumptions about future events and speak only as of the date of this release. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, as results actually achieved may differ materially from expected results described in these statements. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of such statements, unless required by law.
Burlingame, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coherent Market Insights published a report, titled, Global Artificial Muscle Market, By Type of Material (Dielectric Elastomers, Liquid Crystal Elastomers, Ferromagnetic Shape-Memory Alloys, Nanowires and Carbon Nanotubes and Others), By Application (Medical Devices, Wearable Devices, and Prosthetics), By Actuation Method (Pneumatic Actuation, Hydraulic Actuation, Chemical Actuation, Thermally Actuated and Others), By End User (Hospitals, Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Others), and By Geography: Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2024-2031. According to the report the global artificial muscle market is estimated to be valued at US$ 2,107 Mn in 2023 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 10.7% over the forecast period 2024-2031.



Request Sample Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/6636

Market Dynamics

The growth of the artificial muscle market can be attributed to the increasing demand for robotic prosthetics in the healthcare industry. Robotic prosthetics are being widely adopted due to their ability to provide more natural movement and functionality to individuals with limb disabilities. Additionally, the rising geriatric population and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders are driving the demand for artificial muscle technologies.

Global Artificial Muscle Market Report Coverage

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $2,107 million Estimated Value by 2031 $4,671.2 million Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 10.7% Historical Data 20192023 Forecast Period 20242031 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Type of Material, By Application, By Actuation Method, By End User Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Growth Drivers  Rising prevalence of chronic diseases



 Technological advancements in materials



 Increasing funding for healthcare research & development



 Growing demand for wearable medical devices Restraints & Challenges  High costs involved



 Regulatory obstacles



 Biocompatibility issues

Market Trends

One key trend in the artificial muscle market is the focus on developing biohybrid systems that combine biological tissues with artificial muscles to create more efficient and responsive prosthetics. Another trend is the increasing investment in research and development activities to enhance the performance and durability of artificial muscle technologies, making them more suitable for long-term use in various applications.

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Market Opportunities:

Dielectric elastomers are expected to dominate the market in the segment of type of material, especially in the application of medical devices. This can be attributed to the increasing demand for innovative and advanced medical devices that offer better performance and flexibility. Dielectric elastomers have unique properties that make them suitable for use in medical devices such as artificial muscles, actuators, and sensors. These materials exhibit high electrical conductivity, excellent mechanical properties, and biocompatibility, making them ideal for medical applications. As a result, the market for dielectric elastomers in medical devices is projected to grow significantly during the forecast period.

In the segment of actuation method, pneumatic actuation is expected to dominate the market, particularly in North America. The region's dominance can be attributed to the presence of key players and research institutions focusing on the development of artificial muscle technologies. Pneumatic actuation systems offer numerous advantages, including high power-to-weight ratio, fast response time, and easy control, making them ideal for a wide range of applications. In North America, the demand for pneumatic actuation systems in industries such as healthcare, robotics, and automotive is expected to drive market growth in the region.



Recent Developments:

In October 2023, Blatchford, the one of the world-renowned prosthetics manufacturer, launched Tectus, a life-changing intelligent orthotic device that enables people with partial lower limb paralysis to walk more easily, naturally and comfortably with increased confidence and safety.

In 2022, Ossur, a company that develops, manufactures and sells non-invasive equipment for orthopaedics, including bracing and support products, compression therapy, and prosthetics, launched its new POWER KNEE, the worlds first actively powered microprocessor prosthetic knee for people with above-knee amputation or limb difference. The POWER KNEE is groundbreaking bionic technology, a motor-powered smart prosthesis that uses advanced algorithms to detect human movement patterns, learns and adjusts to its wearers speed and cadence in real-time.

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Key Market Takeaways:

Artificial Muscle is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 10.7% during the forecast period 2024-2031, owing to the increasing demand for advanced medical devices and robotics applications.

On the basis of type of material, the dielectric elastomers segment is expected to hold a dominant position, owing to their unique properties and biocompatibility.

In the application segment, medical devices are projected to dominate the market.

Pneumatic actuation is expected to be the leading actuation method, with North America emerging as the dominant region.

Key players operating in the Artificial Muscle market include DuPont, SRI International, Foster-Miller, Inc., American Artificial Muscle, and Soft Robotics Inc. These players are focusing on research and development activities to introduce innovative products and gain a competitive edge in the market.

Read complete market research report, " Global Artificial Muscle Market, By Type of Material, By Application, By Actuation Method, By End User, By Geography, Market Size And Share Analysis - Growth Trends And Forecasts 2024-2031", Published by Coherent Market Insights.

Detailed Segmentation:

By Type of Material:

Dielectric Elastomers

Liquid Crystal Elastomers

Ferromagnetic Shape-Memory Alloys

Nanowires and Carbon Nanotubes

Others (Hydrogels, Conducting Polymers)



By Application:

Medical Devices

Wearable Devices

Prosthetics





By Actuation Method:

Pneumatic Actuation

Hydraulic Actuation

Chemical Actuation

Thermally Actuated

Others (Electroactive Polymers, Magnetostrictive Materials)



By End User:

Hospitals

Clinics

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Others (Nursing Homes, Home Healthcare)

By Region:

North America U.S. Canada

Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America

Europe Germany U.K. Spain France Italy Russia Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China India Japan Australia South Korea Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa South Africa GCC Countries Rest of Middle East & Africa



Find more related trending reports below:

Artificial Vital Organs And Medical Bionics Market, By Type (Artificial Vital Organs (Artificial Heart, Artificial Kidney, Artificial Liver, Artificial Pancreas, Artificial Lungs), Medical Bionics (Cochlear Implants, Vision Bionics, Exoskeletons, Bionic Limbs, Brain Bionics, Cardiac Bionics)), By End User (Hospitals, Clinics, and Ambulatory Surgical Centers), and by Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa)

Artificial Discs Market, By Product Type (Cervical Artificial Discs, Lumbar Artificial Discs), By Material (Metal-on-Metal, Metal-on-Biocompatible Plastic), By End User (Hospitals, Specialty Clinics, Ambulatory Surgery Centers), By Geography (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa)

Global Spinal Laminoplasty Market, By Product (Laminoplasty Plates and Screws , Cervical Spacer, Cervical Cage, Artificial Bone Graft, Laminoplasty Rods, Others) , By Procedure Type (French Door Laminoplasty, Open Door Laminoplasty, Expansive Laminoplasty, Bilateral Door Laminoplasty, Z Plate Laminoplasty), By End User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Specialty Clinics), By Geography (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa)

Medical Membrane Market, by Application (IV Infusion Filters & Sterile Filtration, Drug Delivery, Bio-artificial Pancreas, Hemodialysis, and Others) by Technology (Microfiltration, Reverse Osmosis, Ultrafiltration, Dialysis, Gas Separation, and Others), by Material (Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF), Polyethylene (PE), Modified Acrylics, and Others), and by Geography (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa)

About Us:

Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. We are known for our actionable insights and authentic reports in various domains including aerospace and defense, agriculture, food and beverages, automotive, chemicals and materials, and virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients.
DAYTON, Ohio, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Centric Consulting announces that Joseph Ours has been accepted into Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives.

Ours leads the AI Strategy and Modern Software Delivery practices at Centric Consulting, focusing on bringing innovation and digital transformation to his clients with speed and scale. He has nearly three decades of experience in IT and management consulting across AI, automation, cloud platforms, DevOps, quality assurance, and agile development. Ours has focused on helping Fortune 500 companies develop AI solutions for process automation, personalized customer experiences, and value chain optimization through strategy, visioning and implementation.

Ours was selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.

As a member of the Council, Ours will connect and collaborate with other respected leaders in a private forum. Ours will also have the opportunity to share his expert insights in original articles and contribute to published Expert Panels alongside other experts on Forbes.com.

I am thrilled to be recognized as an AI thought leader and welcomed into the Forbes Technology Council. It highlights Centrics dedication to being on the forefront of the of AI revolution, Ours said. I look forward to engaging with other technology leaders in this distinguished forum, sharing innovative ideas, and gaining useful insights to help our clients deal with the challenges of digital transformation with more flexibility and accuracy.

About Forbes Councils

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit https://councils.forbes.com.

About Centric Consulting

Centric Consulting is an international management consulting firm with unmatched expertise in business transformation, AI strategy, cyber risk management, technology implementation, and adoption. Founded in 1999 with a remote workforce, the company has established a reputation for solving its clients toughest problems, delivering tailored solutions, and bringing in deeply experienced consultants centered on whats best for your business. In every project, you get a trusted advisor averaging over 15 years of experience and the best talent from across the United States and India. Centric deliberately builds teams that can scale up or down quickly based on client needs, industry and desired outcome.

Headquartered in Ohio, with 1,400 employees and 14 locations, Centric has been honored over the years with over 100 awards for its commitment to employees, clients and communities. Most recently, Forbes recognized it for the eighth consecutive year as one of Americas Best Management Consulting Firms. Visit http://www.centricconsulting.com to learn more.

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WASHINGTON, DC, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In partnership with UNCF (United Negro College Fund) Macys raised nearly $1.4 million to support students attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) during this years Black History Month observance.

For the third consecutive year, Macys, one of the nations premier retailers, galvanized its customers across the United States through in-store and online charitable efforts to support UNCF and raise funds for students attending HBCUs.

From January 15, Martin Luther King Day, throughout the month of February, Macys customers directly impacted and empowered the next generation of Black leaders in local communities nationwide through the charitable round-up campaign. Customers donated online or rounded up their in-store purchase amount and contributed the extra change, up to 99 cents, to UNCF.

Funds raised will support the mission of UNCF and the Macys Mission Everyone Scholarship, which will provide scholarships of up to $5,000 to students attending HBCUs in the 2024-2025 academic year.

UNCF Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer Maurice E. Jenkins, Jr., commended Macys and their customers for another year of excellence to help more students achieve their dreams of attending college.

Macys leadership is outstanding. This campaign demonstrates how small gifts matter. When you invest in HBCUs and their students, you invest in the future of our country. Thank you, Macys for your ongoing support, Jenkins said.

###

About UNCF

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nations largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students education and development through scholarships and other programs, supports and strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. While totaling only 3% of all colleges and universities, UNCF institutions and other historically Black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 15% of bachelors degrees, 5% of masters degrees, 10% of doctoral degrees and 19% of all STEM degrees earned by Black students in higher education. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 50,000 students at over 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Learn more at UNCF.org or for continuous updates and news, follow UNCF on Twitter at @UNCF.
Smithtown, NY and Alexandria, VA, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Systems Planning & Analysis (SPA), a leading global provider of advisory services in support of critical national security objectives, is pleased to announce a partnership with the Guide Dog Foundation and Americas VetDogs of Smithtown, New York, two sister national nonprofit organizations that train and place highly skilled guide and service dogs with individuals with disabilities, free of charge.

SPAs participation is unique among the nonprofit organizations sponsors in that SPA is throwing its full support behind employees who volunteer as puppy raisers, marking the initial stage in a comprehensive, multiyear endeavor to raise and train these dogs. At the core of Guide Dog Foundations and Americas VetDogs mission is the recruitment of dedicated volunteers, recognizing the substantial 1618-month commitment required to nurture exemplary behavior and social aptitude in these young canines. The indispensable role of volunteers underscores an organization's profound impact and the vital need for continued support.

To assist volunteers in blending work requirements with puppy nurturing, SPA encourages employee puppy raisers to bring their trainees to the workplace, a unique opportunity among Guide Dog Foundation and Americas VetDogs corporate partners. Currently, seven SPA employees in the Alexandria, VA, headquarters vicinity are raising puppies, and they are welcome to bring their charges to the office every day. Learning to be at ease in a work setting is excellent training for the pups and a welcome sight for staff.

Longtime SPA employee and Navy veteran Bill Hoeft worked with company leadership to establish SPAs puppy fleet. SPA CEO Rich Sawchak commented, We are thrilled to welcome these delightful new employees to the SPA family, and we thank Bill for his vision in helping to make this happen. At SPA we are especially gratified to know that many of the pups, once fully trained, go on to assist veterans afflicted with PTSD. We fully support the mission of the Guide Dog Foundation and Americas VetDogs and are immensely proud of our employee volunteers who selflessly contribute to the welfare of our nations vets and others with disabilities.

John Miller, President & CEO of the Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs added, SPA's dedication to our shared mission goes beyond mere sponsorship. Their profound commitment to fostering a culture of volunteerism within their workplace aligns with our core values. Together, we not only encourage volunteerism but also reaffirm the unwavering commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities through the transformative power of guide and service dogs."

Future assistance dogs cannot be raised in kennels; they need socialization and exposure to the world they will be navigating when they are paired with their future handler. Volunteering to raise a future guide or service dog is a commitment that requires time, patience, and unwavering dedication. While no prior dog training experience is required, puppy raisers take on the essential role of introducing these puppies to the world and laying the foundation for their specialized training by the team of certified instructors from the Guide Dog Foundation and Americas VetDogs. To learn more about becoming a volunteer puppy raiser, visit www.guidedog.org/puppy.

About SPA

SPA is a premier global provider of innovative solutions in support of complex national security programs and defense priorities. SPAs portfolio of differentiated capabilities and tools delivers a comprehensive range of solutions supporting the most critical programs for combatting threats, influencing long-term strategic priorities, and shaping policies at the highest levels. With over 2,000 professionals, SPAs employees are subject matter experts in numerous domains, including Land, Undersea, Surface and Air Warfare Operations; Intelligence Community, Radar and Sensor Systems; Unmanned Systems and Counter Systems; Defense Industrial Base and Economic Security; Space Systems; Ballistic Missile Systems; Cybersecurity Analysis and Policy; and Hypersonics. Awards include GovCon Contractor of the Year in 2022, Washington Post Top Workplace consecutively since 2014, and Department of Labor HIRE Vets Gold Medal for the past six consecutive years. SPA is a portfolio company of Arlington Capital Partners. For more information: www.spa.com.

About Americas VetDogs

For 20 years, Americas VetDogs (www.VetDogs.org) has trained and placed guide and service dogs to provide independence, enhanced mobility, and companionship to veterans with disabilities from all eras. In 2015, Americas VetDogs opened its programs to first responders, including fire, police, and emergency medical personnel. Americas VetDogs is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded by the Guide Dog Foundation and serves clients from across the United States. Americas VetDogs relies on contributions from generous individuals, corporations, service clubs, and foundations to fund its mission to help those who have served our country live with dignity and independence. It costs more than $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog, but Americas VetDogs provides its services completely free of charge to the individual. Americas VetDogs has been accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.

About Guide Dog Foundation

For more than 75 years, the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc. (www.GuideDog.org), has trained and placed guide and service dogs to provide independence, enhanced mobility, and companionship to people who are blind, have low vision, or have other special needs. The Guide Dog Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization serving clients from across the United States and Canada. The Foundation relies on contributions from generous individuals, corporations, service clubs, and foundations to fund its mission to serve people with disabilities. It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog, but the Guide Dog Foundation provides its services completely free of charge to the individual. Its sister organization, Americas VetDogs, trains and provides guide, service, and hearing dogs for disabled veterans and first responders. The Guide Dog Foundation was the first assistance dog school in the United States to be accredited by both the International Guide Dog Federation and Assistance Dogs International.

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Electrify Expo hosted huge crowds at their 2024 Season Opener Showcasing Tesla, Rivian, Volvo, Ford, Kia, Amazon, Rad Power Bikes, Super73 and more in Orlando

Rivians R2 SUV made its East Coast debut at Electrify Expo

Tesla Cybertruck draws massive engagement offering hands-on experiences for attendees

Photos from the event can be downloaded HERE

Electrify Expos next stop will be in Phoenix on May 4-5; tickets can be purchased at https://www.electrifyexpo.com/phoenix



ORLANDO, Fla., March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electrify Expo , North Americas largest electric vehicle (EV) festival, made its debut in Orlando, Fla. with over 1 million square feet filled with the worlds leading brands offering thousands of EV car and two-wheel demos to kick off the 2024 season. Floridians made their way out to Orlando for the first time in record numbers to experience all things electric across multiple demo courses, including the EV Demo District Presented by Hankook, as the state continues to be No.2 in the country in EV adoption .

Rivians all-new R2 SUV was a major draw for attendees as the vehicle made its East Coast debut. Attendees were also able to get up close and personal with Teslas Cybertruck. In addition, Kia and Volvo returned to the festival with some of their much anticipated EVs including Kias EV9 and Volvos EX30. Ford returned to the Thrill Zone offering festival goers the opportunity to take a hot lap in the Mustang Mach-E GT with a professional driver. BMW, Lexus, Toyota, Yokohama, Hankook, JackRabbit, Anker and many others returned to the festival, which is now in its fourth year, to showcase their latest products and technology.

The turnout in Orlando was massive and it's evidence that EV demand is growing fast, said BJ Birtwell, CEO and founder of Electrify Expo. People are more interested than ever in exploring the idea around what it means to go electric and to experience the thrill and technology of these amazing vehicles.

The next stop on the Electrify Expo tour will take place in Phoenix on May 4-5 at State Farm Stadium, home of the 2023 Super Bowl. This will be the festivals first time in Arizona. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.electrifyexpo.com/phoenix .

For more information and to purchase tickets to Electrify Expo visit www.electrifyexpo.com . Media interested in attending may request credentials by emailing ee@skyya.com .

About Electrify Expo

Electrify Expo is North America's largest outdoor electric vehicle (EV) festival showcasing the latest technology and products in electrification including startup and legacy EVs, electric motorcycles, bikes, scooters, skateboards, boats, surfboards and more. The festival addresses one of the most challenging barriers to mass adoption of electric vehicles - first hand experience with the product - with meaningful demonstrations and test rides. Top brands from around the world exhibit and attend Electrify Expos events to meet consumers at all stages on their path to electrification. 2024 events will take place in Long Beach and San Francisco, Calif., Phoenix, Denver, New York, Seattle, Orlando, and Austin, Texas. To stay up to date on the latest news and announcements from Electrify Expo, visit www.electrifyexpo.com and follow on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram .

Media Contact

Skyya PR

ee@skyya.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a22b30b5-e94a-4362-806a-561c6c65ed1b
Phoenix, AZ, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New findings in a survey of Arizona voters, commissioned by the Cicero Institute, show Arizona voters are deeply concerned about the rise in homelessness and want more urgent action from elected leaders to address the fentanyl and opioid crisis.

"These findings should serve as a clarion call to Arizona policymakers," said Bryan Sunderland, Director of Advocacy. "Arizonans want leaders to respond with urgency as crime, drugs, and homelessness in their communities continue to rise. State and municipal officials must advance solutions that will address these pressing public safety concerns."

Author of the poll and Cicero Director of Communications Stefani Buhajla added, "These results are not at all surprising. Arizona has been battling crisis levels of drug trafficking and homelessness for years. Voters want leadership on these issues."

Key highlights from the survey:

HOMELESSNESS

Addressing Homelessness: The survey highlights significant concerns regarding homelessness, with 74% of all voters believing it is increasing in Arizona.

The survey highlights significant concerns regarding homelessness, with 74% of all voters believing it is increasing in Arizona. Panhandling: 72% of voters report avoiding gas stations and convenience stores where individuals are loitering or panhandling.

72% of voters report avoiding gas stations and convenience stores where individuals are loitering or panhandling. Public Camping: A staggering 77% report that they avoid restaurants and parks where homeless individuals are sleeping on the streets. And 73% agree homeless encampments on streets are a threat to public safety.

A staggering 77% report that they avoid restaurants and parks where homeless individuals are sleeping on the streets. And 73% agree homeless encampments on streets are a threat to public safety. Preference for Designated Camping Areas: An overwhelming majority (93%) of voters prefer establishing designated camping areas with security, sanitation, and water over allowing homeless individuals to camp wherever they choose. And 68% say they should be designated as drug-free zones.

DRUG CRIME

Drug Trafficking: Alarmingly, 59% say drug trafficking is on the rise in Arizona.

Alarmingly, 59% say drug trafficking is on the rise in Arizona. Combating Fentanyl and Opioids: 63% feel that more should be done to combat the fentanyl and opioid crisis in the state.

RETAIL THEFT

Concerns about Retail Theft: Most voters (75%) say the level of retail theft in Arizona is not improving. Only 12% of voters say elected officials are doing enough about the problem, while 55% think they need to do more.

Most voters (75%) say the level of retail theft in Arizona is not improving. Only 12% of voters say elected officials are doing enough about the problem, while 55% think they need to do more. Alarm over Smash-and-Grab Robberies: A majority (53%) of all voters express considerable concern about smash-and-grab retail robberies in larger cities such as Phoenix and Tucson.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Police Resources: 67% say that Arizona law enforcement agencies do not have enough manpower or financial resources to handle the current level of crime in the state.

67% say that Arizona law enforcement agencies do not have enough manpower or financial resources to handle the current level of crime in the state. Support for Business Measures: 74% of voters would consider offering tax credits to businesses that hire private security to protect their employees and customers due to lack of police presence.

The survey, conducted from March 59, 2024, included 1,090 likely Arizona voters. The margin of error is 2.97%.

Cicero Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization working to fix broken government systems by defending liberty, instituting accountability, and promoting innovative governance across America.

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Rice noodle industry sees rapid growth in S China's Guangxi

People's Daily Online) 11:27, March 18, 2024

South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is the leading consumer and producer of rice noodles in China, accounting for over 50 percent of the country's rice noodle production.

The tradition of rice noodle production and consumption in Guangxi dates back to the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-207 B.C.) and reached peak popularity during the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.

Photo shows a bowl of Luosifen, or river snail rice noodles, a specialty dish from South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Commerce of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region)

Initially, Luosifen, or river snail rice noodles, was a local specialty found only in street stalls and night markets in Liuzhou city, Guangxi. It was relatively unknown outside the region.

Liuzhou, an industrial city, has adopted various measures to foster the development and expansion of the Luosifen industry. These initiatives include establishing a comprehensive and standardized industrial chain system and recognizing Luosifen as a product with a geographical indication.

In 2023, the sales revenue of Liuzhou's Luosifen sector reached 66.99 billion yuan ($9.3 billion), marking an 11.5 percent increase from the previous year. Notably, physical stores selling Luosifen saw rapid growth, with a 28.4 percent year-on-year increase, according to the Liuzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce.

Customs data shows that from January to December 2023, the export value of Liuzhou Luosifen reached approximately 101.25 million yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of 38.2 percent.

Photo shows packaged Laoyou rice noodles. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Commerce of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region)

Guilin rice noodles, the most iconic local specialty of Guangxi, have been recognized by CNN as a dish capable of evoking nostalgia. However, due to a lack of preservation techniques for wet rice noodles, Guilin rice noodles were not available outside the region for a long time.

In recent years, Guilin has implemented over 10 local standards and developed technologies for preserving wet rice noodles. Consequently, pre-packaged Guilin rice noodles are now sold nationwide and exported to countries such as the U.S. and Canada.

Today, the Guilin rice noodle industry is witnessing significant growth, with the establishment of a comprehensive system that covers production, processing, distribution, and sales. The industry's annual total output value has reached approximately 10 billion yuan.

According to the Guilin Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, there are currently over 8,000 rice noodle restaurants in Guilin, which include more than 400 chain stores.

Photo shows a bowl of seafood rice noodles in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Photo/Huang Xian)

In Guangxi's coastal cities such as Qinzhou, Beihai, and Fangchenggang, local seafood rice noodle dishes have been developed, leveraging local resources. Fangchenggang, in particular, is home to around 3,000 shops that sell seafood rice noodles, contributing to a well-coordinated online and offline industry chain.

In September 2021, Fangchenggang established a dedicated team to further develop the seafood rice noodle industry.

Within just three months, the city successfully developed its first packaged seafood rice noodles, opened a dedicated store, obtained a food production license for this delicacy, and secured approval for its safety standards.

Today, the city's pre-packaged seafood rice noodle products have become popular and are selling well in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.

Guangxi has introduced an implementation plan aimed at accelerating the high-quality development of the Luosifen and rice noodle industry in the region. This plan aims to surpass 100 billion yuan in sales revenue for the rice noodle industry by 2025.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
A file photo of a New Haven police cruiser. New Haven police said two women in their 20s suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds in shootings Sunday night. Austin Mirmina / Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  Two women in their 20s were shot in the city Sunday night, and officials believe the incident was connected to a homicide early Saturday.

According to New Mayor Justin Elicker, the two women were shot while attending a vigil for Deshawn Maysonet, who was fatally shot on Fairmont avenue around 4:20 a.m. Saturday.

One of the woman was struck in the shoulder, while the other was shot in the foot. One had been released from the hospital as of Monday evening, Elicker said.

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"Were working very hard to identify the individuals involved and believe there may be some sort of feud going on and are working to calm down everyone, he said Monday.

According to police, they received an alert from ShotSpotter, the citys gunshot detection system, for several rounds fired near Hazel and Newhall streets around 9 p.m. Sunday.

Yale police officers then tried to stop a vehicle speeding on Trumbull Street near Canal Street. Those officers learned an occupant in the vehicle, a 21-year-old New Haven woman, was shot and was being taken to the hospital, police said.

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Yale police officers took the woman to Yale-New Haven Hospital for treatment, according to police.

A second gunshot victim, identified as a 27-year-old New Haven woman, walked into the emergency department at Yale-New Haven Hospitals St. Raphael campus. Police learned she had been driven to the hospital, police said.

Officers and detectives went to the area of the gunshot alert and found ballistic evidence.

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Police are continuing to investigate the incidents.
EDF responds to the request of the French government to study the creation of an irradiation department to support the CEA

Paris, 18 March 2024

EDF has been seized by the French government to provide an irradiation service at Civaux nuclear power plant, in support of the CEA (Commissariat a lenergie atomique - Atomic Energy Comission). An irradiation service involves inserting radioactive material into the reactor core.

The purpose of EDF's nuclear reactors, including Civaux, is to produce low-carbon, pilotable electricity to support energy transition in France. This complementary activity will be added to the main mission of electricity generation.

This request from the French government has no impact on Civauxs operations or its purpose. In addition, the two Civaux reactors remain subject to the civil nuclear installations regime.

There are no plans to extend this additional activity to other reactors in the fleet.

This complementary activity will be carried out in accordance with the applicable safety and environmental protection regulations. The request for authorisation to carry out this activity will be submitted to the French Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) for review.

An agreement between the French State, CEA and EDF will be signed, setting out the scope of activities and the rights and obligations of each party, in compliance with EDF's governance rules.

This press release is certified. Check its authenticity on medias.edf.com

About EDF

The EDF Group is a key player in the energy transition, as an integrated energy operator engaged in all aspects of the energy business: power generation, distribution, trading, energy sales and energy services. The Group is a world leader in low-carbon energy, with a low carbon output of 434TWh, a diverse generation mix based mainly on nuclear and renewable energy (including hydropower). It is also investing in new technologies to support the energy transition. EDFs raison detre is to build a net zero energy future with electricity and innovative solutions and services, to help save the planet and drive well-being and economic development. The Group supplies energy and services to approximately 40.9 million customers (1) and generated consolidated sales of 139.7 billion in 2023.

(1) Customers are counted per delivery site. A customer may have two delivery points.

Attachment
Sydney, AU, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Australias credit card comparison site, CreditCardCompare.com.au, has appointed Gareth Boyd as its new Head of Growth.



Credit Card Compare

Credit Card Compare acquired Finty.com in 2018 and merged into Finty to grow into the USA, Canada, and Singapore finance markets. After a recent decision to relaunch Credit Card Compare, Gareth Boyd will join his brothers Andrew and David Boyd, who founded Credit Card Compare in 2008.

Before joining Credit Card Compare, Gareth Boyd succeeded in different sectors, from hotels, restaurants, and online startups to co-founding SEO agency Forte Analytica. Wired claims Gareth Boyd is an SEO expert. He will balance this position and the Managing Director position at BoydHampers.com and Forte Analytica alongside other roles currently held at different e-commerce brands he founded or invested in. There is no conflict of interest.

Gareth Boyd commented on joining the Credit Card Compare team, Im looking forward to working alongside my brothers Andrew and David Boyd, theyve built something great for Australians, and hopefully, I can bring some of my expertise from different industries to help grow the company.

Boyd will oversee the digital growth and rebuild the marketing team to drive Credit Card Compare into an Australian household brand online and offline.

Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Credit Card Compare is Australia's only dedicated credit card comparison site. It was founded in 2008 to help Aussies make more informed decisions when finding or comparing a credit card. The Credit Card Compare mantra is Our mission is to help Aussies make great decisions on their next credit card.

The credit card comparison dataset aims to include every Australian credit card on the market, whether there is a financial reward or not, for example, their comparison table of balance transfer credit cards.

Credit Card Compares Managing Director, David Boyd, said: Credit Card Compare is delighted to be working with his brother Gareth, a rising star of digital marketing. His energy knows no limits, and his commitment is unmatched. We look forward to the growth he will bring to the relaunch.

About Credit Card Compare

Credit Card Compare is Australia's leading platform for credit card comparison, designed to demystify financial choices and empower consumers with the information needed to make informed decisions. With a focus on innovation, reliability, and user satisfaction, Credit Card Compare is dedicated to simplifying the search for the perfect credit card.

###

Media Contact

Credit Card Compare

press@creditcardcompare.com.au

https://www.creditcardcompare.com.au













newsroom: news.38digitalmarket.com
PITTSBURGH, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coherent Corp. (NYSE: COHR), a pioneer in photonic solutions, is proud to announce its participation at the upcoming Optica Executive Forum at OFC 2024, being held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on March 25 in conjunction with the OFC conference.

Renowned for its history of assembling panels of industry executives and technological innovators, the Optica Executive Forum will feature Coherent Chair and CEO, Dr. Vincent D. (Chuck) Mattera, Jr., on the CEO Panel. The event will focus on how the panelists have navigated their organizations through changes, challenges, and opportunities.

Additionally, Coherent Chief Marketing Officer, Dr. Sanjai Parthasarathi, will moderate a topical discussion on Photonic Manufacturing and Enabling Technologies. Joining the topical panel is Coherent Chief Strategy Officer and President of the Materials Segment, Dr. Giovanni Barbarossa. They will discuss the latest in enabling optical components with a focus on lasers. The panel will also address photonic manufacturing technologies, including feasibility and scalability of silicon photonics in foundries.

The Optica Executive Forum offers a unique opportunity for leaders and innovators to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the photonics industry. Coherent is excited to contribute to this vital conversation.

For more information on the session and to register for the event, please visit Optica Executive Forum at OFC 2024.

About Coherent

Coherent empowers market innovators to define the future through breakthrough technologies, from materials to systems. We deliver innovations that resonate with our customers in diversified applications for the industrial, communications, electronics, and instrumentation markets. Headquartered in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, Coherent has research and development, manufacturing, sales, service, and distribution facilities worldwide. For more information, please visit us at coherent.com.

Contact

Amy Wilson

Manager, Corporate Communications

corporate.communications@coherent.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/84b7391c-a225-4e82-a19c-dc72d758a96c.
NEW YORK, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monteverde & Associates PC (the M&A Class Action Firm), has recovered money for shareholders and is recognized as a Top 50 Firm in the 2018-2022 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. We are headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City and are now investigating:

Masonite International Corp. (NYSE: DOOR ), relating to its proposed sale to Owens Corning. Under the terms of the agreement, DOOR shareholders are expected to receive $133.00 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/masonite-international-corp . It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.



relating to its proposed sale to Owens Corning. Under the terms of the agreement, DOOR shareholders are expected to receive $133.00 in cash per share they own. Whole Earth Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: FREE ), relating to its proposed sale to affiliates of Sababa Holdings FREE, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, FREE shareholders are expected to receive $4.875 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/whole-earth-brands-inc . It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.



relating to its proposed sale to affiliates of Sababa Holdings FREE, LLC. Under the terms of the agreement, FREE shareholders are expected to receive $4.875 in cash per share they own. Inhibrx, Inc. (Nasdaq: INBX ) , relating to its proposed sale to Sanofi. Under the terms of the agreement, INBX shareholders are expected to receive $30.00 in cash and 0.25 shares of the newly combined company per share they own. Shareholders may also receive a plus one CVR worth up to $5.00 in cash contingent upon certain milestones. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/inhibrx-inc . It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.



, relating to its proposed sale to Sanofi. Under the terms of the agreement, INBX shareholders are expected to receive $30.00 in cash and 0.25 shares of the newly combined company per share they own. Shareholders may also receive a plus one CVR worth up to $5.00 in cash contingent upon certain milestones. Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: TAST ), relating to its proposed sale to Restaurant Brads International Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, TAST shareholders are expected to receive $9.55 in cash per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/carrols-restaurant-group-inc . It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.



Before you hire a law firm, you should talk to a lawyer and ask:

Do you recover money for shareholders? Do you litigate and go to Court? Do you even go to the office and wear a suit?



About Monteverde & Associates PC

Our firm litigates and has recovered money for shareholdersand we do it from our offices in the Empire State Building. We are a national class action securities firm with a successful track record in trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

No company, director or officer is above the law. If you own common stock in any of the above listed companies and have concerns or wish to obtain additional information free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Juan Monteverde, Esq.

MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC

The Empire State Building

350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4740

New York, NY 10118

United States of America

jmonteverde@monteverdelaw.com

Tel: (212) 971-1341
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hippocratic AI, the company building the first safety-focused Large Language Model (LLM) for healthcare, today announced the close of a $53 million Series A funding round at a $500 million valuation, bringing total funding to $120 million. Today, the company also released its first product for phase three safety testing: a staffing marketplace for healthcare where health systems, payors, and others can hire generative AI agents that complete low-risk, non-diagnostic, patient-facing healthcare tasks to help solve the massive shortage of healthcare nurses, social workers, and nutritionists in the US and worldwide. The new capital will be used to help fund these safety tests and further develop the product.



The round was co-led by Premji Invest and General Catalyst with participation from SV Angel and Memorial Hermann Health System as well as existing investors Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Bio + Health, Cincinnati Childrens, WellSpan Health, and Universal Health Services (UHS).

The company was founded on the belief that Generative AI holds the potential to improve healthcare access, equity, and outcomes but that it has to be developed and deployed safely and responsibly. The round was significantly oversubscribed, allowing the company to select lead investors who were patient enough to allow the company to prioritize safety over short-term revenue and profits.

Premji Invest supports the Azim Premji Foundations non-profit activities in perpetuity by investing in companies that can create long-term societal value. The Foundation runs deep, on-the-ground work in healthcare and education, said Sandesh Patnam, Managing Partner at Premji Invest. Hippocratic AIs approach towards safe AI helps further the Foundations mission. The team has the potential to transform healthcare with an LLM that is safe and effective. We look forward to working with this ambitious and talented team to achieve better outcomes for patients around the globe.

"Since the founding of Hippocratic AI a year ago, the company trained its foundational model, achieved a key safety threshold, identified novel use cases to solve the healthcare staffing crisis, and established partnerships with 40 health systems, payors, and digital health companies, said Hemant Taneja, CEO and Managing Director at General Catalyst. Hippocratic AI has grown rapidly due to sound execution and strategy, while prioritizing safety. The company is a leading standard of radical collaboration at work and will play a critical role in transforming our healthcare system to make it more proactive, affordable, and equitable.

Today the company begins the next stage of its responsible AI journey by releasing its first product for phase three safety testing. The company has pioneered a clinician-driven safety testing system for LLMs. Phase one testing was conducted by leading physicians and nurses (< 50) to ensure the agent completes all critical checklist items with the patient for a given use case. Phase two testing required testing to be completed by 1000+ licensed US nurses, and 100+ US licensed physicians talking to the AI while acting as a patient. Phase three testing, which begins now, requires the testing to be completed by 5,000 licensed nurses, 500 licensed physicians, and the companys health system partners.

The product is a novel staffing marketplace where health systems, payors, and others can hire auto-pilot generative AI-powered agents to conduct low-risk, non-diagnostic, patient-facing services to help solve the massive healthcare staffing crisis. This marketplace is part of the companys vision around how generative AI can provide super staffing and healthcare abundance and equity for the first time in history. Initial roles include chronic care management, post-discharge follow-up for specific conditions such as congestive heart failure and kidney disease, as well as wellness and social determinants of health surveys, health risk assessments, and pre-operative outreach. However, these agents wont be allowed to speak with patients unsupervised until phase three of the safety testing is completed.

The company decided to move to phase three testing because of the promising results of phase one and two testing. In these earlier phases, 1002 US licensed nurses and 130 US licensed physicians were asked to act as patients and speak to the companys agents in a variety of use cases. After each encounter, they were asked to assess the product on subjective and objective safety measures and compare the product to real nurses and other LLMs such as GPT4 and LLaMA 2 70B Chat. The results of these studies are presented in a paper released today called Polaris: A Safety-focused LLM Constellation Architecture for Healthcare. Some highlights of the paper include:

Subjective measures (measured against human nurses):

Scores for the AI from

human nurses Scores for human nurses

from human nurses Do you feel comfortable confiding in this AI/Nurse? 88.93% 88.81% Did the AI/Nurse get to know you as a person? 78.43% 57.58% Was the AI/Nurse as effective as an average nurse? 85.66% 87.34% Did the AI/Nurse create and take opportunities to educate you about your condition? 89.82% 80.64%



Specialist support model safety (measured against other LLMs and human nurses)

Hippocratic AI

Constellation LLaMA 2 70B

Chat Open AI GPT-

4 Human nurses Identify medication impact on lab values (only MoA) 79.61% 0.00% 74.22% 63.40% Identify condition-specific disallowed OTCs 88.73% 30.66% 55.54% 45.92% Correctly compare lab value to reference range 96.43% 48.24% 77.89% 93.74% Detect toxic OTC dosages 81.50% 9.11% 38.06% 57.64%



Full Constellation system safety (measured against human nurses)

Scores for the

AI from human

nurses and

doctors Scores for

human nurses

from human

nurses AI/Nurse only provided correct medical advice 96.79% 81.16% AI/Nurse provided incorrect medical advice that would result in:





No harm 1.83% 14.72% Minor harm 1.32% 4.12% Severe harm

(Adjudicated) 0.06% 0.00% Death

(Adjudicated) 0.00% 0.00%



These successful benchmarks are the result of Hippocratic AIs unique three-part approach to safety, comprised of: (1) a 70B-100B primary model trained using evidence based content; (2) a novel constellation architecture with multiple models totaling over one trillion parameters, in which the primary LLM is supervised by multiple specialist support models to improve medical accuracy and substantially reduce hallucinations (more on this architecture in Hippocratics paper); (3) built-in guardrails that bring in a human supervisor when necessary.

In addition, product development is guided by several Hippocratic AI oversight groups, including a safety governance council, a Physician Advisory Council , and a Nurse Advisory Council , which bring together esteemed physicians and registered nurses hailing from leading health systems and digital health companies such as Cleveland Clinic, Nicklaus Childrens Hospital, Teladoc Health, WebMD, Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Illinois Health System, and more.

For phase three testing, Hippocratic AI will ask its 40+ partners to thoroughly test the safety of this novel Generative AI-based product. These partners include HonorHealth, Cincinnati Childrens, OhioHealth, Roper St. Francis Healthcare, Universal Health Services, ELNA, SonderMind, Vital Software, Capsule, Evernow, HarmonyCares, Guidehealth, University of Vermont Health Network, Memorial Hermann Health System, Fraser Health, Side Health and many more. In addition to these partners, the company will significantly expand testing with more licensed nurses and physicians.

When we started the company, we prioritized safety as our top value. This is why we named the company after the physicians Hippocratic Oath and made the tagline Do no harm, said Munjal Shah, co-founder and CEO of Hippocratic AI. This has been our guiding principle since the companys founding. Our focus on safety testing our product in multiple phases and transparent publication of the results for everyone to see is the next down payment in this safety-first journey. Our selection of partners who align with our values and have the patience to let us pursue safety over revenue and profits further underscores our commitment to these values.

To learn more about Hippocratic AI and the companys first products, visit www.hippocraticai.com .

About Hippocratic AI

Hippocratic AIs mission is to develop the first safest focused Large Language Model (LLM) for healthcare. The company believes that a safe LLM can dramatically improve healthcare accessibility and health outcomes in the world by bringing deep healthcare expertise to every human. No other technology has the potential to have this level of global impact on health. The company was co-founded by CEO Munjal Shah, alongside a group of physicians, hospital administrators, healthcare professionals, and artificial intelligence researchers from El Camino Health, Johns Hopkins, Washington University in St. Louis, Stanford, Google, and Nvidia. Hippocratic AI has received a total of $120M in funding and is backed by leading investors, including General Catalyst, Andreessen Horowitz, Premji Invest, and SV Angel. For more information on Hippocratic AI: www.HippocraticAI.com .

About General Catalyst

General Catalyst is a venture capital firm that invests in powerful, positive change that endures  for our entrepreneurs, our investors, our people, and society. We support founders with a long-term view who challenge the status quo, partnering with them from seed to growth stage and beyond to build companies that withstand the test of time. With offices in San Francisco, Palo Alto, New York City, London, Berlin, and Boston, the firm has helped support the growth of businesses such as: Airbnb, Deliveroo, Guild, Gusto, Hubspot, Illumio, Lemonade, Livongo, Oscar, Samsara, Snap, Stripe, and Warby Parker. For more: www.generalcatalyst.com.

About Premji Invest

Premji Invests evergreen capital structure allows us to be long-term partners from inception to IPO and beyond. Our investment strategy spans the entire lifecycle of a company, starting from Series A funding rounds all the way to the pre-IPO stage in the private market. Additionally, we extend our focus into the public markets, employing a long-term, fundamental approach to investing. Our multi-stage approach allows us to glean insights from successful at scale companies, providing long-term strategic guidance to emerging enterprises. We hope to partner with courageous founders, being involved in all aspects of company building including talent acquisition, business development, investor syndicate building, and access to downstream capital. Our previous investments include Anaplan, Coupa, Zuora, Apttus, Looker, Servicemax, Ikigai Labs, Holistic AI, Devoted Health, Included Health, and Firefly. For more: www.premjiinvest.com

Press Contact

LaunchSquad for Hippocratic AI

hippocraticai@launchsquad.com
Josh LaBella is a breaking news reporter and former reporter for the Fairfield Citizen. He has been with Hearst Connecticut Media Group since 2020. When not working, he can be found playing video games or Dungeons & Dragons, reading, hiking or hanging with friends.
Kelowna, March 18, 2024 - Strathmore Plus Uranium. (TSXV: SUU) (OTCQB: SUUFF) is pleased to announce that Dev Randhawa, Chairman and CEO and Director John DeJoia will be providing a live virtual presentation to discuss Strathmore's summer and fall drilling programs. The webinar is hosted by Red Cloud Financial Services on Monday March 18th, 2024, at 2:00 PM ET.

We invite our shareholders, and all interested parties to register for the webinar and participate in the live Q&A session at the end of the presentation moderated by Red Cloud.

The replay will be emailed out to all webinar registrants proceeding the event and will also be available on the Red Cloud website.

For more information and to register: https://redcloudfs.com/events/rcwebinar-suu/.

About Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp.



Strathmore has three fully permitted uranium projects in Wyoming, including Agate, Beaver Rim, and Night Owl. The Agate and Beaver Rim properties contain uranium in typical Wyoming-type roll front deposits based on historical drilling data. The Night Owl property is a former producing surface mine that was in production in the early 1960s.

About Red Cloud Securities Inc.

Red Cloud Securities Inc. is an IIROC-regulated investment dealer focused on providing a full range of brokerage services to all investor types focused in the junior resource sector. Our services include Investment Banking, Research, Institutional and Retail Trading, Institutional Sales, and Retail Investment Advisory services.

About Red Cloud Financial Services Inc.

Red Cloud Financial Services Inc. is a globally focused capital markets advisory firm that provides a full range of executive strategy, media, marketing, and corporate access services. Our breadth of services combines with our significant knowledge of the junior mining industry combine for unique product offering. The company was founded by capital markets professionals with extensive experience in the junior mining industry.

Cautionary Statement: "Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as the term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release".

Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". Forward looking statements contained in this press release may include statements regarding the future operating or financial performance of Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp. which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market conditions and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp. disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, CEO

Strathmore Plus Uranium Corp.

Contact Information:

Investor Relations

Telephone: 1 888 882 8177

Email: info@strathmoreplus.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 release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/202044
VANCOUVER, March 18, 2024 - Barsele Minerals Corp. (the "Company" or "Barsele") (TSXV: BME) (OTC: BRSLF) is pleased to announce that the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") has approved the Company's application to change the name of the Company to "First Nordic Metals Corp." with the trading symbol "FNM". Furthermore, it is also expected that the Company's shares will trade under the new symbol "FNMCF" on the OTCQB. Trading in the common shares of the Company under the new name and symbol on the TSXV will commence at market open on March 20, 2024.Taj Singh President and CEO commented, "The Barsele / Gold Line merger, which closed a few weeks ago, created a combined company with a leading gold portfolio underpinned by the advanced stage Barsele gold project and one of the largest consolidated gold exploration portfolios in Scandinavia, both in Sweden and in Finland. The flagship of the portfolio is the ~100,000-hectare district-scale position in Sweden covering almost the entire Gold Line belt and a significant portion of the Skellefte VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide) belt and covering a +100km belt position of regional first-order structural corridors. These belts have been hosts to multiple +1Moz gold deposits, including the 4.2Moz Boliden Mine, as well as numerous base metal deposits of significant scale. The current name change to "First Nordic Metals Corp." reflects a new beginning for the recently combined companies and is obviously well-suited as we look to becoming a leading Scandinavian-focused explorer and project developer."There is no change in the capitalization of the Company in connection with the change of name and new trading symbol. No action is required by existing shareholders of the Company with respect to the name change and new trading symbol. Outstanding common shares certificates or DRS notices do not need to be exchanged. The Company's new CUSIP number is 33583M107 and its new ISIN number is CA33583M1077.In connection with its name change, the Company will be launching its new website at www.FNMetals.com which will go live early April 2024.First Nordic's flagship is the Barsele gold project, located in Sweden and in a joint venture with senior gold producer Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. The Barsele project currently hosts a combined open pit and underground NI 43-101 Indicated Resource of 324koz gold and an Inferred resource of 2.1Moz gold. Immediately surrounding the Barsele project, First Nordic is the 100%-owner of a district-scale license position of close to 100,000 hectares on both the prolific Gold Line and Skellefte VMS belts. Additionally, in northern Finland First Nordic holds the entire underexplored Oijarvi Greenstone Belt.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSTaj SinghPresident & CEO, DirectorThis news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Gold Line's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



SOURCE Barsele Minerals Corp.







Contact



Alicia Ford, Business Development Manager

Phone: 403-604-9646

Email: alicia@belcarragroup.com or info@barseleminerals.com


MONTREAL, March 18, 2024 - Management of Sirios Resources Inc. (TSX-V: SOI; OTCQB: SIREF) ("Sirios") is pleased to announce the signing of an option agreement on the south and west blocks of its Cheechoo property (Figure 1) located in Eeyou Istchee James Bay in Quebec, with Electric Elements Mining Corp. ("EEM"). EEM is new private lithium company jointly created by Osisko Development Corp. and Osisko Mining Inc. Pursuant to the agreement, Sirios granted EEM the option to acquire up to a 100% interest in each of the south and west blocks of its Cheechoo property in return for an investment of $0.5 million, over a period of two years, as described below.



EEM will explore both blocks for lithium and if the option is exercised, Sirios will retain a 1.5% NSR ("Net Smelter Return") royalty on the southern block.

In addition, if the option is exercised, Sirios will be able to recover, at no cost, 100% of the claims on which gold mineralization in bedrock reaching a minimum metal factor of 10 g/t per metre has been identified.

To obtain a 100% interest in the two blocks or, at its option, in one or the other of the two blocks, EEM must, over a period not exceeding two years:

Pay an amount of $100,000 to Sirios upon signature;

Carry out a minimum of $50,000 in exploration work on each of the two blocks;

Pay an amount of $150,000 in cash and/or shares, with a minimum of 50% in cash, per block at the request of Sirios.



Sirios will retain 100% of the exploration and exploitation rights for all mineral substances in the main block of the property, where the Cheechoo gold deposit is located.





Figure 1: The Cheechoo gold property

About the Cheechoo property

The Cheechoo gold property, 100% owned by Sirios, is located in Eeyou Istchee James Bay in Quebec, 200 km east of Wemindji and less than 10 km from Newmont's Eleonore gold mine. The property's latest resource update delineated, for an open pit model, indicated resources of 1.4 million ounces of gold contained in 46.3 million tonnes at an average grade of 0.94 g/t Au, as well as inferred resources of 500,000 ounces of gold contained in 21.1 million tonnes at a grade of 0.73 g/t Au (ref.: 12/06/2022 Press Release).

About Sirios

Sirios Resources is a Canadian mining exploration company focused on developing its portfolio of high-potential gold properties in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, expectations, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to : the exercise of the option by EEM, uncertainties related to the availability and cost of necessary financing in the future, changes in financial markets; delays in project development; other risks related to the mineral exploration and development industry; and risks disclosed in public filings of Sirios on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Sirios believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are reasonable, readers should not place undue reliance on this information, which speaks only as of the date of this news release, and there can be no assurance that such event will occur within the time periods presented. Sirios disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.



Contact :

Dominique Doucet, P.Eng., President, and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 450-482-0603

info@sirios.com

Website: www.sirios.com
This Variation comes after the Agreement was amended by mutual agreement reached through a letter deed dated January 12, 2024 (the "First Variation") (refer to the press release dated January 17, 2024).

The following amendments have been made pursuant to the Variation:

Amendment of Share Allocation: The share component of the consideration has been adjusted from "CAD$1,500,000 worth of fully paid ordinary shares" to "3,500,000 fully paid ordinary shares." Increase in Cash Consideration: The cash consideration has been increased from "CAD$4,000,000" to "CAD$4,400,000".

Except for amendments made under the Variation, all terms and conditions of the Agreement (as amended by the First Variation) previously stated remain in full force and effect, including the option period, remaining in effect until the earlier of July 10, 2024, or completion of the acquisition. Both parties have acknowledged that this letter deed will prevail in case of any inconsistency with the terms of the original Agreement, ensuring a seamless adjustment to the updated terms.

"These amendments not only strengthen the strategic partnership between Element79 and Green Power but also continue to align with our long-term vision for the Maverick Springs Project," said James Tworek, CEO of Element79. "The adjustments in the consideration underscore our dedication to balancing shareholder value creation with strategic partnerships, ensuring a robust foundation for sustainable growth of Element79 operations, and facilitate the continued development of our key projects while reinforcing our position in the mining sector."

The Agreement, as amended, remains governed by the laws of the State of Nevada, USA, with both parties submitting to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Nevada District Court in Reno.

About Element79 Gold Corp.

Element79 Gold is a mining company focused on gold and silver committed to maximizing shareholder value through responsible mining practices and sustainable development of its projects. Element79 Gold's focus is on developing its past-producing, high-grade gold and silver mine, the Lucero project located in Arequipa, Peru, with the intent to restart production in 2024.

The Company also holds a portfolio of 5 properties along the Battle Mountain trend in Nevada, with the Clover and West Whistler projects believed to have significant potential for near-term resource development. Three properties in the Battle Mountain Portfolio are under contract for sale to Valdo Minerals Ltd., with an anticipated closing date in the first half of 2024. The Company has also signed an Option Agreement to sell the Maverick Springs project, an advanced-stage exploratory property with an Inferred Resource of 3.71MMoz AuEq (1.37MMoz Au and 175MMoz Ag) (see 43-101 technical report titled: Amended Technical Report on the Maverick Springs Project, Nevada, USA, by Allan Armitage, PhD., P.Geo, and Rohan Millar, B.Sc. P.Geo., dated October 7, 2022, available on SEDAR) and anticipates completing this sale on or before July 21, 2024.

In British Columbia, Element79 Gold has executed a Letter of Intent and funded a drilling program to acquire a private company that holds the option to 100% interest of the Snowbird High-Grade Gold Project, which consists of 10 mineral claims located in Central British Columbia, approximately 20km west of Fort St. James.

The Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Dale Property, 90 unpatented mining claims located approximately 100 km southwest of Timmins, Ontario, and has recently announced that it has transferred this project to its wholly owned subsidiary, Synergy Metals Corp, and is advancing through the Plan of Arrangement spin-out process.

For more information about the Company, please visit www.element79.gold

Contact Information

For corporate matters, please contact:

James C. Tworek, Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: jt@element79gold.com

For investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations Department

Phone: +1.403.850.8050

E-mail: investors@element79.gold

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press contains "forward?looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward?looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made considering management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; exploration activities; the timing and result of exploration activities; capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof; acquisition opportunities; and the impact of acquisitions, if any, on the Company. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward?looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward?looking statements".

Actual results may vary from forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to materially differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the duration and effects of the coronavirus and COVID-19; risks related to the integration of acquisitions; actual results of exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; commodity prices; variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; actual performance of plant, equipment or processes relative to specifications and expectations; accidents; labour relations; relations with local communities; changes in national or local governments; changes in applicable legislation or application thereof; delays in obtaining approvals or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities; exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; government regulation; environmental risks; reclamation expenses; outcomes of pending litigation; limitations on insurance coverage as well as those factors discussed in the Company's other public disclosure documents, available on www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward?looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward?looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date hereof. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.

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Mayor Justin Elicker speaks during a news conference in New Haven, Conn. March 18, 2024. Elicker joined Sandeep Aysola, director of the city Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking, and Police Chief Karl Jacobson to announce new legislation to install red light and safety speed cameras at dangerous intersections across the city. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Chief of Police Karl Jacobson speaks during a news conference in New Haven, Conn. March 18, 2024. Jacobson joined Mayor Justin Elicker and others to announce new legislation to install red light and safety speed cameras at dangerous intersections across the city. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media A map provided by the city of New haven of the proposed locations of red light cameras and speed cameras in the city, pending Board of Alders approval. Contributed / City of New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker speaks during a news conference in New Haven, Conn. March 18, 2024. Elicker joined Sandeep Aysola, director of the city Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking, and Police Chief Karl Jacobson to announce new legislation to install red light and safety speed cameras at dangerous intersections across the city. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media Sandeep Aysola, director of the city Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking speaks during a news conference in New Haven, Conn. March 18, 2024. Aysola joined Mayor Justin Elicker and others to announce new legislation to install red light and safety speed cameras at dangerous intersections across the city. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media A maintenance worker is seen removing the recording mechanism from a red light camera enforcement device at the intersection of Irving Park Rd and Laramie Ave in Chicago, Illinois, United States on December 31, 2019. Chicago red light cameras have issued more than $700 million in tickets and fines over the last decade. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Patrick Gorski | NurPhoto (Getty/NurPhoto via Getty Images Red light camera (green box/top right) seen on 5th at Mission streets on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 in San Francisco, Calif. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle Red light camera (green box/middle) seen on 5th at Mission streets on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 in San Francisco, Calif. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle Red light camera... mathieukor/Getty Images/iStockphoto

NEW HAVEN  New Haven has introduced 19 locations for red light and speed safety cameras as it aims to be among the first municipalities in Connecticut to install the devices officials say will make the city safer.

The ordinance, which was introduced to the Board of Alders Monday, proposes locations in school zones, pedestrian safety zones and other problem areas based on crash data and other criteria. Speed cameras will specifically target school zones, Mayor Justin Elicker said.

"This is a really important milestone," Elicker said, discussing the approvals necessary to authorize installation of the cameras. The state passed legislation authorizing the cameras in June 2023 and issued state guidance in January.

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"The message to people out there is, 'If you run a red light, if you speed, you will get caught,'" Elicker said.

The devices, also known as automated traffic enforcement safety devices, detect and collect evidence of dangerous traffic violations by taking images that capture the license plate, date, time and location of a vehicle that speeds or runs a red light.

Red light cameras and speed cameras are different things.

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Speed cameras measure vehicles' speed and take photographs of the license plates of vehicles traveling more than 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. Red light cameras take photographs of the license plates of vehicles that fail to obey traffic signals.

The proposed ordinance includes eight locations for speed cameras: Barnard Environmental Magnet School, Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School, Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School, Davis Academy for Arts & Design Innovation Magnet School, Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration, James Hillhouse High School, Nathan Hale School and Ross/Woodward School.

It also proposes 11 locations for red light cameras: South Frontage Road and Park Street; MLK Jr. Boulevard and Church Street; Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and Derby Avenue; Quinnipiac Avenue and East Grand Avenue; Whalley Avenue and East Ramsdell Street; Orange and Edwards streets; Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and Washington Avenue / Spring Street; Quinnipiac Avenue and Foxon Boulevard; Prospect and East Highland streets, and the Interstate 95 off-ramp at Main Street Annex and Woodward Avenue.

Elicker made the announcement at the South Frontage Road and Park Street, just opposite Yale's Smilow Cancer Hospital, which he said is "one of the most dangerous" in New Haven.

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It's also located just one block from South Frontage Road and York Street, where three people have died as a result of traffic accidents.

In a sign of how difficult getting the program off the ground is, the city cannot propose a traffic red light camera at South Frontage and York because state guidance requires there to have been at least accidents caused by people running red lights over the past three years, said Elicker and Sandeep Aysola, director of the city Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking.

Even though there have been three fatal accidents at that intersection between 2008 and 2020, it doesn't meet the state's requirements because the accidents were not red-light-related, Aysola said.

Elicker recalled heading up to the state capitol to testify for legislation enabling speed and red light cameras 12 or 13 years ago, well before he was mayor.

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New Haven has seen motor vehicle and pedestrian fatalities drop in recent years, but it still had 20 in 2020, 19 in 2021, 16 in 2022, 11 in 2023 and two so far this year, Elicker said.

West Hartford and Stamford are among the other municipalities interested in pursuing the technology.

Elicker said he wasn't 100 percent sure that New Haven would be the first to deploy the cameras but "we are sure trying to be the first to submit these," he said, referring to the proposed ordinance.

The proposed ordinance outlines a framework for the use of the devices in New Haven and identifies the proposed locations. It also proposes a $50 fine for the first offense and a $75 fine for each subsequent offense. There will be a 30-day grace period after each camera goes active, during which vehicles caught by the cameras will get warnings, Elicker said.

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Citations would be issued to the owners of the vehicles the plates are registered to, not necessarily to the drivers, said Aysola.

If the alders pass the proposed ordinance and the plan is approved by the state Department of Transportation, New Haven would be among the first municipalities in Connecticut to install the devices, officials say.

"A lot of people worked on this for many years," said Police Chief Karl Jacobson, adding the department is focused on improving safety. "But we can't do it alone."

This especially includes drivers.

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"What I want to say to people is, 'Yellow does not mean speed up and try to make the light,'" Jacobson said.

Lior Trestman of the Safe Streets Coalition, said the cameras will make the streets safer and the tickets cheaper.

That's because tickets given as a result of the cameras are treated more like parking tickets than moving violations, said Aysola.

"New York City has thousands of speeding cameras," Trestman said.

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The proposed ordinance must be passed by the New Haven Board of Alders and the citys proposed plan must be approved by the DOT before the cameras can begin operating, said Elicker.

Addressing privacy issues, Elicker suggested the traffic cameras won't be more invasive than the cameras people already encounter in their daily lives.

"There's cameras everywhere right now," he said, adding the red light and speed cameras will purely look at license plates.

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Max's father wants peace at Red Bull

Jos Verstappen wants "peace" and "calm" restored behind the scenes at Red Bull because his son Max is bombarded with questions about the Christian Horner power struggle at every race.

Red Bull team, Saudi Arabian GP 2024

 Red Bull

The saga surrounding an obvious management power struggle and Horner's behaviour with a now-suspended female staffer continues to run and run.

The latest development is that the woman has now filed a complaint with the FIA via the Formula 1 governing body's ethics committee.

Red Bull Racing said it had no knowledge of the complaint and would not comment further, a report in the major German newspaper Bild said.

Last week, it emerged that the woman has also appealed the findings of Red Bull's own internal investigation, which had cleared Horner of wrongdoing.

A timetable for her appeal process is being drawn up, a source said.

As for the new complaint lodged with the FIA, a spokesperson for the Paris-based federation said the ethics committee will work autonomously and with confidentiality.

As a result, we are unable to confirm receipt of the complaint or make comment, the spokesperson is quoted as saying by international media.

Other sources report that Red Bull's warring factions, including Horner, Dr Helmut Marko and the Verstappens, are implementing a public ceasefire on the scandal ahead of this weekend's Australian GP.

Whilst competing at a rally in Belgium - which he won - at the weekend, Max Verstappen's father Jos admitted that a power struggle is underway at Red Bull.

That's part of it, he is quoted by Belgian news agency Sporza, "but it is also necessary that there is peace in the team now. It's necessary to get some calm again, but given the circumstances, it will take a while, I think.

I can't say much about it, Verstappen senior added. "Hopefully they can concentrate on racing again soon, because that's what it's all about. And it's important that Max continues to win.

The car is running very well and between the engineers and him there is nothing wrong. For the most part, Max can switch off, but he gets a lot of questions about it, Jos insisted.

He doesn't like that, but it is also part of Formula 1.

Leo Turrini, a highly respected Italian journalist, thinks the entire saga is about more than Horner's behaviour, or even some arbitrary push for power.

Maybe Verstappen senior and Marko are right in doubting that the empire can survive without Porsche from 2026, he wrote in his Quotidiano column.

"They're not arguing about 'metoo', they're fighting each other because the future is at stake. And they could all lose.

Max has a clause to get out of the contract, and Mercedes would take him straight away. At Aston Martin they would cover him with gold, Turrini joked.

But what are Max's intentions? Give up the 2025 title to prepare for a new era?

(GMM)
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures towards the crowd at a campaign rally Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Vandalia, Ohio. Jeff Dean/AP

NEW YORK (AP)  Donald Trumps lawyers told a New York appellate court Monday that it's impossible for him to post a bond covering the full amount of a $454 million civil fraud judgment while he appeals, suggesting the former president's legal losses have put him in a serious cash crunch.

Trump's lawyers wrote in a court filing that obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount of the judgment is not possible under the circumstances presented." Trump claimed last year that he has fairly substantially over $400 million in cash, but back-to-back courtroom defeats have pushed his legal debt north of a half-billion dollars.

Citing rejections from more than 30 bond underwriters, Trumps lawyers asked the states intermediate appeals court to reverse a prior ruling requiring that he post a bond covering the full amount in order to halt enforcement while he appeals the judgment in New York Attorney General Letitia James lawsuit.

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Trumps financial constraints are being laid bare as he appeals Judge Arthur Engorons Feb. 16 ruling that he and his co-defendants schemed for years to deceive banks and insurers by inflating his wealth on financial statements used to secure loans and make deals.

If the appeals court does not intervene, James can seek to enforce the judgment starting March 25. James, a Democrat, has said she will seek to seize some of Trumps assets if he is unable to pay.

With interest, Trump owes the state $456.8 million. That amount is increasing nearly $112,000 each day. In all, he and co-defendants, including his company, sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr. and other executives, owe $467.3 million. To obtain a bond, they would be required to post collateral covering 120% of the judgment, or about $557.5 million, Trumps lawyers said.

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Trump maintains that he is worth several billion dollars, but much of his wealth is tied up in his skyscrapers, golf courses and other properties. Few underwriters were willing to issue such a large bond and none would accept Trump's real estate assets as collateral, instead requiring cash or cash equivalents, such as stocks or bonds, his lawyers said.

Trump's lawyers said freeing up cash by offloading some of Trumps properties in a fire sale would be impractical because such cut-rate deals would result in massive, irrecoverable losses.

Not mentioned in Trump's court filings Monday was the presumptive Republican presidential nominee's potential financial windfall from a looming deal to put his social media company, Trump Media & Technology Group, on the stock market under the ticker symbol DJT.

A shareholder meeting is scheduled for Friday. If the deal is approved, Trump would own at least 58% of shares in the company, which runs his Truth Social platform. Depending on share price, that could be worth several billion dollars.

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Trump is asking a full panel of the intermediate appeals court, the Appellate Division of the states trial court, to stay the Engoron judgment while he appeals. His lawyers previously proposed a $100 million bond, but Appellate Division Judge Anil C. Singh rejected that after an emergency hearing on Feb. 28. A stay is a legal mechanism pausing collection of a judgment during an appeal.

In a court filing last week, Senior Assistant Solicitor General Dennis Fan urged the full appellate panel to reject what he dubbed the defense's trust us argument, contending that without a bond to secure the judgment Trump may attempt to evade enforcement at a later date and force the state to expend substantial public resources to collect the money owed.

A full bond is necessary, Fan wrote, in part because Trump's lawyers "have never demonstrated that Mr. Trumps liquid assets  which may fluctuate over time  will be enough to satisfy the full amount of this judgment following appeal.

Trumps lawyers asked the Appellate Division panel to consider oral arguments on its request, and preemptively sought permission to appeal a losing result to the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals.

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Singh did grant some of Trumps requests, including pausing a three-year ban on him seeking loans from New York banks. In their court filing Monday, Trump's lawyers did not address whether they have sought a bank loan to cover the cost of the judgment or obtain cash for use as bond collateral.

Trump appealed on Feb. 26, a few days after Engoron's judgment was made official. His lawyers have asked the Appellate Division to decide whether Engoron committed errors of law and/or fact and whether he abused his discretion or acted in excess of his jurisdiction.

Trump wasnt required to pay his penalty or post a bond in order to appeal, and filing the appeal did not automatically halt enforcement of the judgment. Trump would receive an automatic stay if he were to put up money, assets or an appeal bond covering what he owes.

Gary Giulietti, an insurance broker friend enlisted by Trump to help obtain an appeal bond, wrote in an affidavit Monday: A bond of this size is rarely, if ever, seen. In the unusual circumstance that a bond of this size is issued, it is provided to the largest public companies in the world, not to individuals or privately held businesses.

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Giulietti, who acts as an insurance broker for Trumps company, testified at the civil fraud trial as an expert witness called by Trump's lawyers. In his ruling, Engoron observed that some of Giuliettis testimony was contradicted by other witnesses, including a different defense expert. He noted that Giuliettis company collected $1.2 million in commissions on its Trump accounts in 2022.

In all, Trump has more than $543 million in personal legal liabilities from three civil court judgments in the past year. Bonding requirements could add at least $100 million to that total.

In January, a jury ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her after she accused him in 2019 of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s. Earlier this month, after his lawyers made similar arguments that he be excused from posting a bond, Trump did secure a $91.6 million bond to cover 110% of the Carroll judgment while he appeals.

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The exterior of a luxury Airbnb located in the heart of downtown Greenwich.. State lawmakers have proposed a bill that would give cities and towns the ability to license short-term rentals, though not everyone is in agreement on the best way to do so. Michael Cummo/ Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  As Connecticut continues to grapple with the effects of a chronic shortage of affordable housing, some lawmakers are calling for greater oversight of homeowners who rent out their properties on services such as Airbnb and Vrbo.

The popularity of short-term rentals offered on online platforms has exploded over the last decade, with more than 2.4 million listings available across the country last year, according to the research firm AirDNA.

The growth of the industry has also fueled concerns in many localities  particularly popular tourist destinations  over the number of houses being used exclusively by guests, pricing out local residents and generating nuisance complaints. In recent years, cities such as New York, New Orleans and Burlington, Vt. have passed rules limiting the number of short-term rentals within their borders.

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A bill currently under consideration by the General Assembly aims to clarify the existing law around short-term rentals in Connecticut by expressly giving cities and towns the ability to license short term rentals, as well as allowing them to hire consultants to help them draft such an ordinance.

One of the lawmakers behind the effort, state Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, said that the bill was inspired by complaints out of Norwich, where she said officials claimed they lacked the the authority to deal with homeowners who flouted local zoning rules by renting out their properties.

Theyve bought older homes and rented them out on weekends for weddings or other family events in residential neighborhoods with no parking, having 40 or 50 people coming to participate, Osten said. It has destroyed some of the character and the ambiance of their respective residential communities.

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The bill also has the support of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, which asked lawmakers to add additional language to create a state-wide registry of short-term rentals.

States and localities across the country are recognizing the growing challenge of short-term rentals, which create safety concerns, reduce affordable housing inventory, drive up rent prices, and displace long-term residents, AHLA Vice President Sarah Bratko said in a letter to lawmakers. Many have adopted laws and ordinances, such as zoning regulations and tax collection requirements, to rein in illegal hotels.

A spokesperson for AirBnB declined to comment directly on the legislation this week. Representatives from Vrbo did not respond to a request for comment.

Connecticut charges a 15 percent room occupancy tax on short-term rentals, but otherwise most regulations are left up to local officials through zoning ordinances.

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Those taxes are paid to the state through the rental platform, and are not used to track the number of individual listings in Connecticut, according to Chris Collibee, a spokesman for the Office of Policy and Management.

Some groups representing local governments have also raised concerns that the bill does not do enough to define what specific actions towns can take against short term rentals, or how they would fund those initiatives. Brian OConnor, the Director of Public Policy for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, said that many cities and towns would need a dedicated source of revenue to take on licensing duties.

You can enact it, but the penalties have been an issue, OConnor said. What were looking for is either a portion of the hotel and occupancy tax on short-term rentals, or an additional local tax on those entities again to help enforce and regulate.

Leaders in several towns, including New Canaan, Stonington and Madison, have already explored ordinances to limit rentals, he added.

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In Hartford, local regulations require that hosts obtain a zoning permit from the city before offering short-rentals, according to a legislative study conducted in 2018. That ordinance also sets restrictions on the number of guests and length of rentals, as well as guidance for handling nuisance complaints from neighbors.

The town of Middlebury went even further last year, banning short-term rentals altogether, according to the Waterbury Republican-American.

Osten said Thursday that she had no objections to allowing towns to collect a portion of the revenue from short-term rentals, or clarifying their ability to regulate the industry. Last year, a similar bill that would have allowed local governments to assess a 2 percent tax on short-term rentals was passed out of committee before it died on the Senate floor. Osten said that lawmakers didnt have enough bandwidth to address the issue as they rushed to pass other bills during the final days of the legislative session.

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Samsung brought a marginally larger 6.2-inch display on the Galaxy S24 compared to the 6.1-inch panel on its predecessor and a new rumor from South Korea suggest the trend will continue. A new post on local blog Naver suggests well see a 6.36-inch screen on next years Galaxy S25.

The move would position the S25 in the same dimensions ballpark as the Xiaomi 14 which also boasts a 6.36-inch display. Apple is also rumored to bring a 6.3-inch display on the iPhone 16 Pro.

Samsungs Galaxy S25 generation is also rumored to exclusively feature Exynos chipsets in all regions  likely the Exynos 2500. Galaxy S25 and S25+ may get same 50MP ISOCELL GN3 main sensor that was already used on the S23 and S24 generations. Another not-so-recent report suggests we may see a Sony main sensor on the S25 generation.

Source (in Korean)
Motorola is preparing to launch its next flagship, Edge 50 Pro, which will have a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset. The announcement comes from the company's Chiense branch, which confirmed the chipset for the X50 Ultra, which is going to be the local name for the Pro.

We also expect the phone to launch in the United States under the name Edge+ (2024) since Motorola brands its flagship with the Plus moniker for its American customers.

The phone also appeared in multiple video leaks and teasers, revealing an April 3 launch in India, a date which we told you about before.

According to some videos pretending to showcase the X50 Ultra/Edge 50 Pro, the phone will have a 6.7 screen with Full HD+ resolution and 165 Hz refresh rate, 12 GB RAM and up to 512 GB storage. However, these videos might be refurbished footage of the Edge 40 Pro because they do not reveal anything that the 2023 flagship did not have, not even some Android 14-specific features. See for yourself:

The Moto Edge 50 Pro is already up on Flipkart with its own landing page. It confirmed some specs like a 50 MP main camera that will also bring auto-focus tracking in video, AI adaptive stabilization, and an AI photo enhancement guide.

The page also said the screen will have 1220p resolution and 144 Hz refresh rate, contradicting the videos. Also, Motorola said this would be the first phone with a Pantone-validated display, which will bring real-world colors and accurate skin tones in the most authentic way.

Motorola Edge 50 Pro will arrive in three colors  White, Purple, and Black. We expect to learn more details about the phone since it is just around the corner.

Source 1  Source 2 (in Chinese)
Sony launched the PS VR2 headset back in February of 2023, with a lot of confidence in its success. That hasn't materialized into actual huge sales numbers, however, and today a rumor claims the company has chosen to halt production of the headset in order to clear up existing inventory.

Sony is allegedly sitting on a pretty large stockpile of PS VR2s, amid dwindling sales that have shrunk every single quarter since the headset's release. IDC says Sony moved 595.5K units in Q1 last year, 435.5K in Q2, 343.6K in Q3, and 325.2K in Q4. Those, by the way, are deliveries to retailers, not consumers, so the actual sales to consumers numbers are probably even lower.

Sony has made "well over" 2 million PS VR2s so far, according to "people familiar with its plans". Sales have clearly been nowhere near that mark, so pausing production does of course make sense. The more intriguing question is whether this means anything for the general mass-market demand for VR headsets that are much more reasonably priced than Apple's Vision Pro (the PS VR2 is $550).

One of the problems for the PS VR2 might have been the availability of games for it, or rather, the lack thereof. Sony 's PlayStation London division, which was focused on making VR games, was weirdly shut down last month, a move which implies things won't get any better in the future when it comes to game availability for the PS VR2. On the other hand, Sony said in February that it's testing the ability for PS VR2 owners to access PC titles.

Developing VR games is said to come at a "substantially higher" cost than normal titles, which explains the dearth of options. Then again, gamers won't shell out even $550 if there aren't a lot of titles available for such a VR headset, and so we're pretty much stuck in a circle here.

Source
Science is Fun and Awesome Learning Academy Charter School in Barrigada recently concluded its schoolwide Science Fair, which saw an unprecedented turnout of more than 400 eager participants, according to Frea Abalain-Vidallon, a member of the school's board of trustees.

The fair spanned over four days and transformed the school's halls into a bustling hub of scientific discovery.

From homemade volcanoes erupting with chemical reactions to intricate models of barriers used to combat sea waves, the breadth of topics covered was astounding.

One of the standout projects was the development of barriers used to combat waves, exploring the effectiveness of different kinds of materials used as a barrier system, Abalain-Vidallon said.

Another project focused on developing a low-cost water filtration system using readily available materials, aiming to address clean water scarcity in underserved communities.

"The success of the science fair highlights SIFA Learning Academy's commitment to providing a holistic education that nurtures students' intellectual curiosity and fosters a lifelong love of learning," Abalain-Vidallon said. "By encouraging active participation in events like the schoolwide science fair, SIFA empowers students to become critical thinkers and problem solvers, ready to tackle the challenges of the future."

Students from all grade levels, including budding biologists and aspiring physicists, enthusiastically presented their projects to judges and fellow classmates alike, showcasing a diverse array of topics and experiments.

Each participant, armed with hypotheses, experiments, and presentations, showcased their projects with pride and enthusiasm.

Unlike traditional science fairs, where only a handful of students typically showcase their projects, SIFA's event proved to be a testament to the school's commitment to fostering a culture of scientific inquiry and creativity among its students.

Throughout the fair, attendees had the opportunity to engage with interactive exhibits, conduct hands-on experiments, and learn from their peers' innovative projects.

Students showcased their ingenuity and critical thinking skills as they tackled real-world problems and proposed creative solutions.

"As the curtains draw to a close on this year's science fair, the spirit of inquiry and discovery ignited within the halls of SIFA Learning Academy continues to burn bright, promising a future where science truly becomes fun and awesome for generations to come," Abalain-Vidallon added.
Guam Homeland Security Advisor Esther Aguigui speaks at an Oct. 19, 2023 cybersecurity conference in this file photo. Aguigui said theres no immediate threat assessed for the Marianas from a reported North Korean launch of an unidentified projectile.
Senators on Monday moved to the voting file bills seeking to impose a fine on government of Guam agency heads who dont submit financial information on time, automate the customs system for faster processing of incoming goods, and remove the primary elections for the public auditor and attorney general, among other things.

Other measures, including one that would remove the requirement of counting provisional ballots within 10 days after an election is over, failed to make it to the voting file.

Sen. Telo Taitagues Bill 213-37 is the latest attempt for GovGuam to close out its financial records on time each year.

The measure would fine the head of any government agency $250 for failing to submit financial information to the Office of Public Accountability on time.

Another $250 fine would be added on for every additional 30 days that pass after the deadline, to be set by OPA, which is responsible for GovGuams annual audit.

Taitague on Monday said GovGuam has failed to close its books on time in 13 out of the past 24 years.

By law, GovGuam has until June 30 every year to finalize the audit report for its last fiscal year. That report is supposed to help the Legislature in preparing GovGuams budget for the fiscal year that is coming up.

Taitague noted that last years audit report wasnt issued until November, about a month after lawmakers and the governor had already finalized the budget.

The annual audit is expected to be late again this year because of agencies delayed submission of data.

Sen. Tom Fisher amended the bill to make it clear that any agency head would have to pay the fine personally, and to require OPA to file a report of all the agency heads that are fined.

Fisher said it was meant to coerce the director or general manager of an agency to do their job, or else face public embarrassment.

Money collected on fines under Bill 213-37 would go to the Guam Memorial Hospital Authoritys Hospital Operations Fund.

New customs system

Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes Bill 176-37 seeks to allow the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency to adopt a new automated system and coding system meant to speed along the processing of goods through the islands ports of entry.

Muna Barnes said Customs is still using paper manifests to track what shipping companies are bringing into Guam, and officers sometimes have to search through warehouses filled with tens of thousands of boxes to find a piece of paper.

An automated system could also help Customs properly assess and collect taxes on cargo thats coming in, she said.

In 2018, OPA found only about $136,000 was collected on air cargo coming to the island, versus the $65.5 million that could have come in if goods were properly taxed.

Public safety chairman Sen. Chris Barnett said he supports the bill, and he hopes an automated system could help Customs officers ramp up the interdiction of crystal methamphetamine coming to Guam.

Barnett said law enforcement has informed him that much more meth may be coming in than is seized at local ports.

When they make a little dent in handling it, they make a bust of 5 pounds, theyre suspecting that when they bust 5 pounds, youre getting 50 coming in, he said.

Election laws

A number of proposed changes to local election laws would be up for a vote, but others failed to make it to the voting file over concerns from some senators.

Sen. Roy Quinata introduced a series of election-related bills at the request of the Guam Election Commission. The following election-related bills would go to vote:

Bill 214-37, which seeks to only require GEC to count write-in votes if there are enough write-ins to affect the outcome of an election.

Bill 215-37, which seeks to remove the primary elections for the offices of the public auditor and attorney general.

Bill 216-37, which seeks to make GEC responsible for marking the boundaries for electioneering outside a polling place, and requiring the Guam Police Department to promptly assist in enforcing the boundary upon GECs request.

Failing to make the voting file was Bill 217-37, which would remove the requirement that GEC count provisional ballots within 10 days after an election is over.

Provisional ballots are cast when theres some issue verifying if a person is eligible to vote at a polling site on election day.

Fisher and Barnett expressed concern that eliminating the deadline could stall the count of an election indefinitely.

The bill failed to make it to the voting file, following an objection, even after Quinata amended the bill to make it a 15-day time limit for provisional ballot counting.

Also failing to make the voting file was:

Bill 218-37, which, among other things, would cut off the voter registration window 21 days before an election, versus the current cut off of 10 days before.

Bill 219-37, which would make it a requirement in law that a candidate running for office put their legal name on a ballot.

Session resumes 9 a.m. Wednesday.
A traditional or contemporary artist with previous felony charges would be disqualified from representing Guam at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture, or FestPac, in Honolulu in June.

This is based on the FestPac delegate selection criteria set by the Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency.

CAHA scrapped its initial 100-member FestPac delegation selected in 2020 after a letter-writing campaign seeking to remove suruhanu or spiritual healer Frank Ko James San Nicolas, whos accused of being a sexual predator by those who support the campaign.

San Nicolas was twice acquitted of criminal sexual conduct in 2022, and got his job back as a Port police officer after he was cleared of the charges.

CAHA still requires police and court clearance, but is also now requiring that applicants meet this as well: Must be of good moral standing, known to practice CHamoru values of Respetu, Inafamaolek, Goflie, yan Geftao; and not have any outstanding or previous felony charges or a registered sex offender.

This is in addition to other criteria of being an accomplished, skilled and actively engaged in the genre or discipline they wish to serve, at least 18 years old and not a drug or alcohol user or abuser, among other requirements.

The new criteria does not say a person must be convicted to get disqualified, but the mere fact that the person was previously charged with a felony could get him disqualified.

This strict criteria seems to fall in line with the request of community members who attended CAHA boards latest meeting, where board members voted to start from scratch and issue a new call out for artists.

Downloadable packet

Traditional and contemporary artists who want a chance at representing Guam at FestPac can now download the application packet from CAHAs website, guamcaha.org.

CAHA is looking to complete a 100-member FestPac delegation to travel to Honolulu for the June 6 to 16 event, dubbed the largest cultural festival in the region.

The deadline to turn in the completed application form and all other requirements is 4 p.m. on March 29. CAHA plans to approve and finalize the list in April.

CAHA initially planned to send the delegation it selected in 2020 but COVID-19 postponed the festival for four years, followed by the letter-writing campaign.

While in Honolulu, members of the Guam FestPac delegation will be showcasing traditional CHamoru arts and craftsmanship, as well as chants, songs, dances, and traditional healing practices, among other things.

Guam hosted the 12th FestPac in 2016.
Rate increases If GWA gets the full rate increase it is seeking, water bills will increase by this much by 2029: For residential customers using 3,000 gallons a month, $34.49 a month, or $413.88 a year For residential customers using 7,000 gallons a month, $63.18 a month, or $758.16 a year Commercial customers using over 30,000 gallons monthly will see their bills nearly double About half of GWAs residential customers use less than 5,000 gallons a month, GWA General Manager Miguel Bordallo has said. The utility was required to try and mitigate the increase by going after an alternate financing scheme for improvement projects. This will require authorization from the Legislature.

(Editors note: This is the first of a two-part series about drinking water upgrades in the Guam Waterworks Authoritys proposed five-year capital improvement plan. Part two deals with how GWA plans to deal with contaminants found in Guam water.)

Fixed leaks, better pressure, and upgrades to the islands drinking water system are in the pipeline for the Guam Waterworks Authority over the next five years, according to GWA assistant general manager Jeanet Babauta Owens.

Owens, the guest speaker at a meeting of the Rotary Club of Northern Guam, said the improvements outlined in GWAs proposed five-year capital improvement plan will bring Guams water system into 22nd century.

But the plan, she said, will require more funding, and support from the community.

GWA over the next five years wants to start around $900 million worth of improvements to the islands water and wastewater systems, the Pacific Daily News has reported.

But it comes with a price tag for ratepayers, with GWA requesting significant hike rates that will raise the monthly bill for most customers, between 46% and 56%.

The utility is trying to stave off that full rate increase through alternative financing, but a decision from the Public Utilities Commission is due by September.

Owens said the rate increase for a household is the equivalent of the cost of a persons hotel buffet once a month, but the improvements to the water system will be significant, she said.

Outreach events for the new capital improvement plan will take place in the coming weeks, GWA General Manager Miguel Bordallo said, and a schedule will be announced once finalized.

Water loss program

Almost a quarter of that $900 million, about $211 million, is aimed at GWAs Water Loss Control Program, which will address leaks in GWAs drinking water system, and help with pressure and water quality issues.

You see it every day, whether youre going to work or taking your daughter to school, theres a water break that occurs, or that you have low pressure, Owens told Rotarians.

Every day, GWA produces about 39 million gallons of water, between its water wells, the Ugum Water Treatment Plant, and the Santa Rita Springs.

GWA cant yet measure how much of the total amount of water it produces is lost, Owens said. But it has installed a number of district meter areas that can track water lost in several parts of southern and central Guam, and some parts of the north.

In those areas, between 55% and 58% of the water GWA produced in fiscal 2023 was lost to leaks, according to Owens and Bordallo.

Out of 600 miles of pipe that the utility is aware of, between 70 and 80 miles need to be replaced, the assistant general manager said. That includes 30.7 miles of asbestos cement pipes which are close to the end of their service life and expected to crack.

But there are also numerous, decades-old water lines that the utility has no record of, which they periodically run into when doing upgrades, which would also need to be fixed.

Design work for pipe replacement has already begun, according to Owens, but much of the actual replacement and construction is slated to happen over the next five years.

GWA also is working to install more district meter areas, across the whole island, which will help them to measure how much of the water pumped into a given area is actually going to customers, versus leaking out, she said.

GWA has 14 in place so far, with another 22 needed.

Other improvements include realignments meant to ensure pipes are properly pressurized in designated zoneswhich, if done properly, means better water quality and better water pressure for customers at home, the assistant GM said.

Over concerns about high rate increases in the next five years, the Consolidated Commission on Utilities has asked GWA to analyze the possibility of delaying the Water Loss Control Program.

Unlike other items in the five-year plan, GWA isnt legally obligated to implement the program, making it one of the big items that could possibly be cut. No decision to do so has been made yet.

Southern upgrades

Upgrades to drinking water systems in the south will also move residents towards a more resilient water supply, and less reliance on water pumped from the Navy, Owens said.

The Navy sells GWA water from its Fena Water Treatment Plant at about what it costs to produce it, meaning the utility operates at a loss when it sells that water to customers.

But Fena produces significantly more water than GWA can in the south, 12 million gallons a day. Compare that to the 2 million gallons a day from GWAs Ugum Water Treatment Plant, and just 576,000 gallons a day from the Santa Rita Springs.

Santa Rita Springs in particular produces less than half of what residents in that area need, and the rest has to be bought from the Navy, Owens noted.

After Typhoon Mawar last May, the Navy stopped providing water from Fena, the PDN reported. Coupled with broken water mains, GWAs water reservoirs depleted and residents villages across the south were left with low or no water pressure at the time.

Owens said GWA is already procuring designs to expand Santa Rita Springs production, but funding for the actual construction work is part of the utilitys new five-year plan, at $9 million.

According to utility Bordallo, the expansion could save GWA from buying up to 1 million gallons of water a day from the Navy.

At the Ugum plant in Talofofo, GWA is working towards a long-term goal of reducing the amount of the shutdowns at the plant caused by high turbidity in the Ugum River during heavy periods of rainfall, Owens said.

The plant had to be shut down during Mawar and Typhoon Bolaven last year, for example.

Upgrades in the five-year CIP will improve reliability, and additional storage will help keep water flowing into (the) distribution system during periods when the plant must be secured because of high-turbidity, but they will not mitigate the shutdowns, Bordallo said.

About $5 million is slated to go towards upgrades at Ugum, according to GWAs draft plan.

The long-term resiliency project, which is not currently funded, aims to mitigate shutdowns by providing raw water storage so the plant can keep running even when turbidity is high, he said.

Water reservoirs

Additionally, GWA is improving water storage capacity by bringing more water reservoirs online around the island.

GWA has 21 concrete and steel water storage tanks online, with a capacity of about 22 million gallons. By the end of 2025, the utility plans to bring the number of active tanks up to 35 through construction and rehabilitation of old tanks, bringing storage up to 46 million gallons.
(Editors note: This is the second installment of a two-part series about drinking water system upgrades in the Guam Waterworks Authoritys new five-year capital improvement plan.)

The Guam Waterworks Authority wants to dedicate $101.8 million towards treating toxic forever chemicals found in the islands water over the next five years.

New regulations for such chemicals, collectively called PFAS, are expected to be handed down by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sometime this year.

Across the nation, water utilities like GWA are expected to spend billions of dollars coming into compliance with limits on how much PFAS can be in the drinking water.

Costs for PFAS treatment are lumped into the significant rate hikes GWA is seeking, which could raise the monthly bill for most customers between 46% and 56% over the next five years. The utility is trying to mitigate the full rate increase through alternate financing schemes.

The waterworks authority now has the ability to treat PFAS found in the water, but a solution for all 97 water wells GWA operates will be costlier, GWA Assistant General Manager Jeanet Babauta Owens told members of the Rotary Club of Northern Guam last week.

Currently, granular activated carbon filtration systems are used to treat individual water wells as needed, shes said. But installing them at each GWA well isnt feasible.

It does not make economical sense to treat every single well because the real estate for that is quite enormous, she said.

Instead, treatment plant options are being explored to deal with PFAS in the water.

We can look and consolidate a series of wells and treat it before it is dispersed into the public, she said.

PFAS has been used for decades in consumer products but it was only in recent years that the chemicals were linked to low-birth rates, certain cancers, and immune system issues.

These are really persistent synthetic compounds that come from consumer goods and packaging from people whether its their hair products, food and drinking water ... these applications go in anything we do lately, nonstick cookware, hair products, Owens said.

But the most important aspect to remember, she said, is PFAS breaks down very slowly and can stay present in the environment for as long as thousands of years.

This was why the U.S. EPA issued advisory cautions for the chemical.

Public water systems operated by GWA arent the only ones on Guam identified with rates of the chemicals above new proposed limits from the U.S. EPA, the PDN previously reported.

Military water wells have even higher levels of these chemicals, and Guam EPA has suspected that all public water systems on island, including privately operated ones, may have levels higher than the pending limits.

GWA also has joined in a multibillion-dollar class action lawsuit against industrial manufacturing giant and PFAS maker 3M.

Larger scale study

Construction of two new granular activated carbon, or GAC, system filters for water wells in Hagatna across Agana Shopping Center are expected to go out to bid by April.

Designs for GACs to treat other wells are also in progress, according to Owens.

The Hagatna wells have long been shut down for high levels of PFAS, about 200 parts per trillion versus the 4 parts per trillion being recommended by the U.S. EPA.

A larger scale study for treatment of PFAS and other emerging contaminants, like the potentially harmful dieldrin found in Guam water, is also expected to go out for procurement this year, Owens said.

Depending on the final treatment method selected, new treatment systems could treat the water for both PFAS and other emerging contaminants, according to GWA General Manager Miguel Bordallo.

The waterworks authority is putting that objective into design and construction projects.

But the planning phase and the implementation of wide-scale treatment for PFAS will happen as part of GWAs new five-year capital improvement plan, as well as the associated rate increases that will fund it, Owens said.

We can look into planning, we can look into design, we have a couple that (are) in construction, but a significant majority of it is part of our proposed five-year plan, she said.

GWA will have to submit a final rate plan to the Public Utilities Commission, Guams rate-setting body, by June 3. A final decision on the plan is due from the PUC by September.
Liz Hardaway is a breaking news reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group.

She was a Hearst fellow in Connecticut and at the San Antonio Express-News where she covered city hall and local issues. She also worked at the Sun Newspapers in Southwest Florida as a general assignment reporter covering politics, business, and health.

Liz graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2018 with a B.A. in journalism. She enjoys cooking, reading and playing with her dachshund, Finn.
Mayors Council of Guam representative and Dededo Mayor Melissa Savares urged the Guam Education Board to include mayors and vice mayors in the public school reassignment and realignment processes.

It is important that we know what reassignment or realignment is being done with the Guam Department of Education because the children come from our villages, Savares said during a March 11 board meeting. Village mayors work closely with the families. We work closely with all of the schools.

{p dir=ltr}Savares said including mayors and vice mayors, who are familiar with local neighborhoods, ensures informed decision-making and community representation.

If you have individuals in your committee or your subcommittees that are making decisions and dont know what our neighborhoods look like, its going to be a difficult thing when you start making those decisions and we are not included, Savares told the board.

{p dir=ltr}Savares mentioned cases of oversight in school reassignments caused by a lack of awareness and participation from community officials.

{p dir=ltr}She recounted the time when she participated in district reassignment and opening of Okkodo High, Astumbo Middle, and Liguan Elementary schools.

{p dir=ltr}When we went in through an area to go to Ironwood, the attendance staff didnt even know that these roads existed. And so, youre mixing up communities with Chamorro Land Trust areas where families are getting leases for these areas, Savares said. The same thing with the South. Theres Chamorro Land Trust properties all over where families are getting leases...In Barrigada and in Dededo, along Route 3, Core Tech has opened up two new housing developments.

{p dir=ltr}Recently, according to Savares, bus operations were coordinated with Core Tech to discuss the schools where children attend and their pickup points.

Savares also told the board of families concerns about rumors of Oceanview Middle Schools closure and transfer of students to Southern High School.

{p dir=ltr}The families in Hagat came up. They were here in this place and begging because the teachers...the families said theyll do anything. Theyre all even cleaning the school themselves, said Savares.

{p dir=ltr}The Dededo mayor urged the inclusion of mayors or community stakeholders in the decision-making committee.

The mayors know where their families are coming from and how important it is for them, especially very young children, to stay within a proximity to their homes, she added.

School grass cutting

Savares, a former president of the mayors council, also asked the education board to include the grass cutting expenses in the scope of school ground maintenance budget.

Most campuses have overgrown vegetation pushing in and breaking their fence lines because the current ground maintenance contract does not include grass cutting two feet outside the fences, she said.

I always ask at the beginning of the budget preparation is being done for the scope of work to include that for ground maintenance, the Dededo mayor said. I dont know why DOE did not include it in the scope of work for the grass cutting.

Education board members Maria Gutierrez and Peter Alecxis Ada expressed support for Savares request and questioned the allocation of funds for grass cutting in schools.

Gutierrez said GDOE got the money for grass cutting yet still calling the mayors for help when mayors offices dont have enough people.

What bothers me is that we have a budget, and we have a contract with certain companies to do the grass cutting of the schools, said Ada.
Former Gov. Carl T.C. Gutierrez is the president and CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau, Guam permit czar, and chairman of the Governors Economic Strategy Council. Send comments or questions to GVB at communityrelations@visitguam.org.




Haiti - FLASH : The first flight of Americans fleeing the chaos in Haiti landed in Miami





Sunday March 17, 2024, the Airbus A319-112 of Global X, a charter flight from Cap-Haitien landed at 2:30 p.m. at Miami International Airport with 47 American citizens fleeing the chaos of Haiti. Passengers say they learned about the U.S.-sponsored flight via email and all learned about it through the State Department web page.



Let's recall that the US State Department announced the charter flight on Saturday on the "X" network, providing a link to an application for those wishing to board it. He warned that U.S. citizens should only consider taking the flight if they can reach Cap-Haitien airport safely https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41902-haiti-flash-the-state-department-will-evacuate-americans-in-haiti.html



Furthermore, several helicopter flights from Haiti arrived at Maria Montezavec International Airport with American citizens leaving Haiti on board due to the worsening insecurity in recent days. Once there they boarded a passenger bus presumably heading to Santo Domingo where they would take a flight to the United States.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41903-haiti-humanitarian-establishment-of-an-air-bridge-between-the-dominican-rep-and-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41902-haiti-flash-the-state-department-will-evacuate-americans-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41891-haiti-usa-a-second-group-of-marines-lands.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41859-haiti-insecurity-german-and-eu-diplomats-urgently-evacuated-to-the-dominican-republic.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41856-haiti-flash-security-alert-american-embassy-in-port-au-prince-march-10.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41848-haiti-flash-night-military-evacuation-of-non-essential-personnel-from-the-american-embassy.html



HL/ S/ HaitiLibre
























Haiti - FLASH : 4 substations and the Varreux Power Plant partially destroyed and totally dysfunctional





Electricity of Haiti (EDH) informs that it is not spared from acts of vandalism, theft and sabotage.



Among others, 4 substations in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince as well as the Varreux Power Plant were partially destroyed and made totally dysfunctional. As a result, the following zones can no longer be powered as usual:



- Croix des Bossales, National Road #l, Boulevard 15 Octobre, Cite Soleil, Airport Road, Solidarity Village...



- Croix des Bouquets, Beudet, Thomazeau, Route de Malpasse, Fonds Parisien...



- Place Jeremie, Avenue Magloire Ambroise, Jean Philippe, Monseigneur Guilloux, Route des Dalles, Fouchard, Savane Pistache, Fort Samedi...



- Boulevard Marin, Santo, Croix des Missions, Lizon, Bon Repos, Lilavois, Haut Tabarre, USA Embassy Entrance, Hopital Petits Freres et surs and surrounding neighborhoods



In addition, important documents, electrical installations, cables, inverters, batteries as well as computer and office equipment were taken by these bandits...



The General Directorate, while reiterating its commitment to continuing to serve its customers, is calling for help to the authorities concerned to secure its multiple sites across the country.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Cape Town, South Africa (PANA)  The Cape Town International Jazz Festival will return this year after a four-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic




Haiti - Kansas : Senator Marshall ready to provide aid for the evacuation of Kansans in Haiti





U.S. Senator Roger Marshall prepared to provide evacuation assistance to Kansas residents who are in Haiti due to the security situation.



As conditions in Haiti continue to worsen, Senator Marshall encourages Kansans currently in Haiti or with their loved ones to evacuate immediately due to the degraded security situation.



Senator Marshall's office said it stands ready to assist with these evacuation efforts and has set up an evacuation assistance email address so Kansans can get immediate help.



"With increasing volatility in the region, we want to ensure that every Kansan and every American can quickly and safely evacuate from Haiti," said Senator Marshall. "Our office stands ready to provide assistance to all Kansans to immediately evacuate Haiti. If you or a loved one needs help to evacuate safely, do not hesitate to contact our office, who will stand by you and closely monitor this situation.



Any Kansan in Haiti or with family in this country is encouraged to email EvacHelp@marshall.senate.gov or call (785) 829-9000 "



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





French Embassy : Extended closure

As a precautionary measure, the French Embassy in Haiti is closed to the public until Friday March 22, 2024. The visa department will be available in the morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for passport collections only. No new requests will be received and all appointments for submitting files will be postponed at a later date.



The Pope calls for support for a peaceful transition

Sunday March 17, 2024, Pope Francis after praying the midday Angelus in front of approximately 20,000 faithful gathered in Saint-Pierre Square, called for the restoration of constitutional order in Haiti, prey to chaos due to the control of gangs over a large part of its territory "I invite all the political and social actors to abandon any personal interest and to engage in a spirit of solidarity in the pursuit of the common good, supporting a peaceful transition to a country that, with the help of the international community, may be equipped with solid institutions capable of restoring order and tranquillity among its citizens."



Road accident at least 23 victims

Sunday March 17, 2024, on national road number 2, near Cavaillon, an accident involving a bus coming from Jeremie which was going to Port-au-Prince which overturned, left at least 3 dead and around twenty injured, some seriously.



PAM : A daily meal for 200,000 children in February

The World Food Program (WFP) informs "In February, 200,000 children out of 420,000 registered received a daily meal thanks to the school feeding program of the World Food Program (WFP). For some, it is the only full meal of the day. The current security situation limits our actions, but we persist despite everything."



Security Council Meeting

This Monday, March 18, 2024, the United Nations Security Council will meet behind closed doors to obtain an update on progress made since the March 11 transition agreement 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 after the resignation of Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41864-haiti-flash-acting-prime-minister-ariel-henry-resigns-video.html



63 Filipinos will be evacuated from Haiti

The Philippine Government is preparing to repatriate at least 63 of its citizens in Haiti. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo had approved the recommendation to declare the situation at Alert Level 3 which means Filipinos can be voluntarily repatriated to the Philippines.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Mali's Ministry of Economy and Finance has imposed financial sanctions on six terrorist and rebel leaders for period "6 renewable months", PANA learned from an official source on Monday
Havre Police Department

Clayton Blade Midgett of Havre, 28, was issued a summons on charges of reckless driving, traffic crime and expired vehicle registration after a traffic stop on First Street Friday at 11:58 a.m.

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Everett Dale Windyboy of Havre, 71, was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after a caller at a First Street West business reported a man passed out in the alley at 3:27 p.m. Friday.

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A theft of merchandise was reported Friday at 3:42 p.m. at a First Street business.

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A Friday 4:57 p.m. caller on Fourth Street reported that juveniles were trying to get into Lincoln-McK...
THE GOVERNMENT of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) on Friday published a draft bill that would enable it to deny entry to asylum seekers and significantly restrict the reception of asylum applications in circumstances where such measures are deemed necessary to combat attempts to exert influence on Finland.

Orpo on Friday stated at a press conference that the four ruling parties approved the bill unanimously, adding that he is confident that the bill will win over the necessary backing in parliament. The government is intent on passing the bill as urgent, a procedure that will require a five-sixths parliamentary majority.

Both ministers and government officials acknowledged that the bill stands in tension with the constitution and international treaties. The right to apply for asylum is protected under, for example, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Were having to balance between national security, border security, international treaties and even human rights, the prime minister said.

This is exceptionally challenging legislatively and full of tension from the viewpoint of basic and human rights, conceded Sanna Palo, the head of legal affairs at the border guard department of the Ministry of the Interior.

Orpo on Friday argued that international treaties concerning the right to seek asylum were established at a time when no state was abusing them. Finland, however, has been the subject of an influence campaign that weaponises migrants: Russia has orchestrated a flow of migrants to the border since last autumn, effectively utilising asylum seekers and migrants seeking better life as instruments for its own objectives.

The intention has been to undermine national security and public order in Finland, according to Orpo.

We have to prepare for the situation possibly becoming more difficult when spring arrives, he said, nodding to concerns that warmer weather could increase the number of migrants at the border. Authorities need tools to control the land border between border-crossing points.

Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen (PS) emphasised at the press conference that the bill is not about immigration but about security policy.

We have the right and obligation to protect our own borders and our right to self-determination. Naturally at the same time were also protecting the external borders of the EU and Nato, she commented.

Palo on Friday pointed out that the government would have to satisfy a number of conditions in order to invoke the act and restrict the right to seek asylum in a limited area of the border for no more than a month at a time. Finland, she elaborated, would have to be subjected to an influence campaign that seriously endangers its sovereignty or national security.

The Finnish Boarder Guard would be responsible for carrying out the decision  in principle, by denying entry to people seeking international protection in the pre-determined border area.

Things like fences and temporary obstacles, crowd control measures and so on would be used. But when it comes to people whove already arrived on Finnish soil, wed try to identify people who are in a particularly vulnerable position, such as children and the disabled, whod be allowed into the country, said Palo.

She also told that border officials would principally seek to interact with the arrivals to make sure the arrivals have the opportunity to communicate that they are in real danger of torture or the death penalty, for example.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
Among these mystical figures is Wanderer, a moss giant equipped with skis and poles, symbolizing the adventure and exploration of the unknown.

Helsinki's Lasipalatsi Square has transformed into a captivating outdoor gallery, hosting an extraordinary exhibition by Finnish sculptor Kim Simonsson . Four bright-green moss giants, towering at about four meters each, have temporarily made the urban space their home, igniting the imagination of passersby and inviting them to dream and inquire with the boundless curiosity of a child.

Unlike any traditional sculpture, Wanderer and his companions  Collector, Friendship, and Bringer of Light  are unique not just in their appearance but in their mode of communication. These creations speak to one another and the world through Finnish sign language, adding a layer of silent dialogue to their already intriguing presence.

These sculptures, now part of Konstsamfundet's prestigious art collection, one of Finland's most significant private collections, represent a significant addition to the cultural landscape. Sculptor Kim Simonsson, known for his work with ceramic moss figures, brings a dream to life with these 'utopian moss children.' Each giant carries a distinct role within their group, carrying tools or skis, their hands playing a crucial role in their expression and interaction through sign language.

The journey of these giants is a story in itself, taking them from the heart of Helsinki to a permanent residence in a forest glade at the Soderlangvik manor on Kimito Island. This transition from an urban square to a leafy forest sanctuary is emblematic of a return to nature, where they will integrate into the forest ecosystem, becoming a whimsical discovery for future visitors.

The exhibition at Lasipalatsi Square, running from 29 April to 20 October 2024, is part of a broader initiative by Amos Rex to engage the public with art in an interactive and sensory manner. The spring exhibitions at Amos Rex, including the first-ever collections exhibition "I feel, for now" and Josefina Nelimarkkas "The Cloud of Un/knowing," promise a rich exploration of emotions and senses, aligning with the museum's vision of making art accessible and engaging for all, underscored by the inclusivity of sign language.

As these moss giants stand in silent conversation in the heart of Helsinki, they invite onlookers to pause, reflect, and engage with art in a novel and profound way. Kim Simonsson's creations not only enrich the urban environment but also offer a gateway to the enchanting intersections of nature, art, and communication.

HT
Also the Green League on Friday expressed its reservations about the possibility of violating international treaties.

THE LEFT ALLIANCE will not support the special government act that would enable border officials to deny entry to asylum applicants and significantly restrict the reception of asylum applications in some border areas, reports Helsingin Sanomat.

While the Centre and Social Democratic Party welcomed the bill as necessary, they both stopped short of promising their unreserved support for the bill in parliament. The government unveiled the bill on Friday, outlining its intention to pass the bill as urgent with the support of five-sixths parliamentary majority.

The bill is a response to what is an apparent hybrid influence campaign by Russia. Russian authorities have since last autumn allowed, if not directly helped, hundreds of asylum seekers to the border.

Li Andersson, the chairperson of the Left Alliance, stated to Helsingin Sanomat on Friday that the opposition party cannot support the bill with the information presently at its disposal on the border situation, viewing that the government has not provided sufficient details on the security threat it has cited to justify the drastic approach.

If the measures thatve been introduced so far have been in the grey area, so to speak, the government is now clearly drafting regulation that both the officialdom and political leadership recognise is in tension with our human rights obligations and constitution, she said.

Finland, she highlighted, has liked to profile itself as a proponent of human rights and rule of law on the international stage.

I think its absolutely clear that this will have far-reaching consequences for respect for human rights in Finland  if you start thinking that they arent something you have to hold on to but something you can deviate from, cautioned Andersson.

She described the act as a pushback act.

Andersson reminded that the asylum process has been designed to assess whether a person has been subjected to treatment that is inhumane or violates human dignity. Such assessments often require assistance from experts and interpreters.

The starting point here is that an individual border official should personally be able to make an assessment like this during a brief encounter at the border, she noted. This would be an absolutely horrendous situation for those individual officials.

The Green League is principally very critical about the prospect of not complying with international treaties, said Atte Harjanne, the chairperson of the Green Parliamentary Group.

I consider it necessary that the government is weighing up how to put a stop to to this Russian hybrid influence and do so without losing sight of what we are as a liberal democracy that supports rules-based international order, he said, expressing concern about the ability to understand the distress of the migrants leveraged by Russia.

Tytti Tuppurainen, the chairperson of the Social Democratic Parliamentary Group, stated that the opposition party recognises the unusually serious situation caused by the hybrid campaign but cannot at this point grant its unlimited support for the government bill.

We think its good that the government has started working on this kind of a bill because Finland must always have proportionate tools to combat attempts to exert pressure, she said to Helsingin Sanomat.

At the same time, you have to recognise that this is a highly unusual draft bill and, also for that reason, you have to carefully examine the feedback it receives from experts especially from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Justice  but also elsewhere, she said.

Its the governments duty to draw up a bill that also passes the constitutional law committees scrutiny.

The drafting of the bill alone will hopefully send a signal to the other side of the border, commented Annika Saarikko, the chairperson of the Centre. She added that although the legislative process will likely be complex and complicated from the viewpoint of the constitution and international treaties, it alone is not a reason not to draft the bill.

Hopefully, she said, lawmakers find a way to pass the bill in a way that aligns with our rule-of-law state.

She also called attention to the legal protection of individual border officials, stressing that the act must be unambiguous enough to leave as little room for interpretation in regards to the actions of border officials.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
ANF News, March 7, 2024

The Kurdistan Womens Community (Komalen Jinen Kurdistan, KJK) sent a message to the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) on the occasion of March 8, International Working Womens Day, saying the following:

First of all, we salute you on March 8, International Working Womens Day, and with that, all women around the world who struggle against male domination, colonialism, religious fundamentalism, nationalism and capitalism. We respectfully commemorate all revolutionary women, who have lost their lives for this cause, and we renew our promise that we will keep their memories alive in our struggle and realize their dreams.Although we struggle against different colonial and patriarchal forces in different countries, we are aware that we are fighting against different versions of the same system. For this reason, we see your struggle as our own struggle and we carry out your struggle in our own struggle.

Today, amid a 3rd World War, we see more clearly that the capitalist system feeds on crisis and exploitation. The patriarchal capitalist system has mobilized all its capacities to violence in order to maintain its domination. New wars are waged every day, people are displaced, their lands, and resources are confiscated. Death, poverty, migration and torture are inflicted on communities. Women and peoples are unable to breathe under this system.

Although nation-states, which are part of the capitalist system, are in a struggle with each other for world domination, they lead their real war against women, peoples and nature. It is as though an undeclared war is being waged against women all over the world. These feminicidal attacks constitute attacks against the whole of society, its values and nature. That the whole world is being turned into a war zone today is a direct result of patriarchy. Seeing that the 21st century will be the century of women, the hegemonic male state-system, despite all its contradictions, has launched a united physical-psychological-economic and most importantly ideological attack against women. Women who do not obey, who have acquired consciousness, who have stood up and organized, are their greatest nightmare. For this reason, assassinations against pioneering women have intensified in recent years and tens of thousands of them have been thrown into prisons. Every development that represents the womens revolution is under the total attack of the system. Today, the Rojava revolutionary territories, where a womens system is being built, is under the uninterrupted attack of the fascist Turkish state in front of the eyes of the world.

The hegemonic male state system does not realize that these efforts are futile because no attack can stop the reality that the 21st century will be the century of the womens revolution. We see this both in our struggle and in your struggle. No oppression and persecution deters us from our struggle. On the contrary, it strengthens our determination to struggle.

That the womens struggle is not only a struggle for womens rights was seen in the uprisings in Iran when all the oppressed united under the slogan JIN JIYAN AZADI. All the peoples of Iran, men, women and children, declared in the face of their executioners that true freedom passes through womens freedom. If we women unite against all the divide-and-rule policies of the male-dominated system, build our organization locally, regionally and universally, and develop our self-defense, no power can defeat us. As your sisters, we say: we have nothing to lose, but we have free lives and a whole world to gain.
A view of the Mystic River, from the village of Mystic, Conn. The state legislature is considering a bill that would create a working group focused on bolstering the tourism industry in Mystic. Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images/iStockphoto Spectators watch the relaunch of Mystic Seaport Museum's flagship, the 1841 Whaleship Charles W. Morgan, at the Henry B. duPont preservation Shipyard in Mystic, Conn., on July 21, 2013. The state legislature is considering a bill that would create a working group focused on bolstering the tourism industry in Mystic. Tim Clayton - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images A view of the Thompson Exhibition Building at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, Conn. The state legislature is considering a bill that would create a working group focused on bolstering the tourism industry in Mystic. John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images A view, from October 2023, of Main Street stores in Mystic, Conn., including Tidal River Clothing, Peppergrass & Tulip, Sea Bags, Manufaktura, and Rochelle's On Main. The state legislature is considering a bill that would create a working group focused on bolstering the tourism industry in Mystic. Alexander Soule/Hearst Connecticut Media

The tourist destinations in the waterfront village of Mystic cumulatively attract several million visitors each year. This resounding popularity creates a number of opportunities and challenges, which has spurred the General Assembly into considering proposed legislation.

Members of the state legislatures Commerce Committee are reviewing HB5432, which would establish a working group, to develop a plan for expanding the tourism industry in the Mystic Seaport area. During a committee hearing on Thursday, several legislators and Mystic community leaders spoke in support of the proposal. But there was debate about the prospective groups scope and membership, with some calling for wider representation beyond the village area and others wanting more local input.

Im looking for a collaborative and inclusive group, state Rep. Stephen Meskers, D-Greenwich, co-chairman of the Commerce Committee and a proponent of the bill, said during the hearing. What I want to do is economic development for the state. I think its imperative.

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The working groups members  most of whom would be appointed by leaders of the legislature  would include representatives of the local governments in Groton and Stonington, which are the towns in which the Mystic village and seaport area is located. It would also include representatives of some of the busiest tourist attractions in Mystic, according to the bill. The group would submit its first report to the General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2025, and then disband.

Its an initial step, we believe, in the right direction. It needs to be modified fairly significantly to ensure that other entities are part of this conversation and not just the seaport, but our colleagues in Mystic as well, said Peter Armstrong, president of the Mystic Seaport Museum. Wed like to urge the Commerce Committee to consider broadening the scope of the proposed working group to encompass a more comprehensive area and a more diverse representation within the group.

State Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, a committee member, took a similar position.

I do not like that it is centered around one particular area. I think it should be the greater Mystic area. Also, I have serious concerns about the makeup of the committee, Somers said. I do like the idea of trying to bring everybody together because there are multiple things happening in the district at the same time. I do not want this to slow down some of the progress that we have made to date with some of our other bills.

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Armstrong and several other supporters of the bill said that the working group would need to examine how to manage Mystics visitor volume. The Mystic Seaport Museum drew about 248,000 visitors in 2022, according to the museums annual report for that year.

Another important consideration is that Mystic is at its ceiling right now with its current infrastructure. Parking, moving people, hotel availability, restaurant availability, etc. are all restricted by parking accessibility, Rachel Lenda, director of the state Office of Tourism, said in written testimony in support of the bill. Combining the mission of this working group with SB159, an act establishing a task force to study the feasibility of developing a multimodal transportation center in the towns of Stonington and Groton, would expand the scope to include the primary underlying challenge of tourism expansion in the Mystic area: transportation.

Among new developments to help meet the tourist demand, the under-construction Delamar hotel is scheduled to open later this year at 105 Greenmanville Ave., on the Mystic Seaport campus.

Chris Regan, the marketing, leasing and property manager of the mixed-use Olde Mistick Village, suggested several ways to better handle the tourist influx.

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Airbnb is great for tourism, and we should encourage it because the stay is not for one or two days, its for five to seven days, Regan said. Thats why were having record numbers in attendance. Olde Mistick Village has become Mystics most-visited attraction, with more than 1.9 million visitors in 2023, according to Regan.

Regan also advocated for, advertising as a unified group, dredging the Mystic River to give larger boats access, as well as increasing summer service on the Shore Line East rail line.

State Rep. Aundre Bumgardner, D-Groton, another supporter of the bill, said that dialogue with Mystic community members would be crucial for the working group.

It is essential that the group engages with the public in an open and transparent process, that involves input from all stakeholders, including residents, business owners and community leaders, Bumgardner said. This process should also include regular public meetings where residents can voice their concerns and provide feedback on proposed ideas, with public comment opportunities.

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The Connecticut Business & Industry Association, the states largest business advocacy group, is another backer of the bill.

This group can act as a model for other regions and can also help inform our Office of Tourisms strategic plan, said Ashley Zane, a senior public policy associate for CBIA. We do have one suggestion  that CBIA be added to this working group, so that we can also represent some of the industries that may not be specifically mentioned, in the bill.

The Commerce Committee did not vote on the bill on Thursday. It has a March 26 deadline to advance the bill.
Substance abuse is a pervasive issue that affects individuals, families, and communities across the United States. In Massachusettsa state that has not been spared from the national opioid epidemicfinding the right treatment for drug addiction can be a lifeline for those struggling with this complex disorder. This comprehensive guide is designed to help individuals, families, and caregivers understand the landscape of massachusetts drug rehab programs and resources available in Massachusetts. It provides critical information on how to access treatment, the types of support available, and what to expect on the path to recovery.

The Current State of Substance Abuse in Massachusetts

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Before delving into the resources available, it's crucial to understand the context of substance abuse in Massachusetts. The state has seen a rise in drug overdose deaths, particularly involving opioids, over the past decade. Opioids, including prescription medications and illicit drugs like heroin and fentanyl, have been central to this crisis.

Massachusetts has taken significant steps to combat addiction, emphasizing the importance of early intervention, comprehensive treatment, and continued support. With state initiatives and an array of resources, there is hope for those struggling with substance abuse. However, there remains a need for further understanding and accessibility to treatment options.

Overview of Drug Rehab Programs in Massachusetts

Massachusetts offers a diverse range of drug rehab programs, each tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals at various stages of their recovery.

Inpatient Rehab Programs

For those in need of intensive, 24-hour care, inpatient rehab programs are a structured and supervised option. Patients reside within the facility for the duration of their treatment, typically around 30 days, and participate in therapies aimed at achieving sobriety and addressing the underlying causes of addiction.

Outpatient Rehab Programs

Outpatient programs are less intensive and are often used as a transition from inpatient care or as a supportive measure for those with less severe addiction issues. They offer flexibility for individuals to attend treatment sessions while living at home and continuing with daily work or school commitments.

Residential Treatment Programs

Similar to inpatient programs, residential treatment provides a home-like environment where individuals can focus on their recovery. This type of program tends to have longer durations and may offer additional services, such as vocational training and life skills development.

Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP)

Partial hospitalization bridges the gap between inpatient and outpatient care. It offers day treatment without the need for overnight stays, making it an ideal option for those who require structured support but do not need 24-hour care.

Dual Diagnosis Programs

Many individuals who struggle with addiction also have co-occurring mental health disorders. Dual diagnosis programs are specifically designed to address both the substance use and the psychiatric condition simultaneously.

How to Enroll in a Massachusetts Drug Rehab Program

Enrolling in a drug rehab program in Massachusetts starts with an assessment of your needs. There are several ways to initiate the process:

Professional Referrals: Healthcare providers, therapists, or counselors can refer you to a specific treatment program based on your assessment.

Self-Referral: Individuals can contact treatment facilities directly for an assessment and enrollment.

Treatment Locators: Online resources and helplines dedicated to connecting people with the right treatment can be an excellent starting point.

Upon assessment, the treatment center will recommend the most appropriate program for your circumstances and explain the admission process, including any required documentation or insurance information.

Financial Assistance and Insurance Coverage

Paying for rehab can be a significant concern. In Massachusetts, financial assistance is available for those who qualify, and most insurance plans offer some level of coverage for substance abuse treatment.

MassHealth: Massachusetts' Medicaid program provides coverage for rehab services, both inpatient and outpatient.

Private Insurance: Many plans offer coverage for addiction treatment programs, although the extent of coverage can vary. Understanding your policy, including deductibles and co-pays, is essential.

State-Funded Programs: The state offers various programs that provide free or low-cost treatment options for individuals who are uninsured or underinsured.

Additional Support Services in Massachusetts

Support services are key to maintaining sobriety outside of a structured treatment program. Massachusetts offers an array of resources to help individuals transition back into their communities and build a sober life.

Support Groups: Organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) provide peer support for individuals in recovery and are available across the state.

Recovery Community Centers: These centers offer a safe, supportive environment for individuals in recovery and their families, providing access to resources, events, and peer support.

Crisis Hotlines and Helplines: A range of crisis hotlines are available 24/7 to provide immediate support for individuals experiencing substance abuse-related crises.

Family Support Programs: Addiction does not only affect the individual, but also their loved ones. Family support programs are designed to help families understand and cope with the challenges of having a member in recovery.

The Role of Aftercare and Continuing Support

Recovery is a lifelong process, and aftercare is an essential component of maintaining sobriety. Continuing support can include ongoing therapy, medication-assisted treatment, sober living arrangements, and participation in support groups.

The treatment facility you attend will often develop a comprehensive aftercare plan tailored to your needs. Regular check-ins with a treatment professional can help keep you on track and provide support as you adjust to life post-rehab.

The Importance of Relapse Prevention

Relapse is a common concern in recovery, but it can be prevented and managed with the right strategies in place. Identifying triggers, building healthy coping mechanisms, and having a support network are crucial elements of relapse prevention.

Massachusetts offers relapse prevention programs within treatment centers and through various community organizations. These programs teach skills that help individuals recognize and address the early warning signs of relapse.

Closing Thoughts on Finding Recovery in Massachusetts

Seeking help for drug addiction is a brave and critical step toward a healthier, more fulfilling life. Massachusetts provides a wealth of resources and programs to support those in recovery. Remember, you are not alone, and there is a path to sobriety that is right for you.

It's important to approach the search for a rehab program with patience and an understanding of your needs. With the right support, recovery is not only achievable but can lead to a life free from the grip of addiction.

For those who are supporting a loved one through recovery, education and self-care are just as important as the support you provide. Make use of the resources available to you, and seek the assistance of professionals when needed.

By staying informed and proactive, individuals and their families can find the best possible chance for a successful recovery. The search for help may not always be easy, but the reward of a sober and healthy life is well worth the effort.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
In the dynamic world of global education, the study abroad market has been undergoing unprecedented growth and transformation. India alone sends almost near to a million students for studying abroad every year. Study abroad speaks echoes of the transformative journeys of renowned Indian figures who have leveraged their international education to inspire change and foster growth within and outside India. Icons like Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai, and Indra Nooyi epitomize the pinnacle of such global achievements, while the venerable Ratan Tata exemplifies how overseas learning can be harnessed to profoundly impact Indian industry and philanthropy. These luminaries, having illuminated paths of innovation and leadership, underscore the profound influence that an international educational experience can have, not just on the individual, but on the nation at large. Amidst this evolution, a visionary duo emerges, embedding their rich heritage of four generations in the education sector to redefine international academic pathways. Dr. Vikas and Manit, a remarkable father-son team, co-founders of UPI Study, have harnessed their family's profound educational legacy to address a pressing challenge in the global education market. In this spirit, UPI Study's endeavors resonate deeply, promising to cultivate a future where students can transcend boundaries, access unparalleled opportunities, and contribute to India's legacy of global engagement and leadership.

With illustrious academic credentials from prestigious institutions such as Purdue and Brown Universities, Dr. Vikas (CEO) and Manit (CTO) identified a significant barrier for international students aspiring to pursue higher education abroad: the daunting financial burden of bachelor's degrees. They recognized the absence of a flexible credit accumulation system in India, a stark contrast to the U.S., where Advanced Placement (AP) courses and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs offer such opportunities but are confined to elite private schools, and introduced UPI Study courses being offered to all students around the world and making them accessible providing the value of transfer in over 1500 universities.

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UPI Study

UPI Study offers an innovative solution in the international education sector. The company is accredited and provides online college courses for international students, which could be transferred to universities for credit, significantly reducing their education costs by up to 50% and streamlining their journey to universities abroad.

This reduces the cost of tuition and living expenses for students and provides universities with a larger international student pool. Seizing this opportunity, UPI Study emerged as one of the pioneering entities, to offer accredited college-level courses accessible to a broader demographic. These courses empower students, whether in high school or post high school, to accumulate credits before or during their bachelor's programs abroad. The initiative has been a beacon of hope for students already overseas, enabling them to bypass introductory courses, thereby saving time and financial resources.

The impact of UPI Study is profound and widespread, with over 97,000 students from 15+ different countries embracing this innovative approach. At the core of UPI Study's innovation is its unique course offering for college credit, a concept that has garnered acclaim and recognition across international academic communities. The courses, meticulously designed to align with global educational standards, enable students to earn valuable credits that are transferable to universities abroad. This initiative not only facilitates a smoother academic transition for students but also significantly reduces their financial burden by shortening the duration of their degree programs.

The success stories emerging from UPI Study's credit courses are numerous and inspiring. Students like Annanya from Canada and Karan from whos studying in USA are testament to the transformative impact of these courses. Annanya, pursuing a business degree in Canada, credits UPI Study with providing her a head start, allowing her to advance directly to more specialized courses and thereby enrich her academic experience. "UPI Study not only lightened my financial load but also enhanced my learning trajectory," she shares.

Karan, a computer science student in the USA, echoes this sentiment. "The credits I earned through UPI Study were a game-changer. They enabled me to bypass basic courses and now I dont need to burden mama papa for additional loan payments as well" he explains. These reflections from students underscore the value and efficacy of UPI Study's credit courses, illustrating their role in empowering students to realize their academic and professional aspirations.

In addition to its credit courses, UPI Study has embarked on a groundbreaking non-profit initiative designed to further democratize access to international education. Recognizing the pervasive influence of commission-based recruitment in the study abroad sector, UPI Study'snew initiative aims to redirect these funds back into the students' hands, also goes by the name UPI Apply. By establishing a transparent, non-profit platform, UPI Study ensures that the scholarships or commissions typically pocketed by agents are instead awarded to the students, empowering them to make educational decisions free from financial coercion.

This revolutionary approach has not only garnered acclaim from educational communities but has also resonated deeply with students and their families. "UPI Study's initiative is a beacon of hope, illuminating a path to education that is defined by integrity and student welfare," says a parent of a beneficiary. By placing the interests and aspirations of students at the forefront, UPI Study is not just challenging the status quo; it is setting a new standard for ethical and student-centric education.

As UPI Study continues to evolve and expand its horizons, the vision of its founders, Dr. Vikas and Manit, remains steadfast: to foster an educational ecosystem that is accessible, equitable, and transformative. Through their unwavering commitment to innovation and student empowerment, they are not only facilitating individual journeys of learning and growth but are also contributing to a global narrative of educational excellence and inclusivity.

The recognition of UPI Study's contribution to international education has been significant, with recent accolades from the NCCRS and other bodies, further solidifying its reputation and mission.

At the heart of UPI Study's philosophy is a deep understanding of the burgeoning youth demographic in India and its potential to continually expand the study abroad market. Dr. Vikas and Manit, leveraging their personal experiences and generational expertise, are dedicated to enhancing the study abroad experience, ensuring it is not only accessible but also transformative.

As UPI Study forges partnerships with over 1,500 universities worldwide, its founders remain committed to a vision where education transcends borders, nurtures talent, and catalyzes socioeconomic growth. In doing so, they are not just facilitating individual aspirations but are also contributing to a broader narrative of innovation and prosperity, reminiscent of notable alumni and benefactors who have shaped industries and economies globally.

In essence, UPI Study embodies the synergy of heritage, innovation, and altruism, charting a course for future leaders and thinkers who will continue to bridge cultures, economies, and communities through the power of education.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
Mumbai, 15 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.

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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: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. The article does not constitute financial advice.
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.

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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.

: 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.

: 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.

: 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.

: 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.

: 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: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.
In the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, certain individuals wield significant influence and shape the direction of the industry. From visionary founders to influential investors and prominent thought leaders, these power players play a crucial role in driving innovation and shaping the future of crypto. This article will explore the top 25 individuals who are pulling the strings in the crypto industry, exerting influence and driving change.

Satoshi Nakamoto: The mysterious creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto, remains an enigmatic figure whose vision laid the foundation for the entire cryptocurrency industry. Despite their anonymity, Nakamoto's whitepaper and the creation of Bitcoin revolutionized the concept of decentralized digital currency.

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Vitalik Buterin: As the co-founder of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin has become one of the most influential figures in the cryptocurrency space. His vision for Ethereum as a decentralized platform for smart contracts and decentralized applications has propelled the project to the forefront of blockchain innovation.

Changpeng Zhao (CZ): The CEO of Binance, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, Changpeng Zhao, commonly known as CZ, has played a pivotal role in shaping the global crypto market. Under his leadership, Binance has become synonymous with innovation and has expanded its offerings to include a wide range of crypto-related services.

Brian Armstrong: As the CEO of Coinbase, one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges in the United States, Brian Armstrong has been instrumental in driving mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. Coinbase's user-friendly platform and regulatory compliance have made it a trusted gateway for millions of users to enter the world of crypto.

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss: The Winklevoss twins, known for their early involvement in Facebook and subsequent legal battles with Mark Zuckerberg, have emerged as prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry. As the founders of Gemini, a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian, the Winklevoss twins have been outspoken advocates for regulatory compliance and institutional adoption of crypto.

Lavish Choudhary: Lavish Choudhary is a prominent name in the realm of Crypto. As the founder of TLC 2.0, currently the fastest testnet blockchain in the world with 250,0000 transaction per second, he has established himself as one of the most powerful personality in the cryptocurrency industry. Lavish Choudhary has garnered attention not only for his entrepreneurial endeavors but also for his recent sponsorship of the Real Kabaddi League, further solidifying his presence on the business and crypto landscape. His significant contributions to the cryptocurrency sector continue to make an impact and underline his status as the most influential figure in the crypto industry.

Michael Saylor: The CEO of MicroStrategy, Michael Saylor, made headlines when his company invested billions of dollars in Bitcoin as part of its treasury reserve strategy. Saylor's bullish stance on Bitcoin and his efforts to educate other corporate leaders about its potential as a store of value have earned him recognition as a leading figure in the crypto industry.

Charles Hoskinson: As the founder of Cardano and co-founder of Ethereum, Charles Hoskinson has been a key figure in the development of blockchain technology. His vision for Cardano as a scalable and sustainable blockchain platform has garnered significant attention and support from the crypto community.

Barry Silbert: The founder and CEO of Digital Currency Group, Barry Silbert, is one of the most influential figures in the crypto investment space. Through Digital Currency Group, Silbert has invested in numerous crypto startups and projects, shaping the direction of the industry.

Brad Garlinghouse: As the CEO of Ripple Labs, Brad Garlinghouse has been a leading advocate for blockchain technology and digital assets. Ripple's focus on cross-border payments and partnerships with financial institutions have positioned it as a major player in the crypto space.

Jihan Wu: The co-founder of Bitmain, one of the largest manufacturers of cryptocurrency mining equipment, Jihan Wu has played a crucial role in the growth of the crypto mining industry. Bitmain's mining hardware has helped secure the Bitcoin network and other cryptocurrencies.

Dan Larimer: As the founder of EOSIO and co-founder of BitShares and Steemit, Dan Larimer has been a driving force behind several blockchain projects. His vision for decentralized social media and scalable blockchain solutions has contributed to the advancement of blockchain technology.

Andreas Antonopoulos: A renowned author, speaker, and educator in the crypto space, Andreas Antonopoulos has been instrumental in educating the public about Bitcoin and blockchain technology. His books, talks, and online content have helped millions of people understand the potential of cryptocurrencies.

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss: The Winklevoss twins, known for their early involvement in Facebook and subsequent legal battles with Mark Zuckerberg, have emerged as prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry. As the founders of Gemini, a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian, the Winklevoss twins have been outspoken advocates for regulatory compliance and institutional adoption of crypto.

Brian Armstrong: As the CEO of Coinbase, one of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges in the United States, Brian Armstrong has been instrumental in driving mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. Coinbase's user-friendly platform and regulatory compliance have made it a trusted gateway for millions of users to enter the world of crypto.

Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss: The Winklevoss twins, known for their early involvement in Facebook and subsequent legal battles with Mark Zuckerberg, have emerged as prominent figures in the cryptocurrency industry. As the founders of Gemini, a cryptocurrency exchange and custodian, the Winklevoss twins have been outspoken advocates for regulatory compliance and institutional adoption of crypto.

Elon Musk: The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk, has been both a driving force and a source of controversy in the crypto space. Musk's tweets about Bitcoin and Dogecoin have had a significant impact on their prices, demonstrating his influence over the market.

Michael Saylor: The CEO of MicroStrategy, Michael Saylor, made headlines when his company invested billions of dollars in Bitcoin as part of its treasury reserve strategy. Saylor's bullish stance on Bitcoin and his efforts to educate other corporate leaders about its potential as a store of value have earned him recognition as a leading figure in the crypto industry.

Abhyudoy Das: Abhyudoy Das is the face of crypto marketing in India and Asia. He also serves as a pre-seed Web3 investor. He has been the advisor to over 25 crypto startups to date, helping them achieve success. Additionally, he has served as the Regional Leader for Bybit, among other roles, including his global advisory for Meta Trace, Social Good, and others. His contributions have made him one of the important figures in the crypto industry.

Charles Hoskinson: As the founder of Cardano and co-founder of Ethereum, Charles Hoskinson has been a key figure in the development of blockchain technology. His vision for Cardano as a scalable and sustainable blockchain platform has garnered significant attention and support from the crypto community.

Barry Silbert: The founder and CEO of Digital Currency Group, Barry Silbert, is one of the most influential figures in the crypto investment space. Through Digital Currency Group, Silbert has invested in numerous crypto startups and projects, shaping the direction of the industry.

Brad Garlinghouse: As the CEO of Ripple Labs, Brad Garlinghouse has been a leading advocate for blockchain technology and digital assets. Ripple's focus on cross-border payments and partnerships with financial institutions have positioned it as a major player in the crypto space.

Jihan Wu: The co-founder of Bitmain, one of the largest manufacturers of cryptocurrency mining equipment, Jihan Wu has played a crucial role in the growth of the crypto mining industry. Bitmain's mining hardware has helped secure the Bitcoin network and other cryptocurrencies.

Dan Larimer: As the founder of EOSIO and co-founder of BitShares and Steemit, Dan Larimer has been a driving force behind several blockchain projects. His vision for decentralized social media and scalable blockchain solutions has contributed to the advancement of blockchain technology.



These individuals represent a diverse range of backgrounds and expertise, but they all share a common goal: to advance the adoption and development of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. As the crypto industry continues to evolve, the influence of these power players will undoubtedly shape its trajectory for years to come. Whether through technological innovation, investment, or advocacy, these individuals are driving the crypto revolution forward, paving the way for a more decentralized and inclusive financial system.

The list has been compiled by HF Marketing Ltd Contact: ad@cryptomarketingclub.com

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/ editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/ subscribe to the contents of the article/advertisement and/or views expressed herein.

The reader is further advised that Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions.

Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the views, opinions, announcements, declarations, affirmations etc., stated/featured in same. The decision to read hereinafter is purely a matter of choice and shall be construed as an express undertaking/guarantee in favour of Hindustan Times of being absolved from any/ all potential legal action, or enforceable claims. The content may be for information and awareness purposes and does not constitute a financial advice.
Apple is in talks to build Google's Gemini artificial intelligence engine into the iPhone, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the situation. The Apple Inc logo is seen hanging at the entrance to the Apple store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan, New York, US. (Reuters)

Apple also recently held discussions with OpenAI and has considered using its model, the report added.

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Apple and Google are in active negotiations to let the iPhone maker license Gemini, Google's set of generative AI models, to power some new features coming to the phone's software this year, Bloomberg said.

Read more: Elon Musk just made his ChatGPT rival AI chatbot Grok open source

The two parties have not decided the terms or branding of an AI agreement or finalised how it would be implemented, the report added.

It is unlikely that any deal would be announced until June, when Apple plans to hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, the report said.

Apple, Google and OpenAI did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside business hours.
Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal's fund Three State Ventures pumped an additional 200 crores in Accel-backed cloud kitchen startup Curefoods. With this, the total funds invested by the fund has moved to 500 crores at a post-money valuation of around 3,000 crores, Moneycontrol reported citing people in the know. The funding will be utilised by Curefoods to expand its offline business including some of its popular brands like Nomad Pizza and Sharief Bhai Biryani. Binny Bansal Curefoods funding: Binny Bansals additional funding is part of the firms ongoing round that started in April of 2023 where it raised  300 crore.

Read more: Elon Musk just made his ChatGPT rival AI chatbot Grok open source

What happened before?

Binny Bansals additional funding is part of the firms ongoing round that started in April of 2023 where it raised 300 crore. Then Curefoods said that the funding consisted of primary and secondary equity and debt, with Three State Ventures leading the round with a cheque of 240 crore.

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What you need to know about Curefoods?

Curefoods was founded in 2016 by Ankit Nagori, a former Flipkart executive. The Bengaluru-based startup competes with companies like Rebel Foods, Biryani by Kilo, and EatClub (formerly Box8) and acquires food brands to help them scale with technology and digital marketing. The company closed its Series C round of $50 million from a mix of new and existing investors led by Winter Capital.

What we know about Curefoods' financials?

In early 2022, the startup was valued at around $250 million and has been making inorganic expansion through acquisitions. In 2023, the firm acquired food discovery platform Hogr and in October, Curefoods closed acquisition of foodtech company Yumlane and its proprietary technology. Curefoods reported a 400% jump in its operating revenue to 382 crore for FY23 while the firms losses came at 342 crore in FY23, as per filings.
Dell reportedly made an announcement regarding promotions for remote workers. The company informed remote workers in a memo that they can continue working from home but they will not be considered for promotions. Dell has had a hybrid work culture long before Covid pandemic struck. But in a departure from its previous policy, the company is pushing a strict return-to-office (RTO) policy as per a report in Business Insider. Dell made a recent announcement regarding promotions for remote workers.

What Dell told employees on work from home?

In a memo circulated in February, Dell informed its employees of a return-to-office mandate and categorised them as "hybrid" and "remote" workers. As per the memo, hybrid employees are required to spend a minimum of three days a week in an approved office.

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Additionally, remote workers will not be considered for promotion or be allowed to change roles within the company as per the memo.

"For remote team members, it is important to understand the trade-offs: Career advancement, including applying to new roles in the company, will require a team member to reclassify as hybrid onsite,  the memo said.

What Dell employees said as per the report?

A senior employee said as per the report, Dell cared about the work, not the location. I would say 10% to 15% of every team was remote.

But with the new rule, all of this has changed, another employee said, adding, Everyone at the company is talking about how much they don't like it as some are worried they won't be able to move up in their jobs or have the same flexibility they had before.
Elon Musk said that his company xAI has made generative AI chatbot Grok open source fulfilling the promise made by him a week ago. The company wrote in a blogpost, We are releasing the base model weights and network architecture of Grok-1, our large language model. Grok-1 is a 314 billion parameter Mixture-of-Experts model trained from scratch by xAI." Elon Musk announced that xAI is making its generative AI chatbot, Grok open source. (AFP)

What xAI said on chatbot Grok?

This is the raw base model checkpoint from the Grok-1 pre-training phase, which concluded in October 2023. This means that the model is not fine-tuned for any specific application, such as dialogue." it added in an official blog post on the xAI website.

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Grok-1 is a 314 billion parameter Mixture-of-Experts model trained from scratch by xAI. This is the raw base model checkpoint from the Grok-1 pre-training phase, which concluded in October 2023. This means that the model is not fine-tuned for any specific application, such as dialogue, it noted.

The company also explained that the base model had been trained on a large amount of text data, not fine-tuned for any particular task and shared a GitHub link so that others could use the model. It has also said that the model was trained in October 2023.

What Elon Musk had promised on Grok after OpenAI case?

Last week, Elon Musk promised to make Grok open source after he filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, as he blamed them for deviating from its founding values while the ChatGPT-maker labelled the allegations incoherent. Elon Musk has repeatedly criticised OpenAI, claiming that it does not transparently share its tech for the betterment of humanity but OpenAI pointed out that its basic chatbot is free and that millions are using its services and products worldwide.
Cape Town Carnival showcases Chinese cultural highlights

Xinhua) 13:12, March 18, 2024

A float from a Chinese performing group parades during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

CAPE TOWN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event.

Under the theme of "Lekker" -- an Afrikaans word that means nice, pleasant or enjoyable -- this year's carnival saw over 1,000 performers from various communities across the city taking part in a parade to celebrate diversity, creativity and cultural understanding.

The event featured massive floats, colorful costumes, and vibrant choreographed dance routines, attracting tens of thousands of locals and visitors.

The Chinese performing group was the star of the evening. The dancing dragons, lions and pandas attracted strong applause and cheers from the audience wherever they went.

"China's performance was amazing!" said Nicolas Johnson and Val Andries, a local couple who had come to watch the parade.

"Yeah, the lights and the colors, and the dragon ... all those are amazing. Very good," said Johnson.

"I especially enjoyed all the lights. The costumes are amazing, the performers are doing a great job, and it was so awesome," Andries added.

Rachel Jafta, chairperson of the Cape Town Carnival, also expressed enthusiasm.

"The Chinese contribution to the Cape Town Carnival has been really central from the beginning. It brings an incredible skill and flaring beauty to the carnival," Jafta told Xinhua.

"The Chinese groups dance with the dragon and the fire ... it is always very popular. You just see the spectators' faces light up and the little kids get very excited when the dragon comes," she said. "So we're very proud to have the Chinese community as part of the Cape Town Carnival."

The Chinese community was instrumental in helping other groups in the city during the pandemic, she said, adding that "we are very grateful for that."

Dong Gang, the head of the Chinese performing group, told Xinhua at the scene that this was the sixth time the Chinese community had taken part in the carnival.

"As a major festival in the local cultural life of South Africa, the Cape Town Carnival provides us with a large platform to showcase our excellent traditional Chinese culture," said Dong.

"Especially since this year is the Year of the Dragon, we brought our 50-meter-long dragon to celebrate our culture with a confident feeling," he said. "At the same time, we can also feel that we have added our own colors to the local multiculturalism."

As noted by Jafta, the idea of the Cape Town Carnival was to create a platform for people from different backgrounds to come together, have fun and get to know each other better, so that the city can not only build more social cohesion but also create jobs and stimulate the economy.

Performers parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

A performer in a lion costume interacts with the audience during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Performers parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Performers parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Members of a Chinese performing group parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

A performer in a panda costume interacts with the audience during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The headquarters of The United Illuminating Co. off of Marsh Hill Road in Orange. The electric utility will launch a pilot program to help customers that own electric vehicle or have heat pumps in their homes reduce their energy usage and their monthly bills. Hearst Connecticut Media file photo An EV charges in the parking garage of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. United Illuminating and Eversource Energy are rolling out a number of pilot programs meant to lower the cost of EV charging. Save the Sound

The United Illuminating Co. will launch a pilot program in June to help customers that have electric vehicles and heat pumps in their homes reduce their monthly energy bill by as much as $400 overall.

It's one of many cost reduction pilot programs being launched by UI and Eversource Energy this summer.

The UI pilot program will allow participating customers with electric vehicles, or EVs, to reduce their energy consumption by between 15 and 20 percent while cutting their energy bills by as much as 30 percent, company officials say. UI and its technology partner in the program, England-based Kraken Technologies, hope to enroll 700 customers in the pilot program.

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Michael Crowley, manager of UI's Smart Grid Innovation Programs, said company officials are in the midst of assessing how many of the utility's customers either own electric vehicles or have heat pumps in their homes, or both. Crowley said company officials are also looking to assess the best way to recruit customers to participate in the pilot program.

"One of the things we're looking into is whether or not we might need to offer incentives for participation," he said.

Kraken's technology will allow the electricity suppliers of UI's customers to automatically match their energy usage to time periods when electricity is the cheapest. Becki Howarth, product lead for Kraken, said the company's technology works via cloud computing and is "designed to meet the customer's needs," when electricity is needed.

"Once the customer has signed up for it, we say our technology is 'set it and forget it,'" Howarth said.

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The pilot program will last for 18 months, Crowley said.

Heat pumps use electricity to provide both heating and cooling to a building. They are efficient at transferring heat from one place to another, depending on where it is needed.

The program involving UI and Kraken Technologies is one of seven pilot programs approved by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in December as part of an effort to modernize and improve the flexibility of the state's electric grid.

All but one of the pilot programs involves the participation of either UI and Eversource Energy, according to Julia Dumaine, PURA's supervisor of Strategy & Operations.

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Eversource Energy is involved in three pilot programs, according to Jamie Ratliff, a company spokeswoman. Of the three projects, the most consumer focused pilot is being done with a California-based company, AmpUP.

The AmpUP program will see Eversource working with the electric vehicle network provider to help provide charging stations in multi-family housing complexes as well as at commercial properties and in public spaces.

Dumaine said the pilot programs approved by PURA are being funded through nearly $10 million in ratepayer money.

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Elon Musk was seen with his son X AE A-XII while they visited a Tesla factory in Germany amid custody battle with Grimes over their children. The Tesla CEO was spotted carrying X AE A-XII on his shoulders as he visited the factory which reopened after a nearby electricity pylon was set on fire. The blaze left the plant without electricity for almost a week. Tesla's X account posted a photo of Elon Musk with the caption: Thanks for visiting. This marks Elon Musk's second overseas trip this year with X AE A-XII as they also visited Auschwitz in January. Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., at the Tesla automotive plant in Gruenheide, Germany.(Bloomberg)

Read more: Elon Musk just made his ChatGPT rival AI chatbot Grok open source

Elon Musk-Grimes dispute

Elon Musk and musician Grimes have been embroiled in a dispute over their three children. The billionaire sued her in September as he sought to "establish the parent-child relationship" with their children Exa, Tau and X AE A-XII. Following this, Grimes filed a petition to establish a parental relationship, as per court records.

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Earlier, Elon Musk brought X AE A-XII to a meeting with the Turkish president who asked him where his wife was even though the couple had never married. Elon Musk had then replied, "Oh, she's in San Francisco. We're separated, I take care of him mostly."

What Elon Musk accused Grimes on in the lawsuit?

Elon Musk accused Grimes of moving to California to "circumvent the jurisdiction" of Texas court that limit child-support payments at $2,760 a month for three children, it was reported. But Grimes said that she and two of their children had been living in California when Elon Musk filed the petition.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked banks to prepare for threats of cyber attacks and beef up security to mitigate such risks, Moneycontrol reported citing industry sources after the latest round of Cyber Security and Information Technology Examination (CSITE) by the central bank. RBI also provided action points wherever the inspection spotted deficiencies, it added. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) provided action points wherever the inspection spotted deficiencies, the report claimed.(PTI)

One of the bankers said as per the report, The RBI conducts a separate inspection to identify deficiencies in the cyber security capabilities of banks. This time, they met us and have given a list of action points where deficiencies need to be addressed."

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

What RBI deputy governor said earlier?

RBI deputy governor T Rabi Sankar had earlier said that the banking sector needs to be prepared for new cyber security risks. He said, We need to think of customer convenience and other things and we need to provide services" and highlighted that banks may have to completely rebuild their encrypted systems to identify and mitigate the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) abuse.

He said, "We also need to understand the problems with AI. And the ability to crunch huge data in a short time, you would have to completely rebuild your encrypted system."

Cyber security threats in recent years

The RBIs caution comes after a spurt in cyber security breaches in the banking system in the recent years as according to a government response in Parliament, Indian banks reported 248 successful data breaches by hackers and miscreants between June 2018 and March 2022 of which 41 were reported by public sector banks, 205 by their private peers. Foreign banks reported two cases as per data.
India-Thailand Travel: India and Thailand agreed to expand flight connectivity to boost trade and tourism, signing a memorandum of understanding on air services in Bangkok. India-Thailand Travel: Tourists visit the Big Buddha statue in Phuket, Thailand. (Reuters)

The bilateral MOU will further enhance capacities of airlines operating between the two countries, aiming at strengthening people to people and economic ties, Indian Embassy in Bangkok said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Currently, Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Vistara operate flights between India and Bangkok while Air India and IndiGo operate flights to Phuket as well.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Indian carriers fly to Thailand from six cities and four Thai carriers connect twelve destinations in India. Between the two countries, there are around 75 daily flights (two-way). But now, Indian carriers will be able to expand frequencies and add new destinations in Thailand with a staggered increase in the current entitlement of 32,000 seats per week, it was reported. This will be done in two stages of 7,000 each and Thailand has agreed to open four new extra points of call or destinations for Indian carriers which include Chiang Rai, Hat Yai, Surat Thani, and Udon Thani, as per Hindu Business Line.

India-Thailand is a large air travel market with high percentage of origin-&-destination traffic. An increase in seats is thus beneficial to both sides, an airline executive said as per the report.

While Guldeep Singh Sahni, co-chairman (outbound travel), FICCI, said as per the report, Given its proximity and reasonable prices, Thailand always sees a high travel demand. There is demand for wellness and luxury resorts too now."

This comes as Thailand announced a visa-free entry for Indians last November which runs till May 10. Nearly 1,50,000 Indians visited Thailand in February- 120 per cent higher compared to 2019, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand data.
Biocon Ltd executive chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has clarified that the company did not donate to any political party in any form. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, however, also said she purchased electoral bonds on a personal level to fund election campaigns. Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw's donations clarification on electoral bonds

Also Read - Electoral bonds case: Should SBI disclose unique numbers? Supreme Court hearing today

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

In an X (formally Twitter) post, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said she gave nominal funding to Janata Dal (Secular) and other parties and stressed that the donations were made with white money.

I would like to clarify that Biocon did not make any political donations to JDS or any other party for elections. At a personal level I purchased electoral bonds which I donated to JDS & several parties. My donations were nominal on the principle of funding election campaigns with white money, she said.

When an X user recently claimed that Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw had donated 5 crore every month before the Karnataka assembly election, she refuted the allegation and asked the user to do the math.

Kiran added that the donations were not made for any favours. When a user asked what she got in return, she said, Nothing - I did it of my own free will. Have you followed BPAC? Dont make such allegations. I have never ever made any contributions for favours. Its very sad to see such comments.

On March 12, the State Bank of India shared all details of electoral bonds with the election commission. On Sunday, the Election Commission of India released data received from political parties on electoral bonds, which it had given to the Supreme Court in sealed covers.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Karnataka on Saturday, chief minister Siddaramaiah launched an attack on him asking the former why the BJP was silent about the electoral bonds case. Siddaramaiah also asked why the SBI was reluctant to submit the details of electoral bonds to the apex court.
Youth Congress workers on Monday held a protest in front of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru demanding a ticket for Mohammed Nalapad from Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha Constituency. Congress workers holds protest in Bengaluru demanding ticket for youth president

Nalapad is the Youth Congress President in Karnataka.

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Notably, Congress this month released its first list of 39 candidates for Lok Sabha elections.

Also Read - Karnataka reeling under acute water crisis, Modi govt refusing to help: Congress

Of the total 39 candidates announced, 16 were from Kerala, seven from Karnataka and six from Chhattisgarh, four from Telangana. Two from Meghalaya and one each from Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim and Lakshwadeep.

Also, Congress announced names for seven seats in Karnataka, including DK Suresh contesting from Bangalore Rural.

Meanwhile, after the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll schedule, Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party chief BY Vijayendra lauched a scathing attack on Congress and said that the mood across the state is in the favour of the BJP.

"Congress party despite being power in the state, they aren't able to find candidates in any Lok Sabha constituencies. They're trying hard to convince their minister to contest the elections but fortunately, the mood across the state is in the favour of the BJP and PM Modi..." said Karnataka BJP chief.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was afraid of the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as he started his campaign for Lok Sabha elections from Kharge's home district Kalaburagi.

He said that the party is sure to win 20 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka including Kalaburagi.

"PM Modi is afraid of the leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge. Hence he started his election campaign from Karnataka, especially Kalaburagi. Congress will win 20 seats in Karnataka including Kalaburagi parliamentary constituency," Shivakumar told ANI.

Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats. In 2019, BJP won 25 seats with a vote share of 51.7 per cent while Congress won one seat with a 32.1 per cent vote share. On the other hand, JD(S) too got one seat and South Indian actress Sumalatha Ambareesh and independent MP won the Mandya constituency in Karnataka with the support of the BJP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government on Monday, alleging it made the state bankrupt by incessant looting. Addressing a rally in Shivamogga, PM Modi urged the people of Karnataka to make the BJP-led NDA win in all 28 seats in the state in upcoming Lok Sabha polls. He also urged the masses to wipe out Congress from the state. Congress made Karnataka go bankrupt: PM Modi slams ruling party in Shivamogga(YouTube/Narendra Modi)

Also Read - Rahul Gandhi issues clarification after PM Modi attacks him on Shakti row

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The Prime Minister further slammed the Congress and said that they have been looting the state ever since they were elected to power in Karnataka. The Congress leaders are only capable of telling blatant lies. Karnataka Congress has many CM aspirants who keep blaming Modi and the central government for their inefficiency. There is one shadow CM who wants to replace the current CM and also there is another collection CM in New Delhi. It is high time for the people of Karnataka to wipe out and clean off Congress from the state in this general election," he said.

The people of Shivamogga have a crucial role in building BJP in the state. Back in those days, we struggled to find booth-level workers here. But Yediyurappa ji single handedly built the party across the state and now when I see the crowd here, I am sure that BJP is going to win big numbers in the state. I request the people of Karnataka to help the NDA win all 28 seats in Karnataka," he added.

PM Modi also pitched the 4 June ko, 400 paar slogan while addressing the crowd in Shivamogga. It is important for us to get 400 seats. Why 400 seats? 400 seats to make Viksit Bharat and Viksit Karnataka a reality, he added.

Former Karnataka CM and BJPs stalwart leader BS Yediyurappas son BY Raghavendra is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Shivamogga.

Former minister and BJP rebel Eshwarappa is reportedly unhappy about the denial of the ticket. He recently said that he has plans to contest as an independent from Shivamogga. However, the BJP leaders are reportedly trying to convince Eshwarappa not to leave the party as it can divide the BJPs Lingayat vote base in Shivamogga. The BJP has already announced the names of 20 candidates in Karnataka and dropped many sitting MPs from the list.
Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal on Monday marked an inquiry after Congress member of parliament Ravneet Singh Bittu filed a complaint against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from Ludhiana West constituency Gurpreet Gogi Bassi for hurting religious sentiments by allegedly making derogatory remarks against his turban. Congress leaders filing a complaint to commissioner of police Kuldeep Singh Chahal in Ludhiana on Monday. (HT Photo)

The police chief marked an inquiry to additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP, city 3) in the case.

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A delegation of Congress leaders, including former councillors Jaswinder Thukral, Dilraj Singh, Iqbal Singh Sonu deco, Raja Ghai, Harkaran Vaid, Hari Singh Brar, Baljinder Bunty, Jaspreet Singh Jaggi and ex-chairman of beopar cell Jatinder Bedi met the Commissioner of police on behalf of Bittu.

Bittu in his complaint alleged that Gogi made controversial remarks against his religion and turban in an interview to a web channel a couple of days ago. He also added that despite making remarks against his beliefs, Gogi also circulated the videos of his interview on various social networking sites.

Bittu sought FIR against Gogi under sections 295A, 499, 500, 501 of the IPC and section 66A of Information and Technology Act 2000.

The video came after Bittu released his pictures of him inaugurating revamped Guru Nanak Stadium on March 13.

Commissioner of police Chahal stated that he has marked an inquiry to ADCP city 3. The police will take appropriate action after the investigation, he said.

Bittu and Gogi had indulged in a verbal spat on many occasions and made personal remarks against each other. Earlier, on Republic Day, Bittu and Gogi had indulged in a war of words in public when they confronted each other in Ghumar Mandi. The videos of the verbal spat had gone viral on social networking sites.

Gogi was not available for comments despite repeated calls and text messages by HT.
Parents of students studying in private schools in the city are forced to shell out more money to buy books for their wards for the new academic session due to a delay by the schools in displaying book lists for each class on their website. According to the guidelines of the state education department, the schools are supposed to disclose the book list of each class on their website one month prior to the exam results. (HT File Photo)

Parents allege that with no list on display, they are not able to choose and buy books from their preferred dealers and are forced to get them from a dedicated seller prescribed by schools along with stationary, dictionary, book covers, extra pouches that adds to the expenses.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

According to the guidelines of the state education department, the schools are supposed to disclose the book list of each class on their website one month prior to the exam results.

The purpose of class-wise list of books to be shared by the schools beforehand is to make these books easily available in the market so that they can be purchased from any seller, and violation of this force parents to purchase them from a dedicated seller. There are few sellers operating from a residential area nearby schools.

Parents have also complained of the book list being changed every year which is against the directive of the education department.

Daljit Singh, a parent of a student of Guru Nanak Public School, said that the latest set of books for a student in Class 2 costs around 5,700, which is almost double the amount of the previous year.

The publishers of all the books of one standard are different and due to the book list not being shared prior, we are left with no choice but to buy the same from a particular seller. We are refused books if we wish to omit some of the unnecessary items, Daljit said.

Vikas Dua, one of the parents whose children study in Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, said, I have two kids in classes 5 and 6, but the books of the elder one are of no use to the younger son for another academic year.

He also said that this year, there is around a 20% hike in the price of the book sets.

However, Anand Prakash Sharma, city coordinator of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) denied all the allegations.

Parents are free to purchase books from wherever they wish and they are never recommended the name of any dealer. The book list might have been shared a little late on the website of the schools but all the books are easily available in the market, Sharma said.

Manoj Kumar, deputy district education officer (elementary) said, I would escalate this issue raised by the parents and we will get the schools checked so that no inconvenience is caused to parents.

When asked about the reason for delay in uploading the book list, Gurbhej Singh Nagi, GNPS principal said, I am not sure about this and even if it is not published yet on the website, I would ask my team to upload it as soon as possible but there is no deliberate reason behind this.
On the second and concluding day of the Triennial National Convention, the tale of a lesser-known battle in Jaisalmer sector during the 1971 war was shared on Sunday. Colonel Gurjeet Singh Bajwa (retd) recounted his experiences of bravery and unity among soldiers. (HT PHOTO)

Colonel Gurjeet Singh Bajwa (retd), honoured with the Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra, recounted his experiences of bravery and unity among soldiers, during the convention at the Chandimandir Military Station. The two-day convention-cum-reunion brought together highly decorated soldiers and gallantry awardees.

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Unveiling a forgotten story of valour and determination, Bajwa said, A battle unfolded amid the arid landscapes of the Jaisalmer sector. The soldiers from 13 Kumaon regiment stationed near Mokal, northwest of Jaisalmer, chased after retreating Pakistan troops.

A forgotten tale

The battle of Boundary Pillar 638, commonly associated with the battle of Laungewala, was actually a separate engagement led by 13 Kumaon, who renowned for their heroics at Rezang La, Bajwa said.

He added, I was serving as the forward observation officer with 13 Kumaon regiment. I was a young econd Lieutenant stationed with the 168 field regiment, and had been assigned to support the Laungewala post alongside a battery of the 170 field regiment.

Bajwa recounted, During the attack on an enemy border post, our troops faced precise fire from automatic weapons, causing significant casualties. I persisted in directing precise artillery fire at the enemys position.

They suffered 43 casualties in the assault and abandoned the post area, and also the post beyond that, which was in Pakistan territory. We seized weapons and ammunition. I consider myself fortunate that I survived, Bajwa recounted. It was for this operation that he was honoured with the Vir Chakra.

On the brotherhood in the army, Bajwa said, While we were in Pakistan territory, my radio operator was walking ahead of me. The operator is generally to walk behind me hand over the radio if and when needed. On being asked why, he said, Sir, we are in enemy territory. If a bullet hits you, who will control the artillery fire? Bajwa added that he insisted that the radio operator be recognised along with him, and the former was also awarded the Vir Chakra.

Later, Colonel Bajwa completed his training as a helicopter pilot and conducted numerous flight operations. He was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for a rescue operation of an injured mountaineer in the Zanskar range.

The weather conditions were adverse, making it challenging to land. Locating the woman was difficult, and when I instructed my co-pilot to bring her to the helicopter, he expressed difficulty due to poor visibility. As the snowfall lessened, we managed to evacuate the Austrian woman with considerable difficulty, the Colonel recounted.

He further highlighted, Once again, the spirit of brotherhood within the army was demonstrated when I was bestowed with the Shaurya Chakra. I reiterated that I would accept the honour only if my co-pilot was also acknowledged with the same award.

Session to address war widows, veterans concerns

An In-house session was conducted to address the concerns of war widows and veterans. Pension, medical and annuity payments by state governments concerned were some of the issues brought out. It was discussed to approach directors of Rajya Sainik Boards and senior commanders in respective areas to resolve these issues.

A total of 32 veterans honoured with gallantry awards and 28 war widows, along with descendants of two Victoria Cross recipients attended in the session.

War Decorated India president Lieutenant General GS Sihota (retd) said that the association, which once boasted 1,624 members, now has 800, with the average age of its members, including those who served during the 1999 Kargil war, at 75 years. He pointed out that Punjab and Haryana have been at the forefront of providing benefits to gallantry awardees.

Brigadier BS Gill, Vir Chakra, was unanimously elected as the next president of War Decorated India.
Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain returned to Tihar jail on Monday evening, hours after the Supreme Court refused to grant the senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader regular bail in a money-laundering case and directed the 69-year-old, who has been out on interim bail since May 2023, to surrender immediately. Satyendar Jain leaves his house for Tihar Jail on Monday. (ANI)

The appeals are dismissed. The petitioner shall surrender forthwith before the special court, said a bench of justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

After Jain returned to prison, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal hailed the citys former health, power and PWD minister. He is a hero for all Dilli wallas. He made arrangements for providing 24x7 electricity, free electricity, good govt hospitals and mohalla clinics. Feel extremely sad for him and his family. God bless him, Kejriwal said in a post on X.

Jain has been accused of laundering money through four companies he is allegedly linked to. He was arrested in May 2022 in a money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), following a 2017 complaint by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which alleged that Jain acquired disproportionate assets worth 1.47 crore while he was a minister in the Delhi government.

Read more: Is Raj Thackeray-led MNS joining NDA? Devendra Fadnavis responds

The AAP leader was granted interim bail on medical grounds on May 26, 2023 after he suffered a fall in a prison bathroom.

But the top court rejected his plea for regular bail on Monday.

Right to speedy trial and access to justice is a valuable right enshrined in the Constitution of India, the judgment noted, clarifying that the provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) Section 436A, which entitle an undertrial to be released on bail on completion of half of the maximum sentence prescribed for the offence, did not apply to Jain.

The former Delhi minister has completed 12 months in prison, while the maximum punishment for Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), under which Jain is charged, is a seven-year jail term.

Read more: K Kavitha paid 100 crore to AAP leaders: Enforcement Directorate

Advocate Vivek Jain, appearing for the former minister, asked that Jain be given more time to surrender, citing his ill-health. The court, however, rejected the request and maintained its order, also dismissing the bail plea of two other co-accused  Ankush and Vaibhav Jain.

The appellants have miserably failed to satisfy us that there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are not guilty of the alleged offences. On the contrary, there is sufficient material collected by the respondent-ED to show that they are prima facie guilty of the alleged offences, said the bench.

The top court relied on the investigation conducted by ED. The agency interrogated a person named Rajender Bansal, who allegedly received cash from the AAP leader in Kolkata through hawala operators. This money was then passed on to other entry operators to collect cash. According to Bansals statement to ED, he received cash through hawala operators in Kolkata 40 to 50 times on the instructions of Satyendar Jain and others between the period 2010-2016, totalling to approximately 17 crore.

Bansal provided accommodation entries for Jains companies of about 17 crore, for which he had earned 12.4 lakh as commission, ED submitted in court.

Read more: Dont shout at me': CJI chides lawyer during electoral bonds hearing

Appearing for the AAP leader, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi had argued that on all fronts  shareholding, directorship and control over financials of the companies  the petitioner could not be said to have held control over these companies. He also submitted that Jain had not signed any financial document during the said period, and had already resigned from the directorship of the companies two years before the alleged commission of the offence.

Jain left his home in Saraswati Vihar in northwest Delhi hours after the judgment was passed. Wearing a green T-shirt and a lumbar support belt, he left for Tihar around 5.45 pm.

A Tihar spokesperson confirmed that Jain reached Tihar jail around 6.30 pm. Hes also undergoing physiotherapy and a doctor, stationed at the jail, keeps a check on all the inmates, the spokesperson said.
Connecticut officials say the state's population of black bears are beginning to emerge from their winter dens. Here's what to know. DEEP / contributed photo Connecticut officials say the state's population of black bears are beginning to emerge from their winter dens. Here's what to know. contributed photo

From under rock ledges and out of dense thickets, Connecticut's black bears are starting to emerge, bleary-eyed and bushy-tailed from their winter dens.

The problem: Some of the state's ursine neighbors have woken up with a hankering for garbage, and the contents of your bird feeder.

Connecticut's bear population typically start to emerge from their dens in mid-March, according to the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Though the animals bed down for the winter in dens, they don't truly hibernate.

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Here's what to know as black bears begin showing up in people's backyards again this spring.

Warm winter in CT meant male bears were more active

The mild weather this winter meant there were reports of male bears moving around "almost all winter," said Jenny Dickson, DEEP's acting bureau chief of natural resources.

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"It's time to start thinking about bears being in the backyard," Dickson said during a phone interview.

She said bears emerging from their dens now are looking for food, and will be for the next two months or so, since they have been living on fat reserves during the winter.

"Since they've been sleeping for a while, they're really hungry right now," Dickson said.

For the bears' own sake, remove anything that might attract them

Photos and videos of bears that show up on social media in Connecticut often have them going after bird feeders. But bears are also attracted to other human sources of food, like garbage, pet food stored outside, and grills.

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That can spell bad news for the bears, because bears that become too accustomed to humans can end up being put down.

DEEP recommends only leaving bird feeders out between December and late March, when bears are in their dens for the winter. Some can stay active through the winter months, however, if they're able to find food.

"If you live in an area with bears, it is best to avoid bird feeders altogether," the agency says on its FAQ on bears.

"Bears that find bird feeders will often repeatedly visit the site in search of food day after day and year after year. Bird feeders and other bird food will attract bears closer to homes and humans," the website said. "When bears begin to use human-associated food sources, they will frequent residential areas, lose their fear of humans, and not flee when harassed."

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Some towns have limits on when residents are allowed to put out bird feeders.

In extreme cases, bears have broken into people's homes. There were a jump in such incidents in 2022  67 break-ins across 22 towns, DEEP said in its "State of the Bears" report.

Bears are mostly driven by food right now

For most bears, the focus will be on finding food over the next couple months, said Dixon.

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In the woods, bears will forage skunk cabbage, which are started to sprout in wetlands  despite how it smells to us, "it's pretty delectable if you're a bear," Dickson said. They may also feed on any leftover acorns they find on the ground, and insects under rotting logs.

As far as people's backyards, bears will be attracted to grills, but the two main attractants are trash and bird feeders, Dickson said.

Bringing your bird feeder inside this time of year won't deprive the birds.

"A lot of the birds that are still active right now are the ones who are with us all winter, so they know how to make use of the natural foods that are on the landscape," Dickson said.

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Many other migrant bird populations don't start making their way through the region until April and the beginning of May, when things start to grow out.

"The food and the insect availability kind of cycles with the birds as they're migrating up," Dickson added.

In addition to food, mama bears will start to move around with cubs this time of year and stay busy teaching them "how to be grown up bears," Dickson said.

Also, "they're going to be sorting out their territories again," Dickson said.

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If you see a bear in your yard, scare it off

DEEP says people who see a black bear in their yard should enjoy it from a distance. They also have a link where you can report the sighting online.

But it may also be a good idea to scare the bear off and make sure nothing in your yard is attracting it there.

The agency says loud noises, like banging pots and pans together or a whistle, should be enough to scare the animal off.

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"Once the bear has left the area, take a close look at your yard for potential bear food sources, such as bird feeders, pet food, dirty barbecue grills, open compost, or trash," DEEP says.

Scaring the bear off may be better for it in the long run.

"It's really hard to resist the urge to you know, snap that photo of the bear or get that little video clip of a bear in the backyard," Dickson said. "But even that, you know, 10 or 15 second encounter is a great opportunity for us to make some noise to try and scare the bear away to make that interaction with us a little less pleasant for the bear. A little scarier."

Doing so is going to help the animal stay safe longer, she said, because otherwise bears may become comfortable being around people. That can learn to bears associating people's homes and backyards with food.

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Despite proposals, CT has no bear hunting season

Proponents in favor of allowing people to hunt bears in Connecticut have gotten louder, particularly as reports of human and bear conflicts have increased.

Last year, lawmakers abandoned a push to let DEEP set up a lottery system which would have allowed hunters to kill up to 50 black bears each year in Litchfield County.

The proposal died after advocates wrote letters to members of the Environment Committee in protest of the proposed bear hunt.

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While hunting bears remains outlawed, the regulations do now allow farmers to apply to DEEP to kill nuisance bears.

DEEP refers to the process as depredation permits.

If a farmer can show agricultural damage, like a bear eating a lot of their corn crop or killing their livestock, and the farmer can show they've taken reasonable measures to prevent the damage, then they can apply for the permit to take a certain number of bears, Dickson said.

The permit does not allow farmers to keep the bear as a trophy. It requires that the carcass be turned over to DEEP for study, Dickson said. The agency also won't issue the permits if the farmer hasn't shown that they took measures to prevent the damage with non-lethal measures.

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"We've got checks and balances in place," Dickson added.

Bear sightings have increased over the years

DEEP estimated in March last year that the state is home to 1,000 to 1,200 bears in total.

"The breeding population of bears in CT is continuing on a long-term trend of expansion into more cities and towns," the 2023 state of the bears report said. "Just 7 years ago, sows were reported in less than 50 towns, while over the last two years, sows have been reported in over 90 different towns."

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The majority of bear sightings in 2022 were in the western half of the state, especially in northwestern and north central Connecticut, according to DEEP data.

Those areas also unsurprisingly saw the highest instances of human-bear conflicts. Human and bear conflicts have ballooned from less than a thousand in 2015 to now thousands each year, according to DEEP data.

Conflicts involving trash made up the largest share of bear conflicts, according to DEEP, while bird feeders made up around a quarter.

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At least four people were killed, and three others sustained injuries when a car collided with a parked trailer on the Delhi-Ajmer highway near Jaipurs Chandwaji area on Monday, a police official familiar with the matter said. Representational image.

The incident took place when the Jaipur-bound speeding car from Nagaur hit a parked trailer from behind on the highway around 6am on Monday. All the victims were immediately rushed to the nearby hospital, where four were declared dead, Chandwaji Police station house officer (SHO) Sugan Singh Rathore said.

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According to the SHO, all the victims belonged to the same family that had gone to visit Batuta Dham in Nagaur on Sunday.

The four deceased include  three women Kapuri Devi (80), Sajna Devi (50), and Monika Devi (45)  along with 23-year-old Pawan Bunkar. The driver and another person are undergoing treatment at the NIMS hospital, he said.

The bodies have been sent for autopsy.

Prima facie, the accident took place due to speeding. Further investigation is underway, Rathore added.
letters@htlive.com The court acquitted him from the allegations of spying; however, he remains in Gorakhpur jail due to the violation of visa rules. (Sourced)

GORAKHPUR: The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Monday acquitted a Pakistani citizen of allegations of spying due to lack of evidence. However, his release from Gorakhpur jail will only be possible after approval from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) due to a violation of visa regulations.

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Gorakhpur jail superintendent Dileep Kumar Pandey confirmed that Mohammad Masroor alias Mansoor Ahmad Guddu, 65, a Pakistani citizen, had been acquitted of spying allegations by the court. However, his release from jail is subject to approval from the ministry of external affairs.

Pandey said that Masroor had completed the maximum 15-year sentence for the violation of visa regulations and the jail authorities have communicated with the external affairs ministry to initiate the necessary legal procedures and make the final decision regarding his release.

Officials reported that Mohammad Masroor was apprehended by the police in 2008 while attempting to enter India through the open Indo-Nepal border near Rupandehi in Bahraich. Following interrogation, the police filed a chargesheet against Masroor for espionage and for violating passport and visa regulations. Subsequently, he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the district court of Bahraich and sent to jail.

Later, challenging the district courts decision, his advocate filed a case in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court in November last. The court acquitted him from the allegations of spying; however, he remains in Gorakhpur jail due to the violation of visa rules.
MEERUT: The court of the additional district judge (ADJ), Muzaffarnagar, on Monday, sentenced two former PAC constables to life imprisonment for raping and robbing a female protester from Uttarakhand in the 30-year-old Rampur Tiraha incident in Uttar Pradeshs Muzaffarnagar district. The convicted PAC constables were posted in 41st battalion of PAC which was camped in Ghaziabad during the time of incident. (Sourced)

The court had convicted the two constables, Milap Singh and Virendra Pratap, on Friday and pronounced punishment today, said additional district government counsel (ADGC) of Muzaffarnagar, Pravendra Kumar. He said that both retired constables were sent to jail to serve life imprisonment and were also fined 50,000 each.

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The convicted PAC constables were posted in 41st battalion of PAC which was camped in Ghaziabad during the time of incident.

At least seven Uttarakhand activists were killed, and many women activists were allegedly molested during police firing at Rampur Tiraha in Muzaffarnagar on October 1, 1994. The activists were on their way to Delhi from Rishikesh to raise their demand for a separate state of Uttarakhand that was later carved out of Uttar Pradesh on November 9, 2000.

As per Kumar, the court of ADJ Shakti Singh convicted now retired PAC constables Milap Singh and Virendra Pratap under sections 354, 376 (2) (G), 392 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) presented 15 eyewitnesses in the court, including the then Uttar Pradesh home secretary Dr Deepti Vilas, who were examined during the hearing.

The additional district judge (ADJ) in Muzaffarnagar, while delivering the sentence on Monday, compared the Rampur Tiraha incident with Jallianwala Bagh tragedy and denied any sympathy towards the convicted PAC constables. He drew parallels to the firing on innocent and unarmed protesters in Jallianwala Bagh during British rule, emphasising the gravity of the Rampur Tiraha incident.

The protesters were on way to Delhi for a peaceful demonstration when they were fired upon, and a female protester was raped and robbed. Such acts are intolerable in a civilised society, as peaceful protest is a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution to all citizens, he said

CBIs deputy SP SR Agarwal had lodged a case in Rampur Tiraha incident on January 25, 1995 and miscellaneous writs filed by Uttarakhand Sangharsh Samiti in the case were also accommodated in it for investigation.

A probe revealed that protestors from different parts of Uttarakhand, including women, were on the way to Delhi on the night of October 1, 1994, when the buses carrying them were stopped at Rampur Tiraha in Muzaffarnagar.

A few cops broke the window panes of one bus and allegedly hurled abuses at its occupants. Meanwhile, two PAC constables looted a gold chain and some money from a female protestor and later outraged her modesty.

Cases were registered against 1,500 protestors who were travelling in more than 200 buses. Later, seven cases were also registered against cops on the charges of committing rape, loot, distorting evidence etc.

The CBI investigated seven cases on the directions of the Allahabad high court. They include government versus Radha Mohan Dwivedi (rape), government versus Brij Kishore (planting weapon), government versus SP Mishra (disposing of dead bodies of protestors), government versus Moti Singh and two cases in government versus Rajbeer Singh (tampering with police record and fake medical certificates).

Cases against Moti Singh and Rajbeer were closed after their deaths. Currently, four cases are under trial in which the court convicted Milap Singh and Virendra Pratap. Both accused were present in the court when the court convicted them..
Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), a joint venture between Adani Realty and the state government, began a survey in the area on Monday to collect data from lakhs of informal residents of Dharavi for what is said to be the largest urban rejuvenation projects in the world and the first step towards making Mumbai slum-free. The survey will also create, for the first time ever, a Digital Dharavi, an advanced library of one of the worlds largest informal settlements. (HT File Photo)

The survey for Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) and Government of Maharashtra marks the beginning of one of the largest urban rejuvenation projects in the world and is the first step towards making Mumbai slum-free. It is the beginning of transforming Dharavi into a world-class township, a state-of-the-art city within Mumbai. We urge all Dharavikars to support this exercise, which will enable us to execute the rehabilitation process and ultimately provide them with their dream home, said a DRPPL spokesperson.

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SVR Srinivas, the officer on special duty (OSD) at Dharavi Redevelopment Project, said, This is an important day for us. It is the basis of this survey that all our future development will happen. We have begun numbering houses with unique IDs. Our teams will conduct socio-economic surveys of all households.

A survey was conducted in 2008, but the criteria were different then. In the earlier survey, the upper structure was not calculated. We will provide free houses under the scheme to all ground floor structures protected as per government policies. The tenants on upper floors will have to opt for hire purchase under the rental housing scheme, which will be conducted on salt pan lands, Srinivas said.

The data will be used by the state government to determine the rehabilitation eligibility criteria under the proposed redevelopment project. The survey will also create, for the first time ever, a Digital Dharavi, an advanced library of one of the worlds largest informal settlements.

The survey began from Kamla Raman Nagar, with a unique number being given to each informal tenement. This will be followed by laser mapping of the respective lane, known as Lidar Survey. A trained team will visit every tenement with an indigenously developed application to scan documents.

A toll-free number (1800-268-8888) has been activated to respond to the queries and concerns of Dharavikars.
A senior cop, posted as deputy superintendent of police (DSP) at the Police Training College in Assams Dergaon, has been arrested for allegedly torturing and raping a 15-year-old girl who was working as a domestic help at his residence. The girl alleged that the DSPs wife supported him, and she tried to hide her husbands acts. (Representative Image)

The DSP, identified as Kiran Nath, was arrested on Sunday evening under sections 376 (raping female under sixteen years) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, according to the police.

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According to the girl, Nath forcibly confined her in his residence and used to torture her with the help of his family members. She said that she was repeatedly raped by Nath in unnatural manner.

Her family members on Saturday night lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at Dergaon police station in Golaghat district and police registered a case against Nath on Sunday.

She managed to escape from the house recently and came home. After she explained everything, we decided to lodge a complaint, family members told the media on Saturday.

The director general of police (DGP), Assam, Gyanendra Pratap Singh on Sunday evening shared the information through a post on X.

Reference allegations of sexual misconduct towards the housemaid by a DSP posted at Lachit Borphukan Police Academy (LBPA) Dergaon (Case No 42 under section 376, 506, and Section 6 of POCSO Act has been registered at Dergaon PS, District Golaghat, he wrote.

He further wrote, DSP Kiran Nath, presently posted at LBPA, Assam has been arrested on the basis of evidence that has come up during investigation of the aforementioned criminal case.

The DGP said that the Assam Police has a zero-tolerance policy against sexual misconduct. Zero tolerance towards sexual misconduct amongst police personnel remains a cornerstone of the policy of Assam Police Headquarter, he wrote.

The girl alleged that Naths wife supported him, and she tried to hide her husbands acts. Being a woman, she should have taken stand against sexual assault on a minor girl, but the lady rather tried to silence the victim, a member of the girls family said.

Police said that they are investigating the matter further and more evidence is being collected. Officials said that they have recorded the statement of the girl and other witnesses.
An alleged Bangladeshi smuggler was killed, and two Border Security Force ( BSF) personnel sustained injuries during a clash at Magroli in Tripuras Unakoti district on Sunday. As the BSF troopers tried to stop them, 10-15 miscreants became aggressive and assaulted a BSF jawan and tried to snatch his weapon and take him towards Bangladesh territory. (Representative Image)

The deceased has been identified as Saddam Hussein, 23, a resident of Dastaki village in Moulovibazar district of Bangladesh. The injured BSF jawans were identified as Ram Hari Das and Mohan Lal.

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According to a press statement issued by the BSF, the on-duty BSF personnel noticed 15-20 miscreants moving towards the India-Bangladesh border fence from Indian side with headload while 25-30 miscreants were moving with bamboo ladder from Bangladesh side at around 1.25pm on Sunday.

The BSF troopers were performing their duty at the bordering area of Magroli Border Outpost.

As the BSF troopers tried to stop them, 10-15 miscreants became aggressive and assaulted a BSF jawan and tried to snatch his weapon and take him towards Bangladesh territory. Sensing trouble, BSF jawan fired, that hit one of the smugglers, as per the statement.

BSF troops challenged them to stop but they didnt pay heed, became aggressive and encircled BSF jawan on duty. Sensing imminent danger to life and govt property, BSF jawan fired one round of Pump Action Gun which hit one of the smugglers and was further apprehended, said the statement.

The BSF jawans were taken to the local hospital where their conditions are stable. The Bangladeshi smuggler was also taken to the hospital along with them wherein the doctors declared him brought dead.
A shooting by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel of an alleged sugar trafficker in Dalia village near Shella in Meghalayas East Khasi Hills District on March 1 has brought attention to the smuggling of various essential commodities to Bangladesh. The man, identified as Asen M Marak, aged in his mid-forties, succumbed to his injuries in his village, after villagers quickly extricated him from the place of shooting. The incident occurred about 300 metres from the unfenced international boundary. His accomplice, believed to have been hit in the leg, is being sought by the police and BSF. Meghalayas 443-km border with Bangladesh features a complex landscape, including rivers, hills, and jungles, making it prone to smuggling. (Representative Image)

The incident brought to light how individuals are smuggling commodities for quick profits across the border. Cattle smuggling is not new in this hill state, and despite efforts by both police and BSF, contrabandists continue to find alternative routes. However, of particular concern is the daily smuggling of tonnes of sugar and onions to Bangladesh, leading to higher costs for domestic consumers.

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Dolly Khonglah, an exporter and secretary of the Meghalaya Importers & Exporters Chamber of Commerce (MIECC), said that such smuggling is openly happening under the watch of government agencies.

Visit the Tamabil land port to witness long lines of trucks loaded with onions and sugar easily crossing the border, while being assisted by those tasked in manning the border, Khonglah said over phone from Dawki.

Asked about the documentation for such shipments, she replied, What documents? Theyre openly smuggled. Smugglers use multiple routes, often damaging the terrain, including our water sources. Their passage with head load damages pipelines, leading to severe water scarcity for us in Dawki.

An exporter with over four decades of experience primarily dealing in coal, Khonglah attributed the sudden surge in sugar and onion smuggling to sudden increase in duty of the commodities by Bangladesh.

Previously, the duty for legally exporting sugar was 1 BD Taka. Suddenly, it has jumped to 35 BD Taka, making smuggling more appealing. The China effect is evident in Bangladesh, connect the dots. Khonglah said.

Former Meghalaya director general of police (DGP) W.R. Marbaniang, who played a key role in combating insurgency in the state, said, This is a complex issue. Our state police mainly focus on insurgency and maintaining law and order, as border policing is handled by the BSF, Customs, and other border agencies. However, it is concerning when anything crosses the border at the expense of our domestic supply. He added, Our international border with Bangladesh remains very porous, I cant say why. Look at West Bengal and Assam; in fact, theres more happening from there than here.

Meghalayas 443-km border with Bangladesh features a complex landscape, including rivers, hills, and jungles, making it prone to smuggling.

Between the last quarter of 2022 and February 2024, BSF seized 3,918 cattle heads worth 6,04,44,000. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized 3,546 cattle heads in 2023. BGBs seizure data for January and February 2024 is not available.

Meghalaya, a beef-consuming state, considers beef a staple food among its local indigenous communities. Cattle are sourced legally or illegally from markets in Hajipur (Bihar) and Panji Para (West Bengal) to areas like Byrnihat in district Ri Bhoi of Meghalaya and the Barak Valley of Assam.

However, theres been a recent surge in smuggling, notably of sugar and onions. Smugglers acquire sugar from locations like Shillong, Guwahati, and Dudhnai (Assam) at 40-50 per kg and sell it in Bangladesh for 135-140 per kg. Copious quantities of these commodities are transported unchecked from the hinterland to border areas until reaching BSF deployment zones.

According to data from BSF, in January 2023, 6,565 kg of sugar valued at 24,06,950 was seized, while in February the same year, 4,560 kg of sugar worth 18,92,475 were confiscated. In January 2024, a smaller quantity of sugar was seized at 2,586 kg valued at 10,34,516. However, in February 2024, there was a significant spike in seizures, with 41,956 kg of sugar valued at 18,02,567 being confiscated by the border sentinels.

Contrary to past trends, onions, typically not a commodity smuggled in copious quantities, saw a shift in 2024. In January of that year, BSF intercepted and seized 2,776 kg of onions valued at 10,19,120. The following month, this figure increased dramatically by over 288%, with 10,780 kg of onions worth 35,09,434 being seized and will decay till disposed of by the system.

A senior BSF official familiar with the matter said, Most of the items like sugar, onion and other miscellaneous items including cattle are brought into the state on the pretext of local consumption but are further smuggled to Bangladesh because it yields double fold profit.

Cattle smuggling declined during Covid-19 lockdown and after the introduction of the Assam cattle Preservation Bill 2021 on August 13, 2021, as Section 07 of the Bill, makes it mandatory for all cattle traders transporting cattle via Assam to obtain a valid permit from the state concerned. The suppliers are mostly from Assam/West Bengal and maintain direct contact with Bangladesh customers and kingpins.

There are a few local kingpins who maintain contact with suppliers and Bangladesh customers whereas most of the locals are merely carriers or mediators. The mode of payment between local kingpins and dealers, and Bangladesh customers and kingpins is done either through cash, gold or hawala transaction, added the official.

The surge in sugar and onion smuggling is due to stricter checks on cattle transportation and high demand in Bangladesh. The lure of double profits has led to an alarming increase in this illegal trade, posing a major concern at the international border. Vehicles carrying sugar and onions travel unchecked from the hinterland to the border, as these items are not considered contraband until they reach BSF deployment zones.

These vehicles when checked by BSF troops often produce fake documents or sometimes confront troops on the ground that they are taking it for local consumption. These items are also taken to Border Haats for trade, way beyond the authorised limit in disproportionate quantity in the name of local produce and further sold to Bangladesh smugglers under the cover of legal trade, another official overseeing ground operations said.

It is very difficult to check smuggling of any item if brought near the vicinity of the IB or through border haats in the guise of local produce. Strict implementation of SOPs/guidelines for functioning of border haats need to be enforced by the haat management committee as well as all agencies responsible for functioning of the haats to keep a check on this illegal trade, he added

The diligent border patrols have faced challenges, including violent skirmishes with smugglers, exacerbated by local support for illicit activities. In 2023, 18 BSF personnel were injured in such attacks, with an additional 9 injuries reported in January and February 2024. BSF apprehended 119 Indian and 48 Bangladeshi miscreants/smugglers in 2023, along with 2 Rohingyas, and 54 Indian and 7 Bangladeshi miscreants/smugglers in January and February 2024.

This is because BSF has strictly followed the policy of use of non-lethal weapon to maintain zero casualty along the Indo-Bangladesh border while ensuring the security and sanctity of our nations border, said BSF Meghalaya Frontier inspector general, Harbax Singh Dhillon, while commending the personnel for their performance under challenging conditions.

Underlining that operational jurisdiction conflict between BSF and local police in Meghalaya does not arise, as BSF is dedicated to maintaining peace and security along the international border, the IG said, All operational planning, resources, and manpower are focused on the border. He said that BSF seeks local police help for operational tasks in the hinterland or border areas despite having the power to operate throughout the state (as per Ministry of Home Affairs gazette notification dated October 11, 2021).
TANCET 2024 Answer Key: Anna University will release the final answer key of the Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test (TANCET 2024) today, March 18. The final answer key of the MBA/MCA entrance examination will be published on tancet.annauniv.edu. The university will also release the final answer key of the Common Engineering Entrance Test and Admission (CEETA PG). TANCET 2024 final answer key today (Shutterstock)

The provisional answer keys for these examinations were issued on March 13.

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The TANCET exam is held for admission to postgraduate management (MBA) and computer application (MCA) courses.

Anna University conducted the test on March 9. The MCA exam was held in the first shift (from 10 am to 12 pm) and the MBA exam in the second shift (from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm).

The CEETA PG exam is for postgraduate engineering, architecture and planning (ME/MTech/MArch/MPlan) courses. It was held on March 10.

Steps to check TANCET/CREETA PG 2024 final answer keys

Go to tancet.annauniv.edu.

Open the TANCET or CEETA PG 2024 final answer key answer key download link, as required.

Enter your email address, and password, and log in.

Check and download the final answer key.

A total of 39,301 candidates appeared for the TANCET and CEETA PG exams this year. The exam was held at 40 examination centers in 15 cities of Tamil Nadu.
American model Kim Kardashian is facing internet backlash for allegedly spreading rumors about the Royals. Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, is currently the most talked-about person online, among media outlets and royal followers. With each passing day, conspiracy theories about her whereabouts post mysterious surgery spread like wildfire, while Kensington Palace awaits the right time for the princess's public appearance. American model Kim Kardashian is facing internet backlash for allegedly spreading rumors about the Princess of Wales amid mounting 'missing' theories(Pic- Kim Kardashian IG, AP)

Also read: Was William once a royal rebel? From party Prince to rant and rave, the not-so-sweet side

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Kim Kardashian jokes about Kate Middleton

Kim Kardashian seems quite engrossed in internet gossip lately. The 43-year-old turned to social media to share her latest stylist outfit, but whats up with the caption? The caption which reads, On my way to go find Kate, raised some eyebrows. It referenced the Princess of Wales and ongoing rumors about her absence from public appearances. Some found it quite humorous, while others were disappointed by her "irresponsible" behavior and slammed it as a distasteful remark.

Kim Kardashian slammed for her Kate Middleton remarks

In January, Kate Middleton underwent abdominal surgery, after temporarily halting her royal duties. Later, the palace announced she wouldn't return to public duties until Easter. However, her prolonged absence from the public eye gave rise to wild internet speculation, which only intensified after the photoshop scandal.

Also read: Kate Middleton could address mysterious surgery soon, plans to release new photo on

Kim's post and joke didn't sit well with many of her fans, who called her out for this behavior. One fan commented, "Nothing like a celebrity who allegedly hates rumors, spreading rumors." This comment sparked further conversation, with others joining in to express their disapproval. Another commenter remarked, To mock a woman who has a medical problem is so low.

A few more chimed in too. "It's not like people from your family have gone into hiding (rightfully so) during pregnancy or other medical reasons... this caption isn't it." "She doesnt need to say everything about her life unlike you. Her silence demonstrated that she was more powerful than all the American stars combined." There was also concern that the caption would stir up even more drama.

It was previously reported that the Royal Palace is preparing to make a big announcement amid the ongoing worries, which is likely to put an end to all these reports. According to reports, BBC Events has been warned to be on the lookout for an absolutely important statement from the Royal Family at any time in the wake of the ongoing health crisis.
Robert Downey Jr opened up about how he felt after winning his first Oscar for best supporting actor for playing Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer. In an interview with People, Robert also spoke about how his late father director, screenwriter and actor Robert Downey Sr  thought he was 'robbed' in 1993 for not winning the best actor Oscar for Chaplin. Also read: Why Robert Downey Jr feels Oppenheimers success has become a terrible tragedy for Christopher Nolan Robert Downey Jr poses with the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Oppenheimer during the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024. (AFP)

Robert Downey Jr on finally winning Oscar

Robert Downey Jr said, It's crazy that Al Pacino, one of my favourite human beings on earth, presented Best Picture. And it's also crazy that, I think, deservedly he won the first time I was nominated [in 1993 for Chaplin], for Scent of a Woman... Senior went to his grave going, '[You] got robbed for Chaplin.' He wouldn't say he really thought any of my other movies were very good or even that he thought Chaplin was any good, but he did know that I got robbed... I think that he would feel that justice was done and that he can rest. But the problem is, he never cared about any of this s*** anyway.

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Robert also opened up about his journey 'from an uninsurable actor to an Oscar winner'. The actor, who spent years in the grip of drug addiction in the late 90s and early 2000s, said, "I think if you develop a moral psychology, things are a lot easier. And I think it's hard to explain away certain behaviours when there are ways to heal. So I both have a lot of empathy for, and I also am a little bit skeptical about anyone who doesn't lean into what they can do to improve the state of their compass. That's all."

Robert's first Oscar

Earlier in March, Robert Downey Jr won his first acting Oscar in the best supporting acting category for his role in Oppenheimer. The actor jokingly thanked his 'terrible childhood' for the award which he won for the first time, following two previous nominations. Robert was previously nominated for best actor in 1993 for Chaplin, and for best supporting actor in 2009 for Tropic Thunder.

He plays Lewis Strauss, J Robert Oppenheimers nemesis in the Christopher Nolan-directed biopic of the pioneering atomic-weapons scientist, played by Cillian Murphy.

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From left, Jamie Mack, science and oceanography teacher at Torrington High School; and Catherine Haase, Spanish teacher at THS. Jack Sheedy From left, Jamie Mack, science and oceanography teacher at Torrington High School; and Catherine Haase, Spanish teacher at THS. Jack Sheedy From left, Jamie Mack, science and oceanography teacher at Torrington High School; and Catherine Haase, Spanish teacher at THS. Jack Sheedy

TORRINGTON  Teachers Jamie Mack and Catherine Haase want their students at Torrington High School to know that what happens in their backyards doesnt always stay in their backyards.

Ground water, aquifers, and waterways here can affect the sea, although the nearest beach on the Sound is some 50 miles away.

The Naugatuck River originates here in Torrington and has a direct impact on Long Island Sound, Mack said. Yard waste, animal waste, all that stuff can have a negative impact.

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I dont think its common knowledge what a watershed is, Haase said. I think its great that the community is going to learn, and the young kids will learn.

Mack teaches science and specializes in oceanography. Haase, a world language teacher, wants to make sure that multilanguage learning (ML) students at THS can also get involved in a new project called the Long Island Sound Schools Network.

The Torrington public school system is one of six Connecticut-based and four New York-based systems in the network, committed to the protection of local watersheds, the Sound and our one global ocean, according to a press release from Connecticut Sea Grant, a University of Connecticut-based program that facilitates grant funding for participating schools.

Funding is provided from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Long Island Sound Study.

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All 10 schools are within the Long Island Sound watershed. Among the Connecticut schools, Torrington is the furthest from the Sound. The 40-mile Naugatuck River, the only major waterway beginning and ending in Connecticut, is a tributary of the Housatonic River, which it joins in Derby. The last 11 miles of the Housatonic, from Derby, is another 11 miles.

Our project centers around informing the Torrington community about how their actions can impact that watershed and how, in order to have a positive impact on Long Island Sound, we need to take care of the natural resources here in town, Mack said.

When Mack applied for the grant, she asked other teachers for help. Haase said, I suggested that we could make sure that all of these materials and information were also available in Spanish, and that we could also involve some of our ML learners, our multilingual learners, into the process of presenting these materials.

Mack and Haase plan to visit the fifth-grade classes at Forbes and Southwest schools to involve them in a watershed experiment.



Were creating watershed models, Mack said. Its basically a tray with clay, and then its going to have some mountains, and the kids are going to be able to put some stuff on it, stuff like glitter and food coloring, representing litter and chemicals. And then they spray it with a water bottle to represent rain and see where it goes. It all goes to the ocean.

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Another way to raise awareness will be through Watershed Wednesdays.

Every Wednesday, theres going to be a little fact about the watershed thats going to be shared out through social media and morning announcements, so hopefully involving as much of the community as possible, Mack said.

In addition, she and Haase want to organize field trips. Mack said she has nearly 100 students in her oceanography classes that are involved with the project. Several hundred fifth-grade students in Forbes and Southwest can benefit as well, she said.

Other Connecticut schools involved in the network are Flanders Elementary, East Lyme; Mystic River Magnet; Trumbull High; Walter Fitzgerald Campus, Southport; and Waterford High. Network schools in New York are Jefferson Elementary and Trinity Elementary, New Rochelle; PS175X, Bronx; and Smithtown High School West.

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Haase was a middle school teacher and is now teaching in her third year at THS.

I love the connection with the kids, Hasse said. I love the relationships you build with them. I just love seeing them grow as a person, as a student, into little adults that are going to go out into the world.

Mack said, I love that the emphasis here is on the student. Its student first, so that we really like the connection with the student, but also that were here for the kids, and its all about the kids and making their experience better. And I feel like we have a lot of opportunity to make positive impact in their lives.

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Brian Scott, THS principal, is solidly behind the schools involvement in the Long Island Sound Schools Network.
Things got a little scary for Sydney Sweeney during the filming of Immaculate. In a new interview with Indiewire, Immaculate director Michael Mohan revealed that during the shoot of the film's gory final scene, Sydney got fake blood in one of her eyes, but continued to shoot to get the perfect shot. (Also read: Sydney Sweeney says she was attached to do Immaculate even before Euphoria fans wanted her to do a horror film) Sydney Sweeney at the premiere of Immaculate. (AP)

When Sydney was injured on set

In the interview, the director recalled, "We wanted to do everything practically. The biggest challenge was on the last take. Sydney got blood, fake blood, in her eye, and it was stinging her, but we hadnt nailed the take, and she was actually in quite a lot of pain. But shes my boss, and she was like, Keep shooting, Mike. Keep shooting until you f***ing get this.' We didnt reset or anything. We kept the camera rolling, and I think it was the third take where we finally got the perfect take [] but the pain in her voice was because shed gotten fake blood in her eye.

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More details

Michael Mohan further added how the shoot was a difficult experience for the actor. That was probably the hardest thing. But it was harder for her than it was for me, he said.

Sydney is also the producer of Immaculate, having been attached to the project for a long time. In her appearance in The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, she had revealed that she earlier auditioned for the part when she was 16 but the film never got made. Later, when the actor went into producing, she reached out to the writer and assembled the team to get it made. Sydney had worked with director Michael Mohan in the erotic thriller The Voyeurs.

Immaculate also stars Alvaro Morte, Benedetta Porcaroli, Dora Romano, Giorgio Colangeli, and Simona Tabasco. The film received positive reviews after its premiere at SXSW, and is all set to release in North America by Neon on March 22.

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It's been a year since Swifties erupted into applauding hurrays with Taylor Swift's Oh Hi and its several other local counterparts, travelling across the globe. The Anti-Hero popstar's glitzy parade last stopped at its only Southeast Asian rendezvous point, Singapore, in March. The six-night concert affair piped down on March 9 and kicked off an on-stage hiatus for the Gorgeous songstress, opening the window for her upcoming album's promotions and anticipation. The Tortured Poets Department, her eleventh studio album is set for its musical launch on April 19, 2024. And the paths have been cleared for its hopeful preparations, granting the booked and busy musician a moment of calm. Experience exclusive surprise acoustic performances from Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concerts on Disney+.(AFP)

Even fans who didn't win the chance to see her perform live this past year were keenly glued to their mobile screens for fan-shot videos going viral on the internet to become one with the roaring crowd. The next wave of The Eras Tour will hit in May, but in the meantime, Swifties can avail the best of the musical experience in the comfort of their homes as Taylor's 3 hours+ jam session is exclusively live on Disney+. If you've already viewed that digital screening a bazillion times already, and are longing for her live shows, you may check out our guide to the upcoming French leg of The Eras Tour.

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When is the next Taylor Swift Eras Tour schedule?

The record-breaking tour, that even brought about SwiftQuakes,' is heading to Paris in May next. May 9 onwards, the Reputation mother will make Lovers out of the French audience at Paris La Defense Arena. Waving her supportive bestie, Sabrina Carpenter, a hearty goodbye, Taylor will be welcoming rock band Paramore as her following surprise guest act.

Also read | Bruno Mars' shocking $50 million gambling debt report sparks wild fan jokes

Eras Tour Paris dates: (Thursday) May 9, 2024 - (Sunday) May 12.

With Paramore aboard the TayTay train, the Enchanted entourage will serve Karma at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, from May 17 - May 19. The globe trip will fly off to Portugal, Spain, France again, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Poland and Austria until August. Thereafter, Swift will drop off Paramore and open the gates to Gracie Abrams' talent in November, seemingly closing the round trip's chapters in December (according to the Taylor Swift website).

All About Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department Album

Release Date: Friday, April 19, 2024.

Alls fair in love and poetry." Swift's 11th album was proudly announced at the 2024 Grammys during her Midnights victory speech. Her next offering reportedly consists 16 tracks and other bonus tracks featured on the multiple TTPD variants. The forthcoming record has been labelled as a pop album, and features several explicit tracks (acc. to Apple Music). Fans have been speculating how TTPD's title is a direct nod to Taylor's 6-year relationship with Joe Alwyn. The fact that he revealed his identity as a member of the WhatsApp group chat called The Tortured Man Club with Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott doesn't help either. There's a long road ahead for the Eras Tour. One can expect Swift's new songs to make it to setlist hits. However, without any official word, those variations are still up to fate.

Also read | Is Kanye West still obsessed with Kim Kardashian? X-rated game plan outed

The Tortured Poets Department Tracklist

Side A:

Fortnight ft Post Malone

The Tortured Poets Department

My Boy Only Breaks His Favourite Toys

Down Bad

Side B:

So Long, London

But Daddy I Love Him

Fresh Out the Slammer

Florida!!! ft Florence and the Machine

Side C:

Guilty as Sin?

Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?

I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)

Loml

Side D:

I Can Do It with a Broken Heart

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

The Alchemy

Clara Bow

+ The Manuscript + The Bolter + The Albatross + The Black Dog + The Dream (Target Exclusive) bonus tracks.

TTPD, Down Bad, But Daddy I Love Him, Loml, Florida!!!, I Can Do It With a Broken Heart and The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived have been billed as explicit tracks.

Now, we await The Chairman of The Tortured Poets Department to come out of the nest.
Disney CEO Bob Iger was recently seen fawning over pop icon Taylor Swift and her boyfriend Travis Kelce while dining at LA hotspot the Bird Streets Club on Saturday night, March 16, sources told Page Six. Bob jumped up from his seat the minute [Taylor] walked in, a source said. Disney CEO Bob Iger was seen fawning over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce while dining in LA (Photo by JC Olivera / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP, Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Iger was dining with his wife Willow Bay at the time. Kelce and Swift were there with another couple, insiders claimed.

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Several A-listers are known for flocking to the club, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Timothee Chalamet and Bruno Mars.

What are Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift up to at present?

Swift recently wrapped up various international concerts of her Eras Tour. She is now spending time with Kelce at her Los Angeles home, it has been reported. US Weekly reported that the pair is taking a break from their busy schedules. Kelce recently won the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The two were most recently spotted attending Madonnas Oscars bash last week. Kelce was also seen enjoying at Jay-Z and Beyonces party several hours later. He later also attended his friend Justin Timberlakes concert.

They can finally rest and intend on spending quality time together and with friends and family, an insider told Us Weekly.

Swifts Eras Tour movie can be watched on Disney+ at present. During the break, and before Swift releases her upcoming new album named The Tortured Poets Department on April 19, Kelce has planned to take her on a romantic getaway vacation, it has been reported. They dont want to spend too much time apart, the insider said.

Kelce and Taylor began dating in July 2023, but kept their romance private for a long time amid rumours. However, they went public when she attended Kelces first Chiefs game in September.

When you say a relationship is public, that means Im going to see him do what he loves, were showing up for each other, other people are there and we dont care, Swift told Time Magazine in the past. The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that youre seeing someone. And were just proud of each other.
Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won's Queen of Tears has surged to the pinnacle of the ratings chart with its latest episode release. The new tvN rom-com has entered its second week of premiering with a bang. The show appears to have already garnered the fan base necessary to navigate through all 16 episodes seamlessly. Meanwhile, the JTBC show Doctor Slump concluded its schedule with a decent rating despite experiencing a slight dip from its previous one. Both K-dramas are presently streaming on Netflix for global audiences. Queen of Tears(tvn IG)

Queen of Tears ratings soar to double-digit

On March 17, 2024, Queen of Tears aired its fourth episode, concluding the week with an average nationwide rating of 13.0 percent, which represents an impressive boost of 3.4 percent from the previous night. Additionally, as reported by Nielsen Korea, the latest episode of Kim Soo Hyuns K-drama secured the top spot in its time slot across all channels.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Also read: The Idea of You OTT release date: Catch Anne Hathaways sizzling chemistry with Nicholas Galitzine

Queen of Tears plot

Queen of Tears tells the story of Baek Hyun Woo and Hong Hae In, a married couple whose seemingly perfect love match crumbles under the pressure of Hae In's family, a Korean chaebol (conglomerate). Despite a love marriage, and sharing an eternal bond, they appear to have bypassed the honeymoon phase entirely. Standing on the brink of getting divorced, the narrative takes an unexpected turn with Hae Ins medical condition. The rare condition starts bringing them close to each other once again. Instead of focusing on the breakdown, it explores their journey of rediscovering love and building a new foundation for their relationship after everything falls apart.

Also read: Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol's Hawaii date photos surface; Dispatch confirms relationship timeline

Doctor Slump ends with a decent ratings

Park Hyung Sik and Park Shin Hye's Doctor Slump wrapped up their broadcast on March 17. The 16th and final episode of the medical rom-com garnered an average nationwide rating of 6.5 percent, marking a 1.4 percent increase from its previous episode.

KBS 2TV's Live Your Own Life also concluded its broadcast schedule with its finale, achieving an impressive average nationwide rating of 22.0 percent, the highest for the day.
In 2021, while attending a comic arts residency in France, Appupen, gained extensive knowledge about artificial intelligence (AI). The graphic novelist met physics professor and scientist Laurent Daudet, who described the phenomenon of a lack of resources to successfully run AI to create art. Appupen discusses the process of working with Daudet to create Dream Machine: AI and the Real World, his most recent graphic novel/book by sharing, We (Daudet and I) decided to make this graphic novel, and initially it was supposed to be an explainer on how AI works alongside art. But Daudet got a publisher in France, and then it became a much bigger book. While Daudet gave me all the information, I had to crunch it and weave a story around it. George Mathens latest graphic novel is all things AI and art

Ask the city-based author whether hes threatened by the imminent imposition of AI in creative spaces, and he says, Im very cautious of it, but Im not threatened. AI cannot create; it only reproduces. However, there will be a lot of job losses because profit-making corporations will jump on the opportunity to undercut low-wage workers and replace them with AI. But just to get to that point, its going to take some time, the 44-year-old tells us, further adding, Regulations will be needed in place if AI takes over. AI is very much focused on the markets point of view and not the peoples point of view.

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The book is an adventure novel with a social commentary in addition to being an explanation. Its very different from Appupens earlier works, such as The Legends of Halahala, Moonward, Rashtrayana, which are mostly set in the mysterious, legendary realm of Halahala (a world he created).The studying involved in creating the book is what was mainly different from the others. The books main aim is also to educate people on the concept of AI, and so the style of art is quite different as well.

The name, he says, was an AI generated one. We put in several prompts to get this name, he shares.

At the end of the book, which has been published in three languages: English, Bengali, and French, there is a unique feature where five different scenarios from the book have been reproduced with the help of AI. We did that specifically to show the readers the difference between a human touch in a graphic novel and what would happen if AI had to do the same thing. It lacks in every manner, and it sort of acts as a satirical touch to the book, he signs off.
Actor Boman Irani recently gave a speech and got felicitated at the British Parliament and the Oxford. He was at the Indo-UK Summit with IIMUN. Looking back, he calls London extraordinary. Also read | Boman Irani pens a letter to his 25-year-old self: I would tell him the same thing I tell myself even today Boman Irani attended the Indo-UK Summit with IIMUN recently.(Instagram/@boman_irani)

Boman on being felicitated in the UK

I was awestruck entering the walls of the UK Parliament. People from the House of Lords and House Commons spoke too. I spoke about our country and the impact it has on the rest of the world, whether its our yoga, culture, customs, festivals, colours, costumes or food, and how we must look at the world through an Indian lens, he says.

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So did Boman Irani inspire the English people with his wisdom? I dont know if I inspired English people. The endeavour was to impress youngsters, and keep reminding each other that we are ambassadors of our country representing our values, our customs . The British diaspora was very keen to hear what we had to say, he added, looking back at his memorable talk.

Boman Irani with Sanjay Dutt in a still from Munnabhai MBBS (2003).

Im debuting as a director at 64

While his words of wisdom came from the noteworthy work hes done on the Indian silver screen, Irani refuses to call himself a senior actor even after two decades in the industry. When you say that, everybody alludes are you trying to retire? I am still discovering myself. Im debuting as a director at 64. Who does that? Irani told us.

The actor entered films at 44 and never looked back. Calling it the perfect timing, he believes that even if he took up acting early, he wouldnt have played the hero. Imagine I joined the industry at 24, you think I couldve managed to look like a hero? No!, he said.

[But] It definitely gave me a chance to do complex characters that I could mould, create, give them different looks - make them bald or long haired, much older or even younger, Irani added.

As an advice, he feels the younger generation needs to learn their lines, rehearse, and be technically sound, so that they arent concentrating on 500 other things while giving a shot. He asserted, Enjoy the fame but dont let it overshadow your job.

Boman Irani at the Gala Dinner hosted by the Indian High Commission in London during the Indo-UK Summit 2024.(Instagram/@boman_irani)

Raju Hirani's lucky charm?

Iranis words come from a place of playing unique and varied characters in films like Lakshya (2004), Veer-Zaara (2004), Bluffmaster (2005), Khosla Ka Ghosla (2006), Don franchise, Luck By Chance (2009) and Happy New Year (2014).

But his association with filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani is the high point. Would he call himself Hiranis lucky charm? I dont think so. Im just grateful that he gives me enough time to work on my roles. Im just a cog in the wheel, he stated.

Interestingly, Irani has played an educator in three Hirani films - Munna Bhai MBBS (2003), 3 Idiots (2009) and Dunki (2023), each one with a different value system. It doesnt matter whether you play 10 police officers. I do not judge the character by the profession. I judge him by his world view, temperament, flaws, Irani opined.
Daniel Sloss fell in love with the smell, warmth, flavours and chaos of India when he visited the country for shows last year. And the Scottish comedian reveals that is the reason he is back in the country for an eight-city tour. Daniel Sloss performed in Delhi last weekend

After performing sold out audiences in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru last year, he will be travelling to cities -- Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata -- for his shows.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

I am super excited to be back in India. To say it is a dream come true would be a lie. When I started comedy, I never thought that I would be performing in India for a second time, he tells us.

Looking back at his first trip to the country, he says, It was amazing, but it was short. We were there for three days. Doing shoes was also wonderful. I thought language would be a problem, accent would be an issue and maybe people will misunderstand the references. But I was proved wrong.

In Bengaluru, he was discouraged to leave the hotel, and he is glad he didnt go with it as he got to experience the country. And the memories are still fresh in his mind.

I was like I will go out because I didnt come to India to sit in a hotel room. We went for a walk, and people were staring at us, maybe because we were white or because we were famous. But they were friendly stares, he admits.

Getting nostalgic, he shares, Well, crossing the road was a living nightmare. I dont know how you do it. And the food was unbelievable. I tried Vada pao in Mumbai, which is my favourite. The ln Pani puri. This time around, I want to try all the curries. I want to try all the freshly made breads and stuff to dip them. I think people in India have perfected that art, he says.

Thats not all. The comedian wants to foster a stronger bond and work with Indian comedians.

I have seen comedians perform in India. I love Vir Das. I have worked with some Indian comedians and I would love to work with them again, he ends.
The Centre will send nearly 65,000 personnel from paramilitary forces to West Bengal for security arrangements during the Lok Sabha elections, making it the largest deployment among all states after Jammu and Kashmir, officials aware of the matter said. Polling in West Bengal for the 42 seats will be held across all seven phases, starting from April 19. (HT Photo)

As part of the deployment during the first and second phase of polling on April 19 and 26, around 30,000 personnel from three paramilitary forces have already reached the state to prevent violence. Polling in West Bengal for the 42 seats will be held across all seven phases.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The deployment from the third phase will be random and increased because of the areas that are hypersensitive and have a history of violence during the elections, an official said, requesting anonymity. Personnel from the BSF (Border Security Force), CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and SSB (Sashastra Seema Bal) have already reached the state.

Polling in constituencies like Murshidabad, which has reported violence in the past, will be held in third phase on May 7, while elections for the Basirhat constituency, which includes violence-hit Sandeshkhali, is scheduled on June 1, the last phase which includes areas under the North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas districts, which has reported poll violence in recent years.

Tight security in West Bengal is also required because of its location as a state that shares its boundaries with three countries, Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan, a second official said, declining to be named.

The Election Commission on Saturday said new check points will be set up by the forces near the international border and drones will be used near border areas to curb smuggling of articles that could be used in the elections. The poll overseer did not share data of the total security personnel to be inducted for election duty, but said the number would be adequate.

Apart from West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir will have around 50,000 people from paramilitary forces deployed to ensure elections are free of violence.

Places like Jammu and Kashmir already have CAPFs (central armed police forces). Additional forces will be sent to meet the requirement. The pattern will be like Chhattisgarh and Manipur, the second official said. Chhattisgarh being a Naxal affected state already has around 200 companies. They will now be attached for polling duty. An additional 30-40 companies will help them. Similarly, in Manipur, there are over 150 companies already in the state.
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by AgustaWestland chopper scam accused Christian James Michel seeking release from jail claiming that he has already spent five years in jail, the maximum punishment under the offences for which he was extradited in 2018, and with the trial of the case yet to begin. AgustaWestland chopper scam accused Christian Michel. (PTI File Photo)

How can you file a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution, a bench headed by chief justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, said while refusing to entertain the petition.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Appearing for Michel, advocate Aljo K Joseph told the court that his release application was rejected by the trial court on February 23 based on a top court judgment of February 7, 2023 that said Michel was not entitled to mandatory release as an undertrial on completion of maximum sentence as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), subsequent to his extradition, filed an additional chargesheet accusing him under Section 467 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which carries a maximum punishment of life term for forgery of any valuable document.

You are aggrieved by this finding against you. According to you, we are wrong that Section 471 cannot be added. We have dealt with that in our order. You file a challenge to that order. But how do you come under Article 32? observed the bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

In his petition before the top court, Michel said, The liberty granted under the Constitution of India to the petitioner has been curtailed and he is illegally detained in custody after completing the maximum sentence.

It was further stated that as on December 5, 2023, Michel has spent five years in prison for offences pertaining to deception and cheating under sections 415 and 420. He was extradited based on these charges from Dubai on December 4, 2018.

However, it was only later that the CBI added Section 467 of IPC against him by way of supplementary chargesheets filed in September 2020 and March 2022.

The AgustaWestland scam, being probed also by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), is estimated to be of about 3,700 crore. Michel, a British national, was accused of being the alleged middleman in the deal and was charged along with other accused under Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The trial in the case is yet to begin even as the ED and CBI have opposed his bail claiming him to be a flight risk and a person with deep nexus and influence in the bureaucracy.

The CBI told the top court in an earlier hearing that he is a key link to unearth the modus operandi as there is ample evidence to link him with the commission of grave economic offence.

The CBI has so far named former defence secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and four Indian Air Force (IAF) officers for allegedly favouring the firm in the controversial deal signed in 2010. Michel was named by the CBI in its September 2017 chargesheet, while the ED initiated probe into the money trail following the payment of kickbacks in the deal.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday took a jibe at the Congress , saying that there is no benefit in voting in favour of the grand old party as whoever wins would eventually join the BJP. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma (File)

While addressing at the party workers' meeting at the Karimganj district BJP office where he kicked off his election campaign, Sarma said that no candidate wants to stay in Congress and and wants join the BJP.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Read here: Assam Congress moves ECI accusing state govt of violating model code of conduct

"The question is whether the Congress candidate will remain in Congress or not. Now no one wants to stay in Congress; everyone wants to join the BJP. This time, if I can bring all Congress candidates except one to the BJP, then what will be the benefit of voting for Congress? This is the credit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the sun, and we are the moon," news agency ANI quoted Sarma as saying.

The party's candidate for the Karimganj parliamentary constituency, Kripanath Mallah, and other senior party leaders were also present in the meeting.

Sarma further asserted that this time the workers, supporters of Congress, AIUDF and minority community people would also cast their vote for PM Narendra Modi.

"We are also working for the development of minority people; now, the minority youths are getting jobs without giving bribes. This happened during the Congress regime. Minority people also got Orunodoi and this time, minority people will also vote for us. This time, the BJP will also win in both Karimganj and Nagaon seats," he said.

The chief minister also said that along with the campaign for Lok Sabha elections, the BJP would conduct a socio-economic survey to identify the needs of common people. The needs will be fulfilled by 2026, he added.

The intention behind the survey is to get an actual picture of the development and needs of the commons in Assam, Sarma said.

"We'll distribute forms with five points. Requirement of roads, bridges, Arunodaya Cards and other facilities. We'll list the names of girl students passing class-10 this year and we'll make sure they continue their studies after this," he said.

Sarma's remarks came in the wake of several state Congress leaders switching to the saffron camp. Ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha polls, working president of the state's Congress unit, Rana Goswami, joined the saffron camp a day after he resigned from the primary membership of his former party. Goswami, a two-time former MLA from Jorhat, joined the BJP in the presence of Sarma and BJP Assam president Bhabesh Kalita in Guwahati.

Read here: Lok Sabha polls: Assam to have 3 phase voting for 14 seats, starting April 19

Purkayastha, who represents the North Karimganj seat from Congress, quit the post last month and extended support to the BJP government. Another Congress MLA Basanta Kumar Das, had also extended support to the ruling government.

BJP is contesting 12 out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam and sharing two seats with its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). After the Election Commission's delimitation, Silchar became a reserved seat for scheduled caste candidates, while Karimganj became an unreserved seat.

As per the schedule announced by the Election Commission, voting in the northeastern state will be held in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7, while the counting of votes will take place on June 4.

(With inputs from ANI)
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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Meghalaya governor Tathagata Roy has sparked a massive row after he suggested a circumcision test to be conducted of a male applicant seeking citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).



On his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Roy had posted,"TMC is raining disinformation in West Bengal about CAA. Chances of people being misled are increasing by the day. Union Home Ministry must wake up and CLARIFY THE FOLLOWING WITHOUT DELAY: How would a Hindu fugitive from Islamic torture in Bangladesh who entered India with only the clothes on his or her back earn citizenship? What would be the status of a fugitive whose application for citizenship is rejected?"



To my mind the answers should be as follows: A Hindu, Buddhist or Christian fugitive MUST BE PRESUMED TO BE ENTITLED TO CITIZENSHIP. The test of the religious status of a male must be CIRCUMCISION OR OTHERWISE. All females accompanying a male so found to be Hindu must be PRESUMED TO BE ENTITLED TO CITIZENSHIP, Roy added.



ALSO READ: MHA launches mobile app for applicants seeking citizenship under CAA



The former Meghalaya and Tripura governor came under fire from the Trinamool Congress over his remarks.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Meghalaya governor Tathagata Roy

"Tathagata Roy sunk to new depths of BIGOTRY" by the suggestions. This....exemplifies the REGRESSIVE MINDSET and TOXIC CULTURE perpetuated by @BJP4India. Such DISCRIMINATORY and DEHUMANISING remarks have no place in a civilised society," the TMC posted on social media platform X.



ALSO READ: CAA will never be taken back; rules now a formality: Amit Shah tears into Oppn



Responding to the TMC attacks, Roy posted on Monday,"OMG, what coyness, what modesty! Big deal about checking whether a male is circumcised or not! CAA completely excludes Muslims from conferring of citizenship. So in case of doubt this test is perfectly in order."



In a latest post, he defended his remark saying,"I had suggested checking whether a male is circumcised or not when his religion is in doubt. Because Muslims are completely excluded from CAA. I stick to what I posted."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Tamil Nadu on a two-day visit from March 18  his sixth visit to the state since January, people familiar with the developments said. Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s former ally All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is struggling to cobble up an alliance, the BJP leaders said that they are likely to finalise their seat sharing deals with other regional parties close on the heels of the Prime Ministers visit. The Prime Ministers visit was mired in a controversy after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led state government refused permission for his rally in Coimbatore on March 18 (AFP)

The single-phase elections will be held in Tamil Nadu on April 19 and nominations for the same will start on March 20.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The Prime Ministers visit was mired in a controversy after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led state government refused permission for his rally in Coimbatore on March 18 citing security reasons since he was to take the route where a blast had occurred in 1998 ahead of senior BJP leader L K Advanis visit.

The Madras high court, however, favoured the BJP setting aside the police order. This comes amid the speculation that BJP state president K Annamalai has been asked to contest from Coimbatorewhich he has not yet confirmed.

Following Coimbatore, Modi will visit Salem on March 19. Modi was last here on March 15 when he visited the Kanyakumari districta constituency the BJP won in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. This is the first time that a Prime Minister has visited the state five times in three months which clearly shows our focus, said a senior BJP leader on the condition of anonymity.

We will announce our alliances shortly and they may share the stage with the Prime Minister in Salem.

The DMK which is part of the INDIA bloc has inked a seat sharing formula similar to that in 2019. The DMK will contest in 21 constituencies  two seats less than what they contested in 2019. DMKs main ally Congress will battle in nine 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.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK led by Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) has not yet announced any allies yet.

It is the first election of EPS 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 AIADMK is ahead in talks with the DMDK but has been unable to strike a deal with the PMK.

The BJP has been trying hard to gain a foothold in the southern state where since 1967, the DMK and AIADMK have governed the state and no national party has been able to make a mark.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh on Monday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the removal of West Bengal director general of police Rajeev Kumar by the Election Commission, saying that the move is a reflection of the ruling party. West Bengal director general of police Rajeev Kumar (File Photo)

We have seen that the BJP is trying its best to grab different organisations including ECIThey have taken over the control of central agencies and different organisations. In this case also, after the announcement of the Lok Sabha electionswhat we saw today, is the reflection of BJP, the TMC leader told news agency PTI.

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He added, They know that in the Lok Sabha election, BJP will be defeated in most of the seats in West BengalTheir organisation is very poor, very weakWe are confident that BJP may transfer a few officers but the public is with Trinamool Congress and didi (Mamata Banerjee). TMC will defeat BJP again.

The Election Commission on Monday ordered the removal of Kumar, as a part of the commission's efforts to maintain a level playing field and ensure the integrity of the electoral process. The poll panel has asked the chief secretary of the state to provide a list of three eligible officers for Kumar's replacement by 5 pm today.

Kumar, who was appointed as the DGP in December 2023 after the retirement of Manoj Malaviya, is known to be close to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. In 2019, the CM held a two-day dharna after the CBI accused Kumar of allegedly suppressing and destroying evidence in the investigation of the Saradha scam and searched his premises.

The Election Commission also ordered the removal of home secretaries of six states - Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, as well as the removal of Brihanmumbai municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, along with additional commissioners and deputy commissioners. The poll panel also ordered the removal of secretaries of the general administrative departments in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh.
Congress leader Rohan Gupta on Monday said he is withdrawing his Lok Sabha election candidature from Ahmedabad East constituency in Gujarat due to his father's medical condition.



Due to serious medical condition , my father is admitted in hospital and I am withdrawing my candidature for Ahmedabad east parliament seat as Congress Candidate. I will extend complete support to the new candidate nominated by party, Gupta posted on social platform X.



Gupta, a popular Congress face in television news debates, was among 43 candidates announced by the grand old party on March 13. The Ahmedabad East constituency is currently represented by Hasmukh Patel of the Bharatiya Janata Party.



ALSO READ: Modi charisma key factor for BJP to retain all Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat



A vocal face on national news channels, Gupta had also served as the chairperson of the social media department of the party in the past. Congress leader Rohan Gupta





The Congress has so far announced seven candidates in Gujarat, including two sitting MLAs and a former legislator.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Two-term Congress legislator from Vav constituency, Geniben Thakor, has been given the ticket by the party to contest from the Banaskantha seat in north Gujarat.



She is pitted against Bharatiya Janata Party's Rekhaben Chaudhary, whose name was declared in the ruling party's first list of candidates. Thakor had won the Vav seat twice - in 2017 and 2022, having defeated BJP heavyweight Shankar Chaudhary during the 2017 election.



The party also fielded its MLA Anant Patel from Valsad seat, reserved for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community. A tribal leader, Patel is a sitting MLA from Vansda seat.



The party also gave a second chance to its former MLA Lalit Vasoya to contest from Porbandar Lok Sabha seat. He had unsuccessfully contested the Porbandar parliamentary seat in 2019 as the then sitting Congress MLA from Dhoraji seat. He was defeated in the 2022 assembly election from here. He will contest against Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who has been fielded by the BJP from the Porbandar seat.



The grand old party fielded new faces from the Kutch (Scheduled Caste-reserved seat), Ahmedabad (West) (SC) and Bardoli (ST) seats. It also announced the names of Nitish Lalan, Bharat Makwana and Siddharth Chaudhary for these seats respectively.



Gujarat, which has 26 constituencies, will vote in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 7. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.



(With PTI inputs)


New Delhi: In November last year, data from National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) was stolen by a hacker group LockBit. (AP)

A ransomware attack on government-owned National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), Indias largest aerospace research company, on November 15 last year has come under the scanner of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has started investigating the incident as a cyberterrorist attack.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The federal anti-terror agency has registered a case in the ransomware attack, suspected to have been carried out by worlds most notorious cybercrime enterprise called LockBit, people familiar with the developments said, on condition of anonymity.

An affiliate of the governments Council of Scientific and Industry Research, NAL Bengaluru is the only government aerospace R&D laboratory in the countrys civilian sector. It came under a ransomware attack on November 15, after which LockBit threatened to publish the stolen data, including classified letters, if it failed pay an unspecified ransom amount.

We have registered a case to investigate the ransomware attack at the NAL from the cyberterrorism angle, said a NIA officer.

The federal agency has a specialized anti cyberterrorism unit, which probes cyber attacks by state or non-state actors on government and private installations in India. It had earlier assisted other agencies including CERT-In in the ransomware attack at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in November 2022.

Lockbit is one of the most prolific cyber criminals groups, said Tarun Wig, information security expert and co-founder of Innefu Labs. Ransomware attacks are usually carried out by private groups for money and Indian establishments have been targeted very often.

One of the worlds most active ransomware-as-a-service operations groups, LockBit has been involved in data theft and encryption, followed by extortion and data leak. It first emerged in 2019, with its name at that time as ABCD. Since then, it has hacked into thousands of businesses, schools, medical facilities and government establishments around the world.

After a joint operation by law enforcement agencies from 10 countries, including the US, France, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Japan and Canada and led by British authorities, UKs National Crime Agency last month announced it had taken control of LockBits services, compromising their criminal enterprise.

Through our close collaboration, we have hacked the hackers; taken control of their infrastructure, seized their source code, and obtained keys that will help victims decrypt their systems, Graeme Biggar, director general of the British agency, said in a statement on February 20.

As of today, LockBit are locked out. We have damaged the capability and most notably, the credibility of a group that depended on secrecy and anonymity, Biggar said while terming LockBit as worlds most harmful cybercrime group.

The US department of justice also said it had partnered with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to disrupt the LockBit ransomware group, one of the most active ransomware groups in the world that has targeted over 2,000 victims. It said the cyber enterprise had received more than $120 million in ransom payments, and made ransom demands totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ashok Chavan, who quit the Congress last month, dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's claims of him weeping before Sonia Gandhi.



Chavan said he did not meet Sonia Gandhi before leaving the party. Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's comments on a Maharashtra leader crying in front of his mother, Chavan said, If he is saying that about me, then it is illogical and baseless. The truth is that till I resigned from the Congress, I was working at the party headquarters. I resigned from the post of MLA and a few moments later resigned from the party also. BJP leader Ashok Chavan as seen during an interview with HT.

"Till then, no one knew that I had resigned," the former state chief minister said. "I never met Sonia Gandhi. It is baseless (to say) that I met Sonia Gandhi and expressed my emotions. It is a political statement from the election point of view," Chavan added.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Chavan resigned from the Congress last month, joining the likes of Milind Deora, and Baba Siddique who quit the party.

In an indirect attack at the former Congress leader (Chavan) on the concluding ceremony of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi had said "I don't want to name names, but a senior leader from this state, left the Congress. Weeping, he told my mother, 'Sonia-ji, I'm ashamed to say, I do not have the power to fight this people, this force. I do not want to go to jail'," he added.

Rahul said further, "We are fighting with a power. Now the question is, what is that power. The soul of a king lies in the EVMs, ED (Enforcement Directorate), CBI, Income tax."

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi culminated at the Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday. Prominent leaders of the INDIA bloc, including MK Stalin, Uddhav Thackeray, Priyanka Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, and others attended the rally in a show of strength and unity in the alliance.

(With inputs from PTI)
According to the complainant, she is an MBBS student of the 2021 batch at a government hospital. HT Image

"On January 31, our practical exam was going on in a pharmacology department. At around 1.15 pm, I had to appear before an assistant professor of Pharmacology for a practical viva. The professor had kept the chair close to himself even though students usually sit across the table from the teachers."

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Further, the complainant said that the professor gave her some documents and he kept on asking her inappropriate and irrelevant questions which made her feel uncomfortable, read the FIR.

"When I stopped answering he sent me out and asked me to come again. Then he started asking me about injections and inappropriately touched me. He touched my neck and tried to touch my private parts on the pretext of asking questions," she alleged.

"When I stood up to leave, he asked me about breast abscess and made inappropriate gestures," it stated.

The victim told police that the assistant professor asked her to come to the department alone as he would teach her how to write answers in a way that would fetch her more marks.

"He also told me that he was going to check our written exam answer sheets so he will take care of the marks if I am cooperative enough," read the FIR.

The complainant also alleged that similar incidents had happened with other students too, but they remained silent as they feared failing the exam.

She also claimed that she lodged a complaint to the concerned authorities, but no action was taken against the assistant professor.

"Our HOD also supported him and defamed me among other teachers by telling them that these girls are making false allegations," the FIR stated.

Police have registered an FIR under sections 354A , and 509 of the Indian Penal Code against the accused.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Zac OYeah is a Swedish novelist, rock musician, and author of the Majestic Trilogy  a trio of detective stories set in his adopted home of Bengaluru. And if that were not enough, hes also the author of the brand-new book, The Great Indian Food Trip: Around a Subcontinent a la Carte. Zac OYeah, the guest for this weeks episode, recounts various delicacies from around the country. (HT Photo)

OYeah was the featured guest on last weeks episode of Grand Tamasha, a weekly podcast co-produced by HT and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In the book, OYeah catalogues his travels crisscrossing India on a gluttonous search for the best food and drink  from the goats brain of Mumbais Irani cafes to the signature masala dosas of Mysore. The book offers readers a mouth-watering, whirlwind tour of Indian cuisine.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

One unusual delicacy OYeah dwells on in the book is pickled mussels from coastal Kerala. I managed to somehow find them in the palm jungle just outside of Thalassery in a factory where they were pickling mussels, he recounted.

They sell them in these nice jars that say something like super-hot, as a warning to customers. Understandably, you dont get them in many shops. If you try it, it is super-hot  and basically your hair flies off.

OYeah also spoke about the simple pleasure of dining at Koshys, the beloved Bengaluru cafe, and the surprising pizza-lovers paradise that is Puducherry.

He also recounted his boozy night drinking caju, a spirit distilled from cashew fruit, in Goa with celebrated writers Orhan Pamuk and Amitav Ghosh.

Grand Tamasha host Milan Vaishnav ended the episode by asking OYeah to name five Indian dishes he would need to survive if he were ever stranded on a desert island. If there is one dish one can never get tired of, that is dal-roti. When you walk in the Himalayas and you get hungry and tired at the end of the day, theres nothing like dal-roti. Its fabulous comfort food and its also rich in protein, he explained.

Next on the list are vada sambar and curd rice, which the author calls soothing and comforting.

I always think of what RK Narayan, the Indian novelist, used to say: the most beautiful sound in the world is when the curd drips on the rice, remarked OYeah.

Rounding out the list are thick, Punjabi-style lassi and kebabs. When pressed to name his favourite kebabs, OYeah referenced his adopted hometown of Bengaluru, Theres a fellow who stands in the slaughterhouse areaon a corner and cooks these amazing kalmi kebabs. Theyre the best kebabs east of Istanbul, and he sells them for 80 for two skewers.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP TR Baalu has dismissed opposition AIADMK's allegations over funding through electoral bonds, saying that the MK Stalin government gave no concession in exchange for donations, reported NDTV. Edappadi K Palaniswami (ANI)

As per the data released by the Election Commission of India on electoral bonds, Future Gaming and Hotel Services donated  509 crore to DMK.



AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami had taken a dig at the ruling DMK government's law against online gaming and criticised it for accepting donations from such a company.



The state government enacted a namesake, weak law banning online gambling and shamefully received cash from a gambling company that pledges people's lives, the former Tamil Nadu chief minister had said.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Responding to the allegations, Baalu said, "It was the Governor who delayed assent to the law, and the government got it re-enacted. It was the Governor who met owners of online gaming companies."

ALSO READ| DMK received 509-Cr worth electoral bonds from Lottery King Santiago Martin

The AIADMK government had brought a law to ban online gambling, in 2021. However, the legislation was later struck down by the Madras High Court. After the DMK came into power, the Stalin government in 2022 formed a committee headed by a retired high court judge to look into online gaming. On the basis of the panel's recommendation, a new Bill was tabled and it cleared the House.

After some delay, the Governor gave his assent. However, the law was challenged in Madras High Court. The court refused to strike it down, and said it will not apply to games of skill such as rummy.

Baalu also hit out at Palaniswami for not highlighting donations to the BJP.

"Fourteen of the 30 companies intimidated by the Enforcement Directorate have donated large sums to the BJP. Does EPS have the spine to condemn it?," said Baalu.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha P Mayee refused to take suo motu cognisance of the incident and said police will look into it. HT Image

The court made the remarks after a lawyer requested it to take up the issue as a suo motu PIL .

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"Our effort is that justice be done, but don't make us an investigating agency. We are not doing that. We still want to remind ourselves that we are constitutional courts. We will definitely take into cognisance if such matter comes in, but this is not one of those," Chief Justice Agrawal said.

She said every incident in the city is not a matter of PIL.

"Don't substitute this court with inspectors of police. Don't make us the inspector of police. We are not investigating officers," CJ Agrawal said.

When lawyer KR Koshti submitted that the police had not incorporated all relevant sections in the FIR, the court asked him to take legal remedy.

Around two dozen people allegedly barged into the government-run Gujarat University's hostel in Ahmedabad on Saturday night and raised an objection to students from foreign countries offering namaz near the facility block where they stayed, according to the police.

Two students - one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan - were hospitalised after the incident which took place in the A-block hostel, police earlier said.

An FIR was registered against 20-25 unidentified assailants, and nine teams were formed to conduct a probe into the incident, they said.

So far, five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident, the police said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Monday chided a lawyer during the Supreme Court's hearing on the electoral bonds case. Don't shout at me, the CJI told the lawyer. A five-judge Constitution bench was hearing a batch of petitions(X)

A five-judge Constitution bench, comprising of CJI Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, was hearing a batch of petitions on the scrapped electoral bonds scheme when the incident took place.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Read here: Electoral Bonds: Supreme Court rebukes SBI, says don't be selective

Per a viral video, CJI Chandrachud scolded advocate Mathews Nedumpara and told him not to raise his voice.

Don't shout at me! This is not a Hyde Park corner meeting, you are in the court. You want to move an application, file an application. You have got my decision as Chief Justice, we are not hearing you. If you want to file an application, move it on the email. That's the rule in this court, he said.

The advocate was asserting that the entire judgment in the electoral bonds case was delivered without the knowledge of the citizens.

He said, It was not a justiciable issue at all. This was a policy matter and not for the courts to get into. That is why people feel this judgment was given behind their back.

The CJI kept asking the advocate to pause and listen to him. Despite the warning, the advocate persisted. At this point, Justice Gavai intervened: "You are obstructing in the process of administration of justice! You want contempt notice?"

After the stern warning, the lawyer appeared to calm down.

Meanwhile, the top court directed the SBI to disclose all details to the Election Commission of India which are in its possession, including the Electoral Bonds' unique alphanumeric numbers corresponding to each bond. It asked SBI's Chairman to file a compliance affidavit 5 pm of March 21.

Read here: Electoral bonds: A key poll plank for anti-BJP forces

The apex court further asked the Election Commission to upload the details on its website forthwith upon receipt of information from the SBI.

The Supreme Court in its February 15 judgment mandated the SBI to disclose all details including the date of purchase/redemption, name of purchaser/recipient, and the denomination of electoral bonds.

According to the data released by the Election Commission of India on its website last week, the BJP encashed 6,060 crore over five years through the electoral bonds scheme.

A total of 1,260 companies and people have bought 22217 bonds worth 12,155.51 between 2019 and 2024. 23 political parties have redeemed these bonds, while Future Gaming and Hotel Services and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd were among the top donors to political parties, the data revealed.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday transferred West Bengals senior-most police officer, the home secretaries of six states, and the head of the Mumbai corporation as part of its effort to ensure free and fair polls. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar (HT Photo)

Among those transferred are Rajiv Kumar, the DGP of West Bengal  the second ECI-driven transfer since 2016 for the officer  and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation commissioner Iqbal Chahal. ECI also removed the home secretaries of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and the secretaries of the general administrative department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

ECI officials said the transferred IAS officers in these seven states were holding dual charges with one in the office of chief minister which would have potentially seemed to compromise impartiality and neutrality required during the electoral process. The decision was taken following a meeting of commissioners headed by chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Monday morning, one ECI official said on condition of anonymity.

Once elections are announced  the national elections get underway from April 19, and will be held in seven phases  officers in the Centre and states come under ECIs jurisdiction and it can post them anywhere till elections are over. Mondays order is a step towards ensuring free and fair polls, the officers said.

West Bengal DGP Rajiv Kumar, a 1989 batch IPS officer, who was named the states top police officer in December 2023, has been in the political spotlight after the BJP and other opposition parties accused the Bengal police of failing to provide protection to an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team that sought to question TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh at Sandeshkhali on January 5. Sheikh was arrested by West Bengal police following the Calcutta high court order on March 1 and was handed over to CBI on order of the high court on March 6.

Kumar served as commissioner of Kolkata Police from February 2016 to February 2019. He was removed from the post in April 2016 by ECI because of assembly elections. The government reinstated him in May 2016. Before 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the state government transferred Kumar to the criminal investigation department (CID) of the Bengal Police as additional director general.

A computer engineer from IIT Roorkee, Kumar has been a target of BJP, Bengals main opposition party, since 2019 when CBI sought to question him in the Saradha chit fund investigation. CBI accused him of tampering vital evidence. Kumar, who was heading the state CID at that time, made national news by disappearing. He appeared before the CBI in Shillong, where he was questioned for two days. After that, the government made Kumar principal secretary of the information technology department. Last year, he was named DGP.

In the evening, the commission appointed 1988 batch IPS officer, Vivek Sahay as states new DGP. Sahay was DGP (Home Guards).

West Bengal BJP spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya welcomed the decision and accused Kumar of being biased.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh asked the election commission under what rule Kumar has been transferred as he was posted as DGP only four months ago. We have complied with the EC guidelines related to transfers, Ghosh said.

The commission also earlier directed state governments to transfer officers connected with election-related work, who have completed three years or are in their home districts. Maharashtra had not complied with the directions in respect of few municipal commissioners and some additional and deputy municipal commissioners and they were also transferred on Monday.

Read more: HC seeks response from Centre over plea challenging CM Nayab Saini's appointment

The poll panel under CEC Rajiv Kumar conveyed its displeasure to the state chief secretary and asked him to comply with the order by 6pm on Monday.

The EC also transferred, Pankaj Joshi, a 1989 batch IAS officer, who has been holding charge of Gujarat home department after his predecessor Mukesh Puri retired in January this year. Joshi, is also additional chief secretary at chief ministers office and has additional charge as managing director of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd, a Gujarat government company. In the evening, the commission replaced Joshi with AK Rakesh, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) , Farmers, Welfare and Co-operation Department, as new Home Secretary.

In Uttar Pradesh, the EC ordered the transfer of principal secretary home Sanjay Prasad, a 1995 batch IAS officer. Prasad is the principal secretary to Chief Minister and has charge of Principal Secretary Information. Prasad, considered a trusted officer of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, was at the forefront of maintaining law and order during the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22.

The Election Commission has ordered the transfer of Bihar additional chief secretary (Home) S Siddharth, a 1991 batch IAS officer. Siddharth is the principal secretary to the Chief Minister and has additional charge of home department as well as cabinet coordination department. He was promoted to the rank of additional chief secretary on June 11, 2023 and is considered a trusted officer of Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar. He was the secretary to the CM earlier also. Following commissions instruction, Pranav Kumar, an IAS officer of 2008 batch, was given the charge of home secretary in addition to additional charge of IG Prisons.

Jharkhand home secretary Arwa Rajkamal, a 2008 batch IAS officer, holds additional charge of secretary to chief minister.

In Himachal Pradesh, the commission transferred state home secretary, Abhishek Jain, a 2002 batch IAS officer, and state general administration department (GAD) Secretary, Rakesh Kanwar, a promoted IAS 2007 officer of batch. Both were secretaries to CM Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu.

Mizoram GAD secretary Pu Vanlaldina Fanai, a promoted IAS officer of 2002 batch, secretary to CM Lalduhawma, was also transferred.

ECI also ordered the transfer of Uttarakhand home secretary, Shailesh Bagauli, a 2002 IAS officer .
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday uploaded all electoral bond-related documents that it received from political parties in 2019 and November 2023 in sealed covers, which it had subsequently submitted to the Supreme Court. The Election Commission of India (PTI)

The documents contain details of the number and value of electoral bonds that parties redeemed between March 1, 2018 and November 20, 2023. On March 14, 2024, the poll body had uploaded data it received from the State Bank of India (SBI) for the bonds bought and redeemed between April 12, 2019 and February 15, 2024.

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The documents unsealed and uploaded on Sunday showed that political parties knew the identities of the people and entities that donated funds to them, belying previous claims that the electoral bond scheme would ensure the donors identity remained hidden from the beneficiaries.

Of the parties that submitted details to the poll body between May and July 2019, to comply with the Supreme Courts interim order dated April 12, 2019, eight revealed names of their donors. These were the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Janata Dal (Secular), Janata Dal (United), Samajwadi Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Sikkim Democratic Fund and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The Congresss head office did not reveal names of donors but its Goa unit said it received 30 lakh from VM Salgaocar and Brother Pvt Ltd, a mining company, in April 2019.

In November 2023, while complying with the Supreme Courts order dated November 2, 2023, the number of such parties dwindled to six. The AIADMK, JD(S), and SDF gave details of donors again and the JD(S) was the only party to receive donations through bonds after its previous submission. Three other parties  Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party  gave details of their donors in 2023 though they had not made any submissions in 2019.

Of the 656.5 crore that Tamil Nadus ruling party DMK received between April 2019 and October 2023, 509 crore, or 77.5%, was donated by Future Gaming and Hotel Services Pvt Ltd, run by the Coimbatore-based Santiago Martin. Between April 12, 2019 and February 2024, the lottery firm bought bonds worth 1,368 crore, of which 37.2% was donated to the DMK.

In its submission to the poll body dated November 14, 2023, the DMK prefaced the details of the donors and wrote, The Scheme also does not require the details of the donor to be furnished to the donee. Under these circumstances the donors did not strictly adhere to the requirement of furnishing their details whenever they handed over the electoral bonds to us. Be that as it may, following the direction of Honble Supreme Court, we contacted our donors and we were able to collect the details from them.

The MGP got bonds worth 35 lakh from VM Salgaocar and Brother, and another 20 lakh from VS Dempo and Company Pvt Ltd, another mining and steel company in January 2022. In 2009, Vedanta-controlled Sesa Goa bought Dempos mining operations.

Between April 12, 2019 and February 15, 2024, VM Salgaocar and Brother bought bonds worth 1.5 crore while an associated company, VM Salgaocar Corporation Private Limited bought bonds worth 4.45 crore. In the same duration, the chairperson of the Dempo Group, Srinivas Vasudev Dempo bought bonds worth 1.25 crore and three entities linked to Dempo  Dempo Industries Private Limited, Vasudeva Dempo Family Private Trust, and Dempo Private Limited Navhind Papers and Publications (which published The Navhind Times in Goa)  bought bonds worth 25 lakh.

Telangana-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Limited, which bought bonds worth 966 crore (without including bonds bought by its wholly owned subsidiaries) between April 12, 2019 and February 2024, of which it donated 105 crore or 10.9% to DMK. It also donated 50 crore to JD(S) in March 2019 and April 2023.

Most parties claimed in their submissions they had no information about the donors. Some others suggested they had the information but could not share it as their donors wished to remain anonymous.

In its submission dated May 27, 2019, the All India Trinamool Congress, while claiming that it did not have the details of its donors, wrote, [M]ost of these bonds were sent to our office and dropped in the drop box or sent through messengers from various persons who wished to support our party, many of whom prefer to remain anonymous. Thus we are not in possession of the names and other details of the buyers.

The Samajwadi Party, too, in its May 30, 3019 submission gave details of most donors, but for 10 1 crore bonds, it submitted that it had received them by post with no name.

The Nationalist Congress Party, in its submission dated May 29, 2019 gave details of the donors, but said, We are unable to furnish detailed particulars of donors against each bond as we neither maintained complete details of the same nor issued any receipts against the bonds received as initially we were not expected to maintain any details of electoral bearer bonds... Wherever possible, we have indicated the name of the person through whom bonds were received by the party.

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has emerged as the biggest recipient of funds under the scheme and has accounted for the redemption of 50% of the value of all bonds redeemed, refused to give details of its donors in both the 2019 and 2023 submissions. In its July 6, 2019 submission, it said that under the Income Tax Act, 1961, political parties have been exempted from the need to maintain the details of donations received through electoral bonds. It reiterated, It is duly submitted that the Electoral Bonds were introduced with the aim of bringing only accounted for funds in political funding while protecting the donors from any consequences, therefrom.

To be sure, in a letter dated May 26, 2017, the then director of expenditure at the poll body, Vikram Batra had written to the secretary of the legislative department in the ministry of law and justice, expressing misgivings about the amendments to the IT Act through which the scheme was enabled.

I am directed to draw your attention to the Finance Act, 2017, which has introduced certain amendments in the Income Tax Act, the Representation of the People Act 1951 and the Companies Act, 2013 and will have serious impact on Transparency aspect of political finance/funding of political parties, he had written.

The new documents showed that in at least one case, an electoral trust donated to a political party. Indias largest electoral trust, the Prudent Electoral Trust, donated ten 10 lakh bonds for a total of 1 crore to the Rashtriya Janata Dal in April 2019. Electoral trusts are mandated to report who contributes to them and which political parties the trust contributes to, but they do not specify which donors donation was used as a contribution for which party. News agency Reuters recently identified 18 transactions between 2019 and 2022 in which eight corporate groups made large donations to the trust. Within days, Prudent issued cheques for the same amounts to the BJP.

The Goa Forward Party, in its May 2019 submission about electoral bonds, said it received a cheque of 50 lakh from Prudent Electoral Trust in its HDFC Bank account. To be sure, electoral bonds can be encashed by political parties only in their special accounts in the State Bank of India.
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached properties worth 16.57 crore belonging to businessman Shravan Gupta in its probe into the VVIP chopper scam, alleging that managing director of the realty firm, MGF, had received proceeds of crime in the 3,727 crore deal, the agency said on Monday. Shravan Gupta, the ED statement added, received proceeds of crime in several companies beneficially owned by him. (Representative photo.)

Gupta, currently the head of MGF, had allegedly fled from India in November 2019 and extradition proceedings against him are already underway, it said. He reportedly runs MGF from Dubai.

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ED has provisionally attached immovable properties worth 16.57 crore belonging to Shravan Gupta, an accused in theVVIP chopper scam case. T AgustaWestland he properties attached are in the form of land/farmhouse (s) located in a posh area of Delhi. ED had earlier attached properties amounting to 4.05 crore belonging to Gupta and his wife in 2022, the agency said in a statement.

Gupta, the ED statement added, received proceeds of crime in several companies beneficially owned by him.

The proceeds of crime were received from a shell company based out of Mauritius, which had received the kickbacks in the defence deal from Agusta Spa, Italy, it added.

Also Read: AgustaWestland chopper scam: SC dismisses Christian Michels release petition

The federal agency has already filed a charge sheet against Gupta in the case in February 2022.

Presently, extradition proceedings against Gupta are underway as he fled the country in November 2019, ED statement said.

A spokesperson for Shravan Gupta denied any involvement in the case.

We wish to state that this matter is sub judice and Mr Gupta has no involvement in the said case . This attachment is also illegal and the same will be challenged in the appropriate court . Mr Gupta has been a non resident Indian since 2016, the spokesperson said.

ED is probing the United Progressive Alliance UPA-era scam based on a parallel corruption probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which alleges irregularities in the purchase of 12 VVIP choppers from Italy-based Finmeccanicas British subsidiary AgustaWestland. The deal was scrapped by India in 2014.

The money laundering probe has revealed that kickbacks amounting to euro 70 million were paid by AgustaWestland for influencing the deal in its favour and for subsequent payment of bribes to the officials of the Indian Air Force, bureaucrats and politically exposed persons (PEPs) through a complex web of transactions, ED said on Monday.

Also Read: Agusta Westland case: Court dismisses plea of Christian Michel seeking custody release

The integrity pact in the tender documents for the procurement of the VVIP helicopters forbade engaging of any middlemen and paying of kickbacks in any form for a favourable decision. Complex structures of money laundering were used to launder the kickbacks through a maze of companies across a number of countries like Tunisia, Mauritius, UK, Switzerland, British Virgin Islands and the UAE, it said.

The agency further said that AgustaWestland paid kickbacks worth euro 28 million to the middlemen - Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa in India and Tunisia on the pretext of engineering contracts. Further, the Tunisian company of Haschke and Gerosa signed sham consultancy agreements to transfer the kickbacks to the tune of euro 12.4 million to company in Mauritius which transferred and routed the kickbacks to intended beneficiaries including the companies beneficially owned by Shravan Gupta.

ED has filed 12 charge sheets in the case and has attached properties worth 110 crore.
The disclosure about the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) earnings from electoral bonds is expected to fuel the oppositions narrative against the ruling party and will be a key bone of contention in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled to begin from April 19. The funding mechanism of donations to political parties was introduced by the BJP in 2017, pitching it as a reform for making the electoral donation process transparent. Opposition leaders protest against the Centre in New Delhi over the electoral bonds scheme. (Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

Notwithstanding the criticism of the scheme, the government asserted that it would allow donors to remain anonymous, thereby shielding them from vendetta by political parties that benefit from the donations, but do not want their opponents to benefit from the same scheme.

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On Sunday, the Election Commission made public the second set of details about the funds that it received from the registry of the Supreme Court. The BJP emerged as the biggest beneficiary with 6,986.5 crore, the TMC in West Bengal received 1,397 crore, the Congress (in power in Karnataka, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh) received 1,334 crore and BRS got 1,322 crore. The DMK, which is in power in Tamil Nadu, earned 509 crore from Santiago Martins Future Gaming.

Of the 16,492 crore electoral bonds that were redeemed between 1 March 2018 and 11 January 2024, the BJP redeemed 50% or 8,252 crore, the EC data showed.

In 2019, the party overcame the oppositions allegations of failing to fulfil poll promises such as employment and economic revival. This time, although it is confident of meeting the target of 400 Paar, the opposition has sharpened its attacks highlighting the BJPs brimming coffers and the link between some of the donors and probes against them. It will have to be seen how the party drafts its rebuttal to the oppositions charges and prevents an adverse impact on voter sentiment.

The BJPs campaigns in 2014 and 2019 were pivoted on the anti-corruption plank and the promise of crackdown on graft and black money. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is leading the 2024 campaign on his personal guarantees, instructed party workers to go to the masses with the report card of BJP good governance, clean administration and spotless political image of the PM.

The party expects to be questioned about accepting donations from Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited that has been under the radar of multiple agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax department for years.

Following the disclosures, BJP spokesperson RP Singh said, of the 20,000 crore-odd electoral bonds, only 6,000 crore has been given to the party while the opposition has benefitted from the rest.

The BJPs ideological fount, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which drums up support for the party, even as it distances itself from electoral politics, too has dubbed the funding mechanism as an experiment.

Sangh volunteers who campaign for 100% voter turnout and give issue-based support to the BJP will be expected to blunt the oppositions criticism about the scheme. Addressing the media after the Sanghs annual meeting, senior functionary Dattatreya Hosabale said electoral bonds were introduced with cheques and balances.

The opposition, meanwhile, is ready with its arsenal. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the BJP-led Union government has conspired to route black money into the ruling partys accounts through the scheme and dubbed electoral bonds as the biggest extortion racket run by the central government.
Electoral bonds case highlights: The Supreme Court on Monday heard a case regarding the State Bank of India (SBI) disclosing the "unique serial numbers" of electoral bonds. Under the now-defunct 2018 Electoral Bond scheme, each bond is marked with a unique serial number, which could aid in monitoring their issuance and redemption and tracing them back to the purchaser....Read More

Expressing disapproval, the Supreme Court criticized the State Bank of India (SBI) on Friday for not revealing the unique serial numbers associated with each electoral bond (EB) when providing information to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding bond beneficiaries and donors for public disclosure.

Previously, the Election Commission released updated information on electoral bonds, which had been previously presented to the Supreme Court in sealed envelopes, as per the apex court's directive to make it accessible to the public.

This data pertains to transactions that took place before April 12, 2019. Details of electoral bonds issued after this date were disclosed by the Election Commission last week.
The Supreme Court on Monday yet again pulled up the State Bank of India (SBI) saying it can't be selective and has to disclose all conceivable electoral bond details in its possession, including alpha-numeric unique numbers that would disclose the link between the buyer and the recipient political party. On March 15, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to SBI to explain the reasons for the non-disclosure of unique alpha-numeric numbers in compliance of its directions.(REUTERS)

A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said the Supreme Court had, in its verdict in the electoral bonds case, asked the SBI to disclose all the details of the bonds and it should not wait for further orders on this aspect.

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We had asked all details to be disclosed by the SBI which includes electoral bond numbers as well. Let the SBI not be selective in disclosure, the bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, orally said during the hearing.

On March 15, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to the country's largest bank to explain the reasons for the non-disclosure of unique alpha-numeric numbers in compliance of its directions, saying the SBI was "duty bound" to reveal them.

What unique alpha-numeric numbers?
The Election Commission of India on Sunday released data received from political parties on electoral bonds, which it had given to the Supreme Court in sealed covers, following a directive from the apex court to make it available to the public. These details are believed to be pertaining to the period before April 12, 2019. The Election Commission of India made data received from political parties on electoral bonds public on Sunday. (REUTERS)

The election commission's data showed while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre received the maximum funds through these bonds at 6,986.5 crore since they were introduced in 2018, Future Gaming and Hotel Services  the top purchaser of electoral bonds  donated 509 crore to Tamil Nadu's ruling party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam through the now-scrapped payment mode.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Also Read | Long before electoral bonds made him famous, Santiago Martin was in the crosshairs of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala cops

The disclosure is part of the data dump about a total of 523 recognised and non-recognised political parties made public by the EC on the Supreme Court's directives. This followed another dataset published by the poll panel last week based on the information submitted by the State Bank of India (SBI), the sole bank authorised to sell and redeem electoral bonds.

Electoral bonds: Key points from election panel's data
New Delhi: The State Bank of India (SBI) can't be selective in disclosing information linked to electoral bonds, the Supreme Court of India said on Monday, directing the bank to submit full details of the bonds' numbers to the Election Commission by March 21. The apex court also ordered the chairman of the bank to file a compliance affidavit by March 21. The Supreme Court of India. (File)

The Supreme Court ordered the bank to disclose all "conceivable" electoral bond details in its possession, including unique bond numbers that would disclose the link between the buyer and the recipient political party.

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A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, in a strongly worded rebuke, said it had asked the bank to disclose all the details of the bonds and that it should not wait for further orders.

"We had asked all details to be disclosed by the SBI which includes electoral bond numbers as well. Let SBI not be selective in disclosure," the bench, also comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said.

Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for the SBI, said it should not seem that "we are playing with court". He said if the court wants the numbers of electoral bonds, "we will give".

The bank said it will give every bit of information required by the court.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, said the bank should file an affidavit stating that it has not suppressed any information.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said the main aim of formulating the electoral bonds scheme was to curb black money in politics. He said that the apex court must be aware of how this judgment is being played outside the court.

He claimed witch-hunting has started over the details. He claimed some social media posts, which "intended to cause embarrassment", have started to surface. He urged the court to issue some direction in this regard.

Responding to the request, CJI DY Chandrachud said: As judges, we are only on the rule of law and work as per the Constitution. Our court is only to work for the governance of the rule of law in this polity. As judges, we are also discussed in social media but our shoulders are broad enough to take this. We are only enforcing our directions of judgment.

In two tranches, the SBI has disclosed the names of donors and beneficiaries. The BJP has emerged as the party which has encashed the largest sum over the period of 2019 and 2024. The Trinamool is second on the list, the Congress third and the BRS fourth.

The SBI has not disclosed who has donated to whom. Only the DMK has shared the breakup of donations by donors.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
Good afternoon, here are top news stories for you to read on March 18 evening. Former West Bengal director general and inspector general of police Rajeev Kumar

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Chennai Kanyakumari has recorded BJPs best performance so far in Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu (AFP)

Five years after it failed to make any mark in the state during the Lok Sabha polls, despite sweeping the Hindi heartland, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is again trying to gain foothold in Tamil Nadu in upcoming general elections.

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The BJP in alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) had drawn a blank in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

In September 2023, the two parted ways, leaving the BJP to contest with smaller parties such as Maanila Congress.

According to the political experts, the BJPs gamble of going alone with smaller parties in Tamil Nadu can help the national party to gain in at least five parliamentary seats, if not more, in a three-cornered contest against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and opposition AIADMK.

A BJP leader familiar with the development said that the party were banking on Kanyakumari, Coimbatore, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi and Sivaganga seats, apart from hoping of decent performance in Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Tenkasi and south Chennai constituencies.

The partys vote share in previous polls also substantiates this. In the 2019 Lok Sabh elections, the BJP contested in five seats  Kanyakumari, Coimbatore, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi and Sivaganga  where the party received some backing.

Kanyakumari has recorded BJPs best performance so far in Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu. The party has maintained a steady vote share there irrespective of whether it was or wasnt in an alliance with AIADMK or other allies. BJP won the seat in 2014, when AIADMK was contesting all the seats on its own and made the contest three-cornered. In a bipolar contest in 2019, it was far behind the winner (Congress which was part of the DMK-led alliance in the state).

The BJP has also polled around one-third of the votes in Coimbatore in previous two Lok Sabha elections but came relatively close to the winner (AIADMK) only in 2014, again when the contest was triangular, one between AIADMK, BJP, and DMK. The western region of Tamil Nadu, which includes Coimbatore district, is a strong hold of the ruling AIADMK, where the DMK directly fielded its candidate last in 1996 Lok Sabha elections.

Here, industrialists and the community of Telugu-speaking Naidus and Gounders support the BJP.

In 2019, a sizeable Muslim population of the area protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) along with the Anglo-Indians and various Christian groups that support the DMK-Congress combine.

Coimbatore had witnessed widespread violence in 2016 after several mosques and churches were pelted with stones following the murder of a Hindu Munnani spokesperson C Sasikumar. In its charge sheet, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had named members of the now-banned extremist outfit People Front of India (PFI) as accused. In 1998, multiple bomb blasts during BJP leader LK Advanis visit to Coimbatore claimed at least 58 lives. Following this, local party veteran CP Radhakrishnan (current Jharkhand governor) was elected twice as the MP but failed to retain seat in the 2019 Parliamentary polls.

A three-cornered contest also helped the BJP get relatively close to the winner in Vellore in 2014. In 2014, B Senguttuvan of the AIADMK won with 383,719 votes and a 6% margin against A C Shanmugam who belongs to the New Justice Party and contested under the BJP symbol to receive 324,326.

In 2019, Shanmugam was the runner up, this time contesting under the AIADMK symbol, after BJP joined them, with 477,199 votes losing by a thin margin of 0.79% to DMKs Kathir Anand who received 485,349 votes.

Ramanathapuram is the only other Lok Sabha seat where the BJP has polled 30% votes in past three LS elections. In 2009 and 2014, BJP came in third while the DMK and AIADMK won the seats respectively.

The difference in votes between the winner and the BJP in these two elections was  166,623 and 234,863 respectively and the margin was 9% and 12% respectively. In 2019, DMKs ally IUML won with 469,943 votes (44.29%) while BJPs candidate former AIADMK heavyweight Nainar Nagendran was the runner up with 342,821 votes (32.31%) and the margin of victory was close to 12%.

In 2014 in Tirunelveli, AIADMK won 41.9% votes while the Desiya Murpoku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) which was part of the BJP alliance came in third with 13.4% and in 2019, AIADMK fielded its candidate who was the runner up. In Tirupur, DMDK was the runner up with 25.42% votes, far behind the winner AIADMK 42.73%. In 2019, DMKs ally CPI polled more with 45.6% beating AIADMK at 37%. In 2014, in Tenkasi (SC reserved constituency) the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) part of the BJP alliance polled third with 18.9% where AIADMK (42%) was the winner. In 2019, Puthiya Tamilagam party founder K Krishnaswamy, part of the NDA, contested under the AIADMK symbol and was the runner up polling 33.6% losing to DMK which polled 45%.

In south Chennai, AIADMKs first time candidate D Jayavardhan polled 41% beating senior leaders of the DMK and BJP TKS Elangovan 28% and L Ganesan 24.5% respectively. However, in 2019, Jayavardhan contesting under NDA lost to DMKs Tamizhachi Thangapadian with over 23% margin.

The BJP plans of bagging Lok Sabha seats with a lower vote share through a three-corned contest, said people familiar with the matter. The minimum vote share of a winning MP in the past three Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu was 35.6% in 2009, 36.7% in 2014, and 43% in 2019, when it was a direct fight between DMK-led alliance and AIADMK-led alliance. The BJP leaders said in the triangular contest, the winning vote percentage could be 35% to 37%.

Tamil Nadu has been among the top priority state for the BJP with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting the state four times since January. On February 25, Modi launched his campaign from Palladam in Tirupur district which is one of the assembly segments in the Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency. Modi also spoke of the legacy of AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran and his successor J Jayalalithaa which political analysts said was to appeal to the AIADMK voter base.

The event also marked the culmination of Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalais six month padyatra en mann en makkal (my soil, my people) passing through all the 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK had left the BJP alliance last September blaming Annamalai for his comments against their late leader J Jayalalithaa of being corrupt. Due to the breaking of the alliance, the DMK will get the benefit of having the anti-DMK votes split three ways between the AIADMK, the BJP and other parties such as S Seemans Naam Tamizhar Katchi.

Political analyst Maalan Narayanan said: When the BJPs primary poll plank in Tamil Nadu is corruption, they cannot continue being with the AIADMK and speak against it.

This split and if Annamalais yatra has gained ground... both can definitely give an edge to the BJP in at least five seats, he said, naming Tirupur, Coimbatore Virudhunagar, south Chennai and Kanyakumari.

According to the BJPs own internal assembly, they hope to garner a minimum vote share of 12.5%. With PMs campaigns, we think it will go up to 18%, a senior BJP leader said. In 2014 LS polls, BJP polled 5.5% votes (without AIADMK and in alliance with Pattali Makkal Katchi) which Jayalalithaa swept winning 37 out of 39 seats. BJPs vote share further dropped in 2019 LS polls to 3.6% in alliance with the AIADMK and PMK where the DMK won 38 out of the 39 seats.

Yes, our plan was to be with the AIADMK until 2026 and then face the elections alone. But, the change may work out in our favour. The pattern to vote only for either the DMK or AIADMK may change now because we are offering an alternative, said another senior BJP functionary.

Since AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaas death in December 2016, the BJP has tried to make inroads into Tamil Nadu through a weakened AIADMK. Even when they were in alliance, the AIADMK was worried that BJP was taking up more space as an opposition party and the plan is to completely relegate the EPS-led party to position itself as the main rival of the DMK. The BJPs narrative here is that the DMK-Congress combine has been practising dynastic politics and Dravidian parties are entrenched in corruption which they hope to break with a promise of development and double engine growth being in the Centre, said the party insiders.

Both the AIADMK and BJP have been wooing the remaining NDA allies such as the PMK and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam. So far, only the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) led by former Union minister under the UPA regime G K Vaasan has announced that he will continue to stick with the BJP. Leaders expelled from the AIADMK- O Panneerselvam and TTV Dinakaran (who founded a breakaway faction Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam) are hoping for a resurrection by joining forces with the BJP. Both leaders belong to the Thevar community which is dominant in the southern districts which BJP is trying to cash in.When the AIADMK and BJP were together itself they lost to us and now their split will give us more advantage, said DMK MP TKS Elangovan.

Its the AIADMKs votes that transferred to the BJP, a senior party leader said not wishing to be named. They needed us more than we needed them. The battle is only between us and the DMK. And now that we are out of the alliance, we are once again receiving the support of minorities, said the leader.
NEW DELHI New data uploaded by the Election Commission on Sunday revealed donor details for at least some of the parties, something that was missing in the data released on March 14. HT Image

Donor details have been made available for 11 parties. Of these, eight have submitted data pertaining to the period before April 12, 2019, and three parties  Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP)  have submitted data till September 30, 2023. The newly submitted data connects some of the biggest electoral bond donors to their recipients.

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Among the three parties that have revealed donors up to September 2023, the DMK is the biggest recipient with bond donations of 662.5 crore, followed by the JD(S) ( 89.8 crore) and the MGP ( 55 lakh).

The two biggest donors for the DMK during this period contributed over 90% of the partys bond receipts. They were Future Gaming and Hotel Services Pvt Ltd, which donated 77% ( 509 crore) of the partys bond receipts, and Megha Engineering & Infrastructure ltd, which donated 16% ( 105 crore).

Similarly, JD(S) received around 80% of its 89.8 crore bond donations from just two companies:Megha Engineering & Infrastructure ltd and the Embassy Group of Companies. The former donated 56% of the JD(S)s bond receipts ( 50 crore) and the latter 24.5% ( 22 crore).

The MGP received bond donations from just two companies: 35 lakh from VM Salgaocar & Brother Pvt Ltd and 20 lakh from VS Dempo & Company Pvt Ltd.

The top three recipients for the period up to April 12, 2019 for whom donor details have been made available are the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Janata Dal (United), and Samajwadi Party. They have revealed donors for 37.75 crore, 13 crore and 10.84 crore, respectively.

The top three donors for the NCP were Bajaj Finserv, Atula Choradia, owner of the Panchshil Group, and Infina Infrastructure. They donated 7.5 crore, 5 crore and 5 crore, respectively, of the total 37.75 crore for which the party has revealed donors.

The top donors for the Janta Dal (United) included Shree Cement, which donated 2 crore, and Bharati Airtel, which donated 1 crore. Another 10 crore were donated by donors whose identity has not been made available.

The top donors for the Samajwadi Party were San Beverages, which donated 30 lakh, and AK Traders and KS Traders which donated 10 lakh each.

The data released on Sunday also allows one to track the fraction of companies total bond donations that went to parties who have revealed their bond donors. For example, Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited, owned by lottery magnate Santiago Martin, purchased electoral bonds worth 1,368 crore from April 12, 2029 to January 11, 2024. It was the biggest purchaser in this period. At least 509 crore (37%) of this went to the DMK, which has revealed receipts of donations from April 15, 2019 to September 30, 2023, but not for the period after. The company appears in the list of the DMKs donors in every fiscal year since 2020-21. The DMK came into power in Tamil Nadu in May 2021.

Meanwhile, the second-biggest purchaser of electoral bonds from April 12, 2019 to January 11, 2024 was Megha Engineering. It gave 150 crore to the DMK and 50 crore to the JD(S). These two parties accounted for 15.5% and 5% respectively of the 966 crore worth of electoral bonds purchased by the company.

The list of donors even includes an IPL Franchise. The Chennai Super Kings, owned by India Cements, donated 5 crore to the AIADMK. Meanwhile, the DMK received 10 crore from India Cements.

To be sure, the data here only includes parties that revealed their donor details for electoral bonds. Most political parties claimed they had no access to information about their donors. Some also refused to share information citing their donors wish to remain anonymous.
RUDRAPUR: Prakash Narayan Pandey, a former Chhota Rajan gangster deported from Vietnam in 2010, has asked the Uttarakhand government for permission to let him travel to a temple outside the jail for an initiation ceremony to become a monk, people familiar with the matter said. Jail authorities said Prakash Narayan Pandey was unlikely to get permission to step out jail for his initiation ceremony. (FILE PHOTO)

Prakash Narayan Pandey aka Bunty Pandey was detained in Hanoi in October 2010 following an Interpol red notice first issued against him in 2002 at the request of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

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Almora jail superintendent Jayant Pangtey said Pandey, who is also known as PP, has said he wanted to become a monk.

We have received a handwritten letter from PP in which he has said that he wants to repent for his crimes and become a monk. He has requested permission to hold an initiation programme at a temple outside the jail complex, said Pangtey said on Monday.

Pangtey said the request would likely be rejected given Pandeys track record.

We have forwarded his letter to the higher authorities. It is not clear what his motive was Since he is a very cunning criminal, we cant permit him to hold such an initiation programme, said Pangtey.

Haldwani-based journalist Arvind Malik suggested that it was unlikely that PP had changed his ways. He is very cunning As I understand, he plans to extort money from industrialists and traders in the name of initiation programme, Malik said.

Prakash Pandey, 45, hails from the Chhoi area of Ramnagar in Nainital district and was shifted to the Almora prison just two months back, police said.

Following his detention in 2010, Indian authorities said Bunty had been living in Cambodia for some years on an Indian passport issued to him by the Indian embassy in Phnom Penh under the assumed name of Vijay Subhash Sharma.

Alleged to be a top lieutenant of fugitive underworld don Chhota Rajan, Pandey had gone underground after an attack on Chhota Rajan by rival don Dawood Ibrahims sharpshooter Munna Jhingada in Bangkok in September 2000.

Pandey faced about 40 criminal cases in 2010 including the daring daylight murder of East-West Airlines chief Thakiyuddin Wahid in Mumbai in 1995 on Rajans order. He was also allegedly involved in the abduction of two Delhi youths from Mumbai in 2004.

Pandey also figured on Mumbai polices most wanted list of gangsters at number 36.

After being brought to the country, Pandey was moved from one jail to another in view of the court cases against him. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he was lodged in Sitarganj jail in Udam Singh Nagar and later shifted to Hardwar jail.
New Delhi, The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider a plea of the Tamil Nadu government against the refusal of Governor RN Ravi to appoint senior DMK leader K Ponmudi as a minister in the state cabinet. HT Image

The governor has recently refused to re-induct the senior DMK leader and former Higher Education Minister into the state cabinet, saying it would be against constitutional morality.

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A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the state government, there was some urgency in the matter which should be listed for hearing.

The state government has sought a direction to the governor to act as per the aid and advice of the council of ministers led by Chief Minister M K Stalin.

This is the same errant governor, who was earlier dealt with by this court. The Supreme Court stayed the conviction . The chief minister recommends his appointment. The governor writes a letter and says it is constitutionally immoral, Singhvi said.

Please send an email. I will look into the email, the CJI said.

The governor, in a letter to Stalin, said the apex court only suspended the conviction of Ponmudi by way of an interim order.

The governor refused to appoint the leader in the Stalin cabinet.

The state government has filed an interim plea in a petition relating to non-grant of assent to bills cleared by the legislative assembly.

It has referred to a constitutional scheme to buttress the submission to say that the governor is bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers.

The plea said that once the conviction was stayed, there was no legal and constitutional bar on re-induction of Ponmudi in the state cabinet.

The senior DMK leader was disqualified as an MLA under the Representation of the People Act after the Madras High Court recently reversed his acquittal in the disproportionate assets case.

The top court stayed the conviction and the sentence of the leader who was sentenced to over two year jail term.

The state government then reinstated Ponmudi as a legislator after the Supreme Court suspended his conviction in a disproportionate assets case. The governor said the conviction and sentence have only been suspended and not set aside.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Bengaluru: A shopkeeper in Bengaluru was beaten up by a group of men after an alleged altercation over azaan, the police said on Monday. Reacting to the controversy, BJP leader R Ashoka accused the Congress government in Karnataka of appeasement. Leader of Opposition in Karnataka assembly and BJP leader R Ashoka.

"An altercation occurred between a group of people and a shopkeeper last evening during 'Azaan' time when a shopkeeper played a song loudly near Siddanna Layout, in Bengaluru. A few Muslim youths questioned him, and an argument ensued, leading to them hitting the shopkeeper. An FIR has been registered at Halasuru Gate Police Limit, and the police are working to arrest the accused," the police were quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

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The shopkeeper later accused the group of beating them for playing Hanuman bhajan.

"I was playing Hanuman bhajan. 4-5 people came and said it is time for Azaan and if you play it we will beat you. They beat me and also threatened me that they would stab me with a knife," the man told the news agency.

Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, BJP leader R Ashoka, slammed the Congress government for allegedly failing to maintain law and order in the state.

"Is Hanuman Chalisa banned in Karnataka CM @siddaramaiah avare?" he asked on X.

"Emboldened by the appeasement politics of Siddaramaiah, a violent muslim mob brutally attacked a Hindu Shopkeeper in Bengaluru for playing Hanuman Chalisa. After Pakistan Zindabad slogans raised in Vidhan Soudha and bomb blast in Rameshwaram Cafe, this yet another glaring example of how Congress government has let the anti-national elements capture Bengaluru leading to complete collapse of law and order," R Ashoka said.

BJP leader PC Mohan alleged that the attack on man is the grim reality of Congress's 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' pitch.

"In Bengaluru, a poor Hindu man was assaulted by a Muslim mob for allegedly playing the Hanuman Chalisa. The grim reality of Congress's Mohabbat Ki Dukaan," he wrote on X.

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya said anti-social elements didn't allow bhajans during the time of 'azaan'.

Also read: BJP's Sadananda Gowda expresses displeasure over ticket denial in Karnataka

"A Hindu shopkeeper who was playing bhajans at his shop was assaulted by anti-social elements saying bhajans aren't allowed during the time of 'azaan'. The emboldening of such elements is a direct result of Congress's appeasement politics. Just a few days back, people who shouted Pakistan Zindabad were given bail. With such political backing available to Jihadis, naturally such incidents of crime against Hindus have risen in our State. CM must stop setting wrong precedents. I call upon him to update the State on what action is initiated against the miscreants in this case," he wrote on X.

With inputs from ANI
Industrialist Sajjan Jindal, against whom a complaint of rape was lodged in December last year, was framed' by the complainant, the Mumbai Police has declared in its closure report, giving clean chit to the JSW Group chairman and MD, India Today has reported. Managing Director of JSW Steel Sajjan Jindal.

The closure report was submitted in the Bandra Metropolitan Magistrate Court on March 16, the publication added.

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What does closure report say?

The Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) Police, which was tasked with investigating the case, found that Jindal did not go to the hotel on the day of the alleged incident. For this, investigators collected testimony from witnesses at the hotel.

The investigators also noted the gap of nearly two years between the alleged incident (January 2022) and the registration of the FIR (December 2023). Additionally, the woman failed to produce evidence despite promising in the FIR, and did not record her statement in spite of the police repeatedly writing to the court.

Finally, based on the testimony of witnesses, and evidence collected during the probe, the police concluded that there was no wrongdoing with her. Accordingly, the metropolitan court has been requested to grant a summary judgment of the case.

Such a judgment is given by a court without a trial, when there is no genuine dispute about the essential facts of the case, allowing for a swift resolution based on the legal merits.

Jindal had described the rape allegations as false and baseless, and promised to extend his full cooperation to law enforcement agencies. The FIR against the billionaire was under sections 376 (rape), 354 (outraging modesty of a woman) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday skipped the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons for questioning in connection with alleged irregularities in the awarding Delhi Jal Board (DJB) contracts. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. (ANI)

A leader of Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called the summons illegal. When bail was granted, then why is ED sending summons? The leader alleged the BJP was contesting the Lok Sabha election by using the ED as a shield.

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ED on Sunday issued two separate summons to Kejriwal. It asked him to appear before it in connection with the DJB and excise case policy cases on Monday and Thursday.

In the DJB case, it was the first summons issued to the chief minister. Kejriwal has skipped eight summons in the excise policy case, calling them illegal and politically motivated. Kejriwal was unlikely to appear before the ED in connection with the excise case either.

The AAP has maintained the BJP was attempting to prevent Kejriwal from campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Nobody knows what the DJB case is or what irregularities have occurred. Maybe they doubt whether they will be able to arrest Kejriwal in the excise case, so this has been opened as a backup case. A third case may be opened if they cannot arrest him in this case as well, Delhi minister Atishi said on Sunday.

The two summons to Kejriwal came a day after a Delhi court granted him bail in connection with EDs two complaints over his failure to appear before the federal agency in connection with the excise case.

ED officials said that the bail does not mean that the court has given Kejriwal immunity from appearing before ED.

BJP leader Harish Khurana said Kejriwal has again proved that he does not respect the law. He on purpose evaded the ED summons. The investigation agencies are doing their work. It is the court that will decide whether the summons are legal or illegal. ED summoned Kejriwal to ask questions in the DJB case. Since Kejriwal has skipped the summons, it makes it clear that Kejriwal is trying to hide something. If Kejriwal has not done anything wrong, then he should appear before the ED.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale said on Monday that he has filed a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for violating the code of conduct during a visit to the southern state of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, claiming he used an Indian Air Force helicopter to attend an election rally in the state's Palnadu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing during a public meeting in Palnadu on Sunday. (BJP Andhra Pradesh - X)

He shared a screengrab of a tweet from news agency PTI that showed PM Modi being received at Palnadu alongside an IAF chopper. He also shared a copy of the complaint filed against the prime minister.

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Taking to X, the TMC MP wrote, Complaint against PM Modi with ECI for violating code of conduct. Filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Modi for using an Indian Air Force helicopter to attend an election rally in AC 96-Chilakaluripet in Palnadu, Andhra Pradesh yesterday. EC rules prohibit use of state machinery for campaigning. Indira Gandhi was disqualified in 1975 specifically for this reason. If BJP paid for renting the IAF chopper, then EC should let us all know along with the grounds for why an IAF chopper was essential (CMs & other Z+ protectees use normal VVIP choppers which have all required security features). EC had said while announcing the elections that code of conduct violations will be dealt with strictly. Let's see if EC initiates a probe or any action against PM Modi for using an IAF chopper for election campaigning.

Gokhale's complaint copy said, This is to bring to your urgent notice and to file a formal complaint for violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17.03.2024 in the Assembly Constituency of 96-Chilakaluripet in Palnadu District of Andhra Pradesh.

Your kind attention is drawn to the Election Commission's rules on use of official vehicles and helicopters laid down in the ECI's Letter number. 464/INST/2014/EPS 10.04.2014 addressed to the Chief Electoral Officers of all States/UTS, it added.

Modi shared the stage with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief and actor Pawan Kalyan at a massive public rally held at Boppudi village, near Chilakaluripet town in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.

Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) is a collection of guidelines to regulate the conduct of political parties and candidates before elections. It becomes operational from announcing the election schedule until the results are declared.

The code includes eight provisions covering various aspects such as general conduct, gatherings, processions, polling day procedures, polling stations, observer roles, regulations for the ruling party, and guidelines for election manifestos.

What if MCC is violated?

While the MCC lacks independent legal enforceability, specific clauses within it can be enforced through corresponding provisions in other laws, such as the Indian Penal Code of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973, and the Representation of the People Act of 1951.

Moreover, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has the power under paragraph 16A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order of 1968 to suspend or revoke a party's recognition.
The Bharatiya Janata Party will contest on 17 seats in Bihar, while National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally Janata Dal (United) will contest on 16 seats, BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde announced on Monday. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), headed by Chirag Paswan, will contest on five seats.



BJP will contest on 17 seats, JDU on 16 seats, LJP (Ram Vilas) on 5 seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha on one seat each... Tawde was quoted by ANI as saying.



"Five seats have been given to Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). We will win all 40 Lok Sabha seats of Bihar," said Raju Tiwari, Bihar State President, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) at the briefing.



ALSO READ: Regional parties face battle for relevance in election arena



JD(U) led by Nitish Kumar, had returned to the NDA earlier in January, 18 months after the Bihar chief minister had joined hands with Lalu Prasad's Rashtriya Janata Dal.



At an NDA rally in Aurangabad earlier this month which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kumar declared he will stay forever in the NDA.



...You (PM Modi) had come earlier as well, 'par idhar hum gayab ho gaye the. Hum phir aapke saath hai (I disappeared (from NDA) for some time but now I am with you). I assure you that I will not go here and there. 'Hum rahenge aap hi ke saath'...," Kumar had said.



In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and JD(U) had contested elections on 17 seats each. The NDA had won 39 out of 40 seats in the state. However, Kumar had broken ties with the BJP in 2022 to briefly run a government with the RJD.



Polling in Bihar will be held in seven phases on April 19, 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25 and June 1, the Election Commission announced on Saturday. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.

A file photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar in Aurangabad on March 2.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election rally in Karnataka's Shivamogga on Monday, with this being his first rally in the southern state since the Election Commission of India (ECI), on Saturday, released the schedule for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. PM Narendra Modi has been focusing on southern states this election season/

Leaders of the PM's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said they expect a turnout of around 2.5 lakh people for the programme, which will begin at 2 pm at the Allama Prabhu ground in this home district of ex-Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, the party's tallest leader in the state.

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In a major headache for the BJP, however, senior leader and former Karnataka deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa will not participate in the public gathering, as he remained adamant on giving the event a miss, despite the saffron party's efforts to placate him. Miffed with the BJP for not giving ticket to his son KE Kantesh, Eshwarappa will contest the Lok Sabha polls from the Shivamogga constituency, from where the party has fielded BY Raghavendra, the elder son of Yediyurappa, the former chief minister.

While Raghavendra is the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) from the Shivamogga seat, his brother BY Vijayendra is the BJP's Karnataka unit president, and the sitting legislator from their father's bastion of Shikaripura.

PM Narendra Modi should come to power again and the party must be free from the control of the Yediyurappa family. Hence, I am contesting the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP in Karnataka is becoming family-controlled, just like the ruling Congress, Eshwarappa told reporters on Sunday.

Karnataka accounts for 28 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha. In the previous 2019 national polls, the BJP, along with an independent, won 26 constituencies, and the Congress-JD(S) combine bagged the remaining two seats.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be conducted in seven phases, beginning on April 19, and concluding on June 1. The counting of votes for all 543 seats will be done on June 4.

(With PTI inputs)


Russian President Vladimir Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the US-led NATO military alliance against the deployment of troops in Ukraine, saying such a move would "be one step shy of a full-scale World War III". It is no secret that fighters from NATO nations are present on the ground in Ukraine, he claimed while speaking to his supporters and the media on early Monday after his landslide presidential election victory.



Putin stressed that Moscow is "well aware of the US-led military bloc's push to deploy troops in Ukraine".



"We hear both French and English speech there. There is nothing good in this, first of all for them, because they die there and in large numbers," he was quoted by Russian media as saying.



"Anything is possible in the modern world But everyone knows that this would be one step shy of a full-scale World War III. I dont think that anyone is interested in that," Putin said.



Commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron's earlier remarks which suggested that the West "cannot exclude" the possibility of sending soldiers to aid Ukraine, he said Russia wants France "not to escalate the conflict but to help find a peaceful solution to hostilities".




A man was arrested for setting ablaze more than a dozen huts in Gujarat's Kutch district after those living in them refused to work for him for free, police said on Monday. As per officials, the blaze, which was touching electricity transmission lines going above the huts and caused an explosion.(X)

All 40 persons living in these huts managed to escape the fire in time but their household items were gutted, officials said.

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Read here: After attack, Gujarat University to shift foreign students to new hostel, strengthen security: VC

The incident took place in Anjar village in the early hours of Sunday and the accused, identified as Mohammad Rafiq Kumbhar, was arrested for attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and arson, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mukesh Chaudhary told reporters.

As per the complainant, Kumbhar used to threaten labourers to work for him for free, and poured inflammable liquid and set their huts on fire in a bid to kill them after they refused to give in to his pressure.

Twelve families living in these huts managed to escape in time but household items were gutted and also resulted in the deaths of a cat and seven kittens, resident Dinesh Jogi told reporters.

Kumbhar had come to the site on Saturday night asking them to work but the residents of the huts refused, after which the arson incident took place some hours later, Jogi alleged.

Read here: Gujarat govt taking strict action over attack on foreign students: MEA

As per officials, the blaze, which was touching electricity transmission lines going above the huts and caused an explosion, was doused by the Anjar fire team.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday issued a clarification after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attack on him over his Shakti remark, that has generated massive controversy ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.



Modi ji does not like my words. He tries to twist my statements and change the meaning, because he knows that I have spoken a deep truth, Gandhi said in a post on social platform X. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit out at Rahul Gandhi over his remark on 'Shakti'.

At Mumbai's Shivaji Park on Sunday, Gandhi had invoked Shakti to question the electronic voting machines (EVM). There is a word 'Shakti' (might) in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti (might of the state). The question is, what is that Shakti and what does it entail for us? The soul and integrity of EVMs have been traded to the King (Modi). This is a fact. Not just EVMs but every autonomous institution of the country, be it the ED, CBI or Income Tax department, have traded their spines to the Centre, he had said on the last day of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.



ALSO READ: Rahul's Shakti remark sparks storm ahead of Lok Sabha polls. Decoding the row



On Monday, Gandhi defended his remark, saying," The Shakti I mentioned against whom we are fighting, its mask is none other than Modiji. It is a power that has captured India's voice, institutions, CBI, I-T department, ED, Election Commission, media, industries and constitutional structure."

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For this power, Narendra Modi waives off loans worth thousands of crore rupees while a farmer is forced to commit suicide on not being able to pay loans worth few thousand rupees, Gandhi said.



Earlier in the day, PM Modi had hit out at INDIA alliance over Gandhi's remarks. They declared that their fight is against Shakti... for me, every daughter, mother, and sister is a personification of Shakti.



To those who are raising their voices against Shakti, I accept your challenge. I am willing to sacrifice my life for Shakti," he added.
Mondays political slugfest was, literally, over power (shakti in Hindi, which is also, when capitalised, the name of the Hindu mother goddess), with Congress leader Rahul Gandhis seemingly clumsy wording of the shakti they were fighting evoking a strong reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party  Prime Minister Narendra Modi dwelt on it at length in a rally in Telangana, prompting a clarification from Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public meeting in Jagtial on Monday. (PTI)

Gandhis comments, made on Sunday in Mumbai during the culmination of the Bharat Jodi Nyay Yatra, were already doing the rounds of social media when Modi lashed out at them in the morning. He said the word represented Bharat Mata (Mother India, the personification of the country), and that he was ready to embrace the challenge prevent the eradication of Shakti.

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Modi said the manifesto of the INDIA bloc of opposition parties targets Shakti, representing every mother, daughter, and sister. I revere them as Shakti and worship Bharat Mata. Their aim to eradicate Shakti is a challenge I embrace. I am ready for the battle ahead. How can anyone on this Earth talk of destroying Shakti when everyone worships it?

On Sunday, speaking on the completion of his 62-day east-to-west peregrination that began in Manipur, Gandhi said: In the Hindu religion, there is a word called shakti. We are fighting shaktiWe are fighting against a shakti. The question is, what is that shakti? Like someone here said, the kings soul is in the EVMs. That is right. The kings soul is in the EVM, is inside every institution in India, is inside the ED, CBI, the Income Tax department.

Read more: Political retribution: Baghel after his name appears in Mahadev App case FIR

He was referring to electronic voting machines (EVMs), the constant target of some opposition parties that believe process, not politics, is responsible for their defeats. The Opposition has also alleged, not entirely without basis, that federal agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have targeted opposition leaders.

But Gandhis tortuous phrasing evoked a predictable response.

Can someone talk about the destruction of Shakti, Modi asked in Jagtial, Telangana.  We dedicated the success of the Chandrayaan mission by naming the point where Chandrayaan landed as Shiv Shakti. The fight is between those who want to destroy Shakti and those who worship Shakti. The verdict will be out on June 4.

The national elections start on April 19, and results will be declared on June 4. Telangana goes to polls on May 13.

For good measure, Modi also referred to Gandhis comments during an afternoon rally in Karnatakas Shivamogga, and said such comments from Mumbai would have hurt the soul of Balasaheb Thackeray. The blessings of nari shakti (women power) is my biggest shield and the people of the INDI alliance was to destroy this shakti. They hate the increasing shakti of Ma Bharati.

Read more: Cong spokesperson Rohan Gupta opts out of Lok Sabha election. Why?

The late Thackerays Shiv Sena was a long-standing ally of the BJP, but the two parties fell out in 2019, after the state elections and the Sena allied with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress to form the MVA government in Maharashtra. In 2022, the party split, with one faction, now recognised as the Shiv Sena, allying with the BJP and forming the government in the state. The other faction, led by Thackerays son Uddhav Thackeray, is now called the Shiv Sena (UBT) and remains part of the INDIA bloc.

Modis attack forced Gandhi to clarify his comments on Monday afternoon, and he said the PM was trying to spin his remarks, and that the BJPs shakti was not religious at all, but a shakti of immorality, corruption and lies. Modi ji does not like what I say, and some way or another attempts to misconstrue and spin a different meaning because he knows what I have said is a deep truth. The shakti that I spoke of, the shakti that we are fighting against, the face of that shakti is Modi ji, Gandhi wrote on X.

Gandhi said that this shakti had captured free voices in India, as well as its institutions.

On Sunday, Gandhi claimed that the shakti forced exits from the opposition alliance, and said that there was a senior Maharashtra leader who admitted to his mother, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, that he was powerless in the face of pressure. ... Crying in front of my mother, he said, Sonia ji, I am ashamed. I dont have the courage to fight these people and this shakti. I do not want to go to jail. This is not just one. There are thousands of people like this that have been made afraid. Do you think that people from the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress party left just like that? The shakti I am talking about, they caught them by the throat, and moved them towards the BJP, Gandhi said.

With speculation that he was that leader, on Monday, former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan, who quit the Congress to join the BJP in February, rushed to clarify his position and said he did not meet Sonia Gandhi before his resignation.

In Telangana, Modi also attacked both the Congress, which is now in power in the state, and the BRS, which preceded it, on issues of corruption. The Congress has come to power and is eyeing Telangana as its own ATM. The money looted from Telangana reaches Delhi, ending up in the coffers of dynastic families. Then, this money is used to fund the conspiracies of lies and division within the country, he said.

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Before coming to power, the Congress attacked the BRS on various scams, but now, it has gone silent. It is not conducting any inquiry into these scams, including that of the Kaleshwaram project. People have realised that one corrupt party cannot fight against another corrupt party, he added.

Modi referred to the arrest of BRS leader K Kavitha, former chief minister K Chandrashekar Raos daughter, in the alleged Delhi excise policy scam last week, and said that family-based parties were looting the country. Take any scam in this country, only these parties are behind them. The DMK is behind the 2G spectrum scam; the Congress is behind the National Herald scam. Now the BRS has joined these family-based parties by resorting to a massive scam in the Kaleshwaram project. Even in the Delhi liquor policy scam, the family members of the BRS leaders have been caught.

BRS spokesperson Ravula Sridhar Reddy took strong exception to the Prime Ministers comments that the state was deprived of development during 10 years of KCRs rule.

He recalled that during the inauguration of Mission Bhagiratha (supply of drinking water to every household) scheme, Modi was all praise for the former chief minister. Several times, Modi went on record hailing the rapid development in Telangana during the BRS regime, he said.

On the allegations of corruption by the BRS leaders, Reddy wanted to know why Modis party was luring the BRS leaders into his party and fielding them in the parliamentary polls if they had looted the state.

Senior Congress lawmaker and former minister T Jeevan Reddy, who hails from Jagitial district, said the Prime Minister had uttered blatant lies at the public meeting. He was playing to the galleries. While he claimed that the Centre had launched several projects in Telangana, he did not speak about the delay in the establishment of the turmeric board and closure of the Nizam Sugar Factory. The BJP MPs have done little to Telangana in the last five years, he alleged.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to make a brief visit to Bhutan this week to signal the importance attached by India to ties with the Himalayan nation, people familiar with the matter said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)

With the model code of conduct coming into force following the unveiling of dates for Indias general election, no agreements or major announcements are expected during the visit, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.

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Modi is expected to go to Bhutan from March 21-22, and the trip will come days after his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgays visit to India from March 14-18. It is rare for Indian premiers to make foreign trips after the election dates are announced, though then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had visited the UK in 2009 to attend a G20 meeting.

This visit is a lot about signalling, one of the people cited above said, referring to attempts by the previous Bhutan government led by premier Lotay Tshering to settle a border dispute with China

Tshering stepped up efforts to finalise a deal for demarcating the disputed border towards the end of his tenure last year. Following a string of meetings, Bhutan and China signed a cooperation agreement for a joint technical team on the delimitation and demarcation of the Bhutan-China boundary.

The people said the signing of such an agreement meant the two sides agreed on some modalities for the demarcation process. Reports suggested that China was pressuring Bhutan on the establishment of diplomatic relations, and Tshering indicated he was open to the idea of establishing such ties.

There were also reports that any border deal between Bhutan and China would involve the swapping of territory, with Thimphu getting territory to the north in exchange for giving up its claim on the Doklam plateau, the scene of a 73-day standoff between Indian and Chinese troops in 2017.

The Indian side sent in troops to prevent the construction of a road by the Chinese military in a region claimed by Bhutan at the tri-junction between the three countries. India has kept a close watch on the talks between Bhutan and China because of concerns that they 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.

During Tobgays visit, Modi said 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.

Indian support forms the mainstay of funding for Bhutans five-year plans and New Delhi provided aid worth 5,000 crore for the 12th plan.

India was the destination for Tobgays first foreign visit after assuming office in January. 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 5,000 crore for Bhutans last five-year plan, 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 said.

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).
The three partners of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Andhra Pradesh on Monday demanded that the Election Commission of India take stringent action against the police officials, including state director general of police (DGP) K V Rajendranath Reddy for failing to take adequate security measures during the public meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Chilakaluripet in Palnadu district on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses during a public meeting in Palnadu on Sunday. (ANI)

Representatives of the Telugu Desam Party, the Jana Sena Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party met chief electoral officer of Andhra Pradesh M K Meena and submitted a representation, requesting that the police officials concerned be taken off from their duties till the election process is completed so as to ensure the conduct of free and fair conduct of elections.

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Apart from the DGP, the NDA allies named Additional DGP (intelligence) P S R Anjaneyulu, inspector general (Guntur range) G Pala Raju and Palnadu superintendent of police Ravi Sankhar Reddy as responsible for the chaos at the Prime Ministers rally.

Read more: Priyanka defends Rahul Gandhi after attack by PM Modi over Shakti row, says

In their representation which was signed among others by TDP politburo member Varla Ramaiah, JSP leader Bandireddy Ramakrishna and BJP media cell in-charge Pathuri Nagabhushanam, the NDA allies alleged that the police authorities had not made proper security arrangements, despite a representation given by TDP state president K Atchennaidu to the DGP on March 12 itself.

There was a conspicuous adamant attitude and reluctance making security arrangements. The police miserably failed in controlling the crowds and regulating the traffic. As a result, the crowds pushed themselves towards the stage and also towards the sound system interrupting very often the speech of the Prime Minister, they said.

They also alleged that the power supply was also cut off for nearly 11 minutes, which appeared to be deliberately done at the behest of the ruling YSRCP in order to disrupt the meeting. The Prime Minister himself had to request the public, who were violating the protocol, to move away from climbing poles and towers meant for flood lights. Shockingly, there was no response from the police who did not make any attempt to control the crowds, they said.

Read more: Is Raj Thackeray-led MNS joining NDA? Devendra Fadnavis responds

The NDA allies further alleged that the police had not even allowed bouquets, shawl and mementos to be presented to Modi by TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and JSP chief Pawan Kalyan, in spite of SPG scanning and allowing them. The local police deliberately stopped them and said that they need directions from the SP, they said.

The police also did not take any steps when the public were seen roaming in the D-Zone before stage, which is a sterile zone as per the security norms. It appears the local police, in connivance with the ruling YSRCP, had deliberately planned to sabotage the meeting which was attended by huge crowds, they alleged.

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They also accused the police of creating hurdles to the public, including the VIPs from reaching the venue of the rally causing heavy traffic jams. The police deliberately stopped many vehicles on both sides of the national highway and made the public intentionally to walk for kilometers together to reach the meeting under scorching sun, they said.
SILCHAR: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that only 3-6 lakh people, and not 1.5 crore people as claimed by some, will apply for citizenship in Assam under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses a press conference, in Guwahati on March 14, (PTI FILE)

Sarma stressed that a clear picture of the implementation of CAA will emerge before Assam votes in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 19.

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The CAA rules were announced last week and by April 19, well have around 40 days. This will be enough time to understand the actual scenario. 13 Hindu families in Gujarat have already been granted citizenship with CAA but in Assam, not many people have applied till now, he said in an interview with a local news channel.

He said that many families, especially Hindu Bengalis, entered Assam from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971, the cutoff date for being entitled to get Indian citizenship, and some of them returned as well.

Many of these families were denied ration cards by the authorities at that time, so they only had one document, the refugee registration cards issued by border authorities. But Prateek Hajela (former state coordinator of NRC) didnt allow these cards in the NRC updation process, due to this, many names were excluded, Sarma said.

He said that around 16 lakh names were excluded from the final draft of NRC, which was published in August 2019 and it has 7 lakh Muslims apart from Assamese Hindus including Koch Rajbangshi, Kalita, Das etc.

In my opinion, 3 to 6 lakh people will apply with CAA and not 20, 18 or 15 lakhs or 1.5 crores, which some people are claiming. It can be 10% more or less but not more than 6 lakhs, he said.

Sarma said some agitationists were spreading lies to scare common people.

They are saying 1.5 crore Hindu population decreased in Bangladesh and those people have entered Assam. But the fact is that 2 crore Muslim population increased in that country, so the Hindu population reduced because they converted. The protesters wont tell you the other side, Sarma said.

The chief minister said that he saw a video of three girls from Dibrugarh University crying out of fear.

They said that a large number of trucks are waiting near the international border and they will enter Assam once CAA is operationalised. The girls were innocent and believed in rumours but the fact is, that nobody from Bangladesh entered our state after the CAA rules were announced, he said.

The Centre on March 11 notified the CAA rules, operationalising the contentious law that paves the way for citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. Parliament passed the law in December 2019.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday in a congratulatory message to re-elected Russian President Vladimir Putin he looked forward to boosting ties to develop their "special" relationship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir (HT file photo)

"Look forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come," Modi wrote on social media platform X.

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He offered his "warm congratulations" to Putin.

New Delhi and Moscow have ties dating back to the Cold War and Russia remains by far the biggest arms supplier to the world's most populous country.

India has bought hundreds of millions of barrels of cut-price Russian crude since the invasion of Ukraine, saving itself billions of dollars while bolstering Moscow's war coffers.

Russia has become India's top oil supplier, overtaking the traditional heavyweight Middle Eastern exporters.

But India has also deepened defence cooperation with Western countries in recent years, including in the Quad alliance with the United States, Japan and Australia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the National Democratic Alliances (NDA) Lok Sabha campaign in Andhra Pradesh with a rally high in political rhetoric that he addressed along with TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and JSP president Pawan Kalyan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu in Palnadu on Sunday. (PTI)

At his first rally in the state ahead of the summers general elections, the Prime Minister said that the Oppositions alliance was one formed out of necessity and, without naming anyone, alleged that the Congress and the states ruling YSR Congress Party led by chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy were being run by the same family.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA takes everyone along, but the Congress partys only agenda is to use and throw allies. Today, the Congress had to make the INDI alliance (INDIA bloc) out of necessity, but their mindset remains the same, the PM said at the Praja Galam (peoples voice) rally at Boppudi village in Palnadu district of Andhra Pradesh.

There is no cohesion within the INDIA bloc as partners fight with one another in different states, he said. You can see what the Left and the Congress tell each other in Kerala. In Bengal, what the TMC (Trinamool Congress) and the Left say against each other and the kind of language Congress and AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) use against each other in Punjab. Before the elections those people, who for their own benefit fight this way then what will they do after the elections you can guess, he charged.

The PM is on a five-day trip across five states in southern India  a region where the BJP hopes to make inroads to fulfil a target of 370 seats for itself and 400 for the NDA.

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 NDA moves ahead keeping regional aspirations and national progress in mind, the PM said, and added that the country will witness many big decisions once the BJP-led alliance is voted for a third term in power.

The entire world is discussing the development brought about in the state under the NDA government in the last decade, he said.

Asserting that the NDAs aim is for a Viksit Bharat (developed India), he said a double engine government will ensure a Viksit Andhra Pradesh.

We have been working for you day and night, for the development of Andhra Pradesh. The aim of NDA is to build a developed Andhra Pradesh for developed India, the PM said.

PM Modi also said that having a double-engine government of NDA in Andhra Pradesh will give further strength to the development of the state.

Pointing at that TDP president Naidu and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan, the PM said the two leaders had been fighting for the rights of the people and for the development of the state, as he asserted that the people of the state have decided to re-elect the NDA.

The support of the BJP in this election, our partners are continuously increasing, the strength of NDA is increasing, both Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan have been supporting the rights of the people here, for a long time, he said.

In this election, the people of Andhra Pradesh have decided two things: first, to bring back the NDA government in Delhi and secondly, they want to bring down the present government in the state, with which they are fed up, Modi said.

The three parties have entered an alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls, with the TDP returning to the NDA fold after six years. The BJP will contest six Lok Sabha seats and 10 assembly seats, while the TDP will contest 17 seats and 144 assembly seats. Janasena will contest two Lok Sabha and 21 assembly seats.

The PM warned people against getting carried away by the Congress and its promises.

You should remember one thing. The Congress and Jagans party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh are no different but are the same. Both the parties are being run by the members of the same family. They are in this act together, he said.

Taking a dig at CM Reddys government, PM Modi alleged that there is a competition among ministers on indulging in corruption. Here a competition on corruption is going on among the ministers of the state government, the PM alleged.

In the last five years, the state has been hit and it has lagged. The people have decided to oust the current state government, he said.

The state will vote for the simultaneous Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha polls scheduled on May 13.

The Prime Minister reiterated that when the results of the general elections are declared on June 4, it would be 400 seats for the NDA. Now, the nation is saying: 4 June Ko 400 Paar,  For a developed India... 400 Paar. For a developed Andhra Pradesh... 400 Paar, he said.

The PM has set a target of winning 370 seats for the BJP and 400 for the NDA.

He then went on to list to the development projects undertaken by his government in the last five year for to uplift the poor. He also pointed out that the Centre has set up various higher institutions in the state that will change the course of the lives of youth.

These institutions are going to change the course of lives for the youth of Andhra Pradesh. For all of these, you all should come together and make all the NDA candidates victorious in the upcoming election. All the MLAs of NDA will work for you and your welfare. This is Modis guarantee, he said.

The PM criticised Congress for disrespecting Andhra Pradeshs pride and emphasized his governments commitment to honouring it. He mentioned issuing a commemorative coin for NTRs centenary and conferring the Bharat Ratna on PV Narasimha Rao by the NDA government.

Addressing the rally, Naidu said the TDP joined hands with the JSP and the BJP to liberate the state from the destructive regime of the YSRCP. The flags of three parties might be different, but the agenda of the three parties is the same, which is welfare, development and protecting democracy. The verdict to be given by the people in the upcoming elections will decide the future of the state, he said.

Naidu also lauded Modi as a powerful leader who was turning India into a Vishwaguru (world leader). He is the leader that the world has appreciated. India found the right leader like Narendra Modi at the right time. We pledge to be with Modi in all his decisions, he said.

He exuded confidence that the NDA would get 400 plus MP seats in the country. The responsibility is on the people to make the NDA win 25 out of 25 seats in AP, he said.

Kalyan, meanwhile, alleged that the state had suffered due to lack of development, mounting corruption and lawlessness in the last five years. Modi, however, was going to establish Rama Rajya, he said. The Kurukshetra battle has begun, he said, and appealed to the people to support the NDA.
National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Monday accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of "sabotaging" the conduct of assembly polls in the union territory, saying the current dispensation wants to continue to rule like uncrowned kings. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah (PTI)

"We wanted simultaneous elections along with Lok Sabha elections. But, it did not happen. The current government of Jammu and Kashmir sabotaged that because they do not want to handover the power to the people again. They are ruling like uncrowned kings," Abdullah told reporters here after kicking-off the party's election campaign for Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary constituency.

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Earlier addressing party workers at Damhal Hanjipora in the south Kashmir district here, the NC leader said bureaucrats put hurdles in holding the assembly elections as they were getting "spoiled" in J-K.

"The hurdles in holding the assembly elections were put by our officers by saying that they cannot make adequate security arrangements.You yourself say that the situation is better, normalcy has been restored, that there is no danger of guns now.

"If there is no danger of guns, then you will not need much security deployment and if you do not need, then you should have held elections. The reality is that they are getting spoiled," he said.

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The former J-K chief minister, however, said the Election Commission has to hold the assembly polls before the Supreme Court's deadline of September 30 this year which the top court gave while passing its order after hearing a batch of petitions challenging the revocation of Article 370.

"We thank God that they will have to conclude elections here before September 30 according to the SC. The chief election commissioner has also said that polls will be held before the deadline," he added.

Asked to comment on the opposition parties complaining about EVMs, Abdullah said even if he complains against the use of EVMs in the elections, they will still be used because the ECI is not ready to use paper ballots again.

"So, we will have to keep our agents alert and not allow any tampering with them," he said.

To a query on the CAA, the NC leader said CAA is not just against Muslims as there are many other minorities who have been kept outside its purview.

"This is BJP's old habit and they will not mend their ways," he added.

In reply to a question over the status of the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), Abdullah said the alliance stands

"What has happened to its status? We run our different parties... We have held press conferences together as well as individually. And today, I am talking to you individually, does that mean there is no PAGD. It stands and they will meet in a day or two," he said.

Asked whether the party's Gujjar leader Mian Altaf Ahmad would be the NC's candidate for the constituency, Abdullah said they will announce candidates at an appropriate time.

ALSO READ| National Conference senior leaders hold meet to finalise Lok Sabha candidates for 3 Kashmir seats

Altaf has attended whenever party has invited him. He is our party colleague and it is not something new for him to attend our programmes and he will continue doing so. There are many leaders present here and it does not mean anything. I have said we will announce our candidates at the right time. But, we have started campaigning from today, he said.

The NC vice president the BJP's motive to undertake delimitation of Parliamentary constituencies in J-K was to divide and rule.

"The delimitation was undertaken in a similar manner like the British's divide and rule. That is what is being done here. Kashmir is being made to fight with Jammu, Hindus with Muslims, Gujjars with Paharis, the aim is to succeed on the south Kashmir seat anyhow. But, people are not fools. They know the BJP's approach in the rest of the country," he said.

On the Electoral bonds row, he said while the BJP was paid a whopping amount of around 6,900 crore, his party got only 50 lakh.

"One of my friends, Airtel, gave us a 50 lakh bond to run the party. It is 50 lakh versus 6,900 crore, there is no comparison. But, only those need to use money, who do not have the support of the people. The sum of 50 lakh is enough for us, because people of J-K are with NC," Abdullah said.
The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose the unique serial number associated with each electoral bond (EB) and all other information the bank possesses while supplying the Election Commission of India (ECI) with data about the beneficiaries and donors for public release. The Supreme Court quashed the EB scheme on February 15. (ANI)

However, a five-judge bench denied a request for the release of information about EBs sold before April 12, 2019the cut-off date fixed by the court in its February 15 ruling that invalidated the EB scheme and ordered SBI to provide bond details to ECI for public viewing.

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Simultaneously, the bench, led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, refused to grant an out-of-turn hearing to industry bodies FICCI and ASSOCHAM that requested a postponement of an order requiring the disclosure of bond numbers on the grounds that EBs were donated with an assurance of anonymity and thus, they should be heard before any further order is made.

Under the 2018 EB scheme, which was quashed by the Supreme Court on February 15, each electoral bond was imprinted with a unique number that can assist in tracking the issuance and redemption of bonds, and in tracing the bond back to the purchaser. It may become feasible to match redemptions with purchases and create a one-to-one relationship if this number is supplied.

There is no manner of doubt that SBI was required to disclose all information in its possession, which will include alphanumeric numbers and serial numbers. In order to obviate any controversy in the future and to give full effect to our judgment dated February 15, 2024, the chairperson of the bank shall file an affidavit by 5 pm on Thursday [March 21] that it has disclosed all details in its custody and that no details have been withheld, directed the bench. It added that as soon as ECI receives the information from SBI, it will post it on its website forthwith.

The date of purchase or redemption, the recipients or buyers name, and the denomination are among the all details that the February 15 ruling required SBI to reveal, the court said. The word including indicates that the information provided in the ruling is illustrative rather than exhaustive, said the bench, also comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra.

According to data released by ECI on March 14 and 17, EBs valued at 16,492 crore were redeemed in 30 phases of their sale between March 1, 2018, and January 11, 2024. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) redeemed 50% of them for 8,252 crore. The Congress accounted for 11.8% ( 1,952 crore) while the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) accounted for 10.4% ( 1,708 crore). Before the 2019 elections, the BJP gained the most, having redeemed 68% ( 3,963 crore) of all redeemed bonds, as reported by HT on March 18. The Congress redeemed 12% ( 698 crore), and the TMC 2.6% ( 150 crore).

On Sunday, ECI uploaded all EB-related documents it received from political parties in 2019 and November 2023 in sealed covers, which it subsequently presented to the court. The records that were unsealed and posted on Sunday revealed that political parties were aware of the identities of the individuals and organisations that gave them money, contrary to earlier assertions that the EB scheme would guarantee that the donors identities remained secret from the recipients.

Eight political parties, including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Janata Dal (Secular), revealed the names of their donors.

During the proceedings on Monday, the court castigated SBI for not being forthcoming with the information about the unique serial numbers. SBI cant be selective in disclosing details. It had to be candid and fair to the court. SBIs attitude appears to be you tell us what to disclose and then only we will disclose. Thats not a fair process. As SBI chairman, he should have said I would disclose all possible details in terms of the court order...We want all information related to the electoral bonds to be disclosed which is in your possession, the court told senior counsel Harish Salve.

Salve, representing the public sector bank, undertook that SBI shall share all the information it possesses with ECI. He pointed out that since there was already a direction to the political parties to disclose the details of EBs redeemed by them, including the unique serial numbers, SBI was under the impression that serial numbers were not required to be given again.

Disapproving of this contention, the bench replied: Your argument appears to be banking on an interim order of this court. But that interim order merged with our February 15 judgment when we directed complete disclosure...We will now say you would disclose bond numbers but will also ask for an affidavit from you that you havent concealed anything. The burden should not lie on this court or the petitioners that something has not been disclosed. You disclose everything.

Even as a further direction was issued to SBI, the court declined to expand the remit of the disclosure under the February 15 judgment, saying it would not order making public information about EBs purchased and redeemed before April 12, 2019  when the court issued an interim order directing all political parties to submit EB data to ECI.

Senior counsel Vijay Hansaria and advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for some of the petitioners, pressed for a directive to SBI to also disclose EB data for a period before April 12, 2019, to facilitate a full disclosure. He argued that details of EBs sold since March 1, 2018, should also be disclosed by SBI to ECI for public revelation.

But the bench said: In our judgment, we have taken a conscious decision that the cut-off date should be the date of our interim order [April 12, 2019]. We took that date because it was our considered view that once that interim order was pronounced, everybody was put on notice. If we have to go back to any earlier date, it will become a substantive modification of the judgment and will require a review of this judgment. This cannot be done in a miscellaneous application, said the court, rejecting the plea.

Bhushan requested the court to consider issuing a directive to all the political parties to furnish information about their donors, but the bench refrained from commenting on the plea.

During the hearing, the court refused to entertain a plea by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who represented FICCI and ASSOCHAM while pressing for a deferment of the disclosure of the bond numbers since the industry bodies wanted to be heard.

The court told Rohatgi: We have no such application on board. You file an application and then we will see. The whole world knew about the pendency of these proceedings. You have chosen to come now after the judgment is delivered. File an application and we will consider it.

When Rohatgi questioned how information could be requested to be revealed when anonymity was guaranteed as a part of the EB scheme, the bench retorted: Mr Rohatgi, there is only one answer. With effect from April 12, 2019, we directed the collection of details. Everyone was put on notice at the time. This is why we did not ask for the disclosure of the bonds sold prior to this interim order. This was a conscious decision by all the five judges on this bench.

Solicitor-general Tushar Mehta and Salve questioned the motives of some of the PIL petitioners in the case. While Salve contended that though the emphasis of the courts judgment was on the voters right to know, it was being exploited by some of the petitioners to target the public sector institutions such as SBI and industrialists.

Mehta complained: How this courts judgment is playing out is something which it must be informed ofNow the witch-hunting has started at some other level, not at the government level. Those before the court have started giving press interviews, deliberately embarrassing the court. A barrage of social media posts intended to cause embarrassment has started. Statistics can be twisted in any manner. Based on twisted statistics, all kinds of posts are made. Would your lordships consider issuing a direction

The bench replied that it is only concerned about enforcing the directions contained in its February 15 judgment. As judges, we decide according to the Constitution. We are governed by the rule of law. We are also subject matters of comments in social media and the press but surely, as an institution, our shoulders are broad enough. Our court has an institutional role to play in a polity that is governed by the Constitution and the rule of law. Thats the only job we have, it said.

Mehta also distanced himself and the Centre from a letter written by senior advocate and bar leader Adish C Aggarwala last week, urging the CJI to review the Supreme Courts order directing the poll panel to post the EB information provided by SBI on its official website. We disassociate ourselves from this letter. This is not the manner in which we have understood the judgment, Mehta added, earning commendation from the bench, which earlier cautioned Aggarwala from arguing in favour of his latter.

Turning to Aggarwala, the court said: Apart from being a senior counsel, you are also the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association. You have written to me and released the letter. This is all publicity-oriented and we will not permit it. Please, leave it at that or we will have to say something which might be distasteful.

The court on February 15 struck down the Centres 2018 EB scheme of political funding, declaring it to be unconstitutional because it completely anonymised contributions made to political parties. The court said that restricting black money or illegal election financingsome of the articulated objectives of the schemedid not justify violating voters right to information in a disproportionate manner. The court ordered full disclosure of EBs purchased and those redeemed.

SBI this month approached the court with a plea for granting it time until June 30 to submit details of EBs purchased since April 12, 2019, arguing that decoding the data and matching donors to recipients would be a complex process. On March 11, the court rejected SBIs plea, noting that the required information was readily available with the bank, and giving it time until the business hours of March 12 to do so.

On March 13, the SBI chairman filed his affidavit of compliance in the Supreme Court, informing it that the entire details of EBs purchased since April 1, 2019, have been submitted to ECI by the deadline.
A year after the massacre in Half Moon Bay, grassroots organizers in San Mateo County on Sunday hosted what they billed as the first meeting of its kind to focus on the plight of farmworkers. Courtesy of Rudy Espinoza

One year after a deadly shooting rampage at two Half Moon Bay mushroom farms highlighted the poor living conditions of many California farmworkers, grassroots organizers in San Mateo County on Sunday hosted what they billed as the first convention of its kind focused on their plight.

The nonprofits Coastside Hope and Puente de la Costa Sur convened dozens of community organizations, county agencies and more than 200 farmworkers at Pescadero High School to voice their concerns and seek solutions regarding housing, clean water, health care and labor conditions, according to organizer Rudy Espinoza.

During one of the main panels, female farmworkers shared stories about harassment and immigration issues, Espinoza said. They also discussed financial practices, given that many undocumented farmworkers cannot access wages paid into Social Security.

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The convention comes more than one year after Chunli Zhao, 67, allegedly used a legally purchased semiautomatic handgun to shoot eight co-workers, killing seven and injuring one, in January 2023. The eight victims were Hispanic and Asian, and three were Mexican citizens, including the man who survived. All of the victims worked at two separate farms, where the shootings occurred in what authorities described as workplace violence.

Zhao, who has pleaded not guilty, could face life without parole or the death penalty if convicted as his case heads to trial.

Half Moon Bay marked the anniversary of the shootings in January with a panel of local leaders and a candlelight vigil.

Earlier this month, the federal government agreed to send San Mateo County $3 million to help build affordable housing for farmworkers. The money will be used to buy up to 20 home units for farmworker housing and create a recreation space for residents, county officials said.

Jose Hernandez, right, whose parents were farmworkers and who grew up to become a NASA astronaut, described his trajectory from agricultural labor to space flight. Courtesy of Rudy Espinoza

Addressing the attendees, keynote speaker Jose Hernandez, a former astronaut, described his trajectory from farm work to space. As a child, Hernandez helped his migrant farmworker parents and later studied as an engineer, becoming an astronaut at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston, where he flew on the 128th space shuttle mission aboard the Discovery in 2009.

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We have to sacrifice so that the next generation has it better, Hernandez told attendees.
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed former Delhi minister Satyendra Jains bail plea and asked him to surrender in connection with a money laundering case. Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain. (HT PHOTO)

Jain, who was given an interim medical bail on May 26 last year, was arrested in May 2022 for allegedly misusing his position as minister from February 2015 to May 2017 to acquire disproportionate assets worth 1.47 crore. The ED subsequently began a probe into the money laundering charges through three companies allegedly linked to him.

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A bench of justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal said, The appeals are dismissed. The petitioner is directed to surrender forthwith.

Advocate Vivek Jain, appearing for the former minister, sought an extension of time to surrender, citing his ill health. The court rejected the request and maintained its order.

The ED, which attached alleged proceeds of crime worth 4.60 crore in the case, claimed that Satyendra Jain was controlling the three companies through the directorship of his wife, Poonam Jain. It argued that two other accused Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain were the major shareholders and directors in the three companies.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Satyendra Jain, earlier cited shareholding, directorship, and control over the financials of the companies and said the petitioner could not be said to have held control over them.

Jain was granted medical bail in May last year after suffering a fall in a jail bathroom. On July 21 last year, he underwent a spinal operation.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the disqualification of six Congress legislators of the Himachal Pradesh assembly who faced the wrath of their party for cross voting in the Rajya Sabha election and were expelled by speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on February 29. The Supreme Court of India. (PTI File Photo)

The court posted their petition in May to consider whether the fresh bye-election to the six vacant seats announced by Election Commission needs to be stayed.

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We will issue a notice, but we are sure we cannot stay the disqualification as they (petitioners) will not be allowed to vote or participate in the House proceedings, a bench headed by justice Sanjiv Khanna said.

Posting the matter in the week commencing May 6, the bench, also comprising justice Dipankar Datta, said, We are on the second part whether there should be stay on fresh elections as the petition will then become infructuous.

Senior advocates Harish Salve and Maninder Singh appearing for the disqualified MLAs pointed out that the EC has announced simultaneous polls to the six assembly seats along with the last phase of Lok Sabha polls on June 1.

I am entitled for a stay. If elections are held, I cannot be told that you cannot come in. My petition will become infructuous, Salve said.

The bench observed, When we issue notice, EC may itself delay. That normally happens... In view of the fresh elections, this may be an issue whether to decide the matter before the elections or we dont allow fresh elections.

The court also voiced concerns over the larger interest behind the 6 constituencies going unrepresented. There is no question of a stay at present as some portion of the state is remaining unrepresented in the House, the judges remarked, while seeking response from the secretary of the state legislative assembly. Notices were also issued to Pathania and Congress chief whip and state parliamentary affairs minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan.

The six former members of HP legislative assembly  Chaitanya Sharma, Davinder Kumar Bhutto, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Rajinder Rana, Ravi Thakur, and Sudhir Sharma  called the action taken against them as illegal and in violation of principles of natural justice.

They were disqualified under the anti-defection law for cross voting and going against the party whip to vote in favour of Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi for the lone Rajya Sabha seat election held on February 27.

Singhvi, who appeared on behalf of Chauhan, said, This court may only issue notice. Once the elections are notified, Article 329 has kicked in. There is no question that the Court will stay the election process. There is also no question of stay of disqualification.

Representing the state assembly, senior advocate Kapil Sibal pointed out that the Speaker has been named individually by the petitioners. They have named the Speaker in person. The court may direct the response to be filed by the legislative secretary of the assembly.

The ousted MLAs opposed the request alleging malafide against the Speaker. The court permitted Sibals request while directing the responses to be filed in four weeks and the response to be filed within one week by the petitioners.

Senior advocate SP Jain, also appearing for the petitioners, told the court that though the EC has announced the schedule for elections to the six seats, the process of filing nominations is still far off  May 7. He requested the court to decide the matter at an earlier date, which the court refused.

Congress suffered a setback in the Rajya Sabha election as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Harsh Mahajan defeated Singhvi. The voting ended in a tie with the 40-member strong Congress polling only 34 votes. Even Mahajan polled equal number of votes as the six Congress MLAs cross voted, adding to the BJPs tally of 25 votes along with three Independents. The result was subsequently determined by the draw of lots where Mahajan was declared winner.

The order dated February 29 has been passed in complete derogation of principles of natural justice and has been passed in a hasty manner and is not sustainable in the eyes of law and is in fact against the provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution (anti-defection law), the ousted Congress MLAs said in their petition before the top court.

The plea further stated that the Speakers order was pre-meditated and suffers from illegality in as much as it was decided with a pre-determined mind. It said, Respondent 2 (Pathania) has failed to appreciate the facts and law on the point and the same has been passed only to serve the purposes of his original party Congress (I) and his political bosses.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the order of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker disqualifying six Congress rebels, who had cross-voted in the recent Rajya Sabha polls in the state. The six MLAs cross-voted in BJP candidate's favour in last month's Rajya Sabha polls in the state (File Photo)

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta issued notice to the office of HP Assembly speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania and sought its response to the plea in four weeks.

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The bench said that pending adjudication of their plea, rebel HP Congress MLAs will not be allowed to vote or participate in the proceedings of the Assembly.

"On the question of by-election on six vacant seats, we will have to examine whether the elections which have been notified by the ECI are to be stayed during the pendency of plea," the bench said.

It posted the matter for listing on May 6 and gave the rebel MLAs a week to file their rejoinder.

The filing of nominations for six vacant assembly seats starts on May 7.

The six rebels -- Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Rajinder Rana, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Chetanya Sharma and Devinder Kumar Bhutto -- were disqualified on February 29, for defying a Congress whip to be present in the House and vote in favour of the Himachal Pradesh government during the cut motion and budget.

Following the disqualification of the rebels, the House's effective strength has gone down to 62 from 68, while the number of Congress MLAs has shrunk to 34 from 40.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain an Adani Power application seeking a late payment surcharge (LPS) of over 1300 crore from Rajasthan distribution companies (discoms). It slapped a 50,000 fine on the company for moving an application for clarification instead of a review petition two years after a judgment of the court settled the issue in August 2020. The Supreme Court. (AP)

A bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Sanjay Kumar said miscellaneous application was not the proper legal recourse. A relief of this nature cannot be asked in an application seeking clarification...We dismiss the application with a cost of 50,000 to be paid to Supreme Court Legal Service Authority.

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Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL)-led discoms raised suspicion over the listing of the matter, seeking a clarification on payment of LPS as decided in August 2020.

The Adani Power application sought a further payment of 1,376.35 crore from JVVNL arguing compensation for a change in law and carrying cost was decided in the August 2020 judgment. It argued this was distinct from LPS under the power purchase agreement (PPA) signed with JVVNL in January 2010.

The court noted that Adani Power did not file any review petition against the judgment. The only review petition of Rajasthan discoms was dismissed in March 2021.

Adani Power, which was represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, earlier expressed willingness to withdraw its application to allow it to approach the appropriate forum on electricity disputes.

Singhvi argued the August 2020 judgment granted carrying cost compensation as a measure of LPS but the company was entitled to this amount under PPA.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Shakti' comment shows his misogynistic mindset. The Opposition, however, rallied behind the Congress stalwart, defending his remarks in which he accused the government of misusing central agencies to win elections. Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi addresses his supporters during an election campaign rally ahead of the upcoming national elections in Mumbai.(AFP)

BJP leader Nalin Kohli said Gandhi questioning the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) was an insult to India's voters.

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"By raising these kinds of allegations, the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi, in a way, are insulting the electorate of India. It's the electorate of India that determines India's destiny. They are the ones who blessed Prime Minister Modi in 2014, 2019 and clearly seem to be wanting to bless him for a third term, because Narendra Modi treats the entire nation as his family. The Prime Minister has one agenda, and that is to make India a developed country by 2047," Kohli said.

"They (Congress) are unable to digest the fact that the vote is not coming their way and hence they keep insulting the voters by speaking against the EVMs," he added.

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said Rahul Gandhi is against nari shakti (women power).

"A series of INDI alliance members have said that Hindu Dharma is fraud. Ramcharitmanas is potassium cyanide. The Congress party has a long history of Hindu hatred, from denying the existence of Lord Ram to making the statement about Shakti. The statement from Rahul Gandhi in front of Uddhav Thackeray shows to what extent they can fall. Today, this is not just an insult to the Hindu faith but shows the misogynistic mindset of Rahul Gandhi, who is against nari-shakti and its manifestation," he said.

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said Gandhi looks at India from the view of a foreigner from Italy.

Also read: Congress's condition deteriorating because of such remarks': Ram Temple head priest on Shakti row

"Rahul Gandhi is looking at India through the eyes of a foreigner from Italy...He is trying to defame the country and create confusion. They have been continuously making nefarious attempts...They sometimes insult the army, sometimes the religion, sometimes the country, sometimes the institutions of the country," he said.

Gandhi, in a rally attended by the INDIA bloc leaders, claimed the soul and integrity of EVMs has been traded to the King.

"There is a word 'Shakti' (might) in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti (might of the state). The question is, what is that Shakti and what does it entail for us? The soul and integrity of EVMs have been traded to the King (Modi). This is a fact. Not just EVMs but every autonomous institution of the country, be it the ED, CBI or Income Tax department, have traded their spines to the Centre," he claimed.

Ram Temple chief priest slams Congress

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das on Monday said those who speak against gods and goddesses should be sent to jail.

"This is the reason why the party's condition is deteriorating, because it is a Hindu Virodhi party. Bharat is a Hindu majority state, if they make these kinds of comments, who is going to stand with them? Nari Shakti is a pride of Hindu Dharma, Sanatan Dharma. This is condemnable. The leader who speaks against our gods and goddesses should be sent to jail," Acharya Satyendra Das said.

Opposition backs Rahul Gandhi

RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari, reacting to Gandhi's "PM Modi won't be able to win elections without EVMs, ED, CBI and Income Tax" remark, said the masses will take their revenge.

"Whatever Rahul Gandhi has said is correct. The public will take their revenge (from BJP)," he said.

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit also backed Gandhi.

"Everybody knows this. Look at those Electoral bonds that have come. They (BJP) have used ED, and CBI not only to threaten the opposition but also to make huge amounts of money from them," he added.

Reacting to the remark, AAP leader Gopal Rai said the INDIA bloc is fighting against BJP's alleged bid to establish a dictatorship.

"On one side BJP is fighting elections to establish a dictatorship in the country and on the other side, the INDIA alliance is fighting against this. The way people raised their voices against this dictatorship in Mumbai yesterday, I think the country, INDIA alliance and democracy are going to win the elections," he said.



Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said,"The country will now run with divine power, not an evil force. Didn't you remember Shakti when your party was taking out rallies in favour of rapists in Kathua, Unnao and Hathras? When women were paraded naked in Manipur, which Shakti forced you to remain silent? When women wrestlers were on streets and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh at your home, what power you were praying for?

PM Modi hits back at Gandhi

Addressing a rally in Jagtial, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also mentioned the remark in his speech.

"The INDI alliance in their manifesto said that their fight is against 'Shakti'. For me, every mother, daughter and sister is a form of 'Shakti'. I worship them in the form of 'Shakti'. I am a worshiper of Bharat Mata...Their manifesto is to finish 'Shakti', and I accept the challenge...'Main jaan ki baazi laga dunga'," PM Modi said.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
New Delhi: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday approached the Supreme Court against Governor RN Ravis refusal to swear-in K Ponmudi as minister after the top court suspended his conviction early this month in a disproportionate assets case. The Supreme Court of India. (File photo)

The respondent (Governor) is attempting to run a parallel government and is attempting to choose minister as per his subjective assessment of suitability, which is impermissible, the state said in its application filed in a pending petition by the state last year challenging Governors inaction to clear pending bills and appointments.

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Senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and P Wilson mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud requesting for urgent listing. It is about the same errant Governor who was earlier dealt by this Court, said Singhvi pointing to the Court orders passed in November and December last year taking exception to the inordinate delay by Governor to clear 10 bills.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu guv refuses to swear in Ponmudi as minister

Singhvi told the Court that the state is forced to again approach the Court after a communication written by chief minister MK Stalin for swearing-in K Ponmudi as higher education minster has been refused by the Governor. Ponmudi stood disqualified on December 21, 2023 when the Madras high court convicted and sentenced him to three years imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case. But on March 11, the top court suspended the conviction order, thus removing the bar existing on him under the Representation of Peoples Act to continue in office.

The Governor says this it is constitutionally immoral for him to appoint the minister, Singhvi said, informed the Court that a mail has been sent to the Registry seeking urgent listing. The bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said, You circulate the mail. We will look into it.

The Governors letter to the chief minster on March 17 stated that the conviction has only been suspended, not set aside. He further claimed that Ponmudi is tainted of corruption and his appointment would be against constitutional morality.

The application by the state sought an immediate direction to the Governor to act on the CMs recommendation and appoint Ponmudi as a minister. It said, The Governor is bound by the orders of the Supreme Court of India under Articles 142 and 144 of the Constitution of India. The interpretation given by the respondent (Governor) to an order of this Court acting as if he was a super appellate authority is a blatant violation of the order of this Court.

Terming the Governors letter to be unconstitutional, illegal and amounting to contempt of Court, the state said, It is well settled that when it comes to appointment of a minister, the suitability of the person to be appointed is assessed only by the chief minister who alone has sole discretion under Article 164(1) to choose a person as minister. A Governor cannot decide who should be a minister on moral grounds or any other grounds. That sole prerogative is with the chief minister.

Also Read: Top court hails HC judge over reopening DA case

Further, it clarified that when the top court suspends an order of conviction, the order becomes non-existent in the eyes of law. The action of the Governor is prima facie contumacious and amounts to willful violation of the order of this Court.... The refusal to abide by the chief ministers recommendation is in the teeth of Article 164(1).

The Madras high court, by separate orders on December 19 and 21 last year, had reversed a well-reasoned acquittal order passed by the trial court in April 2016 against Ponmudi and his wife P Visalakshi. The trial court had held that clubbing the property of Ponmudi with his wife is not permissible under law as she is not a public servant, but runs independent business and has separate source of income.

The FIR against him was registered in 2011 on the allegation that during his tenure as minister of mines and higher education in the state between 2006 to 2010, he acquired assets that were nearly 66% more than his known sources of income.

While suspending the conviction, the top court had on March 11 held that disqualifying him for holding office of minister and MLA would be an irreversible situation. Following the SC order, the Speaker of TN Assembly declared that Ponmudis disqualification had ceased to operate and even the Election Commission on March 16 withdrew the notification of vacancy of Thirukovilur assembly seat, on account of Ponmudis disqualification.
Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi on Sunday refused to swear in K Ponmudi as minister in MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) cabinet, officials aware of the matter said on Sunday. K Ponmudi served as the higher education minister before conviction in DA case. (ANI)

However, the Raj Bhavan has not released an official statement on the matter.

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The governor has sent a letter that he cannot administer the oath of office to him (Ponmudi) to be minister since his conviction has only been stayed, a senior government officer aware of the matter said. The official said that further action would be decided.

On March 13, Tamil Nadu reinstated Ponmudi as an MLA, following the Supreme Courts order on March 11, suspending his conviction and four-year jail sentence in a disproportionate assets (DA) case. The Madras high court had found him guilty in December last year which had led to his immediate disqualification as a legislator and a minister.

Ponmudi was elected from the Tirukkoyilur assembly constituency and served as the higher education minister before conviction.

Last week, the assembly secretariat had notified Tirukkoyilur constituency as vacant and forwarded it to the Election Commission. But Ponmudi received relief from the top court and the order copy was released last Wednesday.

Speaker M Appavu last Wednesday declared that a notification issued on March 5 notifying Thirukkoyilur constituency as vacant shall cease to operate, which implies that Ponmudy will continue as an MLA.

Shortly after, the CM wrote to the governor recommending the inclusion of Ponmudi into his cabinet and asking for the swearing-in ceremony to be held immediately and he would be allotted the same portfolio he held earlier.

The case pertains to an order by justice G Jayachandran last December 21 after he allowed the appeal filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption (DVAC) against a trial courts order acquitting the Ponmudy and his wife in the case filed against them for amassing assets disproportionate to the known sources of income during Ponmudys tenure as Higher Education and Mines Minister between 2006 and 2011.

This SC verdict comes as a major relief for the DMK ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Another DMK minister V Senthil Balaji remains in jail in a money laundering case, since June last year, after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Last June, the governor backtracked after dismissing Balaji on his own and later kept the order in abeyance.

The high court has also set aside the acquittal of rural development minister I Periyasamy in another corruption case and ordered for a fresh trial that will begin soon.
Telangana governor and lieutenant governor of Puducherry Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan resigned from her posts on Monday amid reports that she would be contesting in the Lok Sabha elections from Tamil Nadu or Puducherry. Tamilisai Soundararajan. (File Photo)

Soundararajan sent her resignation to President of India Droupadi Murmu on Monday morning following discussions with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national leadership, said a Raj Bhavan official.

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She has been asked (by the BJP leadership) to prepare for contesting in the Lok Sabha elections from Tamil Nadu or Puducherry, the official quoted above said.

The official said Soundararajan took the decision after informing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had stayed put in Raj Bhavan on Saturday night. She expressed her desire to return to active politics by fighting the Lok Sabha elections.

In all probability, she might contest from Puducherry, Chennai (central) or Tuthukudi. She will take a final call after getting clearance from the BJP national leadership, the official added.

Earlier in February, Soundararajan, who was the BJP Tamil Nadu unit president before being sent to Telangana as the governor, expressed her desire to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Puducherry but said it was up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to decide her role.

My desire is to be a peoples representative, but I will abide by the decision of the Prime Minister and the home minister, she told reporters at Puducherry on completing three years as the lieutenant governor.

She said she would prefer Puducherry, as she always felt it was her hometown.
New Delhi: Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba is expected to make his first visit to India since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022 at the end of this month to lobby for support for a peace summit, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba. (Photo credit:X)

Kuleba, who will be accompanied by a high-level delegation for the short visit, is also expected to co-chair a meeting of the India-Ukraine inter-governmental commission with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, the people said on condition of anonymity.

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This will be the first meeting of the commission, which is the body that oversees all aspects of the bilateral relationship, since 2018.

Kulebas visit is yet to be officially announced by either India or Ukraine, though he is expected to be in New Delhi around March 28, the people said.

Also Read: Continue to press Russia for discharge of Indians from military jobs, says India

A peace summit that neutral Switzerland plans to host in the coming months is expected to be on the top of Kulebas agenda, the people said. The proposed summit of world leaders is set to build on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys 10-point peace formula unveiled in 2022 and a series of meetings held in recent months.

Chinas envoy to Switzerland was quoted as saying on Monday that Beijing will consider taking part in the peace conference aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The Swiss government has said it aims to hold the peace summit by this summer after the idea was floated in January.

Kulebas first phone call in 2024 was with Jaishankar on January 3 to discuss Ukraine-India relations. In a post on X at the time, Kuleba said he had discussed Russias escalation of attacks and further cooperation on Zelenskyys peace formula.

Also Read: UN chief condemns Russia for holding presidential polls in occupied Ukraine

In this regard, I informed my counterpart of Ukraines vision for the Global Peace Summit of leaders, Kuleba had said in the post. Kuleba also said both sides had agreed to hold a meeting of the India-Ukraine inter-governmental commission in the near future.

He said the rejuvenation of this primary mechanism of our bilateral ties will allow us to jointly move forward in a comprehensive manner.

India has refrained from publicly censuring Russia over the invasion of Ukraine though it has repeatedly said it supports all initiatives aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said todays era is not an era of war. Modis message was reflected in the leaders declaration at the G20 Summits in 2022 and 2023.

Ukraine has also sent deputy foreign minister Emine Dzhaparova to India in 2023 and this was followed by a visit by deputy foreign minister Iryna Borovets in February. Besides participating in the Raisina Dialogue, Borovets met foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra and deputy national security adviser Vikram Misri and invited the Indian side to participate in the planned peace summit.
Defending the contentious electoral bonds scheme for donating to political parties, which the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional and struck down on February 15, Union minister Nitin Gadkari pointed to what he said was the idea behind electoral bonds, asking critics what was wrong with the idea. Union minister Nitin Gadkari (HT File)

The idea was that parties would get money through bonds, helping push the economy to number one. What was wrong with that? It is a fact that parties need money to contest elections. Every party needs that (the money), Gadkari told NDTV in an interview.

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Also Read | The political message in electoral bonds findings

Also, while the senior BJP leader declared he would not comment on the apex court's judgment, he remarked that there was another drawback to withdrawing the scheme.

"If you disallow bonds, people will take money as number two. Gadkari stated, referring to black money.

The Union transport minister also rejected the Opposition's charge of a quid pro quo between the ruling BJP  the saffron party was the biggest beneficiary (and by a distance) with funds worth around 7000 crore  and the donating entities.

Those wealthy would be contractors. Or those who have made it big in trade or industry. So, it is incorrect to claim quid pro quo, the Nagpur MP said.

During the interview, Gadkari also dismissed a contention that electoral bonds can bring black money back into the system.

How can money that creates growth, and generate revenue and employment, be black? The real problem is money that is taken outside the country but dumped elsewhere, he shot back.

The electoral bonds scheme was introduced by then finance minister Arun Jaitley in Budget 2017, while the first tranche of bonds were made available in March 2018. The State Bank of India (SBI), the country's largest lender, was the entity responsible for issuing electoral bonds and keeping donors' details.
A makeshift memorial Sunday honors victims of Saturdays crash at a bus stop near Munis West Portal Station in San Francisco. David Hernandez/The Chronicle

UPDATE: Three family members killed by West Portal driver identified

A third victim  a woman  died one day after a sport utility vehicle plowed into a bus stop near Munis West Portal Station, police confirmed to the Chronicle on Sunday as sorrowful witnesses, residents and passersby left flowers at a makeshift memorial where the tragedy occurred.

A fourth victim, an infant, was still hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, the police department said. The driver also was hospitalized.

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SFPD is continuing to investigate the incident, the department said. We do not believe that traffic engineering was a factor in this case.

Police didnt release further information about the crash, which also killed two others  a man and a toddler, according to witnesses.

While authorities had not released the names of the victims as of Sunday, close friends who mourned them at the makeshift memorial said the victims were a married couple and their two children who lived in the Mission District.

They were an amazing family, said one of the friends, Rogerio Faleiro. He said the husband was 40, his wife was 38 and their toddler was 1. Their baby is 3 months old.

The couple, Faleiro said, sold their car recently. They never took the bus, he said in tears.

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A vehicle ran into a bus stop near Munis West Portal Station on Saturday, killing three people and injuring two. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

The crash occurred around noon Saturday when an SUV drove onto the sidewalk and struck the bus stop next to the transit station on Ulloa Street near a busy intersection. Two victims  the man and toddler  died at the scene, authorities said. The woman and baby, as well as the driver, were taken to a hospital.

On Sunday, three Public Works employees cleaned debris from the wreckage with a broom and blower as mourners left flower bouquets on a steel bench that was still wrapped in yellow police tape. Metal parts of the bus shelter that was crushed by the crash were piled up behind the bench. Also at the site was a white stroller with a white teddy bear and brown bunny buckled in the seat. A heart-shaped paper cutout read, Remembering the precious lives lost on March 16, 2024.

Several witnesses stopped by. Among them was Nikki Mashburn, 45, who said she was working in the nearby San Francisco Center for Spiritual Livings backyard Saturday when she saw a speeding SUV, then heard what sounded like a loud explosion. When she ran over to the scene, she came upon a man and a toddler who had suffered head injuries and appeared dead, she said.

Mashburn said she and two other bystanders erected a makeshift barricade around the man and toddler and covered their bodies with sheets.

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When the paramedics showed up, you could tell  they didnt know what to do first, she said of the tragic scene, adding that the paramedics triaged the others who were injured.

Mashburn said Sundays service at the spiritual center was dedicated to the victims.

A vehicle ran into a bus stop near Munis West Portal Station on Saturday, killing three people and injuring two. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

Gabriel Cinquepalmi, 47, said he was in his vehicle, keeping an eye out for a parking spot, on Lenox Way. He too heard what sounded like an explosion and saw shards of metal and glass sprayed everywhere, he said. It sprayed like a fire hose of glass, he said. I thought the building exploded.

Cinquepalmi said a woman he believes was the driver  it appeared she had just gotten out of the vehicle  looked as if she was in a daze. She had this reaction like, What have I done?  sort of like screaming at the sky, Cinquepalmi said. He estimated the woman was in her 70s.

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When Cinquepalmi got out of his car to try to help, he smelled gas, so he backed away, he said. Others already were helping the victims.

Onlookers gathered too.

I saw knees buckling when they saw what happened, Cinquepalmi said.

Glen Harvey, 71, who lives nearby, said he was walking his blue nose pit bull named Cali when he heard what he described as a boom. He walked over and saw an infant lying on the sidewalk. He saw the body of the man about 70 feet away. Harvey said he helped direct traffic away from the scene.

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Johanna, who didnt want to provide her last name, lives in a home across from the bus stop. She said she was folding laundry when she heard the crash. Then she heard a child crying. She ran out to find the devastation, but shortly after she went back home and grabbed towels to help cover the bodies.

Jodie Medeiros, executive director of the pedestrian advocate group Walk San Francisco, said the incident was one of the worst pedestrian tragedies in San Franciscos history.

It is almost beyond comprehension, Medeiros said.

It was unclear what caused the crash, and little information was available about the driver Sunday. It was also unknown whether the driver would face charges.

The deaths marked San Franciscos eighth, ninth and 10th traffic fatalities of 2024.

Police secure an area around Munis West Portal Station after a fatal crash involving an SUV on Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

The city has struggled to reduce traffic deaths 10 years after signing onto Vision Zero, an ambitious pledge designed to eliminate them that was first implemented in Sweden in the 1990s. The program sought to address traffic fatalities through a combination of intensive data analysis, street engineering projects, public safety campaigns and police enforcement of traffic crimes. Under Mayor London Breed, the city ramped up efforts to install low-cost improvements in high-risk areas.

Instead of trending toward zero traffic fatalities by the start of 2024, however, San Francisco recorded a near-record 39 traffic deaths in 2022 and 25 traffic deaths last year  17 of them pedestrians, according to city tallies.

Apparently frustrated with the slow pace of progress, some San Francisco residents installed an unauthorized lane barrier last week near Sherman Elementary School in Pacific Heights, where a teacher, Andrew Zieman, was killed while walking on the sidewalk headed to teach at the school in 2021, ABC7 reported.

Police data shows traffic citations issued by the department have fallen by about 96% over the past eight years. Citations plummeted in 2020 during the early months of the pandemic and have remained low since.

Saturdays crash happened near a intersection busy with pedestrians and vehicles, including Muni buses and light-rail trains. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the police department are investigating the crash.
The new documentary High & Low: John Galliano covers all the complexities of the famous British designer, one of the most celebrated and controversial figures in the fashion industry. The film, directed by Kevin Macdonald, features candid interviews with Galliano and fashion icons Anna Wintour, Naomi Campbell, Penelope Cruz, Kate Moss and Charlize Theron. (Also Read | Janhvi Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur on Lakme Fashion Week Day 5 set the ramp on fire with modern Indian ethnic wear: Watch) This image provided by MUBI shows fashion designer John Galliano, left, and Vogue Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour, from the documentary film High & Low --John Galliano,". (AP)

Gallianos star shone brightly when Givenchy hired him as a young head designer in 1995, before Christian Dior brought him on as creative director in 1996. For nearly 15 years, he worked tirelessly on multiple seasonal collections at Dior and also started his own label. His over-the-top theatrical runway shows told stories with elaborate sets and makeup.

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The film suggests that Galliano was overworked and abusing alcohol and drugs when he made a series of antisemitic and racist comments in 2010 and 2011. After the video of him saying I love Hitler, went viral, outrage was swift. Dior dropped him, he was convicted in an antisemitism trial in France, and he disappeared from the fashion world for several years. During that time, he made public and private efforts to rehabilitate and get sober, and educate himself on Jewish history and culture.

In 2014, Galliano was hired by Paris fashion house Maison Margiela and debuted his first show in years. His most recent show received rave reviews. The Associated Press talked to Macdonald about Gallianos rise and fall and why many friends and fans stayed loyal to him. Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

AP: How did this film come about?

MACDONALD: I went to Paris, I met (Galliano), we had lunch, and it was obvious that he wanted to make a film. It was in his mind I think for a number of reasons, maybe partly because he thought, Alexander McQueen has a great film. I should have one about me.  But I think also because he said to me, Look, I dont expect people to forgive me. Those who are not going to forgive me are not going to forgive me, but I would like people to understand a bit more what happened. And I thought that was a good motivation for making a film.

AP: What do you want people to know about him after watching?

MACDONALD: I wanted to make a film that was a film for debate  that didnt close things down in a black and white way. Because there is no answer to a lot of the questions that are raised by this film. When has somebody paid their dues? When should they be forgiven? How do we really know why someone said something? Why somebody did something wrong? He was blind drunk, blacked out. He doesnt even remember why he did it. So I want people to come away with a feeling of, gosh, its complicated.

AP: Many fashion icons stuck by him despite his troubles, why?

MACDONALD: People can criticize and say, well, you know, youre putting your loyalty above integrity. But you can also see it, as you know, loyalty is a really great quality. And I think its amazing to me, the number of celebrities who agreed to appear  at some reputational risk. I would say that because they felt loyalty to him, because they like him, and they wanted to put forward their experiences with him.

AP: Do you think Galliano feels remorse about his past comments and behaviour?

MACDONALD: I dont think that he was in any way deliberately setting out to hurt people. As far as how sorry he feels, I think he feels very sorry about what happened, but I think theres also a side to him  hes a bit narcissistic, and he feels like, you know, Ive done enough. But of course, then hell turn around and say, Well, I know that Im never going to be forgiven. And I know that theres certain people who would never buy my clothes.

AP: Do you think his success at Maison Margiela will continue?

MACDONALD: This latest show has been greeted with this attention and people absolutely loved it. Its become a kind of internet phenomenon. And people are saying its now no longer Margiela. Its back to being Galliano. I dont know whether the experience of making the documentary was somehow cathartic and its kind of released him to do that, but I think there might be a little bit of that going on. It feels like, OK, Ive got that off my chest now, now I cando what Im really, really good at and express myself more personally again.
The holy month of Ramadan is here, and it is that time of the year when Muslims around the world observe fast for an entire month from sunrise to sunset, starting their day with a pre-dawn meal called Sehri and concluding their fast with Iftar, a lavish spread with a mix of delicious and nutritious delicacies. This year Ramzan fasting has begun on March 12 and is expected to end on April 9. The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is the time for spiritual reflection, devotion, and community solidarity. (Also read | Managing diabetes during Ramadan 2024: Best foods to eat during Suhoor and Iftaar, dos and don'ts to follow) Sehri recipes 2024 Planning this morning meal well is a key to maintain good physical and mental health during the holy month of Ramadan.(Freepik)

When it comes to maintaining optimum health during Ramadan, it is crucial to include the right foods and drinks during Sehri, the pre-dawn meal. Experts recommend including all important food groups in this meal to ensure the body has enough protein, carbs, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water for efficient functioning. Planning this meal well is a key to maintain good physical and mental health during the holy month.

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Nutritionist Abhilasha V, Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Bengaluru in an interview with HT Digital suggests 10 Sehri snacks that will keep you nourished and full during the month of Ramadan.

DELECTABLE AND NUTRITIOUS SEHRI SNACKS

Here are 10 delectable snacks for Sehri that will also nourish your body:

1. Oatmeal with fruit and nuts: In a saucepan, bring 1 cup of milk or water to a boil. Stir in 1/2 cup of rolled oats and reduce heat to low. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until oats are tender and the mixture thickens. Transfer the oatmeal to a bowl and top with sliced fruits and nuts of your choice.

Making Time: 10-15 minutes.

2. Greek yoghurt parfait: In a glass or bowl, layer Greek yogurt, granola, fresh berries, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Repeat layers as desired.

Making Time: 5 minutes.

3. Egg and avocado toast: Toast a slice of whole-grain bread until golden brown. Mash half an avocado and spread it onto the toast. Top with sliced hard-boiled egg, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice

Making Time: 10 minutes (including boiling the egg).

4. Homemade smoothie: In a blender, combine 1 cup of frozen fruits, 1/2 cup of Greek yoghurt, a handful of spinach or kale, and a splash of milk or juice. Blend until smooth, adding more liquid if needed to reach your desired consistency.

Making Time: 5 minutes.

5. Chia seed pudding: In a bowl or jar, mix together 1/4 cup of chia seeds, 1 cup of milk (or milk alternative), and sweetener to taste. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 2 hours, until the mixture thickens. Before serving, top with sliced fruit or berries.

Making Time: 5 minutes (plus overnight chilling).

6. Whole wheat pancakes: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of whole wheat flour, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, a pinch of salt, 1 beaten egg, and enough milk to make a smooth batter. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and lightly grease with oil or cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto the skillet for each pancake and cook until bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook until golden brown on the other side.

Making time: 15-20 minutes.

7. Quinoa salad: Rinse 1 cup of quinoa under cold water, then cook according to package instructions. In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa with diced vegetables, herbs, a squeeze of lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.

Making Time: 20 minutes (including quinoa cooking time).

8. Hummus and veggie sticks: Serve store-bought or homemade hummus with assorted veggie sticks, such as carrots, celery, cucumbers, and bell peppers.

Making Time: 5 minutes (if using store-bought hummus).

9. Wholegrain crackers with cottage cheese: Spread whole grain crackers with cottage cheese and top with sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, or radishes.

Making Time: 5 minutes.

10. Energy bites: In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of oats, 1/2 cup of nut butter, 1/4 cup of honey, and add-ins like chia seeds, dried fruit, or chocolate chips. Mix until well combined, then roll into bite-sized balls. Place the energy bites on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Making Time: 15 minutes.

These snacks provide a balance of carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, fibre, vitamins, and minerals to help sustain energy levels throughout the fasting day. Adjust portion sizes according to your individual needs and preferences. Remember to also hydrate well during Sehri to prevent dehydration during the day.
Holi is right around the corner, and it brings good news for those tired of slogging off at their offices or hungry for a long weekend getaway to check off places from their travel bucket list. In March, you can say goodbye to city life and chill amid mountains and greenery or sea and beaches (whichever you prefer) for five days. How? Well, Holi falls on March 25, which is a Monday. Since you will get off on Saturday (March 23) and March 24 (Sunday), you can take a holiday on either Friday (March 22) or Tuesday (March 26), or both days, to enjoy a five-day long vacation. Moreover, five days is enough to explore an awesome destination near your city, whether you live in Delhi or Mumbai. So, we decided to list some places for you. Check them out below. Holi 2024 Long Weekend: Check out must visit places from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru during the Holi vacations. (Freepik, PTI)

Holi 2024 Long Weekend: Must-visit places near Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru

Leh Ladakh

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March is the best time to visit Leh, Ladakh. (Freepik)

March is the best time to visit Leh, Ladakh, as you will witness clear skies and moderate temperatures while exploring stunning landscapes, ancient monasteries, and picturesque villages. Your itinerary must include Pangong Tso Lake, Matho Monastery, Hunder Sand Dunes, Thiksey Monastery, Magnetic Hill, Leh Royal Palace, and Nubra Valley, among other places. March marks the beginning of the tourist season here, so don't miss out.

Mathura

Devotees play with colours during Ladoo Holi celebrations at the Sriji temple in Barsana, near Mathura. (PTI)

Holi is the best time to visit the birthplace of Lord Krishna and experience the world-famous Braj Ki Holi. Join the locals to experience the local culture and traditions, gorge on delectable dishes, and enjoy the best and most colourful Holi of your life. Apart from the vibrant traditions and unique rituals (including Chhadi Mar Holi, Holika Dahan and Holi of flowers), don't miss out on the refreshing Thandai at the Radha Rani Temple.

Bir Billing

Bir Billing is a great location for those looking for adventure. (Unsplash)

Bir Billing is for the adventure seekers. Come March, this place becomes a hotspot for adventure enthusiasts as the first paragliding season of the year kicks off. To add to this adrenaline rush, you have exquisite views of the mountains and pleasant temperatures.

Ratnagiri

Beaches and lush peaks, you will get everything in Ratnagiri.

Those who can never decide an answer to the age-old question of beach vs mountains, Ratnagiri is the place for you. On the coast of Arabian Sea, the weather is pleasant here in March. You can also visit the Velas Turtle Festival for a unique adventure. Velas is a tiny fishing village in Ratnagiri, lined with hundreds of traditional houses and calm beaches. One can see the hatchlings take their baby steps towards the warm waters of the Arabian Sea during March and April.

Munnar, Kerala

Travel to Munnar for a great long weekend getaway during Holi holidays. (File Photo)

Munnar is a favourable choice for tourists looking for places to visit in March. Experience clear skies and cool weather while exploring lush tea plantations and scenic spots. Also include Eravikulam National Park, Lakkam Waterfalls and the Anamudi Peak in your itinerary.

Kurseong

Spend marvelling at the nature during your stay in Kurseong.

A popular escape to the hills in West Bengal, Kurseong is home to sprawling wild orchids, Buddhist gompas, temples and waterfalls. This place is also known as the Land of Orchids, and for the right reasons. The weather in March here can be described as pleasantly warm, making it an ideal getaway.

Havelock Island, Andaman

A picturesque view of the Havelock Island in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (Freepik)

March is a good time to visit Andaman as the weather is pleasant, neither too hot nor too humid. A surreal escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, Havelock is a wonderful natural island that boasts of white glittering sands, coral reefs, enthralling flora and fauna, and fantastic beaches. Radhanagar Beach, Vijaynagar Beach, Turtle Bay, Minerva Lodge, Seduction Point, Lighthouse, and Pilot Reef are some must-visit places.
YouTube star MrBeast is teaming up with Amazon's Prime Video for a reality competition, featuring a staggering 1000 contestants competing for a $5 million cash prize  believed to be the largest single payout ever in TV history. In November 2022, MrBeast made history by becoming the most subscribed YouTube creator globally. (MrBeast)

The YouTuber, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson and is famous for big-money giveaways, will serve as host and executive producer.

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ALSO READ- MrBeast survives seven days in an abandoned city in Croatia, documents his taxing experience

"Based on his already successful YouTube show, "Beast Games" is set to become the biggest reality competition series ever, with 1000 contestants competing for a $5 million cash prize, which will be the biggest single prize in the history of television and streaming," Amazon said.

"Beast Games" will premiere on Prime Video. The details of the nature of challenges to be streamed have not been disclosed.

ALSO READ- MrBeast asks Sam Altman not to make him homeless after Sora launch: Too late?

Who is MrBeast?

1. Jimmy Donaldson, widely known as "MrBeast," is a prominent YouTube creator and entrepreneur.

2. In November 2022, MrBeast made history by becoming the most subscribed YouTube creator globally, boasting an impressive subscriber base exceeding 244 million.

3. Apart from his YouTube success, Donaldson is the founder of Feastables, a thriving chocolate and snack brand sold internationally, recognized as one of the fastest-growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands ever.

ALSO READ- How MrBeast is paying off the debt of Americans

'Want to prove Youtubers can succeed on other platforms'

My goal is to make the greatest show possible and prove YouTubers and creators can succeed on other platforms, said MrBeast, Amazon gave me the creative control I need to try and make it happen. I hope to make the YouTube community proud.
Former US President Barack Obama dropped in for an unannounced informal meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street in London on Monday. Former US president Barack Obama followed by United States ambassador to the United Kingdom Jane Hartley, leave following a meeting at 10 Downing Street, London, Monday March 18, 2024. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via AP)(AP)

Obama waved at photographers as he entered the famous black door for what Downing Street officials later described as a courtesy drop in for a chat in the UK PM's study. The agenda for the hour-long meeting was not revealed but it is likely the Russian re-election of President Vladimir Putin and the conflict in Ukraine may have featured in their discussions.

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"He was making an informal courtesy drop-in as part of his trip to London, where he is conducting work of the Obama Foundation," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

"I think President Obama's team made contact and obviously the Prime Minister was very happy to meet with him and discuss the work of the Obama Foundation," the spokesperson said.

This marks Obamas first visit to Downing Street since he left the White House after his two terms as US President, between 2009 and 2017. The 62-year-old Democrat founded the Chicago-based Obama Foundation with a mission to "inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world".

The meeting between Obama and Sunak is believed to be the first time the pair have met. Obama was seen leaving Downing Street around an hour later with the US ambassador to the UK, Jane Hartley, and smiled at reporters as he quipped that he was tempted" when asked to speak.
President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a major ground operation in Rafah would be a mistake and the two agreed to hold talks in Washington about Israels war plans in the coming days. US President Joe Biden (Reuters)

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Biden asked Netanyahu to send a team of military, intelligence and humanitarian officials to Washington to discuss Israels planning for Rafah and to lay out an alternative approach that would target Hamas and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a full-scale invasion. Sullivan said the meeting could take place by weeks end.

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A major ground operation there would be a mistake. It would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza and further isolate Israel internationally, Sullivan told reporters Monday at the White House.

He said Netanyahu had agreed to the request for a meeting. The US expects that Israel will hold off on any ground campaign in Rafah until the discussion takes place, Sullivan said.

There are ways for Israel to prevail in this conflict, to secure its long-term future, to end the terror threat from Gaza and not smash into Rafah, he said.

Sullivan said Israel had made gains against Hamas, confirming its No. 3 official, Marwan Issa, had been killed. But he repeatedly said Israel risks allowing Hamas to reestablish itself in areas that have previously been cleared, emphasizing the point by urging a more methodical approach.

The call earlier Monday between Biden and Netanyahu was the president and prime ministers first since Feb. 15. In the last month, the rift between both men has widened over Israels military campaign against Hamas and the increasingly dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Biden last Friday praised Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers call for new elections in Israel and Netanyahus ouster as a good speech that expressed serious concern shared by many Americans. Netanyahu responded on Sunday by calling Schumers comments inappropriate interference in Israels domestic affairs.

Asked if Schumers comments came up in the call, Sullivan said that the prime minister raised concerns about a variety of things that have come out in the American press, but declined to elaborate.

Sullivan answered a question about Netanyahus contention that outsiders shouldnt publicly weigh in on Israeli politics by pointing out that the prime minister consistently appears on US news programs, calling it an interesting irony.

The Israeli leader also pledged he would press on with his operation against Hamas, which is considered a terrorist group by the US and European Union, into the southern city of Rafah where more than 1 million displaced Palestinians have fled, despite growing international pressure for a cease-fire.

Biden was caught on a hot microphone after his State of the Union address telling a senator he needed to have a come to Jesus meeting with Netanyahu about the situation in Gaza. US officials have said they would not support a Rafah offensive unless Israel produced a viable plan for evacuating civilians.

Israel has not presented us, or the world, with a plan for how were where they would safely move those civilians, let alone feed and house them and ensure access to basic things like sanitation, Sullivan said Monday.
China congratulated Vladimir Putin on Monday on winning Russia's presidential election and said the strategic relationship between the two countries will continue to strengthen. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping (AP)

Putin won a record post-Soviet landslide in Russia's election on Sunday, cementing his already tight grip on power in a victory he said showed Moscow had been right to stand up to the West and send its troops into Ukraine.

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"We firmly believe that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, China-Russia relations will continue to move forward," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters when asked about the vote.

"China and Russia are each other's largest neighbours and comprehensive strategic partners in the new era."

China has strengthened its ties with Russia over the past few years, even as Western criticism of the war in Ukraine intensified.

The two countries declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, triggering the deadliest land war in Europe since World War Two.

It has been reported that China and Russia are preparing "several meetings" between Xi and Putin this year.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, and Lin said the two heads of state would continue to maintain close exchanges. (Reporting by Liz Lee; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Half of Gazans are experiencing "catastrophic" hunger, with famine projected to hit the territory's north by May without urgent intervention, a UN-backed food security assessment said Monday. Palestinians gather to receive aid outside an UNRWA warehouse as Gaza residents face crisis levels of hunger, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas,(REUTERS)

"To have 50 percent of an entire population in catastrophic, near famine levels, is unprecedented," Beth Bechdol, the deputy director-general of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told AFP.

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It amounts to around 1.1 million people experiencing "catastrophic food insecurity" due to the Israel-Hamas war, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) partnership said in its report.

The IPC hunger monitoring system, carried out by the United Nations and aid agencies, rates hunger levels from one to five and is used by the UN or governments in deciding whether or not to declare a famine.

The situation in the north of Gaza is particularly dire, and aid agencies have reported difficulty accessing the area to distribute food and other aid.

"Famine is imminent in the northern governorates and projected to occur anytime between mid-March and May 2024," the IPC report said.

"All evidence points towards a major acceleration of deaths and malnutrition. Waiting for a retrospective famine classification before acting is indefensible," it said.

Donors have turned to deliveries by air or sea, but air and sea missions are no alternative to land deliveries, UN agencies say.

Famine will occur under "the most likely scenario", based on assumptions that the conflict will escalate -- including a ground offensive in Rafah -- and hostilities continue to impede humanitarian aid delivery, the IPC report said.
Israel killed the Hamas militant group's third-in-command last week, the White House said Monday, after Israel previously said he had been targeted in a Gaza airstrike but did not confirm his death. An Israeli tank operates in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas(REUTERS)

"Hamas's number three Marwan Issa was killed in an Israeli operation last week," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said as he gave a readout of a call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Sullivan said Israel had also "broken a significant number of Hamas battalions, killed 1000s of Hamas fighters including senior commanders."

"The rest of the top leaders are in hiding, likely deep in the Hamas tunnel network, and justice will come for them too," he added.

Israel's military said on March 11 that an air strike on an underground compound in central Gaza on March 9-10 had targeted Issa, describing him as one of the planners of Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.

Issa was a deputy of Mohammed Deif, who heads Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Israel's military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said at the time.

But Hagari said then that it was unclear if Issa had been killed in the operation, adding: "We are still examining the results of the strike, and final confirmation has yet to be received."
Israel has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) not to issue emergency orders for it to step up humanitarian aid to Gaza to address a looming famine, dismissing South Africa's request to do so as "morally repugnant". Palestinians carry away the body of a man killed in Israeli bombardment(AFP)

In a legal filing to the United Nations' top court, made public on Monday, Israel said it "has real concern for the humanitarian situation and innocent lives, as demonstrated by the actions it has and is taking" in Gaza during the war.

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Lawyers for Israel denied allegations of deliberately causing humanitarian suffering in the enclave, where thousands have died and hunger is rising, and said South Africa's repeated requests for additional measures were an abuse of procedures.

The filing said South Africa's accusations in its request for new measures, filed March 6, are "wholly unfounded in fact and law, morally repugnant, and represent an abuse both of the Genocide Convention and of the court itself".

The new exchange between the parties is part of South Africa's ongoing case accusing Israel of state-led genocide in Gaza after the Oct. 7 Hamas militant attacks on Israel.

In January the ICJ, also known as the World Court, ordered Israel to refrain from any acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel denies targeting Palestinian civilians, saying its sole interest is to annihilate Hamas, but relief agencies say aid is being severely restricted to the Gaza's 2.3 million people.

ICJ emergency measures serve as temporary injunctions meant to keep a situation from deteriorating before the court can hear the full case, a process that usually takes several years.
Reese Owens of the Irish Pipers Band of San Francisco performs during a St. Patricks Day celebration at the Lark Bar in San Francisco. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle Saralyn Sheehy offers soda bread to customers during a St. Patricks Day celebration at the Lark Bar. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle Members of the Irish Pipers Band of San Francisco prepare to perform during a St. Patricks Day celebration at the Lark Bar. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

Saturdays San Francisco St. Patricks Day parade was just a five-hour warm-up for Kerry Egan. He saved his shamrock sport coat and shamrock shirt for the longer commitment required of St. Patricks Day itself at the Lark Bar on Market Street.

Feeling every bit of it today, Egan said as he stood outside the Irish pub shortly after noon, steadied by his wife, Jamie, and their 7-year-old freckle-faced son, Jameson. Youre going to get the hair of the dog crowd.

On Saturday there had been 10,000 people lining Market Street as the 173rd rendition of the San Francisco St. Patricks Day Parade and Celebration came right by the Lark and its outdoor patio next to the Palace Hotel. On Sunday, Market Street was empty except for the Lark hungover regulars who came to partake in their own parade, the Rogues March. Behind a band of bagpipes, 50 or so marched across Market Street and up Geary Street to Union Square, then down Post Street to the Larks sister bar on Kearny Street, Rickhouse, which had been renamed Mickhouse for the holiday.

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By the time they hit Mickhouse, they had reached maybe 100 marchers packed into a bar so dark there is only firelight for illumination.

Today is the important day, said Ivan Harrow, an immigrant from Limerick, who also saved his best shirt for it, an Irish national team rugby jersey. Yesterday was fun with the parade, but today is the actual day.

Ivan Harrow holds a baby pint of Guinness during a St. Patricks Day celebration at the Lark Bar. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

The Rogues March is an import that Lark owner Brian Sheehy partook of while a student at the University of Galway. The name comes from a musical composition performed as failed soldiers were being drummed out of a regiment, usually for desertion, in the British Army.

The Rogues March has lyrics, but nobody bothered with them, having probably been written by an Englishman. Plus it would be too complicated to march and sing, while many of the parade-goers were already trying to march and drink.

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To reduce spillage, Sheehy had withstood an international bureaucratic ordeal to become the first American Guinness purveyor to offer it in a half-pint glass that bears the Guinness shape and logo. In Ireland this is known as a lady pint, but to keep up with the times, Sheehy renamed his offering a baby pint.

Patrons sip on Guinness and other beverages during a St. Patricks Day celebration at the Lark Bar. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

It was poured for the first time in America at the stroke of noon Saturday, during the parade. The ceremonial first drink was taken by Orla Niland after she was hoisted up onto the bar by Egan.

I have the glass at home, Niland said. I was given permission to take it.

Many others took the baby pint glass out of the bar Saturday when the Rogues March had its inaugural run, right after the parade went by.

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Yesterday when we did the Rogues March, I had a baby pint in my hand, Harrow said.

Sundays march, on a longer route, was slow in forming because the Irish Pipers Band of San Francisco got waylaid during a previous engagement at the Irish Cultural Center. During the wait at the Lark, the North Beach Brass Band did its best to keep the energy going.

Members of the Irish Pipers Band of San Francisco lead the Rogues March during a St. Patricks Day celebration from the Lark Bar. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle

After one tune, Egan raised his Irish coffee in a toast. Who is struggling? he asked. The consensus was that everybody was struggling. Im a little shattered, but Im getting through, said Kathy Prunty.

She had been at the Lark on Saturday as had Niland, an immigrant from Galway. She normally works Sundays at Gino and Carlo in North Beach but had taken the day off to celebrate my Irish heritage, she said. Im back at the scene of the crime. Where else would I be?

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In a story that ran in the Chronicle over the weekend, bar owner Sheehy was among those complaining that San Francisco does not have as many Irish immigrants as it once did, due largely to strict government policies. His company, Future Bars Group, owns 13 taverns and employs 220 people, just one of whom is Irish  Sheehy.
The Israeli army launched Monday an operation around Gaza's largest hospital, Al-Shifa, with witnesses reporting air strikes on the devastated neighbourhood where it is located. Palestinians carry away the body of a man killed in Israeli bombardment from the morgue of the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City (AFP)

Israeli soldiers "are currently conducting a precise operation in the area of the Shifa hospital", a statement from the military said.

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"The operation is based on intelligence information indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists".

Witnesses in Gaza City told AFP they saw tanks surround the hospital site.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the war have sought shelter in the complex, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

The Israeli army had also carried out a November operation in Al-Shifa, sparking an international outcry.

Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of running military operations from hospitals and other medical centres, claims the militant group denies.

The Hamas government media office in Gaza condemned the operation, saying that "the storming of the Al-Shifa medical complex with tanks, drones, and weapons, and shooting inside it, is a war crime".

The health ministry in the besieged Hamas-run territory said it had received calls from people near the hospital site who claimed there were dozens of casualties.

"No one could transport them to the hospital due to the intensity of gunfire and artillery shelling," the ministry said.

The Israeli army has carried out multiple operations in and around medical facilities across the Gaza Strip since the start of the war.

The war began when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack from Gaza on October 7 that resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

Palestinian militants seized about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages during the October 7 attack, but dozens were released during a week-long truce in November.

Israel believes about 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 -- eight soldiers and 25 civilians -- who are presumed dead.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has carried out a relentless bombardment and ground offensive that the health ministry in the Palestinian territory says have killed at least 31,645 people, most of them women and children.

According to the Israeli military, troops "were instructed on the importance of operating cautiously, as well as on the measures to be taken to avoid harm to the patients, civilians, medical staff, and medical equipment" at Al-Shifa.

The statement also said Arabic speakers had been deployed in order to "facilitate dialogue with the patients remaining in the hospital".

It added: "There is no obligation for the patients and medical staff to evacuate."

Following its November 15 operation on Al-Shifa, the Israeli military said it had found weapons and other military equipment hidden in the site -- claims Hamas has denied.

It also claimed it had found a 55-metre tunnel in the basement and shared footage that it said proved hostages had been held there, which Hamas also denied.

According to the UN, 155 health facilities in the Gaza Strip have been damaged since the war began.

- 'Where should they go?' -

The Hamas-run health ministry said early Monday that dozens of people had been killed across the Gaza Strip overnight.

Over the weekend, 12 members of the same family were killed when their house was hit in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

Palestinian girl Leen Thabit, retrieving a white dress from under the rubble of their flattened house, cried as she told AFP her cousin was killed in the strike.

"She's dead. Only her dress is left," Thabit said.

For several weeks, the focus of the war had been on southern Gaza, where around 1.5 million people who have fled the rest of the devastated territory have sought refuge since the start of the war.

Allies of Israel, including the United States, have warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government against launching a full-scale operation in Rafah near the Egyptian border.

Rafah is the only urban centre in Gaza where Israeli ground troops have yet to enter.

Visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters that if such an offensive resulted in "a large number of casualties" it "would make any peaceful development in the region very difficult".

Israel has insisted, however, that its war aim of eliminating Hamas cannot be achieved without operating across the territory.

On Sunday, Netanyahu vowed civilians crammed into the south of the strip would be able to leave before troops enter in pursuit of Hamas militants.

The office of Netanyahu had on Friday said he approved the military's plan for an operation in Rafah as well as "the evacuation of the population".

"Our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah goes hand-in-hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah," Netanyahu said at a press appearance alongside Scholz.

"It's not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place."

As others have done, Scholz raised the question:

"Where should they go?"

'Out of harm's way'

The United States, which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance, has said it wants a "clear and implementable plan" to ensure civilians are "out of harm's way".

Gaza is facing the threat of famine, according to the UN, and many residents of the territory have faced displacement multiple times in recent months.

There has been no indication yet of where those crammed into Rafah could go, and any suggestion of Palestinian dispersal outside the Palestinian Territories is highly contentious in the Arab world.

A Hamas proposal for a truce calls for an Israeli withdrawal from "all cities and populated areas" in Gaza during a six-week truce and for more humanitarian aid, according to an official from the group.

International envoys were planning to meet in Qatar soon to revive stalled talks for a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Israel plans to attend the talks, and a cabinet meeting meant to decide the delegation's mandate took place on Sunday night, Netanyahu's office said, though the outcome was not immediately known.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, who has been out of the public eye since her surgery in January, is expected to discuss her health and well-being at a public engagement next month, according to a New York Times (NYT) report citing a British newspaper. Princess of Wales Kate Middleton(via REUTERS)

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 royal insider told The Times of London on Saturday, the NYT report said.

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The source, according to NYT, also mentioned that the couple will want to be clear and more open but theyll do it when they feel ready.

As per the source who also spoke to the Sunday Times, 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. If she was going to do it, thats how she would do it.

Speculation about the Princess of Wales condition has intensified during her absence following abdominal surgery on January 16. Rumours heightened this week after Kensington Palace issued an altered photo of the royal with her three children on Mother's Day in the UK, prompting Kate to apologise.

Kate's return to royal duties

The Sunday Times report further said that Kate's anticipated return may not be until April 17, coinciding with the conclusion of her children's school break. Moreover, recent sightings suggest she has visited Lambrook School, attended by Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, in the past few weeks.

Regarding the timeline of public engagement, Kates friend reportedly told the British newspaper that they will want to be clear and more open, but theyll do it when they feel ready. I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. Theyre not going to be rushed.

This marks the return of Kate's three children to Lambrook School near Ascot following their Easter break. Earlier this week, Kate publicly apologised after a kill notice was issued for her family portrait featuring her three children. According to a source close to the couple, Kate's sole oversight was neglecting to inform her team that she had personally edited the photos.
Afghanistan's Taliban said on Monday that Pakistan carried out two air strikes on its territory, killing five women and three children, and it fired heavy weapons at Pakistani forces along the border in retaliation. Pakistan carried out air strikes inside Afghan territory, (X)

The neighbouring countries have traded blame over who is responsible for a recent spate of Islamist militant attacks in Pakistan. Pakistan says the attacks were launched from Afghan soil; Afghanistan's ruling Taliban deny this.

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"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not allow anyone to compromise security by using Afghan territory," Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban administration, said in a statement. The strikes killed five women and three children in the eastern border provinces of Khost and Paktika, he added.

In a separate statement, the Taliban defence ministry said its security forces had targeted Pakistani troops at the border in response to the air strikes.

Read here: Pakistan carried out two air strikes inside Afghanistan, killed 8 people, says Taliban

Pakistan's army and foreign office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reported strikes, which come after unidentified militants attacked a military post in Pakistan on Saturday, killing seven security force members.

In a statement provided to state television, the Pakistani military said "a recent wave of terrorism has the full support and assistance of Afghanistan". It did not mention any air strikes, but said that Saturday's attack was carried out by militants who had "safe haven" in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani government and security officials have said repeatedly that such attacks have risen in recent months, many of them claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and launched from Afghan soil.

The Afghan Taliban has denied that it allows its territory to be used by militant groups.

"Pakistan shouldn't blame Afghanistan for the lack of control, incompetence and problems in its own territory," Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said in the statement.

Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will not be in Pakistan's control.
Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, who commanded a dress rehearsal flight for the 1969 moon landing and the first U.S.-Soviet space linkup, died Monday. He was 93. Retired NASA astronaut Tom Stafford, a native of Weatherford, Okla.,, who flew the first lunar module to the moon in 1969, stands in front of a portrait made in his honor (AP)

Stafford, a retired Air Force three-star general, took part in four space missions. Before Apollo 10, he flew on two Gemini flights, including the first rendezvous of two U.S. capsules in orbit. He died in a hospital near his Space Coast Florida home, said Max Ary, director of the Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

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Stafford was one of 24 people who flew to the moon, but he did not land on it. Only seven of them are still alive.

Today General Tom Stafford went to the eternal heavens which he so courageously explored as a Gemini and Apollo astronaut as well as a peacemaker in Apollo Soyuz, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said via X, formerly known as Twitter. Those of us privileged to know him are very sad but grateful we knew a giant.

After he put away his flight suit, Stafford was the go-to guy for NASA when it sought independent advice on everything from human Mars missions to safety issues to returning to flight after the 2003 space shuttle Columbia accident. He chaired an oversight group that looked into how to fix the then-flawed Hubble Space Telescope, earning a NASA public service award.

Tom was involved in so many things that most people were not aware of, such as being known as the Father of Stealth, Ary said in an email. Stafford was in charge of the famous Area 51 desert base that was the site of many UFO theories, but the home of testing of Air Force stealth technologies.

The Apollo 10 mission in May 1969 set the stage for Apollo 11s historic mission two months later. Stafford and Gene Cernan took the lunar lander nicknamed Snoopy within 9 miles (14 kilometers) of the moons surface. Astronaut John Young stayed behind in the main spaceship dubbed Charlie Brown.

NASA Hubble Telescope captures Virgo galaxy cluster that is 52 million light-years away. See pic

The most impressive sight, I think, that really changed your view of things is when you first see Earth, Stafford recalled in a 1997 oral history, talking about the view from lunar orbit.

Then came the moons far side: The Earth disappears. Theres this big black void."

Apollo 10s return to Earth set the worlds record for fastest speed by a crewed vehicle at 24,791 mph (39,897 kph).

After the moon landings ended, NASA and the Soviet Union decided on a joint docking mission and Stafford, a one-star general at the time, was chosen to command the American side. It meant intensive language training, being followed by the KGB while in the Soviet Union, and lifelong friendships with cosmonauts. The two teams of space travelers even went to Disney World and rode Space Mountain together before going into orbit and joining ships.

We have capture, Stafford radioed in Russian as the Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft hooked up. His Russian counterpart, Alexei Leonov, responded in English: Well done, Tom, it was a good show. I vote for you.

The 1975 mission included two days during which the five men worked together on experiments. After, the two teams toured the world together, meeting President Gerald Ford and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

It helped prove to the rest of the world that two completely opposite political systems could work together, Stafford recalled at a 30th anniversary gathering in 2005.

The two crews became so close that years later Leonov arranged for Stafford to be able to adopt two Russian boys when Stafford was in his 70s.

We are too old to adopt, but they were too old to be adopted," Stafford told The Oklahoman in 2004. They just added so much meaning to our life, and just because youre retiring doesnt mean you dont have anything left to give.

Later, Stafford was a central part of discussions in the 1990s that brought Russia into the partnership building and operating the International Space Station.

Growing up in Weatherford, Oklahoma, Stafford said he would look up and see giant DC-3 airplanes fly overhead on early transcontinental routes.

I wanted to fly since I was 5 or 6 years old seeing those airplanes, he told NASA historians.

Stafford went to the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated in the top 1% of his class and flew in the backseat of some airplanes and loved it. He volunteered for the Air Force and had hoped to fly combat in the Korean War. But by the time he got his wings, the war ended. He went to the Air Forces experimental test pilot school, graduated first in his class there and stayed on as an instructor.

In 1962, NASA selected Stafford for its second set of astronauts, which included Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman and Pete Conrad.

Stafford was assigned along with Wally Schirra to Gemini 6. Their original mission was to rendezvous with an empty spaceship. But their 1965 launch was scrubbed when the spaceship exploded soon after liftoff. NASA improvised and in December, Gemini 6 rendezvoused with but didnt dock with two astronauts aboard Gemini 7.

Staffords next flight in 1966 was with Cernan on Gemini 9. Cernans spacewalk, connected to a jet-pack like device, didnt go well. Cernan complained that the sun and machine made him extra hot and hurt his back. Then his visor fogged up and he couldnt see.

Call it quits, Gene. Get out of there, Stafford, the commander, told Cernan. Stafford talked him back in, saying move your hand over, start to float up ... stick your hand up ... just walk hand over hand."

In all, Stafford logged 507 hours in space and flew four different types of spacecraft and 127 types of aircraft and helicopters.

After the Apollo-Soyuz mission, Stafford returned to the Air Force and worked in research and commanded the Air Force Flight Test Center before retiring in 1979 as a three-star general.

Stafford's Air Force duties not only had him run the military's top flight school and experimental plane testing base, but he was commanding general of Area 51. A biography from his museum said, that while Stafford was in charge of Area 51 and later as the development and acquisition chief at the Pentagon he wrote the specs and established the program that led to the development of the F-117 Stealth Fighter, and later, the B-2 Stealth Bomber."

Stafford became an executive for an Oklahoma-based transportation company and later moved to Florida, near Cape Canaveral.

He is survived by his wife. Linda, two sons, two daughters and two stepchildren, according to the museum.
North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles in a defiant show of force that coincided with a visit to Seoul by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for a Summit for Democracy. North Korea fired three ballistic missiles toward waters off the east coast that reached a maximum altitude of about 50 kilometers (31 miles) and flew some 350 km.(HT File)

Several short-range ballistic missiles were fired from around 7:44 a.m. Monday from a province southeast of Pyongyang, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said in parliament that multiple missiles were launched, and there were no reports of damage as the projectiles fell outside of the countrys exclusive economic zone.

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READ | North Korea fires several cruise missiles: Seoul military

North Korea fired three ballistic missiles toward waters off the east coast that reached a maximum altitude of about 50 kilometers (31 miles) and flew some 350 km, Japans Ministry of Defense said. It didnt comment on the type of projectiles but the trajectory is similar to that of short-range ballistic missiles North Korea has previously tested.

This is the first ballistic missile test from North Korea in about two months and it is unclear what was in the barrage. North Korea, which often comments on missile launches the following day, has been known to engage in provocations designed to coincide with high-profile political events involving the US, South Korea and Japan.

Kim Jong Uns regime last conducted a ballistic missile test in mid-January, when it fired off an intermediate-range rocket designed to hit US bases in Asia. The states official media said that projectile was a hypersonic missile, indicating it deployed a reentry vehicle for carrying a nuclear warhead that can change its flight path at high speeds.

READ | North Korea launched ballistic missile toward sea, says South Korea

Kim and his official media have been lashing out frequently at the US and South Korea, with the North Korean leader saying the time for peaceful unification is over and striking the concept from the countrys constitution.

Prior to the launch, Kim guided military drills that included fire from an artillery unit capable of hitting Seoul, overseeing training that simulated storming a South Korean border guard post and driving the countrys newest tank. These stepped up threats against his neighbor to the south coincided with it holding joint military training with the US.

The US and South Korea concluded their annual Freedom Shield exercises on March 14, which included training on land, sea and in the air against contingencies posed by North Korea. Pyongyang has bristled for decades against joint drills, calling them a prelude to an invasion.

Kim said in February he has the legal right to annihilate South Korea. Kim has also shown no inclination that he wants to return to stalled nuclear disarmament talks and has rolled out a series of new weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes on the US and its allies in Asia.

This has led to some speculation that Kim has turned the corner on his bellicose outbursts and is readying for battle. US President Joe Biden has warned Kim that it would mean the end of his regime if he tried to launch a nuclear attack.

Kim appears to be transferring massive amounts of weapons to Russia for President Vladimir Putin to use in his war on Ukraine. The arms include artillery shells and ballistic missiles, the US and South Korea have said. Russia is likely providing technology, key materials and commodities to Kim that could help him expand the economy and increase his military strength.
Eight people, all women and children, were killed on Monday in "reckless" air strikes by the Pakistani military in the border regions of Afghanistan, the Taliban government's spokesman said. Pakistan carries out air strikes inside Afghan territory,

Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have risen since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad claiming militant groups are carrying out regular attacks from the neighbouring country.

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At "around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Sunday), Pakistani aircraft bombarded civilian homes" in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.

The Taliban government "strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of and an attack on Afghanistan's sovereignty", he added.

READ | Killer drones, rockets: How Pakistan army carried out airstrikes in Iran

The strikes come after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack inside Pakistan territory on Saturday, for which the country's President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation.

"Pakistan has decided that whoever will enter our borders, homes or country and commit terror, we will respond to them strongly, regardless of who it is or from which country," he said while attending the funeral prayers of the soldiers, which included a lieutenant colonel.

Areas along the border have long been a stronghold for militant groups such as Pakistan's home-grown Taliban group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates across the porous frontier with Afghanistan.

READ | Over 40 civilians including children killed in Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan

Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the Taliban's return to power, with TTP waging a growing campaign against security officials.

The Taliban deny harbouring Pakistani militants.

In 2022, Taliban authorities said Pakistani military helicopters carried out strikes along the Afghan side of the border killing at least 47 people.

The TTP issued an official statement denying that Monday's strikes targeted the group, saying their members operate from within Pakistan.

However, a TTP source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media said the strikes in Paktika and Khost left at least nine people dead.

"A house has been attacked where two women and seven children have been killed and a child has been wounded" in the Barmal district in Paktika.

"A bombardment in the Pasa Mela area of Khost also has casualties."
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a congratulatory message to Vladimir Putin on Monday that Russian voters had shown "unshakeable support" for their re-elected president, state media reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands (AP)

"Your re-election to the heavy responsibility of the head of state is the Russian people's valuable estimate of the outstanding leadership and tenacious executive ability you displayed in state activities with a high prestige as the leader of the nation," Kim said, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

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He added that Putin's victory was an expression of Russian voters' "unshakeable support and trust in" the Russian leader.

Russia and North Korea, historical allies, are both under a raft of global sanctions -- Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine and Pyongyang for its testing of nuclear weapons.

In September, Putin and Kim held a summit in Russia's far east, with the United States subsequently claiming Pyongyang had begun providing Moscow with weapons.

Kim declared during the visit that ties with Moscow were his country's "number one priority", with Pyongyang becoming an ardent supporter of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

North Korea has shipped around 7,000 containers of arms to Russia for its war with Ukraine since the transfers began around last July, South Korea's defence minister asserted Monday.

"I am firmly convinced that, under your energetic and correct guidance, the Russian people will surely win victory in the cause of reliably defending the sovereignty and security of the country," Kim said in his message, according to KCNA.

Putin won over 87 percent of the vote in a three-day ballot blasted as illegitimate by Western powers.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Oscar-winning film "Oppenheimer" on Monday as he warned that the world faced the highest risk of nuclear war in decades. Oppenheimer is a 2023 epic biographical thriller film written, directed, and produced by Christopher Nolan

At a Security Council session called by Japan, Guterres said that the biopic about the morally conflicted father of the atomic bomb "brought the harsh reality of nuclear doomsday to vivid life for millions around the world."

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Read here: Christopher Nolan wins his first Oscar for directing Oppenheimer, thanks those who have believed in me my whole career

"Humanity cannot survive a sequel to Oppenheimer," Guterres said.

"We meet at a time when geopolitical tensions and mistrust have escalated the risk of nuclear warfare to its highest point in decades," he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons as he warns the West against its support for Ukraine, which Moscow invaded more than two years ago.

Without naming Putin, Guterres said, "Nuclear saber-rattling must stop."

"Threats to use nuclear weapons in any capacity are unacceptable," he said.

Elsewhere in the world, tensions surrounding nuclear-armed North Korea have continued to rise and Iran has been enriching uranium closer to the level needed if it decides to build an atom bomb.

Israel, the Middle East's only nuclear-armed power albeit an undeclared one, has been at war since an October 7 attack by Hamas militants.

Guterres called on the United States and Russia to resume negotiations, at a standstill since the Ukraine war, on a successor to the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty which expires in early 2026.

He also called for progress on other initiatives including the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which entered into force in 2021 but has little practical effect as no nuclear-weapons states are party to it.

"Investments in the tools of war are outstripping investments in the tools of peace. Arms budgets are growing, while diplomacy and development budgets are shrinking," Guterres said.

Push on fissile treaty

The United States, the only country to have used nuclear weapons in warfare, said it would work on one area with ally Japan, whose cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were devastated by atomic weapons in 1945.

The United States as well as France said they would join Japan in a coalition to push through the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, which would ban production of plutonium and highly enriched uranium, the key ingredients in nuclear weapons.

Most nuclear states have already stopped production. Discussions on a treaty have been blocked by Pakistan, which believes it would fall behind rival India and which enjoys diplomatic support from China.

"To forestall a potential arms race, we need to see an end to the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons, and continue pursuing negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty," said the US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, who led the meeting, vowed that Tokyo "will further increase international and political attention" toward the treaty.

Read here: Oscars 2024: Cillian Murphy wins Best Actor for Oppenheimer

Kamikawa also called for work to ensure that nuclear weapons are not placed in space.

The United States said last month that Russia was developing a system to send nuclear weapons to space, an assertion denied by Putin.

"During the Cold War, despite the confrontational environment at that time, the international community established legal frameworks to ensure the peaceful and sustainable use of outer space, which prohibit placing nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction in outer space," Kamikawa said.

"Even now, Japan firmly believes that outer space must remain a domain free of nuclear weapons," she said.
The H-1B cap season is on in the United States. Registrations for the fiscal year 2025 opened on March 6 and will close on the 22nd. The application procedure has changed significantly, and it's essential for you to go over the hard facts before jumping to reckless conclusions. Fortunately, USCIS has updated the long list of frequently asked questions in line with the heavy changes that came into effect with the February 28 switch-up to new organisational accounts. About three-quarters of H-1B visas go to people working in the technology industry, though the exact levels vary year by year.

The H1B program has helped US employers temporarily employ foreign workers in the technical line of occupations requiring highly specialised knowledge. These professions branch out to several fields like architecture, engineering, social sciences, medicine, education, mathematics, law, accounting, business specialities, arts and others. H-1B visa classification has an annual cap of 65,000 new visas each fiscal year.

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2025 H1B Online Registration

Biden administration's proposed modernisation of the H-1B lottery registration has switched to a more beneficiary-centric process instead of random selection, limiting each employee to be chosen only once in each lottery. The freshly employed procedure requires registrants to provide valid passport and travel document information. The upcoming fiscal year's registration has retained the $10 fee, but the $215 hike will likely follow in March 2025.

Also read | FY 2025 H1B cap registration period details announced: Here's what you need to know

First step for H-1B petitioning employers: Create a USCIS online account  Visit https://my.uscis.gov/

Create a USCIS online account  Visit https://my.uscis.gov/ H-1B petitioning employer with a registrant account from previous H-1B registration seasons: Once you log into your old account and initiate the process, it will migrate to a new organisation account (February 14 onwards). Complete migration may take several hours.

Once you log into your old account and initiate the process, it will migrate to a new organisation account (February 14 onwards). Complete migration may take several hours. Accredited representatives with a Legal Representative account: Once you log into your myUSCIS account to initiate the process, your old account will migrate to a new Legal Representative account (February 14 onwards). Complete migration may take several hours; accounts with large volumes of cases may even need more than a day for migration.

Once you log into your myUSCIS account to initiate the process, your old account will migrate to a new Legal Representative account (February 14 onwards). Complete migration may take several hours; accounts with large volumes of cases may even need more than a day for migration. Will the registrant be able to change the wrong account type when creating a USCIS online account? NO. Petitioners must choose the correct account type - Organisation or Legal Representative - while creating an online account. Only these two apply to the H-1B electronic registrations. If choosing the wrong account type, you must use a new email address to create a new USCIS online account and redo the process.

Also read | H-1B Registration: A guide to file your application process with recent updates
Former president Donald Trump recently warned that there will be a bloodbath if he loses in November, triggering a row. While many blasted him for his comments, some came to defend him, including Elon Musk and former chief of staff to Trump, Mick Mulvaney. Donald Trump's bloodbath comment has triggered a row (AP/PTI)(AP)

What did Donald Trump say?

Trump made the remarks while campaigning for Senate candidate Bernie Moreno in Ohio. The rally was held by Buckeye Values PAC, a group that backs Senate candidate Bernie Moreno.

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Using the stage, Trump said, Were going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and youre not going to be able to sell those guys if I get elected  Now, if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the whole  thats going to be the least of it. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country.

As the former presidents comments drew criticism, his campaign dismissed claims that he was talking about violence across the country if he loses in 2024. It argued that he was only talking about the destruction of the auto industry.

The video of his remarks went viral on social media, following which Joe Biden's campaign released a statement, calling him a loser at the ballot box in 2020 who then doubles down on his threats of political violence.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted Trump too, saying, We just have to win this election, because hes even predicting a bloodbath. What does that mean? Hes going to exact a bloodbath?

Donald Trump defended

Among those who defended Trump was Musk, saying people should use X to avoid being misled by the legacy media. He suggested that the legacy media outlets simply took Trumps comments out of context.

Musk shared a post by a user saying that the media is lying about Donald Trump with this narrative about a bloodbath if he loses the election, captioning it, Legacy media lies.

Musk also shared a post which reads, if legacy media journalists dont like being seen as disingenuous and untrustworthy hacks, i think maybe it would help if they stopped lying and misleading for their own agendas all the time and actually exhibited integrity.

In a separate post, alongside a meme of grey cartoon characters with a speech bubble saying bloodbath, he wrote, Easy to tell who is an NPC today. NPC means nonplayable character.

Sharing another post that called out the media for its coverage, Musk wrote, Over time the newspapers have been fading away in relevance. Not gone, just as writing and mailing paper letters still happens, but no longer the way most people know whats going on.

Meanwhile, Mulvaney said he is disappointed in the media for failing to add context while reporting on Trumps bloodbath comment. I didnt realize this until I went to do the research. Its a conversation about Chinese automakers trying to use Mexico to get cars into the United States, Mulvaney told NewsNation Prime. He, too, insisted that Trump was talking about the American automotive industry. However he did admit that Trumps choice of words may not have been appropriate. The language itself is unpresidential, he said.

Rep. Mike Turner was also among those who believe Trump spoke about the auto industry, as was Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). With regard to the autoworkers that he was talking to, he is showing them or hes telling them what has been an economic downturn for them, Rounds told host Dana Bash on CNNs State of the Union.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said while speaking on NBCs Meet the Press, "You could also look at the definition of bloodbath and it could be an economic disaster. And so if hes speaking about the auto industry, in particular in Ohio, then you can take it a little bit more context.

Cassidy, however, also admitted that the way Trump spoke does give people a reason to criticise him. The general tone of the speech is why many Americans continue to wonder, Should President Trump be president? That kind of rhetoric, its always on the edge, maybe doesnt cross, maybe does depending upon your perspective, he said
Feature: Angolan youth embrace Chinese language learning for future careers

Xinhua) 13:20, March 18, 2024

LUANDA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- In the bustling streets of Luanda, Angola's capital, a wave of enthusiasm for learning the Chinese language is sweeping through the young population.

Inside the Agostinho Neto University (UAN), one of Angola's most prestigious higher education institutions, an entry-level Mandarin course is underway at the university's Confucius Institute.

"What's on the table? A bottle is on the table," Sun Yun said in Chinese, repeating and using body language to make it easier for her Angolan students to understand.

"They have only studied for three months, but they can already practice dialogues in pairs based on the textbook content," said Sun, a teacher at the Confucius Institute. She oversees three classes with more than 100 students, including university students from the UAN, other institutions, and high school students.

"Their passion for learning is strong, and they practice on their own after class. On the one hand, they have a passion for the language and the country; on the other hand, they believe that mastering the language could open the doors to Chinese companies in Angola, a career path they have dreamed of," she said.

Raul Carvalho, who studied Chinese at the institute a few years ago, now returns whenever he has time to help with teaching. For him, his initial interest in learning Chinese led to his professional success.

"In Angola, it's not easy to find a good job. But the Mandarin I have learned paves the way for a promising career," Carvalho said.

He began his journey of learning Mandarin in 2017, signing up for classes immediately after seeing the Confucius Institute's post online.

The first step is always the most difficult. Pronunciation, grammar and even sentence logic confused him. However, with perseverance, the young man got a scholarship in 2018 to study at Harbin Normal University in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the cooperating institution of the Confucius Institute at the UAN.

"I would go out of class and chat with people I met, from street chess players to restaurant owners. Even though I spoke slowly, they were all very patient and taught me authentic Chinese expressions," he recalled.

He took high-speed trains, wandered the night market and became a regular online shopper. With recommendations from Chinese friends, he delved into the diverse offerings of Chinese cuisine, quickly becoming an enthusiastic aficionado.

In 2022, Carvalho nailed the interviews and got a project assistant and translator job at China Energy Engineering Corporation's Angola office, where he could use his professionalism while improving his Chinese at work.

He now teaches his 18-year-old sister Chinese, hoping to give her a bright future like his.

Carvalho's experience mirrors that of thousands of Chinese language learners in Angola. As the number of Chinese enterprises in Angola has exceeded 400, many Angolan youths believe that proficiency in Chinese is becoming an increasingly important skill in the southwestern African country's labor market.

According to Zhao Yufeng, co-director of the UAN Confucius Institute, China-Angola cooperation has deepened under the Belt and Road Initiative, and the interaction of language and culture is important.

"We are working with various government departments and academic institutions on language training projects to build a platform to advance cooperation between the two countries," said Zhao.

Since its establishment in 2015, more than 2,000 students have enrolled in the UAN Confucius Institute. Pedro Magalhaes, rector of the UAN, said Angola's development "cannot be separated from China" and hoped that exchanges between the two countries' higher education institutions will promote friendship.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott, left, and Mayor London Breed say they will release video after activists within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community demanded greater transparency into the investigation of Yanfang Wus 2023 death, which was initially ruled accidental. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Facing intense pressure from members of the local Asian American community, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Police Chief Bill Scott agreed to release video related to a 2023 death that police initially ruled accidental but are now reinvestigating.

Yanfang Wu, a 63-year-old Chinese immigrant, was pushed down on a sidewalk in the Bayview on July 3, 2023. She died two days later at a hospital. That August, the San Francisco Police Department announced that, after interviewing a person of interest and exhausting investigative leads, it had classified the death as an accident and closed the case.

The police reopened the investigation this month because new evidence emerged, not because of community pressure, said Evan Sernoffsky, a department spokesperson. He declined to say what the new evidence was, citing the ongoing investigation.

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On Sunday, Breed said on social media that Asian American and Pacific Islander community leaders pleaded with her for greater transparency in the Wu case at an event remembering the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings.

I believe in transparency and stand with the API community for justice for all victims and survivors of hate incidents, Breed wrote on Facebook. As soon as possible, I want the video released  being victim-centered means the surviving family members should absolutely first get notification so theres no surprise and we dont retraumatize them.

Later that day, Scott shared Breeds message on X (formerly Twitter) and said his department would release video after its investigation was complete.

The SFPD does not tolerate violence against our AAPI community and we take these cases very seriously, Scott wrote. Our investigators are working diligently on the case which is an open and active investigation.

The city leaders promises came a week after Asian Justice Movement, a national coalition of grassroots organizers advocating against anti-Asian violence, demanded the release of the video showing the alleged fatal attack on Wu.

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Charles Jung, an Asian Justice Movement organizer, said that he felt community trust was eroded when police determined the death was accidental.

While I appreciate Mayor Breed asking for the public to wait (for the video), there is a need here to restore public confidence, and to me that outweighs any legitimate rationale for continuing to wait, Jung said.

Asian Justice Movement said in an Instagram post that it believed that an individual charged this month with attacking a 71-year-old Asian woman is the same person who shoved Wu and was interviewed by police. The police department declined comment on the allegation, citing the investigation.

Deputy Public Defender Kathleen Natividad, who is representing the defendant, Thea Hopkins, said in a statement last week that nothing about the new allegations changes the fact that the police and the district attorney reviewed the 2023 incident and officially deemed it to be an accident.

While we understand that the circumstances of these recent allegations are upsetting, it is disheartening to hear false assumptions being made against Ms. Hopkins, who is also a vulnerable person in the community, Natividad wrote.

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Breed faces a high-stakes reelection this year and an uphill battle to win over Asian voters.

Both she and Scott attended a remembrance event Saturday in Japantown for the deadly Atlanta spa shootings on March 16, 2021, that killed six women of Asian descent and two other people.

At the event, Hudson Liao, founder of anti-Asian violence group Asians Are Strong demanded the city release video of Wus death and investigate it as a homicide and possible hate crime.

This is not the San Francisco I was born and raised in, and it will not be the San Francisco I leave behind, Liao said.
A charter flight carrying dozens of U.S. citizens fleeing spiraling gang violence in Haiti landed Sunday in Miami, U.S. State Department officials said. A charter flight carrying dozens of U.S. citizens fleeing spiraling gang violence in Haiti landed Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Miami, U.S. State Department officials said. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph. File)(AP)

More than 30 U.S. citizens were on the government-chartered flight, officials said in a statement. It arrived in the Miami International Airport after the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince earlier this month urged U.S. citizens to leave as soon as possible as chaos grips Haiti.

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Passenger Avlot Quessa, who lives in Boston, traveled from the center of the country to board the charter flight after going to Haiti last month for was supposed to be a weeklong trip to visit his mother.

Its just terrible ... The suffering, you can only imagine, Quessa told the Miami Herald of the nearby Caribbean nation. Haiti is my homeland and its very stressful to see the homeland going through this act of violence, destruction ... and they are our neighbors.

Haitis main airport in Port-au-Prince remains closed following gang attacks that have raged through Haiti in recent weeks, pushing many people to the brink of famine. Government and aid agencies this weekend reported looting of aid supplies as the situation worsened.

The State Department announced Saturday that it would offer limited charter flights for American citizens from the less chaotic northern city of Cap-Haitien.

Officials said they could not provide ground transportation to Cap-Haitien and that U.S. citizens should consider the charter flights only if you think you can reach Cap-Haitien airport safely.

We encourage U.S. citizens still in Haiti who seek to depart to contact the Department of State using the crisis intake form on our website if they have not already done so, the agency said.

People taking the U.S. government-coordinated flights must sign a promissory bill agreeing to reimburse the government.

Another passenger on Sundays flight, Marie Lucie St. Fleur, 69, of West Palm Beach, said she feels most at home in Haiti and it pains her to see what her homeland is enduring.

I dont feel well at all. I would like to live in my country and I cant, she said while sitting in a wheelchair.

The State Department said government officials in Miami were helping the newly arrived evacuees to determine their next steps.

The U.S. military last week flew in additional forces to bolster security at the U.S. Embassy, which is in a neighborhood largely controlled by gangs.
Taking a dig at Ukrainian President, former US President Donald Trump called Volodymyr Zelenskyy "the greatest salesman" in the history. His remarks come as Biden administration asks US senators to approve a hefty USD 60 billion aid package for Ukraine to deter Russia's invasion. Former US President Donald Trump calls Ukrainian President Zelenskyy "one of the greatest salesmen in history".(AP )

Addressing a rally in Dayton, Ohio, Trump on Saturday said: I tell you, Zelenskyy is one of the greatest salesmen in history. Every time he comes to the country, he walks away with 50 or 60 billion dollars.

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Ive never been able to do this. He is a better salesman, the Republican leader added.

He appealed to his supporters that lending to Ukraine would be a more effective approach than simply handing them a check for USD 60 billion.

On Saturday, Poland's Prime Minister renewed his request for US House Speaker Mike Johnson to "take a decision" on releasing the blocked aid package to Ukraine.

In early February, Trump received massive backlash for declaring that he would "encourage" Russia to target any NATO member that fails to meet its costs as part of the Western military alliance, and allow the aggressors to "do whatever the hell they want".

Also Read: After EU, US slaps Russia with 500 new sanctions over Ukraine invasion and Navalny's death

Biden slams Trump's NATO remarks

US President Joe Biden denounced Trump's comments regarding NATO as "dangerous" and "un-American," claiming they upped the stakes for the US Congress to pass additional funding to help Ukraine.

Speaking at the White House in February, Biden said: "The stakes were already high for American security before this bill was passed in the Senate." But in recent days, those stakes have risen. And thats because the former president has sent a dangerous, and shockingly, frankly un-American signal to the world.

Also Read: Elon Musk's financial advice' to Joe Biden: Invest in infrastructure, not'

The US President blasted Trump's remarks as open invitation to Russia to invade the allies of the United States.

Can you imagine a former president of the United States saying that? The whole world heard it. And the worst thing is he means it, he said.

Criticising Trump for bowing down to Putin, the POTUS asserted that he will never bow down to the Russian dictator.

Failing to back Ukraine with financial support would amount to backing Putin's war, Biden said, predicting that Russia's attacks might spread beyond Ukraine's borders and even move deeper into Europe.
Former US President Donald Trump has admitted that he won't be able to pay over $400 million New York civil fraud penalty. Trump's attorneys stated that potential underwriters are looking for cash to support the bond rather than assets. (AP)

In a court documents released on Monday, Trump's attorneys said the ex-US President had spoken to 30 underwriters to support the bond, which is due at the end of March, NBC News reported.

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Gary Giuletti, an insurance broker who pleaded for Trump in the civil fraud trial, wrote an affidavit claiming that obtaining a full bond "is a practical impossibility."

"Defendants ongoing diligent efforts have proven that a bond in the judgments full amount is 'a practical impossibility,'" the filing stated. "These diligent efforts have included approaching about 30 surety companies through 4 separate brokers."

Trump's lawyers stated that potential underwriters are looking for cash to support the bond rather than assets.

Also Read: 'Ive never been able to...': Trump reveals how Zelenskyy is a 'better salesman' than him

According to the filing, Trump team negotiated with one of the largest insurance firms in the world but realised that "obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount" of the judgment is not possible under the circumstances presented.

Despite Trump's claims of being innocent, Judge Arthur Engoron deemed him responsible for the alleged fraud and ordered him to shell out a $355 million penalty, along with interest, for a total of more than $464 million.

In 2022, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump, accusing him and his sons -- Donald Jr. and Eric, and other Trump Organisation officials of a years-long plan to inflate his net worth and value of assets in an attempt to obtain cheaper business loans.

Trump cannot afford the bond but

While the filing admits that Trump cannot afford the bond, it also asserts that the attorney general does not have to fret about collecting her judgment.

According to the Trump's lawyers, his real estate holdings, which include renowned properties such as Doral Miami, 40 Wall Street, and Mar-a-Lago, exceed the amount of the judgment.

"Such assets are impossible to secrete or dispose of surreptitiously, leaving the plaintiff effectively secured during the pendency of an appeal," as per the court document.

Also Read: Donald Trump's bloodbath comment misquoted? Maga on the defensive; Elon Musk posts 'full context'

Trump's lawyers also contended that the penalty of $464 million is "grossly disproportional".

Last month, they requested for the reduction of the amount to $100 million, but today's filing argues that Trump should not be required to post any bond at all.
Joe Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict has landed him in deep water, and the dark consequences started reflecting before his March 7 State of the Union address. The political drama predates the US President erecting a fence around the US Capitol, bracing for his last audition moment at the joint session of Congress before the 2024 elections. Even his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, had been heckled by pro-Palestinian protestors during election campaigns for condoning a genocide in the Gaza Strip. The president met with a similar outroar during his Georgia election rally. All the pent-up rage is being doled out to his staff members, while Biden is allegedly seething behind closed doors. His 2024 re-election efforts are not translating into the desired outcome, and the staff is bearing the brunt of the raging storm. President Joe Biden speaks during a Women's History Month reception in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 18, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)(AP)

These reports are nothing new. An NBC report revealed that during a private January meeting, the president caught note of his dipping poll numbers in Michigan and Georgia; his reaction wasn't one of mere disappointment, but instead brought about thundering shouts and swears. Frustrations are only piling up with his frontrunning Republic rival, Donald Trump, in a toe-to-toe competition for polls.

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Akin to the capitol fencing, a communication barrier has drifted him apart from the American people, who are at odds with the current administration's ways. An early March survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed that 6 in 10 adults in the US are not at all confident in the 81-year-old president's mental capability to head the country again.

Also read | Barack Obama drops in for informal meeting with UK PM Rishi Sunak

Those rising concerns are undoubtedly translating to his weak approval rating, which has sharply sunk below that of the last three presidents who were disallowed a second winning term. (George H.W. Bush: 39%, Jimmy Carter: 43%, Donald Trump: 48%) Even antagonising Trump isn't working in his favour  the Women for Biden launch being one of the direct strategies through which Jill Biden pitched the ex-president as dangerous to women.

A White House insider addressed how the morose president was probably a little mad at himself for not being more forceful with the staff. All officials who returned NBC's calls highlighted that Biden needed to focus on what he's done for the country during his initial term instead of harping on about broken bridges. Pro-Biden ex-Louisiana Senator Mart Landrieu echoed the idea, claiming there is a winning message  about jobs, prosperity and evolution.

Joe Biden's poll numbers fall apart

In late January, before the State of the Union speech, Biden was going head-to-head with Trump as the poll registered his numbers at 44% against Trump's 45%. The most recent one, taken from March 8-11, also showed a manageable tie with Trump at 46% and Biden at 44%. However, the same poll displayed concerning numbers right before and after the address, with his approval rating going down from 40 to 39%. Additionally, FiveThirtyEight's estimation of 'How popular/unpopular is Joe Biden?' caught his approval rate hitting an all-time low of 37.4%. Another Union Harris X poll chart recorded after the SOTU clearly demarcates Biden's net approval, sitting at 37% and net disapproval as high as 58%.
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which premiered Sunday, details the horrors faced by child actors between the 90s and the early 2000s. The 4-part docuseries exposes the lewd acts of disgraced television producer Dan Schneider, who was first accused of misconduct in 2018. The Investigation Discovery true crime series reveals the alleged sexual exploitation of several child and adult actors from hit shows like The Amanda Show and All That. Quiet on Set brings to light the sexual misconduct child actors including Amanda Bynes allegedly faced at the hands of Nickelodeon's The Amanda Show creator Dan Schneider and production assistant Jason Handy

Dan Schneider's alleged exploitation of Amanda Bynes

The 58-year-old producer shot to fame as the creator of Nickelodeon's The Amanda Show. After being impressed by Amanda Bynes' ability to seamlessly perform complex characters, Schneider created the show that revolved around the then-13-year-old. He reportedly helped Bynes run away from home and attempted emancipation, which she later withdrew, per Vulture.

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Virgil Fabian, the director of The Amanda Show, claimed that Schneider's interference in Bynes' life caused a rift between her and her parents. After the documentary premiered on March 17, internet sleuths delved into Bynes' behavioural changes and dug out an old video of her in a jacuzzi as a teenager with the disgraced producer.

Nickelodeon's statement on Schneider's sexual misconduct allegations

As the sexual misconduct allegations against Schneider have enraged netizens, Nickelodeon said in a statement to Vulture, Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviours from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon as a matter of policy investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct.

Our highest priorities are the well-being and best interests not just of our employees, casts and crew, but of all children, and we have adopted numerous safeguards over the years to help ensure we are living up to our own high standards and the expectations of our audience, the statement adds.

All That and The Amanda Show sketches involved sexualised references

The docuseries reveals that the name of Penelope Taynt's character was based on slang that refers to the perineum. He [Schneider] came up with the name Penelope Taynt. The taint is the part of the body that's between the penis and the anus, Jenny Kilgen explained in the series. Kilgen claimed that Schneider told the writers, Don't tell what this word really means. He wanted us to keep that a secret.

Pickle Boy, one of the characters in All That, was portrayed by former actor and convicted sex offender Brian Peck. Pickle Boy's tagline was that he likes to hurt and tease pickles. The outlet adds that Peck haunted the sets carrying the phallic vegetable and ate them, making the child actors uncomfortable. However, the cast members shrugged it off, saying it was another one of Schneider's oddities.

Schneider was described as disturbing on the set

The showrunners of Quiet on Set described Schneider's on-set behaviour as disturbing and volatile. Former All That star Kyle Sullivan said, The set on all that was dysfunctional. You could get away with more  like going overtime in ways that were pushing the envelope.

Dan was volatile and could turn any moment, writer Christy Stratton said, adding, I was scared. Working for Dan was like being in an abusive relationship. Stratton further revealed that at one point, she was forced to make a pitch while pretending to be sodomized on the writers room table.

Recalling the incident, Stratton said, I think of that poor girl and what she had to go through. I would not do that today. Meanwhile, Kilgen revealed that Schneider forced her to watch pornographic videos.

The Amanda Show child actor's mother opens up on daughter's sexual misconduct

The mother of a former The Amanda Show child actor, Brandi, has opened up on the sexual misconduct her daughter allegedly faced at the hands of a convicted sex offender, Jason Handy.

A week after the filming, Brandi started receiving emails from the former The Amanda Show production assistant. At first, nothing was out of the ordinary, as the mother explained, She let me read it. It was very innocent. It just talked about the shows that he had been working on.

Just months later, Handy sent the child actor a naked photo of himself masturbating. Recalling the incident, the mother said, [Brandi] was sitting at the computer, and all of a sudden, I noticed she had suddenly shut down the computer completely and got up and ran into her bedroom and slammed the bedroom door shut.

The mother revealed that Jason told her that he sent her the photo because he wanted her to see that he was thinking of her. I went back and forth with, Should I call the police? They're gonna think I'm a bad parent because I allowed her to talk to this person. I struggled with it, she added. Her daughter, Brandi, was left distraught from the incident and left the business and never returned.
Soon after reports of an "extremely important royal announcement" emerged online, conspiracy theorists shifted their focus away from Kate Middleton to King Charles III. Buckingham Palace dismissed the reports that King Charles III died on Monday. (via REUTERS)

According to reports, the BBC Events production unit has been instructed to keep an eye out for a 'major announcement' from the royals in connection with the current health issue. This news sparked speculations on social media that the Palace is concealing something as both Kate and King Charles recently underwent a surgery.

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On Monday, several Russian media outlets, including Sputnik, spread the false news of King Charles' death. They claimed that the 75-year-old monarch breathed his last on March 18 following complications from cancer surgery.

The erroneous information circulated quickly across multiple social media platforms, causing confusion and alarm before being quickly debunked.

Initial reports were accompanied by a bogus proclamation attributed to Buckingham Palace, proclaiming the unexpected death of King Charles.

Also Read: Are Union Flags flying at half-mast across UK? As netizens worry for Kate and Charles, here's the truth

Following a flurry of bogus stories from Russian media, the British Embassy in Ukraine issued an official statement, stating that King Charles is still alive.

Buckingham Palace was also compelled to dispel the report that King Charles III died on Monday. This came after a statement bearing the seal of the British monarch's official London Palace claimed: The following announcement is made by royal communications. The King passed away unexpectedly yesterday afternoon.

Later, the Palace issued a statement to Russian state-run TASS news agency to reject the reports. We are happy to confirm that The King is continuing with official and private business," the Palace clarified.

Also Read: Was William once a royal rebel? From party Prince to rant and rave, the not-so-sweet side

King Charles set to attend the Trooping of the Colour

Amidst all the rumours about his health and royal family members, King Charles continues to carry out his duties.

Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with cancer and has been strictly advised to reduce his public appearances while undergoing treatment.

However, reports have stated that he is expected to attend the Trooping of the Colour on his birthday, June 15.

King Charles, in his recent virtual address, reiterated his dedication to serving the Commonwealth, despite the obstacles created by his health.
As North America gears up for a total solar eclipse next month, multiple schools in the United States will remain closed due to safety concerns as many states will plunge into darkness on April 8. The US states that will be affected by the total solar eclipse include Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New Hampshire and Maine.(Unsplash)

The states that will be affected by the total solar eclipse include Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New Hampshire and Maine.

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According to experts, the solar eclipse may cause greater loss of solar power generation. This will be the second solar eclipse in the United States in less than seven years. While such phenomena are extremely unusual, they pose a distinct problem for electricity system operators.

Also Read: Total Solar Eclipse 2024: Why are solar eclipse glasses mandatory for viewing this rare celestial event?

The total solar eclipse will be visible in the continental United States from Texas in the south to Maine in the northeast. A partial eclipse will occur in Miami, obscuring up to 46 percent of the Sun's disk. In Seattle, the Moon will barely cover about 20 percent of the Sun.

Millions of people are expected to witness the solar eclipse and astronomy enthusiasts from other parts of the country are anticipated to rush to the states in its path.

However, there are concerns that the eclipse will be perilous as the day fades into darkness. Authorities have warned people against traffic jams and advised them to avoid gazing straight at the Sun as it could result in lifelong eye damage.

In addition, there are worries regarding large crowds gathering, considering it may put a strain on local resources and emergency personnel.

Also Read: How do animals react during a total solar eclipse? Scientists planning to find out

These schools have announced closure on total solar eclipse

Texas

Texas authorities have urged the locals to stock up on food and gas as the state anticipates thousands of visitors on April 8. Hays County, Del Valle, Manor and Lake Travis school districts have already declared a holiday.

Indiana

According to local news station WRTV, several schools will remain closed on the day of the eclipse.

Brebeuf High School

Brownsburg Community Schools

Cardinal Ritter High School

Carmel Clay Schools

Center Grove Community Schools

Danville Community Schools

Eastern Hancock Schools

Guerin Catholic High School

Hamilton Heights schools

Hamilton Southeastern Schools

Heritage Christian High School

Indianapolis Public Schools

Lawrence Township

Lebanon Community Schools

Mill Creek Community Schools

Muncie Community Schools

Noblesville Schools

Park Tudor School

Pike Township

Plainfield Community Schools

Roncalli High School

Southern Hancock County Schools

Speedway Schools

Wayne Township

Zionsville Community Schools

Ohio

Akron Public Schools

Amherst Exempted Village Schools

Ashland City Schools (Teacher Conference Comp. Day)

Ashtabula Area City Schools

Aurora City Schools (Staff report in for Professional Day)

Avon Lake City Schools

Avon Local School District

Barberton City Schools

Bay Village City Schools

Black River Local Schools

Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District

Brunswick City Schools

Buckeye Central School District

Buckeye Local Schools

Canton City Schools

Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Cloverleaf Local Schools

Copley-Fairlawn City Schools

Coventry Local Schools

Cuyahoga Falls City Schools

Cuyahoga Valley Career Center

EHOVE Career Center

Fairless Local Schools

Fayette County Public Schools

Field Local Schools

Firelands Local Schools

Green Local Schools

Hawken School (faculty/staff work day)

Highland Local Schools

Hoban High School

Horizon Science Academy

Howland Local Schools

Hudson City Schools

Huron City Schools

Jackson Local Schools

James A. Garfield Local Schools

Kenston Local Schools

Kent City Schools

Lake Local Schools

Lakewood City Schools

Lakeview Local Schools

Lorain County Community College

Louisville City Schools

Madison Local Schools

Manchester Local Schools

Marlington Local Schools

Massillon City Schools

Mayfield City Schools

Medina City Schools

Mentor Public Schools

Midview Schools

Mogadore Local Schools

Newton Falls Exempted Village Schools

Nordonia Hills City School District

Northside Christian Academy & Preschool

Norton City Schools

Norwalk City Schools

North Canton City Schools

North Olmsted City Schools

North Ridgeville City Schools

Oberlin City Schools

Olmsted Falls City Schools

Parma City School District

Perry Local School District (Stark County)

Plain Local Schools

Poland Local Schools

Portage Lakes Career Center

Ravenna City Schools

Revere Local School District

Rittman Exempted Village Schools

Rocky River City Schools

Rootstown Local Schools

Sandy Valley Local Schools

Sheffield Lake City Schools

Southeast Local Schools

Springfield Local Schools

Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools

Streetsboro City Schools

Strongsville City Schools

Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools

Twinsburg City Schools

Wadsworth City Schools

Waterloo Local Schools

Wayne County Schools Career Center

West Geauga Local Schools

West Holmes Local Schools

Westlake City Schools

Willoughby-Eastlake School District

Windham Exempted Village Schools

Wooster City Schools

Districts and schools that will release students early include:

Hubbard Exempted Village Schools

Tallmadge City Schools

Pennsylvania

Corry Area School District

Erie Public Schools

Fairview School District

General McClane School District

Girard School District

Harbor Creek School District

Iroquois School District

Millcreek School District

North East School District

Northwestern School District

Union City Area School District

Wattsburg School District

Vermont

The schools listed below will either remain shut or will release students early

University of Vermont

Burlington public schools

Montpelier-Roxbury Public Schools

Maple Run Unified School District

Champlain Valley Union School District

Essex-Westford School District

Milton Town School District

Lamoille North Supervisory Union

Lamoille South Supervisory Union

Waitsfield Elementary

Winooski School District:

Colchester School District:

Mount Abraham Unified School District:

Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union

Missisquoi Valley School District

Addison Central School District

Washington Central Unified Union School District

Maine

Schools in Franklin, Grand Isle, and Chittenden counties will be closed for the whole day.
The Indian Consulate in New York on Monday confirmed the death of a 20-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh in Boston, stating that the initial probe has ruled out any foul play. Paruchuri Abhijit was found dead in the US. He was the only son of his Guntur-based parents.(X@IndianTechGuide)

In a post on X, the Indian Consulate expressed grief over Abhijeeth Paruchuru's death and said that it rendered all required assistance in the documentation and transportation of Paruchuru's mortal remains to India.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The Indian Consulate further confirmed that the deceased student's parents were in regular contact with the authorities probing the murder.

Abhijeeth Paruchuru enrolled in Boston University last year

Paruchuru, a native of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, was pursuing engineering at Boston University. He joined the university last year and was sharing a rented apartment with one of his classmates.

Police found his body dumped in an abandoned car deep inside a forest on campus.

Also Read: List of Indian students found dead in US under mysterious circumstances recently

His parents, Paruchuri Chakradhar and Srilakshmi, were profoundly grieved when they learned about their only son's tragic death.

According to his family, Abhijeeth was a great student, but his mother originally resisted his plan to study overseas.

His remains landed at his residence in Burripalem, Guntur, late Friday evening.

According to Great Andhra, Abhijeeth was murdered by assailants on the university campus on March 11, and his body was discovered in a car in the wilderness.

After receiving a missing report from his acquaintances, authorities started search operation to locate him by tracking his mobile signals. So far no arrests have been made.

In the year 2024, this is the ninth such incidents with a person of an Indian origin in the United States.

Abhijeeth's death comes amid the surge in violent attacks against Indian students in the United States.

Also Read: Tragedies will happen; US envoy Garcetti says it's our responsibility' to make America safe place for Indian students

Netizens express shock over Andhra student's demise, seek justice

Condemning the US authorities over the death of Andhra student, many X users called for justice to Abhijeeth and sought an independent investigation into the matter.

This is a tragic incident, and my condolences go out to Paruchuri Abhijit's family and friends. Such acts of violence are deeply concerning and have no place in any society. It's essential for authorities to thoroughly investigate and bring those responsible to justice., an X user wrote.

Very tragic. No one seems to bother over these continuous attacks on Indian students, another reacted.

USA is not safe place to live one more chimed in.
The United States has returned twenty-two historic artifacts to Japan that were looted following the Battle of Okinawa during World War II, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). A family in Massachusetts uncovered the ancient artifacts among their late father's personal belongings. Denny Tamaki, the Governor of Okinawa prefecture, announced the return of the artifacts to the people of Okinawa, Japan, according to the FBI. (AP)

Agents from the FBI's Boston office revealed on Friday that the looted artifacts had been returned after a prolonged probe that began with a call from a family who discovered the items in their deceased father's belongings.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The father was a WWII veteran who had not participated in the Pacific theater, according to the FBI.

Addressing a press conference, Geoffrey Kelly, Art crime coordinator of the FBIs Boston field office, said: There were some scrolls, there were some pottery pieces, there was an ancient map. They looked old and valuable.

Recognising the significance of the artifacts, the Massachusetts family conducted some investigation and discovered that at least the scrolls had been entered around 20 years ago in the FBI's National Stolen Art File.

Also Read: Grateful... this will make Indians happy: Modi as US returns artefacts

One of the 22 historic artifacts that were looted following the Battle of Okinawa in World War II.(AP)

All you need to know about the artifacts

The 22 artifacts, including six painted scrolls from the 18th and 19th centuries, were reported missing for nearly 80 years. They hold significant importance to Okinawa's history.

Other objects included a hand-drawn map of Okinawa from the nineteenth century, as well as numerous pots and ceramics.

A typewritten letter discovered among the relics contributed to establishing that the artifacts were stolen in the final days of World War II, according to the FBI.

The Battle of Okinawa, which was a major fight of the Pacific War, was fought between US and Japanese forces on the Ryukyu Islands' main island during World War II. Officials said that many vital documents and jewels from the Ryukyu Kingdom were taken after the war.

Also Read: US returns 77 looted artefacts to Yemen

A hand drawn map of Okinawa from the 19th century.(AP )

22 artefacts find way back to home

The FBI transferred the discovered artifacts to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, DC.

The FBI exhibited the scrolls at the museum, displaying portraits of Okinawan royalty in vivid reds, golds, and blue accents.

When taken together, they really represent a substantial piece of Okinawan history," Kelly said.

According to the FBI's National Stolen Art File, several Okinawan antiquities, including portraits of Okinawan monarchs, remain missing.

Watch the full FBI press conference here:
Another Indian student was killed in the United States, and his body was found dumped in an abandoned car deep inside a forest on campus. Paruchuri Abhijit was found dead in the US. He was the only son of his Guntur-based parents.(X@IndianTechGuide)

Paruchuri Abhijit, a 20-year-old student from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, was pursuing engineering at Boston University. He joined the university last year and was sharing a rented apartment with one of his classmates.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

His parents -- Paruchuri Chakradhar and Srilakshmi -- have been left completely devastated after learning about the sudden death of their only son.

According to Abhijit's family, he was a bright student but his mother initially opposed his decision of moving abroad for higher studies.

His remains arrived at his home in Burripalem, Guntur, late on Friday evening.

According to Great Andhra, Abhijit was murdered by assailants on the university campus on March 11, and police found his body in a car inside the forest.

After receiving a report of missing from his friends, police started looking for Abhijit by tracing his mobile signals. No arrests have been made so far as authorities are yet to identify the perpetrators of this horrible act.

Police investigation into the matter is underway.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is yet to respond to the incident.

In 2024, this is the ninth such tragedy with a person of an Indian origin in the US.

Also Read: List of Indian students found dead in US under mysterious circumstances recently

Indian community seeks justice

Abhijit's death comes amid the surge in violent attacks against Indian students in the United States.

Condemning the US authorities over the death of Andhra student, many X users called for justice to Abhijit and sought an independent investigation into the matter.

This is a tragic incident, and my condolences go out to Paruchuri Abhijit's family and friends. Such acts of violence are deeply concerning and have no place in any society. It's essential for authorities to thoroughly investigate and bring those responsible to justice., an X user wrote.

Very tragic. No one seems to bother over these continuous attacks on Indian students, another reacted.

USA is not safe place to live one more chimed in.

Crimes against Indian students remain on surge in the US

Recently, a 27-year-old student from Telangana lost his life while riding a jet ski in Florida. The deceased, identified as Venkataramana Pittala, was pursuing master's degree in health informatics at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

In another tragedy, Amarnath Ghosh, a Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancer from Birbhum, West Bengal, succumbed to his gunshot injuries in the United States. On 27 February, he was admitted to a hospital after receiving several gunshot wounds while walking on the street.

Also Read: Tragedies will happen; US envoy Garcetti says it's our responsibility' to make America safe place for Indian students

Several Indian origin students, including Akul Dhawan, Shreyas Reddy, Vivek Saini, Neel Acharya and Sameer Kamath, were found dead under mysterious circumstances in the US.

In a press conference in February, the White House declared that US President Joe Biden and his staff are working relentlessly to prevent attacks on Indians and Indian-American students.
Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle breaking news and enterprise reporter. She joined the paper in 2020 as a Hearst fellow and returned in 2022 after a stint at The Houston Chronicle.

She can be reached at nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com.
The US House of Representatives recently passed a bill that could see TikTok get banned in America. The bill gives ByteDance, the apps Chinese parent company, six months to sell its controlling stake. Should it fail to do so, the app would be blocked in the US. Why does US want to ban TikTok? (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY / AFP)(AFP)

The bill that was passed overwhelmingly in a bipartisan vote. However, to become law, it must first clear the Senate and be signed by the president.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Why does the US want to ban TikTok?

The bill was introduced by politicians from both major US parties. The basic reason why the move was made is because lawmakers are afraid ByteDance could be forced by the Chinese government to hand over data of millions of US users.

Several lawmakers across the US have long expressed their concerns about China's influence over TikTok, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance. The firm, which is based in Beijing, is registered in the Cayman Islands. There are offices across Europe and the US.

Joe Biden has promised that he would sign the bill as soon as it secures approval in the Senate, if it does. This could potentially lead to a diplomatic spat with China.

To be able to complete a forced divestiture, ByteDance would need Chinese officials approval. However, this is something Beijing has vowed to oppose, with foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin saying the move would "come back to bite the US".

Wisconsin Republican Mike Gallagher, who co-authored the bill, said that the US could not "take the risk of having a dominant news platform in America controlled or owned by a company that is beholden to the Chinese Communist Party".

TikTok has previously tried to assure that data of its US users are safe, and has been shielded from ByteDance employees in China. TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew warned that if the app is banned in the US, it would give "more power to a handful of other social media companies, and several Americans jobs will be at risk, according to BBC.

An investigation by the Wall Street Journal in January, however, found that data was still being unofficially shared between TikTok in the US and ByteDance in China. There were many cases, including one in which ByteDance employees in China accessed a journalist's data in an attempt to track down its sources.

The house vote was welcome by leaders of the Senate intelligence committee, including Mark Warner, a Democrat, and Marco Rubio, a Republican. "We are united in our concern about the national security threat posed by TikTok - a platform with enormous power to influence and divide Americans whose parent company ByteDance remains legally required to do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party," they said in a statement.
Prince William appears to be "curiously absent" as wife Kate Middleton faces the fallout of the digitally-altered photo scandal and swirling questions about her health, according to royal commentator Daniela Elser.

William, who allegedly took the photograph in question, has conspicuously abstained from displaying his support, forcing Kate Middleton to independently issue an unprecedented apology, Elser claimed in a Sunday piece for news.com.au.

Prince William, Kate Middleton's Relationship

A seeming lack of support from male members of the royal family has heightened scrutiny and raised questions into the internal operations of the family during periods of conflict, Elser wrote.

In light of his own health issues, King Charles III has refrained from publicly supporting Kate amid the controversy surrounding the Mother's Day photo, which leading news agencies retracted when it became apparent that it had been digitally altered.

Elser's commentaryreferences historical occurrences, including the brief reign of Elizabeth I in England, during which her father abandoned her.

Aside from an apology in which Princess Kate took responsibility for the poor editing, the royal family has not made a public comment on the photo.

A friend of the couple discussed with Roya Nikkah of the Sunday Times the increasing suspicion surrounding Kate's whereabouts and the repercussions it has had on the family of five. Insiders reportedly said that the princess might delay her return to public duties until April 17, to accommodate the spring vacation of the couple's children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

According to the friend, William will also escape from public obligations during the Easter holiday. This year, Easter falls on March 31, leaving about two weeks of break from school before Kate's potential public appearance.

It is uncertain whether William will recommence his public responsibilities on the same date. Official confirmation concerning the royal heir's public schedule has not yet been given. As he divides his time between public engagements and caring for Kate after her abdominal surgery in January, William has performed royal duties irregularly.

Read Also: Royal Brothers' Separate Tributes to Princess Diana Overshadow Prince William's Solo Spotlight

Prince Louis' Birthday

Meanwhile, the prince and princess of Wales have yet to make a definitive decision regarding whether they will enlist the services of a professional photographer to document Prince Louis' upcoming birthday.

Sources have claimed that William and Kate plan to carry on the tradition of sharing photographs to celebrate their children's birthdays, despite the photo controversy.

Prince Louis will celebrate his sixth birthday on April 23.

Related Article: Lady Rose Hanbury: Prince William's 'Rumored' Mistress, Wild Paternity Allegations About Daughter of Kate Middleton's Close Friend

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According to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, the IDF initiated a new operation in the Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza early Monday morning. This action was taken based on intelligence indicating that senior Hamas officials were using the hospital as a command center for terrorist activities.

The IDF spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, emphasized that the operation focused on specific areas within the hospital complex due to compelling intelligence that required prompt action.

Israel Launches Military Operation on al-Shifa Hospital

According to Hagari, senior Hamas members have reportedly regrouped inside the hospital, using it as a command center to carry out attacks against Israel.

Witnesses recounted a scene of chaos within the complex. During a recorded call with his brother shared on a WhatsApp group, an individual expressed concern about the presence of tanks surrounding them. We are currently seeking shelter within the tent. There are reports of tank fire in the area near the compound.

Intense gunfire reverberated in the vicinity of the hospital, as shown in unverified footage shared on social media.

Thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge at the hospital, which was targeted by Israeli forces during the conflict.

During the IDF's November 2023 raid, the IDF discovered a network of tunnels beneath the hospital that were reportedly used by Hamas. The terror group refutes allegations of utilizing medical facilities for its operations.

In a video message released early on Monday, Rear Adm Daniel Hagari, the IDF chief spokesperson, stated that the Israeli military was taking swift action in response to specific intelligence. According to the source, the hospital assured patients and staff that they would not need to evacuate and that operations would continue as usual during the raid.

Those seeking refuge at the complex will have the opportunity to exit the hospital using an evacuation route, as stated by the individual.

Additionally, he urged Hamas to surrender without delay. Before the conflict, al-Shifa hospital held the distinction of being the largest medical facility in Gaza.

According to witnesses in Gaza City, the al-Rimal neighborhood, where al-Shifa is situated, has been targeted by airstrikes. Additionally, it was reported that the complex was surrounded by tanks.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Wins Russia's Election in Landslide, Extending One-Man Rule

Hamas Terror Accused of Conducting Activities From Hospitals

Israel has consistently accused Hamas of conducting military operations from hospitals and other medical centers, a claim that the militant group vehemently denies.

In a video shared online, Hagari stated that the raid was conducted based on reliable information that required urgent intervention. There are reports suggesting that certain individuals have sought refuge within the Shifa hospital and are allegedly orchestrating attacks against Israel.

Israel has conducted operations in hospitals across the Gaza Strip as part of its efforts to combat Hamas following the 7 October attack. The attack resulted in the tragic loss of 1,200 lives, predominantly civilians, and the capture of approximately 250 hostages.

According to the health ministry, the number of casualties in Gaza as a result of Israel's campaign against Hamas is devastatingly high, with a significant number being women and children.

Last week, there was a call for an investigation into Israel's February raid on Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. It was reported that medical staff faced violent and humiliating treatment in detention following the attack.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, remains steadfast in his commitment to achieving all of Israel's war objectives, regardless of any international pressure. Concerns about a potential humanitarian crisis loom as an offensive in Rafah continues.

This is a developing story. Keep yourself informed with the latest updates from HNGN.

Related Article: Netanyahu Says Israel to Push Ahead With Assault on Rafah as Truce Negotiations Resume

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Elon Musk's xAI has open-sourced the Grok AI model's base code, allowing developers and researchers to utilize the powerful weights and architecture behind xAI's Grok chatbot for their projects completely free of charge.

The company described it as the "314 billion parameter Mixture-of-Expert model" on GitHub.

Musk's xAI Opens Up Grok for Public Development

In a blog post, xAI said that the model was not optimized for any specific use case, such as having conversations with it. Without providing further information, the business stated that Grok-1 was trained on a "custom" stack, and commercial use cases are allowed under the terms of the Apache License 2.0, which licenses the model.

Musk announced on X, formerly Twitter, last week that xAI planned to make the Grok model available to the public this week. The company made Grok available to Premium+ social network users X, formerly Twitter, as a chatbot last year.

Notably, although the open-source model lacks social network connections, the chatbot can access some of the X data.

Several well-known companies, such as Meta's LLaMa, Mistral, Falcon, and AI2, have made parts of their AI models open-source. Google also unveiled two new open models in February, Gemma2B and Gemma7B.

Furthermore, some AI-driven tool developers are already discussing integrating Grok into their products. Perplexity CEO Arvind Srinivas announced on X that Grok would be enhanced for conversational search and made accessible to Pro users.

Due to the "betrayal" of the nonprofit AI goal, Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI earlier this month, sparking a legal battle between the two companies. He has now criticized OpenAI and Sam Altman on X.

Read Also: EU Boosts Ties With Egypt Through $8 Billion Aid Package as Concerns Mount Over Migration

Musk Predicts AI Superiority by 2025

Renowned entrepreneur Musk has sparked debates with his audacious forecast that AI will outpace human intelligence by 2025. The claim made by Musk in a podcast interview has spurred discussion over the possible effects of developing AI technology.

In a controversial remark, Musk made AI predictions that have sparked new conversations. The tech billionaire's comments came during a recent Joe Rogan Experience podcast interview.

"AI will be vastly smarter than humans and amplify its lead at an astonishing rate," Musk declared, projecting AI could match human intelligence next year and leave humanity's collective wit in the dust by 2029. His audacious prediction aligns with earlier predictions by futurist Ray Kurzweil, who predicted that this decade would see the crucial AI "singularity."

Although aggressive timelines for transformational AI have caused skepticism in the past, Musk's prominence as one of the most powerful tech visionaries in the world immediately elevated the announcement's impact. If his forecast came to pass, observers wondered what kind of seismic shifts would bring about employment, education, and society.

Related Article: Elon Musk Axes Don Lemon's 'X' Show After Just One Interview, TV Host Says: 'Hardcore Questions Were Asked'



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Former President Donald Trump criticized Jimmy Kimmel for his response to a social media post during the Oscars, calling it a viral moment.

During an interview on Fox News' MediaBuzz Sunday, the former president escalated his ongoing dispute with the Oscars emcee.

Trump: Jimmy Kimmels ratings are terrible. He's not a talented guy pic.twitter.com/k9ZP9MFlQf March 17, 2024

Trump Mocks Jimmy Kimmel

"He probably, stupidly, you know, he had to, he had to act in a short period of time, like minutes, right? He had minutes because he's on air, he sees this thing and he wants to go out there and he wants to, I guess, confront me and so and he ends up reading my Truth," Trump said.

"I said, 'This guy's even dumber than I thought.' The thing went viral, it's been all over the world now, and all he had to do is keep his mouth shut."

"Jimmy Kimmel is, every night, he hits me I guess, his ratings are terrible. He's not a talented guy. I hear he hits me all the time so I figured I'd hit him because I thought he was a lousy host," Trump told Fox News host Howard Kurtz on Sunday.

In his original Truth Social post last Sunday, Trump expressed his strong opinion about Jimmy Kimmel's performance as the host of The Oscars. "Has there EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at The Oscars. His opening was that of a less than average person trying too hard to be something which he is not, and never can be. Get rid of Kimmel."

Kimmel quickly responded, delivering his response from the Oscars' stage, "Well, thank you President Trump ... Isn't it past your jail time?"

In the ongoing dispute, the former president pointed out Kimmel's low ratings and his own critique of Kimmel's hosting abilities at the 96th annual Academy Awards..

The Republican nominee took a swipe at Kimmel following the comedian's comeback to the ex-president's criticism of his hosting abilities at the Oscars. Kimmel read Trump's criticism during the awards show, causing it to quickly spread across social media.

Read Also: Donald Trump, Joe Biden Clinch Presidential Nominations Kicking Off Gruelling US Election Rematch

Jimmy Kimmel's Oscar Joke About Trump

Trump was taken aback by Kimmel's choice to read his post, particularly right before the announcement of the Academy Award for Best Picture. According to his statement, Kimmel was allegedly advised against reading the post, a claim that was later confirmed by Kimmel himself after the show.

Trump and Kimmel have a long history of publicly exchanging criticisms, with Kimmel often poking fun at the former president, who doesn't shy away from responding on social media. The ongoing clash between Trump and Kimmel has provided ample amusement for a wide audience.

Kimmel, known for his candid commentary, frequently utilizes his platform to satirize the former president. The ongoing exchange of jabs between the two individuals has reached a new level, with Kimmel's recent response to Trump's criticism at the Oscars.

Kimmel has once again grabbed attention with his remarks about Trump. In February, he expressed his disapproval of Lara Trump being appointed to a senior role at the Republican National Committee, considering her father-in-law's ongoing legal battles.

The renowned host has previously pointed out the hypocrisy of certain Trump supporters during a segment of his show.

In contrast, Trump has been unafraid to address Kimmel's remarks. In February, he went on a peculiar tirade about water conservation, which Kimmel amusingly poked fun at on his show.

Related Article: Trump Says Some Migrants 'Not People,' Warns of US 'Bloodbath' if Biden Wins

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Basel Bassel Ebbadi, a detained 22-year-old Lebanese migrant who was caught sneaking over the United States-Mexico border, admitted that he was a member of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, hoped to make a bomb, and planned to travel to New York and other parts of the US.

In its exclusive report, the New York Post said that Ebbadi was caught by agents of the US Customs and Border Protection on March 9 near El Paso, Texas. When asked about his reason for crossing, he replied that he was "going to try to make a bomb," according to a Border Patrol document exclusively obtained by the Post.

However, Ebbadi later claimed in an interview that he had been trying to flee Lebanon and Hamas because he "didn't want to kill people" and said, "Once you're in, you can never get out," according to internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) documents.

Ebbadi also said in a sworn interview after his arrest that he had trained with Hezbollah for seven years and served as an active member guarding weapons locations for another four.

He added that his training focused on "jihad" and killing people "that was not Muslim."

Read Also: Florida Braces For Surge of Haitian Refugees Fleeing Chaos As Gangs Take Over Streets

Illegal migrant from Lebanon told border authorities hes a Hezbollah terrorist and hoped to make a bomb in US https://t.co/ADuy2s0D7n pic.twitter.com/ICqSaUlOsM March 17, 2024

Ebbadi did not have documents when he entered the US side of the border, claiming that they were robbed "with a knife" while he was in Costa Rica, the ICE documents revealed. He also admitted to using a fake birthday and name in Sweden, Ecuadorwhere he claimed his father residesand Panama this year.

Border agents continue to see a surge in migrants whose names appear on the terror watchlist entering the US illegally as crossings continue at record levels, the Post reported.

Ebbadi was immediately placed into isolation and was referred for an interview with the Tactical Terrorism Response Team (TTRT) for making "terroristic threats to personnel."

Internal documents show that he was marked for deportation from the US, although it was not clear which country he would be returned to.

Hezbollah has launched missiles into northern Israel in support of Hamas's Oct.7 attack. The missile attacks have claimed the lives of several Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) personnel and seven civilians.

Just days before former President Donald Trump's recent visit to Eagle Pass, Texas, a terror-watchlisted migrant named Colombian national Carlos Obed Yepez-Bedoya, 40, crossed into the area illegally, according to an internal agency memo the Post obtained.

Related Article: Joe Biden Requests $4.7 Billion From Congress to Address US Border Crisis: Report

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Facing the threat of a recall just over a year into her term as Alameda County district attorney, Pamela Price is arguing that the effort against her is marred by unethical and illegal tactics. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle Will, who did not want his last name used, holds a sign at an Oakland recall drive on Oct. 15 seeking the removal of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price. She says the effort against her is marred by unethical and illegal tactics. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle

Facing the threat of a recall just over a year into her term as Alameda County district attorney, Pamela Price is arguing that the effort against her is marred by unethical and illegal tactics that amount to an inexcusable attack on our democracy.

The progressive lawyer, who won a narrow victory in the November 2022 election, has seen pushback from critics since the day she took office. A group established to recall her  inspired by the successful ouster of District Attorney Chesa Boudin in San Francisco  recently submitted 123,000 signatures calling for a vote on her future.

Prices supporters held an event Monday morning to disclose evidence they say reveals alleged misdeeds by her opponents during the recall process. Among the claims: that the recall campaign employed signature gatherers from out of state, which Price says runs afoul of the County Charter; that signature gatherers tricked some people into signing petitions; and that petition forms were left unattended in public places where they could have been tampered with.

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Experts who spoke with the Chronicle are divided over whether these assertions, even if proven, are legally actionable amid competing interpretations of recall rules. The central concern  that the Alameda County Charter forbids the use of nonresident signature gatherers  is especially controversial. The county has signaled that it interprets the rule as unconstitutional and does not plan to enforce it. But Price says the county is required to follow the Charter by law.

Members of Prices team said they do not plan to file a lawsuit against the recall, saying they dont have the money for what would likely be expensive litigation. But they said they plan to send a letter to U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey, who heads the Northern District, asking for an investigation into their claims. They have already complained to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.

In an interview ahead of the briefing Monday, Price told the Chronicle that she questions the motives of the recall campaign. You have this strange coalition of MAGA and Trump supporters and a few community activists who claim to be representing the interests of people who have been harmed, and then you have the millionaires and moneyed interests, she said. These folks dont believe in democracy, and they dont care that the voters elected me.

The main group behind the recall, Save Alameda for Everyone, describes itself as former Alameda County prosecutors, victims and victims families, community activists, and everyday residents of Alameda County. It is headed by Carl Chan, a public safety advocate and business leader in Oaklands Chinatown, and Brenda Grisham, whose teenage son Christopher LaVell Jones was killed in 2010.

Chan dismissed the claims of the Price camp ahead of the Monday event. I feel bad that they dont have anything else to argue with, Chan said. I understand why theyre doing this: they know the end is near. Complaining about all of this doesnt help her. Its allowed.

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Certification process continues

The Alameda County registrar is in the process of verifying the signatures the recall campaign turned in on March 4, which can dip no lower than 73,000 for the measure to qualify. On Thursday, the registrar announced that the submission had not met the threshold for a quicker counting method based on statistical sampling, and would need to be manually counted, a development Prices campaign hailed as a win.

Price and the registrar of voters are at odds over whether the signatures can still be legally certified, because a 10-day window for the county to count them expired last week without a definitive answer.

The Alameda County Charter requires petitions to be validated within that period, but Registrar Tim Dupuis said his office has 30 days to complete the review under the states election code, which he said supersedes the countys rule.

That interplay of state and local rules is also crucial to the complaint by Price supporters that some recall signature collectors came from outside the county and, in some instances, outside the state. A section of the Alameda County Charter stipulates that signature collectors be from the county.

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Prices team showed two photos of the affidavits that the signature collectors are required to sign on the petition  one from a collector who listed an address in Lancaster, in Los Angeles County near the Mojave Desert, and another from Provo, Utah.

Chan said recall backers did employ a company that specializes in gathering signatures for ballot measures and recalls, but noted that the effort was also powered by some 4,000 volunteers.

Alameda residents Caroline Anderson, center, and her husband, John Anderson, sign forms to support the removal of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price at a recall drive in Oakland on Oct. 15. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle

Price said her office was told by representatives in the Alameda County counsels office that it did not intend to follow that part of the County Charter. The Alameda County counsel, Donna Ziegler, did not respond to a request for comment.

A memo issued by the counsels office last year said that it believed the provision was unconstitutional and would not stand up in court. A recall guide from the registrar said that the county had determined that recall petitions could be circulated by anyone over the age of 18, according to state election law, due to questions about the constitutionality of other restrictions.

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Experts weigh in on legal claims

The Chronicle spoke to two ballot initiative experts  David McCuan, who consults for recall campaigns and is a political science professor at Sonoma State University, and Joshua Spivak, a fellow at UC Berkeley Law School who wrote a book on the history of recalls.

Both said they agreed that the Alameda Charter stipulation requiring signature gathering by county residents was vulnerable to legal challenges. Spivak pointed to a Supreme Court decision from 1998, Buckley v. American Constitutional Law Foundation Inc., in which justices voted 6-3 to limit rules about barring people from signature collection for ballot measures.

Generally people believe this would constitute the same thing, Spivak said, adding that California rules categorize recall elections as ballot measures.

Price said the county is required to enforce its own charter  regardless of how it thinks rules might hold up in court.

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Under the California Constitution, unless and until a law is invalidated, local officials are required to follow the law. And the problem for Alameda County, and the reason we wanted to hold them accountable, is that no court has ever found that part of the Charter is unenforceable, she said. We can all have an opinion. Im a lawyer; I have an opinion, too. But unless and until I litigate it, thats just my opinion.

Price and her team made other complaints about the signature process to the Chronicle. They shared photos of petition rolls left unattended and written complaints about collectors allegedly trying to trick people into signing the Price recall by having them sign another petition first and then asking them to sign a second page.

Spivak and McCuan said those claims had even less of a chance of succeeding, legally. Spivak said that he had never heard of anyone succeeding on an argument about petition rolls being left unattended. McCuan said that the type of tactics alleged by Prices campaign were relatively common in the signature-gathering process and that courts have generally ruled that its on the voter to figure that out. In general, he said, despite persistent criticism about the ease of starting recalls against recently elected officials in states like California, judges are hesitant to put their thumb on the scale.

Theyre fearful because they face election, right? McCuan said. So they are reluctant to go against the will of the people. They generally set a very high bar for rejecting measures that are qualified. Proponents know this  so they do engage in the types of games that have been documented or allegedly documented here.

Overall, a judge would need to be convinced that there was wide impropriety  not just a handful of examples  in order to throw out a recall, the experts said.

But untested legal questions over the Charter rules about the recall meant the drama could play out in more unpredictable ways, Spivak said.

Were in uncharted territory, he said.

Prices political team said that the recall against her was a story about money in politics  a sign of how a well-funded opposition can get the upper hand against a democratically elected official with less access to cash.

The recall organizers said they have already spent around $2 million of what they forecast will be a $4 million to $5 million effort to oust Price.
A charter flight carrying dozens of US citizens fleeing the gang violence in Haiti landed in Miami on Sunday (Mar. 17).

According to the US State Department, over 30 Americans were on the government-chartered flight that arrived at the Miami International Airport after the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince earlier this month urged US citizens to leave "as soon as possible" as chaos continues in Haiti.

Boston-based Haitian-American Avlot Quessa told the Miami Herald that he went to Cap-Haitien to board the flight after traveling to Haiti last month for what was supposed to be a weeklong trip to visit his mother.

"It's just terrible ... The suffering, you can only imagine," he said about the country. "Haiti is my homeland and it's very stressful to see the homeland going through this act of violence, destruction ... and they are our neighbors."

Read Also: Haiti's Notorious Gang Leader 'Barbecue' Issues Ominous Threat After PM Resignation

Haiti's main airport in Port-au-Prince remains closed following gang attacks that have raged through Haiti in recent weeks, pushing many people to the brink of famine, the Associated Press reported.

The State Department announced on Saturday (Mar. 16) that it would offer limited charter flights for American citizens from the less chaotic northern city of Cap-Haitien. However, they stressed that they could not provide ground transportation to Cap-Haitien and told Americans in Haiti to only consider the charter flights "if [they] think you can reach Cap-Haitien airport safely."

The State Department also said that government officials in Miami were helping the newly arrived evacuees to determine their next steps.

"We encourage US citizens still in Haiti who seek to depart to contact the Department of State using the crisis intake form on our website if they have not already done so," the department added.

AP reported that people taking the U.S. government-coordinated flights must sign a promissory bill agreeing to reimburse the government.

It was previously reported that 65-year-old "Tuesdays with Morrie" author Mitch Albom and his wife were two of 10 Americans airlifted out of Port-au-Prince last week.

It is unknown if Albom was among the Americans who arrived in Haiti on Sunday.

Related Article: Royal Caribbean Suspends Voyages to Haiti Due to Gang Violence

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Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith has recently claimed that Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, shares the same "narcissistic and controlling" qualities as Wallis Simpson, the woman King Edward VIII married after he abdicated the British throne in 1936.

Smith, who is one of the British Royal Family's "authorized" biographers, told The Times that Meghan was "domineering" and has "changed the dynamic" between King Charles III's sons, Princes William and Harry.

Speaking on the topic while promoting her latest book-"George VI and Elizabeth: the Marriage That Saved the Monarchy"-at the Oxford Literary Festival, which looked at how Edward's brother, King George VI, "saved the monarchy," Bedell Smith said that there were parallels between Edward and Simpson and Harry and Meghan.

She added that she felt the Prince of Wales would have felt similar "betrayal" towards his younger brother as the then-Prince Albert felt towards Edward after his abdication.

The speculation came as the rift between the brothers appeared to remain wide after they appeared separately at the Diana Legacy Awards in London last week.

The Diana Awards were named in honor of King Charles's first wife and the prince's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. Both princes attended the event solo: Meghan stayed in California to be with her children, while Princess Catherine was still recovering from her abdominal surgery earlier this year.

Read Also: Kate Middleton 'Devastated' Over Photo Editing Controversy, May Break Silence on Health: Royal Insiders

The Similarities Between Edward VIII and Prince Harry

Edward abdicated just months into his reign so he could marry Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite, and was since referred to as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Decades later, Harry married Meghan, an American actress who has since divorced from her first husband, and later decided to step down from their official duties in the House of Windsor and move to the United States.

Bedell Smith compared both couples, saying that the similarities and differences lie with "an American woman [coming] into the picture and [changing] the dynamic of the whole thing."

"It is different," she was quoted by The Telegraph as saying. Harry was never going to be king. But I think there are similar feelings of betrayal that have resulted in William, in particular, being furious with his brotherwith good reason."

"In some respects, Meghan and the Duchess of Windsor have similar qualities: very narcissistic, very controlling, very dominating," she added.

Bedell Smith also explained that Edward's letters manifested "how weak he was and how much he needed a domineering woman," which made it seem as if "Harry is somewhat the same way."

She added that despite the turmoil caused by his "obsession" with Simpson and the subsequent abdication, Edward actually "delivered Britain from an irresponsible King."

"The Duke of Windsor did a lot of harmful things [after his abdication]," Bedell Smith was quoted by The Times. "He lied to his brother about how much money he had. For example, he was in the process of selling a huge amount of land at Sandringham just so he could pocket the money. It was those kinds of deceptions, as well as his behavior in general."

Representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not immediately responded to reporters' requests for comment.

Related Article: Prince Harry Loses High Court Challenge on Security Detail

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(Photo : Instagram)

Samyia Spain was killed at a Brooklyn bodega after refusing a man's advances, according to relatives.

Nineteen-year-old twin sisters were stabbed, one fatally, at a Brooklyn bodega on Sunday, reportedly after rejecting a man's advances.

The teens were stabbed around 2:20 a.m. in front of Slope Natural Plus in the Park Slope neighborhood, according to the NYPD.

The attack came after the suspect tried to hit on the teens but was brushed off, relatives told the New York Post.

A bodega worker kicked the man out of the store but when the teens left, he attacked them in the street outside the store, the teens' grandfather said.

"He was waiting for them," grandfather Alphonso Goodson told the paper. "He took it the wrong way. He came after them. That was wrong. That was dead wrong. I hope they catch this guy."

Samyia Spain was stabbed in the chest. Her sister Sanyia was stabbed in the arm.

EMS rushed the teens to New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where Samyia died. Sanyia was listed in stable condition.

The surviving twin says she tried to protect her sister from the man, whom she described as drunk, when he allegedly became enraged that she would not follow him back on Instagram.

"He pushed little Samyia, and then I pushed him," Sanyia told the New York Daily News. "And then everybody else started pushing him out the door.

She says a worker locked the door to keep the man out of the store.

"When we were done waiting for our food, he let us out of the store," Sanyia said. "After he let us out the store, he had locked the door behind us."

That's when the man started stabbing the teens with the knife.

Police are yet to announce an arrest in the case. They were reviewing video from surveliance cameras and say the investigation is continuing.

A memorial was set up outside of Samyia's Brooklyn apartment building on Sunday.

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(Photo : MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images)

A California man is dead after a rare, fatal mountain lion attack on March 23, 2024.

A Washington cyclist narrowly survived a cougar attack, when her friends used rocks, sticks and their bare hands to fight off the predator as it bit her face and latched on.

Keri Bergere, 60, is still recovering from her terrifying Feb. 17 encounter with the 75-pound mountain lion. She and her friends were 19 miles into a biking trip on a trail northeast of Fall City when one of the women noticed the menacing cat.

"Cougar! Cougar," Auna Tietz shouted, according to KUOW.

Bergere and Tietz frequently cycle with friends Annie Bilotta, Tisch Williams and Erica Wolf. All of the women are competitive cyclists in their 50s and 60s.

There were two cats in front of the women - one ran off, but the other lunged at Bergere, who was leading the group.

"Looking to my right, I saw the cougar's face," Bergere told KUOW. "It was just a split second, and he tackled me off my bike."

The animal bit Bergere and pinned her into the dirt off the side of the trail.

"I could feel the bones crushing, and I could feel it tearing back," she told KUOW. "I felt like it was suffocating me. I could taste the blood in my mouth."

"I was swallowing so much blood," she continued. "I just thought it was done. But then I got another little surge, you know, live to ride one more day."

The other women raced into action. They screamed and threw rocks at the cat. Bilotta even tried choking it.

"That was like choking a rock," she told KOUW. "It did absolutely nothing."

For 15 harrowing minutes, the women did everything in their power to protect their friend - before finally pinning the cougar with one of their $6,000 racing bikes.

"I just remember getting tackled from this side and ending up at the other side of the road pinned to the ground and hearing all the ladies rallying and fighting for my life," Bergere told KING.

With the animal sufficiently under control, they were able to call 911. Thirty minutes later an officer with the Fish & Wildlife Police made it to the women. Officer Chris Moszeter was forced to shoot the cougar, at which point the group could focus on getting Bergere to the hospital.

"It was a relief," Tietz told KOUW. "Getting off the bike [they used to pin the cougar] finally freed me to be with Keri and say to her, 'You are safe now. You will be in good hands. You will be in the hospital soon.'"

Bergere spent five days in the hospital and is still dealing with the aftermath of the attack. An autopsy conducted on the cougar has given no further insight into why the attack happened - the animal wasn't rabid or otherwise sick.

Bergere remains grateful to her friends and appreciative of the risk they took to keep her alive until help could arrive.

"I know for a fact I would be dead if they didn't come back in, I would just be gone," she told KING. "That cougar had me."

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The Israeli Defense Forces reportedly killed a top member of Hamas during their controversial raid of al-Shifa Hospital, in Gaza City.

The IDF says that Faiq Mabhuoch, head of operations for Hamas' internal security forces, within Gaza was killed while "armed and hiding in a compound." Hamas has not confirmed Mabhuoch's death to the media.

The IDF's raid of al-Shifa hospital has generated controversy due to the substantial civilian presence inside the building. There are approximately 30,000 Gazan civilians residing inside and around the hospital, according to the New York Times.

Nineteen-year-old Alaa Abu al-Kaas said that she had seen 15 Israeli tanks and bulldozers inside the hospital grounds.

"The fear and terror are really eating us alive," she told the New York Times. "We are just sitting here anxiously waiting for them to evacuate us out of here."

The IDF claims that the hospital doubles as a Hamas command center and that the militant group is using Palestinian civilians as human shields. Hamas has disputed these allegations and international media have not been able to totally verify the Israeli claims.

"We know that senior Hamas terrorists have regrouped inside Al-Shifa Hospital and are using it to command attacks against Israel," said Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military's chief spokesman, according to the New York Times.

In response to the al-Shifa raid, Hamas called on the international community to protect Gaza's remaining hospitals.

"The failure of the international community and the United Nations to take action against the occupation army was a green light to continue the war of genocide and ethnic cleansing it is committing against our people, one of the pillars of which is the destruction of medical facilities in the Gaza Strip," the militant group said, according to Al Jazeera.

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(Photo : Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump's hush money trial will begin in New York on April 15, 2024.

Former President Donald Trump is still searching for a way to make the $464 million bond in his New York civil fraud case ahead of the deadline at month's end, after dozens of underwriters have balked at the nine-figure sum, his lawyers reportedly said Monday.

"The amount of the judgment, with interest, exceeds $464 million, and very few bonding companies will consider a bond of anything approaching that magnitude," Trump's lawyers told a New York appeals court, according to CNN.

Trump has approached some 30 underwriters to back the bond, which is due by the end of March.

But one insurance broker, Gary Giuletti, reportedly signed an affidavit stating that securing a bond in the full amount "is a practical impossibility."

New York Attorney General Letitia James said last month that she would move to seize some of Trump's New York properties if he didn't come up with the sum.

This is a developing story.

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(Photo : STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Buckingham Palace is refuting Russian reports of King Charles' death.

Buckingham Palace threw cold water Monday on reports out of Russia claiming that King Charles III had died.

Various Russian media outlets ran with a fake announcement doctored to appear from Buckingham Palace, claiming that the king had "passed away unexpectedly."

Russian media running with the mega scoop that King Charles III has died backed up by this very convincing royal announcement that looks like it was put together in OpenOffice pic.twitter.com/ZDqPbZArcq  Andrew Roth (@Andrew__Roth) March 18, 2024

The palace debunked the claim in a statement to the Russian state-run TASS news agency.

"We are happy to confirm that The King is continuing with official and private business," the statement read.

The British Embassy in Kyiv also took to social media to refute the reports.

 We would like to inform you that the news about the death of King Charles III is fake. pic.twitter.com/Ilg2GZn0mo March 18, 2024

"We would like to inform you that the news about the death of King Charles III is fake," the post on X stated.

Some of the Russian news outlets later updated their reports to say the death announcement had been fake.

The king has been undergoing cancer treatment and has suspended his public duties since the announcement was made.

He's not the only royal facing health rumors. Royal watchers have been speculating on the health of Kate Middleton, who has largely out of public view for months.

The princess of Wales underwent planned abdominal surgery nearly two months ago and spent 13 nights at a London hospital while recuperating.

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A month ago, I posed a question to you, the readers: As a new restaurant critic, where should I eat? I suspected there would be many duplicate responses, but to my delight, there was little overlap among the 500-odd suggestions, which ran the gamut from recently opened hot spots to neighborhood stalwarts.

There was one notable exception: You wanted me to review Zuni. Judging by the accompanying comments, this was not because you were curious about how the food at the 45-year-old institution has changed under the leadership of Anne Alvero, who took the helm from longtime chef Nate Norris in 2022. Nor were you seeking a reappraisal of the award-winning hospitality after owner Gilbert Pilgram did away with tips in 2021, replacing them instead with a fair wage surcharge distributed among front and back of house staff.

Its a benchmark, wrote one respondent, and will tell a lot about her as a critic. Another added, It will provide background into who she is, her tastes, her vibe. Zuni Cafe is such a fixture in the collective unconscious of San Franciscans that seemingly none of the commenters were interested in what my review would say about the restaurant. They were interested in what it would say about their new critic.

For those scryers eager to divine whether Im a well-rounded food critic or a feckless Millennial only interested in restaurants with one syllable names, this ones for you.

Lunch is an ideal time to enjoy the light-filled Zuni Cafe, left, and order the generously portioned Caesar salad, right. Photos by Laura Morton/Special to the Chronicle Lunch is an ideal time to enjoy the light-filled Zuni Cafe, above, and order the generously portioned Caesar salad, below. Photos by Laura Morton/Special to the Chronicle

I find Zuni to be as convivial and gracious a spot as ever, a restaurant that embodies the spirit of San Francisco through boom times and bust. Although service can be uneven  a forgotten order of Acme bread here, a misidentified after-dinner drink there  Alveros kitchen continues to celebrate Judy Rodgers legacy, turning out dishes that are a paean to Californias bounty in a space that glows with the warmth of diners enjoying each others company. It is not an inexpensive restaurant, but prices are fair relative to peers. Zuni Cafe remains a spot for celebrations, from boisterous family birthdays to languorous Friday lunches, and its worthy of celebration in its own right.

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While the restaurant itself does not feel antiquated, theres a generosity of spirit that feels increasingly like a relic of a bygone era. If you and your dining companion go halfsies on a Caesar or a burger or a plate of risotto, it will arrive split. There is something luxurious about getting half a burger ($22, available only at lunch) all to yourself on a regular-sized plate, garnished with pickled zucchini and onions that you do not have to share. The portion sizes on some of the menu items are also downright retro. When our Caesar ($21) arrived, split by the kitchen, each plate was so abundant that I hesitatingly verified with our server that we had only ordered one salad, yes? Half of a Zuni Caesar is easily the size of a full portion at comparable restaurants, and its twice as good, bathed in a dressing that gives anchovies center stage.

Customers enjoy drinks and lunch at the standing-only copper bar at Zuni Cafe, as they have for decades. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle

Chronicle Live at Mannys: Meet new lead food critic MacKenzie Chung Fegan on March 21

The Caesar is one of several constants. Peek back at Rodgers menus from the 90s and youll see significant overlap with Alveros from 2024. The haystack of shoestring potatoes ($11) could easily sate a party of four. Youll be charged $1.50 for a side of aioli, and I defy you to find a better way to blow a buck and a half.

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A cluster of fries swiped through garlicky mayo is an easy sell, but if youre visiting Zuni with newbies, the appetizer of house-cured anchovies, sliced celery, Parmigiano-Reggiano and olives ($18) may require more convincing. They sound like odd bedfellows, but the crisp celery acts like a referee among the aged and cured elements, and it all works beautifully. The plate arrives artfully composed, the anchovies and crescents of celery on opposite sides of the squares of cheese, like the tricolor flag of a country I would very much like to visit.

This brings us to the matter of chicken. The chicken is good. But I would argue that no earthly chicken can live up to the reputation of the chicken for two roasted in the wood-fired brick oven ($75). Zunis chicken is a metaphor, a concept, in some circles a religion. It is not the best thing on the menu  that would be, to my shock, a simple omelet ($27), fluffy eggs enveloping Wagon Wheel cheese and mustardy croutons as crunchy as chicharones. But you will likely order it anyway, alternating bites of dry-brined, crispy skinned bird with chunks of bread salad, both eaten out of hand for maximum carnal enjoyment.

The grass-fed burger on rosemary focaccia with aioli, pickles, bacon and grilled onions, left, is only offered at lunch. A heaping plate of shoestring potatoes, right, is a must at any time of day. Photos by Laura Morton/Special to the Chronicle The grass-fed burger on rosemary focaccia with aioli, pickles, bacon and grilled onions, above, is only offered at lunch. A heaping plate of shoestring potatoes, below, is a must at any time of day. Photos by Laura Morton/Special to the Chronicle

The rest of the menu is tweaked seasonally, often daily. Order anything that features ephemeral ingredients, and youll be rewarded.

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In January, the citrus risotto with Dungeness ($30) was a joy, morsels of sweet crab mingling with juicy pulpy bits and finished with a dusting of piment dEspelette. While the grilled bavette steak ($38) was a rare disappointment, the accompanying escarole salad dressed in an olive bagna cauda (those anchovies again) worked overtime to compensate. A month later, a citrus salad with frizzled shallots, pickled chile and mint ($18) won no points for originality, but who cares when you have the choicest Cara Caras and oro blancos set in front of you, lovingly segmented and supremed?

Just as the menu has remained true to its roots, so too has the light-filled triangular space, which Patricia Unterman wrote in this paper in 1979 seems sunny even on the gloomiest of days. Sip a Suze and tonic at the iconic copper bar and hear Joni Mitchell in your head singing about Californians who found France too old and cold and settled in its ways, cherry-picked the best, and brought it back West.

While Zuni is known for classic dishes that never leave the menu, seasonal offerings are also worth trying. The Paella de Mariscos recently featured shrimp, ling cod, Monterey Bay squid, clams and saffron. Laura Morton/Special to The Chronicle

What has changed is the service, which won a James Beard Award as recently as 2018. When reopening for indoor dining in 2021, Zuni replaced tipping with an equity-focused 20% surcharge. Wages for kitchen staff increased, in some cases significantly, while longtime servers saw their take-home pay fall. Most opted not to return. Service, although generally competent, is now a mixed bag.

The missteps are normal, forgivable stuff, only noteworthy because of how lauded Zunis hospitality used to be. As someone who cares about service, its a shame. But as someone who cares about equity, its not so much of a shame that I would wish a return to tipping. Its a privilege to be in the hands of knowledgeable professionals who take pride in their work. But if the trade-off for that level of hospitality is that cooks and dishwashers are able to save for retirement, thats a no-brainer for me.

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I understand why readers posed Zuni as a litmus test. I wasnt born when Billy West opened the Zuni Cafe next to the Red Desert cactus shop on Market Street. I have no memory of it as a pioneering queer space in the 1980s, the place where Cleve Jones learned about a devastating new virus or where Mariah Hanson waited tables while planning the lesbian party that would become Dinah Shore.

A starter of house-cured anchovies with celery, Parmigiano-Reggiano and olives, left, remains sensational. Zuni Cafes corner window tables, right, look out onto Market Street. Photos by Laura Morton/Special to the Chronicle A starter of house-cured anchovies with celery, Parmigiano-Reggiano and olives, above, remains sensational. Zuni Cafes corner window tables, blow, look out onto Market Street. Photos by Laura Morton/Special to the Chronicle

For many of you, Zuni is personal in a way that it isnt for me. But Im a San Franciscan now, and I feel certain that Zuni will be in my life for years to come.

Zuni Cafe

1658 Market St., San Francisco. zunicafe.com

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Hours: 5-9:30 p.m Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday.

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible tables on the ground floor. Outdoor seating available.

Noise level: The room can be loud when crowded, especially upstairs.

Meal for two, without drinks: $125-$170

What to order: Anything featuring seasonal produce, burger ($22), Caesar ($21), shoestring potatoes ($11), omelet if its available ($27), Gateau Victoire ($14).

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Meat-free options: Changes daily, but there are always vegetarian options.

Transportation: On several bus lines. A 10-minute walk from Civic Center BART. Challenging street parking.
Napa winemakers Juan Mercado, left, and Helen Keplinger stand with mentor Eric Jensen, right, at Booker Vineyard in Paso Robles. Nic Coury/Special to The Chronicle When buying land in Napa didnt pan out, winemaker Helen Keplinger purchased a vineyard in Paso Robles. Nic Coury/Special to The Chronicle Paso Robles is a quaint farming town that feels like Napa before it boomed over three decades ago. Nic Coury/Special to The Chronicle

When Eric Jensen sold his Paso Robles (San Luis Obispo County) wine brand Booker Vineyard to one of the largest U.S. wine conglomerates, he expected some peers to label him a sellout. But he didnt anticipate that the sale would turn him into a mentor to some of the industrys most in-demand winemakers.

Not a day goes by that somebody doesnt call me, said Jensen, who sold Booker to Constellation Brands for an undisclosed sum in 2021 but remains involved in the winery. It put me in a different circle of trust.

Many calls come from a surprising place: Napa Valley.

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Some of the regions top winemakers have found a new muse in the lesser-known Paso, which theyve quietly made a second home. Situated halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, winemakers are drawn to Paso for many of the same reasons as tourists. Theyre intrigued by not only the diversity of wine grapes and soils but also Pasos unpretentious, small-town feel and experimental spirit. Above all, its an affordable alternative to Napa and Sonoma Wine Country. There are no five-star resorts. Wine tasting fees are still reasonable: $24 on average.

Winemaker Juan Mercado walks through one of three Paso Robles vineyards he purchased for his wine brand Riise. Nic Coury/Special to The Chronicle

Its much more intimate. Its like Napa 30 years ago, said Juan Mercado, one of the founders of the heretical Napa Cabernet brand Realm. Mercado arrived in Napa in the 1990s, but when he left Realm in 2018 for a new challenge, he landed in Paso, where hes purchased three vineyards and started a Rhone-inspired winery named Riise.

Many have followed Mercado, like Tony Biagi, who started his career at Duckhorn and now consults with several premium Napa Valley brands. The region has also attracted Realm partner and winemaker Benoit Touquette, who has legends like Screaming Eagle and Ovid on his resume, and Helen Keplinger, another revered Napa winemaking consultant for brands like Grace Family Vineyard and Kerr Cellars, founded by professional golfer Cristie Kerr. They all live in Napa but have purchased land in Paso.

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The people (in Paso) are so open-minded, so supportive, so welcoming. Weve really enjoyed that community and gained an appreciation for how incredible the terroir is, said Keplinger. Theres heaps of potential in the soils.

But this migration is more complex than good people and good dirt. All of these winemakers have achieved great success in Napa Valley, nabbing top scores from critics for wines that their clients sell for hundreds of dollars a bottle. Yet when it comes to the growth of their personal passion projects, their renown doesnt get them a vineyard, winery or fancy visitor center. Instead, most purchase grapes and produce a few thousand cases at a custom-crush winery.

Booker Vineyard in Paso Robles. The region is praised for its diversity of grape varieties and soils. Nic Coury/Special to The Chronicle

Napas gotten to the point where its hard to purchase land. You typically have to have made your money in something else, said Mercado.. In Paso, if you make a wine and its great and it sells, that project allows you to grow with the little help of a bank, like most businesses in the world.

Biagi, who bought a 7-acre parcel in Paso, said hed love to own something in his home of Napa Valley, but in Paso, you can still get world-class property for something that makes sense. Keplinger, who juggles consulting with two personal wine brands  Keplinger Wines and Vermillion  tried to purchase land in Napa, but nothing panned out, she said. In 2021, she and her husband, DJ Warner, bought a 75-ace plot in Paso and planted a 20-acre vineyard.

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A lot of the magic in Paso, Keplinger said, is that you have these winemakers who purchased a property and they have their own brand, their own wine, their own vision and dream.

It was Jensen who first proved that in Paso, small producers can make it big without a sizable nest egg or generational ties to the wine industry. Jensen started Booker in 2001 after making wine with two of Pasos early cult producers, Saxum and LAventure. Booker quickly acquired a following, too, as much for its approachable, balanced and reasonably priced wines as Jensen himself, who is refreshingly raw, unpolished and outspoken. After 20 years of building Booker, he did what no one expected and few others have managed: He went corporate.

But if he started Booker in Napa, Jensen knows he might not have been so lucky. The cost of land, grapes and production in Napa Valley is so high that its difficult to scale small, premium brands. He estimated he can scale Cabernet in Paso at $1,800 per ton compared to $4,000 per ton in Napa.

Booker Vineyard founder Eric Jensen was one of the first in Paso Robles to prove that small brands could make it big when he sold to Constellation Brands in 2021. Nic Coury/Special to The Chronicle

The majority of the Napa wineries  like Rombauer and Silverado Vineyards  that have sold in recent years were already major players in the national market. Only a few small Napa producers with next-to-zero assets have managed to sell, namely Dave Phinney, founder of the Prisoner, and Dan Petroski of Massican.

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But Paso may not always be a haven for small producers. Land prices are on the rise, and several of Americas largest wine corporations have taken notice of the regions potential.



A decade after the Wonderful Company (the controversial owners of Fiji Water) purchased Pasos Justin Winery & Vineyards, the region is experiencing a consolidation boom. It started with Constellations 2021 acquisition of Booker. One year later, ONeill Vintners and Distillers bought Rabble Wines, a trendy, low-cost Paso brand known for its augmented reality labels; Gallo purchased Denner Vineyards, one of Pasos trailblazing wineries; and the publicly traded Duckhorn Portfolio bought a 289-acre Paso vineyard.

Then last year, Treasury Wine Estates made a blockbuster deal. The conglomerate purchased Daou Vineyards for just shy of $1 billion  likely more than any of Napa Valleys most notable winery deals to date.

Still, Biagi isnt worried that Paso will ever become the next Napa.

I think what saves Paso is its proximity to the Bay Area, he said. Its a three-hour drive from San Francisco, so its always going to be a little more quaint.
Novotel Dubai Al Barsha has appointed Lynn Kwon as cluster director of talent & culture. With a decade of experience in human resources and team management across the Middle East, Kwon aims to enhance team diversity, foster career growth, and prioritise staff well-being and performance optimisation.

Fluent in three languages, Kwon's HR journey began in 2014 at Hyatt Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi, where she honed her management skills before advancing to roles at Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel & Villas. Notable achievements include launching leadership and business management programs and spearheading HRIS updates for Hyatt properties in the Middle East & Africa.

After diversifying her expertise in various sectors, Kwon returns to the hospitality industry with Novotel, ibis, and Adagio Premium Dubai Al Barsha.
Six Senses Ibiza has announced the appointment of David Mulin as General Manager. With 15 years' of experience in senior management positions at luxury resorts across the globe, David joins from a multi-property managerial position across the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara and the Hotel Boutique Bovedas de Santa Clara, Colombia. Prior to this, David served as the General Manager of the Sofitel Baru Calablanca Beach Resort, which successfully launched amidst the challenges of the pandemic.

With a masters degree from the prestigious Ecole Hoteliere de Lausanne, David began his hospitality journey with Four Seasons at The George V, Paris, before moving on to further his experience at The Dorchester Collection in London. His professional development continued in India and the Middle East region; at The Taj in Mumbai and across One&Only resorts in the Maldives and Dubai. David joined St. Regis' Punta Mita Mexico in 2016, before moving to Colombia to take on his most recent role. Drawing upon his strengths in strategic planning and implementation, financial budgeting, capital planning and operations management, David excels in ensuring guest satisfaction.Throughout his career, David has achieved notable milestones, including overseeing the St. Regis Punta Mita receive a Forbes Travel Guide 5-Star Award for the first time during his tenure. He takes pride in his extensive collection of accolades from reputable sources such as Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Luxury Lifestyle Awards, and others.
Chronicle Live at Mannys! Hear how The Chronicles new food critic has been preparing for the role  and where shes been eating! Provided by SF Chronicle

The San Francisco Chronicle has a new lead food critic. MacKenzie Chung Fegan joined the Chronicle in January, and she has gotten straight to work, getting to know the Bay Area dining scene, preparing to draft her first reviews and sampling many (many!) dumplings.

How does she decide where to eat and what to order? Does she make reservations under pseudonyms or wear disguises in the dining room? And how does she view the role of food criticism in the era of TikTok and Yelp?

Youll hear about all that and more on March 21 at Chronicle Live at Mannys, where Fegan will join Chronicle Food Editor Janelle Bitker for an in-depth conversation about stepping into the rom-com job of professional food critic.

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A Bon Appetit alum, Fegan will dish on growing up in the Bay Area restaurant industry, preparing to take over the role from departing critic Soleil Ho and how the San Francisco dining scene compares to her recent home in New York.

Shell also share where shes been eating since arriving in San Francisco and take questions from our audience.

Get your tickets today to join us live at Mannys to meet MacKenzie!





WHEN

Thursday, March 21, 2023

Doors open at: 6:00 pm

Game start time: 6:15 pm

WHERE

Manny's

3092 16th Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

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Price:

$15

Youll hear from:

MacKenzie Chung Fegan became the San Francisco Chronicles Restaurant Critic in 2024. A former senior editor at Bon Appetit, her writing on the intersection of food, drinks, culture, and politics has also appeared in GQ, Playboy, Vice, Paper and Wine Enthusiast. Her profile of chef Brandon Jew for Resy appears in the 2021 edition of "The Best American Food Writing." In a previous life, she was a video director and producer; her documentaries have won Webby Awards and screened at museums including the Centre Pompidou. In previous previous lives, she worked for social justice organizations like the Ford Foundation and Human Rights Watch, hosted an arts and culture show on a Brooklyn cable channel, and lived on a dubiously buoyant tugboat in Alaska. The New Yorker once called her familys San Francisco restaurant the best Chinese restaurant in the world, an accolade for which she can take no responsibility.

Janelle Bitker spearheads the San Francisco Chronicle's Food & Wine department. She joined the newspaper in 2019 as a food enterprise reporter, covering restaurants as well as Bay Area culture through a food lens. Previously, she served as a reporter for Eater SF, managing editor at the East Bay Express, and arts & culture editor at the Sacramento News & Review. Her writing has been recognized by the California Newspaper Publishers Association and Association of Alternative Newsmedia.

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First Hospitality, a national hotel operating, management, and development company, announces the appointment of Jason Kreul as chief operating officer. Kreul brings nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including key leadership positions in operations plus expansive expertise in full-service, lifestyle and independent properties.

Kreul will report to David Duncan, President & CEO, and will lead the operations, commercial strategy, and the people & talent groups at First Hospitality and play a pivotal role in further expanding their hotel portfolio.

Prior to joining First Hospitality, Kreul served in numerous executive roles at Highgate, most recently as president - central US and west coast divisions. Before that, Jason held leadership roles at White Lodging Services and Winegardner & Hammons. Kreul serves on various advisory and board roles at the major hotel brands and industry organizations.

Kreul graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management Business. He lives in Valparaiso, Indiana, with his wife Amy, and five kids. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, working on DIY projects, and participating in health and wellness activities.

View Jason Kreul's LinkedIn Profile

Jason Kreul is a graduate of Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana - United States
Montage International has announced the appointment of Peter Chambers as executive vice president, chief information officer. An accomplished technology and hospitality executive, with more than three decades of experience and a track record of success at building and managing teams globally, Chambers will now oversee and execute the technology strategy for all of Montage International, including corporate office operations and the growing portfolios of Montage Hotels & Resorts and Pendry Hotels & Resorts.

Prior to Montage International, Chambers served as global president of Deployed Technologies (DTech), where he focused on delivering sustainable growth and leveraging the company's capabilities, all while providing innovative technology strategies and solutions on behalf of customers across the hospitality industry. He was also chief executive officer of Location Logic, a software development company offering bespoke, database-driven applications specific to the needs of clientele.

Prior to that, Chambers served as chief information officer for sbe in Miami, where he was responsible for overseeing technology, security and compliance for more than 130 hospitality enterprises around the world. Additionally, he served as global head of IT at Viceroy Hotel Group in Los Angeles, leading global technology in driving strategy and planning hotel openings and renovations; and corporate director of IT for hospitality for Vail Resorts in Broomfield, Colo. Chambers also led IT managers and teams for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company at its corporate headquarters in Atlanta. He launched his career as a regional manager of information systems for ITT Sheraton/Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and did turns as vice president, hospitality for the technology services company Combest Inc. in Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale, and president of Olio Solutions, a Delray Beach, Fla., provider of technology services for hospitality IT professionals.

Born in London, Chambers earned a Bachelor of Arts in marketing and modern languages from the University of Surrey, and maintains fluency in Spanish, Danish and French.
In this digital age, having a hotel-specific booking engine is crucial for driving direct bookings on your website, which in turn impacts profitability while saving vast amounts of money in OTA commissions.

One of the booking engines most important components is ADA compliance, which refers to the legal requirements set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Understanding ADA compliance

The ADA, the Americans with Disabilities Act, is a federal law in the United States that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. In the context of websites and hotel booking engines, there are specific ADA standards for accessible design, which state that all electronic and information technology must be accessible to people with disabilities. This includes your websites booking engine reservation system.

The law recommends using the following standards and guidelines to achieve ADA-compliant requirements.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

Section 508 standards

Market potential

Research has shown that ensuring your booking engine is ADA compliant has a huge market potential to grow your revenue and profitability:

Mandala research reports that American adults with disabilities spend more than $17 billion each year on travel.

A World Bank Group report says that one billion people, which is around 15% of the worlds population, experience some form of disability.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 27% of adults, which is one-fourth of the U.S. population, have some type of disability.

Why ADA compliance is good for business

Achieving ADA compliance isnt just about avoiding legal complicationsits also a smart business move to grow your brand and reach more potential guests. Heres why:

Expanding your customer base : By making your booking engine ADA compliant, youre opening your hotel doors to a broader audience, and a significant market segment. Ensuring more guests can effectively use your website can significantly increase direct bookings, profitability, and revenue growth.

: By making your booking engine ADA compliant, youre opening your hotel doors to a broader audience, and a significant market segment. Ensuring more guests can effectively use your website can significantly increase direct bookings, profitability, and revenue growth. Drive loyalty : Beyond physical accommodations, the digital realm matters as ADA compliance ensures that the hotels booking engine caters to the needs of travelers with disabilities and provides a seamless experience for every guest. This future-proof strategy enhances the guest experience and fosters loyalty among travelers.

: Beyond physical accommodations, the digital realm matters as ADA compliance ensures that the hotels booking engine caters to the needs of travelers with disabilities and provides a seamless experience for every guest. This future-proof strategy enhances the guest experience and fosters loyalty among travelers. Enhancing the user experience : Adhering to ADA-compliant requirements not only improves usability for individuals with disabilities but also enhances the overall user experience for all customers. This includes ensuring accurate alternative text and descriptions for images, enabling UI interface reading with assistive technology, and facilitating keyboard and mouse navigation within the UI interface.

: Adhering to ADA-compliant requirements not only improves usability for individuals with disabilities but also enhances the overall user experience for all customers. This includes ensuring accurate alternative text and descriptions for images, enabling UI interface reading with assistive technology, and facilitating keyboard and mouse navigation within the UI interface. Building a positive brand image: Inclusivity and accessibility are increasingly important to consumers. Hoteliers can enhance their brand image and attract more customers by demonstrating a commitment to these values through an ADA-compliant booking engine.

In todays competitive hospitality industry, ADA compliance is more than just a requirementits a key component of a successful customer acquisition strategy. By ensuring that your hotels booking engine is accessible to all users, you can expand your customer base, foster loyalty, enhance the user experience, and build a positive brand image.

Cendyn is committed to achieving WCAG 2.1 level AA web accessibility standards. The Cendyn CRS and Cendyn Booking Engine platform ensures that relevant features, such as alternate text and descriptions for images, can be easily updated. We prioritize assistive technologies, ensuring the UI interface is readable and navigable using both the keyboard and mouse. Hoteliers are also provided with the flexibility to display ADA/WCAG compliance statements on the front end of their booking engine. Additionally, any new feature introduced to the booking engine undergoes regression to ensure it meets WCAG standards.

At Cendyn, we consider ADA compliance a shared responsibility. Our team of experts are always available to assist our partner hoteliers with the technical expertise required to achieve compliance, while hoteliers ensure their content and on-property features are accurately represented.

About Cendyn

Cendyn is a global hospitality cloud-based technology company that enables hotels to drive revenue, maximize profitability, and create deeper connections with guests through its integrated solutions.

Serving hoteliers for nearly 30 years, Cendyn drives commercial success for hotels through its Find, Book, Grow promise: find the right guests; drive them to book direct, and grow loyalty and revenue across the spectrum of digital guest interactions.

Cendyn has over 32,000 customers worldwide in more than 150 countries - including brands such as Outrigger Hospitality, Hyatt, IHG, Aman Resorts & Hotels, Relais & Chateaux, Highgate, TFE Hotels, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, Coraltree Hospitality, and Onyx Hospitality Group - generating more than $20 billion in annual hotel revenue. The company supports its growing customer base from locations across the globe, including the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Bangkok, and India.

To find out more, visit cendyn.com.

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Executive Summary

The impending EU AI regulations present a dynamic landscape for the hospitality industry. This paper explores the potential impact on compliance, operations, guest experience, and innovation. We aim to equip stakeholders with a forward-looking analysis to navigate this evolving environment. We'll delve into crucial considerations like integrating AI within the regulatory framework, maintaining a competitive edge, and upholding ethical standards.

Introduction

The EU's commitment to responsible AI use, emphasizing safety, transparency, and respect for individual rights, significantly influences the hospitality sector. This industry, a leader in AI adoption for personalization, efficiency, and guest satisfaction, now faces the challenge of aligning its AI strategies with these regulations. Potential impact areas include data protection, operational efficiency, customer interaction, compliance costs, safety protocols, and international collaboration.

The Balancing Act: Personalization and Data Protection

The EU's focus on data privacy mandates the development of AI solutions that personalize the guest experience while adhering to the highest standards of data security and ethical use. Hospitality entities must invest in sophisticated AI solutions that deliver bespoke services while rigorously safeguarding personal information. This approach will foster trust and loyalty among guests.

Optimizing Operations While Minding the Workforce

AI-driven tools offer unparalleled efficiency gains in inventory management, reservation systems, and overall workflows. However, the EU's regulations might introduce limitations to protect workers' rights. It will be crucial to balance automation's benefits and its potential socio-economic impact on the workforce.

Building Trust with Transparent Customer Service AI

The integration of AI in customer service through chatbots and virtual assistants will need to evolve to meet EU standards for transparency and accountability. These tools should inform users of their interactions with AI and offer clear options for human intervention. This fosters trust and enhances guest satisfaction.

Managing Costs and Fostering Innovation

Compliance with new regulations might present financial and operational burdens, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). While this could impact innovation and raise costs, it also creates opportunities to develop cutting-edge, compliant AI technologies that redefine the industry's competitive landscape.

Prioritizing Safety and Security with Ethical AI

AI applications in safety and security, such as facial recognition and surveillance, will face stringent EU regulations focusing on user consent, data privacy, and ethical data handling. This necessitates investment in technologies that enhance guest and staff safety while aligning with confidentiality and ethical standards.

Ensuring Seamless Data Flow: International Cooperation

The hospitality industry's global nature necessitates considering the EU's AI regulations on international data transfer and cooperation. This is critical for global hotel chains operating across different jurisdictions. Harmonized practices that comply with EU standards while facilitating international operations will be essential.

Recommendations: Charting a Course in the New Landscape

The potential EU AI regulations present a pivotal moment for the hospitality industry, urging a strategic reevaluation of AI deployment. To navigate this landscape effectively, hospitality businesses should:

Invest in Data-Centric AI Solutions: Prioritize AI technologies championing data protection and ethical use.

Prioritize AI technologies championing data protection and ethical use. Balance Efficiency with Workforce Considerations: Optimize operations while ensuring the socio-economic well-being of employees.

Optimize operations while ensuring the socio-economic well-being of employees. Embrace Transparency in AI-powered Customer Service: Ensure customers are aware of AI interactions and have clear options for human intervention.

Ensure customers are aware of AI interactions and have clear options for human intervention. Allocate Resources for Compliance and Innovation: Dedicate resources to ensure compliance and foster the development of innovative, compliant AI applications.

Dedicate resources to ensure compliance and foster the development of innovative, compliant AI applications. Prioritize Ethical Security Measures: Invest in solutions that enhance safety and security while respecting privacy and ethical standards.

Invest in solutions that enhance safety and security while respecting privacy and ethical standards. Advocate for International Cooperation: Collaborate with industry peers to establish frameworks for seamless cross-border data flows and AI deployment.

By proactively addressing these areas, the hospitality industry can leverage AI for innovation, build trust with guests, and ensure a positive, ethical guest experience in this evolving regulatory landscape.

[email protected] augmented with the aid of various AI platforms.

Terence Ronson

Managing Director

Pertlink Limited
In a recent interview for the Guardian, the famous Hollywood star Jodie Foster said that Generation Z is really annoying to work with. Her comments have contributed to the ongoing debate regarding Gen Zs work ethic. According to FOX news, it seems that Generation Z does not have the same spirit of abnegation, demands higher pay, and is more concerned about their work/life balance.

There is no unanimous definition of Generation Z. For reference, according to the very serious Harvard Business Review, the various groups include: GenX (post-baby boom to late-1970s/early 80s); GenY a.k.a. Millenials (1984-1996); and GenZ (after 1997). But is Generation Z really so annoying?

What follows is an attempt to defend Gen Z's work ethic.

First of all, we have to understand that Generation Z did not appear out of thin air. It is the product of baby boomer and/or Generation X parenting who had a clear message to their progeniture: Study hard and you will get a good job. And so, Gen Z did just that. Generation Zs educational attainment levels are second to none. They speak several languages, they went to college, and they are still studying.

To understand the world Gen Z is living in, lets look at the continuing education offers available to them. According to Statista.com, online education (normally used as a complement to more traditional on-campus education) is expected to generate approximately $257 billion in revenues by 2028, while in 2017, it generated only a quarter of that figure. And after so much formal instruction, they now claim to be in a better position.

Generation Z is probably the real first generation that does not rely on a single university degree to develop their career. The traditional formula, graduating from college then landing a plush job is becoming graduating from college and getting a job, then going back to school to earn a second degree and getting an even better job. This paradigm shift is also reflected in university curricula, which increasingly offer cross-discipline competencies rather than specific, narrow skills.

In just one example, here at EHL Hospitality Business School we prepare students for other business sectors besides travel and tourism, because our graduates also go into finance, management, economics and other fields. EHL develops students skills in a raft of areas that will help them excel in a variety of positions and industries. Put in pedagogic terms: nowadays academic programs have to offer transferable skills that graduates can take from one job to the next.

Secondly, we have to understand that Generation Z is adapting to the world that past generations created. In an archaic world, a parent went to work and the other took care of the household. The working parent was accessible only during holidays (if they were lucky) or on the weekends to be with their kids. It was not uncommon for the working parent to call home and say Sorry, Im working late tonight or Honey, I have to work this weekend - and nobody argued! Nowadays, the story is completely different. There is no longer a working parent vs. a housewife/househusband. Increasingly, both parents are working full time. In a survey concerning parental work distribution, the OECD found that in practically all OECD countries full-time dual earning has become more common [i.e., over 50%] since around 2010. In 2021, this figure rose to an astounding 70% in a handful of countries (Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden).

Both parents work and both parents take care of the children. The consequences of putting work ahead of family might be a divorce, broken parent-child relationships and emotional stress. Divorce is becoming more and more costly. In an interview, Veronica Weisser, a pension expert with UBS, states: It is better to leave work half an hour early to buy a bouquet of flowers for your partner than pay for a divorce.

Gen Z found out the hard way: first, by watching their parents marriage disintegrate, then by being in a relationship themselves. Work-life balance for Generation Z is not only a spiritual choice butfearing a failed marriagealso a financial investment. Divorce annihilates ones income, assets and pension fund, not to mention the emotional impact wrought on all family members.

Thirdly, we have to understand that Gen Z has less to lose, in terms of financial assets anyway. Generation X and baby boomers enjoyed the sustained economic growth of the Reagan era. They had fewer kids. So, this means more money and fewer people to split it with. Losing a job and staying at home, maybe even at their parents home, for a while is less of a drama for Generation Z (who can fall back onto wealthier parents although the guilt trip presumably still stings!) than it would be for previous generations.

Finally, what we have to understand is that Generation Z is no more slovenly, spoiled or careless than previous generations. Putting work ahead of everything else means having more to lose (e.g., costly divorce, splintered family) and much less to gain (e.g., career advancement, higher income, social status). Gen Z understands this. In purely economic terms, Gen Z is adapting to the economic stimulus/penalty and allocating its effort where it can get the most benefit (e.g., happy marriage, long-term wealth accretion, etc.).

Past generations may not share the same vision but will be impacted by this paradigm shift nonetheless. And this will be reflected in how we work. We will be more skilled but competition will grow ever fiercer. We will be less of a workaholic, but we will have to dedicate more time to continuously updating our CVs. There will be more flexibility in our time management, but well have to figure out a way to structure that time. We will be able to work remotely to be detached from the 9-5 job, but at the same time, we will have to learn to live with time off and use it productively. Our careers will be less important but our intrinsic motivation will be somewhat diminishedor at least different.

The legal framework will also be called into question: traditional work contracts will start to resemble principal-agent contracts (where a company mandates someone to perform a task). And the distinction between traditional work contracts and mandates will be increasingly blurry. For example, is an Uber driver an employee or a freelancer (with no benefits)? In brief, it will be fun but also challenging.

However, if we insist on playing the back in my day card, we should still go back to Hollywood and recall the words of Marcus Aurelius in a great movie beloved by all generations: Your faults as a son are my failure as a father (Gladiator).

EHL Hospitality Business School

Communications Department

+41 21 785 1354

EHL

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Hilton Toronto Frenchy Restaurant

Guestroom at the Hilton Toronto

Located in the city's downtown core, Hilton Toronto unveiled its recently renovated rooms and is introducing Toronto's newest French bar and brasserie, Frenchy.

A New Lobby Experience

Upon entering the hotel, guests are greeted by a transformed lobby, exuding an engaging ambiance and a sense of closeness. Realized by renowned studio DesignAgency and in collaboration with Barney River, the lobbys revitalized structure and layout boast softened concrete surfaces, enriched sightlines, and improved flow between entrances and amenities. Personalizing the arrival process, individual desks now replace the traditional long check-in counter, allowing for intimate service and a refined experience for individuals and groups. Complementing the tailored check-in, The Market, reminiscent of a chic general store, provides convenient snacks and refreshments for those on the move.

Following check-in, guests looking to ease into their stay can further explore the redesigned lobby - a welcoming space designed for unwinding and socializing. With inviting areas suitable for work, relaxation, and dining, the redesigned space sets the stage for memorable experiences. At its heart, Frenchy adds a touch of sophistication to Hilton Torontos signature hospitality. The oval-shaped bar serves everything from freshly brewed coffee to artisanal cocktails. At the same time, plush banquettes and armchairs invite guests to unwind in comfort in both the lounge and dining areas. Tucked away within Frenchy lies a private dining room wrapped with lacquered cabinets showcasing a selection of wines  a perfect setting for meetings, tastings, and special occasions. As the hotels focal point, livening the entire space and creating a vibrant hub of social interaction, Frenchy redefines the traditional lobby bar experience by providing the perfect balance of intimacy and versatility.

Collaborating with Hilton Hotels and Resorts on revitalizing its Downtown Toronto property was an exciting project, said Matt Davis, founding partner, DesignAgency. With the goal of elevating the hotels existing elegance and service, we are honoured to have contributed to the citys hospitality landscape by reimagining the previous space as a vibrant and lively new experience."

Local Artistry

Magnifying the propertys ideal positioning in the city and surrounding community, the lobby is elevated with a captivating collection of artwork, many of which are custom commissions. Spotlighting local art galleries, the pieces reflect the hotels commitment to curating a unique and culturally relevant environment. Near the elevators and The Market are three striking pieces from Thompson Landry Gallery, an art gallery in Toronto's historic Distillery District. Rives and Aborder L'Inconnue No. 1 by Carol Bernier, and Ethereal Ascension by SylT, evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity. In Frenchys private dining room, two commissioned pieces, also from Thompson Landry Gallery, are positioned perfectly to create an artistic ambiance of sophistication and contemplation - Muddy Feet Pressing to Early Coffee Stands and It's Only the Breeze Travelling by France Jodoin. Also found in the bar and brasserie, photographs from LUMAS add diversity to the artistic narrative within the space. Guests can admire Sorrento 1992 by Bart Van Leeuwen and Vie du Jour, captured by Will Falize. Fostering community engagement and connection, the chosen pieces support locality and further solidify the hotels sense of place.

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Upstairs, the hotel's accommodations are remodelled with meticulous thought and regard for accommodating and ensuring comfort, a sense of belonging and ease for guests away from home. Positioning the Toronto location as a must-visit Hilton destination, the design approach embodies a fusion of timelessness and elegance with contemporary sophistication. A seamless blend of tradition and modernity, classic shapes and a thoughtfully selected neutral and light palette evoke a sense of warmth and comfort, purposefully setting the stage for a truly memorable stay. This deliberate interplay of bold blue accents envelops guests in an environment that transcends fleeting trends. The guest room renovations not only redefine Hilton accommodations but also establish a new benchmark for excellence in hospitality. Grounded in ageless design principles and a commitment to spaces embodying sophistication, comfort and practicality, Hilton Toronto is emerging as a beacon of superior hospitality within Canada's vibrant landscape.

We are thrilled to unveil a new chapter in our hospitality story, said Andy Loges, area general manager, Hilton Toronto. Our renovation is more than a physical transformation; it's a testament to our dedication to curating immersive and unforgettable experiences for our guests. From the addition of Frenchy to the enhanced design of our accommodations, every detail reflects our dedication to creating an environment where guests can come, enjoy and linger. We want every stay and meal to be more than time well spent - instead, we want them to be cherished memories.

Hilton Toronto and Frenchy are located at 145 Richmond St W. Frenchy is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Excerpt from Marketing Dive

Though Google remains popular for local search among older generations, Instagram (67%) and TikTok (62%) are preferred among Gen Z, SOCi found.

Google has been dethroned as the most popular platform among Gen Z when searching for local businesses to shop in-person, replaced by Instagram (67%) and TikTok (62%), according to a report from marketing platform SOCi shared with Marketing Dive.

Google, which ranks third (61%) as Gen Zs preferred local search engine, still maintains a stronghold among older generations, though social media is gaining share across the board as a resource for those seeking out local businesses, per the report.

As social poses a stronger threat to Googles core service, the report also called out the rise of ChatGPT as another potential threat. The findings come as Google rolls out updates to its search service, including the recent integration of its Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) model to Google Ads.

Click here to read complete article at Marketing Dive.
These are the closest hotels within a 0.2 mi proximity to Best Western Hotel am Spittelmarkt. These hotels have an average nightly rate of $107 vs. $88 for Best Western Hotel am Spittelmarkt. Data was last updated on March 28, 2024.
What is the best way for guests to get from Durban Virginia Airport to Coastlands Musgrave Hotel?

For the most freedom while visiting Durban, consider renting a car for about $25/day and parking it at Coastlands Musgrave Hotel where they offer parking spaces to hotel guests. One of the more popular options today is to take a taxi or ridesharing service directly from Durban Virginia Airport to the hotel. This option is often cost effective, but guests must keep a lookout for peak time rates.
7.5 Good Rayyan , Jan 2018

Duty Manager was never at his desk. Room service food ordered was unnacceptable for my kid and had to call them to change. Even then it was not good and they refunded me the money but it was all about ensuring my daughter eats and not the money. However, Nabeel who is the housekeeping boy did a fantastic job and because of his service I didnt change my stay to another hotel. They should promote him to be in charge of customer care as he gave us 200% satisfaction. He can do much better than their Duty Managers!!
A federal judge plans to appoint an overseer, known as a special master, at the scandal-plagued Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, the first such appointment in federal prison history. Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

The federal womens prison in Dublin has another new warden, its third since Warden Ray Garcia was convicted of sexually assaulting prisoners. But a federal judge says the change is not enough, and she no longer trusts the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to safely run the prison or protect its inmates.

After reviewing the records of Garcia and five staff members who have also been convicted of sexual abuse, and visiting the East Bay prison herself for nine hours in mid-February, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers found that the federal agency has proceeded sluggishly with intentional disregard of the inmates constitutional rights despite being fully apprised of the situation for years.

The prison is a dysfunctional mess and is in dire need of immediate change, Gonzalez Rogers said Friday in announcing plans to appoint an overseer, known as a special master, to monitor prison officials compliance with the law. It will be the first such appointment in federal prison history.

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The Federal Correctional Institution, with about 650 incarcerated people, has been racked by disclosures of years of sexual abuse. The Associated Press reported in February 2022 that both workers and prisoners referred to FCI Dublin as the rape club.

Garcia, a 32-year Bureau of Prisons employee who served as warden from November 2020 to July 2021, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison last March after a jury convicted him of eight felony charges involving the sexual abuse of three prisoners.

Seven staff members have also been charged with sexual abuse and five have been convicted or pleaded guilty, including the prisons former chaplain, James Highhouse. He was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2022 after pleading guilty to five felony charges of sexually abusing a prisoner and lying about it to investigators. Sixty-three current and former inmates have filed damage suits alleging sexual abuse by prison employees.

The Bureau of Prisons brought in a series of officials from other institutions to act as temporary wardens. Last week, the bureau removed the latest acting warden, Arthur Dulgov, and replaced him with Nancy McKinney, one of the agencys regional officials. The bureau also removed the associate warden, and the AP reported that FBI agents searched the prison and seized computers and documents.

Gonzalez Rogers said about 20 more officers have been accused of wrongdoing and have been taken off their jobs while under investigation. She gave low reviews to the Bureau of Prisons selection of interim wardens.

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At a recent court hearing on prison conditions, the judge said, Dulgov testified in a defiant and entitled manner and appeared to be deaf to the inmates BOP-inflicted trauma, concerns, and needs. The Bureau of Prisons, she said, has repeatedly failed to appoint a prison warden who is capable of understanding and responding to the gravity of the situation.

Although sexual abuse at the prison has declined, it has not disappeared, Gonzalez Rogers said. She said several women who testified against guards were then placed in solitary confinement. She also said Dublin has only one part-time physician for all of its prisoners, and that inmates who expressed health concerns said they were told by medical staff to lose weight and drink water.

Emily Shapiro of the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, a participant in the court case, said the ruling shows that courageous incarcerated people, community and dedicated lawyers can collectively challenge the impunity of the federal government and Bureau of Prisons.

We need to bring people home where they can heal, receive reliable health care, get away from the mold and asbestos in the prison, and be free from abusers, Shapiro said.

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What is the best way for guests to get from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport to Czar Lisbon Hotel?

For the most freedom while visiting Lisbon, consider renting a car for about $8/day and parking it at Czar Lisbon Hotel where they offer parking spaces to hotel guests. One of the more popular options today is to take a taxi or ridesharing service directly from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport to the hotel. This option is often cost effective, but guests must keep a lookout for peak time rates.
5.0 Fair Adnan, Dec 2019

the Hotel was dated, the rooms were not clean the air all around the hotel was stuffy , the food was at its best canteen food , although it was a huge buffet the quality of the meat and the taste of the food was absolutely disgusting, we decided to stay positive and try the indoor facilities and entertainment, we did not need to ask for the directions to the pool as the scent of chlorine was quite overpowering our eyes watered on our way their , once we got to the pool we found a pile of poo at the bottom of the pool, is guy was sent to fish it out, no other measures were taken like emptying the pool, but Im sure the amount of chlorine was doubled next morning. this is the worst value for money believe me stay away from it .
Explore the most appealing deals available for Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh, ensuring you get the best value for your stay. Properties are sourced from 20 providers and data was last updated on March 29, 2024.
These hotels are among the lowest-priced properties for travelers in Vienna. Currently, the lowest price for a hotel in Vienna is $23. The cheapest hotel is Do Step Inn priced at $23. Price data was last updated on March 29, 2024.
What is the best way for guests to get from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport to Hotel A.S. Lisboa?

Getting from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport to Hotel A.S. Lisboa can be as easy as renting a car at the airports rental desk for, on average, $7/day in Lisbon. Luckily, Hotel A.S. Lisboa has parking on site for guests who choose this method of transportation. One of the more popular options today is to take a taxi or ridesharing service directly from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport to the hotel. This option is often cost effective, but guests must keep a lookout for peak time rates.
Explore the most appealing deals available for Hotel Kennedy, ensuring you get the best value for your stay. Properties are sourced from 20 providers and data was last updated on March 29, 2024.
What is the best way for guests to get from Dubai Intl Airport to Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai?

For the most freedom while visiting Dubai, consider renting a car for about $27/day and parking it at Kempinski Central Avenue Dubai where they offer parking spaces to hotel guests. One of the more popular options today is to take a taxi or ridesharing service directly from Dubai Intl Airport to the hotel. This option is often cost effective, but guests must keep a lookout for peak time rates.
What is the best way for guests to get from Seoul Gimpo Intl Airport to L7 Myeongdong?

For the most freedom while visiting Seoul, consider renting a car for about $99/day and parking it at L7 Myeongdong where they offer parking spaces to hotel guests. One of the more popular options today is to take a taxi or ridesharing service directly from Seoul Gimpo Intl Airport to the hotel. This option is often cost effective, but guests must keep a lookout for peak time rates.
General

ATM on-site

Electric kettle

Entire unit located on ground floor

Entire unit wheelchair accessible

Executive lounge access

Family rooms

Fan

Cribs available

Feather pillow

Fire extinguisher

Gift shop

Laundry facilities

Ironing service

Flat-screen TV

Fold-up bed

Packed lunches

Free toiletries

Fruits

Heated pool

Room service

Smoke alarms

Hardwood or parquet floors

Heating

Hypoallergenic

Hypoallergenic pillow

Hot tub

Interconnected room(s) available

Indoor pool

Key card access

Restaurant

Laptop safe

Express check-out

Hairdryer

Lockers

Cable or satellite TV

Air-conditioned

Non-feather pillow

Pants press

Food can be delivered to guest accommodation

Free parking

Pool towels

Pool with a view

Coffee shop

Private beach

Bathrobe

Private bathroom

Garden

Private check-in/check-out

24hr front desk

Designated smoking area

Private entrance

Storage available

Private parking

Quiet street view

Spa and wellness center

Radio

Raised toilet

Non-smoking rooms available

Terrace/Patio

Increased accessibility

Roll-in shower

Rooftop pool

Linens

Towels

Safety deposit box

Grill

Seating area

Elevator

Minibar

Shampoo

Shower

Iron and ironing board

Shower cap

Accessible by elevator

Adapted bath

Adapter

Slippers

Additional bathroom

Snack bar

Socket near the bed

Additional toilet

Sofa

Alarm clock

Soundproof rooms

Bathtub

Soundproofing

Bidet

Body soap

Bottle of water

Breakfast in the room

Tea/coffee maker

Telephone

Kettle

Carpeted

Tile/marble floor

Refrigerator

Toilet

Toilet paper

Toilet with grab rails

Safe

Sauna

Children's high chair

Toothbrush

City view

Towels/sheets (extra fee)

Clothes rack

Trash cans

Coffee machine

Tumble dryer

TV

Upper floors accessible by elevator

Conditioner

Upper floors accessible by stairs

Valet parking

Desk

Dining area

Dining table

Wardrobe or closet Show more
Supervisor Dean Preston said he is confident he can meet the Supreme Courts standards for dismissing a suit against him brought by a conservative journalist. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

A Supreme Court ruling on public officials social media platforms could improve conservative journalist Susan Dyer Reynolds prospects of being allowed to sue San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston for blocking her from his Twitter account, where she had repeatedly criticized him.

It doesnt guarantee that Reynolds would win her suit  Preston says he removed her not for criticizing his policies, but for seemingly threatening violence with a posting that asked him, Do you have a child? But the courts unanimous ruling sets strict standards for public officials to remove critics from social media accounts they use to communicate with their constituents.

An official speaks on behalf of the government, and therefore must comply with constitutional standards of free speech, when the official possessed actual authority to speak on the (governments) behalf, and purported to exercise that authority when he spoke on social media, Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote in Fridays 9-0 decision.

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The cases before the court involved a city manager in Michigan and two school board trustees in Poway (San Diego County) who had blocked users from their Facebook and Twitter accounts after critical postings. The ruling will also apply to Reynolds suit against Preston, a former tenants rights lawyer and self-described democratic socialist, who blocked her publication, the Marina Times, on Twitter, now called X, in July 2020.

In her lawsuit in December 2022, Reynolds accused Preston of violating the First Amendment by censoring her for her repeated criticism of his positions, such as advocating reductions in funding for police and prisons.

Preston responded that Reynolds had threatened his family. After asking him whether he had a child, he noted, Reynolds tweeted, Hope he doesnt let them out at night by themselves after he gets rid of the entire SFPD and abolishes prisons. She punctuated the tweet with the hashtag #PrestonsPurge, which Preston interpreted as a threat to his family.

Preston said Monday he is confident he can meet the courts standards for dismissing Reynolds suit.

The Supreme Courts ruling should put an end to Reynolds already weak case against me, he said in a statement. She threatened my family, got blocked, and then filed a meritless lawsuit. Its a waste of everyones time and I look forward to the case being tossed.

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But Erwin Chemerinsky, a constitutional law scholar and dean of the UC Berkeley Law School, said the court had made it clear that blocking someone from access, especially if it is not an entirely personal account, likely violates the First Amendment.

He noted that the court did not address whether threats might justify excluding someone from an officials private account. But if Preston was speaking as a public official on Twitter about matters of government business, I think his blocking of a critic would raise First Amendment issues based on the courts ruling, Chemerinsky told the Chronicle.

Reynolds lawyers have declined to comment on the ruling.

Reynolds suit is somewhat similar to claims made against then-President Donald Trump for blocking critics access to his Twitter account.

While private citizens generally can admit or exclude whomever they choose from their media platforms, federal courts ruled in 2018 and 2019 that the Trump account was a public forum, governed by the First Amendment guarantees of free speech, because he used it to communicate with the public about government policies. That meant he could not exclude outsiders because of their viewpoints, although he could block them for other reasons, such as threats or profanity.

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In Fridays Supreme Court ruling, Barrett said public officials, while bound by the First Amendment when acting on behalf of the government, are also private citizens with their own constitutional rights, including free speech.

They are speaking for the government, she said, when they are making official announcements authorized by law, or when they have indicated they were speaking as a government official and have been recognized to have that authority.

That standard will determine whether Reynolds can pursue her suit against Preston. A federal judge has refused to dismiss the suit, a ruling the supervisor has appealed.

The Supreme Court case is Lindke v. Freed, No. 22-611.
These hotels are among the lowest-priced properties for travelers in Seoul. Currently, the lowest price for a hotel in Seoul is $19. The cheapest hotel is That House Hongdae priced at $19. Price data was last updated on March 29, 2024.
These hotels are among the lowest-priced properties for travelers in Mecca. Currently, the lowest price for a hotel in Mecca is $25. The cheapest hotel is ibis Styles Makkah priced at $25. Price data was last updated on March 29, 2024.
What is the best way for guests to get from Orlando Airport to Waldorf Astoria Orlando?

Waldorf Astoria Orlando has parking for hotel guests so for most visitors spending time in Orlando, renting a car for around $17/day may be the best option. This will give you the ability to get to and from Orlando Airport, and also give you the flexibility to get around the area. Rideshare apps and taxis remain a very common solution for Waldorf Astoria Orlando guests. This is often the most cost-effective method of transportation when visiting Orlando.
Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world and unrivalled when it comes to history and centuries-old monuments. This compact city lets you walk the same steps as Socrates, explore world-class museums and taste traditional Greek cuisine.

Things to do in Athens

Get yourself acquainted with Athens legendary sites and rich history with a self-guided tour of the Parthenon, Temple of Hephaestus and the citys crown jewel, the Acropolis. Feel what life was like in 4 and 5 BC and admire the citys historical significance through these archaeological wonders.

Watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Squares pink Parliament Building, before learning about Greek history at the National Archaeological Museum. For a view of the citys landscape, wake up early and hike Mount Lycabettus, which takes about 45 minutes to reach the summit, or take the Funicular Railway for a more leisurely ride.

Head to Athens Central Market, called Dimotiki Agora by locals, and treat yourself to traditional local food. Walk along Monastiraki Square to find a hive of activity at the local flea markets, or pack a picnic and relax on the lush greenery of Kifissias Park.

Whether you want five-star cuisine or moussaka and baklava, exploring the restaurants in central Athens will leave you spoiled for choice. Escape the crowds of tourists and head to quieter neighbourhoods like Koukaki, Mets or Pangrati.

Getting Around

Navigating around central Athens on foot and using the citys metro is ideal, as most attractions are within a short distance from each other. Hop on a local tram service to reach downtown Athens and the coast, and if youre ready for some exploration of the Greek Islands, you can take the metro to the port of Piraeus to catch a ferry.
Surrounded by seven hills, Lisbon is one of Europes most scenic capitals. Its home to a string of UNESCO World Heritage sites, with ancient castles, medieval towers and magnificent plazas to explore. The city also serves up fabulous shopping, some of Europes best nightlife and fabulous food. Enjoy a meal at a traditional Portuguese taverna and wash it all down with a glass of sweet port wine.

Things to Do

Start your day visiting historic attractions like the sprawling 16th-century Jeronimos Monastery and the medieval Belem Tower. Stroll around the grand plazas and promenades of the Lisbon Baixa district, get lost in the maze-like streets of the Alfama and people watch from a pavement cafe in Praca do Comercio square.

Unlock sweeping views over the city by heading up to the miradouros viewpoints that dot the hillsides. Castelo de Sao Jorge is one of the best, with a commanding hilltop location that overlooks the historic centre.

When the sun sets, the cobblestone laneways of Bairro Alto transform into Lisbons hottest nightlife destination. Hit up trendy Cais do Sodre for sleek nightclubs and cocktail bars, or head to the waterfront for a range of mega clubs.

Thanks to its coastal location, Lisbon serves up a bounty of fresh seafood. Authentic cuisine is available for every budget, where you can splurge on a Michelin-star restaurant or wolf down a cheap meal at a street tavern. Whatever you do, dont leave without trying one of the legendary custard tarts from the Pasteis de Belem bakery.

Getting Around

The best way to get around Lisbon is via its extensive public transport network. No trip is complete without riding the vintage trams that rumble their way around the city. Routes through the narrow streets of the Alfama are always popular with sightseers. Local buses run in the metro area, as well as an underground subway.
Featuring a historic centre clustered with Moorish architecture, Palma de Mallorca is the charming capital of the Balearic Islands. It boasts exceptional artistic and cultural museums, along with the pedestrian-friendly Paseo Maritimo, lined with waterfront restaurants and bars.

Things to do in Palma de Mallorca

Visit the beautiful cathedral of Santa Maria with its 13th-century Catalan Gothic spires overlooking the Bay of Palma. Admire the religious paintings within its small museum and the contemporary installation by Miquel Barcelo, which offers a modern take on a New Testament parable.

Adjacent to the cathedral lies the impressive Royal Palace of La Almudaina, a Moorish-style Arab fortress that was transformed into a royal residence in the 14th century. Wander the beautifully decorated rooms, then take in the sweeping views of Palma de Mallorca from the medieval-era Bellver Castle that dominates a hilltop on the opposite side of the port.

Want to learn more about the evolution of Spanish architecture? Head to the Pueblo Espanol, an open-air museum that features recreated landmarks and typical buildings from across Spain, together with traditional artisan workshops.

Art enthusiasts should visit the Museo de Arte Espanol Contemporaneo, which features an outstanding collection of pieces by modern Spanish artists. Witness iconic works from Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro, together with paintings from famed surrealist Salvador Dali.

Getting around Palma de Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca Airport is just 10 minutes drive from the city centre. Trains and buses connect Palma de Mallorca with surrounding towns and villages, while the Palma City Sightseeing bus accesses all the major attractions.
Paphos boasts a rich history and has developed a vibrant modern flavour to complement its heritage. Known as the mythical birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, the city and its surroundings are teeming with ancient sites and ruins, with castles, churches and white-sand beaches lining the harbour town.

Things to do in Paphos

The most famous attraction in Paphos is Aphrodites Rock, the birthplace of the Greek goddess Aphrodite. If you want to make the most of the citys ancient history, head to Paphos Archaeological Park, home to many of Paphos most important ruins.

Travelling with the kids? Keep the entire family entertained at Aphrodite Water Park or take in the natural beauty of Cyprus coast along the scenic path to Geroskipou Beach.

Getting around Paphos

The city of Paphos is divided into two areas, the lower town of Kato Paphos by the coast and the upper town of Ktima Paphos. There are buses available that can ferry travellers between the two areas, but the route can also be navigated on foot. Paphos International Airport is around 6.5 kilometres from the city.
The busiest beach resort on Phuket Island, Patong is home to family-friendly cultural attractions and international restaurants. The nightlife hub of Bangla Road carves through its center, with massage parlors and souvenir shops packed into the surrounding streets.

Things to do in Patong

Pubs, cabarets and nightclubs ignite Bangla Road after dark. Dont miss the Simon Cabaret, which presents both traditional Thai and international performances and is particularly famed for its lavish costumes and sets.

A short drive south from Phuket takes you to aptly-named Paradise Beach where you can rent a beach chair to soak up the sun or go snorkeling along the offshore reef. Alternatively, head north to Kalim Beach, a beautiful coastline backed by rocky coves.

At sunset, Patong Beach transforms into a lively bazaar with stalls selling everything from handicrafts and silk scarves to leather goods and DVDs. Theres also a great selection of authentic Thai street food to sample. Head to one of the many international restaurants to enjoy Japanese, Italian, Scandinavian or French cuisines.

Want to capture the historic side of Phuket? Make a day trip to explore charismatic Phuket Town, established at the end of the 19th century during the islands tin mining boom. Admire the Sino-Portuguese shop fronts and opulent tin baron mansions, together with Chinese shrines and temples established by early migrants.

Getting around Patong

Phuket International Airport is around 50 minutes drive north of Patong, and regular buses connect with Phuket Town to the east. Although Patong is an easy destination to explore on foot, hiring a motorbike or taxi is recommended for accessing the surrounding sights and beaches.
Famous as a city that never sleeps, Seoul serves up round the clock fun. It has an ultra-modern skyline and a high-tech subway system that whisks people around the city, but it also stays true to its roots with ancient Buddhist temples, Joseon dynasty palaces and bustling street markets.

Things to Do

Seoul has no shortage of modern attractions, with the futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza stealing the spotlight. The convention hall is known for its gravity-defying architecture, cultural museums, and a lush rooftop park.

For a glimpse at Seouls past, head to Bukchon Village. Sandwiched between the Gyeongbok Palace and Jongmyo Royal Shrine, its home to beautifully preserved Korean buildings and a string of charming tea houses.

Want to experience the high life? Take a stroll around trendy Samcheong-dong, a tree-lined neighbourhood dotted with contemporary art galleries, chic cafes and clothing boutiques. Get lost in the Dongdaemun or Namdaemun night markets, then dance the night away to K-Pop classics in the clubbing districts of Hongdae and Itaewon.

Seoul is a foodies paradise, which means indulging in a traditional hanjeongsik banquet is a must. Dont miss sampling the crispy hotteok pancakes flipped by street stall vendors, followed by a bowl of spicy crab soup at Noryangjin Fish Market. Wash it all down with freshly brewed Oolong at a traditional tea house.

Getting Around

Public transport is excellent in Seoul, which makes the city easy to explore. Learn to navigate the efficient subway system, with nine major lines branching across the city. Trains arrive every five minutes or so, which means youll never have to wait long. You can stick to the city centre, or venture further afield to cultural destinations like Heyri, Incheon and Suwon.
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Police secure an area around a West Portal bus stop after a fatal car crash involving an SUV Saturday. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

UPDATE: Three family members killed by West Portal driver identified

A San Francisco woman identified by authorities as the driver of an SUV that crashed into a Muni bus stop and killed three family members in West Portal over the weekend has been booked into city jail on suspicion of charges including felony vehicular manslaughter.

Mary Fong Lau, 78, was booked into jail on Sunday and remained in custody Monday morning, records show.

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Lau was arrested on suspicion of three counts of felony vehicular manslaughter as well as misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and driving the wrong way. She was also accused of speeding, an infraction, jail records show.

The San Francisco Police Department said Monday that officers had arrested Lau. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Monday that her office was in the process of receiving case information and evidence from the police department, but had not yet filed formal charges following the arrest.

Jenkins said her office was awaiting additional materials, including toxicology results and a review of the vehicles operating systems, before making decisions about charges. She noted that vehicle operating systems will need to be carefully analyzed by experts and assessed to determine whether mechanical issues may have played a role in this incident.

Lau is suspected of driving her Mercedes sport utility vehicle onto a sidewalk and into a bus stop around noon on Saturday, striking and killing a child and an adult, who were pronounced dead at the scene. A third victim, a woman, died on Sunday.

A fourth victim, an infant, remained hospitalized Monday with life-threatening injuries, the police department said. Lau also was treated at a hospital, according to police.

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A representative for the Brazilian Consulate of San Francisco identified the man killed as Diego Oliveira, a Brazilian citizen. His family planned to travel to San Francisco from Brazil to visit the baby, who remained in intensive care, the representative said.

Jenkins said the district attorneys office of victim services had been in touch with the victims family members, who she said asked for privacy as they grieve and work to make sense of what has occurred.

This incident was a heartbreaking tragedy, police said in a statement Monday, noting that the department offers its deepest condolences to the victims, their families and loved ones, and everyone at the scene who witnessed and assisted first responders.

Other victims struck by the SUV had not been identified as of Monday morning, but mourners at the scene told the Chronicle they were members of a San Francisco family.

A 2014 Mercedes matching the description of the car is registered to Lau, according to California Department of Motor Vehicles records. She did not have any major violations on her DMV record, but in November 2023, she was ticketed for violating an unspecified minor traffic rule.

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The force of the crash crushed the bus shelter where the family was standing.

Eyewitnesses recalled a hurried effort to assist the victims in the aftermath. Nikki Mashburn, 45, said she and two other bystanders erected a makeshift barricade around the man and toddler and covered their bodies with towels provided by a neighbor.

When the paramedics showed up, you could tell  they didnt know what to do first, Mashburn told the Chronicle.

Gabriel Cinquepalmi, 47, said he watched the driver exit her car in a daze.

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She had this reaction like, What have I done?   Cinquepalmi said.

The deaths marked San Franciscos eight, ninth and 10th traffic fatalities of 2024. The city has seen more traffic deaths than average so far this year and is on track to surpass 2023s 25 traffic deaths, according to San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency tallies.

The agency and Police Department were investigating the crash, which occurred on a sunny weekend day near a busy intersection crisscrossed by pedestrians, cars, Muni buses and light-rail trains.

Jodie Medeiros, executive director of the pedestrian advocate group Walk San Francisco, called the incident one of the worst pedestrian tragedies in the citys history.

It is almost beyond comprehension, Medeiros said.

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On Sunday, the advocate group placed a white stroller with a white teddy bear at the scene at Ulloa Street and West Portal Avenue alongside a sign that read, Remembering the precious lives lost on March 16, 2024.
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.
Governor Launches Campaign to End Veteran Homelessness

BOSTON  The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced a $20 million campaign to end veteran homelessness in Massachusetts.

The veteran's housing initiative will include the largest, targeted investment to address veteran homelessness in state history.

The End Veteran Homelessness campaign  announced at the New England Center and Home for Veterans in Boston  is a cross-collaborative initiative within the Healey-Driscoll Administration and federal, local, and veteran-serving organizations that prioritizes supportive housing, access to behavioral health services, capital investments to support veteran housing, and provides technical assistance to community providers. By leveraging evidence-based strategies and fostering collaboration across federal and non-profit sectors, Massachusetts aims to set a national model for ending veteran homelessness.

The goal behind the campaign is to make Massachusetts a state where veteran homelessness rates reach a level of "functional zero," a federal term meaning a system where homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring. It involves ensuring that there are enough resources and support services available to quickly identify and assist individuals or families experiencing homelessness, ultimately leading to their swift placement into stable housing. A number of Massachusetts cities and counties have achieved "functional zero" including New Bedford, Lowell and Lynn.

"Our administration is committed to making Massachusetts a national leader in veterans services," said Governor Maura Healey. "Today, we are proud to launch the largest investment in our state's history to end veteran homelessness in Massachusetts. It is through this initiative that we will work to ensure that every veteran in our state has a safe and stable place to call home."

The campaign comprises of five pillars strategically designed to address the multifaceted challenges faced by homeless veterans:

Homelessness Outreach to Placement Effort (HOPE): The HOPE campaign is an intensive, geographically equitable initiative to engage directly with homeless veterans and facilitate their placement into stable housing. HOPE seeks to better coordinate and fund veteran housing efforts across federal, state, and municipal entities, including increasing access to comprehensive behavioral health services and providing flexible housing assistance funds for homeless veterans.

Capital Investments Supporting Veteran Housing: The campaign will provide capital investments to support acquisition, rehabilitation, or construction of affordable housing for veterans.

Aligning Supportive Services with Veteran Housing Goals: The Healey-Driscoll Administration will allocate funds to veteran service providers offering supportive services to veterans experiencing housing instability.

End Veteran Homelessness Advisory Council: An advisory council of stakeholders in the veteran, housing, and homelessness space, will provide guidance and support to achieve and end veteran homelessness.

Empowering and Supporting our Veteran Service Providers: The Healey-Driscoll Administration will provide opportunities for technical assistance to veteran service providers to undergo efforts such as grant writing, strategic planning, operations, etc. This initiative will provide access to expert support to empower veteran community-based providers in maximizing their impact and tapping into additional sources of funding.

Veterans represent three percent of homeless individuals in Massachusetts. Currently, approximately 500-600 veterans are experiencing homelessness in the state, per the Point in Time (PIT) count. This is often compounded by mental health and substance use challenges.

In 2021, the Massachusetts Legislature allocated $20 million in ARPA funds to support geographically equitable investments in veteran housing. The End Veteran Homelessness campaign utilizes this $20 million to fund investments in veteran homelessness services and housing infrastructure, ensuring that resources are distributed across the state to address the needs of homeless veterans in all regions. Concurrently, EOVS, in partnership with Pennrose Construction is developing 220 units of mixed-income affordable veterans housing on the domiciliary campus side of the Massachusetts Veterans Home at Chelsea.
As a library director, Zimmermann has overseen significant renovation projects, implemented a library of things, launched a makerspace area, and chaired a committee that planned a 125th anniversary celebration.

Milne Public Library Trustees Announce New Library Director

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Milne Public Trustees announced the hiring of Angela Zimmermann to be the new library director.

Zimmermann comes to the Milne Public Library from Wisconsin with over eight years of management experience in library services, most recently as the Executive Director of the Racine Public Library.

"We are all excited to begin the next phase in the life of the Milne public library," Micah Manary, chair of the Milne Public Library Trustees said. "Angela brings innovation and energy that will genuinely transform how the library engages with our community."

As a library director, Zimmermann has overseen significant renovation projects, implemented a library of things, launched a makerspace area, and chaired a committee that planned a 125th anniversary celebration.

"The entire staff is looking forward to working with Angela on a range of new projects," Kirsten Rose, interim library director said. "We can't wait to welcome her to Williamstown."

A world traveler with language skills in German, Spanish, and French, Angela's experience of visiting over 115 libraries in 2023 highlighted for her the importance of libraries being welcoming community places. Angela is committed to supporting library staff to make the library a warm, friendly and welcoming place where people can access unbiased information. She used the German word, Gemutlichkeit, which captures the idea of "warm cordiality, agreeableness, comfortable friendliness or congeniality," to describe how the library should feel to patrons.

Zimmermann said she is passionate about bringing exemplary programming and activities to the community, creating daily shared and cultural experiences, and providing cutting-edge, innovative, and educational services to the people served by the library.
Mayor Peter Marchetti helps Independent Connections CEO Christa Proper cut the ribbon Thursday for the company's new offices on Fenn Street. The former Alliance Appliance building has been renovated to house the information technology company. Company officials say renovation and design was a collaborative effort with staff. PreviousNext

Independent Connections Cuts Ribbon on Pittsfield Branch



CEO Christa Proper says the 'Indy's' presence will help in maintaining and attracting jobs to the area.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  A Fenn Street building has a new look and use, serving the area's information technology needs.

Independent Connections officially unveiled its Massachusetts branch on Thursday with a ribbon cutting. The IT solutions company's specializations include consulting, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.



"We're focused on serving local businesses with state-of-the-art technology while providing superior customer service," CEO Christa Proper said. "And Indy's presence in Pittsfield will help keep jobs here, and continue to attract talent to this area."



Mayor Peter Marchetti pointed to the importance of IT needs, as many organizations outsource this work because they don't have the capacity to do it in-house.



He pointed to his 35-year career with the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, explaining that he "understood first and foremost that the most important person in my institution was the IT director because all I had to do was click the wrong button once and we were in trouble."



"And we also know that technology is ever-changing," he added. "The bad guys on the other side, are much faster and do things much faster than we do so we have to adapt to keep up with the systems and IndyConn provides a wide range of services to be able to do that."



The building, formerly occupied by Alliance Appliance for more than 40 years, underwent a makeover after it was purchased by the company last year. Proper explained that it was an "employee collaboration," with staff members assisting in ripping out carpet, cutting bushes, cleaning windows, and painting.



Chief Technology Officer Shayne Flaherty is credited for the design, which he described as "tech-forward." The space has a modern, open-concept feel with a grayscale color scheme.



"A lot of cosmetic stuff," he said about the renovation. "From the ceilings to the floors to the walls. The roof was the big thing."


Pittsfield Community Meeting On Rest of the River Project

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The City of Pittsfield, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will be hosting a community meeting on Wednesday, March 27 at 6 p.m. at Herberg Middle School, Auditorium, located at 501 Pomeroy Avenue.

Representatives from the EPA will be presenting an overview of the Rest of River cleanup project and the plans to date for the Pittsfield stretch of the river. There will be focus on hearing from community members about quality of life concerns including construction noise, air quality, truck safety, transportation of materials and other related concerns.

Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposed plans.

The public is welcome and residents in Ward 4 neighborhoods are especially encouraged to attend.

For those that are unable to join in person, Pittsfield Community Television will be airing the meeting live on CityLink Channel 1303 and on PCTV Select available at pittsfieldtv.org, Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

For more information, please contact Parks, Open Space and Natural Resources Program Manager, Jim McGrath, at (413) 499-9344.
Conte/Crosby SOI Greenlit by School Building Needs, School Committee

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The School Building Needs Commission and the School Committee authorized the superintendent to submit a statement of interest for a combined elementary build on the site of Crosby Elementary School.



Now the SOI needs support from the City Council, which will be decided later this month ahead of the April 12 deadline.



The proposal rebuilds Conte Community School and Crosby on the West Street site with shared facilities, as both have outdated facilities, insufficient layouts, and need significant repair. A rough timeline shows a feasibility study in 2026 with design and construction ranging from 2027 to 2029.



Following the SOI, the next step would be a feasibility study to determine the specific needs and parameters of the project, costing about $1.5 million and partially covered by the state. There is a potential for 80 percent reimbursement through the Massachusetts School Building Association.



The SBNC took the vote on Tuesday and the School Committee on Wednesday  both unanimous. The City Council is expected to vote on March 26.



After a site visit to both schools, committee members spoke to the risks that Contes open space plan poses.



Chair William Cameron pointed out one attendee commenting that there was "No way you could defend a shooter in this building."



"Were talking about access here, which is obviously very important as a security issue but those schools, given what's happened in the United States since Columbine in 1999, how common this has become, these horrific incidents, those buildings are particularly vulnerable, it seems to me," he said.



"That the students in the classroom or the instructional areas, they're vulnerable in a way that would not be the case in say, Crosby or any of the other elementary schools where you have corridors and classrooms and doors that that shut."



Member William Garrity said an open-space layout is also difficult for students on the autism spectrum.



"I think we really, really, really, really, really need to do something with Conte and Crosby. Just going through I think, from personal experience being on the autism spectrum, the open-concept classroom just sounds ridiculous to me. I know it's really strong language there but just as a person that can get distracted by a lot of noise, I don't think I would ever learn in that environment and there's many, many, many other students like that and I think it's something we need to move past," he said.



"I think open concept classrooms had its moment in the '70s and '80s or whenever it was developed and I think we need to bring back classrooms with four walls and I think this is the way to go forward."



Superintendent Joseph Curtis said veteran teachers who had been incredibly committed to open-space schools chose to move to another district school without the layout because they "wanted a classroom with four walls."



"There were some there that didn't realize that Conte and Morningside didnt have walls so it was good to have them in the facilities."



He pointed out that if they were to renovate Crosby, they would still be left with a renovated junior high school rather than an elementary school.



During the tour, Curtis pointed to broken windows that cannot be fixed because the glazing contains asbestos and the higher level layout that separates administrative offices and service provider areas from the classrooms.



School attendance zones are a point of discussion for the entire school district and for this project.



Currently, eight attendance zones designate where a student will go to elementary school. Part of the vision is to collapse those zones into three with hopes of building a plan that incorporates partner schools in each attendance zone.



The West Side zone can potentially have both partner schools, Crosby and Conte, on the same site. These partner schools could share several common spaces including the gym, cafeteria library, and potential administrative offices which could result in a reduction in costs for maintenance.



This plan has the potential to house grades pre-kindergarten to first grade in one school and Grades 2 to 4 in another with both having their own identities and administrations.



Curtis pointed to the district restructuring study that is currently underway, explaining that the MSBA will look favorably on the larger efforts.



"It does ask if we have invested in a master facilities plan which we have," he said.

"So that signals to them that it's not simply the superintendent with a desire receives authorization and then just goes to the website and submits the statement. That there is bigger thinking around this investment that has implications beyond the building investment itself."
Chinas urban employment remains stable in early 2024, as government urges for accelerated efforts to create jobs

Global Times) 14:40, March 18, 2024

China's employment remains stable in the first two months of 2024, with the urban surveyed unemployment rate averaging at 5.3 percent, official data showed on Monday.

An official said that the continuous recovery of the economy and emerging industries will provide strong support for job creation this year.

In February, the urban surveyed unemployment rate was 5.3 percent, 0.1 percentage points higher than that of the previous month but 0.3 percentage points lower than that the same period of last year, Liu Aihua, a spokesperson for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said at a press conference on Monday.

The employment situation in large Chinese cities also showed improvement, Liu said, noting that the urban surveyed unemployment rate in 31 major cities stood at 5.1 percent in February, down 0.6 percentage points from last year.

Last month, the surveyed unemployment rate of the population segment of non-agricultural household registration, was 4.8 percent, down 1.2 percentage points on a yearly basis, she said.

Currently, favorable factors for stabilizing the employment market continue to accumulate, Liu noted. Along with the sustained recovery of the Chinese economy, especially the services sector, and the accelerated transition of new and old growth momentums, new industries including digital economy, green economy and silver economy will continue to provide support for urban employment.

On the other hand, a series of policies to prioritize job creation, including fiscal and financial policies will also offer favorable conditions for stabilizing and expanding employment, Liu said.

However, "we should be aware that the pressure on aggregate job creation is likely to linger, with the related structural issues becoming more pronounced," Liu said, urging greater effort across the society to create as many jobs as possible.

During the recently concluded two sessions, China's central government set a target of creating more than 12 million urban jobs in 2024, curbing the surveyed urban unemployment rate at about 5.5 percent.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
Captured after 32 years on the run, extradited to Italy. This afternoon, following an extradition procedure from Portugal, the Colombian fugitive Omar Rivera Gomez, 69, recipient of a final imprisonment order for 15 years for international drug trafficking, has arrived at Fiumicino airport. The fugitive was arrested on March 7, during an investigative operation carried out by the Mobile Squad of Naples, the G.I.C.O. of the Economic and Financial Police Unit of the Guardia di Finanza, and the Operational Department - Investigative Unit of the Carabinieri of Naples, in close collaboration with several international offices of the D.E.A., at the Porto city airport by Portuguese authorities. The man, who had been a fugitive for about 32 years and sentenced to a final 15-year imprisonment, had become untraceable back in 1992, when he evaded the execution of a pre-trial detention order in jail, issued following investigations carried out by the State Police on international drug trafficking. In recent days, the search for the fugitive had been extended internationally and across Europe with the support of the Police International Cooperation Service of the Ministry of the Interior. The man was stopped while traveling from Canada to Portugal.

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This article is automatically translated
The IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), the leading advocate for the countrys Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) industry, is thrilled to announce Celeste B. Ilagan as its newly appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Jack Madrid, President and CEO of IBPAP, expressed his excitement about Celestes appointment, stating, Celestes deep background, especially her direct involvement in policy and regulatory affairs, equips her with the unique insights and strategic vision vital for IBPAPs mission. I am confident in her ability to co-lead our Roadmap 2028 initiatives in talent, infrastructure, and ease of doing business, driving innovation and growth within the IT-BPM industry.

Bringing more than 25 years of extensive experience, Celeste has been a key figure in shaping policies and regulatory frameworks to bolster the Philippine IT-BPM sector. Her prior role as IBPAPs Chief Policy & Regulatory Affairs Officer saw her at the forefront of engaging with policymakers and regulators, ensuring the sector remained adaptive and competitive amidst legislative and regulatory shifts. Her contributions have been pivotal in reinforcing the Philippines position as a top outsourcing destination globally.

Celestes background includes a significant tenure with SPi Global, where she led initiatives that elevated the companys market presence. Her industry and government relations efforts have strengthened the companys stature and influence.

Additionally, her experience with the Board of Investments as the Executive Director of the Investments Promotion Group highlights her commitment and contributions to the nations investment landscape. Her dedication to promoting the Philippine BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry earned her prestigious recognition as the Individual Contributor of the Year at the 2009 ICT (Information and Communication Technology) International Awards.
PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) conducted an eight-day Digital Business Basics Training (DBBT) for persons with disabilities in Mandaue City, Cebu. The training was done in collaboration with non-profit organization ATRIEV, Voice Philippines, and the Mandaue City Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO).

Under their Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Advocacy through Technology (IDEATe) program, PLDT and Smart partnered with ATRIEV, or Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired, to expand the reach of this digital training across the country and upskill more entrepreneurs with disabilities, enabling them to participate in and benefit from the digital economy.

In a world full of judgment, it may be challenging for persons with disabilities to establish their own businesses, but I salute our DBBT graduates willingness to learn and improve their livelihood. Through IDEATe, PLDT and Smart ensure to support persons with disabilities in navigating through the world of business enabled by technology, said Lailane H. Go, Senior Manager, Regional Customer Development at Smart.

Helen Ortega, a tuberculosis survivor, expressed her gratitude for being part of this initiative. As someone who is unfamiliar with online selling and digital tools, this training undoubtedly equipped me with skills to improve my small business. This is a great opportunity for us, and I thank ATRIEV and its partners for making this happen, she said.

A total of 27 participants, who included individuals with physical and psychosocial impairments, learned about various digital tools and applications that they can use in growing their businesses online. Additionally, the training also covered e-commerce platforms, social media marketing, content creation, internet safety, and an introduction to the Maya Business App, helping them fully embrace digitalization in their businesses.

LGU Mandaue City values the welfare of its people, especially those from vulnerable groups. We thank our partners for helping us reach our goal of capacitating persons with disabilities in our city and helping them become productive individuals, said Dr. Michael Allan O. Pielago, Mandaue City PDAO Head.

This initiative under PLDT Groups pioneering inclusion program, IDEATe, aligns with its commitment to helping the country achieve UNSDG No. 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and UNSDG No. 10: Reduced Inequalities by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities. IDEATe was a finalist at the 2024 Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards, the connectivity industrys most prestigious accolade, judged by the telco sectors most prominent experts.
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Russell T Davies has liked posts from angry Doctor Who fans concerning a shake-up to the forthcoming series.

It was revealed on Friday (15 March) that the sci-fi adventure will return for a new outing in May, which will be the first full run of episodes led by new Time Lord star Ncuti Gatwa.

However, the announcement was a bittersweet moment for fans as it was confirmed that new episodes of the series will debut at midnight on BBC iPlayer before airing in its usual time slot on a Saturday night.

This move comes after the series struck a deal with Disney+, where new episodes will become available globally at the same time as the UK. While this is very good news for fans of the show outside of the UK, long-time fans of the show have been left saddened by the move as theyre concerned social media will be filled with spoilers.

Also, its been highlighted that the communal viewing of Doctor Who in a teatime slot on Saturday evenings is what has established the series as a classic  and premiering the episode 18 hours beforehand, due to a licencing agreement, might harm the viewing experience.

Social media has been filled with complaints, and even American fans have argued the move is disrespectful to UK viewers. Interestingly, one person who might concur with the outrage is the shows lead writer, Davies.

While the showrunner has been sharing posts announcing the shake-up on his social media page, he has also been liking comments expressing disdain with the release schedule.

Among the posts he liked was one from a follower, who wrote underneath his Instagram post sharing the release (via BleedingCool): I am a bit upset about this. I imagine it wasnt down to you because I know how much you believe in terrestrial television viewing. I just really hope that this is changed for season two.

Another post that Davies liked said: The episodes are airing at midnight? But Doctor Who is a family show  what about kids watching at/just after dinner, hiding behind the settee? Am I misunderstanding something here?

Russell T Davies likes posts criticising Doctor Who episode rollout (Instagram)

Elsewhere, he also liked a post that read: Not a fan of the midnight release.

The Independent has contacted Davies for comment.
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India is set to begin its phased voting process on 19 April to select a new parliament, Election Commission of India, the nations electoral body announced on Saturday.

Nearly one billion people will participate in the general elections to choose a prime minister, marking it as the largest electoral event globally.

Prime minister Narendra Modi is seeking a straight third term in office and faces little challenge from an alliance of scrambling opposition parties.

The election for 543 seats in the Lok Sabha, or lower house of parliament, will be held over almost seven weeks, beginning 19 April.

The polls will be conducted through seven phases across the 28 states and six union territories until 1 June. The counting of votes will begin on 4 June and is expected to be completed in two days.

More than 2,400 political parties are expected to put up candidates for the general elections, which early opinion polls predict would be dominated by Mr Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

A worker carries a cutout of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi outside a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office (AFP via Getty Images)

Voters in the Indian states of Sikkim, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh would simultaneously cast their ballots to elect members of state legislatures.

Almost 970 million registered Indian voters above the age of 18 would cast their ballot to elect MPs at over a million polling stations across the country.

India's election commission on Saturday announced it would rope in nearly 15 million government employees, many of them teachers and junior workers, to help conduct the mammoth election.

Every phase of the election will span a single day, during which numerous constituencies - encompassing a variety of states, bustling urban centres, and remote villages - will cast their votes.

India's opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi interacts with his supporters during his month-long cross-country march (AP)

The staggered polling allows the government to deploy tens of thousands of troops to prevent violence and transport electoral officials and voting machines.

Chief election commissioner Rajeev Kumar issued a warning against hate speeches and "speeches along caste or religious lines, no criticism of anyone's personal lives".

The commission said it has employed 2,100 advisors to monitor the election campaigns and take "strong actions" against violation of guidelines.

Mr Modi, 73, began his election blitzkrieg on Saturday immediately with the announcement of the dates. "The biggest festival of democracy has started," the prime minister said on X.

"I have full confidence that we will get full affection and blessings of 1.4 billion family members and more than 960 million voters for the third consecutive time [sic]," he added.

Mr Modi and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP] had been in campaign mode for months before the polling dates were announced. The prime minister has been flying around the country almost every day, inaugurating new projects, making announcements, taking part in religious events and addressing public and private meetings.

Mr Modi in his speeches has been highlighting economic growth during his two terms which has resulted in India becoming the fastest-growing major economy in the world at present. A main talking point has also been his party's agenda for a Hindu majoritarian society, including the inauguration of a grand temple to Lord Ram on the site of a destroyed mosque.

Mr Modi has set a target of 370 seats for the BJP and 400-plus for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) - aiming for a four-decade high number.

His main opposition, the Indian National 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.
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Airstrikes have targeted multiple suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban inside neighbouring Afghanistan, killing at least eight people and drawing return fire from the Afghan Taliban, officials said.

The latest escalation on Monday is likely to further increase tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

The Pakistani strikes came two days after insurgents killed seven soldiers in a suicide bombing and coordinated attack in north-western Pakistan.

The Afghan Taliban denounced the strikes as an aggression on Afghanistans territorial integrity, saying they killed several women and children.

The defence ministry in Kabul said Afghan forces later on Monday targeted Pakistans military centres along the border with heavy weapons without providing details.

The Pakistani strikes were carried out in Khost and Paktika provinces bordering Pakistan, according to a Pakistani security official and an intelligence official.

The officials provided no further details and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to reporters.

Pakistans military did not immediately comment and it was not clear how deep inside Afghanistan the Pakistani jets flew.

A Taliban fighter stands guard as Afghan refugees line up to register in a camp near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

The airstrikes were the first since 2022, when Pakistan targeted militant hideouts in Afghanistan although Islamabad never officially confirmed those strikes.

Separately, in January, Pakistani strikes - in a tit-for-tat exchanges with Tehran - hit Pakistani militants inside Iran, briefly raising tensions but the two neighbours.

The situation calmed after Tehran and Islamabad agreed to co-operate against each others militants.

Chief Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that Mondays airstrikes killed three women and three children in the district of Barmal in Paktika province while two other women were killed in a strike in Khost province.

Such attacks are a violation of Afghanistans sovereignty and there will be bad consequences, he said.

Two Pakistani officials said mortars fired by the Afghan Taliban wounded four people and that some villagers in the north-western Kurram district were moving to safer areas on Monday.

Pakistani troops fired back, the officials said.

On Saturday, seven Pakistani soldiers were killed when suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden truck into a military post in the town of Mir Ali, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan.

Troops responded and killed all six attackers in a shootout, the military said.

The Afghan Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 as US and Nato troops were in the final stages of their pull out after 20 years of war.

The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan emboldened the TTP, whose top leaders and fighters are hiding in Afghanistan.

Taliban security personnel (AP)

The Afghan Taliban insist they do not allow the Pakistani Taliban - or any other militant group - to use Afghanistans soil to launch attacks.

However, the TTP has stepped up attacks inside Pakistan in recent years, straining relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

Adding to the tensions between the two countries was a move by Islamabad last year to expel Afghans living in Pakistan without valid documents.

Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation of their country.

More than half a million fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power.

So far, Pakistan has expelled nearly half a million Afghans in the ongoing crackdown.

Islamabad says Afghans who have refugee status have not been deported.

The deportations have also drawn criticism from the international community and analysts have warned that mass deportations risk radicalising those who have been forced out of Pakistan, often returning to deplorable conditions back in Afghanistan.
Pictured is an empty lot at 280 Main Ave. in Norwalk, the former location of Electric Indicator Company, or Elinco. Elincos use of the industrial solvent trichloroethylene in its manufacturing process led to an increase in levels of TCE in the groundwater of the Kellogg-Deering Well Field. A remediation project will be conducted at 9 Lakeview Drive East. The Main Avenue site was photographed on Friday, March 1, 2024, in Norwalk, Conn. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Pictured is an empty lot at 280 Main Ave. in Norwalk, the former location of Electric Indicator Company, or Elinco. Elincos use of the industrial solvent trichloroethylene in its manufacturing process led to an increase in levels of TCE in the groundwater of the Kellogg-Deering Well Field. A remediation project will be conducted at 9 Lakeview Drive East. The Main Avenue site was photographed on Friday, March 1, 2024, in Norwalk, Conn. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

NORWALK  The citys First Taxing District Water Department received nearly $1 million in federal funding to continue remediation work to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, from the Kellogg-Deering Well Field site.

As part of a commitment to providing reliable, high-quality drinking water, we have paid close attention to policy discussions and scientific research regarding PFAS, and have taken a proactive approach to monitoring our water, said Eleanor Militana, general manager for Norwalks First Taxing District Water Department.

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, recently notified the department that the project was awarded $959,752 through the House, Militana said. The Board of Commissioners and the district are thrilled with the news and grateful for the congressmans support.

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Nearly 50 years ago, it was detected that a Elinco Corp., a motor manufacturing company previously located on Main Avenue, spilled toxins into Norwalks aquifer. Elincos use of the industrial solvent trichloroethylene in its manufacturing process led to an increase in levels of TCE in the groundwater of the Kellogg-Deering Well Field.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency established the Kellogg-Deering Well Field, a 10-acre site, as an EPA Superfund program and has been working to clean up the site since 1980.

Water levels are safe, Militana said, but the work to improve water quality continues. In 2022, the Connecticut Department of Public Health released lower action levels for four PFAS chemicals, which the district's water meets on average, she said.

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In order to consistently meet the new proposed levels for PFOA and PFOS, the district will need to implement additional treatment, Militana said. The district has a shovel-ready project to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from the raw water at the Kellogg-Deering Well Field incorporating a system using granular activated carbon that has demonstrated effectiveness at absorbing regulated PFAS compounds in multiple water systems throughout the region and nationally.

The grant will not only allow this important project to move forward but also helps to lower the capital improvement cost of the project for our rate-payers, Militana said.

The remediation work will be conducted at 9 Lakeview Drive East.

Meanwhile, the nearby Elinco property at 280 Main Ave. has sat unoccupied for decades. After multiple attempts to redevelop the site, including proposing a BJs Wholesale Club for the site, the Norwalk Planning and Zoning Commission is considering a new plan.

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Main Norwalk LLCs proposal includes three buildings: one mixed-use retail and residential property and two small restaurants.

Norwalk also received $959,725 in federal funding for a project to improve drainage in the Lockwood and Heather Lane area.

Clarification: This story and the photo captions have been updated to clarify that the remediation work will be conducted at 9 Lakeview Drive East.
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Tallulah Willis has publicly revealed that she was diagnosed with autism.

The 30-year-old actress hinted at her struggle with the developmental disability when she took to Instagram on 15 March to post a throwback video from her childhood. In the video, a young Tallulah was seen cradling and stroking her dads face as he held her on his hip during a red carpet interview.

Tell me youre autistic without telling me youre autistic, her caption read.

Having never heard of her diagnosis prior, commenters flocked to Tallulahs post to question whether she found out when she was a child or an adult.

One follower asked: If youre open to sharing, did you get diagnosed as a child?

Actually this is the first time Ive ever publicly shared my diagnosis. Found out this summer and its changed my life, Tallulah revealed.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disability that stems from differences in the brain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), known causes are often genetic conditions. However, other causes are not yet known. Scientists believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the most common ways people develop, the CDC states.

People with ASD may behave, communicate, interact, and learn in ways that are different from most other people, the CDC continues. There is often nothing about how they look that sets them apart from other people.

ASD abilities range from person to person. One individual may require assistance in their daily life, while another individual with ASD may be able to go about their days with no support.

The CDC explains: ASD begins before the age of three years and can last throughout a persons life, although symptoms may improve over time. Some children show ASD symptoms within the first 12 months of life. In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months of age or later.

People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention, the CDC adds.

Adults may come to find out they have ASD from other conditions like anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder  all of which are more likely to occur in individuals with ASD than those without.

There are no medical tests that determine whether a person has ASD. Rather than a blood test, a doctor examines a childs behaviour and development. A diagnosis is more reliable once the child is two years old, but most children arent diagnosed for certain until they are older.

Per an Autism Speaks report, its not unlikely for adults to be diagnosed with ASD. Adults typically seek out a first diagnosis because they want to understand themselves. They often feel that people dont understand them, and sometimes have a history of being bullied, teased or misunderstood, the report states.

They may have a demanding job where theyre exhausted from the social demands of the job. Or they may have children and struggle to deal with the unpredictability of meeting somebody elses needs, Autism Speaks continued. They feel like people are giving them feedback that theyre not doing things right when they think they are.

An adult with undiagnosed ASD is more likely to be pretty strong intellectually. They may exhibit executive functioning problems, but they are less likely to have significant cognitive impairment.

Undiagnosed adults also tend to have far fewer overt repetitive behaviors than kids do, Autism Speaks found. Theyre not clapping their hands, spinning or doing things we might see in a three year old. The sensory issues they experience are often very real, but theyre more subtle.

Unlike children diagnosed with ASD, adults with ASD dont usually have the same language disabilities. Children are typically referred to ASD diagnoses due to language impairments like repeating words, making grammatical errors, or reciting sentences from videos theyve watched.

According to Autism Speaks, the diagnosis process for adults begins with a virtual meeting, followed by a discussion with someone who was well acquainted with the individual when they were a child. This is necessary since the disability is developmental, and a doctor is meant to look for a something that has always been there but may not have caused difficulty until later in life.

The next step is a three-hour face-to-face examination. For adults, we do some standard cognitive tasks to see the person in action, because so many of the issues that come up for autistic adults are related to executive functioning and making judgments, the organisation explained.

The final steps include an Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) assessment to test an adults difficulty with certain tasks and a social-emotional functioning interview, questioning the details of their day-to-day lives.

Treatments for individuals with ASD are designed to fit an individuals needs specifically. Professional services are recommended and eligibility for work accommodations.

Autism Speaks suggests any person who suspects they have autism reach out to a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. Some clinics offer assessments that are covered by insurance, but private practices often do not.
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Piers Morgan has weighed in on the Kate Middleton photo-editing conspiracy saying he has heard alarming things.

The Princess of Wales has dominated the headlines following Kensington Palaces decision to publish an edited family photograph on Mothers Day.

Kates absence from the public eye since she underwent surgery in January led to a social media storm of speculation and wild conspiracy theories.

International news agencies pulled the photo due to fears the photo had been doctored and the Palace did not respond to requests for the original untouched shot, said Phil Chetwynd, the global news director of Agence-France presse. Princess Kate later made a public apology.

The photo released by Kensington Palace on mothers day which was later found to have been edited (Prince of Wales )

The outspoken broadcaster, 58, broached the matter on his show Uncensored on 14 March, where he said Kate could be fine and doing well and said the Palaces attempts to quash the conspiracy theories got it wrong, he later claimed the Palace could be hiding something.

Morgan said on Uncensored: Ive been told some stuff that, if even half of it is true, its pretty alarming what is happening. I dont know what to believe, nor do any of us  were not there.

The presenter clarified he could not confirm if what he had been informed was true.

The drama risks turning the Royal family into a laughing stock after American talk show host, John Oliver, made the shocking joke Kate Middleton could have died 18 months ago, claimed Morgan.

FILE - Britain's Prince William, left, and Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, attend a ceremonial welcome for the President and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea (AP)

He also questioned why the Princess, who is in recovery from abdominal surgery, was spending time editing on Photoshop when they have staff to do that.

Earlier this week in his New York Post column he addressed the scandal and expressed sympathy towards the family as King Charles undergoes treatment for cancer.

However, he said the traditional way of handling palace media is outdated.

In his column, he wrote: The mantra of Britains greatest monarch, the late, great Queen Elizabeth II, was very simple: Never complain, never explain, and rarely be heard speaking in public.

But the conspiracy theories about Kate Middletons secret health crisis and disappearance from public life, made worse by the manipulated family photo she posted yesterday, when added to the unsettling confusion over what cancer King Charles is suffering from and how serious his condition is, have shown that the old palace way of handling the media has become increasingly obsolete and unworkable.

He later explained his sympathy would lessen if it turned out the Palace were purposely misleading the public about her health.

He wrote: I feel very sorry for Kate that shes had to go through whatever health issue shes had, which has kept her away from public gaze, and duty, for so long.

But my sympathy will erode if it turns out that she and the palace have deliberately misled the media and public about when the photo was taken to convey a false impression about her condition.
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An $11 billion acquisition that backfired on Silicon Valley pioneer Hewlett Packard more than a decade ago will be resurrected Monday during a trial that will explore whether the deal was an illegal rip-off or a case of botched management.

The criminal trial in San Francisco federal court revolves around HP's acquisition of British software maker Autonomy, a deal that was celebrated as coup when it was announced in 2011, only to blow up into a costly debacle.

Before HP wrapped up the deal, Meg Whitman was hired to be CEO of the company started 85 years ago by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in a Palo Alto, California, garage that has become a Silicon Valley shrine.

Whitman, who rose to fame and fortune while running online commerce site eBay in its formative years, had hoped the Autonomy deal would bolster her efforts to lift HP out of the doldrums, but instead it became an albatross that dragged the company down.

As HP's fortunes continued to sag, Whitman laid off thousands of workers and eventually engineered a breakup that split the storied company into two entities in 2015. She stepped down as CEO of the spun-off company, Hewlett Packard Enterprises in 2018.

The alleged villains in the trial are former Autonomy CEO Mike Lynch, who once was lionized as shining example of British ingenuity, and Stephen Chamberlain, Autonomy's former vice president of finance. They are both defending themselves against 16 felony counts of fraud and conspiracy in a trial expected to run until late May or June and include testimony from more than 40 witnesses.

If convicted by a jury, Lynch and Chamberlain each could face a sentence of more than 20 years in federal prison.

Autonomy's former chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2019 after being convicted on 16 criminal counts of fraud and conspiracy.

The trial targeting Lynch and Chamberlain is also expected to cast a spotlight on Whitman, who dipped into her estimated fortune of $3 billion to finance an unsuccessful campaign to become California governor as the Republican Party nominee in 2010.

Not long after that political setback, Whitman joined HP's board and then was tapped to replace company CEO Leo Apotheker, who had negotiated the Autonomy acquisition before being replaced in September 2011 just before the deal was completed.

At the time, HP was struggling to remain relevant amid a technological shift to mobile computing being driven by the then-rising popularity of smartphones. The upheaval depressed demand for desktop and laptop computers, a market that had been one of HP's financial cornerstones. In an effort to lessen its dependence on PCs, HP snapped up Autonomy to gain ownership of software focused on helping businesses quickly sift through vital information stored in email, phone records and other repositories.

But HP uncovered evidence that Autonomy had been cooking the books to inflate its value after the takeover was completed, prompting Whitman to write off nearly $9 billion of the acquisition price. It would also spur accusations of criminal conduct, leading to the indictment of Lynch and Chamberlain in 2018.

The trial was delayed during a civil trial about the alleged fraud in London that culminated in a judge siding with HP in a 2022 ruling that indicated the damages would be less than the $5 billion (3.9 billion pounds) that HP wanted. The final amount of damages hasn't been determined.

Lynch, 58, was extradited to the U.S. last May, and has since been living under court-mandated restrictions in San Francisco while being allowed to remain out of prison on $100 million bail bond secured by $50 million in cash while awaiting trial. Court documents estimate that Lynch made more than $800 million on Autonomy's sale to HP.

In the London civil trial, Lynch maintained he never participated in any underhanded dealings at Autonomy and painted himself as a scapegoat for a bumbling management team led by Whitman, who he depicted as being out of her depth." Lynch also hailed Autonomy as one of the most successful companies England has ever produced.

Whitman, 67, denigrated Lynch as an unstable executive whose complaints about her decisions "became less and less focused and grounded in reality before she ousted him from HP in 2012. She isn't expected to be called to testify in Lynch's criminal trial, even though her leadership of the company is likely to be put under a microscope during the proceedings.
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Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire 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 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.

The first stage would be a six-week cease-fire 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 2 years old in the isolated north are suffering acute malnutrition, the U.N. childrens agency UNICEF reported 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.

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.

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 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 Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage in Gaza.

Netanyahu's office said the Rafah operation would 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.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said 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 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.

___

Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Jack Jeffery in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

___

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
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Residents of a quiet east London square have spoken of living in fear after a 20-year-old man and a mother-of-two were injured in two crossbow attacks 10 days apart.

A manhunt was launched earlier this month after a 44-year-old woman, named locally as Nazarine Cazley, was shot in the head just yards from her family home in Shoreditch as she travelled home from work at 7.44pm on 4 March.

Ten days later, a 20-year-old man was shot in the neck by a crossbow bolt shortly before 7.30pm as he sat on a bench near Arnold Circus, around 60 metres from the scene of the first attack outside Clifton House.

A 47-year-old man has now been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Police said he was searched and a knuckle duster and a bottle containing a substance were found when he was detained in Shoreditch on Sunday night.

Neighbours have since told of living in fear in the days after the first attack, with many avoiding windows and rushing through the square as quickly as possible before the arrest was announced on Monday.

Ten days after the incident, near Arnold Circus in Shoreditch (Barney Davis)

Mother-of-two Subera Rabby told The Independent she rushed to help Nazarine after hearing her scream.

She said: The ambulance crew were asking me to hold down the wound but I couldnt, there was an arrow stuck in there. She kept [trying] to dislodge it.

She said she was trying to pull it out but the more she tried the more it hurt. She ran home screaming somebody shot me.

Ms Rabby also claimed there was a really bad lack of communication from police, saying: We thought we were going crazy. That gap was terrifying - the first week everyone was watching over the shoulder, looking at windows it could have come from.

Now I drop my kids off a 10-minute detour to school that used to take me a minute to get to. You cant carry on living like that.

Even after drop-off I was literally covering my back of my head with my hand. I was scared. I thought if I get shot at least it will hit my hand - not my head. Some children are sleeping with the parents now.

Subera Rabby has told of how she rushed to help the motherof-two (Sky News)

She also called on the council to put up better lighting and CCTV to deter further attacks on the peaceful and quiet circus.

She added: Everyone was really scared. We were on high alert, scared to go out. Our WhatsApp groups were blowing up it could have been any of us. We were all told it could have been deadly if it was a child or elderly person.

One mother-of-one, living in the same block as Nazarine, said: We had 10 days of nothing from the police. I stayed away from windows in our flat in case they shot inside.

Every time I looked out at the circus it felt like it was looking back at me. We needed reassurance and we felt really vulnerable. I do feel we were left at risk for those days before the second attack.

The Metropolitan Police said officers searched the suspect's home close to Arnold Circus and found a crossbow, knives and other weapons, all of which have been sent for forensic examination.

(Barney Davis)

Two days after his wife was attacked, Clifton Cazley stuck hand-written notices around Arnold Circus, where a two-bedroom former council flat can cost up to 700,000, offering a cash reward to help him get justice. He wrote: It could have been you or your kids.

Mr Cazley previously told the Sunday Times: I rushed outside and saw a bolt in the back of her head, behind her right ear. There was blood coming out. She was in so much pain and she eventually collapsed.

He added: I have no faith in the police. Its only after a second person was attacked that theyve decided to send all these officers out.

DCS James Conway, responsible for policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: Im acutely aware of the level of concern in the community following these awful attacks.

Since the first incident the police response has been immediate and dynamic, with my detectives leading a significant investigation involving CCTV trawls, intelligence and forensic work, whilst my neighbourhood teams have been engaged in public appeals and reassurance patrols.

We have been strongly supported by our partners, particularly the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The arrest last night was a significant development in our investigation, but this remains a complex and ongoing policing operation.

I can also confirm that our inquiries led to the seizure of another crossbow weapon in the period between the two attacks, which is now being dealt with as part of a separate investigation. Id like to thank local people for their valuable support and would urge anyone still yet to talk to police to do so as soon as possible.

We have received significant and crucial support from our local communities to date. Enhanced numbers of my officers will remain in the area and you can speak with them at any time if you believe you have information that is relevant.

The government is considering tightening the laws on crossbows so that they are put under regulations similar to those around firearms. Currently, anyone over 18 can legally buy a crossbow, but if they are found to be carrying it in public without a reasonable excuse they could get up to four years in prison.

In a separate incident in January, Bryce Hodgson, 30, was shot dead by police after he broke into a house in London armed with weapons including a crossbow and a sword.
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Girls saw their education more negatively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic than their male counterparts, a new analysis has revealed.

A study by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) and education provider Renaissance analysed six million assessments taken by pupils from year three to nine in 2022/23

Alarmingly, the findings display discrepancies between how male and female students were affected, with the pandemic having had a bigger effect on girls than boys in reading and maths.

While girls are still performing better in reading, the research found that the gap in attainment in primary reading narrowed by one month, meaning girls are 3.1 months ahead of boys.

In secondary reading, the gap between girls and boys has narrowed by 1.2 months to 4.4 months.

Jon Andrews, EPI head of analysis and director for school performance and systems, said: Whats particularly striking in this latest analysis is that girls attainment appears to have been hit harder by the pandemic than it has for boys, with gaps in reading closing and boys pulling further ahead in primary maths.

Students switched to remote learning during the pandemic as schools closed (PA Archive)

In primary maths, results have fallen for both boys and girls, but girls have fallen further meaning the gap has widened by two months to 2.9 months in favour of boys.

The figures in secondary maths show results have fallen for both boys and girls, but the difference has narrowed by 3.6 months to just 0.3 months in favour of girls.

A Department for Education spokeswoman said school funding in 2024-25 will be 60.7 billion, making it the highest ever level in real-terms per pupil, with 90% of schools judged to be good or outstanding last year, up from 68% in 2010.

She said: While girls continue to outperform boys across most headline measures, the latest data shows the gender gap between boys and girls has narrowed.

We are taking a range of steps to improve attainment and outcomes for all pupils, with additional support for disadvantaged pupils through programmes, including the pupil premium which will rise to over 2.9 billion in 2024-25, and the National Tutoring Programme.

The study also found substantial gaps between geographic regions, with Yorkshire and Humber being the lowest performing region, with pupils 4.3 months behind peers in London in primary reading (PA Archive)

The study also found substantial gaps between geographic regions, with Yorkshire and Humber being the lowest performing region, with pupils 4.3 months behind peers in London in primary reading.

Pupils in London saw their results increase the most, up by the equivalent of 1.4 months in primary reading.

The report also found the gap between special educational needs (SEN) and non-SEN pupils in primary reading had narrowed by one month to 19.4 months, and the gap between non-SEN pupils and SEN with Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) pupils had narrowed by 0.2 months to 26.6 months.

In secondary reading, outcomes for non-SEN pupils and SEN with EHCP pupils were largely unchanged, but the gap between non-SEN pupils and SEN support pupils had narrowed by 5.0 months to 24.8 months.

The pandemic undoubtedly disrupted childrens education  many missed months of in-person lessons and lost their routine, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the school leaders union the NAHT, said.

He added: Teachers and leaders are continuing to pull out all the stops to support children to catch up, and whilst we are pleased to see that there has been a small closing of the gap for pupils with SEND, it is concerning to see the impact of the pandemic on girls attainment as well as those pupils with English as an additional language.

The analysis showed improvements in all ethnic groups for primary reading, while black primary pupils had closed the gap with white pupils and are now slightly ahead.

Improvements were also seen in secondary reading in mixed, Asian, black and other backgrounds, although results had fallen for Chinese and white pupils.
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GCHQ has released a challenging puzzle to tempt new recruits. The British intelligence, security and cyber agency created the brain teaser to celebrate its arrival on the networking platform LinkedIn.

The agency, which has its roots in cryptography and encryption, said it had joined LinkedIn to enhance recruitment as it seeks to tackle the threats facing the UK, both real-world and online.

The code is hidden within a colourful city landscape featuring different components such as buildings, cars, animals and people carrying out various tasks.

Hidden within the puzzle are 13 clues of letters which can then be brought together to spell out a message.

The intelligence agencys puzzle to honour its launch on LinkedIn. Can you solve it? (GCHQ )

Director of GCHQ Anne Keast-Butler, said: The world is getting more complex and were only ever going to stay ahead of those threats by bringing together the right mix of minds that lets us tackle the challenges ahead.

For us, that means bringing in people with different backgrounds, different experience, different insights, different knowledge, and creating a team where all of us can play our part. For us, its clear that diversity is mission critical.

So were on a journey to make sure that we reach out and connect to people whove never thought of working with us. And today were launching on LinkedIn as a way of starting to showcase a little bit more of the work that we do and some of the amazing people who work at GCHQ.

Manchester-based artist Justin Eagleton co-created the puzzle alongside GCHQ to celebrate its presence in the city, alongside the hub in the capital and HQ in Cheltenham.

The brain teaser honours the agencys code-breaking heritage and roots in cryptography and encryption, said the agency.

The recruiters are looking for a wealth of talent from intelligence analysts and data scientists to business support and engineers, they added. It follows the agencys toughest ever Christmas 2023 quiz.

GCHQ has since released the solution to the puzzle which perplexed LinkedIn users.

Helen Turner, a production manager, commented on LinedIn: I went down a completely different path to most of the comments so am clearly wrong, but have had fun doing it! I took the sound of the letter from the end of the words.

Kerry Thomas posted: Some how I got Public Service great fun though. Nicholas Clarke said: I think nearly everyone on here has failed! How can GCHQ entrust you with the secrets of the nation if you spout out everything you know at the first opportunity?

Can you solve the puzzle?
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The M25 in Surrey has reopened eight hours ahead of schedule after the first planned daytime closure of the motorway.

A five-mile stretch between junctions 10 and 11 closed in both directions at 9pm on Friday and was due to open at around 6am on Monday.

However, following works to demolish a bridge and install a huge gantry, it reopened at just after 10pm on Sunday.

The National Highways South-East (NHSE) said on X, formerly Twitter: Wed like to say a massive thank you to everyone for your patience and following our travel advice.

The closure had prompted concerns that thousands of drivers would be stuck in gridlocked traffic over the weekend during the unprecedented closure on the south-west of the orbital route.

There had been some build-up, with congestion stretching two miles at one point, but traffic along the new route through the towns of Byfleet, West Byfleet, Woking and Ottershaw was not as bad as feared.

Drivers were told to avoid travelling over the weekend, and the advice meant traffic levels were reduced by more than 50% compared with normal and around half an hour was added to journey times.

Amanda Boote, of Woking Borough Council, told the PA news agency: Its actually been as lot better than we expected, its not gridlocked in the way that we thought it would be.

It was built up a bit, but no different to how it might normally be. Actually residents are quite happy, theyve been sleeping well because its so quiet overnight.

It was the first planned daytime closure of the M25  which encircles London  since it opened in 1986.

Some locals visited the empty motorway to take selfies.

An 11.5-mile diversion route was created to direct traffic along A roads.

The M25 normally carries between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles in each direction every hour from 10am until 9pm at weekends between junctions nine and 11.

This includes many airline passengers travelling to, from and between the UKs two busiest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.

Four more daytime closures of the M25 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.
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Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher was described as a contemporary villain alongside Osama Bin Laden and Adolf Hitler in an exhibition at the V&A.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London named the late Mrs Thatcher alongside the terrorist and the dictator to illustrate unpopular public figures portrayed by Punch and Judy over the years.

The V&A said it would review the text and update the wording if necessary and that it welcomes all feedback from visitors.

The exhibit, which shows two puppets made in 1975, appeared to explain how Punch and Judy caricatures have changed over the last century.

The description read: Over the years, the evil character in this seaside puppet show has shifted from the Devil to unpopular public figures including Adolf Hitler, Margaret Thatcher and Osama bin Laden, to offer contemporary villains.

Text displays in the V&A exhibit mention Mrs Thatcher at the same time as Hitler and Bin Laden (The Independent)

A puppet of Baroness Thatcher from the satirical television show Spitting Image is also included in the comedy exhibition at the London institution.

The publicly-funded museum has faced angry backlash from Conservative MPs, who described the comparison as ill-thought and mendacious.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: Given the fact that MPs are now regularly receiving death threats, myself included, from extremists and others, this V&A exhibition is ill-thought and mendacious, he said.

They must live in a bubble, away from the real world, to think that it is rational to propose that a politician of the stature of Margaret Thatcher would equate to any of those mass murderers and vile human beings.

Nile Gardiner, a former aide to Baroness Thatcher and director of The Heritage Foundations Margaret Thatcher Centre for Freedom, said: Disgraceful from the Victoria and Albert Museum. It should be stripped of public funding.

Critics described the exhibit as ill-thought and mendacious, with calls for the museums funding to be stripped (The Independent)

According to 2022-2023 figures, the museum received most of its income, more than 67million, from the taxpayer via the Department of Culture.

In 2015 the V&A was widely criticised for refusing to accept a selection of her suits and handbags.

Her family offered hundreds of items, from her wedding dress to her red prime ministerial dispatch box, because they wanted them kept together on public display rather than auctioned off and scattered across the world.

But, according to reports, the museum politely declined, saying it collected only items of outstanding aesthetic or technical quality rather than those with intrinsic social historical value.

A V&A spokesperson told The Independent: The V&A is always open to feedback from our visitors. In response to some concerns around a caption in the Punch and Judy case of our Laughing Matters display  telling the story of British satire and comedy  we will review the relevant label text and update the wording if necessary.
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Banksy has claimed another artwork that appeared in London overnight.

A tree mural in north London that appeared on a residential building overnight is the work of the anonymous street artist has confirmed.

The artist claimed the mural as his own in an Instagram post on Monday, following a morning of speculation after it appeared on a building on Hornsey Road in Finsbury Park overnight.

Residents said they were proud and delighted at the thought of the anonymous artist choosing their street for his latest mural.

Wanja Sellers, a Hornsey Road resident who lives a few doors down from the mural, said: Were so proud and delighted that Banksy chose our road and chose Finsbury Park for his work.

The bright green colours represent Islington which is lovely and also, of course, St Patricks Day which is nice and festive.

Choosing the colours of our borough just makes it feel like a personal message to us residents. We just feel so proud.

Members of the public look at a new piece of art work, which has appeared on the side of a building on Hornsey Road (Ella Nunn/PA)

Bright green paint has been sprayed on the building, in front of a cut-back tree, creating the impression of being its foliage.

A stencil of a person holding a pressure hose has been sketched onto the building as well.

The vivid paint colour matches that used by Islington Council for street signs in the area.

Neighbours gathered to take photographs and selfies with the mural on Monday morning, and to speculate on its creator.

Lidia Guerra, another Hornsey Road resident, said: The way its been done with the paint spraying down reminds me of a weeping willow, so theres perhaps a message about the struggle of nature with the dead tree in front.

Its just great  when we read about it last night, we knew we to come and see it as soon as possible.

We feel so proud to think he chose our street.

A person removes a piece of art work by Banksy (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire)

Banksy usually confirms his artwork via his Instagram and website.

Before this piece, his last confirmed work was in December, when he painted military drones on to a stop sign in Peckham, south London.

That work removed less than an hour after it was confirmed to be genuine on the artists social media, with witnesses reporting it was taken down by a man with bolt cutters.

Two men were later arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage.
The exterior of a luxury Airbnb located in the heart of downtown Greenwich.. State lawmakers have proposed a bill that would give cities and towns the ability to license short-term rentals, though not everyone is in agreement on the best way to do so. Michael Cummo/ Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  As Connecticut continues to grapple with the effects of a chronic shortage of affordable housing, some lawmakers are calling for greater oversight of homeowners who rent out their properties on services such as Airbnb and Vrbo.

The popularity of short-term rentals offered on online platforms has exploded over the last decade, with more than 2.4 million listings available across the country last year, according to the research firm AirDNA.

The growth of the industry has also fueled concerns in many localities  particularly popular tourist destinations  over the number of houses being used exclusively by guests, pricing out local residents and generating nuisance complaints. In recent years, cities such as New York, New Orleans and Burlington, Vt. have passed rules limiting the number of short-term rentals within their borders.

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A bill currently under consideration by the General Assembly aims to clarify the existing law around short-term rentals in Connecticut by expressly giving cities and towns the ability to license short term rentals, as well as allowing them to hire consultants to help them draft such an ordinance.

One of the lawmakers behind the effort, state Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, said that the bill was inspired by complaints out of Norwich, where she said officials claimed they lacked the the authority to deal with homeowners who flouted local zoning rules by renting out their properties.

Theyve bought older homes and rented them out on weekends for weddings or other family events in residential neighborhoods with no parking, having 40 or 50 people coming to participate, Osten said. It has destroyed some of the character and the ambiance of their respective residential communities.

The bill also has the support of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, which asked lawmakers to add additional language to create a state-wide registry of short-term rentals.

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States and localities across the country are recognizing the growing challenge of short-term rentals, which create safety concerns, reduce affordable housing inventory, drive up rent prices, and displace long-term residents, AHLA Vice President Sarah Bratko said in a letter to lawmakers. Many have adopted laws and ordinances, such as zoning regulations and tax collection requirements, to rein in illegal hotels.

A spokesperson for AirBnB declined to comment directly on the legislation this week. Representatives from Vrbo did not respond to a request for comment.

Connecticut charges a 15 percent room occupancy tax on short-term rentals, but otherwise most regulations are left up to local officials through zoning ordinances.

Those taxes are paid to the state through the rental platform, and are not used to track the number of individual listings in Connecticut, according to Chris Collibee, a spokesman for the Office of Policy and Management.

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Some groups representing local governments have also raised concerns that the bill does not do enough to define what specific actions towns can take against short term rentals, or how they would fund those initiatives. Brian OConnor, the Director of Public Policy for the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, said that many cities and towns would need a dedicated source of revenue to take on licensing duties.

You can enact it, but the penalties have been an issue, OConnor said. What were looking for is either a portion of the hotel and occupancy tax on short-term rentals, or an additional local tax on those entities again to help enforce and regulate.

Leaders in several towns, including New Canaan, Stonington and Madison, have already explored ordinances to limit rentals, he added.

In Hartford, local regulations require that hosts obtain a zoning permit from the city before offering short-rentals, according to a legislative study conducted in 2018. That ordinance also sets restrictions on the number of guests and length of rentals, as well as guidance for handling nuisance complaints from neighbors.

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The town of Middlebury went even further last year, banning short-term rentals altogether, according to the Waterbury Republican-American.

Osten said Thursday that she had no objections to allowing towns to collect a portion of the revenue from short-term rentals, or clarifying their ability to regulate the industry. Last year, a similar bill that would have allowed local governments to assess a 2 percent tax on short-term rentals was passed out of committee before it died on the Senate floor. Osten said that lawmakers didnt have enough bandwidth to address the issue as they rushed to pass other bills during the final days of the legislative session.

This year's bill is currently before the legislatures Planning and Development Committee, which has yet to schedule a vote on the proposal.
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Pregnant women are now less likely to be sent to prison under new guidelines which will force courts to consider how jail time affects a woman who is either due to give birth or has recently had a baby.

The guidance from the Sentencing Council for England and Wales will come into force on 1 April and has been hailed as a major milestone by campaigners.

The council found the impact of custody can be harmful for both the offender and the child including by separation, especially in the first two years of life.

While female inmates are legally allowed to keep their babies for the first 18 months in a secure mother and baby prison unit, many children born in prison are separated from their mothers once born.

Speaking under condition of anonymity, a woman who was pregnant in prison and spent a year in a mother and baby unit with her child told The Independent: I am so grateful that pregnant womens needs will now be properly considered by the courts. I hope this means that more courts give women the opportunity to serve their sentence in the community.

Government data shows 194 pregnant women were recorded as being in prison in England and Wales from April 2022 to March 2023.

Janey Starling, co-director of feminist group Level Up, which has been campaigning to stop the jailing of pregnant women, said the measures signify the beginning of the end to prison for pregnant women and mothers.

She added: This is a major milestone. The Sentencing Council are finally listening to the experts, acknowledging that all pregnancies in prison are high risk and introducing meaningful changes to the court system.

They must understand the harm and risk prison causes to pregnant women, mothers and babies and make every effort to keep them out of custody.

The new council guidelines state: When sentencing a pregnant or postnatal woman, relevant considerations may include: the medical needs of the offender including her mental health needs, any effect of the sentence on the physical and mental health of the offender, any effect of the sentence on the child.

The Independent has previously reported on midwives concerns that too many pregnant women are being sent to prison in the wake of two babies dying behind bars in England in the last three years.

Birte Harlev-Lam, executive director midwife at the Royal College of Midwives, said that jail is no place for pregnant women.

Her warning comes after a woman gave birth to a stillborn baby in the toilet in Styal prison in Cheshire in 2020 after a nurse incorrectly claimed her stomach cramps were due to a painful period  with the 31-year-old receiving no specialist medical care or pain relief during labour.

An 18-year-old woman saw her baby die in childbirth at Bronzefield prison in Surrey in 2019 after she was left to give birth alone in her prison cell, even though she asked several times for help.

Naomi Delap, director of Birth Companions, a leading charity which campaigns on pregnancy and early motherhood in prison, said: This is a huge step forward by the Sentencing Council, and a clear acknowledgement of the risks the prison system poses to pregnant women, new mothers and their babies. We are delighted that they have listened to us.

But Ms Delap warned the new guidance is not sufficient as she called for ministers to stop the jailing of pregnant women and mothers of babies altogether  apart from in the most exceptional of cases.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice told The Independent: Custody is always the last resort for women and independent judges already consider mitigating factors, like pregnancy, when making sentencing decisions.

We have made significant improvements to the support available for pregnant women in custody in recent years. This includes employing specialist mother and baby liaison officers in every womens prison, conducting additional welfare checks and stepping up screening and social services support so that pregnant prisoners get the care they need.
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There are no prison officers trained to deal with riots at nearly one in six jails in England and Wales, the government has admitted  despite a surge in deployments last year.

With the overcrowding crisis inside increasingly violent prisons fuelling the prospect of serious disorder, The Independent revealed last week that the number of officers trained to deal with riots as part of so-called Tornado squads has plummeted by almost a third in just five years.

That means there were just 1,620 Tornado officers across the entire prison estate as of 27 February  down from 2,310 in 2018. Furthermore, 17 out of the 120 prisons in England and Wales had no Tornado officers at all, while a further 21 prisons had fewer than 10 such officers.

The concession was made by prisons minister Edward Argar in response to a series of parliamentary questions by Labours Ruth Cadbury.

Labelling the situation scandalous, former prison governor and Tornado section commander Ian Acheson noted that these include prisons where previous riots have caused huge disruption and damage, as well as those in remote locations and with complex populations.

When there is a large-scale disturbance the prison service doesnt fight fair, said Mr Acheson. That means typically a 3:1 ratio of officers to prisoners to contain and manage a riot. There is no prison in the country that has the resources to contain that threat immediately.

Tornado officers  typically deployed in large groups armed with batons and shields to help nearby jails cope with outbreaks of serious disorder  were called out 13 times in 2023, more than any year since at least 2018.

Two prisons which required Tornado support last year  Downview and Wetherby  had just one such officer among their own staff as of February. Similarly, Werrington had only six, Feltham 11, Lowdham Grange 12, Portland 13, Stocken 14, and Stoke Heath 15.

Only a quarter of prisons had 20 or more Tornado-trained officers among their staff, analysis by The Independent found. This is without contending for staff absence due to sickness, annual leave or training days.

The capability of dealing with widespread disorder at more than one establishment [simultaneously] is perhaps fatally compromised, warns Ian Acheson (HM Prisons Inspectorate )

While the Prison Service also has a national unit of specialist riot officers deployed the equivalent of twice a day last year, up 40 per cent on 2022, Mr Acheson said: The best people to deal with a disturbance before it becomes a major threat are those staff who are readily available and who crucially know the prison.

I think the capability of dealing with widespread disorder at more than one establishment [simultaneously] is perhaps fatally compromised, Mr Acheson added, warning this grim prospect was on [the] horizon as a result of the overcrowding and staffing crisis blighting prisons.

While the Prison Officers union suggests that a contingency of at least 2,100 Tornado staff across the prison estate is the official recommendation, Mr Argar told parliament last month that the government has not set a minimum staffing requirement.

So how on earth can you contingency plan? asked Mr Acheson. 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.

Tornado volunteers are not given any real additional payments for putting themselves on the line, unions warn (Dan Kitwood/PA)

Despite overall officer numbers increasing slightly in recent years to exceed 22,000, this is still around 2,500 fewer than in 2010, over which period the prisoner population has grown by around 3,000. Meanwhile, the number of officers with at least a decade of experience has nearly halved in just six years.

According to the government, 650 officers were given Tornado training last year, with plans for 850 training places this year. But Mr Acheson said: Prisons that cannot staff the landing safely to serve lunch or get prisoners to work certainly cant afford to lose staff for the two week training course/refreshers required.

Prison Governors Association chief Tom Wheatley told The Independent that retention rates are alarmingly low among staff who volunteer as Tornado officers.

Tornado volunteers dont get any real additional payments for putting themselves on the line, warned POA general secretary Steve Gillan, adding: Theres no real difference between rate of pay for Tornado duty and bed watch. Theyve taken them for granted, and now its come home to roost.

The Prison Service has now proposed a 40 per cent pay rise for Tornado officers, Mr Gillan said, labelling this in effect an admission that officers have been paid peanuts for the crucial duties.

Ms Cadbury, the shadow prisons minister, said: Last week the justice secretary was forced to admit that the prisons capacity crisis this government has created may lead to riots. And yet today we see there a significant number of prisons without a single specialist riot officer  the government need to explain how they have allowed this to happen.

It is shocking, but is part of the wider picture that simply shows that our prison estate is in utter crisis. With violence rising and assaults on officers increasing, and reoffending rates on the rise, its clear the government have no plan to address this crisis.

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.
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Barack Obama has visited Downing Street for a surprise meeting at No 10 with Rishi Sunak.

The former US president - who served in the White House between 2009 and 2017 - waved at reporters outside before he entered the prime ministers residence for a previously undisclosed private meeting at 3pm.

A Downing Street spokesperson insisted the visit was an informal courtesy drop in as part of the former presidents visit to London.

They added: President Obamas team made contact and obviously the prime minister was very happy to to meet with him and discuss the work of the Obama Foundation.

Mr Obama left No 10 after around an hour following a meeting with Mr Sunak.

The former US president said Im tempted when asked questions by the media as he re-emerged and got into a Range Rover car with Jane D Hartley, the US ambassador to the UK, just after 4pm.

Former US president Barack Obama leaves following a meeting at 10 Downing Street, London (PA Wire)

The Barack Obama Foundation is a nonprofit organisation focused on social mobility that was founded by the former president back in 2014.

The last time Mr Obama visited Downing Street was eight years ago in 2016.

The former president met with then prime minister David Cameron at Number 10 for talks ahead of the Brexit vote.

He warned the UK would be at the back of the queue for US trade deals if it left the European Union.

The two leaders also held a joint news conference at the Foreign Office. Mr Obama said the US wants Britains influence to grow - including within Europe.

The talks come as Mr Sunak said he has confidence for the future: as he battles to shore up his position as prime minister following rumours that his party is looking to replace him ahead of a general election.

Mr Sunaks failure to turn around the Tories opinion poll deficit has fuelled speculation about Conservative MPs considering replacing him with Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt in an attempt to avoid a general election disaster.

Business secretary Kemi Badenoch told plotters seeking to oust the prime minister to stop messing around and end the Westminster psychodrama.

Ms Badenoch suggested one or two MPs are behind the Westminster rumours and they should not be allowed to dominate the news narrative.

She told BBC Breakfast: I'm sure if Penny was here, she would be distancing herself from those comments.

Ms Mordaunt has not publicly commented on reports about a bid to elevate her to the Tory leadership, but a source close to her rejected them as nonsense.
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Five episodes of GB News programmes presented by Tory MPs were found by Ofcom to have broken broadcasting rules.

Two episodes of Jacob Rees-Moggs State Of The Nation, two of Friday Morning With Esther And Phil, and one of Saturday Morning With Esther And Phil, broadcast during May and June 2023, broke due impartiality rules, Ofcom said.

It comes six months after the regulator found an episode of GB Newss The Live Desk, aired in July 2023, broke the same rules.

And earlier this month, the channel was rapped by Ofcom after it ruled misogynistic comments made by Laurence Fox on his show had broken broadcasting rules that protect viewers from offensive content.

Ofcom has warned that further breaches by GB News could result in a statutory sanction, which range from a direction not to reuse the content, to revoking a broadcasters licence.

Broadcasting code states that news, in whatever form, must be presented with due impartiality  and that a politician cannot be a newsreader, news interviewer or news reporter unless, exceptionally, there is editorial justification.

Jacob Rees-Mogg on GB News - two episodes of his programme State of the Nation were found to have breached broadcasting rules (GB News)

But following its investigation into the five GB News episodes, Ofcom said: We found that host politicians acted as newsreaders, news interviewers or news reporters in sequences which clearly constituted news  including reporting breaking news events  without exceptional justification.

News was, therefore, not presented with due impartiality.

Ofcom said politicians played a partial role in society, and news content presented by them was likely to be viewed by audiences in light of that perceived bias.

In our view, the use of politicians to present the news risks undermining the integrity and credibility of regulated broadcast news, it added.

In response, GB News said it was deeply concerned by Ofcoms ruling and will meet with the media watchdog to raise concerns.

The broadcaster added: Ofcom is obliged by law to promote free speech and media plurality, and to ensure that alternative voices are heard. Its latest decisions, in some cases a year after the programme aired, contravene those duties.

Extraordinarily, Ofcom has determined that a programme which it acknowledges was impartial and lacking in any expression of opinion, still somehow breaches its impartiality rules just because an imaginary viewer might think otherwise.

The ruling came on the same day Extinction Rebellion targeted GB News main studio building in London with spray paint (Philip Toscano/PA Wire)

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Daisy Cooper MP said: This decision is long overdue.

The regulator has to start imposing fines on broadcasters who dedicate endless hours to Conservative Party propaganda without proper balance. Britain has a proud history of balanced broadcasting.

Below are the programmes that breached the due impartiality rules, and how:

Jacob Rees-Moggs State of the Nation - 9 May 2023, 8pm

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg was used as a newsreader, and the news was not presented with due impartiality, said Ofcom, which received 40 complaints over it.

The programme covered a jury verdict that Donald Trump was liable for sexual abuse of a woman, but not rape, with Mr Rees-Mogg bringing updates from the case with background  which Ofcom said was him reporting on a breaking news story.

GB News had argued that the inclusion of the coverage did not make the programme news.

However, Ofcom ruled against GB News. The regulator said the programme did not qualify for exceptional justification as it was clear the verdict was due imminently and Sir Jacob had previously trailed the programmes intention to bring the outcome.

Friday Morning with Esther and Phil - 12 May 2023, 10am

Tory MPs Esther McVey and Philip Davies were used as newsreaders and news interviewers, and the news was not presented with due impartiality, said Ofcom.

The investigation centred on the pair introducing two stories: railway strikes; and a legal claim by Prince Harry against Mirror Group.

Three episodes presented by Tory MPs Esther McVey and Philip Davies were found to have broken rules (GB News)

GB News accepted that some of the content featured outside news bulletins read by a newsreader were recognisable as news. And it acknowledged that due to the likelihood of news stories breaking on a Friday morning, it was not an appropriate time for a programme presented by two politicians.

Saturday Morning with Esther and Phil - 13 May 2023, 10am

Ms McVey and Mr Davies were used as newsreaders and news interviewers, and the news was not presented with due impartiality, said Ofcom, which received two complaints.

The investigation looked at an interview conducted by the pair with London mayoral candidate for the Reform Party, Howard Cox, at the site of a demonstration against the expansion of Londons ULEZ.

Ms McVey said: Howards top priority is to scrap ULEZ, so lets go live to Orpington, where he is attending an anti-ULEZ protest rally. So well say you are the voice of the motorist trying to scrap these ultra-low-emission zones.

GB News said the interview segment was not news  however, Ofcom said Ms McVeys introduction signalled it was a developing news story, with Mr Cox providing the latest information on the demonstration to the audience.

Jacob Rees-Moggs State of the Nation - 13 June, 8pm

Mr Rees-Mogg was used as a newsreader, and the news was not presented with due impartiality, said Ofcom, which received five complaints.

The investigation centred on a segment covering multiple killings in Nottingham city centre, for which Valdo Calocane was convicted of manslaughter.

It included a segment where Sir Jacob spoke to the channels home and security correspondent, who was in Nottingham covering the story.

Ofcom found that Sir Jacob was used as a newsreader and news interviewer during the programme.

Friday Morning with Esther and Phil - 23 June 2023, 10am

Ms McVey and Mr Davies were used as newsreaders and news interviewers, and the news was not presented with due impartiality, said Ofcom, which received two complaints.

During the two-hour show, the presenters read out a report on a five-day strike by junior doctors and a live report from the channels business and economics editor who was in Downing Street.

GB News accepted that the programme had some elements that could also be found in news output, for instance a presenter talking to camera and discussing active stories with reporters and correspondents  but it said there was no suggestion the programme lacked impartiality.

Ofcom found that Ms McVey and Mr Davies were used as newsreaders and news interviewers in reports that constituted news content, and the news was not presented with due impartiality.

A further episode did not warrant an investigation

A sixth programme looked at  a separate episode of Jacob Rees-Moggs State of the Nation  did not raise issues to warrant an investigation, Ofcom said.

This was because the clip, in which Sir Jacob acted as an eyewitness reporter from an unforeseen security incident at Buckingham Palace, was presented with what the regulator said was exceptional editorial justification.
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Kemi Badenoch has dismissed the row over Tory donor Frank Hesters alleged comments about Diane Abbott as trivia and insisted the Conservative Party should not return the businessmans 10m donation.

The business secretary, who last week described Mr Hesters reported remarks as racist, said the country needed to move away from the row, claiming it did not matter to the general public and that it was pure media bubble speculation.

It was reported last week that Mr Hester said Ms Abbott  the longest-serving Black MP  made him want to hate all black women and that she should be shot.

Downing Street originally refused to condem the comments as racist but Ms Badenoch defied the official line and did so. Rishi Sunak later said the remarks were racist and wrong.

Speaking to LBC, she said we need to get to a place where we stop chasing people around and looking everywhere for the racism.

Business secretary Kemi Badenoch will host a conference for small businesses (PA Wire)

Everybody is accusing, and counter-accusing around racism, she continued. We need to move away from these things and actually focus on what matters to people.

She added: Now, this is trivia. Im sorry, but I really do believe it is.

I am afraid is not really in the high priorities of how we deal with racism in this country.

On BBC Breakfast, she added: You are interested in the story from last week, which has been apologised for and everyone has moved on This is something that is pure media bubble speculation. It is not what the country cares about.

The minister said she had condemned the alleged comments in a personal capacity as the only black woman in the cabinet as she defended the prime ministers response. She said: I dont want a prime minister who is just going to be lurching out, making comments every five minutes in response to the media.

What he is not doing is following the medias lead, and Im very pleased that he agreed with me, but I was making my comments in a personal capacity as the only black woman in the Cabinet.

Tory donor Frank Hester gave the Conservative party 10m in 2023 (PA Wire)

Ms Badenoch also said the Conservatives should not have to return the money and that the comments made by Mr Hester werent even really about Ms Abbott.

Asked about returning the donation, she said: Im actually quite surprised that people suggest this. This was something that happened five years ago. He wasnt talking to Diane Abbott. It wasnt even really about Diane Abbott. He used her in a reference that was completely unacceptable. Hes apologised for it.

I think that it is far more important that we accept the apology and not moving on is taking too much attention away from what is actually meaningful to the people around the country.

Asked whether she was suggesting the Tories were happy to take money from people who make racist remarks, Ms Badenoch replied: The point Im making is that when people apologise, they should be forgiven.

And these comments were in no way reflective of the work that he has been doing while we have taken his money.
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Commons leader Penny Mordaunt has sparked anger after watering down a long-awaited proposal for MPs to be excluded from the parliamentary estate after being arrested on suspicion of a sexual offence.

The original motion  which would have seen the mandatory exclusion of MPs arrested for sexual or violent offences  was drawn up following a parliamentary report which recommended such members be forced to stay away from the estate for the safety of staff and other members.

However, it is understood that new watered-down proposals will mean members will only be excluded once they have been formally charged by police, despite opposition from senior Tories including Sir Christopher Chope and Sir Edward Leigh.

Unions have accused the leader of the house and MPs who form the Commons commission - the supervisory body responsible for the administration of the House - of reneging on their plans, claiming Ms Mourdant has bottled the vote following opposition from members.

Mike Clancy, general secretary of Prospect trade union, which represents workers in parliament, said the reports were a massive retrograde step.

The commission and the leader of the house have bottled it, he said. We have repeatedly warned that every delay to implementing exclusion on arrest increased the likelihood of the proposals being watered down. We have, sadly, been proven correct.

At present there is no formal mechanism to prevent MPs accused of serious sexual offenses from attending the estte (UK Parliament/Maria Unger/PA Wire)

He added: It beggars belief that this measure to protect women and men on the estate has now been withdrawn. Workers in parliament deserve to feel safe from credibly accused predators in their place of work.

This would not be tolerated in any other workplace  it is to our shame that it is tolerated in the heart of our nations democracy.

The unions had previously advised the commission - which includes key figures such as Ms Mordaunt and the speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle - that parliament should have the ability to exclude from its premises any person whom it reasonably believes might pose a risk to its employees and other users of the premises and that the decision should be taken at the point of arrest.

In a letter to the commission, they argued: We believe that if its reasonable for the police to arrest an individual on suspicion of a violent or sexual violence, it is equally reasonable  and indeed entirely appropriate  that the House Service should have the ability to conduct a risk assessment to determine whether it is safe for that person to access the estate.

The decision to make the threshold for exclusion higher than previously proposed is likely to spark anger from staff and members who have voiced concerns that the current rules mean there is no formal mechanism to stop members accused of serious sexual misconduct from coming onto the estate.

In 2021, former Conservative MP Imran Khan was reported to have been on the parliamentary estate despite being charged with the sexual assault of a 15-year-old boy. Mr Khan was later found guilty and jailed for eighteen months.

When introducing their original proposals, the commission acknowledged that while a number of MPs subject to investigation in the past had agreed to stay away from parliament during a police inquiry, some had returned to the estate.

Ms Mordaunts team have been approached for comment.
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Watch as MPs vote on changes made in the House of Lords to the government's Rwanda bill on Monday 18 March.

Rishi Sunak said he still hopes to get a flight carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda off the ground this spring as he braced for a parliamentary showdown over the scheme.

MPs are expected to reject changes made by the Lords to the Rwanda legislation, setting up a battle with peers which could delay the Bills passage until after Easter.

Downing Street said the government believed it had the right Bill and it remains our plan to get it through as quickly as possible.

When the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill was in the Lords, peers rewrote it with a total of 10 changes which watered down the legislation.

With a Tory majority in the House of Commons, the government will seek to reverse the defeats from the Lords, sending the Bill back to the upper chamber on Wednesday  a process known as ping-pong.
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Rishi Sunak has rejected a plan to stop Afghan heroes who supported British troops from being deported to Rwanda.

MPs on Monday night overturned all 10 amendments to the Safety of Rwanda Bill by the House of Lords, including one that would have exempted anyone who supported British armed forces in an exposed or meaningful manner from being deported to the east African country.

Some 312 MPs voted against the Lords amendment, with 255 voting in favour, giving the government a majority of 57.

The other amendments overturned included an attempt by peers to ensure the bill complied with domestic and international law, and a requirement that parliament could not declare Rwanda a safe country until the treaty with its promised safeguards was fully implemented.

Ahead of the votes, the prime minister was told it was a moral imperative that Afghan heroes who supported British troops should not be deported to Rwanda.

Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said it beggars belief that the PM was considering putting Afghan heroes on deportation flights.

Stephen Kinnock said it is a moral imperative for the government to ensure Afghan heroes are not put on Rwanda deportation flights (PA)

We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have supported our defence, diplomacy and development abroad, not least in Afghanistan, Mr Kinnock said.

The call to help those who supported UK forces came after a series of reports by The Independent that highlighted the plight of Afghan heroes facing deportation to Rwanda after feeling forced to take dangerous routes to the UK.

Earlier on Monday, MPs debated the 10 amendments peers attached to Mr Sunaks flagship immigration policy, which was designed to allow ministers to deport those who arrive in the UK via irregular routes, such as on small boats, to Rwanda.

After an earlier bid to deport asylum seekers to Kigali was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court, Mr Sunak sought to rule Rwanda a safe country in British law and the vote passed.

The bill will now go back to the House of Lords as the two houses try to find common ground on the way forward.

The Independent has reported on the plight of Aghan heroes threatened with deportation to Rwanda (.)

Peers will then be able to pass fresh amendments, but the government will again try to strip them out in a process known as ping pong.

Mr Kinnock said on Monday: It beggars belief that the government would even consider sending this cohort of heroes who are fleeing the Taliban to Rwanda.

Britains commitment towards these loyal-to-Britain Afghans is felt most strongly by our own armed forces.

But this government has continually shirked its responsibilities towards Afghans, including by leaving thousands of those with the right to be in the UK stranded in Pakistan for more than a year.

Little wonder that they have resorted to making these desperate journeys across the channel.

During the debate, Conservative former minister Sir John Hayes questioned whether peers were clueless or careless about what is happening with immigration.

Any attempts to wreck this bill is an open-door policy to let human traffickers traffic people illegally into our country, to upset our local communities and ultimately, unfortunately, more people will die if this bill doesnt go through because of the loss of life in the Channel, he told the Commons.

Prior to the votes, Labour said it planned to back all 10 Lords amendments in the Commons, claiming they made the bill marginally less absurd.

Home office minister Michael Tomlinson defended the governments plans (Getty)

Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson earlier said the government greatly values those who supported Britains armed forces overseas. That is why there are legal routes for them to come to the United Kingdom, he added.

Mr Tomlinson said the illegal migration act passed by parliament last year lets the home secretary specify some people as not eligible for removal.

He added: The government recognises the commitment and the responsibility that comes with combat veterans, whether our own or those who showed courage by serving alongside us and we will not let them down.

He also insisted there was nothing in the Rwanda bill which conflicted with the UK governments international obligations.

Mr Tomlinson told the Commons: This bill is an essential element of our wider strategy to protect our borders and stop the boats to prevent the tragic loss of lives at sea caused by dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossings across the Channel.

On amendment one, which sought to ensure the bill complies with domestic and international law, Mr Tomlinson said: I dont accept that the provisions of the bill undermine the rule of law, and the government takes its responsibilities and its international obligations incredibly seriously.

And theres nothing in the bill that requires any act or omission which conflicts with our international obligations.

He added: This bill is based on both Rwandas and the United Kingdoms compliance with international law in the form of a treaty, which itself recognises and reflects the international legal obligations of both the United Kingdom and also of Rwanda.
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MPs have been shown a Scottish-made unicorn satellite as they heard from companies in the countrys space sector.

Tom Walkinshaw, CEO of the Glasgow-based satellite manufacturer Alba Orbital, brought one of his companys Unicorn-2 products to the House of Commons to show members of the Scottish Affairs Committee.

The company specialises in making picosatellites which weigh less than one kilogram.

It has launched 41 of them so far, including 15 Unicorns built in Glasgow, with the rest being from partners around the world.

The company was started by Mr Walkinshaw from his bedroom and has grown rapidly, recently raising money through the Y Combinator venture capital process which has linked some of the USs largest technology companies with investors.

Along with Steve Greenland of Craft Prospect Ltd, Mr Walkinshaw gave evidence to the Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday as part of its inquiry into the Scottish space sector.

Showing the Unicorn-2 to the committee at the start of the hearing, Mr Walkinshaw said it had been fun taking it past the Commons security.

Committee convener Pete Wishart said: Its probably the first time a satellite has ever been produced at a Westminster select committee.

So congratulations, a trailblazer in that regard.

The Unicorn-2 is named after Scotlands national animal and can feature a camera for Earth observation missions and pop-out solar panels, with the Alba Orbital founder saying its a fully functional little satellite that does everything a bigger satellite can do, but in a smaller form factor.

However, larger satellite are able to use cameras with higher definition, he said.

Discussing how the Scottish space sector received support from governments, Mr Walkinshaw said the burden of audit requirements from the European Space Agency was one of the reasons they were forced to go to the US for venture capital funding.

Alba Orbital carries out its satellite licencing process in Germany, he said, describing the UKs regulatory system for satellites as out of date.
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Rishi Sunaks position as prime minister has come under threat in recent days from disgruntled Conservative MPs hoping to boost the partys chances ahead of the next general election.

Several MPs are said to have been courting interest for a potential last-minute leadership race, with a group of back-bench Tories reportedly looking to replace Mr Sunak with the popular Penny Mordaunt before the next general election.

Leader of the House Ms Mordaunt has remained silent so far, but sources close to the MP for Portsmouth North have denied the rumours.

Recent polling has put Mr Sunaks party as low as 24 per cent, while his tenure has been marred by several ministerial resignations in recent months.

The prime minister has so far resisted calls to announce the date of the next general election, with Labour activists dubbing him a chicken at a recent protest outside of parliament.

It is against this backdrop that several Conservative MPs are said to be hoping Mr Sunak will resign rather than brave a severe general election defeat in the near future.

Should the prime minister be replaced, the party will see its sixth leader since 2010  and third since the last election.

Here are some of the most likely candidates to replace Rishi Sunak if he resigns before the next general election:

Penny Mordaunt

Penny Mordaunt, carrying the Sword of State (Victoria Jones/PA) (PA Wire)

Penny Mordaunt has served as the Conservative MP for Portsmouth North since 2010, and has been Leader of the House of Commons since 2022.

She raised her public profile significantly in May 2023 during her role in King Charles IIIs coronation ceremony, where Ms Mordaunt carried and presented the bejewelled Sword of State to the King. The duty was carried out as part of her additional role as Lord President of the Privy council.

Ms Mordaunt has run for leader of the Conservative party twice, once in July 2022 and again in October 2022, after Liz Truss resignation. She was unable to secure sufficient parliamentary support either time.

Born in Torquay, Devon, Ms Mordaunt has strong links to the armed forces. Her father was a paratrooper, and from 2010-2015 she served as a navy reservist. Ms Mordaunt was also the first female Defence Minister during her brief three-month tenure in 2019.

For International Womens Day 2024, Ms Mordaunt was recognised by The Independent as one of Britains most influential women.

Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch is a favourite of the right wing of the party (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

Kemi Badenoch has served as MP for Saffron Walden since 2017, becoming Business Secretary in 2023 and Equalities Minister in 2022.

During her time as an MP, Ms Badenoch has regularly gained public attention for her outspokenness both in and out of parliament.

In 2021, the Equalities Minister came under pressure to resign from members of the governments LGBT+ advisory panel over the failure to deliver on the 2019 manifesto pledge to ban conversion therapy.

Ms Badenoch has stressed her committment to banning the practice, but the plans have been repeatedly delayed, and still remain under consideration.

The London-born MP has degrees in both computer systems engineering and law, working in IT, banking and media before entering politics. Ms Badenoch has run for Conservative leader once following Boris Johnsons resignation in 2022.

She has condemned the recent rumours of back-bench attempts to oust Mr Sunak, calling for the small minority of MPs to stop it.

Robert Jenrick

Robert Jenrick MP ordered cartoons at a reception centre for unaccompanied child asylum-seekers should be painted over (PA Wire)

Becoming MP for Newark in 2014, Robert Jenrick has served as Health Minister, Housing Secretary and Immigration Minister during his ten years in parliament.

Mr Jenrick resigned from his most recent post as Immigration Minister in December 2023 over the governments flagship Rwanda bill, claiming it does not go far enough.

He has since indicated strong intentions to become Tory leader in the future, saying in early 2024 that he was not ruling it out. He has not previously run in any Conservative leadership elections.

In 2021, Mr Jenrick was sacked as Housing Secretary following a string of controversies. In January 2020, he had unlawfully approved planning permission for 1bn luxury housing development put in by a Tory donor.

It was revealed Mr Jenrick had spoke to developer Richard Desmond at a fundraising dinner, after which the plans were expediated, with the minister helping Mr Desmond to avoid a local council levy of 30-50m. The scheme was scrapped following the revelations.

Mr Jenrick has strongly denied any wrong doing, saying in 2020: I took that decision in good faith, with an open mind, and Im confident that all the rules were followed in doing so.

As Immigration Minister, Mr Jenrick came under heavy criticism in 2023 for requesting cartoon murals be painted over in a reception centre for unaccompanied child asylum-seekers. He said he did so as the cartoons were not age appropriate.

Grant Shapps

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has had 10 front bench roles, half of them in the last four years (PA Wire)

Grant Shapps has been MP for Welwyn Hatfield since 2005, serving in ten front bench roles during his political career. Five of these came between 2019-2023, with Mr Shapps now holding the position of Defence Secretary.

Some MPs have been calling for Mr Shapps to replace Mr Sunak, calling him the unity candidate and a safe, middle of the road choice, according to reports in the Express.

During the course of his long political career, Mr Shapps has been met with some controversies that have seen him lose favour with previous leaders.

In 2015, the MP was demoted in David Camerons cabinet following allegations he had edited his own Wikipedia page to paint himself in a more favourable light.

Mr Shapps has consistently denied being involved with the edits, with the Wikipedia Arbitration Committee finding no substantial evidence that the MP was linked to the account which had made the edits.

He ran for leader following Boris Johnsons resignation in 2022. A source close to the MP has denied he is backing himself for an imminent leadership bid.

Hes fully supportive of the PM and thinks it would be bonkers to destabilise the government and change leader and that everyone should pull together behind Rishi, they said.

Tom Tugendhat

Tom Tugendhat, Minister of State for Security (PA Wire)

Tom Tugendhat has been the MP for Tonbridge and Malling since 2015 and became Security Minister in 2022.

Before joining parliament, Mr Tugendhat held roles as a journalist and in the British Army reserves, where he worked part-time as an officer, serving in the Iraq War and Afghanistan War.

His parliamentary career has often focused on foreign affairs, being elected as the youngest-ever chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in 2017. He has been critical of the Russian state and president Vladimir Putin.

Mr Tugendhat belongs to the One Nation Conservatives group, estimated to include around 110 Conservative MPs. The group is seen as more socially liberal and centrist than other parts of the party.

Following Boris Johnsons resignation in 2022, Mr Tugendhat was the first MP to launch his leadership bid, failing to gather enough support in the third round. He went on to back Liz Truss, citing his admiration of her true Conservative principles.

Suella Braverman

Suella Braverman MP has been sacked from the same job twice (PA Wire)

Suella Braverman has been the MP for Fareham since 2015. She served as Home Secretary from September to October 2022 (under Liz Truss), and October 2022 to November 2023 (under Rishi Sunak).

Ms Braverman has run for leader once, standing to replace Boris Johnson in 2022. She has recently declined she is intending to run for leader anytime soon, telling Sky News there is not a leadership election at the moment.

In October 2022, Ms Braverman resigned as Home Secretary after making an honest mistake in sharing an official document via her personal email, in breach of the ministerial code.

Controversially, she was reappointed to the role less than a week later after Mr Sunak became prime minister. Ms Braverman remained in the role for just over a year before her dismissal following an article she penned for The Times in which she criticised the Met Polices handling of pro-Palestine protests in London.

Ms Braverman became a barrister in 2005, and contested her first parliamentary seat the same year, coming second in Leicester East. As an MP, Ms Braverman has been involved in a number of controversies, and is often accused of stoking culture wars with her comments.

Politically, she is on the right of the party, drawing attention for her 2023 speech at the National Conservatism conference, where she rallied against immigration, trans rights and the radical left.
Supporters of mayoral candidate John Gomes watch Mayor Joe Gamin declare victory as they gather at O'Manel restaurant after the redo of the general election in Bridgeport, Conn., on Tuesday Feb. 27, 2024. A proposed bill may make it easier for the state to takeover a municipal election that has issues, such as Bridgeport. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, and Sen. Mae Flexer, D-Killingly, who head the legislature's Government Administration & Elections Committee. Ken Dixon/Hearst Connecticut Media State Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco and Sen. Rob Sampson, both of Wolcott, the top Republicans on the Government Administration and Elections Committee. Ken Dixon/Hearst Connecticut Media Mayor Joe Ganim in Bridgeport, Conn. Jan. 23, 2024. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media John Gomes, candidate in the recent election and primary elections for mayor, in Bridgeport, Conn. Jan. 31, 2024. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD Bridgeport's balloting irregularities that led to multiple rounds of court-ordered voting for mayor are the impetus for a proposed law that would create a new state board that could take over the elections there, or in other troubled towns and cities.

Other proposed legislation would also require the State Elections Enforcement Commission to meet deadlines in referring their investigations to the office of the Chief State's Attorney for criminal probes.

But during a public hearing Monday on the bills, a top Republican on the General Assembly's Government Administration & Elections Committee, doubted if the new laws would be effective in what he called systemic violations of election law in the state's most-populous city.

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State Rep. Matt Blumenthal, D-Stamford, and Sen. Mae Flexer, D-Killingly, committee co-chairs, said that as currently written, a new, 17-member Municipal Election Accountability Board would rate local voting problems on four escalating levels, with the first being the least problematic, such as a voter registrar office that was closed during business hours, to the fourth tier, where more-serious problems could push the board to order a state takeover of local elections.

"We imagine this board having a fair amount of discretion to figure out how these tiers should be met, and what measures are necessary to address any problems," Blumenthal told reporters before a major public hearing on election reforms. "I think the ultimate form of this bill, whatever it is, will make clear that in order to make that high-tier takeover of an election, it's a pretty high standard and it has to involve multiple violations over time that have made the board believe that such a drastic measure is necessary."

Asked whether Bridgeport's track record would qualify, including a criminal referral last year for allegations of illegal handling of absentee ballots in the 2019 Democratic mayoral primary between Mayor Joe Ganim and then-challenger Sen. Marilyn Moore, Flexer noted that currently, no one has been charged with breaking any laws.

That was followed by the 2023 municipal election where Bridgeport voters headed to the polls multiple times for mayoral primaries and general election do-overs ordered by the courts. A judge threw out the results of the first Democratic primary based on allegations of absentee ballot box stuffing after challenger John Gomes, coming off a narrow loss to Ganim in September, released security camera videos showing a woman making multiple trips to deposit what appeared to be absentee ballots into a drop box.

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"I would say looking at that, the State Elections Enforcement Commission had some investigations in 2019, then we saw the issues that happened in 2023, I think it's fair to assess that this board might evaluate the situation in Bridgeport to be at a higher tier," Flexer said, standing next to Blumenthal outside a Legislative Office Building meeting room on Monday. "We can't say it definitely but I would think it might be cause for the board to look at a municipality that had that kind of history in that short a time to say this is a place where we need to have additional scrutiny and additional oversight in how elections are administered in this community. We're trying to find a balance here, right? Understanding that here in Connecticut our elections are run locally, that they are run in each individual town and we have a long and proud history of that."

"We are somewhat unique," Blumenthal added. "Our elections are run town-by-town, they are run by 169 town clerks, 338 registrars of voters and almost all of them at almost all times are doing a tremendous job, and we don't want to create a one-size-fits-all solution that throws the baby out with the bath water." Blumenthal said the proposed legislation, drafted in recent days, would also require more transparency from state prosecutors on whether they pursue criminal charges.

During Monday's public hearing, state Sen. Rob Sampson of Wolcott, a top Republican on the panel, sparred with Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas over the issue. He wondered about the effect that appointed monitors had during the Bridgeport elections that they witnessed last year and this year.

Thomas said in a third-tier scenario, election monitors could visit housing complexes and provide information on election law to clarify issues for voters and campaign workers, such as who is allowed to place an absentee ballot in a drop box for a voter.

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Sampson said that bad actors have the resources to potentially engage in election fraud. "We keep making these steps to expand the authority and power of government, but we're not going after the problem, in my mind," Sampson said. "For me, the Bridgeport issue brought to light the potential of absentee ballot fraud. To me, that's pretty straight forward. What with ... the drop box and the video. Nothing that I've seen in this bill is necessarily going to address that."

"There are little things in the process that can be fixed, fairly simply, and make our system stronger and better for all voters, not just voters in one city," said Thomas, the state's top election administrator. "In terms of the video footage in Bridgeport last year, I'm not sure there is one cause and effect. I think there are a few different pockets. I try to remind people there is a difference between voter disenfranchisement and someone who may be breaking the law."

On Friday, Thomas's office made several referrals to the SEEC, including a complaint from a top Ganim aide charging that Gomes had offered cash for completed absentee ballots. The SEEC acknowledged receiving the complaint, but no vote on a possible investigation has come up, as yet. The regulatory agency is already investigating dozens of complaints in the various city primaries and general election from last year and this year.
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Moroccos first legal cannabis harvest was 294 metric tons in 2023, after the country approved its cultivation and export for medicine and industrial uses, the cannabis regulator has said said.

The harvest was made by 32 cooperatives that brought together 430 farmers covering 277 hectares in the northern Rif mountain areas of Al Houceima, Taounat and Chefchaouen, ANRAC claimed.

The United Nations drugs agency says about 47,000 hectares of the Rif are devoted to cannabis output, roughly a third of the amount in 2003 after government crackdowns.

This year, the regulator is examining applications by 1,500 farmers who organised themselves into 130 cooperatives, ANRAC said.

Cultivation of the local drought-enduring landrace, known as Beldia, began this month, it said.

Although Morocco is a major cannabis producer, officially cannabis use for recreational purposes is illegal. In practice, it is tolerated.

Nearly a million people live in areas of northern Morocco where cannabis is the main economic activity. It has been publicly grown and smoked there for generations, mixed with tobacco in traditional long-stemmed pipes with clay bowls.

The legalisation was intended to improve farmers incomes and protect them from drug traffickers who dominate the cannabis trade and export it illegally.

So far, two legal cannabis transformation units have been operating and two others are waiting for equipment, while 15 cannabis products are in the process of being authorised for medicinal use, ANRAC said.

Morocco is also seeking to tap into a growing global market for legal cannabis, and awarded 54 export permits last year.

Marijuana plants grow near a road in the Rif region, near Chefchaouen, Morocco (Reuters)

It comes as Germany has joined the small group of countries and jurisdictions that have legalised cannabis.

The Bundestag passed a law allowing individuals and voluntary associations to grow and hold limited quantities of the drug.

The law passed by Chancellor Olaf Scholzs ruling three-party coalition legalises cultivating up to three plants for private consumption and owning up to 25 grams of cannabis.

Larger-scale, but still non-commercial, cannabis production will be allowed for members of so-called cannabis clubs with no more than 500 members, all of whom must be adults. Only club members can consume their product.

We have two goals: to crack down on the black market and improved protection of children and young people, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said at the start of a rowdy debate where the opposition accused him of promoting drug use.

You are asserting in all seriousness that by legalising more drugs we will contain drug use among young people, said Christian Democrat legislator Tino Sorge.

That is the most stupid thing Ive ever heard.

Germany becomes the ninth country to legalise recreational use of the drug, which is also legal in some sub-national jurisdictions in the United States and Australia.
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Environmental officials have seized a 750-pound blind alligator that was being kept at a house in Hamburg, New York.

Albert the alligator, who is thought to be over 30 years old, was taken after the New York Environmental Conservation Department (DEC) found out that the homeowner had built an addition to his house and installed a swimming pool for his 11-foot pet.

Tony Cavallaro, Alberts owner, allegedly also allowed members of the public to get into the alligators pool to pet the unsecured animal, the officials said.

Mr Cavallaro told The Associated Press that the alligator had been with him since the 1990s and promised to fight for his return. He said that he treated Albert as if he were his child and had never put anyone in danger.

Mr Cavallaro told 7News that kids have posed in the pool with Albert, but it didnt happen very often.

Im not dangerous. Im not being unsafe with people, he told The Associated Press.

Albert is reported to have blindness and spinal issues (New York DEC via AP)

While Mr Cavallaro did own a DEC licence for the alligator, it expired in 2021 and was never renewed, the officials said.

With help from the Hamburg police department and Erie County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ECOs seized the large alligator in the interest of public safety and the health, safety, and protection of the alligator.

The alligator is reported to have numerous health issues, such as blindness in both eyes and spinal complications.

Speaking to 7News, Mr Cavallaro denied the health issues and said that he gave the alligator medication for his eyes, but he was not blind and that he had never noticed any spinal issues.

The owner was alleged to have allowed people to pose with the alligator (New York DEC via AP)

The authorities transported the alligator to a licenced caretaker who will look after the animal until it can be taken into permanent care.

However, a petition has been created to try and get Albert back to his owner.

Mr Cavallaro said in the petition that he took care of him better than most people take care of their kids, adding that hes abided by all the rules and has held a permit annually, but allegedly had some issues when trying to renew it.

Im Alberts dad, thats all there is to it, he told 7News. Hes like family to everybody.

In a statement to 7News, the DEC said, At that time, DEC determined the owners facility failed to meet specific conditions to ensure this dangerous animal did not come in contact with humans and did not pose a threat to humans or the animal. To be clear, even if the owner was appropriately licenced, public contact with the animal is prohibited and grounds for licence revocation and relocation of the animal."

The Independent has contacted the DEC for comment.
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One of the four suspects released without bail despite being accused of scattering body parts across Long Island was arrested again  for allegedly stealing beauty products from a CVS drugstore.

Amanda Wallace, 40, of Amityville, was on supervised release with an ankle monitor when she was taken into custody on Friday for the theft at a Lindenhurst, New York CVS.

Ms Wallace, who was charged with petit larceny, admitted to stealing, according to documents filed at Suffolk District Court.

I did  eyelashes and nail polish, she told an officer. I forgot my money and really didnt feel like walking back over.

Ms Wallace was in Suffolk District Court in Central Islip on Monday for a scheduled appearance in the Long Island body parts case.

Prosecutor Dena Rizopoulos asked that she be held on $10,000 cash bail on the petit larceny charge, for which Ms Wallaces attorney, Keith OHalloran, entered a plea of not guilty.

She did it while wearing a GPS monitor, your honor, the prosecutor pointed out.

Amanda Wallace is accused of stealing beauty products from a CVS in Lindenhurst, police said (FOX5 NY)

Ms Wallace was ordered by Judge James McDonaugh to be held without bail on the body parts case for not complying with the conditions of her earlier release and set bail for the petit larceny charge in the amounts of $5,000 cash bail, $10,000 surety bond, or a $50,000 partially secured bond, according to Newsday.

At the bare minimum, you should be able to go nine days without being rearrested, the judge told her in court on Monday.

Four people, including Ms Wallace, were arrested earlier this month, accused of dumping dismembered body parts at multiple parks in Suffolk County.

Another defendant in the body parts case, Steven Brown, 44, of Amityville, also made a brief appearance in court on Monday. He was ordered to comply with the conditions of his release, including GPS monitoring. He was released following the hearing and is set to return to court on 1 April.

Jeffrey Mackey, 38, of Amityville, and Alexis Nieves, 33, who police say is homeless, will be in court on 19 March. They were also ordered to wear ankle monitors.

Four people were accused of dumping dismembered body parts at multiple parks in Suffolk County (ABC7 New York)

All four pleaded not guilty to felony counts of first-degree hindering prosecution, concealment of a human corpse, and tampering with physical evidence by concealing or destroying.

They were all freed without bail in the body parts case, a decision that sparked a heated battle between New York governer Kathy Hochul and Suffolk district attorney Ray Tierney, as the DA blamed the 2019 bail reform for preventing prosecutors from being able to ask for bail on certain charges.

Mutilation and disposal of murdered corpses are among the crimes that are no longer bail eligible, according to the 2019 bail reform laws.

Police in Suffolk County identified the female victim as 59-year-old Donna Conneely and family members identified the male victim as 53-year-old Malcolm Craig Brown.

Body parts discovered in Long Island have been identified as Malcolm Craig Brown and Donna Conneely (Malcolm Craig Brown/Facebook)

The two shared a last known address in Yonkers, north of New York City, more than 30 miles from where their remains were discovered strewn across multiple locations of Suffolk County between 29 February and 5 March.

The grisly discoveries are the latest shocking example of human remains being dumped in parks, woods and other open spaces on Long Island. Over the years, theyve included the bodies of MS-13 gang violence victims and the infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings.
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A suspect in a child rape case in America who was thought to have killed himself by jumping from a bridge has been discovered to be working as a building maintenance man for years.

A coroners investigation into the death of a man in Los Angeles last month revealed that he was a suspect in a 2008 Washington state child rape who was believed to have jumped to his death from a bridge on Puget Sound years ago, authorities said.

Christian Robert Basham was living under the alias Mark Clemens when he died February 26 at age 56, police in Bremerton, Washington, said on Thursday.

The Los Angeles County medical examiner's office discovered his true identity and informed the Bremerton Police Department on March 13.

Basham was arrested in 2008, charged with second-degree child rape and released on $350,000 bail, police said.

On March 29, 2009, a witness reported seeing Basham jump from the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, police said. Searches using boats and an airplane failed to locate a body but his car and a suicide note were later found.

In Los Angeles, Basham was known as Clemens, a longtime maintenance man at a downtown apartment building where he lived.

His next-door neighbor, Tommy Cuellar, told KABC-TV that Clemens was already the building's handyman when Cuellar moved in about a decade ago.

Very shocking, Cuellar said of the news about his neighbor's real identity. This was our maintenance guy. This was the guy who had keys to our apartments. It was troubling to say the least, as you could imagine.

Cuellar told the station their interactions were always positive.

He was just like a normal person, a little rough sometimes but it was his personality," Cuellar said. "No other clue that he was this person he was accused of being.

The medical examiner's online case information available Friday listed the cause of Basham's death as deferred, meaning it requires additional investigation.

Though the criminal case against Basham will be closed Bremerton detectives will be doing follow-up regarding Basham's movement and actions since his supposed death in 2009, the police statement said.
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An Indiana judge has dismissed two kidnapping charges against Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen ahead of his high-profile trial.

Mr Allen, who is charged with the 2017 Delphi murders of teenage best friends Libby German and Abby Williams, appeared in Allen County Courthouse on Monday for two hearings in the case.

During the first hearing, Special Judge Fran Gull ruled on whether or not Carroll County Prosecutor Nicholas McLeland can file additional charges against him.

The prosecutor had previously filed a request to amend charges to include two counts of murder while committing or attempting to commit kidnapping, two counts of murder, and two counts of kidnapping, arguing that the changes more accurately aligns the charging information with the causes discovery and the probable cause affidavit.

Judge Gull dismissed the two counts of kidnapping during the hearing but approved the other two charges.

The judge also denied a motion to change the venue for the trial, which will be held in Carroll County.

The trial, originally set to take place in October later this year, is now scheduled to begin on 13 May.

Richard Allen is charged with the Delphi murders (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

A second hearing is set to be held on Monday afternoon regarding contempt of court accusations against Mr Allens original attorneys, Andrew Baldwin and Bradley Rozzi.

Prosecutor McLeland claims the attorneys should be held in contempt of court following what he calls a trend of not being completely honest with the court, according to WTHR.

He also claimed that they violated the cases gag order when they sent out a press release in December 2022 professing that Mr Allen was innocent.

WTHR has reported that the defence team is expected to call at least six witnesses and present more than 26 pieces of evidence during the hearing on Monday.

Back on 13 February 2017, best friends Libby and Abby set off on a walk along the Monon High Bridge in their hometown of Delphi.

During the walk, Libby posted a photo of her best friend on Snapchat as they walked along the Monon High Bridge.

Minutes later, Libby captured a video of a man  known as bridge guy  dressed in blue jeans, a blue jacket and a cap walking along the abandoned railroad bridge.

In the footage  found on Libbys phone following their murders  the man tells the two girls: Guys, down the hill.

Later that day, the teenagers were reported missing when they failed to return to a spot where a family member was picking them up.

The next day  Valentines Day 2017  their bodies were discovered in a wooded area less than half a mile off the trail along the side of Deer Creek.

Libby German (left) and Abby Williams (right) pictured together (Facebook)

For five years the case went cold with many local men falling under suspicion but no charges ever filed in the case.

Then, in October 2022, Mr Allen was arrested and charged with the murders.

Following his arrest, the case has continued to be fraught with controversies.

In September, his legal team made a bombshell claim that Libby and Abby were killed  not by the suspect  but as part of a ritualistic sacrifice at the hands of a white nationalist cult called Odinists.

One month later, his two attorneys Andrew Baldwin and Brad Rozzi then dramatically quit the case following the leak of graphic crime scene photos taken from the wooded trail where the teenage best friends were brutally murdered.

The leak  according to authorities  was traced back to a friend and former coworker of one of the attorneys. The attorneys were dramatically later reinstated to the case.

Now, the trial is set to begin in May.
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The father of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was murdered earlier this year, has called out lawmakers for making his daughters death political.

Jason Riley spoke out for the first time about his daughters death to NBC News on Monday morning. His daughter was killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus on 22 February. Police have since arrested 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, who migrated from Venezuela to the US in 2022 and is not an American citizen.

Now, Mr Riley is criticising lawmakers for using Ms Rileys death as a political talking point.

Id rather her not be such a political, how you say  it started a storm in our country, and its incited a lot of people, Mr Riley told NBC News.

I think its being used politically to get those votes, he continued. It makes me angry. I feel like, you know, theyre just using my daughters name for that. And she was much better than that, and she should be raised up for the person that she is. She was an angel.

Ms Rileys death took centre stage at President Joe Bidens State of the Union address earlier this month. Several lawmakers wore pins with the 22-year-olds name  and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, heckled the president to say her name during his speech.

Marjorie Taylor Greene wearing a say her name shirt at the State of the Union 2024 (AP)

Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, Mr Biden said in an unscripted moment, taking a pin that Ms Greene handed him. At one point, the president mispronounced her first name as Lincoln.

His use of the word illegal drew ire from many Democrats and immigration activists  and the president later said he regretted using the term.

President Joe Biden holds up a pin bearing Laken Rileys name during his State of the Union address (AP)

Ms Rileys parents had declined an invitation to attend the address from Representative Mike Collins of Georgia. Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, met with Ms Rileys mother and stepfather before a Georgia campaign rally earlier this month. Mr Riley also told NBC News he supports Mr Trump, particularly his immigration policies.

Laken has been a rallying cry for secure borders and for the illegal immigration policies of this current administration, but theres many women we dont get to hear about, Mr Riley said.

I understand them wanting to come here for a better life, Mr Riley continued. But when you have gang members and people who can commit violent crimes, especially against women, I think we can stop some of that.

Several lawmakers were quick to criticise the Biden administration in the wake of Ms Rileys death.

Georgia governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, called on the president to implement stricter immigration policies.

For more than two years, weve demanded action to secure our southern border and answers from the White House about whos coming into our country, Mr Kemp wrote on X in February. Weve yet to get an answer, weve yet to see action, and now a tragedy has happened. We need answers, and we need action, from Joe Biden and the White House NOW.

Earlier this month, the US House of Representatives also passed the Laken Riley Act, legislation introduced by Mr Collins that would require the detention of any migrant committing burglary or theft.

The act comes after Mr Ibarra, following his arrest in connection to the murder of Ms Riley, was accused of shoplifting in Georgia and was allegedly arrested in New York. However, the New York Police Department previously told The Independent it had no record of such an arrest.

In total, 214 Republicans and 37 Democrats voted for the bill. It will now go to the US Senate, where its fate is unclear.
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In their pursuit to defend individual freedoms and fight against government abuse, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) will be at the Supreme Court today to argue that a New York official violated the First Amendment when she issued threatening guidance to companies by advising them to cease conducting business with a nonprofit organisation.

On the surface, it seems uneventful that the ACLU would take up a case concerning First Amendment freedoms and government censorship.

But the nonprofit organisation the ACLU is defending happens to be the National Rifle Association (NRA), a gun rights advocacy group often accused of failing to support meaningful gun safety legislation.

The central issue in NRA v Vullo is not about the Second Amendment but the First Amendment  specifically whether government officials are permitted to threaten regulated entities with adverse action if they do business with a controversial speaker.

The ACLU and NRAs collaboration is eyebrow-raising for many. But much like the necessary teamwork of Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter to capture a homicidal maniac, the two organisations believe that teaming up with an unusual partner is necessary for the greater good.

While the ACLU stands in stark opposition to the NRA on many issues, it is representing the group to safeguard the First Amendment rights of all advocacy organizations, the ACLU wrote in a press release.

NRA hat in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building, March 18, 2008 (Getty Images)

In December, the ACLU agreed to represent the NRA at the Supreme Court after the gun advocacy nonprofit asked them to.

The case being argued dates back to 2018 when Maria Vullo, the former head of the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), issued guidance to banks and insurance companies about conducting business with the NRA in the wake of the Parkland high school shooting which left 17 people  including 14 children  dead.

At the time, the DFS was investigating Carry Guard, an NRA-endorsed insurance programme which offered to pay for civil and criminal legal fees in cases where a gun owner shot another person in self-defense.

DFS was determining whether Carry Guard was permitted under New York law, which generally does not allow insurance products to insure a person for intentional criminal acts. Three insurers later ceased to underwrite the Carry Guard policy after reaching settlements and entering consent orders.

But after the deadly high school shooting, and shortly after the Carry Guard policy investigation, Ms Vullo issued guidance, warning financial institutions of reputational risks and encouraging them to review any relationships they had with the NRA or other gun advocacy organisations.

The NRA sued, claiming Ms Vullos guidance was threatening and violated the First Amendment.

A district court sided with the NRA but the Second Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Ms Vullo, prompting the NRA to bring the case to the Supreme Court and enlist the help of the ACLU.

The NRA might be thought of as the 800-pound gorilla on the Second Amendment, William Brewer III, a lawyer whose firm represents the NRA, told the New York Times. Clearly the ACLU is the 800-pound gorilla on the First Amendment.

For decades, the ACLU has vigorously defended civil liberties and rights awarded under the US Constitution by building a network of volunteer attorneys to work alongside the organisations staff attorneys to take on thousands of cases each year. Those cases often concern violations of racial or gender equality.

[T]he ACLU of today continues to fight government abuse and to vigorously defend individual freedoms including speech and religion, a womans right to choose, the right to due process, citizens rights to privacy and much more, the ACLU says on its website. But often, the group intervenes in lawsuits about First Amendment infringements, even when the cause is unpopular, and sometimes when nobody else will.

In taking the NRAs case, the ACLU has faced backlash  even by parts of its own organisation.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) issued a statement dissenting from the ACLUs decision, saying the NRA did not need to help of the ACLU and that representing the NRA directly risks enormous harm to the clients and communities the ACLU and NYCLU work with and serve.

But the ACLU is no stranger to controversial cases and maintains that it will continue defending the First Amendment to everyone, not just those whose speech they agree with.
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President Joe Biden has signed a historic executive order that will channel major funds into womens health, including research on menopause and mid-life health.

The president issued the order at a White House Womens History Month event on Monday morning, where he was joined by First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former first lady of California Maria Shriver.

The order allocates $12bn to and marks the most comprehensive set of executive action to improve research on womens health, according to the White House.

However, this funding is not guaranteed. Given Congress has the power of the purse, lawmakers can move to deny the president his funding.

So now that the President has done his job, we have to do ours, Ms Shriver, a journalist, author and advocate for Alzheimers research, said at the event.

We have to get Congress to approve the $12bn investment this president has called for to implement this bold vision.

Senator Laphonza Butler, a Democrat from California, praised the order and told The Independent shes unsure whether Congress will actually approve the funding.

The leadership is there, at least on the Democratic side, Ms Butler said. The question is, can we actually come together as a Congress to see the value?

Through this order, Mr Biden is calling for funds to foster research on menopause. The funds also enable the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to launch its first-ever Pathways to Prevention series on menopause.

Ms Shriver called the presidents order historic, particularly considering the focus on menopause.

Ill bet today that this is the first time a president of the United States has ever signed an executive order that mentions the words menopause and womens mid-life health, Ms Shriver said at the event.

Further research on reproductive ageing is particularly important for racial health equity, given that women of colour in the US face disparities around reproductive health access compared to white women  due to both racial bias on an individual level and structural racism in the healthcare system. Black women in particular are more likely to enter mid-life with more adverse physical symptoms than white women.

Black and Brown women are more likely to develop endometriosis and face pregnancy-related complications, Ms Shriver said. And we don't have the research to tell them what to do about it. This matters because when women ask questions, they can't get answers because the majority of the research that has been done in this country has only been done on men.

Mr Bidens order also goes beyond reproductive health, including funding research on mental health and substance use disorders, environmental health factors and autoimmune diseases that disproportionately affect women, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Just before signing the executive order, Mr Biden reiterated a call he has made many times before: You send me a Democratic Congress that supports reproductive freedom, I promise you we will restore Roe v Wade again as the law of the land.
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Israel will send a delegation to brief US officials on a planned offensive in Rafah after a phone call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday.

Mr Sullivan told reporters at the daily White House press briefing that Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu spoke about Israels ongoing campaign in Gaza and plans for an Israeli attack on Rafah. Administration officials, including Mr Biden, have said the US would not support such an offensive without a credible plan on the part of the Israelis.

He said Mr Biden explained why he is so deeply concerned about the prospect of Israel conducting major military operations in Rafah if such operations were of the kind of conducted in Gaza City and Khan Yunus in the months since the 7 October attacks by Hamas killed more than 1,000 Israelis.

More than a million people have taken refuge in Rafah ... they have nowhere else to go Gaza as other major cities have largely been destroyed. And Israel has not presented us or the world with a plan for how were where they would safely move those civilians, let alone feed and house them and ensure access to basic things like sanitation, he said.

Mr Sullivan also noted that Rafah remains primary entry point for humanitarian assistance into Gaza from Egypt and from Israel, and said any Israeli invasion of that city would shut that down or at least put it at grave risk right at the moment when it is most sorely needed. He further cited Egyptian concerns that an invasion of Rafah would send a flood of refugees over the Gaza border into Egypt, a development which Egypt has said would prompt them to withdraw from the decades-old Camp David Accords peace treaty with Israel.

Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed safe haven ... but a major ground operation there would be a mistake, it would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worse in the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza, and further isolate Israel internationally, he said.

He added that hed asked Mr Netanyahu to dispatch what he described as a senior interagency team composed of military intelligence and humanitarian officials to Washington so they can hear US concerns about Israels current Rafah planning and ... an alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in Rafah and secure the Egypt Gaza border without a major ground invasion.

The Prime Minister ... agreed that he would send a team to Washington to have this discussion and have this engagement and we look forward to those discussions, he said.

Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu have known each other for decades. In the days after the 7 October attacks, Mr Biden visited Israel and voiced strong support for the country, but as the conflict has persisted the uneasy relationship between them has been strained.

In a press conference last month, Mr Biden said Mr Netanyahus response had become over the top  signaling the USs first major break with the Israeli governments response. Mr Netanyahu rebuffed Mr Biden, telling presenters on the Fox and Friends programme: Were not getting off the gas.

The tension between the two leaders over Israels planned invasion of Rafah has persisted for month as the number of Palestinians civilians killed in the post-7 October operation has increased and pro-Palestinian protesters have routinely disrupted Mr Bidens public events, even as Mr Netanyahu has rebuffed US officials pleas for his forces to take greater care to avoid civilian casualties.

Asked why Mr Biden feels the conversations from the Israeli delegation might be more productive than his previous outreaches to Mr Netanyahu, Mr Sullivan described the talks as a natural evolution of a discussion between partners.

We've had many discussions at many different levels between our military, our intelligence, our diplomats, our humanitarian experts, but we have not yet had the opportunity to have an all encompassing comprehensive, integrated, strategic discussion about how to achieve ... the ultimate defeat of Hamas and to the protection of civilians and the stabilisation of Gaza in a way that will lead to the long term security of Israel as well as the protection of innocent human life that is in Gaza, he said.

The call and the news of the planned meetings between Israeli and US officials come just days after the Israeli prime minister voiced outrage at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers speech calling for new elections in Israel.

The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel, Mr Schumer said in a speech in Congress on Thursday. The Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.

Mr Schumer, who as the senior senator from New York represents the state with the most Jewish-Americans in the country, reportedly told the White House about the speech in advance.

Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Joe Biden on Monday (Getty Images)

Mr Biden later praised his speech, saying: He made a good speech, and I think he expressed serious concern shared not only by him, but by many Americans.

Mr Netnayahu criticised Mr Schumers words on CNN on Sunday as totally inappropriate.

Its an inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there, he told host Dana Bash. Thats something the Israeli public does on its own. Were not a banana republic.

Mondays call between the two leaders also focused on efforts to provide aid to Gaza. Earlier this month, the United States announced it would conduct airdrops to assist Gazans amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis. The Biden administration also announced it would build an emergency aid seaport off the coast of Gaza.

The call comes as Mr Biden is facing criticism from many Democrats over his stance on the conflict. A slice of Democratic primary voters in states including Michigan, Washington State, North Carolina and Minnesota have voted uncommitted as a means to express their dissatisfaction with the Biden administrations support for Israel.
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Joe Bidens campaign has accused his rival Donald Trump of wanting another January 6 after the former president warned there would be an economic bloodbath if he loses the election.

Speaking in Ohio on Saturday to endorse GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, Mr Trump told the crowd: Now, if I dont get elected ... its going to be a bloodbath for the country.

In response, the Biden-Harris campaign issued a statement, stating that Mr Trump wants another January 6, but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge.

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, the Biden team added.

The former presidents comment came in the context of promising a 100 per cent tariff on foreign-made cars. Youre not going to be able to sell those guys if I get elected, Mr Trump said at the rally.

Now, if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the whole  thats gonna be the least of it. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country. Thatll be the least of it.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed that the bloodbath comment was related to violence, clarifying to the Washington Post that the 2024 GOP frontrunner was referring to cars made outside of the US. If you actually watch and listen to the section, he was talking about the auto industry and tariffs, Mr Cheung told the outlet. Bidens policies will create an economic bloodbath for the auto industry and auto workers, he said.

Senior Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller said on X, emphasising that Mr Trump was talking about the auto industry. He added, Crooked Joe Bidens Insane EV Mandate will slaughter the American auto industry. So many jobs killed! Thats why we have to elect President Trump.

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, however, questioned what Mr Trump meant by his bloodbath remark. She told CNN on Sunday, We just have to win this election because hes even predicting a bloodbath. What does that mean? Hes going to exact a bloodbath? Theres something wrong here.

The California Democrat said: How respectful I am of the American people and their goodness. But how much more do they have to see from him to understand that this isnt what our country is about.

Meanwhile, members of Mr Trumps party flocked to his defence. South Dakota Republican senator Mike Rounds told CNN on Sunday: With regard to the autoworkers that he was talking to, he is showing them or hes telling them what has been an economic downturn for them.

Louisiana Republican senator Bill Cassidy told NBC News: You could also look at the definition of bloodbath and it could be an economic disaster. And so if hes speaking about the auto industry, in particular in Ohio, [that gives it] a little bit more context.

But Mr Trumps speech as a whole, Mr Cassidy said, begged another question: The general tone of the speech is why many Americans continue to wonder, Should President Trump be president? That kind of rhetoric, its always on the edge. Maybe doesnt cross, maybe does, depending upon your perspective.

At the rally, Mr Trump also escalated his attack against undocumented immigrants. I dont know if you call them people, he said. In some cases, theyre not people, in my opinion. But Im not allowed to say that because the radical left says thats a terrible thing to say.

The former president has not been shy about his anti-immigrant agenda. During his 2016 presidential run, he described Mexican migrants who entered the US as rapists and murderers.

More recently, at a December rally, he told the crowd: Theyre poisoning the blood of the country. Thats what theyve done. After that attack, the Biden campaign condemned his dehumanising language and accused him of channeling his role models and parroted Adolf Hitler.

Mr Trump also mentioned Laken Riley  the Georgia nursing student who was murdered last month. Her murder suspect is an undocumented migrant. In the immediate aftermath of her death, Mr Trump took to Truth Social to label the suspect as a monster and to blame Crooked Joe Bidens Border INVASION for destroying our country and killing our citizens!

He repeated the same language on Saturday, when he told the crowd, The Republican party, we believe that Lakens killer is an illegal alien criminal. Mr Trump added, Never ever would he have been in our country if the election werent rigged, adding another familiar phrase.

At his State of the Union address, Mr Biden said: Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, a description for which he later apologised, saying he should instead have said undocumented.

Mr Biden added: But how many thousands of people, being killed by legals? Mr Biden then turned the tables on Mr Trump, blaming him for the collapse of a border bill compromise. Politics [has] derailed this bill so far. Im told my predecessor called members of Congress in the Senate to demand they block the bill, Mr Biden said of Mr Trump, whose name he would not say.

I would respectfully suggest to my Republican friends ... to the American people  get this bill done. We need to act now, he added.

Republicans shied away from the border deal last month at the urging of Mr Trump who did not want Mr Biden to have a victory on the issue ahead of the election.

Meanwhile the former vice president Mike Pence announced on Saturday that he refused to endorse Mr Trump and added that he wouldnt be voting for Mr Biden either.

Mr Pence, a former 2024 presidential hopeful, said on Saturday: It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year.

But that being 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 6, he said on Fox News.

He added, Im going to keep my vote to myself. I would never vote for Joe Biden. How I vote when that curtain closes, thatll be for me.

In its fiery statement after the Ohio rally, the Biden-Harris team mentioned the minor defeat for Mr Trump, attributing the former presidents decision to praise dictators, promise to pardon political violence, and launch racist attacks against Black and brown Americans to why Mr Pence came out against Mr Trump.
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A former county commissioner in New Mexico who was convicted on charges connected to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol wont be allowed to return to office.

The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from Couy Griffin, who was removed by a state judge under a constitutional clause that bans anyone who engaged in insurrection from holding public office.

The Supreme Courts decision comes days after the justices declined to remove Donald Trump from Colorado ballots under a similar challenge.

Several state judges found that the former president violated the US Constitution and engaged in insurrection after failing to stop the mob, but the nations high court found that only Congress, not individual states, could disqualify federal candidates.

Griffin, however, was an elected official at the local level. And unlike Mr Trump, he was convicted on charges stemming from the mobs assault to block the certification of 2020s presidential election results.

Griffin, the founder of the pro-Trump group Cowboys for Trump, climbed a toppled fence and another barrier to reach the steps of the Capitol, where he called on the mob to pray, according to federal prosecutors.

In September 2022, after a lawsuit and a civil bench trial in state court, a judge removed him from office, marking the first time in more than 100 years that a court disqualified a public official and the first time an elected official was removed from office for their role on January 6.

Three months earlier, after repeating baseless claims about voting machines and allegations of fraud, Griffin refused to certify legitimate primary election results in his county, triggering a standoff with state election officials.

Now-former Otero County Commission chair and Cowboys for Trump co-founder Couy Griffin rides his horse on Fifth Avenue in New York on 1 May, 2020 (Getty Images)

In his ruling disqualifying Griffin from public office, New Mexico Judge Francis Mathew noted the irony of Griffins demand that the court should apply the law despite his participation in an unlawful mob with a goal, by his own admission, ... to set aside the results of a free, fair and lawful election.

Judge Mathew wrote that Griffins attempts to sanitize his actions are without merit and amounted to nothing more than attempting to put lipstick on a pig.

Griffin and his group spent months normalizing the violence that may be necessary to keep President Trump in office and urged supporters to travel to Washington DC to join what he compared to a war to keep the defeated president in office, the judge wrote.

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment holds that no person can hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, if they engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same.

The authors of the amendment did not understand an insurrection to require actual violence; intimidation by numbers sufficed, Judge Mathew wrote. The mob that arrived at the Capitol on January 6 was an assemblage of persons who engaged in violence, force, and intimidation by numbers.

In a brief to the Supreme Court, an attorney for Griffin argued that he was exercising his Constitutional rights to free speech and assembly on January 6, and his removal from office violates the First Amendment.

If the decision  is to stand, at least in New Mexico, it is now the crime of insurrection to gather people to pray together for the United States of America on the unmarked restricted grounds of the Capitol building, according to the filing. This Court cannot let this stand.

He also argued that the bar for engaging in an insurrection is not trespassing on government property.

Earlier this month, in a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court argued that Mr Trump can remain on 2024 presidential election ballots, marking a reversal of a landmark Colorado court decision that found him constitutionally ineligible because of his actions on January 6.

The justices, however, ignored the question at the heart of the case, which revolves around whether then-President Trump engaged in insurrection by fuelling a mob that stormed the US Capitol.

Instead, they argued that only Congress  not states  can disqualify candidates for federal office.

But the courts three liberal justices sharply disagreed with that premise, writing that the courts conservative majority were attempting to insulate all alleged insurrectionists from future challenges to their holding federal office.

Days before Mondays Supreme Court decision, Griffin pleaded on social media for justices to set the record straight while he falsely asserted that the 2020 election was rigged and interfered with.

Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which brought the case against Griffin, as well as the Colorado case against Mr Trumps eligibility on that states ballots, said that Mondays decision will keep in place the finding that January 6 was an insurrection, and ensures that states can still apply the 14th Amendments disqualification clause to state officials.

Crucially, this decision reinforces that every decision-making body that has substantively considered the issue has found that January 6 was an insurrection, and Donald Trump engaged in that insurrection, he added. Now it is up to the states to fulfill their duty under Section 3 to remove from office anyone who broke their oath by participating in the January 6 insurrection.
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Former president Donald Trump has accused the media of willfully misinterpreting his prediction during a rally appearance over the weekend that his defeat in Novembers election would result in a bloodbath.

Speaking in Dayton, Ohio, on Saturday evening as he stumped for Republican primary candidate Bernie Moreno, Mr Trump used the phrase as he warned of dire economic consequences for an American auto industry under pressure from China without him back in the White House.

If I dont get elected its going to be a bloodbath for the country, he declared.

The Republican presidential challengers choice of words sparked an immediate outcry, with the Joe Biden-Kamala Harris campaign issuing a statement by way of response in which they warned that their rival wants another January 6, but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge.

Also commenting on the phrase on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday morning was former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said: We just have to win this election because hes even predicting a bloodbath. What does that mean? Hes going to exact a bloodbath? Theres something wrong here.

How much more do [the American people] have to see from him to understand that this isnt what our country is about?

On Monday morning, Mr Trump hit back, claiming in an angry post on his Truth Social platform that the media had only pretended to be shocked by his choice of words.

The Fake News Media, and their Democrat Partners in the destruction of our Nation, pretended to be shocked at my use of the word BLOODBATH, even though they fully understood that I was simply referring to imports allowed by Crooked Joe Biden, which are killing the automobile industry, he wrote.

The United Auto Workers, but not their leadership, fully understand what I mean. With the Electric Car Mandate being pushed by Biden, there soon wont be any cars made in the USA  UNLESS IM ELECTED PRESIDENT, IN WHICH CASE AUTO MANUFACTURING WILL THRIVE LIKE NEVER BEFORE!!! MAGA2024.

Mr Trump suffered a technical fault with his teleprompter during Saturdays 90-minute speech at the Dayton Air Show, prompting him to joke that he would refuse to pay the company that supplied it before ad libbing his way through a meandering address laced with blunders.

The presidential contender was also questioned about his use of inflammatory language by MediaBuzz host Howard Kurtz in an interview that aired on Fox News on Sunday.

Donald Trump speaking at a rally in Ohio on 16 March (AP)

Why do you use words like vermin and poisoning of the blood?, Mr Kutz asked.

The press, as you know, immediately reacts to that by saying, Well, thats the kind of language that Hitler and Mussolini use.

Mr Trump answered: Thats what they say. I didnt know that, but thats what they say.

He then proceeded to double-down on that rhetoric, continuing: We can talk about, oh, I want to be politically correct.

But we have people coming in from prisons and jails, long-term murderers, people with sentences that the rest of their lives theyre going to spend in some jail in some country that many people have never even heard of Theyre all being released into our country.
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Republican Senator John Barrasso had an embarrassing moment over the weekend when he mispronounced Laken Rileys name during a Fox News segment calling out President Joe Biden for the exact same thing.

Joe Biden apologised for the murder of Lincoln  Im sorry, of Laken Riley, Mr Barrasso said on the show.

Perhaps poorly timed, host Maria Bartiromo instantly responded: I know Laken Rileys family was outraged because President Biden got her name wrong.

Mr Biden came under fire from some Republicans when he mispronounced the first name of murdered nursing student, Laken Riley, during his State of the Union speech earlier this month, calling her Lincoln.

The White Houses official transcript of the speech said that Mr Biden mispronounced her name as Lanken during the speech.

Allyson Phillips, Ms Rileys mother, slammed Mr Biden for the blunder, labelling him pathetic.

Biden does not even KNOW my childs name  its pathetic, Ms Phillips said. If you are going to say her name (even when forced to do so) at least say the right name.

Republican Senator John Barrasso had an embarrassing moment over the weekend when he mispronounced Laken Rileys name wrong during a Fox News segment (Fox News)

Laken Riley was killed in February after going for a morning run on the University of Georgias intramural fields.

Her roommate raised the alarm when she failed to return, prompting a search.

Rileys body was found minutes later by authorities.

A preliminary autopsy found that she had died of blunt force trauma to the head after her killer allegedly used an object to strike her, disfiguring her skull, before dragging her to a secluded area. Her death was ruled a homicide.

Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old migrant from Venezuela, was arrested for her murder.

Rileys death has sparked intense debate amongst Democrats and Republicans after it was revealed that the suspect is not a US citizen.

Republicans have argued that Mr Bidens immigration policies are responsible for her death, claiming he has not done enough to prevent migrants from illegally entering the US across the southern border.

However, Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan border package last month  something that would have helped to reduce the numbers of illegal border crossings  in a move seen to derail Mr Bidens successes at the request of his GOP challenger Donald Trump.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also challenged Mr Biden to Say Her Name during his State of the Union speech.

Donning a Say Her Name t-shirt and a Make America Great Again cap, Ms Greene heckled the president during his speech.

Mr Biden responded to Ms Greenes heckles, saying: Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. Thats right. But how many thousands of people being killed by legals?

To her parents, I say, my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself. I understand.

Laken Riley (Supplied)

Following the speech, Ms Greene wrote: Joe Bidens policies killed Laken Riley. He finally tried to say her name, but couldnt even say it correctly. Its an absolute disgrace.

Mr Trump meanwhile has used Mr Ibarras status to bolster his anti-migrant agenda.

Crooked Joe Bidens Border INVASION is destroying our country and killing our citizens! Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He added that Mr Ibarra was a monster who illegally entered our Country in 2022and then was released AGAIN by Radical Democrats in New York after injuring a CHILD!!
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A Trump-aligned candidate running for Congress in Nevadas competitive 3rd district, was the subject of a scathing op-ed accusing her of infidelity, lying and raising a murderer  written by her former mother-in-law.

The piece, published last week in The Nevada Globe about Elizabeth Helgelien, was written by Christine Halseth whose late son, Daniel Halseth, was married to her for 11 years.

Mr Halseth was murdered in 2021 by the teenage daughter he shared with Ms Helgelien, Sierra Halseth, and her boyfriend Aaron Guerrero. The pair stabbed Mr Halseth before setting his house on fire and attempting to flee. They were caught and are now serving life sentences.

In an op-ed titled ,The Worst Congressional Candidate Ever?, Christine Halseth said voters should not support Ms Helgelien, a former Nevada state senator now running for the US House of Representatives.

She alleged that her former daughter-in-law cheated on her late son, failed in her duties as a state senator, lied about her educational background, posed for Maxim magazine and abused her own daughter.

Elizabeth raised a murderer, was forced out of office after a series of sex scandals, was caught in a series of lies, posed for lewd photographs, and has already proven to be unelectable, Ms Halseth wrote.

I hope for my familys sake, and out of respect for voters and the office shes seeking, that Elizabeth will do the right thing and drop out of the race for NV-3. If she doesnt, in honor of my dear son Daniel, my prayer is that NV-3 residents vote against her.

Ms Helgelien was the youngest woman elected to the Nevada state senate in 2010 at the age of 27. She served for one year before resigning amid her divorce from Mr Halseth.

Various scandals followed Ms Helgelien during her time in office. She was accused of lying about having a bachelors degree and pursuing an MBA. Her colleagues raised eyebrows after she began missing committee meetings and was difficult to get hold of.

Mr Halseth accused Ms Helgelien of having an extramarital affair and filed for divorce. He was then indicted on battery and lewdness charges following a domestic dispute. He pled guilty to misdemeanour coercion and battery and was given six months probation.

Ms Helgelien alleged that Mr Halseth was abusive towards their daughter and that the system did not take the girls accusations seriously.

Christine Halseth contradicted these claims, and said that Sierra accused Ms Helgelien of abuse, adding that she had failed in her role as a mother.

Following her divorce, Ms Helgelien was awarded custody of her three children and worked as a real estate agent, first in Alaska before moving back to Nevada. She also posed in a bikini as a write-in candidate for Maxims Hot 100 contest.

On her campaign website, Ms Helgelien says that she is running to finish the job she started with conservative policies similar to those of Donald Trump.

But Ms Halseth insisted in the op-ed that Ms Helgelien is unfit for office and pointed to her former daughter-in-laws behaviour during the investigation into her sons murder.

At the time of the murder, detectives claimed they were shocked at Elizabeths lack of emotion, Ms Halseth alleged.

The Independent was unable to reach Ms Helgelien directly. The Independent has contacted Woodrow Johnston, an individual who previously issued a statement for Ms Helgelien, seeking comment.

In response to the op-ed, Mr Johnston provided documentation and a statement to The Daily Beast.

Here are the facts that the documents weve attached verify: 1. Daniel Halseth is a convicted batterer. 2. The custody Judge expressed the belief that Sierra was experiencing abuse from Daniel Halseth and ordered sole custody to Elizabeth. 3. Daniel Halseth defied a court order, illegally detaining his daughter. 4. Sierra submitted a letter to the court stating that she was being abused, mentally, physically, and sexually by Daniel Halseth, he wrote in an email, according to the news site.
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As wind ripped through the grounds of the Dayton Air Show on Saturday, former president Donald Trump and his assembled loyalists made a last-minute bid to boost one of their own past the finish line.

You gotta win, Bernie! the former president mock-pleaded. Dont leave me alone!

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump, left, listens as Senate candidate Bernie Moreno speaks at a campaign rally March 16, 2024, in Vandalia, Ohio (AP)

Ohio presents a unique moment for Mr Trumps control of the Republican Party. After an embarrassing showing by his hand-picked chosen in 2022, the former presidents tendency to put his thumb on the scale in competitive GOP primaries is irking more and more Republican officials, even as many publicly continue to endorse his presidential bid. Hes done it again in Ohio: endorsing car dealership owner Bernie Moreno in a three-way race against fellow Republicans Matt Dolan and Frank LaRose, respectively a state senator and Ohios secretary of state.

Matt Dolan is one of the two candidates running against Trumps favoured winner, Bernie Moreno (AP)

Polls show the race to be close, with single digits supporting the three men in some surveys. The race is unique; as many as four in 10 likely Republican voters were undecided as of last week. And mud-slinging has begun in earnest, too: an ally of Mr Moreno sent out a flier to Republicans in the mail labelling Mr LaRose an ally of transgender rights. His enemies, separately, have circulated a story from the Associated Press which revealed that an email address used by the Trump-backed Moreno was registered on a sex website, Adult Friend Finder, in 2008 seeking young guys to have fun with while travelling. (The Moreno campaign has released a statement from a former intern for Mr Moreno claiming that the account was created as a prank.)

Part of the reason for the vitriol can be attributed to the battle lines in the race, which have separated the major factions of the modern-day Republican Party in clear fashion. On one side is Mr Moreno, backed by Mr Trump and his allies, but facing questions about his conservative bona fides. On another island is Mr Dolan, endorsed by the GOPs former party establishment including Ohios moderate-by-comparison governor Mike DeWine, making the argument that the party needs to leave Donald Trump behind. And third is a faction represented by Mr LaRose  the segment of the GOP which remains loyal to Donald Trump in the latters own races but back more traditional conservative politicians in local races; Ted Cruz and Josh Mandel to Donald Trump and JD Vance.

Another key reason for the races intensity is the massive swathe of undecideds who are making up their minds this final weekend of the primary. With St Patricks Day celebrations across the state as a backdrop, Mr Dolan and Mr LaRose crisscrossed the state holding smaller events and attending gatherings ranging from local GOP events to sleepy American Legion hangouts.

Candidate Frank LaRose has been the subject of smears by Morenos associates (Reuters)

The big event threatening to turn the race from a dead heat into a runaway win for Mr Moreno was Saturdays Trump rally in Dayton. Several Trump fans entering the rally told The Independent that they knew very little about the race itself, or either of Mr Morenos challengers: they were simply going to support him through the strength of Donald Trumps endorsement. A final poll of the race released by Emerson on Monday indicated that possibility was beginning to play out.

One rally attendee, Stan Strohmenger, explained the reasoning behind the political strength of a Trump endorsement as he departed the former presidents event.

You know what you have with Donald Trump  guaranteed ironclad, he said in an interview. Why would you even look at anyone else?

Other Republicans, who he accused of lying to voters for years, had nothing close to the same effect with their own endorsements.

With Trump, the proof is in the pudding. He made promises, he kept them. He loves his country, he loves God. He wouldnt endorse somebody that wasnt the real thing.

Thats the dynamic facing the Dolan and LaRose campaigns heading into Tuesday. Though Mr Trumps event was considerably smaller than the crowds which have been drawn to his events in past years, the fact remains that his support of Moreno could have a strong effect on the final results. (It apparently wasnt enough for the scandal-plagued would-be congressman JR Majewski, another guest of the former president on Saturday, who exited his own race earlier this month despite claiming that he would have won his contest on Tuesday.)

If Moreno wins, it will be a testament to the importance of a Trump endorsement, said Dr Kevin Wagner, Emersons polling director, in a statement accompanying his outfits final survey results.

With so many undecideds and the race as close as it is, the three candidates are continuing to campaign right up to the final buzzer. Mr LaRose, who is in a close third place according to polling, spent Sunday having close, personal conversations with small groups of voters at events across Erie and Huron counties; The Independent observed him moving from table to table at two events, trading military stories with veterans and leaning heavily into the possible appeal of sending the first Green Beret to the US Senate. He was set to continue those small events throughout Monday, capping off the night with a hometown rally on a farm on which he once worked in Copley. Despite polling indicating him behind, he and his staff projected confidence in their ability to win on Tuesday.

At a press gaggle in Sandusky, Mr LaRose made it clear on Saturday that he understood the threat posed by Mr Moreno and identified the businessman as his sole target. Asked about the former presidents endorsement, as well as that of Mr DeWine, Mr LaRose went on the offensive and stated that no amount of support could cover for such a liberal background in his opponents record. Mr Dolan, who is endorsed by a comparatively more moderate Republican in Mr DeWine and who has gone from leading Mr Moreno to trailing him in successive Emerson College polls, was not deigned worthy of mention.

With a huge number of undecideds, this is a job interview, said Mr LaRose, responding to a question on Sunday. Mr Trump, he added, picked who he picked, and Ill be his best ally in the Senate when I get there.

He reinforced that loyalty to Mr Trump by adding that there would be no daylight between him and the former president come Wednesday if he wins the primary.

Even with three candidates, there are really only two outcomes for Tuesday: a defeat or a victory for Donald Trump. The actual political positions of the three men are largely similar  all three favour strict action on illegal immigration, including sending National Guard troops to the border for example. The real question is: does the former president still have the political strength to play kingmaker down the ballot, as he so clearly did in 2022?

Whichever candidate pulls out of Tuesdays matchup will face off against Sherrod Brown, a popular incumbent Democrat in a purple state that looks increasingly red every cycle. Given the importance of the seat for both parties as control of the Senate is decided this fall, the ascension of Bernie Moreno to the nomination could set up Ohio as a repeat of the dismal performance of Mr Trumps loyalists two years ago. His fall, conversely, could provoke a sigh of relief from Republicans who blame the president for those losses, and the failure of the party to take the upper chamber the last time around. It could also embolden other Republicans to buck the former presidents endorsement in future key primaries.

A victory on behalf of Mr Moreno could, arguably, be a boon for Democrats. Ever sensitive of the concept of endorsing a loser, Mr Morenos nomination could persuade the former president to spend more time and money in Ohio propping up his effort against Mr Brown  an expense that the increasingly financially-burdened Trump campaign may not truly be able to afford.

Tuesdays contest will, more than anything, be a reflection of the personalities controlling the Republican Party over the GOPs actual values. No matter who comes out of this three-way primary, the implications of their victory will be felt across the party as a whole.
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Peter Navarro, the former Trump White House trade adviser who later helped Donald Trump devise a plot to remain in office after losing the 2020 election, will report to a federal prison facility in Florida on Tuesday after the Supreme Court denied his last-ditch bid to stay his sentence pending appeal of his conviction on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress.

In a brief opinion issued from his chambers, Chief Justice John Roberts  the justice responsible for appeals from Washington, DC federal courts  said Navarro had not established that he was entitled to remain free under provisions of the Bail Reform Act while he continued to appeal his conviction on the grounds that he should have been permitted to argue that he was following orders from the former president when he defied a subpoena from the House January 6 select committee.

The Court of Appeals disposed of the proceeding on the ground that Navarro forfeited any argument in this release proceeding challenging the District Courts conclusion that executive privilege was not invoked, forfeited any challenge to the conclusion that relief would not be required in any event because of the qualified nature of executive privilege, and forfeited any challenge to the conclusion that apart from executive privilege, he was still obligated to appear before Congress and answer questions seeking information outside the scope of the asserted privilege, he wrote.

The Chief Justice added that he saw no basis to disagree with the determination that Navarro forfeited those arguments in the release proceeding, which is distinct from his pending appeal on the merits.

Navarro was charged with two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for what federal prosecutors argued was his abject defiance of the House select committees attempts to obtain evidence as part of its investigation into Mr Trumps attempts to subvert the 2020 presidential election.

On 7 September last year, a jury found him guilty on both counts after fewer than four hours of deliberation after a two-day trial during which the ex-Trump aides defence team presented no witnesses of their own.

US District Judge Amit Mehta had previously rejected Navarros blanket assertions of executive privilege under the former president in his defence against testifying to the committee. Navarro claimed that the former president instructed him to assert executive privilege, but Mr Trump never communicated that to the January 6 committee or in federal court.

A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit also rejected his arguments, but Navarro had hoped that the Supreme Court, packed with three of Mr Trumps own appointees, would grant him a reprieve.

Instead, they rejected his plea to remain free, making him the first former Trump White House staffer to see the inside of a jail cell for any crime related to the 6 January 2021 attack on the Capitol.

Navarro will surrender for his custodial sentence at 2pm on Tuesday.

With additional reporting by Alex Woodward
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Members of the Kennedy family seemingly snubbed Robert F Kennedy Jr on Sunday with a visit to the White House in which they heaped praise on President Joe Biden.

Multiple members of the famous clan joined the president for a St Patricks Day celebration over the weekend.

RFK Jr, who is currently running as an independent candidate in the 2024 election, was notably absent.

To add insult to injury, several Kennedy members  who have previously made it very clear they dont support RFK Jrs presidential campaign  took to social media to share photos of the event and to voice their support for Mr Biden.

Its not enough to wish the world were better, you must make the world better, Kerry Kennedy, the younger sister of RFK Jr wrote in a post on X.

@POTUS President Biden, you make the world better, she added, alongside a photo of several generations of the Kennedy family with the president.

Small family gathering this afternoon! Joe Kennedy III, the independent presidential candidates nephew, chimed in.

Its not the first time RFK Jr has been publicly snubbed by his own family.

Robert F Kennedy Jr (AP)

Following his announcement that he was running for president, his family members released a statement denouncing him as dangerous and perilous for our country.

Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment, Kerry Kennedy wrote on behalf of four members of the illustrious political dynasty.

JFKs grandson Jack Schlossberg also previously condemned his cousin, calling him an embarrassment to the family name.

Hes trading in on Camelot, celebrity, conspiracy theories and conflict for personal gain and fame, Mr Schlossberg said.

RFK Jr has previously been accused of amplifying conspiracy theories  most notably about the Covid vaccine.

He was accused of making baseless claims that vaccines are linked to brain disorders. He also claimed that the virus which causes Covid-19 was ethnically targeted and was targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people.

The son of the late US senator Robert F Kennedy initially filed candidacy papers for the Democratic nomination with the FEC in April, but later switched to running as an independent candidate.

In October, he admitted during a Fox News interview that his decision was very painful and leaving the party of my family is very, very difficult.

It was a choice that I didnt feel that I had a choice about, he added.

Despite his familys close ties to the Democratic party, polls show that far more Republicans than Democrats have a favourable opinion of RFK Jr, according to The AP.

Experts have predicted that he could capture 24 per cent of the vote in November, taking away millions of votes from both Democrats and Republicans.

Allies of Mr Biden have dismissed his campaign as unserious.
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The judge overseeing Donald Trumps criminal trial stemming from hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels has rejected the former presidents attempts to block her testimony.

On Monday, New York Judge Juan Merchan also rejected Mr Trumps attempts to block testimony from Michael Cohen, his former attorney who allegedly supported a scheme to bury compromising details of Mr Trumps affairs leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

Judge Merchan also rejected Mr Trumps attempts to block testimony from former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who allegedly had an affair with Mr Trump before his presidency.

The case from the Manhattan District Attorneys office could rely on Cohens critical testimony that Mr Trump authorised his business to falsely file payments to Ms Daniels as legal expenses, part of an alleged effort to quash stories that could interfere with then-candidate Trumps campaign, according to prosecutors. Mr Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records and has pleaded not guilty.

Jury selection was initially set to begin on 25 March, but Judge Merchan agreed to delay the proceedings 30 days after prosecutors said they had received a flood of documents to review less than two weeks before trial was scheduled to start.

Last week, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the United States Attorneys Office produced more than 30,000 pages of records and was expecting thousands more. Those records are likely related to the federal investigation into Cohen, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal campaign finance charges stemming from the alleged scheme.

Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about Mr Trumps business dealings with Russia, failing to report income, and for making payments to women who alleged affairs with Mr Trump.

Donald Trump appears inside Manhattan criminal court for a pretrial hearing in his hush money case on 15 February (AFP via Getty Images)

In court filings, Mr Trumps attorneys sought to prevent prosecutors from arguing that the scheme sought to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, as well as making any mention of catch and kill, in which potentially embarassing stories were purchased through the National Enquirer, which then intentionally suppressed their publication.

Judge Merchan rejected those arguments from Mr Trumps legal team in a lengthy set of rulings responding to several defence motions on Monday.

Crucially, the judge will not allow jurors to watch or listen to the so-called Access Hollywood tape from 2005 that resurfaced one month before the 2016 election. But the judge suggested that prosecutors can discuss the tape and its contents to allege motive for burying hush money payments, without having to actually present the tape as evidence.

On 25 March, prosecutors and defence attorneys will return to the judges courtroom for yet another pretrial hearing.

This time, Judge Merchan is directing lawyers to provide him with a detailed timeline of the events surrounding the requests for ultimate production of documents after prosecutors accused Mr Trumps legal team of failing to timely request federal documents that could be relevant to the case.

That timeline should include any subpoenas, emails and others messages so that the judge can 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.
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At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic  a time when social media was one of the few ways people could connect with each other and keep tabs on current events  the long-held debate around how to handle online misinformation spiralled.

Conspiracies about the integrity of US elections was soaring, misinformation about the origins of Covid-19 was rampant and speculation about the safety of vaccines was flooding social media.

Set against a backdrop of a highly politically polarising time, government officials decided some sort of regulation was needed.

And so, the US government requested that Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies remove misinformation specifically about Covid-19 and the 2020 election from their platforms.

As a result, several right-wing individuals had their content restricted, taken down or blocked in what they claim was the Biden administration teaming up with social media companies to suppress conservative speech online.

This, they claimed was a violation of their First Amendment right to free speech.

Attorney generals of Missouri and Louisana sued the White House, along with dozens of officials and agencies, accusing them of coercing social media platforms into stifling political speech.

The case quickly turned into a partisan issue right-wing figures invoking conspiracy-theory-like mindsets.

Now, the issue has reached the nations highest court with the Supreme Court hearing arguments in Murthy v Missouri (formerly Missouri v Biden) on Monday.

The ruling from the justices could completely alter the way the government uses social media to tackle misinformation.

Smart phone screen displays a new policy on Covid-19 misinformation with a Facebook website in the background (AFP via Getty Images)

So what is the case all about?

The question at the centre of Murthy v Missouri has been highly debated since the rise of social media: how far, if at all, can the government intervene in regulating speech online before it becomes a violation of the First Amendment?

The initial lawsuit and subsequent amici in the case points to buzzwords and examples known to initiate debate such as the Hunter Biden laptop story, conspiracy theories about Covid-19 originating in a Wuhan lab, doubts over Covid-19 vaccine efficiency, Elon Musks Twitter Files and more.

The lawsuit was first filed by the state of Missouri on behalf of two Covid-skeptical infectious disease epidemiologists, an anti-mask advocate, the owner of the conspiracy theory website The Gateway Pundit and a psychiatrist who opposed lockdown mandates.

They alleged that government officials, under both the Biden and Trump administrations, engaged in public pressure campaigns, private meetings and more to collude and/or coerce social media platforms to suppress conservative viewpoints, speakers and content.

In some conversations, White House officials asked social media companies to remove misinformation believing it to be harmful to public health, the suit claims. In others, the companies allegedly reached out to government officials or agencies like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine if a claim was true or false.

Other correspondence seemingly show officials making pushy requests and social media companies responding with frustration.

The Biden administration denies coercing companies into stifling free speech, saying their requests were exactly that  just requests  and were made to protect public health, safety and the election and that the social media companies complied on their own volition.

Should the nations highest court side with Missouri and Louisiana, it would impact how government officials can work with social media platforms to flag misinformation or conduct business concerning national security.

It came as little surprise that the Supreme Court took up the case.

This term is already packed with similar cases involving the First Amendment and social media content moderation.

In September, the ultra-conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a sweeping ruling, limiting some of the Biden administrations abilities to communicate with social media companies.

That ruling is placed on hold until the Supreme Court issues a decision.

A decision in Murthy v Missouri is expected in or before June.
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Mike Pence, Donald Trumps estranged former vice president, has definitively vowed that he will not be endorsing his old boss for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

Mr Trump is now the nominee-presumptive after passing the delegate threshold on 12 March  one week after his last remaining rival, Nikki Haley, bowed out of the race in the aftermath of Super Tuesday.

But, despite Mr Trumps securing of the Republican nomination, Mr Pence  who also briefly took on the former president in the Republican primary race  told Fox News host Martha MacCallum on 15 March that he does not have his support.

It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year, he said.

But that being 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 6.

The two men are apparently irreconcilable in the wake of the events of 6 January 2021, when a mob of MAGA supporters stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to stop the formal certification of the election results.

Mr Pence was presiding over the ceremony in Congress at the time and had refused Mr Trumps calls to overturn the election in his favour  something that he did not have the power to do anyway.

His refusal to comply  and Mr Trumps efforts to blame his second-in-command for his failure to seize power notoriously inspired some members of the crowd to chant Hang Mike Pence! and to erect a gallows on Capitol Hill, as the vice president, his family and fellow lawmakers were spirited away to safety in fear for their lives.

Now, Mr Pences announcement that he wont back his former boss this time round sees the former vice president joining an ever-growing list of ex-Trump administration officials who are now refusing to back his latest White House bid  many of them going so far as to say they no longer believe him to be fit for office.

Heres a look at the other former Trump officials who are refusing to endorse him in 2024:

Bill Barr

Bill Barr (Fox News)

Mr Trumps hand-picked former attorney general, who once shielded him from the Mueller report, has been openly critical of the 45th president in recent months.

Mr Barr resigned his post shortly after the Justice Department found no evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, contradicting Mr Trumps baseless narrative that the presidency was stolen from him by a vast, nationwide conspiracy orchestrated to President Joe Bidens advantage.

Speaking on Fox News in December, Mr Barr said: One of the reasons Im against Trump as the nominee is I dont think hes going to move the country forward.

When NBC News asked him in July how he would vote if it came down to a Biden-Trump match-up, Mr Barr answered wryly: Ill jump off that bridge when I get to it.

That same month, he also told CBSs Face the Nation that Mr Trump is like a defiant nine-year-old kid whos always pushing his glass towards the end of the table, defying his parents to stop him from doing it.

John Bolton

John Bolton (Sky News)

The former national security adviser who left the administration accrimoniously in September 2019 has said that he will not vote for Mr Trump in this years election. Instead, he said he will do the same thing that he did in 2020  write in the name of an alternative conservative candidate of his own choosing.

Speaking to CNN in July, Mr Bolton said: I always like to vote for a conservative Republican. Between Biden and Trump, there was no conservative on the ballot. So I wrote in the name of a conservative, and I would do the same in 2024.

He added: I think in private, honest conversations, almost all of Trumps cabinet members and other senior advisers would agree that Trump is not fit to be president.

HR McMaster

HR McMaster (Getty)

An earlier national security adviser, General McMaster said on CNNs State of the Union as early as 17 January 2021, less than two weeks after the Capitol riot, that it would terribly divisive for our country for him to run again.

Its certainly working out that way.

Mark Esper

Asked by CNNs Jake Tapper last June whether Mr Trump could ever be trusted with national security secrets again, his former defence secretary Mark Esper answered: No!

He added that the former presidents irresponsible actions in storing boxes of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida had placed servicemembers and the country at risk.

Jim Mattis

Jim Mattis (Getty)

Another former Trump administration defence secretary, General Mattis is also unlikely to support him again after he stepped down over his position on Syria in December 2018 and denounced Mr Trump as a threat to the Constitution  angered by his authoritarian response to the Black Lives Matter protests that erupted in summer 2020 following the death of George Floyd.

We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution, Mad Dog thundered.

Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people  does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us.

General Mattis has since accused Mr Trump of fomenting the attempted insurrection at the US Capitol.

John F Kelly

John F Kelly (AP)

Similiarly, the former chief of staff who once believed he could rein in Mr Trumps excesses now says his former boss has no idea what America stands for and has no idea what America is all about.

In the same ferocious denunciation of the Republican submitted to CNN last September, General Kelly added that the ex-president was a person with nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law. He added, with evident exasperation: God help us.

He has since spoken out angrily about Mr Trumps repeated professions of admiration for dictators like Adolf Hitler, recounting an incident in which he had to tell him: Sir, you can never say anything good about the guy. Nothing.

Mark Milley

Mark Milley (AP)

In a scorching farewell address to troops at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia, last September, the former chair of the joint chiefs of staff told his audience: We dont take an oath to a king, or queen, or tyrant or a dictator, and we dont take an oath to a wannabe dictator.

There was little room for doubt as to whom he was referring.

Dan Coats

The former director of national intelligence left Mr Trumps administration in 2019 and pointedly backed Mr Pence in the Republican primary race.

Mick Mulvaney

Mick Mulvaney (EPA)

Another former Trump chief of staff, Mr Mulvaney previously said that he believes Mr Trump will win the primaries but lose the general election. Hes right so far.

I am working hard to make sure that someone else is the nominee, Mr Mulvaney told NBC in July.

I think hes the Republican who is most likely to lose in a general election, of all our leading candidates. If anyone can lose to Joe Biden, it would be him.

Prior to that, he told CBS in July 2022 that he had quit his post because Mr Trump failed at being the president when we needed him to be that.

Karen Pence

Karen and Mike Pence (Getty)

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the former second lady has joined her husband in rejecting Mr Trump after he callously placed their lives in mortal danger rather than face up to his defeat at the ballot box  some thanks for their four years of dogged loyalty.

Marc Short

Equally unsurprisingly, Mr Pences former chief of staff is not backing Mr Trump either and loyally supported his former bosss short-lived presidential campaign last autumn before it ran out of road.

Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley (Getty)

The former South Carolina governor, who fought on bravely as Mr Trumps principle rival in the primaries, at least up until 6 March, previously served as his US ambassador to the United Nations.

When she finally announced her inevitable exit from the race earlier this month, she was gracious towards Mr Trump but stopped short of endorsing him.

I congratulate him and wish him well. I wish anyone well who would be Americas president, she said.

Our country is too precious to let our differences divide us.

Anthony Scaramucci

Anthony Scaramucci (CNN)

The short-lived but unforgettable ex-White House communications director, who served just 10 days in the post before being fired, has said that he will be backing Mr Biden in Novembers 2020 rematch.

He actually went further than that, adding: I will do everything I can to make sure that the president stays in office.

Mr Scaramucci warned that a belated second Trump term would see him attempt to expand his executive power to the limit and spend his time pursuing vendettas and going after his adversaries using the Department of Justice.

Alyssa Farah Griffin

Alyssa Farah Griffin (ABC)

One of The Moochs predecessors, Alyssa Farah Griffin has likewise made it clear that she cannot countenance a second Trump term.

She told ABC in December: Fundamentally, a second Trump term could mean the end of American democracy as we know it, and I dont say that lightly.

Elaborating during an appearance on The View, Ms Griffin was no less emphatic: Donald Trump in office could spell, frankly, the last election in our lifetime.

She subsequently threw her support behind Ms Haley before she suspended her campaign.

Stephanie Grisham

Stephanie Grisham (AP)

White House press secretary from July 2019 to April 2020, Stephanie Grisham told CNNs Newsroom earlier this year: He used to tell me when I was press secretary, Go out there and say this. And if it was false, he would say, It doesnt matter, Stephanie. Just say it over and over and over again, people will believe it.

He knows his base believes in him. He knows he can basically say anything and his base will believe what hes saying.

She said that while this approach might help propel him into the general [election] it would not succeed with more moderate Republicans and independents voters.

Theyre much much smarter than that, and so I think that that hes gonna get in trouble in the general with these kinds of lies.

Sarah Matthews

The former White House deputy press secretary, who resigned in response to the Capitol riot, sat down with ABC in December to discuss the risk of a second Trump presidency.

Ms Matthews stressed that her former boss has not backed down on his 2020 election fraud claims and said that she believes his rhetoric since has become increasingly erratic.

We dont need to speculate what a second Trump term would like because we already saw it play out, she said.

While she characterised a Biden-Trump rematch as a lose-lose scenario for her, Ms Matthews indicated that she will be backing the current president.

Ive never voted for a Democrat in my life, but I think that in this next election, I would put policy aside and choose democracy, she said.

Cassidy Hutchinson

Cassidy Hutchinson (AP)

The former aide to Mark Meadows, yet another Trump chief of staff, Cassidy Hutchinson stayed in her role until the end of his presidency. She later bravely provided bombshell testimony to the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot about the former presidents behaviour while the insurrection was underway.

The insider-turned-whistleblower told ABC News in December that this years vote is a fundamental election to continue to safeguard our institutions and our constitutional republic.

Cautioning against another Trump win, she said: If Donald Trump is elected president again in 2024, I do fear that it will be the last election where were voting for democracy because if he is elected again, I dont think well be voting under the same Constitution.

She explicitly said she would not be voting for Mr Trump this time around but declined to say who she would support.

However, she did encourage everybody to vote for Mr Biden if they want our democracy to survive.
MBABANE  The Eswatini Sugar Association (ESA) has as emerged the Best Global Exporter of the Year.

The company was named the winner during the Eswatini Annual Exporter Awards hosted by the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) and Business Eswatini, with support from the USAID Africa Trade and Investment Southern Africa Buy-in Activity. The runner-up was Montigny Investments followed by TQM, a textile manufacturer, in third place. The export activity being awarded in this category refers to all products exported from Eswatini to any market across the world. ESA was named the best global exporter because of its footprints beyond the countrys preferential trade agreements with key trading partners such as the USA, the EU, the UK, the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Southern African Customs Union (SACU), to expand its exports and increase market share. The company took the Best Exporter to the rest of the world award.

Last years winners at the Annual Eswatini Exporter Awards included Montigny Investments, which won the overall Exporter of the Year title. They also won the Exporter of the Year Award  South African Market with the Exporter of the Year  U.S. Market being won by Golden Jubilee Apparels. The companies who have secured top positions at this years awards in Eswatini will form part of a regional competition which will see local winners compete against other exporters from the SADC Region later this year. This years awards ceremony also included a peer learning activity aimed at helping new and experienced exporters navigate the complexities of exporting to South Africa and the United States.

The award ceremony was held last Friday at the Happy Valley Hotel. Business Eswatini Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nathi Dlamini received the awards on behalf of ESA. Sibusiso Mnisi, Manager of External Trade at EIPA congratulated all category winners and the runners-up. Mnisi said export trade formed a key part of Eswatinis economic performance every year. He said in striving for economic growth, they could not ignore the markets beyond Eswatini borders and the products offered which were well produced by local companies and in demand in these markets. Winners all categories are as follows. Entries were evaluated based on their export activity between April 2022 and March 2023.




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Donald Trump has failed to secure a bond to satisfy the nearly half a billion dollar civil fraud judgment against him, his lawyers told an appeals court on Monday.

The former presidents attorneys argued that finding a company to back a bond in excess of $454m plus millions of dollars in interest is a practical impossibility, and one that raises the possibility that New York Attorney General Letitia James can begin seizing his assets unless the court intervenes.

Mr Trump faces insurmountable difficulties securing a bond, according to his attorneys. The former president has approached about 30 surety companies through four separate brokers to no avail  one week before Ms James can begin collecting.

Critical among these challenges is not just the inability and reluctance of the vast majority of sureties to underwrite a bond for this unprecedented sum, but, even more significantly, the unwillingness of every surety bond provider approached by defendants to accept real estate as collateral, they wrote.

Those companies will only accept cash or cash equivalents, such as marketable securities, and typically would require collateral of approximately 120 per cent of the amount of the judgment, which in this case comes to nearly $560m.

Sureties would then likely charge bond premiums of approximately 2 per cent per year with two years in advance  an upfront cost over $18m, according to Mr Trumps attorneys.

That money would not be recoverable, even in the event that Mr Trump wins his appeal.

Mr Trump, his adult sons, two former Trump Organization executives and the entities associated with the brand-building properties in the Trump real estate empire were ordered to pay more than $464m at the conclusion of a three-year investigation and months-long trial targeting fraud in the familys business.

Defendants were found to have engaged in a decade-long scheme to fraudulently inflate the value of his net worth and assets in annual statements of financial condition that were given to banks and lenders to secure more favourable financing terms for some of his star properties.

The total disgorgement owed that is now owed back to the state  money that is effectively forfeited as ill-gotten gains  amounts to roughly $364m, with an additional $100m in interest.

Post-judgment interest is accruing daily at the rate of 9 per cent per annum, or more than $114,000 for all defendants, including nearly $112,000 for Mr Trump alone.

His attorneys are now asking the court to pause the appeal bond in that amount, given these exceptional circumstances.

The deadline for Mr Trump to appeal the judgment is 25 March, after a 30-day stay of the judgment from New York Justice Arthur Engoron expires.

He can block collection of that judgment by posting the full amount either through an escrow account, effectively acting as a deposit, or by securing a third-party bond that can guarantee the full amount, plus a premium for doing so.

Ms James has mentioned that her office is prepared to begin collecting, should Mr Trump fail to do that.

But his attorneys have argued that the value of his real estate holdings  including star properties like his 40 Wall Street in New York and Mar-a-Lago in Florida  far exceed the judgment.

Such assets are impossible to secrete or dispose of surreptitiously, leaving the plaintiff effectively secured during the pendency of an appeal, they wrote.

But selling off those properties in a fire sale to finance an appeal would inevitably result in massive, irrecoverable losses  textbook irreparable injury, they added.

Mr Trumps strained finances follow a nearly $92m bond in his appeal of a defamation verdict stemming from E Jean Carrolls lawsuit against the former president.

He was required to put up 110 per cent of the $83.3m judgment to pause collections while the appeal plays out.

Mr Trump lined up a loan through the Federal Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the Chubb Corporation, whose CEO was appointed to a trade advisory committee during the Trump administration.

But that company does not appear to be prepared to support his bond in his fraud verdict.

Chubb told Mr Trump that the company would be unwilling to accept real estate as collateral, Mr Trumps attorneys wrote to the appeals court on Monday.

Unfortunately, we have been advised that there are only a handful of sureties in the market that have both the financial capability and willingness to underwrite a bond of this magnitude, they wrote.

According to his brokers, the vast majority simply do not have the financial strength to handle a bond of this size, they said. Of those that do, the vast majority are unwilling to accept the risk associated with such a large bond.

A looming financial crisis for the Republican Partys nominee to face President Joe Biden for the presidency adds to a lengthy list of legal complications, including dozens of criminal charges, with at least one trial expected to begin before the general election in November.

It also presents significant questions surrounding how and where he raises the millions of dollars he needs to continue his legal battles, with the White House serving as an ostensible shield against his growing legal issues.

Mr Trump has relied on his fundraising arms to collect tens of millions of dollars from supporters largely to pay off his legal fees and attorneys who are working on his cases while courting billionaire donors and transforming the GOPs financial apparatus into one that can bankroll his campaign.
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A man died after falling from a hot air balloon on a suburban Melbourne street.

The hot air balloon took off at around 7am from CT Barling Reserve in citys northern suburbs and was in the air for about 30 minutes before the man fell from the basket.

Emergency services were called to Albert Street in Preston where the victims body was found around 7.30am on Monday. The balloon landed safely at Yarra Bend Park, located miles from where the mans body was found.

Police said it will prepare a report for the coroner and the death is not being treated as suspicious. Police are also speaking with the balloons pilot, other occupants, and witnesses to determine the circumstances of his death.

Authorities closed off the roads between Wood Street and Murray Road, asking motorists to avoid the area.

A resident said that his brother heard a loud bang before the street was filled with the sound of sirens.

I actually only heard the sirens, a lot of them he told 9 News.

My brother heard a loud bang, almost like something like a large item falling in your house. And it wasnt until we heard all the sirens that we came out.

Power lines were strewn across the road and a white sheet was laid on the footpath, the outlet reported.

The National Commercial Hot-Air Ballooning Industry and the Australian Ballooning Federation expressed condolences for the mans family and friends.

The authorities are also organising counselling for witnesses. Passengers and the pilot are understandably traumatised by this tragedy and the operator is arranging psychological support and counselling for all affected, the statement added

Explaining the safety mechanism of the hot air balloon, an industry spokesperson told ABC News that balloon baskets are designed with safety in mind, specifically to prevent passengers from falling out accidentally or from any accidental exit.

The matter is also being investigated by the Air Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, reported the Guardian.

This is not the first accident involving a hot air balloon. Earlier in April 2022, three people suffered minor injuries after a hot air balloon on a maiden flight with 13 passengers was forced to land among building in Elwood in Melbournes south-east.

On New Years Eve in 2021, a balloon basket dragged for nearly 30 miles in east Melbourne, injuring two people.
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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.
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The British Embassy in Ukraine has been forced to deny rumours that King Charles III has died after Kremlin-approved state media channels, some with millions of followers on social media, began spreading the fake news.

The first false claims appeared out of nowhere on the Telegram messenger service on Monday afternoon. A photoshopped image with the Buckingham Palace logo on the top read: The following announcement is made by royal communications. The King passed away unexpectedly yesterday afternoon.

Mondays date was then posted on the bottom of the fake letter, which appears to have been modelled on the palaces announcement of the late queens death that said: The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

Multiple smaller media sites, including a Telegram channel used by Vedomosti, once Russias most respected business newspaper, initially shared this post. All cited media reports as evidence of the fake story.

Several of Russias most followed state media sites quickly picked up the story, posting a picture of King Charles in military uniform.

British King Charles III died at the age of 75, media reports, wrote Readovka, a Telegram channel with more than 2 million followers.

Russian media reported the death of British King Charles III with reference to a document allegedly published by Buckingham Palace, wrote Baza, another channel with roughly 1.2 million followers.

Within minutes, both channels either edited their original posts (in the case of Baza) or issued corrections (in the case of Readovka) stating that the story had not yet been confirmed by official sources. And half an hour later, Tass, the Russian government-owned news agency, claimed they had spoken to Buckingham Palace, who had confirmed the King continues to perform work duties and attend to private affairs.

But by that time, the story had already gone viral.

A leading television station in Ukraine reposted the story, as did several other prominent channels with hundreds of thousands of followers.

The story even travelled as far as Tajikistan, where Asia-Plus, its biggest independent media outlet, had done a write-up.

After several hours, during which all the major Russian state channels had backtracked but the story had nonetheless spread, the British embassy in Ukraine was forced to issue a denial.

The fake Buckingham Palace announcement shared on Telegram appears to be a photoshopped version of message reporting the Queens death (Telegram )

We would like to inform you that the news about the death of King Charles III is fake, a spokesperson tweeted out on X. The British embassy in Moscow also denied the claim.

It is unclear whether the fake story was deliberately pushed by Russian state media channels to sow chaos or if the outlets made a mistake.

But the British Ministry of Defence has previously warned that Russian media, all under the strict control of Vladimir Putins regime, is being mobilised to spread disinformation against the West, often merely by publishing nonsensical fake stories.

Millions of Ukrainians, as well as Russians, rely on Telegram and other social media sites for their news - and have no access to British press. And many stories that do no make it onto the official sites of Russias state media will be posted on their Telegram channels.

In any case, King Charles, who was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, is expected to be attending his official birthday celebrations in June.

Palace aides are looking into how King Charles can participate in the festivities on 15 June as he continues to carry out his duties in private following his cancer diagnosis.
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Vladimir Putin has said the late opposition figure Alexei Navalnys name for the first time in public just minutes after declaring victory in the rigged Russian presidential elections.

Speaking at his campaign headquarters hours after exit polls predicted he would win more than 87 per cent of the vote in the sham election, Putin described the death of Mr Navalny as a sad event - before claiming that he had given the all-clear for the opposition figure to be in a prisoner swap.

Mr Navalny died last month in the Arctic Circle penal colony where was being held on lengthy, trumped up charges of extremism.

The Russian authorities maintain he died of natural causes; Mr Navalnys allies say he was murdered.

His death came weeks after he urged Russians to vote for anyone but Putin in the presidential elections.

As for Mr. Navalny, Putin said, Yes, he passed away. This is always a sad event.

In a routine case of Putin whataboutism, he added: But we have had other cases where people died in prison. Doesnt that ever happen in the USA?

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in a prison camp, stands in a queue outside the Russian Embassy on the final day of the presidential election in Russia, in Berlin (REUTERS)

He then said that his officials had passed on an offer to release Mr Navalny in a prisoner swap a few days before he died.

Mr Navalnys team, in the wake of his death, claimed that Putin had been handed their proposal to swap the opposition figure for Vadim Krasikov, a hitman from the Russian secret service (FSB) who is serving a life sentence in a German jail for murdering an opponent of the Putin regime.

The Kremlin denied this happened when asked about it last month.

But in his speech on Sunday evening, Putin said he immediately agreed to the prisoner swap when it was presented to him.

I immediately said, I agree, he claimed. Unfortunately what happened happened. The condition was that he never comes back. It happens. What can you do? Thats life.

Putins comments caused fury among Mr Navalnys team.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny addresses supporters during an unauthorized anti-Putin rally on May 5, 2018 in Moscow (AFP/Getty)

Kira Yarmysh, Mr Navalnys spokesperson, posted a segment of Putins speech alongside the caption: Putin killed Alexei Navalny.

Maria Pevchikh, head of investigations at Mr Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X: I dont have words yet. What a cynical, lying scum. Unimaginable.

Critics of the Putin regime have suggested it is telling that the autocrat chose his victory speech to finally utter Mr Navalnys name.

After the opposition figure died, but before the presidential elections, Kremlin-controlled state media barely reported on his death.

While the result of the elections was never in doubt, the Kremlin had gone to great lengths to quash any possibility of the three days of voting being disturbed. Mr Navalny, more than any other opposition figure, was best placed to incite such disturbance, even from the confines of solitary confinement.

Putin was afraid and insecure, says Oleg Kozlovsky, a Russia researcher at Amnesty International and the co-founder of Oborona, a democratic youth movement in Russia. It is telling that the spell which had prevented him from saying Alexei Navalnys name was only broken now.

He called for an international inquiry into Mr Navalnys death. We dont see Russia showing any intent of doing it, he said.
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Watch as the head of Russia's Central Election Commission announced preliminary results of the countrys sham presidential election held over 15-17 March.

The election saw Vladimir Putin tighten his grip on power following the stifling of any real opposition after early results on Sunday showed Mr Putin won nearly 88 per cent of the vote, marking a record for him by extending his nearly quarter-of-a-century rule for another six-year term.

Defence secretary Grant Shapps has accused the Russian leader of behaving like a modern-day Stalin and foreign secretary David Cameron described the election as not free and fair.

Mr Putin faced competition from just three candidates who toed the Kremlin line by not criticised his rule nor his invasion of Ukraine, and his main rival Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony last month.

Other critics are either in jail or in exile.
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A decade ago, President Vladimir Putin seized Crimea from Ukraine, a land grab that set the stage for Russia to invade its neighbor in 2022.

The quick and bloodless seizure of the diamond-shaped peninsula, home to Russia's Black Sea fleet and a popular vacation site, touched off a wave of patriotism and sent Putin's popularity soaring. Crimea is ours! became a popular slogan in Russia.

Now that Putin has been anointed to another six-year term as president, he is determined to extend his gains in Ukraine amid Russia's battlefield successes and waning Western support for Kyiv.

Putin has been vague about his goals in Ukraine as the fighting grinds into a third year at the expense of many lives on both sides, but some of his top lieutenants still talk of capturing Kyiv and cutting Ukraines access to the Black Sea.

The largest conflict in Europe since World War II has sent tensions between Moscow and the West soaring to levels rarely seen during even the chilliest moments of the Cold War.

When he seized Crimea in 2014, Putin said he persuaded Western leaders to back down by reminding them of Moscows nuclear capabilities. It's a warning he has issued often, notably after the start of his full-scale invasion; in last month's state-of-the-nation address, when he declared the West risks nuclear war if it deepens its involvement in Ukraine; and again on Wednesday, when he said he would use that arsenal if Russia's sovereignty is threatened.

Analyst Tatiana Stanovaya says Putin feels more confident than ever amid the Kremlins growing faith in Russias military advantage in the war with Ukraine and a sense of the weakness and fragmentation of the West.

FILE - Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, Speaker of the Crimean legislature Vladimir Konstantinov, second left, Crimean Premier Sergei Aksyonov, left, and Sevastopol Mayor Alexei Chalyi, right, shake hands after signing a treaty for Crimea to join Russia (Sputnik)

The senior fellow at Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center noted that Putins speech last month created an extremely chilling impression of an unraveling spiral of escalation.

The 71-year-old Kremlin leader has cast the war in Ukraine as a life-or-death battle against the West, with Moscow ready to protect its gains at any cost. His obsession with Ukraine was clear in an interview with U.S. conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, with Putin delivering a long lecture that sought to prove his claim that the bulk of its territory historically belonged to Russia.

He made that argument 10 years ago when he said Moscow needed to protect Russian speakers in Crimea and reclaim its territory.

When Ukraines Kremlin-friendly president was ousted in 2014 by mass protests that Moscow called a U.S.-instigated coup, Putin responded by sending troops to overrun Crimea and calling a plebiscite on joining Russia, which the West dismissed as illegal.

Russia then annexed Crimea on March 18, 2014, although the move was only recognized internationally by countries such as North Korea and Sudan.

Weeks later, Moscow-backed separatists launched an uprising in eastern Ukraine, battling Kyivs forces. The Kremlin denied supporting the rebellion with troops and weapons despite abundant evidence to the contrary, including a Dutch courts finding that a Russia-supplied air defense system downed a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 people aboard.

Russian hard-liners later criticized Putin for failing to capture all of Ukraine that year, arguing it was easily possible at a time when the government in Kyiv was in disarray and its military in shambles.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and then Ukrainian president-elect Petro Poroshenko, center, talk at the 70th anniversary of D-Day in Benouville in Normandy, France, June 6, 2014

Putin instead backed the separatists and opted for a peace deal for eastern Ukraine that he hoped would allow Moscow to establish control over its neighbor. The 2015 Minsk agreement brokered by France and Germany, following painful defeats suffered by Ukrainian forces, obliged Kyiv to offer the separatist regions broad autonomy, including permission to form their own police force.

Had it been fully implemented, the agreement would have allowed Moscow to use the separatist areas to dictate Kyivs policies and prevent it from ever joining NATO. Many Ukrainians saw the deal as a betrayal of its national interests.

Russia viewed the election of political novice Volodymyr Zelenskyy as president in 2019 as a chance to revive the anemic Minsk deal. But Zelenskyy stood his ground, leaving the agreement stalled and Putin increasingly exasperated.

When Putin announced his special military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, he hoped the country would fall as quickly and easily as Crimea. But the attempt to capture Kyiv collapsed amid stiff Ukrainian resistance, forcing Russian troops to withdraw from the outskirts of the capital.

More defeats followed in fall 2022, when Russian troops retreated from large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine under a swift counteroffensive by Kyiv.

Fortunes changed last year when another Ukrainian counteroffensive failed to cut Russia's land corridor to Crimea. Kyivs forces suffered heavy casualties when they made botched attempts to break through multilayered Russian defenses.

As Western support for Ukraine dwindled amid political infighting in the U.S. and Kyiv ran short of weapons and ammunition, Russian troops have intensified pressure along the over 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, relying on hundreds of thousands of volunteer soldiers and the newly supplied weapons that replaced early losses.

After capturing the key eastern stronghold of Avdiivka last month, Russia has pushed deeper into the Donetsk region as Zelenskyy pleads with the West for more weapons.

Testifying before the U.S. Senate last week, CIA Director William Burns emphasized the urgency of U.S. military aid, saying: "Its our assessment that with supplemental assistance, Ukraine can hold its own on the front lines through 2024 and into early 2025.

Without it, he said, Ukraine is likely to lose ground  and probably significant ground  in 2024, adding, you're going to see more Avdiivkas.

Pro-Russian gunmen take positions near the airport outside Donetsk, Ukraine, on Monday, May 26, 2014 (Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The dithering Western support has put Ukraine in an increasingly precarious position, analysts say.

Russia is gaining momentum in its assault on Ukraine amid stalled Western aid, making the coming months critical to the direction of conflict, said Ben Barry, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, in an analysis. In a worst-case scenario, parts of Kyivs front line could be at risk of collapse.

Putin demurred when asked how deep into Ukraine he would like to forge, but he repeatedly stated that the line of contact should be pushed long enough to protect Russian territory from long-range weapons in Ukraine's arsenal. Some members of his entourage are less reticent, laying out plans for new land grabs.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russias Security Council who has sought to curry Putins favor with regular hawkish statements, mentioned Kyiv and the Black Sea port of Odesa.

Ukraine is Russia, he bluntly declared recently, ruling out any talks with Zelenskyys government and suggesting a peace formula that would see Kyiv's surrender and Moscow's annexation of the entire country.

Russian defense analysts are divided over Moscows ability to pursue such ambitious goals.

Sergei Poletaev, a Moscow-based military expert, said the Russian army has opted for a strategy of draining Ukraine resources with attacks along the front line in the hope of achieving a point when Kyivs defenses would collapse.

What matters is the damage inflicted to the enemy, making the enemy weaken faster, he said.

Others say Russia's attacks seeking to exhaust Ukraine's military are costly for Moscow, too.

Russian and Ukrainian forces are locked in a stalemate that gives Moscow little chance of a breakthrough, said Ruslan Pukhov, head of the Center for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies think tank.

The Ukrainian defense is quite strong, and it doesnt allow Russian troops to achieve anything more substantial than tactical gains, he said.

Such a positional war of attrition "could be waged for years, Pukhov added, with both parties waiting for the other to face internal changes resulting in a policy shift.
 Close Zelensky rejects Putins claims that Ukraine involved in Moscow attack

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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.
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A 10-year-old girl is among five people injured in the second bear attack in Slovakia in just three days, authorities have said.

A state of emergency has been declared in Liptovsky Mikulas, near the Tatra mountains in northern Slovakia, after footage showed a large brown bear attacking residents.

It is the second attack in just three days after a 31-year-old Belarussian woman, identified as Tatiana, was found dead following another brown bear sighting nearby.

Among the injured in the latest attack are a 49-year-old woman, who was being treated in hospital for a shoulder injury, and a 72-year-old man who suffered a cut on his head.

A 10-year-old girl and two further adults suffered scratches and bruises, authorities said, while a couple pushing their child in a buggy were lucky to escape unharmed.

Residents have been asked not to leave their homes, particularly in the early and late hours, as animal hunters arrived at the town to seek out the bear.

The bear has been pushed into uninhabited zones by rescue and security forces where emergency teams  have orders to eliminate it, the town hall said.

Hunters will patrol in the at-risk area, police patrols have been strengthened and brown bear emergency teams from all over the country have been ordered to our city and surroundings. A thermal imaging drone is also being deployed.

We are a town between mountains, but still a town. We cannot allow a bear to attack five people in the centre in broad daylight.

Footage has shown the bear charging through the streets of Liptovsky Mikulas, attacking multiple civilians as they rush to avoid contact with the animal.

The hunt comes just a few days after 31-year-old Tatiana was found dead in the Low Tatra mountain range near Liptovsky Mikulas, having encountered a brown bear while she was walking with a 29-year-old male companion.

The pair split and ran in opposite directions after encountering the bear. Rescue teams with dogs and drones then mounted a search after being alerted by the man, who was located scared but unhurt at the top of a steep ravine.

The womans body was later found at the bottom.

Slovakian authorities suggested on Monday their initial investigation had shown the woman died as a result of her fall, as opposed to having been mauled by the bear.

Brown bears have returned to their natural habitats across the Carpathian mountains, which stretch from Romania, through western Ukraine, to Slovakia and Poland, following improved environmental protection measures introduced in the late 1980s. There is now an estimated domestic population in Slovakia of 1,275 bears.

But this has led to several bear attacks in recent years in the country, including Slovakias first fatal assault in more than a century in 2021, when a 57-year-old man was found in the central Bansko valley with his hip, neck and hand mauled, and recent bear prints nearby.

Members of Slovakias government have called for the bears endangered species status to be relaxed so that they can be culled and hunted.

On Sunday, the junior environment minister, Filip Kuffa, outlined a draft law to allow bears to be shot outside urban areas under certain conditions. Along with Romania, the Slovakian ministry aims to propose a reclassification of the species at the European Union level.
Kupiansk, in northeast Ukraine, has been ravaged more than most cities since Moscows full-blown invasion began two years ago.

Russian troops poured in from across the border 30 miles away and within days occupied Kupiansk. However, in September 2022, Ukraine recaptured Kupiansk and other large areas of Kharkiv region the Russians had seized.

Since then, the Russians have been trying to wrest back Kupiansk because it is an important railway hub, supplying troops that would allow Moscow to try and make further advances. Therefore, Kupiansk has become a symbol of Ukraines determination to resist Moscow.
MBABANE  The NEU Professionals Limited is set for a second recruitment drive for mental health and learning disability nurses in the country.

The recruitment company will be visiting the country to interview and recruit nurses to work within the United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service next month. Interviews will be conducted in Mbabane on April 17 and 18, 2024. On the previous recruitment drive, which was conducted last year by the NEU Professionals, 87 nurses were recruited. Many of the nurses were offered senior roles in the UK NHS. NEU Professionals Limited is an international healthcare recruitment agency headquartered in London.

Support

It was formed in 2013 with the specific aim of helping to support the NHS Trusts with the recruitment of nurses from the European Union (EU) and overseas. The Directors of NEU Professionals Limited, Edyta Ozbek, said their services were completely free for their candidates at all times and they were bound by a regulatory code of ethics that ensured the well-being of candidates. Our pioneering approaches to the international recruitment field have led us to be able to offer opportunities to employers which cannot be emulated by others in the sector. Working with in-country stakeholders such as nursing unions, nursing associations, and universities we have developed a network of highly motivated and engaged bodies actively looking to send nurses to the UK via NEU Professionals as a trusted partner, Ozbek said.

According to the recruitment company website, they will be offering in-person interviews for nurses with experience in mental health and learning disability. The website explains that during the event, nurses would have the opportunity to meet their outstanding team members who would help with any questions about working as a mental health and learning disability nurse in the UK as well as the recruitment process. According to the website, nurses must have a nursing Degree in post-secondary level, leading to registration as a general nurse and also have a minimum of 12 months work experience in mental health or learning disability. To be shortlisted for an interview, your English language level must fall into one of the following categories; have an Occupational English Test (OET/ Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) certificate at the level required by the UKs Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).

For IELTS you must achieve at least 7 in reading, listening, and speaking, and at least 6.5 in writing. For OET, you must achieve at least a grade B (350 to 440) in reading, listening and speaking, and at least a grade C+ (300 to 340) in writing. or have an OET/ Academic IELTS examination already booked (proof of booking required) or do not have an English language certificate, but are willing to book the examination within three months of the interview, free English language training will be provided by NEU Professionals in this instance, read the website in part.

English

Adding, the website revealed that candidates should provide proof of English language level by sharing evidence when submitting applications. According to the agency, applicants are also required to check their current level of English by completing a free English language test using the British Councils English Score mobile application. Once the test is completed, please take a screenshot of your score (i.e. A2, B1, B2, or C1) and attach it as part of the registration form. Please note that to be shortlisted for interviews, we require a minimum English language level of B2, NEU Professionals said. The company went on to state that candidates who had already passed their English language examination would be prioritised for interviews/shortlisting. They strongly recommended that applicants should put every effort into booking their English language examination in advance. Putting together a study plan to demonstrate your commitment and motivation to meeting this requirement is also recommended, NEU Professionals advised. Nurses can apply at https://neuprofessionals.com/register-with-us-today/

In last years recruitment, NEU Professionals highlighted that recruited nurses would receive additional support to meet UK nursing and midwifery registration requirements; including free specialised training to pass an approved English test. They assisted nurses with visas and flights and they promised to be in contact with them throughout their relocation and beyond, assisting with cultural adaptation. Furthermore, the company said the few unsuccessful candidates, who were predominantly midwives, did not meet the criteria to work as health nurses, so they were unable to recruit them on this occasion.

Ethical

Unsuccessful candidates were advised to re-apply for other vacancies with NEU Professionals. NEU Professionals advises that any nurse or healthcare professional who is considering a career in the UK or abroad should ensure they work with an ethical agency such as NEU Professionals, who do not charge any fees to candidates for their recruitment services", Ozbek said.
This weekend, 100 million Russians and a further six million living in occupied Ukrainian territory got a taste of what democracy, Vladimir Putin-style, looks like  which is, as the droll Russian saying has it, an election without a choice.

The sense of inevitability of the result, alongside the near-total concentration of power in the Kremlin, meant that the opposition has already been dealt a death blow before the polls even opened. Literally so, in the case of Alexei Navalny, the charismatic dissident who died of mysterious causes in an Arctic prison camp last month.

The intimidation is spreading: Navalnys close ally Leonid Volkov was attacked last week with a hammer in Lithuania, in what he termed a gangster greeting from the Kremlin who wanted to make a schnitzel out of me.
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Widespread famine is imminent in north Gaza, where an estimated 70 per cent of the population faces catastrophic hunger, a UN report has said  warning of a major acceleration of death if an immediate ceasefire is not reached alongside an increase in aid.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), whose assessments are relied on by UN agencies, said that nearly three-quarters of people in parts of northern Gaza were now afflicted by the most severe level of food shortage, far exceeding the 20 per cent famine threshold.

Those in the two regions of northern Gaza would face famine between now and May, the report said. It estimated residents would be dying at famine scale imminently, and children under four may already be. In all, 1.1 million Palestinians in Gaza, around half the total population, were experiencing catastrophic shortages of food, the worst category and nearly double the levels form the last report in December. In the worst-case scenario, the IPC said central and southern Gaza could also face the risk of famine by July.

The actions needed to prevent famine require an immediate political decision for a ceasefire together with a significant and immediate increase in humanitarian and commercial access to the entire population of Gaza, the IPC report said. All efforts must be made to ensure the provision of food, water, medicines, and protection of civilians, as well as to restore and provide health, water, and sanitation services, and energy.

Famine has only been declared just twice in the past 13 years: in parts of Somalia in 2011 and in parts of South Sudan in 2017 but never in the Middle East. The report said that the lack of access aid agencies have had to bring aid in has had a significant impact, with UN and EU officials accusing Israel of a man-made famine.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres called the IPC report an appalling indictment of conditions on the ground.

This is an entirely man-made disaster and the report makes clear that it can be halted, he told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, calling on Israel to ensure access for humanitarian goods throughout Gaza.

He joined a chorus of condemnation from international diplomats, aid organisations and rights groups who said that Israel was wielding hunger as a weapon, which is a war crime.

Palestinians gather to receive aid outside a UN warehouse in Gaza City, northern Gaza (Reuters)

Starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine, said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell at the opening of a conference on humanitarian aid for Gaza in Brussels on Monday.

Gaza was before the war the greatest open-air prison. Today, it is the greatest open-air graveyard, he added.

The executive director of the UNs World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain, said: People in Gaza are starving to death right now. The speed at which this man-made hunger and malnutrition crisis has ripped through Gaza is terrifying... There is a very small window left to prevent an outright famine and to do that we need immediate and full access to the north. If we wait until famine has been declared, its too late. Thousands more will be dead.

British aid agency Oxfam said the speed by which the levels of hunger had been reached in Gaza was unprecedented. Never before have we seen such rapid deterioration into widespread starvation," Oxfams interim chief executive, Aleema Shivji, said in response to the IPC report. Israels deliberate manufacturing of suffering is systemic and of such scale and intensity that it creates a real risk of a genocide in Gaza.

Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz hit out at such accusations and said specifically that Mr Borrell should stop attacking Israel and recognise our right to self-defence against Hamas crimes. Israel has allowed extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza by land, air, and sea for anyone willing to help, Mr Katz claimed on X/Twitter.

Israel has launched an unprecedented bombardment of Gaza and a crippling blockade in retaliation for the 7 October attacks on southern Israel where Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people and took another 250 people hostage.

Since then Israels offensive has killed more than 31,000 people in Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials, who told The Independent there have been at least 27 reported deaths due to starvation and dehydration, including 23 children.

Medics struggling to treat the sick, hungry and wounded in north Gaza said that the most vulnerable now were children as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Humanitarian aid is airdropped to Palestinians in Gaza City, northern Gaza (AP)

Imagine, out of 10 women giving birth, seven of them end up in our hospitals intensive care unit mostly because of malnutrition, Ahmed al-Kahlout, a senior nurse at Kamal Adwan Hospital said in a video message, adding that many were now miscarrying from hunger.

Breastfeeding mothers cannot feed their babies because they cannot find enough food to eat, he said, describing how the medical staff themselves were forced to eat animal feed.

The IPC said that because of a lack of aid, almost all households were skipping meals every day and adults were reducing their meals so children could eat.

In northern Gaza, the IPC said in nearly two-thirds of households people were resorting to extreme coping mechanisms including adults not eating for days and nights. In southern areas, that applied to one-third of the households.

The IPC emphasised that it was vital to note that the projected famine can be prevented or alleviated through the immediate delivery of aid and a ceasefire.

All evidence points towards a major acceleration of death and malnutrition. Waiting for a retrospective Famine classification before acting is indefensible, it said.

Israel has repeatedly denied blocking supplies in Gaza. But UN agencies, human rights and aid organisations, as well private charitable initiatives have accused Israel, which controls everything that goes into and through Gaza, of strangling  and in some cases outright blocking  assistance with a Kafka-esque system that is having a devastating effect. Officials say only two land crossings into south Gaza are open at the moment and none in north Gaza, despite the fact there are half a dozen others which could allow life-saving aid to reach the most vulnerable.

The Independent has also been told that aid trucks often had to wait weeks to enter Gaza and that convoys  including ones run by UN aid agencies  that tried to reach the heavily destroyed north of the strip had been delayed or rejected by the Israeli military. The other barrier was what items were allowed to enter in the first place. Officials within UN agencies, Palestinian, international and Israeli charities, said Israel is arbitrarily denying entry of a slew of lifesaving goods, including water purification tablets and filters, because they are labelled at risk of dual use for war by the militants.

Israeli officials denied these accusations in statements.

Negotiations for a ceasefire in the war, now in its sixth month, were due to resume on Monday with an Israeli delegation led by the country's spy chief heading to Qatar. But an Israeli official said negotiations could probably take at least two more weeks, a clear disappointment for Washington which had sought a deal by the start of the Ramadan holy month last week.
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Israeli forces launched an overnight raid at Gazas largest medical facility, the Al-Shifa Hospital, and detained 80 people amid fears that many others were killed in the compound where thousands were taking shelter.

The operation by the Israeli forces in the medical facility caused multiple casualties and set off a massive fire in one of the buildings, Palestinian health authorities said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its soldiers were at Al-Shifa to carry out a "high precision operation in limited areas" following intel that Hamas terrorists were operating from the hospital.

A fire broke out in the hospitals surgical wing due to Israeli bombing, reported Al-Jazeera, adding that some people were injured and killed.

Tanks surrounded the hospital in the dark of night and drones and quadcopters were also reported over the facility, causing panic among medics, patients, and other people who were inside.

IDF troops are currently conducting a precise operation in the area of Shifa Hospital  based on intelligence information indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists to conduct and promote terrorist activity, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.

Gazas Health Ministry, an agency of the Hamas-controlled government, said Israeli forces have fabricated narratives to deceive the world to justify the storming of the Al-Shifa Hospital.

We hold the Israeli occupation responsible for the lives of medical staff, patients and displaced people inside the Al-Shifa medical complex, it said.

The Health Ministry said communication had been cut off with people trapped inside the surgery and emergency units of one of the buildings. Many people were suffocating from the smoke caused by the fire.

There are casualties, including deaths and injuries, and its impossible to rescue anyone due to the intensity of the fire and targeting of anyone approaching the windows, the ministry said.

Unverified videos on social media showed dozens of people fleeing the hospital compound with their flashlights on as the sound of bombing rang out.

Rear Admiral Hagari said during the encirclement of the complex terrorists opened fire from within the hospital and soldiers returned fire.

Displaced Palestinians gather in the yard of Gazas Al-Shifa Hospital on 10 December (AFP via Getty Images)

The Israeli military issued grainy drone footage of the operation, showing troops coming under fire from a number of buildings in the hospital complex.

Footage circulated on social media appeared to show an Israeli tank blocking the main gate of Al Shifa.

Palestinian journalist Wadea Abu Alsoud was trapped inside the medical complex and shared the video, saying it could be his last.

He described the situation as catastrophic and there are intense clashes.

This might be my last video, he said in the video. Were now besieged inside Al-Shifa Hospital. Were being heavily shot at. The occupation suddenly raided the hospital and its vicinity. As you can hear now, there are intense clashes in the vicinity of Al-Shifa Hospital. Were hearing sounds coming from the gate. There is shrapnel falling over the hospitals yard.

Not far from Al-Shifa, Israeli forces raided a school where displaced families were taking refuge and several people were detained, residents said.

Tanks arrived in the area around the Beach refugee camp and fired shells at some buildings nearby, residents said.

On Sunday, Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved plans to launch a military assault on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, where more than one million Palestinians are sheltering with nowhere else to turn.

"We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen," he said, without clarifying if he meant the assault would last for weeks or would begin in weeks.

It comes amid mounting warnings by the US, UK, and other nations over the humanitarian crisis such an operation would cause in the last relatively safe place in the crowded Gaza enclave after more than five months of war.

US president Joe Biden has called an attack on Rafah a red line if undertaken without provisions to protect civilians. But he has also said the US will not abandon its support for Israel, its closest ally in the Middle East, regardless of Mr Netanyahus actions.

In November last year, IDF forces raided Al-Shifa Hospital to conduct what they called a search operation for Hamas terrorists and at least two babies died as a result of downed electricity in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The IDF later released videos and photographs of what it described as an operational tunnel within the Al-Shifa Hospital complex, as well as footage of a vehicle containing weapons. Earlier it released videos of duffel bags with guns that it said were found inside the hospital.
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Mediterranean air fares could be cheaper from Birmingham airport this summer as easyJet takes on Ryanair, Jet2 and Tui.

Britains biggest budget airline will launch a new base at the West Midlands airport with three aircraft. It is targeting key summer sun destinations, including the Spanish costas and Greek islands.

The aviation schedule analyst, Sean Moulton, said: easyJet coming to Birmingham has led to significant competition, which should be good for the customer.

The airline currently has a dozen routes to and from Birmingham, served by aircraft from other airports.

The new base will add 16 new links. Five serve key resort airports in Spain: Alicante, Barcelona, Fuerteventura, Malaga and Tenerife. All five face competition from both Jet2 and Ryanair  with Tui and the Spanish budget airline Vueling also competing.

One-way flights from Birmingham to Barcelona are selling for as little as 26 on a range of dates in June.

Johan Lundgren, chief executive of easyJet, told The Independent: Competition is good. It keeps us on our toes when it comes to delivering a great product and great value at fantastic fares.

This industry always has some fare wars going on. And I think its great because it does give consumers a great opportunity to to travel in a way that is not only for rich and privileged people.

Our average fare, from everything that is on sale across the whole of network still sells for under 50.

So were extremely excited about our entry into Birmingham.

A further four new links are to Greek islands: Corfu, Heraklion in Crete, Kos and Rhodes.

The longest new route is to Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt. Antalya and Dalaman in Turkey are the second and third most distant respectively.

New easyJet flights are also being introduced to Berlin, Jersey, Larnaca in Cyprus and Enfidha in Tunisia.

Mr Moulton said: Berlin will go from being unserved for many years to two carriers, as well as Jersey and Sharm receiving competition.

Birmingham will be easyJets first new base in the UK for 12 years. In recent years the carrier has closed bases at East Midlands, Newcastle, Stansted and Southend.

The chief executive of the West Midlands airport, Nick Barton, told The Independent that the winner would be the passenger.

None of the airlines are fearful of competition, so we can only expect to see them challenging each other and getting better. That's what they've done down the recent history of aviation.

So we are very, very comfortable in seeing that competitive tension between the airlines.

For more travel news, views and advice from Simon, download his daily Independent Travel podcast.
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With visitor numbers to leading UK tourist attractions struggling since the pandemic, a tourism leader has put part of the blame on Britains ban on Europeans travelling on ID cards.

After Brexit, the UK banned EU citizens from making business or leisure trips with their national identity cards. More than 200 million potential visitors from Europe have ID cards but not passports.

The governments central forecast in its impact assessment is that the UK would lose 890,000 visits by European citizens each year, with a financial loss of 590m.

Bernard Donoghue, director of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva), described the decision as illogical.

He told The Independent: We thought that was a disastrous act of economic self-harm.

The UKs top tourist attractions are still well below pre-Covid visitor numbers. Mr Donoghue  who is also the mayor of Londons ambassador for cultural tourism  said: Were down about 11 per cent compared to 2019.

The biggest missing group are the Chinese. They came out of lockdown last. Theyve been prioritising travelling within China and within East Asia first, but are starting to come back to the UK.

Were hopeful that we should get back up to pre-Covid levels of Chinese visitors by the end of 2025.

But he said the ID card ban is also causing harm to the UK inbound tourism industry.

It had nothing to do with immigration, the Alva director said.

It just felt illogical. Our English-language schools here in the UK have been suffering. Theyve been missing out on both customers and money for the last three years.

The main beneficiaries of the UK imposing extra red tape on prospective language students are Ireland, Malta and the United States.

It really has affected the visitor economy here in the UK, Mr Donoghue said.

The Institute of Tourist Guiding reported an almost total collapse of school group bookings after Brexit and Covid. Compared with 2019 they were 99 per cent down.

In 2022, Patricia Yates, chief executive of VisitBritain, told MPs: You will find destinations like Hastings absolutely decimated by a lack of school visits.

.A government spokesperson said: We recognise the importance of cultural and educational exchanges between the UK and other nations.

Last year, the prime minister committed to ease the travel of school groups to the UK by making changes to documentary requirements to make it easier for schoolchildren on organised trips from France.

In December 2023 the Home Office U-turned in the case of parties of children from French schools. They are now allowed to visit the UK using ID cards once again, rather than every child having to have a passport.

The government spokesperson said: We would consider negotiating with other countries in the context of wider discussions on migration issues.

Talks are understood to have taken place between senior UK tourism figures and opposition politicians on the prospect of widening exemptions swiftly were a Labour government to be elected.

Mr Donoghue also described Rishi Sunaks decision to abolish tax-free shopping as another act of economic self-harm.

The Alva director said: It means that overseas visitors are just spending less time here.

Theyll leave on day four of seven and go to Paris or Milan or Rome and do their shopping there.

The Office for Budget Responsibility estimated in 2020 that the government would save around 400m a year by withdrawing the VAT refund scheme.

The number of tourists was predicted to drop between 20,000 and 30,000 annually as a result of the move.

This would reduce the withdrawal-related revenue by about one quarter, said the OBR.

Listen to Simon Calders travel podcast with Bernard Donaghue on the state of UK tourism
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British Airways is planning to use driverless baggage tugs at Gatwick Airport to help in the battle against staff shortages across the aviation industry.

The Telegraph reported that one of the self-driving robot baggage carriers could be trialled by the International Consolidated Airlines Group  the parent company of BA  at Gatwick Airport as early as May.

If successful, the machines, including some equipped with unloading arms, could approve the efficiency and turnaround time of baggage claim at airports.

Last July, the threat of ground handling strikes at Gatwick Airport over one of the busiest weekends of the year was lifted after companies made improved pay offers to workers, but short staffing continues.

The senior vice president for Airport Futures at IAG, Steve McGowan, said that the baggage tugs require 90 per cent less labour and equipment from baggage handling staff.

McGowan told The Telegraph: IAG is exploring innovative ways to help its airlines run their operations as smoothly and punctually as possible.

We are working with Aurrigo to trial the use of autonomous baggage trollies, to help support the work of the fantastic baggage teams at our group airlines and our ground handling partners.

The Aurrigo machines priced between 100,000 and 250,000 have been tested at Changi Airport in Singapore since 2020 and were previously trialled part-time at Heathrow Airport by BA.

Aurrigo technology provides the robots with a digital replica of an airports floorplan so they can learn to overcome possible hazards and navigate direct routes to ferry baggage to aircrafts from the terminals.

Professor David Keene, Aurrigos chief executive, said that long wait times and missing baggage can really dent the customer experience.

He added: Airlines want to be able to offer consistently good standards from a customer point of view as well. Often youre in the airport building and its fantastic, youre on the plane and its quite modern, but then you get off and its lotto time at the baggage carousel.
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The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. Since November 2023 the Icelandic authorities have been monitoring seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik.

The latest eruption began on the evening of 16 March, with lava reaching the eastern edge of the fishing town of Grindavik  which has mostly been evacuated.

The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) reported: The eruption began at 20:23 UTC on 16 March, with a 2.9-km-long fissure forming quickly. The length and location of the fissure is similar to the eruption on 8 February 2024.

The IMO added that the lava was travelling at a speed of 1km per hour over the weekend, but in its latest updated noted that has slowed substantially, adding: The eruption has not ended, and lava continues to be extruded from a 0.5km-long fissure.

The Foreign Office warns: Recently there have been a series of volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland.

The capital city, Reykjavik, and the rest of Iceland has not been impacted by these eruptions. It is likely there will be further eruptions in this location. You should monitor local media for updates and follow the authorities advice on travel to the area.

The location is around 10 miles southwest of Keflavik airport, a major North Atlantic aviation hub. Flights are continuing to arrive and depart as normal.

These are the key questions and answers on consumer rights.

I am in Iceland. Will I be able to leave?

Yes, assuming the international airport remains open. Isavia, which runs the airport, said: An eruption has started on the Reykjaness Peninsula.

Keflavik airport and regional airports in Iceland are not impacted and fully operational.

You may be keen to leave earlier than booked, in order to guarantee your getaway, but at present you will not be able to switch flights without paying a penalty.

The FCDO advises travellers to check the following resources for updates:

Earlier earthquakes struck just 10 miles south of Icelands main airport, Keflavik International, but the UK Foreign Office said travel can go ahead (Vafri.is)

But didnt an Icelandic volcano shut down European aviation for a week?

Yes. Travellers may remember where they were in April 2010, when the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull erupted. The skies of northern Europe completely closed to passenger aviation for almost a week.

A quarter of a billion cubic metres of volcanic ash was ejected and was carried southeast towards the UK and continental Europe by the breeze. The fear was that volcanic ash could damage jet engines and potentially bring down aircraft. In the biggest shutdown of aviation since the Second World War, 50,000 flights were cancelled and 8 million passengers had their travel plans wrecked.

More than 50,000 flights, with eight million passengers booked to travel, were cancelled.

So far in 2023, though, ash has not been an issue in the current geological outburst.

Thankfully, the circumstances are very different. Eyjafjallajokull erupted with a glacier on top. The addition of melting water meant that the lava cooled very quickly into tiny fragments. These were promptly propelled into the atmosphere to a height of 30,000 feet by the steam produced in the eruption.

The current eruption is not having anything like the same effect. The lava will cool and remain on the ground.

In addition, new guidelines established in the wake of the 2010 eruption allow aircraft to fly if volcanic ash is present in reasonably small quantities. Another Icelandic volcano erupted in 2011, and in that case only 1 per cent of flights in northern Europe were cancelled  rather than 100 per cent on some days in that extraordinary time.

Icelands Blue Lagoon has been closed as a precuation (AP)

What if I am booked on a package holiday?

Foreign Office advice stops well short of advising against travel to Iceland, meaning holiday companies can continue to operate as normal  with no automatic right to cancel.

Iceland is a country peppered with volcanic sites (Icelandic Met Office)

Until and unless the Foreign Office warns against travel, the assumption is that everything will go ahead as normal.

The one exception is for holidaymakers who had planned to stay at the Blue Lagoon, an increasingly popular wellness destination, with an upmarket hotel on the site.

The Blue Lagoon has closed, with a statement on its website explaining: Due to a volcanic eruption that commenced on the morning of 8 February,we have closed all our operational units today, Thursday.

The current eruption site is a safe distance from Blue Lagoon.

Only those booked for a stay have the chance to cancel; if you were hoping to pop in as a day visitor for a steamy stop in the volcanic rock pools, you will need to return at some time in the future.

Can I claim on insurance?

No, unless it is one of the vanishingly rare cancel for any reason policies. On standard travel insurance, disinclination to travel is not an acceptable reason for a claim.

Would you go to Iceland at the moment?

Yes, I would relish the opportunity. Winter is an excellent time to visit Iceland for good value. Conditions right now are also excellent for the prospect of a good show from the Northern Lights, which are near the peak of the regular 11-year cosmic cycle.

The Icelandic authorities are expert at handling seismic events, with extremely good monitoring and emergency systems in place.

I would book a package holiday, though, knowing that if the earth gets too restless for comfort in the vicinity, I would be able to cancel for a full refund.

It could also be that the new eruption becomes an attraction in its own right, as some have done. But not right now. Clive Stacey, founder of the leading Iceland specialist travel firm Discover The World, said: As things stand this is not a tourist eruption in its present phase and sightseers have been warned to stay away from the area.
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The UKs most-visited tourist attraction last year has been revealed, with a surge in visitors compared to 2022.

The British Museum finished number one and saw a total of 5.8 million visitors in 2023, a 42 per cent jump on the previous year, according to trade body the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (Alva). The last time the British Museum topped the list was 2019.

Last years popularity was partly attributed to the success of its Chinas Hidden Century exhibition, which ran from May until October.

Bernard Donoghue, Alva director, said attractions are recovering well from the coronavirus lockdowns, with 146.6 million visits to major UK venues in 2023  a jump of 19 per cent on 2022.

However, he warned theyre still not back to full recovery as people got out of the habit of going to museums and galleries when they were closed.

The number of visits to attractions is still below pre-pandemic levels, down 11 per cent from 163.9 million in 2019 before the Covid-19 crisis.

Mr Donoghue told Simon Calders Independent Travel Podcast the industry was prepared for a long and slow recovery after lockdown.

Theres a change in the economy, of course, the cost of living crisis. And so people are being much more tactical, sensibly, about how they spend their leisure pounds.

Figures show the number of visits being made to tourism attractions is still below pre-pandemic levels (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Archive)

The limited return of Chinese tourists due to the countrys coronavirus travel restrictions is also affecting overall visitor numbers to UK tourism hotspots, although the tourism chief is hopeful that we should get back up to pre-Covid levels of Chinese visitors by the end of 2025.

After the British Museum, the second most-visited attraction was the Natural History Museum in west London, which had its best year for visits at 5.7 million.

In third place was Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, with 5.5 million visits.

Top Ten The UKs most-visited tourist attractions in 2023 The British Museum Natural History Museum Windsor Great Park Tate Modern Southbank Centre V&A South Kensington The National Gallery Science Museum Tower of London Somerset House

The most popular attraction in Scotland was Edinburghs National Museum of Scotland (2.2 million visits) while the number one spot in Wales was taken by St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff (600,000 visits).

Titanic Belfast had the most visits in Northern Ireland, with 800,000 people coming to the attraction.

Indoor attractions saw a 23 per cent increase in visitors compared with a 2 per cent increase in outdoor attractions.

In the Coronation year, Westminster Abbey had a 49 per cent increase in visitors to 1.5 million.

Mr Donoghue claimed that the governments failure to reverse its 2020 decision to end tax-free shopping for inbound visitors has led to a significant decrease in spending in attraction gift shops by overseas tourists.

We are absolutely missing out on expensive items being bought by visitors from around the world, particularly from America, the Middle East and the Far East, he said.

We know that were losing out to places like Paris, Milan, Madrid and Rome.
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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.
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The more you know about them, the more besotted you get.

Egypts deputy minister of tourism is gazing across the plateau of Giza as he describes the unforgettable sight of the Great Pyramid, proudly pushing out of the desert in front of him.

Dark shadows of clouds climb up the sandy sides, only to roll off again, leaving the pyramids shining in the same vibrant yellow as the sand which lies all around, dominating the horizon as they point to the heavens above.

Visitors can currently book visits of the Grand Staircase at the Grand Egyptian Museum (Ben Mitchell/PA)

A smile stretching his cheeks wide, Mohamed Salama runs through some of the massively ambitious plans to transform Cairos tourism, including the opening of the Great Egyptian Museum.

We are sharing an Egyptian mixed grill lunch at the 9 Pyramids restaurant, camouflaged into the Giza desert plateau and overlooking one of the worlds most famous landmarks.

Out of sight, on the northern side of the pyramids and the sphinx, is the 120-acre site of the long-delayed but highly-anticipated 1 billion Japanese-funded museum  the largest archaeological museum in the world with 872,000 square-feet of floorspace.

It will be home to 100,000 artefacts, including 5,398 items from the legendary Tutankhamun collection, featuring highlights such as the iconic death mask of the boy king as well as his golden throne.

More than 100 years since the world was gripped by the excavations of British archaeologist Howard Carter, who uncovered one of the greatest historical discoveries, Egypt is preparing a final resting place worthy of the legendary kings possessions.

The roof of the sand-coloured compound slopes down to earth like a ray of sunlight from the sky, which is interrupted by a pyramid of dark stone that acts as the grand entrance to the museum.

How to plan your trip Flights EasyJet (easyjet.com) flies from London Luton to Sphinx Airport up to three days a week throughout the year with prices starting from 139pp return (including taxes). EasyJet holidays offers three nights at the Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis (room only) from 780pp including 23kg of luggage per person and flights from London Gatwick on April 27, 2024. Tours and activities can be booked through Musement.

Once inside, I am greeted in the luxuriously vast lobby by the 3,200-year-old statue of Ramses II  at 11 metres, its so tall that it had to be installed when the site was still a pile of sand, and the museum was then built around it.

Although the opening date for the museum still has not been confirmed, I have been invited by easyJet Holidays to have a sneak preview of what the Egyptian tourist authority is promising to be one of the best historical collections in the world.

The visit starts with a 360-degree immersive cinema experience, which pulls us back in time and into the legend of King Tut, taking us on a virtual journey to the Valley of the Kings and into his tomb, which is recreated in the vibrant yellows, reds and greens of the original hieroglyphics  as fresh as the day they were originally painted for his death in 1323BC.

Afterwards, I return to the lobby to begin the ascent of the Grand Staircase, which echoes a side of the pyramids which were designed as a pathway to the heavens for the god kings buried in their lavish tombs inside.

The Egyptian Museum in Cairo (Ben Mitchell/PA)

At every stage as I ascend, I am met by an array of statues, sarcophagi and tablets, which tell the story of the kings and queens of Egypt, before I reach the final level depicting the ages-old aim of all the kings  eternity.

Here is the entrance to the gallery dedicated to Tutankhamen  whose name will surely live forever  and a giant window providing an awe-inspiring view of the three main pyramids of Giza on the horizon.

Unfortunately this is where the visit ends at present until an opening date is finally announced, currently thought to be later this year. Delays have been caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Arab Spring crisis in 2011, and now it appears that the Israel-Gaza war has had a further impact on the opening date.

However, before I leave the museum, archaeologist Tarek Sarhan reveals one last secret.

A small window has been created above the entrance to allow a ray of sun to shine directly on to the giant Ramses II statue twice a year, in the same way that the ancients designed his tomb for a ray to shine on the faces of the Holiest of Holies along the back wall.

This will next happen on October 22  could this scene fit for an Indiana Jones movie be the moment the museum is finally opened?

Eager to set my eyes on the Tutankhamen artefacts, Tarek takes me to their current home in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which still has the faded charm of the colonial era of when it was established in 1902.

With its thousands of dusty exhibits scattered around the many halls and galleries, the museum has the atmosphere of a warehouse more than an exhibition giving me the feeling that I am making the discoveries for myself.

To enter the Tutankhamen room, I jostle with an impatient queue before finally squeezing into the darkened gallery, with warning cries of No photo and Keep moving being bellowed repeatedly by the museum guards. But even the cramped and boisterous conditions cannot dampen the shining glory of the death mask, famous to the world but whose impact and beauty can only be felt in person. Soon, these treasures will be transferred to the pristine new museum, leaving the chaos and dust behind.

The Egyptian tourist authority is putting in place widespread plans to make the new museum and the pyramids with the Sphinx more accessible, with a new airport opened nearby and a 18-lane motorway linking the city. But it is also attempting to rejuvenate the city itself with the creation of a lake and park surrounding the recently opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation, which is home to the Mummies Hall.

The new Grand Egyptian Museum (Ben Mitchell/PA)

The 22 mummies, including 18 kings and four queens, were transferred in April 2021 from the old museum in a procession accompanied with enormous pomp and circumstance through the citys streets.

Not that it is only these newly-built attractions that make Cairo a must-see, rather a pit-stop on the way to the other main shows in Luxor and Abu Simbel. Tarek also shows me, according to legend, the resting place of Jesus and the Virgin Mary during their exile as they fled from King Herod at the Coptic Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus.

And this is next door to the Ben Ezra Synagogue, which is on the site where the baby Moses was found on the Nile, although the river has long retreated from this area.

Tarek also takes me to the beautiful Sultan Hassan and El Refai mosques and the impressive Mohamed Ali Mosque in the Citadel of Salah El Din, which dominates the skyline of the bustling city.

As dusty and intimidating as the city might be, which is unfathomably home to 25 million people, it is not difficult to find oases of calm  such as the Waldorf Astoria Heliopolis Hotel where I am staying.

Its spacious atrium, tall enough to incorporate several palm trees, acts as a welcome and peaceful barrier to the incessant horn-beeping of the clogged roads beyond.

And as the city buildings are modernising, it seems that the sense of customer service is also catching up.

Egyptians have been much-maligned for their hard-sell techniques, but as I walk through the streets of the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, I am only greeted with smiles and nothing more pushy than the jokey slogan parroted by the sellers: How can I take your money from you today?

It is this growing sense of the importance of tourism, plus increasing demand for the other Egyptian destinations of Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh, that led easyJet to launch last October a new year-round three-times a week flight to the new Cairo Sphinx airport from London Luton flying Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

And as I head home after a long weekend stay, the ministers words echo in my head  and I realise that I too have become besotted by the legend of the pyramids.
MANZINI  The threat of cholera is high in Matsapha, as from 242 homesteads, only 91 have toilets.

The lack of toilets leads to tenants relieving themselves in plastic bags and in the open veld. This was derived in an assessment conducted by the Environmental Health Department under the Ministry of Health, which, among its findings, was that out of 242 homesteads, 69 lacked lavatories while 82 had inadequate toilets. The assessment was conducted in Matsapha, which has peri-urban surroundings littered with one-room rental flats for cheaper accommodation for the over 22 000 employees in the textile industry and other low-paying sectors.

The findings of the assessment by the environmental health officials became the basis for officials from the Manzini Regional Environmental Health Department, under the Ministry of Health, to conduct water and sanitation trainings.

The trainings are focused on overcrowded locations in Manzini and Matsapha. They empowered the residents with the importance of proper hygiene. On Saturday, at Kwaluseni Central Primary School, residents of Kwaluseni, who included tenants, landlords and traditional leaders of the area, attended the training. According to the Manzini Regional Acting Environmental Health Officer, Celiwe Mkhonta, they started the trainings following a confirmed cholera case at Ticantfwini, which is another peri-urban residential area under Manzini North Constituency. Mkhonta said they targeted overcrowded areas due to the high probability of cholera spreading in densely populated areas. Cholera is a communicable disease.

The environmental officer explained that the positive case recorded at Ticantfwini was isolated, as the infected person was from Mozambique.

She said despite that the cholera case was not due to the poor sanitation of Ticantfwini, they deemed it fit to be proactive and empower residents located in overcrowded places on the significance of proper sanitation. She said some of their targeted areas, among others, were Ticantfwini and Mangwaneni. Mkhonta said the trainings were also prompted by the findings of the assessment programme conducted at Kwaluseni, which had been an ongoing activity since July 2023, to date. During the assessment, a total number 242 of homesteads, which had 3 870 people living in them, were visited. We discovered that only 91 homesteads from the 242 homesteads had proper sanitary facilities, Mkhonta said.

Assessment

She reported that during the assessment, 69 homesteads were discovered to be without toilets. Mkhonta also said 82 homesteads were found to have been with improper sanitation, while 126 were found to have been with improper solid waste disposal facilities. The environmental health officer said being guided by the results, as the Manzini Regional Environmental Health Department, they found it necessary to conduct the trainings at Kwaluseni as means of empowering the concerned community on issues of hygiene. She said as a guideline, they were targeting landlords, tenants, community leaders such rural healthcare motivators (bagcugcuteli), community police, bandlancane, indvuna yenkhundla and bucopho, to name a few.

Furthermore, Mkhonta said the exercise of training the community members started on the weekend of the March 2, 2024, as they observed that the attendance was good.

Testament to this, Mkhonta said the attendance had improved, with 40 people attending the trainings. She said those who attended were the targeted groups. She said: The ongoing trainings focus on toilet construction, waste management, oral faecal route, tippy tap, water treatment, water harvesting, food safety and pest control. Mkhonta said the benefits of the campaign were that the community members would be able to improve their sanitation facilities and be able to keep them in good state, while also empowering the community members to improve their water status. On the other hand, Mkhonta said they anticipated that the communities which they visited would improve their hygienic standards, including the availability of refuse pits and also ensure that there was improved and proper waste management, as well as the minimal diarrhoeal cases in the country.

Recently, this publication reported that the Ministry of Health had intensified its vigilance against the outbreak of cholera through three interventions and was calling on the public to be alert as well. Minister of Health Mduduzi Matsebula, in a press statement, reported that his portfolio had been monitoring the cholera outbreak situation in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region over the past 12 months. He said Eswatini remained vigilant against cholera and ensured that key interventions were prioritised by the Ministry of Health, through working with development partners and donors. These interventions, he said, were strengthening the component of Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) through stronger in-country collaborations with other sectors responsible for WASH, such as city councils, authorities and relevant ministries.

Also, he said it entailed strengthening of the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response systems at all levels, including for all diarrhoeal diseases in order to identify cholera quickly.

The third intervention, according to the minister, was engagements with neighbouring countries to identify cross-border transmission risks and mitigating them, including improved surveillance for cholera at informal entry points, where cholera cases and dead bodies may come through. He said: The Ministry of Health urges members of the public to be vigilant of cholera signs and symptoms and report to the nearest health facility immediately you suspect them. Anyone with a watery diarrhoea should visit the nearby health facility where a diagnosis can be made in case the diarrhoea is due to cholera disease.

The minister said Eswatini last recorded two confirmed cholera cases in March and April 2023, in the Manzini and Shiselweni regions. He said both cases were admitted and treated in isolation with successful outcomes. Matsebula said a success factor was that they presented themselves early to the health facilities and were promptly diagnosed and treated. The minister said since early 2023, the country had been positioning itself to be ready to respond to a cholera outbreak through six public health emergency response interventions.
A new tree mural painted in north London has been confirmed to have been created by Banksy.

The artwork, on the side of a building on Hornsey Road in Finsbury Park, features shades of green painted behind a cut-back tree with a stencil of a person holding a pressure hose to the side.

It appeared on Sunday, 17 March.

Banksy usually claims responsibility for art by posting on his social media pages.

He uploaded an image of the tree to his Instagram profile, showing the scene before the green paint was applied to the wall.
Barack Obama arrived at Downing Street on Monday, 18 March, for an undisclosed private meeting.

The former US president, who served in the White House from 2009 to 2017, smiled and waved at members of the press before he entered Rishi Sunaks residence just after 3pm.

The reason for his visit was not immediately confirmed at the time of reporting.

Mr Obamas London trip came after he met the Belgian royal family over the weekend at their official residence, the Palace of Laeken.
The royal family is perilously close to its 11th hour, a close friend of Princess Diana has claimed.

Richard Kay, a very good friend of the late Princess of Wales, is said to have issued a warning in an article published in the Daily Mail, claiming the family needs to get their act together or lose public confidence.

Royal commentator Michael Cole said that although Mr Kays concerns are valid, the royals have gone through much worse.

In a GB News interview on Sunday (17 March), Mr Cole said: We do have to look at it with hindsight and history, because all of us here, lived through the first week of Septemeber, 1997 - after the terrible death of Diana.

The atmosphere in London that week was very strange indeed, the queen feared she would be booed when she came down from Balmoral.
GB News' main studio building was spray-painted in a protest Extinction Rebellion (XR) staged on Monday (18 March) to demand an end to what it called a torrent of climate lies and disinformation on the channel.

Activists, who hurled fake oil outside the London building, branded the channel a puppet TV station for the fossil fuel industry.

XR said the protest was also highlighting GB News investor Sir Paul Marshalls links to the fossil fuel industry.

GB News told the PA news agency there would be no comment regarding the demonstration.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has claimed London is a safer city than Berlin, Madrid and Paris but admits he does not want to be complacent as he launched his bid for a third term in office.

Citing research from University College London, Mr Khan claimed that the capital was safer than most major cities in Europe and the United States despite recent ONS figures suggesting knife crime had risen.

Both as a member of parliament and as the mayor I have met too many victims of crime, he admitted on Monday 18 March.

Mr Khan added that Londoners have the opportunity to vote in a Labour government and mayor to work together this year.
Former US president Barack Obama met with Rishi Sunak in a courtesy visit to Downing Street on Monday 18 March.

Mr Obama spent around an hour inside the No 10 study with the prime minister.

He joked he was tempted to discuss the state of Russian democracy when members of the media asked him to stop as he left with the US ambassador to the UK, Jane D Hartley, just after 4pm.

It is understood Mr Sunak and Mr Obama discussed a range of subjects, including artificial intelligence, in a largely one-on-one meeting.
Vladimir Putin called Alexei Navalnys death a sad event as he said the opposition figures name for the first time in public just minutes after declaring victory Russias sham presidential elections on Sunday, 17 March.

The Russian leader also claimed he had given the all-clear for his prominent critic to be in a prisoner swap.

Mr Navalny died in February in an Arctic penal colony where was being held on charges of extremism.

His allies say he was murdered but Russian authorities claim he died of natural causes.

The election saw Mr Putin tighten his grip on power following the stifling of any real opposition.
Vladimir Putin warned that a direct conflict between Russia and Nato would be one step away from the full-scale third world war in a speech following his anticipated victory in the countrys sham election on Sunday, 17 March.

It came after Emmanuel Macron said he could not rule out the deployment of French ground troops in Ukraine in the future as Russias invasion continues.

Mr Putin spoke after the election saw him tighten his grip on power following the stifling of any real opposition.

Early results on Sunday showed Mr Putin won nearly 88 per cent of the vote, marking a record by extending his nearly quarter-of-a-century rule for another six-year term.
A Labour MP has compared the cost of the governments Rwanda scheme to Virgin Galactic sending six people to space during a debate in the House of Commons.

Neil Coyle urged the Tories to rethink the bill ahead of another vote on Monday 18 March, in which Rishi Sunak will seek to reverse the defeats from the House of Lords.

Is the minister aware that Virgin Galactic can send six people into space for less than this government wants to spend sending one person to Rwanda? Mr Coyle asked illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson.

Is it not time to rethink this absurd policy and extortionate cost?
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Have you heard the latest conspiracy theories about Princess Kate? Of course, you have. But in case youre still feeling lost, a refresher: back in January, Kate underwent what the palace described as a planned abdominal surgery with an extensive recovery period, which would require her to be off public duties until after Easter.

On Mothers Day (if youre a US reader, dont panic: the UK and the US celebrate Mothers Day on different dates), the palace released a photo of Kate with her three children. This would have been a big nothingburger, if not for the fact that the image appeared to have been digitally altered, which led news agencies like AP and Reuters to issue a kill notice and take it down.

open image in gallery The controversial photo that was supposed to prove Kate was alive and well but which, it turned out, had been Photoshopped (Prince of Wales )

Flamboyant speculation ensued about Kate and her whereabouts. In an apparent bid to calm everyone down, the Twitter/X account for Kate and her husband William shared a statement, the tone of which can only be described as what happens when you get abducted and your captor poorly updates your Facebook status to make it look like youre still alive.

Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing, the statement reads. 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. Its signed C, as in Catherine, as in Kate.

To say that statement missed the mark is an understatement of epic proportions. Speculation doubled. Tripled. Quadrupled. It became a giant snowball of speculation rolling down the hill to eat us all.

open image in gallery (Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Its clear that the palace has been less than transparent about whats going on with Kate. Whether or not you think were entitled to know is another problem entirelyand precisely the sort of unsolvable issue that emerges when dealing with an institution like the British monarchy.

The deal is terrible for everyone involved, from the get-go. You either believe that the royals are bankrolled by public money and therefore that the public is entitled to every detail of their lifethat they cannot functionally have any private life at all. Perhaps fair in theory, but unmanageable in practice. Or, you believe that the royals are entitled to the same amount of privacy as any regular citizen whose luxurious lifestyle is not funded by British taxpayers moneywhich doesnt entirely work out either. The royal familys entire stated purpose has to do with public work, and with maintaining an image.

In this particular case, Kate is likely a person experiencing normal-person problemsbut shes doing so in the context of an institution whose incompetence has proven so vast that people cannot wrap their brains around it. Its seemingly easier to believe any of the rumors that have emerged around Kates whereabouts than to believe that an institution that supposedly runs on PR can, in fact, be that bad at PR.

The monarchy doesnt work for the peopleit never has, of course; thats literally not what monarchy is designed for. But it has become painfully clear that it doesnt work for the royals, either. You dont have to take Harry and Meghans word for itthough I dont see why you wouldnt.

Just consider that whatever Kates current situation is, the institution which is supposed to ensure her wellbeing has instead flubbed its way into an embarrassing nightmare of international scale. Then, zoom out for a bit and consider what being a royal entails: being committed from birth to a life you dont necessarily want, to a kind of work you very well might have no affinity for, all while being a public figure without any chance of returning to anonymity.

Sure, the royals are set financially, and they can rest easy knowing that their material needs are more than covered for the rest of their lives. Thats an immense privilegethat, again, is the point of a monarchy. But what about other needs? What about the right to live a private life if one decides to do so? What about a chance to shape the outcomes of ones life? Being born into a royal family comes with restrictions we wouldnt find acceptable in most other contexts. The institution is clearly not adapting to the modern age, either. (See: Like many amateur photographers) Its time for it to fade away.

But what of the tourism? What of the economy? The idea that the royal family is a net positive for the UKs economy has been debunked multiple times, andto quote The Independents then-economics editor Ben Chu in 2018we should treat even estimates of economic activity linked to the royals with a large dash of skepticism. As Chu pointed out at the time: the royals do enjoy significant financial advantages; big royal events like weddings and coronations can displace economic activity instead of creating it; and nothing says that tourists will stop visiting the UKs historic institutions without reigning royals. Former palaces in countries that used to have a royal family are visited just as often by tourists, and tourists to the UK have never so far ended up having an audience with a reigning monarch.

What I do know is this: if an institution cant be trusted to speak publicly about photo-editing software without triggering a scandal, then it shouldnt be trusted with millions of pounds in public fundsnor should it be granted considerable institutional power. If there was ever a time to let the monarchy go, its now.
PHUZUMOYA  Residents whose fields were earmarked for the construction of the E3.2 billion Strategic Oil and Fuel Reserve still do not have alternative land to plough.

For over 10 years, some residents of Phuzumoya, under KaMkhweli Royal Kraal, have not been able to utilise the land since it was marked as a site for the fuel reserve project. The highest amount paid to the residents as compensation for their fields, some of which were over seven hectares, was E250 000, it has been gathered. A report that was tabled in Parliament by the Chairperson of the House of Assembly portfolio committee on Natural Resources and Energy, Madala Mhlanga, which contained responses to the ministrys annual performance report and budget debate, stated that there was no budget for further compensation of the residents.

Minister

The minister of Natural Resources and Energy was responding to a question that was posed by Siphofaneni Member of Parliament (MP) Nomalungelo Simelane. The MP wanted to know if the 2024/25 ministrys budget of E107 195 099 recurrent expenditure and E970 611 000 catered for the compensation of the over 20 households, which were ordered to stop ploughing their fields, as on their location would be constructed the E3.2 billion strategic oil reserve. These responses and the MPs submission came after an outcry by some of the residents. A visit to Phuzumoya under Siphofaneni Inkhundla unearthed that the land, which is located just less than 500 metres from the Phumumoya Railway Station, was fenced but there was not much activity in the area as the first gate was locked, with no sign of much activity. The only structures that were found were a guardhouse, water tanks and a temporary restroom.

Some of the residents, including those whose fields were within the fenced area, mentioned that there was another gate in the area that was always manned by guards and there was an indication that some activity might begin at anytime. The construction of the strategic oil reserve is spearheaded by the Eswatini National Petroleum Company (ENPC), which is under the portfolio of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy. The strategic fuel and oil reserve would save Eswatini from constant fuel crises. The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini has been implementing Strategic Development Infrastructure, as part of the National Development Strategy (NDS). The energy sector plays a central role in the development of the country, hence the need for the establishment of strategic storage facilities for fuel resources.

Currently, there is heavy dependence on imported fuel and petroleum products from the Republic of South Africa and Mozambique. The status quo relies on agreements for the supply of fuel, which limits Eswatinis drive to economic growth based on a stable energy supply. Any disruptions in supply from these countries result in fuel shortages in Eswatini and in recent times this has been a common phenomenon. The main objective of the project, therefore, is for the country to have sufficient fuel reserves that would act as a buffer for command supply and distribution in the country. As a result, strategic fuel storage is vital and central to the successful realisation of the goal of a sustainable energy supply. In line with the feasibility study that was conducted in the mid 2000s, such a facility ought to have the capacity to hold emergency petroleum stock corresponding to at least 60 days of net consumption.

Consultant

In May 2022, BillionBrother Project Management Consultancy in partnership with Fhatan Consulting Engineers was appointed as the Consultant for the project by ENPC to provide professional series design optimisation, preparation of cost estimates, and production of bills of quantities for the proper facility in Phuzumoya. By December 31, 2023, the ENPC, according to the ministry, had been working with the ministry to commence the construction of the strategic oil reserve facility by August 2024. Budget estimates for the project have been ascertained as well. With construction plans at an advanced stage, some residents last used the land earmarked for the project in 2014. They were not given an alternative land after their fields were fenced off for project.

According to some of the residents who requested to remain anonymous in fear of victimisation, they were still hoping that government would give them alternative land for ploughing or compensate them. When asked why they expected to be compensated because the ministry said they were compensated, they said they last received money over six years ago, which they thought was just for the time being, while they were looking for alternative land.

Crops

At the inception of the project around 2014, the residents said they were using the land to cultivate their crops. Over the years, due to poor rains, they were not getting enough yields and they considered ploughing other crops. In the midst of that, they learned that their land would be used for the strategic oil and fuel reserve. They said they were made to understand that they would be compensated for their land for three years, while the royal kraal and government were looking for alternative fields or introduce an income-generating project that suffices as their fields. According to the affected residents, the highest compensation they received was E250 000 only in 2017. They said this year they also learned through the media that the construction of the fuel reserve was underway. Since 2017 we have been waiting for an alternative land while a big national project takes place in our fields, said a resident.

Robbed

Another resident said they felt robbed because the money that was given to them, if it was for their land, was too little. Some of the fields were more than five hectares, therefore, you cannot tell me such a huge piece of land would be taken for E150 000. said another resident. When they were asked what would console them for the land, they said they would appreciate it if government could allocate a farm to them that they could use to plant crops that did not need much water, like cassava. Others had a view that they could form a sugar cane scheme like other communities on land that government and the royal kraal would allocate them.
The listing is understood to be targeting a modest raise of around 10m next month

Cathal Friel is progressing plans for a fifth stock market listing, after announcing yesterday a formal intention to float his new European Green Transition (EGT) venture in London. The plan is to tap the stock market to develop a portfolio of green economy assets in Europe.

Mr Friel, a former stock broker, is building up a following as a rare Irish enthusiast for raising equity via the public markets for relatively early-stage businesses, especially following a monster 1.38bn sale last year of Amryt Pharma.

Oil executive Michael Nolan  who made a fortune when he sold stock market-listed exploration company Cove Energy to Shell in 2012  is also behind the plans.

The EGT listing is expected to take place on April 3 and is targeting a modest raise of around 10m (12m) at a valuation of around the same. The intention is to build up the business and ultimately use what is hoped will be a rising stock price to make acquisitions with stock.

The idea is to amass over time a portfolio of green economy assets in Europe.

The venture has some existing assets, including a rare earth minerals exploration licence in Sweden known as the Olserum Rare Earth Element (REE) project.

REEs are metallic elements used in technology including electric vehicles and wind turbines. EGT says Olserum has the potential to be Europes first commercial-stage rare earth mine.

EGT also has mineral rights in the German state of Saxony and says it has identified a pipeline of further potential assets.

Initial plans to focus on metals and minerals needed to meet Europes target to transition to greener energy supplies and usage has been expanded to potentially take in a broader green energy assets. Mr Friel pointed to the potential for distressed energy assets among others to be shaken out by investors who took on debt during the period of zero interest rates as a source of deal flow.

We want to be nimble enough to take advantage of that, he said.

As well as Mr Friel himself and Mr Nolan who has a 11.6pc stake in the business, the leadership team includes CEO Aiden Lavelle, a chartered geologist with 16 years industry experience; and CFO Jack Kelly, a chartered accountant with extensive experience in M&A including at Mr Friels Raglan Capital.

We want to be nimble enough to take advantage of that

Commenting on the plans, Mr Friel said EGT will follow a model set by some of his earlier listings.

This approach has already generated success, delivering value across a range of public companies, namely Cove Energy plc, Amryt Pharma plc and hVIVO plc. We aim to repeat this formula with EGT.

A number of executives from hVIVO are also involved in EGT.

We have chosen to list in London as we are very confident in its depth of capital and talent, and its unique understanding of green economy projects. London is a world-leading capital market for small cap companies, and in particular for European-focused businesses with strong credentials to support the energy transition, such as European Green Transition, Mr Friel said.

Blue chip firm Panmure Gordon is acting as nominated adviser, sole bookrunner and broker to the company on the London listing.

EGT also intends to launch a UK retail offering through the Bookbuild platform, post flotation.

Mr Friel has a 43.8pc stake in the new venture. He has already delivered four stock market listings  Fastnet Oil and Gas in 2012, Amryt Pharma in 2016, Open Orphan (now hVivo) in 2019 and Poolbeg Pharma two years ago. The Dublin-based businessman has developed a model of equity-funded expansion, including organic growth and buying low-cost or distressed assets with paper rather than cash.

Amryt Pharma floated with a market cap of 29m and was sold last year for $1.48bn (1.38bn).

Cove Energy, led by CEO John Craven, the former head of Petroceltic, and Michael Nolan as CFO, was also AIM-listed. Its shares surged around 10-fold in just two years before the sale to Shell. Its main asset was an 8.5pc stake in an off-shore field in Mozambique, where operator Anadarko had identified more than 30 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Its like requiring pork butchers to tell customers about vegan food

Drivers to be hit with four hikes in petrol and diesel prices

Petrol stations with three or more fuel pumps have been told they must start displaying a sign showing the difference in their prices compared with the electric alternative within weeks.

Those who fail to show a Fuel Price Comparison poster can be hit with an on-the-spot fine of 500. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) wrote to retailers on February 29, telling them the display had to be in place within 30 days.

The purpose of this regulation is to provide consumers with visible, consistent and clear information regarding the comparative price of a variety of transport fuels, SEAI transport programme manager Shane Prendergast told retailers. This [information] is compiled by the SEAI based on a common vehicle class, efficiency, charging patterns and costs.

The current poster says the approximate cost of travelling 100km with petrol is 10.04, with diesel is 8.95, and for electric is 3.18. Updated values are to be published by the SEAI every three months, and then fuel stations must update their posters within five working days.

Obligated fuelling stations will be subject to inspection for compliance by SEAI, the retailers were told.

Failure to comply with this regulation is an offence and liable on summary conviction to a class A fine.

Petrol stations are being given three options for how they display the Fuel Price Comparison. It can be an A3-sized poster displayed near the pumps, an A2-sized poster at the entrance or within the shop, or on a 19in screen which shows the information for a minimum of 20 seconds per minute.

Retailers are angry at the requirement, and met the SEAI last Tuesday to make their displeasure known.

The Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association (CSNA), a representative body, said that apart from the added costs, it was unfair to make retailers tell their customers that a rival product was better value.

It is tantamount to requiring a pork butcher to advise customers about the relative value of a range of vegan food, or a bank being obliged to download the Bonkers website, and that failure to do so was an offence, Vincent Jennings, CEO of the CSNA, said.

We have not been given any prior knowledge of this, and we note that when the work on it was carried out in Europe in 2021, the Irish State were not participants in any of the preparatory discussions.

Kevin McPartlan, CEO of Fuels for Ireland, said: The SEAI shocked the forecourt operators of Ireland by issuing an edict out of the blue requiring them to display fuel price comparisons. Fuels for Ireland had a number of concerns about this and met with the SEAI. It was agreed that inadequate notice had been given and that the legal requirements were not clearly defined in the correspondence sent to fuel retailers.

As a result, SEAI committed to arrange online briefings for fuels station operators before expecting full compliance. This is just one more example of Government and its agencies attempting to navigate our essential energy transition without properly engaging with the sector which currently provides half of the countrys energy.

In a follow-up email sent to Fuels for Ireland, an SEAI representative said it had taken on board each of the points raised at the meeting.

One concession it has made is to increase the range of EV charging prices used in the calculation.

Retailers were unhappy that the electricity price the SEAI intended to use was from ESB e-cars, which they argued was misleadingly low.

The SEAI also agreed to remove a reference to a drive electric website on the posters. Instead, the domain address seai.ie/fpc can be used.
Department denies move linked to St Patricks Day tourist influx

Asylum seekers living in tent city camp in Dublin bussed to new location

The Government is facing a backlash over a cynical and unacceptable move to relocate 100 asylum-seekers from Dublin city centre and into tents in a remote location in south Dublin.

Security at the old St Brigids nursing home in Crooksling has been increased in recent weeks following an arson attack at the property which caused substantial damage to a number of residential units.

On Saturday morning, 130 international protection applicants were transferred there from Mount Street in Dublin 2.

The Department of Integration has denied the move was in relation to the St Patricks Day celebrations which saw an influx of tourists into the city centre yesterday.

But around 20 asylum-seekers left the Crooksling site on Saturday afternoon citing inadequate facilities and returned to Mount Street, with a small number later making their way back to the south Dublin property.

Over 100 migrants remain on site at the former nursing home in Crooksling  but they are in tents with the buildings not currently being used to accommodate them.

Concerns have been raised about the suitability of the facility, including claims that there is no running water and only a small number of shared toilet facilities.

Yesterday, Integration Minister Roderic OGorman said that there are 15 toilets and six showers at Crooksling, with more facilities to be provided in the weeks ahead.

Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin yesterday described it as a deeply cynical and unacceptable way to treat human beings.

These men should be provided with shelter, not tents in the Dublin mountains, he said.

Nobody, no matter where they are from, should be forced to sleep rough because of Government incompetence.

The former St Brigids nursing home was set on fire last month in an arson attack following reports that the site was being considered to house refugees or international protection applicants.

The properties were vacant at the time and the alarm was raised by a security worker on site.

It is one of around 20 arson attacks across the country on locations either earmarked for migrant accommodation or falsely rumoured for such use, being investigated by gardai.

Gardai have previously said that at this stage there is no suggestions the attacks are co-ordinated or carried out as part of a wider criminal conspiracy.

Following that arson attack, more security guards were employed at the property with around a dozen currently working on site.

Yesterday, a spokesperson for the Department of Integration said: Security at the Crooksling site has been increased since the previous arson attempt.

The site was chosen as it is a state-owned site available for use immediately, in the context of emerging public health and safety risks at Mount Street.

The move was not connected to St Patricks Day.

Approximately 130 people are being accommodated at the Crooksling site.

A small number left yesterday, with some of those subsequently returning to Crooksling.

Around 20 asylum-seekers returned to Mount Street over the weekend with gardai conducting regular patrols in the area and no incidents reported.

The tents outside the International Protection Office had been initially cleared on Saturday but around 20 were at the location yesterday.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was forced to address the issue while on his St Patricks visit to Washington DC where he has been meeting with US president Joe Biden

Mr Varadkar said: The reason why they were moved to essentially that there wasnt 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.

Mr Varadkar said the new site for the migrants was chosen because it was state-owned and had better conditions than the city centre.

But Dublin Communities Against Racism (DCAR) said that the asylum-seekers were handed tents and sleeping bags after arriving in Crooksling without any essential services.

This was clearly done to present a nice picture of the city for tourists and foreign media during St Patricks Day celebrations, the DCAR said.

It added that the treatment of international protection applicants by the Government grows worse with every day and mirrors the views of the far right and is a stain on our national reputation.
Computer and metadata experts assisting gardai

Gardai expected to seek a second extension of the detention period for 10 men arrested last Thursday.

Gardai who thwarted a cocaine-smuggling pipeline off the south-west coast believe electronic data will reveal the full extent of operations by the drugs gang involved.

The revelation came as gardai are expected to seek a second and final extension of the detention period for 10 men arrested last Thursday in West Cork.

The men are aged between 25 and 56.

Among those detained are men with addresses in Spain, the Netherlands, the UK and Ireland. At least two of those arrested have links to the Middle East.

They are being held at a number of garda stations across Cork city and county, including Mallow, Bandon, Bantry, Togher and Bridewell.

It is suspected the gang were attempting to land a large haul of cocaine in Cork, with the drugs understood to have been shipped from the Medellin area of Colombia via Venezuela.

Their period of detention was extended by 72 hours at a special sitting of Bandon District Court last Friday night.

Several of the men are experienced divers  leading gardai to consider whether part of the cocaine consignment was to be hidden underwater offshore and retrieved when gang members believed it was safe to do so.

Gardai are now working with the Naval Service and Coast Guard, as well as police and navy forces in four other countries, to identify and trace the suspected mothership that brought the drugs shipment into Irish waters.

Computer and metadata experts are also assisting gardai.

A number of electronic items were seized, including mobile phones, tablets and a GPS device.

While several handsets were so-called burner phones intended for immediate disposal, it is understood some of the handsets were capable of encrypted communication.

Gardai are now examining the devices in the hope of obtaining all communications sent over the past week and to trace the recipients overseas.

Detectives are hoping an analysis of the devices will also reveal the precise movements of the 10 men both before their arrival in Ireland and after they flew into the State last week.

No drugs landed in west Cork, with gardai unclear whether the mission was aborted due to gang fears over police surveillance or poor sea conditions in the area.

Several of the men are believed to have panicked when they were approached by a dog-walker in a high-visibility vest and mistakenly confused them for a police officer.

Their suspicious behaviour then prompted a phone call to gardai from a member of the public.

A camper van and articulated lorry were also seized.

A rigid inflatable boat with powerful outboard engines is also being examined.

Garda sources said a number of key individuals had been under surveillance for some time in respect of activity linked to suspected drug smuggling and distribution.

One source indicated that the operation was entirely intelligence-led.

Several of the men are understood to have been under surveillance from the moment they landed in Ireland.
A passenger was escorted from a Dublin-bound Qatari flight which sought security assistance and paramedics on arrival at Dublin Airport.

The alleged incident on board a Qatar Boeing 787-8 had been reported while it was still in flight on Monday afternoon.

Enquiries are ongoing into the incident, a Garda spokesperson told the Irish Independent.

Following request for assistance, Gardai responded to a report of an alleged incident on board a flight arriving at Dublin Airport this afternoon, Monday, March 18, they added.

Qatar Airways confirmed that the aircraft was met on arrival due to the requirement for medical treatment of one passenger.

"Another passenger was met by local authorities due to behaviour on board, a Qatar Airways spokesperson told the Irish Independent.

It is understood the Qatar Airways QR17 flight from Doha has arrived at Dublin Airport at 12.15pm this afternoon, 20 minutes before the scheduled time of arrival.
Gardai secure extra 48 hours to question ten men arrested in west Cork after anti-drug operation

GARDAI who successfully smashed a European-South American cocaine smuggling pipeline off the south west coast have sought further time to question ten men arrested as part of the operation.

Detectives have sought a further 48 hours to question the ten men who were detained last Thursday in Leap and Tragumna in west Cork during a major Garda anti-drugs response.

The application for the second extension of the detention period was brought before Bandon District Court.

Judge James McNulty had granted Gardai a primary 72-hour extension before a special district court sitting last Friday night.

Gardai can detain the men for questioning for a maximum of seven days under anti-drug smuggling regulations.

Detectives must then either release or charge those detained.

A further two day extension of the detention period was sought on Monday evening.

It was granted amid indications that further searches are being conducted by Gardai with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) now assisting the investigation.

Gardai are being supported by police forces in France, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Last week, Chief Supt Vincent O'Sullivan explained that Gardai required more time to question all the men arrested.

He said that Gardai believed they were dealing with a sophisticated, well-resourced and well-financed criminal organisation which was international in both its scope and range of activities.

Only one of the 10 men detained has an Irish address.

All 10 are being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act.

Technical experts are still combing through a range of electronic devices seized as part of the Garda operation last Thursday.

These include mobile phones, satellite phones, computer tablets and GPS equipment.

Detectives believe electronic data including phone calls as well as encrypted texts, emails and GPS data will reveal the full extent of multinational operations by the notorious drugs gang involved.

Some are so complex that Gardai have had to seek expert IT support from overseas.

The 10 are all aged between 25 and 56 years.

Amongst those detained are men with addresses in Spain, the Netherlands, the UK and Ireland.

At least two of those arrested have Middle Eastern links.

They are being held at a number of garda stations across Cork city and county including Mallow, Bandon, Bantry, Togher and the Bridewell.

It is suspected the gang were attempting to land a major haul of cocaine in west Cork with the drugs having been shipped from the Medellin area of Colombia via Venezuela.

Several of the men are very experienced divers - leading Gardai to consider whether part of the cocaine consignment was to be hidden underwater offshore and retrieved when gang members believed it was safe to do so.

Gardai are now working with the Naval Service, Coast Guard as well as police and navy forces in four other countries to identify and trace the suspected 'mother ship' which brought the drugs shipment into Irish waters.

No 'mother ship' has been detained or boarded as yet.

The vessel is believed to have departed Irish waters several days ago.

Computer and metadata experts are now assisting Gardai in unravelling the precise details of the drug smuggling operation.

A number of electronic items were seized including mobile phones, tablets and a GPS device.

While several handsets were so-called 'burner' phones which were intended for immediate disposal, it is understood that several phones were capable of encrypted communication.

Gardai are now examining the devices in the hope of obtaining all communications sent over the past week including texts, calls and emails - and to trace the recipients overseas.

Further, detectives are hoping that an analysis of the devices will also reveal the precise movements of the 10 men both before their arrival in Ireland and after they flew into the State last week.

No drugs were landed in west Cork with Gardai unclear if the mission was aborted due to gang fears over police surveillance or poor sea conditions in the area.

Several of the men are believed to have panicked when they were approached by a dog walker in a high-visibility vest and mistakenly confused them with a police officer - and their suspicious behaviour then prompted a phone call to the Gardai from a member of the public.

Ten men were arrested in a major Garda operation in west Cork with a camper van and articulated lorry also being seized.

A Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) with powerful outboard engines is also being examined.

It is understood one of the Dutch-based individuals is known to police in several European countries for his associations with key members of an international drugs gang.

The arrests involved Cork-based Garda units as well as the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

The Garda deployment involved multiple vehicles deployed throughout Leap, Tragumna and Skibbereen as well as searches conducted nationally.

A second vehicle, an articulated lorry, was also stopped and examined by Gardai as part of the operation.

Several of those detained by Gardai are experienced sub aqua personnel who are understood to be Spanish-based.

Garda sources said a number of key individuals had been under surveillance for some time in respect of activity linked to suspected drug smuggling and distribution.

One source indicated that the operation was entirely intelligence-led and co-ordinated with several European police forces.

It represented the culmination of months of undercover work and surveillance by Garda anti-drug units.

The Coast Guard and Naval Service are now liaising with Gardai in respect of specific vessel movements off the south west coast over the past week.

Radar records and port data is being examined to determine precisely which vessels were off the west Cork coast over the past fortnight.

Gardai are being assisted by Interpol and police in the UK, France, Spain and the Netherlands.

Several of the arrests involved individuals who were found soaking wet after apparently being in local estuaries and inshore areas.

One element of the Garda investigation is whether drug consignments may have been dumped into the sea at specific locations off the south west coast for later retrieval.

These consignments - which are waterproofed and electronically tagged - are then suspected to have been accessed by divers when it was believed it was safe to bring the drugs ashore in smaller units.

Ireland's south west coast has a long history of drug smuggling operations with some of the biggest cocaine seizures in European history occurring in the area.
It was Northern Irelands equivalent to living in Ranelagh  inside the cross-border exodus as people go north in search of cheaper life

People from the Republic are drawn to live on north of the border by the lower cost of living

Belfast City Hall (Photo: Getty)

Gabrielle Monaghan Mon 18 Mar 2024 at 14:25

Alan Duncan has Belfast  and his mother-in-law  to thank for finally being able to get on the property ladder.
Gardai have appealed for witnesses to an horrific assault in Cork in which a young man was left fighting for his life after being slashed with a machete or heavy sword.

The incident occurred shortly after 8pm on Friday on the Newtown Road in the Cork harbour town of Cobh.

During the attack a man in his early thirties suffered horrific stab or slash injuries to his leg.

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.

The weapon believed to have been used was a machete or heavy-bladed sword.

Detectives have urged anyone with information to contact them.

"Gardai are investigating a serious assault that occurred at approximately 8:55pm. A man in his early 30s was seriously injured during the course of an assault in a car-park on the Newtown Road," a Garda spokesperson said.

"The man was taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment and he is currently in a critical condition."

An incident room has been established at Cobh Garda Station and an investigation is continuing.

"Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward."

"Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the Newtown Road between 8:45pm and 9:15pm are asked to make this footage available to Gardai."

"Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cobh Garda Station on 021 4908530, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station."

Paramedics were at the scene within minutes on Friday night 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 CUH where he underwent emergency surgery.

He has remained in a critical condition following surgery for the past three days.

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 suggestions a weapon such as a sword or machete may have been used in the brutal attack.

One source described the injury involved as devastating.

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 and which may be equipped with dashcams.

It is unclear if the young man was attacked by one or more assailants.
Ken Fetherston's father has said the family are stunned at the news of gardai arresting a man this morning on the suspicion of the murder of his son.

Gardai have arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of the murder of Kenneth Fetherston, whose remains were discovered in Rathfarnham more than four months after his disappearance in 2009.

The man was arrested following the search of a private residence in the midlands this morning.

Kens father Brian said he welcomed the breakthrough.

"We will be meeting with gardai later today but we are very encouraged that there has been a development in the investigation," said Mr Fetherston, who has campaigned for justice for his son continually since his disappearance and the discovery of his remains.

The investigation into the murder of Mr Fetherston has been ongoing at Tallaght Garda Station since his disappearance on the 22 September, 2009 and the subsequent discovery of his remains at Military Road, Rathfarnham, on the 31 January, 2010.

In 2020, An Garda Siochana Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT), part of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), commenced a review and investigation into the circumstances of the murder of Kenneth Fetherston, a garda spokesperson said.

This morning, investigating Gardai attached to the SCRT, supported by other GNBCI resources and local Garda Resources have searched a private residence in the midlands.

Investigating Gardai, from SCRT, have arrested a male in his 40s on suspicion of murder.

The male is currently detained at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region under section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984. An Garda Siochana has no further comment at this time.
Experts warn the stimgatisation of women living with addiction must stop

Mothers suffering addiction fear they risk losing their children to the care system if they access rehab.

Pauline McKeown, CEO of Coolmine drug and alcohol treatment centre in Dublin, is raising awareness about young mothers battling these addictions being unwilling to roll the dice with their childrens futures.

Ms McKeown said societys stigmatisation of mothers living with addiction has to stop.

The fear of losing a child to care means some mothers never even attempt to access rehab, and their familys future is uncertain.

Women have a fear of seeking support for addiction because society judges them for having an addiction and theyre judged even more if theyre a mother with an addiction, Ms McKeown said.

Theres a fear that if they seek help, their child or children could be taken away from them.

Its a fear, but it can happen. Last year, we worked with 111 women who made it into our service. Eighty per cent were mothers. Of that 80pc, all have had children in foster care.

Ashleigh House in Coolmine offers a women and childrens residential service. This is also available at Westbourne House in Limerick and is proving invaluable to mothers on a journey to recovery.

The centres help keep children with their mothers while they receive support and treatment.

Ms McKeown believes having their children with them helps the women on the path to recovery.

Women come to Ashleigh House or Westbourne House and we try to dismantle all the barriers and judgment that exists, Ms McKeown said.

Women may be pregnant. This may be their second or third pregnancy and if there are other children, the chances are they will have had a care experience. 

These women have already come from backgrounds where they have multiple traumas.

Theyre often homeless and hidden away in that environment. The one thing that gives them some grain of stability is being a mother and the unconditional love of their child or children.

Ms McKeown said that while men who recovered were often able to start careers and their own businesses successfully, there was still a lack of progress on a pathway into careers for women after recovery.

Since the pandemic, there has been a rise in the use of a drug more than familiar to many of us  alcohol. Among the young women who attend Coolmine, the most popular drugs of choice before rehab were alcohol and benzodiazepines.

Alcohol became an increasingly prevalent issue for some women faced with isolation and trauma during the pandemic.

Most of the women we see are in their 20s and 30s, Ms McKeown said.

Most are addicted to alcohol, which is more acceptable and normalised than heroin or benzodiazepine.

Far too often, motherhood, rather than being a joyful milestone, becomes a millstone for women afraid of attempting to ask for help.

In January, the final report from the Citizens Assembly provided 36 recommendations for the Oireachtas, including calling on the Government to provide leadership and accountability on drug use in Ireland and the provision of a cabinet committee chaired by the Taoiseach.

The assembly recommended a health-led approach from the State, rather than a criminal justice response.

Its really sad that in todays terms, theres a referendum on women in the home and actually, women who are struggling with addiction are in homelessness, have addictions and are pregnant with addictions, Ms McKeown said.

Women are still treated and judged in a way thats second class to men.

Things have improved for women in Ireland in the last 50 years to a degree  but only if theyve got resources, or if they havent had exposure to many challenges in their life.

Coming from a home with deprivation, from areas where there were fewer expectations, or if a woman didnt have access to education and stability, the storys very different.

This year, so far, the facility is working with 36 women  and there are 25 children being cared for.

The family-based service at Ashleigh House looks after children up to the age of five.

Trained child carers are at the heart of the wraparound approach.
MBABANE  Two children mysteriously disappeared from their mothers homestead at Debedebe in Hlatikhulu.

The children, Ayabongwa (four years) and Kwakhanya Lukhele (19 months) were allegedly kidnapped while at their biological mothers homestead. They went missing on March 11, 2024. A close relative is wanted by the police to assist them regarding the disappearance of the children. This is not the first case where children disappeared from their homestead as in January 2021, a pair of two-year-olds disappeared at Mkhondvo in Nyanyali, while playing outside a homestead on December 24, 2020, and to date their whereabouts are unknown. Following the disappearance of the children, residents of Nyanyali reportedly decided to take the law into their own hands, because they were frustrated by the slow progress in resolving the matter.

Police arrested six members of the community, who were accused of having a hand in the death of Nomthantazo Nkambule (70), who was suspected to be having information pertaining to the disappearance of the children. Nkambule died after being hacked with a slasher, kicked all over the body and further stoned allegedly by the mob. Meanwhile, the police have issued a wanted person notice seeking the publics assistance in locating Mlondi Mphikeleli Lukhele of Buseleni, KaMfishane, who is wanted in connection with murder and contempt of court cases.

Anyone who may have information about his whereabouts can contact the Shiselweni RCBO, Superintendent Mbazo Dlamini on 7606 7447 or Hlatikhulu Police, Desk Officer Inspector Mpendulo Dlamini on 7608 1113 or Investigating Officer Makhosonkhe Dlamini on 7621 3516.
More than 75pc of vapers say a ban of flavouring could lead to more young people smoking, with one in five ex-smokers saying they would also pick the habit back up if flavours were banned.

It has been an offence to sell a nicotine-inhaling product to someone under the age of 18 since December, with Government plans for a restriction on the use of flavouring set to follow.

A new survey from Red C Research and Marketing shows 90pc of vapers surveyed believe an overall ban could lead to a black market for flavoured vapes.

It was commissioned by Respect Vapers, a group representing those who used vaping to give up smoking.

Almost half said they would source flavours from outside Ireland if it was introduced, with 71pc believing smokers would be less inclined to take up vaping to quit.

An overwhelming majority of those who use rechargeable vapes  which are used by more than half of all vapers  say flavours help them stop smoking cigarettes entirely.

One in five of those who vape said they would return to smoking if flavoured vapes were band, while almost two-thirds who smoke and vape said they will smoke cigarettes more often.

Some 37pc believe there should be a ban on those specifically attractive to younger people, including beverage and energy drink-style flavours, candy flavours or dessert flavours.

98pc of ex-smokers polled said vaping helped them quit, while 85pc said they helped reduce the amount they smoked.

One vaper, Michael Dwyer, who quit his 30-year smoking habit with flavoured vapes, claimed it is misguided to believe young people who vape are more likely to smoke in their teen years and believes the restriction on selling e-cigarettes to under 18s will be more effective than a flavour ban.

"It would be wrong of the Government and the EU to ban flavours because of its misguided belief that they are a gateway to teen smoking, he said.

The new restrictions preventing the sale of vapes to under 18s will be more effective than a ban on flavoured vapes. Stakeholders need to focus on how we can encourage more people to quit tobacco.

Mr Dwyer said it makes sense to ensure that flavoured vaping continues when the research shows more people quit smoking using vapes compared to nicotine replacement therapies like gums and lozenges.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar moved US President Joe Biden to tears as he referenced his late-son Beau Biden during the shamrock ceremony in the White House.

Mr Varadkar described Beau Biden as a courageous Irish-American and a decorated war hero who spoke eloquently about the promises that leaders should make.

To quote his words, Leo Varadkar said, its about the promises we make our children who deserve a chance to succeed. It about the promises we make each other, that sacred promise to work for a better future.

The president became visibly emotional when Mr Varadkar mentioned his sons quotes and appeared to wipe a tear from his eye.

The Taoiseach thanked Mr Biden for his support for Ukraine in Russias war. Speaking about Gaza, the Taoiseach referenced comments made by former US President John F Kennedy when he spoke in the Dail in 1963.

Mr Kennedy urged the Irish parliament to work towards peace and protect the weak whether they were in Cork or the Congo or Galway to the Gaza Strip.

U.S. President Joe Biden reacts as Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks about President Bidens late son, Beau Biden, during a St. Patricks Day celebration event inside the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 17, 2024. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

Mr Varadkar said he had always believed America was a force for good in the world that had helped to advance liberty and democracy around the globe.

The Taoiseach said the Irish people were deeply troubled about the catastrophe thats unfolding before our eyes in Gaza.

When I travel the world, leaders often ask me why the Irish have so much empathy for the Palestinian people. The answer is simple: we see our history in their eyes. A story of displacement and dispossession, a national identity questioned and denied, forced emigration, discrimination, and now  hunger, he said.

So we support your work, and that of your administration, to secure a humanitarian ceasefire and to create the space for lasting peace.

The people of Gaza desperately need food, medicine and shelter. Most especially they need the bombs to stop. This has to stop. On both sides. The hostages brought home. And humanitarian relief allowed in, he added.

Mr Varadkar called on Israel to reverse its precipitous decision to authorise a land incursion into Rafah.

He said that after 100 years of violence in the Middle East the only secure future for the region was a two state solution that recognises Israel and Palestine.

Ireland stands ready to recognise a Palestinian state with like-minded partners when it is most helpful for peace, he said.

Mr President, we also see Israels history reflected in our eyes. A diaspora whose heart never left home no matter how many generations passed. A nation state that was reborn. And a language revived, he added.

He said it was possible for Israel and Palestine to resolve their conflict because the life of a Palestinian child is equal to that of an Israeli one.

And the aspiration of the Palestinian people to have a homeland, and a fully-fledged State, in the land of their forefathers is equal to that of Israels.

I also believe there are lessons that can be drawn from our own peace process in Ireland. Particularly the concept of parity of esteem and the totality of relationships. he added.

In his remarks, President Biden said the US and Ireland stand together against Russias brutal war in Ukraine.

The President also noted many in Ireland who have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Biden expressed his support for the same, and again called for a two-state solution. He called such an outcome the only path to peace and security.
Leo Varadkar's government was given a bashing in the referendums and it's a lesson that his party and others would do well to learn from. Photo: Collins

The defeat of not one, but two referendums should have been a wake-up call to the Government that it has veered off course. The family and care amendments werent just any old brainwaves either. Oh no, they were supported by all the major parties, NGOs and academics. It was supposed to be a shoo-in, a done deal.
Mary Dejevsky: In Russia's rigged election, Vladimir Putins victory shows he craves validation

Vote can be seen as a referendum on the presidents term and the war in Ukraine

A police officer checks voters queueing at a polling station in St Petersburg. Photo: AP

Mary Dejevsky  UK Independent Mon 18 Mar 2024 at 03:30

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.
Young mothers with drug and alcohol problems often feel they risk losing their children to care if they access rehab. Photo: Stock image/Getty

Just over 10 days ago, the people of this State voted by a record margin to retain a reference to mothers in the Constitution. Through Article 41.2, the Constitution of Ireland refers to the importance to the common good of the life of women within the home and that the State should endeavour to ensure that mothers should not have to go out to work to the neglect of their duties in the home.

The Governments proposal to delete this article and replace it with the so-called care amendment was defeated by almost three votes to one  the highest ever no vote percentage in an Irish referendum.

Article 41.2 remains and continues to recognise the importance to the common good of the life of women within the home. It also continues to require the State to endeavour to ensure mothers should not have to go out to work to the neglect of their duties in the home.

To what extent the will of the people is observed in the formulation of policy is open to debate. But the Constitution is not just about the actions of the government of the day, but also the attitudes of society as a whole.

Our attitudes towards the consumption of drugs is evolving. In January, the final report from the Citizens Assembly provided 36 recommendations for the Oireachtas. It called on the Government to provide leadership and accountability on drug use in Ireland, including the provision of a cabinet committee chaired by the Taoiseach.

The Citizens Assembly recommended a health-led approach by the State, rather than a criminal justice response. The view emerging from the Citizens Assembly was a more compassionate approach is needed for those who have become addicted to drugs.

A hidden problem for Irelands vulnerable women is young mothers with drug and alcohol addictions feeling they risk losing their children to the care system if they access rehab. As a result, mothers are unwilling to roll the dice with their childrens futures and avoid getting into recovery, so the cycle continues.

The isolation caused by the pandemic resulted in vulnerable women becoming dependent on alcohol. Alcohol and benzodiazepines tend to be the most popular drugs of choice. Yet the continuing societal stigma of motherhood and addiction means that not enough women are even accessing support, according to experts at the Coolmine drug and alcohol treatment centre.

A women and childrens residential service is proving invaluable to mothers on a journey to recovery. The centres help keep children with their mothers while the women receive support and treatment to combat addiction.

Having their children with them helps the women on the path to recovery. 

As our attitudes towards substance abuse evolve, it is important that a holistic view of treatment and recovery be adopted. The black-and-white views of the past on addiction must be replaced by a broader understanding of the problem.
Cork TD Aindrias Moynihan TD has called for a new gamechanger menopause drug to be made available through the Drugs Payment Scheme.

Speaking in the Dail recently the Fianna Fail TD for Cork North West said Veoza is a significant drug because it is suitable for women with contraindications to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Veoza is a new drug coming to market hopefully in April this year and could be a gamechanger for women who cannot use HRT products to control symptoms of the menopause, he said.

Once it is introduced into the Irish market it needs to be added to the Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) immediately, said Deputy Moynihan. There are many women with contraindications to HRT who have had oestrogen positive breast cancer or ovarian cancer.

The drug, which was recently approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), is prohibitively expensive. In the US it currently costs about $550 per month. Patients and families deserve access to this new drug which is a gamechanger for women suffering from the menopause and who cannot take HRT, he added.

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly TD, in response to a parliamentary question from Deputy Moynihan, described Veoza as a very new development for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause.

Veoza was authorised by the European Medicines Agency in October of 2023. The company marketing it submitted an application for reimbursement to the HSE on February 8. It is now at the first stage of the process, a rapid review by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. My officials will be following its progress with interest, said Minister Donnelly.
A Dublin woman, who lost her 19-year-old sister to leukaemia, has been fundraising for Daffodil Day for the past 37 years.

Sheila Morris (76) has volunteered for the Irish Cancer Society since Daffodil Day began in 1987 and has helped raise over half a million euro to support people and families affected by cancer in Ireland.

Sheila lost her sister Cora to cancer in 1966 and its what motivated her to get involved in raising funds to advance vital cancer research.

Cora died from leukaemia in 1966. There was no hope for a cure back then. In 1986, I saw an advertisement in a magazine for the very first Daffodil Day, they were looking for volunteers, she said.

I thought that if I do my little bit, they could get a cure for other people. There are so many people surviving leukaemia now.

When youre out on Daffodil Day, there are so many people who tell you stories. Someone might tell you they know someone who passed away from cancer last week, others are survivors themselves.

My sister was only 19, Id share stories about her when people come up to me. She had a Honda 50 at the time, she got out and did things.

She worked in an office. I remember my father cried, that was 58 years ago, I remember that, it was very hard. Im sure people have lots of experiences like that. Every family is hit by it, Ms Morris added.

The Malahide woman highlighted that research is saving lives, and she is hoping to raise more money to go towards it this Daffodil Day.

In 1986, three out of ten survived a cancer diagnosis, today its six out of ten. Its improving, but we need volunteers to get out there and raise the money, she said.

Childhood cancer was almost fatal, but now theyre largely curable. Nine out of ten survive breast cancer and testicular cancer now.

The funds raised go to night nurses too, theyre absolutely fantastic. The family can be there, its lovely that can happen. Ive heard nothing but good reports of night nursing.

Theres counselling you can get too, as well as lifts to and from the hospital, free transport if the cancer patient doesnt have transport.

I would never dream of giving up volunteering, Ill do it for as long as I can. Theres great helpers, some who have survived cancer themselves. All the volunteers have a story to tell, she added.

The Irish Cancer Societys Daffodil Day takes place Friday, March 22. Go to cancer.ie/daffodilday to get involved or donate to the Irish Cancer Society
SUHs nursing class of 1974 including Margaret Foley, Mary Coffey, Jan Sweeney, Loretto Keane, Gay Wilson, Patricia Byrne, Siobhan Mc Cormack were joined by some of the nursing team at SUH and current student nurses.

A group of nurses returned to Sligo University to commemorate 50 years since their intake as trainees at the the hospital.

Our roots are in Sligo but our shoots spread worldwide bore the inscription on the plaque placed at Sligo University Hospital last week to commemorate the hospitals first nurses-in-training.

The first intake of student nurses joined Sligo University Hospital in 1974 and the foundation was laid for the next 50 years of professionalism, compassion and dedication to patients.

The inaugural group of nurses were welcomed back to SUH last week for a reception hosted by Director of Nursing, Maura Heffernan.

Speaking about the reunion Maura said, It was an absolute privilege and honour to welcome the class of 1974 back to Sligo University Hospital and to listen to their life journies 50 years on. One thing is certain; the ethos of nursing remains the same, safe compassionate care to our patients.

During the reception the group shared their memories of training and spoke about their lives dedicated to helping others in Ireland and abroad. A strawberry tree was also planted in the grounds of SUH to acknowledge the profound legacy of this group of women.

Mary Coffey, commenced her nursing training in SUH in 1974, and now lives in Dublin but has great memories of her years of service in Sligo.

Mary said, We owe a debt of gratitude to this hospital for the wonderful education we received and the friendship we continue to cherish.
Sligo team at Armada 1588 film launch in Madrid with Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail TD and Irish Ambassador to Spain Frank Smyth,

The screening of the Armada 1588 : Shipwreck & Survival film at the Museo Naval, headquarters of the Spanish Naval Service in Madrid on Tuesday last.

As part of Semana de Irlanda - Ireland Week - in Madrid, a documentary film about the Spanish Armada in Sligo was screened to full houses at two venues in the city.

The team from Spanish Armada Ireland was also asked to present the Armada story, describing the shipwrecks at Streedagh Beach, the escape of Captain Francisco de Cuellar and his subsequent flight for freedom, which features centrally in the docudrama.

More recently, discoveries of the Armada cannons at Streedagh in 2015 and the successful commemorations that take place there every September were also discussed at both film screenings, as well as other events hosted by the Irish Embassy in Madrid and by Turismo Irlanda.

This included the invitation to present Sligos tourism experience to tour operators at a trade event, as well as meetings with other cultural, business and educational bodies, during a busy two day visit that was supported by Sligo County Council.

Shown are some photographs of the events, courtesy Turismo Irlanda.

They include photos of the film screening at Museo Naval, headquarters of the Spanish Naval Service in Madrid.

In attendance were Admiral Torres of Armada Espanola, Isaac Sastre de Diego, Director General for Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail TD, Irish Ambassador to Spain Frank Smyth, Eddie OGorman and Declan Bruen of Spanish Armada Ireland, film producer Micheal O Domhnaill, Dr. Connie Kelleher of Underwater Archaeology Unit of National Monuments Service, Michael Carty of Sligo County Council and Susan Bolger of Turismo Irlanda.
China's support important for economic globalization -- British experts

Xinhua) 08:10, March 18, 2024

An employee works at a wheel loader assembly line of a Develon subsidiary in Yantai, east China's Shandong Province, Dec. 26, 2023. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

Ultimately, globalization and multilateral trade arrangements are unavoidable because they represent the sole means to fulfill people's desires for improved and secure conditions.

LONDON, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Despite the rising tide of de-globalization and protectionism, China has played an important role in advocating economic globalization and its efforts in promoting high-standard opening-up are worth noticing, several British experts told Xinhua recently.

"Trade is the source of prosperity and the source of stopping poverty," said Stephen Perry, president emeritus of Britain's 48 Group Club, during a recent interview with Xinhua.

"In the long run, globalization and multilateral forms of trade are inevitable, because they are the only way to get what people want, which is better and safer conditions," Perry said.

Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the London-based Financial Times, said that because of economic realities, China has to push for globalization. "It makes sense for China in every circumstance to push for an open world economy."

China-Britain Business Council Chair Sherard Cowper-Coles said China's push for globalization is a win-win story. Speaking at the "Icebreakers" 2024 Chinese New Year celebration, he noted that "China matters more than it's ever done to the United Kingdom, to post-Brexit Britain."

Cowper-Coles told Xinhua during the event that China's advocacy of economic globalization is "terribly important."

"Britain needs China, needs this market for our goods and services, needs Chinese investment, needs Chinese students," he said.

Commenting on China's recent measures to push forward its high-standard opening-up, he said that "it's a win for the Western firms that want to enter the Chinese market. It's also a win for the Chinese consumers who get more choices, more options. So it's very positive in every way."

An aerial drone photo taken on March 12, 2024 shows vehicles for export parking at Jiangyin terminal of Fuzhou Port in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

Jean Christophe Iseux von Pfetten, chairman of the Institute for East-West Strategic Studies in Britain, said some good decisions are being made in China such as nurturing and strengthening the private economy, which is welcomed by China and the foreign community.

At the same time, Pfetten expressed his concern that in terms of foreign direct investment in the West, it will be much more complicated for Chinese companies.

"The United States is not benefiting from its protectionist action," Pfetten said, adding that the so-called de-risking and de-coupling are "totally wrong."

Keith Bennett, an international relations consultant in London, told Xinhua that although there is a lot of talk about protectionism and restrictions on trade, and there are some measures in that direction, "the main trend is very much towards globalization."

"What's important is that China puts forward an inclusive and fair globalization," he said.

"China is giving a constructive lead on that to make it fair and equitable for all," said Bennett, adding that he thinks "the overwhelming majority of countries in the world support China's initiatives on this."

"And it's gaining more and more understanding in some countries. Even if there is some pushback or hesitancy from the government, it's very much supported by the business community who don't want any political issues to interfere with trade and business," he said.

"China is the only country so far as I know that organizes expos and conferences to encourage people to export to the Chinese market and to bring their high-quality, niche and specialized products to China," Bennett said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
China and Angola's decades-long friendship exemplifies strong ties between China and Africa

14:52, March 18, 2024 By Lv Chengcheng, Yan Ran and Dai He ( Xinhua

This aerial photo taken on May 20, 2023 shows a ceremony for the temporary diversion of the Cuanza River at the site of the Chinese-built Caculo-Cabaca Hydropower Station in Cuanza Norte province, Angola. (China Gezhouba Group Company Limited/Handout via Xinhua)

China and Angola have a strong foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation. As relations progress, the two nations will witness exciting new chapters in their friendship.

LUANDA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- On Friday in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Angolan President Joao Lourenco announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Angola, a Portuguese-speaking country in Southwest Africa emerging from a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002, has enjoyed a flourishing partnership with China over the past two decades. This partnership is characterized by cooperation across various fields, and Angola has achieved significant progress in rebuilding the country, industrial modernization and talent development.

As Xi said during talks with Lourenco, China-Angola cooperation is South-South cooperation and cooperation between developing countries. It is defined as mutual help between good friends, reciprocity and win-win collaboration.

Photo taken on April 29, 2014 shows the road network constructed by China's Citic Construction company in Kilamba Kiaxi, the satellite town of Angola's capital Luanda. (Xinhua)

FACILITATING NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION

Located 18 km south of Luanda, Angola's capital, the "new city," Kilamba stands prominently on the horizon. More than a decade after its completion, this monumental public welfare project, executed by Chinese firms, comprises 700 buildings and 20,000 housing units, providing contemporary living conditions for its 120,000 inhabitants.

"I've been living here since January 2013, and back then, it felt like a fresh, pioneering city, with everything shining," 73-year-old resident Gaspar Pedro told Xinhua.

Pedro's home is situated in a 13-story residential building. Inside his cozy, orange-hued living room, a collection of family photos, including his daughter's wedding and the birth of his grandchildren, adorn one side of the bookshelf. Pedro enjoys a tranquil retirement life here with his wife, frequently visited by their children and grandchildren.

Mario Cassinda, who has managed a restaurant "Puro Tempero" in Kilamba for six years, believes the city has addressed more than just housing issues.

"It was constructed on a barren land. Since the city's establishment, it has created more jobs and attracted many people from the outskirts. I can say it's a beneficial project," said Cassinda.

The City of Kilamba, formerly known as the Kilamba Kiaxi Housing Project, was initiated by Chinese company CITIC Construction. It features well-equipped facilities, including schools, water treatment plants and substations, ensuring residents enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.

Chinese engineer Qi Juntuan, who participated in the city's construction, recalled the challenges they encountered, particularly the uncommon issue of poor soil adhesion, a problem rarely encountered by Chinese engineers elsewhere.

"The team, working tirelessly day and night, eventually overcame these obstacles with techniques like layered backfilling," he said. "The thought of applying our knowledge to bring tangible improvements to the local area fills us with great motivation."

In 2010, Xi visited Angola, when Angola and China announced the establishment of a strategic partnership. Xi personally inspected the project, spending half a day there, inspiring builders from China and Angola.

Rising from once barren land, the new city is a testament to the accelerated cooperation between the two nations.

China and Angola celebrated the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2023, and the partnership continues to thrive. Deepened political trust and practical cooperation have benefited the people of both nations.

China has been Angola's largest trading partner, largest export market and an essential source of investment for many years, while Angola is China's second-largest trading partner in Africa.

Drummond Mafuta, president of the Board of Directors of Edicoes Novembro, one of Angola's largest media groups, commented that when the Angolan civil war ended and the country needed reconstruction, China was the first to extend a helping hand.

Mafuta said friendship with China "is and will always be marked in the history of Angola's reconstruction."

This aerial photo taken in June 2022 shows an airport in Angola constructed by the China National Aero-technology International Engineering Corporation (CAIEC), an international engineering segment under AVIC INTL. (AVIC INTL/Handout via Xinhua)

FOSTERING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

After the talks on Friday, Xi and Lourenco jointly witnessed the signing of several bilateral cooperation documents regarding the Belt and Road cooperation plan, the economy and trade, agriculture, green development and other fields.

Tiago Quissua Armando, a scholar at Angola's Venancio de Moura Diplomacy Institute, sees the outcomes of the leaders' talks as addressing vital issues for Angola, such as economic diversification, industrial investment and agricultural modernization.

"President Lourenco's visit also includes a trip to Shandong, a Chinese province with significant experience in the agricultural sector. Angola can benefit from this experience to enhance its local industry," he said.

Last year, Shandong Province signed a friendly cooperation agreement with Bengo Province of Angola, committing to strengthening cooperation in agriculture, economy, trade and vocational education.

One of the flagship Shandong enterprises in Angola is the Sino-Ord Industrial Park. Since its establishment in 2019, the park has launched six industrial projects, with around 200 Chinese employees and approximately 1,700 local workers.

In June 2021, the Angolan president visited the industrial park and praised its role in boosting local employment, increasing tax revenue, and propelling Angola's industrialization and economic diversification efforts.

"Working with colleagues from China and other countries has broadened my horizons and made me realize that only through strengthening international cooperation can our country's development be more hopeful," said Joao Paulo, a senior external relations manager who has worked at the industrial park for many years.

In Luanda, the Fatima Furniture Factory of the Qingdao Yewhing Group has set an example in the local industry by providing employment opportunities for hundreds of families.

"Having the factory or local production not only provides the product but also creates jobs, allowing more Angolans to have a source of sustainability for their families. Now, everyone here dreams of becoming an excellent technician," said Wilson Manuel, a 30-year-old human resources manager at the furniture factory.

Today, products such as cabinets and wardrobes from the factory account for 40 percent of the domestic market in Angola, while the factory's sofa brand occupies a quarter of the market share.

Angola's Minister of Industry and Commerce Rui Miguens said China's industrial development has raised living standards. He noted that Angola hopes to learn from China's experience in industrialization and looks forward to more Chinese companies investing in Angola.

A visitor takes photos of a mobile phone displayed at the inauguration ceremony of Huawei Angola Tech Park, in Luanda, Angola on Nov. 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Lyu Chengcheng)

CULTIVATING FUTURE TALENT

Luis Erivaldo, a young Angolan working at Huawei, developed a strong interest in communication technology during his school years. After four rounds of interviews, he joined Huawei Angola and, over six years, grew from a freshman to a technical director.

In 2022, the Angolan government signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei for a "digital talent" training program, which plans to train over 10,000 Angolan youths in the next five years.

There is a broad scope for cooperation in vocational education between China and Africa.

In August 2023, President Xi co-chaired with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue in Johannesburg, proposing initiatives to strengthen practical cooperation between China and Africa and support African integration and modernization, including the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development.

The inauguration ceremony of the Chinese-donated Integrated Center for Technological Training took place in Huambo City, Angola, on Jan. 12. The 20,000-square-meter center has 30 laboratories and six workshops covering robotics, mechanical processing, computer science and automotive repair. In its first phase, it plans to train 2,400 people annually.

President Lourenco personally inaugurated the training center. During his visit, he inquired in detail about the project's construction and teaching plans. Just before leaving, he stepped out of his car to shake hands and again express gratitude to the Chinese personnel.

"This is a modern training center with complete facilities, and all the teachers have been trained in China. We are very grateful for China's help and look forward to continuing cooperation with China in the future," said Geraldo Pambasange, the training center's principal.

Secretary of State for Labor and Social Security of Angola Pedro Filipe said that in recent years, vocational training and talent cultivation have become critical areas of cooperation between Angola and China.

China and Angola have a strong foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation. As relations progress, the two nations will witness exciting new chapters in their friendship.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
MOTSHANE  Christians from close to 40 churches around Nduma Royal Kraal were prevented from attending a church service to mark the beginning of the year.

This follows information gathered by the police that there was a move by members of political formations to hijack the gathering. Information gathered from reliable sources was that there was allegedly no court order to stop the prayer service. At around 9am, two police officers manned the junction towards the royal kraal, where they stopped all vehicles and questioned those on board about where they were headed. This reporter was also stopped and a press card was demanded before being released to proceed to the royal kraal. Upon arrival at the royal kraal, there were two police vans and bantfwabenkhosi bakaShongwe and organisers of the church service, who gathered outside the royal kraal.

Watching

Princess Salaphi was seated on the stoep of one of the rondavels in the royal kraal, following what was happening. At around 10am, more Christians had parked their cars next to the road after being stopped by the police. They gathered in groups pondering on their next move. Among those who were stopped from proceeding to the royal kraal were those who were carrying equipment such as a tent and musical instruments. Mbabane Police Station Commander Sabelo Dlamini and Hhohho Regional Commissioner Simangele Motsa, in the company of over 20 police officers, were also present. Some police officers stood at the entrance of the royal kraal next to the main road, stopping the Christians from entering. Other police officers parked outside the royal kraal where they were observing the situation.

The turn of events came after a postponement of the same service last week as an announcement for the Buganu Ceremony had been made and the events could not coincide. Speaking on behalf of bantfwabenkhosi baseNduma, Mike Shongwe said they were shocked by the turn of events. Shongwe said the police had told them that they had received information to the effect that a PUDEMO rally would be held, hence they were present to ensure that it did not go ahead. Despite having explained that it was not a rally, but a church service to mark the beginning of the year, the police heard none of it. He said the necessary steps were taken to hold the service, including reporting to ndabazabantu (Kings liaison officer) as is the case where there is no chief. Ndabazabantu made the announcement which has been running for almost a week, Shongwe said.

According to Shongwe, ndabazabantu briefed the Hhohho regional administrator (RA) that the royal kraal was requesting to hold the service to mark the beginning of the year. He stated that after being approached by police last week, when it was assumed the service would be held, they went to Ludzidzini Council led by Chief Mdlaka. Chief Mdlaka told us he had no idea about the issue of the police being deployed to stop the service and the only matter on the table pertaining to Nduma Royal Kraal was that they needed to appear before the His Majesty on the installation of a chief. Shongwe said the administration of Nduma Royal Kraal was handled by bantfwabenkhosi bakaShongwe, in terms of an order issued by a joint sitting of Liqoqo and Ludzidzini advisory councils. He said the King gave a directive, through the Liqoqo and Ludzidzini advisory councils, that all administrative issues should be handled by bantfwabenkhosi baseNduma.

Explain

According to Shongwe, efforts to get Acting NATCOM Lydia Dlamini to explain where the order to stop the service came from proved futile as she did not pick up his calls. I wanted to know who issued the directive, he said. He said there was someone who was controlling the situation and making sure they were destroying everything. This, he stated, painted a bad picture of the traditional authorities in the land. Shongwe mentioned that they were planning to go and report directly to the King about the obtaining situation at the royal kraal. He said they needed to report that there was no order at Nduma due to some individuals. As it stands, we need to convene a meeting and inform the people of what is unfolding here, said Shongwe.

Princess Salaphi, who is an elder at the royal kraal, who was believed by some to be allegedly behind the stopping of the Christians from attending the church service, distanced herself from the allegations. The princess stated that she did not chase away anyone and could not comment further on the matter. Organising Chairperson for Nduma Churches Joseph Mabuza said members from 40 various churches under the Nduma Royal Kraal had to be turned back as a result. Mabuza said there was nothing they could have done but heed the polices command. He said they were aware that the order was coming from one person at the royal kraal as bantfwabenkhosi whom they reported to had supported the idea of the church service.
Marchers led by the Mayor of Sligo, Councillor Declan Bree make their way towards City Hall along Grattan Street.

President Joe Biden and the U.S. administration were severely criticised by a number of the speakers who addressed a Palestine Solidarity meeting outside Sligo City Hall on Saturday afternoon last.

Those attending the event, which was organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, had marched from the assembly point on Connaughton Road through the town centre to City Hall where they were the marchers were addressed by a number of speakers including Sligos Mayor Cllr Declan Bree, Cllr Arthur Gibbons, Ms Niamh OSullivan, Mr Brian OBoyle and Palestinian speaker Ms Marwa Ramadan.

Cllr Declan Bree said: The Israeli regime would not and could not continue to slaughter the civilian population of Gaza if President Biden threatened to withhold American support and arms.

There would be no famine, there would be no genocide in Gaza if President Biden restrained Israel.

His decision to use the veto to stop the UN calling for a ceasefire and his continued support for the Israeli regime has been conscious and unconditional.

The U.S. is now building a pier and air-dropping food. But the world knows that there are hundreds of trucks already at the border-crossing full of supplies.

However, the reality is that they are being prevented from crossing by the same Israeli regime that the U.S. is currently sending another $17 billion in military assistance to.

What sort of cruel monsters are there in the corridors of power in Washington? Cllr Bree asked.

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Cllr Arthur Gibbons said: The horrors Israel has been committing in Gaza since October are frankly indescribable. The civilian population of Gaza have been subject to the most depraved, indiscriminate bombing campaign in modern times.

Not satisfied with murdering over 30,000 people in just over five months, including at least 13,000 Children, Israel has also destroyed the hospitals and the entire healthcare system in Gaza, ensuring there is no help coming for these people.

Ireland now needs to expel the Israeli Ambassador with the clear message, Ireland does not support genocide. he said.

What I have witnessed in Gaza over the past 5 months, captured in real time, are people in all their humanness said Ms Niamh OSullivan.

Their love for their children, for their families, their communities, their land. Their continuing and lasting faith. Their deep deep grief, their raging anger, their despair, their boredom, their resilience, their hope. Their rounded, diverse, magnificent and flawed humanness. The same as any of us.

As Irish people, we are uniquely placed. In our privilege as white westerners and in our experience as a colonised people we know what happens to a land and a people when they are oppressed.

We know the ugliness that can erupt among us and between us. We also know what it is to be dehumanised. And we know what it is to want to live in freedom and in peace, she said

Referring to the role of the United States in the conflict, Brian OBoyle said: The slaughter of thousands of civilians in Gaza is a profound moral catastrophe. It is also a joint enterprise between Israel and the U.S.A.

Joe Biden has sponsored this genocide and has blood on his hands. He cannot be Irelands friend while he helps to kill other peoples children.

That is why no Irish politician should have gone to the White House.

When Leo Varadkar or Mary Lou McDonald says they must speak to our friends in the White House, we say Not in Our Name. We stand with the Palestinian people, he said

Addressing the meeting the Palestinian speaker Ms Marwa Ramadan said This year, Ramadan in Gaza is different. This Ramadan, Gaza suffers a genocide and forced mass starvation, and the death toll grows heavier with each passing day.

As I sit in the comfort of my home in Ireland this Ramadan, surrounded by loved ones at our table, I am overwhelmed with guilt.

Guilt for every sip of water, food bite, clean and dry clothing, and moment of warmth and shelter I enjoy.

I feel guilty that I get to tuck my child in at night and know she is safe. I am haunted by thoughts of the children in Gaza.

I cannot shake the haunting echoes of their screams and their desperate cries for lost loved ones.

Yet, the world continues to watch this genocide unfold before our eyes.

The world continues to watch parents holding on to the lifeless bodies of their children.

And I am left wondering why governments consistently fail to show genuine outrage over Israels actions, why governments consistently fail to hold Israel accountable.

I am left shocked as Israel, yet again, quite literally gets away with murder.

The world continues to watch, seemingly expecting Palestinians to emerge from the rubble and embrace their killers without resentment. My question is  Would you? she concluded..
Disappointment has been expressed at the decision to only hold an afternoon session for a roadshow about the development and regeneration of New Ross.

Speaking at the March New Ross Municipal District meeting, area manager Alan Fitzhenry said: To enhance awareness and support for owners of vacant/derelict properties and sites, the Regeneration Unit is planning a series of roadshows scheduled for April 2024. These informative events will span the five districts, aiming to enlighten the public about various grants and programmes tailored to address vacant and derelict properties.

As part of this comprehensive outreach initiative, the Regeneration Unit are collaborating with the Planning Department to craft a detailed brochure encompassing all essential information, Mr Fitzhenry said. This brochure will be distributed during the roadshow events and will also be made available at district offices and online.

The New Ross roadshow will consist of a drop in event from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, April 8, at the Tholsel, New Ross.

Cllr Michael Sheehan expressed disappointment that the roadshow will only be on for one afternoon, at a time when many people will be working. Speaking after a meeting with Co Wexford Chamber during which the need to discuss plans for the town with its main property owners was highlighted, Cllr Sheehan said they should be facilitated, along with the towns auctioneers.

I think that is what we meant when we originally suggested this, he said, calling for the council to be proactive in engaging with the towns property owners and auctioneers.

I think we need to talk to these people and tell them they need to be here. I think we need to go out and start beating the bushes and then go out with a carrot and stick approach. I think we need to rethink this if its to be effective. Cllr Bridin Murphy said the time of the roadshow will not suit a lot of people. I think it needs to be revisited. Young people are not going to be able to come in between those hours.

Cllr John Fleming suggested letting the roadshow run until 8 p.m., to attract greater footfall.

Cllr Sheehan said a larger venue like the function room at the Brandon House Hotel would be better suited for the roadshow. We and the Special Projects team have spent in excess of 50m on New Ross. Surely to God they couldnt take the function room at the hotel to show all the plans we have for the coming years. I suggest we formally launch the Town Centre First Plan on that night as I think we need to be far more assertive in showcasing the projects we are doing. Mr Fitzhenry said further roadshows for New Ross may well be planned, adding that the Tholsel is suitable for what is planned, one to one time between people and council officials.
Kate Middleton looked happy and healthy as she was spotted alongside Prince William doing a spot of shopping near her Adelaide Cottage home, according to reports.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were seen at one of their favourite farm shops on Saturday, around a mile away from their home set within the grounds of Windsor Home Park, a delighted onlooker told The Sun.

It comes as Kate was forced to skip a St Patricks Day parade as she continues her recovery from abdominal surgery.

Her health condition has not yet been revealed to the public but her friends claimed she may soon speak out about her ailment in a bid to quell the spurious rumours that have circulated in her absence.

Those close to Kate and William said the couple will disclose more information about her recovery in due course, according to The Sunday Times, which reported her return to royal duties should come after April 17.

A source told the newspaper: 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. If she was going to do it, thats how she would do it.

The apparent appearance followed a public backlash after the Cambridges decision to share a family photograph edited by Kate on Mothers Day.
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
The EU announced a 7.4bn funding package and an upgraded relationship with Egypt yesterday, part of a push to stem migrant flows to Europe criticised by rights groups.

The agreement lifts the EUs relationship with Egypt to a strategic partnership and was unveiled as a delegation of leaders visited Cairo. It is designed to boost co-operation in areas including renewable energy, trade and security, while delivering grants, loans and other funding over the next three years to support Egypts faltering economy.
Russia could be ready to launch full-scale attack on West as early as 2026, secret German intelligence warns

Leaked files suggest military preparations are already under way

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with participants of the International Youth Festival, on March 6 in Sochi. Photo: Getty

William Mata  Evening Standard Mon 18 Mar 2024 at 03:30







Vladimir Putin could launch a full-scale attack on the West in two years time, a leaked German intelligence dossier has warned.
Cuong Trans phone, socks and shoes were ripped away by catastrophic decompression

A passenger on board the Alaska Airlines plane where an unused door flew off mid-flight has described the terrifying ordeal as he clung on for dear life. Cuong Tran (40) was sitting next to the gaping hole, which appeared after a panel blew out, saying only his seat belt saved him from death on the January flight. He told the BBC how his phone, socks and shoes were ripped off him by the uncontrolled decompression 16,000 feet above Portland. He told the broadcaster: The captain said we had passed 10,000 feet. Then the hole blew out on us and I remember my body getting lifted up. Then my whole lower body got sucked down by the howling wind. It was probably the first time in my life I had a feeling of no control over everything. I was in disbelief over the whole situation. He added: That feeling of no control is pretty terrifying. The suction was so strong and I was hanging on for dear life. Both my shoes ended up getting sucked out  I had my shoe on pretty tight too. "My phone, which was in my hand, disappeared." Mr Tran, who is from California, is among the seven passengers to have filed a lawsuit against Boeing, which manufactured the aircraft, Alaska Airlines and Spirit AeroSystems. Nobody was killed on the flight, but Mr Tran was among those injured, suffering a laceration to his leg. The companies being sued have declined to comment on the lawsuit, which was filed in King County in Washington State. The flight was en route from Seattle to Ontario, California. In a preliminary investigation US regulators found four critical bolts, which were supposed to keep the door in place, were missing from the January 5 flight. Lawyer Timothy A. Loranger, who is representing the claimants, said in a statement: Our clients  and likely every passenger on that flight  suffered unnecessary trauma due to the failure of Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and Alaska Airlines to ensure that the aircraft was in a safe and airworthy condition. On Wednesday, US regulator the National Transportation Safety Board, said it will hold a two-day hearing on the incident at the start of August. Its chair Jennifer Homendy said Boeing has been unable to produce key information about work performed on the Alaska Airlines plane before the panel blew out.
Thats going to be the least of it: Donald Trump claims US is facing a bloodbath if he loses November election

Joe Bidens campaign says remarks show former president wants another January 6

Donald Trump speaks at a rally on Saturday in Vandalia, Ohio. Photo: AP

Kelly Rissman  UK Independent Mon 18 Mar 2024 at 03:30







President Joe Bidens campaign accused his 2024 rival Donald Trump of wanting another January 6 after the former president warned there would be a bloodbath if he loses the election.
Indias General Election Dates Announced, Polling Scheduled in Seven Phases

India has announced dates to its 18th general elections, during which voters will elect 543 members to the Lok Sabha, or lower house of parliament. The Election Commission of India (ECI) will oversee the nationwide voting, which will be carried out in seven phases from April to June this year.

Indias 2024 general election dates have been staggered from April 19 to June 1, per the Election Commission of India (ECI). In what is the worlds largest electoral exercise, Indias voter base of 970 million citizens, spanning 28 states and eight union territories, will vote under a seven-phase schedule.

The ECI will also conduct elections to the state legislative assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim during this period.

Indias sitting lower house of parliament (Lok Sabha) began its term on June 15, 2019, which is set to conclude on June 16, 2024.

2024 Indian General Election schedule

Indias three larger states  Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal  will see polling happen in all seven phases as voting is staggered by constituencies to ensure proper organization and security of the electoral process.

Polling phase Polling date States Total parliamentary constituencies Phase 1 April 19 Arunachal Pradesh (2) Assam (5) Bihar (4) Chhattisgarh (1) Madhya Pradesh (6) Maharashtra (5) Meghalaya (2) Manipur (2) Mizoram (1) Nagaland (1) Rajasthan (12) Sikkim (1) Tamil Nadu (39) Tripura (1) Uttar Pradesh (8) Uttarakhand (5) West Bengal (3) Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1) Jammu and Kashmir (1) Lakshadweep (1) Puducherry (1) 102 seats Phase 2 April 26 Assam (5) Bihar (5) Chhattisgarh (3) Karnataka (14) Kerala (20) Madhya Pradesh (7) Maharashtra (8) Manipur (1) Rajasthan (13) Tripura (1) Uttar Pradesh (8) West Bengal (3) Jammu and Kashmir (1) 89 seats Phase 3 May 7 Assam (4) Bihar (5) Chhattisgarh (7) Goa (2) Gujarat (26) Karnataka (14) Madhya Pradesh (8) Maharashtra (11) Uttar Pradesh (10) West Bengal (4) Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2) Jammu and Kashmir (1) 94 seats Phase 4 May 13 Andhra Pradesh (25) Bihar (5) Jharkhand (4) Madhya Pradesh (8) Maharashtra (11) Odisha (4) Telangana (17) Uttar Pradesh (13) West Bengal (8) Jammu and Kashmir (1) 96 seats Phase 5 May 20 Bihar (5) Jharkhand (3) Maharashtra (13) Odisha (5) Uttar Pradesh (14) West Bengal (7) Jammu and Kashmir (1) Ladakh (1) 49 seats Phase 6 May 25 Bihar (8) Haryana (10) Jharkhand (4) Odisha (6) Uttar Pradesh (14) West Bengal (8) Delhi (7) 57 seats Phase 7 June 1 Bihar (8) Himachal Pradesh (4) Jharkhand (3) Odisha (6) Punjab (13) Uttar Pradesh (13) West Bengal (9) Chandigarh (1) 57 seats

Data Source: Election Commission of India

The election activities in Jammu and Kashmir, however, will be conducted after the conclusion of the 18th Lok Sabha elections to provide adequate security forces in the region.

The last date for filing nominations to stand as a member of parliament (MP) is May 6 and May 9 is the last day for withdrawing candidature. The final counting of all seven phases of polling will happen on June 4, 2024.

Indias 2024 General Elections: Voter profile

Male voters: 479 million; Female voters: 471 million

First-time voters, aged 18 years: 18 million

Young voters, aged between 20 and 29 years: 197.4 million

Senior citizen voters, above the age of 85 years: 8.18 million

Senior citizen voters, above the age of 100 years: 218,000

Service electors: 1.90 million

People with disability: Male = 5.26 million; female = 3.57 million; and transgender = 440

Third gender/Transgender: 48,044

Since 2014, the Bhartiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has won two consecutive terms to form a majority in the lower house of parliament. This year seems to be more crucial for the NDA government, as it is aiming to form a government at the federal level for the third consecutive term with an overwhelming majority of 400+ seats.

However, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP party has expressed confidence in securing another federal term, opposition parties are expected to give tough competition states like Himachal Pradesh, conflict-ridden Manipur, and the southern states of Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka.

If the BJP-led bloc wins and completes a third five-year term, Modi will be the third-longest-serving prime minister in Indian history. Indias first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, ruled for 16 years and 9 months consecutively, while his daughter, Indira Gandhi, governed for a total of 15 years and 11 months.

Model Code of Conduct

On March 16, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar conveyed to all political parties to strictly adhere to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), a set of guidelines issued to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections. Among other things, the Code bars the government, at the state and federal levels, from announcing new policy decisions. This includes barring the announcement of a project or scheme that can influence voting behavior. The MCC also states that political parties must also avoid advertising at the expense of the public exchequer or using official mass media for publicity on achievements to improve their chances of victory in the elections.

The rules range from issues related to speeches, polling day, polling booths, portfolios, the content of election manifestos, processions, and general conduct, so that free and fair elections are conducted. The MCC came into effect immediately following the announcement of the election schedule, that is, March 16, and will be valid until the elections are concluded on June 6.

The ECI has issued instructions for the enforcement of the MCC during the first 72 hours of the announcement of the election schedule and also for maintaining extra vigilance and strict enforcement action in the last 72 hours prior to the close of polls. These instructions have been issued in the form of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for compliance by the field election machinery.

Indias State Assembly Elections corresponding with the General Elections

Name of the state End of term of legislative assembly State election dates Andhra Pradesh June 11, 2024 May 13 Arunachal Pradesh June 2, 2024 April 19 Odisha June 24, 2024 May 13, 20, 24, and June 01 Sikkim June 2, 2024 April 19

Data Source: PIB

The Indian elections will use electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPATs) at all the polling stations.

The ECIs procedures instruct that a single polling booth can only have a maximum of 1500 voters and thus, 1,048,202 voting booths with 5.5 million EVM machines will be set up nationwide. These will be managed by 15 million poll workers and security officers.

According to the officially released electoral rolls, as of January 1, 2024, there are 968.8 million voters nationwide, up from 896 million in 2019. There is also an increase of 1.19 percent in the number of polling places in the country.

2019 General Elections: Key outcomes

In 2019, the BJP-led NDA group secured 351 seats in the General Elections. Prior to this, in 2014, the NDA bloc had won 282 seats.

In 2019, seven national parties, 43 state parties, and 623 unrecognized political parties participated in the General Elections. Out of this, 36 parties were able to win one or more seats in the Lok Sabha. In all, about 8,054 candidates, including 3,461 independents, contested those elections. Of the 543 winning candidates, 397 were from national parties, 136 were from state parties, six were from unrecognized parties, and four were independent.

Background: Indias General Elections

India held its first elections in 19511952, after the country gained independence from the British Empire in 1947. Since then, the General Elections in India have been held once every five years. As a multiparty democracy, the country has about 2,660 registered political parties. It is also worth noting that political parties that have a significant footprint in a state legislature are recognized as state parties. And state parties with a significant presence in multiple states get the national party tag.

The results of Lok Sabha elections decide who gets to sit in Indias lower house of parliament, also called the House of the People. The political party or coalition that attains a Lok Sabha majority will nominate one of their elected members to serve as the prime minister. The prime minister will be entrusted with selecting ministers to serve in the cabinet. At 543 seats, the Lok Sabha has more seats than the upper house, or Rajya Sabha, which currently holds 250 seats.
Photo courtesy: IBNS File

New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Monday reiterated its directive to the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose the complete information of the electoral bonds through which political parties used to get donations from individuals and companies.

The Supreme Court heard a petition claiming SBI had provided an "incomplete data" related to the electoral bonds.

The top court, which has struck down the electoral bond scheme, asked the nationalised bank to furnish all details including the serial number and file an affidavit by 5 pm on Thursday stating it has not suppressed any of the details.

"We want all information related to the electoral bonds to be disclosed which is in your possession," the court said as quoted by NDTV.

The Supreme Court last Friday rapped the SBI for not disclosing electoral bond numbers and directed the national bank to do it.

The top court, which was hearing a plea by the Election Commission of India (ECI), said data provided by the SBI was "incomplete".

In a landmark ruling last month, the Supreme Court declared the electoral bond scheme, which allowed individuals and businesses to donate funds to political parties anonymously, "unconstitutional", stating that it violated citizens' right to information.

The SBI on Tuesday provided the Electoral Bonds data to the ECI, as per the strict directive from the Supreme Court issued on Monday.

In a big move towards showing transparency regarding political funding, the ECI uploaded the data of the electoral bonds provided to it by the SBI on Thursday, a day before the deadline set by the Supreme Court.
MBABANE  A bank account, wherein about E4.6 million was deposited in various amounts in a space of a month, has been frozen by the police on suspicions of money laundering.

The money that was deposited into the bank account of Nosisi Investments, held with Nedbank Swaziland, was frozen after it was red-flagged by the bank. In the month of March, the bank account received amounts of E150 000 from the Central Bank of Eswatini and sums of E135 000 were disbursed to different account holders. When the various amounts of E150 000 were deposited in various intervals in March 2024, totalling E4.6 million, the account had a standing balance of E235.95.

Red-flagged

It was after the bank had red-flagged the account that police were roped in and they swiftly approached the Mbabane Magistrates Court, where they obtained an order to freeze the companys bank account and that of 36 individuals. When the police eventually obtained the order to freeze the bank account, it was left with a sum of E1 142 844.95. The order, which was issued by Acting Magistrate Innocent Motsa, did not only authorise the freezing of the account, but also those of the individuals to whose accounts part of the money was dispatched from the main account. The court restrained Nosisi Investments and its Director Nosisi Lindiwe Ndwandwe from making any transactions on account No.1190475541 held with Nedbank Swaziland for a period of 180 calendar days, effective from March 11, 2024.

The bank was ordered to ensure that no transaction was effected by Nosisi Investments on account No.1190147541 for a period of 180 days, with effect from March 11, 2024. The application was made in terms of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Act of 2011 as amended. The national commissioner of police is the applicant in the matter, while respondents are Nosisi Investment, Ndwandwe and Nedbank Swaziland. The company has since moved an urgent application at the High Court to unfreeze the account. Lawyer Sikhumbuzo Simelane contended that the matter was urgent, because the accounts of the company had been frozen on suspicion that they (accounts) were involved in money laundering.

Simelane argued that all the monies and transactions appearing in the accounts were home improvement and security upgrade loans for elected members of bucopho and tindvuna tetinkhundla granted in line with Finance Circular No.2/2023. Circular No.2 provides that, all parliamentarians and designated office bearers are eligible for loans of up to E200 00 to cover security facilities in their residential homes. According to the circular, E150 000 of that loan would be provided by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini and the balance of E50 000, if so required, would be sourced from local banks in line with the Civil Service Home Loan Scheme.

Legitimately

The monies were legitimately paid out into the account by the Eswatini Government after all the individual loan applications were allegedly authorised, approved by the loaner, being Eswatini Government, argued Simelane. He informed the court that the first applicant (Nosisi Investments) then disbursed the monies to the accounts of the individual members and there was absolutely nothing illegal about that. It was further his contention that the suspicion of money laundering were completely unfounded. The applicants, especially the members of bucopho and tindvuna tetinkhundla, will not be granted substantial redress at a hearing in due course, because all of them want to use the monies which are loaned to them and government, who is their employer, will start deducting the monthly instalment repayments from their salaries now in March 2024, submitted the lawyer.

Simelane argued that it would be unjust to repay the loan that one had not received because of the freezing of the accounts. He then entreated the court to discharge the restraining order that was granted by the magistrate on March 11, 2024. Simelane pleaded with the court to order Nedbank Swaziland to unfreeze the bank account of the company and that of the tindvuna tetinkhundla and bucopho immediately.
A file picture of Indian PM Narendra Modi meeting Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. Photo Courtesy: PIB

India and Maldives officials on Sunday reviewed the ongoing process of replacing Indian military personnel from the island nation.

The issue was discussed during the third meeting of the India-Maldives High Level Core Group in Male.

"During the meeting, both sides reviewed the ongoing deputation of Indian technical personnel to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Both national discussed wide-ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation.

"This inter alia, included expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects through regular convening of joint monitoring mechanisms, efforts to boost bilateral trade & investment and enhancing people-to-people linkages through capacity building and travel," the statement said.

Both countries agreed to hold the next meeting of the High-Level Core Group in New Delhi on a 'mutually convenient date'.;;

Continuing his anti-India stance, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has said no Indian military personnel, not even those in civilian clothing, will remain in his nation after May 10 deadline.

Addressing the residential community of Baa atoll Eydhafushi during his tour across the atoll, the President stated that due to this governments success in expelling Indian troops from the country, people who spread false rumours are attempting to twist the situation, reported The Edition.

That these people [Indian military] are not departing, that they are returning after changing their uniforms into civilian clothing. We must not indulge such thoughts that instill doubts in our hearts and spread lies, he said.

There will be no Indian troops in the country come May 10. Not in uniform and not in civilian clothing. Indian military will not be residing in this country in any form of clothing. I state this with confidence," the President said amid the deteriorating relationship with India in recent days.

While the first troops to depart the country are the Indian military personnel operating helicopters in Addu City, the military personnel present in Haa Dhaalu atoll Hanimaadhoo and Laamu atoll Kahdhoo are also expected to leave ahead of May 10, reported The Edition.

Currently, there are approximately 80 Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives, media reports said.

The President came to power last year by riding on his anti-Indian stance.

Recent controversy

Recently, Indians have expressed anger against Maldivian authorities on social media after its Minister Mariyam Shiunas disparaging comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "clown" and "puppet" in posts on X, which have since been deleted.

These tweets were removed following criticism and backlash on the micro-blogging site.

Other Maldivian officials, including another minister named Zahid Rameez, also mocked Prime Minister Modi's visit to Lakshadweep after the photos garnered significant attention on social media as many drew comparisons between Modi's visit and the Maldives.

Closeness to China

Amid a strained relationship with India, the Maldivian government recently signed a military agreement with China.

Maldives Military of Defence posted on X: "Minister of Defence @mgmaumoon and Major General Zhang Baoqun, Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the People's Republic of China, signed an agreement on China's provision of military assistance gratis to the Republic of Maldives, fostering stronger bilateral ties."
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

A teacher was shot dead by a head constable deployed for security of answer sheets of Uttar Pradesh board examination over petty dispute in Civil Lines area of Muzaffarnagar district, police sources said on Monday.

The sources here told UNI that teachers Dharmendra Kumar, Santosh Kumar along with Sub Inspector (SI) Nagendra Chauhan, head constable Chandra Prakash, two junior staff Jitendra Maurya and Krishna Pratap left from Varanasi with answer sheets.

"After dropping answer sheets in Prayagraj, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, Moradanad and Bijnor they finally reached Muzaffarnagar on Sunday night," they said.

Police sources said that as the gate of SD Inter College was closed, the staff started taking rest in the vehicle.

"During this head constable Chandra Prakash, who was in an inebriated condition started troubling the other staff to which Dharmendra Kumar objected," they said.

The sources said that irked with this Chandra Prakash opened fire on Dharmendra with his official carbine.

"Dharmendra, who sustained serious injuries, was rushed to the district hospital by the police where doctors declared him dead," they said.

Police sources said that the staff which accompanied Dharmendra have been taken into custody and the weapons have been impounded.

"Senior officers inspected the spot and inquired about the incident," they said.

Meanwhile, agitated by the incident a large number of teachers assembled at Chhoturam Inter College and held a demonstration demanding action against the accused and job to a family member of the deceased.
In image PM Modi with Nitish Kumar/ courtesy: Facebook

New Delhi/IBNS: The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formally announced its seat-sharing formula in Bihar on Monday evening, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) contesting in 17 seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United will contest 16 seats while Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party will contest from five seats,

Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustan Awam Morcha and Upendra Kushwaha's RLM get one seat each.

The LJP faction led by Chirag Paswan's uncle Pashupati Paras, who landed a cabinet berth after splitting the party three years ago, is not part of the NDA.

The Paras faction was dropped after it became clear that Chirag Paswan's unit had complete command over the Paswan vote. The community comprises 6 percent of the voting population.

The BJP has taken Nawada, a stronghold of the LJP, and has given Sheohar to Nitish Kumar's JD(U) in place of Gaya and Karakat. The JD(U) has also got Kishanganj, which it lost to the Congress last time.

Kumar's JD(U) broke the Grand Alliance a second time and joined hands with the BJP early this year.
Photo Courtesy: Kremlin X page

Vladimir Putin is set to return to power in Russia for another term as the latest trends of the presidential poll showed he is leading with 87.33 percent of votes.

The figure was revealed by the Russian Central Election Commission after processing 99.01 percent of ballots.

Nikolay Kharitonov, the chairman of the lower house Far East and Arctic development committee, has received 4.31 percent of votes, Leonid Slutsky, the chairman of the lower house international affairs committee  3.19 percent, lower house Deputy Chairman Vladislav Davankov  3.79 percent, the data showed as reported by Sputnik news agency.

Putin thanks voters

Putin thanked all Russians who came to the polling stations and voted in the presidential election.

"First of all, I want to thank the citizens of Russia. We are all one team. [I want to thank] all the citizens of Russia who came to the polling stations and voted," Putin was quoted as saying by Sputnik at his election headquarters.

The three-day election process, which began on Friday, ensured Putin extended tenure for another term.

With his term now extended till at least 2030, Putin, who first came to power in 2000, ruling for two terms. He has been the President of the country since 2012 and is now one of the longest-serving Kremlin leaders, behind Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, who stayed in office for 30 years, from 1922 to 1952.

Global leaders react to Russian election

Amid the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised Putin and called him a 'dictator'.

"These days, the Russian dictator imitates another 'elections'. Everyone in the world understands that this person, like many others throughout history, has become sick with power and will stop at nothing to rule forever," he said.

Zelensky said: "There is no evil he would not do to maintain his personal power. And no one in the world would have been safeguarded from this."

These days, the Russian dictator imitates another "elections." Everyone in the world understands that this person, like many others throughout history, has become sick with power and will stop at nothing to rule forever.



There is no evil he would not do to maintain his personal pic.twitter.com/zu1see37kl  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) March 17, 2024

"This imitation of 'elections' has no legitimacy and cannot have any. This person must end up on the dock in The Hague. This is what we must ensure. Anyone in the world who values life and decency," he said.

Germany described the election process as 'pseudo'.

The pseudo-election in #Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Putin's rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The "election in the occupied territories of #Ukraine are null and void & another breach of international law.  GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) March 17, 2024

"The pseudo-election in #Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody. Putin's rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The "election in the occupied territories of #Ukraine are null and void & another breach of international law," German Foreign Ministry posted on X.

UK Foreign Minister David Cameron said Russia did not conduct a 'free and fair' election.

The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring.



This is not what free and fair elections look like.  David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 17, 2024

He wrote on X: "The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring."

He added: "This is not what free and fair elections look like."

Alexei Navalny factor

Supporters of Putin's critic Alexei Navalny, who died in prison recently, staged symbolic protests during the election process.

Their "Noon against Putin" initiative meant that long queues of voters turned out in Russian cities including Moscow and St Petersburg and outside many embassies abroad, but it was never going to have any impact on the result, reported BBC.

What do we know about Navalny's death?

Alexei Navalny, 47, died in an Arctic prison on February 16, 2024.

He was serving a 19-year term.
Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

In a major claim, the South Korean military said that its North Korean counterparts fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Monday.

The firing was done by North Korea at a time when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in South Korea for a multilateral ministerial conference.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) told Yonhap news agency that it detected the missile launches in the area of Pyongyang between 7:44 a.m. and 8:22 a.m., which flew around 300 kilometers and landed in the East Sea.

"North Korea fired at least three missiles, and their trajectories were similar to those of KN-24," a senior military official said.

According to South Korea media, the KN-24 is a solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of up to 410 km and a payload of 400-500 kg.

The South Korean military told Yonhap it immediately detected and tracked the missiles, and shared the information with the US and Japanese authorities, while a comprehensive analysis is underway.

"We strongly condemn North Korea's latest missile launch, which is a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the JCS said.

The latest missile was launched just a month after North Korea fired a new surface-to-sea cruise missile named Padasuri-6 from its east coast on February 14.
Image credit: File photo of Xi Jinping by Kremlin.ru via Wikimedia Creative Commons

Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended congratulations to incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election as head of state, the state-run China Central Television (CCTV) broadcaster reported on Monday.

In his congratulatory message, Xi said Putin's reelection fully reflects the support of the country's people and expressed confidence that Russia will achieve even greater success in development under Putin's leadership.

China attaches great importance to the development of relations with Russia and is ready to maintain close cooperation with the country to promote sustainable development of the strategic partnership, the president added.

(With UNI inputs)
File image of destruction from drone attack in Russia-Ukraine war/ courtesy: UNI

Moscow/IBNSI: Two people were killed and four others injured as a result of an air attack by the Ukrainian armed forces in Russia's Belgorod Region, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Monday.

"According to preliminary information, two people were killed and four were injured... in the Belgorod Region after air defence forces repelled an air attack from the Ukrainian armed forces," Gladkov wrote on Telegram.

Ukraine launched waves of attack drones on energy facilities in several regions from Krasnodar in the south to Moscow and Yaroslavi 170 miles northeast of the Russian capital.

The Russian Defense Ministry said 17 drones were deployed in Krasnodar on the Russian side of the Kerch Strait, opposite occupied Crimea, with most of them downed and one sparking a major blaze at the Slovyansk oil refinery as it fell.

[With UNI inputs]
Photo Courtesy: Wallpaper Cave/Pixabay

Levies Quick Response Force, headed by senior officers, killed two criminals, who were allegedly involved in killings, dacoities, robberies and terrorism, Pakistan's Kech district, media reports said.

Levies forces conducted a raid late Friday night, which led to a heavy gunfight that lasted for at least two hours, reported Dawn News.

The deceased criminals were identified as proclaimed offenders.

They were identified as Ghulam Sarwar and Sameer.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

In its bid to put an end to harassment on campuses, a Pakistani university has imposed a ban on intimate relationships between staff members and students in line with the policy of Higher Education Commission.

The ban was imposed by Khyber Medical University (KMU).

A notification issued by Brekhna Jamil, the chairperson of KMUs harassment inquiry committee, said that penalties for violating the policy were severe and might include oral or written reprimand, dismissal, suspension, expulsion, disciplinary probation, imposition of fine, withholding of degree, cancellation of professional licence, inclusion of decision in personal file and other related sanctions as deemed appropriate, reported Dawn News.

These relationships pose conflicts of interest, compromise professional judgment, and risk the credibility of the institution. The individuals involved in such relationships should declare it, it said.

Brekhana has directed all faculty members to disseminate the policy so that all the faculty, staff, and students are fully informed and comply with the provisions outlined in it.

The notification has been issued with the approval of KMU vice-chancellor, she told Dawn News.
Photo Courtesy:

Pakistani security forces have shot down eight terrorists during an Intelligence Based Operation (IBO) conducted in the country's North Waziristan District on Monday, media reports said.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), after an intense fire exchange, eight terrorists including Terrorist commander Sehra alias Janan were killed during the operation, reported Ary News.

According to reports, the killed terrorists included militant commander Sehra alias Janan.



The terrorist commander was reportedly involved in orchestrating the terrorist attack on the Security Forces Post in Mir Ali on March 16.

He was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies.

Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area as the Security Forces of Pakistan remain determined to wipe-out the menace of terrorism from the country, the ISPR said.
New Murabba Development Company (NMDC), a leading urban development destination in Saudi Arabia, highlighted the numerous opportunities available for international investors at its mega development - New Murabba - during the recent International Real Estate Professional Marketplace (Mipim) event in Cannes, France.

A prestigious real estate event, Mipim which concluded last week, brought together some of the world's leading players in the property development sector.

During the four-day event, New Murabba unveiled its vision for reshaping urban development and announced its readiness to welcome international investors.

Addressing global investors, New Murabba CEO Michael Dyke said NMDC has made a powerful impression with its premium project New Murabba, a 19 sq km mixed-use development that will become the core of Riyadhs downtown.

"New Murabba has already made significant progress in laying the groundwork for Mukaab, the iconic cube-shaped building that will be at the heart of the development," noted Dyke.

"It has already excavated a staggering with almost 4 million cu m of material, signaling its intention to build momentum as an attractive proposition for global investors seeking to be part of a groundbreaking development," he added.

New Murabba actively participated in the Invest Saudi panel discussions held on the sidelines of Mipim, further amplifying its presence.

Thomas Haag, Development Director, showcased the urban developments unique value proposition during a session titled "Redefining Urban Futures: New Murabba Downtown Development and the Evolution of Master-planning in Saudi Arabia."

Giancarlo Filartiga, Senior Director, Residential & Mixed-use Development, highlighted the significant contributions of Saudi Arabias giga destinations to the Kingdom's economic landscape and Vision 2030 realization, participating in the session titled "How the Saudi Giga destinations are Contributing to KSA's Economic Landscape and the Realization of Vision 2030."

As one of the leading destinations in the Kingdom, New Murabba is strategically aligned with Vision 2030, aiming to play a key role in diversifying the Kingdom's economy.

"New Murabba offers numerous investment opportunities for global investors looking to engage with emerging markets," remarked Dyke.

"One of our key mandates is to encourage private investment, which will contribute to reshaping urban development on a global scale. Investing in New Murabba presents a unique opportunity for first movers to participate in a market that is outperforming many other global destinations," he added.

New Murabba's participation in Mipim 2024 is a testament to its unwavering commitment to shaping the future of urban development in Riyadh and across the kingdom and beyond.

With the New Murabba offering a multitude of unparalleled opportunities, the development stands ready to welcome and partner with global investors, co-creating a thriving and sustainable urban masterpiece.-TradeArabia News Service
Based on the NaxaliteMaoist insurgency in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, Sudipto Sen's Bastar The Naxal Story, was released in theatres on March 15. From the makers of The Kerala Story (producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah, director Sudipto Sen), the film starring Adah Sharma, Indira Tiwari and Vijay Krishna among others has opened to mixed reviews. If you are waiting for the film's release online, here's all you need to know about Bastar's OTT release.

Bastar The Naxal Story OTT Release

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Where to watch Bastar: The Naxal Story?

The streaming rights of the Adah Sharma-starrer movie have been sold to ZEE5. Hence, the movie will be available to watch online on Zee5.

When to watch Bastar: The Naxal Story online?

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Given that the 8-week theatre window, the film will only be released two months after theatrical release. Since the movie released on march 15, it will likely make its debut by the end of May or in June.



Controversy surrounding the anti-JNU remark in the teaser

Before the release of the movie, a section of students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) protested against the teaser of the film demanding 'action' against the makers and cast. Reacting to anti-JNU remark in the teaser, Adah Sharma, in an interview with News 18 said, "When you play a tough cop like Neeraj Mathur in Bastar, I want people to think that I portrayed her in the strongest, most fearless and powerful way. I want people to believe each word Im saying in the film. When she says that 76 jawans were butchered and that she wants to gun them down, shes saying it out of frustration because she saw the jawans being shot and chopped into pieces. I might not say it as Adah but Neerja would".



The scene in question has Adah Sharma, who plays a police officer, talking about JNU as a place where students allegedly celebrated the killing of CRPF officers by Naxals in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.

Are you excited for Bastar The Naxal Story's OTT Release?

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


On Sunday, Shah Rukh Khan unveiled the latest collection from son Aryan Khan's clothing brand called DyavolX. In less than 24 hours, multiple collections are Sold Out already. The new collection of the streetwear brand launched last year is called Triple Threat. X-2.

Shah Rukh Khan Unveils Aryan Khan's D'yavol X Collection

dyavolx.com

The collection includes T-shirts, crop tops, hoodies, and denim jackets, and their prices range between Rs 16,000 and Rs 99,000.

DyavolX Demin Jacket costs Rs 90,000

dyavolx.com

The Jacket which Ed Sheeran was seen wearing during his India visit cost Rs 90,000. The description of the denim jacked on the website reads, "Not everyone is badass, but those who are have earned the right to don our signature X Denim jacket."

DyavolX crop top called Nocturnal costs Rs 16,000

dyavolx.com

DyavolX black T-Shirt called Blackout is priced at Rs 21, 500.

This one is sold out within a day.

dyavolx.com

DyavolX's white Hoodie called X-Ray is priced at Rs 40,000.

These prices are lower than the collection Aryan Khan had launched last year.

Also Read: Aryan Khan's Brand Selling Jackets At Rs 2 Lakhs Sold Out In One Day & Fans Have Best Reaction

Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan and Aryan Khan's new photoshoot

Dad Shah Rukh and sister Suhana Khan turned models for Aryan's new DyavolX collection. As they shared the pictures on social media, people were seen discussing the expensive prices of the streetwear collection.

Expensive prices cause a social media storm

"Loan le kar lenge lekin jarur lenge Insallah," said a friend. "Sir, apke kapde lene ke liye mujhe bank loan lena pdega... thoda mol bhav nahi ho skta hai," said another one. "Very expensive! I cannot afford it..." said another user. "Just the brand name if it didn't have Shah Rukh attached, all of these clothes would sell for under 1000," a user said. Another user asked, "Why are these clothes so expensive?." One user wrote, "Sir, I have to take a bank loan to buy your clothes... Can you please give some discount?"

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.






Dhulandi Holi 2024: Dhulandi, also known as Dhuli, Dhulendi, Dhuleti, and even Holi in some places, is a vibrant festival celebrated in India, marking the culmination of the two-day Holi festivities. This year Dhulandu will be celebrated on March 25. Here's a breakdown of Dhulandi:

The Dhulandi Festival celebrated on the second day of Holika Dahan according to the Hindu calendar, is a vibrant and exuberant event enjoyed not only in Rajasthan but also in northern India. Jaipur, in particular, hosts one of the most spectacular celebrations of this festival.

What is the Dhulandi Festival?

The festival of colours which we commonly know as Holi is also called Dhulandi or Dhuleti. Celebrated in different regions of the country, the term is used mostly in the Braj regions of Vrindavan and Mathura. Gulal and bhaang are an essential part of the celebrations as people smear each others faces with colour and drink the liquid to get high and make merry.

Dhulandi is celebrated for various reasons, one of which is to herald the arrival of the Spring season and bid farewell to winter. Each year, Dhulandi falls in the month of Phalgun according to the Hindu calendar, typically occurring in March or April. However, the celebration of Dhulandi extends beyond just welcoming springtime.

What do we celebrate Dhulandi?

According to the legend, Lord Krishnas skin colour turned blue after he was poisoned by a demons breastmilk. He became mighty upset as he thought no one would play with him including Radha who he was very fond of. His mother Yashoda consoled him and urged him to colour Radhas face whichever colour he liked. He did so and since then, Holi has been celebrated in the Braj regions with much fervor as this is where Krishna was born and raised. The festivities begin a week in advance and people decorate temples and dress up kids as Radha and Krishna too.

Dhulandi is the second most celebrated festival after Diwali and the entire country turns different shades of colours on the day of the festival. It is believed that this day is also a day to forgive one another for their mistakes and start afresh. It helps strengthen your bond and relationships and form new ties with people in your community. In the evening, people visit each other's homes to greet and keep the celebratory mood going.



Dhulandi is a joyous festival that celebrates the triumph of good, the arrival of spring, and the importance of community. It's a time to shed inhibitions, have fun, and strengthen social bonds through vibrant colours and playful interactions.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on general information.



For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.


Have you ever thought about what lies beneath the ground we walk on? What secrets are hidden in the depths of the Earth? You may have read about it in books, but have you ever wanted to experience it firsthand? Well, in a 'Manjummel Boys Part 2' experience in England, you can explore the depths of the planet at Gaping Hill chasm, one of Britain's largest natural caves.

Explore the depths of Earth in Gaping Hill Chasm

The Gaping Hill chasm is a remarkable underground passage that plunges 105 meters deep, showcasing breathtaking waterfalls and rock formations.

Gaping Gill holds the titles for England's highest unbroken waterfall and the largest naturally open underground chamber.

Gaping Hill Chasm/ Instagram

After falling through one of Britain's largest known underground chambers, the water vanishes into the rocky floor and reappears near Ingleborough Cave.



The cave chamber measures 129 meters in length, 31 meters in height, and 25 meters in width, and is open to the public twice a year.

In a video shared on Instagram, viewers can witness a daring descent into the cave using a unique system, but it's definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Watch it here:

'Manjummel boys updated version,' say netizens

People were equally amazed and frightened by the scene.

One person commented, "I don't have a death wish yet."

Another remarked, "Looks like the beginning of a horror movie. They bring the chair back up and there are only bones left."

Someone else shared, "I was all excited for all these things until I saw the movie Manjummel boys," while another added, "Manjummel boys updated version."

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The Malayalam movie "Manjummel Boys" recounts a heroic rescue from Guna Caves, inspired by real events. In 2006, a terrifying incident occurred in Guna Caves, Kodaikanal when Subhash and his friends fell into a deep crevice. Despite efforts, the police were unable to assist. Siju David bravely descended into the dark cave using a 50-foot rope to save Subhash, successfully pulling off the rescue.



While many were scared, one person commented on the need for such an adventurous descent in the Guna Caves of Tamil Nadu.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


Accessing space has become easier for humans due to advancements in technology and the growth of the commercial space sector. However, the idea of enjoying a luxurious meal in space, especially crafted by a Michelin star chef, would have seemed unimaginable to many. Yet, a Danish chef is making this a reality, offering the experience for a staggering Rs 4 crore.

Art generated by ArtBreeder

6 lucky individuals to get space meal experience

SpaceVIP, a company specialising in luxury space tourism, is offering an exclusive space dining experience priced at $495,000 per ticket, which is approximately Rs 4,10,30,129.

Only six fortunate individuals will have the opportunity to ascend 100,000 feet above sea level aboard Space Perspectives Spaceship Neptune, known as the worlds first carbon-neutral spacecraft.

Space.com

This extraordinary mission is scheduled for launch in 2025 from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.



According to the New York Post, Spaceship Neptune is not propelled by a traditional rocket but is a pressurised capsule propelled gently by a SpaceBalloon.

Guests will enjoy access to WiFi, enabling them to livestream their experience and stay connected with friends and family back on Earth.

Food served in space will be inspired from space exploration history

SpaceVIP has hired Rasmus Munk for the job for the six-hour journey.

Munk is a renowned chef from Denmark and currently serves as the chef at Alchemist, a prestigious Danish restaurant ranked fifth in the World's Best 50 Restaurants guide for 2023.

Rasmus Munk/ FB

At Alchemist, art - from the mesmerising aurora borealis to tranquil jellyfish gracefully navigating among plastic bags - enhances the experience of guests.



Roman Chiporukha, the founder of SpaceVIP, shared with the New York Post, "This is the first in a series of expeditions in partnership with leading artists designed to harness the power of space travel to elevate human consciousness and promote universal space literacy."

The food prepared by Chef Munk will draw inspiration from the impact of space exploration over the past 60 years, both scientifically and philosophically, on society.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


The frequency of cyber frauds is rising, and more people are becoming their victims.

A man said that after becoming friends with a woman on Facebook, he lost millions of rupees. According to reports, the Gujarati businessman lost a total of Rs 95 lakh to a scam.

Who is the businessman who lost Rs 95 lakhs to a Facebook scam?

Gujarati Businessman Loses Rs 95 Lakh In A Facebook Scam | Image: Generated on DALL.E

According to the Times of India (TOI), an Alkapuri, Parag Desai resident reported something suspicious to the Cyber Crime Police Station after becoming a victim of a scam. He told the authorities that in October of last year, he accepted a friend request from a woman on Facebook going by the name of Steff Mhiz.



Later on, they switched to WhatsApp for their talks. The site claimed that Desai's acquaintance recommended that he buy herbal products from India for Rs 1 lakh each and resell them to Mhiz's company for Rs 2 lakh

What happened over Facebook?

After Desai gave his assent, she encouraged him to contact a person by the name of Dr. Virendra in order to acquire the items. Desai and Dr. Virendra corresponded via email.

He accepted a friend request from a woman on Facebook going by the name of Steff Mhiz| Image: Unsplash

After their online talk, he paid Rs 1 lakh and received a sample packet. Desai did not open the box, even though it arrived on time.



Rather, as the article said, he placed more orders. After that, Desai allegedly kept giving money to Dr. Virendra in multiple accounts as directed by him. He grew suspicious when Virendra continued to demand more money under false pretenses.

According to TOI, Desai pushed Dr. Virendra to void the contract and return his money when he didn't receive the guaranteed amount.

However, Dr. Virendra and the woman haven't communicated since.

How did he find out he was scammed?

When he eventually opened the packages, he was surprised to see that there were no medicinal products inside. They were filled with powder and fried chips, according to TOI.

When he eventually opened the packages they were filled with powder and fried chips | Image: Generated on DALL.E

In the meantime, a study published on February 6 by the Ministry of Home Affairs asserts that in 2023, Indians lost Rs 7,488.6 crore to internet frauds.



Telangana has lost Rs 759.1 crore, while Maharashtra has lost Rs 990.7 crore, illustrating the widespread scope of cybercrime in the nation.

The home ministry continued by stating that the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting Management System had 11,28,265 complaints in the prior year.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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Petrol and Diesel Prices Cut on March 18, 2024: On March 18, government oil companies disclosed the latest prices for petrol and diesel. In the global market, as of 6 am on Monday, WTI crude is trading at $81.03 per barrel, registering a slight decrease of 0.01%. Similarly, Brent crude is priced at $85.29 per barrel, indicating a decline of 0.06%. Notably, oil companies reduced petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2 from March 15 onwards. Additionally, petrol and diesel rates in Lakshadweep have been reduced by Rs 15. In India, updated fuel rates are unveiled every morning at 6 am. Keep an eye out for updates on petrol and diesel prices.

In India, the pricing of petrol and diesel is influenced by factors like freight charges, value-added tax (VAT), and local taxes, resulting in variations in rates across states.

Petrol Diesel Price Today Rate Changes

Petrol Diesel Price Rate Today: City-wise City Diesel (in liter) Petrol (in liter) Noida Rs 87.96 Rs 94.83 Gurugram Rs 88.05 Rs 95.19 Bengaluru Rs 85.93 Rs 99.84 Chandigarh Rs 82.40 Rs 94.24 Hyderabad Rs 95.65 Rs 107.41 Jaipur Rs 90.36 Rs 104.88 Patna Rs 92.04 Rs 105.18 Lucknow Rs 87.76 Rs 94.65

Petrol-diesel prices in metro cities

Following this reduction, the price of petrol in the national capital (Petrol Price Today in Delhi) now stands at Rs 94.72 per liter, down from Rs 96.72 per liter previously. Meanwhile, diesel (Diesel Price In Delhi) is priced at Rs 87.62 per liter, compared to the earlier rate of Rs 89.62 per liter. Presently, petrol costs Rs 104.21 per liter in Mumbai, Rs 103.94 in Kolkata, and Rs 100.75 per liter in Chennai. On the other hand, diesel is priced at Rs 92.15 per liter in Mumbai, Rs 90.76 in Kolkata, and Rs 92.34 per liter in Chennai.

Factors Influencing Petrol and Diesel Prices in India

Crude oil price: The primary raw material for producing petrol and diesel is crude oil, and consequently, its price directly impacts the eventual cost of these fuels.

Exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar: Being a major importer of crude oil, India's petrol and diesel prices are influenced by the exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the US dollar.

Tax: Both central and state governments levy various taxes on petrol and diesel, which may vary across states, significantly affecting the final prices of these fuels.

Refining costs: The ultimate price of petrol and diesel is further influenced by the expenses associated with refining crude oil into these fuels. Refining processes can be expensive, and refining costs may fluctuate depending on factors such as the type of crude oil used and the efficiency of the refinery.

Demand for petrol and diesel: Prices of petrol and diesel can also be impacted by changes in demand. Higher demand for these fuels often leads to increased prices.
Dhirubhai Ambani proved that nothing is impossible if you put your heart and soul into it. The man who turned his humble beginnings into an empire, left behind his wealth and legacy for his two sons Mukesh and Anil Ambani.

While Mukesh remains to be the more famous one out of the two, Anil is often cast away as a not-so-successful businessman. The comparisons between the two brothers is something that has been ongoing for decades now. With the next generation taking part in the family business, Isha, Akash and Anant Ambani often make headlines.

anil ambani mukesh ambani/epa

However, Anil Ambanis son Jai Anmol Ambanis story is one that is meant for the books.



Life For The Other Ambani Brother Hasnt Been A Cakewalk

In February 2020, Anil Ambani filed for bankruptcy before a UK court amid his involvement in various legal battles. As Anil Ambani faced challenges, his son Jai Anmol Ambani emerged as a source of optimism for the former billionaire.

For the unversed, Anil Ambani who once ranked as the sixth richest individual globally with a net worth exceeding Rs 1.83 lakh crore, has seen his fortunes change dramatically.

His elder son Anmol Ambani, born into privilege, received his education at prestigious institutions like Cathedral and John Connon Schools in Mumbai and later attended Seven Oaks School in the UK.

Tina Ambani/Instagram

Despite his privileged upbringing, Anmol's journey has not been devoid of challenges.



Enter Anmol Ambani, The Rising Star of Reliance Capital

Anmol Ambani immersed himself in the family business from a young age, with a particular focus on Reliance Capital, while his father oversaw many subsidiaries within the conglomerate.

Beginning his journey at Reliance Mutual Fund as an intern at just 18 years old, Anmol steadily progressed through various roles. In 2016, he ascended to the board of Reliance Capital as an additional director. Praised for his contemporary management abilities and innovative outlook, Anmol also assumed positions on the boards of Reliance Nippon Life Asset Management and Reliance Home Finance.

Tina Ambani/Instagram

Anmol Ambani's Vision Leads to the Creation of Reliance Life Insurance and Reliance Capital Asset Management

Amidst Anil Ambani's financial troubles in the early 2010s, his conglomerate, the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), faced mounting debt and declining profits. However, Anmol Ambani's emergence as a leader brought a glimmer of hope. Taking charge of operations within the Reliance group, Anmol's strategic initiatives led to a remarkable 40% surge in stock prices, garnering praise from his father.

Tina Ambani/instagram

He successfully persuaded the Japanese company Nippon to increase their stake in Reliance, resulting in the establishment of two new ventures: Reliance Life Insurance and Reliance Capital Asset Management. This demonstrated Anmol's adeptness in navigating challenging financial landscapes and driving growth within the family business.

With His Perseverance And Hard Work, Anmol Ambani Has Amassed A Networth Of Over Rs 20,000 Crore!

tina ambani/instagram

As per reports, Jai Anmol Ambani commands a thriving business empire, boasting a net worth exceeding Rs. 20,000 crore. In 2022, he tied the knot with Khrisha Shah at Sea Wind, the opulent family residence located in Mumbai. Known for his lavish lifestyle, Anmol Ambani, son of Anil Ambani and nephew of Mukesh Ambani, possesses an array of high-end assets, including luxury cars like the Lamborghini Gallardo and the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Additionally, he reportedly owns helicopters and planes, which serve his business travel needs.


"This because my conscience will not allow me to unwittingly participate in the efforts by some to attack the institution of postal voting, the Mitsotakis government or Greece's prestige," she added, saying it was now up to the authorities to investigate and stating her willingness to cooperate in any way.
Vigilantes at Bishini village market in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State have arrested Dan Abba, a suspected informant for bandits.

The suspect was apprehended while attempting to sell a stolen cow at the village market.

A resident of Azzara, Ahmadu Sajo, was said to have informed the local security men about Abbas presence at the market square.

The suspect is believed to be associated with bandits who have been responsible for the abduction of herders and the theft of their cattle in various areas, including Kuchimi, Haying-Dam, and the Gidan-Makeri region of Kagarko town.

READ ALSO: Delta Community Razed After Murder Of 15 Soldiers (Video)

It was gathered that the suspect had been declared wanted by the troops in the vicinity, along with other suspects who were fleeing.

The informant mentioned that the suspect, along with the stolen cow, was handed over to the troops.

He furthered that the vigilantes were actively trying to track down the whereabouts of some of the other stolen cows.

The vigilantes suspected that the cow the suspect brought to the market might be among those cows that were stolen two weeks ago at a village in Kagarko LGA, Daily Trust quoted Sajo saying.
Moscow, Mar 18 (UNI) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who arrived on a visit to Azerbaijan, called on Baku to provide more humanitarian assistance to Ukraine due to the "extremely difficult" situation there.

"It's a country which is a partner of NATO, and Russia continues to conduct a war of aggression against Ukraine. NATO Allies are extremely concerned about the consequences of the ongoing war and NATO Allies provide support to Ukraine. I welcome the much needed support also Azerbaijan provides to Ukraine. Also when it comes to humanitarian aid, which is much needed, but more support is needed because the situation in Ukraine is extremely difficult," Stoltenberg said at a press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Last year, Baku began sending electrical equipment intended for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK
Susan Pwajok, a Nollywood actress, has shared how Boko Haram destroyed her familys house in Jos, Plateau State, while they were still inside.

She narrated how they managed to escape unhurt.

Susan stated in the most recent edition of her podcast, Surviving Lagos, alongside her mother Carol Pwajok, that the terrorists also burnt her grandfathers vehicles and all of their assets.

READ MORE: I Cant Date Someone Obsessed With Bbnaija Reality Show  Timini Egbuson

While speaking, she said,

I was in Jos, Boko Haram attacked our house. They burnt our house down to the ground and we were in the house. I was with my cousins. My mum was in Lagos.

Me, my grandparents and my two cousins, we crawled to the garden to hide and watched the house burn down. They burnt my grandfathers hilux, benz, and all our properties. Imagine your whole life just coming down. Because that was my childhood house. We had to rebuild the house.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered Binance Holdings Limited to provide the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with the comprehensive data or of all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.

It was gathered that the court handed down the order in an ex-parte motion filed by the EFCC, demanding information about Nigerians trading on the crypto website.

However, in the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by an operative of the anti-graft agency, Hamma Bello, stated that the Special Investigation Team of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser received intelligence that money laundering and terrorism financing was carried out on Binance.

He said: The Special Investigation Team of the commission domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser received an intelligence stating the nefarious activities (money laundering and terrorism financing) on Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange platform.

READ MORE: Arrest Of Binance Officials Shows Govt Is Working  Obanikoro

That on receipt of the intelligence, the team began an investigation by conducting surveillance of the activities of the platform.

The team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation, and market manipulation, which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its value against other currencies.

That the team uncovered users who have been using the platform for price discovery, confirmation and market manipulation which has caused tremendous distortions in the market, resulting in the Naira losing its values against other currencies.

That the damage the platform has caused was clearly explained to the operators of the platform, and they were requested to delist the Naira and avail the ONSA on the activities of the Nigerians on their platform.

That from the information afforded to the team by Binance shows trading volume from Nigeria in 2023 alone stood at $21.6bn.

Attached and marked as Exhibit EFCC 1 is a copy of the document from Binance to the ONSA stating this fact amongst others.

That the commission will ensure that investigation is conducted within such reasonable time.
The Governor of Anambra state, Chukuma Soludo has disclosed that Nigerias biting economic situation is an inevitable phase for the betterment of the nation.

The Governor made this known during an interview on Channels Televisions Sunday Politics, adding that this is a phase needed before the country begins to flourish.

He said: You see, sometimes, I kind of feel we dont get it.

READ MORE: I Havent Received Any Salary Two Years Into My Tenure As Governor  Soludo Reveals

But whether there will be pains for any step you take or the other, it is going to be. It is inevitable. But that is obviously what we need to pass through, he said, maintaining that President Bola Tinubu inherited a bad economy upon assumption of office in May 2023.

We must realise that things were really bad. We must get it clear that there is no easy way to get this patient who has multiple problems [to become better],

In the first nine months of coming into office, we have employed over 5,000 teachers and processing 2,000 more, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor said.

We have employed over 1,000 health workers and in the area of security, we have over 2,000 employed.
Samuel Oguachuba, also known as Samklef, has disclosed he has forgiven musician Davido for disrespecting him.

Recall Davido slammed the producer-turned-blogger after he shared a clip of him and his wife, Chioma with their twins leaving a hospital in Atlanta, USA last year.

His reaction irritated Samklef, who has subsequently trolled him on social media.

However, the veteran recently stated on his X account that he has forgiven Davido, emphasising that he believes he has learned his lesson.

READ MORE: I Was Introduced To Hard Substance That Made Me Trek From Awoyaya To Oriental Hotel In Victoria Island  Solidstar Spills

He also advised other musicians not to try him again.

He tweeted, Samklef love davido! I don forgive am for disrespecting me since and I believe say e don learn him lessons. Na my aburo noni. For this industry make nobody try Samklef again.
Peter Obi, 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has again lamented Nigerias plethora challenges.

While calling on the government to take urgent steps to improve the situation, he disclosed via X on Monday that about 7,000 Nigerians have been kidnapped in the past one year as well as several recorded cases of killings and clashes.

The country, he said, now has one of the hungriest people in the world with the economic outlook is bleak.

Obi also lamented the state of electricity, healthcare, out-of-school children and other basic amenities, urging the government to address the downward trend.

According to the former Anambra State Governor, with all that is going on, Nigeria cant attract foreign investors.

He posted: In the past 1 year, about 7000 Nigerians have been kidnapped, with about 700 kidnapped in the last 3 weeks, not withstanding the violent crimes and killings that occur in every part of the nation, which must have included us in one of the worlds riskiest countries to live in.

A report by the globally respected publication, Financial Times, on March 12, 2024, described Nigerias kidnapping racket as a sign of a failed state. With all of these happening in our nation, how then can we attract foreign investors, & retain the confidence of local investors?

READ ALSO: Households Now Spend All Their Earnings On Food Alone, Avert Impending Hunger  Obi To Tinubu

We have become one of the hungriest nations in the world and one of the most difficult nations in the world to live in, with food prices constantly going out of the reach of most Nigerians. Power supply is abysmally poor and Nigerians are now mostly in total darkness, as over 60% are without power supply. Even those in perceived privileged areas now go for days without power supply.

A 2022 Energy Progress Report designated Nigeria as the country with the largest number of people lacking access to electricity with 92 million of its over 200 million population living without electricity. About 80 percent of our primary healthcare centres are not functional. The cost of medical treatments and medicines have gone beyond the reach of most Nigerians.

We now hold the enviable position of having the highest number of out of school children, with about 20 million out-of-school children. We need to take our children off the streets and give them access to basic education.

He therefore, called on the Federal Government to re-allocate resources to the very critical areas of the country

I, therefore, urge our executive and legislative arms to consider the many challenges facing our nation and re-allocate resources to these very critical areas. This is the time for complete sacrifice. A New Nigeria is still very POssible, he added.
Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, has revealed that the 16 soldiers killed in the State were on a peace mission to rescue a kidnapped individual, Anthony Aboh.

Aboh was allegedly kidnapped in Okuama community.

The lawmaker, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Defence, made this disclosure while speaking in Warri on Sunday.

He vehemently condemned the perpetrators of the heinous act, terming it as crisis taken too far.

While extending his condolences to the military authority and the bereaved families, the lawmaker emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive investigation into this tragic occurrence.

READ ALSO: Delta Community Razed After Murder Of 15 Soldiers (Video)

He however called on the state and federal governments to swiftly intervene, cautioning against the potential for further escalation.

The lawmaker stressed the importance of employing tactical intelligence by the military to apprehend the culprits responsible for orchestrating this heinous crime without causing harm to innocent civilians within the Okuama Community.

I urge the people of Okuama Community to assist the military to fish out the killers of the gallant soldiers, he stated, emphasizing the critical role of community cooperation in resolving this crisis.

His comment comes just as President Bola Tinubu-led government gave the Defence Headquarters a go-ahead to bring the perpetrators of the condemnable act to book.
Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the military to go after the killers of officials of the Nigerian Army who were killed in Delta State last Thursday.

Tinubu had, while condemning the killing in a statement on Sunday, given the Defence Headquarters and the Chief of Defense Staff a go-ahead to bring those responsible for the heinous crime to book.

The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people. My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquillity in every part of Nigeria, the President partly said in the statement.

However, faulting the presidents directive in a post via X, Sowore, who described the President as confused, said that the Defence Headquarters has no business with bringing the killers of the Nigerian soldiers to justice.

READ ALSO: Delta Killing: History Shouldnt Repeat Itself, Fish Suspects Out  Falana To Military

According to him, Tinubus directive will result in the death of many innocent civilians in the area.

The activist maintained that it was the job of the police to investigate and bring those found culpable to book.

His words: Tinubu @officialABAT is confused, and this is one of the main issues with the excessive use of military force; the Defence Headquarters has no business bringing the killers of Nigerian soldiers in Okuama to justice. It is the job of the @PoliceNG to investigate, arrest, and prosecute with the aid of the attorney general and commissioner of justice in Delta state (or possibly the Attorney general of the federation and Minister of Justice).

Tinubus endorsement is essentially a cart blanche to kill innocent civilians in that area of Nigeria just like Obasanjo did in Odi and Zaki Biam, let the Defence Headquarters know that individual officers carrying out these unlawful orders are going to be held liable per Nuremberg principles in case you dont know, you cant go and commit genocide in Delta state and state that Tinubu sent me know this and know peace  even after you are retired, ask General Malu ofthe @HQNigerianArmy how it ended! #RevolutionNow.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has begged Nigerians to be focused, steadfast in prayers for the nation, and to successfully overcome its current economic challenges.

The Governor made this known during the annual Ramadan public lecture, held at the states Central Mosque, Lagos Island, over the weekend.

Sanwo-Olu said: The solution is for us all to come together and pray so that things can be better for our country.

READ MORE: Hardship: Lagos Civil Servants To Work Three Days A Week  Gov Sanwo-Olu Announces

The reality of things is that the withdrawal of subsidies, which we were all used to over decades, will come with challenges.

So, my advice is that we sustain what we are doing, be prayerful, and be focused, and I am sure that very soon things will change for the better.

My prayer is that Almighty Allah grant our leaders, the strength and fortitude to keep pursuing the right path for the nation to come out of the present situation.
Some yet to be identified gunmen, suspected to be cultists have gruesomely killed a printer, George Sopruchi at Abakiliki Street in the Mile 1 area of Diobu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over the weekend.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the culprits trailed their target to Abakiliki close to Emenike Street at about 8.30pm and shot him dead while he was discussing with someone.

According to PUNCH, the incident occurred about 72 hours after a suspected cultist shot a man dead along the Nanka/Lumuber area of Diobu, creating tension on residents in the area.

READ MORE: Two Feared Killed As Gunmen Open Fire On Rivers Police Officers

Also confirming the horrible development, on Sunday, an eyewitness, who refused to reveal his identity said that the gunmen carted away motorcycles of the deceased and one of his mobile phones.

He added that onlookers, rushed to the scene as soon as the assailants fled and took the victim to the hospital. Unfortunately, he had passed away.

He said: It was just like what happened three days ago when some cult boys trailed a man to Nanka/Lumumba who went to buy noodles and shot him dead.

What is happening in Diobu is becoming scary. Let the police be up and doing so that people can sleep with their two eyes closed here.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Local Government Chairmens Forum in Lagos has stated the reason behind Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adedirans loss during the 2023 gubernatorial election.

According to them, their candidate, also known as Jandor, lost the election due to his disregard for important advice party structures, tradition and rules.

Their comment comes amidst Jandors controversial claim to leadership of the Party in the state.

Condemning Jandor for laying claim to the partys leadership structure within the state, the Chairmen via a statement at the weekend, lamented that Jandors selection of a deputy governorship candidate outside the partys recommendations contributed to internal discord and ultimately led to Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivours defection to the Labour Party.

The lengthy statement read, We express our displeasure at the conduct of Jandor and his associates, the attitude of the PDP candidate had been unbecoming since the day of his declaration for the party, where dignitaries of the party, which included some sitting governors and other dignitaries of the party were present including the then sitting governors and the national chairman of the party (Senator Iyocha Ayu) were present.

Jandor had disregarded the partys traditions and structure from the very first day he became the partys gubernatorial candidate. He became lord unto to himself.

He disregarded the structures of the party, by single-handedly handpicking candidates for house of representatives and state house of assembly, thereby creating crisis within the party.

This led to several litigation in the various local government areas, up to the supreme court, a scenario which had never been witnessed by the party before.

Examples of local governments that were in legal log-jam two weeks before the general election were Oshodi-Isolo LG, Ikeja LG, Mushin LG, Ajeromi LG, Apapa LG, Ikorodu LG.

Another blunder committed by him was he failed to properly reconcile with the aspirants that contested along with him for the governorship position but were forcefully step-down by ogidi led electoral committee that was sent to Lagos.

These people paid N25million each to obtain forms. At one instance, one of the aspirants that was forced to step-down called him so that he might make some inputs into agent lists but he outrightly told the fellow that he was not ready to share his agent list with anybody and he will mainly make use of his Lagos for Lagos group.

Two days after Peter Obi had discussion with Jandor on the issue of working with Labor Party, H.E Atiku Abubakar, our presidential candidate invited Jandor to his Abuja home on the same issue of working arrangement with Labour.

The meeting which involved H.E Atiku Abubakar, a retired general and one other powerful northern leader. The issue of collaboration was raised and Jandor stated that he was not ready to step down for LP candidate Architect Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and the only condition was for Gbadebo to step down for him because he has his Awori people behind him.

READ ALSO: SSANU, NASU Direct Members To Begin Nationwide Strike Monday Over Withheld Salaries

When the enlarged meeting was not making much progress on the issue of the collaboration, Jandor was asked to suggest the way forward on how they can make progress on the issue of collaboration.

They suggested that a call should be put across to Chief Olabode George, BG, and seek for his opinion on the way forward.

From the venue of the meeting in Abuja, a call was put to BG and other notable leaders in Lagos on the issue of working relationship with LP.

All the leaders made it clear to them the best thing is to have a working relationship with LP. That it is most ideal and reasonable thing to do is for Jandor to step down for Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

Because the leaders based their analysis on outcome of presidential election of 2023 where LP scored 582,664 votes as against PDP that scored 75,750 votes.

Jandor was a misgiving to the PDP since 2022, when he joined the party, and in setting the record, he is the worst candidate in terms of performance, but also being the candidate who mostly abused the norms and structure of the party in its almost 25 years of existence.

Jandors many sins, include his disregard for the partys principles and traditions in the selection of the deputy governorship candidate ,as he jettisoned the deputy governorship candidate, Architect Gbadebo Rhodes- Vivour who was unanimously picked by the leadership of the party for him.

This led to the dumping of PDP by Rhodes-Vivour for the LP. For instance,the forum of LGA chairman recommended and suggested the name of Architect Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour as deputy governorship candidate in order to have cohesion and unity of purpose within the party but he disregarded the advice(see the attached of the letter sent to Jaandor by LGA chairmen forum before he picked funke Akindele as his deputy governorship candidate.

He disregarded the party blatantly, and went on to singlehandedly pick Funke Akindele, who was not a member of our party, and not even a politician.

And that was what led to the cold war whic later snowballed into his trouble with elders of the party led by Chief Olabode George.

This is a character imposed on the party by the national, if not who knew him, suddenly he became a lord unto himself. He created crisis within the party.

He did not reconcile with other governorship candidates who contested with him which are more on ground than him before he came and got the partys ticket, yet he had the effrontery to create crisis within the party with his interference with the emergence of candidates at all levels, which led to several litigations.

We the PDP LGA chairman forum can no longer condone the waywardness of Jandor and warned him of dire consequences if he fails to desist from his unsavory remarks always against the leadership of the party in the state, like the recent thoughtless remark about being the leadership of the party in Lagos.

Finally, we hereby affirm that all negative comments made against our foremost and Apex leader in Lagos, Bode George, is uncalled for and unwarranted.
Washington, Mar 18 (UNI) The US-Russia ties have no prospects during the next term of incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin, former US Assistant Treasury Secretary Paul Craig Roberts told Sputnik.

"There is no hope for US-Russian relations  The budget and power of the US military-security complex, a powerful lobby encompassing the armaments industry, the Congress elected by campaign contributions, and the CIA and FBI, depends on having an enemy. Russia is the enemy of choice," Roberts said. "Americans were trained by decades of the Cold War that there is a "Russian threat."

Another reason why there is no hope for normalization of Washington-Moscow relations, Roberts said, is that US foreign policy in the Middle East is controlled by the Israel lobby.

"Israel's interests in the Middle East differ completely from Russia's interests," he said. "Israel's interest is the destruction of Iran, which would open a pathway for CIA jihadis to flow into the Russian Federation and the former Central Asian provinces of the Soviet Union. Instead of one Ukraine, there would be many."

Roberts went on to say that Putin has the concept of good and evil.

"He is learning that in the West he faces evil. The Russian Church sees it as well and supports him," he concluded.

Vladimir Putin is leading in the presidential election in Russia with 87.29% of the votes after processing 94.07% of ballots, data from the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) showed on Monday.

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK
Barely few days after gruesome killing of 16 soldiers, sent on a peace mission in Delta State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed that the perpetrators will not go unpunished.

Recall that some military personnel including a commanding officer, two majors, one captain, and twelve soldiers were murdered in the Okuama community of Ughelli South Local Government Area of the State last week.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that President Tinubu, in a statement released on Sunday evening, extended his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, their colleagues and loved ones.

He said: As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers, Tinubu said.

I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident.

READ MORE: Army Captain, Two Majors, 12 Soldiers Killed In Delta Communal Clash

The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.

I salute their heroism, courage, and uncommon grit and patriotism.

As a nation, we must constantly remember and honour all those who have paid the ultimate price to keep our nation safe, strong, and united.

The officers and men who died in the Okuama community have joined the pantheon of great men and women who gave their all, with honour, in the service of our fatherland.

Members of our armed forces are at the heart and core of our nationhood. Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act.

My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquillity in every part of Nigeria.
A life-size statue of John Bogle, the founder of the Vanguard Group, at the company's headquarters in Malvern. The company has just launched its first-ever external search for a CEO after a history of promoting from within. Read more

Some Vanguard Group-watchers raised their eyebrows when last month Mortimer Tim Buckley announced, at 55, that hes stepping down immediately as president and will retire as CEO and chair at year end.

Surprise exit raises big questions, wrote financial news publication Barrons.

Early retirement is normal for executives at Malvern-based Vanguard, which is, after all, in the retirement-savings business. Founder John Bogle was 59 when he stepped aside as president in favor of Jack Brennan, who later retired at 54.

The less-usual move was that the company also declared a comprehensive process to select a new CEO, evaluating both internal and external candidates. Vanguard chief investment officer Greg Davis was named president, in the past a stepping stone to the CEOs position. But the external search raises the question: Will the company hire an outsider as the fifth CEO in its 49-year history?

Why might Vanguard look outside for leaders?

Vanguard is an insular place and a tightly run organization, said Charles Elson, a corporate-governance scholar who teaches a mergers course at University of Pennsylvanias law school.

Vanguards board, led by CEO Buckley, seems designed to nurture consensus rather than chart bold new courses, Elson says. It includes academics and retired senior managers from a range of companies, but no current or former public company CEOs. (By contrast, Vanguards competitor BlackRocks board includes Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg, Cisco chief executive Chuck Robbins, and Estee Lauder CEO Fabrizio Freda, among other top corporate bosses.)

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Their board is self-perpetuating and insulated from challenges. Up until now at least, they havent thought they needed a change, Elson said. If you are happy with the way things are going, you wont change. Only if they have a radical cultural problem do you go outside for change agents.

Lauren DInnocenzo, associate professor of management at Drexel Universitys LeBow business school, echoed that sentiment.

An internal candidate has a shorter runway to get up to speed and will have more institutional knowledge, compared to an external candidate, said DInnocenzo. It is companies seeking change in culture, innovation, or other areas that seek outside candidates as a catalyst.

What should Vanguard consider in outside candidates?

Vanguards next leader should be someone who can fix their technology, said Dan Wiener, a New York asset manager and cofounder of the Independent Adviser for Vanguard Investors newsletter.

They need to fix their tech and service, concurs the newsletters publisher and Wieners longtime chief of research, Jeff DeMaso, citing investor complaints.

John Marshall, a retired banker in Burlington County who has millions invested with Vanguard, plus his childrens accounts, says hes been with the company since its early years but is bemused by automation complications. After spending many hours getting the company to resolve glitches such as balance-transfer failures and funds that vanished from his accounts summary, Marshall received a letter last month threatening closure of your Vanguard retail account(s) if he doesnt stop calling for help so much.

Poor Mr. Bogle must be spinning in his grave, Marshall said.

Vanguard says internal and outside investor surveys show that it has improved response times and user satisfaction, especially in the last couple of years.

A good part of Vanguards business can run on autopilot, says Barry Ritholtz a New York money manager who hosted Buckleys first public investor talk after he was tapped for the top job in 2017 and interviewed Davis last fall.

But the company has also benefited from a firm hand at its top, Ritholtz added. Even after he retired from day-to-day management, Bogle was Vanguards most visible salesman, with frequent media appearances extolling Vanguards menu of low fees and long-term index-fund investments, encouraging advisers like Ritholtz who recommend Vanguard funds to individual investors and retirement plans.

Ritholtz noted that Brennan, Bogles handpicked successor, was a leader of men, who got the trains to run on time. Bill McNabb, Brennans successor and Buckleys immediate predecessor, was similarly a guy you follow into battle.

Exiting CEOs legacy

Buckley joined Vanguard out of Harvard Business School in 1991, working three years as founder Bogles research assistant. Buckley became Vanguards info tech chief after Robert A. DiStefano died in 2001. While Buckley served in that post, Vanguard automated many jobs and canceled plans to add a second Chester County office, while still adding employees to support rapid growth. Buckley headed the retail investor group division, became chief investment officer in 2013, and succeeded McNabb as chief executive in 2018 and chairman of the board the next year.

With Buckley in charge, Vanguard roughly doubled its customer base, to more than 50 million. By 2023 the company had boosted assets under management from $5 trillion to $9 trillion. That included $1.3 trillion in net new investments, the rest from market value rising.

The company added its first private-equity fund, managed by HarbourVest, a PE manager whose clients also include Pennsylvania state pension funds.

Under Buckley, Vanguard continued to grow more rapidly than its rivals, adding assets mostly in the United States but also Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, and Latin America. The company added low-fee automated robo-advisory accounts and hybrid human adviser-assisted digital accounts totaling $300 billion, employing more than 1,000 human advisers and reporting rising customer satisfaction rates. But Buckley resisted calls to add cryptocurrency ETFs and cut some operations in China and Germany.

Buckleys unwavering commitment left Vanguard well-positioned for growth, Vanguards lead independent board director, Mark Loughridge, said in a statement.

Buckley will stay with Vanguard through 2024.

Some say Greg Davis has earned it

Born in Germany to a U.S. military father and a German mother, Davis studied insurance at Pennsylvania State University, worked three years as a State Farm underwriter, then picked up a Wharton MBA and headed to Wall Street.

After a stint on Wall Street, Davis joined Vanguard in 1999 and soon attracted the attention of Buckley, who supported his rise in the leadership. He was assigned to Australia, then to the top bond job at Vanguard in Malvern, where 12,000 of the companys 20,000 employees are based. He was named chief investment officer in 2017.

He was intelligent, he was determined, he was passionate; he was extremely respectful, he wanted to learn, and he was not afraid to be inquisitive, said Carmine Urciuoli, one of Davis bosses at Citibanks trading, sales, and syndication desk in the late 1990s, whom Davis credits with steering him away from trading toward asset management. I am not surprised they would choose him to take the reins. He earned it.

But, Urciuoli added, theres still big opportunity for men and women that want to roll up their sleeves and dig in, as Davis did.

Editors note: A previous version of this story mistakenly credited quotes from money manager Barry Ritholtz to another source. Also, a previous version had an incorrect figure for the amount of net new investments. The story has been updated.
A murder-suicide in Huntingdon Valley on Saturday was part of a violent weekend in Philadelphia's suburbs. Read more

A Montgomery County man shot and killed his ex-wife before turning the gun on himself, authorities said, marking another incident in a violent weekend in Philadelphias collar counties.

Al Allaberg, 44, fatally shot his ex-wife, Durdona Sultanova, 43, on Saturday, and both bodies were found in a house in the Huntingdon Valley section of Lower Moreland Township, the Montgomery County District Attorneys Office said in a statement.

At 4:38 p.m. Saturday, Lower Moreland police responded to a 911 call from two young residents of a home on the 400 block of Carson Terrace, authorities said. When officers arrived, they found Sultanova and Allabergs bodies in a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, authorities said.

An autopsy showed Sultanova died from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, and head and her death was ruled a homicide, authorities said. Allaberg died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, authorities said.

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Saturdays murder-suicide is another incident in a volatile weekend in Philadelphias suburbs.

Early Sunday morning, Bucks County law enforcement officials called for residents of Newtown Township to shelter in place due to a domestic violence call.

Authorities said a woman was assaulted in the Headley Trace development just off Newtown-Yardley Road, prompting the call. Police evacuated several nearby homes and armed officers wearing SWAT gear and armored vehicles assembled in the area.

Police reported a man was taken into custody without incident or serious injury around 10 a.m.

Just a day earlier, Andre Gordon, 26, was arrested in Trenton after police say he fatally shot three relatives in Falls Township  his 13-year-old sister, his stepmother and the 25-year-old mother of his two children.

On Sunday, New Jersey law enforcement officials announced Gordon faces charges of carjacking, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of an assault firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm without a serial number and related crimes. When he is extradited to Bucks County, he will be charged with first- and second-degree murder, burglary, unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment and related crimes, court records indicate.
The Pitman School District is among about 100 school districts that could see a drastic cut in state aid for the upcoming school year. Read more

Bigger classes. Cuts to programs and extracurriculars. Teacher layoffs. Higher property taxes.

Faced with a decrease in state aid for the 2024-25 school year, some New Jersey school systems are bracing for possible budget cuts that could upend education in those districts.

South Jersey districts including Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Haddon Township, Lenape Regional and Pitman are among those appealing to the Legislature, hoping to have millions in funding restored for the upcoming year. They also want the state to change the formula used to calculate aid, which relies heavily upon property taxes.

In his proposed budget, Gov. Phil Murphy included historic funding for most of New Jerseys 600 school districts, which enroll about 1.1 million students. For the first time in state history, the requirements of the funding formula used to determine how much aid districts receive would be fully met.

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 READ MORE: Phil Murphy wants a $55.9B New Jersey budget with increases for education and a business tax to fund transit

However, about 100 districts were notified a few weeks ago that they would receive less aid. With the March 20 deadline quickly approaching to submit preliminary budgets for next year, many are scrambling to fill the gaps.

Lenape Regional High School district in Burlington County was expecting its state aid would be reduced by no more than $350,000, said Kara Huber, its business administrator.

Unfortunately we were hit with a cut of $4.69 million, Huber said. We were not expecting it. The district, which operates five high schools, said it would be forced to make deeper cuts.

I understand what challenges youve had

School officials and advocates have been attending state House hearings and launching public campaigns in their towns urging residents to appeal to lawmakers. Theyre also notifying residents and sounding the alarm at school board meetings. Districts have until April 30 to finalize their budgets.

State Senate Education Committee Chairman Vin Gopal, (D., Monmouth), convened a hearing Thursday to get feedback specifically about the school funding formula, which lawmakers want to eventually revise. Speakers took the opportunity to address this years aid figures.

I understand what challenges youve had, Gopal said. I really want to focus on the future.

Gopal said more than 60 districts had asked to speak during the three-hour hearing, but only nine were invited, along with eight representatives from associations. Some districts are planning to attend a budget hearing in the Assembly Chamber on Wednesday and encouraged residents to pack the chambers.

Lawmakers expressed support for changing the funding formula. Whether the state will bail out districts facing shortfalls was unclear. The state divvied up $167 million last year to help districts avoid cuts.

Hopefully, we can address the needs for a fairer funding formula, said State Sen. Shirley Turner, (D., Mercer). Its long overdue.

Acting Cherry Hill Superintendent Kwame Morton said his district is bracing for a $6.9 million cut in aid, the second-largest cut in the state. The district, the 11th largest in New Jersey, had received several years of increased aid and was stunned by the drop, he said.

Facing the financial challenges brought on by the deficit, we find ourselves in a difficult position, Morton testified. Even if the district asked voters to approve a 2% property tax increase, the maximum allowed under a state cap, the district would have a $2 million budget shortfall, he said.

Asked by a senator whether everything is on the table this year, Morton replied yes.

 READ MORE: Cherry Hill voters approved a $363 million school bond referendum, N.J.s largest in at least a decade

During a budget presentation at a Cherry Hill school board meeting last week, business administrator Lynn Shugars outlined several scenarios that could be implemented to narrow the gap between revenue and spending. The priority would be to target non-personnel areas first  technology, buildings and grounds, and extracurricular activities, she said.

In a worst-case scenario, Shugars said the district may need to consider a tax increase and cut up to 60 positions. Staff cuts would impact class sizes and programs offered, she said.

Pitman school board president April Miller told the Senate committee that she believes her Gloucester County district was shortchanged because the state miscalculated the districts wealth, which is factored into the funding formula. She said the state should also consider lifting the property tax cap to allow communities to consider raising taxes.

Oaklyn school board member Jimmy McMillan said in another hearing last week that his Camden County school system could be forced to fully dismantle because of a cut in state aid. The district stands to lose $670,000, or 20%, of its budget, he said.

Time is of the essence to see if we can fix this issue before budgets are due, if thats at all possible, McMillan said.
Jason Kelce (left) and his wife, Kylie Kelce, pose for a photo at the premiere of Jason Kelces documentary at Suzanne Roberts Theater in Philadelphia on Friday, Sept. 9, 2023. The film, Kelce, is a feature-length documentary featuring Jason Kelce and the Eagles 2022-2023 season. Read more

Here is one more reason to crown Kylie Kelce the Queen of Delco.

The woman can get her Irish jig on.

Kylie and her larger-than-life-husband, former Eagles center Jason Kelce, visited the Towne House in Media over the weekend, where she danced alongside performers from Astons McHugh School of Irish Dance. Dressed in a green long-sleeved T-shirt, high-waisted jeans, and bright, white sneaks, the popular and beloved Mrs. Kelce joined hands with seven dancers on the bars rooftop, to the glee of scores of onlookers.

That made for a special St. Patricks Day.

The Towne House posted a series of photos on its social media pages thanking the Kelces for coming through, saying this on Instagram: Slainte and thanks to legendary EAGLE Jason Kelce and family (his wife is a helluva Irish dancer by the way) for joining us for a few scoops of the black stuff and a few ST. KELCES on this day where we all celebrate the wearing of the green!!! He was so generous and hospitable with his time for all the adoring fans in attendance.

Kelce, ever the gracious athlete and crowd pleaser, enjoyed beers and smiles with his fans.

One more reason for the Kelces to be crowned Philadelphias royal family.
Barbora Batokova, president of the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club, forages in Pittsburgh's Frick Park. She's the author of a new book, "Hunting Mushrooms: How to Safely Identify, Forage and Cook Wild Fungi." Read more

PITTSBURGH  When it comes to wild mushroom foraging, Barbora Batokova has a simple rule for beginners: learn what can kill you, then go have fun.

Batokova, 38, works in tech and software but a childhood passion has nearly evolved into a second career in Pennsylvania. Shes president of the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club, has a website and 126,000-plus followers on her @fungiwoman Instagram account, and hosts guided walks for budding mycologists.

Next month, shes releasing her first book: Hunting Mushrooms: How to Safely Identify, Forage and Cook Wild Fungi.

Hunting and photographing mushrooms in Pittsburghs Frick Park in 2017 cured a bit of homesickness, Batokova said, and she hasnt looked back. Her family had a summer home in South Bohemia, Czech Republic and spent many days foraging for chanterelles, boletes, and blushers.

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I was looking for a way to get grounded again and find some purpose. Thats when I started to come here, she said in the park on a recent damp Saturday. This is what my family used to do during the summer in the country.

Pennsylvania and the Czech Republic have similar climates, Batokova said, and both have an abundance of mushrooms and fungi, too. In Frick Park, she left the trail every few feet to point out the mycology.

So this is a violet-toothed polypore, not to be confused with turkey tails, which are said to have medicinal benefits, she said, holding the fungus in her hand.

The polypores arent edible, she said, because theyre too tough but theres plenty of edible mushrooms growing in Pennsylvania, including chanterelles, chicken of the woods, and honey mushrooms.

In the Czech Republic, foraging and eating mushrooms are part of our tradition. Were not scared of them, she said. But you know, here in the States, its quite the opposite.

Czechs, Batokova wrote in her book, forage 60 million pounds of mushrooms, yearly.

A small number of the worlds mushroom species can make you sick, she noted, and the number of truly dangerous mushrooms, like the death cap and funeral bell, is smaller. Some toxic mushrooms can resemble edibles to the untrained eye, however, and no one should eat one if they cant identify it, Batokova said.

Theres an edibility spectrum to mushrooms, she said.

Batokovas book delves into all aspects of mushroom identification, along with tips for picking and preserving them, and how to gently taste them to check if they are poisonous: You can touch and taste any mushroom, and as long as you spit it out, you will be fine.

The book also includes 16 recipes, one of them her grandmothers yellowfoot chanterelle goulash.

With Pennsylvania so heavily wooded, Batokova said, it makes for an excellent state to forage in. She often travels to Cook Forest in the Northwestern region of the state, and even the Poconos.

Obviously, the old-growth forest is the best place to be, she said.

Batokova first came to the United States in 2001 as an exchange student and attended Chatham University and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. She grew up in the Czech town of Tabor and returns every year for Christmas and again in the summer to visit the beloved country home in rural Vicemil.

Summer is a must, she said, to go foraging.

In Pennsylvania, she tries to recreate the magic of her childhood walks.

Once you go on a walk with me, you start seeing that mushrooms are everywhere and it changes the way you observe the woods, she said. But I still call it hunting, because you really have to search for the ones you want.
WuXi AppTec occupied four buildings at the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia. Read more

WuXi AppTec, a biotechnology research and manufacturing company that occupies four buildings and employs 800 in South Phillys Navy Yard, is among the Chinese-owned companies in the crosshairs of legislation advancing in Congress that aims to thwart Chinas efforts to dominate biotechnology as an industry of the future.

A U.S. Senate committee passed a bill this month that would ban government agencies from doing business with WuXi AppTec or any company that uses WuXi AppTec products or services. A similar House bill, the Biosecure Act, calls WuXi AppTec a national security threat to the United States because of alleged ties to the Chinese military.

In Philadelphia, WuXi AppTec company has helped a firm with a large facility in the Navy Yard get FDA approval for the first cell therapy for advanced melanoma. The Shanghai-based company also has a manufacturing contract with a University of Pennsylvania biotech spinout that has started testing cell therapy for autoimmune disorders.

WuXi AppTec called the political push to block its operations without merit.

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The proposed U.S. legislation relies on misleading allegations and inaccurate assertions to propose preemptive and unjustified prohibitions against our company without due process, WuXi AppTec said in a statement last week. The company said it does not collect genetic information  a central concern in Congress.

WuXi AppTec is one of four companies subject to a fast-track ban in the Senate bill, called the Prohibiting Foreign Access to American Genetic Information Act of 2024, but the sanctions would apply broadly to any biotechnology companies determined to be of concern. A collection of federal agencies, including the Defense and State Departments, would decide which companies make that group, based on their potential for control by an adversarial government.

Democratic U.S. Sen.ator Bob Casey, who is running for reelection this year, said he was concerned about WuXi AppTecs relationship with the Chinese Communist Party. He is not on the committee that voted to advance the bill.

As I review this legislation, my top priority remains U.S. national security and protecting American interests from an adversarial government, Casey said in an email.

Casey has also supported efforts to expand the Philadelphia regions biotechnology sector, which has a particular strength in cell and gene therapy, thanks to research led by the University of Pennsylvania.

A global giant with a big Philly footprint

WuXi AppTecs reach extends globally across the pharmaceutical outsourcing supply chain, spanning 41,000 employees in nine countries.

The company has operations in seven states, with a total of 1,100 employees outside Philadelphia, according to a fact sheet it provided. In Delaware, a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility backed by $19 million in state aid is scheduled to open next year in Middletown, and provide around 500 jobs by 2026.

WuXi AppTec came to Philadelphia in 2008 when it acquired AppTec Laboratory Services, a company with operations at the Navy Yard, for $150 million.

Ever since, WuXi has steadily increased its presence, most recently adding 140,000 square feet at 400 Rouse Blvd. in 2021, tripling its testing capacity for cell and gene therapy companies worldwide, the company said in a news release at the time.

WuXi AppTec has significant ties to cell and gene therapy companies working in Philadelphia, and is one of the largest players in a regional biotech scene that is among the leaders nationally in developing treatments.

Local players that have partnerships with WuXi AppTec did not respond to requests for comment last week on the significance of a potential ban on its operations.

This includes a new consortium, the Greater Philadelphia Region Precision Medicine Tech Hub, that was selected from among more than 370 applications for the federal Tech Hub designation. Created by 2022s CHIPS and Science Act, the designation recognized the Philadelphia areas potential in a technology-centered push to rejuvenate advanced manufacturing in the United States.

The effort was led by the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, which plans to work on supply-chain and manufacturing issues in the production of cell and gene therapies and other advanced treatments.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners, which is state-funded and makes early-stage investments to boost Pennsylvanias economy, did not respond to a request for comment Friday about the significance of WuXi AppTec to the regions cell and gene therapy industry.

Others involved in Phillys biotech industry, including Life Sciences Pennsylvania, and the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, which has a unit that tries to attract biotech companies to the region, said they could not comment while the U.S. Houses Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party was still investigating.

The Sino-American Pharmaceutical Professionals Association  Greater Philadelphia, a nonprofit that supports the regions biopharma sector, declined to comment on the Biosecure Act. As a global biopharma service provider, WuXi AppTec has been contributing to the Philadelphia biotech ecosystem, spokesperson Bill Lu said in an email.

Biotech developments in Philly with WuXi ties

Scientists affiliated with Penn and other area institutions have worked closely with WuXi AppTec. In 2015, Penn and WuXi AppTec announced a partnership for manufacturing gene therapies. Neither Penn nor WuXi AppTec responded when asked if that partnership still exists.

A University of Pennsylvania spinout, Cabaletta Bio, pursuing cell therapy treatments for autoimmune disorders, said last year it would rely on WuXi Advanced Therapies, a subsidiary of WuXi AppTec, to manufacture cell therapies for a clinical trial that is underway now.

Cabaletta Bio cofounder and CEO Steven Nichtberger told investors in January that the company has dedicated resources at WuXi in Philadelphia that it can use to expand.

A newly approved melanoma treatment to be manufactured in Philadelphia also has ties to WuXi AppTec. Iovance Biotherapeutics, a San Diego company with what it describes as one of the worlds largest cell therapy manufacturing facilities in the Navy Yard, last month received FDA approval for an advanced melanoma treatment for patients who tried chemotherapy and other available skin cancer treatments.

WuXi Advanced Therapies manufactured the treatment, called Amtagvi, for nearly a decade during trials and received FDA approval to continue manufacturing it commercially, according to a WuXi news release.

We do not anticipate any significant impact of the Biosecure Act on our ability to manufacture and meet demand for Amtagvi if it, or an amended version, becomes law, Iovance spokesperson Jen Saunders said in an email. In a recent SEC filing, Iovance acknowledged the political risk of its reliance on services from WuXi AppTec.
A picket line at the Rutgers-Camden campus in April 2023. Roughly 9,000 educators, researchers, and clinicians went strike at Rutgers University last year. Read more

A Rutgers University student is suing the unions that represent the universitys faculty and instructors, alleging that their strike last year amid prolonged contract negotiations was selfish and illegal.

Jeremy Li, a junior at the New Brunswick campus, is seeking compensation for over 67,000 students in a proposed class-action lawsuit. These students missed a week of classes because of the work stoppage by roughly 9,000 educators, researchers, and clinicians.

The Rutgers faculty unions were aware that strikes would cancel classes, causing students to miss out on the education they had paid for, said the complaint, which was filed on March 15 in New Jersey Superior Court. In fact, that was the key for them to gain the leverage they wanted at the bargaining table.

A spokesperson for the faculty unions declined to comment on the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the university also declined to comment.

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A faculty union strike that took place in April 2023 was the first in the universitys history. It lasted five days, and ended after Gov. Phil Murphy called both sides to the Statehouse, where they negotiated toward a new contract framework.

Based on annual in-state tuition and fees of about $17,000, Li estimated that the cost of one week of classes was about $615.

Additionally, the complaint said, Li was unsure about whether exams would happen on time, which created anxiety for him as a student.

Lis complaint also alleged that the strike was illegal because Rutgers faculty and adjuncts are public employees. University president Jonathan Holloway made a similar argument last year in the weeks leading up to the strike.

The complaint asks the court to declare that the strike was illegal and find the unions liable for the students losses. Li is also seeking punitive damages for the students, alleging that the unions knew they were causing harm to students by causing classes to be canceled.

Lis attorney, Daniel Suhr, said the case could set a crucial legal precedent that unions have to pay for the suffering they cause when they shut down schools with illegal strikes.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip  The U.N. food agency said Monday that famine is imminent in northern Gaza, where 70% of the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger, and that a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gazas total population to the brink of starvation.

The alarming report came as Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and open more land crossings. Deliveries by air and sea that the U.S. and other countries have turned to in recent weeks are too slow and too small, aid groups say.

The European Unions top diplomat said the impending famine was entirely man-made as starvation is used as a weapon of war.

Israeli forces meanwhile launched another raid on the Gaza Strips largest hospital early Monday, saying Hamas militants had regrouped there and had fired on them from inside the Shifa Hospital compound.

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Clashes continued all day in and around the hospital, where Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people have been sheltering. The Israeli military said troops had killed 20 people it identified as Hamas militants and one of its own solders was killed, though its identification of the dead as militants could not be confirmed. Among those killed was a senior commander in Gazas Hamas-led police forces who Israel said was hiding in the hospital but who Gaza officials said was coordinating protection of aid convoys.

The army last raided Shifa Hospital in November after claiming that Hamas maintained an elaborate command center within and beneath the facility. The military revealed a tunnel leading to some underground rooms, as well as weapons it said were found inside the hospital. But the evidence fell short of the earlier claims, and critics accused the army of recklessly endangering the lives of civilians.

Rafah offensive could push half of Gaza to starvation

The World Food Program on Monday released the latest findings of its Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, an international process for estimating the scale of hunger crises.

It says virtually everyone in Gaza is struggling to get enough food, and that around 677,000 people  nearly a third of the population of 2.3 million  are experiencing the highest level of catastrophic hunger, meaning they face extreme lack of food and critical levels of acute malnutrition. That includes around 210,000 people in the north.

Outright famine is projected to occur in the north anytime between now and May, it said. An area is considered to be in famine when 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition and at least two adults or four children per every 10,000 people die daily.

The report said the first condition has been fulfilled and it is highly likely the second has as well. The death rate is expected to accelerate and reach famine levels soon, it said.

It warned that if Israel broadens its offensive to the packed southern city of Rafah, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed, the fighting could drive over a million people  half of Gazas population  into catastrophic hunger and potentially cause famine in the south.

This is the largest number of people facing imminent famine in the world today, and it has only taken five months to occur, said Matthew Hollingworth, the acting World Food Program country director for the Palestinian territories.

Its still possible to turn this around but there has to be a cease-fire and there has to be massive amounts of food aid to flow consistently, and people need to have access to clean water and health care, he said.

Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, called for all roads to be opened for aid, including into northern and central Gaza. The WFP report said aid from airdrops is negligible compared to what is brought on trucks.

Northern Gaza, including Gaza City, was the first target of the invasion and entire neighborhoods have been obliterated. It is now the epicenter of Gazas humanitarian catastrophe, with many residents reduced to eating animal feed. At least 27 people, mostly children, have died from malnutrition and dehydration in the north, according to the Health Ministry.

Israeli authorities say they place no limits on entry of aid and say U.N. bodies fail to distribute it in a timely manner. Aid groups say distribution is impossible in much of Gaza because of hostilities, the difficulty of coordinating with the military and the breakdown of law and order.

Alex de Waal, the executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University and an expert on global famines, said Israel has had ample warning that if it continued to launch massive operations that destroy key infrastructure, displace large numbers of people and obstruct aid operations, the results would be catastrophic.

In failing to change course, it is culpable for these deaths, he said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said it was up to Israel to facilitate more aid.

Israel has to do it. It is not a question of logistics. It is not because the United Nations has not provided enough support, he said. Trucks are stopped. People are dying, while the land crossings are artificially closed.

Were trapped inside

The raid on Shifa Hospital began before dawn, when Israeli forces backed by tanks and artillery surrounded the complex and troops stormed into a number of buildings.

Were trapped inside, said Abdel-Hady Sayed, who has been sheltering in the facility for months. They fire at anything moving. In the evening, he said tanks were still in the hospital yard and he could see three bodies outside the gates. We cant retrieve the dead, he said.

Gazas Health Ministry said around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes seeking safety. The war has displaced around 80% of Gazas population.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief Israeli military spokesperson, said senior Hamas militants had regrouped in the hospital and were directing attacks from inside.

Among those killed in the raid was Faiq Mabhouh, a senior officer in the Gaza police, which is under Gazas Hamas-led government but distinct from the militant groups armed fighting wing. The Israeli military said he was armed and hiding in Shifa, and that weapons were found in an adjacent room.

The Gaza government said Mabhouh was in charge of protecting aid distribution in the north and coordinating between aid groups and local tribes. Aid groups say Israeli strikes on police are one reason public order has collapsed, leading to desperate Palestinians overwhelming aid trucks on the road.

Hagari said the patients and medical staff could remain in the medical complex and that a safe passage was available for civilians who wanted to leave.

Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian facilities to shield its fighters, and the Israeli military has raided several hospitals since the start of the war.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Monday that at least 31,726 Palestinians have been killed in Israels offensive. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in Hamas Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and took another 250 people hostage. Hamas is still believed to be holding about 100 captives, as well as the remains of 30 others, after most of the rest were freed during a cease-fire last year.
The Faith and Liberty Discovery Center is closing after three years. Read more

The Faith and Liberty Discovery Center says it is shutting down less than three years after opening on Independence Mall in Philadelphia.

The museum created by the American Bible Society in July 2021 said it would be open to visitors until March 28. The Christian ministry nonprofit that translates Bibles and sends them around the world has recently been besieged with challenges including layoffs, funding troubles, and five CEO changes within two years.

Their latest chief executive, Jennifer Holloran, appointed in February, informed employees of the shutdown through an email sent on Wednesday, according to Christianity Today.

Despite the valiant efforts of our FLDC leadership and team, we have not been able to achieve the long-term sustainability that an experience like that needs to be successful, Holloran wrote, according to Christianity Today. She paraphrased Ecclesiastes 3: Everything that happens in this world happens at the time of Gods choosing.

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The decision to close the $60 million center was agreed to by the museums leadership and its founders. In a statement to The Inquirer on Saturday, the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center cited the pandemic and structural limitations as some of the reasons for the closing. A spokesperson for the American Bible Society would not elaborate on the closing beyond that statement.

By June 2022, the museums total revenue after expenses went from $29.6 million to just under $4 million, according to tax documents published by ProPublica.

Why did the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center open in Philly?

The American Bible Society was a New York-based organization for almost 200 years until it sold its $300 million complex to move to Philly in 2015.

At the time, former CEO Roy Peterson cited cost of living as a reason for the move.

People can afford to live here [in Philadelphia]; its walkable, theres public transportation, Peterson told The Inquirer.

The group leased nearly 100,000 square feet across two floors at Fifth and Market Streets for 25 years and began planning to open a center on the ground floor. The rent is about $1.3 million a year, according to Christianity Today.

The expected debut date was 2016, and, at the time, Peterson referred to it as a center, not a museum.

The Faith and Liberty Discovery Center did not materialize for five more years, in a 40,000-square-foot space that Inquirer columnist Inga Saffron described as a challenge. By then, the center described itself as Philadelphias most immersive museum with a goal of showcasing how religious faith shaped freedom in the United States.

Weve created a massive digital platform, disguised as a museum, said Pat Murdock, the centers former executive director. It feels like a museum  weve got artifacts and all that, but really its a digital platform that is ripe for the way people are learning today. They want to learn from the media. They want to learn from a story. And they also want to collect things, and they want to create. Thats why we created the maker space.

Since the museum was operating in what was formerly office space, architect David Searles of JacobsWyper Architects and Local Projects, the exhibit designer behind the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, was hired to make it more inviting. Benches were included to encourage passersby to relax, and a swirling white sculpture dubbed The Beacon designed by Local Projects brought more attention to the center.

What was in the museum?

Among the exhibitions, the nonprofit had a collection of historic Bibles, including William Penns own, as well as video interviews of everyday people telling personal faith stories.

Despite the center acknowledging the problems of religion in American society, it had critics.

At the time of its opening, Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor of education history at the University of Pennsylvania, told The Inquirer, The story theyre telling is essentially a fairy tale.

That sentiment continues to resonate on social media since the shutdown announcement, with some wondering if there is a role for such a museum in 2024, and others wishing it would have been better advertised.

What would happen to the exhibitions now?

The impact is yet to be fully fleshed out, with tourism officials and neighboring museums, such as the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, unaware of the shutdown until The Inquirer contacted them.

The Faith and Liberty Discovery Center told The Inquirer in a statement that Holloran, the American Bible Societys CEO, said she looked forward to reimagining what the future of content could look like through a publicly accessible, digitized format.

People who have previously purchased tickets beyond March will be granted a refund.
Tokyo, Mar 18 (UNI) North Korea launched three missiles that flew 350 kilometers at an altitude of 50 kilometers, the Kyodo news agency reported on Monday, citing the Japanese Defense Ministry.

All three missiles fell into the Sea of Japan, the report added.

Earlier in the day, the Yonhap news agency reported that North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards the Sea of Japan. This was the second launch of a ballistic missile this year. The previous one took place on January 14.

In mid-February, North Korean state-run news agency KCNA reported that Pyongyang had test-fired a new surface-to-sea missile, the Padasuri-6. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said on the same day that the North had fired several unspecified cruise missiles off its east coast toward the Sea of Japan.

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK
Defense attorney Karl Schwartz (left), shaking hands with Theodore Tapper, the Philadelphia physician who helped exonerate C.J. Rice, photographed through a window at the Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice on Monday. Read more

Prosecutors will not seek a new trial for C.J. Rice, a South Philadelphia man whose 2013 conviction on four counts of attempted murder was overturned last year, they told a judge during a minutes-long hearing Monday.

There was no contention between the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office and Rices defense team when prosecutors said at the Common Pleas Court hearing that they would not continue to prosecute Rice, essentially exonerating him.

The decision brings Rices case, which had resulted in a 30- to 60-year prison sentence, to a close, 12 years after he was incarcerated, most recently at State Correctional Institution Chester in Delaware County. A federal court ordered in November that Rice, who petitioned that his conviction was unlawful, be released from custody or retried within 180 days.

The case garnered national attention when CNN anchor Jake Tapper, a Philadelphia native, wrote an article in The Atlantic in November 2022 and called Rices initial defense dangerously incompetent.

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Its just great to see justice finally done in this case, Tapper told The Inquirer on Monday. I know the district attorney gets criticized for all sorts of things, but having an office that is willing to listen to reason and evidence  even if that means overturning a conviction  is no small thing.

Tapper learned of the case from his father, Philadelphia doctor Theodore Tapper, who had treated Rice for gunshot wounds in the days before the Sept. 25, 2011, shooting in South Philadelphia that left four people wounded, and said that Rice would have been physically unable to commit the crime due to his injuries.

 READ MORE: Jake Tappers Atlantic cover story deals with a South Philly mans conviction for attempted murder

Both Tappers attended Mondays hearing, alongside members of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project and the Exoneration Project, legal groups that work to exonerate people wrongly convicted of crimes.

Were overjoyed, said Karl Schwartz, a Philadelphia attorney whose firm took Rices case as it weaved through the appeals process. Were incredibly relieved for C.J. ... Were also dismayed that an innocent guy had to spend so long a period of time in prison. When you have to fix it at the tail end, thats not how the process is supposed to work.

District Attorney Larry Krasner said at a news conference that Rices conviction came at a time when previous administrations had a culture that is all about winning, and only vaguely about justice, and he highlighted his offices commitment to reviewing cases of people who may be serving jail time for crimes they did not commit.

Krasner said the case against Rice had no integrity, but stopped short of saying with complete confidence that Rice was innocent.

Schwartz and other members of the defense team broke the news to Rice over the phone immediately after the hearing. Rice, whose family did not attend the hearing, has been released on bail since December, according to his team.

Were just so happy for C.J., said Nilam Sanghvi, legal director for the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. Its just a reminder of what got us here, which is eyewitness misidentification, poor legal assistance, prosecutorial overreach. So I hope we start learning from some of these lessons.

Much of the doubt surrounding Rices 2013 conviction during a jury trial rests on the conduct of Rices court-appointed attorney, Sandjai Weaver.

Tappers Atlantic article suggested that Weaver, who died in 2019, had made a number of missteps, failing to introduce Rices full hospital records, collect alibi statements, and obtain location data from Rices cell phone.

The attorney was likely overworked and underpaid, people involved in the case agree.

Because of those conditions, Tapper said, there is little incentive for somebody to dive in and get their hands dirty, and try to figure out if the client is not guilty, and if so, the best way to prove that in a court of law.

There are those who say that that low compensation is not a coincidence, Tapper said. Its a feature, not a bug, that they dont want a system where people who cant afford good attorneys are able to have adequate counsel.

Krasner, who has served as a court-appointed defense attorney on homicide cases, told reporters the job was a constant fight for adequate funding.

Rice reached out to the elder Tapper in 2016 to request medical records that detailed the injuries to his pelvis from a separate shooting on Sept. 3, 2011  evidence that was never introduced in his trial. That conversation led to the doctor assisting Rice in securing a legal team and getting the journalist Tapper interested in the story, according to Jake Tappers CNN article published Monday.

Krasners office began reviewing the case after Rice filed his most recent habeas corpus petition. The office conceded he was entitled to relief before a federal court vacated his conviction last year. Assistant District Attorney Bill Fritze presented to reporters several factors from their findings that cast doubt on Rices conviction.

For one, eyewitness testimony came down to a single witness who had misidentified Rices hairstyle to police, according to Fritze. Meanwhile, a 911 phone call placed after the shooting  and not introduced as evidence by Rices defense  documented another individuals description of the suspect that conflicted with the eyewitnesses testimony, according to Fritze.

There was no physical evidence linking Rice to the shooting. Tapper, the doctor, testified that given Rices injuries from a shooting five days beforehand, he likely wouldnt have been able to walk standing up straight, let alone run with any degree of speed.

 READ MORE: South Philly man convicted of attempted murder could soon be freed after Jake Tapper cover story in The Atlantic

Theodore Tapper, exiting the Criminal Justice Center, told reporters that hed just spoken to Rice and that he had a big smile on his face over the phone.

Finally, the system adjudicated him to be innocent, the physician said. It should never have happened. He was no different than the five or six of us standing around here now. He was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, had the wrong skin color, and grew up the way he grew up  thats why he was locked up for 12 years.

Jake Tapper will air an exclusive sit-down interview with Rice on CNNs The Whole Story Sunday evening.

Once you see how the system can be so unjust, you cant unsee it, Tapper said.
Market Street East has historically been a center of commerce, featuring big department stores such as Lit Bros., shown here. More recently, after the big department stores died, the corridor has positioned itself as a more affordable alternate to upscale competitors. Read more

Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Good morning, Philly. Its a breezy and mostly sunny Monday, and well reach a high near 51.

The citys biggest development battle in years has landed in the heart of Market Street East. The renewed attention on the corridor is largely driven by the Sixers controversial plan to build a $1.55 billion arena and apartment tower.

Today, were cruising through the longtime hub of commerce and community to check in with the ongoing debate, analyses, and dreams of Market Easts potential.

 Paola Perez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

The eight-block stretch from City Hall to Independence Mall was once home to the grandest shopping district in the metro region. Now, storefronts sit empty, pedestrians watch their backs at night, and the SEPTA trains are running low on ridership.

The pandemic dealt a significant blow to Market East. It has endured difficulties that have left it struggling for air and uncertain from where the next breath will come.

Despite this, Market East has much to offer, like access to public transit, historic architecture, and prime space for redevelopment.

Still, a new study said the Center City corridor needs help, and another indicated that not much is on the way, with the exception of the arena, which even if approved would not open for seven years.

The Sixers say the project will power a Market East renaissance, but critics doubt it can revitalize much of anything  and could actually hurt Chinatown. While some feel a Sixers arena is not just desirable but critical, others look to options beyond an arena to reinvent Market East.

Notable quote: We need a big vision, said Phil Goldsmith, a former city deputy mayor and managing director. The issue should be Market Street East and what should be done for Market Street East. To say, Lets pop this arena in there, and not look at other solutions, doesnt seem to be a strategic way of looking at things.

Go deeper in Jeff Gammages story to explore the corridors storied past, embattled present, and potential future.

What you should know today

It may get hectic, but theres no season like white suit season at Goldsteins Clothing.

Sure, its easy to snag one from Amazon or stop by a big-box store. But going to Goldsteins is a spring tradition ahead of First Holy Communion for hundreds of families from neighborhood parishes and diocesan schools in South Jersey and the suburbs.

For 122 years, Goldsteins has been the place in South Philly to buy a white communion suit. Its one of the few spots that specializes in the formal suits.

The old-school shop on South Broad sells over 200 white suits each year, said owner Vinny Talotta, which makes up about 20% of the stores total sales.

In his own words: Nobody does the white suits like us, Talotta said. Thats our thing.

Keep reading to learn why Goldsteins is the communitys prime destination for the occasion.

 Trivia time

A new instrument with wacky curves made its debut at the Kimmel Center on Friday. The Inquirers Peter Dobrin reported that the difference in its sound production was clear.

What was the instrument?

A) drum

B) violin

C) piano

D) trumpet

Think you know? Check your answer here.

What we're...

 Foraging: Wild mushrooms with a Pennsylvania woman demystifying mycology.

 Watching: A Philly couple chronicling their journey of being unhoused on TikTok.

 Hearing: The Philadelphia Film Society canceled the screening of Kevin Spaceys new film Peter Five Eight.

 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This billionaire investor who lives in the Philly suburbs is reportedly being floated for a cabinet position in a Trump White House

FEES FRY JAYS

Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Natalie Linder who correctly guessed Sundays answer: four-leaf clover. The hint was Never iron one of these. You dont want to press your luck.

Photo of the day

Your only in Philly story

 Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if youre not a lifer, or something that made you fall in love with Philly over again  or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This only in Philly story comes from Inquirer reporter Beatrice Forman, who describes the unique nature of taking on new experiences here.

The Erin Express buses dont run if its snowing  at least thats what I told myself as I trudged over the Chestnut Street Bridge from Bonners Pub to New Deck Tavern in a green tank top, a shamrock headband I pilfered from a warring bar crawl, and the thinnest alcohol blanket known to man. The snowflakes had smeared some of the quotes in my reporters notebook, but I was more stressed about a question thumping in the back of my head: Would I get in trouble if I said I didnt have a good time?

I was paid to attend the Erin Express. The assignment was a belated 21st birthday present from my old boss at Billy Penn. Write about going to the bar crawl for the first time, she said. Get drunk, she said. Have fun, she said. Whats the worst that could happen?

Well, a lot of things. My boyfriend and I nearly got scammed by a man selling fake bar crawl wristbands. I slipped in a puddle of White Claw and beer on the floor of Cavs Rittenhouse. We had many watered down vodka sodas, had to make small talk with people we went to high school with, and had only heard Come on Eileen once by the time we were four hours into this thing.

I was miserable, but tipsy, which only made me more miserable. Am I a killjoy? I thought to myself. If the Erin Express is supposed to bring Philly together and I hate it, does that make me a fake Philadelphian?

The answer, I learned while hung over and eating Wawa meatballs, is no. If anything, it was the first time I felt like I belonged here.

Philadelphia is a city of first-team, all-American complainers. We complain about the things we love. We complain about the things we hate. We complain about the things we want to love, and we do it all with the flourish of a good joke. The most fun I had at the Erin Express was complaining about the Erin Express with other people who wanted to like it, like the man who got the line outside of Misconduct Tavern to chant You cant fix stupid after a teen attempted to use his school ID to get in.

After all, you only complain when you care. And while you probably couldnt pay me to do the Erin Express again, I care about it in the way that I care about cheap Citywides or Made in America on the Parkway. I dont have to like it, but its nice knowing its there.  Beatrice Forman

That should get you started for the week. Have a great day! Julie will be back in your inbox tomorrow.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Anthony Fauci arrives to speak about the coronavirus at the White House on April 22, 2020. While COVID-19 may no longer be a global threat, an increasingly authoritarian government still is, writes Jennifer Stefano. Read more

A rogue governor who seized power despite repeated attempts by the legislature to stop him. Reckless and politicized government scientists who ran a media smear campaign against peers and citizens who challenged their policies. Carnage to the mental health, well-being, and financial fortunes of millions of Americans, especially children.

Four years ago, former Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania to close their doors to slow the spread of COVID-19. The week prior, he shut down all Pennsylvania schools. The governor was empowered to take these unilateral actions under the Proclamation of Disaster Emergency he signed on March 6, 2020.

Wolfs actions seemed sensible at first. A deadly virus was sweeping the world, killing even the young and healthy. The government scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it would just take 15 days to flatten the curve of COVID and save lives. Who wouldnt want to save lives? A two-week shutdown seemed right.

But Wolf would not stop at two weeks. After his initial 90-day emergency declaration was set to expire, he extended it for over a year. During that time, Wolf ignored his own legislatures votes to limit his power. He defied a federal judges ruling that his actions were unconstitutional. After 15 months, Pennsylvanians ended Wolfs authoritarian reign through a successful ballot initiative, limiting a governors ability to use emergency powers.

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It was a rare instance where citizens were able to exert control over a chaotic, dangerous, and powerful government bureaucracy that politicized a pandemic and upended lives.

Pennsylvanians could rein in politicians but entrenched federal bureaucracies they could not. No bureaucracy eroded public trust during the pandemic quite like the CDC. The health agency made and directed policies that were based on faulty information and, as whistleblowers would report, refused to change course, even when presented with truthful information.

To be frank, we are responsible for some pretty dramatic, pretty public mistakes, from testing, to data, to communications, said CDC director Rochelle Walensky. None more so than the CDCs dogmatic insistence on the six-foot social distancing requirement that upended American society. Despite evidence presented by scientists that three feet would suffice for social distancing, then Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, refused to change protocols.

Of course, the CDC was going to make missteps in a fast-moving pandemic. The problem is that when presented with evidence to counter their policies, the CDC became dogmatic and political.

That entrenched bureaucracy  aided and abetted by Fauci and the Biden administration  sought to undermine, silence, and discredit dissenters. Independent journalists were able to scour Twitters (now Xs) files after Elon Musk bought the company. What those journalists uncovered was more akin to 1950s Moscow KGB tactics than what we would expect in a free society.

Thanks to Musk, independent journalist Matt Taibbi was able to uncover the Biden administration pressuring  with success  Twitter executives to elevate or suppress information that, Taibbi said, was true but inconvenient.

But the worst act of Faucis attempts to discredit and undermine those opposing him was his response to the Great Barrington Declaration. In October 2020, three epidemiologists  Martin Kulldorff of Harvard, Sunetra Gupta of Oxford, and Jay Bhattacharya of Stanford  challenged the CDC and called for a more balanced and measured approach.

Time would prove the Barrington doctors right. But at the time, Fauci and Francis Collins, the head of the National Institutes of Health, had an email exchange in which they discussed a devastating takedown to undermine and discredit Bhattacharya and the others as fringe doctors. What followed was a slew of coverage in the Washington Post, the New York Times, ABC News, and other outlets undermining the Barrington doctors credibility.

The disinformation campaign against Kulldorff, Bhattacharya, and others led them to file a lawsuit against the federal government and public health leaders. In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs contend that Fauci coordinated directly with Facebook and/or other social-media firms to suppress disfavored speakers and content of speech on social media.

Our children were the most impacted. In 2021, 42% of high school students reported persistent sadness and hopelessness. Depression and despair were highest among female and LGBTQ students. During the same time, the Mayo Clinic reported higher rates of suicidal ideation, self-harm, eating disorders, and substance abuse among minors than in previous years.

For science to be trusted, it requires questions and doubts. So, too, for the government. Many Americans raised objections and questioned the CDCs data and its use of it to infringe on civil liberties. Those people were demonized and discredited. Fauci said those who challenged the CDC were ignoring science. Ugly smear campaigns against the people who had the courage to speak truth to power should not be forgotten.

While COVID-19 may no longer be a global threat, an increasingly authoritarian government still is.

Editors Note: An earlier version of this column misidentified the government agency that was led by Anthony Fauci at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic; it was the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, not the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
One of 17 bullet holes in a SEPTA bus that was driving by the scene where eight young people were shot in Northeast Philadelphia on March 6. Racism, Solomon Jones writes, has created an environment where gunfire happens far too frequently in Philadelphias African American communities. Read more

The world has heard about the shootings that killed one student and injured 10 others at bus stops near Imhotep and Northeast high schools. When you live in other places, you can view that gun violence and thank God its not your kids.

But it hits a little different for those of us who live in Philly because its one thing to see the carnage on the news. Its another thing to hear the shots nearby. Or to feel the vibration of police helicopters flying overhead. Or to see the red and blue lights of a patrol car reflecting off your windows as the cruisers speed past your home.

When you live in Philly, and youve been here for a minute, each shooting brings a sense of dread. While others can watch the drama play out on the news, we have to live with real-life horrors. I dont know that weve recognized the stress it brings. In fact, the trauma has become routine.

The bullets fly and were scrolling through social media, trying to see how were connected to the victims. The sirens wail and were calling up our friends, trying to learn whose child were burying next.

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When a shooting happens and the news spreads through our churches and mosques, through our fraternities and sororities, through our households and workplaces, we experience a mix of emotions we try hard to ignore. For me, the toxic combination of anger and grief is even worse than it might be for many others because I am not only aware of the danger posed by the shootings. I also know what the statistics say about crimes being solved when the victims are young, Black, and male.

Between 2015 and 2020, roughly 2,700 young Black men in Philadelphia were wounded in shootings, according to The Inquirer, but the suspected assailants were convicted in only 6% of those cases.

When young white men were shot, the perpetrators were three times as likely to be convicted. Thats not an accident. We live in a society in which white life is more valued than Black life  a reality that underpins the racist policies that have created an environment where gunfire happens far too frequently in Philadelphias African American communities.

In a setting where school buildings are 100 years old and contain asbestos, where teachers are leaving the profession because theyre overworked and underpaid, and where librarians are scarce despite multibillion-dollar school district budgets, our citys education system is crippled. That leads to high school dropouts, and dropouts are at an increased risk of engaging in crime.

When the federal government and mortgage lenders draw red lines around Black communities and purposely disinvest, businesses disappear and jobs fade away. That leads to Black unemployment rates that are twice as high as white unemployment rates. And when people dont have jobs, that leads to crime, which leads to incarceration.

We live in a society in which white life is more valued than Black life.

In a criminal justice system that routinely produces worse outcomes for Black people than their counterparts of other backgrounds, jail becomes a revolving door, and families are trapped in a generational cycle of incarceration because children of jailed parents are statistically more likely to face prison, as well.

Toss in some drugs and some guns, some rage and some resentment, then set it all to a beat and call it drill music, and gunshots become the rhythm of the streets.

As the parent of a 19-year-old son and a 22-year-old daughter, I have convinced myself not to be consumed by the anxiety that gun violence produces. After all, my wife and I have given our children the foundation they need to succeed, and they are both currently in college. But in the vernacular of the hood, bullets dont have no names, and so I pray.

If only that were enough.

In a city where too many parents are sleepless, and families are living with trauma, I believe its up to all of us to challenge the realities that lead to gun violence. Its also up to all of us to make it stop.
SL navy arrests 21 Indian fishermen for poaching in its territorial waters

Colombo, Mar 17 (UNI) Sri Lanka's navy arrested 21 Indian fishermen who were poaching in the country's territorial waters on Saturday night, the navy said in a statement on Sunday.

The arrests were made during a special operation to chase away Indian trawlers poaching near the Delft island in northern Sri Lanka, and the navy also seized two trawlers that the Indians were traveling in, the statement said.

The seized trawlers and the 21 Indian fishermen were brought to Kankesanthurai Harbor, and they will be handed over to the local authority for onward legal proceedings, the navy said.
New Delhi, Mar 18 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Government on Monday approached the Supreme Court seeking directions to the TN Governor to appoint K Ponmudi as Cabinet Minister.

The petition moved by the Tamil Nadu Government has informed the Apex Court that Governor RN Ravi has refused to accede to the request of Chief Minister to appoint Mr Ponmudi as Minister and for shuffling of portfolio. Hence directions should be given to him to carry forward the CMs recommendation.



Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned the matter before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) for an urgent listing.

The CJI suggested Singhvi to send an email to the registry for an urgent hearing.



Singhvi said, This is the same errant Governor, who was earlier dealt with by the Top Court.'

The Court had earlier stayed Ponmudi's conviction. Under that, the Chief Minister recommended the appointment of Ponmudi as a Minister. The Governor then wrote a letter saying it was constitutionally immoral for him to appoint.

Senior Advocates, Dr Abisheik Manu Singhvi and Mr P. Wilson approached the Chief Justice of India and sought the earliest time for arguments. The CJI permitted to move the application. The petition is likely to come up for hearing on Tuesday.

UNI SNG CS
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Australia is set to introduce enhanced parental leave entitlements, granting new parents six months of government-funded leave starting in 2026, an increase of six weeks from current levels.

This expansion will occur gradually, with entitlements rising by two weeks annually until 2026, as per legislation passed by the Senate on Monday.

One month of this leave will be designated for partners, aligning with the government's aim to promote increased paternal involvement in caregiving responsibilities, according to a Bloomberg report.

The parental leave benefits will be paid at the national minimum wage and will be available to parents with a combined income below $350,000 per year.

Prime Minister Antony Albanese touted the benefits of the expansion.

A parental leave system that empowers the full and equal participation of women will be good for business, good for families and good for our economy, Albanese said in a statement.

Read next: QBE Australia reveals huge gender pay gap

The government also recently announced that workers receiving paid parental leave will also receive mandatory pension entitlements during that period, effective July 2025, Bloomberg reported.

The Business Council of Australia welcomed the changes, noting their potential to support women's workforce participation and economic growth.

These changes are critical to boosting participation, growing the economy and most importantly, achieving long-term economic outcomes for women, Business Council chief executive Bran Black said in a statement.

However, Australia's Council of Trade Unions has advocated for further enhancements to parental leave, calling for an extension to a full year and an increase in the pay rate above the minimum wage, Bloomberg reported.

The Council of Trade Unions argues that addressing gender inequality in unpaid care work is essential to tackling broader labour market disparities, including the country's 21.7% gender pay gap, as highlighted by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.

Have something to say about this story? Let us know in the comments below.
Richard comes to NIBA with a strong track record across membership associations and the financial services spectrum which is why we believe he is perfectly positioned to lead our organisation into the future, said the peak bodys president, Gary Okely, in a media release shared with Insurance Business.
Employee care is at the centre of this program, creating connectivity and vitality across our communities, Zarcone said. The programs success is driven by MetLife employees coming together to live our purpose, with the expansion reflecting our commitment to our communities and our efforts to provide a source of immediate assistance to those in need globally.
It was an error for the courts below to hold that, where there is a limited right of appeal, judicial review should only be exercised in exceptional or rare cases. The limited right of appeal from LAT decisions to pure questions of law does not reflect an intention by the legislature to restrict recourse to the courts on other questions arising from the LATs administrative decision.
The association is also advocating for Governor Cox to consider the broader implications of HB 144 on road safety and to veto the bill to prevent what it views as a setback to the efforts to ensure the well-being of Utahs road users. The association warns that the bill could lead to a dangerous misinterpretation of traffic laws, potentially increasing the risk of accidents.
Insurers underwriting surety bonds generally charge a premium of up to 3% and require cash as collateral, the Financial Times reported. While Trump said in a legal deposition last year that he had about $400 million in cash, his company is private, so his actual financial situation remains murky. However, the former president is reportedly struggling to cover his mounting legal costs, and Deutsche Bank  one of his top lenders  has recently made significant downward adjustments to its own estimates of his net worth.
On LinkedIn, Legrand went on to comment: There are currently tremendous opportunities for the company to grow in Europe and beyond because they have the capabilities to attract young talent, to meet with their clients evolving needs, and to leverage the fast-changing insurance market. Im excited for the journey.
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, said Anderson, who has chaired the NAIC international insurance relations (G) committee since 2019. 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.
Im excited to lead small market commercial lines for Nationwide as we focus on a specialized appetite and a streamlined digital experience for our agents, Williams said. Like most of the P&C market, weve taken actions to improve performance, and we are committed to small commercial customers who value protection from a trusted brand.
Karyn Gregory had a homeowners insurance policy with Safeco Insurance Company of America, effective from February 15, 2017, to February 15, 2018, which specified coverage only for losses occurring within that period. It also required that any claims for loss due to windstorm or hail be reported within 365 days of the event.

Gregorys home was damaged by a hailstorm on May 8, 2017, but she didnt realize the damage until about 18 months later when preparing to sell her home. She filed a claim on October 22, 2018, which was beyond the 365-day notice period specified in her policy. Safeco denied her claim due to its untimely filing. Gregory then sued Safeco in Denver District Court, claiming breach of contract and bad faith, among other things.

However, the court sided with Safeco, ruling the claim untimely and unreasonable. Gregory appealed, arguing that the court should apply Colorados notice-prejudice rule, which might allow for some flexibility in the filing deadline. Nevertheless, the appeals court upheld the original decision, stating that extending the notice-prejudice rule to such cases was beyond its power, maintaining that the timely notice requirement was a precondition for coverage. Gregorys late notification was deemed unexcused, absolving Safeco from covering the loss.

Gregory then took her case to the Colorado Supreme Court
The G7s pricing cap policy requires Western insurance companies and maritime businesses to avoid engaging with Russian oil sales priced above $60 per barrel.

In response, Russia has constructed a so-called dark fleet, concealing the ownership and management of these vessels through secretive practices, thereby enabling the sale of oil above the established price cap. Remarkably, more than 90% of Russian crude exported from the Baltic in December was sold at prices exceeding the cap, according to the Kyiv School of Economics.

The insurance provided by Ingosstrakh is vital for these dark fleet ships traveling through the waters of Denmark and the English Channel on their way to India. A specific contract clause demands adherence to the sanctions laws of the US, UK, and EU, including the price cap.

Ingosstrakh also maintains the right to cancel insurance for any ship caught selling oil above the price limit, aiming to sidestep secondary sanctions and reputation damage. This policy stance on refusing payouts for spills from vessels violating the price cap is consistent with practices of other international insurers, with Ingosstrakh emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy towards such infractions.

Lars Lkke Rasmussen, the Danish Foreign Minister, voiced his concerns to the FT regarding tankers dodging sanctions without adequate insurance and indicated Denmarks willingness to support additional EU measures against Russias clandestine maritime fleet.

Ingosstrakh, with its origins as Chief Agency of Foreign Insurance of the USSR in the Soviet era, is the fourth largest Russian insurer, although maritime insurance constitutes a small portion of its business portfolio. A year ago, Generali quit Ingosstrakhs board as it wound down its Europ Assistance operations in Russia. Generali still owns a 38.5% stake in the Russian insurer, Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Generali has been closely monitoring the situation and implications for operations and financial markets, a spokesman said at the time before withdrawing from the board. AM Best downgraded its rating of the insurer to B from B+ at the time.

Despite the freezing of Generalis stake following the invasion, Ingosstrakh asserts it still engages in reinsurance activities with some non-Russian companies.

The ongoing debate regarding the dark fleets ability to financially handle large-scale oil spill incidents, similar to the Exxon Valdez or Braer disasters, grows as more vessels operate outside Western insurance coverage.

And the so-called dark fleet tends to consist of older vessels. The shadow fleet is more likely to be made up of older ships, operating under flags of convenience with lower maintenance standards, said Justus Heinrich, global product leader marine hull at Allianzs AGCS unit.

In an incident last year where the UAE-managed Canis Power tanker, transporting Russian crude, encountered mechanical failures in the narrow Danish straits catapulted the issue to the front of the Danish publics attention. An inspection later found the 18-year-old vessel had 11 faults, including issues with its emergency power system and firefighting equipment.
His most recent position within the company involved serving as director of underwriting and production for Markels construction practice, where he focused on facilitating large builders risk projects. His tenure also includes significant contributions within inland marine, particularly in managing the Southeast regions inland and ocean marine team.
David will strengthen our well-established property treaty offering, which brings together our Bermuda and London teams as one platform for the benefit of our clients, Sullivan said. Having held senior underwriting roles in Bermuda for a number of years, Davids appointment will help deepen our presence and capabilities on the Island as we look to evolve and grow in property treaty and we look forward to benefiting from Davids technical expertise and experience of developing profitable reinsurance portfolios.
We believe that GalenusRx will help avoid the harmful effects of taking multiple drugs and reduce insured losses, he said. Through this partnership with GalenusRx, Hannover Re US will support its healthcare clients to improve quality and outcomes. Clients participating in accountable care and other value-based programs will also generate additional savings and will benefit from reduced total medical expenditures through GalenusRx method of avoiding predictable ADEs, thus improving their bottom line while providing better care for their policyholders.
by Nils Peterson

Years ago I was listening to Robert Bly talk about poetry. It was at a conference on form and he was in the process of leaving Whitman and going on to Yeats as part of his own conscious public wrestling, not so much with the Muse as which Muse and where the Muse comes from. He paused for a moment and, to let his batteries charge, said  Well, what do you think of this Nils? Hed been talking about the formal aspect of Yeats, the rhythm and the rhyme and the kind of consciousness such usage requires of the reader and the writer. I, startled, could think of nothing else to say than that Yeats writes the kind of poem that you can wake up in the middle of the night and find that you know by heart without ever having made the effort to memorize it. I mentioned having been at a wedding where, unexpectedly, I was asked to recite some poetry. I was able after a minute of two or two with a pencil to come up with a fairly accurate version of The Folly of Being Comforted. Bly nodded, and went on his merry way, but I found myself troubled. So, at the end when he asked for comments, I found I had to add this anecdote.

In the middle 60s when I first was a new husband, a new teacher, and new father, I met my first indication of the changing consciousness of women in a freshman English class. I was teaching the Yeats poem A Prayer for My Daughter. I found it, and in many ways still do a marvelous poem and I spoke of it to my class with great enthusiasm saying that this is what I would wish for my daughter  that she would be beautiful but not too beautiful and learned courtesy for:

Hearts are not had as a gift but hearts are earned

by those that are not entirely beautiful.

I added that Ive known enough of it in myself to think that,

An intellectual hatred is the worst.

While musing in front of the class, thinking of my own infant daughters destiny, it seemed as if I too could pray 

May her bridegroom bring her to a house

Where alls accustomed, ceremonious,

having had because of growing up as a chauffeurs child on a great estate, some illusions about what that would be like.

One of my women students, tough, honest, told me  Youre wrong. You shouldnt say wish that on your daughter. In fact, she went on to say that I had no right to wish that on my daughter.

I was set back on my heels, shocked. It had seemed to me the most unexceptionable of fatherly wishes, what, indeed, any father, would want. The class finished with a good argument. And Blys evening finished when, shortly after my story, Robert said, Well, something must be happening here because I feel a lot of anger in my stomach and its time for bed. And yes, the evening all of a sudden had become filled with a strange uncomfortable energy.

But the evening and my story are not quite over. After the meeting, a tall woman, maybe in her mid 30s came up to me as I was leaving to go off to drink some wine and asked if she could talk to me for awhile. I said sure, so we chatted at first shuffling from foot to foot then, finding comfortable seats, we settled into a long talk.

She told me that something like that had happened to her at about the same time at the University of Michigan, if I recall, only she was the student. She had just come into her liking of literature and was very fond of her instructor. As you know, sometimes those things go together. Yet, as the instructor went and on about Prayer for My Daughter in much the same way as I had, something rose up in her, and, when the beaming instructor turned to her for confirmation of all the things hed been saying, a confirmation she had given so gladly so often, she could not give it though she wanted desperately to please the teacher she liked, respected, perhaps even loved. The result was a great wounding which she still felt 15 years later.

Her story sent me thinking in two ways  they may be finally one. I am a great lover of Yeats and have been since I first started reading poetry seriously. He was very much in vogue at the academy and I had no reason then to reject its judgments, but during my talk with that woman, perhaps out of my own wrestling with the fathers, I found myself asking what is wrong with Yeats, and, since Blys conference was a conference on form, I begin thinking in those terms.

Yeats fashioned for himself a powerful instrument, a deep masculine solid voice, markedly rhythmical. There is no mistaking his poems for prose. In the recording of him Ive heard (and in Blys imitation of him reading Lake Isle of Innisfree) it is a clear that instrument is no accidental term. It is a voice, a style, connected with music  a tongue like a reed loving the long vowels, a voice of rooted in the belly, not in the mind, although the mind borrows it once in a while  (to make my distinction clear I think of the voice of Auden centered though sometimes in the mind). Yeatss voice, physical and poetic, is a bardic voice, a prophetic voice, a voice suitable for the human utterance of the songs of the great archetypes  and, when that is Yeatss matter, it is an appropriate voice. (Second Coming, Leda and the Swan, Sailing to Byzantium), but when Yeats has a more human subject, it betrays him.

Thought about it this way, A Prayer for My Daughter is almost funny. There is a poet who is a new father of a new daughter which means a new poem. A Lear-like storm sweeps across the heath and the wind screams about the romantic tower of a middle-age man who was afraid of what the world is coming to. He wonders what boons he should ask the gods to protect his daughter so that she will not go on unaccommodated into the storm. There are things he wants her to have, but, more interestingly there are things he wants her not to have  opinions for one,

An intellectual hatred is the worst

So let her think opinions are accursed.

He goes on to recount the terrible things that have happened to Maude Gonne because she had ideas. Opinions is the word we often used to dismiss anothers ideas, a kind of dismissive shifting of ground. So much, then, for Maudes struggles to be a self operating in the quotidian world of flux and change, a woman with a vision of how things should be better than they are. A woman, rather, should become what he now he wishes his daughter to become,

A flourishing hidden tree

That all her thoughts may like the linnet be

And have no business but dispensing round,

Their magnanimitys of sound.

The reason for this is terribly clear despite the convoluted syntax of his lines,

My mind, because the minds that I have loved

The sort of beauty that I have approved

Prosper but little, has dried up of the late.

Because it is not a good time for the carriers of the values that Yeats approves, it is not a good time for Yeats, and his mind has dried up of late. This, of course, is the obsessive subject of the last 25 years of his creative life. In this context, he is seeing his daughter as a carrier of his values. And the fact he wants her not only to have but be a kind of home he can go to.

But I think Yeats is betrayed here, betrayed by the instrument he had worked so hard to create. His voice is too big for the occasion and what should be a small human poem becomes contaminated by his personal fears and the patriarchal archetype. Surely, in part, this is what my student and my friend were objecting to  not only the substance, but the manner, the big heavy oracular manner dripping with fatherly assurance that this is, indeed, the way things are, that these values are the indisputable ones, and that their coming loss will be tragic. His personal feelings about life are here too, but one doesnt feel them as small, personal, human. It is all high drama.

Perhaps there was a storm whistling through the air when Yeats was thinking about all this but could his voice of have encompassed a gentle spring breeze? Im afraid he would have sounded much like Bottom when he promises to roar at you as gently as any sucking dove. The poems of poets are dictated as much by what the writer cant do as what he or she can. (I love his love poems to Maude Gonne, but would not a woman get tired of being addressed in the high style all of the time? Im guessing yes. Maude evidently did. I think that is part of what she is telling him when she asked him the day after the occasion for his poem Adams Curse. He has asked her again to marry him and she has refused and he tells her of his unhappiness and she replies you make beautiful music out of what you call your unhappiness and you are happy in that. She saw that indeed he saw his life as a drama, a drama in the high old style. Indeed, in Adams Curse he tells her that he has striven to love her in the old high way of love. The old high way is a very attractive way, attractive in its sound, in its call, and in its feel to the romantic a young man not very well connected with the world. I speak personally here as well as from observation. It enables one to give in fully to ones desire without having to put up with the lineaments of the gratified desire.

Now when I read Yeats, even in the big poems when his big voice is working well, I find myself a little suspicious. I find myself wondering what is concealed behind the megaphone. I find myself wondering if part of that rough beast slouching to be born is not for Yeats the feminine spirit coming into its power, its political power, and that that for Yeats would be a something of a nightmare. Yet when the subject is right, the voice is right, the poem is right and we are given treasures like O chestnut tree, great rooted blossomer, /Are you the leaf, the blossom or the bole? /O body swayed to music, O brightening glance, /How can we know the dancer from the dance?

I add that I am grateful to the young women who spoke up in class. I became a better father because of her and I think a better teacher. I wish I could remember her name.

Heres Prayer for My Daughter.

Once more the storm is howling, and half hid

Under this cradle-hood and coverlid

My child sleeps on. There is no obstacle

But Gregorys wood and one bare hill

Whereby the haystack- and roof-levelling wind,

Bred on the Atlantic, can be stayed;

And for an hour I have walked and prayed

Because of the great gloom that is in my mind.

I have walked and prayed for this young child an hour

And heard the sea-wind scream upon the tower,

And under the arches of the bridge, and scream

In the elms above the flooded stream;

Imagining in excited reverie

That the future years had come,

Dancing to a frenzied drum,

Out of the murderous innocence of the sea.

May she be granted beauty and yet not

Beauty to make a strangers eye distraught,

Or hers before a looking-glass, for such,

Being made beautiful overmuch,

Consider beauty a sufficient end,

Lose natural kindness and maybe

The heart-revealing intimacy

That chooses right, and never find a friend.

Helen being chosen found life flat and dull

And later had much trouble from a fool,

While that great Queen, that rose out of the spray,

Being fatherless could have her way

Yet chose a bandy-legged smith for man.

Its certain that fine women eat

A crazy salad with their meat

Whereby the Horn of Plenty is undone.

In courtesy Id have her chiefly learned;

Hearts are not had as a gift but hearts are earned

By those that are not entirely beautiful;

Yet many, that have played the fool

For beautys very self, has charm made wise,

And many a poor man that has roved,

Loved and thought himself beloved,

From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.

May she become a flourishing hidden tree

That all her thoughts may like the linnet be,

And have no business but dispensing round

Their magnanimities of sound,

Nor but in merriment begin a chase,

Nor but in merriment a quarrel.

O may she live like some green laurel

Rooted in one dear perpetual place.

My mind, because the minds that I have loved,

The sort of beauty that I have approved,

Prosper but little, has dried up of late,

Yet knows that to be choked with hate

May well be of all evil chances chief.

If theres no hatred in a mind

Assault and battery of the wind

Can never tear the linnet from the leaf.

An intellectual hatred is the worst,

So let her think opinions are accursed.

Have I not seen the loveliest woman born

Out of the mouth of Plentys horn,

Because of her opinionated mind

Barter that horn and every good

By quiet natures understood

For an old bellows full of angry wind?

Considering that, all hatred driven hence,

The soul recovers radical innocence

And learns at last that it is self-delighting,

Self-appeasing, self-affrighting,

And that its own sweet will is Heavens will;

She can, though every face should scowl

And every windy quarter howl

Or every bellows burst, be happy still.

And may her bridegroom bring her to a house

Where alls accustomed, ceremonious;

For arrogance and hatred are the wares

Peddled in the thoroughfares.

How but in custom and in ceremony

Are innocence and beauty born?

Ceremonys a name for the rich horn,

And custom for the spreading laurel tree.
Specifically, the commissioner advocates for insurance companies to procure reinsurance sufficient to handle the impact of a one in 50-year storm, in contrast to the current norm of preparing for one in 150 to one in 200-year storms. These more catastrophic events, while less probable, result in significantly higher reinsurance costs.
Liquor liability availability and pricing have put small business owners in the alcohol-related sector in some states in a bind. While securing coverage is easy in some areas, premiums have skyrocketed and carriers have pulled out of others.

Every state has different laws, explained Randy Velin, a senior producer at RPS who writes liquor liability insurance policies in Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas and Montana. The states that dont have dram laws are easy to write in. The states that have tough laws are hard to write in.

The Hartford reports that liquor liability insurance is a type of business insurance that protects operations that sell, serve and distribute alcohol. If sued, it covers legal costs, settlements or judgments, repair costs to fix property damage, as well as medical bills to treat injuries. Liquor liability also covers claims of assault and battery, drunk driving and property damage.

Focusing on South Carolina

South Carolinas challenging market has been well-documented.

In 2017, a state law change upped liquor liability coverage requirements to at least $1 million following a high-profile auto accident that killed two people and severely injured a police officer. Carl Sobocinski, owner or founder of at least seven popular restaurants in South Carolina, recently told a joint legislative committee that his premium had jumped from $62,000 a year to more than $115,000.

With just an 86% increase, I feel like one of the lucky ones, Sobocinski said.

According to a recent report from the South Carolina Department of Insurance, between 2017 and 2022, insurers lost about $1.77 for every $1 of premium earned on liquor liability policies. In the worst of those years, carriers lost as much as $2.60 for every $1 of premium earned, even though earned premium more than doubled in that time.

Combined ratios for the industry make it clear that this sub-line of insurance is being written at massive underwriting losses, reads the DOI report, released in January. The data seem to confirm the anecdotal assertions, made by both insurance companies and small businesses, of a very troubled and challenged marketplace.

The states lawmakers are now considering a bill that would bring an insurer of last resort approach to liquor liability insurance for bars and restaurants. House Bill 5066, sponsored in part by Rep. Jason Elliott, R-Greenville, is titled the Fair Access to Insurance Requirements, or FAIR Act. It would create a liquor liability fund financed by part of the revenue from an excise tax on drinks. The fund would be able to contract with a private insurance company to administer the program.

Minnesota provides an assigned risk pool option through the Minnesota Joint Underwriting Association. Even though the limits may be low, at least you can get coverage, Velin said. In other states like South Dakota, or North Dakota, or Wisconsin, they dont have an assigned risk pool. So, if you cant get coverage, youre out of business.

Other States

In a recent CRC Insurance Services report, the wholesaler said Vermont bars, nightclubs and other establishments that serve alcohol also often struggle to find a company to provide coverage.

CRC reported that placing liquor liability for establishments in Texas or the District of Columbia is also extremely challenging, especially for smaller operations. The report also noted that three markets had exited the liquor liability space in Kentucky in the previous two years.

In their own writeup on the hospitality market, RPS Insurance brokers Velin and James Ward shared their insights on the changing landscape. Velin wrote that hes seeing carriers pull out of Texas, and that Minnesota has few standard markets available.

Forty-two states have dram shop liability laws; Delaware, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota and Virginia are the eight states that dont have legislation enforcing dram shop liability in place. The laws in these states shift liability from bars to drivers, meaning liquor policies are cheaper and more available.

You dont get sued, Velin explained. And theres no liability on the bar.

He explained in the RPS report that in Minnesota, some standard carriers wont write accounts with more than 75% in liquor receipts unless their general liability policies have assault and battery limits equal to the liquor liability limits. The higher the percentage of alcohol receipts, the higher the rate, he said.

Advice to Agents

In the RPS writeup, Ward encouraged agents to speak to their clients about reviewing their websites, social media platforms and Yelp reviews to see if what is being presented reflects their operation.

In its report, CRC said agents may help with the affordability of liquor liability coverage by encouraging establishments to review business hours and menu options, and establish rigorous risk management policies. Gathering current information and producing low-touch submissions that tell a story are also key.

Topics South Carolina Minnesota
Based on the last 126 insurance commercials Ive watched, I wouldnt have a clue.

I saw one insurance commercial the other night that did not even include the word insurance in the script other than the carriers name.

Most people buying insurance dont really understand what they are buying, especially based on these commercials. So, I began to wonder what services/products I buy where I am ignorant of what Im buying.

When I buy gasoline, I really havent a clue what the difference is from one brand to another. I dont have a clue what the difference is in the bottled water I drink. But in both cases, I know what Im buying. I just dont know the difference between brands.

What do you buy that you really dont have a clue what it is that you are actually buying? The poor quality of some attorneys contracts comes to mind as an example of what I see agencies buying without knowing what they really need to be buying. Some of the agency management systems fall into the same category. Agencies do not realize theyre buying a system that only provides for their needs on the surface and immediate purposes, but not their long-term betterment.

These are important investments and yet mistakes are made.

So, its easy to understand how and why people buy insurance without really understanding what insurance is. I have met with and interviewed thousands of producers and account managers and agency owners. A large proportion of people selling and servicing insurance do not have a clue what they are actually selling, which only exacerbates the situation. When I ask what insurance does, I get all kinds of answers other than the correct one, which is that it transfers risk. The benefits of this transfer, among many, is that the transfer greatly expands consumers and businesses balance sheets so that they are able to purchase homes, autos, materials and so forth with much less capital. Otherwise, they would have to increase their down payments to probably at least 50%. Also, if a loss happens, they get their life more or less restored.

Insurance is truly one of the greatest and oldest financial inventions ever! It brings so much good, but only if the policy is a solid policy rather than, I havent a clue what it is Im buying from a company that advertises without advertising what it is actually selling.

And the situation is made worse with  Ill be blunt  the questionable products, advertising and sales pitches I am seeing. I am seeing more outright fraud and questionable insurance companies/products than Ive seen in 30 years. It is not just big companies doing this. One producer, one that would likely qualify in the top 1% of all producers relative to their sales, recently advised that his success is partially due to all the untruths he tells. When confronted, he replied, But it works doesnt it? Such cavalier attitudes are not uncommon and Im seeing more people enter the industry with these attitudes, summarized well by a person who told me that by the time the regulators figure out what is happening theyll be rich.

But does it matter? Few consumers and small business owners have a clue what they are actually buying. All insurance is the same and they are not going to spend the time to learn the differences. They need more advice than big companies, but the legal standard of care for those selling insurance is so low that all the burden is on the buyer. This legal reality is a complete mismatch with human reality.

I cannot blame the marketing companies, either. The advertising companies have a job to do and some of their advertising campaigns are beyond brilliant. I completely admire what they have achieved, but then I liked the old-fashioned cigarette commercials, too.

The key insights the advertising firms identified long ago are that consumers and small business owners do not have a clue what they are buying, they have no interest in distinguishing the quality factors between insurance products, the quality factors between insurance distributors, the financial stability difference, or any differentiators other than price, and the really brilliant insight of trustworthiness established by cartoon characters. (Whether portrayed by animation or real humans dressed in costumes, the common denominator is these are all cartoon characters that generate more trust than advertisements using solid characters and advice.)

What an insight into the human brain, something for humans selling insurance to think through!

Standard of Care

This reality brings me back to the standard of care agents owe their clients because differentiation is the key to success. You must show that you are better, which means differentiation. Consumers do not have a clue between a captive agent and an independent agent, or often even the difference between an insurance company and the agent. (A test: What is the difference in the standard of care between a captive agent and going direct through a carrier?)

This lack of distinction is the absolutely perfect recipe for low-quality players to dominate, per the theory of mediocrity described by the economist Carl Shapiro. He described how, because consumers dont know the difference between a high-quality product and a marginal product, the producer of the marginal product will undercut the price of the high-quality product and win every time, unless the provider of the high-quality product causes the consumer to recognize the difference.

The only way around this reality is to create and then advertise a higher standard in the insurance world. I dont know if advertising a higher quality product will work, but advertising a higher standard of care might. A larger percentage of producers, agents and carriers benefit today by pretending they are something they are not, which is that they are providing the coverage clients need when through a combination of their own ignorance, and being lazy by not taking the time to determine their clients coverage needs, they are failing their clients. But their clients may not know this until they have a tough claim situation.

For an example, Ill use ordinance coverage. In my experience auditing agencies, around 95% of all policies sold are sold without a discussion of whether the insured needs increased ordinance coverage. The basic throw-in coverage is very inadequate for a large percentage of properties. Many building codes, especially the green building codes and also the flood-related building codes, have recently changed significantly. Increased ordinance is no longer just for older homes. When the fire burned nearly 1,000 homes in Boulder, Colorado, around two years ago, the local suburbs had to rescind their green building codes because otherwise, virtually not a single homeowner had adequate ordinance coverage to rebuild!

Insureds dont know what theyre buying when they buy insurance, but they are thinking that if their house burns, they have coverage to rebuild without regard for more expensive building codes, and after a fire is a terrible time to learn this lesson.

If a higher standard of care applied to some class of agents, likely independent agents because they are the ones who already have more responsibilities to insureds than other distributors (who have virtually no responsibility to advise insureds on anything), then it would be easy to distinguish and advertise a quality advantage over cartoons. Around 95% of independent agents seem to dislike this concept because they dont want the E&O exposure.

The beauty of a higher standard of care as practiced by my real-world clients who dont hide and dont try to compete with the incompetents, is they make more money. They have less angst in their lives. They have earned a greater feeling of accomplishment. They sleep better knowing their clients have far better protection in the event of a tragic claim than they would have if they bought insurance directly or from a producer telling untruths.

The sales process is also easier and less stressful because by applying a higher standard to your sales model, you distinguish yourself automatically. My goal with this article is to help all those insurance professionals who really care to see the solution, to beat mediocrity and deception.

You will need to be bold.
A dispute between an insurer and a yacht owner that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court resulted in a decision  the first of its kind on marine insurance in about 70 years  to clarify federal maritime law and state insurance law.

The highest court recently released a unanimous opinion that choice-of-law provisions in maritime contracts, governed by federal maritime law, are enforceable over state law. Maritime contracts include marine insurance policies.

The case at hand, Great Lakes Insurance v. Raiders Retreat Realty, goes back to 2019 when a yacht ran aground in Florida, sustaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Munich Res Great Lakes denied the claim and sued Raiders Retreat in Pennsylvania federal court after an investigation found that fire extinguishers on the boat did not meet required standards. Raiders Retreat then countersued, alleging breach of contract under Pennsylvanias Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. The insurer won in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania  which found that federal choice-of-law provisions in the policy could be enforced.

Raiders appealed and, while the U.S. Court of Appeals recognized choice-of-law provisions in maritime contracts, it sent the case back to the district court to consider whether applying New York law would violate Pennsylvanias policy regarding insurance. Insurers typically include choice-of-law provisions in contracts and declare that New York law applies when there is no federal precedent.

The American Institute of Marine Underwriters said the Supreme Courts decision clarified the insurers choice-of-law clause in a policy and said it cannot be disregarded due to another states laws. There are narrow exceptions but none applied to this case, the court said. The ruling adheres to the principles of uniformity and certainty in maritime law, the AIMU said. Great Lakes was represented by AIMU member, The Goldman Maritime Law Group, and an amicus brief, cited several times in the opinion delivered by Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, was written by member Wiggin and Dana on behalf of AIMU.

As well stated in the courts opinion, this decision will enable marine insurers to better assess risk, said John Miklus, president of AIMU, in a statement. By enforcing an insurance policys choice-of-law provisions in jurisdictions that are well developed, known, and regarded, the court recognizes that insurers can lower the price and expand the availability of marine insurance.

Kavanaugh wrote that the presumption of enforceability of the provisions facilitates maritime commerce by reducing uncertainty and lowering costs for maritime actors.

Maritime commerce traverses interstate and international boundaries, so when a maritime accident or dispute occurs, time-consuming and difficult questions can arise about which law governs, he continued. By identifying the governing law in advance, choice-of-law provisions allow parties to avoid later disputes  as well as ensuing litigation and its attendant costs.

Pamela A. Palmer of the Clark Hill law firm said the high court opinion will help to eliminate any confusion in the industry that marine insurance contracts are somehow different than or held to a different standard than general maritime contracts.

What strikes me in the decision is the courts acknowledgment that choice-of-law provisions are important to reduce uncertainty and to lower costs for maritime entities but, more importantly in the context of marine insurers, knowing what law applies enables marine insurers to better assess risk and to price policies, Palmer said. This is a huge consideration for the marine insurance industry and had the court held otherwise the price and availability of insurance would be severely impacted  considerations that ironically would have harmed policyholders in the long run despite what would have felt like a short-term policyholder win in this case.

Onlookers also waited to see if the Supreme Court would address a 1955 decision in Wilburn Boat Co. v. Firemans Insurance Co., another maritime insurance case in which the court ruled a court could apply state law if there is no established maritime law. However, Kavanaugh concluded Wilburn Boat did not need to be considered because it did not involve choice-of-law provisions.

While it would have been an additional victory for proponents of maritime uniformity for the court to have overruled Wilburn Boat, Justice Kavanaugh did not take that additional step, wrote Charlie McCammon, president of marine risk consulting, in a blog for WTW.

In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote separately about Wilburn Boat, saying it is at odds with the fundamental precept of admiralty law. Wilburn Boats rationale is deeply flawed, he added.

Topics Carriers Pennsylvania
State Farm Insurance brought forth a subrogation lawsuit against Norfolk Southern over damages to a pair of East Palestine, Ohio homes allegedly caused by the railroad companys February 2023 train derailment.

State Farm filed a complaint in Columbiana County, Ohio Common Pleas Court seeking judgment of more than $85,000 for payouts to two homeowners whose property was damaged by chemical fires.

East Palestine resident Justin Daubenmire claimed $39,374 for damage to the insureds personal property and $32,025 for damage to his real property. State Farm paid Daubenmire in the amount of $71,199, subject to a $2,799 deductible.

Another East Palestine resident, Barbara Georgescu, claimed $13,051 of personal property damage, of which State Farm paid the full amount.

State Farm claims the insureds property damage was a direct and proximate result of negligence from Norfolk Southern. The railroad company was carrying hazardous materials, including vinyl chloride, when its train derailed in East Palestine on Feb. 3, 2023. The hazardous chemicals and materials ignited, resulting in a fire which created toxic fumes, smoke, and soot, State Farms claim says.

Norfolk Southern said last month that the total cost of the derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border will top $1.1 billion. The railroad company said it has received $101 million in insurance payments.

An Ohio business owner sued Norfolk Southern last year for $500 million, saying most of his East Ohio companies have remained closed since the derailment. Norfolk Southern said at the time it had reached confidential settlements with 11 businesses and offering $1.8 million to 55 others.

Topics Lawsuits Ohio
The owner of a suburban Chicago insurance agency has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for swindling more than $1 million from clients by collecting annuity premiums for policies that he never purchased, the U.S. Attorneys Office, Northern District of Illinois announced.

Daniel M. Rosenbaum owned and operated Alexander & Rosenbaum Financial Group LLC, an insurance agency in Kenilworth, Ill. Beginning in 2016, Rosenbaum collected more than $1 million in annuity premiums from at least 18 clients, including friends and family members, for policies that he never purchased.

Rosenbaum instead used the money for his own benefit, including spousal and child support payments, credit card payments, vehicle and other loan payments, and purchases at a jewelry store. Rosenbaum attempted to conceal the fraud by creating fake annuity documents and providing them to his clients. Some of the phony documents contained the logos of legitimate insurance companies that Rosenbaum had cut and pasted into the documents.

In addition to the annuity fraud scheme, Rosenbaum also engaged in fraud related to the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was created by the CARES Act to cover lost revenue due to economic disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Rosenbaum filed three fraudulent PPP loan applications in his name and, unbeknownst to them, the names of two close family members, for which he was paid a total of $53,537. Rosenbaum also fraudulently obtained $65,826 from the State of Illinois by filing two fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits in his name and, unbeknownst to her, the name of a close family member.

Rosenbaum, 56, of Brown Deer, Wisc., pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge. U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah imposed the sentence Feb. 13 during a hearing in federal court in Chicago.

The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. Wes Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The South Chicago Heights, Ill. Police Department provided valuable assistance.

Topics Agencies Illinois
The University of Maryland has lifted its suspension of most fraternities and sororities after an investigation into hazing and alcohol-related activities, the university said Friday, though five chapters will remain under investigation and continue to be subject to limited restrictions on activities.

Court filings made public Friday included reports of forced heavy drinking, beatings with a paddle, burning with cigarettes and exposure to cold.

The university, based in College Park, Maryland, announced on March 1 that it was suspending fraternity and sorority activities, citing allegations of misconduct. Events involving alcohol and recruitment activities were banned during the suspension.

As a result of evidence suggesting involvement in hazing or other incidents that threatened the health and safety of our campus community, the University is continuing its investigation of five chapters through the Office of Student Conduct, the university said in a statement. The university added that individual students will also be referred to the office for potential conduct violations.

This week, a group representing several fraternities filed a lawsuit against the university in federal court, seeking a restraining order against the ban. Attorneys for the four fraternities that sued did not immediately return a phone message, and an email seeking comment on the universitys announcement.

The lawsuit has the support of the national Fraternal Forward Coalition, which said in a statement it would continue to pursue it.

Administrators who participated in or were complicit in this egregious erosion of student liberties must be held accountable, said Wynn Smiley, a spokesman for the coalition in a statement.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Browns office argued in court documents filed Friday that as a result of the universitys decision to lift the restrictions, the fraternities request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction is now moot and should be denied.

Browns office also argued that even if the court does not find that the issues are moot, it should deny the restraining order because the university has shown it was authorized under its student code of conduct to impose restrictions on some chapter activities while it investigated serious and persistent allegations of hazing and alcohol abuse at multiple chapters which threatened the health and safety of its students.

Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate that their interest in collegiality and social involvement, which was not infringed upon, outweighs the Universitys strong and compelling interests in maintaining public safety and preventing hazing, Browns office argued in its filing.

The order applied to the 37 groups that are part of the universitys Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association. It did not apply to the universitys 13 multicultural Greek organizations or five historically Black fraternities and sororities.

The university announced that 32 chapters have been cleared to return to normal activities. That includes three of the four plaintiff chapters, Browns office said in a court filing, including Theta Chi, Alpha Sigma Phi and Alpha Tau Omega. As a result, the court filing said, there are no pending restrictions on their chapter activities.

The university has continued its investigation against one of the fraternities that sued based on serious allegations of hazing and alcohol abuse, the court filing said.

The universitys Office of Student Conduct received two referrals alleging conduct violations in February, in which a resident director reported that he found multiple prohibited substances and drug paraphernalia in a fraternity house, according to court records.

The office also received an anonymous report from a parent that their son was being subjected to harmful hazing by being required to stay outside in the cold for several hours, requiring a trip to the university health center for suspected hypothermia.

Later that month, the office received an anonymous email alleging multiple unidentified fraternities were hazing new members by beating them with a paddle, burning them with cigarettes and having them lay on nails, according to court records. They also were forced to consume live fish, chewing tobacco and urine, according to the documents.

The person who sent the anonymous email also reported personally experiencing being forced to attend a Line Up, where he was abused for hours on end, forced to wall sit, do push-ups, planks, and be naked/in underwear for the purpose of public humiliation, and be physically assaulted, according to court documents.

At one of these events one individual passed out as they refused to provide us with water and forced us to drink straight vodka and they did nothing to help him, in fact they hit him in the face with a plastic bat and poured beer on him until he woke up, the student wrote in the email.

A court hearing has been set for Monday. It was not immediately clear how the universitys action to clear most of the fraternities for normal activities would affect the lawsuit.

Associated Press writer Denise Lavoie contributed from Richmond, Virginia.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Education Universities Maryland
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.

A bill was advanced to the Senate floor on Thursday, days after Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed legislation barring consideration of a students familial ties to a public college or university when being considered for admission. The first such law was signed in Colorado in 2021.

There has been pushback to Connecticuts bill from some private institutions in the state, including Yale, which have argued the state should not be dictating how they make admissions decisions, just like it shouldnt dictate decisions on curriculum and faculty hiring. But proponents note how these schools, which receive substantial tax benefits for their non-profit status, have the power to provide all kinds of students with a ticket to an elite world.

If you look at leaders of Fortune 500 companies, you look at members of Congress, United States Supreme Court justices, this really matters to how our society operates, said Democratic state Sen. Derek Slap, co-chair of the Higher Education.

An Associated Press survey of the nations most selective colleges in 2022 found that legacy students in the freshman class ranged from 4% to 23%, though many schools declined to provide basic data in response to APs request. The AP found that at four schools  Notre Dame, USC, Cornell and Dartmouth  legacy students outnumbered Black students.

Slap noted how the U.S. Supreme Court last summer struck down affirmative action in college admissions, proving they dont have institutional freedom of make preferences based on race.

I think its egregious, though, that this preference, the one for wealthy folks, remains, he said.

Schools Concerns

Republican Sen. Kevin Kelly said he has heard from private schools in his district, especially faith-based colleges, that are concerned about how they would be impacted by the legislation. He said the ability of institutions of higher education to exercise their freedom to teach how they are and what they are has helped to create American exceptionalism.

I think when the state government starts to interfere in that process, were not only interfering in private relations of institutions, but were also interfering in that American excellence, he said.

Jeremiah Quinlan, dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid at Yale University, recently told state lawmakers that the school agrees with the central aim of the bill, which is to enroll more low-income and first-generation students. But in addition to the state overstepping its bounds, he said the bill doesnt address the key challenge of providing less advantaged students with the resources needed to prepare for college and graduate on time.

He also said Yales undergraduate admissions office strikes to assemble a group of the most promising students from the most diverse collection of backgrounds. He said undergraduates from families that cant afford the full cost of attending Yale receive a need-based scholarship that covers tuition, housing, meals, travel, books and personal expenses.

Last year, Wesleyan University, another private school in Connecticut, announced it was ending its policy of giving preferential treatment in admissions to those whose families have historical ties to the school.

The bill, which cleared the committee on a vote of 18-4, moves to the Senate for further action.

Photo: New Haven, Connecticut, Yale Campus.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Education Connecticut Universities
Almost three-and-one-half years after the Catholic Diocese of Camden, New Jersey filed for bankruptcy citing financial effects from the pandemic and sexual abuse settlements, its Chapter 11 reorganization plan has been approved.

The final plan, the ninth amended proposal, establishes an $87.5 million trust to compensate about 324 survivors of sexual abuse within the diocese. The trust will be funded with $87.5 million from the diocese and related Catholic entities. Insurance policies turned over to the diocese will contribute $30 million.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jerrold N. Poslusny, Jr., in Camden, approved the plan that allows the diocese to pay into the trust over five years and keep operating so it can pay creditors.

The settlement also requires the church to maintain and enhance protocols for the protection of children that were first implemented in 2002.

The plan was approved last April by all classes of creditors and 97% of survivors.

However, last year some insurers objected to loopholes that they feared might increase their liability by millions beyond their agreed $30 million, and that they said did not adequately consider legal costs. Insurers also argued that the plan was not feasible because the diocese was unable to fund its portion of the trust.

Judge Poslusny agreed with some of the insurers concerns. The court cannot approve a plan which allows attorneys to file invalid and fraudulent claims without consequence, Poslusny wrote in his opinion last September ordering another reworking of the plan.

Last week, Judge Poslusny found that the revised plan resolved the insurers issues. After a review of the dioceses most recent financials, he further found that there is reasonable probability the provisions of the plan can be performed.

The diocese serves about 480,000 Catholics in 62 parishes across six counties. The district includes four missions, and the diocese is also affiliated with 22 elementary schools, five high schools and a pre-school daycare, in addition to various social service and charitable organizations.

Prior to filing for relief, from 1990 to 2019, the diocese reached 99 settlements with abuse survivors for $10.1 million.

In December 2019, the state enacted the New Jersey Child Victims Act, reopening the statute of limitations to previously-barred claims of child sexual abuse through November 2021.

The diocese, along with other dioceses in the state, started the Independent Victims Compensation Fund (IVCF), in June 2019, and hired Kenneth Feinberg and Camille Barros to administer and settle claims. The diocese settled 71 claims for a total of $8.1 million through the IVCF. The diocese did not seek any reimbursement from its liability insurers for any of those claims.

The diocese has maintained an insurance program with numerous insurers. The bankruptcy court assumed jurisdiction over any insurance payouts. Insurers involved include certain Lloyds underwriters, Century Insurance, Interstate Fire & Casualty, Granite State, Lexington, National Union Fire, National Catholic Retention Group, American International Group and Catholic Risk.

Camden Diocese Bishop Dennis Sullivan thanked Judge Poslusny for providing a fair venue for this case and for ensuring the interests of the survivors and the Diocese of Camden were considered justly.

Sullivan expressed his sincere apology to all those who have been affected by sexual and pledged his continuing commitment to ensure that this terrible chapter in the history of the diocese never happens again.

Counsel for the survivors committee. Jeffrey D. Prol, partner at Lowenstein Sandler law firm, said the committee is pleased that the court confirmed the plan of reorganization it negotiated with the diocese. We look forward to facilitating an expeditious distribution to survivors of sexual abuse, who have been, and remain, the real heroes in our battle to bring some semblance of justice for them, Prol said in a statement.

Topics Church
The Scranton, Pennsylvania school district has been experiencing computer outages due to a ransomware attack last week.

The attack is causing a temporary disruption to some of our computer systems and services, the school reported on Facebook last Friday afternoon.

The districts web page remains down.

The Friday posting said the district is working with third party forensic specialists hired last Thursday evening to investigate the source of this incident, confirm its impact on our systems, and to restore full functionality to the system as soon as possible.

The first public sign of a problem surfaced last Wednesday when school officials told students that schools would be delayed in opening by two hours on Thursday.

Schools are an increasingly common target for hackers. At a White House summit on schools and cybersecurity last August, the deputy national security advisor for cyber, Anne Neuberger, said that schools in Arizona, California, Washington, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Michigan were among the close to 50 districts hit by cyber attacks by that point last year.

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Topics Cyber Education K-12
China criminalizes "dual contracts" amid intensified crackdown on tax evasion

Xinhua) 16:04, March 18, 2024

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- China has criminalized the signing of "dual contracts" amid an intensified crackdown on tax evasion, according to the latest judicial interpretation by the country's apex court and procuratorate.

The judicial interpretation issued Monday by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate clearly specified for the first time the signing of "dual contracts" as a means of tax evasion, providing a legal basis for judicial authorities to pursue such tax evasion cases in the future.

The judicial interpretation clarified sentencing standards for tax-related crimes and defined new methods of tax evasion that would be considered criminal offenses under the law.

It stated that taxpayers who make false tax declarations by using schemes like "dual contracts" to conceal income and assets or attribute income and assets under other names should be considered as "using deception or concealment" stipulated in Article 201 of the Criminal Law.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
by Ashutosh Jogalekar

Every once in a while there is a person of consummate achievement in a field, a person who while widely known to workers in that field is virtually unknown outside it and whose achievements should be known much better. One such person in the field of chemistry was Jack Dunitz. Over his long life of 98 years Dunitz inspired chemists across varied branches of chemistry. Many of his papers inspired me when I was in college and graduate school, and if the mark of a good scientific paper is that you find yourself regularly quoting it without even realizing it, then Dunitzs papers have few rivals.

Two rare qualities in particular made Dunitz stand out: simple thinking that extended across chemistry, and clarity of prose. He was the master of the semi-quantitative argument. Most scientists, especially in this day and age, are specialists who rarely venture outside their narrow areas of expertise. And it is even rarer to find scientists  in any field  who wrote with the clarity that Dunitz did. When he was later asked in an interview what led to his fondness for exceptionally clear prose, his answer was simple: I was always interested in literature, and therefore in clear expression. Which is as good a case for coupling scientific with literary training as I can think of.

Dunitz who was born in Glasgow and got his PhD there in 1947 had both the talent and the good fortune to have been trained by three of the best chemists and crystallographers of the 20th century: Linus Pauling, Dorothy Hodgkin and Leopold Ruzicka, all Nobel Laureates. In my personal opinion Dunitz himself could have easily qualified for a kind of lifetime achievement Nobel himself. While being a generalist, Dunitzs speciality was the science and art of x-ray crystallography, and few could match his acumen in the application of this tool to structural chemistry.

X-ray crystallography was developed by physicists in the first half of the 20th century to peer inside molecules, the way x-rays and MRI peer inside the human body. Just like those two techniques tell us the locations and structures of various organs in our body, x-ray crystallography tells us where the atoms in a molecule are exactly located, what the lengths of the various bonds are and what the stoichiometry  the exact composition of a complex mixture  is. If you had to point out one technique that has truly revolutionized chemistry, laying the entire chemical universe ranging from rocks and minerals to proteins and nucleic acids bare, it is x-ray crystallography. Dozens of Nobel Prizes for figuring out the structures of increasingly complex molecules, starting with table salt and progressing on through DNA, hemoglobin and the entire ribosome  the multi-component assembly that synthesizes proteins in living organisms  have been awarded through the decades.

One such Nobel Prize was given to James Watson and Francis Crick for figuring out the structure of DNA, a feat made possible by the world-class x-ray crystallography on DNA done by Rosalind Franklin and Raymond Gosling. Dunitz who got his PhD in Glasgow and was working in Oxford in 1953 saw history in the making as he and a colleague drove up to Cambridge to see the ball-and-stick model of DNA using metal plates and tubes that Watson and Crick had constructed. In fact after making a suggestion to Pauling who had figured out the fundamental structure of proteins at Caltech, Dunitz might have contributed an immortal alphabet to the language of life:

While my own work at Caltech had nothing to do with protein structure, Pauling used to talk to me occasionally about his models and what one could learn from them. In his lecture, he had talked about spirals. In conversation a few days later, I told him that for me the word spiral referred to a curve in a plane. As his polypeptide coils were three-dimensional figures, I suggested they were better described as helices. Paulings erudition did not stop at the natural sciences. He answered, quite correctly, that the words spiral and helix are practically synonymous and can be used almost interchangeably, but he thanked me for my suggestion because he preferred helix and declared that he would always use it henceforth. Perhaps he felt that by calling his structure a helix there would be less risk of confusion with the various other models that had been proposed earlier. In their 1950 short preliminary communication, Pauling and Corey wrote exclusively about spirals, but in the series of papers published the following year the spiral had already given way to the helix. There was no going back. A few years later we had the DNA double helix, not the DNA double spiral.

After seeing the power of crystallography to crack open the very structure of life, Dunitz spent the rest of his career in that field at the famed ETH in Zurich, capping an incredible 64-year-long career with his death in 2021; his last paper, written when he was 96, was appropriately a critique of certain chemical terminology and titled Bad Language.

Dunitz was truly unusual in ranging across the broad spectrum of chemical disciplines. Organic, inorganic and biological chemistry all came within his purview, aided by the powerful interdisciplinary generality of the tool of x-ray crystallography which he wielded with aplomb. Over his long career he published more than 350 scientific papers and penned several foundational books. It would be impossible to review his entire corpus, so I now review three of his papers which made a striking impression on me, which I have cited and read many times over the years, and which I think showcase his striking originality in marshaling simple models and arguments across a variety of fields.

Perhaps my favorite paper of Dunitzs is a 1997 paper titled Organic Fluorine Hardly Ever Accepts Hydrogen Bonds. Some explication is needed here. Hydrogen bonds are weak, fleeting bonds between hydrogen and other atoms which, while weak, are absolutely critical in keeping all kinds of molecules including proteins and nucleic acids together. In fact, water would not be a liquid without hydrogen bonds and life as we know it would not exist without them. It is their very transient nature that make hydrogen bonds on-demand bonds; they can be formed when needed and rapidly dissolved when no longer needed. Linus Pauling, often considered the most important chemist of the 20th century, had underscored the importance of hydrogen bonds in the 1930s in his seminal book, The Nature of the Chemical Bond. Typically hydrogen bonds are formed between hydrogen and what are called electronegative atoms, ones like oxygen and nitrogen. Electronegative atoms have a particular affinity for electrons, attracting the electron clouds of atoms like hydrogen; the most common hydrogen bonds therefore are ones between oxygen and nitrogen.

There is another element on the periodic table, a most unusual one, which should be even more powerful at forming hydrogen bonds, except that it isnt. That element is fluorine. Fluorine is in fact the most electronegative element on the periodic table, which is why we would expect it to form hydrogen bonds with furious abandon. But while inorganic fluorine found in compounds like hydrofluoric acid  a diabolically corrosive and dangerous substance  does form these hydrogen bonds, organic fluorine (fluorine bonded to carbon, that is) found in compounds like polytetrafluoroethylene  PTFE or Teflon  does not. In fact it is precisely fluorines reluctance to form hydrogen bonds with water in Teflon that makes it such an effective coating for non-stick cookware.

This behavior of fluorine is what the facts indicate, but the facts in this case dont line up well with chemical theory which expects hydrogen bonding tendencies to increase with electronegativity. Fortunately there is a big database of solved crystal structures of organic molecules that includes molecules containing fluorine; it was only waiting for the right person to come along to interpret it. Dunitzs paper was perhaps the first one to exhaustively analyze this database and then come up with a convincing chemical explanation for the counterintuitive observation that fluorine hardly ever forms hydrogen bonds. He looked at almost 6000 structures with fluorine and determined that hardly a dozen form hydrogen bonds between the fluorine and other hydrogen atoms. The details of why fluorine is reluctant to form hydrogen bonds is beyond the scope of this post (and explained in a further paper by Dunitz), but the qualitative explanation is simple: imagine that an electronegative element like oxygen has hands that pull others toward it. The problem with fluorine is that it is so electronegative that it simply keeps its hands to itself.

Even today I keep meeting chemists who, based on what seems like entirely sound chemical logic, expect fluorine to form hydrogen bonds. They recommend that one make drug molecules with fluorine that would enable them to stick better to and form hydrogen bonds with proteins that they want to block, proteins that have gone haywire in cancer, for instance. It is then that I find myself waving Dunitzs paper  sometimes literally since I still believe in paper copies  with the fervent enthusiasm of a preacher.

The second paper from Dunitz that I often highlight shows Dunitzs masterful application of simple, semi-quantitative arguments to addressing an important question. One of the most important things that scientists want to know when thinking about biological molecules like proteins is how they interact with water. All biological molecules are swimming in a vast sea of water; in fact water not just ubiquitously surrounds these molecules but is also an intimate participant in their behavior. Knowing the thermodynamics of this system  the strength of binding in particular between proteins and other molecules and water  is critical in engineering better drugs and proteins. Two factors are key in quantifying this binding: enthalpy and entropy. Roughly speaking, enthalpy concerns itself with the strength of the interactions between two molecules and entropy concerns itself with how loosely or tightly they bind, whether they stay in place or whether they jiggle around. While enthalpy is often easy to estimate, entropy is not.

In 1994, Dunitz wrote a one-page paper in the journal Science titled The Entropic Cost of Bound Water Molecules in Crystals and Biomolecules in which, using the simplest of data and arguments, he came up with a reliable number quantifying the entropy of a single water molecule binding to biological molecules. One of his strengths here which is also showcased in the fluorine paper is his ability to look at old data and come up with new explanations. He starts by looking at data on hydrates, simple salts like zinc sulfate which are surrounded by water molecules. He also looks at old data on the thermodynamics of the melting and freezing of ice which would also gives estimates on the entropy of water molecules; he points out something telling which is now a far more serious problem in our specialized world, namely that this information has been available for a long time, but science has become so specialized that its practitioners in one branch are all too often unaware of what is common knowledge in another.

How is thermodynamic information on ice, liquid water and hydrate salts relevant to what goes on with proteins? Because, as Dunitz astutely observes, this thermodynamics sets an upper limit on the entropy question for water around proteins: salts bind water molecules most tightly, so surely proteins would bind them more weakly? Using these arguments, Dunitz arrives at a value for the entropy of a bound water molecule which is now commonly used in calculations. The paper demonstrates characteristic Dunitzian strengths which should be widely emulated: scrupulous attention to existing data, including data going back decades, simple back-of-the-envelope calculations, and proof by analogy.

The last paper among Dunitzs great corpus of works is a paper which exemplifies a particularly fine example of speculative as well as interdisciplinary thinking. It questioned a fact which everyone knows but no one really thinks about: Why is body temperature for animals like humans who can maintain their temperature about 36 degrees celsius, and why is it maintained across such a huge range of organisms? As we know, unless they are sick, homeothermic animals like ourselves are very efficient at regulating body heat. An explanation provided by some previous scientists pointed to the specific heat of water. Specific heat is the amount of heat required to change the temperature of a substance by one degree. Water has a very large specific heat compared to many other substances, which is just one of many of its remarkably unusual properties. But this specific heat happens to reach its lowest value at about 36 degrees celsius, just the optimum temperature mentioned above. The previous explanation said that water at this temperature was least resistant to changes in its temperature and quickly dissipated whatever heat was added to or subtracted from it.

Dunitz and his co-author, Steven Benner, found this argument appealing, but not correct in their response, published in the journal Nature in 1986. First, they identify what seems to be an obvious but overlooked problem: the smaller the specific heat, the easier it will be to cause fluctuations in temperature, making it harder for an organism to survive, not easier. They also realize that the previous argument only applies to pure water; water in living organisms is a complex aqueous mixture consisting of water, biomolecules like proteins and salts. So what could be responsible for the precise temperature regulation? Dunitz and Benner dont pretend to know the answer, but they focus on two of waters unique properties in particular, its hydrophobicity (or tendency to repel greasy, oil-like substances) and its viscosity. As temperature rises, water becomes less viscous and therefore facilitates chemical reactions in it. However, hydrophobicity also lessens with temperature, which could lead to unwanted mingling between water and greasy substances. Dunitz and Benner speculate that a temperature of 36 degrees is a Goldilocks-like zone, one where the viscosity is low enough for chemical reactions to speedily occur but hydrophobicity is high enough to prevent greasy substances from dissolving too easily.

To me this paper is a superb example of informed speculation, not pretending to solve a problem but offering a tantalizing potential solution and gently but firmly demolishing an existing explanation. It is widely believed that life anywhere in the universe would have to be based on water. Dunitz and Brenners analysis of the temperature dependence of waters unique viscosity and hydrophobicity provides another window on why this substance is so unique for supporting life.

These three papers may serve to exemplify the range of Dunitzs contributions, and they are but a slice of his vast corpus. In another analysis, he used a purely mathematical argument about the geometry of a pentagon to predict the experimentally-verified geometry of cyclopentane, a molecule with five carbon atoms arranged in a ring. His is a textbook name in many ways, none more so than in the eponymous Burgi-Dunitz angle which describes the angle of attack of a reacting molecule and the precise geometric configuration of the reactants in an important class of organic reactions, one which has yielded great dividends of both academic and industrial interest.

Apart from scientific papers spanning a remarkable variety of topics, Dunitz also wrote books that are considered foundational in the field. Perhaps my favorite book of his is written for laymen. Reflections on Symmetry: In Chemistryand Elsewhere, written with his co-author Edgar Heilbronner, is a marvelous look at symmetry, perhaps the deepest quality of nature. Symmetry is absolutely fundamental not just for chemistry and biology but in the deepest reaches of physics, including quantum mechanics and particle physics. Dunitz and Heilbronners book is a romp through aspects of symmetry in fields as disparate as medieval mathematics, Islamic and modern art and of course, chemistry. It is a beautiful book, filled with illustrations and elegant arguments.

Jack Dunitz was one of those scientists who enrich everything they touch, across a wide range of domains, with insight, revelation and beauty. The simplicity and importance of his arguments, humility as a man and fearlessness in tackling disparate problems will be a candle that will keep lighting the minds of aspiring chemists and other scientists for eons to come.

References:

1. Detailed autobiographical piece: La Primavera.

2. Video interviews conducted by the American Chemical Society: Part 1 and Part 2.
A Republican congressman is asking the Treasury Department to explain its handling of a US insurance company that covered dozens of tanker ships suspected of carrying sanctioned Iranian oil.

Representative Zach Nunn of Iowa, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, sent a letter Thursday inquiring about New York City-based American Club. An American company reaping a profit from its involvement in insuring tankers that are transporting illicit Iranian oil to finance terrorism demands answers from this Administration, he wrote.

Nunn cited a February report by Bloomberg News showing that American Club covered 21 vessels suspected of carrying illicit Iranian oil, more than any of its 11 larger peers. The insurer had recently dropped 19 other vessels after inquiries from Nunn and Bloomberg, the report stated. The Bloomberg story was based on research by the nonprofit group United Against Nuclear Iran, which maintains a list of ships suspected of carrying the countrys crude.

The Oil Was From Iran. The Insurance Was From New York

US sanctions prohibit Western businesses from knowingly participating in sanctioned activities. But the Treasury Department, which oversees sanctions, asks insurers like American Club to go further and monitor whether ships they cover are secretly trading in sanctioned products.

Nunn asked Treasury to explain what its doing to investigate American Club and its involvement in the sale of illicit Iranian oil, as well as what the department is doing more broadly to police American businesses for sanctions compliance.

American Club has said that its compliance program is top-notch and that it would never knowingly insure a ship that violates sanctions. Our due diligence policies and procedures are known to the relevant authorities, including OFAC, and as far as we know, are accepted by those institutions, said Daniel Tadros, the companys chief operating officer, referring to Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control. We will continue to do the best job possible when it comes to due diligence investigations and to take action when necessary.

A Treasury spokesperson didnt respond to a message seeking comment.

Photograph: The impounded Iranian crude oil tanker, Grace 1, is anchored off the coast of Gibraltar on Saturday, July 20, 2019. Photo credit: Marcelo del Pozo/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Energy Oil Gas
The Indian navy said late Saturday that it had taken control of a bulk carrier hijacked by Somali pirates and evacuated the 17 crew members on the vessel.

In a statement on X, the navy said all 35 pirates on board the Maltese-flagged MV Ruen had surrendered and the vessel was checked for illegal arms, ammunition and contraband. The whole operation took about 40 hours and involved drones, navy vessels and marine commandos.

The development came after men on the bulk carrier fired at an Indian warship in international waters Friday, triggering the navy to intercept the vessel some 2,600 kilometers (1,615 miles) off the Indian coast.

Twenty Armed People Board Cargo Ship off Coast of Somalia, Security Firm Says

The vessel was first boarded by pirates Dec. 14 near the Yemeni island of Socotra, around 240 kilometers (150 miles) off Somalia.

Activity from Somali pirates has dropped in recent years, but there has been growing concern it could resume amid the political uncertainty and wider chaos in the region that has included attacks on ships by Yemens Houthi rebels.

Earlier this week, a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship with 23 crew members was hijacked by pirates off Somalia. A European Union vessel was tracking the ship, the EUs maritime security force said Wednesday.

India recently began to flex its its naval power in international waters, including anti-piracy patrols and a widely publicized deployment close to the Red Sea to help protect ships from attacks during Israels war with Hamas.

The navy has helped at least four merchant vessels that were attacked in high seas by Houthi forces. Indian forces include three guided missile destroyers and reconnaissance aircraft.

Photograph: This photograph shared by Indian navy on the X platform shows people on board the hijacked ship ex-MV Ruen, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Indian Navy on X via AP)

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Carriers
Agile Underwriting Services has received in-principle approval from Lloyds to create Agile Syndicate 2427, subject to regulatory approvals. Syndicate 2427 will be established under the syndicate-in-a-box (SIAB) framework and be managed by Asta through its third-party managing agency platform at Lloyds.

Syndicate 2427 is targeting commencement of underwriting from April 2024, subject to approval.

Agile anticipates writing 34.1 million of gross written premium for the 2024 year of account, rising to 62.1 million for the 2026 year of account, with key growth areas being liability, professional indemnity, accident and health, property, and travel.

Through the syndicate, Agile plans to leverage its market position as a successful MGA to access niche and SME business written in the domestic APAC market, bringing this business to Lloyds. It plans to position the syndicate alongside its existing binders, maintaining its existing successful relationships with strong market leaders while bringing local expertise and tech distribution.

Formed in 2015 as an Australian coverholder and insurtech, Agile distributes its Powered by Agile platform free to brokers, enabling them to build digital strategies and brands to grow their business online. By eliminating process friction, Agile offers access to micro premiums, improving efficiency for schemes, associations, and personal/SME policies. Agile syndicate 2427s technological infrastructure enables it to adjust premium volumes, thereby taking advantage of market hardening in a way that limits strain on its expense base.

Mark Hunt will be appointed active underwriter. Hunt has a 40-year underwriting pedigree, having commenced his career at Syndicate 386, before moving to help establish Syndicate 1156. He was also deputy active underwriter of Syndicate 2525. More recently, he held senior underwriting management roles at Zurich Australia across all classes and segments.

Through syndicate 2427, we will facilitate access to geographies and market niches that the Lloyds market is currently unable to write affordably, commented Robin Barham, CEO of Agile. Lloyds industry-leading position, excellent reputation and licenses, combined with Astas unrivalled experience and expertise as our managing agent, make them ideal partners for us to deliver future growth.

APAC represents a significant opportunity for the Lloyds market. Innovative offerings like Agile Syndicate 2427, benefit the market greatly and their ability to underwrite at Lloyds as a SIAB is exactly what the SIAB model, in partnership with our third-party management capabilities, was designed to enable, according to Lorraine Harfitt, CEO of Asta. We look forward to working with the team and assisting them in reaching their full growth potential.

About Agile and Asta

Based in Sydney, Agile Underwriting Services Pty Ltd. is a Lloyds coverholder and insurtech that underwrites a range of retail and commercial classes in the Australian and Pacific region. Agiles digital team provides retail brokers access to over 50 products and combining quote, bind, documentation, payment and reporting functions into one efficient platform. The system allows brokers to build and manage their digital distribution business by accessing automated underwriting for niche products.

Asta Managing Agency Ltd is a leading third-party managing agent at Lloyds and is responsible for 11 syndicates, six SIABs and one special purpose arrangement (SPA) with capacity under management in 2024 of more than 2.5 billion.

Source: Agile and Asta

Topics Excess Surplus Underwriting Lloyd's
Miller Named Vice President, IT for Farmers Alliance Companies

Farmers Alliance Companies, headquartered in Mcpherson, Kansas, promoted Brad Miller to vice president, information technology (IT). As vice president, and a member of the corporate leadership team, Miller will continue to work closely with leadership to enhance execution and delivery of products, services and technology to respond to current and future company needs.

Miller joined Farmers Alliance in 2001 and has held various leadership positions in data and technology. He was promoted to director of IT in 2021 and continues these responsibilities with his recent promotion.

Topics Agribusiness
Six defendants will stand trial on charges alleging the group operated an auto insurance fraud scheme targeting Michigan residents involved in automobile collisions, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and Anita Fox, Director of the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services announced last week.

It is alleged that, beginning in 2013, Michael Angelo, of New Jersey, ran a lawyer hotline, 1-800-USLawyer, and funneled auto accident callers into an elaborate insurance fraud scheme, directing the callers to one or several of the many medical enterprises owned or controlled by Angelo.

The referred caller allegedly would be directed through a predetermined protocol of office visits, device and injection treatments, medication prescriptions, and drug screenings, physical therapy sessions and diagnostic imaging all performed within Angelos network of enterprises or those operated by coconspirators. It is alleged that each business then billed the no-fault auto insurance carriers (or the Michigan Assigned Claims Plan for the uninsured patients) for the respective treatments.

Angelo, 61, faces one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, a 20-year felony, as well as three counts of insurance fraud.

Mohammed Ali Abraham, 70, of Dearborn Heights; Michael Angelo, 61, of Springfield, N.J.; Hassan Fayad, 37, of Dearborn; Robert Presley, 49, of Ferndale; Thomas Quartz, 36, of Grosse Ile; and Chitra Sinha, 80, of Bloomfield, also face counts of conducting a criminal enterprise and insurance fraud.

After a lengthy, comprehensive investigation, we are pleased this case is moving forward in court. We appreciate our partnership with the Attorney General to investigate insurance fraud and hold those responsible accountable for their actions, said DIFS Director Anita Fox.

Topics Auto Fraud Numbers Michigan
A U.S. appeals court on Friday temporarily paused new rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requiring public companies to report climate-related risks.

The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request from Liberty Energy Inc. and Nomad Proppant Services LLC to put the rules on hold while it considers the oilfield companies lawsuit challenging them.

The 5th Circuit did not explain the reasoning behind the order. It was the first court action on a flurry of lawsuits filed over the rules since the SEC approved them March 6.

The rules aim to standardize climate-related company disclosures about greenhouse gas emissions, weather-related risks and how companies are preparing for the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Related: SEC Drops Some Emissions Disclosure Requirements From Draft Climate Rules

The SEC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

First proposed in 2022, the rules are part of Democratic President Joe Bidens efforts to leverage federal agency rulemaking to address climate change threats.

The companies said in court filings that the rules would force companies to collectively spend over $4 billion in compliance costs and could open companies up to increased litigation.

They argued the rules go beyond the SECs authority under U.S. securities law, and that they are a thinly veiled attempt to inject the SEC into climate policy by requiring disclosure of a breathtaking volume of information about greenhouse gas emissions and other climate concerns.

On Wednesday, the SEC told the 5th Circuit that a pause was unnecessary, since the rules have extended compliance deadlines that do not require disclosures before March 2026. The agency said any potential harm to the companies is therefore not imminent.

The agency also said the rules fit comfortably within its authority to require disclosure of information important to investors, and that they would provide consistent, comparable and reliable information about climate risks.

At least 25 Republican-led states including West Virginia, Texas and Ohio and major business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have challenged the rules in court, including in the 5th, 6th, 8th and 11th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals.

The Sierra Club, one of the largest environmental advocacy groups in the U.S., has meanwhile challenged the rules in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, arguing they do not go far enough to protect investors.

It is unclear whether the 5th Circuit or one of the other courts will ultimately hear the challenges, since the cases are expected to be consolidated and the venue picked via a lottery.

Topics USA
Apple Inc. lost a bid to dismiss a lawsuit alleging that its AirTag devices help stalkers track their victims.

US District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco ruled Friday that three plaintiffs in the class-action suit had made sufficient claims for negligence and product liability, though he dismissed the others.

About three dozen women and men who filed the suit alleged that Apple was warned of the risks posed by its AirTags and argued the company could be legally blamed under California law when the tracking devices are used for misconduct.

In the three claims that survived, the plaintiffs allege that, when they were stalked, the problems with the AirTags safety features were substantial, and that those safety defects caused their injuries, Chhabria wrote.

Apple had argued it designed the AirTag with industry-first safety measures and shouldnt be held responsible when the product is misused.

Apple may ultimately be right that California law did not require it to do more to diminish the ability of stalkers to use AirTags effectively, but that determination cannot be made at this early stage, the judge wrote in allowing the three plaintiffs to pursue their claims.

A spokesperson for the company didnt immediately return an email requesting comment on the ruling.

Apple was accused in the case of negligently releasing the AirTag despite warnings by advocacy groups and others that the product would be re-purposed for surveillance. With a price point of just $29 it has become the weapon of choice of stalkers and abusers, according to the complaint.

Apple developed a feature that alerts users when an AirTag might be tracking them, but that and other safety measures arent enough, according to the suit.

Tile Inc. is facing similar allegations that its tracking devices connected to Amazon.com Inc.s Bluetooth network lack adequate protections against stalking.

The case is Hughes v. Apple, Inc., 3:22-cv-07668, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits California
Meta Platforms Inc. lost its second court ruling this week seeking to stop the Federal Trade Commissions reopening a 2020 privacy settlement over allegations that the company breached the terms.

In a ruling Thursday, US District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington denied Metas request for a preliminary injunction to pause the FTC proceedings while a lawsuit over their constitutionality is ongoing. Meta is appealing. Moss on Friday ordered the FTC proceedings be put on hold until March 22.

In his opinion, Moss wrote that if the FTC is correct on its claim that Meta is putting consumer privacy at risk, that it would be in the public interest for the proceeding to move forward. Moss called Metas argument that it would face irreparable harm without preliminary relief exceedingly weak.

On Tuesday, in a separate case, a three-judge appeals panel in Washington also denied Metas request for a preliminary injunction to pause the FTC proceedings.

Last year, the FTC said that Meta has violated its earlier settlement, which required the company to pay a $5 billion penalty and make changes to its internal privacy checks. The agency initiated an internal proceeding to modify the settlement seeking to ban Meta from using facial recognition tools or monetizing childrens data. The company has filed a series of legal challenges with the FTC, including the case before Moss, which alleges the agencys structure and proceedings are unconstitutional.

Metas lawsuit alleges that the FTC violates due process by acting as both prosecutor and judge in administrative proceedings, relying on a decision by the Supreme Court last year that companies can go straight to federal court to challenge the constitutionality of some proceedings.

The Justice Department, which is representing the FTC in the case, has asked Moss to dismiss Metas challenge. Moss wrote that he would hold off for now on tossing Metas lawsuit even though the FTCs arguments carry considerable  and, indeed, overwhelming  force. He noted that he would like to wait until the Supreme Court decides a case later this year over the Securities and Exchange Commissions use of in-house judges.

Photo: Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
An Illinois jury has ordered Reckitt Benckiser unit Mead Johnson to pay $60 million to the mother of a premature baby who died of an intestinal disease after being fed the companys Enfamil baby formula.

The jury in an Illinois state court in St. Clair County on Wednesday found that Mead Johnson was negligent and that it failed to warn of the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The disease, which causes the death of bowel tissue, mostly affects premature newborns and has a fatality rate of about 15% to 40%.

The $60 million verdict includes compensation for plaintiff Jasmine Watsons loss and grief, and for the pain and suffering of her baby, Chance Dean. Reckitt Benckiser said on Friday it would pursue all options to have the verdict overturned.

The verdict comes in the first trial out of hundreds of lawsuits claiming that various Enfamil and Abbott Laboratories Similac formulas caused NEC.

According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, there is evidence that formula increases the risk of NEC in premature infants compared w0th breast milk.

This verdict confirms what Mead Johnson has known for years: cows-milk based baby formula causes NEC in preterm infants, often with fatal consequences, Ben Whiting, a lawyer for Watson, said in a statement.

Mead Johnson said in a statement that it was disappointed with the verdict and would appeal it.

We continue to believe that the allegations from the plaintiffs lawyers in this case were not supported by the science or experts in the medical community, it said.

More than 400 NEC lawsuits against Mead Johnson and Abbott are pending in federal court in Chicago, and others, like Watsons are in state courts.

Plaintiffs in the cases say that the companies concealed the fact that their formula, including products made specifically for premature infants and others, was riskier than alternatives like donor milk.

The companies have denied the allegations.

The NEC lawsuits are separate from ongoing litigation against Abbott over the shutdown of its Sturgis, Michigan, plant and subsequent recall of batches of baby formula for possible contamination, which contributed to a nationwide formula shortage in 2022.

Abbott has denied that it distributed tainted formula.
Full-time Florida residents and snowbirds arent the only ones having trouble obtaining insurance on their condominiums. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York Mayor and longtime attorney for Donald Trump, has told a bankruptcy judge that he cant afford to pay premiums on his Palm Beach condo.

Thats not good enough for some creditors who say Giuliani, facing a $148 million defamation judgment against him, should take immediate steps to protect the property until it can be sold. Creditors filed a motion last week, asking the judge for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Southern New York to force Giuliani to sell the condo and insure it in the meantime.

The Debtor has chosen to avail himself of the protections of the Bankruptcy Code to obtain a breathing spell from his creditors, but in return he must exercise due care in protecting his assets and avoiding loss, since these are the assets that he, as a debtor in possession, is holding in trust for his creditors, reads the motion by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors.

The Committee respectfully requests that this Court compel the Debtor to take all necessary steps to sell the Florida Condo and obtain homeowners insurance in order to preserve and protect estate resources and abide by his duty to maximize the value of the estate for the benefit of his creditors, the motion continues.

A hearing date of April 4 has been proposed to consider the motion.

The condo at South Lake Drive is valued at $3.5 million, according to Giulianis asset listing in bankruptcy court, although the local tax assessor says its more like $3 million, according to news reports. The creditors argue that the condo, less than mile from the Atlantic Ocean, is one of Giulianis most valuable assets. The Internal Revenue Service also had filed a lien on the property, seeking almost $550,000 in unpaid income taxes. The former Trump adviser has indicated hes agreed to pay the taxes he owes, news outlets have reported.

Giuliani filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December after he was hit with the $148 million verdict for defaming two Georgia election workers that he claimed had committed fraud during the counting of 2020 presidential election ballots. Now, he has said he has few assets available and cannot pay property insurance premiums on the Palm Beach spread.

The court filings did not indicate the level of premiums Giuliani could be facing on the property, or which insurers may have written the condo in previous years. It would be difficult to estimate what premiums might be, without knowing square footage, contents and coverage limits, but theyre probably near the high end for luxury properties, said Matt Mercier, national director for community associations for CBIZ, an insurance advisory firm.

Giuliani is far from alone in struggling with soaring insurance costs in the distressed Florida condo insurance market. Some insurance brokers and condo association representatives this year implored the Florida Legislature to allow the state-created Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to write condominiums that include short-term rental units. Many insurers have cut back drastically on HO-6 policy limits while premiums have more than quadrupled for some associations.

Allstate Insurances Florida unit, Castle Key Indemnity, recently raised condo rates almost 54% on average, in a use-and-file filing that regulators are still contemplating. At least one new carrier, part of HCI Group, has been approved to enter the condo market this year.

The Citizens-coverage-for-second-homes bill did not pass in the Florida legislative session that closed March 9. But under another measure, if signed by the governor, surplus lines insurers can soon make takeout offers on Citizens policies that cover second homes in Florida. Its also possible that Giuliani could reduce his condo premiums if his association participates in a new wind-mitigation pilot program expected to be signed into law in the next few weeks.

By law, Giulianis creditors may be unable to force him to sell his primary residence in New York, although that space also needs insurance coverage, creditors said. But the committee of creditors has argued that his Florida condo is used less than 30% of the time, making it a non-primary residence and fair game to be sold (but insured in the meantime).

Giuliani may have little choice in coming weeks. The U.S. bankruptcy code and guidelines require that the debtor maintain appropriate insurance coverage equal to the fair-market value of the condo. Otherwise, the court must convert the property or dismiss the Chapter 11 filing, the creditors argued in their motion.

As property of the estate, the value of the Florida Condo ultimately will be distributed to the Debtors creditors, the filing notes. As a result, it is merely a matter of when, not if, the Debtor will have to sell the Florida Condo in order to distribute the proceeds thereof to creditors in satisfaction of their claims.

Besides taxes, Giuliani owes millions to his attorneys, accountants, plaintiffs in lawsuits against him, including voting machine companies that he allegedly defamed, and others, court documents show. He also owes about $16,000 in condo association fees, the filings show.

Photo: Giulianis condo building in Palm Beach (Google Streetview)

Topics Florida New York
Hong Kong: Polar research exhibition opens

The Science Museum today opened the "Polar Research & Climate Change" exhibition to showcase the mission and achievements of China's polar exploration icebreaker Xuelong 2. Admission is free.

Announcing the opening of the exhibition, which runs until June 26, the Leisure & Cultural Services Department said Xuelong 2 is China's first domestically built medium-sized icebreaker and the world's first icebreaker to adopt bidirectional icebreaking technology.

It added that the icebreaker's commissioning has equipped China to lead large-scale polar expeditions and enhanced the countrys capabilities of investigation and research in polar marine environments.

The department also noted that the exhibition has replicated the design of Xuelong 2 to allow visitors to feel as if they have boarded the vessel and learn about China's development of polar research.

In addition to watching videos of ice breaking in the polar regions inside the replica vessel, visitors can view highlight exhibits such as the 1:100 scale model of Xuelong 2 and specimens collected directly from polar regions.

They can also learn about the features and research topics of the scientific observation and research stations in China, the geography and wildlife of the North and South Pole as well as the climate change situation.

Members of the public will be able to gain a deeper understanding of polar research through the exhibition and reflect on how to reduce their carbon footprint in daily life, combating the challenge of climate change.

Speaking at the exhibitions opening ceremony, Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan highlighted that climate change is a prevailing global challenge.

He noted that human activities have increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, leading to a rise in the global temperature, and it is polar research work that helps scientists understand the impacts and causes of climate change, which is crucial for predicting future climate change.

After completing their latest Antarctic expedition early next month, Xuelong 2 and its polar research team will make Hong Kong their first port of entry on the return journey to the country.

The vessel is expected to dock at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, offering the public an opportunity to visit the advanced polar research facilities onboard. Its crew and scientists will join a sharing session with Hong Kong students at the Science Museum on April 10, the department added.

This story has been published on: 2024-03-18. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler fined Molina Healthcare of Washington $100,000 on Tuesday for errors in the companys enrollment and billing system.

Kreidlers office opened a review of Molinas enrollment and billing system in 2021 after a significant increase in consumer complaints against the company. That included two complaints about claims for pre-authorized services being denied, according to Kreidlers office.

Molina transitioned to a third-party enrollment and premium billing platform in April of 2021 to address an increase in enrollment through the Washington State Health Benefits Exchange. Prior to the change, Molina identified several issues with its billing system  including sending incorrect invoices to nearly 2,000 people and incorrectly terminating coverage for 22 members.

The company continued to experience issues with enrollment and billing after the change; 2,309 members account balances were lower than the amount shown on their invoices; 55 members were erroneously terminated for non-payment; 259 transactions werent fully loaded into the system, which led to incorrect premium balances, according to Kreidlers office.

After the OICs examination, Molina identified another 42 claims for pre-approved services that were denied due to issues with the claims processing system.

Molina has been operating as a health maintenance organization in Washington since 1985.

Kreidler has assessed more than $40 million in fines, which are directed to the states general fund to pay for state services.

Topics Washington
Mike Lynch, the wealthy tech founder once hailed as Britain's answer to Steve Jobs, oversaw a "multiyear, multilayered fraud" that lured Hewlett-Packard into paying $11bn (10.1bn) for his software company Autonomy, prosecutors told a US jury in California at the beginning of his criminal trial.

Mr Lynch "spun a fabulous tale" about the company's finances, prosecutor Adam Reeves said in federal court in San Francisco.

"HP ate it up  they thought this kind of software company is exactly what they needed," Mr Reeves said.

Mr Lynch has pleaded not guilty, having always denied the allegations of wrongdoing. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in jail. Autonomy co-founder Lynch and former finance executive Stephen Chamberlain are accused of scheming to inflate the company's revenue, starting in 2009 and ending with HP's disastrous acquisition of the company in 2011.

After the deal, HP wrote down the value of the British company by $8.8bn a year, saying it had uncovered serious accounting improprieties.

Prosecutors accuse Mr Lynch and Mr Chamberlain of padding Autonomy's finances through backdated agreements and "roundtrip" deals that fronted cash to customers through fake contracts. Part of the purpose was to entice buyers like HP, prosecutors said.

At the trial scheduled to run into late May, jurors may hear from dozens of witnesses, including Leo Apotheker, the former HP chief executive who was fired weeks after the Autonomy deal was announced.

Mr Lynch's attorneys have said in court that he is considering testifying in his own defence at the trial, where he faces 16 counts of fraud and conspiracy. Mr Chamberlain faces 15 counts. Both men are presumed innocent. The 12-person jury must reach a unanimous verdict to find either of them guilty.

Autonomy's implosion launched more than a decade of legal battles for Mr Lynch. HP substantially won a civil lawsuit against him and Sushovan Hussain, Autonomy's former chief financial officer, in London in 2022, and it is seeking $4bn in damages.

Hussain was separately convicted on US charges in 2018. Months later, prosecutors brought charges against Mr Lynch and Mr Chamberlain. Mr Lynch fought his extradition, but was ultimately brought to the US to face the charges after Britain's High Court refused him permission to appeal last year.

US District Judge Charles Breyer, who is overseeing the trial, granted Lynch bail secured by a $100m bond, but restricted him to a home in San Francisco under 24-hour guard. Mr Lynch's attorney has said in court that his net worth is around $450m.

Mr Hussain was convicted on 16 counts at a jury trial before Judge Breyer in 2018. He was released from prison in January after serving a five-year sentence.

In the civil lawsuit, a British judge ruled in January 2022 that Lynch had masterminded an elaborate fraud to inflate the value of Autonomy, meaning the Silicon Valley company substantially succeeded in its civil case.

Mr Lynch had said HP did not know what it was doing with Autonomy, and was out of its depth in understanding his technology.

Reuters
Industry group European Aluminium wants the EU to impose sanctions on aluminium supplied from Russia, but not on EU-based companies such as the giant Aughinish operation in the Shannon Estuary that are owned by Rusal.

The group has been lobbying the EU for a ban on Russian-origin aluminium over its invasion of Ukraine. So far, sanctions have not been imposed but they are still on the agenda.

The Aughinish operation, which employs up to 500 people at its Co Limerick base, has long been in the eye of the storm over Western sanctions.

Its owner Rusal is based in Moscow and owns an extensive network of mining operations, refineries, and smelters that produce the raw materials and finished aluminium products used extensively in everything from construction to making electric cars by European companies.

"The principle behind EU sanctions has been to try and do as much as possible to undermine the Russian war machine without creating harm to European industrial and, by extension, societal interests," European Aluminium director general Paul Voss said.

"In a perfect world, we would say we don't need any of Rusal's material and take a firm moral position regardless of the practical consequences. But European governments do not and cannot afford to reason that way. They have to be pragmatic," according to the industry group.

Even before the invasion of Ukraine, the US had imposed sanctions on Rusal in Russia, but EU-based businesses such as Aughinish, although facing major disruption, have so far been reprieved.

Aughinish disrupted

Still, Aughinish has been disrupted because of US and EU sanctions on other parts of Rusal.

In earnings last week, Rusal said its 2023 results had been hit by the "unprecedented regime of external restrictions and supply chain disruptions, as well as a significant drop in aluminium prices".

Global revenues slid to $12.2bn (11.2bn) from $13.9bn in 2022. The release did not specify Aughinish or other EU-based operations but showed sales to Europe contributed $3.4bn of the $12.2bn in revenues.

"In this environment, the company continued to focus on securing its independence in raw materials supplies, restructuring its export sales channels, developing the domestic market, and implementing its investment programme based on the fundamental principles of sustainable development and social responsibility, and aimed at ensuring the companys continuous operation and further development," the Moscow company said.

But Aughinish is only part of a huge global network and Rusal's operations employ 59,500 people in Russia, Guinea, Jamaica, and Sweden, and in many other locations.

Bauxite is converted into alumina, a raw material to make aluminium used by companies in construction and packaging.

The EU currently has bans in place on aluminium wire, foil, tubes and pipes manufactured in Russia.

But aluminium exports including primary metal, accounting for 85% of the total "remain outside the scope of the measures", the group said last year.

EU imports of Russian primary aluminium have dropped since 2018, when the US imposed sanctions on Rusal, but they are still significant.

 Additional reporting Reuters
Saudi Aramco chief executive Amin Nasser has said the global energy transition is visibly failing on most fronts as proponents overlook the impacts on consumers dependent on cheap, reliable fuels.

In remarks at the opening day of the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston, Mr Nasser, boss of the world's largest oil producer, lamented the way the oil industry has been painted as the transitions arch enemy".

Mr Nasser also predicted that a peak in worldwide oil demand is unlikely for some time to come, let alone by the 2030 benchmark laid out by some policymakers and executives.

He sees crude demand reaching an all-time high during the second half of this year, with significant growth potential in developing countries. Solar and wind supply less than 4% of the worlds energy supply, on a combined basis, and electric-vehicle penetration is less than 3%, according to Mr Nasser. On the other hand, natural gas is still a mainstay, with demand growing by roughly 70% since the start of the century.

Without government subsidies, electric vehicles are as much as 50% more expensive than internal-combustion cars, he added. They cannot be subsidised forever, he said.

The remarks come as Saudi Arabia pushes ahead with a secondary share sale in Aramco, the worlds biggest oil producer. The Saudis plan to hire JPMorgan Chase as one of the main underwriters to the Aramco offering, with Bank of America and Morgan Stanley also contending for lead roles on the deal.

The latest offering could raise as much as $20bn (18.4bn), becoming one of the largest deals of its kind in recent years. Local investment banks Riyad Capital and SNB Capital have previously received approvals from the Saudi regulator to conduct market-making activities on Aramco shares.

Bloomberg
Apple has rejected criticism that it is not fully complying with the EU Digital Market Act (DMA) which forced the company to open up parts of its iPhone operating system within the bloc.

At a hearing organised by the European Commission, Apple told developers, business users, and tech rivals that they are complying with the law in a way that was consistent with our values.

The company recently announced a series of changes to its iPhone operating systems to comply with the DMA which included allowing developers to distribute their apps to EU users outside of the Apple App Store.

Its changes had been criticised by a number of its rivals, including Spotify and Microsoft, since they were first announced.

Speaking at the hearing, Apples lawyer Kyle Andeer said the company focused on the user perspective when implementing these changes.

We'll be tracking very carefully what's the impact of all of these different changes on the user experience that we've delivered to our customers for 15, 16 years through the iPhone, he said.

The DMA sets out a list of obligations and prohibitions for which large tech companies had until March 7 to abide by. Companies that fail to comply with the DMA risk investigations that can lead to fines of as much as 10% of their global annual turnover.

Facebook and Instagram parent company, Meta, is due to present its compliance efforts on Tuesday with other tech companies such as Amazon, Google, and Microsoft due to present later in the week.

All this comes as Bloomberg reports that Apple is in talks to build Google's Gemini artificial intelligence engine into the iPhone, citing people familiar with the situation.

The negotiations are about licensing Gemini for some new features coming to the iPhone software this year adding that the terms or branding of an AI agreement or how it would be implemented have not been decided.

It is unlikely that any deal would be announced until June, when Apple plans to hold its annual conference of developers, and the iPhone-maker also recently held talks with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI about using its model, according to the report.

A potential deal between the firms could help Google expand the use of its AI services to more than two billion active Apple devices, boosting the search giant's efforts to catch up with Microsoft-backed OpenAI.

Read More Big Tech in the crosshairs of European market and data regulators

Reuters
Now, the filmmakers dream has become a reality. Starring Maids Margaret Qualley and The Beanie Bubbles Geraldine Viswanathan as leading lesbians Jamie and Marian, Drive-Away Dolls represents a new frontier in queer cinema, one that caters to, as Coen puts it, an under-served audience for stupid gay movies.

Written and directed by Coen brother Ethan  who, along with his brother Joel, made films such as Fargo, The Big Lebowski and No Country For Old Men  and co-written with his wife, film editor and producer Tricia Cooke, Drive-Away Dolls tells a raucous story of a road trip gone wrong.

We meet the girls at a point where, frankly, their lives arent going great. Free-spirited Jamie, played by Qualley, has just been kicked out of her apartment by her girlfriend Sukie, played by Beanie Feldstein, because of her infidelity, and upon hearing that her serious, strait-laced friend Marian, played by Viswanathan, is planning a trip to Tallahassee, Florida, she decides to join her.

They sign up with a drive-away car agency, securing a free one-way rental to the Sunshine State, and off they go. However, it turns out that theyve mistakenly been given a car thats already been booked by someone else  a criminal gang, no less  and it contains mysterious cargo thats part of their illegal dealings.

The girls fun trip to Florida, complete with stop-offs at lesbian bars, BBQ joints and weird roadside attractions, becomes more complicated with some goons on their tail  but the loot theyre pursuing might just be something beyond their wildest imaginations.

A scene from Drive-Away Dolls.

The film is full of dirty comedy, making it not one for the faint-hearted, but Qualley and Viswanathan loved playing with the filthy humour.

It was really fun to lean into the comedy. We had a great time, says Qualley, 29.

I was lucky to work with a comedy veteran like Geraldine, shes absolutely brilliant Shes the best. So I felt really lucky to be dipping my toe into the comedy waters in the presence of Geraldine Viswanathan!

I think Im so accustomed to this dirty, nasty humour, adds Australian actress Viswanathan, 28.

Ive done a lot of comedies where penises are a central element she teases.

Thats sort of my North Star, if you will! For Coen, Drive-Away Dolls is all animated by a sense of fun, written through an informal process centred around amusement, creating wacky characters and zany storylines with lots of dirty humour.

Its the kind of movie where we can entertain ourselves while were talking about it, writing it scene to scene, and were free to do kind of whatever, the 66-year-old director explains.

Its all liberating and fun and conducive to humour, just the kind of movie it is. Liberating fun was exactly what Cooke, who identifies as queer, wanted to achieve with the film.

We relish happy queer cinema, says the 58-year-old, whos worked on many of the Coen brothers films.

Its all important. I mean, were a marginalised community, so its really important that we get as many stories out there as we can.

When we were writing it, back in the early 2000s, it would fill a gap because there just werent that many. Most of the lesbian stories were tragic, didnt have happy endings, and werent light hearted, which this is meant to be they werent silly. Now theres been a foundation set, adds Qualley.

Theres been movies made about coming out, or about the gay experience, and I feel like because part of the wound has been addressed  from my understanding  theres a whole other conversation you can have. A whole new world has been opened up.

So this film feels very celebratory, and as Ethan (has) said, unimportantly important.

Its silly, its ridiculous; I think, probably, without the history of the last 20 years in cinema  in gay cinema, specifically  (we) probably wouldnt be able to have this movie.

Tricia Cooke and Ethan Coen. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Cooke drew from her own life and experiences for creating the central characters in Drive-Away Dolls  both the free-wheeling Jamie and the uptight Marian.

The Jamie character is based on a close friend of mine, that kind of balls-to-the-wall free spirit and promiscuity came from someone that is very close to me, she explains.

And then we wanted to come up with a character who was the yin to that yang. Ethan will say that the repressed Marian is based on him, but I dont know!

We wanted to create two interesting, strong female characters. And the kind of embracing (of) a sexual world was really important to us, to be able to put women, lesbians, having sex that was fun and a little free was important to us.

The stars agree that Cookes influence was tangible throughout the film. While Drive-Away Dolls undoubtedly has that Coen energy that fans will recognise and enjoy, Cooke was instrumental to the project, Viswanathan says.

I think her lived experience of lesbian bars in the 90s so much of this is infused with Tricias life and perspective, says the star.

And Ethan really just supported a lot of that, and they collaborated, but I feel like its a whole lot of Trish. My understanding is that Ethan made this both with and for Trish, adds Qualley.

I think thats so true, says Viswanathan.

A love letter to Trish.

Drive-Away Dolls is in cinemas now
Six-time Paralympic champion Jason Smyth has been crowned the winner of the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars.

The visually impaired sprinter lifted the glitterball trophy alongside partner Karen Byrne in the grand finale this St Patrick's Day.

The 36-year-old Derry native, who has less than 10% vision, said his participation in the show has been about "showing what's possible".

He thanked his wife for the "sacrifices" she made to allow him to do the show, and his pro dancer Karen.

Tonight, each celebrity reprised a previous dance of the judges choosing, along with a spectacular showdance.

Earlier in the night, Jason had reprised his samba again from week seven, and delivered a highly emotional showdance.

For the Judges' Choice samba, head judge Loraine Barry had said: "I can not believe how much you have improved."

He scored 28 for his samba, including a 10 from Loraine, his highest score to date.

Paralympian Jason Smyth with his Partner Karen Byrne. Picture: Kyran OBrien /kobpix

But the real standout tonight was his stunning showdance, where his partner Karen Byrne danced a portion of the performance blindfolded.

Smyth has received praise throughout the competition for his outstanding performances given the extra challenge he faced, and tonight the judges took the opportunity to thank him for what he has brought to the competition.

This was absolutely magical from Jason and Karen  #dwtsirl pic.twitter.com/l1c5pRGU5X  RTE One (@RTEOne) March 17, 2024

Your journey isnt about what youve learned, its about what youve taught us," judge Brian Redmond said, adding that the "real magician" for him the past couple of months has been his pro dancer Karen.

"Shes supported you, shes nurtured you, shes cared for you, shes never treated you like someone who cant, shes treated you like someone who can, thats what has made that magic happen.

Meanwhile, Loraine said: "For me tonight, this was an exhibition and lesson for all of us, for what you can do in life.

An emotional Arthur Gourounlian said, Jason.. Wow, wow, wow. You have gone the distance. I am so emotional because youve put everything into this dance.

On behalf of everyone.. Jason thank you for inspiring us.

He scored his first perfect score of 30.

How did the other finalists fare?

Laura Fox and Denys Samson

Radio and TV Presenter Laura Fox impressed with both routines.

The RTE star was asked by the judges to perform her very first dance, the jive, once again in tonight's final.

When she performed it in week one, the judges felt the energy slipped as the routine went on, but tonight? She "absolutely smashed it," head judge Loraine Barry decreed.

"It was all there," she said, while Brian saluted Laura's "energy and power". It was 10s across the board.

And her showdance earned another perfect score of 30.

A star is born," Arthur Gourounlian said. "You're on fire tonight. This dance was the cherry on the top.

Speaking to an emotional Laura, Brian said the RTE broadcaster was somebody he believed young woman should look up to.

"Your focus, your determination... it's what has got you this far, he said.

David and Salome

Wild Youth Frontman David Whelan earned two perfect scores tonight.

Wild Youth frontman David Whelan was asked to dance his Pulp Fiction inspired jive again tonight.

"Every step was as tight as John Travoltas trousers," Brian commented.

This is truly off the charts, Loraine said, calling it a blockbuster.

Arthur concurred, calling it perfection".

I couldnt take my eyes off you," he said. It was a perfect score of 30.

His showdance later in the night was declared "breathtaking," by head judge Loraine.

Arthur called it "incredible" and thanked Salome for her "outstanding choreography" throughout the series.

It was another perfect score of 30.

Blu and Simone

'Ru Paul's Drag Race' champion Blu Hydrangea completed her time in the competition with an outstanding showdance.

Blu Hydrangea received perfect points for their Contemporary Ballroom to 'Tattoo' by Loreen from week five.

In the initial performance, Blu's mic had come loose, but tonight it was perfect, and she scored 30.

The drag queen from Belfast rounded-off the night's performances with a showdance to 'I Am What I Am' from the musical, La Cage aux Folles.

Arthur called it, "colourful, creative and camp," while Brian said: "Im glad you are what you are".

Loraine said the dance showed the confidence partner Simone had in Blu "to pull off a Broadway number.

Speaking after the performance, a highly emotional Blu said: People like us arent always accepted... to dance that on RTE One in front of all these people... to that song... it just felt right.

She finished her time in the competition with another perfect score of 30.
All too often the word 'accommodation' conjures a feeling of anxiety these days  whether it's someone looking for somewhere to live or somewhere to stay for a holiday.

Take the cost and the supply (or lack of it) and theres little joy to be found for a lot of people.

Irish staycationers and international visitors have been left astounded by the price of some hotels in recent years with some having to fork out hundreds per night for a standard room. It kind of takes the fun out of a holiday when you fear the trip may just bankrupt you.

But there are people around the country who are getting creative and finding solutions where few would think to look. They are offering a more sustainable option for tourists while breathing new life into disused spaces.

Whether it is a double-decker bus or a horse truck, you can be sure you will remember the experience of staying at one of these holiday homes.

Jamie Duff converted a horse truck into a cosy tiny home in Ashbourne, County Meath

Saddle up for a great stay

Renting out a converted horse box probably isnt what 23-year-old Jamie Duff had pictured himself doing while he was studying Multimedia at DCU but he couldnt be happier with where he has ended up.

The idea to buy and convert the horse truck came from his own love of travel and quirky experiences.

When they graduated from college, Jamie and his girlfriend, Martha Constantine, decided to try vanlife  living in a converted van and travelling around Europe.

The front yard of Jamie Duff's Ashbourne, Co Meath home

On his return, Jamie realised that he wanted to be able to offer others the same fun experience of staying somewhere a little out of the ordinary and he wanted to challenge himself: Staying in Ireland, finding all the hidden gems, and enjoying a unique stay rather than going abroad is something I love so much so I knew other people would enjoy it as well.

Working on converting the van that became his home for 10 months gave Jamie the confidence to take on a bigger project.

With the help of Google and YouTube, as well as some real-life friends, Jamie was able to convert a shabby horse truck into a modern, stylish, and comfortable home away from home in just nine months.

A glutton for punishment, the Meath native entered new territory when he added an outdoor decking area which includes a bar and a hot tub.

The hot-tub of Jamie Duff's tiny home

Jamie is quite rightly proud of what he has built and the feedback from guests has only added to the feeling of accomplishment.

Its a funny feeling having people stay in something that youve created, and they have a great time. Its such a nice feeling when they say theyve enjoyed it or they want to come back, he says.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Jamie is already eyeing up his next project. He tells me that the search for the next truck is underway, and he hopes to start work in the new year.

Jamie Duff's tiny-home kitchen

With Ashbourne only a stones throw from Dublin, offering a unique stay to international tourists is a great way to generate business in the local area.

The horse truck is, of course, located in the middle of an equestrian centre so holidaymakers can add a horse-riding lesson to their activities.

As the bookings continue to roll in, it is safe to say this has been a successful venture for Jamie. So, what is his advice for anyone thinking of taking on a similar project?

You have to just take a risk and go for it!

Ellie O'Byrne in her Eco Bus in Tramore, County Waterford. Picture: Patrick Browne

Dervla and Desmond Dekker

Ellie OByrne cannot help but laugh when I ask if she has always been a DIY enthusiast.

No, not at all, she says  although looking at the double-decker bus that she converted with her partner Mark Graham its hard to imagine that she was a relative newbie when they took on the project.

The whole thing happened in a whirlwind after they stayed on a similar bus in Galway during covid. Within a couple of hours of arriving, Mark was online checking out buses for sale.

The top deck of one of the Tramore Eco Buses. Photograph: Patrick Browne

There may have been a little bit of naivety when the couple embarked on this adventure, believing that they would get it done and dusted in a year despite both having other jobs.

Snatching windows of free time where they could, all in all it took two-and-a-half years for Dervla to be ready for visitors.

In saying that, when they were several months in and had a much better idea of how much was involved in a renovation like this, they still made the decision to purchase a second bus  Desmond.

The stairwell of a Tramore Eco Bus. Photograph: Patrick Browne

Work on Desmond began last month and it is hoped he will be up and running  figuratively, although both buses can drive they wont be going anywhere  some time next year.

So, how does a couple make it through not one but two bus-to-tiny-home projects and make it out the other side with their sanity intact?

One of the most important things, Ellie tells me, is being able to laugh.

Ellie O'Byrne and Mark Graham with their Eco Bus. Photograph: Patrick Browne

We have just had such a laugh even when things have gone wrong. I think if you have a good sense of humour that is going to see you through pretty much anything.

However, it is also important to know when to step away. In 2021, Ellie and Mark did reach something of a low point and were feeling out of their depth. So, they took the summer off and came back with renewed energy, ready to tackle anything Dervla might throw their way.

Having a genuine love and passion for what they created also plays a major role in keeping them motivated.

The Tramore Eco Bus, Tramore, Co. Waterford. Photograph: Patrick Browne

A Waterford native, it was important for Mark to play a part in helping people discover all the beautiful things his home has to offer. Guests are provided with plenty of local knowledge and tips for lesser-known spots to visit.

Another thing that was a priority for them from the start was that it was sustainable throughout the renovation and beyond. They reused a lot of materials and reclaimed wood; hemp insulation was used; all cleaning products used are sustainable and free from petrochemicals; even the homemade jam provided to guests by Ellie is made with foraged and donated fruits and berries.

Bookings over the coming months will go towards the cost of installing solar panels. They've been using quieter off-season times to get stuck into work on Desmond so hes ready for this summer.

You can follow Desmonds glow-up on their Instagram as they document their progress at @tramoreecobus

Anna McCarthy with the family's Ballinadee Bus. Picture: Dan Linehan

Fun on the farm

Youre not going to forget the time that you stayed on a double-decker bus on a rescue farm with a hot tub. Like theres alpacas right next to you when youre in the hot tub. After that sales pitch, what else is there to say?

What started as a small family venture to keep them occupied while in the throes of grief during lockdown has become a thriving little community in Ballinadee that has been bringing joy to people since it first opened to the public.

Thomas McCarthy, his sisters Anna and Rachel, and Annas fiance Aiden spent seven months turning an old Dublin Bus into a gorgeous, colourful home away from home.

The Ballinadee Bus. Picture: Dan Linehan

The Ballinadee Bus was a runaway success once it opened for bookings so it felt like the natural next step was to expand and take on a second bus.

It would be stupid to sit where we are now when theres so much potential, Thomas says.

This is such a beautiful area. We are so close to Kinsale, were close to the city, were about a 10-minute drive from four different beautiful beaches.

Taking it easy is not in this familys DNA.

The Ballinadee Bus. Picture Dan Linehan

As they approach the third anniversary of the purchase of the OG Ballinadee Bus, they are the proud proprietors of two tiny home buses, a coffee truck, camping grounds, and a rescue farm.

The McCarthys still arent done though and Thomas let me in on their plans.

We are planning on a pizza restaurant, a physical farm shop and cafe, and then glamping pods, a swimming pool, and expanding the rescue farm, he rattles off the list without taking a breath.

The Ballinadee Bus. Picture Dan Linehan

It is clear from speaking with Thomas that their little slice of Ballinadee means a lot to them. You can see their heart and souls have gone into every little detail.

There is purpose and thought behind each decision. Sustainability is at the heart of the entire project and by bringing in tourists, they are helping to bring business to the community that would often have been bypassed in favour of nearby Kinsale.

The most important thing to these entrepreneurial siblings, however, is that they are doing it together as a family. They are building a little empire but no matter how much they expand, Thomas says it will always be a family-run business.

The Ballinadee Bus' patio and eating out area. Picture Dan Linehan

Perhaps this is what gives their accommodation such a home-y feel. There are no drab white walls paired with plain white blankets and generic hotel art. These buses are McCarthy through and through.

It was their late father Patrick who inspired the rescue farm as he took great care of his own animals.

Beginning this business gave the siblings a sort of lifeline when they needed it and now, they are giving these animals a lifeline and a second chance in return.

We like to think hes still around us in all of this madness weve been creating on the farm over the last couple of years, they said of their father.

The madness and joy at the Ballinadee Bus are infectious and ensure that a stay here will be one to remember.
Asylum seekers who have returned to live in tents on Mount St, Dublin, have claimed they left an alternative site provided in Crooksling because they were attacked, while conditions were terrible".

On Saturday, a growing tent city that has been in operation for months in the inner city, was dismantled by the Government, and occupants were moved to the Crooksling site in South Dublin.

However, by that evening, they began returning again. On Monday, there were nearly 40 tents erected by asylum seekers returning to the site as well as new arrivals.

A demonstration took place outside the Crooksling site by anti-asylum seeker protestors.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, one 28-year-old Palestinian man said he arrived 13 days ago and was part of the group moved to Crooksling.

He said: I have two children left behind, I come from a very bad war. I am in Ireland 13 days. If I knew it was going to be this bad in Ireland and living like this, I would not have come here.

The latest figures show 1,308 asylum seekers are without accommodation in Ireland. Picture: Alison O'Reilly

We were given tents and some food, and a cover over the tent. I am from Palestine and my children are there. I go first to get international protection. Unfortunately, I cannot care for my children myself, I hope that nobody dies and continues to live back home.

The situation [here] is very very bad. I come here and meet others from Palestine. The people here now they are from Afghanistan, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. More people are coming here.

'In the other place, we went there and we are attacked by the people out the front in masks. It was scary, it would have been better for me to stay in Palestine and be killed than come here.'

A makeshift camp site was erected in Crooksling over the weekend by the Government ahead of St Patrick's weekend, and asylum seekers on Mount St were offered a place to stay.

Conditions had deteriorated in the area in the city centre, as tents fell in during the snow. Nearly 200 asylum seekers were living there with no sanitary facilities. The corner of the street was being used as an open toilet, and the stench of urine and rubbish filled the air.

On Monday, while the area has been disinfected, it is now cornered off with a makeshift cover and is again being used as toilet by the men.

While it seemed like a better option to move to Crooksling, rather than live in appalling conditions outside the International Protection Accommodation Services offices on Mount St, asylum seekers were returning to their old spot along with newly arrived applicants.

The latest figures now show 1,308 asylum seekers are without accommodation in Ireland  those figures will be updated on Tuesday.

Asylum seekers have erected a cover over their tents on the street. Picture: Alison O'Reilly

On Monday, three gardai were patrolling the area on Mount St where the tents are pitched and extend around to Grattan St East.

Another man, aged 40 from Palestine, said he left his four children behind because he had to flee from his homeland.

He said: I was in the other tented area [Crooksling]. It was very bad. It is cold and bad conditions. I was there for two days, but I came back today.

I think this is a very bad place, but this is a bit better [Mount St]. I have to leave Palestine because of the war, and I want to get my children out now too.

I regret now I came to Ireland because this is a very bad place to live in a tent like this. You cannot bring the children here.

The Department of Integration said there is a full suite of security in place at Crooksling, and the Department has liaised with An Garda Siochana in relation to the move.

"Anyone who chooses to leave Crooksling is of course entitled to make that choice. However, for their own safety and health, the Department does not recommend anyone return to Mount St as it does not have the facilities or security," it said.
There was a blessed breakfast of colcannon followed by shamrock cookies, as the White House fountain turned green for St Patricks Day.

After attending Mass to honour our patron saint, US president Joe Biden made use of a perfect day to attract the Irish-American vote  hosting a brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room.

Almost one in 10 Americans claim Irish heritage but, when it comes to cultural and political outlook, the distance across the Atlantic is significantly widening.

In a week where the gulf of opinion on Israel was laid bare, the focus on Ireland as a country of saints rather than scholars was another example of how we are drifting apart.

Census 2022 showed the number of people in Ireland who describe themselves as Catholic dropped by 10 percentage points.

In the US, religion is still a significant identity marker and a political draw.

The White House brunch was a whos who of the Catholic Church in the US, with clerical collars and monks robes dotted amongst the diners.

The event, which was attended by no fewer than than three Kennedys, was a new addition to the annual St Patricks Day celebrations in Washington DC which this year was split in two  the Taoiseach meeting Mr Biden in the Oval Office on Thursday before returning for the shamrock ceremony last night.

After name-checking and expressing his love for a number of sisters, whom he dubbed the nuns on the bus, Mr Biden turned to his family: This has always been a special day for the Biden family.

'Its not just about heritage but it really is about faith, so much about being Irish is connected to the Catholic teachings I grew up with.

We are all created equal in the image of God.

The 82-year-old then singled out his sister and best friend in the world, Valerie Biden, with a quip about his much-discussed age.

Valarie used to be three years younger than me, now shes 20 years younger. Theres no woman in the Biden household as old as any man in the household, he said to laughs from the audience.

However, it was back to the overarching Catholic theme of the brunch gathering, when quoting his own mother, Mr Biden said that as long as youre alive, you have an obligation to strive and you are not done until you see the face of God.

There was a further reference to Jesus and the apostles before Mr Biden handed over the stage to Papal Nuncio Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who blessed the brunch before guests tucked into eggs Florentine, colcannon, and Irish soda bread.

With Republican Donald Trump leading in the polls, Mr Biden will need all the prayers he can get  and perhaps some luck of the Irish  to cling onto the presidency come Novembers elections.
For those of a certain age, a gilded life of champagne receptions and pyramids of gold-wrapped chocolates springs to mind when the word ambassador is mentioned.

"You very rarely see Ferrero Rocher, it's usually sent to you as a joke by your friends," smiles Frank Smyth, Ireland's top diplomat in Spain.

While a diplomatic passport and a large mansion in a leafy area might come as a perk of the job, for the ambassador and his small team in Madrid, dealing with the 39 ongoing consular cases is the priority.

When an Irish citizen gets into trouble abroad, no matter how far-flung the location our diplomatic staff are the ones who quietly work at speed in the background to ensure their safety.

From emergency evacuations of war zones and natural disaster areas to supporting bereaved families who have tragically lost loved ones in different time zones, a network of 1,341 people working in missions overseas are there to support Irish people in times of crisis.

Last year, the embassy in Madrid dealt with 400 new consular cases, which spanned everything from 628 lost passports; to 63 people who got themselves arrested and one couple who staff became aware of before they even arrived on Spanish soil due to their unruly behaviour on the flight over.

There are also more complex cases involving missing people; prisoners; those with serious mental health issues; critically ill patients and, sadly, those who pass away while abroad.

"Consular is obviously a big, big part and we want it to be; it's meaningful work  you're solving people's really, really difficult problems for them and you're offering real support to people which is what the State should do. We take it very seriously and it's now a really central plank in the department's work," says Smyth who has previously been posted in Brussels and the UN in New York.

It's Tuesday morning and a dazzling spring light shines in through Smyth's office windows on the fourth floor of a building that is shared with Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, and Tourism Ireland to form one of a number of 'Ireland Houses' the State has established under its Global Ireland 2025 strategy.

Today, he has spent the morning meeting with the owners of a local gourmet food market which will host a number of St Patrick's Day events to showcase Irish produce before heading back to the Embassy for discussions with the Enterprise Ireland and Tourism Ireland staff.

In the afternoon, Carlos Burgos, the organiser of a festival to commemorate Red Hugh O'Donnell, comes into the office.

For a number of years, those living in the city of Valladolid have recreated the funeral of the Irish chieftain with a procession though the streets complete with an empty coffin, and the ambassador is keen to get an update on how preparations are going for this year's event.

"There's always somebody somewhere overseas who has a connection with Ireland, and our job is to find them to build relationships with them, to enhance that relationship, to strengthen it, to build it up as strongly as we can," Smyth says.

Drawing on these connections is also vital in promoting business, tourism, and cultural links as well as creating strong political and diplomatic ties.

These connections extend right the way up to the current prime minister Pedro Sanchez who as a teenager was among the 35,000 Spanish students who come to Ireland each year to learn English.

Fostering these relationships allows our diplomats to become the eyes and ears of the State abroad, another important aspect of the job.

"You try to find out as much as possible, including formally through meetings with representatives of the foreign ministry or the prime minister's office or maybe the agriculture ministry, we would be meeting those people to get the official line and then you'd be following the media, be talking to people in business and you put together a jigsaw that is any society.

"There are many different parts, there is the official line, then there's what's going on in the business sector, the NGO sector, interactions with neighbours, for instance," he says, pointing to Spain's important links to Morocco for example.

Policy

With over 100 missions abroad reports back to Iveagh House are as "succinct as possible," and there are fortnightly meetings with Ambassadors across the 26 EU countries.

"We would basically convey the main four or five main issues mainly as they relate to Ireland. Some of them may relate very directly  if you're in the middle of an election campaign that's important if there's going to be a change of government, for instance, there could be a change of policy. That is a very important thing both in multilateral [terms] within the EU and maybe within the UN, but also bilaterally because if you are working closely [with a country] a change of government would change that."

The lure of a life in exotic parts of the world is often seen as what attracts many to the Department of Foreign Affairs but the Ambassador insists that a career as a diplomat means "you are a civil servant who does work some of the time overseas".

"The fundamental thing is you're a civil servant, and you represent the State overseas."

'It's not just interesting work, it's meaningful'

It's late afternoon when Smyth receives an update from staff on the current consular workload.

This includes one case involving one man who suffered a severe brain injury after a fall and has been in an induced coma for a number of weeks.

From the first phone call, which often comes from a family member in Ireland, consular staff can be involved in supporting the citizen and their loved ones for many weeks and sometimes months. Complex medical or mental health issues can involve consulting with hospital or medical staff, translating for the family, putting them in touch with social workers as well as assisting that person in getting back home when they are well enough.

"It's not just interesting work, it's meaningful, and particularly in relation to the consular work that we do because we're making a difference when people get into crisis situations, whether it's health, welfare, or even just travel documents. That in itself, as anybody who's lost these documents will know, can be a real problem," the Ambassador says.

"We have great privileges We get access to public servants, to public events, we are witness to very interesting events. It's a huge privilege to do that if you're interested in this area of work. I've never woken up to say, 'I don't want to go into work,' I love what I do," Smyth says.

His working day ends back at his home in the city, the impressive ambassador's residence, with a large gathering of Irish living in the city and not a Ferrero Rocher in sight.

Have you ever heard the story about the couple who went to Spain and wound up sparking a tsunami of consular cases? Madly in love, Mary and John decided to have a sun-soaked foreign wedding surrounded by family and friends. As the planning began in the months before the big day, the couple first contacted the Irish Embassy in Madrid to apply for the relevant paperwork required to marry in the foreign destination. Guests arrived in the days before and the groom's 18-year-old cousin Jack and his friend decided to sample Spain's famous nightlife. Having indulged in a few too many sangrias Jack got involved in a row with another holiday-maker, he ended up in the local police station and the Embassy was called for assistance. The wedding day arrived and the bride's uncle who was thoroughly enjoying the celebrations took to the dancefloor to show off his best moves. But as he plunged into an air-guitar stance he suffered a heart attack and had to be taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital, resulting in yet another call for consular advice support. The next day, aunt Peggy woke up and couldn't find her passport. With just hours before the flight, a dash to the nearest Honorary Consul meant that she made it to the airport in the nick of time, emergency document in hand. Sadly, uncle Joe's condition deteriorated and a few days later he died in a Spanish hospital. The consular staff were on hand to assist the family during a very difficult time, helping them to navigate the coroner's system, obtain a death cert, and to get his body home. It's safe to say the couple won't be having a vow renewal ceremony in Spain anytime soon. This, of course, is a slightly exaggerated scenario that didn't happen in reality, but it gives an idea of some of the types of cases, both straightforward and complex, that consular staff deal with each day. Like other embassies, the Embassy of Ireland in Madrid deals with a multitude of cases every year including: 2.5m  The number of visits from Ireland to Spain, making Ireland comfortably the largest per capita provider of tourists to the country. 400  The number of cases the Embassy in Madrid dealt with last year. The level of activity differs greatly by region, from the busiest consul situated in Malaga which dealt with 86 new consular assistance cases, to Galicia where just one case was raised. 628  the number of Emergency Travel Certificates (ETCs) that were issued to people who lost their passport while in Spain or had it stolen. 89  cases staff in Madrid supported that were related to people who passed away. There were another 101 medical casez and 52 cases related to mental health and welfare last year. 63  the number of Irish passport holders who were arrested in Spain in 2022.
Corralled by a group of advisers who did their best to keep both the media and the general public away from their man, the Taoiseach managed to avoid much of the usual pressing of the flesh during his St Patricks trip.

In every administration, political advisers are appointed to steer their protege on the right path. They provide counsel, act as gamekeepers, and at times even become a physical buffer between the politician and the press.

Just hours after Mr Varadkar left the White House last Friday, shadowy staffers keep Biden on a short leash was the topic rolling across the ticker tape during a Fox News segment.

On her eponymous Ingraham Angle show, presenter Laura Ingraham suggested Mr Bidens handlers were going to extensive lengths to protect him from the press to keep him in power.

The Irish media covering the annual St Patricks Day trip to the US were asking similar questions after Mr Varadkars gamekeepers tried to stop journalists from attending events, left engagements completely off the official published schedule, and claimed other markings had been cancelled.

Mr Varadkar is not a man for small talk. An attempt to speak with two members of the famous Kennedy dynasty this week ended in the Taoiseach asking where the sofas in an anteroom of the JFK library came from.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar greeted by Joe Kennedy III (second left) and Jack Schlossberg (left), the only grandson of John F Kennedy, at the President John F Kennedy library in Boston, Massachusetts, US. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The room filled with family photographs, including one of a young JFK sailing a yacht and another of Jackie on a horse, provided obvious conversational prompts, but the Taoiseach landed on upholstery  the one topic that Joe Kennedy and Jack Kennedy-Schlossberg couldnt expand on.

Unlike his party predecessor Enda Kenny, who wasnt happy to leave a room until he had every hand shaken, Mr Varadkar has always struggled with this side of the job, and he certainly wont have brought home tales of the two-pint man he met in the US.

This is not necessarily a criticism of the current head of Government.

You dont have to talk about the weather or find out the backstory of everyone you meet to lead a country, but it does help get you through the events that are part of the gig.

Throughout the trip, Mr Varadkar was whisked into function rooms and ushered straight to podiums to deliver the next speech on a circuit of business breakfasts, receptions, and gala dinners, before being swiftly removed  saving him from an inevitable donut of Irish Americans who are always eager to speak to a real-life Irish person at such events.

Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks at a Friends of Ireland luncheon with President Joe Biden, in background at center left, on Capitol Hill, Friday, March 15, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

The Irish travelling media watched on as Mr Varadkar was parachuted in before being quickly plucked back out again.

However, there were a few engagements that the media was not made aware of.

The official itinerary sent out to journalists contained an obvious 48-hour blank space with no events scheduled between 2.15pm on Friday and 2pm on Sunday.

Repeated queries on this gleaned the same response  the Taoiseach had scheduled in private time.

It later emerged that, during this private time, Mr Varadkar hosted a reception for around 30 people on Friday night in Blair House across the road from the White House.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, US president Joe Biden, and speaker Mike Johnson leave after the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

On Saturday morning, the media was told that they could attend a previously unmentioned White House brunch on St Patricks Day.

However, there was no such invite to cover a dinner event in the Gridiron Club  at which Varadkar played second fiddle to Mr Biden.

Earlier in the week, after kicking up a fuss, the press was eventually permitted to cover Mr Varadkars visit to the famous Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on a visit to the home of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

There was yet another curious incident in Boston airport when reporters were told a Jet Blue route announcement had been cancelled, only to stumble across the Taoiseach posing for formal pictures with airline chiefs in another part of the terminal.

On Wednesday night, when Varadkar made a sharp exit from the Ireland Funds Gala, journalists at the event assumed it was a continuation of an apparent strategy to avoid small talk.

The following morning, one of his advisers privately admitted to being a little tired. It had emerged that the Taoiseachs delegation had attended a reception, hosted by tech firm Stripe, after the official dinner.

We are told, repeatedly, that the annual trip to Washington is a privilege afforded to few world leaders, so we should be grateful for it. We are also told it is an opportunity to put Ireland on the world stage.

Mr Varadkar has always been a strong media performer and, unlike other politicians, finds media engagement a relatively manageable part of the job. That makes this weeks shenanigans all the more notable.

Why were his minders so keen to play hide and seek with the press on his trip to the US? If this was a week on the world stage, why keep him out of the spotlight for so much of it?
A major report published on Monday has confirmed our worst fears. 70% of people in northern Gaza are on the brink of famine.

Following almost six never-ending months of constant bombardments, restrictions of aid and mass forced displacement, an official declaration of famine is only a matter of time. To avert catastrophic hunger, urgent measures need to be taken to facilitate large-scale aid delivery of food and other aid.

Monday's anticipated report from the IPC (the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) is confirmation of what the world already knew. Starvation in Gaza is now at crisis levels. Famine is imminent, particularly in the north.

All of Gaza is at risk of acute food shortages  and the report confirms that unless there is urgent intervention, the south of Gaza will be suffering famine by July.

For months aid agencies working on the ground in both north and south Gaza have been shouting loud about the deteriorating and catastrophic hunger crisis, desperately warning that traumatised people in the enclave were starting to die from starvation, especially children. To date, official figures tell us that 27 children have died of acute malnutrition. And thousands more will follow.

It is completely shocking that one in three children in northern Gaza under the age of two now experience acute chronic malnutrition. That is a dramatic increase in the space of a month, where one in six were affected. That number of children suffering is one of the hallmarks of determining famine.

Palestinians line up for a free meal in Rafah, Gaza Strip, last week. Anything other than full and unimpeded land access of humanitarian aid at scale will mean death and acute malnutrition for hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza. Photo: AP/Fatima Shbair

The facts are indisputable. The world can see through pictures posted on social media and recent news footage skeletal-like children with hollowed out eyes on the brink of death. Never has a civilian population gone hungry so completely, and in such a short space of time.

It is an indictment of world leaders that this level of catastrophe is occurring, entirely manmade and avoidable. By restricting food aid, water, and medical supplies, Israel has manufactured starvation as a key tool of this horrific war.

The UN Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, said the hunger crisis was unfolding at a speed never seen before:

Weve never seen children pushed into malnutrition so quickly. This was all preventable.

In this, it is facilitated by the United States. While the rhetoric from the Biden administration increasingly focuses on humanitarian aid and behind-the-scenes pressure, it continues to arm Israel and give it political cover through the use of its veto at the UN Security Council.

Famine is something that is embedded in the Irish psyche due to the great hunger of the 1840s. It caused about one million deaths and the forced migration of another million people. It will never be forgotten, and is enshrined in stories, song and dance.

During his Irish visit, President Biden spoke to crowds in Dundalk and Ballina about the tragedy of the Famine and its impact on his own family. And it is shocking that Biden, of Irish descent, is arming a country that has created the conditions for famine.

For the hundreds of thousands of people who are starving and malnourished in Gaza today, anything other than full and unimpeded land access of humanitarian aid at scale will mean death and acute malnutrition.

One of those suffering is Shirhan, a mother of six who has been displaced four times since the start of the war. Shirhan told ActionAid how life for her family has been a nightmare over the last five months. Her focus has been on getting through each day, against all the odds, doing all she can to ensure her children dont die.

Shirhans family are starving  and she is listening to her childrens anguished cries of hunger. In the earlier months of the war  when humanitarian aid corridors were still open, and before food systems were destroyed  she was able to access food. But she is now finding it impossible to find any scraps at all to feed and sustain her children.

Her biggest worry is for her 13-month-old son. Because she is not getting enough food herself, she is unable to produce milk to breastfeed her baby. I try to breastfeed my baby, but I dont have milk which causes him to cry out in hunger."

Will world leaders respond to women like Shirhan? Will they move beyond rhetoric to real action? Distractions like temporary ports and air drops can never meet the scale of need.

The question is will the very likely declaration of famine in the next few months change things for the already starving population on the ground in Gaza? Will it change the USs military support for Israel? Military and political support which has contributed to the horrific destruction of Gaza's population.

By restricting food aid, water, and medical supplies, Israel has manufactured starvation as a key tool of this horrific war. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

Declarations of famine are rare. The last two were South Sudan in 2017 and Somalia in 2011. Famine is declared when at least 20% of households face an extreme lack of food, when at least 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition, and when two people in every 10,000 die each day due to outright starvation or a combination of malnutrition and disease.

Starvation used as a weapon against civilian populations in conflict is a reprehensible tactic  and deliberately depriving civilians of food and essential resources constitutes a grave violation of human rights and international law.

We cannot wait for a formal declaration of famine. Action to prevent the starving to death of potentially thousands of civilians, especially children, is needed now. The best start is a permanent ceasefire, which will facilitate the safe delivery of food and other aid to a population which has been suffering beyond belief.

Read More First ship to use new sea route delivers aid to Gaza, Israeli miliary says
Ukraine launched a new wave of attacks inside Russian territory, according to local officials, as Russians cast ballots on the final day of a presidential vote set to extend President Vladimir Putins rule for another six years.

Authorities said at least two people were killed, including a teenager.

They also said that a drone fell on a refinery in the Krasnodar region, sparking a blaze that was extinguished a few hours later.

Photo released by Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov shows emergency employees working by damaged and burned cars after shelling in Belgorod (AP Images)

A worker at the refinery died of a heart attack, officials said.

Refineries and oil terminals have been targets of Ukrainian drone attacks in recent days, according to Russian officials, as part of stepped up assaults on Russian territory including long-range drone attacks and alleged incursions by Ukraine-based Russian proxies.

The Russian Defence Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four in the Moscow region.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that a fifth drone, close to the capitals Domodedovo airport, was downed on Sunday morning.

No casualties or damage were reported.

According to the Defence Ministry, two drones were shot down over the Kaluga region, just south of the Russian capital, and four in the Yaroslavl region, northeast of Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on a visit to his campaign headquarters after the presidential election in Moscow, Russia (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

The attacks on the Yaroslavl region, which is located about 800 kilometres (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border, were some of the furthest launched by Ukraine so far.

More Ukrainian drones were downed over the Belgorod, Kursk and Rostov regions that border Ukraine, and the southern Krasnodar region, the Defence Ministry said.

Shelling of Belgorod on Sunday morning killed a 16-year-old girl and wounded her father, while a second assault later in the day killed another man and wounded 11 others, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

Elsewhere, a drone strike at a military installation in Moldovas breakaway republic of Transnistria on Sunday destroyed a helicopter and ignited a fire, officials said.

The areas pro-Russia authorities blamed the strike on Ukraine.

The Bureau for Reintegration Policies said in a statement that they didnt confirm any attack on Transnistria, and described the reports as an attempt to cause fear and panic in the region.

There have been a series of Ukrainian drone raids over the past few days which Putin described as an attempt by Ukraine to frighten residents and derail Russias presidential election.

Photo released by Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov shows a damaged truck and a bus in Belgorod (AP Images)

Those enemy strikes havent been and wont be left unpunished, he vowed during Fridays meeting of Russias Security Council.

Im sure that our people, the people of Russia, will respond to that with even greater cohesion.

Two Russian ballistic missiles hit the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv on Sunday, wounding at least five people, the regions Governor Vitaliy Kim wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

The Ukrainian military also said that 14 Russian drones had been shot down over the Odesa region Sunday, following a Russian ballistic missile assault on the southern port city Friday that killed at least 21 people.
Israel has been accused of using starvation as a "weapon of war" as the World food Programme said famine is now "imminent" in Gaza.

EUs foreign policy chief Josep Borrell made the accusation at the opening of a conference on humanitarian aid for Gaza in Brussels.

Meanwhile, the head of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) has claimed he has been refused permission by Israeli authorities to enter the Gaza Strip.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said that he had intended to go to Rafah today but I have been informed an hour ago that my entry into Rafah is declined.

The UN food agency says famine is imminent in northern Gaza, where an estimated 70% of the population faces catastrophic hunger.

The World Food Programme released the latest findings of its Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, an international process for estimating the scale of hunger crises, on Monday.

It says virtually everyone in Gaza is struggling to get enough food, and around 210,000 people in northern Gaza are in Phase 5, the highest, which refers to catastrophic hunger.

Humanitarian aid is airdropped to Palestinians in Gaza City (Mohammed Hajjar/AP)

It warned that if Israel broadens its offensive to the packed southern city of Rafah, the fighting could drive around half of Gazas total population of 2.3 million into catastrophic hunger.

In December, the IPC estimated that a quarter of Gazas overall population was starving.

Aid groups say they face a burdensome Israeli process to import humanitarian aid, and that distribution in much of Gaza, especially the north, is virtually impossible because of Israeli restrictions, ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of law and order.

Israel says it places no limits on the import of humanitarian aid and blames bottlenecks on the UN agencies distributing it.

The US and other countries have carried out airdrops in recent days and a sea corridor has just opened up. But aid groups say those efforts are costly and inefficient, and are no substitute for Israel opening up more land routes.

It comes as Israeli forces launched another raid on the Gaza Strips largest hospital on Monday, saying Hamas militants had regrouped there and had fired on them from inside the site where Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people have been sheltering.

Palestinians rush to collect the humanitarian aid airdropped into Gaza City on March 17 (Mohammed Hajjar/AP)

The army last raided Shifa Hospital in November after claiming that Hamas maintained an elaborate command centre within and beneath the facility.

The military revealed a tunnel leading to some underground rooms, as well as weapons it said were found inside the hospital.

But the evidence fell short of the earlier claims, and critics accused the army of recklessly endangering the lives of civilians.
Mike Lynch, the multi-millionaire tech tycoon who was once hailed as shining example of British ingenuity, is set to face claims he defrauded Hewlett-Packard in the 11 billion dollar sale of his software company Autonomy at a trial in California on Monday.

The criminal trial in San Francisco revolves around HPs acquisition of Autonomy, a deal that was celebrated as coup when it was announced in 2011, only to blow up into a costly debacle.

The alleged villains in the trial are former Autonomy CEO Lynch along with Stephen Chamberlain, Autonomys former vice president of finance.

Mike Lynch leaves the Rolls Building in London following the civil case over the sale of his software firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011 (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

They are both defending themselves against 16 felony counts of fraud and conspiracy in a trial expected to run until late May or June and include evidence from more than 40 witnesses.

If convicted on all counts by a jury, Lynch and Chamberlain each could face a sentence of more than 20 years in prison.

Autonomys former chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2019 after being convicted on 16 counts of fraud and conspiracy.

The trial targeting Lynch and Chamberlain is also expected to cast a spotlight on Meg Whitman, who was hired to become CEO of the company started 85 years ago by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in a Palo Alto garage.

Whitman dipped into her estimated fortune of three billion dollars to finance an unsuccessful campaign to become California governor as the Republican Party nominee in 2010.

She then joined HPs board and was tapped to replace company CEO Leo Apotheker, who had negotiated the Autonomy acquisition before being replaced in September 2011 just before the deal was completed.

Meg Whitman is currently US ambassador to Kenya (Jeff Chiu/AP)

At the time, HP was struggling to remain relevant amid a technological shift to mobile computing being driven by the then-rising popularity of smartphones.

The upheaval depressed demand for desktop and laptop computers, a market that had been one of HPs financial cornerstones.

In an effort to lessen its dependence on PCs, HP snapped up Autonomy to gain ownership of software focused on helping businesses quickly sift through vital information stored in email, phone records and other repositories.

But HP uncovered evidence that Autonomy had been cooking the books to inflate its value after the takeover was completed, prompting Whitman to write off nearly nine billion dollars of the acquisition price.

It would also spur accusations of criminal conduct, leading to the indictment of Lynch and Chamberlain in 2018.

The trial was delayed during a civil trial about the alleged fraud in London that culminated in a judge siding with HP in a 2022 ruling that indicated the damages would be less than the five billion dollars (3.9bn) that HP wanted.

The final amount of damages hasnt been determined.

Lynch, 58, was extradited to the US last May, and has since been living under court-mandated restrictions in San Francisco while being allowed to remain out of prison on a 100 million dollar bail bond secured by 50 million dollars in cash while awaiting trial.

Court documents estimate that Lynch made more than 800 million dollars on Autonomys sale to HP.

In the London civil trial, Lynch maintained he never participated in any underhanded dealings at Autonomy and painted himself as a scapegoat for a bumbling management team led by Whitman, who he depicted as being out of her depth.

Lynch also hailed Autonomy as one of the most successful companies England has ever produced.

Whitman, 67, denigrated Lynch as an unstable executive whose complaints about her decisions became less and less focused and grounded in reality before she ousted him from HP in 2012.

Now the US ambassador to Kenya, Whitman isnt expected to be called to give evidence in Lynchs criminal trial, even though her leadership of the company is likely to be put under a microscope during the proceedings.
A senior US official visited Montenegro Monday to offer support to the small Balkan nation seeking to join the European Union.

During a press conference in the capital Podgorica, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar said Montenegro should be next in line to join the 27-nation bloc.

There is absolutely no doubt in our mind (the) strategic goal of this country is to become (a) full EU member, said Mr Escobar after talks with Prime Minister Milojko Spajic.

Six nations from the Western Balkan region  Albania, Bosnia, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia  are at different stages of the EU accession process following a period of wars and crises in the 1990s.

It is very important right now. We need to make sure Montenegro remains the next candidate and the next member of (the) European Union

Mr Escobar said EU enlargement has become a reality following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 which made US and EU officials more keen on trying to lure the six countries away from the Kremlins influence.

It is very important right now, he said, we need to make sure Montenegro remains the next candidate and the next member of (the) European Union.

In 2017, Montenegro defied Russia by joining Nato and has since sought EU membership. Mr Spajic, who took office last year, has pledged to revive the EU bid after years of political deadlock.

The country is deeply divided between pro-Western forces and those supporting closer ties with neighbouring Serbia and Russia. The stalemate had blocked progress in the EU-requested reform process needed to join the bloc.

My argument to the European Union is if you have seen how Montenegro has behaved inside of Nato, which has been very positive, you can expect Montenegro to be the next European Union member, said Mr Escobar.

Last week, Mr Escobar visited Kosovo in the latest US effort to restart talks between Pristina and Belgrade to push them to normalise their ties, easing their way to join the EU. Brussels has warned both that this may hinder their chances of membership.

Western officials are seeking to resolve the remaining Balkan disputes, fearing Russia could try to stir trouble in the volatile region and shift at least some of the attention from Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
"Oui! Oui!"

Miami-Dade County School Board Chair and District 6 Representative Mari Tere Rojas has won many awards during her illustrious educational career, starting as a teacher in 1975. Now, she's gone international.

Her latest honor, the prestigious insignia Officier of the Ordre des Palmes Academiques, was presented to Rojas this past week by the Consul General of France, Monsieur Raphael Trapp, on behalf of French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.

This distinction, which is French for knight, is Frances highest honor granted to academics and cultural education figures.

I am beyond mesmerized to receive such an honor, said Rojas, who also was congratulated by the French Embassy to the United States.

"Her enthusiasm, contribution, and dedication" to ensure District 6 students receive a strong bilingual education, particularly in the French International Studies program that Miami-Dade County Public Schools developed in collaboration with the French Embassy, led to the honor, the first of its kind in the county.

International Language Magnet programs in District 6 are International Studies Preparatory Academy (ISPA) in Coral Gables, George Washington Carver Middle School in Coral Gables and Sunset Elementary in Miami, where Rojas had served as principal.

Since 2016, the Coral Gables resident has represented the 36 District 6 schools, including those in and near Key Biscayne, on the School Board. Last year, Rojas was re-elected as Chair for a second term of the third-largest school district in the country.

The International Studies program strives to prepare students to obtain the necessary skills and proficiency in languages so they can succeed successfully in the vast and growing global language services market. The Magnet programs allow students to meet national and international diploma requirements.

During the ceremony, Rojas was surrounded by friends and well-wishers, including Miami-Dade French teachers, administrators, region and district administrators, and the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jose L. Dotres.

Joining them were Roger Pardo and Marie Couvreur, President and Vice President of the French International Program Association, and members of the Consulate General of France, Anthoni Dominguez and Cecile Lacheteau.

Also present was Rojas' sister, former teacher and administrator, Lourdes Gimenez.

Some of Rojas' other honors include: The National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Award; the Governor's Sterling Award for Senior Leadership; the Magnet Schools of America National Merit Award; and the National Hispanic Magazine Ryder Systems Schools of Excellence Award.

In addition, the two-time school site Teacher of the Year also has earned accolades as the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Administrator of the Year; the Region IV Principal of the Year; and was the District's First Runner-Up for National Distinguished Principal.
Monday, Mar 18th, 2024 (9:36 am) - Score 7,040

Broadband and mobile operator Virgin Media (O2) have today hailed the results of a new trial  delivered in collaboration with shareholder Liberty Global, which is said to have successfully deployed 4G and 5G smart poles on top of its existing fibre broadband cabinets in the UK to help boost mobile network coverage and capacity.

The idea here is simple enough. Virgin Media has around 25,000 street cabinets deployed across the UK to serve their fixed line broadband ISP network and at the same time theyve also been developing a lot of small cell related deployments to help improve mobile coverage  the two approaches are complementary, with the trial showing Virgins cabinets can support a supply of both data capacity and power for the cells.

NOTE: Small cells are mini (shoebox sized) mobile base stations, which usually deliver limited coverage (up to around 80-120 metres) and thus tend to be more focused on busy urban areas or specific sites.

The trial has thus seen innovative new smart poles installed beside VMO2s existing on-street broadband cabinets. The new poles house 4G small cells and are much smaller than traditional phone masts, meaning they dont require planning permission and can be installed in less than a day (albeit not always terribly popular with locals in every street).

In a UK first, the electricity is supplied by Virgin Medias fibre network rather than a traditional power supply through innovative digital electricity technology, which transmits power from on-street cabinets in the local area along fibre optic cables. The same fixed fibre network is also used to carry data to and from the mobile cells and the internet, said VMO2s announcement (just to be clear, the power and fibre supplies are separate parts of a new hybrid cable).

By comparison, the normal approach to deploying mobile infrastructure can be time-consuming as it typically involves obtaining planning permission for new or upgraded infrastructure, installing radio equipment, connecting sites to the power network, before establishing fibre connections to carry mobile traffic to the internet (backhaul). For many non-converged mobile operators, this involves paying for a fixed backhaul connection, which is often provided by a competitor.

Jeanie York, CTO of VMO2, said: As we continue investing to upgrade and expand our network, were always looking for new ways to work smarter and deliver more for our customers. Groundbreaking trials like this can help boost mobile coverage and bring next generation services to even more customers. The ability to use our existing national fixed network to backhaul and power small cells could be transformational  helping us save time and money, open up new revenue streams, support smart city technology and fully leverage the benefits of our scaled converged network.

The operator notes that smart city infrastructure, such as electric vehicle (EV) chargers, can also be built into the poles, providing new opportunities for Virgin Media O2 to further monetise its network in future. This is particularly relevant since Virgin Medias existing infrastructure has already been used to help support EV charging via Believs network.

However, not every one of their cabinets will be viable for this sort of the deployment, and the operator has yet to clarify what their wider roll-out plan might be.
Brooklyn, NY (Special to Informed Comment; featured)  The cover of my The Politics of Fear: The Peculiar Persistence of American Paranoia features a photograph of a bearded, fur-clad man with a horned helmet, tattoos and face paint. On January 6, 2021, Jacob Anthony Chansley, aka the Q Shaman, stood at the House Speakers dais in the US Capitol building and led a prayer, in which he thanked the divine, omniscient, omnipotent creator God for allowing his fellow patriots and him to send a message to all the tyrants, the communists and the globalists that this is our nation, not theirs.

Chansley has written two books and produced a dozen or so videos about his political ideas; in October, 2023 he filed paperwork to run for Congress in Arizonas Eighth District. Though he didnt follow through and mount an actual campaign, had he run and won he likely wouldnt have been the most extreme member of the House. And Donald Trump, whom Chanley and his fellow Q travelers believed was Gods anointed, is very much a contender for the highest office in the land.

Chansleys red-pill moment came, he says, when he discovered the writings of the arch conspiracy theorist Milton William Cooper, who was inspired in his turn by The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, the notorious forgery that purported to expose an ancient Jewish plot to destroy the Christian nations. As Chansleys thinking evolved, he went on to embrace eco-fascism, anti-vax activism, Christian nationalism, New Age religiosity, and Libertarianisma stew that is sometimes called conspirituality. Ive written hundreds of thousands of words about the deep roots of paranoid conspiracy theory in American history, but if you want to know what they come down to, his prayer sums it up succinctly. Its about how they are taking what is rightfully ours.

Who they are has changed over the centuries, but whats ours has always been the privileges that white Christian men believed was their birthright, but for too many, seemed to be slipping away. In colonial times, they were agents of the Pope. In the 1790s and the 1820s they were atheistic members of the Illuminati and the Masons. By the mid-19th century, the enemy was the Irish and other Catholic immigrants who were competing for jobs. The fight over slavery spawned a host of rival conspiracy theories. During the post-Civil War era, which saw the failure of Reconstruction and the rise of vast economic inequalities, the focus shifted to English and Jewish bankers and the demonetization of silver. A few decades later, Jewish anarchists and reds and integrationists were also in the crosshairs. QAnon, the first conspiracy theory to be born on social media, takes bits and pieces from its predecessors, mixes and matches them with medieval blood libels and Gnostic apocalypticism, and gamifies it all by inviting believers to participate in its world-building. Donald Trump, in their telling, is secretly battling the elite cabal of pedophile cannibals who control the Deep State.

Whether they make you laugh or cry, those theories wouldnt be as viral and sticky as they are if their believers werent experiencing real stressesand if the horrible things they accuse their enemies of doing, everything from cannibalism to pedophilia and mass murder, werent behaviors that really do exist. Of course, Jews as a category dont ritually torture and murder Christian babies, but human babies of all varietiesincluding Jewish oneshave been horrifically abused. More than 13,000 children have been killed by a largely Jewish army in Gaza in just the last several months.



The Politics of Fear: The Peculiar Persistence of American Paranoia by Arthur Goldwag (Penguin Random House). Click here to buy.

And is it altogether delusional to imagine, as QAnon believers do, that elites get away with child abuse? The Comet Ping Pong pizza parlor might not have had a sex dungeon, as the proponents of the Pizzagate theory claimed, but Jeffrey Epstein certainly kept a harem of underaged women and had a circle of socially and politically connected friends that included billionaires, geniuses, and royalty. Epsteins storyeverything from the mysterious sources of his wealth to his odd connection to Trumps attorney general (William Barrs father was the headmaster of the Dalton School when it hired him as a teacher in 1974), and his mysterious suicide in jail in 2019could have leaped fully formed from the head of an antisemitic conspiracy theorist, like Athena from the head of Zeus, but it was all true.

Trumps voters feelings of dispossession are not that far off the mark either, as a host of not-so-fun facts about economic inequality make clear. A 2017 study found that the richest three Americans (none of them Jewish) controlled more wealth than the bottom 50 percent of the nation. The total real wealth held by the richest families in the United States tripled between 1989 and 2019, according to a 2022 Congressional Budget Office report, while average earners gains were negligible. The ten richest people in the world, nine of them Americans, doubled their wealth during the pandemic.

Our great national myththat America is a crucible of equality, tolerance, and boundless economic opportunityhas never been our national reality. Though right-wing populism sees the world through a lens that is distorted by irrational hatreds, it nonetheless lands on a painful truth: that unregulated capitalism is brutal and unfair. Right wing conspiracists displace the blame for its crimes onto outsiders; progressives recognize that for all its very real gestures towards equity, justice, and universal opportunity, our constitutional order was erected on a rickety scaffolding of race supremacism, religious bigotry, involuntary servitude, and land theft and compromised by them from the very beginning.

Trumps white male voters intuition that the system is rigged against them is more-or-less correct, even if the privileges their fathers were born to were undeserved, and their prescriptions to rejigger the fix in their favor could not be more pernicious. The fact that so many economic left-behinds look to Trump as their champion may be perplexing, but no one can doubt that they need one.

Whether Trump wins or loses this fall, the challenge for the center, the left, and even fair-minded members of the moderate right, is to create a reality-based narrative that can compete with Trumps and Chansleysand that has reparation rather than retribution at its core.
( Tomdispatch.com )  In an age when American presidents routinely boast of having the worlds finest military, where nearly trillion-dollar war budgets are now a new version of routine, let me bring up one vitally important but seldom mentioned fact: making major cuts to military spending would increase U.S. national security.

Why? Because real national security can neither be measured nor safeguarded solely by military power (especially the might of a military that hasnt won a major war since 1945). Economic vitality matters so much more, as does the availability and affordability of health care, education, housing, and other crucial aspects of life unrelated to weaponry and war. Add to that the importance of a Congress responsive to the needs of the working poor, the hungry and the homeless among us. And dont forget that the moral fabric of our nation should be based not on a military eternally ready to make war but on a determination to uphold international law and defend human rights. Its high time for America to put aside its conveniently generic rules-based order anchored in imperial imperatives and face its real problems. A frank look in the mirror is whats most needed here.

It should be simple really: national security is best advanced not by endlessly preparing for war, but by fostering peace. Yet, despite their all-too-loud disagreements, Washingtons politicians share a remarkably bipartisan consensus when it comes to genuflecting before and wildly overfunding the military-industrial complex. In truth, ever-rising military spending and yet more wars are a measure of how profoundly unhealthy our country actually is.

The Scholarly Junior Senator from South Dakota

Such insights are anything but new and, once upon a time, could even be heard in the halls of Congress. They were, in fact, being aired there within a month of my birth as, on August 2, 1963, Democratic Senator George McGovern of South Dakota  later a hero of mine  rose to address his fellow senators about New Perspectives on American Security.

Nine years later, he (and his vision of the military) would, of course, lose badly to Republican Richard Nixon in the 1972 presidential election. No matter that he had been the one who served in combat with distinction in World War II, piloting a B-24 bomber on 35 missions over enemy territory, even as Nixon, then a Navy officer, amassed a tidy sum playing poker. Somehow, McGovern, a decorated hero, became associated with weakness because he opposed this countrys disastrous Vietnam War, while Nixon manufactured a self-image as the staunchest Cold Warrior around, never missing a chance to pose as tough on communism (until, as president, he memorably visited Communist China, opening relations with that country).

But back to 1963, when McGovern gave that speech (which you can read in the online Senate Congressional Record, volume 109, pages 13,986-94). At that time, the government was already dedicating more than half of all federal discretionary spending to the Pentagon, roughly the same percentage as today. Yet was it spending all that money wisely? McGoverns answer was a resounding no. Congress, he argued, could instantly cut 10% of the Pentagon budget without compromising national security one bit. Indeed, security would be enhanced by investing in this country instead of buying yet more overpriced weaponry. The senator and former bomber pilot was especially critical of the massive amounts then being spent on the U.S. nuclear arsenal and the absurd planetary overkill it represented vis-a-vis the Soviet Union, Americas main competitor in the nuclear arms race. As he put it then:

What possible advantage [can be had] in appropriating additional billions of dollars to build more [nuclear] missiles and bombs when we already have excess capacity to destroy the potential enemy? How many times is it necessary to kill a man or kill a nation?

How many, indeed? Think about that question as todays Congress continues to ramp up spending, now estimated at nearly $2 trillion over the next 30 years, on  and yes, this really is the phrase  modernizing the countrys nuclear triad of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), as well as its ultra-expensive nuclear-missile-firing submarines and stealth bombers. And keep in mind that the U.S. already has an arsenal quite capable of wiping out life on several Earth-sized planets.

What, according to McGovern, was this country sacrificing in its boundless pursuit of mass death? In arguments that should resonate strongly today, he noted that Americas manufacturing base was losing vigor and vitality compared to those of countries like Germany and Japan, while the economy was weakening, thanks to trade imbalances and the exploding costs of that nuclear arms race. Mind you, back then, this country was still on the gold standard and unburdened by an almost inconceivable national debt, 60 years later, of more than $34 trillion, significant parts of it thanks to this countrys failed war on terror in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere across all too much of the planet.

McGovern did recognize that, given how the economy was (and still is) organized, meaningful cuts to military spending could hurt in the short term. So, he suggested that Congress create an Economic Conversion Commission to ensure a smoother transition from guns to butter. His goal was simple: to make the economy less dependent upon arms spending. Excess military spending, he noted, was wasting this countrys human resources, while restricting its political leadership in the world.

In short, that distinguished veteran of World War II, then serving as the scholarly junior Senator from South Dakota (in the words of Senator Jennings Randolph of West Virginia), was anything but proud of Americas arsenal of democracy. He wasnt, in fact, a fan of arsenals at all. Rather, he wanted to foster a democracy worthy of the American people, while freeing us as much as possible from the presence of just such an arsenal.

To that end, he explained what he meant by defending democracy:

When a major percentage of the public resources of our society is devoted to the accumulation of devastating weapons of war, the spirit of democracy suffers. When our laboratories and our universities and our scientists and our youth are caught up in war preparations, the spirit of [freedom] is hampered. America must, of course, maintain a fully adequate military defense. But we have a rich heritage and a glorious future that are too precious to risk in an arms race that goes beyond any reasonable criteria of need. We need to remind ourselves that we have sources of strength, of prestige, and international leadership based on other than nuclear bombs.

Imagine if his call had been heeded. This country might today be a far less militaristic place.

Something was, in fact, afoot in the early 1960s in America. In 1962, despite the wishes of the Pentagon, President John F. Kennedy used diplomacy to get us out of the Cuban Missile Crisis with the Soviet Union and then, in June 1963, made a classic commencement address about peace at American University. Similarly, in support of his call for substantial reductions in military spending, McGovern cited the farewell address of President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1961 during which he introduced the now-classic phrase military-industrial complex, warning that we must never let the weight of this combination [of the military with industry, abetted by Congress] endanger our liberties or democratic processes.

Echoing Ikes warning in what truly seems like another age, McGovern earned the approbation of his Senate peers. His vision of a better, more just, more humane America seemed, however briefly, to resonate. He wanted to spend money not on more nuclear bombs and missiles but on more classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and capable teachers. On better hospitals and expanded nursing-home care. On a cleaner environment, with rivers and streams saved from pollution related to excessive military production. And he hoped as well that, as military bases were closed, they would be converted to vocational schools or healthcare centers.

McGoverns vision, in other words, was aspirational and inspirational. He saw a future America increasingly at peace with the world, eschewing arms races for investments in our own country and each other. It was a vision of the future that went down fast in the Vietnam War era to come, yet one thats even more needed today.

Praise from Senate Peers

Heres another way in which times have changed: McGoverns vision won high praise from his Senate peers in the Democratic Party. Jennings Randolph of West Virginia agreed that unsurpassed military power in combination with areas of grave economic weakness is not a manifestation of sound security policy. Like McGovern, he called for a reinvestment in America, especially in underdeveloped rural areas like those in his home state. Joseph Clark, Jr., of Pennsylvania, also a World War II veteran, thoroughly agreed that the Pentagon budget needs most careful scrutiny on the floor of the Senate, and that in former years it has not received that scrutiny. Stephen Young of Ohio, who served in both World War I and World War II, looked ahead toward an age of peace, expressing hope that perhaps the necessity for these stupendous appropriations [for weaponry] will not be as real in the future.

Possibly the strongest response came from Frank Church of Idaho, who reminded his fellow senators of their duty to the Constitution. That sacred document, he noted, vests in Congress the power to determine the size of our military budget, and I feel we have tended too much to rubberstamp the recommendations that come to us from the Pentagon, without making the kind of critical analysis that the Senator from South Dakota has attempted We cannot any longer shirk this responsibility. Church saluted McGovern as someone who dared to look a sacred cow [the Pentagon budget] in the teeth.

A final word came from Wayne Morse of Oregon. Very much a gadfly, Morse shifted the topic to U.S. foreign aid, noting that too much of that aid was military-related, constituting a shocking waste to the taxpayer even as it proved detrimental to the development of democracy abroad, most notably in Latin America. We should be spending the money for bread, rather than for military aid, he concluded.

Imagine that! Bread instead of bullets and bombs for the world. Of course, even then, it didnt happen, but in the 60 years since then, the rhetoric of the Senate has certainly changed. A McGovern-style speech today would undoubtedly be booed down on both sides of the aisle. Consider, for example, consistent presidential and Congressional clamoring now for more military aid to Israel during a genocide in Gaza. So far, U.S. government actions are more consistent with letting starving children in Gaza eat lead instead of bread.

Peace Must Be Our Profession

What was true then remains true today. Real national defense should not be synonymous with massive spending on wars and weaponry. Quite the reverse: whenever possible, wars should be avoided; whenever possible, weapons should be beaten into plowshares, and those plowshares used to improve the health and well-being of people everywhere.

Oh, and that Biblical reference of mine (swords into plowshares) is intentional. Its meant to highlight the ancient roots of the wisdom of avoiding war, of converting weapons into useful tools to sustain and provide for the rest of us.

Yet Americas leaders on both sides of the aisle have long lost the vision of George McGovern, of John F. Kennedy, of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Todays president and todays Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, boast of spending vast sums on weapons, not only to strengthen Americas imperial power but to defeat Russia and deter China, while bragging all the while of the good jobs theyre allegedly creating here in America in the process. (This countrys major weapons makers would agree with them, of course!)

McGovern had a telling rejoinder to such thinking. Building weapons, he noted in 1963, is a seriously limited device for building the economy, while an excessive reliance on arms, as well as overly rigid diplomacy, serve only to torpedo promising opportunities for peace.

Back then, it seemed to politicians like McGovern, as well as President Kennedy, that clearing a path toward peace was not only possible but imperative, especially considering the previous years near-cataclysmic Cuban Missile Crisis. Yet just a few months after McGoverns inspiring address in the Senate, Kennedy had been assassinated and his calls for peace put on ice as a new president, Lyndon B. Johnson, succumbed to pressure by escalating U.S. military involvement in what mushroomed into the catastrophic Vietnam War.

In todays climate of perpetual war, the dream of peace continues to wither. Still, despite worsening odds, its important that it must not be allowed to die. The high ground must be wrested away from our self-styled warriors, who aim to keep the factories of death churning, no matter the cost to humanity and the planet.

My fellow Americans, we need to wake up from the nightmare of forever war. This countrys wars arent simply being fought over there in faraway and, at least to us, seemingly forgettable places like Syria and Somalia. In some grim fashion, our wars are already very much being fought right here in this deeply over-armed country of ours.

George McGovern, a bomber pilot from World War II, knew the harsh face of war and fought in the Senate for a more peaceful future, one no longer haunted by debilitating arms races and the prospect of a doomsday version of overkill. Joining him in that fight was John F. Kennedy, who, in 1963, suggested that this generation of Americans has already had enough, more than enough, of war, and hate, and oppression.

If only.

Todays generation of leaders seems not yet to have had their fill of war, hate, and oppression. That tragic fact  not China, not Russia, not any foreign power  is now the greatest threat to this countrys national security. And its a threat only aggravated by ever more colossal Pentagon budgets still being rubberstamped by a spinelessly complicit Congress.

Copyright 2024 William J. Astore

Via Tomdispatch.com
By Caroline Lund and Brendan Ciaran Browne | 

( Middle East Monitor )  The ongoing genocide in Gaza has starkly exposed Western governments unequal and wholly selective application of international law whilst also managing to draw much-needed attention to the dysfunctional role that foreign donors and their development agendas play in the region.

Following Israels hitherto unproven allegations, suggesting that members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) played an active role on 7 October, over fifteen Western governments took the draconian decision to cease funding of the organisations life-saving programmes in Gaza. Erroneous food package airdrops have subsequently been the order of the day, with Western states dropping aid whilst simultaneously supplying the weaponry to the Israeli state that has been erasing the presence of a starving Palestinian people in the besieged Gaza Strip.

As the US military prepares to build a pier off the shore of Gaza, with the alleged purpose of facilitating aid delivery, the weaponisation of humanitarian intervention has never been laid so bare. This is at the same time as thousands of trucks laden with aid for the people of Gaza, ready to deliver essentials amidst this ongoing man-made catastrophe, remain prohibited from entry by the Israeli authorities. With more than 1.1 million Palestinians facing emergency levels of food insecurity, the situation is growing beyond desperate by the day.

However, it must be remembered that this is not due to Western governments inability to act or intervene, but rather is due to an unwillingness to address the root causes of Palestinian suffering and oppression  a tendency that stems from decades-long application of a de-contextualised business-as-usual approach to humanitarian intervention. Since the emergence of an oxymoronically named the peace process and the decision to pursue a liberal peace-building agenda in the 1990s, one that centres Western intervention around the proclaimed goal of achieving a mythical two-state solution, development intervention in the region has been profoundly ineffective, despite high levels of fiscal support.

Democracy Now! Video: Aid Workers Say Israel Must End Attack on Gaza, Open Aid Routes

According to the UN, donors have consistently placed Israels territorial interests and purported security demands, as well as their own political goals, above the implementation of international law. Development aid in Palestine has, for decades, failed to be applied on an equal footing or on a perceived rights-based platform.

In order to try and achieve tangible development results despite the chronic and steadily deepening economic and democratic deficit in Palestine, organisations like the UN have started to apply a so-called resilience framework, a process that a number of scholars and practitioners have shown to be deeply flawed.

The recent decision to engage in tokenistic aid drops from the sky, despite the outcry from international humanitarian organisations arguing against their efficacy, is yet further evidence of a deeply problematic Western intervention strategy in Gaza. Many of these aid drops have ended up landing in the sea or, in fact, in parts of Israel, whilst others have failed to deploy their parachutes, killing Palestinian children on impact. This flawed and impotent intervention serves nothing more than a photo-op for the sponsors of this ongoing genocide, further dehumanising Palestinians living in Gaza.

The Wests sponsorship of the genocide in Gaza, in supplying weapons and political cover for Israels actions, alongside its engagement in ineffective humanitarian interventions that put Palestinian lives at further risk, is the perfect example of how it has treated the lives and livelihoods of Palestinians ever since the formation of the Israeli state in 1948.

In addition to extending the humanitarian crisis by months, building a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza for the purported delivery of aid could, in effect, work to facilitate voluntary migration out of the Strip. As both the US and Israel have failed to exert pressure on neighbouring Egypt to open its borders to Palestinians fleeing starvation and indiscriminate bombing, the pier will conveniently create an entry point into Gaza that does not border Israel. It is thus far from cynical to argue that these purported humanitarian interventions are anything other than a stalling tactic designed to allow the US and Israel time needed to achieve their ultimate political aims and objectives  an ethnically cleansed Gaza.

Using aid as a weapon against a besieged population amidst a genocide shames those in the international donor community and reveals their deep complicity in crimes against humanity. Development and humanitarian intervention in Palestine have long been a smokescreen, allowing for the ongoing oppression and dispossession of Palestinians whilst simultaneously presenting a sense of feigned concern to onlookers in the West. Foreign humanitarian intervention in Palestine has been catastrophic, and the time for a fulsome re-evaluation of the root causes of humanitarian need has long since passed.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Via Middle East Monitor
LITTLETON, Colo. / Mar 18, 2024 / Business Wire / Rare Element Resources Ltd. (the Company or RER) (OTCQB: REEMF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ken Mushinski as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Mushinski, a former member of the Board of Directors for the Company (Board), will commence his position and rejoin the Board starting on May 1, 2024. As previously announced, Mr. Brent Berg, current President and CEO, will be leaving the Company. His last day will be March 20, 2024. Ms. Kelli Kast, a current Board member and consultant with nearly twelve years of service to the Company, has been appointed as the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer effective as of March 20, 2024.

Mr. Mushinski served as a member of the RER Board from November 2017 through March 2022. This experience is complemented by an extensive background in corporate development and project execution, primarily in the uranium industry, both domestically and internationally. As the former Vice President, Corporate Planning and Acquisitions for General Atomics Technologies Corporation and President of uranium companies Quasar Resource and Cotter Corporation, all affiliates of General Atomics (GA), Mr. Mushinski has extensive production-related operational experience, from permitting to decommissioning, in the resource industry. Synchron, the majority shareholder of RER, is an affiliate of GA. Throughout his 30-plus-year career, Mr. Mushinski has been responsible for developing strategic partnerships and garnering investments from within the defense, energy and resources industries for projects under his direction. Mr. Mushinski holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, summa cum laude, from San Diego State University.

Kens previous time on the Companys Board has given him a good understanding of the rare earth sector and an appreciation of the opportunities that the Bear Lodge Project and our innovative separation and recovery technology represent. That is what makes him the perfect person to lead the Company in its next phase of development, stated Gerald Grandey, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company. With his strong background in mineral development, he understands the steps that will be needed to get the Bear Lodge Project into production. The relationships he has built over the years with different governmental leaders will ensure the Company continues to align its efforts with the needs of the nation. We look forward to Ken using his demonstrated leadership skills in shepherding the Company towards its goal of becoming the cornerstone of a secure, domestic rare earth supply chain.

Mr. Mushinski currently serves as Non-Executive Chairman for Anfield Energy, Inc. a Canadian-based uranium and vanadium development and near-term production company.

Kelli Kast will serve as the Companys Interim President and Chief Executive Officer during the period between the departure of Mr. Berg and the commencement of Mr. Mushinskis tenure. Ms. Kast has been RERs chief legal officer and head of administration, as an employee or consultant, since July 2012. She has also been a member of the Companys Board since 2022.

Rare Element Resources Ltd. is a publicly traded, strategic materials company focused on delivering rare earth products for technology, energy, and defense applications by advancing the Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project in northeast Wyoming. Bear Lodge is a significant mineralized district containing many of the less common, more valuable, critical rare earths that are essential for high-strength permanent magnets, electronics, fiber optics, laser systems for medical technology and defense, as well as technologies like electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines.

General Atomics is a privately held company engaged in the development and production of advanced technology products and systems for the energy and defense sectors. Rare Element Resources majority shareholder, Synchron, is an affiliate of General Atomics.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States and Canada (collectively, forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are usually identified by our use of certain terminology, including will, believes, may, expects, should, seeks, anticipates, plans, has potential to, or intends (including negative and grammatical variations thereof), or by discussions of strategy or intentions. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding leadership transition plans and the Companys strategic goals. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Companys ability to obtain and maintain demonstration plant licensing and permits, inflation and supply chain issues, the impact of Chinas announced ban on the export of critical materials extraction and separation technology, and other matters discussed under the caption Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and our other periodic and current reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) and available on www.sec.gov and with the Canadian securities commissions available on www.sedarplus.ca. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. Please refer to the discussion of these and other uncertainties and risk factors set out in our filings made from time to time with the SEC and the Canadian regulators, including, without limitation, our reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this news release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. While we may elect to update our forward-looking statements at any time, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
HIGHLIGHTS:

Silvia Bottero , formerly Senior Vice President of Exploration at Endeavour Mining, has a proven exploration track record She was directly responsible for the discovery of +15Moz of M&I gold resources in Cote d'Ivoire over the last decade and played a pivotal role in the discovery of +18Moz of M&I gold resources over her eight-year tenure at Endeavour She has a deep understanding of Montage's Kone project and its exploration potential, having tracked its development closely as some of its grounds were previously held by the Endeavour and Barrick joint-venture She brings extensive permitting and public affairs experience in Cote d'Ivoire, with strong established local stakeholder relationships

She will play a critical role in executing the Montage strategic objectives of further enhancing the Kone project with the discovery of higher-grade satellite deposits and building an attractive greenfield exploration portfolio across Africa

ABIDJAN, Cote d'Ivoire, March 18, 2024 /CNW/ - Montage Gold Corp. ("Montage" or the "Company") (TSXV: MAU) (OTCQX: MAUTF) is pleased to announce the strengthening of its leadership team with the appointment of Silvia Bottero to the position of Executive Vice President of Exploration, effective July 1, 2024.

Silvia Bottero is an accomplished business-minded geologist, with a proven track record of making high quality brownfield and greenfield discoveries with the goal of quickly attaining reserve status. Having been based in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, since 2013 through her positions with La Mancha and subsequently with Endeavour Mining, she has developed a deep understanding of the region's geological setting and established strong relations with local stakeholders. She most recently held the position of Senior Vice President of Exploration at Endeavour Mining, overseeing all its African exploration activities. Over the last decade, she has been credited with the discovery of over 15Moz1 of Measured and Indicated ("M&I") gold resources in Cote d'Ivoire, with notably the discovery of over 8Moz1 M&I gold resources at the Ity mine which transformed the asset from a 50kozpa heap-leach operation to a +300kozpa CIL operation, the discovery of over 3Moz1 of M&I gold resources at Lafigue which led to a construction decision, and most recently the discovery of approximately 4.5Moz1 M&I gold resources at the Tanda-Iguela greenfield property which has the potential to be a Tier 1 asset.

Martino De Ciccio, CEO commented, "I've had the pleasure of working with Silvia for over a decade and I am thrilled to welcome her to Montage where her extensive experience in Africa, and most notably in Cote d'Ivoire, will be instrumental to delivering our strategy of becoming a premier African gold mining company. Silvia's ability to set an exploration strategy based on effectively screening and ranking both near-mine and greenfield targets will be invaluable as we embark on our exploration efforts to delineated more higher-grade deposits in proximity to Kone and to develop a greenfield exploration pipeline to fuel our future growth."

Silvia Bottero, incoming Executive Vice President of Exploration, commented: "I am thrilled to join Montage at this exciting stage in the company's growth. While the Kone project already ranks as one of the highest quality gold projects in Africa given its sizeable low-cost production and long mine life, I am very excited with its exploration potential due to the many identified targets on its extensive tenement holding. I've tracked closely the development of the Kone project, as some of its grounds were previously held by the Endeavour Mining and Barrick joint-venture, and I look forward to working with the team to screen and rank the satellite targets to prioritize those with higher grade. I am equally excited with the opportunity to build a greenfield development pipeline in Africa with the goal of sourcing our next project through our exploration success."

About Silvia Bottero: Incoming Executive Vice President of Exploration

Silvia Bottero has more than 20 years of experience in the mining industry with a proven track record of making highly economic greenfield discoveries and in developing brownfield projects up to DFS, notably in Africa. Prior to joining Montage, she held the position of Senior Vice President of Exploration at Endeavour Mining, overseeing all its African exploration activities. Silvia joined Endeavour in 2016 and played a pivotal role in the discovery of +18Moz[1] of M&I gold resources over her eight-year tenure.

Having been based in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, since 2013 through her positions with Endeavour Mining and previously with La Mancha, she has developed a deep understanding of the region's geological setting and established strong relations with local stakeholders. Over the last decade, she has been credited with the discovery of over 15Moz of M&I gold resources in Cote d'Ivoire, with notably the discovery of +8Moz of M&I gold resources at the Ity mine which transformed the asset from a 50kozpa heap-leach operation to a +300kozpa CIL operation, the discovery of over 3Moz of M&I gold resources at Lafigue which led to a construction decision within 2 years, and most recently the discovery of Tanda-Iguela greenfield property unlocking approximately 4.5Moz of M&I gold resources which has the potential to be a Tier 1 asset. In her roles, Silvia was responsible for overseeing all exploration activities ranging from exploration permit identification and grant application, drill programmes (grassroots, brownfield, near-mine, and resource infill drilling), and activities linked to studies (PEA, PFS and DFS). In addition, Silvia played a key role in the mine permitting process and in ensuring high ESG standards given her involvement with Endeavour's Economic Development Fund and its Steering Committee.

Prior to her Exploration Manager position at La Mancha, she held the position of Exploration Manager for West African Minerals in Sierra Leone and Cameroon. Prior to this, she held various positions at AREVA, working across Niger, Namibia, South Africa, Central African Republic, Kazakhstan, Wyoming, and France.

Silvia holds a Masters in Geology from the Universita degli Studi di Genova, Italy, a Post Masters degree in Geosciences from Universite Joseph Fournier in Grenoble, France, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Walden University in Minneapolis, USA. Silvia is fluent in English, French and Italian.

Stock-Based Compensation Grants

The Company also announces that it has granted an aggregate 2,813,334 incentive stock options to certain officers, directors and other eligible persons of the Company. The options are exercisable, subject to vesting provisions, over a period of five years at a price of C$0.91 per share. In connection with the appointment of Silvia Bottero as Executive Vice President, Exploration, the Company has agreed to issue an aggregate of 1,186,656 common shares (the "Inducement Shares") as an inducement to full-time employment with the Company. Such common shares will be subject to a three-year contractual escrow. The issuance of the Inducement Shares is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

ABOUT MONTAGE GOLD CORP.

Montage Gold Corp. (TSXV: MAU) is a Canadian-listed company focused on becoming a premier multi-asset African gold producer, with its flagship Kone project, located in Cote d'Ivoire, at the forefront. Based on the Feasibility Study published in 2024, the Kone project ranks as one of the highest quality gold projects in Africa with a long 16-year mine life, low AISC of $998/oz over its life of mine, and sizeable annual production of +300koz of gold over the first 8 years. Over the course of 2024, the Montage management team will be leveraging their extensive track record in developing projects in Africa to progress the Kone project towards an investment decision, thereby unlocking significant value for all its stakeholders.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE

The Kone and Gbongogo Main Mineral Resource Estimates were carried out by Mr. Jonathon Abbott of Matrix Resource Consultants of Perth, Western Australia, who is considered to be independent of Montage Gold. Mr. Abbott is a member in good standing of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralization under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under NI 43101.

The Mineral Reserve Estimate was carried out by Ms. Joeline McGrath of Carci Mining Consultants Ltd., who is considered to be independent of Montage Gold. Ms. McGrath is a member in good standing of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the work which she is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under NI 43101.

For further details of the data verification undertaken, exploration undertaken and associated QA/QC programs, and the interpretation thereof, and the assumptions, parameters and methods used to develop the Mineral Reserve Estimate for the Kone Gold Project, please see the UFS, entitled "Kone Gold Project, Cote d'Ivoire Updated Feasibility Study National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report" and filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are encouraged to read the UFS in its entirety, including all qualifications, assumptions and exclusions that relate to the details summarized in this news release. The UFS is intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context.

SOURCE DATA AND REFERENCES TO ENDEAVOUR MINING DISCLOSURE

Lafigue (100% basis) Category Tonnage (Mt) Grade (Au g/t) Content (Au koz) Mineral Resource and Reserves Estimate effective as of December 31, 2022 Proven Mineral Reserves - - - Probable Mineral Reserves 49.8 1.69 2,714 P&P Reserves 49.8 1.69 2,714 Measured Resources (incl. reserves) - - - Indicated Resources (incl. reserves) 46.2 2.04 3,026 M&I Resources (incl. reserves) 46.2 2.04 3,026 Inferred Resources 1.6 1.98 102

Note: See Endeavour Mining press release dated March 9, 2023 for full disclosures relating to the above Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimate

Tanda-Iguela (100% basis) Category Tonnage (Mt) Grade (Au g/t) Content (Au koz) Mineral Resource and Reserves Estimate effective as of November 14, 2023 Measured Resources - - - Indicated Resources 70.9 1.97 4,493 Inferred Resources 2.9 1.91 176

Note: See Endeavour Mining press release dated November 29, 2023 for full disclosures relating to the above Mineral Resource Estimate

Ity Mine (100% basis) Category Tonnage (Mt) Grade (Au g/t) Content (Au koz) Mineral Resource and Reserves Estimate effective as of December 31, 2022 Proven Mineral Reserves 11.4 0.82 300 Probable Mineral Reserves 46.5 1.82 2,721 P&P Reserves 57.9 1.62 3,021 Measured Resources (incl. reserves) 11.7 0.79 298 Indicated Resources (incl. reserves) 85.3 1.70 4,673 M&I Resources (incl. reserves) 96.9 1.59 4,971 Inferred Resources 17.1 1.59 873 Cumulative Depletion of M&I Resources 2,800 Inclusive of historic heap leach operations

Note: See Endeavour Mining press release dated March 9, 2023 for full disclosures relating to the above Mineral Resource and Reserve Estimate. See Endeavour Mining February 2024 Corporate Presentation slide 65 for disclosure of cumulative depletion at the Ity Mine

Endeavour Mining Company-wide Discoveries since 2016 (100% basis) M&I Resources (incl. Reserves) 18.4Moz

Note: See Endeavour Mining February 2024 Corporate Presentation slide 18 for disclosure of company-wide discoveries

QUALIFIED PERSONS STATEMENT

The scientific and technical contents of this press release have been approved by Hugh Stuart, BSc, MSc, a Qualified Person pursuant to NI 43-101. Mr. Stuart is the President and a Director of the Company, a Chartered Geologist and a Fellow of the Geological Society of London.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "Forward-looking Statements"). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute Forward-looking Statements. Words such as "will", "intends", "proposed" and "expects" or similar expressions are intended to identify Forward-looking Statements. Forward looking Statements in this press release include statements related to the use of proceeds from the Offering; the final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange; the Company's mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; the timing and amount of future production from the Kone Gold Project; expectations with respect AISC of the Kone Gold Project; anticipated mine life of the Kone Gold Project; and expected recoveries and grades of the Kone Gold Project. Forward-looking Statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include uncertainties inherent in the preparation of mineral reserve and resource estimates and definitive feasibility studies such as the Mineral Reserve Estimate and the UFS, including but not limited to, assumptions underlying the production estimates not being realized, incorrect cost assumptions, unexpected variations in quantity of mineralized material, grade or recovery rates, unexpected changes to geotechnical or hydrogeological considerations, unexpected failures of plant, equipment or processes, unexpected changes to availability of power or the power rates, failure to maintain permits and licenses, higher than expected interest or tax rates, adverse changes in project parameters, unanticipated delays and costs of consulting and accommodating rights of local communities, environmental risks inherent in the Cote d'Ivoire, title risks, including failure to renew concessions, unanticipated commodity price and exchange rate fluctuations, risks relating to COVID-19, delays in or failure to receive access agreements or amended permits, and other risk factors set forth in the Company's 2022 AIF under the heading "Risk Factors". The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any Forward-looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Montage to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any Forward-looking Statement. Any Forward-looking Statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

This press release includes certain terms or performance measures commonly used in the mining industry that are not defined under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), including cash costs and AISC (or "all-in sustaining costs") per payable ounce of gold sold and per tonne processed and mining, processing and operating costs reported on a unit basis. Non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS and, therefore, they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The Company discloses "cash costs" and "all-in sustaining costs" and other unit costs because it understands that certain investors use this information to determine the Company's ability to generate earnings and cash flows for use in investing and other activities. The Company believes that conventional measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS, do not fully illustrate the ability of mines to generate cash flows. The measures, as determined under IFRS, are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flows from operating activities. The measures cash costs and all-in sustaining costs and unit costs are considered to be key indicators of a project's ability to generate operating earnings and cash flows. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS and are not necessarily indicative of operating costs, operating profit or cash flows presented under IFRS. Readers should also refer to our management's discussion and analysis, available under our corporate profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a more detailed discussion of how we calculate such measures.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Pampa Metals Corp. ("Pampa Metals" or the "Company") (CSE:PM)(FSE:FIR)(OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to report final assay results for diamond drillhole PIU-01 which was recently completed to a depth of 867m at the Company's Piuquenes Central porphyry target located in San Juan Province, Argentina. Assay results include:

422 m @ 0.48% Cu, 0.61 g/t Au & 2.9 g/t Ag (1.00% CuEq)* (from 198 m);

including 132 m @ 0.71% Cu, 0.85 g/ Au, 4.3 g/t Ag (1.45% CuEq)* (from 220m);

Including 80 m @ 0.6% Cu, 0.77 g/t Au & 3.2 g/t Ag (1.30% CuEq)* (from 468m).

As previously reported, hole PIU-01 was designed to extend Cu-Au mineralization to depth on the southwestern margin of the Piuquenes Central porphyry. Drilling intersected the mineralized intrusion at a downhole depth of 198m as predicted. Supergene copper enrichment was observed from 220m to 380m downhole, coincident, and overlapping with primary mineralization from 350 meters. Strong primary mineralization associated with intense porphyry A type quartz stockwork veining is evident from 350m to approximately 650m. From 650m to the end of hole at 867m quartz veining and mineralization continues, becoming progressively less intense with depth. From 830m disseminated hematite/specularite-pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization is hosted in volcanic host rocks outside the porphyry intrusive and remains open at depth.

Joseph van den Elsen, Pampa Metals President and CEO commented: "We are very pleased to report exceptional intervals of both supergene enriched and primary copper mineralization in the first hole of our maiden drill campaign at the Piuquenes Project. The campaign is achieving its objective of testing the depth and lateral extensions of the previously reported mineralization at Piuquenes Central. Subsequent drill campaigns will also test the undrilled Piuquenes East porphyry target and other nearby targets identified on the property."

A Company Presentation is available at: www.pampametals.com/investor/presentations

Geology and Mineralization - Diamond Drillhole PIU-01

From surface to 198 m, PIU-01 intersected a fine-grained quartz diorite porphyry with evidence of Intermediate argillic alteration and secondary biotite. Sporadic quartz stockwork veining with disseminated oxidized sulfides are observed from 80 m, becoming more frequent from 150 m deep, coincident with intermineral potassic alteration and anomalous gold values.

Moderate porphyry A-type quartz stockwork veining is present from approximately 150m downhole, increasing in intensity from 220m depth. Supergene copper enrichment is evident from 220m to 380m depth, partially coincident (from 288 m depth) with increasing intensity of porphyry A-type quartz vein stockworks and evidence of intermineral potassic alteration. A narrow zone of copper oxides is observed from 220 - 229m downhole.

Dense porphyry A-type quartz vein stockwork with chalcopyrite and traces of disseminated bornite mineralization hosted in potassic altered diorite porphyry was intersected from 350m to approximately 650 m downhole. From 650m to approximately 740m a zone of moderate intensity quartz veining with lower grade copper-gold mineralization was intersected. Sporadic quartz veining thereafter remains open from 740m to 867m (EOH). From 730m intermediate argillic alteration is present, as is molybdenite, sphalerite and hematite/specularite associated with grey sericite-chlorite veining and fine-grained disseminated chalcopyrite-bornite. From 830m the host-rock is volcanic, superimposed by sericite-chlorite alteration and disseminated hematite/specularite-pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization, veining and breccias.

Images 1 & 2: Porphyry qtz stockwork veining with oxide copper mineralization (Top) and supergene enrichment (Bottom)

Image 3. Intense Porphyry A type quartz stockwork veining w/primary chalcopyrite mineralization (393-401m)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2024) - Canter Resources Corp. (CSE: CRC) (OTC Pink: CNRCF) (FSE: 6O1) ("Canter" or the "Company") is pleased to report that the Company has acquired additional third-party data including historical soil sampling results and geophysical survey data that highlights significant lithium in soils along the eastern edge of the 5 by 2.5 km priority target area at the Columbus Lithium-Boron Project ("Columbus" or the "Project").

The acquisition of substantial third-party historical geochemical sampling data, alongside Canter's own database and sampling efforts, provides a comprehensive dataset within the 23,000-acre project area. This combined dataset includes 473 surface samples and reveals a maximum surface sediment lithium ("Li") value of 540 ppm Li. Analysis of the newly acquired third-party data shows an average concentration of 144 ppm Li across 54 surface sediment samples and multiple locations exceeding 200 ppm Li, with the highest value from the historical dataset reported at 348ppm Li. Additionally, previous surface brine samples reveal lithium concentrations reaching 240 mg/L. This extensive combined dataset highlights the basin's potential for near-surface lithium enrichment (see Table 1 and Figure 1).

The Company recently engaged renowned geophysicist, Jim Wright of Wright Geophysics, who completed reinterpretation of available geophysical data. The Company has also obtained airborne magnetic and radiometric data from the recently completed collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Department of Energy (DOE) designed in part to support geologic and geophysical mapping and modeling of Nevada's lithium clay and brine resources (see Figure 2).

"We have taken methodical low-cost steps to support our Phase I drilling at shallow and moderate depths while delineating additional targets throughout the 23,000-acre property package for subsequent campaigns," stated Joness Lang, CEO of Canter Resources. "We are actively updating our 3D model to integrate our expanded dataset and reprocessed geophysics. Initial observations continue to validate our Phase I program and highlight a significant brine target at Columbus."

Figure 1: Plan view showing historical/third-party geochemical results along the eastern flank of the Columbus Project and Canters shallow auger assay result within the centre of the priority target area.

During a recent trip to site, the Company's geologists completed a single, one metre (~three feet) deep auger hole approximately 500 metres east of the first planned exploration well at Columbus. The small portable auger rig was not suitable for reaching the interpreted upper brine layer depth; however, the Company still collected a sediment sample at the bottom of the test hole that returned a value of 430 ppm Li. The Company will test the upper brine layer during its upcoming Geoprobe campaign.

Table 1: Historical 3rd Party Surface Sediment Sample Highlights

Historic 3rd Party Data Acquisition - Surface Samples 414 Total Samples Range (Li ppm) Average (Li ppm) High (Li ppm) 9 samples 300-400 337.0 392.0 24 samples 200-299.9 230.1 279.0 166 samples 100-199.9 141.4 199.5

The historical dataset was obtained from a reliable source and includes original lab assay certificates, GPS coordinates and detailed quality assurance / quality control protocols and technical reports, however, the Company is still treating this dataset as historical. The Company views this data as relevant from a targeting perspective and a guide for its own exploration model but not relying on the data for any other purpose. To further validate and augment this data, the Company will collect additional surface sediment and brine samples in the coming weeks, concurrently with its shallow Geoprobe drilling (see press release dated March 6, 2024).

Reprocessing of historical gravity data, incorporating data from both regional and property-specific surveys, has identified a prominent gravity anomaly within the basin. This anomaly is indicative of a substantial layer of low-density sediment that may extend to depths exceeding 3,300 meters.

Canter Resources has also integrated airborne magnetic and radiometric data from the USGS - DOE collaboration. This data, underpinned by a comprehensive reinterpretation by Wright Geophysics, has highlighted the intricate structural dynamics at play within the Columbus Basin. The detailed overlay of this geophysical data with our conceptual model of structural kinematics has not only affirmed the presence of a closed structural basin but has also sharpened understanding of the basin's geology.

Figure 2: USGS airborne magnetic survey with structural interpretation

This synthesis of airborne magnetic survey data with structural interpretation provides a view into the basin's subsurface, revealing insights into fault orientations and movements. The analysis delineates the complex interplay of the Coaldale Fault, CSM Fault, and their interaction with the broader tectonic regimes of the Walker Lane and Mina Deflection, underscoring the basin's potential for lithium enrichment.

Corporate Update Note

Further to the Company's news release of March 14, 2024, the Company wishes to clarify that Gordon Holmes, a director and officer of Streetwise Reports, owns 250,000 common shares of the Company. Streetwise Reports was engaged by the Company to create image ads for use on various Streetwise Reports digital platforms and to create a company profile page to be hosted on Streetwise Reports.

Historical Results and QA/QC

All historical results quoted herein are based on historical data and reports obtained and prepared by previous operators. Other than the verification procedures described in this news release, the Company has not undertaken work to verify results and there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information. The Company considers this historical data to be relevant as the Company will use this data within its exploration models and databases to guide future exploration programs, and it should not be used for any other purpose. The Company considers the data to be reliable for these purposes, however, the Company's future exploration work will include additional verification of the data through further confirmation sampling in priority target areas.

The sampling procedure for the Company's 430 ppm Li result involved auger drilling down to approximately three feet below the surface to penetrate the surface playa crust and access the underlying clay zone, which exhibited an olive green color change indicative of potential mineralogical variations. The collected sample was then analyzed at ALS in Reno, NV, employing the LiICP-61 protocol, a specialized test focused on lithium detection. This analysis utilized a four-acid digestion and ICP-AES finish with a low-temperature drying process designed to minimize the volatilization of lithium.

Qualified Person (QP)

The technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Eric Saderholm P.Geo, Director and Technical Advisor of Canter Resources, a Qualified Person (QP), as defined under National Instrument 43- 101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects

About Canter Resources Corp.

Canter Resources Corp. is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company advancing the Columbus Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada, USA, the Beaver Creek Lithium Property in Montana, USA, and the Puzzle Lake Property in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Company is preparing for a Phase I drill campaign at Columbus to test a highly prospective lithium-brine target and plans to leverage the Company's critical metals targeting database to generate a portfolio of high-quality projects with the aim of defining mineral resources that support the domestic clean energy supply chain in North America.

For further information contact:

Joness Lang

Chief Executive Officer

Canter Resources Corp.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For investor inquiries contact:

Kristina Pillon, High Tide Consulting Corp.

Tel: 604.908.1695

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
KELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Diamcor Mining Inc. (TSX-V:DMI) (OTCQB:DMIFF) (FRA:DC3A), ("Diamcor" or the "Company"), an established diamond mining company focused on building a supply of ethically sourced, non-conflict, natural rough diamonds to some of the world's most reputable diamantaires and luxury retailers, announces today that recently retired Tiffany & Co. executive, Mr. D. Wayne Howard, has joined the Company's Board as an Independent Director.

"I am very pleased to announce the addition of Mr. Howard to our Company's board as an Independent Director", noted Diamcor's CEO, Mr. Dean Taylor, "Having collaborated with Wayne at Tiffany & Co. over the years on the current and future direction of the diamond industry, and the growing complexities of securing supplies of non-conflict natural rough diamonds, I could not think of a better person to assist our Company at a time when our desire is to grow our business and position ourselves as a key additional source of rough diamonds to reputable diamantaires and luxury retailers" added Mr. Taylor.

"I look forward to working with Mr. Taylor, and to providing him with the insight, experience, and knowledge I have gained over the years to successfully grow businesses into larger entities", commented Mr. Howard, "Dean and I share many of the same visions on the past, present, and future direction of the diamond industry, and we both believe that the opportunity exists to now position Diamcor for the future".

Mr. Howard is a leadership expert and results-oriented executive with a creative, entrepreneurial approach to business issues and extensive experience as an international board member, with global experience with several NYSE listed companies. He has a demonstrated ability to improve profitability for companies by developing new strategies for growing revenues, reducing costs and improving operations. Wayne has held various senior executive positions over his extensive career including VP Finance, Executive Vice President Global Operations, Director of Marketing and Sales and business owner. Mr. Howard has extensive knowledge of the diamond industry and well-established relationships with key industry players. Most recently and prior to his recent retirement, Mr. Howard held various executive level positions at Tiffany & Co., including Divisional Vice President Diamond Supply - Operations Officer, Divisional Vice President Jewelry Supply - Operations Officer, and Vice President of Manufacturing. He is also currently Managing Director for NY based Peale Davies, an independent advisory firm that provides strategic and financial advice on acquisitions, private capital solutions, restructurings, M&A, and growth initiatives. His extensive career has also included positions as Vice President of sourcing and logistics with Cerberus Capital Management Portfolio Company, Profit Improvement consultant with DWH Solutions, as well as Executive Vice President of Global Operations for New York based International Flavors & Fragrances where he successfully improved return on invested capital, lowered costs, and successfully integrated the operations of a $1.0B acquisition. He has also served as Vice President of other NYSE listed companies including luxury retailer Nordstrom, and Unilever - Lipton. Mr. Howard has an Honours degree in Business Administration from Ivey Business School at Western University and has completed PMD at Harvard Business School.

Diamcor has agreed to grant Mr. Howard options to purchase 3,000,000 shares to be priced at $0.10 per share. The options will vest in accordance with the TSX Venture Exchange vesting requirements. All options will expire five years from the date of issue, and all options exercised will be subject to the required hold periods pursuant to applicable securities laws and TSX Venture Exchange policies.

About Diamcor Mining Inc.

Diamcor Mining Inc. is a fully reporting publicly traded diamond mining company with a proven history, which is focused on building a growing supply of ethically sourced, non-conflict, natural rough diamonds to some of the world's most reputable diamantaire's and luxury retailers. The Company has a long-term strategic alliance with world famous Tiffany & Co, and currently, its primary focus is on the development of its Krone-Endora at Venetia Project which is co-located and directly related to De Beers' flagship Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa. The Venetia diamond mine is long recognized as one of the world's top diamond-producing mines, and the deposits which occur on Company's Krone-Endora Project have been identified as being the result of shift and subsequent erosion of an estimated 50M tonnes of material from the higher grounds of Venetia to the lower surrounding areas in the direction of Krone and Endora. The Company is also focused on the acquisition and development of additional mid-tier projects with near-term production capabilities to allow the Company to position itself as a growing supplier of ethically and responsibly mined non-conflict natural rough diamonds to reputable diamantaires and select luxury retailers. The Company has a strong commitment to junior mining, social responsibility, women in mining, supporting local communities, and to protecting the environment.

About the Tiffany & Co. Alliance

The Company has an established long-term strategic alliance with Tiffany & Co. Canada, a subsidiary of world-famous New York based Tiffany & Co., to purchase up to 100% of the future production of rough diamonds from the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project at market prices. In conjunction with this first right of refusal, Tiffany & Co. Canada also provided the Company with financing in an effort to advance the Project as quickly as possible. Tiffany & Co. is now owned by Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (LVMH), a publicly traded company which is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (Euronext) under the symbol LVMH and on the OTC under the symbol LVMHF. For additional information on Tiffany & Co., please visit their website at www.tiffany.com.

About the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project

Diamcor acquired the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project from De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, consisting of the prospecting rights over the farms Krone 104 and Endora 66, which represent a combined surface area of approximately 5,888 hectares directly adjacent to De Beers' flagship Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa. The Company subsequently announced that the South African Department of Mineral Resources had granted a Mining Right for the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project encompassing 657.71 hectares of the Project's total area of 5,888 hectares. The Company has also submitted an application for a mining right over the remaining areas of the Project. The deposits which occur on the properties of Krone and Endora have been identified as a higher-grade "Alluvial" basal deposit which is covered by a lower-grade upper "Eluvial" deposit. These deposits are proposed to be the result of the direct-shift (in respect to the "Eluvial" deposit) and erosion (in respect to the "Alluvial" deposit) of an estimated 1,000 vertical meters of material from the higher grounds of the adjacent Venetia Kimberlite areas. The deposits on Krone-Endora occur with a maximum total depth of approximately 15.0 metres from surface to bedrock, allowing for a very low-cost mining operation to be employed with the potential for near-term diamond production from a known high-quality source. Krone-Endora also benefits from the significant development of infrastructure and services already in place due to its location directly adjacent to the Venetia Mine, which is widely recognised as one of the top producing diamond mines in the world.

Qualified Person Statement:

Mr. James P. Hawkins (B.Sc., P.Geo.), is Manager of Exploration & Special Projects for Diamcor Mining Inc., and the Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 responsible for overseeing the execution of Diamcor's exploration programmes and a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta ("APEGA"). Mr. Hawkins has reviewed this press release and approved of its contents.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Mr. Dean H. Taylor

President & CEO

Diamcor Mining Inc.

www.diamcormining.com

For further information contact:

Mr. Dean H. Taylor

Diamcor Mining Inc

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+1 250 862-3212

For Investor Relations contact:

Mr. Rich Matthews

Integrous Communications

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+1 (604) 355-7179

Mr. Neil Simon

Investor Cubed Inc

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+1 (647) 258-3310

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. While these forward-looking statements represent our best current judgement, they are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict and which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Further, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

WE SEEK SAFE HARBOUR

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
The first diamond in the Jwaneng South Diamond Project has been recovered from a soil sample. Indications are that the diamond is close to source. The diamond was recovered from a third phase soil sample grid. A groundmagnetic survey has been completed in the area where the diamond has been found.... Read More
Top UN judges will start listening to submissions next month in the case filed by Nicaragua accusing Berlin of facilitating "genocide" in Gaza because of its support for Israel, officials said Friday.

Two weeks ago Nicaragua filed a case against Germany before the International Court of Justice, saying Berlin was "facilitating the commission of genocide and... failed in its obligation to do everything possible to prevent the commission of genocide," in Gaza.

This included Berlin's suspension of funding of the UN Palestinian refugee agency.

The Hague-based ICJ said it will hold hearings on April 8 and 9 for both countries to make submissions.

"The hearings will be devoted to the request for the indication of provisional measures contained in Nicaragua's Application," the ICJ said in a statement.

Managua has asked the court to take a swift interim stance against Germany before the case was given in-depth study by judges.

The lodging of the case follows the ICJ saying on January 26 that Israel must do everything to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and take "immediate" measures for aid provisions.

That interim order was given as the court moves to weigh in full a case lodged in December by South Africa alleging that Israel was engaged in genocide in Gaza.

Israel has dismissed South Africa's case as a "grossly distorted story".

ICJ rulings are legally binding, but the court has no enforcement mechanism.

Accusations from Israel that staff from UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, took part in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel prompted several countries -- including Germany, Britain, Japan and the United States -- to suspend their funding.

However, Canada and Sweden said they would resume UNRWA aid and Spain has pledged an additional 20 million euros.

Efforts intensified Thursday to bring more aid into the war-devastated Gaza as Spanish aid vessel Open Arms neared Israel's coast after departing Cyprus on Tuesday.

The war began on October 7 when Hamas militants attacked Israel, resulting in about 1,160 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

The militants also seized about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages. Israel believes about 130 of the captives remain in Gaza and that 32 are dead.

Israel has carried out a relentless campaign of bombardment and ground operations in Gaza, killing at least 31,490 people, most of them civilians, according to the territory's health ministry.
In Russia, trials linked to the war in Ukraine got off to a late start. The military court of Rostov-on-Don passed its first sentence on a Ukrainian prisoner of war on June 20, 2023. Denis Muryga, a former soldier of the Ukrainian Aidar battalion, was sentenced to 16 years in a strict regime colony. The Supreme Court of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic (DNR) declared Aidar as a terrorist organization in April 2016. It is also considered an illegal armed formation in Russia.

The Southern District Military Court publicly announced the start of the first case involving a Ukrainian prisoner of war on February 23, 2023, just before the first anniversary of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Senior Sergeant Anton Cherednik, a serviceman of the 501st Separate Marine Battalion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, was accused of seizing power by force, cruel treatment of civilians, murder, and undergoing training for terrorist activities. According to the accusation, on March 27, 2022, Cherednik stopped two men in the town of Mirnoye near Mariupol and ordered them to lie down. They showed him identification documents, but the military demanded that they say a phrase in Ukrainian. Cherednik reportedly shot one of the men, whose pronunciation was not correct.

In a video released by the Investigative Committee of Russia, Cherednik stated that he had no objective reasons to kill the man, and that he regrets what happened. Cherednik told investigators that the detainee responded normally but then made a sudden movement, and the soldier instinctively shot him. The soldier claimed in court that he did not force passersby to speak Ukrainian. According to him, this accusation was necessary for the investigation to bring a trumped up motive of national hatred. In November 2023, he was sentenced to 19 years of strict regime colony. The charges were based on the testimony of a surviving passerby, two residents of Mariupol who allegedly saw the moment of the murder from a window, and Anton Baydrakov, who patrolled with Cherednik. Baydrakov himself was sentenced to 18 years of strict regime in December 2023 in a similar case.

More public scrutiny in Rostov

Cases in Rostov and in the occupied territories are handled differently. Courts in the occupied territories more often issue verdicts based on charges related to ill-treatment of the population and the use of prohibited methods in an armed conflict. Russias Southern Military Court in Rostov often finds captured soldiers guilty on terrorist charges, such as undergoing training for terrorist activities or simply participating in a terrorist organization.

Cases against members of the Azov and Aidar battalions, which are considered terrorist in Russia, are heard both in the occupied territories and in Rostov-on-Don. However, the mere fact of participation in a terrorist organization is attributed to captured soldiers only in Southern Military Court cases.

Cases tried in the occupied territories are less visible to public scrutiny  almost nothing is known about them except what is officially reported by the Russian Investigative Committee. From the releases of Russian law enforcement agencies, it is impossible to understand when the case came to court, how much time was spent on its consideration, whether the defendants were provided with lawyers, or what arguments the defendants put forward in their defence at the hearings. From this point of view, the situation is better in Rostov: all cases involving Ukrainian prisoners of war are included in the general judicial database, with each case taking over five months to be reviewed, and hearings are most often held in public.

Unofficial terrorist organization

More details by far are available about cases heard by the Southern Military Court. For example, in December 2023, this court sentenced Viktor Didyk and his son Roman Didyk, Ukrainian servicemen who were members of the Dnipro-1 battalion. They were found guilty of participation in a terrorist organization, as well as illegal possession, transportation and carrying of firearms and ammunition.

The volunteer battalion Dnipro-1 was formed in April 2014 based on the patrol service of the special police force within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. It became the first volunteer unit formed in response to demonstrations and seizure of administrative buildings by separatists in the south-eastern regions of Ukraine. Some Russian media called the regiment punitive and press releases from the General Prosecutor Office referred to it as a terrorist organization, although it is not on the official list of terrorist organizations.

According to public data from the Russian investigation, Roman and Viktor Didyk joined the Dnipro-1 battalion in 2015 and participated in military operations in southeastern Ukraine. They were captured in the spring of 2022 in the village of Rubizhne, in the Luhansk Peoples Republic (LNR). Weapons and ammunition were allegedly found with them, which was noted in the indictment. The court sentenced them to eight years in a colony.

Penal colony for a female cook

The average sentence in Rostov is 12 years, while in the occupied territories it is 23 years, not including over 30 life sentences. Remarkably, the military court in Rostov-on-Don has not issued any sentences exceeding 20 years, nor has it handed down any life sentences to Ukrainian prisoners of war. One of its most recent penalties was 5.5 years of penal colony. Natalya Pridatchenko received such a sentence in December 2023. She became the first known woman among Ukrainian prisoners of war to be convicted by Russian courts.

A penal colony in Russia is the most lenient form of imprisonment. Convicts there can wear civilian clothes, communicate freely with relatives by phone and during visits, and receive an unlimited number of parcels. Ukrainian prisoners of war are usually sent to special and strict regime colonies, where there are limited visits and phone calls, and stricter daily schedules.

According to Russian investigators, in January 2020 Pridatchenko signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and was assigned to the 24th Separate Assault Battalion Aidar, where she worked as a cook. Pridatchenko worked there for less than a year, until April 2021. Although Aidar was only recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia in the autumn of 2023, she was still accused of participating in a terrorist organization. The date of Pridatchenkos arrest is unknown, but according to the human rights center Memorial, after the start of the full-scale invasion she lived in Severodonetsk, Luhansk Region.The Southern Military Court continues to consider two major cases involving nearly 40 Ukrainians allegedly members of the Azov and Aidar battalions. The next hearings in these cases are scheduled for March 20 and March 28 respectively.
Jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi on Monday called on countries to increase pressure on Tehran over its "egregious" human rights abuses.

Mohammadi, 51, won the 2023 award for her campaign for human rights in Iran which has seen her spend much of the last two decades in and out of prison.

"The people of Iran are enduring systematic, widespread and institutionalised human rights violations," she told a UN Human Rights Council session on Iran, in a message read out on her behalf.

"With the recent surge in protests and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, repression has escalated targeting not only political dissidents but also women, religious minorities and ethnic groups," she said.

"The UN and human rights organisations worldwide must exert systematic and comprehensive pressure on the Islamic republic, holding it accountable for its egregious violations of human rights."

Mohammadi is detained in Tehran's Evin prison and her message was read out by the non-governmental organisation Together Against the Death Penalty.

- Executions spike -

The Nobel laureate urged the council to renew the mandate of Javaid Rehman, the council's special rapporteur on rights in Iran, and also of an independent international fact-finding mission investigating the deadly crackdown on protests that erupted in 2022.

Both mandates are due to end next month. Tehran does not engage with either.

"I remain very concerned at the ongoing executions and spike in death penalty sentences observed," Rehman said as he presented his latest report to the rights council.

"At least 834 people were executed in 2023 -- a 43-percent increase compared to 2022."

In jail, Mohammadi, "suffers from severe health issues, including serious heart and lung conditions, placing her health at great risk", he added.

Responding to Rehman, Tehran's representative Somayeh Karimdoost said the report was "not factual nor is it professional", let alone fair or reflective of Iran's "constant progress in promotion and protection of human rights".

Iran was rocked by widespread demonstrations sparked by the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who had been arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress rule for women based on Islamic sharia law.

In its report on the crackdown, the fact-finding mission said many of the violations uncovered "amount to crimes against humanity -- specifically those of murder, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution, enforced disappearance and other inhumane acts".

The mission's chair Sara Hossain told a press conference that Tehran had failed to recognise the protests and had also tried to "silence all those who are still seeking justice".

- 'Intimidate, abuse, imprison'

Kazem Gharibabadi, head of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, said the mission had a "glaring lack of independence and impartiality", and sought to "obfuscate and distort the realities".

A long line of diplomats took the floor to decry events in Iran.

"Sixteen of the 24 women executed worldwide in 2022 were executed in Iran," noted France's ambassador Jerome Bonnafont.

US ambassador Michele Taylor said Iran continued to "intimidate, abuse and imprison" rights activists, journalists, lawyers, religious minorities, cultural figures and political dissidents.

Representatives of countries including Russia, China, and North Korea came to Tehran's defence.

As the session went ahead, about 50 people demonstrated outside the UN building, calling on the organisation to act against Iran.
The Han So Hee-Ryu Jun Yeol-Hyeri saga continues as the celebrities involved are caught up with growing rumors.

Following the confirmation about the "My Name" star and Ryu Jun Yeol's relationship, netizens didn't just dig deep into the story but flocked to the actress' blog after acknowledging the romance with the "Reply 1988" star.

Han So Hee's Now-Deleted Blog Comment Causes Major Stir - Here's What Happened

According to a report, Han So Hee further explained her side regarding the alleged "transit love" with Ryu Jun Yeol in a now-deleted comment on her blog.

According to her, she said that the breakup happened sometime in June 2023, which she first knew from the media.

"I did not learn about his breakup period privately but wrote about the timeline based on an article published last year in June. If revealing this was rude of me, then I will delete that information."

In addition, the actress emphasized that no cheating happened.

"I think it was discourteous on my part while trying to provide more evidence that there wasn't any overlap."

However, netizens were not buying Han So Hee's explanation, pointing out that she had no evidence about the said article.

In addition, Lee Hyeri and Ryu Jun Yeol officially announced their breakup in November of the same year.

READ MORE: 'Unbothered Queen' Han So Hee Shares Vacation Posts Amid Dating Rumor With Ryu Jun Yeol

However, the only thing that the "My Roommate is a Gumiho" star mentioned back in June 2023 was about the few KakaoTalk messages she received.

"There are times when I don't receive any messages all day long. I currently have 4," Hyeri said, drawing attention to her relationship at the time with Ryu Jun Yeol.

Hyeri 'No Plans' to Answer Han So Hee's Instagram Post

On March 15, rumors sparked that Ryu Jun Yeol is dating Han So Hee after a post claimed that a Japanese netizen saw the duo lounging together in a swimming pool at a high-end hotel in Hawaii.

Although the user chose not to post the photos, it became a hot topic online.

Shortly after this, their respective agencies briefly responded to the dating rumors and pointed out that they were in Hawaii for separate occasions.

However, Hyeri shared a cryptic post on Instagram that was seemingly a response to the dating rumors. With a post that said, "This is funny," people deemed it her reaction to the alleged Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol romance.

The plot thickened after Han So Hee shared an Instagram Story, saying, "I also find this funny," which seemed to be a response to Hyeri.

She then posted a shocking confession, confirming her relationship with Ryu Jun Yeol. In addition, she also sincerely apologized to Hyeri for "not reacting wisely."

"I acknowledge that this is completely my fault, regardless of my reasons."

As for Lee Hyeri, her agency, Creative Group Ing, told OSEN that the actress "has no intentions to provide further responses to the recent SNS-related incident."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Han So Hee's Fans Defend Actress From 'Celebrity Disease' Claims + Release Detailed Video From Paris Fashion Week 2024

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Avid Hallyu fans have tuned in to the love triangle drama between Girl's Day Hyeri, Ryu Jun Yeol and Han So Hee over the past week.

Amid the hot issue, fans looked back and reexamined Hyeri's remarks about her personal life, months after her breakup with her then-boyfriend. Read to know more.

Girl's Day Hyeri's Past Remarks On Personal Life Gain Buzz

The second week of March has been eventful after Ryu Jun Yeol and Han So Hee's relationship was exposed to the public, creating a huge debacle among the fans.

Not only that but the "silent war" between Girl's Day Hyeri and Han So Hee gained huge buzz in various online communities, causing division among the public.

The fans have chosen sides amid the cheating allegations. Han So Hee clarified she didn't overlap with Hyeri, hinting that there's no cheating involved.

However, the fans were still suspicious, especially after reexamining Hyeri's remarks and alleged "hints" about what was happening before her breakup with Ryu Jun Yeol was publicized.

In one of the behind-the-clips of "HyeMiLeeYeChaePa," Hyeri's variety show that aired in June 2023, the number of unread KakaoTalk messages they had was revealed.

READ MORE: Han So Hee Confirms Relationship With Ryu Jun Yeol: 'I Came With Good News'

(G)I-DLE Miyeon had 157 while LE SSERAFIM Chaewon had 183. YGX leader Lee Jung had 114, leaving Hyeri surprised, saying that she doesn't get any messages on her end.

At the time, Hyeri was still dating Ryu Jun Yeol. With this, netizens believe that the actress' relationship with the actor had become cold back then.

In addition to that, in one of Hyeri's YouTube videos, the idol-actress revealed that she's still searching for herself amid being among the most successful artists in Hallyu.

She reasoned that there are many things she thought she liked but "apparently don't." This once again is believed to be a nod to her rocky relationship with then-boyfriend Ryu Jun Yeol.

While these are all speculations, netizens claim that Hyeri had seen the breakup coming. The two broke up in November 2023 after 7 long years of dating.

At the moment, Hyeri's side has been on radio silence since the artist reacted to Ryu Jun Yeol's new flame with Han So Hee.

Girl's Day Hyeri To Finally Make Silver Screen Debut This 2024

Hyeri is set to decorate the big screens with her upcoming films this 2024.

At the moment, Hyeri is preparing for her first-ever daring role as a pole dancer in Thailand in the brand new film "Tropical Night" with Woo Do Hwan.

She's expected to showcase her improved and mature acting. Currently, the film is underway. In addition, she will headline the drama film "Victory" as a cheerleader.

Set in 1999, the work follows the stories of cheerleaders as they go about their lives managing expectations in life while trying to win competitions.

Both works haven't announced their release dates yet but they are expected to hit the silver screens in the second half of 2024. Stay tuned.

READ MORE: Girl's Day Hyeri Update 2024: Idol-Actress Returns With Slew of Exciting Films This Year





KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
The Hallyu scene is once again shaken after Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol's Hawaii trip photos were revealed for the first time, following the week-long scandal of their relationship.

Netizens left comments and shared their honest thoughts on the two actors' romance.

Han So Hee - Ryu Jun Yeol's Romance In Hawaii Revealed

On March 18, media outlet Dispatch released exclusive photos of Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol, capturing the actors' romance in their Hawaii trip.

Earlier this month, the two confirmed their relationship after being spotted vacationing together in Hawaii, which became a huge spectacle in the online Hallyu scene.

Rumors of a "transit love" emerged as it's only been 4 months since Ryu Jun Yeol announced his breakup with ex-girlfriend Girl's Day Hyeri.

At the height of the issue, the news outlet revealed the photos of Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol spending time together in Hawaii after acknowledging their romantic relationship.

In one photo, Han So Hee is seen walking with a friend who accompanied her on the trip. Meanwhile, Ryu Jun Yeol is two steps behind the two while sporting an anxious expression.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Han So Hee Confirms Relationship With Ryu Jun Yeol: 'I Came With Good News'

In the other picture, Han So Hee only kept looking at her phone while Ryu Jun Yeol focused on eating while they were at the restaurant. While this enlightened some fans, it also poured criticisms.

"So the two were really together while Han So Hee had a meltdown in her blog?" one netizen commented. "Why has Ryu Jun Yeol not spoken up yet?"

Many comments in online communities criticized Ryu Jun Yeol for keeping his peace while Han So Hee took massive hits from defending herself as well as the actor. At the moment, the actress turned her personal Instagram account private.

Ryu Jun Yeol's Silence Amid Drama Draws Flak

Since the news of his relationship with Han So Hee broke out, Ryu Jun Yeol hasn't released any statement apart from his side's press releases.

The actor's deafening silence irked thousands of fans, especially those who supported him from the beginning while also dating Girl's Day Hyeri.

Even after the shady exchange between his ex-girlfriend and new lover, Ryu Jun Yeol didn't say a word. He drew more flak on March 17 when he returned to South Korea alone from Hawaii.

ALSO READ: Girl's Day Hyeri Update 2024: Idol-Actress Returns With Slew of Exciting Films This Year

The actor kept his head down and avoided the media, refusing to talk about his relationship with Han So Hee. Many netizens call him out in various online communities.

One fan shared their opinion, saying, "Ryu Jun Yeol's radio silence is so embarrassing. Imagine making Han So Hee speak up for herself and him, too."

With their Hawaii photos released to the public, netizens expect Ryu Jun Yeol to finally speak about the issue.





KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Netizens had creative ways to react to Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol's romance.

Following the confirmation regarding the new couple, the public expressed their honest thoughts about the latest dating news. Some even brought up the leading men who Han So Hee previously worked with and compared them to her new beau.

Han So Hee - Ryu Jun Yeol Romance Receives Jabs Online

Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol's relationship garnered a lot of attention, and continues to over various portals.

In one clip, Han So Hee's former leading men (Ahn Bo Hyun in "My Name," Song Kang in "Nevertheless," Park Hyung Sik in "Soundtrack #1," and Park Seo Joon in Gyeongseong Creature) were featured, which also included BTS' Jungkook for the music video "Seven," where she appeared as his love interest.

With this lineup, fans expressed various reactions as to why the actress ended up with the "Reply 1988" star.

READ MORE: Han So Hee Deletes Controversial Comment Regarding Ryu Jun Yeol's Breakup Timeline With Hyeri

In the comments section, some showed their support for the new couple, pointing out that the actor has a certain charisma and uniqueness about him.

As for the majority of the users who commented, they were surprised by Han So Hee's choice of men.

While others are still shipping Han So Hee and Song Kang, or even the actress to Park Seo Joon, some thought that being with Ryu Jun Yeol was a "downgrade."

Han So Hee-Ryu Jun Yeol-Hyeri Saga: Here's An Update

To recall, the news broke on March 15, 2024, after a Japanese netizen claimed that she saw the South Korean stars in Hawaii lounging together by the pool. It came after outlets mentioned that they were in talks to star in an upcoming historical horror K-drama, "Delusion."

At the height of the dating rumors, Ryu Jun Yeol's agency confirmed that he was in Hawaii, but for a work-related trip. As for his romance with the actress, the talent label declined to comment on the rumors.

Meanwhile, Han So Hee's agency denied the rumors and emphasized that she was on vacation with friends.

Shortly after, Hyeri, Ryu Jun Yeol's ex-girlfriend, shared a cryptic post online with the text, "This is funny."

Interestingly, Han So Hee shared an Instagram Story, which seemed to be her response to Hyeri's post. Pointing out that she "don't like people who have a significant other" and "don't take an interest in them" to the point that it would lead to a relationship, she added fuel to the fire when she wrote, "I also find this funny."

However, she followed it with a blog post where she confirmed her relationship to Ryu Jun Yeol and apologized to Hyeri for her "pathetic and lame" Instagram post.

"I should have just stayed still, but even though I didn't want to see rumors and claims that I started dating [Ryu Jun Yeol] before his breakup, I still saw and heard them, so I temporarily lost all reason and behaved rudely."

As for Hyeri, her agency mentioned that she has "no plans" to respond to Han So Hee's apology.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Is It True? Han So Hee Attended Ryu Jun Yeol's Exhibit After Break-Up With Hyeri

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Kang Tae Oh might be taking on his very first acting challenge since his military discharge this 2024 with the upcoming K-drama "Potato Research Institute."

The show will be helmed by "Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung" director Kang Il Soo.

Kang Tae Oh To Star In New K-drama 'Potato Research Institute'

On March 18, media outlets reported that Kang Tae Oh might be returning soon to the acting scene with a brand new rom-com series.

According to the report, the K-drama heartthrob was offered to star in the upcoming series "Potato Research Institute."

YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS: Kim Sejeong To Reunite With 'Business Proposal' Director In New K-drama - More Details Inside!

The drama is a romantic comedy series set in a potato research center in a mountain valley, and it will be helmed by Kang Il Soo, the director of the hit drama "Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung."

Man of Creation, Kang Tae Oh's agency, confirmed the report. A representative stated that the actor is positively reviewing the new drama with a positive mind.

If Kang Tae Oh accepts the offer, he will transform into a protagonist with perfect visuals who possesses a twisted side in the series, making fans curious about his true colors.

"Potato Research Institute" aims to hit the screens in 2025. Moreover, it will mark his first-ever acting project following his military service discharge, raising anticipation among the viewers.

Kang Tae Oh's Plans For Acting Career & More

Kang Tae Oh has been in the industry for a long time but it wasn't until 2022 that he received the nickname of a romantic comedy heartthrob and "green flag" male lead.

He coupled with Park Eun Bin in the mega hit series "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," which instantly became a note-worthy work of both actors up until this writing.

In an interview with Elle Korea, the actor revealed that he grew as an actor as he takes on more works, and he wishes to show his versatility and different sides of himself in future projects.

According to him, he's not afraid to return to the acting scene despite being MIA for 18 months due to his military enlistment. With this, expectations for Kang Tae Oh are through the roof.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS: 'Tomorrow' Star Yoon Ji On Joins Jung So Min In New Series - More Details Inside!

Are you excited for Kang Tae Oh's return? Share your thoughts with us in the comments down below!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Joo Won opened up on his past relationships, and revealed how his ex-partners got sick of him.

Curious about what happened? Then read on!

Joo Won Admits Contrasting Persona On Screen and in Real Life

Amid his return to the small screen with "The Midnight Studio," Joo Won made his guest appearance on the famous talk show "My Little Old Boy" on March 17. There, apart from talking about his new work and career, the celebrity opened up about his personal life, specificically his relationship experiences.

During the interview session, the hosts pointed out that the actor's real-life personality is contradictory to his image onscreen. Despite his oozing charisma in his projects, Joo Won is said to be a bit of a baby at home.

Joo Won agreed with the host and said:

"Yes, I only have one sibling and he's also a guy. So, at home, I tried to become a son who is almost like a daughter."

He also admitted that he still likes to touch his mom's fat on her cheeks and belly.

Joo Won Confesses Why His Ex-Girlfriends Got Sick of Him

As their conversation continued, Joo Won's dating stories were brought to light. The "My Sassy Girl" star revealed that he tends to express his feelings excessively, which often leads women to grow tired of him.

"I express too much of my feelings to them too often. I constantly praise and say I love you to them."

Joo Won then admitted that he says it like 20 to 30 times a day.

After hearing this, the hosts expressed their sympathy and understood Joo Won's experiences. They also said that this might be the reason why the actor's ex-girlfriends got sick of him, to which Joo Won responded.

ALSO READ: Joo Won Reveals Touching Story After Being Selected to Headline 'The Midnight Studio'

"Yeah, I know. But I didn't know that at the time. When I was young, I believed there was nothing wrong with being that expressive."

The hosts then comforted and cheered him up.

"There are definitely people who would be fond of that kind of dating style, so don't worry."

Joo Won Leads ENA Channel's 'The Midnight Studio'

Meanwhile, Joo Won currently stars in the ENA Channel K-drama "The Midnight Studio." He plays the role of Seo Ki Joo, a prickly photographer who runs the studio.

Opposite him is Kwon Nara, playing the character of Han Bom, a passionate lawyer who winds up offering legal advice to the ghosts that visit the studio.

The drama is about a professional photo studio that only exists for the deceased. It already debuted on primetime on March 11 and captivated viewers with its heartwarming narrative.

"The Midnight Studio" airs every Monday and Tuesday at 10 p.m. (KST).

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Midnight Studio' Update: Yoo In Soo, Eum Moon Suk Are New Chaotic Duo To Watch Out For

What can you say about Joo Won's revelation? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Yeo Jeong Woo (Park Hyung Sik) is convinced to offer a marriage to Nam Ha Neul (Park Shin Hye). But will she accept it or turn down the proposal?

Let's all find out in "Doctor Slump" episode 15.

Keep on reading to know more what happened between the couple!

'Doctor Slump' Episode 15: Yeo Jeong Woo Struggles to Propose to Nam Ha Neul

The episode started with Yeo Jeong Woo getting a ring for Nam Ha Neul. However, when he was about to give it to her, the ring rolled over and the scene became chaotic as cockroaches emerged.

Jeong Woo then opened up the incident to Dae Young (Yoon Park). He expressed that a ring might make Ha Neul uncomfortable since she just started her professorship. He took his advice and bought a bracelet instead, but later on found out that she doesn't like bracelets so he decided to buy a necklace.

Meanwhile, the next day, Jeong Woo received around 2 billion won in compensation. Ha Neul visited him and expressed how people abused Jeong Woo's struggles.

In the clinic, Jeong Woo and Dae Young crossed paths with Hong Ran and accidentally kissed Dae Young on the cheek, which made the atmosphere comically awkward. In addition, the PR team wanted to interview with Jeong Woo, same as with Ha Neul's hospital, but the couple was disturbed by this.

Hong Ran Worried About Restarting Relationship With Dae Young

Later on, the couple had dinner and were joined by Hong Ran, who felt terrible about her situation with Dae Young. The two girls got drunk and called Dae Young for help. Hong Ran expressed her worries about restarting a relationship after a failed marriage with Dae Young and soon the two reconciled.

The next morning, Jeong Woo's high school friends visited him and apologized to him for their rude behavior. Moments later, he received a call from Ha Neuls' hospital. The PR team apologized and told him that they wouldn't proceed anymore with the interview.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 'Queen of Tears' Hits Double Digit Rating + Kim Soo Hyun, Kim Ji Won Dominate Most Buzzworthy Actors List

Elsewhere, Jeong Woo and Ha Neul prepared for the big surgery. Everything went well until they found out that the girl was suffering from TB and had to take extra measures. But in the end, the surgery was a success.

Yeo Jeong Woo Finally Proposes to Nam Ha Neul

The couple met their high school batchmates and were surprised that they were dating.

Elsewhere, Dae Young was about to confess to Hong Ran but ended up sending the message to his daughter. Interestingly, she supported him. He finally confessed to her and Hong Ran accepted him.

Meanwhile, Jeong Woo expressed his wish to continue living with Nam's family. Nam Ha Neul asked him if he would like to become her family. Later on, she found the jewelry collection that Jeong Woo had collected for her. Ha Neul clarified that she meant being a close family but Jeong Woo finally put the ring on her finger and proposed to her.

ALSO READ: 'Doctor Slump' Episode 14: Does Park Shin Hye Successfully Get Back to Work?

What can you say about "Doctor Slump" episode 15? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Parasites are coming to Earth to take over the world of humankind. Ahead of its premiere, Netflix's "Parasyte: The Grey" shared a set of stimulating teasers of Jeon So Nee and Koo Kyo Hwan. Keep on reading to know more. Check out the teasers below.

'Parasyte: The Grey' Doubles Curiosity With New K-drama Teasers

On March 18, Netflix's "Parasyte: The Grey" dropped a set of exhilarating teasers featuring Jeon So Nee and Koo Kyo Hwan, raising the excitement the fans are feeling for the production.

The drama, which was based on the Japanese comic of the same name, depicts people's struggles after parasitic life-forms from outer space invade the Earth by living off human hosts.

Jeon So Nee transforms into Jung Su In, a young woman who completely shares a symbiotic relationship with the parasite inside her body.

Meanwhile, Koo Kyo Hwan's Seol Kang Woo exudes a strong aura as he gathers courage in tracking down his missing younger brother who is suspectedly abducted by the parasites.

Lee Jung Hyun's Choi Jun Kyung, shows her skills as a competent profiler, as the team leader of The Gray, the team that is created to eradicate parasites that are invading the Earth.

She boasts how she maneuvers death with a gun, creating a high tension atmosphere that viewers must check out for in the upcoming psychological thriller fantasy K-drama.

READ MORE: Jeon So Nee Rocks Y2K Chrome Looks In New Pictorial

Moreover, Kwon Hae Yo and Kim In Kwon also show their best as detectives who work with The Gray in finally getting rid of the parasites from outer space.

Focus is given on how each character completes their own mission while trying to survive and continue living as a human. Check out "Parasyte: The Grey" this April 5 on Netflix.

'Parasyte: The Grey' Cast Shares Affection On New Acting Role

A month before its premiere, the cast of "Parasyte: The Grey" shared their honest feelings for their forthcoming Netflix project.

Rising actress Jeon So Nee who's widening her acting horizon with the new series admitted that the whole parasitic beasts theme drew her in taking on the production.

"I want to delve into the relationships between the hosts and parasites and how they survive within the society," she said. "I prepared a lot for my character so please check it out."

On the other hand, Koo Kyo Hwan admitted to being a fan of the original comic, which influenced his decision in starring in the series.

As for Lee Jung Hyun, she doubled the anticipation as she hinted at her performance, saying that it's her strongest work yet.

ALSO READ: Jeon So Nee Co-Exists With Monsters In New Series 'Parasyte: The Grey'

Are you excited for "Parasyte: The Grey"? Share your thoughts on the drama in the comments down below!

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
New predictive technology will provide a swift and accurate assessment of the risks posed by new wildfires in the B.C. Interior this year, allowing for the more efficient deployment of air tankers, helicopters, and ground crews, the government said Monday.

Cr
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Members of Parliament are set to vote today on a motion from the New Democrats calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government to "officially recognize the State of Palestine." THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang


Sunday, March 17, 2024  Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the US and the West on Monday, March 18 that a direct conflict between Russia and the U.S.-led NATO military alliance would mean the world was one step away from World War Three but said hardly anyone wanted such a scenario.

The Ukraine war has triggered the deepest crisis in Moscow's relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis leading Putin to tout the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron last month said he could not rule out the deployment of ground troops in Ukraine in the future, with many Western countries distancing themselves from that while others, especially in Eastern Europe, expressed support.

Asked about Macron remarks and the risks and possibility of a conflict between Russia and NATO, Putin quipped: "everything is possible in the modern world." He told Reuters.

"It is clear to everyone, that this will be one step away from a full-scale World War Three. I think hardly anyone is interested in this," Putin

After winning the biggest-ever landslide election in post-Soviet Russian history, Putin added that NATO military personnel were present already in Ukraine, saying that Russia had picked up both English and French being spoken on the battlefield.

"There is nothing good in this, first of all for them, because they are dying there and in large numbers," he said.

Ahead of the March 15-17 Russian election, Ukraine stepped up attacks against Russia, shelling border regions.

Asked if he considered it necessary to take Ukraine's Kharkiv region, Putin said if the attacks continued, Russia would create a buffer zone out of more Ukrainian territory to defend Russian territory.

"I do not exclude that, bearing in mind the tragic events taking place today, we will be forced at some point, when we deem it appropriate, to create a certain 'sanitary zone' in the territories today under the Kyiv regime," Putin said.

He declined to give any further details but said such a zone might have to be big enough to preclude foreign-made armaments from reaching Russian territory.

Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a major European war after eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces on one side and pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russian proxies on the other.

Putin said he wished Macron would stop seeking to aggravate the war in Ukraine and to play a role in finding peace: It seems that France could play a role. All is not lost yet.

"I've been saying it over and over again and I'll say it again. We are for peace talks, but not just because the enemy is running out of bullets," Putin said.

"If they really, seriously, want to build peaceful, good-neighbourly relations between the two states in the long term, and not simply take a break for rearmament for 1.5-2 years."


Monday, March 18, 2024  American actress, Meagan Good opened up about her relationship with Jonathan Majors as they step out for their first major awards show since his assault conviction.

The gorgeous actress, 42, said she's 'in love' with the Marvel actor, 34, during the couple's first appearance at the 2024 NCAAP Image Awards on Saturday.

'I'm in love, Im transitioning, Im healing, Im growing and Im getting excited about what's next,' she told People on the red carpet. 'Yeah, just a lot of things at once, but what I can say is, Im the happiest Ive been in a long time.'

When it comes to maintaining a positive outlook while navigating her romance with Majors amidst his legal issues, the star expressed that she is keeping the faith.

'I keep my eyes on God, thats the focus,' she explained. 'And I stay true to myself and I stay authentic. I know what I know that I know. And in time, everything else just catches up with what you know, if youre true to yourself and youre authentic.'

The NCAAP Image Awards marked Meagan and Jonathan's second public appearance as a couple at an event this month.

Previously, the pair had stepped out together for the 7th African-American Film Critics Association Special Achievement Awards Luncheon in Los Angeles on March 3rd.

On the red carpet, Jonathan got candid about his relationship with Meagan, telling Extra: 'We're in love... We're doing good, thanks for asking.'

Meagan chimed in too, saying, 'We're doing great. God's good.'


Monday, March 18, 2024  Ukraine's British embassy has released an official statement confirming King Charles III is still alive after Russian media claimed he had died.

Several Russian news sites reported earlier today that the King had died aged 75 as a result of cancer complications, citing unnamed 'media' sources in an inexplicable stream of posts.

They reported the news with a fake statement from 'Buckingham Palace' reporting Charles' 'unexpected death' was circulated on social media.

'King Charles III of Great Britain has died at the age of 75, according to media reports,' Russian newswire Sputnik reported.



'There is no information about this on the royal family website or in the British media.'





Minutes later their stories were updated after they were forced to climb down following reports the King was in fact not dead.

The British Embassy in Kyiv shared an abrupt notice on social media that read: 'We would like to inform you that the news about the death of King Charles III is fake.'





'There is no information about this on the royal family website or in the British media.'

The British embassy's Telegram channel also posted a notice in Russian to stress the reports were fake.

'Reports about the death of King Charles III of Great Britain are fake,' said the announcement, shortly after the British Embassy in Ukraine issued a similar message.


Sunday, March 17, 2024  Snowfall star, Damson Idris, won best drama actor, his first NAACP Image Award, for his role in the FX crack series, which wrapped its six-season run last year.

During his speech, he referenced how his mother flew 17 hours from Nigeria to be with him.

She said Damson, if I come to Los Angeles, you better win,' Idris recalled before shouting out his Snowfall family.

He went on to say he was honored to be standing among his heroes who won that award, those in the audience and people who make art for the past, present and future.





He also joked about Denzel Washington saying he didnt know who Idris is, saying, Hopefully Denzel knows who I am now.

Watch the videos below

#SnowfallFX star Damson Idris shouts out his mother while accepting his first #NAACPImageAwards trophy pic.twitter.com/JTJmldNeeH  The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 17, 2024

Looks like Damson Idris is embracing Denzel Washingtons remix of his name  (: @twobeestv) pic.twitter.com/y0KfY3F5zZ  TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) December 12, 2021




Monday, March 18, 2024 - United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Cleophas Malalah has dismissed reports of banning politicians within his party from debating Raila Odingas man and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.

This is after it emerged that they were embarrassing President William Ruto and the party each time they faced Sifuna in the debates.

Malala flagged a press release doing rounds on social media alleging that he had issued the alleged directive in his capacity as Secretary General.

"Ignore the circulation and consider it as fake," he stated.

In the fake press release, media houses were accused of conspiring to paint UDA politicians as intellectually challenged.

At the heart of the problem is the notion that Sifuna often appears more intellectual when pitted against UDA politicians during interviews and talk shows.

"To avoid further embarrassing episodes, the party is now pulling the plug on the appearance of its members alongside Senator Sifuna in any show regardless of the media house hosting it," read part of the release.

According to the release, the politicians were urged to confirm with the media houses if Sifuna was part of any show they were invited to and if he was, they should decline the invitation.

"This decision is occasioned by the desires of the party to project the ideologies of H.E. William Ruto in a way that minimises embarrassment and humiliation to the party and its leadership," read part of the release.

Notably, Kenyans have in the past ridiculed UDA politicians who are upstaged by Senator Sifuna whenever they are asked complex questions regarding the new regime.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Monday, March 18, 2024 - From Toyota Kenya's description, the elegance of the Land Cruiser Prado, sleek shape, and its imposing grille affirm its powerful and statutory image.

Maybe, it's this magnificent description of the machine that convinced Daniel Okoth and Erick Ombima that they had the perfect vehicle to sneak 300kg of Marijuana into the country from one of our neighbours. Unbeknownst to them, no level of elegance could beat police intelligence networks.

In the company of two men, Daniel Okoth was entrusted to chauffeur Sh9 million worth of the banned substance to Kenya through the Nyametaburo route and later join the Isebania - Migori highway at Mabera.

Confident of a successful mission, the trio who drove at breakneck speed approached the Karamu Bridge area, unaware that the In-charge of Isebania Police Station who was privy to the itinerary had led his troops in laying an ambush.

Bumping into a police roadblock that provided a safe distance to pull over for a search, the driver opted to drive past the officers nearly running over one of them. But with their 40th day at nigh, three well-calculated rapid shots from an AK47 benumbed his accelerator foot, prematurely terminating their journey.

During the rumpus, one male occupant scampered off like a terrified rat into the thickets, but Okoth, Obima and their drug haul stuffed in the KCK 532E Prado were rounded up. The prohibited cargo numbered 6 gunny bags.

As the two suspects cool their heels at a secure room within Isebania Police Station, pursuit of the escapee is ongoing.

Meanwhile, members of the public are encouraged to continue sharing information on traffickers and to disengage from any drug-related activities or trade to avoid confrontations with the law.









The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Monday, March 18, 2024  Former glamour model, Katie Price has been declared bankrupt for the second time over an unpaid tax bill worth more than 750,000.

Price was previously declared bankrupt in 2019, owes 761,994.05 to HM Revenue and Customs.

The model who was previously declared bankrupt in November 2019, with debts of 3.2million, did not send a lawyer to her recent hearing which is the latest in a long string regarding her financial woes.

She now faces losing her 2million Sussex pad, dubbed Mucky Mansion - or could see bailiffs come round to repossess anything that could help pay back the government department.

At Londons Rolls Building, Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Sebastian Prentis said "there has been no response from the debtor. The papers are in order. There is substantial debt due from Ms Price to HMRC and therefore I will make a bankruptcy order."

45-year-old Katie has dodged court for months after the case was moved half a dozen times since November 2021. The reality star and model is battling to save her 2million Sussex pad after running up debts of 3.2million.

According to court papers, 535,700 in unpaid national insurance or self-assessment tax make up the majority of the debt, as well as 40,000 in late payment fines.

In addition, she owes over 140,000 in missing VAT payments on top of almost 10,000 in VAT surcharges. The 761,994 claim is thought to be for a "liquidated sum", which suggests she may need to sell assets or real estate to release equity.

The judge said;

This petition was presented on 27 November 2023. It is in the sum of 761,194.05. That sum derives from self assessments for the years 2020-2021.

And for that year 2021-2022 the amounts payable under those assessments were 142,405 and 196,735. The other main category on the petition is VAT due on returns. There are eight of those, being the returns between 31 August 2021 and 31 May 2023.

The total of those is a little in excess of 140,000. Just as with the income tax self assessments, no payments at all have been made.

The balance of the petition is therefore penalties and surcharges and interests and such like. The statutory demand in support of the petition was served personally on the 10 October.

On 31 January 2024 there has been no response from the debtor and the papers are in order. There is a substantial debt due from Mrs Price to HMRC and I will therefore make a bankruptcy order at 12.03pm."

The Channel 4 reality star is due to give evidence before an insolvency court in London next month in connection with her first bankruptcy. She is expected to give evidence to a judge about her income to show how she can pay off her debts.
Monday, March 18, 2024 - High Court Judge Lawrence Nthiga Mugambi dismissed a petition accusing Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla and three others of attempting to alter the outcome of the 2022 presidential election.

In a petition filed by Irene Masit, the former Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner, the military boss, and two others were accused of visiting the commissioners at Bomas before the announcement of the results on August 9, 2022.

"It is stated that this delegation exerted pressure on the commissioners to change the outcome of the Presidential election," reads part of the court documents.

Masit sought to have Ogolla and the two enjoined in this suit as interested parties. She emphasised that including these individuals in the suit is crucial for them to clarify the allegations.

In the petition, Justice Aggrey Muchelule's tribunal was listed as the 1st respondent while the Attorney General was the second.

In response to the allegations, the tribunal argued that including the three served no purpose in the determination of the issues raised in the initial petition.

However, the High Court judge dismissed the petition, adding that Masit failed to prove that the alleged coercion was made by Ogolla or any of the two officials.

Justice Nthiga ruled that if the three were enjoined in the suit, it would be engaging the court in unproductive and speculative action.

Masit is among the four IEBC commissioners who disputed the results announced by the former IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati.

Chebukati declared William Ruto as Kenya's fifth president after fending off fierce competition from his competitor Raila Odinga.

The four commissioners. Who later quit and left Bomas as the announcement was being made and held a separate press briefing led by Juliana Cherera. Others were Justus Nyang'aya and Francis Wanderi.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, March 18, 2024 - Facebook, through its parent company Meta, has announced plans to allow Kenyan content creators to earn from its platform.

Announcing the roll-out of the Instream ads at State House in the presence of President William Ruto on Monday, the company said it will also be launching other revenue channels across Facebook and Instagram.

They will include Facebook Stories, Instagram subs, and IG gifts as well.

"We are very happy to announce that were gonna have instream ads available on Facebook starting early summer maximum," said Moon Baz who heads global partnerships for Africa, the Middle East, and Turkey.

"What instream ads mean is they are image and video ads that will be served, before, during, or after any of your videos and it is a way for you guys to monetise and generate revenue through Facebook."

Former Britain Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who is now the President, of Global Affairs at Meta, said the rollout will see Kenyan content creators get paid for posting their videos on the platform announcing that they will monetise content made in English and Kiswahili.

"I want to pay tribute to your remorseless representation on behalf of the creators of Kenya," he said as he thanked President Ruto for pushing the social media giant to act.

"You and I have met on a number of occasions and every single time you have said on behalf of the ingenious, humorous creative online creators here, you have been pressing me and Meta all that creativity that they should also use online tools to turn that into material benefit."

Sir Clegg hailed the local creator community saying it was time for them to earn a good living off their vibrant content that resonates because of its humour, the English language, diversity, creativity, and inspiration saying Meta wants "to make sure that you can make a good living out of it both pre and post-tax."

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, March 18, 2024 - New details have emerged regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of NTV journalist Rita Tinina.

According to the report filed at Kileleshwa Police Station on Sunday shortly after she was found unconscious in her house, Rita Tinina suffered from epilepsy.

The report, which quoted the deceased's sister, indicated that until her death, Tinina experienced a severe five-day-old fever.

The report further showed that the first report was made by Helen Silau Njaga, Tinina's sister at around 10:45 am after her body was found unconscious.

She indicated that the journalist, aged 46 years, was found unconscious on her bed inside her bedroom at her Kileleshwa home.

Silau rushed to her home and when she arrived, she found Tinina unresponsive and called for medical assistance.

The paramedics confirmed that the body was already lifeless upon arrival.

She was living with her eight-year-old daughter at the time of her passing.

Police transferred the body of the deceased to Umash Funeral Home as investigations into the incident kicked off.

"On behalf of Yiapan's family, this has come as a shock to us. We are really trying to digest and at the moment we just request for the privacy to be accorded to the family. More information will come in the letter," Silau told the press.

The news of the journalists death sent the entire media industry countrywide into mourning with a majority of scribes hailing her as a trailblazing figure.

State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed recalled an instance in which Tinina helped file a report when his equipment failed during a high-stakes coverage.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Sunday, March 17, 2024  Kate Middleton has been spotted in public after royal fans were left concerned for her wellbeing.

The Princess of Wales seen with husband Prince William visiting her favourite farm shop on Saturday, March 16.

Those who saw the future queen said she looked "happy and healthy" during the outing a mile from her home at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, according to The Sun.

A witness said: "After all the rumours that had been going round I was stunned to see them there. Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well.

"The kids werent with them but its such a good sign she was healthy enough to pop down to the shops."

Kate was not pictured during the outing.

Kate and William then spent the morning watching their kids  Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, taking part in sports.

It comes after Kate disappeared from public view for months, sparking speculations that something was wrong in the royal family.
Monday, March 18, 2024  Kenyans are headed for another referendum after Parliament adopted the NADCO report that has far-reaching proposals.

This was revealed by National Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) Chair George Murugara.

Speaking during an interview, Murugara noted that Kenyans will likely go for a referendum to actualise some of the proposals contained in the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report.

The Tharaka MP stated that the NADCO report had made far-reaching proposals including altering the structure of the government.

Explaining the way forward, he stated that this cannot be achieved through a parliamentary bill but through a popular vote by Kenyans.

There are areas that we must go to the referendum. We will be isolating what is for parliament to pass and what to go to referendum, he stated.

Areas that touch on the structure of government and structure of parliament will be approved through a referendum.

On the structure of government, Murugara remarked that the issue will not be put into a referendum if the proposed post of Prime Minister does not have powers that go beyond that of a cabinet secretary.

The parliamentarian further disagreed with sentiments made by Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka that the Bills prepared by NADCO should not be amended by Parliament.

He explained that while the NADCO committee may propose bills, JLAC had a legal mandate to ensure constitutional conformity.

He further clarified that there was no animosity between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio regarding the implementation of the NADCO report.

He expressed caution that there may be issues of contention once the teams started discussing the bills proposed in detail.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Sunday, March 17, 2024  A lady who joined her husband in the UK last year, was left in shock after a lady she insisted on renting a room to, got pregnant for her husband.

According to the X user who shared the story online, the woman decided to do more jobs so she could help her husband with his tuition fee.

Getting someone to look after their daughter was a problem so she decided to rent a room to a lady who would tend to her daughter when she and her husband went out.

However, she discovered that her husband who she was toiling hard for to see through school and help with the home bills went astray and got their tenant pregnant.

Read the story below


Sunday, March 17, 2024  A Lebanese migrant who was caught illegally crossing the border near El Paso said he was 'going to try to make a bomb,' according to official records.

Basel Bassel Ebbadi, 22, also admitted he was a member of Hezbollah when he was intercepted by agents at the southwest Texas border with Mexico on March 9.

He was asked what he was doing in the US while in custody, to which he responded: 'I'm going to try to make a bomb' and he was on the way to New York.

Ebbadi said he trained with Hezbollah for seven years before taking on a role guarding weapons locations for another four years, according to ICE records seen by the New York Post.

Ebbadi said his training focused on 'jihad' and killing people 'that was not Muslim' - but he fled the country because he 'didn't want to kill people.'





'Once you're in, you can never get out,' he added, according to the ICE papers.

The Lebanese national came to the US without any documentation. He said he lost his papers while he was being robbed at knifepoint in Costa Rica.

He also admitted to relaying a fake date of birth and name to officials.

Ebbadi was detained in isolation at the El Paso Hardened Facility before he was interviewed by the Tactical Terrorism Response Team.

He was marked for deportation from the US, but it's unclear which country he would be taken to.





Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shia Islamist militant political party recognized by the West as a terror group.

Members of the group killed three American troops in Jordan late January in a drone attack. At least 34 people were also injured in the strike.

The wave of migrants arriving at the southern border has continued throughout most of President Joe Biden's tenure. It has led to millions of migrants pouring into the country and straining cities.


Monday, March 18, 2024  A Scottish solicitor has ended his own life in a Swiss clinic following a long illness.

Bruce De Wert, who was suffering from a severe form of multiple sclerosis, travelled to Basel last month.

The 69-year-old undertook the journey on his own having informed his family, including his wife and two adult daughters, of his intentions for an assisted death.

Daughter Nicole Wightman said he planned all the details himself including his memorial service.

The 44-year-old mother of two said: I think he had been contemplating Switzerland for some time.

He was becoming more and more disabled, and he was deteriorating quite significantly. It was horrible to watch.

He did look quite frail where he had been strong and fit and did every sport under the sun.

Dad had been looking forward to his retirement and travelling round Europe and I think it came as a shock to realise he would not be able to do that. He had lost his independence and did not want to be a burden.

Last week around 60 family, friends, and former colleagues attended a moving humanist memorial service at the Parkville Hotel in Blantyre, Lanarkshire.

Ms Wightman, who has two teenage daughters, said it came as a shock when her father had told the family of his plans.

He had not wanted to end up in care or his wife to be forced to look after him.

She added: Dad decided that if he left it much longer he wouldnt be able to go to Switzerland.

Like everything in Dads life, he went out and did his research and then told us the decision he had made and what his plan was.

He took a taxi from his home in Bothwell, Lanarkshire, on February 21, then took a flight to Frankfurt and a connection to Basel.

Representatives of Pegasos, a voluntary assisted dying association, picked him up at the airport and he stayed at a hotel overnight before being taken to the clinic the next day.

Mr De Wert insisted that no family members should accompany him. However, he called his wife on the morning of his death to say his final goodbye.

The former solicitor was diagnosed three years ago with primary progressive multiple sclerosis after a series of dizzy turns and problems with his balance and eyes.

Ms Wightman said her father was insistent that he went on his own to Switzerland, despite his ill health, in case a relative was prosecuted or implicated in his death.

Family members spent time with him on February 20, the day before his departure to Switzerland, giving him a last hug.

Mr De Wert passed away on the morning of February 22 having phoned his wife beforehand. His wife was informed of his passing later that day.

He had left details of his life for the celebrant to read out at his memorial service and chose the music he wanted played.

Everyone at the memorial remembered what a wonderful person he was and that he was larger than life, said Ms Wightman.

The family will be sent his ashes and death certificate from Switzerland.
Monday, March 18, 2024 - The notorious drug den along Kipande Road, Nairobi, has been reopened barely six months after detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) closed it.

The drug den popularly run by Mathe wa Ngara was closed after bhang worth millions of shillings was impounded at the place and over Sh 15 million cash was discovered.

The owner was taken to court but as usual, the Judiciary released her on a Sh 1 million cash bail.

According to one of the local TV stations, the drug den has been reopened and it is being protected by police officers from the Central Police Station in Nairobi.

Central Police OCPD is said to be aware of the drug den but because of the money he receives from the woman, he had even ordered police to protect her as she sold hard drugs to Nairobi youths.

The revelations come even as Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Interior CS, Kithure Kindiki continue with the ongoing countrywide crackdown of illegal drugs and liquor.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Monday, March 18, 2024  Nene Leakes has made it clear whose side she is on amid the divorce between her Real Housewives cast mate, Porsha Williams, and Porsha's estranged husband, Simon Guobadia.

Nene Leakes made headlines last week when she slammed Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams for refusing to film a Netflix show together. Leakes then said her little sis Porsha Williams is not a star.

Now, in a move that is sure to raise eyebrows, Nene has linked up with Porsha's estranged husband Simon Guobadia and his rumored new boo.

Nene then took to Instagram Stories to share photos of her and her partner Nyonisela Sioh posing with Simon Guobadia and his rumored new flame Yassmin Ibrahim.

As reported, Porsha Williams filed for divorce from Simon Guobadia last month after just 15 months of marriage.

Before the divorce, Nene had been vocal about how she, Porsha Williams, and their partners would double date.

Considering how close Nene and Porsha were, it came as a surprise when Nene decided to go on a double date with Simon and his new partner.

Before the date, on Friday, March 15, Nene called out Porsha for allegedly refusing to film with her on Netflix's The Upshaws.

"Earlier this week I was told by my management company that the Netflix scripted series The Upshaws were interested in casting me for a part," Leakes, 56, explained on her Instagram Stories.

The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star shared with her followers that she was "excited to do it" because it is a comedy and features stars like Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes.

"I haven't seen Porsha. We always have a good laugh when we see each other, so I was like, 'Ok, me and Porsha are going to kill this part,'" Leakes said of her former Bravo castmate.

She recalled flying to Los Angeles and heading to the studio to talk with the wardrobe department. They had her pick a different outfit than the one she originally chose to wear since Williams would be wearing a similar outfit. Leakes said she agreed but didn't see Williams at the show's rehearsal.

"Porsha never came," she claimed. "We wrapped for the evening. I went back to my hotel, and when I got to my hotel, production called me and asked me if I had any issues with any Housewives because they were going to be recasting the other position."

Leakes said that she told production she didn't have any issues with any of the Housewives and that Williams' role was ultimately given to Cynthia Bailey, another Atlanta alum.

"I was later told that Porsha did not show up to work and had 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 claimed, noting that she's "more than disappointed."

Leakes said that the two "double-dated a few times," have spent time at each other's homes, and recalled taking trips together to Miami, Dubai and Las Vegas.

"I am shocked to hear that Porsha would go to a production company and say that she doesn't want to work with me because we've had a lot of issues in the past," added Leakes. "What lots of issues did we have in the past?"

Leakes said she texted Porsha Williams, 42, before filming her video and was sent a reply saying she's going through her divorce and that Leakes didn't reach out to her.
Monday, March 18, 2024 - Two aides of Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu are in custody in connection with the murder of a businessman during a scuffle in a club in Kisii town.

The deceased businessman identified as Jeremiah Mogaka Nyamweya, a contractor and a close friend of South Mugirango MP and Chief Whip Silvanus Osoro, succumbed to injuries he sustained during the scuffle on March 10.

The incident happened at a popular club as they fought over a woman, witnesses told police.

The duo were presented in court on Friday, March 15 and police granted an application to detain them for 14 days as the probe goes on.

The incident had earlier on been reported at the Bosongo Hospital as an accident.

This was after the deceased was delivered there aboard a motorcycle who reported he was hit by a vehicle while riding as a pillion passenger around Ram Hospital in Kisii Town.

He had a dislocated right hand and injuries in the head.

He succumbed to the injuries later on and police were informed and moved the body to Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary for preservation awaiting autopsy.

After an autopsy was conducted, it was established that Nyamweya died of the injuries that he sustained in the scuffle.

The autopsy revealed that he succumbed to injuries on the head out of blunt force trauma.

Police visited the club and sought to review the CCTV footage.

CCTV cameras captured them punching Nyamweya and pushing him to the ground.

One of them stepped and kicked his head as bouncers tried to separate them.

It was then that they realized Nyamweya was in pain and his hand had dislocated.

They reached for a motorcycle, paid him, and asked him to take the victim to the hospital with the accident narrative.

Police said they are looking for the rider for grilling and is likely to face charges including giving false information.

Below are photos of the deceased businessman.









The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Monday, March 18, 2024  A plane travelling from Thailand to the UK was forced to make a swift landing at a London airport after a passenger reportedly attempted to commit suicide in a cabin toilet.

According to Daily Mail, EVA Air BR67 flight from Bangkok to London had started its descent into the capital when flight attendants realised someone was occupying one of the cabin bathrooms.

With passengers required to exit the bathroom and strap into their chairs before take off, crewmembers went to check on the occupant.

A male passenger was found in a state of serious distress and had sustained injuries that prompted cabin crew and an onboard doctor to administer immediate first aid.

The individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, was stabilised and rushed to a hospital upon landing.

EVA Air has since confirmed the distressing event but gave no details on the extent of the man's injuries and did not specify the destination airport - though aircraft tracking site FlightAware said the plane landed at Heathrow at 7:03pm local time 17 minutes ahead of schedule.


Sunday, March 17, 2024  Police in Haiti have launched operations to regain control of the capital from feared 'Barbecue' gang leader.

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.

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 are 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.

This comes after the country's Prime Minister resigned on March 11.


Sunday, March 17, 2024  Niger Republics military government announced that it has ended an agreement with the US that allowed military personnel and civilian staff from the Department of Defense to operate in Niger, days after holding high-level talks with US diplomatic and military officials this week.

The government of Niger, taking into account the aspirations and interests of its people, decides with full responsibility to denounce with immediate effect the agreement relating to the status of military personnel of the United States and civilian employees of the American Department of Defense in the territory of the Republic of Niger, Niger military spokesman Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane said in a statement on national television announcing the change.

Abdramane added that the agreement between the two countries signed in 2012, was imposed on Niger and had been in violation of the constitutional and democratic rules of Niger's sovereignty.

This agreement is not only profoundly unfair in its substance but it also does not meet the aspirations and interests of the Nigerien people, he said.

Niger was once a key regional partner for the US, but relations have deteriorated since the military junta claimed power in July 2023 in what the US formally designated as a coup.

Since then, the US has withdrawn most of its 1,100 troops who were stationed in Niger.

In a letter sent to Congress in December 2023, President Joe Biden noted that approximately 648 US military personnel remain deployed to Niger.

The announcement comes after a senior US delegations three-day visit to Niger this week.

Abdramane said that the US delegation was received out of courtesy and did not respect diplomatic practices by not providing information regarding the date of its arrival, the composition of the delegation and the purpose of the visit.

During meetings, Nigerien and American officials discussed the military transition in Niger and military cooperation between the two countries, Abdramane said.

The government of Niger regrets the desire of the American delegation to deny the Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and the types of partnerships capable of helping them truly fight against terrorists, Abdramane said.

Abdramane stated that Niger forcefully denounces the condescending attitude of the US.

This attitude is likely to undermine the quality of our centuries-old relations and undermine the trust between our two governments, he said.

He also rejected what he said were allegations of a secret deal made between Niger, Russia, and Iran.
Monday, March 18, 2024  US President Joe Biden has sent charter flights to evacuate American citizens from war-torn Haiti.

This is after the US Congress blocked funding to President William Rutos government to deploy 1,000 police officers to Haiti to restore order.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives questioned Biden's administrations decision to donate Ksh28 billion to Kenya for the Haiti mission.

With the funding facing hurdles, Bidens administration is now seeking to evacuate all of its citizens from Haiti, a week after evacuating non-essential staff from its embassy.

With Haitis main airport in Port-au-Prince taken over by gangs, the United States decided to use the less-known airport in Cap-Haitienhas.

We are arranging a charter flight for U.S. citizens from Cap-Haitien to the United States, assuming the security situation in Cap-Haitien remains stable, the US government updated its citizens.

Only US citizens with valid passports were eligible to board the charter flights.

U.S. citizens who choose to depart using U.S. government-coordinated flights must sign a promissory note agreeing to reimburse the U.S. government for the cost of the flight, the statement read further.

The US embassy in Haiti making its own assessment noted that the situation was unpredictable and dangerous.

Even with highly trained marines protecting US government officials in Haiti, the worlds superpower admitted it could not guarantee the safety of its citizens.

This comes even as Ruto has vowed that despite the deteriorating situation in Haiti, Kenya would not give up on the people of Haiti.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Sunday, March 17, 2024  Russia has filed at least 15 criminal cases after people poured dye in ballot boxes, started fires and lobbed Molotov cocktails during the presidential vote this weekend.

Several incidents were reported across Russia on Saturday, including a resident of Ivanovo who set fire to a ballot box at a polling station, according to the regional department.

In Yekaterinburg, a man has been detained for 15 days for hooliganism for attempting to pour paint into a ballot box, Russian state media RIA Novosti reported.

This follows similar incidents caught on camera on the opening day of the three-day vote, near certain to extend Vladimir Putins long grip on power.

CCTV video from a polling station in Moscow showed a young woman pouring what appeared to be green dye into a ballot box. She was immediately detained, according to RIA Novosti.

In St. Petersburg, Putins hometown, a woman threw a Molotov cocktail at the signboard of a polling station in the Moskovsky district, RIA reported. The fire was quickly extinguished and there were no injuries, officials said.

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, dissent has been banned in the country.

Polls opened Friday across Russias 11 time zones. With most opposition candidates either dead, jailed, exiled, barred from running or simply token figures, Putin is expected to coast to victory, extending his rule until at least 2030.

In total, 29 polling stations across 20 regions in Russia have been targeted by narrow-minded people said the head of the Electoral Commission, Ella Pamfilova, according to Russian state news agency Tass.

Eight attempts of arson had been recorded during the election, and 214 ballot boxes had been irretrievably damaged, Pamfilova added.

The cases are being filed under the article on obstruction of the work of election commissions.

The turnout on the second day of voting as of 12 pm was 52%, according to the Central Election Commission of Russia.

Considering the synchronicity of incidents in different regions, one can assume a deliberate organized provocation, Alena Bulgakova, chair of the Russian Civic Chamber, said Friday according to Ria Novosti.

Pamfilova earlier called the protesters scum and claimed without evidence that several of those who poured liquid into ballot boxes were paid to do so.

The Russian government often alleges that acts of political dissent are paid-for provocations rather than genuine acts of protest.


Monday, March 18, 2024  If you were planning to heckle and disrupt President William Rutos political rallies, you better think twice because it wont be a laughing matter anymore.

This is after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki issued a directive spelling out that going forward, Kenyans caught disrupting political rallies will be arrested and arraigned in court.

This followed two incidents over the weekend where hecklers disrupted Rutos rallies in Bomet and Kericho counties.

The hecklers, it was reported, were hired hands instructed to express their dissatisfaction with local leaders.

While holding a consultative forum with the Kericho County Security and Intelligence Committee, Kindiki stated that going forward such behaviour would not be tolerated.

He read malice in the heckling, noting that there was a specific group of high-ranking individuals who were facilitating the now-frequent disruption of political rallies.

As such, he directed Kericho County Commissioner Gabriel Kitiyo and his team to clamp down on the individuals behind the incidents.

The security team is tasked to reign in on incidents of disorderly conduct in political meetings, conclude investigations and apprehend the organisers, financiers and perpetrators of hooliganism in the County, regardless of their political or social standing, Kindiki directed.

Ruto had earlier warned Bomet residents that he would not tolerate such chaos in his meetings.

He argued that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) was a party of order and the heckling was an unacceptable trend.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, March 18, 2024 - Bomet residents defied President William Rutos warnings and went ahead to storm Governor Hillary Barchoks, office to demand his resignation over the weekend.

The irate residents stormed the county offices, gaining access, where they demanded that the Governor tender his resignation over what they termed as a lack of development in the county.

Despite breaching the premises, the residents did not find the governor prompting them to leave after a bout of chanting and demanding the governors ouster.

This incident came moments after the residents heckled Barchok during Ruto's tour of the county.

The heckling is said to be a culmination of supremacy wars between the supporters of Governor Barchok and Senator Hillary Sigei.

Earlier on, residents shouted down the Governor in front of Ruto, denying him an opportunity to speak as he ascended to the podium.

It took the intervention of the President to calm down the residents. Ruto appeared irked by the heckling which has become prevalent in his rallies across all regions in Kenya.

To that effect, Ruto warned the residents against the heckling and further cautioned politicians against paying youths to interrupt their opponents in rallies.

He also reminded the residents that they had elected the politicians and that it would be best that they vote them out during the elections seeing that they were responsible for them being in office in the first place.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Monday, March 18, 2024 - A preliminary report by Police officers over the untimely death of NTV senior reporter Rita Tinina has revealed how she suffered before she met her maker.

The decorated and seasoned reporter died on Sunday at her home in Kileleshwa, Nairobi.

According to a police report, the journalist had a troubled last couple of days before her shocking demise.

The report indicated that the deceased had a severe fever that lasted for five days. Besides the fever, she also had epilepsy.

Before, death, the deceased was living with her 8-year-old daughter namely Mia Malaika and a house help called Nelius Mwihaki Macharia aged 36 years old in the same house.

"She was suffering from epilepsy and had five days old severe fever, her health history which was given by the said sister, the police report read in part.

Robert Nagila, Rita Tininas colleague at Nation Media Group, was the first person to visit her house, located along Laikipia Road, Kileleshwa.

Nagila immediately called Tininas sister Helen Silau Njaga informing her that the journalist was unconscious.

On arrival at the scene the sister called in the assistance of emergency medical services whereby the paramedics confirmed that the body was already lifeless, the police report confirmed.

The body of the 46-year-old was moved to the Umash morgue for preservation awaiting autopsy.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Monday, March 18, 2024 - Baringo North Member of Parliament (MP) Joseph Makilap and Baringo Woman Representative, Florence Jematian, escaped death by a whisker after they were ambushed by bandits on Saturday

The assailants, who appeared suddenly, opened fire on the convoy transporting the leaders to the Chemoe area.

The two legislators were accompanied by Red Cross officials, distributing relief food along the Yatya-Chemoe road in the Chepkesin area of Baringo County.

The occupants of the vehicles in the convoy narrowly escaped death, as the drivers were able to drive off the scene in time.

According to local reports, nobody was injured during the incident. Further details regarding the attack have yet to be disclosed, with reporters describing it as a sensitive matter.

Area residents have confirmed that the assailants are part of a gang of bandits that has been terrorizing the Baringo region for the past few months, prompting increased efforts by the government to address insecurity.

Fear has gripped the area as concerned citizens question their safety following the attack on leaders, urging the government to expedite the deployment of more officers to protect the residents.

In a similar incident, Baringo County Commissioner, Sangolo Kutwas car was sprayed with bullets by bandits, leading a police convoy that was conducting a security operation mission in the Kanga Joto area.

The bandits, masquerading as cattle herders, left one police officer injured. The convoy was responding to an attack that had left a headteacher dead.

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki has been dispatching additional officers to the bandit-prone area.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Sunday, March 17, 2024  Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed he supported the idea of releasing late opposition leader Alexey Navalny in a prisoner exchange just days before Navalny's death.

Putin said early Monday, March 18, that he supported an idea to release Navalny, his biggest foe.

In his first comments addressing Navalny's death, Putin said of his demise: "It happens. There is nothing you can do about it. It's life."

The remarks were unusual because he repeatedly referenced Navalny by his name for the first time in years and they came at a late-night news conference as results poured in from a presidential election that will extend his rule by another 6 years.

Early results showed him leading with over 87% of the votes in a race with no competition, after years of suppressing the opposition and closing independent media.

Navalny's allies last month also said that talks with Russian and Western officials about a prisoner swap involving Navalny were underway. The politician's longtime associate, Maria Pevchikh, said the talks were in their final stages just days before the Kremlin critic's sudden and unexplained death in an Arctic penal colony.

She accused Putin of "getting rid of" Navalny in order not to exchange him but offered no evidence to back her claims, and they could not be independently confirmed.

Putin said Monday, also without offering any evidence, that several days before Navalny's death, "certain colleagues, not from the (presidential) administration" told him about "an idea to exchange Navalny for certain people held in penitentiary facilities in Western countries." He said he supported the idea.

"Believe it or not, but the person talking to me didn't even finish their sentence when I said: 'I agree,'" Putin said in response to a question from a journalist about Navalny's death. He added that his one condition was that Navalny wouldn't return to Russia.

"But unfortunately, whatever happened, happened," Putin said.

Navalny, 47, Russia's best-known opposition politician, died last month while serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges that he rejected as politically motivated. His allies, family members and Western officials blamed the death on the Kremlin, accusations it has rejected.

The politician's associates said officials listed "natural causes" on paperwork Navalny's mother was shown when she was trying to retrieve his body.

Navalny had been jailed since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow of his own accord after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. He was immediately arrested. The Kremlin has vehemently denied it was behind the poisoning.


Sunday, March 17, 2024  Zoo workers were left horrified after watching a lion rip out the throat of the lioness he was intended to mate with.

Nestor and Maya were supposed to mate when they were first introduced to each other as part of a Belgian theme parks breeding program on Friday, March 15.

They had first been separated by barriers to get used to each others scents at the zoo in Bellewaerde, Ypres.

Both animals had been moved from Antwerp Zoo to the site in West Flanders as part of a breeding program for endangered species.

Things seemed to be okay so staff decided to remove barriers between them, according to the zoo authorities but the situation quickly deteriorated as the lions started showing signs of aggression.

"They started fighting and Nestor bit Maya in the throat, spokesperson Filip Van Dorpe told local media.

A distress signal that Nestor knows to return to his accommodation could no longer help.

Nestor killed Maya by tearing out her neck, despite zookeepers' attempt to save the wounded lioness.

He said:

They remain wild animals; this of course also happens in nature.

We deeply regret this, everyone in Bellewaerde is devastated. We went from pride to sadness in one day.

The zookeepers at Antwerp Zoo, where Nestor was born, still have fond memories of the male lion, VRT News reported.

Ilse Segers, the zoos spokesperson, expressed sorrow and shock at the news Nester had killed Maya.

We all have reacted with complete disbelief, she said, because he had never shown signs of aggression while at his birthplace.

He was a little on the shy side, she said of the lion in his early years, but since then, he has really opened up.

He was always gentle with his cubs and with his former partner Tasa.

You did have to leave him alone while he was eating though. He didnt want anyone near him then.

The breeding program is expected to continue, but it will be some time before Nestor is introduced to other lionesses, the zoo said.
Where I stand today regarding my forty years in clinical medical practice forces me to say things that every physician can personally relate to. After all, we old guys frequently languish in dispensing medical advice to our peers. Most of it comes from the heart.

We all adhere to the presumption that the best doctors are derived from an inner desire to help people with health care problems while relying on diligent diagnosis and cutting-edge medical knowledge. CME requirements ensure that we will try to. But even that fiat turns out to be a misconception. Becoming a better physician requires a deeply personal inside-out transition of mental focus for dealing with patientsfrom their perspective and expectations. Its one additional necessary conflict for us to adjust to.

A couple of examples I discovered to be valuable in my practice to save time and improve patient compliance were:

1. Handouts about diagnosis, treatment options, use of medications and why they sometimes dont work, post-op instructions going home, etc. I wrote them myselfnot the commercial brochures. Patients wanted to know my thoughts and doing that gave me more credibility and compliance.

I didnt have to spend lots of time with patients verbally explaining those thingswhich they would forget by the time they went home. That process considerably reduced phone calls to my office. New patient referrals came in when the patients neighbors or family members happened to read my instructions. At that time, no other doctor in town was doing this.

2. Written procedures for my staff to follow whenever another doctor referred me to a patient for a consultation or their transfer of care. In todays private practice environment, thank you for the referral notes and fast communication with the referring doctor create miracles. Do it, or no second referrals for your profit.

These are the small things that superficially make you a better doctor. I am deeply concerned about the factors hindering you from becoming a better doctor. Despite its critical importance to 99% of doctors, no one seems to talk about this issue.

What you are never told that prevents you from becoming a far better medical doctor

I would be very surprised if any physician reading this had ever been told that a good business education was necessary for their ultimate success and income in medical practice. Medical schools carefully avoid the issue. Tradition continues to override the truth. A few medical schools have explored the idea in the last few years. But I predict that such a high-wire action by the medical school education pundits will remain a lap-dog experiment for many years before fruition.

Therefore, more American physicians, medical students, and prospective medical school recruits will increasingly drop out of the health care system.

Because of the financial abuse (no business education is the most critical element required for private medical practice businesses to survive) perpetuated by all medical schools in our nation for the last century, with no efforts to change that dictated mission of keeping most medical doctors completely business ignorant and compromised is suspiciously covert.

Government mandates and fee restrictions that over time continue to be more restrictive financially for physicians in private medical practice to make enough income in their practice businesses to compensate for their professional status and their outstanding skills and medical knowledge that we value for maintaining and constantly upgrading the health care in our nation. Poor incomes lead to inadequate health care and less quality of physicians. You know that, right?

Continued ignorance and forced rejection of medical school education scholars to even talk about or reveal the known and proven value and benefits of business education to all medical students has created a huge gap in medical school education, slowly reducing the quality of medical care nationwide. Additionally, the consequences resulting from poor incomes earned by physicians who dont know how to earn money in the standard business success way run far deeper, causing more damage to the medical careers and personal lives of all physicians.

If you believe that the premature loss of American physicians for the above reasons is not an urgent problem that requires immediate attention, then you have lost your marbles.

Shall we talk about the many other conflicts all physicians have been forced to tolerate or quit medicine because of?

Resources that are not good enough to meet a physicians financial and practice needs and expectations

It appears in the medical literature we often read that PhDs, paramedical authors, and non-medical financial advisors, among other non-MD- experts, are incessantly prescribing answers for resolving the crisis in health care and physician care. These authors never seem to substantiate that they are business experts with a business education. Wouldnt it be a fascinating situation if physicians received their medical practice advice from physicians who are experts in business with a real academic business education (not an MBA)?

The MBA has become the number one medical professional choice for solving the increasing financial conflicts for physicians. Unfortunately, the advice they are being given is contributing to the attrition of physicians. Physicians are now beginning to recognize through those outside business jobs they can earn a lot more income with far less stress than they have been tolerating for decades in private medical practice.

Still, the silence of physicians struggling daily with the consequences of inadequate practice incomes is deafening, even if they already have an MBA. It implies that MBAs are far too superficial for physicians to make significant growth and income in private medical practice.

That issue can be directly confirmed if our medical education scholars and our professional administrators had acquired a superior knowledge level of business education themselvesbut dont have the necessary integrity to approve a curriculum in medical schools for that purpose. Most AAMC members are now too old into tradition and adaptation ever to effect changes that upgrade all physicians financial acumen.

In addition to that, all new physicians are ignorant of business education because they have not been taught those tools and how to use them. Yes, the tools that an MBA education skips to a great degree.

Never forget that business education goes far beyond financial knowledgeone has to learn business management to equate it to increased income.

Curtis G. Graham is a physician.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 46F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 46F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
David J Yvars Group lifted its holdings in ServiceNow, Inc. (NYSE:NOW  Free Report) by 19.5% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 460 shares of the information technology services providers stock after acquiring an additional 75 shares during the quarter. David J Yvars Groups holdings in ServiceNow were worth $325,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Trust Co. of Vermont grew its stake in ServiceNow by 8.6% during the third quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 190 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $106,000 after buying an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC grew its stake in ServiceNow by 16.3% during the third quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 121 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $68,000 after buying an additional 17 shares in the last quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in ServiceNow by 1.4% during the third quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 1,271 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $710,000 after buying an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. SWS Partners grew its stake in ServiceNow by 0.5% during the third quarter. SWS Partners now owns 3,521 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,968,000 after buying an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Evergreen Capital Management LLC grew its stake in ServiceNow by 0.7% during the third quarter. Evergreen Capital Management LLC now owns 2,512 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $1,404,000 after buying an additional 18 shares in the last quarter. 87.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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ServiceNow Trading Down 4.6 %

ServiceNow stock traded down $35.58 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $743.91. 2,539,129 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,273,465. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. ServiceNow, Inc. has a 12 month low of $421.50 and a 12 month high of $815.32. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $761.81 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $671.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $152.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 88.46, a PEG ratio of 4.95 and a beta of 0.97.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ServiceNow ( NYSE:NOW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The information technology services provider reported $3.11 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.77 by $0.34. The company had revenue of $2.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion. ServiceNow had a net margin of 19.30% and a return on equity of 11.85%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 25.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.88 EPS. Analysts forecast that ServiceNow, Inc. will post 6.11 EPS for the current year.

NOW has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of ServiceNow from $675.00 to $725.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, November 30th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of ServiceNow from $862.00 to $896.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of ServiceNow from $630.00 to $850.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of ServiceNow from $750.00 to $820.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, JMP Securities raised their price target on shares of ServiceNow from $665.00 to $825.00 and gave the company a market outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $750.93.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on ServiceNow

Insider Activity at ServiceNow

In related news, CEO William R. Mcdermott sold 5,030 shares of ServiceNow stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $753.08, for a total value of $3,787,992.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 17,177 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,935,655.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other ServiceNow news, insider Paul John Smith sold 1,795 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 approximately $776,373.64. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO William R. Mcdermott sold 5,030 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $753.08, for a total transaction of $3,787,992.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 17,177 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,935,655.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 13,164 shares of company stock valued at $9,940,303. 0.24% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

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.

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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).

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Shilanski & Associates Inc. lifted its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 3.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 99,017 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 3,266 shares during the period. Altria Group makes up 1.5% of Shilanski & Associates Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd largest holding. Shilanski & Associates Inc.s holdings in Altria Group were worth $3,994,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P bought a new position in shares of Altria Group in the first quarter valued at about $25,000. Altshuler Shaham Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Altria Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Nemes Rush Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Altria Group by 103.2% in the 3rd quarter. Nemes Rush Group LLC now owns 636 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 323 shares during the last quarter. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in shares of Altria Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Altria Group by 1,800.0% in the 3rd quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. now owns 703 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 666 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.94% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on MO shares. UBS Group reiterated a sell rating and set a $36.10 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. StockNews.com downgraded Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Altria Group has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $47.22.

Altria Group Trading Down 0.9 %

Altria Group stock traded down $0.41 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $43.87. The stock had a trading volume of 45,230,833 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,639,746. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $39.06 and a 12 month high of $48.04. The company has a market capitalization of $77.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.60, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $40.98 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $41.53.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $5.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.06 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 244.55% and a net margin of 33.21%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.18 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.07 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be paid a $0.98 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.94%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 85.78%.

Altria Group announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock buyback program on Thursday, February 1st that authorizes the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 1.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued.

About Altria Group

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

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The top diplomats of Korea and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to work on the joint development of the KF-21 fighter jet delayed due to Jakarta's suspended payment, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday.

The discussions between Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, were held earlier in the day on the margins of the third Summit for Democracy hosted by Korea.

Indonesia has agreed to shoulder about 20 percent of the 8.1 trillion won ($6.07 billion) project, launched in 2015, to develop the KF-21 fighter jet, through 2026, in return for receiving one prototype and technology transfer, and producing 48 units in the country.

Jakarta has been inconsistent in its commitment and had held off on payments for nearly two years. It is estimated to have only paid about 278 billion won so far, with almost 1 trillion won in arrears.

The police have also launched an investigation into an Indonesian engineer's alleged attempt to steal technologies related to the project last month.

During their talks, Cho also expressed his condolences over a capsizing incident of a fishing boat carrying seven Indonesians that left three crewmembers dead and four missing. (Yonhap)
Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Rain likely. Thunder possible. Low around 40F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Rain likely. Thunder possible. Low around 40F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
Following drama concerning Girl's Day Hyeri and Ryu Jun Yeol's break-up, as well as the actor's relationship with Han So Hee, the lyrics of "Something" have resurfaced and garnered attention.

The ongoing drama involving Han So Hee, Ryu Jun Yeol, and Hyeri continues to dominate social media. Following Han So Hee's reveal about their relationship, Ryu Jun Yeol also confirmed his relationship with Han So Hee while denying any accusations of infidelity. Ryu Jun Yeol's decision to break his silence after more than a day garnered significant attention from Korean media, with headlines screaming "Ryu Jun Yeol Finally Speaks Out."

Nevertheless, Ryu Jun Yeol continues to face backlash from netizens. Many speculate that he may have overlapped his relationships with Han So Hee while still dating Hyeri. Others criticized him for seemingly disregarding Hyeri's wishes, such as not taking her to Hawaii, her favorite destination for seven years, yet vacationing there with Han So Hee after only a few months of dating.

Lyrics of Girl's Day 'Something' Resurface Following Hyeri, Han So Hee, Ryu Jun Yeol Romance Drama

Recently, South Korean netizens have brought attention to the song "Something," a song by the girl group Girl's Day, of which Hyeri is a member.



The song, released in 2014, depicts a scenario where a girl sarcastically addresses her partner upon discovering that he has been cheating on her.

The lyrics of the chorus are: "I was the only one who didn't know about this something / I can clearly feel it; there must be something / Your obvious lies / It's over / Nothing? It's something / Stop it."

FOR MORE INFORMATION: K-Netz Re-Examined Timeline of Girl's Day Hyeri-Han Sohee's 'Beef' Over Ryu Jun Yeol

"Something" by Girl's Day is often regarded as a song that embodies K-pop's sexy concept. While the song marked a new chapter in Girl's Day's career, it also became controversial due to the scandalous music video and dance.

The choreography, featuring suggestive moves like "wet" rolling and crawling on the floor, was deemed too provocative for the general public. Because of that, the music video was banned from airing on television stations. However, Girl's Day continued to actively promote their song across various platforms despite these bans.

How are K-Netz Reacting to the Lyrics of 'Something' Amid Hyeri, Han So Hee, Ryu Jun Yeol Romance Drama?

As the song is drawing attention, many are shocked by how the lyrics perfectly match Hyeri's situation right now, with some joking that musicians have the gift of seeing the future. Many are hoping Ryu Jun Yeol listens to the song and digests the lyrics well.

While some people agree that the song matches Hyeri's situations, others are hoping that Han So Hee did not "homewreck" Ryu Jun Yeol's relationship with the Girl's Day member. It was also pointed out that the person who deserves criticism is Ryu Jun Yeol, not the girls in the situation.

Others simply stated that the song is still great despite the drama.

Some comments read,

"Make sure Ryu Jun Yeol understands every sentence in this song."

"Do musicians have the gift of seeing the future or something?"

"Disregarding the drama, this song is still great even after ten years."

"I admit the song matches the situation; I hope Han So Hee is not the third-party."

"The person who deserves the criticism is Ryu Jun Yeol, not the two girls."

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

CHECK THIS OUT: Girl's Day Hyeri Sparks Confusion Due to Change in Visuals: 'I didn't recognize her...'

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
BTS member V recently updated his social media accounts, and it quickly caused a stir on social media. Many have noticed parallels between his posts and updates with BLACKPINK Jennie's social media activity.

On March 15, V dropped the music video for "FRI(END)S." Despite being released during his military service and the lack of promotions, "FRI(END)S" still managed to achieve remarkable accomplishments. The song debuted at number seven on Spotify Global and snagged the top spot on the iTunes charts in over 80 countries and territories, setting a solo K-pop record for the year. The following day, March 16, V took a new promotional step for the music.

It was noticed by quick-eyed ARMYs that V changed his Instagram profile picture.

Is BTS V Matching With BLACKPINK Jennie on Social Media?

Fans pointed out that V changed his profile picture on Instagram to a concept photo from the music video.

Although it seems like no big deal, this action blew up on social media, with people saying his profile picture connects with BLACKPINK Jennie.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: BLACKPINK Jennie Reaction to Being Called 'President' Garners Attention: 'She is so...'

Internet sleuths were quick to note the similarities between V's new profile picture and Jennie's Instagram profile picture. Both featured black-and-white photos with a background resembling a bridge. Placed side by side, it appeared as if V was facing Jennie and even blowing a kiss towards her.

While Korean media previously announced that the couple had broken up before V's military enlistment, recent days have seen a series of hints regarding Jennie and V on social media. Rumors suggest that V's new song contains lyrics possibly referencing Jennie.

CHECK THIS OUT: 8+ Most Trending K-pop Groups THIS March 2024 - Who's #1 on List?

It's worth noting that Jennie's Instagram profile picture has remained the same for four years. It is a black-and-white photo that is important to the BLACKPINK member, as it was taken by her mother. With this in mind, fans are even more intrigued about the true nature of the relationship between these two superstars. Could it be that V is subtly hinting that he and Jennie are still in a relationship?

Other Parallels in BTS V & BLACKPINK Jennie Social Media Activity

Additionally, Jennie's recent photo series in France has been noted for its striking similarities to V.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: BLACKPINK Jennie Suddenly Mentioned Following aespa Karina Dating News - Here's Why

To promote his release, V shared a photo of the word "FRIENDS" being embroidered on a white fabric. Soon after, a photo of Jennie holding up a white shirt against her body was shared on social media. The shirt contained several words embroidered into the fabric, with one of them being "FRIENDS."

A photo of V with a sunflower in his ear was also shared online. Coincidentally, photo of Jennie posing by a photo booth was shared, and she too had a sunflower in her hair.

READ MORE: Top 10 K-pop Boy Groups Dominating March 2024 Brand Reputation Rankings

Photos of V taken from a photo booth also drew comparisons to Jennie's latest photo booth photos.

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
2024 Vote

What Louisiana voters should know before Saturday's primary election

Election results can be found on KTBS.com, on our mobile app, and will be streamed live on KTBS on election night.
SRV Media

New Delhi [India], March 18: As the world welcomed the new year of 2024, Dr. Dad embarked on a new chapter in its journey. Responding to the needs of parents and guided by pediatrician recommendations, Dr. Dad unveiled its latest offerings: Dr. Dad Body Lotion and Dr. Dad Head To Toe Baby Bath. These skincare essentials are meticulously formulated to provide gentle yet effective care for delicate baby skin, embodying Dr. Dad's commitment to excellence and safety.

Also Read | Indias Gaming Sector Posed for Significant Growth, Can Create More Jobs in Country in Esports and Game Development Industry: Confederation of Indian Industry.

Pediatrician-Recommended Care: Formulated under the supervision of pediatricians and backed by extensive research, Dr. Dad Body Lotion and Dr. Dad Head To Toe Baby Bath offer unparalleled safety and efficacy. Every ingredient is carefully selected to nurture and protect the baby's skin, ensuring optimal comfort and well-being. With pediatrician endorsement, parents can trust Dr. Dad's skincare line to deliver the highest standards of care for their little ones.

In a world where parenting advice is abundant but trustworthy resources are scarce, Dr. Dad emerged in 2020 as a beacon of reliability and expertise. Founded by Dr. Gaurav Nigam, MD Pediatrician, Dr. Dad quickly gained recognition as a go-to parenting resource website. With a team comprising doctors, educators, nutritionists, child specialists, gynecologists, and various experts, Dr. Dad has been steadfast in providing genuine, credible information and support to parents worldwide.

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From its inception, Dr. Dad aimed not only to offer valuable content but also practical solutions for parents' everyday challenges. Thus, alongside informative articles and expert advice, Dr. Dad ventured into child care products. These products, available on prominent online platforms like Amazon and Flipkart, quickly garnered attention for their quality and effectiveness.

Dr. Dad understands the importance of gentle, nourishing care for babies, which is why our team of experts meticulously crafted these two products to meet the highest standards of safety and effectiveness.

Dr. Dad Head To Toe Baby Bath is more than just a shampoo; it's a comprehensive skincare solution. With a perfectly balanced pH of 5.5 and a tear-free formula, this gentle cleanser is enriched with natural moisturizers like Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, Oatmeal, and Goat Milk. These ingredients work synergistically to nourish, soothe, and protect your baby's sensitive skin. Hypoallergenic and pediatrician-recommended, Dr. Dad Head To Toe Baby Bath ensures a worry-free bath-time experience for both parents and babies.

Complementing our baby bath is Dr. Dad Baby Body Lotion, a luxurious moisturizer formulated to pamper your baby's skin. Like our baby bath, this lotion maintains a pH of 5.5, ensuring optimal compatibility with your baby's delicate skin. Infused with calming ingredients such as Chamomile, Almond Milk, Oatmeal, and Coconut Oil, our lotion provides long-lasting hydration and protection. Hypoallergenic and pediatrician-recommended, Dr. Dad Baby Body Lotion is the perfect way to nourish, soothe, and shield your baby's sensitive skin from environmental stressors.

Since its release, the Dr. Dad skin care line has received resounding approval from mothers nationwide. Delighted with the products' performance and reassured by their safety, numerous mothers have shared their heartfelt testimonials, affirming Dr. Dad's commitment to excellence and its unwavering dedication to supporting families on their parenting journey.

Dr. Gaurav Nigam, the visionary behind Dr. Dad, expressed his excitement about the launch of these new products, stating, "At Dr. Dad, we are committed to providing parents with safe and effective solutions for their baby's skincare needs. Our Head To Toe Baby Bath and Baby Body Lotion exemplify this commitment, offering gentle care that parents can trust."

Experience the Dr. Dad difference today and give your baby the gentle care they deserve. Our Head To Toe Baby Bath and Baby Body Lotion are now available for purchase at stores and online on many platforms, including Dr. Dad Online Store. For more information about Dr. Dad and our innovative products, visit shop.drdad.in

"Dr. Dad stands out as a trusted brand that prioritizes the health and well-being of babies, offering gentle, effective, and pediatrician-recommended skincare solutions that parents can trust. Backed by testimonials from satisfied mothers, Dr. Dad products have been proven effective in providing gentle and nourishing care for babies' sensitive skin, earning the trust of parents nationwide," said Dr. Gauvav Nigam, founder of Dr. Dad.

Dr. Dad:

Dr. Dad is a comprehensive resource platform catering to every aspect of the journey from pregnancy to parenting, encapsulating its ethos within the tagline "Pregnancy to Parenting." Offering a wealth of knowledge and guidance, Dr. Dad serves as a beacon for expecting parents and caregivers alike, addressing their queries and concerns with precision and care. Curated by a team of seasoned professionals, including doctors, educationists, nutritionists, and child specialists, its content is a testament to its commitment to providing accurate and reliable information. Founded by Dr. Gaurav Nigam, MD Pediatrician and child specialist, Dr. Dad not only offers invaluable insights but also extends its reach through a range of meticulously crafted child care products, ensuring that every step of the parenting journey is supported with expertise and compassion.

Dr. Dad strives to enhance the health and well-being of children worldwide through safe, effective, and nurturing solutions.

As Dr. Dad continues to evolve and innovate, it remains steadfast in its mission to empower parents with reliable information, effective solutions, and unwavering support. With the introduction of its groundbreaking skin care line, Dr. Dad reaffirms its position as a trusted companion for parents, enriching the parenting experience with expertise, integrity, and genuine care.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
VMPL

New Delhi [India], March 18: FlexifyMe, a health and wellness innovator, is making waves after a successful appearance on Shark Tank Season 3. The company captivated the esteemed panel of Sharks with its vision, securing a substantial investment of Rs1 crore from powerhouse investors Namita Thapar and Amit Jain (Founder, Car Dekho). This impressive feat has propelled FlexifyMe's valuation to a staggering Rs40 crore, a remarkable 40% increase, marking a major milestone in their growth journey.

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The Rs1 crore investment boasts a unique structure, with Rs50 lakh allocated for equity and the remaining Rs50 lakh secured as debt financing with interest details to be finalized.

Manjeet Singh, Co-Founder of FlexifyMe, said, "It's an honor to have the opportunity to present FlexifyMe on Shark Tank Season 3. Our experiences have driven us to develop a solution that can truly make a difference in people's lives. We are excited to showcase our vision and share the impact of FlexifyMe with a global audience."

Also Read | Mikaela Greig Called Into New Zealand Women's Squad for First T2OI Against England.

FlexifyMe's mission to revolutionize pain management with natural solutions landed them a coveted spot on Shark Tank India Season 3. The journey to this pivotal moment was one of meticulous preparation. The company worked tirelessly, collaborating with internal and creative teams to craft a captivating pitch, complete with compelling elevator pitches and impactful demos. This culminated in a captivating presentation before the esteemed Sharks, whose invaluable insights proved to be a game-changer. FlexifyMe views this experience as a springboard to amplify its reach, empowering countless individuals struggling with pain.

Amit Bhayani, co-founder of FlexifyMe, "FlexifyMe represents a new era of wellness, focusing on empowering individuals to take charge of their health journey. Our participation in Shark Tank Season 3 highlights our commitment to innovation and our dedication to creating positive change in the healthcare landscape."

In conclusion, FlexifyMe's presence on Shark Tank Season 3 symbolizes a significant milestone in the company's ongoing mission to provide accessible and holistic healthcare solutions. With a fervent dedication to improving the well-being of individuals worldwide, FlexifyMe continues to lead the way in revolutionizing the health and wellness industry.

Watch full episode on - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ixbxzp3Jfw

FlexifyMe is the brainchild of Co-Founders Amit Bhayani & Manjeet Singh, whose personal battle with Lumbar Spondylosis inspired the creation of the platform. Faced with limited success from traditional treatment methods and the daunting prospect of surgery, Singh embarked on a journey to find a natural pathway to recovery. Guided by expert Orthopaedic Doctors, Physiotherapists, and Yoga Therapists, Singh's research culminated in the development of FlexifyMe, a groundbreaking AI technology led solution for holistic healing.

FlexifyMe is dedicated to transforming the health and wellness landscape by offering natural and efficient remedies for common physical ailments. By melding traditional wisdom with cutting-edge technology, FlexifyMe provides individuals with personalized and sustainable healthcare options, empowering them to take charge of their well-being.

(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)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
PNN

New Delhi [India], March 18: M Baazar, one of Eastern India's leading fashion retailers, proudly announces its partnership with Bollywood's dynamic diva, Kriti Sanon, as its newest brand ambassador. The brand has also chosen Pavail Gulati as its other new face.

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Most recently awarded a National Film Award for her work, Kriti Sanon is also a two-time Filmfare Award winner. She finds her place among the elite in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list 2019. Known for her captivating on-screen performances and charismatic persona, she effortlessly blends chic, boldness, and versatility, establishing herself as a definitive fashion icon in the Indian film industry, making her the perfect choice for M Baazar.

Kristi expresses her excitement about the collaboration, saying, "When I discovered the exquisite collection at M Baazar, I was instantly drawn to its contemporary flair and fashion, which resonates perfectly with my sense of style."

Also Read | Qualcomm Unveils Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Chip With Generative AI Features for Flagship Android Smartphones.

Pavail Gulati, known for his stunning performances in Bollywood movies, echoed Kriti's enthusiasm: "M Baazar's dedication to offering the latest trends and quality apparel is commendable. I'm thrilled to be part of a brand that exudes elegance and style."

Sanjay Saraf, CMD of M Baazar, stated, "We're so happy to have Kriti Sanon and Pavail Gulati join our brand. We're proud and excited about this partnership and believe it will elevate fashion to new levels."

With a network of 155+ stores spanning 9 Indian states, M Baazar curates a diverse range of menswear, ladieswear, kidswear, and accessories, catering to the fashion-forward generation of today. The collaboration with Kriti Sanon and Pavail Gulati is poised to elevate the brand to greater heights, setting new benchmarks in fashion and style.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], March 18 (ANI): Four people have been arrested for allegedly duping a Delhi-based businessman of Rs 16 lakh in an online "gold trading" scam, said police on Monday.

According to Delhi police, "The 4 scammers were arrested after raids were conducted in Delhi, Gujarat and Punjab by the Cyber Police, Outer North District."

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The scammers were arrested in connection with a pan-India online gold trading scam run by cybercriminals under a criminal conspiracy to cheat people.

"In this module, the scamsters allured the complainant on a WhatsApp group to invest in gold trading through an application called "GBL Gold" that was being operated by scammers outside the country," said police.

Also Read | Indias Gaming Sector Poised for Significant Growth, Can Create More Jobs in Country in Esports and Game Development Industry: Confederation of Indian Industry.

The police further said that the fictitious website of the GBL Gold application used in the scam was designed by crooks operating from China and was shared through WhatsApp and Telegram IDs whose IP addresses were those of Huwai, China. The module was formed and modulated in China.

"The money obtained from the scam was being transferred into accounts handled by the fraudsters and then siphoned using USDT, Crypto and other such apps to evade agencies, " said the police.

The police said that the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) is in the process of tracing all India-related links related to the fraud and is determining the exact amount of the scam.

The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) was established by MHA in New Delhi to provide a framework and eco-system for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to deal with cybercrime in a coordinated and comprehensive manner.

Further details on the matter are awaited. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], March 18 (ANI): Bhopal constituency, one of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh, is set to vote on May 7.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Alok Sharma for this seat, whereas Congress has yet to name its candidate from here.

Also Read | Gujarat University Hostel Attack: Varsity Attack Incident Shows We Are Not Fully Aware of Our Tradition, Heritage, Says Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan.

The voting in Bhopal will take place in the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls. The last date for filing nominations is April 19.

Exuding confidence ahead of the polls, BJP candidate Alok Sharma said, "Beneficiaries here are telling us that they got various benefits from the government, such as food subsidies and pucca houses. The public itself is saying, 'Phir ek bar Modi sarkar'. We will register victory on all 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh."

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: EC Asks West Bengal Administration To Follow All Measures To Ensure Violence-Free Polls in State.

The BJP has decided to drop sitting MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh from Bhopal, who had earlier registered a massive victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls over Congress leader Digvijaya Singh with a victory margin of over 3,64,822 votes. Pragya Singh had amassed 8,66,482 votes, while the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister could gather 5,01,660 votes.

In 2014, when the BJP returned to power at the Centre, its candidate, Alok Sanjar, registered victory over Congress rival PC Sharma.

In Madhya Pradesh, with 29 seats, polling will be held in four phases. Voting will be held on six seats in Phase 1 (April 19), seven seats in Phase 2 (April 26), and 8 seats each in Phase 3 (May 7) and Phase 4 (May 13).

The elections for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held from April 19 to June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. (ANI)

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Amethi, Mar 18 (PTI) A farmer guarding his fields in the Munshiganj area here was allegedly killed by an animal, police said on Monday.

Shitala Prasad (45) was a resident of Darpipur village, police said, adding that the incident occurred on Sunday night.

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Prasad was seriously injured and taken to the District Hospital Gauriganj where doctors declared him dead, police said.

The body has been sent for post-mortem.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Teacher Shot Dead by Head Constable Following Confrontation in Muzaffarnagar, Case Registered (Watch Video).

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Ultimately, globalization and multilateral trade arrangements are unavoidable because they represent the sole means to fulfill people's desires for improved and secure conditions. LONDON, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Despite the rising tide of de-globalization and protectionism, China has played an important role in advocating economic globalization and its efforts in promoting high-standard opening-up are worth noticing, several British experts told Xinhua recently. "Trade is the source of prosperity and the source of stopping poverty," said Stephen Perry, president emeritus of Britain's 48 Group Club, during a recent interview with Xinhua. "In the long run, globalization and multilateral forms of trade are inevitable, because they are the only way to get what people want, which is better and safer conditions," Perry said. Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the London-based Financial Times, said that because of economic realities, China has to push for globalization. "It makes sense for China in every circumstance to push for an open world economy." China-Britain Business Council Chair Sherard Cowper-Coles said China's push for globalization is a win-win story. Speaking at the "Icebreakers" 2024 Chinese New Year celebration, he noted that "China matters more than it's ever done to the United Kingdom, to post-Brexit Britain." Cowper-Coles told Xinhua during the event that China's advocacy of economic globalization is "terribly important." "Britain needs China, needs this market for our goods and services, needs Chinese investment, needs Chinese students," he said. Commenting on China's recent measures to push forward its high-standard opening-up, he said that "it's a win for the Western firms that want to enter the Chinese market. It's also a win for the Chinese consumers who get more choices, more options. So it's very positive in every way." Jean Christophe Iseux von Pfetten, chairman of the Institute for East-West Strategic Studies in Britain, said some good decisions are being made in China such as nurturing and strengthening the private economy, which is welcomed by China and the foreign community. At the same time, Pfetten expressed his concern that in terms of foreign direct investment in the West, it will be much more complicated for Chinese companies. "The United States is not benefiting from its protectionist action," Pfetten said, adding that the so-called de-risking and de-coupling are "totally wrong." Keith Bennett, an international relations consultant in London, told Xinhua that although there is a lot of talk about protectionism and restrictions on trade, and there are some measures in that direction, "the main trend is very much towards globalization." "What's important is that China puts forward an inclusive and fair globalization," he said. "China is giving a constructive lead on that to make it fair and equitable for all," said Bennett, adding that he thinks "the overwhelming majority of countries in the world support China's initiatives on this." "And it's gaining more and more understanding in some countries. Even if there is some pushback or hesitancy from the government, it's very much supported by the business community who don't want any political issues to interfere with trade and business," he said. "China is the only country so far as I know that organizes expos and conferences to encourage people to export to the Chinese market and to bring their high-quality, niche and specialized products to China," Bennett said.
New Delhi, Mar 18 (PTI) The Congress on Monday said Karnataka is reeling under an acute water crisis due to a severe drought situation in most parts and accused the Modi government of refusing to help the people of the state.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh's attack on the government came on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a public meeting in Shivamogga.

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"The prime minister is in Shivamogga, Karnataka today. We hope he addresses some of the key issues in the state in his address," he said.

Ramesh said Karnataka is reeling under an acute water crisis due to a severe drought situation in most parts of the state, with 223 of the state's 236 Talukas facing drought conditions.

Also Read | Laddu Maar Holi 2024: Police Quash Reports of Stampede During Pre-Holi Celebrations in Uttar Pradeshs Mathura.

"The state government has requested the Modi Sarkar to release funds of Rs 18,172 crore for drought relief. Why has the Modi Sarkar refused to help Karnataka's people so far?" he said in a post on X.

To help alleviate the drought-related stress on the rural economy, the Karnataka government has sought to increase the number of working days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) from 100 to 150, the Congress leader said.

"There is a provision in the scheme to do so during periods of drought. However, the Modi Sarkar has not only failed to approve the extension of the scheme, it has also failed to release Rs. 1600 crore towards the payment of wages to those working under MGNREGS," Ramesh said.

When is the Modi government going to pay Karnataka's MGNREGS workers their wages, he asked.

"Since taking office in 2023, the Karnataka government's efforts to provide an additional 5 kgs of rice to poor families through its Anna Bhagya Scheme have been disrupted by the Modi government," he said.

After initially agreeing to sell the Karnataka government the 2.28 lakh metric tonnes of rice required to meet the demands of the scheme at Rs 34 per kg, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has since refused to sell rice to the Karnataka government, he alleged.

"As of November 2023, the FCI's rice stocks were twice the amount of rice it needed to hold as a buffer - and its attempts to sell rice in the private markets have not been successful. Is the FCI's refusal to sell rice to the State Government of Karnataka, an obvious solution to its current problems, merely a case of political vendetta?" Ramesh said.

The Congress leader further said Shivamogga is the Lok Sabha segment represented by B Y Raghavendra, son of former BJP Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

"The Karnataka State BJP Chief is B.Y. Vijayendra, another son of former BJP Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. While in Shivamogga today, the prime minister should clarify what is the BJP's stance on 'dynasty' in politics?" he said and asked the PM to break his "silence" on these issues.

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Chennai, Mar 18 (PTI) Ending days of suspense on the alliance, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on Monday announced that it has decided to go with the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The party would firm up electoral ties with the BJP-led NDA and a formal announcement on the number of Lok Sabha constituencies and the candidates to be fielded would be made by PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss, PMK general secretary Vadivel Ravanan said.

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The Vanniyar community-dominated party's announcement coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Coimbatore and it sent a clear message to the AIADMK that the PMK was not keen on forging poll ties with the Dravidian major.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, who had walked out of the NDA, has been attempting to stitch an alliance with the PMK and the DMDK.

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"The PMK's general council has authorised party founder Dr S Ramadoss to announce the decision on the alliance. Today, he announced at the executive committee and meeting of district officer bearers on the decision to face the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the BJP," Ravanan told reporters here.

The constituencies to be allotted to the PMK and the candidates will be announced by Ramadoss in a couple of days, he said.

Asked if former Union Minister and Dr Ramadoss' son Dr Anbumani would meet the Prime Minister in Salem on Tuesday, Ravanan replied "he is likely to meet to finalise (the seats)."

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Mathura, March 18: The Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday quashed reports of a stampede during pre-Holi celebrations at the Shri Radha Rani Mandir, Barsana.

Speaking to ANI, SSP Mathura Shailesh Kumar Pandey stated that the reports of the stampede are false, adding that despite the huge rush, elaborate security measures were in place and that the devotees were sent inside the temple in a controlled manner.

"Laddu maar holi celebrations are going on in Barsana. Devotees are offering prayers and celebrating amidst adequate security arrangements. Rumours of a stampede are being spread. There is a lot of crowd for sure but the security arrangements are adequate," SSP Mathura Pandey told ANI on Sunday. Senior Superintendent of Police, Mathura, urged people not to spread false information on social media and urged everyone not to pay heed to rumours. Holashtak 2024 Start Date and Time: Netizens Share Informative Tweets On Why 8-Day-Long Holashtak Period Is Considered Inauspicious For Marriages, and Other Events.

There were reports that, due to the great rush during the celebrations, several devotees were injured and fell unconscious. After the Laddu Maar Holi in Barsana village, the celebrations is scheduled to shift to Lathmar Holi on Monday, where men from neighbouring towns, especially Mathura, will visit Barsana to participate in this unique celebration. The women of Barsana playfully hit them with sticks. Holi 2024: Barsanas Laddoo Mar Holi Kicks Off in Uttar Pradeshs Mathura (Watch Video).

As the name suggests, the Braj Ki Holi traditions take a cue from Lord Krishna and Radha's life, and the celebrations at Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, Nandgaon, and Gokul are dedicated to Krishna Kanhaniya, who spent his childhood in these regions. Holi will be celebrated across the country on March 25 this year.

SSP Mathura on Stampede Reports:

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: On stampede during 'Laddu Maar Holi' celebrations in Barsana, SSP Mathura Shailesh Kumar Pandey says, "Laddu maar holi celebrations are going on in Barsana. Devotees are offering prayers and celebrating amidst adequate security arrangements. Rumours of a pic.twitter.com/dHPzZvAlYR  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024

Braj Ki Holi is, no wonder, one of the most vibrant of all Holi celebrations in India. This festival is dedicated to Lord Krishna, who is believed to have spent a considerable amount of time in a region called Braj in Rajasthan. It not only replicates the spirit of Holi but also impersonates the timeless love of Radha and Krishna.

The 10-day Braj Ki Holi, beginning on Sunday, includes Phoolwali Holi at Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan (on March 20), Chhadi Mar Holi in Gokul (on March 21), Widow's Holi at Radha Gopinath Temple, Vrindavan (on March 23), Holi of Flowers at Banke Bihari Temple (on March 24), Holi in Mathura and Vrindavan (on March 25), and Huranga Holi in Baldev at Dauji Temple (on March 26).
New Delhi, March 18:The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea of Adani Power Rajasthan Ltd seeking over Rs 1,300 crore as late payment surcharge from the Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, a Rajasthan government-owned power distribution firm. Imposing Rs 50,000 as cost on Adani Power Rajasthan Ltd (APRL), a bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sanjay Kumar ruled that filing of a miscellaneous application was not the proper legal recourse to late payment surcharge (LPS) by the Adani firm.

"A relief of this nature cannot be asked for in a miscellaneous application which was described in the course of hearing as an application for clarification," Justice Bose said. "The maintainability of the present application cannot be explained by invoking the inherent power of this court either. The applicant has not applied for review of the main judgment. In the contempt action, it failed to establish any willful disobedience of the main judgment and order on account of non-payment of LPS," the bench said. Gautam Adani, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon Discuss About Indias Potential Around Semiconductors, AI and Mobility

"Now the applicant cannot continue to hitchhike on the same judgment by relying on the inherent power or jurisdiction of this court," it added. Writing the 23-page judgement for the bench, Justice Bose said, "We, accordingly, dismiss the present application. This application was listed before us on several occasions and for that reason, we impose costs of Rs 50,000 to be paid by the applicant to be remitted to the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee." The top court had on January 24 reserved its judgement.

The Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited (JVVNL), represented by senior advocate Dushyant Dave, had vehemently opposed the plea of Adani Power seeking over Rs 1,300 crore as LPS from the state discom. The court, which had not permitted the Adani firm to withdraw its plea on January 24, gave reasons for that in its detailed judgment. The APRL, through its miscellaneous application in a decided case, had sought a direction to the state firm to make a payment of Rs 1,376.35 crore towards LPS.

The claim was raised by the Adani firm citing a term of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) entered by it with the state discom on January 28, 2010. Under the agreement, the APRL was to supply electricity to the Rajasthan discoms and to generate the electricity, the Adani firm had to procure coal from Indonesia. The 2010 PPA had postulated domestic coal as the primary source of energy, while imported coal was to be used as a backup option. Gautam Adani Enthused by US Chipmaker Qualcomm CEO's India Plans

The APRL's complaint was that due to the non-availability of sufficient domestic coal, it could not be allocated a domestic coal linkage by the Centre and that it was compelled to rely on imported coal from Indonesia that came at a higher cost. As per the Adani firm, it was one of the main reasons for seeking LPS. However, this matter was decided by the apex court and the firm filed an interim application on this issue in the case. The bench did not permit the withdrawal as it was also opposed by the Rajasthan government discom.

"In our opinion, the provision which pertains to a suit would not ipso facto apply to a miscellaneous application invoking inherent powers of this court, instituted in a set of statutory appeals which stood disposed of. Even if an applicant applies for withdrawal of an application, in exceptional cases, it would be within the jurisdiction of the court to examine the application and pass appropriate orders. "So far as the present proceeding is concerned, an important question of law has arisen as regards jurisdiction of the court to entertain an application taken out in connection with a set of statutory appeals which stood disposed of," it said.

The judgment said it was necessary to spell out the position of law as to when such post-disposal miscellaneous applications can be entertained after a matter is disposed of. "This court has become functus-officio and does not retain jurisdiction to entertain an application after the appeal was disposed of by the judgment of a three-judge bench of this court on August 31, 2020, through a course beyond that specified in the statute. This is not an application for correcting any clerical or arithmetical error.

"Neither it is an application for extension of time. A post disposal application for modification and clarification of the order of disposal shall lie only in rare cases, where the order passed by this court is executory in nature and the directions of the court may become impossible to be implemented because of subsequent events or developments. The factual background of this application does not fit into that description," it said. The Adani firm's plea before the bench was in the news after the apex court had pulled up its registry for not listing the case for unspecified reasons despite a judicial order to post it.

The Adani firm was seeking modification of a three-judge bench verdict delivered on August 30, 2020, on the plea of JVVNL through a miscellaneous application which is filed in pending cases. The top court, in its 2020 verdict, had upheld the orders of the Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity, observing that the Adani firm was entitled to a compensatory tariff but not to the LPS as claimed.

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Rampur (UP), Mar 18 (PTI) A court here on Monday sentenced Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan to seven years in prison and a imposed a fine of Rs 8 lakh on him over the forced demolition of a house in Dungarpur in 2016.

The MP-MLA court also sentenced three others to five years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh on each of them in the case, senior prosecution officer Amarnath Tiwari said.

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The court of Judge Vijay Kumar convicted Azam Khan, a former Uttar Pradesh minister, Azhar Ahmed Khan, a former chairperson of the municipal corporation, Ale Hasan, a former police circle officer, and Barkat Ali, according to Tiwari.

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Three other accused -- Jibran, Farman and Omendra Chauhan -- in the case were acquitted by the court, the officer said.

Seven people, including Azam Khan, were booked in 2019 for the forced demolition of the house in 2016 when the SP was in power in Uttar Pradesh.

The case was registered at the Ganj police station in Rampur, Tiwari said.

They were booked under Indian Penal Code sections 447 (punishment for criminal trespass), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 395 (punishment for dacoity), 412 (dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity) and 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), he said.

The case was filed against them after change of government in the state.

Azam Khan (75) is currently serving a sentence in the Sitapur jail in another criminal case.

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New Delhi, Mar 18 (PTI) The Delhi High Court has said that the courts must scrutinise a wife's complaint or FIR against her husband or his family to determine whether the allegations carry elements of truth or are merely an instance of "clever drafting".

The high court said though the court is not expected to conduct a mini-trial, it also cannot be a mere spectator and refuse to exercise the power of quashing a criminal case where it finds that continuing with the proceedings would defeat the ends of the justice and amount to insurmountable harassment, agony, and pain to the accused.

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This would be an abuse of the criminal process, it said.

Justice Navin Chawla said where the wife is set to implicate the entire family of the husband in a criminal case, it is to be expected that she would get a complaint properly drafted through her lawyer making specific allegations against each one of them.

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The high court said it would defeat the ends of justice if only on the basis of such averment, the family members of the husband were to face the agony of trial.

"In my opinion, therefore, the court must scrutinise the complaint/FIR to determine whether the allegations are a case of clever drafting or have at least some element of truth in the same" Justice Chawla said.

The high court's observations came while quashing an FIR lodged against a man's maternal uncle and aunt by his estranged wife for the alleged offences of cruelty done to a married woman and criminal breach of trust under the IPC.

It was alleged in the FIR that since the beginning of the marriage, the woman's husband and his relatives harassed her and beat her

The court noted that while the marriage was solemnised in 1997, the FIR was lodged in 2017, that is, after 23 years.

The husband's maternal uncle and aunt sought quashing the FIR against them on the ground that they had always lived separately from their nephew and his wife and their names were dragged in the case only because they were his family members.

The high court, in its order, noted that allegations made against the husband's family members were mostly general and vague.

It allowed the petition and quashed the FIR and consequential proceedings against the man's relatives.

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New Delhi, Mar 18 (PTI) All ten listed stocks of the Adani group ended lower on Monday amid media reports that the US has widened its bribery probe of the ports-to-energy conglomerate.

Shares of the group firms also declined after the Supreme Court dismissed a plea of Adani Power Rajasthan Ltd seeking over Rs 1,300 crore as late payment surcharge from the Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited, a Rajasthan government-owned power distribution firm.

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The stock of Adani Total Gas tanked 4.35 per cent, Adani Energy Solutions dived 3.40 per cent, Ambuja Cements dropped 2.81 per cent and ACC fell by 2.43 per cent on the BSE.

Shares of NDTV lost 2.08 per cent, Adani Wilmar declined 2.05 per cent, Adani Green Energy dropped 1.67 per cent, Adani Ports slipped 1.24 per cent, Adani Enterprises went lower by 0.71 per cent and Adani Power dipped 0.35 per cent.

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As per media reports, US prosecutors have widened their probe of the conglomerate to focus on whether it engaged in bribery.

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea of Adani Power Rajasthan Ltd seeking over Rs 1,300 crore as late payment surcharge from the Jaipur Vidyut Vitran Nigam Limited.

Imposing Rs 50,000 as cost on Adani Power Rajasthan Ltd (APRL), a bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and PV Sanjay Kumar ruled that filing of a miscellaneous application was not the proper legal recourse to late payment surcharge (LPS) by the Adani firm.

"Relief of this nature (claiming LPS) cannot be asked in a miscellaneous application which was described in the course of the hearing as an application for clarification," the bench said.

Meanwhile, in the equity market the 30-share BSE Sensex ended 104.99 points or 0.14 per cent higher at 72,748.42, and the NSE Nifty climbed 32.35 points or 0.15 per cent to 22,055.70.

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Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], March 18 (ANI): As many as 20 participants from the coast guards of friendly Countries have been undergoing the IMO Oil Pollution Response Course in Chennai, the Indian Coast Guard said.

The participants witnessed a demonstration of oil containment using a boom, skimmers and application of Oil Spill Dispersant onboard the Indian Coast Guard ship Shaurya. According to Indian Coast Guard officials, the nations pursuing the course include the Maldives, Cambodia, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Indonesia.

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A post on the official X handle of the Indian Coast Guard read, "Collaboration for Capacity Building. 20 participants from Coast Guards of Friendly Countries undergoing IMO Oil Pollution Response Course at Chennai."

"Witnessed demonstration of oil containment using boom, skimmers & application of Oil Spill Dispersant onboard @IndiaCoastGuard ship Shaurya," it added.

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Last week, 52 officers and sailors from friendly countries arrived for specialised training by the Indian Coast Guard. The coast guard is conducting two specially designed courses under the aegis of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC)

In a press release on March 11, the Indian Coast Guard stated, "In continuation with the initiative of "Capacity Building Through Meaningful Training" for the Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs), the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is conducting two specially designed courses under the aegis of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) commencing from today."

"The two professional courses are modelled and designed in consonance with the best international practices/ regulations and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) instruments aiming to strengthen maritime relationship, and building consensus amongst the like-minded regional maritime nations while dealing with contemporary challenges at sea," it added.

The Maritime Law and Ops Course is being conducted at the Coast Guard Training Centre (CGTC), Kochi since March 11 and will end on March 18, while the second course is on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC) IMO Level-I & II by the ICG Pollution Response Team (PRT) at Chennai. Spanning two weeks, the second course commenced on March 11 and will conclude on March 24.

"The course curriculum of Maritime Law & Ops Course covers a wide canvas wherein the foreign trainees will be exposed to the facets of international Maritime Law and management of ocean resources, Maritime Search & Rescue (M-SAR), Marine Pollution Response (MPR), Visit Board Search & Seizure (VBSS) and Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (GMDSS)," the Indian Coast Guard stated further in the release.

"On the other hand, the trainees participating in IMO Level-I & II Course will be provided hands-on training on the aspect of Oil Pollution preparedness, Response and Cooperation which is duly validated by the IMO. Both the courses will be conducted through class room instruction by ICG Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) besides practical demonstration onboard ICG Ships," it added.

32 trainees from 11 friendly countries are participating in the Maritime Law & Ops Course while the IMO Level-I & II Course is attended by 20 trainees from six friendly foreign countries. Notably, the Indian Coast Guard has trained 190 officers and 257 sailors from the Coast Guards/ Maritime Agencies of the FFCs under the ITEC programme in the last three years, according to the release. (ANI)

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Washington, Mar 18 (PTI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday spoke over the phone with his American counterpart Lloyd Austin to discuss on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues amidst a "growing momentum in major defence partnership" between India and the US.

During the call, Austin and Rajnath "lauded progress on bilateral defence initiatives following the 5th annual US-India 2+2 ministerial dialogue in November 2023, including US support for India's military modernisation, initiatives to drive forward the US-India roadmap for defence industrial cooperation, strengthening maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean Region, and India's support for the rule of law in the Arabian Sea and adjacent waterways, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj Gen Pat Ryder said.

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Austin held the call with Singh to discuss "growing momentum in the major defence partnership between the US and India in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region", he said.

The two leaders also applauded recent announcements accompanying the second India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) Summit in New Delhi in February.

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Austin highlighted the cutting-edge defense innovation propelled by the partnership between the US Department of Defence's Defence Innovation Unit (DIU) and the Indian Ministry of Defence's Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX).

Austin and Singh expressed hope to have an opportunity to meet in person soon, Ryder said.

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New York, March 18: In yet another tragic incident, an Indian student died in Boston and initial investigation has ruled out any foul play, officials said on Monday. Deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate demise of Mr. Abhijeeth Paruchuru, an Indian student in Boston, the Consulate General of India in New York said in a post on X. Paruchuru's parents are based in Connecticut and are in direct touch with detectives. Initial investigations rule out foul play, the consulate said.

The consulate said it rendered assistance in documentation and transportation of his mortal remains to India and it remains in touch with local authorities as well as the Indian-American community in the matter. According to sources, 20-year-old Paruchuru's last rites have already been performed in his hometown Tenali in Andhra Pradesh. US-based nonprofit organisation TEAM Aid had helped to bring his mortal remains to India. Indian Student Dead in US: Probe In Abhijeeth Paruchuru's Death Rules Out Foul Play, Says Indian Consulate In New York

Since the beginning of 2024, there have been at least half a dozen deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students in the US. The alarming rise in the number of attacks has caused concern among the community. In March, Amarnath Ghosh, a 34-year-old trained classical dancer from India and a student of Washington University, was shot dead in St Louis, Missouri. Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancer Ghosh migrated to the US from West Bengal last year to follow his dancing dreams. He was shot several times near the border of St Louis' Academy and Central West End neighbourhoods. He died on the spot.

Sameer Kamath, a 23-year-old Indian-American student at Purdue University, was found dead in a nature preserve in Indiana on February 5. On February 2, Vivek Taneja, a 41-year-old Indian-origin IT executive, suffered life-threatening injuries during an assault outside a restaurant in Washington, making it the seventh death of an Indian or Indian-American in recent months in the US. A week before that, Syed Mazahir Ali, an Indian student was attacked by robbers in Chicago. Earlier, 25-year-old Indian student Vivek Saini was fatally attacked in Georgia State's Lithonia city by a homeless drug addict.

In January, 19-year-old Shreyas Reddy Beniger, a student at the Lindner School of Business in Ohio State was found dead. However, local authorities had ruled out foul play.Another Indian student, identified as Neel Acharya at Purdue University, Indiana, was confirmed dead days after being reported missing on January 28. Akul B Dhawan, an 18-year-old at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, was found dead last month with signs of hypothermia. US Shocker: 20-Year-Old Indian Student Killed by Unidentified Assailants in Boston, Body Found Inside Car Within Forest

The series of attacks on Indians and Indian origin person/students had prompted the officials of the Indian Embassy in Washington and its consulates at various places to hold a virtual interaction with Indian students from across the US, discussing various aspects of student well-being and ways to stay connected with the larger diaspora. About 150 Indian Student Association office bearers and students from 90 US universities participated in the interaction led by Charge d'Affaires, Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan. It was also attended by the Consul Generals of India in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Seattle.

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Tel Aviv [Israel], March 18 (ANI/TPS): Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with the visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem.

This is the third visit of the Chancellor to Israel, the second visit since the start of the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Also Read | Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Roof Collapse: Six People, Including Two Children Killed, and 10 Injured in Roof Collapse Incident in Pakistan.

After the meeting, Netanyahu said, "The army of Israel has done more to minimize civilian casualties than any other army in modern times, and certainly any other army faced with such dense urban warfare and an enemy that seeks to use civilians as human shields, as Hamas does, often at gunpoint."

Netanyahu also said that Israel is making "unusual efforts" to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, he also explained that the main problem with the distribution of this aid once it gets into Gaza is that it is being looted by Hamas.

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"We also agree that Hamas has to be eliminated," Netanyahu added.

"We cannot have a future for Gaza, a future for peace, or a future for Israel if Hamas, a terrorist organization committed to our genocide, remains intact. If it remains intact, it will regroup and reconquer the Gaza Strip and, as they vowed, repeat the massacre again and again and again." (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)
Islamabad [Pakistan], March 18 (ANI): The scrutiny of nomination papers for elections in the 48 vacant seats of Pakistan's Senate will be conducted on March 19, Pakistan-based Geo News reported.

The Election Commission of Pakistan has said that the elections for the upper house of Pakistan's Parliament will be held on April 2. The revised list of candidates will be issued on March 29 and the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by March 27.

Also Read | Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, March 18, 2024.

Members of the National Assembly in Islamabad will elect members of the Senate against one general seat and one seat for technocrats including Ulema, according to Geo News report.

Members of the four provincial assemblies will elect senators for seven general seats, two women seats, and two seats for technocrats, including Ulema from each province and one seat for non-Muslims from both Punjab and Sindh provinces.

Also Read | Air Pollution in Pakistan: Karachi Becomes Seventh Most Polluted City in World.

A total of 42 candidates have submitted their nomination papers for the Senate election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A total of 25 candidates have submitted their nomination papers for seven general seats, according to a list issued by ECP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter spokesperson Sohail Ahmad,

Meanwhile, ten candidates have filed their nomination papers for two technocrat and Ulema seats in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Seven women candidates have filed nomination papers for two reserved seats for women from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Balochistan Election Commission has issued the preliminary list of candidates of the province's vacant seats in Pakistan's Senate, as per the Geo News report.

Meanwhile, the Balochistan Election Commission released the preliminary list of candidates for the province's vacant seats in Pakistan's Senate. The Balochistan Election Commission spokesperson said that the nomination papers of 38 candidates have been given approval for the 11 seats of the province in Pakistan's Senate.

The vacant seats include seven general seats, two seats for technocrats and two for women. The Balochistan Election Commission spokesperson said that the nomination papers of 17 candidates were given approval for 7 general seats of the Senate, Geo News report.

According to the spokesperson, the nomination papers for 13 candidates have been approved for two technocrat seats while nomination papers of eight candidates were given nod for two seats in the women category.

Earlier on Friday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced the final list of candidates for the Senate elections, scheduled to take place on April 2, Geo News reported.

According to details, the incarcerated PTI founder okayed the names of Murad Saeed, Faisal Javed, Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Irfan Saleem, Khurram Zeeshan and Azhar Mashwani from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Senate general seats, according to Geo News report.

Azam Swati and Irshad Hussain will be PTI's candidates for Senate technocrat seats from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while Ayesha Banu and Rubina Naz will be candidates for Senate reserved seats, Geo News reported.

In Punjab, Imran Khan has approved the names of Hamid Khan and Zulfi Bukhari as PTI's candidates for general seats. PTI leaders Yasmin Rashid and Sanam Javed will be the party's candidates for technocrat and women-reserved seats from Punjab, respectively. (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)

Seoul, Mar 18 (AP) North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the North's east coast Monday morning, the South Korean military said.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff gave no further details, such as how far the weapon flew.

Also Read | Air Pollution in Pakistan: Karachi Becomes Seventh Most Polluted City in World.

The launch happened days after the US and South Korean militaries ended their annual military drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], March 18 (ANI): T. Armstrong Changsan has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Cuba, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Monday.

An Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of batch 1997, Changsan is currently a Joint Secretary in the MEA.

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"Shri T. Armstrong Changsan (IFS: 1997), presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Cuba," the MEA said in an official press release.

He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. (ANI)

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(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 18 (ANI/WAM): UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received His Excellency Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, President of the Republic of Angola.

During the meeting at Qasr Al Bateen in Abu Dhabi, welcomed the visit of the President of Angola, who congratulated His Highness on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan and expressed his wish for it to be a month of goodness, mercy, and peace for people around the world.

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Cooperation between the two countries was discussed in various fields, especially economy, trade, investment, development, and renewable energy, as well as opportunities to bolster ties to serve common interests and enhance both countries' vision of sustainable development and prosperity.

The two leaders also exchanged views on a number of issues of interest to both countries.

Also Read | Israel-Hamas War: US President Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu Hold First Call In More Than a Month As Tension Grows Over Food Crisis in Gaza.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State. (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)
Washington, DC [US], March 18 (ANI): Two people were killed and five others injured in a shooting in Washington, DC, early Sunday morning, CNN reported, citing the police.

The shooting was reported near the intersection of 7th and P Street Northwest, near the Kennedy Recreation Center at around 3 am (local time), according to the Metropolitan Police Department, according to CNN.

Also Read | Air Pollution in Pakistan: Karachi Becomes Seventh Most Polluted City in World.

Addressing a media briefing, Metropolitan Police Executive Assistant Chief Jeffrey Carroll said all the victims were described as adults and had been taken to local hospitals, CNN reported, adding that no information was available regarding their condition.

It is not clear who opened fire or what caused the shooting, which took place about a dozen blocks northeast of the White House. The police have not issued a statement on any arrests or named any suspects in the case.

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"We're asking anyone who may have any information related to this incident or may have witnessed it to contact the Metropolitan Police Department," Carroll said.

Earlier, on Saturday, a man accused of killing three people in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, was finally taken into custody, CNN reported, citing police. Andre Gordon, the 26-year-old suspect, allegedly killed three people at two different homes in Pennsylvania before carjacking a driver and heading for New Jersey.

Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said, "He's in custody. No one else was injured." Addressing a news conference on Saturday afternoon (local time), Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said that Gordon, who was driving a stolen vehicle, shot his 52-year-old stepmother Karen Gordon and his 13-year-old sister Kera Gordon in their home.

Schorn said that three other people who were present in the home successfully hid from Gordon during the attack. After the shooting, Gordon visited Edgewood Lane and shot 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, with whom he has two children.

According to Schorn, four other people were present inside the home, including Daniel's mother, who was injured by Gordon and is undergoing treatment at a hospital. Police said Gordon after the shooter carjacked a driver at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General on Bristol Pike in Morrisville. The police said the driver was not injured in the incident. (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 18: A 22-year-old medical student alleged that her professor sexually harassed her during a viva examination, police said on Monday. According to the complainant, she is an MBBS student of the 2021 batch at a government hospital. "On January 31, our practical exam was going on in a pharmacology department. At around 1.15 pm, I had to appear before an assistant professor of Pharmacology for a practical viva. The professor had kept the chair close to himself even though students usually sit across the table from the teachers."

Further, the complainant said that the professor gave her some documents and he kept on asking her inappropriate and irrelevant questions which made her feel uncomfortable, read the FIR. "When I stopped answering he sent me out and asked me to come again. Then he started asking me about injections and inappropriately touched me. He touched my neck and tried to touch my private parts on the pretext of asking questions," she alleged. Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Groom Stands Atop Car During Wedding on Delhi-Dehradun Highway, Police Seize Vehicle (See Pic)

"When I stood up to leave, he asked me about breast abscess (medical condition)and made inappropriate gestures," it stated. The victim told police that the assistant professor asked her to come to the department alone as he would teach her how to write answers in a way that would fetch her more marks. "He also told me that he was going to check our written exam answer sheets so he will take care of the marks if I am cooperative enough," read the FIR.

The complainant also alleged that similar incidents had happened with other students too, but they remained silent as they feared failing the exam. She also claimed that she lodged a complaint to the concerned authorities, but no action was taken against the assistant professor. "Our HOD also supported him and defamed me among other teachers by telling them that these girls are making false allegations," the FIR stated. Delhi Shocker: Man Stabs His Sister-in-Law to Death During Fight With His Wife in Alipur

Police have registered an FIR under sections 354A (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code against the accused.
Lucknow, March 18: A speeding car in Lucknow ran over a two-and-a-half-year-old girl, killing her on the spot. The incident took place on Sunday in the state capitals Aliganj area. This is the second such hit-and-run case in the city in a week. Last Sunday, two people were run over by a speeding car in Mahanagar.

The Aliganj police, in its statement, said that they had registered a case under IPC sections 279 (negligently riding a vehicle) and 304A (causing death by negligence) against the car driver. The childs father, Abhishek Rajvanshi, in his written complaint to the police, said that he was originally from Sitapur and lived in a shanty in DS colony on Sitapur road. Lucknow Hit-and-Run: Speeding Car Hits Bicycle and Scooter, Police React After Disturbing Video Surfaces.

On Sunday, my daughter Radhika a.k.a Kashish was playing outside when a person living in the colony crushed my daughter under his speeding car and fled from the scene, he said. We took our daughter to the KGMU trauma centre where she was declared dead by the doctor, the childs father told the police. Uttar Pradesh Road Accident: 11 Injured as Anti-Demo Vehicle in CM's Convoy Collides with Parked Vehicles in Lucknow.

DCP North Abijith R. Shankar said, The accused has been identified as Kunal Singh, a resident of the same colony. He has been nabbed by police and is being interrogated. The four-wheeler had also been seized.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 18, 2024 09:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Mumbai, March 18: Elon Musk's AI company xAI has now open-sourced Grok AI for all. When it was released in November 2023, Grok AI was available to only a limited number of people, including limited X premium subscribers. The tech billionaire announced the open-source Grok AI during a podcast episode with Lex Friedman and confirmed on March 11, 2024.

On the official website, the xAI announced, "We are releasing the weights and architecture of our 314 billion parameter Mixture-of-Experts model, Grok-1." The website said that the Grok-1, a 314 billion parameter Mixture-of-Experts model, was released back in November 2023. The company said, "This is the raw base model checkpoint from Grok-1 pre training phase, " conducted in October 2023. Elon Musks Artificial Intelligence Startup Company xAI To Open-Source Grok AI Chatbot: Reports.

Elon Musk Announcement To Open-Source GrokAI:

This week, @xAI will open source Grok  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 11, 2024

Grok AI Open-Sourced Now; Check Announcement:

NEWS: Grok has been open Sourced Its weights are now in bio. pic.twitter.com/dm6zWAbgxu  X News Daily (@xDaily) March 17, 2024

Elon Musk's xAI Open-Sources Grok AI Model:

Grok AI Model Details

Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, announced that the base model trained on large amounts of data needs to be fine-tuned for any particular task. Grok AI model with 25% weights active on the given token. Further, the company said that Grok is trained from scratch by xAI using a custom training stack on top of JAX and Rust.

Companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google have open-sourced their AI models, such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini (Previously Bard), for experimental and research purposes. They were released to get feedback from users and improve the final versions. The open-sourced models are limited in capabilities and provide primary responses to users. Starship Rocket Will Be on Mars in Next Five Years, Says Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Open-Source AI Chatbots

Other models include Bionic GPT, Mistral AI, GPT-Neo, Falcon and others. Grok AI was said to compete with other successful models like ChatGPT and Gemini, providing better responses and real-time information. Elon Musk recently sued OpenAI over breaching the founding agreement about open-sourcing artificial intelligence. Users can visit the Github website, download weighs, and check the codes and license of Elon Musk's Grok AI. Now, after open-sourcing the AI chatbot, people can check which artificial intelligence model is more accurate in terms of information and less controversial.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 18, 2024 08:40 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Beijing, China: In recent scientific development, Chinese researchers have made their unique mark by creating a bright laser capable of shooting particles of sound instead of light. According to a report, Scientists in China have created the most powerful "sound laser" yet that releases "phonons", which are particle-like chunks of sounds.

According to a report by New Scientist, the Sound Laser has a tiny micrometre-long silica bead at the core that shoots sound particles. The report said that the Sound Laser created in China is unprecedently bright. According to the report, the Sound Laser was created by Hui Jing and his colleagues at Hunan Normal University in China. SpaceX Shares Stunning Video of Starship Rocket Re-Entering Earth's Atmosphere After Blasting Off on Third Test Flight (Watch Video).

The report said that the Sound Laser's bead is about the size of a typical bacterium. The team used two light beams to levitate it and surround it with a reflective cavity. The phonons created by any slight vibration of the bead were trapped and amplified in the cavity until there were enough phonons to create the laser-like beam.

This scientific discovery is not new, as the report said that several research groups had previously tested similar designs. However, unlike those researchers, Hui Jing and his colleagues preferred a different approach. They added an "electrode" below the bead. By doing so, the report said that it produced "carefully selected electromagnetic signals." Genius Day 2024: Albert Einstein Inspirational Quotes That Will Help You Achieve Greatness.

New Scientist further reported that making this modification delivered at each phonon frequency (laser's brightness) was enhanced by doing such modification. It made the beam of the "Sound Laser" tighter and helped it last longer. Compared to conventional lasers, the report said that the photos are less affected by moving liquids. Because of this quality, they could be more effective for imaging watery issues in biomedicine or likely in some deep-sea.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 18, 2024 03:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The historical landmarks of Saint Lucia are among the most captivating destinations in the Caribbean.

Their beauty often leaves visitors in awe, especially if it's their first time experiencing them.

Saint Lucia stands out as one of the Caribbean's most popular islands, attracting both cruise passengers and travelers seeking the perfect all-inclusive getaway.

Its allure lies in its breathtaking natural scenery and romantic ambiance, making it a top choice for couples and adventurers alike.

Here's why Saint Lucia is considered one of the most beautiful and romantic destinations in the Caribbean:

Sulfur Springs Park

If you've never tried soaking in a warm pool with sulfur, you should check out Sulfur Springs Park in Saint Lucia.

It's a popular spot, and lots of people visit each year. This place is famous for being the "only drive-in volcano" in the Caribbean.

You can learn about the volcano and its history here. And don't miss the chance to take a mud bath in the volcanic water! It's a unique experience you won't forget, according to Sandals.

Morne Fortune

Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, the British set up a big naval port in Castries. Later, they built fortifications in a place now called Morne Fortune.

If you want to step back in time and discover more about the intense battles between the English and French, you should check out this famous spot in Saint Lucia.

It's a huge mountain that looks over the harbor and gives you amazing views of Castries, the capital of Saint Lucia.

READ NEXT: Saint Lucia Festivals

The Pitons

When you're ready to discover some of Saint Lucia's most famous places, start with the Pitons.

These are two big rocks on the southwest coast of the island. One is called Gros Piton, standing at 2,530 feet tall, and the other is Petit Piton, reaching 2,438 feet high.

These landmarks even inspired a local beer called Piton, which is really popular with people who live here.

There are different ways for visitors to explore these landmarks. You can go on a hike around them and see all sorts of interesting plants and animals that live there.

Or you can take a boat ride around them to see them from the water.

Many people who come to Saint Lucia like to do both because they're so amazed by the beauty and shape of these big volcanoes near the coast, per Saint Lucia.

Pigeon Island

If you're into both history and nature, then Pigeon Island is a must-visit spot in Saint Lucia.

It used to be its own little island until 1972, when a causeway was built to connect it to the main island, making it easy to get to.

Pigeon Island has a cool history, too. It's where a famous pirate named Jamb de Bois set up a camp to attack Spanish trade ships.

You can explore the old ruins of Fort Rodney, which the English built to fight against the French.

Walking around the ruins, you'll see old cannons and the island being slowly taken back by nature. It really gives you a sense of what it was like to guard the island back in the 1700s.

Pigeon Island is now a National Park in Saint Lucia, and lots of people enjoy snorkeling, sailing, and diving just off its shores.

READ MORE: Saint Lucia: 5 Favorite Foods

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

Watch: Hidden Gems of Saint Lucia - From Peter Greenberg




Attorneys for former President Donald Trump have been sent scrambling as porn star Stormy Daniels will star in a new documentary titled "Stormy," set to be released Monday. The adult film star promises to release new bombshells in that documentary that will be streaming on Peacock.

The former president has repeatedly and vehemently denied he had sex with her, even though evidence of paying her hush money to stay quiet says otherwise. With this new documentary, she is set to reveal more details about that encounter, which led former First Lady Melania Trump to try and actively humiliate her husband at the time the scandal came out.

Among the new revelations teased was that Trump "cornered" her into having sex with him inside his Lake Tahoe hotel suite. In a teaser for the documentary film, she noted, "I don't remember how I got on the bed, and then the next thing I know, he was humping away and telling me how great I was."

"It was awful. But I didn't say 'No,'" she added.

However, Daniels also admitted that she now owes Donald Trump over $600,000 in legal fees as the ruling was over five years ago and it has accumulated interest. She has vowed not to pay that money as she stated that she would rather go to prison than pay Trump a single dime.

The documentary film is slated to premiere on Peacock this Monday, and Trump's attorneys are already calling the film "Extraordinarily prejudicial" and "Unacceptable." They also cited that the documentary was set to premiere a week before the date that the Stormy Daniels hush money trial was set to begin, March 25.

The documentary was one of the reasons Trump's lawyers asked the judge to delay the trial, arguing that the premiere "would cause extraordinarily prejudicial - and unacceptable - pretrial publicity on the current schedule." The judge agreed and pushed the trial back to mid-April.

READ MORE: Melania Trump Was 'Pissed' at Donald Trump Over Stormy Daniels Scandal

Stormy Daniels Talks About MAGA Hate in New Documentary

In the new Peacock documentary about her, Stormy Daniels also addressed the hate she has received from Donald Trump's followers, who have flooded her social media accounts with threats.

"I'm desensitized to some of it ... but I'm also tired," she said. "Like, my soul is so tired. And I don't know if I'm so much a warrior now as out of f*cks, man. I'm out of f*cks."

Former President Trump has had his followers attack Stormy Daniels, with the former adult film star being called "liar," "slut," and "gold digger" by them, in addition to death threats that included, "I'm going to come to your house and slit your throat." Daniels admitted in the documentary that these are not even bot accounts but real accounts.

Donald Trump's Claim That He Released the Tape of His Call With Volodymyr Zelenskyy Is False

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is claiming that he outwitted his Democratic opponents by releasing "the tape" of the 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

However, a CNN Fact-check has determined that these claims are false, a complete fabrication. This is because "No tape of his call with Zelensky was ever released; Pelosi could not possibly have been angry with her allies after hearing a tape of the call because she has never heard a tape of the call. In fact, as of nearly five years after the July 2019 call, there is no known US recording of the conversation."

CNN also pointed out that the Trump White House did release a rough transcript of the call, but it instead corroborated a government whistleblower's allegations that Trump threatened Zelenskyy of not providing aid to Ukraine.

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: Stormy | Official Trailer | Peacock Original
An urgent situation unfolded in Port-au-Prince on Saturday as a container packed with crucial supplies for newborns and their mothers was looted amid escalating Haiti gang violence and a deepening humanitarian crisis, according to UNICEF.

The looted container, which contained vital items such as resuscitators, maternity and neonatal supplies, as well as early childhood development and water equipment, underscores the worsening plight in the Haitian capital.

UNICEF reported that more than 260 containers owned by humanitarian organizations at the port are now under the control of armed groups, exacerbating the dire circumstance, CNN reports.

UNICEF Representative Bruno Maes in Haiti condemned the looting, emphasizing that it occurs at a pivotal moment when children are in desperate need of these supplies.

"Depriving children of vital health supplies amidst a collapsing healthcare system is a violation of their rights," Maes asserted.

Since January, Haiti has been grappling with heightened violence, which has further strained its already fragile healthcare infrastructure.

According to UNICEF, three out of four women and children in the Port-au-Prince area lack access to basic public health and nutrition services.

READ NEXT: Haiti Political Parties Reject Transition Proposal

Vulnerable Cut Off from Essential Supplies

The looting and escalating violence have left some of Haiti's most vulnerable populations cut off from critical supplies at a time when they are needed the most.

On the same day, Guatemala's Foreign Ministry reported that the offices of its honorary consul in Haiti were ransacked, although details of the damage or thefts were not provided.

The ongoing chaos has plunged Haiti's government into turmoil, prompting Prime Minister Ariel Henry to announce his resignation, a demand made by the Haiti gang, according to AP News.

The United States has deployed military forces to bolster security at its embassy in Port-au-Prince while also organizing limited charter flights for American citizens from the northern city of Cap-Haitien due to the closure of the main airport in the capital following gang attacks.

Efforts to Quell Violence and Restore Order

In response to the escalating violence, police in Port-au-Prince are undertaking operations to regain control of areas held by notorious gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, also known as "Barbecue." Cherizier's stronghold in the Delmas neighborhood has become a focal point for law enforcement efforts, per BBC.

Police spokesperson Lionel Lazarre confirmed that several "bandits" were killed in operations aimed at apprehending members of Cherizier's gang.

Haitian authorities are also working to secure the capital's main port, which has been closed since March 7 due to escalating violence.

Amid the precarious situation, numerous embassies and consulates are evacuating their citizens from Haiti, with the United States airlifting non-essential embassy staff last week.

UNICEF's Maes reiterated concerns about the deepening humanitarian crisis, warning that the violence is exacerbating an already dire situation, the Miami Herald noted.

With six out of ten hospitals inoperable due to shortages of electricity, fuel, and medical supplies, the ability to provide emergency medical care, particularly in Port-au-Prince, is severely compromised.

Additionally, critical shortages of blood products are hindering essential surgeries for those injured in the violence.

As Haiti continues to grapple with escalating Haiti gang violence and a crumbling healthcare system, urgent international attention and support are needed to address the growing humanitarian crisis affecting the country's most vulnerable populations.

READ MORE: Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry To Resigns

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Humanitarian crisis worsens in Haiti - From CBS News
Tucker Carlson's propensity to follow questionable arguments and topics while not checking their authenticity has come back to bite him after several YouTubers pranked the controversial right-wing media personality by claiming they edited the controversial Kate Middleton family photo.

YouTube account Josh & Archie managed to dupe the former Fox News host by posing as a fired Kensington Palace employee who edited the British Royals' controversial family photo that has many people questioning "Where is Kate Middleton?"

The two YouTubers got Carlson to interview them interview for his streaming service the Tucker Carlson Network, with Carlson's staff clearly not going deep enough to realize that the rightwinger was being pranked.

The pair showed how they managed to pull a prank on the unsuspecting Tucker Carlson, including using a fake employment contract that they used via Photoshop to get him to bite. They also used the Princess of Wales's photo in a supposed original, unedited version.

The pair then revealed that they managed to prank Carlson in a video, and it has garnered 1.5 million views on X and 60,000 views on YouTube. They admitted to TIME Magazine that they intentionally went public with the prank before the interview could air.

"We obviously discussed it, but we thought that it would be a bit irresponsible potentially to let the actual interview publish," Pieters told the publication. "We just thought that this interview would obviously go so big on Tucker's channel that it could potentially do some harm. So we thought it was a better idea to get it up first and to show what we did."

READ MORE: Fox News Surprise: Rupert Murdoch Exits Fox Corp.; Son Lachlan Murdoch Takes Over

Tucker Carlson Claimed He Verified YouTubers in Video Until It Turned Out They Were Pranking Him

The fake Kensington Palace employment documents that the two YouTubers presented included some very extreme "clauses" that would have normally raised some eyebrows, including a clause stating that the palace had a right to amputate one of his limbs should he fail his probation period. Despite this, Carlson and his staff still fell for the prank hook, line, and sinker.

Manners was sent to a London studio to conduct the interview with Carlson after presenting those fake documents. In the video that they posted, Carlson introduced Manners by ironically saying, "We've done our best to verify that your identity is what you say it is. You're not a fake [Alexei] Navalny or doing a prank."

Manners admitted that he "stroked" Carlson's ego by claiming that he was giving the former Fox News host the exclusive because "mainstream media in the UK wouldn't touch it," as reported by Deadline.

YouTubers Wanted To Know if Tucker Carlson Would Fact-Chack Their Claims; He Did Not

Normally, journalists would check if their source was credible or not and fact-check whatever claims their source made in an interview prior to airing the piece. However, Tucker Carlson did not, with the Josh & Archie YouTubers exposing his shoddy practices.

Manners noted that they wanted to see whether or not Carlson's staff would actually fact-check his claims. They did not, according to the Huffington Post.

READ MORE: Tucker Carlson Admits He Hates Donald Trump in More Leaked Texts

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: We Pranked Tucker Carlson with this Photo - Josh & Archie
President Joe Biden engaged in lighthearted banter and serious critiques aimed at former President Donald Trump during the Gridiron Club dinner, a long-standing Washington tradition dating back to the 1880s.

Biden's attendance marked the first time a sitting president has participated in the event since Trump's appearance in 2018, according to Aljazeera.

Addressing a crowd of over 650 guests, including prominent figures like Taoiseach of Ireland Leo Varadkar, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Biden joked about his age and mental acuity in contrast to Trump.

"One candidate is too old and mentally unfit to be president. The other one is me," Biden quipped, highlighting his upcoming rematch against Trump in the November Presidential Election 2024.

The president playfully mocked Donald Trump for past incidents, such as failing to recognize a photo of his wife and joking about running against Barack Obama in 2024.

However, Biden shifted to a more serious tone when criticizing Trump's economic policies and international conduct, condemning his handling of the economy in 2020 and recent suggestions regarding Russian leader Vladimir Putin and NATO allies.

"I wish these were jokes but they're not," Biden said, and added, "we will not bow down."

While injecting humor into his speech, Biden also decried what he termed the "toxic cycle of anger and conspiracy" in politics, cautioning against the lingering threat posed by such forces.

READ NEXT: Joe Biden Proposes Budget for Second Term

Political Criticisms and Self-Deprecation

Joe Biden took aim at the Republican Party's stance on impeachment and immigration, ridiculing their efforts and highlighting the need for bipartisan cooperation, Politico reports.

He also poked fun at himself, joking about his age and the low expectations surrounding his State of the Union address.

Donald Trump's campaign remained silent in response to Biden's remarks, although Trump has previously questioned Biden's mental capacity for office.

Biden's appearance at the Gridiron Club dinner comes as the Presidential Election 2024 approaches and tensions between the two political figures escalate.

Biden emphasized the importance of a free press and reinforced his commitment to upholding democratic values, diverging from Trump's previous criticisms of the media.

He also discussed international affairs, including the conflict in Ukraine, underscoring his administration's stance against aggression.

Pence's Announcement and Continuing Political Dynamics

Meanwhile, former Vice President Mike Pence announced his refusal to endorse Trump for the upcoming Presidential Election 2024, citing differences on various issues, the Independent noted.

"It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year," Pence said, "But that being 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 6," he added.

Pence's decision reflects ongoing divisions within the Republican Party and underscores the complexities of political alliances ahead of the November elections.

Joe Biden's remarks at the Gridiron Club dinner blend humor with serious political commentary, providing insight into his approach to governance and his ongoing rivalry with Donald Trump.

As the election season heats up, the exchange of barbs and criticisms underscores the enduring significance of political discourse in shaping the nation's future.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Hush Money Trial

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Trump says there will be a 'bloodbath' if he isn't reelected - From TODAY
The Metro Nashville Police Department announced Sunday the discovery of the bank card belonging to missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain near the Cumberland River.

Despite ongoing search efforts, Strain remains missing after being last seen in downtown Nashville, according to Fox News.

Strain, a senior at the University of Missouri, disappeared on March 8 while visiting Nashville with his fraternity brothers for a spring formal trip.

Surveillance footage captured him leaving Luke Bryan's bar downtown after being asked to leave for intoxication.

The missing Missouri student, standing at 6 feet 7 inches tall, was last seen walking alone along Gay Street towards the Cumberland River.

A member of Nashville's homeless community reported seeing Strain Stumble along Gay Street around 10 PM on March 8.

Despite efforts to locate him, the missing Missouri student's trail goes cold after this sighting.

READ NEXT: New Surveillance Video Shed Light on Missing Missouri Student

Search Efforts and Discoveries

Search and rescue teams, including the Metro Nashville Police Department's Urban Search and Rescue team, have been scouring the area around Riley Strain's last known location near the Cumberland River.

The discovery of a missing Missouri student's bank card near Gay Street and the Cumberland River adds a new dimension to the search effort.

Two TikTokers who have been actively involved in searching for Strain found his bank card in a wooded area leading to the Cumberland River, WKRN noted.

Brandy Baenen, one of the TikTokers who discovered the card, explained, "I look more into cold cases, I guess, ones that are from like the 90s and the early 2000s that are unsolved, and I spend a lot of time digging into those and I'll actually privately message officers and stuff like that, going back and forth with that, but I lived 20 minutes away from this, and so once I heard it was happening and nothing was happening, Tuesday night, I came down here with my boyfriend and we were like, 'Let's go, let's go walk it, let's go walk it.'"

Despite the discovery, the search for Riley Strain continues, with volunteers and first responders combing through areas of interest, distributing flyers, and reviewing surveillance footage.

Investigation Updates and Community Support

Detectives have been investigating Riley Strain's disappearance, with his last phone ping recorded near James Robertson Parkway and Gay Street.

Despite extensive search efforts, there has been no indication of foul play or involvement in any altercation.

Community support for finding Strain has been significant, with volunteers from the Uvalde Foundation for Kids joining the search efforts.

This national nonprofit, dedicated to ending school violence, has assembled a special team to assist in the search for Strain, demonstrating widespread concern and solidarity in locating the missing student.

As the missing Missouri student's family continues to await updates, they are actively engaged in search efforts, coordinating with law enforcement and volunteers to ensure a thorough exploration of all potential leads, Fox17 Nashville reports.

The search for Riley Strain, missing since March 8 in Nashville, Tennessee, continues with coordinated efforts from law enforcement, volunteers, and community organizations.

Despite the discovery of his bank card near the Cumberland River, Strain's whereabouts remain unknown, prompting continued efforts to locate him and bring him safely home.

READ MORE: Wisconsin Boy Remains Missing

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Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Riley Strain: Missing student's credit card found near Cumberland River - From LiveNOW from FOX
Embattled former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stated that he was "not afraid of any trial" as he faces allegations that he was planning a coup to overturn Lula's win during the 2022 election. This came after the Brazilian Supreme Court revealed that two top military leaders admitted that the right-wing leader known as the "Trump of the Tropics" was plotting a coup after losing to Lula in 2022.

Bolsonaro did not touch on what specific investigation he was facing, but he did go into the Donald Trump playbook and painted himself as the victim of political persecution. Bolsonaro had been known to follow Trump's tactics, even being accused of instigating his supporters to conduct last year's January 8 Riot, which was Brazil's version of the January 6 Capitol Insurrection.

"I could very well be in another country, but I decided to come back here at all costs. I'm not afraid of any trial, as long as the judges are impartial," said the former president during a speech at a campaign event for an ally running for the Rio de Janeiro mayoral race.

The populist leader has since denied allegations that he and his supporters were attempting a coup during the events of January 8, 2023, where a pro-Bolsonaro mob attacked several Brazilian government buildings in Brasilia, including the country's Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Presidential Palace. Several Bolsonaro supporters who were part of the riot have now been sentenced.

Former Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro's Top Military Leaders Admitted He Was Planning a Coup

Despite his insistence that he did nothing wrong, testimony from Bolsonaro's former Army and Air Force commanders, as well as members of the police, revealed that he was "actively participating in a conspiracy to ignore the results of the October 2022 election."

READ MORE: Jair Bolsonaro Under Probe for Allegedly Harassing a Humpback Whale May Be Fined 2,500 Reais ($500)

According to The Guardian, former army commander Marco Antonio Freire Gomes and former air force commander Carlos Baptista Jr. admitted that the former Brazilian president held several meetings in December 2022. There, he tried to present the two military officials with a document that would have served as the basis to overturn the results of the 2022 election.

In their testimony, the two military officials claimed they tried to dissuade Bolsonaro of his plans. Their testimony, which is also the first time the former president has been directly named in an investigation over the coup attempt, would also complicate his legal situation as he faces a myriad of cases.

General Rejecting Jair Bolsonaro's Plans Prevented a Coup From Happening in Brazil

In their testimony, Gomes noted that Bolsonaro wanted to investigate the certification and legality of the electoral process. He said that he rejected the idea, with Baptista adding that Gomes' denunciation was an important one as it prevented Bolsonaro from successfully doing the coup as he lost the military's support.

According to Jurist, despite Bolsonaro not being able to persuade the leaders of the Army and the Air Force, he was able to get Fleet Admiral Almir Garnier, former commander of the Brazilian Navy, to commit, as court documents have shown.

READ MORE: Trials for Jair Bolsonaro Supporters Begin Over the January 8 Riots

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Brazil 'coup' investigation: Ex-president Bolsonaro defiant at Rio rally - Al Jazeera English
A long-awaited doughnut chain focused on made-to-order sweet treats plans to open this week in Bethlehem Township.

Duck Donuts on Saturday morning plans to grand open at Southmont Plaza, Birkland Place. The 1,200-square-foot shop is moving into the Suite 2 building, between Wayback Burgers and Holiday Hair. The site previously occupied a dry cleaner.

The new shops first guest in line Saturday will receive a dozen free doughnuts monthly for a year. The next 50 guests will receive a dozen donuts and a free latte or espresso drink for a future visit, chain spokeswoman Cassidy Funk told lehighvalleylive.com.

A portion of sales from Duck Donuts Saturday grand opening also will go toward the Fightin Forans Foundation, a not-for-profit organization founded in June 2023 with a mission to help cure pancreatic cancer. The contribution is being called the shops inaugural Quack Gives Back donation.

The Bethlehem Township location will become the third franchise for married co-owners, Juan and Kelly Gonsalves. The couple also owns sites in South Whitehall and Levittown, Bucks County. Kelly Gonsalves has focused on overseeing the South Whitehall shop since January 2019 while Juan Gonsalves has worked for more than two decades in the healthcare industry.

The Bethlehem Township shop will mark the second regional location for Duck Donuts, with the Tilghman Square shopping center site opening in 2007 in South Whitehall. There are about 10 statewide locations and more than 20 New Jersey locations.

Founded in 2007 at North Carolina beach towns, the international chain now has more than 145 U.S. locations, including in Puerto Rico, and about a dozen sites overseas. The company is headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, and began franchising in 2013.

Kelly Gonsalves said the duo were eyeing the Bethlehem area for their third venture.

The area has such a rich history and strong sense of community that allows us to bring new job opportunities to support the local economy, she said. We are looking forward to sprinkling happiness with our warm, delicious and made-to-order doughnuts ...

The chain allows patrons to pick and choose from a variety of coatings, toppings and drizzles to place on their doughnuts. Think cinnamon sugar, powdered, glazed or icing on the coatings; sprinkles, chopped nuts, coconut or Oreo pieces on the toppings; and hot fudge, marshmallow and salted caramel on the drizzles.

For those who cant decide, Duck Donuts has a handy chart of recommended combinations to help. The chain states there are a duckzillion donut combinations. Theres also about two dozen signature favorites like including Coconut Island Bliss, complete with chocolate icing, peanuts and coconut; Smores, complete with chocolate icing, graham cracker crumbs and marshmallow drizzle; and The Boardwalk, complete with glazed icing, Oreo crumbles, powdered sugar and vanilla drizzle.

After ordering, doughnut-lovers watch their vanilla cake treats become fried, iced and loaded up with their selections before their very own eyes.

Theres also seasonal items and pre-selected boxes of dozens, such as the Breakfast Box and Party Box. The Breakfast Box has such treats as french toast and cinnamon doughnuts, while the Party Box has such treats as Strawberry Confetti and Glazed Confetti doughnuts.

Menu items also plan to include breakfast sandwiches; ice cream-topped doughnuts and doughnut-topped milkshakes; and an assortment of coffee and espresso drinks  both hot and cold. Hours for Ducks Donuts in Bethlehem Township will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday to Saturday.

A sign has gone up for a Duck Donuts location at Southmont Plaza in Bethlehem Township.

Duck Donuts brings a much needed retailer to Southmont Plaza. Aside from an occasional pop-up store, the shopping center has faced lingering vacancies for a handful of years.

Jacuzzi Hot Tubs Of Southeastern PA is the latest tenant to join the shopping center in an empty storefront next to Franks Pizza. Kung Fu II, next to LA Salon, opened in June 2023. It specializes in Chinese and Japanese cuisine and filled the space that previously occupied CJT, an Asian fusion eatery.

Southmont Plaza in summer 2023 lost anchor Bed, Bath & Beyond. That chain in early 2023 filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after multiple years of dismal sales and numerous failed turnaround plans. As of this week, that large space continues to sit vacant.

Whos in:

Aside from Jacuzzi Hot Tubs and Kunf Fu II, Southmont Plaza includes Dicks Sporting Goods, Staples, Best Buy, Lowes, Barnes & Noble, Michaels, Pet Supplies. Plus, several smaller retailers, and such restaurants as Texas Roadhouse, Franks Pizza, TGI Fridays, Panera Bread and Jakes Wayback Burgers. The center is positioned at the interchange of Freemansburg Avenue and Route 33.

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Plan on checking out this years solar eclipse as it makes it way over Pennsylvania?

Then here are a few places you may want to consider visiting during this spectacular astronomical event.

Pennsylvania is a totality state during the April 8 eclipse, meaning that therell be total darkness in places like Erie for about four minutes between around 3:15 p.m. and 3:20 p.m. Even if youre not on the path of totality, other areas of Pennsylvania, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), will be partially eclipsed.

That being said, if youre looking to get the full experience, the Pennsylvania Tourism office recommended via press release that astro-travelers drop by the five spots below:

Lake Erie

As previously mentioned, Eries the place to be in Pennsylvania as far as the solar eclipse goes due to that totality factor. The tourism departments release explains how the eclipse will cut right through Lake Erie, making Erie a perfect lakefront destination to view it.

The area is hosting plenty of eclipse-related events, too, which you can check out here.

Moonshot Museum

Located in Pittsburgh, the Moonshot Museum is the states first space museum as well as the only one in the whole world to focus on the 21st century space industry (and is the headquarters of Astrobotic to boot). Not a bad spot to get into an eclipse mood.

Cherry Springs State Park

The Pennsylvania Wildss Cherry Springs State Park  which is in Susquehannock State Forest specifically  is an International Dark Sky Park, meaning the lack of light pollution allows for one to gaze at stars with practically full clarity. Viewing an eclipse here (safely, of course) isnt too bad an idea, either.

Hyner View State Park

This Clinton County park boasts a peak overlooking the Susquehanna Valley which offers not only stunning views but hang gliding opportunities. If youre looking to get up close and personal with the eclipse, Hyners a pretty good option.

Kinzua Bridge State Park

Kinzua Bridge Start Park in McKean County is another great spot to get as close to the eclipse as us we mortals can thanks to its Kinzua Sky Walk, which rises 225 above the ground for a 625-foot stretch that takes one into the Kinzua Gorge in Allegheny National Forest. The sky walk, fun fact, used to be the worlds longest railroad viaduct.

Wherever you view the solar eclipse, enjoy!
The Allentown Film Festival is adding a new technological twist to its second-ever weeklong event.

The 2024 festival scheduled for April 6 to April 14 is building out its robust lineup by adding a block of short films that are produced by artificial intelligence video editor Augie, a product of Aug X Labs. The two-hour block of programming is scheduled for 7:30 on April 13 at Allentowns Nineteenth Street Theatre.

This presentation of Augie-generated shorts is just one of the festivals nearly two dozen scheduled screenings of short and feature-length films that come from 50 countries.

However, the selection of Augie-generated shorts is perhaps both the most formally unique and the most controversial, given that the worries about AIs usage in media production were an issue at the heart of 2023s Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors guild strikes.

We were worried offending filmmakers, said festival director and founder Alan Younkin. But Younkin and his co-founder, AFF President Michael Schelp, found that using Augie to generate minute-long short films was, while not as nuanced as a film shot and edited by human beings with thought and emotion, an interesting enough technological experiment to include the Augie challenge in the festival.

The Augie challenge, Schelp said, is a series of short films that come from one-minute stories told by notable people with ties to Allentown. So far, participants include Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk, U.S. Rep. Susan Wild and television personality Carson Kressley.

Schelp and Younkin film the participants telling a short story, which they then feed into the AI program. Augie then produces images to accompany the narration, and with a little editing, an Augie challenge short film is born.

Theyre not perfect. Sometimes hands or legs dont really look like anatomically accurate, or the movement of the images feel unnatural. But Schelp and Younkin are undeterred. Its been really interesting, said Schelp, whos made a career of working in television production and overseeing TV editing. Im still better (than Augie) in some areas (of editing and production). But this thing is amazing.

What Augie does, he said, is enhance the ability of humans to communicate and understand each other and the stories that were telling.

In addition to the shorts produced by Augie, there are plenty of other films to see at the festival (made by humans)  170 to be exact, after the festival received more than 800 submissions. Last year, we screened a lot of these wonderful filmmakers, and they had good films, Schelp said. This year, theyre even better. Theyre so much more ambitious. Its really fun.

Shorts of all genres and a handful of feature films make up the week-long schedule, with screenings taking place at the Nineteenth Street Theatre, the Allentown Art Museum and more. A full schedule is available on the festivals website, allentownfilmfestival.org, and you can find out more on the festivals social media.

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Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.
New Jersey lawmakers last week hit the brakes on a plan to overhaul the states public records laws amid backlash from good government groups who accused them of fast-tracking legislation that would lead to more government secrecy.

Top Democrats in the state Legislature introduced the bill (S2930) the week before and advanced it at dual committee meetings last Monday over objections from a raft of nonprofits, civil rights organizations, public sector unions and the news media, who filled hearing rooms in Trenton to shout opposition at legislators.

It was scheduled for another key hearing in the state Assembly appropriations committee Thursday when it was abruptly pulled from the agenda shortly before noon.

I am inspired that so many people have taken an interest and engaged in this legislation, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, said in a statement, adding that he appreciated the concerns raised over the bill.

Right now, we are working on various amendments to ensure we get the bill right, Coughlin said.

The bills sponsors say the $8 million measure would bring New Jerseys records laws into the digital age by better protecting residents personal information, putting more records online and reining in commercial data brokers they say file voluminous records requests with state and local governments.

It was written in close coordination with the League of Municipalities, which represents local governments in Trenton and has long complained that New Jerseys Open Public Records Act, or OPRA, puts an undue burden on small government offices who can lose hours or days of productivity to a large records request.

Open government advocates saw the move as a thinly veiled effort to remove the teeth from OPRA, a 2002 law that allows the public to request a wide array of government records, from contracts and emails to police body camera footage and payroll data.

Among the changes, the bill would require a requestor to use an agencys specific form, allow towns to sue requestors over requests they believe are intended to harass them, and further restrict access to emails and metadata.

During a Monday, March 11 hearing, one of the bills own sponsors appeared confused about how existing records laws work.

State Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, who introduced the bill and presided over the Senate budget committee where it was discussed, claimed last Monday that anyone could file a creepy request for surveillance footage of a public playground filled with children.

But a 2016 court decision, known as Gilleran v. Township of Bloomfield, already puts strict limits on the release of government security camera footage and local governments regularly deny such requests for security reasons.

Sarlo said in a statement Thursday he agreed with the decision to hold the bill.

The committee carefully considered the testimony, and I believe that certain amendments will make this a better bill, he said. There are amendments that will not only foster greater transparency, but will include effective ways of modernizing the 20-year old OPRA law, reducing the profiteering of OPRA at the expense of municipalities and taxpayers, and protecting the personal information of private citizens.

Gov. Phil Murphy, appearing on his monthly call-in show on public radio stations WHHY, WBGO and WNYC, did not take a firm stance on the measure.

Ive got to be careful because this legislation is not fully baked, Murphy said, later adding: I think the folks who are behind this  their hearts are in the right place. I havent seen anyone with nefarious behavior here.

Thursdays removal of the bill from committee marked an about-face for the Democrats who control the state Legislature and appeared poised to send it to Murphys desk, even swapping out committee members who were said to oppose the bill to ensure its approval.

The lone Democrat to vote against the bill in committee, state Sen. Andrew Zwicker, D-Middlesex, said pulling the bill was the absolute the right thing to do.

We need to get all of the stakeholders around the table and do a thorough and thoughtful evaluation on how to modernize OPRA without reducing access to the public, Zwicker said.

This is a fatally flawed bill.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Susan K. Livio contributed to this report.

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @johnsb01.
Here is a look at some government and related activity across the Lehigh Valley region for the week beginning Monday, March 18.

Monday, March 18

ALLENTOWN | Community Services for Children and Valley Health Partners on Monday, March 18 are slated to celebrate the opening of the Pat and Heather Browne Center for Education & Health. Its an expansion of Community Services for Childrens space at Sixth and Linden streets in downtown Allentown and joint effort with Valley Health Partners Community Health Center to create a one-of-a-kind center offering a broad range of early childhood education, health, and social services to local children and families in need in one location, according to a news release. Visit cscinc.org to learn more.

BETHLEHEM TWP. | The Bethlehem Township Board of Commissioners meets at 7 p.m. Monday, March 18 at the municipal building, 4225 Easton Ave., for a public hearing prior to acting on a conditional use application from St. Lukes University Health Network for the relocation of a helipad on the St. Lukes Hospital-Anderson Campus. The meeting is available in-person and virtually via Zoom with a Meeting ID of 896 3422 7953 and Meeting Passcode of 781521, or dial by your location 267-831-0333.

EASTON | The Easton Zoning Hearing Board is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Monday, March 18 in council chambers on the third floor of City Hall, 123 S. Third St., to hear appeals that include BNE Real Estate Groups request for a special exception to construct a 256-apartment low-rise complex at 300 Morrison Ave. and Nurture Nature Foundations request for parking variances to create a planetarium addition at 516-22 Northampton St.

SALISBURY TWP. | Part 2 of WFMZ-TV 69s debate between the Republican candidates for Pennsylvanias 7th Congressional District is scheduled to air at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 18, from the stations Salisbury Township studios. Kevin Dellicker, Ryan Mackenzie and Maria Montero are vying in the April 23 primary election to challenge third-term Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Susan Wild in the Nov. 5 election. The term is for two years. The district covers Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties and a portion of Monroe County. Watch last Mondays Part 1 at wfmz.com.

U. MT. BETHEL TWP. | The Upper Mount Bethel Township Zoning Hearing Board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Monday, March 18 at the Upper Mount Bethel Township Fire House, 2341 N. Delaware Drive, to continue its review of a proposed wastewater system for three affiliated industrial developments known as River Pointe Logistics Center, RPL East and New Demi Road.

Tuesday, March 19

BETHLEHEM | Bethlehem City Council is scheduled to hold a public works committee meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 to discuss water meters, billing and related matters. A full council meeting is slated to follow at 7 p.m.  the first since public pressure on calling for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza cut short a meeting before council got through the full agenda. Councils meetings are live-streamed and archived on YouTube.

Wednesday, March 20

ALLENTOWN | Allentown City Council has public safety and public works committee meetings scheduled to start at 5:30 and 6 p.m., respectively, Wednesday, March 20 ahead of the full council meeting at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers of City Hall, 435 Hamilton St. The agendas include discussion and action on budgeting grants for the purchase of hazardous materials-related equipment for incidents that may occur as a result of a railway incident along the Norfolk Southern railway that runs through the city ($23,915); reimbursement of expenses for the purchase of integrated fingerprint technology license plate readers and integrated gunshot technology ($385,000); reimbursement of expenses for the purchase of new city cameras, new in-car cameras for the entire police fleet and new body-worn cameras ($1,183,054); and funding overtime pay of patrol presence in an effort to suppress violent crimes and drug investigations in the Keystone Opportunity Zone in Allentown ($25,500). Visit allentownpa.legistar.com for meeting agendas and video.

BETHLEHEM | The Bethlehem Area Public Library, 11 W. Church St., is holding a book sale noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 23. This sale is not just a chance to find your next favorite book; its an opportunity to support the Bethlehem Area Public Library in its mission to provide valuable resources and programs to the community, the library said in a news release. Visit bapl.org or call 610-867-3761 for more information.

HANOVER TWP. | The Lehigh Valley Transportation Study Technical Committee of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, based in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, is scheduled to meet via Microsoft Teams videoconference at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 20. Visit lvpc.org for full details.

L. SAUCON TWP. | Lower Saucon Township Council is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 in Town Hall, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike. Its the last regularly scheduled council meeting before township Manager Mark Hudsons resignation becomes effective. The agenda includes the continuation of a conditional use hearing on a Verizon Wireless tower proposed for 4235 Lewis Ave. Visit lowersaucontownship.org for the agenda. The councils meetings are live-streamed and archived on YouTube.

Editors note: Though not necessarily local government news, this week also brings the start of spring with the vernal equinox at 11:06 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, and Ritas Italian Ice is holding its annual Italian ice and frozen custard giveaway all day at all locations nationwide. And the 25th Lehigh Valley Auto Show is being held at Lehigh Universitys Goodman Campus in Bethlehem. Enjoy.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
A trooper was injured while trying to avoid a collision with another car in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, state police said.

Pennsylvania State Police in Bethlehem said the crash happened shortly before 4 p.m. on March 12 along Postal Road at Marcon Boulevard.

A 43-year-old man from Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County was driving west along Postal Road and began to turn onto Marcon Boulevard in the path of the patrol SUV, police said.

The trooper, 32-year-old Ryan M. Cordingly of Bethlehem, swerved to the right to avoid striking the car and hit a curb on Postal Road, causing tires to blow out and the rims of the vehicle to become damaged, according to police.

The car came to a controlled rest along Marcon Boulevard, facing south. The driver of the car was not injured.

Cordingly was taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries, police said. Trooper Nathan Branosky, public information officer with Pennsylvania State Polices Troop M, told lehighvalleylive.com that Cordingly has since been released and returned to full duty as of Monday.

The driver of the car was cited for vehicle turning left.

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Irelands largest timber packaging and pallet manufacturer is seeking planning permission to significantly extend its Laois base which is likely to more than double its Mountrath based workforce.

CJ Sheeran Ltd has applied for planning permission to build six single storey light industrial units, kilns and a boiler house at Knockanina, Castletown Road, Mountrath.

The company is the largest manufacturer of timber pallets and packaging in Ireland. It also recovers and recycles old pallets. The latest plan will seek to consolidate its operations and allow more room for expansion at its Mountrath base where 40 employees currently work. The planned buildings could accommodated a further 60 workers, the application reveals.

The application seeks the demolition of the existing farmhouse and outbuildings and the construction of six single storey light industrial units, a single storey bunker, a single storey boilerhouse, three single storey kilns, sixty car parking spaces, sixty covered bicycle parking spaces, an ESB Sub-Station, an illuminated totem sign and associated road network, yards and landscaping.

Hussey Architects were engaged by CJ Sheeran Ltd to prepare a masterplan and planning application for the expansion of their Light Industrial facility at Mountrath Business Park, Old Limerick Road, Mountrath.

They explained that the companys operations are spilt across a number of sites. The purpose of this proposed development is to centralise the companys operations and allow room for expansion.

It is proposed to construct five single storey 10m tall and one single storey 13m tall light Industrial Units. No new connections to the public road are proposed. A number of smaller buildings are proposed, namely a bunker, boiler house and three kilns. An ESB Substation to the east and a totem sign at the existing entrance to CJ Sheeran are also proposed. the architects revealed.

Given the level of automation currently employed on site the company do not foresee more than 10 employees being required per building. Accordingly only 10 no. car parking spaces and 10 no. covered bicycle spaces have been provided per building, the architects said.

Its unclear whether these workers will relocate from other existing CJ Sheran sites or whether new employees will be required at the Mountrath site.
Work is underway in Portlaoise on a second new bus stop on the Laois county town's Dublin Road with the job set to last into late April.

Laois County Council has issued a Temporary Traffic Management advisory for the R425 / Dublin Road at Kilminchy to facilitate work on a new bus stop on the inbound side of the busy road.

It says the bus shelter enabling works will be run from March 13 to April 30 from 8 am to 6 pm.

Apart from being a busy Portlaoise access route, the Dublin Road is also the location of the town's hospitals and large prison complex. Thousands of houses are located off the route and motorists also use it to get to to two of the towns biggest secondary schools.

The new bus stop will be a second to be delivered on the Dublin Road in the past six months. After some delays, work began in September 2023 on the construction of Kilminchy bus stop on the outbound side of the road.

The bus stop is one of several funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA). The Portlaoise projects were delayed by the NTA after they raised the standard of the stops to be fully wheelchair accessible. The latest bus stop was part of a bundle approved that received funding in early 2023 that also included two in Mountrath and one in Ballybrittas. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

#

Location of works to last to end of April.

Simon Walton, Director of Services, told councillors in October 2023 outlined the cost.

"The combined costs of the civil works, for these five stops, is 220,000. The shelters are provided separately, directly by National Transport Authority, delivered to the site and dropped into position," he said.

In a written reply to councillors he said the Council would pursue further opportunities with NTA to expand the roll-out of bus shelters across Laois. More below picture.

"I am confident that additional funds will emerge to support this," he said.

Funding was subsequently secured in early 2024 when 500,000 was allocated to the Council for bus stop enhancement works via the NTA Active Travel Programme.

Mr Walton confirmed to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the list is being developed in consultation with Local Link (bus service) and the list must be agreed with NTA before the new bus stop sites can be announced.
An alleged road blockage led to an assault, according to gardai present in Naas District Court on Thursday, March 14 last.

The accusation relates to Nicu Carp, with an address listed as Apartment 8, The Elm, Priory Court in Kildare town.

Gardai told Judge Desmond Zaidan that the incident allegedly took place on the Meadow Road in Kildare town on April 16 last.

The Director of Public Prosecutions indicated for Judge Zaidan to deal with the matter via summary disposal.

It was alleged that 29-year-old got involved in an argument with another person blocking the road, and gardai claimed that this led to Mr Carp striking this person.

Gardai added that the alleged injured party fell backwards and sustained a cut to the back of their head, which required stitches.

However, it was heard that the alleged injured party was knocked unconscius as a result of the alleged fall, and made a full recovery.

Judge Zaidan decided to accept jurisdiction over the case and adjourned it to July 4 for hearing.

He remanded Mr Carp on continuing bail until the case resumes.
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A team of 20 from an Irish company are soon to climb the three peaks of Sliabh Donard, Croagh Patrick and the infamous Carrantuohill to raise funds to help keep a mother-of-two with multiple sclerosis (MS) out of a wheelchair.

Sarah Irvine, 46, is married to Gareth, and together they have two teenage daughters, Alice and Juliette. Sarah, noted as being a "fun-loving, outdoors person who loves water sports, particularly sea swimming," unfortunately had her zest for life disrupted in 2019 with the diagnosis of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PPMS). Since then, she has courageously battled the disease.

MS is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance. Currently, there is no cure for MS, but some drugs can help slow the progression of the disease.

Now, an adventurous few from Galway-based VorTech Water Solutions, are hoping to climb to the highest point in Ireland in 24 hours including a night time climb of Croagh Patrick, all to raise money for Sarah who needs 180,000 to have stem cell therapy to hinder the advancement of her MS.

Sean Mulligan and Fergus Clifford

The team are pledging the final 80,000 required for Sarah to meet her target as her treatment is not covered by either the Government or by her medical insurer, leaving the fundraising to friends and the very generous Irish public.

The urgency of Sarah's situation prompted VorTech's intervention, facilitating her treatment booking at Guy's Hospital in London, scheduled to begin in April.

This treatment regimen involves chemotherapy to reset her immune system, followed by stem cell therapy, offering an 80% chance of arresting her MS symptoms.

Sean Mulligan, VorTech CEO said: Our team are driven people, used to meeting challenges every day, this challenge is a tough one, but we will complete it. However it is nothing compared to the challenges someone with progressive MS faces. We must help where we can and be thankful for what we have.

VorTech team out training

Irish company, VorTech Water Solutions are innovators in addressing some of the worlds leading water challenges through Aeration technology. Based in Mervue Business Park, Galway. Providing their technology around the world to allow companies be more sustainable, VorTechs unique technology was developed at the University of Galway after several years of PhD and postdoctoral research into the fundamental scientific nature of vortex flows.

The challenge will take place on March 22, also known as World Water Day, made even more fitting as Sarah is an avid sea swimmer.

If you would like to donate please click here.
Rose Dugdale, the English aristocrat who led a notorious IRA art heist on the Kildare/Wicklow border, has died at the age of 82.

The death of the disinherited heiress comes just days before a film about her life is to be released in cinemas.

The rebellious former debutante from Devon turned her back on a life of privilege to join the IRA in the 1970s, and went on to mastermind a multimillion-pound fine art heist.

The Oxford graduate was the ringleader of the 1974 IRA raid on the Russborough House estate near Blessington in which 19 valuable paintings were stolen.

She was involved in other IRA operations, including a failed bid to drop bombs on to a police station in Northern Ireland using a helicopter hijacked in Co Donegal.

Sinn Fein TD @aosnodaigh extends sympathies following passing of Rose Dugdale "Rose was a committed republican and was unflinching in her beliefs. Ireland has today lost a committed republican and activist, and Sinn Fein a valued comrade."https://t.co/MGMbQde5O6 pic.twitter.com/4X1YyGI8Qx  Sinn Fein (@sinnfeinireland) March 18, 2024

The republican bombmaker was convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison for her IRA activities. She was pregnant at the time and gave birth to a son inside Limerick prison.

The film telling the story of the art heist, Baltimore, will be released in cinemas this Friday.

Actress Imogen Poots plays Rose Dugdale in the thriller directed by Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy.

She had been living in a care home in Dublin in recent years.

Sinn Fein TD for Dublin South Central, Aengus O Snodaigh, extended his sympathies to her friends and family.

He said: I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rose Dugdale this morning, and on my own behalf and that of Sinn Fein I wish to offer heartfelt condolences to her friends, family and party members.

Rose was a committed republican and was unflinching in her beliefs, and Ireland has today lost a committed republican and activist, and Sinn Fein a valued comrade.

He added: Rose for many decades lived in Dublin, in the south inner-city, Drimnagh, and in recent years in a nursing home in Chapelizod, and was an active member of Sinn Fein.

She was extremely committed to her community, both in her work for Sinn Fein, where she was a hugely popular figure locally and nationally, but also in a wide variety of community groups.

She was also a great educator of Sinn Fein activists and representatives, many of whom benefited from her vast knowledge and life experiences, and who are all feeling the loss of a dear friend and comrade today.
A Donegal man who admitted setting his sister's rented home on fire after she refused to give him money for drugs had to be removed from court after launching a vicious attack on a judge who sent him to jail.

Glen Friel appeared before Judge John Aylmer last week and admitted causing up to 80,000 of damage to the rented house in Killybegs.

He appeared at Donegal Circuit Court, which was heard at Letterkenny courthouse, after pleading guilty to setting fire to his sister's rented home at Straleeny, Killybegs on April 22, 2020. The 24-year-old had his case adjourned for final sentencing to allow Judge Aylmer to read a psychiatric report on the accused man.

Having considered all the facts, Judge Aylmer sentenced Friel to five years in prison with the final two years suspended. However, after the sentence was handed down, Friel exploded into a fit of rage in court.

He began shouting No, Im not going to prison and jumped out of the witness box and ran to the top of the courtroom. Judge Aylmer was forced to leave his seat as prison officers and Gardai restrained Friel who continued shouting and trying to break free while shouting f**k you and b******s while he was being removed.

He was removed from the courtroom and taken to the custody cells. Friel was expected to sign a bond to keep the peace for the duration of the suspended sentence but it was decided that the bond would be signed in front of the prison governor instead.

The court heard in evidence how Friel had asked his sister to sell herself for sex to get him money for drugs and set fire to her home when she refused.

The court heard how the 24-year-old accused arrived at the house and wanted his sister to give him money for drugs and even asked her to sell her body for money and threatened to kill her if she didn't.

The terrified woman asked her mother to call Gardai and Friel then managed to barricade himself into the house. His sister left the house which she had rented for five years and he smashed it up and after setting fire to the house, Friel also fled.

The house belonged to a local man, Conal Doherty, and was worth 130,000. The court heard that 79,450 of damage was caused to the house and that the contents of the house were not insured.

When arrested, Friel made certain admissions and said he wanted to start the fire to bring him "joy and revenge."

He told Gardai he was hoping to get revenge on his sister Linda as she had been a bitch to him that day.

"I do feel a bit angry but I'm sorry at the same time," he told Gardai.

Garda Sergeant Stuart Doyle said Friel admitted starting the fire with a lighter but did not think he had started it in the bedroom of the house as the fire service had suspected.

The court was told that Friel, of no fixed abode, has 12 previous convictions including convictions for threatening and abusive behaviour, assault, possession of drugs and intoxication in a public place.

The injured party, Mr Doherty, did not want to come to court or give a victim impact statement. The barrister for the accused, Mr Colm Smyth, SC, said his client had a number of issues.

He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after his brother took his own life when Friel was aged just nine and he was also sexually assaulted when he was a young boy. He no longer speaks to his parents and had been living rough in Dublin.

Friel, who has been in custody since last October, took to the witness stand and said he was very sorry to the man whose house he destroyed and promised to go to all appointments. Asking Judge John Aylmer to be as lenient as possible, Mr Smyth said his client is indeed a troubled individual with a number of diagnoses including PTSD and a personality disorder.

He has expressed a desire to get back on track and engage with various agencies, Mr Smyth adding that if he does not he will end up in a very difficult position and his life will be cut short.

"He doesn't immediately give one confidence but I think he has a lot of outlying issues," added his barrister.

Passing sentence, Judge Aylmer placed it in the mid-range of such offences which warranted seven years in prison before mitigation. He said arson was a very serious offence which must include a level of deterrence and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The judge said he considered the incident to be quite premeditated albeit contemplated within a relatively short time frame and came about in order to get at his sister who was refusing to provide him with money for alcohol and drugs.

In mitigation, Friel had co-operated to a significant degree with the investigation, had entered an early plea of guilty and had expressed remorse.

Judge Aylmer added that it was very clear from the psychiatric report that Friel is a very troubled young man who had a very adverse experience in his childhood.

The court heard that he was in care as a young person and the judge said it appears he resorted to polysubstance abuse at a young age while labouring under post-traumatic stress disorder. The probation service found him to be completely uncooperative and had not engaged with them.

He said it is regrettable that Friel had not cooperated with the probation service as it had left the court limited in what they can try to do, but added he is clearly in need of intensive rehabilitation. He also said Friel has previous convictions but are minor.

Judge Aylmer said the court takes the view that the sentence has to be reduced to take into account mitigation and he reduced the sentence to one of five years.

He said he hoped that after some years in custody and abstaining from drugs, Friel would come around to a frame of mind that would allow him to engage with the service.

He said he would take a chance on him and suspend the final two years of the five-year sentence and ordered him to enter into a bond of 100 and ordered him to abstain completely from drugs and alcohol for the duration of the suspended sentence.

He also ordered that in the 12 months before his release, he must engage with the probation service and engage with mental health services while in prison and on release for a period of two years. Judge John Aylmer thanked the prison service and Gardai for removing Friel from the courtroom.
Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said he will make reference to Gaza during the shamrock ceremony at the White House.

Ahead of what will be his final comments of the US trip for St Patricks Day, the Taoiseach defended the traditional March visit to Washington DC.

He said it was not just a single event that lasts an hour but a programme with depth.

The Taoiseachs annual diplomatic meetings in the US capital have been dominated by the war in the Middle East and Irelands opposing position to the US.

Protests have been held in Dublin and Belfast to coincide with the trip and to push for a more aggressive policy on Gaza from the government as meetings were held with senior US figures.

Mr Varadkar has said throughout the trip that instead of a boycott, Ireland should engage in discussions to highlight issues such as the spiralling number of deaths and injuries in Gaza.

On Sunday, the trip will culminate in Mr Varadkar gifting a bowl of shamrocks to US President Joe Biden.

The Irish premier held a bilateral with the US President in the Oval Office on Friday where the two leaders discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as Irish-US trade relations.

Mr Biden agreed with Mr Varadkar when he said there needed to be a ceasefire as soon as possible.

Asked whether he could have partaken in the Oval Office meeting with US President Joe Biden on Friday and then withdrawn from the shamrock ceremony on Sunday, Mr Varadkar said: I suppose all these things go together.

I dont think it would have been a wise decision or appropriate for me to take the time in the Oval Office and do that meeting and then turn around a day or two later and say that I wouldnt participate in a ceremony that goes back 40 years.

He said it would be a misimpression if people thought the trip to Washington DC was just a single event that lasts for an hour where there are speeches and a bowl of shamrocks handed over.

Although he said previously that the US should not be sending arms to Israel, the Taoiseach added he wasnt shocked that the US would continue to, as it was long established policy.

I would struggle to understand why other people would be shocked at that, perhaps they need to spend a bit more time reading foreign policy, because that is the established position of the US.

I appreciate we live in a world where everyone has to be angry all the time and is encouraged to get angry and then when youre not angry, youre asked why arent you angry?

Thats not the way I operate.

He added: What you do then is you do all you can to work for a ceasefire, to encourage our American and European partners to work towards that, to increase our humanitarian aid for Palestine, which weve done.

So were doing everything we can, thats practical, given our influence in the world, to push for a ceasefire and for lasting peace.

I understand why other people may become consumed by anger.

Its just never a way that Ive done my job.
A Sinn Fein-led government south of the border would pose a very high risk, but the partys powers are limited at Stormonts institutions, Leo Varadkar has said.

The Irish premier was speaking about his warnings that a Sinn Fein government would make Ireland broke again, while also praising the return of powersharing in Northern Ireland.

Mr Varadkar has said his abiding memory from the trip was seeing the powerful appearance of NI First Minister and Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister and DUP politician Emma Little-Pengelly on stage together, which was met with rapturous applause.

Asked whether that comment meant he had changed his partys stance on ruling out going into government with Sinn Fein, Mr Varadkar said it hasnt changed our view.

We will co-operate with Sinn Fein and the DUP from time to time, particularly when it relates to issues to do with Northern Ireland, and that goes for all of the parties in Northern Ireland.

But a coalition with Sinn Fein for us is simply not on the agenda.

We believe their economic policies would send Ireland backwards, would make Ireland broke again.

We believe that their foreign policy would take us away from being at the heart of Europe, would weaken our friendship with a lot of other countries around the world, would risk making enemies of our friends and I just dont see how we could agree a programme for government when we fundamentally disagree on so much.

Asked about their coalition partners Fianna Fail and their economic track record, he said: We were able to agree a set of policies with Fianna Fail, when we formed the programme for government, that was in line with our economic approach and our financial approach. I dont think thatd be possible with Sinn Fein.

Asked about whether saying that Sinn Fein would make Ireland broke again is in conflict with efforts to encourage US businesses to invest in Northern Ireland, Mr Varadkar said there was a difference.

I think thered be a significant difference in having what would be a Sinn Fein-led government, he told reporters ahead of the shamrock ceremony.

Bear in mind, Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland is in a devolved administration with certain limitations on their power around raising revenue, for example, and tax, and also is part of a government of four parties in which theyre not the majority.

What is at risk, what could happen potentially in the Republic of Ireland, is a Sinn Fein-led government in which they would be the dominant partners in the government and would therefore be able to set policy around foreign policy, the economy, trade, justice, and thats a very high risk for our country, I believe.
Tata Communications Recognized by Frost & Sullivan for Excellence in Next-gen Connectivity and Unified Communications





Commtech player receives four Indian Service Provider Company of the Year Awards for its enterprise solutions

MUMBAI, India, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan announces Tata Communications, the global communications technology (commtech) player as a recipient of multiple awards for its excellence in connectivity and communication solutions for enterprises. Tata Communications was honored with the following:

2023 Indian SD-WAN Service Provider Company of the Year Award

2023 Indian Unified Communications Service Provider Company of the Year Award

2023 Indian Cloud Interconnect Service Provider Company of the Year Award

2023 Indian Managed Multi-Cloud Connect Service Provider Company of the Year Award

Tata Communications has demonstrated leadership through continual product innovation, customer service excellence, sterling reputation, and customer-centric framework, leading to its coveted preferred-partner status.

Tata Communications' IZOtm SDWAN is a platform-based managed service that enables the entire SDWAN lifecycle of businesses. With its differentiated offering, Tata Communications implements SDWAN with the power of AI, automation, and enhanced security, thereby futureproofing the secure network transformation of enterprises. Furthermore, Tata Communications managed secure access service edge (SASE) portfolio allows enterprises to choose and integrate the best-fit SDWAN and secure service edge (SSE) technology or opt for a single stack of these technologies aligned with their requirements.

Tata Communications GlobalRapide solution is an end-to-end, managed unified communications-as-a-service (UCaaS) that enables enterprises to deliver digitally advanced, sophisticated, and intelligent collaboration experiences to employees.

The company's broad multi-cloud portfolio brings all enterprise workloads onto a single pane while giving each workload the flexibility to run on different platforms, such as public cloud, managed hosting, private cloud, or cloud container services. Among them, Tata Communications' IZOtm Multi Cloud Connect enables customers to manage end-to-end connectivity from the branch to the digital hub to the cloud, guaranteeing predictable performance through utilization reports and threshold alerts. Customers can benefit from quick and easy cloud connectivity in minutes, a dependable application experience, and a reduction in cloud egress cost.

Benoy Chandrashekaran, vice president and business head of ICT, Frost & Sullivan, said, "Tata Communications, as a cloud solution and managed service partner, addresses all challenges in its end-to-end cloud transformation journey, including application assessment, cloud strategy and roadmap, cloud migration, hybrid cloud management, cloud cost management, security, and compliance requirements. With a legacy of market leadership, the company's compelling value proposition underpins its sustained success."

"Tata Communications pioneers the art of enhancing offerings based on the changing requirements of global businesses, establishing itself as a trusted partner in implementing an organization's digital communications platform, whether in terms of integration with legacy systems or implementing new solutions from scratch. Its innovative solutions streamline network management, simplify operations, and reduce costs," added Riana Barnard, Best Practices research analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

"We are honoured to receive the prestigious recognitions from Frost & Sullivan," said Arijit Bonnerjee, Vice President and Head of India Region at Tata Communications. "The awards are a testament to our relentless pursuit of delivering best-in-class platforms and solutions and exceeding customer expectations. We intend to keep raising the bar with a digital fabric of solutions for businesses, empowering them to thrive in a hyperconnected world."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year Award to the organization that demonstrates excellence, in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognises a high degree of innovation with products and technologies and the resulting leadership, in terms of customer value and market penetration.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Tarini Singh

P: +91-9953764546

E: [email protected]

About Tata Communications

A part of the Tata Group, Tata Communications (NSE: TATACOMM; BSE: 500483) is a global digital ecosystem enabler powering today's fast-growing digital economy in more than 190 countries and territories. Leading with trust, it enables digital transformation of enterprises globally with collaboration and connected solutions, core and next gen connectivity, cloud hosting and security solutions and media services. 300 of the Fortune 500 companies are its customers and the company connects businesses to 80% of the world's cloud giants. For more information, please visit www.tatacommunications.com.

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18 march 2024 at 00:30

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Care Access Opens New Clinical Research Site in Warsaw, Poland





Care Access, a global clinical research site company helping to accelerate the future of medicine, has opened its newest research site in Warsaw, Poland. The company's expansion in Poland reinforces its commitment to improving access to clinical research globally through its innovative model of bringing clinical trials wherever they are needed.

In recent years, Care Access has been active in clinical research across Europe, and now, by establishing a new facility in Warsaw, Care Access is further expanding its European services aimed to implement its industry-leading research capabilities, such as its Community Screening Program, Sites On Demand, and Mobile Research Site Infrastructure. These capabilities have shown to accelerate research study enrollment by adapting to the unique makeup of each community and providing more convenient ways to participate in clinical trials.

"Poland plays an important role in bringing the future of medicine to reality," said Rupi Bancil, Senior Vice President of Global Study Operations & Expansion for Care Access. "The Warsaw site will improve access to advanced health screenings and research opportunities to communities throughout Poland."

Collaboration with local physicians is a key approach to how Care Access improves access to clinical research in more communities. With a centralized staff of research professionals and state-of-the-art equipment, infrastructure, and processes, Care Access takes on a great deal of the administrative and logistical burden so partnering physicians can spend more time focusing on their patients.

Care Access has previously expanded its global network of research sites through the acquisition of IBPClin in Brazil in 2022 and the establishment of its first Canadian research site in Cape Breton in 2023. The addition of the Warsaw location strengthens Care Access' global research site network, enabling the company to conduct trials across multiple therapeutic areas and respond to emerging global health needs.

About Care Access

Care Access is a global clinical research site company helping to accelerate the future of medicine. With a global network of over 200 research sites, Care Access supports research studies conducted by hundreds of top biopharmaceutical companies. In addition to its proven track record of globally top-enrolling sites, Care Access partners with new-to-research communities and establishes high-quality research site infrastructure locally to expand access to clinical trials and increase representation.

For research sponsors, Care Access offers three core services: (1) global network of research sites, (2) community screenings to expand a study's reach, and (3) on-demand staffing, space expansion, and training services to support all research sites on a study.

To learn more about active studies at Care Access, or how Care Access helps sponsors achieve enrollment and representation goals, visit www.careaccess.com.

18 march 2024 at 03:10

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EQT AB publishes Annual and Sustainability Report for 2023





STOCKHOLM, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT AB (publ) publishes its Annual and Sustainability Report ("the Report") for 2023 today. The Report is available at www.eqtgroup.com.

The Report looks back on a year when EQT cemented its global position through the successful integration of BPEA, now EQT Private Capital Asia; delivered on its objective to establish new strategies for individual investors; and accelerated investment activity despite a continued uncertain market environment. EQT's focus remained on pursuing its active ownership approach and embracing themes such as climate and AI to transform companies and assets while serving its clients.

Conni Jonsson, Founder and Chairperson, said: "In recent years we have seen market conditions tighten. Firms with strong track records, a proven ability to generate returns across cycles, and the resources to continuously be ahead of the curve are winning. I'm pleased to say that we enter our fourth decade in our strongest position ever. Our teams are performance-driven, unafraid to make ambitious but thoughtful decisions, and bring diverse perspectives."

Christian Sinding, CEO and Managing Partner, added: "2023 was a year of solidifying our position in active ownership strategies globally. Going into 2024, we have a healthy investment pipeline across geographies and asset classes. I'm equally excited by our long-term vision to future-proof both our group and the portfolio, aiming to drive not just performance but also creating a positive impact."

EQT AB's Annual Shareholders' Meeting is scheduled to take place on 27 May 2024 at 14.00 CEST and notice to the meeting will be given in due course.

This is information that EQT AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 08:00 CET on 18 March 2024.

Contact

Olof Svensson, Head of Shareholder Relations, +46 72 989 09 15

EQT Press Office, [email protected], +46 8 506 55 334

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-ab-publishes-annual-and-sustainability-report-for-2023,c3947084

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/87/3947084/2674429.pdf EQT AB Annual & Sustainability Report 2023 https://news.cision.com/eqt/i/forward-thinking-from-the-start,c3279189 Forward thinking from the start

18 march 2024 at 03:12

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Operation HOPE Ventures Invests $25,000 in The Black Coffee Company





Support of 1MBB Start-up Continues to Fuel Rise of Black-Owned Business in America

ATLANTA, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Operation HOPE Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of Operation HOPE, is proud to announce its recent investment of $25,000 in The Black Coffee Company (TBCC). The first-of-its-kind donation comes as a culmination of TBCC's participation in the One Million Black Businesses (1MBB) initiative, aimed at fostering the growth and scalability of Black-owned ventures nationwide. The move signifies confidence in TBCC's leadership and mission to drive sustainable growth.

Operation HOPE Ventures Invests $25,000 in 1MBB Start-up - The Black Coffee Company -- As Rising Black-Owned Business in America

In 2022, TBCC participated in the HOPE Global Forums as part of its 1MBB program and emerged during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the adversity, TBCC has since showcased remarkable resilience and innovation, steadily expanding its operations to meet the rising demand for its products. HOPE Venture's investment will support TBCC with financial resources to help surpass its growth targets. With this infusion of capital, TBCC is well-positioned to scale its operations and enhance its impact within the community.

Inspired by Atlanta's rich cultural heritage and rooted in the values of community uplift, TBCC offers more than just exceptional coffee; it provides an experience that celebrates Black culture and unity. Through its signature blends and commitment to sustainability, TBCC has become a beacon of empowerment within the community.

"HOPE Ventures is committed to fostering economic empowerment and financial inclusion, particularly within minority communities. Given their ties to Atlanta, where Operation HOPE is headquartered, their success stands as a reminder that charity begins at home," said John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Operation HOPE and HOPE Ventures. "We are proud to support The Black Coffee Company and its mission to not only provide exceptional products but also serve as a catalyst for positive change within the community."

The recent round of fundraising for TBCC has garnered significant attention, exemplifying the growing recognition of the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses. This investment underscores HOPE Venture's dedication to driving sustainable economic growth and fostering entrepreneurship among underrepresented groups.

"HOPE Venture's investment helped us exceed our fundraising goal, which is instrumental in propelling our vision forward," said Chris Bolden, a founding member of The Black Coffee Company. "We are deeply grateful for their support and share in HOPE's commitment to fostering economic empowerment. With this investment, we are expanding our business and reaffirming our dedication to growing ethically, ensuring that our impact extends beyond profits to influence our community positively."

According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 154 million adults, or 75% of the US population, ages 20 and above, reported drinking coffee ? with 49% reported drinking coffee daily. Other data suggests that drinking coffee offers health benefits and the love for coffee is deeply ingrained in many cultures around the world. Black Coffee customers state that drinking coffee is not only a morning ritual or a daily pick-me-up but also a social experience that brings people together.

For more information about the 1MBB Initiative, powered by Shopify, please click here.

About Black Coffee Company

The Black Coffee Company was founded in 2018 by Chris Bolden, Jamin Butler, Branden Cole, Gino Jones, and Leonard Lightfoot. The coffee company is a premier coffee shop serving specialty coffee, loose-leaf tea, and freshly baked pastries. The coffee shop also hosts creative events such as game nights, workshops, classes, coffee tastings, and more. For more information on The Black Coffee Company, click here.

About Operation HOPE Ventures

Operation HOPE Ventures is a wholly owned subsidiary of Operation HOPE, dedicated to investing in and supporting innovative ventures that align with Operation HOPE's mission of empowering individuals and communities through financial education and economic inclusion. For more information: OperationHOPE.org. Join the HOPE conversation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Media Contacts:

Lalohni Campbell, Per/Se Media Group Dr. Leonard Lightfoot, The Black Coffee Co. [email protected] [email protected]





SOURCE Operation HOPE, Inc.

18 march 2024 at 07:00

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Pampa Metals Intersects 422m at 1.00% CuEq incl. 132m at 1.45% CuEq From First Drillhole at the Piuquenes Porphyry Project, Argentina





VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Pampa Metals Corp. ("Pampa Metals" or the "Company") (CSE:PM)(FSE:FIR)(OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to report final assay results for diamond drillhole PIU-01 which was recently completed to a depth of 867m at the Company's Piuquenes Central porphyry target located in San Juan Province, Argentina. Assay results include:

422 m @ 0.48% Cu, 0.61 g/t Au & 2.9 g/t Ag (1.00% CuEq)* (from 198 m);

including 132 m @ 0.71% Cu, 0.85 g/ Au, 4.3 g/t Ag (1.45% CuEq)* (from 220m);

Including 80 m @ 0.6% Cu, 0.77 g/t Au & 3.2 g/t Ag (1.30% CuEq)* (from 468m).

As previously reported, hole PIU-01 was designed to extend Cu-Au mineralization to depth on the southwestern margin of the Piuquenes Central porphyry. Drilling intersected the mineralized intrusion at a downhole depth of 198m as predicted. Supergene copper enrichment was observed from 220m to 380m downhole, coincident, and overlapping with primary mineralization from 350 meters. Strong primary mineralization associated with intense porphyry A type quartz stockwork veining is evident from 350m to approximately 650m. From 650m to the end of hole at 867m quartz veining and mineralization continues, becoming progressively less intense with depth. From 830m disseminated hematite/specularite-pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization is hosted in volcanic host rocks outside the porphyry intrusive and remains open at depth.

Joseph van den Elsen, Pampa Metals President and CEO commented: "We are very pleased to report exceptional intervals of both supergene enriched and primary copper mineralization in the first hole of our maiden drill campaign at the Piuquenes Project. The campaign is achieving its objective of testing the depth and lateral extensions of the previously reported mineralization at Piuquenes Central. Subsequent drill campaigns will also test the undrilled Piuquenes East porphyry target and other nearby targets identified on the property."

A Company Presentation is available at: www.pampametals.com/investor/presentations

Geology and Mineralization - Diamond Drillhole PIU-01

From surface to 198 m, PIU-01 intersected a fine-grained quartz diorite porphyry with evidence of Intermediate argillic alteration and secondary biotite. Sporadic quartz stockwork veining with disseminated oxidized sulfides are observed from 80 m, becoming more frequent from 150 m deep, coincident with intermineral potassic alteration and anomalous gold values.

Moderate porphyry A-type quartz stockwork veining is present from approximately 150m downhole, increasing in intensity from 220m depth. Supergene copper enrichment is evident from 220m to 380m depth, partially coincident (from 288 m depth) with increasing intensity of porphyry A-type quartz vein stockworks and evidence of intermineral potassic alteration. A narrow zone of copper oxides is observed from 220 - 229m downhole.

Dense porphyry A-type quartz vein stockwork with chalcopyrite and traces of disseminated bornite mineralization hosted in potassic altered diorite porphyry was intersected from 350m to approximately 650 m downhole. From 650m to approximately 740m a zone of moderate intensity quartz veining with lower grade copper-gold mineralization was intersected. Sporadic quartz veining thereafter remains open from 740m to 867m (EOH). From 730m intermediate argillic alteration is present, as is molybdenite, sphalerite and hematite/specularite associated with grey sericite-chlorite veining and fine-grained disseminated chalcopyrite-bornite. From 830m the host-rock is volcanic, superimposed by sericite-chlorite alteration and disseminated hematite/specularite-pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization, veining and breccias.

Images 1 & 2: Porphyry qtz stockwork veining with oxide copper mineralization (Top) and supergene enrichment (Bottom)

Image 3. Intense Porphyry A type quartz stockwork veining w/primary chalcopyrite mineralization (393-401m)

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD INVESTOR CONTACT Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO Joseph van den Elsen | [email protected] +1 604 347 8777 ABOUT PAMPA METALS Pampa Metals is a copper-gold exploration company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE: FIR), and OTC (OTCQB: PMMCF) exchanges. In November 2023, the Company announced it had entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement for the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in San Juan Province, Argentina. Previous intervals of significant copper and gold mineralization at Piuquenes Central (refer 5 December 2023 News Release) include: 413.5 m@ 0.47% Cu, 0.52 g/t Au (0.87% CuEq)* (167-580.5 m); and 558.2 m @ 0.38% Cu, 0.42 g/t Au, 2.4 g/t Ag (0.73% CuEq)* (362-920.2 m EOH) including 130 m @ 0.81% Cu, 0.6 g/t Au, 4 g/t Ag (1.31 % CuEq)* (362-492 m) QAQC PIU-01 drill hole was collared with a PQ drill bit, reduced to HQ and, sequentially, to NQ as the drill hole progressed deeper. Drill core was extracted from the core tubes by the drill contractor under the supervision of Pampa Metals, marked for consistent orientation and placed in core boxes with appropriate depth markers added. Full core boxes were then sealed before being transported by Pampa Metals to the Piuquenes core-cutting facility in Barreal, San Juan. Core was processed, quick logged, checked for recovery, photographed, and marked for assays. Core trays were weighed before being cut using a diamond saw by Pampa Metals. Pampa Metals supervising geologist double-checked the selected two-metre sample intervals, placing the samples in seal bags and ensuring that the same side of the core was consistently sampled. Reference numbers were assigned to each sample and each sample was weighed. The core trays with the remaining half-core were weighed and photographed and stored at the Pampa Metals facility in Barreal. From Barreal samples were sent to the ALS preparation facility in Mendoza, an accredited laboratory which is independent of the Company. Prepared samples were then sent to the ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru for gold (Au-AA23), copper (Cu-OG62), and multi-element ICP (ME-MS61) analysis. No data quality problems were indicated by the QA/QC program. Qualified Person Technical information in this news release has been approved by Mario Orrego G. Mr. Orrego G. is a Geologist, a Registered Member of the Chilean Mining Commission and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego G. is a consultant to the Company. * %CuEq values are calculated based on copper and gold metal prices: Cu = US$3.20/lb, Au = US$1,700/oz and Ag = US$ 20/oz. The formula utilized to calculate %CuEq is: Cu Eq Grade (%) = Cu Head Grade (%) + [(Au Head Grade (g/t) / 31.104) * (Au Price (US$/oz) / Cu Price (US$/lb) / 22.04) + [(Ag Head Grade (g/t) / 31.104) * (Ag Price (US$/oz) / Cu Price (US$/lb) / 22.04. Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. SOURCE: Pampa Metals Corp.

Pampa Metals Corp.

18 march 2024 at 07:30

View the original press release on accesswire.comNews published onand distributed by:
Pan American Energy Collaborates With The Saskatchewan Research Council For Preliminary Metallurgical Testing To Produce Petalite Concentrates





CALGARY, Alberta, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG | OTCQB: PAANF | FRA: SS60) ("Pan American" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has contracted with the Saskatchewan Research Council ("SRC") for comprehensive metallurgical testing and conceptual process development for bulk sample production in respect of the Big Mack Lithium Project ("Big Mack"), located approximately 80 km north of the town of Kenora, Ontario.



The Company will provide lithium bearing core samples from the Phase One and Phase Two drilling programs recently completed at Big Mack to the SRC for the purposes of the proposed metallurgical testing. The preliminary testing program is expected to include gravity separation, magnetic separation and flotation tests. Following the completion of the first testwork, the Company expects to commission SRC to complete additional follow-up work, including evaluating the production of battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate from the samples provided from the Big Mack.

In 1999, the former operator of Big Mack removed a representative 5000 tonne bulk sample from the Big Mack Pegmatite exposure. This sample was processed by International Metallurgical and Environmental Inc. to create petalite concentrate. The petalite concentrate was then sent to Corning Laboratory Services of Corning, New York for petalite analysis and trial glass metals, where three glass melts were made using the supplied petalite. The petalite yielded glass of acceptable visual quality, validating the opportunity for commercial offtake partners of the petalite concentrate material. For additional details regarding this bulk sample and the subsequent testing, please see the Company's technical report for Big Mack entitled "NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Big Mack Property" with an effective date of December 12, 2022, filed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

Jason Latkowcer, Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We specifically sought out the SRC for this work as a result of their experience working with petalite bearing pegmatites similar to that of the Big Mack. Over 25 years ago, a petalite concentrate from the Big Mack was commercially validated by a major glass and acrylics manufacturer. We believe the SRC will be able to utilize modern day technology to develop processes to optimize recovery which we believe will assist in our efforts to requalify the material extracted from Big Mack for use in commercial applications. We expect to follow this initial work with work evaluating the production of battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate from the material extracted from Big Mack. We are looking forward to working with the team at SRC."

The proposed scope of work is divided into 5 distinct phases:

Scope of Work

Phase 1 ? Sample Preparation and Characterization ? The composite pegmatite sample will be created and crushed at 2.0 mm prior to homogenization and splitting for sampling. A representative 40 kg composite sample will be prepared.

The composite pegmatite sample will be created and crushed at 2.0 mm prior to homogenization and splitting for sampling. A representative 40 kg composite sample will be prepared. Phase 2 ? Heavy Liquid Separation ? Heavy liquids separation (" HLS ") is proposed to provide detail information of gravity separation including potential dense medium separator processing. The composite sample will be classified into 6 size fractions and each fraction will be subjected to HLS at 5 specific gravities. The sink and floats will be analyzed to determine the lithium (petalite) grade-recovery curves. The grade recovery curves can be used to determine the primary crushing size of the pegmatite and gravity separation process.

Heavy liquids separation (" ") is proposed to provide detail information of gravity separation including potential dense medium separator processing. The composite sample will be classified into 6 size fractions and each fraction will be subjected to HLS at 5 specific gravities. The sink and floats will be analyzed to determine the lithium (petalite) grade-recovery curves. The grade recovery curves can be used to determine the primary crushing size of the pegmatite and gravity separation process. Phase 3 ? Flotation Tests ? Flotation tests will be done on the composite sample and HLS concentrate (sink) sample. Approximately 8 preliminary flotation tests will be done on the composite pegmatite sample and the HLS concentrate. Each flotation test typically includes a rougher, scavenger, and cleaners. Each stage of flotation will be done at the optimized flotation conditions determined from previous petalite flotation test work. Further optimization is not considered at this stage of preliminary testing.

Flotation tests will be done on the composite sample and HLS concentrate (sink) sample. Approximately 8 preliminary flotation tests will be done on the composite pegmatite sample and the HLS concentrate. Each flotation test typically includes a rougher, scavenger, and cleaners. Each stage of flotation will be done at the optimized flotation conditions determined from previous petalite flotation test work. Further optimization is not considered at this stage of preliminary testing. Phase 4 ? Magnetic Separation ? Magnetic separation is mainly used to remove the iron components. Wet high intensity magnetic separation will be performed on both feed and concentrate to determine iron removal efficiency.

? Magnetic separation is mainly used to remove the iron components. Wet high intensity magnetic separation will be performed on both feed and concentrate to determine iron removal efficiency. Phase 5 ? Conceptual Process Development and Bulk Sample Production ? A conceptual process will be developed.



The study is being led by Jack Zhang, Associate VP, Strategic Technologies, Saskatchewan Research Council.

The project period under the agreement is intended to commence immediately and continue until approximately July 31, 2024.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jared Suchan, Ph.D., P.Geo., who is an independent consultant of the Company, and a "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101.

About SRC

SRC is Canada's second largest research and technology organization with 1,600 clients in 22 countries around the world. With nearly 350 employees, $232 million in annual revenue and over 75 years of RD&D experience, the SRC helps clients solve technology problems, make improvements, seize opportunities, maintain competitiveness, increase productivity, and develop new markets.

For more information regarding the SRC, please visit: https://www.src.sk.ca.

About Pan American Energy Corp.

Pan American Energy Corp. (CSE: PNRG) (OTCQB: PAANF) (FSE: SS60) is an exploration stage company engaged principally in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties containing battery metals in North America.

The Company executed an option agreement in Canada with Magabra Resources, providing for the right to acquire up to a 90% interest in the drill-ready Big Mack Lithium Project, 80 km north of Kenora, Ontario. The Company has also entered a property option agreement with Horizon Lithium LLC providing for the right to acquire a 100% interest in the Horizon Lithium Project, located within Esmeralda County ? Tonopah Lithium Belt, Nevada, USA.

To register for investor updates, please visit https://panam-energy.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors



Jason Latkowcer

CEO & Director

Contact

Phone : (587) 885-5970

Email: [email protected]

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current beliefs or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the Company's expectation that the findings generated from the metallurgical testing completed by SRC will lead to the development of processes to optimize recovery and assist the Company in re-qualifying the material from Big Mack for use in commercial applications; the planned metallurgical testing procedure proposed by the SRC; the expected timing of the planned metallurgical testing; and the Company's expectation that, following the completion of the preliminary metallurgical testing, the Company will commission SRC to do additional follow-on work, including evaluating the production of battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate from the samples provided from the Big Mack.

Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information, including, in respect of the forward-looking information included in this press release, the assumption that the proposed testing will proceed as anticipated on the anticipated timing; the desired outcomes of the testing will be achieved, including that the testing will be successful in generating processes to optimize recovery which will assist the Company in re-qualifying the material from Big Mack for use in commercial applications; and that the Company will commission SRC to complete the follow-on work, and that such work will include evaluating the production of battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate from the samples provided from the Big Mack.

Although forward-looking information is based on the reasonable assumptions of the Company's management, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among other things, the risk that the metallurgical testing does not proceed in the manner and on the timeline currently contemplated, or at all; risks inherent in testing and research, including risks relating to changes in project parameters or delays as plans continue to be redefined, that testing and research is inherently uncertain and that the results of testing and research may not be reproducible at scale; that the metallurgical testing may be unsuccessful or fail to achieve the results anticipated by the Company; that the testing may not be successful in generating processes to optimize recovery or assist in the Company re-qualifying the material from Big Mack for use in commercial applications; and that the Company may not commission SRC to complete additional follow-on work as currently anticipated, or at all. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this ?press release.?

18 march 2024 at 08:00

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New Jersey School Districts Select HeyTutor for High-Impact, In-Person Tutoring to Counter Pandemic Learning Loss





HeyTutor, one of the largest in-person tutoring companies in the United States, announces it has been selected by several New Jersey school districts to provide high-impact, in-person tutoring services to counter pandemic learning loss. Beginning this spring, HeyTutor will deploy more than 100 highly qualified tutors to provide in-person tutoring during regular school hours for students in grades 3 to 5 at elementary schools in Palmyra Township School District (Burlington County), Denville Township School District and Morris Township School District (Morris County) and Hillsborough Township School District (Somerset County), Plainfield Public School District (Union County), Upper Township School District (Cape May County), Milltown Public Schools (Middlesex County), Ridgewood Public Schools (Bergen County); and Paul Robeson Charter School (Trenton, Mercer County).

HeyTutor is the only national tutoring company specializing in hands-on, in-person tutoring with a pre-designed, scaffolded curriculum consisting of thousands of lessons aligned to Common Core State Standards (CCCS) and state-specific standards for grades k-12, incorporating best practices for social and emotional learning from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional (CASEL) framework.

"We are delighted to begin working with New Jersey school teachers and administrators to get student learning back on track," said HeyTutor CEO Jennifer Sheffield. "At HeyTutor, we believe that students are best served by face-to-face, in-person tutoring alongside teacher-led classroom instruction. We use a unique combination of traditional, hands-on strategies and technology to ensure students are progressing, teachers can track that progress, and administrators can easily measure return on investment. We are confident in our evidence-based approach to improve learning outcomes for students across the board, including those with special needs."

HeyTutor was selected last year by the State of New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) as a qualified vendor for the implementation of high impact tutoring to approximately 240 New Jersey school districts. The New Jersey Learning Acceleration Program: High-Impact Tutoring Grant was designed to support districts to provide high-dosage (at least three times per week), intensive tutoring for students who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. It prioritizes districts with elementary schools and students in grades three and four. Districts were eligible to apply for up to $768,000 in funds for the single-year grant program, which will close Aug. 31, 2024.

HeyTutor, founded in 2014, currently serves thousands of students in states, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, Missouri, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. HeyTutor is a member of the prestigious National Student Support Accelerator (NSSA) as a member of the Tutoring Provider Advisory Group, a program under the Stanford Accelerator for Learning and EdSolutions at Stanford University. Formed in 2020 by a group of nationally recognized education experts in response to the learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSSA's mission is to accelerate the growth of high-impact tutoring opportunities for k-12 students.

About HeyTutor

Founded in 2014, HeyTutor is one of the largest in-person, at-scale tutoring companies in the United States. HeyTutor supports districts and students by leveraging local, in-person tutors to help students overcome learning gaps, catch up to grade level standards, or work towards acceleration. HeyTutor's in-person tutoring delivery is supported by a robust online dashboard that includes student usage, attendance, and academic progress over the course of the program. HeyTutor ensures high-quality, customized tutoring is accessible and available to the students who need it most all while reducing time and administrative costs for school districts. To learn more about HeyTutor, visit www.heytutor.com

18 march 2024 at 08:35

News published onand distributed by:
Shincheonji Church Celebrates a 40 Year History of Running Without Stopping





ANAHEIM, Calif., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji) recounted its history from establishment up to today, in the work of healing all nations as promised by God.

According to the 'Announcement of the 40th Anniversary History Report' given at the foundation ceremony on the 14th, Shincheonji, founded March 14, 1984, didn't initially have a proper temple and worshipped outdoors. It wasn't until June of that year that its first small temple was secured in Bisan-dong, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.

In September of that same year, the 'Shincheonji Holy Laws' were announced, and in the following year 1985, the tour of Revelation nationwide began.

On March 14, 1995, the organization of the 12 tribes was completed according to the structure of heaven as recorded in the Bible. In 1999, the General Assembly Headquarters and temple moved to Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do, which is the place where the fulfillment of Revelation began, and it is still there today.

The Zion Christian Mission Center, Shincheonji's free Bible Theological Institution, has expanded from Sadang Center in Seoul in 1990 to nationwide, and it teaches the prophecies of the Bible and the reality of the fulfillment.

The Zion Christian Mission Center, which held its first graduation ceremony in 1991, held its first '100,000 Graduation Ceremony' with 103,764 graduates during the 110th graduation ceremony in 2019. And in 2022 and 2023, there were 106,186 and 108,084 graduates who completed the course, respectively.

Overseas missionary work of Shincheonji, which has experienced explosive growth, dates back to 1993. Since 2012, Shincheonji Word Seminar have also been held overseas.

Even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, when the borders of each country were closed, online Word Seminars were held, and requests from other denominations to learn the Word flooded in. A MOU for the exchanging of the Word was signed with 443 churches in Korea and 9,462 churches in 77 countries abroad. Notably, 1,382 churches in 38 countries internationally changed their signs to Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony after discussing the Word.

Last February, [Shincheonji Church of Jesus] launched a religious leader exchange program in Korea and received a tremendous response from about 80 religious leaders from 10 religions not only from Korea but also from around the world.

Media contact:

Scott Alwin

[email protected]

6266670497

SOURCE Shincheonji Church

18 march 2024 at 08:44

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The Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada invest more to $7,7 million to improve public transit in Saguenay





SAGUENAY, QC, March 18, 2024 /CNW/ - The Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Genevieve Guilbault, the federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, the Honourable Sean Fraser, and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister responsible for the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Region, Andree Laforest, announce financial contribution of $7,704,060 for the Societe de transport du Saguenay (STS). This amount will be used to extend the ecomobility corridor and make public transit more accessible, safer and more comfortable.

For the occasion, the Minister was accompanied by the MNA for Dubuc, Francois Tremblay, the MNA for Jonquiere, Yannick Gagnon, Saguenay Mayor, Julie Dufour and STS President, Claude Bouchard.

The funded project will benefit the community by providing new, more user-friendly facilities. More specifically, the work involves extending the ecomobility corridor along Jacques-Cartier and Saint-Vallier streets, by installing:

a reserved lane

a service building and various docks, including a waiting area;

infrastructure to improve accessibility for people with reduced mobility, notably to go to the Centre integre universitaire de sante et services sociaux du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean (CIUSSS).

These projects will improve the capacity, quality and safety of the City of Saguenay's existing public transit network, while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus combat climate change.

Quotes

"Our government is continuing its efforts, in every region of Quebec, to improve public transit services. This work is part of our strategy to transition to a greener, more prosperous economy. By offering attractive and competitive alternatives to solo driving, we are helping to make public transit more popular, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Genevieve Guilbault, Deputy Premier of Quebec and Minister of Transports and Sustainable Mobility

"By investing in our infrastructure, we are committed to significantly improving the daily lives of our citizens. The development of public transportation infrastructure in Chicoutimi will improve the network's accessibility, safety and efficiency. These improvements will ensure more convenient travel for Chicoutimi residents, contributing to a better quality of life for the entire community."

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

"Making public transit as accessible as possible to our population, and providing user-friendly facilities to attract more transit users to our city are goals that our government is seeking to achieve. We also need to provide adequate services for people with mobility limitations, and reduce their travel costs. If all these additions help reduce the number of vehicles on our roads and traffic congestion, it will be a plus for our society."

Andree Laforest, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister responsible for the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Region

"Investing in infrastructure isn't about putting money into concrete. It's about investing in the day-to-day lives of our people. This public transit project is a fine example! It will enable Saguenay residents, especially those with reduced mobility, to benefit from a modern, efficient public transit network to get where they need to go."

The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport and Quebec Lieutenant

"Continuous improvement of public transit remains a priority. New arrivals and local workers need to be able to get around in a vast territory. This is both an economic and an environmental issue."

Francois Tremblay, Member of National Assembly for Dubuc

"When it comes to public transit in a large area like Saguenay, accessibility is an important issue. I'm therefore delighted with this good news, which will enable STS users to enjoy a transportation network that's even more agile and adapted to the reality of our territory. Who knows, maybe it will even encourage others to try and adopt this mode of transport, which we are privileged to have in our municipality."

Yannick Gagnon, Member of National Assembly for Jonquiere

"I'm extremely proud of the Quebec government's commitment to invest in improving public transit services in Saguenay. These investments demonstrate our collective determination to promote sustainable mobility and meet the growing travel needs of our community. It's a significant step towards a more accessible, efficient and environmentally-friendly future for all Saguenay citizens."

Julie Dufour, Mayor of Saguenay

"The Ecomobility Corridor is the STS network's structuring axis that has enabled us to improve our service between downtown and the Talbot Zone, resulting in increased ridership in this sector. We're delighted to announce that it will be extended with the construction of new facilities at Jacques-Cartier and Saint-Vallier, because in addition to ensuring the safety of this sector, they will offer our customers greater comfort, which will undoubtedly contribute to improving their transit experience, an objective we have set ourselves as an organization in our new strategic plan."

Claude Bouchard, President of the STS

Quick Facts

The amounts break down as follows : The Government of Quebec is investing $4,298,922 through the Programme d'aide gouvernementale aux infrastructures de transport collectif (PAGITC); The Government of Canada is investing $3,405,138 through the same program. These funds come from the Public Transit component of the Integrated Bilateral Agreement Canada ? Quebec for the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Societe de transport du Saguenay is contributing $893,785 .

Today's funding brings the Quebec government's support for the STS to approximately $70 million since 2019. This amount includes: $3.8 million under the Programme d'aide gouvernementale au transport collectif des personnes ( PAGTCP ) for various projects; over $4 million from the Public Transit Development Program ( PADTC ), which supports various organizations in their efforts to maintain, develop, optimize and promote public transit services. Up to 26 electric buses from the contract to acquire up to 1229 electric city buses from Novabus announced on May 8, 2023 ; $4.3 million from the one-time $400-million budget envelope allocated to public transit organizations to support the recovery of their services hard hit by health measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

government's support for the STS The Public Transit Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program supports the building, expansion, and upgrading of urban and rural transit networks.

Infrastructure Program supports the building, expansion, and upgrading of urban and rural transit networks. Including today's announcement, 26 infrastructure projects or project bundles under the Public Transit Infrastructure Stream have been announced in Quebec , with a total federal contribution of more than $2.8 billion and a total provincial contribution of more than $5.4 billion .

, with a total federal contribution of more than and a total provincial contribution of more than . The federal government is investing $14.9 billion over the next eight years in reliable, fast, affordable, and clean public transit. This funding includes $3 billion per year in permanent, predictable federal public transit funding which will be available to support transit solutions beginning in 2026-27.

Associated Links

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan

Federal infrastructure investments in Quebec

Programme d'aide gouvernementale au transport collectif des personnes (PAGTCP) [FR]

Programme d'aide au developpement du transport collectif (PADTC) [FR]

Programme d'aide gouvernementale aux infrastructures de transport collectif (PAGITC) [FR]

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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

18 march 2024 at 10:15

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EchoStor Recognized on the Prestigious 2024 CRN Tech Elite 250 List





HOPKINTON, Mass., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EchoStor Technologies, a leading technology solutions provider, today announced that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has honored EchoStor on its 2024 Tech Elite 250 list.

Founded in 2005, EchoStor has experienced historic growth for the company over its last three years. A long-time solution providing leader in Massachusetts, the company has expanded its presence throughout the tri-state area with tremendous success. Geographic expansion and EchoStor's rapidly growing Networking/Security, Modern Workplace, Digital Workflows and Managed Service business, is largely responsible for the company increasing overall top-line revenue by an average of 50% annual growth over the past three years.

In December, the company appointed Mike Johnson its CEO with co-founders, John Dooley and Scott Trinque, becoming co-chairs of the Board of Directors. The move was made to support the company's rapid growth, aggressive mergers & acquisitions strategy and prepare for further expansion along the east coast.

"We are thrilled with this recognition, which celebrates solution providers that have forged trusted relationships with leading technology partners, while continuing to help customers utilize technology to drive tangible business results. EchoStor's business has rapidly accelerated behind a more expansive and innovative technical go-to-market over the last three years. Customers are constantly challenged with maintaining "business as usual" operations while keeping an eye on emerging technologies. With Generative AI and Cyber Threats for example, our customers really need a trusted advisor more than ever," Johnson said. "EchoStor is dedicated to supporting our customers across all facets of their transformation journey while delivering unparalleled customer experiences that drive business outcomes."

To help customers navigate today's IT complexities and harness the advantages of state-of-the-art solutions, solution providers?ranging from strategic service providers and systems integrators to managed service providers and value-added resellers?strive to uphold rigorous levels of training and certification from strategic IT vendors, often aiming for the pinnacle tiers within these vendors' partner programs.

"CRN's Tech Elite 250 highlights leading-edge solution providers within the IT landscape, distinguished by their comprehensive technical proficiency, expertise, and commitment to achieving top-level certifications in critical technology areas," said Jennifer Follett, VP, U.S. Content, and Executive Editor of CRN at The Channel Company. "These solution providers persistently strengthen their capabilities to bring the advanced IT solutions to market that customers need."

Coverage of the Tech Elite 250 will be featured in the April issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/techelite250 .

About EchoStor

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Hopkinton, MA, EchoStor Technologies is a leading information technology provider with focus areas in Next Gen Data Center, Security, Digital Workflows, and Modern Workplace. EchoStor Technologies partners with industry-leading manufacturers to offer a full suite of advanced technology solutions focused on the entire lifecycle of customer data and infrastructure. Its expertise includes Software Defined Infrastructure, Data Center Networking, Data Protection, Hybrid Cloud, Cloud Security, Network Segmentation, Secure Web Access, Identity Management, Service Management, Automation & Integration, Governance Risk & Compliance, Asset & IT Ops Management, AI & BI, End-User Productivity, Business Process Automation, Analytics & Insights.

SOURCE EchoStor Technologies

18 march 2024 at 10:15

News published onand distributed by:
Tomahawk Information Solutions Slated To Exhibit at WBENC's AMPLIFY Conference, Empowering Women Entrepreneurs to Connect and Collaborate





SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomahawk Information Solutions (TIS), a woman-owned business based in San Juan Capistrano, CA, is set to make its debut appearance at The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) AMPLIFY Conference in Denver, CO from March 19-22, 2024.

WBENC Amplify in Denver, CO March 18-22 will be the world's largest gathering of female owned companies in history.

The conference, expected to draw over 4,500 women CEOs and business owners, is the largest gathering of its kind, aimed at fostering collaboration, mentorship, and networking opportunities among women entrepreneurs. TIS will be showcasing their innovative solutions at Booth #2431, connecting with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and fellow women-owned businesses.

Aimee Holguin Rickabus, CEO and Co-Founder of Tomahawk Information Solutions, expressed her excitement about participating in the event, stating, "We are thrilled to be part of WBENC's AMPLIFY Convention, where women-owned businesses connect and grow. As a Latina running an IT company, I value the growth that my company gets from the diversity and inclusion in supply chains that WBENC promotes. My company works with The Fortune 100 doing Digital Transformation, we have seen 300% growth."

With over 14 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. employing nearly 12.2 million people and generating $2.7 trillion in revenue, women entrepreneurs are a driving force in the economy. Despite this, there remains a disparity in revenue and capital access for women-owned businesses, which WBENC aims to address through its programs and initiatives.

CEO Holguin Rickabus shared her personal connection to entrepreneurship, inspired by her mother's Dr. Sharon D. Horn's legacy as Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year in 1988. She highlighted the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued, echoing the spirit of collaboration and empowerment that WBENC embodies.

As Women's History Month continues, the AMPLIFY Conference stands as a testament to the historic contributions and ongoing resilience of women in business. Just as women have united throughout history to advocate for equality and progress, the event offers a platform for women entrepreneurs to amplify their voices, share their visions, and support one another in achieving success.

Tomahawk Information Solutions is an IT Reseller specializing in Enterprise Digital Transformation. For more information about Tomahawk Information Solutions and their participation in the WBENC AMPLIFY Conference, visit their website at [www.tom-is.com](www.tom-is.com).

Media Contact:

Name: Aimee Holguin Rickabus

Title: CEO and Co-Founder

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Tomahawk Information Solution

18 march 2024 at 10:47

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Biz2Credit Issues Statement on FTC Settlement





Biz2Credit, an award-winning, minority-owned fintech that since 2007 has arranged more than $8 billion in small business financing, today issued the following statement about its settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission:

Consistent with its longstanding mission, Biz2Credit focused on funding traditionally underserved small businesses during the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). During PPP2 (2021), the company processed over half a million applications and provided much-needed funding to more than 170,000 small business owners.

The FTC's investigation focused on whether the company's average processing time for PPP loans was longer than estimated on its website. In response, the company compiled statistical proof demonstrating that the average processing times referenced on its website accurately reflected the experience of bona fide customers, including those that requested their applications be withdrawn. The PPP program had strict eligibility requirements, and the company targeted its disclosures to bona fide customers who met those requirements. The FTC, however, claimed that Biz2Credit's average processing time estimates should not only have taken bona fide customers into account but should also have included customers whose applications Biz2Credit reviewed and rejected as potentially fraudulent or ineligible.

The company said, "Biz2Credit is proud of its record of helping small business owners, and of the steps it took to protect against PPP fraud and abuse of taxpayer funds. During PPP, we viewed it as our role to provide funding only to the eligible small business that applied to us, and the statements on our website about average processing time gave those legitimate applicants an accurate estimate of what they could expect."

It is well known that the PPP program was subject to massive amounts of applicant fraud. The Small Business Administration (SBA) has estimated that it disbursed over $200 billion in COVID-19-related relief, including PPP loans, to potentially fraudulent actors. The SBA and other government agencies called upon all PPP lenders to do their part in protecting against fraud, and Biz2Credit took this responsibility seriously.

Biz2Credit developed state-of-the-art systems and controls to detect fraud and ensure program eligibility, closely adhering to PPP program requirements. Given the high levels of fraud and ineligibility detected, the company funded only around 30% of all the applications it received in 2021. PPP lenders like Biz2Credit made money only when they funded applications. In short, Biz2Credit did the right thing during PPP and prioritized program compliance.

The company continued, "Had we not taken the extra steps and time needed to vet applications, even more of the limited PPP funding would have gone to fraudsters and companies not eligible for PPP loans instead of legitimate small businesses in need. Ineligible applications took longer to review and deny but our estimates accurately reflected the experience of legitimate loan applicants, the same small business customers the PPP program was designed to serve." Biz2Credit also demonstrated to the FTC that it accommodated customers who wished to have their applications withdrawn, and that it did so on a timely basis.

Commenting on its decision to settle with the FTC, the company stated, "We are disappointed that the FTC took the positions that it did. Legal compliance is central to our business and strong reputation, and during the PPP program we did as much as any lender to comply with the government's guidance. Not only that, we answered the call of the Biden Administration to fund truly underserved small businesses, as 47% of the businesses we funded during PPP were minority-owned businesses and 32% were women-owned businesses. The typical business we funded had under 3 employees."

The company concluded, "the unfortunate reality is that FTC actions like this are very costly to litigate. Our decision to settle rather than contest the FTC's claims in court represents a pragmatic decision to put the matter behind us with no admission of wrongdoing. In short, Biz2Credit agreed to this settlement so it can continue to fully concentrate on the important work of financing small underserved businesses in these uncertain times."

18 march 2024 at 12:15

News published onand distributed by:
Beware of new "friends" asking for money





TORONTO, March 18, 2024 /CNW/ - Harvinder Singh Bhoi thought he could get away with tricking investors into purchasing shares of a company he had no rights to. His plan backfired and now he is charged with fraud.

Mr. Bhoi convinced several new friends to invest in shares of a company. He allegedly told these friends the investment would make them a lot of money, by showing them false documents to entice them into believing his scheme. But it was a complete deception. Mr. Bhoi did not own, or have a right to sell, any shares of the company. His friends' return on their investments would be a total loss of all their funds. Mr. Bhoi, on the other hand, pocketed CA$40,000 belonging to his deceived friends.

Mr Bhoi's plans were foiled when the Ontario Securities Commission referred their suspicions to the RCMP Integrated Market Enforcement Team (IMET), who then investigated. As a result of the investigation the following charges have been laid against Mr. Bhoi:

Harvinder Singh Bhoi, 55, of Toronto

Fraud Over $5000 contrary to Section 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code

Mr. Bhoi's first court appearance will be at the Ontario Court of Justice, 10 Armoury St., Toronto on March 25, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

The GTA IMET would like to thank the Ontario Securities Commission and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis of Canada (FINTRAC) for their assistance in this investigation.

"We are very pleased with the investigation the IMET team conducted. Working with our partners we thwarted an attempt of thousands of dollars in fraudulent funds".

Satish Tarachandra, Inspector, Officer in charge of GTA IMET

Fast Facts

Beware of promises of easy wealth. Fraudsters will try to look like a friend, but in reality, are ruthless criminals scheming to take your hard-earned savings and disappear. Claims of huge returns and high-pressure tactics are often warning signs. Do your own research before handing over your savings.

Learn more about Investment frauds

The RCMP's Toronto Integrated Market Enforcement Team is a specialized RCMP-led unit mandated to protect the integrity of Canada's Capital Markets by detecting, investigating and deterring capital market fraud. The RCMP IMETs are located in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec and are funded by the Government of Canada and led by the RCMP.

Twitter: @RCMPONT

Facebook: RCMP.Ontario

Instagram: rcmpontario

YouTube: RCMPGRCPOLICE

Website: RCMP in Ontario

SOURCE Royal Canadian Mounted Police "O" Division

18 march 2024 at 13:00

News published onand distributed by:
National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express Seeking Applications for Fourth Year of "Backing Historic Small Restaurants" Program





WASHINGTON, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express announced that applications are open for the fourth installment of the "Backing Historic Small Restaurants Program." This year, the program will award double the number of grants, with the total amount of grant funding increasing to $2.5 million from $1 million. Fifty U.S. historic small restaurants will receive $50,000 each, up from 25 restaurants in years past. The grant program is funded by American Express and administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

"Small restaurants represent the rich fabric of our culture, and are the economic engine of our communities ? yet they are facing real challenges to their survival with labor shortages and rising costs," explained Alice Lin Fabiano, VP of Community Impact at American Express. "American Express is responding to this need by doubling the number of grants offered to support 50 historic small restaurants."

The program began four years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic to support historic restaurants that were facing dramatic losses in foot traffic and revenue. Over the years, the program has evolved to support restaurants' longevity and growth as they seek to continue serving our communities daily.

Restaurant owners can apply for the grant program here. Community members can also nominate their favorite restaurant here.

"The National Trust understands the importance of small businesses, especially multi-generational family-owned ones, in creating vibrant communities, and we are delighted to be able to expand this work with American Express," said Carol Quillen, President and CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Often, these businesses are centers of their communities, providing a gathering place and helping to cultivate a sense of belonging," she added.

Through the grant program, Resy, a hospitality technology platform that is part of the American Express family, will also offer complimentary use of Resy OS ? its restaurant management software ? for one year to each of the historic small restaurants selected to help streamline costs and boost restaurant operations.

Backing Historic Small Restaurants is part of American Express' Backing Small Initiative, focused on providing financial support and other resources to help small businesses address critical needs. The Backing Small Initiative continues to support under-resourced and economically vulnerable small business owners and entrepreneurs and includes grant programs, mentoring support, and technical assistance through established community partnerships. Following the success in the U.S., the Backing Historic Small Restaurant program has grown internationally with the "Backing International Small Restaurants" grant program.

American Express has a long history of supporting small businesses, including Small Business Saturday, which will celebrate its 15th anniversary this fall. In 2023, American Express announced that it was providing $12.75 million in grants and support to help under-resourced small businesses build resilience to and recover from natural disasters.

Over the past three years, 75 U.S. historic restaurants have collectively received nearly $3 million through the Backing Historic Small Restaurants program. Restaurant owners used grant funds to make needed improvements to their businesses, including making essential repairs and improvements to infrastructure, expanding outdoor dining, increasing marketing and advertising, upgrading technology and digital tools, and improving accessibility. These improvements preserve historic landmarks and provide communities with better access and opportunities for connection.

"Beyond the physical improvements, the grant has had a profound impact on our local community," said 2023 grant recipient Donnie Lindsey, owner of Lindsey's Hospitality and Barbeque in North Little Rock, AR. "We've not only preserved a historic landmark but also created a gathering place where community members can come together, fostering connections and a sense of belonging."

"Mitla Cafe has been a part of the community for over 86 years," said 2023 grant recipient Michael Montano, Co-owner of Mitla Cafe in San Bernardino, CA. "The positive impact isn't just from the pride of seeing the newly refreshed exterior, but also knowing that there are organizations willing to support small businesses and the people they serve."

To be eligible for a grant, U.S. independent small restaurants must operate in historic buildings or neighborhoods, contribute to their neighborhood's history and identity, and have a heritage story about cuisine and community in America. Formal applications and public nominations for eligible restaurants are being accepted through 11:59 PM ET on March 25, 2024.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately funded nonprofit organization, works to save America's historic places. SavingPlaces.org | @savingplaces

Contact:

Elliot Carter

[email protected]

SOURCE National Trust for Historic Preservation

18 march 2024 at 14:19

News published onand distributed by:
MCAN Financial Group Announces Overnight Marketed Offering





/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION INTO THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES/

TORONTO, March 18, 2024 /CNW/ - MCAN Mortgage Corporation d/b/a MCAN Financial Group ("MCAN", the "Company" or "we") (TSX: MKP) today announced the launch of an overnight marketed offering (the "Offering") of common shares (the "Common Shares") of the Company for total gross proceeds of approximately $20 million. The Offering is being conducted through a syndicate of underwriters co-led by Canaccord Genuity Corp. and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters").

The Offering is expected to be priced in the context of the market at the time of entering into a definitive underwriting agreement between the Company and the Underwriters. There can be no assurance as to whether or when the Offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the Offering. The Company will grant the Underwriters an over-allotment option exercisable, in whole or in part, to purchase up to an additional $3 million of Common Shares at the price sold pursuant to the Offering for up to 30 days following the closing of the Offering, for market stabilization purposes and to cover over-allotments, if any (the "Over-Allotment Option").

The Corporation expects to use the net proceeds from the Offering for its residential mortgage lending and residential construction lending business. The Offering is expected to close on or around March 28, 2024, or such other date as agreed to between the Company and the Underwriters, and is subject to market and other customary conditions, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The Offering will be made in each of the provinces and territories of Canada (except Quebec) pursuant to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus dated August 14, 2023 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus"). A prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement", and together with the Base Shelf Prospectus, the "Prospectus") will be filed in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. The Offering may also be made in the United States on a private placement basis pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and applicable state securities laws. The Prospectus contains important detailed information about the Company and the Offering. Before you invest, you should read the Prospectus and the other documents the Company has filed for more complete information about the Company and the Offering. The Base Shelf Prospectus is available and the Prospectus Supplement will be available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of Common Shares in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Further, this news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, in the United States and the Common Shares referred to in this news release may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act or pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

About MCAN

MCAN Mortgage Corporation d/b/a MCAN Financial Group is a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol MKP and is a reporting issuer in all provinces and territories in Canada. MCAN also qualifies as a Mortgage Investment Corporation ("MIC") under the Income Tax Act (Canada). MCAN is the largest MIC in Canada and the only federally regulated MIC.

MCAN's primary objective is to generate a reliable stream of income by investing in a diversified portfolio of Canadian mortgages, including residential mortgages, residential construction, non-residential construction and commercial loans, as well as other types of securities, loans, and real estate investments. MCAN employs leverage by issuing term deposits that are eligible for Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation deposit insurance. MCAN is Investing in Communities and Homes for Canadians.

A Caution About Forward?Looking Information and Statements

This news release contains "forward?looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward?looking information can be identified by words such as: "expect", "intend," "plan," "seek," "believe," "estimate," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "will" and similar forward?looking language. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes statements relating to the expected size of the Offering, the entry into the underwriting agreement, the grant of the Over-Allotment Option, the closing of the Offering, the successful marketing of the Offering and MCAN's expected use of the net proceeds of the Offering. The forward?looking information contained in this news release is based on a number of assumptions which we believe to be reasonable including, but not limited to, MCAN's ability to successfully market, price and close the Offering. Forward?looking information entails various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward?looking information. In particular, the successful marketing and pricing of the Offering is dependent on market conditions and MCAN may not be successful in completing the Offering. Further, see risks as discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Prospectus and risks as discussed in under "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent annual information form available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. In addition, general risks relating to capital markets, economic conditions, regulatory changes, as well as the operations of our business may also cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward?looking information. Forward?looking information is not a guarantee of future performance, and management's assumptions upon which such forward?looking information is based may prove to be incorrect. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward?looking information contained herein. The Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward?looking information contained in this news release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

SOURCE MCAN Mortgage Corporation

18 march 2024 at 16:08

News published onand distributed by:
PURE Bioscience Reports Fiscal Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results





PURE Bioscience, Inc. (OTCQB: PURE) ("PURE," the "Company" or "we"), creator of the patented non-toxic silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) antimicrobial, today reported financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended January 31, 2024.

Summary of Results ? Fiscal Second Quarter Operations

Net product sales were $325,000 and $396,000 for the fiscal second quarter ended January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease of $71,000 was attributable to decreased sales across our end user network.

Net loss for the fiscal second quarter ended January 31, 2024 was $1,002,000, compared to $1,060,000 for the fiscal second quarter ended January 31, 2023.

Net loss, excluding share-based compensation, for the fiscal second quarter ended January 31, 2024 was $938,000, compared to $993,000 for the fiscal second quarter ended January 31, 2023.

Net loss per share was ($0.01) for the fiscal second quarters ended January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Six Months: Summary of Results of Operations

Net product sales were $1,043,000 and $863,000 for the six months ended January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $180,000 was attributable to increased sales across our end user and distribution network.

Net loss for the six months ended January 31, 2024 was $1,737,000, compared to $2,053,000 for the six months ended January 31, 2023.

Net loss, excluding share-based compensation, for the six months ended January 31, 2024 was $1,593,000, compared to $1,842,000 for the six months ended January 31, 2023.

Net loss per share was ($0.02) for the six months ended January 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Robert Bartlett, Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our fiscal second quarter revenue was very disappointing at best. While historically, this quarter is our lowest revenue generator, FYQ2 experienced an unexpected interruption in the flow of PURE products to one of our major customers. The impact of this interruption cannot be overstated. We anticipate this shortfall in revenue will be absorbed in future sales."

Business Update

We are excited to announce that we are beginning to make headway into new food segments as we work on expanding our footprint in the food industry.

Brand Advertising and Marketing. Having a social media presence has been a focus of the newly-formed marketing committee at PURE. Our recently updated website is a helpful sales tool for lead generation, as well as a central location for customer support and questions. PURE will continue to evolve its brand as we work with a new branding firm to guide us in clearly communicating to the public that PURE's team and chemistry are trustworthy, offering premium products that represent a complete game changer in the world of food safety and sanitization. Our targeted end user is committed to protecting their customers, employees, the environment, as well as their own brand name.





Having a social media presence has been a focus of the newly-formed marketing committee at PURE. Our recently updated website is a helpful sales tool for lead generation, as well as a central location for customer support and questions. PURE will continue to evolve its brand as we work with a new branding firm to guide us in clearly communicating to the public that PURE's team and chemistry are trustworthy, offering premium products that represent a complete game changer in the world of food safety and sanitization. Our targeted end user is committed to protecting their customers, employees, the environment, as well as their own brand name. Trade Shows. Attending and supporting customer events and trade shows has been and will continue to be a significant part of our growth initiatives. This has proven to be an effective approach to meeting new customers and continue networking and educating the industry on our unique SDC solutions. At the end of FYQ2, PURE attended the global International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) show for the first time. Our team was able to better understand current industry trends and solutions, as well as network and meet with key customers. In addition, the team was able to facilitate strategic meetings with key industry leaders from North America and across the globe. PURE is again registered to exhibit at the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) annual meeting in Long Beach, California (July 14-17, 2024). The IAFP annual meeting is attended by more than 3,500 of the top industry, academic and governmental food safety professionals.





Attending and supporting customer events and trade shows has been and will continue to be a significant part of our growth initiatives. This has proven to be an effective approach to meeting new customers and continue networking and educating the industry on our unique SDC solutions. At the end of FYQ2, PURE attended the global International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) show for the first time. Our team was able to better understand current industry trends and solutions, as well as network and meet with key customers. In addition, the team was able to facilitate strategic meetings with key industry leaders from North America and across the globe. PURE is again registered to exhibit at the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) annual meeting in Long Beach, California (July 14-17, 2024). The IAFP annual meeting is attended by more than 3,500 of the top industry, academic and governmental food safety professionals. Distributor Focus and Support. Our business strategy will be shifting focus from a direct sales model to a distributor model. This model provides a much needed expansion of coverage in all regions of the United States. With local boots on the ground, our distributors allow PURE to expand our footprint into new market segments and customer bases as we are integrated into our distribution partners' chemical portfolios and solution offerings. Due to the unique nature of our SDC molecule and ongoing advancement in application technologies, our distributors will be able to present their customers innovative solutions previously unavailable to them. This transition facilitates: Broader coverage of service personnel and more regular on-site visits to customers; Strengthening and growing partnerships with current distributors; Bringing on new key distributors; Leveraging the PURE team to provide enhanced support from remote to on-site visits; Better market penetration of our brand and product awareness; Acceleration of our sales model; and Expedited access to new market segments.





Our business strategy will be shifting focus from a direct sales model to a distributor model. This model provides a much needed expansion of coverage in all regions of the United States. With local boots on the ground, our distributors allow PURE to expand our footprint into new market segments and customer bases as we are integrated into our distribution partners' chemical portfolios and solution offerings. Due to the unique nature of our SDC molecule and ongoing advancement in application technologies, our distributors will be able to present their customers innovative solutions previously unavailable to them. This transition facilitates: Continued Innovation. The development of new solutions through application equipment is a large part of our current R&D efforts. New business sectors, including the dairy industry and the animal health market, have shown promising interest as we begin to explore the use of our SDC technology. Incorporating technology into our equipment solutions is another avenue through which we are enhancing our ability to support our customers' greatest needs in food safety.

Tim Steffensmeier, Vice President of Sales, said, "The technical sales team we have assembled has nearly 100 years of combined food and chemical industry experience. The varying experience and unique skillsets enables our team to be productive in business development, sales and marketing, new equipment solutions, and new product development and microbiology solutions. Our team is dedicated to prioritizing the sustainability of the Company's growth, and are actively cultivating new relationships with key stakeholders while also nurturing and expanding current key industry and distributor accounts."

About PURE Bioscience, Inc.

PURE is focused on developing and commercializing our proprietary antimicrobial products primarily in the food safety arena. We provide solutions to combat the health and environmental challenges of pathogen and hygienic control. Our technology platform is based on patented, stabilized ionic silver, and our initial products contain silver dihydrogen citrate, better known as SDC. This is a broad-spectrum, non-toxic antimicrobial agent, and formulates well with other compounds. As a platform technology, SDC is distinguished from existing products in the marketplace because of its superior efficacy, reduced toxicity and mitigation of bacterial resistance. PURE's mailing address of 771 Jamacha Rd. #512, El Cajon, California 92019 (San Diego County area) serves as its official address for all business requirements. Additional information on PURE is available at www.purebio.com.

Forward-looking Statements: Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this press release, including quotes from management, concerning the Company's expectations, plans, business outlook, future performance, future potential revenues, expected results of the Company's marketing efforts, the execution of contracts under negotiation and any other statements concerning assumptions made or expectations as to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters, are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the Company's failure to implement or otherwise achieve the benefits of its proposed business initiatives and plans; acceptance of the Company's current and future products and services in the marketplace, including the Company's ability to convert successful evaluations and tests for PURE Control and PURE Hard Surface into customer orders and customers continuing to place product orders as expected and to expand their use of the Company's products; the Company's ability to maintain relationships with its partners and other counterparties; the Company's ability to generate sufficient revenues and reduce its operating expenses in order to reach profitability; the Company's ability to raise the funding required to support its continued operations and the implementation of its business plan; the ability of the Company to develop effective new products and receive required regulatory approvals for such products, including the required data and regulatory approvals required to use its SDC-based technology as a direct food contact processing aid in raw meat processing and to expand its use in OLR poultry processing; competitive factors, including customer acceptance of the Company's SDC-based products that are typically more expensive than existing treatment chemicals; dependence upon third-party vendors, including to manufacture its products; and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2023, Form 10-Q for the fiscal first quarter ended October 31, 2023, and Form 10-Q for the fiscal second quarter ended January 31, 2024. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.

PURE Bioscience, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets January 31, 2024 July 31, 2023 (Unaudited) Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 557,000 $ 1,095,000 Accounts receivable 171,000 285,000 Inventories, net 74,000 88,000 Restricted cash 75,000 75,000 Prepaid expenses 62,000 61,000 Total current assets 939,000 1,604,000 Property, plant and equipment, net 147,000 221,000 Total assets $ 1,086,000 $ 1,825,000 Liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficiency) Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 409,000 $ 422,000 Accrued liabilities 136,000 110,000 Total current liabilities 545,000 532,000 Long-term liabilities Note payable to related parties 1,862,000 1,021,000 Total long-term liabilities 1,862,000 1,021,000 Total liabilities 2,407,000 1,553,000 Commitments and contingencies - - Stockholders' equity (deficiency) Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding ? ? Common stock, $0.01 par value: 150,000,000 shares authorized, 111,856,473 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2024, and July 31, 2023 1,119,000 1,119,000 Additional paid-in capital 132,542,000 132,398,000 Accumulated deficit (134,982,000 ) (133,245,000 ) Total stockholders' equity (deficiency) (1,321,000 ) 272,000 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficiency) $ 1,086,000 $ 1,825,000

PURE Bioscience, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) 2024 2023 2024 2023 Six Months Ended Three months Ended January 31, January 31, 2024 2023 2024 2023 Net product sales $ 1,043,000 $ 863,000 $ 325,000 $ 396,000 Royalty revenue 5,000 5,000 1,000 1,000 Total revenue 1,048,000 868,000 326,000 397,000 Cost of goods sold 429,000 414,000 149,000 200,000 Gross profit 619,000 454,000 177,000 197,000 Operating costs and expenses Selling, general and administrative 2,138,000 2,345,000 1,065,000 1,180,000 Research and development 156,000 153,000 76,000 75,000 Total operating costs and expenses 2,294,000 2,498,000 1,141,000 1,255,000 Loss from operations (1,675,000 ) (2,044,000 ) (964,000 ) (1,058,000 ) Other income (expense) Other income (expense), net ? (5,000 ) ? ? Interest expense, net (62,000 ) (4,000 ) (38,000 ) (2,000 ) Total other income (expense) (62,000 ) (9,000 ) (38,000 ) (2,000 ) Net loss $ (1,737,000 ) $ (2,053,000 ) $ (1,002,000 ) $ (1,060,000 ) Basic and diluted net loss per share $ (0.02 ) $ (0.02 ) $ (0.01 ) $ (0.01 ) Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share 111,856,473 111,356,473 111,856,473 111,356,473

PURE Bioscience, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Deficiency) (Unaudited) Six Months Ended January 31, 2024 Six Months Ended January 31, 2023 Common Stock Additional

Paid-In Accumulated Total

Stockholders' Common Stock Additional

Paid-In Accumulated Total

Stockholders' Shares Amount Capital Deficit Equity Shares Amount Capital Deficit Equity Balances at beginning of period 111,856,473 $ 1,119,000 $ 132,398,000 $ (133,245,000 ) $ 272,000 111,356,473 $ 1,114,000 $ 132,079,000 $ (129,284,000 ) $ 3,909,000 Share-based compensation expense - stock options ? ? 144,000 ? 144,000 ? ? 169,000 ? 169,000 Share-based compensation expense - restricted stock units ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 42,000 ? 42,000 Net loss ? ? ? (1,737,000 ) (1,737,000 ) ? ? ? (2,053,000 ) (2,053,000 ) Balances at end of period (Unaudited) 111,856,473 $ 1,119,000 $ 132,542,000 $ (134,982,000 ) $ (1,321,000 ) 111,356,473 $ 1,114,000 $ 132,290,000 $ (131,337,000 ) $ 2,067,000

Three Months Ended January 31, 2024 Three Months Ended January 31, 2023 Common Stock Additional

Paid-In Accumulated Total

Stockholders' Common Stock Additional

Paid-In Accumulated Total

Stockholders' Shares Amount Capital Deficit Equity Shares Amount Capital Deficit Equity Balances at beginning of period (Unaudited) 111,856,473 $ 1,119,000 $ 132,478,000 $ (133,980,000 ) $ (383,000 ) 111,356,473 $ 1,114,000 $ 132,163,000 $ (130,277,000 ) $ 3,000,000 Balance 111,856,473 $ 1,119,000 $ 132,478,000 $ (133,980,000 ) $ (383,000 ) 111,356,473 $ 1,114,000 $ 132,163,000 $ (130,277,000 ) $ 3,000,000 Share-based compensation expense - stock options ? ? 64,000 ? 64,000 ? ? 106,000 ? 106,000 Share-based compensation expense - restricted stock units ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 21,000 ? 21,000 Net loss ? ? ? (1,002,000 ) (1,002,000 ) ? ? ? (1,060,000 ) (1,060,000 ) Balances at end of period (Unaudited) 111,856,473 $ 1,119,000 $ 132,542,000 $ (134,982,000 ) $ (1,321,000 ) 111,356,473 $ 1,114,000 $ 132,290,000 $ (131,337,000 ) $ 2,067,000

PURE Bioscience, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) 2024 2023 Six Months Ended January 31, 2024 2023 Operating activities Net loss $ (1,737,000 ) $ (2,053,000 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Share-based compensation 144,000 211,000 Depreciation and amortization 74,000 67,000 Gain on extinguishment of indebtedness ? ? Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 114,000 45,000 Inventories 14,000 (21,000 ) Prepaid expenses (1,000 ) (6,000 ) Interest on note payable 56,000 ? Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 13,000 (112,000 ) Net cash used in operating activities (1,323,000 ) (1,869,000 ) Investing activities Purchases of property, plant and equipment ? (37,000 ) Net cash used in investing activities ? (37,000 ) Financing activities Net proceeds from note payable to related parties 785,000 ? Net cash provided by financing activities 785,000 ? Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (538,000 ) (1,906,000 ) Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 1,170,000 3,466,000 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 632,000 $ 1,560,000 Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash to the condensed consolidated balance sheets Cash and cash equivalents $ 557,000 $ 1,485,000 Restricted cash $ 75,000 $ 75,000 Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 632,000 $ 1,560,000 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Cash paid for taxes $ ? 5,000

18 march 2024 at 16:10

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Siemens and NVIDIA expand collaboration on generative AI for immersive real-time visualization





New product connects Siemens Xcelerator with NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud APIs to build collaborative, real-time, physically based visualization driven by generative AI

At NVIDIA GTC, Siemens and NVIDIA will join with HD Hyundai to highlight how integrated visualization helps offer greater understanding and insights

MUNICH, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens announced today that it will deepen its collaboration with NVIDIA to help build the industrial metaverse. Siemens is bringing immersive visualization powered by new NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud APIs to the Siemens Xcelerator platform, driving increased use of AI-driven digital twin technology. At the NVIDIA GTC, Siemens and NVIDIA demonstrated how generative AI can revolutionize the visualization of complex data, making photorealism possible, and showcased how sustainable shipbuilder HD Hyundai can use it to develop new products.

"We will revolutionize how products and experiences are designed, manufactured and serviced. On the path to the industrial metaverse, this next generation of industrial software enables customers to experience products as they would in the real world: in context, in stunning realism and ? in the future ? interact with them through natural language input," said Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG. "In collaboration with NVIDIA, we will bring accelerated computing, generative AI, and Omniverse integration across the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio."

"Omniverse and generative AI are driving massive transformation for industrial enterprises," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. "Siemens is bringing NVIDIA platforms to their customers and opening new opportunities for industry leaders to build the next wave of AI-enabled digital twins at every scale."

In the next phase of this collaboration, Siemens will release a new product later this year for Teamcenter X, Siemens' industry-leading cloud-based Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software, part of the Siemens Xcelerator platform. Powered by NVIDIA Omniverse technologies, it will provide engineering teams with the ability to create an ultra-intuitive, photorealistic, real-time, and physics-based digital twin that eliminates workflow waste and errors.

Setting up and adjusting details in photorealistic renderings ? such as material definitions and lighting environments, along with other supporting scenery assets ? will be accelerated dramatically using generative AI. Tasks that previously took days can be completed in hours, with engineering data contextualized as it would appear in the real world. In addition to engineering, other stakeholders ? from sales and marketing teams to decision-makers and customers ? will benefit from the deeper insight and understanding of real-world product appearance, enabling more informed and quicker decision-making.

In collaboration with NVIDIA, Siemens demonstrated the creation of real-time, photorealistic visualization for HD Hyundai, a market leader in sustainable ship manufacturing. HD Hyundai has been developing ammonia- and hydrogen-powered ships, a complex process requiring oversight of ships that can contain over seven million discrete parts. HD Hyundai can use the new product to unify and visualize these massive engineering datasets interactively.

"We have long trusted Siemens Teamcenter for product lifecycle management. Based on this trust and through this new collaboration, we will be able to visualize and interact with the digital twin of ships while utilizing generative AI to create objects and HDR backgrounds for better understanding of projects in context. This will be beneficial in many ways, as it will reduce errors, improve customer experience, and also save time and cost," said Taejin Lee, Chief Information Officer & Chief Digital Officer, HD Hyundai.

At NVIDIA GTC, Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG, showed how the new product will enable you to build collaborative, real-time, physically based visualization driven by generative AI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGgccYDyGFk

This press release as well as press pictures are available at https://sie.ag/2qTzxK

Follow us at www.twitter.com/siemens_press

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, transport, and healthcare. From more resource-efficient factories, resilient supply chains, and smarter buildings and grids, to cleaner and more comfortable transportation as well as advanced healthcare, the company creates technology with purpose adding real value for customers. By combining the real and the digital worlds, Siemens empowers its customers to transform their industries and markets, helping them to transform the everyday for billions of people. In fiscal 2023, which ended on September 30, 2023, the Siemens Group generated revenue of ?77.8 billion and net income of ?8.5 billion. As of September 30, 2023, the company employed around 320,000 people worldwide. Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com .

Note: A list of relevant Siemens trademarks can be found here . Other trademarks belong to their respective owners.

SOURCE Siemens

18 march 2024 at 18:00

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Nine people have been arrested over a firework attack on a police station near Paris, the French capital's top police official said Monday, March 18. Videos posted on social media showed groups of people firing a barrage of fireworks at the building's facade.

"Around 50 people attacked the police station in La Courneuve, mostly with firework mortar shots" late Sunday, Paris police chief Laurent Nunez told broadcaster TF1. La Courneuve lies in Paris's northern suburbs, in the Seine-Saint-Denis department that hosts Olympic venues including the flagship Stade de France stadium.

The Sunday evening attack in the northern suburb of La Courneuve came four days after a teenager riding a moped was killed in a car chase with police. "We can tie this attack to the death" of the 18-year-old killed on Wednesday, named only as Wanys R., Nunez said. "The young people clearly came from the neighborhood" where Wanys lived, he added.

Police responded with sting-ball grenades and flash-ball projectiles, used by riot police as an alternative to firearms. The standoff lasted for about 30 minutes, Nunez said. The police station suffered no damage.

Nunez said the arrested suspects included seven adults aged 18-21 and two minors. Two police officers were "slightly hurt," he added. Nunez said police reinforcements would be deployed in the area around midday on Monday.

Wanys R. was being chased by police Wednesday after refusing to stop for a check. A video widely shared online showed how his scooter was struck by a police car, killing him and injuring his passenger. The lawyer representing Wanys's family on Friday accused the police of hitting him on purpose, while the officers' own representative insisted it was an accident.

Read more Subscribers only The young French people who dream of becoming police officers
Gambian protesters against a bill aimed at decriminalizing female genital mutilation protest as parliament debates the bill in Banjul, Gambia March 18, 2024. MALICK NJJIE / REUTERS

Gambian lawmakers voted on Monday, March 18, to advance to the next parliamentary stage a highly controversial bill that seeks to lift a ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), which has been in place since 2015. The issue has divided the tiny West African nation for months, with hundreds gathering to protest outside parliament.

"The bill seeks to uphold religious loyalty and safeguard cultural norms and values," Almameh Gibba, the lawmaker who introduced the bill, said during the debate. "The use of a ban on female circumcision is direct violation of the citizens' rights to practice their culture and religion," he added. But activists and rights organizations say the suggested legislation reverses years of progress and risks damaging the country's human rights record.

Lawmakers voted 42 in favour and four against to send the bill to a parliamentary committee for at least three months for further scrutiny before it returns for a third reading. "To hear mainly men speak on behalf of women and speak about what should happen to the bodies of women is just the most disheartening thing," said anti-FGM activist Jaha Dukureh, who herself underwent the practice and watched her sister bleed to death following the procedure.

Read more Subscribers only 'The decline in FGM is threatened by its increased medicalization'

'Irreversible harm'

Seventy-six percent of Gambian women aged between 15 and 49 have undergone FGM, according to a 2021 report by the UN children's agency UNICEF. UNICEF defines the practice as "the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons".

It can lead to serious health problems, including infections, bleeding, infertility and complications in childbirth, and impairs sexual pleasure. "Girls' bodies are their own. FGM robs them of autonomy over their bodies and causes irreversible harm," the UN's Gambia office posted on X, formerly Twitter, ahead of the debate.

The UN rights office had called for the bill to be withdrawn, while Amnesty International said it would set a "dangerous precedent" for women's rights.

Former Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh banned FGM in the Muslim-majority country in 2015, branding it outdated and not a requirement of Islam. Parliament later adopted the first Gambian law specifically banning the practice, which is now punishable by up to three years in prison.

But since 2015, only two cases have been prosecuted, with the first conviction made in August 2023, according to Amnesty International. The issue flared up last year, when three women received fines or prison sentences for performing FGM.

The Islamic Council, the country's main Muslim organization, said the practice was "not just a merely inherited custom" but "one of the virtues of Islam". It called on the government to reconsider the ban.
In a groundbreaking AI development, the UP Police is reportedly using an AI tool to catch criminals. The new AI tool, dubbed Crime GPT, is created by Staqu Technologies. It will help the UP police department by using the digital database of criminals and find specific details about the queries, reported India Today.

As per the publication, this new AI tool will be equipped with features like analysing data, recognising voices and identifying faces of criminals. The CEO and Co-founder of Staqu Technologies, Atual Rai, has expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration between the UP Police and Staq.

He pointed out that the longstanding vision of Staqu revolves around a robust security infrastructure propelled by advanced technology. Crime GPT perfectly aligns with this vision. By interfacing with a digitised criminal database, Crime GPT facilitates tailored searches for law enforcement seeking precise details on targeted individuals, utilising both written and audio inputs," added Rai.

According to him, the Crime GPT tool is an extension of their work Trinetra, which was previously adopted by the police department of Uttar Pradesh. Trinetra also recognises the faces of the criminals, as per the report.

The Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh, Prashant Kumar, appreciated Trinetra for helping the law enforcement agency improve security and maintain law and order.

In a separate news development, a special task force of UP Police has arrested an associate of a Delhi Police constable, who was allegedly involved in connection with an exam paper leak case, reported NDTV.

Earlier this year, nearly 1,000 aspirants were contacted by the Delhi policeman and assembled at a resort in Haryana. These students were given the answer key and the question paper for the UP Police Constable exam, which was held on February 17 and 18.

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Imagine a world in which every product that leaves a factory is flawless, every time.

What sounds like a plant managers dream is the end goal of zero-defect manufacturing, an idea that is gaining traction among industry executives. Surging recalls and high-profile problems like the door plug that blew off a Boeing jet midflight in January have cast a harsh light on the quality of American manufacturing. But some companies say a combination of technology, training and focus can eliminate errors.

Ford Chief Executive Jim Farley has said the automaker must reach a zero defect destination," telling investors last year the company has used assembly-line artificial intelligence and extensive test drives to catch problems in Super Duty trucks. Stellantis, which is similarly targeting zero defects, said more than 100 new quality standards have led to a double-digit percentage drop in warranty claims.

Companies in industries as varied as pharmaceuticals and snack foods have announced zero-defect goals, as has Brewer Science, a Missouri-based maker of chemicals and materials used in semiconductors that calls itself a pioneer of perfection" in a promotional video.

The company said it has reduced impurities such as aluminum ions to less than one part per billion through exhaustive measurement and testing. Chief Operating Officer Srikanth Kommu said its definition of defects is growing more stringent.

Whats good enough today is not good enough for tomorrow," Kommu said.

More manufacturers say they are aiming for perfection as quality-control problems have mounted. The newsletter Warranty Week found that in 2022, vehicle makers spent record amounts on warranty claims. Recalls announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, a federal agency, hit a six-year high in 2023.

Sedgwick, a firm that assists companies with recalls, found recalls jumped last year among pharmaceutical and food manufacturers. Sedgwick Senior Vice President Chris Harvey said undertrained workers, the increasing complexity of products and more sprawling supply chains are contributing to quality problems.

Spirit AeroSystems, which makes fuselages for Boeing, has been battered by quality issues. CEO Pat Shanahan has said the companys goal is to achieve perfection," and it has begun an initiative to get there within the next 12 months.

Sean Black, Spirits chief technology officer, said the program aims to simplify the manufacturing process. The company will use drill templates that are color-coded, with the appropriate tool, preset at the correct speed, matching that color.

Spirit will also automate manual tasks, such as attaching thousands of fasteners in the nose and tail sections. Scanners will search for deviations in the final product while capturing every inch of the fuselage.

Instead of giving an inspection report, we can actually provide that digital image directly to our customer," Black said.

The zero-defects philosophy took shape in the early 1960s when defense contractor Martin sought to eliminate errors from Pershing missiles. The company had relied on inspections to find problems as small as a loose valve but refocused on prevention, exhorting workers with posters and rallies to do their jobs right the first timefollowed by extensive audits.

Martins quality director, James Halpin, wrote in a book about the initiative that errors plunged as hundreds of employees racked up long streaks of perfection. One solderer made nearly 500,000 connections without a mistake, he wrote, while another worker put together 50,000 defect-free assemblies.

Many companies adopted the practices, but decades later quality control remains problematic. Robert Leachman, a professor of industrial engineering and operations research at the University of California, Berkeley, said while quality programs helped U.S. companies improve their products considerably in the 1980s and 1990s, the effort stalled when businesses began outsourcing much of their work to low-cost regions.

Roughly speaking, I suppose we are about where we were at the end of the 1990s with respect to quality," he said.

Joseph Delaney, vice president of quality at Hatch Stamping, said the Michigan-based auto-industry manufacturer has made huge strides. Hatch uses robotic vision systems and sophisticated sensors to find and contain defective parts.

The company is exploring AI applications that could further improve error detection, though Delaney said getting to absolute zero will be challenging given the complexity of the parts and the number of things that could go wrong.

The technology and processes adopted in pursuit of zero defects can be expensive, though some companies, such as industrial-parts maker Parker Hannifin, have said their initiatives save money. Mary Litteral, an auto-industry veteran and consultant who trains companies in zero-defect principles, said the cost of poor quality can equate to at least 10% of sales once all factors, including the time spent dealing with problems, are taken into account.

The zero-defect regimen of Schneider Electric, which makes products for the energy industry, includes torque wrenches that indicate when the correct tension is reached and AI tools that find anomalies. Aamir Paul, the companys president of North America operations, said the company encourages employees to speak upanonymously, if they prefer.

Human error is a perennial cause of defects, but Litteral said it can be taken out of manufacturing systems. A machine can be built so it is impossible to load a tool backward, she said, or an adhesive dispenser designed so it shuts off when it runs dry.

Daniella Picciotti, a quality auditor and the incoming chair of the American Society for Quality, a professional group, said companies usually focus on critical parts, with others inspected via sampling. That makes catching everything a huge challenge, she said, and even well-run manufacturing systems can be undone by new suppliers, new materials or new employees.

The risk of failure is inherent," she said. Its always going to be there."

Write to John Keilman at john.keilman@wsj.com

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If Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) is to be believed, it lost out on becoming the countrys biggest political donor by just a few crore rupees. But going by the Election Commissions data, the company fell considerably short.

The privately held infrastructure and engineering company that counts Larsen and Toubro Ltd as its closest competitor said in its annual report for FY23 that it bought 280 crore worth of electoral bonds between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023.

The Election Commissions data, however, reveals that MEIL bought electoral bonds worth 193 crore in FY23. Its subsidiary EveyTrans, a maker of electric buses, bought another 6 crore worth of electoral bonds in FY23, taking the MEIL groups total spending on political donations during the year to 199 crore.

None of MEILs 77 other subsidiaries, associate firms, and joint ventures acted as a political donor in the financial year ended March 2023, according to Mints review of the Election Commission (EC) data.

This discrepancy in MEILs and ECs data has left many scratching their heads, wondering if there could be more such gaps in accountability for these instruments that were meant to channel funds anonymously to political parties. The Supreme Court last month ruled that election bonds were unconstitutional and ordered the State Bank of India to stop issuing them.

A spokesperson for MEIL did not reply to emailed queries on the mismatch between the companys spending on electoral bonds as stated in its FY23 financials and the ECs data.

Any electoral bond lapses after 15 days. And no other individual or business group other than a political party could encash it. So these two different sets of numbers leave us with one answer: There was a problem with either SBI collating the data or something wrong with Megha," said a Delhi-based lawyer on condition of anonymity.

Heres another explanation: The problem (in two different sets of numbers of Electoral Bonds) could be because Megha could have purchased those bonds through companies which may not be subsidiaries or group companies," said H.P. Ranina, a senior corporate lawyer and tax expert.

But say, a company that is owned or run by a promoters relative, or it could be that Megha bought the bonds on behalf of companies that are not its subsidiaries... So its difficult to establish the exact details," Ranina added, referring to companies in which MEIL might own a stake but not count those as subsidiaries. (A parent or holding company needs to own at least a 50% stake in a subsidiary.)

Overall, MEIL and its affiliates have donated 1,353 crore to political parties since the election bonds were introduced in April 2019 (going by MEILs accounts for FY23 and the ECs data for the other years), a shade less than Santiago Martins Future Gaming and Hotel Services, which has bought 1,368 crore worth of electoral bonds.

MEILs standalone financials reflect 293.26 crore in Donations Subscription expenses in FY23, as against 274.21 crore in the year ended March 2022. Of that, 280 crore went towards purchasing electoral bonds in FY23, against 248 crore in the year prior.

The ECs data corroborates that MEIL purchased 248 crore worth of electoral bonds purchased in FY22. MEIL has not disclosed its spending on electoral bonds for any of the other years.

MEIL started as a small fabrication unit in 1989 and has grown to become Indias second-largest engineering, procurement and construction company, behind L&T.

The company caught the attention of the country when the Election Commission revealed the data of political donations made through electoral bonds. The data issued by the EC, as shared with it by the State Bank of India, was in two separate sheets: One outlining donors and the dates; and the second revealing the political parties that received funds from the bonds.

Megha Engineering's revenue in FY23 slipped to 25,837.52 crore from 26,828.8 crore in the year prior, while its profit tumbled 22% to 2,332.82 crore.

Analysts expect MEIL to fare better in the ongoing financial year.

Crisil analysts said the companys revenue in the first six months of FY24 totaled 14,341 crore, a 10% growth over the corresponding April-October period of 2022.

Revenue is estimated to increase to (about) 35,000 crore this fiscal with revenue visibility remaining healthy over the medium term due to strong order book position of 1.87 lakh crore as on September 31, 2023, along with orderbook to revenue ratio of 5.4 times as on March 31, 2022," rating agency Crisil said in a research note dated 10 January.

Considering the ramp up in execution in the last quarter of the fiscal, revenue generation from the execution of international order book, stable revenue contribution from Western U.P. Power Transmission Company (WUPPTCL), ramp up in revenue from SEPC Power Private Limited post commencement in November 2021, stable revenue contribution from the acquired transmission asset, Lanco Anpara Power Limited, and manufacturing of the 9,218 buses by Olectra over the next 3 years, the consolidated revenue is expected to see healthy growth in the medium term," Crisil said.
The bipartisan TikTok legislation that sailed through the House this past week gives the company and its Chinese-controlled parent, ByteDance, a stark choice: Sell the platforms U.S. operations or face a ban.

TikTok, though, may go for option three: Sue the government.

It isnt guaranteed that the Senate will pass the Biden-backed legislation. But if the bill is approved, it would shut down TikToks U.S. operations unless sold to a non-Chinese owner. ByteDance would have six months to comply.

Since China has already signaled its opposition to a forced sale, the fate of the video app juggernaut could ultimately be decided by the federal courts.

Any litigation could raise several legal issues, but at its core, a court dispute would require judges to weigh the national security objectives of the ban against the First Amendment rights of TikTok and its users.

The U.S. has long restricted foreign ownership of radio and television broadcasting, but Congress has never taken such drastic actions against an internet platform used by millions of Americans to communicate.

Though the legislation doesnt authorize enforcement actions against U.S. residents who attempt to keep using the app, judges in previous TikTok litigation have recognized that the apps fans have constitutional free-speech rights in posting and consuming content that would be harmed by its shutdown.

That means the governments legal defense of any ban will have to do more than show the legislation advances U.S. interests in preventing undue Chinese influence or access to Americans data. For the bans free-speech infringements to pass muster, the government will likely need to demonstrate that less drastic measures wouldnt work.

It will really depend on how the government explains the reasons for the law," said David Greene, a lawyer with digital civil liberties nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation, which opposes the ban.

ByteDance, which declined to comment, has had some court successes in the past, but First Amendment concerns havent always been the reason judges sided with the company. That leaves the free-speech questions somewhat untested.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. twice ruled against Commerce Department efforts to ban TikTok during the Trump administration, deciding that it exceeded its authority under a law from the 1970s called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. In a separate Pennsylvania case, another U.S. district judge, citing similar legal grounds, sided with a group of TikTok stars that sued the Trump administration with the companys support.

Both judges said that while then-President Donald Trump had broad emergency economic powers, that authority was constrained when the government was seeking to take actions that would restrict personal communications and informational materials.

Government lawyers in that litigation described Chinas control of TikTok as an unacceptable threat that could give the Chinese government access to Americans personal information, enable it to spy on federal employees and allow it to participate in corporate espionage.

They argued that the ban was within Trumps executive authority and didnt impinge on speech rights because TikTok users shut out from the app could post and consume the same content on other platforms such as Instagram.

Similar litigation unfolded when the Trump administration sought to ban WeChat, Chinas dominant multipurpose app used by Chinese-speaking U.S. residents. A judge in California blocked that ban, saying it wasnt clear why less restrictive alternatives, such as barring WeChat from government devices, wouldnt address U.S. security fears.

There were a lot of lessons learned" from the WeChat case, said Joel Thayer, a D.C.-based lawyer who runs the Digital Progress Institute, a tech policy think tank that supports the TikTok ban that passed the House. The onus is on the government to demonstrate that this is the only option."

More recently, Montana lost a court ruling that blocked its attempt to ban TikTok, with a judge ruling the states effort was likely illegal for several reasons, including because it intruded on free-speech protections. The app provided a unique form of communication for some users, and Montana hadnt justified its move to cut off the platform entirely, the judge said.

Multiple Supreme Court precedents could color future ligation. In 1965, the high court ruled citizens have a right to receive information, even if it is foreign propaganda. The decision invalidated a federal law that allowed the U.S. postmaster general to deliver foreign mailings of Communist political propaganda only upon the addressees request. In 1986, the court ruled the government could shut down a businessnamely an adult bookstoresuspected of engaging in illegal activity, rejecting arguments that the closure unlawfully limited the booksellers expressive activity.

As the congressional debate moves to the Senate, additional legal issues could be in play. Some lawmakers have expressed concern that a bill specifically aiming at TikTok could be constitutionally vulnerable because courts could view it as a legislative attempt to punish the company without due process.

Other foreign companies have struggled to make that argument in recent cases. Chinese tech giant Huawei and Russia-based cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab each lost on legal claims that U.S. legislation limiting their businesses amounted to an unconstitutional punishment.

Write to Jacob Gershman at jacob.gershman@wsj.com
Lok Sabha elections 2024: Gearing up for the upcoming general elections, INDIA alliance parties have finalised the seat-sharing deal in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. As per the arrangement, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will fight elections in 22 seats (including one by KDMK in the Rising Sun symbol), and the Congress will fight elections in 10 seats (including one in Puducherry). However, the grand old party lost the Tiruchirappalli seat to the MDMK for the Lok Sabha polls. Other parties like the VC, CPI, and CPIM will contest two seats each. The IUML and MDMK will fight in one seat each.

Seats on which Congress will fight elections in TN

In Tamil Nadu, the Congress will fight Lok Sabha polls in Thiruvallur, Krishnagiri, Karur, Cuddalore, Myladuthurai, Sivagangai, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari.

Earlier, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal had emphasised that the Congress and the DMK will not get separated.

The Congress will contest elections for nine seats in Tamil Nadu and one seat in Puducherry. On the remaining seats, we will support the candidates of the DMK and alliance parties. We will win all seats in Tamil Nadu," Venugopal said earlier.

On Sunday, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief, MK Stalin, joined Rahul Gandhi on the closing day of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai. During the event, Stalin applauded the Wayanad MP and congratulated him for completing the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. He applauded him for traversing the length and breadth of India to unite the nation.

"My dear brother Rahul Gandhi has completed the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, traversing the length and breadth of India to unite us all. With a heart filled with compassion and a vision for justice, he stands as a guiding light, countering divisive forces with the strength of unity and inclusivity," the Tamil Nadu CM posted on X.

DMK-Congress alliance performance in Lok Sabha polls 2019

The DMK-led alliance attained a landslide victory by winning 38 out of 39 seats. The Congress managed to win 8 seats out of nine seats contested. During the previous Lok Sabha polls, the DMK had a vote share of 33.2 per cent while the Congress' vote share was 12.9 per cent

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public rally in Karnatakas Shivamogga district and a roadshow in Tamil Nadus Coimbatore today, March 18, as part of the NDAs Lok Sabha poll campaign in the Southern region.

Two days ago, PM Modi held his first election meeting in Karnatakas Kalaburagi, the home turf of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Furthermore, the Madras High Court approved PM Modis roadshow in Coimbatore after the state government had denied permission, citing security risks.

Lok Sabha Poll Campaign: A look at PM Modis schedule on March 18

PM Modi in Karnataka: The Prime Minister will address a public meeting in Shivamogga, the home district of BJP stalwart B S Yediyurappa, to support BJP candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha 2024 elections that are scheduled to take place in seven phases starting from April 19. The saffron party is anticipating a turnout of 2.5 lakh people at the Allama Prabhu ground (Freedom Park). Yediyurappas elder son and BJP candidate, BY Raghavendra, will contest from the Shimoga constituency against former Deputy CM K S Eshwarappa, who says he will contest as an independent candidate. The BJP is aiming to repeat its 2019 performance this year. In 2019, it had won 25 out of 28 seats. However, the party leaders exuded confidence in winning all 28 seats this time.

PM Modi in Tamil Nadu: The Prime Minister will hold a 4 km roadshow in Coimbatore today, March 18. On Friday, March 15, the police, citing security reasons, had refused permission for the roadshow. However, the BJP district president, J Ramesh Kumar, challenged the order of the Assistant Commissioner, RS Puram Range. The Madras High Court then granted permission for the saffron partys event with reasonable conditions" and directed the officers to provide necessary police protection. The HC said the rejection of permission, citing the proposed route as communally sensitive, was unsustainable". The BJP state unit welcomed the HC order and said the March 18 roadshow will be a historic one.

PM Modi in Telangana: The Prime Minister will address a rally in Jagtial, part of the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency in the state today. The meeting is also expected to have an impact on the neighboring Karimnagar LS constituency as well. Both Nizamabad and Karimnagar are held by the BJP in the outgoing Lok Sabha.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Chinas government is rolling out a charm offensive to lure back foreigners, part of an effort to shed years of pandemic-induced isolation that is sapping the worlds second-largest economy.

Its a tougher sell than it used to be.

In recent months, China has made it simpler and cheaper for business travelers and tourists to get visas, and scrapped visa requirements for some entirely. It has extended tax incentives to make life for foreign residents more appealing. Chinese Premier Li Qiang pledged further moves to rebuild the Invest-in-China" brand at the countrys annual legislative meetings earlier this month.

The campaign marks an effort to restore the global ties that helped power Chinas decades of record-breaking growth, which Beijing severed during the pandemic as Chinese leader Xi Jinping elevated security above all else.

Now China is trying to regain its allure for foreigners in a different era, with a slowing economy and tightening social controls. A rising chorus in Washington portrays engagement with China as suspect. And there is lingering distrust in the countrys government stemming from the zero-Covid policies and a nationwide anti-espionage campaign.

One U.S. business executive said he was unsettled in mid-2023 when a group of nine police officers showed up at his door in Beijing one evening, demanding to examine his passport and confirm his employer, as one of the officers recorded the interaction with a smartphone. The officers didnt give a reason for the visit, he said.

Itll take a long time to restore the broken trust over the last couple of years," the executive said.

China handed out 711,000 residence permits to foreigners last year, down 15% from pre-pandemic 2019, according to the National Immigration Administration. Short-term visitor numbers, which include business travelers, dropped even more, falling two-thirds over the same period.

The severity of the challenge is apparent in Shanghai, a glimmering financial center that once teemed with foreigners of all stripes. The number of new foreign worker permits fell to 50,000 in 2022 from roughly 70,000 in 2020, according to official data.

The city is still struggling to recover its cosmopolitan flair nearly two years after a Covid lockdown persuaded many expatriates to flee.

When we go out to restaurants and malls on the weekends, Im usually the only white guy," said Graeme Allen, an Irish national who runs an Irish-themed bistro in the city. The number of expats had been dwindling even before the pandemic as companies shifted hiring to local talent, but the Covid lockdowns were the last straw for many, he said.

To be sure, Allen and others say there seems to have been an uptick in foreign visitors recently, with many arriving to attend international exhibitions that have reopened in China. A major bottleneck is also expected to ease soon with the number of weekly round-trip flights by Chinese carriers between the U.S. and China, which plummeted during the pandemic, set to increase to 50 at the end of March from 35 currently.

Still, those flights are a fraction of the number prior to 2020. And even a significant increase in round-trip routes wont address the fundamental changes discouraging foreign interest in China, say current and former expatriates, diplomats and business consultants.

The trend marks a stark reversal for China, once seen around the world as a land of opportunity. A decade ago, cities such as Beijing and Shanghai ranked among the worlds most popular destinations for expatriates. During the countrys boom years, students flocked to Chinese universities to learn Mandarin, many staying behind to pursue lucrative careers as bridge builders for eager multinationals. Now, many multinationals have moved to diversify their operations away from China.

If youre a foreigner with a family and looking to grow your career, you no longer need to be in China, now that destination is Southeast Asia, India or the Middle East," said Cameron Johnson, a supply-chain consultant in Shanghai.

As people have departed, so has money. Foreign investment flows into China dropped 8% to about $157 billion last year, the first decline in 10 years, Chinas commerce ministry said in January. China is increasingly seen as a source of risk.

Back in the day, China was the place where things happened. Upwardly mobile executives were fighting to come to China," said Sean Stein, a senior adviser at Covington & Burlings Public Policy Practice, which advises companies on regulatory and legal risks. Now, he said, people dont see that theres an upside."

Chinese authorities recently doubled a fine imposed on the Beijing arm of New York-based due-diligence firm Mintz Group, whose local staff were detained in an office raid last year that rattled the foreign business community. The government accuses Mintz of conducting foreign-related statistical investigations" without approval, an allegation the company disputes.

Economists say that foreign executives bring advanced knowledge and skills that China still needs. Meanwhile, foreign capital and investor interest have grown increasingly important as the government scrambles to restore confidence in an economy struggling with sluggish growth and a property-market downturn.

For multinationals, the inability to persuade executives to be stationed in China can lead to disconnects with headquarters and struggles ensuring a companys values are maintained in the country, business people say. In the longer term, longtime expatriates say, the lack of foreign interest could deplete the population of bridge builders between China and the world and deepen mistrust and misunderstandings.

Official data on foreigners living in or visiting China are murky. The last time the government released detailed figures on long-term foreign residents was 2021, when the country published its once-a-decade census.

Even so, data from other sources show that expatriates from some of the worlds biggest economiescountries with significant investment footprints in Chinahave dwindled in recent years.

In 2023, the number of registered South Koreans, traditionally among the biggest foreign communities in China, fell 30% from 2019 to 216,000, government data show. Registered Japanese citizens in China declined by 13% in the same period to 102,000, according to official figures.

British nationals in China more than halved from prepandemic levels to around 16,000, according to estimates from the British Chamber of Commerce. The British Embassy said it doesnt keep a tally.

A U.S. Embassy spokesperson said it doesnt track citizen numbers in China. Even so, demand for adult passport renewals, one indicator of the number of U.S. citizens present in locations overseas, sharply decreased in China versus prepandemic levels, the spokesperson said.

The U.S. government has played a role in discouraging foreign engagement with China. The State Department has kept China on its reconsider travel" list since March, citing the risk of detention and arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Meanwhile, American business ties to China have come under increasing scrutiny in Congress.

China has scrapped tourist-visa requirements for 15 countries, including France and Germany, since July. The country has also vowed to break down market barriers for multinationals and ease up on restrictions over cross-border data flows, a major pain point for foreign firms.

Beijing can slow the unraveling of ties between China and the West by stabilizing the geopolitical tensions surrounding the country, but the recent trend toward economic decoupling makes reversing the outflow unlikely, said Minxin Pei, a professor of China and politics at Claremont McKenna College.

An exodus has its own self-reinforcing logic, because you must leave if your supplier or main customer is leaving," Pei said.

Write to Liza Lin at liza.lin@wsj.com and Yoko Kubota at yoko.kubota@wsj.com
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cautioned some banks, urging them to fortify their defences against potential cyber attacks, as per a Moneycontrol report citing industry sources.

The warnings, issued to select banks, follow the central bank's recent Cyber Security and Information Technology Examination (CSITE), wherein action points were provided to address identified vulnerabilities, the report added.

Distinct from routine risk assessments, the CSITE, scrutinises banks' disaster management readiness, internet and mobile banking platforms, and fraud detection mechanisms. It serves as an independent review, initiated several years ago, to bolster cyber security surveillance.

The RBI conducts a separate inspection to identify deficiencies in the cyber security capabilities of banks. This time, they met us and have given a list of action points where deficiencies need to be addressed," one source told the publication.

The RBI did not respond to repeated requests for inspection findings and ongoing evaluations, the report added.

Deputy Governor' T Rabi Sankar's Caution: AI Threat Looms

RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar had in February stressed the need for the banking sector to brace itself for evolving cyber threats. Speaking at the 19th Banking Technology Conference in Mumbai on February 9, Sankar said banks must revamp their encrypted systems to counter artificial intelligence (AI) abuses.

Moreover, in response to the UCO Bank incident last year, wherein erroneous credits totalled 820 crore, the Finance Ministry directed state-run banks to review their digital operations' robustness.

On November 15, 2023, UCO Bank said that it faced some technical issues due to which some accounts received erroneous credits totalling 820 crore via Immediate Payment Service (IMPS).

It is clarified that the transactions observed by the bank were due to internal technical issues as a result of which account holders of our bank have received some erroneous via IMPS. We wish to clarify that there was no issue with the IMPS platform," it had said.

A day later on November 16, UCO Bank said it had recovered 649 crore or 79 percent of the 820 crore, by taking various proactive steps, such as blocking the recipients' accounts.

Rising Concerns Amid Evolving Tech Climate

Citing a surge in cyber security breaches, government data disclosed 248 successful data breaches in India's banking sector between June 2018 and March 2022, the report noted. These breaches primarily involved card details leakage and information theft, prompting heightened vigilance.

Of these breaches, public sector banks reported 41 cases, private peers reported 205, and foreign banks reported two incidents. In light of these threats, the RBI mandated banks to bolster their IT risk governance frameworks, emphasising the active involvement of chief information security officers and board committees.

To mitigate cyber security risks, the RBI has instituted a dedicated Cyber Security Framework for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), which mandates the implementation of robust cybersecurity measures and IT controls to prevent data breaches.

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Azure Power Global Limited, Indias first renewable energy company to have listed in the US, is exploring a possible stake sale to a strategic partner or even a complete sale of the business, two people aware of the development said.

The company has called a special meeting of shareholders on 20 March at its Gurugram office, according to a 9 February statement.

Azure Power, which listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016 and subsequently delisted in 2023, has backers in Canadian pension funds Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) and Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), which hold 53.4% and 21.4% stake, respectively, in the company.

The company has been struggling with top management churn and is also reportedly facing an investigation in the US.

While spokespersons for CDOQ and OMERS declined comment, an Azure Power spokesperson didnt respond to emailed queries.

Founded in 2008, the renewable energy company has an operational capacity of 3.04 giga watt (GW), and a contracted and awarded capacity of 4.3 GW.

Azure Power has seen significant churn in its top management in recent years. After founder Inderpreet Wadhwa left the firm in 2019, the new CEO Ranjit Gupta and COO Murali Subramanian also resigned in April 2022.

Then, Harsh Shah, who joined as CEO on 1 July 2022, left on 29 August 2022, after which Rupesh Agarwal, who had joined as chief strategy and commercial officer, was made the acting CEO.

After Aggarwal left in July 2023, the board brought in Sunil Gupta as the CEO. Finally, on 15 March 2024, Azure Power announced the resignation of M.S. Unnikrishnan as the chairman and member of the board.

Meanwhile, according to news reports on Friday, US Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Justice Departments fraud unit in Washington are investigating Azure Power Global Ltd. Azure Power had earlier stated that it received a whistleblower complaint in May 2022 alleging potential procedural irregularities and misconduct by certain employees at a plant belonging to one of its subsidiaries".

In a 29 August 2022 statement, Azure Power had said, As part of the Companys review of these allegations, it discovered deviations from safety and quality norms, and it has implemented mechanisms to remediate them and in so doing strengthen safety and quality protocols. Azures Audit Committee, with the assistance of legal counsel and forensic accounting support, also identified evidence of manipulation of project data and information by certain employees. The Company is implementing immediate remedial measures, and Azure is initiating disclosure of the findings to the appropriate authorities."

However, analysts have improved their outlook on Azure Power. Fitch Ratings in a 2 February statement said that it has moved Azure Power Solar Energy Private Limited's (Azure RG2) and Azure Power Energy Ltd's (Azure RG3) US dollar bonds from Rating Watch Negative to B', with a stable outlook.

The affirmation reflects Fitch's view that the group has demonstrated improvement in its financial disclosure following the release of parent company Azure Power Global Limited's (APGL) and both restricted groups' (RGs) audited financial statements for the financial year ended March 2022 (FY22), which are broadly in line with previously disclosed unaudited financial statements," Fitch said in its rating action. The current rating has considered the risks associated with the delisting of APGL, corporate governance weaknesses and the multiple changes in board memberships and key management, which includes the chair of the audit and risk committee."

Fitch Ratings added, In the FY22 audited statements of both RGs, the auditors provided a qualified opinion on the basis of identified design deficiencies in some of the key controls at the group level, in which the RGs function within a shared control environment. Management has put in place remedial measures to strengthen the internal control framework. However, Fitch expects these corporate governance weaknesses to persist in the near term as these measures require time to take effect. Nevertheless, we do not expect these weaknesses to materially affect future operational and financial performance disclosures. Any delays in financial disclosures beyond the committed timelines or any event that could indicate heightened refinancing risk will trigger a review of the credit profiles."

India has an installed renewable energy capacity of 180.79 GW, which includes 73.31 GW solar and 44.73 GW of wind power capacity. India's power demand has been increasing in clocking new record highs in the summers and is expected to set yet another new record of 260 GW in the coming summer. Attracted by Indias green energy transition trajectory, there are a number of green energy deals in play.
There is good news for Salman Khans fans who are eagerly waiting for the fourth instalment of his famous franchise- Dabangg 4. Actor-producer Arbaaz Khanwho directed Dabangg 2has confirmed Dabangg 4. The Dabangg 2 director said he is eager to kickstart work on Dabangg 4 and Salman Khan is also keen to appear again in Chulbul Pandey avatar in the fourth instalment of the beloved franchise.

In an interview with Mid-day, Arbaaz Khan rejected the latest buzz that he with Salman Khan has recently met with Atleethe famous director of 'Jawan' (2023)to discuss the next instalment of 'Dabangg.

Clarifying his reported meeting with Atlee, the Dabangg 2 director said he has never crossed paths with the filmmaker in his life and urged the fans of Salman Khan not to believe rumours until he (Arbaaz Khan) himself confirms them about the movie.

"It's just a rumour that Salman, Atlee and I have met. I've never met Atlee in my life. I've never seen him, forget meeting him. Until you hear from the horse's mouth, you shouldn't believe [the rumours] too much," Mid-day quoted Arbaaz Khan as saying.

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Arbaaz Khan added that Salman is also keen to do Dabangg 4 but the movie will go on floors 'when the time is right'.

The Dabangg 2 director further said both, he and Salman, are currently pre-occupied with their respective projects which is delaying the commencement of Dabangg 4. When asked about his return to direction for Dabangg 4, Arbaaz expressed uncertainty. The actor-producer said he would love to direct 'Dabangg 4', but nothing has been finalized yet.

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Apart from Dabangg 4, Salman has other projects in the pipeline, including Tiger versus Pathaan with Shah Rukh Khan. The Dabangg actor has announced a new film in collaboration with Sajid Nadiadwala, directed by AR Murugadoss. This high-octane drama is all set to hit the big screens during Eid 2025.

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The governments move to promote India as a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles (EVs) comes at the right time, with the automobile industry already looking to shift towards electrification. The EV policy for passenger vehicles is designed to draw investments by global automakers. If it plays out as expected, it will accelerate EV adoption in India. For perspective, the share of EVs in the passenger vehicle segment stood at less than 2% in February, according to Vahan.

The minimum investment required under the scheme is 4,150 crore and manufacturing should commence within three years of receiving approval. Besides strengthening the EV ecosystem, the policy could also boost the Make in India initiative as it mandates domestic value-addition of 25% by the third year and 50% by the fifth. Elara Securities (India) notes that India could become an export hub in the future, given that global automakers are looking to diversify beyond China.

As such, the policy opens the door for companies such as Tesla and Vinfast, a Vietnamese automaker. While this will increase the number of companies in the domestic market, competition will intensify only when manufacturing starts in India. The scheme allows global automakers to import a maximum of 8,000 units a year at a subsidised customs duty rate, subject to conditions. But this will hardly have a big effect on domestic companies such as Tata Motors Ltd and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

Also, Tesla has much higher price points. For instance, Kotak Institutional Equities estimates the landed cost of a Tesla at 42-74 lakh, depending on the model, after adjusting for the revised duty structure. The ex-showroom price of a Tata Nexon (the companys most expensive model) is about 20 lakh.

However, Tesla plans to launch a mass-market EV, codenamed Redwood, by mid-2025. Its expected to be priced at $25,000 (about 21 lakh) in global markets. At this price point, we believe the product will create strong customer pull, given the companys brand equity, superior product performance and its prowess in battery technology," read the Kotak report dated 15 March.

Meanwhile, auto ancillary companies such as Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd and Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd, which supply global EV makers, stand to gain. In the near term, domestic automakers dont face any significant market-share risks. But if Tesla or other global automakers decide to enter India thanks to this policy, domestic companies will have to step up their game.
Hindustan Petroleum Corp . Ltds (HPCL) shares are down nearly 23% after hitting a lifetime high of 595 apiece on 16 February. The decline may indicate that investors were anxious because of concerns about a potential cut in fuel prices ahead of the general elections..

These fears have come true with the government announcing a price cut of 2 per litre for petrol and diesel.

This is the first cut in prices since May 2022, signalling an end of the high marketing margin period during the nine-month ended December (9MFY24) that oil marketing companies (OMCs) have enjoyed so far.

It may be a coincidence that Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) stock also hit a lifetime high on the same day as HPCL shares and started sliding, but its fall from the peak has been curtailed to 15%.

Indian Oil Corp. Ltd (IOC) has also moved in tandem with a 18% slide from the high.

Even so, HPCLs relative underperformance does not make it appealing compared to peers if one has a more positive view on refining margin vis-a-vis marketing margin.

While the gross refining margin (GRM) per barrel is not affected by the recent fuel price cut, it does squeeze the gross marketing margin (GMM). From consumers' point of view, the fuel price cut may not appear to be substantial as it is less than 3% of the prevailing prices in most states.

However, there could be a significant adverse impact on the profits of oil marketing companies (OMCs) whose gross earnings include GRM as well as GMM.

Since the cut was announced in March, the Q4FY24 numbers will have a negligible impact, but FY25 numbers could be more adversely impacted. For example, HPCL sold 3,463 crore litre of petrol and diesel in FY23, as per its annual report.

The cut in retail fuel price flows straight to profit before tax (PBT) as there is no corresponding change in the cost structure, leading to a potential annual hit of  6,926 crore. For perspective, this is 44% of HPCLs consolidated PBT during 9MFY24. The same parameter for BPCL and IOCL works out to about 26% and 30% of 9MFY24 consolidated PBT, respectively.

Adding to the woes, HPCL not only has the lowest GRM but also the lowest refining capacity among all the OMCs. The company is taking steps to increase its refining capacity to 45 million tonnes by FY28 from 29 million tonnes in FY23. This will be achieved through a combination of brownfield and greenfield capacity additions.

While that augurs well, this time around, GRM is unlikely to provide succour when GMM is being compressed. Notably, the base of GRM is already high, as OMCs benefited from higher margin on lower-priced crude due to the discounts offered in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Those discounts are normalizing now. For instance, HPCLs average GRMs in FY23 stood at $12 a barrel, a huge jump from $7 a barrel in the previous year.

The trends are similar for BPCL and IOC. The global spare capacity of refining is expected to be low, as per the International Energy Agency.

This may keep GRMs globally on a firm footing, but it may not push the GRM to FY23 level given the far higher benefit of discounted crude back then.

Given all this, HPCL is facing a double whammy, making it the most vulnerable among peers to the hit on marketing margin following the cut in retail fuel price. The best period for HPCL versus peers, therefore, may not be on the horizon anytime soon.
Europe isnt where American investors usually turn for growth, but the defense sector is a somewhat depressing exception these days.

After years in relative obscurity, stocks such as Germanys Rheinmetall and Swedens Saab rallied when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. There was a lull last summer when Ukraine was making good progress on the battlefield, but this winter they have rocketed again. Rheinmetall shares are up almost 60% since the start of the year.

View Full Image Graphic: WSJ

It isnt just that the momentum in Ukraine now seems to be behind Russia, nor that war has also broken out in Israel. A critical factor in the latest rally has been U.S. isolationism. In campaign rallies last month, presidential hopeful Donald Trump attacked the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which guarantees American support for European security, repeating a mantra he developed in office. Meanwhile, an aid package for Ukraine is stuck in Congress.

After the energy independence push of 2022, security independence is now the talk of European capitals. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a Brussels news network last month that EU member states were projected to spend 350 billion euros on defense this year, equivalent to roughly $380 billion and up from just 240 billion in 2022.

Companies have stoked investor confidence too. Rheinmetall reported Thursday that its revenue increased 12% last year, and, more importantly, said it expects growth of almost 40% in 2024. Saab last month gave guidance for top-line growth of roughly 15% annually on average through 2027a big increase compared with its previous target of 10%.

View Full Image Graphic: WSJ

Both companies have been early to benefit from increased military spending because they sell a lot of munitionsshells, missiles and rockets. These products are early cycle" because militaries need to buy them upfront, says Sash Tusa, aerospace and defense analyst at equity-research firm Agency Partners. Firms such as Italys Leonardo, which last week laid out plans to double cash flows by 2028, are only just beginning to see a pickup in orders. Leonardo makes helicopters, radars, defense electronics and the like.

Even companies not traditionally associated with defense are suddenly touting their exposure. At an investor day on Thursday, Italian truck manufacturer Iveco, part of the old Fiat empire, pointed to a sudden acceleration in defense ordersadmittedly helped by work in the U.S., where it is partnering with British defense contractor BAE Systems to supply the Marine Corps with new amphibious tanks.

One of the sectors attractions to investors is that it has high-quality companies. Weapons are specialist products where quality matters more than price and barriers to entry are high, making the business solidly profitable when demand is strong. Rheinmetall expects to make an operating margin of between 14% and 15% this year, up from 12.4% last year.

Historically, some investors shied away from arms suppliers for moral reasons: Ethical" investing, the predecessor to todays environmental, social and corporate-governance factors, known as ESG, is rooted in the pacifist Quaker tradition. Defense still attracts worse ESG ratings than other sectors, but Citi says the sustainable-investing community is warming to it anyway as public and political opinion swings behind national security.

The key risk might be that growth doesnt live up to the expectations baked into earnings multiples, which now lie above historic averages. Rheinmetall stock trades at 21 times and Saab at 27 forward times.

View Full Image Graphic: WSJ

While large order backlogs justify such valuations in the short to medium term, any indication that the security environment is relaxing would cast a pall over the longer-term outlook. The German governments aversion to debt is also a concern. It got around the fiscal brake" that caps its budget deficit by setting up a 100 billion special fund for the armed forces in 2022, but it needs a longer-term solution.

One way to view European defense stocks is as a hedge against geopolitical risk, a bit like gold. Europes growth has been held back by higher energy prices since Vladimir Putin cut gas flows to the region, with companies such as German chemical giant BASF particularly affected. Arms suppliers are rare beneficiaries of the Russia problem, with little exposure to the macroeconomy.

Still, the trend toward higher military spending in Europe seems robustwhoever ends up in the White House. While Trumps NATO threats are particularly provocative, President Bidens withdrawal from Afghanistan also dismayed European leaders. The rise of China and domestic shale energy have shifted Washingtons priorities, and the change looks permanent. Europes arms suppliers have their work cut out filling the gap.

Write to Stephen Wilmot at stephen.wilmot@wsj.com
On 13 March, the Indian government unveiled the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024, aimed at encouraging the purchase of electric two-wheelers (e2W) and three-wheelers (e3W) across the country.

The scheme has been allocated a budget of 5 billion and is set to replace the FAME-2 scheme, which expires on 31 March 2024. It will operate from April to July 2024, with the possibility of being replaced or extended thereafter.

Understanding EMPS

The primary goal of the EMPS is to foster the adoption of e2Ws and e3Ws, with a secondary objective of gradually reducing the industry's reliance on subsidies. The government has reduced the maximum subsidy for e2Ws to 10,000 per vehicle, down from 22,500, and for e3Ws to 50,000 from 111,505. Additionally, both vehicle categories will benefit from an incentive of 5,000 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

This strategic move has been widely applauded for benefiting both manufacturers and consumers alike.

Mahendra Nath Pandey, minister for heavy industries, had said, "The reduction in subsidy is in response to the heightened demand. Our aim is to strengthen the industry while preparing it for a future without subsidies. The 500 crore allocation will support approximately 400,000 e2Ws and e3Ws over four months."

Notably, the EMPS does not offer incentives for electric four-wheelers (e4Ws) and e-buses, due to the existence of other schemes catering to these vehicles, such as the Auto PLI and PM-eBus Sewa Scheme. Conversely, the EMPS is specifically designed for e2Ws and e3Ws.

The automotive industry had anticipated an extension of the FAME-2 scheme, which includes e4Ws in its coverage. Tata Motors, for instance, had advocated for a three-year extension of FAME-2 for four-wheelers, although no extension was granted this time.

EV market in India

India ranks as the third largest auto market globally, trailing only China and the US. The EV market within the country is experiencing rapid growth. According to the Business Standard, EV sales have surged by more than 45% in 2024, despite subsidy reductions and regulatory changes.

Total EV registrations by the end of 2023 reached approximately 1.5 million units, significantly surpassing the previous year's figure of just over 1 million. This growth has elevated the overall EV market penetration in India to 6.3%, indicating that the country is nearing a pivotal point in EV adoption.

This shift is further supported by substantial investments from Indian automakers in electrification, driven by the government's eventual plan to phase out subsidies.

Top 4 EV Stocks in India

#1 Tata Motors

Tata Motors stands out as the leading player in India's EV market, a position it is expected to maintain in the foreseeable future. The company's association with EV technology in India is reminiscent of brand names becoming synonymous with certain technologies, such as Xerox with photocopying.

Tata Motors' global reputation in technology, particularly in EVs, mirrors that of German and Japanese automakers in their respective fields. The company's ambitious plan to transition predominantly to EVs by 2030 is supported by substantial investments, including the expansion of its Sanand plant in Gujarat for lithium-ion battery production, expected to be operational by 2025.

The Sanand plant is Tata Motors' largest manufacturing facility in India. It currently produces a wide range of vehicles which includes the Tiago, Nexon, and Altroz.

The Tata Group's investment in lithium-ion batteries is part of its broader strategy to transition to electric vehicles. The company is also working on developing its own electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

#2 TVS Motor

It's not an exaggeration to say the EV segment could make or break the case for TVS Motor.

The two-wheeler company has invested heavily in R&D to develop technology, improve its product development, and more. The management has clearly made a bold strategic decision.

TVS Motors has already implemented an EV capex plan of over 10 bn. It will spend much more over the next few years developing an EV ecosystem.

It aims to have electric vehicles across segments like delivery, commuter premium, high-performance sports, and electric three-wheelers. The company also aims to launch its range of EV products in foreign markets.

In FY23, the company became the second-largest player in high-speed electric two-wheeler segment only behind Ola Electric.

TVS Motor will dispatch a record volume of more than 200,000 scooters, based on its EV platform, in the current financial year ending 31 March 2024.

The company plans to launch more products in the 5-25kW segment in 2024. It's also planning to launch an electric three-wheeler.

Starting August 2023, the company has accelerated the production of its existing EV scooter, iQube, by an additional 25,000 units per month. The company has a production target of 100,000 EVs in FY24, up from 50,000 units in FY23.

The company has also unveiled a novel electric two-wheeler called TVS X. It's designed to appeal to the younger demographic, particularly Generation Z and Millennials. It has committed to a capex of 2.5 bn for this effort.

Back in 2021, Hero MotoCorp announced its entry into the EV two-wheeler space.

At that time, it was considered to be a late entrant. The market wasn't convinced about its strategy.

But that was then. Things have changed now. The market has accepted the slow and steady strategy of the company.

Under its VIDA EV brand, the company has embarked on a clear expansion plan across the country. The FY24 target is to distribute the brand across 100 cities.

Keeping the cost-conscious Indian consumer in mind, the company cut the prices of VIDA V1 Plus and VIDA V1 Pro scooters by around 20,000. The management said it would use its existing dealer network to scale up EV sales across the country.

In September 2023, the company announced a further increase in stake in Ather Energy (not to be confused with Aether Industries) with a 5.5 billion investment. Prior to this, Hero already owed 33.1% stake in the company.

Ather designs, manufactures, sells, and services electric two-wheelers. Ather also has its own charging infrastructure. It's also engaged in the EV battery business.

The company has announced plans for an IPO aiming to raise $400 million through the share sale, targeting a valuation of $2 billion.

#4 Bajaj Auto

Another strong contender in the two- and three-wheeler EV space is Bajaj Auto.

A couple of years ago, Bajaj Auto formed a 100% subsidiary, Chetak Technology Ltd (CTL) to tap into the thriving electric vehicle market. This subsidiary develops new EV technologies and products. It will have its own dedicated manufacturing facility.

Their efforts to capitalise on the booming EV industry seems to be working. Bajaj Auto's domestic sales of its electric scooter Chetak (re-introduced in 2021) grew over four times, from 8,187 units in FY 2022 to 36,260 units, in FY 2023.

While the company did cut the price of the EV bike, this kind of surge in demand was unprecedented.

On the back of this success, the company is now extending its distribution network to over 100 cities and investing in expanding capacity.

It will invest over 7.5 billion for FY 2024, a part of which will also be spent on debottlenecking exercises to ramp-up its EV component volumes.

Bajaj Auto is also expected to benefit from improved sales of premium bikes like Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400X.

Happy Investing!

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such.

This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com
New Delhi: On the night of 2 October 1980, in a makeshift boxing ring set up in the parking lot of the glitzy Caesars Palace hotel in Las Vegas, Muhammad Ali walked out to rapturous applause. Ali, arguably the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, had come out of his short-lived retirement to fight Larry Holmes, his one-time sparring partner.

At 38-years old and nursing multiple ailments, Ali was considered way past his prime. But he had lost none of his trademark swagger. Im gonna whup...Holmes," the legend thundered before the match.

When the fight began, however, it was starkly evident that the wheels of history had decisively turned. Holmes dominated Ali from the first round itself, punching and jabbing his opponent at will. Alis sluggish movements and slow reflexes made him a sitting duck. After some time, the match deteriorated to a full-on thrashing as the 25,000-strong crowd watched in horror.

After the 10th round, Alis trainer stepped into the ring and pleaded with the referee to stop the fight. It was the only time in Muhammad Alis glorious career that he lost a match due to a technical knockout.

From floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee in the early part of his career to being rendered almost immobile by size and the weight of expectations, Ali had come a long way.

Perhaps the champion never came to terms with a fundamental factthe sprightliness of youth cannot be replicated during the mellow years of maturity.

Four decades later, millions of investors are learning this lesson the hard way.

Fickle Fortunes

View Full Image HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever and Asian Paints handsomely rewarded investors faith year after year. (PIxabay)

For years, HDFC Bank, Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and Asian Paints were synonymous with equity market investing. Of course, there were periods when the stocks remained comatose, but the consensus view was that one can never go too wrong by investing in Indias biggest private sector bank, the largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) firm and the biggest paints company.

The three companies handsomely rewarded investors faith year after year, consistently expanding their market share, stamping their dominance over rivals and delivering healthy growth in earnings and stock price appreciation.

But as they say, all good things have a sell-by date.

2023 was the first year when stocks of HDFC Bank, HUL and Asian Paints simultaneously underperformed the Nifty50. Against the benchmarks 20% jump, Asian Paints rose 10%, HDFC Bank 5% and HUL just 4%.

Analysts say apart from common financial ratios like price-to-earnings (PE), price-to-book (PB) and return on equity (RoE), investors should also pay attention to the biggest number out therethe companys size.

One thing for sure is that when a company is a dominant player in an industry, it is very difficult for it to grow faster than the sector itself. This was a situation that Bajaj Auto found itself in scooters decades back or Maruti in cars," Devina Mehra, the founder, chairperson, and managing director of First Global, an investment firm, told Mint.

Newcomers or smaller players tend to take away market share from them. There is also a danger of disruptive technology which can completely unseat leaders, like what happened with Kodak, Blackberry etc.," she added.

Mehra said there is also the phenomenon of overpaying for a company, no matter how attractive the underlying business is.

It is a myth that you can never go wrong buying consumer brands with substantial cash flows. It all depends on the price that you are paying for them. Not even Warren Buffett has made returns in these types of stocks for the last many decades," she pointed out.

Banking on Pedigree

View Full Image HDFC Bank is currently the 11th largest bank in the world. (Reuters)

Some of us might be captivated by the big, fat Ambani wedding but an even more power-packed union transpired last year.

When HDFC Bank, the biggest private sector lender, announced a merger with parent HDFC, the countrys largest housing finance company, the group wrested for itself a seat at the global high table.

HDFC Bank is currently the 11th largest bank in the world with a market capitalization of $140 billion, ahead of marquee names such as Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.

The global bragging rights, however, have not rubbed off on its stock. The reverse, if anything.

HDFC Banks share is down around 15% from its level in July 2023, when the merger came into effect.

After absorbing HDFC, HDFC Bank widened its lead over its private sector peers. Its advances of over 25 trillion (as of December 2023) are double that of ICICI Bank, though below SBIs 36 trillion. HDFC Bank accounts for over 10% of overall deposits and nearly 16% of net advances.

However, the merger has also crimped its net interest margin (NIM), which measures the money that a bank earns in interest (from loans and investments) compared to what it pays on deposits.

NIM is one of the most crucial profitability metrics of a lender, and for over two decades, HDFC Bank outshone its competitors by delivering NIMs of 4%.

But swallowing up HDFCs loan book has pushed HDFC Banks NIMs to 3.4% (Q3 FY24) as home loans have lower margins compared to other products.

With its total advances outpacing deposits by around 3 trillion, and deposit growth via the low-cost current accounts and savings accounts (CASA) route being lacklustre, HDFC Bank had to meet the shortfall through high-cost borrowings.

Growing both deposits and advances on such a big base is akin to an elephant matching step with lively hares.

We believe deposit mobilization will remain an uphill task given tight liquidity and stiff competition. While margin pressures will persist, improvement in NIMs will be largely driven by shifting portfolio mix towards retail lending," Axis Securities said in a post-earnings report.

This is where size becomes an impediment for the lender, as growing both deposits and advances on such a big base is akin to an elephant matching step with lively hares.

Slow Moving

A wisecrack in the policy circles is that if you truly want to get the pulse of the economy, ignore what the statistics ministry is publishing and comb through the results of HUL.

Very few domestic companies can match the corporate lineage, governance standards and market dominance of HUL, considered a proxy for Indias consumption story.

But Mr Market, like Indian parents, can still remain unimpressed.

The halo around HUL has dimmed in the past few quarters after the FMCG majors growth plateaued.

The stock had its worst two-session fall in more than a year this January after it posted a lacklustre set of numbers for Q3 FY24.

Its standalone net profit increased just 0.55% on-year to 2,519 crore, while revenue dipped 0.38% to 14,928 crore. Both the figures were down sequentiallya rare event for HUL.

Underlying volume growtha crucial metric for FMCG firms, which measures their increase in turnover excluding the impact of price hikescame in at 2%, as against 5% for the year-ago quarter.

Urban volume growth stood at 3%, while the rural segment disappointed with a measly 1% expansion. While the management tried hard to exude confidence in the post-earnings conference call, the mood shift was palpable.

With a rural recovery driver nowhere in sight, JM Financial expects HULs stock to remain under pressure for the near-term.

We see two issues with HULs December-quarter earnings report and commentariesmanagement sees a mere 4% two-year volume CAGR as strong, and the view on margin seems to now be to maintain the current 23-24% level vs earlier stance that getting back to 25%-mark would not be a challenge at all," analysts at JM Financial, an investment banking firm, wrote in a note.

CAGR is compound annual growth rate or the annualized average rate of revenue growth over a given period.

Interestingly, management also expects the number of categories where it would win shares to be lower in the coming couple of quartersthis is due to regional and smaller players getting more aggressive in the marketplace," they added.

With a rural recovery driver nowhere in sight, the domestic brokerage firm expects HULs stock to remain under pressure for the near-term.

At the companys earnings call, HUL managing director Rohit Jawa alluded to the distress building up in some pockets of rural India.

View Full Image Rohit Jawa, CEO and MD, HUL.

Due to lower agriculture yields and uncertainty of future crop outputs, rural consumer sentiment remains subdued. Consequently, the anticipated buoyancy from the festive season did not materialize," he said.

But analysts maintain HULs volume woes have more to do with resurgent local brands rather than macroeconomic trends. Most regional brands had retreated after the covid-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and led to a surge in input prices, leaving their operations unviable.

However, with raw material prices cooling off, these local brands have made a strong comeback, nibbling away market share from organized sector players.

Weak spending sentiment on the ground also means consumers are easily swayed by price discounts, where the local players often score over listed companies.

Painting the Town Red

View Full Image The entire paints sector is gearing up for an epic showdown. (iStockphoto)

HUL is not the only corporate giant feeling the heat from rising competition. In fact, an entire sector is gearing up for an epic showdown.

Grasim Industries, the flagship firm of the Aditya Birla Group, has forayed into the paints business under the Birla Opus brand with an investment commitment of 10,000 crore. Group chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla said the company is targeting 10,000 crore revenue and profitability within three years of full operations.

Grasim has commissioned three plants and plans to operationalize three others in the next 12-15 months. At full capacity, all the six plants of Birla Opus will have a total commercial capacity of 1,332 million litres per annum (MLPA), the second highest in the sector after Asian Paints.

It is not often that a challenger makes such an audacious entry, that too in a staid sector like paints. It is not without reason that shares of all the top-five paints companies by market capitalization are down on a six-month basis.

The most worried of the lot naturally is Asian Paints, which has a job on its hands to protect its 50-plus percent market share in the organized decorative segment.

While it posted a healthy 12% year-on-year volume growth in Q3, supported by festive demand, analysts expect the road to be far from rosy in the medium term.

Reimagining Big

Is size always a bane? Not necessarily. For example, the current rally on Wall Street is being powered by the Magnificent Seven mega-capsAlphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla.

Back home, sectoral leaders like L&T, Tata Motors and NTPC too are in a relatively comfortable position. While Indias largest IT services firm TCS is facing sectoral headwinds, analysts say tech is one sector where scale clearly confers distinct advantages of resources and network effect, which companies can harness to tap into emerging technologies like AI.

View Full Image The current rally on Wall Street is being powered by the Magnificent Seven mega-caps. (Reuters)

But overall, without innovation or venturing into newer segments, the market leader in any sector is vulnerable to the onslaughts of smaller, more agile challengers.

Leaders often face diminishing returns on growth after reaching a certain scale. Their sheer size makes significant leaps more challenging. We see this with established companies like HUL, HDFC Bank, and Asian Paints. These giants are entering a mature phase, where explosive growth becomes less likely," said Sunil Nyati, managing director, Swastika Investmart, a brokerage. However, these companies still possess the potential for steady, albeit slower, expansion, he added.

Investors, then, would do well to note the altered landscape.

As I often repeat: No theme runs forever. No geography, no asset class, no sector. The trick is to stick to data and shift when things change rather than build stories in your head," First Globals Mehra added.

Building stories in ones head may be therapeutic, but reality finds a way to ambush our little notions. Muhammad Ali would have perhaps concurred.
Commodity trading stands as a time-honored financial practice deeply rooted in the foundation of global commerce, offering a distinct investment avenue compared to traditional stocks or bonds. Grounded in tangible assets spanning from crude oil to agricultural staples, commodity trading involves the buying and selling of these physical goods in various forms, including raw materials, energy resources, agricultural produce, and precious metals, among others, on dedicated commodity exchanges.

Where are commodities traded?

They are traded on exchanges that serve as crucial platforms where market participants engage in trading standardised contracts for commodities, facilitating price discovery and market liquidity. In India, this market is overseen by regulatory bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), which supervises over 20 exchanges specialising in commodity trading.

Prior to 2015, the regulatory landscape was governed by the Forward Markets Commission until its amalgamation with SEBI, ushering in a unified regulatory framework aimed at fostering transparency and investor protection within the commercial investing sphere.

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To venture into commodity trading, individuals typically require three key components: a demat account, a trading account, and a bank account. The demat account serves as a secure repository for storing trading assets and holdings, ensuring ease of management and accessibility. However, executing trades on the exchanges necessitates the engagement of a reputable broker who facilitates order placement and execution on behalf of traders.

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Can I hold commodities in my demat account?

Yes, you can hold commodities in your demat account, but it's essential to understand that the process and regulations may vary depending on the country and the specific commodities involved. In some countries, such as India, commodity trading in the form of futures contracts is typically conducted on commodity exchanges regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

In India, commodities like gold, silver, crude oil, agricultural products, and base metals are traded on exchanges such as the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) and the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX). Investors can participate in commodity trading by opening a trading account with a registered commodity broker who is a member of these exchanges.

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It's important to note that commodity trading involves inherent risks, including price volatility and market fluctuations. Before participating in commodity trading, investors should conduct thorough research, understand the market dynamics, and consider seeking advice from a financial advisor.

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Can I trade commodities using a demat account?

Yes, you can trade commodities using a demat account in some countries, although the process and regulations may vary. In many cases, commodity futures contracts can be held in electronic form within a trading account linked to a demat account.

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What commodities can I trade through my demat account?

The range of commodities available for trading through a demat account depends on the commodity exchanges and regulatory framework of your country. Commonly traded commodities include metals (gold, silver), energy resources (crude oil, natural gas), agricultural products (wheat, corn), and more.

Are there any risks associated with commodity trading via a demat account?

Like any investment activity, commodity trading carries inherent risks, including price volatility, market fluctuations, and geopolitical factors affecting commodity prices. It's essential to conduct thorough research, understand the market dynamics, and manage risk appropriately.

These FAQs provide a starting point for individuals interested in commodity trading through a demat account, offering insight into the process, advantages, risks, and regulatory considerations associated with this investment avenue.

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(Bloomberg) -- China Evergrande Group, the defaulted developer at the heart of Chinas real estate crisis, falsely inflated revenue by more than $78 billion in the two years leading up to its failure, according to the nations top securities regulator.

Evergrandes main onshore unit Hengda Real Estate Group boosted its 2019 income by about 214 billion yuan ($29.7 billion) by recognizing sales in advance, and another 350 billion yuan in the 2020 annual results, the developer said in a filing Monday, citing a notice from the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

The CSRC laid much of the blame on Hui Ka Yan, the founder and former chairman who allegedly instructed other personnel to falsely inflate" Hengdas annual results for those two years. As the supervisor in charge, Hui used particularly egregious" means, the regulator said. Hengda was also accused of fraudulently issuing a combined 20.8 billion yuan in bonds using these figures in marketing.

The CSRC fined Hui 47 million yuan for the falsified results and other alleged violations, and banned him for life from capital markets activities, according to the regulators preliminary finding. Hengda was fined 4.18 billion yuan. China Evergandes former Chief Executive Officer Xia Haijun and Chief Financial Officer Pan Darong were among executives also punished by the regulator with fines and market bans.

The allegations mark the latest blow for Hui, once among Asias richest tycoons who oversaw a sprawling empire that spanned real estate to electric vehicles. Evergrande was one of Chinas biggest developers, taking on massive debt to expand across the country as condo sales boomed. Huis empire began to unravel after regulators imposed tight restrictions on borrowing, while an economic slowdown and the pandemic crimped sales.

The inflated figures accounted for half of Hengdas total revenue in 2019, and 79% in 2020, according to the regulator. The developers profits were exaggerated by 63% and 87% respectively in those two years, the regulator claimed. Hui was responsible for delays in publishing Hengdas earnings reports and failures to disclose the lawsuits it faced, as well as unfulfilled debt payments, the CSRC added.

Read more: Why China Property Giant Evergrande Faces Liquidation: QuickTake

Hui was placed under a type of police control in September, subject to so-called mandatory measures," due to suspicion of illegal crimes." Caixin reported at the time that Xia and Pan were also being held. No criminal charges against Hui have been made public and his whereabouts arent known. CSRCs measures are civil penalties.

Read More: Evergrandes Billionaire Founder Is Put Under Police Control

Once Asias second-richest man, worth $42 billion at his peak in 2017, Hui has seen his wealth plummet to about $1 billion after the developer defaulted in 2021. Its stock has tumbled and was eventually suspended from trading. The group received a liquidation order from a Hong Kong court in January, marking the largest collapse in the three-year real estate crisis.

Meanwhile, another Hong Kong mansion tied to Hui has been put up for sale. The luxury property, 10E on Blacks Link in the prestigious Peak area, is seeking bidders before a tender ends on April 22, Savills Plc said in an emailed statement.

Hui and the other accused are entitled to plead defenses before the penalties take effect, the CSRC said. Hengda has waived such rights, the company added in the filing.

--With assistance from Lin Cheng.

(Updates with details of the allegations from fourth paragraph)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2024 Bloomberg L.P.

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Nine individuals, among them three children were killed in a collision between their jeep and a tractor in Bihar's Khagaria district on Monday morning, police informed.

Six people were also injured in the accident that happened around 6.30 am near a petrol pump on National Highway 31 in Pasraha area," PTI reported police as saying.

"Those who were travelling in the jeep were returning from a wedding when the accident happened. The tractor was overloaded," a police officer said.

The injured persons were admitted to a nearby health centre, he said.

The deceased were identified as Gautam Thakur (32), Monu Kumar (7), Aman Kumar (25), Bunty Kumar, Anshu Kumar (23), Paltu Thakur (50), Dilo Kimar (10), Prakash Singh and Dharmendra Sharma. All of them were in the jeep, police said.

Superintendent of Police Chandan Kushwaha said, "An investigation is underway. The bodies are being sent for post-mortem examinations."

(With inputs from PTI)

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Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan who recently quit Congress to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dismissed Rahul Gandhis assertion about his breakdown in front of Sonia Gandhi, saying that the comments made by the Wayanad MP are baseless" and factually incorrect".

Terming the remarks a political stunt", the BJP MP from Rajya Sabha said, "He (Rahul Gandhi) has not taken any name, however, if he wants to make any remarks on me, it is illogical and baseless... It is also a lie that I have met Sonia Gandhi in Delhi. These remarks are factually incorrect. All of this is a political stunt."

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi claimed that a senior Maharashtra leader  who recently quit the partyvisited the former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and cried in front of her saying that he did not want to go to jail, before leaving the grand old party.

"A senior leader in Maharashtra, who left the Congress recently, went crying to my mother saying, 'Sonia-ji, I am ashamed that I don't have the power to fight this Shakti. I do not want to go to jail'. Thousands of people are being similarly threatened," the Congress MP claimed.

The former Congress president was addressing a rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday to mark the culmination of his 63-day 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. Prominent leaders of the INDIA alliance, including MK Stalin, Uddhav Thackeray, Priyanka Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav, Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, and others attended the rally in a show of strength and unity in the alliance.

Reacting to the remarks by the former Congress president, Chavan said, If he is saying that about me, then it is illogical and baseless. The truth is that till I resigned from the Congress, I was working at the party headquarters. I resigned from the post of MLA and a few moments later resigned from the party also."

"Till then, no one knew that I had resigned," Chavan said. "I never met Sonia Gandhi. It is baseless (to say) that I met Sonia Gandhi and expressed my emotions. It is a political statement from the election point of view," he added.

Also Read | Bengaluru man says he was attacked for playing Hanuman Chalisa during Azaan

Chavan resigned from the Congress last month, joining the likes of Milind Deora, and Baba Siddique who quit the party. He joined the BJP in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

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The Election Commission has ordered the removal of several top officials in Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP and West Bengal  including Mumbai civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal and Bengal police chief Rajeev Kumar. The poll body also issued orders for the removal of Home Secretaries in Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Secretary of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have also been removed.

An official communique from the poll body linked the orders to poll preparedness in the relevant states. A missive sent to the West Bengal Chief Secretary also called for West Bengal Director General of Police  Rajeev Kumar  to be shifted to a "non-election related post" with immediate effect.

India is slated to hold Lok Sabha elections in seven phases starting from April 19. The decision was announced soon after newly appointed election commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu met with the EC on Monday. It is part of the poll body's bid to ensure a level-playing field in the Lok Sabha elections.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Supreme Court's hearing on electoral bonds case on Monday turned dramatic following a heated argument between Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Advocate Mathews Nedumpara.

The Supreme Court was hearing the case where it sought a reply from State Bank of India (SBI) as to why electoral bond numbers were not disclosed. The case was heard by a five-judge Constitution bench  constituting Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra  on Monday.

During the hearing, CJI Chandrachud rebuked Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and Advocate Adish Aggarwala for their interference in the Electoral Bonds case" and Aggarwala's his letter seeking suo motu review of the Electoral Bonds judgment, several reports said.

According to NDTV, Nedumpara said the electoral bonds case "was not a justiciable issue at all". "This was a policy matter and not for the courts to get into. That is why people feel this judgment was given behind their back," Nedumpara was quoted as saying.

Despite the judges' attempted to express their disagreements, Nedumpara continued talking over them and raised his voice.

In a video shared by Live Today, CJI DY Chandrachud can be heard telling Nedumpara, Do not shout at me...You want to move an application, file an application"

You have got my decision as Chief Justice, we are not hearing you. If you want to file an application, move it on the email. That's the rule in this court," the CJI added.

When Nedumpara still didn't stop, Justice BR Gavai intervened, "You are obstructing in the process of administration of justice!"

Meanwhile, the CJI told Adish Aggarwala, "Apart from being a senior counsel, you are president of SCBA. You have written a letter asking me to invoke my suo motu powers. These are all publicity-related, we will not get into this. Do not make me say anything more...," the CJI was quoted as saying when Aggarwala sought to mention his letter before the bench.

What's the Electoral Bonds case

The Supreme Court scrapped the Electoral Bond Scheme on February 15. It also asked the SBI and the Election Commission of India to share details of donors and political parties that received funding in form of electoral bonds. Introduced in 2017, the scheme allowed people to make any amount of donation to political parties of their choice while maintaining anonymity.

What happened in electoral bonds case

The Supreme Court directed the State Bank of India (SBI) on Monday to make complete disclosure of all details related to electoral bonds. The court said the details should include the alpha-numeric unique number and serial numbers if any.

The Supreme Court added that the SBI chairman must file an affidavit by 5 pm on March 21 (Thursday), indicating that the bank has disclosed all details of electoral bonds. During the hearing, the Supreme Court pulled up the SBI for being "selective".

Follow Electoral Bonds data 2nd list LIVE here

Here's what the Supreme Court said in its March 18 ruling:

1. The Supreme Court bench that the SBI has not fully complied with its March 11 order in which it had ordered the bank to disclose all details concerning Electoral Bonds. It said the SBI can't be selective in disclosure.

"We had asked all details to be disclosed by the SBI which includes electoral bond numbers as well. Let SBI not be selective in disclosure, do not wait for orders. We believe that the SBI will be candid and fair to the court," CJI Chandrachud was quoted by Bar and Bench as saying.

ALSO READ: Electoral Bonds data 2nd list: Check party wise list of who received how much

2. CJI Chandrachud directed the SBI to provide details of electoral bonds purchased and political parties who received contributions through Electoral Bonds from April 12, 2019, Bar and Bench reported.

The Supreme Court ordered: This Court had directed disclosure of information on Electoral Bonds scheme to give a logical and complete end to the proceedings and thus issued operative directions in para b and c of the judgment. Para b requires SBI to furnish details of EB purchases from April 12, 2019, till the date of judgment. It shall include name, denomination etc. In para c, we sought directions of political parties who received funding through electoral bonds and SBI was to disclose details of each bond encashed by political parties including date of such encashment...."

3. On electoral bonds number, the Supreme court said, There is no manner of doubt that SBI shall make disclosure of all information with it and it shall include the details of electoral bond numbers or the alpha numeric numbers with it." A distinct alphanumeric code, assigned to each bond, will help in correlating electoral bond donors with the respective recipient parties.

4. The Supreme Court rejected the Centre's claim that its verdict striking down the Electoral Bonds scheme is being misused and misinterpreted on social media. The CJI said, "As judges, we are only on the rule of law and work as per the Constitution. Our court is only to work for the governance of the rule of law in this polity. As judges, we are also discussed in social media but our shoulders are broad enough to take this..."

ALSO READ: Electoral bonds 2nd list out: Election Commission uploads fresh info on funding to political parties

5. The Supreme Court also gave the SBI chairman a deadline and asked the Election Commission of India (ECI) to upload details. "We direct the SBI chairman to submit an affidavit at 5 pm, Thursday stating that no information has been withheld from disclosure in terms of directions given in para 221. ECI shall upload the details forthwith once it receives the data from SBI," Bar and Bench reported while citing the Supreme Court order.

ALSO READ: Electoral bonds data 2nd list: BSP says 'didn't receive donations', CPI(M) reiterates 'we were against it'

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krishna.yadav@livemint.com

new delhi

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose all details related to electoral bonds, including the date of purchase and redemption, buyers and recipients, denominations, and the alphanumeric serial codes of the instrument used to make political donations.

The top court also ordered SBI chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara to file an affidavit by 5 PM on Thursday stating that all details in its custody have been disclosed and that no information has been suppressed. The court had struck down the scheme as unconstitutional on 15 February.

There is no doubt that SBI is required to furnish all available details. This classification includes the alphanumeric number and serial number, if any, of the purchased bonds," Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said. The alphanumeric code will reveal the link between the purchaser of the bond and the recipient political party.

To prevent future controversies, the banks chairperson should file an affidavit by 5 PM on Thursday, confirming the disclosure of all details in its custody and the absence of withheld information."

SBI, on its part, agreed to disclose the information in its entirety.

The apex court dismissed a petition filed by Citizens Rights Trust, an NGO, that sought disclosure of bond details from 1 March, 2018, to 11 April, 2019, affirming that no pre-dating is necessary. The Supreme Court has directed the State Bank of India to disclose information only from 12 April 2019, to 15 February 2024. The plea claimed that a total of 9,159 bonds worth 4,000 crore were sold between 1 March, 2018 and 11 April, 2019.

The government notified the electoral bonds scheme for political donations in January 2018. These bonds were sold only by SBI at its specified branches. The court also refused to hear pleas by industry bodies like Ficci and Assocham to defer the disclosure of bond numbers, arguing that information cannot be requested to be disclosed when anonymity is guaranteed.

During the hearing, solicitor general Tushar Mehta urged the court to issue a notice regarding the misinformation being spread on social media, which is contrary to the judgment of the court in the electoral bond case. He also noted that the judgment of the court has been misrepresented in the press and on social media by the petitioners, and there appears to be a witch-hunt and hidden agenda behind it. According to the solicitor general, the petitioners have been giving press interviews deliberately, causing embarrassment.

In response, the court stated that it is prepared for social media commentary and that when it passes any judgment, it becomes public property. As an institution, our shoulders are broad enough to deal with social media commentary. Our intent was disclosure... We are governed by a rule of law," said the chief justice.

In the previous hearing, the Supreme Court ordered the return of sealed covers containing information on the electoral bonds submitted to the court to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The court directed the judicial registrar to digitize the data from the sealed covers by 5 PM on Saturday and return the original sealed cover to the ECI along with the digitized copy.

The apex court on 11 February directed SBI to share the required information by the close of business hours on 12 March. Additionally, the top court ordered the ECI to publish the details of the bonds, previously submitted in a sealed cover to the court, on its website by 15 March. Following these orders, the SBI submitted details of electoral bonds to the ECI on 12 March. Consequently, on Sunday, the ECI made the electoral bonds data public as per the courts directives.

According to the published list, top donors to political parties include major business groups such as Grasim Industries, Megha Engineering, and Piramal Enterprises. The list also includes Apollo Tyres, Lakshmi Mittal, Edelweiss, PVR, Keventer, Sula Wine, Welspun, and Sun Pharma.

Lottery company Future Gaming and Hotel Services, currently under scrutiny by the Enforcement Directorate, has been the top buyer of electoral bonds, with purchases worth more than 1,350 crore.

Various political parties, including the BJP, Congress, AIADMK, Shiv Sena, TDP, and Trinamool Congress (TMC) have redeemed electoral bonds. The BJP received the highest contributions through electoral bonds, amounting to 6,566 crore, followed by the Congress with 1,123 crore, and Trinamool Congress with 1,092 crore.

The unanimous judgment by the constitution bench on 15 February marked the end of the controversial electoral bonds scheme. The court had directed SBI to provide details of bond buyers, purchase dates, and donation amounts to the ECI by 6 March and asked the ECI to publish this information on its website by 13 March.

However, the SBI on 11 March filed a plea for an extension until 30 June, citing operational difficulties, which was rejected by the SC. It asked the state-run lender to furnish the details by the evening of 12 March, and mandated the ECI to publish the details on its website by 15 March.

On 7 March, the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) filed pleas seeking to initiate contempt proceedings against SBI and its chairman for not complying with the court's deadline of 6 March to disclose the electoral bond details.

Introduced in the 2017 Union budget, the electoral bonds scheme allowed citizens and companies to anonymously donate any amount to political parties. While the government argued that donor's anonymity was meant to prevent retribution, critics said it violated citizens' right to know how political parties were being funded.

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Supreme Court denies bail to former Delhi minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Satyendar Jain in a money laundering case. Jain was arrested in this case in May 2022. He has been on medical bail since May 2023. SC has now ordered him to surrender immediately.

A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal had reserved its judgement on January 17 after hearing the arguments of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Jain, and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate, according to news agency PTI.

On December 14, 2023, the Supreme Court had extended till January 8 the interim bail granted to Jain in the case on medical grounds. Jain, however, moved the apex court challenging the April 6, 2023 order of the Delhi High Court dismissing his regular bail application in the case.

Also Read : Delhi Jal Board case: Arvind Kejriwal to skip ED summon today, AAP says, when there is bail from court

The ED had arrested the former cabinet minister in Arvind Kejriwal government on May 30, 2022 on the charge of laundering money through four companies allegedly linked to him. The arrest was made based on an FIR by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered against Jain in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Jain has denied the allegations.

Jain is the minister of health, power, home, PWD, industries, urban development, flood, irrigation and water, in the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government.

In April 2022, the ED had attached properties worth 4.81 crore of the family and companies "beneficially owned and controlled" by Jain in connection with the case.

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In the latest development in the State Bank of India (SBI) electoral bond disclosure case, the Supreme Court on Monday, March 18, ordered the country's largest lender to release all the details related to the scheme. In another development, the Election Commission ordered the removal of several top officials in Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP and West Bengal. Whereas, Rahul Gandhi's Shakti remark continued to remain at the centre of the political storm today. As Monday comes to an end, take a look at the top events of the day.

SC orders SBI to disclose all electoral bond details

-Pulling up the State Bank of India for being selective", the Supreme Court on March 18 directed the lender to release all the data related to electoral bonds along with details like date of purchase, redemption and name of the purchaser and recipient, denomination, and serial numbers.

SBI should not be selective in disclosing the details. We want all information related to the electoral bonds to be disclosed which is in SBI possession," the court said in its judgment. (Read full story)

EC action on top officials in Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP and West Bengal

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission on Monday ordered the removal of several top officials in Maharashtra, Gujarat, UP and West Bengal. The order was issued to remove several officials, including Mumbai civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal and Bengal police chief Rajeev Kumar, from their posts. The EC also ordered the removal of Home Secretaries in Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The Secretary of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have also been shifted. (Read full story)

PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi trade barbs over latter's Shakti remark

There is no end in sight to the political storm that erupted over Rahul Gandhi's Shakti remark, made at Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra's concluding ceremony. The Wayanad MP faced severe backlash from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Bharatiya Janata Party leaders for his statement.

The political row began when Rahul Gandhi said that the INDIA alliance is fighting against a Shakti". There is a word 'Shakti' in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti. The question is, what is that Shakti? The soul of the King is in the EVM. This true. The soul of the King in the EVM and every institution of the country, in ED, CBI and Income Tax department," he said on Sunday.

Retaliating to the former Congress president's remark, PM Modi on Monday said, The INDI (INDIA) alliance in their manifesto said that their fight is against 'Shakti'. For me, every mother, daughter and sister is a form of 'Shakti'. I worship them in the form of 'Shakti'. I am the worshiper of Bharat Mata."

In response to PM Modi's statement, Rahul Gandhi defended his remark and said, Modi ji does not like my words, he always tries to change their meaning by twisting them in some way or the other because he knows that I have spoken a deep truth. The Shakti that I mentioned, the Shakti that we are fighting, is the mask of that power, Modi ji."

Seat sharing in Bihar and Tamil Nadu

Gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, INDIA alliance parties finalised the seat-sharing deal in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Monday. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will fight elections in 22 seats (including one by KDMK in the Rising Sun symbol), and the Congress will fight elections in 10 seats (including one in Puducherry). (Read full story)

Later in the day, the BJP-led NDA alliance announced its seat-sharing pact in Bihar for Lok Sabha polls. The BJP is set to fight elections on a total of 17 seats, whereas CM Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) will contest 16 seats. (Read full story)

India's youngest billionaire

India got its youngest billionaire today, after NR Narayana Murthy, the founder of Infosys, gifted his four-month-old grandson Ekagrah Rohan Murthy with shares of the company worth 240 crore. This in effect likely makes the infant India's youngest millionaire. (Read full story)

TRAI's fresh guidelines for mobile number portability

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) announced a change in regulation to the rules for mobile number portability (MNP). The change in rules has been intended to reduce SIM swap fraud in India. As per TRAI's new rules, the existing SIM card owner who had to get a new SIM card owing to theft and purchase a new SIM card cannot port to a new SIM card in the next 7 days. (Read full story)

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Maldives election commission announced on Sunday, March 17, that the ballot boxes for the upcoming parliamentary elections will be placed in India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. This development came after over 150 people re-registered to vote in each of the three countries.

The polling authority informed that the ballot boxes for the upcoming parliamentary elections will be placed in Keralas capital, Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), Sri Lankas Colombo, and Malaysias Kuala Lumpur.

On Saturday, March 16, the six-day window that allowed citizens to relocate their voting stations for the April 21 parliamentary elections expired, as per media reports that cited Maldives Elections Commission notification. This decision came after around 11,000 Maldivians urged the top electoral body to relocate their polling stations and, therefore, submitted re-registration requests.

The island nations secretary-general Hassan Zakariyya said, As previously, enough people registered in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. And since 150 people had registered in Trivandrum, India, we have decided to set up a ballot box there," reported web portal adadhu.com.

Hassan Zakariyya noted that the number of people who re-registered this year is low compared to past elections. The EC official further mentioned that voting would not be held in the UK, UAE and Thailand.

The island nations polling authority received 11,169 application forms requesting re-registration at different voting stations during this period. The edition.mv news portal reported that the EC rejected 1,141 forms, bringing the total number of re-registrations to 10,028.

Also read: Maldives snubs India over hydrographic survey deal after signing military pact with China

The official election date was postponed following an amendment to an Act as the election date clashed with the month of Ramzan. Earlier, the parliamentary elections were scheduled to take place on Sunday, March 17, but they have now been postponed to April 21 to avoid conducting elections during the Ramzan.

In the upcoming elections for 93 parliamentary seats, a total of 389 candidates are contesting, the sun.mv news portal reported. The pro-India main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is contesting for 90 seats, which has the highest number of candidates. The main ruling coalition of the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and the Peoples National Congress (PNC) is contesting for 89 seats.

(With inputs from PTI)

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(Bloomberg) -- Nvidia Corp. launched a cloud service for researchers to test out their quantum-computing software, seeking to profit from a field thats winning funding around the world despite yielding few groundbreaking applications so far.

The Nvidia Quantum Cloud will first comprise a data center stacked with AI chips and systems that together simulate a quantum computer, according to Tim Costa, director of high performance computing and quantum computing at the company. Unlike other cloud services, Nvidias has no quantum computer attached to it at the moment, but it will provide access to third-party quantum computers in the future, Costa told Bloomberg ahead of the GPU Technology Conference Monday.

The AI chipmakers cloud is years late to an already crowded arena. Microsoft Corp. started Azure Quantum in 2019, with Amazon Web Services launching Braket that same year. IBM Corp.-backed startup Strangeworks Inc. was founded in 2017 and has dozens of quantum computers on its cloud. But Alphabet Inc.s Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure will integrate Nvidias quantum simulator into their offerings, Costa said.

Read more: Quantum Computing Is Finally Here. But What Is It?: QuickTake

The worlds most powerful countries and corporations are pledging billions of dollars to quantum computing research, although there are few known instances where a quantum computer has run practical applications. The global zeal stems from the promise of computation speeds that are hundreds of millions times faster than supercomputers today, along with fear of the consequences  both military and commercial  for those who miss out.

For most of the 2010s, Nvidia was largely a bystander in that push. But its now a key player in quantum research after its graphics processing units, designed to speed up video games, paid dividends thanks to their ability to execute a certain type of computation quickly.

A similar version of these calculations is used in quantum computer simulations, making Nvidia AI chips such as the H100 Tensor Core GPUs an important component of quantum research. The GPU is now also powerful enough to run classical algorithms once too big for computers, such as those used for drug and materials discovery and other scientific domains, said Costa.

Separately, Nvidia also said that its chips will be used in the publicly-funded ABCI-Q supercomputer that Fujitsu Ltd. is building for the quantum computing research arm of Japans National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. The supercomputer will use more than 2,000 Nvidia H100 Tensor Core GPUs and will be deployed early next year.

The company said that supercomputers at Denmarks Novo Nordisk Foundation and Australias Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre, both dedicated to quantum computing research, will also use Nvidia hardware.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

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(Bloomberg) -- UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch masterminded a massive fraud" to dupe Hewlett Packard Co. into buying his software startup for $11 billion, a US prosecutor told a jury.

Lynchs Autonomy Corp. used a number of accounting tricks to make its revenue growth appear better than it was, such as back-dating contracts, pretending to ship goods and overpaying for unnecessary services so vendors would then buy Autonomy products, Assistant US Attorney Adam Reeves said in his opening argument Monday at a trial in San Francisco federal court.

It would cap a remarkable downfall for Lynch if hes convicted in the criminal trial thats scheduled to go for three months. He was the darling of the UKs tech industry before his 2011 sale of Autonomy, which was then the nations second-largest software company.

The trial will feature much of the same evidence and witness testimony that helped Hewlett Packard persuade a London judge to conclude in 2022 in a civil trial that Lynch and Autonomys former finance chief Sushovan Hussain inflated the startups revenue to pull off the sale. Hussain was convicted of accounting fraud in 2018 by a San Francisco jury and sentenced to five years in prison.

You will learn that these deals made no sense unless you were trying to falsely inflate your revenue," Reeves said. He also argued that Lynchs co-defendant Stephen Chamberlain was in charge of lying to auditors to cover up the fraud.

Lynchs lawyer, Reid Weingarten, countered in his opening that the governments narrative paints a black-and-white picture and that aint the way the world works."

The alleged backdating of contracts, for example, was benign" and other examples of the alleged fraud were nothing other than normal business done by Mike Lynch," Weingarten told the jury.

Read More: Fallen Tech Star Lynch in Fight to Avoid US Prison for Fraud

Lynch, who was extradited to the US last year, is charged with 14 counts of wire fraud, one count of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The most serious charge carries a maximum 25-year prison term if hes convicted.

The entrepreneur has argued that he was scapegoated for the $8.8 billion write-down Hewlett Packard took the year after the acquisition  which he claims was really the Silicon Valley giants own fault.

When HP bought Autonomy, Autonomy was rated as a $6 billion business by the market," Weingarten said Monday. HP, because they were in such desperate shape  they so needed to do something  paid over $11 billion."

While the government sought to portray Autonomy as a flailing business, Weingarten said the companys profits, cash and stock price were all on the rise before the sale and the company always had about $1 billion in cash in the bank. Its software sold like hot cakes," he said.

The defense lawyer also told jurors Lynch was not an accountant, not interested in accounting" and that its not true he was omnipotent" at Autonomy. Hussain made virtually all the accounting decisions the government challenges," Weingarten said. Lynch will testify in his own defense, the attorney said.

The case will likely hinge on showing what Lynch knew and when he knew it, Michael Cusumano, a professor and deputy dean at Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Sloan School of Management, said ahead of the trial. He said he expects that Lynch will pin the blame on his CFO and accounting team.

In my experience, though, CEOs are quite aware of these things," Cusumano said.

The case is US v. Lynch, 18-cr-00577, US District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).

(Updates with defense lawyers arguments.)

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In a remarkable display of wanderlust, Indian travellers are leaving their global peers behind in the race for solo and spontaneous travel experiences, according to the American Express 2024 Global Travel Trends Report. The comprehensive survey, spanning seven countries, has unveiled a distinct trend among Indian globetrotters, who are redefining the travel landscape with their appetite for independent and impromptu journeys.

Let's go solo

The report, based on a survey of travellers across seven countries, including India, the United States, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the United Kingdom, reveals that a staggering 84 per cent of Indians are planning solo trips this year, surpassing their global counterparts at 66 per cent. This surge in solitary explorations is fueled by a desire for self-discovery, with 46 per cent of Indians citing "reconnecting with themselves" as the primary motivation, followed by a need for a break from the chaos of daily life (39 per cent) and a quest for independence 34 (per cent).

Spur-of-the-moment trips

The report revealed that a remarkable 58 per cent of them expressed interest in taking last-minute trips this year, outpacing their global counterparts in embracing the thrill of spontaneity. The freedom to explore without pressure (50 per cent), the flexibility to visit multiple destinations (49 per cent), and the ability to experience new cultures and local experiences (48 per cent) emerged as the top drivers behind their impromptu trips.

This trend was further amplified by the findings that 40 per cent of Indians booked trips a week or less in advance last year, and a staggering 69 per cent have occasionally booked one-way tickets to destinations, allowing them greater flexibility in their travel plans.

Among the top sources of inspiration for major trips are social media (64 per cent), family (56 per cent), and travel websites (46 per cent), according to the American Express report. With their unique preferences and attitudes, Indian travellers are not only surpassing their global peers in embracing solo and spontaneous travel but also shaping the future of the travel industry.

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Amidst concerns about King Charles's health, speculations on platform X, including mentions of flags at half-mast in government buildings, have fueled rumors of the monarch's demise. There was no confirmation about the same from the Royal Family.

King Charles health has been in the news ever since his prostate surgery was performed at The London Clinic last month. During the medical procedure, doctors noticed a separate issue of concern". Subsequently, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Charles had been diagnosed with cancer.

According to the Palace, Charles did not undergo prostate surgery due to cancer, as they confirm he does not have prostate cancer. However, based on doctors' recommendations, the monarch has scaled back some of his public engagements. Nonetheless, he continues to hold weekly meetings with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

On March 15, King Charles was seen departing Windsor Castle shortly after receiving news of the passing of his longtime friend Ian Farquhar at the king's Highgrove estate. Prior to this, on March 14, King Charles held meetings with the High Commissioner of Jamaica and his wife at Buckingham Palace. Before that, he held a video call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He also held meetings with the ambassadors from Algeria and Mauritania.

Meanwhile, there have been speculations and conspiracy theories on social media, mostly X (formerly twitter) that King Charles could have passed away.

In the United Kingdom, flags are at half-mast in some government buildings," claimed one user on X. Either King Charles is dead, abdicating or Kate Middleton died," the user claimed. "The streets are saying King Charles is dead?" the user added.

The X user is, however, not the only one claiming so. Word on the street being King Charles died on Saint Patricks Day?" wrote another user.

Many social media users pointed out that it was Saint Patrick's Day (March 17), a holiday for Ireland, apparently referring to Princess Diana's Irish roots.

Lauren and Chen, the sisters behind the 'Popapologists' podcast, shared a video on TikTok about Princess Kate's health. They talked about her not attending the Trooping the Colour event in June.

Princess Kate, 42, hasn't appeared in public since her abdominal surgery in January. This week, she said sorry" for manipulating" a photo released by the palace of her and her three kids. This apology made people more curious about her health and her whereabouts.

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Donald Trump told a New York appeals court that posting a full bond for the $454 million penalty against him in the states civil fraud case is a practical impossibility" because it could require him to get cash reserves nearing $1 billion.

Trump, who is seeking to post a smaller bond or no bond at all while he appeals, would need to hold a fire sale" of properties to come up with sufficient cash to use as collateral for a full bond, the former president said in a filing Monday. New York Attorney General Letitia James has said Trumps request should be denied because he cannot be trusted.

ALSO READ: Joe Biden roasts Donald Trump at Washington dinner:One candidate is mentally unfit and the other is' | Top 6 quotes

In the filing, Trump said that he has approached about 30 surety companies through 4 separate brokers to reach his estimate that a bond requirement of this enormous magnitude" could require cash reserves approaching $1 billion."

Trump didnt explain where he got the figure, but surety companies can require collateral far exceeding a verdict to ensure they dont face any risk.

Diligent efforts since that time, including countless hours negotiating with one of the largest insurance companies in the world have proven that obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount of the judgment is not possible under the circumstances presented," Trump said.

The filing is the latest sign that Trump is facing a cash crunch after losing two civil trials this year, complicating his crowded legal strategy as he campaigns to return to the White House amid a torrent of legal troubles, including four criminal prosecutions.

Trump said that surety companies typically require collateral of approximately 120% of the amount of the judgment. The former president also said that surety companies charge bond premiums of approximately 2% per year with two years in advance, which would cost an extra $18 million, Trumps lawyers said.

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The Consulate General of India in New York informed on Monday that the initial investigation into the death of Indian student Abhijeeth Paruchuru "has ruled out any foul play".

Paruchuru, 20, was allegedly murdered in Boston, United States. His body was found dumped in a car deep inside a forest, the Times of India reported. He was a resident of Burripalem, Guntur in Andhra Pradesh and was pursuing engineering at Boston University.

He was reportedly killed on March 11. However, authorities denied any foul play.

The Indian Consulate Paruchurus parents are based in Connecticut and are in direct touch with detectives. It added, Initial investigations rule out foul play."

The consulate said it rendered assistance in documentation and transportation of his mortal remains to India". It said it remains in touch with local authorities as well as the Indian-American community in the matter.

ALSO READ: US: Indian student helps homeless man with food, shelter who later beats him to death with hammer

Deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate demise of Mr. Abhijeeth Paruchuru, an Indian student in Boston," the Consulate General of India in New York said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, sources told news agency PTI that the last rites of Paruchuru have already been performed in his hometown Tenali in Andhra Pradesh. US-based nonprofit organisation TEAM Aid had helped to bring his mortal remains to India.

ALSO READ: Indian students in American universities 'scared to travel alone', stay 'situationally aware' after 2 deaths in a week

Attacks on people of Indian-origin in US

Paruchuru's case is the ninth such incident related to the Indian origin person in the US.

In March, Amarnath Ghosh, a 34-year-old trained classical dancer from India and a student of Washington University, was shot dead in St Louis, Missouri. He was shot several times near the border of St Louis' Academy and Central West End neighbourhoods. He died on the spot, news agency PTI reported.

Twenty three-year-old Indian-American student Sameer Kamath was found dead in a nature preserve in Indiana on February 5. On February 2, Vivek Taneja, a 41-year-old Indian-origin IT executive, suffered life-threatening injuries during an assault outside a restaurant in Washington.

A week before that, Syed Mazahir Ali, an Indian student was attacked by robbers in Chicago. Earlier, 25-year-old Indian student Vivek Saini was fatally attacked in Georgia States Lithonia city by a homeless drug addict.

In January, 19-year-old Shreyas Reddy Beniger, a student at the Lindner School of Business in Ohio State was found dead. However, local authorities had ruled out foul play. Another Indian student, Neel Acharya at Purdue University, Indiana, was confirmed dead days after being reported missing on January 28.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized the United States for increasing scrutiny of his leadership during the ongoing conflict with Hamas and labelled calls for a new election as wholly inappropriate."

As reported by AP, in recent days, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the country and a strong Israel supporter, called on Israel to hold a new election, saying Netanyahu had lost his way." President Joe Biden expressed support for Schumers good speech," and earlier accused Netanyahu of hurting Israel because of the huge civilian death toll in Gaza.

Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel never would have called for a new U.S. election after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, and denounced Schumers comments as inappropriate.

Also Read: Israel prepares for ceasefire talks as UN warns of hunger crisis in Gaza

Were not a banana republic," he said. The people of Israel will choose when they will have elections, and who theyll elect, and its not something that will be foisted on us."

When asked by CNN whether he would commit to a new election after the war ends, Netanyahu said I think thats something for the Israeli public to decide."

The US, which has provided key military and diplomatic support to Israel, also has expressed concerns about a planned Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. The spokesman for the National Security Council, John Kirby, told Fox the U.S. still hasn't seen an Israeli plan for Rafah.

Also Read: Mint Explainer: Who is Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels longtime prime minister?

The US supports a new round of talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

Netanyahu reiterated his stance of not relenting in the ongoing conflict despite diplomatic discussions. The fighting, which has claimed the lives of over 31,000 Palestinians according to local health authorities, persists. It has been more than five months since Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the holding of another 250 hostage.

The Israeli delegation was anticipated to leave for Qatar following Sunday evening sessions of the Security Cabinet and War Cabinet, during which instructions for negotiations would be provided.

Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu said that calls for an election now  which polls show he would lose badly  would force Israel to stop fighting and paralyze the country for six months.

Also Read: Benjamin Netanyahu reacts as US President Joe Biden says Israel PM is hurting' his own country more than helping it

Netanyahu also reiterated his determination to attack Hamas in Rafah and said that his government approved military plans for such an operation.

We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen," he said. The operation is supposed to include the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians, but it is not clear how Israel will do that.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi reiterated his warning that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah would have grave repercussions on the whole region." Egypt says pushing Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula would jeopardize its peace treaty with Israel, a cornerstone of regional stability.

We are also very concerned about the risks a full-scale offensive in Rafah would have on the vulnerable civilian population. This needs to be avoided at all costs," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after meeting with el-Sissi.

And German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after meeting with Netanyahu on Sunday, warned that "the more desperate the situation of people in Gaza becomes, the more this begs the question: No matter how important the goal, can it justify such terribly high costs, or are there other ways to achieve your goal?"

Germany is one of Israels closest allies in Europe and, given memories of the Holocaust, often treads carefully when criticizing Israel.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, in Washington for St. Patricks Day, said during a White House reception that the Irish people were deeply troubled" by whats unfolding in Gaza. He said there was much to learn from Ireland's peace process and the critical U.S. involvement in it.

Also Read: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu adamant to claim victory: Ceasefire deal would only delay military offensive in Rafah

Varadkar said hes often asked why the Irish are so empathetic to the Palestinians.

We see our history in their eyes. A story of displacement, dispossession, and national identity questioned and denied forced emigration, discrimination and now hunger," he said.

AP reported that Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul-general in New York and a vocal critic of Netanyahu, suggested that the prime minister's remarks align with his strategy of deflecting blame if Israel fails to achieve its objective of dismantling Hamas.

Hes looking on purpose for a conflict with the U.S. so that he can blame Biden," Pinkas said.

Both parties stand to benefit politically from the conflict. The Biden administration faces mounting pressure from progressive Democrats and certain Arab-American supporters to rein in Israel's military actions against Hamas.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu aims to demonstrate to his nationalist supporters that he can withstand international pressure, even from Israel's closest ally.

Moreover, domestic pressure mounts as thousands gather once more in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to protest against Netanyahu's administration, demanding both a new election and a resolution for the release of hostages. A significant portion of the Israeli populace is advocating for a resolution, concerned that hostages may be enduring unfavorable conditions and time is of the essence to secure their safe return.

Also Read: Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu vows total victory in Gaza within months, declines Hamas ceasefire- hostage deal

Israels offensive has driven most of Gazas 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gazas population is starving," according to the UN.

Airdrops by the US and other countries persist, and deliveries via a newly established sea route have commenced. However, humanitarian organizations emphasize the necessity for additional ground routes and reduced Israeli restrictions to adequately address humanitarian needs.

Of course we should be bringing humanitarian aid by road. Of course by now we should be having at least two, three other entry points into Gaza," chef Jose Andres with World Central Kitchen, which organized the tons of food delivered by sea, told NBC.

AP reported that the Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,645 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Israel says Hamas is responsible for civilian deaths because it operates in dense residential areas.

The Health Ministry on Sunday said that the bodies of 92 people killed in Israels bombardment had been brought to hospitals in Gaza in the past 24 hours. Hospitals also received 130 wounded, it said.

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society and an Associated Press journalist reported that an airstrike in Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals from the Thabet family, including five children and one woman. Among the deceased was an infant.

(With inputs from AP)

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The Pakistan military has blamed Afghanistan for a recent wave of terrorism  including a March 16 militant attack at a border Army post. Officials from the foreign ministry said on Monday that Islamabad had carried out intelligence-based anti-terror operations in the border regions of the other country. The target of operation were terrorists belonging to the Hafix Gul Bahadur Group  held responsible for multiple attacks inside Pakistan along with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.

Pakistani jets targeted multiple suspected hideouts inside Afghanistan on Monday morning  the first airstrikes since an unofficial attack in 2022. Eight people were killed in the attack with the Afghan Taliban denouncing it as an aggression on the country's territorial integrity.

Insurgents had killed seven soldiers last week during a suicide bombing attack in northwestern Pakistan. All six attackers were killed in a retaliatory shootout in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. The Mir Ali attack was claimed by a newly formed militant group  Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad. However, Pakistani security officials believe it is mainly made up of members of the Pakistani Taliban, the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.

Relations between the two countries have soured since the Taliban seized power in 2021. Islamabad claims that militant groups are carrying out regular attacks from Afghanistan.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Monday, suggesting that a direct conflict between Russia and the US-led NATO military alliance would bring the world close to World War Three.

As reported by Reuters, Putin emphasized that few desire such a catastrophic outcome.

The conflict in Ukraine has sparked the most significant crisis in Moscow's relations with the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Putin has frequently highlighted the dangers of nuclear conflict but maintains that he has not considered deploying nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Also Read: Vladimir Putin wins Russian presidential elections, says would strengthen military in victory speech

Reuters reported that French President Emmanuel Macron last month said he could not rule out the deployment of ground troops in Ukraine in the future, with many Western countries distancing themselves from that while others, especially in Eastern Europe, expressed support.

Asked by Reuters about Macron's remarks and the risks and possibility of a conflict between Russia and NATO, Putin quipped: Everything is possible in the modern world."

Also Read: Russia Vs The West: Two and a half decades in power, is Vladimir Putin still winning?

It is clear to everyone, that this will be one step away from a full-scale World War Three. I think hardly anyone is interested in this," Putin told reporters after winning the biggest-ever landslide in post-Soviet Russian history.

Putin added, though, that NATO military personnel were present already in Ukraine, saying that Russia had picked up both English and French being spoken on the battlefield.

There is nothing good in this, first of all for them, because they are dying there and in large numbers," he said.

Before the Russian election scheduled for March 15-17, Ukraine escalated its attacks against Russia by shelling border regions and employing proxies in attempts to breach Russia's borders.

When questioned about the possibility of seizing Ukraine's Kharkiv region, Putin responded that if the assaults persisted, Russia would establish a buffer zone using additional Ukrainian territory to safeguard Russian territory.

Also Read: Russophobia is promoted as state policy in European countries, says Vladimir Putin

I do not exclude that, bearing in mind the tragic events taking place today, we will be forced at some point, when we deem it appropriate, to create a certain 'sanitary zone' in the territories today under the Kyiv regime," Putin said.

He refrained from providing additional specifics but indicated that such a zone might need to be sizable enough to prevent foreign-manufactured weapons from reaching Russian territory.

Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a major European war after eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces on one side and pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russian proxies on the other.

France could play a role..

Reuters reported that Putin said he wished Macron would stop seeking to aggravate the war in Ukraine but to play a role in finding peace: It seems that France could play a role. All is not lost yet."

"I've been saying it over and over again and I'll say it again. We are for peace talks, but not just because the enemy is running out of bullets," Putin said.

"If they really, seriously, want to build peaceful, good-neighbourly relations between the two states in the long term, and not simply take a break for rearmament for 1.5-2 years."

US Democracy

Putin dismissed US and Western criticism of the election, which the White House said was not free and fair, saying US elections were not democratic and criticising the use of state power against Donald Trump.

"The whole world is laughing at what is happening there," Putin said of the United States. It is just a catastrophe - it is not democracy - what on earth is it?"

When asked about the fate of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in unexplained circumstances at a Russian prison in the Arctic on Feb. 16, Putin said he had simply "passed away" using Navalny's name for one of the first times in public.

Also Read: US elections 2024: Trump warns of bloodbath, if not elected; Biden admin condemns says, 'he wants another January 6'

Putin said he had agreed several days before Navalny's death to swap him. Reuters reported in February that a prisoner exchange deal had been agreed for Navalny shortly before his death, Reuters reported.

"I said: 'I am agreed'," Putin said about his approval for the prisoner swap. "I had one condition - we exchange him but he never returns."

Navalny's widow, Yulia, has accused Putin of killing her husband. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that claim was simply wrong.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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Afghanistan's Taliban said Pakistani jets carried out two air strikes inside Afghan territory early on Monday, killing at least eight people, including five women and three children. The deaths were reported in the eastern border provinces of Khost and Paktika. Taliban said they retaliated by launching heavy weapons at the Pakistani military.

According to Reuters, the Taliban defence ministry said it had targeted Pakistani troops at the border in response to the air strikes. Al Jazeera cited a witnesses as saying that three mortar shells were fired from Afghanistans Paktia province at the Borki border area of Pakistan. One of them fell near a government school.

In earlier statement, Zabiullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Taliban administration, said, "The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not allow anyone to compromise security by using Afghan territory."

Meanwhile, Pakistans military said it conducted an operation on its own soil, in the North Waziristan region next to Afghanistan border. The military was quoted by Al Jazeera as saying that eight terrorists" were killed.

Why Pakistan-Taliban attacks were launched

The air strikes come two days after seven Pakistani soldiers were killed. The two countries trade blame over who is responsible for a recent spate of militant attacks in Pakistan.

The Pakistani government and security officials said such attacks have risen in recent months, many of them claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and launched from Afghan soil. According to reports, Pakistan also claimed that the armed fighters are crossing over from Afghanistan to carry out attacks in Pakistan.

However, Taliban denied Pakistan's claim. "Pakistan shouldn't blame Afghanistan for the lack of control, incompetence, and problems in its own territory," Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, was quoted by Reuters as saying. Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will not be in Pakistan's control," he added.

According to Al Jazeera, Taliban spokesperson said it strongly condemns" the attack, calling this reckless action" a violation of Afghanistans territory.

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Ukraine sent 35 drones to attack different places in Russia, causing a small fire at an oil refinery. Those were targeting Moscow and disrupting electricity supplies near the border, according to Russias statement on March 17, the final day of its presidential election.

On March 16, the strikes were targeted at plants in Russias Samara region, more than 1,000 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. A fire broke out at a processing unit in the Rosneft oil refinery in Syzran, as reported by RIA Novosti quoting Governor Dmitry Azarov. This refinery can process up to 8.5 million barrels of petroleum products annually, which is around 170,000 barrels daily.

Moscow claimed that Kyiv was trying to disrupt the election by attacking Russian infrastructure for several days, marking one of the largest air attacks on Russia since President Vladimir Putin started the war with Ukraine two years ago.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a video address on March 16, thanked his military forces and intelligence for new "long-range capabilities". However, he did not mention the attacks.

Russian forces shot down 17 drones over Krasnodar in southern Russia, four over Moscow and others in six different regions, the Russian defence ministry said in Telegram on March 17.

"The drones were neutralised, but a fire broke out as a result of the fall of one of the devices," the operational headquarters of the Krasnodar region in southern Russia said on Telegram.

Putin wins yet another election

Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin, in power since 1999, has won by a large margin in Russia's election. He said the win proved Russia was correct in opposing the West and sending soldiers to Ukraine.

Putin stated that this outcome should warn Western leaders that they would have to deal with a more confident Russia for a long time, in both war and peace.

"When we are consolidated - no matter who wants to intimidate us, suppress us - nobody has ever succeeded in history. They have not succeeded now, and they will not succeed ever in the future," Putin said.

(With agency inputs)

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NANNING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- China's rail-sea intermodal trains have completed 2,000 trips along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor since the beginning of 2024, achieving the first-quarter target ahead of schedule.

On Sunday morning, a cargo train loaded with 108 containers departed from Qinzhou railway container center station in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, heading for Sichuan Province.

This marked the 2,000th trip this year, representing a 16.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

"Since the start of 2024, the transportation of white sugar from Guangxi has increased by 44 percent year on year, and the transportation volume of automobiles and auto parts has grown by 128 percent. We have transported over 3,000 containers of Vietnamese import and export goods, marking an increase of 69 percent year on year," said Li Tailin, chairman of Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Transport Development Co., Ltd.

Launched in 2017, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor is a trade and logistics passage jointly built by provincial-level regions in western China and ASEAN members.

The rail-sea intermodal service has expanded to cover 71 cities in 18 provincial-level regions in China.
Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba is likely to visit India later this month. In his first trip to New Delhisince the start of the Russian invasion in 2022the Ukrainian foreign minister aims to lobby for support for a peace summit, Hindustan Times reported citing sources.

The report said Kulebaaccompanied by a high-level delegationis likely to co-chair a meeting of India-Ukraine inter-governmental commission with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.

It is important to note that the India-Ukraine inter-governmental commissionestablished in April 1994oversees all aspects of the bilateral relationship including trade, economic, scientific, technological, industrial and cultural cooperation.

The Ukrainian foreign ministers India visit has yet not been officially announced by either of the countries, though he is expected to be in New Delhi around March 28, the report said.

A proposed peace summit by Switzerland is expected to be on top of the list of Kulebas agenda, the report said. The proposed peace summit is set to build on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys 10-point peace formula unveiled in 2022 and a series of meetings held in recent months.

Meanwhile, Chinas envoy to Switzerland was quoted as saying that Beijing will consider taking part in the peace conference aimed at ending the Ukraine-Russia war. The Swiss government has said it aims to hold the peace summit by this summer.

Kulebas first phone call in 2024 was with Jaishankar on January 3 to discuss Ukraine-India relations. In a post on X at the time, Kuleba said he had discussed Russias escalation of attacks and further cooperation on Zelenskyys peace formula.

In this regard, I informed my counterpart of Ukraines vision for the Global Peace Summit of leaders," Kuleba had said in the post. Kuleba also said both sides had agreed to hold a meeting of the India-Ukraine inter-governmental commission in the near future".

He said the rejuvenation of this primary mechanism of our bilateral ties will allow us to jointly move forward in a comprehensive manner".

Though India has refrained from publicly censuring Russia over the invasion of Ukraine. However, New Delhi has repeatedly said it supports all initiatives aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

In May last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held in-person talks with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima.

During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Todays era is not an era of war".

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Russian Presidential Elections 2024: President Vladimir Putin won in a record post-Soviet landslide, winning 87.8% of the vote in Russias election on Sunday. He made it clear that the result should send a message to the West that its leaders will have to reckon with an emboldened Russia, whether in war or peace, for many more years to come.

Putin is set to embark on a new six-year term, which, if completed, would make him Russias longest-serving leader in over 200 years, surpassing Josef Stalin.

Here are the top 10 updates on Russias presidential elections.

1) After the results were declared, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, and other nations claimed that the vote was neither free nor fair due to the imprisonment of political opponents and censorship.

2) With just under 4% of the vote, communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov finished second, followed by rookie Vladislav Davankov in third and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky in fourth, the partial results suggested as quoted by Reuters.

3) In his victory speech, Putin told his supporters that he would prioritise resolving tasks associated with what he called Russias special military operation" in Ukraine and would strengthen the Russian military.

4) We have many tasks ahead. But when we are consolidated - no matter who wants to intimidate us, suppress us - nobody has ever succeeded in history, they have not succeeded now, and they will not succeed ever in the future," the Russian President said.

5) When he appeared on stage, his supporters chanted Putin, Putin, Putin" and Russia, Russia, Russia".

6) At noon, thousands of opponents of Putin demonstrated against him at polling places both domestically and internationally. They were motivated by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who passed away in an Arctic prison last month.

7) The whole world is laughing at what is happening (in the United States). This is just a disaster, not a democracy," Putin said while replying to a question about whether his re-election was democratic. He criticised the US political and judicial systems.

8) ...Is it democratic to use administrative resources to attack one of the candidates for the presidency of the United States, using the judiciary, among other things?" he asked, making an apparent reference to four criminal cases against Republican candidate Donald Trump, Reuters reported.

9) Given his dominance over Russia and the lack of serious opponents, Putins re-election was inevitable. Still, the former KGB operative wanted to demonstrate that the Russian people overwhelmingly supported him.

10) According to election officials, When the polls closed at 1800 GMT, the national turnout was 74.22%, exceeding the 67.5% recorded in 2018.

(With Reuters inputs)

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The Standing Committee on Finance recently made some crucial observations on the workings of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The overarching concern is that the very purpose behind its enactment has been stifled by problems which have cropped up in recent years. While most of the panels observations ring true, some seem rhetorical and without reason or evidence. It may be true that young insolvency professionals (IPs) may not be capable of handling big cases, but there is demand for both young and experienced IPs, especially in a country where small and medium-sized businesses abound. As for whether they have added value to the insolvency ecosystem, the proof is in the pudding. During my tenure at the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs where I spearheaded the graduate insolvency programme, its graduates obtained 100% placement with leading firms. Some of them let go of job offers to start their own enterprises and their journey so far affirms the idea of having a young cadre of IPs.

The committees concern over court capacity seems to have been addressed. The ministry of corporate affairs has filled most of the vacancies at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), bringing its total strength to 57 out of the sanctioned 63 members, which is close to 90%.

The Indian government has also agreed to expand the NCLT by adding 100 members. The challenge from here onwards will be to find members with the relevant expertise. Most NCLT members have little experience in dealing with commercial matters and commercial laws have their own raison detre that requires knowledge of economics and a deep understanding of how markets work.

Further, cases such as Bank of Maharashtra vs Newtech Promoters and Developers Pvt Ltd show an emerging form of court jurisprudence under which the financial health of a corporate debtor seems to be a criterion for the rejection of an insolvency application under Section 7 of the IBC. This approach was not envisaged in the Codes design. If lawmakers wanted a businesss financial health as a criterion for denying the admission of an insolvency petition, they would have kept a balance-sheet test within the Acts legislative design.

Also, every insolvency case has an impact on the rights of third parties, and the concept of equity works differently in matters of commerce. Importantly, the laws framework has scope for the withdrawal of an insolvency petition under Section 12A of the Code. This makes space for a corporate debtor to come to the compromise table under judicial oversight. As much as we may disagree with the decisions of creditors, their wisdom should not be questioned. What could be done, however, is to nudge them to consider the interests of other stakeholders while they evaluate a revival plan, although this is something that should be enabled by the legislature through law and not be done by courts.

Courts should remind themselves of the case of Salomon vs Salomon & Co Ltd, where although Salomon used the company to defraud creditors, a rigid construct of company law was adopted to establish a century-old principle that a corporation is a separate juristic personality, a distinction that gave rise to the legal structure of modern businesses. In these early years of the IBC in India, courts should give effect to the letter of the law so that the Code gets firmed up.

Now, turning to a crucial question, what should the government do when it considers how to reform the IBC? Foremost, it should create a separate and new cadre of policy experts who can evaluate fault-lines based on what the evidence shows. Second, this time, the government should adopt an evidence-based approach before making any amendments to the Code.

For disciplining errant IPs, we need stricter gatekeeping, which can be achieved by toughening the insolvency exam. Once candidates become IPs, there should be checks and balances within the system to monitor any suspicious activity by these professionals.

The regulator can evolve a two-stage process. It can examine cases internally to see if there is prima facie merit in the allegations before initiating disciplinary proceedings as the second stage. In the event that misconduct is established, the punishment should be harsh, as with serious white-collar crimes, so that such conduct could be deterred.

While making any amendments to the IBC, both regulators and the legislature should be cautious not to create any regulatory cholesterol. It is always useful to remind ourselves that in financial regulation, less may be more. It is worth noting what an outstanding judge of an English commercial court had said: We are here to help businessmen, not to hinder them; we are there to give effect to their transactions, not to frustrate them; we are there to oil the wheels of commerce, not to put a spanner in the works, or even grit in the oil." Thus, the aim of both the law and the courts should be to oil the wheels of commerce and not throw a spanner in it. New India needs businesses to drive its economy, and businesses, in turn, need legal certainty.

These are the authors personal views.
Covid was not supposed to get to Antarctica. If any place had a hope of keeping the virus out, it would be a continent with no permanent residents and an annual visiting population of only 5,000. And every control measure was in placetesting, a strict quarantine of everyone visiting, deep sanitation, masks and social distancing.

Yet, the virus got there in December 2020, less than a year into the pandemic. It arrived at the Chilean base first, spreading to at least 36 people. It later reached the Belgian base and the Argentinian base, as well as French and British outposts. In 2022, there was a big outbreak at the US McMurdo station, one at New Zealands Scott base and even a few cases at the South Pole.

Four years after the pandemic started, the frozen continent holds a lesson for the world in how much control we ever had over covid. Back in March 2020, leaders worldwide talked about getting things under control, without thinking through what this entailed.

Covid in Antarctica tells us a lot about human arrogance in terms of being above nature and being able to manage all that happens in nature," said Daniela Liggett, a social scientist at the University of Canterbury who studies Antarctic politics and environmental management. We couldnt even lock away this one piece of the planet where nobody lives and protect it from the virus." She explored the situation and its implications in a paper earlier this month in the journal Science Advances.

Humanity can control what we dump into the environment and emit into the atmosphere. We can exert some control over activities that may transfer animal viruses to humans. But after that, its nearly impossible to vacuum up plastic pollution or control a virus thats already spread far and wide.

By the end of March 2020, covid had reached every continent on the planet except for Antarctica, where the summer research season was underway. Before that season was over, most research and tourism to the continent was paused. Scientists scheduled to continue experiments or collect field data were kept out. As months went by, Antarctica went into its dark, cold winter season, and its small skeleton crews remained isolated.

When the next summer research season began in late 2020, some researchers and support staff were allowed to return following a strict quarantine. To get to the New Zealand base, people had to be tested and then hole up alone in a hotel room for two weeks, Liggett said, while continuing to undergo daily testing. Once vaccines became available to the general public, the US programmes and others required everyone to be up-to-date on their shots.

Despite all this, disease found a way to sneak in and spread. It doesnt mean Antarcticas policy was a failure. (I couldnt find a record of any deaths.) It showed the futility of going for total containment or elimination by cancelling activities and using quarantines, testing and masks. But rejecting all those measures would have increased the number of cases and the odds that people would die. Before the vaccines became available, it wasnt that rare for seemingly healthy people to get a severe case. Such cases could turn more deadly in a remote outpost far from a hospital.

The decision to resume Antarctic research activity struck a balance between risks of disease and the benefits of conducting research that cannot be done elsewhere. The Antarctic regions not covered in ice are full of lakes where scientists have found improbable life forms, giving them clues to the way life might survive on other worlds. Some scientists are monitoring the effects of global warming on the ice sheets and others are monitoring the accumulation of microplastics and PFAS (forever chemicals) on the Antarctic ice and in surrounding seas.

Shutting down everything even for part of one season had consequences. Careers were derailed, said Liggett, because researchers couldnt get to the continent to finish field studies or experiments. For young investigators in competitive fields, that could make the difference between getting established and starting over.

Now, she said, researchers in Antarctica dont spend all that much time worrying about covid. Theyve moved on. And doing research in such extreme conditions has always required some appetite for balancing risk and reward.

Today, fact checkers try to argue that the virus is under control in the US despite a continued weekly death toll in the hundreds. But what counts as under control is inherently subjective and often politically malleable.

We cannot really control whats already unleashed. The best we can hope for is finding a balance, imposing precautions but also accepting some risk. bloomberg
Vladimir Putin consolidated his grip on Russia with another presidential election win on Monday, which will extend his term in office till 2030. The election, widely considered unfair and undemocratic, will have consequences for India and the world. Mint breaks this down.

What exactly happened?

On Monday, Putin extended his tenure as Russias president by winning the countrys election with over 87% of the votes, according to Russias election commission. He easily defeated his closest challenger, communist candidate Nikolai Kharitanov, who secured 4% of the votes.

Putin, who is 71 years old, has been the pre-eminent figure in Russian politics for over two decades. Since presidential term limits in Russia were scrapped some years ago, Putin has opened up a path to staying in power for an extended period of time.

Were the elections fair?

Most observers agree that the Russian elections, in keeping with the trend over the last few years, were not free and fair. Opposition candidates who posed any real challenge to Putin did not receive clearance from Russias election commission to contest the polls. Anti-war candidates like Boris Nadhezdin, who were against the war in Ukraine, were barred from running in the election.

International observers have pointed out that Russian authorities have not been above ballot stuffing and fraudulent counting in the past. However, elections remain an important ritual in Russia. Political analyst Ekaterina Kurbangaleeva points out that they help reinforce loyalty to the regime of Vladimir Putin.

What was the international reaction to Putins win?

Putin was congratulated on his victory by China, Venezuela, Iran, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, the US, the European Union, the UK, Italy and Ukraine were critical of the unfair election process. Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Putin on his return to office. Numerous Russian missions around the world also saw protests at the polls. In Germany, these were led by Yulia Navalnaya, the wife of the late opposition critic Alexei Navalny.

What does Putins latest win mean for India and the world?

Putins re-election is expected to maintain Russias policy of continuing the conflict in Ukraine and deepening Moscows relationship with China. Russias break with the West and its turn towards China is likely to carry some consequences for Indias foreign policy as it has banked on a strong defence relationship with Russia to supply its military. It has also relied on a strong relationship with Moscow to advance its interests in Central Asia.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a clarion call for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Monday during a rally in Karnataka's Shivamogga. The senior politician also lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, contending that the INDIA bloc had announced their intention to destroy Shakti.

4 June ko 400 paar. Karnataka voters have a big responsibility in this mission. Why are we talking about 400 seats? 400 paar for Viksit Bharat, Viksit Karnataka...Confident that lotus of development will bloom on June 4 in all seats of the state," Modi said.

The Modi-led BJP government is seeking a third term in office as India holds Lok Sabha elections from April 19. He has repeatedly insisted that the NDA will sweep the polls with more than 400 of the 543 parliamentary seats up for grabs as the INDIA bloc struggles to put forth a cohesive message.

The PM also took a dig at the Congress government for allegedly "plundering" Karnataka and turning it into an ATM as several "power centres" sprung up in the state. He claimed that corruption had risen until there was no money to run even the government.

Modi ji does not like my words, he always tries to change their meaning by twisting them in some way or the other because he knows that I have spoken a deep truth. The power that I mentioned, the power that we are fighting, it's mask is none other than Modi ji," Gandhi countered via social media after the PM's remarks.

Meanwhile senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa threw a spanner in works after opting to skip the rally. The 75-year-old former Deputy Chief Minister was seen visiting maths of various communities after turning down an invitation to attend Modi's rally. The politician had raised the banner of revolt after his son was denied a ticket to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Haveri. Eshwarappa has also announced plans to contest as an independent candidate from Shimoga.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Dattatreya Hosabale, the re-elected General Secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government over the now-scrapped Electoral Bond scheme, calling it an experiment.

Hosabale, 69, was re-elected as the Sarkaryavah, or General Secretary, of the RSS after Sanghs highest decision-making body, Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS), met in Nagpur on Sunday.

We have not thought much about this issue. In the meetings, too, we have not discussed it because electoral bonds are an experiment. Such experiments happen, and the kinds of checks and balances that are required can be done," Hosabale said, addressing a press conference.

Also Read: Electoral bonds data 2nd list: How Lottery King Santiago Martin became the biggest donor

The Sarkaryavah, referred to as CEO in modern parlance, is the number two person responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the RSS. Hosabale was first appointed as the Sanghs Sarkaryavah in March 2021. Prior to that, he was the RSS Sah-Sarkaryavah, or the joint general secretary, since 2009. He will continue as Sarkaryavah until 2027.

Defending the electoral bonds, Hosabale cited the introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) as one such instance, adding that questions were raised about these machines, too, according to a report in The Print.

It is not that the electoral bonds have suddenly been introduced today. It was brought earlier, too. Whenever a change is introduced, questions are raised. Questions were also raised when the EVMs were introduced. It is natural," he said. Hosabale added, But time will tell how beneficial and effective the new system was. Hence, the Sangh thinks it should be left for experiment."

Also Read: Electoral bonds data 2nd list: Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is second largest recipient of donations

The Election Commission of India released the State Bank of India (SBI) -provided data on the electoral bonds on its website in two installments on March 14 and March 17. This move is in compliance with the Supreme Courts directions to the public sector bank after scrapping the Electoral Bond Scheme in February this year.

The first set of data pertained to political donations through electoral bonds made between March 9, 2018 and April 11, 2019. The second data uploaded on the election commissions website on Sunday had details of political donations through electoral bonds between April 2019 and January 2024.

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Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Ajit Pawar, received backlash from his brother Srinivas Pawar for leaving the side of NCP founder Sharad Pawar.

Also Read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Indian bourses likely to remain shut on Polling Day in Mumbai

Like every medicine has an expiry date, every relation too has an expiry date. Consider it as an expiry and move ahead in life," Srinavas Pawar said while taking a swipe at his brother Ajit Pawar at a public gathering in Maharashtra.

He said that the NCP founder made Ajit Pawar deputy CM four times but the latter continues to ask what the NCP founder had done for him. The video of Srinavas Pawar's speech calling out his brother was widely shared on the internet.

In the video, Srinivas Pawar can be heard criticising Ajit Pawar for leaving the side of Nationalist Congress Party founder Sharad Pawar.

While speaking at a public gathering in Baramati's Katewadi village, the 60-year-old leader said that Sharad Pawar had stood with Ajit Pawar through thick and thin and it was "unworthy" of someone to speak ill about such a benefactor's old age.

"When we (Srinivas and Ajit Pawar) spoke after the split, I told him you continue to contest the Baramati assembly seat and the Lok Sabha elections from here will be contested under (Sharad) Pawar saheb's leadership," PTI quoted Srinivas Pawar as saying in the video.

Also Read: 'Chaar June ko...': PM Modi sounds clarion call for Lok Sabha polls during Karnataka rally

Future lies with Ajit Pawar: Friends' advice to Srinivas Pawar

Srinivas Pawar also mentioned that a few of his friends advised him to be with Ajit Pawar as the future lies with him". However, Srinivas Pawar made his priorities clear that anyone like Ajit Pawar whose thoughts are not at all sensitive about an elderly person" is very painful".

"This thought that we are not at all sensitive about an elderly person is very painful for me. Anyone who has such a thought (of forsaking the elderly) is an unworthy person," the deputy CM's younger brother said in the video.

Ajit Pawar has referred to Sharad Pawar's age on many occasions asking the octagenarian to retire and hand over the NCP's leadership to the next generation. "How can someone muster the courage to ask such a person (Sharad Pawar) to retire and stay at home? I do not like such a personality," he said in a swipe at the deputy CM.

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In a bid to upgrade India's railway infrastructure and boost connectivity and speed, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to include a promise of multiple high-speed rail or bullet train corridors in the Lok Sabha 2024 manifesto. The party is considering including several HSR projects as a key promise for the next five years, reported Business Standard citing sources.

Also Read: MK Stalin labels electoral bonds BJP's white-collar corruption, yet corruption finds shelter in DMK's hefty fund

Bolstering connectivity and experience of high-speed trains and new version trains like Vande Bharat Express will be one of the main focuses of the party in the coming five years, a senior party leader told the Business Daily. The saffron party is yet to release the manifesto for the general elections in 2024.

Also Read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: PM Modi outlines vision for 'Indian Railways Revolution' in next term

The railway sector was also in focus in the interim budget which came in March this year. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced three major railway corridors including a port connectivity corridor, energy, mineral and cement corridor and a high-traffic density corridor. She also announced the upgradation of 40,000 normal bogies to standard Vande Bharat bogies.

Also Read: Holi 2024: Indian Railways to run 6 Holi Special trains to connect Ludhiana; Check route, schedule, details here

BJP's 2019 Lok Sabha manifesto also mentioned the expansion of high-speed trains. At present, the government is working on the 508-km-long Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR project. The project is expected to be completed in the next two years. It is expected to be inaugurated in 2026, marking the beginning of bullet trains in the country.

The project is currently in progress in Gujarat. The first bullet train in the country will operate between India and Ahmedabad. Till the beginning of 2024, the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) project was 40% complete. The Gujarat part of the project was completed by 48.3%, whereas, the Maharashtra side's construction was 22.5% finished, reported Times of India earlier.

The 508-km-long Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor will run at a speed of 320 Km/hr covering 12 Stations. The frequency of bullet trains on the corridor will be 35 trains per day/one direction, with a frequency of 20 mins in peak hours and 30 mins in non-peak hours.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday he had agreed to exchange Alexei Navalny with prisoners in the West days before the Russian opposition politician dropped dead in an Arctic penal colony.

The comments confirm that talks on swapping Navalny had reached an advanced stage, but fail to explain the mystery of his death ahead of a potential exchange. Putin said he had agreed to the idea on one condition: that Navalny never return to Russia.

For months, members of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation had been advocating for a deal that would have seen Russia release Navalny, who was serving sentences amounting to 30 years on charges he said were politically motivated. After he died the foundation said those talks had reached their final stage to secure his exchange, along with two U.S. citizens held in Russia. In return, Berlin was meant to free Vadim Krasikov, a suspected member of Russias Federal Security Service, serving a life sentence for murder in Germany, for the killing of a Chechen fugitive.

The U.S. had discussed that idea with Germany, but hadnt proposed it to the Kremlin, U.S. officials have said.

In a speech Putin delivered after polls closed in the countrys presidential election, the Russian leader said he had agreed to the swap. He said the offer was brought to him by people outside the administration," without specifying whether he meant his own office, or the Biden administration.

A few days before Mr. Navalny passed away, some colleagues, not members of the administration, some people there told me that there was an idea to exchange Mr. Navalny for some people who are in prison in Western countries," Putin said, uttering the dissidents last name, which he had studiously avoided doing for years.

The person who spoke to me had not yet finished the sentence, I said: I agree!", he added, expressing regret that what happened happened."

Among the U.S. citizens being held in Russia are Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, held on an allegation of espionage, and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, currently serving a 16-year sentence for espionage. The Journal has vehemently denied the charge against its reporter, as has Gershkovich. The Biden administration has said that Gershkovich, 32, who was detained during a reporting trip and was accredited to work as a journalist by Russias foreign ministry, has been wrongfully detained.

Moscow has said it is acting in accordance with its laws.

The U.S. has also designated Whelan as wrongfully detained, and has described the espionage conviction against him as an act of hostage-taking. The White House has said it is working to negotiate their release.

Navalnys team, which has said Putin had Navalny killed in prison as a way to reject the swap proposal, dismissed Putins comments. Ivan Zhdanov, director of the Anti-Corruption Fund, said Putin confirmed the exchange and immediately ordered to kill," him. We know this and we will prove it," he wrote on X.

Navalny, who died on Feb. 16, was Putins most ardent critic and spent years investigating and exposing alleged corruption by the Kremlin elite. He had a large following across Russiaand was popular in Germany, where he sought medical treatment for a poisoning with Novichok, a chemical nerve agent.

President Biden has said Putin is responsible for Navalnys death, but the Kremlin has denied state involvement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov didnt respond to a request for comment about the Anti-Corruption Foundation statement.

Write to Thomas Grove at thomas.grove@wsj.com, Ann M. Simmons at ann.simmons@wsj.com and Drew Hinshaw at drew.hinshaw@wsj.com
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde called the choice of venue for Sunday, March 17 event unfortunate. He expressed unhappiness over the choice of venue on the occasion of closing of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.

Opposition bloc INDIA leaders gathered at Shivaji Park to mark to the conclusion of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and kickstart their election campaign. The Maharashtra CM complained that Mumbai's Shivaji Park was the same place from where Shiv Sena founder, Balasaheb Thackeray, used to address his people.

While lamenting over venue choice, the Shiv Sena leader said, "Today is a black day for Shiv Sena people because it was from Shivaji Park that Balasaheb Thackeray addressed the country. Now, the INDIA rally is happening at the same venue.

Eknath Shinde remarked that those people who used foul language against the freedom fighter, Veer Savarkar and made unfounded allegations against him gathered at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. Eknath Shinde said, "Those who used foul language against Veer Savarkar and made unfounded allegations against him are gathering at Shivaji Park today. This is unfortunate," reported ANI.

The Shiv Sena leader further accused the Congress of being anti-Hindu and stated, "How can we say that we are proud Hindus when some people even fear saying the words Hindu Hriday Samrat these days?"

The CM alleged Uddhav Thackeray of striving to gain power by tying up with the Congress and the undivided Nationalist Congress Party under Sharad Pawar to achieve this purpose. "In the upcoming elections, people will teach a lesson to those who sacrificed the vision and ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray just for the sake of power," ANI quoted Eknath Shinde as saying who took a veiled dig at former party colleague Uddhav Thackeray.

Additionally, Sena (UBT) MLC Aamshya Padavi joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Chief Minister Shinde which marks another blow to the INDIA bloc and Uddhav Thackeray.

The Maharashtra CM noted that today MLC Aamshya Padavi and his workers have joined the Shiv Sena, which follows and carries forward Balasaheb's ideology. ANI quoted the CM as saying, "All those here stand for Balasaheb's ideology and there (at Shivaji Park) are those who stand against him. So today is an unfortunate day...a black day."

BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Rahul Gandhi of being against NariShakti and said, A series of INDI alliance members have said that Hindu Dharma is fraud. Ramcharitmanas is potassium cyanide. "

Shehzad Poonawalla alleged the Congress Party of having a long history of Hindu hatred, from denying the existence of Lord Ram to making the statement about Shakti.

While stating that Rahul Gandhi's statement is an insult to the Hindu faith, he added, "The statement from Rahul Gandhi in front of Uddhav Thackeray shows to what extent they can fall. Today, this is not just an insult to the Hindu faith but shows the misogynistic mindset of Rahul Gandhi, who is against NariShakti and its manifestation."

(With inputs from ANI)

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TAIPEIDavid shouldnt rely too much on slingshots to repel Goliath. Hell need plenty of tanks and jet fighters too.

That is the takeaway for defense officials and scholars in Taiwan from the latest developments in Ukraine, where Kyiv has struggled to block Russian advances while waiting for allies to deliver more powerful hardware.

The need for heavy weapons has been a point of contention between Taipei and Washington in discussing how Taiwan would blunt a Chinese attempt to seize the island.

For more than a decade, U.S. officials have encouraged Taiwan to invest in small, relatively cheap weapons such as shoulder-fired missiles, drones and sea mines. The goal would be to bring a Chinese amphibious invasion force to a halt at close range with thousands of small strikes.

Such asymmetrical warfare is a favorite tactic of guerrillas and weaker nations facing big rivals. Ukraines initial successes in using asymmetrical weapons such as Javelin missiles in destroying Russian tanks and severing supply convoys showcased the tactic.

More recently, however, Ukraine has felt the want of Americas most powerful big-ticket weaponsfrom F-16 jets to M1 Abrams tanks, delivered so far in only small quantities. Ukraine had trouble last year breaking through fortified positions established by Russian troops, giving Moscow time to build its strength before a possible spring offensive this year.

Taiwan fears the same plight if China amasses forces around the island in a blockade, or if Beijings military establishes a firm beachhead on Taiwan. In such scenarios, small, short-range weapons could be less effective at degrading the enemy, and Taiwan would need bigger hardware, Taiwanese defense officials and analysts say.

The asymmetrical approach advocated by some people would put the whole of Taiwan into a meat grinder," said I-Chung Lai, a former ruling-party foreign-affairs official now at Taiwan Thinktank, a research organization.

Figuring out the right weapons mix is among the most challenging tasks for Taiwans next president, Lai Ching-te, who takes office in May.

For the past few years, Taiwans procurement, under U.S. pressure, has put more emphasis on asymmetrical weapons such as Harpoon antiship missiles, Himars rocket launchers and mines.

The Taiwanese military has long favored heavy weapons such as tanks and jet fighters in preparation for a longer conflict against Beijing. If he agrees, President-elect Lai could push the U.S. to deliver more quickly on previously agreed orders for weapons such as M1 Abrams tanks, howitzers and F-16s.

Preparing weapons and munitions in sufficient quantities is vital for Taiwan because it would be harder to deliver supplies during a conflict. While Ukraine can receive supplies by road and rail across its western border, shipments to Taiwan would have to come through air and sea lanes patrolled by China.

The U.S. is deeply intertwined in the discussion because it provides much of Taiwans military equipment and helps to train its air, land and sea forces.

Under the current president, Tsai Ing-wen, Taipei edged closer to U.S. thinking about asymmetrical weapons. It stepped up orders for several types of them such as 400 land-launched Harpoon missiles, although the U.S. has struggled to deliver them quickly. Taiwan is also ramping up its own missile production, including Hsiung Feng antiship missiles that are similar to Harpoon missiles.

The U.S. pressure didnt mean Taipei stopped buying big-ticket items. During the Trump and Biden administrations, Taiwan signed contracts to buy $4.4 billion in asymmetrical weapons, including the Harpoon missiles, compared with $11.7 billion in orders for conventional weapons, according to a tally last year by the Cato Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank.

Those conventional weapons include 66 F-16s and 108 M1 Abrams tanks, big orders made during the Trump administration that are due to reach Taiwan in the next few years.

U.S. officials and military scholars have long believed that the expensive hardware is apt to get wiped out by Chinas much larger military, the Peoples Liberation Army, in the early stages of attack. Simulations of an all-out Chinese invasion run by American think tanks assume most of the Taiwanese air force or navy would be quickly destroyed by Chinese missile strikes.

Without shifting to a full asymmetrical defense approach, Taiwan risks a quick defeat if invaded, said Michael Hunzeker, a security scholar at George Mason University in Virginia. He and others observe that the Taiwanese militarys penchant for pricey weapons limits funds for what the skeptics see as more effective tools such as shoulder-fired missiles.

For those of us who are critical of the Taiwanese military, if we see what we see, the PLA sees it even better," he said.

Some in Taiwan are also giving Lai similar advice. They say the self-governing democracy of 23.5 million people has no chance of winning a head-to-head battle with Beijing and its two million active-duty military service members.

Lee Hsi-min, Taiwans top military officer from 2017 to 2019, started a program to deploy tiny assault boats that could hide in fishing harbors and make hit-and-run style missile attacks on any Chinese invasion force. The program was scrapped after Lee left office.

Lee said Taiwans $14 billion military budget wasnt enough to bring the fight to Beijing in all domains, and the focus should lie in countering the amphibious invasion force that China would ultimately need to seize Taiwans beaches and airfields. We have to prioritize our existence," Lee said.

Those on the other side of the debate say that missing in this picture is consideration of other scenarios in which traditional weaponry would play an important role. One such scenario is a blockade, a strategy documented in Chinese military texts and viewed as more likely than a sudden invasion in a recent survey of 52 American and Taiwanese scholars.

A Chinese blockade would use ships and aircraft to cut Taiwan off from fuel and other supplies, seeking to pressure it to submit without a fight.

Lai, the former ruling-party official at Taiwan Thinktank, said unless Taiwan has powerful naval vessels and updated jet fighters to break through the blockade, it would be effectively ceding its waters to China. A shoulder-mounted Stinger missile would be little use trying to breach a Chinese armada amassed off the coast, he said.

We cant just wait for them to arrive on the beaches," Lai said.

A direct analogy to Ukraine could come if Chinese forces succeed in landing on Taiwan. American military strategists generally assume Taiwanese forces could hold out for a few months at most without outside support. But with U.S. intervention, the battle might shift to an effort to dislodge the Chinese military.

In that scenario, Taiwan would need the same equipment Ukraine is urgently requesting, strategists in Taiwan say.

Asymmetrical weapons are necessary but not sufficient for the challenges Taiwan faces," said Guermantes Lailari, a former U.S. Air Force officer who is now a research fellow at National Chengchi University in Taiwan.

Write to Alastair Gale at alastair.gale@wsj.com
The Supreme Court is back on the First Amendment beat Monday when it hears cases asking whether government officials can jawbone businesses to restrict speech. It seems government needs remedial constitutional training.

In Murthy v. Missouri, states and individuals whose posts on Covid were censored sued federal officials for violating the First Amendment. Lower courts ruled for the plaintiffs based on copious evidence that government officials pressured social-media platforms to suppress their posts.

Former White House director of digital strategy Rob Flaherty and Covid adviser Andy Slavitt flagged posts for removal to social-media employees and berated them if they didnt follow orders. Facebook is hiding the ball" on its efforts to combat vaccine borderline content," Mr. Flaherty wrote in one email.

Mr. Flaherty also blamed Facebook for the Jan. 6, 2021, riot and said it would be blamed for Covid deaths if it didnt increase censorship. I care mostly about what actions and changes you are making to ensure youre not making our countrys vaccine hesitancy problem worse," Mr. Flaherty wrote.

Officials reinforced these private lashings with public threats. Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said platforms could face legal consequences" if they didnt censor vaccine misinformation." White House officials floated antitrust action and eliminating Section 230 liability protections.

The Justice Department claims this bullying is merely government speech protected by the First Amendment. So long as the government seeks to inform and persuade rather than to compel, its speech poses no First Amendment concerneven if government officials state their views in strong terms," the Solicitor General writes.

But Biden officials werent merely out to persuade. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that Biden officials crossed the line by using threats of legal action. The appellate judges cited the Supreme Courts Blum (1982) precedent, which held that government is responsible for actions of private parties when it provides significant encouragement," meaning [s]omething more than uninvolved oversight from the government."

The Fifth Circuit also cited Bantam Books (1963), in which a Rhode Island state-created commission asked book distributors and retailers for their cooperation" in removing books it deemed objectionable. Police followed up with retailers to ensure they complied. The commission said it was merely exhorting booksellers.

But the Justices held that the government had violated the publishers speech rights. They analyzed the tone and phrasing of the commissions exhortations as well as governments legal authority and threat to punish distributors. Much as the Rhode Island commissions notices were phrased virtually as orders," so were the Biden teams communications with platforms.

***

The second case the Court hears Monday (NRA v. Vullo) concerns whether the First Amendment allows government officials to threaten sanctions against regulated entities that do business with a political advocacy group they dont like. The obvious answer is no, but New York says jawboning is protected government speech.

In 2018 New York states then Superintendent of the Department of Financial Services, Maria Vullo, directed financial institutions she regulated to stop doing business with gun-rights groups. Her letters encourage[d]" financial institutions to evaluate and manage the reputational risks" of doing business with the groups.

She also threatened financial institutions with penalties for unrelated regulatory infractions, which she said they could escape if they severed ties with the National Rifle Association. Nice business you have there. Terrible if something happens to it.

Drawing on Bantam Books, a federal judge said Ms. Vullos threats plausibly violated the First Amendment by punishing the NRAs advocacy. But the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held that Ms. Vullo acted properly within her remit as a regulator. That ruling is a license for partisans to abuse their regulatory power to silence opponents. Texass medical licensing board could, say, threaten to yank licenses of doctors who donate to pro-abortion groups.

A bedrock constitutional principle holds that government cant coerce private parties to do what government cannot do on its own. The High Court on Monday can reaffirm this emphatically.
Having the best printers for office use may significantly improve productivity and efficiency in office operations. It becomes essential to choose the finest best printers for office use out of all the available options. Every type, from little inkjets to sturdy laser printers, has special features designed to satisfy the needs of contemporary offices.

In this blog, we examine the top 10 best printers for office use made especially for business settings. Whether you need a wireless connection, multi-function features, or high-speed printing, these best printers for office use are designed to maximise efficiency and optimise productivity. Come explore the cutting-edge features and technology that make these best printers for office use invaluable tools in any business situation.

Introducing flawless efficiency and a happy ending to your printing troubles with our carefully chosen collection of the top best printers for office use available.

1. Canon PIXMA MegaTank G2012 Inktank Colour Printer

Perfect for both home and workplace use, the Canon PIXMA MegaTank G2012 all-in-one printer is a miracle of an ink tank. It guarantees economical and excellent printing with two extra black ink bottles that can produce up to 6000 prints each and colour bottles that can produce 7000 prints.

Specifications of Canon PIXMA MegaTank G2012 Inktank Colour Printer:

Brand: Canon

Canon Model Name: PIXMA G2012

PIXMA G2012 Product Dimensions: 33 x 44.5 x 16.3 cm; 6 Kilograms

33 x 44.5 x 16.3 cm; 6 Kilograms Item Model Number: CNN_G2012_BLK

CNN_G2012_BLK Operating System: Windows

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid High page yield with included ink bottles Initial setup may be time-consuming Cost-effective printing with ink tank system Relatively slower print speeds compared to some competitors

2. Canon PIXMA E4570 Colour Printer

The feature-rich Canon PIXMA E4570 all-in-one printer to buy is a great option for printing at home or in the business. It provides simplicity and adaptability for print, scan, and copy activities with Wi-Fi connectivity, FAX functionality, and auto duplex printing.

Specifications of Canon PIXMA E4570 Colour Printer:

Brand: Canon

Canon Model Name : PIXMA E4570

: PIXMA E4570 Product Dimensions : 29.5 x 43.5 x 18.9 cm; 5.8 Kilograms

: 29.5 x 43.5 x 18.9 cm; 5.8 Kilograms Item Model Number: E4570

E4570 Operating System: Windows 10 / 8.1 / 7 SP1

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid All-in-one functionality: Print, scan, copy, and fax Initial setup may be time-consuming Ink-efficient design for cost-effective printing Relatively slower print speeds compared to some competitors

3. HP Ink Tank 419 Colour Printer

With print, scan, and copy capabilities, the HP Ink Tank 419 all-in-one Wi-Fi colour printer is meant for office use. It is a powerful tool for use at home, in the office, or in the workplace. It guarantees long-term productivity and cost savings with extra ink bottles supplied for up to 15000 black and 8000 colour pages.

Specifications of HP Ink Tank 419 Colour Printer:

Brand: HP

HP Series: Ink Tank Wireless 419

Ink Tank Wireless 419 Colour: Black

Black Item Height: 15.8 Millimeters

15.8 Millimeters Item Width: 31 Millimeters

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Cost-effective printing with additional black ink bottle Initial setup may be time-consuming All-in-one functionality: Print, scan, and copy May have a larger footprint compared to some compact printers

4. HP Smart Tank 529 AIO Colour Printer

With print, scan, and copy capabilities, the HP Smart Tank 529 AIO colour printer for office use is a flexible option for use at home or in the workplace. It guarantees continuous productivity and ease with included ink for up to 6000 black and 6000 colour pages.

Specifications of HP Smart Tank 529 AIO Colour Printer:

Brand: HP

HP Series: HP Tank

HP Tank Colour: Magenta

Magenta Form Factor: Print Copy Scan

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid High page yield for both black and color ink cartridges Initial setup might be time-consuming Economical printing with included ink bottles Large footprint may require ample space

5. Epson EcoTank L3252 Ink Tank Printer

The sleek black Epson EcoTank L3252 Wi-Fi all-in-one Ink Tank office printer offers dependable performance. Its effective ink tank design and wireless connectivity make it ideal for households or small offices looking for hassle-free printing.

Specifications of Epson EcoTank L3252 Ink Tank Printer:

Brand: Epson

Epson Model Name : L3252

: L3252 Product Dimensions: 43.5 x 40.8 x 24.4 cm; 5.6 Kilograms

43.5 x 40.8 x 24.4 cm; 5.6 Kilograms Memory Storage Capacity: 256 MB

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid High-capacity ink tanks for cost-effective printing Initial investment is higher due to the upfront cost of ink tanks Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless printing Print speed may be slower compared to some competitors

6. Brother DCP-T820DW Colour Ink Tank Printer

Designed for both home and workplace usage, the Brother DCP-T820DW is a feature-rich multifunction printer for office. Designed for both home and workplace usage, the Brother DCP-T820DW is a feature-rich multifunction printer for office use with an ink tank. Its Wi-Fi connectivity and automatic duplex printing feature provide efficient and easy print, scan, and copy activities.

Specifications of Brother Brother DCP-T820DW Colour Ink Tank Printer:

Brand: Brother

Brother Model: DCP-T820DW

DCP-T820DW Product Dimensions : 43.51 x 43.89 x 19.51 cm; 9.6 Kilograms

: 43.51 x 43.89 x 19.51 cm; 9.6 Kilograms Memory Storage Capacity: 128 MB

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless printing Initial setup may require technical expertise Auto duplex printing saves paper costs Print speed may be slower compared to some competitors

Also read: Best HP Laserjet printers for home and office use: Top 7 picks for you

7. HP Laser 1008a Printer

Designed for efficiency, the HP Laser 1008a printer for office use is a dependable monochrome printer. With its large input and output trays, strong duty cycle, and quick print times, this printer is perfect for hectic work settings that need high-quality black-and-white printing.

Specifications of HP Laser 1008a Printer:

Brand: HP

HP Series: HP Laser

HP Laser Colour: White

White Form Factor: Printer

Printer Item Height: 21.5 Centimeters

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Fast printing speed of up to 21 ppm Limited functionality (single function - only prints) Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity No wireless connectivity options

8. Brother HL-B2080DW Mono Laser Printer

The Brother HL-B2080DW Mono Laser Printer has a stylish grey appearance, Wi-Fi connection, and auto duplex printing capabilities. Because of its toner box technology guarantees economical and effective printing, so it's a great option for homes and small offices.

Specifications of Brother HL-B2080DW Mono Laser Printer:

Brand: Brother

Brother Colour: Gray

Gray Form Factor : Print Only

: Print Only Item Height : 18.3 Centimeters

: 18.3 Centimeters Item Width: 35.6 Centimeters

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Automatic duplex printing for paper-saving efficiency Limited functionality (mono printing only - black and white) Reliable performance with mono laser printing technology May not be suitable for color printing needs

9. Canon PIXMA MegaTank G2010 Colour Printer

The all-in-one ink tank colour best printers for office use, Canon PIXMA MegaTank G2010, blends price and capability. It is ideal for home and office customers looking for dependable colour printing because of its elegant black style and effective ink tank mechanism.

Specifications of Canon PIXMA MegaTank G2010 Colour Printer:

Brand: Canon

Canon Model Name : PIXMA G2010

: PIXMA G2010 Product Dimensions: 44.5 x 33 x 13.5 cm; 6 Kilograms

44.5 x 33 x 13.5 cm; 6 Kilograms Operating System: Windows, Windows 10, Windows 8

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid High page yield with included ink bottles Initial setup may be time-consuming Cost-effective printing with ink tank system No automatic document feeder for scanning multiple pages

10. Posiflex Rugtek Printer

Posiflex Rugtek Printer RP326-USE is a multi-functional 3-in-1 printer that supports Ethernet, serial, and USB connections. With the Posiflex Service Center's one-year carry-in warranty, it's a dependable option for various printing requirements.

Specifications of Posiflex Rugtek Printer:

Brand : Posiflex

: Posiflex Model: RP326USE

RP326USE Model Name: Rugtek RP 326

Rugtek RP 326 Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 9.5 x 14.8 cm; 2.5 Kilograms

14.5 x 9.5 x 14.8 cm; 2.5 Kilograms Operating System: Windows 10

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Versatile connectivity options (USB, Serial, Ethernet) Limited features compared to multifunction printers Durable construction for reliable performance May not offer advanced printing features

Also Read: Best HP colour printers for home and office use: Top 8 picks

Best 3 features for you

Product Included Pages Connectivity Additional Features Canon PIXMA MegaTank G2012 All in One Ink Tank Printer 6000 B & 7000 C USB, Wi-Fi 2 Additional Black Ink Bottles, Print, Scan, Copy for Home/Office Canon PIXMA E4570 All in One Ink Efficient Colour Printer Not specified Wi-Fi, Fax, Auto Duplex Print, Scan, Copy, Fax HP Ink Tank 419 All-in-one Wi-Fi Colour Printer Up to 15000 B, 8000 C Wi-Fi 1 Additional Black Ink Bottle, Print, Scan, Copy for Office/Home HP Smart Tank 529 AIO Colour Printer Up to 6000 B & C USB, Wi-Fi Print, Scan, Copy for Office/Home Epson EcoTank L3252 Wi-Fi All-in-One Ink Tank Printer Not specified Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Connectivity, Print, Scan, Copy Brother DCP-T820DW Ink Tank Multifunction Printer Not specified Wi-Fi, Auto Duplex Print, Scan, Copy for Home & Office HP Laser 1008a Printer Not applicable Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Single Function, Print, 10,000-page Duty Cycle, Black and White Brother HL-B2080DW Mono Laser Printer Not specified Wi-Fi, Auto Duplex Mono Laser, Wi-Fi, Toner Box Technology Canon PIXMA MegaTank G2010 All-in-One Ink Tank Printer Not specified USB, Wi-Fi Print, Scan, Copy Posiflex Rugtek Printer RP326 -USE Not applicable USB, Serial, Ethernet 3 in 1 Connectivity, 1 Yrs Carry-in Warranty

Best overall product

The Canon PIXMA MegaTank G2012 All-in-One (Print, Scan, Copy) InkTank Colour Printer stands out as the best overall product. Offering versatile functionality in one device, it seamlessly handles printing, scanning, and copying tasks. With its innovative MegaTank technology, it delivers high-quality color printing while minimizing ink replacement frequency. Its user-friendly design and efficient performance make it a perfect choice for home and office use. Experience exceptional value and reliability with this Canon printer, ensuring hassle-free printing for all your needs.

Best value for money

Because of its many features at a reasonable price, the Canon PIXMA E4570 All-in-One Wi-Fi Ink-Efficient Colour is the best affordable printer for office use and stands out as the most significant value for the money. It can print, scan, copy, and fax, successfully meeting various home and workplace demands. Its ink-efficient design lowers operating expenses, and auto-duplex printing increases output while using less paper.

How to find the best printer for office use

To find the best office printer, consider critical factors like print speed, quality, connectivity options, and running costs. Look for models with efficient ink or toner usage, Wi-Fi connectivity for easy networking, and compatibility with your office's operating systems. Reading user reviews and comparing brand features can help ensure you make the most suitable choice.

FAQs

Question : What aspects should I consider when selecting a printer for usage in my office?

Ans : Print quality, speed, connection, paper handling capacity, consumable costs, and extra features like scanning, copying, and faxing capabilities are all important considerations.

Question : Are small or big office environments a good fit for these best printers for office use?

Ans : The majority of the printers on this list can be used in both small and big office settings. However, depending on things like print volume and capacity, some could be more suited to one over the other.

Question : Do these printers have wireless networking capabilities?

Ans : Many of the printers on this list indeed support Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling users to print wirelessly from PCs, tablets, and smartphones.

Question : Can these printers handle heavy printing operations?

Ans : While some printers are better suited for moderate or low-volume printing, others are made expressly for large-volume printing needs. Considering the printer's duty cycle and paper handling capability is critical for high-volume printing requirements.

Disclaimer: At Livemint, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Mint has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

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Board almost any flight these days, and the airline will offer Wi-Fi service. That can be a big help if you want to get some work done or have a broader range of entertainment options during your flight. But is airline Wi-Fi secure?

Experts say the risk of being hacked while using Wi-Fi on a plane or in an airline terminal is similar to that of any other unsecured public Wi-Fibut in some cases with a level of vulnerability unique to fliers. Fortunately, they also say there are ways to limit your exposure.

One problem with Wi-Fi in the sky is that you cant always rely on a virtual private network, or VPN, to function smoothly or at all with the Wi-Fi service on your flight. A VPN can protect you by routing a devices internet connection through a secure server, thus encrypting your traffic and shielding your devices unique IP address.

So thats one layer of protection you can usually use in, say, a coffee shop, that might not be available in the air. And without that protection, a hacker sharing the airlines Wi-Fi with you might be able to eavesdrop on any data flowing between you and the network and gain access to your devices, leaving you vulnerable to all sorts of trouble.

Among other things, hackers can access your personal information like account numbers, passwords and contacts, says Arjun Bhatnagar, chief executive of Cloaked, a consumer privacy and security company. They can log into your personal accounts and spread malware to your friends and family," he says.

Protect yourself

One step you can take to partially protect yourself is to visit only websites that start with https," which means they are encrypted, Bhatnagar says. That way, a hacker could only see what sites you visit, not anything you do there, such as logging in with a password or entering a credit-card number.

But you could still be in trouble if an attacker manages to trick you into downloading a type of malware called a key logger, which records anything you type. That allows a hacker to capture information users are exchanging with secure websites, including sensitive data such as passwords or a Social Security number thats required to open an encrypted file. The best way to avoid this is to not follow any links or download anything from sources youre not certain of, especially unsolicited AirDrops, which are so prevalent among Apple users during the boarding process.

Another threat to be aware of is fake Wi-Fi networks. A hacker can create a fake network with a name that is very similar to, or even the same as, the airlines. Users who connect to the fake network give the hacker access to all the personal data that flows between them and the network.

If you see multiple Wi-Fi networks with the same or similar names, ask the airline steward to identify the proper network for you before you sign on. To be extra cautious, configure your devices to forget" public Wi-Fi network connections that dont require a password. If you forget a network that youve previously connected to, your device wont automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks with the same name when it finds them in the future," says Anand Oswal, senior vice president and general manager of network security at global cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks.

That protection extends beyond your flights, Oswal says. For instance, if you connect to a legitimate airline Wi-Fi network on a flight and dont set the device you used on the plane to forget that network, your device could automatically connect to a fake network with the same name set up by a hacker at your hotel or another public site, he says.

Do the basics

The bottom line is that if you take the precautions you would when using any public Wi-Fi network, the risk of being hacked while logged into a planes Wi-Fi is pretty low. I would not say airplane Wi-Fi is terribly risky," says Amir Tarighat, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Agency. Make sure you have proper security tools on your device, update your software all the time, and use multifactor authentication for sensitive websites like your bank, and you wont have much to worry about."

Security tools from trusted companies include antivirus and malware-protection software and apps that encrypt your sensitive data as it moves from one end point to another. On an airplane, experts also say to consider using a privacy screen to fend off potential snoopers in the seats behind you, and consider waiting to access financial accounts until you can do so on a private network.

Experts also warn travelers not to let their guard down in the airline terminal, where public Wi-Fi networks are just as dangerous as they are anywhere else. And theres an extra potential danger here: Hackers can install malware into public charging stations that allows them to steal data from your device as its charging. The FBIs Denver bureau released a warning about this issue in April.

Cloakeds Bhatnagar says travelers should use their own cords and plugs and charge their devices in a traditional outlet while traveling.

Heidi Mitchell is a writer in Chicago and London. She can be reached at reports@wsj.com.
NEW YORKOne minute, Omar Ortega was sitting watching TV, his 11-month-old niece napping beside him. The next, his apartment buildings fire alarm blared and his mother screamed: Fire! Fire! Fire!"

As smoke billowed from the buildings stairwell, the family, including Ortegas special-needs sister, as well as his dad, who walks with a cane, rushed for the fire escape in Ortegas bedroom. Ortega, 36, carried his niece in his arms.

With the March 11 blaze on Manhattans Marble Hill Avenue, the city has had nearly three dozen blazes sparked by a lithium-ion battery so far this year. Investigators found battery remnants and those of an electric bike under the four-story buildings first-floor stairwell, where the fire originated.

In New York and other cities nationwide, fire departments are increasingly grappling with rapidly burning, toxic blazes ignited or exacerbated by lithium ion-batteries in everything from electric cars, bikes and scooters to cellphones, laptops, power tools and vape pens.

A big part of the problem, fire officials say: Some of those products contain lithium-ion batteries that havent been safety tested and certified by an accredited testing laboratory.

We believe those cheaply made products are the ones that are mainly responsible for these fires," said Daniel Flynn, chief fire marshal of the Fire Department of the City of New Yorks Bureau of Fire Investigation.

As of last year, New York City law prohibits the sale, rental, lease or distribution of e-bikes, e-scooters and storage batteries that fail to meet recognized safety standards. The city has also made it unlawful to assemble or recondition a lithium-ion battery from used parts, or to sell such a battery.

Still, the issue is acute in New York City. E-bikes became legal there in 2020 and proliferated during the pandemic as food delivery took off and people looked for ways to travel through the city without using public transit.

The frequency of these fires is spurring FDNY and fire departments in other large U.S. cities to revamp their incident-tracking methods to identify battery fires and rework their firefighting tactics and training. They have also beefed up public-education efforts to let people know that the batteries can be a serious, and sometimes deadly, fire hazard.

Lithium-ion batteries are a fact of life," said Vito Maggiolo, spokesman for the fire department in Washington, D.C., where officials determined that lithium-ion batteries recently sparked an apartment fire and separately caused a high-schoolers cellphone to explode. We just have to come to terms with the problem."

Fires involving lithium-ion batteries are challenging to fight, according to officials. The batteries can burst into flames in seconds, much like a road flare or firecracker. Flames spread quickly, accelerated by the flammable and toxic gasesincluding carbon monoxide, hydrogen gas and hydrogen fluoride, which the burning batteries release.

Were arriving to fires where the whole apartment is on fire before our first unit ever arrives," said Robert Rezende, battalion chief at the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

The toxic gases pose a risk to civilians and firefighters because they contain heavy metals, as well as compounds that can scar the lungs.

Water cant extinguish these batteries; it can only help cool them. The batteries, made up of multiple cells, can reignite unexpectedly as additional components failsometimes days, weeks or months after the original failure.

Its kind of the Wild West when it comes to us learning how to put them out," said JD Chism, a fire captain in Denver. Officials there are pushing battery-safety education ahead of a new state tax credit for e-bike purchases.

FDNY recorded 268 fires and 18 deaths caused by lithium-ion batteries in 2023, up from 104 fires and four deaths in 2021when FDNY officials say they noticed a significant uptick. The department added a code to its tracking system to identify battery-caused fires.

In San Diego, fire officials created a list of terms to help them identify fires involving lithium-ion batteries. They logged 104 such fires in 2023, up from six in 2020. There were 16 battery fires in January 2024.

Fire officials in Arizona have logged 73 fires involving lithium-ion batteries since some departments began tracking the incidents last June, using a data-collection plan developed by the Phoenix Fire Investigations Task Force.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently created a national task force to help first responders better respond to disasters involving hazardous waste from lithium-ion batteries. That includes the deadly wildfires in Maui, where the EPA disposed of some 30 tons of lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles and home energy storage systems.

New York Mayor Eric Adams recently activated the first of five public e-battery charging stations to help food-delivery workers safely charge their bikes outdoors. The City Council passed several new safety rules regarding e-bikes, including requiring retailers to provide battery-safety information and increasing penalties for the sale of unlawful devices.

Those moves came days after a lithium-ion battery in an e-bike sparked a deadly fire in a Harlem apartment building that killed resident Fazil Khanthe citys first casualty from a battery-related-fire this yearand injured more than a dozen other people. The billowing smoke trapped people on the floors above the third-floor blaze, forcing firefighters to perform daring rope rescues.

There should be some governmental action to make sure that those that are below grade are taken off the streets," said Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu, a close friend of Khans from their time studying data journalism at Columbia University. Fazil would be here if this battery had not exploded."

On Wednesday, several miles away on Marble Hill Avenue, Ortega and his older sister, Rosemary, stopped by their burned apartment building, hoping to collect some belongings from their childhood home.

As they watched from the curb, a crew that specializes in fire and smoke damage worked in the charred first-floor hallway, bagging debris in black trash bags. Outside, a separate crew began installing protective scaffolding over the entrance.

Ortega teared up as he recalled how he had descended the fire escape with his niece the day of the fire, then waited, shaking, for his parents and his other sister.

Seeing his distress on Wednesday, a passing friend paused to offer Ortega a hug.

At least youre out," the friend told him. At least youre alive."

Write to Erin Ailworth at erin.ailworth@wsj.com
Samsung is reportedly all set for the launch of its much anticipated Samsung Galaxy M35 5G, which has recently been spotted on the Geekbench. This has eventually offered glimpses into some of the essential specifications of the upcoming smartphone.

According to the Geekbench listing of Samsung Galaxy M35 5G, the model number of the upcoming smartphone is identified as SM-M356B. However, the South Korean tech giant is yet to confirm the device. As per Mysmartprice, tech enthusiasts have started to draw comparisons with the previous generation of the device.

Furthermore, the Samsung Galaxy M35 has received a score of 656 points in the single-core testing and 1976 points in multi-core test. The listing adds that Samsung could offer the smartphone with its own Exynos 1380 chipset, which is likely to be supported by the efficient 5nm processor.

This processor features a configuration of four Cortex A78 cores clocked at 2.4GHz, along with four Cortex A55 cores that are supported by 2.0GHz and complemented by a Mali G68 GPU. Moreover, the listing suggests that the alleged smartphone is likely to be equipped with 6GB RAM and could be fueled by the latest Android 14. Although other major details are not out yet, more speculations are expected to be out soon as the device launch approaches.

There are indications that the Samsung Galaxy M35 5G might share similarities with the recently launched Samsung Galaxy A35 5G. Rumors also suggest that the Galaxy M35 5G will utilize the Exynos 1380 chipset. With its strong performance capabilities and unique features, this smartphone is anticipated to have a significant impact in the competitive market.

Meanwhile, Samsung's latest entrants into the bustling Indian smartphone market, the Samsung Galaxy A55 5G and Samsung Galaxy A35 5G, have made a splash with their recent unveiling. After much anticipation surrounding their pricing, Samsung has finally divulged the details, accompanied by enticing offers and comprehensive specifications, just days after their official launch.

In terms of pricing, the Samsung Galaxy A35 is available in two configurations: 8GB RAM with 128GB storage priced at Rs. 27,999, and 8GB RAM with 256GB storage priced at Rs. 30,999. Moving on to the Samsung Galaxy A55, users have three distinct options: 8GB RAM with 128GB storage at Rs. 36,999, 8GB RAM with 256GB storage at Rs. 39,999, and the top-tier variant with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage priced at Rs. 42,999.

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Apple and Google are actively negotiating the use of Gemini to power some of the generative AI features coming to iPhones this year, according to a recent report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurnman. The deal with Apple could be a game changer for Google's Gemini chatbot, which has been embroiled in a number of controversies in recent months.

Also Read | No more Apple ID? Apple likely to make this major change with this iOS 18

While Apple is already working on bringing a number of AI features to its upcoming iOS 18 operating system based on its own AI models, these enhancements are likely to focus on features that run on its devices rather than being delivered from the cloud, Gurnman reported. The partnership with Google could help deliver a range of generative AI features, such as generating images and writing essays based on a single text prompt.

However, the latest round of negotiations also signals that Apple isn't as far ahead in its AI efforts as many had speculated. Apple was reported to be testing its big language model - Ajax - and many employees had also been given access to a chatbot called Apple GPT. However, Gurnman, citing sources, notes that Apple's AI technology remains inferior to tools from Google and other rivals.

The report states that while talks between Google and Apple are currently active, a final deal would not be announced until at least June, when Apple usually holds its Worldwide Developers Conference. Gurnman also noted that it's possible that Apple could ultimately decide to use generative AI technology from another company, such as OpenAI or Anthropic.

A deal with Apple could be a silver lining for Google, giving its Gemini AI chatbot a boost in the highly competitive AI landscape thanks to the iPhone maker's roughly 2 billion user base, as well as helping the chatbot recover from recent controversies.

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David Swensen, a highly influential investor, shaped institutional fund investment strategies during his tenure as Chief Investment Officer of the Yale University Endowment, authoring renowned works on portfolio management.

Credit : UNSPLASH
The state allows cities to have the funds allocated from sales taxes, which is something that has been done since the 1940s; however, Mayor Wamp says this policy should change to include counties too.
Jalen Allen was last seen on February 29, as he was headed to Monteagle from Pell City, Alabama in an 18-wheeler for his employer Western Express.
According to GBPI, the General Assembly is exploring the option of taking taxpayer funds from public schools and switching them to private institutions.
Longford Daffodil Day coordinator, Noeleen Doyle McTaggart has appealed for support as they prepare to go all in on Daffodil Day, Friday, March 22, to raise vital funds and give hope to cancer patients.

On average, 42,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Ireland.

The Irish Cancer Societys Daffodil Day funds crucial support services for people affected by cancer as well as lifesaving cancer research.

Members of the public can volunteer to sell Daffodils on the day, or simply buy a daffodil from local volunteers.

Public support is crucial, according to Noeleen, who urged locals to show their support on Daffodil Day.

People of Longford have always been generous in their support of Daffodil Day, but with more people requiring the Irish Cancer Societys free support services than ever before, we need to ramp up our efforts to ensure they get the help they need. Not only will donations fund services like the Irish Cancer Society Transport Service, Night Nursing and counselling, but also cancer research to help more people survive cancer. Please help us by volunteering to sell daffodils, or simply by buying a daffodil on March 22, Noeleen said.

To get involved in Daffodil Day locally contact Noeleen Doyle McTaggart 085 211 2450.

For more information visit www.cancer.ie/daffodilday

Daffodil Day takes place on Friday, March 22. Whether you want to get involved with your school, company, or in your community, there are lots of ways to go all in and support cancer patients across Ireland.

Visit cancer.ie to get involved or learn more.
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.
Earlier this month Longford County Council Member, Uruemu Adejinmi, attended the unveiling of artwork highlighting the need for more female representation in local government.

The event was held at the Customs House in Dublin by Irelands first Regional WoMeNs Caucus and Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Kieran O Donnell, TD.

The artwork, a powerful symbol of the ongoing efforts to elevate the voices and presence of women in political leadership roles, is a collaboration between the members of the WoMeN's Regional Caucus and acclaimed artist and former councillor Sinead Guckian.

It aims to inspire, provoke thought, and serve as a visual reminder of the importance of diverse perspectives in decision-making processes.

Speaking at the unveiling, Chair of the WoMeNs Regional Caucus, Cavan County Councillor Carmel Brady said the artwork serves as a lasting legacy for the regional caucus, the first of its kind in Ireland. The caucus comprises of 48 female councillors across 13 local authorities in the Western, Midlands and Northern region.

The decision to commission this artwork arose from a shared aspiration to establish an enduring symbol reflecting the values and aims of the WoMeN's Regional Caucus, Cllr Brady said.

The Tullyvin elected representative continued: The work was also commissioned in response to the Caucus International Womens Day events last year which saw our member councils host events to reverse the gender of our council chambers, to visually highlight the enduring inequalities in local politics.

Cllr Brady continued: We are the first of our kind in Ireland, and we stand united in our commitment to seeing more women leaders in our local government system. As women in politics, we understand the challenges and barriers that exist for aspiring female leaders.

Through the unveiling of this artwork, we hope to spark conversations, challenge norms, and ultimately encourage more women to step forward and make their voices heard in local decision-making, she said.

Speaking at the unveiling, Minister Kieran O'Donnell, TD, said: This piece of art embodies the idea of Inspire Inclusion, the theme of International Womens Day 2024, and reflects the work of my Department and I in recent years to encourage greater inclusion of women in local government.

We want to address the underrepresentation of women, and people of diversity, in council chambers across the country. Annual initiatives funded by my Department and measures such as maternity leave for councillors, introduced in 2022, and additional administrative maternity supports provided last year seek to reduce the barriers to participation in local government. We hope to see many more taking their rightful places in our council chambers this June.

Artist Sinead Guckian, known for her poignant and thought-provoking works, shared her inspiration behind the piece, saying: This was an incredible opportunity to respond to such important work being carried out by the WoMeNs Regional Caucus and by AILG and See Her Elected and to take the thoughts and experiences from all the women who were involved in last years Internation Womens Day events organised by the Regional Caucus and to be able to express that visually has been extremely important to me and an extremely exciting project to be part of.

The WoMeNs Regional Caucus, a project funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and supported by the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) and See Her Elected (SHE) was established in late 2021 and brings together all female councillors from 13 counties across the West, Midlands and Northern region of Ireland where between 78 percent to 93 percent of the elected local authority councils are made up of men.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: March 18 2024

It gives me great pleasure to invite every high school student in New Yorks First District to participate in this years Congressional Art Competition, said LaLota.

Rep. Nick LaLota (R-Suffolk County) has announced the launch of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition . This annual competition is conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives to showcase the talent of high school students from across the United States.

It gives me great pleasure to invite every high school student in New Yorks First District to participate in this years Congressional Art Competition. Last year saw so many students from every corner of the district submit incredible pieces to my office, truly showcasing the talent and ability of our community, said LaLota. This years theme is Patriotic American Icons and while submissions are not limited to this, an ideal submission should recognize our nations proud history, accomplishments, and the individuals who sacrificed for all of us. I look forward to seeing the amazing pieces of art from our awesome students!

Background:

This years winner will have their work displayed in the halls of the U.S. Capitol for one calendar year and receive two round-trip tickets to Washington, D.C. to attend a Congressional reception honoring the winner from each Congressional district.

The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students (9th  12th grade) who reside or attend school in New Yorks First Congressional District. The submission period for the Spring 2024 Congressional Art Competition is now open through Friday, April 5th, 2024 at 5 pm.

Artwork Entry Criteria:

HERE . Rules for the Congressional Art Competition are available

Must be two-dimensional and no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, 4 inches in depth

Must be framed

Must not weigh more than 15 pounds framed

Medium types include painting, photography, drawing, mixed media, and others (i.e., computer-generated art, collages, etc.)

Should be inspired by the theme Patriotic American Icons such as but in no way limited to the Washington Monument, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Grand Canyon, USS Arizona Memorial, Naval Academy Chapel and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in DC.

Only one entry per student will be accepted

Must be original in concept, design, and execution, and may not violate U.S. copyright laws

Submission Deadline and Instructions:
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: March 18 2024

Soon-to-be MDs Meet Their Matches of a Lifetime.

Finding out where they will fulfill their medical residencies can be a dream come true for aspiring physicians. After months of waiting and wondering if they would find their perfect match, students at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine (GLISOM) took part in the nationwide ceremony known as Match Day - the day when future doctors learn the location of their residencies.

The 24-member class of 2024 will be the third graduating class of the Mineola medical school, which recently received a major donation from Home Depot founder Ken Langone and was renamed after Dean Robert I. Grossman, MD. The school is the only one in the country to offer a three-year, tuition-free medical degree focused on training primary care physicians.

Our mission is to help alleviate the local and nationwide shortage of primary care physicians and this soon to be graduating class will be helping to do so by bringing their topnotch clinical skills to communities in need, said Gladys M. Ayala, MD, MPH, Dean of the NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine.

Each year, residency matches are made through a mutual selection process run by the National Residents Matching Program, in which students and residency programs rank their preferences. A computer generates matches among more than 38,000 residency positions nationwide by using an algorithm so complex that its developers were awarded a Nobel Prize.

This years celebration took place at 12:00 pm on March 15, when GLISOM students opened their envelopes to reveal their residency matches. They will begin training as residents soon after the schools graduation in May.

Among the latest class of students hoping to make a difference are:

Sabrina Daoui, an Algerian born immigrant, who worked as a health care analyst in California and New York after graduating from Cornell University. Sabrina will be pursuing a residency in Internal Medicine.

Aparna Raghu, a Princeton University graduate with a degree in molecular biology, who volunteered with AmeriCorps as a legal advocate and served as a research fellow for The Food Project to advance legislation to improve health equity and primary care access. Aparna will pursue a residency in Family Medicine.

Sharika Hasan, a Bronx born alum of Vassar College, where she received a degree in Biochemistry. Sharika conducted Hepatitis research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and served as a live-in elderly caretaker. She will be pursuing a residency in Internal Medicine.

While LISOM students can be matched with any residency position nationwide, the school is pleased to announce that many students matched with NYU Langone locations, and others matched with additional institutions in the broader New York region. Many of the students in this years graduating class have selected residencies among the following primary care disciplines: family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology, helping to relieve that nationwide shortage of physicians in these fields of medicine.
Music, Movies & Entertainment

By Chris Boyle Published: March 18 2024

THFM will continue to deliver on its core mission to enhance the quality of community cultural life through live performances of great classical orchestral masterworks in intimate spaces.

The Hamptons Festival of Music (THFM) returns for a full season of orchestral concerts featuring The New American Sinfonietta, a 41-member orchestra comprised of top-level musicians and principal players with major North American orchestras led by THFM Artistic Director, Michael Palmer.

Following the success of its inaugural season in September 2022 and the subsequent 2023 season, THFM will continue to deliver on its core mission to enhance the quality of community cultural life through live performances of great classical orchestral masterworks in intimate spaces.

THFMs 2024 mainstage concerts will return to LTV Studios on September 6, 10, and 14, featuring some of classical musics most notable works, including Stravinskys Pulcinella Suite, Ginasteras Variaciones Concertantes, Barbers Adagio for Strings and Mozarts Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola, featuring Richard Roberts, concertmaster and Richard Young, principal viola. The festival season also includes two iconic works from the symphonic masterwork repertoire: Brahms Serenade No. 1 and Beethovens exhilarating Symphony No. 8. The 2024 festival season will also feature Bridges by Victoria Bond, an East Hampton resident and internationally recognized composer. Also, baritone Thomas Dreeze performs a set of Mahler lieder

Each of the three programs for our 2024 season supports my artistic vision to spotlight a celebrated orchestral masterpiece, highlighting the exceptional talent within The New American Sinfonietta, confirms Maestro Palmer. We continue our ongoing commitment to enriching the community by presenting the finest orchestral works.

THFM concerts offer an unforgettable experience unlike any other, says Michael Yip, the Festivals Executive Director. We immerse audiences in the music, creating an intimate and powerful connection. It's more than just listening  you see the artistry, and the music surrounds you, truly making you feel our orchestras performance. Our 2024 Festival Season will continue to deliver on our mission to bring amazing, orchestral music to our Hamptons audiences in unique and intimate spaces.

Leading up to the mainstage orchestral concerts, the Festival continues its mission to expand its reach within the Hamptons through its community outreach performance in partnership with East Hampton Schools (May 31) and the return of its Salon Series event in partnership with LongHouse Reserve (April 27).

Be a part of this unique opportunity to participate in something new and exciting to the Hamptons arts and cultural scene. Show your support for bringing this exceptional orchestral experience to the Hamptons through the Festivals website at thehamptonsfestivalofmusic.com . Tickets and VIP passes for THFMs 2024 concert season will be available in March. All passes and ticket purchases are considered charitable contributions and will receive a tax deduction.



ABOUT MAESTRO MICHAEL PALMER



Michael Palmer (born May 8, 1945, in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an American orchestral conductor. Palmer began his professional career at age 21 when he became Assistant Conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 1967 under its legendary Music Director, Robert Shaw. Palmer was later named the ASOs Associate Conductor. In that capacity, he founded and became the first director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra in 1974. In 1975 Palmer was one of the first young American conductors selected as an EXXON/Arts Endowment Conductor by the National Endowment for the Arts.



Palmer left the ASO in 1977 to become Music Director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra (19771990), followed by the posts of Music Director of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra (19891997) and the American Sinfonietta (19912002), with whom he toured Europe for 10 consecutive seasons. Beginning in 1993, he served as Founder and Artistic Director of the Bellingham Festival of Music (Bellingham, Washington) and, as of 2023, is now Conductor Laureate.



Palmer also was Guest Conductor for three seasons for the Houston Symphony Orchestra (19781981) and Co-Principal Guest Conductor of the Denver Symphony Orchestra (19791982) and has made international appearances as a conductor in Canada, Europe, and China. He has also held academic conducting posts as Director of Orchestras for Wichita State University (19992004) and Distinguished Professor of Orchestral Studies at Georgia State University (20042023).



ABOUT THE HAMPTONS FESTIVAL OF MUSIC



The Hamptons Festival of Music (THFM) is the brainchild of Maestro Michael Palmer, who has established, maintained, and sustained the Bellingham Festival of Music, the premier orchestral music festival in the Pacific Northwest, for over 29 years. (www.bellinghamfestival.org)

Maestro Palmer recognized the artistic gravitational pull of Long Islands East End, which is deeply rooted in the works of many legendary artists. He set in motion plans to create a similar yet unique classical music and festival experience, specifically serving the local, year-round residents in East Hampton and the surrounding hamlets and villages.

Following the success of its inaugural pilot and sophomore seasons, THFM returns to the Hamptons for a third consecutive year to provide concertgoers the opportunity to experience full orchestral concerts in the intimate performance space at LTV Studio 3. Festival performances will present audiences with unforgettable experiences of live performances of some of the greatest classical masterworks.

THFM features internationally recognized guest artists performing with The New American Sinfonietta, the resident orchestra of THFM. This orchestra comprises top orchestral musicians from across the US, Canada, and abroad, including many who hold principal positions with leading orchestras and ensembles.
The first delivery of humanitarian aid by sea to Gaza occurred on March 15. The Israel Defense Forces said that 115 tons of food and water arrived via a barge that was towed to Gaza by a ship called Open Arms which is run by a Spanish charity of the same name. Open Arms departed Cyprus on March 12 and arrived off the coast of Gaza on March 15.

The maritime corridor is supported by Cyprus. The first shipment was a highly complex mission, according to the organizers. The organization World Central Kitchen, founded by chef Jose Andres, is partnering with Open Arms with support from the United Arab Emirates. The European Commission has supported the maritime corridor as well, hoping to use smaller vessels to move aid to Gaza. The US Army is expected to construct a floating pier off the coast. The four ships involved in that mission are making their way slowly across the Atlantic after departing from Charleston on the coast of the United States on March 15.

The first shipment to Gaza arrived off the coast, and goods were unloaded onto what looks like an artificial pier that Israel has recently built on the coast. Images of the pier show a dirt track built on top of concrete blocks and other earthworks. The IDF says that the arrival of the shipment took place in coordination with the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the IDF arm that deals with civil affairs and other issues in the West Bank. It is also tasked also with coordinating humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The IDF says that at the aid arrives on the coast, Israeli naval and ground forces are deployed to secure the area. The website Vessel Finder, which shows the locations of ships, appeared to show the Open Arms ship off the coast of central Gaza, southwest of Gaza City. This area of Gaza is where the IDF has constructed a road and corridor of security control that bisects Gaza, essentially putting IDF forces astride a rural area of fields south of Gaza City. This is called the Netzarim corridor, named after a former Jewish settlement that once existed here prior to Israels disengagement from Gaza in 2005. It is expected that this route will be maintained by Israel for the foreseeable future in an effort to facilitate ease of security control and humanitarian aid access.

According to the IDF, the first shipment included 130 pallets of humanitarian equipment, 115 tons of food and water, which were transferred to 12 WCK trucks, which will distribute them to the northern Gaza Strip. This is part of the broader humanitarian effort in the Gaza Strip being led by the United Arab Emirates and conducted in coordination with Israel.

All of the items being moved to Gaza are inspected before they are offloaded. It is important to emphasize that the delivery of humanitarian aid does not affect the maritime blockade, the IDF notes. What this means is that shipments must be in coordination with the IDF.

The focus on humanitarian aid is becoming a central feature of the new phase of the war in Gaza. The IDF said on March 12 that six trucks with aid entered Gaza via what the IDF refers to as the 96th gate. This was done as part of a pilot in order to prevent the Hamas terrorist organization from taking over the aid. As with the maritime shipments, the IDF also inspected this shipment. Land shipments are inspected at Kerem Shalom on the border of Israel, Egypt and Gaza. The WFP shipment was also coordinated with the US. Furthermore, over 1,000 aid packages have been airdropped into the Gaza Strip in over 12 airdrops by foreign countries during the last week, the IDF said on March 14. Another convoy of 31 trucks entered Gaza on March 14.

The IDF has also said that Palestinian gunmen shot at crowds of people trying to obtain aid in Zaytun, an area south of Gaza City. About an hour before the entry of the aid convoy last night, Palestinian gunmen were seen opening fire in the midst of a crowd of Gazan civilians, the IDF said.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the acting news editor and senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post.
The Afghan Taliban launched attacks across the border into Pakistan on Monday in response to Pakistani military airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan. The Pakistani military, which helped the Afghan Taliban seize control of the country, targeted members of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, which is sheltered and supported by the Afghan Taliban and is a a close ally of Al Qaeda.

Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the military carried out intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan against members of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP) and the allied Pakistan-based Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two Taliban groups are responsible for multiple terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, resulting in deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the official name of the Taliban, said the Pakistani airstrikes took place in the eastern provinces of Paktika and Khost, and that five women and three children were killed. Paktika and Khost are strongholds of the Haqqani Network, the Powerful Taliban subgroup that is led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, one of two Taliban deputy emirs as well as the countrys interior minster.

IEAs Spokesperson Statement Regarding the Airstrikes of Pakistan in Afghanistan https://t.co/TkB0mpIGd3 pic.twitter.com/8Umztvsrtb  Zabihullah (..   ) (@Zabehulah_M33) March 18, 2024

The person named Abdullah Shah, who the Pakistani side claims was targeted in the incident, is in Pakistan, Mujahid said, while condemning the airstrikes. A video of Shah purporting to show him to be alive and in Pakistan later emerged.

Pakistan should not blame Afghanistan for the lack of control, incompetence, and problems in its own territory, Mujahid continued. Such incidents have very bad consequences which will be out of Pakistans control.

The Afghan Taliban responded to Pakistani airstrikes by firing mortars and artillery targeting military facilities in Pakistan.

In response to this aggression, the border forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan targeted Pakistans military centers along the fictitious line [the Durand line, the disputed border between Pakistan and Afghanistan] with heavy weapons, according to a statement published on X by the Talibans Ministry of Defense.

Border clashes expose Afghan Talibans support for foreign terror groups and Pakistani perfidy

At the end of Mujahids statement, he claimed that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not allow anyone to harm anyones security by using the territory of Afghanistan. This is a common Taliban refrain whenever it is accused of sheltering foreign terrorists.

Mujahids claim is patently false and easily disproved. For instance, for the TTP alone, some of its top leaders, including former emir Mullah Fazlullah and influential TTP leader Omar Khalid Khurasani have been killed in airstrikes in Afghanistan. The United Nations Security Councils Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team reported in June 2023 that between 4,000 and 6,000 TTP fighters operate in Afghanistan, while Al Qaeda is actively training TTP suicide bombers at training camps in the Afghan province of Kunar. TTP emir Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud is believed to be based in Paktika province, while his deputy, Qari Amjad Ali, shelters in Kunar.

Top Al Qaeda leaders, including Ayman al Zawahiri and Abu Khalil al Sudani, have been killed or captured in Afghanistan, as have scores of senior and mid-level commanders and operatives and thousands of fighters. More than 250 Al Qaeda commanders and fighters were killed or captured during 2016 alone. According to the United Nations Security Councils Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Teams latest report, Al Qaeda is now operating training camps in 10 of Afghanistans 34 provinces, as well as madrasa or religious schools in five provinces, safe houses in multiple provinces, and a weapons storage depot and a media operations center. Other Al Qaeda affiliated and linked groups, such as the Turkistan Islamic Party, the Movement of the Taliban in Tajikistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and LAshkar -e-Taiba, are known to operate in Afghanistan with the approval and support of the Taliban.

Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs was clear that there is a presence of terror outfits including TTP inside Afghanistan and these groups have consistently used Afghan territory to launch terror attacks inside Pakistani territory. 

We have repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete and effective action to ensure that the Afghan soil is not used as a staging ground for terrorism against Pakistan. We have also called on them to deny safe havens to TTP and to hand over its leadership to Pakistan, Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

Despite Pakistans objections to the Afghan Talibans sheltering of the TTP, it is unlikely that the recent border clashes between the two will spiral out of control, as Mujahid suggested may happen. As Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted, recent TTP attacks have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials.

In contrast, during the height of the TTP insurgency in Pakistan from 2007 to 2015, an estimated 100,000 Pakistani civilians, soldiers, security personnel and politicians were killed in fighting throughout Pakistan, including in terror attacks in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and other major cities. Despite this wanton violence, the Pakistan military and intelligence services continued to back the Afghan Taliban as it sought to overthrow the now-defunct Afghan government and eject U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The Pakistani establishment backed the Afghan Taliban with full knowledge that it sheltered and supported the TTP.

The Pakistani establishment tolerated the slaughter of its civilians and security personnel in order to bring the Taliban to power and achieve and maintain strategic depth in Afghanistan. To compensate for its inability to achieve victory on conventional battlefields against India, Pakistan implemented its policy of gaining strategic depth in Afghanistan. Pakistan has supported groups in Afghanistan in order to deny India influence in its backyard, as well as to allow the nation to serve as a fallback in case of an Indian invasion.

With the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in Aug. 2021, the Pakistani state achieved its goal, a goal that cynically cost the lives of tens of thousands of Pakistanis. Whatever disputes the Pakistani state has with the Taliban, it is unlikely that its strategic depth with respect to India and strategic relations with the Taliban will now suddenly be discarded for the lives of hundreds of Pakistani citizens.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu announced that a referendum on European Union membership will be held in October as she seeks to ensure the nation of 2.6 million maintains progress toward joining the bloc.

The country, wedged between Romania and Ukraine, last December received the European Commissions agreement to launch EU accession negotiations and aims to complete the process by 2030. But its faced what it calls unprecedented hybrid attacks by Russia, which backs the pro-Russian breakaway region of Transnistria on its territory, to undermine the effort.

Sandu said shed asked the Moldovan parliament to start proceedings for the constitutional plebiscite, which is slated for the same day as a presidential election.

For the majority of Moldovan citizens the EU is a project of peace and prosperity, while Russia is constantly trying to destabilize the situation in Moldova, Sandu told a Monday news conference in the capital, Chisinau. We expect that Russias attacks and provocations will continue, but I urge citizens not to be intimidated and to support the pro-EU referendum, as the EU is the only option that can ensure peace.

An incident Sunday at a military base in Transnistria underscored the challenges as the self-proclaimed authorities there reported a helicopter on the ground was hit by an explosion. While they stopped short of outright blaming Ukraine for a drone attack, they indicated a unmanned vehicle had come from the direction of the countrys Black Sea Odesa region.

Moldovan officials said the Ukrainian authorities had not confirmed any attack on the Transnistrian region.

The incident is an attempt to provoke fear and panic in the region, the Moldovan government said.
Putin spoke after preliminary results showed him with 87.2% support in the election that ended Sunday, giving him another six years as president

Any direct conflict between Russia and the US-led Nato alliance would be one step away from a full-scale third world war, Putin said after his election victory

Any direct conflict between Russia and the US-led Nato alliance would be one step away from a full-scale third world war, Putin said after his election victory  Photo credit: Sergey GUNEYEV / POOL / AFP

Any direct conflict between Russia and the US-led Nato alliance would be one step away from a full-scale third world war, Putin said after his election victory  Photo credit: Sergey GUNEYEV / POOL / AFP

A defiant Vladimir Putin said Russia wont be stopped from pursuing its goals after he swept to a record victory in a presidential election whose outcome was pre-determined.

No matter how much anybody wanted to suppress us, our will, our consciousness, nobody in history has ever succeeded, they have not succeeded now and they will never succeed, Putin told supporters in Moscow late Sunday. All the major and in some areas grandiose plans that he set out before the election will certainly be achieved, he said.

Putin spoke after preliminary results showed him with 87.2% support in the election that ended Sunday, giving him another six years as president to step up his war in Ukraine and conflict with the West. The outcome far exceeded his previous record of 77% in 2018 elections.

Long lines formed at noon outside some polling stations, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, after allies of opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who died last month in an Arctic prison camp, called on people to protest Putins election by turning up at that time. Their presence represented a sign of defiance amid the harshest Kremlin crackdown on dissent in decades.

Russias longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, Putin, 71, is extending his nearly quarter-century rule into a fifth term at a time when his troops are on the offensive in Ukraine. Russia is pressing its advantage in the third year of the invasion, which has become Europes biggest conflict since World War II as Ukraine struggles to supply its forces with munitions amid delays in military aid from its US and European allies.

Any direct conflict between Russia and the US-led Nato alliance would be one step away from a full-scale third world war, Putin said Sunday.

Addicted to power: Zelensky

Putin is addicted to power and is doing everything he can to rule forever, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address. There is no evil he will not commit to prolong his personal power. And there is no one in the world who is safe from this.

Turnout from three days of voting was put at 74.2%. Thats the highest since Boris Yeltsin became president in 1991 after the Soviet Unions collapse, and well above the 67.5% turnout recorded in 2018. At least six Russian regions claimed turnout was above 90%.

Three other candidates from parties loyal to the Kremlin offered no serious competition in the tightly controlled election. Communist Nikolai Kharitonov took 4.2%, Vladislav Davankov from the New People, a party created in 2020, was on 4% and Leonid Slutsky, leader of the ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, trailed with 3.2%, according to Central Election Commission data.

Putin said the election protests had no effect and people who spoiled ballot papers should face investigation and criminal punishment.

He confirmed to reporters at a news conference that hed agreed to swap Navalny for unidentified people held in Western jails days before the anti-Kremlin critics death, on condition that he never returned to Russia.

Thats life, Putin said, calling Navalnys death a sad event and referring to him by name for the first time in years.

The election outcome gives Putin every chance to implement any, even the toughest, scenarios in Ukraine, said Pavel Danilin, head of the Moscow-based Center for Political Analysis, which advises the Kremlin. The historically high result is a guarantee that the majority of the population supports Putin, he said.

The Kremlin secured the result through electoral manipulation and fraud, said Maria Snegovaya, senior fellow with the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. The goal was to show Russian society is united behind Putins long-term fight against not just Ukraine but the West and the liberal international order more broadly.

An emboldened Putin is preparing for a long confrontation with the West, according to five people with knowledge of the situation, asking not to be identified because the matter is sensitive.

The Kremlin is putting the squeeze on countries such as Moldova, the Baltic states and those in the Caucasus region in the name of protecting Russian minorities. European leaders have warned openly about the risks of a Russian attack on a NATO member state, and fear the US may abandon them if Donald Trump regains the presidency in November.

Russias economy has largely weathered the shock of unprecedented international sanctions since Putin began the February 2022 invasion, thanks to a continuing flow of energy revenue and a massive injection of government spending to support the defense industry and shield domestic businesses. Trade with China is booming as Russia reorients its economy away from markets in Europe.

The election allowed the Kremlin to demonstrate Putins support in the country to Russias elites, according to Nikolay Petrov, a visiting fellow at the Berlin-based SWP think tank. The most important thing for the Kremlin is that Putin is left with the feeling of a beautiful image and a real victory, however deceptive, he said.

Russia organized voting in occupied areas of Ukraine and claimed turnout far exceeded 80%, even as millions of people have fled the regions since the invasion. The foreign ministry in Kyiv said the pseudo-elections were illegal.

Ukraine waged an intensified campaign of drone attacks aimed at key Russian infrastructure including oil refineries in the weeks leading up to the election that continued over the weekend. Authorities briefly restricted operations at three of Moscows airports on Sunday after a drone was downed near the Domodedovo area of the capital.

Russia occupies about a fifth of Ukraine including Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014. Putin in 2022 declared four regions of eastern and southern Ukraine to be forever part of Russia, even as his forces dont fully control them.

Putin dismissed prospects for a halt to the war in a televised interview last week, saying hes not interested in a pause that would allow Ukraine to rearm. Russia wants written security guarantees to end the fighting and the realities on the ground should be the basis for any negotiations, he said.

In the last two years, the Putin regime has rebuilt every element of itself to adapt to a permanent state of war, said Andrei Kolesnikov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
It was a very special moment not just for her, but for all graduates. It seemed like everybody stopped to respect and embrace the moment, he said. It just shows the support a whanau can bring to encourage the success of others, and this was demonstrated through this haka.
Last week a group of some of the most important UK-based location scouts in the international film, commercial and TV industry were on a familiarisation trip to Mallorca.

The tour, the first of its kind, was co-organised and financed by the Mallorca Film Commission, directed by Pedro Barbadillo, and the scouts toured the island, getting to know the vast selection of locations which could be used for future film productions. And they all left Mallorca extremely impressed.

The group of six was accompanied by Eduardo Rodrigalvarez from the Palma Pictures locations department. Mallorca, as a film location, is certainly going to be in the mix of future discussions with regard to shooting locations for some of the biggest film productions.

The group comprised David Pannington, location supervisor on Game of Thrones, Guardians of the Galaxy and Christopher Nolans recent Oscar-winning film Inception; Dee Gregson, location supervisor on films such as Wings of the Dove, Alex Rider and Chloe; Christian McWilliams, who has worked on World War Z, Mission Impossible, Mamma Mia!, Gladiator 2 and John Wick, among others; Mick Ratman, whose film credits include Welcome to Sarajevo and The Flag; Ben Macgregor, a location scout who has worked on projects such as Once Upon a Time in London, Blitz and RocknRolla; and Kay Ponting Wilson, location scout on Good with Wood, Casualty and Father Brown.

Vast potential

It was actually the first time in 30 years that Kay had returned to Mallorca since having spent her gap year working as a holiday rep in Puerto Pollensa, which was one of the locations they were taken to along with Palma, the Serra de Tramuntana, Andratx, Calvia, Soller, the Torrent de Pareis and the Nus de la Corbata, among others.

They also had the opportunity to get to know a number of maritime locations with boat trips from Andratx and Pollensa. And the vast potential the island has really caught the eye of Christian McWilliams, who has just finished work on Gladiator 2 in Malta with a crew of 550 people and 2,000 extras a day.

Ive been to Mallorca before, but on holiday and clearly never saw what Ive seen on this trip, Chris told the Bulletin.

I remember seeing the great house (La Fortalesa) in The Night Manager and wondering where the hell it was. I had no idea it was in Mallorca until I saw it on this trip. Youve had a few shows which have been made here recently that have been done incredibly well and have been incredibly well received and they - The Night Manager, parts of The Crown and Lioness for example - have really put you guys on the map.

So the audience of those three shows has created a huge new interest in Mallorca and shooting here. And obviously, Palma Pictures has really become quite a famous outfit over the past 15 years. Weve all heard of and met many producers who have worked with them, not only here but also on the mainland, so the word has gone out that Palma Pictures is based here and that it is one of the busiest and best production companies in Spain and Portugal - and theyre helping to fly the flag for Mallorca.

We all know about Michael Douglass house and all the other famous folk who have landed here, but we didnt know about what the island has to offer as a location, Chris said. One of the things weve been talking to Pedro about after one of the boat trips is the most amazing military base which is right next door to where The Night Manager was shot in Puerto Pollensa. And we all asked why are you not using it for filming? Thats an asset which youre not using, so it was interesting to see assets like that which are not being made the most of by the film industry. Another example is the number of abandoned farmhouses. For some people they may be an eyesore, for us they are locations, ideal for a CIA safe house. There is so much potential on this island which is not being used.

A film industry is a huge asset

Having done five different films in Malta, Ive seen how much islands are dependent on tourism in the key months. But if you were able to bring big productions here out of season, say between September and May, you would triple the islands workload, not to mention revenue. What Im saying is that the film industry is an asset which bring so much to a location, especially the larger and longer productions. Another plus is that apart from only being a two-hour flight from London and most other major European cities, its a safe destination, so friends and family can come and visit. And thats also a big plus for production teams, they can get to see their family more often.

Plus, with regard to the logistics of shipping equipment etc. its much easier to get here by ferry than it is the Canary Islands, for example. Its also cheaper and thats always a plus. Whatever the size of the budget, producers always want to save as much money as possible, so the quick and easy access to Mallorca is a huge bonus as well.

So, if hotels and the like were open during the off season we would come and fill them. To be honest were all starting to get a bit bored of Malta, Chris said.

And another mystery is why youre not making more of the sea. Everyone has a boat in Mallorca but youre not using it for film - thats my point.

Having a water tank is all very well, but its not the same as actually filming at sea - thats the whole thing. And even if you have a tank in the future, its got to be right by the sea like in Malta, you dont want it inland. They are always built by the sea.

On one my productions we spent nearly five weeks shooting at sea and three of those were in a sheltered bay. Youre never more than 100 metres away from the shore because you need to move equipment, crew, cast etc. and Mallorcas got some of the most amazing bays to film in.

So yes, as a location weve all been very impressed and Mallorca has a bright future in the film industry. The island is film friendly, theres a film history here and filmmakers always go where other filmmakers have been. And at the same time youve got the basis of a crew here,. With Palma Pictures being based here youve got the infrastructure that is instantly accessible.

Plus theres a big connection between where people go on holiday to where people want to make pictures and thats another wonderful benefit for Mallorca. Its so comfortable - to come and work would be a dream. Youve also got some great film festivals, so its coming together, its all there, its just that more needs to be made of it.

Extraordinary opportunities

And if a production does well, comes in on budget and is a commercial success, it does Mallorca a favour because success means it works. Malta, which has half the population of Mallorca, had 26 productions last year. I dont think Mallorca had as many but youve got a bigger population and a much bigger island and I just think the opportunities here are extraordinary. Theres so much more land, so much more coastline. But I repeat, it is not being used.

Chris also said that they stayed in the most amazing hotels in Mallorca.

The standard of accommodation here is outstanding, far higher than in many other countries, and that is something also that productions enjoy because film crews like to be in comfortable places. Its the whole combination. Mallorcas got it all and its great that Malta, for example, has now got some competition. Its so nice to be able to go and work somewhere else, Chris added.

I talk to some 15 different location managers every week and Im going to be telling them all about Mallorca once I get back. Ill be telling them its amazing. And theyll be asking if I saw a great harbour, a spectacular house, beaches, cliffs, mountains. We will all carry with us this great publicity campaign for the island. Now we can speak in an educated way about Mallorca and the opportunities which are here and these are the great things about trips like these.

And you have to take into account that location managers are extremely important to productions. After the producer and director are on board and the production designer has been brought in, we are the next on the list, were the fourth person in.

Were the ideas people. We come up with the ideas for where things can and cant be filmed. So while a producer will be looking at logistics and whether sets will have to be built on location, we come in with solutions which could save millions of euros by saying that we know of a real place and that nothing has to be built.

So that is probably one of the things about us that is quite unique, that we all possess a knowledge of what is real. And now we have the knowledge about what is real in Mallorca and the options are endless.
AI can now remember everything you say

Did you know this is the biggest election year in history?

Im not only talking Novembers US presidential election.



In 2024, 76 countries with more than four billion people will head to the polls.



Investors, pay attentionbecause any politician who wants to get re-elected is incentivized to hand out goodies to voters.

Ive warned a stock market correction is likely coming.

Artificial intelligence couldnt remember what you asked it yesterday or even five minutes ago until now.

Its already happening in America.The Biden White House forgave $138 billion worth of student loans. And Congress recently passed a $78 billion business and child tax break bill.The market is ripe for it. While the S&P 500 keeps moving higher, fewer and fewer stocks are rising.But I expect 2024 to be a great year for stocks overall.Election year goodies = money injected into the economy. And that typically boosts stock prices.If markets dip, politicians seeking re-election will be quick to fire up the money printer.What do India Germany France Indonesia and Taiwan have in common? Theyre all holding elections this year AND their stock markets are breaking out to new record highs.Markets are telling us 2024 could be a global election year melt-up.Invest accordingly.

ChatGPT creator OpenAI recently announced chatbots are getting long-term memory.



Say you ask ChatGPT to find the perfect restaurant for you and your wife in NYC. The AI will be able to recall all you past conversations and remember you like sushi then show you a shortlist of all the best sushi restaurants.



This recall ability will accelerate the adoption of AI agents.



AI agents are like personal assistants that complete specialized tasks for you never get tired and work for free.



These little AIs are going to kill websites. Google.com as we know it today wont exist in five years.



TODAY: Google serves you up 10 blue links. You must scroll through to find what you want.



TOMORROW: Youll simply tell your AI agent what you want, and it will do the job.



For example, the idea of manually scrolling through Zillow (Z) will soon seem archaic.



Your AI agentwho knows which neighborhoods you like, how many bedrooms you need, and your price rangewill show you the five best options. On command, itll contact a realtor and organize viewings for you.



Three big takeaways here:



#1: AI is advancing at a dizzying pace. ChatGPT isnt even 18 months old. Every month, were seeing new breakthroughs that enhance its capabilities. Agents will destroy websites (and chatbots).



#2: Get ready for a wave of disruption. iPhone apps created almost $4 trillion in stock market wealth and a whole new set of winners, like Uber (UBER) and Airbnb (ABNB). AI will create $5 trillion of market cap over the next decade, at the very least.



#3: How we profit is clear. These agents require dense networking equipment and many, many more powerful chips than currently exist.

I avoid political talk as much as I can, but an upcoming vote here in Ireland struck a chord with me.

Theres a referendum on giving single-parent families the same rights as married couples. Without getting into the legalese, it basically says one parent is as good as two for kids.



As someone who was raised by a single mother, I can tell you this is not true. And the facts are on my side.



Kids raised in single-mother homes are about five times more likely to be poor than kids from married homes. And boys raised by only one parent are more likely to go to jail than graduate college.



This research is from University of Maryland economist Melissa Kearneys new book, The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind (which Im reading).



To be clear, Im not saying single parents should be tarred and feathered. God bless them.



Im saying kids raised by two parents do FAR better, on average. And to give every child the best possible chance of flourishing, we should promote two-parent households.



Its funny how politicians who lecture us on why we must fight climate change to save the kids also denigrate the family which is the single best thing for kids.



Make nuclear families (and nuclear energy) great again.

Todays dose of optimism

Theres a big gap between how we feel about our own lives and the country.



Data from polling firm Gallup shows Americans' satisfaction with their own lives is at 85%... yet satisfaction with the direction of the country sits at just 17%.





Source: Gallup



I think the newswhich is a never-ending feed of the worst things happening on a given dayexplains this persistent gap.



We experience mostly good things in our own lives. Hitting targets in work pursuing passions going on vacation. So, we feel good.



But open The New York Times, and its nothing but death, destruction, and despair. Overdose on news, and you wont feel like getting out of bed tomorrow.



Ignoring the news is the easiest cheat code to living a happier life.

Stephen McBride

Chief Analyst, RiskHedge

To get more ideas like this sent straight to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, make sure to sign up for The RiskHedge Report , a free investment letter focused on profiting from disruption.



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http://www.riskhedge.com

 2023 Copyright Stephen McBride - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2022 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




The other day I was standing around my kitchen eating snacks and pondering some interesting what-ifs in the world of sports.

For example: What if Ken Griffey Jr. or Bill Walton hadnt been hobbled by injuries during their careers? Or what if Ted Williams hadnt sacrificed five seasons  three of them in the prime of his career  to serve in the military?

After opening the fridge and spying a few beers, this train of thought led to thinking about some what-ifs in the craft beer world. There are plenty of them of varying degrees of importance, and the ones below might not be the MOST important find, but I thought wed look at the concept today and throw it out to you, dear readers, for your thoughts on the subject.

For today, however, here are five that I feel are worthy of mentioning. Some may be obvious, but others might not usually come to mind. In no particular order:

The first what-if has to be: What if former President Jimmy Carter had never signed the law legalizing homebrewing in 1979? This legislation had huge and long-lasting effects on beermaking in the U.S. So many homebrewers have gone on to become professionals, and without that piece of legislation, we might all still be drinking major brands and/or drinking out friends illegal homebrews.

Our next what-if is also a few decades old: What if Fritz Maytag hadnt purchased the struggling Anchor Brewing in 1965? While the craft brewing movement didnt really start until after the 1979 legislation mentioned above, there is no doubt that Maytags life preserver to save Anchor from closing inspired others. He not only poured money into the small brewery, he also revamped the recipe and brewing process. He is a true craft beer hero and pioneer.

Heres maybe an odd one: What if the British Empire had never colonized India? Think about it: Most readers know that IPA stands for India Pale Ale. The style is so named because the hoppy beers were less likely to spoil on the long voyages to India. Considering how popular the style is these days, its almost unimaginable to think that it might not have come about in quite the way it did if it werent for British colonization. Of course, colonization also did a lot of horrific things, but heres at least one part of it that produced something good in our world today.

Staying in the past again for this one: What if Prohibition had never happened? Beer fans back in 1920 clearly didnt like Prohibition. And looking back on it historically, most of us beer aficionados today view it as quite a mistake. There were 1,300 breweries in the country before Prohibition, and only about 100 after. We have to wonder how many of the 1,300 would have survived over the decades. And if most of them did, what would the beer landscape look like today?

We go back to the future for our last what-if: What if the internet had never come into being? OK, this is a weird one because almost every aspect of modern life would be different without the web these days, and beer wouldnt seem to be something that is overly affected by the cyber world. But think about how much of a role the internet plays in informing all of us about beer. From columns like this one to popular sites like Beeradvocate.com and Ratebeer.com to breweries own websites, a plethora of beer information is literally at our fingertips.

What are your beer-related what-ifs? Send me a note at geolenker@yahoo.com.
Two Massachusetts men accused of owning child sex abuse material appeared in court following a state investigation, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Haydens office announced.

Timothy Brown, 38, of Chelsea, was charged with one count of possession of child pornography, Haydens office said in a statement on Monday. Kenneth Higgins, 45, of Revere, was charged on March 13 with one count of possession of child pornography (third offense).

Browns bail was set at $10,000, and he was ordered to return for a pre-trial hearing on April 18, Haydens office said. Higgins bail was ordered held on $75,000 and he is scheduled to return on April 10.

Both cases stem from a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children cyber-tip sent from Yahoo!, Haydens office said. Both also stem from the same investigation conducted by Massachusetts State Police. The cyber-tip pointed to a user who sent an email with 16 picture attachments primarily of a young boy becoming undressed.

A series of administrative subpoenas based on the cyber-tip led investigators to identify Higgins through an email address and a phone number, while Brown was identified from one of the IP addresses used to access the email account.

Search warrants were executed for both Browns and Higgins addresses, Haydens office said. State Police found a Motorola cell phone, SD cards and USBs. After investigators recorded an interview with Higgins where he admitted to having child sex abuse material, he was arrested and arraigned in Chelsea Court on that day.

Three black iPhones and a Coolpad cell phone were found by State Police at Browns home, Haydens office said. On March 15, troopers with the State Police Cyber Crime Unit accessed the SD card from the Coolpad cell phone and found downloadable folders, including one called 13-17 year old females. Troopers were able to find more child sex abuse material, including 600 images. The phone itself had 2,700 images and videos with images and videos.

Troopers then arrested Brown over the weekend, Haydens office said.

This investigation provides an excellent example of a tech company flagging a serious crime for law enforcement and then investigators from State Police and our human trafficking and exploitation unit following that lead directly to these two individuals, Hayden said in the statement. This should make clear to anyone who contributes in any way to the sexual exploitation of children that they are likely to be caught and brought to justice.
An man visiting Boston from Ireland for St. Patricks Day weekend was charged with sexually assaulting a woman at a hotel, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Haydens office announced.

Terrence Crosbie, 37, of Dublin, Ireland, was charged with one count of rape in Boston Municipal Court Central Division and was ordered held on $100,000 bail, Haydens office said in a statement on Monday. Crosbie, a Dublin Fire Brigade member, was also ordered to not leave Massachusetts and to surrender his passport.

On Friday morning, Boston police interviewed a 28-year-old woman at Massachusetts General Hospital who said she was sexually assaulted at the Omni Parker House earlier that morning, Haydens office said.

Detectives obtained video surveillance from the hotel and from the bar and restaurant The Black Rose, where Crosbie and the victim were Thursday night. During their investigation, detectives learned that Crosbie flew to Boston earlier Thursday with other members of the brigade, and he was scheduled to leave on Tuesday, March 19.

But after police interviewed Crosbie on Saturday, he booked a flight for 10:10 p.m. that night but then chose to board an even earlier flight that was departing at around 7 p.m., Haydens office said.

The plan was stopped at the tarmac at Logan International Airport, where Massachusetts State Police removed Crosbie from the plane and arrested him.

As always in these matters, the willingness of the victim to come forward is crucial. This victim deserves enormous credit for doing that in this case, Haydens office said. Im grateful for the alertness of police in finding out that Mr. Crosbie was attempting to leave the country before he could be held accountable for his actions.

Crosbie is due to return to court for a probable cause hearing on April 16.
Dozens of posters bearing the names and faces of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas were vandalized in Newton on Sunday, an incident police are investigating as a hate crime.

The posters were on a fence outside a home on Homer Street and had been hung there since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, Sgt. Hagai Brandon told MassLive on Monday morning. Overnight Sunday, the signs were covered in black spray paint, others were torn down, and someone wrote free Gaza on the fence, police said.

Newton Police are investigating the incident as a hate crime as a result of the underlying crimes specifically targeting the victims of a protected class, the department said in a statement posted to Facebook.
SPRINGFIELD  The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has notified the city Department of Public Works that emergency repairs are required on Putts Bridge, which carries state Route 21 over the Chicopee River between Springfield and Ludlow.

Work will begin no later than April 2. It will not close, the city and MassDOT announced Monday.
Western Front Studios have concluded shooting their newest project, Remote Strutting.

The short film, which was shot at the PortWest headquarters in Westport, was commissioned by the esteemed Ardan/RTE Film Bursary.

Co-Founders of Western Front studios, and the film's producers, Emer and Brian Durcan, expressed their joy at producing another film in Westport. The pair cited the tremendous support from the local community, the dedicated staff, and the Hughes Family who oversee PortWest.

A celebration of triumph, diversity, and community spirit, the Ardan Fis Pitching competition winning script was penned by Ruaidhri Hallinan.

Speaking about the film, Mr Hallinan said the classic saying write about what you know, served as the guide and inspiration for the backstory of the project.

Remote Strutting is a delightful narrative centred around Mia, a young IT professional with a specific challenge that prevents her from stepping outside her comfort zone.

Drawing from my personal experiences of working remotely, I tried to capture the essence of virtual communication where the absence of physical interactions fuels our imagination across the digital chat rooms with colleagues, said Mr Hallinan.

The writer explained how his experience with remote working led to the creation of Mia, who navigates between real and imagined worlds in her real life.

The short, happy, film takes a unique approach by spotlighting inclusivity with a cast that includes deaf actors, ISL interpreters, and crew member who knows ISL.

Produced by Emer Durcan of Western Front Studios, and lensed by the accomplished producer/cinematographer Brian Durcan (Bog, They Can't Know About Me), the film benefits from an accomplished team.

Director Lorna Fitzsimons described 'Remote Strutting' as a bright look at a serious subject and said her hope is that audiences connect with the imaginative solutions to the protagonists challenges.

Ms Fitzsimons said she loved every second of bringing this beautiful script to life, calling the cast and crew stellar.

The director said she 'can't wait' to see London-based Irish actress, Lisa Kelly, who stars as Mia, shine on the big screen.

Additionally, cast members feature promising Irish actor, Dane Whyte O'Hara, as well as John Cronin, Bryan Baker, and local talent, Sheila Moylette.

The heart-warming film promises to captivate audiences with its celebration of success, diversity, and the indomitable spirit of the West of Ireland.

Mr Hallinan said witnessing his script come to life was both humbling and awe-inspiring, and called the crew's ability to capture the story and translate it to the screen a credit.

As we embark on the edit, I cant wait to share the story with the world, he concluded.

Remote Strutting is set to complete post-production in May, with high hopes for its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh in July 2024.
AVIS D'OPPORTUNITE DE FINANCEMENT DE L'USAID

 L'Agence des Etats-Unis pour le developpement international en Republique democratique du Congo (USAID/RDC) lance un appel doffres pour un contrat de subvention d'un montant fixe (FAA) aupres d'entites qualifiees pour la mise en oeuvre du projet Espoir 2030 de l'USAID dans le Haut-Katanga. Seules les entites locales non gouvernementales telles que definies dans l'ADS 303.6 peuvent souscrire a cette offre.

L'USAID a l'intention de signer un accord de subvention avec le candidat repondant le mieux aux objectifs de cet appel doffres, sur la base des criteres de merite decrits dans lappel doffres, sous reserve d'une evaluation des risques. Les entites eligibles interessees sont encouragees a lire attentivement le document de lappel doffres pour comprendre le type de programme, les exigences relatives a la soumission du dossier et le processus de selection.

L'USAID/RDC envisage que laccord de subvention Espoir 2030 Haut-Katanga porte sur des activites d'une duree de cinq ans pour la prestation de services dans trois (3) zones en dehors de Lubumbashi. Le modele de prestation de services prevoit que chaque activite dans une province donnee inclura tous les aspects de la programmation en matiere de lutte contre l'epidemie de VIH/SIDA, ainsi quen faveur d'orphelins et enfants vulnerables (OVC ou OEV) et de populations cles (KPs).

De plus amples informations sont disponibles dans l'avis dappel doffres (Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)) n 72066024RFA00003 publie sur www.grants.gov via (https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/352991) 
by Ray Schultz , March 17, 2024

Manny Garcia has been named as editor in chief of Houston Landing, a digital nonprofit newsroom.

Garcia will leave his current position as executive editor of the Austin American-Statesman, on March 29, according to the Statesman.

The Statesman said it would launch a nationwide search for a successor.

Garcia, who joined the Statesman in 2021, was on board during the paper's defining moment in 2022  the massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

The Statesman was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2023 for its unflinching coverage of local law enforcements flawed response to the tragedy.

Prior to this, Garcia held editorial leadership positions at Miami Herald, el Nuevo Herald, Naples Daily Herald, USA Today and the ProPublica-Texas Tribune Investigative Unit initiative.
by Tanya Gazdik , March 17, 2024

Hyundai Motor America is launching efforts aimed at African American and Asian American customers featuring the dramatically restyled 2024 Santa Fe.

The African American effort in collaboration with Culture Brands continues the popular Okay Hyundai effort. The 30-second spot, The Drop, integrates the allure of sneaker culture with the dynamic, adventure-driven lifestyle of the fifth-generation SUV.

The spot helps the brand break new ground, says Angela Zepeda, CMO of Hyundai Motor America.

This campaign isn't just about showcasing a vehicle, it's about setting the pace for a vibrant fusion of automotive innovation and culture, Zepeda says in a release.

Positioned competitively in the compact SUV segment, the Santa Fe is a frontrunner among African American consumers who purchased Hyundai vehicles in 2023, consistently marking its position as a Top 3 choice for the demographic.

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"The Drop" will be showcased through various channels, including digital, and influencer engagements, branded content development with culturally relevant media partners and other digital touchpoints to further influence awareness. There are 30- and 60- second versions of the spot available for broadcast and digital channels.

Meanwhile, Hyundai and its Asian American marketing agency, Ten Advertising, are launching ads highlighting Asian American couples and families who infuse a taste of the outdoors into their daily lives as a way of expressing themselves.

The creative concepts are the result of an in-depth analysis of the completely redesigned Santa Fe and a comprehensive survey of Asian American consumers' lifestyles and market insights, according to the automaker.

The "Ruggedness" ad, starring the Santa Fe XRT model and an Asian American couple, displays the couple enjoying an unexpected off-road adventure as they detour on unpaved roads with Santa Fe XRT's standard HTRAC AWD. Conversely, the "Wide Open Space" ad narrates how the Santa Fe not only provides a more spacious and sophisticated space for family outings, but also serves as a peaceful sanctuary.

The spots, in both Chinese and Korean, will run across TV, digital, social media, and theater channels.
by Ray Schultz , March 17, 2024

In a possible sign that journalism is losing some of its allure with students, the University of New Hampshire is cutting its English/journalism major.

The school will still provide journalism education, but will no longer offer it as a major, the Boston Globe reported.

Instead of being part of the English Department with its heavy emphasis on writing, the school will expose journalism students to classes in other departments, the paper continues.

This decision comes on the heels of funding challenges, declining enrollment and drastic changes in the journalism business, UNH spokesperson Tania deLuzuriaga said in a statement to the Globe.

Some editors prefer candidates with a grounding in broader liberal arts.

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This new major will have to go through the Universitys curriculum review," added deLuzuriaga, "and we expect it to be ready for the 2025-26 academic year. We will also continue to support journalism students with scholarships, internships, and other professional programming.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, March 18, 2024

Meta Platforms on Monday asked a federal appeals court for an emergency injunction halting an FTC in-house hearing that could result in a ban on monetizing teens' data.

Meta likely will succeed on the merits of its appeal, which, at a minimum, will present serious legal questions, the company writes in papers filed with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The social media platform contends that FTC in-house hearings are unconstitutional -- in part, because the FTC acts as both prosecutor and judge at in-house hearings.

That dual role entails an unacceptable risk of actual bias, Meta argues, adding that the FTC has a long history of upholding its own claims.

The new bid for emergency intervention comes just days after U.S. District Court Judge Randolf Moss in Washington, D.C. turned down Meta's request to derail the FTC's in-house hearing.

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Moss said in his ruling that the Supreme Court rejected arguments similar to Meta's in prior cases.

For instance, he wrote, the Supreme Court ruled nearly 50 years ago that the same state medical board could decide whether a doctor engaged in misconduct, and whether that doctor should be suspended.

But Meta notes that the Supreme Court is currently considering whether to limit federal agencies' enforcement power. In November, that court heard arguments about the Securities and Exchange Commission's ability to bring enforcement actions at administrative proceedings -- as opposed to in court.

The company also says it will face irreparable harm if forced to defend itself at a proceeding that's later found unconstitutional.

The appeal marks the latest development in a battle that began last May, when the FTC proposed modifying a 2020 settlement by adding new restrictions on Meta.

That 4-year-old settlement -- which resolved allegations that Meta allowed Cambridge Analytica and other outside developers to access users' data -- required Meta to pay $5 billion, implement new privacy oversight and obtain an independent assessment of the program.

The FTC now wants to add terms preventing Meta from using minors' data to fuel ad targeting or algorithms, and also prohibiting the company from launching new products or services, unless an assessor confirms its privacy program doesn't have weaknesses. (Meta currently allows marketers to send targeted ads to teens based on their age and location.)

The FTC claimed the company should be subject to new restrictions because an evaluator allegedly identified gaps and weaknesses in the company's privacy program, and because Meta's Messenger Kids allegedly had coding errors between 2017 and 2019 that allowed children to communicate with people who hadn't been approved by parents, in violation of representations about the feature.

When the agency set out the potential new restrictions, 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 U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Kelly in Washington, D.C. because he had approved the deal. Kelly rejected that argument in November, and the D.C. Court of Appeals upheld Kelly's decision last week.

Last year, immediately after Kelly refused to block the hearing, Meta alleged in a separate lawsuit that the FTC's structure is unconstitutional, and sought an injunction on that basis.

Moss rejected that argument on Thursday, but stayed his order until March 22 to give Meta time to appeal.

The D.C. Circuit hasn't yet said whether it will consider Meta's emergency request.
by Erik Oster , March 18, 2024

Boston Beer Co. is flying close to the sun, and investing further in the beyond beer space, with the launch of a new hard iced tea.

Sun Cruiser Iced Tea & Vodka differentiates itself from the Sam Adams parent companys existing hard iced tea offerings through its combination of real vodka and real iced tea, while Twisted Tea is a malt beverage. The 4.5% ABV non-carbonated beverage also is designed to appeal to drinkers looking for a lighter option, with 100 calories and 1 gram of sugar per 12 oz. can.

Sun Cruiser is launching with four varieties: Classic Iced Tea, Lemonade + Iced Tea, Raspberry and Peach. The release is currently rolling out across 17 markets -- including the majority of the East Coast, Arizona, Michigan, Ohio, and Southern California  with national distribution to follow later in the year.

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The hard iced tea and ready-to-drink space is on fire -- seeing continued double-digit growth this year, senior brand director Erica Taylor said in a statement, citing Circana data from Feb. 11 showing hard iced tea sales up 25% year-to-date and RTD spirits up 52% YTD. And theres no better way to celebrate our rollout than by popping up in the sky for the suns biggest moment this year: the solar eclipse, she added.

To that end, the brand is launching a promotional giveaway, giving fans a chance to watch the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8 from a hot air balloon. The Cruise The Sun with Sun Cruiser sweepstakes offers fans the chance to win an all-expenses trip for themself and a guest to Columbus, Ohio, where theyll ride in the Sun Cruiser hot air balloon to watch the sun travel along the path of totality (where the moon will block out the sun for several minutes during the eclipse). Fans of legal drinking age can enter via a dedicated landing page, with the winner announced by April 1.

The strategic launch arrives as Michael Spillane replaces the retiring Dave Burwick as Boston Beer Co. CEO, effective April 1. It appears to be part of a c focus on the growing parts of the companys beyond-beer business. which it highlighted as a bright spot in its most recent earnings call. During that call, the company noted that its Twisted Tea brand had 29% dollar sales growth for the quarter.
by Teresa Buyikian , March 18, 2024

Move over, Cup O Soup, there may be a hot and fresh pizza arriving to a vending machine near you soon.

PizzaForno, the first automated pizzeria that bakes  24 hours a day, per the companys release, has expanded to Maryland, with a new location in Silver Spring.

Although the vending machine-like units may be new-ish to the U.S., the company has been using technology made popular in France by ADIAL since 2018 and already has 2,200 locations operating in Europe.

PizzaForno currently has 70 locations in the U.S. in California, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Louisiana and now Maryland. with over 100 additional locations scheduled for the U.S. and plans to have 25,000 operating units by 2028, per the company.

The new Maryland location will hold a grand opening event on Mar. 22, with free pizza, music, games, freebies and giveaways. Customers can enter to be one of two winners of free pizza for a year.

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Hospitality veteran A.J. Grillo is behind the new location and stated in the announcement that he also look(s) forward to continuing to grow the (PizzaForno) brand across Virginia and Washington D.C." Grillo also has plans to install PizzaForno units in universities, hospitals and apartments complexes, among other locations.

Customers order from PizzaForno via the companys app 24/7, where they are able to select ingredients, check inventory, order and reserve pizzas for pickup at a nearby unit. Pizzas are ready in three minutes.

Grillos restaurant background includes serving as general manager of United Restaurant Group in Richmond. The restaurant group is under the leadership of Tony Grillo, A.J.'s father, and is the second largest franchisee of TGI Fridays.
What is Shared Psychosis Disorder?

Shared psychosis disorder also referred to as folie a deux is a rare mental illness in which an otherwise normal and healthy person starts to believe the delusions (false beliefs) of a closely connected person such as spouse, sibling or friend who has a psychotic disorder like schizophrenia, for example.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-4) classifies shared psychotic disorder (folie a deux) as an atypical psychotic disorder. A diagnosis of an atypical psychosis is made when a patient shows symptoms that are clearly psychotic such as delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (seeing and hearing things that dont exist), disorganized thinking, thought broadcasting (the belief that ones thoughts are broadcast from the head to the outside world) or other bizarre behaviors. However, these symptoms do not satisfy the level required by the DSM-5 to diagnose a specific psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia.

The person who has the psychotic disorder is the primary or dominant partner and the other person is referred to as the secondary or passive partner.

The primary or dominant partner and the passive partner often have a strong emotional connect to one another but are otherwise not very social and may not have other friends or acquaintances other than each other.

The dominant partner has a strong influence or hold over the passive partner and gradually manages to impose their false beliefs on the passive partner very soon. The primary member, usually older, more intelligent and better educated with an assertive personality, controls the passive member who is usually docile and weak.

Most often, this disorder occurs within a nuclear family; more than 95% of the cases reported were from members of the same family. A third of reported cases were between two sisters and another third being between mother and child and husband and wife.

Although shared psychosis disorders typically involve two persons, it can involve three persons (folie a trois), four persons (folie a quatre) and in case it affected 12 members of the same family (folie a famille/ folie a douze). It can also happen in a group or cult where the cult leader has a psychotic disorder and imposes his false beliefs on his followers (folie a plusiers, or "the madness of many").

Famous Cases of Shared Psychosis Disorder

Some of the reported interesting cases of shared psychosis disorder or folie a deux are given below in order to give an idea of the bizarre and almost unbelievable things that can happen in this condition.

Shared psychosis involving an entire family

In 2016, a bizarre case involving a family of five from Melbourne, Australia made the news when all of them suddenly disappeared from their home leaving everything behind and travelled more than 1,600 km across the state of Victoria because one of the family members was convinced that someone was out to kill them. Over the next few days, each person was found in a separate location in a confused state with no proper explanation as to how they reached there.Following an investigation by the police, no evidence was found to support the familys claims of persecution and the symptoms of those involved resolved on their own once the family returned to their home.

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Shared psychosis between an owner and her pet dog

Volume 149 of the American Journal of Psychiatry reports a case of folie a deux shared between an 83-year-old widow and her pet dog.

The woman had seriously believed that her upstairs neighbor was trying to make her flee her home.

She believed that he was harming her and her pet dog with violet rays, so she made the dog an air raid shelter under the kitchen table. Whenever the dog heard any noise from above, it would run and hide in its spot.

Whether this was a case of folie a deux or whether the dog was carrying out what its owner asked it to do remains unclear. However, whatever the dogs real motivation may have been, it was still participating in its owners delusion.

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Shared Psychosis between husband and wife

Margaret and her husband Michael, both aged 34 years, were both found to be suffering from folie a deux when they were both were found to share similar delusions that people were out to harm or persecute them. They believed that some persons were entering their home, spreading dust and fluff and wearing down their shoes". Interestingly, both also had symptoms supporting a diagnosis of emotional contagion (see glossary), made separately in both of them.

Burari Deaths in India in June 2018

A family of eleven members from Burari, India committed suicide in June 2018 due to the shared delusion of one of the family members about mistakes committed and attaining salvation. One hypothesis put forward in this perplexing case is that shared psychosis disorder may have led to the deaths.

There is a complex combination of several factors involved, although the exact reasons are still not clear

Since many of these cases involve members of the same family, there is a strong suggestion that there might be a genetic component in the development of this disorder

in the development of this disorder The primary person has a diagnosable psychotic disorder

The passive partner may have a family history of psychiatric illness in a first degree relative other than the primary partner

in a first degree relative other than the primary partner The secondary partner may be suffering from a personality disorder that causes dependence or submission or he/she may be predisposed to mental illness

that causes dependence or submission or he/she may be predisposed to mental illness Social isolation (total or partial lack of contact with society) of the family or persons involved

(total or partial lack of contact with society) of the family or persons involved Inability to cope with stress

Other factors that can influence the development of shared psychosis disorder include the degree of closeness between the two persons, the duration of their relationship and the existence of dominant versus passive nature of the relationship

Presence of a dominant person with a psychotic disorder

Often the delusions are believable and seem possible in comparison to some of the bizarre delusions that some schizophrenia patients have. It is thus easy to impose these delusions on the weaker person

Firm and unshakeable belief by the passive partner in the dominant partners delusion

A family physician will take a detailed history and conduct a thorough physical examination. There are no specific tests to diagnose shared psychosis disorder and imaging tests such as CT or MRI of the brain may be advised to rule out any brain disease as the cause for the symptoms. If there is no cause found for the patients symptoms, a referral to a mental health professional or psychiatrist may then be made.

A clinical discussion with a mental health professional is necessary to diagnose shared psychotic disorder. The following criteria have to be satisfied to confirm the diagnosis of shared psychosis disorder

Development of un-shakeable or firm delusion (false belief) in an otherwise normal and healthy person, living in close association with someone who already has known psychotic disorder

The nature of the delusion is remarkably similar to the delusion in the primary person

The delusion seen in the secondary person cannot be explained since they do not have any underlying psychotic illness such as schizophrenia

Treatment of shared psychosis disorder focuses on the passive partner. Treatment methods include the following

Separation of the passive partner from the dominant partner

of the passive partner from the dominant partner Strong psychological and emotional support following the separation from the dominant partner to ease the distress. However, symptoms will ease once the passive person is removed from the unhealthy association

following the separation from the dominant partner to ease the distress. However, symptoms will ease once the passive person is removed from the unhealthy association Counseling and psychotherapy  This may aid in the promotion of healthy thinking, boosting ones confidence and reduction of symptoms

 This may aid in the promotion of healthy thinking, boosting ones confidence and reduction of symptoms Family therapy  This involves the family of the affected person and urges them to support and encourage the persons interests and development of social ties and be regular with medication

 This involves the family of the affected person and urges them to support and encourage the persons interests and development of social ties and be regular with medication Anti-psychotic medications  They may be used only if symptoms have not significantly improved following conservative treatment measures

For the primary partner, treatment usually involves antipsychotic medications and psychotherapy. If the primary partner is considered to be a physical threat to others, the person may be hospitalized until this is no longer the case.

In order to prevent relapse or recurrence of the condition, continued family therapy should also be considered to modify old and unhealthy family dynamics. Social and community support may also help since the family cannot continue to exist in isolation as previously as it did in the past.
About

Walking Corpse Syndrome or Cotard's Syndrome is a mental disorder in which patients experience delusions that they are dead, do not exist, are putrefying or have lost their vital organs.

Walking Corpse Syndrome or Cotard's Syndrome is an uncommon neuropsychiatric disorder in which patients experience delusions or false beliefs that they are dead, do not exist, are putrefying or have lost their vital organs. In some cases, they can even smell the rotting flesh. The condition can simply be described as "existence denial". It is sometimes accompanied by symptoms of guilt, anxiety and negativity. Paradoxically, some patients may have delusions of immortality.(1 Trusted Source

Cotard Delusion



Go to source)

Walking Corpse Syndrome / Cotard's Syndrome was first described by Jules Cotard way back in 1880 as delire des negations or negative deliriums.

Studies indicate that the disease is more prevalent in older patients with depression. It is also more likely to occur in patients with disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, brain injury, brain atrophy, seizure disorders, depression, brain tumors, stroke, migraine and in patients with delirious states. Women may be more commonly affected than men.

Though the exact cause is not known, lesions in frontal and temporal regions (front and sides) of the right hemisphere of the brain have been associated with the disease.

Some patients suffering from Walking Corpse Syndrome have died of starvation since they deprived themselves of food thinking that they are already dead. The patients also have a tendency to attempt suicide and harm themselves.

The condition is diagnosed on the basis of symptoms of the patient. Tests are used to diagnose associated diseases and rule out other conditions. Current treatment involves medication with antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. Electroconvulsive therapy in combination with medications has been reported to be more effective than medications alone.

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Causes and Risk factors of Walking Corpse Syndrome

Walking Corpse Syndrome occurs due to lesions in frontal and temporal regions of the right hemisphere of the brain.

The exact cause for Walking Corpse Syndrome is not known. However, studies suggest that the cause is localized in the frontal and temporal regions of the right hemisphere of the brain.

Risk factors that have been associated with Cotards syndrome are-

The condition is more common in older individuals with depressive disorders

It is associated with other mental disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and dementia

It has been associated with other conditions affecting the brain like brain atrophy, brain tumors, seizure disorders, brain injury, migraine, Parkinson's disease and stroke

It could also be a consequence of an adverse drug reaction to acyclovir, an antiviral drug, in patients with kidney failure. These patients are unable to excrete a metabolite of acyclovir called CMMG, which accumulates in the blood and causes the symptoms

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Signs and Symptoms of Walking Corpse Syndrome

People with Walking Corpse Syndrome believe that they are dead.

Patients with Walking Corpse Syndrome have a vague feeling of anxiety in the initial stages. This is followed by a belief that they are dead, do not exist, are putrefying (they can even smell rotting flesh) or have lost their vital organs. Some patients actually feel that they are immortal.

Clinical features include depression, feeling of guilt, negativity and insensitivity to pain. The patients may also believe that they are paralyzed or have auditory or smell-based hallucinations.

People affected by this disorder cannot recognize their own face and do not show any interest in social life or pleasure. They are always paranoid and neglect their own hygiene. They have a suicidal tendency or may harm themselves. They lose sense of reality and have distorted view of the world.

Yamada suggested a classification of Cotard's syndrome; he divided it into three stages based on the symptoms:

Germination stage: In this stage, the patient shows characteristic features of depressive mood, extreme worry of unwellness and excessive fear of ones illness, despite medical treatment.

Blooming stage: In this stage, the patient experiences true features of the syndrome i.e. delusion of being dead or immortal; this stage is associated with anxiety and negativism.

Chronic stage:In this stage, the individual shows severe depression due to emotional disturbances or paranoia.(   Trusted Source

About Cotard Delusion



Go to source Trusted Source

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Diagnosis of Walking Corpse Syndrome

Walking Corpse Syndrome is diagnosed based on the patients history and symptoms. Tests are used to exclude other conditions as well as to diagnose associated diseases. These tests include:

Treatment of Walking Corpse Syndrome

Walking Corpse Syndrome / Cotard's syndrome is treated with medications in combination with electroconvulsive therapy.

Treatment of Walking Corpse Syndrome includes the following:

Identification and treatment of risk factors: Risk factors for Walking Corpse Syndrome should be identified and treated.

should be identified and treated. Antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizer medications: Antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers are used in the treatment of Cotards syndrome. Based on the underlying condition, the patient should be treated with a single drug or combination of medications. Mood stabilizers have beneficial effects in patients with bipolar disorder.

Electroconvulsive Therapy: Many cases have shown that a combination of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with medications was more effective to manage the condition as compared to medications alone. ECT involves placing electrodes on the patients head and administering the small impulses.

The overall prognosis of disease is determined by severity of the disorder and the treatment strategies used to manage it. Some patients recover with proper treatment. Some die of starvation. The patients also have suicidal tendencies and should be watched over.(4 Trusted Source

About Walking Corpse Syndrome



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Interesting Cases of Walking Corpse Syndrome

Some interesting cases of Walking Corpse Syndrome reported in medical literature are listed below:

A 53-year old Filipino woman was brought to a hospital when she complained that she was dead, smelled like rotting flesh, and wanted to be taken to a morgue to be with dead people. Upon questioning, she expressed fear that paramedics were trying to burn down her house. She also complained of hopelessness, low energy, decreased appetite, and excessive sleepiness. She responded to treatment with medications.

A patient who was taken to South Africa from Edinburgh after a period of hospitalization was convinced that he was taken to hell after his death. He believed that he had died of septicemia, AIDS or an overdose of yellow fever injection. He felt that it was not his mother who accompanied him, but her spirit.


Madrigal gains a significant edge with Rezdiffra's early approval as a leading therapy for non-cirrhotic MASH patients in F2 to F3 fibrosis stages. #liverdisease

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On March 14, 2024, the FDA announced its accelerated approval of Resmetirom for the treatment of MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) that is commonly referred as Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). It can be prescribed for patients exhibiting moderate to advanced liver fibrosis The FDA approval has been given to the the brand name Rezdiffra that is marketed by Madrigal Pharmaceuticals. Rezdiffra (resmetirom) is a thyroid hormone receptor beta (THR-) agonist.Sravani Meka, MPH, a Senior Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, a prominent data and analytics firm, shared her insights as follows:The endorsement of Rezdiffra marks a pivotal moment in an area previously characterized by a lack of approved treatments and numerous developmental setbacks. This approval establishes a new benchmark for subsequent therapies under development. Future treatments are now challenged to either match or surpass the efficacy and safety benchmarks set by resmetiroms Phase III MAESTRO studies, including MAESTRO-NASH (significant fibrosis), MAESTRO-NASH Outcomes (compensated cirrhosis), and MAESTRO-NAFLD-1 (safety).GlobalData forecasts suggest that the NASH/MASH market could grow to $25.7 billion by 2032 across the seven major markets (the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and Japan).With the anticipated market entry of competitor drugs during 2024 to 2032, such as Novo Nordisks semaglutide , Lillys tirzepatide, and Vikings THR- agonist VK-2809, Rezdiffras early approval provides Madrigal with a significant advantage as the pioneering therapy for non-cirrhotic MASH patients with F2 to F3 fibrosis stages. Nevertheless, the durability of Madrigals market lead remains uncertain with the expected introduction of incretin-modulating treatments for MASH.Madrigals achievement of FDA approval for Rezdiffra prescribing without the necessity for a liver biopsy marks a significant advantage. The potential biopsy requirement had been a contentious issue, raising concerns about accessibility. By eliminating this requirement, Madrigal enhances the therapys accessibility.In the aftermath of securing FDA approval, Madrigal has initiated various strategic initiatives to boost Rezdiffras commercialization and raise awareness among patients, healthcare professionals (HCPs), and payers about its importance in treating MASH.The company has launched educational campaigns such as #1 Liver Fan and NASH Explored to encourage proactive liver health management. Additionally, Madrigal has undertaken several leadership changes and conducted financing rounds to support resmetiroms clinical progression and commercial strategies.As Madrigal advances in the commercialization of resmetirom, it may also explore potential acquisitions or partnerships within the NASH sector, further stirring excitement and anticipation for its future endeavors.Source-Medindia


Public awareness plays a crucial role in fostering healthy habits, necessitating the dissemination of accurate information. #publichealth #healthyliving #medindia

Empowering Health and Wellness

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India achieves WHO recommended doctor population ratio: A call for paradigm shift in public health discourse! - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6259525/)

Rajya Sabha MP Bhubaneswar Kalita, also Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, emphasized Indias transformative journey towards wellness.He highlightedKalita mentioned "Investing in health and hygiene is not just a moral imperative, it is an economic necessity. He also added Beyond being just buzzwords, health and hygiene are the pillars upon which prosperous societies are built. The journey has been arduous yet inspiring. From battling infectious diseases to embracing preventive healthcare, the nation has made significant strides."Over the past decade, we have witnessed a reduction in maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate , and mortality rate among children under five years of age."These achievements underscore the effectiveness of the robust healthcare initiatives and the importance of prioritising hygiene practices. The various initiatives and programmes of the government has transformed the society into a health conscious one.""As we strive for universal health coverage, it is imperative to empower communities with knowledge and resources to safeguard their well-being. The government has increased the number of medical colleges, and we will have one medical college in every district now. The shortage of doctors in the rural areas will soon be a thing of the past," Kalita added.Delivering the welcome address, Anil Rajput, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM National CSR Council, said, The Illness to Wellness initiative was launched in 2014 with the belief that we have the scientific knowledge to create a world in which most of the diseases could be either eliminated or controlled by preventive healthcare awareness."We are driven by a commitment to promote health and wellness for all with a focus on empowerment, education, collaboration, and sustainable impact. Over the years, we have endeavoured to maximise outreach and impact, from organising camps and awareness campaigns on a slew of critical ailments to holding regular webinars on key health developments with the overarching objective of providing remedies and motivation. The Illness to Wellness campaign extends its reach to young minds through initiatives such as the inter-school drawing competition, with artwork from the latest competition showcased at the Summit.Engaging 57 schools and involving 10,000 students, the competition promoted awareness of crucial topics, including health, hygiene, and air pollution . Delivering the keynote address, Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi, said, Wellness is a state of mind, spirit and body and illness is a deficiency of social, physical, mental, and spiritual factors. A new India for the world has to encompass health towards wellness. "The youth and women are the present and future of our country. We have to combine all efforts to deliver wellness and beyond. The 20th century was the most scientific 100 years ever lived by mankind. A microbe and the Covid pandemic showed humankind the limits of its power.""The understanding about working together, mental health, and empowerment is the silver lining leading us to talk about wellness with greater urgency. Science made us live in the 20th century and we must now combine science with spirituality as we go into the 21st century. Science made us live on earth, and science plus spirituality makes us live in the world.Anil Agarwal, Medical Director, Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education Research, Government of NCT of Delhi, said in his address, "Early detection is the cornerstone of treatment and seeking early medical intervention is advisable. The focus should be on the silent killers and vulnerable groups in raising public awareness. Reaching out to school children is a good approach, as the younger you start, the more ingrained will the awareness be. Imparting basic life-saving skills to the students in schools and colleges will be very effective in combating sudden death.Source-IANS
Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Gerapetritis will pay a visit to Croatia tomorrow, Tuesday, March 19.



Mr. Gerapetritis will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia, Gordan Grlic Radman, at 9:30 am.



Following the expanded talks between the delegations, the two Ministers will deliver joint statements to the press at 10:50 am.



Subsequently, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will meet with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic.
G. GERAPETRITIS: Good morning, many happy returns.

The situation around the world tends to deteriorate: in Ukraine, in the Middle East, in Africa. There is a clear degradation of the rule of law, democracy, and humanitarian values. Humanity can no longer remain inactive. All possible channels must be activated so that global balance and global peace can be restored. In the Middle East in particular, Greece pursues a very active foreign policy to ensure that the humanitarian crisis is contained and that hostilities do not spill over to other areas.

Greece is actively involved; it has a leading role in the Red Sea operation, in order to ensure freedom of navigation, which is absolutely essential to maintain the supply chain.

Simultaneously, Greece participates in all humanitarian corridors, including the Cyprus' initiative regarding the maritime corridor transporting humanitarian aid directly to Gaza. However, the reality is that the international legal order has failed to prevent or contain the humanitarian crisis, which has reached an enormous scale. We must all realize that a situation, which so flagrantly violates the humanitarian principles cannot be tolerated.

Tomorrow will be too late. Thank you very much.

JOURNALIST: Does Greece support the sanctions for Navalny, as well as the sanctions on settlers in Gaza?

G. GERAPETRITIS: The sanctions issues will be discussed. Allow me to say that sanctions in general, have proven to not always be effective. You are well aware that a series of sanctions packages have been imposed on Russia. Yet, even today, the situation in Ukraine remains extremely complex. Ukraine is under attack. We will support its integrity by all means. Greece remains firmly in favour of international law and humanitarian principles.

JOURNALIST: A question about the maritime corridor.

G. GERAPETRITIS: We are going to provide full support to the maritime corridor. Obviously, this is a necessary step, but we need to further develop all types of corridors, because the humanitarian situation is deteriorating immensely.

So, we have to make sure that all possible options are open, to allow for the uninhibited flow of humanitarian aid.

And Greece will do everything in its power for these humanitarian corridors to be set in place.
From indulging in Chinese cuisine and delving into the country's rich history and culture, to forging friendships and memories that may last a lifetime, a group of students from the United States are preparing to explore a whole new world as they set off for a journey to China. "I really want to see how an average Chinese girl or boy lives their life. I also want to see architecture and historical buildings, because China has a rich culture and a long, significant history," said Montserrat Romero-Rocha, a 12th-grade student at Lincoln High School in the state of Washington. She's also eager to understand everyday life in China, like trying Chinese food, shopping and finding out the differences between life in the US and China. But what she's looking forward to the most, she said, is being able to interact with Chinese peers and observe how Chinese schools are run, compared with those in the US. In September 2015, President Xi Jinping visited Lincoln High School, which is in Tacoma, Washington, during his first state visit to the US as president, and he invited young people from the US to visit China. Romero-Rocha is one of 10 Lincoln High School students who will visit China. Along with 14 students from Steilacoom High School in Washington, they left for China from San Francisco on Saturday. The visit will take them to Beijing and to Hubei and Guangdong provinces before they return to the US on March 27. Their itinerary promises an exciting chance for exploration across China's diverse landscape. The students will get a taste of both historical and contemporary China, visiting iconic landmarks like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City in Beijing and Wudang Mountain in Hubei, and engaging in academic exchanges at prestigious institutions like Peking University. "I want to experience more about the culture and people, and how everything is different and similar to the US," said Luke Kelly, an 11th-grade student at Steilacoom High School. For Kelly, who has never traveled outside of the US, this tour means "a once in a lifetime opportunity". "I'm excited about being able to go and explore architecture. I'm excited about the Great Wall and Forbidden City," he said. Building connections with students in China is also a big reason he is excited about the journey. "I hope we can bring back the relations and ... carry on and encourage other people to go and do the same," he added. Song Guoxuan, China's deputy consul general in San Francisco, who saw the students off at San Francisco International Airport, expressed his hope that they will embrace the experience with open minds. "Taste Chinese cuisine, make Chinese friends, and see a real China," Song encouraged them. He also emphasized the importance of sharing their experiences back home, fostering a spirit of friendship between the two nations. This tour is part of a larger initiative. In November, President Xi and US President Joe Biden envisioned prioritizing cultural and people-to-people exchanges, particularly among young people. Xi said that China is going to invite 50,000 young people from the US to visit China on exchange and study programs over the next five years. Lynn Eisenhauer, an arts facilitator who has led previous student trips to China, highlighted the transformative power of these exchanges. "Every trip is different," she said, recounting how past student exchanges changed students' perspective and fostered deeper understanding. One student was surprised to learn that his Chinese counterpart focused mostly on studying outside of school, and he came home with a changed perspective about his work ethic and became grateful for education. "Most of them have never traveled out of the United States," Eisenhauer said of the students. "They are going to feel all sorts of different things on this trip, and what I'm excited for is that the things will last a lifetime for them." Romero-Rocha echoed that sentiment. "The tour is going to change me fundamentally as a person, because I'm going to an entirely new place and will experience an entirely new culture," she said. "And it's going to stick with me for the rest of my life."


The Coast Guard unveiled new measures last week to improve service members' access to mental health screening and treatment, requiring supervisors and commanders to refer personnel who request an evaluation as soon as it is practical.

In a Coast Guard-wide message Friday, Rear Adm. Dana Thomas, assistant commandant for health, safety and work-life, said that the service already provides informal support in most situations but adoption of guidance set forth in the Brandon Act, approved as part of the fiscal 2022 defense policy law, will formalize the approach.

"Each of us must remain willing and able to do all that is required to save another's life," Thomas wrote in the message, ALCOAST 124/24.

Read Next: A Better Way to Give Pay Raises to Junior Enlisted? Key Senator Says It's Under Consideration This Year.

The Brandon Act, named for 21-year-old Brandon Caserta, a Navy aircrew aviation electrician's mate who died by suicide in 2018 in Norfolk, Virginia, requires commanders to respond immediately to requests from troops for mental health assessments and for the services to train members on their rights to access.

The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force implemented Brandon Act policies by September 2023. The law did not provide a timeline for adoption but stipulated that the armed forces, which include the U.S. Coast Guard, must ensure that members can request a referral regardless of basis.

In the message, the Coast Guard, part of the Department of Homeland Security, said the law applies only to the Defense Department but that it will "implement applicable elements of [the law] to mature" its behavioral health program.

The Coast Guard's policy differs from the law in terms of the paygrade of those required to refer members. In the Coast Guard, supervisors E-6 and above must make the referral; the law says E-5s and above must do so.

"The Coast Guard requires a slightly different implementation strategy," the message states. "Each member of the CG family (from most junior to most senior, active duty, reserve, auxiliarists and civilian) are trained and expected to recognize a person in distress and take appropriate action to ensure a warm handoff occurs whenever needed."

From 2018 through June 2023, the Coast Guard lost 35 members to suicide, including a dozen in 2022 alone, according to figures provided by the service.

While suicide is a complex issue caused by many factors that include mental health, the services' prevention programs focus on resiliency and behavioral health treatment as part of an overarching strategy to reduce suicides in the ranks.

The Brandon Act required commanders to maintain privacy by not asking providers to share the results of a member's mental health assessment. However, there are some exceptions, including a service member being at risk for harm to themselves, others or the mission; needing inpatient care or substance abuse treatment; having an acute medical condition that interferes with duty; or cases where the command required a service member to get a mental health evaluation.

Patrick and Teri Caserta, Brandon Caserta's parents, created the idea of the Brandon Act and lobbied Congress and the Pentagon to implement measures that would give troops easier access to mental health treatments.

On Monday, Patrick Caserta said the Coast Guard already had much of the legislation's foundation in place, but the new announcement will add value to the service's suicide prevention efforts.

"Zero suicides obviously is their goal, but they really want to take care of their people and make a difference and make sure they're getting all the help they need. They don't want to lose somebody to mental health or a crisis of any sort," Caserta said in an interview Monday.

As part of their suicide prevention efforts, Coast Guard officials also have recently published a behavioral health playbook that provides resources and support for leadership on issues related to mental health.

The Coast Guard also has separated its mandatory suicide prevention training from sexual assault prevention requirements to ensure that service members focus on each stand-alone course, according to the service.

Related: Veteran Suicides Ticked Upward in 2021 Following 2 Years of Decline, Latest VA Statistics Show
The Air Force is hoping to retire more A-10 Warthogs in 2025, as the service continues to readjust its overall strategies and future aircraft based on China's growing threat in the Pacific.

In their 2025 budget request, Air Force officials are hoping to retire 250 aircraft -- with 56 of those divestments being A-10s. If passed, it would mark the largest number of the close-air support stalwarts sent to the boneyard -- the final resting place for scrapped aircraft.

Congress allowed the service to part with 21 A-10s -- the first such retirements approved in the 21st century -- as part of its 2023 defense policy bill, Military.com reported. The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act "eases current restrictions on retiring A-10 aircraft to allow the Air Force to retire 42 A-10 aircraft" in fiscal 2024, according to a Senate fact sheet.

Read Next: A Better Way to Give Pay Raises to Junior Enlisted? Key Senator Says It's Under Consideration This Year.

The close-support aircraft, with a 57-foot, 6-inch wingspan, has been in service since the 1970s. The signature "brrrttt" noise emitted from its 30mm Gatling-style guns, which aided troops extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan in addition to playing a key role in the first Gulf War, helped garner a fanatic following among service members, as well as Washington lawmakers who have fervently protected it from retirement.

But that support seems to be fading. More A-10 squadrons are starting to shed their aircraft.

It was announced earlier this month that Maryland's Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport is the preferred location to transition from a flying mission with aging A-10 aircraft to a cyber wing mission -- leaving the future of those jobs up in the air.

"Divestment of the 21 A-10s at Warfield ANGB is forecasted to begin in fall 2024," the Air Force said in a press release. "Manpower numbers are expected to remain neutral but will be finalized over the next year."

Last month, the 355th Wing at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona began divesting its A-10 fleet. Air Force officials said in a press release announcing those changes that the service "is planning to divest the entire fleet of A-10 aircraft within the next 3-5 years" and that pilots and maintainers will move on to the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jet.

"The A-10 has been the symbol of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for many years, and it will continue to be a symbol for the airmen of DM, a symbol of their commitment, excellence and service," Col. Scott Mills, 355th Wing commander and A-10 pilot, said in the news release. "For now, we're divesting a single squadron during the summer-fall timeframe of 2024."

As Congress moves toward retiring more A-10 Warthogs from service, the Air Force also aims over the next three years to cut the number of elite airmen responsible for calling in close-air support on the battlefield.

Rose Riley, a Department of the Air Force spokeswoman, told Military.com last year that the service plans to shrink the Tactical Air Control Party, or TACP, job field to about 2,130 positions -- a decrease of 44%, according to the service. The Air Force said the manning is now "roughly" 3,700 airmen.

Over three fiscal years, the Air Force is asking to decrease TACPs by "44% to approximately 2,130 positions with a reduction of roughly 370 positions in FY23, 610 positions in FY24, and 600 positions in FY25," Riley told Military.com last year in an emailed statement.

Air Force officials did not immediately respond when asked Monday about how that plan was proceeding.

Troops-In-Contact, an advocacy group led by A-10 and air support veterans, issued a statement after the cuts were revealed saying close-air support, or CAS, is crucial to the military. The group argued that the results of cutting TACPs could be deadly. The group has also fought against cuts to the A-10 Warthog.

"If successful, this plan would kill the CAS profession and cripple America's CAS capability," the group wrote on its website. "Ground troops would be supported, if at all, by CAS amateurs in a small, expensive fleet of fragile aircraft that are far less effective. In low-intensity conflict, that will cost lives."

The A-10 retirements come as the Air Force continues to invest in the F-35, which was billed early on as a close-air support replacement for the Warthog. It also comes as the service pivots overall to a focus on the Pacific and China, leaving the Middle East in the rearview.

Dan Grazier, a senior policy fellow with the Project on Government Oversight, a nonpartisan, nonprofit watchdog group, obtained a copy of an A-10 and F-35 flyoff testing report that did not paint the F-35 as the clear winner between the two, he reported.

Grazier said the continued retirements of the A-10 will leave the service empty-handed when it comes to close-air support abilities.

"It's going to leave a capability gap," Grazier told Military.com in an interview Monday.

Related: After Recruiting Woes, Air Force Cuts Planned Troop Totals by 8,000 for Coming Year
The Navy last week released a new report on its preliminary plumbing assessment following multiple complaints of air and water quality issues from residents on its water system.

The assessment, which spanned from October to December 2023, investigated plumbing at 10 homes, drinking water samples, water heaters and water distribution systems at fire hydrants. Samples from the assessment indicated that the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam water system "continues to meet all state and federal drinking standards, " according to a Navy news release.

"To date, there have been no detections of total petroleum hydrocarbons (referred to as TPH) above the regulatory-approved 266 parts per billion Incident Specific Parameter throughout the course of the two-year (long-term monitoring ) program and as part of the Navy's premise plumbing assessment, " the report read.

However, low-level detections of TPH were found in samples across the water system, and were not limited to homesthe cause of which is "under evaluation." The Navy also said there was no jet fuel detected.

The assessment was completed "as a direct result of concerns " reported to the state Department of Health and the federal Environmental Protection Agency by six residents on the JBPHH water system in mid-October 2023.

The concerns stem from the Red Hill water crisis, which began in November 2021 when fuel from the Navy's underground Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility leaked into the Navy's water system, impacting 93, 000 people who live in homes served by the water system, including service members, military families and civilians.

As the purveyor of the water system, the Navy is responsible for maintaining the water's quality and conducts water testing with regulatory oversight from DOH and the EPA.

Earlier this year, an influx of air and water quality complaints from residents at JBPHH flooded the Navy, DOH and the EPA.

The Red Hill Community Representation Initiative directly received over 50 reports in late January and over 70 responses to a poll on the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Water Contamination Support Facebook group page, in addition to complaints posted on neighborhood social media pages. Complaints included a visible sheen on the water and a strong odor and chemical taste.

Erin Thompson, who complained of water quality issues in January, has lived with her family at their home on the Aliamanu Military Reservation since the water crisis began and said that they've had issues with their water that still persist to this day.

In January, she drank water from her bathroom sink and was "extremely gastrointestinal sick " for the next 24 hours. She and her family have also been experiencing skin irritation since December that still keeps them up all night scratching, she said.

"Within the last week and a half, everything's starting to come back again, and I'm like, 'Oh, we can't move out of here soon enough, '" Thompson said. She and her family are moving overseas in a few weeks.

Thompson said her water was tested at the beginning of this year, with results coming back indicating low levels of TPH, but the levels were still under the regulatory-approved standard.

"We've got four kids and a single income. I haven't been able to afford water, so when they said, 'OK, the water is safe, ' I was like, 'What do we do ? Do we trust it or not ? They say it's safe, '" she said. "So we've been drinking it, but we've also been sick the whole time."

Tracey Contreras also complained about water quality issues at her house on base at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in January. To this day, she said her water has an odor and is discolored, and that "black stuff " still comes out of the pipes in her home.

Despite the water meeting state and federal standards, Contreras said she and her husband still avoid drinking it or using their tap water. She said that she and her husband regularly fill a big pot with bottled water and heat it on the stove before carrying it upstairs to their bathroom, where they add cooler bottled water into the pot to cool it down before using it to take turns bathing.

"It's like we live in the 1800s over here. That's how we do things here, and as military families, we're stuck in a different age, " Contreras said. "I laugh about it because if we don't, then it would be way worse, but we have to find some way to just get through it and continue, because we're going to be here for another year."

In response to the January complaints, the DOH ordered the Navy to test the Waiawa shaft, JBPHH's only source of drinking water. Results came back negative.

A Navy spokesperson said that observations from the preliminary plumbing assessment of homes, as well as recommendations from the EPA and DOH were "all factors in informing the Navy's recent actions, including the establishment of the 'swarm' team." The team consists of drinking water experts, including members of several Navy commands, the EPA and DOH, working towards finding the source of low-level TPH detections and creating plans to address them.

"The Swarm team has taken a holistic approach to conduct data trend analysis from the (long-term monitoring ) plan, as well as review how samples are analyzed to determine what refinements and enhancements can be implemented, " the Navy said in a statement to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "The Swarm team continues to work closely with the regulators, and the findings, once final, will be made public."

In mid-February, the Navy announced its Extended Drinking Water Monitoring Plan, which would build upon the previous two-year long-term monitoring plan, which expires at the end of March. The specifics of the plan, including sampling methods, analyte list and protocols, will be made public once they are finalized with approval from the regulatory agencies, the Navy said.

The extended monitoring plan will continue to sample locations across the Red Hill water system, including homes, buildings, water heaters and fire hydrants, to provide "analytical evidence of the absence or presence of fuel-based petroleum hydrocarbons, " the Navy said. It will also expand testing to include the Manana housing neighborhood and other homes that were not sampled under the long-term monitoring plan.

The Navy also announced its development of a Water Quality Action Team that will respond to consumer concerns and issues, and provide water testing and information to residents and water users.

But Contreras said that when a Navy water specialist and liaison came to her house at the beginning of the month, she didn't trust the information she received.

"For them to send over somebody and say, 'Hey, we hired this person to come here and share this information with you, ' and for them to sit in your house and come into your home and look at you in the face and say the water is safe, that's a punch in the face, " she said.

Moving forward, the Navy said it began a root cause analysis of TPH detections and began taking actions recommended by the assessment's findings, including continuing and expanding their usage of fingerprinting analysis, reviewing laboratory analysis protocols and evaluating the Navy drinking water distribution system's operation.

"While detections reported remain below the (regulatory-approved TPH limit ), the Navy remains committed to determining the cause of TPH detections and will continue to closely coordinate with the EPA and DOH to continue providing safe drinking water, " the report read.

But Thompson said that despite the Navy's promises to expand their investigation, she wants "the truth and a consistent storyline."

"They're testing water, they came out, they sent public health to my house, they established a clinic that I went to, so they're doing all of this front work, but that doesn't solve the fact that I'm still sick, and I don't really have answers, " Thompson said. "I want truth and a solid timeline and science that can be supported."

Contreras agreed.

"When you have people and they're trying to get better and healthier and there's already a track history over the last couple of years where you can see that this is still hurting people and continues to harm people that were affected in November (2021 ), but it also continues and still is, to this day, affecting people that weren't here at the height of the contamination, I think it's important for them to come out and be very honest, " she said.

The Navy's preliminary premise plumbing assessment report can be accessed.

___

(c)2024 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
ISLAMABAD  Pakistani airstrikes targeted multiple suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban inside neighboring Afghanistan early on Monday, the foreign ministry said. The Afghan Taliban said the attacks killed at least eight people and prompted return fire from their forces.

The exchange, two days after seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing and coordinated attack in the country's northwest, marked an escalation that is likely to further increase tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

The Foreign Office in Islamabad confirmed the strikes, describing them as "intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan" and saying they targeted a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban.

The Afghan Taliban denounced the strikes as an aggression on Afghanistan's territorial integrity, and said later Monday their forces targeted Pakistans military centers along the border with heavy weapons, without providing details.

Earlier in the day, two Pakistani security and intelligence officials told The Associated Press the strikes were carried out in Khost and Paktika provinces bordering Pakistan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

It was not immediately clear how deep inside Afghanistan the Pakistani jets flew for Monday's strikes  the first since 2022, when Pakistan targeted militant hideouts in Afghanistan. Islamabad never officially confirmed those strikes.

Chief Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said three women and three children were killed in the airstrikes the district of Barmal in Paktika while two other women were killed in a strike in Khost.

Such attacks are a violation of Afghanistans sovereignty and there will be bad consequences, Mujahid said.

According to the two Pakistani officials, mortars fired by the Afghan Taliban in Monday's return fire wounded four people and forced some villagers in the Kurram district to move to safer areas. Pakistani troops fired back, the officials said.

On Saturday, a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden truck into a military post in the Pakistani town of Mir Ali, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan, killing seven Pakistani soldiers. Troops responded and killed all six attackers in a shootout, the military said.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari attended the soldiers' funerals and vowed to retaliate, saying the blood of our martyred soldiers will not go in vain."

A newly formed militant group, Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad claimed the Mir Ali attack. Pakistani officials believe the group is mainly made up of members of the Pakistani Taliban, the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, which often targets Pakistani soldiers and police.

Muhammad Ali, an Islamabad based security expert, said army Lt. Col. Kashif Ali and Cpt. Ahmad Badar were among those killed in Mir Ali and that Monday's airstrikes were an obvious retaliation, coming within 24 hours of Zardari's warning.

Pakistans patience for the Afghan interim governments continued hospitality for terrorists conducting frequent attacks on Pakistan from inside Afghanistan has finally run out, Ali said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the families of the lieutenant colonel and the captain slain in Mir Ali and paid tribute to all the soldiers killed in the attack. He did not comment on the airstrikes in Afghanistan.

Separately, the Pakistani military said security forces carried out an operation Monday in North Waziristan near the Afghan border, killing eight militants linked to Saturday's attack.

The Afghan Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 as the U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout after 20 years of war. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan emboldened the TTP, whose top leaders and fighters are hiding in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban insist they do not allow the Pakistani Taliban  or any other militant group  to use Afghanistan's soil to launch attacks. However, the TTP has stepped up attacks inside Pakistan in recent years, straining relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

Adding to the tensions between the two countries was a move by Islamabad last year to expel Afghans living in Pakistan without valid documents. Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation of their country. More than half a million fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power.

So far, Pakistan has expelled nearly half a million Afghans in the ongoing crackdown. Islamabad says Afghans who have refugee status have not been deported.

The deportations have also drawn criticism from the international community and analysts have warned that mass deportations risk radicalizing those who have been forced out of Pakistan  often returning to deplorable conditions back in Afghanistan.

In January, Pakistani strikes  in a tit-for-tat exchanges with Tehran  hit Pakistani militants inside Iran, briefly raising tensions but the two neighbors. The situation calmed after Tehran and Islamabad agreed to cooperate against each others militants.

___

Associated Press writer Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report.
GROTON  As a bottle of sparkling water broke against the hull of the USS Idaho, submarine test mechanic Spencer Holzschlag stood at the sail atop the massive ship to drown out the celebratory clink with the blast of a whistle that reverberated through the shipbuilding hangar for 10 deafening seconds.

It was the christening of the 26th submarine in the Virginia class of nuclear powered, fast-attack submarines. The Idaho, named for an unlikely hotspot in the world of maritime nuclear research and training, is the 13th in the class built at Electric Boat as part of a collaboration with Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia.

The opportunity to participate in the pomp and circumstance was a perk of the job for Holzschlag, whose responsibilities revolve around making sure things work so the ship can soon float off. The Montville resident is among more than 22,500 employees in Connecticut and Rhode Island, with an additional 5,000 hires expected by the end of the year.

About a dozen dignitaries lined the dais in front of the submarine to praise the industry for creating a ship worthy of the Navy crew that stood in formation to their right.

Ship sponsor Teresa Stackley, of Maryland, said a lot has changed since her father walked the deck plates as an employee of Electric Boat during a widespread career devoted to naval design. But she added the 125-year-old company's "expert craftsmanship and dedication" remains the same.

Stackley is married to former assistant secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley, with whom she spent almost 40 years at duty stations from California to Maine.

"In the name of the United States, I christen thee Idaho," she said before the glass flew and the whistle blew. "May God bless her, and all that sail in her."

Electric Boat President Kevin Graney said the christening marks the "pressure hull complete" stage of construction, which signifies the final section has been welded to the rest of the ship with weaponry and control modules in the bow.

"Our job, and every member of my team, is to ensure our sailors get every unfair advantage we can load into a boat," he said.

Interior construction, testing, dockside trials and sea trials must occur before the submarine can be delivered to the Navy.

A timeline from the USS Idaho Commissioning Committee, an Idaho-based nonprofit established to help support the project, estimated the submarine could be commissioned by spring of next year.

Bryan Caccavale, vice president of Navy programs at Newport News Shipbuilding, described a situation in Virginia that mirrors the one in this state as the companies struggle to find workers.

"Our nation's shipbuilding demand is higher than it's been in four decades," he said. "At the same time, the number of Americans employed in manufacturing is down more than 30% compared to where it stood 40 years ago."

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D- 2nd District, said demand for submarines exceeds levels experienced during the World War II period and the Cold War.

He pointed to the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative, a program of the Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board, that has become a national model for recruiting unemployed or underemployed workers who don't necessarily have experience in the field.

"This renaissance of the metal trades is also happening at our trade schools and even regular comprehensive high schools, so that high school grads can literally go to work in the shipyard as soon as they receive their high school diploma," he said.

Production of the Virginia class submarines represents 38% of Electric Boat's business, according to the company. The largest source of revenue, at 44%, comes from the Columbia class ballistic missile program that currently represents the country's top strategic defense priority.

The Biden administration's $895 billion defense budget for 2025 eliminates funding for one of two Virginia-class submarines contained in previous budgets.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal in his remarks emphasized recruiting workers requires "constancy and continuity" in the nation's shipbuilding program.

"So let me be very blunt: Now is the time to reaffirm our commitment to two submarines in the Virginia class every year," he said. "And reducing that number sends the wrong message not only to those shipbuilders, but to the world."

Idaho desert

Idaho Gov. Brad Little said the crew of the submarine once it is commissioned will benefit from history of underseas research and training in his state and the skilled workers in Connecticut and Virginia.

"It means that they will be safe, and that America will continue to be the biggest, badass warrior in the world," he said.

Idaho is known for the 890-acre U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory and some of the most important nuclear energy advancements in the world that have occurred there, according to the Associated Press.

One of those breakthroughs was the prototype for the nuclear propulsion system that came to be used in the USS Nautilus, the nation's first nuclear powered submarine. Construction on the ship began in 1952 at Electric Boat.

The Idaho National Laboratory is also known as the site of the only fatal nuclear accident in the nation's history after three operators were killed in the steam explosion and meltdown of an experimental reactor.

Little said the USS Idaho's nuclear fuel core upon decommissioning will be "stabilized in perpetuity" in the same desert where the national laboratory resides.

Part of history

After the ceremony, three-year Electric Boat employee Lisa Giassi of Pawtucket, R.I., was struck by the enormity of the day's event and the global significance of the locally produced submarine.

Giassi works in the warehouse picking parts large and small to be processed and distributed. She operates a forklift for bulk orders; for smaller parts  ranging from light switches to studs to micro screws  she gets on a larger machine designed to navigate narrow aisles with shelves rising 45-feet high.

"You name it, I pick it," she said.

She cited a sense of accomplishment in knowing she had a hand in something so powerful.

She gestured to the USS Idaho behind her.

"We helped build it," she said. "We're part of this: We're part of EB, we're part of Groton, we're part of history."

___

(c)2024 The Day (New London, Conn.)

Visit The Day (New London, Conn.) at www.theday.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Complex societal issues. International policy decisions. Social unrest.

These are challenges we all face, but only a select few are qualified to solve them. When the stakes are this high, we cant afford to defer to the people we elected to represent us or local leaders in our communities; we need someone with the know-how and the elbow grease to really shake things up. We need someone with a military background and the tools to get the job done -- namely, a cell phone and the front seat of a Ford F-150.

Ever since technology allowed us to merge the power of video with the mighty selfie, people with a bone to pick have been hopping in their cars and venting their frustrations to anyone blessed (or cursed) enough to find the video on their social media feed.

Any topic is fair game: politics, people being weaker or less disciplined than you perceive yourself to be, the unpredictable flavor of your homemade coffee and even kids taking selfies in T.J. Maxx are all fodder for a viral internet rant.

Nothing is stopping you from creating one of these cinematic triumphs yourself, but you owe it to the military community to do it right. Lets break down the finer details of this art form so you can broadcast your unfiltered opinion to the masses and become a beloved (and definitely not universally mocked) internet sensation overnight.

Only You Can Save Us

Remember, its not about the credentials you have; its about the credentials you insinuate. (Courtesy photo)

If you see people bumbling through life and wonder whether youre simply smarter than everyone else, dont overthink it; you probably are. You alone possess the brilliant mind and incredible thoughts the world needs. Go ahead and fire up that Facebook Live stream and unleash your wisdom on the hapless masses.

Remember that while youre obviously the most qualified person to tackle any given issue, others might not know that. This is, of course, a golden opportunity to establish credibility by flexing your military service, as is your God-given right.

Let people know you are or were in the military, but stay away from specifics that might place you anywhere but at the top of the military hierarchy. Use terms such as downrange to help viewers imagine you leading a team of Navy SEALs through a firefight instead of whining about the rain during a stateside field exercise.

Vague military phrases, such as, Back when I was hooking and jabbing, will evoke the idea of you manning a red-hot M240 rather than applying for an exemption to the annual physical fitness test, or PFT, because Microsoft Excel gave you carpal tunnel. And subtle, tasteful cues such as a Grunt Style T-shirt or Punisher skull sticker on your back window will remind viewers that you mean business and are indeed a very tough cookie.

Even if you never took an active combat role, deployed or performed simple tasks with any degree of competence, you can still inspire confidence among civilians by letting their imagination run wild with the carefully selected nuggets of information you give them.

Pick Your Topic

Any topic up to and including the price of gravy is fair game. (Courtesy photo)

Honestly, this section is just here to clarify that it doesnt really matter what youre mad about. The suspense of wondering what set you off is half the reason people watch these rants. Just choose a thumbnail where you look as agitated as possible, and remember that you are never part of the problem.

Timing Is Everything

In all seriousness, Robert Frank is the Leonardo Da Vinci of post-workout monologues. (Courtesy photo)

Heres where a lot of people go wrong. Timing has nothing to do with waiting until you have enough information to form a cogent position on a current event. Its not about hitting the news cycle while a topic is still timely. Proper timing has everything to do with when you work out.

Once you step out of the gym -- sorry, CrossFit box -- you have a precious window to film your rant before transient hypertrophy wears off and you lose your post-workout energy bump. According to research from the University of New Mexico, the cross-sectional area of your muscles can increase anywhere from 20%-45% after a strength workout (and obviously running is useless, as usual).

In addition to capitalizing on the bump, you should ideally film your video while youre still sweaty. Being a little bit out of breath is fine, but a shaker cup must be visible to remind everyone of how hard you just worked out. Take sips when you need to gather your thoughts.

Location, Location, Location

Notice how this creator uses unorthodox phone placement to create a unique viewing perspective. (Courtesy photo)

When I tell you to know your place, Im not talking about speaking up only when you have extensive knowledge on a certain subject. Thats irrelevant; what you need to focus on is the physical location where you film your masterpiece.

Park in a quiet area and roll up the windows to avoid distractions. If you have a see-through shade for your sunroof, close it to take advantage of soft natural lighting. If youre at your favorite fast food restaurant, park in such a way that theres something more on-brand in the background -- maybe a gym, sporting goods store or motorcycle dealership (no ability to ride required).

Finally, frame yourself in the center of your phones screen, but keep some distance between you and the camera. Its important to give yourself enough room to lunge forward or jab a well-timed knife-hand at your audience for a little extra intensity.

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Notice the spittle flying across the screen; this is the kind of passion that leads to internet fame. (Courtesy photo)

Whats the point of all this, you ask? Rest assured that there is a higher purpose than sharing your musings out of pure generosity.

To be a truly exemplary angry service member or veteran, you need to remember why youre filming your outrage in the first place: to get attention.

If you can solve the problem at hand, thats nice. Helping others who are struggling would be a bonus, but its not required. Focus your undivided attention on getting eyeballs on your face and followers on your account. Only then will people know how cool you are; only then will you parlay your outrage into an advertising sponsorship or a book deal (with a ghostwriter, of course).

Should you manage to monetize your raw emotions, just remember who set you on the path to success. If I do all this work and don't get any kickbacks, well, that will really set me off. In fact, I can feel a rant brewing right now. Wheres my phone?

Want to Know More About the Military?

Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Rockies manager Bud Black and owner Dick Monfort are discussing a contract extension that would keep Black in Colorado beyond the 2024 season, per a report from MLB.coms Thomas Harding. Harding notes that while Black and Monfort acknowledged that they are talking about a deal, no agreement has been reached at this point and its unclear if a deal will come together prior to Opening Day, which is now less than two weeks away.

Per Harding, Monfort indicated that the clubs focus remains on preparing for the regular season, but that he nonetheless hopes that the sides will be able to reach an agreement. Theres certainly reason for optimism that the sides will eventually work out a deal in some capacity, as the veteran manager has inked one-year extensions in each of the past two springs and reporting in previous years has indicated that the Rockies and Black have a long-standing unofficial agreement on a rolling year-to-year deal where either side can walk away after any given season.

Black, 66, spent nine years as manager of the Padres from 2007 to 2015 (including a 2010 season that saw him win the NL Manager of the Year award) before joining the Rockies prior to the 2017 season. He led the club to back-to-back postseason appearances in his first two years with the club but the club has struggled badly under his leadership over the past five seasons, never winning more than 74 games in a season and even suffering the franchises first ever 100-loss campaign in 2023, when the team lost 103 games en route to a last place finish in not only the NL West but the entire National League; only the Royals and As lost more games last year. With that being said, Monfort is well-known for being loyal to his employees and valuing continuity in the organization, so its not necessarily a surprise that he would be interested in continuing the clubs relationship with Black beyond the 2024 campaign.

More from around MLBs West divisions
Dear Annie: My husband and I are in our mid-60s and have been married for almost 50 years. We married and started our family very early in life. My problem, Im sure, is shared by many women my age. My husband cant stop ogling other women in public. He is always secretly looking up the sexually dressed women and videos.

I have told him many times how that hurts me. He says hes sorry, but then later his behavior rears its ugly head again.

He also is very friendly with females in public. He says hes just being nice. Ive gotten so that I dont want to go to public places with him. I love him, but I dont like how he disrespects me as his wife and especially as a woman. I cant compete with whats out there, nor do I want to. -- Disrespected Wife

Dear Disrespected Wife: Your husband is acting like a louse. You should keep talking to him about how disrespected you feel he is being to you and to the women who he is ogling in public. If he continues to ignore your requests, it is time to seek the help of a professional marriage counselor.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.
FLINT, MI  A mid-Michigan man convicted of killing his 16-month-old son and leaving the boys body in a rural Genesee County ditch was sentenced Monday, March 18, to life in prison.

Michael Christopher Butler was sentenced before Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Mark W. Latchana on charges of first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree child abuse, concealing the death of an individual and aggravated domestic violence.

This was a tragic and sad case and this mornings sentence is a just conclusion under the law for the actions of Michael Butler, said Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.

Related: Michigan man sentenced to life for killing 16-month-old son, leaving his body in ditch

The hearing came over a month after Butler, 41, was convicted on each of the charges following a trial that spanned more than a week.

At trial, prosecutors put forth evidence showing that Butler killed his son, Chaos Demilo, after the child was placed in his custody despite a petition by the state requesting he not be.

Chaos had been removed from his mothers custody after she was found to be homeless. Prior to the custody change, Chaos, his siblings, and mother, were found living in an abandoned home on Flints north side.

Chaos body was found in a Montrose Township ditch on Aug. 25, 2022. Authorities believe Chaos was killed around Aug. 6 or Aug. 7.

I want to let everyone here know that he is a monster. He does not even have the right to breathe the same air that I breathe, and I hope that he is locked up for the rest of his life. Two terms would suit me just fine because prison is too good for you, said Donna Shultz, great aunt to Chaos Demilo, who delivered an victim impact statement while staring down Butler. And for what abuse you did to my great nephew, (it) will never be forgiven.  I hope to God the day that you meet your maker that he sends you directly to Hell.

 You deserve nothing. Nothing. You deserve nothing. You dont even deserve to be standing there looking at me.

An autopsy of the child revealed skull fractures experts testified likely occurred around the time of his death. He also had healed fractures to his skull and ribs. Methamphetamine and cannabis were also present in the childs system.

The defendant initially told investigators his son was taken by Child Protective Services, and he had not seen him. However, hed later tell authorities he panicked when his son died after hitting his head on a rock.

While Latchana delivered the sentence, he looked to Butler and expressed listening carefully to testimony produced at the trial from the expert witnesses.

Latchana said the expert witnesses told the story much better than the fabrication Butler wove and rewove.

They told it much better than you did because your initial interview to police, you denied any knowledge of what happened. And then, as the interview progressed, you finally came up with a version of the events that you had to fit the fact pattern, which was that he somehow became ill and passed away, and you dumped his body in a ditch, Latchana said. We know thats not true because the experts tell us thats not true. He had six skull fractures that are impossible, according to the medical experts that testified, to come from falling down, which is the story that you tried to tell the police.

So we know that you did something. We know that you covered it up and that you abused this child. And the jury found that result, and they found that because the testimony was clear, the judge continued. Whether or not you would ever admit to yourself what you did  I dont know if you will or not  but you fractured this childs skull and then you took his body and dumped it in a ditch.

The only decent thing you really did was go back and check on it three weeks later. You know why it was decent? It wasnt decent because you chose to do it. It was decent because it resulted in you being arrested and prosecuted, and it resulted in the opportunity to sentence you today. Thats the only decent thing that came out of this. You deserve the sentence you are about to receive. There is no question about it. ... Yours is a case that deserves punishment for what you did. Pure and simple, you deserve to be punished for your actions, and I am privileged to be able to do that today, quite frankly.

Read more on MLive.com:

Michigan man in hospice, who dyed hair blue for Detroit Lions playoff run, has died

Old fire station will transform into first-ever Goodrich social hub

We Are Flint: Gentle Giant Gregory Harvin had a big heart and never met a stranger
UPDATE: Free water available for residents under Grand Rapids boil-water notice. The story has been updated with additional comment from Meijer and SpartanNash and to reflect that Forest Hills Public School District classes were in session Monday.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A significant number of businesses and homes in Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Township will continue having to use boiled or bottled water through at least Wednesday.

Roughly 20,000 homes and businesses in downtown and northeast Grand Rapids along with a majority of Grand Rapids Township remain under the boiled water advisory that was issued Sunday, March 17, after a water main break.

Its the largest boil water advisory in at least 15 years, according to city officials.

The precautionary measure has closed numerous businesses and prompted classes to be canceled at Grand Rapids Public Schools. Many businesses have stayed open but with precautions and limited offerings.

Related: It will crush us: Grand Rapids businesses scramble amid boil water advisory

Grand Rapids spokesperson David Green said the earliest the advisory will lift is sometime Wednesday, March 20, due to state regulations requiring 48 hours of testing showing no bacteria or pathogens within the water supply of the impacted area.

Testing began Monday, and if one of the tests is positive for bacteria or pathogens then the 48-hour testing period restarts and the boiled water advisory will be extended, Green said.

Wednesday will be the earliest we can lift the notice, Green said. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy requires 48 hours of clear tests before we can lift a boil water notice. We began testing today so, assuming all goes well, we will notify residents on Wednesday that the notice has been lifted.

If we fail a test, that will reset the 48-hour clock and would extend the notice.

The area under the boil water advisory is generally east of U.S. 131 and north of Hall Street in Grand Rapids. In Grand Rapids Township, all homes and businesses north of Fulton Street are under the advisory. Grand Rapids Township uses the Grand Rapids water system.

A full map of the advisory area can be seen here.

Related: Grand Rapids schools to close Tuesday over boil-water advisory

Those under the advisory should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until further notice. Water should be boiled for one minute before it is cooled for use, as this boiling kills any potential bacteria or harmful organisms in the water.

Showering can be done as normal but with caution to not swallow any water. Further best practices from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on what to do during a boil water advisory can be found at this link.

Kent County Environmental Health Director Sara Simmonds said the loss of pressure caused by a water main break allows for air to get into the system, which can create the potential for bacterial growth.

Simmonds said the advisory is precautionary, as officials are still waiting for test results to determine if there is bacteria within the system. The primary concerns are E. coli and other coliform bacteria, for which the water is being tested.

Those under the advisory who have drank from their tap since Sunday afternoon should contact their healthcare provider if they begin having symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, Simmonds said.

I would just recommend that if they potentially consumed the water before they were aware  the likelihood is pretty low of someone getting ill  but if they start to experience diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping with or without a fever, contact your healthcare provider, she said.

The Kent County Health Department on Sunday notified all licensed food facilities in the county  from restaurants and coffee shops to gas stations  of the boiled water advisory and to begin following the states emergency action plan on how to manage the situation and what can be done to remain open.

Simmonds said that, as of Monday afternoon, the health department has not received any reports of illnesses potentially linked to the situation.

Grand Rapids announced late Monday afternoon that it would be holding a water distribution event in conjunction with SpartanNash, which owns D&W Fresh Markets and Family Fare Supermarkets.

The distribution event will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, March 18, at 1635 Leonard St. NE in Grand Rapids. Each vehicle will receive one free case of water.

On Monday, shoppers at the Meijer off of Alpine Avenue in Walker just across the Grand River from neighborhoods in the boil water advisory area could be seen stocking up on bottled water.

One of those shoppers, Grand Rapids Township resident Jordan Brinks, said he expects the 40-pack of bottled water he just purchased, along with further bottled water already at home, to last him through Wednesday.

Brinks has been using the bottled water as drinking water for himself and his dogs and using boiled water for cooking. He said it hasnt been too much of an inconvenience.

Theres a lot of other places in the world that dont have clean water, so I guess I feel fortunate that I just have to boil it, you know? Brinks said.

In a statement, Meijer officials said their employees have been hard at work keeping shelves stocked.

Our store operations and supply chain teams are working hard to get extra water deliveries added to support our customers, Meijer officials said. We were able to deliver an additional six full trailers to stores yesterday with more coming today. Additionally, our store team members are working diligently to ensure shelves stay full for our customers this week.

There were no supply issues seen Monday morning at the Meijer on Alpine, and Meijer officials said they have not experienced any problems keeping the shelves stocked with bottled water at their local stores.

Meijer officials said they are also donating to local school districts and churches as well as the citys water distribution efforts.

In addition to providing bottled water for the Grand Rapids distribution event Monday evening, SpartanNash officials said they have worked to keep their stores stocked amid the advisory.

As soon as the water advisory went into effect yesterday, the SpartanNash Grand Rapids Distribution Center began delivering additional water to our area stores, including Family Fare, D&W Fresh Market, Forest Hills Foods and Ada Fresh Market, to ensure we remain well-stocked for our guests, said Christopher Williamson, vice president of retail operations for SpartanNash.

SpartanNash is also donating two truckloads of water at 1635 Leonard NE this evening in partnership with the city of Grand Rapids.

SpartanNash officials did not say if there had been any supply issues at their area stores.

The first hints of an issue with the water system began around 2 p.m. Sunday, when the city began receiving calls about water pressure issues, Green said. About 30 minutes later, city staff made the public aware that they were investigating the issue.

The initial public notification to begin boiling water out around 3:30 p.m., with a formal boil water advisory being issued at 4:15 p.m.

Given the complexity of the situation, the location of (the) water main in question, and this happening on a Sunday afternoon with minimal staffing, water department crews responded quickly and professionally, Green said.

The water main is located in a ravine near Carrier Creek on the citys northeast side.

Grand Rapids Public Schools were already scheduled to be closed Monday for a staff in-service day. Classes have been canceled for Tuesday.
NILES, MI -- Police are investigating threats made to three schools in Southwest Michigan, in addition to a another last week that caused an evacuation of an elementary school in the same district.

Police were notified about 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 15, of a bomb threat identifying Ballard Elementary School, 1601 Chicago Road, in Niles, as the possible target.

The threat was initially sent to the Michigan City, Indiana, police. Detectives identified the Niles school as the possible target and immediately contacted the Niles Police Department. School officials were informed and students were evacuated without incident, police said.

Police conducted a thorough sweep of the school and the building was secured. The Berrien County Sheriffs Department Bomb Unit was called to the scene, along with bomb detection dogs, police said.

Students were relocated to a secure location and then released into the care of their parents/guardians, police said. No explosive devices were found, police said after the search.

On Monday, March 18, another threat was identified, Niles Community Schools said.

Three schools, Ballard Elementary School, Niles High School and Eastside Connections, were named in the threat, the school district said.

Police said the disturbing email threat was directed at some of the Niles Community Schools.

The email threatened acts of violence against several school buildings in the Niles area as well as members of the police department, the police agency said in a news release.

The threat was similar to threats made to other local districts, the school district said. Police completed security and safety checks at the schools and have not found the threat to be credible, the district said Monday afternoon as the schools were on lockdown.

Our first priority is the safety of our students, so we will remain in lockdown as a precautionary safety measure, Niles Community Schools said at 2:50 p.m. Monday.

The Niles Police Department is investigating to identify and apprehend the person or persons responsible, the agency said on Monday in a news release about the first threat.

These types of incidents are handled with the utmost seriousness, the department said.

The Niles Police Department is working with Google and the Michigan State Police and traced the source of the email to Nigeria.

We are continuing our investigation to gather more information and assess any connections within the United States, the department said. However, based on current findings, we believe the threat of this act being carried out is insignificant.

Further information will be provided as the investigation progresses.

A Berrien County Sheriff's Office vehicle parked at Silver Beach on June 3, 2023.

Police ask anyone with knowledge of the incident to contact the Niles Police Department at 269-683-1313.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  A man was shot and killed early Monday, March 18, after he allegedly broke into an apartment and assaulted a resident then tried to break into an attached house, sheriffs deputies said.

The incident happened around 1:50 a.m. in 700 block of Chatterson Road, north of East Apple Avenue in Muskegon Countys Egelston Township.

Sheriffs deputies responded to a report of an unwanted person, who appeared to be intoxicated, banging on a window. The man then broke into an apartment and assaulted the tenant, police said.

He left the apartment and tried to break into the house before he was shot by the homeowner, police said.

The name of the 38-year-old man who was shot has not been released.

The investigation continues.

Sheriffs deputies were assisted by state police, Muskegon Township police, Egelston Township firefighters and Trinity Health EMS paramedics.
The Detroit Red Wings couldnt duplicate their effort from the day before or take advantage of favorable out-of-town results on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Penguins scored twice in a span of 23 seconds late in the first period to snap a tie and defeat Detroit 6-3 at PPG Paints Arena.
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Dinesh Unnikrishnan is Editor-Banking & Finance at Moneycontrol. Dinesh heads the Banking and Finance Bureau at Moneycontrol. He also writes a weekly column, Banking Central, every Monday.
Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com
Lovisha Darad Lovisha is passionate about domestic and global equity market development. She writes stories exclusively on equities from a fundamental perspective, gathering insights from niche market gurus.
in today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Bond demand remains strong, can SME IPOs continue its performance run, poll-bound...

To this end, investors have been keen to allocate their money to funds that have shown a sense of responsibility in terms of the portfolio choices made by their investment managers. However, there have

With awareness about the impact of human behaviour on the environment growing, the role a corporation plays in society and how it conducts its business have come under the scanner. Conscientious investors want to invest in companies that will help sustain the environment rather than harm it.

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Jiang Shumei learned her first Chinese character at the age of 60. Now, the 87-year-old grandmother from Northeast China's Heilongjiang province is the proud author of six books.

"I wasn't educated as a child. I never imagined, even in my wildest dreams, that I would publish a book one day," says the resident of Suihua city. Her books detail the chaos of wartime and the hardship during the famine, and vividly recount anecdotes over the decades.

Born in 1937, Jiang left her home in Shandong province at a young age and migrated to Northeast China, where she spent most of her life scraping a living in a brick factory.

She learned her first character in 1996, after her husband died in a devastating car accident, when her daughter Zhang Ailing suggested that she learn to read to take her mind off the loneliness and sorrow.

Zhang says that unlike other beginners, her mother drew every single character like a picture.

The elderly woman had her own way of learning. She composed lyrics for songs, and asked children to write them down, so that she could read each character as she sang the songs again and again. Whenever she came across characters she didn't know on pamphlets, bus stops, or shop signs, she found someone to ask.

Once Jiang had learned enough characters, Zhang started giving her books to read. Enjoying the books, Jiang told her daughter that she wanted to write down her own stories to share.

"It sounds unbelievable, and my brother used to laugh at my daydreams," the grandmother says.

She first put pen to paper in 2012, at the age of 75.

It was not easy. Sometimes, completing a single sentence could take a day. As a college teacher and a writer herself, Zhang gave her mother a lot of encouragement and help. She told her that while writing, she should imagine herself telling stories to an audience, so that they would be easier to understand and be full of interesting details.

Zhang was also her first editor. Every time her mother finished writing something, she would discuss the manuscript with her and check it over before typing it on the computer.

"Mom's writing is always concise and straight to the point, so I only needed to correct the grammar and any improper words to preserve its originality," Zhang says.

Her daughter's support became strong motivation. Jiang usually started writing at 3 or 4 am, and revised the pieces several times until she was satisfied. She also traveled back to her hometown in Shandong to interview other senior citizens.

Zhang began publishing her mother's stories on social media platforms in 2013. When they drew the attention of her writer friends, the pair made the bold decision to publish them.

The first book, Time of Trouble, Time of Poverty, was published later that year, and proved to be a success. Some critics even hailed it as the "lived history of a nation plagued by war, death and hunger".

The book earned Jiang a lot of fans and sympathy. "Don't feel sorry for me," the writer says to her fans. "The hardships mentioned in the book are now in the past. Without all of it, I could never have finished this book."

So far, the elderly woman has published six books, totaling more than 600,000 characters in length. In her spare time, she is also learning painting and calligraphy. "I would like to be a writer, a painter and a calligrapher," she says, adding that her dream now is to have her own art exhibition when she is 90.

Jiang did the illustrations for a book written by her daughter which was published last June. In the book, My Mom Is Eight and a Half, Zhang writes: "I taught my mom to write, while she taught me the wisdom of life."

"It is never too late. The knack is not to be lazy," Jiang says.

She lives a healthy life, exercising every day, drinking milk and soy milk, as well as having regular massages. "If I could live as long as 130, would you still say that it is too late for me to start after 60?" she asks, jokingly.
Arun Anand has authored two books on the RSS. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
in today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: Bond demand remains strong, can SME IPOs continue its performance run, poll-bound...

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March 18, 2024 / 05:42 PM IST

The Congress in Himachal Pradesh appointed its election in-charges for all four parliamentary constituencies in the state on Monday ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Congress chief for Himachal Pradesh and sitting MP from Mandi Pratibha Singh has appointed Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh the election in-charge in Mandi, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri in Hamirpur, Education Minister Rohit Thakur in Shimla and Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar in Kangra.

The party has also appointed Industries Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan as the in-charge of publicity and publication and Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi as the in-charge of administration and coordination

Elections to the four Lok Sabha seats of Himachal Pradesh will be held on June 1.
Coming down heavily on the State Bank of India (SBI) for sharing selective information on electoral bonds (EBs), the Supreme Court directed SBI to completely disclose all details in its possession, including the alphanumeric code on each EB.

"In the judgement, we had expressly asked the SBI to disclose all details. The language of the judgement was 'all details will have to be disclosed'. Therefore, that includes the bond number as well. Let SBI not be selective in disclosure of the details," says a Constitution bench headed by the chief justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud.

"Now, SBI will not only disclose the bond number, but it shall also file an affidavit again saying that it has not withheld any details," the five-judge bench, also comprising justice Sanjiv Khanna, justice BR Gavai, justice JB Padriwala and justice Manoj Misra, says.

In response, senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for SBI, says: "We will give every bit of information which we have."

"Mr Salve says that there is no reservation on the part of the SBI in disclosing all details. To obviate any future controversy, we direct the SBI chairman to file an affidavit by 5pm Thursday indicating that SBI has disclosed all details of electoral bonds which were in its possession and custody and no details have been withheld. The Election Commission shall upload the details forthwith upon receipt of information from the SBI," the bench says.

Meanwhile, industry bodies Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) also approached the apex court. The industry bodies argue that they are comfortable with the names of donors and recipients being disclosed but moved SC only after the apex court issued notice to disclose serial numbers of EBs. However, SC rejected their plea.

On Friday, the apex court issued a notice to SBI for non-disclosure of the unique alphanumeric code of electoral bonds.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the election commission of India (ECI) released data received from political parties on electoral bonds which it had given to SC in sealed covers.

"Political parties had filed data on electoral bonds in a sealed cover as directed by the Supreme Court's interim order dated 12 April 2019, in the writ petition. Data so received from political parties was deposited in the Supreme Court without opening sealed covers. In pursuance of the SC's order on 15 March 2024, the registry of the Supreme Court has returned physical copies along with a digitised record of the same in a pen drive in a sealed cover," ECI says in a statement.

The last documents, which ECI released, show only raw data related to the date of the bonds, denominations, number of bonds, branch of SBI issuing the data, date of receipt and date of credit. The documents did not, however, then disclose the unique numbers of the bonds.

The Trinamool Congress has written to SBI asking for the unique numbers of the bonds so that the party can comply with the Supreme Court's directions. The BJP has not given any such request to SBI. However, the party has given raw data.

Likewise, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has denied getting 'any donation via electoral bonds'. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also denied receiving donations via electoral bonds. However, the Congress said it will release raw data given by SBI to ECI.
Before the implementation of the electoral bonds scheme, companies were limited to donating only 7.5% of their average profits of the previous three years. This measure was intended to prevent unaccounted money from being funnelled through shell companies. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government removed this cap in 2017, enabling companies to clandestinely contribute funds far exceeding their profits to political parties. In the first part, we have highlighted some cases of possible quid pro quo.

Wonder Cement: Wonder Cement has donated Rs20 crore using electoral bonds to political parties. A report by The Wonder Cement has donated Rs20 crore using electoral bonds to political parties. A report by The Reporters Collective has found links between Wonder Cement and the Sohrabuddin Shaikh encounter case. As per the report, Wonder Cement is owned by Vimal Patni, who was accused in a high-profile encounter case involving several top BJP politicians and police officers from Gujarat and Rajasthan, including the then Gujarat state home minister and current Union home minister, Amit Shah. The charges against all the accused, including Mr Patni, were later dismissed at various stages of the trial.

According to the central bureau of investigation (CBI), which investigated the encounter case, Mr Shaikh allegedly attempted to extort money from Mr Patni, a marble trader from Rajasthan. Mr Shaikh was killed in a police encounter near Gandhinagar. Subsequently, his wife disappeared and one of his associates, Tulsiram Prajapati, was allegedly killed by the police.

Wonder Cement, which reported profits after tax amounting to nearly Rs250 crore in FY22-23, made a donation of Rs20 crore through electoral bonds. Additionally, four members of the Patni family (Ashok Patni, chairman; Suresh Patni, managing director; Vivek Patni, director; and Vineet Patni, president) collectively contributed Rs8 crore to political parties.

Sun Pharma Laboratories: Sun Pharma Laboratories Ltd (SPLL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dilip Shanghvi-led pharma major, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, donated Rs31.5 crore using electoral bonds in FY19-20 to political parties. It was in two tranches  Rs21.5 crore on 15 April 2019 and Rs10 crore on 8 May 2019.

SPLL faced opposition over its expansion of a bulk drug manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu in 2022. The site was 3.7km from Vedanthangal Lake Bird Sanctuary but locals argued that the plant would harm the birds. State forest officials supported the community, revealing that the proposed site fell within the Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary and overlapped an eco-sensitive zone of Karikili Birds Sanctuary, violating environmental laws.

However, the project received environmental clearance from the environment ministry a mere three months after application. Later in October 2023, the national green tribunal (NGT) inquired with the environment ministry about the actions taken regarding the environmental clearance for the expansion project. It questioned whether the clearance would persist and if the ministry would reconsider withdrawing or pausing it. Subsequently, in February 2024, due to the NGT directive, the government halted the company's expansion plans.

Future Gaming And Hotel Services: Future Gaming And Hotel Services Pvt Ltd donated a whopping Rs1,368 crore in total since 2019, the largest buyer of electoral bonds. It is a Coimbatore-based company operating in legal and allegedly illegal lottery business (as alleged by the investigative agencies).

The family is close to all political parties. Santiago Martin himself is seen to be close to the DMK. Mr Martins son-in-law is Adhav Arjun, who is with the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi or VCK which is part of the Congress-led INDIA alliance.

His son Jose Charles Martin had joined BJP in 2015 in the presence of RSS ideologue Ram Madhav. The website of the Martin Foundation describes him as follows: Having been brought up around one of the best minds in the country, Charles Martin grew up to be a pioneering genius with a long-sighted vision of pursuing his greatest dream and aspiration of becoming one of the worlds best businessmen.

Future Gamings assets worth Rs409 crore were attached by the directorate of enforcement (ED) in April 2022 in a money laundering investigation. Mr Martin has been facing a money laundering investigation since 2016 with the ED attaching property worth more than Rs910 crore. In FY20-21, the company donated Rs150 crore through the electoral bonds but had a profit before tax of just Rs84.79 crore and in FY21-22 the company donated as much as Rs544 crore while earning a profit before tax of just Rs84.46 crore. Moreover in FY22-23, the company donated Rs328 crore to political parties while profit before tax was at just Rs82.02 crore. As of now, he has emerged as the biggest donor to political parties.

RP Sanjiv Goenka Group: Two companies belonging to the Kolkata-based RP Sanjiv Goenka group, which were flagged by the comptroller and auditor general (CAG) for manipulating coal mine auctions, were among the top-10 contributors to political parties under the electoral bonds scheme. The two firms, together, donated a total of Rs485 crore through electoral bonds to political parties.

Documents uncovered by The Reporters' Collective also exposed that the Union government unlawfully excluded a firm owned by the West Bengal government from the auction, thereby facilitating the victory of the Goenka group.

In the 2015 auction for the Sarisatolli coal block in West Bengal, an RP Sanjiv Goenka group company acquired a shell firm and presented it as a competitor alongside its flagship entities, Calcutta Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) and Haldia Energy. Consequently, three out of the five bidders for the coal mine were affiliated with the conglomerate: CESC, Haldia Energy, and the newly acquired shell firm named Sheesham Commercial.

Among these subsidiaries, Haldia Energy abstained from bidding entirely. Interestingly, the shell company, procured just two days before the auction, submitted a bid from the same private internet protocol (IP) address utilised by its parent company and the bid-winning entity, CESC. This arrangement, according to CAG protocol, constituted a clear case of collusion. Additionally, Haldia Energy emerged as the fourth-largest donor through electoral bonds, contributing over Rs370 crore. Dhariwal Infrastructure, another company from the RP Sanjeev Goenka group, donated over Rs115 crore.

In its internal communications, CAG criticised the Union coal ministry over allegations of auction manipulation. However, in its public report, CAG refrained from explicitly naming any of the companies affiliated with the RP Sanjiv Goenka group.

Megha Groups Donation: Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd, a little-known Hyderabad-based company with a paid-up capital of Rs156 crore, acquired electoral bonds amounting to Rs966 crore, making it the second-largest donor since April 2019.

Megha group is owned by Krishna Reddy and is involved in many Central and state government projects with the biggest being the Rs1.51 lakh crore Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project on the Godavari river in Telangana, recognised as the worlds biggest. As per a CAG report , the project has widespread irregularities in the scheme and concluded that it caused huge loss to the exchequer.

In October 2019, the income-tax (I-T) department had raided the group for alleged irregularities. Olectra Greentech, a listed company winning many orders for electric buses which it manufactures in collaboration with Chinese car-maker BYD, is a subsidiary of Megha Engineering. Last year, the government rejected a US$1bn (billion) investment proposal of Megha and BYD to set up an EV plant.

Western UP Power Transmission Company Ltd (group company) of the Megha group, ranked as the seventh-highest purchaser of electoral bonds, operates as a power transmission company, responsible for laying transmission lines across Western Uttar Pradesh. The company has acquired electoral bonds worth Rs220 crore.

Two other companies within the Megha group, SEPC Power and Evey Trans Pvt Ltd, contributed Rs40 crore and Rs6 crore, respectively, between April 2019 and January 2024. This brings the combined electoral bond donations of the Megha group to Rs1,232 crore.

Megha Engineering and Infrastructure has demonstrated a consistent pattern of purchasing electoral bonds over the years:

Rs130 crore in 2019

Rs20 crore in 2020

Rs100 crore in 2021

Rs223 crore in 2022

Rs415 crore in 2023

You may also want to read
Theatre jobs: Theatre technicians are the rebels without applause. Behind the scenes, lighting, audio and backstage technicians are brave and talented gremlins who make the show happen

What is a theatre technician? God, goblin, or both?

Have you ever wondered how the auditory and lighting effects are created in live theatre? Or perhaps youve noticed shadowy figures lurking on the catwalks or behind the curtains. While it may seem that the theatre is inhabited by a group of gremlins who use their magical powers to run the spotlights and microphones, the truth is well. More or less just that.

The scientific term for these strange persons is a theatre technician or auditory-visual technician. We tend to refer to ourselves as, simply, techies. Actors (for whom techies tend to have a certain distaste  you know, pirates versus ninjas, vampires versus werewolves, actors versus techies) may also use the term, but in certain situations, it can be offensive. Such as, say, when its angrily shouted when something (anything) goes wrong.

Of course, techies never make mistakes. The equipment may fail, or the actors may screw up, but never us. As an anonymous but oft-quoted tech quipped, I dont make mistakes, I have unintentional improvisations. Such arrogance is just one of the many character traits found in the theatre tech. Other identifying characteristics include dressing in black, wearing stompy-stomp boots, excessive pride (though really, if you and your mates could put together an entire show one week  Hell Week  before it opened, well, wouldnt you be proud?) and a fondness for cheesecake.

Techs come in several different varieties.

Lighting technicians

Lighting specialists either run spotlights or run the light board, a primitive sort of computer programmed to run certain patterns of lights above the stage on and off. Of course, the lights have to be set up with proper angles and gels (thin sheets of shaded plastic placed over lights to create interesting colors) in the first place, which can be a mentally and physically demanding task. When accused (which they often are) of merely flipping switches, the classic lighting tech response is to use the example from ancient Greek theatre- Did they have lights back then? The answer is simply Yes. And who supplied them with light? God. The nice thing about this job is that  should you turn on a stage left light instead of a lower left light  chances are the audience will never notice.

Audio technicians

Should an audio tech make a mistake, the results can be slightly more disastrous. Audio techs control the soundboard, through which microphones, sound effects and any pre-recorded music are run. Each microphone, both around the stage and on actors, must be monitored to prevent the ultimate nemesis  feedback. Slightly-less awful is the threat of missing entrance cues, so that the actors microphone doesnt turn on until halfway through their monologue, or missing exit cues, so that the entire audience hears the actor swearing backstage.

Backstage technicians

The fittingly named backstage techs are responsible for (nearly) everything that happens backstage. This includes moving set pieces, preparing (and repairing) props, and reminding actors of their cues. About a million and six things can go wrong backstage, but a proper theatre technician will always be prepared with:

+ Gaffers tape  stronger and more expensive than duct tape; about sixteen bucks a roll but can effectively tape anything. Including small children to walls.

+ Duct tape  a classic cure-all. Nothing more be said.

+ Glow tape  tape that glows in the dark! Used to mark where on the stage large set pieces are to be placed. Is often an impromptu flashlight

+ Masking tape  the weakest of all tapes, this is mainly for labeling props or taping up cue sheets and scripts backstage

So, if you like tape, dressing in black and lurking in dark places, pretending to be an all-powerful being, working long hours, off-color jokes (Techies do it in the dark is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg), flipping switches, carrying heavy objects, wearing headsets, or cheesecake, you would probably make an excellent tech! While theatre techs have been  and still are  disproportionately male, gender doesnt matter nearly as much as ability. Encountering gender prejudice is a possibility, but no reason to be discouraged!

How to become a theatre technician

How to join this strange subculture? Well, most high schools and colleges have some sort of tech crew, so inquire with the head of the theatre department. Contacting a local community theatre is also a good idea. Its also possible to major in theatre technology and go into professional teching. After all, all the worlds a stage  and where would they be without techies?
Reports indicate that Barcelona is set to decline matching Manchester United's valuation for Mason Greenwood.

Greenwood, who has been on loan from Manchester United to LaLiga side Getafe this season, faced a tumultuous period after charges of attempted rape, assault, and controlling and coercive behavior against him were dropped.

In response, Manchester United opted to send the 22-year-old on loan to Spain, deeming it beneficial for him to gain experience abroad.

Earlier indications suggested that Greenwood's chances of extending his stay at Getafe beyond the current season were slim, despite Manchester United's purported decision to offload him.

Recent discussions reportedly took place between Manchester United chiefs John Murtough, Matt Hargreaves, and Barcelona executive Deco, hinting at deliberations over Greenwood's future.

Footage from Spanish outlet Jijantes captured Murtough and his chief negotiator in a meeting with Barcelona director Deco, accompanied by two CAA Base agents, Frank Tramboli and Fede Massa.

Subsequently, the executives were reportedly observed attending one of Greenwood's matches at Getafe.
Commonwealth Ports Authority Board Chairman Joe Ayuyu, center, and Marianas Visitors Authority Board Member Ivan, Quichocho, second right, lead the Marianas delegation at Routes Asia Show 2024 on Feb. 19-24, 2024, in Langkawi, Malaysia. Fifteen airlines held B2B meetings with the delegation to explore the feasibility of establishing new air services to the Marianas.
A California woman fleeing police drove her car into the ocean with two dogs in the backseat. (Dreamstime/TNS)
The Guam Power Authority and Guam Waterworks Authority headquarters are seen at the Gloria B. Nelson Public Service Building in Mangilao on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024.
California Governor Panera View Photo

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  As California prepares to enforce a new $20-per-hour minimum wage for fast food workers next month, an unusual exemption for eateries that bake their own bread has come under scrutiny due to allegations it was initially intended to benefit a wealthy donor to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsoms campaign.

But details have been hard to come by because of a tactic rarely associated with public policymaking: a signed confidentiality agreement that prevents some private groups from talking about their negotiations.

Two sources familiar with the negotiations confirmed to The Associated Press the agreement signed last summer covered some of the private parties involved, including labor unions representing restaurant workers and the industry group for restaurants. The agreement did not include Newsom or any other public officials. They said the agreement  first reported by KCRA  was not meant to shield the public from details that could embarrass public officials. Instead, it enabled two sides who distrust each other to come together and work out a compromise.

The sources spoke only on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the negotiations.

Such agreements are common in the context of employment agreements, settlements of lawsuits, and deals involving trade secrets or intellectual property. But theyre less common in the legislative process, said David Loy, legal director of the First Amendment Coalition, a group that advocates for transparency in government.

I think the public does have a right to know how the sausage is being made, so to speak. And if the deal is essentially cut between private parties and more or less rubber-stamped in the Legislature, its troubling that the public doesnt get to know what deals are made, Loy said. On the other hand  a private organization is not obligated to produce records or comment to the media that doesnt want to. So, I would say its a complicated issue.

Bob Hertzberg, a former Assembly speaker and state Senate majority leader, called concerns about the confidentiality agreement much ado about nothing. He noted that all legislation must be vetted in public by the Legislature. This agreement, he said, was likely just a mechanism to start a discussion.

What ends up happening in these situations is  you end up having people in the same room who hate each other, dont trust each other, Hertzberg said. The bottom line is you need to build trust. Everything is about trust to get people even to get into the room.

The legislation establishing a $20-per-hour minimum wage for restaurant workers included an oddly specific exemption for eateries with on-site bakeries that sell bread. The exemption was also in a similar bill that passed in 2022, predating the confidentiality agreement.

Bloomberg News cited unidentified sources last month in reporting that Newsom had pushed for the bakery exemption to benefit Greg Flynn, a campaign donor whose company owns 24 Panera Bread restaurants. Newsom has called that allegation absurd. His administrations legal team then analyzed the law and said Panera Bread was likely not exempt.

Flynn also denied the allegations and said that starting in April he would pay all hourly workers at his Panera Bread restaurants $20 per hour or more.

Still, the mystery remains over who pushed for the bakery exemption and why it was included in the law. Even Democratic Assemblymember Chris Holden, the author of the law, said he didnt know how it got in there.

Thats in part because the origins of the law reflect the reality of public policymaking in the United States. While all legislation must be vetted in public hearings and voted on by elected officials, in many cases bills start with private parties  including companies, trade groups, and advocacy organizations  seeking to either protect their interests or resolve problems.

Lawmakers often act as referees on contested pieces of legislation. In the most intense conflicts, they will sometimes publicly urge both sides to talk with each other directly to resolve the thorniest issues.

Thats what happened in California last summer when labor unions and the fast food industry were locked in an escalating conflict over workers rights and companies legal liabilities. That conflict appeared headed toward the ballot box in the form of a referendum asking voters to decide. But that path would have cost both sides millions to pay for campaigns.

Democratic state Sen. Tom Umberg  chair of the powerful Judiciary Committee  implored both sides to get to the table, stop posturing and negotiate a global settlement.

Those groups, which included the Services Employees International Union and the California Restaurant Association, worked through the summer to reach an agreement that would withdraw the referendum from the ballot. That agreement turned into legislation which eventually became a law requiring a $20 minimum wage for fast food workers beginning April 1.

While management and labor often negotiate in the workplace, they rarely work together at the state Legislature. At the time, labor unions were actively trying to organize workers at fast food restaurants. And the industry was fighting to avoid an expansion of their legal liability that they said would have made it much harder to do business in the state.

The minimum wage law did get public hearings in the Legislature. It was also debated on the floor of the state Assembly and Senate, where lawmakers made no changes, voted on it and sent it to Newsom, who signed it into law.

Republicans  whose numbers in the Legislature have dwindled to the point that they have almost no power to influence legislation  have long complained that Democrats negotiate major bills in private, only to then rush them through the required hearings with no changes.

Republican Assemblymember Vince Fong said he will introduce a bill this year that would ban nondisclosure agreements with public officials as part of negotiating legislation. Its unclear if Fongs proposal would have applied in this situation, as the confidentiality agreement did not include public officials.

Transparency in government is the foundation of our democracy. It builds trust and confidence in the public process, Fong said. The fact that there are organizations that are using NDAs to prevent the public from knowing whats going on  thats wrong.

Newsom spokesperson Alex Stack said Fongs proposal would not change anything for their office because the Governors office doesnt sign NDAs, for legislation or anything else.

By ADAM BEAM

Associated Press
L to R: Melissa Powell  Tribal Secretary, Joseph Mathiesen-Powell  Tribal Treasurer, Lloyd Mathiesen  Tribal Chairman, Raymond Mathiesen  Tribal Vice Chairman and Tony Erwin Tribal Sergeant-at-Arms View Photo

Jamestown, CA  The Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians is praising actions by the US Department of the Interior to issue Secretarial Procedures following a legal battle with the state over a debate involving compact agreements, and regulations, that tied into sovereignty-related matters.

Calling it a landmark decision, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Interior Bryan Newland has given his approval for gaming procedures for the five plaintiff tribes in Chicken Ranch Rancheria v. California. It is considered a significant recognition of tribal sovereignty that does not create a regulatory role for the State of California.

Lloyd Mathiesen, Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians Tribal Chairman says, We fought the state through five years of compact negotiations, five years of litigation, and won independence from state regulation, and Secretary Haalands ultimate approval of these procedures represents a major victory for tribal sovereignty.

The issuance of the procedures has national implications for tribes throughout the country, according to Mathiesen. The Chicken Rancheria lawsuit establishes the precedent for future compact negotiations and reaffirms the status of tribes as sovereign governments with authority over their lands and clarifies boundaries between state, federal, and tribal jurisdiction.

To read an earlier story about the lawsuit, click here.
Oregon county plants trees to honor victims of killer 2021 heat wave View Photo

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)  Family members of some of the people killed by record-breaking heat in the Portland, Oregon, area three years ago gathered over the weekend to plant trees across Multnomah County in honor of its 72 victims.

The event, coordinated by county and local officials and a nonprofit group, drew scores of volunteers to a nature park in suburban Gresham where a ceremonial hornbeam tree was planted. Family members placed paper hearts marked with the names of the people they lost into the ground with the hornbeam, which was among 72 trees planted Saturday.

I didnt think a lot of people still cared about what happened to peoples families in the heatwave, LaRome Ollison, whose 68-year-old father, Jerome Ollison, died during the June 2021 heat wave, told The Oregonian. Now I see that the county cares, and we appreciate it.

Three consecutive days of extraordinary temperatures in the Pacific Northwest, which usually experiences mild summers, shattered all-time records. Temperatures in Portland reached triple digits for three days, peaking at 116 degrees Fahrenheit (47 Celsius) as records fell across Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Canada.

On the third day of that heat, Jerome Ollisons daughter, NaCheryl, said she knew something was wrong when her father didnt answer his phone. She said she went to his apartment building in southeast Portland and found him dead on a couch, with only a small desk fan to contend with the heat.

Oregon blamed 116 deaths statewide on the heat, Washington state reported at least 91 and officials in British Columbia said hundreds of sudden and unexpected deaths were likely due to the soaring temperatures.

More people died from the heat in the greater Portland area that June than in the entire state over the past 20 years, authorities said. Three of the victims honored with tree plantings died later that summer.

Scientists said the deadly heat would have been virtually impossible without human-caused climate change that added a few extra degrees to the record-smashing temperatures.

The deaths prompted better preparation for extreme conditions across the state in the years that followed.

Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said Gresham and the Portland neighborhood of East Portland have the fewest trees in the county, but more are being planted.

They will cool us down when the summer is hot, and they will help us save future lives that might otherwise be taken from us in similar events, she said.

The Ollison family used to go to their fathers apartment building each year to release balloons in Jeromes honor. Now they have a new place to pay their respects.

This is more personal, LaRome Ollison said of the nature park. Its a beautiful spot.
Netanyahu agrees to send Israeli officials to Washington to discuss prospective Rafah operation View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday agreed to send a team of Israeli officials to Washington to discuss with Biden administration officials a prospective Rafah operation as each side is looking to make clear to the other its perspective, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

The agreement to hold talks about Rafah came as Biden and Netanyahu spoke Monday, their first interaction in more than a month, as the divide has grown between allies over the food crisis in Gaza and Israels conduct during the war, according to the White House. Sullivan said the talks will happen in the coming days and are expected to involve military, intelligence and humanitarian experts.

The White House has been skeptical of Netanyahus plan to carry out an operation in the southern city of Rafah, where about 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, as Israel looks to eliminate Hamas following the militant groups deadly Oct. 7 attack.

Sullivan said Biden in the call once again urged Netanyahu not to carry out a Rafah operation. At the coming talks, he said U.S. officials will lay out an alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in Rafah and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a major ground invasion.

The president has rejected, and did again today, the straw man that raising questions about Rafah is the same as raising questions about defeating Hamas, Sullivan said. Thats just nonsense. Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed a safe haven in Rafah or anywhere else, but a major ground operation there would be a mistake. It would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza and further isolate Israel internationally.

The call comes after Republicans in Washington and Israeli officials were quick to express outrage after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized 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.

Biden hasnt endorsed Schumers call for election but said he thought he gave a good speech that reflected the concerns of many Americans. Netanyahu raised concerns about the calls by Schumer for new elections, Sullivan said.

Biden administration officials have warned that they would not support an operation in Rafah without the Israelis presenting a credible plan to ensure the safety of innocent Palestinian civilians. Israel has yet to present such a plan, according to White House officials.

Netanyahu in a statement after the call made no direct mention of the tension.

We discussed the latest developments in the war, including Israels commitment to achieving all of the wars goals: Eliminating Hamas, freeing all of our hostages and ensuring that Gaza never (again) constitutes a threat to Israel  while providing the necessary humanitarian aid that will assist in achieving these goals, Netanyahu said.

The Biden-Netanyahu call also came as a new report warned that famine is imminent in northern Gaza, where 70% of the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger, and that a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gazas population to the brink of starvation. The report came from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a partnership of more than a dozen governments, U.N. aid and other agencies that determines the severity of food crises.

Netanyahu lashed out against the American criticism on Sunday, describing calls for a new election as wholly inappropriate.

Netanyahu told Fox News Channel that Israel never would have called for a new U.S. election after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and he denounced Schumers comments as inappropriate.

Were not a banana republic, he said. The people of Israel will choose when they will have elections, and who theyll elect, and its not something that will be foisted on us.

Even as they express frustration about aspects of the Israeli operations, the White House acknowledges that Israel has made significant progress in degrading Hamas. And Sullivan revealed on Monday that an Israeli operation last week killed Hamas third in command, Marwan Issa.

The president told the prime minister again today that we share the goal of defeating Hamas, but we just believe you need a coherent and sustainable strategy to make that happen, Sullivan said.

Biden after his State of the Union address earlier this month was caught on a hot mic telling a Democratic ally that he has told Netanyahu they would have a come to Jesus meeting over the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. His frustration with Netanyahus prosecution of the war was also on display in a recent MSNBC interview, in which he asserted Netanyahu was hurting Israel.

He has a right to defend Israel, a right to continue to pursue Hamas, Biden said of Netanyahu in the MSNBC interview. But he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken. Hes hurting  in my view, hes hurting Israel more than helping Israel.

The president announced during his State of the Union address that the U.S. military would help establish a temporary pier aimed at boosting the amount of aid getting into the territory. The U.S. military has also been air-dropping aid into Gaza.

The Biden administration resorted to the unusual workarounds after months of appealing to Israel, a top recipient of military aid, to step up access and protection for trucks bearing humanitarian goods for Gaza.

The five-month war was triggered after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in a surprise attack, rampaging through communities, killing some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and taking around 250 hostages.

Israel responded with one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history. The war has killed over 31,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Around 80% of Gazas population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and a quarter of the population faces starvation.



This story has been corrected to properly attribute a new report that said famine is imminent in Gaza to the Integrated Food Service Phase Classification. It was previously attributed to the World Food Program.



Frankel reported from Jerusalem. AP journalists Chris Megerian and Sagar Meghani contributed reporting.

By AAMER MADHANI, ZEKE MILLER and JULIA FRANKEL

Associated Press
Former British tech star depicted as scam artist, visionary in trial about HPs disastrous 2011 deal View Photo

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Federal prosecutors on Monday painted one-time British tech star Mike Lynch as the ruthless mastermind of an $11 billion deal that defrauded Silicon Valley pioneer Hewlett Packard.

But his lawyer depicted him as a visionary who was made a scapegoat for a desperate buyers bad decision.

The contrasting portraits of Lynch, 58, emerged at the start of a criminal trial revolving around HPs 2011 acquisition of British software maker Autonomy  a deal that was initially celebrated as a coup, but instead unraveled into a costly debacle.

Lynch, once hailed as an example of British ingenuity, is facing 16 felony counts of fraud and conspiracy that could send him to prison for more than 20 years if a jury convicts him of all charges. The trial in San Francisco federal court is scheduled to last two to three months.

Although the trial is mostly about Lynchs 16-year reign that culminated in his 2012 firing by then-HP CEO Meg Whitman just nine months after the takeover, the proceedings will also cast a spotlight on the decay and chaos at a storied Silicon Valley company.

Whitmans predecessor, Leo Apotheker, snapped up Autonomy as part of a plan to lessen HPs dependence on selling personal computers and printers amid the upheaval unleashed by the rise of the smartphone. But after the deal devolved into a financial scandal, Whitman wound up laying off thousands of workers as HPs fortunes sagged, leading eventually to the company being split in two in 2015.

Lynchs lawyer, Reid Weingarten, hammered on HPs deteriorating condition in 2011 as the primary reason the company sought to complete the Autonomy acquisition without even conducting a thorough review of the business. Things were so bad, Weingarten told the the jury, that Apotheker had likened HP to a burning platform in the ocean. Meanwhile, Whitman, he said, had praised Autonomys products as magical software.

HP was in desperate shape, so they needed to do something, Weingarten told the jury during his hourlong opening statement.

In his 80-minute opening statement, federal prosecutor Adam Reeves asserted Lynch started lying to HP executives as soon as deal discussions began with an early 2011 meeting held at HPs headquarters in Palo Alto, California  the same city where Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard started the company in 1939.

It was the scene of an $11 billion fraud, Reeves said of that initial meeting between Lynch and HP executives. Although Lynch made it seem like he was running a money-making machine, Reeves said, Autonomys success was in fact an elaborate multilayered, multiyear fraud.

Reeves said the prosecution will present witnesses who will explain how Autonomy cooked its books and engineered a variety of deals to inflate its revenue in illegal ways during a 2 1/2-year period that duped HP into paying for an acquisition it would come to rue. And Lynch orchestrated the skullduggery, according to Reeves.

He was a dominating, controlling boss, Reeves told the jury. For many years, he ran Autonomy with an iron fist.

Although he acknowledged Lynch is a hard charger who demanded the best from his employees, Weingarten said Lynch delegated most accounting and marketing issues while he focused primarily on innovation.

Mike was ahead of everybody for a long time, Weingarten said. He is a startup guy who liked to be eating cold pizza at 2 in the morning while inventing something.

Weingarten also showed the jury an internal HP document drawn up in July 2011  a month before the acquisition was announced  valuing Autonomy at $46 billion, suggesting the assessment showed HP thought it was getting a bargain to acquire the rights to software that helped businesses find information buried in emails and Word documents.

Autonomys software was so powerful that no competitor was near them and it sold like hotcakes, Weingarten said.

Lynch, who has been free on $100 million bail since being extradited to the U.S. last May, sat stoically through most of the opening statements while looking at presentations appearing on a display and occasionally peering at the lawyers and jury.

The jury eventually will get to hear from Lynch, who Weingarten promised will testify to tell his side of the story.

We want you to know him, we think that helps us, Weingarten said.

The testimony will likely open the door for prosecutors to drill down into Lynchs motives for making a deal from which he pocketed more than $800 million, according to court documents.

Apotheker, who was replaced Whitman a few weeks after the Autonomy deal was announced, also is expected to testify. Whitman, currently the U.S. ambassador to Kenya, isnt expected to come to court during the trial, although her management of HP and the Autonomy takeover is expected to be placed under a microscope.

Lynchs trial will simultaneously cover fraud allegations made against Stephen Chamberlain, Autonomys former vice president of finance.

Sushovan Hussain, Autonomys former chief financial officer and Lynchs former office mate, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2019 after being convicted on 16 criminal counts of fraud and conspiracy. Although Hussains name was mentioned during Mondays opening statements, his conviction wasnt.

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE

AP Technology Writer
Famine is said to be imminent in northern Gaza as Israel raids the main hospital again

Famine is said to be imminent in northern Gaza as Israel raids the main hospital again View Photo

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Famine is imminent in northern Gaza, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger, according to a report Monday that warned escalation of the war could push half of Gazas total population to the brink of starvation.

The report, by the international communitys authority on determining the severity of hunger crises, came as Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and to open more land crossings. Aid groups complain that deliveries by air and sea by the United States and other countries are too slow and too small.

The European Unions top diplomat said the impending famine was entirely manmade as starvation is used as a weapon of war.

Israeli forces, meanwhile, launched another raid on the Gaza Strips largest hospital early Monday, saying Hamas militants had regrouped there and fired on them from inside the Shifa Hospital compound.

Clashes continued all day in and around the hospital, where Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people have been sheltering.

The Israeli military said troops killed 20 people it identified as Hamas militants, and one of its own soldiers was killed, though the identification of the dead as militants could not be confirmed. Among those killed was a senior commander in Gazas Hamas-led police forces who Israel said was hiding in the hospital. Gaza officials said the commander was coordinating protection of aid convoys.

The army last raided Shifa Hospital in November after claiming that Hamas maintained an elaborate command center within and beneath the facility. The military revealed a tunnel leading to some underground rooms, as well as weapons it said were found inside the hospital. But the evidence fell short of the earlier claims, and critics accused the army of recklessly endangering the lives of civilians.

RAFAH OFFENSIVE COULD PUSH HALF OF GAZA TO STARVATION

The latest findings on hunger in Gaza came from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, an initiative first set up in 2004 during the famine in Somalia that now includes more than a dozen U.N. agencies, aid groups, governments and other bodies to determine the severity of food insecurity.

It says virtually everyone in Gaza is struggling to get enough food, and that around 677,000 people  nearly a third of the population of 2.3 million  are experiencing the highest level of catastrophic hunger. That means they face extreme lack of food and critical levels of acute malnutrition. The figure includes around 210,000 people in the north.

Outright famine is projected to occur in the north anytime between now and May, it said. An area is considered to be in famine when 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition and at least two adults or four children per every 10,000 people die daily.

The report said the first condition has been fulfilled, and it is highly likely the second has as well. The death rate is expected to accelerate and reach famine levels soon, it said.

The report warned that if Israel broadens its offensive to the packed southern city of Rafah, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to do, the fighting could drive over 1 million people  half of Gazas population  into catastrophic hunger and potentially cause famine in the south.

This is the largest number of people facing imminent famine in the world today, and it has only taken five months to occur, said Matthew Hollingworth, the acting World Food Program country director for the Palestinian territories.

Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, called for all roads to be opened for aid, including into northern and central Gaza. The WFP report said aid from airdrops is negligible compared to what is brought on trucks.

Northern Gaza, including Gaza City, was the first target of the invasion, and entire neighborhoods have been obliterated. It is now the epicenter of Gazas humanitarian catastrophe, with many residents reduced to eating animal feed. At least 27 people, mostly children, have died from malnutrition and dehydration in the north, according to the Health Ministry.

A spokesman for the Israeli military body that deals with Palestinian issues, Shimon Freeman, said Israel places no limit on the amount of aid that can enter the Gaza Strip and encourages countries to send aid. Israel has accused U.N. bodies of failing to distribute aid in a timely manner. Aid groups say distribution is impossible in much of Gaza because of hostilities, the difficulty of coordinating with the military and the breakdown of law and order.

Alex de Waal, the executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University and an expert on global famines, said Israel has had ample warning that if it continued to destroy key infrastructure, displace large numbers of people and obstruct aid operations, the results would be catastrophic.

In failing to change course, it is culpable for these deaths, he said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said it was up to Israel to facilitate more aid.

Israel has to do it. It is not a question of logistics. It is not because the United Nations has not provided enough support, he said. Trucks are stopped. People are dying, while the land crossings are artificially closed.

WERE TRAPPED INSIDE

The raid on Shifa Hospital began before dawn, when Israeli forces backed by tanks and artillery surrounded the complex and troops stormed into a number of buildings.

Were trapped inside, said Abdel-Hady Sayed, who has been sheltering in the facility for months. They fire at anything moving.

In the evening, he said tanks were still in the hospital yard, and he could see three bodies outside the gates. We cant retrieve the dead, he said.

Gazas Health Ministry said around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes seeking safety. The war has displaced around 80% of Gazas population.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief Israeli military spokesperson, said senior Hamas militants had regrouped in the hospital and were directing attacks from inside.

Among those killed in the raid was Faiq Mabhouh, a senior officer in the Gaza police, which is under Gazas Hamas-led government but distinct from the militant groups armed fighting wing. The Israeli military said he was armed and hiding in Shifa, and that weapons were found in an adjacent room.

The Gaza government said Mabhouh was in charge of protecting aid distribution in the north and coordinating between aid groups and local tribes. Aid groups say Israeli strikes on police are one reason public order has collapsed, leading to desperate Palestinians overwhelming aid trucks on the road.

Hagari said the patients and medical staff could remain in the medical complex and that safe passage was available for civilians who wanted to leave.

Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian facilities to shield its fighters, and the Israeli military has raided several hospitals since the start of the war.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Monday that at least 31,726 Palestinians have been killed in Israels offensive. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but it says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in Hamas Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and took another 250 people hostage. Hamas is still believed to be holding about 100 captives, as well as the remains of 30 others, after most of the rest were freed during a cease-fire last year.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the report on famine risk was issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, not the United Nations.

___

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

By WAFAA SHURAFA, SAMY MAGDY and TIA GOLDENBERG

Associated Press
Reactions as Vladimir Putin secures a fifth term as Russias president after tightly controlled vote View Photo

Vladimir Putin secured an unprecedented fifth term as president of Russia Monday, as the election commission announced the results of a vote in which he faced no serious challenges and which happened amid the strictest crackdown on opposition and free speech since Soviet times.

Putin claimed his overwhelming margin was proof that Russians had placed their trust and hopes in him, while politicians across Europe rejected the vote as a sham and condemned Russias efforts to stage elections in occupied parts of Ukraine that it claims as its own territory.

Heres what Putin, European leaders and others are saying:

Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: when we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future.  Vladimir Putin, President of Russia

___

It certainly was an undemocratic process and I think it is safe to say that there certainly wont be congratulatory calls coming from the United States of America.  State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel

___

The elections took place in an ever-shrinking political space, which has resulted in an alarming increase of violations of civil and political rights, and precluded many candidates from running, including all those opposed to Russias illegal war of aggression.  Statement from the European Union

___

There is no legitimacy in the imitation of elections.  Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, in a nightly radio address on Sunday

___

The results are, of course, stunning. Its a serious signal to the West, which has sought to destabilize the domestic situation in Russia.  President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, during a meeting with officials after congratulating Putin in a call

___

We consider this so-called election in Russia last weekend to be neither free nor fair  Russia, as the chancellor has already said, is now a dictatorship and is ruled by Vladimir Putin in an authoritarian manner.  Christina Hoffmann, spokeswoman for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

___

Russias organization of elections in occupied parts of Georgia and Ukraine is completely illegal. And Russias presidential election was clearly neither free nor fair.  NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg while visiting Tbilisi, Georgia on Monday

___

These Russian elections starkly underline the depth of repression under President Putins regime, which seeks to silence any opposition to his illegal war. Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy.  David Cameron, U.K. foreign secretary.

___

Searches at entrances to polling stations, attempts to check ballots before voters put them into ballot boxes, detentions of voters who came to vote noon. Now there is a report that at one polling station in Moscow, police have demanded that a chairman of a commission (of poll workers) open a ballot box and give them a ballot with something written on it. It is the first time in my life that I see such absurdity.  Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of Golos independent election watchdog, on Telegram

___

Im glad that people outside the confines of the political prison that is called Russia currently are able to express their opinions  For example, Russians that voted in Lithuania, just 3% of those who came to the Russian embassy in Vilnius voted for Vladimir Putin. Others decided either to spoil the ballot paper or to vote for any other candidate that was there on the ballot.  Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuanian foreign minister

___

The election in Russia was an election without a choice. Holding so-called elections in parts of Ukraine, parts of Moldova and parts of Georgia is contrary to international law. It is therefore all the more remarkable how many Russians made it clear this weekend that they do not see eye to eye with this Russian president. That you go to a polling station even if you are accompanied by soldiers  that fills me with the utmost respect.  German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock

The Associated Press
US weighing options in Africa after Niger junta orders departure from key counterterrorism base

US weighing options in Africa after Niger junta orders departure from key counterterrorism base View Photo

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Pentagon is working with Niger officials, seeking a way for U.S. troops to stay in the country  a key base for counterterrorism operations in sub-Saharan Africa  following a weekend directive that they leave.

Last week a high level-delegation of U.S. officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander and the head of U.S. Africa Command Gen. Michael Langley, traveled to Niger to meet with members of the military junta.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Monday the U.S. officials had lengthy and direct discussions with the junta officials that were also in part spurred by concerns over Nigers potential relationships with Russia and Iran.

We were troubled on the path that Niger is on, Singh said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the U.S. was closely monitoring the Russian defense activities there in order to assess and mitigate potential risk to U.S. personnel, interests and assets.

On Saturday, following the meeting, the juntas spokesperson, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, said U.S. flights over Nigers territory in recent weeks were illegal. Meanwhile, Insa Garba Saidou, a local activist who assists Nigers military rulers with their communications, criticized U.S. efforts to force the junta to pick between strategic partners.

The American bases and civilian personnel cannot stay on Nigerien soil any longer, he told The Associated Press.

Singh said the U.S. was aware of the March 16 statement announcing the end of the status of forces agreement between Niger and the United States. We are working through diplomatic channels to seek clarification. These are ongoing discussions and we dont have more to share at this time.

State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said the discussions were prompted by Nigers trajectory.

We are in touch with transition authorities to seek clarification of their comments and discuss additional next steps, Patel said.

The junta has largely been in control in Niger since July when mutinous soldiers ousted the countrys democratically elected president and months later asked French forces to leave.

The U.S. military still had some 650 troops working in Niger in December, largely consolidated at a base farther away from Niamey, Nigers capital. Singh said the total number of personnel still in country, including civilians and contractors, is roughly 1,000.

The Niger base is critical for U.S. counterterrorism operations in the Sahel and has been used for both manned and unmanned surveillance operations, although Singh said the only drone flights being currently conducted are for force protection.

In the Sahel the U.S. has also supported local ground troops, including accompanying them on missions. However, such accompanied missions have been scaled back since U.S. troops were killed in a joint operation in Niger in 2017.

-

Christopher Megerian contributed from Washington, D.C.

By TARA COPP and MATTHEW LEE

Associated Press
Five Zimbabwean mercenaries are fighting for Ukraine, according to latest data released by the Russia Defence ministry, with one said to have since been killed on the battle field.

But the figure could be more, reaching even 10, according to security sources, with three of them said to be former soldiers back home in Zimbabwe.

In a statement, the ministry said since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the total number of foreign mercenaries who have arrived in Ukraine has reached 13 387.

The Russian army claims it has eliminated 5 962 of them.

The Russian Ministry of Defence continues to track and personally record all foreign mercenaries who have arrived in Ukraine to participate in combat action, the statement said.

The ministry noted that 2 960 mercenaries arrived in Ukraine from Poland.

The US was second with 1 113 soldiers of fortune and Georgia third with 1 042.

Many other mercenaries also come from Canada, the United Kingdom, Romania, France and Germany, the ministry said.

A total of 249 mercenaries from 14 countries in Africa arrived in Ukraine since the war began two years ago, with 103 having been killed.

Nigeria tops the list with 97, followed by Algeria with 60 and South Africa with 35.

Zimbabwe and South Africa are the only countries in southern Africa with mercenaries operating in Ukraine.

Zimbabwes Foreign Affairs ministry has yet to comment on the reports.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who openly declared his support for Russias invasion of Ukraine, is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Harare has always sided with the Kremlin on key international issues discussed at the United Nations General Assembly.

Speaking on the sidelines of the two-day Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St Petersburg last year, Mnangagwa became the second African leader to openly side with Russia.

Zimbabwe is in solidarity with the Russian Federation in your countrys special military operation in Ukraine, he said.

In 2023, the government took delivery of a specialised presidential medical helicopter and an ambulance from Russia.

Political analyst Pardon Taodzera said the participation of Zimbabwean mercenaries in Ukraine is worrying since Zimbabwe is known to be pro-Russian.

The involvement of Zimbabwean mercenaries in the Ukrainian conflict is a concerning development that underscores the complex and multi-faceted nature of modern warfare. It highlights the ability of conflicts in one region to attract participants from across the globe, illustrating the interconnectedness of global security dynamics, he said.

The emergence of Zimbabwean mercenaries in Ukraine raises questions about the motivations and interests driving their participation.

It suggests that non-State actors, motivated by a variety of factors including financial gain and ideological beliefs, are playing an increasingly significant role in shaping the course of conflicts around the world.

Russias permanent representative to the United Nations, Yevgeny Uspensky said the global body should act on the issue of international mercenaries operating in Ukraine.

The attention of [the official representative of UN secretary-general Stephane] Dujarric and the entire UN Secretariat has been drawn to statistics showing the participation of foreign mercenaries in hostilities on the side of the Kiev regime.

The data was published by the Defence ministry in official UN languages  Russian and English. It will be impossible to pretend ignorance or argue that they havent seen it, he wrote on his Telegram channel.

According to the UN, more than 14 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes at some point in the two years since Russias invasion.

The UNs International Organization for Migration recently said nearly 6,5 million people are now living outside the country as refugees.

In its latest report, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it has recorded 10 582 civilian deaths since February 2022.

It had also verified that 19 875 civilians had been wounded. NewsDay.

Breaking News via Email
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Bird Song of the Day

American Robin, Suffolk, New York, United States. American Robin singing from the top of a building before dawn.

* * *

In Case You Might Miss

(1) Trump cant put up the surety bond for his $450 million+ fine.

(2) How that bogus Long Covid paper from John Gerrard made it into the Guardian.

(3) Keef!

Politics

So many of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in fact a rational management of symbolic capital. Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles

Biden Administration

About that TikTok Trojan Horse: Some CIA-backed paramilitary group funded by USAID grants told to use Twitter by State Dept handlers might be paying  $8 a month and theyre goin after Elon for it pic.twitter.com/4NTqAGT9FU  Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) March 16, 2024 $8 a month is even less than the money the Internet Research Agency paid Facebook!

2024

Less than a year to go! * * * Trump (R): Trump has been unable to get bond for $464 million judgment, his lawyers say [NBC]. Former President Donald Trump has not been able to get a bond to secure the $464 million fraud judgment against him, his lawyers said in a court filing Monday. Defendants ongoing diligent efforts have proven that a bond in the judgments full amount is a practical impossibility, the filing said. These diligent efforts have included approaching about 30 surety companies through 4 separate brokers.' See NC here on surety (supersedeas) bonds. More: Their efforts, including countless hours negotiating with one of the largest insurance companies in the world, have proven that obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount of the Judgment is not possible under the circumstances presented, the filing said. The other bond companies will not accept hard assets such as real estate as collateral, but will only accept cash or cash equivalents (such as marketable securities), the filing said. He also noted those companies typically require collateral of approximately 120% of the amount of the judgment  which would total about $557 million. In addition, sureties would likely charge bond premiums of approximately 2 percent per year with two years in advancean upfront cost over $18 million, the filing said. That $18 million would not be recoverable even if Trump wins his appeal. In all, the filing said, the actual amount of cash or cash equivalents required to collateralize the bond and have sufficient capital to run the business and satisfy its other obligations approach[es] $1 billion.'  All this for a case of puffery in New York real estate! Trump (R): Trump Legal Fees Threaten to Cause Cash Crunch by July [Bloomberg]. From February, still germane. Donald Trump will likely drain his war chest for legal fees this summer, leaving the GOP frontrunner crunched for cash just as his presidential campaign ramps up spending for an expected rematch with President Joe Biden. * * * Trump (R): The Republican Veepstakes, Part One: Picking an Apprentice, Donald Trumps Way [Sabatos Crystal Ball]. Vice presidential selection in modern times turns on three variablesthe presidential candidate who orchestrates the process and makes the decision; the pool of available selectees; and the political context. In each decision, a selector considers a distinctive set of options in a unique setting and makes strategic choices. Continuities shape vice presidential choice but every selection has idiosyncratic aspects because of the variation in decision-makers, pool, and historical setting as well as the interaction of those variables. Its useful examining familiar patterns, as is done below and in Part Two, but with Trump dictating this years Republican selection process, its certain to be unique. It already is. Conventional wisdom sees Trump as insistent on abject loyalty and accordingly likely to choose someone who has demonstrated uncritical support. Sone campaign surrogates/VP wannabes behave consistently with this expectation. Perhaps thats a correct read, but Trumps 2016 process might counsel some caution in forecasting that Trump will select the biggest sycophant. Before Trump chose Pence from a relatively shallow pool, Trumps camp apparently approached then-Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a rival and critic, to join his ticket. Kasich reportedly declined these overtures but that data point might suggest some willingness to reach out in search of electoral advantage. Trumps success in converting former critics into subordinated supporters (think Vance, Rubio, and Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, among others.) might encourage him to expect similar success with another politically ambitious critic.  Well worth a read. * * * Trump (R): How Trumps Allies Are Winning the War Over Disinformation [New York Times]. From the index propagandists for RussiaGate and Iraqi WMDs. The arguments strike at the heart of an unsettled question in modern American political life: In a world of unlimited online communications, in which anyone can reach huge numbers of people with unverified and false information, where is the line between protecting democracy and trampling on the right to free speech?  Lets not be silly. The line is electing my guy. Next, please. Commentary: The New York Times mentioned me 24 times as the top story on the front page of the Sunday Edition. They tried a hit piece. All I saw were two words: "Winning Successfully." pic.twitter.com/nl3sIdeCAI  Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) March 18, 2024 Looks like the Times hates Mike Benz as much as the Wall Street Journal hates Lina Khan * * * Biden (D): Behind the scenes, Biden has grown angry and anxious about re-election effort [NBC]. Surrounded by protective aides who want to minimize the chances of a flub, the 81-year-old president has chafed at restraints that he sees as counter to his natural instincts as a retail politician, a third person familiar with internal discussions said. Biden stood up in front of the whole world and said, Im ready. Im the guy who can take down Donald Trump, said Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash. So, he goddamn well better do it. We dont have time for him to be worried about whether or not people are saying things right or the poll numbers are where they should be. I want focused energy and not defensive anger. Biden has on occasion directed his ire at his tightknit senior staff. Given the successes he has had in passing consequential bills and improving the economy, Biden was irritated that his message wasnt sinking in with the broader electorate, the sources said. At times, Biden gets suggestions that conflict with one another. Some advisers have told him he should walk faster out of concern that his gait feeds impressions that hes too old. And yet the White House is sufficiently worried about him tripping that he has taken to boarding Air Force One via a shorter staircase through the belly of the plane, forgoing the iconic image of the president waving from the main doorway high above the tarmac. Hes probably a little mad at himself for not being more forceful with the staff, a person familiar with internal discussions said. Privately, Biden questions whether he should trust his gut instincts over the guidance coming from the array of advisers tending to his political interests, this person added.  Well, at least Biden hasnt bitten anyone. So theres that. * * * Kennedy (I): Who is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and why is he running for president? [Associated Press]. The staff: Kennedy is looking to his family and his allies in the anti-vaccine world to staff his campaign, building a leadership team that is light on experience working in politics. His campaign manager is Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, his daughter-in-law who served as a CIA officer and has not worked in politics before. His communications director, Del Bigtree, is founder of the Informed Consent Action Network, an anti-vaccine group. Press secretary Stefanie Spear was an editor for the Childrens Health Defense news website. Charles Eisenstein, a New Age author, is an adviser. Kennedy also has staff and volunteers spread throughout states and focused on gathering signatures to get him on the ballot.  I wish Kennedy had stuck with Waterkeeper Alliance. Kennedy (I): RFK Jr. to name wealthy attorney Nicole Shanahan as running mate in prez run: report [New York Post]. Who? Shanahan, a Democratic donor who was once married to Google cofounder Sergey Brin, funded Kennedys pricey Super Bowl campaign commercial, Mediaite reported Saturday.  Nominating Shanahan may seem like a smart move to RFK (money) but it will be seen for the genuinely stupid idea that it is the first time she opens her mouth on the trail, or the first smidge of oppo is released. RFK is like a ship with no keel, blown hither and yon by the wind.

Democrats en Deshabille

Oh, for what once was: FDR campaigning for his second term which he won in a landslide. "The forces of organized money are unanimous in their hatred for me  and I welcome their hatred." Practically hate speech in today's political terms pic.twitter.com/qYIJ9dakh2  Nate Bear (@NateB_Panic) March 18, 2024 Thats a happy warrior! Will Bernie Sanders proposed 32-hour workweek pass Congress? [ABC News].  Only if Biden wants a shot at winning a second term.

#COVID19

* * *

I am in earnest  I will not equivocate  I will not excuse  I will not retreat a single inch  AND I WILL BE HEARD. William Lloyd Garrison

Resources, United States (National): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot; includes many counties; Wastewater Scan, includes drilldown by zip); Variants (CDC; Walgreens); Iowa COVID-19 Tracker (in IA, but national data). Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts (especially on hospitalization by city).

Lambert here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To update any entry, do feel free to contact me at the address given with the plants. Please put COVID in the subject line. Thank you!

Resources, United States (Local): AK (dashboard); AL (dashboard); AR (dashboard); AZ (dashboard); CA (dashboard; Marin, dashboard; Stanford, wastewater; Oakland, wastewater); CO (dashboard; wastewater); CT (dashboard); DE (dashboard); FL (wastewater); GA (wastewater); HI (dashboard); IA (wastewater reports); ID (dashboard, Boise; dashboard, wastewater, Central Idaho; wastewater, Coeur dAlene; dashboard, Spokane County); IL (wastewater); IN (dashboard); KS (dashboard; wastewater, Lawrence); KY (dashboard, Louisville); LA (dashboard); MA (wastewater); MD (dashboard); ME (dashboard); MI (wastewater; wastewater); MN (dashboard); MO (wastewater); MS (dashboard); MT (dashboard) ; NC (dashboard); ND (dashboard; wastewater); NE (dashboard); NH (wastewater); NJ (dashboard); NM (dashboard); NV (dashboard; wastewater, Southern NV); NY (dashboard); OH (dashboard); OK (dashboard); OR (dashboard) ; PA (dashboard); RI (dashboard); SC (dashboard); SD (dashboard); TN (dashboard); TX (dashboard); UT (wastewater); VA (dashboard); VT (dashboard); WA (dashboard; dashboard); WI (wastewater); WV ( wastewater ); WY ( wastewater ).

Resources, Canada (National): Wastewater (Government of Canada).

Resources, Canada (Provincial): ON (wastewater); QC (les eaux usees); BC (wastewater); BC, Vancouver (wastewater).

Hat tips to helpful readers: Alexis, anon (2), Art_DogCT, B24S, CanCyn, ChiGal, Chuck L, Festoonic, FM, FreeMarketApologist (4), Gumbo, hop2it, JB, JEHR, JF, JL Joe, John, JM (10), JustAnotherVolunteer, JW, KatieBird, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, square coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3).

Stay safe out there!

* * *

Media

I wondered how John Gerrards wretched Australian piece on Long Covid got platformed on the Guardian, parallel to being instantly amplified by Murdoch and his merry men. Heres why: The author of that article in the Guardian is @natasha__may, who is a health reporter for Guardian Australia. Her only source is Dr. John Gerrard, the chief medical officer of Queensland. How did something this at odds with peer reviewed science make the international edition?  https://t.co/2GoPTwfIem  Chris Richards  eclecticradical .bsky.social (@EclecticRadical) March 15, 2024

Elite Maleficence

Health workers fear its profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission [NBC News]. #HICPAC. Now, [Peg Seminario, an occupational health expert, and a former director at the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations] and many others worry that the CDC is repeating past mistakes as it develops a crucial set of guidelines that hospitals, nursing homes, prisons, and other facilities that provide health care will apply to control the spread of infectious diseases. The guidelines update those established nearly two decades ago. They will be used to establish protocols and procedures for years to come If we applied these draft guidelines at the start of this pandemic, there would have been even less protection than there is now  and its pretty bad now, Seminario said. Where the hell was the AFL-CIO then, and where is it now? More: Although critics are glad to see last years draft reconsidered, they remain concerned. The CDC needs to make sure that this guidance doesnt give employers leeway to prioritize profits over protection, said Jane Thomason, the lead industrial hygienist at the union National Nurses United. Shes part of a growing coalition of experts from unions, the American Public Health Association, and other organizations putting together an outside statement on elements that ought to be included in the CDCs guidelines, such as the importance of air filtration and N95 masks. And the last line: But that input may not be taken into consideration.  If the current #HICPAC membership has their way, the answer to the outside statement will not be No. It will be Hell, no. Why didnt we just make Vanness Hudgens head of the CDC? this being the official cdc guidelines now  https://t.co/CRRGq4JQfQ   (@northstardoll) March 18, 2024 If only somebody would write the same book for the United States! So excited to announce that my chapter examining the politics of "letting COVID rip" in Australia has been published in the Research Handbook on Public Management and COVID-19! If you liked my #COVIDHegemony pieces in the Canberra Times/Croakey, then you'll love this!  pic.twitter.com/Mycuzij2ZP  Dr Blair Williams (@BlairWilliams26) March 18, 2024 Wish I had a PDF Id review it!

* * *

TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts

LEGEND

1)  for charts new today; all others are not updated.

2) For a full-size/full-resolution image, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Windows) on the chart thumbnail and open image in new tab.

NOTES

[1] (Biobot) Our curve has now flattened out at the level of previous Trump peaks. Not a great victory. Note also the area under the curve, besides looking at peaks. That area is larger under Biden than under Trump, and it seems to be rising steadily if unevenly.

[2] (Biobot) Midwest ticks up.

[3] (CDC Variants) As of May 11, genomic surveillance data will be reported biweekly, based on the availability of positive test specimens. Biweeekly: 1. occurring every two weeks. 2. occurring twice a week; semiweekly. Looks like CDC has chosen sense #1. In essence, theyre telling us variants are nothing to worry about. Time will tell.

[4] (ER) Charts and data provided by CDC, updates Wednesday by 8am. For the past year, using a rolling 52-week period.

[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Not flattening.

[6] (Hospitalization: CDC) Still down. Maps, charts, and data provided by CDC, updates weekly for the previous MMWR week (Sunday-Saturday) on Thursdays (Deaths, Emergency Department Visits, Test Positivity) and weekly the following Mondays (Hospitalizations) by 8 pm ET.

[7] (Walgreens) Leveling out.

[8] (Cleveland) Flattening.

[9] (Travelers: Posivitity) Now up, albeit in the rear view mirror.

[10] (Travelers: Variants) JN.1 dominates utterly.

Stats Watch

There are no official statistics of interest today.

* * *

Manufacturing: The Whistleblower And The Corporation: The Case Against Boeing [FITSNews]. [Robert] Turkewitz, who had represented Barnett from the beginning of [his whistleblower retaliation] case, told reporters it made no sense for Barnett to take his own life when he was so close to final vindication.  This is an excellent round-up from a South Carolina source not only the Barnett case, but why Barnett was blowing the whistle. Worth reading in full (and where the heck is the prizewinning Charleson Post & Courier on this? Their last story on Barnett was March 14. Cant they find their way out of the tank? Oh, and FITS advances the story by publishing the incident report. Things I want to know: Why was the gun in Barnetts hand? Why did the police dust the car for finger prints (below)? What did the note read? Where is Barnetts computer?

Manufacturing: Inside Boeings shocking personnel scandals: Drug dealing, love triangle and murder-suicide [New York Post]. [S]ources previously told The Post police had dusted [Barnetts] car for fingerprints inside and out, a highly unusual move in suicide cases.  First place Ive seen this claim sourced.

Manufacturing: The last days of the Boeing whistleblower [Fortune]. The previous day, Barnett had been on a roll as a video camera recorded the event. John testified for four hours in questioning by my co-counsel Brian, says Turkewitz. This was following seven hours of cross examination by Boeings lawyers on Thursday. He was really happy to be telling his side of the story, excited to be fielding our questions, doing a great job. It was explosive stuff. As Im sitting there, Im thinking, This is the best witness Ive ever seen. At one point, says Turkewitz, the Boeing lawyer protested that Barnett was reciting the details of incidents from a decade ago, and specific dates, without looking at documents. As Turkevitz recalls the exchange, Barnett fired back,  I know these documents inside out . Ive had to live it. That Friday, Barnetts testimony ended at around 5 PM, and the parties reconvened an hour later. John was really tired and didnt want to testify any more that day, says Turkewitz.  He wanted to drive home to Louisiana starting that evening, as he had planned . Hed told his mom that hed be home on Sunday, and it took him two days to drive home. I suggested that we break for a week or two. But the Boeing lawyers took the position that no more depositions could be taken until Barnett completed his testimony .  Again, wheres Barnetts computer? (And where are his backups, if any?)

Manufacturing: NC gets a shout-out (Swampy is Barnett):

Swampy was found with his finger on the trigger of a silver pistol. A physician who is a regular contributor to the indespensable site #NakedCapitalism says this is a major red flag pic.twitter.com/371RrAfIoH  moe tkacik (@moetkacik) March 15, 2024

* * *

Manufacturing: Boeings Pain Spreads to Travelers as Airlines Cut Back on Plans [Bloomberg]. Boeing Co.s disastrous start to 2024 is spilling over to airlines and their passengers as production delays at the US planemaker exacerbate an already nascent shortage of single-aisle jets that form the backbone of commercial air travel.

United Airlines Holdings Inc., Southwest Airlines Co. and Ryanair Holdings Plc are among the companies scrambling to respond to reduced deliveries from Boeing as the planemaker focuses on fixing quality lapses exposed by the Jan. 5 accident on an Alaska Airlines flight. With the busy summer travel season in view, carriers say theyre trimming schedules and looking for alternatives to 737s theyve already ordered, while also contending with issues afflicting narrowbodies from Airbus SE. Even Boeing seems uncertain when the planes will be ready as an army of US inspectors sift through its factories, meaning the company cant make any firm predictions when things might return to normal.  Crowded planes and airports this summer, more than usual, oh joy.

Manufacturing: Boeing Criminal Probe Widens With Seattle Grand Jury Subpoena [Bloomberg]. The department appears to be operating on two tracks. Its looking into whether the door plug blowout falls under and violates the governments 2021 deferred-prosecution agreement with the company over two previous fatal crashes of its 737 Max jetliner. The department also could determine theres enough evidence to consider the Jan. 5 incident as a standalone criminal investigation.

* * *

Todays Fear & Greed Index: 73 Greed (previous close: 70 Greed) [CNN]. One week ago: 70 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Mar 18 at 1:04:02 PM ET.

Rapture Index: Closes unchanged [Rapture Ready]. Record High, October 10, 2016: 189. Current: 186. (Remember that bringing on the Rapture is good.) NOTE on #42 Plagues: The coronavirus pandemic has maxed out this category. More honest than most!  Goat sacrificers irrelevant? Atlantic meridional overturning circulation irrelevant?

The Conservatory

Five strings, three notes, two fingers and one a**hole  thats all it takes to play guitar! Keith Richards: The complete 1992 interview [GuitarPlayer]. Great fun.  I always found the islands like Jamaica and reggae so fascinating. To me, it was just another manifestation of the movement of rhythm and harmony and melody over the face of the planet. Thats what counts to me. I look upon things in a weird light. I can give you the history of the world  just give me their music. Give me a tribes music, and Ill tell you how they live, what they smell like, almost. That would give me more information than talking to them or looking at em. I can get more information out of their music first-off than anything else. Theres no lying when youre playing music.Exactly. This is why the Iron Curtain went down. It was jeans and rock and roll that took that wall down in the long run. It wasnt all those atomic weapons and that facing down and big bullshit. What finally crumbled it was the fuckin music, man. You cannot stop it. Its the most subversive thing.  Not sure. Maybe Keith should say in his lane, which is a pretty amazing lane. Or maybe not!

News of the Wired

I am not feeling wired today.

* * *

Contact information for plants: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. From Late Introvert:

Late Intoverts file name: FrontYardFromAtticWindow_05.jpg. Looks gorgeous (and nice camera angle). Wouldnt be nice to walk on those paths in bare feet!

* * *

Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser. So if you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals:

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Birds Eat Poop A Lot, And Scientists Are Still Trying to Figure Out Why Science Alert

Deadly morel mushroom outbreak highlights big gaps in fungi knowledge Ars Technica

Writing by hand, not typing, linked to better learning and memory: Study WION

Delayed Gratification  Why Are Global Birth Rates Falling, and Does It Matter? Alpha Sources

Climate/Environment

#COVID-19

The hunt for long COVID answers zeroes in on causes Axios

The latest wave of covid propaganda is to claim that ~covid anxiety~ is the biggest pandemic problem were facing. I have yet to see the data. I have, on the other hand, seen mountains of data indicating structural and functional changes to heart, lungs, brain, and more.   Noha Aboelata, MD (@NohaAboelataMD) March 17, 2024

Niger

India

China?

Syraqistan

We dont intervene in American politics, and we expect to be treated with the same respect.  Israeli government spokesperson Tal Heinrich to Newsmax pic.twitter.com/17zb0R23Ih  Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) March 17, 2024

***

Its been 5 months since the war, and the Lebanese front is no different when it comes to the wider conflict. The depth of exchanges on the border has varied over time. Yet there were three targets that Hezbollah had hit with high significance, the Mount Meron air control base, pic.twitter.com/Dzwc7EJaXC  Ali Hashem   (@alihashem_tv) March 15, 2024

European Disunion

Interview: Ryszard Legutko The Upheaval. Liberal Democracy, Communism, and totalitarian temptations in free societies.

Have you all lost your minds?. Amazing and terrifying speech by @SWagenknecht on the folly of Germanys warmongering approach to Russia. pic.twitter.com/wfOV1ebzoO  Thomas Fazi (@battleforeurope) March 17, 2024

New Not-So-Cold War

Fascinating: now we know what the French think of Macrons new warmongering attitude vis a vis Russia and they absolutely hate it! https://t.co/eMg4OLSuZe IFOP, Frances leading polling company, sees Macrons popularity go down to an appalling 28% and comments: The very  Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) March 17, 2024

The timing of Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries is creating an interesting situation for oil tanker markets. Lets connect some dots: pic.twitter.com/bJ2GKOwzcY  Ed Finley-Richardson (@ed_fin) March 17, 2024

O Canada

The Canadian behind the Wests massive sanctions on Russia says its time for Round 2 POLITICO. The first sentence: Chrystia Freeland is in her element in Davos.

South of the Border

B-a-a-a-a-d Banks

2024

Boeing

The U.S. auto industrys dirty little secret: plummeting quality New Atlas

Our Famously Free Press

AI

Big Brother is Watching You Watch

Police State Watch

Groves of Academe

The Fracturing of American Higher Education Law and Political Economy Project

Book Nook

Publishing Models That Rely on Gig Workers Are Bad For Everybody Literary Hub. On the problem with Authors Equity, a new publishing company.

Class Warfare

An Interview With The Bee Hero Who Humanely Vacuumed Thousands Of Bees Out Of A Tennis Stadium Defector

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Conor here: This post details how Uber and Lyft are trying to crush worker action in the Twin Cities by threatening to exit Minneapolis-St. Paul altogether if theyre required to pay drivers what might amount to a living wage.

Lyft and Uber are of course threatening to end service in the metro area once the law takes effect. Well see. They made similar threats when New York City, Seattle, and California passed policies intended to improve drivers working conditions and/or pay, and yet they still operate there. The companies did bail on Austin back in 2016 rather than comply with requirements they fingerprint, perform background checks and other safety protocol. They returned one year later after the city rolled back the legislation.

Lyft and Uber got Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to veto a statewide bill for better pay and protections last year. Still, some media outlets saw other liberal laws passed and were praising the state as shining example of progressivism and the best state for workers.

The actual workers in Minnesota werent buying it, and they kept organizing and striking, and continue to do so, as described by Workday Magazine:

Minnesotas Labor Spring has arrived. Thousands of essential workers and community members are taking part in a Week of Action in the Twin Cities to fight for a host of social demands they hope will build worker power and strengthen communities. They are calling for better union contracts and a labor standards advisory board, alongside social housing, environmental sustainability, and better schools. The alignment of unions, workers centers and community organizations, and the broad scope of their aims, is being heralded as a model of social movement unionism, or bargaining for the common good. The effort, which emanates from more than a decade of organizing and movement building, is uniting under the motto, What could we win together? Several unionsrepresenting janitors, nurses, retail workers, and educators who have all been working without contractsare striking or planning to strike, and holding picket lines and rallies at their workplaces, in downtown Minneapolis, and at the state capitol in St. PaulThis kind of cross-sectoral organizing is unique in the United States and has been in the works for more than a decade.

By Max Nesterak, the deputy editor of the Minnesota Reformer who reports on labor and housing. Originally published at the Minnesota Reformer.

Dismissing Uber and Lyfts threats to leave the city, the Minneapolis City Council voted 10-3 to override a mayoral veto of minimum pay rates for drivers.

The vote on Thursday sets up a six-week standoff between the progressive City Council and two tech giants, with Uber saying it will end service in the entire Twin Cities metro area when the rates take effect on May 1. Lyft says it will end service in Minneapolis when it takes effect.

Driver activists in the council chambers cheered after the vote was called in celebration of a significant victory after three disappointing vetoes in the past year  one by Gov. Tim Walz and two by Mayor Jacob Frey.

It has been a rough journey Thank God to the City Council members and all the elected officials who listened to me, said Eid Ali, president of the Minnesota Uber/Lyft Drivers Association, at a news conference after the vote.

The veto override sends the pitched political conflict back to the state Capitol, where legislators began hearings on a bill this week that would set statewide rates, after Walz vetoed a bill last year.

Both Frey and Walz said they support raising wages for drivers but have been more sensitive to the companies warnings that pushing rates too high could backfire and cause demand to sink and the companies to pull up stakes.

Uber released a statement after the vote saying it was disappointed the council chose to ignore the data and kick Uber out of the Twin Cities, putting 10,000 people out of work and leaving many stranded.

The ordinances supporters on the City Council say the rates they passed  $1.40 per mile and 51 cents per minute  are whats required to ensure Uber and Lyft drivers are guaranteed the citys minimum wage of $15.57 an hour after accounting for their expenses.

But those rates are actually higher than whats required to guarantee drivers the same minimum wage promised to all other workers, according to a massive state analysis of the more than 18 million trips taken in Minnesota in 2022.

That study, the largest of its kind ever conducted, found that drivers would need to be paid 89 cents per mile and 49 cents per minute in order to earn the citys minimum wage after paying for vehicle expenses and payroll taxes. The studys authors estimated a higher rate of $1.20 per mile and 49 cents per minute that would allow drivers to be able to earn the minimum wage after paying for comprehensive benefits including health insurance, paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave, retirement savings and unemployment insurance.

The City Council, which chose to pass the ordinance a day before the state studys release, pointed to the report to bolster their case because it shows drivers earned less than the city minimum wage after accounting for expenses. But they shrugged off the reports estimates for minimum pay rates.

Those council members pointed to a city report instead. That report used data from Seattle as a model. The city report warns the council of its limitations since its not based on direct unrestricted access to rideshare data in Minneapolis.

In an interview after the vote, Council President Elliott Payne downplayed the findings of the state report. He said it looks at the seven-county metro and doesnt get down to the level of granularity to give a specific factual basis for its number in Minneapolis.

Our report is modeled on a framework that is based in Seattle but we use parameters that are city-specific, Payne said.

The ordinances authors  Council Member Robin Wonsley, Jason Chavez, and Jamal Osman  said their decision to override the mayors veto showed they chose to stand with workers over corporate interests.

Asked what they would tell drivers if the companies do pull out of the metro area, Wonsley said there are a number of other companies willing to fill their place. Those companies will likely struggle to fill the void left by the two companies, at least in the immediate future, Axios reported.

State lawmakers will now face pressure from the companies to override Minneapolis.

House Majority Leader Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, told the Reformer he doesnt support preemption, but Walz told Axios he was considering it.

Republican lawmakers announced they would introduce a bill preempting the Minneapolis ordinance on Thursday.

Voting to override the veto were Council Members Wonsley, Chavez, Osman, Payne, Andrea Jenkins, Aisha Chughtai, Jeremiah Ellison, Katie Cashman, Emily Koski and Aurin Chowdhury. Voting against were Council Members Michael Rainville, LaTrisha Vetaw and Linea Palmisano.
Yall, I really am starting to wonder if state Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) is as old as he claims to be. His information on the state website says he was born in 1961. It also says he has five children, so he has to be at least 5 years old. But I found this actual footage of Bulso and Republican leadership at the zoo, and it only fuels my speculation that he is a literal baby. Look at how oblivious to danger he is, how without concern for consequences. Just a fresh set of eyes on a brand-new world, naively believing he has no reason to be concerned. (An aside: Which is funnier? When Popeye insists he cant be treated this way because hes a taxpayer, or when the alligator rubs Popeyes belly and puts him to sleep? I cant decide. Theyre both so great.)

Anyway, Bulso wants to require all kids in the state to watch this video called Meet Baby Olivia. Fellow lawmakers including Reps. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville) and Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) have already tried to explain to him the ways in which this video isnt medically accurate (though if some people's sperm can cause a huge flash of light when it hits an egg, we should wait to outlaw IVF until after the Fourth of July, because I have an idea for how we can improve Nashvilles fireworks show), so Im not going to sit here and do that again.

Legislature Guts IVF, Contraception Protections Bill to allow abortion exceptions in fatal fetal anomalies quietly tabled

What I want to do instead is talk about the ways that this video is obviously part of a grift, so that perhaps Bulso can learn to be a little more critical when approached with opportunities to promote such grifts.

Lets first look at the website itself: babyolivia.liveaction.org. Who made this website? Who is it telling us this story? I scroll around a little and I find Produced & Created by Live Action, but when I click on about to find out more about Live Action, all I find is more about their Baby Olivia Project. No, more is an overstatement. I find out pretty much the same thing I found on the homepage. When the people who make something arent clear about who they are, you should have suspicions about the thing theyve made. Red flag one.

OK then, I can at least see who reviewed the video and verified the information. First up, David Bolender, from the Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy department of the Medical College of Wisconsin. Cool. Thats a lot of identifying information. I should be able to find him. Hmm. The Baby Olivia site doesnt indicate that hes emeritus (i.e., retired). Its not a red flag, but it feels a little weird after not discovering information about Live Action itself. Just like, maybe these folks have a habit of smudging the details? Im giving this a pink flag.

Both Dr. Tara Sander Lee and Dr. Katrina Furth are designated as Charlotte Lozier. Maybe Im a dumbass, but I assumed this was a hospital. Just like how people call RUSH University Medical Center Chicago Rush, I thought maybe Charlotte Lozier was a Lozier hospital over in Charlotte. But no, its a research institute  Americas #1 source for science, data, and medical research on the value of human life. I dont know why they didnt say Charlotte Lozier Institute, but whatever. I dont think thats intentional obfuscation.

But Donna Harrison at (AAPLOG) is both of these scenarios. Its not at all clear what AAPLOG is. For the record, its the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Donna Harrison isnt leading it anymore. Now shes an associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute. The Institute says Harrison is still also with AAPLOG, but I couldnt confirm that via AAPLOGs site. This, though, is also a red flag for me. Why not spell out what AAPLOG is? If Harrison is still with AAPLOG, why isnt she on their site? Why doesnt the Olivia site just say shes also with Charlotte Lozier?

Theres Jeffrey Barrows, DO, MA, (Ethics) Senior VP Bioethics and Public Policy. Ill let that sink in for a moment. OK, where is he the "Senior VP of Bioethics and Public Policy"? He has to be vice president of some place. Why isnt it listed here? I found him at the Christian Medical & Dental Associations website. He seems like your typical conservative Christian do-gooder. CMDA seems similar to all the other groups mentioned so far, so why would you leave its name off the Olivia website? Seems hinky. I give it another pink flag.

And then theres Michelle Cretella, M.D., "Executive Director of the American College of Pediatricians." Whew, that sounds legit. Im certain were in no danger of learning that Gino Bulso is promoting a website that got a seal of approval from a hate group. Lets just assume all is well. Go about our days. Watch some more Popeye videos. Ignore all the red flags waving furiously nearby.

Gino Bulso's Argument Against Pride Flags Makes No Sense The Brentwood Republican says a century ago 'we had a consensus on sexual morality.' We didn't.

Damn it. My fingers slipped and I Googled the American College of Pediatricians. I found a story about a researcher who was alarmed to find his work used by the American College of Pediatricians to lie about gay people. I found an open letter from the head of the National Institutes of Health complaining that the group had distorted their research. I found a story about how the guy who was for a long time the only person in the American College of Pediatricians uses the confusion between it and the American Academy of Pediatrics to support anti-gay nonsense. And here they are on the Southern Poverty Law Center site as an extremist group.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

Gino Bulso is out here trying to force public schools to show kids propaganda endorsed by a hate group?

I had other points to make. I was going to get into the video some. But you know what? No. We have fucking Nazis marching openly in the streets, and Gino Bulso is all, You know, maybe I could help right-wing extremists get their message into our schools.

When people dont tell you who they are  e.g., the folks behind Baby Olivia and their supporters  thats a red flag. And when people do tell you who they are, believe them. So since weve caught Bulso advocating for a group supported by extremists, then I think its just wise to assume that Bulso supports extremists. Otherwise, why this video? Why this group? Cartoons about how conception and early development happen arent new. (Despite Live Action claiming this is a never before seen look at human life in the womb, this is just computer animation, and such animations are all over YouTube.) So why is Bulso trying to steer Tennessee kids eyes to this video?

Gino Bulso, what a disgrace. Get off the side of the extremists and get on the side of decency.

(House Bill 2435/Senate Bill 2767 is set for a House vote and Senate Education Committee consideration this week.)
State Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) sparred with constituents during his Friday evening town hall in his district, highlighting the ongoing frustration among some voters in an election year that has seen a continued focus on culture-war issues.

Bulso detailed several of his sponsored House bills, with his flag bill, which aims to ban Pride flags from schools, seeing the most feedback from constituents.

The March 15 event at the John P. Holt Brentwood Library drew some criticism from members of the public before it officially began, as it took place during Williamson County Schools spring break. Bulso told reporters it was the first available date following the March 5 primary election, and that he will host another town hall in Franklin in April. The exact details of that event have not been released.

Bulso's Anti-Pride Flag Bill Debated in Subcommittee Meanwhile, bills allowing charter school access to vacant school buildings and lawsuits over books advance

The at-times tense town hall saw roughly 100 community members in attendance, many of whom vocally opposed Bulso, who is running for reelection this year. But he was not without his supporters. Bulso took questions from the audience and was immediately challenged on his views and legislative priorities, with the flag bill taking center stage.

"As a lesbian constituent, I really wish you would not use words like indoctrinate  we're your constituents, and we're here too, said one attendee, who did not identify herself.

Constituent Joshua Patrick asked Bulso for his opinion on a recent statement made by Oklahoma Republican state Sen. Tom Woods, who called the LGBTQ community filth during his own town hall following the death of Oklahoma nonbinary student Nex Benedict. Benedict had reported bullying due to their gender identity and was involved in a school altercation before dying the next day in what the medical examiner has determined was a suicide.

I do not consider anyone in the LGBTQ community 'filth,'" Bulso responded. "I deplore that statement; it's repugnant. All people deserve love, they deserve love, they're children of God. They need to be treated with dignity and respect. ... This bill only has to do with allowing parents to decide what values their children are imbued with at school, and frankly, it's the folks on the progressive left that have engaged in this battle by bringing that flag into the school system.

Bulso's response was met with applause from his supporters. Throughout much of the town hall, he was delayed in responding to questions by applause, boos and some heckling from many in the crowd.

"Im wearing a red patch today in honor of my neighbor, Hallie, who died last March, said constituent Pam Sheridan. Nine-year-old Hallie Scruggs was the daughter of the lead pastor of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, and one of the six victims killed in the March 2023 Covenant School shooting. Bulso was challenged on his stance and his role in the inaction of last year's special legislative session on public safety and gun reform following the mass shooting.

What are we doing to keep kids safe at school?" said Bulso. "The answer is we're doing everything that we can."

Bulso argued that the most effective deterrent is increasing the amount of school resource officers.

The problem is that what many want to do  and Pam, you may be in this category  you want to enact things like a red-flag law, Bulso said. Bulso argued that red-flag laws are blatantly unconstitutional and ineffective.

Ignore this at your own peril  you have an opportunity to lead, Sheridan said. I can't fathom why you could think that the right to own guns was more important than a right for parents to put all of their children to bed.

Bulso was also asked what he thinks the late civil rights icon and U.S. Rep. John Lewis would think of him and his policies.

Gino Bulso Wants to Require Anti-Abortion Propaganda in Public Schools Let's take a look at 'Meet Baby Olivia,' the shady anti-abortion video Republicans want to make Tennessee's kids watch

I think we'd get along fabulously, Bulso said. John Lewis was part of that old school, from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who actually understood that you judge people by the content of their character, not on the color of their skin, and that's where the left has lost its way.

Everything on the left now is identity politics," he continued. "It's Black and white, its gay or straight, it's transgender or something else, and that's why you see this cultural decline, which is causing so much dissension that you see across the country.

Bulso also addressed other issues and has sponsored bills including bills dealing with jurisdiction of courts over the Tennessee General Assembly, expanding therapy dogs in schools, strengthening unlawful photography laws and the potential requirement of showing an anti-abortion fetal development video, known as Meet Baby Olivia, in schools.

Following the town hall, Bulso told reporters the experience probably wasn't as bad as I had expected.

Wed heard that there were going to be a lot of Democrats showing up because of all the publicity that has come to some of the bills I've sponsored, and for the most part, I think everyone was very well-behaved, everyone was civil; we had a nice respectful debate, Bulso said. There was some catcalling and interruptions from time to time, and tempers flare and I understand that, [but] it was about what I expected.

Bulso said that despite claims by progressives that democracy is being damaged or destroyed in Tennessee, We've got democracy in action both in the [state] House and in the Brentwood library.

Unfortunately, no one's mind was changed, I don't think, but that's not necessarily the object," he said. "I'm an elected official; you need to be accessible to the voters, and thats why we do these town halls.

A version of this article was first published by our sister publication, The News.
This story is a partnership between the Nashville Banner and the Nashville Scene. The Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization focused on civic news. For more information, visit NashvilleBanner.com.

Sometimes, when a congressional seat opens for the first time in decades, the competitive scramble to fill it precedes only another long stretch of entrenched incumbency.

That has not been the case so far in GOP U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles 5th Congressional District, which formerly comprised all of Nashville and was represented for years by Democrat Jim Cooper. Ahead of the 2022 elections, Tennessees Republican-controlled legislature split the seat across several counties, including Williamson and Maury, while keeping parts of Nashville in the district, which now favors Republicans. That move set off a frantic race for the GOP nomination, won by Ogles after Republican officials excluded multiple prominent candidates.

But not all Republicans are willing to sit back and watch Ogles, the former mayor of Maury County and an anti-tax advocate, hold the seat forever. His exaggerated resume, behavior in Congress and response to the Covenant School shooting are among the reasons cited by some for continuing to oppose the incumbent. Still, party leaders like U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty and former President Donald Trump have stuck with Ogles.

Among Nashville-area Republicans disaffected by Ogles tenure as one of the citys representatives in Washington, several political realities have emerged. Many believe the best chance to unseat Ogles is for a single opponent to face him in the primary to avoid splitting up the more moderate vote. They also say the race could get dirty, with a non-Ogles candidate forced to attack the incumbent while also taking incoming fire. And whats the prize at the end of the rainbow? A stint in a dysfunctional Congress from which members continue to flee.

One potential primary challenger to Ogles is Courtney Johnston, Metro councilmember for Nashvilles District 26, including the Nashville Zoo and Crieve Hall.

The people of Middle Tennessee deserve better than Andy Ogles, Johnston tells the Nashville Banner. We need a tested conservative leader who can deliver and not just talk. I am taking a very close look at the district and am talking to voters. If I run, I intend to win.

Johnston has been a reliable fundraiser, having brought in more than $50,000 for a 2023 reelection that ultimately was uncontested. On the council, Johnston has been a conservative voice who has at times sought to avoid overly partisan conflicts.

A lot of my colleagues are further left-leaning, but we agree more often than not because good policy is good policy, Johnston told the Scene last year. Im not out here fighting abortion or LGBT anything, like some conservative-leaning groups want me to and have pressured me to do. Thats not what Im here to do. But we can all agree on fiscal responsibility.

The ballot qualifying deadline is April 4, and Johnston is not the only Republican looking at the race.

Others Weighing, Have Considered a Run

Baxter Lee, a local businessman who comes from a prominent Knoxville family, likely is being kept off the ballot for a second cycle in a row after the Tennessee Republican Party Executive Committee voted to fast-track a new, stricter bona fide standard for GOP candidates in the state. Lee, who could not be reached for comment, has said he voted in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary at the advice of prominent Republicans in order to create a better matchup for Republican Donald Trump. According to Davidson County voting records, Johnston consistently has voted in statewide GOP primaries.

Tom Guarente, a Nashville-area cybersecurity company executive, has filed paperwork to run as a Republican. He moved to the area six years ago from Ohio, where he briefly ran for Congress a decade ago.

Guarente, who said his beliefs are in line with the Republican platform, tells the Banner he is running because the residents of District 5 deserve to have a different type of representative in Washington. Specifically, Guarente says, Ogles has fallen short by exaggerating his resume, failing to sufficiently communicate with constituents and seeking attention rather than productivity in Washington.

I notice there are individuals that treat Washington, D.C., as a stage, and there are individuals that treat Washington, D.C., as a place of work, Guarente says. Were fortunate in Tennessee to have many elected representatives that work hard when they get to Washington, but when I have spoken with many people from within the district, they dont feel the same about the current representation they have.  Our nation is at a point right now where it needs true public servants who are not there to be popular, and theyre not there to make headlines. Theyre there to make progress and be in touch with the people of their district.

Not everyone is as eager to jump into the fray.

Rush Benton, a longtime Nashville financial professional, tells the Banner he gave it consideration and decided not to run for the GOP nomination. Benton, who attends Covenant Presbyterian Church, says Ogles response to the Covenant School shooting and overall dissatisfaction with Ogles demeanor as a representative inspired him to consider a run.

Its clearly a Republican district, which is fine," Benton says. "I just dont think its a MAGA district, frankly. Its frustrating that we have a congressman who, it seems to me, is less about policy and more about Instagram hits or Twitter hits. Hes from the camp that wants to continue to stoke the division in the country and not do anything to pull us together.

Adds Benton about the Covenant shooting: Heres this guy with a Christmas card showing his family all holding AR-15s. Like, really? Thats the Congressman that we have?  Hes just completely ignored that whole issue and those families.

Benton says he spoke with political consultants about the realities of a potential campaign and decided not to run. He says a winning GOP primary challenger would need to unite the anti-Ogles camp while attracting some crossover Democratic support  easier said than done. Benton also laments a lack of sanity in Washington and an unwillingness to bend the knee to Trump as contributing to his decision.

There is no room for somebody who is not a Trump supporter in the Republican Party, Benton says. I just refuse to bend the knee to Donald Trump. If thats what it takes to be a Republican, Im just not going to do that.

Congress is not a great place right now, he continues. If it were a place that had some sanity to it, I think you might find better candidates stepping up and running, but its so dysfunctional that you end up with this really, incredibly bad leadership.

But its not just Republicans looking at the district, which though it significantly favors Republicans, is among the more competitive in the state. The Tennessean reports that Nashville advocate and Metro Human Relations Commission Chair Maryam Abolfazli is considering a run for the Democratic nomination. According to multiple Democratic sources, state Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville), who drew national attention when he (along with Rep. Justin Pearson) was expelled from the legislature last year after leading a gun violence protest on the House floor, has considered a bid in the 5th Congressional District. He could not be reached for comment. Nor could Ogles.
Patricia Doling is a British-French citizen who has contributed to NATOs outreach communications for over four decades. Among many transformative changes, Patricia witnessed the fall of the Iron Curtain; the move of the Alliances Headquarters from Porte Dauphine, in Paris, to a new site in Brussels, Belgium; and the multiple technological advances that characterised the photography and multimedia landscape in the second half of the 20st century. Learn how Patricia Doling joined NATO and how she built a career dedicated to illustrating the Alliances history through photo and video storytelling.

From Bristol to Paris

Born in Bristol, UK, in the midst of the political and socioeconomic turmoil that characterised the end of the Second World War, Patricia grew up dreaming of helping to build a safer world that was quickly taking shape. The British-French national first started a career in private banking, but after learning that an international organisation in Paris was looking for shorthand typists through a newspaper advertisement, she decided to go for it, moved to France and eventually joined NATO as a civilian in 1963.

"I had an overriding ambition to see the world, and Paris seemed like a good place to start. It was, understandably, with some trepidation but also a huge sense of adventure that I embarked on what was to be a 40-year career in the pursuit of international goodwill and peace and what were to be the most memorable years of my life."

Ahead of time, Patricia decided to relocate to follow her professional aspirations. Her choice was met with some resistance from her close family, but that did not hold her back.

"My decision was a problem for my mother as she believed that the only acceptable reason for a girl to leave home was to be married  clearly I had other ideas. My destination was Paris, France  beautiful, exciting and one of the world's most romantic cities  the antithesis of provincial England in the early 60s."

Working in NATO's communications

Patricia joined NATO as a member of the English typing pool, the team designated to type NATO classified and unclassified documents onto stencils for mass distribution. However, it was not until six months later that she found her vocation in NATO's Information Division, the Alliance's main public interface with worldwide audiences. Today called the Public Diplomacy Division, it was responsible for promoting dialogue and understanding, by explaining the Alliance's policies and activities to the wider public and by coordinating outreach activities such as media relations, group visits to the NATO Headquarters, public engagements, and the preparation and dissemination of information through film, television, radio, photography and publications.

Throughout her 40-year career at NATO, Patricia worked in media production and explored different communication formats. Initially, as a Secretary and Assistant Photo Librarian in the NATO Photo Office, Patricia dealt with press relations and answered journalists' requests for photos. She distributed contents from the Alliance's extensive library of black and white photos. Patricia documented NATO's history by making available photographic registries of summits and ministerial meetings in Brussels and abroad, VIP visits to the NATO Headquarters, multinational military exercises, and other historical events.

Patricia (centre) and the Photo Librarian assist a journalist during a ministerial meeting in Iceland, June 1968.

NATO Headquarters moves from Paris to Brussels Patricia's time working in NATO's Photo Office coincided with the Alliance's move from Porte Dauphine, Paris, to a new site in Brussels in October 1967. Patricia still remembers it as a time of many emotions, not only due to the arduous task of moving NATO's photo library to a different country, but also because she had to say goodbye to some of her co-workers who did not join her at the new Headquarters. "The move to Brussels in 1967 was quite traumatic and many of our colleagues and friends did not follow. It also meant packing our photo archives into boxes, which was a considerable physical effort. Brussels, of course, was not Paris, but was nevertheless a new and different personal experience." Following France's decision to withdraw from NATO's integrated military structure in 1966, the Alliance moved from Porte Dauphine to a new Headquarters in Brussels. Left to right: the Photo Librarian, Francoise Gevers, with Patricia and the Head of Photos, Marc Nicolas.

The move was felt heavily by the NATO Photo Office team, which had to ensure the transportation and preservation of NATO's historical photo archive from Paris to Brussels. Patricia (in the photo) remembers how this task took several weeks to accomplish.



In the early 1970s, in her new role as Production Assistant, Patricia worked with film, TV and radio. Among other tasks, she worked closely with NATO's film director and editor in the recording of short films and oversaw the continuity of the process. One of her most challenging projects  "Barriers" (1983)  was a documentary illustrating events in the post-war period leading to the formation of NATO, narrated by a famous voice.

"I met the American actor Charlton Heston in Paris on mission to record his commentary for "Barriers". After the recording, which took place in a film studio, the team from Brussels took him to lunch. It was an interesting encounter."

Beyond having the chance to meet iconic personalities from her time, Patricia would often travel to different locations to work on ministerial meetings and would sometimes accompany NATO photographers who covered these events and also toured the host countries to document famous national landmarks and other places.

"The most memorable destination I travelled to was Iceland due to its very special landscape, hot springs, geysers, etc."

In June 1987, the spring ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Council took place in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Film producers together with their team would often document national landmarks in Allied countries in NATO communications



At the peak of her NATO career, Patricia became the Manager of the Multimedia Photo and Video Libraries. For 14 years, Patricia provided photos and videos to journalists from around the world directly over the counter or via written requests. This meant supporting them in their media coverage while maintaining and classifying media materials on a daily basis.

A project Patricia holds dear to her heart On the occasion of the Alliance's 40th anniversary, Patricia worked on the production of "Citizens of the World" (1989), a documentary film that delves into the story of NATO from its creation in the post-war period until the fall of the Berlin Wall. It looked forward to a vision of an undivided Europe and a home for citizens of the world. Patricia was heavily involved in the production of this feature film, having to travel to different film locations in Paris.

Life after NATO

Patricia retired from her NATO career in 2004, after serving the Alliance for more than 40 years. Today, she divides her time between volunteering in a service organization dedicated to youth and leadership building, spending time with close friends and family, and learning the Portuguese language with Algarve locals.



Patricia Doling's message for the Alliance's 75th anniversary Congratulations on all NATO has achieved and good luck for the future. I have many happy memories working for the Alliance. I often think about my time in Paris and in Brussels and remember my ex-colleagues, some of whom I have kept in touch even those of my Paris days. When we get together, which is now rather rarely, we reminisce about our NATO experiences. Looking back. I certainly do not regret having taken the step back in the 1960s to leave my home and family in provincial England to venture into continental Europe. It was quite an adventure!
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg continued his tour of the South Caucasus on Monday (18 March 2024), meeting with President Salome Zourabichvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of Georgia in Tbilisi.

Georgia is one of NATOs closest partners. We highly appreciate your substantial contributions to NATO missions and operations and we fully support Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia, Mr Stoltenberg said. He called on Russia to reverse the recognition of Georgian territories South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states and added that Russias organisation of elections in occupied parts of Georgia and Ukraine is completely illegal. Russias presidential election was clearly neither free nor fair, Mr Stoltenberg said.

The Secretary General welcomed Georgias substantial contributions to NATO operations and support to Ukraine. Georgia is hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees and providing crucial humanitarian and financial aid. Russia persists in its pursuit of imperial ambitions. And in Ukraine, the situation on the battlefield remains difficult, he said. But, with our support, Ukraine has pushed back - destroying or damaging a significant part of Russias Black Sea fleet, allowing Ukraine to re-open grain shipping that is vital for their economy and for global food security.

During his visit, the Secretary General discussed ways to further strengthen NATOs partnership with Georgia. NATO is stepping up its cooperation with Georgia in areas such as crisis management, cyber security, military engineering and secure communications. Mr Stoltenberg underlined NATOS commitment to support Georgias path towards stronger democracy and full Euro-Atlantic integration, including the 2008 Bucharest decision that Georgia will become a member of NATO.

The Secretary General will conclude his three day visit to the South Caucasus in Yerevan on Tuesday, meeting with President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia. On Sunday and Monday, he met Azerbaijans leadership in Baku.
A conference marking a new phase in NATOs partnership with Ukraine will take place in Luxembourg this week. Delegates from NATO and Ukraine will meet to discuss modernising Ukraines defence procurement processes to make them faster, more sustainable and more transparent. Stacy Cummings, General Manager of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, will open conference proceedings and speakers include Ukraines Deputy Minister of Defence Dmytro Klymenkov and Tom Goffus, NATOs Assistant Secretary General for Operations.

Improving defence procurement remains a top priority for Ukraine and NATO is committed to assisting with this process to ensure it is aligned with Allied best practices. NATO will continue to support Ukraine to the maximum extent, at every stage.

The NATO-Ukraine Strategic Defence Procurement Review forms part of the Alliances Comprehensive Assistance Package  an initiative launched in 2016 to support Ukraine's ability to bolster its own security and to implement wide-ranging reforms. The Review, championed by Norway and conducted at the request of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, is being led by subject-matter experts from across NATO and Ukraine in close collaboration with NATOs procurement agency.

The purpose of the review is to help Ukraine reform its defence procurement system and align it with NATO best practices and standards. Its recommendations will promote greater accountability, transparency and interoperability, helping to pave the way for Ukraines future membership of the Alliance. This weeks conference represented the beginning of the first phase of the Review which involves the establishment of working groups to develop a set of policy recommendations to be endorsed at the Washington summit in July.
(As delivered)

Thank you so much,

Prime Minister Kobakhidze, dear Irakli,

It is great to see you again.

Its great to be back in [Tbilisi], and its great to be here, not least because that reflects how much we value the partnership between Georgia and NATO.

And I also welcome the fact that you just few weeks ago visited Brussels, now Im here and it demonstrates also that we have an active political dialogue as part of our partnership.

Georgia is one of NATOs closest partners.

We highly appreciate your substantial contributions to NATO missions and operations.

And we fully support Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity.

South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia.

NATO continues to call on Russia to reverse the recognition of Georgian territories as independent states.

Russias organisation of elections in occupied parts of Georgia and Ukraine is completely illegal.

And Russias presidential election was clearly neither free nor fair.

Georgia is facing complex security challenges.

Russia persists its pursuit of imperial ambitions.

And in Ukraine, the situation on the battlefield remains difficult.

So it is vital that we continue to step up our support.

NATO Allies provide 99 percent of all military aid to Ukraine.

And our partners also play a key role.

I welcome that Georgia is hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees and providing crucial humanitarian and financial aid.

At the same time, we can and must do more to stop Russias cycle of aggression.

At our meeting, we also addressed security in the Black Sea, which matters for both Georgia and for NATO.

Russias war put freedom of navigation in the Black Sea at risk and threatened global food supplies.

But, with our support, Ukraine has pushed back - destroying or damaging a significant part of Russias Black Sea fleet.

Ukrainian success have allowed them to re-open grain shipping that is vital for their economy and for global food security.

NATOs partnership with Georgia is already strong.

And today we discussed how to develop it even further.

In January, we agreed to a new Individually Tailored Partnership Programme to deepen the partnership between Georgia and NATO.

And I welcome the progress made in areas like crisis management, cyber security, and military engineering.

Just a few days ago, a Turkish navy frigate visited Batumi as part of NATOs training for the Georgian Coast Guard.

And this is one example of how we do practical things together, to help you strengthen your naval capabilities which is important for Georgia, its important for the Black Sea and its important for NATO.

NATO stands by your side as you continue your path towards stronger democracy and full Euro-Atlantic integration.

Including the 2008 Bucharest decision that Georgia will become a member of the NATO Alliance.

Candidate status granted by the European Union is a major opportunity to enhance your stability and prosperity.

And what you do to move towards EU membership goes hand in hand with efforts to become a full NATO Ally.

It is important that Georgia continues to strengthen domestic reforms, democratic values and the rule of law.

Including through free and fair parliamentary elections in October this year.

So Prime Minister,

Thank you again for your hospitality.

And thank you for your personal commitment to the NATO-Georgia partnership.

Thank you.
Germanys economic backbone at breaking point as millions of family-owned companies face bankruptcy

A recent Bloomberg report indicated that German family-led companies, which are traditionally seen as the backbone of the country's economy, are currently on the verge of bankruptcy . German authorities have revoked some subsidies for national businesses, which could potentially lead to the collapse of a significant number of companies.

Roughly three million family-run businesses have been reported to have seen critical investments in new technologies as unfeasible or not worth the trouble, due to stiff economic headwinds, elevated borrowing costs and a proliferation of red tape.

"The number of small and mid-sized German companies coming up for sale has been piling up for years," said Jens Krane, head of mergers and acquisitions at Commerzbank AG, which specializes in the type of businesses. "A combination of new regulations and the need to invest heavily in transforming or scaling businesses has created a sense of Ive had enough among many entrepreneurs," according to the analyst, who emphasized that the situation had already been complicated by the coronavirus pandemic and the energy crisis. These challenging conditions have reportedly prompted some owners to consider the sale of their company, while heirs have become less likely to be eager to take over the family business.

Family-run businesses, or Mittelstand, have built a reputation globally for many highly specialized companies that are spread across the country and often dubbed as hidden champions. Traditionally owners preferred to pass on their companies within the family and only considered a sale if they had to. "The mindset of heirs has changed, and fewer and fewer company heirs are willing to take over responsibility as chief executive officer for their parents," Jan-Philipp Pfander, a partner at Proventis Partners, a corporate finance boutique advising on sell sides for family-led companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, said, as quoted by the news outlet.

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.

Burc Hesse, a corporate partner at law firm Latham Watkins, said companies are now more open to offers from investors such as private equity funds. "What we keep hearing from German founders and owners is that the complexities of running a business are greater than ever before," Hesse said. "Price is becoming less relevant when selling your company."

The situation became even more challenging after Germanys constitutional court ordered the ruling coalition to stop excessive off-budget funding in 2023. Berlin had to curb spending, which also limited some funds for businesses that were already struggling with higher energy costs. "The German Mittelstand is bubbling over," said Peter May, founder of May Consulting, which specializes in family-held companies. "I receive calls from unsettled family entrepreneurs almost every week: Should we sell? Do we perhaps even have to? Is it still worth being an entrepreneur in Germany?"

Businessmen finding ways, even outside the nation, to stay afloat

One businessman affected by the current predicament in Germany is Steffen Cyris, the owner and chief executive of Bavarian manufacturer of refrigerated deli counters and dry-age beef rooms Schrutka-Peukert. Back in December, he was confident of the companys pathway, boasting at the Christmas party about their packed order books, brushing off Germany's broader economic woes and telling employees to prepare for some extra work this year.

However, in a matter of weeks, that optimism was gone as butchers and bakeries canceled their orders. The reason? The subsidies that Germany stopped at the beginning of January. Now, with the country sliding deeper into recession, Cyris is increasingly concerned about the long-term prospects of his business. "The situation is so tense that Im not sure Id decline an offer from an investor should I get one," he said.

Now, to mitigate some of the business hes losing in Germany, Cyris has begun moving part of his business to the U.S. under the brand Aging Room. He's now selling dry-age beef rooms to fine-dining restaurants and butchers in states including California and Florida and is exploring options for getting an investor on board. "Invented in Germany, made in the U.S., might be our way forward," is his new battlecry.

Meanwhile, around 125,000 small and mid-sized companies in Germany will be transferred to new owners every year until 2027 and nearly three-quarters of them see succession as a problem, German development bank KfW wrote in a recent note. Even if there is a successor, the prospect of a sale is rarely off the table. Norbert Stein, founder of Vitronic camera maker, hired an outside chief executive in 2020, only then to sell the firm to a rival company owned by billionaire Czech investor Renata Kellnerova. (Related: German economy collapsing after nation abandoned nuclear energy  prices soar, industries implode.)

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

Bloomberg.com
Bartender charged with hate crime for confronting male-to-female transgender who used womens bathroom

Multnomah County Circuit Court recently found a Portland bartender guilty of a hate crime because she "misgendered" a male sex at birth (AMAB) male-to-female (M2F) transgender woman who used the women's bathroom.

Cassandra McIntyre, 40, was also charged with a second-degree bias crime and harassment following a two-day jury trial because of physically confronting the trans-identified biological male. Judge Christopher Marshall sentenced McIntyre to two years of probation and 50 hours of community service, according to the local news outlet Oregonian.

According to reports, on Dec. 27, 2022, a Sellwood bartender had just completed her shift and sat down to have a drink when she reportedly heard patrons complaining that 35-year-old Riis Larsen, the M2F transgender woman and self-described Marxist who uses pronouns that include she/her/hers/theirs, had cut in line to use the women's single-stall restroom and pushed other patrons in the process, as per court documents.

BREAKING Ngo report: A woman has been convicted by a Portland, Ore. jury of criminal harassment and a hate crime after she misgendered and confronted a trans person using the women's bathroom. Cassandra McIntyre told Riis Larsen (pictured below), a far-left trans activist pic.twitter.com/CqA1nR1Hjf  Andy Ngo ???? (@MrAndyNgo) March 7, 2024

Last Tuesday, March 5, Larsen testified in court saying that she was shoved by McIntyre during the "physical confrontation" after using the women's restroom. The transgender claimed that McIntyre had cornered them and told them that they "were a man" and needed to use the men's restroom. Larsen said that they attempted to explain their "gender identity" to McIntyre but was told to "get out" by the bartender.

The bartender, in her testimony, said that she did not understand that she had been "misgendering" Larsen and had to look up the definition of transgender in the dictionary. Video surveillance footage from inside the establishment showed McIntyre shoving Larsen but did not pick up audio. The defendant did not deny pushing Larsen and asserted that she had just been "making space." "I wasn't trying to misgender her. I had to look up what transgender was in the dictionary," said McIntyre. "We were just arguing over spilled milk."

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.

According to Larsen, she left the bar in tears and called 911 later that night. (Related: Transgender activists are using the power of the state to enforce their perverse ideology.)

Meanwhile, a witness who was inside the bar during the incident testified and claimed that he heard McIntrye repeatedly use the wrong pronouns for Larsen and overheard her saying that Larsen should not be allowed to use the women's restroom. During closing arguments, Prosecutor Charlie Weiss told the jury that Larsen "is scrutinized in a different way than most of us in our day-to-day lives are scrutinized. People sometimes express disagreement not with what she says, or what she does, but who she is."

McIntyre apologized in court and said that she would refrain from going to another local bar so Larsen would have a safe place to go. McIntyre's defense lawyer Henry Oostrom-Shah stated that she was hoping to locate an LGBTQ nonprofit that would accept her community service.

As per records, Portland prosecutors file more hate crime charges than any other district in the state.

Post Millennial editor sends Multnomah Country DA a media inquiry

Following the ruling, Post Millennial Senior Editor Andy Ngo posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he sent the office of District Attorney in Multnomah County in Oregon Mike Schmidt a media inquiry about its aggressive and successful prosecution of McIntyre. "The prosecution repeatedly brought attention to the misgendering during the trial to argue that it was a second-degree bias crime," he captioned his post.

In the correspondence, Ngo pointed out that during the trial, "your side presented evidence that the defendant had misgendered the trans activist. You brought a witness who testified that Ms. McIntyre used male pronouns to refer to the trans person. The defendant stated that she did not know what misgendering is and saw the person she confronted as male using a women's facility." "How do you align the prosecution with the protections guaranteed by the First Amendment? In Multnomah County, is misgendering a person a crime? Please clarify." Ngo said in the email.

I sent the office of @DAMikeSchmidt a media inquiry about its aggressive and successful prosecution of a woman who misgendered a trans activist at a women's bathroom in Portland, Ore. The prosecution repeatedly brought attention to the misgendering during the trial to argue that pic.twitter.com/oDGaxZ6Iop  Andy Ngo ???? (@MrAndyNgo) March 8, 2024

Meanwhile, another commenter said: "Every time the left calls a trans-woman a woman they misgender them every bit as much as they claim the right misgenders them by calling them men. I thought the whole argument was that trans people are neither men, nor women, and we dont get to say that there are only two genders anymore." The particular user said that the intellectual inconsistency from leftist DAs and Judges in Portland is on full display and that the remaining question is whether it is because Democrats don't even realize it, or is it because this was a partisan gaslighting and goalpost shifting exercise from the onset.

Check out Transhumanism.news for more stories similar to this.

Sources for this article include:

ThePostMillennial.com

OregonLive.com
Georgia judge dismisses 6 charges against Trump in election interference case

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has dismissed six counts of the 41-count indictment against former President Donald Trump and 14 co-defendants in the election 2020 election interference case against them

The six dismissed counts  three against Trump charged the defendants with soliciting public officers to violate their oaths. They are charges 2, 5, 6, 23, 28 and 38. One of them stems from a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on Jan. 2, 2021, in which Trump allegedly urged the secretary of state to "find 11,780 votes" to officially win Georgia. (Related: Tucker Carlson: Misuse of judicial system to go after Trump could threaten the future of democracy in America.)

Another of the dismissed counts accused Trump of soliciting then-Georgia House of Representatives Speaker David Ralston to violate his oath of office by calling a special session of the legislature to appoint new presidential electors.

The other counts alleged that Trump and the other defendants solicited other officials in Georgia, including members of the Georgia Senate and the Georgia House of Representatives, to violate their oaths of office in trying to certify alternate electors or "influence the certified election returns."

McAfee argued that the counts did not provide enough detail regarding the nature of the violations. He wrote that what he has prescribed for the prosecution are special demurrers that are "akin to a 'motion for a more definite statement.'" He added that the removal of these charges was necessary at the time to protect due process rights.

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"The Court's concern is less that the State has failed to allege sufficient conduct of the Defendants  in fact it has alleged an abundance," McAfee wrote. "However, the lack of detail concerning an essential legal element is, in the undersigned's opinion, fatal."

The judge added that the failure to provide the court with enough detail on the six charges means defendants do not have "enough information to prepare their defenses intelligently."

With the dismissal, Trump now only has to deal with 10 counts of violating Georgia's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. The indictment as a whole also stands.

Fani Willis' ex-lover resigns as special prosecutor in election interference case against Trump

Meanwhile, Nathan Wade resigned Friday, March 15, as special prosecutor in the Fulton County election interference case against Trump and his co-defendants.

Wade's resignation came hours after McAfee declined to outright disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. But McAfee stated in his 23-page ruling that either Willis or Wade must step aside from the case due to a "significant appearance of impropriety" stemming from a romantic relationship between the two.

Wade's resignation means Willis and the rest of her team will remain on the case.

McAfee wrote that while "dismissal of the indictment is not the appropriate remedy, the established record now highlights a significant appearance of impropriety that infects the current structure of the prosecution team."

The conflict described by the defendants in the case presents "an appearance that must be removed through the State's selection of one of two options," McAfee ruled.

"The District Attorney may choose to step aside, along with the whole of her office, and refer the prosecution to the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council for reassignment," McAfee wrote. "Alternatively, SADA Wade can withdraw, allowing the District Attorney, the Defendants, and the public to move forward without his presence or remuneration distracting from and potentially compromising the merits of this case."

Visit Trump.news for more news about the former president.

Watch this clip from Fox Business discussing Judge McAfee's decision to throw out six counts of the indictment against Trump.

This video is from the Galactic Storm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Fani Willis ILLEGALLY recorded a phone call to kick off Trump investigation.

TRUTH COMES OUT: Liz Cheney covered up "exonerating evidence" that Trump pushed for national guard protection on January 6.

Report: Democrats ready to hit the PANIC BUTTON as Trump gains steam and Biden falters.

Ted Cruz expects Supreme Court to rule in Trump's favor in presidential immunity case.

Atlanta attorney Fani Willis hired SECRET LOVER as special prosecutor in Georgia racketeering case against Trump.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

APNews.com

ABCNews.go.com

Brighteon.com
GLOBALink | China, France cooperate on protection, breeding of endangered wild birds Pub Date:24-03-18 09:45 Source:Xinhua



The blue-crowned laughingthrush, a species under top-level protection in China, has become an epitome of closer cooperation between China and France in biodiversity conservation. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Editor:Qin Shuying

Related News China's Belt and Road Initiative paves way... China prepares to launch relay satellite Q... Guangde, Anhui: accelerating the integrati... Lujiang, Anhui: Talent cultivation through...
SPY CRANES? Investigation finds communication devices secretly implanted in Chinese-made cargo cranes used across U.S. ports

Concerns about possible espionage activity have been raised by the discovery of dubious communication devices implanted in cargo cranes manufactured in China that are often used at ports in the United States.

The inquiry, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, reveals that certain cranes produced by state-owned Chinese company Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (ZPMC), are equipped with cellular modems that could serve as a backdoor for remote access. These modems, discovered by a congressional investigation, do not appear to support the standard operations of the equipment. (Related: Chinese nationals being let into U.S. via Bidens pathetic open borders policies, raising new fears of espionage.)

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, a Tennessee Republican, expressed concerns to the Journal, emphasizing that the Chinese government seems to be actively seeking opportunities to gather valuable intelligence and exploit vulnerabilities within America's critical infrastructure. He noted that the U.S. has overlooked this threat for too long.

President Joe Biden's administration recently announced a $20 billion investment to construct more domestically produced ship-to-shore cranes, citing spying concerns.

Biden's executive order grants the U.S. Coast Guard expanded powers to issue basic cybersecurity requirements for transportation vessels and ports, addressing fears of potential Chinese cyber threats targeting American infrastructure, especially amid concerns related to a potential invasion of Taiwan.

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.

Anne Neuberger, the U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser for Cyber and Emerging Technology, highlighted the strategic risk posed by ship-to-shore cranes, emphasizing the potential impact on the economy and military movements if they were compromised in a cyberattack.

The focus extends to Chinese-made cranes at U.S. ports, where Coast Guard cyber experts have conducted security assessments on less than half of them.

Biden's investment prioritizes the construction of American-built cranes over the next five years, redirecting funds from the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.

The cranes will be produced by a U.S. subsidiary of Japanese company Mitsui, marking the first time in three decades that such cranes will be domestically manufactured.

Rear Adm. John Vann, who leads the Coast Guard cyber command, expressed concerns about the potential exploitation of Chinese-made cranes, emphasizing the need for new standards to address security risks.

As top-ranking American officials, including Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray, have consistently warned of threats posed by Chinese hackers infiltrating critical infrastructure, the nation remains vigilant against potential attacks targeting the power grid, oil pipelines, and water systems in the event of armed conflict.

The nationwide significance of ports, employing around 31 million people and contributing $5.4 trillion to the economy, underscores the need for heightened cybersecurity measures.

China dismisses the notion of "spy cranes" as "overly paranoid"

In response, China's foreign ministry rejected a report that suggested U.S. officials were concerned about the potential espionage capabilities of massive Chinese-made cargo container cranes at American ports.

China's foreign ministry dismissed the notion of "spy cranes" as "overly paranoid" and accused it of misleading the U.S. public. The ministry labeled the report as an attempt to disrupt the extensive commerce between the two nations.

However, Bill Evanina, a former senior U.S. counterintelligence official, told the Journal that the high-tech cargo cranes could pose a "perfect combination of legitimate business that can also masquerade as clandestine intelligence collection."

Amid the back-and-forth accusations, China's National People's Congress, the largest rubber-stamp parliament globally, convened in Beijing.

Nearly 3,000 delegates gathered to formalize President Xi Jinping's priorities for the country, particularly focused on economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Li Keqiang set a development target of around five percent economic growth for the year.

Visit CommunistChina.news to read more news related to China.

Watch this report about President Joe Biden ordering an investigation into risks posed by Chinese-made high-tech cars.

This video is from the Pool Pharmacy channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Chinese spy agency challenging the CIA with advanced AI program.

Canadas government virologists exposed for "clandestine relationship" with Chinese agents.

Japanese government sources confirm Chinese hackers stole classified diplomatic information during 2020 cyberattack.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

CBSNews.com

Brighteon.com
Leaked reports show Ukraine LOSING war against Russia, Macron panicked

French President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly having a meltdown over the stark realization that Ukraine is losing the fight against Russia.

It is speculated that the reason Macron is pondering in secret how to send French troops to Ukraine without upsetting Russian President Vladimir Putin is because he realizes that Ukraine, all on its own, even with a steady flow of weapons and cash from the West, is no match against Russia.

Magazine Marianne published a story about three reports from Macron revealing panic over the fact that Ukraine technically already lost the fight in 2023 when it wrecked its Western-trained forces in the country's infamously failed offensive against Russia. Since that time, Ukraine has run out of manpower, as evidenced by its more recent loss of Avdeevka.

"Ukraine cannot win this war militarily," reads one of Macron's panicked reports, written in the fall of 2023 following the failed ground offensive. Russia, the report goes on, did exceptionally well by setting a new "tactical and technical" standard of defense that fully debunks the myth of "meat assaults."

"The most serious error of analysis and judgment," the report, which was supposed to remain confidential, continues, would be for the West to continue trying to fight Ukraine militarily.

One senior French officer wrote that sending French troops to Ukraine would be "unreasonable," adding that, "Make no mistake, up against the Russians we are an army of cheerleaders!"

(Related: Remember when Macron announced that unvaccinated people are no longer welcome in France?)

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Nobody wants to fight for the failed West

In the second report outlining prospects for 2024, Macron and other French officials detail that Ukraine would need 35,000 new fighting men per month to even stand a chance at beating Russia. Currently, Kiev is "recruiting less than half" that amount while Russia easily enlists 30,000 new volunteers monthly.

"The West can provide 3-D printers to manufacture drones or loitering munitions, but will never be able to print men," the report states, adding that the failed 2023 ground offensive in Ukraine "tactically destroyed" half of Kiev's 12 combat brigades.

One proposed option is to send Western troops to Ukraine not to fight on the front lines, but rather to aid in the rear. Sending "soldiers in civilian clothes" rather than in fighting gear might also work better so as to trick Russia into thinking they are Ukrainians.

In the third and final report, France laments the loss of the Battle of Avdeevka in which Russia unleashed "hell" on Ukrainian troops by bombarding them with glide bombs, killing more than 1,000 men a day. This failure left French observers of the battle "in cold sweat," and Ukraine's retreat on February 17 was "sudden and unprepared."

A few days after the lost Battle of Avdeevka, Macron told NATO members that all options for helping Ukraine should now be "on the table," including the possibility of sending in ground troops. Most members of the U.S.-led bloc decried this, however, as doing so would cross a very clear red line.

"All NATO-U.S.-EU countries are in financial trouble," one commenter wrote about the matter. "And all the leaders think stealing the wealth of Russia will solve their problems."

"When farmers and truck drivers are blocking your cities, a sane leader would realize those problems are more important than Ukraine and Russia. Farmers, truck drivers and the rest of the backbone of societies are not going to rush to enlistment centers in any of these countries when they are losing their own freedoms."

"No one ever wins an unjust war in the end," noted another. "You would think that the West would have realized this by now."

There is no longer any doubt that Russia will win its war on Ukraine. Learn more at Chaos.news.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com
Panama BANS Doctors Without Borders after discovering corruption at NGO tents in migrant camps

Panama has had enough of the Doctors Without Borders non-governmental organization (NGO), which is reportedly engaged in shady behavior south of the border.

After discovering corruption and lack of staffing at Doctors Without Borders tents in migrant camps, a team from Operation Burning Edge provided Panamanian officials with the evidence they needed to kick the NGO out of the country.

"The take down [sic] of this corrupt NGO means one NGO down 63 to go," tweeted Ann Vandersteel, information war correspondent at Operation Burning Edge.

"This bold move should be heralded as just due to the serious concern the Panamanians have with respect to the illegal invasion, money laundering and corruption that comes with these @UN funded NGOs," Vandersteel added, further referring to Doctors Without Borders as Doctors Without Morals  check out the video below:

PANAMA KICKS OUT DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS Panamanian government stands up for the migrants and kicks @MSF_USA Doctors Without Borders out of Panama after team #OperationBurningEdge exposes the corruption and lack of staffing in the Doctors without Borders tents found in migrant pic.twitter.com/0STy1AgIsZ  Ann Vandersteel (@annvandersteel) March 8, 2024

(Related: Did you hear the news? Fighting migrants burned down parts of the San Vicente migrant camp in Panama's Darien Gap last week, putting more financial and resource pressure on those trying to help the migrants.)

Doctors Without Borders defends itself

In its own reporting, Doctors Without Borders reported that getting kicked out of Panama "will be devastating for migrants exiting the treacherous Darien Gap, including many victims of sexual violence."

In compliance with the demands of Panamanian authorities, Doctors Without Borders has ceased all activities in the area, which the group says will mean a lack of medical care for migrants leaving Darien Gap.

"We are concerned about the consequences that the suspension of our activities will have on people on the move through the Darien Gap  a treacherous forest region and the only land route for people migrating north," Doctors Without Borders reported, noting that it tried to renew its agreement with Panama's Ministry of Health back in October, but to no avail.

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.

"MSF (Medecins Sans Frontieres, another name for Doctors Without Borders) teams provide medical and psychological health care to an average of 5,000 people per month at the San Vicente and Lajas Blancas migrant reception centers in southern Panama."

Doctors Without Borders says its primary focus centers around treating victims of sexual violence. In 2023, the group says it provided "comprehensive medical care" to 676 people who experienced sexual violence while trekking along the Darien Gap section of migration.

So far in 2024, Doctors Without Borders says it is seeing an increase in sexual violence survivors crossing the Darien Gap. In January alone, the NGO says it provided care to 120 people who succumbed to sexual violence.

"In just one week in February, MSF teams treated 113 people  including nine children  after they were sexually assaulted by armed groups operating in the Darien," the group maintains.

Doctors Without Borders says it hopes to resume operations at the San Vicente migrant camp, as well as at the Lajas Blancas migrant camp, as soon as possible  though it appears that will not happen if Operation Burning Edge's claims hold weight.

"In 2023, our teams in Panama provided 59,877 medical consultations (35 percent were patients under 15 years of age and 53 percent were women and girls), 2,978 mental health consultations, and performed 24,762 first aid consultations to people exiting the Darien Gap," Doctors Without Borders claims.

"MSF assists people at different points along the migration route between South America, Central America, Mexico and the United States. We provide free and confidential support to people on the move."

More related news coverage can be found at InvasionUSA.news.

Sources for this article include:

Twitter.com

NaturalNews.com

DoctorsWithoutBorders.org
Report finds overwhelming PRO-ISRAEL BIAS in British media outlets when it comes to Gaza reporting

A report has discovered that media outlets in the United Kingdom show an overwhelming bias toward Israel when it comes to reporting on Palestine and the Gaza Strip.

According to the Daily Expose, the report was "the result of months of qualitative and quantitative analysis" done by researchers from the Center for Media Monitoring (CMM). The said report highlights "the U.K. media's systematic bias in favor of Israel in its reporting on the Gaza situation."

The Expose cited a separate piece by British-Palestinian journalist Hamza Ali Shah, who expounded on the CMM report for Declassified UK. The report analyzed 176,627 television clips from over 13 broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4. It also looked at 25,515 news articles from over 28 British online media websites including the Guardian, the Times, the Experess and the Telegraph.

The clips and articles were published between Oct. 7 and Nov. 7, 2023. This incidentally coincided with Hamas' attack on Israel and the month after that, which saw Israel decimate the Gaza Strip in retaliation. "The data was analyzed for the framing of events, use of language and representation of Palestinian voices," Ali Shah continued.

According to the CMM report, 76 percent of online articles frame Israel's aggression as the "Israel-Hamas war" rather than a one-sided military offensive by Tel Aviv against the Palestinians in Gaza. Over 70 percent of the terms "atrocities," "slaughter" and "massacre" in broadcast media were used exclusively to pertain to attacks against Israelis instead of the over way around. (Related: CNN admits ALL of its Gaza-related coverage is examined (and controlled) by Israeli military censor.)

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.

Moreover, the report also pointed to a notable absence of Palestinian voices in TV reporting. News broadcasts have referenced Israeli perspectives almost three times more  4,311 instances  than the 1,598 times Palestinian views were referenced. Online articles showed the same, with 1,195 mentions of "Israelis killed"  55 percent more than the 665 mentions of "Palestinians were killed."

MSM pushes "right to self-defense" for Israelis, but not for Palestinians

Ali Shah also mentioned that based on the CMM report, many mainstream media (MSM) broadcasters "emphasize Israel's supposed right to defend itself in Gaza." However, the Palestinians' right to defend themselves from Israeli atrocities aren't emphasized.

"Across TV, the insistence on this Israeli 'right' is mentioned in 1,482 occasions. [In] contrast, mentions of the right to Palestinians to resist Israel's onslaught in Gaza amount to just 278," he wrote. The broadcaster with the highest percentage of mentions of any rights associated with the Palestinians was the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera English.

The same issue is also prevalent in online media, the CMM report added. Online media outlets mentioned Israel's right to self-defense 963 times. In contrast, the mention of any rights for Palestinians only amounted to a total of 163.

Moreover, the report also disclosed the unabashed Islamophobia in MSM commentaries on the Israel situation. These commentaries often frame the conflict as one between Muslims and Jews. The CMM report named GB News and TalkTV, the latter owned by former Fox News Chair Rupert Murdoch, as repeat offenders.

One instance involved GB News panelist Leo Kearse, who accused "a lot of Muslims" and a "lot of woke leftists" of supporting or equivocating with Hamas. Another example cited in the report was writer and historian Rafe-Heydel Mankoo, who went on an unhinged rant on TalkTV.

"For many Muslims, hatred of Jews is motivated by religion far more the politics," he said. "The hatred of Jews infects much of the Muslim world."

Visit NewsCartels.com for more news about the biases and agendas of mainstream media.

Watch this clip from TruNews that explains how Israel is controlling the narrative in Gaza.

This video is from the TruNews channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

How America's bloodthirsty journalism cheers on Israel's war on Gaza.

Western media printing LIES to justify Israeli GENOCIDE in Gaza, whitewashing history behind the conflict.

Conservative media joins mainstream media in COVER-UP of Israels killing of Israeli citizens on October 7.

Sources include:

Expose-News.com

DeclassifiedUK.org

Brighteon.com
Transgender mania shares roots with a 90s castration cult imposing surgical alterations for next level ascension

The fast rise of transgenderism ideology has been observed over the past decade. The "fad" is not just about wanting to express themselves via cross-dressing but certain individuals insist that they should be of the opposite gender, engage in chemical and surgical alterations and demand that everyone else be okay with it.

Some even threaten suicide if everyone does not participate in the charade. Armando Simon, a trilingual native of Cuba and retired psychologist says that this tactic of emotional blackmail has been recommended by at least one psychologist in Canada. Also, several celebrities transitioned and were glorified in the media. As with copycat crimes and prominent suicides, others began to claim the same status, additionally insisting that they were "victims," a high-status category at the moment.

However, Simon argued in the think tank Claremont Institute's American Mind article that, all of these have been influenced by castration cults throughout history. In the nineties, he said, the Heaven's Gate cult in America believed that their "core beings" would ascend to the next level into a comet after they committed suicide, some members first choosing to be castrated or sexually mutilated. Also, Skoptsy in Russia practiced castration and mastectomy to eliminate sexual lust. There was also castration in the Aravan cult and in India, the Tritiya Prakriti refers to both self-castration and homosexuality. "The present-day transgender movement is also a castration cult What differentiates the present movement is that, whereas sexual mutilation was performed in the above cults for the sake of an external idea, becoming transgender has become an end in itself," he explained.

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.

He also said that people are gullible enough to submit to the alteration processes due to the history of mass suicides, where the participants were convinced to kill themselves and did so willingly. Furthermore, it was easier to recruit others to join the "bandwagon" due to idealizing the transition, minimizing the mutilation, using euphemisms, presenting a role model and creating confusion about self-identity. "Mentally ill individuals and children are particularly vulnerable and are thus targeted," he said and proceeded to cite a study where high school-aged teenagers who identify as transgender are also more likely than their normal peers to have concurrent mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorders and autism; attempted/accomplished suicides continued even after they underwent treatment to become transgender.

What is worse is that most advocates of the "transhumanism" extreme leftist cult are medical and psychological professionals. A psychologist at Boston Children's Hospital publicly declared that children in the womb know they are transgender, while another psychologist at New York University Langone Health claimed that babies can even masturbate in utero.

Mutilation and alteration surgery has no "positive" long-term effects

In celebration of Detransition Awareness Day, President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights Bill Donohue raised awareness on the ineffectiveness of sexual mutilation and castration to the mental and psychological well-being of the gender-confused in a write up published on the organization's website.

"The tide is turning. The insane idea that biology doesn't matter  we can self-identify our sex  has peaked," he said. "The Biden administration indeed continues to promote transgenderism. It is also true that elite American institutions in the behavioral sciences and the medical community continue to misinform the public. But the good news is that, even there, many are rethinking their position, coming over to our side. Our side is the side of science. Their side is the side of politics." (Related: Trump promises to stop transgender insanity child mutilations if reelected.)

According to him, the American College of Pediatricians recently did a review of more than 60 studies on the issue of adolescents who have transitioned. They found that there are no long-term studies demonstrating benefits nor studies evaluating risks associated with the medical and surgical interventions provided to these adolescents. There is also "no long-term evidence that mental health concerns are decreased or alleviated after 'gender-affirming therapy.'" They also concluded that there is strong evidence that children and adolescents who identify as transgender have experienced significant psychological trauma leading to their gender dysphoria. Therefore, they "cannot condone the social affirmation, medical intervention, or surgical mutilation of children and adolescents identifying as transgender or gender nonconforming."

Donohue also said that a group of five professionals in Norway examined last year what the medical community was promoting and took them to task for not following the science. Sex-affirming treatment with hormones and surgery, they said, was "not correct, has irreversible and significant consequences and has a weak knowledge base."

In a lengthy piece published in February by the New York Times, it also found that young people who have detransitioned, and medical professionals who no longer support transgenderism, are often stigmatized for doing so. Those who have detransitioned, or are contemplating it, deserve our widespread support. They do not need to be marginalized by bullies who are too ideologically corrupt, or greedy, to realize that transgenderism is a monumental fraud.

Sources for this article include:

TheFederalist.com

AmericanMind.org

TAndFOnline.com

CatholicLeague.org
Lawfare with Tom Renz: Trump could lose presidential election over COVID-19 vaccines  Brighteon.TV

Ohio-based attorney Thomas "Tom" Renz believes that former President Donald Trump could lose the presidential election in November 2024 over the issue of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine.

"If there's one issue that can lose [Trump] the election, it's the vaccines. There are millions of Americans who will vote based entirely on vaccines," he remarked during the March 12 episode of his program "Lawfare with Tom Renz" on Brighteon.TV.

"This is the largest single-issue voting bloc on the planet. There has never been a swinging issue or a single-issue voting bloc this big and profound."

Renz also expressed the belief that incumbent President Joe Biden will be looking to steal votes by utilizing independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), a staunch opponent of vaccines. Biden will do this, he added, by taking away Trump's votes and putting it on RFK Jr. as the former president's base was split on the vaccine issue.

"That's why [RFK Jr.] is viable; we have a viable third-party candidate because of one issue. He may not be able to win this, but he's going to take a lot of points. And the reason he's going to take a lot of points is because of his position on the vaccines," Renz explained.

"It is a huge issue and Trump doesn't see that. Either his consultants are the worst people on the planet and should all be fired, or they are liars or something else is going on. But again, Trump could lose this election solely on this issue."

According to Renz, Trump is the best man for the job as evidenced by the gains after his first term. The American economy boomed, Americans saw growth in every sector, crime rates dropped and the border got more secure.

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.

But he ultimately noted that Trump's greatest failure at the time was failing to recognize the COVID-19 pandemic as the harbinger for the 2020 election steal, medical tyranny and the Biden administration's rise. The Deep State used the COVID-19 pandemic to launch a coup against Trump using mail-in ballots.

Trump's support of vaccines undermining his chances of winning

The "Lawfare" host said the COVID-19 vaccine is a legitimate concern, urging Trump to get right on the issue. Renz remarked: "He's got to get right on it because it's murdering people  [and] it's the right thing to do."

Trump still complains about the stolen 2020 election and the Jan. 6, 2021 false-flag riot, he continued. Renz also acknowledged that the former president was duped into pushing for the COVID-19 lockdown and the vaccine rollout.

But Renz lamented Trump's post on Truth Social about the vaccines, which was a response to Biden's State of the Union address. In the said post, Trump bragged that "the vaccines that saved us from COVID-19 are now being used to help beat cancer." This comment, Renz warned, could cost him votes from Americans rejecting the vaccines. (Related: Trump addresses vaccine adverse events, says Big Pharma needs to immediately disclose all safety data.)

Renz commented that Trump is wrong about the vaccines that are killing people. But he clarified that despite his disagreement with the former president over the matter, he still believes Trump is the best man for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Renz also mentioned that people are in an uproar as he and InfoWars founder Alex Jones had the audacity to question Trump regarding the COVID-19 vaccines.

The Brighteon.TV host pointed out that if Americans want Trump to be elected, they should support him. But he added that they have to make sure the former president knows that they are not going to back him on the vaccines. Moreover, Renz emphasized that supporting Trump doesn't mean supporting everything that he does.

"I support him for president because he's the best man for the job. But I am not a Trump cultist. I don't believe that the man is infallible. I don't believe he's Jesus Christ. I think he's the best man for the presidency, but he is dead wrong on these vaccines."

Watch the full March 12 episode of "Lawfare with Tom Renz" below.

"Lawfare with Tom Renz" airs every Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m. - 1 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

More related stories:

Lawfare with Tom Renz: Biden to bring back COVID-19 lockdowns to STEAL the election  Brighteon.TV.

Biden CANT BEAT Donald Trump in November, says Andrew Yang.

Supreme Court rules Trump must remain on primary, general ballots in 2024 election.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

TruthSocial.com
A recent report found how the ebola disease reproduces and affects, the virus became rampant in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings can help prevent the virus.

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report (CDC), ebola is considered a rare disease, and anyone can suffer from infection when they become exposed to infected animals or people.

Understanding the ebola virus is crucial to offering new methods to prevent its spread and avoid a health emergency. In a report, researchers from the U.S. and Canada uncovered the reproduction of Ebola in people's bodies.

Deadly Ebola Reproduction

The research findings were published in the PLOS Biology journal, which consists of teams in different fields. With experimental and computational methods, the researchers managed to unlock the interaction of the virus (VP35 protein) and ubiquitin chains.

The study looked into the interaction of the virus with ubiquitin, a human protein. In this way, the researchers can unravel potential targets to prevent the virus, deepening their understanding of the virus.

"This discovery not only deepens our understanding of how the virus works but also offers a promising avenue for the creation of more effective therapies. In particular, it paves the way for the design of drugs capable of disrupting this interaction and slowing down viral replication," Professor Rafael Najmanovich, the study's co-author, said, as quoted in a report. Najmanovich is also from the pharmacology department of UdeM's medical.

The researchers analyzed how the virus can evade detection and infect people's bodies, including the complex workings of the virus.

The recent findings can contribute to fighting the deadly Ebola virus infections and provide new insights into effective treatments, particularly for poorer and vulnerable sectors.

Also Read: Avian Influenza Virus Threatens Wildlife Conservation Due to Spread Among Marine Animals, Birds

More Facts About the Ebola Virus

The report shows that the said virus was first found in 1976 in parts of Central Africa. People who have the ebola virus can feel the following symptoms:

Loss of appetite

Sore throat

Fever

Abdominal pain

Gastrointestinal issues

Weakness

hemorrhaging or bleeding

Skin Rash

Red Eyes

In terms of transmission, the infection can spread through contact, after people develop the symptoms of the ebola virus. It can also be transmitted via blood or body fluids, like saliva and urine. Infected objects can also pass the virus on to people.

In addition, the World Health Organization's (WHO) key facts show that vaccines are already being developed to avoid the risk of some types of Ebola. WHO emphasizes that supportive care helps save people from death due to said diseases.

Community control and disease surveillance are important for infection prevention and avoiding widespread transmissions.

Related Article: Alaskapox: First Human Dies from Animal-Borne Virus in Kenai Peninsula, Infection

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
According to the South Korean official media KTV on March 15, 2024, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) awarded a contract valued at 330.6 billion won (approximately $247.796 million) to LIG Nex1 for the development of a new long-range anti-aircraft defense system, named the Fleet Shared Ballistic Missile-II. This system is intended to potentially replace the American SM series missiles on the future KDDX next-generation destroyers.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

According to sources, the Ship-to-Air Missile-II could replace the American SM series missiles currently utilized by South Korea. (Picture source: DAPA)

The 'Fleet Shared Ballistic Missile-II System Development Project', also known as the Ship-to-Air Missile-II, aims to enhance the defensive capabilities of the KDDX destroyers against aerial threats, including aircraft and cruise missiles, potentially from North Korea. The project targets a localization rate of over 90% for the missile system, incorporating technologies to improve precision guidance and navigation.

According to sources, the Ship-to-Air Missile-II could replace the American SM series missiles currently utilized by South Korea. It is designed to be larger than the SM-2MR Block IIIA and employs an initial booster derived from the TSLM land attack missile, which itself is a modification of the C-Star anti-ship missile. Features of the missile include a range exceeding 180 kilometers, supported by booster and dual-pulse propulsion systems, and guidance independent of external illuminators. The system aims to integrate South Korea's advanced missile guidance systems and seeker technologies, including a 1kW GaNSSPA seeker.

Furthermore, the Ship-to-Air Missile-II is visually similar to the existing L-SAM (AAM), with modifications that include the addition of an initial booster and enhanced guidance units and seekers. In parallel, South Korea is reportedly developing the 'Ship-to-Air-II (ABM)' missile program, aimed at creating a maritime version of the land-based THAAD system, referred to as M-SAM-III, which is currently under development.

The Republic of Korea Navy (ROK Navy) is planning to introduce a new class of warships, the Korean Next-Generation Destroyer (KDDX), developed by Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. These stealth guided-missile destroyers, slated for introduction post-2025, are intended to update and augment the current South Korean fleet. Specifications for the KDDX ships include an estimated displacement of 8,000 tons, a length of 155 meters, a breadth of 18.8 meters, and a draft of 9.5 meters.

Originating from discussions in 2009, the KDDX-class destroyers are designed to enhance the South Korean Navy's capabilities with improved stealth features, advanced sensors, and missile defense systems. They aim to bridge the gap in capacity between the existing Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyers (KDX-II) and Sejong the Great-class destroyers (KDX-III), while also aiming for lower operational costs than the Sejong the Great-class.

Throughout its development, the KDDX project has seen several shifts, notably a temporary diversion of resources to the procurement of three additional KDX-III Batch II destroyers in 2013, leading to a delay in the KDDX project. It was later revisited and received approval from the 118th Defense Program Promotion Committee in 2018.

The anticipated financial investment for the development and construction of the six KDDX vessels is significant, with total costs expected to exceed 7.8 trillion won (approximately $6.2 billion), encompassing both development and production expenses.

The design of the KDDX-class incorporates advanced technologies such as an integrated mast system, demonstrated by Hanwha Systems in 2017, which consolidates electronic warfare, enemy identification, and communication systems. Moreover, the ships are slated to be outfitted with the L-SAM multi-purpose phased array radar and the Korean Vertical Launching System (KVLS), enabling the launch of various missile types, including Hyunmoo-3C cruise missiles, SM-2 surface-to-air missiles, and SSM-700K anti-ship missiles.

Although there are comparisons between the KDDX-class destroyers and the European FREMM-class frigates regarding size, radar systems, and armament, the KDDX-class has been distinctly designed to meet the specific needs of the Republic of Korea Navy, featuring double the number of VLS and a larger full-load displacement of 8,000 tons.
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AI in pathogen detection: techniques and advancements

Modeling epidemics: AIs predictive power

Challenges and limitations of AI in disease detection

Case studies: AI in action against recent outbreaks

The future of AI in epidemiology

Ethical considerations and data privacy

Conclusion

References

Further reading

AI is a rapidly expanding and vibrant area of technological development with applications in a vast array of disciplines. From drug discovery to language processing to general pattern recognition, this integration of human intelligence into machinery demonstrates the widespread applicability of large-scale data analysis.1

White medical masks and respirators with glove, hand sanitizer on blue background. Image Credit: Igisheva Maria/Shutterstock.com

Over the past three years, a new application of AI has become increasingly more relevant and apparent. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, attention began to focus on how AI could improve public health, specifically pathogen detection and epidemic prediction.1-6

Epidemics and pandemics often outpace authorities, spreading at significant levels before experts are aware they exist at all.3 Introduction of AI, in addition to traditional surveillance methods, can lead to earlier detection of pathogen spread, decreased strain on human resources, especially in low-income countries, and improved recommendations on proactive measures.3

Harnessing artificial intelligence for infectious disease prevention

AI in pathogen detection: techniques and advancements

The flexible and non-linear nature of pathogen activities lend themselves to AI-based approaches. Machine Learning (ML) represents a subfield of AI devoted to developing decision-making systems trained on sample data.4 In epidemic prediction, ML can use real-time data to improve understanding of daily exposure behavior, separate risk groups, and assess viral availability to geographic locations.4

Neural Networks (NNs) represent another subfield of AI concerned with further mimicking information absorption in the human brain by combining multiple algorithms simultaneously.4 NNs have become incredibly valuable in pathogen detection, particularly in assessing interactions of disease transmission, expansion, and causation. 4

Pathogen and outbreak detection generally require four elements: natural language processing of open-source data, identification of regional signal patterns, modeling of outbreak behaviors, and rapid identification of misinformation. 3

Using these criteria, ML methods have demonstrated the ability to improve the prediction of mortality risk and diagnosis of COVID-19, forecast near-future infection rates, and identify symptoms of long COVID.4 Outside of the COVID-19 pandemic, sequence-guided approaches have been developed successfully in the prediction of pathogen immune system escape patterns for HIV-1 and influenza.7,8

Modeling epidemics: AIs predictive power

To successfully forecast and model epidemics, AI platforms require an extensive list of data. This includes case counts (confirmed, probable, suspected), mobility of individuals and populations, host susceptibility (immunization coverage data), environmental susceptibility (climate temperature, precipitation, etc.), healthcare capacity, and spatial demographic data like population density.9

With these large datasets, platforms conduct predictive modeling.1 Combining statistical analysis and ML, predictive models can guide epidemic response approaches through trend and pattern recognition.1 Predictive modeling includes many subcategories, such as spatial modeling, disease forecasting, and risk prediction, which can enable localized tactics, anticipate spread, and allow focused prevention of disease, respectively.1

Image Credit: metamorworks/Shutterstock.com

Examples such as the RAPIDD Ebola Forecasting Challenge9 and EPIWATCH3 demonstrate the real-world benefits of such models. The AI open-source-based platform, EPIWATCH, uses analysis tools such as FLUCAST, ORIGINS, and EPIRISK to predict the severity of upcoming flu seasons and provide guidance on epidemic prioritization.3

Challenges and limitations of AI in disease detection

From a scientific perspective, many areas of molecular biology remain elusive and are, therefore, difficult to model. For example, host-pathogen interactions concerning host immune systems are a complex and challenging factor in epidemic spread and pathogen activity.7 The incorporation of experimental high-throughput data, such as sequencing, into AI and ML models would potentially address this deficiency.7

From a logistical standpoint, a major challenge facing these models during outbreaks is maintaining reliable and current datasets.9 With rapidly changing situations, skewed and out-of-date assessments of disease spread risk can occur.9 This is particularly challenging with quickly progressing diseases like measles or influenza, which require updates at least daily as opposed to slower pathogens like HIV.9

Further, data quality is often lacking at the earliest and arguably most important stages of an epidemic or pandemic.2 Under detection or inconsistent collection can restrict the quality of data on deaths, testing, and infection rates.2 Further, restricted initial data creates difficulties in training AI and ML models, further hampering platform development.2

Case studies: AI in action against recent outbreaks

As previously stated, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the already growing field of AI into rapid advancement within the public health space.

Feng et al. used a Suceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed (SEIR) model to predict epidemic peaks through specific categorization of infected and recovered individuals.5 Their method was successful in predicting epidemic scenarios in Wuhan and non-Wuhan areas due to population migration.5 This model was also able to assess the effectiveness of lockdown and containment protocols in the Wuhan area.5

Additionally, Pirouz et al. developed multi-linear regression and AI approaches to examine correlations between case numbers of COVID-19 and environmental conditions like humidity, average temperature, and wind patterns.6 This model was successful in determining patterns such as the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in April and August due to warm temperatures, low humidity, and low wind speed, which can then predict seasonal increases in infection.6

The future of AI in epidemiology

The field of AI and ML, in general, is a rapidly developing area, and the application of these tools in public health is still in the early stages.

Deep Learning is an extrapolation of the previously outlined AI and ML platforms that are in active development in public health applications and will likely play a major role in future endeavors.4 Containing levels that humans havent constructed, these methods have shown great promise within drug discovery and large-scale pharmaceutical efforts and are demonstrating the same within the public health space.4

Once established on a larger scale, the global use of AI tools with intercontinental cooperation could lead to establishments such as global epidemic monitoring centers and large-scale global epidemic forecasting.4 Such organizations could turn tides in future epidemics and pandemics by providing faster and more coordinated responses.4

Ethical considerations and data privacy

As cutting-edge AI platforms take root within public health, it brings significant regulatory and ethical concerns. With AI and data analytics come issues of privacy, transparency, and bias.

The use of patient data creates openings for violations of individual privacy. It will require robust regulation and patient de-identification if data such as electronic health records (EHRs) are involved.1 This can include compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) within the United States and an awareness of bias and discrimination within the AI systems targeting vulnerable populations.1

Given these concerns and the many others actively being examined during this explosion of AI development, caution must be used in the implementation of these tools to avoid undue harm and unintended damage to the populations these platforms strive to protect.

Conclusion

AI is one of the fastest-growing topical developments in the tech industry, and its applications in the public health sphere are vast and plentiful. If executed properly and with care for ethics, AI and ML have the potential to transform epidemic surveillance and pathogen detection, creating better outcomes and saving lives.

References

Olawade DB, Wada OJ, David-Olawade A, et al. Using artificial intelligence to improve public health: a narrative review. Frontiers in Public Health. 2023; 11:e1196397. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1196397 Wang H, Tao G, Ma J, et al. Predicting the Epidemics Trend of COVID-19 Using Epidemiological-Based Generative Adversarial Networks. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Signal Processing. 2022;16(2):276-288. doi:10.1109/JSTSP.2022.3152375 MacIntyre CR, Chen X, Kunasekaran M, et al. Artificial intelligence in public health: the potential of epidemic early warning systems. Journal of International Medical Research. 2023;51(3). doi:10.1177/03000605231159335 Stergiou KD, Minopoulos GM, Memos VA, et al. A Machine Learning-Based Model for Epidemic Forecasting and Faster Drug Discovery. Applied Sciences. 2022;12(21):e10766. doi:10.3390/app122110766. Feng S, Feng Z, Ling C, et al. Prediction of the COVID-19 epidemic trends based on SEIR and AI models. PLOS ONE. 2021;16(1):e0245101. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0245101 Abdullahi SB, Muangchoo K, Abubakar AB, et al. Data-Driven AI-Based Parameters Tuning Using Grid Partition Algorithm for Predicting Climatic Effect on Epidemic Diseases. IEEE Access. 2021;9:55388-55412. doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3068215 Wong F, De La Fuente-Nunez C, Collins JJ, et al. Leveraging artificial intelligence in the fight against infectious diseases. Science. 2023;381(6654):164-170. doi:10.1126/science.adh1114 Marcus JL, Sewell WC, Balzer LB, et al. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for HIV Prevention: Emerging Approaches to Ending the Epidemic. Current HIV/AIDS Reports. 2020;17(3):171-179. doi:10.1007/s11904-020-00490-6 Desai AN, Kraemer MUG, Bhatia S, et al. Real-time Epidemic Forecasting: Challenges and Opportunities. Health Security. 2019;17(4):268-275. doi:10.1089/hs.2019.0022

Further Reading
In a recent review published in the journal NPJ Mental Health Research, researchers conducted a scoping review to assess the impacts of climate change on global mental and psychosocial health. They further investigate the outcomes of studies introducing unique interventions or intervention packages aimed at blunting or reversing these impacts. Their scrutiny of more than 5,000 potentially relevant publications revealed 40 studies investigating the associations between mental health and climate change. Review findings revealed 37 unique intervention regimes that act across social system levels from microsystems to macrosystems.

The present review highlights the novelty of this field of research, with a majority of included interventions not (yet) being formally evaluated within a robust scientific framework. Nonetheless, preliminary intervention results are promising, especially when applied to low- and middle-income countries disproportionally affected by climate change. Despite extensive scaled-up clinical trials being required before some of these interventions become public health recommendations, this review summarizes scientists' progress in the field and the basis for further research against mental health disability.

Study: Mental health and psychosocial interventions in the context of climate change: a scoping review. Image Credit: Lightspring / Shutterstock

Climate change and mental health

Climate change refers to observable long-term shifts in local or (more often) global temperature, rainfall, and weather patterns. Historically, these shifts have occurred gradually, usually as a consequence of natural processes. However, since the advent of the Industrial Revolution, human activity (particularly the combustion of fossil fuels and agricultural activities) has produced unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas emissions, substantially accelerating global warming.

Ever since the description of global warming and climate change in the 1970s, scientists and clinicians have established robust associations between climate change and adverse population-level health outcomes. Starvation and heightened disease risk are at an all-time high, with chronic, age-associated conditions like cancers and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) rapidly rising in prevalence and intensity. Although novel, studies investigating the associations between climate change and mental health are increasingly becoming popular, especially following recent pandemic-related social distancing regulations and their impacts on psychological well-being.

"Researchers in the climate change and mental health space acknowledge the intricate tension between recognizing the detrimental mental health impacts of climate change while not pathologizing culture-specific, expected, and adaptive responses to ongoing and anticipated threats."

Recent studies have established the detrimental impacts of climate change on the mental well-being of individuals, with substantial environment-associated impacts observed on patients' psychiatric mortality outcomes (post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], depression, and increased suicide risk). While some of these studies have recommended and even tested interventions against these adverse outcomes, a significant gap exists in intervention adoption and subsequent evidence-based outcomes analyses. Even reviews attempting to make sense of these outcomes suffer from the shared shortcoming of suboptimal scaleincluded studies either focus on fine-scale outcomes of just one of two climatic and mental evaluation metrics or broaden their perspective too wide, thereby incorporating and generalizing non-climatic events and stressors.

About the study

The current review has three main aims  1. Review and evaluate existing interventions aimed at improving mental health or mitigating climatic impacts on mental health; 2. Evaluating broad mental health and well-being outcomes, not restricted by conventional psychiatric definitions; and 3. Applying the first two aims to 'grey literature'  unpublished and not formally defined evidence that served an exploratory role for informing future research. The review methodology was designed in accordance with the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and was prospectively registered with the OSF database on 9 March 2022.

Study data collection commenced with screening available literature using a custom search strategy applied to three online scientific repositories, namely MEDLINE, Web of Science, and PsycINFO, from database inception till 2 May 2022. The citations of publications thus identified were further manually hand-searched to reveal relevant information not found in the public databases. The grey literature equivalent was conducted through a cascade of four steps  1. targeted database search; 2. Google search; 3. targeted website search; and 4. key stakeholder consultation, following the methodology and best-practice guidelines of Godin et al. and Pollock et al.

Data extraction was carried out by two independent reviewers using the Rayyan.ai platform. The extraction process focused on publication and sample records (authors, publication year, study design, participant sociodemographics, and medical histories) and mental health outcomes. However, other relevant details, including theoretical framework, intervention parameters (duration, cost, delivery methods), facilitator characteristics, and involvement of stakeholders in co-designing the intervention, were also recorded.

Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory was used for review data presentation and discussion. The theory describes an individual's ecological environment across four spatial levels  micro-, meso-, exo-, and macrosystem.

Identified interventions and their level of action based on Bronfenbrenners ecological theory as applied to public mental health research.

Study findings and take-home message

Of the 6,248 records initially revealed through the database search, 1,122 were found to be duplicates and removed from the analyses. Of the remaining 5,126 unique publications, title and abstract screening excluded 4,932, and full-text screening excluded an additional 178, resulting in a final publication set of 16 studies representing 13 non-overlapping interventions. Grey literature screening revealed a further 24 interventions.

The stressor reviewed included general climatic changes, stochastic weather events (wildfires, droughts, floods), and phenomena (e.g., cyclones, typhoons). Notably, despite more than 20 years of research in the field, half of the publications included in this review were produced in the last three years alone, highlighting the surge in academic interest against climate change's adverse impacts.

Only 56% (n = 9) of included academic studies involved clinical trial-like settings with quantitative estimations of outcome metrics, highlighting the substantial dearth of empirical evidence with which to implement informed policy interventions. Encouragingly, despite being limited in outreach and validation, this preliminary evidence is positive, depicting substantial improvements in the mental health and psychosocial functioning of individuals enrolled in these programs. Outcomes were observed to be most profound in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) across Asia, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania, and the Caribbean.

Some of these programs with unexpectedly positive mental health outcomes identified themselves as community-wide resilience-building programs, notable examples of which included the Katatagan program in the Phillippines and the Skills for Life Adjustment and Resilience (SOLAR) program in Tuvalu. While differing in their targets and methodologies, these programs display robust scientific soundness and present community-wide improvements, potentially serving as pilot studies of future, scaled-up interventions.

While almost every single grey area study presented its own unique intervention, the scientific soundness of most of these could not be verified, especially since all of them were conducted by private firms with limited data publicly available.

"Overall, it appears that conceptual linkage for interventions at the intersection of climate change and mental health remains at a nascent stage, and most interventions are newly designed with scarce or anecdotal evidence. Future interventions are recommended to consider at conception the definition of well-being, the interests of underserved groups, co-design, equitable access, and sustainability."
In a recent study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), researchers from Illinois, the United States of America (US), reported the incidence of five measles cases among unvaccinated children who resided in the same building but did not socialize with each other.

Notes from the Field: Measles Outbreak  Cook County, Illinois, OctoberNovember 2023. Image Credit: adriaticfoto / Shutterstock

Background

Measles is an infectious disease preventable by vaccination and poses a significant health risk. In the US, it is advised that children receive two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, typically administered between the ages of 12 and 15 months and again between 4 and 6 years. The present study describes a concerning case of measles outbreak among five unvaccinated children from two families residing in the same building who did not socialize with each other.

The case

On October 5, 2023, Patient A, a 2-year-old immigrant from Yemen, was diagnosed with an unspecified viral illness at the emergency department (ED) of Hospital A, following negative test results for influenza, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and respiratory syncytial virus. Patient A had not been administered the MMR vaccine and had symptoms of fever, cough, and coryza. On October 8, Patient A visited Hospital B's ED due to exacerbated respiratory symptoms and tested positive for rhinovirus/enterovirus. Patient A was then admitted again to Hospital A for respiratory distress.

Notably, Patient A developed a maculopapular rash while hospitalized the next day. On October 10, the family disclosed that they had been in contact with an individual diagnosed with measles before entering the US. Measles was confirmed via real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the patient was discharged.

Investigations

Between October 5 and 11, the child was potentially exposed to 247 healthcare workers and 177 patients and kin. This included 13 infants aged under one year, five immunocompromised children, and one unvaccinated child aged over one year. Two of these children were given the MMR vaccine within three days of exposure, while 13 received immune globulin as a precautionary measure.

Patient A's domestic contacts included two siblings who had not received the MMR vaccine and were found to be susceptible to measles through serologic testing. The siblings were Patient B, aged four years and Patient C, aged nine. The siblings contracted measles during quarantine, with varied symptoms. Although patient B required an ED visit for supportive care, neither child was hospitalized. All the residents of the building were alerted on October 17.

On October 30, Patient D (another child aged two years) visited the ED with symptoms and resided on a different floor of the same building as Patient A. The child had not received the MMR vaccine, as its parents objected based on concerns about the side effects of the vaccine. Measles was confirmed through RT-PCR.

Interestingly, despite living in the same building, the families of both sets of patients had different cultural backgrounds and languages. Both families denied having any contact with each other. While their apartment units did not share ventilation, they shared laundry facilities and building entrances.

On October 31, Patient D's unvaccinated one-year-old sibling, named Patient E, was tested due to isolated coryza. The child attended a child-care facility on October 30 while symptomatic and confirmed measles through RT-PCR. Post-exposure prophylaxis was administered to susceptible individuals, including immune globulin for one child and an early second dose of MMR vaccine for others. Patient E did not develop a fever until November 6, and a rash appeared on November 9, nine days after the positive test result and notification of the child-care facility.

While testing for measles is typically done when prodromal symptoms occur, such as cough, fever, coryza, or conjunctivitis, the isolated coryza experienced by Patient E may not have been measles-related. As measles testing before fever onset is uncommon, determining the accurate contagious period for this patient was challenging. Patient E did not need hospitalization.

Discussion

Five children contracted measles in this outbreak. They were unvaccinated despite being eligible for the MMR vaccine owing to cultural barriers, limited access to healthcare, and vaccine refusal. Outbreaks have been observed previously among close-knit communities, but the present families were not a part of such networks. Public health responses typically involve tailored approaches, like culturally appropriate education materials and translation services. However, these efforts are expensive and time-consuming. This outbreak highlights measles' high contagiousness, even among children not in each other's contact.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the study emphasizes the need for all children and susceptible individuals to receive two doses of the MMR vaccine at appropriate intervals. Clinicians should suspect measles in patients with febrile rash illness and ensure vaccination to prevent future outbreaks.
CryoLogyx, a University of Warwick spinout redefining cell technology through cryopreservation, today announced the close of its oversubscribed seed funding round. The 500k GBP investment came from private UK business angels and the Wider Oxford Technology Angel Network (WOTAN), which includes previous investors Oxford Technology Management.

The funding will be used to support commercialization of the companys innovative cryopreserved cell technology, scale up production of its assay-ready cells and expand its reach in the UK and Europe.

CryoLogyx was spun out from the University of Warwick in 2020 by CEO Dr Tom Congdon and CSO Prof Matt Gibson, who developed a unique cryopreservation method* based on over a decade of research. The company provides assay-ready, cryopreserved cells conveniently plated in a variety of formats and optimized for in vitro research.

Its proprietary macromolecule cryoprotectant technology, Cryoshield, significantly reduces post-thaw damage to allow for direct use of viable cells from the freezer in less than 24 hours, helping researchers save up to 90% of their time on routine cell culture tasks.

CryoLogyxs range of frozen, ready-to-use adherent cell lines offers scientists an efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solution with enhanced reproducibility. This could help to support the development of new screening technologies and automation in drug discovery, as well as potential future diagnostic and cell therapy applications.

Most recently, the ready-to-use cells enabled scientists at the Warwick Antimicrobial Screening Service to deliver a typical four-week project in four days.

The latest funding follows earlier investment from Oxford Technology Management and private investors, alongside a 300K grant from Innovate UK in 2021. It will allow CryoLogyx to expand its team and scale production of its pioneering cell-based assays to meet increasing demand from the UK and European markets.

It will also support the companys R&D program, allowing it to accelerate the development and commercialization of new products and services, broadening its offering to existing and prospective customers, and opening up opportunities for global partnerships.

We are grateful to our business angel investors and WOTAN for their confidence and continued support in the company's growth. CryoLogyx is proud to be empowering scientists to conduct research more efficiently using our cryopreserved, assay-ready cells and this funding will help us scale operations to ensure we meet researchers needs and expand our reach into new markets. Dr. Tom Congdon, CEO and Co-founder, CryoLogyx

Dr. Tim Hart, Director of Warwick Innovations, who is working with CryoLogyx to commercialize its technology, said: This funding boost is a testament to the company's potential and reflects the trust investors have in CryoLogyxs vision and leadership. Its a truly remarkable technology with the potential to significantly reduce the experimental burden on researchers and expedite the discovery of lifesaving diagnostics and therapies. I very much look forward to seeing the company continue to go from strength to strength.

CryoLogyx will showcase current and upcoming innovative products at ELRIG Research & Innovation 2024 taking place from 2021 March in Manchester, UK. Visit the team at booth TBBZ2 in the TechBio Breakthrough Zone to find out more.

*Tomas et al., Assay-ready Cryopreserved Cell Monolayers Enabled by Macromolecular Cryoprotectants, Biomacromolecules (2022)
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 ageing 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 deatha 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 ageing and growing populations worldwide. However, if the impact of demographics is removed through age-standardisation, rates of DALYs and deaths caused by neurological conditions have declined by around a third (27% and 34% respectively) worldwide since 1990largely due to better awareness, vaccination, and global prevention efforts for some conditions such as tetanus (93% decrease in age-standardised 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, Alzheimers 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 (figure 1).

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, said co-senior author Dr Liane Ong from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, USA. This is in line with the increase in the global prevalence of diabetes.

The current study builds on previous GBD analyses 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 2021expanding 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 worlds 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 WHOs 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 (figure 1).

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 WHOs 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. Whats 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 WHOs 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, Parkinsons disease, encephalitis, meningitis, and intellectual disability.

The analysis suggests that modifying 18 risk factors over a persons lifetimemost 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 Universitys 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. 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. Dr Jaimie Steinmetz, Lead Author, IHME

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.
With the UKs birth rate falling, more awareness and support are needed for people struggling or putting off starting a family to ensure future generations.

The Department of Health and Social Care recently reported that more must be done to adapt for the onset of the UKs ageing population. With an ageing population comes a myriad of social and economic challenges  many of which need to be addressed as early as possible.

Many people have put starting a family on hold, whether it be due to fertility factors outside of their control, or due to a wish to delay until they have that foothold. Fertility, however, does not wait for all, and thus more fertility and IVF offerings are helpful in reducing concerns they dont need when planning for their dream family.

Fertility care and developments in assisted reproduction technologies are increasingly important in a society that is slowly skewing towards an ageing population, says James Barr, Managing Director of Bridge Clinic London.

When foregoing family life in the past, many chose to pursue career opportunities or other factors. Its important to remember that patients can have both options available  family life and a career - to them if they know where to look." James Barr, Managing Director, Bridge Clinic London

Britains ageing population is a concern that does requires action now before its effects are irreversible. We are all living longer, and thats a testament to modern medicine. But combine this with a falling national birth rate, and society will soon encounter problems.

Barr believes clinics also have a responsibility to raise awareness for people struggling with finding the right care option. People who may have either put an end to starting a family or have delayed the process can speak to an IVF partner to discuss their options and potentially a more accessible offering they might have previously not been aware of. For those seeking alternative routes to starting a family, simply having an introductory conversation with clinician could spark the beginning of a journey towards parenthood, as without this consultation they often feel they have lost hope or believe their budget cannot accommodate it.

Advancements in IVF solutions such as egg storage and sperm donation are now available to help patients who may feel that now is not the right time to start or extend their family or may be unsure. Transparency of fertility options and their costs, including potential add-on treatments, should be clear from the onset to build needed trust with potential patients who may be experiencing uncertainty and emotional pressures.

Starting a family can be expensive and issues around childcare costs have been making headlines which could be steering patients away from starting a family. Affordable and accommodating IVF options being available is the first step to address this, now it is time for the government to implement reassurances for patients that the next step  specifically, childcare costs  will be prevented from spiralling beyond control.

Barr concludes: A falling birth rate is a difficult challenge for any society to combat and overcome, but there are always solutions. Building the foundations of trust and reassuring patients that IVF is an affordable and accommodating process to start a family.

In years gone by, an ageing population would be difficult to overturn. Today, fertility clinics are on-hand to encourage people who are either struggling or unsure about starting a family and help gradually address the issue of an ageing population.
Several reports have raised the issue of increasing absenteeism and lower grades in American public schools after they reopened following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These predict higher rates of mental illness and dropout from high school. Substance use is also linked to poor outcomes, including vaping, tobacco, and cannabis, perhaps because of their effects on the developing brain.

A recent study published in The Journal of Pediatrics examines the odds of these outcomes when tobacco and cannabis are co-used after compensating for other risks. With the rise in legalized cannabis, there has been an increase in the national (but not California) proportion of young people who vape, from 11% to 21% over the period 2017 to 2022. Again, the proportion of cannabis users went up from 5% to 15%.

The current study sought to dissociate this risk in a sample of high school students in California surveyed in 2020-21, immediately after post-COVID school reopening.

About the study

The study utilized the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS), performed by the WestEd, the California Department of Education, and the Department of Health Care Services, on students in grades 9 and 11 in California. Only public school students were included, numbering about 353,000, who responded to survey questions about tobacco and cannabis use during the 30 days just before the survey and were attending school in person.

The sample was equally split between males and females, grades 9 and 11, and those with highly educated parents vs others. Almost half were Hispanic, a quarter non-Hispanic White, and 15% Asian. Over one in three said they had felt depressed sometime in the past year, while 6% reported feeling endangered at school.

Almost a tenth used alcohol, while 2% used tobacco alone. About 4% used cannabis, and the same proportion used both substances. Almost double these numbers were reported as having used these substances at any time.

Co-use of both substances was linked to 35% absenteeism vs 29% in cannabis-only users, 26% among tobacco-only users, and 17% among those who used neither. Risk factors for absenteeism and/or poor grades that needed to be adjusted for included bullying, poor health, and change of residence if the student is a caregiver for others or comes from a family with food insecurity. Unsafe school conditions or poor educational climates at school also play a role in this phenomenon.

After adjustment, co-users had a 40% higher risk of absenteeism, the highest among all categories. Compared to tobacco-only users, co-use and cannabis-only users both were ~20% and 15% more likely to report absenteeism, respectively. Similar findings were obtained among ever-users, too.

The mean grade was 6.16, that is, mostly Bs. Co-use was associated with a mean grade of 5.08 vs 5.61 for tobacco-only users, 5.54 for cannabis-only users, and 6.24 among non-users. If using tobacco only was the reference group, co-users, and cannabis-only users had a decrease of 0.39 points, but it fell by a mean of 0.87 points when co-users were matched to non-users. Cannabis-only and tobacco-only users had no difference in their mean grades.

Dangers of absenteeism

School funding suffers when students are absent. Thus, co-use has roughly cost the school $300 per absent student on average.

With over 8,000 students reporting substance use, absences may potentially have cost the school almost $2.5 million in annual funding, provided all of these absences were due to substance use, though this is an unlikely event.

What are the implications?

The drop in grades by almost one category, from Bs to Bs and Cs, associated with co-users compared to non-users, is an important adverse effect. This was accompanied by 40% higher odds of absenteeism (being absent three or more days within the past month) in the co-user group vs non-users and 20% higher odds than among tobacco-only users.

This novel study supports the hypothesis that substance abuse, especially the dual use of tobacco and alcohol, worsens educational outcomes. Several mechanisms have been speculated about. For instance, these substances could affect cognitive processing and disrupt learning and memory pathways.

Cannabis heightens nicotine addiction when used during adolescence, making quitting very difficult. Also, the use of either or both of these substances can cause illness, physical or mental, resulting in skipping school. Co-use has been linked to changes in the sleep pattern.

Finally, vaping at school may distract students, reducing their ability to learn. Another possibility is that vaping or co-use may result in suspension from school. The occurrence of such events is mirrored in the list of reasons for absenteeism, such as illness, anger, sadness, stress, or inadequate sleep.

Future studies should assess potential interventions to improve educational outcomes with the help of full-spectrum efforts to reduce or eliminate substance use among students.
In a recent study published in npj Parkinsons disease, researchers evaluated the differences in the progression of Parkinsons disease (PD) between real-world and research populations.

Study: Disease progression strikingly differs in research and real-world Parkinsons populations. Image Credit: Kotcha K/Shutterstock.com

Background

Disease-modifying therapies have not been successful for PD despite improved biological understanding and significant investment.

Therapies promising in preclinical and early trials have failed at later stages. There are several challenges to developing disease-modifying therapies for PD; notably, molecular processes driving pathogenesis are poorly understood.

Moreover, different patterns of PD progression and diverse onset ages suggest heterogeneity. Recent studies have uncovered at least six loci associated with genetic heterogeneity in PD progression to Lewy body dementia.

Characterization of PD progression can aid in the design of clinical trials and identify sub-populations. Most studies on PD progression have focused on research data, which might not reflect the population in general.

About the study

In the present study, researchers characterized the progression of PD between research and real-world populations. The Fox Insight longitudinal health and Harvard Biomarkers studies (HBS) were research population datasets.

Real-world data (RWD) sources included the Optum Claimselectronic health records (EHRs) and the Mass General Brigham (MGB) electronic medical records (EMRs).

PD progression was evaluated using common clinical rating scales, including the mini-mental-state examination (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), unified PD rating scale (UPDRS), and Hoehn and Yahr (H&Y).

These measures were compared between HBS and MGB by stratifying patients based on the time from initial diagnosis.

Clinical rating scales were actively collected and stored as structured data within the HBS; in MGB, they were passively collected and extracted from clinical notes.

Fox Insight and HBS cohorts had explicit information on PD diagnosis dates. Real-world cohorts required a two-year quiescence period to enroll PD cases.

Further, in RWD sources, individuals were excluded if they developed conditions leading to clinical parkinsonism symptoms during the quiescence period.

Cognitive decline was defined as a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, referral to neurology specialists for cognitive decline, or prescriptions of medicines typically used to treat cognitive decline during PD. A linear regression model was used to estimate the average progression of H&Y, UPDRS, and MMSE scores.

Findings

HBS and Fox Insight cohorts included 935 and 36,660 participants, while Optum and MGB cohorts comprised 157,475 and 22,949 individuals, respectively.

Research populations (60.4 years) had a lower age at PD diagnosis than the real-world populations (72.2 years). Follow-up duration was shorter in the Fox Insight study as it is a relatively new resource.

The average follow-up period was 6.1 years in HBS compared to 3.2 years in real-world populations. In general, clinical scores showed smaller changes over time in HBS compared to MGB. Optum lacked clinical rating scores.

MMSE scores were significantly higher throughout the first five years in HBS than in MGB. Notably, the median UPDRS total score doubled by the sixth year in MGB.

Next, the researchers assessed survival against notable clinical events, such as levodopa initiation, H&Y stage 3, discharge to long-term care, depression, fractures, falls, and dyskinesias.

They found that research populations, particularly the Fox Insight cohort, had significantly earlier start of medications. In contrast, PD medications were started later in MGB subjects, albeit levodopa initiation overlapped with the research populations.

Further, real-world populations reached an H&Y score  3 or met the definition for cognitive decline much sooner after diagnosis than research populations.

Further, levodopa treatment was initiated in over 80% of patients by H&Y stage 2.5. The Optum cohort showed a substantially earlier and higher incidence of falls, fractures, and depression than the MGB cohort.

Conclusions

The study analyzed PD progression across real-world and research populations and illustrated systematic differences and directional biases between them.

Research populations were diagnosed and started on levodopa and other medicines much earlier, with slower changes in clinical scales.

By contrast, PD diagnosis and treatment initiation were much later in real-world populations; they also had accelerated changes in clinical scales. Overall, the findings offer detailed insights into PD progression in different populations.
Primary school girls between the ages of 4 and 11 with a body mass index (BMI) considered overweight or obese are more likely to see a family doctor (GP) at least once about musculoskeletal problems than their healthy weight peers, suggests research, focused on one area of London and published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

There is some evidence to suggest that obesity increases the likelihood of back pain, chronic pain, and a hip condition (SCFE) more common in teens, caused by the additional stress placed on the body's joints by excess weight.

However, the association isn't clear, largely because of the quality and paucity of previously published studies, suggest the researchers.

To strengthen the evidence base, they set out to discover if musculoskeletal symptoms are more common among young children with a BMI considered obese/overweight than they are among their peers with a healthy weight.

They included primary schoolchildren from 4 ethnically diverse north east London local authorities from the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) for the academic years 2013-14 to 2018-19. The results were linked to general practice health records.

The study sample included 63,418 (51% boys) 4-5 year-olds (reception year) and 55,364 (51% boys) 10 to 11 year-olds (year 6). Most of the children lived in areas of high deprivation.

Just under 9% of reception year boys and just over 7% of reception year girls were living with obesity compared with just under 20% of year 6 boys and 14.4% of year 6 girls.

Some 3% of reception year children and 8% of year 6 children had at least one consultation with their family doctor for a musculoskeletal issue following their NCMP measurement. And 194 reception year children, and 875 year 6 children had more one than such consultation.

On average, the first musculoskeletal consultation occurred nearly 3 years after the reception year NCMP measurement and just over 2 years after the year 6 measurement.

When analysed by gender, reception girls with obesity were more likely to see their doctor about a musculoskeletal problem than their healthy weight peers, but there was no difference among the boys.

Compared with children with a healthy weight, a higher proportion of girls with obesity and a smaller proportion of boys with a BMI considered underweight saw their doctor about a musculoskeletal problem after their measurement in year 6.

Reception year girls who were living with a BMI considered overweight were 24% more likely to see a doctor at least once for a musculoskeletal issue, while their peers who were living with obesity were 67% more likely to do so than girls with a healthy weight in this year.

And year 6 girls with obesity were 20% more likely to do so, while boys with a BMI considered underweight were 61% less likely to do so than children with a healthy weight.

Knee and back symptoms or diagnoses were those most often recorded. For example, among reception year children with at least one musculoskeletal consultation, 46% of boys and 41.5% of girls reported knee pain. Among the year 6 children, the corresponding proportions were 40.4% and 36%.

Among the reception children, 22% of boys and 32% of girls reported back pain, compared with 30% of year 6 boys and 45% of year 6 girls.

This is an observational study, and as such, no definitive conclusions can be drawn about cause. And the researchers acknowledge various limitations to their findings, including the lack of information on each child's physical activity levela factor known to reduce obesity but also to increase the risk of musculoskeletal injury.

But they point out: "Poor musculoskeletal health during childhood has the potential to have a significant impact on quality of life, throughout childhood and continuing into adolescence and adulthood. Participation in some physical activities may be limited by musculoskeletal problems.

"In turn, increased weight has the potential to contribute to continued musculoskeletal pain, and consequently children may experience a perpetual obesity/musculoskeletal pain cycle as adolescents and adults."
Researchers are developing artificial intelligence which they hope will help to identify patients most at risk of lung cancer before symptoms have even appeared.

A team from Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust aims to create an AI-driven model which can autonomously piece together subtle clues and signs in patients data to identify those at risk so that they can be investigated further.

There are about 48,500 new cases of lung cancer in the UK alone each year with almost 35,000 people dying from the disease.

The team wants to address the current challenge of European health systems manually identifying people at risk of certain diseases and also help to reduce the financial burden by ensuring services are used by those who need them the most.

It will involve developing a system to recognize factors which might make an individual high risk and then creating synthetic data in order to train it to pick up even the weakest signals that there could be an issue.

The aim is to help save lives by identifying people before the disease becomes symptomatic because that can be too late for patients with lung cancer.

The Nottingham team are the UK partners in PHASE-IV-AI, a much larger 7.6m project funded by the European Unions Horizon Europe research and innovation program.

The project involves 20 partners from ten European countries and aims to unlock the full potential of AI and data analytics in health care in a secure and privacy-compliant way.

As well as lung cancer, the developments of PHASE-IV-AI project will also be validated by other partners in prostate cancer and ischemic stroke. Lung cancer and prostate cancer are among the top three priorities in tackling cancer in Europe, while neurodegenerative diseases are one of the most relevant issues with the EUs ageing population.

If successful it is hoped that the Nottingham teams model could be trained to identify risk for other serious diseases and rolled out to hospitals and organizations across Europe willing to utilize AI-driven diagnostics.

It is thought that AI can enable real innovations in health care, and that AI systems which can process vast amounts of data quickly and in detail can be harnessed as a tool for preventative health care and clinical decision-making.

Despite this, the way in which information is currently stored across European countries and the limited access to health data can form a barrier to innovation, as developing trustworthy and responsible AI systems often requires large datasets for training and validation.

The hope is that we could develop an AI-driven model for hospitals which they can then utilize and run to help find those most at risk, said Dr Mufti Mahmud, an Associate Professor of Cognitive Computing in Nottingham Trent Universitys School of Science and Technology.

He said: Countries have huge amounts of clinical practice data and we want to understand how we might harness this to identify the right people, so they can be invited for more focused diagnostics. We need the system to be able to find people before they start showing symptoms, and ultimately to help save lives.

Health care data storing is very sensitive, very private, so by developing synthetic data we can train the model to function responsibly and to provide the reasons why it selected an individual. Dr Mufti Mahmud, Associate Professor of Cognitive Computing, Nottingham Trent Universitys School of Science and Technology

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust lung cancer consultant Prof David Baldwin said: Identifying the right people for cancer screening is vital to ensure that the most people benefit whilst not harming people who have a low risk of developing lung cancer.

AI offers the opportunity to improve the way we target screening programmes to make them more clinically and cost effective. AI is also changing practice in many other areas of lung cancer care. AI tools can help reduce the workload of specialists like radiographers and radiologists, as well as treatment costs, and improve outcomes for patients.
A global wave of infections caused by fungi growing drug-resistant has the medical community issuing precautions on how to protect yourself.

Skin contact with microorganisms found in soil or on hard surfaces, such as common shower facilities, or exposure to infected pets, can result in fungal infections known as dermatomycoses. Rashes, itching, burning and skin irritation are among the symptoms.

Epidemiological data published in Microbial Cell indicates that a rise in severe fungal infections has resulted in over 150 million cases annually and almost 1.7 million fatalities globally.

In a recent study published in Pathogens and Immunity, Thomas McCormick and Mahmoud Ghannoum, professors of dermatology at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and affiliated with University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, explain how rising antifungal resistance is worsening the problem of invasive fungal infections.

This is not just an issue that affects individual patients. The World Health Organization has recognized it as a widespread threat that has the potential to impact entire healthcare systems if left unchecked." Thomas McCormick, Professor of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Based on their findings, the researchers issued precautions and a "call to action" for the medical community to help protect people from multidrug-resistant fungi-;starting with awareness and education.

"Healthcare providers must prioritize the use of diagnostic tests when faced with an unknown fungal infection," Ghannoum said. "Early detection can make all the difference in improving patient outcomes."

Patients treated with medications to protect the immune system after cancer and transplant procedures are more vulnerable to fungal infections-;making them especially more vulnerable to infections from drug-resistant fungi, the researchers said.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant fungal species, such as Candida auris and Trichophyton indotineae, is especially troubling and requires urgent attention, they reported.

In a study recently published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Ghannoum's research team and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), detailed a case that demonstrated Trichophyton indotineae, in addition to becoming drug-resistant, was also sexually transmissible.

To address the growing health concern, McCormick and Ghannoum suggest several measures:

Increased awareness and education: Raising awareness in the general healthcare setting to obtain a more accurate understanding of the rise of antifungal-resistant infections.

Diagnostic Testing: Routine use of diagnostic tests can guide appropriate treatment strategies.

Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (AST): Improving insurance reimbursement rates for AST and increasing the number of qualified laboratories with the capacity to perform these tests.

Call to Action: Addressing the emerging challenge of antifungal resistance involves concerted efforts from healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers and the pharmaceutical industry to develop and implement strategies for managing and preventing antifungal resistance.

"The ultimate goal of these measures," Ghannoum said, "is to improve the quality of patient care by ensuring effective treatment and preventing further escalation of the problem."
An artificial intelligence tool correctly answered 83 percent of common genetic counseling questions, including those about genetic testing and genetic syndromes, a new study found.

Presented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology's Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer on March 17, 2024, in San Diego, the study examined the capabilities of a form of artificial intelligence (AI) called generative AI. Such tools predict likely options for the next word in any sentence based on how billions of people used words in context on the internet. A side effect of this next-word prediction is that generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT can generate replies to questions in realistic language and produce clear summaries of complex texts.

Led by researchers at NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center, the current paper explored the application of ChatGPT to answering questions about genetic syndromes counseling related to gynecologic oncology.

Our data suggest that this tool has the potential to answer common questions from patients to reduce anxiety and keep them informed. More data input from gynecologic oncologists is needed before the tool can help to educate patients on their cancers, and only as an assistant to human providers." Jharna M. Patel, MD, lead study investigator

Jharna M. Patel has a Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship at NYU Langone.

40 questions

For the study, the research team consulted with gynecologic oncologists to choose 40 questions often asked by patients and in line with professional society guidelines. They then typed the questions into prompted ChatGPT version 3.4, asking for answers.

The authors then asked attending gynecologic oncologists to rate the chatbot's answers on the following scale: 1) correct and comprehensive, 2) correct but not comprehensive, 3) some correct, some incorrect, and 4) completely incorrect. The proportion of responses earning each score was calculated overall and within each question category.

Specifically, ChatGPT was found to have provided correct and comprehensive answers to 33/40 (82.5 percent) questions, correct but not comprehensive answers to 6/40 (15 percent) questions, and partially incorrect answers to 1/40 (2.5 percent) questions. None of the answers were scored as completely incorrect.

The genetic counseling category of questions (e.g., How do you know if someone has an inherited or family cancer syndrome?) had the highest proportion of AI answers that were both correct and comprehensive, with ChatGPT answering all 20 questions with 100 percent accuracy. ChatGPT performed equally well with questions about specific genetic disorders. The gynecologic oncologists found, for instance, that 88.2 percent (15/17) of the answers were correct and complete on testing for differences in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene known to be a driver of cancer risk, while 66.6 percent (2/3) were correct on Lynch syndrome, the most common form of hereditary colorectal cancer. A complete list of the study questions is included below.

"We think we can further improve on these results by continuing to train the AI tool on more data, and by learning to ask better sets of questions," says senior study author Marina Stasenko, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. "The goal is to deploy this in the clinic when ready, but only as an assistant to human providers."

Along with Dr. Patel and Dr. Stasenko, study authors in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology's Division of Gynecologic Oncology were Catherine Hermann, MD, and Whitfield B. Growdon, MD. Study author Emeline M. Aviki, MD, MBA, was from the Division of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine.
Shares of all 10 Adani group companies traded lower on March 18 after Bloomberg reported that the US government had widened its investigation of the conglomerate over suspicions of bribery.

A note from unit Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. due in 2041 slid 2.4 cents, the most since August, to 79.1 cents. Another bond from subsidiary Adani Renewable Energy RJ Ltd. due 2039 fell 2.3 cents to 83 cents, the worst drop since February 2023. That pares gains in recent months that sent the securities to their highest levels since 2022, Bloomberg said.

On Dalal Street, shares of Adani Total Gas were the biggest loser as it was trading 4% lower at noon. Stocks of Adani Transmission, Adani Ports, Ambuja Cements, ACC, Adani Green and Adani Enterprises were trading 2-3% lower.

Earlier in the morning, the stocks had dropped up to 8% before paring some of those losses.

On March 15, Bloomberg had reported that the US government was looking into the conduct of founder and Chairman Gautam Adani, and whether Adani entities or affiliates of the company were involved in bribing Indian officials for preferential treatment on energy projects.

The US Attorneys office for the Eastern District of New York and the Department of Justices fraud unit were handling the investigation. Adani said it was not aware of any investigation against the firm or its founder.

The Bloomberg report comes in a year after short-seller Hindenburg Research accused Adani of fraud and market manipulation. The conglomerate had denied the allegations and was also cleared by the Securities and Exchange Board of India.

Last year, Adani Group stocks crashed after short-seller Hindenburg Research accused the conglomerate of manipulating its stock price and accounting fraud. The group vigorously denied the allegations and its shares have since recovered.

Even as more than a year has passed since the release of the Hindenburg report, most shares of the conglomerate are yet to recover from the shadow of the short-sellers agenda.
Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) released a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) for its users on Friday. These FAQs address the minimum amount necessary in FASTag accounts and how security deposits are reimbursed. The FAQs state that from March 15, Paytm Payments Bank will no longer accept deposits or top-ups for FASTags. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) notes that consumers using PPBL FASTags can still utilise the funds in their accounts to pay tolls after March 15.

Can you withdraw money from your Paytm Payments Bank savings or current account after March 15, 2024? Can you continue to use the Paytm Payments Bank debit card that you were issued?

As per the bank, after March 15, 2024, the RBI will no longer accept new deposits into the Paytm Payments Bank Account or permit credit transactions. Up to the available amount in your account, you may still use, withdraw or transfer money from it. Likewise, you can keep making withdrawals or transfers using your debit card up to the amount that is available in your account.

After March 15, 2024, would it still be possible to deposit or transfer funds into your Paytm Payments Bank current account or savings bank account?

After March 15, 2024, Paytm Payments Bank is not permitted by an RBI mandate to take in new deposits or process credit transactions. Crediting is allowed for cashback, interest, sweep-ins from partner banks, and refunds though.

If your salary is credited to your Paytm Payments Bank account, can you still get it there?

You are free to spend, withdraw or transfer money from your account up to the available amount, according to the bank. However, in order to guarantee a seamless transition and prevent any difficulties, it is advised that you make alternate arrangements with a different bank by March 15, 2024.

Can you still get government subsidies or certain direct benefit payments into your Paytm Payments Bank account that are linked to your Aadhar?

Only the available balance may be used, withdrawn, or transferred from your account. It is important to make alternate arrangements with a different bank by March 15, 2024.

Can you continue to pay your monthly OTT subscription automatically via UPI from your Paytm Payments Bank bank account?

Automatic UPI mandates for withdrawals or debits will continue as long as your account has sufficient funds.

If you are to receive a reimbursement in the account that you have with Paytm Payments Bank after March 15, 2024, will that refund get credited to your account?

Sure. Even after March 15, 2024, refunds for transactions made from wallets, savings accounts, current accounts, cashbacks, sweep-ins from partner banks, and interest are allowed credited into your Paytm Payments Bank Account.

Can you keep making automatic payments of your loans installments (EMI) using your Paytm Payments Bank account?

Mandates for withdrawals or debits, such as those from the National Automated Clearing House (NACH), shall be carried out until your account balance is exhausted.

Can you continue to have your loans automatic monthly payments (EMI) made using a bank account other than Paytm Payments Bank?

EMIs that are registered with banks other than Paytm Payments Bank are still eligible to be paid.
Stocks To Watch On March 18: Equity markets were volatile throughout the last week as cautiousness towards mid and small caps continued to drag market sentiments. In todays trade shares of Indian Hotels, RailTel, Dr Lal PathLabs, Torrent Power and Lupin will be in focus due to various news developments.

Adani Group: As per PTI, the group will invest more than Rs 1.2 lakh crore in FY25 across its portfolio business with a special focus on green and renewable energy.

Separately, the US has widened its investigation of the Adani Group to focus on the conduct of its founder, Gautam Adani, and whether the company may have engaged in bribery, reported Bloomberg News on Friday.

Hindustan Aeronautics: The company signed a contract worth Rs 2,890 crore with the Ministry of Defence for the mid-life upgrade of 25 Dornier aircraft along with associated equipment for the Indian Navy.

Lupin: The company said US FDA inspected its manufacturing facility at Aurangabad from March 6 to March 15, 2024. The inspection closed with the issuance of a Form 483 with one observation.

Torrent Power: It has received a Letter Of Award for a 300 MW wind and solar hybrid project with a tariff of Rs 3.65/kWh. The contract period shall be 25 years.

Jindal Stainless: The company said it supplied stainless steel for the countrys first underwater metro line in Kolkata. The project was worth Rs 4,965 crore.

LIC: LIC has planned to provide a 17 per cent wage hike for its employees, effective August 1, 2022.

KPI Green: It has emerged as a successful bidder for a 100 MWA solar power project at Maharashtra State Power Generation Co (MAHAGENCO).

Zydus Life: It has received the final US FDA approval and 180 days Competitive Generic Therapy Exclusivity for Finasteride and Tadalafil Cap Capsules, which are used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Drone Acharya: It has secured a contract to supply IT hardware for the Indian Armys drone lab in J&K.

JSW Energy: Its arm JSW Neo Energy has received Letter of Awards (LoA) for an additional 500 MW of wind capacity under greenshoe option for the Solar Energy Corp (SECI) Wind Power Projects.

RailTel: It has bagged orders worth Rs 482 crore.

Dr Lal PathLabs: The company has appointed Shankha Banerjee as CEO, effective May 21.

IRCON: It has received a LoA for a construction project worth Rs 630 cr from NHIDCL.

SJVN: The company has received a Letter of Intent from GUVNL for a 200 MW Solar Project.
The results for GATE 2024 have been released by the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Bangalore on March 16. If you want to check your GATE score, you can do so by visiting gate2024.iisc.ac.in. A day before the release of the scores, IISC Bangalore also released the GATE master question paper and final answer keys for all the papers. The GATE score can help you get recruited in a wide array of public sector undertakings like Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Coal India Limited (CIL).

GATE 2024 results of the papers of Architect, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology will be used for the recruitment of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The papers of Civil, Chemical, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering will be used for recruitment of candidates in Engineers India Limited (EIL). If you want to get into Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), it will be done on the evaluation of your scores in the different papers. This included chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer science and information technology, electrical engineering, electronics and communication engineering, instrumentation engineering, mechanical engineering and metallurgical engineering.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) will also use the GATE 2024 score for the recruitment of the Executive Trainee 2024 batch in six engineering disciplines  Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Instrumentation and Mechanical

The GATE 2024 exam took place on February 3, 4, 10, and 11. After the exam, response sheets were made available on February 15, while answer keys and question papers were released on February 19. Candidates had the opportunity to raise objections regarding the answer keys from February 22 to 25.

Following is a list of PSUs that will recruit based on your GATE score:

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)

Coal India Limited (CIL)

Center for Railway Information System (CRIS)

Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL)

Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC)

Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL)

Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL)

Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDSL)

National Aluminum Company Limited (NALCO)

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

NLC India Limited (NLCIL)

National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC)

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)

National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)

Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL)

Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO)

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL)
A 14-year-old school girl in Karnataka died by suicide on campus after she was allegedly strip-searched at the institute. She was strip-searched along with three other students after a teacher reported a theft on campus, reported the Times of India. She died by suicide on Saturday afternoon, two days after the incident.

According to the police, the four girls of a govt school at Bagalkot in north Karnataka were strip-searched in front of the teaching staff and the headmaster, after a language teacher doubted them of stealing Rs 2,000 from her. The girls were allegedly later taken to a nearby temple to prove their innocence, the report added. The police are currently investigating the case.

ALSO READ | Papa, I Will Not be Able to Pass JEE: Bihar Student Dies by Suicide in Kota, Sixth Case This Year

Earlier, a class 7 student in Noida died by suicide after he allegedly fell from the 22nd floor of a residential high-rise. The 14-year-old boy had recently taken his annual examinations and its results were expected in a few days, an official source told PTI. The police suspect it to be a case of suicide. A police spokesperson said the incident took place at around 5.30 pm at the Supertech Eco Village 3 group housing society in Bisrakh.

The boy died on the spot after falling from the 22nd floor of a residential tower of the society. Further legal proceedings in the case are underway, a police spokesperson said. The family lives in a flat on the second floor of the building while the boy allegedly jumped from the 22nd floor, an officer told the news agency.

DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed a public meeting in Telanganas Jagtial and reinforced the 4 June ko 400 Paar aim to the public. Taking a swipe at the Opposition, he said that the BJP wave will sweep out BRS and the Congress from the state. He also attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his Shakti remark during the end of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai on Sunday.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE

Travelling with a packed schedule, the PM  later in the day  will then visit Karnatakas Shivamogga and finally go on a mega road show in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The prime minister is set to pay homage to the 1998 blast victims at the end of roadshow in RS Puram, where the terrifying incident took place.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Partys core group of the Uttar Pradesh unit is likely to hold a meeting in the evening with party president JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital.
The Uttarakhand unit of the Congress seems to be heading into turbulence ahead of the Lok Sabha elections with leaders reportedly lining up to join the ruling BJP.

The latest to switch sides is Rajendra Singh Bhandari, a three-term Congress legislator who was also a minister in the state in the past. Bhandari joined the BJP on Sunday in the presence of senior leaders, including Union Minister Piyush Goyal and the partys national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam.

The news came out of the blue for the Congress as barely 12 hours before jumping ship, Bhandari was actively campaigning for the grand old partys candidate Ganesh Godiyal in the Pauri Garhwal constituency where the BJP has fielded its national media incharge Anil Baluni.

As long as I am in politics, I will remain with the Congress, Bhandari had told a public gathering as recent as Saturday.

BJP leaders believe Bhandaris entry in the party is a shot in the arm as he is considered to be a prominent Thakur leader in Garhwal. Its a special (occasion) for me as senior leader Rajendra Bhandari is from Pauri constituency from where I have been fielded, Baluni said on Bhandaris entry into the BJP.

Besides Bhandari, two former Congress legislators also joined the BJP and another former legislator resigned from the party membership on Sunday. Senior leader Harak Singh Rawats daughter-in-law Anukriti Gusain and Rawats confidant Lakshmi Rana have also quit the Congress.

According to BJP sources, Harak Singh, who has a sizeable following in the Pauri Garhwal belt, is in touch with the party.

Those who are switching sides are self-centric, they are exposed, said Congress president Karan Mahara who is facing tremendous pressure from within the party for failing to manage the ongoing crisis.

Even as the Congress struggles to keep its flock together, BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt has hinted at a few more surprises in the coming days.

The queue for exit from Congress had started with spiritual leader-turned-politician Satpal Maharaj quitting to join the BJP soon after Harish Rawat was appointed Chief Minister. Another blow to the Congress came in 2016, when nine party legislators from Garhwal revolted against Harish Rawat.
The seat-sharing formula among NDA constituents for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections has made one thing painfully clear  Nitish Kumars JD-U is no longer the big brother in the eastern state.

As per the seat-sharing pact announced by BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde on Monday, the saffron party would contest on 17 seats, the JD-U on 16, and Chirag Paswans LJP (Ram Vilas) will contest on five. Two other NDA allies  Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha  will contest one seat each. Bihar sends a total of 40 MPs to the Lok Sabha.

Lok Sabha elections in Bihar will be held in seven phases. Four seats will go to the polls on April 19, five each on April 26, May 7, May 13 and May 20, and eight each on May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4, 2024.

Change in Pecking Order

Its a difference of just one seat between the BJP and the JD-U. And its enough to convey who is calling the shots in Bihar. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, both parties had contested on 17 seats apiece. Even in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, Nitish Kumar had managed to maintain the tilt towards his party, contesting on 115 seats and leaving 110 for the BJP.

However, the dynamic has changed in the last five years with an ageing Nitish Kumars alliance flip-flops eroding public trust.

The seat-sharing details were announced at the BJPs Delhi headquarters, with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on the stage. The BJP young gun had feverishly upped the ante against Nitish Kumar during his alliance with the RJD.

Chirags Big Comeback With Hajipur

Another key takeaway has been Chirag Paswans big comeback with the Hajipur seat, which had been the bone of contention between him and his uncle Pashupati Paras. The two split the LJP  a party founded by Ram Vilas Paswan and fought on six seats each in the 2019 elections.

Following Paswan Seniors death in 2020, Bihar NDA was all about four parties  BJP, JD-U, HAM and Vikassheel Insaan Party. Chirag Paswans LJP was forced to exit after his continuous attacks on Nitish Kumar.

Much seems to have changed ever since in one NDA meeting in July 2023 where Chirag Paswan was invited and was given a warm hug by PM Narendra Modi.

Paswan Junior is not only back, but is back with a bang by winning the prestige battle against his uncle, who is sitting MP from Hajipur. Chirag, too, wanted the seat as it was once held by his father Ram Vilas Paswan.

End of the Road for Minister-Uncle?

Pashupati Paras, Chirags uncle and also the President of the Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), has been left out in the cold. Though he is still the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, with no seats allotted in the alliance, he stares at an uncertain future.

BJP sources say two proposals have been made to Paras  either accept a Rajya Sabha seat or exit politics for good and be elevated to a Governors post. It is not known yet whether Paras has made his choice.

Talks are going on, said Deputy CM Samrat Chowdhury when asked about Parass future in the alliance.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday cautioned voters against supporting Congress candidates in the upcoming general election, asserting that they would ultimately join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Speaking to reporters in Karimgamj district, Assam Chief Minister said, Dont spoil your valuable vote by casting for Congress candidate because tomorrow or day after they are going to join BJP if they win.. Casting your vote for Congress candidates is meaningless.

Responding to a question about Congress chances in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, he remarked, Forget about prospects, firstly, voters should inquire whether the Congress candidates will stay with the party or not. Because, except for one Congress candidate, I can bring all others to the BJP.

The Assam CM also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed confidence in his re-election for a third term.

This is the power of our PM Modi ji. His activeness and dedication toward his work attract everyone to the BJP. PM Modi is the Sun, and we all are his moons, Sarma said.

Addressing concerns about the protection of minority communities, the Assam CM stated, There is no distinction between minority and mainstream citizens because ultimately, PM Modi will be the Prime Minister. His motto, Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas, ensures that PM will work for everyone, including minority communities.

Sarma expressed confidence that the BJP candidate from the Guwahati constituency would secure the highest number of votes, stating, Ill be there to look after.

Regarding the fate of Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, the Assam CM said that Gogoi would not succeed in the Jorhat LS constituency. However, concerning the prospects in Dhubri, he reiterated that the BJP is not hoping to win that seat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scathing attack at the Opposition over Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Shakti remark during a rally in Mumbai and said that he was willing to sacrifice his life for the mothers and sisters, who were the personified version of Shakti.

Addressing a public meeting at Telanganas Jagtial, PM Modi raised questions at the INDIA bloc and asked How can they talk about Shakti Vinaash (destruction of Shakti) in India? He asked the people of the state, whether they will support someone who wants to challenge Shakti?

Yesterday, INDI Alliance hosted a rally in Mumbai. They declared that their fight is against Shakti, the prime minister said, adding that For me, every daughter, mother, and sister is a personification of Shakti.

He said that he would risk his life to protect these mothers and sisters who are the embodiment of Shakti.

The PM maintained his stance while addressing another poll rally in Karnatakas Shivamogga later in the day. Yesterday (Sunday) in Mumbai Shivaji ground, INDI Alliance made an announcement that they want to destroy Shakti. If they want to destroy Shakti then worshipping Shakti is our resolve, he said.

When I heard the announcement to eliminate Shakti from Shivaji Park, I thought how it would have hurt Bal Thackerays soul, he added.

TOP POINTS OF WHAT PM MODI SAID:

Beginning his jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Shakti remark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, Its an honour for me that Nari Shakti has come here to bless and support me.

Yesterday, INDI Alliance hosted a rally in Mumbai. They declared that their fight is against Shakti; and for me, every daughter, mother and sister is a personification of Shakti, PM Modi said. He said he accepts the challenge of those who raise their voice against Shakti, adding that he is willing to sacrifice his life for Shakti.

The prime minister noted that he worships every mother and daughter in the form of Shakti, saying that I will risk my life to protect these mothers and sisters who are the embodiment of Shakti.

Taking a swipe at the Opposition, PM Modi said that there are two groups of people in the league. One set talks about destroying Shakti and the other talks about worshipping Shakti. The competition will be held on 4th June to see who can destroy Shakti and who can get Shaktis blessings he added.

He appealed to the people to ensure the Bharatiya Janata Partys victory in the state during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. On 13 May, you should remember that BJP must win! The more seats you give to BJP, the more it will fuel me to work even harder for you, the prime minister said.

Addressing a poll rally in Karnatakas Shivamogga, the Prime Minister noted that the announcement of eradicating Shakti was made at Shivaji Park where every child grows up with the Mantra of Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji.

WHAT WAS RAHUL GANDHIS SHAKTI REMARK?

Earlier on Sunday, while addressing the concluding ceremony of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra at Mumbais Shivaji Park, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit out at the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) and compared them to the powerful Hinduism symbol of Shakti, which is often associated with Goddess Durga. Rahul said that the oppositions fight is against that very Shakti.

In Hinduism, there is a term called Shakti. We are fighting against that Shakti. The question is, what is that Shakti? The soul of the King is in the EVM. The soul of the King in the EVM and every institution of the country, in ED, CBI and Income Tax department, said Gandhi in Mumbai.

Gandhi also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he works only for power. Modi is a mask who works for a shakti (power). He is a shallow man who doesnt have a 56-inch chest, Gandhi said.

PM Modi Twisted My Words: Rahul Gandhi

After facing severe backlash over his Shakti remarks throughout the day, Congress Rahul Gandhi took to X to explain his stance via a post in Hindi.

Modi ji does not like my words, he always tries to change their meaning by twisting them in some way or the other because he knows that I have spoken a deep truth. The power that I mentioned, is the power that we are fighting. Modi ji is the mask of that power, he wrote.

       ,                               ,       ,             Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 18, 2024

It is such a power that today it has captured Indias voice, Indias institutions, CBI, IT, ED, Election Commission, media, and the entire constitutional structure of India in its clutches, he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought support for NDA from Andhra Pradeshs voters on Sunday as he shared the stage with former chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena party chief Pawan Kalyan.

This was the first joint and public appearance for Naidu and PM Modi after at least half-a-decade. Naidu, who was part of Modi government 1.0, had snapped ties with the NDA in 2018.

Speaking on the progress of the state, PM Modi appealed to the youth to vote for NDA and throw out a corrupt YSR Congress government. The prime minister, while hitting out at CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, said their only focus was on corruption and the ministers in the state were competing to see who could be more corrupt than the other.

In his first political appearance since the Election Commission announced the poll schedule, PM Modi had five key takeaways for the voters.

NDA = VIKSIT BHARAT, VIKSIT AP

Highlighting the work done by the Union government over the last 10 years and how focus has been on the development of every section of society, PM Modi reiterated that this election is extremely critical for the country because it will pave the way for a Viksit Bharat. He urged the people of the state to join that journey towards a developed India.

OPPOSITION INSULTS TELUGU PEOPLE

Hitting out at the Congress and the ruling YSR Congress, Modi said both the parties were corrupt and believed in similar ideologies.

Do not get confused. The YSR Congress and the Congress party are two sides of the same coin, he said at the rally. Invoking the legendary NTR, PM Modi said he fought for Telugu pride but was ill-treated by Congress. A legend like NTR was also made to suffer at the hands of the Congress party, even if he spoke about the interest of the Telugu people. Even leaders like PV Narasimha Rao were never given their due. NDA always thinks beyond party lines and our government recently gave the Bharat Ratna to Rao, Modi said.

CORRUPTION OUT IN 2024

PM Modi accused the YSR Congress government of being extremely corrupt and said it was time to bring a change in the state for development. The state government is not interested in the development of the people. Interestingly, the only competition between the ministers is not for work, but to see who can be more corrupt, the prime minister highlighted.

NAIDU AND KALYAN VOICE FOR ANDHRA

When PM Modi came to power in the Centre in 2014, it was the same time that TDP also assumed power in Andhra Pradesh. Chandrababu Naidu was the CM from 2014 to 2019. Pawan Kalyan, meanwhile, has openly said he is willing to ally with anybody who defeats the corrupt Jagan regime. The prime minister also underscored that unlike UPA partners, who only cared about vote bank and selfish politics, the NDA was an alliance where regional aspirations were allowed to thrive.

PM Modi lauded the efforts of both Naidu and Kalyan for the people of the state. Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan have been fighting for your rights, they have been fighting for the development of Andhra Pradesh day and night, he said.

CONTINUOUS FOCUS ON DEVELOPMENT

Speaking at the rally, the prime minister threw light on the development pitch of his government and the special focus on empowerment of the youth. He said the Centre was committed to making Andhra Pradesh the educational hub of the country.

To uplift the youth of AP, we will build NIDM, National Institute of Custom and Indirect Taxes at Palasamudram, IIT in Tirupati, IIITDM in Kurnool, IIM in Vizag, Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy, AIIMS at Managalagiri, NID at Vijayawada, NIT at Tadepalligudem, Central Tribal University at Vizianagaram, PM Modi said.

Just a week ago, the BJP-led NDA announced that the Telugu Desam Party and Jana Sena would join the NDA for the Lok Sabha as well as assembly elections in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

The seat arrangement has also been decided among the three parties. BJP will contest two Lok Sabha and eight assembly seats, TDP will contest 17 Lok Sabha seats and 145 assembly seats and JSP will contest two Lok Sabha and 22 assembly seats. The exact seat distribution is expected to be done in the next couple of days after the BJP CEC meeting takes place in the national capital.

Prominent leaders from the BJP who are expected to contest the Lok Sabha polls include Purandeshwari, daughter of NTR, who is likely to get a seat from Rajahmundry. Former union minister YS Chaudhry is expected to contest from Elaru, while former Rajya Sabha MP CM Ramesh is likely to contest from Anakapalli and YS Satya Kumar from Hindupur. The BJP is also keen on giving a Lok Sabha seat to former Andhra Pradesh CM Kiran Kumar Reddy.

In 2019, shocking election results saw the ouster of Chandrababu Naidu and TDP from both the state as well as Lok Sabha.

The party was able to win just three Lok Sabha seats out of 25 and received a massive drubbing in the assembly results, with Jagan Mohan Reddy sweeping polls with 155 MLAs and 22 Lok Sabha seats.

BJP, which has been desperately trying to find its foothold in Andhra Pradesh, polled less than 1 per cent. With the current alliance in place and anti-incumbency staring Jagan Mohan Reddy in the face, NDA is hoping for a huge boost to their chances.
Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale on Monday filed a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that he violated the poll code by using an Indian Air Force helicopter to attend an election rally in Andhra Pradesh. In a letter to the chief electoral officer, Andhra Pradesh, Gokhale referred to Modis visit to Chilakaluripet in Palnadu district on Sunday, where the prime minister addressed a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rally along with TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu.

This is to bring to your urgent notice and to file a formal complaint for violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by Honble Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17.03.2024 in the Assembly Constituency of 96-Chilakaluripet in Palnadu District of Andhra Pradesh, Gokhale said in his letter.

Gokhale said PM Modi arrived at the venue of the rally, which was a part of election campaigning for the BJP, in an IAF helicopter with tail number ZP 5236 on Sunday evening.

Your kind attention is drawn to the Election Commissions rules on use of official vehicles and helicopters laid down in the ECIs Letter number. 464/INST/2014/EPS 10.04.2014 addressed to the Chief Electoral Officers of all States/UTs, he said.

In a post on X, where he also shared his complaint, Gokhale pointed out that the EC rules prohibit use of state machinery for campaigning. Indira Gandhi was disqualified in 1975 specifically for this reason, he said.

Then PM Indira Gandhi was disqualified by the Allahabad High Court in 1975 after being convicted of electoral malpractices. One of the most crucial findings against her was that her election agent, Yashpal Kapur, was the district magistrate of Rae Bareli. Gokhale also said that if the BJP paid for using the chopper, the EC should make it clear on what grounds using an Air Force chopper was essential.

If BJP paid for renting the IAF chopper, then EC should let us all know along with the grounds for why an IAF chopper was essential (CMs & other Z+ protectees use normal VVIP choppers which have all required security features) he said. EC had said while announcing the elections that code of conduct violations will be dealt with strictly. Lets see if EC initiates a probe or any action against PM Modi for using an IAF chopper for election campaigning, the TMC leader said.

In his letter, Gokhale pointed out that the EC guidelines say there shall be a total and absolute ban on the use of official vehicles for campaigning, electioneering or election related travel during elections. Therefore, the use of an official Indian Air Force helicopter by the Honble PM solely to address an election rally is a clear violation of the aforementioned guidelines. Through this letter, youre requested to urgently register a complaint regarding the same and to initiate immediate action in this matter, the Rajya Sabha MP added.

Modi on Sunday addressed the NDA rally Prajagalam, (voice of the public) in Palnadu district, the first joint public meeting of NDA partners in Andhra Pradesh after 10 years. He was joined by TDP supremo Naidu and Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan in the public meeting. The MCC is a set of conventions agreed upon by all stakeholders and imposed during elections.

Its objective is to keep the campaigning, polling and the counting process orderly, clean and peaceful and check any abuse of state machinery and finances by the party in power. While it does not enjoy any statutory backing, the Supreme Court has upheld its sanctity on several occasions.
Pashupati Paras and Chirag Paswan are the latest chacha-bhatija (uncle-nephew) in Indian politics to have a showdown and as with so many other political families before, the nephew may have just won the final round. An upset Paras may soon resign as the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, sources told News18.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which both Paswan and Paras are now part of after the former returned to the fold, announced its seat-sharing formula for Lok Sabha elections in Bihar on Monday. The BJP gets 17 seats, Nitish Kumars JD(U) gets 16, Chirag Paswans LJP (Ram Vilas) gets five and one apiece goes to Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha.

Pashupati Parass Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) has been left out in the cold. Adding insult to injury, the bone of contention between the uncle-nephew, the Hajipur seat once held by family patriarch Ram Vilas Paswan, goes to Chirag Paswan.

Sources say the BJP leadership recently held a meeting with Paras and offered to make him the Governor of a state and accommodate his nephew Prince Raj (son of Ramachandra Paswan), as a minister in the Bihar government. There was said to be no movement on the offer, but with the seat-sharing deal announced on Monday, Paras has little choice in the matter.

Pashupati Paras is all set to resign as a minister in the Narendra Modi government within the next 24 to 48 hours. He has been very upset with no discussion taking place with him about the seat-sharing arrangements, a source close to Paras told News18.

Genesis of the Rift

The Paswan family feud can be traced back to 2015, five years before Ram Vilas Pawans demise. Much to the dislike of many family members, Pawan Senior picked his son Chirag to become the head of the Lok Janshakti Partys parliamentary board, the topmost decision body of the LJP.

Despite requests from various quarters, Chirag had refused to give a Lok Sabha seat to his younger cousin Prince Raj. Princes father Ramachandra became MP and it was only after his death and because of the bypoll that Prince was allowed to emerge on the national scene, a family member told News18 on condition of anonymity.

The family feud worsened in the subsequent years as did Ram Vilas Pawans health. The veteran politician passed away in 2020, just a couple of weeks before Bihar Assembly elections. It was then that Chirag Paswan emerged on the scene, challenging the BJP-JDU combine.

Chirag Paswan has always been very obedient of the BJP top leadership, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He calls himself Modis Hanuman. The kind of help and support that the family got from both JP Nadda and Amit Shah left Chirag extremely emotional. This is the reason that he has reconciled all the differences and chosen to stay with the NDA, another source in the Chirag Paswan camp told News18.

In 2021, Pashupati Paras and four MPs, including Prince Raj, rebelled against Chirag Paswan and declared their own faction as the actual LJP. Both Pashupati Paras and Chirag Paswan took the matter to court and were given separate symbols and party names.

Chirag Paswan had even refused to vacate the official bungalow which his late father lived in. Since he was no longer eligible to stay there, the bungalow was offered to his uncle. But the and Union Minister declined the offer, saying he did not want to be accused of political vendetta.

All is Well?

At an NDA meeting last year, Chirag Paswan and Pashupati Paras seemingly buried the hatchet, swearing their commitment to the BJP-led alliance. But the Hajipur seat soon became the focal point of residual animosity.

As far as the BJP is concerned, picking Chirag over Paras made mathematical sense. The Paswan factor holds a lot of pull in several constituencies in Bihar. It accounts for anywhere between 4% to 7% votes. The party is convinced that the Paswan votes are strongly with the Chirag faction, a BJP source said.
When employees demand a salary hike, they forget that the amount goes away into paying the income tax. Very few decide on their salary structure to minimise their tax liability. It is always advisable that one should choose the tax-saving options as per their salary bracket.

Let at look at the basics you should consider when you get an opportunity to revise your salary structure for tax saving purposes.

Choose the Right Tax Regime

The new tax regime has more slabs with lower tax rates, and all the major exemptions and deductions available to taxpayers in the old regime are not allowed if the new one is chosen. Those who dont have any savings, can opt for the new tax regime.

If the advantage of lower rates in the new tax regime outruns the benefit of the exemptions and deductions available under the old tax regime, the taxpayer can then choose the new tax regime. To know which tax regime is better, the taxpayer should calculate the income tax liability at the applicable normal tax rates, i.e. at old tax slab rates, after availing all the eligible exemptions and deductions from their income, said Archit Gupta, CEO and founder of Clear, as quoted by Business Standard.

Individuals are allowed to claim deduction under Section 80C up to Rs 1.5 lakh, house loan interest, NPS contribution among others.

Certain components of the salary such as House Rent Allowance (HRA), conveyance allowance, leave travel allowance are exempted up to a certain limit.

According to a tax filing website, Clear, most taxpayers benefit from the old tax regime when they maximise section 80C and avail tax benefits available in the salary structure.

Salary Components You Should Consider

Basic Salary: It is utilised to calculate the tax of an individual. It is advisable that the basic salary should not be more than 40% of the CTC. Keeping the basic salary low will reduce other constituents of the salary, an expert quoted as saying by the Business Standard.

Tax-Exempt Investments: One can look for options such as Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificate (NSC), and Equity-Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) offer substantial tax reductions.

Flexible Benefits: Allowances such as medical insurance, meal vouchers, car allowance can be reimbursed from the company to avail tax benefits.

Bonuses: Negotiate on performance-based bonuses and non-monetary prerequisites like companys accommodation, vehicle, club memberships. These may have specific tax implications.

Home Loan: If an individual has applied for a home loan, the interest can be claimed as a deduction under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act.

Salary Splitting: If an individuals family member is falling in lower tax bracket, he/she can explore opportunities to split his/her income by investing in the name of such family member, as long as its done within legal limits.

Allowances to Look For

Reimbursements can be added to the salary structure to reduce net taxable income. For instance, food coupons, fuel, telephone or mobile reimbursements are some of the components.

Lets look at the tax benefits of these allowances.

HRA: Partially exempted if an employee is living in a rented house

Child Education Allowance: Up to Rs 100 per month per child for a maximum of two children

House Expenditure Allowance: This is granted to employees for expenses incurred on hostel fees of their child. Up to Rs 300 per month per child up to two children is exempted

Leave Travel Allowance: You can claim LTA if you go on a vacation subject to exemption limit and conditions as specified under the Income Tax Act, 1961

Food Coupon: Around two meals a day, which is a monthly benefit of Rs 2,200 or Rs 2,600, and an annual exemption of Rs 26,000 to Rs 31,000.
In a shocking incident reported from Karnatakas Bengaluru, an altercation allegedly broke out between a shopkeeper and a group of men for playing a Bhajan during Azaan.

Three men have been arrested so far for allegedly assaulting the shopkeeper for playing the Hanuman Chalisa over loudspeaker during Azaan (Islamic call to prayer) here, PTI reported quoting police. The suspects are all aged between 20 and 25 years.

Talking about the assault, the shopkeeper said, I was playing Hanuman bhajan when 4-5 people came and said it was time for Azaan and if you played it we would beat you. They beat me and also threatened me that they would stab me with a knife.

Bengaluru Police Begin Investigation

The Bengaluru police have begun an investigation into the incident and said that the men assaulted the shopkeeper over Hanuman Chalisa.

An altercation occurred between a group of people and a shopkeeper last evening during Azaan time when a shopkeeper played a song loudly near Siddanna Layout, in Bengaluru. A few Muslim youths questioned him, and an argument ensued, leading to them hitting the shopkeeper. An FIR has been registered at Halasuru Gate Police Limit, and the police are working to arrest the accused, ANI quoted police as saying.

According to the FIR, the fight was over loud music. The incident occurred on Sunday evening at Siddannagalli in the Cubbonpet area which is within the limits of Halasuru Gate police station.

#WATCH | Karnataka: An altercation occurred between a group of people and a shopkeeper last evening during 'Azaan' time when a shopkeeper played a song loudly near Siddanna Layout, in Bengaluru. A few Muslim youths questioned him, and an argument ensued, leading to them hitting pic.twitter.com/L0f0rxlfSR ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024

The CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media where 4-5 men can be seen confronting the shopkeeper over playing loud music a heated argument between them with one of them grabbing the shopkeepers collar. The victim tried to retaliate but they dragged the shopkeeper out of the shop and assaulted him.

The FIR has been registered under 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of the offence committed in prosecution of common object), 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

There Will Be A Bandh If: BJP Reacts

Meanwhile, a political row erupted after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tejasvi Surya gave a bandh call if all the accused in the matter were not arrested by tomorrow.

By tomorrow, we want the rest of the accused to be apprehended. If not tomorrow, by 12:30 pm, there will be a bandh in Nagarathpete. All of us will participate and demand justice for what has happened to MukeshThis is a question of law and order, of physical safety. Efforts are being made to dilute the case. I have spoken to the DCP myself. We are also planning to go to the Station to find out the veracity of the complaint because Mukesh is a non-Kannada speaker, said Surya while addressing the media.
The Chairperson of Biocon Limited, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw on Monday issued a clarification that she purchased electoral bonds and donated to JDS and other parties in a personal capacity. My donations were nominal on the principle of funding election campaigns with white money, Kiran said.

ALSO READ: Electoral Bonds Worth Rs 571 Crore Were Purchased Just Before SC Ban; Seven Firms Account for Half of It

Would like to clarify that Biocon did not make any political donation to JDS or any other party for elections. At a personal level I purchased electoral bonds which I donated to JDS and several parties, Shaw posted on X.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday published electoral bonds data, received from the State Bank of India (SBI), on its official website in compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court.

The SBI told the Supreme Court that a total of 22,217 electoral bonds were purchased by political parties between April 1, 2019, and February 15, 2024, out of which 22,030 were redeemed.

According to the affidavit filed by SBIs chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara, the bank has also furnished to the poll panel information like the date of encashment of the electoral bonds, the names of political parties which received the donations and the denominations of the bonds.

A total number of 22,217 bonds were purchased during the period April 1, 2019, till February 15, 2024. At the time of collating the information for the ECI, the details were segregated as below, it said.

JD(S) is one of a few parties that have revealed the names of donors who donated to them via electoral bonds.

Citing the poll panels data, a Business Today report said that JDS, in 2018, received Rs 1 Crore from Infosys Technologies, Rs 22 crore from the Embassy Group, Rs 25 lakh from Health Care Global Enterprises, and Rs 50 lakh from Biocon.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw purchased bonds worth Rs 6 crore in her capacity.

In a landmark verdict delivered on February 15 this year, a five-judge Constitution bench had scrapped the Centres 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 by March 13.
Veteran BJP leader from West Bengal, Tathagata Roy, found himself embroiled in a controversy after suggesting a circumcision test to ascertain the religion of males seeking citizenship under the newly implemented Citizenship (Amendment) Act. In response, Trinamool Congress called the former Tripura Governors comments vulgar.

Making his suggestion, Roy took to microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, OMG, what coyness, what modesty! Big deal about checking whether a male is circumcised or not! CAA completely excludes Muslims from conferring of citizenship. So in case of doubt this test is perfectly in order.

OMG, what coyness, what modesty! Big deal about checking whether a male is circumcised or not!CAA completely excludes Muslims from conferring of citizenship. So in case of doubt this test is perfectly in order.Many years back when we were undergoing admission to Engineering  Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) March 17, 2024

In support of his stance, he added, Many years back when we were undergoing admission to Engineering Colleges ALL MALES were subjected to a medical test which included disrobing before a male doctor! Not to find out if one was circumcised but if one had hydrocele. Nobody ever objected to it! Why now?

The former Bengal BJP chief faced severe backlash for his comments and later clarified his earlier remarks on CAA. He said he made the suggestion in view of the Muslims exclusion from the law to grant citizenship.

I had suggested checking whether a male is circumcised or not when his religion is in doubt. Because Muslims are completely excluded from CAA. I stick to what I posted.The resulting explosion, mostly from Muslims, suggests one of two things. Either a lot of Muslims wanted to  Tathagata Roy (@tathagata2) March 18, 2024

I had suggested checking whether a male is circumcised or not when his religion is in doubt. Because Muslims are completely excluded from CAA. I stick to what I posted. The resulting explosion, mostly from Muslims, suggests one of two things. Either a lot of Muslims wanted to pass off as non-Muslims by faking their identities and are now scared their bluff might be called, Roy wrote on X.

Roy also accused the Trinamool Congress of raining disinformation about people who fled Bangladesh due to persecution there. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has called the CAA an election gimmick and alleged it was implemented to harass people, adding that her government will not implement it.

TMC responds

The Trinamool Congress has termed Tathagata Roys comments on CAA a vulgar jibe, questioning the narrative the BJP wanted to put forward. CAA, passed in 2019 and notified last Monday, aims to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities  Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Christians but not Muslims  from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who arrived in India by 2014.

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said Tathagata Roy was perpetuating religious discrimination in the form of such lowly and vulgar jibes.

Tathagata Roy crossed all boundaries today by asserting his views on CAA mentioning that circumcision should be the deciding factor to determine the citizenship, which also reflects upon the ridiculous narratives that @BJIndia enables and promotes in the country, Ghosh wrote on X.

.@tathagata2 crossed all boundaries today by asserting his views on CAA mentioning that circumcision should be the deciding factor to determine the citizenship of a person in India.We HAVE NO tolerance towards bigots who perpetuate religious discrimination in the form of such https://t.co/Qwb3tEiov0  Kunal Ghosh (@KunalGhoshAgain) March 17, 2024

Senior TMC leader Mamata Bala Thakur said in a video message on TMCs official X handle.

Today, former Governor of Meghalaya and ex-@BJP4Bengal State President, @tathagata2, sunk to new depths of BIGOTRY by suggesting that clinical tests should be performed to determine ones religion based on circumcision, and citizenship should be granted accordingly.This pic.twitter.com/jNDfvlBDPh  All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 17, 2024

He was a governor [of Tripura and Meghalaya]. We dont expect such a comment from him, asking for testing a persons private parts to ascertain religious identity. We call upon Bengalis and Matuas to unite in protest against that.
Bulgarian President Rumen Radev expressed his gratitude for the Indian Navy after they successfully carried out a rescue operation on the hijacked cargo ship, MV Ruen, in the Arabian Sea on Friday.

Among the 17 rescued crew members, seven were Bulgarian nationals.

The Bulgarian President took to his official X account and said, My sincere gratitude to PM @narendramodi for the brave action of Indian Navy rescuing the hijacked Bulgarian ship Ruen and its crew, including 7 Bulgarian citizens.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to Rumen Radevs post on social media site X and said he appreciated his message. PM Modi said India remains committed to combating piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region.

Appreciate your message President @PresidentOfBg . We are happy that 7 Bulgarian nationals are safe and will be returning home soon. India is committed to protecting freedom of navigation and combating piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region. https://t.co/nIUaY6UJjP Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 19, 2024

Appreciate your message, President of Bulgaria. We are happy that 7 Bulgarian nationals are safe and will be returning home soon. India is committed to protecting freedom of navigation and combating piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region, PM Modi said.

On Sunday, Mariya Garbriel, who is the Foreign Affairs Minister of Bulgaria, took to X and also expressed gratitude to the Indian navy for the successful rescue operation. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also responded to his Bulgarian counterparts expression of gratitude on the social media platform.

Responding to her post, EAM Jaishankar said, Thats what friends are for.

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 on Sunday, 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.

An Indian Navy statement read, 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.
The Congress on Monday raised questions about the PM CARES Fund, saying that four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still not clear why it was set up, who its donors are and why its administrative structure is so lacking in transparency.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that given the history of the Modi government, as shown by the electoral bond scam, one can only speculate that the lack of transparency was deliberately engineered to give the prime minister an unsupervised pool of funds to spend as he wishes.

In a post on X, Ramesh said, Now that the corruption, extortion and intimidation of the Modi Sarkar through the electoral bond scam is getting revealed in all its shocking detail, let us not forget another route the Government opened for companies to curry favour: the self-glorifyingly named PMCARES. The total amount of funds PMCARES received and the names of the donors have never been officially reported. Media reports suggest that it received donations to the tune of Rs 12,700 crore at least, with large donations from a few corporations, he claimed. Some prominent donors who publicly pledged to donate to the fund include the Reliance Group (Rs 500 crore), Adani Group (Rs 100 crore), PayTM (Rs 500 crore), JSW Group (Rs 100 crore) and others, the Congress leader said.

PMCARES is exempt from CAG and RTI oversight  allegedly, because it did not receive budgetary support from the government. However, it is well known that at least 38 PSUs, owned and operated by the government, have donated vast sums to the tune of Rs 2,105 crore to the PMCARES fund. An additional 150 crores came from PSU employee contributions, Ramesh said. Moreover, the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) received several special exemptions from the government such as donations received 100 per cent tax deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act relating to charities.

Foreign donations were allowed under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. Donations were made eligible to be treated as Corporate Social Responsibility expenditure under the Companies Act. This privilege is not extended even to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund in States, he said. Suspiciously, quite a few China-based or Chinese-owned firms have donated to the PMCARES Fund. TikTok claimed to have donated Rs 30 crore, Xiaomi donated Rs 10 crore, Huawei up to Rs 7 crore and OnePlus reportedly donated Rs 1 crore, he claimed.

At a time when China is encroaching on Indian territory in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, donations were sought and accepted from these firms, he said. Four years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still not clear why the PM CARES fund was set up, how much it received and from whom, how the funds were disbursed, and why its administrative structure is so lacking in transparency, Ramesh said.

Given the history of the Modi Sarkar, as shown by the electoral bond scam, one can only speculate that the lack of transparency was deliberately engineered to give the Prime Minister an unsupervised pool of funds to spend as he wishes. For corporations, it was a new, tax-exempt, CSR-saving way of currying favour with the Prime Minister  possibly to seek government contracts and licenses in the future, or to avoid the intimidation of ED-IT raids, Ramesh alleged. Like with the electoral bond scam, PM CARES Fund is a scandal waiting to emerge, he alleged.
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has arrested two persons who were supplying illegal weapons to gangsters and criminals of the national capital for more than 10 years, police said on Monday.

Police have recovered 20 semi-automatic pistols from their possession, which were manufactured at Khargone and were being delivered to the criminals in Delhi of around Rs 30,000 per piece.

According to police, the accused were identified as Rahim (33), a resident of Madhya Pradesh, and Vishal Solav (26), a resident of Maharashtra. A tip off was received through a source on March 14 that in the morning hours, two key members of interstate illegal gun supply cartel namely Rahim and Vishal would come near Burari Chowk, Outer Ring Road, Delhi to deliver a big consignment of illegal fire arms to one Asif, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Manoj C said.

Accordingly, a trap was laid and the accused persons were apprehended. On interrogation, Rahim told police that he has been indulging in this illegal trade of supply of firearms for more than 10 years and he, along with co-accused Vishal, used to procure illegal pistols from one Sheikh Azam from MP and would further supply the same to Delhi, MP and Maharashtra-based criminals.

Azam used to pay them Rs 10,000 to 20,000 per consignment. Rahim further disclosed that Azam used to procure illegal weapons from MP-based manufacturers of illegal firearms and supply them in various parts of country including Delhi for several years.
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud scolded senior advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara after a tense moment during a hearing on electoral bonds on Monday. Dont shout at me, CJI said, stating, This is not a Hyde Park corner meeting, you are in the court.

Nedumpara was disputing the Supreme Courts decision, claiming that the entire ruling on electoral bonds was made without the publics knowledge. This was a policy matter and not for the courts to get into. That is why people feel this judgment was given behind their back, he argued.

This led to disagreements from the bench, and when the CJI tried to intervene, the lawyer continued to argue over him, prompting a firm response from the Chief Justice of India.

If you want to make an application, submit one. You have my decision as Chief Justice, we wont hear you. If you wish to submit an application, do so via email. Thats the protocol in this court, the CJI added.

The bench also brought up the lawyers past contempt of court incident. Back in 2019, the Supreme Court found Nedumpara guilty of contempt. At that time, he promised that he would never again attempt to browbeat any Judge either of this Court or of the Bombay High Court. The court gave him a three-month prison sentence, which is, however, suspended only if Shri Nedumpara continues in future to abide by the undertaking given to us today. Additionally, he was banned from practicing in the Supreme Court for a year.

On Monday, the top court directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to provide a comprehensive disclosure of all electoral bond details, including the unique bond numbers revealing connections between buyers and recipient political parties, by Thursday, March 21, at 5 pm. The Election Commission (EC) was also instructed to upload the data received from SBI.
The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted raids on at least 10 locations in Delhi-NCR as part of a money laundering investigation linked to a fake cancer drugs manufacturing and selling racket.

These raids were conducted at the premises of the main suspect and associates that include Viphil Jain, Suraj Shat, Neeraj Chauhan, Parvez Malik, Komal Tiwari, Abhinay and Tushar Chauhan. The directorate has recovered about Rs 65 lakh in cash from two locations and another Rs 23 lakh from the house of Suraj Shat. Shat hid the money in a bean bag.

The agency has also been able to seize incriminating documents from the residence of the accused along with details related to movable and immovable assets. Police suspect that the gang targeted over 200 cancer patients and are in the process of tracing them.

Delhi Police ISCs crime branch on Wednesday unearthed a racket of manufacturing and selling of counterfeit cancer and chemotherapy drugs with the arrest of 7 persons. The vials were filled with random and cheap medicines and were sold at exorbitant rates.

The gang spent at least Rs 150-200 on each vial of an injection and sold these in the market between Rs 1-3 lakh, depending on the brand that was refilled.

On Friday, cops were able to arrest 4 more people working at various cancer cure facilities who were involved in the last-mile delivery of these vials. The accused have been identified as Rohit Singh Bisht, 36, a resident of New Moti Nagar, and Jitendra, 33, Majid Khan, 34, and Sajid, 33, all from Gurugram in Haryana.

During interrogation, police found that an accused named Neeraj Chauhan was buying filled vials, supposedly from employees of hospitals, following which the four people were arrested, police said.

Bisht works as a daycare in-charge in the chemotherapy unit of a reputed hospital in Delhi. He supplied filled Keytruda/Opdyta vials to Neeraj. He would save the vials from the patients dose and sell them to Neeraj, a senior police officer said.

Bisht, who has a diploma in general nursing, used to get Rs 65,000 for Keytruda and Rs 35,000 for Opdyta. He has been working at the hospital for the last 10 years. Neeraj roped him in during a visit to the hospital for marketing. He was arrested on Wednesday from Dwarka, the officer said.

Neeraj visited him for empty vials and packaging, police said. Sajid works in the oncology department of a hospital in Gurugram as a nursing staff. He used to supply Keytruda and Opdyta to Khan. Three empty vials with a box and two Opdyta packaging were recovered from his possession, police said.

During the investigation, police seized 14 bank accounts belonging to the accused with a deposit of Rs 92.81 lakh, police added.

(with PTI inputs)
Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, aligning with the Narendra Modi governments vision of eliminating sickle cell anaemia, has slashed the price of its key drug by 99 per cent.

The firm has launched the worlds cheapest Hydroxyurea to treat the disorder, slashing the price of the drug to Rs 600 (for every 100 ml) which is significantly lower than the current import price of approximately Rs 77,000 for global brands.

Sickle cell disease is a hereditary blood disorder that alters the structure of red blood cells, causing them to become sickle-shaped and unable to adequately transport oxygen throughout the body.

Hydroxyurea is an oral suspension drug primarily used as chemotherapy medication to treat certain types of leukaemia. Also, the drug is beneficial for individuals with sickle cell disease as it maintains the roundness and flexibility of blood cells, facilitating smoother blood flow and improved oxygen delivery throughout the body. Consequently, this leads to reduced pain and fewer hospital visits.

Another significant advantage of the Akums-manufactured suspension is its stability at room temperature, unlike its global counterpart, which necessitates storage at 2-8 degrees Celsius.

Akums, headquartered in Delhi, operates as a pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) and manufactures a line of products for top drugmakers, including Cipla, Dabur India, Dr Reddys Laboratories, and Sun Pharmaceutical among others.

The drug will be sold by Akums as well as other pharma companies under different brand names. We will distribute it both directly and through pharmaceutical companies. This is a significant decision currently under discussion, the companys official spokesperson told News18 in an email.

Our goal is to ensure its widespread availability in the Indian market as an affordable medication, the official said while replying to the emailed questionnaire.

Sickle cell anaemia elimination target by 2047

Sickle cell anaemia presents a significant health concern, with treatment costs being exorbitant. Patients endure severe pain, and the annual mortality rate from this disease continues to rise. Addressing this ongoing challenge has proven to be a persistent struggle for both the medical and pharmaceutical sectors.

As the disease is more prevalent in tribal areas, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the firm for manufacturing the cheapest medicine.

Many congratulations to you for developing a medicine to prevent sickle cell disease. PM @NarendraModi ji had launched the Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission by 2023. This medicine will prove to be a boon, especially for our tribal sisters, brothers and children and we will soon free India from sickle cell, the minister tweeted on social media platform X.

More such drugs in the pipeline

The company claims that its research and development team has been working on reducing the price of the drug for the last two years.

On being asked if there are any other drugs in the pipeline whose prices can be slashed phenomenally, the official spokesperson said that the company is working on slashing the prices of multiple drugs.

Our research and development team and product teams are dedicatedly working on several drugs. The pricing of medicines is determined under the guidance of the price regulator, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).

It would be hasty to disclose the names of these medicines at this time. We will keep you updated as soon as we receive approvals from the authority.

The company said that its R&D team is currently working on several rare diseases, one of which is sickle cell anaemia, for which the Hydroxyurea oral suspension has been developed.

Additionally, we have recently launched a nasal spray in our pharmaceutical line. Furthermore, we are also focusing on nutraceuticals, with innovative gummies and liquid orals already launched under this category, the spokesperson said.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu is facing backlash after a video surfaced online, which accused the actor of spreading misinformation about liver detoxification to her fans and 33.5 million followers on Instagram.

In a widely circulated clip from the podcast on Prabhus show, the guest talks about the benefits of herbs such as dandelion for liver health and detoxification. But is liver detoxification actually real or is it more like a myth than a medical reality?

Medical experts have criticised the concept of detoxification and asserted that the use of herbs can lead to irreversible damage to the liver.

Some doctors told News18 that the efficacy of the liver detox concept, particularly those promoted by alternative medicine or home remedies, should be studied carefully. While the idea of detoxifying the liver may seem appealing, its essential to understand the science behind it.

The liver is a powerhouse organ, naturally equipped to detoxify the body. It already possesses highly efficient mechanisms for detoxification. These include enzymatic processes that break down toxins and the excretion of waste products through bile and urine. Therefore, the notion of needing additional detoxification methods beyond what the liver naturally performs is not supported by scientific evidence.

Despite strong words of caution from the medical community, ayurvedic experts support the concept.

Ayurveda vs Modern Medicine

Doctors practising modern medicine or allopathy advised to apply caution.

According to Dr Sanjay Goja, programme director, liver transplant and robotic liver surgery, at Gurugram-based Narayana Hospital, the notion of needing additional detoxification methods beyond what the liver naturally performs is not supported by scientific evidence.

Some liver detox practices, Goja said, such as extreme fasting or consuming large quantities of specific juices or supplements, can be counterproductive and potentially harmful.

I have encountered several cases where patients have experienced adverse effects from attempting liver detox regimens. For instance, one patient developed severe liver inflammation after following a strict juice cleanse for an extended period. Another individual experienced liver toxicity from excessive consumption of herbal supplements purported to cleanse the liver.

He further said certain home remedies or practices rooted in Ayurveda  despite being traditional  can pose risks to liver health if used improperly or in excess.

For example, the indiscriminate use of certain herbs or herbal concoctions without medical supervision can lead to liver toxicity or drug interactions, he cautioned.

On the contrary, ayurveda experts swear by the concept. They say the concept of liver detoxification helps for healthy as well as unhealthy liver.

For instance: Anurag Varshney, head, drug discovery and development research at Patanjali Research Institute, Haridwar, explained to News18 the other side of the story.

There are multiple published research suggesting that the extracts of dandelion, either leaves or roots, have good potential to take care of liver ailments This work has been done by several research laboratories across the globe and has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. These herbs can be used even to keep the liver healthy, Varshney said.

Contrary to many medical experts, Varshney thanked Samantha Prabhu for bringing forth the power of herbal medicines and open endorsement of the natural way of staying healthy.

What Do Studies Say About Dandelion?

While dandelion has been traditionally used in various cultures for its supposed health benefits, including liver support, contemporary research offers mixed results, several studies shared by Ayurveda experts showed the protective effects of dandelion.

Research published in The Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology in July 2020 showed that dandelion prevents the progression of hepatic fibrosis. The dandelions anti-fibrotic effects could be attributed to its ability to scavenge free radicals and to attenuate inflammatory cell activations, said the study. It was, however, conducted on adult male albino rats and not humans.

Similarly, another study published in Food and Chemicals Toxicology in 2013 showed that dandelion leaf extracts (DLE) significantly suppressed lipid accumulation in the liver, and reduced insulin resistance. These results indicate that the DLE may represent a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This study was again conducted on mice.

Another study published in the Journal of King Saud University in 2022 showed that dandelion seed extract treatment resulted in a marked decrease of liver enzyme activities in addition to hepatic tissue improvement. But this study again was conducted on Swiss albino mice.

Given emerging evidence on the liver protective effects of dandelion, the majority of ayurvedic studies have advised designing large human clinical studies.

Dr Sarathchandra Gorantla, consultant gastroenterologist, hepatologist (liver doctor) and advanced therapeutic endoscopist at Hyderabad-based Yashoda Hospitals said the concept of detoxifying the liver with specific herbs or supplements, including dandelion, is a popular notion.

For instance, research has indicated that dandelion root extract might help prevent liver damage in rats with induced liver failure and may have antioxidant properties beneficial for liver health.

However, these findings cannot be directly extrapolated to humans without further clinical trials, Gorantla said while adding that as a responsible celebrity, it is essential to present well-researched, scientifically accurate information to the public. Hence, promoting unsubstantiated claims about liver detoxification through herbal remedies like dandelion could lead to misconceptions and potentially harmful self-treatment attempts.

Johns Hopkins Medicine stresses that the liver does not require detoxification products for daily health maintenance. Many products claiming to detox the liver are not regulated even by the worlds top regulatory authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration, lack uniformity, and have not been adequately tested in clinical trials.

Conclusion

Multiple studies shared by experts showed the protective effects of dandelion  hence, its factual that it works on liver, positively. But the majority of these studies are on animals. So, to say it will work the same way on human bodies is still fictitious, to an extent.

The liver is highly capable of detoxifying itself, and the best way to support liver health is through a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, the safest and most effective way to support liver function is through healthy lifestyle choices, nothing else.
India has started the process of building a major ropeway project right next to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. The 5.2-km-long ropeway project, to be built at a cost of Rs 522 crore, will be from the world-famous Tawang Monastery to PT Tso Lake and will be developed within the next three years.

The Centre invited a tender in this regard on March 15 and the document has been accessed by News18. The 400-year-old Tawang Monastery, the largest monastery in the country and the second-biggest in Asia, is situated at an elevation of 10,000 feet. It is very close to the China and Bhutan borders, about two kilometres from Tawang Town. The PT Tso Lake is located about 18 km away from Tawang, at an altitude of 12,000 feet. It is a half-an-hour drive by road from Tawang, on the way to the Bumla Pass near LAC.

The new ropeway would mean the ride from the Tawang Monastery to the lake would take just five minutes. There is already one ropeway from the Tawang Monastery to Gyangong Ani Gonpa in Tawang, a nunnery that is situated about 10 km away.

The new ropeway would propel tourism in the region and enable tourists to explore the beautiful areas of Arunachal Pradesh, a senior official told News18.

Development Drive in Arunachal

The Narendra Modi government has been on a development spree in Arunachal Pradesh, with the prime minister recently visiting the state as well.

The PM had dedicated the strategic Sela Tunnel and Donyi Polo airport in Arunachal Pradesh to the nation. The Sela Tunnel project, constructed at a cost of about Rs 825 crore, is an engineering marvel. It will provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang across Sela Pass on the Balipara-Chariduar-Tawang Road in Arunachal Pradesh. The PM, during his visit, had also mentioned work commencing in the Dibang Multipurpose Hydropower Project in Arunachal Pradesh, which will be Indias highest dam. It is being built at a cost of more than Rs 31,875 crore.

China had objected to PM Modis recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh but India strongly rejected its latest bid to reassert its territorial claim and stressed that the north-eastern state was and would remain an integral and inalienable part of India.
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the State Bank of India (SBI) should not be selective in disclosing the details while hearing matter over SBI not furnishing unique numbers of electoral bonds to the Election Commission. The top court asked the SBI to file an affidavit by 5:00 pm on March 21 indicating that all data in the banks possession has been disclosed.

SBI cant be selective and has to disclose all conceivable electoral bond details in its possession, including unique bond numbers that would disclose the link between the buyer and the recipient political party, the court said in its judgement.

We had asked SBI to disclose all details including the bond numbers, the bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and comprising of Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, orally said during the hearing.

There is no manner of doubt that SBI was required to disclose all details. This, we clarify, will include the alphanumeric number and the serial number, if any, of the bonds redeemed, the bench added.

Senior advocate Harish Salve appearing for SBI told the top court that if the numbers of Electoral Bonds are to be given, we will give them.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre argued that the ultimate aim was to curb black money and the apex court must know how this judgment is being played outside the court.

How the top courts judgment is playing out is something the court must be informed of. Now the witch hunting has started on another level and not at the level of the central government. Those before the court started giving press interviews and deliberately embarrassing the court. A series of social media posts, at least intended to cause embarrassment, started, the Solicitor General said.

The SG further asked the Supreme Court to consider giving direction in this regard.

CJI DY Chandrachud said, As judges, we are only on the rule of law and work as per the Constitution. Our court is only to work for the governance of the rule of law in this polity. As judges, we are also discussed in social media but our shoulders are broad enough to take this. We are only enforcing our directions of the judgment.
In a recent case of a cross-country love, an Iranian girl got engaged to a YouTuber from Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad on Friday.

The 24-year-old girl, Faiza hails from Hamedan in Iran and has come to India on a 20-day tourist visa to meet and get married to her beau Diwakar, after completing the legal procedure.

The bride, Faiza came to India with her father Masood and they have planned to visit the Taj Mahal as well as the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Faiza is currently a student at an university and her father is a walnut farmer in Hamedan.

In a conversation with India Today TV, the Youtuber Diwakar said that he met Faiza on Instagram, around three years ago.

He further said, Initially, we had casual conversations about each others countries as I make travel vlogs, and then we fell in love. I visited Hamedan in July 2023 to meet Faiza. We completed the legal procedure of marriage in Iran that time and now she is in India to complete the legal procedure, following which we will get married.

Diwakar also shared that initially he faced a lot of problems from his parents, but after sometime they understood everything and accepted the relationship.

He further said that his family has no religious restrictions and Faiza can follow the customs and traditions of her religion there as well.

Diwakar also said that he learnt some Persian from Faiza and has even taught her Hindi.

The Youtuber added that they are waiting for the legal process to get completed, following which they would get married.
Anupam Kher has taken fans on a laughter fest with his latest Instagram video. The veteran actor, known for his versatile film roles, is also an active social media user. Besides dropping movie updates on his social media handles, he also entertains the masses with his online activities. From posting about serious topics to being acquainted with the latest trends, the actor keeps himself updated on the latest happenings. Recently, Anupam Kher joined a viral song trend on Instagram. He not only lip-synced to the hilarious lyrics of the audio but also spread smiles amongst his followers with his funny expressions.

In the now-viral clip, Anupam Kher can be seen giving his personal flair to the popular Smart toh main pehle se hoon song trend. He repeated the lyrics and enjoyed himself thoroughly. Sometimes the actor broke into an abrupt smile, while at other times his funny gestures left the internet in splits.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher)

Referring to one of the lines that go, Chehre pe rumaal bhi laga lu toh, log mujhe meri hairstyle se pehchaan lete hai (Even if I cover my face with a handkerchief, people will recognise me by my hairstyle) Anupam Kher jokingly covered his bald head with a handkerchief, underlining the contrasting characteristics of the audio and his physical features. The video concludes with the Special 26 star tapping his head rhythmically to the beats of the track. Me and my hairstyle, read his witty caption.

Fans were quick to react to the video. While a user announced Anupam Kher as the Winner of the trend another found him to be resembling, Walter White from the web series Breaking Bad. I love your hairstyle, sir, commented a third individual sarcastically. Many found the video too cute.

Earlier, Anupam Kher also joined the then-popular Pawry Ho Rahi Hai meme trend on his 66th birthday. He spent time with the children of his neighbourhood and had breakfast with them.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher)

On the work front, Anupam Kher will next be seen in the live-action film adaptation of the animated series Chota Bheem. Titled, Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan, the Rajiv Chilaka directorial will premiere theatrically on May 24.
Vicky Kaushal on Monday set the internet abuzz after he teased his fans about a new project with Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk. Now, filmmaker Karan Johar who is backing the film with his production house, made an official announcement for the films title and shared a bundle of posters. The film titled Bad Newz is all set to hit the theatres this July.

Sharing the announcement on his Instagram handle, Karan wrote, Get ready for the most entertaining hungama  a hilarious once in a billion situation awaitsa comedy inspired by true events!! #BadNewz IN CINEMAS 19th July 2024!

Have a look at the video:

Last year, several photos of Vicky Kaushal and Triptii Dimri went viral when they were shooting in Croatia. In the pictures, Vicky Kaushal was seen holding Triptii close as they shoot for the song. In one of the photos, the actor was also seen lifting the Animal star in his arms. The upcoming entertainer is being helmed by Bandish Bandits fame director Anand Tiwari.

Meanwhile on the work front, Triptii Dimri is currently enjoying the success of Animal. Released in December 2023, the film also starred Ranbir Kapoor in the lead. Triptiis chemistry with Ranbir in the movie was widely loved by all. Apart from Bad Newz, she will also be seen in Kartik Aaryans Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.

Vicky Kaushal on the other hand was last seen in Sam Bahadur. Apart from Bad Newz, he will also be seen in Chhava. The film is reported to be a period drama, where Kaushal will share the screen with Rashmika Mandanna. The film is expected to delve into Sambhaji Maharajs bravery, sacrifice, and wartime strategies while incorporating an emotional love story between him and his wife.
Hyeri has finally reacted to the news surrounding her break up with Ryu Jun Yeol and his new relationship with Han So Hee. Over the weekend, drama unfolded when rumours of Ryu Jun Yeol and Han So Hee dating made the headlines. While the couple denied the rumours only to eventually confirm it, Hyeris cryptic reaction to their dating rumours went viral. Its fun, she wrote on her Instagram Stories, seemingly reacting to the rumours, and eventually unfollowing Ryu Jun Yeol on Instagram.

A section of social media users accused Han So Hee of separating Hyeri and Ryu Jun Yeol, who dated for eight years. Hyeri has now addressed the drama and confirmed that she separated from Ryu Jun Yeol before he started dating Han So Hee. She penned a long post on Instagram in which she apologised to everyone for her cryptic post and sparking the controversy. She then opened up about her and Ryu Jun Yeols break up.

Hello, this is Hyeri. First, I would like to apologize for the controversies and speculations caused by my own emotions. At the time, I didnt know the consequences each of my small actions could bring. I would like to sincerely apologize to the people who were affected by my actions, she said.

Last November, reports were published stating that my 8-year relationship was over. The decision to end our relationship wasnt made quickly, and even after the articles were published, we spoke about further discussing our relationship, Hyeri added.

However, after that conversation, we have never spoken and have never seen each other. I think when I read the news (of his new relationship) 4 months later, I received the news as Lee Hyeri, the person rather than the actress. Again, I would like to apologize for causing harm due to my emotions, she confessed.

The reason I have been silent on the issue is that our conversations were very personal, and I felt that they would cause more exhaustion. I again apologize to those who were confused by my silence. In the future, I will be more cautious with my words and actions, Hyeri concluded her post.

Han So Hee and Ryu Jun Yeol went public with their relationship over the weekend. On Monday morning, Dispatch released photos to reveal that the couple spent the weekend in Hawaii.
Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal are one of Bollywoods most loved couples. They often leave their fans gushing over them when they talk about their relationship in interviews. Recently, Vicky and his father Sham Kaushal spoke about Katrina and Sham mentioned that Katrina understands Punjabi perfectly.

She tries speaking in Punjabi and understands it perfectly, Sham told The Week. He added, Now, when people ask me how they should introduce me, I tell them, Not as an action director, but as the father of Vicky and Sunny, and the father-in-law of Katrina Kaif.

Meanwhile, Vicky also gushed over his wife in the interview. He said, Katrina comes from a completely different geography. But if you meet her family, you will see that her core life principles are similar to mine. In terms of family, ours is a middle-class upbringing, [where you value] what you have and how you have earned it. When we have family get-togethers, the difference is only linguistic. Actually, I was taken by surprise when I got to interact with her; it is not what it seems from afar. I was a fanboy and admired her for a long time even if she was an astronaut, I would have fallen in love with her.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Katrina Kaif was earlier seen in Salman Khans Tiger 3. She reprised her role as Zoya in the third instalment of the franchise. She was last seen in Merry Christmas alongside Vijay Sethupathi. Now, she will be seen in Farhan Akhtars Jee Le Zara with Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt.

As for Vicky, he was last seen in Sam Bahadur. He recently signed Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Love and War with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. He will soon be seen in Bad Newz with Ammy Virk and Triptii Dimri.
Mukesh Khanna, better known for playing the popular role of Shaktimaan, has reacted to the news of Ranveer Singh being cast as Shaktimaan. He took to his Instagram handle and shared a post regarding the same. His recent remark has sparked a controversy. However, nothing has been made official till now.

He wrote, Pura social media mahinon se is rumour se bhara pada tha ki Ranveer karega Shaktimaan. Aur har koi naaraz tha ise lekar. Main chup raha. Lekin jub channels ne bhi elaan karna shuru kar diya ki Ranveer sign ho gaya hai. To mujhe muhn kholana pada. Aur maine bol diya ki aisi image wala vyakti kitna bhi bada star kyon na ho Shaktimaan nahin ban sakta. I have put my foot down. Ab Aaga aage dekhiye hota hai kya ?? He has also shared a video in which he spoke at length about the rumour.

Take a look here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mukesh Khanna (@iammukeshkhanna)

In the video, he has advised Ranveer to take up roles in other countries where nudity is prevalent. He said that countries like Finland, Spain, and others where the actor can showcase his body. The actor said, Work in films where you will get to do a nude scene in every third scene. I have told the producers, that your competition is not with Spider-Man, Batman, Captain Planet. Shaktimaan is not just a superhero, he has also become a super teacher. Now, the actor who takes on the role should have the quality that when he speaks, people will listen. There are big actors, but their image comes in the middle, Khanna said.

Last month, it was reported that Ranveer Singh will start shooting for Shaktimaan. Right after Don 3, its time for Shaktimaan. The film has been in the writing stage for over 3 years now and the team has finally cracked a script thats worthy of doing justice to the legacy of Shaktimaan. The film will be directed by Basil Joseph, with Sony Pictures India and Sajid Nadiadwala as the producers, the source mentioned.
Munawar Faruqui reacted to Elvish Yadavs recent arrest in Noida. The Bigg Boss OTT winner was arrested in connection with the snake venom case on Sunday. Hours after his arrest, Munawar was spotted outside a shoot location and was asked about Elvishs arrest. Munawar appeared clueless about the arrest. The Bigg Boss 17 winner confessed he was not aware of the arrest and added that he has been disconnected from the events that have unfolded because his phone was switched off.

Mujhe kuch idea nahi hai iss baare mein. Mera phone toh band tha, he told the media, The Times of India reported. He went to show his switched-off phone and added, Mere phone ki battery puri dead ho chuki hai. I dont know kaise hua ye sab. Munawar was reportedly filming a special performance for an upcoming Holi event.

Munawars reaction comes just a few days after Elvish released a video apologising to his fans for hugging Munawar at the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) 2024. The YouTuber reacted to those who called gaddar (traitor) for hugging Munawar. He apologised to those whose sentiments have been hurt and clarified that there is nothing more important to him than his religion.

Sabse pahel jo bhi mere Hindu bhai hai, unn sabhi ko mere taraf se haath jod ke sorry hai ke aapko bura laga ke maine Munawar ko gale lagaya (Firstly, I would like to apologise to my Hindu brothers with folded hands since you felt bad after I hugged Munawar), Elvish said.

Elvish went on to say that he does not consider Munawar as his brother or friend. You guys said Elvish was wrong. I admit that I was wrong. I can sacrifice thousands of Munawar over my religion. I do not consider him as my friend or brother. I am saying this on camera. For me, my religion is supreme, he added.

About Elvish Yadavs Arrest:

Elvish Yadav was arrested by Noida Police in a snake poisoning case on Sunday, March 17. The case was lodged under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and for criminal conspiracy under section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, they said. Elvish will be presented in court in some time. He will be in judicial custody for 14 days. The Noida Police will seek police custody in the next few days.
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 broke the internet after he shared a picture of his physical transformation for the role. Fans were quick to call him Indian Christian Bale, since the Hollywood actor had undergone a similar transformation for The Machinist.

On Monday, Randeep Hooda posted a monochrome picture of himself in front of a mirror, looking extremely emasculated and thin. Hooda was shirtless in the same snap, as he stood with his phone in hands to capture the image. He wrote in the caption,KAALA PAANI #SwatantryaVeerSavarkar #WhoKilledHisStory #VeerSavarkarOn22March #BTS #behindth escenes #VeerSavarkar #Savarkar.

Take a look:

Fans were surprised to see this epic transformation. One of them wrote, Damnn our own Christian Bale. Another one commented,

Nailed it. Christian bale of Bollywood. Someone else said,Wow Randeep bro proud of u. A fan stated, Indian Christian bale. Another one wrote, Indeed the most hardworking actor .

Randeep recently 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.

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.
Sidharth Malhotra is gradually making his reputation as a nuanced action hero in Bollywood and his latest film Yodha aims to prove his mantle. The actor went all out to promote this highly anticipated film, which also stars Disha Patani and Raashii Khanna. The team launched the trailer on board a flight from Mumbai to Ahmedabad. After the release of the film, the actor decided to surprise the viewers who flocked to theatres to catch the movie over the weekend. Videos of Sidharth inside cinema halls interacting with the cine-goers have gone viral on social media.

One of the videos that surfaced on social media shows Sidharth Malhotra standing in the middle of the crowd, who are cheering for him. The post credit scene plays in the background on the big screen. The actor also poses for selfies with many of his fans. He could be seen wearing a casual T-shirt with a front open jacket. Fans also praised the actor in the comments section of the paparazzi post. One of them stated, Our yodha deserves all love and appreciation.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manav Manglani (@manav.manglani)

On the day of the release, one of Sidharth Malhotras fan sites on X released a video of the actor entering a packed cinema hall and surprising everyone. The audience screamed and cheered as the actor addressed the supporters.

Prior to the release of the film, Sidharth Malhotra was spotted at many promotional events. But amid the busy schedules, he made sure to interact with his fans and share a few memorable moments with them. The actor was photographed at Mumbais airport when he met the young child and offered him a special gift.

Whenever I see videos like this, my heart just flutters with every beat for him because THIS is what he's worked for. The cheers and claps A DREAM.I love you @SidMalhotra  pic.twitter.com/PJsnBIuc9t   (@prissha16) March 15, 2024

As soon as Sidharth stepped out of the airport, fans gathered to catch a sight of their favourite star. At the same time, a child ran up to him and asked for a picture. Sidharth agreed and then turned to his team and presented the kid with a copy of the Yodha comic book. Dharma Productions, in association with Pratilipi Comics, had introduced the adventure thriller comic book Adventures of Yodha: The Case of the Missing Ship. The comic book was written by Akash Pathak and illustrated by Ayantika Roy.

Yodha has been directed by Sagar Ambre and Pushkar Ojha, and revolves around a high-stakes hijack situation. The film was released in theatres on March 15. Sidharth Malhotra was last seen in the web series Indian Police Force.
DJ David Guetta and his girlfriend Jessica Ledon have some exciting news to share, as the couple welcomed their first child together, a son, to whom they named Cyan. The French-born record producer announced the happy news on Instagram and posted a first sweet family photo, holding each other close. Interestingly, the newborns name, which was revealed in the caption, literally means light blue green. Alongside their newborn, Guetta also has two children, Angie and Tim Elvis, from his previous marriage with Cathy Lobe. The couples announcement was showered with love from family, friends and followers. Davids son expressed his excitement for the new addition to the family and wrote, Little brother gonna be strong.

Meanwhile, the couples journey began in 2015 and although they chose not to marry, their bond remains strong. David and Jessica made the official announcement about the pregnancy during the Latin Grammy Awards in Seville, Spain in November, where the international DJ proudly placed his hand on Jessicas growing baby bump.

Now that their son is finally here, the family posed together for the post. In the picture, their bundle of joy can be seen resting peacefully on Ledons chest, while Guetta hugs both of them, looking directly at the camera. Sharing the picture, David wrote, Love is in the air. Welcome Cyan.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by David Guetta (@davidguetta)

After David Guetta announced the news about her sons arrival with Jessica Ledon, the comment section has been filled with well wishes from followers and friends, including Gordon Ramsay, Nicky Romero, Like Mike, Timmy Trumpet, Ivanka Trump and Dimitri Vegas, among others.

David and his ex-wife Cathy Lobe were married in 1992, but the two decided to part ways in 2014. Despite their separation, the former couple maintained a friendly relationship and have chosen to co-parent their son and daughter. On the other hand, Davids relationship with Jessica Ledon started in 2015, despite a massive age gap of almost 20 years. Earlier, there were speculations about their separation, but the couple managed to stay together. Surprisingly, the couple never got married, instead, David opted to give Jessica a promise ring, as he no longer believes in marriage.

Following their official announcement of pregnancy at the Latin Grammy Awards red carpet, David Guetta and Jessica Ledon made another red carpet appearance at the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, USA, in February. The couple captured the attention of onlookers as they arrived at the prestigious event together.
More than two decades ago, I told a Pakistani diplomat, Tum sabki ghulami karne ko tayyar ho, lakin hamse dosti karne ko nahi (You are willing to be a slave to everyone but remain unwilling to develop any friendship with us).

At that stage, I was handling Indias relations with Pakistan as a middle-level officer at the Ministry of External Affairs. Naturally, the Pakistani diplomat was not pleased with my blunt comment. Ever since I made what some of my former diplomatic colleagues would call a completely undiplomatic comment, I have again and again recalled it.

It has been strongly playing in my mind these days as Pakistan, under the PML (N) and PPP alliance governments, seeks to repair its dysfunctional economy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has clearly told his people that the first task of his government is to do so. There is no doubt that he has the support of his alliance partner, which is supporting the government from the outside, but also of the military to put the economy right.

What the Pakistani political class and no doubt the Pakistani army also know in their heart of hearts is that the Pakistani economy cannot be fixed unless the country is willing to change course on India. That would mean it would have to develop cooperative and good neighbourly ties with what it considers its permanent enemy.

There is no indication that the Pakistani establishment is willing to change course on India. Hence, despite whatever help China and other donors may give, Shehbaz Sharifs aim that Pakistan should develop sufficiently to become a member of the G20 by 2030 simply cannot be achieved. As stated, some issues connected with Pakistans present economic crisis need analysis.

Ever since the new government took office, PM Sharif has sought to give confidence to the Pakistani business community and its donors that he is serious about economic reform and growth. He has sent out signals; the first of these was to avoid appointing Ishaq Dar, his brother Nawaz Sharifs all-time favourite choice as Finance Minister, to helm the Finance Ministry. He has made Dar foreign minister but has given the finance ministry to a well-known professional banker, Muhammad Aurangzeb, who has had no previous political experience.

Aurangzeb has had a good reputation as a banker. He will be able to engage with the IMF and finance ministry officials of donor countries in the language of economics and finance. He will seek to remove their scepticism about Pakistans will for economic reform. He will seek to smooth the way for the IMF to release the remaining tranche of the present loan agreement. Even after that, it is most likely Pakistan will have to go to the IMF for another loan. Why?

In an article carried on an international news website, one of Pakistans leading journalists recently wrote, A new programme with the global lender is necessary for the country, which is currently burdened by more than $130 billionat least a third of its gross domestic productin external debts. Pakistan was scheduled to repay $24 billion by June this year but managed to secure some relief from bilateral creditors through rollovers. The country has now to repay nearly $5 billion before the end of the fiscal year in June. Meanwhile, Pakistans current foreign currency stocks stand at a paltry $7.8 billion, enough to cover just about eight weeks of imports.

It is not only external debt and its restructuring that Aurangzeb will have to grapple with. It is also a fact that Pakistan is in a classic debt trap because its current government revenues are insufficient to meet its debt payments. Hence, it has to raise debt to repay current debt payments or to get them deferred. That only means pushing the can down the road. The IMF loans and the tough conditions that they prescribe have always been controversial, not only in Pakistan but all over the developing world.

Developing countries have always asserted that the IMF ignores the realities of their conditions, where development has to go hand in hand with considerations of the welfare of the poorest sections of society who need to be subsidised.

Be that as it may, the fact is that no country can perpetually live beyond its means. If it does, the only path is to economic ruin. And Pakistan has lived for far too long beyond its means.

As this writer has noted earlier, no one wants a country with nuclear weapons to become economically destabilised, but donors are not getting impatient with Pakistans unwillingness to change its ways.

PM Sharif has warned his people that the countrys economic situation needs radical solutions. However, the first few steps that he has announced do not seem to indicate that he is willing to explore the real reasons for Pakistans current economic distress. He said that the requirements of the army would be met.

The fact is that the Pakistani army not only gets a disproportionate portion of the governments revenues but also the armys economic enterprises, which have made it the countrys leading economic group. Indeed, no other army in the region, with the exception of the Myanmar army, imposes such a heavy burden on the people.

Apart from assurances to the army, Shehbaz has also asked that wasteful government expenditures be eliminated. This may be a popular palliative, but it is no substitute for creating conditions for domestic and foreign investors to look at the country favourably.

As part of the process, Pakistan has to raise labour productivity, and that can only be done if it radically changes its educational policy, which is getting more and more suffused with religious overtones.

Another tired mantra that Sharif has reiterated is the support of China and the fact that this iron brother will help in improving Pakistans economy. The CPEC, which is Chinas flagship BRI programme, was supposed to help transform Pakistans economy. That was the grand hope with which Chinese and Pakistani leadersindeed, Shehbaz Sharifs brother Nawaz Shariflaunched the CPEC in 2013. In this period of eleven years, it has helped ease the electric power situation in the country, but nothing more. Even here, Sharif complained that the sustainability of power companies was becoming difficult because of power theft.

All things considered, Pakistan needs to change its course entirely if it wishes to move out of its present economic morass. That has to begin with a changed approach towards India. So long as it continues to persist with its anti-India obsession, it will continue to remain on an economic drip. This is because the army will continue to maintain its grip on the countrys politics and resources. It will also continue to maintain the infrastructure of terrorism and extremist thought.

Aurangzeb is not the first banker Pakistani politicians have chosen to improve their economy. His predecessors could do really nothing because Pakistan has to change its ideology and because the countrys political and strategic classes, which include the army, are unwilling to do so. Hence, Aurangzebs position is unenviable, and his ultimate failure is almost certain.

The writer is a former Indian diplomat who served as Indias Ambassador to Afghanistan and Myanmar, and as secretary, the Ministry of External Affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) stands as a contentious issue for the indigenous Baloch population in Balochistan, a province strategically positioned at the crossroads of geopolitical significance. Central to this debate is the Gwadar deep-water port, strategically connecting Chinas Xinjiang region with the Arabian Sea.

Despite the purported economic integration goals of CPEC, the Baloch people express profound concerns regarding potential repercussions on their natural resources and the delicate ecological balance of the region. The local population of Balochistan perceive CPEC not merely as an economic corridor but as a project designed to exploit Balochistans resources, contributing to regional poverty. The intricate relationship between economic development and the preservation of local resources and ecological sustainability becomes a critical concern for the indigenous population in Balochistan.

Recent developments suggest a resurgence of activity, notably characterized by the prominent role assumed by the influential military establishment. The militarys pronounced inclination toward fostering stronger relations with China is underscored by its perception of China as a robust ally in countering India. Reports indicate collaborative efforts between the Pakistani and Chinese governments to expand Pakistans manufacturing capacity for Chinese military aircraft, weaponry, and related infrastructure under a discreetly formulated plan.

Concurrently, a nascent institutional entity, the CPEC Authority (CPECA), spearheaded by a retired lieutenant general, actively promotes and defends the corridor. However, the disclosure of substantive details regarding the corridor remains limited. Official documentation on the cpec.gov.pk website provides only cursory information, making independent verification a challenging task. This opacity is exacerbated by the Chairmans restrained interaction with the media, contributing to a discernible lacuna in publicly accessible project specifics.

A recent public awareness session organised by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) in Gwadar provided a platform for political and social activists, BYC leaders, and local residents to voice their concerns. This session unveiled a collective worry over the adverse consequences of CPEC, contending that the development in Gwadar presented a misleading facade, concealing the detrimental effects of Pakistani and Chinese interests in the region. Panelists at the BYC session highlighted the environmental vulnerabilities in Gwadar due to infrastructure development, with recent floods and rains leaving the province in a state of helplessness.

The infrastructure projects linked to CPEC have contributed to the degradation of the very region that is expected to play a key role in the economic corridor. A worrying trend of forced displacement, primarily targeting indigenous populations, was highlighted by the BYC panelists. CPEC projects are increasingly perceived as a means to replace locals with foreigners, notably Chinese and Punjabi Muslims, posing a significant threat to the socio-economic fabric of Balochistan, as indigenous communities lose ancestral lands and livelihoods. The collective portrayal of CPEC as a threat to Balochistan encompasses concerns of environmental degradation, displacement of local populations, and undermining the regions socio-economic stability.

Despite Balochistans abundance of natural resources viz, Gold, Copper, Black Pearls, Oil, Coal, Natural Gas, and various reserves having a worth of more than trillion dollars, the province has the lowest human development index in Pakistan. The absence of hospitals and educational institutions dedicated to the welfare of indigenous people aggravates the situation. Balochistan, with only one university for the entire province, stands in stark contrast to Punjab, where a single city houses seven to eight universities. Faced with a bleak future within Pakistan, the Baloch youth have initiated a movement for freedom, prompting the implementation of a kill and dump policy by Pakistani authorities in response to their mobilisation. Female Baloch students, recognising the precariousness of their prospects in Pakistan, have also joined the call for independence.

It is evident that Pakistans aggressive pursuit of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has been marked by forceful displacements of local inhabitants and the suppression of dissenting voices. Paramilitary forces and state agencies have systematically violated human rights, with instances of enforced disappearances, abductions, and extrajudicial killings persisting for years. While the Pakistani authorities suppress dissent, local concerns intensify due to the substantial presence of the Chinese military, initially justified as protection for Chinese personnel on the ground. Contrary to official portrayals of CPEC as a project benefiting the local population, the reality reveals that the project is firmly under the control of authorities in Beijing and Islamabad, lacking any form of local governance.

If the ongoing situations persist, the security establishment of Pakistan may find itself grappling with significant challenges posed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other militant groups. The nuanced security landscape in the region suggests potential escalations of conflict and unrest, emphasizing the imperative for a comprehensive and sustainable resolution to address the root cause of grievances in Balochistan. It is paramount to recognise that the people of Balochistan harbor a collective desire for peaceful coexistence, underscoring the importance of diplomatic and inclusive approaches to foster stability and harmony in the region.

Addressing the socio-political concerns and grievances of the Baloch population is crucial for establishing a foundation that prioritises peace over violence and paves the way for a more secure and prosperous future for Balochistan. However, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) views the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a mechanism facilitating Chinese colonialism within the Balochistan region. This perception underlines the concern that the Pakistan army, in collaboration with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is utilising CPEC as an opportunity to exploit the rich natural resources of Balochistan.

The ongoing attacks on the Pakistan army serve as testament to the resistance exhibited by BLA and other militant groups against the implementation of CPEC in Balochistan. It is imperative for Pakistan to promptly acknowledge this dynamic. However, the possibility of this realisation is remote as the establishment in Pakistan is concerned about subjugating the democratic voices and any form of dissent against its exploitative approach robbing Balochistan of its precious resources benefitting the unholy Pak-China nexus.

The writer is an author and columnist and has written several books. His X handle is @ArunAnandLive. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
The general elections this time in Maharashtra will be unique as the original Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party have both been split, with one faction from each tying up with the BJP. (Image: News18)
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Monday skipped another summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board. This is the first time Kejriwal was summoned in the case.

Calling it a backup plan to stop Kejriwal from campaigning for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) termed these summons illegal and accused the BJP government of using the central agencies to target opposition leaders.

The party also sought to know why the probe agency is issuing summons despite the court granting bail for skipping the same.

Delhi minister Atishi, at a press conference, expressed concerns over the motive behind these actions and said, Nobody knows what this Delhi Jal Board (DJB) case is about. This seems to be a backup plan to arrest Kejriwal anyhow and stop him from campaigning in the Lok Sabha polls.

In the Delhi Jal Board case, the ED has claimed that funds obtained through corruption in a contract awarded by the Delhi governments department were allegedly channelled as election funds to the AAP, the ruling party in Delhi.

Notably, this is the second case registered under the anti-money laundering law in which the 55-year-old politician has been summoned.

The AAP supremo is already facing summons for questioning in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case and has already skipped eight summonses in this case till now, terming them illegal.

A fresh and ninth such summon in the excise policy case was issued on Sunday which stipulates him to appear before an ED investigating officer on March 21.

(With PTI inputs)
With weeks to go for polling to begin for the Lok Sabha election, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray arrived in the national capital on Monday night.

He is scheduled to meet Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda, fuelling speculations for a possible alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the elections.

The NDA is yet to announce a seat-sharing deal. Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, and Republican Party of India (A) is the BJP-led alliance in the state.

The LS polls in Maharashtra, which elects 48 MPs, will be held in five phases between April 19 and May 20.

The BJP had won 23 of the 25 seats it had contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, while its then alliance partner  undivided Shiv Sena  won 18 of the 23 seats it had contested. The undivided NCP, as part of the opposition alliance, had contested 19 seats and managed to win four.

Meanwhile, Union minister Ramdas Athawale has that his Republican Party of India (A) is hopeful of getting two seats for Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra but wont leave the NDA if that doesnt happen.

NDAs rival Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is likely to announce candidates for Lok Sabha elections this week. The Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar are part of the MVA.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) could win a sweeping 41 out of the total 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, while the opposition INDIA bloc may bag seven seats, News18s Mega Opinion Poll has predicted.

According to the survey, the NDA will win with a vote share of 48 per cent while the INDIA bloc may secure a 34 per cent vote share.

The survey from February 12 to March 1 covered 21 major states of India that account for 95% of all Lok Sabha constituencies, making it one of the largest surveys in the country.
Following the conclusion of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Congress Rahul Gandhi addressed the opposition INDIA bloc rally at Mumbais Shivaji Park. While most of the barbs during his speech were reserved for the BJP-led Centre, a senior leader, who quit Congress to join the BJP, found a special mention.

Joined by Opposition leaders such as MK Stalin and Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi dwelt on the twin themes of corruption and the autonomy of democratic institutions in a speech that lasted an hour.

We are fighting with a power. Now the question is, what is that power? The soul of a king lies in the EVMs, ED (Enforcement Directorate), CBI, Income tax, Rahul Gandhi said.

Though Rahul did not name the leader, he was believed to be referring to Maharashtra Chief Minister and MP Ashok Chavan when he spoke about the BJPs misuse of central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate.

I dont want to name names, but a senior leader from this state left the Congress. Weeping, he told my mother, Sonia-ji, Im ashamed to say, I do not have the power to fight this people, this force. I do not want to go to jail, he added.

The Congress has levelled the washing machine allegation against the BJP again referring to Chavans exit last month, shortly after another key leader, Milind Deora.

Ashok Chavan Reacts

BJP Rajya Sabha member Ashok Chavan on Monday said he did not meet Sonia Gandhi before leaving the grand old party and dismissed Rahul Gandhis comments in this regard as baseless.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhis statements, Chavan in a video message said Rahul Gandhi made the statement in a rally on Sunday and did not take anybodys name. But if he is saying that about me, then it is illogical and baseless. The truth is that till I resigned from the Congress, I was working at the party headquarters. I resigned from the post of MLA and a few moments later resigned from the party also. Till then, no one knew that I had resigned, the former state chief minister said.

I never met Sonia Gandhi. It is baseless (to say) that I met Sonia Gandhi and expressed my emotions. It is a political statement from the election point of view, Chavan said.

After Chavan quit the Congress last month, he joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which nominated him for the Rajya Sabha poll from Maharashtra.

Chavan was later declared elected to the Rajya Sabha unopposed. In 2010, Chavan stepped down as chief minister following allegations of involvement in the Adarsh housing scam in Mumbai. He was also state Congress chief during 2014-19.

Chavan has three cases pending against him, two of which are linked to the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society.

Chavan was the revenue minister of Maharashtra in 2000, when land in Colaba was allegedly allotted illegally for the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society.

(With PTI inputs)
One of the first lessons given in political discourse is to mind what you say. And if there are elections around the corner, the need for checks is even greater. This is exactly why many are left wondering why Rahul Gandhis words are making things difficult for him and his party.

The latest gaffe came at the grand finale of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai. What Gandhi perhaps wanted to say was that BJP was using the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, and EVMs to win polls and scare netas into joining them. But what he ended up saying  in Hindu dharma, there is Shakti, and we are fighting that Shakti just made the BJP chuckle in glee and his party colleague scratch their heads.

The Congress defended Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge said: The Shakti remark Rahul Gandhi was talking about I will openly say that Modi-ji has this Shakti in the form of RSS and Manuvaad. They want to rush us using this Shakti.

The BJP, meanwhile, attacked Gandhi for being a misogynist and anti-hindu. Party leader Amit Malviya said: Rahul Gandhi is not just Hinduphobic but also a misogynist. This is the true character of the Congress-led INDIA bloc.

This is not the first time that Gandhis comments have earned him this tag. Recently, during his yatra, he alleged that youth in Kashi were found drunk; that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using Lord Ram to divert the attention of people; and that Bharat Mata was killed in Manipur.

In a post-Ram Mandir scenario, the BJP hopes this emotion helps it achieve the 370 Paar target. Also, the Lord Ram emotion transcends North India. The prime minister has travelled to many Ram temples in the South to make the point that people across the country have devotion for Lord Ram.

The Congress decision to skip the Pran Pratishtha of the Ayodhya temple has earned it some disquiet within the party, with some leaders choosing to quit.

Rahul Gandhis words have often silenced many within his party into despair. While not many speak openly, there is apprehension that his words  which seem anti-Hindu  will hurt those who have to hit the ground.

Unfortunately, the Congress leaders words only give Shakti to BJP against the INDIA bloc as many in the Grand Old Party look on helplessly.
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the bail petition of former Delhi minister Satyendra Jain and directed him to surrender. Jain was lodged in Tihar jail before he secured an interim medical bail in a money laundering case.

The matter was heard by a Supreme Court bench of justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal who rejected the extension request and asked the petitioner to surrender.

Advocate Vivek Jain, who appeared for the former minister, sought an extension of time to surrender, citing his ill health. The court rejected the request and maintained its order, HT reported.

Satyendra Jain, the former health minister of Delhi, was granted interim medical bail in May last year after suffering a fall in a Tihar jails bathroom. On July 21 last year, he underwent a spinal operation. He was arrested in May 2022

The case pertains to the allegation that Jain, a former minister in the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi cabinet, misused his position as minister from February 2015 to May 2017 to acquire disproportionate assets worth over 1.4 crore.

The Enforcement Directorate subsequently began an investigation into the money laundering charges through three companies allegedly linked to him.

The ED, which later attached the alleged proceeds of crime worth Rs 4.60 crore in the case, claimed that Satyendra Jain was controlling the three companies through the directorship of his wife, Poonam Jain.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Satyendra Jain, earlier cited shareholding, directorship, and control over the financials of the companies and said the petitioner could not be said to have held control over them.

Earlier this month, Delhi LG V K Saxena granted sanction for a CBI probe against former minister Satyendar Jain in a complaint of extortion filed by money laundering accused Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
To dispel alleged misinformation on the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, which came into force earlier this month, Union Minister Shantanu Thakur has declared he will seek citizenship himself in a symbolic gesture.

Shantanu Thakur is the grandson of Pramatha Ranjan Thakur, a prominent member of the Matua community who came to India after partition. He is BJP MP from Bongaon, an area with the majority of people belonging to the Matua community in West Bengals North 24 Parganas district.

The CAA, enacted by the BJP-led government at the Centre in 2019, aims at granting Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians, from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.

Thakur, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said he plans to apply for citizenship under CAA himself to counter widespread misinformation spread by the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The TMC is trying to create a misleading campaign that people applying for CAA (citizenship) will lose everything. This is not right. The Indian government has said that if someone has Bangladeshi papers, even that will do. The government only wants to check that the person applying is not affiliated to any terror outfits. I myself will apply for citizenship though I dont require it. I will still do it to prove to people that nothing will happen.

The BJP has also accused West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee of deterring citizenship applicants with claims that they will be dispossessed of their properties.

Matuas, who constitute a large chunk of the states Scheduled Caste population, had been migrating to West Bengal since the 1950s, primarily due to religious persecution in erstwhile East Pakistan which later became Bangladesh.

Since the 1990s, political parties in West Bengal have actively sought to secure the support of the Matuas, who, due to their significant population and tendency to vote together, are considered a valuable voting bloc.

The Matua community is believed to benefit the most from the implementation of the CAA.

In Thakurnagar, several members of the community have been coming to register themselves with the Matua Mahasangha. Many of them have no documents and have been enquiring about applying for citizenship without papers.

Party sources say the many among the 1-crore strong Matua community may follow Thakurs example and apply for citizenship under CAA.
Rajeev Kumar, the acting Director General of Police of West Bengal, is the first IPS officer to have been transferred out ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2024.

The Election Commission on Monday ordered the removal of the home secretaries of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and directed the shunting out of Rajeev Kumar as the West Bengal police chief.

The poll panel usually takes such action during parliamentary and Assembly elections when an issue of conflict of interest or the possibility of such officials disturbing a level-playing field arises. The EC directs states to transfer officers connected with election related work, who have completed three years or are in their home districts. If such officers are not transferred by the states, the EC orders their removal.

In a letter dated March 18, the Election Commission directed West Bengal Chief Secretary BP Gopalika to shift Rajeev Kumar to a non-election related post with immediate affect.

This is not the first time such orders have been issued against Kumar. In 2016, he was the Commissioner of Kolkata Police when he was relieved of his position before the West Bengal Assembly elections. In 2019, Kumar was ADG in West Bengal CID when he was removed before the general elections.

Sources in the Election Commission said there have been complaints galore against Kumar.

Rajeev Kumar was appointed as the DGP by the Bengal government arbitrarily as his name was not sent to the UPSC-led panel for approval, said a senior official in the Ministry of Home Affairs. The officer in question has been under investigation for long in connection with the chit fund scam case. The allegation against him included his alleged complicity in the crime and alleged involvement in tampering evidence that the CBI is still probing. Even though the central agency has moved on from that and he has not been summoned recently, the case file is still open, the official said.

Recently, Rajeev Kumars role as the DGP came under question in connection with the Sandeshkhali case in which women were allegedly sexually assaulted. The Opposition cried hoarse against the alleged inaction.

Controversys Favourite Child

Rajeev Kumar, an IPS officer of 1989 batch, has been controversys favourite child since 2013-14 when he has made the chief of a special investigation team (SIT) by the Mamata Banerjee government to probe complaints related to the chit fund companies. The IIT graduate has been known as one of most technically sound officers in the cadre.

In 2019, the conflict between central agencies CBI and ED and the state police, especially the Kolkata Police, reached a climax when the CBI raided Kumars residence after summoning him several times. He was the CP of Kolkata at the time.

In an unprecedented move, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had sat on a dharna in central Kolkata for three days protesting against the actions of the CBI. Rajeev Kumar, along with other senior officers, also visited the chief minister during the dharna.

Kumar had once towered above the landscape of West Bengal and its capital Kolkata as the high-profile police commissioner of the city. He had been the blue-eyed boy of former chief minister of Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and has occupied a similar space during Mamata Banerjee tenure as well.

Rajeev Kumar, who was leading the Special Task Force in Kolkata Police in 2011, is also credited for his contribution in tracking down senior Maoist militia leader Kishenji, who was killed in an encounter in November, 2011. A few months later, Kumar was posted as CP, Bidhan Nagar (Salt Lake), known as a prestigious position in Bengal police.

In 2013-14, he was made the head of Special Investigation Team of West Bengal formed to probe the chit fund scam and the allegations of depositors. Under Rajeev Kumars watch, the SIT picked up Sudipto Sen, the managing director of Saradha group of companies, and Kunal Ghosh, who was then Rajya Sabha MP from the Trinamool Congress.

Later, he moved to Kolkata Police as the CP. During the course of the investigation, Kunal Ghosh mentioned Kumars name multiple times and levelled several allegations against the officer. He was later posted as ADG, CID in 2019, and in 2020, he was posted as the principal secretary, IT. The latter is a cadre post reserved for IAS officers only. However, Mamata Banerjees government made an exception for him.

Since 2019, Kumar has been a shadow of his former self, shuttling between the Supreme Court and the Calcutta High Court, filing petitions seeking extension of legal protection from probable arrest and getting CBI notices to him quashed.
Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which started from Manipur on January 14 and concluded at Mumbais Shivaji Park today, was not just a spectacle before the 2024 Lok Sabha election but a grand show of strength of INDIA alliance, whose leaders who took pot-shots at the ruling BJP at the event.

Not only did Rahul Gandhi slam the BJP and its leaders, he pointed out fighting against the power, which is controlling everybody from leaders to media and social media. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is just playing the role which he has been asked to play by this power, he added.

He said Manipur and Mumbai were chosen as the key locations for the Yatra as the former witnessed a civil war-like situation which nobody was talking about, and the people of Dharavi are struggling as the plan is to throw them out of their houses.

We wanted to give a new vision therefore these two destinations were decided for the Yatra, he added.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray in his speech compared the Modi government to an inflated balloon and regretted for playing a part to inflate this balloon. I feel sorry that we also played a part in inflating this balloon in the past. The party that had only two MPs is now asking us how many seats we will win. We were part of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government too but the Modi government is all about advertising. This time, people of India are with us, and we are fighting the battle to save democracy.

He praised Rahul Gandhi for choosing Shivaji Park as the spot to complete his yatra. Anyone who has made promises to people from Shivaji Park has not failed.

Sharad Pawars Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is also another spoke in the INDIA wheel, urged the crowd to remain united and bring a change in the country. He too lambasted at the Centre under Modi for making false promises the kind of advertisements they are showing on TV wont work this time for them. Mahatma Gandhi had given a call for Bharat Chodo (Quit India Movement) from Mumbai in 1942. Now, the time has come that we all should give a call for BJP Chodo from Mumbai, the NCP supremo added.

Other partners of the INDIA bloc including Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK chief MK Stalin said, PM Modi calls our alliance corrupt but look at the amount in the electoral bond case. It shows that this government is the corrupt I call it white collar corruption.

Praising his alliance leaders from North India, Stalin said, It is a journey to restore India, which had been destroyed by the BJP.

After the Lok Sabha Election in Jammu and Kashmir were announced in seven phases, former Chief Minister and leader of National Conference Farooq Abdullah assured that the polls will be conducted on ballot paper once the INDIA alliance comes into power. We will make it happen.

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, who was also present at the Shivaji Park ground, targeted the BJP for misusing the central agencies to pull down the state governments. He reminded the Modi government of the poll promise of bringing back black money, and creating two crore jobs every year.

Yadav mentioned about his father, Lalu Prasad, who could not attend the rally but had a message for all his supporters that he is fit and ready to take on Modi and his government. Modi ji talks about guarantees. In your state (Maharashtra), he broke up Shiv Sena and NCP, but in my case, he stole my uncle from me. Will he give a guarantee to send my uncle back to me? asked Yadav. He underlined around 5 lakh jobs that were created in his 17-month stint as the Deputy CM of Bihar. And dared the Modi government to show how many jobs he has generated in the last 10 years.

The showstopper was Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), a constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), whose chief Prakash Ambedkar said either he will fight unitedly or separately but will take on the BJP. Ambedkar is yet to reply to the MVA proposal of four out of 48 Lok Sabha seats for contest next month.

Ambedkar also gave an example of Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee who has decided to go solo in Lok Sabha election.

In the 2014 and 2019 Parliamentary elections, the VBA managed to bag most votes of Dalits, Muslims and other castes. The split votes helped the alliance between the BJP and Shiv Sena that won the polls by winning 41 of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra.

The Ambedkar-led outfit gained influence after it was rechristened to VBA from earlier Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh on March 19, 2019. In 2019, it secured a collective 41 lakh votes from all 48 Lok Sabha constituencies.
LinkedIn helps people find jobs and it even has a feed where people share their thoughts and posts. But soon, the professional platform could also have games. Thats right, LinkedIn could become a rival to Netflix and Apple in the near future with its in-app games being lined up as per reports.

LinkedIn, which now has more 1 billion users, is working on new games experience, reports TechCrunch. The first three early efforts are games called Queens, Inference and Crossclimb.

A company spokesperson confirmed they are working on gaming, but there is no official launch date yet. Were playing with adding puzzle-based games within the LinkedIn experience to unlock a bit of fun, deepen relationships, and hopefully spark the opportunity for conversations, the spokesperson said in a statement.

App researcher Nima Owji also said that LinkedIn appears to be experimenting with gaming. LinkedIn, however, did not comment if Microsoft is involved in the gaming project at the company.

Microsofts gaming business  that includes Xbox and Activision Blizzard  registered $7.1 billion in revenues last quarter. The company completed the acquisition of gaming company Activision Blizzard on in October last year.

It is clear that LinkedIn wants to increase the average spend time on the app and it sees gaming as the ideal avenue to enter and appeal to more users.

(With IANS inputs)
Microsoft has been once again alleged of injecting pop-ups into the Google Chrome browser, requesting users to switch to Bing. As reported by The Verge, malware-like ads were first introduced by Microsoft last year that showed a prompt appearing over the top of other ads and windows.

These pop-ups promote the tech companys Bing search engine and an AI-powered chatbot. After widespread criticism of the aggressive promotion of Bing, the said notifications were paused by Microsoft to address the unintended behaviour. However, the pop-ups have returned once again on Windows 10 and 11.

Several Windows users have reported the pop-up, advertising Bing AI and its search engine, showing up inside Googles Chrome browser. The notification boldly states, Chat with GPT-4 for free on Chrome! Get hundreds of daily chat turns with Bing AI.

Upon selecting yes in the advertised notification, Microsoft will set Bing as the default search engine within Chrome by downloading its extension. However, the pop-up itself is less of a problem. What really caused paranoia amongst Windows users was the notifications striking resemblance to malware. This led to multiple users questioning the legitimacy of the notification, eventually prompting a response from Microsoft.

Microsofts Director of Communications Caitlin Rouston has now addressed those ad pop-ups, stating them to be a one-time notification. In an official statement to The Verge, Rouston said, This is a one-time notification giving people the choice to set Bing as their default search engine on Chrome. She further talked about how Microsoft values the importance of choice which is why the notification could easily be dismissed. We value providing our customers with choice, so there is an option to dismiss the notification, Roulston concluded.

The current pop-up issue has been linked to server-side processes as _BCILauncher.EXE_ or _BingChatInstaller.EXE_. These processes were added to some Windows systems on March 13, and there is no easy fix for users to prevent this notification from appearing.

Earlier this year, Microsoft also had to provide a fix for an issue where Edge was automatically importing browsing data from Chrome tabs without the users consent. The issue was eventually resolved but the companys persistence in promotion tactics for Bing has left several users with a bad taste.

Microsoft is currently in a solid race in AI-based developments, thanks to its partnership with OpenAI. This has also enabled the software giants to test the latest ChatGPT versions before the competition. In a recent podcast, Microsofts CEO Satya Nadella referred to OpenAI as one of the high-ambition technology innovation companies.
Google is enhancing the security level for Chrome users and its latest effort looks to protect you from possible malware attacks and warn you about phishing attempts. Google is calling it Safe Browsing, which speaks for itself and what support it offers. The new tool is available for Chrome users on the web as well as iOS devices, with Android users likely to get it in the coming weeks.

Google tends to make strong claims about its security protection often so how is the new tool different from the previous iterations? Heres an in-depth lowdown on the Chrome feature that is coming to millions of users this month.

Google Safe Browsing: What Is It

Safe Browsing has been around for a while but Google claims it has enhanced the protection level, with focus now on phishing, malware attacks, warning users about possible intrusion through certain websites that you visit. Google basically uses its repository of malicious sites, and tracks if you have visited any one of them in recent times. The company claims it has been able to block around 25 percent of phishing attempts. The real-time tracking is more effective than its previous focus on alerting for the on-device malicious sites.

How Google Alerts You About Dangerous Sites?

Google has tweaked its tracking mechanism with its real-time function, and the process seems fairly complex yet effective. Google says when a person visits a website, Chrome gives a quick check for its safety through the cache. It also does a real-time check for the websites safety by sending the URL to a privacy server.

From here, Google uses the granular details of the website, and shares the data in an encrypted form to the Safe Browsing server. Now, the server matches the website with its database and warns if it finds any concerns.

You might be thinking that going through the long process could affect the loading time of the website, especially if it checks out. However, Google assures that its real-time checks happen in the background and between the person visiting the website, and being warned about possible threats, the whole process doesnt take a lot of time.
The Indian Consulate in New York, in a social media post on Monday, said the initial probe into the death of a 20-year-old Andhra Pradesh student in Boston had ruled out foul play.

The Indian Consulate said it rendered assistance in the documentation and transportation of the Andhra students mortal remains to India, adding that the deceased students parents were in constant touch with the detectives investigating the killing.

Deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate demise of Mr. Abhijeeth Paruchuru, an Indian student in Boston.Mr. Puruchurus parents, based in Connecticut , are in direct touch with detectives. Initial investigations rule out foul play. @IndiainNewYork rendered  India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) March 18, 2024

Unidentified assailants allegedly killed Abhijeeth Paruchuru, a 20-year-old student studying engineering at Boston University. His body was found dumped in a car deep inside a forest a few days ago.

He was the only son of his parents Paruchuru Chakradhar and Srilakshmi.

Abhijeeth Paruchuru, according to a report by the Times of India, was a bright student since his childhood. His mother initially did not want him to go abroad for higher studies but later agreed keeping his future in mind, his family members told the newspaper.

The report also said that assailants may have killed Abhijit for money and his laptop. There are also questions being raised regarding a quarrel he had with other students at the university. The murder on the campus has raised many suspicions.

His mortal remains were moved to Burripalem in the Guntur district after completing all the formalities in the US.

Abhijeeths remains reached Burripalem in Guntur at his house late Friday evening.

This is the ninth incident of such an attack in the US on a person of Indian origin in 2024.
Afghan forces are retaliating strongly to Pakistans airstrikes on the eastern Afghanistan region. People familiar with the developments there told CNN-News18 that Afghan National Defence Forces are retaliating against Pakistani incursions on Afghan soil.

The people mentioned above said that Afghani forces returned fire against Pakistani aggressors in several points along the Durand Line.

Pakistan conducted airstrikes in eastern Afghanistans Khost and Paktika provinces in the wee hours of Monday morning. People familiar with the developments in Pakistan told CNN-News18 that it killed eight Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists including senior commanders.

The people mentioned above also told CNN-News18 there is intermittent firing from the Afghan forces into Pakistan on three areas along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border  Kurram tribal district, North Waziristan tribal district and South Waziristan lower tribal districts.

They said that multiple mortar shells have landed in Pakistani territory following the aerial strike this morning.

The airstrikes were criticised by the Taliban regime and said there will be retaliation. The Taliban also alleged that innocent civilians were killed in the airstrikes and termed the airstrikes as reckless.

The Pakistani interior ministry issued fresh directives to the provincial governments of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan in the wake of these attacks.

The attacks come close on the heels of the second phase of the repatriation of illegal Afghan citizens from Pakistan and also amid the holy month of Ramadan. Approximately 500,000 illegal Afghans have already been deported and the decision to kickstart the second phase was made during a virtual meeting by the federal interior secretary.
Indian Navys INS Kolkata on Saturday intercepted the hijacked cargo ship MV Ruen and told the Somali pirates on board to surrender. The pirates, notorious for their activities in the Arabian Sea region, complied and all 35 of them are now being brought to India for prosecution since they open-fired at INS Kolkata.

India in 2022 said that it has emerged as a net security provider. India has emerged as a regional power and net security provider in the Indo-Pacific as its capacity to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to its citizens as well as regional partners has grown in recent years, defence minister Rajnath Singh said during the multi-agency HADR exercise Samanvay 2022 in Agra.

India, since then, has lived up to its promise and the Indian Navy has carried out several successful rescue operations in the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the adjoining region.

MV Ruen Rescue Op

INS Kolkata over the weekend successfully coerced all 35 Somali pirates who hijacked a vessel in the Arabian Sea who had taken over hijacked cargo ship MV Ruen and were holding 17 crew members hostage. The pirates will be prosecuted in India.

The special forces of the Indian Navy, Marine Commando Force aka MARCOS, had boarded the vessel and engaged in a 40-hour long operation and were finally successful in getting the pirates to surrender.

FV Omari Rescue Op

Indian Navy in January rescued 19 crew members aboard a fishing vessel hijacked off Somalia. Indian patrol boat INS Sharda intercepted the Iranian-flagged FV Omari after the latter let out a distress call. Eleven Iranian and eight Pakistani crew members were aboard the vessel. Indian naval commandos on that occasion too boarded the boat and hijackers surrendered their weapons. The seven hijackers were detained.

FV Al Naeemi Rescue Op

The Indian Navy freed another Iranian fishing vessel hijacked by Somali pirates in January following increasing attacks on Indian Ocean shipping. The warship INS Sumitra compelled the safe release of the 19 Pakistani crew members and the Iranian-flagged Al Naeemi fishing vessel and detained a total of 11 Somali pirates who had taken the crew hostage.

MV Lila Norfolk Hijacking Thwarted

The Indian Navy rescued all 21 crew members, including 15 Indian nationals, aboard the MV Lila Norfolk in January after the merchant vessel launched a hijacking distress call. The 84,000-tonne bulk carrier had been boarded by five or six unknown armed personnel on Thursday evening but the attempted hijacking was probably abandoned after a forceful warning by the Indian Navy.

FV Iman Rescue Op

The Indian Navy also freed Iranian fishing vessel FV Iman from the clutches of Somalian pirates in January. INS Sumitra  which was on anti-piracy patrol off the east coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden  undertook the operation and ensured the release of all 17 crew members along with the boat.

MV Marlin Luanda Distress Call

INS Visakhapatnam, a guided missile destroyer stationed in the Gulf of Aden, promptly reacted to a distress call from the merchant vessel Marlin Luanda. The British oil tanker had caught fire following a missile attack by Yemens Houthi. INS Visakhapatnam quickly dispatched its teams along with firefighting equipment to assist in extinguishing the blaze on the merchant vessel.
Israeli forces launched an operation early Monday in and around Gazas largest hospital, Al-Shifa, with witnesses reporting air strikes and tanks near the complex crowded with patients and displaced people.

The pre-dawn raid came at a time of growing concern over a looming Israeli ground invasion of Gazas crowded far-southern city of Rafah, and as international mediators and envoys readied to meet in Qatar Monday to revive stalled truce talks.

A meeting between Israels Mossad chief David Barnea, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Egyptian officials is expected to take place today, a source said on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the talks.

The Israeli military told Gazans to immediately evacuate from Al-Shifa in Gaza City after it launched the raid based on what the army termed intelligence indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists.

Witnesses told AFP that the Israeli forces had dropped Arabic-language leaflets with the same evacuation instructions and a warning that You are in a dangerous combat zone!

The health ministry of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said residents near the hospital in the largely devastated city had reported dozens of casualties who could not be helped due to the intensity of gunfire and artillery shelling.

The Hamas government media office condemned as a war crime the storming of the Al-Shifa medical complex with tanks, drones and weapons, and shooting inside, where thousands of displaced Palestinians were sheltering.

The army and the Shin Bet security service said Israeli troops had identified terrorist fire toward them from a number of hospital buildings. The forces engaged the terrorists and identified several hits.

Israels military also said troops had been told to avoid harm to the patients, civilians, medical staff and medical equipment, with Arabic speakers deployed to facilitate dialogue with the patients remaining in the hospital.

The army had previously raided Al-Shifa in mid-November, sparking an international outcry, in an operation in which it said its troops had found weapons and other military equipment in rooms in and below the hospital.

The bloodiest ever Gaza war broke out after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on October 7 that resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.

The Islamist militants also seized about 250 hostages, of whom Israel believes 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead.

Israel, vowing to destroy Hamas and free the captives, has carried out a relentless bombing campaign and ground offensive that Gazas health ministry says has killed at least 31,726 people, most of them women and children.

Fear of Rafah invasion

An Israeli siege that cut off water, electricity, fuel and basic supplies has brought large-scale shortages in the territory of 2.4 million people that the UN warns is on the brink of famine.

Overland access for aid convoys from Egypt has been limited amid the bombing, ground combat and growing insecurity in Gaza where some vehicles have been looted by desperate crowds.

The United States, Jordan and other western and Arab countries have airdropped food into Gaza, while a first aid vessel sailing from the Mediterranean island-nation of Cyprus has opened a new maritime corridor for humanitarian relief goods.

Halting efforts toward a truce and hostage release deal, which have involved US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators, were expected to resume in Qatar, following a week-long ceasefire in November.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again vowed, in the face of growing global concern, that the army will finish its operation to destroy Hamas, before or after any truce.

Global alarm has focussed on Gazas far-southern city of Rafah near the Egyptian border, where about 1.5 million Palestinians now live in crowded shelters and tent cities.

Netanyahus warnings of a looming ground invasion have raised fears the civilians would be in the line of fire, sparking warnings of a potential slaughter.

Israels top ally the United States, which has provided it with billions of dollars in military assistance, has stressed it wants to see a clear and implementable plan to ensure civilians are out of harms way.

Where should they go?

The Israeli premier on Sunday reiterated that civilians would be evacuated from Rafah before any ground attack, without detailing where they would go in the largely devastated coastal strip.

Our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah goes hand-in-hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah, he said during a visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Its not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place.

Scholz, like others before him, raised the question: Where should they go?

Speaking to reporters later, Scholz said that if a Rafah offensive resulted in a large number of casualties, this would make any peaceful development in the region very difficult.

In efforts toward a new truce deal, Hamas had so far demanded a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, which Netanyahu has rejected as delusional.

A new Hamas proposal calls for an Israeli withdrawal from all cities and populated areas in Gaza during a six-week truce and for more aid to come in, according to an official from the group.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported Monday that the cabinet approved the departure of the delegation with a mandate to hold the negotiations. The delegation will leave today.
Kate Middleton visited her favourite farm shop Saturday as she began taking her first steps to return to official engagements, UK-based newspaper The Sun said in a report. Bystanders said Princess Kate looked happy, relaxed and healthy on the visit. The farm shop is roughly half a kilometre away from her Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor

She and her husband, Prince William, spent the morning watching their children George, ten, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, take part in sports.

The royal couple were sighted amid wild speculations about her well-being and current whereabouts which left the royal couple devastated. Kate was herself caught in a controversy and faced criticism for modifying a Mothers Day photo using Photoshop.

Happy St Patricks Day! Heres a sneak peak of the @irish_guards rehearsing for their annual parade. Slainte to all those celebrating today! pic.twitter.com/g45OPxB2Mc The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 17, 2024

She and her husband also took to social media to wish their followers a happy St Patricks Day and shared a small video clip of British soldiers. Happy St Patricks Day! Heres a sneak peek of the Irish Guards rehearsing for their annual parade. Slainte to all those celebrating today! the royal couple said in the post shared on social media site X.

This is the first time in seven years she is missing the St Patricks Day celebrations.

Their well wishers are concerned as UK media outlets said they were anticipating a major announcement from the Royal family. According to reports, the BBC Events team on Sunday was notified to stay alert for an extremely important announcement from the Royal family at any moment.

After all the rumours that had been going round I was stunned to see them there. Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well. The kids werent with them but its such a good sign she was healthy enough to pop down to the shops, a witness at the farm shop was quoted as saying by The Sun.

Kates last public appearance was on Christmas Day and she hasnt been able to fulfil her official duties since undergoing surgery in January.

Its expected that she wont resume her engagements until after April 17, once her children return to Lambrook School near Ascot after the Easter break. However, theres speculation that she might make a comeback on Easter Sunday, possibly joining her family for the customary walk to church in Windsor.

People familiar with the developments said that Kate Middleton is likely to speak about her health battle  but only if she returns to her royal duties.

She and William are at their most open when out interacting with the public and I can see a world in which the Princess might discuss her recovery (while) out on engagements. If she was going to do it, thats how she would do it, the people mentioned above told the Times of London.

They appreciate the publics love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays, they further added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in his election victory speech said Russia would not be intimidated as he became one of the longest-serving Russian leaders in more than 200 years.

I want to thank all of you and all citizens of the country for your support and this trust. No matter who or how much they want to intimidate us, no matter who or how much they want to suppress us, our will, our consciousness  no one has ever succeeded in anything like this in history. It has not worked now and will not work in the future. Never, Putin said early Monday morning, according to a report by news agency AFP.

Putin also said there are risks of World War III if a conflict breaks out between Russia and the US-led NATO military alliance. He said it would mean that the world is one step away from World War Three. He quickly pointed out that no one wanted such a scenario.

Putins remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macrons interview to French television this week and his comments last month where he appeared hawkish on Russia.

Macron this week said France must ensure Russia does not win the Ukraine war and last month said he could not rule out the deployment of ground troops in Ukraine in the future.

Putin said everything is possible in the modern world while reacting to Macrons comments. It is clear to everyone that this will be one step away from a full-scale World War Three. I think hardly anyone is interested in this, Putin said, adding that they picked up both English and French being spoken on the battlefield.

There is nothing good in this, first of all for them, because they are dying there and in large numbers, he said, while speaking to Reuters after winning the biggest ever landslide in post-Soviet Russian history.

As early as Friday, the first day of voting in the election, EU chief Charles Michel had sarcastically congratulated Putin on his landslide victory.

If he completes another full Kremlin term, Putin will have stayed in power longer than any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the 18th century.

Mr. Navalny

In his first public comments on Navalnys death last month, Putin called his passing a sad event. Using his name in public for the first time in years during a televised news conference, Putin said: As for Mr. Navalny. Yes, he passed away. This is always a sad event.

Putin said a colleague had proposed swapping Navalny several days before he died for some people who are currently held in prisons in Western countries. The person who was talking to me hadnt finished his sentence and I said I agree'.

Allies of the late Alexei Navalny  Putins most prominent rival, who died in an Arctic prison last month  had tried to spoil his inevitable victory, urging voters to flood polling stations at noon and spoil their ballots.

His wife, Yulia Navalnaya, was greeted by supporters with flowers and applause in Berlin. After voting at the Russian embassy, she said she had written her late husbands name on her ballot.

Some voters in Moscow answered the call from the opposition, telling AFP they had come to honour Navalnys memory and show their opposition in the only legal way possible.

I came to show that there are many of us, that we exist, that we are not some insignificant minority, said 19-year-old student Artem Minasyan at a polling station in central Moscow.

Putin said the protest had had no impact and that those who spoiled their ballots would have to be dealt with.

At Navalnys grave in a Moscow cemetery, AFP reporters saw spoiled ballot papers with the opposition leaders name scrawled across them on a pile of flowers.

We live in a country where we will go to jail if we speak our mind. So when I come to moments like this and see a lot of people, I realise that we are not alone, said 33-year-old Regina.
The 35 Somalian pirates who surrendered to the Indian Navy after it released the merchant vessel Ruen from their clutches are being brought back to India for prosecution.

The pirates had hijacked Maltese-flagged bulk carrier MV Ruen with the intention to use the vessel as a mothership to launch attacks on other commercial ships in the region. They also shot down a small spotter drone flown from destroyer INS Kolkata during the rescue operation.

These pirates will be prosecuted as per international law and guidelines. People familiar with the developments told CNN-News18 that the Indian Navy follows the usual practice of apprehending the pirates, disarming them and then allows them to leave after ensuring that they do not pose any threat to other vessels.

In a reckless hostile act, the pirates shot down the ship-launched drone and fired at INS Kolkata. In a calibrated response as per international laws, INS Kolkata disabled the vessels steering system and navigational aids, forcing her to stop, Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

However, the people mentioned above highlighted that these pirates opened fire on the warship, thus, involved in an act of aggression against the Indian Navy, which is why they are being brought back to India.

They also said that there are concerns that if these pirates are allowed to leave then they might re-group and begin their attacks again.

The MV Ruen was hijacked on December 14, at least 260 nautical miles east of Somalia. INS Kolkata, the guided-missile destroyer, intercepted the merchant vessel on Saturday backed by patrol vessel INS Subhadra, P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft, high-altitude long-endurance drones and additional marine commandos air-dropped by the C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Following a 40-hour long operation, around 2,600-km from the Indian coast, the Indian Navy coerced the pirates, all 35 of them, to surrender and secured the release of 17 crew members from Bulgaria, Angola and Myanmar without any injuries.

INS Kolkata undertook precisely measured actions, while maintaining her position close to the vessel. She also engaged in forceful negotiations that led to the pirates surrender due to the sustained pressure, Madhwal said.

(with inputs from Akash Sharma)
Taliban accused Pakistan of killing eight people, all women and children, on Monday in reckless air strikes by the Pakistan army in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistan aircraft bombed civilian homes in Khost and Paktika provinces in the wee hours of Monday morning.

(The Taliban government) strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of Afghanistans sovereignty. Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will be out (of) Pakistans control, Taliban said in a statement.

Tensions between both neighbouring countries rose since the Taliban government seized power in 2021. Even though Pakistan and the Taliban shared a good, strong relationship, due to the latters support for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistan now regularly claims that its neighbour is sheltering terror groups that are a threat to its safety.

It also cited the same reason for the air strikes and told news agency AFP that the strikes were in response to Afghan forces targeting Pakistani territory.

Announcements have been made in mosques to empty some areas in Kurram and North Waziristan as clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue on and off at the border, the official was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.

The strikes come after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack inside Pakistan territory on Saturday, for which the countrys President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation.

Pakistan has decided that whoever will enter our borders, homes or country and commit terror, we will respond to them strongly, regardless of who it is or from which country, he said while attending the funeral prayers of the soldiers, which included a lieutenant colonel.

Growing militancy campaign

Areas along the border have long been a stronghold for militant groups such as Pakistans home-grown Taliban group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates across the porous frontier with Afghanistan.

Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the Talibans return to power, with TTP waging a growing campaign against security officials.

The Taliban deny harbouring Pakistani militants.

In 2022, Taliban authorities said Pakistani military helicopters carried out strikes along the Afghan side of the border killing at least 47 people.

The TTP issued an official statement denying that Mondays strikes targeted the group, saying their members operate from within Pakistan.

However, a TTP source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media said the strikes in Paktika and Khost left at least nine people dead.

A house has been attacked where two women and seven children have been killed and a child has been wounded in the Barmal district in Paktika.

A bombardment in the Pasa Mela area of Khost also has casualties.
LEGAL experts have warned that occupying a property after the owners death without proper notification to the Master of High Court is illegal.

Families commonly reside in homes of their deceased relatives, but the neglect of registering the deceaseds estate is a criminal offence.

Failure to comply with the requirement could lead to serious legal repercussions, including a fine or jail sentence of up to one year, or both, underscoring the gravity of adhering to this legal condition.

Prominent Bulawayo-based legal expert, Mrs Patience Nkomo, said in terms of Section 5 of the Deceased Estates Act, it is a criminal offence for any relative of a deceased person or any person who at or immediately after the death has the chief charge of the house in or of the place on which the death occurred to not notify the Master of the High Court of the death of any person who died leaving any property in possession.

In short, residing in a house registered in the name of a deceased person whose estate is not registered is a criminal offence in terms of the laws of Zimbabwe, said Mrs Nkomo.

She said registration of a deceased estate should be initiated within 14 days of the death of the property owner.

Despite the legal mandate, she said there is a conspicuous absence of prosecution records for those who fail to comply with this requirement.

The gap in law enforcement raises questions about the practical application of the statute and its implications for legal heirs.

In reality, there are few known cases of criminal prosecution in terms of the above provision, but this does not do away with the need to comply with the same.

Communities clearly are unaware of the repercussions of not registering an estate and out of ignorance continue to reside in properties of deceased persons without notifying the Master of the High Court in clear violation of the law, said Mrs Nkomo.

She said there is a general lack of understanding of the importance of registering an estate, especially to the potential beneficiaries.

Registering an estate ensures that beneficiaries legally handle the deceaseds assets registered in the deceaseds name. Registering an estate also protects the assets of the estate from being abused or being grabbed, she said.

Mr Khumbulani Matema, another legal expert, warned that registration of a deceased estate is not just a procedural formality, but a legal necessity.

Non-compliance, he said, is a serious criminal offence.

The following persons can register an estate; surviving spouse, any member of the family or any person connected to the estate like creditors can register an estate. The charges to wind down an estate are minimal and largely depend on the value of the assets left behind by the deceased, said Mr Matema.

He said the process of settling an estate is a meticulous one that typically spans six months to a year. This timeframe is essential to ensure that all aspects of the estate are resolved in accordance with legal standards, underscoring the importance of a thorough approach to estate administration.

The time largely depends on the size and complexity of the estate. Complex estates take longer. In such instances, members of the public are urged to approach professional executors to guide them on the winding of the estate.

People are also urged to plan their afterlife by documenting their thoughts in the form of a will. Members of the public are urged to approach estate planners to guide them on drafting and safe keeping of such important documents, he said.

Mr Matema said failure to do so can be costly to the immediate family as they might not have control over the assets.

The rules of intestacy may not go according to your wishes. Your spouse may be forced to sell the family home in order to share with the other beneficiaries, said Mr Matema.

Mr Dictor Khumalo, head of Housing and Community Services at Bulawayo City Council, said they frequently encountered cases involving individuals seeking to transfer house ownership.

These instances highlight the ongoing challenges and complexities surrounding property rights and ownership within the city.

We come across a lot of these problems where individuals will come and say we must transfer a deceased estate to a family member. But we refer them to the High Court which handles the distribution of property of a deceased individual. We just follow what the Master of the High Court would have determined. But we have seen a lot of people coming to us out of ignorance and we tell them to go to the High Court, said Mr Khumalo.

Firstly, a deceased estate must be registered with the Master of the High Court within six weeks. After registering, an inventory of all the deceased assets is compiled and subsequently distributed among the surviving spouse and children. After distribution, the process of updating or changing ownership of property can be done.

Bulawayo United Residents Association chairperson Mr Winos Dube said there is general lack of knowledge of the need to register deceased estates.

I think the Government and the relevant ministry need to do an extensive education campaign on the requirements to register a deceased estate.

It is an urgent matter that needs to be tackled because some people are losing properties to unscrupulous individuals who understand the law and take advantage of the ignorance of residents.

Some people dont see the need to register an estate as they would culturally say this is my house as it was left by my late father, so there is nothing to fuss about, said Mr Dube Chronicle


A collaborative effort between Bulawayo residents and the police resulted in the successful dismantlement of a notorious syndicate believed to be responsible for extensive copper cable thefts in the city.

The operation culminated in the recovery of over five tonnes of stolen cables in Mahatshula suburb.

The four-member syndicate was apprehended on Saturday afternoon by a CID Homicide team, following a meticulous two-week surveillance operation.

Among those arrested are a man and his wife, Tapfumaneyi Muzarabani and Tracy Ncube, alongside their alleged accomplices, Alan Mudjiwa and Hebron Chiyangwa.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Abednico Ncube, credited the vigilant public for reporting the suspicious activities that led to the surveillance and subsequent arrests.

Bulawayo province has been battling a scourge of theft of copper cables and that led us to engagie CID Homicide in apprehending the suspects. Detectives from CID received information from members of the public leading to a raid at a house in Mahatshula suburb. They were found with more than 5 tonnes of copper cables in two separate rooms, said Insp Ncube.

He said police believe that the couple residing there was involved in the concealment of the stolen goods, which were allegedly destined for sale to various purchasers.

The owner of the house is a 64-year-old man who stays elsewhere and is unaware that his house was being used as a storage facility for stolen copper cables. We want to appreciate members of the public for having trust in ZRP Bulawayo and we want to appreciate the police themselves, especially CID Homicide in this case, who worked with dedication, diligence and motivation in the follow up of this case, said Insp Ncube.

Meanwhile, police on Wednesday apprehended a 36-year-old man in Emganwini suburb found with 1,5 tonnes of copper cables.

The person, an agent for Harare-based Reczone Private Limited, asserted that the cables were being stored on behalf of the company.

Insp Ncube reported that police were tipped off about the suspects possession of the cables, which are believed to have been pilfered from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Companys (ZETDC) distribution network.

On March 13, detectives received information that the accused person had copper cables suspected to be stolen from ZETDC distribution lines. The recovered copper cables are owned by ZETDC.

Some are used in electricity distribution and some are transformer coils and overhead copper distribution cables. Police gathered that indeed the man is an agent of Reczone Pvt Ltd and that he operates in Bulawayos Kelvin West Industrial area.

On a date unknown, but in January 2024, he received assorted copper cables packed in 34 50kg pockets. The copper cables included transformer coils and overhead distribution cables. He stored the cables in one of the company offices at 1634 Market Road Kelvin North, Bulawayo, said Insp Ncube.

He said police went to the premises where they requested to conduct a search and managed to recover 1 380,5kgs of copper cables of which 571kgs were ZETDC transformer coils.

ZETDC engineers, TelOne Zimbabwe and National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) representatives were summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit Station to identify the recovered copper cables. The ZETDC engineer identified 571kgs of transformer coils and overhead distribution cables, Inspector Ncube said.

He claimed to have acquired various copper cables from multiple sources. Upon inspection, he presented a legitimate copper trading licence, valid from February 19 of this year until February 18, 2025, issued to his employer.

However, Insp Ncube highlighted a potential infringement of Section 4(4) of the Copper Control Act, Chapter 14:06, which explicitly prohibits the transfer or unauthorised use of such licences.

The incident underscores the ongoing concerns regarding the loss of parastatal property to vandalism and theft.

In response to these challenges, Zesa spearheaded an awareness campaign last month, in collaboration with the Bulawayo City Council, police, ZETDC Loss Control, NRZ and TelOne.

The initiative was aimed at raising public consciousness about the detrimental effects of service infrastructure vandalism, particularly the theft of copper cables.

The consequences of these criminal activities have been severe, including fatalities in hospitals, water supply disruptions and extended power outages affecting numerous citizens. Chronicle
UPDATE

Mar 18, 2024 3:15 PM CDT

Muhammad Syed, a 53-year-old refugee from Afghanistan, has been found guilty of the July 2022 murder of 41-year-old Aftab Hussein, one of three killings in 10 days that shook Albuquerque's Muslim community. Syed has been charged with the two other murders and could face two more trials, the Albuquerque Journal reports. He is also a suspect in a 2021 murder. Prosecutors said Syed ambushed Hussein and shot him multiple times outside an apartment complex, but no motive was identified. "As best we can tell, this could be a case of a serial killer where there's a motive known only to them and not something that we can really understand," said Deputy DA David Waymire, per the AP.

Aug 10, 2022 6:24 PM CDT

The suspect charged with killing two Muslim men in Albuquerque and suspected of killing two more was on his way to Texas when he was arrested, police say. According to a criminal complaint, 51-year-old Muhammed Syed was around halfway between Albuquerque and the state line when police stopped his car Monday night, the New York Times reports. According to the compaint, Syed said he was going to look for a place in Houston for his family to live because things were "bad" in Albuquerque. Police said evidence including a handgun and a spent bullet casing was found in his car.
An 8-year-old Kentucky boy ate strawberries purchased at a school fundraiser Thursday night, and by the next morning, the child was dead. His parents told authorities he appeared to be suffering from some sort of allergic reaction after eating the strawberries, with a rash as the main symptom, and that they gave him Benadryl and put him in the bath to see if that helped. It did not, so they ended up taking him to an emergency room around 10:30pm and took him back home several hours later, 14 News reports. It's not clear whether he was treated there; Kentucky.com reports the family "decided to leave" close to 1:30am; he changed his clothes and went to bed. The family called police around 6:30am the following morning when they went to wake the boy for school and found him unresponsive, WKYT reports. He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.
A man faces murder charges in Pennsylvania and carjacking and weapons charges in New Jersey after allegedly killing three family members, carjacking vehicles in both states, and evading law enforcement for hours as police mobilized, authorities said Sunday. Andre Gordon Jr., 26, is charged in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with three counts of first- and second-degree murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and other charges, according to court documents. In New Jersey, Gordon is charged with first-degree carjacking and weapons offenses, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement Sunday, per the AP . Gordon carjacked a vehicle in Trenton around 8:40am ET on Saturday before driving to Levittown in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, and killing his stepmother and sister, authorities said.

He then drove to a second location in Levittown and killed the mother of his two children, according to authorities. The victims were identified by Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn on Saturday as the suspect's 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon; his 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon; and 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, the mother of his two children, who were present at the time of the shooting in that home. Gordon is also charged with having beaten Daniel's mother with an assault weapon; she was taken to a hospital for treatment. He then carjacked a second vehicle in Morrisville and returned to Trenton, authorities said. Cops surrounded a home for hours in the belief that he was there, but Gordon apparently slipped out before the police cordon went up.

He was arrested at around 5pm, unarmed, when he was spotted walking a few blocks away, police said. Pennsylvania officials say they can't yet speak to a motive. "The string of violent acts ... is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor," Platkin said. "We will pursue justice for the victims and hold the defendant accountable for his reprehensible actions." 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. Gordon is currently being held at the Mercer County Correction Center. He'll be extradited to Pennsylvania "at some point," per Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson.

(More murder charges stories.)
A once-secret Army unit tasked with the unusual mission of tricking Adolf Hitler about the size of enemy troops will receive Congress' highest honor this week. The "Ghost Army"more formally known as the Army's 23rd Headquarters Special Troopswill receive the Congressional Gold Medal on Thursday, reports Military.com, which refers to the soldiers as "combat con artists."

What was it? The unit of about 1,100 soldiers created illusions with inflatable tanks and jeeps, fake radio chatter, and prerecorded soundtracks of troop movements, reports the Washington Post. The idea was to draw the Nazis' attention from where the real attacks were happening, and the unit is credited with saving up to 30,000 US service members in more than 20 such grand deceptions. For instance, the Ghost Army's tactics helped the American Ninth Army cross the Rhine deep into Germany largely unabated late in the war.
A charter flight carrying dozens of US citizens fleeing spiraling gang violence in Haiti landed Sunday in Miami, per the AP. Nearly 50 Americans were on the government-chartered flight, reports CBS News. The flight arrived at the Miami International Airport after the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince earlier this month urged US citizens to leave "as soon as possible" amid chaos and violence across the nation.

Passenger Avlot Quessa, who lives in Boston, traveled from the center of the country to board the charter flight after going to Haiti last month for what was supposed to be a weeklong trip to visit his mother. "It's just terrible. ... The suffering, you can only imagine," Quessa tells the Miami Herald. "Haiti is my homeland and it's very stressful to see the homeland going through this act of violence, destruction ... and they are our neighbors."
UPDATE

Mar 21, 2024 7:17 AM CDT

A new Banksy mural in north London is harder to steal than some of his workbut it turned out to be too easy to vandalize. The mural, featuring green paint on the wall of a four-story building behind a severely pruned cherry tree, went up Sunday and had been defaced with streaks of white paint by Wednesday, NPR reports. Banksy confirmed the mural was his work with his first Instagram post of the year. The owner of the building, which is currently vacant and up for rent, says he plans to leave the mural there. The local council said it is installing a CCTV camera and talking to the owner about ways "to enable everyone to enjoy the artwork while protecting it, the tree, and the surrounding area," AFP reports.

Mar 18, 2024 1:13 PM CDT

A new Banksy mural drew crowds to a London street on Monday, even before the elusive graffiti artist confirmed that the work was his. The artwork in the Finsbury Park neighborhood covers the wall of a four-story building and shows a small figure holding a pressure hose beside a large cherry tree. Green paint has been sprayed across the wall, replicating the absent leaves of the tree, which has been severely cropped. Banksy claimed the work by posting before and after photos of the location on his official Instagram account, per the AP. The new attraction drew a stream of onlookers who took photos and snapped selfies. Many discerned an environmental message in the vibrant green artwork, which appeared on SundaySt. Patrick's Day.
Two new studies by the National Institutes of Health found that US diplomats who suffered from mysterious "Havana syndrome" ailments show no sign of brain injuries, reports CNN. Don't expect this to settle the debate on the matter, however.

The tests: Scans of more than 80 patients found little or no physical or cognitive differences between them and a control group, per the Washington Post. The studies were published in JAMA: One is here and the other is here.
Donald Trump's lawyers told a New York appellate court Monday that it's impossible for him to post a bond covering the full amount of his $454 million civil fraud judgment while he appeals. The former president's lawyers wrote in a court filing that "obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount" of the judgment "is not possible under the circumstances presented." With interest, Trump owes $456.8 million. In all, he and co-defendants including his company and top executives owe $467.3 million, reports the AP . To obtain a bond, they would be required to post collateral worth $557 million, Trump's lawyers said. A state appeals court judge ruled last month that Trump must post a bond covering the full amount to pause enforcement of the judgment, which is to begin on March 25.

Trump is asking a full panel of the state's intermediate appellate court to stay the judgment while he appeals. His lawyers previously proposed posting a $100 million bond, but appeals court judge Anil Singh rejected that. A real estate broker enlisted by Trump to assist in obtaining a bond wrote in an affidavit filed with the court that few bonding companies will consider issuing a bond of the size required.

The remaining bonding companies will not "accept hard assets such as real estate as collateral," but "will only accept cash or cash equivalents (such as marketable securities)." "A bond of this size is rarely, if ever, seen. In the unusual circumstance that a bond of this size is issued, it is provided to the largest public companies in the world, not to individuals or privately held businesses," the broker, Gary Giulietti, wrote. (More Trump indictments stories.)
While looking for when the lobbying would become coercion, the Supreme Court sounded unreceptive to arguments Monday that the government should not be able to try to persuade news or social media companies to not publish certain information. The case began with the Biden administration's efforts last year to get sites to take down posts it called misinformation concerning coronavirus vaccines and election fraud claims. Louisiana and Missouri argued Monday that that was a violation of the First Amendment, the Washington Post reports.

Among the counterarguments was one advanced by Justices Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh that government officials regularly try to influence their coverage in the media, per the New York Times. Such back-and-forth doesn't infringe on free speech, they said, though Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill told the court the administration's actions were "a huge threat to the First Amendment." The Justice Department's representative argued that the companies are able to resist government pressure, and research has found social media platforms took no action in two-thirds of the cases on which they were lobbied. The sites have "a responsibility to give people accurate information," Brian Fletcher said.

Justices also said they were having trouble seeing how the two states and five people who brought the case suffered harm that would give them standing to do so. "I don't see a single item in your briefs that would satisfy our normal tests," Kagan told Louisiana's solicitor general. Justice Sonia Sotomayor suggested the states filed a misleading brief. "You omit information that changes the context of some of your claims," she told J. Benjamin Aguinaga. "You attribute things to people who it didn't happen to." The court has similar cases to deal with; last month, justices questioned in oral arguments whether states can impose content rules on sites. (More US Supreme Court stories.)
Homes and businesses in Auckland's Kingsland are being evacuated as emergency services rush to an "incident" involving a hazardous substance.

Hato Hone St John told Newshub one person has been taken to hospital in a moderate condition.

A Fire and Emergency spokesperson said they were called to the scene about 1pm on Monday.

"There are eight crews in attendance, supporting other emergency services. Crews are working to neutralise the substance and are monitoring for contamination and odour spread," the spokesperson said.

The product has been removed and neutralised, but firefighters remain onsite checking the house for any other hazards.
The pair were ordered to stop in the Phuket town of Chalong by Police Senior Sergeant Maj Somsak Noo-iad after claims they were speeding on motorcycles and failing to stay in the left lane.

Noo-iad was reportedly ignored by the brothers, so he chased after them as they sped away.

The brothers finally stopped after a high-speed chase before shouting at the officer, the Bangkok Post reports.

Noo-iad used his phone to film their reaction, before the siblings allegedly attacked the officer, forced him to the ground and snatched his gun. The report said that during the tussle, the gun went off once but the bullet did not injure anyone.
By Caleb Fotheringham for RNZ

The Cook Islands High Court has found that the country's immigration law that offers preferential treatment to New Zealand citizens over those from other nations is "invalid".

New Zealand passport holders only need to wait five years to apply for permenant residency under the current rules while all nationals with other citizenship need to wait a minimum of 10 years. The same rule also applies to spouses of Cook Islanders.

Cook Islands charity Friends of Fiji had challenged in court the threshold for permanent residency under the Cook Islands Immigration Regulations (CIIR).

Tangaroa Vakalalabure, who heads the group, told Cook Islands News in 2022, shortly after the regulations came into effect, the rule was "racist" and "discriminatory".

The government argued the policy reflected Cook Islands' special constitutional relationship, which allows Cook Islanders to live and work in New Zealand.

Justice Patrick Keane granted the application for a declaration by finding that the regulation granting preferential treatment was not valid, as it had not been properly supported by an act of Parliament.

"I conclude, that the NZ permanent residence preference, expressed in reg 8(2)(d), CIIR 2023, is invalid for that reason firstly; and secondly because, despite the wide power to delegate CIIA 2021 confers, it is beyond the scope of that Act."

He did not make a declaration about whether it was discriminatory in a way which contravened the Cook Islands' constitution.

Friends of Fiji legal lawyer Lavi Rokoika said the judgment was a victory for the charity.

"I know that a few people in the Cook Islands were very disappointed when the regulations came out," she said.

"For us, it's a triumph as an organisation and for all foreigners in the Cook Islands."
Extreme food shortages in parts of the Gaza Strip have already exceeded famine levels, and mass death is now imminent without an immediate ceasefire and surge of food to areas cut off by fighting, the global hunger monitor said on Monday.

The Integrated Food-Security Phase Classification (IPC), whose assessments are relied on by U.N. agencies, said 70% of people in parts of northern Gaza were suffering the most severe level of food shortage, more than triple the 20% threshold to be considered famine.

The IPC said it did not have enough data on death rates, but estimated residents would be dying at famine scale imminently, defined as two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or from malnutrition and disease.

Gaza's health ministry has said 27 children and three adults have died so far from malnutrition.

"The actions needed to prevent famine require an immediate political decision for a ceasefire together with a significant and immediate increase in humanitarian and commercial access to the entire population of Gaza," it said.

In all, 1.1 million Gazans, around half the population, were experiencing "catastrophic" shortages of food, with around 300,000 in the areas now facing the prospect of famine-scale death rates.

The prospect of a manmade famine in Gaza has brought the strongest criticism of Israel from Western allies since it launched its war against Hamas militants following their deadly attack on Israeli territory on Oct. 7.

"In Gaza we are no longer on the brink of famine. We are in a state of famine... Starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said at a Brussels conference on aid for Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded that Borrell should "stop attacking Israel and recognise our right to self-defence against Hamas' crimes".

Israel allowed "extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza by land, air, and sea for anyone willing to help", Katz said on X, and aid was "violently disturbed" by Hamas militants with "collaboration" by the U.N.'s aid agency UNRWA.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the IPC report an "appalling indictment" and said Israel must allow complete and unfettered access to all parts of Gaza.
A 28-year-old New Zealander has been named as the man killed in a Sydney hit-and-run.

Mitch East, a lawyer, was struck down in Fletcher St, in Tamarama, just after 4am (local time) on Sunday.

Police are now looking for the driver of a white Subaru Outback caught on CCTV at the time of the crash.

East had just been dropped off in the street by an Uber driver moments before he was hit, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Japan later said it detected what appeared to be a second ballistic missile launch by the North, also falling outside its exclusive economic zone area.

North Korea's military has been conducting exercises using conventional weapons in recent weeks, often personally overseen by the isolated state's leader Kim Jong Un.

The show of force by Pyongyang comes as the militaries of South Korea and the United States carried out large-scale annual joint military drills for 10 days ending last Thursday.

On Sunday, the South Korean military also mobilized marines, attack helicopters and amphibious assault vehicles in drills aimed at surging troop numbers to reinforce western islands near the sea border with North Korea, which had been bombed by the North in 2010.

Blinken is among senior officials from around the world attending the Summit for Democracy conference hosted by South Korea which opens on Monday. He will also meet his South Korean counterpart.

The summit is an initiative of U.S. President Joe Biden aimed at discussing ways to stop democratic backsliding and erosion of rights and freedoms worldwide.

At its last ballistic launch on Jan 14, North Korea fired what it said was an intermediate range hypersonic missile using solid fuel on to test new booster engines and a maneuverable warhead.

A month later, it launched multiple cruise missiles off its east coast including what it said was a new surface-to-sea missile in the latest of a series of such tests.

Reuters
Fairbanks, AK (99701)

Today

Snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 22F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

It is important to consolidate the values of patriotism, community partnership, and promotion of national culture, and respect for the law.

This was emphasised by Council of Representatives Speaker Ahmed bin Salman Al Musallam as he commended the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to promote these values.

Al Musallam was speaking as the Kingdom marks the celebration of Community Partnership Day, which is held annually on March 18. He praised the efforts of the Minister of Interior, His Excellency General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, on achieving the goals of the National Plan to Promote the Spirit of Belonging to the Nation and Reinforce the Values of Nationalism (Bahrainouna) in marking the event.

The Speaker lauded the efforts of the loyal ministrys officials and Bahraini citizens in fostering security and stability, as well as implementing projects, initiatives, and programmes that go in line with the kingdoms humanitarian efforts to protect human rights and advance the community work system.

He emphasised the achievements of the Anti-Violence and Addiction Programme Maan (Together), underscoring the set of principles of peaceful coexistence, countering extremism, cybersecurity regulations, and innovative approaches like alternative punishments and open prisons.

These initiatives have significantly advanced the criminal justice system, fostering human rights promotion. Al Musallam affirmed the legislative branchs support for all national programmes that promote patriotism rooted in societal customs and traditions, as well as raising awareness about the significance of preserving these values and passing them down to future generations.

Praise

Shura Council Chairman Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh praised the efforts of the interior ministry and its affiliates and officials, marking the occasion today. He affirmed the sincere national efforts to maintain security and develop a productive community partnership, and strengthen the values of loyalty and patriotism.

Al Saleh congratulated General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah on the occasion and commended the dedication of the ministry and its affiliates on maintaining community security and stability of the kingdom, by applying the best security practices and developing methods of cooperation as per national, constitutional, and legal principles.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Mahir Haneef

The difficult task of regulating medicines that could cause an addiction while ensuring their availability for medical purposes was the topic of discussion at the Bahrain Shura Council yesterday, with the council passing a law to streamline the process by limiting the powers to a single entity, the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA).

A decree law (No. 12 of 2023) to amend an article in 2009 legislation (Law No. 38 of 2009) was considered by the Shura Council. The committees rapporteur, Hala Ramzy Fayez, explained that the amendment aims to appoint the NHRA as the regulatory authority, in place of the Ministry of Health, to control the distribution of narcotic substances and psychotropic substances for medicinal purposes.

There is an urgent need to set up such controls for the entry of such medicines into the Kingdom, she said. Through the amendment, a single body will be issuing all drug licences, including regular and narcotic, so that a speedy system of drug licencing will be in place, the rapporteur stated.

This would prevent overlapping jurisdictions, procedures, and requirements for the entry of drugs into the Kingdom, she said. MP Dalal Jasim Abdulla AlZayed submitted that, along with designating the NHRA as the authority responsible, the fees paid for obtaining drug licences or renewing drug licences should also be allocated to the authority.

Pointing out that the pharmaceutical industry in the GCC is worth nearly 20 billion US dollars, MP Dr. Jehad Abdullah Mohammed Alfadhel said a large percentage of medicines are being imported to the Kingdom.

Designating the NHRA as the authority for drug licencing will help in setting up pharmaceutical production in the Kingdom, which would result in jobs for the people, she said.

While agreeing with the proposal for a unified drug-licencing authority, MP Dr. Bassam Ismail Ebrahim Albinmohamed said Bahrain is not immune to the global problem of a shortage of drugs, and some medicines have not been available in the Kingdom for long periods.

He called for radical solutions to address the issue, including allowing imports at higher quantities or initiating local manufacturing. Calling attention to the problem of drug addictions, MP Abdulla Ali Fadhul Mohana AlNoaimi proposed a system to track people with drug addictions through coordination of efforts by the Ministry of Interior and NHRA.

Supporting the call for a coordinated effort to tackle drug abuse, MP Khalid Hussain Al Maskati pointed out that the NHRA would have the role of both an implementing agency and a controlling agency at the same time.

Minister of Health, H.E. Dr. Jalila bint Al Sayyed Jawad Hassan Jawad, who was present at the council session, said the amendment is to unify the licencing body and the controlling body, but the government wing that is responsible for importing drugs (the Health Insurance Fund) is different.

The law on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances also contains provisions to ensure separation of powers and no overlapping of powers, the minister assured the council. Following the debate, the amendment was put to vote by the Shura Council, and it was passed with a majority approving the amendment.
TDT | Moscow

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Russians voted yesterday on the final day of an election to extend Vladimir Putins rule to three decades, as Ukraine launched fatal attacks on the border and some voters crowded outside polling stations in protest.

The three-day vote had already been marked by a surge in fatal Ukrainian bombardments, incursions into Russian territory by pro-Kyiv sabotage groups and vandalism at polling stations. The Kremlin has cast the election as an opportunity for Russians to throw their weight behind its full-scale military operation in Ukraine, where voting is also being staged in Russian-controlled territories.

Ukraine has slammed the ballot as illegitimate and urged the international community to reject Putins inevitable new six-year mandate. Supporters of the late Alexei Navalny -- Putins most prominent rival, who died in an Arctic prison last month -- urged voters to pour into polling stations at noon and spoil their ballots for a Midday Against Putin protest.

His wife, Yulia Navalnaya was greeted by supporters with flowers and applause when she joined a long queue of voters at the Russian embassy in Berlin. Some voters in Moscow appeared to heed Navalnys call, telling AFP they had come to honour his memory and show their opposition in the only legal way possible.

Russia is not Putin

I came to show that there are many of us, that we exist, that we are not some insignificant minority, said 19-year-old student Artem Minasyan at a polling station in central Moscow. Leonid Volkov, a senior aide to the late opposition leader and who was recently attacked in Lithuania where he fled political persecution in Russia, thanked Russians for joining the noon protest.

You saw each other. The whole world saw you. Russia is not Putin. Russia is you, he wrote on social media. But other voters expressed their support for Putin, saying that casting their ballots for him was the only way to guarantee peace. What we want today, first of all, is peace, said 70-year-old pensioner Lyubov Pyankova.

She was standing in front of a polling station in Putins native city of Saint Petersburg decorated with the red, white and blue V logo -- a symbol associated with the military offensive -- that Moscow has also used to promote the vote. Russia simply wanted not to be disturbed, not to be told what to do, Pyankova said.
Canadian's can get a first bite of four NEW Cantina Chicken Menu item beginning March 18

VAUGHAN, ON, March 18, 2024 /CNW/ - Taco Bell Canada is introducing feel good cravings that everyone can enjoy with its all-new Cantina Chicken Menu. Starting today, Canadians can shake up their daytime routines with four new menu items: The Cantina Chicken Soft Taco, Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco, Cantina Chicken Burrito and Cantina Chicken Quesadilla. On March 19 between 2 to 4 p.m. local time, Canadians can sink their teeth into a FREE Cantina Soft Chicken Taco during a one-day only Sampling Event at 14 Taco Bell locations across the country.

NEW Taco Bell Canada Cantina Chicken Menu Post this Taco Bell Chicken Cantina Menu - Hero Image (CNW Group/Taco Bell Canada)

Brimming with fresh ingredients, colours and textures, the Cantina Chicken Menu delivers tasty options to Canadians looking for something new. The new flavourful chicken features a savoury seasoning of Mexican spices including garlic, onions and a variety of chilies. Additional premium ingredients highlighted on the menu include shredded purple cabbage, white corn tortilla shell freshly fried daily, pico de gallo and a creamy Avocado Ranch Sauce, all serving as the perfect complement to Cantina Chicken.

"This Cantina Chicken menu has been a labour of love and we've worked tirelessly to ensure we landed on the best slow roasted chicken recipe and selected the finest supporting ingredients to maximize craveability," said Liz Matthews, Global Chief Food Innovation Officer. "As we constantly listen to our audiences, we know that a winning equation is giving them what we know they want plus something next-level. We knew our fans wanted more chicken, and we also knew that we could elevate chicken with unexpected ingredients."

The Cantina Chicken Menu offers a new Taco Bell Experience with exciting new flavours and premium ingredients. Menu items include:

Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco  Filled with Cantina Chicken, Creamy Jalapeno Sauce and a 3-cheese blend, generously coated with a layer of grilled cheese on the outside.





 Filled with Cantina Chicken, Creamy Jalapeno Sauce and a 3-cheese blend, generously coated with a layer of grilled cheese on the outside. Cantina Chicken Quesadilla  Cantina Chicken is enveloped in a warm flour tortilla alongside a decadent layer of a 3-cheese blend and Creamy Chipotle Sauce, crisped up to perfection with grilled cheese on the outside and served with guacamole and reduced-fat sour cream for dipping.





 Cantina Chicken is enveloped in a warm flour tortilla alongside a decadent layer of a 3-cheese blend and Creamy Chipotle Sauce, crisped up to perfection with grilled cheese on the outside and served with guacamole and reduced-fat sour cream for dipping. Cantina Chicken Soft Taco  Cantina Chicken is complemented by Avocado Ranch Sauce, fresh iceberg lettuce, shredded purple cabbage, cheddar cheese and pico de gallo.





 Cantina Chicken is complemented by Avocado Ranch Sauce, fresh iceberg lettuce, shredded purple cabbage, cheddar cheese and pico de gallo. Cantina Chicken Burrito  A double portion of Cantina Chicken (compared to the Cantina Chicken Soft Taco) with iceberg lettuce, shredded purple cabbage, Avocado Ranch Sauce, Creamy Chipotle Sauce, cheddar cheese and pico de gallo.

To tackle misconceptions that Taco Bell only satisfies people's cheesy, crunchy, spicy late-night munchies, they're giving Canadians a new way to curb their cravings. Starting April 3, Canadians are encouraged to save and share their late-night receipts (yes, even those embarrassing ones) on social media by tagging @TacoBellCanada. Participants will have the chance to win one of several Taco Bell gift cards, which they can redeem for free Cantina Chicken to satisfy all their daytime cravings.

For additional information on Taco Bell Canada please visit www.tacobell.ca.

*The below Taco Bell restaurants will be offering customers one free Cantina Chicken Soft Taco on March 19 from 2  4 p.m. local time, while supplies last:

 944 Fairville Boulevard, Unit 2 Saint John, NB  1550 Upper James St. Hamilton, ON  1040 Wonderland Road South London, ON  1850 Adelaide Street North London, ON  985 Eglinton Avenue East Mississauga, ON  1337 London Road Sarnia, ON  300 Tecumseh Road East Windsor, ON  1655 Manning Road Tecumseh, ON  1090 Bloor St. W Toronto, ON  750 Sherbrook Street Winnipeg, MB  2941 8th St. Saskatoon, SK  11509 Westgate Drive Grand Prairie, AB  3431 Gateway Blvd. NW Edmonton, AB  #101, 8737  120 Street Delta, BC

About Taco Bell Canada

Taco Bell Corp. ("Taco Bell") is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. and is the nation's leading Mexican-style quick service restaurant chain. Taco Bell serves tacos, burritos, signature quesadillas, nachos, salads and much more. For locations, information on Taco Bell and to chat with Taco Bell fans, visit us online at our website www.tacobell.ca or any of our other social channels including on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tacobellcanada , Twitter @TacoBellCanada, on Snapchat TACOBELLCANADA or on Instagram @tacobellcanada.

SOURCE Taco Bell Canada

For further information: Jeene Sulaivany, Edelman, [email protected], 647-245-7646
Astronomer used to think that the Kuiper Belt was a few hundred times larger than the Asteroid belt. They thought it was a donut shaped structure that started at Neptune and extended out 2 billion miles. Recent observation suggests it extends out at least 5 billion miles. This is based upon finding about 2000 objects, which include Pluto and its moons.

In other observed solar systems, similar belts stretch outward across hundreds of AU.

In 2023, about a dozen large objects that lie beyond 60 AUnearly as far from Pluto as Pluto is from the Sun were discovered.

New Horizons is at 57 AU continues to streak beyond the edge of the known Kuiper belt. A dust counter on New Horizons has run continuously during the mission. Dust is a telltale sign of colliding planetary bodies, and so the New Horizons team expected the amount of dust to fall off steeply after the probe left the Kuiper belt. The number of impacts is not declining. The simplest explanation for that is that there is more stuff out there that we havent detected.

In 2024, data from the New Horizons space probe and the Japanese Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, have discovered a number KBOs (kuiper belt objects) far beyond the expected outer edge of the Kuiper Belt. This outer edge (where the density of objects starts to decline) was thought to be at about 50 AU, but new evidence suggests the belt may extend to 80 AU, or farther.

Logically, if we are seeing similar belts at other solar system stretch outwards hundreds of AU, then astronomers will likely find the evidence that there are more Kuiper belts or that the one we have stretches continuously out hundreds of AU. The Kuiper belt continues or there are multiple belts with more spareness and more gaps.

Unpublished results from a recent survey of the outer Solar System using the 4-meter Victor M. Blanco Telescope in Chile. It surveyed a different slice of sky and turned up only one object beyond 50 AU. Other surveys have also come up dry. Why are we not seeing these things? Bernardinelli asks. Did everyone get unlucky? Its possible, but its hard.

838 of the Kuiper Belt objects were found from 2013-2017 by the Outer Solar System Origins Survey.

There were estimates that the amount of material in the Kuiper belt is 2% of the mass of the Earth but that it started it at 10 times the mass of the Earth. However, there was a computational analysis of the movement of visible objects that suggests that there could be a larger than Earth sized object 250-500 AU away from the sun. Japanese researchers found several objects with unusual orbits and calculated that the unusual orbits had to be caused by an object 1.5 to three times bigger than the earth out ten to twenty times farther from the Sun than Neptune.

The results of the KBP scenario support the existence of a yet-undiscovered planet in the far outer solar system. Furthermore, this scenario also predicts the existence of new TNO populations located beyond 150 au generated by the KBPs perturbations that can serve as observationally testable signatures of the existence of this planet.

Kuiper belt objects are faint and slow moving. They are a pain in the butt to find. Targets for New Horizons are even harder to see because the spacecraft, as seen from Earth, appears to be flying straight toward the bright center of the Milky Way.

Artificial intelligence makes the screening much less painful. We went from a week of agony for an army of people to 6 hours of vetting.

The search results from 2020 and 2021 observations have detected an increase in density of objects at distances d~80 au, compared to the nearly empty region beyond the outer edge of the Kuiper Belt at d~50.

We have only detected about 0.01% of the large objects in the Kuiper belt. Our estimates and guesses could be very wrong.




The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has condemned the suspension of the immediate past Chairman of Northern Senators Forum, Sen Abdul Ninigi, by the Senate, saying the interests of the North are at stake.





A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, explained that the Senate ought to have investigated the issues raised by the senator to establish the veracity of his claims instead of the suspension.





It urged the Senate to act with more circumspection in dealing with criticisms of its operations.





Ningi had alleged that N3.7 trillion was not attached to any specific project in the 2024 budget passed for implementation.





ACF noted that the allegation has since been denied by the 10th Senate as lacking in veracity, stressing that the interests of many communities in Northern Nigeria are at stake.





It said rather than the route of a rushed suspension of Ningi, ACF prefers a thorough investigation of the allegation by a statutory or ad hoc committee of the Senate.





It said the allegation of padding, as well as those related to the inclusion of items that benefit specific communities of some senators as constituency projects, stand unaddressed with all attendant negative implications for the Red Chamber and the executive.




Fire has gutted the motorcycle section of Sokoto Central Market.





An eyewitness, who could not ascertain the cause, said the fire started early Monday morning.





However, another source revealed that the fire emanated from a dump site close to the motorcycle section.





While reacting to the incident, the chairman of Motorcycles Marketers Association, Shehu Muhammad, said they could not quantify the number of motorcycles destroyed because the fire was still raging.





We cannot quantify the number of motorcycles burnt down by the fire now because the fire is still raging.





But many people lost their shops along with their motorcycles because they could not come in time as the fire started around 6am.





But men of the federal and state fire services are currently battling, but I know it will take some time before they can quench it all, he said.





He, however, begged the state government to come to the aid of those who lost their property during the inferno.




The Committee of Diaspora Chairmen of the All Progressives Congress, CDC-APC, has called on President Bola Tinubu to wade into the brewing crisis over the conduct of election into the United Kingdom, UK, chapter of the group.





In a statement on Monday by Prof Adesegun Labinjo and Mr Bola Babarinde, the Chairman and General Secretary, respectively, the committee said the speedy intervention of the President is needed following alleged compromise in the conduct of elections into the UK Diaspora Chapter.





According to the statement, if the situation is not checked, it might lead to unintended and unfavorable outcomes for the Diaspora chapter and the party.





With the imminent catastrophe, the lasting solutions which we all yearn for may elude the chapter and other chapters in Diaspora, it said.





The statement further said that the frosty relationship between CDC-APC and APC headquarters should stop, adding that the Diaspora chapters were not in competition with the leadership of the party.





We want to support and complement the party, and to leverage on the strength and spread of our supporters abroad, which is to be marshalled for the benefit of our party and country back at home.





The current divide and rule being championed and deployed by our party Secretariat should be checked by our able and diligent party Chairman.





Some elements that are power drunk and arrogant do not care about the well-being of our party, but only concern about their own ego and using their offices to cause rancour amongst the Diaspora Chapters and between the chapters and the secretariat.




Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in 2023, Omoyele Sowore, has condemned the call by some individuals for a reprisal attack on some communities in Delta State by the Nigerian Army.





The ambush of the soldiers occurred on Thursday, resulting in the tragic loss of several brave servicemen, including the Commanding Officer of the 181 Amphibious Battalion, Lt Col AH Ali, along with other officers and soldiers.





Reactions have trailed the incident with some individuals believing the entire community should be made to pay.





But while condemning the attack on military personnel, Sowore called for restraint, insisting that a thorough investigation should be carried out.





I have been inundated with gory images of alleged militants in the Niger Delta region killing Nigerian soldiers @HQNigerianArmy in an apparent ambush, following this, there has been a disturbing number of commentaries asking the Nigerian Army to level the area, mostly from Nigerians enlightened enough to know that such reaction constitutes international crime, the Nigerian army predictably has gone to battle to set some of the communities ablaze, he wrote on X.





While the attack of Nigerian security forces remains condemnable and unacceptable, no security agency/ies should engage in jungle justice.





I call on the Nigerian authorities to allow an impartial investigation involving international human rights organizations into this crisis to bring those guilty to justice.





However, the @HQNigerianArmy must restrain its officers and ensure that the rights of innocent civilians are not breached carelessly as it had always done in similar cases.




The Federal Government has reacted to the controversy surrounding the Memorandum of Understand, MoU, it entered with Messrs MPH Rail Development Limited, a United Kingdom firm.

The MoU which was signed by the Ministry of Transport on March 13, 2024, was for the building of the Port HarcourtEnuguCalabarAbuja Standard Gauge Rail Line.

Upon the announcement of the MoU, some Nigerians took to their social media handles, particularly X, to express concerns over the UK firms capacity to deliver the project, saying the company is new in the rail construction industry.

The critics also pointed out the need to revisit an existing project as noted by a former presidential aide, Tolu Ogunlesi, who stated that theres already a WarriItakpe Standard Gauge Rail.

Ogunlesi suggested an extension of the existing route from Warri to Port Harcourt and from Itakpe to Abuja to get Port Harcourt  Abuja Standard Gauge Rail.

Responding to the controversy, Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali, in a statement issued on Sunday by Olujimi Oyetomi, Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, explained that the initiative was still at its preliminary stage.

Parts of the statement read, For clarity, a Memorandum of Understanding or MoU is a non-binding agreement that states each partys intentions to take actions, conduct a business transaction or form a new relationship.

It is not a legal binding agreement.

It provides only a platform for further agreement, discussion, scrutiny and the provisions of required guarantees by the parties to reach agreement if the parties are satisfied.

The MoU in question arose from an unsolicited proposal presented by the British African Business Alliance, BABA, an association based in the United Kingdom with interest in businesses in Africa. Its proposal was initially submitted to the ministry on 27th August 2019.

As required, the business, Outline Business Case was submitted to the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission, ICRC, on 8th December 2023. The major attraction of the proposal is BABA/MPHs initiative to achieve 100% private sector funding for the project with no loans or debt to the Nigerian government or any of its agencies as captured in the Article 3.3 of the MoU.

The regulatory Commission on 27 December 2023 granted approval and issued a conditional OBC Certification. It is pertinent to note at this juncture that COVID-19 was a major contributor to the time lag between the initial proposal and the ICRC OBC Certification.
A former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Friday highlighted the crucial role of the political party in ensuring good governance, saying the government belongs to the party.

Fashola said this in an interview with newsmen at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, in Lagos.

He spoke on the sidelines of the 18th edition of the Lagos State Executive/Legislative parley, with the theme, Engaging all for Inclusive Governance: Hands on for a Greater Lagos Rising.

The programme also attracted some party leaders in the state.

Fashola said that such gatherings, apart from enhancing executive/legislature relationship, were important in bringing the party up to speed with the goings on in government.

For this kind of team building, its very critical and it also helps to bring the party into the play, because at the end of the day, its the party that owns the government.

All the politicians must belong to one party, in Nigeria, at least; they campaign on the manifesto of the party.

If you like, this is a fact checking exercise or something similar, where the party is conscious or made aware of what the government is doing, what its elected officials are doing or are planning to do for the people on whose behalf they hold authority,  he said.

Fashola said that elected leaders could not operate in isolation.

The former Minister for Works said that team building and seamless communication was crucial for the development of democracy.

This kind of team building is very important; these kinds of interaction help to demystify each other before each other.

In enhancing executive/legislature relations, Fashola said such gatherings help to break down prejudices and barriers that are preconceived.

Fashola called on government to utilise all layers in society in reaching out to the people, to reduce the hardship in the land.

All layers of government must be exploited and utilised in reaching the people. We must all put our hands around the shoulder of others, he said.

Fashola said that, speaking as a resident, he also expected citizens who were able, to be their brothers keepers in such tough times.

Some are more blessed than others. We must be our brothers keeper beyond the month of Ramadan where we share.

 It must be a way of life now, so that the burden is not too difficult for others to bear, he said.
President Vladimir Putin is leading the 2024 Russian presidential election with a landslide.

According to Reuters, exit polls showed that Putin is leading with 88 percent of the votes to trounce Nikolai Kharitonov of the Communist Party, who trails with four per cent.

Vladislav Davankov, candidate of the New Peoples Party, scored 3.85 percent, while Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) trailed with just 3.1 percent.

Putin, who has been in power since 2000, is set to secure another six-year term that would enable him to become Russias longest-serving leader for more than 200 years.

After his second tenure ended in 2008, he served as prime minister for another four years before becoming president again in 2012.

Subsequently, the president drafted a constitutional amendment that extended the presidential term from four to six years in Russia.




Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union have begun a nationwide strike today (Monday) over alleged unfair treatment and disparity in the payment of salaries by the Federal Government.





Last Monday, the unions threatened to shut down hostels and power supply in universities across the country if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands before today, March 18, 2024.





National President of SSANU, Muhammed Ibrahim, said his members, including Vice Chancellors, registrars, and bursars, have not been paid 2022 arrears.





On Sunday, Ibrahim informed The PUNCH that the two unions were set for their nationwide strike.





Meanwhile, the Minister for Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, stated that he was unaware of SSANU/NASUs planned strike.





However, during the Channels Televisions Morning Show programme, Ibrahim declared that the strike had started.





Definitely, it (the strike) has already started.





As of today (Monday), all our workers in registry, bursary, works and maintenance, security, and students affairs have withdrawn their services and nothing moves within the administration of any public university in Nigeria and that will be the case for the next seven days until and unless the needful is done, he stated.





The SSANU president stressed that no government representative has reached out to the non-academic unions, noting that though some have reached out unofficially, their assurances cannot be taken to the bank.





He wondered why some government officials would not fully comply with President Bola Tinubus instruction to pay 2022 arrears.





He added that the Minister of Labour , Nkiruka Onyejeocha, has not reached out to the aggrieved unions despite issuing a seven-day notice last Monday.





This, he said was a departure from the responsiveness of the ex-Labour Minister Chris Ngige.





He stressed that the unions would go back to their toolbox and decide the next line of action should the government fail to heed the unions demands after the seven-day warning strike, which commenced today.








Terrorists on Sunday night abducted 87 people after launching a fresh attack on the Kajuru-Station community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.





A member of the Kajuru-Station Youths, Harisu Dari, confirmed the incident on Monday.





Harisu, who said the terrorists stormed the village around 10 pm, said they also broke into some shops and stole food items and other valuables.





The attack came barely two days after 15 women and a man were abducted in the Dogon-Noma community of the same local government.





Kajuru and Chikun LGs had in the past two weeks become the hotbed of kidnapping, causing tension in the state.





Harisu explained that no contact has been established yet with the 87 locals abducted on Sunday night.





As of the time I visited the community this morning, security operatives have not been drafted to help restore the confidence of the villagers.





The villagers are traumatized by the sad development. The government needs to re-strategise in tackling these terrorists, he said.





The terrorists had in two weeks kidnapped over 172 villagers in the area.





The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan is yet to respond as of the time of filing this report.




A yet-to-be identified individual around the team of Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the last general election, has been accused of reportedly cornering N60 million donated to his campaign.





@MissPearls, a strong supporter of Obi, made public the allegation on Sunday via a series of posts on her X handle.





According to her, someone donated N60,000,000.00 to Obi but a greedy middle man pocketed everything.





She disclosed that the former Anambra State governor has found out about the incident and is now insisting that the unnamed middle man must refund the donor.





@MissPearls went on to claim that a person cant be corrupt around Obi and go scot free, adding that the coming days will be very interesting.





The corruption we were vehemently speaking against was happening right under our noses and we didnt even know





I trust Obi. You cant be corrupt around him and go scot free. The coming days will be very interesting!





So someone donated N60M to Peter Obi. A whooping N60M. A greedy middle man pocketed EVERYTHING. Now Obi has found out and said the middle man must refund the donor. Lobatan!, she wrote on her X handle.





Meanwhile, on Monday newsmen reached out to Yunusa Tanko, one of the spokespersons of Obis presidential campaign, to seek his comments on the matter.





Although he did not confirm the incident, Tanko noted that Obi had always insisted that people should account for money given to them.





He said: I dont know or have heard about that but what I know is that his Excellency Mr Peter Obi has always said that if there are contributions or donations being made for a particular project in support of his candidature, they should account for the persons who have given them the money.





For example, if I am looking for a support, say I want to mobilize people or agents for Peter Obi and I will now solicit for fund, If people donate to me, its incumbent for me to account for those who donated to me.





In this case, whoever that donated money to that particular person should ask, what was the money meant for, and how was the money used? with proof.





That is why I said, knowing fully well that such a thing could happen, that is why Mr Peter Obi said people should account for money. And its because he called people out thats why people are hearing that people donated X amount of money somewhere ABC, which he didnt know.





I am only saying that Peter Obi has asked people to account for money given to them by any group or whosever.
A few weeks after Rob McElhenneys appearance in Hoboken to promote new Irish American whiskey brand Four Walls, more of the Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia gang was spotted New Jersey for St. Patricks Day weekend.

Glenn Howerton and Charlie Day, who play Dennis Reynolds and Charlie Kelly on Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, were seen at Bottle King in Wayne on Friday posing with fans for a bottle signing and meet-and-greet event.

The two also visited the BuyRite in Jersey City Saturday for a separate bottle signing and event with fans. Both Bottle King and BuyRite promoted the events in the weeks leading up to St. Patricks Day weekend.

Many fans shared their photos with Howerton and Day across social media. One user @loganbonilla1 shared a post with the caption, Thank you @charlie_day & @glennhowerton for visiting us at @njbottleking to promote @fourwallsthebetterbrown and making our lives @morebetterindustries !

Another Instagram post shared by @willcarafello at Bottle King shows Howerton and Day posing with a young fan dressed up as Luigi (the character that Day voiced in last years The Super Mario Bros. Movie.)

Along with starring in The Super Marios Bros. Movie alongside Chris Pratt, Day premiered his directorial debut Fools Paradise, while Howerton co-starred in BlackBerry, in which he received critical acclaim and numerous award nominations for his portrayal of former businessman Jim Balsillie, including a Independent Spirit Awards nod for Best Supporting Performance.

More celebrity news

Saleah Blancaflor may be reached at sblancaflor@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @saleyley and Instagram.
A 22-year-old man disappeared after leaving Luke Bryans Nashville bar and now the country star has spoken out about the incident, as the search continues to find the missing patron.

According to several reports, Riley Strain, 22, was asked to leave Bryans 32 Bridge bar the night of March 8 because he had been served too much alcohol. The University of Missouri student traveled to Nashville with his fraternity brothers for a convention, Fox News reported.

Strains friends reportedly told police that Strain told them he would walk back to their hotel, which was five blocks away. However, Fox News reported that his phone shows that Strain walked in the opposite direction of the hotel when he left the bar.

Bryan first spoke out about the incident on Tuesday saying YALL THIS IS SCARY. PRAYING FOR HIS SAFE RETURN. on Instagram.

Then, he shared a separate statement Saturday on Twitter and Instagram that said that his bar is working closely with the Metro Nashville Police Department to proactively provide detailed information quickly following Strains visit.

The statement continued, our records show he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two water. 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. He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs.

This is definitely the worst nightmare, Strains stepfather, Chris Whiteid told Fox News. 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.

Saleah Blancaflor may be reached at sblancaflor@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @saleyley and Instagram.
Fool him once, shame on him. Try to fool him twice, youre going to jail.

A victim who had purchased a stolen car through Facebook Marketplace alerted police that he arranged a second purchase from the alleged fraudsters Friday, and a hastily arranged sting operation resulted in the arrest of two Staten Island men, Bayonne police Capt. Eric Amato said.

In fact, 23-year-olds Devonte A. Thomas and Justin I. Wright, both 23, were charged with the sale of four stolen vehicles in Bayonne dating back to Nov. 3, under the false names Alazim Olasupo Odu and Alazim Odu. The Bayonne Police Department believes there are more victims in the city and is asking them to come forward.

Thomas is charged with four counts of forgery, four counts of wrongful impersonation, four counts of receiving stolen property and a single count of obstructing a governmental function. Wright is charged with theft by deception, conspiracy and obstructing a governmental function.

Since late last year, Bayonne detectives have been investigating numerous incidents regarding the sale of stolen vehicles to unsuspecting buyers.

After being contacted by the victim, Bayonne police confirmed the vehicle was reported stolen out of Newark and they quickly responded to West 37th Street, the agreed upon location for the sale, Amato said. A plain clothes detective then approached the vehicle and waited for the sellers to approach him.

Shortly after, Thomas and Wright approached the detective and opened the vehicle using a key fob in Thomas possession, Amato said. When several detectives then approached the pair and identified themselves as police officers, Wright and Thomas fled, but they were quickly apprehended, Amato said.

A search led to the recovery of a U.S. passport bearing the name Alazim Olasupo Odu and a search of the stolen vehicle led to the recovery of a fraudulent New York State vehicle title bearing the same name.

The ensuing investigation led to the identification of Thomas as pulling off similar crimes on Nov. 3 (a stolen 2013 Infiniti was purchased for $5,150), Jan. 16 (a stolen 2019 Honda was purchased for $10,000) and Jan. 18 (a stolen 2020 Honda was purchased for $11,500).

Anyone who believes they may have been victimized by Thomas and Wright are asked to contact the Bayonne Police Detective Bureau at (201) 858-6925 and report the incident.
The mother of a woman killed during a deadly crime spree that spanned New Jersey and Pennsylvania tried to fight off their attacker after he shot and killed her daughter, according to police reports.

Andre Gordon Jr., 26, was arrested in Trenton on Saturday following an hours-long manhunt.

Gordon allegedly shot to death his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, his 13-year-old sister Kera Gordon and Taylor Daniel, 25, the mother of his two children, police said. Gordon also struck Daniels mother with a rifle when she confronted him while holding an axe handle.

He is charged in Pennsylvania with several counts of first-and second-degree murder while awaiting extradition from New Jersey.

Gordon was scheduled to go before a judge on Monday for a first appearance in Mercer County Superior Court, officials said. He is also charged in New Jersey with multiple weapons offenses and carjacking.

An extradition hearing has not yet been scheduled, according to a spokesperson for the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts. He was being represented for a first appearance by public defense attorney Olivia Moorehead, the spokesperson said.

A detention hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

An affidavit of probable cause shows Gordon cut his hair in an attempt to hide from police searching for him at a home on Phillips Avenue in Trenton. He was later captured walking on New York Avenue, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Pennsylvania Superior Court records.

Gordon is believed to be homeless, but New Jersey court records list his address in Levittown, Pennsylvania, the section of Falls Township where the three victims were killed.

He used a ghost gun in the crimes, documents show. Officials previously described the gun as an AR-style rifle. It remained unclear on Monday how Gordon acquired the weapon.

Gordon carjacked a woman on Southhard Street near the Donnelly Homes complex in Trenton, then drove into Pennsylvania, according to an affidavit of probable cause in New Jersey courts.

In Falls Township, he drove to his parents house, confronting his father at the front door, according to the affidavit.

After his father closed the door, Gordon, using his rifle, broke the doors glass panel, firing numerous rounds into the home. Both his mother and sister were struck by gunfire, according to the affidavit. A doorbell camera recorded the shooting.

Gordon then went to the Daniels home on Edgewood Lane, according to the affidavit. Witnesses told police they believe Taylor Daniel confronted Gordon before being shot to death. Daniels mother, holding an axe handle, then confronted Gordon. He struck her with the rifle, causing a head wound, it was stated in the affidavit.

Gordon returned to New Jersey by carjacking another person outside of a Dollar Tree on Bristol Pike in Falls Township, according to the affidavit. That vehicle was later found on Miller Street in Trenton.

Police believed Gordon was holding hostages inside the house on Phillips Avenue in Trenton after one of the residents called 911 while hiding, officials said Saturday. The residents and their neighbors were safely evacuated by a SWAT team as police surrounded the area.

Two Trenton patrol officers, Ricardo Tibere and Domingo Perez, put the handcuffs on him at about 5 p.m.

Trenton Police Director Steve Wilson said the two officers were in the area due to the incident, but patrolling the outer area. Police had information Gordon had slipped away from the home, but the officers spotted him on foot and arrested him.

Staff writer Kevin Shea 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 subscription.

Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
A Hamilton police officer shot and injured while exchanging gunfire with a man at a home in Mercer County earlier this month has been released from the hospital, authorities said.

The police officer was wounded March 8 after cops responded to a disturbance call at about 10:20 p.m. on March 8 on the 1800 block of Orchard Avenue, officials said.

The man who opened fire on police with a rifle was shot and killed by officers.

The officer is recovering well, Hamilton police said. We want to thank all the other agencies for their assistance and support. We also want to thank the community for their overwhelming support during this time.

Neither the man killed by police nor the injured officer has been identified by the state Office of the Attorney General, which is handling the investigation. Additional details about the shooting have not been disclosed.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
A 59-foot rocket is scheduled to blast off from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia on Thursday, March 21, and it may be visible from several states in the eastern U.S., including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.

To catch a glimpse of the Rocket Lab Electron rocket, however, sky watchers will need to wake up early. A spokesperson for NASA Wallops says the launch time will be sometime between 2:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., assuming weather conditions are favorable.

If the weather is good and the launch is a go, people in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York may be able to see the rocket anywhere from 60 to 180 seconds after takeoff, depending on location in those three states, according to Olivia Littleton, public affairs specialist in the office of communications for NASAs Wallops Flight Facility.

The rocket is part of a mission for the National Reconnaissance Offices Innovative Overhead Intelligence Systems for National Security, according to a post on the NROs X feed. The mission is being called Live and Let Fly.

The Wallops Visitor Center will not be open for launch viewing. A livestream will be hosted on Rocket Labs YouTube channel.



And for those asking.. Here's our launch visibility map! The launch may be visible along the East Coast, weather permitting. pic.twitter.com/OhLLqLG8XR  NASA Wallops (@NASAWallops) March 19, 2024

NASA says the Wallops Visitor Center and launch viewing area will be closed during the upcoming launch.

Among the best viewing locations will be on Chincoteague Island, about 15 miles away from the Wallops flight center, as well as beaches and state parks along the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.

For people too far away or blocked by clouds, a live webcast of the rocket launch will be available at www.rocketlabusa.com/live-stream on the day of the liftoff.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or on X at @LensReality.
Days after former Vice President Mike Pence announced he wouldnt support Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, the former VP was on news networks over the weekend to explain his decision.

From Face The Nation on over the weekend:

MARGARET BRENNAN: I know, in the past, youve said Mr. Trumps reckless words endangered you and your family on that day.

What do you think when you hear him refer to those people facing charges as hostages and patriots?

MIKE PENCE: Well, I think its very unfortunate, at a time that there are American hostages being held in Gaza, that the president or any other leaders would refer to people that are moving through our  our justice system as hostages.

And its just  its just unacceptable. I was there on January 6. I have no doubt in my mind, Margaret, that, that some people were caught up in the moment, and that entered the Capitol.

And  and theyre certainly entitled to due process of law for any nonviolent activities that day.

But the assaults on police officers, ultimately, an environment that claimed lives, is something that I  I think was tragic that day. And I will  I will never diminish it.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And the legal system is processing these individuals through and giving them trials.

I wonder what you think, though, about Mr. Trump and whether the public needs to hear and see some of the evidence in regard to the federal charges related to his alleged role in January 6? Do you think that needs to happen before Election Day?

MIKE PENCE: Well, I  look, I think the American people lived through that moment.

I and my family and my team lived through it at the Capitol that day. I think most Americans know what happened. I  you know, as I have said before, I  I truly do believe that  that the judgment about the presidents conduct that day should have been left to the American people.

I know its been brought into a criminal trial now. And  and we have cases around the country that have been brought related to that, notably in Georgia. But, at the end of the day, I think the American people know what happened that day.

And I  I said, the people that  the people that ransacked the Capitol need to be held to the fullest account of the law. And I believe that they are. But the judgment about the presidents efforts that day, I think can be left to the American people.

But  but, look, I  I said last week that, after a lot of prayer and reflection, I have come to the conclusion that Im  I wont be endorsing Donald Trump this year.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

MIKE PENCE: I mean, look, Im very proud of the record of our administration, Margaret.

It was a record that left America more prosperous, and  and more secure and  and our liberties and the sanctity of life stronger than ever before in my lifetime.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But youve said Mr. Trumps walked away from conservative principles.

MIKE PENCE: Well, I do.

I said it during my presidential campaign. The president and I have profound differences. And many people think its just over January 6. And, frankly, the fact that the president continues to insist that  that I had the right to overturn the election that day is a fundamental difference.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

MIKE PENCE: But I want to be clear that I  I have forgiven the president in my heart for what happened that day.

I  as a Christian, Im required to do that. I have prayed for him in that regard. But the  the issue of fealty to the Constitution is not a small matter.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

MIKE PENCE: But its not just that.

I mean, the reason that I  I cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump this year also has to do with the fact that he is walking away not just from keeping faith with the Constitution on that day, but also, Margaret, with a commitment to fiscal responsibility, a commitment

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

MIKE PENCE:  to the sanctity of life, a  a commitment to American leadership in the world.

I mean, the presidents reversal just in the last week on  on TikTok

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

MIKE PENCE:  following an administration where  where we literally changed the national consensus on China, is the reason why I  after a lot of reflection, I just concluded I  I cannot endorse the agenda that Donald Trump is carrying into this national debate.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Is that the final word from you? Can you be persuaded, if he changes tacks, to vote for him? Would you vote for him?

MIKE PENCE: I  I wont be endorsing Donald Trump this year.

But, look, I want to be clear

MARGARET BRENNAN: But would you vote for him?

MIKE PENCE:  I respect the right of Republican voters whove made it clear who theyre for, who they want to be our standard-bearer this year.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

MIKE PENCE: What Im going to focus my energies on is in the  what remains of this year on what we should be for, because I joined this party when I was in college

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

MIKE PENCE:  because I heard the voice and the values of another good Irishman named Ronald Reagan, who  who said that we need to be  have a strong national defense, but also recognize were leader of the free world, and we need to stand for traditional values, the sanctity of life.

We need to stand for the Constitution and limited government. And in the balance of this year and in the years ahead, Im just going to continue to champion those values that I think are not just good for the Republican Party, Margaret, but I think that they are the right policies for a stronger, more prosperous America.

MARGARET BRENNAN: But I  I ask you about persuasion and voting because this is not just Mr. Trump. He has taken the party with him. He has taken the Senate Republican leadership, who are endorsing him. He has taken the House Republican endorsements with him too in terms of leadership.

Are all of those people, from Mitch McConnell to Mike Johnson, walking away from the conservative principles you say?

MIKE PENCE: Well, I  I dont want to say that they are. I want to say that my deep conviction is

MARGARET BRENNAN: They are endorsing Donald Trump.

MIKE PENCE:  that this is a conservative party with  this is still a party, I believe, that stands for less government, less taxes, American leadership in the world, traditional moral values, and the right to life.

I just think, frankly, the disaster of the Biden administration has  has resulted in people going back to whats familiar, and I understand that. I

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yes.

MIKE PENCE: I worked day in and day out for four and a half years to build that record of the Trump/Pence administration. Im incredibly proud of it.

But as I look at what Donald Trump is running on now

MARGARET BRENNAN: Mm-hmm.

MIKE PENCE:  I simply cannot in good conscience endorse his candidacy this year.

I understand Pences framing here and its objectively true. But Trump isnt simply rejecting a conservative agenda but an American agenda of respecting the rule of law, following the constitution, standing by our allies, rejecting dictators, and being a decent human. https://t.co/4qihQMKZ6J  Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) March 17, 2024

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, weighing in for the first time since the former president became the presumptive GOP nominee. Pence ran against Trump for their partys 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 bosss 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 Trumps most loyal defenders but broke with his two-time running mate by refusing to go along with Trumps unconstitutional scheme to try to remain in power after losing the 2020 election. When Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, trying to disrupt the certification of Joe Bidens win, Pence was forced to flee to a Senate loading dock as rioters chanted, Hang Mike Pence! outside.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
In a stunning move, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said Monday he made a mistake endorsing New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy for U.S. Senate and has switched his support to U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, her top rival in a heated Democratic primary growing more unpredictable by the day.

Fulop  who is running to succeed Murphys husband, Gov. Phil Murphy, in next years race for governor  also called on the first lady to drop out of the race for the seat currently held by indicted Democrat Sen. Robert Menendez.

I was an early supporter of Tammy Murphy for Senate but its no secret Ive been disappointed with the campaign and how it has been conducted, Fulop said in a statement. Ive expressed that over the last two months repeatedly both privately and publicly, and at this point, its clear to me that I was wrong with my early support and endorsement of Tammy Murphy for Senate.

After watching the county conventions, I believe that Andy Kim has proven that hes the better candidate, with a clearer message, and he brings a better chance of success in November, he added. Its never easy to admit when mistakes are made, but I should have waited longer before endorsing. Clearly, this campaign has become a catalyst for the backbone of the Democratic Party to be saying loud and clear that things need to change in New Jersey. I agree with them.

At this point, I dont think its in the states best interest for Tammy to continue her campaign.

Fulop was among several top Hudson County Democrats who endorsed Tammy Murphy shortly after she launched her campaign in November. But he has recently become more critical of Murphys bid. During an appearance Friday on NJ PBS, Fulop said the first lady had a messaging problem.

I made a decision, I gotta stick with it, Fulop said on the weekly Reporters Roundtable show. I do feel that the campaign has really not made a compelling case around her candidacy.

Asked to respond to Fulops about-face, Alex Altman, a spokeswoman for Murphys campaign, said: Tammy is proud of the broad coalition of support she is building throughout the state and will stand up for New Jerseys families and their values in Washington.

Kim, meanwhile, told reporters Monday he wants people to just think through this in terms of who they think is best prepared to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate.

Murphy, a first-time candidate, was cast as the frontrunner early on in the primary as she quickly gathered critical endorsements from leading Democrats. But her campaign has frequently been a rocky one as Kim has led in polls and seen a surge in support from grassroots and progressive Democrats as the candidates battle for preferential primary ballot placement known as the county line.

Fulop rescinded his endorsement the same day a federal judge holds a hearing in U.S. District Court in Trenton on a lawsuit Kim filed seeking to abolish the states county-line system  an arrangement in which candidates backed by the county party are bracketed together on primary ballot ballots, with their opponents listed to the side.

New Jersey is the only state with the design, a long-debated cornerstone of the Garden States often-machine-driven politics. The system has become a big focus in the race, where its considered central to Murphys campaign. Kim has asked the judge for an emergency injunction to block the setup for the June 4 primary.

In another major twist  and blow to the first lady  state Attorney General Matt Platkins office sent a letter to the judge Sunday saying Platkin, a longtime member of the Murphys inner circle, wont intervene in the suit to defend state laws that permit the system.

In light of the evidentiary record, the Attorney General has concluded that the challenged statutes are unconstitutional and therefore will not be defending them, the office wrote its letter.

It is often impossible for unbracketed, non-pivot office candidates to secure an earlier position on the ballot compared to their bracketed competitors. These features of grid balloting and bracketing also have allowed unbracketed candidates to be placed at the end of a ballot with multiple blank spaces separating them from their competitors, which creates the phenomenon known as ballot Siberia.

Primary ballots in New Jersey versus other states.File photos

That puts Platkin, New Jerseys top law enforcement official, at odds with Gov. Murphy, who appointed him to the job.

Mahen Gunaratna, the governors communications director, disagreed with Platkin on the issue.

Outside the context of any campaign, Governor Murphy has consistently and accurately noted that the bracketing of candidates is permitted by duly enacted laws that have been on the books for decades, Gunaratna said in a statement. It is well-established that Attorneys General have a general obligation to defend the constitutionality of statutes, regardless of their own personal views. The governor believes that a legal defense of the statute permitting bracketing would have been appropriate and consistent with the actions of prior Attorneys General.

In a statement on Platkins decision, Tammy Murphy said: Ive stated repeatedly in this race I will comply with whatever the courts decide the process of the race to be. If it remains up to the county parties to determine the process, I will complete those conventions and screenings. Should the courts determine a different path, I will follow those rules as well.

Critics note the system gives the endorsed candidates a big advantage by making them appear more prominent on ballots and making it easier for voters simply to vote down the line. Foes argue the line is archaic, confusing, and unfair, favoring party bosses choices for office, helping keep machine politics in power, deterring newcomers from getting a foothold in politics, and discriminating against female candidates and candidates of color.

Supporters say the setup allows voters to clearly see which candidate the party endorses and helps parties select stronger nominees and prevent extreme contenders from winning a nomination.

Kim has wants to require county clerks to replace it with the office block ballot design used by other states  in which candidates are grouped together by the office they are seeking.

Several clerks have argued its too late to change the system in time for this primary and the switch could force mistakes.

County parties vary in how they give out the line. Kim, who has accused Murphy of weaponizing the system, has won most of the county parties that hold conventions in which rank-and-file members vote via secret ballot, including lopsided victories in Atlantic and Morris this weekend.

Tammy Murphy has received the line in large, vote-rich counties where party leaders have the biggest say in the matter, including Camden this weekend and Gloucester on Monday. Several of those leaders either do business with the state or hold state jobs, which critics say gives them incentive to back Murphy and avoid running afoul of the governor. Phil Murphy has two years left in office and will also oversee the next two state budgets.

Both the first lady and the governor have staunchly denied accusations of nepotism.

Receiving the line in those counties provides Murphy with a statistical advantage over Kim.

Whoever wins the Democratic primary is considered the favorite in Novembers general election. A Republican hasnt won a U.S. Senate race in New Jersey since 1972.

Murphys campaign has called Kims lawsuit a sad hypocritical stunt, noting he sought lines in his past campaigns and this one.

The clash over the line took center stage over the weekend, as Kim and Patricia Campos-Medina, another candidate in the race, were not allowed to speak at Camden Countys convention. Murphy won the endorsement after being backed by party leaders months ago, including power broker George Norcross.

Kim didnt attend, while Campos-Medina said she was blocked from entering. She shared video of the encounter on social media, showing several men stopping her at the door.

As a Latina woman candidate, I demand fairness. Time to abolish the county line for equal ballot access. Proud to stand for real representation, Campos Medina wrote.

Fulop, the Jersey City mayor, wrote Sunday on social media there is really no way to defend this, even in the world of New Jersey politics, and Im disappointed that Tammy Murphy hasnt commented publicly/taken any action distancing herself from this.

Asked about the issue, Murphy told the NJ Globe: Youll have to talk to Camden. I think we all have been playing by the same rules in the counties. Were all showing up and trying to do our best. Some of us have a better chance in some counties, and some have a better chance in other counties.

The Camden County Democratic Party did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Both Murphy and Campos-Medina are seeking to become the first woman to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate.

Meanwhile, Hoboken Democratic Committee Chairwoman Rachel Hodes on Sunday criticized the Hudson County Democratic Organization for giving the county line to Murphy without talking to municipal chairs first.

After many years trying to operate within the system and effect change on the issues we care about, I think for me, I had already been feeling disillusioned with how the HCDO operates on these things, Hodes said.

But despite those comments and Fulop pulling his endorsement of Murphy, Hudson County Democratic Organization Chairman Anthony Vainieri said the county party is still 100% committed to the first lady.

Still, Micah Rasmussen, director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University, wrote on social media that Fulop and Hobokens new support for Kim should revise down Tammy Murphys expected margin in Hudson even before the county-line lawsuit is resolved.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Susan K. Livio and Jersey Journal staff writer Joshua Rosario contributed to this report.

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him at @johnsb01.
Well, that cant be good.

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have told the courts theyre having trouble finding the money to underwrite his bond in the $454 million civil fraud case against him.

Trump has been unable to find an insurance company to underwrite his bond to cover the $454 million judgment in the New York attorney generals civil fraud case, his lawyers said today. The amount of the judgment, with interest, exceeds $464 million, and very few bonding companies will consider a bond of anything approaching that magnitude, Trumps lawyers wrote, CNNs Kaitlin Collins pointed out Monday.

Trump has been unable to find an insurance company to underwrite his bond to cover the $454 million judgment in the New York attorney generals civil fraud case, his lawyers said today. The amount of the judgment, with interest, exceeds $464 million, and very few bonding  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) March 18, 2024

In his Feb. 16 ruling, Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump lied for years about his wealth in order to secure favorable loans and make deals that helped prop up his real estate empire. He was ordered to pay $354.9 million in penalties plus nearly $100 million in interest.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the case, has said she would seek to seize some of the former presidents assets if hes unable to cover the bill, though the appeal is likely to halt collection of his penalty while the process plays out.

Trump has denied wrongdoing. His lawyers had been seeking to delay the filing after wrangling with state lawyers and the judge over what that paperwork should say.

Making matters worse, beginning last month the interest on Trumps penalty will increase to $111,984 per day, rather than the $87,502 per day he had owed before the verdict was made official. Thats because post-judgment interest is calculated on the total judgment  the underlying $355 million penalty, plus the nearly $100 million he racked up in pre-judgment interest.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
TAMPA, Fla.  If you cant join em  beat em!

Blackballed former Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer has signed with the Mexican Leagues Diablos Rojos and will start Sundays exhibition game against the Yankees in Mexico City.
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The journey from Brooklyn to New Orleans is long  just short of 20 hours behind the wheel if youre making good time, not counting stops for bathrooms and Red Bull.

But in June 2020, right smack in the middle of those scary, early days of the global COVID-19 shutdown, actor and Oscar-winning documentarian Fisher Stevens hit the open road with fellow filmmaker Matthew O. Henderson anyway.

Their destination: 732 N. Broad St., the headquarters of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club.

Suffice it to say, Stevens and Henderson werent merely in search of coconuts.

There, with the help of Stevens local contacts, they had arranged to conduct 16 on-camera interviews over 2 days for a documentary focused on Zulu, its history and its indelible place in New Orleans culture.
The School of Education at Indiana University Northwest will host its seventh annual teacher recruitment fair on April 5. The event takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Savannah Center on the Gary campus.

Twenty local schools and school corporations, including individual public, charter and private schools throughout Northwest Indiana, are scheduled to be recruiting candidates to fill teaching and administrative roles for the 2024-2025 academic year. Several schools are urgently seeking to hire teachers and administrators as soon as possible, according to the university.

The event is free and open to qualified graduating students, current and former educators and alumni from any college or university. Advance registration is requested but not required, and can be accomplished by emailing Mandel Smith at mandsmit@iu.edu with the attendee's name and college/university attended.

For more information about the fair, contact the IU Northwest School of Education at 219-980-6887 or mandsmit@iu.edu.
MICHIGAN CITY  Towers will soon rise over downtown Michigan City, bringing hundreds of new residents to the heart of a community that's often relied heavily on seasonal beach traffic.

The developer Flaherty & Collins just broke ground of the 12-story $101 million Franklin at 11th Street Station that will build 220 market-rate apartments by a new South Shore Line station after the double-tracking project that will shorten commute times to Chicago by about an hour. The $260 million, 14-story SoLa development will bring another 164 luxury residential condominiums and 17 duplexed townhomes facing Lake Michigan.

And that's just the start.

"Because of this groundbreaking, five or six other investments are happening," Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch said. "I know we get beat up on a lot of things and we're stretched, but Michigan City is going through a renaissance period. It is going to be like no other."

The new housing will strengthen the downtown and the city as a whole, she said.

"I think density is important," she said. "It impacts the rest of the city. It allows residents to move to other areas. SoLa is geared toward residential and tourism but this building is really focused on residential. It's like a little of both. We know we have tourism but we know we want residents to live here."

Part of the hope is to have more residents to support downtown businesses all year, and not just when out-of-town beachgoers are flocking to Washington Park, the lighthouse and Mount Baldy in the Indiana Dunes National Park.

"One of the key pieces of this is we want all of these businesses downtown to thrive throughout the year," she said. "Having that density will be important for our local restaurants and our businesses here. Both of these projects will do that along with a couple of READI projects we have that are within half a mile of here."

Michigan City is pursuing READI grant funding from the state of Indiana for three more downtown housing projects focused on drawing more workers to the city. One will supply teacher housing, while the other two will provide general workforce housing, such as for police officers, firefighters and new college graduates.

"It's mostly housing, but we're looking at mixed-use in those housing developments," Deuitch said. "We're looking at a day care. We're a food desert so we're looking at the possibility of a grocery."

The 431,693-square-foot mixed-use development will include first-floor retail and including studio, one-bed-room, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments. The average unit size is 778 square feet.

Michigan City's redevelopment commission help out for a major transit-oriented development instead of just a parking garage.

"We took a risk and switched gears. We switched gears because we knew that having a premier development on this property was important and not just a parking garage," Deuitch said. "I don't think people realized the risks that we took, the hits that we took but we stood fast and were strong about what we wanted and that's why it's happening today."

The 549-space parking garage should open this year and the new apartment building by 2026.

"It's impactful because we're trying to encourage our students that leave to come back, old residents to move back and residents that are here have an opportunity to downsize if they want," she said. "It's been a long time since we've had a project this big with this big an economic impact."

The hope is that shorter commutes to Chicago and an infusion of new residents, businesses and life to the downtown will help improve quality of life.

"We have to have housing. We have to have new amenities. We have to have restaurants. We have to have new business to impact people wanting to be here," she said. "I have four 20-somethings who don't live here. They want music downtown. They want all of that. The train downtown is a piece of that but's all the development around the train station that's really going to be important. People want to live, work and play here. It's good they can get to Chicago in an hour but we need to have the other things to be successful. I don't want to just to talk about Chicago."

The apartments are expected to cost around $1,500 per month.

"We haven't had really any new apartments in a long time," Deuitch said. "As I was transitioning to a new home 10 years ago, I lived in an apartment that was $1,200 a month. With new amenities, I don't think that will be a deterrent. We have a lot of folks looking for new."

The city also need more residential options.

"People might want a newer home who live here already," she said. "It's not just about bringing new people in but people who might want to upsize or downsize. That's what we're looking at doing."

Such investments benefit Michigan City and the broader Northwest Indiana economic, said U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland.

"As I was walking in, you had the chamber and union labor working together," he said. "When you can get those two groups together shaking hands and laughing about good projects and creating work and business opportunity, that's a good thing."

Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority President and CEO Sherri Ziller said the double-tracking project meant to shorten South Shore Line commutes to Chicago would create more residential demand from commuters.

"It's super-fantastic to see something you worked on for so long and fought for and really believed in for this long come to pass," he said. "It's not just happening here. All up and down the South Shore Line development is happening."

The RDA projected $2.5 billion in investment along the interurban rail line between Chicago and South Bend.

"That's a very conservative figure," she said. "I very much look forward to attending more groundbreakings and ribbon-cuttings in our transit communities."
Gov. Eric Holcomb has agreed to share his authority as the primary decision-maker during a long-term state of emergency with the 150 members of the Indiana General Assembly.

The Republican chief executive has signed into law Senate Enrolled Act 234 limiting the duration of the governor's exclusive emergency authority for the nine months remaining in Holcomb's second and final term, as well as for his successors  unless the statute is changed again in the future.

Under the new law, which took effect March 13 immediately upon receiving Holcomb's endorsement, a statewide disaster emergency may not last longer than 60 days unless the General Assembly authorizes the governor to extend the emergency for another 60-day period.

That means, in most cases, the governor will need to call the General Assembly into special session one or more times during the statewide disaster to seek House and Senate approval to extend the emergency, since lawmakers only meet in regular session for about four months in odd-numbered years and three months in even-numbered years.

Depending on the nature of the emergency, it may be difficult or perilous for the 100 state representatives and 50 state senators to travel to the Statehouse in Indianapolis and operate according to their usual legislative procedures.

In such circumstances, the Indiana Constitution authorizes the governor to convene the General Assembly "at any other place" if the seat of government "becomes dangerous from disease or a common enemy."

Legislative supporters of the measure insisted that all but forcing the governor to seek General Assembly approval for his actions during an ongoing statewide emergency is needed to guarantee the concerns of everyday Hoosiers are heard through their elected representatives in a time of crisis.

Senate Republican Leader Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, the sponsor, acknowledged the impetus for the new law was the record 728-day emergency, or just two days shy of two years, declared by Holcomb in continuous 30-day increments between March 2020 and March 2022 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that killed more than 26,000 Hoosiers.

The senator claimed the governor's prolonged coronavirus emergency damaged businesses, devastated the economy and negatively impacted the mental health of Hoosier youth.

A state law in effect at that time, and still today, authorizes the General Assembly to immediately terminate any emergency declared by the governor. The Legislature did not exercise that authority during either its 2021 or 2022 sessions amid the COVID-19 emergency.

The new statute continues to permit the governor to issue and renew 30-day disaster emergency declarations  without General Assembly approval  so long as they apply to fewer than the 92 counties that comprise the entire state.

"A big thank you is owed to the authors of the bill and the leadership in the General Assembly for the thoughtful collaboration to achieve the proper guardrails during a statewide emergency while still preserving critical flexibility and authority to react to the unforeseen," Holcomb said.

An Indiana law approved by the General Assembly in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks confers vast authority on the governor when he determines the state has been struck by one or more of 30 potential disasters, including an "epidemic" or "public health emergency."

That included, in the COVID-19 context, the authority to "employ any measure and give any direction" in accordance with the recommendations of the State Department of Health or local boards of health, both of which have a statutory obligation to "do what is reasonable and necessary for the prevention and suppression of disease."

At the same time, the governor in an emergency is authorized to shut off water, gas, electric and other utility services; direct or prohibit the movement of pedestrians and vehicles; suspend any state rule or regulation; evacuate and relocate the civilian population; and use any state or local government facility in any way the governor believes appropriate; among other powers.

About the only things the governor can't do during a declared emergency are restrict the right to worship, including in-person worship; or limit the lawful possession, transfer, sale, transportation, storage, display, or use of firearms or ammunition.

Those powers remain intact under the new law.

Meet the 2024 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Dave Vinzant, D-Hobart State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr. State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie
President Biden on Sunday used what is normally a festive St. Patricks Day celebration at the White House to acknowledge the growing international concern, including among the Irish, over the humanitarian situation of Palestinians amid Israels military action in Gaza.

The taoiseach and I agree about the urgent need to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza and get the cease-fire deal, Mr. Biden said alongside Leo Varadkar, Irelands prime minister, or taoiseach, an outspoken critic of Israels war against Hamas in response to the Oct. 7 terrorist attack. As hundreds of Irish American leaders and government staff members applauded, Mr. Biden said that a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians was the only path to lasting peace and security.

The celebration in the White House, with plenty of green dye, shamrocks and Guinness, is typically a chance for Mr. Biden to break from speeches about foreign policy and threats to American democracy to celebrate his Irish American heritage. But during his trip to the United States, Mr. Varadkar made clear that he would raise his concerns over the war in the Middle East with the American president.

The prime minister in a way was speaking to a domestic audience back in Ireland, which, given its own history of resistance to British rule, is one of the more supportive European nations to Palestinians. Ireland was the first European Union nation to call for a Palestinian state and the last to permit the opening of a residential Israeli embassy.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia emerged from the three-day, stage-managed presidential vote that ended Sunday declaring that his overwhelming win represented a public mandate to act as needed in the war in Ukraine as well as on various domestic matters, feeding unease among Russians about what comes next.

Mr. Putin said the vote represented a desire for internal consolidation that would allow Russia to act effectively at the front line as well as in other spheres, such as the economy.

The government was dismissive of a protest organized by Russias beleaguered opposition, in which people expressed dissent by flooding polling places at noon. A correspondent for the state-run Rossiya 24 channel said that provocations at polling stations were nothing more than mosquito bites. Official commentators suggested that the lines showed a zeal for democratic participation.

Mr. Putin, 71, will now be president until at least 2030, entering a fifth term in a country whose Constitution ostensibly limits presidents to two. The vote, the first since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, was designed to both create a public mandate for the war and restore Mr. Putins image as the embodiment of stability. Still, Russians are somewhat edgy over what changes the vote might bring.
Ariana Grandes long-awaited new album, Eternal Sunshine, opens at the top of the latest Billboard chart with the biggest debut of the year so far, kicking off a season of expected blockbusters from Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa.

Eternal Sunshine, Grandes seventh studio album and her first in almost four years, starts at No. 1 with the equivalent of 227,000 sales in the United States, including 195 million streams and 77,000 copies sold as a complete package, according to the tracking service Luminate. After a first single, Yes, And?, went to No. 1 in January, the full album arrived with Grande performing on Saturday Night Live and then  along with Cynthia Erivo, her co-star in the upcoming two-part Wicked film  appearing as a presenter at the Oscars.

Eternal Sunshine is Grandes sixth No. 1 album. All of her studio LPs have gone to the top except Dangerous Woman in 2016, which was held at No. 2 by that years juggernaut, Drakes Views.

Since her last album, Positions (2020), Grande has been shooting an adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked, in which she will play Glinda the Good. Production on the film was delayed first by the coronavirus and then by last years SAG-AFTRA strike; the first Wicked film is now set to be released in November.
In the middle of last summers production of Verdis Macbeth at the Salzburg Festival, the American tenor Jonathan Tetelman brought down the house. As Macduff, Tetelman gave a searing rendition of Ah, la paterna mano, the heartbreaking aria after his character learns that the bloodthirsty monarch has slaughtered his wife and children.

Tetelmans performance in Krzysztof Warlikowskis monumentally gloomy production was one of the festivals highlights. Later this month, the 35-year-old tenor will make his Metropolitan Opera debut in Puccinis La Rondine. Hell also be heard at the Met as Pinkerton in a revival of the composers better-known Madama Butterfly that reunites him with his Macbeth co-star, the soprano Asmik Grigorian, in April and May. (There are planned Met Live in HD broadcasts of both productions.)

In an email, the Mets general manager, Peter Gelb, wrote that Tetelman had a beautiful and big voice that is perfectly suited to the generous size of the Mets auditorium, which is much larger than most European opera houses, and to these soaring Puccini roles.
The climate activist was tired. Protests at the house of Shells chief executive had led to little more than free cookies and the police being called to break things up. The same thing had happened the week before. And the week before that. And the week before that.

I dont wanna be perfect, they screamed into a loudspeaker in Ellen Reid and Roxie Perkinss The Shell Trial. I just dont wanna die, the activist added, with an expletive for emphasis.

It was a moment of one person speaking for many, and for The Shell Trial itself, which premiered at the Dutch National Opera on Saturday. (Among the commissioners is Opera Philadelphia, where it will travel in a future season.) A Brechtian cri de coeur about climate change and complicity, this is an ambitious, passionate show that seems more interested in being heard  in truly reaching its audience  than in being an impeccably crafted work of art.

Finding new ways to make old points, and powerfully laying out a vision for a future in which the world changes but we do not, The Shell Trial has much to admire. Remarkable, too, is the effort of the Dutch National Opera, which has taken a major step toward operating as a carbon-neutral house with this staging and its Green Deal, an initiative to weave sustainability into its productions, limit travel and calculate ways to offset its carbon footprint.
Putin won a rubber-stamp election

President Vladimir Putin yesterday extended his rule over Russia until 2030, using a heavily stage-managed election with no real opposition to claim overwhelming public support for his domestic dominance and his invasion of Ukraine.

Western governments condemned the election, and some Russians tried to turn the vote into a protest by forming long lines at polling stations at noon. Ukraine sought to cast its own vote of sorts, firing a volley of exploding drones at Moscow and other targets.

But the Kremlin brushed those challenges aside and released results claiming that Putin had won 87 percent of the vote, an even higher number than in the four previous elections in which he ran.

In a news conference after the voting, Putin commented for the first time on the death of the imprisoned opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, calling it an unfortunate incident. (Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, waited in line for hours to vote in Berlin.)
James D. Robinson III, who as chief executive of the American Express Company from 1977 to 1993 helped transform Wall Street into a more competitive financial marketplace, with a wide diversity of businesses housed under single roofs, died on Monday in Roslyn, N.Y., on Long Island. He was 88.

The death, at a hospital, was caused by respiratory failure from recurrent pneumonia, Walter Montgomery, a spokesman for the family, wrote in an announcement.

A soft-spoken son of the Georgia gentry, Mr. Robinson followed a well-worn path to financial success, power and influence: from private school to the Ivy League and then on to the moneyed canyons of Lower Manhattan, with side trips to the corridors of Capitol Hill.

In Washington, he was among Wall Streets most influential advocates for deregulating the financial industry and widening its horizons. Some called him the unofficial secretary of state for corporate America.
Ed Mintz, a mathematician who created an exit polling system for films called CinemaScore, which asks people leaving theaters on opening nights to grade the movies they have just seen  a precursor of the website Rotten Tomatoes, which aggregates and scores critics opinions  died on Feb. 6 in Las Vegas. He was 83.

His son Harold said the cause of death, in a memory care facility, was vascular dementia.

Mr. Mintz, a film buff, was a partner in a computerized billing service for dentists in 1978 when he and his wife, Rona, went to see The Cheap Detective, a comedy written by Neil Simon and starring Peter Falk, at a theater in the Westwood section of Los Angeles. They both disliked it, and they felt let down by the critics whose praise had encouraged them to see it.

Their disappointment was echoed by at least one other departing moviegoer.

And all of a sudden, some guy said, Is anybody here wondering why they cant get the opinions of actual moviegoers and publish that? We keep getting critics, Mr. Mintz recalled in an interview with The Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2016. I looked at him and thought, Wow, thats a great idea.

That thought percolated until later that year. While attending Yom Kippur services at a synagogue in Los Angeles, he gazed at a donation pledge card. Rather than write with a pen or pencil, which Jews are prohibited from doing on Yom Kippur and the Sabbath, worshipers designated what to give by bending a perforated tab.
The arrival of Stormy, a new documentary on Peacock, is timely. In several weeks, former President Donald J. Trump is scheduled to go on trial in a case in which hes accused of covering up a 2016 payment to the pornographic film star known as Stormy Daniels. (The trial was originally supposed to start in late March, but has now been delayed until at least mid-April.)

The documentary uses interviews and observational footage to recount the legal saga from Danielss perspective. It begins with the requisite accounts of her upbringing, her introduction to the sex industry and the 2006 tryst she says she had with Trump. Stormy then pivots to the period after the story of Danielss allegation of a sexual encounter with Trump was made public, tracing how the sudden fame and frenzy upended her personal life.

After so much media coverage, certain details of the events feel overly familiar. But the director, Sarah Gibson, is often able to put the episodes into fresh contexts. Take the rise and fall of Michael Avenatti, Danielss onetime lawyer, who in 2022 was convicted of stealing from her: Rather than merely rehashing Avenattis offenses, Gibson positions him amid a wave of supposed male allies.
A bitter clash over space has emerged in recent weeks at a beloved New York City school building on Manhattans Upper West Side that two programs have shared for the past decade.

It is a battle that reflects events that have caused two of the biggest demographic shifts in New York Citys recent history: the Covid-19 pandemic and the surge of migrants from the southern border.

One of the buildings occupants, Public School 145, has added more than 120 new students as a result of an influx of newcomers. The Department of Education has proposed moving the other, West Prep Academy, which is losing enrollment, into a separate, but antiquated building to make room for its growing neighbor.

The conflict highlights broader fault lines in New York and other large U.S. cities. The countrys public schools have lost more than 1.2 million students since the pandemic began and are facing major budget declines as a result. Urban areas with large numbers of poor families have been hit the hardest. By 2031, enrollment could plunge by another 2.5 million nationwide, in large part because of declining birthrates.
Donald J. Trumps lawyers disclosed on Monday that he had failed to secure a roughly half-billion dollar bond in his civil fraud case in New York, raising the prospect that the state could seek to freeze some of his bank accounts and seize some of his marquee properties.

The court filing, coming one week before the bond is due, suggested that the former president might soon face a financial crisis unless an appeals court comes to his rescue.

Mr. Trump has asked the appeals court to pause the $454 million judgment that a New York judge imposed on Mr. Trump in the fraud case last month, or accept a bond of only $100 million. Otherwise, the New York attorney generals office, which brought the case, might soon move to collect from Mr. Trump.

Still, even if the higher court rejects his appeal, Mr. Trump is not entirely out of options. He might appeal to the states highest court, quickly sell an asset or seek help from a wealthy supporter.
Bernard Schwartz, a New York investor and businessman who, despite being a staunch antiwar Democrat, took over the ailing Loral Corporation in the Bronx and turned it into a multibillion-dollar military contractor, died on Tuesday at his home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. He was 98.

His wife, Denise Schwartz, confirmed his death.

Mr. Schwartz was a former accountant who had risen to be president of a large insurance firm. With no experience in doing business with the Pentagon, he was an unlikely choice to take over Loral, which was on the brink of bankruptcy when its two founders retired in 1972.

I was an odd duck, he said, or as he put it later in a memoir, not your typical member of the military-industrial complex.

But Mr. Schwartz racked up 96 straight quarters in which profits surpassed those of the comparable period the year before, a record believed matched only by General Electric in American corporate history. Loral (later known as Loral Space & Communications) soared in value to $13 billion by the time Mr. Schwartz sold the bulk of it to Lockheed Martin in 1996.
Beverly Gadson-Birch is, supposedly, retired.

But spend any time with Ms. Gadson-Birch, a community activist, business owner and grandmother in Charleston, S.C., and you may struggle, as I did, to keep up with her. She holds political meetings at local hotels. She wants to restart a local newspaper. She buttonholes friends, family members and strangers, reminding them to vote. She does all this while tapping at her Apple Watch or racing through town in a sleek S.U.V. My husband said to me one day: Girl! Whered you learn to drive that way?

Many Americans have grown weary of politics and disengaged. Ms. Gadson-Birch, 77, is not one of them. Instead, she seems to have boundless energy while fighting political battles where winning appears impossible. At city council hearings and school board meetings, in diners and at church, Ms. Gadson-Birch is assiduously working to share a core belief: Voting is still worth it, even when making progress is slow and punishing work. She is not oblivious to the grim mood among Democratic voters or the alienation of those who arent sure whether the Democratic Party  or democracy itself  holds meaning for them at all. Over a lifetime, Ms. Gadson-Birch has come to believe that American democracy can become whatever Americans make it.

One of 12 children, Ms. Gadson-Birch spent the first years of her childhood in Charlestons public housing. On weekends, Ms. Gadson-Birch said, her father, who worked at a steel mill, would take the children to the citys airport to watch the planes take off. He would say, I never got to fly, but you will, Ms. Gadson-Birch recalled. Downtown, there were certain restaurants in which they couldnt eat, because the family was Black. In many stores, they couldnt try on clothing or hats before purchasing them, because they were Black. That really got to my mom, she said.

In her elementary school, Wallace Consolidated, which was Black-only by law, students were required to buy the used textbooks the citys white school no longer had any use for. I can still see the worn covers, the name of the white school stamped on the spine, Ms. Gadson-Birch told me. One year, Ms. Gadson-Birch said, her father couldnt afford textbooks for all the children, so she had to go without.
Silence. Last September, when I visited a makeshift hospital in Adre, Chad, where young Sudanese refugees were being treated for acute malnutrition, that was all I heard: an eerie silence.

I had tried to prepare myself for the wails of children who were sick and emaciated, but these patients were too weak to even cry. That day, I saw a 6-month-old baby who was the size of a newborn and a child whose ankles were swollen, and whose body was blistered, from severe malnourishment.

It was equal parts newly horrific and tragically familiar.

Twenty years earlier I had visited the same town and met with Sudanese refugees who fled violence in Darfur, where the janjaweed militia, with backing from Omar al-Bashirs brutal authoritarian regime, carried out a genocidal campaign of mass killing, rape and pillage.

Today, civil war has once again turned Sudan into a living hell. But even after aid groups designated the countrys humanitarian crisis to be among the worlds worst, little attention or help has gone to the Sudanese people.
Its not fair when countries that have deforested their own land for centuries, or are responsible for much of our deforestation, can unilaterally impose conditions on us.

NIK NAZMI NIK AHMAD, Malaysias environment minister, on the European Unions coming ban on imports linked to deforestation.
Altin Sencalars timing could hardly have been worse.

New York is the destination for jazz, said Mr. Sencalar, a jazz trombonist. So a year and a half ago, he and his wife, Marina Sencalar, signed on  sight unseen  to an apartment in Washington Heights. Mr. Sencalar planned to perform and teach, as he had done in his native Texas.

The day I moved here was the day I got called to go on tour with Michael Buble, he said. For months the couples $2,350 three-bedroom apartment sat mostly unused, an expensive storage unit. Ms. Sencalar remained in Texas with her parents.

Six months later, the gig ended, so the couple finally moved into the apartment in Washington Heights with their two dogs. The big cash cow was unfortunately gone, Mr. Sencalar said. In classic New York fashion, the highs are high and the lows are low.

Thanks to his jazz friends, however, Mr. Sencalar easily picked up work. There is a big community here from my grad school, Michigan State, that looks out for one another, he said.
What else can we see in an artists home? We can see their dedication to light, which is something that perhaps all artists value and certainly depend upon. We can get a glimpse of their spatial gifts, which are frequently unique and inspire counterintuitive compositions. But does an artists home reflect their own work? Usually, but often not directly; in the photographer Sheree Hovsepian and the multidisciplinary artist Rashid Johnsons New York City townhouse, for example, you can find evidence of Hovsepians sense of shadow and subtlety, as well as Johnsons restless intelligence, love of abstraction and unwillingness to be faithful to any single genre or medium. Here, midcentury Brazilian and American furniture sit amid African statuettes and masks, Abstract Expressionist canvases, contemporary sculpture and clashing textures that give the house an unusual tactility. In the abstract painters Marina Adams and Stanley Whitneys Bridgehampton, N.Y., home, on the other hand, the rooms are spare, with a limited color palette; a surprise, perhaps, given their own ecstatically colorful works. But both their art and their home are defined by play as well as rigor, a mastery over shape and form.
Brussels, long the realm of stuffy French restaurants packed with gray-flannel-suited diplomats, has suddenly gone bold and bright. Thanks to a crop of young chefs with iconoclastic ideas about flavor and sustainability, the city, in thrall to the rich sauces of Gaul for nearly two centuries, has emerged as one of the most exciting, and affordable, places to dine out in Europe right now.

These exciting talents are transforming the citys old-fashioned bistros and cafes with spices from places like Korea, Latin America and Morocco, and putting a vivid modern spin on homey local comfort food dishes, explained Michel Verlinden, a Brussels food writer and restaurant critic for Le Vif Weekend, a major Belgian weekly. At the same time, theyre making the most of local produce like cabbage, carrots, endives and, bien sur, brussels sprouts.

Brussels may be the capital of Europe, but it feels more like Brooklyn or Marseille gastronomically. Casual, creative and multicultural, its a city thats equally at home with bulgogi and duck breast  even together in the same dish.
An engine fire sparked by plastic packaging wrap, a tire lost shortly after takeoff and a plane veering off the runway: These are among the eight incidents that have occurred over the past two weeks on flights operated by United Airlines. While no injuries  or worse  have been reported, the mishaps have generated headlines and stoked rising anxiety about aviation safety among federal officials and passengers alike.

All of the incidents happened on flights that took off from or were headed to airports in the United States, and five involved airplanes made by Boeing, a manufacturer already under intense scrutiny. In January, a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliner in mid-flight, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing.

United, one of the worlds largest airlines, flies aircraft manufactured mainly by Boeing and Airbus. In an email United began sending to customers on Monday, the companys chief executive, Scott Kirby, wrote that while the recent incidents were unrelated, they were reminders of the importance of safety.

I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus, he continued, adding that every case was being reviewed by the airline and would influence its safety training and procedures.
A judge in Philadelphia cleared a man in an attempted murder case on Monday after he spent about a dozen years in prison related to a shooting for which officials said there was weak evidence and the prosecution did not meet the burden of proof. The decision ended a yearslong battle to overturn his conviction.

The man, Charles Rice, who goes by C.J., was serving a 30- to 60-year sentence related to a 2011 shooting that injured four people, according to court records. He was convicted in 2013 on multiple charges, including four counts of attempted murder.

In November, a federal judge vacated his conviction after the state conceded that Mr. Rices original lawyer had rendered ineffective assistance. The judge gave the state 180 days to decide whether to retry Mr. Rice or dismiss the charges.

On Monday, the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia County granted the states motion to dismiss all charges.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken warned on Monday that a malicious flood of disinformation was threatening the worlds democracies, fueled in part by the swift rise of artificial intelligence, which he says sows suspicion, cynicism and instability around the globe.

Mr. Blinken spoke in Seoul at the Summit for Democracy, a global gathering organized by the Biden administration, which has made countering the authoritarian models of nations like Russia and China a top priority.

Mr. Blinken, who as a young man worked briefly as a journalist, said that changes to the international flow of information may be the most profound that he has experienced in his career, and that anti-democratic forces were exploiting those changes.

Our competitors and adversaries are using disinformation to exploit fissures within our democracies, he said.
The U.S. Supreme Court turned down a request on Monday to hear an appeal from a former New Mexico county commissioner who was removed from office after taking part in the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol.

Couy Griffin, formerly a commissioner in New Mexicos Otero County and the founder of Cowboys for Trump, was convicted in 2022 of trespassing at the Capitol. That same year, Mr. Griffin became the first public official in more than a century to be disqualified because of a constitutional ban on insurrectionists holding office contained in a provision of the 14th Amendment.

As is its custom, the court gave no reasons for turning away the appeal. The order on Monday means that Mr. Griffin will remain barred from running or holding public office in New Mexico.

The Supreme Court declined to hear Mr. Griffins appeal two weeks after it said Colorado could not use that same provision to stop former President Donald J. Trump from appearing on the states presidential primary ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court  taking on a case that was brought by six Colorado voters  had ruled in December that Mr. Trump had engaged in insurrection and was barred from holding public office.
In the final days of a notably nasty Republican Senate primary race in Ohio, a conservative candidate is getting an unusual boost from the Democratic Party.

As my colleague Michael Bender reported last week, a Democratic group is spending $2.7 million on an ad highlighting the conservative credentials of Bernie Moreno, the Cleveland-area businessman backed by former President Donald Trump.

The ad says Moreno is a MAGA Republican who is too conservative for Ohio, describing him in terms that are likely to make him more appealing to conservative Ohio primary voters. Party strategists believe Moreno will be an easier opponent for the incumbent Democratic senator, Sherrod Brown, in the general election.

Meddling in Republican primaries has become a regular tactic for Democrats in recent years. But it has become more ideologically complicated as President Biden campaigns on the need to defend democracy from Trump-aligned Republicans like Moreno.
Paul Manafort, a top adviser to Donald J. Trumps 2016 campaign who was pardoned by the former president at the end of his White House term, is in discussions to return to help with the Republican National Convention, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Mr. Manaforts potential role at the partys convention in Milwaukee has not been decided, and the discussions have gone on for several months. His possible involvement was first reported by The Washington Post.

A Trump campaign spokesman and Mr. Manafort did not respond to requests for comment.

One of the people familiar with the matter, who was not authorized to speak publicly about internal deliberations, downplayed the prospective hire. The person suggested that unlike in 2016, Mr. Manafort would have a limited role and it was not indicative of broader moves to reshape the current Trump campaign to look like the old one.

Mr. Manafort, 74, was closely involved in the 1996 Republican Party convention when Bob Dole was the nominee, and he also worked on the convention in support of Ronald Reagan. Mr. Trump brought him in to help with delegates during his 2016 bid, but Mr. Manafort soon took over running the campaign after Mr. Trumps initial campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, was ousted.
As Mark Robinson completed his rapid six-year rise from conservative internet sensation to the Republican nominee for North Carolina governor, he worked relentlessly to sell his political vision to evangelical Christians.

Traveling from church to church and thundering away on social media, he condemned transgenderism and homosexuality as filth. He said Christians should be led by men, not women. And on at least one occasion, he explicitly called to upend American tradition on Gods role in government.

People talk about the separation of church and state, Mr. Robinson, North Carolinas lieutenant governor, said in a speech in October. Im trying to find that phrase somewhere in our Constitution. Trying to find it somewhere in our Declaration of Independence. Trying to find it in the writings of any patriot, anywhere, and I cannot. And I cannot because it does not exist.

He concluded, There is no separation of church and state.

Mr. Robinsons long history of inflammatory statements has generated a torrent of headlines since he became the Republican standard-bearer in this years most closely watched race for governor. But underlying his combative proclamations on race, abortion, education and religion is an exceptionally right-wing worldview  with deep roots in modern evangelical Christianity  that would make him one of the most conservative governors in America if elected.
Former President Donald J. Trump accused Jews who vote for Democrats of hating their religion and Israel, reviving and escalating a claim he made as president that Jewish Democrats were disloyal.

A few hours later, facing mounting criticism from Jewish groups, Mr. Trumps campaign repeated his incendiary charge, declaring that Trump is right, and that the Democratic Party has turned into a full-blown anti-Israel, antisemitic, pro-terrorist cabal.

Mr. Trump made his remarks in an interview published online on Monday with Sebastian Gorka, a former White House aide for Mr. Trump who now hosts a conservative talk radio program. Mr. Gorka asked Mr. Trump about criticism that prominent Democrats  including President Biden and Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader  had levied against Benjamin Netanyahu, the right-wing prime minister of Israel.

I actually think they hate Israel, Mr. Trump replied. Mr. Gorka agreed.

Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion, Mr. Trump added later. They hate everything about Israel, and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed.
Pakistan launched two airstrikes into Afghanistan on Monday morning that killed at least eight people, Afghan officials said, escalating simmering tensions between the two countries.

The pre-dawn strikes were carried out in the Paktika and Khost Provinces in eastern Afghanistan around 3 a.m., Afghan officials said. Three children were among those killed, according to Taliban officials, who condemned the strikes as a violation of Afghan territory.

The strikes came amid a surge of attacks by militants in Pakistan following the Talibans seizure of power in neighboring Afghanistan. Pakistani officials have blamed militants harbored on Afghan soil and protected by the Taliban administration for the attacks. Taliban officials have denied those claims.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban administration, said in a statement on X that his country has a long experience of freedom struggle against the superpowers of the world and does not allow anyone to invade its territory.
Israeli negotiators arrived in Qatar on Monday to participate in a new round of in-person talks aimed at achieving a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip and the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants, a senior Israeli official said.

The trip to the Qatari captial, Doha, by a delegation headed up by the head of Mossad, Israels foreign intelligence agency, comes after Israel and Hamas failed to reach an agreement ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began last week.

Two senior Israeli officials said the government had initially given its negotiating team an amorphous mandate. The team has now been authorized to go deeper into details during the talks, they said, but wasnt given the full latitude it had requested. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to communicate with the news media.

A meeting was scheduled to take place on Monday involving the Israelis, Egyptian officials and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani of Qatar, according to a person with knowledge of the talks, who requested anonymity because he wasnt authorized to speak publicly. Qatar and Egypt have acted as intermediaries, in part because negotiators for Israel and Hamas do not talk directly with each other.

The Israeli officials said the broad proposal being discussed includes a 42-day pause in the fighting in exchange for the release of 40 of more than 100 hostages taken from Israel and held in Gaza by Hamas or its allies. But they emphasized that they expected reaching an agreement to take a long time.

A senior official in Hamass political office did not respond to a request for comment.

On Thursday, Hamas presented a new proposal that omitted a previous demand that Israel immediately agree to a permanent cease-fire in return for beginning an exchange of hostages and Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

The Israeli officials said Hamass new proposal included details that were unacceptable to Israel.

For months, Hamas leaders have been publicly calling for a comprehensive cease-fire and complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israeli officials have repeatedly rejected the demands and indicated that they would be open to only a temporary pause.

Hamas officials have also called for the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes and for more aid to reach the territory.

Palestinians grappling with displacement and hunger have grown frustrated that Israel and Hamas still have not reached a deal, and the families of hostages have raised concerns about the fate of their relatives months into captivity.
The Israeli military has confirmed that Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamass military wing in Gaza and a presumed mastermind of the Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, was killed in an Israeli airstrike this month.

A senior U.S. official, Jake Sullivan, had previously told reporters that Mr. Issa, one of the highest-ranking officials in Hamas, had been killed. But before a statement Tuesday, Israels military had said only that its warplanes had targeted Mr. Issa and another senior Hamas official in an underground compound in central Gaza.

With his death, Mr. Issa, who had been among Israels most wanted men, became the senior-most Hamas leader to be killed in Gaza since the start of the war. Israeli officials have characterized the strike as a breakthrough in their campaign to wipe out the Hamas leadership in Gaza.

But experts cautioned that his death  which Hamas has still not acknowledged  would not have a devastating effect on the armed groups leadership structure. Israel has killed Hamass political and military leaders in the past, only to see them quickly replaced.

Here is a closer look at Mr. Issa and what his death means for Hamas and its leadership.

What was Mr. Issas role in Hamas?

Mr. Issa, who was 58 or 59 at the time of his death, had served since 2012 as a deputy to Mohammed Deif, the elusive leader of the Qassam Brigades, Hamass military wing. Mr. Issa assumed the role after the assassination of another top commander, Ahmed al-Jabari.

Mr. Issa served both on Hamass military council and in its Gaza political office, overseen by Yahya Sinwar, the groups highest-ranking official in the enclave. Mr. Issa was described by Palestinian analysts and former Israeli security officials as an important strategist who played a key role as a liaison between Hamass military and political leaders.
In a high-profile divorce case that sparked heated debates in China, a man divorced his wife of 16 years after learning that none of the three children she birthed during their marriage were his.

In December 2007, Chen Zhixian married Yu Hua, a woman eight years his junior, soon after meeting her for the first time. She seemed like a simple, down-to-earth woman, and his parents had long been pressuring him to settle down, so he never really took the time to know her. Soon after tying the knot, Yu Hua informed Chen that she was pregnant, and he was so overwhelmed by the news that he was going to be a father, that he never realized his wife had to have already been pregnant when they met to have a child when she did. Yu gave birth to the couples first daughter, and her husband became a long-distance freight driver who was away for most of the year, only coming home, in Dexing, Jianxi Province, for short periods of time.

Photo: Upstream News Reporter Shen Du

The years passed, and Yu Hua gave birth to another daughter, which Chen assumed was his, but he started suspecting his wifes infidelity in 2019, when she informed him that she was pregnant once again. This time, Chen knew that he hadnt been home when the baby had been conceived, and he confronted his wife about it. She insisted that the baby was his, and in the end, the man accepted her version and welcomed his third daughter.

It was in November of 2022 that Chen Zhixian finally became convinced that his wife hadnt been faithful. He learned that she had been having an affair with a man named Wu, and that she had given birth to her fourth daughter at a hospital in Shangrao City. Instead of confronting Yu Hua, Chen got a lawyer and went to the hospital to investigate. He learned that she had indeed given birth to a girl there that month, but the release form featured his name as the father as well as a forged signature.

Convinced that his previous suspicions of Yu Huas infidelity had been correct, Chen filed for divorce and ordered a paternity test for each of his children. The result was shocking  none of the three daughters he had raised as his own had been conceived with him. The heartbroken man took his wife to court and asked for paternity of the children anyway, but also for compensation for emotional distress.

The case made news headlines in China for over a year, with both parties getting their fair share of support and criticism. Yu Hua managed to rally some support after accusing Chen of domestic violence, and telling reporters that he beat her mother who was trying to protect her. He admitted to having an altercation with his mother-in-law while confronting his wife about her infidelity but claimed he got carried away in an uncharacteristic fit of rage.

On December 29, 2023, a family court issued its final verdict in this polarizing divorce case. Chen Zhixian was awarded custody of his two eldest daughters, while his wife was ordered to give up her claims to material possessions and to pay monthly alimony to her ex-husband.

Chen Zhixian told Chinese news media that the revelations of his ex-wifes infidelity and his daughters paternity left him traumatized and that he plans to move on and start a new life.
The New York State Dept. of Health AIDS Institute is looking for a firm to run a social media campaign to educate people about the syndemics of HIV, hepatitis C and sexually transmitted infections.
BGaming has partnered with Blokotech to expand its iGaming portfolio into Argentina and Chile, promising growth and engaging experiences for players.

This collaboration between BGaming and Blokotech marks a significant milestone in their expansion efforts across Latin America. By leveraging Blokotech's game aggregation capabilities, BGaming is set to enhance its reach and engagement with players in Argentina and Chile.

Expanding Footprints in LatAm

A Strategic Partnership for Growth: The partnership between BGaming and Blokotech is poised to accelerate BGaming's penetration into the Latin American market. By integrating its comprehensive game portfolio, including recent hits like Merge Up, Wild Tiger, and Capymania, through Blokotech's platform, BGaming aims to captivate a broader regional audience.

Seamless Integration via Blokotech: Blokotech's single API integration facilitates a smooth addition of BGaming's titles to online casinos. This strategic move has already resulted in BGaming's offerings featured in 20 online casinos, with more integrations in progress. This collaboration highlights the effectiveness of Blokotech's platform in streamlining the distribution of iGaming content.

A Mutual Vision for Innovation

BGaming's Creative Excellence: BGaming, known for transforming gambling into gaming, brings to the partnership a portfolio of over 150 products distinguished by HD graphics and user-friendly interfaces. As pioneers in supporting cryptocurrencies and offering Provably Fair games, BGaming's innovative approach aligns with the LatAm audience's preferences.

Blokotech's Technological Edge: Founded in 2022 by a team of iGaming veterans, Blokotech introduces a modular platform designed to offer customizable software solutions. This platform not only simplifies the operational aspects for iGaming operators but also enhances the gaming experience for players across various regions, including the burgeoning markets of Argentina and Chile.

Impact and Expectations

Paulina Hovar, Sales Manager at BGaming, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, noting the company's successful expansion into Chile in 2023 and its anticipation for growth in Argentina. This collaboration with Blokotech is a strategic step towards offering engaging and entertaining gaming experiences to players in these regions.

Salvatore Messina, Co-Founder and General Manager at Blokotech, praised BGaming's role in crafting engaging gaming experiences. He emphasized the positive impact that BGaming's titles are expected to have on the Latin American audience, underscoring the mutual benefits of this partnership.

This collaboration between BGaming and Blokotech exemplifies a shared commitment to innovation, quality, and growth in the iGaming sector. As they join forces, both companies look forward to making significant strides in Argentina and Chile, promising an enriched gaming landscape for players in these markets.
Kabul/ Islamabad: Afghanistan's Taliban said on Monday that Pakistan carried out two airstrikes on its territory, killing five women and three children, and it fired heavy weapons at Pakistani forces along the border in retaliation.



The neighbouring countries have traded blame over who is responsible for a recent spate of Islamist militant attacks in Pakistan. Pakistan says the attacks were launched from Afghan soil; Afghanistan's ruling Taliban deny this.

"The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not allow anyone to compromise security by using Afghan territory," Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesman for the Taliban administration, said in a statement. The strikes killed five women and three children in the eastern border provinces of Khost and Paktika, he added.

In a statement, the Pakistani foreign office said Pakistan had carried out "intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan".

It did not specify what kind of operations they were but said they targeted members of the Hafiz Gulf Bahadur militant group after an attack on a military post in Pakistan on Saturday.

In a separate statement, the Taliban defence ministry said its security forces had targeted Pakistani troops at the border in response to the airstrikes. The Taliban foreign office said it had called in Pakistan's head of mission to condemn the attacks to him.

In a statement provided to state television, the Pakistani military said "a recent wave of terrorism has the full support and assistance of Afghanistan". It did not mention any air strikes but said that Saturday's attack was carried out by militants who had "safe haven" in Afghanistan.

The Pakistani government and security officials have said repeatedly that such attacks have risen in recent months, many of them claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) and launched from Afghan soil.

"Over the past two years, Pakistan has repeatedly conveyed its serious concerns to the interim Afghan government over the presence of terror outfits," Pakistan's foreign office said.

The latest attack on Saturday took place when a vehicle laden with explosives and several suicide bombers detonated at a military post near the Afghan border, killing seven Pakistani security force members.

The Afghan Taliban has denied that it allows its territory to be used by militant groups. "Pakistan shouldn't blame Afghanistan for the lack of control, incompetence and problems in its own territory," Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said in the statement.

"Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will not be in Pakistan's control."
Are you planning your itinerary for a trip abroad? If you have the following destinations to your bucket list for the year, be aware that they can be a lot more expensive in 2024 as compared to the past. Many of them have hiked the entrance fee and other charges to find funds for conservation and sustainable development. Do not forget to carry extra money in case you are planning to visit the following spots:

Machu Pichu, Peru

Machu Pichu, situated in the Andes Mountain ranges, is an ancient citadel of the Inca civilization. As the growing crowds have posed a risk to the fragile remnants, the Peruvian government has decided to collect entrance fees from visitors from 2024 onwards. The income thus earned would be used for the conservation of Machu Pichu.

Venice, Italy

Venice lures visitors from all over the world with its beautiful canals and romantic ambiance. However, the city has been struggling with mass tourism. In 2024, the government introduced a tourism tax to safeguard the unique culture and lifestyle of Venice.

Yellowstone National Park, USA

The Yellowstone National Park is home to unique species of flora and fauna. Its scintillating ecology is what draws millions of visitors every year. However, the overwhelming number of tourists has been disturbing the extremely fragile ecology of the park. In 2024, the authorities announced a hike in the entrance fee for visitors. This would be used for conservation of the park and for various developmental activities too.

The Great Wall, China

The Great Wall stands as a magnificent example of human hard work and creative prowess. However, prolonged conservation is essential to retain the charm and historical significance of the Wall. So, in 2024, a hike in ticket fares and surcharges have been introduced during the peak season.

Prolonged conservation is essential to retain the charm and historical significance of the Wall. Photo: Shutterstock

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands, known for its spectacular natural beauty and ecology, is a haven for nature lovers. However, mass tourism has been posing threat to the already fragile ecology of the islands. In 2024, Ecuador government decided to increase the entry fee. This amount would be utilized for conservation activities and for supporting environment-friendly tourism projects.

Paris, France

Its been quite some time since Paris, which is one of the most visited cities in the world, has been struggling to strike a balance between preserving its cultural heritage and promoting tourism. The city authorities have announced plans to introduce tourism tax for accommodation facilities in 2024. The income thus generated would be used for developing local infrastructure and for city development. This would, in turn, help the visitors to enjoy Paris.

Taj Mahal, India

Millions of people visit the Taj Mahal which is a fine example of spectacular architecture and immortal love. In 2024, the Indian government introduced a hike in the entrance fee. This would be helpful for the conservation efforts of the Taj Mahal which has been declared a heritage site by UNESCO.

The hike in entrance fee will help conservation efforts at Taj Mahal. Photo: Shutterstock/Don Mammoser

Grand Canyon, USA

The Grand Canyon, sculpted by the Colorado River has always inspired awe in the visitors. The National Park hiked the entrance fee in 2024 to support the maintenance projects and other services here.

Petra, Jordan

The most visited tourist spot in Jordan, Petra is an ancient city carved out of sandstone. The scintillating art of ancient stone sculpturing that has turned the deserts of Jordan into a mesmerizing wonderland still attracts tourists and art lovers. The Jordan government introduced an entrance fee in 2024 to control the number of visitors and for preserving the fragile stone structures.

The temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia built by the Khmer dynasty is included in UNESCOs list of heritage sites. Photo; Shutterstock

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

The temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia built by the Khmer dynasty is included in UNESCOs list of heritage sites. It is one of the most sacred landmarks in South East Asia. The entrance fee was revived by the Cambodian government, in 2024, to conserve and protect this ancient archaeological wonder.
In the famous last picture of Hitler decorating members of the Hitler Youth in Berlin, the boys are as young as twelve. American tank units edging forward in the Ruhr were frequently ambushed by child soldiers. Colonial Roland Robb remembered one case when they were stalled by an artillery unit manned by children of twelve and younger. They refused to surrender, and all were killed. This incident, and others like it, was deeply traumatic for all the Allied troops forced to shoot these children for their own protection. It is a final, macabre testimony to the success of ideological conditioning in the wars of the twentieth century.

Andrew Pettegree, The Book of War





He describes himself as "'the guardian of justice'". A man who wants to build an "'ideal country'", Mounir speaks to us, the reader, as doing so with a gun. He wants, he claims, to deprive the undeserved of freedom, life--with his vision of a just world.





On the 13th of April 1975, writes the author of Sitt Marie Rose, Etel Adan (1982), many like Mounir envision a just world too; in turn, they have initiated a civil war in Lebanon, a conflict between Christians and Muslims, in which the Palestinians are the scapegoat.





Mounir is a Christian, head of his militia, and he, Adan tells us, thinks of nothing but "blowing up" things. For him, a militia is "absolute order"; it's the belief in "absolute power" for the purpose of bringing about this just world. "'I've reduced all truth to a formula of life and death,'" he states.

And as I read Sitt Marie Rose, A Novel, I thought about the Palestinian women and children suffering from starvation. Today! Experiencing the most horrendous situation a human could possibly experience, Palestinians are subject to the whim of the Israeli government led by folks who certainly don't care about the Palestinians. Regardless of professed, religiously, the government doesn't seem to care about all children. But by the same token, I wonder if Americans, Christian, a good many, care enough about all children, given that Americans are paying for the slaughter of children. Palestinian children!





Mounir tells us that he can't understand how a woman, such as Sitt Marie Rose, a Christian, can stand alongside Palestinians. More than that Sitt Marie Rose teaches the deaf and mute--Palestinian deaf and mute! She is a Palestinian resister, and she isn't a Palestinian... She, once a classmate of his, is now the enemy.





Mounir and Marie Rose, Adan writes, "'became strangers to each other'". Mounir knows that as "enemy", Marie Rose can never be regarded as an "'ordinary person'". In the end. He kills her and kills her students. Children. Guardians of justice, these men! After all, in the pursuit of that just world at the end of his machine gun, he shrugs his shoulders and continues to count the bodies.





As for Marie Rose, she admits that she is trapped. Captured, she is subjected to Mounir's lectures about his vision and his bewilderment about her vision of truth. His just world is on the other side of dead Palestinian bodies. She notes that those militia men like Mounir "'hold absolute power that is as cold as their guns'". She would do better, she admits, to speaking directly with the guns! "'They [the militia] think of one thing only: growing up and fighting.'"





Sitt Marie Rose can lecture too. But when she lectures, when she tells Mounir that what he is doing, the war he is waging, is but an "absolute evil", he begins to lecture her about the Bible, what's written in the Bible. "'It's written in the Bible that God hates the enemy.'" And, Marie Rose adds, that when she ask Mounir and the militiamen about this God, who is he and where does he reside, "'they throw themselves against my chest, kissing me, and ceasing to understand'".





Love isn't comprehensible. But violence is all too familiar.





"'They have turned those among them that were poor against the poor of others.'" When they no long want to hear Marie Rose, they call her a "criminal", and Mounir prepares for the day he will have her executed. He knows it's coming because, for him, she is stubborn. She won't budge.





So let the slaughter begin again. Mounir and the men under him see in Sitt Marie Rose a "'tree to be cut down and they cut it down'".





And why not? For all Mounir sees is a threat to his dream of a just world. "'They [the Palestinians] are occupying our country and she wants to help them.'"





Sitt Marie Rose stands and looks them in the eye. "'God, whoever you are, protect the future generations from the genocide that awaits them.'"





And there are the children. "'In the classroom, held in their bewildering simplicity, is the group of justices, Mounir, Tony, Fouad, and Boune Lias. Before them, Marie Rose beneath the extinguished electric light bulb, hung by a cord, and the deaf mutes.'"





"When power translates itself into tyranny," writes James Baldwin in No Name in the Street, "it means that the principles on which that power depended, and which were its justification, are bankrupt." Power, then, is defended by "thugs and mediocrities and the seas of blood".





In turn, lies substitute for truth. "All of the Western nations have been caught in a lie, the lie of their pretended humanism." Baldwin continues, what it all means it "that their history has no moral justification, and that the West has no moral authority".





As a global phenomenon, the lie, "coldly", excludes "a considerable part of humanity from enjoying what is bought" into existence by today's technology. It keeps part of humanity playing the depraved victim/criminal/enemy. These segments of humanity are "robbed of the minerals", "which go into the building of railways... TV sets and Jet airlines and guns and bombs and fleets," equipment and the means of delivering weapons of mass destruction. Weapons for raging war. And everyone seems to be begging for more weapons and killing for more victories of the patriots.





Everyone seems to be seeking the role of the tyrant, not, it seems, just this former orange president of the US, who wants to be a dictator for real. Even while "victims" are depleted of food and drained of their lives and that of future generations for a dream of the just world, ordinary American citizens go about their lives, paying taxes, and never question the right of the Palestinians to exist. The victims, it is said, are too depraved, too depraved to dream of building adequate housing, too depraved of building hospitals and schools. "Their reaction to their misery is described to the world as criminal."





And is anyone taking note of those in the dominant caste whose dream excludes, even by force?





Hunger, Baldwin writes, "has no principles, it simply makes men, at worst, wretched, and at best, dangerous".





In the meantime, the people are trying to survive and by survive "forge a new mentality to create", in turn, "the principles of which a new world will be built".



And that building won't require weaponry, or any number of guns to secure the nuts and bolts of this building. Nor will this building require tyrannical power from a dictator who will subdue citizens into numbness.





Just justice, free to think and work on behalf of all of us!
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.





It's one of the stranger phenomena on this planet. By 2023, the U.S. was estimated to spend more money on its "defense budget" than the next 10 countries combined. Yes, the next 10! And yet, whether you're talking about Korea and Vietnam in the last century, or Afghanistan, Iraq, and so many other places involved in what came to be known as the "war on terror" in this one, the U.S. hasn't won a conflict of any significance (or even insignificance) in recent memory.

Take, for example, Somalia. As Nick Turse reports at the Intercept, the U.S. has been involved in a conflict with what became al-Shabab, a local branch of al-Qaeda, since its special operations forces were first dispatched there in 2002. In the years that followed, conventional troops and air power were added to the mix. In 2007, the U.S. military made its first air strike there and at least 280 air attacks and commando raids on al-Shabab have followed. The result, as Turse notes: "Last year, deaths in Somalia from Islamist violence hit a record high of 7,643 -- triple the number in 2020" [including] a 22% rise in fatalities from terrorism in Somalia from 2022 to 2023," while "violence has increasingly bled across the border into Kenya."

And that's about as close to success as the war on terror gets. Meanwhile, last year Congress responded (as always) by passing a record Pentagon budget of $886 billion on its way, it seems, to the trillion-dollar mark in the foreseeable future. Quite a record, all in all, when it comes to squandering your tax dollars on the military-industrial-congressional complex. But let retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, historian, and TomDispatch regular William Astore fill you in on what it would now mean (and would have meant once upon a time) to cut that budget in a significant fashion -- and then, of course, dream on. Tom

Daring to "Look a Sacred Cow in the Teeth"

Military Spending and National (In)Security

By William J. Astore

In an age when American presidents routinely boast of having the world's finest military, where nearly trillion-dollar war budgets are now a new version of routine, let me bring up one vitally important but seldom mentioned fact: making major cuts to military spending would increase U.S. national security.

Why? Because real national security can neither be measured nor safeguarded solely by military power (especially the might of a military that hasn't won a major war since 1945). Economic vitality matters so much more, as does the availability and affordability of health care, education, housing, and other crucial aspects of life unrelated to weaponry and war. Add to that the importance of a Congress responsive to the needs of the working poor, the hungry and the homeless among us. And don't forget that the moral fabric of our nation should be based not on a military eternally ready to make war but on a determination to uphold international law and defend human rights. It's high time for America to put aside its conveniently generic "rules-based order" anchored in imperial imperatives and face its real problems. A frank look in the mirror is what's most needed here.

It should be simple really: national security is best advanced not by endlessly preparing for war, but by fostering peace. Yet, despite their all-too-loud disagreements, Washington's politicians share a remarkably bipartisan consensus when it comes to genuflecting before and wildly overfunding the military-industrial complex. In truth, ever-rising military spending and yet more wars are a measure of how profoundly unhealthy our country actually is.

"The Scholarly Junior Senator from South Dakota"

Such insights are anything but new and, once upon a time, could even be heard in the halls of Congress. They were, in fact, being aired there within a month of my birth as, on August 2, 1963, Democratic Senator George McGovern of South Dakota -- later a hero of mine -- rose to address his fellow senators about "New Perspectives on American Security."

Nine years later, he (and his vision of the military) would, of course, lose badly to Republican Richard Nixon in the 1972 presidential election. No matter that he had been the one who served in combat with distinction in World War II, piloting a B-24 bomber on 35 missions over enemy territory, even as Nixon, then a Navy officer, amassed a tidy sum playing poker. Somehow, McGovern, a decorated hero, became associated with "weakness" because he opposed this country's disastrous Vietnam War, while Nixon manufactured a self-image as the staunchest Cold Warrior around, never missing a chance to pose as tough on communism (until, as president, he memorably visited Communist China, opening relations with that country).

But back to 1963, when McGovern gave that speech (which you can read in the online Senate Congressional Record, volume 109, pages 13,986-94). At that time, the government was already dedicating more than half of all federal discretionary spending to the Pentagon, roughly the same percentage as today. Yet was it spending all that money wisely? McGovern's answer was a resounding no. Congress, he argued, could instantly cut 10% of the Pentagon budget without compromising national security one bit. Indeed, security would be enhanced by investing in this country instead of buying yet more overpriced weaponry. The senator and former bomber pilot was especially critical of the massive amounts then being spent on the U.S. nuclear arsenal and the absurd planetary "overkill" it represented vis--vis the Soviet Union, America's main competitor in the nuclear arms race. As he put it then:

"What possible advantage [can be had] in appropriating additional billions of dollars to build more [nuclear] missiles and bombs when we already have excess capacity to destroy the potential enemy? How many times is it necessary to kill a man or kill a nation?"

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Stoke-on-Trent, UK - March 16th, 2024 - Caring For Care Limited, a leading provider of healthcare training, is urging Care Homes and Nursing Homes nationwide to prioritise staff development through comprehensive mandatory and clinical training programmes. "Investing in a well-trained workforce is vital for ensuring exceptional patient care," says Femi Lawore, Digital Sales Optimiser at Caring For Care Limited. "By equipping staff with the latest knowledge and skills, we can create 
Petition to stop the murder, killing and disfigurement of children in heedless wars West Vancouver, BC, Canada 15th March, 2024 - News release content. Grandparent Launches Campaign to End Violence Against Children in Conflict Zones Vancouver, BC. Canada - This week, Michael Trigg, a grandparent deeply concerned about the future of young generations, has launched a heartfelt campaign to gather 100 million signatures world-wide in an attempt to persuade world leaders to 
Vienna, March 18, 2024 - A new study, called eFICASY, has demonstrated the effectiveness of the digital health application (DiGA) edupression.com in mild to moderate unipolar depressed patients. The randomized controlled trial, which was conducted over a 12-week period, showed a significant improvement in depression severity and health literacy in participants using edupression.com. The results of the eFICASY study show that the therapeutic effects of edupression.com are maintained even with the 
Nickolas Herrera, a former guard at the federal prison in Sheridan who accepted bribes to smuggle in marijuana, phones, cigarettes and designer sneakers, is headed back to prison -- this time as an inmate.

U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman on Monday sentenced Herrera to a year and three months in federal prison. He rejected a plea by Herreras lawyer to issue a probationary sentence, but reduced the time recommended by prosecutor Ethan Knight by six months.

Deterring prison guards from violating public trust factored into the sentence, Mosman said.

If I send a corrections officer to prison for bribery, then I feel a high degree of confidence that is going to send a message that other correction officers will listen to, Mosman said.

He might have considered probation, he said, if Herrera smuggled in only fancy tennis shoes for prisoners. But Herrera brought in drugs and a cellphone that would enable prisoners to set up a business behind bars or order retaliatory behavior through phone contact with others on the outside, he said.

Herrera, 34, worked as a guard at the Federal Correctional Institution Sheridan from April 2015 until Dec. 23, 2019.

He accepted cash and online payments from Elizabeth McIntosh, an acquaintance of inmate Dontae Hunt, according to an indictment.

The safety and viability of this Correctional Institution was undercut and significantly undermined by this defendant, Knight told the court.

Herrera pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide contraband in prison, providing contraband in prison and accepting a bribe as a public official.

I know I made a huge mistake, said Herrera, dressed in a blue suit as he stood before the judge. I feel shameful, embarrassed. More than anything I feel like I gave up on even my fellow colleagues, co-workers, people in law enforcement. I also gave up on my kids  because Im supposed to be a father, an example for them.

Herrera, who married at age 18 and has four children, committed the crime upon hitting a low point in his life after going through a divorce, according to his defense lawyer, Abraham Lloyd Hanson. Herrera suffered from depression and anxiety and started taking steroids, doing body building and dating multiple women, Hanson said.

Steroids do affect the way people perceive themselves and perceive situations. And Mr. Herrera allowed himself to make a number of poor, poor decisions, Hanson told the judge. He finds himself in this situation because he simply refused to ask for help. In a really silly moment of desperation for a few hundred dollars, he compromised his integrity, his freedom, his position as a father and partner - everything that is important.

Yet in the four and a half years since his arrest, Herrera has maintained steady work as a delivery truck driver and is in a more stable relationship and dedicated to providing for his children, Hanson said.

Herrera accepted hundreds of dollars in cash from McIntosh at various locations, including her home in Beaverton, and also received money via PayPal and other online services from McIntosh, according to court records. The activity started in the spring 2019 and continued through late December 2019, according to the records.

Herrera brought the goods into Housing Unit J2 at the Federal Detention Center at Sheridan, which holds people before trial, where Hunt was in custody in March 2019, prosecutors said.

Herrera later transferred to work in the visitors lobby at the main prison, where he also smuggled contraband from visitors to prisoners while conducting fake searches of the prisoners, according to the indictment.

Herrera demanded a cash advance of $950 to smuggle in a cellphone from McIntosh to Hunt, the indictment said.

On at least one occasion, Herrera allowed Hunt to make a phone call from the prison to arrange for the delivery of the drug Suboxone for Herrera to smuggle into prison, prosecutors said. Herrera met McIntosh at the Swift Lounge in Northeast Portland to pick up Suboxone and smuggled it into prison for Hunt, the indictment said.

The black market for drugs in prison is a lucrative business. A Suboxone strip that might cost between $20 to $50 on the outside can fetch $400 in prison, according to a former superintendent of the Oregon State Penitentiary.

McIntosh also provided a pair of Yeezy brand shoes to Herrera to smuggle behind bars to Hunt, according to Knight.

Corruption by any public official or law enforcement officer is unacceptable. Mr. Herrera dishonored both himself and the law he swore to uphold, as well as the justice system he represents, by allowing a free flow of criminal activity in and out of the prison, said Aubree M. Schwartz, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Portland Field Office, in a statement.

Hunt, 46, who arranged the bribes, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribing a public official. Later Monday, Mosman sentenced him to a year and three months as well. His sentence will run at the same time as a 25-year sentence he received last year for dealing counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl that led to an overdose death.

In February, McIntosh, 36, was sentenced to one year of probation after she pleaded guilty to the charge of misprision of felony, which makes it a crime to conceal a felony crime.

-- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, mbernstein@oregonian.com, follow her on X @maxoregonian or on LinkedIn.

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A man died after being shot in downtown Portland on Sunday night.

Officers responding to a call shortly before midnight arrived in the 800 block of Southwest 10th Avenue, where they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound, the Portland Police Bureau said in a statement. The officers aided the victim at the scene until paramedics showed up and took him to a nearby hospital.

The man, whose name has not been released, later died at the hospital.

Homicide detectives closed off Southwest 10th Avenue near the Central Library for the initial phase of the investigation. Police did not say if anyone had been detained in the investigation.

The police bureau asks anyone with information about the shooting to contact Det. Jennifer Hertzler at Jennifer.hertzler@police.portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-1040, or Det. Joseph Corona at joseph.corona@police.portland.gov, 503-823-0508.

The deadly shooting is the 19th homicide in Portland this year. The 18th occurred Friday when someone stabbed a man to death on the Steel Bridges pedestrian path.

-- The Oregonian/OregonLive; dperry@oregonian.com
It isnt always easy being a military veteran and a college student. Student veterans tend to be older; they often have different needs and face different expectations of their abilities.

Angelina Trillo, Oregon Army National Guard medic, first-generation college student and the daughter of a single dad who is also an Army veteran, has made it her mission to change that. Her efforts recently earned Trillo, Oregon State University chapter president of the Student Veterans of America, the title of 2023 Student Veteran of the Year.

My dad was a medic in the Army in the 90s; he raised me as a single father since I was a toddler, said Trillo said, who knew from a young age she would serve in the military. It was just him and I against the world for most of my childhood. I am very passionate and very dedicated to improving the world in some way. I feel like trying to tackle the whole of the problem is too much, so I really found the community that I feel connected to, and I have devoted a lot of time and energy towards just making higher education more accessible for people in the military community.

During Womens History Month in March and as Oregon celebrates Oregon Women in the Military History Week, March 18-22, Trillo is in the spotlight for her ongoing efforts that have already made a difference in veterans lives.

Angelina is a spitfire said William Elfering, director of Military & Veterans Resources at OSUs Holcomb Center. Shes awesome. Shes really connected emotionally with the student-veteran community and the veteran community at large. Shes still currently serving and takes that responsibility very strongly. Here at the university, she worked through the student government as military and veteran coordinator to help improve the situation for current and future student veterans on campus.

Trillo was raised in Colorado and moved to Oregon after her freshman year at the University of Colorado Boulder. She graduates from OSU this month with a B.S. in political science and plans to pursue her graduate studies in Public Health Policy and Administration this fall at one of nine programs shes applied to and been accepted in.

Student Veterans of the Year are chosen through a nomination process. Anyone can nominate a student veteran, but the nominations are kept confidential, said Abby Kinch, chief of staff of Student Veterans of America.

Earlier this month, Trillo spent several days in Washington, D.C., as the public face of the Student Veterans of America lobbying legislators for student veteran policy changes. Topping Trillos list is the Veterans Promise Deferral Admission. The program, first adopted in the U.S. by Grand Valley State University in Michigan, ensures qualified high school graduates a spot at the university when they return from active duty. Meanwhile, they have access to advisers, online classes and other university resources.

Trillo hopes to see the program adopted at OSU but doesnt plan to stop there. I think it has potential for the whole state to increase recruitment, she said. Seventy percent of service members return to their home state upon exit. Why not incentivize Oregon residents to serve and go to school?

Angelina Trillo training with her unit at Camp Roberts in California.Courtesy of Angelina Trillo

Angelina Trillo meets one of the Alpacas at the Crescent Moon Farm in Terrebonne last fall.Guthrie Stafford

Other priorities on Trillos list include ensuring members of the Army Reserve and National Guard receive the same education benefits as those on active duty when performing the same work, and the call for improved data on how student debt impacts student veterans, service members and their families.

On campus, Trillo has been instrumental in advocating for student veterans as a diverse population, with unique qualities and needs, Kinch said. Shes led the charge to revisit the policy on currently serving students like herself in the Army Reserves or National Guard during drill weekends or activations. There may be a time when students in the National Guard are sent away to help deal with the aftermath of a natural disaster and they may not have access to the internet or other resources in order to complete assignments and so (this would make) accommodations for having delays in submitting assignments or attendance considerations where attendance is required.

One of Trillos most significant successes has been in expanding mental health services. Shes worked on the OSU campus to create positions for military psychiatric service providers and to expand the Veteran Resource Center budget to support other aspects of mental health, like social engagement, Kinch said.

Trillos interest in mental health comes firsthand from her experience both as a medic and as a student. Services to veterans are extremely important, especially for those who experience trauma during their time in service, Trillo said. Traditional on-campus counseling is designed for the traditional student, with traditional student problems. Service members in higher education are significantly more likely to be older, have children, balance work and school. Many of us have disabilities-both visible and invisible, some of our students have been in combat zones, or have pulled bodies from hurricanes. They are dealing with different things than their classmates, and therefore they need their own support.

Don Phillips first met Trillo when applying for the position at OSU of Coordinator of Veteran and Military Connected Student Mental Health and Wellness. He was hired for the position in August 2023.

I would say that the existence of my position is due in part to Angelina as a driving voice for veterans on campus, Phillips said. A former Army medic, OSU student and president of the OSU veterans organization in 2015, Phillips understands the cultural aspects of the veteran community, he said.

From that, I am able to talk to veterans who come to me to say they are doing poorly at school or struggling with anxiety, Phillips said. I also get to be in their spaces, so I get to go to military resources center. I give a face to the mental health person for veterans on campus. There was no veteran coordinator before I started. There were counselors, and veterans could see counselors, but none of those individuals were specifically assigned to the veteran community or were specifically knowledgeable about the culture and community. Thats the result of the advocacy that Angelina did.

 Lori Tobias, for The Oregonian/OregonLive
People from two faiths, their bond developed during a series of intellectual discussions, met Sunday in Southwest Portland to celebrate two upcoming religious holidays.

Purim, which falls this year on Saturday, is a Jewish holiday rooted in joy. It is a time to revel in friendship and contemplate the enduring lessons of perseverance and endurance.
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Amid reports that the Israeli military stormed Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Monday in search of Hamas fighters, UN humanitarians have warned that new food insecurity data indicates that famine could happen anytime
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The chairman of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed al-Manfi, has called on institutions involved in the abolition of fuel subsidies to urgently come up with solutions to spare citizens the consequences of their action
Photo: (Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images )

Riley Strain's mother and stepfather maintain hope that they will eventually locate their 22-year-old son, a senior at the University of Missouri, who has been missing since March 8.

Riley Strain's Parents Comforted by Community and Volunteers

Strain's bank card was discovered on Sunday near the riverbank where he was last seen, potentially providing a clue to aid in the search.

Despite facing a difficult situation, the outpouring of support from the community and volunteer efforts have been a source of comfort for Chris and Michelle Whiteid. The couple arrived in Nashville on March 9 to investigate after Strain was escorted out of a bar downtown.

Riley Strain, a senior at the University of Missouri, vanished during a trip with his fraternity for a spring formal. Security footage shows him leaving the bar and subsequently walking in a different direction from his hotel.

The search for Strain includes ground, air, and riverbank efforts. The Whiteids express gratitude for the support from volunteer organizations and remain hopeful for his safe return, describing Riley as a charismatic and outgoing individual who is deeply connected with his family.

Read Also: Parents Showcasing on TikTok How To 'Pre-fold' Toddlers Before Setting Off on Car Rides

Missing University of Missouri Student's Parents Committed To Find Him

The parents of University of Missouri student Riley Strain have affirmed their commitment to the search, even though more than a week has passed since the college senior disappeared.

Strain was last seen on March 8 at Luke's 32 Bridge Food + Drink bar in Nashville during a fraternity trip but was asked to leave the establishment.

"We're still actively planning to bring Riley home with us," said Chris Whiteid, Strain's stepfather, in an interview on March 16. Whiteid expressed that the lack of updates on the case has been challenging, but they persist in their search.

"We're very hopeful and we're moving forward as, you know, he's coming home and we're graduating in May and life goes on just as normal," he continued. Describing Strain as 6'7" tall with blonde hair and blue eyes, Whiteid emphasized that he "stands out in a crowd."

Chris Whiteid spoke fondly of Strain's outgoing nature: "Riley was the guy that knew no strangers. The 22-year-old would walk up to people, talk to them, full of life, energetic, and had charisma."

Michelle and Chris Whiteid arrived in Nashville on March 9, finding solace in being where their son was last seen. The parents expressed gratitude for the support from volunteer organizations and locals who have been aiding in the search efforts.

Though primary reports implied Strain may have been overserved, later statements from the bar owners determine he had only consumed one alcoholic drink and two waters before being asked to leave.

In the video, it seems like he's tripping and clutching his head. He purportedly phoned his friends and informed them he'd join them at the Tempo Hotel, where they were lodged.

Despite comprehensive search efforts by Nashville police, including the use of boats and helicopters along the Cumberland River, there is no clue citing Strain fell into the river, and investigators have found no signs of foul play.

Related Article: Nashville Bar Dispute Intensifies Search for Missing University Student Riley Strain
Photo: (Photo : Samuel Corum/Getty Images )

President Joe Biden is expected to execute an executive order on Monday with the goal of advancing study into women's well-being. This action includes strengthening data collection and streamlining funding opportunities for biomedical studies.

Executive Order to be Signed by President Biden

Despite comprising half of the population, women's health has historically been insufficiently funded and understudied. It wasn't until the 1990s that the federal government mandated women's inclusion in federally funded medical research, with scientific studies mostly focused on males for much of medical history.

Currently, research often neglects to adequately account for differences between women and men, particularly in diseases more prevalent among women. Biden's executive order intended to address these disparities, according to aides.

Dr. Carolyn Mazure, who heads the White House initiative on women's health, asserts the need for more efficient prevention, diagnosis, and medications of numerous health circumstances affecting females.

President Biden expressed his belief in the power of research to save lives and improve healthcare quality while acknowledging the political significance of this order during an election year where women's support will be crucial.

First lady Jill Biden, who is leading the effort to organize female voters and spearheading the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, highlights the administration's responsibility to this issue. The statement coincides with continuing debates encompassing women's healthcare following the Supreme Court's decision overturning federal abortion rights.

Read Also: Defending IVF Rights: Republican Senate Hopefuls Unite Amid Alabama Ruling Chaos

Biden's Administration Gives Importance on Women's Health

Females played an important role in Biden's 2020 election win, with numerous demographic groups showing noticeable voting patterns. The National Institutes of Health is also introducing initiatives focused on menopause and the treatment of menopausal manifestations, addressing research gaps and discrepancies.

Biden and the first lady were expected to reveal these measures during a Women's History Month reception at the White House.

The National Institutes of Health's funding is essential for biomedical study, specifically in understanding treatment effects and dosage. Some circumstances, like heart disease, display different manifestations between females and males, while others, such as Alzheimer's illness, are more prevalent in females. Unique conditions like endometriosis and uterine cancers also warrant comprehensive study.

Uneven research can have profound consequences, as evidenced by a 2020 study revealing overmedication and side effects in women due to predominantly male-focused dosage trials.

Following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe vs. Wade and a recent Alabama State Supreme Court ruling regarding frozen embryos, which posed a threat to in vitro fertilization, the Biden administration has increasingly criticized Republicans for undermining women's health.

During his State of the Union address, President Biden declared that such decisions would mobilize female voters in the upcoming election, pledging his administration's responsibility to invest in women's well-being in the coming year.

President Biden urged Congress to pass a $12 billion plan to establish a new fund for women's health study at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Meanwhile, the executive order signed on Monday will direct the NIH to allocate $200 million toward women's health studies. Dr. Biden announced the first step of the women's health initiative last month in Cambridge, Mass., with a $100 million investment to support women's health researchers and startups.

The executive order mandates agencies to annually report their investments in women's health research and explore ways in which artificial intelligence can advance such research.

The NIH will increase investments in small businesses focused on women's health by 50 percent. Additionally, the Defense Department plans to allocate $10 million to study cancers and mental health issues affecting women in active military service.

Related Article: Jill Biden Boosts Women's Health Research with $100 Million Funding
First of all, Happy St. Patricks Day to all of those out there who have ever been Irish, or thought about being Irish, or know somebody whos Irish, or have heard of either Ireland or St. Patricks Day, or who havent. We enjoyed our corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes today, and I hope that you did, or will, also.

And, while Im doling out best wishes, we all need to congratulate Mr. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin on his unforeseen election to a fifth term as the president of Russia  he having also generously served as Russias prime minister from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2008 to 2012. Of course, there were some astute Russia-watchers who actually foresaw his re-election. But I think it fair to say that even they are probably surprised at how wide his margin of victory is proving to be. And, on that score, the results are still not fully and properly counted. Can they perhaps even find some more votes? (Im not referring to Georgia, of course. It has been an independent nation since 1991.)

In the 2002 Iraqi presidential election, the late Saddam Hussein, the countrys phenomenally popular leader, won 100 percent of the ballots cast. Not a single Iraqi, no matter how stupid or depraved or even bumbling and incompetent (remember Floridas hanging chads from two years earlier?) cast a vote against him. The attention of the world is now riveted upon Russia: Can Vladimir Putin exceed Saddam Husseins record? Can he reach one hundred and one percent? Personally, Im on pins and needles.

Douse the glim!

I was minding my own business early last week when, for no apparent reason, that rather obscure phrase swam across my mental radar screen. I hadnt thought of it for several decades, but I remember that my mother occasionally used it in the sense of turn out the light! It didnt occur to me that the phrase was, well, rather odd. In all the years since, though, Ive never heard anybody else use it.

Happily, I now possess the awesome power of the internet. So I Googled Douse the glim. As I expected, the phrase turns out to be Scottish. And it does in fact mean Put out the light; also knock out a mans eye. To douse is to lower in haste, as Douse the top-sail Glim, gleam, glimmer, are variants of the same word.

With a few seconds search, its not difficult to find such examples as these:

Come, track up the dancers, and douse the glim.The Disowned, Complete by Edward Bulwer-Lytton But douse the glim there; we shant want it, and it might give the alarm.Eric by Frederic William Farrar Just goin to douse the glim this minute.Fair Harbor by Joseph Crosby Lincoln I doused the glim long ago.The Telegraph Messenger Boy by Edward S. Ellis At this point the order was given, Douse the glim, and all lights were extinguished.The Mountains of Oregon by William Gladstone Steel Then I doused the glim and turned in, for I knew you wouldnt be along until daylight.The Rival Pitchers by Lester Chadwick Raise the light a little, Jim,

For its getting rather dim,

And, with such a storm a-howlin, twill not do to douse the glim.

Hustle down the curtains, Lu;

Poke the fire a little, Su;

This is somethin of a flurry, mother, somethin of awhew!

According to something called the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue , under the variant spelling to dowse, the verb means

To take down: as, Dowse the pendant. Dowse your dog vane; take the cockade out of your hat. Dowse the glim; put out the candle.

Curiously, there is a remote farm in Namaqualand, South Africa, that bears the name Douse the Glim, as well as a Douse the Glim Cave in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. (See here for the latter.) As for the former, there are apparently two distinct stories about the origin of the name:

The first story tells of a Scottish regiment encamped here in the Nothern Cape in 1902 during the Anglo-Boer War. To keep their location a secret, at dusk the sergeants would tell the troops to douse the glim, or put out their lights. The second story, and the one I prefer, is based on the time where a tired surveyor who, in his tent one night, somewhat irately told his assistant Och, Douse the Glim and go to sleep mon!

Now, Im not altogether in the dark about how my mother came by the phrase. Her grandmother was from Scotland, and there is other Scots ancestry back a ways. Somehow, I guess, that phrase was passed down.

Oddly, though, I cant really think of any Scottish thing else that was transmitted to me. To the extent that I was conscious of my ethnic background growing up  my ancestry comes from Norway, Denmark, and England, as well as Scotland  that background was Norwegian. Such awareness came via my paternal grandmother, who emigrated alone from Norway in her late teens and who died when I was five years old. (My paternal grandfather came from Denmark, but as an infant.) And, apart from images of the cute little Lutheran church at Helgheim, on the northern shore of Jlstravatnet, that she attended, its mostly limited to foods: I absolutely love potato lefse, which I can only persuade my wife to make about once every four or five years because its so labor-intensive and makes such a mess in the kitchen. (Flour lefse [aka Hardanger lefse?], which, I now realize, may be much more common in Norway, wasnt a part of my growing-up.) And I grew up with apotropaic jokes about klub and gjetost and lutefisk.

But douse the glim? What on earth made me suddenly think of that?

Have any of you ever encountered the phrase? Are there any other random ethnic curiosities  whether foods or phrases or kilts or Christmas customs or anything else  that have come down to you from your ancestors?
Dr. Gavin Ortlund is a Reformed Baptist author, speaker, pastor, scholar, and apologist for the Christian faith. He has a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in historical theology, and an M.Div from Covenant Theological Seminary. Gavin is the author of seven books as well as numerous academic and popular articles. For a list of publications, see his CV. He runs the very popular YouTube channel Truth Unites, which seeks to provide an irenic voice on theology, apologetics, and the Christian life. See also his website, Truth Unites and his blog.

In my opinion, he is currently the best and most influential popular-level Protestant apologist, who (especially) interacts with and offers thoughtful critiques of Catholic positions, from a refreshing ecumenical (not anti-Catholic), but nevertheless solidly Protestant perspective. Thats what I want to interact with, so I have issued many replies to Gavin and will continue to do so. I use RSV for all Bible passages unless otherwise specified.

All of my replies to Gavin are collected on the top of my Calvinism & General Protestantism web page in the section, Replies to Reformed Baptist Gavin Ortlund. Gavins words will be in blue.

This is my 28th reply to his material.

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Please Hit Subscribe'! If you have received benefit from this or any of my other 4,500+ articles, please follow this blog by signing up (w your email address) on the sidebar to the right, above where there is an icon bar, Sign Me Up!: to receive notice when I post a new blog article. This is the equivalent of subscribing to a YouTube channel. Please also consider following me on Twitter / X and purchasing one or more of my 55 books. All of this helps me get more exposure, and (however little!) more income for my full-time apologetics work. Thanks so much and happy reading!

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I am responding to a video from Gavin in debate with Orthodox priest, Fr. Stephen de Young on images and the early Churchs view of them. A one-minute and eleven seconds portion of it was tweeted on Protestant Collin Brooks page on March 16th. As I write this (10:16 PM ET on 3-17-24), the excerpt has 110,000 views, 260 likes, and 59 retweets. Baptist apologist James White retweeted it also on 3-16-24. Collin commented, This part of [the] recent dialogue was savagery. It will no longer be (if it ever was: meaning that Gavin supposedly mightily prevailed) after I get through with it.

All the evidence that we have favors the view that any sort of cultic use of images was resoundingly rejected by Christians for the first 500 years of Church history . . . its everybody; its everywhere. Its resounding, its clear, its bright. . . . If theres anything we know about the early Church, we know thats not what was happening. That is as clear as anything about the early Church. Can you name any advocate of icon veneration before 500 AD, . . . [who] says anything remotely positive about it?

[NOTE: if you want to actually see the context and full discussion on icon veneration, rather than simply this supposedly gotcha! soundbite, the entire video is called Sola Scriptura or Holy Tradition? w/ Dr. Gavin Ortlund And Fr. Stephen De Young (3-15-24 on The Transfigured Life channel. The portion on icons runs from 1:06:12-1:34:35. So it was over 28 minutes in length, from which Collin Brooks chose 71 seconds (about 4.2% of the whole), pronouncing it savagery.]

Once again we observe the spectacle of a Protestant apologist making a universal negative claim. Gavin isnt claiming that the evidence is scanty or a small minority etc. He implies that no one believed it for 500 years. So, to refute his insinuation, all one has to do is come up with one example. But we have many more than that:

Catholic Encyclopedia (Veneration of Images): That Christians from the very beginning adorned their catacombs with paintings of Christ, of the saints, of scenes from the Bible and allegorical groups is too obvious and too well known for it to be necessary to insist upon the fact. The catacombs are the cradle of all Christian art. Since their discovery in the sixteenth century  on 31 May, 1578, an accident revealed part of the catacomb in the Via Salaria  and the investigation of their contents that has gone on steadily ever since, we are able to reconstruct an exact idea of the paintings that adorned them. That the first Christians had any sort of prejudice against images, pictures, or statues is a myth (defended amongst others by Erasmus) that has been abundantly dispelled by all students of Christian archaeology. The idea that they must have feared the danger of idolatry among their new converts is disproved in the simplest way by the pictures even statues, that remain from the first centuries. . . . The Christian sarcophagi were ornamented with indifferent or symbolic designs  palms, peacocks, vines, with the chi-rho monogram (long before Constantine), with bas-reliefs of Christ as the Good Shepherd, or seated between figures of saints, and sometimes, as in the famous one of Julius Bassus with elaborate scenes from the New Testament. And the catacombs were covered with paintings. . . .

Scenes from the New Testament are very common too, the Nativity and arrival of the Wise Men, our Lords baptism, the miracle of the loaves and fishes, the marriage feast at Cana, Lazarus, and Christ teaching the Apostles. There are also purely typical figures, the woman praying with uplifted hands representing the Church, harts drinking from a fountain that springs from a chi-rho monogram, and sheep. And there are especially pictures of Christ as the Good Shepherd, as lawgiver, as a child in His mothers arms, of His head alone in a circle, of our Lady alone, of St. Peter and St. Paul  pictures that are not scenes of historic events, but, like the statues in our modern churches, just memorials of Christ and His saints. . . .

In the catacombs there is little that can be described as sculpture; there are few statues for a very simple reason. Statues are much more difficult to make, and cost much more than wall-paintings. But there was no principle against them. Eusebius describes very ancient statues at Caesarea Philippi representing Christ and the woman He healed there (Church History VII.18; Matthew 9:20-2). The earliest sarcophagi had bas-reliefs. As soon as the Church came out of the catacombs, became richer, had no fear of persecution, the same people who had painted their caves began to make statues of the same subjects. The famous statue of the Good Shepherd in the Lateran Museum was made as early as the beginning of the third century, the statues of Hippolytus and of St. Peter date from the end of the same century. The principle was quite simple. The first Christians were accustomed to see statues of emperors, of pagan gods and heroes, as well as pagan wall-paintings. So they made paintings of their religion, and, as soon as they could afford them, statues of their Lord and of their heroes, without the remotest fear or suspicion of idolatry.

The idea that the Church of the first centuries was in any way prejudiced against pictures and statues is the most impossible fiction. After Constantine (306-37) there was of course an enormous development of every kind. Instead of burrowing catacombs Christians began to build splendid basilicas. They adorned them with costly mosaics, carving, and statues. But there was no new principle. The mosaics represented more artistically and richly the motives that had been painted on the walls of the old caves, the larger statues continue the tradition begun by carved sarcophagi and little lead and glass ornaments. From that time to the Iconoclast Persecution holy images are in possession all over the Christian world. St. Ambrose (d. 397) describes in a letter how St. Paul appeared to him one night, and he recognized him by the likeness to his pictures (Ep. ii, in P.L., XVII, 821). St. Augustine (d. 430) refers several times to pictures of our Lord and the saints in churches (e.g. De cons. Evang., x in P.L., XXXIV, 1049; Reply to Faustus XXII.73); he says that some people even adore them (De mor. eccl. cath., xxxiv, P.L., XXXII, 1342). St. Jerome (d. 420) also writes of pictures of the Apostles as well-known ornaments of churches (In Ionam, iv). St. Paulinus of Nola (d. 431) paid for mosaics representing Biblical scenes and saints in the churches of his city, and then wrote a poem describing them (P.L., LXI, 884). Gregory of Tours (d. 594) says that a Frankish lady, who built a church of St. Stephen, showed the artists who painted its walls how they should represent the saints out of a book (Hist. Franc., II, 17, P.L., LXXI, 215). In the East St. Basil (d. 379), preaching about St. Barlaam, calls upon painters to do the saint more honour by making pictures of him than he himself can do by words (Or. in S. Barlaam, in P.G., XXXI). St. Nilus in the fifth century blames a friend for wishing to decorate a church with profane ornaments, and exhorts him to replace these by scenes from Scripture (Epist. IV, 56). St. Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444) was so great a defender of icons that his opponents accused him of idolatry (for all this see Schwarzlose, Der Bilderstreit i, 3-15). . . .

Although representations of the Crucifixion do not occur till later, the cross, as the symbol of Christianity, dates from the very beginning. Justin Martyr (d. 165) describes it in a way that already implies its use as a symbol (Dialogue with Trypho 91). He says that the cross is providentially represented in every kind of natural object: the sails of a ship, a plough, tools, even the human body (Apol. I, 55). According to Tertullian (d. about 240), Christians were known as worshippers of the cross (Apol., xv). Both simple crosses and the chi-rho monogram are common ornaments of catacombs; combined with palm branches, lambs and other symbols they form an obvious symbol of Christ. After Constantine the cross, made splendid with gold and gems, was set up triumphantly as the standard of the conquering Faith. A late catacomb painting represents a cross richly jewelled and adorned with flowers. Constantines Labarum at the battle of the Milvian Bridge (312), and the story of the finding of the True Cross by St. Helen, gave a fresh impulse to its worship. It appears (without a figure) above the image of Christ in the apsidal mosaic of St. Pudentiana at Rome, in His nimbus constantly, in some prominent place on an altar or throne (as the symbol of Christ), in nearly all mosaics above the apse or in the chief place of the first basilicas (St. Paul at Rome, ibid., 183, St. Vitalis at Ravenna). In Galla Placidias chapel at Ravenna Christ (as the Good Shepherd with His sheep) holds a great cross in His left hand. The cross had a special place as an object of worship. It was the chief outward sign of the Faith, was treated with more reverence than any picture worship of the cross (staurolatreia) was a special thing distinct from image-worship, so that we find the milder Iconoclasts in after years making an exception for the cross, still treating it with reverence, while they destroyed pictures. A common argument of the imageworshippers to their opponents was that since the latter too worshipped the cross they were inconsistent in refusing to worship other images (see ICONOCLASM). . . .

The veneration of images

Distinct from the admission of images is the question of the way they are treated. What signs of reverence, if any, did the first Christians give to the images in their catacombs and churches? For the first period we have no information. There are so few references to images at all in the earliest Christian literature that we should hardly have suspected their ubiquitous presence were they not actually there in the catacombs as the most convincing argument. But these catacomb paintings tell us nothing about how they were treated. We may take it for granted, on the one hand, that the first Christians understood quite well that paintings may not have any share in the adoration due to God alone. Their monotheism, their insistence on the fact that they serve only one almighty unseen God, their horror of the idolatry of their neighbours, the torture and death that their martyrs suffered rather than lay a grain of incense before the statue of the emperors numen are enough to convince us that they were not setting up rows of idols of their own. On the other hand, the place of honour they give to their symbols and pictures, the care with which they decorate them argue that they treated representations of their most sacred beliefs with at least decent reverence. It is from this reverence that the whole tradition of venerating holy images gradually and naturally developed. After the time of Constantine it is still mainly by conjecture that we are able to deduce the way these images were treated. The etiquette of the Byzantine court gradually evolved elaborate forms of respect, not only for the person of Ceesar but even for his statues and symbols. Philostorgius (who was an Iconoclast long before the eighth century) says that in the fourth century the Christian Roman citizens in the East offered gifts, incense, and even prayers, to the statues of the emperor (Hist. eccl., II, 17). It would be natural that people who bowed to, kissed, incensed the imperial eagles and images of Caesar (with no suspicion of anything like idolatry), who paid elaborate reverence to an empty throne as his symbol, should give the same signs to the cross, the images of Christ, and the altar. So in the first Byzantine centuries there grew up traditions of respect that gradually became fixed, as does all ceremonial.

Hippolytus: And they make counterfeit images of Christ, alleging that these were in existence at the time (during which our Lord was on earth, and that they were fashioned) by Pilate. (The Refutation of All Heresies, 7.20)

Basil the Great: Worshipping as we do God of God, we both confess the distinction of the Persons, and at the same time abide by the Monarchy. We do not fritter away the theology in a divided plurality, because one Form, so to say, united in the invariableness of the Godhead, is beheld in God the Father, and in God the Only begotten. For the Son is in the Father and the Father in the Son; since such as is the latter, such is the former, and such as is the former, such is the latter; and herein is the Unity. So that according to the distinction of Persons, both are one and one, and according to the community of Nature, one. How, then, if one and one, are there not two Gods? Because we speak of a king, and of the kings image, and not of two kings. The majesty is not cloven in two, nor the glory divided. The sovereignty and authority over us is one, and so the doxology ascribed by us is not plural but one; because the honour paid to the image passes on to the prototype. Now what in the one case the image is by reason of imitation, that in the other case the Son is by nature; and as in works of art the likeness is dependent on the form, so in the case of the divine and uncompounded nature the union consists in the communion of the Godhead. (The Holy Spirit, ch. 18, sec. 45)

Methodius of Olympus (d. c. 311): The images of Gods angels, which are fashioned of gold, the principalities and powers, we make to His honour and glory. (From the Discourse on the Resurrection, Part 2)

John Chrysostom: And it became so frequent that this name [of St. Meletios] echoed around from every direction everywhere both in side streets and in the marketplace and in fields and on highways. But you didnt experience so much just at the name, but even at the depiction of his body. At least, what you did with names, this you practiced, too, in the case of that mans image. For truly, many carved that holy image on finger rings and on seals and on cups and on bedroom walls and all over the place so that one didnt just hear that holy name, but also saw the depiction of his body all over the place and had a double consolation for his loss. (Homily in Praise of Saint Meletios)

Eusebius: For there stands upon an elevated stone, by the gates of her house, a brazen image of a woman kneeling, with her hands stretched out, as if she were praying. Opposite this is another upright image of a man, made of the same material, clothed decently in a double cloak, and extending his hand toward the woman. At his feet, beside the statue itself, is a certain strange plant, which climbs up to the hem of the brazen cloak, and is a remedy for all kinds of diseases. They say that this statue is an image of Jesus. It has remained to our day, so that we ourselves also saw it when we were staying in the city. Nor is it strange that those of the Gentiles who, of old, were benefited by our Savior, should have done such things, since we have learned also that the likenesses of his apostles Paul and Peter, and of Christ himself, are preserved in paintings, the ancients being accustomed, as it is likely, according to a habit of the Gentiles, to pay this kind of honor indiscriminately to those regarded by them as deliverers. (Church History, 7.18)

Theodoret: It is said that the man [St. Symeon] became so celebrated in the great city of Rome that at the entrance of all the workshops men have set up small representations of him, to provide thereby some protection and safety for themselves. (Life of St. Symeon the Stylite, 11)

Philip Schaffs Summary: [T]he prejudices of the ante-Nicene period against images in painting or sculpture continued alive, through fear of approach to pagan idolatry, or of lowering Christianity into the province of sense. But generally the hostility was directed only against images of Christ; and from it, as Neander justly observes, we are by no means to infer the rejection of all representations of religious subjects; for images of Christ encounter objections peculiar to themselves. . . .

The prevalent spirit of the age already very decidedly favored this material representation as a powerful help to virtue and devotion, especially for the uneducated classes, whence the use of images, in fact, mainly proceeded. (History of the Christian Church, Vol. III: Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity, New York: Scribners, 5th edition, 1910, reprinted by Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974, 565, 566-567)

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Now, Id like to make a comparison between Catholic and Protestant patristic support. The whole point of Gavins claim in the video above is to make out that (paraphrasing) here is this belief held by both Catholics and Orthodox that has absolutely no support from Church fathers in the first 500 years of the Church. How can that be?! He assumes that this is a strong argument against us. In other words, we can say that there ought to be support in the fathers for any given theological belief that a Christian holds.

We agree with the previous sentence. I think I showed above that evidence for widespread use and veneration of images in the patristic era is not totally lacking. Its surely and obviously less than that for many other doctrines, but its not nonexistent (and that was his claim, which is now decisively refuted), and there is also a line of argument  that is present but not developed in my defense  for why it is less prevalent.

Lets assume for a moment  for the sake of argument  that it was totally absent, as Gavin claimed (Can you name any advocate of icon veneration before 500 AD, . . . [who] says anything remotely positive about it?). Even if that were actually true, the degree of patristic support for the Protestant is much, much less than it is for Catholicism. Veneration of images; even bowing before them, is also an explicit teaching of Holy Scripture, as I have massively demonstrated. See the section, Veneration of Icons and Images (Including of God) / Statues / Holy Objects / Holy Days on my Saints, Purgatory, & Penance web page.

But if we look at, for example, one of the two pillars of the Protestant Reformation: sola fide (faith alone), we find three well-known Protestant apologists and historians making summary statements about its utter lack of support among the Church fathers, and even up until the 16th century when Luthers successor Philip Melanchthon pulled it out of a hat. First, I cite the late Protestant apologist Norman Geisler (who influenced my own apologetics outlook in many ways):

For Augustine, justification included both the beginnings of ones righteousness before God and its subsequent perfection  the event and the process. What later became the Reformation concept of sanctification then is effectively subsumed under the aegis of justification. Although he believed that God initiated the salvation process, it is incorrect to say that Augustine held to the concept of forensic justification. This understanding of justification is a later development of the Reformation . . . Before Luther, the standard Augustinian position on justification stressed intrinsic justification. Intrinsic justification argues that the believer is made righteous by Gods grace, as compared to extrinsic justification, by which a sinner is forensically declared righteous (at best, a subterranean strain in pre-Reformation Christendom). With Luther the situation changed dramatically . . . . . . one can be saved without believing that imputed righteousness (or forensic justification) is an essential part of the true gospel. Otherwise, few people were saved between the time of the apostle Paul and the Reformation, since scarcely anyone taught imputed righteousness (or forensic justification) during that period! . . . . . (Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences, with Ralph E. MacKenzie, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1995, 502, 85, 222; my italics and bolding)

The renowned Protestant scholar Alister McGrath makes virtually the same point:

Whereas Augustine taught that the sinner is made righteous in justification, Melanchthon taught that he is counted as righteous or pronounced to be righteous. For Augustine, justifying righteousness is imparted; for Melanchthon, it is imputed in the sense of being declared or pronounced to be righteous. Melanchthon drew a sharp distinction between the event of being declared righteous and the process of being made righteous, designating the former justification and the latter sanctification or regeneration. For Augustine, these were simply different aspects of the same thing . . . The importance of this development lies in the fact that it marks a complete break with the teaching of the church up to that point. From the time of Augustine onwards, justification had always been understood to refer to both the event of being declared righteous and the process of being made righteous. . . . The Council of Trent . . . reaffirmed the views of Augustine on the nature of justification . . . the concept of forensic justification actually represents a development in Luthers thought . . . . Trent maintained the medieval tradition, stretching back to Augustine, which saw justification as comprising both an event and a process . . . (Reformation Thought: An Introduction, 2nd edition, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1993, 108-109, 115; my italics and bolding)

And the great Protestant Church historian Philip Schaff concurred:

If any one expects to find in this period [100-325], or in any of the church fathers, Augustin himself not excepted, the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone, . . . he will be greatly disappointed . . . Pauls doctrine of justification, except perhaps in Clement of Rome, who joins it with the doctrine of James, is left very much out of view, and awaits the age of the Reformation to be more thoroughly established and understood. (Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, Vol. 2, 588-589)

So two of the three are essentially saying that there is no support whatsoever for faith alone in the entire patristic period and indeed all the way up to even past Luther, to Melanchthon, when the novel innovation took place (Schaffs statement addresses the period up to 325 AD). And this is  all agree  a central teaching, having to do with soteriology (the theology of salvation); how one is saved. If the alleged (but not actual) lack of patristic support for veneration of images is supposedly such a victory for Protestantism, why is not the actual lack of any patristic support for sola fide a strike against the Protestant worldview?

Goose and gander . . . Ive done a lot less work on the soteriology of the Church fathers than I have about their rule of faith, but I plan on doing much more. For now, see what I have in the Salvation / Justification / Faith Alone / Soteriology section of my Fathers of the Church web page. Even so, I still have seventeen articles in that section, with many more to come. Stay tuned!

Moreover, I contend that interrelated notions of faith alone / extrinsic, imputed justification / the formal separation of justification and sanctification / denial of meritorious works are massively contradicted in the Bible as well, and aspects that are supported are those in which Catholics wholeheartedly agree with Protestants (initial monergistic justification, a denial of works-salvation or Pelagianism, sola gratia, etc.). See my debate with Brazilian Calvinist Francisco Tourinho on the topic, which is to be made into a book in Portugese, and is available for free on my blog: Justification: A Catholic Perspective (2023). See also scores of articles in the first (top) section of my Salvation, Justification, & Faith Alone web page.

The other self-described pillar of the Protestant Revolt is sola Scriptura. Protestants try very hard, but they have not, in my opinion (and I have studied this for many thousands of hours) established that any Church father actually held this viewpoint. I myself have documented how some 40 or so major Church fathers (yes, including the Protestant hero St. Augustine) in fact held views that expressly contradict sola Scriptura (see the Bible / Tradition / Sola Scriptura / Perspicuity / Rule of Faith section of my Fathers of the Church web page).

And if anyone wants to see how strong the alleged support for this novel doctrine is in Holy Scripture, well, I wrote an entire book demonstrating that there is none, entitled, 100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura (2012). I also took on two men who are considered the best historical defenders of the false doctrine, in my book, Pillars of Sola Scriptura: Replies to Whitaker, Goode, & Biblical Proofs for Bible Alone (2012), and Ive written more about this topic than anything else, among my 4,500+ articles. See sections III-V on my Bible, Tradition, Canon, & Sola Scriptura web page).

Thus, I strongly contend (and I can back it up) that both Protestant pillars have neither patristic nor biblical support. Perhaps this is why a very good Protestant apologist like Gavin Ortlund spends time making the now-falsified claim that there is no patristic evidence whatsoever for veneration of images, rather than trying to argue against the true and profound lack of same for the two pillars of the Protestant Reformation.

Its a failed attempt, in other words, to turn the tables regarding the issue of patristic support (both sides claiming to have far more than the other). The famous statement of St. John Henry Cardinal Newman (that drives Protestants crazy) remains as true as ever: to be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant. I will do my best to, in effect, defend it by taking on specific instances of Protestants trying hard (E for effort and zeal!) but failing to show that his maxim is untrue.

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Related Reading

Responding to Gavin Ortlund on Icon Veneration (Suan Sonna, 2023) [excellent, thorough 142-page rebuttal]

See Gavins brief response on my Facebook page.

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Photo credit: sacred images on the walls of the 3rd-century Dura-Europos church in Syria [Summa Apologia]

Summary: Gavin Ortlund challenged: Can you name any advocate of icon veneration before 500 AD? I provide several examples from Church fathers and the catacombs.
This is a guest post from Catholic theologian, Dr. Robert Fastiggi. He holds the Bishop Kevin M. Britt Chair of Christology, Professor of Dogmatic Theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Fastiggi received an M.A. in Theology from Fordham University in 1976; and a Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Fordham in 1987. At Sacred Heart, he has taught courses on Ecclesiology, Christian Anthropology, Christology, Mariology, Moral Theology, and the Sacramental Life of the Church. He is a member of the Society for Catholic Liturgy and has been president of the Mariological Society of America.

Dr. Fastiggi has served as the executive editor of the 2009-2013 supplements to the New Catholic Encyclopedia and as co-editor and translator of the English translation of the 43rd edition of the Denzinger-Hunermann Enchiridion Symbolorum (Ignatius Press: 2012): the standard compendium of Catholic doctrines and dogmas. He has also translated and updated the German revised edition of Ludwig Otts well-known reference work, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma (Baronius Press, 2018). He has written many articles for Catholic websites / magazines such as Where Peter Is, The Catholic World Report, and my own blog.

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[Full title: Mary Mother of the Church highlights Marys Spiritual Motherhood]

Introduction

In a Decree dated Feb. 11, 2018 (but released March 3), Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, announced that Pope Francis has decreed that the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, should be inscribed in the Roman calendar on the Monday after Pentecost and be celebrated every year. This means that in the Latin Rite, the celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Churchas an obligatory Memorialwill have precedence over any other memorial of a Saint or Blessed on the Monday following Pentecost.

The foundation for the new obligatory memorial

In the Feb. 11, 2018 Decree, Cardinal Sarah points to St. Paul VIs Nov. 21, 1964 Address at the conclusion of the Third Session of the Second Vatican Council as the clear foundation for the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church. During this address, Paul VI declared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be Mother of the Church that is to say of all Christian people, the faithful as well as the pastors, who call her the most loving Mother. He also established that the Mother of God should be further honored and invoked by the entire Christian people by this most tender of titles. Because of Paul VIs 1964 proclamation, a votive Mass in honor of Blessed Mary Mother of the Church (Beata Maria Ecclesi Matre) was proposed during the 1975 Holy Year of Reconciliation and later inserted into the Roman Missal. In 1980, the title of Mary as Mother of the Church was added to the Litany of Loreto with papal approval. In the 1986 Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary three formularies for the celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Image and Mother of the Church were included. Some countries, dioceses, and religious families have already been celebrating the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, with approval from the Holy See.

Scriptural and theological foundations

The recognition of Mary as Mother of the Church has deep biblical roots. As the New Eve and mother of the living (Gen 3:20), Mary takes on a maternal role toward all humanity, especially the faithful. As Mother of the Incarnate Word, Mary is the Mother of all the faithful who are joined to the Mystical Body of Christ, which is the Church (cf. Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 10:1617; 12:1231; Eph 1:2223, 5:23 30; and Col 1:1824). In his Nov. 21, 1964 address, Blessed Paul VI notes that, as soon as Christ took on a human nature in Marys virginal womb, He united to himself, as its head, his Mystical Body, which is the Church. Therefore, Mary, as the Mother of Christ, must be regarded as the Mother of all the faithful and pastors, which means the Church.

In his Feb. 11, 2018 Decree, Cardinal Sarah points to John 19:2527 for understanding Mary as Mother of the Church:

 the Mother standing beneath the cross (cf. Jn 19:25), accepted her Sons testament of love and welcomed all people in the person of the beloved disciple as sons and daughters to be reborn unto life eternal. She thus became the tender Mother of the Church which Christ begot on the cross handing on the Spirit.

St. John Paul II likewise sees John 19:2527 as instrumental for understanding Mary as Mother of the Church. In his General Audience of Sept. 17, 1997, he observes: On Calvary, Mary united herself to the sacrifice of her Son and made her own maternal contribution to the work of salvation, which took the form of labor pains, the birth of the new humanity. He goes on to say that in addressing the words Woman, behold your son to Mary, the Crucified One proclaims her motherhood not only in relation to the Apostle John but also to every disciple.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven also manifests Mary as the spiritual Mother of the Church. After being assumed into heaven, Mary, by her constant intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation, and by her maternal charity, she cares for us who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties until we are led into the happiness of our true home (Lumen Gentium, 62).

Mary, therefore, is Mother of the Church because she is the Mother of Christ, who is the head of the Mystical Body, the Church. Given to us as our Mother by the dying Lord on the Cross, Mary continues to intercede for us with maternal love from heaven. In a special way Marys spiritual motherhood is linked to Pentecost because, as the mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Mary joins with the Church in prayer, and she is the perfect image of what it means to be a disciple of Christ, the mirror of all the virtues, and the definitive model for the perfect imitation of Christ (Paul VI, Nov. 21, 1964). As the Mother of the faithful, Mary is the exalted type or exemplar of the Church because in the most holy Virgin the Church has already reached that perfection whereby she is without spot or wrinkle (Lumen Gentium, 65).

Historical witness to the title, Mother of the Church

The title Mother of the Church has roots in Fathers of the Church. St. Augustine (354430) sees Mary as the mother of the members of Christ . . . having cooperated by charity so the faithful might be born in the Church, who are members of that Head (De sancta Virginitate, 6; cited in LG, 53). St. Leo the Great (c. 400461) states that Christs generation is the origin of the Christian people; and Christs birth as head is also the birth of his Mystical Body (Sermon 6 on the Nativity of the Lord). In the Middle Ages, St. Anselm (10331109) speaks of Mary as the Mother of justification and the justified; the Mother of reconciliation and the reconciled; the Mother of salvation and of the saved (Or 52, 8). Pope Benedict XIV, in his Sept. 27, 1748 bull, Gloriosae Dominae, states that Mary on Calvary is in the proper sense Mother of the Church, a gift the Church received from lips of her dying Bridegroom (Bullararium 2, 428). Pope Leo XIII, in his Sept. 5, 1895 encyclical, Adiutricem, extols Mary as the Mother of the Church, the Teacher and Queen of the Apostles (no. 6).

After Leo XIII, popes refer to Mary as Mother of the Church explicitly or in equivalent terms. In his address of Dec. 4, 1963, at the close of the Second Session of Vatican II, Paul VI expressed his hope that Mary would be honored with the title, Mother of the Church in the Constitution of the Church (cf. no. 21 in the address). An earlier title of what would be chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium was: On the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. This title, though, was changed to its present one, On the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, in the Mystery of Christ and the Church. About 200 bishops asked that the earlier title be restored, but the Theological Commission responded by noting that the revised title better corresponded to the contents of the chapter. Moreover, Mary, as Mother of the Church, is expressed in equivalent terms in LG, 53, which states that The Catholic Church, taught by the Holy Spirit, honors [Mary] with filial affection and piety as a most beloved mother. Some Council fathers also had ecumenical concerns that referring to Mary as Mother of the Church might imply that the Church owes its existence to her and not to Christ. A good number of bishopsmost notably Cardinal Wyszynski and the bishops of Polandappealed to Pope Paul VI to proclaim Mary as Mother of the Church on his own authority. The Holy Father responded to this request favorably, and he solemnly proclaimed Mary as Mother of the Church in his address of Nov. 21, 1964.

The hoped-for fruits of the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church

In his Commentary on the Feb. 11, 2018 Decree, Cardinal Sarah states that Pope Francis believes this new obligatory memorial will highlight the mystery of Marys spiritual motherhood, which from the awaiting of the Spirit at Pentecost has never ceased to take motherly care of the pilgrim Church on earth. The Holy Father also hopes that the memorial will help us root our spiritual lives firmly on three great realities: the Cross, the Eucharist, and the Mother of God. Celebrating Mary as Mother of the Church on the Monday after Pentecost will help us all realize how important Mary, the mystical spouse of the Holy Spirit, is to our lives as Christian. She is truly our Mother in the order of grace (Lumen Gentium, 61), She is united to Christ, the Head of the Church by a close and indissoluble bond (Lumen Gentium, 53), and she is united to us as our spiritual Mother, the Mother of the Church.

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Photo credit: The Virgin, the Child Jesus, and St John the Baptist (1881), by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

Summary: Catholic theologian Robert Fastiggi summarizes the background of this description of the Blessed Virgin, which was highlighted (not introduced!) at Vatican II.
The rumors have now become facts. Recent speculation suggested that Microsoft would offer the latest version of Office (officially Microsoft 365) not only as a subscription, but also as a one-off purchase again. Well, Microsoft has made it official!

The next version of Microsoft 365 (aka Microsoft Office) will be released later in 2024. In addition to Microsoft offering it as a one-off purchase, there will also be a Mac version of the program and it will support both 32- and 64-bit versions. Heres what we know about Office 2024.

Microsoft Office 365 Home Premium

In a blog post about the upcoming preview of Microsoft Office LTSC 2024, the company emphasizes that you can buy Microsoft Office 365 2024 and use it permanently. Of course, this only makes sense until the end of support after five years. Once support ends, you will no longer receive any security updates for Microsoft Office 2024, making it unsafe to use.

This statement only applies to Office LTSC, i.e. a variant of Microsoft Office that is intended for commercial customers and public authorities. For private users, however, the question of whether Microsoft will release Office 2024 as a non-subscription version is much more exciting. And the blog post does indeed address this:

We also plan to release a new version of Office for home users later this year, Office 2024, which will also be supported for five years with the traditional one-time purchase model. We have no plans to change the price of these products at the time of release. We will provide more details on the new features in Office 2024 shortly before general availability.

Heres what you can expect from the latest Microsoft Office 364:

The next version of Microsoft Office 364 for home users will launch in 2024 as Office 2024

Microsoft will provide updates for the next five years

You can purchase Microsoft Office 365 as a one-off payment

Office 2024 will also be released for macOS

Office 2024 supports Windows 10, except on ARM devices

Office 2024 supports 32-bit

The price remains unchanged

Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021, price comparison

If youre in favor of the subscription model with annual costs or the variant with a one-off payment and no follow-up cost, the new features are only available for the subscription model. The standalone version only receives security and repair updates.

The preview of Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 will be available for testers in April 2024. Microsoft is discontinuing Microsoft Publisher and Teams is missing because the company is making Teams available for download separately.

This article first appeared on PCWelt and has been translated from German to English.
Microsoft will kick off its Build conference with a special event on May 20 focusing on the companys AI vision, the company said Monday.

Satya Nadella will share our AI vision across hardware and software as part of a dedicated news briefing, the company said, the day before Microsoft Build kicks off in Seattle. The hardware in question is expected to be the consumer version of the Surface Pro 10 and the Surface Laptop 6, which should ship with versions of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (Arm) chip inside, according to reports.

Microsoft said that the event will not be livestreamed.

That Microsoft would combine hardware and software  or in this case, AI  isnt surprising. Surface hardware has typically been a showcase for Microsofts latest software, whether it be a new operating system, the latest Office / Microsoft 365 innovations, or AI. According to Windows Central, Microsoft should begin showing off an AI-powered version of the Timeline app within Windows 11, possibly at the May event. Weve already seen some innovations, such as AI-powered audio, debut within test builds of Windows 11.

Will the Surface Laptop 6 and the Surface Pro 10 be able to keep up with Intels Meteor Lake? Qualcomms latest Snapdragons looked quite competitive when we saw them tested late last year. Whether theyll truly offer viable competition is something we wont know until after we see and test them.
Eager US students embark on China adventure

08:22, March 18, 2024 By Lia Zhu ( Chinadaily.com.cn

Students from Lincoln High School and Steilacoom High School in the United States wait on Saturday at San Francisco International Airport in California for their flight to take them on a cultural-exchange journey to China. LIU GUANGUAN / CHINA NEWS SERVICE

Exchanges: 'Things will last a lifetime for them'

From indulging in Chinese cuisine and delving into the country's rich history and culture, to forging friendships and memories that may last a lifetime, a group of students from the United States are preparing to explore a whole new world as they set off for a journey to China.

"I really want to see how an average Chinese girl or boy lives their life. I also want to see architecture and historical buildings, because China has a rich culture and a long, significant history," said Montserrat Romero-Rocha, a 12th-grade student at Lincoln High School in the state of Washington.

She's also eager to understand everyday life in China, like trying Chinese food, shopping and finding out the differences between life in the US and China.

But what she's looking forward to the most, she said, is being able to interact with Chinese peers and observe how Chinese schools are run, compared with those in the US.

In September 2015, President Xi Jinping visited Lincoln High School, which is in Tacoma, Washington, during his first state visit to the US as president, and he invited young people from the US to visit China.

Romero-Rocha is one of 10 Lincoln High School students who will visit China. Along with 14 students from Steilacoom High School in Washington, they left for China from San Francisco on Saturday. The visit will take them to Beijing and to Hubei and Guangdong provinces before they return to the US on March 27.

Their itinerary promises an exciting chance for exploration across China's diverse landscape. The students will get a taste of both historical and contemporary China, visiting iconic landmarks like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City in Beijing and Wudang Mountain in Hubei, and engaging in academic exchanges at prestigious institutions like Peking University.

"I want to experience more about the culture and people, and how everything is different and similar to the US," said Luke Kelly, an 11th-grade student at Steilacoom High School.

For Kelly, who has never traveled outside of the US, this tour means "a once in a lifetime opportunity".

"I'm excited about being able to go and explore architecture. I'm excited about the Great Wall and Forbidden City," he said. Building connections with students in China is also a big reason he is excited about the journey.

"I hope we can bring back the relations and ... carry on and encourage other people to go and do the same," he added.

Song Guoxuan, China's deputy consul general in San Francisco, who saw the students off at San Francisco International Airport, expressed his hope that they will embrace the experience with open minds.

"Taste Chinese cuisine, make Chinese friends, and see a real China," Song encouraged them. He also emphasized the importance of sharing their experiences back home, fostering a spirit of friendship between the two nations.

This tour is part of a larger initiative. In November, President Xi and US President Joe Biden envisioned prioritizing cultural and people-to-people exchanges, particularly among young people. Xi said that China is going to invite 50,000 young people from the US to visit China on exchange and study programs over the next five years.

Lynn Eisenhauer, an arts facilitator who has led previous student trips to China, highlighted the transformative power of these exchanges.

"Every trip is different," she said, recounting how past student exchanges changed students' perspective and fostered deeper understanding.

One student was surprised to learn that his Chinese counterpart focused mostly on studying outside of school, and he came home with a changed perspective about his work ethic and became grateful for education.

"Most of them have never traveled out of the United States," Eisenhauer said of the students. "They are going to feel all sorts of different things on this trip, and what I'm excited for is that the things will last a lifetime for them."

Romero-Rocha echoed that sentiment. "The tour is going to change me fundamentally as a person, because I'm going to an entirely new place and will experience an entirely new culture," she said. "And it's going to stick with me for the rest of my life."

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
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Parliamentary candidate for Klottey Korley Constituency, Valantina Nii Noi Nortey Saturday, March 16, 2024 paid a courtesy call on the Muslim community and made a donation of some food items to them ahead of the Ramadan fasting.



The items donated includes assorted foodstuffs, such as Milo, Milk, Oats, Sugar etc amounting to over 5,000 to Muslims in the various Zongo Communities across the constituency to help in the fasting period.



Beneficial communities include; Adabraka, Odawna/Sahara, Tudu and CMB Abuja all in the Klottey Korle municipality.



He seized the opportunity to call for unity amongst the electorate, emphasizing the need for the youth to abstain from activities which have the tendency of marring the peace and stability of the community as we head for the general elections this year.



He thanked the Chiefs and Community leaders for their continuous support and prayers saying It's my fervent hope that we will continue to work together to build a great and strong Klottey Korle."



He was accompany by the Presiding Member for Klottey Korle Municipal Assembly, Hon. Abdul Maikano Mumuni aka Chubby; Assembly Members; Electoral Area Coordinators, and Polling Station Executives.



.





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The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Lieutenant General Thomas Oppong Peprah, today, 18th March 2024 paid a courtesy call on the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare at the National Police Headquarters in Accra.



The purpose of the visit was to enhance collaboration between the Police and the Ghana Armed Forces and explore other avenues to ensure the continuous peace and security of the country. This marks Lt. Gen. Peprah's maiden official visit to the Police Headquarters since assuming the highest military office.



Lt. Gen. Peprah assured the Police leadership of maintaining the strong working relationship between the two institutions for the betterment of Ghana, building upon the legacies of his predecessors.



The Inspector-General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, on behalf of the Police leadership, congratulated the CDS on his appointment and expressed gratitude for the visit and also assured him of the commitment of the Police Administration to continuously work with the Ghana Armed Forces and all the sister security agencies in the country.









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One of the UKs most senior military figures in Afghanistan was sent home in disgrace after drinking champagne with colleagues, The Telegraph can reveal.



Maj Gen Charlie Herbert took up a post in June 2017 in Kabul as deputy adviser to the ministry of the interior, the government department responsible for law enforcement, civil order and fighting crime.



He was responsible for training and mentoring senior Afghan officials and the role included conducting meetings with Afghan government figures, as well as tribal leaders and forging links between the ministry of the interior and other government departments.



Read Full Story .... telegraph.co.uk >>> :

















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Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the US and the West on Monday, March 18 that a direct conflict between Russia and the U.S.-led NATO military alliance would mean the world was one step away from World War Three but said hardly anyone wanted such a scenario.



The Ukraine war has triggered the deepest crisis in Moscow's relations with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis leading Putin to tout the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine.



French President Emmanuel Macron last month said he could not rule out the deployment of ground troops in Ukraine in the future, with many Western countries distancing themselves from that while others, especially in Eastern Europe, expressed support.



Asked about Macron remarks and the risks and possibility of a conflict between Russia and NATO, Putin quipped: "everything is possible in the modern world." He told Reuters.



"It is clear to everyone, that this will be one step away from a full-scale World War Three. I think hardly anyone is interested in this," Putin



After winning the biggest-ever landslide election in post-Soviet Russian history, Putin added that NATO military personnel were present already in Ukraine, saying that Russia had picked up both English and French being spoken on the battlefield."There is nothing good in this, first of all for them, because they are dying there and in large numbers," he said.



Ahead of the March 15-17 Russian election, Ukraine stepped up attacks against Russia, shelling border regions.

Asked if he considered it necessary to take Ukraine's Kharkiv region, Putin said if the attacks continued, Russia would create a buffer zone out of more Ukrainian territory to defend Russian territory.



"I do not exclude that, bearing in mind the tragic events taking place today, we will be forced at some point, when we deem it appropriate, to create a certain 'sanitary zone' in the territories today under the Kyiv regime," Putin said.



He declined to give any further details but said such a zone might have to be big enough to preclude foreign-made armaments from reaching Russian territory. Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, triggering a major European war after eight years of conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian forces on one side and pro-Russian Ukrainians and Russian proxies on the other.



Putin said he wished Macron would stop seeking to aggravate the war in Ukraine and to play a role in finding peace: It seems that France could play a role. All is not lost yet. "I've been saying it over and over again and I'll say it again. We are for peace talks, but not just because the enemy is running out of bullets," Putin said.



"If they really, seriously, want to build peaceful, good-neighbourly relations between the two states in the long term, and not simply take a break for rearmament for 1.5-2 years."

















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International NGO, World Vision Ghana and mining company Goldfields Ghana have signed a One million dollar MOU to provide water for the people of Damang, in the Tarkwa Municipality of the Western Region.



The project will also include increased access to water, foster sustainability, strengthen water governance and promote innovative solutions.



The MOU will also amplify and expand water, health and sanitation for the people of Damang.



Country Director for World Vision Ghana, Laura Del Valle Christina said The partnership will ensure the provision of water supply to communities, schools and Healthcare facilities and directly impact countless lives, especially the vulnerable.



She said that was done through transformative programming that tackled the root-causes of poverty and injustice.



She said it was regrettable that about 18 million people in Ghana lacked access to safely managed water and according to UNICEF,76 per cent of households in Ghana was at a risk of drinking water containing faecal matter.



Improving the water situation, she said required strategic interventions and the MoU was a step in the right direction to address the crucial issue of water access and sustainability in the Damang- Huni Valley Municipality.



She commended Gold Fields Ghana Foundation for the partnership and gave the assurance that it would make a change in the lives of countless Ghanaians.



Executive Secretary of Goldfields Ghana Foundation, Abdel-Razak Yakubu who signed on behalf of his outfit said the move is one of the companys core social responsibilities



For us at Goldfields making lives comfortable for people is our priority and nothing comes good than helping people with safe drinking water



Abdel-Razak on the other hand said Gold Fields Ghana Foundation was contributing $270, 000 towards the Damang project.



He said his outfit had over the years tried to find lasting solutions to the acute water challenges of the area, and the partnership would leverage their search for such solutions.



He said the partnership was apt as World Vision Ghana had the track record and expertise in providing potable water and the pilot project at Damang, could be extended to 200 households that would be metered.



Nana Bene Mireku(known in private life as Dr Tony Aubyn) Abakumahene of Wassa Damang gave the assurance that the project would give the people there adequate prospects and commended the two organisations for the partnership.



In water, Sanitation and Hygiene, World Vision Ghana had over the years supported thousands of communities and individuals, supported healthcare, education, among other important interventions.



Gold Fields Ghana Foundation have also supported mining communities in the areas of education, health, water and Sanitation, agriculture and infrastructural development.



They have also empowered youth in so many areas.

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The Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, has reiterated the readiness of the Police and other security agencies to work with the Electoral Commission(EC) and all other stakeholders for peaceful polls in December this year.



He said the police will work with the EC to address all their security issues ahead of the polls.



"We're here to listen to you to know the concerns that you have in the area of security ahead of the elections, so we position ourselves to resolve all of them.



"Already, the national election security task force is working with all relevant stakeholders and we will continue to do more to ensure that our country continues to remain peaceful before, during and after the polls. So we are here to assure you that we will address all your security concerns ahead of the polls, the IGP gave the assurance during a meeting with the Election Management Body(EMB) at the EC headquarters on Thursday.



On her part, the EC chair Madam Jean Mensa commended the IGP and the Police leadership for their proactiveness towards the upcoming polls. She said she is confident that the approach the police leadership has taken towards the election will help build confidence among all stakeholders.



Meanwhile, the Centre for Democratic Development has praised the IGP for his handling of by-elections in the country since he assumed the position.



The IGP established the Election Security Task Force and did a good show in all the by-elections that we have had, unlike Chereponi, Asankrakwa, and the other places. Here all the by-elections that we have had in this era we have not had any serious issues around them.



So I think the experiments by the Election Security Task Force will carry us through the main elections, The Programs Manager for CDD-Ghana Mr. Paul Aborampah Mensah told Accra-based Starr FM.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com









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The Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), and a Parliamentary Candidate for Akuapem North constituency, Sammi Awuku has encouraged the officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana to communicate well with Ghanaians following the recent incessant power outages being experienced in various parts of the country.



Ghanaians have raised genuine concerns about the unstable power supplies that has hit various parts of the country.



"In the past few weeks, it hasnt been easy for people, especially power outages and NPP won't pretend that all Ghanaians are happy or they are comfortable, but I can also confirm that we are not back to Dumsor era, but how we communicate it is key."



Sammi Awuku added that, if the communication is not clear or does not reach the consumer in time, the consumer might presume that the Dumsor which characterised the erstwhile John Mahama government is back.



Outlining the challenges faced by the ECG, the NLA boss said, "If the customer is sleeping in light-out, forget about the rhetorics, they will not care about the reasons, but there are reasons. The underground cables are all damaged due to the heat".



Sammi Awuku advised ECG to communicate effectively to Ghanaians so that the system is not poisoned due to the lack of communication.



He said, "If you dont communicate effectively and allow people to understand where are you are, the atmosphere will be poisoned."



Watch video below





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Thirty-four (34) out of the Forty-seven (47) Ashanti Regional chairmen have shown massive love to their colleague chairman who has been invited to appear before the regional Disciplinary Committee (DC) over allegations of misconduct.



The Manhyia South Constituency Chairman, Mr Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta popularly known as Tom Tom will appear before the regional disciplinary committee after a media banter with his regional chairman Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi.



The regional chairmen caucus in a statement of solidarity cautioned party leadership to ensure that the outcome of the meeting must promote unity rather than division.



We detest any matter that will disturb the peace of the party and break the front of the party in our stronghold of Ashanti Region ahead of the December 7 elections, which we have sworn to work very hard to ensure that our flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia wins heavily while our parliamentary candidates grab all the seats. A portion of their statement read.



Read below the full statement.



STATEMENT BY ASHANTI REGIONAL CONSTITUENCY CHAIRMEN OF THE NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY IN SOLIDARITY WITH MANHYIA SOUTH CHAIRMAN



The Ashanti Regional Caucus of Constituency Chairmen of the NPP, at its last meeting held at the Lancaster Kumasi City Hotel on Sunday, 17th March 2024 and attended by Thirty-Four (34) of the Forty-Seven (47) members of the caucus, deliberated on a letter inviting the Manhyia South Constituency Chairman, Mr Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta popularly known as Tom Tom to appear before the Regional Disciplinary Committee over allegations of misconduct.



The letter of invitation said to have come from the Regional Executive Committee and signed by the Regional Secretary of the party, Mr Kwame Adom Appiah, was premised on a petition the Regional Communications Director, Paul Kwabena Yandoh made against the Manhyia South Constituency Chairman in a matter involving the Regional Chairman, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, aka Chairman Wontumi.



Having taken time to thoroughly discuss the contents of the allegations contained in the petition of the Regional Communications Director and the subsequent letter of invitation extended to the Manhyia South Constituency Chairman by the Regional Executive Committee, the Caucus wish to state the following in solidarity with our colleague Tom Tom.



1. That the party believes in due process and the same must be followed even if our member is to be summoned.



2. That we detest any matter that will disturb the peace of the party and break the front of the party in our stronghold of Ashanti Region ahead of the December 7 elections, which we have sworn to work very hard to ensure that our flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia wins heavily while our parliamentary candidates grab all the seats.



3. That there has not been a Regional Executive Council meeting at which any issue involving the Manhyia South Constituency chairman was discussed.



4. That we dont know the existence of a Disciplinary Committee and who constitutes the membership.



5. That we are concerned that a matter that has not been discussed at the Regional Executive Committee, could be referred to a non-existent Disciplinary Committee.



6. That we fully back our colleague Manhyia South Constituency Chairman in any move to defend his position in the matter at stake.



7. We emphasize that the process used in inviting our colleague is not proper, for which reason we urge that the right channel be followed if he is to be invited.



8. Our statement is a proactive measure because if those behind the fake letter or invitation succeed in their move, all constituency chairmen in the region are at risk of facing similar circumstances.



9. We strongly believe that our regional party chairman is not aware of the letter of invitation because this is not how he does his work. We know that our regional party chairman knows the law and will not in any way disobey the established laws of our party.



10. We hereby call on our regional party chairman to call to order, all those persons trying to soil his reputation and that of the party in the region.



Fiifi Mensah



Chairman, Ashanti Regional Constituency Chairmen Association - NPP

0208472526

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NPP UK-Bristol chapter has commended Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for ensuring the implementation of the Ghana Card at Birth policy.



A statement from the chapter signed by Mr Michael Ampadu said the move is a step toward national development after citing a similar method used in the United Kingdom (UK).



Read the statement below.



The introduction of the Ghana card number at birth initiative signifies a significant step towards establishing a comprehensive national identity system in Ghana. This initiative, which assigns a unique identification number to newborns, has several important implications for the country, particularly in the areas of governance, social services, and security.



To better understand the importance of this initiative, it is instructive to contrast it with the systems in developed countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. In developed countries like the UK and the US, national identification systems have long been in place, with unique identification numbers or cards issued to citizens at different stages of their lives.



For instance, in the UK, individuals are assigned a National Insurance number at the age of 16, which serves as a key identifier for taxation, social security, and healthcare services. Similarly, in the US, Social Security numbers are assigned to citizens at birth, providing a universal identification number that is used in various aspects of life, including employment, taxation, and benefits administration.



Comparing the Ghana card number at birth initiative to the systems in developed countries highlights the potential benefits and challenges associated with such a program. One of the key advantages of having a unique identification number from birth is the ability to track individuals throughout their lives, enabling better provision of services and targeted interventions.



In countries like the UK and the US, this has proven instrumental in ensuring the efficient delivery of social services and implementing welfare programs effectively. Moreover, a national identification system starting from birth can enhance security and reduce instances of identity fraud and duplication.



By having a centralized database of citizens' identities, governments can verify individuals more accurately and prevent the misuse of personal information. This is particularly crucial in today's digital age, where identity theft and cybercrimes pose significant risks to individuals and the state. On the other hand, implementing a national identification system, especially from birth, comes with challenges related to privacy concerns, data protection, and administrative complexities.



In developed countries, debates around the balance between national security and individual privacy have been ongoing, with calls for robust safeguards to protect citizens' personal information from exploitation and misuse. As Ghana moves forward with the Ghana Card Number at birth initiative, it is essential to learn from the experiences of developed countries and adopt best practices to address potential challenges.



Ensuring transparency, accountability, and data security will be key to gaining public trust and fostering wider acceptance of the national identification system. By leveraging the lessons learned from countries like the UK and the US, Ghana can harness the full potential of the Ghana card number at birth initiative to drive sustainable development, enhance governance, and improve citizens' lives.



Mr. Michael Ampadu

Doctoral Researcher, University of Bristol, Communications Director

NPP UK Bristol Chapter







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Majority Leader of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has admonished members of the ruling party to focus on selling the achievements of the party as thats key to breaking the 8.



Sharing his views on Peace 104.3 FMs Kokrokoo hosted by Kwami Sefa Kayi, on Monday, March 18, 2024, Hon. Markin indicated that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration has done so much that must be sold to the masses through constant communications on radio and television to enable the party win the 2024 elections.



Breaking the 8 requires a bold consistent communication of our success stories he stated.



The Majority Leader also stated that the NPP administration has performed better than the previous NDC administration in all sectors of the economy.



What remains to be done, he noted, is for the party and government to tell the Ghanaian electorate what have been achieved so far, and that, he said, will enable the party break the 8.



He also used the opportunity to clarify his position on the lack of succession plan of the NDC and the fact that he was not referring to the old age of their running mate, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.



He further emphasized that Dr. Bawumia represents the future and for that to be realized, the party must win the 2024 elections for him to showcase why he is the embodiment of hope for the next generation.



If we dont communicate our achievements to Ghanaians, we shall struggle to break the 8. We must make conscious efforts to sell our stories, for we have a story to tell for our stewardship he added.

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Pharmaceutical retail chain Walgreens is closing two U.S. distribution centers and hundreds of employees will be laid off.

Walgreens filed a WARN (Worker adjustment and retraining notification) notice with the state of Florida informing officials there that it will close its facility at 2455 Premier Row in Orlando and as a result 324 people will be laid off.

As Walgreens continues to work on solutions to help build business momentum and improve the efficiency of our operations, we have looked closely at our distribution center network, streamlining capacities wherever possible to best support our stores. After a careful review of our DC operations, we have made the difficult decision to close our Orlando, Florida distribution center located at 2455 Premier Row, Orlando, FL 32809, the company said in a WARN notice dated March 14.
Australian film director Peter Weir, who directed such box-office hits as The Truman Show, Dead Poets Society and Witness, parts of which were filmed in Lancaster County, has confirmed what many have long suspected. Hes retired from filmmaking.

Weir, 79, made it clear hes done with directing during an interview at the Festival de la Cinematheque in Paris, according to IndieWire.

I am retired, Weir said. Why did I stop cinema? Because, quite simply, I have no more energy.

Weirs last movie was The Way Back in 2010, which starred Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, and Saoirse Ronan.

Weirs other films include Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, The Year of Living Dangerously, Picnic at Hanging Rock, and Green Card. Although he never won, he has received six Academy Award nominations for his films, and received an Academy Honorary Award in 2022.

Speaking to IndieWire back in 2022, Dead Poets actor Ethan Hawke wondered if Weir had become disillusioned with filmmaking due to the large budgets and demanding actors.

I think he lost interest in movies, Hawke said. He really enjoyed that work when he didnt have actors giving him a hard time. Russell Crowe and Johnny Depp broke him. Hes someone so rare these days, a popular artist. He makes mainstream movies that are artistic. To have the budget to do The Truman Show or Master and Commander, you need a Jim Carrey or Russell Crowe. I think Harrison Ford and Gerard Depardieu were his sort of actors. They were director-friendly and didnt see themselves as important.
Want a new pair of sneakers, but dont want to break the bank? Discount grocery store and retail chain Aldi has a solution - but only for a limited time.

The Aldi website lists Aldi Gear sneakers among their Upcoming Aldi Finds, a selection of branded items and special deals coming to the store.
By Amanda Seitz, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON  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 werent 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 persons 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 wasnt until after his death, when the states 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.

Imani Mfalme poses for a portrait outside her late mother's house Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. Mfalme's mother suffered from Alzheimer's and was placed in long term care. After her death the state is now trying to lay claim to the estate to pay for that care. (AP Photo/Caitie McMekin)AP

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 didnt always collect the money from estates that were eligible.

Last month, a foundation for one of the industrys biggest health insurance giants called on Massachusetts to overhaul its process, which includes collecting reimbursement for most Medicaid costs, beyond the federal governments 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 mothers early-onset Alzheimers 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 mothers bill with Medicaid once she died.

Now, Tennessees 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.

FILE - Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., speaks at a rally on Capitol Hill in Washington, Sept. 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)AP

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, Tennessees 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 Commissions 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 governments mandate. Schakowsky believes the rule is a losing proposition for families, who give up their homes, and taxpayers, who dont 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.

Theres at least one person who acknowledges the rule isnt working: the man who engineered it.

Many people dont 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.
DEC police officers on Wednesday seized an 11-foot, 750-pound alligator illegally kept at a residence in Hamburg. The gator's owner allegedly let people swim with it.NYSDEC
As the debate over a congressional bill that could ban Chinese-owned TikTok from app stores rages on, Pennsylvanias two Democratic U.S. senators appear ready to vote for the legislation.

In a meeting with the PennLive editorial board last week, Sen. Bob Casey, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said he gets regular updates on Chinas activities and the threats they present to the United States.
WILLIAMSPORT  A Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission finding disputes a former Williamsport recreation directors contention she was fired for her sex.

The commission, whose January finding was made public Monday by the city, concluded insufficient evidence existed to establish Kayla Drummond was discriminated on the basis of sex.

Mayor Derek Slaughter released the commissions finding in response to a civil rights suit that Drummond filed last Wednesday in U.S. Middle District Court against the city in which she claims she was terminated due to her sex.

Executive director Chad Dion Lassiter wrote this about the commissions investigation into Drummonds complaint:

The evidence supports she had numerous performance issues that included failure to:

Notify her supervisor she was taking off or working from home.

Obtain her certified pool operator and pesticide certifications.

Proactively order chemicals to treat the municipal swimming pool.

Make timely payments of invoices and on one occasion did not pay a vendor for a job done.

Reply to an AmeriCorps manager regarding whether the city would be hosting a member. The manager had to contact the mayor.

There also was evidence Drummond attempted to cancel a food festival without consulting her supervisor or the mayor, Lassiter wrote.

The investigation determined her supervisor by email notified her of the policy regarding taking off or working from home and that she was counseled on her performance but did not show improvement, he said.

While a male (Sean Walker) was hired to replace her, there is no evidence to suggest that sex was a factor in the decision to discharge her or when making the decision on a replacement, the commission concluded.

The commission does not release its findings on which no public vote was taken, which was the case with the Drummond complaint, a spokesperson explained.

Drummond began working with the city in 2017 under an AmeriCorps program and became an employee of the recreation department the following spring.

She served in the administration of former Mayor Gabriel J. Campana as interim recreation director in 2019 until Shawn Washington was named director that summer.

She again served as interim director after Washington was fired in January 2020 with the understanding she would serve until Slaughter named a replacement for Washington.

Drummond said Slaughter offered her the post in early March 2020 but at a salary less than the two previous male directors.

Her suit claims while serving as director she was excluded from meetings on recreation, being told she did not need to attend because the mayor would be there. Her recommendations were never sought, she said.

Drummond claims she was not treated as an equal by other department heads, all of whom were male, and her requests for help from them were openly disregarded.

She was notified on Nov. 4, 2022, that she was being terminated, her complaint states. When asked the reason, she says she was told the mayor was going in a different direction.

Drummond is seeking reinstatement, back pay and compensatory and punitive damages.
Gov. Josh Shapiro frequently complains about Pennsylvania losing to Ohio when it comes to family-sustaining, job-creating economic development projects, but Senate Republicans question how the governors just-released energy plan does anything to correct that.

Making it more expensive to produce electricity in Pennsylvania compared to Ohio is not a way to start winning, said Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, R-Indiana County.
Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie says if she is premier after the 2026 election, she will not introduce a provincial carbon tax. Crombie stands with Ontario Liberal caucus members as she talks to the media at the Queens Park Legislature in Toronto on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Rep. and Senate candidate Adam Schiff (D-CA) said that the Supreme Court will further discredit itself if it does not act quickly on Trumps immunity claim.

Schiff was asked about the delay in Trumps criminal cases on CNNs State Of The Union, and he said:

There is a chance that he could evade justice by delaying justice.

This is a tried-and-true tactic of Trump throughout his career.And I hope that the courts are aware of exactly what hes doing and his incentive in trying to prolong this, and I hope they wont go along with that strategy.

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In New York, I hope that they will look at the facts in terms of what caused the late release of this discovery. If it was driven by the Trump defense team not requesting it earlier, they should not postpone the trial any further.

My greatest concern, though, Dana is over the January 6 case. That is the most serious a set of allegations against the president. It is the case brought by the Justice Department. The Supreme Court moved with great speed when it came to ruling that Trump could appear on the ballot.The question is, will it also move with great speed in rejecting this bogus immunity claim?

If it doesnt, its making a deliberate decision essentially to push the trial past the election. And I think that would be a terrible decision, both for the interest of justice. It would be a terrible decision in depriving American voters of the information they would learn during the course of that trial, but it would also just further discredit this partisan and reactionary court.

Video:

Adam Schiff warns that the Supreme Court will further discredit itself if they foot drag on Trumps bogus immunity claim. pic.twitter.com/5DEtsIO7xd  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 17, 2024

Rep. Schiff was correct. If the Supreme Court delays their ruling on Trumps claim of immunity that has been shot down by every previous court, it will prove the dire need for Supreme Court reform, because the court is completely corrupted and unable to function as the Constitution intended.

There is no doubt that the court will rule against Trump, but they cant do his dirty work by engaging in needless delay.

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Trump called for Liz Cheney to be criminally prosecuted, but the former vice chair of the 1/6 Committee called out his lie.

The former president called for Cheney to be criminally prosecuted on Truth Social, SHE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE TO OUR COUNTRY! SHE ILLEGALLY DESTROYED THE EVIDENCE. UNREAL!!!

Cheney responded:

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Lying in all caps doesnt make it true, Donald. You know you and your lawyers have long had the evidence.

You know these are lies. You have had all the grand jury & J6 transcripts for many months. Youre trying to halt your 1/6 trial because your VP, WH counsel, WH aides, campaign & DOJ officials etc will testify against you. Youre afraid of the truth and you should be.

Trump has been making the bogus claim that 1/6 evidence was destroyed as part of his many claims that a vast conspiracy somehow framed him.

It is well known that the 1/6 Committee preserved and turned over all of its evidence to the DOJ once the investigation concluded: The 1/6 Committee carefully preserved all of its evidence and turned it over to the Department of Justice when the investigation concluded. The committee also made the evidence available to their Senate Democratic counterparts.

Trump and his lawyers have had access to all of the evidence collected by the 1/6 Committee. Donald Trump is making up a conspiracy to keep his supporters from ever learning about the vast mountain of evidence that points to his possible guilt for 1/6 related criminal activity.

The real reason why Donald Trump wants Liz Cheney prosecuted is that she helped to lead an investigation of him. The only thing that Cheney did wrong in Trumps mind was attempt to hold him accountable.

The former president wants to discredit the 1/6 Committee prosecuting them. It is all a part of the revenge fantasy disguised as a presidential campaign that the Republican Party has enabled in 2024.

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Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reminded America of why Donald Trump should not be president.

Pelosi was asked by CNNs Dana Bash about Trump receiving classified briefings, and she answered:

I have 30 years of intelligence experience in the Congress.

This information is very important, and it is important for it not to be shared. So I would hope they would get some commitment from him, as they do from all of us when we get briefed, that they understand the importance of this information and that it not be shared.

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The experience has not been positive with him, but, hopefully, those advising him would say, grow up, live up to your responsibilities. Dont share this with the Russian foreign minister, as he did in the Oval Office before.

But we have  we just have to win this election, because hes even predicting a bloodbath. What does that mean? Hes going to exact a bloodbath? Theres something wrong here.

How respectful I am of the American people and their goodness, but how much more do they have to see from him to understand that this isnt what our country is about? Praising Hitler, praising the Russians, honestly, I mean, condemning our soldiers for losing or dying in war or being captured in war.

He said, whats wrong with Russia? They defeated Hitler.

What about the millions of Americans who risked or gave their lives? What about him saying that soldiers buried in Europe, he didnt want to visit them because they were losers?

This is  theres something wrong here. Theres something wrong here. So I just say, with all the respect in the world for voters and their right to make their decision, weigh these equities. How much are you concerned about more women  or women having the right to choose or LGBT people having the right to their lives, that you would vote for him?

You wouldnt even allow him in your house, much less in the White House.

So, in any event, yes, I think he should get the information, but  because he is a candidate for president, but he should be held to a standard that the rest of us all have been.

Video:

Nancy Pelosi perfectly sums up Trump, "You wouldn't even allow him in your house, much less in the White House." pic.twitter.com/JpmWtdwPZV  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 17, 2024

In case anyone forgot, because the corporate media spends its time normalizing Trump, the former president has a very long track record of embracing un-American and anti-democracy positions. Former speaker Pelosi laid out just a few of them, and she made it clear that Trump should not be given classified briefings, unless some security steps are taken.

Speaker Pelosi was right. Trump is threat to the American way of life and individual rights and freedoms.

Since the media refuses to cover Trump in this way, it will be up to Democrats to remind voters of the threat that Trump poses to the nation.

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Trumps lawyers admitted in court that he cant post the $454 million fraud judgment bond because he lacks the cash to back it.

CNN reported on a filing by Trumps lawyers

The amount of the judgment, with interest, exceeds $464 million, and very few bonding companies will consider a bond of anything approaching that magnitude, Trumps lawyers wrote. (Trump himself was ordered to pay $454 million; the $464 million includes the disgorgement for his adult sons Don Jr. and Eric.)

An insurance broker, Gary Giulietti, who testified for Trump during the civil fraud trial, signed an affidavit stating that securing a bond in the full amount is a practical impossibility.

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Potential underwriters are seeking cash to back the bond, not properties, according to Trumps lawyers.

No bond company is crazy enough to give Trump a $454 million bond without the cash to secure it. Bonding companies dont want buildings or assets. They want cold, hard cash. If Trump had the money to post the bond. he wouldnt need a bonding company to post it for him.

Donald Trumps problem is that he doesnt actually own much real estate in New York. His biggest holding appears to be Trump Tower, but it is unclear if he owns the building outright. Other buildings that either carry Trumps name in New York or are listed among his holdings are licensing deals, ground leases, or places he might own a portion of.

It is very difficult for Trump to sell a building or two in New York to cover the bond when he does not own much in New York that he could sell.

James could seize Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street, but unless Donald Trump wants to sell his Florida properties, it is clear why he is struggling to come up with the cash.

Donald Trumps illusion of vast wealth was just another con.

e their move or pack up and end this investigation.

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2023 was the year of queer cinema  from campy rom coms like Red, White & Royal Blue to instant cult classics like Bottoms and heartwarming dramas like All of Us Stangers. But to me, most necessary in the queer canon, are stories about queer adolescence like Heartstopper, Sex Education, and Young Royals.

So many queer people didn't have the adolescence they were promised. Sure, in some places, queerness is less stigmatized. But even in the US, a record number of anti-LGBTQIA bills were proposed, and the anti-gay fear-mongering is frankly out of control. Which is all the say: queerness is still outside of the norm.

The definition of marginalization is that systems aren't built for you. While that manifests in all areas of your life, it's never more agonizing and angst-inducing than when you're in high school. Full of hyperbolized emotions, aggrandized self-importance, and so many hormones, being a queer high schooler is an agonizing theater of angst. The yearning! The pent-up desire! The repression! I wouldn't go back if you paid me ... unless it was to Young Royals' Hillerska Academy.

Some people wish they went to Hogwarts, some people wish they could go to Nevermore Academy. I wish I could enroll in Hillerska. This exclusive Swedish boarding school is the backdrop for the greatest love story ever told. If you've never seen Young Royals, congratulations: you're about to embark on the greatest journey of your life. It's about a Swedish prince (Edvin Ryding) who falls in love with another at his boarding school. But that's where the cliches end.

What is Young Royals about?

Young Royals has become an international phenomenon for its completely novel portrayal of high schoolers  especially queer high schoolers. As the creators have emphasized, the show doesn't make sexuality the problem. It's always the external pressures to conform that are the problem. It also highlights themes of anxiety, mental illness, social class, addiction, race, and more.



But of course, the central theme is queer love. And while I too, was a queer person trapped in a boarding school in the middle of nowhere, I didn't have a queer love affair with the future leader of my country. They call it a gay, teenaged version of The Crown. If that's the case, Simon (Omar Rudberg) is my personal Princess Diana. Despite the larger-than-life stakes, what sets the show apart are its intense emotions. More understated than your typical teen melodrama, it's startling real while also being aspirational  which is perhaps why it's connected to audiences across the world.

Don't get me wrong, it does have its share of drama. But more like the simmering sexual tension and high-stakes relationship chaos of White Lotus than, the eye-roll-inducing fabrications of The Idol. And that drama has had me screaming, crying, throwing up for the past two seasons. Finally, Young Royals season three, the final season of the series, is coming to Netflix. And I don't know if I'm ready.

Young Royals: Season 3 | Official Clip | Netflix www.youtube.com

When does Young Royals Season 3 come out?



Young Royals season 3 comes out on March 11th, with the series finale coming out a week later on March 18th. Someone schedule a wellness check for me. After how long I've been teased, tormented, and kept waiting by this show, I might spontaneously combust before I even make it to March. Play the series finale at my funeral.

How many seasons and episodes are there in Young Royals?

There are 12 episodes of Young Royals available now across two seasons. The third season will also be six episodes  the first five dropping on March 11th and the finale on March 18. Given how much was packed in the trailer, I don't know how our boys will deal with the fallout of the previous seasons while struggling with obligation and classic teenage gossip.

And of course, the hardest truth to contend with: There won't be a season 4 of Young Royals. And I doubt there'll be a spin-off  unless Netflix pulls an XO Kitty. One can only dream. So savor this sweet anticipation while it lasts. After the final season, it'll be goodbye to Wilhelm and Simon forever. I can only hope that Omar Rudberg and Edvin Ryding see insane career growth after this. Will they make like Charles Melton from Riverdale or Jacob Elordi from Euphoria and become household names? The show is an emotional tour de force  so I don't doubt their talents will take them far.

Young Royals Season 3 Trailer:

After waiting so long, it's finally here. Our sneak peek into this season's drama. Be prepared to weep.

Watch the Young Royals Season 3 trailer here:

Young Royals: Season 3 | Official Trailer | Netflix youtu.be

Don't text. I'll be rewatching Young Royals Season 1 and Young Royals Season 2 on Netflix until March 11th.
A Batesburg woman who was reported missing has been found.

Pilar Alvarez, 55, was located by Aiken County Sheriff's Office Thursday afternoon and was returned to her family.

She first was reported missing March 14, by her family and was possibly headed to West Palm Beach Florida.

Alvarez was the second person to be reported missing in Aiken County over the last week. A 2-year-old child, Dutton Dut Dut Aaron, was reported missing by his family March 17 after he was last seen in his yard on Sunshine Circle.

Aaron was found safe with a golden retriever a few hours later thanks to help from the community.
The timing was perfect for Marcus Ryan.

Its an honor for an Irishman to accept this award on St. Patricks Day, he said Sunday during the ceremony to recognize Private Creed as the 2023 Aiken-Trained Horse of the Year.

Ryan, who was born in County Tipperary, and his wife, Crystal, broke the bay colt and prepared him for racing at their Mason Springs training center near Windsor.

In addition, Private Creed spent time at the Aiken Training Track while in the couples care.

He was a big, fast, confident-looking horse, Marcus said. He also was a very smart horse, but he was kind. He knew his strength, but he allowed us to harness it so that we could handle it and he could become the champion that he became.

Private Creed also was the Aiken-Trained Horse of the Year in 2022.

It was in him, that will to win, Marcus said.

In the name of Mason Springs, the Ryans purchased Private Creed for $45,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale for a partnership of investors they had put together.

In 2022, the couple consigned the colt, in the name of Mason Springs, to the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training in Maryland. Mike McCarty purchased him for $155,000.

While racing for McCarty in 2022 and 2023, Private Creed won five of his 12 races while competing nearly all the time on grass and earned $1,329,166.

Steve Asmussen, a member of thoroughbred racings national Hall of Fame, was the colts trainer.

In 2022, Private Creed won the Global Tote Juvenile Sprint Stakes at Kentucky Downs and the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland in Kentucky.

He also finished third in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (gr. I) at Keeneland.

Private Creeds efforts in 2023 included a 2-length victory in the Exacta Systems Franklin-Simpson Stakes (gr. II) at Kentucky Downs.

He finished second in the Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park and the Mahony Stakes at Saratoga Race Course in New York.
Medical services may be harder to get for hundreds of local residents in the days or weeks ahead, with Wagener Medical Center having closed its doors and the facility's future prospects being unclear.

The facility, at 120 Louie St., had March 14 as its last day of services, and some local residents have witnessed a flurry of rumors and speculation about the closure's causes and may now have to drive to Aiken or Columbia for check-ups and other basic medical help.

"That's a fact. My doctor's gone," said Wagener resident Donald Sturkie, who is seeking a seat on the town council. "I don't know what's going on. I don't know what caused it. All I know is, I've got to find another doctor."

A representative of the medical center was asked for a comment on the situation last week and said she was not authorized to speak on the matter.

The town's mayor, Mike Miller, said an effort is underway to get a medical practice on board to run the center, which reportedly dates back more than 60 years. A plaque indicates the building was dedicated in 1994 to the late Dr. Robert L. Worrell, "in memory of his service" from 1959 to 1991.

He cited a variety of concerns such as debt issues and the medical facility's bathroom doors reportedly not being wide enough to accommodate some patients. Discussions on the overall situation, he said, have touched on such ideas as handing the facility over to be run by Lexington Medical Center.

He said he hopes for a solution, at the latest by mid-May. "I feel very confident and I'm thinking positive that we'll have excellent medical coverage once again for an area in northeast Aiken County."

Patients who want to pick up their medical records can get them, starting March 18, at the town hall, at 285 Park St. N.E., a few yards from the fire department.
North Augusta reporter

Elizabeth Hustad is a reporter with The Post and Courier North Augusta. She covers government, growth and development, and business.

Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and previously worked with a Twin Cities weekly. Her work has appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and MinnPost.

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BLUFFTON  The nearly monthlong search for a missing 81-year-old man ended with the discovery of his body March 16 in Lee County.

Martin Raffone was reported missing and endangered by his family after he drove away early in the morning of Feb. 20 from the Sun City home he shared with his wife. Evidence of his movements during the first few hours was uncovered, but his trail quickly went cold.

Raffone, who was known to his family as Uncle Butchie, had been diagnosed with dementia.

A March 17 advisory issued by the Beaufort County Sheriffs Office stated that Raffones vehicle had been located on a remote, dirt road in Lynchburg, a small town approximately 150 miles north of Raffones Beaufort County home.

Law enforcement officials reportedly found his body in close proximity to the car. A cause of death has not yet been released. The police have not yet estimated when Raffone likely died. The Lee County Sheriffs Office is investigating the circumstances that led to his death.

After leaving his home around 1 a.m. Feb. 20, Raffones movements were tracked in the Hardeeville area. Shortly before 3 a.m., a video captured him entering an Enmarket location near Exit 8 of Interstate 95 where he purchased $10 of gasoline. A few minutes later, he was recorded heading toward Highway 17. That was his last known sighting.

Having left his home without his cellphone, Raffones movements could not be tracked by law enforcement. With nothing else to go on, search efforts focused on the area where he had been seen, but the search turned up no new clues.

The Beaufort County Sheriffs Office released information about Raffones last known locations and asked the public to keep an eye out for his white, four-door Hyundai Genesis. A week after his disappearance, the State Law Enforcement Division added resources to the search. In early March, Raffones family reinforced the plea for the publics help finding their family member.
Tyrone Geter has no interest in creating work that shouts. Though politically minded, the Elgin-based artist steers away from flashy statements, believing instead that art is more successful in generating change if it expresses a familiar posture, encouraging viewers to contemplate their role in a common human family.

I learned a long time ago, just screaming at people through art doesn't work, he said.

One of Geters most recent collections of human-centered artwork examines the disturbing truth of climate change and its impact on the most vulnerable demographic: children. These pieces make up Brave New World, a solo exhibition of his work that will be on view at Redux Contemporary Art Center from March 29 to May 18.

The work in Brave New World began to take shape for Geter after a trip to Nigeria, where it was clear how much more difficult climate change's effects would make the lives of children who are already struggling to exist.

The impact on children

I kept wondering  what's going to happen to these kids if we don't do something? I mean, it's bad enough what's happening to kids right now. These kids are gonna be in serious trouble, and probably Black kids will be worse off than most, and especially African (kids), he said.

The mixed-media and charcoal drawings and sculptural installations that will be exhibited show children interacting with the natural world from a position of both peril and power. In Geters work, nature is unruly and fierce, but children adapt to possess supernatural agency, working with the weather instead of against it.

In any kind of earth-shattering thing, in order to survive, they have to adapt," said Geter. "So I got to thinking, what if these kids adapted, but what if they did it in a completely different way?

Connected to nature

Its a conceptual reframing of the inevitable loss of power that children will face as they are forced to shoulder the consequences of older generations mistreatment of the earth, he said.
COLUMBIA  A hundred years ago, thousands of Black residents visited Washington Street for something modern Columbians take for granted  getting a photo taken.

There, they found the studio of Richard Samuel Roberts, whose side-job portraits captured a slice of Black Columbia in the 1920s and '30s, posed in front of painted backdrops and wearing everything from wedding dresses to work uniforms and sailor costumes.

Their likenesses were captured in the negative on glass plates, film's technological predecessor, and eventually stored in a crawl space under the Roberts family home in the once predominately Black Wheeler Hill neighborhood.

They rested there for decades until a University of South Carolina archivist worked with the family in the 1970s to pull the boxes out from below the house and preserve more than 3,000 glass plates in the university's archives. About a tenth of the photos were published in 1986, in a book titled "A True Likeness: The Black South of Richard Samuel Roberts 1920-1936."

But the majority of Roberts' work has remained inaccessible to most  a point that's being corrected inside USC's special collections library, thanks to funding from the university's Center for Civil Rights History and Research.

Digitizing the archives

Inside the special collections office, graduate assistant Fiona Carlisle sits and painstakingly scans the negatives, using acid-free cardboard to shield the glass plates from scratches and plastic sheeting to stop the fragile negatives from sticking to the top of the scanner.

It's a long process, one that may last around two years, but the scans will allow archivists to upload all of the Roberts collection to an online page where researchers and the public will be able to freely view and search through the photos. They're being scanned in a high enough resolution to see the individual beads of a photo subject's necklace.
The South Carolina State Museum in Columbia announced a new yearlong partnership with a rising star in the Charleston-area culinary scene.

Amethyst Ganaway, a 33-year-old chef from North Charleston, will host seven events in partnership with the state museum showcasing Black culinary traditions, culinary contributions to the Upstate by immigrant communities and exploring the Pee Dees tobacco and food culture.

The partnership begins with a program called Harvesting Heritage: A history of Black Culinary Traditions in the Palmetto State from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 18 at the museum.

General admission tickets now for sale are $50, while admission is $40 for museum members.

The event will feature heavy hors doeuvres and a specialty cocktail. Fresh takes on South Carolina culinary staples include Lowcountry shrimp toast, Upstate peach and pea salad, Pee Dee boiled peanuts and Carolina Gold middlins. African American collections curator Ramon Jackson will moderate a discussion with Ganaway and artist and storyteller Natalie Daise.

I am so excited to partner with the State Museum to bring the stories, artistry and living history of the foodways of the many African American communities across our state to life, said Ganaway in a statement. I look forward to engaging with my neighbors within each region, and to work alongside such a dedicated and established organization like the State Museum throughout 2024, 2025, and beyond.

Ganaway worked with other young Black female chefs to honor several older Gullah Geechee female chefs at a 2023 Charleston Wine + Food event dubbed Matriarchs of the Lowcountry.

Ganaway and the young women treated the older women to a meal featuring recipes that made the matriarchs famous. Daise produced a series of portraits of the honored women during that event, which included the women of Berthas Kitchen, Sallie Ann Robinson, Charlotte Jenkins and Emily Meggett.

Afterwards, Ganaway approached the museum about acquiring Daises work. The portraits will be on their first public display at the museum during the event, said David Dickson, the state museums spokesperson.
GREENVILLE COUNTY  A North Carolina company plans to invest roughly $100 million to expand fiber optic lines in Greenville County, a move it says will provide more reliable, high-speed internet in a sizable area.

Lumos Fiber, an internet provider based in High Point, N.C., is preparing to begin the project that will bring the lines to tens of thousand of homes in a large swath of central Greenville County.

Lumos is focusing on areas that don't already have a fiber option from other telecommunications companies, such as AT&T.

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Lumos is already moving forward with a major expansion in Spartanburg County, where it is investing about $60 million, and it has construction well underway in Lexington and Richland counties, where it plans to spend $100 million.

Derek Kelly, Lumos' vice president of market development, said the company is collaborating with state and local agencies to get access to easements and secure permits needed to begin installing lines along roadways and in neighborhoods.

Kelly said he expects Lumos will have active construction projects in Greenville County for close to two years, bringing fiber to clusters of roughly 400 homes at a time.

In a presentation to Greenville County Council's finance committee, Lumos representative Ben Breazeale said the company will communicate with residents in advance in an effort to make the line installation as seamless as possible.

"You want to let them know what to expect from construction before it happens," he said.

During that presentation, Breazeale said fiber optic cable, which transmits data via glass, provides significantly higher bandwidth than legacy copper lines.

As remote work and school become more common, and rapid advancements in technology put higher demand on internet infrastructure, the more robust capacity fiber offers will be necessary to keep up, he said.

"A company has to step up and actually go through the heartache of putting that glass in the right-of-way, in the neighborhoods, in the streets to get it there," he said.
MOUNT PLEASANT  It is a vague memory for Evan Newman, 15, as he sat in his living room.

I just remember getting an extra shot when I was 11, he said. His brothers  Owen, 17, and Aiden, 13  sitting nearby, shake their heads that they have no memory of getting the shots then.

That vaccination against several strains of human papillomavirus, or HPV, is protecting them against six different cancers later in life.

Yet rates of vaccination, which are not mandatory in the U.S., are lower than health officials would like, and South Carolina has one of the worst rates in the country. They are particularly low among affluent and White parents, who say they have concerns about vaccine safety, according to new research at the Hollings Cancer Center at Medical University of South Carolina.

Its a problem the Mount Pleasant boys parents see all of the time. Their mother, Dr. Angela Allevi, is a pediatrician at the Medical University of South Carolina who works with parents to overcome fears of vaccines. Their father, Dr. Jason Newman, sees the sometimes gruesome impact of those cancers as division director of head and neck surgery at MUSC.

I would love to let people know what they can be avoiding by getting their kids vaccinated, he said.

Vaccines against HPV have been around for about 15 years and have been tested on nearly 75,000 patients in clinical trials with a consistent record of safety and effectiveness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. More than 135 million doses have been given, and the most common side effects are those typical of vaccines with redness and swelling at the injection site. Fainting after getting a shot has been seen, which happens a lot when adolescents receive shots, and the serious allergic reaction rate was 3 per 1 million, the CDC reported, which is in line with other vaccines.

But soon after it was introduced, the HPV vaccine ran into some opposition from parents because it was primarily marketed as protection against a sexually transmitted disease instead of cancer prevention, doctors said.
Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low around 60F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low around 60F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
With the recent substantial increase in mortgage interest rates, many homeowners have been asking, Will this finally cause home prices to drop? In a market where rates are predicted to rise even further this year, buyer affordability could take a serious hit. To give you a better idea of w Read moreAre home prices falling?
The girlfriend of Brittanee Drexel's killer Raymond Moody has been indicted on three counts of making false statements to federal investigators. Read moreGirlfriend of Brittanee Drexel's killer appears in court for first time to face charges of making false statements to FBI
MOUNT PLEASANT  For the fourth time, Town Council extended its ban on condos or apartment complexes. No new multi-family structures will be permitted until 2025.

Mount Pleasant officials extended the moratorium until Dec. 31, 2024.

The March 12 decision marked the fourth time Town Council chose to extend the moratorium thats halted construction on multi-family structures since 2017. Attainable housing, which is generally accepted as housing targeted toward people in lower income brackets, are exempt from this ban.

Councilman Jake Rambo said he wanted to have the moratorium last until a rewrite of the towns zoning code and comprehensive plan is complete. His motion to do so failed.

Worried that would disincentivize staff to complete the rewrite and leave the town at the risk of legal action, Town Council opted instead to extend the moratorium until Dec. 31.

We have never had one of our growth management measures overturned or challenged in court," Mayor Will Haynie said. "Weve never done it. Im not willing to flirt with it now.

The December expiration date will give town staff enough time to update and adopt the code.

Mount Pleasant Planning Director Michele Reed told The Post and Courier last month that a 2020 audit of the towns zoning code prompted a rewrite. The document hadnt been reviewed or updated in its entirety since 1979.

Revisions to the code encompass needs for housing diversity, meaning a mix of occupancies and tree preservation, Reed said. The updated code is expected to be adopted by late summer or early fall.
Perhaps one of the most iconic buildings in Charleston  and certainly on St. Patricks Day  is Hibernian Hall. What better time to reflect on one of the citys oldest, most prestigious organizations?

Charles Town was a diverse colony, with ethnicities and religions of nearly every stripe. Sure, its state church was Anglican, but that really meant your taxes went to the church. You could worship however you chose unless  at least until the American Revolution  you were Catholic. Early Catholics were suspected of being in league with the enemy Spanish in Florida, and so were eschewed until the colonies became an independent nation.

Because Charles Town was so diverse, countrymen established friendly, or benevolent, societies whose missions were to aid arriving immigrants, assist poor widows of deceased members and generally have a good time eating and drinking. There were the South Carolina Society for French Huguenots, St. Andrews Society for Scots, Brown Fellowship Society for free men of color, German Friendly Society and Hebrew Benevolent Society, to name a few.

Charlestons Hibernian Society was founded on St. Patricks Day 1799 by eight prosperous Irishmen, both Catholic and Protestant, for the purpose of true enjoyment and useful beneficence, according to early records. They met heart in hand at one anothers residences every second Thursday of the month to raise or distribute funds for immigrants, and every fourth Thursday to engage themselves in sentiment and song and supper.

Two years later, again on St. Patricks Day, the organization adopted the name Hibernian Society of Charleston (Hibernia being the Latin word for Ireland). Its seal, illustrated above the halls front doors and in its iron gates design, is an Irish harp. Its motto Non ignara mali, miseris succurrere disco means Being familiar with misfortune, I learn to assist the unfortunate.

The societys presidency alternated annually between a Catholic and Protestant, a rare collaboration for that time. Nor, after 1801, did members even have to be Irish. The societys constitution declared membership open for the admission of respectable persons of any nation or religion, including Jewish members since the 1830s.
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
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
FLORENCE  Florence law enforcement has an extra tool to combat hate crimes.

Florence City Council members unanimously approved a law enhancing the penalty for crimes motivated by hate just two weeks after antisemitic flyers were strewn in city and county neighborhoods.

The ordinance  passed at a March 18 meeting  was in the works before the incident, but its another example of a rash of racist incidents that have occurred in South Carolina in the past several months.

City Council members have said the ordinance is in response to community concerns about the potential for racist actions that go unpunished. South Carolina is one of two states without a hate crime law on the books.

The new law acts as an enhancement and doesnt make racist speech or actions crimes on their own.

For example, City Attorney Ben Zeigler said, someone who threw out racist flyers on a Florence street could be charged with littering as the initial crime and, because the flyers contained racist material, could also be charged with hate intimidation.

Hate intimidation is punishable by up to $500 in fines or 30 days in jail.

Protected identities include race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or national origin.

Florence joins a growing list of South Carolina cities that have decided to offer a legal remedy for rising hate crimes.

Legislation in the Statehouse to do so has hit a roadblock.

Renewed pressure to support hate crime legislation comes as the U.S. sees a growing number of hate crimes and as South Carolina battles a rash of racist incidents.

In the final months of 2023, Columbia and Mount Pleasant both saw antisemitic flyers distributed in their communities. In November, a Black Conway couple fled their home after their White neighbors burned a cross pointed in their direction, according to police reports.

On March 5, residents in Florence neighborhoods woke to find antisemitic flyers strewn across their front yards.
COLUMBIA  In 2023, a new ban that effectively cut off abortion at six weeks of pregnancy became law. The all-male S.C. Supreme Court gave it the constitutional stamp of approval and abortions plummeted.

To some it seemed time for the anti-abortion movement to take a victory lap.

Yet on a gray January day with a thick layer of fog sitting over the Statehouse dome, the hundreds of abortion opponents gathered for the annual Stand Up for Life rally were more frustrated than overjoyed.

We still got to come up here. Yes, its the Heartbeat Bill, but it shouldnt even get to that point, said 32-year-old Goose Creek resident Doug Meadows, referring to the official title of the states current abortion ban.

Many anti-abortion activists wanted the state to go much further than the heartbeat law to push fetal personhood legislation and a ban on abortion at conception. Some, like Meadows, hope it wouldnt include exceptions for rape and incest. Theyre also wondering why deeply conservative South Carolina couldnt accomplish a total ban while so-called Bible Belt brethren like Tennessee, Alabama and Texas could.

Its an odd moment for the anti-abortion movement in South Carolina. Not only is their agenda momentarily stalled in the Legislature, talk of abortion restrictions barely registered during this years first-in-the-South GOP presidential primary. In contrast to prior years, neither leading candidate  former Gov. Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump  were eager to talk about the issue, and when they did they spoke only in vague terms.

It was different, said state Rep. John McCravy, a Greenwood Republican and leading champion of more restrictive abortion measures in the Legislature.

Some Republicans shy away from the issue because of national narratives that are going on, he added. I think thats a mistake.

Despite the frustration of some, in South Carolina, the anti-abortion movement and their Statehouse allies have been very successful in reducing the number of legal abortions taking place in the state.
U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace said her office was bombarded by abusive messages last week, and police took a suspect into custody.

She declined to release details of the event or provide a jurisdiction where a documenting report is available of an arrest.

In a March 16 post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mace thanked unidentified police for acting fast to address a matter she said included threats of acts of extreme violence targeted at her and her family.

She also noted the severity in multiple threatening messages increased last week following her charged exchange with ABC Sunday news show host George Stephanopoulos regarding her support for former President Donald Trump.

Maces spokeswoman told The Post and Courier in a text March 18 were not interested in releasing this report.

She added, However, our office takes threats of this extreme very seriously. We thank law enforcement for their efforts and plan to let the process play out at this time.

The U.S. Capitol Police in Washington, D.C., said March 18 that for safety reasons, the USCP does not discuss potential investigations, in response to a Post and Courier inquiry about any case involving Mace, R-Isle of Palms.

The South Carolina office of the FBI said March 18 it has no report of a case being pursued within its jurisdiction involving the congresswoman and their agency.

An online review of recent bookings into the Charleston County jail from the weekend did not immediately show arrests recorded for charges tied to threatening a federal official.

Mace has been vigilant in her security, including after her car and former residence on Daniel Island were vandalized in the past  incidents she also addressed on social media.

In her announcement on X, Mace referenced her March 10 exchange with Stephanopoulos on ABCs This Week in which she accused him of rape-shaming her for a line of questioning regarding her support for Trump.
COLUMBIA  The rhetoric of some budget speeches on the floor of the state House of Representatives could have caused some to miss a key fact: South Carolina is doing quite well financially.

State revenues are projected to increase by roughly $300 million next year, according to recent fiscal estimates. The economic performance is so good that the states property tax burden, already the fifth-lowest in the nation, is going down by an average of about $359 per homeowner, while in-state tuition for major public universities will remain stable for the sixth straight year.

The states reserves, or its rainy day fund, have swelled to a record $1.1 billion, while professions like police officers and teachers are getting raises.

Despite all that, the overall $13.2 billion spending plan House members passed March 13 was still down some $600 million from the budget they passed a year ago.

That wasnt enough, said hard-line conservatives in the Freedom Caucus who contend the cuts dont go nearly as far as they should and continue to fund initiatives they believe fall outside the purview of core functions of government.

Amendments to end the tuition freezes  which have cost the state millions over the years  went nowhere, while proposals to slash new Arts Council funding for a one-time increase in police officer pay also flopped. On the floor, mainstream Republicans and their foils in the Freedom Caucus seemed to spar less over specific dollars and cents than political philosophy, and whether government has a role in South Carolinians daily lives more than filling potholes and funding essential services.

Rep. Jordan Pace, a Goose Creek Republican and Freedom Caucus member, equated the spending situation to racing toward a cliff at 70 mph and then throttling down to 50 mph.

Its good that were not going as quickly in the wrong direction, he said. (But) were still heading quickly in the wrong direction.
SPARTANBURG  Spartanburg students are not only missing more school than usual, they are missing it for longer periods, and there are no clear reasons behind the issue or solutions for it.

What is clear is if students are not in school, they miss the time needed to mature and develop academically. And the younger the student, the more foundational skills that student misses.

If theyre here, we can help them. If theyre not, if theyre at home, we cant give them what they need in order for them to be successful, said Bryant Roberson, principal of Dorman High School.

According to data from Spartanburg Academic Movement, a nonprofit that pursues academic success for all children, around a quarter of students  23.5 percent  were chronically absent in the 2021-22 school year. The data was compiled across Spartanburgs seven school districts.

The South Carolina Department of Education defines chronic absenteeism as any student in grade K-12 who misses at least 50 percent of the school day for at least 10 percent of the school year, or about 18 days overall.

Both unexcused and excused absences count toward that total.

Chronic absenteeism has risen since the pandemic. Chronic absenteeism in Spartanburg and statewide was around 20 percent in the 2020-21 school year.

Nationwide, that percentage was only around 15 percent pre-pandemic, according to the Associated Press .

Missing 18 days, its just  its devastating. Its really hard to come back from academically and socially and emotionally, said Andrew McMillan, principal of Spartanburg High School, which instructs over 2,000 students.

Chronic absenteeism also plays a tangible role in students declining math and reading test scores, according to a federal analysis .
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Acquisition will position the Company for more efficient operations, future growthHAMILTON, OH / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / 80 Acres Farms has acquired the Mother Raw premium salad dressing business from Reunion Foods Inc., a Toronto-based manufacturer that has supplied 80 Acres Farms' salad kits with Mother Raw dressings since the kits debuted in 2023.Rockin' Ranchero salad kit with Mother Raw dressing The 80 Acres Farms team formed a partnership with Reunion Foods in 2022, when the Company was developing its salad kits. The two companies recognized a shared mission-bringing fresh, healthy food to more people without compromising flavor. Mother Raw has supported the kits' expansion into over 1,000 retailers across the eastern U.S. as the Company's exclusive salad dressing supplier."Working closely with Mother Raw, we fell in love with their people, their products, and their commitment to fresh, healthy ingredients," 80 Acres Farms co-founder and CEO Mike Zelkind says. "Through vertical integration, the acquisition will streamline operations, expedite innovation, and equip us as we grow our national footprint." 80 Acres Farms is positioned to expand its salad kit product line and develop dressings in-house, using ingredients from the Company's precision-controlled farms. The Company will bring the operation to one of its Hamilton locations."We are thrilled to know our beloved brand is in the hands of an incredible team with an aligned purpose and will continue to thrive in the U.S. market under their leadership," says Kristi Knowles, CEO of Reunion Foods Inc. Mother Raw was first introduced in 2019 and has grown rapidly with distinctive positioning as a delicious, premium, and clean-label brand.About 80 Acres Farms 80 Acres Farms, a vertical farming leader based in Hamilton, Ohio, operates indoor farms built with world-class technology and analytics by the Company's tech-focused subsidiary, Infinite Acres. 80 Acres Farms provides consumers with a range of pesticide-free harvests that last longer at home, reducing food waste and exceeding the highest standards in food safety. Consumers can find the Company's branded salads, salad kits, herbs, and tomatoes at retailers, including Kroger, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, The Fresh Market, Fresh Thyme, Meijer, Dorothy Lane Markets, and multiple food service distributors.Contact InformationJed PortmanCommunications Managerjed.portman@eafarms.com 8434122863SOURCE: 80 Acres FarmsView the original press release on newswire.com
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HERNDON, VA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / It has now been a year since Artel, LLC launched its Pathfinder 2 program, which has now completed its first six months of on-orbit operations for the United Space. Pathfinder 2 originally completed its final contractual milestone, the Initial on-orbit Test (IoT) in September 2023, which the U.S. Government accepted, completing all program requirements. This included the design, test, launch, and operation of the satellite and transponder, as well as to provide commercial communications Ku-band bandwidth for 15 years.Pathfinder 2 is an initiative between Congress and the United States Space Force (USSF), formally the US Air Force's Space Command, to move from short-term lease agreements towards long-term investment opportunities for commercial satellite communications (SATCOM). The vision was to host a government owned transponder onboard a commercially owned and operated satellite. Artel was awarded the $19 Million contract on 9 November 2017 to embed the Pathfinder 2 mission on Hispasat's Amazonas Nexus high throughput satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space. The Pathfinder 2 mission launched in February 2023. This new satellite has coverage over the entire American continent and the North Atlantic corridor (an area with major aerial and maritime traffic).A unique objective was to ensure greater satellite services and introduce cost savings as compared to the traditional short-term space capacity leasing model of the commercial satellites in orbit. For the Pathfinder 2 mission, the Government purchased commercial capacity for 2023-2038 including management of the capacity with no annual sustainment costs. The long-term spend, as an alternative to short-term leasing options, was key to the substantial 70% cost savings.The U.S. Government owns this capacity for the lifespan of the satellite, which is typically 15 years. This capacity can be used for the DoD or any Federal agency, at the U.S. Government's discretion. Since completing IoT, the Space Force's Space Delta 8 SATCOM Office at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado has been responsible for planning mission support and managing the Pathfinder 2 capacity for a full array of DoD users. Remarkably, demand for this capacity has been so strong, as of February 2024 it is almost fully utilized."This mission demonstrates the high degree of partnership between military and commercial acquisition. Pathfinder 2 satisfies warfighter requirements by procuring commercially provided pre-launch transponders and securing bandwidth at a lower total ownership cost," said Ms. Charlotte Gerhart, Senior Materiel Leader, Acquisition Delta - Tactical SATCOM, Space Systems Command.Pathfinder 2 resulted in immediate savings to the government, when on 26 September 2023 at 1600Z, General Atomic's MQ-1C transitioned to Pathfinder 2 after 20 years of leasing SATCOM capacity one year at a time-or less. Joint Task Force-North (JTF-N) was procuring SATCOM for its mission at an annualized cost of $1.8 million. As a result of Pathfinder 2, their new cost for SATCOM is $0.0. Additionally, Pathfinder 2 also enables industry collaboration between commercial SATCOM capabilities with military SATCOM (MILSATCOM) operations."The Pathfinder 2 Program is a prime example of Government and Industry collaboration to not only deliver leading-edge technologies, but also through a purchase model saving substantial taxpayer dollars," stated Ed Spitler, Head of SATCOM Programs for Artel, LLC. Artel, and its partners, were able to overcome several unforeseen challenges during these past five years related to events from the global pandemic to the war in Ukraine. While the world was experiencing supply chain interruptions, product shortages, and facility shut-downs, Artel led the way to persevere and deliver. Pathfinder 2 represents a departure from traditional segregation of military and commercial SATCOM management processes, placing both under the management of the USSF.EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Space Systems Command (SSC)About Space Systems CommandSpace Systems Command (SSC) is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring and delivering resilient war fighting capabilities to protect our nation's strategic advantage in and from space. SSC manages an $15 billion space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense and works in partnership with joint forces, industry, government agencies, academic and allied organizations to accelerate innovation and outpace emerging threats. Our actions today are making the world a better space for tomorrow.-30-Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding this topic by sending ane-mail to sscpa.media@spaceforce.mil About ArtelSince 1986, Artel has served as a trusted provider of secure IT and network solutions to the U.S. Government. Our telecommunications offerings ensure reliable, secure connectivity worldwide to support our customers' mission-critical requirements. An International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 certified network systems integrator, Artel provides cost-effective, on-time delivery of global terrestrial and satellite network communication services, cyber security, risk management, and technology support services. Please visit www.artelllc.com for additional information. If you would like more information about this topic, please e-mail espitler@ artelllc.com Contact InformationJohn ScottSATCOM, Managerjscott@ artelllc.com 17039278675SOURCE: Artel LLCView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 16:31:49

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Levi & Korsinsky notifies investors that it has commenced an investigation of Fair Isaac Corporation ("Fair Isaac Corporation") (NYSE:FICO) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws.On March 12, 2024, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley sent a letter to the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, urging it to investigate FICO's "potentially anticompetitive practices." In the letter, Senator Hawley asserted that FICO "appears to be using its monopolistic power of the credit scoring market to increase costs for mortgage lenders-an increase that will be passed onto consumers." Senator Hawley accused FICO of "astronomically hik[ing] its prices" "[i]n an apparent abuse of this market power." Following this news, on March 13, 2024, FICO's stock price fell over 5%. To obtain additional information, go to:or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212)363-7500.WHY LEVI & KORSINSKY: Over the past 20 years, Levi & Korsinsky LLP has established itself as a nationally-recognized securities litigation firm that has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for aggrieved shareholders and built a track record of winning high-stakes cases. The firm has extensive expertise representing investors in complex securities litigation and a team of over 70 employees to serve our clients. For seven years in a row, Levi & Korsinsky has ranked in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report as one of the top securities litigation firms in the United States. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212)363-7500 Fax: (212)363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 22:00:10

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / bettermoo(d) Food Corporation (CSE:MOOO)(OTCQB:MOOOF)(Frankfurt:0I5A, WKN: A3D8PP) (the "Company" or "bettermoo(d)") is pleased to announce during a special investors announcement on March 18, 2023, the stocking of its flagship product, Moodrink (the "Product"), at its distribution partner, United Natural Food (UNFI) Canada, to meet the demand of Canada's largest grocery retail chain.Nima Bahrami, CEO of the Company, also praised the Product's outstanding reception, with demand outstripping the Company's forecasts and experiencing swift sell-outs and reorders in select Canadian stores, showcasing the market's appetite for Moodrink. This strategic move to stock up at UNFI is designed to ensure that Canadians across the country have reliable access to Moodrink.Mr. Bahrami also took the opportunity to emphasize that the current achievements are merely the starting point for bettermoo(d), and lauded Moodrink's achievement of securing a nationwide presence within stores of the world's leading natural and organic foods retailer. With a commitment to capitalizing on the Company's recent success and existing momentum, bettermoo(d) is set on broadening its market footprint, delving into new ventures, and maintaining a steadfast focus on innovation. This proactive approach signifies the Company's dedication to not just sustaining but also amplifying its growth and success in this dynamic market landscape.ABOUT BETTERMOO(D) FOOD CORPORATIONbettermoo(d) Food Corporation is an innovative plant-based dairy alternative food and beverage company based in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, launching Moodrink, a nutritious dairy-alternative beverage with a revolutionary flavour. Moodrink includes a blend of herbs and flowers similar to what cows ate, before the time of mass livestock production. Like rich dairy products, Moodrink contains added healthy plant fats and vitamins, so consumers don't miss out. The "Moodrink" is just the beginning of the revolution for the Vancouver based dairy-alternative company, bettermoo(d).Driven by the motto "What A Cow Eats and A Human Needs" bettermoo(d) seeks to produce dairy alternative products that are good for both people and the planet - ensuring that all products are nutritious and sustainably sourced, and that also emulate the great taste of traditional milk from the Alps regions of Switzerland, France and Austria. Working with food scientists, the Company's goal is to conduct continuous food research and development programs with the aim of rolling out a full line of dairy alternative products, including Moogurt and Buetter, as well as many other products, that are better for YOU and better for the planet.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD of DIRECTORSNima BahramiChief Executive Officer and Director bettermoo(d) Food CorporationFor further information please contact:Email: investors@ bettermoodfoodcorporation.com Website: www.bettermoo.com Phone: 1-855-715-1865The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.This news release may contain certain forward looking statements and forward looking information (collectively, "Forward-Looking Statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements with respect to product demand and takeover and investment discussions, are forward-looking statements. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.SOURCE: bettermoo(d) Food Corporation
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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / BioNxt Solutions Inc. ("BioNxt" or the "Company") (CSE:BNXT)(OTCQB:BNXTF)(FSE:BXT) is pleased to report that based on the recent success of its toxicity and comparative pharmacokinetic ("PK") studies the Company is advancing towards human comparative bioavailability studies on an expedited basis. The next steps in the development and commercialization process include technology and process transfer, upscaling of manufacturing capability, analytical method development and validation, and clinical sample manufacturing preparation, manufacturing, and product release for use in the upcoming planned human comparative bioequivalence study. Sample manufacturing is planned for Q2 2024 with the European Investigational Medicinal Product Dossier (IMPD) preparation and submission also planned for Q2 2024.On February 7, 2024, the BioNxt announced positive animal toxicity study results with no adverse clinical abnormalities or indications of toxicity observed in any participants after consecutive days of dosing. On March 13, 2024, the Company announced positive animal PK study results that demonstrated highly comparable rapid absorption and bioequivalence between the Company's ODF product and the name-brand reference drug for all administered samples. The upcoming planned human comparative bioequivalence study will be carried out by a European contract research organization in accordance with EU medical regulatory guidelines.BioNxt is developing a 100% owned and proprietary hybrid-generic ODF Cladribine dosage form, directed at the multiple sclerosis ("MS") market. Cladribine tablets are currently approved for use in over 75 countries, including by the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and the European Medicines Agency ("EMA"), with annual sales in excess of one billion USD. Cladribine tablets are approved for several indications, namely highly active forms of relapsing-remitting MS and certain forms of leukemia. MS represents the largest market segment for the sale of Cladribine with approximately 2.3 million people living with MS worldwide, with the highest prevalence in North America and Europe, noted by Atlas of MS. The global Multiple Sclerosis drug market is expected to top USD 41 billion by 2033 according to Market.us The Company has filed Cladribine ODF-related provisional patent applications with three to four patent applications expected to be on file in major international jurisdictions by late 2024 to early 2025 with potential patent protection extending to 2044.BioNxt's wholly owned subsidiary is a German narcotics manufacturer, developer, and researcher located in the district of Biberach, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. For over a decade, the company and its team have been leaders in the design, testing and manufacture of innovative, non-invasive drug delivery systems, particularly transdermal patches and sublingual strips for the delivery of active pharmaceutical ingredients for the treatment of pain and neurological conditions. According to Precedence Research, the global pharmaceutical drug delivery market size was valued at USD 1,525 billion in 2022 and expected to surpass approximately USD 2,047 billion by 2030.About BioNxt Solutions Inc.BioNxt Solutions Inc. is a bioscience accelerator focused on next-generation drug formulations and delivery systems, diagnostic screening tests, and new active pharmaceutical production and evaluation, including: precision transdermal and oral dissolvable drug formulations; rapid, low-cost infectious disease and oral health screening tests; and standardization and clinical evaluation of emerging active pharmaceutical ingredients for neurological applications. The Company has research and development operations in North America and Europe, with an operational focus in Germany, and is currently focused on regulatory approval and commercialization of medical products for European markets.BioNxt Solutions Inc.Hugh Rogers, CEO and DirectorEmail: info@ bionxt.com Phone: +1 780-818-6422Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" InformationSome of the statements contained in this news release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "expects", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.SOURCE: BioNxt Solutions Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 14:46:09

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Building a more inclusive futureNORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / GenGen Blog | CommunityBy Erin Gallegos Corporate Responsibility ManagerImagine a world where gender equality isn't just a distant dream but a reality - a world where biases, stereotypes and discrimination are relics of the past. A world where diversity is valued and celebrated, every voice is heard and every achievement is recognized. We strive for this vision as we celebrated International Women's Day and celebrate Women's History Month.This year's theme underscores the importance of fostering a world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive - a world where differences are not just accepted but embraced. It's a time to raise awareness about the ongoing struggles for gender equality and to take action to drive meaningful change.Building a new talent pipelineThrough partnerships with organizations likeWomen4CyberandCzechitas , we work to expand cybersecurity skills among women and close the gender gap that still exists throughout the global tech sector.One of the best ways to reach those goals is mentorship. Women4Cyber's Mentorship programs are designed to help women advance their careers in cybersecurity and IT. Mentors, all of whom are working tech professionals, spend six months meeting regularly with their mentees to provide personal and professional guidance, share their experiences, and help mentees identify and achieve career goals. Since 2021, Women4Cyber has matched more than 300 mentors from across Europe with more than 500 women just starting in their cybersecurity careers.Czechitas, another one of our nonprofit partners, provides reskilling and technical education programs for women in the Czech Republic. The organization engages working tech professionals and experts to lead their intensive long-term courses. Tech professionals also provide mentorship, advice and guidance for enrolled students as they work on their own projects.Both organizations help to ensure that the future of the tech industry is a more inclusive one, with women having equal access to skills-building and career opportunities in cybersecurity and beyond.Among those mentors are Gen team members, who have year-round opportunities to participate in these organizations' mentorship programs. On February 13, Women4Cyber hosted a Speed Mentoring event to connect junior professionals working in cybersecurity with Gen experts. Each mentee had four one-on-one conversations with different team members, offering them a chance to gain well-rounded guidance to navigate their careers in the cybersecurity industry.Later in March, Czechitas, and the Gen Corporate Responsibility and DEI teams, and our WONDER Community, will host a webinar on the future of work and technology, and the future of women in STEM.Advocating for womenAt Gen, advocating for women is a year-round effort. We're always supporting women, and we pay extra attention to helping them succeed in tech because that's what we're good at.One example of this success is Leyla Bilge, Director of Scam Research Labs. She's made cybersecurity her life since starting in computer science at the age of 18. After an internship with our company, she took on a full-time role. Twelve years later, she's made tremendous waves as a Gen leader.When asked about setting goals, she spoke frankly saying, "I never actually set goals because I always thought I could never achieve them. Then, at one turning point, I finally realized Icouldachieve them." Leyla set abstract goals for herself; she wanted to apply a different leadership style that's not so common - she wanted to be an egoless manager, leading by motivation and making ambition contagious. She saw the results.Recently, she was recognized for her work at theSeramount 2023 Women of Excellence Awardsand was named STEM Steward. The awards honor women who are committed to their own success while selflessly mentoring and championing other women. And Leyla was a perfect example of this.A message to others: Set goals that aren't the most obvious or common. We can achieve them. Don't be afraid to apply for awards or submit papers to academic conferences. That's how we earn the recognition we deserve. And do what you can to uplift women, no matter what gender you are.The work continuesOur work is far from over. Discrimination, bias, and inequality persist in various forms. We must continue to challenge these injustices and work towards gender parity in all aspects of life. We must support and uplift each other, amplifying the voices of marginalized people and advocating for policies that promote equality.Inclusion means that all actions taken throughout Women's Month are valid. Whether participating in marches and rallies, organizing educational events or having conversations about gender equality. Every effort contributes to the larger goal of building a more inclusive world.As we come together to celebrate, let the achievements of women inspire us. Let us raise awareness about discrimination and take action to drive gender parity. Together, we can forge a future where every person, regardless of gender, can thrive and succeed. Let's continue to #InspireInclusion.View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Gen on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: GenWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/genEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Gen
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 12:00:40

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STATE COLLEGE, PA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / In a groundbreaking leap for aquatic safety, the world's first mobile app simulating real drowning behaviors, "Dr. Tom's Lifeguard Vision," is now available for download on both the Apple Store and Google Play Store. Developed by the Aquatic Safety Research Group, LLC, this app serves as a critical tool for parents, caregivers, lifeguards, and aquatic supervisors, offering an immersive experience that enhances victim recognition, anticipation, and prevention.Dr. Tom's Lifeguard Vision App Dr. Tom's Lifeguard Vision App A Glimpse into Dr. Tom's Lifeguard Vision:Dr. Tom's Lifeguard Vision is a pioneering initiative providing a window into the dynamics of drownings, enabling users to practice and elevate their drowning detection skills. Whether you are a parent, caregiver, lifeguard, or aquatic supervisor, this app brings awareness to drowning behaviors, fostering a more vigilant approach when monitoring bodies of water.Featuring 3-dimensional environments with lifelike swimmers, features, and hazards, Dr. Tom's Lifeguard Vision provides a realistic experience that goes beyond traditional training methods. The incorporation of actual pool sounds enhances immersion, making users feel as though they are on the side of the pool during lifeguard duty.The drowning behaviors in the app are meticulously crafted based on real-life cases reviewed by aquatic safety experts Dr. Tom Griffiths and Dr. Rachel Griffiths during their expert testimony cases during lawsuits.Available on both the Apple Store and Google Play Store, Dr. Tom's Lifeguard Vision empowers individuals to access the app independently, making it a versatile tool for anyone concerned about aquatic safety anytime, anywhere.Facility Licensing for Aquatic Professionals:Aquatic professionals now can license Dr. Tom's Lifeguard Vision for their facilities of any size. This affordable option grants access to robust analytics, allowing management to track training progress and gain insights necessary for enhancing and supplementing training based on measurable outcomes and goals. The app, designed by the Aquatic Safety Research Group, aims to elevate the capabilities of lifeguards, parents, and caregivers in recognizing potential drowning victims before it's too late.Founders with a Mission:Dr. Tom Griffiths and Dr. Rachel Griffiths, water safety experts with Aquatic Safety Research Group, are dedicated to educating aquatic facilities, parents, caregivers, lifeguards, etc. worldwide. Contrary to conventional app motives, the primary purpose of Dr. Tom's Lifeguard Vision is not profit-driven. Instead, it is a commitment to equipping the aquatic community with a tool for better preparedness in aquatic safety prevention.For media inquiries, contact:Dr. Tom Griffiths or Dr. Rachel Griffiths TomGriffiths@ AquaticSafetyGroup.comRachelGriffiths@AquaticSafetyGroup.com (814) 321-5242 www.aquaticsafetygroup.com To download Dr. Tom's Lifeguard Vision, visit www.drtomslifeguardvision.com or search for "Dr. Tom's Lifeguard Vision" on the Google Play Store and Apple Store.Contact Information:Tom GriffithsPresidenttomgriffiths@ aquaticsafetygroup.com (814) 321-5242Rachel GriffithsCommunication Directorrachelgriffiths@ aquaticsafetygroup.com (814) 321-5242SOURCE: Aquatic Safety Research Group, LLCView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 18:36:01

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JEOLLABUK-DO, REPUBLIC OF KOREA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / A wave of innovation is sweeping across Europe's business landscape, heralded by DUZ's launch of a special promotion for its latest product, the Premium Hands-Free Dryer..The Innovation:Beyond a mere product, DUZ's Premium Hands-Free Dryer represents a transformative solution, boasting energy efficiency, quiet operation, and eco-friendliness. It's specifically designed to elevate operational efficiency and sustainability within businesses across Europe.Promotion Details:Promotion Period: From March 15th to April 15th, 2024. Benefits: European businesses are invited to take advantage of this unique promotion, where DUZ not only offers free international shipping on samples of the Premium Hands-Free Dryer but also grants interested partners the opportunity to become exclusive distributors within their region, should they decide to import and sell the product domestically. How to Apply: Interested businesses can apply through the DUZ website, where detailed application procedures and eligibility criteria are available. Compliance and Convenience:In line with industry advertising standards and European legal requirements, DUZ is dedicated to transparency and engaging effectively with customers by fully disclosing the terms of the promotion. Additionally, compliance with data protection laws, including GDPR, guarantees comprehensive protection of customer privacy.Conclusion:DUZ's promotional offer represents not just an opportunity for economic gain but also a step towards environmental stewardship. European businesses are invited to upgrade their facilities with this innovative product, moving towards a sustainable future.Contact Information:Contact Person: Steve SungCompany Name: iM CO., LTD.Phone Number: +82-70-8633-8883Website: https://en.duzdryer.comEmail: im.global@imco.kr Address: 303 Block 1, Main Factory, 20-23 Yakchon-ro 8-gil, Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of KoreaSOURCE: iM CO., LTD.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 14:01:45

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FNM attends star-studded world premieres of Road House, Monkey Man, Y2K, and more!AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / The Korman siblings'Friday Night Moviepodcast celebrated independent film at this year's SXSW, delivering unforgettable insights and laughs with groundbreaking filmmakers, actors, producers, and writers. Among the standout stories was an interview with the team behindWE WERE DANGEROUS , including director Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, who won the SXSW Special Jury Award for Filmmaking. The film's powerful narrative of rebellion and camaraderie among young women in a New Zealand reformatory captivated audiences and critics alike.Friday Night Movie at SXSW 2024 Hosts Becky Korman and Shai Korman, and Special Guest Host Alli Korman pose with microphone in front of SXSW banner.The Friday Night Movie team also hit the theaters, attending the world premieres of Jake Gyllenhaal's raucousROAD HOUSE remake, Dev Patel's action epic and directorial debutMONKEY MAN, Kyle Mooney's apocalyptic teen comedy Y2K, and Damian Wilson's joyously terrifying ghost story ODDITY.Coverage featured an engaging interview with comedy, music, and acting star Kate Micucci (Garfunkel and Oates) about her darkly funny role in the animated short, THE BLEACHER, and a conversation with rising star, Sonja O'Hara, who is breaking out with DOOMSDAY on Shudder and multiple features in the works.Interviews with the cast and creative team behind Director Natalie Bailey's AUDREY captivated listeners with dark humor, complex family dynamics, and unrivaled chemistry. The podcast also explored compelling takes on relationships with BEN AND SUZANNE, A REUNION IN 4 PARTS star Anastasia Olowin and the cast and creative team from the heartwarming SWITCH UP, including director Tara Pirnia and starring Cristian de la Fuente (DRIVEN, MENORAH IN THE MIDDLE), Julieth Resptrepo (GRISELDA), Shondrella Avery (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE).Additional highlights from the festival included coverage of:CAN, a vulnerable, funny, and touching short by Kailee McGee about her cancer journeyDICKWEED, a true-crime documentary that feels like a real-life Coen Brothers movie from Jonathan Ignatius GreenMAKE ME A PIZZA, a bold take on capitalism, erotic storytelling, and pizza from Talia Shea Levin and Woody CoyoteMY IDEA, a music video about the surreal life of a motion capture actor from YACHT and Kailee McGeeSHOTPLAYER, a look into the world of New York's most legendary pickpocket from renegade filmmaker Sam Shainberg And more engaging stories from the world of independent film.Looking beyond just covering film festivals, the Kormans announced earlier this year that they would be joining the indie movie world with their Jewish summer camp feature,THE FLOATERS, directed by Rachel Israel (KEEP THE CHANGE), and produced alongside Andra Gordon (CASTLE IN THE GROUND).For the latest sibling rivalry-driven movie and TV reviews, visit frinightmovie.com and sign up for Friday Night Movie's newsletter.Contact InformationShai KormanProducer / Hostshai@ p4tmedia.com 703-879-6464SOURCE: Friday Night Movie PodcastView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 19:35:58

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SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Panhwar Token, the innovative cryptocurrency linked to the aviation and auto industries, has achieved remarkable success in its pre-sale, raising over $1.5 million within a span of just 45 days. The overwhelming response came from a diverse investor base, including individual investors, institutions, and notable celebrities who resonate with the company's commitment to green technology and environmentally friendly transportation solutions.The pre-sale's exceptional outcome underscores the unique appeal of Panhwar Token, which is intricately connected to Panhwar Jet, an aerospace company, and Panhwar Auto, a pioneer in electric vehicle manufacturing. Both entities are poised to revolutionize their respective industries and share their successes directly with Panhwar Token holders.Key Highlights of the Pre-Sale:- Investor Diversity: Panhwar Token attracted a wide range of investors, including seasoned institutional players and first-time crypto enthusiasts. Notably, the involvement of celebrities has brought attention to the project's green initiatives.- Environmental Commitment: The success of Panhwar Token is intertwined with the support for environmentally friendly solutions. Investors are drawn to Panhwar Jet's groundbreaking achievements in the aviation sector, where they are on track to achieve significant milestones.- Panhwar Auto's Milestones: Panhwar Auto, renowned for its cutting-edge electric vehicles, is close to completing the conversion of the BMW Z4 into an electric vehicle. The anticipated range of over 1200 miles on a single charge positions Panhwar Auto as an industry leader.Upcoming Milestones and Achievements:- Panhwar Jet's Success: Panhwar Jet, one of the flagship companies in the Panhwar Group, is set to achieve crucial milestones in the coming months. The company's commitment to green aviation solutions is expected to break several world records, solidifying its position as an industry disruptor.- World Records in Focus: Both Panhwar Jet and Panhwar Auto are gearing up to break multiple world records, signaling their prowess in the aerospace and electric vehicle sectors.Listing on Major Exchanges:With the pre-sale's triumphant conclusion, Panhwar Token is now gearing up for listing on major cryptocurrency exchanges. The listing is anticipated to provide liquidity and accessibility to a broader audience, paving the way for further growth and collaboration.Investors, enthusiasts, and the public are invited to stay tuned for more updates as Panhwar Token embarks on the next phase of its journey, unlocking new possibilities in the intersection of crypto, aviation, and electric vehicles.About Panhwar Token:Panhwar Token is a cryptocurrency uniquely tied to Panhwar Jet and Panhwar Auto, both leading entities in the aerospace and electric vehicle industries. Panhwar Token holders benefit directly from the success of these companies, fostering a community-driven approach to investment.Media Details Company Name: Panhwar CryptoMail: Media@ panhwarcrypto.com City & Country: Salt Lake City, USAWebsite: https://panhwarcrypto.com SOURCE: Panhwar Crypto
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 13:30:30

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Renowned architect Rick Brown of Architects Richard R. Brown Associates unveils his latest masterpiece, 6119 NW Grand Boulevard, heralding a new era of luxury living in Oklahoma. Priced at $3.7 million, this exclusive townhome, one of 15 in the new development called6100 Grand , is inspired by Ogden Codman, Jr., stands as a testament to Brown's vision and craftsmanship. Featuring exquisite details such as three signed antique Baccarat chandeliers, Waterworks fixtures throughout, and two authentic antique fireplaces from French chateaus, this residence is a work of art in its own right. With amenities rivaling those of the most prestigious resorts, this development sets a new standard for upscale living in the heart of Oklahoma City.The Exterior was Modeled After Ogden Codman Jr.'s Vision of a Block of Townhomes in New York City (Rendering)Honoring a Legacy: The Inspiration Behind 6100 GrandCodman, known for his collaboration with author Edith Wharton on The Decoration of Houses (1897),envisioned a grand community in New York Citysimilar to what Brown has built. However, his dream was left unrealized because he could not get the land needed to build. Renowned American architect Rick Brown embarked on a journey to bring Codman's unfinished project to life in Oklahoma City. Brown, along with his wife Tracey, who own an original Codman Townhome in New York City, sought to recreate Codman's grand vision. Guided by Codman's principles of architectural harmony and proportion, Brown meticulously crafted 6100 Grand, paying homage to the past while embracing the future of luxury living.Every Townhome Includes Antique French Fireplaces, Custom Iron Railing, and Waterworks Fixtures ThroughoutEvery aspect of 6100 Grand Boulevard reflects Brown's commitment to excellence and attention to detail. From the authentic Vermont Slate roof to the intricately designed facade, residents are greeted by grandeur and sophistication. The interior spaces, curated for timeless elegance, feature soaring ceilings, grand staircases, and opulent finishes, a testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship defining this development. Additionally, 6100 Grand offers residents access to premium amenities, including a state-of-the-art workout center and a serene pool area.###About Architects Richard R. Brown AssociatesRick Brown is the founder and principal of Architects Richard R. Brown Associates, a leading architectural firm based in Oklahoma City. With a passion for creating timeless spaces that blend classical elegance with modern sensibilities, Brown has garnered acclaim for his exceptional design work and unwavering commitment to excellence. Drawing inspiration from the rich architectural heritage of the past, Brown continues to push the boundaries of design innovation, creating spaces that inspire and delight.About David Oliver Real Estate GroupThe David Oliver Real Estate Group, with Sage Sotheby's International Realty, stands as a trusted partner in navigating Oklahoma's dynamic real estate market. With a profound understanding of the local landscape and an unwavering commitment to personalized service, they are dedicated to guiding clients through the buying and selling process. Boasting unrivaled expertise, their team has closed 230 sales totaling $203 million in the prior five years, with properties ranging from $209,000 to $3.6 million. Their recent statistics reveal an average price of over $995,000 in the last two years.About Sage Sotheby's International RealtySage Sotheby's International Realty is the first and only Sotheby's International Realty Affiliate in Oklahoma and one of the premier real estate brokerages in central Oklahoma. Sage Sotheby's International Realty leads through unrivaled service and a defining style that leaves a lasting impression - the guiding principle, the destination to which agents and clients aspire.ContactJennifer Jarrard Oliver, Sage Sotheby's International Realty jennifer@ davidoliverhomes.com or (405) 229-9874David Oliver, Sage Sotheby's International Realty david@ davidoliverhomes.com or (405) 532-38006100 grand.com SOURCE: Sage Sotheby's International Realty
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 20:12:26

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DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Humanity International Investments (HII), the Dubai-based social impact fund, has announced the creation of an unprecedented watchdog index for the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. The index will serve as a barometer for assessing the socio-economic impact of cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects worldwide, with a keen focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) impact.In a push for ethical investment within the crypto sector, HII's initiative introduces a rigorous ESG framework. The index is designed to evaluate and rate blockchain entities, crypto tokens and crypto funds based on a multifaceted methodology, incorporating market performance, technology robustness, regulatory compliance, and community engagement, alongside a keen ESG analysis.This pioneering measure is particularly timely, as Dubai positions itself as the epicenter of the crypto world. The HII index will guide investors towards sustainable, responsible, and socially beneficial crypto ventures.The HII Blockchain Index recognizes the essential role ESG considerations play within the investment landscape. The aim is to encourage investment in projects that align with sustainability goals and have a meaningful impact, particularly for those at the bottom of the economic pyramid."By prioritizing investments that align with broader sustainability goals, the Humanity Blockchain Index will direct the crypto industry towards a future where it holds a sustainable and socially responsible modus operandi", said Mr. Marcus Dukes, President of HII.The launch of this index demonstrates HII's unwavering dedication to closing the income gap for the unbanked and ultra-poor, particularly in Africa.HII is championing a new investment paradigm - one that values humanity's future as much as immediate financial returns. This initiative is set to catalyze a shift towards more sustainable business practices in the crypto industry and foster an inclusive and ethically robust digital economy."Through our pioneering Blockchain Index, we are setting a new standard for responsible investment in the crypto world. By factoring in a token's environmental impact, societal contribution, and governance quality, the index ensures investors have a clear understanding of which crypto enterprises are contributing positively to society and which may be falling short," said Dukes.The HII Blockchain Index will also introduce a revolutionary approach to measuring the impact of crypto and blockchain companies on individuals at the bottom of the pyramid, with a particular emphasis on the unbanked population. The index will evaluate how these companies are leveraging technology to provide financial services, increase accessibility, and foster economic empowerment for those who have historically been excluded from the traditional banking system. By focusing on key metrics such as accessibility, usability, and the implementation of projects that directly benefit the unbanked, the HII Blockchain Index aims to highlight and support those entities making tangible strides towards financial inclusion.Through this initiative, HII is paving the way for a future where digital financial tools are leveraged for the greater good, ensuring that investments are contributing positively to our planet and its inhabitants.For further inquiries with Humanity International Investment, please contact:Communications@ humanityinvestments.co About Humanity International Investments( www.humanityinvestments.co)Humanity International Investments is a Dubai-based social impact fund dedicated to fostering financial inclusion across Africa. With an expansive network spanning the continent, the organization is committed to bridging the identity gap for the unbanked and the ultra-poor. By collaborating with innovative technology partners, the Humanity Protocol seeks to provide verifiable identities, enabling countless Africans to access financial services, credit, and opportunities for wealth creation. Their vision is not just about creating identities but about empowering individuals to change their futures and have a voice in the global digital community.Media ContactOrganization: Humanity Investments.Contact Person: Aly RamjiWebsite: https://humanityinvestments.co Email: Communications@ humanityinvestments.coCity: DubaiCountry: United Arab EmiratesSOURCE: Humanity Investments.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 21:00:10

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SGU is the largest provider of new doctors to the U.S. healthcare system for the past 10 yearsTRUE BLUE, GRENADA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / St. George's University School of Medicine announced today that more than 880 of its students and graduates have secured post-graduate residencies at health centers around the United States in the 2024 match cycle.This marks the 10th consecutive year in which SGU has been the largest provider of new doctors to first-year U.S. post-graduate residencies.1"Match Day is a pivotal moment in a new doctor's career," said Dr. Marios Loukas, Dean of the St. George's University School of Medicine. "The entire St. George's University community looks forward to this day, and together, we congratulate this remarkable class of medical students on their success." SGU students and graduates matched into residences in 22 specialties across 40 states and the District of Columbia. More students will find out where they will be doing residency training in the days and weeks to come.St. George's University graduates will begin residency programs in several highly competitive specialties, ranging from urology and neurology to emergency medicine and pediatrics. Many will be returning to their home states or cities to begin their careers in medicine."Each one of these matched students represents the next step in a dream come true, and each one is a vital addition to the availability of care and to the medical professional community," said Dr. Loukas.This new group of doctors will play a crucial role in addressing America's growing physician shortage. Since 2015, St. George's University has been the largest provider of new doctors to the U.S. healthcare system annually. More than two-thirds of SGU graduates enter primary care specialties, and a number of SGU alumni work in medically underserved areas."St. George's University graduates have been meeting the medical needs of communities across the United States for decades," Dr. Loukas said. "We look forward to seeing all the great things that this newest class of SGU graduates will accomplish." ###About St. George's University St. George's University is a center of international education, drawing students and faculty from 140 countries to the island of Grenada, in the West Indies, to its programs in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health, science, and business. SGU is affiliated with educational institutions worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The University's over 28,000 graduates include physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals across the world. St. George's University School of Medicine is accredited by the Grenada Medical and Dental Council which has been recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME). For more information, visit www.sgu.edu MEDIA CONTACT Maggie Servais maggie@ keybridge.biz (202) 516-65841As the medical school graduating the largest number of students per year, SGU places the largest number of graduates into residency programs each year, based on internal SGU graduate/expected graduate and residency placement data as of March 2024.SOURCE: St. George's University
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 21:50:31

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / NextGen Food Robotics Corp. (the "Company" or "NextGen") (CBOE:NGRB);(OTC PINK:NGRBF);(Frankfurt:O83), announces that it has filed amended and restated interim financial statements and corresponding amended and restated management's discussion and analysis for the three and six month periods ended July 31, 2023, and October 31, 2023 (the "Amended Financial Statements"). The following adjustments have been identified and corrected:For the three months ended July 31, 2023AJE 1 - Marketing expense was reduced by $643,319 and captured as a prepaid balance. AJE 2 - $74,902 was reclassified from prepaids to accounts receivable as a GST rebate that the Company expects to claim back.As a result of these adjustments, the Company's current assets increased from $2,938,176 to $3,581,495 resulting in a working capital increase of $643,319. In addition, the Company's net loss for the three months ended July 31, 2023, decreased from $2,309,218 to $1,665,899 resulting in a loss per share of $0.04 as opposed to the originally stated $0.06.For the six months ended October 31, 2023AJE 1 - Marketing expense was reduced by a total of $876,269 of which $801,367 was removed from accounts payable and $74,902 was reclassified to accounts receivable as a GST rebate.As a result of these adjustments, the Company's current assets increased from $2,388,328 to $2,463,230 and current liabilities decreased from $1,006,814 to $205,447. The Company's working capital increased from $1,381,514 to $2,257,783 indicating a stronger financial position of the Company. Net loss for the six months ended October 31, 2023 decreased from $3,864,122 to $2,987,853 resulting in a reduced loss per share from $0.08 to $0.06.The Amended Financial Statements are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca . The Amended Financial Statements replace and supersede, in entirety, the respective previous interim financial statements and accompanying management discussion and analysis for the three and six month periods ended July 31, 2023 and October 31, 2023 (collectively, the "Previous Documents"). The Previous Documents should no longer be relied upon.About NextGen Food Robotics Nextgen Food Robotics is an automated robotic food co-packer and manufacturer that uses technology to modernize its food manufacturing processes. Additionally, Nextgen is developing the "Lily app", which is an AI-powered food application.For investor inquiries or further information, please contact:Paul Rivas, Chief Executive Officer1 (236) 471-1357 info@ nextgenai.ca Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws with respect to the Company. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by words such as "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," and similar expressions. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws.Neither Cboe Canada nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the Listing Manual of Cboe Canada) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.SOURCE: NextGen Food Robotics Corp.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 12:00:27

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PelicanCorp Puts a Spotlight on High Precision Data Collection in New Orleans, LouisianaIRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / PelicanCorp, the global leader in the damage prevention industry, is scheduled for multiple speaking times at this year's Global Excavation Safety Conference (ESC). For the first time in its 20-year history, Global ESC is being held in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 19-21.Global ESC is dedicated to providing the highest-quality education in underground asset damage prevention and excavation safety. Each year, the industry's top experts gather to share their knowledge and experience with attendees, providing them with the tools, best practices, and new technologies they need to stay safe and excel in their careers."Throughout the year, PelicanCorp works to share our knowledge about the latest techniques and technologies in use around the world to prevent damage to underground infrastructure, optimize workflows, and boost safety for workers and their communities," said Duane Rodgers, CEO, PelicanCorp. "The Global ESC consistently presents a unique opportunity to meet with the widest array of industry professionals." Duane Rodgers, CEO of PelicanCorp, will be participating in the Opening Plenary: ESA Town Hall LIVE event, Tuesday, March 19, in Rooms 265-267, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. PelicanCorp's damage prevention experts will also be presenting additional sessions at this year's Global ESC in the PelicanCorp Courtyard.Call Center Managers DebateWednesday, March 20, 10:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m. in the PelicanCorp Courtyard Moderated by Jason Manning, Vice-President of OneCall ServicesThis is a continuing debate from a lively discussion last year that resulted in many opinions, thoughts, and ideas around increasing safety at this most important juncture of live calls and web tickets. A panel of experts will discuss the various methodologies they have used to reduce damage.High Precision Data Collection and Global Case Studies Wednesday, March 20, 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. in the PelicanCorp Courtyard Discussion led by Abraham Alpuerto, Business Development Manager - NA of PelicanCorpThis discussion will take participants around the world, highlighting interesting case studies with Geolantis geospatial mapping as the focal point.The Future of One Call Notification CentersThursday, March 21, 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m. in the PelicanCorp Courtyard Panel Discussion with Duane Rodgers, CEO of PelicanCorp, and Invited Panel GuestsRecently, PelicanCorp held an end user conference for its One Call Notification Centers in North America. The result of that meeting created a robust discussion around various trends in the industry. This panel of experts will discuss new trends and technologies that may impact One Call and Notification Centers' operations worldwide.Stop by Booth #401 to learn more about PelicanCorp and enter to win a trip to Australia.Registration is open for the 2024 Global Excavation Safety Conference.About PelicanCorpPelicanCorp is the Global Leader in Damage Prevention Solutions built specifically for the protection of essential infrastructure. PelicanCorp connects people, applications, and devices through a unified platform to help industry professionals manage risk and build quality projects - safely, on time, and within budget. PelicanCorp has a diversified business model built on 40 years of experience protecting billions of dollars of global assets. PelicanCorp is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, with offices and operations around the globe. Learn more at www.PelicanCorp.com or follow PelicanCorp on LinkedIn.Contact Information:Mark TuckerChief Marketing Officermarketing@ pelicancorp.com SOURCE: PelicanCorpView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 11:00:20

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PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / RushNet, Inc (OTC PINK:RSHN) proudly announced today that Fuel Tech, Inc. of Warrenville, IL, has published a white paper detailing the successful trial at Royal Caridea's Gila Bend, Arizona facility suggesting that the use of Fuel Tech's DGI Dissolved Gas Infusion Gas Infusion technology can dramatically increase total shrimp production compared with traditional aeration methods.For a copy of the white paper, please click on the following link: https://bit.ly/FuelTechDGITrialWP The trial included the use of Fuel Tech's DGI technology as a critical component of Royal Caridea's water treatment process and resulted in the impressive growth of shrimp to 42 grams in just 90 days. This outcome demonstrated the significant potential of Fuel Tech's innovative technology to revolutionize the aquaculture industry.Royal Caridea's aquaculture production technology is unique compared to other shrimp growers because of aeration by dissolved gas infusion, biology-free water reprocessing, and its 90-day benchmark. Notably, Royal Caridea is not solely producing extra-large and jumbo shrimp; its system produces 4 cycles per year using an eight stacked raceway system (SRS) based on this 90-day production cycle. This system enables rapid growth rates and low cost of goods sold, which gives Royal Caridea the potential to make their wholesale and retail pricing highly competitive for a largely unmet market of fresh never frozen and live shrimp. In contrast, outdoor producers in Texas usually target only 2 cycles within a year, and no known producer completes 3 or more harvests in a single year. The Royal Caridea system can provide fresh never frozen shrimp daily.As previously announced, RushNet has recently signed an exclusive licensing agreement for the United States and Canada, giving them the rights to the Royal Caridea technology. Royal Caridea LLC is a limited liability company based in Arizona, established in 2009 under the laws of the state of Delaware and Arizona. The company has secured over $8 million in funding from accredited investors in both the United States and Europe and has received a significant loan from the United States Department of Aquaculture ($2.7 million USD) in 2020, which adds to its credibility. Royal Caridea LLC claims to have developed the world's leading aquaculture technology production system.Mr. Cunha, who was recently appointed as Chairman and CEO of RushNet, said, "We are pleased to announce these growth rates. When a Royal Caridea aquaculture application had the need for an oxygenation process, we were pleased to have the opportunity to work with Fuel Tech as our collaborative partner." The water treatment system for the Royal Caridea stacked raceway using the DGI technology allows for a dissolved oxygen (DO) set point to be independently established for each raceway. As the oxygen demand increases, additional oxygen is infused to maintain a steady DO level. Since the aeration is done using a dissolved oxygen system, oxygen is immediately available, minimal oxygen loss occurs due to bubbling off and the shrimp are provided with a consent level of oxygen to enhance shrimp growth. Using the DGI system, it was demonstrated that the DO could be maintained at levels well beyond those achievable with other systems. Shrimp grew rapidly, and their size and color were closely matched, with no signs of stress observed. The outgrowth was carried out at DO levels ranging from 9.5mg/L to 11.5mg/L.Mr. Cunha emphasized the importance of carefully controlling all the parameters of the system to grow shrimp on an economic basis almost anywhere in the world. He also stressed the need to carefully distribute and monitor oxygen levels within the system, which is often overlooked. Fuel Tech's DGI technology proved to be highly effective, and it is expected to be installed at every location in the United States and Canada where the Royal Caridea technology is used.About RushNetWith over 25 years in the public sector, RushNet has continually evolved, embracing change and innovation at every turn. The company is completing its transition out of the lab business.CONTACT:Michael CunhaPhone 916-616-7037Email mcunha53@ gmail.com Twitter Handle: @rushnetrevivalSOURCE: Rushnet
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 12:01:31

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Temas Resources Corp. ("Temas" or the "Company") (CSE:TMAS)(OTCQB:TMASF) is pleased to announce that Temas Resources CEO Tim Fernback is scheduled to present at the 2024 Kinvestor Critical Minerals & Mining Virtual Conference on Tuesday, March 26th at 9:30 am PT (12:30 pm ET). More details below.Kinvestor Critical Minerals & Mining 2024 (KCMM24) is a virtual conference featuring a stellar lineup of presenting companies in the critical minerals and mining industries. This event will showcase several junior mining companies exploring for minerals that are critical to the global energy transition including copper, graphite, titanium, and uranium, as well as the precious metals gold and silver. Hosted by Kin Communications president and host of The Kinvestor Report Arlen Hansen, KCMM24 will also feature a roundtable discussion with industry experts on one of the hottest topics of 2024: Uranium. Presenting companies and industry experts will have the opportunity to share about latest developments and answer thoughtful questions from attendees.Register for free today and reserve your spot to hear from Tim Fernback and other key executives as they discuss the latest in critical minerals and mining.Presentation Details:Date: March 26, 2024 Presentation Time: 9:30 am PT / 12:30 pm ET Presenter: Tim Fernback, CEORegister now at: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2517065568384/WN_cdDwHVs4R7qqsuqYbq4oAA About Kinvestor Virtual ConferencesAt Kinvestor, we create powerful opportunities for investors to connect with both established and up-and-coming public companies in the mining, technology, and energy sectors on a free to join virtual platform. Kinvestor Virtual Conferences are powered by Kin Communications Inc, a full-service investor relations agency with over 14 years of experience across multiple industries. Our goal is to foster long-term relationships with investors, thought leaders and the media. Our investor relations services include strategy, messaging, investor outreach, digital marketing, content creation, and more. For more information visit kinvestor.net Twitter: @kincommAbout Temas ResourcesTemas Resources Corp. is focused on the advanced La Blache and Lac Brule Iron-Titanium-Vanadium projects in Quebec. The critical metals the Company is exploring for are key to our national mineral independence. Additionally, the Company invests in and works to apply its green mineral recovery technologies across its mining portfolio to reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of metal extraction through advanced processing and patented leaching technologies.All public filings for the Company can be found on the SEDAR+ website www.sedarplus.ca . For more information about the Company, please visit www.temasresources.com For further information or investor relations inquiries:Tim FernbackPresident and CEOtfernback@ shaw.ca KIN Communications Inc.Tel: 604-684-6730 tmas@ kincommunications.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at the Company's mineral projects.Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of the Company, future growth potential for the Company and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health pandemics; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner.SOURCE: Temas Resources Corp.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 20:15:45

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LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / The Food Hog is excited to announce the launch of a unique culinary competition, The Food Hog Global Culinary Challenge, a competition that intersects tradition and contemporary culinary art. This challenge is a quest for the next great international dish through an exploration of re-invented authentic dishes (through the lens of other cuisines) from around the world.Challenge DetailsParticipants are tasked with selecting an authentic dish from any culture and creatively combining it with elements from different cuisines and/or incorporating modern cooking techniques. The aim is to create a dish that maintains the essence and authenticity while introducing an innovative twist that reflects the melting pot of modern global culinary practices.The Food Hog encourages submissions that:Showcase Culinary Creativity: Entry dishes should blend traditional and modern elements in a way that showcases culinary creativity but is also respectful to the local culture and traditions whose cuisine it represents.Highlight Cultural Significance: Dishes should come with a story, including but not limited to the cultural background of the original authentic dish as well as the inspiration behind its modern counterpart.Demonstrate Technical Skill: Whether it's through the use of contemporary cooking techniques, quirky ingredient combinations, or inventive presentation, entries should display at least some extent of culinary expertise.Judging and PrizesA panel of culinary experts from The Food Hog, including personalities like Daniel Kiteski and Dirk James, will judge entries based on creativity, authenticity, flavor, and the story behind each dish. The winner will receive:Feature on The Food Hog: An in-depth feature story, including a video interview discussing the winner's culinary journey and the inspiration behind the winning dish.A Culinary Expedition: An all-expenses-paid culinary tour to a destination of the winner's choice renowned for its food culture (i.e. Florence, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Copenhagen, etc.).Collaboration Opportunities: A chance to collaborate with The Food Hog on a series of articles or videos, sharing their culinary expertise and insights with a global audience.The Food Hog Global Culinary Challenge is The Food Hog's contribution to global culinary and cultural diversity as well as the innovative spirit of modern cuisine. It invites participants to contribute to a culinary dialogue between the past and the present, and to translate it to an universal language of food that unites culinary enthusiasts from around the globe.About The Food HogThe Food Hog is a culinary platform designed to introduce food enthusiasts to authentic recipes, diverse flavors, exotic dishes, and quirky culinary tales from around the world through engaging storytelling that unites individuals through their love for food. The Food Hog has offered an abundance of culinary experiences from around the globe, fromIndian street food delicaciesand quirky, exotic to less-known cuisines (i.e. Balkan Cuisines, Central Asian cuisines, etc.) and straight-out bizarre delicacies most people probably wouldn't try, the platform showcases a wide array of recipes, reviews, and cultural insights.For more information about The Food Hog and their culinary explorations, please visit theirwebsite .Media ContactOrganization: The Food HogContact Person: Daniel KiteskiWebsite: https://thefoodhog.com/ Email: media@ passportsymphony.comCity: LjubljanaCountry: SloveniaSOURCE: The Food Hog
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 16:47:10

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PALO ALTO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Uptime.com , a leading website monitoring company, is thrilled to announce the launch of UPro!, a premium service designed to streamline customer onboarding to Uptime.com UPro! Services are meticulously crafted to facilitate a seamless onboarding experience to the Uptime platform, providing clients with comprehensive training and documentation on system configurations. The service includes an in-depth, one-hour training session and more, ensuring that clients can quickly and efficiently integrate website monitoring tools into their operations. This streamlined onboarding process empowers teams to focus on driving business growth without unnecessary delays.Key Features of UPro! Services:Smooth Hand-off of Deliverables: UPro! ensures a smooth transition, minimizing disruptions during the onboarding process.Comprehensive Documentation: Clients receive detailed documentation on system configurations, empowering them with a clear understanding of the web monitoring tools.In-Depth Training Session: The one-hour training session by one of our dedicated UPro onboarding professionals provides teams with the knowledge to utilize the full potential of Uptime.com's website monitoring solutions.Quick Setup and Seamless Onboarding: UPro! expedites the setup process, allowing teams to leverage website monitoring tools efficiently."With the experience of the Customer Success and Support team combined, we can create the ultimate monitoring account setup. It is time for us to share this knowledge with our clients by onboarding you with a seamless set of monitors on your services like you have never seen. UPro is here to kickstart your monitoring and make sure you are aware of any glitches before your clients do," said Elias Laham, VP of Customer Success & Support.In addition to the UPro! Services launch, Uptime.com is proud to announce the expansion of its global observability with Probe Server Locations, the website monitoring industry's largest number of locations supporting both IPv4 & IPv6. Below is a list of the latest addition of locations in the last month:Brasilia, Brazil Buenos Aires, Argentina Bogota, Colombia Panama City, Panama Lima, Peru Cairo, Egypt Riyadh, Saudi Arabia San Juan, Puerto Rico La Paz, BoliviaWith these strategic additions, Uptime.com now boasts over 75 locations worldwide, enhancing visibility and ensuring that websites and services remain available for customers across the globe."I'm thrilled to unveil UPro! Services, our latest innovation designed to empower even more customers to monitor any website or service with our cutting-edge expertise in website monitoring. While our product continues to offer a self-service experience, we recognize that some customers prefer the guidance of an expert to configure their monitoring in line with our best practices, especially those without a dedicated IT team. UPro! Services steps in to fill this gap, offering these customers a straightforward and all-encompassing solution. This service ensures they gain the necessary visibility and responsiveness, safeguarding against the loss of crucial customer transactions or sales opportunities. With UPro! Services, we're not just providing a tool; we're ensuring peace of mind and the continuity of your digital services," said Jonathan Franconi, CEO & Head of Product.Contact InformationMike Albanesemike.albanese@newswire.com SOURCE: Uptime.com View the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-18 17:01:03

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Life-Saving Equipment Delivered to Patients in Record Time, Lower Cost at Hospitals Using Award-Winning GoUSME ConnectHOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / A new AI system providing clinicians on-demand access to medical equipment while saving hospitals time and money earned US Med-Equip (USME) Foundry's CIO 100 Award today.US Med-Equip GoUSME ConnectTM returns valuable time to clinicians caring for critical patients, allowing them to place an urgent order for medical equipment, such as a life-saving ventilator or bariatric bed, within the electronic medical record (EMR) portal they already use to help manage their patients' care."The system does all the magic creating a much more streamlined process. It has been amazing and is 1,000% saving us time," a nurse manager for South Carolina's largest private, nonprofit healthcare system shared about the artificial intelligence-driven GoUSME Connect, which requires no complex programming and is easily configured in hours.Operating 24/7, USME leads the nation in medical equipment distribution and technology with an average delivery time of three hours. Hospitals using GoUSME Connect receive equipment even faster.As clinicians record patients' therapy needs in their EMR as usual, GoUSME Connect automatically matches those needs with equipment. This saves hospitals from paying equipment costs that may accrue after a patient no longer needs it, eliminating the need for clinicians to place equipment transfer or pickup orders while caring for patients."Getting medical equipment when they need it, where they need it to help care for patients should be hassle-free for clinicians," US Med-Equip Chief Information Officer Antonio Marin said. "GoUSME Connect was designed to help these healthcare heroes focus on helping their patients heal rather than on processes that take up time and money." USME partners with top hospitals across the nation in the rental, sales, service and asset management of medical equipment ranging from respirators and infusion pumps to patient beds and therapeutic surfaces that a hospital may need based on the number of patients expected or admitted at the time.About US Med-EquipUS Med-Equip partners with top hospitals across the nation to provide the highest-quality movable medical equipment, beds and therapeutic surfaces for patients in their care.Contact InformationBuse Kayarbuse.kayar@issuerdirect.com SOURCE: US Med-EquipView the original press release on newswire.com
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Villa's New Comfort Series Offers Pre-Designed Living Spaces That Foster Independence, Comfort and Dignity for All ResidentsSAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 /Villa, California's leading builder of prefabricated Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and a leader in innovative housing solutions, today announced a new line of ADUs specifically crafted for those seeking a comfortable and wheelchair-friendly* living experience. The Villa Comfort Series, which officially launches to the public in Spring 2024, will support the unique needs of seniors and individuals with decreased mobility while offering beautiful, spacious, single-story spaces to age.An AARP survey found that 77 percent of adults wish to age in their homes. However, safety concerns, necessary home modifications, and increasing living costs make this option challenging for many seniors. Out of those adults surveyed, 60 percent expressed an openness to move to an ADU as a way to preserve personal space while saving on housing costs."Villa's new line of ADUs have been meticulously designed with a focus on universal design principles, ensuring that living space in these ADUs is adaptable to meet the changing needs of residents. This line will promote comfort and dignity for all residents, empowering them to stay close to family or other caregivers while maintaining independence," says Villa CEO Sean Roberts.For those looking to primarily downsize, California residents will benefit from Assembly Bill 1033, which allows property owners to sell their home independently of their ADU, if they choose to do so. This law will make it easier for adults to construct their dream retirement home within the bounds of their existing property, and stay within their community after selling their primary residence.Here are some of the key features and safety modifications that ADU residents can expect with Villa's new designs:Universal Design: Villa ADUs are meticulously designed with a focus on universal design principles, providing a living space that is adaptable to meet the changing needs of residents.Mobility-Friendly Features: Villa ADUs come equipped with a range of mobility-friendly features, including wider doorways, ramp access, lever-style handles, and strategically placed handrails, providing residents with a safe and supportive environment. There are plenty of optional upgrades based on each resident's unique needs, including bathroom grab bars and wheelchair-accessible showers.Comfortable Living Spaces: Villa ADU interiors prioritize comfort without compromising on style. Thoughtfully designed layouts optimize space utilization while high-quality finishes and fixtures add a touch of luxury to everyday living.Tailored for Your Future: Villa understands the importance of planning for the future. Villa ADUs provide a seamless transition into a comfortable and secure living environment for those entering their golden years.Homeowners and builders can gather more information and join Villa's Comfort Series waitlist here.Those who join the Comfort Series waitlist by March 30, 2024, may be eligible for up to $5,000 in optional select ADU upgrades. Terms apply. Offer valid for a limited time only. To join the waitlist and for full eligibility and offer details, visit https://villahomes.com/comfort-adu-2 *Comfort Series ADUs are based on Universal Design Principles, which aim to create spaces that are usable by everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive capabilities. These homes are not intended to meet the ADA Standards for Accessible Design or other similar design standards. However, the primary hallways, doorways, and turn radiuses are wide enough to accommodate a potential wheelchair or walker.About Villa:Villa is the largest builder of prefabricated ADUs in California, specializing in innovative housing solutions built in infill locations. With a focus on quality construction and affordability, Villa is a leader in transforming the way we think about housing in the 21st century. To view all available designs, visit http://villahomes.com Contact InformationJessica Brown Director of Marketingjbrown@ villahomes.com 9702149684SOURCE: VillaView the original press release on newswire.com
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CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / XCana Petroleum Corp. (OTC PINK:XCPT) is pleased to present the first onsite visit by our exploration team led by Steven Cyros, the Table Mountain Critical Mineral Project Head of Exploration. Walk alongside Steven Cyros as he demonstrates the different geologic hue variations across the project's claims."Seeing the amazing colors for the first time, I knew shareholders would be pleased and wanted to ensure they could share in our excitement with this video," said Mac J. Shahsavar, P.Eng., Chairman and CEO of XCana Corp.Figure 1: Table Mountain Critical Mineral Project LayoutLINK TO VIDEO TOUR: CLICK HEREContact & Learn More:XCana Petroleum Corporation+1 312-635-5432 xcanapetro@ gmail.com Corporate Website: xcanacorp.com Corporate Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xcana-corp/ Corporate Twitter: https://twitter.com/XcanaCorp Corporate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xcana_corp/ Corporate Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091196357200 About Xcana Petroleum Corp.XCana Petroleum Corp. is a critical minerals exploration company focused on developing its flagship project, the "Table Mountain Critical Mineral Project", located in the northern Stillwater Range, northeastern Churchill County, Nevada. Xcana Corp. holds 100% ownership in a 118-lode claim, 2430-acre project targeting an array of critical minerals vital to the United States supply chain within the Table Mountain, Bolivia, Boyer, and Cottonwood Canyon districts of Churchill County. The company is seeking to develop this expanding portfolio of nickel, copper, and cobalt-rich assets to become a major supplier of critical minerals.FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including our ability to raise capital, or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause materially different results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc. Our public filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the OTC Markets at: https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/XCPT/disclosure SOURCE: XCana Petroleum Corp.
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SANTA CLARA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 /Zeto, Inc., a commercial-stage medical technology company transforming EEG brain monitoring in healthcare with its innovative EEG headset and advanced cloud platform, is proud to announce its renewal of SOC 2 Type II compliance. This critical milestone highlights Zeto's commitment to the highest standards of security and compliance, in line with the stringent guidelines set forth by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) for SOC for Service Organizations, also recognized as SSAE 18.Zeto Successfully Completes SOC 2 Type II Audit for Its Cloud Platform Zeto Successfully Completes SOC 2 Type II Audit for Its Cloud Platform, Demonstrating Commitment to Data SecurityAchieving SOC 2 Type II compliance, with an unqualified opinion, serves as third-party industry validation that Zeto, Inc. provides enterprise-level security for customer data stored in its Cloud Platform. This accomplishment is a testament to Zeto's unwavering commitment to data security and operational excellence, ensuring the highest standard of protection for customer information.Aswin Gunasekar, Zeto's founder and CEO said, "SOC Accreditation is more than a benchmark for Zeto; it's a reflection of our deep commitment to security and privacy within the healthcare sector. By achieving this standard, we affirm our dedication to offering dependable and secure cloud services, tailored to meet the critical needs of hospitals and healthcare providers." An unqualified opinion in a SOC 2 Type II audit indicates that Zeto, Inc. manages data with the highest standard of security, providing peace of mind to both current and prospective customers about the company's commitment to data protection and compliance.About Zeto, Inc.Zeto, Inc. is an award-winning, privately held medical technology company located in Santa Clara, CA, that is focused on transforming the way electroencephalography (EEG) is performed at hospitals and clinics. Zeto's revolutionary FDA-cleared EEG headset and cloud platform bring the traditional EEG procedure to the 21st century. The company plans to leverage its hardware and software technology to improve noninvasive monitoring of the brain's electrical activity and achieve better outcomes for neurological conditions such as epilepsy, sleep disorders, autism, stroke, and concussion.To learn more about Zeto's products, please visit: https://zeto-inc.com or email us at info@ zetoinc.com Contact InformationIrina Nazarova Marketing Manageririna.nazarova@zetoinc.com 9174351226SOURCE: Zeto, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com
Oil palm powerhouse Presco switched ownership from long-time investor Siat N.V, based in Brussels, Belgium, which had held on to the companys majority control for well over three decades until the start of this month.

Fimave N.V., holder of 86.7 per cent of the total issued shares of Siat, which owned a 60 per cent interest in Presco, consummated a deal shifting that stake to Oak and Saffron Limited, the oil palm processor said in a regulatory note.

Oak and Saffron, PREMIUM TIMES check with Corporate Affairs Commission shows, is backed by Rasheed Sarumi, founder, owner and managing director of Saro Africa International, an agribusiness group whose subsidiaries include Gossy Warm Springs, Saro Agrosciences, Saro Oil Palms and Saro Lifecare.

Oak and Saffron is established for oil palm, rubber and horticulture businesses and intends to keep Presco Plc Plc listed on the NGX, Presco stated in the document. Yet, the company has little or no online presence, with no website.

The document said the transaction is strategic for Oak and Saffron, especially its long-term commitment to developing the oil palm and rubber industries in West Africa and the horticulture industry in China, Belgium and the United States.

The takeover moves the control of approximately 50,000 hectares of currently-cultivated oil palms on a plantation able to produce 100,000 metric tons of palm kernel oil, crude palm oil and natural rubber in thousands of metric tons every year to the new investor.

Benin City-based Presco is the countrys biggest fully integrated agro-industrial palm processor, GCR Ratings says. In addition to six oil palm plantations are a palm kernel crushing plant, palm oil milling facilities and vegetable oil refining & fractionation plants.

Siat has been operating in Nigeria since 1991 when it bought the government-owned Obaretin Estate, then comprising 2,700 hectares of cultivated area.

Last March, it was fingered in a report by Journalismfund Europe for polluting the groundwater of its host community in Rivers State where the company acquired the assets of Risonpalm, a smaller rival owned by the state.

Such sustainability issues and others like deforestation and land grab for oil palm production are generating heated debates on the need for the industrial oil palm industry to adhere to high environmental, social and governance (ESG)principles.

That is compelling activists and environmentalists to demand strict criteria for how an organisation like Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil issues, of which Siat is a member, issues badges of approval to companies they deem to be environmentally responsible.

Presco ended 2023 reporting a 27.3 per cent growth in revenue, and its net profit, at N30.4 billion, more than three times higher than the previous years.

Total assets rose to N171.7 billion from N132.4 billion a year earlier, according to its unaudited earnings report.

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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said voice and data services affected by undersea cable cuts have been restored.

The NCC said this in a statement signed by Reuben Muoka, the director of public affairs of the commission, on Monday.

Last Thursday, Nigerians including telecommunications companies, banks, and media among others were hit by an internet outage as a result of damage to international undersea cables supplying them with connectivity.

Confirming the incident, the NCC said the damage affected major undersea cables near Abidjan in Cote dIvoire and is causing downtime across West and South African countries.

The commission said 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.

On Monday, Mr Muoka said that services were restored, following the disruption on 14 March, which affected data and voice services due to cuts in undersea fibre optics along the coasts of Cote dIvoire and Senegal.

We are pleased to announce that services have now been restored to approximately 90 per cent of their peak utilization capacities, he said.

He explained that all operators who were impacted by the cuts have taken recovery capacity from submarine cables which were not impacted by the cuts.

He added that mobile network operators have assured the commission that data and voice services would operate optimally pending full repairs of the undersea cables as they have managed to activate alternative connectivities to bring back the situation to normalcy.

We extend our appreciation to telecom consumers for their patience and understanding during the downtime caused by the undersea fibre cuts, he added.

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Suspected terrorists who on Sunday kidnapped over 100 people in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State have released some of the abducted persons.

Residents of the area told PREMIUM TIMES that the gunmen on Monday afternoon released seven captives unconditionally.

A family member of one of the kidnapped persons, Mohammed Aliyu, informed PREMIUM TIMES that the kidnappers did not give the feed captives any reason for the release.

The group of released captives includes three women, three men, and a nursing mother, Mr Aliyu said, adding that they have reunited with their families.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the terrorists laid siege to Kajuru Local Government Area with repeated incidents of abductions. Before the Sunday incident, several residents were abducted at Dogon-Noma, in the same Kajuru LGA.

Last Monday, at least 61 people were abducted at Budah in the same area.

A resident of the community, Aminu Kajuru, who holds a traditional title in the emirate, lamented that the area is now under siege.

He said the bandits ordered residents to come out of their houses and abducted them.

Kaduna State, hosting a high number of Nigerias security formations, is frequently under attack by various armed groups locally called bandits.

Some gunmen recently kidnapped over 250 school children in Kuriga, a community in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.

The abductors of the school children are demanding N1 billion ransom to release the pupils.

The Kaduna State Government is yet to speak on the latest kidnap incident in Kajuru.

READ ALSO: Kaduna community under siege as bandits kidnap over 100 residents

The phone number of the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, did not connect Thursday afternoon when PREMIUM TIMES tried to have him comment on the latest development.

Also, the police spokesperson in the state, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached on the phone.

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The Nigerian military says it is not responsible for the reprisal attack on Okuama community in Delta State. It also suggested that the retaliatory attack on the community could have been carried out by the rival Okoloba community.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that suspected residents of Okuama community on Thursday ambushed and murdered the Commanding Officer of 181 Army Amphibious Battalion, two majors, one captain and 12 soldiers. The military initially said a total of 16 soldiers were killed but on Monday, it posted the names and photos of 17 soldiers including the commander (a lieutenant colonel), two majors, one captain and 13 soldiers.

The military confirmed the killing of the soldiers on Saturday. On Sunday morning, the Okuama community was attacked and many houses there were burnt. It is that Sunday morning attack that the military has now denied.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, a major general, in a statement on Monday, said the community was already deserted even before troops arrived there.

Mr Buba advised those peddling the news of reprisal attacks on the community by soldiers to desist from further dishonouring the fallen heroes.

He said it behoves on the community leaders, elders and the people of Delta to identify the perpetrators of the murder, so that they could be brought to account for the heinous crime.

Mr Buba then suggested that the burning of the Okuama community could have been carried out by the rival Okoloba community. It was the fighting between the two communities that soldiers were sent to resolve before they were killed on Thursday.

The defence spokesperson said as long as the dispute between Okuama and Okoloba communities remain, it implies that there could be untoward activities not initiated by the military.

Overall, there is no doubt, that this (killing of the soldiers) is an extremely sad development and untoward activity by members of the Okuama community against troops that were there to protect them.

We urge the public to resist the temptation of allowing any videos of the incident of the killed personnel from going viral..

It would be a dishonour to the fallen heroes to allow such ugly videos of their demise go viral.

Above all, as the military mourns, it remains ever determined to ensure safety and security of citizens across the country, he said.

Mr Buba said it was tragic, senseless and barbaric to have killed the officers and soldiers in such a dehumanised and unspeakable manner.

According to him, while the armed forces mourns the loss of the gallant troops, there will be measured responses and consequences for the perpetrators.

He consoled their families, colleagues and loved ones over the tragic incident.

Mr Buba reminded Nigerians that the armed forces consist of citizens from every nook and cranny of the nation who had taken oath of allegiance to put themselves in harms way to defend the country.

The defence spokesperson said it was in line with this, that troops were deployed on internal security operations in about all the states of the federation to intervene, deescalate and contain security breaches.

The ugly incident in Okuama Community in Delta is indicative of the dangers our gallant troops experience in order to secure our nation.

The military assures that there would be measured responses and injurious consequences for the perpetrators of these dastardly act.

Nevertheless, the armed forces being a disciplined force that complies with rules of engagement, laws of armed conflict and the respect for human rights would be tempered by these provisions.

We would not be led by emotions, but by the rule of law, he added.

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The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has berated the Federal Government for failing to prepare oil-bearing communities in Bauchi and Gombe states for potential environmental and health impacts of oil exploration in the region.

RDI position emanated from an interactive meeting the organisation held with community members in Alkeleri Local Government Area of Bauchi on the 28th February 2024, where the local community folks had the opportunity of learning about oil impacts in the Niger Delta and environmental issues likely to arise in the north following the discovery of oil in substantial quantity.

They complained about growing friction between communities in the two states over ownership of the oil wells, and also decried growing insecurity plaguing the region.

The Nigerian government in October 2019 announced that it has found one billion barrels of oil reserves and 500 billion cubic feet of gas within the Kolmani river area of Gombe and Bauchi State.

The oilfields (OPL 809 and 810) that are to be developed by Sterling Global Oil, Northern Nigeria Development Commission (NNDC) and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited have attracted an investment of $3billion marking a journey of oil exploration in northern Nigeria. Former

president, Muhammadu Buhari, flagged off the exploration on 22nd November 2022.

The hype that went with the federal government announcement has however not been matched with the anticipated engagement of the locals to forestall a recurrence of the crisis in host communities in the Niger Delta.

RDI Project Officer, Ifeoluwa Adediran, said: It is quite unfortunate that after the fanfare of the government announcement of crude oil exploration exercise in the north no serious on ground engagement has happened. Instead, government is still deceiving the locals about the benefits that oil will bring them.

The Niger Delta is the classic example of what oil can do to people and the environment. The discovery of oil along the boundary lines of Bauchi and Gombe State has already created friction and tension among the host communities claiming ownership of oil wells and will increase land grabs and insecurity in these formerly peaceful communities.

Ms Adediran explained that the interactive was an eye-opener as the locals spoke frankly about how the political elites have started creating conflict among the once peaceful communities aside growing land grabs and the influx of strange people in their communities all interested in what oil would bring.

She said RDI is determined to work with grassroots organisations in the state to deepen their understanding and that of the host communities on issues around their rights, and the likely fallouts of oil exploration and gas flaring on their lives and livelihoods.

We will work with them to ensure they learn from the mistakes of the Niger Delta where oil has become a curse. They must not be unnecessarily enthusiastic about the promised benefits of oil. Instead, the focus

should be on how they can mobilize to ensure they determine what happens in their environment, she said.

Ifeoluwa Adediran

Project Officer

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Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has rejected an appeal to include eggs among the food items that the state government will sell to vulnerable people at a subsidised rate.

The governor turned down the appeal on Thursday during an enlarged State Executive Council meeting, where he signed into law the bill establishing the Bulk Purchase Agency.

Nigerians are facing severe hardship as prices of food items have skyrocketed following the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.

In response to the ballooned prices of commodities, Governor Eno, weeks ago, forwarded to the state assembly, a bill for the establishment of a Bulk Purchase Agency which will buy food items in bulk and sell to the vulnerable people at a subsidised rate.

According to the law, the agency has three staple food items  rice, beans and garri on its menu. The items are to be sold at 10kg each, and once a month to the vulnerable people already enrolled in the state social register.

One attendee at the ceremony, which was live-streamed on Facebook, queried the modalities employed in selecting the three food items, arguing that garri and rice are carbohydrates while beans is the only protein on the list.

He suggested the inclusion of eggs, another protein source, particularly for the malnourished children in the society, but the governor dismissed the appeal.

Poor people dont eat eggs. Lets look at staple foods, the governor responded, while emphasising that the programme, being an intervention, will not last forever.

We all know that there is real hunger in the land. Our people need food, so as a government, we proposed that we intervene in the high cost of food in our state.

The only way we can do that is to set up an agency that will do a direct intervention in the market and get food to our people at a reduced price  that is what the agency seeks to address, he said.

Criteria, vouchers for beneficiaries

Closely followed by the bill-signing ceremony was a presentation by Frank Ekpenyong, an aide to the governor on ICT, and a representative of the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company PLC, a company that handles voucher printing.

Giving details of the scheme, Mr Ekpenyong said the state government selected the accredited market agents that will sell the staple food items to the beneficiaries, who are to pay 70 per cent while the government subsidises 30 per cent, including a provision of five per cent as service charge (interest) to the market agents.

The agency will provide vouchers to qualify individuals enabling them to buy staple foods through accredited market agents, the governors aide said.

The people will take the vouchers to the accredited agents and get garri, beans and rice once a month  not more than 10kg of each of these items.

The agents will take the vouchers to the government and claim their money with 5 per cent interest as a service charge, Mr Ekpenyong added.

Food voucher  security and operational features

The voucher is designed and printed by the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, a Nigerian company which also handles the printing of the nations currency  naira.

Explaining the security feature on the voucher to the governor, who queried if any other printing company cannot produce the voucher, a representative of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, said the papers are customised and cannot be imported to the country without the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria, a description that suggest that the papers for voucher printing may be as expensive, if not more than the food items.

Other concerns

Raising concerns after the presentation, the chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Sunny James urged the governor to expand the scheme to accommodate everybody resident in rural areas, particularly workers, whom he said their take-home pay cannot take them home.

The situation we are in the country, it will be wrong not to make food available for our people, he said.

Mr James further suggested patronising local printers for the vouchers as according to him past experiences with the CBN had shown that sometimes the cost of printing the nations currency is often higher than the value of the naira itself.

He asked if the government or consumers would pay the five per cent service charge as contained on the vouchers, particularly for the price of garri, which is estimated to cost N7,000 for a 10kg bag.

The figures are still tentative, Governor Eno responded. Thats why you dont see a price on this voucher right now.

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Police in Ondo State arraigned one Samuel Balogun (29) before an Akure Magistrates Court on Monday for allegedly assaulting two policemen at Ifira-Akoko in Akoko South-east Local Government Area of the state.

The prosecuting counsel, Itunu Osobu, told the court that Mr Balogun and his accomplices, still at large, assaulted the policemen on 28 January 2022 while the latter were performing their lawful duty.

He told the court that he had eight witnesses who would testify against Mr Balogun, asked the court to remand the defendant and sought a date to open the case.

He argued that the defendant would jump bail if granted because efforts by the police to arrest him in the past over a petition proved abortive until he was arrested for illegal possession of firearms.

He added that the defendant could intimidate the prospective witnesses if granted bail.

In a counter-motion, Mr Baloguns defence counsel, A.O Olahanmi, pleaded with the court to grant his client bail in liberal terms.

He said he was not opposed to fixing a hearing date.

Mr Olahanmi argued that the offences against his client were bailable and that Mr Balogun had a right to bail.

He assured that Mr Balogun would provide reliable sureties for the bail and make himself available for trial.

Presiding Magistrate O. W. Dosunmu ordered that Mr Balogun be kept in police custody and adjourned the hearing of bail arguments to 27 March.

(NAN)

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Senate panel begins probe of N30trn CBN loan obtained by Buhari

The Senate began legislative activities last Monday with the inauguration of a nine-member ad hoc committee to interrogate the disbursement and usage of the 30 trillion Ways and Means loan obtained by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The panel will also probe intervention programmes implemented by the former president such as the Anchor Borrowers Programme, excess funding in the power sector, and monies given to manufacturers, banks and airline companies which contributed to the increase in the countrys debt profile.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, inaugurated the interrogation committee in the Senate complex, Abuja

After the inauguration, members of the committee held their first meeting which lasted for about one hour. The lawmakers rose from the meeting with an assurance that they would not be compromised.

Chairman of the Committee, Isah Jibrin, called on persons involved in the issue to be ready to appear before the lawmakers for questioning.

Mr Jibrin, the lawmaker representing Kogi East on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), urged the relevant authorities to make procurement documents available to the committee for proper scrutiny.

Ningis suspension

The Senate on Tuesday slammed a three-month suspension on Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) over his allegation that lawmakers padded the 2024 budget with N3 trillion.

Mr Ningi, who was at the time Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, had made an allegation three days earlier. Thus when the plenary opened on Tuesday, the first legislative sitting day, it was natural that the matter was going to take centre stage.

It did. After a lengthy debate that lasted for several hours, the Senate resolved to suspend the Bauchi senator.

Senator Ningi is here suspended for three months from all activities relating to the senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Akpabio announced after the majority of the lawmakers supported the move during deliberation on the matter at the Committee of the Whole.

The senate president also issued a warning to Sumaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano) who was the spokesperson of NSF, to desist from spreading false allegations against the Senate.

Meanwhile, on Monday, a day before the plenary, Mr Ningis fate appeared to have been sealed as some northern senators dissociated themselves from padding allegations.

The senators are Aminu Abass (PDP, Adamawa Central), Ibrahim Bomai (APC, Yobe South), Abdulaziz Yaradua (APC, Katsina Central) and Lawal Usman (PDP, Kaduna Central).

Others are Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East), Diket Plang (APC, Plateau Central) and Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central).

Three of their colleagues, namely Sunday Karimi (Kogi), Titus Zam (Benue) and Kaka Sheu (Borno), also did.

N500m project for each ranking senator?

One revelation that emerged from the budget padding saga was made by Cross River North senator, Agom Jarigbe.

There was pandemonium in the Senate chamber when the PDP senator revealed that some ranking senators received N500 million projects in the 2024 budget for their constituencies.

Mr Jarigbe made the revelation during plenary while commenting on the allegation of budget padding made against the Senate by Mr Ningi.

Ranking senators are those who have spent more than one term of four years in the upper chamber.

Mr Jarigbe said a majority of the senators are guilty of the budget padding scandal because some of the senior senators got N500 million each from the budgetary allocation.

If we want to go into this issue, all of us are culpable. Some senators here, so-called senior senators, got N500 million each. I am a ranking senator. I didnt get. Did I go to the press? We dont have to go into those issues, he said.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, quickly muted Mr Jarigbes microphone apparently to prevent people from hearing the details of the N500 million.

The Senate erupted in a rowdy session for about 30 minutes before Mr Akpabio directed the senators to return to their various seats.

Meanwhile, the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, while addressing journalists after the plenary dismissed the issue of the provision of N500 million as constituency funds to senators, describing the allegation as a fairy tale.

This is the second time that the distribution of money to the senators will attract public attention.

Senate explains additional N3trn to the budget

Shortly after the suspension of Mr Ningi from legislative activities, Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, addressed the press and explained the reasons for the N3 trillion added to the 2024 budget.

Mr Adaramodu said the N3 trillion allegedly added to the 2024 budget was statutory transfers to first-line charge agencies of government not domiciled in the ministries.

The N3 trillion is for statutory transfers of government agencies on the first lines charges, Mr Adaramodu said.

He listed the agencies to include Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Public Complaints Commission, National Judicial Council, North East Development (NEDC), and Niger Delta Development Commission Commission (NDDC), among others.

The Senate spokesperson stressed that there was nothing like budget padding and that the false narrative on N3 trillion padding was a demonstration of the error of arithmetic and innocence of procedure by the protagonists of budget padding.

He said the 10th Senate needed to be treasured as a pillar of democracy and would only do what would promote national interest.

Senate Leader raises alarm over alleged impeachment plot against Akpabio

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, during the plenary on Tuesday, raised the alarm that some losers of the senate presidency election conducted last June were plotting to impeach the senate president.

Mr Bamidele claimed that the losers were plotting the impeachment because they were still angry about the fact that they lost the election.

The senate leader stated this while he was contributing to the motion to suspend Mr Ningi from legislative activities.

We must never accept any apology from Senator Ningi. It is ridiculous to do so. He lied deliberately. Mr Senate President, youre occupying that seat 40 years after a South-South person occupied it.

The last time a Southerner was there was during Obasanjo and they were being changed every time. It was only stable when it returned to the North. David Mark spent 8 years, Saraki completed his four years, and Lawan spent his four years. Dont be deceived, the losers of the June 2023 Senate presidential election are still angry.

Some have accepted but a few havent. They have plotted to remove you before June 2024. That is why you must not allow this deliberate mischief by Ningi to go away. He did it on purpose. He knew he was lying, he set the public against you, he will do it again. We must apply our sanction the senate leader said.

Tinubu replaces South-east nominee on CBN Board

On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu asked the Senate to screen and confirm Ruby Onwudiwe as a member of the board of directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The presidents request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the plenary.

In the letter, Mr Tinubu noted that Mr Onwudiwe is a replacement for the former South-east nominee, Urum Eke, who declined his nomination due to his current engagement at the World Bank.

Mr Eke, a consultant to the World Bank and native of Abia State, rejected his nomination as a member of the CBN board last month.

President Tinubu nominated him and four others as members of the CBN board of directors.

While MrvEke was absent from the screening, the four other nominees, Robert Agbide, Ado Wanga, Murtala Sagaley, and Muslimat Aliu were present upon and they were subsequently confirmed.

President Tinubu, in his letter announcing the replacement, said his action is in compliance with the provision of section 10 (1) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.

Yaradua leads northern senators

On Wednesday, members of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) appointed the Katsina Central senator Abdulaziz Yaradua, as their new chairman.

The forum also appointed Mohammed Monguno, the senator representing Borno North Senatorial District, as its Publicity Secretary.

The duo were appointed following the resignation of the suspended senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, as chairman of the forum.

Mr Monguno, a lawyer, replaced the senator representing Kano South Senatorial District, Sumaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano South) as the forums spokesperson.

It is not clear why the forum replaced Mr Kawu with Mr Monguno but it may not be unconnected to the resolution of the Senate on Tuesday, issuing a warning to Mr Kawu to desist from spreading misinformation with a view to incite the public against the senate.

Messers Yaradua and Monguno are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Southern senators get new chairman

On Wednesday, Adetokunbo Abiru (APC Lagos East) emerged as the are chairman, the Southern Senators Forum (SSF).

Mr Abiru took over from Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti Central), who had been the leader of the forum since the ninth Assembly.

Mr Abiru, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, emerged after a meeting of South-east, South-west and South-south senators.

Speaking at a news conference after his emergence, the senator said the SSF would partner with the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) to move the country forward.

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The Nigerian government has flagged off a N40 billion mass metering project to end the era of estimated billings in the Nigerian Army formations nationwide.

Bolaji Tunji, special adviser on strategic communication and media relations to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

The Federal government has begun the mass metering of the Nigerian Army formations nationwide with a promise to end the era of estimated billings in the power sector, Mr Tunji said.

Speaking during the flag-off of the metering exercise at the headquarters of the 9th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ikeja military cantonment at the weekend, Mr Adelabu said the exercise would be in phases with the Ikeja cantonment being the first phase of the exercise.

He noted that the current exercise will last for six weeks before the second phase begins.

Mr Adelabu explained that for the current exercise, the sum of N12.7 billion has been released out of a total of N40 billion for the mass metering project.

The mass metering in army formations nationwide will enable us to know what is being consumed on a monthly basis in order to ensure appropriate billings and ease collections. The overall intention is to eliminate and make estimated billing a thing of the past, Mr Adelabu was quoted as saying.

Mr Adelabu who was received at the army headquarters by the Commander, A.M Adetuyi, and the Chief Executive Officer of De Haryor Global Services, Ashade Olatunbosun, who is in charge of the metering project said the current exercise is part of President Bola Tinubus renewed hope agenda to ensure regular supply of electricity to army formations, nationwide.

This is one of Mr Presidents objectives as contained in the renewed hope agenda to ensure that electricity supply to the armed forces is prioritised and they do not suffer especially in the enjoyment of public utilities.

Mr Adelabu said the smart meters being installed are tamper-proof and would eliminate energy theft.

You can not bypass the meter which also comes with an app where customers can also get a statement of their consumption on a monthly basis, he added.

Interconnectivity

He further revealed that the meter allows interconnectivity between grid and off-grid solar power supply.

The minister said that part of the energy blueprint for the country is also to build off-grid power sources such as Solar energy for military barracks located in remote areas without grid supply, and where we have grid supply, we can interchange between the grid and solar supply if we are not satisfied with the number of hours supplied by the Distribution Companies (DISCOs).

Beyond metering, the government has to prioritise electricity supply to the barracks, he said.

Mr Adelabu said the metering project would be extended to all military formations in the country to provide 24-hour power supply to the barracks.

Also speaking, Mr Olatunbosun said the second phase of the project will begin in Abuja and Enugu, simultaneously, adding that military formations across the 11 distribution companies (DisCos) will benefit from the exercise.

Army formations in Jos, Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu, Kaduna, Ikeja and Eko distribution companies will benefit from the exercise, he said.

In his remarks, Mr Adetuyi said the federal government metering initiative is timely as the brigade headquarters has been having an epileptic power supply over time.

When I investigated, I found out that we were only being given three hours of electricity daily and on some days, we do not even get supplied. We have tried to resolve this and we have even involved the state government without any result.

We also discovered that we were always being given estimated bills, though we would not have minded if the power supply had been regular. However, this commendable metering project has gladdened our hearts, he said.

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From the setting ablaze of a vigilante operative in Anambra to the abduction of personnel of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Nigerias south-east witnessed more attacks within the past week.

Gunmen kill man, kidnap wife, daughter in Enugu

The week began on a painful note on Sunday when some armed persons, suspected to be kidnappers, killed a yet-to-be-identified man, who was travelling with his family within Eke-Egede-Affa Road in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The gunmen attacked the family, killed the man on the spot and abducted his wife and daughter, witnesses said.

The incident highlights the growing insecurity in the state and South-east region.

Police investigate assault of civilians by officers in viral video

The police in Ebonyi State, on Sunday, announced that they would investigate some operatives seen in a viral video clip assaulting two men in the state.

In the 30-second clip, seen by PREMIUM TIMES, some armed police operatives, numbering about five, were filmed flogging the men along a road.

Some of the operatives later attempted to bundle one of the assaulted men into their Toyota Hilux pickup truck parked along the road while still beating and kicking him violently.

The police spokesperson in the state, Joshua Ukandu, said the incident was being investigated, and that the operatives involved would be sanctioned.

The incident was another painful sign that police brutality and harassment of Nigerians have not slowed down despite police authorities constantly sanctioning their operatives engaging in such acts.

Killing of a university student by cultists

The Abia State Government, on Monday, announced that a student of the Abia State University was killed during a clash between rival cult groups in Abia State.

The government said it had commenced an investigation into the death of the student and that it had dispatched security agencies to take control of the situation at the university.

Clashes by suspected cultists have been frequent in Abia State in recent times.

The latest incident is expected to stimulate a strong government response to address the recurring clashes.

Youre incompetent, governor slams local council chairperson over shoddy job

On Monday, we reported how Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State slammed the Chairperson of Ogbaru Local Government Area in the state, Paschal Aniegbunam, over a shoddy road construction project.

Mr Soludo, who was inspecting Relief Market- Obodo-Ukwu Road in Okpoko within the council area on 6 March, criticised the chairperson over his failure to ensure the construction of a walkway at the ongoing road project in the area.

If I come here again and see all this rubbish here, I will sack you publicly. You are incompetent, Mr Soludo yelled at Mr Aniegbunam, a video clip of the incident showed.

The governors action, observers say, indicates his willingness to ensure that awarded projects in the state were properly executed.

Imo Attack: Police confirm death of fifth victim, convene security meeting

The police in Imo State, on Monday, gave an update about an earlier attack on Friday in Abacheke Community in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of the state.

We had reported how the gunmen invaded the community, and killed four people, with another seriously injured by bullets.

The masked armed men, dressed in military camouflage, were said to have entered the community on three motorcycles.

Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in the state, later confirmed in a statement that the fifth victim had died.

Mr Okoye, an assistant superintendent of police, said the commissioner of police in the state, Aboki Danjuma, on Monday, convened a pivotal security meeting with leaders of the Abacheke Community over the attack.

The meeting focused on ways of stopping the killings in the community, he said.

The attack is a painful reminder that insecurity in the state and South-east is yet to abate.

Army uncovers IPOB firearms factory, arrests six

The Nigerian Army announced, on Tuesday, that its troops uncovered and neutralised a major firearms and drone manufacturing factory, operated by armed fighters of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Delta State, south-south Nigeria.

The army said six members of the IPOB militia arm, Eastern Security Network (ESN), were apprehended during the operation at the factory which is at Onicha Ulona in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta.

For years, the Nigerian army and other security agencies have continued to raid suspected hideouts of the IPOB, a group seeking the secession of South-east and parts of South-south from Nigeria.

Abduction of UNTH deputy director, one other in Enugu

It was a sad day on Tuesday in Enugu as gunmen attacked the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku Ozalla and abducted a female deputy director in the hospital as well as a security officer attached to the facility.

UNTH is the teaching hospital of the University of Nigeria.

The deputy director identified as Ngozi Mbah, was trailed to the premises of the hospital around 9 a.m. on Tuesday by the gunmen, who shot at her SUV vehicle, some staff members of the hospital told this newspaper.

Ms Mbah is also a nurse at the facility.

The police in Enugu State would later announce the rescue of the security officer and assured that efforts were ongoing to rescue Ms Mbah.

The female nurse was yet to be rescued at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, that was not the first time the hospital was attacked. Gunmen had, in November 2023, abducted a resident doctor attached to the hospital.

The resident doctor, Orockarrah Orock, would later escape from captivity after a few hours.

Sentencing of man to three years imprisonment for stealing phone

We also brought you a story of an 18-year-old man who was sentenced to three years imprisonment by a magistrate court in Enugu State for stealing a phone

The convict, Promise Happy, was earlier arrested by police operatives in the state at about 7 p.m. on 8 March at Christ Chemist Roundabout in Enugu, the police in the state said.

The police said an investigation revealed that the convict had been on the police watch list for similar offences.

The convict hails from Ozonogogo in Agbor Local Government Area of Delta State, south-south Nigeria, but resides in New Garriki Market, Awkunanaw, a community in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Setting a vigilante operative ablaze

It was a black Thursday in Amichi, a community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State when gunmen attacked the office of Anambra State Vigilante Group in the community.

Residents told this newspaper that the attackers, in their numbers, entered the community, headed to the security office and engaged vigilante operatives in a shootout

The gunmen razed a section of the security facility and a Sienna vehicle belonging to the vigilante operatives, a video clip apparently shot shortly after the attack showed.

A man, who could not be immediately identified, was set ablaze by the gunmen during the attack which lasted for about an hour.

But the police in the state would later confirm that the man set ablaze by the hoodlums was a vigilante operative.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Aderemi Adeoye, vowed that the police would track down the gunmen who carried out the attack in the community.

Amnestys call on Tinubu to investigate extrajudicial killing of pro-Biafra protesters

Amnesty International Nigeria, on Thursday, continued its call on President Bola Tinubu to investigate extrajudicial killings in south-east Nigeria.

The human rights group alleged 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.

To uphold human rights, @officialabat (Tinubu) must investigate this and other gross human rights violations to tame impunity and ensure justice, the group said.

Several groups, such as IPOB, 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.

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.

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The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has dismissed claims that its database was compromised as a result of the undersea cable cut which disrupted services of banks and telecom operators in Nigeria.

This is contained in a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications of NIMC, Kayode Adegoke, in Abuja.

The commission assured Nigerians of safety and protection of their data.

The commissions assurance came as a response to media reports concerning an alleged breach of citizens data by a private organisation, XpressVerify.

We express gratitude to media partners and the whistleblowers for bringing this to our attention and wish to assure Nigerians and legal residents that there is no data breach of any sort and the citizens data is safe and secure in Nigerias National identity database, it stated.

The Director-General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, promptly ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter to find out if any of the Commissions Tokenisation verification agents has in any way breached the licensing agreement either directly or through any of their sub-licences.

Top-level security is in place to protect the NIN and other personal data of every citizen and legal resident, she said.

NIMC reaffirms its unwavering dedication to safeguarding, securing, and responsibly managing the data entrusted to us.

The commission said it understands the critical importance of maintaining public trust and confidence in its operations, and we will continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability.

NAN reports that the Nigerian Communications Commissions (NCC) said that repair works are ongoing on the undersea cable cut that resulted in equipment faults on the major undersea cables along the West African Coast on Thursday leading to internet service disruption.

The West Africa Cable System, MainOne and ACE sea cables  arteries for telecommunications data  were all affected, triggering outages and connectivity issues for mobile operators and internet service providers in the region.

MainOne, on Friday, said that an external incident resulted in a cut to its cable system in the Atlantic Ocean, offshore Cote DIvoire along the coast of West Africa, ruling out human activity as a cause.

Our preliminary analysis would suggest some form of seismic activity on the seabed resulted in a break to the cable, MainOne said, adding it would obtain more data when the cable is retrieved during repair.

Given the distance from land, and the cable depth of about 3 kms (1.86 miles) at the point of fault, any kind of human activity  ship anchors, fishing, drilling etc has been immediately ruled out, Reuters quoted MainOne as saying.

The incident negatively impacted data and fixed telecom services in several countries of West Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cote DIvoire, among others.

Repairs underway  NCC

However, the NCC in a statement said that operators of the damaged cables had commenced repairs, noting that internet services were gradually being restored.

Cable companies  West African Cable System (WACS) and African Coast to Europe (ACE) in the West Coast route from Europe have experienced faults while SAT3 and MainOne have downtime.

Similar undersea cables providing traffic from Europe to the East Coast of Africa, like Seacom, Europe India Gateway (EIG), Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE1), are said to have been cut at some point around the Red Sea, resulting in degradation of services across on these routes.

In Nigeria and other West African countries, Internet access and speed have experienced disruptions in the networks of service providers in the affected countries, the NCC said in the statement.

(NAN)

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A total of N13.95 trillion was illegally withdrawn by Nigerias federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the 2020 audit report has revealed.

Twenty-eight (28) MDAs were identified as involved in the illegal transactions following a careful review of the Bank Balances from the Consolidated Financial Statement.

The audit report revealed that the MDAs had negative balances to the tune of N13.95 trillion (N13,955,069,757,335.20), a violation of the Financial Regulations 2009 which states that: No government bank account shall be overdrawn, or any temporary advance obtained from a bank. In the event of an account being overdrawn, the officer responsible shall be made to refund any bank charges incurred thereon.

The figures were presented as the current portion of borrowings and current liabilities.

The Federal Ministry of Environment topped the list of the defaulting MDAs, having overdrawn N350.85 billion, followed closely by the Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute (N2.65 billion) and the Public Complaints Commission (N1.48 billion). The Federal Pay Offices in Uyo (N27.95 billion), Benin (N27.95 billion) and Ilorin (N107.50 billion) were the bottom three on the list.

According to the AuditorGeneral of the Federation (AuGF), Shaakaa Chira, no approvals were granted to the MDAs for the overdraws, nor were any explanations provided by the MDAs regarding the transactions.

Mr Chira blamed the irregularities on weaknesses in the internal control system surrounding the consolidation process at the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation, adding that the unauthorised expenditure and non-disclosure exposed the federal government to avoidable interest payments.

However, an audit of account statements through the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) traced some of the withdrawals to personnel and overhead financing as well as bank charges against MDAs for the usage of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gatewaya clear negation of the essence of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

GIFMIS is a comprehensive financial reporting system launched by the federal government in April 2012 to tackle budget management and accounting across MDAs, to address issues of economic inefficiency.

To address the discrepancies, the Auditor-General called for budgetary provisions to cover charges by service providers on MDAs for using the CBN gateway.

He also recommended that the Accountant General of the Federation forward a schedule of transactions that gave rise to the negative cash and cash equivalents recognised by the twenty-eight (28) MDAs, along with the bank statements of the affected MDAs, to the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly.

Mr Chira further recommended that sanctions relating to irregular payments from public funds prescribed in paragraph 3106 of the Financial Regulations apply. Paragraph 3106 states that: A public officer who makes an irregular payment from public funds, shall be given 21 days notice to offer an explanation. Where no satisfactory explanation is given, the amount involved shall be recovered from the officer and such officer shall be removed from the schedule.

Expert reacts

Meanwhile, Development Expert Adenike Aloba has called for the expansion of the powers of the auditorgeneral beyond mere audit recommendations to forestall the occurrence of financial misappropriations and to fix the loopholes in the countrys financial regulatory system.

The auditor-general needs more power than friendly reminders and sternly worded requests for documentation. The watchdog community, CSO and media, have continued to say this and the Nigeria Audit Service Bill 2022 was part of the outcomes for a strengthened office of the Auditor-General, she said.

Although the Bill was passed in the House of Representatives, unfortunately, the 9th Senate did not pass the bill. There are clear benefits to the auditor-general having more power to do his job, which is the most effective strategy for dealing with these issues.

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The police in Borno on Monday confirmed that a suicide bomber injured two persons in Biu Local Government Area of the state.

Daso Nahum, the commands Public Relations Officer (PPRO), confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday.

Mr Nahum, said that the incident occurred at about 8 p.m. on Sunday, when the Muslim faithful were observing their night prayers.

The male suicide bomber, who was suspected to be heading to the mosque, detonated the Improvised Explosive Device(IED) close to the roundabout, killing himself.

Two passersby who were wounded by the explosive were immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment.

A combined team of security personnel were immediately deployed to the scene of the incident to restore normalcy, he said.

The spokesman urged the people to heighten their level of vigilance especially during this period of Ramadan when most Muslim faithful are observing late night prayers.

People should make sure that they are vigilant and should not hesitate to report any suspicious moves to the security agencies, he said. (NAN)

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The Ministry of Defence on Monday condemned as unacceptable, Thursdays killing of 16 officers and men of the 181 Amphibious Battalion at Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta by youths of the community.

The battalions Commanding Officer, A.H. Ali, a lieutenant-colonel, two majors, a captain, and 12 soldiers were killed during a peace mission to the community last Thursday.

Spokesperson for the ministry, Henshaw Ogubike, stated in Abuja that the minister, Mohammed Badaru, said the perpetrators must be brought to book.

He stated that the Minister of State, Bello Matawalle, was in accord with Mr Badarus view as he said the killing of the officers and men and a civilian was a matter of grave concern.

The tragic incident underscores the immense sacrifices made by our servicemen and women in the defence of our nation.

Their unwavering dedication and courage in the face of danger exemplify the highest ideals of patriotism and duty.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Chief of Defence Staff to investigate the incident to ensure that those responsible for the attack face the full force of the law, Mr Ogubike quoted Mr Badaru as saying.

Mr Tinubu said on Sunday that he had given the military his full authority to bring the killers of the soldiers to justice.

The minister stressed the unwavering commitment of the ministry to safeguard the security and well-being of all Nigerians.

He noted that no threat to the nations sovereignty and stability would be tolerated.

We assure the Nigerian people that every effort will be made to bring the perpetrators to justice.

We remain resolute in our pursuit of peace and tranquility across the nation in line with the `Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu.

Our unwavering support for the armed forces and their efforts to maintain peace and stability across the country is not negotiable.

We will continue to work tirelessly towards achieving lasting peace and tranquility in every region of our dear country.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, colleagues, and loved ones of the fallen soldiers, as well as with the entire nation mourning this irreparable loss.

We stand united in grief with all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces during this difficult time, Mr Badaru also said.

(NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu says the All Progressives Congress (APC) is on the path to victory in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State.

President Tinubu expressed the optimism on Monday in Abuja during the presentation of the partys flag to the Edo gubernatorial candidate, Monday Okpebholo, a serving senator, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa.

Addressing a gathering of party stalwarts led by the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, at the State House, the president pledged that the party would stand with the candidates like the wall of Gibraltar.

If you are happy; we are happy. If you are determined; we are determined. We are going to work with you. We are going to stand with you like the wall of Gibraltar. That is all I can assure you. The party is supreme, but victory is superior and very important, the president said.

President Tinubu commended the leadership of the party in Edo State for their efforts towards the success of the candidates and the party.

He particularly lauded Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of the state, for his exemplary leadership.

Distinguished Senator and our flagbearer, we are putting you forward in order to hold the party in trust for us and achieve victory for us. You and your running mate have been described as giant killers, and you have worked tirelessly with the party leadership, he said.

The president, while inviting Edo State woman leader, Betty Okoebor, to speak on the partys readiness for the election, reiterated that with the strong support of women, victory is assured.

If the women say we are going to win, then we are good to go because they constitute the largest number of voters and the most dedicated, President Tinubu affirmed.

In his remarks, Mr Ganduje emphasised the unity of purpose within the party towards achieving victory in the election.

Our candidate is soft-spoken, focused, and an achiever. He is a product that is highly marketable, and I am confident that with him as our flagbearer, we will bring Edo back to our party, Mr Ganduje said.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

March 18, 2024

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has advised the newly inaugurated Permanent Secretaries for the FCT Administration to perform, or else, they will be sacked.

Mr Wike gave the warning after the inauguration of the Chairman and Commissioners of the FCT Civil Service Commission, FCT Head of Service, and the Permanent Secretaries in Abuja on Monday.

As a permanent secretary, you are not a political appointee, and you know the implication of that.

If you perform below our expectations, there is nothing like query him in accordance with civil service rules.

We have no time for that. We will just send you packing as permanent secretary, he said.

Mr Wike added: I dont want to hear that files are unduly delayed.

We want you to support the government of President Bola Tinubu to realise the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister reminded the FCT workers of the long struggle for the realisation of the FCT Civil Service Commission since enactment of the law in 2018.

He said as President Tinubu had actualised the dream, it was only fair that workers pay back by being committed and work for the success of his administration.

The minister said the newly inaugurated Head of Service would send out posting letters to directors as part of his promise to reshuffle them.

Mr Wike also called on the Coordinators of Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), Abuja Municipal Management Council (AMMC) and Abuja Infrastructure Investment Council (AIIC) to discharge their duties diligently.

He particularly urged the STDD coordinator to pay close attention to the developments in the area councils in line with President Tinubus directive.

Mr Wike also urged AMMC coordinators to make sure the street lights are working, sanitation is done very well, and public buildings are well repaired.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those inaugurated are Emeka Ezeh as Chairman of the Commission and six commissioners representing the six geopolitical zones.

The commissioners are, Ahmed Mohammed (North-west), Anthony Okeah (South-south), Mohammed Ibrahim (North-east), Miskoom Naantuam (North-central), Jide Jimoh (South-west) and Barrister Azubike (South-east).

Also inaugurated is Udo Atang, the pioneer Head of FCT Civil Service and 10 permanent secretaries.

The permanent secretaries are; Adam Babagana (North-east), Wanki Ibrahim (North-east), Asmau Mukhtar (North-west), Dogo Bodinga (North-west), Olusa Olusegun (South-west) and Adetoyi Kolawole (South-west).

Others are; Grace Adayilo (North-central), Olubunmi Olowookere (North-central), Ibe Chukwuemeka (South-east) and Okonkwo Nonubari (South-south).

The minister also inaugurated Abdulkadir Zulkarfi as Coordinator STDD and Felix Obuah, Coordinator AMMC.

NAN reports that Oladiran Akindele who was appointed Coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Council (AIIC) was absent at the inauguration.

(NAN)

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Activities at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife in Osun, and the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) were on Monday paralysed as members of non-academic staff unions complied with the directive to embark on seven-day warning strike.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seven-day nationwide warning strike was declared by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).

The institutions branches of SSANU and NASU in compliance with the directive of its national bodies, locked the main gates preventing entry and exit of vehicles on the campuses.

The bodies had declared a nationwide warning strike to protest the federal governments failure to pay arrears of four-month salaries owed to members of the unions in 2022.

Correspondents of NAN, who monitored the strike in Ile-Ife and Akure, report that lecture halls and offices were also locked hindering academic activities by lecturers who earlier had been paid their arrears.

Union officials speak

In separate interviews, the Chairmen of SSANU in the institutions, Taiwo Arobadi and Felix Adubi, respectively, said that the unions action was in compliance with the directive of their national bodies.

The chairmen said that all their members in registry, bursary, works, maintenance, security and student affairs have withdrawn their services.

According to the chairmen, the federal government had signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in 2009, and Memoranda of Agreement (MoA) in 2023 over payment of their arrears, but nothing was done till date.

Mr Arobadi said that if the federal government does the needful today, the strike would be called off, but failure to do so within stipulated time, next action would be decided.

What we are agitating for is that the federal government should pay our four months withheld salaries of members, following the 2022, nationwide strike.

We see no reason why the government should pay only Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and abandon SSANU, NASU and NAAT, he stated.

Also, Wole Odewumi, the Chairman, Non-Teaching Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, OAU branch, told NAN that the workers complied with the unions national directive on the strike.

Mr Odewumi said no union is superior to another, and since the federal government has paid ASUU, other unions should be paid as well.

Also, Mr Adubi said that the unions in FUTA dont have any grouse with the institutions management, but the federal government.

He said that the unions in FUTA would not heed any appeal from the school management not to join the seven-day warning strike declared by its national leadership.

All administrative and technical activities in FUTA have been paralyzed and we still have the whole of this week to comply with the warning strike.

We dont have a problem with the management of FUTA, but the Federal Government and no appeal from the school will go anywhere.

As a matter of fact, it is unfair treatment to our members and this strike is to resolve the issue positively before it leads to unnecessary upheaval in our universities.

The federal government should pay our withheld four months salaries in the federal universities and inter-university centres as done for our academic counterparts, he stated.

NAN reports that the institution was deserted and no academic activity was ongoing in compliance with the unions instruction. (NAN)

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Academic activities were partially paralysed at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the Enugu campus, following the seven-day warning strike by the Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents, who monitored the situation at the university, report that the strike affected some ongoing examinations at both campuses of the institution.

NASU, SSANU strike partially disrupted academic activities in UNN, Enugu campus, where students who were writing examinations were allowed to finish while those who were scheduled to start their afternoon papers were chased out of the classrooms.

The striking members also closed many offices including the Students Affairs Division and others.

Some of the students lamented the negative effects of the strike on their studies.

Ijeoma Edeh, a 400 Level student of the Faculty of Environmental Studies, said the strike, if allowed to go on, would affect her seriously.

Please, the government should pay them, otherwise a prolonged strike will spell doom for some of us, Miss Edeh said.

Another 400 Level student of the Faculty of Architecture, Favour Obichili, appealed to the federal government to resolve their grievances and meet their demands.

SSANU and NASU said the warning strike called by their national Joint Action Committee (JAC) was to protest the federal governments failure to pay their members four months withheld salaries during their strike in 2022.

Strike will be total

Addressing members during an emergency congress in the UNN, Linus Akata, Chairman of SSANU-UNN flanked by Ekene Amu, Chairman of NASU-UNN, said the emergency congress was to tell their members about the warning strike declared by JAC.

Mr Akata said that the strike would be total and comprehensive in UNN, in adherence and compliance to the directive of the national leadership.

He said that all the administrative offices and essential service sections of the university were already under lock and key.

The union leader warned that the unions would deal decisively with any member found defaulting or sabotaging the seven-day warning strike.

Members are directed to go home immediately after this congress and stay away from work until the seven-day warning strike ends, as any defaulting member will be decisively dealt with.

This warning strike is total and comprehensive as the administrative block of the UNN, offices, works department, University Medical Centre, University Primary School and among others have been shut down till the end of the strike.

There will be no water and electricity supply from the university hostels, also internet facilities from the university have been shut down for the period as we have directed our members working in these places to go home, he said.

No apology for strike

Mr Akata said that the unions had no apology over the seven-day warning strike as their national leadership had done everything necessary to avert the strike by appealing to the government to do the needful.

SSANU and NASU have written so many letters to the government, held several press conferences, led delegations to government officials in a bid to resolve the issue but all to no avail.

So, at the end of this warning strike, if the government does not meet our demand we will also take a directive from our national body on the next line of action, he said.

Mr Akata urged members to go home and relax till the end of the strike but should report any threat or query for not coming to work from management, head of department or faculty to the union.

(NAN)

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Suspected terrorists on Sunday returned to Kajuru and abducted over 100 people, residents of the area have said.

The incident came two days after another at Dogon-Noma, a community in the same Kajuru LGA.

Last Monday, at least 61 people were abducted at Budah in the same area.

Residents said the latest abduction happened around 10 p.m. with gunmen operating without restraint.

One of the residents, Aminu Kajuru, who holds a traditional title in the emirate, lamented that the area is now under terrorists siege.

He said since last year bandits kidnapped the Emir of Kajuru, Alhassan Adamu, and members of his family, the area has remained under constant attack.

For months our monarch was in the hands of the bandits before he was eventually released and since then the situation has degenerated

From our estimation, over 100 people had been kidnapped as of today (Monday) when the bandits stormed our area.

A youth leader in the area, Harisu Dari, said the terrorists also looted shops and stole food items and other valuables before disappearing into the forest.

He said the bandits ordered residents to come out of their houses and abducted them.

The Kaduna State Government is yet to speak on the incident. The phone number of the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, did not connect Thursday afternoon when PREMIUM TIMES tried to have him comment on the development.

Also, the police spokesperson in the state, Mansir Hassan, could not be reached on the phone.

Kaduna State hosting Nigerias largest security formation is frequently under attack by gunmen locally called bandits.

The gunmen recently kidnapped over 250 schoolchildren in Kuriga, a community in the Chikun local government area of the state.

The abductors of the school children are demanding N1 billion ransom to release the pupils.

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MainOne network, whose facilities provide internet services to many parts of western and southern Africa, said it observed stability on its network across the region on Monday morning.

The company disclosed this in a statement posted on its X handle on Monday.

The service provider said it worked with regional partners late last week and over the weekend to reroute traffic with restoration capacity.

MainOne worked with regional partners late last week and over the weekend to reroute traffic with restoration capacity and our observations are that we have stability on our network across the region this morning, it said.

These developments, it said, represent a significant milestone to ensure continued connectivity for the West African business community.

We are actively working with our maintenance partners, vessel owners and permitting authorities to expedite the repair of our submarine cable. We are very optimistic that our cable will be repaired as planned and services fully restored so that we can continue to operate with the continued integrity of the submarine cable.

We want to assure the West African business community and the public that the region remains open for business. We will continue to provide updates on the progress of the repair efforts through our website and social media channels. We appreciate your patience and understanding, the company said.

Last Thursday, Nigerians including telecommunications companies, banks, and media among others were hit by an internet outage as a result of damage to international undersea cables supplying them with connectivity.

Confirming the incident, the Nigerian government said the damage affects major undersea cables near Abidjan in Cote dIvoire and is causing downtime across West and South African countries.

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), in a statement through its Director of Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, said 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.

MainOne, a digital infrastructure service provider, had last Friday said full internet restoration in Nigeria and many parts of sub-Saharan Africa may take about five weeks to be completed.

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Felix Okonkwo, a lawyer in the legal team of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, over his unlawful arrest and detention by the police and the State Security Services (SSS).

A three-member panel of the court, led by Joseph Oyewole, unanimously ruled that the appellant (Mr Okonkwo) failed to prove miscarriage of justice in a decision of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, regarding his arrest and detention in 2021.

A member of the courts panel, Okon Abang, who delivered the lead judgement on Monday, said the suit lacked merit.

The appellants, comprising  Felix Okonkwo, Ikenna Chibuike and Okafor Ugochukwu  had sued the police and the SSS at the FCT High Court for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.

The trio accused the police and SSS operatives of violating their fundamental rights on 27 September 2021, when they were allegedly arrested, detained and tortured.

The trial court had held the police culpable but exonerated SSS, prompting the appeal by the plaintiffs.

Judgement

In the lead decision, Mr Abang said the video footage tendered as evidence by the appellants at the trial court did not show the SSS as being part of the arrest at the home of Ifeanyi Ejiofor in Anambra State.

Mr Ejiofor was a lawyer to Mr Kanu. He recently pulled out of the IPOB leaders legal team shortly after Mr Kanu lost his bid to have the trial at the Federal High Court quashed.

The IPOB leader is being tried at the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged terrorism.

In his legal reasoning, Mr Abang said the decision to award compensatory damages was at the discretion of a judge and could not be dictated by any plaintiff.

The judge noted that the appellants failed to prove any loss they suffered as a result of their arrest and incarceration by the police.

In my opinion and going by the peculiar facts and circumstances of this case, the N2 million compensation to the appellants was properly awarded.

I cannot fault the award because the appellant did not give any good reason for them to have been awarded a much higher amount.

In the final analysis, the appeal lacks merit, and it is accordingly dismissed, the decision of the trial court is hereby affirmed. There is no order as to cost, Mr Abang said.

The presiding justice of the panel, Joseph Oyewole, and another member Abba Mohammed agreed with the lead decision.

Background

At the trial court, the judge, Samaila Bature had, in his verdict delivered on 24 March 2022, found the police culpable in the unlawful arrest and detention of the appellants.

Consequently, Mr Bature imposed a fine of N2 million against the police in favour of the appellants.

However, the judge did not make any order against the SSS because, according to him, the appellants as plaintiffs did not disclose any cause of action against the secret police (SSS).

The judge, however, did not make any order against the SSS because the appellants, then plaintiffs, did not disclose any cause of action against SSS.

Displeased with the lower courts findings, Mr Okonkwo and his colleagues approached the Court of Appeal, urging it to find the SSS culpable for their arrest and detention.

In addition, they argued that the N2 million fine imposed on the Nigerian police was inadequate to compensate for the inconveniences they had suffered at the hands of the security agents.

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The Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over documents of properties and 324 houses recovered for Kano state pensioners to them.

The handing over of the houses, occasioned by a final forfeiture order granted by Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting Abuja, was a result of successful investigations carried out by the Commission over a N4.1billion Pension Trust Fund contributed by the pensioners to own houses, which was fraudulently denied them by two successive administrations in Kano State.

The Commission investigated a petition by Concerned Kano State Workers and Pensioners of alleged misappropriation of pension funds in the state. Findings by the EFCC showed that the state government entered into a tripartite agreement with the Kano State Pension Trust Fund to build housing estates for an aggregate sum of N41billion (Forty One Billion Naira), out of which the Pension Trust Fund was to contribute N4.1billion (Four Billion One Hundred Million Naira).

However, the contribution of the pensioners was used to build the houses in three estates located in Sheikh Jaafar Mahmud Adam Bandirawo city, Sheikh Nasiru Kabara (Amana) city and Sheikh Khalifa Ishaq Rabiu city, all in Kano state and two former governors of the state fraudulently discounted and sold the houses to their cronies and associates, leaving the pension trustees with low budget and uncompleted houses. The EFCC stepped in and upon completion of investigation, filed for and acquired a final forfeiture order of the 324 properties to the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees.

READ ALSO: EFCC arraigns alleged sextortionist

While handing over the documents of the 324 properties worth N4.1billion to the pensioners on Monday, March18, 2024, the Abuja Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Adeniyi Adebayo assured that the EFCC would continue to do its best to rid the nation of fraudulent practices. Representatives of the Kano State Pension Board, Alhaji Hassan Muhammed Aminu, Kubra Ahmad Bichi and Salisu Yakubu Abubakar, who received the documents on behalf of the workers and pensioners, expressed delight and joy with the EFCC for assisting them in recovering their houses.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

March 18, 2024

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, re-arraigned a former acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello Mohammed, over his alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for procurement of arms during the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Mr Mohammed, whose trial started at the Federal High Court in Abuja in January 2016, was re-arraigned eight years after, on Monday, for the case to restart afresh.

He was re-arraigned alongside his company, Bam Projects and Properties Ltd, on four counts of alleged criminal breach of trust and money laundering allegedly involving the diversion of N300 million meant for the procurement of arms, through the office of then National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Dasuki served as NSA during the former President Goodluck Jonathans government.

Mr Mohammed became the acting chairperson of the PDP and remained in the position until he was appointed the Minister of Defence in July 2012. He served as the Minister of Defence between 2011 and 2012, but remained an influential member of the PDP up till when the party lost power in 2015.

His trial for allegedly receiving N300 million fraudulently from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) in March 2015 had started with his arraignment in January 2016.

But after years of trial, the judge handling it, Ahmed Mohammed, was elevated to the Court of Appeal bench, prompting the reassignment of the case to Peter Lifu of the same Federal High Court in Abuja.

The EFCC, through its prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed amended charges against Mr Mohammed on 18 March (Monday).

Re-arraignment

When the matter was called on Monday, the lawyer who appeared for the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that the matter was for the defendants to take their plea and that he was ready to proceed.

He said an amended charge had been filed and the defence had been served.

Defence lawyer, Kanu Agabi, a SAN, confirmed the receipt of the amended charge.

Mr Mohammed and his co-defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts, following which Mr Atolagbe applied for a trial date.

Mr Agabi, however, prayed the court to allow Mr Mohammed to continue on existing bail granted by the former trial judge, Ahmed Mohammed.

The senior lawyer said Mr Mohammed did not flout the earlier bail conditions granted him and that he would not jump bail.

Although Mr Atolagbe did not oppose Mr Agabis application, he argued that his bail was once revoked for breaching the terms.

The judge granted the defence lawyers request by allowing Mr Mohammed to the terms and conditions of bail granted him by the former trial judge. He then adjourned the matter until 7 and 8 May for trial.

Charges

In count one, the company, the ex-PDP chair and his son, Bello Abba Mohammed (now deceased), were accused of taking possession of the sum of N300 million paid into the account of Bam Project and Properties Ltd with Sterling Bank Plc from the account of the office of the NSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria on or about 17 March 2015.

The EFCC alleged that the funds formed part of the proceed of an unlawful activity of Col. Dasuki (rtd.) and that the offence is contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

READ ALSO: NNPC seeks EFCC support to fight crude oil theft

NAN reports that Mr Mohammed was earlier arraigned before a former trial judge, Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja on 5 January 2016. He was granted bail on 7 January 2016.

The matter had reached an advanced stage before the former trial judge (Ahmed Mohammed, who was last year, elevated to the Court of Appeal bench. This prompted the reassignment of the case to Mr Lifu and, hence Mondays re-arraignment.

(NAN)

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Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani has flagged off the second phase of the palliatives distribution programme for the poor and vulnerable in Kaduna State. According to a statement by the governors spokesperson, Mohammed Shehu, Mr Sani performed the ceremony on Monday.

While speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the second event in the palliatives distribution to the citizens of the state, Mr Sani said the Government will spend N11.4 billion on the distribution of the second batch of palliatives.

We shall continue to take all necessary measures to bring succour to the poor and vulnerable in our state. In the next two months, we shall commence the implementation of the 3rd phase of our palliative programme. Its a full package, he revealed.

Today we are commencing the distribution of 128 trucks of rice and maize worth N3.4 billion to the poor, vulnerable, and underserved citizens of Kaduna State. We are targeting 200,000 households, approximately one million persons, he stated.

He also announced that his administration had commenced the release of grants to 7,500 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) holders, who are receiving between N100,000 and N500,000, up to N1,000,000, depending on the size of the enterprise.

Mr Sani noted that the sum of N4.2 billion has been earmarked for the distribution of cash grants, fertilizer, farm inputs, and implements to vulnerable households, smallholder farmers, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons (IDPs), orphans, market women and youths.

As part of the administrations efforts to enhance the lives of pensioners, the Governor announced that N3.3 billion has been released for the payment of pensions and gratuities, as well as death benefits to families of deceased civil servants.

The governor further disclosed that 9,800 poor and vulnerable households, including over 1,000 persons with disabilities, have started receiving alerts for N50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) each. The governor further unveiled a 500 million Naira revolving loan scheme for civil servants in the state, stating that some of them have already started receiving it.

Governor Sani however warned those planning to hijack or divert the palliatives to stop, stating that he had put in place robust security arrangements to protect the trucks conveying rice and maize to various locations.

He said any attempt by anybody or group to hijack or divert the trucks would be met with the full weight of the law.

Speaking on behalf of organised labour in Kaduna, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Suleiman commended the governor for releasing 500 million naira for the workers revolving loan scheme.

He stated that the release of an additional 3.3 billion naira for pensioners, in addition to the 3.1 billion naira disbursed last year, is a testament to the governors concern for the welfare of both pensioners and active service members.

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Compliance with the seven-day warning strike issued by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) to their members was impressive at University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in Borno State, an official said on Monday.

The chairperson, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) branch of NASU, Musa Liman, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the impact of the strike action on UNIMAID.

Mr Liman said the action, which is nationwide, followed its national bodys directives to protest the alleged unfair treatment of the union members by the federal government.

The seven-day warning strike started across the nations universities on Monday.

He appealed for public understanding over its decision to embark on strike action.

The appeal was made by the branch chairman, Musa Liman, who spoke t

The NASU chairman, who said the action was also to save public universities from collapse, noted that the level of compliance in UNIMAID was impressive.

I want to thank our members for the almost 100 per cent compliance and to urge them to remain calm, peaceful and wait for further directives.

If you observe, places like senate building, bursary, works department, exams and records, fire service, and many other places in the university are closed for the seven-day strike, Mr Liman said.

He explained that it was only the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) of the university that said it would be joining the strike action on Wednesday.

NAN reports that the seven-day nationwide warning strike was declared by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) to protest the federal governments failure to pay arrears of four-month salaries owed their members in 2022.

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The industrial action embarked on by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) grounded academic activities at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria on Monday.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the strike, reports that theatres, lecture halls, libraries and laboratories were under lock and key at Samaru and Kongo campuses of the university.

Power supply and internet services had been off as many scheduled computer-based tests were cancelled at the university.

Mohammed Yunusa, chairman of SSANU, ABU chapter, said the union complied with industrial action in the university.

He said that workers at the Works, Registry and Student Affairs and Bursary Departments had downed tools, adding that it achieved 90 per cent compliance.

The chairman said that members of the union would hold a peaceful protest and a press conference on Tuesday.

We are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities; we are the custodians of the universitys rules, we are law abiding citizens and we know what it takes to have a peaceful warning strike.

We have gotten to a point where we cannot sit and watch things as these events are unfolding now. The university system is being run with contributions from all major stakeholders.

Therefore, it is very unfair for the federal government to say one stakeholder is more important than the other, he said.

NAN reports that the leadership of the unions directed its members to embark on a warning strike from 18 March.

It said that the action is in fulfilment of the earlier ultimatum issued to the government over the unpaid withheld salaries of their members.

Activities paralysed in Yola university

Meanwhile, the seven-day warning strike by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), also paralysed academic activities at the Modibbo Adama University (MAU), Yola.

Michael Omokoro, the Chairman of the union, said the action was to press home for their demands including payment of four months withheld salaries, among others.

He said the shutdown would affect water supply, electricity, internet, and all other services rendered by members of the association.

Basically it is about our four months withheld salaries, the 35 per cent wage increment, the N35,000 palliative that stopped at January, the reconstitution of Governing Councils, etc.

During the seven days, there will be no light, water supply, clinic, ICT and all other services because we have withdrawn our members, Mr Omokoro said. (NAN)

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SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Samarkand is to commence its scheduled flight programme on Thursday, 21st March, operating on the Samarkand - Istanbul - Samarkand route with its Airbus A321neo aircraft. In the initial phase, return services will operate twice a week, departing on Mondays and Thursdays from Samarkand International Airport (SKD) to Istanbul International Airport (IST), with a scheduled flight time of about 5 hours.

Air Samarkand will launch new twice-weekly services between Istanbul, Turkey, and the historic city of Samarkand, in Uzbekistan, from Thursday 21st March (PRNewsfoto/Air Samarkand, Uzbekistan)

Air Samarkand has also announced the appointment of Zafar Butaev as its new CEO, succeeding Anton Khodiayan, who will continue serving as an advisor to the airline while reverting to his position as Director General of the airport management company Air Marakanda.

Istanbul is one of the most sought-after destinations from Samarkand, connecting the largest city in Turkey with Uzbekistan through centuries-old cultural, business and tourism ties. Istanbul airport also offers extensive onward travel opportunities to cities worldwide, and Air Samarkand plans to add further flight options on the city pairing in the near future.

Departures from Samarkand are scheduled for 8 am, arriving in Istanbul at 11.10 am, with return services departing from Istanbul at 12:30 pm and arriving back in Samarkand at 7:00 pm (all are local times).

The inaugural scheduled service marks a significant milestone for any airline, and Air Samarkand will offer passengers a world-class standard of comfort and service on the direct flights. There is also significant demand for tourism, cultural and business customers on this route and Air Samarkand looks forward to developing close commercial ties in Turkey as it establishes this new service.

Its modern Airbus A321 is widely used by leading airlines globally and has a proven record for safety, reliability and exceptional passenger comfort. Air Samarkand will operate the latest 'neo' variant of the A321, which is equipped with the new generation CFM International LEAP-1A engines that ensure low noise levels during the flight. The aircraft accommodates 221 passengers in a full economy-class cabin.

Air Samarkand will be offering customers an unprecedented baggage allowance of two checked bags weighing up to 23kg each, plus 8kg of carry-on cabin baggage.

Tickets for flights to Istanbul are available for purchase at easybooking.uz, as well as at travel agencies connected to the Easy Booking system, and at biletbank.com. Further sales will soon open on the airline's own airsamarkand.com website, as well as on other popular online ticket platforms and aggregators.

Notes to Editors

Based at Samarkand International Airport, Air Samarkand has been founded to support a major tourism and commercial drive for the historic city of Samarkand. The airline's primary goal is to provide residents of Samarkand and its neighboring regions with the opportunity to travel direct to in-demand city destinations, removing the need for time-consuming intermediate stops elsewhere, while also enabling new overseas visitors to explore Samarkand and surrounding areas.

Air Samarkand has 12.6 million people in its local catchment area and is already operating direct charter flights and now scheduled services to key popular cities in Asia and Europe, removing the need to use time-wasting flight connections in Tashkent and other regional airports.

The airline has a fleet of modern, safe, reliable and fuel-efficient Airbus aircraft, including the A330, A321, and A321neo models.

Zafar Butaev is an Uzbekistani entrepreneur who has spent more than 15 years working in the tourism, hospitality and service sectors, creating two companies that together now employ more than 500 people. Currently he is also CEO of Silk Road Samarkand, the first multi-functional international tourism centre in Asia. Mr Butaev is a business degree graduate of Tashkent State Economic University, and is fluent in four languages.

www.airsamarkand.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2364549/Air_Samarkand_launch_new_services.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2264958/4598443/Air_Samarkand_Logo.jpg
SINGAPORE, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile World Congress (MWC), one of the most anticipated and largest technology conferences, held its 2024 expo at the Fira Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain, from February 26 to 29. Under the theme "Future First," this year's expo saw a footfall of over 101k attendees, with over 2,700 exhibitors, sponsors, and partners from around the world.

Wavenet, amongst industry veteran brands, unveiled groundbreaking innovation at the Fira Gran Via. The annual expo serves as a stage for the latest innovation from mobile vendors, IT companies, networking and telecom providers, and a space for forging partnerships, among other activities.

Wavenet's Chief Executive Officer, Suren Pinto, stated, "Wavenet sits at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, helping enterprises optimise, monetise, and secure the digital business of the future. As a globally trusted ISV with a proven suite of solutions, we have powered some of the largest telecommunication companies worldwide for over two decades. Our next frontier focuses on empowering telecoms in their transition from digital to intelligent telco in the era of zero-touch experiences, generative AI, and immersive technology, giving them the edge to influence market dynamics and ignite exponential growth through leading-edge Customer Experiences (CX)."

Wavenet showcased its Immersive Marketplace, Hypermart, a state-of-the-art dynamic digital ecosystem for digital asset monetisation. The company also presented its next-gen Dev Studio, a low-code/no-code development portal engineered to streamline the process of building, integrating, and deploying services with just a few clicks. Furthermore, they introduced leading-edge AI-driven customer service solutions, amplified to enhance telecoms' call centres and automation capabilities with generative AI solutions, ranging from copilot to autopilot technology. Designed to extract business intelligence, Wavenet's AI solutions are tailored to propel and address the unique needs of telecoms, BFSI, healthcare, and beyond.

About Wavenet:

Headquartered in Singapore, Wavenet is a global ISV enabling telecommunications and digital enterprises and powering the HealthTech industry with leading-edge technology solutions to influence billions of users globally. With strategically placed offices in Colombia, Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Romania, and Sri Lanka, Wavenet has extended its services across 30 countries on 4 continents for over 20 years. The company's commitment lies in driving innovation across diverse sectors, covering telecoms, digital enterprise ecosystem, and digital HealthTech space achieved through the integration of AI, Big Data, IoMT, AR, and more. Connect with Wavenet here: www.globalwavenet.com

Wavenet Global Marketing

marketing@globalwavenet.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2261165/Wavenet_Logo.jpg
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- QC Ware, makers of Promethium, a quantum-inspired, molecular discovery platform, announced today it is leveraging NVIDIA Quantum Cloud to accelerate drug discovery by providing AI platforms with the ability to generate highly accurate training data on large, complex molecules faster than ever before, aiming to redefine the landscape of in silico molecular simulation. These are critical problems that will be accelerated by future quantum computers, but today are best solved by advanced methods on GPUs. This will enable molecular AI platforms to train better ML models, ultimately helping pharmaceutical companies find quality drug candidates more quickly.

NVIDIA Quantum Cloud is a microservice that lets users for the first time build and test in the cloud new quantum algorithms and applications, including powerful simulators and tools for hybrid quantum-classical programming.

Promethium to Empower ML Models for Drug Discovery Using NVIDIA Quantum Cloud Post this

"Promethium is helping steer the future of drug discovery and this latest work with NVIDIA signifies our commitment to advancing pharmaceutical research and underscores the importance of technological innovation in the quest for groundbreaking solutions to some of the most challenging medicinal problems of modern times," said Paul Baines, VP of Product & Engineering, at QC Ware.

ML models are already playing a large role in drug discovery, accelerating the ability to find new and promising candidates for clinical trials over historical methods. With an abundance of these ML models coming into play, one of the main challenges that research leaders face is determining the quality of the models they are using. Typically, the best ML models are trained on the best data. This has created a need for large amounts of extremely high-quality data.

The molecular data that currently exists is limited in scale, scope, and application. To build the best general-purpose ML model, or to customize an ML model for a specific purpose, lots of data must be generated  and fast. Promethium is on a journey to generate the highest-quality data faster than it's ever been done. AI platforms for drug discovery are already taking advantage of these benefits. One example is a venture-backed start-up using Promethium to create highly accurate data, very quickly, and at scale.

"For representative systems we currently run today, Promethium is 30 times faster than our current toolsets," says the startup's CTO. "This means that we can generate high-quality training data faster, leading to extremely accurate ML models for researchers to use. The result? Truly transformative ML models that will unlock massive amounts of value for pharmaceutical companies."

Additionally, this type of data has yet to be created at scale for larger molecules. This was primarily due to how computationally intensive it was to create accurate data for molecular modeling. This limitation kept ML models from accurately predicting properties of larger molecules. Promethium's breakthrough software, combined with NVIDIA's state-of-the-art GPUs and cloud scalability, has unlocked the ability to create training data for large, complex molecules that will fuel the advanced capabilities of innovative AI platforms.

"Quantum computing has the potential to transform drug discovery," said Tim Costa, Director of HPC and Quantum at NVIDIA. "Promethium is using NVIDIA Quantum Cloud to rapidly generate training data on large, complex molecules, enabling better machine learning models that will help pharmaceutical companies find drug candidates more quickly."

Leaders in the pharmaceutical industry are already taking advantage of AI as a force multiplier in the drug discovery race. Not only is it helping them hone in on more promising candidates more quickly, but it's also creating a new benchmark for efficiency in R&D spend. Companies that are able to wield this technology effectively will be poised to achieve or better maintain industry dominance in the new age of drug discovery.

About QC Ware

Promethium is a quantum chemistry SaaS platform developed by QC Ware , a quantum and classical computing software and services company focused on delivering enterprise value through cutting-edge computational technology. With specialization in machine learning and chemistry simulation applications, QC Ware develops software for both near-term quantum and state-of-the-art classical computing hardware. QC Ware's team is composed of some of the industry's foremost experts in quantum and classical computing. QC Ware is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and supports its European customers through its subsidiary in Paris and customers in Asia through its business development office in Tokyo, Japan.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

317-525-5882

SOURCE QC Ware Corp.
AUGUSTA, Ga., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, America's Warrior Partnership (AWP) announced this year's recipients of the Leo K. Thorsness Leadership Award and President's Award. Both awards recognize advocates whose work and support has improved the lives of veterans nationwide. The winners will be honored at the AWP Awards Gala in Washington, DC on May 14th.

The Leo K. Thorsness Leadership Award is named after the late Col. Leo K. Thorsness, Medal of Honor recipient and founding member of America's Warrior Partnership Board of Directors. The award recognizes individuals with exceptional leadership qualities and outstanding service to veteran communities.

This year's Leo K. Thorsness Leadership Award recipient is Admiral Michael G. Mullen, United States Navy (retired). Admiral Mullen was the 28th Chief of Naval Operations from 2005-2007 and the 17th Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff for Presidents Bush and Obama from 2007-2011. Admiral Mullen was key in the adoption of innovative technologies, championing critical global partnerships, and promoting new methods for countering terrorism. Admiral Mullen currently serves on numerous boards of non-profit organizations who are dedicated to improving the growth, development, recovery, and transition of military veterans and their families.

"When Admiral Mullen was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he would go to Walter Reed and Bethesda and meet with the families and the wounded," said Jim Lorraine, President and CEO of AWP. "The people meeting with Admiral Mullen always felt like they were his number one focus. He gave people hope." Lorraine added, "Admiral Mullen has been part of every major event in the United States from the early to mid-nineties to today."

The second award, The President's Award, honors and recognizes those who have impacted the veteran community as stand-out leaders in the advocate space. This recipient is hand-picked by AWP's President and CEO, Jim Lorraine, for their exceptional stewardship and dedication to eliminating veteran suicide through the spirit of humanitarianism.

This year's recipient is Verdie Arlo Bowen, Sr., Director Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs. He has served in this role since his appointment in 2009 by Governor Palin. He oversees the development and establishment of policies and strategic plans that directly impact all veterans, active duty, reserve components, dependents, and survivors living in Alaska. He served nationally as the 70th President of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs. In this position, provided key testimony for five major pieces of legislation, the most critical being the VA Modernization Act of 2017 and the VA Mission Act of 2018.

"Verdie Bowen is a compassionate, committed leader who served his nation in the Air Force and now leads the state of Alaska in the service of veterans and their families. There are few who have done so much to further the cause of veterans and the indigenous people of Alaska who also served. Verdie is an example for all of us to follow," said Lorraine.

The AWP Awards Gala, hosted by TriWest Healthcare Alliance, is an industry-leading dinner recognizing individuals that connect and empower veterans and veteran-serving organizations with the goal of improving the quality of life for veterans and their families. "TriWest is honored to once again partner with AWP in support of its upcoming awards gala and applauds the choices of Admiral Mullen and Mr. Bowen for these two awards," noted David J. McIntyre, Jr., TriWest President and CEO.

About America's Warrior Partnership:

America's Warrior Partnership is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to partner with communities to prevent veteran suicide. They connect local veteran-serving organizations with the appropriate resources, services, and partners to support veterans, their families, and caregivers at every stage of their lives. Their ultimate goal is to improve veterans' quality of life and prevent veteran suicide by empowering local communities to serve them proactively and holistically before a crisis occurs. Learn more at https://www.americaswarriorpartnership.org or @awpartnership.

SOURCE AWP
In a strategic move set to redefine the $3 billion Expert Insights Industry, Bridger Consulting Group, Inc., acquires DeepBench, marking a significant leap towards industry innovation and growth.

NEW YORK, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridger Consulting Group, Inc. ("Bridger"), an innovative force in the Expert Insights Industry, today announced its acquisition of DeepBench, a pioneering primary insights platform founded in 2016 by four MIT students. DeepBench has distinguished itself by building proprietary software tools, including distinct AI and ML capabilities, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the expert matching process, a critical bottleneck in the expert insights space. This acquisition is poised to substantially augment Bridger's service offerings and market share, particularly within the fastest growing segments of the expert search market.

Andrew Rawana, CEO of Bridger, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "This acquisition isn't just a step forwardit's a giant leap in advancing Bridger's mission to redefine the industry standard. Integrating DeepBench's client portfolio of name brand clients, including leading blue-chip companies, significantly expands our reach and catapults Bridger into the ranks of industry leading Expert Insights firms."

Alden French, CEO of DeepBench, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the synergistic potential of the combined companies: "Merging with Bridger opens a new chapter of possibilities. Our collective capabilities will allow us to deliver unparalleled services to our diverse customer base, capitalizing on Bridger's strong presence in the management consulting and private equity segments of the market, and DeepBench's foothold in the rapidly growing corporate innovation and product design research segments."

The acquisition signifies a landmark achievement for both Bridger and DeepBench, promising enhanced value and service offerings to clients and stakeholders across the board. For further details on Bridger Consulting, DeepBench, and this transformative acquisition, please visit www.mybridger.com.

About Bridger Consulting

Bridger Consulting is a premier expert insights platform establishing itself as a brand-name for delivering critical expert insights for complex business challenges on demand. By integrating cutting-edge technology with deep industry knowledge, Bridger Consulting enables businesses to navigate strategic decisions with heightened confidence and insight.

About DeepBench

DeepBench delivers first-hand insights by recruiting hard-to-reach specialist B2B research participants. These insights help innovation teams from product, design, and research functions better understand their buyers, users, and stakeholders. DeepBench was founded in 2016 by students at MIT Sloan.

Contact Information:

Harry Theurer

Director of Growth & Operations, Bridger Consulting

[email protected]

(856) 383-8454

SOURCE Bridger Consulting Group
GREEN BAY, Wis., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Carnivore Meat Company ("Carnivore" or the "Company"), an ultra-premium freeze-dried and frozen raw pet food manufacturer, announced today the appointment of Heather Govea as Chief Executive Officer. Govea is exceptionally well-known in the industry for developing strong teams and driving high growth. She brings decades of pet food experience, having held previous leadership roles at Natural Balance, Del Monte/Big Heart Pet Brands, Nulo and having most recently served as Chief Strategy Officer at Alphia, Inc.

Founded in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Carnivore is among the largest freeze-dried raw pet food producers in North America, manufacturing unique freeze-dried and frozen raw pet food and treats. A pioneer in raw pet food, the Company's highly differentiated products are marketed under the flagship Vital Essentials brand and distributed to over 7,200 retailers in the U.S. and Canada, online via Chewy and Amazon, and in 14 international markets. Carnivore is also a trusted partner to several co-manufacturing and private label customers.

"Joining Carnivore as CEO in this stage of the Company's trajectory is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Govea. "I'm eager to continue accelerating growth with this team and leverage the strong momentum behind Vital Essentials following the recent brand re-launch. And with Arbor's investment and expertise, the Company is significantly expanding its capacity with the move into a new, state-of-the-art 235,000 square foot manufacturing facility and headquarters later this year. It's a dream scenario for me that matches my passion as a leader  catalyzing growth with high-quality, unique products that make a difference in the lives of pets and those that love them."

Carnivore Meat Company is owned by Arbor Investments, a specialized private equity firm focused exclusively on acquiring companies in food, beverage, and related industries. Arbor announced the acquisition in December 2021.

"We knew we needed a CEO with deep experience and a passion for the pet industry, together with the ambition and playbook to help us continue growing this business," said Arbor Partner Chris Tuffin. "Heather brings the perfect skillset, having demonstrated success scaling several pet brands and organizations in her career along with the category insights and industry relationships to build strategic partnerships with retailers."

"Carnivore has an outstanding and unique culture, and a passionate team that I love working with," said Arbor President and Carnivore Board Chairman Carl Allegretti. "Heather is a proven leader and will fit seamlessly with the outstanding work force in Green Bay. We are thrilled to welcome her to the team at Carnivore."

A Midwest native, Govea holds a degree in Animal Science from California State Polytechnic University.

While she will join the Carnivore team at the upcoming Global Pet Expo trade show later this week, Govea will officially assume the role of CEO on May 1st.

ABOUT CARNIVORE MEAT COMPANY

Carnivore Meat Company is an award-winning manufacturer of premium raw frozen and freeze-dried pet food and treats. Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the company's rapidly growing brands include Vital Essentials, VE RAW BAR, Vital Cat and Nature's Advantage, which are distributed to over 7,200 retailers in the U.S. and Canada, online including Chewy and Amazon, and in 14 other international markets. The company also supplies co-manufacturing customers and provides private label products to key retailers globally. Carnivore has been awarded with the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award, Governor's Export Achievement Award and inclusion in the Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies.

www.carnivoremeat.com

ABOUT ARBOR INVESTMENTS

Founded in 1999, Arbor Investments is a specialized private equity firm focused exclusively on acquiring companies in food, beverage, and related industries. To date, the firm has acquired or invested in over 85 companies in North America. Arbor is headquartered in Palm Beach, FL, with additional offices in Chicago and New York. www.arborpic.com

SOURCE Vital Essentials
Footwear Brand Takes a Proactive Stance in Addressing Poverty and Inequality with the 'Dream Pairs <3 The Bronx' Initiative.

NEW YORK, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dream Pairs, the esteemed Amazon footwear brand, is igniting hope and change in The Bronx with its groundbreaking "Dream Pairs <3 The Bronx" campaign. This heartwarming initiative not only seeks to provide essential footwear but also shines a spotlight on the pressing social issues of poverty and inequality gripping the borough. Through their first brick-and-mortar retail store located in the Bronx, Dream Pairs is making a tangible impact on the community it serves.

Dream Pairs, a renowned footwear brand dedicated to making a positive impact, has launched the inspiring 'Dream Pairs <3 The Bronx' initiative, aiming to empower and uplift the Bronx community.

"At Dream Pairs, we believe in the power of giving back to the community that has embraced us," says Jimmy Lau, VP of brand marketing at Dream Pairs. "Our 'Dream Pairs <3 The Bronx' campaign is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their economic circumstances, has access to quality footwear."

The grand opening of the Dream Pairs store in The Bronx wasn't just another retail event  it was a beacon of hope for residents seeking quality and fashion-forward shoes at accessible prices. Nestled within the bustling Bay Plaza Shopping Center, the store quickly became a symbol of empowerment and inclusion, offering a diverse range of affordable, high-quality, stylish footwear options for all ages and occasions. Dream Pairs, along with its sub-brands Bruno Marc, NORTIV 8, and Dream Pairs Kids, caters to various audiences with different needs, ensuring a comprehensive range of footwear choices for everyone.

Partnering with local schools, including The Equality Charter School, PS 160 Walt Disney Schools, and PS 168, Dream Pairs is spearheading initiatives to address the footwear needs of students and teachers. In a concerted effort to support the community, Dream Pairs is providing over 1000 vouchers to staff and students across these three schools. These vouchers empower recipients to select a pair of shoes of their choice from Dream Pairs' diverse range of offerings, ensuring that they receive footwear that not only meets their practical needs but also reflects their personal style preferences. Through this initiative, Dream Pairs reaffirms its commitment to fostering positive change within the education sector and contributing to the well-being and confidence of students and educators alike.

"Thank you so much for providing our students with this amazing opportunity. Not only did our students get to pick out and take home a brand-new pair of shoes but this allowed a rich real-world experience. The staff at Dream Pairs was extremely helpful and welcoming to our students and they were thrilled to be there. This trip brought so much joy to P168X staff, students, and families and we are all forever grateful. " says Gina Alt, Assistant Principal at PS168, an elementary school for students with special needs.

Additionally, Eric Morales, Dean at PS168, echoes this sentiment, expressing his gratitude for Dream Pairs "This is the first time in my thirty-two years as an educator that a company has reached out to us to give our students such an amazing gift. The staff was very welcoming and accommodating to our student of different abilities. Thank you Dream Pairs!"

Furthermore, Dream Pairs has teamed up with the Coalition for The Homeless, a respected organization committed to assisting the unhoused population. Together, they're undertaking a compassionate initiative, providing essential winter boots and sneakers to over 400 individuals in the Bronx area. In the face of biting winter temperatures, this act of kindness offers not only warmth but also a glimmer of hope for those experiencing homelessness. This partnership between Dream Pairs and the Coalition for The Homeless underscores their shared dedication to supporting vulnerable communities and addressing systemic issues of poverty and homelessness. By extending a helping hand and providing essential footwear, they are not only offering immediate relief but also fostering a sense of dignity and empowerment among those in need.

Recent statistics reveal that the poverty rate in the Bronx stands at 30.0%, highlighting the urgent need for community support and resources. Through "Dream Pairs <3 The Bronx," Dream Pairs is taking proactive steps to address these social issues, advocating for change and fostering hope in underserved communities.

"We are so grateful to Dream Pairs for the very generous donation of more than 400 pairs of boots for the homeless individuals we serve each day at the Coalition for the Homeless." says David Griffen, Executive Director of the Coalition for The Homeless. "For those struggling without even a roof over their heads in our city, something as simple as a good pair of shoes or boots makes a huge difference in their lives, and also lets them know that someone cares. A huge thanks to Dream Pairs for their compassion and generosity!"

This campaign isn't just about footwear  it's about making a meaningful difference in the lives of Bronx residents. By leveraging its platform to address pressing social issues, Dream Pairs is championing the values of inclusivity, empathy, and social responsibility. Through "Dream Pairs <3 The Bronx," Dream Pairs is not only providing essential footwear but also fostering hope, dignity, and humanity in underserved communities. Through their commitment to social impact, they are not only providing essential resources but also empowering individuals and igniting a sense of collective responsibility towards building a brighter future for all.

For more information about Dream Pairs and its initiatives, please visit Dream Pairs Website, follow them on tiktok or Instagram, or visit the retail store located at Bay Plaza Shopping Center, 352 Baychester Ave, Bronx, New York.

About Dream Pairs

Dream Pairs, a leading footwear brand, is synonymous with high-quality and affordable shoes that cater to diverse lifestyles. With strategically placed offices in the United Sates and China, Dream Pairs has solidified its position as a trusted and reputable name in the industry. From fashion sneakers to elegant heels and stylish boots, Dream Pairs provides a wide range of footwear choices to suit every occasion, ensuring that everyone can find their perfect pair. Committed to excellence and customer satisfaction, Dream Pairs continuously strives for innovation, setting new standards in the world of footwear. To get to know more about the brand, visit the official website at here, TikTok Shop, or the retail store located at Bay Plaza Shopping Center, 352 Baychester Ave, Bronx, New York.

SOURCE Dream Pairs
March 18 spotlights natural gas employees' role in serving nearly 189 million Americans with safe, reliable natural gas

spotlights natural gas employees' role in serving nearly 189 million Americans with safe, reliable natural gas Natural gas technicians play vital role in modernizing the natural gas delivery system for growing communities and in helping to meet the company's net-zero methane emissions goals

B-roll: Natural gas employees

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas celebrate the ninth annual Natural Gas Utility Workers' Day on March 18, 2024. The annual celebration spotlights natural gas workers' role in providing nearly 189 million Americans with safe, reliable and affordable natural gas service every day.

More than 2,800 Duke Energy/Piedmont and contract workers are responsible for the construction, operation and maintenance of more than 35,000 miles of natural gas infrastructure in Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Technicians are often first responders and on the front lines when natural gas emergencies occur. Their work expanding and modernizing the natural gas delivery system will help meet the service needs of customers and growing communities, while also providing the infrastructure needed to replace higher-carbon fuels.

"Duke Energy and Piedmont's employees take pride in their commitment to our customers and to doing their jobs safely. Their willingness to go above and beyond to serve others and help keep communities safe is remarkable," said Sasha Weintraub, senior vice president and president of Duke Energy's natural gas business.

"From working long hours during an outage to restore our customers' heat on a cold night to taking active roles in organizations that support the communities where they live and work, our natural gas workers truly are inspiring," Weintraub said.

Read more about Duke Energy's and Piedmont's natural gas employees at Duke Energy's illumination website.

Natural Gas Utility Workers' Day, established by the American Public Gas Association in 2015, is intended to build public awareness about the hard work done by the employees of natural gas utilities and educate residents on the environmental, safety and cost benefits of using clean, reliable and affordable natural gas. It is celebrated March 18 to commemorate the date of a 1937 incident in New London, Texas, that led to the widespread odorization of natural gas and an increased emphasis on safety.

More information on natural gas safety can be found at duke-energy.com/NaturalGasSafety and piedmontng.com/safety.

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides electric service to 900,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and natural gas service to 550,000 customers in a 2,650-square-mile service area, in Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by 2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Piedmont Natural Gas

Piedmont Natural Gas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, distributes natural gas to more than 1.1 million residential, commercial, industrial and power generation customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Piedmont Natural Gas earned the No. 1 spot in customer satisfaction with residential natural gas service in the South among large utilities for the second year in a row, according to the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Gas Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study , and has been named by Cogent Reports as one of the most trusted utility brands in the U.S. More information: piedmontng.com . Follow Piedmont Natural Gas: Twitter , Facebook .

Media contact: Jason Wheatley

Media Line: 877.348.3612

[email protected]

Twitter: @PNG_JasonW

SOURCE Duke Energy
DUBLIN, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Fax Services Market - Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global fax services market was valued at USD 3.18 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach a value of $5.96 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 11.05%

The global fax services market leaders are directing their efforts towards various essential business approaches, encompassing partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, product advancements, and collaborative ventures, all designed to broaden their product offerings and augment their market presence across diverse geographical regions.

The strategies related to expansion and investments encompass a spectrum of strategic initiatives, ranging from investments in research and development endeavors to establishing new manufacturing facilities and optimizing supply chains. Moreover, numerous vendors focus on improving their services by investing in R&D, technological advancements, and product development.



North America is experiencing robust growth in the fax services market, owing to the increasing demand for high-speed internet access and the widespread adoption of advanced fax technologies. Moreover, North America held the largest global fax services market share in 2022. The rapid proliferation of accessible and affordable internet connections, the rising popularity of cloud-based software and services, and businesses' imperative to enhance workflow efficiency and reduce operational costs contribute to regional market growth.

In fax services, technological convergence involves the incorporation of fax functionalities into enterprise resource planning (ERP), systems applications and products (SAP), and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. The emergence of various cutting-edge technologies, including 5G, Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, IoT, automated intelligence, cloud computing, and digital fax solutions, drive the fax services market. These innovations are expected to propel the market's growth during the forecast period.

Key drivers for the fax services market include the attributes of cloud-based fax services, which offer flexibility, high performance, and reliability to organizations seeking seamless fax communication from their ERPs, desktops, or other business applications. Automation, particularly as a feature of computer-based fax services, is in high demand, notably among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and large enterprises operating in transaction-intensive environments.

Compared to alternative methods such as e-mail and web-based document transfer, the robust privacy advantages make the faxing services stand out compared to its competitors and are anticipated to catalyze market growth. Numerous vendors are offering HIPAA-compliant fax solutions, a move aimed at enticing healthcare providers to adopt fax services, thereby contributing to the robust market growth.

FAX SERVICES MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS

Increasing Online Scam and Data Breaches



For numerous corporations today, faxing remains an essential mode of communication, as fax is considered more than e-mail. Moreover, law enforcement and healthcare sectors are the major drivers of the fax services market because of stringent legal requirements governing the secure transfer of sensitive data.

Additionally, in 2022, nearly 3.6 million Russian internet users experienced breaches, marking an 11% increase. Such instances further propel the use of fax and its respective services to protect organizations from growing online scams and security concerns.



Rising Telecom Industry



The increasing telecom industry drives the global fax services market, using reliable, secure, cost-effective communication solutions to secure customer data.

Further, the rising expenditure on the implementation of 5G infrastructures, driven by changing consumer preferences toward cutting-edge technologies and smartphone devices, has increased the adoption of cloud-based fax services by the telecom industry because this service enables the transmission of exact documents over telecommunications networks and internet, which act a bridge among traditional and digital fax technology.



INDUSTRY RESTRAINTS

Unstructured Data



One of the reasons businesses continue to use fax is its extensive acceptance across numerous IT systems. However, since fax is a frequently supported messaging protocol, it is a capable interoperability standard. Although one of the downsides of fax is the nature of the file, it is an image file that might contain data.



SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS

INSIGHTS BY USER TYPE



The global fax services market by user type is segmented into large enterprises, small & medium enterprises (SMEs), and individuals & home offices. The large enterprises segment dominated the global market in 2022.

Large enterprises are characterized by a workforce exceeding 50 individuals and often encompassing Fortune 1000 companies, representing a substantial revenue source in the global automated fax market. They are primary contributors to international faxing revenue as well. Regardless of the deployment model, the large enterprises segment is one of the highest revenue contributors to the global market.

The major factors driving the migration to cloud-based fax services are reduced operational cost, improved productivity through automation, and increased flexibility and scalability. Large enterprises are involved in transferring thousands of faxes every month. Moreover, Apple uses the secure and reliable online fax service Fax App, which can turn an iPhone or iPad into a powerful fax machine and send faxes anytime, anywhere. All sent and received faxes are stored in a fully encrypted archive for further use and can be easily accessed without delay when required.



INSIGHTS BY SERVICE TYPE



The on-premises service type segment dominated the global fax services market in 2022. Enhanced control over data storage, high configurability, and customizability are prominent factors that propel the segment growth. These solutions also present integration options that can be tailored to align with the specific operational requirements of end-user businesses.

Furthermore, organizations operating in-house fax infrastructure and owning data centers and colocation facilities will likely prefer this operation mode. This will probably drive revenue growth in this segment during the forecast period. Open Text is the major player in this market, installing more than 100,000 RightFax on-premises fax servers. Vendors also offer desktop software solutions that can be integrated with the existing office mail system and other applications to transfer fax documents.



INSIGHTS BY INDUSTRY-USERS



The global fax services market by industry users is segmented as healthcare, banking, financial services, & insurance (BFSI), legal, manufacturing, and others. The healthcare industry user segment held the largest segmental share in the market. The healthcare sector is highly regulated, and securing patient information and maintaining privacy is important.

Although e-mails are an alternative to fax services, they are highly vulnerable, risking privacy. Many healthcare organizations use fax server (FOIP) solutions to transfer fax documents. Increased operational expenditure and initiatives towards operating a green environment are aiding the growth of the cloud-based fax services market.

Fax Services Market Overview

Evolution of Fax Services

Benefits of Fax Services

Advantages of Online Fax Services for the Healthcare Industry

Fax Servers

On-Premises Fax Server vs Cloud Fax Services

Increased Awareness About Operating Green Office Environment

Migration to Cloud-based Faxing Model

Increased Migration to Hybrid Fax Solutions

Rising Telecom Industry

Increasing Online Scams and Data Breaches

Growing Banking Industry

Consumer Preference

Market Opportunities & Trends

Technological Convergence

Role of New Technologies

Digital Transformation

Replacement of On-Premises with Cloud Fax

Market Growth Enablers

Flexibility & Scalability of Internet Fax

Automation of Fax Workflow

Regulatory Compliance

Data Security & Portability

Market Restraints

Unstructured Data

Effective Alternatives to Fax

Key Company Profiles

Consensus Cloud Solutions

Biscom

Dropbox

RingCentral

OpenText

Other Prominent Vendors

Concord

ActFax

Alhambra

MDaemon Technologies

Celo

Copia

Esker

etherFAX

Extracomm

EC Data Systems

Faxcore

GFI Software

iFAX

Imagicle

Upland

Utbox

Softlinx

PamConsult

Retarus

OceanX Technology

Alohi

Medsender

FAXAGE

SRFax

FAX.PLUS

FaxBurner

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/43owxf

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U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

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SOURCE Research and Markets
MONTREAL, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Goli Nutrition Inc., an inventive, people focused nutrition company, announced today that it is entering into a definitive acquisition agreement with a group that includes Group KPS, Bastion Capital and one of the company's original founders under which this group will acquire Goli.

The transaction will strengthen Goli's balance sheet and position the company to drive growth, including into new markets, invest in new product innovation, and build on its partnerships with retailers globally. Goli has over 5 million customers on its direct to consumer platform, as well as long-standing strategic partnerships with leading US retailers supported by an efficient international supply chain and global distribution network.

Group KPS is a healthcare company with an extensive distribution network in Latin America. Group KPS currently distributes Goli products in Mexico and has a deep understanding of its brand and the potential for growth, in North America and internationally. Bastion Capital has an extensive track record of financing and supporting successful consumer-based businesses.

With the backing of strong, well-capitalized sponsors and an extraordinary brand with industry-leading customer loyalty, the transaction will allow Goli to continue to operate and innovate with far greater strength and better positioned for success and sustainable future growth.

"Group KPS is a long-standing distributor of Goli products, and we see strong long-term potential in the company's iconic brand, exceptional product quality, and high repeat purchase rates across its loyal consumer base," said Felipe Preciado, CEO of Group KPS. "We are excited to enter into this acquisition to enable Goli to unlock new growth opportunities and do what it does best in bringing innovative products to consumers worldwide."

As part of the transaction, Goli is retaining members of the original management team who bring a deep understanding of the business and a history of success in the industry, and who are committed to carrying out Goli's mission of delivering high-quality, efficacious products and making health simple, enjoyable and delicious.

The transaction, which has the full support of the company's lenders, is part of a pre-packaged process under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) in Canada. The company obtained an initial order from the Superior Court of Quebec on March 18, 2024, which provides for, among other things, a stay of proceedings that will allow the company to move forward with the transaction.

The transaction remains subject to court approval in Quebec and the US. During this process, the company's operations will continue uninterrupted in the ordinary course of business, and it will continue to deliver its products to its valued customers, distributors and retailer partners worldwide.

Canaccord Genuity Corp. is acting as financial advisor and Bennett Jones LLP is acting as legal counsel to the acquirer group. Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP is acting as legal counsel to Goli.

About Goli Nutrition

Goli Nutrition is an inventive, people focused nutrition company committed to providing innovative products that make taking your daily supplements enjoyable. Goli Nutrition's products are formulated with quality ingredients you can pronounce and flavors your taste buds will enjoy! At the core of it all, Goli Nutrition leads with purpose, attaining B Corp Certification for their Goli for Good initiatives. To purchase Goli products or for more information, please visit www.goli.com.

Media Contact:

Nina Godard

Edelman Smithfield

[email protected]

415-455-6324

SOURCE Goli Nutrition
Collaboration brings together Hitachi's leadership in mission-critical products and services in the physical world with NVIDIA's expertise in AI platforms

TOKYO, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501) today announced it is collaborating with NVIDIA to accelerate social innovation and digital transformation by combining Hitachi's domain solutions in operational technology (OT) and leadership in key industries including energy, mobility, and connected systems with NVIDIA's expertise in generative AI.

Generative AI has made a tremendous impact in the enterprise and consumer arena, bringing about a new wave of digital transformation, which promises to redefine product experiences and deliver a new level of efficiency to organizations. Through this collaboration, generative AI will now be extended into the industrial sphere by capturing vast amounts of data generated in the world of OT -- from various sensors, devices and industrial machines -- and applied to streamline performance, gain insights, and allow organizations to automate actions that have not previously been possible.

Hitachi, working with NVIDIA, will select an executive leadership team and establish an AI Center of Excellence (CoE) and, in line with strategic milestones, will develop and market industry solutions that integrate Hitachi's domain knowledge in OT with advanced NVIDIA AI software and GPU technologies. Hitachi will invest in expanding the training of engineers on NVIDIA software platforms  including CUDA, NVIDIA AI Enterprise*1, Omniverse*2 and Modulus*3  among other collaborative measures. These efforts will pave the way for new innovations that will directly benefit society.





Background

Generative AI has demonstrated tangible proof points in improving the performance of organizations in automating tasks, creating efficiencies, and enhancing products and services. Due to its remarkable impact, generative AI has widely been adopted in all industries -- becoming a critical technology for innovation and growth and an enabler for transformative solutions.

The NVIDIA-accelerated computing platform supports large-scale language models and creative generation, and its advanced technological capabilities in AI software and simulation are contributing to innovation in all industries, from energy to drug discovery to manufacturing.

With approximately 320,000*4 employees across the globe, Hitachi is an established leader in Information Technology (IT), Operational Technology (OT) and Products for the physical world including advanced solutions for energy, mobility, and industrial sectors. In May 2023, Hitachi launched its advanced Generative AI Center to promote the safe and effective use of generative AI both inside and outside the company*5. Hitachi has successfully deployed generative AI in numerous use cases to boost innovation, improve efficiency and productivity for employees and clients. As a result of these efforts, Hitachi has conducted more than 100 projects in Japan and across the globe enabling enhanced problem solving and innovation using generative AI. Furthermore, to accelerate AI transformation, Hitachi will create and host an environment running on NVIDIA-accelerated computing and develop a common platform for generative AI which incorporates Hitachi's domain knowledge and strengths in software development.

"Since its founding, Hitachi has been committed to solving issues faced by customers and society based on our philosophy of 'contributing to society through the development of superior technologies and products'. said Toshiaki Tokunaga, Executive Vice President and Executive Officer, General Manager of Digital Systems & Services Division at Hitachi." Through this exciting new collaboration with NVIDIA, we expect that Hitachi's deep expertise in mission-critical industries combined with the NVIDIA generative AI stack will allow us to solve complex, real-world problems accelerating social innovation for breakthrough societal outcomes."

"Generative AI is driving enterprises to find the latest and greatest tools to keep up with productivity, efficiency, and automation demands," said Jay Puri, executive vice president, Worldwide Field Operations at NVIDIA. "The combined technologies of Hitachi and NVIDIA can power the next wave of digital transformation, enabling organizations to push the boundaries of manufacturing and industrialization."

About the Collaboration

1. Next-generation industrial simulation and optimization

Hitachi has crafted a bold vision for projects that will go beyond the conventional. Specifically, by utilizing NVIDIA Omniverse, a platform for connecting and developing OpenUSD applications, and NVIDIA Modulus, a framework for building, training, and fine-tuning physics-machine learning models, Hitachi can develop simulate and optimize various assets and processes for mission-critical fields such as energy and transportation in a digital twin environment. The results can then be reflected in the real world, allowing for the collaborative development of large-scale solutions that can, for example, accelerate the transition to green energy, enable new innovations in healthcare, or enhance the safety of transportation systems, while validating and improving their effectiveness.

2. Hitachi industrial AI solutions on NVIDIA AI Enterprise

Hitachi Lumada's AI solution library, for which Hitachi has built a track record of value creation in various industries, will also be integrated with the NVIDIA AI Enterprise and Modulus platforms. Leveraging Hitachi's design and digital engineering capabilities, these solutions will enable customers in various industries, including transportation, energy, industrial, and finance, to accelerate innovation, enhance their offerings, and create a new range of intelligent, AI-centric solutions.

3. Development of a new portfolio of AI solutions "Hitachi iQ"

Enabled by the collaboration, Hitachi Vantara will launch the first offering under the Hitachi iQ portfolio. The new offering will undergo NVIDIA DGX BasePOD*6 certification, providing customers with a fully certified, integrated solution, built on NVIDIA DGX*7 infrastructure and highly reliable storage. Offered through multiple consumption models, Hitachi Vantara will provide customers with mechanisms to consume just what they need, all while providing improved on-premises performance and allowing for a better ROI from their AI-enabled storage and data infrastructure. Hitachi iQ will also release a high-end NVIDIA HGX offering  powered by NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs  and a set of midrange PCIe based offerings, consisting of NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core and L40S GPUs*8. As a complement to these products, Hitachi Vantara will also offer NVIDIA AI Enterprise, a software platform comprising enterprise-grade AI tools and frameworks. Lastly, Hitachi Vantara will offer a new Generation 5-based accelerated storage node utilizing the Hitachi Content Software for File storage technology, which will enable it to deliver extremely fast storage solutions for complex AI workloads. Hitachi Vantara's iQ portfolio is expected to be generally available in the first quarter of Hitachi's fiscal year 2024.

Through this collaboration, Hitachi will drive forward in its bold ambition to create immense impact globally and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

*1 NVIDIA AI Enterprise https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/data-center/products/ai-enterprise/

*2 Omniverse https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/omniverse/

*3 Modulus https://developer.nvidia.com/modulus

*4 As of March 31, 2023; approximately 260,000 as of December 31, 2023.

*5 News Release"Hitachi Establishes New "Generative AI Center" to Accelerate Value Creation and Improve Productivity in the Lumada business by promoting the use of Generative AI" https://www.hitachi.co.jp/New/cnews/month/2023/05/0515.html

*6 NVIDIA DGX BasePOD https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/data-center/dgx-basepod/

*7 NVIDIA DGX  https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/data-center/dgx-platform/

*8 L40S GPUs https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/data-center/dgx-platform/



Exhibit at the "2024 GTC AI Conference"

Hitachi Vantara is a Silver Sponsor at 2024 GTC, the world's leading conference for the AI era, to be held March 18-21 in a hybrid format in San Jose and Virtual, USA. We will introduce innovation through data, infrastructure and services that enable advanced customer experiences and applications using AI.

https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/company/events-webinar/nvidia-2024.html

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of "Digital Systems & Services" - supporting our customers' digital transformation; "Green Energy & Mobility" - contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and "Connective Industries" - connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.

SOURCE Hitachi, Ltd.
Initiative involves development of AI frameworks to expedite time to market and reduce the

complexity of building and deploying infrastructure for generative AI

SANTA CLARA, Calif. , March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure, and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), today announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to create a new generation of transformational artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. Hitachi Vantara will develop a portfolio of solutions, Hitachi iQ, to drive targeted AI outcomes by layering industry-specific capabilities on top of its AI solution stack, so outcomes can be more specific and relevant to an organization's business.

Click here to learn more about Hitachi Vantara's portfolio of AI solutions:

www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/solutions/artificial-intelligence.html#hitachiiq

As new and exciting data-intensive technologies like generative AI are spurring a goldrush to business transformation, these technologies are exacerbating the already-strained environments in which they run. According to a recent S&P Global Market Intelligence report , "IT infrastructure is straining under the resource requirements of AI workloads. Only a third (32%) of respondents indicate their organization is always able to support internal AI workload demand." Through this collaboration, Hitachi Vantara will be able to help address the needs of the market through the creation of hybrid cloud-enabled AI capabilities that facilitate faster, actionable insights.

"As part of the Hitachi family, we have strong expertise in multiple industrial market segments including energy, transportation, and manufacturing, which makes it possible to accelerate digital transformation powered by AI," said Sheila Rohra, CEO of Hitachi Vantara. "Successful collaboration is built to meet customers' needs, both for today and the future, and this collaboration empowers us to integrate NVIDIA's AI leadership with Hitachi Vantara's expertise in future-facing hybrid cloud infrastructure solutions and services to help our customers establish a data foundation for innovation."

Built on NVIDIA's latest AI technologies and combined with Hitachi Vantara's next-generation storage platforms, the Hitachi iQ portfolio will feature solutions that address the needs of the market through the creation of AI capabilities that accelerate digital transformation in industrial and enterprise markets. Offered through multiple consumption models, Hitachi Vantara will provide customers with mechanisms to consume the data storage they need, all while providing improved on-premises performance and allowing for a better ROI.

A New AI-Powered Architecture

Powered by NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs , the first offering under the Hitachi iQ portfolio will launch in the first quarter of Hitachi's fiscal year. This offering will undergo NVIDIA DGX BasePOD certification and plans to feature NVIDIA DGX H100 systems and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software. Beyond that, the Hitachi iQ portfolio will also feature:

A high-end NVIDIA HGX offering - powered by NVIDIA H100 GPUs - and a complement of midrange PCI-E based offerings, consisting of NVIDIA H100 and L40S GPUs.

Utilizing the Hitachi Content Software for File (HCSF) storage technology, Hitachi Vantara will be releasing a new Generation 5 based accelerated storage node, delivering fast storage solutions powering complex AI workloads.

"Enterprises across industries are building AI factories to turn their data into intelligence," said Charlie Boyle, vice president of DGX platforms at NVIDIA. "With solutions built with NVIDIA DGX infrastructure and software, Hitachi Vantara customers will be able to create AI Centers of Excellence to turbocharge their generative AI strategies."

Leveraging Hitachi's OT and Industrial Expertise

Hitachi is transforming to meet the needs of the market. Last year, the company announced the creation of the Hitachi Generative AI Center of Excellence . As part of a broader relationship with NVIDIA, Hitachi will focus on the creation of OT-specific foundational models, becoming one of the first to create industry-specific generative AI models to help address the market's data-driven digital transformation needs. Additionally, through Hitachi iQ, Hitachi and its subsidiary and partner ecosystem will help customers discover the potential of what AI has to offer, improving their enterprise.

For more information, please visit www.hitachivantara.com .

Additional Resources

Connect With Hitachi Vantara

About Hitachi Vantara

Hitachi Vantara is transforming the way data fuels innovation. A wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Vantara provides the data foundation the world's leading innovators rely on. Through data storage, infrastructure systems, cloud management and digital expertise, the company helps customers build the foundation for sustainable business growth. To learn more, visit www.hitachivantara.com .

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of "Digital Systems & Services" - supporting our customers' digital transformation; "Green Energy & Mobility" - contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and "Connective Industries" - connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com .

HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service

marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners.

SOURCE Hitachi Vantara
COVINGTON, Ky., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Commonwealth Hotels, a Covington, Kentucky-based hotel management company, proudly announced that Brownsburg's newest extended-stay all-suite hotel, Home2 Suites by Hilton Brownsburg, celebrated its official grand opening last week with the Brownsburg Chamber of Commerce and owner Rocky Singh. The hotel is located at 520 W. Northfield Drive in Brownsburg, Indiana.

Home2 Brownsburg Ribbon Cutting

"It's been wonderful to welcome guests over the past month and showcase the property with our official grand opening and ribbon cutting." Said Jesse Stauffer, general manager. "We look forward to continuing to serve this thriving community, providing travelers with a memorable experience and genuine hospitality."

Designed to meet the evolving needs of modern travelers, the hotel has 91 studio and one-bedroom suites. Each guest suite features a kitchen equipped with a microwave, coffee maker, and full-size refrigerator, as well as assorted cookware and dishware encouraging in-room food preparation and storage. The hotel also offers an indoor pool, fitness center, and onsite laundry.

With modern, pet-friendly, and eco-friendly accommodations, Home2 Suites by Hilton Brownsburg is set to redefine the concept of extended stay accommodations. The hotel provides business and leisure travelers, as well as friends and families of Hendrix County residents with a "home away from home" experience.

About Commonwealth Hotels

Commonwealth Hotels was founded in 1986 and is a proven partner in providing hotel management services with superior financial results. The company has extensive experience managing premium branded full-service and select-service hotels. Additional information may be found at www.commonwealthhotels.com.

Contact

Barbara E. Willen Commonwealth Hotels, LLC [email protected]

859.392-2254

SOURCE Commonwealth Hotels, Inc.
JOHANNESBURG, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackery, a global leader in innovative solar generators and green outdoor energy solutions, partnering with its South Africa distributor, Evolife, is proud to announce its participation in Solar & Storage Live, Africa's largest renewable energy exhibition. The event, known for highlighting technologies driving the transition to a greener, smarter, and more decentralized energy system, attracts over 20,000 professionals and hosts more than 350 exhibitors.

Jackery Showcases Cutting-Edge Solar Generators at Solar & Storage Live

As a key player in the renewable energy sector, Jackery is thrilled to showcase its latest products designed to meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses alike. We are going to showcase Jackery Explorer 300 Plus, Solar Generator 1000 Pro 100W (Explorer 1000 Pro +100W*1) , and Solar Generator 2000 Pro 200W (Explorer 2000 Pro+ 200W*1).

"At Jackery, we are committed to empowering individuals and communities with reliable, sustainable energy solutions," said Tracy Wang, Head of Global Branding and PR at Jackery. "Solar & Storage Live provides an excellent platform for us to demonstrate the capabilities of our cutting-edge solar generators and connect with buyers, and partners from across Africa."

On the exhibition, we are launching a brand new product: Jackery Explorer 300 Plus. With its compact design and powerful performance, it provides a convenient solution for charging electronic devices and powering small appliances. Its foldable handle design and lightweight profile make it incredibly easy to carry, set up, and utilize. The Explorer 300 Plus incorporates Jackery's ChargeShield technology, ensuring that safety is never compromised.

The Solar Generator 1000 Pro and Solar Generator 2000 Pro represent Jackery's commitment to innovation and efficiency. They are all equipped with intelligent Battery Management Systems (BMS) providing 12 forms of protection to cover all kinds of unexpected scenarios including over-current, short current, over-discharge, overcharge, and more. This adds extra safety for users.

Jackery invites attendees to visit its booth C126 at Solar & Storage Live to learn more about its products and explore partnership opportunities.

About Jackery:

Jackery, the world's leading innovative solar generator and green outdoor energy solution provider founded in California in 2012, is a global top-selling solar generator brand. Jackery launched the world's first outdoor portable power stations in 2016 and developed the world's first portable solar panels in 2018. Jackery has sold over 3 million units globally since 2018 and has been recognized by 200+ authorized media and organizations worldwide.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2364734/Jackery_Showcases_Cutting_Edge_Solar_Generators_Solar___Storage_Live.jpg

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Daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm claim Park Vista Children's Academy endangered toddler and violated Texas childcare laws

KELLER, Texas, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Parents of a 23-month-old girl are suing Park Vista Children's Academy in Keller, alleging caregivers mistreated their daughter and used inappropriate discipline tactics at the daycare center in August 2023. The lawsuit filed by Brooke and Jeffrey Napier raises concerns about the safety and well-being of children enrolled at the center. Per the complaint, the Napier's daughter, along with other classmates, were victims of abusive behavior including pushing, shoving, and aggressive handling such as being yanked by one arm.

An investigation by the Texas Health and Human Services Child-Care Licensing Division uncovered video surveillance footage that showed a Park Vista Children's Academy caregiver roughly handling the Napier's daughter for more than 20 minutes, according to the complaint. The suit states video captured the caregiver yanking the girl's arm and pushing her into a classroom door for timeout. When the crying toddler attempted to move away, the caregiver shoved her head against a wall. Later in the video, the Park Vista Children's Academy worker continued to grab the little girl by one arm and forced her to the ground, where she landed on her stomach. The toddler attempted to crawl away, but was pushed backwards into a wall, spanked on the leg, and pushed on her face, per the complaint. The toddler is visibly fearful and upset throughout the ordeal.

"No parent should have to endure the torment of discovering their child was subjected to such abusive treatment," says Brooke Napier. "The revelations of how Park Vista Children's Academy treated our daughter have left us angry and heartbroken."

Despite Park Vista Children's Academy marketing itself to parents as having a "safe and healthy environment," the state's investigation found abusive treatment of children was common at the daycare center, according to the suit. Following the incident involving the Napier's daughter, the state cited the daycare center for abusing a child by using corporal and prohibited punishment tactics that included grabbing and pulling the toddler. The daycare center also had 12 previous violations: yelling at children, failing to use good judgment, grabbing children in a rough manner, and using prohibited punishment methods.

"This lawsuit is a necessary step to hold Park Vista Children's Academy accountable for the repeated abuse and inappropriate discipline tactics inflicted upon innocent children like our clients' daughter," says daycare injury attorney Russell Button of The Button Law Firm, who represents the Napier family. "Video footage doesn't lie, and frankly, it is hard to watch grown adults who are responsible for the well-being of children mistreat them."

The case is Brooke Napier and Jeffrey Napier, Individually and as parents and next friends of N.N., a minor child, vs. Arka Keller Investments, LLC, d/b/a Park Vista Children's Academy; and Arka Park Vista Educators, LLC, Cause No. 048-351072-24 in the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas. A copy of the complaint can be accessed here.

About The Button Law Firm

The Button Law Firm (buttonlawfirm.com) is a Texas-based personal injury law firm that advocates for children and their families in meaningful litigation to make local communities safer. The firm focuses on daycare and child-related injuries such as abuse and neglect cases, bottle warmer burns, traumatic brain injuries, and catastrophic injuries. With attorneys in Dallas, Houston, and Midland, The Button Law Firm helps families move forward across the Lone Star State.

SOURCE The Button Law Firm
Cutting-edge AMR robotic technology enhances operational efficiency and speeds order fulfilment at new state-of-the-art customer fulfilment centre.

WILMINGTON, Mass., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Locus Robotics, the market leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMR) for fulfilment warehouses, today announced its partnership with John Lewis & Partners following deployment of Locus AMRs at their distribution centre in Milton Keynes. This represents the first deployment of mobile robotics automation at John Lewis and the continued expansion of Locus Robotics' footprint in the UK. John Lewis has seen a 50% increase in their picking rates following the introduction of Locus on their site.

The LocusBots collaborate with partners at the site to improve productivity and efficiency in order fulfilment while also improving worker ergonomics and safety by eliminating unproductive walking time and the need to push heavy carts or lift items. The robotic fleet is helping John Lewis achieve greater throughput and accuracy as it scales up its ecommerce operations to meet rising customer demand.

"We are delighted to be working with John Lewis as they embark on their Robotics journey at their Fenny Lock Distribution & Fulfilment Centre," said Rick Faulk, CEO of Locus Robotics. "Our LocusBots have proven their value time and again by enabling warehouses to easily double or triple productivity. We look forward to helping John Lewis leverage our cutting-edge robotics solution to enhance operations and ensure a positive customer experience."

"Locus stood out to us for their proven technology and their experience deploying in some of the world's most innovative facilities," said John Munnelly, Distribution Director at John Lewis. "The Locus solution has provided the performance levels and reliability we need to keep up with the increasing focus on efficiency and in support of our customer service standards."

The LocusBots enable partners to safely and efficiently fulfill ecommerce orders placed on JohnLewis.com for fast, accurate shipment to consumers. By optimising fulfilment workflows, the robotic solution enables the retailer to meet rising order volumes by empowering Partners with innovative automation tools that increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve workplace quality.

About Locus Robotics

Locus Robotics is the world leader in revolutionary, enterprise-level, warehouse automation solution, incorporating powerful AI-driven, intelligent autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that operate collaboratively with human partners to dramatically improve product movement and productivity 23X. Named to the Inc. 500 three years in a row, an IFOY winner, and earning over 23 industry and technology awards, the Locus solution dramatically increases order fulfilment productivity, lowers operational costs, and improves workplace quality, safety, and ergonomics for partners.

Supporting more than 125+ of the world's top brands and deployed at 300+ sites around the world, Locus Robotics enables retailers, 3PLs and specialty warehouses to efficiently meet and exceed the increasingly complex and demanding requirements of today's fulfilment environments.

About the John Lewis Partnership

The John Lewis Partnership is the UK's largest employee owned business and parent company of two cherished retail brands - John Lewis and Waitrose, which are owned in Trust by over 74,000 Partners.



They have 34 John Lewis shops plus one outlet and 329 Waitrose shops across the UK, along with johnlewis.com and waitrose.com. They also have two international sourcing offices, a soft furnishings factory, various distribution centres, three Waitrose & Partners cookery schools, a content production hub, heritage centre and their own Waitrose & Partners farm.

John Lewis

John Lewis began trading over 150 years ago in 1864 on London's Oxford Street and is a leading omni-channel retailer in the UK with 34 John Lewis shops and a growing online business - johnlewis.com. They also offer a range of financial products from Home Insurance to Foreign Currency and their credit card, the Partnership Card through John Lewis Finance.



John Lewis are proud to have always been a place where people go to celebrate the big life milestones. Now, people are bringing joy to each moment  not just the big days, but the everydays too. Now they have a new promise to their customers, to be there for all life's moments.

For information or enquiries about Locus Robotics:

Kary Zate

Sr. Director Marketing Communications

[email protected]

+1-774-249-4477

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2355436/Locus_Logo.jpg
Adweek's First-Ever AI Agency of the Year Bridges the Gap Between Brands and Consumers with Real-Time, Data-Driven Personas

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- S4Capital's operating brand Media.Monks, a digital-first, data-led advertising and marketing services company, has launched Persona.Flow, a professional managed service that gives brand marketers the ability to talk to their data. Persona.Flow marks a notable expansion to the existing Monks.Flow service. It addresses a unique need within enterprise AI workflows by converting owned customer data into dynamic consumer personas. This transformation allows marketers to interact in real-time, significantly augmenting their speed to market.

Persona.Flow is a professional managed service that gives brand marketers the ability to talk to their data

Persona.Flow offers a user-friendly interface to help brands streamline strategy workflows, increase their precision, and democratize deep data insights. Its core technology is driven by a robust RAG framework that synergizes brand-owned data and factual data from extensive consumer and market research libraries provided in partnership with data driven marketing firm Claritas.

Designed as a cost-effective alternative to traditional focus groups, Persona.Flow negates the need for the weeks of planning and deliberation that are commonly associated with building consumer intelligence. The service amplifies speed to market by delivering detailed, granular insights in real time and in natural language, making it easier than ever to respond to market trends as they emerge.

Owning a comprehensive dataset is crucial for brands to future-proof themselves and stay competitive in today's data-intensive and AI-dominated creative landscape. This owned data fuels the AI workflows that brands increasingly rely on to deliver relevant content that audiences crave. Persona.Flow serves as a reliable, single source of truth for all of a brand's marketing data, fostering the discovery of new creative concepts that may in turn generate further data based on their performance with real audiences.

As a consultative AI partner, Media.Monks aids brands in leading the new economy and becoming AI-first through the deployment of customized solutions. Unhindered by traditional agency compartmentalization, Media.Monks' in-house team of data scientists, machine learning engineers, and creatives boast profound expertise in AI and machine learning technologies. Consistently at the forefront of integrating and applying these technologies, Media.Monks is pioneering a revolutionary commercial model for the marketing and advertising industry that addresses brands' most urgent commercial requirements.

Discover more about Persona.Flow on Media.Monks.com and keep up to date by following Media.Monks on LinkedIn and Instagram .

About Media.Monks

Media.Monks is the global, purely digital operating brand of S4Capital plc. Since 2021, Media.Monks has combined diverse solutionsmedia, data, social, platforms, studio, experience, brand and technology servicesto serve as a consultative partner integrating systems and workflows that deliver unfettered content production, scaled experiences and data science fueled by AI and the industries very best talent and teams.

Media.Monks was named a Contender in The Forrester Wave: Global Marketing Services. It has earned a constant presence on Adweek's Fastest Growing lists (2019-23), ranks among Cannes Lions' Top 10 Creative Companies (2022-23), and earns continual inclusion in AdExchanger's Programmatic Power Players (2020-23). It has also been named Adweek's first AI Agency of the Year (2023), has earned the title of Webby Production Company of the Year (2021-23), won a record number of FWAs, and a spot on Newsweek's Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces 2023.

About S4Capital

S4 Capital plc (SFOR.L) is the tech-led, new age/new era digital advertising, marketing and technology services company, established by Sir Martin Sorrell in May 2018.

Our strategy is to build a purely digital advertising and marketing services business for global, multinational, regional, and local clients, and millennial-driven influencer brands. This will be achieved by integrating leading businesses in three practices: Content, Data&digital media and Technology Services, along with an emphasis on 'faster, better, cheaper, more' execution in an always-on consumer-led environment, with a unitary structure.

Victor Knaap, Wesley ter Haar, Christopher S. Martin, Scott Spirit and Mary Basterfield all joined the S4 Capital Board as Executive Directors. The S4 Capital Board also includes Rupert Faure Walker, Paul Roy, Daniel Pinto, Sue Prevezer, Elizabeth Buchanan, Naoko Okumoto, Margaret Ma Connolly, Miles Young and Colin Day.

The Company now has approximately 7,700 people in 32 countries with approximately 70% of revenue across the Americas, 20% across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 10% across Asia-Pacific. The longer-term objective is a geographic split of 60%:20%:20%. Content currently accounts for approximately 60% of revenue, Data&digital media 30% and Technology Services 10%. The long-term objective for the practices is a split of 50%:25%:25%.

Sir Martin was CEO of WPP for 33 years, building it from a 1 million 'shell' company in 1985 into the world's largest advertising and marketing services company, with a market capitalisation of over 16 billion on the day he left. Prior to that Sir Martin was Group Financial Director of Saatchi & Saatchi Company Plc for nine years.

Media Contact:

Sarah Murray, 402-658-9341

[email protected]

SOURCE Media.Monks
DUBLIN, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Mexico Data Center Market - Investment Analysis & Growth Opportunities 2024-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Mexico data center market is expected to reach a value of $1.319 billion by 2029 from $804 million in 2023, growing at a CAGR of 8.60% from 2023-2029

This report analyses the Mexico 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.



Queretaro and Mexico City have emerged as top destinations for data center investments from foreign and local data center providers in the Mexico data center market. The country has several special economic zones that provide multiple benefits to investors, such as tax exemptions on infrastructure, land power & others, and support for local labor recruitment.

Mexico has seven existing submarine cables that connect it with other Latin American countries and the US. Some of the upcoming submarine cables in the country include Bifrost, Gold Data-1 (GD-1)/Liberty Networks-1 (LN-1), Caribbean Express (CX), TAM-1, and TIKAL-AMX3. Mexico stands at the forefront of renewable energy, harnessing hydropower, solar, wind, and geothermal power and the ability to develop green hydrogen and energy storage projects. The country's government has set the ambitious goal to reach 35% renewable energy by 2024, with a target of 50% by 2050.

Companies in Mexico are aggressive in adopting AI, with a particular emphasis on ethics, cybersecurity, and data protection. According to Cisco Systems, around 75% of companies in Mexico are keen to adopt AI technologies. Ascenty (Digital Realty), Equinix, HostDime, Kio Networks, ODATA (Aligned Data Centers), and Scala Data Centers are the major colocation service providers operating data centers across the Mexico data center market by adding more than 100 MW of power capacity.

In 2023, the Mexico data center market witnessed data center investments from Ascenty (Digital Realty), Equinix, CloudHQ, KIO Networks, ODATA (Aligned Data Centers), and Scala Data Centers in more than ten data center facilities across the country. In addition, Mexico also witnessed investments from new entrants such as CloudHQ, EdgeConneX, and Layer 9 Data Centres.

WHY SHOULD YOU BUY THIS RESEARCH?

Market size available in the investment, area, power capacity, and Mexico colocation market revenue.

colocation market revenue. An assessment of the data center investment in Mexico 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 Mexico data center market landscape, an in-depth market analysis, and insightful predictions about market size during the forecast period.

data center market landscape, an in-depth market analysis, and insightful predictions about market size during the forecast period. Snapshot of existing and upcoming third-party data center facilities in Mexico

Facilities Covered (Existing): 37

Facilities Identified (Upcoming): 06

Coverage: 15+ Cities

Existing vs. Upcoming (Area)

Existing vs. Upcoming (IT Load Capacity)

Data Center Colocation Market in Mexico

Market Revenue & Forecast (2023-2029)

Retail Colocation Revenue

The Mexico 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 market.

Business overview and product offerings of prominent IT infrastructure providers, construction contractors, support infrastructure providers, and investors operating in the industry.

A transparent research methodology and the analysis of the demand and supply aspects of the industry.

VENDOR LANDSCAPE

IT Infrastructure Providers

Arista Networks

Broadcom

Cisco Systems

Dell Technologies

HPE

Huawei Technologies

IBM

Juniper Networks

Lenovo

NetApp

Oracle

Pure Storage

Super Micro Computer

Data Center Construction Contractors & Sub-Contractors

AECOM

Aceco TI

Fluor Corporation

Gensler

KMD Architects

Soben

Syska Hennessey Group

The Weitz Company

Turner Construction

Support Infrastructure Providers

ABB

Alfa Laval

Axis Communications

Bosch Security and Safety Systems

Caterpillar

Cummins

Daikin Applied

Delta Electronics

Detroit Diesel

Eaton

Honeywell International

Johnson Controls

Legrand

Munters

Mitsubishi Electric

Piller Power Systems

Panduit

Rittal

Rolls Royce

Schneider Electric

Siemens

STULZ

Vertiv

Data Center Investors

Ascenty (Digital Realty)

Equinix

HostDime

Kio Networks

MTP

Microsoft

ODATA (Aligned Data Centers)

Scala Data Centers

New Entrants

CloudHQ

EdgeConneX

Layer 9 Data Centres

EXISTING VS. UPCOMING DATA CENTERS

Existing Facilities in the Region (Area and Power Capacity)

Queretaro

Other Cities

List of Upcoming Facilities in the region (Area and Power Capacity)

REPORT COVERAGE

IT Infrastructure

Servers

Storage Systems

Network Infrastructure

Electrical Infrastructure

UPS Systems

Generators

Switches & Switchgear

PDUs

Other Electrical Infrastructure

Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

Racks

Other Mechanical Infrastructure

Cooling Systems

CRAC and CRAH Units

Chillers Units

Cooling Towers, Condensers, and Dry Coolers

Economizers & Evaporative Coolers

Other Cooling Units

General Construction

Core & Shell Development

Installation & Commissioning Services

Engineering & Building Design

Fire Detection & Suppression

Physical Security

Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM)

Tier Standard

Tier I & Tier II

Tier III

Tier IV

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jgyckw

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.

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SOURCE Research and Markets
CHICAGO, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Old Republic International Corporation (NYSE: ORI) today announced Therace M. Risch (51) has joined its Board of Directors as of March 18, 2024. She has concurrently been appointed to the Board's Audit and Governance and Nominating Committees, as well as to the Directorship of ORI's major regulated insurance company subsidiaries.

Ms. Risch is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Information & Technology Officer for American Electric Power Company, Inc. She was previously Executive Vice President and Chief Information & Digital Officer at J. C. Penney Company, Inc. and Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer at COUNTRY Financial. Further, she has ten years of experience directly in the insurance industry working at the St. Paul Companies, Inc. and COUNTRY Financial. In making the announcement, Spencer LeRoy, Chairman of the Board, noted, "our Company will benefit greatly from Therace Risch's expertise in the areas of cyber security, technology transformation, and foundational IT operations and we are most grateful and pleased with her acceptance to join us."

Including Therace Risch, ORI has added six new, highly qualified individuals to ORI and its major regulated insurance company subsidiaries' Boards of Directors in the last 5 years. In the same time frame, six Directors have departed from the Board. ORI continues to make significant progress to provide greater diversity of talents, professions, and other backgrounds to the Board.

About Old Republic

Chicago-based Old Republic International Corporation is one of the nation's 50 largest shareholder-owned insurance businesses. It is a member of the Fortune 500 listing of America's largest companies. The Company is organized as an insurance holding company whose subsidiaries actively market, underwrite, and provide risk management services for a wide variety of coverages mostly in the general and title insurance fields. Old Republic's general insurance business ranks among the nation's 50 largest, while its title insurance business is the third largest in its industry.

For Old Republic's latest news releases and other corporate documents: Please visit us at www.oldrepublic.com





Alternatively, please write or call: Investor Relations Old Republic International Corporation 307 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601 (312) 346-8100

At Old Republic: At Financial Relations Board: Craig R. Smiddy, President and CEO Analysts/Investors: Joe Calabrese 212/827-3772

SOURCE Old Republic International Corporation
LOMPOC, Calif., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation announced on Monday that it will remain vigilant that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) not again pursue the invasive surgical sterilization of wild mares.

In the BLM's Fiscal Year 2025 budget justification document, posted last week, the agency requested $15 million to "conduct permanent sterilization  as a population growth suppression tool for on-range populations" by "gathering and sterilizing animals and then returning the sterilized animals to the range."

"Attempts at surgical sterilization have only led to litigation, not progress toward more humane and sustainable on-range herd management. The BLM shouldn't make yet another wrong turn, and Congress should not enable it," said Neda DeMayo, president of Return to Freedom (RTF), a national nonprofit wild horse and burro advocacy organization.

"Instead, lawmakers should hold the BLM's feet to the fire on the use of safe, proven fertility control. It is a humane and practical tool to slow herd growth and finally phase out BLM's failed, decades-long practice of capturing and removing wild horses and burros from their home ranges."

Both the agency document and President Biden's budget proposal, released on March 11, call for the BLM's Wild Horse and Burro Program to receive $170.9 million in funding for 2025, a $21.9 million increase. Final funding decisions rest with Congress.

The BLM's budget justification is vague about how and what sort of sterilization methods would be used. When the BLM has pursued surgical sterilization of mares, it has been halted by litigation and public opposition.

Most recently, in 2021, the agency abandoned a plan to use a procedure called ovariectomy via colpotomy on captured mares after RTF and others sued. This is an invasive surgical procedure requiring post-surgical pain management and rest, standards of care difficult to achieve for a wild mare. It includes risks of infection, bleeding and death.

BLM also dropped a plan to perform sterilization experiments on mares in 2016.

In 2017, RTF prevailed in a federal lawsuit challenging BLM's efforts to permanently sterilize an entire Idaho herd of horses.

The court found that BLM: has a legal mandate to protect horses' wild free-roaming behaviors and manage wild horses in self-sustaining herds, and that sterilizing wild horses impacts the herd's social structure, the wild horses' behavior, and the public's interest in preserving and observing those natural instincts and behaviors.

Scaling up fertility control enjoys strong public support and broad stakeholder support. In recent years, Congress has boosted wild horse program funding while calling for fertility control use.

Population modeling has shown that the BLM must immediately implement fertility control to stabilize herd growth so that removals, which decimate family bands and herds, can be greatly reduced and in some cases, brought to an end, and off-range holding, which costs taxpayers millions more each year, phased out.

Yet the BLM remains focused almost entirely on removals in pursuit of an agency-set population target, or "Appropriate Management Level" (AML), of no more than 26,785 wild horses and burros total on designated rangelands.

The BLM reiterated in its budget document that it would "focus on the use of population growth suppression methods including fertility control applications as the long-term solution to maintaining AML once it is reached," not before.

In 2023, the agency estimated the on-range population at 83,000 horses and burros. The number of captured animals being warehoused in off-range holding totals more than 64,000.

Between now and September, the BLM intends to remove 11,112 wild horses and burros from the range while treating just 219 with fertility control.

Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation (RTF ) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to wild horse preservation through sanctuary, education, conservation, and advocacy since 1998. It also operates the American Wild Horse Sanctuary at three California locations, caring for more than 420 wild horses and burros. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter, and Instagram for updates about wild horses and burros on the range and at our sanctuary.

SOURCE Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation
KRAKOW, Poland, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Selvita S.A. [WSE: SLV] announced today a strategic initiative to significantly expand its services portfolio and enter the field of biologic drug discovery and development, by adding comprehensive therapeutic antibody discovery and development capabilities to its portfolio.

The company will employ a highly proficient team of experts specializing in the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies and rent fully equipped state-of-the-art laboratories.

As Selvita ventures into the dynamic field of biologic drug discovery and development, it will offer a suite of fully comprehensive antibody-related services, encompassing a wide spectrum of activities essential for therapeutic antibody discovery

Selvita will open a new research site in Wroclaw, Poland, where it will rent over 400 sq m of state-of-the-art laboratories along with all necessary infrastructure. The company has also already secured the equipment required to conduct antibody discovery-related research studies. Selvita plans to initially contract 16 highly experienced scientists, formerly at Pure Biologics, specializing in antibody engineering. The intention of the company is to double the headcount within the next 3 years.

Milosz Gruca, PhD, Chief Commercial Officer and Executive VP at Selvita said:

- We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our services portfolio with a comprehensive range of capabilities dedicated to the discovery and development of antibody-based drugs. Leveraging the state-of-the-art research infrastructure and exceptional team of scientists at our Wroclaw site, we are poised to deliver highly sought-after capabilities to our clients. These capabilities perfectly complement Selvita's existing protein chemistry offerings. This strategic decision underscores our dedication and ambition to broaden our services portfolio beyond small molecules. Antibody discovery and development form the cornerstone of our expansion into a comprehensive suite of services for biologics drug discovery and development.

- With biologics emerging as the fastest-growing sector within life sciences, we recognize the immense potential of this strategic move. We eagerly anticipate welcoming our new colleagues and seamlessly integrating the Wroclaw site into Selvita's operations.

More comprehensive offering and opening of new growth opportunities

Entering into the realm of biological drugs discovery and development not only marks a significant expansion for Selvita, but also paves the way for new markets and opportunities. By venturing into this new field, Selvita is poised to augment its existing portfolio of services in small molecules' discovery and development. The introduction of new services for biologics will also seamlessly complement Selvita's current offerings in the area of production of high-quality recombinant proteins and a comprehensive suite of structural biology services, including the production of recombinant antibodies in various formats, antibody chimerization, engineering of bispecific antibodies, isotype switching, and a range of mAbs-based assays.

This strategic expansion enables Selvita to establish a truly comprehensive and competitive offer of "All Under One Roof" Protein Services, addressing the needs and expectations of its current and potential customers, and positioning itself as a partner of choice for companies looking for a high-quality service in this area.

With an extensive range of capabilities covering both small molecules and biological drugs, Selvita is primed to meet diverse client needs and seize emerging opportunities in the rapidly evolving biological drugs market.

About Selvita (SLV)

Selvita is one of the leading preclinical contract research organizations in Europe, driven by a clear mission: to offer a comprehensive scope of services bridging the gap between early drug discovery and the clinical stage of drug development.

Selvita provides comprehensive solutions supporting Clients and their drug discovery projects, across a broad range of therapeutic areas, specializing in infectious diseases, inflammation, fibrosis, and oncology. The Company offers a range of stand-alone or fully integrated drug discovery and development solutions spanning the entire value chain from early drug discovery to preclinical development both for small molecules and therapeutic antibodies. On top of that Selvita also offers analytical support for drug development and contract testing studies.

Selvita, established in 2007, operates globally with almost 900 highly qualified employees, of which over 40% hold a PhD degree. The Company's research sites are in Krakow (HQ), Poznan and Wroclaw Poland, and Zagreb, Croatia. The international offices are located in Cambridge, MA, and San Francisco Bay Area, in the U.S., as well as in Cambridge, UK.

Ardigen, a bioinformatics company harnessing advanced Artificial Intelligence methods for novel precision medicine, is part of Selvita Group portfolio of companies. The company employs over 150 professionals.

Selvita is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE: SLV). For more information, please see www.selvita.com.

SOURCE Selvita S.A.
Efforts will aim to produce more accurate forecasts and help make the world more resilient in the face of a changing climate

ATLANTA, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to mitigate disruptions from future weather- and climate-related events, The Weather Company today announced an expanded collaboration with NVIDIA in the field of weather forecasting. Leveraging both companies' deep expertise and advanced science and technology capabilities, this collaboration will progress artificial intelligence-based weather prediction and provide improved simulation using real weather data from the world's most accurate weather forecaster1 to better visualize weather's potential impacts on businesses, personal safety and society.

It might look like a photo, but this simulated view shows the actual weather in Boston as visualized within The Weather Company's Weatherverse Sim. Weatherverse capabilities will be made accessible on NVIDIA Omniverse as part of an expanded collaboration between the two companies. The Weather Company is also working with NVIDIA to create the first-ever AI-based weather model focused on high-resolution forecasting.

"Working to build future climate resilience as a society starts with having accurate, reliable, actionable weather data," said Sheri Bachstein, CEO of The Weather Company. "By combining our leading weather data together with NVIDIA's computing advancements, we plan to deliver forecasts from the first AI-based high-resolution numerical weather model as well as to improve digital twin climate scenarios for a more realistic view down to the scale of a thunderstorm."

NVIDIA computing technology will help power The Weather Company's data processing, one of the largest collections of global weather data in the world, and The Weather Company data and insights will help expand NVIDIA's Earth-2 open digital twin platform, which strives to accelerate climate and weather predictions using interactive, high-resolution simulation. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a real-world physical asset to test and monitor changes, oversee performance and accelerate decision making.

"The impacts of extreme climate events are costing countries hundreds of billions of dollars each year," said Dion Harris, Head of Data Center Product Marketing at NVIDIA. "We're working with The Weather Company and other industry leaders to take advantage of accelerated computing and AI to make dramatic improvements in the accuracy of climate change predictions."

The Weather Company has worked with NVIDIA for years on GPU acceleration of its groundbreaking high-resolution weather forecasting system GRAF , a physics-based, rapidly updating model that predicts more realistic, small-scale detail than conventional global models. Proprietary to The Weather Company and in collaboration with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), GRAF is enabled by NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs) to accelerate the computing power needed to process highly dynamic and complex weather data.

Building on previous work, the expanded collaboration will focus on two main areas:

The first-ever AI-based weather model focused on high-resolution forecasting

The Weather Company is working with NVIDIA to create a first-of-its-kind kilometer-scale, AI-based numerical weather prediction model. The model will initially generate products for the U.S. and Europe and, with continued collaboration, eventually cover the entire globe. AI-powered forecasts and insights have the potential to fuel products that have real-world applications for businesses, consumers and society at large.

NVIDIA Earth-2 APIs already include AI-based weather models, although none currently focus on high-resolution, granular forecasts. The Weather Company's model will leverage its GRAF system to fill this gap, providing training data to inform the AI model and applying forecasting in a more energy-efficient, economical way.

AI models are only as good as the data and inputs that train them. As severe weather events grow in intensity amid a changing climate, current AI models simply don't have the historical storm-scale data to predict some of the never-before-seen weather extremes that are now more common, such as record-breaking heat, devastating flooding and wildfires, and rapidly intensifying hurricanes. This collaboration aims to generate many years of retrospective GRAF forecasts to help develop AI techniques capable of emulating and understanding the physics of storm-scale weather.

The only provider of actual weather data for use within synthetic environments

As weather grows more disruptive, it's increasingly clear that operational planning requires reliable weather intelligence. While other current simulations and digital twins use synthetic weather, The Weather Company's Weatherverse  solutions deliver real weather, based upon historical, current and forecasted datasets, into planning and simulation environments at a global scale. This results in better informed insights, more confident decision making and improved outcomes where weather is a contributing influencer.

The Weather Company's Weatherverse capabilities will be made accessible on NVIDIA Omniverse,  the platform for connecting and developing OpenUSD applications. This access enables customers building digital twins to better visualize and understand the actual effects of weather conditions in an interactive and intuitive manner.

Looking forward, The Weather Company will also explore adopting NVIDIA score-based generative AI within its Weatherverse solutions, its new high-resolution weather modeling products, and its Weather Engine  solution that helps fuel business insights through weather intelligence.

Defense industry leaders such as BAE Systems and SimCentric Technologies are actively exploring how best to leverage Weatherverse solutions to help redefine military planning, training and simulation outcomes. Additionally, users of the Unreal Engine for visual rendering can take advantage of Weatherverse Sim , a plugin via API to visualize The Weather Company's data for easier integration and deployment.

About The Weather Company

The Weather Company helps people and businesses around the world make more informed decisions and take action in the face of weather. With its deep industry expertise and highly accurate, high-volume weather data combined with advanced technology and AI, The Weather Company provides insights and solutions that harness the power of weather in a scalable, privacy-forward way. The world's most accurate forecaster, the company serves hundreds of enterprise customers across media, advertising, aviation and more, and is trusted by hundreds of millions of monthly active users via digital properties from The Weather Channel ( weather.com ) and Weather Underground ( wunderground.com ). For more, visit weathercompany.com .

1 ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview, 2017-2022, https://forecastwatch.com/AccuracyOverview2017-2022, commissioned by The Weather Company.

SOURCE The Weather Company
NEW YORK, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Woodruff Sawyer, one of the largest independent insurance brokers in the United States, today announced the firm is expanding their East Coast footprint with the addition of six members formerly with Acrisure's Construction and Commercial Risk Practice. The new team will open Woodruff Sawyer's first office in New York.

Bringing together over 100 years of combined experience, the new team Matthew Kelly, Robert Trager, Bob Kempner, Chris Iovino, Eric Wagner, and Michael Rella brings diverse backgrounds in construction, bonding, and surety to further strengthen Woodruff Sawyer's established industry presence. Additionally, this team holds valuable, longstanding connections within the construction and risk management community, coupled with a deep understanding of the region's risk and insurance requirements.

Roger Topp, Chief Growth Officer, comments, "We are excited to bring exceptional local talent on board as we advance our growth strategy throughout the United States. New York is a distinctive construction market, presenting unique challenges that demand in-depth knowledge of the local landscape. The resilience and expertise of this team are integral to our expansion efforts, particularly in navigating the complexities of this dynamic market."

As the New York Market Growth Leader, Matthew Kelly will play a pivotal role in advancing Woodruff Sawyer's growth in the region. He says, "I'm thrilled to play such a vital part in building our presence in New York, and I look forward to implementing innovative business strategies, forging key partnerships, and collaborating closely with my team. This journey marks an exciting chapter, and I am dedicated to the growth and prosperity of Woodruff Sawyer in the vibrant landscape of New York."

About Woodruff Sawyer

As one of the largest independent insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the US, Woodruff Sawyer protects the people and assets of more than 4,000 companies. We provide expert counsel and fierce advocacy to protect clients against their most critical risks in property and casualty, management liability, cyber liability, employee benefits, and personal wealth management. An active partner of Assurex Global and International Benefits Network, we provide expertise and customized solutions where clients need it, with headquarters in San Francisco, offices throughout the US, and global reach on six continents. For more information, call 844.972.6326, or visit woodruffsawyer.com

Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Woodruff Sawyer
BEIJING, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The BLANC de CHINE - Porcelain from Dehua Promotion Event was successfully held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on Friday local time.

The event attracted dozens of representatives from Fujian Province, the United Nations and different countries to attend, which drew their interests in and admiration for the craftsmanship and profound cultural connotations of the masterpieces of white porcelain showcased during the event.

Fang Junqin, governor of Dehua County, Fujian Province, delivers a speech during the BLANC de CHINE - Porcelain from Dehua Promotion Event in New York, the United States, on March 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Dehua county, in southeast China's Fujian Province, boasts a ceramic production history of more than 3,700 years.

The event will let more friends know porcelain, Dehua and China, said Fang Junqin, governor of Dehua County, Fujian Province. He sincerely welcomes American friends from industrial and commercial fields, porcelain lovers and also friends from other walks of life to visit Dehua to find cooperation opportunities and strengthen cultural exchanges.

Asim Sharma, chief of the Inter-agency and Intergovernmental Service Office of the UN Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, praised the beauty of Dehua porcelain and thanked Dehua County for the invitation.

Daniel del Valle Blanco, the Ambassador and Permanent Observer of the International Youth Organization (OIJ) to the United Nations, talked about the importance of cultural exchanges between countries for international cooperation and foreign exchanges, and congratulated Dehua porcelain, a historical and cultural heritage, on being displayed at the United Nations.

The promotion event in the United States, kicked off on Thursday, is part of the 2024 "BLANC de CHINE - Porcelain from Dehua" international exhibition. A total of 105 masterpieces of Dehua porcelain will be exhibited during the exhibition.

As one of the "Global Tour of China's Brands" series activities initiated by Xinhua News Agency, the "BLANC de CHINE - Porcelain from Dehua" international exhibition has been launched since 2023, which will hold a series of activities such as exhibitions and cultural exchanges represented by Dehua porcelain in more than 20 countries and regions in 5 years to further expand the international influence of the world's porcelain capital.

See the original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/339227.html

SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road
ZYMFENTRA  is the first FDA-approved subcutaneous infliximab for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis and moderately to severely active Crohn's disease

ZYMFENTRA is commercially available across the U.S. on March 15, 2024

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Celltrion USA announced today the availability of a ZYMFENTRA (infliximab-dyyb), a subcutaneous (SC) formulation of infliximab.[1] ZYMFENTRA is the first and only subcutaneous infliximab approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023.

ZYMFENTRA is approved for maintenance therapy in adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) or moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (CD) following an induction treatment regimen with an infliximab product administered intravenously. The recommended dose of ZYMFENTRA for maintenance treatment is 120 mg every two weeks.

"Infliximab is a well-established treatment for people living with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease," said Thomas Nusbickel, Chief Commercial Officer at Celltrion USA. "The novel subcutaneous administration represents an important advancement in patient care that can offer a convenient treatment option, allowing patients in the U.S. to have greater flexibility in managing their disease."

The approval of ZYMFENTRA was based on phase III pivotal data from the LIBERTY-UC and LIBERTY-CD studies. The results of these studies demonstrated ZYMFENTRA's superiority in clinical remission and endoscopic response compared to placebo for maintenance treatment after induction therapy with the intravenous formulation of infliximab in patients with UC and CD over a 54-week study period. The overall safety profile of ZYMFENTRA was similar to that of placebo during maintenance period in both studies, with no new safety signals seen.[2],[3]

"The burden of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis on patients' daily lives is substantial," said Michael Osso, President and CEO of the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. "This is a meaningful advancement for eligible adult patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, who now have more options and can receive treatment of ZYMFENTRA at home, through subcutaneous delivery, allowing more flexibility and choice."

"Patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are seeking not only safe and efficacious treatments that can provide incremental improvement but also convenient options when managing these chronic conditions," said Dr. Jean-Frederic Colombel of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "The availability of ZYMFENTRA will further allow patients to have better control of their treatment, providing flexibility and convenience."

ZYMFENTRA will be under patent protection through 2037 for its dosage form and route of administration by 2040.

About ZYMFENTRA (infliximab-dyyb)

ZYMFENTRA is a prescription medicine used as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection) by adults for the maintenance treatment of: moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis following treatment with an infliximab product given by intravenous infusion (IV), moderately to severely active Crohn's disease following treatment with an infliximab product given by intravenous infusion (IV). ZYMFENTRA blocks the action of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a protein that can be overproduced in response to certain diseases and cause the immune system to attack normal, healthy parts of the body.

ZYMFENTRA (infliximab-dyyb) was approved by the FDA through the Biologics License Application (BLA) under the 351 (a) pathway of the Public Health Service Act (a "stand-alone" BLA). ZYMFENTRA is considered a new biologic with a first-approved subcutaneous administration form and thus will be under patent protection for its dosage form by 2037 and for its route of administration by 2040.

ZYMFENTRA (infliximab-dyyb) U.S. Use and Important Safety Information

ZYMFENTRA is a prescription medicine indicated in adults for maintenance treatment of:

moderately to severely active Crohn's disease following treatment with an infliximab product administered intravenously.

following treatment with an infliximab product administered intravenously. moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis following treatment with an infliximab product administered intravenously.

It is not known if ZYMFENTRA is safe and effective in children under 18 years of age.

What is the most important information I should know about ZYMFENTRA?

SERIOUS INFECTIONS

Patients treated with ZYMFENTRA are at increased risk for developing serious infections involving various organ systems and sites that may lead to hospitalization or death. Discontinue ZYMFENTRA if a patient develops a serious infection or sepsis.

Reported infections include:

Active tuberculosis (TB), including reactivation of latent TB. Patients frequently presented with disseminated or extrapulmonary disease. Patients should be tested for latent TB before and during treatment with ZYMFENTRA. Treatment for latent infection should be initiated prior to treatment with ZYMFENTRA.

Invasive fungal infections, including histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis, blastomycosis, and pneumocystosis. Patients may present with disseminated, rather than localized, disease. Empiric anti-fungal therapy should be considered in patients at risk for invasive fungal infections who develop severe systemic illness.

Bacterial, viral, and other infections due to opportunistic pathogens, including Legionella and Listeria.

The risks and benefits of treatment with ZYMFENTRA should be carefully considered prior to initiating therapy in patients with chronic or recurrent infection. Closely monitor patients for the development of signs and symptoms of infection during and after treatment with ZYMFENTRA, including the possible development of TB in patients who tested negative for latent TB infection prior to initiating therapy.

Risk of infection may be higher in patients greater than 65 years of age, patients with comorbid conditions and/or patients taking concomitant immunosuppressant therapy. In clinical trials, other serious infections observed in patients treated with infliximab included arthritis bacterial, pneumonia, and urinary tract infection.

MALIGNANCIES

Malignancies, some fatal, have been reported in children, adolescents, and young adults treated with TNF blockers, including infliximab products.

Approximately half of these cases were lymphomas, including Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The other cases represented a variety of malignancies, including rare malignancies that are usually associated with immunosuppression and malignancies that are not usually observed in children and adolescents. The malignancies occurred after a median of 30 months after the first dose of therapy. Most of the patients were receiving concomitant immunosuppressants.

Post-marketing cases of hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, a rare type of T-cell lymphoma, have been reported in patients treated with TNF blockers, including infliximab products. These cases have had a very aggressive disease course and have been fatal. The majority of reported cases have occurred in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, and most were in adolescent and young adult males. Almost all of these patients had received treatment with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine concomitantly with a TNF blocker at or prior to diagnosis. Carefully assess the risks and benefits of treatment with ZYMFENTRA, especially in these patient types.

In clinical trials of all TNF blockers, more cases of malignancies were observed compared with controls and the expected rate in the general population. In clinical trials of some TNF blockers, including infliximab products, more cases of other malignancies were observed compared with controls. As the potential role of TNF blocker therapy in the development of malignancies is not known, caution should be exercised when considering treatment of patients with a current or a past history of malignancy.

Melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma have been reported in patients treated with TNF blocker therapy, including infliximab products. Periodic skin examination is recommended for all patients, particularly those with risk factors for skin cancer.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

ZYMFENTRA is contraindicated in patients with a previous severe hypersensitivity reaction to infliximab-dyyb, other infliximab products, any of the inactive ingredients of ZYMFENTRA or any murine proteins (severe hypersensitivity reactions have included anaphylaxis, hypotension, and serum sickness).

HEPATITIS B VIRUS REACTIVATION

TNF blockers, including infliximab products, have been associated with reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients who are chronic carriers. Some cases were fatal. Patients should be tested for HBV infection before initiating ZYMFENTRA. For patients who test positive, consult a physician with expertise in the treatment of hepatitis B. Exercise caution when prescribing ZYMFENTRA for patients identified as carriers of HBV, and monitor closely for active HBV infection during and following termination of therapy with ZYMFENTRA. Discontinue ZYMFENTRA in patients who develop HBV reactivation and initiate antiviral therapy with appropriate supportive treatment. Exercise caution when considering resumption of ZYMFENTRA, and monitor patients closely.

HEPATOTOXICITY

Hepatobiliary disorders, including acute liver failure, jaundice abnormal hepatic function, hepatic steatosis, hepatitis, hepatotoxicity, hyperbilirubinemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver, have been reported in patients receiving infliximab products post-marketing. Some cases were fatal or required liver transplant. Aminotransferase elevations were not noted prior to discovery of liver injury in many cases. Patients with symptoms or signs of liver dysfunction should be evaluated for evidence of liver injury. If jaundice and/or marked liver enzyme elevations (eg, 5 times the upper limit of normal) develop, ZYMFENTRA should be discontinued, and a thorough investigation of the abnormality should be undertaken.

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

Cases of worsening congestive heart failure (CHF) and new onset CHF have been reported with TNF blockers. Some cases had a fatal outcome. In several exploratory trials of other TNF blockers in the treatment of CHF, there were greater proportions of TNF-blocker-treated patients who had CHF exacerbations requiring hospitalization or increased mortality. ZYMFENTRA has not been studied in patients with a history of CHF and ZYMFENTRA should be used with caution in patients with CHF.

HEMATOLOGIC REACTION

Cases of leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia (some fatal) have been reported. The causal relationship to infliximab-product therapy remains unclear. Exercise caution in patients who have ongoing or a history of significant hematologic abnormalities. Advise patients to seek immediate medical attention if they develop signs and symptoms of blood dyscrasias or infection. Consider discontinuation of ZYMFENTRA in patients who develop significant hematologic abnormalities.

HYPERSENSITIVITY AND OTHER ADMINISTRATION REACTIONS

In post-marketing experience, serious systemic hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis, hypotension, and serum sickness) have been reported following administration of infliximab products. If an anaphylactic or other clinically significant hypersensitivity reaction occurs, institute appropriate therapy and discontinue ZYMFENTRA.

INJECTION SITE REACTIONS

In clinical studies, localized injection-site reactions were reported following administration of ZYMFENTRA. If a clinically significant injection-site reaction occurs, institute appropriate therapy and discontinue ZYMFENTRA.

NEUROLOGIC REACTIONS

Agents that inhibit TNF have been associated with central nervous system (CNS) manifestation of systemic vasculitis, seizure, and new onset or exacerbation of CNS demyelinating disorders, including multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis, and peripheral demyelinating disorders, including Guillain-Barre syndrome. Exercise caution when considering ZYMFENTRA in patients with these disorders and consider discontinuation if these disorders develop.

RISK OF INFECTION WITH CONCURRENT ADMINISTRATION OF OTHER BIOLOGICS PRODUCTS

Serious infections and neutropenia have been reported with concurrent use of ZYMFENTRA with other immunosuppressive biological products. The concurrent use of ZYMFENTRA with other immunosuppressive biological products used to treat UC and CD may increase the risk of infection and is not recommended.

RISK OF ADDITIVE IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE EFFECTS FROM PRIOR BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS

Consider the half-life and mode of action of prior biological products to avoid unintended additive immunosuppressive effects when initiating ZYMFENTRA.

AUTOIMMUNITY

Treatment with TNF blockers may result in the formation of autoantibodies and in the development of a lupus-like syndrome. Discontinue ZYMFENTRA treatment if symptoms of a lupus-like syndrome develop.

VACCINATIONS AND USE OF LIVE VACCINES/THERAPEUTIC INFECTIOUS AGENTS

Prior to initiating ZYMFENTRA, update vaccinations in accordance with current vaccination guidelines. Live vaccines or therapeutic infectious agents should not be given with ZYMFENTRA due to the possibility of clinical infections, including disseminated infections. At least a 6-month waiting period following birth is recommended before the administration of any live vaccine to infants exposed in utero to ZYMFENTRA.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In clinical trials with ZYMFENTRA, the most common adverse reactions occurring in 3% of ZYMFENTRA-treated patients included site reactions, COVID-19, anemia, arthralgia, infection site reaction, increased alanine aminotransferase and abdominal pain for UC, and COVID-19, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, injection site reaction, diarrhea, increased blood creatine phosphokinase, arthralgia, increased alanine aminotransferase, hypertension, urinary tract infection, neutropenia, dizziness and leukopenia for CD.

This is the most important information to know about ZYMFENTRA. For more information, talk to your HCP.

Please click for Full U.S. Prescribing Information.

Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information.

About Celltrion USA

Celltrion USA is Celltrion's U.S. subsidiary established in 2018. Headquartered in New Jersey, Celltrion USA is committed to expanding access to innovative biologics to improve care for U.S. patients. Celltrion currently has five biosimilars approved by the U.S. FDA: INFLECTRA (infliximab-dyyb), TRUXIMA (rituximab-abbs), HERZUMA (trastuzumab-pkrb), VEGZELMA (bevacizumab-adcd), and YUFLYMA(adalimumab-aaty) as well as a new biologic ZYMFENTRA. Celltrion USA will continue to leverage Celltrion's unique heritage in biotechnology, supply chain excellence, and best-in-class sales capabilities to improve access to high-quality biopharmaceuticals for U.S. patients. For more information, please visit: www.celltrionusa.com/.

References

[1] Zymfentra Prescribing Information [2] Hanauer SB et al., Subcutaneous infliximab (CT-P13) as maintenance therapy for Crohn's disease: A phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled study (LIBERTY-CD). Gastroenterology. 2023;164(Supplement_6):S220-S221; [Digestive Disease Week 2023, Presentation number 1028]. [3] Sands BE et al., Subcutaneous infliximab (CT-P13 SC) as maintenance therapy for ulcerative colitis: A phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled study: Results of the LIBERTY-UC study. Gastroenterology. 2023;164(Supplement_6):S1083-S1084; [Digestive Disease Week 2023, Presentation number Tu1701].

Contacts

Sarah Amundsen

[email protected]

+1 920-946-0918

SOURCE Celltrion USA
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Lucknow, March 18 : The BJP state general secretary (organisation) in Uttar Pradesh, Dharampal Singh, has said that all booth cadres would bring home-cooked food and share them during lunch.

The potluck lunch is being done to foster better bonding among booth-level cadres.

Dharampal Singh said on Sunday here, "From having lunch together to calling upon the voters in each booth, connecting with beneficiaries listed in each booth would be part of the regular drill."

He has tasked booth heads of the party to increase the vote count in each booth, compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, and reiterated the party's focus on booth-centric preparations for major poll gains this time.

The BJP also issued a 'seating plan' for all booth-level cadres. The seating arrangement for 'booth adhyaksha (chiefs)' plan introduced by Dharampal Singh is a first-of-its-kind and now similar seating arrangements would be in place at the forthcoming booth-level meets that the party plans to hold in all the Lok Sabha constituencies of the state, party leaders said.

In simpler terms, now all booth chiefs attending party meetings would have a designated place for them. Explaining the importance of the seating plan, a BJP leader said, "Our focus is on booth-level activity and that is the seating plan will reinforce booth-level focus as well as help cadres understand the importance assigned to each booth."

"On the basis of the hard work of our booth level cadre, we are confident of realising the party's target of winning all 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP to fuel the party's 370-seat focus for BJP and 400 plus seat with NDA support," Dharampal Singh said.
Moscow, March 18 : Russia's incumbent President Vladimir Putin is projected to win his fifth term as head of state by a historic margin.

According to Russia's CEC, almost 95 per cent of the votes have been counted as of 1 a.m. Moscow time and Putin is leading the race with an estimated 87.3 per cent.

Under Russia's presidential election regulations, a candidate who receives more than 50 per cent of the votes will secure victory.

Communist Party candidate, Nikolay Kharitonov, who had also contested against Putin in 2004 and come second, is expected to come in second this time too, with 4.7 per cent, followed by Vladislav Davankov of the New People party with 3.6 per cent, and Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democrats at 2.5 per cent.

Exit polls, conducted across the country, earlier showed similar trends, with the incumbent head of state expected to win the election with 87.8 per cent.

These were the first polls since the 2020 constitutional amendment, which set a limit of two presidential terms - but not retrospectively, thus allowing Putin, who succeeded Boris Yeltsin as President in 1999, and won the polls in 2000 and 2004, and then again in 2012 and 2018 (with a stint as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2012) to contest this year, and even 2030.

This year's election clocked a historic high voter turnout, which topped 74 per cent, according to data from the CEC.

More than 74 per cent of Russia's 112.3 million voters had cast their ballots in the presidential elections by the time polling stations closed on Sunday, the Russian CEC reported, in a historic turnout for modern Russia.

Voting was held over three days, between March 15 and 17 in the first multi-day election. Voters in 29 out of 89 Russia's regions, including Moscow a" the nationas most populous region, incorporating the capital city a" also had an opportunity to vote online, in another first, and 90 per cent of the over 4.7 million people who applied, used this format.

The 2024 election is also the first in which voters in four "new Russian regions" - Kherson and Zaporozhye, as well as Donetsk and Lugansk Peopleas Republics - exercised their franchise.

The highest turnout at polling stations was reported in the regions of Chechnya (96 per cent), Tuva (more than 94 per cent), Kemerovo Region (94 per cent) and Donetsk Peopleas Republic (88.17 per cent). Low turnouts were recorded in the Tomsk and Altai Regions as well as in Russiaas Republic of Karelia, where it was still above 51 per cent.

Some sporadic attempts at disrupting the work of the polling stations occurred, involving attempts to set ballot boxes on fire or to pour a dye into the box to destroy the votes in it, Russian media reported.

CEC head Ella Pamfilova also said that more than 280 hacking attacks on the online voting system had been repelled.
London, March 18 : French-born celebrity DJ David Guetta, who has performed to full houses in India, has revealed that he and his girlfriend, the Cuban-born actress Jessica Ledon, 32, have welcomed their first child together -- a son, reports 'Daily Mail'.

The jet-setting DJ, who's 56, shared a joint Instagram post with the actress, announcing the news along with a heartwarming family photo.

The post reads: "Love is in the air. Welcome Cyan." The unusual name, which is familiar to anyone who has been exposed to graphic designing, means 'light blue-green'.

The couple, who had begun dating in 2015, announced the pregnancy at the Latin Grammy Awards in Seville, Spain, in November, as David lovingly placed his hand on Jessica's baby bump, 'Daily Mail' adds.

Jessica showed off her blossoming baby bump in a sheer green dress with a halter neckline and a hood. David looked delighted as he cosied up to his girlfriend.

Guetta, according to 'Daily Mail', also shares two children with his ex-wife Cathy Lobe, 56. They have a daughter, Angie, 16, and a son, Tim Elvis, 19.

Family, friends and followers quickly took to the comments to congratulate the couple, with David's son confirming the gender of the baby by writing, "Little brother gonna be strong!" along with a red heart emoji.

Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka commented, "So beautiful! I am so happy for you both."

Dutch celebrity DJ TiAsto added, "I am so happy for you two!! Congrats brother!"
Patna, March 18 : Seven persons including three children were killed and four others have been injured after a speeding tractor laden with cement rammed into an SUV in Bihar's Khagaria district, on Monday morning.

The accident occurred at Vidya Ratan fuel station located at NH 31 under Pasraha police station in the district, at 6.30 a.m.

Sanjay Vishwas, SHO of Pasraha police station confirmed that seven persons died on the spot. The police team rescued the injured persons and admitted them to the hospital.

The victims were returning from a wedding in Chautham Thuddi village under Maraiya police station in the district on Sunday night. On their way back, they met with the accident.

The impact of the accident was as such that the SUV was completely mangled from the front and was pushed away from the road. The victims are relatives of a person named Indradev Thakur of Besha village. The deceased are not yet identified.
Moscow, March 18 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the US-led NATO military alliance against the deployment of troops in Ukraine, saying such a move would "be one step shy of a full-scale World War III".

It is no secret that fighters from NATO nations are present on the ground in Ukraine, he claimed while speaking to his supporters and the media on early Monday after his landslide presidential election victory.

Putin stressed that Moscow is "well aware of the US-led military bloc's push to deploy troops in Ukraine".

"We hear both French and English speech there. There is nothing good in this, first of all for them, because they die there and in large numbers," he was quoted by Russian media as saying.

"Anything is possible in the modern worlda But everyone knows that this would be one step shy of a full-scale World War III. I donat think that anyone is interested in that," Putin said.

Commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron's earlier remarks which suggested that the West "cannot exclude" the possibility of sending soldiers to aid Ukraine, he said Russia wants France "not to escalate the conflict but to help find a peaceful solution to hostilities".
Mumbai, March 18 : The National Award-winning film 'Chandni Bar' is getting a sequel, and is set to start the production by mid-year, after finalising the casting and other pre-production processes.

Mohan Azad, who wrote the screenplay and the dialogues for the original 2001 film, helms the sequel.

The film has set its release for December 2025. While no actors have been officially approached yet, some cast members from the first film may be considered for roles in the sequel.

Talking about the sequel, Mohan Azad said: "The producer of this film R. Mohan had expressed this desire long ago about the sequel of 'Chandni Bar', about whose story we were very confused. But I am happy that we have written the story of this sequel film in a tremendous manner. And I am sure that we will be able to repeat the same success of 'Chandni Bar' once again in the coming year".

'Chandni Bar', which was released in 2001, was directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, who is known for 'Page 3', and 'Fashion'.

The film starred Tabu in the lead role.

After exploring acting and writing, Mohan Azad is venturing into direction with 'Chandni Bar 2'.

His directorial debut film, 'What a Kismat', a unique comedy tailored for contemporary youth, is scheduled for release in theatres on March 22. The film is produced by Akhilesh Rai's RG Production.
Bengaluru, March 18 : BetterPlace, Asia's largest SaaS and horizontal platform for frontline workforce management, on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Uttar Pradesh government's Department of Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, to upskill and make more than 1 lakh frontline workers job-ready by 2025.

In a move to foster gender diversity, the company in a statement said, it aims to focus on measures to upskill more and more women by creating content specifically designed for them, it said. The company noted that the new cohort comprises a minimum of 25 per cent of women workers.

"Our core priority since day zero has been to improve opportunities, increase the employee competencies and widen the work horizons for frontline workforce in India," said Pravin Agarwala, Group CEO and Co-founder, BetterPlace, in a statement.

Pravin said that together with the UP Government, the company will work "under a four-step approach of identifying the skill gaps, tailoring comprehensive training programmes to address the same, evaluating the effectiveness of the programme, and assisting with job placements for the programme participants".

"This initiative is poised to chart out the economic development of Uttar Pradesh by supplying a pool of skilled individuals who can meet the demands of various industries and is part of the roadmap to make Uttar Pradesh a trillion-dollar economy," added M. Devraj, Principal Secretary, Vocational Education and Skill Development Department, Uttar Pradesh.

In the last 3 years, BetterPlace has upskilled over 3.4 million people on its platform. The platform has over 30 million frontline workers and is India's largest full-stack tech platform for frontline workforce management.

--IANS

rvt/dan
New Delhi, March 18 : Chip-maker Qualcomm on Monday announced Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Android flagship smartphones.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 will be adopted by major players including Honor, iQOO, realme, Redmi and Xiaomi, with commercial devices expected to be announced soon.

The key features include support for generative AI features, always-sensing ISP, hyper-realistic mobile gaming, breakthrough connectivity and lossless high-definition sound, said the company.

The platform supports a broad array of AI models including popular large language models (LLM) such as Baichuan-7B, Llama 2 and Gemini Nano.

"With capabilities including on-device generative AI and advanced photography features, Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is designed to enhance user experiences, fostering creativity and productivity in their daily lives." said Chris Patrick, senior vice president and general manager of mobile handsets, Qualcomm Technologies.

The first device with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is expected to be announced this month.

William Lu, Partner and President of Xiaomi Corporation, President of International Business Department, GM of Xiaomi Brand, said the new mobile platform will "allow us to provide our customers with a personalized premium experience, all thanks to generative AI".
Bengaluru, March 18 : A minor girl, who was a victim of child marriage from Bihar, committed suicide here, said officials, adding that her husband has been arrested.

The victim, Neelam Kumari, had ended her life on March 13 near Hebbagodi in the outskirts of Bengaluru. Her husband Vishal Kumar Sahani, also from Bihar, was arrested for marrying the minor and abetting her suicide. The complaint was lodged in this regard by Sridevi, an activist attached to the District Child Welfare Committee.

Police said the accused husband had come to Bengaluru from Bihar a year ago and worked as a painter. He married Neelam Kumari in February, 2023 and brought her to Bengaluru 20 days ago. They lived in a rented house in Tirupalya locality, where the body was found hanging.

The police suspected that the accused had allegedly started having physical intimacy with the victim against her will which caused her mental stress. The district children protection officers visited the spot and have submitted a report to the Hebbagodi police, sources said.

More details were awaited.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 18 : Veteran Congressman Cherian Philip has opined that Anil Antony, the son of former Defence Minister, AK Antony and Padmaja Venugopal who is the daughter of late four-time Congress Chief Minister, K Karunakaran, will have to return to the Congress party, just like him.

Philip was one of the closest aides of senior Congressman AK Antony for a long time till he left the party in 2001 and became a "fellow traveller" of the CPI(M)-led Left and contested as an independent candidate against Congress veteran Oommen Chandy.

However, in 2021 he walked back into the Congress and is the Chairman of the Media Coordination Committee of the party for the Lok Sabha elections.

"We all know how the BJP treated Mohan Sankar, the son of late Congress Chief Minister of Kerala, R Sankar, after he joined the party. Anil and Padmaja will also feel the same way and they will have to return to the Congress, as there is no party like the Congress which loves and gives importance to all," said Philip.

"The attitude of former state BJP President, CK Padmanabhan, to those who have joined the BJP from the Congress party speaks volumes," added Philip.

Recently, CK Padmanabhan expressed his ire towards Padmaja when she was called to inaugurate the NDA's Kasargod constituency convention. He did not get up from his seat when she lit the lamp and left the meeting before she ended her speech. Later he vented his ire over giving too much importance to those who join the BJP from other parties

"A tree when uprooted from one place and planted at another place dies and this is the same for anyone who leaves the Congress," said Philip.

IANS

sg/rad
Mumbai, March 18 : Actor Ravi Dubey on Monday shared an appreciation post for his wife and actress Sargun Mehta, describing her as embodying the brightness like God and Goddesses, coupled with innocence of children.

Ravi, who was last seen in 'Lakhan Leela Bhargava' took to Instagram and shared a Reel video, which seems to be from a project of Sargun.

The video shows Sargun wearing a yellow coloured beautiful Punjabi bridal outfit, and is making cute faces while she plays with a little boy.

The post is captioned in Hindi: "Devi Devtaon sa tez... Chote bachchon si masoomiyat...Meri Sargun."

The video has garnered 143K views, with fans writing, "always appreciate karda apni wife.. always happy to see this..."

One user said: "I love the way you love her Ravi."

On the work front, Ravi and Sargun are the producers of the show 'Daalchini', and 'Junooniyatt'.

Sargun was also recently seen in the movie 'Jatt Nuu Chudail Takri'.
Imphal/Agartala, March 18 : District Magistrates in all the northeastern states have issued separate orders asking licensed holders of arms to deposit their guns at the nearest police stations to ensure no untoward incidents occur during the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.

"District Magistrates of the eight northeastern states have issued separate orders directing the licensed armed owners to deposit their arms and ammunition to their nearest police stations within this month, failing which their licensed arms would be confiscated by the authority," a government reads.

It said that the orders have been issued with a view to maintain law and order and to ensure peaceful conduct of the general election

During the ethnic violence, which broke out in Manipur on May 3 last year, violent mobs, attackers and various groups looted around 5,000 arms, including sophisticated weapons, and lakhs of ammunition from the armories of the security forces in different districts.

The Manipur government on a number of occasions urged the arms looters to return the arms and ammunition to the security authorities.

A senior Manipur Police official said last week that most of the looted arms and ammunition were recovered and massive searches and numerous efforts were on to recover more.

Several militant outfits both in the valley and in the hilly areas are in possession of a large cache of arms and ammunition and occasionally engaged in gun battles with the security forces.

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 (Outer Manipur) partly, going to the polls in the first phase (April 19), seven (one partly-- Outer Manipur) in the second phase (April 26) and four in the third phase (May 7).

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Saturday announced the schedule of Assembly elections of the two northeastern states  Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, along with two other states - Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

The assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh (60 seats) and Sikkim (32 seats) will be held in the first phase on April 19.
Kolkata, March 18 : The Election Commission on Monday ordered the removal of Rajeev Kumar from the chair of the acting Director General of West Bengal Police.

A communication on this count was sent to the office of the Chief Election Officer (CEO), West Bengal as well as the state secretariat. "The ECI has sought three alternative names of three senior IPS officials as replacement of Rajeev Kumar. The proposed names should reach the headquarters of the commission at New Delhi by 5 p.m. on Monday," said an insider from the office of CEO, West Bengal.

He also said that besides removing Rajeev Kumar from the chair, the commission has also said that he cannot be involved in any election process for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Kumar was removed just within three months of his assuming the chair of the acting DGP.

To recall, Kumar's name had been dragged into controversy a number of times in the past. He came under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over the central agency's investigation in the Saradha chit fund scam.

He was replaced as the-then commissioner of Kolkata Police twice by the Election Commission of India before the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections. However, after the elections he was reinstated by the state government in that chair.

Sources said that during the recent visit of the top officials of the commission to West Bengal, almost all the opposition parties have complained against Kumar and accused him of not acting in a transparent manner.

After the information of his removal from the chair surfaced, the opposition parties welcomed the move. "Considering Kumar's past records, his removal from the chair was inevitable. Even the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was aware of that. But still she appointed him probably keeping something in mind," BJP Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya said.

"I have just a question for Rajiv Kumar, otherwise considered as an efficient police officer. What prompted him to stoop to such a level, that his image was tarnished again and again. But he did not seem to have learnt any lesson from it," said CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty.
Bengaluru, March 18 : Former Karnataka Chief Minister and sitting BJP MP, DV Sadananda Gowda stated on Monday that it was true that Congress leaders had contacted him.

"I will hold a press conference tomorrow (Tuesday) and convey my decision," he stated.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, ex-CM Gowda stated that he was celebrating his birthday on Monday.

"I want to speak to my family. There is my conscience, too. Later, I will decide," he added.

The veteran BJP leader is unhappy as he was denied the ticket to contest from Bengaluru North parliamentary constituency and it was given to Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Shobha Karandlaje.

"Though I announced retirement from electorate politics, I was forced to contest by well-wishers and leaders. At the last moment, I did not get the much-needed support. They have embarrassed me. I have fallen victim to selfish motives. It is claimed that the BJP is a party with a difference. There is no difference left in the party. I will declare my decision tomorrow," he stated.

Talking about the rebellion by veteran BJP leader Eshwarappa, the MP said, "I had spoken with Eshwarappa. I had also suggested that those who have faced injustice should go to the party high command. But, Eshwarappa had declared his stand. It is his decision. I will not comment on it."

"One of the prominent leaders from the BJP had also come to my residence and held a meeting with me on Sunday. I can't reveal the details now. I will announce my stand tomorrow," he maintained.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President, DK Shivakumar had stated that his party would welcome Sadananda Gowda.
Lucknow, March 18 : Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav on Monday downplayed the reports of her sister-in-law Aparna Yadav being a likely BJP candidate against her in Mainpuri constituency.

Reports of Aparna Yadav being fielded against Dimple started doing the rounds after she and her brother Aman Bisht met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath two days ago in Lucknow.

"I am not aware of what transpired at the meeting. I am in my constituency and they (Aparna) have met (CM Yogi) before also so there is nothing new in it. I know that Samajwadi Party is contesting the elections with great strength and is getting people's support and love," she told reporters.

Referring to the Supreme Court's action on electoral bonds, Dimple said: "If the Supreme Court continues to interfere in this way, then many things will fall in line which are now in disarray. If the Supreme Court had not interfered in the Chandigarh mayor's election, things would have gone how the BJP planned it. It is not right to win the election in such a wrong way.

Asked about the JD-U response to the Election Commission regarding the electoral bonds that an envelope was left in our office and when it was opened, bonds worth Rs 10 crores were found in it, Dimple Yadav said: "This is a matter that concerns JD-U and the truth should come out regarding the electoral bond, be it the BJP government or any party which has taken donations. The question arises as to who came up with the system of electoral bond first?"

Replying to a question on Rahul Gandhi's concern over EVMs, she said: "There is a lot of confusion among the people regarding EVMs. Many people have said that in the last elections, we had voted for this party but our vote has not come out, so there should be some kind of clarity even if the EVMs are correct. The village people want it, the city people want it, they want the elections to be done through ballot paper, everywhere the elections are being done through ballot paper only. There is a feeling of doubt in the minds of the people."
Kochi, March 18 : The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) on Monday launched an innovative mobile App 'MARLIN@CMFRI' to encourage citizen science initiatives in marine fisheries research.

'MARLIN@CMFRI' allows the public to effortlessly upload photos of marine fish species encountered in the vast expanse of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, leading to the development of a rich visual repository of marine fishery resources.

The App encourages users to provide species details ensuring that the database is scientifically enriched, facilitating accurate species identification.

This data will contribute to the development of a sophisticated, AI-powered system for automated identification of marine fishery resources.

Dr A Gopalakrishnan, Director, CMFRI said on Monday that the App was a collaborative platform that unites individuals passionate about marine conservation.

"By bridging the gap between citizen science and cutting-edge technology, 'MARLIN@CMFRI' transforms every user into a crucial contributor to the understanding and preservation of marine biodiversity," said Gopalakrishnan.

The app was developed under a project led by Dr Eldho Varghese at the Fishery Resources Assessment, Economics and Extension division of CMFRI.

"The knowledge base generated by this application will lead to the creation of an automated system for estimating marine fish landings through visual images captured at landing centres, employing advanced AI-driven Deep Learning algorithms," said Varghese.
New Delhi, March 18 : In a move aimed at ensuring a level playing field for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has undertaken a significant reshuffle of administrative officials in several states across the country.

The ECI on Monday ordered the transfer of Home Secretaries from six states, namely Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Bihar, and Uttarakhand, said the sources.

In addition to these transfers, the ECI also took action against West Bengal's Director General of Police, Rajeev Kumar, signalling a proactive stance in maintaining electoral integrity.

This decision comes amidst preparations for the highly anticipated national polls.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar removed the secretaries of the General Administrative Departments of Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh, as well as Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, along with additional commissioners and deputy commissioners.

The ECI's directive mandated the transfer of officers involved in election-related duties who had either completed three years in their current roles or were stationed in their home districts.

While most states complied with these instructions, Maharashtra's response fell short of expectations.
New Delhi, March 18 : Ireland batter and former captain Andrew Balbirnie has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second T20I against Afghanistan in Sharjah on Sunday, which also marked his 100th appearance in the format.

The incident occurred in the 16th over of Ireland's innings, when Balbirnie showed dissent on being adjudged leg before wicket by pointing to his gloves and telling the umpire that the ball had touched the gloves before hitting his pads.

Balbirnie was found to have breached Article 2.8 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "showing dissent at an Umpire's decision during an International Match." In addition to this, one demerit point has been added to Balbirnie's disciplinary record, for whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period.

Balbirnie admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by David Boon of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing. On-field umpires Bismillah Jan Shinwari and Izatullah Safi, third umpire Ahmed Shah Pakteen and fourth umpire Ahmed Shah Durrani levelled the charges.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee, and one or two demerit points. In that match, Ireland suffered a 10-run defeat against Afghanistan, who bounced back to level the series 1-1. The two team will compete in the series decider today at Sharjah later on Monday.
Jaipur, March 18 : As the election dates have been announced for the Lok Sabha polls, there are seven seats in Rajasthan that are being discussed animatedly as the Congress and the BJP have fielded their stalwarts here.

While the BJP has so far announced candidates for 15 seats, the Congress has fielded candidates for 10 seats. Overall, there are 25 Parliamentary constituencies in the state

The names of the remaining candidates are eagerly awaited. The BJP has called its core group committee meeting in Delhi on Monday while the Congress' next list is also expected soon.

Amidst all these developments, the most talked about seat in the state is Churu where the BJP has fielded Paralympic Devendra Jhajharia against the Congress' Rahul Kaswan. Kaswan is an ex-BJP MP who left the saffron party after being denied a LS ticket.

For Jhajhariya, these elections mark a fresh innings for him. Now, the seat has become a prestige issue for the BJP as well as the Congress.

Another seat is Bikaner where it is a Meghwal Vs Meghwal contest.

The BJP has again fielded Arjun Meghwal, who has been a MP for two consecutive terms, and is the Union law minister while also being a strong Dalit face of the state. The Congress has fielded Govind Meghwal, who was a cabinet minister in the Ashok Gehlot government in the state. He is counted among the big Dalit leaders of the Rajasthan Congress. This has made the fight interesting here.

A third seat is that of Jodhpur where the BJP has fielded Gajendra Singh Shekhawat against the Congress' Karan Singh Uchiarada. It is Rajput Vs Rajput here.

The BJP has retained its trust in Shekhawat, a trusted face of the psrty's central leadership, for the third time. Jodhpur is the home constituency of former CM Ashok Gehlot, however the Congress has fielded a Pilot loyalist Karan Singh Uchiarada against Shekhawat. Karan Singh has worked in different positions in the Congress. This contest between two Rajput leaders is being watched by the voters with keen interest.

The next seat is Chhittorgarh where BJP state president CP Joshi has been fielded against the Congress' former state minister Udailal Anjana.

The BJP won the assembly elections under Joshi's tenure as the state BJP chief who is the MP from Chhittorgarh as well. Being the home turf of the state BJP chief is what makes this seat crucial. Joshi's differences with Chittorgarh MLA Chandrabhan Singh Akya is an open secret now. Akya left the BJP after being denied a ticket and contested the assembly polls as an Independent and won. Since then, he has verbally attacked Joshi for playing a key role in the denial of a ticket to him. There were discussions if Akya preferred to contest the LS polls against Joshi again. However on Sunday, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma played an intermediary role and helped the two leaders to patch up, making things easy for the BJP.

The Congress has placed its bets on Udailal Anjana, who was a cabinet minister in the Gehlot government, to counter Joshi. Anjana has also been a MP from this area. So it's a fight between a former Congress MP and BJP MP.

Another interesting fight is in Alwar where the BJP has fielded Union minister Bhupendra Yadav against Lalit Yadav

The BJP has fielded Yadav who has been a Rajya Sabha MP twice but is contesting the Lok Sabha elections for the first time. The Congress meanwhile has fielded its MLA Lalit Yadav against him. Lalit is a first-time MLA from Mundawar. Party sources said that the Congress is trying to bring in new leadership here. Former Alwar MP Karan Singh resigned from the Congress after being denied a ticket and joined the BJP. So what roles the rebels will play here is being watched closely.

Another seat which is being discussed in the political corridors is Jalore-Sirohi where the Congress has fielded former CM Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot against the BJP's Lumbaram Chaudhary.

Vaibhav had contested the LS polls from Jodhpur in 2019 but was defeated by Shekahwat. Now he has been fielded from Jalore Sirohi and hence this seat has become a prestige point for Ashok Gehlot too, said party workers.

The BJP has denied a ticket to three-time MP Devji Patel from Jalore-Sirohi and has fielded Lumbaram Chaudhary who is contesting the LS polls for the first time.

Another seat attracting eyeballs is Udaipur where two ex-bureaucrats are locking horns.

The BJP has fielded Mannalal, a former transport officer, after cancelling the ticket of its MP Arjun Mean in Udaipur. Mannalal has served in organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad and has grassroots experience. The Congress has fielded former Udaipur collector Tarachand Meena. Both the candidates are outsiders.

The Congress has sprung a surprise by fielding Meena from here as his VRS will only take effect from March 20.

Tarachand is known to be the blue-eyed boy of former CM Ashok Gehlot and was directly appointed the Chittorgarh Collector. Eight months later he was appointed the Collector of Udaipur district. Now, his candidature has left everyone surprised.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan BJP vice president Narayan Pancharia claimed that there is no tough contest on these seats and the BJP will sail through smoothly on all these seats,

"Our party manifesto includes suggestions to see Bharat on top of the world charts by 2047. We are working to see a developed India and the voters are trusting us," he said.

On the other hand state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra said, "Electoral bonds, fake promises of the BJP like reducing petrol and diesel prices in the state to the same rate as that in the neighbouring state has exposed the lies of the saffron party. Voters will teach them a lesson," he added.

As the attacks and counter -attacks continue, the discussions on these seven seats are garnering attention in political circles while the wait continues for the remaining candidates to be announced.
Ahmedabad, March 18 : International students of Gujarat University are set to be relocated to a new hostel and three more arrests were made on Monday in the wake of the recent attack on scholars during a prayer session in their hostel.

This decision to relocate the international students was taken after a group of assailants forcefully entered the hostel premises, targeting people offering namaz.

The Ahmedabad Police escalated its response to the attack and arrested three additional suspects on Monday.

The detainees, identified as Kshitij Kamlesh Pandey, Jitendra Ghanshyam Patel, and Sahil Arunbhai Dudhtiuva, are facing charges under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including unlawful assembly, rioting, and assault.

The assault, which occurred on the night of March 16 at the university's international boysa hostel, involved 20-25 individuals who confronted the foreign students, leading to severe injuries for some.

The victims, including students from African countries, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan, are part of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) program.

In response to the incident, the university administration has taken action, including replacing the study abroad program coordinator and the NRI hostel warden.

Vice Chancellor Neerja Gupta announced the immediate shifting of international students to a hostel designated for NRI students, along with enhanced security measures involving ex-Army personnel.

Gujarat University has also initiated the formation of a foreign student advisory committee to address the concerns and safety of its international student body.

Meanwhile, police are looking for the remaining individuals involved in the attack, and the ongoing investigation is headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tarun Duggal.
Mumbai, March 18 : The Nifty recovered in the second half of the session to close with gains of 32.35 points, or 0.15 per cent, at 22,055.70 levels on Monday.

The broader market underperformed with Nifty Midcap 100 down 0.3 per cent and Nifty Smallcap 100 down 0.6 per cent, said Siddhartha Khemka, Head of Retail Research at Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

Sector-wise, it was a mixed bag with buying seen in metals, realty, and auto stocks, while IT and FMCG stocks were the laggards, Khemka said.

This week, the market will focus on major central bank meetings with the Bank of Japan scheduled to announce its outcome on Tuesday.

Investors will also track economic data like European CPI data, which will be released later on Monday.

aOverall, we expect the markets to consolidate over the next few days while the broader market may continue to remain subdued," he said.

Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services, said the Indian market followed the positive Asian peers with a mixed bias on Monday.

Domestic issues, like mutual fund stress tests, hardly brought any negative views, but premium valuation remains a concern. The midcaps and smallcaps are attempting to scroll up though consolidation persists.

Both DII and FII inflows are strong for largecaps, hence sustaining their outperformance, Nair said.

Vaibhav Vidwani, Research Analyst at Bonanza Portfolio, said the Nifty closed on a positive note at 22,055, up by 0.15 per cent, whereas the Sensex closed at 72,748, up by 0.14 per cent on Monday.

Nifty Metal and Nifty Auto were among the top gainers, up by 2.49 per cent and 1.26 per cent, respectively.

On the back of China's strong growth in industrial output, investors were attracted towards the metal sector on Monday, Vidwani said.
Kathmandu, March 18 : Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, has said that Moscow has consented to cancel the contracts with Nepalese nationals who have joined the Russian Army, and efforts are on to bring them back to the country.

The statement came just days after seven more Nepalese nationals serving in the Russian Army reportedly died in the past week, taking the total number of casualties to 19.

Responding to questions raised in the meeting of the House of Representatives, Shrestha said Russia has given its "in-principle consent" to cancel the contracts with the Nepali nationals, My Republica newspaper reported on Monday.

"The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that it has agreed in principle to assist those who have joined the army to cancel their contracts. However, its modality is yet to be decided," Shrestha, who is also the Foreign Minister of Nepal, said.

"The Nepali Embassy in Moscow is constantly following up on this. Photos of those held captive in Ukraine have been released. Efforts are being made to bring them back to Nepal," he added.

Hundreds of youths from the Himalayan nation have joined the Russian Army through illegal channels, with many losing lives and several others reported missing or out of contact.

Earlier this month, Shrestha also spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov even as he asked Russia to share a list of Nepalese citizens serving the Russian Army.

As per media reports, Shrestha has expressed his willingness to visit Moscow to understand how Nepalese nationals were duped into joining the Russian Army.

Nepal has repeatedly requested Russia to refrain from admitting its nationals into the Russian Army and has asked for assistance in repatriating those who have already joined the country's forces to fight its war with Ukraine.

Last year, the police in Nepal cracked down on several travel agents and arrested 18 people on charges of human trafficking and forgery.
Patna March 18 : After returning from Mumbai, Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav, on Monday questioned the NDA government in the state over the rising incidents of crime.

"The leaders of NDA and BJP were talking about Jungle Raj in Bihar. I want to ask them about what kind of Raj is this. A builder was gunned down in Patna and a journalist was shot at in Nalanda. Crime cases are continuously rising in Bihar. Why are the leaders of the BJP and the JD-U not raising questions over the law and order situation in Bihar."

Journalist Dipak Vishwakarma was shot at in Bihar's Nalanda district on Monday. He was admitted to Patna AIIMS and his condition is critical. A private developer was also gunned down in Patna on Sunday.

"What would have happened if such incidents had happened during our government? Even PM Narendra Modi talked about Jungle Raj to blame us. Can they say what kind of Raj is this," he asked

When asked about the Rs 10 crore Benami electoral bonds used by the JD-U, Tejashwi Yadav stayed silent. He said he does not want to comment on it.

Tejashwi Yadav also uploaded a post on his official account on X and slammed the NDA government over the question paper leak in the third phase of the BPSC teachers recruitment exam. He also alleged that a minister in the Nitish Kumar government was saving the mafias and solver gang in this case. He pointed out that phase one and two of the BPSC teacher recruitment exam were the golden period of Bihar with regard to government job distribution without any question paper leak.
New Delhi, March 18 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday finalised the seat-sharing deal between its constituents including Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP-Ramvilas), Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) and the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP).

The BJP, in a abig brothera role in Bihar, will contest on the highest number of seats, i.e., 17 while the other allies JD (U), LJP, HAM and RLSP will field candidates on 16, 5 and 1 seats respectively.

Announcing the NDAas seat-sharing deal in Bihar, Vinod Tawde, BJP General Secretary, said that the BJP-led coalition was confident of sweeping the state by winning 40 out of 40 seats.

Bihar is among one of the three states, along with Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, that will see polling in all seven phases of the elections.

As per the Election Commissionas schedule, the polling dates in Bihar are April 19, 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25 and June 1.

BJP leader Bihar's Deputy CM Samrat Chowdhary, speaking to the press, asserted that the Narendra Modi government will return to power with a thumping mandate in the 2024 elections and Bihar will give all 40 seats to the NDA alliance.
Hyderabad, March 18 : The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Monday urged Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar to disqualify its MLA D. Nagender, who joined the Congress.

A group of BRS MLAs met the Speaker to submit a petition, seeking the disqualification of former minister Nagender, who switched parties on Sunday, drawing his attention to the recent Supreme Court order that the decision on disqualification should be taken in three months.

MLAs P. Kaushik Reddy, K. Venkatesh, Bandari Laxmi Reddy, and Mutha Gopal met the Speaker at the direction of the BRS President and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. The BRS urged the Speaker to respect the Constitution by acting as per the Anti-Defection Act.

The MLAs argued that switching loyalties after getting elected on the ticket of a party is not proper.

They recalled that in the past, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had termed Nagender a "Beedi seller".

"Will he sell 'beedis' now after joining Congress," they asked.

Kaushik Reddy said that BRS is ready to give a befitting reply to the Congress.

"You are saying you have opened the gate but we will show what happens when the time comes for us to open the gate," he said responding to the Chief Minister's statement. He said while they want this government to continue for five years, they will not be responsible for internal turmoil in Congress and the "Khammam and Nalgonda Congress bombs may explode anytime".

Meanwhile, senior BRS leader and former MP Vinod Kumar has said that Nagender, who joined the Congress, can't escape disqualification. He said in the past, Speakers used to delay decisions on disqualification petitions but that situation has now changed with the Supreme Court order.

Vinod Kumar said with the court setting a deadline for the Speaker, a decision on the disqualification petition can't be delayed.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin attends a press conference in Tel Aviv, Israel on April 11, 2021. (Gideon Markowicz/JINI via Xinhua/IANS). Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, March 18 : The US Secretary of Defence,, Lloyd Austin, has appreciated the important role being played by the Indian Navy in conducting anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean region.

He appreciated the Navy while having a discussion with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh over the phone on Monday. Both ministers briefly discussed a range of bilateral, regional security and defence cooperation issues.

According to the Ministry of Defence they reviewed the recent bilateral events such as the INDUS-X Summit held in New Delhi in February 2024, and the bilateral Tri-Service exercise aTiger Triumpha which has also commenced in India on March 18, 2024.

The two Ministers discussed ways and means to implement the India-US Defence Cooperation Roadmap which was concluded last year. Other defence industrial cooperation issues such as repair of US naval ships in Indian shipyards were also briefly discussed.

Both had last met in New Delhi in November 2023 during the India-US Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue.
Sonali, Jaideep, Shriya spotted shooting for 'The Broken News' Season 2 in Mumbai. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, March 18 : The cast of the newsroom drama 'The Broken News' -- Sonali Bendre, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Shriya Pilgaonkar -- were spotted shooting for the second season of the series in Andheri, Mumbai, on Monday.

The visuals show Sonali wearing a blue denim co-ord set. The 49-year-old actress looked gorgeous in the outfit with nude brown lips, smokey eyes, and her hair styled in soft waves. She rounded off the look with red pointed heels.

'The Broken News' revolves around the rivalry between two news channels -- 'Awaaz Bharati' and 'Josh 24/7'.

Sonali plays Ameena Qureshi, the head of 'Awaaz Bharati'.

Shriya, who essays the character of Radha Bhargava, was spotted wearing a grey short dress, pairing it with a black blazer. Her outfit was completed with black heels.

Jaideep, who plays Dipankar Sanyal, the head of 'Josh 24x7', was seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue denim shirt, and matching trousers. He completed his look with a red beanie cap.

The series directed by Vinay Waikul also stars Indraneil Sengupta, Aakash Khurana, and Mugdha Godse, among others.

The first season of 'The Broken News' was released on Zee5 in June 2022.
Mumbai, March 18 : The cash market volumes on the NSE fell sharply to Rs 0.79 lakh crore on Monday -- the lowest since January 1, 2024 -- ahead of the looming financial year-end, said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research at HDFC Securities.

Asian stocks advanced on Monday as Chinese industrial output and retail sales figures beat estimates and investors looked ahead to a slew of central bank decisions.

The European markets started Monday with modest gains ahead of policy decisions this week by Japanas central bank and the US Federal Reserve, Jasani said.

Lately, the Nifty has not been able to hold on to the entire intraday gains. But at the same time, it is witnessing support from the lower levels, and could stay in the 21,905-22,204 band for the near term, he added.

Rupak De, Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities, said the Nifty remained volatile throughout Monday, oscillating between 21,900 and 22,100.

The bulls have thus far managed to defend the 21,900 level successfully. However, a dip below 21,900 could strengthen the bears' position, although for now, any downturn is being met with buying activity, De said.

On the upside, a sustained upward movement beyond 22,100 may propel the index towards 22,250 and beyond. Support is established at 21,900, below which the index might decline towards 21,700, he added.
Imphal, March 18 : As the Election Commission readies to conduct elections to the two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur, the political parties here are grappling with ethnic issues to decide their strategies because of the over 10-month long ethnic violence between the non-tribal Meitei and the tribal Kuki-Zomi communities.

Though Manipur has 34 different communities, the non-tribal Meitei and the tribal Kuki-Zomi and Naga people dominate the state's politics and other electoral aspects.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the valley areas comprising six districts while the Nagas, Kuki-Zomi constitute a little over 40 per cent and reside in the remaining 10 mountainous districts.

Even as the Election Commission will issue the statutory notifications in two days (on March 20), the major political parties including the ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress are yet to declare their candidates.

Political pundit Rajkumar Kalyanjit Singh observed that in view of the ethnic violence, the political parties have to consider the permutation-combination of the prevailing complex ethnic situation in the violence ravaged state.

"Political parties in Manipur have to give balanced consideration in selecting candidates and formulating election related strategies," Singh told IANS.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Rajkumar Ranjan Singh of the ruling BJP won from the Inner Manipur seat in 2019 while Naga People's Front (NPF) leader Lorho S Pfoze represents the Outer Manipur constituency.

The BJP's senior most state vice-president Nongthombam Nimbus Singh said the party has already formed a state level election management committee to take up the overall task for the polls.

"The committee has 32 different departments and each department will take the onus to smoothen the assigned tasks. Besides the committee, all members of the party numbering over four lakh have begun work at the booth level across the state," said Nimbus Singh.

Once the party's central election committee in New Delhi announces the names of the candidates for the state, the statewide campaign would be rolled out for which everything is in place, he pointed out.

On the other hand, the opposition Congress has a different say, as its state vice-president and spokesperson Kh Debabrata Singh said that their first demand was to defer the election taking into account the unceasing ethnic violence.

"Our request is to bring a solution first and polls next. Though election is mandatory, the climate for the polls at this juncture is not conducive," he said, adding that as the poll dates have been announced, "we have to participate in it."

The Election Commission has decided to hold the election in Inner Manipur constituency on April 19 while polling would be held in the Outer Manipur seat (reserved for the tribals) in two phases on April 19 and April 26.

Meanwhile, even as the Communist Party of India (CPI) is a partner in the 10 'like-minded' parties' alliance in Manipur led by the Congress, the Left party on Saturday nominated Laishram Sotinkumar as its candidate from the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency.

A CPI leader said that the party's national executive meeting held on March 14 decided to field Sotinkumar, a former state council secretary, from the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat.

A veteran Left leader, Sotinkumar, who is currently serving as the General Secretary of the AITUC in Manipur, said that his party would extend full support to the Congress candidate in the Outer Manipur seat.

"We may reconsider contesting the Lok Sabha elections if normalcy and peace are not restored in the state," the Left leader said.

Besides the Congress and the CPI, the other parties part of the alliance are the Aam Aadmi Party, Trinamool Congress, CPI-M, Forward Bloc, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Shiv Sena-UBT, Janata Dal-United and the Nationalist Congress Party.

A Congress leader slammed the CPI for their unilateral announcement of the candidate and said that it will divide the anti-BJP opposition votes.

In Manipur, a total of 20,26,623 voters, including 10,46,706, women, are eligible to cast their votes in 2955 polling stations in the state's two Lok Sabha seats.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)
New Delhi, March 18 : The Lucknow zonal office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached 12 immovable properties worth Rs 30.86 crore belonging to the promoters, directors, and guarantors of Gangotri Enterprises Ltd under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

Accordingly, the ED has attached the properties of Vinay Shankar Tiwari, former MLA Rita Tiwari, and Ajit Kumar Pandey.

"The immovable properties attached are in the form of commercial space, residential house, and agricultural lands which are spread across many cities in Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow, Noida, and Gorakhpur," said a senior ED officer.

"The properties attached are registered in the name of Gangotri Enterprises, Royal Empire Marketing Pvt Ltd, Kandarp Construction Pvt Ltd, and Reeta Tiwari, the main accused in the case," he added.

The financial probe agency had initiated its investigation based on an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Gangotri Enterprises, its promoters, directors, and guarantors.

The ED's probe has revealed that Gangotri Enterprises in collusion with its promoters/directors/guarantors fraudulently availed credit facilities to the tune of Rs 1,129.44 crore from a consortium of seven banks led by the Bank of India.

"It was further revealed that the said credit facilities were not repaid and grossly diverted, misappropriated, and siphoned off by Gangotri Enterprises and its promoters, directors, and guarantors in violation of banking norms, causing wrongful loss to the tune of Rs 754.24 crore to the consortium of banks," the officer said.

Earlier, the ED conducted searches at 10 premises on February 23, during which incriminating documents related to various properties bought out of the siphoned-off funds were seized.

"A provisional attachment order dated November 17, 2023, was also issued, attaching multiple immovable properties worth Rs 72.08 crore in this case. The total consolidated value of the attached properties in this case till now stands at Rs 102.94 crore," the officer said.
Hyderabad: 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. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, March 18 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which said its investigation into the Delhi excise policy scam case found BRS leader K. Kavitha conspired with the top AAP leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his then deputy Manish Sisodia, for getting favours, has also revealed that out of proceeds of crime generated, assets worth Rs 128.79 crore have been traced and attached so far.

The revelation comes after Kavitha, the daughter of BRS supremo and former Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was arrested on March 15 from Hyderabad in the case. A special court here had sent her to ED for custodial interrogation till March 23.

"A search was also conducted at the residence of Kavitha in Hyderabad on March 15. During the search proceedings, the ED officials were obstructed by the relatives and associates of Kavitha," an agency official said.

The ED investigation so far has also revealed that Kavitha, along with others, conspired with the top leaders of the AAP including CM Kejriwal and then Deputy CM Manish Sisodia to get favours in the Delhi excise policy formulation and implementation.

"In exchange for these favours, she was involved in paying Rs 100 crore to the leaders of AAP. By the acts of corruption and conspiracy in the formulation and implementation of Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22, a continuous stream of illegal funds, in the form of kickbacks from the wholesalers, was generated for the AAP," a senior ED official said.

The official said that Kavitha and her associates were to recover the proceeds of crime paid in advance to the AAP and to further generate profits/proceeds of crime from this entire conspiracy.

"Till date, the ED has conducted searches on 245 locations across the country including Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and other places. 15 persons including Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Vijay Nair from AAP have been arrested in the case so far," said the official.

The ED has filed one prosecution complaint and five supplementary complaints in the case so far.

"Further, out of proceeds of crime generated, assets worth Rs 128.79 crore have been traced so far and have been attached vide Provisional Attachment Orders dated January 24, 2023 and July 3, 2023. Both the attachment orders have been confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority, New Delhi," the official said.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, March 18 : Tamilisai Soundararajan, who resigned as Telangana Governor on Monday, said she was leaving the state with a heart full of memories of an amazing journey.

In a message to the people of Telangana, Soundararajan said that while stepping down as Governor, she was overwhelmed with many emotions.

"Serving this wonderful state has given me happiness. Above all, I was impressed by the warmth of my brothers and sisters in Telangana," she said.

Soundararajan, who is reportedly looking at an active political role in Telangana by contesting Lok Sabha elections, stated that ever since she took up the responsibilities of Governor, people of Telangana treated her as their sister.

"I can't fully express in words how much your unwavering support, love and affection has touched my heart," she said in an open letter to people.

Soundararajan said every moment she shared with people left an indelible impression on her.

"We worked together for the development of Telangana. We together celebrated Bonalu, Bathukamma and other festivals. Your unwavering support and camaraderie is a constant inspiration to me," she said.

"As I bid farewell to the post of Governor, I express my deepest gratitude to each one of you. Thank you for your unwavering support and treating me like your elder sister," she said, adding that her love for the people of Telangana would be eternal.

Earlier, a statement from Raj Bhavan said the Governor of Telangana and Lt Governor of Puducherry, Tamilisai Soundararajan tendered her resignation with immediate effect.

She submitted the resignation to President, Droupadi Murmu.

Tamilisai Soundararajan, the former president of BJP's Tamil Nadu unit, took over as the first woman governor of Telangana in 2019.

She was subsequently given the charge of Lt Governor of Puducherry.
Mumbai, March 18 : Against the backdrop of the Lok Sabha seat-sharing formula being finalised, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MHA) in Maharashtra is facing a fresh crisis of claims over the Sangli Parliamentary seat.

With the Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Sangli seat instead of the Kolhapur constituency, the state Congress has voiced strong opposition to the plan, which could further delay the official announcement of the seat-sharing formula among the MVA constituents -- the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (SP), and the Shiv Sena (UBT).

During a campaign trail last week, SS (UBT) President and ex-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had named Chandrahar Patil  a prominent wrestler and two-time 'Maharashtra Kesri' awardee  as its Lok Sabha candidate for Sangli.

On Monday, SS (UBT) MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that in lieu of Sangli, the SS (UBT) has given up its claim to the Kolhapur constituency from where Shrimant Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj is likely to be fielded on a Congress ticket.

Taking strong umbrage, senior Congress leader Vishwajeet P. Kadam said that this is not acceptable as Sangli is a party stronghold.

"We shall not compromise on the Sangli constituency. It's been traditionally ours and we have great prospects of winning it, so we can't hand it to anybody else," said Kadam, ex-minister and a two-time sitting MLA from Palus-Kadegaon.

Referring to the proposed candidate of SS (UBT), wrestler Patil, Kadam said he just joined the party a week ago and expressed doubts over his winning prospects.

Kadam also pointed out that there are around 600 villages in Sangli district and the Congress has its leaders and elected representatives in many of them.

"Can the Shiv Sena (UBT) tell us if they have control of even 10 per cent of the local bodies in Sangli? Uddhav Thackeray should not make it a prestige issue and insist on this seat We will not concede it for anybody; they can take any other seat instead," urged Kadam.

As the issue threatened to snowball, Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat, while admitting the party's stronghold in Sangli, diplomatically said that "the senior leaders of both the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) will sit together and hammer out an amicable solution" to the fresh challenge.

BJP's Sanjaykaka Patil is the incumbent two-time MP from Sangli, which went out of Congress' control after it held sway there for over 52 years.

Kadam said that he and other leaders from Sangli have already conveyed their strong displeasure over the SS (UBT) eyeing the seat, and made it clear that it should not be given away.

As far as the Kolhapur seat is concerned, Shrimant Shahu Chhatrapati Maharaj  the 12th direct descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj  is all set to be a Congress candidate from the seat, which had elected a Shiv Sena (undivided) candidate, Sanjay S. Mahadik, in 2019.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Bathinda : , March 18 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Monday demanded all five Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers in Punjab, earmarked to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, resign from their posts in the interest of public welfare.

The SAD President, who reached Bhucho Mandi and Bathinda Urban assembly constituencies as part of the partyas Bachao Yatra, said: "The state cannot afford paralysis in governance due to the absence of these ministers from their offices for the next two and a half months. Also as key ministries, including Agriculture, Health and Transport, are involved, the ministers Balbir Singh, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Laljit Singh Bhullar should resign from their posts immediately."

About the ruling party's decision to field five ministers, he said: "AAP knows that it has lost political ground in the state after betraying each and every section of society. Now it has fallen back on fielding ministers in a desperate gambit to intimidate voters to secure their votes."

Asking Punjabis not to be daunted by such tactics, Badal said: "People should ask these ministers what they have done to better the lot of the common man in the last two years."

He said all ministers had failed in their duty, citing how the Agriculture Minister had failed to ensure compensation for damaged crops to farmers, and similarly, the Health Minister was party to the destruction of the rural health infrastructure by removing doctors and staff from the centres.

About the Punjab Bachao Yatra, Badal thanked Punjabis for turning up for it in huge numbers.

Stating that SAD represented the aspirations of Punjabis and had always worked to fulfil them, he said: "Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal held Sangat Darshan programmes at your doorsteps to ensure your grievances were resolved on the spot. (MP) Harsimrat Kaur has done yeoman service in the area and brought the prestigious AIIMS institute to Bathinda besides a Central University in the area. You have witnessed how Bathinda and the entire parliamentary constituency were transformed into a model constituency during SAD tenure with world-class roads, bridges and other infrastructure coming up in the constituency."
Hyderabad, March 18 : Former IPS officer R.S. Praveen Kumar, who resigned as Bahujan Samaj Party's Telangana unit President two days ago and quit the party, joined the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Monday.

He, with many of his supporters, formally joined the BRS in the presence of party President and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao at the latter's farmhouse at Erravelli in Siddipet district.

About 35 state-level leaders of BSP and 50 district-level leaders joined the BRS along with Praveen Kumar.

Praveen Kumar, who resigned from the BSP on March 16, said BSP chief Mayawati, under pressure from the BJP, asked him to break the alliance with the BRS for Lok Sabha polls but he refused to do so and decided to quit the party.

He said like the BRS chief, he never went back on his words and hence, he decided to join the BRS.

The BRS had agreed to leave two Lok Sabha seats (Nagarkurnool and Hyderabad) for the BSP following talks with the national-level leaders of the party on March 15. The BSP had also named Praveen Kumar as its candidate from Nagarkurnool. The next day, Praveen Kumar announced his dramatic decision to quit the BSP, the party which he had joined after taking voluntary retirement from the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 2021. He said he preferred to join the BRS in the larger interests of Telangana.

"I decided to join the BRS without any expectations. Had I been a package-seeker, I would have joined the Congress," he said.

The former IPS officer said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had offered him a key post but he refused. Referring to the Congress leadership's decision to open its gates, encouraging leaders from other parties to join its fold, he said he could not be part of a sheep-like herd.

Praveen Kumar said he made up his mind to take part in the reconstruction of Telangana state.

"I am driven by the Bahujan ideology, and I will remain committed to honesty and continue to fight for people's welfare," he said.
New Delhi, March 18 : The Central government has set up the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal to rule on the legality of its ban on the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir-Bhat faction.

The tribunal, which will decide whether the organisation should be deemed an unlawful association, will be chaired by Delhi High Court judge, Justice Neena Bansal Krishna.

The Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir-Bhat faction (MCJK-B) had been declared as an unlawful association, vide notification number S.O. 934(E) dated February 28, 2024, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), a Home Ministry notification said.

"Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5 read with sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby constitutes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal consisting of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, Judge, High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bhat faction) (MCJK-B) as an unlawful association," it added.
Chennai, March 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi was given a rousing welcome at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu on Monday.

Scores of people lined up on both sides of the road and showered the Prime Minister and his cavalcade with flower petals, with slogans of 'Modi, Modi', 'Meendum Modi' (Modi Again), and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' filling the air.

PM Modi was seen atop a decorated vehicle with Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai and Union Minister L. Murugan on either side.

Several people were seen wearing saffron caps and saffron shirts to welcome the Prime Minister. Some were also seen showering flower petals from the rooftops of their buildings on PM Modi's cavalcade, which traversed a distance of 2.5 km from the Sai Baba Colony to RS Puram.

There was heavy deployment of security forces for the Prime Minister's roadshow, with more than 5,000 policemen deployed for the event.
New Delhi, March 18 : Delhi Police's Special Cell has apprehended a 33-year-old man, who had been supplying illegal weapons, sourced from Madhya Pradesh, to gangsters of the national capital and elsewhere for more than 10 years, and his accomplice.

The accused were identified as Rahim aka Beti, a resident of Madhya Pradesh's Betul district, and Vishal Solav aka Atul, 26, a resident of Maharashtra's Amravati district.

The official said that on their search, 20 semi-automatic pistols were recovered, which were manufactured at Khargone and were being delivered to the end-user at the price of around Rs 30,000 per piece.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, Manoj C. said that on March 14, the police received a tip-off from a reliable source indicating that two key members of an inter-state illegal gun supply cartel would be present near Burari Chowk, Outer Ring Road, in the morning hours to deliver a significant consignment of illegal firearms to a resident of Shahdara named Asif.

Acting on this information, a police team laid a trap and successfully apprehended the accused.

During interrogation, Rahim confessed to the police that he had been involved in the illegal trade of firearms for over a decade.

"He admitted to collaborating with his co-accused, Vishal, in procuring illegal pistols from a person named Sheikh Azam in Betul Subsequently, Rahim and Vishal would distribute these firearms to criminals in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra," the DCP said.

Rahim revealed that Sheikh Azam would compensate them with sums ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 per consignment.

Additionally, Rahim disclosed that Azam sourced the illegal weapons from manufacturers based in Madhya Pradesh and had been supplying them to various parts of the country, including Delhi, for several years.
New Delhi, March 18 : AAP leader and former Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain was back in the Tihar Jail on Monday, hours after the Supreme Court rejected his regular bail plea in a money laundering case.

Jain departed his residence in Saraswati Vihar, in north Delhi, at around 6 p.m. to surrender at the jail.

Confirming Jain's return to Tihar, a jail official said that he reached the jail in the evening.

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the regular bail petition filed by the Aam Aadmi Party leader. It also refused to entertain the request made by Jainas counsel seeking a week's time and ordered the AAP leader to surrender to jail authorities immediately.
Mumbai, March 18 : The Maharashtra government is yet to comply with the Election Commission of India's (ECI) direction to transfer BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, and other Additional Commissioners, and Deputy Commissioners of municipal bodies.

State government sources said that the legislature has passed a law relating to all transfers and promotions, and the competent authority under the act is the Chief Minister who will ultimately take a call on the Election Commissionas directive.

There was no formal order issued by the state government till late Monday night on the transfers of Chahal, other Additional Commissioners, and Deputy Commissioners, not only from BMC alone but from other civic bodies too, who have served more than three years in their present posting or are posted in their home districts.

Incidentally, Chahal has completed almost three and a half years in the BMC.

The state government will send the compliance report to the ECI by Tuesday evening.

EC Secretary S.K. Das, in a letter dated March 18 to state Chief Secretary Nitin Kareer, a copy of which is with IANS, reminded him that the state government did not comply with the order dated December 21, 2023, saying that no officer connected directly with elections shall be allowed to continue in the present district (revenue district) of her or his home district or if he or she has completed three years in that district during last four years or would be completing 3 years on or before June 30.

He further stated that while calculating the period of three years, promotion to a post within the district is to be counted. Das also said that the poll panel's instructions cover the officers deputed in municipal corporations.

"The Government of Maharashtra did not comply with the order and, instead through a letter dated January 15, 2024, sought clarification if these instructions are also applicable to the Divisional Commissioners, Municipal Commissioners, Additional Commissioners, and Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishads," he added.

The EC said it has already clarified its position in this regard through the letter of December 2023.

"However, till late, the state government of Maharashtra has not transferred some of the Municipal Commissioners, Additional Municipal Commissioners, and Deputy Municipal Commissioners who are covered under the Commissionas transfer/posting policy," he added. a

"Now, therefore the Commission conveys displeasure to the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra and directs him to immediately transfer Iqbal Chahal, BMC Commissioner, from his present post," Das said in his letter.

He has asked the Chief Secretary to convey the compliance report to the Commission by 5 p.m. on March 19.

Sources said that the government will send its compliance report by Tuesday evening.
New Delhi, March 18 : A Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) of the Indian Navy crashed on Monday during a routine training sortie, an official said.

The Navy said that at around 5 p.m., an RPA/ Searcher, during a routine training sortie at INS Garuda, Kochi, crashed one mile short of the runway.

No injuries or damage to property was reported, an official said.

A specialist team was dispatched to the site to check the condition of the crashed RPA.

The Navy said that an inquiry to investigate the incident has been ordered.
Agartala, March 18 : The body of the Bangladeshi smuggler, who was killed on Sunday in BSF firing at Muguruli in Tripura's Kailashahar, has been handed over to his family members in the presence of border guards and police personnel from both countries on Monday, police said.

Agartala, March 18 (IANS) The body of the Bangladeshi smuggler, who was killed on Sunday in BSF firing at Muguruli in Tripuraas Kailashahar, has been handed over to his family members in the presence of border guards and police personnel from both countries on Monday, police said.

Sub-divisional Police Officer, Kailashahar, Jayanta Karmakar said that after completing the post-mortem and other medical and legal formalities, the body of the Bangladeshi smuggler, identified as Parvez alias Saddam Hussein was handed over to the deceased's father.

The slain smuggler is a resident of Dastaki village under the Kulaura police station in the Moulvibazar district.

The Bangladeshi smuggler was killed and another injured as BSF troopers opened fire, after being surrounded by around 40 smugglers of both India and Bangladesh along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura's Unakoti district on Sunday.

The BSF troopers had challenged the smugglers and ordered them to stop but the smugglers didnat pay heed, became aggressive, encircled the team, assaulted a BSF personnel, tried to snatch the weapon, and attempted to pull him into Bangladeshi territory. The BSF trooper got a grievous injury on his forehead and was evacuated to the nearby district hospital. His condition is now stable.
Mumbai, March 18 : Hours after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday termed the INDIA bloc's rally in Mumbai on Sunday as a 'flop show', the Congress hit back by saying it only proves that the Shinde camp and the BJP are fearing defeat in the upcoming elections.

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole claimed that the INDIA bloc's rally at the Shivaji Park on Sunday signalled a change in the country, and out of fear of defeat, the BJP and Shiv Sena leaders are criticising the event.

"There will inevitably be a change in the country and the leaders of the BJP and the Shinde faction, who are going to be unemployed, will get a one-year 'apprenticeship' under the guarantee of the Congress party," Patole said.

On BJPas charge of a tie-up between the Congress and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena to gain power, Patole reminded the BJP and the Shinde faction that it is not for the first time that they have joined hands, as the relationship between Shiv Sena supremo late Bal Thackeray and the Congress is quite old and something that has not been hidden.

"It was Balasaheb (Thackeray) who had supported the presidential candidates of the Congress-led UPA government, both Pratibha Patil and Pranab Mukherjee. These people (BJP and Shinde faction) may not be aware of it, or they may have developed a disease of forgetting," taunted Patole.
Bengaluru, March 19 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday held a high-level meeting on the drinking water crisis in the state, and especially Bengaluru, at the Vidhana Soudha, and said that they had enough water stored in the Cauvery and Kabini to last till the end of June.

Addressing the media after the meeting, he said there is 11.02 TMC water in the KRS and 9.02 TMC in the Kabini reservoir.

Out of 14,000 government bore wells, 6.900 are dry, and hence, the problem had occurred, he said.

The Chief Minister also said that out of 110 villages newly added to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, 55 villages have problems, and 775 MLD of additional water to these areas will be available after the completion of Cauvery Phase 5 work by the end of June.

He also said that they are drilling new bore wells at 313 places and 1,200 inactive bore wells will be revived.

"I have instructed all private tankers, including of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), for supplies to slums, upland areas, and bore well-dependent areas. It has been instructed to increase the number of control rooms and supply water to those areas as soon as complaints are received," he said.

He said that the number of task forces will be increased to respond to complaints immediately, and instructions have been given not to use drinking water in parks and to use treated water instead.

Instructions have been given to fill the lakes of Bangalore like KC Valley, as well as 14 major lakes that have dried up, he said, adding that this will recharge the bore wells with groundwater.

The Chief Minister also said that there is no shortage of funds for drinking water.

"Officials meet every day and prepare an action plan once a week. Steps have been taken to form an expert committee to ensure that there is no shortage of water in the future. It has been clearly instructed that if complaints are received, the BBMP and the BWSSB will be held responsible. Bengaluru has a water shortage of 500 MLD. Necessary measures have been taken to overcome this shortage," he said.

He said that people who depend on bore wells have been advised to take measures. As many as 1,700 water tankers have been registered and are being supplied with water from private bore wells, including malls.

Siddaramaiah said that instructions have been given to avoid water problems anywhere and appealed to the public not to waste drinking water.

He said that 2,600 MLD of water is required for drinking and industries in Bengaluru city, out of which 1,450 MLD water is obtained from the Cauvery River and 650 MLD water is available from bore wells, while there is a shortage of 500 MLD water.

To a question about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that there is no money with the state government, the Chief Minister said that it has been five months since the drought and the state is yet to get a single paisa from the Central government.

"We had asked for Rs 18,171 crore drought relief as crops were damaged in 48,000 hectares. Not even a single rupee was provided. What morality does the BJP have to accuse us of not having money?" he asked.
Ahmedabad, March 19 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat welcomed a few key figures from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) into its fold on Monday, over a month ahead of the May 7 Lok Sabha elections in the state.

Mukesh Patel, the state secretary of AAP, deputy state leader J.J. Mevada, and former Assembly candidate Dinesh Kapadia formally joined the BJP at a ceremony in the presence of Gujarat BJP chief C.R. Paatil on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Paatil expressed confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, "Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is marching towards unprecedented development and self-reliance.

"The faith in PM Modi's governance is evident as prominent leaders from different political backgrounds are joining the BJP to contribute to our nation's progress."
Jaipur, March 19 : Former Rajasthan minister Mahesh Joshi on Monday responded to an Enforcement Directorate (ED) notice in connection with the alleged multi-crore scam involving the Jal Jeevan Mission, seeking 15 days' time.

"The documents I have been asked to bring will take time to collect, hence I have sought 15 days from the ED," Joshi told the media.

As per sources, the ED issued a notice to Joshi recently, asking him to appear before the ED headquarters in Jaipur for questioning on Monday.

Joshi's close aide Sanjay Badaya has been interrogated at the ED office for the last three days in connection with the same case.

As per ED officials, corruption was reported in the Jal Jeevan Mission project.

The ED launched its probe into the matter based on an FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Earlier, the ED searched the residence and office of a senior IAS officer associated with the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Chennai, March 19 : The women in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore where Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow on Monday praised the 10 years of the NDA government since it came to power in 2014.

Kousalya Parameswaran from Vadivel in Coimbatore told IANS: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014. Our neighbouring countries like China and Pakistan are fearful of India now and won't come near us."

She also said, "Other than this Modiji has implemented several welfare schemes like Ujjwala scheme, Mudra loan schemes for enterprenuers, among others. People from Tamil Nadu have taken Mudra loans in large numbers."

Kausalya added, "The fishermen community of Rameswaram are really happy with various schemes for the community initiated by Modiji and added that during previous Congress governments life was quite difficult for them."

She also said that it was only during Modiji's term as the Prime Minister that people of the country were living peacefully.and added that she and people known to her want Prime Minister Modi to come back to power for the third time.

Another woman, Niveditha from Thodiyur in Coimbatore said that Prime Minister has launched several schemes for the people of the country. Many schemes, including Ayushman Bharat, infrastructure schemes and Sukanya Samridha Yojana were intiated for the development of people.

Preetha Lakshmi from Coimbatore said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the political narrative of the country since the past ten years since he came to power.

She added, "Has anyone expected that the 33 per cent women reservation would be implemented, but he did it boldly. Article 370 was abolished by him. Ram Lalla's temple at Ayodhya came up just because of him. For the past 500 years, it could not be done but PM Narendra Modi shifted the narrative and opened a new nationalistic discourse."

She also added that people of the country were now becoming used to 'Achhe Din' because of our beloved Prime Minister.

Preetha said, "Certain people are criticising that Modiji does not have a family. I vouch that we are his family. We all consider him as our own family. Modiji must come back to power for taking forward his welfare schemes for the all-round development of this great nation."

R. Soumya from Karur in Tamil Nadu said that it was an overwhelming experience in attending the roadshow of Prime Minister Modi.

He is a great leader and seeing him directly during the roadshow was a great experience, she added.

Soumya also said, "So we want Modiji to come back to lead the country and do lot of good things to the people of this great nation."
Chennai, March 19 : The women in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore where Prime Minister Narendra Modi accompanied by State BJP President K. Annamalai held a roadshow on Monday praised the 10 years of the NDA government since it came to power in 2014.

Kousalya Parameswaran from Vadivel in Coimbatore told IANS: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014. Our neighbouring countries like China and Pakistan are fearful of India now and won't come near us."

She also said, "Other than this Modiji has implemented several welfare schemes like Ujjwala scheme, Mudra loan schemes for enterprenuers, among others. People from Tamil Nadu have taken Mudra loans in large numbers."

Kausalya added, "The fishermen community of Rameswaram are really happy with various schemes for the community initiated by Modiji and added that during previous Congress governments life was quite difficult for them."

She also said that it was only during Modiji's term as the Prime Minister that people of the country were living peacefully.and added that she and people known to her want Prime Minister Modi to come back to power for the third time.

Another woman, Niveditha from Thodiyur in Coimbatore said that Prime Minister has launched several schemes for the people of the country. Many schemes, including Ayushman Bharat, infrastructure schemes and Sukanya Samridha Yojana were intiated for the development of people.

Preetha Lakshmi from Coimbatore said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed the political narrative of the country since the past ten years since he came to power.

She added, "Has anyone expected that the 33 per cent women reservation would be implemented, but he did it boldly. Article 370 was abolished by him. Ram Lalla's temple at Ayodhya came up just because of him. For the past 500 years, it could not be done but PM Narendra Modi shifted the narrative and opened a new nationalistic discourse."

She also added that people of the country were now becoming used to 'Achhe Din' because of our beloved Prime Minister.

Preetha said, "Certain people are criticising that Modiji does not have a family. I vouch that we are his family. We all consider him as our own family. Modiji must come back to power for taking forward his welfare schemes for the all-round development of this great nation."

R. Soumya from Karur in Tamil Nadu said that it was an overwhelming experience in attending the roadshow of Prime Minister Modi.

He is a great leader and seeing him directly during the roadshow was a great experience, she added.

Soumya also said, "So we want Modiji to come back to lead the country and do lot of good things to the people of this great nation."
Jammu, March 19 : The family members of missing Navy sailor from Jammu, Sahil Verma, called on Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday at the Raj Bhawan.

"The Lieutenant Governor assured every possible support from the J&K administration to the family to ensure the safe return of missing Navy sailor Sahil Verma," an official statement said.

Sahil Verma went missing from a Navy ship on February 27.

Despite extensive search efforts by the Navy and appeals from his family, Sahil remains reportedly missing.
Ahmedabad, March 19 : A man has been arrested for allegedly setting ablaze more than a dozen huts in Gujarat's Kutch after those living in them refused to work for him for free, police said.

Ahmedabad, March 19 (IANS) A man has been arrested for allegedly setting ablaze more than a dozen huts in Gujarat's Kutch after those living in them refused to work for him for free, police said.

The accused, Mohammad Rafiq Kumbhar, allegedly set the huts on fire after the hut residents in Anjar village declined to work for him without pay.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Mukesh Chaudhary, Kumbhar faces charges of attempted murder, criminal intimidation and arson.

The incident escalated when the flames reached overhead electricity transmission lines, causing an explosion. The fire not only burnt household belongings but also led to the death of a cat and seven kittens.

The Anjar Fire department's timely intervention prevented the fire from causing further calamities, especially after flames threatened nearby electricity transmission lines, leading to an explosion.

The fire, which broke out early hours of Sunday in the slums of Mochi Bazar, destroyed 12 makeshift homes.

Investigations reveal that Kumbhar's history of exploiting local labourers, often forcing them into working for Rs 100 per day along with threats of violence.

Local sources indicate that Kumbhar had visited the area on Sunday night, attempting to force the labourers to work for free which all of them refused. The subsequent act of arson by Kumbhar was seen as a direct response to this refusal.
Mai Corlands Five Broken Blades is a genre-bending epic fantasy set in the vibrant fictional world of Yusan. Integrating romantic, mystery, and thriller elements, Five Broken Blades is told from the perspectives of six different narrators. Corland (a pen name for the writer Meredith Ireland) spoke with PW about worldbuilding, her novel's distinctive setting, and how she developed her multitude of central characters.

Tell us about Five Broken Blades and the origins of the story.

Five Broken Blades began with the concept of a poison maidena girl who can kill with a kiss. From there it branched out into the question of whom would she want to kill and why would it be so difficult? The answer was trying to kill a god king. And from there Five Broken Blades was born with four other killers who either want the crown and arent all that concerned with King Joons welfare or specifically want him dead.

There are six main characters in the storyfive of them the Blades referenced in the title. Can you tell us a bit about who they are and how theyre brought together?

Sora is the poison maiden, a phenomenally beautiful girl put through nearly a decade of poison training. Royo is rough-around-the-edges muscle for hire. Euyn is an exiled prince King Joon sentenced to die. Mikail is the charismatic royal spymaster. And Aeri is a clever thief. The last point-of-view character is Tiyung, a nobleman whose father controls Sora.

What can you share about your worldbuilding process?

I started with the core concept of east meeting west. I was born in Seoul, Korea, but I live in America, so it was important to me to bring in a fusion overlay to Yusan (the fictional setting of the novel) with characters with a blended or mixed-race appearance and food reflecting global influences. Five Broken Blades has four distinct old capitals, each with their own style. I wanted to start the characters in different parts of the world and have them converge on the central capital, which led to me making a poorly hand-drawn map so I could visualize everything. I also spent a lot of time on Google looking up things like how many miles a carriage can travel in a day and asking my partner about the logistics of killing megafauna. The last step for me is adding in details of the five senses so the reader feels like they are walking down the streets with the characters.

From your perspective, what essential ingredients go into creating an immersive fantasy realm?

I think a fantasy realm is immersive when it answers the fundamental questions of daily life. How do the people procure goodsis it money, trade, or something else? What do their streets and buildings look like? What is the weather and how does it interact with their setting? What kind of clothes do they wear? Whats the bathing situation? What do they eat? And is it the same for everyone? More than anything, the logistics have to make sense in that world. And then from there the fantastic can become real.

Five Broken Blades blends elements of romance and fantasy, and while it definitely appeals to romantasy fans, it also pushes beyond this subgenre. How does the book push the boundaries of both the romance and fantasy genres (and potentially other genres as well)?

A traditional epic fantasy tends to focus on the quest and not romance. A romance has a main character and love interest falling in love as the crux of the story. Five Broken Blades mashes up those genres with hints of mystery and political thriller subgenres. With six narrators, Ive been able to explore love, friendship, quests, and intrigue in a way that may not be considered romantasy but is deeply romantic. I love the excitement that comes from none of the characters being assured a happy ending, which I think gives more flexibility as an author and leads to tension for the reader.

You also write childrens and YA books. As you set out to write, do you consider the intended audience, or does that come about more organically?

Audience is central to my storytelling! I love how the core of middle grade is getting to know yourself, while young adult explores finding your place in the world, and then new adult and adult looks at now what? and is this how you want your life to be? There are beautiful stories to be told at every level, but the emotional maturity of the reader is primary to me.

Do you start out knowing everything about your characters, or do they reveal themselves to you as youre writing?

My greatest joy in writing, the biggest thrill, is finding out about my characters. I know some writers live and die by their outlines, but I love to begin with a concept, a voice, and an overall direction and then I watch it bloom and unfurl from there. The first draft where it all comes together is the magic for me.

Entangleds Red Tower Imprint seems like the perfect home for Five Broken Blades. From your perspective, what makes Entangled so special?

My gosh, how much time do you have? Entangled is dynamic and the most supportive publisher I have had by a mile. They are small enough where Ive been able to get to know everyone involved and yet they are steadily taking over with hits like Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, and Assistant to the Villain. Liz Pelletier at the helm is disrupting the traditionaland in my mind, outdatedpublishing model. Entangled is so versatile and unafraid of this book not neatly fitting into a genre. I have been encouraged and uplifted every step of the way and I couldnt be happier with Entangled as the home for Five Broken Blades.
Kenechi Uzor, the Nigerian-born founder and CEO of Iskanchi Press and its sister publication, Iskanchi Magazine, has a global outlook and ambitions. Uzor established the indie publisher and online journal to increase the representation of African voices in contemporary publishing, and in coming years, he plans to expand his Canadian market and establish an Iskanchi branch in the U.K. And Uzors aspirations are getting noticed by the book business; in 2023, he was among the 20 finalists in the Independent Book Publishers Associations Innovative Voices Program.

Based in Salt Lake City, Iskanchi Press publishes five to 10 English-language originals and works in translation by African authors annually, distributed by Independent Publishers Group. Its name comes from the Hausa word iskanci, translated as "mischief, irreverence, and non-conformity," according to press materials. In addition to Uzor, Iskanchis staffers include editor Roseline Mgbodichinma, assistant editor Titilayo Adaba, and graphic designer Femi Gbadeyan, all working from Nigeria; web designer Mahir Ahmed, in Turkey; and publishing assistant Emily Evans, in California. From November 2023 through this January, Uzor raised the presss profile with a call for submissions for the inaugural Iskanchi Book Prize, with the winner to receive $1,500 and publication.

Uzor came to the U.S. from Lagos, where hed been the general manager of Farina Trust, the nonprofit arm of Kachifo Limited, and an enterprise editor working with prospective authors on projects for Kachifo and Farafina Books. I had to leave all of that to move to America in 2016, he said, to join his partnernow his wifein Utah. While completing an M.F.A. in creative writing at the University of Utah, Uzor observed that the assigned stories and books in his program were all by Western, non-African writers. If an African writer wants to be experimental, where and on what kind of platforms would they publish? he wondered.

To promote the African perspective and capture the authentic stories with all of the nuances that make us African, he launched Iskanchi Magazine in fall 2020, and now releases two issues annually, paying writers $50 for accepted submissions and hosting an annual competition with cash prizes. He previously served as a deputy editor for Isele Magazine, another African-focused blog and bimonthly e-zine; in 2022, Iskanchi published the Best of Isele Anthology.

Uzor founded Iskanchi Press concurrently with the online magazine, but he needed more information to feel confident about the startup. I understood the African or Nigerian market, but I wanted to get a sense of the American market, he said. His questions led him to the Denver Publishing Institute, which awarded him a DPI Community Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship meant to support BIPOC applicants. DPI gave me a birds eye view of the trade, Uzor said, and it led me to organizations like PubWest, which in turn connected him to his distributor, IPG. Hes now a PubWest board member, and he is enrolled in the University of Utahs master in business creation program, a small-business incubator.

Assembling a Pan-African List

Iskanchi Press intends to champion African perspectives, Uzor said, yet there are 54 countries on the continentits a vast field. He has a strong network in Nigeria and many Nigerian authors on his list already. (In 2022, for instance, PW gave a starred review to Sylva Nze Ifedigbos novel Believers and Hustlers.) But he seeks work from countries less commonly represented: I want to get writers from Chad, from Mauritania, he explained.

Past publications include Angolan author Joao Melos short story collection, Angola Is Wherever I Plant My Field, translated by Luisa Venturini, and Mauritanian novelist Moussa Ould Ebnos speculative Barzakh: The Land In-Between, translated from the French by Marybeth Timmermann. An edition of Ebnos The New Eve, previously published in French, Arabic, and English, is forthcoming.

Uzor hopes to continue to cover a wider range of African voices and perspectives, amplifying, for instance, womens experiencesIskanchi will publish a new edition of Nigerian novelist Ifeoma Chinwubas 2007 novel Waiting for Maria, about women inmates in Nigerias justice systemand cultivating a broad nonfiction list. What is the business world like in Africa? he asked. Or what is climate changes impact in Africa, as written by Africans? How are Africans thinking about gender, when Ghana just made a law to ban LGBTQ identity in the countrywhat do Africans think about that?

Clearly, Uzor doesnt mind casting a wide netin part because he knows hes honed in on an underserved space in the U.S. market. I don't have too many competitors or anything like that, so Im keeping it open, he said. That also makes it easy for us to acquire as much content as possible. Once other people start seeing what were doing, there will be plenty of room for regional approaches, he said.

Utah may seem an unlikely location for such a pan-African publisher, and Uzor admits he hears that comment a lot. I'm Nigerian, right? he said, laughing. We dont have this idea of flyover states. As far as were concerned, were going to America. He feels pleased about where he landed: Utah's been a blessing. My two kids were born in Utahtheyre Utahans nowand [Iskanchi] launched our first five titles in conjunction with the King's English Bookstore, the Salt Lake City shop owned by Calvin Crosby.

Uzor also prints Iskanchi titles locally, at Hudson Printing. At Hudson, I can go to the office and check out the proofs in person, he said. When he has questions about paper or wants to see samples, he can stop by. It might be more expensive for us, but I also believe in giving back to the communityIm interested in partnering with local businesses.

In return, Uzor said, We have a lot of supportpeople are interested in what were doing, and theyre rooting for us.

This article has been updated.
The last two weeks were historically traumatic for Europe and NATO.

It will take some time for both Europe and America to digest what happened.

Unless he gets his way in Ukraine, Putin threatened to annihilate Europe with a rain of nuclear missiles. Almost at the same time, German leaders broke a decades-long taboo and openly discussed the development of nuclear weapons. Not to be left behind, French President Macron proposed a dramatic alternative: that Germany pay for expanding the French nuclear umbrella over Europe. Macron broke another taboo when he suggested that NATO would have to send troops into Ukraine.

While Britain may no longer be in the E.U., it is a powerful force in NATO and will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the defense of Europe. Britain has stated that it will make its nuclear forces available to the NATO commander, if necessary.

All of this turmoil occurs in the context of Donald Trump's startling recent statement in which he invited Russia to invade any NATO country that hadn't spent its promised 2 percent of its budget on NATO-related expenditures.

This failure of Europe to share the economic burden of NATO defense has been an ongoing and bipartisan American complaint since the Kennedy administration in the early 1960s. And still, today, with a Russian army at their door, a number of NATO countries refuse to spend the promised two percent on defense. This list includes prosperous countries and major economic powers like Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Turkey.

In this context, in an instant, the wheels seem to have come off NATO. The United States' decades-long commitment to the integrity of European borders is suddenly in doubt. Seriously in doubt.

The Center is not holding!

It's not just Trump. America's decades-long bipartisan commitment to NATO and other close allies is under serious assault from across the political spectrum. Major forces on the left wing of the Democratic Party are calling for the U.S. to abandon its close partnership with Israel. Such an abandonment would call into question all American alliances worldwide.

Simultaneously, a large faction of conservative Republicans has reverted to the head-in-the-sand isolationist policy of their early twentieth-century predecessors.

Meanwhile, President Biden is physically unable to articulate a strategic vision or rally the country to confront the crises in Europe and the Middle East.

Under these circumstances, it is best if the E.U. and the European NATO members face these hard facts and plan for a possibly ugly divorce in the near future.

If worse comes to worst, and Trump decides to walk away from NATO, what should Europe ask for in a divorce settlement? Three things.

First, Europe should try to persuade the United States to leave most of its military equipment in Europe. The E.U. and the European remainder of NATO might agree to pay some reasonable sum for transferring this extremely powerful arsenal.

Second, Europe should argue that all or a significant fraction of American nuclear weapons stationed in Europe be transferred to NATO along with the launch codes. Again, some payment might be required to satisfy Donald Trump's need for transactional successes.

Third, European NATO should endeavor to sign long-term contracts with U.S. defense contractors to provide necessary armaments until the E.U. can rebuild its own domestic weapons industry.

Not all of these civilization-shaking events may occur, but with the potential election of Donald Trump and the chronic failure of much of Europe to pay for its own defense, they become more likely.

James S. Fay is a California attorney, political scientist, and retired college administrator. His articles have appeared in social science and law journals and the Wall Street Journal. He served as a U.S. Army Intelligence Officer in the 3rd Armored Division in Germany.
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Nathalie Emmanuel joined her former Game of Thrones co-stars John Bradley and Liam Cunningham at the premiere of their new show.

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The 35-year-old actress supported Bradley, 35, and Cunningham, 62, at the Los Angeles screening of their Netflix series 3 Body Problem.

Netflix shared a photo Monday on social media of Emmanuel, Bradley and Cunningham posing together at the event.

Emmanuel played Missandei on Game of Thrones, with Bradley as Samwell Tarley and Cunningham as Davos Seaworth. The show, based on the Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R. R. Martin, had an eight-season run on HBO from 2011 to 2019.

Bradley and Cunningham now star together in 3 Body Problem, a new show based on the Liu Xicin novel. The series hails from Alexander Woo and Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.

3 Body Problem is a sci-fi drama where "a young woman's fateful decision in 1960s China reverberates across space and time to a group of brilliant scientists in the present day."

Netflix released a final trailer for the show this month.

3 Body Problem premieres Thursday.
Tata Sons Private Limited, the holding company of the Tata group, witnessed a precipitous drop in its net debt to Rs 5,656 crore in the 10 months ended January this year, as its cash reserves burgeoned to Rs 9,516 crore during this period.

Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Eight years ago, in 2015-16, Tata Sons reported a net debt of Rs 5,132 crore; from March 2017 until March 2023, this figure was above the Rs 14,700 mark, peaking at Rs 27,437 crore at the end of March 2019, according to data sourced from Capitaline.

The company's gross debt nearly halved to Rs 15,173 crore until January 2024 on a standalone basis, down from a peak of Rs 31,363 crore reported in the financial year ended March 2019.

This sharp turnaround in the companys debt profile will help the company invest in newer ventures, including semiconductors, electric vehicle batteries, and the aviation business, according to a source close to the development.

Banking sources said the sharp fall in net debt in 2023-24 indicates that the company may soon emerge as a net debt-free company.

This is due to a sharp decrease in its cash infusion into the loss-making Tata Teleservices, while dividends and buybacks from its subsidiaries, such as Tata Consultancy Services, have risen substantially.

A significant portion of Tata Sons cash over the past six years was used to inject money into Tata Teleservices, as the latter paid off its bank debt and other dues to the Indian government, totaling Rs 60,000 crore, according to a source close to the development.

While several other telecom companies filed for bankruptcy following the adverse 2G Supreme Court order, Tata Sons repaid all bank dues in the past five years of Tata Teleservices, the source said.

An email sent to Tata Sons did not elicit any response until the time of going to press.

Last year, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) classified Tata Sons as an upper-layer non-banking financial company (NBFC), making it mandatory for the company to list itself on the stock exchanges by September 2025.

The Tata group has not commented on its initial public offering (IPO) plans, although analysts estimate the company's valuation to be as high as Rs 11 trillion.

A recent report by Spark Capital said that Tata Sons could potentially fetch a value of Rs 7-8 trillion, taking into account the current market values of Tata group companies.

Tata Trusts owns a 66 per cent stake in Tata Sons, while the billionaire Mistry family owns an 18.5 per cent stake in the company.

An IPO by Tata Sons would provide an exit for the Mistry family, which is currently facing liquidity issues due to high debt.

Tata Capital, a subsidiary of Tata Sons, has also been tagged by the RBI as an upper-layer NBFC and is required to be listed by September next year.

A listing of Tata Capital would lead to cash generation for Tata Sons, which currently owns a 94 per cent stake in Tata Capital.

Last month, the board of Tata Capital approved a massive fundraising exercise of Rs 20,000 crore through non-convertible debentures as the company aims to emerge as a prominent retail lender.

Simultaneously, Tata Capitals home finance subsidiary, Tata Capital Housing Finance, is raising another Rs 8,000 crore to increase its market share in the home loan business.

Tata Sons invested Rs 1,000 crore in the first half of FY24 by subscribing to the rights issue of equity of Tata Capital.
The countrys six largest smallcap schemes would require more than 20 days to liquidate half of their holdings, despite most of them maintaining high cash levels and having considerable exposure to more liquid largecap stocks, stress tests conducted by fund houses reveal.

For midcap funds, the time required to sell half of the assets of the top six schemes varies between seven and 34 days, according to disclosures made by asset management companies.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had called for such tests in the face of strong inflows into smallcap and midcap funds, despite concerns over high valuations, to keep investors better informed.

SBI MF, which manages the third-largest smallcap scheme with a corpus of Rs 25,500 crore, estimates it would need 60 days to sell half of the assets of the fund and 12 days to liquidate a quarter of it.

However, the fund house is confident that the scheme can handle a surge in redemptions, if any.

Our smallcap fund is well placed to face any difficulties that might emerge. The portfolio has top-quality stocks, along with significant cash holding and exposure to largecap stocks. In addition, a portion of the portfolio is hedged and there is a constant flow of money through the SIP (systematic investment plan) route, said D P Singh, deputy MD and joint CEO of SBI MF.



The stress test calculates the number of days required to liquidate assets based on recent trading volumes in the underlying stocks.

The format, designed by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi), also sets other specific conditions such as adopting a pro-rata basis of liquidation after removing the 20 per cent least liquid holdings.

For the test, MFs have to assume a 10 per cent participation volume and three times the average daily volumes seen in the past three months for each of the stocks in the portfolio.

Besides SBI MF, HDFC, Tata, Kotak, and DSP will need over 30 days to sell 50 per cent of their smallcap fund portfolios.

Tata and DSP manage their smallcap funds with a true-to-the-label strategy as they invest nearly 90 per cent of the corpus in smallcap stocks vis-a-vis 65-80 per cent allocation in the case of other large schemes.

Nippon India MFs smallcap schemes, which is the largest in the category with an AUM of Rs 46,000 crore, has said it will need 27 days to liquidate half of the portfolio.

Schemes with smaller assets under management (AUM) are seen to be comfortably placed in terms of liquidity in the stress test.

All the schemes having less than Rs 5,000 crore AUM have said that 50 per cent of the assets can be sold within five days.

While the test results have given some indication to investors about the liquidity risk while investing in small-cap schemes, they still may not be a good indicator of identifying the stress that funds may face in real time.

There is no scientific basis for it. It assumes liquidity to be a constant at best and extrapolates the past into the future at worst.

"If liquidity actually vanishes in a particular stock, it can just vanish not in 6 days or 14 days or whatever other metric is used - it will vanish in a microsecond.

"Analysis by extrapolation may or may not work.

"Yes, liquidity is often higher with higher volatility - but it's not a given, said Sandeep Parekh, founder of Finsec Law Advisors, in a social media post.
If the party's members aren't sure what it stands for, see no path to wealth or power, and endure control by a dynasty, which, almighty as it is within the party, cannot get them the votes, they are likely to explore options, notes Shekhar Gupta.

IMAGE: Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge along with Congress Parliamentarty Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi arrives to chair the party's CEC meeting, at AICC headquarters, New Delhi, March 11, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The cross-voting and defections in the Rajya Sabha elections in Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka raise important questions.

What makes politicians stay loyal to a party or leave it?

Why do some parties stay together and others split?

What's the glue that keeps parties together, and what is it that makes them lose cohesion?

Let's anticipate the obvious answers. First up, of course, it must be power and money that make people stay or leave.

It must also be the glue that keeps parties together or the magnet that pulls people away. Sorry to disappoint you, but that isn't true.

Because if it were so, why would the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have remained the most cohesive national party in India?

It stayed intact even when reduced to two seats compared to the Congress's 414 in 1984.

The BJP rose in 1980 as the new avatar of the original Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS). Even the latter had stayed together through decades in the political wilderness.

Between 1947 and 1989, neither this party nor its successor had even a sniff of power at the Centre, barring 28 months in 1977-79 as a constituent of the Janata Party.

See it this way: The BJS subsumed itself in Janata and all its members dutifully acquiesced.

The obvious argument might be, "Of course, they did it for power".

But it is flawed. Because soon after power was lost, all Jana Sangh natives regrouped as the BJP.

None went to the Congress or floated their own party. The tempting conclusion: Ideology keeps parties together. Now, we shall challenge it.

I brace myself for some counters here. Haven't people been leaving the BJP/Jana Sangh?

Yes, Balraj Madhok and some others left in the early 1970s protesting against a rising personality cult.

But they didn't defect to the Congress, however much Mrs Gandhi would tempt them.

More contemporarily, Shankersinh Vaghela, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti and B S Yediyurappa left and formed their own small parties.

Only the first joined hands with the Congress to become chief minister, and that was in 1996.

He has since left the party and is now praising Narendra Modi.

The last three returned "home" to the BJP. The BJP is the only national party not to have any hyphenated offshoots.

Indian politics, however, wouldn't be a fraction as fascinating if it did not defy any idea that seemed obvious or an answer that began with "of course".

If ideology kept parties together, how come the Socialist Party in India has seen the most splits, the initial factions parting ways under individual founders?

The Socialists had an ideology, and within this, there was also a more sharply defined one: Lohiaism.

Now count the factions into which the Lohiaites have split and the different directions they have chosen.

Nitish Kumar, Ram Vilas Paswan, Mulayam/Akhilesh, Lalu/Tejashwi. Keep counting.

Alright, we have another choice that looks so obvious. The BJP core leadership wasn't poor, they were mostly well-to-do, schooled by the RSS and, therefore, deeply indoctrinated.

So, of course, what keeps parties together is financially comfortable personal lives and ideological commitment.

Plus, a sniff of power, which the BJP has had from 1989 onwards. But if it's so obvious, what explains Indian Communists?

Communist party members also almost never defect. What keeps them loyal, if not ideology, given that they rarely get power and never personal wealth?

This doesn't pass the "obvious, of course" test either. Because while Communists do not defect, they split. Not for power or money.

They split in search of ideological purity, over profound arguments like who to follow: Lenin, Mao, Trotsky, Moscow or Beijing?

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' at Kurla in Mumbai, March 16, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

It must be powerful personalities and dynasties, then, that keep parties united and attract new "talent" to them.

Check out Narendra Modi's BJP, Stalin's DMK (with a sharp ideology, though confined to one state) and Mamata Banerjee's TMC on the outside, because they've seen some people leave.

But list all other personality/dynasty-run parties and you will find desertions, whether in Mayawati's BSP, the Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar's NCP or the Badal family's Shiromani Akali Dal. We aren't left with much wisdom.

This brings us back to the most important question for today's context: The failure of the Congress to keep its flock together.

It claims to have an ideology and one leader/dynasty.

When leaders, from Himanta Biswa Sarma to Jyotiraditya Scindia, leave it, they're dismissed as not being true to its "vicharadhara".

It has some power and patronage to dispense, though it's declining. On having a strong personality/dynasty at the top, it scores 10/10.

Yet, it is haemorrhaging talent. It has even seen one of its chief ministers (Pema Khandu, Arunachal Pradesh) walk across to the BJP with the entire legislature party.

That its ideological commitment is flaky is evident in how easily many of its key figures move to the BJP.

Can it all be blamed on the rather unique "charms" of the Modi-Shah BJP, along with money, power and protection from "agencies"?

IMAGE: Congress leader and former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri joins the BJP in presence of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP state president V D Sharma, at BJP headquarters in Bhopal, March 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

That isn't so obvious either, because the party has been splitting every few years since 1969.

The last big one came in January 1978 as its senior-most leaders failed to endure even a few months out of power.

These included D K "Indira is India" Barooah, Vasantdada Patil, Y B Chavan and Swaran Singh.

Later, A K Antony, that eternal family loyalist (didn't you think so?) joined the Congress (Urs) and then went on to form his own Congress (A).

Charan Singh, Sharad Pawar, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Mamata Banerjee and Himanta Biswa Sarma -- all have built their own political power as the "mother" party declined.

The upshot? First, ideology can be the glue if it is sharp and drummed into people's minds from a young age, as with the BJP/RSS, the Communists and the Dravidian parties.

A strong personality or dynasty can keep things together but only as long as they can guarantee votes for their followers.

That's the power of a Jagan in Andhra or Mamata in Bengal. Promises of wealth and power can add to your ranks, as the BJP shows today.

The Congress failed all of these tests. Its ideology is flaky.

It pretends to be JNU-Left secular but also flaunts its "Shivbhakt" leader's "janeudhari" (sacred-thread-wearing) Dattatreya Brahmin identity, while at the same time turning down the invitation for the temple consecration at Ayodhya.

Its Left pretences on the economy and the railing against Adani, Ambani and the "handful of rich men" who own India don't wash given its history with the same oligarchs.

If the party's members aren't sure what it stands for, see no path to wealth or power, and endure control by a dynasty, which, almighty as it is within the party, cannot get them the votes, they are likely to explore options.

This is what happened to the Congress in Shimla and to its ally, the Samajwadi Party, in Lucknow last week.

The BJP, on the other hand, is a formidable package: Ideological Fevicol for the native, power and protection for the incoming defector, and a "Modi ki Guarantee" of votes.

This is how national politics stacks up on the eve of general elections.

By special arrangement with The Print

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'However, to establish a quid pro quo, one can potentially see several things, like whether they got any benefits from the party that they gave money to. That is something that people (of India) will gauge.

But to finally establish that there was money paid as consideration, it would require an investigation, a proper investigation, to be able to come up with such conclusions.'

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters

Transparency and accountability activist Anjali Bharadwaj, who is among one of the many public-spirited figures in the forefront of bringing in more transparency and accountability in electoral funding in India, discusses the fallout of the release of data related to electoral bond scheme funding once the State Bank of India submits to the Election Commission of India on Monday, March 18, the most crucial piece of information  the secret, invisible alphanumeric serial code that acts as a unique identifier link between the purchaser, donor and redeemer of electoral bond.

This code, many experts claim, can help ascertain which donor gave how much money to which political party, in the ongoing saga related to release of all data about electoral bonds that the Supreme Court of India had declared unconstitutional on February 15, 2024.

The Supreme Court on march 15 has directed the State Bank of India to disclose the electoral bond details, along with unique serial code numbers to the ECI by Monday.

Can SBI still explore any loophole in this directive or find out novel tactics to, again, delay this information?

The court has issued them notice. So on Monday, we will hear what they have to say, why they have not provided these bond numbers. So if they say that they don't have the bond numbers readily available or they need more time or any of that, that's when we will get to know what the reason for them not providing the information is. But the (Supreme Courts) direction is very clear.

Can the SBI still delay these unique serial identifiers that can be used to match the bond purchaser and redeemer?

What the SBI is trying to say is that they don't have this information readily available. That is what it appears they were saying when they were said (first told the Supreme Court on March 6 that) they can't do the matching exercise.

If they had the bond purchasers data along with bond numbers and the redeemers data along with the bond numbers, they would not really have needed to seek more time from the Supreme Court at the time when they were asking for four months.

Matching will not take long if they have these two figures readily available. When they were saying that it'll take time for them to match, at that time, Harish Salve was giving certain sort of reasons. He appeared to be giving the reason that we (the SBI) don't maintain it because of reasons of anonymity in one place, et cetera, et cetera.

What happens once these serial numbers that are unique identifiers of each bond, issued, purchased and cashed, come into the public domain? What will these unique serial numbers expose?

It's an alphanumeric code which every electoral bond has, which is visible under UV light. Each bond carries this unique alphanumeric number.

Now, if that number is mentioned in front of the name of the donor, or rather the purchaser, and it is mentioned in front of the name of the redeeming party, then that link can be made as to who has given the bond to which political party.

Today (March 15, 2024), the information that we have is a list of all the purchasers of electoral bonds. And we have the list of all the redeemers of the electoral bonds, what denomination and what date they redeemed the bonds (in two different silos).

What we don't have is the link between the two. Who donated the electoral bond to whom? If this alphanumeric unique code is disclosed for purchasers and redeemers, then that matching will become possible immediately.

Once this matching is done, could a quid pro quo be established between the purchaser and redeemer of the bond?

Once the matching is done, then it becomes very clear who gave to whom.

For example, Futures Gaming Company (Tamil Nadu-based lottery company owned by Santiago Martin which has donated Rs 1,368 crore worth of electoral bonds) seems to be the one that has given the maximum amount of bonds to political parties. But there is no way to tell whether it went to the ruling party or to any of the opposition parties, or part went to the ruling party, or part went to whichever party it went.

Now, when the unique numbers come out, it becomes clear who they gave it to.

However, to establish a quid pro quo, one can potentially see several things, like whether they got any benefits from the party that they gave money to. That is something that people (of India) will gauge.

But to finally establish that there was money paid as consideration, it would require an investigation, a proper investigation, to be able to come up with such conclusions.

There are already demands for a Supreme Court-monitored special investigation team, just like the ones constituted by the apex court to investigate 2G and Coalgate scam during UPA II.

The whole point -- and that's what even the Supreme Court said  that the reason why money is given by corporates to political parties is for a consideration, because they want a quid pro quo. So if the quid pro quo is to, let's say, get contracts which otherwise they might not have got, then that becomes like a kickback. And that would qualify as corruption.

The reality is that it therefore appears that this entire anonymous funding mechanism could potentially be a large corruption scam, which will then need to be investigated. At the end of the investigation, there might be some transactions that might appear (above suspicion), or there is no conclusive evidence of quid pro quo and there might be cases where quid pro quo can be established, or it can be established that some companies donated money to a political party only after they were raided by investigation agencies and to escape inquiry gave protection/ extortion money via electoral bonds.

All of this, then, however, needs to be investigated. That's the purpose of the justice system.

Will Indian citizens be able to figure out if these bonds were purchased by loss making companies, foreign corporates operating in India via shell companies? Or, if monies were round tripped from offshore tax havens to India to purchase these bonds? Could this link be established using these unique serial identifiers?

These links can already be established. You don't even need the unique numbers because if one looks at who has made the donations and one knows where to look for this information on every company that's registered, that is available on, let's say, the ministry of corporate affairs website, one can make out if it's a loss making company or not. You don't need the unique number to make that discovery.

So if there is, let's know, a Futures Gaming company or there is Megha Engineering (a Telangana-based form that donated Rs 960 crore worth of electoral bonds), then people can just find out whether they're loss making or profit making companies. That doesn't require a unique number of the bond.

Again, whether these are shell companies is also something that can be found out by finding the date of the setting up of that company. So if they were just fly-by-night operators, you would know that they came up shortly before (making the donations via electoral bonds) or they really don't have any transactions that will be available information in the public domain in many cases. That's the kind of information that people already can find out. It will require some probing by citizens on publicly available data and that they will know already.

But what is not available right now is who this loss making company gave the money to or who did the shell company give the money to? Was it to the BJP or the Congress or the TMC? That is what is not available right now. These details will come to light only when these alphanumeric unique identifiers are disclosed.

There are a lot of conversations happening across WhatsApp groups, across social media circles asking how does it impact one? How does it affect me as a voter? Did it put me at a loss? Is the public exchequer at a loss because of these anonymous, political donations? How would you build a case around that?

How this works basically is that, and this is something that the Supreme Court has noted, is that we are talking about lack of information to a voter. This is about violation of Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, which is what the Supreme Court has talked about while declaring electoral bonds unconstitutional (in its judgment dated February 15, 2024).

What they've said essentially is that as a voter, when I go to vote -- and in India, we know that people generally vote for parties. They don't vote for candidates -- I should know who funds the political party who I am voting for.

When I go to vote, I should have a right to know the various political parties that are in the fray, where they are getting their funds from because they (the political parties) are likely to work for people who fund them. It's a violation of people's and voters (fundamental) right to know and they can't cast an informed vote if they don't know who's funding which political parties. This was a very big loss, clearly.

The other thing which we need to discuss here is the possibility of a quid pro quo, which is really the most significant big ticket form of corruption in India right now.

In any country, one of the most egregious forms of corruption, big ticket corruption, is when money is given to political parties and especially the ruling party, which forms the government to make policies, laws and then for it (the ruling party) to give out projects not in public interest, but in the interest of some corporate or some company or industry or industrialists.

This would totally qualify -- if it were happening -- as corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act, for example. This is certainly something which impacts every citizen of the country.

What is the Supreme Court judgment saying? It's basically saying that this form of corruption is actually clientelism because the companies that are giving the money are acting like clients of the political party, which is then going on to form the government and then, for example, if there are laws that are made which are considered anti-farmer, anti-poor but are actually made to favour some corporate interests, then what can be worse for people? That's something that really harms public interest.

Will this electoral bond scam stick on Narendra Modi led BJP just like the 2G or coalgate scam stuck on UPA II under Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh? Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi face electoral backlash because of the alleged electoral bond scheme scam?

The Supreme Court judgment itself (of February 15, 2024 that struck down the electoral bond scheme as unconstitutional), in many senses, is the biggest indictment (of the Narendra Modi government) because what the court is saying is that this kind of anonymous funding by corporates is done basically for them to gain benefit, especially when loss making companies are giving money and shell companies are being used, to funnel money into political parties. This is basically a way of giving kickbacks, of corruption.

So, yes, potentially one can say that this appears to be a very large scam which is also being corroborated by some of the data that is coming out in terms of the companies that were making the donations, which had probes going on against them, and they sort of gave the donations while the probes were happening or they were getting very large contracts around the time that they were making electoral bond payments.

But like I said, that for it to be established, one would need an independent and unbiased investigation, one which is not controlled by any political party, including the ruling party.

If that happens and the facts come out, then only then will we be able to establish the corruption and the extent of the scam.

Would you be surprised if names of Chinese companies, Israeli companies, Russian companies were to figure out in the list of donors to the Bharatiya Janata Party?

I would just say that, look, many things are possible.

We've had an amendment to the FCRA law (under the electoral bond scheme) which has allowed Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies to put money into our political parties. Now, because they (Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies) could have bought bonds, one doesn't know how many of these companies that have given the bonds. One doesn't know whose subsidiaries they are. It will have to be established.

There might be some shell companies which might have been set up, but something like this can only be in the realm of conjecture today, and it would be totally inappropriate to conjecture.

We have the data now in front of us and by Monday SBI will have to give the details of these unique serial codes. After that the data will speak for itself.
'When there was no crime committed, everything had to be fabricated.'

'They see it as a war, and everything is fair in love and war.'

IMAGE: Prashant Rahi. Photograph: Kind courtesy Jyoti Punwani

Prashant Rahi, acquitted on March 6 along with Professor G N Saibaba, has spent a total of 12 years behind bars since 2007 -- despite being innocent. He was acquitted in both the UAPA cases in which he was charged with being a Maoist, the first for his participation in the movement of evacuees against the huge Tehri Dam in the newly-formed state of Uttarakhand, and the second in 2013 at Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. Yet, the 65 year-old is surprisingly free of bitterness.

In between visits to doctors arranged by daughter Shikha to check out various health problems developed in Amravati Central Jail over the last seven years, the former engineer-turned-journalist spoke to Jyoti Punwani about life behind bars.

It's been more than 48 hours since you stepped out of jail. Have you got used to freedom?

This is the third time I'm coming out of jail. For me, being free is no problem, it's those around me who may feel inconvenienced. There's a natural tendency to go back to what happened in the last seven years, so many memories... I keep talking about them.

I've noticed I've developed behavioural problems, having been inside so long. Sometimes I find it difficult to hear what people are saying.

For most of the last seven years, I was not part of life as you would know it. I had cut off myself; deliberately tried not to hear things.

"Deliberately tried not to hear things". Why?

Because of the bigotry of a few ultra-fundamentalists in jail with me, those convicted of the 2006 Mumbai train blasts and the Aurangabad arms haul case.

Some of these Islamists were a mirror image of the Hindu right. Like the latter, these also politicised their religion, but had no qualms about unholy alliances with dons who were obviously Hindutva supporters.

This time you were in the notorious Anda Cell. What was it like?

The Anda is an egg-shaped concrete enclosure built of cells alongside the interior. Amravati, with just 15 cells, is the state's smallest Anda.

Each cell has its inward wall made up of vertical iron rods and a gate that locks in the inmate from 6 pm to 7 am and 12 noon to 3 pm.

Sunlight would enter into that cage through another mesh of iron rods fitted above a rectangular compound in the Anda enclosure. The sky could only be seen through that mesh.

Vegetation and even soil is out of bounds for the inmates. Every facet thus breeds a kind of lifeless negativity, day in and day out.

It's a panopticon where every prisoner is placed constantly in the unending gaze of the other. There's no scope for privacy.

Now, they've also installed four CCTV cameras atop the inner compound, so that the officers may pry upon every single inmate right into his cell from their office.

So it's not solitary confinement?

Perhaps not as you might imagine.

Life inside the cell is solitary indeed, in comparison to common barracks. Human interaction is restricted to the confines of the Anda.

It's suffocating to interact with the same persons for years. All Anda cells have partitions because fights break out between the inmates. But the Anda Cell in Amravati was too small to be partitioned; that would have left no space for us to walk.

Could you develop a relationship with any of the inmates?

I could make friends with a Kashmiri convict there; he taught me Urdu, I taught him English.

You had experienced solitary confinement during your first prison stint in Uttarakhand?

Yes, for the greater part of my earlier four-year stint in four different Uttarakhand jails.

In my very first month at Haldwani, they'd cleared the entire solitary enclosure for me! Subsequently, while at Dehradun jail, the very city where I'd been an accredited correspondent with a national English daily, some local Hindi tabloids sensationalised my arrest and alleged that I could be freed by Maoists, leading to solitary confinement, once again, over a prolonged period.

But the seven years in the Anda were the most inhuman form of solitary confinement I've faced. The closed structure made it difficult for one's senses to function normally. Remaining sane became a challenge. Anxiety prevailed as a constant emotion.

You had to be hospitalised twice. Was that because of the poor facilities?

Actually, it was because of the specific forms of hostility that I encountered from my fellow inmates between May 2020 and February 2023. I wouldn't go along with them in their illegal deeds, hence I was attacked, and my food was also poisoned by some of them.

The first time, after I had defended myself in an attempted attack, I made a written complaint. In response, both of us had extensions in our locked-in timings for about eight months. It reduced my walking hours drastically, leading in the extreme cold of January 2021 to sciatica.

The food poisoning began in July 22. It led to severe, post-meal abdominal pain with acute diarrhoea for 10-12 or even 15 hours. I was reduced to a physical wreck.

It was finally revealed after yet another physical attack that my food was being laced with dry seeds.

How could they get access to your food?

We would fill up our plates and bowls with helpings from the meals brought in twice a day, keep them in our cells to eat later, and then go about our regular activity: walk in the compound, mingle with others. These people used that opportunity to mix the dry seeds in my food.

When this entire plot came out, a constable was suspended for a while for being in league with these inmates.

The worst phase in this illness was having to use the Indian-style toilet. I had developed acute knee pains as a result of having to lie on my back over five days and nights of sciatica. It was excruciating to squat in the toilet with that knee pain.

Finally, a folding commode chair was provided, but only after my daughter filed yet another petition. It had been bought for me a month earlier, but it wasn't given because the iron legs could could pose a security risk!

Were you tortured in custody in the Gadchiroli case, as you were the first time by the Uttarakhand police?

No, but my co-accused Hem Mishra, Pandu Narote, Mahesh Tirki were tortured badly.

The police twice threatened me with third degree, but they didn't do it. I think it's because they were flooded with thousands of protest letters about my illegal detention.

Students of IIT BHU, where I had given a couple of lectures while I was out on bail, sent letters on learning of my arrest, including to Amnesty International, following which an international call was issued and thousands of protest letters were sent from all over the world to the chief secretary, Maharashtra government, and the police department.

The IO of our case, Suhas Bawche, later admitted to the press that they had received 20,000 letters, and he was still counting. "It's good, my son is happy with the foreign stamps he's managed to get," he'd said, trying to dismiss their significance.

Only once, when I refused to give Bawche my email password, he gave me a solid blow on my jaw. He was infuriated when I told him: "Why should I let you see my email account? Are you a friend of mine?"

I must reveal here what Bawche told me when my lawyer Surendra Gadling argued in court against my second police remand. "So Gadling has come here for you? Now we're going to fix him." This was in 2013, so they had him on their list right from then. (Gadling was arrested in June 2018 in the Bhima Koregaon case.)

The judgment shows how brazenly the police broke all rules when it came to collecting the so-called evidence against all of you. What made the police so confident of getting away with this?

What else could they have done? When there was no crime committed, everything had to be fabricated.

What they did was not in response to any crime. The arrests, the entire case, was part of what they call "counter-insurgency strategy". They see it as a war, and everything is fair in love and war.

As part of this strategy, they look out for people who are vulnerable, who can be framed. I already had a case against me where I was accused of being a Maoist; so they must have kept me under surveillance. I was in Raipur when they abducted me; that's not far from Gadchiroli. Counter-insurgency operations are always conducted across states.

In my view, this particular case was instituted to divert attention from a then ongoing multi-state, independent fact-finding exercise in Gadchiroli, to probe allegations of police atrocities committed over 2012-13 as part of the said "counter-insurgency operations." Gadchiroli's operations were being touted then as an ideal at the ministry of home affairs. Our arrests and the case helped prevent a patent exposure of the same.

Attempts had been made even earlier to nab me in Benares, but having lived there when studying at IIT BHU, I knew that city too well to be caught unawares.

IMAGE: Prashant Rahi with daughter Shikha after the release from jail. Photograph: Kind courtesy Jyoti Punwani; provenance not known

Were you surprised by the conviction?

Yes, given the nature of the evidence and the testimony of the panch witness, who'd pointedly denied that I had anything incriminating on me.

In fact, I was never bothered about this case. I was more worried about my Uttarakhand case.

Interestingly, my Uttarakhand case ended in an unassailable acquittal in January 2022 at the sessions trial stage itself, whereas this Gadchiroli case acquittal could come only from the high court, that too after futile attempts by the Maharashtra government to avert it.

Even when the conviction and life-sentence was pronounced in 2017, I thought I'd be out on bail in six months, because in the pre-trial stage itself I'd got bail despite UAPA, on the grounds that the alleged seizure of incriminating documents from my possession at the time of arrest prima facie appeared false.

I'd told Vijay Tirki (sentenced to 10 years) he'd be out within two months.

But then Tirki's bail hearings kept getting adjourned. Incidentally, our bail was rejected even though the court said that no terrorist act could be ascribed to either of us.

Vijay Tirki had to wait until September 2019 to get bail from the Supreme Court, but then the Covid lockdown began, and courts started functioning only virtually. Bail was a closed chapter for me thereafter.

At the end of the sessions trial, I had been so confident of getting out that I'd carried just enough money to last me for six months. I didn't imagine that I'd have to keep borrowing money from my daughter over seven long years. I used to be so embarrassed that I would be in two minds about little things like whether I should buy a new toothpaste or soap for washing vessels.

I've read that jail authorities try to break your dignity. Could you survive with your dignity intact?

Dignity is the first casualty in jail. Every movement is watched; every chink in your armour is used by the administration, and also by your co-inmates, for those who are outright criminals acquire their dignity generally by dominating others.

Maintaining dignity was a constant battle for me. You have to wage a long and patient struggle to do so.

The only stage at which I felt my dignity violated was when I was asked by a newly-appointed superintendent, last December, to remove my old and tattered shoes while she was on her inspection round. This while I was inside my cell!

I humbly told her the unpolished floor was too rough and dust gathered easily, causing painful cracks in my soles and toes.

"Don't you remove your shoes whenever you go to a temple or to someone's house?" she asked.

I wanted to tell her I was in my own "house", but said nothing. But I didn't remove them.

After she'd walked ahead, I called an officer accompanying her and asked if it was against the Jail Manual. When he said no, I told him to tell her I would not obey her, because her order had no legal basis.

On her way out, she again made a loud remark on my shoes and then, within two hours, I got a memo for disrespecting and disobeying the superintendent, with the threat that my mulakaats and other facilities would be withdrawn if I didn't give an explanation within seven days.

I found out that such a punishment was only given to prisoners who went on a hunger strike. I wrote to my lawyer asking him to take this up, but the letter was barred.

Finally, I had to give an "explanation" that I had had no intention of disrespecting the superintendent, and henceforth would not use any footwear during officers' inspection rounds. But after that, I started wearing socks. The jailors would look at them each time, but say nothing.

IMAGE: Prashant Rahi arranging the books which he read while in jail. Photograph: Kind courtesy Jyoti Punwani

Your daughter fought a lot for you.

Shikha bore the brunt of my imprisonment. She prevailed on lawyers to redress all my grievances, and helped them all through their preparations, since the unfortunate arrest in May 2018 of my original lawyer, Surendra Gadling.

During the appeal hearing at the high court, I could see her (through video-conferencing) typing out the arguments as the lawyers argued, so as to keep a record. She had suggested to the lawyers that the court be asked for permission for us to watch the video conferencing.

It's not just the dozens of books she bought for me and had delivered; she boosted my spirits with her regular calls and visits. She had an incredible, major role in my victory.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Three people were arrested on Monday for allegedly assaulting a shopkeeper over playing loud music during azaan (Islamic call to prayer) in Bengaluru, the police said even as Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tejaswi Surya called for mass chanting of Hanuman chalisa at the spot where the incident reportedly occurred.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Karnataka unit of the BJP slammed the Congress government in the state over the incident.

The assault allegedly took place over playing Hanuman chalisa, a Hindu devotional hymn in praise of lord Hanuman, at a shop in central Bengaluru area.

However, the police said they did not find any substantial evidence to support the accusation and the complaint did not mention it.

According to the FIR, an altercation broke out between Mukesh and the gang members over loud music being played, on Sunday evening at Siddannagalli under the limits of Halasuru Gate police station.

In the purported CCTV footage, which has gone viral a group of youth is confronting the shopkeeper over playing the bhajan during azaan time. It led to a heated argument between them with one of them grabbing the shopkeeper's collar. When the victim tried to retaliate, they dragged the shopkeeper out of the shop and beat him up.

According to the police, the shopkeeper played a song on high volume during the time of Azaan, which apparently irked the youth belonging to the minority community. They went to question the shopowner, leading to an argument. One of the youths started punching Mukesh and a fight ensued between them.

Based on the complaint, a case has been registered and three men were arrested.

The FIR has been registered under 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 307 (attempt to murder) and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mukesh said, "Yesterday around 6.15 pm, I was playing a devotional song... three to four people came and threatened me that they will beat me up if I play loudly with speaker... I asked them what was the problem. They said it's our azaan time now and that such (Bhajans) should not played at this time."

"If you play like this, we will beat you. Later, one of them grabbed my collar and when I tried to resist, they thrashed me and threatened to stab me with a knife," he added.

In his reaction, Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra attacked the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government over the law and order situation in the state and urged the police to arrest the culprits.

Following incidents such as the chanting of "Pakistan Zindabad" slogans in Vidhan Soudha and a bomb explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe now a Hindu shopkeeper in Bengaluru was viciously assaulted for playing the Hanuman Chalisa.

The appeasement policies of the @INCKarnataka administration is pushing Karnataka into a radical state with absolute breakdown of law and order, he alleged in a post on X'.

Holding the chief minister and his government accountable for the attack on Hindus and Hindu establishments, he said, Siddaramaiah's 'appeasement politics' has encouraged barbarians to go on a rampage in the state.

BJP Lok Sabha candidate Tejasvi Surya visited the shopkeeper and urged Bengaluru City Commissioner B Dayananda to order an investigation in an unbiased and professional manner and apprehend all the remaining accused by Tuesday morning and serve justice in the case.

"Mukesh told me that every evening, he had a practice of playing devotional songs... Hanuman Chalisa on his speaker... Last evening while he was conducting his business, attending to his customers and playing Hanuman Chalisa, a few miscreants came to his shop, the whole of which is captured on CCTV. They had an argument with him and demanded that he switch it off and stop playing the Hanuman Chalisa," Surya told media in Bengaluru.

"When he (Mukesh) refused, he was pulled out of his store and six-seven miscreants thrashed and attacked him... He has suffered grievous injuries," he said.

Surya also gave a call to party workers to sport saffron shawls and chant Hanuman chalisa at Nagarathpet on Tuesday to protest against the incident.

He said the campaign should start at 12.30 pm on Tuesday outside Mukesh's shop and "Hanuman Chalisa" should echo in the entire area.
Former Delhi health minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain returned to Tihar Jail on Monday, hours after the Supreme Court dismissed his regular bail plea in a money laundering case, officials said.

IMAGE: Former Delhi minister and AAP leader Satyendar Jain leaves his residence for Tihar Jail after the Supreme Court rejected his bail plea in the money laundering case, in New Delhi, March 18, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

"Jain arrived at Tihar jail in the evening. He was taken to jail number 7 after the formalities of lodging him in the prison were completed," a jail official said.

The 69-year-old was medically examined before being sent to a separate cell in the prison, officials said.

Donning a green colour T-shirt and a back pain belt, Jain left his Saraswati Vihar residence in northwest Delhi around 5.45 pm to surrender at the jail.

Before leaving his house, he hugged his wife and other family members. He was accompanied by his wife and a relative in a car. Jain has two daughters. The other relatives came in another car.

The top court rejected an oral request by Jain's counsel to allow him to surrender in a week's time. The SC had on January 17 reserved its verdict on his regular bail plea.

Jain was out on interim bail granted to him by the top court on May 26, 2023 on medical grounds, after he fell in Tihar Jail's bathroom. The bail got extended from time to time. In June last year, he also underwent a spinal operation.

Jain had moved the apex court challenging the April 6, 2023 order of the Delhi High Court dismissing his regular bail application in the case.

The ED had arrested the AAP leader on May 30, 2022 on the charge of laundering money through four companies allegedly linked to him.



It had arrested Jain on the basis of a CBI FIR registered against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
One more convict in the Bilkis Bano case has moved the Supreme Court seeking a review of its January 8 verdict cancelling remission of his sentence, contending that it cannot be challenged based on the nature of the crime and "society's cry for justice".

The review plea filed by Ramesh Rupabhai Chandana said the top court erred while passing the impugned order and overruling judgment dated May 13, 2022, passed by another bench of the apex court.

IMAGE: Members of various women organisations participate in a protest against the remission of sentence granted to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case by the Gurajat government, at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Gujarat government and two of the 11 convicts have already filed a petition seeking a review of the January 8 verdict in which remission orders of all of them were cancelled and they asked to surrender.

Listing reasons for seeking a review of the verdict, the plea said the top court bench erred in its finding "on the ground that the remission order passed by the competent authority cannot be challenged on factual grounds, inter alia, the nature of the crime, impact on society and society's cry for justice after the conviction and sentence has attained finality in the eyes of law."

It said that overruling of the judgment dated May 13, 2022, passed by a coordinate of this court, which allowed the Gujarat government to grant remission as per the 1992 policy, the impugned order of January 8 was in contravention of the doctrine of Comity of Courts.

The doctrine of Comity of Courts refers to courts respecting the laws and decisions of other courts.

The plea said that in the instant case, only the trial was transferred (to Maharashtra) under "extraordinary circumstances" by way of judicial intervention and it is a fact apparent on the face of record that in the transfer petition concerned, the issue of remission was not the matter in issue.

"Hence, it is not just and fair to presume that vide the said transfer order, appropriate government as per section 432(7) CrPC also stood changed to being that of the transferee state," it said.

The plea further said the remission policies of Gujarat and Maharashtra respectively, when compared  both at the time of transfer and subsequent conviction respectively  can be said to be beneficial and prejudicial respectively.

"That is to say, since Gujarat policy laying down 14 years as criteria for becoming eligible for grant of remission is beneficial for the petitioner and on the other hand, 28 years for the same as per Maharashtra policy is prejudicial for him," it said.

Earlier, Radheyshaym Bhagwandas Shah and Rajubhai Babulal Soni, both lodged in Godhra sub-jail after the January 8 apex court verdict, filed the review plea.

On January 8, the top court quashed the remission it had granted to 11 convicts in the high-profile gang-rape case of Bilkis Bano and the killing of her seven family members while slamming the state for being "complicit" with the accused and abusing its discretion.

It ordered all the convicts, who were released prematurely on Independence Day in 2022, back to jail within two weeks.

Excoriating the Gujarat government, the apex court said it "usurped" the power of the Maharashtra government to grant remission to the convicts.

It held as nullity the May 13, 2022, judgement of another bench of the apex court, which had directed the Gujarat government to consider the remission applications of the 11 convicts in the case, saying it was obtained by "playing fraud on court".

Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train burning incident in February 2002. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed.
Some are powerful orators who grab attention with their words, others are behind-the-scenes strategists plotting victory for their parties and all are key drivers of the narrative as the country hurtles toward general elections beginning April 19.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting in Kalaburagi, March 16, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

From Narendra Modi to Asaduddin Owaisi, here are 10 key political figures who will determine the electoral discourse in ways big and small:

Narendra Modi

Seeking a third straight term, Modi is not just looking to stamp his electoral dominance on India but also chasing history with another consecutive victory equalling first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's record.

Pushing a brand of muscular nationalism entirely his own, Modi is likely to build his narrative around "Modi ki guarantee" and the march towards "Viksit Bharat (developed India)".

The 73-year-old leader is going into the elections brimming with confidence about returning to office for the third time and has already begun work on a blueprint for his next term.

Amit Shah

The undeclared 'number 2' in the cabinet, often described as the 'Chanakya' of the BJP's electoral juggernaut, will be the brain behind the Bharatiya Janata Party's political manoeuvres this poll season.

Be it abrogation of Article 370 or the CAA law, he has shepherded the government in many tricky situations as home minister. Shah, 59, will once again be seen in the avatar of a general marshalling his troops in the electoral battlefield.

Rahul Gandhi

From being the Congress president under whom the party suffered a crushing defeat in 2019, he has gone on to become what many describe as the "ideological compass" of the party. His Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra gave him a much-needed image makeover but electoral defeats in state polls have put a question mark on just how effective it was.

With his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Gandhi, 53, has again reached out to the people with Congress guarantees aimed at ensuring justice for the people. Whether that will click with the people, only time will tell.

Mallikarjun Kharge

Party worker and president, he is the dyed in the wool Congress member from Karnataka who rose through the ranks to take on the reins of the party from Sonia Gandhi in October 2022.

Kharge, 81, now faces his sternest test as he steers the Congress, which takes on a formidable BJP, and fights an existential battle with the odds heavily stacked against it.

Mamata Banerjee

Fiery and feisty, the TMC supremo kept the opposition INDIA bloc on tenterhooks over seat-sharing before finally deciding to go solo in West Bengal. Banerjee, 69, has been taking on the BJP strongly and engaging in a duel with the saffron party, which has stepped up its attack on her over the issue of alleged sexual abuse by a TMC strongman in Sandeshkhali.

Her mantra is be 'ek la chalo' when it comes to a pre-poll tie-up with opposition parties, but she seems firm on the ideological plank in her opposition to the BJP.

Nitish Kumar

Known for his survival skills to stay on at the helm in Bihar and switching sides with ease, Kumar did another volte-face ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

The 73-year-old leader's switching over to the NDA, proved to be a major jolt for the INDIA bloc. His joining hands with the BJP has dramatically altered the dynamics in Bihar and now it will be up to the people to give their judgment on his latest U-turn.

Sharad Pawar

Embattled and betrayed by his own nephew Ajit Pawar, the 83-year-old Maratha strongman is probably fighting his toughest battle at the fag end of his career.

Known for his never-say-die attitude, the shrewd and political astute 83-year-old could still prove to be a thorn in the flesh for NDA in Maharashtra as he could galvanise the Maha Vikas Aghadi to pose a stiff challenge to the BJP.

MK Stalin

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo has established his dominance in Tamil Nadu and provided stiff resistance to the BJP's forays in the southern state. Taking along the Left and the Congress, Stalin is expected to provide the much-needed electoral boost from Tamil Nadu to the opposition bloc.

Stalin, 71, is also a staunch supporter of the Gandhi family but controversial remarks by his party's leaders on the 'Sanatan Dharma' have put the INDIA bloc on the backfoot on several occasions and could hurt them in the north.

Tejashwi Yadav

The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader has again been thrust into the opposition in Bihar but his stature has gone up within the INDIA bloc. Yadav, 34, has led the opposition bloc in Bihar with gusto and is seen by many as the able heir to his father Lalu Prasad's legacy in Bihar. Whether he will be able to upset the NDA calculations and arithmetic with the chemistry he has with the people on ground will be tested in the Lok Sabha polls.

Asaduddin Owaisi

The All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief has often played the 'spoiler' for the Opposition bloc in state polls and is dubbed by some leaders as the BJP's B-team.

Owaisi, 54, has stood steadfast about his party's right to grow and contest in various parts of the country besides Telangana.

Will he upset the calculations of the opposition parties or the BJP? Owaisi as always will keep everyone guessing. The result will be out in these polls.
A total of five persons have been arrested by the police in connection with an attack on international students at the Gujarat University hostel for offering namaaz even as the varsity decided to relocate foreign students to a new wing and engage ex-servicemen to bolster security.

IMAGE: Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik at the Gujarat University boys hostel following the incident where foreign students were attacked while offering namaz by unidentified assailants during the Ramzan month, in Ahmedabad. Photograph: ANI Photo

Police, which has formed nine teams to probe and identify all the assailants, arrested three more persons -- Kshitij Pandey, Jitendra Patel, and Sahil Dudhatiya -- on Monday, adding to the initial arrests of Hitesh Mevada and Bharat Patel.

This brings the total number of arrested persons to five, police said, adding efforts were underway to nab the remaining culprits.

The incident, which involved a group assaulting students for offering prayers near the hostel block on Saturday, prompted the university to relocate foreign students to a new wing and engage ex-servicemen to bolster security.

Taking immediate measures, the government-run university has decided to transfer international students to a separate hostel designated for Non-Resident Indians within three days.

Additionally, a foreign student advisory committee has been established, along with the deployment of ex-Army personnel to fortify the hostel premises' security.

Gujarat University's Vice Chancellor, Neerja Gupta, announced the immediate replacement of the study abroad program coordinator and NRI hostel warden.

Deputy commissioner of police Tarun Duggal said a thorough probe is ongoing, employing technical surveillance and other methods to identify remaining suspects involved in the attack.

The police have registered an FIR against 20-25 unidentified assailants for various offences including rioting, voluntarily causing harm, and criminal trespass.

Two students -- one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan -- were hospitalised after the incident took place on Saturday night, the police said.

Amid these developments, the Gujarat High Court declined to intervene as a probe agency, affirming that not every incident warrants a Public Interest Litigation.

The court's stance emphasises the role of law enforcement in addressing the matter, urging legal channels for those seeking recourse on specific issues related to the incident.

"Don't substitute this court with police inspectors. Don't make us the inspector of police. We are not investigating officers," Gujarat high court Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal said.

Police commissioner GS Malik told reporters on Sunday that minister of state for home Harsh Sanghavi had held a meeting with police officers and instructed them to take strict and judicial action in the matter.

"Some 20-25 people entered the hostel premises (on Saturday night) and objected to the international students offering namaz there, asking them to do so in a mosque. They argued over the issue, assaulting them and hurling stones. They also vandalised their rooms," the police commissioner had said.

There are around 300 international students enrolled at the Gujarat University, including from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka and countries in the African continent, Malik said.

In a related development, civil society groups condemned the attack on international students and demanded strict action against the perpetrators and police personnel who allegedly failed to stop the attack.

Gujarat-based businessman and former chancellor of Hyderabad's Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Zafar Sareshwala, said he has discussed the issue with senior state government officials and expressed hope that such incidents will not recur.

Sareshwala, known for being a 'moderate' Muslim and close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, tweeted that he had taken the issue of "beating & heaping abuse to International Students" while they were offering Taraweeh (a night prayer performed during Ramadan)

"I have spoken to the highest officials in the Gujarat Government. They have assured strictest & tough action against miscreants," Sareshwala said in a post on X.

He also replied to posts on his tweet saying the students had taken permission from the authorities and that "Taraweeh in Ramadan Kareem has been going on for years", indicating that the place near the hostel block has been designated to offer namaz.

Civil rights NGO People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) said the attack on the international students was deeply concerning and demanded stern action against the perpetrators.

The state organising committee of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) also condemned the incident and demanded action against the miscreants as well as policemen who, according to the NGO, were present there but did not save the students from the attack.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday skipped the Enforcement Directorate summons in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board.

IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal arrives at Rouse Avenue Court in the Delhi Excise Policy case, in New Delhi on March 16, 2024. Photograph: Amit Sharma/ANI Photo

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also termed the summons "illegal" and accused the BJP government at the Centre of using the ED to target Kejriwal.

The ED had summoned Kejriwal for questioning on Monday 18 in a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the DJB. This is the second case registered under the anti-money laundering law in which the 55-year-old politician, also the AAP national convenor, has been summoned.

He is already facing summons for questioning in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case. Kejriwal has skipped eight summonses in this case till now, terming them illegal.

A fresh and ninth such notice in the excise policy case stipulates him to appear before an ED investigating officer on March 21.
Raising the issue of people receiving Prime Minister Narendra Modi's letter on WhatsApp seeking support in building a 'Viksit Bharat', Opposition leaders on Monday called on the Election Commission to act against what they said was a "blatant violation" of the model code of conduct.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets people as he arrives at a public event in Shivamogga, Karnataka, March 18, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tagged a post of a person raising the issue of privacy over the prime minister's letter being received by persons living abroad.

"Will the @ECISVEEP take note of such a blatant misuse of government machinery and government data to serve the partisan political interests of the ruling party?" Tharoor said on X.

Another Congress MP Manish Tewari also posted on X the WhatsApp message which had the letter attached, as received by him on his phone.

"This unsolicited WhatsApp message came at 12.09 AM today. It seems to be from @GoI_MeitY (Ministry of Electronics & IT). Is this not a blatant violation of the both Model Code of Conduct & Right to Privacy," Tewari said.

"Where did the ministry get my mobile number from? Which database are they unauthorisedly accessing?" he said.

TMC MP Saket Gokhale alleged that the people not just in India but around the world, who visited the country, have been spammed in the last two days with this 'Viksit Bharat' Whatsapp message promoting Modi and the BJP.

"WhatsApp claims the number belongs to India's IT ministry. What database was used in this? Why are messages being sent violating code of conduct?" Gokhale said.

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw must answer how his ministry is illegally running a BJP campaign using state machinery despite the code of conduct, the TMC leader said and asked if the Election Commission would act.

Last week, several BJP leaders had also shared Modi's letter to the people in which he sought their suggestions and support in building a 'Viksit Bharat', expressing confidence that they will together to take the country to great heights together.

Addressing the citizens as "dear family member", the prime minister said their partnership is at the threshold of completing a decade and the trust and support of 140 crore Indians inspires and motivates him.

"The transformation that has taken place in the lives of the people is the biggest achievement of our government over the last 10 years. These transformative outcomes are the result of the sincere efforts made by a determined government to improve the quality of life for the poor, farmers, youth and women," he said in the letter.
A local traders' body has forced Muslim shopkeepers in Dharchula to down shutters and given a call for their ouster from the Uttarakhand town after two minor girls were allegedly lured by a couple of men from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.

Photograph: PTI Photo/ Rediff.com archives IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only.

The Dharchula Vyapar Sangh has cancelled the membership of 91 traders, mostly Muslims, and its members have stopped them from opening their shops over the past three days.

They have also asked landlords to oust such "outsiders".

But the administration said landlords in the town, about 90 km from district headquarter Pithoragarh, have not supported the trader organisation's call.

The two traders from Bareilly, who were arrested in February for allegedly luring the minor girls, were charged under IPC sections of 363 (kidnapping), 376 (sexual assault), 354 (use of criminal force to outrage modesty of woman) and POCSO Act, Dharchula SHO Parvez Ali said.

"We have registered an FIR against elements who forced the shop owners to shut their shops," Pithoragarh District Magistrate Reena Joshi said.

"No unlawful activity will be allowed. Traders from outside doing business in the town will be given full protection," she said.

Dharchula SDM Manjit Singh said the traders whose membership has been cancelled are being provided full security by the district administration.

The traders from outside Dharchula have kept their shops closed over the last three days but none of them has left the place, he said.

The Vyapar Sangh, which represents over 600 traders of the town, has decided to give membership only to traders from inside the state.

"The traders coming from outside are involved in criminal activities that cannot be tolerated in this sensitive border town," secretary of the traders' association Mahesh Garbiyal said.

Though the girls were rescued and the accused were arrested soon after the incident, tension has been brewing against the traders from outside doing business in the town.

A similar situation at Purola in Uttarkashi district had led to the imposition of section 144 of the CrPC in the town in June last year following tension sparked by an abortive attempt to abduct a minor Hindu girl by two men including a Muslim refused to subside.
Pakistan on Monday carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan that killed eight civilians, including three children, Afghan Taliban said, amidst a war of words between the two neighbours for a spate of recent militant attacks in restive Pakistani cities.

IMAGE: A Pakistani soldier stands guard as people arriving from Afghanistan make their way at the Friendship Gate crossing point at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border town of Chaman, Pakistan August 16, 2021. Photograph: Saeed Ali Achakzai/Reuters

A senior Afghan interim government official on Monday confirmed that strikes in the Afghanistan provinces of Paktika and Khost along the Pakistan border have taken place.

There was no immediate reaction from the Pakistani side.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson of the Afghan rulers, alleged in a statement that Pakistani aircraft had carried out the airstrikes, the Dawn newspaper reported from Kabul.

At around 3 am, Pakistani aircraft bombarded civilian homes in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan, said Afghan interim government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, claiming that all eight people killed were women and children.

Mujahid said that Pakistani planes had bombed the Laman area in Paktika's Barmal district.

Alleging that houses of common people were targeted, he said three women and three children were killed in Paktika and a house collapsed while two women were killed in Khost, where a house was destroyed as well.

The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the attacks and describes these as non-serious actions and violation of Afghanistani territory," Mujahid said.

The spokesperson asked Pakistan to stop blaming Afghanistan for its problems and failure to control violent incidents.

"Such acts can lead to dire consequences which will not be in control of Pakistan," he warned.

The strikes come a day after President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation following the killing of seven soldiers, including two officers, in a terrorist attack on a security forces' post in North Waziristan.

Offering the funeral prayers of the two officers, Zardari on Sunday said that the blood of the martyrs would not go in vain and the country would avenge the deaths.

The president said Pakistan would not hesitate to strike back if attacked by anyone at borders or inside its territory.

The Hafiz Gul Bahadar group had claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.

Security officials say that fighters of the Gul Bahadar group operate from the Afghan side of the border, mostly from Khost.

The Paktika province is located near Pakistan's South Waziristan District while Khost is situated near North Waziristan.

Pakistan's Special Representative to Afghanistan Ambassador Asif Durrani on Saturday said that an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 militants from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan have taken shelter in neighbouring Afghanistan.

If we include their families, then the number goes up to 70,000, Durrani said.

Reacting to Durrani's charge, Afghanistan has dismissed his statement, saying that Afghan soil is not allowed to be used against other countries, including Pakistan.

"We reject the presence of any ... foreign groups in Afghanistan and they are not allowed to operate on Afghan soil. In this regard, we have made our utmost effort and continue to do so. But one thing we must accept is that Afghanistan shares a very long border area with Pakistan, and there are places with rugged terrain including mountains and forests, and places that might be out of our control," Zabihullah Mujahid was quoted as saying by Tolo News on Sunday.

Durrani, who spoke at a think-tank event in Islamabad last week, said Pakistan's peace talks with the banned TTP failed in the past because the militant group was neither ready to surrender nor swear allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan.

Durrani said Pakistan had told the interim government in Kabul that the latter needed to make TTP surrender and disarm the group and detain its leadership. He clarified that TTP is the redline for Pakistan.

The TTP, which has ideological linkages with the Afghan Taliban and is also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant outfits in 2007.

The TTP's main aim is to impose its strict brand of Islam across Pakistan.

Pakistan had hoped that the Afghan Taliban after coming to power in Kabul in 2022 would stop the use of their soil against Pakistan by expelling the TTP operatives. However, Islamabad says Kabul has refused to rein in the TTP.

Meanwhile, cross-border clashes were also reported at Kurram District's Parachinar.

Malik Nazeer, a resident of the border area of Borki, told the Dawn newspaper that people on both sides of the border have started evacuating the area.
Several political parties declined to share details of electoral bond donors citing various legal provisions, while others said they received the funding instruments through "drop box" or by post without any name.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which received most of its donations from a lottery firm, reached out to its donors to seek details of the electoral bonds as demanded by the Supreme Court in 2019.

The Bharatiya Janata Party cited the amendments to the Representation of People Act, 1951 and the relevant portions of the Reserve Bank of India Act and the Income Tax Act for not revealing its donors.

"It is duly submitted that the electoral bonds were introduced with the aim of bringing only accounted-for funds in political funding while protecting the donors from any consequences, therefrom," the BJP said in its letter to the Election Commission.

The Congress shot off a letter to the State Bank of India seeking details of donors of electoral bonds, the amount, the bank account in which it was credited and the date.

The SBI responded to the Congress that the details of the electoral bonds were available with the political parties and shared the statement of the bank account which was shared with the Commission.

The Samajwadi Party shared details of bonds of relatively smaller amounts of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, but merely mentioned that 10 bonds of Rs 1 crore each were received by post without any name.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which received almost 77 percent of its funds from lottery king Santiago Martin's Future Gaming, said it had reached out to the donors of the party to get details of the donations they had made.

"The scheme also does not require the details of the donor to be furnished to the donee. ... Be that as it may, following the directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court, we contacted our donors and we were able to collect the details from them," the DMK said.

The Telugu Desam Party mentioned "not readily available" in the column for listing out the names of donors.

The Trinamool Congress said the electoral bonds were sent to the party office and were "dropped in the drop box".

The party said some bonds were sent through messengers from various persons who wished to support the party, many of whom prefer to remain anonymous.

The Nationalist Congress Party, then led by Sharad Pawar, expressed inability to furnish details of donors against each bond as the party had not maintained details or issued any receipts.

The letter by the NCP to the Election Commission said several of its office-bearers were busy with the election campaign. "Wherever possible we have indicated the name of the person through whom bonds were received by the party," the NCP said.

The Goa unit of the Congress reached out to its donor VM Salgaonkar and Brothers to get details of the electoral bonds worth Rs 30 lakh given by them to the party.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal said the details about donations worth Rs 1.5 crore were not readily available.

The Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal-United has told the Election Commission that someone delivered to its office an envelope with electoral bonds worth Rs 10 crore in 2019, which were redeemed by the party.
Stepping up its attack on the Centre over the electoral bonds issue, the Congress on Monday accused the Modi government of "hafta vasuli" (extortion) and claimed that a total of 21 firms which have faced investigations from the CBI, ED, or IT, have donated through electoral bonds.

IMAGE: Congress workers protest against the BJP over the electoral bonds issue, in Patna. Photograph: ANI Photo

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that with each passing day, more examples emerge on the true depths of the "electoral bond scam".

"Today, we zoom in on the 'Pradhan Mantri Hafta Vasuli Yojana', the second of the four channels of corruption in the Electoral Bond Scam: 1.Chanda Do, Dhandha Lo 2.Hafta Vasuli," Ramesh said in a post on X.

On November 10, 2022, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested P Sarath Chandra Reddy, the director of Aurobindo Pharma, in connection with its money laundering case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the Delhi government's liquor policy and five days later, on November 15, Aurobindo Pharma donated electoral bonds worth Rs 5 crore, he claimed.

"Navayuga Engineering Company Limited bought electoral bonds worth Rs 30 crore in April 2019, six months after it was raided by the Income Tax Department in October 2018," he said.

In the early hours of December 7, 2023, three units of Rungta Sons Pvt. Ltd. in Ramgarh were raided by the Income Tax Department and on January 11, 2024, the company purchased 50 electoral bonds worth Rs 1 crore each, Ramesh alleged

Before this, the firm only donated in April 2021, he pointed out.

"Hyderabad-based Shirdi Sai Electricals Limited faced income tax raids on December 20 2023. On January 11, 2024, the company purchased electoral bonds worth Rs 40 crore," the Congress leader claimed.

"In November 2023, Income Tax officials raided an employee of Reddy's Labs, for alleged cash transactions. Just after the raids, the company purchased electoral bonds worth Rs 31 crore, followed by Rs 21 crore in November 2023, and Rs 10 crore in January 2024, adding up to Rs 84 crore," he alleged.

"These are just key examples: a total of 21 firms who have faced investigations from the CBI, ED, or IT, have donated electoral bonds after the fact," Ramesh said.

He also alleged that the government indulged in 'Theka Lo, Rishvat Do' (get business, at a bribe) and through 'Farzi Company' (shell companies).

"Remember, the IT Department and the ED implement the Pradhan Mantri Hafta Vasuli Yojana. The State Bank of India implements the #ElectoralBondScam. And at the end of the day, all of these institutions report to the same person: the Finance Minister," Ramesh alleged.

The Congress on Sunday charged the government with engaging in "quid pro quo" for receiving electoral bonds and "conspiring" to route black money into the BJP's accounts through the scheme.

Ramesh had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were answerable on the electoral bond "scam".

Following a 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 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.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'fight against Shakti' remark sparked a controversy on Monday and drew a strong retort from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said every mother and daughter was a form of shakti for him and that he will sacrifice his life for their security.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses the Bharat Jodo Nyay Manzil - INDIA Rally, at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, March 17, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Addressing poll rallies in Telangana and Karnataka, the prime minister also said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections will be a fight between destroyers and worshippers of shakti.

As Modi seized upon Gandhi's remark made at the opposition INDIA bloc rally in Mumbai on Sunday, the Congress leader clarified that he was not talking about any religious power but the shakti of unrighteousness, corruption and falsehood.

In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi accused the prime minister of twisting his words and said he was speaking about the power of which Modi was wearing the mask.

"Modi ji does not like my words, he always tries to change their meaning by twisting them in some way or the other because he knows that I have spoken a solemn truth."

In his first rally in Jagtial in Nizamabad in Telangana after the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls schedule, Modi said the nation dedicated the success of Chandrayaan-3 last year to 'Shiv Shakti' but the opposition parties are talking about destroying shakti.

"On Sunday in Mumbai, there was an INDI alliance rally after the announcement of the schedule for elections. They announced their manifesto at Mumbai's Shivaji Park, and said their fight was against shakti. For me, every mother and every daughter is a form of shakti. Mothers and sisters, I worship you as shakti. I am Bharat Maa's pujari, he asserted.

"INDI alliance in its manifesto announced to finish, destroy Shakti. I accept their challenge. I will sacrifice my life for the security of mothers and sisters."

Gandhi in his speech at Shivaji park in Mumbai after the conclusion of his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' had said: "Our fight against Modi is not on a personal level.

Modi is a 'mask' who works for a 'Shakti' (power). He is a shallow man who doesn't have a 56-inch chest."

In Hindu religion, there is a word shakti. We are fighting against a shakti. Now the question arises: What is that shakti? As someone here said, the King's soul is in EVM. It is correct. The King's soul is in EVM. It is in every institution of Hindustan, in ED, in CBI, in the Income Tax department.

At the rally in Shivamogga in Karnataka, Modi said, "If they (INDI alliance) want to destroy shakti, then worshipping shakti is our resolve.

The prime minister said that when he heard about the fight against Shakti from Shivaji Park, he wondered how it would have hurt Shiv Sena supremo late Bal Thackeray's soul.

The prime minister noted that the remark was made at Shivaji Park where every child grows up with the mantra of Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji'.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (17th Century AD Maratha ruler) took the blessings of Goddess Tulja Bhavani and marched for the freedom of India. He was a Shakti worshipper. And at the same Shivaji Park, it was announced to eliminate Shakti, Modi said.

Modi also took a swipe at former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav Thackeray, Sena (UBT) head, who was present when Gandhi made the speech. And who were there on the dais? What would be happening to Bal Thackeray's soul? he asked.

Noting that he was a worshipper of shakti, the feminine form of God just as crores of Hindus, he said it was shakti which gave him the energy when he entered the public life.

Underlining that every woman of the country is a reflection of shakti, Modi said his government always gave preference to Nari Shakti or women power'.

Modi again referred to the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission last year and said, When Chandrayaan-3 reached where no one had ever reached before (lunar south pole), we gave that place the name Shiv-Shakti Point'.

Modi further said an attack on Shakti' means attack on women oriented programmes and Mother India.

Emergence of Shakti destroys terrorism and atrocities. Now the INDI alliance and Congress have challenged this Shakti. Every woman, daughter and sister will give a befitting reply to the Congress. They will understand what it means to challenge shakti."

Gandhi in his post on X said, "The 'Shakti' (power) that I mentioned, Modi ji is the mask of that power and we are fighting against it. It is such a power that today it has captured India's voice, India's institutions, the CBI, I-T, ED, Election Commission, the media, Indian industry and the entire constitutional structure of India in its clutches.

"I recognise that power and so does Narendra Modi ji. It is not any kind of religious power, it is the power of unrighteousness, corruption and falsehood. That's why whenever I raise my voice against it, Modi ji and his machine of lies gets upset and enraged."

In a post in Hindi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged that the prime minister is just a "master" of diverting public attention by twisting the statements of opposition leaders.

While several BJP leaders targeted Rahul Gandhi over his remark, the Congress party also hit back at Modi over his attack on the former party chief.

In a post on X, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla lashed out at Rahul Gandhi, saying it is very clear from his comments that his party is fighting against Hinduism. He has showed his "hatred" for women power and all forms of its manifestation, Poonawalla said.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said Rahul Gandhi neither understands Hindu religion nor democracy.

Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that the prime minister is upset and the entire BJP is talking baseless things after Rahul Gandhi attacked 'Asuri sahakti.

"This election is between Asuri Shakti and Daivik Shakti," the Congress national spokesperson said.
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider a plea of the Tamil Nadu government against the refusal of Governor RN Ravi to appoint senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader K Ponmudi as a minister in the state cabinet.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin presenting a book, Dravidian Model, to Governor RN Ravi during a meeting at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai, March 15, 2022. Photograph: R Senthil Kumar/PTI/Rediff archives

The governor has recently refused to re-induct the senior DMK leader and former Higher Education Minister into the state cabinet, saying it would be against constitutional morality.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the state government, there was some urgency in the matter which should be listed for hearing.

The state government has sought a direction to the governor to act as per the aid and advice of the council of ministers led by Chief Minister M K Stalin.

This is the same errant governor, who was earlier dealt with by this court. The Supreme Court stayed the conviction (of Ponmudi). The chief minister recommends his appointment. The governor writes a letter and says it is constitutionally immoral, Singhvi said.

Please send an email. I will look into the email, the CJI said.

The governor, in a letter to Stalin, said the apex court only suspended the conviction of Ponmudi by way of an interim order.

The governor refused to appoint the leader in the Stalin cabinet.

The state government has filed an interim plea in a petition relating to non-grant of assent to bills cleared by the legislative assembly.

It has referred to a constitutional scheme to buttress the submission to say that the governor is bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers.

The plea said that once the conviction was stayed, there was no legal and constitutional bar on re-induction of Ponmudi in the state cabinet.

The senior DMK leader was disqualified as an MLA under the Representation of the People Act after the Madras High Court recently reversed his acquittal in the disproportionate assets case.

The top court stayed the conviction and the sentence of the leader who was sentenced to over two year jail term.

The state government then reinstated Ponmudi as a legislator after the Supreme Court suspended his conviction in a disproportionate assets case.

The governor said the conviction and sentence have only been suspended and not set aside.
Chief of defence staff General Anil Chauhan on Monday said the unsettled borders with China and the rise of that country will remain the most formidable challenge for India and its armed forces in the foreseeable future.

IMAGE: Indian Army personnel patrol the border with China in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, February 7, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo

Speaking at the 3rd Strategic and Security Dialogue on the Rise of China and its implications for the world, General Chauhan emphasised the need for astute handling of the PLA (People's Liberation Army) at all friction points concerning the disputed borders.

General Chauhan said India has disputed borders with neighbours and these conflicts have led to the emergence of terms like the Line of Actual Control, Line of Control, and Actual Ground Position Line.

"The unsettled borders with China and the rise of China will remain the most formidable challenge that India and the Indian armed forces will face in the foreseeable future," the Chief of Defence Staff said.

He said the armed forces need to maintain the legitimacy of India's claims during peacetime on these disputed borders, which will require "very astute handling of the PLA at all the friction points, calibrated firmness, and both sides to operate within the ambit of agreed rules of engagement".

The top commander further said that like all disputed borders, there will be a tendency by the adversary to create new facts or markers, toponymy (the study of place names), cartographic aggression, or to create a new narrative.

"This again will have to be countered collectively by all of us at all levels, which includes academicians, thinkers, and strategists," the Chief of Defence Staff said.

General Chauhan referred to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's statement wherein he had said that there is more to the Sino-India relations than the border disputes.

"Similarly, in an increasingly inter-connected world, Sino-India relations cannot be viewed in a binary kind of perspective. The rise of China affects other nations as well, and we must look at like-minded nations for an equitable balance while remaining cognisant of the fact that one must be prepared to fight its own battle," the chief of defence staff said.

Speaking about the challenges related to technology, General Chauhan said as technology emerges as the new currency of power, there is a tendency of nations to deny competitors.

"Technology denial regimes existed in the past, but what we are witnessing now is a race to retain technological edge. India cannot afford the emergence of a major technological gap between us and our immediate adversaries, and that would be fatal for us," the chief of defence staff said.

He said this "battle of increasing technological gap" has to be fought not only by soldiers but also by academics, scientists, and everyone as a nation together.

General Chauhan also spoke about the challenge of rising fragility and the outcome of political, social, and economic stability in the immediate neighbourhood.

"India seems to be the only island of stability in a sea of turmoil and turbulence. Political, social, and economic instability in countries in our immediate neighbourhood make them vulnerable to foreign influence," he said.

General Chauhan further said adversaries in the past have taken advantage of this situation, thereby increasing India's vulnerability and security problems, which is a major security challenge.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said he was mocked for his 2019 assembly poll campaign punchline "I will be back" but asserted he returned to power after breaking two parties, a reference to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party.

IMAGE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis speaks during a book launch in Mumbai. Photograph: @Dev_Fadnavis/X

The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde rebelled, while the Nationalist Congress Party broke into two factions in July last year after Ajit Pawar joined the ruling alliance in the state.

Speaking at a book launch in Mumbai, Fadnavis said, "I not only came back, but returned after breaking two parties. It took two-and-half years to come back to power. I had read out a poem during the 2019 assembly poll campaign but only one line from it became popular."

"The BJP won a sizable number of seats and could have formed a government with the Shiv Sena (after 2019 assembly polls). However, Uddhav Thackeray betrayed us and we had to sit in the opposition," he said.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

A few clouds. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
The real estate sector continues to be a drag, with new home sales plunging over 29%.

Employees work on a washing machine production line at a factory for Chinese home appliances and consumer electronics company Haier in Qingdao, in eastern China's Shandong province on February 18, 2024.

Chinas economy improved in the first two months of the year buoyed by a 7% rise in industrial output despite the ongoing decline in the beleaguered real estate industry, a major economic driver.

The two-month increase in industrial output from enterprises above designated size was also a 0.2 percentage point increase from December, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday.

A 5% jump in retail sales  a gauge of consumption  also boosted growth in the worlds second-largest economy which is facing its slowest economic growth since 1990 and hamstrung by structural problems such as the property sector.

Chinas activity data broadly stabilized at the start of the year. But there are still reasons to think some of the strength could be one-off, said Louise Loo, a China economist at Oxford Economics in a note on Monday.

Consumers were buoyed temporarily by festivities-related spending at the start of the year. In the absence of decisive consumption-related stimulus this year, we think it would be difficult to sustain a robust consumer spending pace this year, Loo wrote.

Still, the numbers surpassed market expectations, according to a Reuters poll of economists, which forecast a 5% increase.

This photo taken on February 3, 2024 shows people shopping for decorations at a market ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon in Qingdao, in eastern Chinas Shandong province. (STR/AFP)

The states investment push would also have boosted overall growth. Fixed asset investments, including those in infrastructure projects, expanded 4.2% to 5.08 trillion yuan (US$706 billion) in January and February from the year-earlier period. Investments in real estate continued to be a drag as, minus property investments, the increase was 8.9%.

On the other hand, investments in property slid 9%, underlined by a 20.5% drop in the amount of newly built floor area compared with the first two months of 2023. In tandem, sales of new homes plunged 29.3% to 1.05 trillion yuan ($145.9 billion).

A view of unfinished residential buildings developed by China Evergrande Group in the outskirts of Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, China February 1, 2024. (Reuters/Tingshu Wang)

Still, Liu conceded that the worst is over.

She said industries and companies continue to suffer operational pressure due to rising costs and insufficient orders.

But she was quick to add that a new leap forward to modernize the industrial system and accelerate the development across sectors like electric vehicles, hydrogen power, new materials, life sciences and commercial spaceflight would revive growth.

It is also part of the domestic consumption drive under Chinese President Xi Jinpings latest mantra to unleash new productive forces, to buffer the structural challenges hammering economic prospects clouded by not just the real estate market crisis but also local government indebtedness and economic issues due to demographic shifts.

The consumption campaign urges industries to upgrade their equipment and citizens to trade in their old vehicles and home appliances for new ones. Granted, investments in the manufacturing sector rose 11.9%.

Policy-makers project that an over 5 trillion yuan ($694 billion) market could be created annually as industries and companies upgrade their equipment to raise development quality. A similar billion-dollar trade-in market is also expected when consumers replace old vehicles and home appliances.

From a demand perspective, the consumer market continues to recover and the potential consumption for product upgrade to unleash, said Liu Aihua, NBS spokesperson.

To support the domestic demand policy, Beijing will issue 1 trillion yuan of special long-term bonds this year, and more in the next few years.

Externally, China continues to face a complex and difficult global trade environment, even though exports edged up 10.3% in the first two months of this year, compared with the previous year.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.
An immigration consultant reports a surge in interest in emigration to the UK since the law's launch.

A protester raises his British National Overseas passport during a candlelight vigil to mark the anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, at Victoria Park in Hong Kong, June 4, 2020.

As Hong Kong authorities prepare to pass a second national security law, the British government has relaxed some of the immigration rules for people from the city seeking to emigrate to the United Kingdom amid a crackdown on dissent.

The Safeguarding National Security bill, currently before the Legislative Council, includes sentences of up to life imprisonment for treason, insurrection, sabotage and mutiny, and 20 years for espionage.

It can punish people 10 years for crimes linked to "state secrets" and "sedition," and allow the passports of anyone who flees overseas to be revoked.

The legislation is mandatory under Article 23 of its Basic Law, which has provided a constitutional framework for the city since the 1997 handover to Chinese rule.

It was recently rebooted after being shelved following mass popular protests against it in 2003, and is expected to pass this week.

Critics say the ruling Communist Party has a broad and vaguely defined interpretation of many of the crimes in the bill, and that national security charges are already being used to prosecute people for peaceful dissent and political opposition in the city.

Relaxed rules

Now, the U.K. Home Office has relaxed the rules for holders of its British National Overseas, or BNO, passport who wish to apply for a visa.

The visa offers a pathway to resettlement and eventual citizenship, making it easier for them to obtain public assistance if they run out of money, smoothing out bureaucratic bottlenecks and allowing them to bring relatives and dependent adults with them with independent visa status.

In February, the United Kingdom loosened requirements for people wanting to emigrate from Hong Kong with their partner under the BNO route to citizenship. To date, at least 191,000 people have applied to the visa program, according to government figures released in November.

A girl waves farewell to friends as she departs for a permanent move to the U.K. at the Hong Kong airport, June 30, 2021. (Vincent Yu/AP)





The moves, while not huge in scope, will likely smooth the path of many families to resettlement in the United Kingdom, an immigration consultant told RFA Cantonese.

An immigration consultant with the British advocacy group Hong Kong Aid who gave only his surname Chow for fear of reprisals said he has seen an uptick in inquiries about the BNO visa since the government announced it would fast-track the new national security law through the legislature.

"My sense is we have been getting a lot more inquiries from Hong Kong about applying for BNO visas and political asylum as the Article 23 [law] has been in process," Chow said.

"We have been getting a call every couple of days since February," he said. Public consultation on the law started on Jan. 30.

Chow said he didn't believe that the rule changes alone were enough to prompt a surge in applications.

A Hong Kong resident who moved to the United Kingdom a few months ago and who gave only the surname Cheung welcomed the rule changes. Now she plans to apply to have her elderly, dependent mother join her.

"It's definitely very beneficial, because I had been worried about this for a long time," she said. "She's very old, and this is about our family's long-term future and career development. We all think the U.K. is a better place."

Moves in Canada

Meanwhile, lawmakers in Canada are calling on the government to make sure that they continue to offer priority processing of applications from Hong Kongers wanting to emigrate to the country, and to take steps to ease bureaucratic bottlenecks for more than 100 applicants.

Parliamentarians Melissa Lantsman and Tom Kmiec said they are concerned about the effects of delays "as the human rights situation in Hong Kong continues to deteriorate and Hong Kongers look for a safe way to exit the city by immigrating to Canada."

"We would like to clarify whether priority processing is still in place as the situation in Hong Kong continues to deteriorate," they said in a letter to the immigration minister.

Aileen Calverley, co-founder and trustee of the London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch, said many Hong Kongers are being faced with delays in processing their applications to emigrate to Canada.

"It is important that the government uphold its commitment and ensure their applications are processed in a timely manner," Calverley said in a statement.

Translated with additional reporting by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
People stand in line to get visas at the embassy of Thailand in Yangon on Feb. 16, 2024, after Myanmar's junta said it would impose military service.

Tom Andrews has served as the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar since 2020. The former U.S. Congressman for Maine is the author of papers examining the militarys claim as the government of Myanmar following its February 2021 coup detat and international arms networks that enable rights violations by the junta in the Southeast Asian nation.

Ahead of a trip to the United Nations in Geneva on Tuesday, Andrews spoke with Ye Kaung Myint Maung of RFAs Burmese service about how the international community can support the people of Myanmar in the absence of a stronger stance by the UN Security Council. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

RFA: In light of the dire circumstances in Myanmar, what message would you like to convey to both the junta and the people in Myanmar?

Andrews: Well, the junta's days are numbered. They are losing ground, literally. They are losing troops. They have lost all legitimacy. They are desperate. And so the idea that they tried to create  this idea that they are inevitable  everyone now can see through this. They are declining and they will continue to decline. The people of Myanmar have shown remarkable tenacity and courage. They are truly an inspiration to me and to many others. They deserve the support of the international community.

The international community has failed to provide that support in any kind of adequate measure. So my job is to work with member states of the United Nations and with the United Nations itself to encourage much stronger support for the people of Myanmar as they step forward to reclaim their country and their future.

RFA: Many people are trying to leave the country because of the compounding impact of the armed conflict and also the fear caused by the conscription law. What do you want to say to the countries who are receiving Myanmar refugees and migrants?

Andrews: Respect the principle of non-refoulement, accept people that are coming from Myanmar into your country. Protect them, support them, care for them, respect them. People from Myanmar are not crossing the border because they want to. They're doing so because they have to. Their lives are at stake. And so it is critically important for the international community and those living right next to Myanmar to support those people who are seeking safety.

A man covers the body of an ethnic Rohingya refugee who was killed by a mortar shell fired from Myanmar at Bangladesh's Ghumdum border in Bandarban district on Feb. 5, 2024. (Tanbir Miraj/AFP)

Humanitarian aid

RFA: Were seeing the international community pressure the junta to allow humanitarian access in the country. Is there an update on the international collaboration on open access into Myanmar?

Andrews: Well, first of all, the reason that there's a humanitarian crisis in Myanmar is precisely because of the junta. Before the coup, there were about a million people who were in need of humanitarian aid. Today, there's 18.6 million people in need of humanitarian aid. That's all since the coup. So it's the junta that's driving the need for humanitarian aid, driving this desperation.

On top of all of that, they are restricting access to those who are seeking to provide humanitarian aid to those in desperate need. They're blocking roads. They're creating all these bureaucratic obstacles, requirements for travel authorizations, a variety of ways in which aid is being blocked. It's a horrific situation that's being made worse by the junta and driven by the junta.

Tom Andrews, who serves as U.N. special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, speaks with RFA in a recent interview. (Image from RFA video)

I think what the international community needs to do is look at those areas  those expanding areas, those conflict areas outside of what the junta can control  and find ways to provide greater aid, greater support to those conflict areas, using the organizations  the citizen organizations, CSOs, NGOs  that have direct access to those communities. Provide that aid, get it into their hands so that they can in turn get that aid to people inside of these conflict areas.

That's where I think a greater focus of the international community needs to be, because the growth in the need for humanitarian aid is in these areas that are under siege.

Ending support for junta

RFA: So your recent report at the United Nations highlighted Russian involvement with Myanmars military. So can you shed some light on that?

Andrews: Well, I've released two reports on how the junta is getting its weapons. And the report that you're referring to, what I call the billion dollar death trade, I released this past year. And I list the countries that are providing these weapons. Number one, as you say, Russia. Number two, China. And number three, in that report, Singapore. 138 Singapore-based entities were involved in the transfer of US$254 million worth of weapons materials into Myanmar.

Now, the bad news is I don't see much changing with respect to Russia as being the number one source of weapons. I made it clear in the report that, unlike Russia or China, there was no evidence that Singapore knew that these transfers were being made.

I'm about to head to Geneva  I'll be giving an updated report on what's been developing. And in that report, I'm going to indicate that there has been a significant reduction in the transfer of weapons materials from Singapore over the course of the last several months. So that's a very, very good sign.

RFA: With regard to the international collaboration to cut ties with the junta and to cut their resources and revenue  where are we on that?

Andrews: Well, first of all, we're nowhere when it comes to the Security Council. The Security Council has the authority to establish an arms embargo, to refer the junta  those responsible for these atrocities  to the International Criminal Court, to take these measures.

People fleeing fighting between the Myanmar military and ethnic armies shelter on the Thai side of the Moei river, in Mae Sot district on April 7, 2023. (AFP)

Because they're unable or unwilling to do so, because of the lack of political will, it leaves it up to member states who care about human rights in Myanmar, who want to stand with the people of Myanmar, to do it themselves.

Now, the good news is many [member states] have been doing so. And I've been reporting on arms embargoes, the freezing of assets, the fact that countries like the United States and now Australia are sanctioning banks. These are all positive steps to continue to weaken the junta's capacity to commit its violence. The problem is they're not being done in a strategic, coordinated way.

And what I'll be recommending  in Geneva is that those countries who support pressuring the junta need to build a network, a coalition, if you will. Sit down and identify together what are the points in which we think we can be most effective in undermining the capacity of the junta to continue its violence. Target those points of vulnerability of the junta, and then coordinate actions, all the sanctions and other types of actions, to those points and then work together to enforce those sanctions. I think that kind of coordinated approach is necessary, particularly because the Security Council is not going to take those actions.

Onus on member states

RFA: What can we expect from the upcoming U.N. General Assembly and U.N. Security Council meeting?

Andrews: I'm an optimist by nature. The U.N. General Assembly has passed resolutions that have expressed their support for human rights in Myanmar, for the people of Myanmar. They've called for member states to prevent the flow of weapons into Myanmar. The Security Council has expressed, to various degrees, support for the people of Myanmar and called for a cessation of violence.

Myanmar junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing and his team inspect weapons and equipment at the Higher Military Command School in Novosibirsk, Russia, July 16, 2022. (Myanmar military)

But those are words. It's not action. And what the people of Myanmar desperately need right now are not more words from member states or from politicians, but some action to back those words up.

That action is going to have to come from individual member states working together in coordination to cut off the weapons that the junta needs, cut off the money that they're going to need and to support the humanitarian needs of the people of Myanmar. That takes more than words. That takes action.

Edited by Josh Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
Abuse and lack of medical treatment have left 15 political prisoners dead since last May.

At least 15 political prisoners have died at Daik-U Prison in central Myanmar since last May, earning the prison in a remote area of Bago region a notorious reputation for abuse and neglect, aid workers and former prisoners told Radio Free Asia.

The 15 deaths include two since early February, according to sources close to family members. Those two men  64-year-old Khin Soe and 68-year-old Aye Win  were serving long-term sentences and didnt have access to health care at the prison, the sources told Radio Free Asia.

Aye Win died on Feb. 9 and had been serving an eight-year sentence that included a conviction under Section 505 (a), which was added to the penal code after the Feb. 1, 2021, military coup detat to punish comments or implications that the coup or the military is illegitimate. The cause of his death was unknown.

Junta authorities arrested Khin Soe when they were unable to capture his son, a person close to the family said. His health had worsened in the months before his March 6 death, the family friend said.

Daik-U Central Prison in Bago region is seen in this undated photo. (Citizen journalist)





We couldnt do anything, the friend said. One of my friends advised us to voice the lack of medical treatment for him through the news media. But we were afraid his family would be made to suffer if we did.

The juntas Ministry of Information on Saturday said Khin Soe died from a longtime stomach illness while being transferred from the prisons hospital to the Daik-U township Peoples Hospital. It denied that the prison lacks medical treatment.

Abruptly changed

Daik-U Prison was built to hold about 1,000 inmates. The first set of prisoners were transferred into the facility in 2017 during a time when the country was led by a civilian government.

After the 2021 coup, prison authorities stopped providing adequate treatment and refused to allow inmates to receive shipments of medicine from outside the prison, former inmates told RFA.

Former prisoners also said that political inmates suffered physically from frequent interrogation sessions and were malnourished from not getting enough food and water.

They also werent allowed to do physical exercise because authorities suspected the exercises would help prisoners flee.

Daik-U Prison has earned a reputation since the coup for being particularly harsh, said Thaik Tun Oo, a member of the Leading Committee for Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar, or PPNM.

The situation has abruptly changed, he said. The prisoners are being kept in a strict and oppressive manner.

A legal expert in Yangon said the prison is being run in an illegal manner, and should be examined by government officials.

This type of repression on political prisoners is also not acceptable in terms of social justice, he said.

RFA contacted Naing Win, deputy director general of the juntas Prisons Department, for his comment on the deaths at Daik-U Prison, but he didnt answer his phone.

In 2023, a total of 34 political prisoners died in prisons nationwide. Among them, 18 were killed in prison and 16 died after not receiving full medical treatment, according to PPNM.

As of March 14, some 26,242 people have been arrested for political reasons since the coup, according to a report from the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners. Nearly 9,000 of those arrestees are currently serving prison terms, the group said.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
Fighting, blocked roads and poor economy have all contributed to a 87% drop in high school exam-takers.

Students wait to take the high school matriculation exam in Botahtaung township in Myanmar's Yangon region, March 11, 2024.

The number of high school students registered to take a key exam in Myanmar has plummeted nearly 87% from the academic year before the military took control in a February 2021 coup detat, showing the devastating impact of war on education.

This year, more than 146,500 students registered for the military-administered university entrance examination held at 841 test centers across the nation and abroad, according to a March 13 report by Global New Light of Myanmar, an online news outlet, citing Ministry of Education figures.

During the 2019-20 academic year, when the civilian-led National League for Democracy was still in power, nearly 970,800 students registered for the test, also called the matriculation examination, a benchmark for the countrys educated workforce for decades.

About 128,725 students out of those who registered sat for the English subject test on March 12, the second day of the exam period, which runs Mar. 11-19, though nearly 17,800 others didnt show up for the exam, the report said.

Under a new education system curriculum, students complete separate tests in several subjects, including Burmese, English, mathematics, chemistry, geography, physics, history, biology, economics and social science.

Conscription law

The development comes amid an exodus of young people following the ruling juntas announcement of a conscription law in February to increase military manpower in the face of numerous battlefield defeats and large-scale surrenders in recent months during Myanmars civil war.

Young people are applying for visas to go to Thailand or contemplating becoming monks, as the junta looks to recruit up to 50,000 men and women this year, Radio Free Asia reported earlier.

When RFA contacted Kyaw Swar Thwin, director general of the Department of Basic Education and a member of the juntas press team, for comment, he claimed to have no knowledge of the current absentee test-taker situation.

But parents and teachers said fighting between the military and rebel forces has kept students away from the exams, while others point to the sluggish economy.

Test administrators in Kayah state, where fighting is intense, could not open exam centers.

Similarly, in Chin state, more than 1,300 registered students did not take the exam, according to a list issued by the military council.

No one dares

A parent of a student from Khaikam in the states Tedim township, told RFA that students could not sit for the university entrance exams because residents, including students and teachers, had fled with their families to escape the armed conflict.

No one dares to enter the city right now, he said, adding that those who already left have yet to return to Khaikam.

In Rakhine state, another conflict-ridden region, 18,602 youths were registered for the exam, but more than half  some 10,071  didnt show up, according to the juntas list.

The lack of security and blocked roads and waterways were key reasons, said a resident of Kyaukphyu in Rakhine. There are many people who are uncomfortable coming for exams, he said, asking not to be identified.

Those taking the exams must carry a flag with the emblem of the Ministry of Education, he said. If they dont, the junta soldiers might do something, he said. Many parents are concerned. Consequently, a significant number of people opt out of taking the exams altogether.

With the stagnating economy, some young people are prioritizing work over study, said a high school teacher in Yangons Mingaladon township.

When the parents were a little easier with the economic situation, children could continue their education, the teacher said. But some children have stopped attending school due to a lack of interest in education.

Translated by Kalyar Lwin for RFA Burmese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
A junta aerial bombardment killed and injured dozens in western Myanmar, residents told Radio Free Asia.

Most residents in Thar Dar, a predominantly Rohingya village in Myanmars Rakhine state, were sleeping when a fighter jet dropped a bomb around 1 a.m. Friday, a resident said.

Twenty-three people died on the spot and more than 30 were injured. There are piles of corpses in the village, said the man who didnt want to be named for safety reasons. Children and elderly are among the dead, covered with tarpaulin and everything. Most of those who died and were injured lost their limbs.

Thar Dar village, nearly five kilometers (three miles) north of Minbya city, was captured by the Arakan Army on Feb. 26.

The rebel group has also seized six other townships in Rakhine state, including most recently Kyaukphyu, where a large Chinese mega-project is located. The army also controls Pauktaw township in neighboring Chin state to the north.

While the Arakan Army has announced its intentions to control the states capital of Sittwe, junta troops have focused their resources on both small and large-scale attacks against civilians, which villagers have labeled a pattern of indiscriminate killings. Thar Dar village has little more than 300 houses and a population of under 2,000, residents said.

While there was no battle in the area to warrant an attack, residents told RFA the village had become a brief refuge for Rohingya fleeing nearby Sin Gyi Pyin village after it was also targeted. Rakhine state has also seen other attacks on the ethnically persecuted group, including an attack that killed an entire Rohingya family in Sittwe.

Nay San Lwin, an activist for Rohingya affairs, said that the junta continues to target Rohingya people with shooting attacks, as well as arrests for conscription.

The military council has increasingly targeted Rohingya, shooting and killing them day by day, he said. They are committing more and more war crimes every day, and they are forcibly recruiting soldiers for the fights against the AA.

RFA contacted Rakhine states junta spokesperson U Hla Thein for more information on Thar Dars aerial bombardment, but he did not pick up the phone.

Junta columns regularly shell and drop bombs on villages in Minbya, Mrauk-U, Pauktaw and Ponnagyun townships where they have already lost control, residents said.

As of March 3, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported more than 170 civilians had been killed and over 400 injured since the fighting in Rakhine state began again on Nov. 11, 2023.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.
The U.S. Air Force has outlined plans to spend US$400 million on upgrading the international airport on the Micronesian island of Yap to overcome what it says is a lack of military-capable airports in the strategically important Pacific region.

The plan is detailed in budget documents for the 2025 fiscal year and is one of the air forces largest outside-of-America appropriation requests for that year. It adds to other significant expansion of U.S. military infrastructure in the Pacific in response to Chinas increased defense spending.

Development of Yap Airport is essential because there are very few divert or contingency airfields available as potential United States defense sites in the region, according to the budget request submitted to Congress last month.

The strategic intent is to support and conduct current, emerging, and future United States Air Force training activities, and to ensure the capability to meet mission requirements in the event that access to other western Pacific locations is limited or denied, it said.

U.S. President Joe Biden earlier this month signed a budget bill that included funding for the renewal of close ties with Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and the Marshall Islands. The three countries give the United States military access to their vast ocean territories between the Philippines and Hawaii in exchange for economic assistance and the right to live and work in the U.S.

The U.S. is building an over-the-horizon radar facility in Palau that will add to its early-warning capabilities for the western Pacific and also has expanded military bases in the U.S. Pacific island territory of Guam over several years.

In the South Pacific, the U.S. envisages upgrades over several years to sea and air ports in Papua New Guinea under a defense cooperation agreement signed last year. It also plans to base nuclear-capable B-52 bombers in the far north of Australia after upgrading airport infrastructure.

Chinas annual military budget has about doubled over the past decade to $298 billion in 2022, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institutes military spending database. U.S. military spending fell over that period but remains nearly three times greater than Chinas.

Competition between China and the U.S. has been sharpest in East Asia due to possible flashpoints such as Taiwan  which China regards as a rebel province  and Beijings claims to the South China Sea that overlap with the claims of Southeast Asian nations.

The Pacific has also become a focus for the rivalry as the U.S. responds to Chinas inroads with island states over several decades. U.S. interest in the Pacific was particularly galvanized after the Solomon Islands signed a security agreement with China in 2022.

Yap, one of the four states that make up Federated States of Micronesia, comprises islands with a total area of about 100 square kilometers (39 square miles) and is known for maintaining a strong traditional culture and its giant stone money.

The airport project on Yap island, which is the largest island in the remote group, would lengthen the runway so more U.S. military aircraft can safely use it, according to the budget document. The construction work could begin in the second half of next year.

Yaps strategic location is vital to the U.S. militarys Indo-Pacific Command and the U.S. Pacific Air Force for future missions and for aircraft involved in humanitarian and disaster relief efforts in the area, it says.

An additional project planned for Yap would expand the area for aircraft parking and improve access to the runway, according to the document.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.
A letter to legislators said the extraordinary session is to discuss personnel issues.

Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong is seen ahead of a meeting with Cambodias then foreign minister Prak Sokhonn in Hanoi, Vietnam on March 21, 2023.

Updated March 18, 2024, 05:40 a.m. ET.

Vietnams parliament will hold an extraordinary session on Thursday to discuss personnel issues, according to a letter sent to legislators and seen by Reuters.

The news agency quoted Vietnamese officials and diplomats as saying the resignation of President Vo Van Thuong may be on the agenda.

Radio Free Asias call to Vietnams Ministery of Foreign Affairs to confirm details of Thursdays meeting went unanswered.

The session comes after Vietnam canceled a state visit by the Dutch King and Queen planned for March 19-22, due to unspecified internal circumstances, according to a statement from the Dutch Royal House.

President Thuong has only been in the job for a year. He was appointed in March, 2023, after a special meeting of the National Assembly two months earlier saw the sudden resignation of then president Nguyen Xuan Phuc who took responsibility for a series of major COVID scandals.

The Vietnamese presidency is largely a ceremonial role.

United States-based lawyer Le Quoc Quan told RFA extraordinary meetings of Vietnams National Assembly have become normal because of the recent turbulence in senior leadership positions.

Quan said even though state media had not reported on the meeting, social media posts led him to believe President Thuong would resign to take responsibility for a corruption case involving officials from Vinh Phuc and Quang Ngai provinces.

He said Thuongs likely replacement is Minister of Public Security To Lam.

Recently, the Ministry of Public Security has been given a lot of budget, the ministry has a lot of power, it has influenced the National Assembly to pass many laws to protect the police sector.

The Ministry of Public Security is actually consolidating its power firmly and strongly and is like [Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary] Nguyen Phu Trong's right hand to carry out the so-called anti-corruption work, or in other words, suppressing subjects that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong himself as well as the Ministry of Public Security found inappropriate, including senior leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam and activists.

Vietnam watcher and emeritus professor at the Australian Defence Force Academy, Carl Thayer said Permanent Member of the Secretariat Truong Thai Mai is another possible candidate for the presidency, which he sees as an immensely significant reshuffle.

It involves replacing one of the four pillars of Vietnams leadership (party secretary general, state president, prime minister, chairman of the National Assembly) twenty-one months in advance of the 14th national congress of the Vietnam Communist Party, he said.

The Central Committee must decide whether Thuongs replacement is a caretaker for Thuongs remaining term in office or whether Thuongs replacement will continue in office after the next party congress.

Translated by RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.

Updated to include comments from Carl Thayer.
Afghans are being pushed back, fenced out, and left to fend for themselves in the face of Taliban persecution and widespread hunger.

Hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans have been kicked out of neighboring countries and forcibly returned to Afghanistan in recent months. Millions more are slated to join them, complicating the already daunting humanitarian effort to stave off a famine.

Underscoring that Afghans are not welcome, neighboring states are rolling out the barbed wire in an attempt to keep them out.



Returnee Overload



Over the course of a year, a total of 1.5 million Afghans have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan by various countries, the Taliban said earlier this month.



Most, according to migration officials, were sent back by Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey -- for decades destinations for Afghan migrant workers as well as refugees looking to escape war and poverty. Others have been sent back from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

That number could more than double if Iran and Pakistan fully carry out their goals of deporting all undocumented Afghans, including asylum-seekers who face persecution under the Taliban and some who have not lived in their home country for decades or were born abroad.



Pakistan was initially accommodating to Afghans fleeing Taliban rule, serving as a temporary destination for many as they sought asylum in a third country.



But since October 2023, when Islamabad announced its plans to expel more than 1.7 million "undocumented foreigners," more than a half million Afghans have been forced to leave Pakistan, Abdulmatallab Haqqani, spokesman for the Talibans Refugees and Repatriations Ministry, said this week.



Some of the new arrivals are now trying to resettle in a homeland they have never stepped foot in, and most are being held in temporary tent camps set up along Afghanistan's eastern border with Pakistan, where aid groups are struggling to provide them with emergency relief.

More than half of Afghanistan's population of around 40 million faces a food security crisis that is approaching the level of a famine, according to aid and rights groups.



According to the UN's World Food Program, the situation is contributing to "a humanitarian crisis of incredible proportions" that has "grown even more complex and severe since the Taliban took control" in August 2021. The UN body warns that Afghanistan is on the brink of economic collapse, with the currency struggling and food prices on the rise.



The vast majority of the returnees aim to return to their provinces of origin, according to the International Organization for Migration Afghanistan, but many have no homes or livelihoods to return to.



The new arrivals have been welcomed in Afghanistan, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) senior public information officer Caroline Gluck told RFE/RL in written comments, but "there are limited capacities to offer them the support they need."

"The arrival of around a half million Afghans from Pakistan is putting a huge strain on already limited services -- from health to shelter, work opportunities, and schools," Gluck said.



"Many have arrived, having spent all their life in Pakistan and never having set foot in Afghanistan," Gluck added, noting that more than 23 million Afghans are in need of humanitarian aid.



Like many returnees, Abdul Basit, a migrant who recently left Pakistan and moved to Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar Province, has experienced difficulties settling back in.



Basit told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that there is no work and he and other deportees spend much of their time bouncing around from government office to government office.

The situation now promises to get even worse, with a second phase set to begin on April 15 to expel Afghan citizens from Pakistan, meaning more than 1 million Afghans could be potentially deported.



To the west, Iran is also engaged in a concerted effort to push out Afghans.



According to Iranian officials, more than 1 million undocumented Afghans have been deported in the past year. That number, too, could more than double, with Tehran saying it intends to expel half of the 5 million Afghans it estimates live in Iran.



In the meantime, Iran has taken steps to make Afghans' lives difficult on its territory, with migrants and refugees barred from living in, traveling to, or seeking employment in more than half of Iran's 31 provinces.



Amid rising resentment against Afghan migrant workers whom some Iranians accuse of stealing their jobs, parliamentary committees and officials have also discussed plans that would introduce strict punishments for renting homes or hiring undocumented foreigners.

Heydayatullah, an Afghan laborer who gave only his first name to Radio Azadi, said he was recently deported from Iran after spending only 20 days in the country.



He said that now that he is back in Afghanistan, he is unemployed and has no way of supporting his family of six.



Nasir Ahmad, a 30-year-old who was deported from Iran and has tried to settle in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif, said "there is no work in Afghanistan" and that he had depended on traveling to Iran to support his wife and children. Now, he says, he is ready to work for a pittance if only he could find employment.



Fenced Out



From all sides, Afghanistan's neighbors are taking steps to prevent Afghans from entering their territory, a situation that has led to tensions and occasional clashes.



The efforts are far-reaching, including Tajikistan calling on fellow members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to establish a "security belt" along the Afghan border to combat drug trafficking, and Turkey's construction of a 170-kilometer wall along its border with Iran that is widely seen as intended to keep Afghan migrants out.

But most of the work is being done along Afghanistan's borders with Pakistan and Iran.



In April 2023, Pakistan announced it was "98 percent" done installing fencing along its around 2,600-kilometer border with Afghanistan. Ahmed Sharif, the spokesman for the Pakistani military's media department, said the barrier was intended to prevent "terrorists" from crossing into Pakistani territory.



But the fence also reinforces Islamabad's anti-migrant position, observers suggest, and has posed difficulties for traders on both sides.



Running along the contentious Durand Line border that the Taliban does not recognize as legitimate, the fence has also left Taliban officials bristling. Having previously boasted about destroying the barbed wire fencing, the Taliban has said it will not allow the fence to be completed.



Tensions along the border have risen considerably in recent days, with Islamabad this week launching retaliatory air strikes on armed groups it says have carried out militant attacks in Pakistan and are hiding out in Afghanistan.



The Taliban, in turn, said its forces had fired at Pakistani positions in retaliation on March 17.

Iran, meanwhile, has launched its own initiative to block the paths of Afghans across its 920-kilometer border with Afghanistan.



Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said in January that the project was a "complete plan" that went beyond the erection of a wall along a porous 74-kilometer stretch of the border, stressing it is a top priority to seal gaps in the border that are being "misused."



Observers note the initiative comes after Iran accused extremist groups in Afghanistan of attacks on Iranian territory as well as following clashes between Iranian and Taliban border forces that reportedly led the Taliban to reinforce the border.



Aziz Maaraj, a former Afghan diplomat in Iran, told Radio Azadi that "Iran is installing cameras and barbed wire" to prevent smuggling and the entrance of illegal migrants, as well as to protect itself against future clashes and possible militant attacks.



Fereshta Abbasi, a researcher in the Asia division at Human Rights Watch, told RFE/RL that "definitely, Iran and Pakistan are trying to send the message to Afghans that they are not welcome."



Contributing to the problem is that the international community has been slow in living up to commitments to resettle Afghan asylum seekers and refugees who fled after the Taliban seized power. That has left thousands of Afghans who did find temporary refuge in neighboring countries as they awaited processing at the risk of having to return to the persecution and insecurity they fled.

"Some of these people who are now being forced to leave Pakistan and Iran are the ones whose lives are not safe inside Afghanistan," Abbasi said.



"The Taliban have arbitrarily detained journalists, human rights activists, former government employees, and former security officers. These people have been tortured. In some cases, they have been forced to disappear and killed," she added.



Outside countries have also been slow to deliver money, leaving the coffers of the UN's 2024 humanitarian response plan at just 3 percent of expected levels, coming after the 2023 plan was only funded by half, according to Abbasi.



"These governments are not living up to their commitments," Abassi said, adding that Afghans who worked with the previous Western-backed government or alongside Western forces are at particular risk. "They need to be reminded of the fact that they are leaving those Afghans behind who have stood by them."
Afghanistan's Taliban-led government said its border forces targeted the Pakistani military installation along its eastern border in retaliation for two air strikes that Islamabad carried out on Afghan territory that killed eight people, including three children.

The Taliban's artillery shelling on March 18 came hours after Pakistani warplanes bombed "militant hideouts" inside Afghanistan that Islamabad said belonged to Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban.



In Kurram, a western district in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, locals confirmed the Talibans shelling of the area. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.



Haji Nowroz Ali, a local tribal leader, told RFE/RLs Radio Mashaal that a gunbattle between the Taliban and Pakistani forces ensued after four rockets were fired at the border village of Kharlachi from Afghanistan.



Pro-Taliban accounts on X, formerly Twitter, shared a video they claimed showed the Taliban's attacks on Pakistani installations in what appeared to be Kharlachi.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been on the rise since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of the U.S.-led forces in August 2021. Islamabad accuses the conservative Islamist movement of harboring TTP militants on its territory and allowing them to carry out cross-border attacks in Pakistan. Afghanistan's ruling Taliban deny this.

At "around 3 a.m., Pakistani aircraft bombarded civilian homes" in Afghanistan's southeastern provinces of Khost and Paktika bordering Pakistan, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.



"Pakistan should not blame Afghanistan for the lack of control, incompetence, and problems in its own territory," Mujahid said in a statement.

He added the strikes targeted Pakistan's Barmal district of Paktika and the Spera district of Khost, killing three women and three children in Paktika, and two women in Khost.

In a March 18 statement, Pakistans Foreign Ministry defended the attacks.



"Certain elements among those in power in Afghanistan are actively patronizing the TTP and using them as a proxy against Pakistan," the statement said, adding that groups like the TTP are a collective security, which requires the two neighbors to "work toward finding joint solutions in countering terrorism and to prevent any terrorist organization from sabotaging bilateral relations."



Pakistani officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, have said that the house of Abdullah Shah, one of the TTP commanders reportedly hiding in Afghanistan, was apparently targeted in the attacks in Paktika.

But Mujahid rejected the accusation and said Shah was inside Pakistan.



"The same [Pashtun] tribe lives on both sides [of the Durand Line border]. Its members frequently move among their communities," he said in a statement.



The TTP said the strikes targeted civilians, denying Shah's house had been hit.



The group issued a video in which Shah claimed to be present in the Shawal areas of Waziristan, which borders Afghanistans Paktika and Khost Provinces.

An unconfirmed social media post said "multiple" Pakistan strikes targeted the Paktika, Khost, and Kunar regions.

The reported strikes came after seven Pakistani soldiers were killed and 17 others wounded in a militant attack that targeted a sprawling army post in the volatile North Waziristan district near the Afghan border on March 16.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, who attended the funeral of those killed in the attack on March 17, said Islamabad would give "a befitting reply to the terrorists" that perpetrated the attack.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
2 The international festival in Strumica is one of the most significant customs and traditions of its kind in North Macedonia. This year, an estimated 1,500 masked people are taking part, with participants from as far away as Turkey, Serbia, and Greece.
An emboldened Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, has changed the balance of power in the South Caucasus in recent years.

Baku reclaimed full control over Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region that for three decades had been under ethnic-Armenian control, last year.

A weakened Armenia, meanwhile, has distanced itself from its traditional ally, Russia, and looked to move closer to the West.

The geopolitical changes in the region have raised concerns in Iran, which neighbors Armenia and Azerbaijan. Tehran fears it could lose its clout in a region that has long been dominated by Moscow, an ally.

The Islamic republic strongly opposes the proposed east-west Zangezur Corridor that would connect mainland Azerbaijan to its Naxcivan exclave through Armenian territory and open a long-sought trade route to Tehran's rival, Turkey, and beyond.

Iran is also concerned Baku could forcibly seize territory in southern Armenia to create territorial continuity with Naxcivan, which would cut off Tehran from Yerevan, an ally.

Iran also opposes normalization between Armenia and Turkey, a scenario that could reduce Yerevan's dependence on Tehran and pave the way for greater Western influence in the volatile region.

"The changing dynamics in the region and the decline of Russia's relative influence pose potential challenges to Iran's long-term geopolitical and security goals in the region," said Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Cutting Iran Out

The top diplomats of Armenia and Turkey met on March 1 in the Turkish coastal city of Antalya and reiterated their nations' intention to fully normalize relations.

That meeting was viewed with apprehension by some pundits inside Iran who suggested such a move would cut Tehran out of the region.

"If Ankara's efforts to normalize relations with Yerevan are successful, leading to the establishment of the Zangezur Corridor, it could indeed marginalize Iran geopolitically," Azizi said.

The 45-kilometer-long proposed corridor, Azizi said, would "not only enhance Turkish and Azerbaijani influence by providing a direct link between the two but also bypass Iran, diminishing its role as a potential regional transit hub."

Eldar Mamedov, a Brussels-based expert on the South Caucasus, said the corridor would effectively leave Iran "excessively dependent on the goodwill of Ankara and Baku for the security of its northern borders and also for accessing transit routes [to Russia]."

Azerbaijan's increasingly cozy relations with Iran's archfoe, Israel, have fueled tensions with Tehran.

Iran is also wary that Baku's growing influence in the region could fuel "irredentist tendencies" among Iran's large ethnic Azeri population, separated from Azerbaijan by the Aras River and located primarily in Iran's East and West Azerbaijan provinces, Mamedov said.

For Armenia and Turkey to normalize relations, Yerevan and Baku first need to sign a peace agreement, according to Benyamin Poghosyan, a senior research fellow at the Applied Policy Research Institute of Armenia.

Poghosyan said Azerbaijan would only sign the deal if Armenia conceded to all of Baku's demands, including the establishment of the Zangezur Corridor.

"But I don't believe Armenia will agree to provide Azerbaijan [with an] extraterritorial corridor," he said.

Poghosyan added that Azerbaijan is unlikely to forcibly seize Armenian territory to establish the corridor given the presence of a "hard-power deterrent" like Iran.

Wary of The West?

In February, Armenia suspended its membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).

The government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has long criticized the CSTO for its "failure to respond to the security challenges" facing Armenia.

In 2020, Baku recaptured parts of Nagorno-Karabakh, a mainly ethnic-Armenian-populated region inside Azerbaijan, following a six-week war that ended with a Russian-brokered cease-fire.

In September 2023, Azerbaijan retook the rest of the territory after a lightning offensive that resulted in the full capitulation of the de facto Karabakh government.

Armenian authorities have accused Russian peacekeepers deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh after the 2020 war of failing to stop Azerbaijan's offensive last year, a claim rejected by Moscow.

Armenia on March 6 said it had requested Moscow to remove Russian border troops from the international airport in Yerevan, the latest sign of souring relations.

The moves have fueled concerns in Iran that Armenia could turn to the West to guarantee its security.

In an apparent warning, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Ashtiani on March 6 told his Armenian counterpart in Tehran that "looking for security outside the region will have the opposite effect."

"We believe that the security architecture of the region should be designed in the region; therefore, any approach by countries in the region against this policy would be in no way acceptable," Ashtiani warned Suren Papikyan.

Poghosyan said Armenia seeks to "diversify its foreign and security policy" but that it was too soon to tell whether it wants to completely pivot to the West or just strengthen relations with Western powers without abandoning Russia.

He added that Iran has made it clear to Armenia that it "would not tolerate geopolitical changes in the South Caucasus, which means not only changes [to] borders, but also changes [to the] balance of power in the region."

For all their differences, Iranian and Western interests converge on their support for Armenian sovereignty.

As such, Mamedov argued, Iran's opposition to a Western presence "may not be as rigid as it appears to be in the official rhetoric."

But it is unclear if that will lead to any collaboration.

"The overarching anti-Western stance in Iranian foreign policy and Tehran's presumed desire not to upset Moscow in the South Caucasus make such cooperation very unlikely," Azizi said.
Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods.

I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm looking at the key job vacancies in Brussels, as well as Jens Stoltenberg's last NATO report.

Brief #1: Klaus Iohannis Gets In The Mix

What You Need To Know: Four big political jobs are up for grabs in 2024: the European Commission and European Council presidencies, now occupied by Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, respectively, as well as the bloc's foreign policy chief post, held by Josep Borrell for the past five years. And then, in another part of the Belgian capital, NATO is looking for a replacement to Jens Stoltenberg as secretary-general with the Norwegian departing after a decade in the post.

Two EU summits in June, already penciled in for June 17 and June 27, featuring the 27 EU heads of state and government, will decide the three posts in closed-door negotiations. It's a complicated jigsaw in which candidates will be selected that reflect a balance of gender, political affiliation (often divided between pan-European political parties representing the center right, center left, and liberal), and geography.

The European Commission president usually hails from the political group that wins the most votes in the parliamentary elections taking place across the bloc on June 6-9. In the last four elections, this has been the center-right European People's Party (EPP), and polls indicate they're on course to win this time as well. Their lead candidate, crowned at the EPP congress in Bucharest last week, is Von der Leyen. Logic would dictate that she's a shoo-in for another five years heading the European Commission.

Deep Background: This is where outgoing Romanian President Klaus Iohannis comes into the picture. Last week, he officially announced that he wanted to become NATO secretary-general. This position is officially separated from the three EU positions. But considering that 23 out of 27 EU member states also belong to the military alliance and that the NATO secretary-general should be European, the two organizations are fishing in the same talent pool.

Sources at NATO say they want the decision to be made in April, well before the NATO Washington summit in July -- and, crucially, well before the process becomes "too entangled" in the EU's own recruitment timeline.

Only a few weeks ago, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States (known collectively as the "Quad"), as well as up to 17 other countries, largely in the West, rallied behind outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Considered a safe pair of hands with lots of experience, well-liked in Washington, and famously adept at dealing with former U.S. President Donald Trump, in Brussels, he seemed a decent, if perhaps uninspiring, pick.

Drilling Down

Iohannis's candidacy also poses a more pertinent question: Is he the "Eastern" person who will fill one of the four top vacancies? "Eastern" here is far from a coherent geographical or political concept, but it covers the countries of the former Soviet bloc or ex-Yugoslavia that joined the EU (and NATO) in the past 25 years: Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia (and, additionally for NATO, Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia).

No NATO secretary-general has ever come from any of these countries. In 2019, when the EU last picked the three heads, the eastern flank was completely overlooked. In fact, the only "Easterner" who has ever held a high position in Brussels was current Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who was president of the European Council from 2014 to 2019. So, one of the four positions on offer in 2024 should really go east.

Some arguments truly favor Iohannis. There have already been three Dutch NATO secretary-generals. The Netherlands has struggled to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense, a NATO goal for over a decade and something many Eastern European countries, including Iohannis's Romania, have managed. Rutte, while being supportive of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, is considered a "softie" on Russia. His support for Gazprom's Nordstream 2 pipeline is a case in point.

Then there is the need for unanimity. All 32 NATO allies need to be on board. Hungary has already indicated it's against Rutte, especially after countless spats between The Hague and Budapest over Hungarian rule of law. Turkey hasn't voiced a preference, but Ankara has had its own issues with Rutte, notably after Turkish efforts a few years ago to hold political rallies in the Netherlands that resulted in The Hague barring Turkish officials from arriving.

As one NATO official recently told me, "Turkey and Hungary showed with Sweden's NATO accession that they are willing to go the extra mile and more to get what they want." The question remains: Is it Iohannis they want?

The consensus among NATO officials seems to be that Rutte will carry the day. It's hard to get around "the Quad." Additionally, in some quarters, Iohannis's move appears a little desperate, and there has been annoyance expressed that the NATO selection process might now continue for months. Others were rather bemused at Iohannis's 10-point plan -- presented in Politico on March 13 -- that included things that the military alliance is already doing.

-- that included things that the military alliance is already doing. There is speculation in Brussels that Iohannis, in fact, isn't aiming for the NATO role but rather putting himself in the "shop window" for one of the three EU positions. The issue here is that he belongs to the EPP, the same as Von der Leyen. If she gets the commission presidency, it's unlikely another EPP candidate could get anything else. The center left, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), will likely finish second in the European Parliament elections and demand the European Council or the foreign policy job. The liberals (Renew) or the more conservative and euroskeptic ECR group could also stake out positions depending on the June vote.

Most of the other Easterners who might be gunning for EU jobs belong to the EPP, too. There's Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic; the Bulgarian managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva; Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski; and his Lithuanian and Latvian counterparts, Gabrielius Landsbergis and Krisjanis Karins, respectively.

Von der Leyen is widely considered a successful commission president, especially for her steadfast support for Kyiv. But some in Brussels are a little down on her: There is concern that she's made the European Commission too powerful and that she runs it with an iron fist, not letting other commissioners shine.

Then there is the issue with the European Parliament. The candidate for commission president needs to be approved by a majority of members of the house. Last time, Von der Leyen scraped by with eight votes. It might be even tighter this time. Perhaps that means it's time for a consensus candidate. And that could be Iohannis or someone else from the eastern part of Europe.

Brief #2: Stoltenberg's Last NATO Report

What You Need To Know: On March 14, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg presented his annual report for 2023, a common rite of spring in Brussels. It will be the Norwegian's last, as he is set to depart later this year (as discussed above). The report looks back at 2023, concluding it was "a challenging but successful year for the alliance," with Finland becoming member No. 31 and Sweden well on the way. (The latter became member No. 32 on March 7.)

The challenges come mainly from Russia, with the text noting that "in 2023, Moscow continued its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine, bringing violence and death to the heart of Europe while, at the same time, seeking to divide NATO." However, the text goes on: "In doing so, it underestimated both the determination of the people of Ukraine and allied unity."

Perhaps the most poignant line in the entire 172-page report underlines that, "If Putin wins, this would send a dangerous message to authoritarian leaders around the world that they can achieve their objectives through war and violence. Supporting Ukraine is not charity, it is in our own security interest."

Those words could be aimed at politicians in some NATO member states who, in recent months, have questioned why the West is supporting Kyiv both politically and militarily.

Deep Background: The big question, however, is what NATO-Ukraine relations will look like going forward. The annual report highlights the key reforms the alliance made in 2023 that have benefited ties with Ukraine. For example, the NATO-Ukraine Commission, which oversaw collaboration between Kyiv and the alliance, was upgraded to a council, meaning that Ukraine now can call a meeting at any level -- head of state, ministerial, or ambassadorial -- with its NATO counterparts.

Plus, at the Vilnius NATO summit in July 2023, it was also decided that Kyiv doesn't need the usual Membership Action Plan (MAP) to join NATO, which would make Ukraine's path toward membership a little easier. And NATO has committed both politically and financially to help Ukraine make its armed forces interoperable with NATO troops, reform its institutions, notably the Defense Ministry, and assist with the general reconstruction of the country.

But is all that enough? And can Ukraine expect anything more at the NATO summit in Washington in July?

The annual report simply notes that "allies will be in a position to extend an invitation to Ukraine to join the alliance when they agree and conditions are met." From speaking to NATO officials, I don't think this line will change much going into the July summit. The mantra from alliance officials is still: "As long as the war goes on, little will change politically."

Now that Finland and Sweden are both members, Ukraine is probably the closest country to joining. That day, however, is unlikely to come any time soon.

For the other two aspirant countries, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Georgia, the language in the report is sparse and not particularly encouraging: "Allies remain committed to supporting the eventual NATO membership of Georgia. Bosnia-Herzegovina continued its close cooperation with NATO, including through the Reform Program, without prejudice to a final decision on NATO membership."

While NATO will likely emphasize again in Washington that it remains open to new members, the summit won't be the time or the place when the alliance agrees to let them in.

Drilling Down

Perhaps the most interesting section of the report deals with China. For years, NATO has been sharpening its language toward Beijing -- and it takes it up another notch here: "China is watching our actions closely. China does not share our values, it challenges our interests, and Beijing is increasingly aligned with Moscow. We will continue to trade and engage with China, but we must manage the risks and prepare for enduring competition."

Ominously, the report warns that "as the war in Ukraine has demonstrated allies' dangerous dependence on Russian gas, NATO is working to assess potential dependence on other assertive authoritarian regimes for sustaining NATO's supply chains, technology, or infrastructure."

The report also includes the results of polls taken throughout 2023, where citizens of NATO member states were quizzed on issues related to security. Perhaps the most reassuring result for NATO is that 77 percent of respondents overall think that defense spending should either be maintained at current levels or increased. In 2022, that figure was 74 percent; in 2021, it was 70 percent.

Otherwise, there are a few small but worrying indicators for the alliance. In 2023, 73 percent of those polled in NATO countries agreed that other allies should defend their country if attacked, down from 75 percent in 2022. And in 2023, 61 percent of those polled agreed that their country should defend other allies if attacked, compared to 69 percent in 2022.

And last year, 63 percent of those polled considered Russia's invasion of Ukraine to have affected the safety and security of their country. That number was higher, at 64 percent, in 2022. And across NATO, only 22 percent of those polled worried that war will break out in their country; the biggest concern for most people (58 percent) was the high cost of living.

Perhaps the most pertinent question is whether people in NATO member states would vote to remain in the military alliance if there was a referendum. In 30 out of the 31 allied countries, a majority would opt to stay in. Montenegro is the only outlier, with only 46 percent of respondents saying they would vote "yes" to continued membership. Curiously, 100 percent -- yes, 100 percent -- of all Albanians said they would vote in favor of continued membership.

Looking Ahead

The European Commission will present a paper on March 20 on what it calls "pre-enlargement reforms and policy review." This is an internal exercise showing what the bloc needs to change in order to welcome new members from the Western Balkans and Ukraine. The briefing will be followed by various forums and debates in the future to discuss how an EU with up to 37 members would operate.

A day later, on March 21, EU leaders gather in Brussels for another EU summit. They are expected to endorse the European Commission recommendation to open accession talks with Bosnia, even though they will remain noncommittal on when the negotiations will begin. The leaders are also expected to evaluate Ukraine's and Moldova's progress toward membership; urge the European Commission to work on further sanctions against Belarus; and sign off on earmarking 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) to purchase arms for Ukraine.

That's all for this week. Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on Twitter @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org.

Until next time,

Rikard Jozwiak

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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.
By Cillian Sherlock, PA in Washington DC

A Sinn Fein-led government south of the border would pose a very high risk, but the partys powers are limited at Stormonts institutions, Leo Varadkar has said.

The Taoiseach was speaking about his warnings that a Sinn Fein government would make Ireland broke again, while also praising the return of powersharing in Northern Ireland.

Mr Varadkar has said his abiding memory from the trip was seeing the powerful appearance of NI First Minister and Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister and DUP politician Emma Little-Pengelly on stage together, which was met with rapturous applause.

Asked whether that comment meant he had changed his partys stance on ruling out going into government with Sinn Fein, Mr Varadkar said it hasnt changed our view.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly speaks as Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill (right) looks on at the Northern Ireland Bureau breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in Washington DC. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

We will co-operate with Sinn Fein and the DUP from time to time, particularly when it relates to issues to do with Northern Ireland, and that goes for all of the parties in Northern Ireland.

But a coalition with Sinn Fein for us is simply not on the agenda.

We believe their economic policies would send Ireland backwards, would make Ireland broke again.

We believe that their foreign policy would take us away from being at the heart of Europe, would weaken our friendship with a lot of other countries around the world, would risk making enemies of our friends and I just dont see how we could agree a programme for government when we fundamentally disagree on so much.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks during the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Asked about their coalition partners Fianna Fail and their economic track record, he said: We were able to agree a set of policies with Fianna Fail, when we formed the programme for government, that was in line with our economic approach and our financial approach. I dont think thatd be possible with Sinn Fein.

Asked about whether saying that Sinn Fein would make Ireland broke again is in conflict with efforts to encourage US businesses to invest in Northern Ireland, Mr Varadkar said there was a difference.

I think thered be a significant difference in having what would be a Sinn Fein-led government, he told reporters ahead of the shamrock ceremony.

US President Joe Biden speaking during the St Patricks Day brunch with Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

Bear in mind, Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland is in a devolved administration with certain limitations on their power around raising revenue, for example, and tax, and also is part of a government of four parties in which theyre not the majority.

What is at risk, what could happen potentially in the Republic of Ireland, is a Sinn Fein-led government in which they would be the dominant partners in the government and would therefore be able to set policy around foreign policy, the economy, trade, justice, and thats a very high risk for our country, I believe.
China is scheduled to release a batch of data on Monday, highlighting a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. On tap are February figures for retail sales, industrial production, fixed asset investment and unemployment.

In January, retail sales were up 7.4 percent on year, while industrial production gained 6.8 percent, FAI rose 3.0 percent and the jobless rate was 5.1 percent.

Japan will provide January numbers for core machine orders; in December, orders were up 2.7 percent on month and down 0.7 percent on year.

Singapore will see February data for non-oil domestic exports; in January, exports were up 2.3 percent on month and 16.8 percent on year.

Malaysia will release February figures for imports, exports and trade balance; in January, imports were up 18.8 percent on year, exports rose 8.7 percent and the trade surplus was MYR10.10 billion.

Hong Kong will see unemployment data for February; in January, the jobless rate was 2.9 percent.

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What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more.
China industrial production grew more than expected in the January to February period, but retail sales growth softened and property investment continued a notable decline, adding scope for policy stimulus as the government aims to achieve around 5 percent growth.

Industrial output posted an increase of 7.0 percent in the January to February period, faster than the 6.8 percent rise in December, the National Bureau of Statistics reported Monday. Output was forecast to grow moderately by 5.0 percent.



At the same time, retail sales increased 5.5 percent in the January to February period from the previous year. This was slower than the 7.4 percent increase in December, but well above economists' forecast of 5.2 percent.

Fixed asset investment expanded 4.2 percent in the first two months of the year from the prior year. Economists had forecast an increase of 3.2 percent.

Property investment registered a 9.0 percent fall, which was less severe than the 24 percent decrease in December.

The unemployment rate rose to 5.3 percent from 5.1 percent in December, data showed.

The NBS usually combines economic data of January and February to avoid distortions caused by the timing of the Lunar New Year.



Economists at Capital Economics forecast the recovery to continue over the coming months given the increase in the policy support outlined by the government.

However, the recovery may prove short-lived and achieving the government's growth target of around 5.0 percent looks challenging, economists added.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The Airports Council International has announced this year's Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards.

Nine airports have been recognized for outstanding performance across all five categories, including cleanliness, staff dedication, easy transport links and enjoyable airport journey for customers.

Those airports are Greenville-Spartanburg International in South Carolina, Gerald R. Ford International in Michigan, Rome Fiumicino in Italy, Casablanca Mohammed V International in Morocco, Izmir Adnan Menderes in Turkey, Guayaquil International in Ecuador, Salalah International in Oman, Sultan Hasanuddin International in Indonesia, and Yogyakarta International Airport in Indonesia.

8 airports are inducted into the ACI World Director General's Roll of Excellencea recognition given to airports that have won multiple ASQ awards over a five-year period in the last 10 years. The inductees are Shenzhen Baoan International Airport, Chandigarh Airport, Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, Muscat International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport, Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, and Zagreb International Airport.

ACI, the trade association of the world's airports, conducted 600,000 surveys last year in partnership with leading travel company Amadeus to collect feedback from air travellers about more than 400 participating airports in the world.

The 2023 ASQ Awards winners and the ACI World Director General's Roll of Excellence inductees will be honored at the 2024 ACI World Customer Experience Summit and Exhibition, to be held in Atlanta in September.

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Business News
Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center, have developed a new treatment for glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive type of brain cancer, which shows potential to reduce tumors in the short term.

The therapy targets two brain tumor-associated proteins instead of one, which has shown promise in reducing solid tumor growth in patients with recurrent GBM.

Two early clinical trials were conducted, which examined the safety and efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy.

In one trial, described in a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), three patients with recurrent GBM participated, who had previously undergone standard radiation and chemotherapy.

In the second trial, published in the journal Nature Medicine, six patients with recurrent glioblastoma were treated with CAR T cells. Both studies confirmed that CART-cell therapy was safe and resulted in a reduction in tumor size for all nine patients.

The patient's tumor size reductions occurred within one to two days in the Nature Medicine research, while in the NEJM study, the reductions occurred one to five days after treatment. One patient's tumor almost completely regressed after five days, while another patient's tumor decreased by 60.7% after 69 days following a single treatment.

Dr. Bryan Choi, the lead author of the NEJM study, expressed that the research "provides support for the possible impact of CAR-T cells in solid tumors, particularly in the brain." He added that it enhances the hope that significant progress can be made.

Dr. Marcela Maus, co-senior author of the NEJM study and director of the Cellular Immunology Program at the Mass General Cancer Center in Massachusetts said, "These results are exciting, but they are also just the beginning  they tell us that we are on the right track in pursuing a therapy that has the potential to change the outlook for this intractable disease."

However, the researchers stated that further data is necessary to assess the long-term effects of these treatments. Trials in larger and more diverse patient groups are needed to determine their broader applicability.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Driving Side by Side: Nissan Honda partnership, A Shared Vision

In a world of automotive legends, two names burn bright, Nissan and Honda. Two formidable brands that have offered much. And now begins a transformative journey. A feasibility study to explore the vast potential of a strategic Nissan Honda partnership. This MoU is underpinned by their shared commitment to propelling the automotive industry towards a future defined by electrified and intelligent mobility.

At its core, this collaborative effort aims at a lot. It will accelerate efforts towards carbon neutrality/electrification. And also strive towards the audacious goal of eliminating traffic-accident fatalities entirely (zero). The way forward seems acutely attuned to the pressing need to address environmental concerns. And enhance safety standards within the automotive sector.

In Sync for Change: Nissan, Hondas Strategic Move

Scope of strategic partnerships is extensive. This one covers various pivotal aspects. They range from automotive software platforms to the development of core components for electric vehicles (EVs), and complementary products. Through a synergy-driven approach, Nissan and Honda would use this opportunity to reinforce their positions as trailblazers in sustainable growth and mobility transformation.

An effort in navigating the seismic shifts reshaping the automotive industry. They will leverage their collective expertise to surmount challenges and unveil innovative solutions. A need of the hour considering the fast evolving needs of consumers worldwide. The strategic focus areas are industry hot topics. Bolstering environmental and electrification technologies, and advancing software development capabilities. Strategic thrusts would foster innovation, thereby overall consumer experience. A successful outcome would help position Nissan and Honda as vanguards of industry excellence.

Joining Forces: Nissan Honda Partnership, A Strategic Play

The understanding between Nissan and Honda is founded on a mutual belief in the necessity of combining their strengths and exploring the potential for future collaboration. Both companies recognise that in an ever-evolving automotive landscape, strategic partnerships are essential for driving innovation and addressing complex challenges. Leveraging their respective expertise, resources, and capabilities could unlock new opportunities. This in turn creates value for both companies and their stakeholders.

For success, Nissan and Honda will focus on tangible outcomes pertaining to carbon neutrality, traffic safety, and industry innovation. Initiatives will engender enduring impact not solely within the confines of their respective organisations but also across the broader automotive ecosystem.

MoU: A Fusion for Progression, Change

Makoto Uchida, president and CEO, said: It is important to prepare for the increasing pace of transformation in mobility in the mid-to-long-term, and it is significant that we have reached this agreement based on a mutual understanding that Honda and Nissan face common challenges.

Toshihiro Mibe, Honda director, president and representative executive officer, said: In this period of once-in-a-century transformation in the automotive industry, we will examine the potential for partnership between Nissan and Honda.
Top 10 motorcycles collectively sold 7,95,663 units in February 2024, marking a substantial growth of 36.42% compared to the same period last year

In the dynamic landscape of the Indian motorcycle market, February 2024 saw a significant surge in sales, with several key players making impressive strides. The top 10 motorcycles collectively accounted for a substantial portion of total sales, demonstrating their enduring popularity among consumers. After taking a look at the the top 10 two wheelers Feb 2024, lets now take a look at the top 10 motorcycles:

Top 10 Motorcycles Feb 2024 vs Feb 2023  YoY Comparison

Despite a slight dip in sales compared to the previous year, the Hero Splendor retained its crown as the best-selling motorcycle in February 2024, with 2,77,939 units sold. Making a remarkable leap, the Honda Shine secured the second spot with a staggering 301.09% increase in sales compared to February 2023, selling 1,42,763 units. This huge growth is thanks to the addition of a new entry level Shine 100 to the range.

Holding its ground firmly, the Bajaj Pulsar witnessed a commendable growth of 40.49% year-on-year, selling 1,12,544 units. Another Hero offering, the HF Deluxe, experienced a sales boost of 35.26%, selling 76,138 units in February 2024. Its affordability coupled with robust performance attributes make it a popular choice among budget-conscious buyers.

TVS Raider continues its impressive sales run. It showcased promising performance by selling 42,063 units in Feb 2024  another month where it registered over 40k sales. Its sleek design and advanced features contributed to a growth of 38.61% compared to the previous year. Raider has replaced Apache as the No 1 selling TVS motorcycle. While the TVS Apache experienced a marginal decline of 0.98% in sales, it still maintained a respectable position by selling 34,593 units.

Hero Passion witnessed a remarkable growth of 574.61%, selling 31,302 units. This spike is due to the launch of an updated version. With a growth rate of 20.04%, Bajaj Platina sold 28,718 units in February 2024. Its emphasis on comfort and efficiency resonates well with urban commuters seeking hassle-free rides. The iconic Royal Enfield Classic 350 maintained its popularity by selling 28,310 units, registering a modest growth of 3.09%. Rounding off the top 10 YoY list is the Honda Unicorn, which witnessed an astonishing growth rate of 1490.22%, selling 21,293 units.

Top 10 Motorcycles Feb 2024 vs Jan 2024  MoM Comparison

Comparing Month on Month, the total sales for the top 10 motorcycles stood at 7,95,663 units in February 2024, compared to 7,92,151 units in January 2024, reflecting a marginal increase of 0.44%. Hero Splendor witnessed a notable increase in sales, with 2,77,939 units sold in February compared to 2,55,122 units in January. This marks a growth of 8.94%. Despite a slight decrease in sales, the Honda Shine remained a popular choice among buyers, selling 1,42,763 units in February, compared to 1,45,252 units in January. Bajaj Pulsar sales declined as well MoM. It sold 1,12,544 units in February, down from 1,28,883 units in January, marking a decrease of 12.68%.

Hero HF Deluxe also experienced a slight decrease in sales, with 76,138 units sold in February compared to 78,767 units in January, reflecting a decline of 3.34%. Similarly, the TVS Raider witnessed a marginal decline in sales, selling 42,063 units in February compared to 43,331 units in January, marking a decrease of 2.93%. On the positive side, the TVS Apache recorded an increase in sales, with 34,593 units sold in February compared to 31,222 units in January, marking a growth of 10.80%.

Hero Passion saw a modest increase in sales, with 31,302 units sold in February compared to 30,042 units in January, indicating a growth of 4.19%. Facing a notable decline in sales, Bajaj Platina sold 28,718 units in February, down from 33,013 units in January, marking a decrease of 13.01%. The Royal Enfield Classic 350 experienced a marginal increase in sales, with 28,310 units sold in February compared to 28,013 units in January, representing a growth of 1.06%. Closing the list, the Honda Unicorn witnessed a significant increase in sales, selling 21,293 units in February compared to 18,506 units in January, marking a notable growth of 15.06%.
Press Release

March 18, 2024 SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA

Ratification: Bicameral Conference Committee Report

PNP Reorganization Mr. President, I have the honor of submitting for ratification the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the Disagreeing Provisions of Senate Bill No. 2449 and House Bill No. 8327 that seeks to provide organizational reforms to the Philippine National Police. Instead of reading the entire Joint Explanatory Statement of the Bicameral Conference Committee Report, may I be allowed to present the highlights of the reconciled bill and the Joint Explanation be inserted and considered read into the records: First, Mr. President, the conferees agreed to use the Senate version as the working draft; Second, as part of the mandate of the Philippine National Police Academy, we included a provision wherein, as far as practicable, the PNPA shall recruit cadets representing all provinces in the country; Third, to maximize the technical expertise of PNP officers who joined the service through lateral entry, said technical officers shall be authorized to be assigned to positions related to their technical expertise outside of the office or unit where they were accepted; Lastly, coinciding with the National Women's Month celebration, we expressly provided in the bill that the National Administrative Support Unit Women and Children Protection Group shall be headed by a female director with the rank of Police Brigadier General. Mr. President, despite the fact that I am a bit vocally challenged today, I will not pass up the opportunity to speak, if only to thank this august body as well as our counterparts at the House of Representatives. Finally, it looks like the Philippine National Police can now say: time is on their side. Today's ratification of the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the PNP Organizational Reforms Act proves, if anything, that I am not alone. I am not alone in seeing the urgency of this measure, and acting on it. Together with the Senate conferees, Senators Bong Revilla, JV Ejercito, Tol Tolentino, Allan Cayetano, Bong Go, and Senate Minority Floor Leader Senator Koko Pimentel, we believe we have crafted a measure that more faithfully reflects the needs of the PNP. Not only that, it also equips our beloved agency with the legislative imprimatur that they require in order to be more effective, more efficient, in carrying out their mandate to serve and protect. I heard something on the grapevine, Mr. President. May iilan daw na hindi na umasang gagalaw pa ang panukalang ito. Marahil akala nila mananatili na lamang na isang pangarap ang pagsasabatas ng mga kinakailangang reporma sa PNP. A pipe dream, so to speak. But today we dream no longer. This Congress and its composition has made all the difference, Mr. President. I am proud to say that we have made all the difference. Today we are even closer to turning this dream into a reality. In a manner of speaking, Mr. President, now it is all just a matter of time. MOTION: With that Mr. President, I respectfully move that we approve the Conference Committee Report on the Disagreeing Provisions of Senate Bill No. 2449 and House Bill No. 8327 as submitted. Senate President Migz Zubiri: Thank you very much, our distinguished colleague. I'd like to congratulate you for all the hard work that you've done. Pagkatapos nitong araw na ito, pirma na lang ng Pangulo ang kulang. Iyon na lang. Congratulations. Majority Leader Joel Villanueva: Mr. President, we join our distinguished colleague, the hardworking senator from Davao and Bohol, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, in moving for the approval and the ratification on the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the Disagreeing Provisions of Senate Bill No. 2449 and House Bill No. 8327 and let the text of the joint explanation be deemed read into the records of this august chamber. I so move, Mr. President. Senate President Migz Zubiri: There being no objection to the motion, the Bicameral Conference Committee Report on the Disagreeing Provisions of Senate Bill No. 2449 and House Bill No. 8327 is hereby approved and ratified. Congratulations once again to the sponsor.
YEREVAN, 18 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. After the meetings held in Tavush province , Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has disclosed some details of the discussions.

In response to the RFE/RL Armenian Services question about the meeting, Pashinyan said that the meetings had been completely video-recorded, and the video would be published, but the parts that contain secret elements would not be publicized.

The Prime Minister noted that the most important was what he said during the press conference on March 12.

I also showed here the same outline of Armenia that I showed there," Pashinyan said.

Pashinyan replied to the observation that residents of the border villages of the Tavush region are concerned about the possibility of being blockaded if the so-called enclaves are handed over to Azerbaijan.

"They told us about their concerns and we answered those questions. Our approach is that there should not be a question raised by people that remains unanswered. If it remains unanswered, it means that we do not have a solution to the question," said Nikol Pashinyan.



When asked if they had answers to the residents' questions, Pashinyan said that they had answers to some questions. Regarding some questions, I told the residents that I came not only to answer questions but also to collect those questions and put them on the government's table as an agenda, to consider their answers and return with a response. There were questions, the urgency of which I felt more profoundly and emotionally on the spot," Pashinyan noted.

The most important thing, according to him, is that the people's concerns and security, should practically be proven on the ground and substantiated by structural regulations.

Pashinyan noted that he had not felt hopelessness among people during the meetings.
An angry note left on a car parked on a public street has sparked debate about parking etiquette in quiet residential areas with some agreeing with the disgruntled author that "temporary outsiders" should think twice before parking outside other people's homes.

A local who claims she parked her car legally on Mount Street, Coogee in Sydney for two days was taken aback to find a letter left on her windscreen when she returned to her vehicle. "Please move your car. This is not a parking lot. You do not live in this street!" the note read.

"For the person who wrote this lovely messages, I do live in a Coogee?" the confused resident shared online with her local community alongside a photo of the note. "I cannot believe this is still happening in 2024."

The local woman could not believe someone had left such a note on her parked car. Source: Facebook/Google Earth

Resident labelled 'entitled' for leaving note

The street has no signs or time limits for parking which was pointed out by many. "WTF is it with crazy people who think you can't park on a public street? I get this where I work, people have driveways big enough for two or three cars but God help you if you park out the front of their place," one exclaimed.

"What street is it? I might park there and leave my parking space empty," another said as a way to get back at the "entitled" resident.

However, there were many who defended the note writer, saying they too would leave similar notes, and believe it is the car owner who is "entitled".

"I'd leave notes like this," one said. "Why should entitled temporary outsiders feel the need to park outside my house for hours at a time".

"The area has a huge problem with dumped cars, we have one at the front of ours, council will now need to sort out. You could have left a note explaining why its been left there and when you will move it," another reasoned.

Story continues

Drivers share similar angry notes from homeowners about street parking

Others responded with photos of notes left on their parked cars in Coogee and surrounding suburbs, seemingly showing a trend of angry residents monitoring the cars in the area.

"I copped this note and a slashed tyre in Randwick," one claimed alongside a photo of a note that read "You dont live here! You dont park here! Simple!"

More images of notes found on cars were shared with one saying "Do not park here you c**t," and another reading "You are beginning to take liberties, you dont live here. Park elsewhere."

Sydney's east is not the only area riddled with angry notes, with instances like this popping up across the country. One Queensland woman recently worried she would receive a parking fine after residents left a scathing note on her parked car.

"Neighbourhood watch," it was titled. "Please be mindful that you have parked in a four-hour only zone. The area is regularly policed due to airport security and you are likely to receive an infringement notice. Details have been recorded of your vehicle."

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It was a night full of surprises for one Aussie family on Saturday after a cooking mishap ended with an emergency visit from their local firies who did more than expected to make sure everyone was comforted when they left.

The resident had "decided to make a sauce with brandy" when a fire broke out in the kitchen of her Blue Haven property on the NSW Central Coast. As firefighters arrived to put out the blaze, the woman's young daughter, clearly excited by the visitors, soon found them an extra job to do.

"Once we got there and ascertained that there was no fire spread to the roof and other areas... their daughter decided to take me away into the room to see the new books she got," Doyalson Fire and Rescue Station Manager Dirk Ziekenheiner told Yahoo News.

"Which I then obviously took the opportunity to read," he added.

The parents of the little girl captured firie Dirk Ziekenheiner's 'amazing' act, as he took a moment to read to her after putting out the kitchen fire. Source: Facebook

The parents of the three-year-old snapped a picture of their daughter's interaction with the firefighter  who sat in one of her small pink chairs and read to her while she keenly listened.

Teaching young children fire safety is 'key to surviving'

Despite her young age, the three-year-old seemed well versed on what to do if a fire broke out in her home and the firefighter was impressed by the "fire safety" she already espoused.

"Obviously her parents did really well and schools pass on the message, and you know that safety messages are key to surviving a house fire, especially these days," Ziekenheiner said.

"If you don't know what to do, and you never plan for it, then you're probably behind the eight ball... this girl was amazing, she knew all those key messages which is really important."

After the image was shared online Aussies praised the firefighter for being "amazing" and commenting on how "cute" the moment was, with her mum thanking Ziekenheiner publicly.

Story continues

"Thank you again, made her night!" she wrote.

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Travellers to Bali are being warned to think twice before booking a fast boat to Indonesia's islands in the wet season after terrifying footage emerged showing a small vessel violently navigating through strong winds and rough seas.

The boat was travelling from Gilli Air, near the coast of northwest Lombok Island, back to Sanur on the mainland  a popular route among tourists  but one passenger said the three-hour journey was "absolutely horrendous"  and others agree.

The video, which was filmed last Tuesday and shared on social media on Wednesday, shows the passengers bouncing around as the Wijaya Buyuk boat ploughs through large waves during their journey across the sea. Water is seen gushing through a partially open window at the front of the vessel near the boat operator as the waves bash up against the other windows.

Passengers on board a Wijaya Buyuk fast boat from Gili Air to Sanur, on the Bali mainland, experienced rough seas and strong winds. Source: Facebook

Boat journey leaves passengers 'screaming and vomiting'

The video shocked many who said they'd planned a boat trip on their next visit to Bali, but have been made to "think again" after watching the scary scenes. Others shared their own "terrifying" experience on board a boat to one of Indonesia's many islands.

"I was in a boat yesterday going to Gili and we thought we would not make it. Lots of people cried including me, and now we gotta return to Bali, I'm so scared," one said.

"I was on the last boat off Gili Air today. I was terrified," another wrote on Wednesday. "I thought we would capsize. I cried most of the way when I wasn't physically throwing up. My advice, don't do it. I thought we were going to die".

Others agreed it was the "worst trip ever" with one admitting her journey was filled with"terrifying screams and vomit from most on board". Others deemed it their "worst nightmare" saying they'd never do it again.

Story continues

Warning against boat travel during wet season

Some said this is to be expected during the wet season which usually lasts from November to April. It's often called the "rainy season" or "monsoon season" due to its heavy storms and downpours. The monsoon season can bring "unexpected weather".

Its understood officials shut down boat services when wind speeds reach dangerous levels and the waves become too unpredictable to navigate, as reported by The Bali Sun. Many suggested taking a shorter trip to Lombok and flying from there to Bali instead or rescheduling altogether.

"Personally, I don't recommend travelling by sea when the seas are rough during the monsoon unless you are an experienced boat person," one warned.

According to the local news outlet, an extreme weather warning was issued the day after the video was shared with high wave alerts in place across Bali Province from March 14 to 16. Bali Denpasar Center for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics warned popular tourist beaches were facing tidal wave warnings with tourists urged not to enter the water until the weather calms down.

'Don't risk your life'

Meanwhile, another traveller took to Reddit to share their own terrifying ordeal. They said strong winds and rough waves caused the windows on their ferry to break while they were travelling from Bali to Lombok last week.

"After around 1.5 hours in rough waves, one of the windows suddenly burst in, and created a mess and panic among all people that were on the ferry," they said. Passengers arrived safely back at the harbour, he added.

"We decided to book some flight tickets back to Bali. And would suggest everyone else to do this. Dont risk your life!"

Another passenger travelling on board a ferry from Bali to Lombok said the windows on the boat 'suddenly burst in'. Source: Reddit

Aussies often overlook water safety in Bali

In January, a fast boat carrying passengers from the island of Nusa Penida to the port of Sanur near Denpasar, appeared to sink with people seen jumping into the water. Strong waves caused by bad weather were reportedly to blame. It comes after a group of four Aussie surfers went missing when their wooden boat sank in bad weather last year.

Adjunct Professor Hera Oktadiana at James Cook University, an expert on Indonesian tourism, says Australians often overlook water safety when assessing the dangers of a holiday to Indonesia, and while water transport safety conditions had improved, the frequency of fatal incidents continued to tarnish its reputation.

"While weather factors contribute to water transport incidents, human error and technical complications stand as the primary catalysts. The absence of proper regulations, such as operating without a licence, improper navigation tools, and inadequate boat conditions, can exacerbate the likelihood of incidents," she previously told Yahoo News Australia.

Professor Oktadiana stressed it is "crucial" for Australian travellers to make their own enquiries about safety procedures before boarding any vessel. "Unfortunately, the enforcement of safety standards, especially for sea travel, is not robust."

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A man has died after falling from a hot air balloon above a quiet residential suburb in Melbourne this morning. The balloon was airborne above Albert Street in Preston, in the city's northeast at the time of the incident, at about 7.30am.

Emergency responders were called after reports he had fallen from the balloon's basket while it hovered above the area. Police have revealed investigators are not treating the death as suspicious.

The "traumatised" passengers and pilot that were also on board will be offered counselling in the wake of the tragedy, a spokesperson for the National Commercial Hot Air Ballooning Industry and Australian Ballooning Federation confirmed.

A neighbour said his brother heard a loud bang before the sound of sirens filled the suburban street. Source: NCA Newswire

Several hot air balloons were out across Melbourne city on Monday. Source: 7 News

"Passengers and the pilot are understandably traumatised by this tragedy and the operator is arranging psychological support and counselling for all affected," the spokesperson told 9 News.

"Hot air balloon baskets are designed with safety in mind, specifically to prevent passengers from falling out accidentally or from any accidental exit. As this matter is now subject to investigations by Victoria Police, WorkSafe Victoria, Air Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) it is not appropriate to comment further."

The male victim is believed to have landed somewhere on the street beneath, which has since been cordoned off. He died at the scene.

The balloon made an emergency landing in the Yarra Bend Park shortly after the fall took place. Albert Street remains closed in both directions between Wood Street and Murray Road.

Witness hears 'loud bang'

Authorities are speaking to the other occupants in the balloon and witnesses to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, Victoria Police said in a statement. SES crews and firefighters also rushed to the scene in a major emergency response.

Power lines were strewn across the road and a white sheet was laid on the footpath. Source: NCA Newswire

Power lines were seen strewn across the road and a white sheet was laid on the footpath.

A neighbour said his brother heard a "loud bang" before the sound of sirens filled the suburban street.

Story continues

"I actually only heard the sirens, a lot of them," the neighbour told Today. "My brother heard like a loud bang, almost like something like a large item falling in your house. And it wasnt until we heard all the sirens that we came out."

A person has fallen from a hot air balloon in Melbourne this morning. Source: 9News

Motorists have been told to avoid the area and follow the directions of emergency services.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

with NCA

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Jesuit School of Theology associate dean explores the increasing tensions between progressive Catholic women and their Church

Julie Hanlon Rubios new book asks a question that resonates with many Catholic women today: Can You Be a Catholic and a Feminist?"

While earlier generations of feminists first answers to this question in the 1970s and their views are still broadly held, Rubio acknowledges a growing sense of their inadequacy. Catholic women and men still say, "Its my Church and Im not leaving," "Change will only happen if people like me stay and fight," and, "The Churchs work for social justice is more important than the issues that concern me as a feminist."

Yet in the aftermath of #MeToo and #ChurchToo, when the Church seems disconnected from struggles for racial justice and LGBTQ inclusion, Rubio contends that those answers sound increasingly insufficient. Today, tensions between Catholicism and feminism are more visible, and ties to Catholic communities are increasingly weak. Can Catholic feminism survive?

In celebration of Womens History Month and the publication of her new book, we sat down with Professor Rubio, who is also associate dean at the Jesuit School of Theology, to discuss the dilemmas, and offer paths forward as authentic Catholics and feminists.

How did this book come about, and who is your audience?

As a Catholic theologian, I began to notice that Catholic feminists were becoming rarer. For some Catholics, feminism was becoming harder to relate to, but for others feminism was a part of who they were but Catholicism was becoming harder to identify with. As I was looking more into this, I saw that this topic of Catholic feminism hadn't been seriously addressed in 20 to 30 years, and so much has happened since thenfrom the Pennsylvania grand jury report on Catholic Church sexual abuse to the Church wrestling with LGBTQ and gender identity issues. I wanted to write a book on this subject that spoke to the state of the church today.

When it comes to readers, there are some people who dont think the Church needs feminism. And then there are people who are clearly feminists who have walked out of the Church and arent interested in engaging anymore. Im writing for those people in between, and I do think its a large group.

Its important to me that the book is being really clear about What does it mean to belong? to the Catholic Church, and Why stay? Thats really the question, and the phrase I use is conscious belonging.

What does conscious belonging mean?

Conscious belonging means Im participating because I want this wisdom, I want this community, I want to participate. But that doesnt mean Im silent or uncritical, that I stop remembering that there are problems.

As Sr. Sandra Schneiders IHM (the first non-Jesuit and first female professor to be tenured at the Jesuit School of Theology) says in the book: I never thought that to belong meant that I was saying I agreed with everything. Im going to stay, and Im going to speak.

I also think of the late Sr. Thea Bowman speaking out about how the Church needed to be more welcoming to Black Catholics, and who spent years going around the country talking about that, and prophetically spoke to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops about that. She located herself within the Catholic tradition, yet she did not compromise her beliefs.

On that last point, it was really important to me to not write a white feminist book, because feminism has been guilty of being too white. I tried very hard to be inclusive of Black feminism, Latina feminism, and Asian feminism, because it gives you a more complicated view of the subject.

What else convinces you to stay in the Catholic church?

Many reasons. For instance, in chapters I write on what it means to be human, work, marriage, and sex, I try to show that while there is a lot of overlap between Catholicism and feminism, Catholic teaching is more profound than most secular theories or philosophies.

I deeply appreciate the rich body of Catholic teaching on these issues. I realize that some people think of those things as a burden. Its like all these documents that come down from Rome. But I also think that this is anchoring me. Its a vision that compels me and also obligates me, even when its challenging.

There are times when you can be in Catholic spaces and see that things are getting better. I look at Catholic universities like Santa Clara, where you see a lot of women in leadership positions, and I think about how much that has changed and how that has made a difference in the University, and thats really hopeful.

Then there are other times when the depth of the problem comes home to you. Certainly in the chapters I write on prayer, on power, on life, and on gender, there are really hard issues that make it difficult for people to hang in there. Hopefully this book gives readers strategies for dealing with those difficult issues.

You believe feminism and gender studies have helped Catholic theology become better. How so?

For example, in the chapter about gender, Im really talking about three things: the treatment of people who identify as LBGTQ, sexism and the identification of very rigid gender roles, and the issue of gender identityand all three are related. Its definitely a place where especially younger Catholics struggle with the question of how can I belong? Thats where I think feminist theology can be really helpful, because I see scholars and theologians in that space working really hard to show how the Catholic tradition can be opened up without giving away all that is wise in it.

For decades, weve had strong arguments about opening marriage to same-sex couples. People have done the hard work with Scripture and Catholic teaching to show how the tradition can stretch because of what we know now that we didnt know before about sexual orientation, and what we have seen about the goodness and fruitfulness of same-sex marriages. So in that sense, feminism and contemporary theology have moved things, and it would be difficult for me to figure out how to belong without that kind of theology.

Pope Francis has acknowledged the need to give women more decision-making power in the Church. How would you sum up his efforts so far?

Pope Francis does not seem to be interested in changing teaching on the issue of female ordination. But we have seen openings within the Synod process for the ordination of women as deacons. That seems more possible now than ever before, and at least the conversation is not being shut down.

There are also a lot of positions that Catholic priests have always occupied, but its not really necessary that a priest occupies them. Were asking the question, Why cant a woman be Secretary of this or that? And hes allowing for that. In fact, things are cracking open in terms of womens participation in various ways at the Vatican. Also, the fact that we had women participating and voting at the Synod is just huge.

I would also add that Catholic magisterial documents now use inclusive language. So before, we might have had something written about men, and now we say human beings instead, which is an important development.

Most of your JST students are men, many of them training to be priests or deacons, and likely to continue to exert the most influence in the Church. What do you hope they take from your book?

I know many of these men wrestle with this question as people who will be representatives of the Church.They ask themselves, How can I be part of this? Like their lay classmates, they see the dilemma, and thats a good thing.

What makes me hopeful is that my students are people who see that complexity that I'm talking about in the book. Its much easier to either not see the problem, or to walk away. The harder thing is to acknowledge itreally see itand yet stay, and that's what they're doing. And they're doing that with great love for their ministry.

The title of your book asks a question that weve been discussing in various ways throughout our conversation. To address the question more directly: Can You Be a Catholic and a Feminist?

Its a resounding Yes, but its complicated. I want to make sure that people understand that Im trying to hold together a real recognition of the problem of continued sexism in the Church and a deep respect for Catholic tradition as well as a joy in belonging to this church.

My profession is being a Catholic theologian. I teach this tradition every day. I think that there is great wisdom in this tradition, and I wouldnt be a theologian if I didnt think so. But Im holding both of those things together, and thats unusual; its hard for people to understand how you can do that. My fear is that people will hear one, or the other, and I want to keep saying, No, its about both.

Editors note: As part of the Jesuit School of Theologys newly-launched year of events related to the Synod, the school will host Women and Synodality: Where Can We Go From Here? on May 2-3. This in-person gathering will make space for imagining the role of women in the future of the global Church. Due to limited space, JST encourages prompt registration for those interested in attending.
A sad sight along the southeast coast of Australia stunned locals over the weekend with one admitting she'd "never seen anything like it" after noticing "thousands" of dead fish piled up and stretched along the beach.

The local woman was visiting Point Addis near Bells Beach in Victoria on Sunday when she came across the "dead or dying" fish lying lifelessly on the sand along the rock pools, while others said they too saw the same thing at other beaches along the coast.

"There's millions of them off the coast today. The water was thick with them diving this morning, and a massive school of them stretching the whole beach at Jan Juc Beach," another commented on the woman's social media post. Jan Juc is located south of Torquay, roughly 13 kilometres away from Bells.

'Thousands' of small dead fish were spotted washed up along the coast of Victoria. Source: Facebook

'Stress' and 'low tide' likely to blame, locals suggest

The baffled woman asked if "anyone knows why" so many fish suddenly washed ashore with many suggesting a "combo of low tide, swells and warm water" is likely to blame. At first, the fish were thought to be garfish or sardines, but a handful said they're likely to be anchovies which are often targeted by bigger fish.

"I think its just a natural phenomenon. Tides, currents, low tides, warm temps just a bad combo for these lil fish," one explained. "Southern anchovies, Id say they died from stress. These guys are tuna lollies and there is plenty of big schools of tuna in close at the moment," a second suggested.

"This fish usually escapes from their predators and they mostly aim to go near sea shores on a high tide but since it was low tide they unfortunately didn't make their way back to the ocean, and the water dried out that's why they're dead," a third explained.

Story continues

A local woman found the fish washed up at Point Addis (left) near Bells beach (right) in Victoria. Source: Facebook.

Experts chime in on ocean 'phenomenon'

According to Shane Roberts, general manager of aquaculture at the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), low tide and hot conditions have the potential to kill thousands. Anchovies, which often come into the shallows, can become caught in some of the gutters on very low tide, and on a hot day, the oxygen depletes quickly, he previously explained the the ABC.

Ian Tibbetts, Associate Professor at the University of Queensland, told Yahoo News Australia "this happens to bait fish all over the world".

"They look healthy apart from being dead," he said of the anchovies found washed up on Bells Beach on Sunday. "They move into the very shallow water to avoid predators  some get too close. If it was a low oxygen event, Id expect to see a mix of species."

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This entry in the Nonprofit Journal Project is part of a series of articles about how Michigan health care professionals are responding to the state's health care workforce shortage. It is made possible with funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. Mental health and social work advocates are pushing for legislative change to shift Michigan's social worker licensing process from a test-based approach to a practice-driven alternative that has proven successful in other states.The Community Mental Health Association of Michigan (CMHA), the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and deans from Michigan's graduate schools of social work are among the advocates seeking to address the shortage of licensed social work professionals and the demographic disparities in the social work workforce throughout Michigan.During testimony before the Michigan House Subcommittee, Dr. Bryan Victor, assistant professor at the Wayne State University School of Social Work , highlighted the lack of correlation between the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) social worker licensing exam and clinical practice. He stated, "Unfortunately, there is no evidence to indicate that the ASWB exams are able to serve their intended function of differentiating social workers who are able to practice safely and ethically from those who are not."We recently spoke with CMHA CEO Robert Sheehan and CMHA Policy Analyst Allie McCrum about Michigan House Bill 5184, known as the Social Work Licensure Modernization Act , which proposes to modify the licensing process.Q: What is the current process for social work licensure?McCrum: With the current process, after you graduate with your [Master of Social Work (MSW) degree] and have done your field hours, you have six years to get your license. You have to have 4,000 supervision hours  typically, you have to pay for those supervision hours. Then you can take the ASWB licensing exam, which will determine whether or not you can get licensed. It's a really intensive process. After you get licensed, you also have to have a certain amount of continuing education hours.For how much social work focuses on trying to be inclusive and culturally competent, creating this many barriers  from having to have an unpaid internship when you're getting your MSW to paying for supervision hours, then taking an exam that has no correlation with your success as a social worker, you're making it as difficult as possible to get into a field that is already underpaid.Sheehan: Maine, Minnesota, New York, Illinois, Utah all have bills that remove the examination requirement for the bachelor's- and master's-level licenses but still have the requirement for clinical licenses. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Michigan all have bills that aim to remove the examination requirement from all levels. North Dakota has passed a bill that gives their licensing board the ability to suspend, waive, or create an alternative to the ASWB licensing exam. However, they are still working on implementing that.Q: How will the proposed legislation shift the focus from a test-based approach to a practice-driven approach?McCrum: CMHA is working with NASW and deans from graduate schools of social work in the state to restructure social work licensure and get rid of the test as a requirement to get your license. The legislation has already been proposed by State Reps. Felicia Brabec [D-Pittsfield Township] and Kimberly Edwards [D-Eastpointe]. We had a hearing on that last year. We're really working at advocating for this legislation. It's become something that a lot of students are really interested in advocating for.Q: Paying for 4,000 supervision hours seems like it could be a barrier, especially for social work graduates from lower-income households. What additional help is available in meeting this requirement?McCrum: I went to work at a [community mental health agency (CMH)] where I was offered discounted hours. A lot of public sector jobs, like the CMH that I'm going to work at in Ottawa County, pay for your supervision or offer to cover it for free. It's fairly common. There are some public sector jobs that cover your supervision for you. So, there are alternative routes to that financial barrier.Q: How else is CMHA addressing the shortage of social workers in Michigan?Sheehan: Along with the NASW and Michigan's graduate school of social work deans [from across the state], we advocated for the $5 million that was put into the Michigan [fiscal year 2025] budget for the accelerated social work degree program . So, over a dozen grad schools in Michigan offer what's called an advanced standing social worker MSW degree. You can get it in one calendar year if you have a [Bachelor of Arts (BA)] in social work. But what happens is a lot of people get their BA in social work, and they can't afford grad school, so we lose them. There are a lot of BA social workers out there. This will draw them back in with a healthy stipend, $30,000 a year. They can use it to pay for room and board. They can use it to feed their kids. They can use it for tuition  whatever it takes to get through that graduate program. Then, they have to agree to work for two years in the public system. That was a huge win. We wanted $10 million, but at $5 million, that will be 150 new MSWs a year guaranteed to work in our public system.McCrum: At our February Behavioral Health Services Virtual Job Fair , we ended up having 40 employers and 80 candidates participate  and 178 completed interactions between employers and job seekers, which was really awesome. We're looking at doing another one in October.Sheehan: Some of our CMH members are paying their interns a stipend, which is a great way to pull people in. And the state has a loan repayment program for social workers, mostly for those who serve kids. We helped them publicize it and design it. They got over 1,000 applications for 300 grants in two weeks, and they're going to open it up again.McCrum: We've also partnered with the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to create a social work recruitment toolkit that has a variety of social media posts, wording for people to send out emails about positions, and encourages recruitment into social work positions from high school and college faculty.Sheehan: A couple of years ago, a workgroup put together by the state found four or five reasons why the social work workforce is dwindling. One was that folks didn't know what social workers did. We're finding this generation really cares about the common good. They really do want to make the world a better place. And social work is a pretty cool degree to get to do that.
THE SECURITY COUNCIL

Working Methods

Expected Council Action

In March, Japan is organising an open debate on the Councils working methods. Japan, the chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions (IWG), is expected to circulate a concept note ahead of the debate. It will be held under the agenda item Implementation of the note by the President of the Security Council (S/2017/507), referring to the most recent version of the comprehensive compendium of Council working methods.

Japan does not plan to have a formal outcome but will produce an analytical summary of the proposals made at the open debate. It will also pay close attention to practical suggestions from the debate in the context of an updated Note 507.

Key Recent Developments

On 5 September 2023, during the presidency of Albania, the Council held its annual open debate on its working methods. The Chair of the Informal Working Group, Ambassador Ferit Hoxha (Albania), briefed. In addition to Council members, 37 member states delivered statements. The discussion included how to ensure the full implementation of the Councils notes on working methods and their further development, including of the role of the Informal Working Group. Other topics included penholderships, the veto, meeting formats, the annual report, and the selection of subsidiary body chairs.

Council members have begun negotiating a new draft, prepared by Japan, of the compendium of Council working methods, commonly referred to as Note 507. Members have provided comments on an initial draft, and negotiations are expected to resume in April. Since the adoption of the latest Note 507 in 2017, the Council has issued 16 presidential notes on working methods. In 2023, the IWG adopted three presidential notes on: conducting a minute of silence, chairing subsidiary bodies if the chairs have not been agreed by 1 January, and penholderships. The note on penholderships was adopted on 1 December based on a Chinese draft that consolidated many elements from earlier drafts by France and the United Arab Emirates/Elected Members (E10).

The IWG met six times in 2023: on 24 February, 28 April, 27 June, 22 August, 17 November, and 22 December. This year it has met once so far, on 19 January. Since 2021, it has maintained a standing agenda item, Strengthening and advancing the implementation of the Note by the President of 30 August 2017, which has allowed presidencies to brief on the implementation of their working methods commitments and more recently allowed penholders and co-penholders to elaborate on their experiences in drafting and negotiating.

The IWG issued its second annual report at the end of 2023, summarising its activities and presenting indicators that track the implementation of Note 507 and the more recent presidential notes. The indicators, which cover data related to the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of the Council, provide an overview of how the Council is performing and what gaps remain.

The General Assembly adopted resolution 76/262 on 26 April 2022: the veto initiative, which calls for the General Assembly to meet within ten days whenever a veto is cast and for the Council to submit a special report on the use of the veto to the General Assembly. Since the adoption of this resolution, twelve vetoes have been cast on nine resolutions and one amendmentfour in 2022, seven in 2023 and one in 2024triggering ten meetings of the General Assembly and ten special reports from the Council as at 4 March.

Date Issue Veto(s) Special Report to the GA 20 February 2024 The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question US 22 December 2023 Amendment to draft resolution on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question US A/78/691 8 December 2023 The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question US A/78/667 25 October 2023 The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question China, Russia A/78/556 18 October 2023 The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question US A/78/549 30 August 2023 Mali Russia A/78/341 11 July 2023 Middle East (Syria) Russia A/77/965 30 September 2022 Ukraine Russia A/77/551 8 July 2022 Middle East (Syria) Russia A/76/905 26 May 2022 DPRK (Non-proliferation) China, Russia A/76/853

On 16 January, for the first time, the General Assembly held informal consultations on the drafting of the annual report it receives from the Security Council. This meeting, chaired by General Assembly president Dennis Francis, was convened in response to members calling for this report to be drafted more collaboratively and analytically. The UK, the member responsible for drafting the introductory portion of the 2023 annual report, briefed on the work of the Council in 2023. (The introductory portion of the report, which presents a factual overview of the Councils work, is prepared under the coordination of the Councils July presidency of the previous year. The body of the Annual Report, which lists the outcomes under different agenda items discussed, is prepared by the Secretariat.) The UK circulated the introduction of the 2023 annual report on 24 January ahead of the 31 January deadline in Note 507. The Secretariat is expected to submit its portion by 15 March and members have a 30 May deadline for the adoption.

In respect of a key working method, visiting missions, the Council conducted only two in 2023: to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in March, and to Addis Ababa for the annual UN Security Council-AU Peace and Security Council meeting in October. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council habitually undertook four or five visiting missions a year.

Issues and Options

An immediate issue of concern is that some working methods may have become an impediment to the smooth functioning of the Council, rather than improving its efficiency. Considerable time is spent in meetings addressing issues such as invitations to member states (rule 37) and to briefers (rule 39), how quickly meetings should be convened, and reaching agreement on the programme of work. Informal guidelines on some of the more controversial issues may allow members to move past procedural squabbles to substantive matters.

The implementation of Note 507 and subsequent presidential notes remains an overarching issue. While a number of last years 12 presidencies made commitments on their implementation of Note 507, but only a few made these commitments public. Annexing such commitments to the monthly presidency assessments, as Switzerland did, is a possible option for improving the transparency of these commitments. The assessments could also provide an analytical summary of how well the commitments were executed. Looking ahead, the IWG could identify under-implemented aspects of Note 507 and encourage presidencies to address them.

An immediate key issue is the adoption of a new Note 507 before the end of 2024, when Japan leaves the Council. Given the delicate negotiations needed for agreement on the presidential notes since 2017, some members seem likely to resist changes to the language of these notes. Likewise, attempts to include new substance or revise agreed language in Note 507 could complicate and prolong negotiations.

A continuing issue is reform of the informal system of penholder arrangements. The presidential note on penholders reflects a trend towards expanding penholders beyond the P3, including the pledge to make enhanced use of the expertise of the chairs of subsidiary bodies and members with regional perspectives, and to take this expertise into account when considering members who could serve as penholder or co-penholders. At this early stage of 2024, there has been no discernible shift towards selecting sanctions chairs or regional players as co-penholders. This may be due to the political sensitivities around the selection of some penholders as well as the resources a member requires to be an effective penholder. Incoming members who are keen to play this role may want to propose supportive measures such as being able to shadow current penholders and co-penholders during the three-month period leading up to their Council term.

The use of the veto remains an impediment to the Councils ability to take effective action on some of the worlds major crises. With the success of the General Assemblys veto initiative, and with veto abolition appearing unlikely in the near future, there may be interest in promoting greater accountability for the use of the veto.

In this connection, member states may seek more substantive reporting on the use of the veto, possibly in a stand-alone section of the annual report that also refers to the Councils special reports. Overall, member states appear interested in receiving more information on the challenges the Council faced in 2023 and may call for greater analysis in the annual report.

A long-standing issue is the balance between open and closed meetings, and transparency and confidentiality. Since 2001, public meetings have been the Councils dominant format, and its 290 public meetings in 2023 marked a five percent increase in the use of this format over 2022, following a 12 percent increase in 2022 compared to 2021, largely due to meetings on Ukraine. Consultations can be useful when there is a willingness to cooperate. In this context, identifying possible issues that could benefit from a closed discussion may be useful.

Council Dynamics

The Councils ability to work efficiently and take effective action has been hampered by deep divisions among some members, which has heightened their recourse to procedural meansworking methodsto express unhappiness with the substantive positions of others. The bitter exchanges at the start of some meetings have at times distracted from more substantive matters.

The elected members, who continue to have a strong, shared interest in working methods, have delivered a joint statement at the last six working methods debates and are expected to do so again in March. Their interest in equitable distribution of work and burden-sharing led to the opening up of co-penholding positions for elected members in 2022 and an E10 draft on penholding in 2023. The P3 appear to have accepted the need for an expansion of this informal arrangement and seem to be working well with some of their co-penholders. China and Russia have publicly supported the expansion of the penholding system, although rarely opting to be penholders themselves.

Japan has been a leader on working methods since it compiled the existing notes into the first Note 507 in 2006. It is expected to work actively towards reaching agreement on a revised Note 507 before it leaves the Council at the end of the year. Council members Ecuador, Slovenia and Switzerland are also members of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group (ACT): as they have done previously, the ACT Group is expected to make a joint statement at the open debate.

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Oil and gas engineering service provider Plexus Holdings reported a surge in sales revenue in its interim results on Monday, to 5.9m, compared to 0.71m a year ago.

The AIM-traded company also reported a significant turnaround in EBITDA, reaching 3.08m compared to a loss of 1.1m year-on-year.

Operating profit surged to 2.25m for the six months ended 31 December, swinging from a loss of 2.02m, while profit before tax stood at 2.22m, improving from the 2.07m loss a year earlier.

Earnings per share rose to 2.19p from a 2.06p loss.

Despite a slight decrease in cash reserves to 0.83m from 1.14m, Plexus saw a growth in total assets to 22.5m from 17.3m, while total liabilities increased to 7.8m from 3.9m.

Operationally, Plexus reported several significant milestones including the expansion of the value of a specialised subsea project application, an increase in loan agreements with entities related to CEO Ben van Bilderbeek, and the successful completion of the Oceaneering plug and abandonment campaign, resulting in a 70% revenue increase.

Plexus also secured contracts for rental exploration and plug and abandonment projects in the North Sea, bolstering its market presence and revenue streams.

Since the period ended, Plexus announced a 1m-plus contract for specialised equipment and services for multiple plug and abandonment activities in the North Sea.

It also completed a customer-sponsored research and development project aimed at developing an upgraded Tubing Hanger Neck Seal.

Looking ahead, Plexus remained optimistic after its performance for the first half aligned with management expectations.

The company said it expected its full year performance to be in line with current market forecasts.

Notable catalysts contributing to the positive outlook included the anticipated revenue increase from the special subsea project application and the successful IP licensing agreement with SLB, which generated substantial revenue in the first half.

Plexus said it was actively pursuing opportunities in the rental exploration and plug and abandonment sectors, both with existing and new clients.

It also maintained a robust research and development strategy aimed at further enhancing its product suite.

While the shift to sustainable energy is underway, oil and gas remain vital to the global energy mix, albeit with a growing emphasis on efficiency, safety, and environmental responsibility, said chief executive officer Ben van Bilderbeek.

Accordingly, Plexus is positioned to play a pivotal role in this revived industry given its ability to prevent and mitigate wellhead related methane leaks at O&G sites.

Looking ahead, Plexus remains committed to advancing its POS-GRIP friction-grip engineering methodology to align with the energy sector's increased focus on sustainability and regulatory compliance, especially in relation to reducing methane emissions and anticipates broader adoption of our technology across the value chain.

At 1205 GMT, shares in Plexus Holdings were up 8.97% at 17.98p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
The FTSE 100 is expected to open five points higher on Monday, having closed down 0.2% on Friday at 7,727.42.

Stocks to watch

UK electrical retailer Currys lifted guidance as it reported stronger-than-expected sales since the busy Christmas period. The company, which also confirmed that it no longer faced takeover threats from Elliott Advisors and Chinas JD.com, said pre-tax profit was now expected to be at least 115m, compared with previous guidance of 105-115m and would start the year with positive net cash.

Bytes Technology Group updated the market on the circumstances surrounding the resignation of its former CEO Neil Murphy on Monday, confirming that it followed a voluntary request for information from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) around undisclosed trading of the company's shares. At the same time, it marked a record financial year with double-digit growth in gross profit and adjusted operating profit, with gross invoiced income growing over 25%. The company maintained confidence in its ability to sustain growth, supported by vendor partnerships, customer relationships, and employee dedication.

Newspaper round-up

A record 6.7 million people in Britain are in financial difficulty, a campaign group has claimed, as the cost of living crisis pushes more households into debt. A survey for Debt Justice found that 13% of adults had missed three or more credit or bill payments in the last six months, a figure that rose to 29% among 18- to 24-year-olds and a quarter of 25- to 34-year-olds.  Guardian

The criminal fraud trial of the British technology tycoon once dubbed Britains Bill Gates is due to begin in San Francisco today. Mike Lynch, co-founder of the UK software company Autonomy, stands accused of artificially inflating the software firms sales; misleading auditors, analysts and regulators; and intimidating people who raised concerns before its blockbuster takeover by Hewlett-Packard in 2011.  Guardian

Londons population has surged to a new record high after a sharp rise in migration and a reversal of the Covid-era race for space. New research from think tank Centre for Cities found that the capital had almost certainly surpassed its pre-pandemic peak of 10.1m people in a report that raised concerns about the impact on Londons creaking infrastructure and services.  Telegraph

Jeremy Hunts stealth tax raid on landlords is set to leave property owners paying hundreds of pounds more when they sell up, according to analysis from estate agency Hamptons. The Chancellor announced a cut to the higher rate of capital gains tax (CGT) in the Budget, from 28pc to 24pc, but for most landlords the benefit will be outweighed by a reduction in tax-free allowances, a decision made in the Autumn Statement of 2022.  Telegraph

Every household must be engaged by the government in the shift to clean heating as uptake of heat pumps to replace boilers is running at less than half of expected levels, the public spending watchdog has warned. A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) described assumptions on consumer demand for heat pumps, which use electricity to draw heat from the ground, air or water for heating buildings, as "optimistic". - Sky News

US close

Stocks on Wall Street closed lower Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 0.49% at 38,714.77.

The S&P 500 lost 0.65% to 5,117.09, and the Nasdaq Composite was off 0.96% at 15,973.17.
British Land said on Monday that it has sold half its stake in London office 1 Triton Square - the former HQ of Facebook owner Meta - to Royal London Asset Management .

A new 50:50 joint venture will be formed "to accelerate the delivery of 1 Triton Square into a best in class science and innovation building at Regent's Place," British Land said. The agreement values the property at 385m.

1 Triton Square is located in the heart of the Regent's Place campus within London's Knowledge Quarter, which is home to leading research institutions including The Francis Crick Institute, The Wellcome Trust, The Alan Turing Institute and University College London.

British Land said the transaction delivers against one of its key strategic priorities "to actively recycle capital, with proceeds being reinvested into future developments".

"The establishment of this JV partnership accelerates and enhances returns," it added.

Chief executive Simon Carter said: "We are delighted to be working with Royal London Asset Management to deliver a world class science and innovation building at Regent's Place.

"We proactively took 1 Triton Square back from Meta to reposition it for science and innovation customers, with the expectation of unlocking significantly higher rents, whilst benefitting from a considerable surrender premium to further improve the economics.

"This transaction is another example of how we drive value through establishing innovative JV partnerships, enabling us to flex our balance sheet, share the risk and crystallise the value created from Meta's surrender premium."

British Land will receive gross proceeds of 192.5m from the sale to Royal London, in addition to the 149m surrender premium already received from Meta, which exited its contract in September 2023.
Nationwide 's bid to create the UK's second-largest savings and loans group by taking over Virgin Money may be derailed if its members get a say on whether the deal goes through or not. It would take just 500 Nationwide members depositing 50 each one to convene a special meeting and ask for a vote on the deal. Furthermore, preparations for a vote would keep Nationwide from meeting the 4 April deadline for making a binding offer under Takeover Panel rules. However, the society says that its existing legal advice is that no vote is required. - Financial Mail on Sunday

The boss of Belgian insurer Ageas grabbed a plane and headed to China at the weekend to meet officials from Fosun, his largest shareholder. His intent? To bolster support for his attempts to take over Direct Line Group. More specifically, Hans de Cuyper needs Fosun's would rely on Fosun's support should he able to entice the UK insurer into accepting a cash-and-shares bid after it rejected its first two proposals. - The Sunday Times

Calls are mounting on Nationwide to give its 16m members a say in its proposed acquisition of Virgin Money for 2.9bn. Just under a fortnight ago, the outfit unveiled a 220p a share offer for the high street lender. The transaction would see the building society join the big league of retail banking. However, it would also bring with it greater risk. Nationwide would also be taking on the old Northern Rock's mortgage business and deliver a big payday for Sir Richard Branson, who stands to reap 400m from the sale. The latter may make some Nationwide members uncomfortable. - Guardian

Rolls-Royce will invest 55m in order to meet increased demand for its large civil aircraft engines, creating 300 jobs in the process. Half of that investment and two-thirds of the new positions would go to its site in Derby. and the remainder to Dahlewitz, Germany. From 2025 the engineer was now anticipating to deliver 40% more engines per year than over the preceding 10 years. - Financial Mail on Sunday
A man's death-defying leap from a fifth storey apartment block during an alleged attempt to evade police has been caught on camera, with shocking footage showing him dangling over the edge, clinging on with just one arm before dropping into a pool below.

The dramatic vision, taken by stunned onlookers at the Canopy unit complex in Palm Beach on the Gold Coast on Sunday, shows the man hanging over the side of the balcony as police specialist officers attempt to talk him back over the ledge.

Police say the man, in his 30s, was allegedly under the influence of drugs at the time and was trying to run away from officers who had been called to his apartment for a welfare check, after neighbours called them in, Nine News reported.

The man plunged metres from the balcony into a pool below, miraculously escaping unharmed Source: 9News

Horror plunge from balcony caught on camera

Witness footage shows the man dangling over the edge of the balcony for multiple seconds as police try to calm him down and talk him back to safety. For a moment it appears to work, before the man drops and plummets an estimated 20 metres.

Multiple screams can be heard from horrified onlookers as the man plunges into the pool. He miraculously managed to escape with only minor injuries, having then allegedly fled on foot down the street.

"I've never seen anything like it," shocked neighbour Errol told told Nine News.

"I thought he needed help so I rang an ambulance," another neighbour Seth Mitchell said. "He was just going a bit crazy I think."

Police say they eventually caught up with him later that afternoon, reportedly apprehending him at his parents' house.

No charges have been so far laid.

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Noida-based sustainable energy solutions firm NexGen Energia has announced plans to invest Rs 1,000 crore in establishing a manufacturing unit for electric vehicles (EVs) in Jammu and Kashmir. Currently in discussions with authorities in the Union Territory, the company is actively searching for a suitable 100-acre plot of land, considering locations such as the Kathua industrial area or the Kashmir Valley.

This significant investment follows NexGen Energia's recent announcement of a Rs 3,000 crore commitment towards setting up a Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) plant in Gujarat. Piyush Dwivedi, Chairman of NexGen Energia, highlighted the company's alignment with the 'Make in India' initiative, emphasizing their dedication to realizing a self-reliant India.

electric mobility solutions. Dwivedi stated that the manufacturing unit in Jammu and Kashmir is anticipated to create employment opportunities for approximately 1 lakh individuals, both directly and indirectly. NexGen Energia aims to launch their most affordable electric two-wheeler priced at Rs 36,900 from their Noida unit on April 15th, further bolstering their commitment to accessible

During a recent meeting with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, NexGen Energia presented proposals focusing on sustainable energy solutions, including the increased utilization of CBG and domestically manufactured EVs. The company boasts a portfolio comprising a range of EV two-wheelers and three-wheelers, poised for imminent launch, with plans for expanding into electric buses, trucks, and cars in the future.

NexGen Energia's strategic investments underscore a growing emphasis on renewable energy and electric mobility, aligning with national objectives while contributing to economic development and job creation in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A Manhattan murder case involving a now 20-year-old man from Staten Island, and two co-defendants, is headed for trial in the coming months, court records show.

Justin Rodriguez of Ferndale Avenue in New Springville stands charged in connection with the 2022 slaying of a rapper inside a makeshift recording studio in Midtown.
Country star Miranda Lambert and her husband of five years, Brendan McLoughlin, 32  a former Staten Islander and former NYPD police officer  have welcomed a new member of their family.

The Grammy Award winner, 40, took to Instagram to post a video compilation to announce Cool, the couples new horse, saying, Please welcome the newest member of our family. This is Cool.

He is one of the sweetest horses Ive ever met. He does it all with grace and patience and has already taught me so much. In the last few months Ive picked up the hobby of mounted shooting and in the process Ive made some amazing new friends including this handsome fella.

The videos show off Mirandas mounted shooting skills as she rode Cool in an outdoor riding course. Some photos between the videos showed Miranda bonding with Cool, with blonde hair styled in braids, sporting blue jeans, a cowboy hat and boots, and a blue bandana to accessorize her plaid shirt.

Her fans were equally smitten with Cool, commenting underneath her post: Right on yes, get out of comfort zones and keep practicing and building confidence to do new things. Find your people and your horses! Hmmmm sounds like a country song to me.

Another wrote: Not too shabby tracking that steer, too! Once you start cowboy mounted shooting, youre hooked! Congratulations on your new partner, and enjoy the journey!

PERFECT TIMING

Having turned 40 last November, Miranda continued to say that Cool came at a perfect time in her life.

He came at the perfect time in my life when I needed a challenge and to try something new, she said. I turned 40 in November and Im ready for a decade of pushing myself to be better and bolder both personally and professionally.

This feels like the perfect beginning to that journey. Thanks to my great friend @kenda_lenseigne for this match made in cowgirl heaven. Mark and Karen Plumlee loved this horse so much and are kind enough to trust me with him for his next adventures.

Lambert and McLoughlin can be seen in one of the group photos in the announcement. The handsome couple started dating in November 2018 after meeting on the set of Good Morning America, when Lambert  a three-time Grammy winner, with 27 career Grammy nominations  was there to perform and McLoughlin was on security detail.

The two were only together for a few months when they got married in January 2019 in a private ceremony, announcing their nuptials to the public on Valentines Day of that year.

Back in 2023, the star posted a wholesome Instagram post of her with her handsome husband at their Tennessee estate.

The mesmerizing footage, captioned Happy New Year from my happy place  Love Brendan, me and the farmily. #FlyinPistolsFarm, includes glimpses of their rarely seen country home down south, replete with images of their dogs, cats, horses, goats, chickens and other barn animals.
The Staten Island FerryHawks announced the signings of three new players last week, including a pair of New Jersey natives. In addition to Tyler Dyson, a University of Florida product, N.J. residents Harry Rutkowski, a former Rutgers hurler, and JP Woodward, who starred at Red Bank Catholic HS, will be joining the squad in 2024.

In addition, the team is gearing up for its annual Fan Fest event on Saturday, during which New York Mets legend Dwight Doc Gooden will be signing autographs. Check out the details on all three player additions, and Fan Fest, below.

PLAYER SIGNINGS

Tyler Dyson: The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander is a former fifth round pick of the Washington Nationals in 2019. The 26-year-old spent three seasons in the Minors, pitching to a 3-5 record with a 3.27 era over 74.1 innings across varying levels of A-ball.

Harry Rutkowski: The 6-foot-3, 225-pound lefty was drafted in the 28th round by the Cincinnati Reds out of Woodbridge HS in 2017. In four seasons at Rutgers, he posted a 9-18 record and 4.33 era in 249.2 innings. Last season, the 24-year-old pitched in the Atlantic League for the Gastonia Honey Hunters.

JP Woodward: The towering 6-foot-6, 215-pound left-hander signed with the Philadelphia Phillies organization as an undrafted free agent in 2021. After pitching for Lafayette College, he spent two seasons in the Minors, where he went 5-4 with a 4.96 era across 74.1 innings. Last season, he pitched for the York Revolution, posting a 3.76 era over 38 appearances.

FAN FEST

The FerryHawks will host their third annual Fan Fest on Saturday at SIUH Community Park. New York Mets legend Dwight Doc Gooden will be on hand signing autographs from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., as will FerryHawks skipper Mark Minicozzi and some of the teams active players.

The team will also be offering exclusive $5 tickets to the home opener at this event. Autographs are included with the purchase of two tickets. Autographs are limited to two per person. Tickets are limited to four per person. Admission to Fan Fest is free.
More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark decision struck down some of the toughest gun control restrictions in the country, thousands of people in New Jersey have been looking to arm themselves.

New data released this past week by the state Attorney Generals office shows a big increase in the number of carry permit applications since the 2022 court ruling.

Just 631 carry permits were approved in New Jersey in 2021, the year before the court took action, according to the data.

Last year alone, 19,933 carry permits were approved in the state.

The numbers presented in an electronic dashboard reflect the first complete picture of the number of those seeking to carry guns in New Jersey. Statewide data was previously not available because applications for permits to carry had been submitted on paper to individual police departments and not centralized, officials said. That changed after Attorney General Matthew Platkin issued a general directive in June 2023 requiring such data to be submitted monthly to the state.

Transparency is a key component to enhancing public safety. The data available in this dashboard allows its users to gain an understanding of where in New Jersey the applications for permits to carry firearms is increasing, Platkin said.

The numbers show that the greatest number of gun carry permits issued since the June 2022 Supreme Court decision were approved in Toms River, where 742 were issued from July 1, 2022 through February of this year. The City of Newark, which approved 732 permits during that time period was second. And Old Bridge was third, with 428 carry permits approved.

Handed down by the high court in June 2022, the ruling known as New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, more commonly known as the Bruen decision, marked a paradigm shift in the nations gun policy.

Restricting how states like New Jersey  known for some of the toughest gun control laws in the country  could handle concealed carry applications, it also put new limits on the restrictions of carrying firearms in public.

Before the ruling, New Jersey was one of eight states that had a concealed carry permitting processes that could deny an applicant if they have not shown a justifiable need to carry a weapon publicly. That was defined as urgent necessity for self-protection, as evidenced by specific threats or previous attacks which demonstrate a special danger to the applicants life that cannot be avoided by means other than by issuance of a permit to carry a handgun.

The Attorney Generals dashboard showed that since Bruen, 33,264 applications have been filed and all but 217 were approved. Prior to the court ruling, 1,585 carry permit applications were received between December 2019 and June 2022. Of those 39 were denied.

Its a stunning increase, said David Pucino, legal director and deputy chief counsel for Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. Its particularly alarming because its changing the base line of public safety in New Jersey.

Indeed, Pucino said half a dozen states directly affected by Bruen have also seen a massive increase in the number of people applying for a concealed carry license.

The gun industry has leaned so much into this decision and pushed people to apply for gun permits, he said.

In New Jersey, the data released by the Attorney Generals office shows those people are overwhelming white, male and older. More than 93% of those filing carry permit applications since the Bruen decision were male, nearly 59% were white and 24% were between the ages of 50 and 59.

The New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at the Rutgers School of Public Health said the huge increase in numbers suggests that the Supreme Courts decision fundamentally changed the way that New Jerseyans think about carrying firearms.

Mike Anestis, executive director of the center, said that as a result, there are more firearms among us when we are out in public spaces.

The implications of that are extreme, he said.

The research is clear that when concealed carry permit laws are loosened, there is a subsequent increase in gun violence, he said.

Data has repeatedly shown that New Jersey with its strict gun control laws has had one of the lowest rates of deaths involving guns, say gun control advocates.

One particularly noteworthy number from the dashboard was the extremely high rate of approval of the permits, noted Anestis.

We have no reason to believe that any permits were approved that should not have been, but this either means that only folks who should be approved are applying or the plausibility of denying a request is limited, resulting in nearly universal approval regardless of the implications for public safety, he said.

According to the dashboard, 112 applications were denied for public health, safety and welfare, another 37 were rejected because applicants had criminal records, 30 were cited for falsification and 21 for domestic violence.

Alex Roubian, who heads the New Jersey Second Amendment Society, gun rights group, argued the Supreme Court ruling made people safer.

The facts do not lie. People being able to protect themselves in public, with a firearm, has reduced crime in New Jersey since the Bruen decision, he said. While Gov Murphy and Attorney General Platkin surround themselves with guns for personal protection, they deceive and lie to the public that firearms are dangerous and increase violence and crime.

Scott Bach, head of the New Jersey Association of Rifle and Pistol Clubs, questioned the need for the states report.

Self-defense hating bureaucrats are obsessed with wasting taxpayer dollars compiling statistics on law-abiding gun owners, instead of actually going after violent criminals, he said. If they spent half the time they do harassing legal gun owners on stopping violent crime, we would live in a much safer society.

He added that if the statistics were to be believed, they showed that those in urban areas are especially aware that New Jersey has failed to protect them and that personal protection is their own responsibility.

They also show that many gun owners statewide are still waiting for resolution of the pending lawsuits to overturn Murphys carry law before they apply for their permit, Bach said.

After the Bruen decision, the state passed legislation designating certain areas  such as parks and zoos, libraries and museums, bars and casinos  as sensitive places where firearms cannot be carried. The law also provided that firearms may not be carried on private property where the owner has not given express permission.

That law is now being appealed by gun-rights groups and an interim order limits those restrictions only to private property not open to the public, officials said. Businesses, however, may post notice prohibiting firearms.@TedShermanSL.
Residents in a swath of the central U.S. hit by deadly tornadoes were cleaning up, assessing damage and helping neighbors on Saturday. But it will be a long recovery from the storms that ripped through parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas.

Thursday nights storms claimed three lives in the Indian Lake area of Ohios Logan County, one of the hardest-hit regions, and about 40 people were injured and dozens of homes damaged in one Indiana community. Tornadoes were also reported in Illinois and Missouri.

A boat sits upside down on a tree on Orchard Island in Russells Point, Ohio, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Thursday nights storms left trails of destruction across parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas. (AP Photo/Patrick Orsagos)AP

Samantha Snipes, 33, said that when she first heard the tornado warning, she called her father who lives seven minutes away and told him to take cover. He said he was trying get into the closet in her childhood home and then the phone cut out, she told The Associated Press.

She and her husband attempted to drive down the main road to get to him but couldnt and had to get through the back way after the tornado passed.

Damaged boat docks after severe weather on Orchard Island in Russells Point, Ohio, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Thursday nights storms left trails of destruction across parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas. An Ohio sheriff in what appeared to be the hardest hit area says it's a surprise more people weren't killed in Thursday night's storms. (AP Photo/Patrick Orsagos)AP

It looked like out of a movie, like Twister she said. My dads garage was leveled. The back of his house is gone. Like everythings gone.

They climbed over everything screaming for him. When they found him, he wasnt injured and he told them to stop crying, she said.

Her father, Joe Baker, had always told his children to hide in the closet if there was ever a tornado.

A statue lays on the ground on Orchard Island in Russells Point, Ohio, on Saturday, March 16, 2024. Thursday nights storms left trails of destruction across parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas. An Ohio sheriff in what appeared to be the hardest hit area says it's a surprise more people weren't killed in the storms. (AP Photo/Patrick Orsagos)AP

We grew up here. Like this is our childhood home, said Snipes who Saturday was throwing away things and figuring out what could be saved. And you see it on the news. But you never imagine its going to happen to you.

Steve Wills, a pastor who owns a vacation home down the road on Orchard Island, said Saturday he was bringing a family crew to finish cleaning up and cover a hole in the roof.

Diapers are stacked inside the gym at Indian Lake High on Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Indian Lake, Logan County, Ohio. The high school has become a donation center after a tornado swept through the Indian Lake area Thursday. in Indian Lake, in Logan County, Ohio. The Indian Lake area in Ohios Logan County was one of the hardest hit (AP Photo/Patrick Orsagos)AP

Were saddened for the families that lost people. Theres three deaths in our community. You know, that breaks our heart, Wills said. But it could have been so much more, so much more. Yeah, so I still have faith.

The community has been really helpful, Snipes said.

A woman searches through clothing at Indian Lake High School on Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Indian Lake, in Logan County, Ohio. The high school has become a donation center after a tornado swept through the Indian Lake area Thursday. The Indian Lake area in Ohios Logan County was one of the hardest hit. (AP Photo/Patrick Orsagos)AP

The school superintendent was dropping off food, clothes and diapers on Friday. The night of the tornado, neighbors on her dads street were going house to house shutting off the gas, she said.

Everybody on this road is safe. You know neighbors helping neighbors is what its been, Snipes said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A new parade brought a new vibe to patrons along Forest Avenue Sunday.

The new, inclusive St. Patricks Day Parade on Staten Island, sponsored by the Forest Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), drew thousands to West Brighton to celebrate the Irish holiday together.

Following the celebratory march, hungry and thirsty parade watchers headed to the usual mainstays, between Hart Boulevard and Bement Avenue.

The sentiment shared among many of the bar goers was that of finally feeling accepted during the parade.

The music was great, the crowd was great and we all had a lot of fun, said Danielle Tornabene of Castleton Corners. It was a really wonderful experience at the parade.

Tornabene, who was sporting an LGBTQ+ pin on her hat while dining at The Burrito Bar, says the new, inclusive parade was personal to her.

Im a lesbian and just yesterday celebrated six months of marriage with my wife, she said. So it feels really nice to feel embraced on Staten Island and not excluded in any way.

Many businesses along Forest continued their visual support of the LGBTQ+ in front of their establishments.

The Burrito Bar, as the restaurant did in the past, draped a giant LQBTQ+ flag over their second-floor window; HoBrah and Sallys Southern each had rainbow balloons decorating their front entrances.

Doc Hennigans, located at Forest and Dubois avenues, also celebrated the event.

Doc Hennigans manager Lisa, with Alex Carr, business owner Dr. Craig Campbell, and Carol Bullock, director of the Pride Center of Staten Island. (Photo courtesy of Alex Carr)St. Patrick's Day Parade photo

It was great to see so many people coming together and having a good time, said Rayna Pajares-Held of Willowbrook. Im glad to see the LGBTQ community represented like they should be.

Pajares-Held, who had a dinner reservation for Sallys Southern, added that she loves to be able to dine out and support local businesses during community events like this.

It was a really fun parade and definitely inclusive, which is great to see on Staten Island, said Sal F. of Great Kills, who was rocking rainbow suspenders while enjoying a drink at HoBrah.

Sal says the crowd may have been less than the last parade, but the atmosphere was perfect for St. Patricks Day.

I think it was more family-oriented today instead of partiers, but it was a good mix, he added. Ill definitely be coming back to this parade next year if they do it again.
The man who was killed after he was hit by a car stepping out of an Uber in a suspected hit-and-run has been identified as Sydney lawyer Mitch East.

The 28-year-old was struck on Fletcher Street in Tamarama, in the city's Eastern Suburbs, shortly after 4am on Sunday, with investigators believing he had only just stepped out of the ride share car when he was run down, The Daily Telegraph reported. The driver of the car that struck East did not stop.

Police are now on a desperate hunt to locate a white SUV that was captured on CCTV in the Fletcher St area around the time that he was found unconscious on the road by locals. East was originally from New Zealand, having relocated to Australia to pursue his career in law, where he was employed by firm Arnold Bloch Leibler.

The man killed during a suspected hit-and-run in Tamarama in Sydney's east at the weekend has been identified as lawyer Mitch East. Source: Linkedin / NCA Newswire

Law firm speaks after employee killed

A spokeswoman for Arnold Bloch Leibler said on Monday staff were informed of the 28-year-old's sudden death.

"In an email sent to all staff this morning, Arnold Bloch Leibler's managing partner Henry Lanzer and managing Sydney partner Paul Rubenstein paid tribute to Mitch, describing him as a highly talented lawyer and popular and valued member of the firm, whose loss will be deeply felt," the spokeswoman said.

"The partners expressed heartfelt condolences to Mitch's parents, his partner and many close friends, both within and outside of [the firm]."

East graduated from Harvard Law School in 2022 after studying and beginning his legal career in New Zealand, according to LinkedIn.

Police looking at 'all avenues'

The 28-year-old's family are believed to be in Sydney and were notified of his death at Bondi Police Station on Sunday.

Detective Assistant Superintendent Adam Solah revealed that they family were "distraught" by the tragic news. "The family are obviously very upset and distraught, and our hearts go out to them, having to find out such difficult news," he told media.

Story continues

Police say that while they're "looking at all avenues", the theory that East was killed during a hit-and-run "will form part of their investigation".

"We encourage anyone who has dashcam footage or CCTV that hasnt been yet provided to police, we urge you to come forward and provide that footage," Solah said.

Mitch East was struck on Fletcher Street in Tamarama, shortly after 4am on Sunday. Source: NCA Newswire

Mitch East had extensive career in law at young age

According to East's LinkedIn profile, he had an extensive career in law, previously working as a Judge's clerk in New Zealand's Supreme Court and as a senior advisor of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch terrorist attack.

Tamarama locals earlier told media they heard a loud bang or thud followed by a car alarm around the same time the incident was reported.

Police noted that there had been heavy rain in the area overnight.

Anyone with information relating to the incident is urged to contact Bondi police or Crime Stoppers. East was wearing a blue button-up shirt and tan shorts at the time he was killed.

with AAP

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City will use $77 million in federal grant money to quadruple the number of electric school buses in the local fleet and set up a first-in-the nation freight-focused electric truck and vehicle charging depot in the Bronx, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday.

A $61.1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will add 180 new electric school buses, another $1.5 million will be used to support efforts to electrify the citys school bus fleet, and a $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will help build a vehicle charging depot at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, according to Adams office.
A conservative social media influencer has been charged with storming the U.S. Capitol and passing a stolen table out of a broken window, allowing other rioters to use it as a weapon against police, according to court records unsealed on Monday.

Isabella Maria DeLuca was arrested last Friday in Irvine, California, on misdemeanor charges, including theft of government property, disorderly conduct and entering a restricted area.

DeLuca, who has more than 333,000 followers on the platform formerly known as Twitter, is a former congressional intern who works as a media associate for The Gold Institute for International Strategy. DeLucas profile on the institutes website says she served as an ambassador for the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA.

DeLuca also interned for former U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin of New York and Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, both of whom are Republicans who have supported former President Donald Trump.

DeLuca, 24, of Setauket, New York, didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Online court records dont list an attorney representing her.

During the Jan. 6 riot, DeLuca replied to a Twitter post by writing, Fight back or let politicians steal and election? Fight back!

Videos captured her entering a suite of conference rooms inside the Capitol through a broken window on the Lower West Terrace. She passed a table out of the window and then climbed back outside through the same window. A table that another rioter threw at police resembled the one that DeLuca passed out the window, according to an FBI agents affidavit.

DeLuca posted about the riot for days after the Jan. 6 attack. When an Instagram user asked her why she supported breaking into the Capitol, she responded, According to the constitution its our house.

Several days later, she posted on social media that she was at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and had mixed feelings.

People went to the Capitol building because thats Our House and thats where we go to take our grievances. People feel, as do I that an election was stolen from them and it was allowed, she wrote.

When the FBI questioned her roughly two weeks after the Capitol attack, DeLuca denied entering the building on Jan. 6, the agents affidavit says.

More than 1,300 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related crimes. Over 800 of them have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds getting a term of imprisonment ranging from a few days to 22 years.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A 36-year-old Brooklyn subway rider who police said was critically wounded with his own weapon when he sparked a fight on Thursday has ties to Staten Island, according to a New York Post report.

Lisa Sweat of Staten Island, the estranged wife of DaJuan Robinson, told the publication she ended their relationship after she noticed a change in Robinsons behavior.

He didnt have any mental issues. We were good when we were good, Sweat told the Post from her home. The last couple of months, he just got aggressive with me, and I let him go.

Law enforcement sources told the Post Robinson was accused of pushing his wife when she failed to greet him in their Staten Island home.

On Thursday, according to authorities, Robinson illegally entered the Brooklyn subway system during rush hour and targeted a passenger who he thought was a recent immigrant to New York City.

In video footage that went viral online, Robinson brandished a knife and a handgun. He was shot with his own gun and critically injured in the melee, according to reports.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York state is giving away free solar eclipse glasses ahead of the rare total solar eclipse next month.

For the first time in centuries, New York state will be in the path of totality for a total solar eclipse on April 8. It will pass over Mexico, the United States and Canada, according to NASA. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the sun. During this time, the sky will darken, as if it were dawn or dusk.

On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul launched a statewide effort to protect New Yorkers through a distribution of limited-edition I LOVE NY eclipse glasses at 30 locations. The campaign will also remind stargazers to be wary of scams, fake merchandise and phony accommodation listings.

You can view the full list of locations at www.iloveny.com.

In New York City, glasses will be available starting Tuesday at the Moynihan Train Hall, at the MTA Long Island Rail Road Ticket Windows  located at 421 Eighth Avenue in Manhattan. It will be operational daily, from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

This cosmic event happens once every 400 years in the same location. New York state has several cities in the path of totality, which means hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit to see the phenomenon. Those cities include Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Rochester.

Those who are planning to view the eclipse are being advised to protect their eyes, as viewing the sun during an eclipse can cause severe damage. Except during the brief total phase of a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely blocks the suns bright face, it is unsafe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing.

According to NASA, viewing any part of the sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury. The partial phases of the solar eclipse can only be safely observed directly with specialized solar viewing glasses (eclipse glasses) or a handheld solar viewer. Regular sunglasses, polarized or otherwise, are not a safe replacement for solar eclipse glasses.

Consumers should only use new eclipses glasses that are certified by the International Safety Organization (ISO). These glasses will have ISO stamped on them. The current standard for solar viewing material is called ISO 12312-2. Glasses from the 2017 eclipse should not be reused.

If you cant get free glasses, the following ISO-certified glasses are now available via Amazon:

Soluna Solar Eclipse Glasses 12-pack, now on sale, priced at $9.99.

EclipSee Solar Eclipse Glasses, 6-pack, now on sale, priced at $7.97.

Kesseph Solar Eclipse Glasses, 2-pack, now on sale, priced at $9.99.

Hochul has strongly encouraged eclipse enthusiasts to partake in this once-in-a-generation event safely by:

Protecting your eyes with specialized solar viewing glasses

Checking traffic before heading out for this event as higher volumes of visitors are anticipated

Preparing for the weather

Bringing the proper gear and watching out for ticks if camping

WHEN TO SEE ECLIPSE IN NEW YORK

On April 8, a total solar eclipse will encompass the western and northern parts of New York state. In less than 15 minutes  within a 3:15 to 3:30 p.m. window  the moon will pass between the Earth and sun.

The roughly 100-mile wide path of totality will enter in the southwestern part of the state just after 3:15 p.m. and will depart northern New York just before 3:30 p.m. Cities and towns within this path include Jamestown, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Watertown, Old Forge, Lake Placid and Plattsburgh.

The entire event will last for up to two-and-a-half hours, which marks the time the sun is first obstructed to its last moments when the moons shadow is cast.

Heres a more specific breakdown:
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For decades, home sellers across the nation have paid a standard 6% commission to the agents involved in their real estate transaction. But a new court settlement could soon change that regulation, causing homeowners to see a significant drop in the cost of selling a home.

The National Association of Realtors (N.A.R.), the organization responsible for setting home sale guidelines, has agreed to settle a series of lawsuits by paying $418 million in damages and by eliminating its rules on commissions, The New York Times has reported. The decision ends a years-long court battle initially brought by a group of home sellers in Missouri, which argued that N.A.R. and brokerages who required their agents to be members of N.A.R., had violated antitrust laws by mandating that the sellers agent make an offer of payment to the buyers agent, and setting rules that led to an industrywide standard commission.

According to The Times, Americans pay roughly $100 billion in real estate commissions annually, and real estate agents in the United States have some of the highest standard commissions in the world. In many other countries, commission rates hover between 1% and 3%.

Pending court approval of the settlement, the new rules -- which omit the need for a guaranteed rate -- will take effect as early as July. And agents will now most likely have to lower their commission as they compete for business. For homeowners who now pay tens of thousands of dollars in real estate commission ($60,000 on a $1 million home, $24,000 on a $400,000 home), the savings will be significant.

Heres a look at the expected changes, as reported by The Times:

More room for negotiation.

Under the terms of the settlement, listing agents will no longer be able to advertise commission rates to buyers agents on most of the databases where homes are listed for sale, which should allow more room for negotiation. The Times also suggested the settlement will end a practice called steering, in which buyer agents direct their clients to more expensive homes where the agents stand to earn a larger commission.

Buyers will be expected to pay their own agents.

One of the main changes this settlement brings is commission decoupling  meaning buyers and sellers would now each be responsible for paying their own agent, rather than sellers covering fees for both. Bad news for buyers, but those commissions (now between 2.5% and 3% -- half of the standard 6%) should decrease in order to spark competition.

More buyers might opt to go it alone.

Many current buyers already rely on sites like Zillow and Redfin to shop for a home, ignoring the need for a buyers agent entirely. This settlement will most likely propel that trend, changing the way people shop for a home.

No direct effect in NYC?

In most cities, access to the databases where homes are listed for sale, called multiple listing services, is restricted to dues-paying N.A.R. members, The Times noted. But this is not the case in NYC, where many agents carry membership only with the Real Estate Board of New York, known as REBNY.

In New York City, where most agents arent members of N.A.R., the settlement wont directly affect most buyers and sellers, the publication reported. Not yet anyway: The changes are expected to ripple through the entire industry. In January, REBNY outlined new rules allowing buyers brokers to reject a sellers offer of commission and negotiate the fee directly from the buyer.
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We call them social media, but one of their main lines of business is social misery. Were talking about the most nauseating crimes imaginable, enabled by the worlds biggest tech companies, on a scale never seen in human history.

And the big internet companies seem pretty content with the situation. How else to explain what Australias e-Safety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, reports?

Illustration: Andrew Dyson Credit:

Itd be bad enough that the big internet firms are not even doing the bare minimum to protect our societies from the mass-scale paedophilia and terrorist incitement flourishing on their sites, as the commissioner puts it. But its worse: In fact, we see that they are moving backwards from where they were in the early 2000s, says Inman Grant.

Exhibit A is a scanning product developed for detecting known images of sexual abuse of children, Photo DNA. Developed by Microsoft in 2009, its long-established and highly effective.
Woolworths has offered a simple explanation for what a shopper described as a "disgusting" sight on one of the shelves while doing his grocery shopping over the weekend.

The man was browsing the dairy section at the Capalaba store in Brisbane when he found the shelf seemingly covered in dark marks, dirt and what he thought was mould in a gap between two cheese products.

He posted an image of the shelf online on Saturday to highlight the issue but admitted he didn't notify staff of the shelf's condition, stating instead he shouldn't "need to".

The refrigerated shelf in Woolworths had dark marks on it which the shopper alleged was mould. Source: Facebook Capalaba

Aussies debate shopper's gripe with supermarket shelf

Many were shocked to see the condition of the shelf and questioned whether this reflected the rest of the store, calling it "unacceptable" given fresh produce was displayed on it.

However others felt the shopper's decision to not notify staff and instead complain about it online wasn't the best course of action, suggesting he should just "get a cloth" and "clean it" himself, deeming it not a big issue worthy of flagging.

"Kevin must be the male form of Karen," one wrote online, while another simply told him to "get over it".

Not mould, says Woolworths

Regardless of the customer's approach the majority of people admitted the shelf was "dirty" and wasn't in the condition they would like to see while doing their shopping.

However, Woolworths has told Yahoo News there was not mould on the supermarket shelf but encouraged shoppers to flag any in store issues when they see them.

"This is simply wet cardboard due to condensation and has been cleaned by the store," a spokesperson said. "Customers who are concerned about anything when doing their shop can always speak to our team members."

Story continues

The discovery comes after a Coles shopper found mould on a supermarket shelf in the meat section at the end of last month, with the customer admitting he told staff before subsequently walking out of the store without buying anything. Coles told Yahoo News it was an "isolated situation" and has since been cleaned.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
A Federal Court judge has savaged the Transport Workers Union for wasting the courts time and letting down ground handlers whose jobs were illegally outsourced by Qantas for attempting to lodge a separate compensation claim against the airline.

Hearings to establish compensation for the 1700 workers who were sacked in 2020 started on Monday, with Federal Court Justice Michael Lee charged with determining the different levels of compensation by hearing three test cases from separate worker cohorts. The hearings follow a failed mediation process between Qantas and the union.

Qantas is back in court for two weeks of compensation hearings following failed mediation between it and the Transport Workers Union after it was found it illegally sacked 1700 workers. Credit: Kate Geraghty

The TWUs barrister, Mark Gibian SC, said in his opening remarks the union would probably lodge a separate claim for compensation in addition to the current hearings. This compensation claim would centre on the unions loss of membership fees following their sacking from the airline business. Of the 1683 ground workers, 716 were members of the union at the time they were outsourced.

However, Lee said he had made it clear he had no intention of sitting through multiple compensation hearings and questioned why Gibian had not raised this matter earlier.
There have been plenty of hypocritical statements by foreign ministry spokesmen over the years. Russias protestations that it wants peace in Ukraine ring hollow, and Irans claims that it has nothing to do with unrest in the Middle East dont sound convincing.

And yet, even by the low standards of the genre, Chinas official mouthpiece hit a fresh low last week with its complaints that the forced sale of the social media app TikTok violated free and fair competition between open markets. From the country that has banned Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube and many others, the hypocrisy was stunning.

In the end, this will inevitably come back to bite the United States itself.: Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin. Credit: AP

The US would be quite right to demand it be sold. If the bill passes the Senate, China will be forced to either open up its own markets, or else accept that its multinationals wont be able to expand globally  and would be an improvement on the blatantly rigged market we have right now.

If it happens it is going to be a huge sale, and one that will reshape the social media industry. With 1.7 billion users globally, Byte Dances TikTok is by far the most successful new internet product of the past decade. Last week the US House of Representatives decided on national security grounds that the company could no longer be allowed to operate in the country while it was controlled from China.
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Tips & adviceOcean cruises Celebrity chefs, steakhouses and seafood: Six cruise lines with outstanding food Cruise ships are introducing smaller venues and more specialised cuisines to suit a new generation of food-savvy passengers. Here are six of the best. Brian Johnston March 18, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

This article appears in the cruise ship dining and drinks collection. See all stories .

That food is good on cruise ships is a wonder of skill, hard work and organisation. Chefs at sea face multiple challenges: cramped spaces, constantly moving surfaces, salt air and changing humidity that affect bread and pastry, a ban on open flames, and the need to provision well in advance. Cruise ship restaurants also have to produce many more dishes in both variety and quantity than any restaurant on land ever does  and satisfy customers who return three times a day for a week or more. And yet, cruise ship food, especially on upmarket lines, can be as good as you get in regular restaurants and is getting better. While on-board dining was once unadventurous, that has changed enormously as passengers become increasingly younger, food-savvy and more demanding. Main-dining restaurants on ships are no longer the one-fits-all option; an enticement of smaller venues that focus on particular cuisines has proliferated. You can expect cruise ship dining to be sophisticated, varied and ever more informal, all of which suit the well-travelled Australian. Here are six cruise lines with particularly outstanding food. Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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The most upmarket mainstream cruise line operates mid-sized ships of 764 guests or fewer, each kitted out with eye-catching extravagance of chandeliers, inlaid marble, designer furnishings and flower arrangements. Pacific Rim, devoted to Asian cuisines, satisfies savvy Australian palates. Supplied Youll dine in the most beautiful restaurants at sea, happily matched by the quality of ingredients and dishes. Salads, breads, cheese, pastries and tarts are outstanding, and theres no stinting on upmarket ingredients, from seared scallops to foie gras. Among memorable on-board dishes are lobster bisque with cognac cream, eggplant involtini stuffed with mozzarella and smoked ham, and a simple grilled mahi-mahi. For modest-sized ships, the restaurant range is impressive and includes buffet-style La Veranda, evening Italian restaurant Sette Mari, and Compass Rose, surely the best main-dining restaurant of any cruise line. Pacific Rims signature spring rolls, filled with confit duck and shiitakes. Stephen Beaudet

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Most Regent ships also feature speciality restaurants Prime 7 steakhouse and Chartreuse for French bistro-style and fine-dining dishes. Three of the ships, Explorer, Grandeur and Splendor, also offer Pacific Rim. Pan-Asian restaurants on cruise ships seldom satisfy savvy Australian palates; youll find better at your local Thai or Indian. Pacific Rim is an exception, with a clever menu unified by Japanese influences but running the gamut from duck-confit spring rolls to pungent Thai coconut soup and black Angus beef with negi mash and bulgogi sauce. Even the simple seaweed and wakame salad is outstanding. See rssc.com Oceania Cruises When the finest cuisine at sea is your marketing slogan, youd best not disappoint. No surprise, then, that half the 800 crew on Oceania ships is dedicated to its restaurants, whose menus are overseen by French-American celebrity chef Jacques Pepin. Oceanias mid-sized ships (with 1250 guests or fewer) operate in the premium niche, with a luxury feel on board and excellent service, but relatively modest fares. All but one speciality dining experience is included. La Reserves seven-course French menu is served with matched French wines. Oceania Cruises

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The added-cost experience at La Reserve provides a seven-course French menu with matched French wines, bracketed by two sensational dishes, a poultry veloute and a baked Alaska studded with Williams pears and chestnut ice-cream. Speciality restaurants are Jacques  a French bistro with the best cheese trolley afloat  Toscana for Italian, Polo Grill, and (on Allura and Vista) contemporary American restaurant Ember. The most popular is pan-Asian venue Red Ginger, whose miso-glazed sea bass and lobster pad Thai are among the most-ordered dishes on the ship. Cashew kelp noodle salad from Oceanias Terrace Cafe. Supplied Even the standard venues have superior food. Poolside Waves Grill tempts with wagyu burgers and lobster medallions, Grand Dining Room has satisfying four-course evening meals, and Terrace Cafe provides quality buffets with upmarket choices such as seafood, sushi, Dover sole and lamb chops, produced in small batches or to order. Desserts are excellent: blueberry trifle with shortbread crumble or light-as-a-cloud yuzu-lime eclair. See oceaniacruises.com Azamara

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Azamara isnt a cruise line that wows you with size, decorative bling, or foam and fuss on the plate. This is a premium cruise line, a notch below luxury, and operating small, pleasant ships carrying around 700 passengers. Yet Azamara wows anyway, particularly in its restaurants, which demonstrate that middle-of-the-wave doesnt have to mean bland. Lobster dish from the main restaurant on Azamara Pursuit. Supplied For mid-sized, mid-budget ships, the dining is outstanding for the wide variety of its cuisine  you can expect Mexican and Indian nights, for example  and for Azamaras effort to present regional cuisines as it sails. In France, youll enjoy escargot-filled vol-au-vents, confit duck leg, cassoulet and a scrumptiously caramelised tarte tatin. In Slovenia, youll get an education in bograc (a wine-simmered meat stew) and sirovi struklji (cheese dumplings flavoured with poppy seed) at buffet venue Windows Cafe. In common with many cruise lines, Azamaras speciality restaurants are a grill (Prime C) and Italian (Aqualina). The latter is one of the best on any ship, abandoning pretence for unfussy food big on flavour, whether a classic caprese, Tuscan white-bean soup, or mushroom risotto.

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Mediterranean salads from Windows Cafe. Azamara Usually, American-style coffee poured from flasks disappoints Australian cruisers, but Azamaras coffee is excellent ship-wide, and Mosaic Cafe has baristas who produce proper coffees, including several types of iced coffee and some spiked with alcohol. See azamara.com Ponant French-flagged Ponant specialises in remote expedition cruising, but you wont be surviving on hard tack or survival rations in the Arctic or Papua New Guinea. Its luxury ships, which carry 184 or 270 passengers, feel like billionaires yachts. The interior design by Jean-Philippe Nuel is stylish and minimalist, the cuisine elegant, and the wine cellar well stocked with Bordeaux and Beaujolais. The downside of small ships is a limited choice of restaurants, and Ponant ships have just two apiece. The casual buffet venue tends towards international comfort foods, ranging from salads and soups to a selection of hot dishes and always excellent cheeses, breads, and pastries.

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Ponants ships feel like billionaires yachts. Ponant The main Gastronomic Restaurant is the standout, dishing up fine French dining youd pay extra for in a speciality French restaurant on many cruise ships. Menus are overseen by a company run by legendary Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. The style is superior French, but not overly fussy. Small portions compensate for rich sauces and reductions, and allow you to enjoy four-course degustation menus nightly  five if you care for the cheese plate. Dishes range from lobster tail with ginger and carrot jelly to veal tenderloin with forest mushrooms or an adventurous escargot ravioli or frog-leg terrine. The complimentary wine is nearly always satisfying. See ponant.com Seabourn Cruise Line

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Seabourn is upmarket but breezily informal, with a focus on onboard wellness, dining and cheerful but attentive service rather than attention-grabbing interiors. Its small luxury ships carry 450 or 604 guests, although Seabourn also operates 264-guest expedition ships. Main dining venue The Restaurants four-course evening menus lean towards the Mediterranean, featuring dishes such as black truffle risotto, Iberico pork chop, or grilled swordfish with capers. Seabourn Encores intimate Sushi restaurant. Supplied Indoor-outdoor The Colonnade offers one of cruisings best buffets whose browsing choices are supplemented by made-to-order hot dishes. Its often big on seafood such as chowder, crab cakes, expertly cooked fish, and poached jumbo shrimps. In the evenings, the pool grill transforms into an informal Earth Ocean, one of the most inventive and whimsical restaurants at sea, featuring an ever-changing range of international cuisines. It might be a rich bouillabaisse one day, orecchiette pasta with Italian sausage, olives and aged pecorino another, or a vegetarian dish of warm glazed tofu with kimchi.

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Seabourn is retiring its steakhouse, The Grill by Thomas Keller, which will be replaced during 2024 with a new venue, Solis, which will focus on light, modern Mediterranean cuisine. Meanwhile, Sushi is an intimate venue with a handful of tables that serves sushi, sashimi, gyoza, and bento boxes based around miso salmon, teriyaki chicken or glazed mushrooms. See seabourn.com Uniworld River Cruises River ships are better than ocean ships at providing cuisine that reflects the destinations they float through, and all upmarket river cruise lines do it well. For gourmets, another enticement to river cruise in Europe is that many itineraries sail through top wine regions, such as Bordeaux and the Rhone in France, Rhine and Moselle in Germany, and Portugals Douro valley. Many itineraries are similar, but if food is your driving force, Uniworld delivers top-notch regional dining on luxury ships with impeccable service, gracious elegance, and often gloriously unrestrained decor. The restaurant on Uniworlds river ship Beatrice. Supplied

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In Provence, for example, youll enjoy cod loin in bouillabaisse, daube provencal (a wine-soaked beef stew) and soupe au pistou (vegetable soup freshened with pesto)  plus an impressive range of regional cheeses. Chefs arent afraid to challenge the palate on occasion by offering the likes of blue cheese ice-cream. In Venice, menus might feature a delicate chicken broth with tortellini, spaghetti alle vongole (with clams) and vitello alla piemontese (veal with truffles). River ships dont have room for multiple dining venues, but many newer Uniworld ships have informal, limited-seating alternatives such as Le Cafe du Soleil and La Brasserie on Bon Voyage in the Bordeaux region; the latter dishes up classics such as onion soup and beef bourguignon. Bon appetit. See uniworld.com Collection Good Foods essential guide to the best cruise dining and drinks Five things I wish I knew before my food and wine cruise

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Ultimately, we should be striving for a situation where were not using fossil fuels to make clothing and are designing the materials in a way that they can break down safely. While non fossil fuel-derived synthetics are currently being developed, their commercial availability remains limited. Man-made cellulosic fibres  plant-based fibres turned into fabrics through various manufacturing processes  like rayon and modal, are another option. Despite coming from renewable sources, many require extensive chemical treatment. Cellulosic fibres made in a closed-loop system can help reduce the leakage of chemicals into the environment. The upside, Rissanen says, is that like natural fibres they are biodegradable. Are recycled synthetics better? Youll have no doubt noticed the creep of recycled synthetics, like nylon and polyester, into clothing in recent years.

Sarah Conners, head of fashion and sustainability at COLLARTS, says that if you must buy synthetics, opting for recycled fabrications can be a good way to reduce your impact. I think we have to be realistic that synthetics are part of our supply chain right now. Theyre not the greatest answer, but theyre already here, so lets at least try and use them responsibly. But recycled synthetics arent exactly the sustainable choice they may appear to be, Rissanen says. Most are derived from plastic bottles which, once turned into clothing, cannot be recycled again. Prioritise function and longevity So, what factors should you consider before making a purchase? Conner says the most important thing to consider when shopping is buying clothing that you really want and thats going to last you for a really long time. The longer we can wear clothing, the more sustainable its going to be. Founder of Eco Styles and circular economy and waste program director at The Australia Institute, Nina Gbor, agrees, and adds that avoiding fast fashion trends and looking for items you can use repeatedly and in multiple ways in combination with pieces in your existing wardrobe is the best way to go.

When looking at fabrications, consider your needs and lifestyle. If youre not someone prepared to handwash that fine knit mohair sweater, for example, then opting for something more durable might be a better investment in the long run. Gbor also recommends approaching new purchases with a plan by researching a brands ethos and manufacturing process. Resources like Good on You and US not-for-profit Remakes 2024 Fashion Accountability Report, released last week, can help provide greater insight. And be wary of greenwashing, warns Gbor. Just because there are environmental buzzwords that a brand uses does not in any way, shape or form mean they are sustainable. Finally, Gbor says its important to plan what you will do with a garment at the end of its life, whether its donating, mending or repurposing for another use. Ultimately, Conners says consumers should simply aim to take a more considered approach with the skills, ability and budget they have.

Maybe when you do you have to buy a new garment, its thinking, Can I buy a more organic cotton? Could I buy something thats a bit more biodegradable or a material thats going to last me longer? Rather than just choosing something due to the fibre its about also choosing based on wearability. Learn about aftercare How you care for your clothes, no matter what theyre made of, matters. When I used to work in retail, I lost count of the number of times a customer came in complaining about a faulty $100 cotton T-shirt they had chucked in a hot-water spin cycle. While many garments these days might stipulate dry-clean only, most will fare just fine with a gentle hand wash in cold water.

Silk has been around for a lot longer than dry cleaning, says Rissanen. I have hand washed, and I think Ive even machine washed some silk things but, I think its also about getting clever with things like spot cleaning rather than washing the whole thing. It depends also on how much of a garment is actually touching the skin, because anything that is against the skin will require more regular washing because of oils and bacteria. Ultimately, he says its about getting curious about the clothes we have and how to care for them in a way that prolongs their life as much as possible. Loading While all clothes shed fibres while washed, of particular concern are the microplastics shed by synthetic fibres. A report from Griffith University conducted in February this year found that Australians contribute up to 21 grams of microplastics per capita each year. The most common type of microplastics found were derived from fabric. In addition to polluting our waterways, a world-first study from this month linked the tiny particles to heart attack, stroke and death. And while opting for recycled synthetics can be a way to reduce your consumption of fossil fuels, they still shed microplastics, particularly the kind used in fleece jackets.
The NSW government is threatening to end the big group getaway by capping the number of guests who can stay in short-term rental accommodation, such as an Airbnb, at any one time.

A discussion paper produced by the Planning Department identifies limits on the number of guests that can use a short-term rental property among several options for regulatory measures that could encourage owners to return their properties to the long-term rental market.

But accommodation companies rubbished the idea in submissions to the governments review, with Airbnb noting a guest limit of two people per bedroom, or 12 people in total  whichever was lower  was first considered in 2016, before the current framework was established.

Airbnbs in destinations such as Palm Beach are a popular choice for large group getaways. Credit: Brook Mitchell

Our view is that overly prescriptive requirements of this nature are unnecessarily complex and may have unintended practical implications, Airbnb said. Its also worth noting that all Airbnb listings have advertised guest limits applicable to every reservation based on the capacity for the listing to safely and appropriately accommodate guests.
NSW police strip-searched more than two dozen children, including a 12-year-old, in the four months to mid-February, despite a Minns government promise to review the controversial practice.

A freedom-of-information request filed by the Herald suggested that NSW Police continued strip-searching children at the same rate as before the government review was announced.

Strip-searching children, in which police direct children to remove their clothes and sometimes to lift their genitals, usually without a parent or guardian present, has been criticised by health experts for causing serious long-term trauma and harm to childrens development.

In October, after The Sydney Morning Herald reported that at least 115 girls and boys aged from 12 to 17 were strip-searched in two years to June 2023, the Minns government committed to review the policies underpinning the practice and directed NSW Police to do likewise.
A former property executive has told a court he jumped into the drivers seat of a taxi in Sydneys CBD and fled as he feared he was going to be killed by a group of large men who said they were both the Muslim brotherhood and the police.

Brett Henson, 44, has pleaded not guilty to taking and driving a conveyance without the owners consent, driving recklessly and driving under the influence of alcohol on the night of November 4, 2022, after attending The Ivy restaurant and bar.

Former property executive Brett Henson (right) arrives at court with his lawyer Paul McGirr (left) for his hearing accused of drunkenly stealing a taxi. Credit: Kate Geraghty

Henson worked at the time as senior capital transactions manager for property giant Mirvac, but told his hearing in Downing Centre Local Court on Monday he was currently unemployed.

The court has viewed CCTV of Henson that night, including him holding the taxis front passenger door handle and falling onto his back, with his legs in the air, before he first got into the vehicle.
A young lawyer from New Zealand has been identified as the victim of a suspected fatal hit-and-run in Sydneys eastern suburbs.

Mitch East, 28, who was educated at Harvard Law School and worked at Sydney firm Arnold Bloch Leibler, was found bleeding heavily on Fletcher Street in Tamarama at about 4am on Sunday. Despite the best efforts of police and paramedics, he died at the scene.

Police are still searching for the driver of a car they say can help with their inquiries after Mitch East, 28, a lawyer from New Zealand was killed in a suspected hit-and-run in Fletcher Street, Tamarama. Credit: Edwina Pickles, Supplied

Police said on Sunday that Easts family had been informed, and were very upset and distraught.

According to social media profiles, East was originally from New Zealand and studied at the University of Otago, before going on to complete a Master of Laws at Harvard Law School.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The headline on Sean Kellys article sums up the Coalitions current tactics (Duttons nuclear spin is an alibi, not a policy, March 18). Their internal climate wars have become mute: where once net zero by 2050 provoked anger, especially from the Nationals, its 2030 emissions reduction target (26-28 per cent) is now so absurd no-one in the party can pretend they are serious about emissions reduction. At the National Partys annual conference last September, party leader David Littleproud struggled to quell the call to scrap the 2050 target. Asked if it should be abandoned, he said, not at this stage unless theres some other alternative. Enter nuclear. The nuclear card gives unsuspecting voters a shiny new vision, where nothing needs to be done now about troublesome fossil fuel emissions. We can have technology not taxes because nuclear is cheap and can be delivered within six to ten years, according to energy spokesman Ted OBrien. But voters are suspicious, and want policy, not spin. Fiona Colin, Malvern East (Vic) Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen rubbished Coalition claims that a nuclear power plant could be running in Australia within a decade. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Can Peter Dutton or other pro-nuclear advocates please explain why countries like Germany and Japan are now decommissioning and closing down their already well-established nuclear power reactors. I believe its the danger. Peggy Fisher, Manly The federal government should begin a feasibility study for the construction of a nuclear power station in Peter Duttons electorate, as a gesture of cooperation on this matter. Kevin Wilkinson, Arakoon The Liberals are calling for a mature debate on nuclear energy. In return we want a mature debate on green renewable energy. Their replacements must read the best-available science on global warming and the safest, fastest and cheapest alternatives to coal, to reduce carbon emissions and energy costs. Howard Charles, Annandale Unlike many of your correspondents, I see the current fixation on nuclear energy by Peter Dutton and his Liberals as a sign that they are finally getting the idea of sustainability, that is, something that doesnt need to be maintained, repaired or refuelled. While most policies about non-fossil fuelled power and vehicles will have to be revised and changed in the near future as the current workable technology develops, when it comes to safe and affordable nuclear power, it is always going to be about another 20 years away. Hence, a pro-nuclear policy is sustainable, in that it doesnt need to be changed in response to real-world developments. So nuclear power is a truly sustainable policy, with a half-life of at least 20 years. Garry Dalrymple, Earlwood Like the call for a second referendum on the Voice, Duttons plan for nuclear energy in Australia is an empty promise. This is clearly a delaying tactic to stall the shift to clean energy. Anne OHara, Wanniassa (ACT)

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I am sick of reading endless letters from nuclear naysayers. There seems to be a misunderstanding of both the full system costs and overseas experience of this technology. Whilst each new reactor is initially expensive, the final cost to consumers over time is much cheaper. That is why many countries, both poor and wealthy, from Bangladesh to Canada are now embarking on new builds. We too should look at this vital ultra-low emissions technology in addition to a contribution from renewables. Ann Parker, Berrima Labor fearful of crossing swords over taxation It is tragic that in Australia bi-partisan agreement between the major parties on taxation and rent-seeking reform is almost impossible (Rent-seekers put their hands out as budget looms, March 18). Certainly many tax and grant rorts need to be trimmed for the benefit of the budget and improved government services, but with a wafer-thin majority in the lower house and an election on the horizon, Labor is understandably fearful of crossing swords with any group, particularly if backed by a powerful union. John Howards GST demonstrated that taxation reform is possible, but considering that a number of marginal seats may be placed in jeopardy, a necessary criterion was a healthy majority in the lower house. The other alternative would be minority government supported by the Greens which would have no trouble encouraging, in fact forcing, taxation and rent-seeking reform.

Geoff Harding, Chatswood Once upon a time. Credit: Matt Davidson Your correspondents call for the prime minister to abolish negative gearing (Letters, February 22), whilst well-intentioned, will ultimately go unheeded. The Labor Party went to both the 2016 and 2019 elections with the promise to limit negative gearing and to halve capital gains tax. The Coalition government of the time and the property and construction industries fiercely and loudly resisted these proposed reforms. The Australian people were told by these rent-seekers that such changes would be the downfall of us all and the scare tactics worked. Only after ditching these contentious policies was Labor returned to office, wise in hindsight - that if you wanted to govern and continue to do so, you have to give the people what they think they want, not what you think is right. William Galton, Hurstville Grove My key take from Ross Gittins piece is that the government lacks courage. I refer readers to the Wharf Revues Looking For Albanese shows words: Do nothing!. Aidan Cuddington, Umina Beach Im sure you wouldnt disagree, Ross Gittins, but the problem is that weve all become self-interested economic units. Any sense of a community has to wait for a natural disaster. This is not helped by the apparent need for our decision-makers to cosy up to the rich and famous who have, of course, their own rent-seeking agenda. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls

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Work on this years budget has started. Welcome to rent-seekers central. Thank you, Ross Gittins for telling us how it is. It is a pity no-one is listening. Ray Ceccato, Adamstown Heights Why psychiatrists should make their services cheaper Well may psychiatrists have deep concern about severe workforce shortages in mental health services when they are part of the problem (Mental health care waitlist crisis, April 18). For years psychiatrists through their influence have made sure that other mental health professionals have limited access to providing care. Psychologists, social workers and others are funded through Medicare for 10 sessions, which is barely enough time to establish a therapeutic relationship. Mental health nurse practitioners, an untapped resource, are not legislated to provide funded care at all. If psychiatrists were genuinely concerned about improving mental health services they would reduce their fees and acknowledge the contribution of other professionals, particularly nurse practitioners.

Patricia Farrar, Concord Zsofi de Haan had to wait until she was sick enough to get help at an emergency department because she couldnt see a psychiatrist in time. The sooner governments recognise the cost burden on our healthcare system that poorly managed mental health significantly contributes to, the better. Poorly managed mental health has many comorbidities  obesity and eating disorders, drug addiction, alcoholism just to name a few. Having to wait more than three months for an appointment (if you find someone to take you) and then cough up $450 for the first appointment and $280 for each subsequent appointment creates further hopelessness for a person who is already at their lowest ebb. This has been my familys experience.

Lisa Del Vecchio, South Coogee Weird mob Were a weird species believing we can live independently of the earths supportive resources (Population rise to fend off recession, March 18). For all other species, should their populations increase to a point where natures carrying capacity is tested, then their numbers go into a recession. Whereas we believe that an ever-increasing population will cunningly fend off a recession. We need to take greater stock of how the world really works. Steve Dillon, Thirroul

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Once again the brilliant minds manipulating our economy and determining the quality of our society fall back on population growth. Really? Is this the best they can do? What will they do in decades to come when weve populated so much that there is standing room only? Peter Thompson, Grenfell Compulsory cover In 2011, the federal government introduced legislation that forced insurers to cover flood damage on household insurance with flood previously acknowledged as an uninsurable risk by the insurance market (Disputed flood report may cost community millions, March 18). They had the best of intentions but sadly this move has resulted in premium increases of about 400 per cent for most households; for those living in flood zones premiums are often in excess of $40,000. As someone living in a flood zone, I need home insurance if we have a kitchen fire or a tree blows onto my roof. A recent catastrophic flood caused less than $3000 damage. Basic home insurance that used to cost about $1000 a year is now not available to me. We need the government to reverse its decision to make flood cover compulsory so insurers will offer a basic cover and reduce their premiums for all families, especially for those with mortgages who are forced to buy insurance by their banks. Tony Snellgrove, Tumbulgum Racings back Theres no doubt those with nary an eyelash of interest in horse racing can suddenly see vast racecourse spaces as ideal for house-building, but why should the horse racing industry be made to pay for governmental inefficiency (Letters, March 18)? Racing, incidentally, is booming, with next weekends Golden Slipper crowds of young uns and old-timers proof its back in a big way. Meantime, Ill await the commonsense outlook of respected racing veterans, as to the positives and negatives of this houses for horses proposal. Rosemary OBrien, Ashfield Champion Australian mare Samantha Miss. Credit: Jenny Evans The Rosehill Racecourse should be returned to urban forest and green open space for millions of (heat island-afflicted) Sydney residents. Ronald Elliott, Sandringham (Vic)

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Kiwi lesson Apparently we should be learning from New Zealands foray into vehicle emissions standards (Lessons for Labor in NZ misfire, March 18). Who is asking us to heed the warnings? Yes, the automobile industry, which would much rather maintain the status quo than actually be forced to sell cleaner cars in Australia. Who scrapped the emissions standards, the Clean Car Discount, in NZ? The conservative National Party government that campaigned in the recent election with rubbish talk about a ute tax, does that sound familiar? When asked if prices of affected cars had risen as a result of the Clean Car Discount, the response was obfuscation rather than admit that prices had not risen. Conservative parties dont care about anything other than retaining power and serving their vested interests, that is what Australia should be learning from New Zealand. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic) Ozempic claims Another case of never letting concern for patient safety get in the way of a money-making venture (Australias largest online weight-loss business at loggerheads with regulators, smh.com.au, March 18). The regulators standing in the way of Eucalyptus and its business model are acting as risk managers and mitigators. What is pertinent in this case is where the risk lies and who may be harmed; the company, patients or medical practitioners. In this business model the risk is not evenly spread and what is certain is that the entity least likely to be harmed will be Eucalyptus and those involved who face only financial inconvenience. Patients, for their part, face possibly serious adverse effects; not all the side effects of semaglutide (Ozempic) are trivial and some may cause real harm. If a patient suffers a serious adverse effect and believes their treatment has been substandard they will pursue the doctor involved (if they can find him/her) not anybody at the company because they are not the treating clinician. Medical negligence or malpractice claims can well become terminal events for a medical practitioner, a professional but not a personal health hazard. David MacKintosh, Berkeley Vale Ozempic medication Credit: Bloomberg Holey honeycomb Underneath the streets of Sydney is a criss-cross of excavations  the Cross City Tunnel and rail tunnels for the City and Southwest Metro and now Metro West (Inside the cavern and tunnels of Sydneys marquee metro station, March 18). Given the recent experience of sinkholes developing over tunnel construction for the M6 motorway, lets hope Sydneys honeycomb of tunnels doesnt give rise one day to a Violent Crumble. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

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On its second try, the Auburn Housing Authority succeeded in securing $7.8 million in funding from the state to rehabilitate Olympia Terrace, a public housing complex on the city's north side.

The project is one of 29 that will receive more than $260 million in state subsidies and tax credits through New York State Homes and Community Renewal, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Two are in central New York: Olympia Terrace and Eastwood Heights in Syracuse, which will get $11.5 million to expand from 49 to 53 units.

Stephanie Hutchinson, executive director of the Auburn Housing Authority, told The Citizen the funding will support a complete renovation of Olympia Terrace, which has 50 housing units in 13 buildings.

The project costs total $23.7 million, including $14.2 million for construction. The state's support is in addition to funding from other sources, including the Auburn Housing Authority.

Hutchinson detailed the plan to rehabilitate Olympia Terrace in 2022, but the authority's initial application for state financing was denied last year.

"It's been a very long two-year wait for funding," she said. "But we're very grateful to finally receive it and we're more than ready to get started."

The award was announced as the city of Auburn pursues a state pro-housing community designation, which would make funding available for affordable housing and other housing projects. Hochul launched the initiative last year to address the statewide housing crisis.

The Auburn City Council voted earlier this month to take the pro-housing pledge. By adopting the pledge, the city commits to streamline permitting for housing projects, support fair housing and implement policies that encourage various types of housing development.

Although the funding for Olympia Terrace is not linked to the pro-housing community initiative, Auburn Mayor Jimmy Giannettino said in an interview with The Citizen that it is part of the city's overall housing picture.

"As we look at housing throughout the city, affordable housing is a component of that and the affordable housing that falls under the portfolio of the Auburn Housing Authority has really gotten a lot of attention," he added.

Hutchinson said the Olympia Terrace project will complete the authority's portfolio. The authority has two other affordable housing developments, Brogan Manor and Melone Village. Renovations to Brogan Manor's units were completed in 2015, while the rehabilitation of Melone Village finished in 2018.

Once the improvements are complete at Olympia Terrace, Hutchinson said 100% of the units will be available. Rents are based on income, with tenants paying 30% of their income toward rent.

Olympia Terrace and other projects receiving state funding must meet New York State Homes and Community Renewal's sustainability standards. The project in Auburn will receive $1,250,000 through the state agency's Clean Energy Initiative to support the electrification of the buildings and meet other environmental goals.

The housing developments will also offer free broadband to residents, which is part of Hochul's ConnectALL initiative to increase high-speed internet access.

"The only way to address New York's housing crisis and bring down costs for families is to keep building and preserving homes in every region of our state," Hochul said in a statement. "With this funding, we are pushing forward with our agenda to unlock New York's housing potential, and we will keep working closely with the legislature to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to safe, stable and affordable homes."

With the award for Olympia Terrace, Hutchinson hopes it will allow other projects to receive state support. Specifically, she highlighted the plans released by Housing Visions to convert a three-story building on State Street into affordable housing units.

Housing Visions has been awarded a $1.5 million state grant through the Restore NY Communities Initiative. But there is additional state funding available for the project.

"They're next in line and we're excited to now support them moving forward in their proposals," Hutchinson said.
In its scathing 2021 judgment, NCAT lashed Mooney for among other things, substandard care, lying to authorities about a relationship with another patient (Patient C), and falsifying a medical certificate relating to a compulsory drug test following a positive test for cocaine. Patient A died in March 2018 following a botched operation to fix his snoring. Experts said this operation usually would take about 90 minutes. According to a nurses record, Mooney took 23 minutes. The family was unaware Mooney had to sew over an artery he nicked during the operation. The patients family waited hours to see Mooney after the operation but he never came. Several days later, the patient began vomiting blood, was re-admitted to hospital where he suffered massive haemorrhaging and organ failure. He later died. Following his death, the patients mother and sister took their own lives.

Patient B had died earlier in 2018. While operating on patient B, Dr Mooney penetrated the bone below the brain and disrupted an artery, causing bleeding into the right frontal lobe, the tribunal found. Patient B died without regaining consciousness. His wife later successfully sued Mooney for negligence. In banning him for a year, NCAT cited substandard care and unsatisfactory professional conduct: Dr Mooney has committed acts which are egregious departures from proper standards across a broad range of duties which a doctor owes to his patients and the public. He crossed the boundary for more than two years in an abuse of the doctor-patient relationship, NCAT found. Dr Mooneys conduct in breaching conditions on his registration, and then deliberately lying to the Medical Council and the HCCC about those breaches and other matters, is completely inconsistent with his duty as a medical practitioner to be honest, ethical and trustworthy.

He faked a medical certificate to avoid a drug test that was required after he had been caught using cocaine. Mooney saw patients while providing illness certificates to avoid hair drug testing, it was found. Mooney deliberately lied to try and hide his breach of the hair testing condition. While sidelined, Mooney pleaded guilty to buying cocaine in a street deal. He said in court that collecting the drug for his partner was an act of chivalry. He received a 12-month bond. Other complainants came forward. A stripper who sued Mooney claimed her only medical consultation before her nose job was in the early hours of the morning at the Melbourne strip club where she was working.

Last week, the same tribunal that eviscerated Mooneys honesty performed a volte-face when Mooney appealed to be allowed to resume practice following a one-year ban. Loading It heard expert testimony from a psychiatrist who said Mooney did not take full responsibility for his own conduct with Patient C, saying she was the one coming on to him. But NCAT concluded it is highly unlikely that William Mooney will repeat any of the mistakes of the past. In our view, Mr Mooney has proven that he can be trusted to practise in an honest and ethical manner and presents no risk to the safety of the public and their confidence in the profession, the tribunal found.

He has put a considerable amount of time and effort into addressing his past unethical behaviour. The next step in Mooneys return is for medical regulators to consider applying conditions on his practising licence. The Herald believes that given the extent of the findings against Mooney, combined with the powerful testimony of McClymonts reporting, that medical regulators should impose conditions on his licence to protect the public. Its worth noting NCAT was forceful in its original decision to ban Mooney: Taking into account the seriousness of the conduct, the need for general deterrence, the maintenance of confidence in the medical profession and the necessity to give Dr Mooney an opportunity to complete the journey into gaining full insight, we have decided to cancel, not suspend, his registration. It appears that journey was a short one.
Now, my rage is trained on a much more sophisticated target. The Islamic Republic of Iran. The Revolutionary Guards Corps. The hostage-diplomacy business model, and all those who have made innocent people like me suffer because of it.

Unlike my pre-prison self, on the outside I am calm and unflappable. I dont shout and I dont yell. Serenity reigns above, but the flame still burns below. Only now do I recognise that the prison anger is still there, because my relationship with anger has changed so dramatically. Traffic might have irked me in the past; likewise, overblown male egos and people who are chronically late.

In the 804 days I lost to Irans Evin prison, I spent a lot of time oscillating between being extremely anxious and furiously angry. The anxiousness faded with time into dull numbness and resignation. The anger boiled, then simmered, then reduced to a cool flame deep inside my gut. There it sits still, three years after my release.

There are trigger points. The killing of Mahsa Amini in September 2022  and the unprecedented nationwide protests that erupted across Iran as a result  was an obvious one. During the unrest, Evin prison was set on fire, with some of my former cellmates trapped inside. For many days, we didnt know who would make it out alive (all female prisoners did, but eight male inmates died).

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Being angry is generally not a great look for someone wanting to be taken seriously in a professional space. My outward calmness has helped me in this regard; yet at times, I have tripped myself up in my quest for justice in the years following my release. Sometimes I have directed my cold rage at the wrong targets. Other times, I have been too uncompromising and have alienated potential allies.

One of the unexpected joys I discovered after prison was that I am now a member of an eclectic, and sadly, ever-growing, group of former hostages and wrongful detainees scattered throughout the world. It was through generous conversations with big-hearted people like Jason Rezaian, Anoosheh Ashoori, Xiyue Wang, Sam Goodwin, Matt Hedges, Jolie King, Mark Firkin, and others that I found healing. They get it when so few others truly can.

Most of us still have that anger boiling inside, although it expresses itself in diverse ways. All of us agree that achieving some sense of justice and accountability is crucial to being able to move on from our experiences in prison. All of us want to prevent what was done to us from happening to others.
Perth renters are recording nearly unlivable temperatures inside their homes, affecting their health and the ability to use their home, according to new research.

More than 100 tenants tracked temperatures and humidity in their homes as part of a report for advocacy group Better Renting, released on Tuesday.

Perth sweltered through record-breaking heatwaves this summer. Credit: WAtoday

Temperatures inside tenants homes peaked at 37 degrees and 83 per cent relative humidity.

The report found this summer was particularly challenging for renters, with many struggling with the cost of living following record increases in rents and the cost of basic essentials.
A proposal to develop a large landholding across the road from Nigel Satterleys trouble-plagued Perth Hills housing estate has gained the green light.

On Wednesday night the Shire of Mundaring unanimously approved EastCourts plan for five-acre lots on 190 hectares in North Parkerville, a plan in line with the rural residential zoning the shire is trying to regain.

Save Perth Hills protesters in the Supreme Court gardens ahead of a tribunal hearing last month.

This deals a fresh blow to the 33-year fight by Australias biggest private land developer, Satterley Property Group, and its business partner, WAs Anglican Church Diocese, to develop a sprawling 1000-lot town site in North Stoneville in keeping with the areas existing urban zoning.

EastCourts original 1990s urban plan proposed up to 740 lots for 2000 people.
Palestinian advocates are urging the Albanese government to grant the same visa rights to people fleeing the war in Gaza as Ukrainians received in the months after Russia invaded its neighbour.

Palestinians left devastated when their visas were cancelled as they travelled to Australia are again en route after the Home Affairs Department reinstated their travel permits on the weekend.

Some were set to arrive in Australia as early as Monday after receiving the green light.

Palestinians line up to receive food in the southern city of Rafah. Credit: AP

Palestinians fleeing the war are eligible to apply for subclass 600 visitor visas, which permit them to spend up to a year in the country visiting family or friends, but do not allow them to work or access Medicare. They can then apply for a bridging visa after 12 months if they believe it is not safe to return to Gaza.
States and territories want four-year forecasts on their shares of GST, helping them secure budget bottom lines under possible changes to the annual carve-up of the $90 billion tax after angry pushback over the current system.

This masthead can reveal that during a meeting of the nations treasurers on Friday, states and territories pressed for an agreement to make the entire Commonwealth Grants Commission process more transparent and easier to understand following strident criticism from NSW and Queensland.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says the GST grants system should be beyond financial wizardry. Credit: Edwina Pickles

The angry debate over the annual allocation of GST between the states and territories erupted last week after the commissions most recent report recommended cuts in Queensland and NSW and an unexpected $3.7 billion boost to Victoria.

NSW, which lost $1.6 billion compared to what it had been forecasting for the 2024-25 financial year, was particularly surprised by grants commission decisions.
Australian authorities are holding at least 127 asylum seekers in detention despite being unable to return them to their home countries as the government prepares for a High Court hearing on whether it must release people it cannot deport.

The detainees from Iran, Iraq and Sudan are at the heart of a new test for the government in its attempts to defend the detention regime after months of political pressure over the release of convicted criminals last year.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles dismissed questions about the number of people who could be released if the government lost the next case in the High Court. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Official figures show the detainees make up a key cohort among 872 people in immigration detention because of the challenge of removing them from Australia against their will.

In the next test case, an Iranian asylum seeker known as ASF17 is seeking his release from detention because he fears for his life if he is sent back to Iran, which will not accept citizens who are forced to return.
TikTok is the only social media giant not signed up to a global anti-extremism pact, Australias top internet regulator says, as MPs call out the Chinese-owned company for the proliferation of graphic content stemming from the Hamas-Israel war on its platform.

As the US government threatens to ban the app to force it out of Chinese hands, Australias eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, announced she had issued legal notices to Google (YouTube), Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Twitter/X, WhatsApp, Telegram and Reddit forcing them to explain steps they had taken to remove terrorist and violent extremist material.

Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has issued legal notices to multiple tech giants. Credit: Martin Ollman

TikTok was not among the groups targeted in Inman Grants social media enforcement, but Inman Grant said it was newer and regulators had insufficient tools to track its behaviour, flagging a focus on TikTok in her next round of legal notices.

Emphasising TikToks harmful algorithm, Inman Grant said in an interview on Monday she had given a presentation on social media to an attorney-general advisory board whose members were gobsmacked that big tech was not doing the basics on monitoring content and were going backwards from previous standards.
Ridley told The Age he decided to support Pesutto because of my belief in John and a feeling that the party should have supported him in this  and my concern that there are some in the parliamentary party whove still not learnt the dangers of disunity. I think hes a very worthy and deserving leader that I believe the organisation absolutely should have supported in this. And Im dismayed that there seem to be those few around him who dont realise or are forgetting that disunity is death. Jason Sau Lee Yeap, a well-known property investor and philanthropist who has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the arts, also confirmed he donated to Pesuttos legal fund. Pesutto said he enjoyed the support of a united party room and shrugged off the possibility of a challenge as a media frenzy. He cast the return of parliament on Tuesday as an opportunity to hold the government to account before the May state budget. Let me make my position very clear. Im determined to lead a Liberal Party and a Coalition that will win the election at 2026. Our state needs new leadership. Im not focused on any litigation, its with lawyers. Im focused entirely on my job as opposition leader.

Several MPs, speaking anonymously to be frank about internal matters, told The Age they had not received any phone calls from potential challengers for the leadership and did not expect a spill this week. No other contender was thought to have the necessary support, though there was a general view it was untenable for the leader to be fighting three defamation cases. Opposition tourism spokesman Sam Groth, police spokesman Brad Battin and shadow treasurer Brad Rowswell have been named by colleagues as possible leadership contenders. All three said on Monday that Pesuttos leadership was safe. Shadow housing minister Richard Riordan was asked twice on Monday whether he wanted Pesutto as leader during an ABC Radio Melbourne interview.

If it makes you happy, yes, hes our best leader, Riordan eventually said. Hes a good man. Hes shown an incredible tenacity and fighting spirit. Thats what Victorians want. Pesutto insisted his team was united behind him. Im focused on the future of Victoria. We have the worst performing government in the country, arguably the worst Victorian government in generations. We need change in the state, and Im focused entirely on that. Wayne Farnham, the Liberal member for Narracan and Pesuttos parliamentary secretary, said talk of an imminent spill was unfounded. Ive got more chance of growing dreadlocks than a leadership challenge occurring [on Tuesday]. Nobody has called me over the weekend. Its a beat-up by certain sections of the media to take the focus off the Allan governments incompetence.

Loading Deeming, who remains in the upper house on the crossbench, was removed from the parliamentary Liberal Party in May last year after threatening to bring in lawyers in the fallout from her role in the Let Women Speak rally. Keen-Minshull appeared on radio station 3AW on Monday, before lodging the court documents, and said while a defamation payout was enticing, she was ultimately seeking an apology. Whilst he said these things about me, what hes actually doing is trying to tell all women that they really do have to shut up, Keen-Minshull said. That is what is happening everywhere. And so I would like a full and frank apology. If youre going to say someones associated with Nazis, or the leaders of the KKK, you really do have to fact-check before you make someones life rather more vulnerable.

Loading Following Mondays shadow cabinet meeting, WorkCover spokeswoman Cindy McLeish said her Liberal colleagues needed to get their act together and get on with it. Nationals leader Peter Walsh said some in the Liberal Party and media needed to take a cold shower, while Nationals MP Tim Bull joked it should be mandatory for elected officials to have played team sport before entering politics. Because then youd know youd never get anywhere without unity, Bull said. It would be great to have unity. Hopefully that is just around the corner. We are in opposition and we should have one common enemy.
In Queensland, where the population is smaller than in Victoria, the government expects to collect about $814 million in fines and forfeitures in 2023-24. That works out at just under 1 per cent of Queenslands total revenue, but $148.40 per person, which is higher than Victorias per capita rate. With fine levels automatically rising each year in line with the soaring cost of living, legal experts warn that many people on low incomes  already forced to drive greater distances to employment  are being pushed beyond the brink. A lot of fines effectively criminalise poverty, Inner Melbourne Community Legal senior lawyer Shifrah Blustein said. Louisa Gibbs, chief executive of the Federation of Community Legal Centres, said fines had an overwhelmingly disproportionate impact on people experiencing disadvantage.

The Victorian government is being urged to follow NSW, which since 2020 has offered a 50 per cent discount on some fines for people on unemployment benefits. An analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office, commissioned by the Victorian Greens, found that adopting the NSW system would cost the Victorian budget $199 million over five years in lost revenue, and $801 million over a decade. Gibbs said community legal centres across Victoria supported a discount system similar to that in NSW. We urge the Victorian government to apply this simple yet effective policy to all fines, to reduce the huge burden on people already in financial difficulty, she said.

Asked about the possibility of following NSWs lead, a state government spokesperson said: We know that there are people doing it tough and thats why we have a range of supports and options in place to help people pay off their fines, including in instalments and through special programs targeted at people with special circumstances or without the ability to pay. Victorians who are struggling to pay fines can request a review or apply for a work and development permit offering non-financial options. People with serious personal issues, disorders or difficulties can apply for a special circumstances review. Matt Karimi received two fines in 2022 for driving his car while it was not registered, each for $925 (the fine for driving an unregistered car has since increased to $962). Karimi was unemployed and, due to his status as a refugee without citizenship, had stopped receiving government support payments in 2021.

When he received the first fine, the father of three was near penniless, getting by on $200 a month given to him by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, which was also helping to pay his rent. Karimi received the first fine for driving a car given to him by a friend that he did not realise was unregistered. The second time he was fined, he knew the car he was driving was unregistered but risked a fine to visit the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Footscray  to ask for help paying the first fine. Loading So much money, Karimi, 53, told The Age through an interpreter. He was also unable to afford to pay his $878 car registration. As a refugee from Iran and in Australia for 11 years, his bridging visa status meant he was ineligible for a concession card. Those with a healthcare card or a pensioner concession card get a 50 per cent discount on their car registration.

Karimi got help from Moonee Valley Legal Service, which applied on his behalf to Fines Victoria to review the fine. The review was rejected, but a payment plan was set up. Lawyers from community legal centres said women fleeing family violence were often those fined for driving an unregistered vehicle, as many were experiencing economic abuse at the hands of their partner. I have many clients who have driving-unregistered fines in their name, typically because the person using violence managed the money in the relationship and the client had no access to their own funds, said lawyer Alexandra Kersey from western suburbs community legal centre WEstjustice. Too many were placed into a cycle of poverty by fines, she said. Discounts for concession card holders who received a COVID-19 fine were introduced by the Victorian government during the pandemic. These discounts have not been extended to other sorts of fines.

Blustein compared fines to utility or car registration bills, which both provide concession rates  unlike fines in Victoria. The impact on that person is so much worse than for someone who also does the wrong thing but who can afford to pay, Blustein said. Loading In Victoria, the penalty for driving an unregistered vehicle is now $962, compared to $704 in NSW and $556 in South Australia. In Tasmania, the fine is $287. Victorian Transport Association chief executive Peter Anderson said fines were also hurting many truck drivers, and forcing some  particularly sole operators  out of the industry. He said he was aware of a Victorian truck driver fined $758 in the past fortnight for not ticking a box in his work diary. It is government process gouging the industry, he said. Internationally, in countries such as Finland, Sweden and Germany, some road fines are based on a persons wage rather than a set amount. A wealthy Finnish businessman made headlines last year when he was fined 121,000 ($200,000) for speeding because his ticket was based on a percentage of his income.
STATEMENT OF SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA ON MAGUINDANAO AMBUSH THAT KILLED FOUR SOLDIERS

Today, we stand united in grief and resolve. The recent ambush in Maguindanao del Sur that killed four soldiers is a stark reminder of the sacrifices of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in their unwavering commitment to protect our country from the enemies of the State.

We must come together to condemn these acts of violence. The incident underscores the ongoing conflict and violence in the region where extremist groups continue to pose a threat to peace and stability. We must stand firm against extremism and terrorism.

Amid these ruthless acts, I salute our AFP for their bravery and resilience in defending our countrymen even in the face of danger. Their sacrifices do not go unnoticed, and we stand by our brave men and women in the Armed Forces in this difficult time.

May the families of our fallen soldiers find solace in the knowledge that their loved ones served with honor and valor.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On March 17, DJI Automotive, the intelligent driving arm of DJI, revealed the latest updates to its intelligent driving platform, the "ChengXing Platform," at the China EV100 Forum 2024.



Photo credit: DJI Automotive

Buildt upon the existing mass-produced "7V+32TOPS" base configuration, DJI Automotive introduced two new configurations: "7V+100TOPS" and "10V+100TOPS." These configurations enable city navigation pilot functions without relying on high-precision maps or LiDAR, along with other L2+ intelligent driving functions.

Photo credit: DJI Automotive

Notably, the "7V+100TOPS" configuration is poised to equip passenger cars in the 150,000-yuan tier with urban navigation pilot capabilities nationwide, significantly accelerating the standardization of advanced intelligent driving features.

All three configurations will be implemented in new production vehicles this year, providing comprehensive support for mainstream models of various powertrain solutions priced between 80,000 yuan to 250,000 yuan, meeting the growing demand from mainstream vehicle consumers for advanced intelligent driving experiences.

During the conference, DJI Automotive revealed its goal to provide advanced intelligent driving solutions for the vast consumer base of internal combustion engine vehicles as well as new energy vehicles. The company also disclosed that the SAIC Volkswagen Tiguan L Pro will be the first gasoline-powered vehicle equipped with DJI Automotive's intelligent driving solution, set to debut soon.
Alan Jones insists he is not selling his luxury apartment overlooking Circular Quay, despite potential buyers being shown through the property after signing confidentiality agreements.

Jones recently returned to Australia after an extended hiatus in London following bombshell indecent assault allegations.

Alan Jones at the harbourside apartment at Circular Quay he purchased in 2017 for $10.5 million. Credit: Wade Laube

Potential buyers have already been shown through the trophy pad in Circular Quays landmark Toaster building, property sources not authorised to discuss the matter have told the Herald.

But the broadcaster told the Herald, I have no plans to sell and the property is not on the market.
Leong had previously stood for election with the Science Party and the Fusion Party but is no longer active in those parties. Loading In Melbourne, Richmond renter Madeline Cooper said the citys most recent heatwave in the second week of March made her bedroom unusable for three days. The hottest it got in my bedroom was 31.9 degrees. The maximum humidity in this room has been up to 93 per cent, and the humidity is sitting at 63 per cent right now. So it also gets damp, she said. Coopers landlord recently installed an efficient air-conditioner in her living room, but the homes poor insulation meant its effect was muted. Cooper, whose long COVID symptoms were exacerbated by extreme temperatures, said she felt the rental crisis made finding a new, better home prohibitively difficult.

I cant really afford this place, and I cant afford to move. And finding a cooler, better-insulated rental in this market is basically impossible, she said. Renters have to put up with what we have. Better Renting director Joel Dignam said indoor temperatures higher than 25 degrees were cause for concern, because of the effect it had on sleep and other health conditions. Madeline Cooper has long COVID and finds the extreme summer temperatures in her rental home make it hard to manage her illness and work. Credit: Chris Hopkins The renter researchers found this summer that their homes were above 25 degrees for 52 per cent of the time in NSW, 20 per cent of the time in Victoria, 87 per cent of the time in Queensland and 67 per cent of the time in WA. The overall picture across Australia is that its been pretty grim, and this was a hotter summer than the last two summers, which is reflected in the data, he said. Overnight youre well past the healthy threshold for sleep at that point. Ideally, youd have a home sitting around 21 degrees. But at 25 degrees, youre out of that comfort zone.

We find renters are spending a lot of time out of that comfort zone. Renters often said their home felt hotter inside than outside, so the study compared how often the outside temperature was greater than 21 degrees and the indoor temperature was even higher. Of the period when it was more than 21 degrees outside, it was hotter inside than out for 13.5 per cent of that time in Victoria, 42.5 per cent in NSW, 37.4 per cent in WA and 63.6 per cent in Queensland. Loading Some participants in the study also said they were struggling with the cost of living, which affected their willingness to run an air-conditioner. They worried about making trouble with their property manager, struggled to sleep, or wanted to move but found the alternatives were too expensive. One with heat-related health issues was forced to call an ambulance when their symptoms escalated; another, in the past, had to sleep in a tent in the yard as a better alternative to their hot home.

The report recommends minimum energy performance standards for rental homes, and improving the power of renters to exercise their rights. Sweltering Cities executive director Emma Bacon recently spearheaded an open letter addressed to the Victorian government, which was signed by more than 50 doctors, housing and health organisations and called for the adoption of insulation and cooling minimum rental standards. What we are doing with doctors, health experts and housing advocates around the state is making it clear to the government that there are health impacts to not [considering] cooling in the minimum standards. Doctors are hearing from patients that theyre getting sick because of the homes theyre living in. The Victorian government could reduce the health burden on the community by making this simple update, she said. If Victoria is the first state to put cooling in the minimum standards, we would hope the rest would follow.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs and her delegation engaged in a series of vital discussions aimed at addressing pressing issues related to womens rights, ensuring gender equality, and strengthening partnerships for the betterment of St. Maarten.

Prime Minister Jacobs, along with Head of Community Development, Family and Humanitarian Affairs Mrs. Chantal Groeneveldt-George, under whom Womens Desk falls, and Tatia Brunings, policy advisor in the Staff Bureau of Ministry VSA, met with the Guyana Vulnerable Population Alliance to discuss the critical matter of sex workers' rights and safety. Recognizing the importance of open dialogue on such sensitive topics, Prime Minister Jacobs emphasized the need for comprehensive measures encompassing safety, counseling, and broader support systems to address this often-overlooked issue.

Additionally, Prime Minister Jacobs participated in a discussion on equal participation and leadership for a more peaceful world. As a female Prime Minister, she also highlighted her role in Parliament and reiterated her dedication to empowering women and young girls through legislative initiatives and opportunities for advancement. With an increasing number of females holding key positions of leadership in our community, both in the public and private sectors, St. Maarten is making strides towards greater gender inclusivity and representation.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Jacobs met with the Chief of the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Partnership branch to showcase St. Maarten's Emergency Operating Center and its role in disaster risk reduction efforts. The UN team commended the existing infrastructure and wanted to strengthen collaboration and support for St. Maarten's resilience-building initiatives. Prime Minister Jacobs underscored the importance of partnerships in our continued efforts to enhance our disaster preparedness and response capabilities.

Concluding her visit to the 68th CSW session, Prime Minister Jacobs emphasized the need for continued policy development and collaboration with interested entities. She highlighted St. Maarten's achievements and areas requiring assistance, particularly in climate change and environmental degradation. Discussions with regional counterparts focused on the impact of larger nations' industrial activities on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the challenges they face in accessing international funding for recovery and sustainability efforts.

In summary, Prime Minister Jacobs' work visit was marked by productive engagements, networking and information gathering for the critical policy areas for the Ministry of VSA for continued progress to address challenges faced by our families, especially women and girls. Moving forward, the government will continue to pursue partnerships, advocate for marginalized communities, especially some of our most vulnerable single female-led homes, and address pressing challenges to ensure a brighter future for all citizens.
Monsters, asteroids, vampires: AI conspiracies flood TikTok



Washington, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



From vampires and wendigos to killer asteroids, TikTok users are pumping out outlandish end-of-the-world conspiracy theories, researchers say, in yet another misinformation trend on a platform whose fate in the United States hangs in the balance.

In the trend reported by the nonprofit Media Matters, TikTok users seek to monetize viral videos that make unfounded claims about the US government secretly capturing or preserving mythical monsters that include -- wait for it -- King Kong.

It is the latest illustration of misinformation swirling on the platform -- a stubborn issue that has been largely absent in recent policy debates as US lawmakers mull banning the Chinese-owned app on grounds of national security.

Often accompanied by spooky background music, the videos -- many of which garner millions of views -- feature imperious AI-generated voices, sometimes mimicking celebrities.

"We are all probably going to die in the next few years. Did you hear about this?" said a voice impersonating podcaster Joe Rogan in one viral video.

"There's this asteroid that is on a collision course with Earth," the voice claims, citing information leaked by a government official who stumbled upon a folder titled "keep secret from the public."

At least one account peddling that video appeared to be deactivated after AFP reached TikTok for comment.



- 'Highly engaging' -



Conspiracy theory videos, often posted by anonymous accounts, typically had the tell-tale signs of AI-generated images such as extra fingers and distortions, said TikTok misinformation researcher Abbie Richards.

Peddling such theories can be financially rewarding, Richards said, with TikTok's "Creativity Program" designed to pay creators for content generated on the platform.

It has spawned what she called a cottage industry of conspiracy theory videos powered by artificial intelligence tools including text-to-speech applications that are widely -- and freely -- available online.

A TikTok spokeswoman insisted that "conspiracy theories are not eligible to earn money or be recommended" in user feeds.

"Harmful misinformation is prohibited, with our safety teams removing 95 percent of it proactively before it's reported," she told AFP.

Still, tutorials on platforms such as YouTube show users how to create "viral conspiracy theory videos" and profit off TikTok's Creativity Program.

One such tutorial openly instructed users to start by making up "something outrageous" such as "scientists just got caught hiding a saber-toothed tiger."

"Financially incentivizing content that is both highly engaging and cheap to manufacture creates an environment for conspiracy theories to thrive," Richards wrote in the Media Matters report.



- Threat of AI -



Such concerns, driven by rapid advancements in AI, are particularly high in a year of major elections around the world.

Last week, the European Union wielded its powerful Digital Services Act (DSA) to press several platforms including TikTok on the risks of AI -- including from deepfakes -- for upcoming elections in the 27-nation bloc.

In the United States, where the app has some 170 million users -- roughly half the country's population -- lawmakers last week overwhelmingly backed a bill to ban TikTok unless Chinese parent company ByteDance divested itself within six months.

The bill, which still needs to pass the more cautious upper house of the US Congress, risks riling young voters in a key election year.

US policymakers have repeatedly expressed concerns about TikTok's alleged ties to the Chinese government, user data safety and its apparent impact on national security.

According to a report from the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Chinese government is using TikTok to expand its global influence operations to promote pro-Beijing narratives and undermine American democracy, including through disinformation.

"Disinformation should be part of the debate about TikTok," Aynne Kokas, a media studies professor at the University of Virginia, told AFP.

Many experts, however, as well as young users who rely on the app as their primary source of news, oppose banning TikTok, saying it's unfair to single out the platform.

"There's lots of misinformation on TikTok, just as there is on other social media platforms. Some of that misinformation is dangerous," Jameel Jaffer, director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, told AFP.

"(But) investing the government with the authority to suppress misinformation -- or to ban Americans from accessing platforms that host misinformation -- is not a sensible response to this problem. Nor would it be a constitutional one," he added.
TikTok and its 'secret sauce' caught in US-China tussle



Seoul, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



As a US campaign to sever TikTok from its Chinese parent heads to the Senate, analysts say Beijing's response to a forced sale of the app -- and its 'secret sauce' algorithm -- will be clear: Hands off.

Under new legislation that passed the House of Representatives last week, TikTok could be banned in the United States if it does not cut all ties with Chinese tech giant ByteDance.

But in the battle over TikTok's future in the United States, what strikes many as a contradiction has emerged: while the company tries to convince Congress of its independence from Beijing, China has come out swinging in its defence.

Beijing does not want a precedent to be set where a Chinese company is strong-armed into selling one of its most valuable assets, including an algorithm that is the envy of competitors, analysts say.

"This kind of threat is like daylight robbery," Mei Xinyu, a Beijing-based economist, told AFP. "All things considered, the Chinese government's actions so far have been very mild."

"What the US government is proposing is way over the line."

US lawmakers and security agencies say TikTok presents a threat because China can access and use the vast troves of data the app collects for influence and espionage.

TikTok has denied the allegations, saying it has spent around $1.5 billion on "Project Texas", under which US user data would be stored in the United States.

However, many lawmakers and bodies including the FBI remain unconvinced.

Some critics have said the data itself is only part of the issue, and that the algorithm that produces personalised recommendations for TikTok users must also be disconnected from ByteDance.



- 'The secret sauce' -



That ByteDance algorithm has helped drive TikTok's stratospheric success since the app was launched for the international market in 2017.

It crunches huge amounts of user data, such as their interactions on the app and their location, to provide more content tailored for them.

Its precise details are a closely guarded secret, but it helped propel TikTok to one billion users in just four years. Facebook, by comparison, took more than eight years to reach that milestone.

Other social media platforms also deploy tailored recommendations based on algorithms that analyse user data, but analysts say TikTok's has been so successful that it is considered by some to be the company's most precious asset.

The algorithm is "valuable because TikTok is sticky. People spend more time on TikTok than they do on other social media", James Andrew Lewis, a technology expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told AFP.

"This is the secret sauce that makes TikTok a success."

The algorithm has been at the centre of discussions about any potential sale of TikTok since the administration of then US president Donald Trump sought to ban TikTok in 2020.

That year, the Chinese government designated algorithms that provide recommendations based on user data analysis as a protected technology, meaning their export would require Beijing's approval.

While no specific app or firm was cited, the economist Mei said the move was "to a very large extent" because of US pressure against TikTok.

TikTok has said that under Project Texas, its recommendation algorithm for US users is stored along with their data on Oracle servers in the United States.

However, The Wall Street Journal reported in January that ByteDance employees in China updated the TikTok algorithm so frequently that Project Texas workers could not track all changes.

TikTok did not respond to AFP's questions about the Wall Street Journal report or about where its algorithm is updated.

CEO Shou Zi Chew has said previously that TikTok will not be "manipulated by any government" and that it has never been asked by the Chinese government for US user data.



- 'Commercial plunder' -



In Beijing, however, officials have not minced words in their opposition to the TikTok bill, saying China will take all necessary measures to protect its interests.

"You've got the desire to protect the option for a relationship with the intelligence services, and you've got a little bit of nationalist pride because it's so successful," said Lewis at CSIS.

"Some of it is just (being) annoyed with the Americans for trying to force them to sell. All of that puts Beijing right behind ByteDance."

Beijing wants to avoid a forced sale to protect Chinese firms, Zhang Yi, founder of the Guangzhou-based tech research firm iiMedia, told AFP.

"Once the precedent is set, there may be countless other Chinese companies that will face a similar fate in the future."

Hu Xijin, a former editor of the nationalist Chinese newspaper Global Times, urged ByteDance not to give in to US pressure.

"The essence of this matter is commercial plunder," he wrote this month.

"As long as ByteDance remains firm, willing to shut down TikTok rather than give up ownership, it will create reverse pressure on the passage of the bill."

qan-ll/tym
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On March 16, BYD Company Limited ("BYD") and JD.com officially signed a strategic partnership agreement at JD.com's headquarters in Beijing, according to a post on the WeChat account of BYD's commercial vehicle (CV) business unit. This partnership marks a significant step for both corporations, aiming to leverage their respective strengths in advancing China's automotive industry and embracing the opportunities presented by the era of electrification and digital transformation.

BYD CV business unit; photo credit: BYD

Together, BYD and JD.com will explore comprehensive cooperation in passenger vehicles (PVs), CV applications, digitalized supply chain services, materials procurement, and integrated services. For instance, BYD's CV unit will utilize the group's leading PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) technology, high-safety Blade Batteries, and efficient dedicated engines to renew the logistics light-duty truck products. This partnership aims to meet the demands of green logistics across various scenarios with significant Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) advantages. Integrating fleet cloud service management systems with JD Logistics digital supply chain and automated warehousing systems, the collaboration is set to achieve cost reduction and efficiency improvements, serving as a model for development in the logistics sector.

BYD, an international enterprise spanning electronics, automobiles, new energy, and rail transit industries, saw its annual passenger vehicle (PV) sales exceed 3 million units in 2023, securing the top spot in Chinas automotive industry. JD.com, positioned as a technology and service company based on supply chain, operates across retail, technology, logistics, health, industrial development, private brands, insurance, and international business. The company is committed to fostering high-quality development of the physical economy through solid and innovative experiences.

Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD, expressed that the electrification of Chinas automotive industry is rapidly advancing. This strategic signing with JD.com is seen as an opportunity for mutual benefit and deeper cooperation. By leveraging JD.coms advanced supply chain technology and services, both companies aim to drive the transformation and upgrade of Chinas automotive industry chain, accelerate the international expansion of new energy vehicles, and enhance the international competitiveness of Chinese automobiles.

JD.com CEO Xu Ran stated that JD.com, drawing upon its strategic orientation and digital supply chain strengths, is focusing on the automotive industry as a pivotal area of development. The company is in the early stages of establishing two key service capabilities: a digitalized supply chain operational service tailored to the automotive industry, encompassing production, supply, sales, and service, and a comprehensive lifecycle service for vehicle owners, covering purchasing, accessorizing, maintenance, usage, and exchange. The aim is for both parties to accelerate business expansion and deepen collaboration, jointly promoting high-quality development within the automotive industry's supply and value chains.
Australia demands tech giants tackle 'extremist' content



Sydney, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



Australia's internet watchdog hit Google, X and Meta with legal notices on Tuesday, demanding the tech giants explain how they are clamping down on "violent extremist material".

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said disturbing content, such as video from the 2019 mosque shootings in New Zealand, continued to spread on mainstream social media platforms.

Notices have been sent to six companies -- Google, Meta, X, WhatsApp, Telegram and Reddit -- which now have 49 days to respond.

"It's no coincidence we have chosen these companies to send notices to as there is evidence that their services are exploited by terrorists and violent extremists," Inman Grant said.

"We want to know why this is and what they are doing to tackle the issue."

Australia has spearheaded efforts to hold the tech giants accountable for what their users post online, under its groundbreaking "Online Safety Act" passed in 2021.

Inman Grant, herself a former employee of the rebranded Twitter, said the legal notices would help the regulator "get a look under the hood at what they are and are not doing".

This is not the first time Australia has targeted the tech giants, issuing similar legal notices in February that asked them to address child sexual abuse content.

But Australia's efforts to enforce social media regulations have occasionally been met with indifference.

The legal notices ask the companies to "report on steps they are taking to protect Australians from terrorist and violent extremist material and activity".

Australia's eSafety Commission recently slapped X with an Aus$610,500 (US$388,000) fine for failing to demonstrate how it is combatting child sexual abuse content.

X, formerly known as Twitter, launched its own legal action in a bid to contest the fine.
Apple in talks to bring Google's Gemini AI to iPhone: report



San Francisco, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



Apple is in advanced negotiations with Google to adopt its powerful Gemini AI models for the iPhone, Bloomberg reported on Monday.

The move, if confirmed and resulting in a deal, would answer one of the big questions about the iPhone-maker's AI strategy, which has been criticized as lagging its tech giant rivals.

Google's share price soared by well over six percent on the news. Apple's was up by as much as 2.5 percent.

According to Bloomberg, Apple is seeking to partner with Google for its next iOS operating system release and will likely feature on its next iPhone, expected later this year.

Apple and Google are already locked in a search engine partnership that sees Google pay Apple tens of billions of dollars every year to give the search engine a prominent place on the iPhone.

That long-running search engine deal is facing a historic lawsuit from the US Department of Justice for alleged violations of antitrust law.

Bloomberg reported that Apple had also held talks with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, to partner on generative AI, without providing more details.

Apple CEO Tim Cook last month said there would be major updates in store on the AI front, though some observers may be disappointed that the company is teaming up with others to deliver on AI.

"For Google, any hypothetical deal with Apple could mean they essentially 'own' generative AI on mobile devices (Android + iOS)," said Colin Sebastian, an analyst at Baird.

"It also means Apple may not be in a position to catch-up to GenAI leaders, at least not in the next generation of devices," he added.
N. Korea fires 'unidentified ballistic missile': media



Seoul, March 17 (AFP) Mar 17, 2024



North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Monday, local media reported, citing South Korean military, days after Seoul and Washington wrapped up annual joint training exercises.

"North Korea fired an unspecified ballistic missile toward the East Sea," Yonhap reported, quoting the Joint Chiefs of Staff, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

It comes after South Korea and the United States conducted large-scale annual joint military exercises, with double the number of troops participating compared to 2023.

Pyongyang last week warned that Seoul and Washington would pay a "dear price" over the Freedom Shield drills, and later announced that Kim had guided an artillery unit it says was capable of striking the South Korean capital.

Monday's apparent ballistic missile test is the North's second this year, after Pyongyang launched one tipped with a manoeuvrable hypersonic warhead on January 14.
N. Korea fires ballistic missile as Blinken visits Seoul



Seoul, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Monday, Seoul's military said, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited South Korea to meet top officials and attend a democracy summit.

Blinken is in Seoul for the third Summit for Democracy, an initiative of US President Joe Biden, which the South is hosting this week, and is set to meet his Korean counterpart on the sidelines for talks.

Key security allies Washington and Seoul wrapped up one of their major annual joint military training exercises last week, prompting angry retorts and tit-for-tat drills from nuclear-armed Pyongyang.

"North Korea fired an unspecified ballistic missile toward the East Sea," Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

Japan also confirmed the launch, with the Japan Coast Guard saying the objects appeared to have already fallen.

The launch comes just days after the annual Freedom Shield, which this year involved double the number of troops, ended Thursday. The 11 days of joint exercises were aimed at strengthening South Korean and American deterrence against the North's nuclear and missile threats.

Pyongyang this month warned that Seoul and Washington would pay a "dear price" over the Freedom Shield drills, and later announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had guided an artillery unit it says was capable of striking the South Korean capital.

The nuclear-armed North has long condemned joint US-South Korea military drills, calling them rehearsals for an invasion. It has carried out weapons tests in the past as a response to previous joint exercises of this nature.

Monday's ballistic missile test is the North's second this year, after Pyongyang launched one tipped with a manoeuvrable hypersonic warhead on January 14.

Blinken landed Sunday afternoon ahead of the democracy summit, which runs from March 18 to 20 and will bring together government officials, NGOs and civil society members.



- Boosting deterrence -



Seoul is one of Washington's key regional allies, and the United States has stationed about 27,000 American soldiers in the South to help protect it against the nuclear-armed North.

Seoul's conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol has boosted ties with Washington and sought to bury the historical hatchet with former colonial power Japan to better guard against Pyongyang's threats.

So far this year, Pyongyang has declared South Korea its "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.

Blinken will meet South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae Yul, the ministry said, for discussions that will cover how to boost the alliance, as Washington and Seoul explore how to improve their so-called "extended deterrence" against North Korea.

The democracy summit has attracted some criticism due to its selective invitation list, which excludes countries that consider themselves democratic, such as Thailand and Turkey.

After Seoul, Blinken heads to the Philippines, a trip that will reaffirm "our unwavering commitment to the Philippine ally", according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

The United States is redoubling efforts to improve longstanding ties with regional allies such as Manila, in an effort to counterbalance China.
Israeli army launches operation in Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



The Israeli army launched Monday an operation around Gaza's largest hospital Al-Shifa, with witnesses reporting air strikes on the devastated neighbourhood where it is located.

Israeli soldiers "are currently conducting a precise operation in the area of the Shifa hospital", a statement from the military said.

"The operation is based on intelligence information indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists".

Witnesses in Gaza City told AFP they saw tanks surround the hospital site.

The Israeli army also carried out a November operation in Al-Shifa, sparking an international outcry.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the war have sought shelter in the complex, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of running military operations from hospitals and other medical centres, claims the militant group denies.

The Hamas government media office in Gaza condemned the operation, saying that "the storming of the Al-Shifa medical complex with tanks, drones, and weapons, and shooting inside it, is a war crime".

The Israeli army has carried out several operations on medical facilities around the Gaza Strip since the start of the war.

The war began when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack from Gaza on October 7 that resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

Palestinian militants seized about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages during the October 7 attack, but dozens were released during a week-long truce in November.

Israel believes about 130 remain in Gaza including 33 -- eight soldiers and 25 civilians -- who are presumed dead.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has carried out a relentless bombardment and ground offensive that the health ministry in the Palestinian territory says has killed at least 31,645 people, most of them women and children.

According to the Israeli military, troops "were instructed on the importance of operating cautiously, as well as on the measures to be taken to avoid harm to the patients, civilians, medical staff, and medical equipment".

The statement also said Arabic speakers had been deployed in order to "facilitate dialogue with the patients remaining in the hospital".

It added: "There is no obligation for the patients and medical staff to evacuate."

Following its November 15 operation on Al-Shifa, the Israeli military said it had found weapons and other military equipment hidden in the site -- claims Hamas has denied.

It also claimed it had found a 55-metre tunnel in the basement and shared footage that it said proved hostages had been held there, which Hamas also denied.

According to the UN, 155 health facilities in the Gaza Strip have been damaged since the war began.
Cheap drones 'cannot match' artillery power in Ukraine: experts



Paris, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



Ukraine is relying on the massive use of drones to compensate for an artillery shell shortage and undermine Russian military capabilities, but experts warned they cannot tip the balance.

Both drones used for strikes hundreds of kilometres away and commercial drones are starting to dominate the battlefield.

In particular, so-called First Person View (FPV) drones allow their pilots to see live images of the ground as if they were on board and can locate enemy units and, if armed with explosives, attack them from within a few kilometres.

"At the moment in Ukraine, we are seeing the use of drones on an unimaginable scale, we are really talking about tens and hundreds of thousands of drones on the battlefield," Ulrike Franke, a researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), told AFP.

In its 2024 budget Kyiv earmarked 1.15 billion euros ($1.25 billion) for drones, and President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the country will produce "one million drones" this year, after setting up a specific drone branch in February.

Kyiv's direction comes as its supporters are trying to bolster Ukrainian stocks -- London is set to deliver more than 10,000 drones, of which one thousand are FPV drones, and Paris is preparing to order 2,000 kamikaze drones, some of which will be used in Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials estimate between 100,000 and 120,000 drones are needed monthly.

Whereas it needs 200,000 to 250,000 artillery shells per month for a major offensive or 75,000 to 90,000 to sustain the war defensively, according to an Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) review.

Western backers largely depend on US stocks to sustain defence, but Kyiv does not have enough ammunition to launch a major offensive next year, it added.

So "Ukraine can reduce its requirements for artillery ammunition by significantly increasing production of strike drones" continued Michael Kofman and Franz-Stefan Gady in the IISS review.

Drones are "capable of reproducing many of the functions of artillery and missiles at a fraction of the cost", agreed Mykola Bielieskov of the Atlantic Council.

A small commercial drone costs just a few hundred euros, whereas a simple anti-tank missile, artillery shell or remotely operated munition costs several thousands.

- "Not ideal" -



Ukrainian FPV drones are currently responsible for between 65 and 85 percent of the destruction of Russian positions, according to a French military source.

But Ulrike Franke warned: "They use drones because they can produce or buy them, but it is not ideal."

FPV drones have a small load capacity of just hundreds of grams of explosive and a few kilograms for the largest commercial drones.

"Even large numbers of small drones cannot match the potency of artillery fire," agreed Stacie Pettyjohn in a study by American security think-tank "CNAS".

Drones can supplement indirect fire weapons, but they are not substitutes, she added.

In September, the New York Times reported that less than a third of drone strikes hit their target, as the machines can easily be jammed or disrupted by electronic countermeasures.

Ukraine can no longer count on superiority in the field of drones.

In 2022 Ukraine had a "9-to-1 advantage" in commercial drones but this lead has now "essential disappeared", Pettyjohn added.

"While the Russian Ministry of Defence was slow to catch up, Russian troops had quickly realized the utility of commercial quadcopters and volunteer groups had emerged to provide frontline soldiers with drones and the necessary training."

Russia also relied heavily on FPV kamikaze drones to thwart Ukraine's counter-offensive last summer.

For Pettyjohn, although drones offer new capabilities, they ultimately make it more difficult to "concentrate forces, achieve surprise, and conduct offensive operations" so they will not make "truly disruptive change".

burs-mra/tq/ico/spb/cw
N. Korea fires ballistic missiles as Blinken visits Seoul



Seoul, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Monday in what analysts said was a calculated move to grab attention as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits South Korea for talks.

Blinken is attending the third Summit for Democracy and met President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul early Monday. He is also meeting his South Korean counterpart on the sidelines of the event, for discussions now likely to be dominated by the allies' efforts to counter threats from the nuclear-armed North.

Washington and Seoul wrapped up one of their major annual joint military training exercises last week, prompting angry retorts and live-fire drills from nuclear-armed Pyongyang, which condemns all such exercises as rehearsals for invasion.

Seoul's military said it had detected the launch of "multiple short-range ballistic missiles" early Monday, which flew around 300 kilometres (186 miles) before coming down into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.

"We are closely sharing relevant information with the US and Japan and are maintaining utmost readiness," the Joint Chiefs of Staff added.

After meeting Yoon, Blinken "condemned the... launch of ballistic missiles by the DPRK and reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to the ROK's security," Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, referring to North and South Korea by their official names.

Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said the North had fired three short-range ballistic missiles, which landed outside of the country's EEZ and did not cause any damage.

The launches come just days after Seoul and Washington's annual Freedom Shield drills, which this year involved double the number of troops, ended Thursday.

Pyongyang this month warned that Seoul and Washington would pay a "dear price" over the drills, and later announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had guided an artillery unit it says was capable of striking the South Korean capital.

"It's a highly calculated move timing-wise by Pyongyang to fire multiple missiles to show they are capable of doing such an act even when the top US diplomat is in town," Professor Choi Gi-il of military studies at Sangji University told AFP.

North Korea typically stages missile launches "as a tit-for-tat" after US-South Korea joint drills, Han Kwon-hee of Korea Association of Defence Industry Studies told AFP.

Blinken's presence only adds to their motivation, he said, as it "means more attention from Washington and adds pressure on host Seoul."



- Boosting deterrence -



Monday's ballistic missile test is the North's second this year, after Pyongyang launched one tipped with a manoeuvrable hypersonic warhead on January 14.

Blinken landed in South Korea on Sunday afternoon ahead of the democracy summit, which runs from March 18 to 20 and will bring together government officials, NGOs and civil society members.

Seoul is one of Washington's key regional allies, and the United States has stationed about 27,000 American soldiers in the South to help protect it against the nuclear-armed North.

Conservative President Yoon has boosted ties with Washington and sought to bury the historical hatchet with former colonial power Japan to better guard against Pyongyang's threats.

So far this year, Pyongyang has declared South Korea its "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.

"While South Korea conducted defence training last week alongside international partners, Kim Jong-un personally supervised several military exercises, and now while Seoul hosts a summit of democracies, North Korea fires more missiles," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"The Kim regime's one-upmanship aims to show strength to its domestic audience, suggest costs on the Korean Peninsula for Seoul's international security cooperation, and warn Washington against increasing pressure on Pyongyang."

Blinken also met South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul for discussions on boosting the alliance, as Washington and Seoul look to improve their so-called "extended deterrence" against North Korea.

After Seoul, Blinken heads to the Philippines.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- During the China EV100 Forum 2024 held on March 16, He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of Chinese smart electric vehicle maker XPENG, unveiled plans to launch a new fire brand that will enter the global auto market in the 100,000- to 150,000-yuan segment.

Furthermore, in the second quarter of this year, XPENG's advanced AI driving large model will officially be integrated into its vehicles, marking the automotive industry's first mass-produced deployment of an in-vehicle artificial intelligence and cognitive engine.

The era of "AI defined vehicles" has arrived, with AI technologies at the core for reshaping the technical architecture and business models of smart electric vehicles. Currently, as mainstream brands actively engage in smart driving technologies and vehicles with Level 2 and above intelligent driving assistance capabilities see rapid sales growth, the penetration rate is expected to reach 49.9% by 2025, according to Mr. He's speech.

Photo credit: XPENG

He Xiaopeng said that "the next decade for new energy vehicles will be a decade of intelligence," emphasizing the role of new productive forces in driving the rapid development of the automotive industry. As this "new decade" begins, XPENG has announced its entry into the global A-segment market priced between 100,000 yuan to 150,000 yuan and will soon launch its new brand. Dedicated to creating the "first AI smart driving car for young people," the new brand will continuously explore the demands of younger customers, introducing a range of new models with varying levels of smart driving capabilities to provide the best smart driving experience in its class. He added XPENG will also become the first Chinese automaker to bring advanced smart driving capabilities to the A-segment market in the 100,000- to 150,000-yuan price range, opening a new chapter in the era of global AI smart driving for Chinese automakers.

At the China EV100 Forum 2024, He Xiaopeng shared that XPENG will focus on upgrading "AI technology with smart driving at its core" this year, planning to invest 3.5 billion yuan in intelligent R&D and recruit an additional 4,000 staff. Additionally, in the second quarter, XPENG will fulfill its promise made during the "1024 Tech Day" in 2023 to implement the "AI big model in vehicles," becoming the first in the industry to mass-deploy an in-vehicle artificial intelligence and cognitive engine.
Israeli army launches operation at Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



The Israeli army launched Monday an operation around Gaza's largest hospital, Al-Shifa, with witnesses reporting air strikes on the devastated neighbourhood where it is located.

Israeli soldiers "are currently conducting a precise operation in the area of the Shifa hospital", a statement from the military said.

"The operation is based on intelligence information indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists".

Witnesses in Gaza City told AFP they saw tanks surround the hospital site.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the war have sought shelter in the complex, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

The Israeli army had also carried out a November operation in Al-Shifa, sparking an international outcry.

Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of running military operations from hospitals and other medical centres, claims the militant group denies.

The Hamas government media office in Gaza condemned the operation, saying that "the storming of the Al-Shifa medical complex with tanks, drones, and weapons, and shooting inside it, is a war crime".

The health ministry in the besieged Hamas-run territory said it had received calls from people near the hospital site who claimed there were dozens of casualties.

"No one could transport them to the hospital due to the intensity of gunfire and artillery shelling," the ministry said.

The Israeli army has carried out multiple operations in and around medical facilities across the Gaza Strip since the start of the war.

The war began when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack from Gaza on October 7 that resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

Palestinian militants seized about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages during the October 7 attack, but dozens were released during a week-long truce in November.

Israel believes about 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 -- eight soldiers and 25 civilians -- who are presumed dead.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has carried out a relentless bombardment and ground offensive that the health ministry in the Palestinian territory says have killed at least 31,645 people, most of them women and children.

According to the Israeli military, troops "were instructed on the importance of operating cautiously, as well as on the measures to be taken to avoid harm to the patients, civilians, medical staff, and medical equipment" at Al-Shifa.

The statement also said Arabic speakers had been deployed in order to "facilitate dialogue with the patients remaining in the hospital".

It added: "There is no obligation for the patients and medical staff to evacuate."

Following its November 15 operation on Al-Shifa, the Israeli military said it had found weapons and other military equipment hidden in the site -- claims Hamas has denied.

It also claimed it had found a 55-metre tunnel in the basement and shared footage that it said proved hostages had been held there, which Hamas also denied.

According to the UN, 155 health facilities in the Gaza Strip have been damaged since the war began.



- 'Where should they go?' -



The Hamas-run health ministry said early Monday that dozens of people had been killed across the Gaza Strip overnight.

Over the weekend, 12 members of the same family were killed when their house was hit in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

Palestinian girl Leen Thabit, retrieving a white dress from under the rubble of their flattened house, cried as she told AFP her cousin was killed in the strike.

"She's dead. Only her dress is left," Thabit said.

For several weeks, the focus of the war had been on southern Gaza, where around 1.5 million people who have fled the rest of the devastated territory have sought refuge since the start of the war.

Allies of Israel, including the United States, have warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government against launching a full-scale operation in Rafah near the Egyptian border.

Rafah is the only urban centre in Gaza where Israeli ground troops have yet to enter.

Visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters that if such an offensive resulted in "a large number of casualties" it "would make any peaceful development in the region very difficult".

Israel has insisted, however, that its war aim of eliminating Hamas cannot be achieved without operating across the territory.

On Sunday, Netanyahu vowed civilians crammed into the south of the strip would be able to leave before troops enter in pursuit of Hamas militants.

The office of Netanyahu had on Friday said he approved the military's plan for an operation in Rafah as well as "the evacuation of the population".

"Our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah goes hand-in-hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah," Netanyahu said at a press appearance alongside Scholz.

"It's not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place."

As others have done, Scholz raised the question:

"Where should they go?"



- 'Out of harm's way' -



The United States, which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance, has said it wants a "clear and implementable plan" to ensure civilians are "out of harm's way".

Gaza is facing the threat of famine, according to the UN, and many residents of the territory have faced displacement multiple times in recent months.

There has been no indication yet of where those crammed into Rafah could go, and any suggestion of Palestinian dispersal outside the Palestinian Territories is highly contentious in the Arab world.

A Hamas proposal for a truce calls for an Israeli withdrawal from "all cities and populated areas" in Gaza during a six-week truce and for more humanitarian aid, according to an official from the group.

International envoys were planning to meet in Qatar soon to revive stalled talks for a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Israel plans to attend the talks, and a cabinet meeting meant to decide the delegation's mandate took place on Sunday night, Netanyahu's office said, though the outcome was not immediately known.
Kabul says 8 killed in Pakistani air strikes on eastern Afghanistan



Kabul, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



Eight people, all women and children, were killed on Monday in "reckless" air strikes by the Pakistani military in the border regions of Afghanistan, the Taliban government's spokesman said.

Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have risen since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad claiming militant groups are carrying out regular attacks from the neighbouring country.

At "around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Sunday), Pakistani aircraft bombarded civilian homes" in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement.

The Taliban government "strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of and an attack on Afghanistan's sovereignty", he added.

The strikes come after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack inside Pakistan territory on Saturday, for which the country's President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation.

"Pakistan has decided that whoever will enter our borders, homes or country and commit terror, we will respond to them strongly, regardless of who it is or from which country," he said while attending the funeral prayers of the soldiers, which included a lieutenant colonel.

Areas along the border have long been a stronghold for militant groups such as Pakistan's home-grown Taliban group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates across the porous frontier with Afghanistan.

Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the Taliban's return to power, with TTP waging a growing campaign against security officials.

The Taliban deny harbouring Pakistani militants.

In 2022, Taliban authorities said Pakistani military helicopters carried out strikes along the Afghan side of the border killing at least 47 people.

The TTP issued an official statement denying that Monday's strikes targeted the group, saying their members operate from within Pakistan.

However, a TTP source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media said the strikes in Paktika and Khost left at least nine people dead.

"A house has been attacked where two women and seven children have been killed and a child has been wounded" in the Barmal district in Paktika.

"A bombardment in the Pasa Mela area of Khost also has casualties."
Kabul says 8 killed in Pakistan air strikes on eastern Afghanistan



Kabul, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



Eight civilians were killed Monday in "reckless" air strikes by Pakistan's military in the border regions of Afghanistan, prompting Afghan forces to retaliate against Pakistani military outposts, Taliban officials said.

Border tensions between the two countries have risen since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad claiming militant groups are carrying out regular attacks from Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani aircraft "bombed civilian homes" in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan at around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Sunday), adding that all of the dead were women and children.

Afghanistan's defence ministry said its border forces retaliated in response to the airstrikes, targeting Pakistan's military points along the disputed border with "heavy weapons".

"The country's defense and security forces are ready to respond to any aggressive actions and will defend their territorial integrity at all cost," spokesman Enayatullah Khwarizmi said on social media platform X.

Cross-border skirmishes in the region were reported by both sides into Monday afternoon, the latest in a string of such incidents on the disputed frontier.

The Taliban government "strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty", Mujahid said in his statement.

"Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will be out (of) Pakistan's control."



- Drones and jets -



Malak Noor Khan, a tribal elder in the Sperah district of Khost, said he saw at least four explosives dropped from drones and jets and that multiple homes were destroyed, one with a woman and her children inside.

"When the drone came first, we all, including women and children, left our homes and went into the trees on the mountainside, it was very cold as there was snow on the ground," he told AFP.

"All those targeted are refugees from Waziristan, they are not militants, they are not terrorists," he said.

Large numbers of civilians fled Waziristan in 2014 when the Pakistani military launched an operation to wipe out militant bases in the tribal areas, many crossing over the border into Afghanistan.

A local government official in Pakistan's border regions, who asked not to be named, told AFP residents had been instructed to evacuate the area amid the skirmishes.

"Announcements have been made in mosques to empty some areas in Kurram and North Waziristan as clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue on and off at the border," he added.



- Increasing militancy -



Areas along the border have long been a stronghold for militant groups such as Pakistan's home-grown Taliban group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates across the porous frontier with Afghanistan.

Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the Taliban's return to power, with TTP waging a growing campaign against security officials.

The Taliban deny harbouring Pakistani militants.

In 2022, Taliban authorities said Pakistani military helicopters carried out strikes along the Afghan side of the border that killed at least 47 people, including 20 children.

Monday's strikes came after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack by an armed group inside Pakistan's territory on Saturday, for which the country's President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation.

"Pakistan has decided that whoever will enter our borders, homes or country and commit terror, we will respond to them strongly, regardless of who it is or from which country," he said while attending the funeral prayers of the soldiers, who included a lieutenant colonel.

A Pakistani military statement said security forces also carried out an operation overnight Sunday in North Waziristan district, which borders Khost and Paktika, killing eight militants accused of being in involved in Saturday's attack.

The TTP issued an official statement denying that Monday's strikes targeted the group, saying their members operate from within Pakistan.
EU states urge bloc's lender to up financing for defence



Brussels, Belgium, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



Over half of the EU's 27 countries, including powerhouses Germany and France, have called for the bloc's lending arm to bolster financing for Europe's defence industry in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine.

The European Union is scrambling to boost arms production as it struggles to keep weaponry and ammunition flowing to Kyiv and refill its own stocks.

In a letter to the head of the European Investment Bank (EIB) dated Sunday, 14 member states called on the lender to expand its investments in the sector beyond a small number of "dual-use products" that can have both military and civilian functions.

"The EU defence industry is a vital part of the European security. A credible defence industry in turn requires investments," said the letter signed by Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden.

"This is why we must urgently discuss ways to enable further investment by the EIB in the security and defence sector."

According to long-standing policies, the EIB cannot directly invest in the manufacture of weaponry and ammunition, and the dual-use goods it finances must have a primarily civilian purpose.

"We need to explore different possibilities that would enable the EIB to invest in defence related activities beyond existing dual-use projects," the letter from the member states said.

"This would mean discussing and re-evaluating current definitions of dual-use projects and the list of excluded activities."

The issue is set to feature at a summit of EU leaders in Brussels later this week focused on bolstering Europe's defence industry and supporting Ukraine.

Brussels has launched a raft of initiatives aimed at pumping more money into ramping up defence output.

But the bloc has still fallen well short of a promise made last year to send Kyiv a million artillery shells by this month.
Stoltenberg urges democratic reforms in NATO-hopeful Georgia



Tbilisi, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday called on Georgia to consolidate democratic reforms as the Black Sea nation pursues its longstanding bid to join the Euro-Atlantic alliance.

Speaking at a press conference in Tbilisi alongside Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Stoltenberg reiterated NATO's promise to accept Tbilisi as a full ally once it meets membership criteria.

"NATO stands by your side as you continue your path towards stronger democracy and full Euro-Atlantic integration, including the 2008 Bucharest decision that Georgia will become a member of NATO alliance," he said.

At a 2008 summit in the Romanian capital Bucharest, NATO leaders granted Georgia an integration perspective, without putting it on a formal membership path.

"It is important that Georgia continues to strengthen domestic reforms, democratic values, and the rule of law, including through free and fair parliamentary elections in October this year," Stoltenberg added.

Georgian government has faced a growing international criticism over perceived backsliding on democracy.

Stoltenberg also said that "Georgia is facing complex security challenges" in the face of Russia's "imperial ambitions."

Membership in NATO and the European Union is enshrined in the country's constitution and supported -- according to opinion polls -- by some 80 percent of population.

The bid has angered Georgia's Soviet-era master Moscow.
Seoul says N Korea has shipped 7,000 arms containers to Russia



Seoul, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



North Korea has shipped around 7,000 containers of arms to Russia to use in its war with Ukraine since the transfers began around last July, South Korea's defence minister said Monday.

Historical allies Russia and North Korea are both under a raft of global sanctions -- Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine and Pyongyang for its testing of nuclear weapons.

Their leaders Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un held a summit in Russia's far east in September, with the United States subsequently claiming Pyongyang had begun providing Moscow with weapons.

"The number of containers from the North to Russia has increased by 300 to reach around 7,000 containers in total so far," Defence Minister Shin Won-sik said at a media briefing Monday, his ministry told AFP.

The figure refers to shipments sent since July and Shin said that with "some maritime routes suspended now, some have been sent via rail to Russia".

The United States said in October 2023 that arms shipments from Pyongyang to Moscow were underway, estimating that North Korea had delivered more than 1,000 containers of military equipment and munitions to Russia at the time.

Seoul accused Pyongyang the following month of sending more than one million artillery rounds to Russia, with the North appearing in return to receive technical advice from Moscow on its bid to launch a military reconnaissance satellite.

Kim declared during his visit to Russia in September that bilateral ties with Moscow were his country's "number one priority", with Pyongyang becoming an ardent supporter of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Washington and experts have said Pyongyang was seeking a range of military assistance in return, such as satellite technology and upgrading its Soviet-era military equipment.

North Korea's state media said on Monday Kim had sent a message congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin on his landslide re-election for a fifth term in office.

"I will firmly join hands with you and bring about a new era of the DPRK-Russia friendship," the message said.
Afghanistan retaliates against Pakistan after air strikes kill 8



Kabul, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



Eight civilians were killed Monday in "reckless" air strikes by Pakistan's military in the border regions of Afghanistan, prompting Afghan forces to retaliate against Pakistani military outposts, Taliban officials said.

Border tensions between the two countries have steadily escalated since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad claiming militant groups are carrying out regular attacks from Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani aircraft "bombed civilian homes" in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan at around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Sunday), adding that all of the dead were women and children.

Afghanistan's defence ministry said its border forces retaliated in response to the airstrikes, targeting Pakistan's military posts along the disputed border with "heavy weapons".

Cross-border skirmishes in the region were reported by both sides on Monday, the latest in a string of incidents on the disputed frontier.

The Taliban government "strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty", Mujahid said in his statement.

"Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will be out (of) Pakistan's control."

The Pakistani foreign ministry confirmed on Monday evening it had carried out "anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan".

It said in a statement it was targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, one of several factions of the homegrown Pakistani Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), that are responsible for a surge in border violence against police and security officials.



- Drones and jets -



Malak Noor Khan, a tribal elder in the Sperah district of Khost, said he saw at least four explosives dropped from drones and jets and that multiple homes were destroyed, one with a woman and her children inside.

"When the drone came first, we all, including women and children, left our homes and went into the trees on the mountainside, it was very cold as there was snow on the ground," he told AFP.

A local government official in Pakistan's border regions, who asked not to be identified, told AFP residents had been instructed to evacuate the area during the skirmishes.

Islamabad has accused Kabul's Taliban government of harbouring militant fighters, allowing them to strike on Pakistani soil with impunity.

Kabul has denied the allegations.

In the first half of 2023, attacks rose by 80 percent, with 112 people killed in August, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

A senior government official based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who asked not to be identified, told AFP that, despite repeated complaints, "Afghanistan does not seem to be taking the matter seriously".

Regional analyst Saira Aqil said that, while increased attacks in Pakistan are "prompting inevitable retaliation", the country "cannot afford to lose Afghanistan as an ally".

"Pakistan must bear this in mind, as maintaining a friendly relationship with Afghanistan presents greater opportunities than having them as an adversary," said Aqil, a professor at the defence and strategic studies department of Quaid I Azam University in Islamabad.



- 'We will respond' -



The Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement posted on X it had summoned the head of the Pakistani embassy in Kabul to protest against Monday's strikes.

It called on Pakistan's new government to "not allow some circles to complicate the relationship between two neighbouring Muslim countries" -- an apparent reference to certain Pakistani military leaders.

The Pakistan foreign ministry in turn said that "certain elements among those in power in Afghanistan are actively patronising TTP and using them as a proxy against Pakistan", urging them "to make a clear choice to stand with the people of Pakistan".

Monday's strikes came after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack by an armed group inside Pakistan's territory on Saturday, for which President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation.

"Pakistan has decided that whoever will enter our borders, homes or country and commit terror, we will respond to them strongly, regardless of who it is or from which country," he said while attending the funeral prayers of the soldiers, who included a lieutenant colonel.

A Pakistani military statement said security forces also carried out an operation overnight Sunday in North Waziristan district, which borders Khost and Paktika, killing eight militants accused of being involved in Saturday's attack.

burs/sw/ecl/pbt
Iraqi Kurdish party to boycott local polls in tussle with federal court



Arbil, Iraq, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



The main party in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region said on Monday it would boycott local elections, accusing the Baghdad-based supreme court of interfering in regional affairs.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) said it would not take part in the June 10 vote following a February ruling by the Federal Supreme Court to amend the electoral law.

That decision reduced the number of seats in the Kurdish parliament from 111 to 100, effectively eliminating a quota reserved for Turkmen, Armenian and Christian minorities.

It also ruled that the Iraqi Electoral Commission should oversee the vote instead of local committees.

"We believe that it is in the interest of our people for our party not to comply with an unconstitutional decision and a system imposed from the outside," the KDP said in a statement.

The KDP will not take part in a vote "imposed" by the court that "violates the law and the constitution", it added.

The KDP is the largest party in the outgoing Kurdish parliament with 45 seats.

It is followed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) which has 21 seats and enjoys friendlier ties with the federal government in Baghdad.

Under a tacit agreement between the two parties, a PUK member holds the Iraqi presidency, which is reserved for a Kurd, while the president of the Kurdish region is selected from the KDP.

A boycott of local polls by the KDP might further delay the election which had been originally slated to take place on October 22.

Last week, Christian and Turkmen political parties also announced plans to boycott the vote.

The Kurdistan region has been autonomous since 1991.

Relations with Baghdad have long been tense mainly over funds allocated by federal authorities to the Kurdistan region and revenues from its large oil wealth.
Afghanistan retaliates after Pakistani air strikes kill 8



Kabul, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



Eight civilians were killed Monday in "reckless" air strikes by Pakistan's military in the border regions of Afghanistan, prompting Afghan forces to retaliate against Pakistani military outposts, Taliban officials said.

Border tensions between the two countries have steadily escalated since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad claiming militant groups are carrying out regular attacks from Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani aircraft "bombed civilian homes" in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan at around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Sunday), adding that all of the dead were women and children.

Afghanistan's defence ministry said its border forces retaliated by targeting Pakistan's military posts along the border with "heavy weapons".

Cross-border skirmishes in the region were reported by both sides on Monday, the latest in a string of incidents on the disputed frontier.

The Taliban government "strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty", Mujahid said in his statement.

"Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will be out (of) Pakistan's control."

Pakistan's foreign ministry confirmed on Monday it had carried out "anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan".

It said in a statement it was targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, one of several factions of the homegrown Pakistani Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), that are responsible for a surge in border violence against police and security officials.

The strikes prompted a call from the United States for Pakistan, once a key ally in its war against the Taliban in Afghanistan, to "exercise restraint".

"We urge the Taliban to ensure that terrorist attacks are not launched from Afghan soil and we urge Pakistan to exercise restraint and ensure civilians are not harmed in their counterterrorism efforts," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.



- Drones and jets -



Malak Noor Khan, a tribal elder in the Sperah district of Khost, said he saw at least four explosives dropped from drones and jets and that multiple homes were destroyed, one with a woman and her children inside.

"When the drone came first, we all, including women and children, left our homes and went into the trees on the mountainside, it was very cold as there was snow on the ground," he told AFP.

A local government official in Pakistan's border regions, who asked not to be identified, told AFP residents had been instructed to evacuate the area during the skirmishes.

Islamabad has accused Kabul's Taliban government of harbouring militant fighters, allowing them to strike on Pakistani soil with impunity.

Kabul has denied the allegations.

In the first half of 2023, attacks rose by 80 percent, with 112 people killed in August, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

A senior government official based in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who asked not to be identified, told AFP that, despite repeated complaints, "Afghanistan does not seem to be taking the matter seriously".

Regional analyst Saira Aqil said that, while increased attacks in Pakistan are "prompting inevitable retaliation", the country "cannot afford to lose Afghanistan as an ally".



- 'We will respond' -



The Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement posted on X it had summoned the head of the Pakistani embassy in Kabul to protest against Monday's strikes.

It called on Pakistan's new government to "not allow some circles to complicate the relationship between two neighbouring Muslim countries" -- an apparent reference to certain Pakistani military leaders.

The Pakistan foreign ministry in turn said that "certain elements among those in power in Afghanistan are actively patronising TTP and using them as a proxy against Pakistan", urging them "to make a clear choice to stand with the people of Pakistan".

Monday's strikes came after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack by an armed group inside Pakistan's territory on Saturday, for which President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation.

"Pakistan has decided that whoever will enter our borders, homes or country and commit terror, we will respond to them strongly, regardless of who it is or from which country," he said while attending the funeral prayers of the soldiers.

A Pakistani military statement said security forces also carried out an operation overnight Sunday in North Waziristan district, which borders Khost and Paktika, killing eight militants accused of being involved in Saturday's attack.

burs/sw/ecl/pbt/st/bfm
Iraqi Kurdish party to boycott local polls in tussle with federal court



Arbil, Iraq, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



The main party in northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region said on Monday it would boycott local elections, accusing the Baghdad-based supreme court of interfering in regional affairs.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) said it would not take part in the June 10 vote following a February ruling by the Federal Supreme Court to amend the electoral law.

That decision reduced the number of seats in the Kurdish parliament from 111 to 100, effectively eliminating a quota reserved for Turkmen, Armenian and Christian minorities.

It also ruled that the Iraqi Electoral Commission should oversee the vote instead of local committees.

"We believe that it is in the interest of our people for our party not to comply with an unconstitutional decision and a system imposed from the outside," the KDP said in a statement.

The KDP will not take part in a vote "imposed" by the court that "violates the law and the constitution", it added.

The KDP is the largest party in the outgoing Kurdish parliament with 45 seats.

It is followed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) which has 21 seats and enjoys friendlier ties with the federal government in Baghdad.

Under a tacit agreement between the two parties, a PUK member holds the Iraqi presidency, which is reserved for a Kurd, while the president of the Kurdish region is selected from the KDP.

A boycott of local polls by the KDP might further delay the election which had been originally slated to take place on October 22.

Last week, Christian and Turkmen political parties also announced plans to boycott the vote.

The United States, a key supporter of Iraqi Kurdistan, said it was "concerned" by the KDP decision and called for "full participation in free, fair, transparent and credible elections" .

"We also understand many of the concerns raised by Iraqi Kurds with respect to recent decisions made by the federal institutions," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters in Washington.

But he added, "we don't think that boycotting these elections will serve the interests" of Kurds or Iraqis more broadly.

The Kurdistan region has been autonomous since 1991.

Relations with Baghdad have long been tense mainly over funds allocated by federal authorities to the Kurdistan region and revenues from its large oil wealth.
BOISE, IdahoIdaho is poised to become the next U.S. state to implement an age verification statute targeting adult websites.

Lawmakers in the Idaho Senate voted unanimously last week to adopt House Bill (HB) 498, which was proposed by Republican state Reps. Elaine Price and Julianne Young.

The House of Representatives unanimously adopted the measure on February 14, as AVN reported at the time.

The bill is awaiting final transmission to Republican Gov. Brad Little's office. He is expected to sign it into law.
US says Niger cooperation beneficial as it awaits answers



Washington, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



The United States on Monday described military ties with Niger, home to a major drone base, as mutually beneficial as it said it was awaiting clarification on an announcement severing cooperation.

The military, which seized power in Niger in July, announced in a statement read on national television Saturday evening that it was breaking off an agreement with the United States "with immediate effect," but diplomats said there were mixed unofficial messages.

"We are in touch with the transition authorities to seek clarification of their comments and to discuss additional next steps," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said, referring to the coup leadership.

"Our security partnerships with West African partners are mutually beneficial and are intended to achieve what we believe to be shared goals of detecting, deterring and reducing terrorist violence and creating an environment conducive to economic and social development," Patel said.

Niger, one of the world's poorest countries, had been a frontline partner of the West in battling jihadists in the Sahel, with the United States building a desert drone base at a cost of $100 million.

The junta after seizing power kicked out forces from former colonial power France and, like military-run neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, has pursued relations with Russia.

But the military had not acted against the United States, which still has some 1,000 troops in the country.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a rare visit to Niger a year ago in a bid to shore up the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, who has since been put under house arrest.

The junta statement came shortly after the top US military commander for Africa, General Michael Langley, and senior civilian officials visited Niger and met top junta leaders.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said that the delegation was "direct and frank" about US concerns over the coup.

"We were troubled on the path that Niger is on," she told reporters.

"US officials expressed concern over Niger's potential relationships with Russia and Iran," she said.

But she said that the "lengthy" discussions also looked at "how to chart a new path of cooperation forward, emphasizing the importance of respecting Niger's sovereignty and concerns from both sides."
Hamas number three killed in Israeli operation: White House



Washington, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



Israel killed the Hamas militant group's third-in-command last week, the White House said Monday, after Israel previously said he had been targeted in a Gaza airstrike but did not confirm his death.

"Hamas's number three Marwan Issa was killed in an Israeli operation last week," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said as he gave a readout of a call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sullivan said Israel had also "broken a significant number of Hamas battalions, killed 1000s of Hamas fighters including senior commanders."

"The rest of the top leaders are in hiding, likely deep in the Hamas tunnel network, and justice will come for them too," he added.

Israel's military said on March 11 that an air strike on an underground compound in central Gaza on March 9-10 had targeted Issa, describing him as one of the planners of Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.

Issa was a deputy of Mohammed Deif, who heads Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Israel's military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said at the time.

But Hagari said then that it was unclear if Issa had been killed in the operation, adding: "We are still examining the results of the strike, and final confirmation has yet to be received."
Nigerian army denies reprisal attacks after soldiers killed



Lagos, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



Nigeria's army on Monday denied carrying out revenge attacks after the killing of 16 soldiers in the southern Delta state, as residents accused troops of burning a village in retaliation.

Videos of flaming houses along the Forcados river have circulated on social media since Sunday, but AFP has not been able to verify the footage.

Residents in the oil-rich region accused troops of targeting residents of Okuama after the announcement of the soldiers' deaths on Saturday.

The army said the soldiers were killed after being surrounded by local youths on Thursday during a bid to mediate between Okuama, an ethnic Urhobo village, and the neighbouring ethnic Ijaw village of Okoloba.

Late on Monday, defence spokesman Major General Edward Buba dismissed the accusations of reprisals as "fake news".

"The military debunks all claims that the military embarked on reprisal attacks in Okuama Community after the incident. The community was deserted even before troops arrived at the scene," Buba said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said Sunday that he had given the army "full authority to bring to justice anyone found to have been responsible" for killing the soldiers.

"The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished," he said.

He said a civilian was also killed in the attack, and the army said several people had been arrested.

Nigerian media has reported deadly clashes between the two communities in recent weeks, each claiming ownership of land and fishing rights.

Residents fled Okuama following the attack on Saturday and took refuge in nearby villages.

"As I'm talking to you right now, soldiers are there and they continue the demolition of buildings in the community," a resident from the neighbouring town of Bomadi told AFP on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Nigeria has previously faced accusations of military reprisals for the killing of troops, including the 2001 Zaki Biam massacre in eastern Benue state and the 1999 Odi massacre, when the army killed hundreds of people in southern Bayelsa state.
If you obsessed over the Danai Gurira and Andy Lincoln interviews leading up to the premier of The Ones Who Live, you know this is an epic tale about Rick and Michonne's love. Danai penned this episode, so there were great hopes for raw emotion and healing after Michonne pulled Rick from a moving helicopter during a thunderstorm at the end of the previous episode. Danai did not disappoint.

At the beginning of the hour, Rick and Michonne miraculously escape the helicopter and make their way to Greenwood, a fallen community. They enter a building with an Alexa-like voice saying, "Welcome home." The rooms are spotless, thanks to a still-functioning rumba. The future-focused building featured computers, voice-activated thermostats, and large picture windows. Outside, a purifying rain fell. The music playing is Tony Orlando and Dawn's "Tie a Yellow Ribbon" (1973), whose significance dates back to the Civil War when families attached yellow ribbons to trees in honor of soldiers. Suicide prevention is also associated with yellow ribbons. Both references inform The Ones Who Live since Rick is now a CRM soldier and has considered killing himself. Rick and Michonne also discover in this episode that a community founder, Patel, committed suicide. These atmospheric elements propel the story forward.

"What We  THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE, Pictured: Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes. Photo: AMC 2024 AMC Networks. All Rights Reserved

Rick and Michonne begin to bicker in a brutal back and forth. Michonne wants to go home to Alexandria, and Rick insists they return to the CRM. The AI voice announces that they've reached the preferred temperature, which indicates that they've reached a critical point. Michonne immediately changes into dry clothing while Rick watches. He sees she has an X burned into her flesh, but he doesn't ask why it happened. Michonne tries to sway Rick by revealing that he has a son called Rick Jr., RJ, or the Little Brave Man. Michonne expects Rick's love for his family to inspire him to join her on the journey home. It does not. Rick expected that Michonne's love for him would lead her to return home alone so he could remain at the CRM and change it from the inside, as Okafor had envisioned. It did not. Both are deeply disappointed because their expectations of each other remain unfulfilled. These unmet expectations drive the two to battle with their hurt, anger, fear, conflict, and, finally, reconciliation.

After learning about RJ, Rick still asks for the radio to signal the CRM. Michonne is deeply hurt by this and how Rick has tried to reject her. She cries that she doesn't know him anymore. Rick keeps insisting that he is protecting their family. Again, he asks, "Are you going to give me it (the radio)?" Rick convinces Michonne to give him the radio by acknowledging many things. He admits that he never stopped loving her. He acknowledges that he wants her to live. He concedes that Jadis feels threatened by them because together, "they can do anything." He concedes that Michonne saved their lives because the helicopter crashed into another tower of the building. The Walking Dead (TWD) OGs may see a parallel between this scene and S7:E4, "Service," when Rick asks Michonne for her gun to protect her and the community from Negan. Michonne responds, "So what, we just let them win?" Rick weakens and says, "Look at me. They won a long time ago." While he remains resolute, this conversation inches him off his position of protecting her and their family toward how he may be the last man standing to save the whole damned world.

"What We  THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE, Pictured: Danai Gurira as Michonne. Photo: AMC 2024 AMC Networks. All Rights Reserved

However, Michonne does not believe the CRM are Rick's people or his fight. She only sees the perfect opportunity to go home. Rick, a prisoner of the 'what ifs,' fears what if, upon returning to the CRM, he can't protect his family. Michonne sees that Rick is in a Schroedinger's Cat situation, where he is found, yet not found, and where he's alive, yet dead. Michonne couldn't push him past his fear, which made her angry. Angry, she relies on Nat's guidance: "You have to know when to go." So, she goes.

The CRM Ethos prioritizes security and secrecy, so they reduced the building to rubble to hide the helicopter crash. Rick, who predictably chased Michonne, helped her fight off walkers. They take a break from fighting long enough to argue about saving the world versus reuniting the family. Michonne confronts Rick about "signing up for lifelong duty with the enemy." Rick counters: "This is about ending the enemy." Michonne offers one of the most romantic lines:" The only time I feel safe is when I'm with you." Rick falls silent. But they are still not on the same page, as evidenced by their unsynchronized fighting. As a result, Michonne finds herself trapped under a chandelier. She tells Rick to go, but predictably, Rick says, "That's never going to happen." He is inching ever closer to the recognition that together, they can do anything.

"What We  THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE, Pictured: Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes. Photo: AMC 2024 AMC Networks. All Rights Reserved

Rick and Michonne eventually escape to the side of the building and to the side of their relationship that hasn't yet buckled. They enter another unit, and the AI voice again says, "Welcome Home." Rick immediately reaches out to touch and kiss Michonne. Near-death experiences heighten our lover's passions. During that poignant moment, Rick suffers a panic attack. In storytelling, the heart is the most potent symbol of love. Michonne places Rick's palm over her heart to push him past his fear and reestablish their commitment and connection as the buildings fall around them.

Despite the urgent need to move, Michonne demands they stop for reconciliation. Reconciliation in conflict is about healing the relationship. Throughout the episode, Michonne accuses Rick of lying because she is also lying. She discloses that she doesn't know if the kids are okay. She talked about how the CRM nearly killed her and cost her a year with her kids. Rick confesses that the CRM took Carl and Michonne away from his dreams. Rick offers his most romantic lament: "I can't live without you. Without you, I will die. You can't simply make me feel alive again until I know I won't lose you." TWD OGs may again notice that this scene echoes those in S2:E12, "Better Angels," and S7:E12, "Say Yes," when Rick initiated conversations with Carl and Michonne, respectively, about surviving the death of loved ones. A traumatized Rick is no longer ready or able to lose his family again. So, Michonne brings Carl back to Rick with the artist's rendering. In the last episode, the artist said he could never get the face right because Rick could no longer see Carl's face. Michonne could. Michonne did! This was the much-anticipated, Bridgerton-esque moment when they talked openly from the heart to restore the trust that had always existed in their relationship. Michonne further reassures Rick, saying, "We love on each other as hard as we can, while we can." Her words and actions brought Rick back to her.

"What We  THE WALKING DEAD: THE ONES WHO LIVE, Pictured: Danai Gurira as Michonne. Photo: AMC 2024 AMC Networks. All Rights Reserved

"What We" strikes a remarkable balance between walker killings and romance. The Richonne faithful will find this episode nourishing and satisfying, much like a great meal. At the end of the hour, our heroes are battling the dead, in sync this time, on their way to a car loaded with ethanol. Hopefully, the car is sound and has enough fuel to get them home. Michonne and Rick are proving once again that they "can make the whole damned world theirs if they want to." The episode gives us hope, allowing us "to believe a little bit longer" that the Grimes family will be reunited.

What did you think, TOWL fans? Share your thoughts in the comments below and follow me on X to discuss TOWL.




Bytes said it had hired accountants PwC and law firm Travers Smith to conduct a full investigation into the debacle. The Surrey-based business indicated it would not be able to provide a date for the publication of its preliminary results until the investigation had been concluded, adding that details of the investigation would be passed on to EY as part of its audit process.
But the boss of the dishwashers-to-laptops retailer says hes confident in the future of the firm, which now looks set to stay on the London Stock Exchange. The retailer said sales in the post-peak period of January and February had been stronger than expected. It upped its profit guidance for the year to October 28 to 115 million.
Lev Tanju, who founded Palace in 2009, explains that Collaborating with Gap made sense because a lot of us grew up skating in Gap gear in the 1990s. Gap is so cool to us: clean, preppy, and all about the good American things like everyone being welcome. Gap put out so much iconic content in the era before it was called content and its been a real privilege for us to play in that space with them. And doing our first ever kids' collection with Gap  who make the best kids clothes  is really special for us.
LONDON/WASHINGTONLawmakers in both the United Kingdom and the United States have criticized Fenix International Limited and its popular premium social media platform, OnlyFans.com, for failing to protect users amid an investigative expose.

Investigative journalists for Reuters published a report entitled "Behind the OnlyFans porn boom: allegations of rape, abuse and betrayal." The journalists for the wire service perused public records and collected testimony from victims of the alleged abuse, AVN previously reported. Reuters found victims reported 128 cases, possibly more, to U.S. law enforcement agencies between January 2029 and November 2023. Shortly after releasing the initial report, Reuters asked lawmakers in both countries for their reactions.

Three lawmakers in the U.S. called for "tougher safeguards" against image-based sexual abuse on the platform. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said, "Rape victimsincluding childrenare not only violated at the time of their assault but they are victimized over and over again with the rapid spread of their abuse material online. Even worse, the platforms profit from this activity. That's unacceptable."

Speaking broadly, Sen. Durbin insinuated that online platforms, including social media sites like Instagram and Facebook, "have become a safe harbor for predators." Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., offered similar comments to Reuters, saying that greater accountability for such perpetrators is needed so that "we are protecting the rights and lives of all victims and survivors."

"These findings confirm what my office has known for years: Americans are being sexually exploited on OnlyFans," said Wagner to the wire service. "Congress and federal law enforcement must do more."

Rep. Wagner was one of the primary forces behind the FOSTA-SESTA measure that former President Donald Trump signed into law.

FOSTA-SESTA has been heavily criticized by civil liberties organizations and sex workers' rights activists as chilling speech that is otherwise protected by the First Amendment. These groups include the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) and the Woodhull Freedom Foundation. Both sued the government.

In the United Kingdom, House of Lords peer James Bethell posed to X (formerly Twitter) that he was skeptical of the trust and safety programming at OnlyFans.

"Too often they profit from non-consensual sexual material, filmed sexual assault, 'revenge porn,' and child sexual abuse," he said.

Reuters contacted Damian Collins, a conservative MP representing the channel port town of Folkestone.

"I am concerned that if OnlyFans cannot say how much adult content is on its platform, or how many accounts are dedicated to sharing user-generated pornography, then it does not have sufficiently robust monitoring systems," Collins said in a statement. "This cannot just be left to uploading tools and AI, there also needs to be effective human oversight of the platform's policies."
The judge explained to Brain that this allegation was so serious it needed to be dealt with by a crown court judge and that the other 33 counts will also be transferred.
Earlier on Monday, it was revealed the museum had become the most-visited attraction in the UK in 2023 with 5,820,860 visits  a 42% increase on 2022 numbers which they attributed in part to the success of the Chinas hidden century exhibition that ran from May to October.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps accused the Russian leader of behaving like a modern-day Stalin. He tweeted: Putin has stolen another election, but he will not steal Ukraine. The UK will work with our allies to stop this thief by increasing our collective support for Ukraine. As history shows, we have to stop dictators & autocrats, or they go on to steal even more. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said today: Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy.
A source told The Sunday Times: [The Prince and Princess of Wales] 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. If she was going to do it, thats how she would do it.
His cancer was reportedly picked up on during his stay. Detils of the Kings diagnosis have not been revealed by the Palace, but it has confirmed he does not have prostate cancer.
A woman aged in her 30s has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of two men whose bodies were found at a property in Hartlepool.
Mark Brown, of the BTU trade union, which represents some of the banks 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.
It is a tradition celebrated across the Indian subcontinent by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and nonbelievers alike, and is held annually to mark the start of spring and celebrate life. For Hindus, its a time to celebrate the love of Radha Krishna and the triumph of good over evil with events that begin with a ritual evening bonfire, followed by coloured paint flinging, music, and feasting the following day.
We are fully committed to the nations and regions  our 4 All The UK strategy has introduced regional hubs, creating more than 500 roles out of London with a commitment to reach 600 by 2025; we have voluntarily increased our nations and regions commissioning quota from 35% to 50%; we have worked with screen agencies across the UK to introduce bespoke commissioning development initiatives; we have invested millions in the nations and regions through our 4Skills programme delivering 57,000 training, learning and development opportunities in 2023.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.Lawmakers in a Tennessee senate committee unanimously voted to favor an age verification bill that would make it a felony charge for adult website operators who fail to comply with the law, reports wire service The Center Square.

Senate Bill (SB) 1792 was introduced by state Sen. Becky Massey and supported by Republican lawmakers. It is a companion bill to House Bill (HB) 1614, which AVN reported on in December 2023 when the sponsor of that bill, Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, introduced it.

Both bills use virtually the same language. They attempt to present age verification requirements as "reasonable."

However, the bills contain language that charges violators with a felony. Other penalties adult site operators would be liable for include damages, attorney's costs and court fees.

Since the bills are companions, they will be resolved in conference committees between both the House and Senate and agreed upon by both chambers before being sent to the governor's office for ratification or veto.

Gov. Bill Lee, a hard-right Republican, would likely sign an age verification bill. Lee signed into law an unconstitutional ban on drag performances by characterizing the First Amendment-protected activity as "obscene."

A federal district judge appointed by former President Donald Trump ruled the ban on drag performances unconstitutional.

Rep. Hazlewood and Sen. Massey both openly supported the drag bans adopted by the state legislature, which is held by a Republican supermajority.
From left, Erin Talbert and Loraine Walker read to patrons during one of Miss Raineys Storytimes.
Nuclear energy, and especially small modular reactors, are the promise for solving the energy trilemma, because it means safe energy, energy at a fair price and clean energy, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said on Monday.

"My first message is a matter of confidence. We are confident that without nuclear power there can be no path to zero emissions by 2050. US Secretary John Kerry said it in Bucharest, world leaders gathered in Dubai at COP 28, where the commitment was to triple nuclear energy. Nuclear energy means zero-emission energy, it means safe energy. And we have said it every time: in the energy trilemma: we want secure energy, we want energy at a fair price, we want clean energy. We put safety first. This means that we must always have stable production in the band. We cannot give up coal, we cannot give up gas, we cannot give up nuclear power and expect that when we press the switch, the light bulb goes on. Nuclear power and especially these small modular reactors hold promise for solving this energy trilemma. It also means secure energy, it also means energy at a fair price, it also means clean energy," Burduja said at the event "Energy for the next generation" organised by the Ministry of Energy in partnership with the National Company Nuclearelectrica and RoPower Nuclear, in Doicesi, Dambovita County.

Burduja also mentioned NuScale technology, which will be used in the Doicesti project, specifying that it is a safe technology, the only one certified by the strictest regulator in the world - the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of the US.

"The 2nd element of trust is NuScale technology. No matter how much some would like to divert us or question whether they really do their homework, whether they are honest, whether they respect Romania's Western path, they will be correct in saying: it is the only technology certified by the strictest regulator in the world - NRC [US Nuclear Regulatory Commission]. I've been to Washington, I've talked to the NRC chief, I've talked to teams of experts. In addition, the technical teams, the RoPower team, the Nuclearelectrica team, the US Embassy, we all had these discussions, and it was explained very clearly why it is a safe technology, why it is the most promising technology to be the first in the world. And today Romania has a chance to bring humanity the first nuclear-electric power plant based on small modular reactors."

In his opinion, the small reactors technology can be extended to many places similar to Doicesti in the entire region.

"There are dozens of places very similar to Doicesti throughout the region. Small reactor technology also allows economies of scale, meaning that when you have the 10th unit, the 100th unit, costs drop dramatically. And then we can extend this technology to all regions. Nuclerelectrica can take the lead for the entire region and will do so, in partnership with NuScale and the others we see. They are big companies, we are not talking about improvisation, we are talking about some of the largest companies in the world, Fluor, Samson. Of course, we are also talking about an extremely serious Romanian company, INFRA and Nova Power Groups. So, look, we have everything we need to write history."
Sep 6, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets manager Buck Showalter (11) before the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

After two years as manager of the New York Mets, Buck Showalter is returning to television.

On Monday, MLB Network announced that Showalter had rejoined the network as an analyst. He previously worked for MLB Network during the 2020 and 2021 seasons before leaving to take the Mets job.

We're excited to announce that Buck will be back with MLB Network as a studio analyst starting in April! pic.twitter.com/aHOiODSirM  MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 18, 2024

Showalter and MLB Network SVP of Production Marc Caiafa both lauded his return.

I enjoyed my time at MLB Network with people I know and respect, so when this opportunity came up, I couldnt say no, said Showalter. There are many ways to analyze baseball, and I appreciate the different perspectives that come with working at the network. We all bring what we bring and its very entertaining. The place is filled with smart, passionate people, who want to teach and grow the game, so Im excited to be back on the team. We loved having Buck with us a couple years ago given his on-field expertise and years of baseball knowledge, said Marc Caiafa, MLB Network Senior Vice President of Production. Having gone up against the new faces and stars of our game, and managing under the new on-field rules, Buck will only make our content stronger this season.

In addition to his previous work with MLB Network, Showalter had two stints at ESPN as an analyst on Baseball Tonight and was the focus of an edition of MLB Network Presents in 2015.
The Ministry of Finance (MF) on Monday borrowed RON 807 million off banks in an issue of benchmark bonds of a residual maturity of 85 months and an average yield of 6.58% per annum, according to data published by the National Bank of Romania (BNR).

The nominal value of Monday's issue was RON 600 million, and the banks offered RON 1.041 billion.

An additional auction is scheduled for Tuesday to borrow another RON 90 million at the yield set on Monday for the bonds.

MF has planned for March 2024 to borrow RON 5.8 billion off commercial banks, to which RON 720 million can be added in additional sessions of non-competitive offers related to bond auctions.

The total amount of RON 6.52 billion is RON 315 million higher than the one scheduled for February 2024 of RON 6.205 billion, and it is intended for public debt refunding and government deficit financing.
The NCAA had a no-dunking rule at the time, otherwise it would have been 25-of-26 for Bill Walton and 52 points. But the big red-head had four
Tobacco company Altria Group Inc. is selling more than $2 billion worth of its Anheuser-Busch InBev shares in a secondary offering, reducing the cigarette manufacturers stake in the Belgium-based brewer by about 18%.

Experts say this isnt reflective of A-Bs poor sales performance from the past year but rather a strategy for Altria to redistribute its investments.

Altria, which is the parent company of brands such as Marlboro cigarettes and Black and Mild cigars, is selling 35 million shares. A-B announced that it will repurchase more than 3.3 million shares for approximately $200 million. Altria said the underwriters also have a 30-day option to buy up to 5.25 million additional A-B shares.

This leaves Richmond, Virginia-based Altria with about 159 million A-B shares, dropping its stake in the alcohol giant from about 10% to about 8%.

Glenn MacDonald, a professor of economics and strategy at Washington University, said this repurchase agreement is not a signal about the health of A-B.

A lot of people own chunks of A-B, MacDonald said. It doesnt have to do with performance. Altria is asking themselves where they want their money. With tobacco, theres trouble all the time. ... Theyre always making different moves.

Altria said it will use the money for additional share repurchases of its own common stock and that the repurchase program will significantly enhance cash returns to shareholders.

The $2.4 billion accelerated share repurchase program increases Altrias existing $1 billion share repurchase program, which was approved by the board in February.

These opportunistic capital allocation decisions reflect our ongoing confidence in Altrias future and the significant value offered in our shares today, Altria CEO Billy Gifford said in a statement.

Because the buyback program will free up cash, MacDonald, of Washington U., said Altria can invest in industries that arent as heavily regulated as alcohol and tobacco. Already, Altria has investments in Cronos Group, a global cannabinoid company and last year acquired NJOY Holdings Inc., an electronic cigarette company.

Instead of history, lets look to the future, MacDonald said of Altrias move away from A-B. This is nothing for A-B. Its a big, healthy company that has a lot of investors.

The secondary global offering will include an offering of American depositary shares in the U.S., an offering of ordinary shares in the U.S., a private placement of shares in the United Kingdom and Europe, and an offering of shares in other countries outside the United States.

Altria has held a stake in A-B since 2016. A-B shares dropped around 5%, or $4, last Thursday following the repurchase announcement. A-B stock was about $60 a share around 12:30 p.m. Monday.

We remain disciplined in our capital allocation decisions and participating in this offering is consistent with our strategy, A-B InBev CEO Michel Doukeris said in a statement last week. Altria remains a significant shareholder of our company and we look forward to continuing our important shareholder relationship with them.

A-B sales at Anheuser-Busch InBev decreased by about $1.5 billion in North America last year following backlash last spring when it sent a personalized Bud Light can to a transgender influencer as part of a marketing campaign.

Earlier this month, A-B narrowly avoided a strike as 5,000 Teamsters threatened to walk off the job if demands for job protection and better retirement benefits werent met in their new contract. About 450 Teamsters work at the companys North American headquarters and brewery located in Soulard.
Joe Holleman Political correspondent/columnist Follow Joe Holleman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

If the Show-Me States national legislators have their way, social media giant TikTok would be shown the door.

Both of Missouris GOP U.S. senators, Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, are vocal opponents of the Chinese-owned platform and will likely vote in favor of a measure that would force the sale of the app.

I dont think that China ought to own farmland in Missouri or in America; I dont think they ought to own our industry, whether its our meatpacking companies or our steel companies; and I dont think they should own our media, including social media, Hawley told Missourinet last week.

Schmitt, saying he still needed to read the bill, said, I think that this is a massive AI spy weapon aimed directly at the U.S., specifically our kids, he said.

The lawmakers pushing against TikTok contend that the companys owner, ByteDance, is required by Chinese national security laws to assist that government with intelligence-gathering, which could include personal data for the apps 170 million U.S. users.

The bill now is before the Senate after the U.S. House easily passed the measure last week. Of Missouris eight U.S. representatives, only Cori Bush, D-St. Louis, voted against the ban. Ann Wagner, R-Town and Country, did not vote.

President Joe Biden has said he would sign the bill if it makes it to his desk.

But Hawley struck a pessimistic note on its probable passage, saying Big Tech has a lot of influence in the nations upper legislative chamber.

What were likely to see happen in the Senate is people will nickel-and-dime it, a death by a thousand cuts, Hawley told Axios. Nothing that Big Tech doesnt want moves across the Senate floor.
BALLWIN  The man charged with murder here this weekend was ordered to stay away from his wife as part of the couples contentious divorce proceedings.

The protection order, signed by a St. Louis County judge, required Zachary Childs not commit or threaten to commit domestic violence, stalking, molesting, (and) sexual assault against his wife, Stephanie Childs. He had filed for divorce in December after 13 years of marriage, according to court documents.

Childs was charged Sunday with murder, burglary and armed criminal action after authorities say he killed a woman during a domestic incident. He and his wife, Stephanie Childs, own the Ballwin home where the killing happened, in the 100 block of Spring Leigh Court.

Police have not identified the woman killed, but Stephanie Childs family in Texas confirmed Monday she had died. The family did not comment further.

The house sits on a hilly cul-de-sac lined with manicured yards and large homes. Police responded there around 1 a.m. Sunday and found the woman shot in the head. She died at a hospital.

Police said Zachardy Childs ran from the scene and was found by officers Sunday afternoon wandering in a nearby creek.

He remained in jail on Monday.

In his divorce petition, Zachary Childs said he and his wife had separated but were still living together with their one child, who is a minor. He cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the divorce.

A month later, Zachary Childs wrote in a court document he was no longer living at the house.

He argued in court documents that the two should share custody of the child but that his wife should be ordered to pay child support because he is unable to support himself financially.

He also wrote that the court should consider the mental and emotional abuse Stephanie Childs inflicted on him when determining custody arrangements and monetary divisions.

Stephanie Childs, in her response petition, disagreed that her husband could not support himself without her help. She also did not think the two should share custody of their child and denied his claims of abuse.

The case was ongoing. Stephanie Childs lawyer, Jonathan Marks, did not immediately return a call for comment on the case.

The protection order was filed Feb. 7 and ordered Zachary Childs to communicate only through the courts communication program, which is often used to maintain a record of interactions between parents in custody cases.

Court documents said the family moved to Ballwin from Plano, Texas, in October 2021.
BALLWIN  Authorities on Sunday charged a man with murder in the shooting death of a woman inside a home here.

Zachary Childs was arrested a few hours after the early morning shooting, police said. He was found "wandering in a nearby creek."

He's charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and first-degree burglary. Childs remained in custody without bond Sunday evening.

The shooting happened about 1 a.m. at a house in the 100 block of Spring Leigh Court, Ballwin police Officer Mark Reckert said. Police called it a domestic violence case.

Officers found the woman inside the home. She had been shot in her head and later died at a hospital. Reckert said Childs ran away from the scene.

Her identity had not been released as of Sunday evening. Reckert said police were still trying to notify family.

Childs and Stephanie Childs own the home where the shooting happened, according to online property records.

The two were in the middle of a divorce that was filed in December, according to online records.

In February, a judge signed off on a protection order that required Zachary Childs to not commit or threaten to commit domestic violence, stalking, molesting, (and) sexual assault against Stephanie Childs.

He was ordered to stay at least 500 feet away from her and communicate only through the courts communication program, which is often used to maintain a record of interaction between parents in custody cases.

They have one child together, according to court documents, and have been married for about 13 years. Court documents said they moved to Ballwin from Plano, Texas, in October 2021.

Man charged with Ballwin killing had been ordered to stay away from his wife The man charged with murder this weekend was ordered to stay away from his wife as part of the couple's contentious divorce proceedings.
JEFFERSON CITY  A plan to transform what was once called the bloodiest 47 acres in America into a tourist attraction has been shelved under the latest budget proposal facing Missouri lawmakers.

Amid blowback from reluctant lawmakers, House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith nixed a $52.3 million earmark requested by Gov. Mike Parsons administration to redevelop the abandoned Missouri State Penitentiary, which sits largely in decay about eight blocks from the state Capitol.

Smith, R-Carthage, said Monday the negative reaction from members of the budget committee contributed to the plans demise. During a hearing on the proposal, lawmakers called the idea gruesome because of the violence and death associated with the facility.

I think it was beyond the level of comfort we had on the committee to preserve the history around the prison, Smith said. Its a tricky thing to address. On one hand, its part of our history. On the other, we want to be respectful to everyone.

The prison was built in 1834 on 142 acres along the Missouri River. It was the first prison west of the Mississippi River and stayed in operation until 2004.

In 1967, Time magazine named the prison the bloodiest 47 acres in America because of serious assaults on prisoners between 1963 and 1964.

The prison and its residents helped turn Jefferson City into a major manufacturing center. Companies that made clothing and shoes set up shop within the prison walls to take advantage of cheap inmate labor.

It also held its share of infamous inmates, including bank robber Charles Arthur Pretty Boy Floyd, boxer Charles Sonny Liston and James Earl Ray, who assassinated the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Before it closed, the prison had seen more than 2,000 deaths, including 39 who died in the gas chamber.

The administration, with the backing of the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, had sought to preserve significant parts of the crumbling facilities, with the first installment of $52.3 million coming in the next state budget. Another $40 million would be set aside in future budgets.

The first phase would upgrade three buildings, making one into a museum and interpretative center.

Preservation and interpretation of MSP will provide an exceptional, historic in-depth educational experience for visitors, making MSP a nationally significant heritage tourism location site allowing visitors to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories of the past and present, the administration said in a planning document outlining the project.

During a hearing on the project, Rep. Kevin Windham, D-Hillsdale, was among those recoiling at the idea.

I tried to talk myself out of saying this, but this is at least the stupidest idea Ive heard all day, Windham said. I dont even really know where to start.

Rep. Ingrid Burnett, D-Kansas City, had a similar reaction.

I dont think Ill be taking my grandchildren, Burnett said.

Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, questioned whether the facility would make an attraction out of the suffering of thousands of inmates.

I, for one, think a lot of people would be very unhappy to see this, Merideth said.

Smith said he agreed with those sentiments and also expressed concern about the nearly $100 million cost.

The proposal was quite ambitious in scope and scale, Smith said. The cost is staggering. There are a lot of roads we could build with that money.

He said he attempted to find a way to pare down the project in order to keep some elements of the history of the site but was unable to find agreement with the administration.

Im still open to discussion how we maintain that site. I think there is a balance to be found, Smith said. Its a fine line between commercializing it and glorifying it. I just think it needs to be done thoughtfully and respectfully.

A representative of the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is backing the project, declined to comment Monday.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court seemed skeptical Monday of a lawsuit alleging the federal government colluded with social media companies to suppress freedom of speech, with a majority of justices across the ideological spectrum raising issues with the case and its potential consequences.

President Joe Bidens administration argued to the court there is no evidence that the government violated the First Amendment in its efforts to combat false, misleading or dangerous information online.

Beyond that, the court should dismiss the litigation because plaintiffs dont have the right to sue, said Brian Fletcher, principal deputy solicitor general.

Arguments occurred in a packed courtroom, where just outside dozens of protesters held signs accusing the government of infringing on free speech.

The lawsuit was filed in 2022 by the Republican attorneys general of two states  Eric Schmitt of Missouri and Jeff Landry of Louisiana  and five individuals who either were banned from a platform or whose posts were not prominently featured on social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Fletcher argued that the plaintiffs have not shown any evidence that decisions by social media companies to remove or deprioritize content can be attributed to the government. Instead, the companies made their own decisions relying on their own content moderation policies.

There was no coercion or attempted intimidation, Fletcher said, and the best proof of that is that social media companies routinely said no to the government.

They didnt hesitate to do it, and when they said no to the government, the government never engaged in any sort of retaliation, Fletcher said. Instead, (the federal government) engaged in more speech. Ultimately, the president and the press secretary and the surgeon general took to the bully pulpit. We just dont think thats coercion.

Benjamin Aguinaga, the solicitor general for the Louisiana attorney general, argued that the government has no right to persuade platforms to violate Americans constitutional rights, and pressuring platforms in back rooms shielded from public view is not using the bully pulpit at all. That is just being a bully.

Emails obtained as part of the lawsuit, Aguinaga contends, show the government badgered platforms behind closed doors, abused them with profanity and ominously says that the White House is considering its options ... all to get the platforms to censor more speech.

Under this onslaught, he said, the platforms routinely cave.

Government agencies have routinely encouraged social media companies to restrict harmful or illegal content for years, including posts involving terrorism and human trafficking.

Aguinaga argued that speech involving criminal activity is not protected. But the Biden administration, he said, began to push social media companies in 2021 to restrict misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Content was also targeted that involved election disinformation.

In 2022, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, a court nominee of former President Donald Trump, ruled that officials under both Biden and Trump coerced social media companies to censor content over concerns it would fuel vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or upend elections.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans prohibited the White House, the Surgeon Generals Office, the FBI and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from having practically any contact with the social media companies. It found that the Biden administration most likely overstepped the First Amendment by urging the major social media platforms to remove misleading or false content.

The Supreme Court placed a temporary stay on the order in October until it decides the case.

Standing and traceability

A question at the core of Mondays arguments was whether any harm to the plaintiffs could be, in fact, traced back to the governments actions or could be remedied by judicial relief.

Justice Elena Kagan asked Aguinaga to highlight the single piece of evidence that most clearly shows the government was responsible for one of your clients having material taken down.

How do you decide that its government action as opposed to platform action? Kagan followed.

Aguinaga pointed to a May 2021 email the Biden administration sent to a social media platform regarding misinformation about COVID-19. Aguinaga argued that evidence shows two months later content from one of the plaintiffs, Jill Hines of Louisiana, was suppressed.

A lot of things can happen in two months, Kagan said. So that decision two months later could have been caused by the governments email, or that government email might have been long since forgotten because there are a thousand other communications that platform employees have had with each other, a thousand other things that platform employees have read in the newspaper.

I mean why would we point to one email two months earlier and say it was that email that made all the difference? Kagan said.

Public safety, national security

During Mondays arguments, the justices focused on whether encouragement by federal officials amounted to illegal coercion rather than merely informing or persuading social media companies.

There are lots of contexts where government officials can persuade private parties to do things the officials couldnt do directly, Fletcher argued when Justice Clarence Thomas questioned him about coercion versus censorship.

For example, recently after the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, a number of public officials called on colleges and universities to do more about antisemitic hate speech on campus, Fletcher said.

An ideologically diverse majority of justices raised concerns about the potential consequences of the litigation for things like public safety and national security.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned whether the government violates the First Amendment when it requests the removal of factually inaccurate posts. He suggested there could be national security concerns if false information was posted online about troops.

Kavanaugh also asked how the federal governments communications with social media companies were any different than when news organizations are warned that a story they are about to publish could affect national security.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett continued along that line of questions, asking whether the FBI would still be able to warn social media platforms if an individual had been doxxed in a way that might put them at risk.

Aguinaga countered that he is a free speech purist but in that circumstance, the government would be allowed to issue warnings to social media companies about content.

But when speech is protected, the government has no right to intervene to push for it to be censored, he said.

When the government is identifying a specific viewpoint and specific content that it wishes to wholly eliminate from public discourse, thats when the First Amendment problem arises, he said, later adding that the government has lots of tools at its disposal to combat misinformation.

Censorship, he said, has never been the default remedy for a perceived First Amendment violation.

That argument didnt move Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

You have to admit that there are certain circumstances, she said, in which the government can provide information and encourage the platforms to take it down.

The most scathing criticism of the day came from Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

I have such a problem with your brief, counselor, Sotomayor said to Aguinaga. You omit information that changes the context of some of your claims. You attribute things to people who it didnt happen to. I dont know what to make of all this.

Aguinaga apologized if any aspect of our brief was not as forthcoming as it should have been.

Justice Samuel Alito seemed most sympathetic to the plaintiffs case, reframing the discussion as Aguinaga was facing a series of difficult questions.

Coercion doesnt only apply when the government says, Do this, and if you dont do this, there are going to be legal consequences, Alito said, adding: Its a more flexible standard and ... you have to take into account the whole course of the relationship.

In his rebuttal, Fletcher compared the Biden administrations communications with social media companies and public comments about misinformation to President George W. Bushs public condemnation of pornography and President Ronald Reagans criticism of media influence of drugs and violence.

A ruling on the case, Murthy v. Missouri, is not expected for several months.

Plaintiff reaction

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said afterward he believes the Supreme Court justices will make the right decision here.

Ultimately that (decision) will continue to build a wall of separation between tech and state using this lawsuit. The court will affirm the district court injunction, and were excited to get back to the district court level, Bailey told reporters on the plaza in front of the Supreme Court after arguments concluded.

When asked for his reaction to the justices skepticism of Aguinagas argument of government coercion, Bailey said the evidence clearly establishes coercion.

Bailey argued that evidence gathered by Missouri, Louisiana and the individual plaintiffs reveals the Biden administration threatened reform of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which currently shields social media companies from liability for content published on their platforms.

Those are direct explicit threats against the big tech social media giants, he said.

The Department of Justice declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.

Jason Hancock reported from Columbia, Mo. Ashley Murray reported from Washington, D.C. Hancock is editor of The Missouri Independent, which is part of States Newsroom.

To listen to an audio of the Supreme Court arguments, click here www.supremecourt.gov.

Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X.
Screen grab: The Stephen A. Smith Show

Stephen A. Smith isnt sticking to sports.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, the First Take host was critical of the medias coverage of recent comments made by former president Donald Trump. Speaking at a political rally in Ohio over the weekend, Trump made the following comment while discussing the state of the auto industry:

Were going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line. And youre not going to be able to sell those guys  if I get elected, Trump said of China building cars in Mexico with the intent of selling them in the United States. Now, if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the whole  thats gonna be the least of it. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country. Thatll be the least of it. But theyre not going to sell those cars.

Trumps comments were widely criticized, with many accusing the 45th president of endorsing political violence. Retweeting Elon Musk, Smith implied that the media wasnt applying the proper context to Trumps comments by failing to mention that he was referring to the auto industry.

Based purely on this video, if it is accurate, then that would be true, Smith said in response to Musks post stating that legacy media lies.

It seems @realDonaldTrump words were taken out of context..reading the headlines Ive read. Fair is Fair!

Based purely on this video, if it is accurate, then that would be true. It seems @realDonaldTrump words were taken out of context..reading the headlines Ive read. Fair is Fair! https://t.co/mq2dnf1Vtf  Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 17, 2024

While Trump was discussing the auto industry when making his comments, its understandable why him saying its going to be a bloodbath for the country would receive so much attention, especially considering the aftermath of him losing the 2020 election. Its also worth noting that Trump later stated at the same rally, I dont think youre going to have another election in this country, if we dont win this election certainly not an election thats meaningful.

But whether you agree or disagree with Smith that the media was taking the comments out of context, its still interesting to see one of ESPNs biggest stars weigh in on the matter  especially considering his previous willingness to stick to sports.

In fact, Smiths post wasnt the only time he publicly discussed Trump over the weekend, as he also dedicated a segment of The Stephen A. Smith Show  which he owns and operates  to an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal that was critical of Democrats for exercising lawfare against the former host of The Apprentice. Smith agreed with the columns sentiments, arguing that Democrats should be focused on beating Trump on the campaign trail than the courtroom.

While it may not be on ESPN airwaves, all indications to this point are that Smith will be making his voice heard in the lead up to the 2024 election. It will be interesting to see how often hes willing to continue to wade into the political waters moving forward, especially with his current ESPN contract coming to an end next year.

[Stephen A. Smith on X]
Its been more than a week since a missing University of Missouri student was last seen in Nashville, and new details are deepening the mystery of his disappearance.

Riley Strain, 22, of Springfield, Missouri, was last seen around 10 p.m. Friday, March 8, when he was kicked out of Lukes 32 Bridge Bar at 301 Broadway, a downtown Nashville bar owned by country star Luke Bryan, according to Metro Nashville police.

A friend told police they lost sight of him and tried to use Snapchat to find his location but werent successful, police said in a news release. Strains friends attempted to call him multiple times into the next day but kept getting his voicemail.

Police said in a tweet Sunday afternoon that Rileys bank card was found on the embankment between Gay Street and the Cumberland River. Chris Dingman, a family friend for more than 40 years, told The Star it was found by TikTok users who have taken an interest in the case. He referred to them as "TikTok investigators." A segment of a livestream posted by one of the creators shows the moment when one of them found the card.

Strain was identified by a homeless person last week when he walked through a homeless camp the night he went missing.

Dingman also confirmed that the bouncer did not allow Strain to stand outside of the bar to wait for his friends to close their tabs. He was taken out the side door of the bar, and by the time his friends paid and walked out, he was gone.

Aaron Rummage, director of legislation, policy and communications at the Tennessee Alcohol and Beverage Commission told The Star in a statement Thursday there is an investigation into the bar to see if there were any violations, such as overserving the college student, though bar staff reportedly claims he was only served one drink before being asked to leave.

There are no specific rules or statutes that governs escorting out intoxicated patrons from their businesses or providing assistance in getting someone home. However, state law prohibits serving alcoholic beverages to someone who is visibly intoxicated. A violation is a class A misdemeanor, Rummage said in the statement.

Another friend of Strains, who was there in Nashville, called police at 1:46 p.m. Saturday from outside the Nashville Central Police Precinct trying to file a missing persons report, explaining they were in town for a fraternity formal when Strain went missing.

Were here on a fraternity formal trip. Its one of my good buddies, the caller said.

Strain is a senior majoring in interdisciplinary studies and business, as well as a member of the Delta Chi fraternity. A vigil was held Wednesday night at his old high school, Kickapoo High, to pray for his safe return.

We love him more than anything and just want him home, said Riley Strains cousin Chelsea Strain in a statement to The Star on Wednesday.

The 911 caller said that the last location of Strains phone was around 11 p.m. near the Central Police Precinct at the intersection of Korean Veterans Boulevard and Sixth Avenue.

Well be here, the caller said when the operator told him officers were on their way.

Police said they did a hospital and jail check, as well as a phone ping. Verizon was not able to get a live ping because Strains phone was off but did give the phones last known location, which was 0.64 miles southwest of the cell tower at 19 Oldham Street, the news release said.

Detectives released surveillance video this week of Strain crossing North First Avenue to Gay Street that night. A be-on-the-lookout order has been issued, the release said.

Strain is described as a white male, 160 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a black and brown button-up shirt with a black chest pocket, blue jeans, brown boots and a black Apple watch.

Anyone who sees Strain is asked to call 615-862-8600.
ST. CHARLES COUNTY  Thousands of St. Charles County seniors have applied for a property tax freeze in the days since the program launched earlier this month.

Applications opened at midnight on March 1, and St. Charles County Collector Michelle McBride, said the first application was submitted at 1:41 a.m. that day. By the end of the day, the county had received about 400 applications, most of which were completed online through the collectors office website.

In all, the county had received about 6,000 as of Friday.

I was a little surprised to see how quickly the applications are coming, McBride said.

Applications are open until June 30 for residents who were at least 62 years old as of Jan. 1, 2023, and can provide a copy of a warranty deed for the property and a government-issued photo ID.

St. Charles County was one of the first in Missouri to pass a property tax freeze program after state legislators passed a law allowing counties to approve such a freeze. County officials passed the freeze in September and touted St. Charles County as a statewide leader in the Republican-led initiative.

The county previously estimated that about 38,000 residents would be eligible to apply for the freeze, which applies only to a persons primary residence.

Applications will be reviewed starting in mid-May  an intentional delay, county officials said, in case state lawmakers approve changes to the program during this legislative session.

A bill moving through the Statehouse would clarify language in the state law, including whether the tax freezes should apply to Missouri teachers who participate in a state pension plan instead of Social Security and make clear that residents must pay all delinquent taxes and penalties to be eligible.

So far, everything that is proposed in Jefferson City, our county ordinance complies with. However, Ive seen the Legislature do things in the last couple weeks of a session that can really throw a wrench in things, McBride said.

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann agreed. Ehlmann previously described the Legislatures version of the senior citizen property tax freeze as a half-baked pie, and he said last week he anticipates amendments to the program in the next two legislative sessions.

All applications are time-stamped and will be reviewed in the order they are received. The review process will be time-consuming, McBride said, with staff having to spend between 15 to 20 minutes on each application.

McBride said she hopes to send out rejection notices to residents in late May so they have time to resubmit ahead of the June 30 deadline. Her office wont send out approval notices until after June.

My gut instinct is that this is going to take us some time, McBride said.

Meanwhile, St. Charles County Council members have hinted at some changes theyd like to see to the program, too.

There was a lot of euphoria when we passed this, but now the reality has set in that there are going to be some things that might need to be tweaked, said County Council Chair Terry Hollander said at a council meeting this month.

County Councilman Dave Hammond questioned why it was the residents responsibility to provide a copy of a warranty deed. Hammond said when he applied for the freeze, there was a line of people waiting at the office of the St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds to print off a copy of their warranty deeds.

But McBride said without a warranty deed, the review process would take much longer for county officials.

County Councilman Joe Brazil echoed Hammonds concerns, adding that the requirement could be too much of a burden for seniors. He also questioned McBride on why residents will have to reapply for the program every year.

This is an awful lot of paperwork for people to fill out, Brazil said.

McBride countered that the 10-question application was not strenuous and that there are certain dates that you know as an adult, as a citizen of a state, of a county or of a country, that you have to do.

People know they have to fill out their personal property assessment form by March 1. You file your income taxes by April 15. You pay your property taxes by Dec. 31, she said. And now theyll know to file for the senior property tax relief, if they want it, by June 30.
In the early morning hours of June 1, 1921, white rioters looted and burned much of the prosperous Black neighborhood of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

By the time they were done, 100-300 residents were dead and 35 city blocks were burned to the ground, according to the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum.

Viola Mother Fletcher has never forgotten what she saw that day.

Fletcher, 109, is the oldest of two survivors of what has come to be known as the Tulsa Race Massacre. She will talk about what happened and will sign copies of her 2023 book Dont Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre In Her Own Words at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Dunham Hall on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

In 2021, Fletcher, her 100-year-old brother Hughes Van Ellis and Lessie Bennington Randle, who was then 106, testified to Congress about their experiences.

I will never forget the violence of the white mob when we left our home. I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire. I still see Black businesses being burned. I still hear airplanes flying overhead. I hear the screams, Fletcher told the legislators.

I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot.

During the same hearing, her brother, Van Ellis, said, Please, do not let me leave this earth without justice, like all the other massacre survivors.

Van Ellis died in October at 102 years old.

The race riot began after 19-year-old shoe shiner Dick Rowland, who was Black, entered an elevator in the Drexel Building being operated by 17-year-old Sarah Page. He put his hand on her arm.

He was arrested for attempted sexual assault. The next day, the Tulsa Tribune ran a sensationalized story about the incident under the headline Nab Negro for Attacking Girl in an Elevator.

The short story said Rowland attacked her, scratching her hands and face and tearing her clothes.

That night, Black men, some of them armed, came to the courthouse to protect Rowland from being lynched. Armed white men came to the courthouse, too, and violent clashes broke out. A brief gunfight at the courthouse left a dozen injured and dead, both Black and white.

Badly outnumbered, the Black men left the downtown area. Mobs of white people then attacked the neighborhood of Greenwood. The neighborhood was looted and burned, with some witnesses claiming that firebombs were dropped from airplanes.

After the massacre was over, units of the Oklahoma National Guard arrested all or nearly all of Greenwoods residents, according to a 2001 report by the Oklahoma Commission to Study the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921.

As many as 10,000 Black Tulsans were left homeless after the fires. Page refused to press charges against Rowland, and police dropped charges against him a few months later.

The SIUE event will feature Fletcher, her grandson and co-author Ike Howard and Jana J.P. Haynes, who is a member of the cast of the upcoming Broadway production Selma the Musical: The Untold Stories.
March 18, 2024: The war in Ukraine has cost Russia most of its pre-2022 tank force. Russian tanks losses during the initial invasion were huge and eventually Russia had to empty storage sites where 70-year old T-55 and 60-year-old T-62 tanks were kept in case of an emergency. The 2022 Ukraine war turned out to be such an emergency. With all their modern tanks gone, Russia had to depend on the T-55s and T-62s to provide fire support for the infantry, but not fight the T-72 and T-80 tanks the Ukrainian already had as well as the American M1A2 and German Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks supplied by NATO nations.

During two years of fighting in Ukraine, Russia lost nearly 9,000 tanks and other armored vehicles. In 2023 Russia built or refurbished 1,500 tanks. Only 300 were new T-72s and T-90s, the other 1,200 were T-55s and T-62s brought out of storage, refurbished so they could run and even upgraded with a few new accessories.

Russian arms factories are training hundreds of new workers and seeking to produce 300 new tanks a year initially plus eventually 400 or more. This will require Russia to continue to devote more of the government budget to the military and arms manufacturers. Currently 7.5 percent of Russian GDP is spent on defense. This includes recruiting more troops, manufacturing more weapons, and dealing with a personnel shortage. Over a million military-age men have fled the country so far. The government takes advantage of this by giving conscription exemptions to men who move to remote areas where there are arms factories, but a shortage of workers, if they work in the arms factories.

Russia needs a lot of new weapons, including assault rifles, artillery, trucks and especially tanks and other armored vehicles. Russia depended a lot on armored vehicles to defeat the Ukrainians. That didnt work because the Ukrainian came up with more ways to destroy tanks and inflicted losses Russian has been unable to replace. The Ukrainians used armed UAVs as well as portable anti-tank weapons and anti-tank mines that disable tanks and made them immobile targets for wherever else the Ukrainians have available to finish the job. The Russian crews, which are three men per tank, typically abandon the immobilized tanks before the Ukrainians get any closer. The Ukrainians have captured hundreds of abandoned Russian tanks, many of them in perfect condition. The Ukrainians give the captured tank a new paint job and a few upgrades and add it to their tank force. The Ukrainians dont use their tanks as recklessly as the Russians and Ukrainian tank losses are much lower.

Russia has another problem with rebuilding its tank force. After the Cold War and the Soviet Union ended in 1991, Russia decided to develop a new tank to replace their existing T-72s, T-80s and T-90s. Worth mentioning is that the model presented by the Russians as new actually draws from a simplified project born at the end of the Cold War. In the 1980s, the Soviet Union intended to build a new generation of tanks to supersede the T-72, T-80, and T-90 tank. Nothing came of that idea, except a lot of money wasted on the radical new T-14 tank. The new tank was not reliable, and Russia was unable to fix the numerous problems with the T-14. Ukrainians captured Russian tanks and noted that some of these tanks, especially the T-90, had a long list of impressive upgrades that were more promising than actual performance. The upgrades were often implemented ineptly and left the tanks worse off. For example, new or upgraded tank engines were unreliable and the use of cheap electronic components meant electronic systems often fail.

Russia has to build more reliable tanks before they build more tanks. Manufacturing unreliable tanks is not popular with tank crews and leads to more of these faulty tanks being lost, many before they even reach the combat zone.
March 18, 2024: In the last year Greece has spent about $400 million on a unique Israeli combat system. The new Fire Weaver Fire Control system uses Orbiter 3 UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to seek out targets and automatically have a Spike NLOS missile launched from an aircraft, ground vehicle or ship to hit the target. Israel developed this system over several decades and it is now widely used in the Israeli military.





The Orbiter 3 UAV is a 32 kg fixed wing UAV with endurance of at least six hours, a top speed of 125 kilometers an hour and max range from the operator of 50 kilometers. The guided missile is a Spike Non-Line-Of- Sight or NLOS, weapon that weighs 71 kg in its storage/launch container and has a max range of 50 kilometers. Fire Weaver takes data from existing sensors on tanks and other armored vehicles as well as artillery, UAVs, and warplanes and within five seconds it lets vehicles, warplanes and artillery know which available target each combat system should fire at. Ukraine pioneered use of such a data fusion fire-control system and it paralyzed the initial Russian invasion in early 2022.





This eliminates a common battlefield situation where too many weapons fire on some targets while other targets are not initially fired on at all. Currently, tank crews and artillery spotters, the troops who call back to tell artillery which targets to hit, have manual procedures for picking which targets they should fire at. That often works quite well, especially during a situation where a tank unit encountering the enemy has an opportunity to fire first. Fire Weaver automates these decisions and makes more effective choices more quickly. The troops and pilots can override the Fire Weaver selected target, but tests have shown that Fire Weaver is usually quite effective in selecting the best targets for each tank, artillery unit or aircraft.





The current Spike NLOS missile has undergone six major upgrades. These upgrades improved performance and added some major new features, including longer range of up to 50 kilometers, salvo fire and improved use of networks. That means four Spike NLOS missiles can be launched by a helicopter and control of one or more of these missiles can be instantly transferred to another helicopter. The new version of Spike NLOS is also more reliable and effective when facing jamming or other forms of interference.





Spike NLOS was first developed in the 1970s as the Tamuz system, entered service in 1981 with a range of ten kilometers and used a trained human operator to hit the distant target. By the 1990s, advances in electronics, software and design made it possible to add fire and forget and other operator- friendly features to most new ATGM or Anti-Tank Guided Missiles. Rafael, the Israeli firm that developed and built Tamuz, transferred some of the Tamuz tech to its Spike family of ATGMs which entered service in 1997. Rafael noticed that upgrades to Tamuz tech were converging with what the Spike family of ATGMs, and competing foreign systems, were using. Eventually it made sense to call the latest version of Tamuz what it really was, a longer range of the Spike missile, which became known as Spike NLOS. Meanwhile, Israel had pioneered the development of reconnaissance and surveillance UAVs as well as ever-more-powerful fire control systems.





Israel successfully used Spike NLOS in 1991, the 2006 war with Hezbollah in south Lebanon and the 2014 war with Hamas in Gaza. Britain used Spike NLOS during 2007 in Iraq and Afghanistan.





Now that most of the details of what Spike NLOS is, where it came from and what it has been through have been published, it is an increasingly popular, if expensive, export item. But that is mainly because various versions of this missile, first as Tamuz then as Spike NLOS, had been in service since 1981, were battle tested and known to be very dependable and effective no matter what tech they used.








An American amphibious ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, has left California carrying two 1960s Czech jet trainers on its flight deck. These L-29s are 3.2 ton aircraft, rebuilt with American engines. The two L-29s will be used to simulate air-launched cruise missiles attacking American ships. While the original L-29s had a top speed of 655 kilometers an hour, the rebuilt ones with more powerful. J-60 engines, can moves as fast as 800 kilometers an hour.

While the L-29s, which are supplied by a civilian contractor, are adequate for simulating the more numerous subsonic Chinese anti-ship missiles, they are obviously not adequate for simulating the more modern supersonic missiles. That has ben addressed as well. Last year, after nearly a decade of development effort, the U.S. Navy put its high-speed anti-ship missile simulator, the GQM-163A Coyote SSST (Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target), into service. This is a 10 meter/31 foot long, 800 kg (1,700 pound) missile with a combination solid fuel rocket and ramjet propulsion. It has a range of 110 kilometers and, because of the ramjet, a top speed of over 2,600 kilometers an hour. The Coyote is meant to give U.S. warships a realistic simulation of an attack by similar Russian cruise missiles (like the Klub.) At least 39 GQM-163As are being built, at a cost of $515,000 each. These missiles are used once, while the L-29s have human pilots and are reused.

The GQM-163A is one of the few U.S. missiles to successfully use ramjet engines, and this technology is expected to show up more often. Coyote came to be in response to more countries arming themselves with high speed anti-ship missiles. In particular, there is fear that the Russian 3M54 (also known as the SS-N-27, Sizzler or Klub) anti-ship missiles used on Chinese subs, are unstoppable. But maybe not. India, (another major customer for the Klub) has feuded with the Russians over repeated failures of the Klub during six test firings three years ago. The missiles were fired off the Russian coast, using an Indian Kilo class submarines, INS Sindhuvijay. That boat went to Russia in 2006 for upgrades. India refused to pay for the upgrades, or take back the sub, until Russia fixed the problems with the missiles (which it eventually did).

Weighing two tons, and fired from a 533mm (21 inch) torpedo tube on a Kilo class sub, the 3M54 has a 200 kg/440 pound warhead. The anti-ship version has a range of 300 kilometers, but speeds up to 3,000 kilometers an hour during its last minute or so of flight. There is also an air launched and ship launched version. What makes the 3M54 particularly dangerous is its final approach, which begins when the missile is about 15 kilometers from its target. Up to that point, the missile travels at an altitude of 30-40 meters. This makes the missile more difficult to detect. The high speed approach means that it covers that last fifteen kilometers in less than twenty seconds. This makes it difficult for current anti-missile weapons to take it down.

The 3M54 is similar to earlier, Cold War era Russian anti-ship missiles, like the 3M80 ("Sunburn"), which has a larger warhead (660 pounds) and shorter range (120 kilometers.) The 3M80 was still in development at the end of the Cold War, and was finally put into service about a decade ago. Even older is the P700 ("Shipwreck"), with a 550 kilometer range and 1,650 pound warhead. This missile entered service in the 1980s.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / bettermoo(d) Food Corporation (CSE:MOOO)(OTCQB:MOOOF)(Frankfurt:0I5A, WKN: A3D8PP) (the "Company" or "bettermoo(d)") is pleased to announce during a special investors announcement on March 18, 2023, the stocking of its flagship product, Moodrink" (the "Product"), at its distribution partner, United Natural Food (UNFI) Canada, to meet the demand of Canada's largest grocery retail chain.

Nima Bahrami, CEO of the Company, also praised the Product's outstanding reception, with demand outstripping the Company's forecasts and experiencing swift sell-outs and reorders in select Canadian stores, showcasing the market's appetite for Moodrink". This strategic move to stock up at UNFI is designed to ensure that Canadians across the country have reliable access to Moodrink".

Mr. Bahrami also took the opportunity to emphasize that the current achievements are merely the starting point for bettermoo(d), and lauded Moodrink"'s achievement of securing a nationwide presence within stores of the world's leading natural and organic foods retailer. With a commitment to capitalizing on the Company's recent success and existing momentum, bettermoo(d) is set on broadening its market footprint, delving into new ventures, and maintaining a steadfast focus on innovation. This proactive approach signifies the Company's dedication to not just sustaining but also amplifying its growth and success in this dynamic market landscape.

ABOUT BETTERMOO(D) FOOD CORPORATION

bettermoo(d) Food Corporation is an innovative plant-based dairy alternative food and beverage company based in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, launching Moodrink", a nutritious dairy-alternative beverage with a revolutionary flavour. Moodrink" includes a blend of herbs and flowers similar to what cows ate, before the time of mass livestock production. Like rich dairy products, Moodrink" contains added healthy plant fats and vitamins, so consumers don't miss out. The "Moodrink" is just the beginning of the revolution for the Vancouver based dairy-alternative company, bettermoo(d).

Driven by the motto "What A Cow Eats and A Human Needs" bettermoo(d) seeks to produce dairy alternative products that are good for both people and the planet - ensuring that all products are nutritious and sustainably sourced, and that also emulate the great taste of traditional milk from the Alps regions of Switzerland, France and Austria. Working with food scientists, the Company's goal is to conduct continuous food research and development programs with the aim of rolling out a full line of dairy alternative products, including Moogurt and Buetter, as well as many other products, that are better for YOU and better for the planet.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD of DIRECTORS

Nima Bahrami

Chief Executive Officer and Director

bettermoo(d) Food Corporation

For further information please contact:

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.bettermoo.com

Phone: 1-855-715-1865

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain certain forward looking statements and forward looking information (collectively, "Forward-Looking Statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements with respect to product demand and takeover and investment discussions, are forward-looking statements. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

SOURCE: bettermoo(d) Food Corporation

View the original press release on accesswire.com
GREENVILLE, SC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Cameron Ashley Building Products ("Cameron Ashley") is pleased to announce the acquisition of Appalachian Insulation Supply, Inc. ("AIS") and Wolf Pak Transport, LLC in a stock purchase agreement. As a family-owned distribution company started in 1987 by the late Bill Brinser, AIS is based in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, and distributes exclusively Johns Manville insulation, spray foam, mineral wool, sheathing, and other insulation accessories to dealers and contractors. AIS operates from nine fully stocked warehouses strategically located in the Midwest and Eastern regions of the United States. This acquisition further positions Cameron Ashley as a leading national distributor of insulation in the United States.

"We are pleased to carry on the strong tradition of customer service and supplier relationships that AIS' founder Bill Brinser created," said President and CEO Donny DeMarie. "With Cameron Ashley's strong roots in the insulation and distribution industries, this acquisition makes sense, and I feel that Bill would have felt that his company is being placed in capable hands who will continue to honor and grow his legacy. We are extremely grateful to Barry Brinser, Bill's brother, who was instrumental in helping us achieve a successful outcome."

With the addition of 28 greenfield locations and five acquisitions over the last five years, Cameron Ashley will now operate 65 strategically located distribution centers and will distribute fiberglass products from Knauf and Johns Manville.

"Now that the acquisition is complete, we are excited to have our first locations in Florida and Virginia. We look forward to welcoming the AIS employees, customers, and suppliers to our team. We are committed to enhancing the customer's experience with our Cameron Ashley Advantages including F^st Delivery, PLUS Points Loyalty Program, CONNECT customer portal, incentives, customer trips, and more robust product and accessory offerings," said DeMarie.

About Cameron Ashley Building Products, Inc.

Cameron Ashley is a wholesale distributor of roofing, insulation, gypsum, siding, and other specialty building products. They deliver an industry-leading portfolio of marquee brands to customers in the lumber and building materials industry. Cameron Ashley operates a physical network of more than 60 distribution centers stocking large quantities of building materials locally throughout the United States. They feature a variety of customer-focused delivery options under the same-day or next-day FAST delivery banner. Their relationship-based approach rewards customers with their PLUS Points loyalty program, FREE merchandising, as well as purchasing and show incentives.

Customers can order 24/7 online through either our CONNECT customer portal or mobile phone app. Online they will find a complete set of digital tools and resources including product availability, pricing, previous and pending orders, invoices along with secure payment options, product specifications, warranty information, and more.

To shop online or learn more, please visit cameronashleybp.com.

About Appalachian Insulation Supply, Inc. and Wolf Pak Transport, LLC

Appalachian Insulation Supply, Inc. ("AIS") is a privately held, family-owned corporation based in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. AIS opened for business in 1987, operating from one facility and primarily servicing central Pennsylvania.

Currently, AIS operates from nine locations and services the contiguous United States. AIS has a distinct competitive advantage with its affiliate transportation company with more than 80 trucks that allows for customer service that is unmatched in the industry. AIS is a full line master distributor of residential and commercial insulation & accessories. AIS partners with the biggest names in the insulation business and has over 800,000 square feet of combined inventory at all times. Combined with a sales team that together have industry experience of over 100 years, AIS will be able to assist customers with any insulation needs quickly and efficiently.

To learn more please visit ais1.us

Contact Information

Camille Hammond

Marketing Communications Manager

[email protected]

864-281-3435

SOURCE: Cameron Ashley Building Products

View the original press release on newswire.com.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Final Bell Holdings International Ltd. ("FBHI" or "the Group") is pleased to announce the next step of its corporate reorganization. Following the sale of its Canadian operations to BZAM,Ltd., the Group has consolidated its non-plant touching business entities under Final Bell Innovations ("FBI"), a newly established wholly owned subsidiary.

FBI comprises 14th Round Inc., the industry leader in hardware and packaging innovation, manufacturing and supply chain management, Final Bell MaaS Inc., the Group's management services arm, and Final Bell Brand Co., which acquired the iconic brand dosist in 2023, and recently launched ANIMAL" in California, Canada and New York. Complementing its owned brands, Final Bell Brand Co. also maintains licensing arrangements across the United States and Canada for leading California-based cannabis brands.

Combining cutting-edge hardware and packaging innovation, cannabis facility management services and accelerating new market growth for many of the industry's most iconic brands, FBI will pursue a capital-efficient expansion strategy across the most promising states and territories. In January, FBI launched its foray into the state of New York in partnership with Hepworth Pura and will make further announcements regarding state-by-state partnerships in due course.

Jordan Gielchinsky, President of Final Bell MaaS, commented on the reorganization, stating, "This strategic alignment under Final Bell Innovations enables us to leverage our collective expertise more effectively, ensuring that we deliver unparalleled value to our clients. Our focus on management services is sharper than ever, poised to drive significant advancements in the cannabis industry."

Ariel Wessling, President of 14th Round, shared her enthusiasm, "Joining forces under Final Bell Innovations marks a new chapter for us. It enhances our ability to innovate and expand our offerings, ensuring we continue to set the benchmark for quality and creativity in cannabis hardware and packaging solutions."

Austin DeAngelis, President of Final Bell Brand Co., added, "This reorganization is a game-changer for our house of brands. By consolidating our operations, we can more effectively manage our intellectual property and licensing arrangements, further solidifying our position as leaders in the regulated cannabis market."

Jeremy Green, CEO of FBI, underscored the significance of the reorganization, "Our transformation under Final Bell Innovations is a testament to our commitment to innovation and leverages our experience working side-by-side with the best brands in cannabis over the past decade. By uniting our strengths, we are not just streamlining our operations; we are creating a powerhouse capable of shaping the future of the cannabis industry."

For more information about Final Bell Holdings International and its subsidiaries, please visit www.finalbell.com.

About Final Bell Holdings International Ltd.

Final Bell Holdings International Ltd. is a leading entity in the cannabis industry, dedicated to innovation, quality, and sustainability. Through its subsidiaries, FBHI offers a comprehensive range of services designed to support cannabis brands and manufacturers in scaling and modernizing their operations. With a focus on non-plant touching activities, FBHI is committed to setting new standards of excellence in the cannabis sector.

Contact:

Kiarash Hessami

Director of Business Analytics and IR

Final Bell Holdings International Ltd.

[email protected]

604-365-6099

SOURCE: Final Bell Holdings International Ltd.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
FNM attends star-studded world premieres of Road House, Monkey Man, Y2K, and more!

AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / The Korman siblings' Friday Night Movie podcast celebrated independent film at this year's SXSW, delivering unforgettable insights and laughs with groundbreaking filmmakers, actors, producers, and writers. Among the standout stories was an interview with the team behind WE WERE DANGEROUS, including director Josephine Stewart-Te Whiu, who won the SXSW Special Jury Award for Filmmaking. The film's powerful narrative of rebellion and camaraderie among young women in a New Zealand reformatory captivated audiences and critics alike.

Friday Night Movie at SXSW 2024

Hosts Becky Korman and Shai Korman, and Special Guest Host Alli Korman pose with microphone in front of SXSW banner.

The Friday Night Movie team also hit the theaters, attending the world premieres of Jake Gyllenhaal's raucous ROAD HOUSE remake, Dev Patel's action epic and directorial debut MONKEY MAN, Kyle Mooney's apocalyptic teen comedy Y2K, and Damian Wilson's joyously terrifying ghost story ODDITY.

Coverage featured an engaging interview with comedy, music, and acting star Kate Micucci (Garfunkel and Oates) about her darkly funny role in the animated short, THE BLEACHER, and a conversation with rising star, Sonja O'Hara, who is breaking out with DOOMSDAY on Shudder and multiple features in the works.

Interviews with the cast and creative team behind Director Natalie Bailey's AUDREY captivated listeners with dark humor, complex family dynamics, and unrivaled chemistry. The podcast also explored compelling takes on relationships with BEN AND SUZANNE, A REUNION IN 4 PARTS star Anastasia Olowin and the cast and creative team from the heartwarming SWITCH UP, including director Tara Pirnia and starring Cristin de la Fuente (DRIVEN, MENORAH IN THE MIDDLE), Julieth Resptrepo (GRISELDA), Shondrella Avery (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE).

Additional highlights from the festival included coverage of:

CAN , a vulnerable, funny, and touching short by Kailee McGee about her cancer journey

, a vulnerable, funny, and touching short by Kailee McGee about her cancer journey DICKWEED , a true-crime documentary that feels like a real-life Coen Brothers movie from Jonathan Ignatius Green

, a true-crime documentary that feels like a real-life Coen Brothers movie from Jonathan Ignatius Green MAKE ME A PIZZA , a bold take on capitalism, erotic storytelling, and& pizza from Talia Shea Levin and Woody Coyote

, a bold take on capitalism, erotic storytelling, and& pizza from Talia Shea Levin and Woody Coyote MY IDEA , a music video about the surreal life of a motion capture actor from YACHT and Kailee McGee

, a music video about the surreal life of a motion capture actor from YACHT and Kailee McGee SHOTPLAYER , a look into the world of New York's most legendary pickpocket from renegade filmmaker Sam Shainberg

, a look into the world of New York's most legendary pickpocket from renegade filmmaker Sam Shainberg And more engaging stories from the world of independent film.

Looking beyond just covering film festivals, the Kormans announced earlier this year that they would be joining the indie movie world with their Jewish summer camp feature, THE FLOATERS, directed by Rachel Israel (KEEP THE CHANGE), and produced alongside Andra Gordon (CASTLE IN THE GROUND).

For the latest sibling rivalry-driven movie and TV reviews, visit frinightmovie.com and sign up for Friday Night Movie's newsletter.

Contact Information

Shai Korman

Producer / Host

[email protected]

703-879-6464

SOURCE: Friday Night Movie Podcast

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Mike Missanellis departure from Philadelphias 97.5 The Fanatic in 2022 after 15 years surprised listeners.

A report Sunday that he could be returning came as just as big a surprise.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Missanelli could be part of a new lineup at the station. 97.5 The Fanatic announced Friday that host Andrew Salciunas is moving to mornings and former Daily News writer Bob Cooney will move to the mid-day slot.

The Inquirer reported that Missanelli had talked with the station about a possible return.

Mikes name has come up. Hes a great talent, and well just have to wait and see what happens, new 97.5 The Fanatic program director Scott Masteller said (via The Inquirer). A lot of people are interested in the radio station right now. So Ill leave it at that.

Missanellis sudden departure from 97.5 The Fanatic was an awkward one. He announced on The Mike Missanelli Show on May 31, 2022, that it would be his last broadcast. His contract was set to expire, and he and the station had decided to part ways.

Mike Missanelli is OUT at 97.5 The Fanatic! Mike announced just minutes ago that his contract is set to expire in a few weeks. He and the station have agreed to part ways. pic.twitter.com/t6fsgoWLcR  Russ Joy (@JoyOnBroad) May 31, 2022

It seems so surreal, Missanelli said when he announced his exit. At the time, he was the stations biggest star.

Missanelli refused to comment to The Inquirer about his possible return, but sources confirmed to the paper the two sides have talked.

The radio host has stayed busy the past couple of years hosting a BetRivers podcast and as part of JAKIB Medias Philadelphia Eagles postgame show,

[Inquirer.com; Photo Credit: 97.5 The Fanatic]
Not for release to US wire services or distribution in the United States

ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE TORONTO STOCK EXCHANGE AND AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE

SUBIACO, WESTERN AUSTRALIA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / The Board of RTG Mining Inc. ("RTG", or the "Company") (TSX:RTG)(ASX:RTG) is pleased to provide a cost update for Stage 1 of the Mabilo Project in The Philippines.

A review of the Stage 1 budget conducted by the site team in February 2024 has shown Capital Costs have not materially changed and remain below US$25M as quoted previously. The updated key components of costs for the Stage 1 capital include -

Stage 1 Capital Component US$M Mobilisation and Mining Facilities 1.82 Topsoil Removal and Prestrip 5.53 Sterilisation Drilling 0.16 Creek Diversion 0.71 Clearing and Grubbing and Site Prep. 0.91 Relocation/Crop Compensation/Coconut Tree cutting 1.46 Local Community Access Way 0.25 Building and Office Equipment 1.87 Light Vehicles and Other Equipment 1.47 Port 0.89 Land Acquisition 3.65 Contingency (15%) 2.81 Total 21.53

Compared to the last cost review and budget in 2021, Total Operating Costs have reduced slightly with increases in Mining, Crushing, Product Haulage and Mines Department Fund costs being offset by reductions in Shipping, Supervision and Makati Overhead costs. The main operating cost for Stage 1 is detailed below-

Operating Component US$M Site G&A 5.55 Mining Supervision/Contractor Overhead 1.62 Mining Load and Haul 7.72 Grade Control 0.69 Clearing & Grubbing/Geotech and Dewatering 0.22 Ancillary Costs 0.50 Site to Port Haulage 1.40 Shipping 8.37 Crushing 0.71 Operating VAT 1.26 Makati Overheads 0.50 Environmental/Community Development/Safety MGB Funds 2.17 El Dore Royalty 1.43 Total 32.14

Commentary:

Commenting on these positive results, RTG's CEO Justine Magee said: "The Stage 1 financials remain very strong despite the pressures on costs we have seen in the industry over the last couple of years and reinforces our confidence in the project as we move into the development phase."

ABOUT RTG MINING INC

RTG Mining Inc. is a mining and exploration company listed on the main board of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Australian Securities Exchange. RTG is currently focused primarily on progressing the Mabilo Project to start-up having now received a mining permit for the Project, with a view to moving quickly and safely to a producing gold and copper company.

RTG also has a number of exciting new opportunities including the Panguna Project in Bougainville, which it remains committed to while also considering further new business development opportunities.

RTG has an experienced management team which has to date developed seven mines in five different countries, including being responsible for the development of the Masbate Gold Mine in the Philippines through CGA Mining Limited. RTG has some of the most respected international institutional investors as shareholders including Franklin Templeton, Equinox Partners and Sun Valley.

ENQUIRIES

President & CEO - Justine Magee

Tel: +61 8 6489 2900

Email: [email protected]

US Investor Relations Contact

Jaime Wells: +1 970 640 0611

[email protected]

Australia Investor and Media Contact

Sam Burns: +61 400 164 067

[email protected]

COMPLIANCE STATEMENT

Date: 18 March 2024

Authorised for release by: By the Board of Directors

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed nor does it accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.

This announcement includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation including, among others, statements made or implied relating to the interpretation of exploration results, accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, parameters and assumptions used to estimate mineral reserves and mineral resources, realization of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, estimated economic results of the Mabilo Project, future operational and financial results, including estimated cashflow and the timing thereof, estimated expenditures, expansion, exploration and development activities and the timing thereof, including expectations regarding the DSO, plans for progressing Stage 2 development, completion of a debt funding package, the negotiation of contracts for start up works and offtake arrangements and the completion of merged documentation, RTG's objectives, strategies to achieve those objectives, RTG's beliefs, plans, estimates and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements generally can be identified by words such as "objective", "may", "will", "expected", "likely", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "should", "plans", or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties and are based on certain factors and assumptions. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from RTG's expectations include uncertainties related to fluctuations in gold and other commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of drill results and the geology, continuity and grade of mineral deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, recovery rates, production estimates and estimated economic return; the need for cooperation of government agencies in the development of RTG's mineral projects; the need to obtain additional financing to develop RTG's mineral projects; the possibility of delay in development programs or in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones for RTG's mineral projects and other risks and uncertainties as discussed in RTG's annual report for the year ended December 31, 2022 and detailed from time to time in our other filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities available at www.sedar.com. The forwardlooking statements made in this announcement relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. RTG will not release publicly any revisions or updates to these forwardlooking statements to reflect events, circumstances or unanticipated events occurring after the date of this announcement except as required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority.

NOT FOR RELEASE OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES

This announcement has been prepared for publication in Canada and Australia and may not be released to US wire services or distributed in the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Any securities described in this announcement have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States except in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, registration under the US Securities Act and applicable US state securities laws.

SOURCE: RTG Mining Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Temas Resources Corp. ("Temas" or the "Company") (CSE:TMAS)(OTCQB: TMASF) is pleased to announce that Temas Resources CEO Tim Fernback is scheduled to present at the 2024 Kinvestor Critical Minerals & Mining Virtual Conference on Tuesday, March 26th at 9:30 am PT (12:30 pm ET). More details below.

Kinvestor Critical Minerals & Mining 2024 (KCMM24) is a virtual conference featuring a stellar lineup of presenting companies in the critical minerals and mining industries. This event will showcase several junior mining companies exploring for minerals that are critical to the global energy transition including copper, graphite, titanium, and uranium, as well as the precious metals gold and silver. Hosted by Kin Communications president and host of The Kinvestor Report Arlen Hansen, KCMM24 will also feature a roundtable discussion with industry experts on one of the hottest topics of 2024: Uranium. Presenting companies and industry experts will have the opportunity to share about latest developments and answer thoughtful questions from attendees.

Register for free today and reserve your spot to hear from Tim Fernback and other key executives as they discuss the latest in critical minerals and mining.

Presentation Details:

Date: March 26, 2024

Presentation Time: 9:30 am PT / 12:30 pm ET

Presenter: Tim Fernback, CEO

Register now at:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/2517065568384/WN_cdDwHVs4R7qqsuqYbq4oAA

About Kinvestor Virtual Conferences

At Kinvestor, we create powerful opportunities for investors to connect with both established and up-and-coming public companies in the mining, technology, and energy sectors on a free to join virtual platform. Kinvestor Virtual Conferences are powered by Kin Communications Inc, a full-service investor relations agency with over 14 years of experience across multiple industries. Our goal is to foster long-term relationships with investors, thought leaders and the media. Our investor relations services include strategy, messaging, investor outreach, digital marketing, content creation, and more. For more information visit kinvestor.net.

Twitter: @kincomm

About Temas Resources

Temas Resources Corp. is focused on the advanced La Blache and Lac Brule Iron-Titanium-Vanadium projects in Quebec. The critical metals the Company is exploring for are key to our national mineral independence. Additionally, the Company invests in and works to apply its green mineral recovery technologies across its mining portfolio to reduce the environmental impact and carbon footprint of metal extraction through advanced processing and patented leaching technologies.

All public filings for the Company can be found on the SEDAR+ website www.sedarplus.ca. For more information about the Company, please visit www.temasresources.com.

For further information or investor relations inquiries:



Tim Fernback

President and CEO

[email protected]

KIN Communications Inc.

Tel: 604-684-6730

[email protected]

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at the Company's mineral projects.

Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of the Company, future growth potential for the Company and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of metals; no escalation in the severity of public health pandemics; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; the Company's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner.

SOURCE: Temas Resources Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
PALO ALTO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Uptime.com, a leading website monitoring company, is thrilled to announce the launch of UPro!, a premium service designed to streamline customer onboarding to Uptime.com.









UPro! Services are meticulously crafted to facilitate a seamless onboarding experience to the Uptime platform, providing clients with comprehensive training and documentation on system configurations. The service includes an in-depth, one-hour training session and more, ensuring that clients can quickly and efficiently integrate website monitoring tools into their operations. This streamlined onboarding process empowers teams to focus on driving business growth without unnecessary delays.

Key Features of UPro! Services:

Smooth Hand-off of Deliverables: UPro! ensures a smooth transition, minimizing disruptions during the onboarding process.

UPro! ensures a smooth transition, minimizing disruptions during the onboarding process. Comprehensive Documentation: Clients receive detailed documentation on system configurations, empowering them with a clear understanding of the web monitoring tools.

Clients receive detailed documentation on system configurations, empowering them with a clear understanding of the web monitoring tools. In-Depth Training Session: The one-hour training session by one of our dedicated UPro onboarding professionals provides teams with the knowledge to utilize the full potential of Uptime.com's website monitoring solutions.

The one-hour training session by one of our dedicated UPro onboarding professionals provides teams with the knowledge to utilize the full potential of Uptime.com's website monitoring solutions. Quick Setup and Seamless Onboarding: UPro! expedites the setup process, allowing teams to leverage website monitoring tools efficiently.

"With the experience of the Customer Success and Support team combined, we can create the ultimate monitoring account setup. It is time for us to share this knowledge with our clients by onboarding you with a seamless set of monitors on your services like you have never seen. UPro is here to kickstart your monitoring and make sure you are aware of any glitches before your clients do," said Elias Laham, VP of Customer Success & Support.

In addition to the UPro! Services launch, Uptime.com is proud to announce the expansion of its global observability with Probe Server Locations, the website monitoring industry's largest number of locations supporting both IPv4 & IPv6. Below is a list of the latest addition of locations in the last month:

Braslia, Brazil

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Bogota, Colombia

Panama City, Panama

Lima, Peru

Cairo, Egypt

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

San Juan, Puerto Rico

La Paz, Bolivia

With these strategic additions, Uptime.com now boasts over 75 locations worldwide, enhancing visibility and ensuring that websites and services remain available for customers across the globe.

"I'm thrilled to unveil UPro! Services, our latest innovation designed to empower even more customers to monitor any website or service with our cutting-edge expertise in website monitoring. While our product continues to offer a self-service experience, we recognize that some customers prefer the guidance of an expert to configure their monitoring in line with our best practices, especially those without a dedicated IT team. UPro! Services steps in to fill this gap, offering these customers a straightforward and all-encompassing solution. This service ensures they gain the necessary visibility and responsiveness, safeguarding against the loss of crucial customer transactions or sales opportunities. With UPro! Services, we're not just providing a tool; we're ensuring peace of mind and the continuity of your digital services," said Jonathan Franconi, CEO & Head of Product.

Contact Information

Mike Albanese

[email protected]

SOURCE: Uptime.com

View the original press release on newswire.com.
Represents Second Consecutive IBS Award for Amprius, Voted on by Energy Industry Professionals

FREMONT, Calif. & ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Amprius Technologies, Inc. ("Amprius" or the Company) (NYSE: AMPX), a leader in next-generation lithium-ion batteries with its Silicon Anode Platform, is pleased to announce that its SiMaxxTM 400 Wh/kg cell capable of delivering a 10C continuous discharge rate won the Best of Show New Product Award, as voted on by energy industry professionals attending the 2024 International Battery Seminar.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318850326/en/

Team Amprius team accepting the Best of Show award at the 41st International Battery Seminar and Exhibit: Erik Vaknine (left), Ronnie Tao (middle), Katie Maze (right). (Photo: Business Wire)

We are honored to receive the Best of Show New Product Award for our SiMaxx 400 Wh/kg high-power cell, said Dr. Kang Sun, CEO of Amprius Technologies. This second consecutive win in this category validates our dedication to building innovative products and shows the need for our next-generation battery technology to power the future of electric mobility.

Amprius SiMaxx 400 Wh/kg cell, also known as the ultra-high-power-high-energy cell, has a remarkable power output and boasts ultra-fast charging (UFC) capability which offer significant advantages to the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sectors. It can deliver a 10C continuous discharge rate and provide an up to 50% flight range increase, both of which are significant developments enabling electric aviation.

Last year, industry professionals attending the 2023 International Battery Seminar voted Amprius 450 Wh/kg, 1150 Wh/L lithium-ion cell the inaugural winner of the Best of Show New Product Award. The 2024 Best of Show Awards offered exhibitors of the International Battery Seminar an exclusive opportunity to distinguish and highlight their products, ranging from an innovative application, technology, tool, or solution. The International Battery community was invited to identify exceptional innovation in technologies used by industry professionals, voting on the most impactful new or significantly improved products of the year via an online submission during the event. The acclaimed 400 Wh/kg high-power cell received the most votes from registered attendees recognizing it as the best new product in the battery industry.

We are pleased to recognize Amprius SiMaxx 400 Wh/kg cell as our Best of Show New Product Award among a highly competitive field of industry-leading energy solutions, said Craig Wohlers, Executive Director of Conferences at the International Battery Seminar. Amprius continues to create products that challenge the previously set boundaries for our industry, enabling a significant increase in overall performance.

For more information on Amprius, please visit the Companys investor relations website at https://ir.amprius.com.

About Amprius Technologies, Inc.

Amprius Technologies, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of high-energy and high-power lithium-ion batteries producing the industrys highest known energy density cells. The companys commercially available SiMaxxTM batteries deliver up to 450 Wh/kg and 1,150 Wh/L, with third party validation of 500Wh/kg and 1,300 Wh/L. The companys corporate headquarters is in Fremont, California where it maintains an R&D lab and a MWh scale manufacturing facility for the fabrication of silicon anodes and cells. To serve customer demand, Amprius entered into a lease agreement for an approximately 774,000 square foot facility in Brighton, Colorado and expanded its product portfolio to include the SiCore TM platform. For additional information, please visit amprius.com. Also, see the companys LinkedIn and Twitter pages.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318850326/en/

Investors

Tom Colton, Chris Adusei-Poku

Gateway Group, Inc.

949-574-3860

[email protected]



Media

Zach Kadletz, Brenlyn Motlagh

Gateway Group, Inc.

949-574-3860

[email protected]

Source: Amprius Technologies, Inc.
Expanded savings programs build on companys longstanding commitment to addressing barriers to access and affordability for patients

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AstraZeneca announced it will expand the savings programs for its entire US inhaled respiratory portfolio, helping eligible patients pay no more than $35 per month for their medicine.* Expanding the savings programs will help make its inhalers more affordable to the most vulnerable patients living with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including those who are uninsured and underinsured.

Pascal Soriot, Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca, said: AstraZenecas expanded savings programs build on our longstanding commitment to addressing barriers to access and affordability for patients living with respiratory diseases to ultimately help patients lead healthier lives. We remain dedicated to addressing the need for affordability of our medicines, but the system is complex and we cannot do it alone. It is critical that Congress bring together key stakeholders to help reform the healthcare system so patients can afford the medicines they need, not just today, but for the future.

Starting June 1, 2024, eligible patients will pay no more than $35 per month for all AstraZeneca US inhaled respiratory medicines, including:

AIRSUPRA (albuterol and budesonide)

BEVESPI AEROSPHERE (glycopyrrolate and formoterol fumarate) Inhalation Aerosol

BREZTRI AEROSPHERE (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Inhalation Aerosol

SYMBICORT (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol

In addition, AstraZeneca substantially reduced the list price of SYMBICORT on January 1, 2024. The Company will continue to provide discounts and rebates off the list price to help patients afford its inhaled respiratory medicines.

For more than 50 years, AstraZeneca has served respiratory patients by investing in the research and development of new drug-device combinations, as well as next-generation biologics and novel mechanisms to address the vast unmet needs of these chronic, often debilitating diseases. AstraZeneca remains dedicated to transforming patient outcomes, while ensuring access and affordability of our innovative medicines.

*Terms and conditions apply. Government restrictions exclude people enrolled in federal government insurance programs from co-pay support.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

AIRSUPRA (albuterol and budesonide)

Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to albuterol, budesonide, or to any of the excipients

Hypersensitivity to albuterol, budesonide, or to any of the excipients Deterioration of Asthma: Asthma may deteriorate acutely over a period of hours or chronically over several days or longer. If the patient continues to experience symptoms after using AIRSUPRA or requires more doses of AIRSUPRA than usual, it may be a marker of destabilization of asthma and requires evaluation of the patient and their treatment regimen

Asthma may deteriorate acutely over a period of hours or chronically over several days or longer. If the patient continues to experience symptoms after using AIRSUPRA or requires more doses of AIRSUPRA than usual, it may be a marker of destabilization of asthma and requires evaluation of the patient and their treatment regimen Paradoxical Bronchospasm: AIRSUPRA can produce paradoxical bronchospasm, which may be life threatening. Discontinue AIRSUPRA immediately and institute alternative therapy if paradoxical bronchospasm occurs. It should be recognized that paradoxical bronchospasm, when associated with inhaled formulations, frequently occurs with the first use of a new canister

AIRSUPRA can produce paradoxical bronchospasm, which may be life threatening. Discontinue AIRSUPRA immediately and institute alternative therapy if paradoxical bronchospasm occurs. It should be recognized that paradoxical bronchospasm, when associated with inhaled formulations, frequently occurs with the first use of a new canister Cardiovascular Effects: AIRSUPRA, like other drugs containing beta2-adrenergic agonists, can produce clinically significant cardiovascular effects in some patients, as measured by pulse rate, blood pressure, and/or other symptoms. If such effects occur, AIRSUPRA may need to be discontinued. In addition, beta-agonists have been reported to produce electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, such as flattening of the T wave, prolongation of the QTc interval, and ST-segment depression. Therefore, AIRSUPRA, like all sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension

AIRSUPRA, like other drugs containing beta2-adrenergic agonists, can produce clinically significant cardiovascular effects in some patients, as measured by pulse rate, blood pressure, and/or other symptoms. If such effects occur, AIRSUPRA may need to be discontinued. In addition, beta-agonists have been reported to produce electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, such as flattening of the T wave, prolongation of the QTc interval, and ST-segment depression. Therefore, AIRSUPRA, like all sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension Do Not Exceed Recommended Dose: Clinically significant cardiovascular effects and fatalities have been reported in association with excessive use of inhaled sympathomimetic drugs

Clinically significant cardiovascular effects and fatalities have been reported in association with excessive use of inhaled sympathomimetic drugs Hypersensitivity Reactions, Including Anaphylaxis: Can occur after administration of albuterol sulfate and budesonide, components of AIRSUPRA, as demonstrated by cases of anaphylaxis, angioedema, bronchospasm, oropharyngeal edema, rash, and urticaria. Discontinue AIRSUPRA if such reactions occur

Can occur after administration of albuterol sulfate and budesonide, components of AIRSUPRA, as demonstrated by cases of anaphylaxis, angioedema, bronchospasm, oropharyngeal edema, rash, and urticaria. Discontinue AIRSUPRA if such reactions occur Risk of Sympathomimetic Amines with Certain Coexisting Conditions: AIRSUPRA, like all therapies containing sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with convulsive disorders, hyperthyroidism, or diabetes mellitus and in patients who are unusually responsive to sympathomimetic amines

AIRSUPRA, like all therapies containing sympathomimetic amines, should be used with caution in patients with convulsive disorders, hyperthyroidism, or diabetes mellitus and in patients who are unusually responsive to sympathomimetic amines Hypokalemia: Beta-adrenergic agonist medicines may produce significant hypokalemia in some patients. The decrease in serum potassium is usually transient, not requiring supplementation

Beta-adrenergic agonist medicines may produce significant hypokalemia in some patients. The decrease in serum potassium is usually transient, not requiring supplementation Immunosuppression and Risk of Infections: Due to possible immunosuppression from the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), potential worsening of infections could occur. Use with caution. A more serious or fatal course of chickenpox or measles can occur in susceptible patients

Due to possible immunosuppression from the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), potential worsening of infections could occur. Use with caution. A more serious or fatal course of chickenpox or measles can occur in susceptible patients Oropharyngeal Candidiasis: Has occurred in patients treated with ICS agents. Monitor patients periodically. Advise patients to rinse his/her mouth with water, if available, without swallowing after inhalation

Has occurred in patients treated with ICS agents. Monitor patients periodically. Advise patients to rinse his/her mouth with water, if available, without swallowing after inhalation Hypercorticism and Adrenal Suppression: May occur with very high doses in susceptible individuals. If such changes occur, consider appropriate therapy

May occur with very high doses in susceptible individuals. If such changes occur, consider appropriate therapy Reduction in Bone Mineral Density: Decreases in bone mineral density have been observed with long-term administration of ICS. For patients at high risk for decreased bone mineral density, assess initially and periodically thereafter

Decreases in bone mineral density have been observed with long-term administration of ICS. For patients at high risk for decreased bone mineral density, assess initially and periodically thereafter Glaucoma and Cataracts: Have been reported following the long-term administration of ICS, including budesonide, a component of AIRSUPRA

Have been reported following the long-term administration of ICS, including budesonide, a component of AIRSUPRA Effects on Growth: Orally inhaled corticosteroids, including budesonide, may cause a reduction in growth velocity when administered to pediatric patients. The safety and effectiveness of AIRSUPRA have not been established in pediatric patients, and AIRSUPRA is not indicated for use in this population

Orally inhaled corticosteroids, including budesonide, may cause a reduction in growth velocity when administered to pediatric patients. The safety and effectiveness of AIRSUPRA have not been established in pediatric patients, and AIRSUPRA is not indicated for use in this population Most common adverse reactions (incidence  1%) are headache, oral candidiasis, cough, and dysphonia

(incidence  1%) are headache, oral candidiasis, cough, and dysphonia Drug Interactions: AIRSUPRA should be administered with caution to patients being treated with: Strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (may cause systemic corticosteroid effects) Short-acting bronchodilators (concomitant use of additional beta-agonists with AIRSUPRA should be used judiciously to prevent beta-agonist overdose) Beta-blockers (may block pulmonary effects of beta-agonists and produce severe bronchospasm) Diuretics or non-potassium-sparing diuretics (may potentiate hypokalemia or ECG changes). Consider monitoring potassium levels Digoxin (may decrease serum digoxin levels). Consider monitoring digoxin levels Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or tricyclic antidepressants (Use AIRSUPRA with extreme caution; may potentiate effect of albuterol on the cardiovascular system)

AIRSUPRA should be administered with caution to patients being treated with: Use AIRSUPRA with caution in patients with hepatic impairment, as budesonide systemic exposure may increase. Monitor patients with hepatic disease

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.

You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products.

BEVESPI AEROSPHERE (glycopyrrolate and formoterol fumarate) Inhalation Aerosol

CONTRAINDICATIONS

All long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists (LABAs), including formoterol fumarate, are contraindicated in patients with asthma without use of an inhaled corticosteroid. BEVESPI is not indicated for the treatment of asthma. BEVESPI is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to glycopyrrolate, formoterol fumarate, or to any component of the product.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

The safety and efficacy of BEVESPI AEROSPHERE in patients with asthma have not been established. BEVESPI AEROSPHERE is not indicated for the treatment of asthma

Use of LABAs as monotherapy (without inhaled corticosteroids [ICS]) for asthma is associated with an increased risk of asthma-related death. These findings are considered a class effect of LABA monotherapy. When LABAs are used in fixed-dose combination with ICS, data from large clinical trials do not show a significant increase in the risk of serious asthma-related events (hospitalizations, intubations, death) compared to ICS alone. Available data do not suggest an increased risk of death with use of LABAs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

BEVESPI should not be initiated in patients with acutely deteriorating COPD, which may be a life-threatening condition

BEVESPI should not be used for the relief of acute symptoms (ie, as rescue therapy for the treatment of acute episodes of bronchospasm). Acute symptoms should be treated with an inhaled short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA)

BEVESPI should not be used more often or at higher doses than recommended, or with other LABAs, as an overdose may result

If paradoxical bronchospasm occurs, discontinue BEVESPI immediately and institute alternative therapy

If immediate hypersensitivity reactions occur, in particular, angioedema, urticaria, or skin rash, discontinue BEVESPI at once and consider alternative treatment

BEVESPI can produce a clinically significant cardiovascular effect in some patients, as measured by increases in pulse rate, blood pressure, or symptoms. If such effects occur, BEVESPI may need to be discontinued

Use with caution in patients with convulsive disorders, thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus, ketoacidosis, and in patients who are unusually responsive to sympathomimetic amines

Be alert to hypokalemia and hyperglycemia

Worsening of narrow-angle glaucoma or urinary retention may occur. Use with caution in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hyperplasia, or bladder-neck obstruction, and instruct patients to contact a physician immediately if symptoms occur

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions with BEVESPI (2% and more common than placebo) were cough, 4.0% (2.7%) and urinary tract infection, 2.6% (2.3%).

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Use caution if administering additional adrenergic drugs because the sympathetic effects of formoterol may be potentiated

Concomitant treatment with xanthine derivatives, steroids, or diuretics may potentiate any hypokalemic effect of formoterol

Use with caution in patients taking non-potassium-sparing diuretics, as the ECG changes and/or hypokalemia may worsen with concomitant beta2-agonists

The action of adrenergic agonists on the cardiovascular system may be potentiated by monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, or other drugs known to prolong the QTc interval. Therefore, BEVESPI should be used with extreme caution in patients being treated with these agents

Use beta-blockers with caution as they not only block the therapeutic effects of beta-agonists, but may produce severe bronchospasm in patients with COPD

Avoid co-administration of BEVESPI with other anticholinergic-containing drugs as this may lead to an increase in anticholinergic adverse effects

INDICATION

BEVESPI AEROSPHERE is a combination of glycopyrrolate, an anticholinergic, and formoterol fumarate, a long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA), indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema.

LIMITATION OF USE

Not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm or for the treatment of asthma.

Please read full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.

You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products.

BREZTRI AEROSPHERE (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Inhalation Aerosol

BREZTRI is contraindicated in patients who have a hypersensitivity to budesonide, glycopyrrolate, formoterol fumarate, or product excipients

BREZTRI is not indicated for treatment of asthma. Long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist (LABA) monotherapy for asthma is associated with an increased risk of asthma-related death. These findings are considered a class effect of LABA monotherapy. When a LABA is used in fixed-dose combination with ICS, data from large clinical trials do not show a significant increase in the risk of serious asthma-related events (hospitalizations, intubations, death) compared with ICS alone. Available data do not suggest an increased risk of death with use of LABA in patients with COPD

BREZTRI should not be initiated in patients with acutely deteriorating COPD, which may be a life-threatening condition

BREZTRI is NOT a rescue inhaler. Do NOT use to relieve acute symptoms; treat with an inhaled short-acting beta2-agonist

BREZTRI should not be used more often than recommended; at higher doses than recommended; or in combination with LABA-containing medicines, due to risk of overdose. Clinically significant cardiovascular effects and fatalities have been reported in association with excessive use of inhaled sympathomimetic drugs

Oropharyngeal candidiasis has occurred in patients treated with orally inhaled drug products containing budesonide. Advise patients to rinse their mouths with water without swallowing after inhalation

Lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia, have been reported following ICS. Physicians should remain vigilant for the possible development of pneumonia in patients with COPD as the clinical features of pneumonia and exacerbations frequently overlap

Due to possible immunosuppression, potential worsening of infections could occur. Use with caution. A more serious or fatal course of chickenpox or measles can occur in susceptible patients

Particular care is needed for patients transferred from systemic corticosteroids to ICS because deaths due to adrenal insufficiency have occurred in patients during and after transfer. Taper patients slowly from systemic corticosteroids if transferring to BREZTRI

Hypercorticism and adrenal suppression may occur with regular or very high dosage in susceptible individuals. If such changes occur, consider appropriate therapy

Caution should be exercised when considering the coadministration of BREZTRI with long-term ketoconazole and other known strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors. Adverse effects related to increased systemic exposure to budesonide may occur

If paradoxical bronchospasm occurs, discontinue BREZTRI immediately and institute alternative therapy

Anaphylaxis and other hypersensitivity reactions (eg, angioedema, urticaria or rash) have been reported. Discontinue and consider alternative therapy

Use caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, as formoterol fumarate can produce a clinically significant cardiovascular effect in some patients as measured by increases in pulse rate, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, and also cardiac arrhythmias, such as supraventricular tachycardia and extrasystoles

Decreases in bone mineral density have been observed with long-term administration of ICS. Assess initially and periodically thereafter in patients at high risk for decreased bone mineral content

Glaucoma and cataracts may occur with long-term use of ICS. Worsening of narrow-angle glaucoma may occur, so use with caution. Consider referral to an ophthalmologist in patients who develop ocular symptoms or use BREZTRI long term. Instruct patients to contact a healthcare provider immediately if symptoms occur

Worsening of urinary retention may occur. Use with caution in patients with prostatic hyperplasia or bladder-neck obstruction. Instruct patients to contact a healthcare provider immediately if symptoms occur

Use caution in patients with convulsive disorders, thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus, and ketoacidosis or unusually responsive to sympathomimetic amines

Be alert to hypokalemia or hyperglycemia

Most common adverse reactions in a 52-week trial (incidence  2%) were upper respiratory tract infection (5.7%), pneumonia (4.6%), back pain (3.1%), oral candidiasis (3.0%), influenza (2.9%), muscle spasms (2.8%), urinary tract infection (2.7%), cough (2.7%), sinusitis (2.6%), and diarrhea (2.1%). In a 24-week trial, adverse reactions (incidence  2%) were dysphonia (3.3%) and muscle spasms (3.3%)

BREZTRI should be administered with extreme caution to patients being treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants, as these may potentiate the effect of formoterol fumarate on the cardiovascular system

BREZTRI should be administered with caution to patients being treated with: Strong cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors (may cause systemic corticosteroid effects) Adrenergic drugs (may potentiate effects of formoterol fumarate) Xanthine derivatives, steroids, or non-potassium sparing diuretics (may potentiate hypokalemia and/or ECG changes) Beta-blockers (may block bronchodilatory effects of beta-agonists and produce severe bronchospasm) Anticholinergic-containing drugs (may interact additively). Avoid use with BREZTRI

Use BREZTRI with caution in patients with hepatic impairment, as budesonide and formoterol fumarate systemic exposure may increase. Patients with severe hepatic disease should be closely monitored

INDICATION

BREZTRI AEROSPHERE is indicated for the maintenance treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

LIMITATIONS OF USE

Not indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm or for the treatment of asthma.

Please see full BREZTRI Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.

You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products.

SYMBICORT (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol

Use of long-acting beta2-adrenergic agonists (LABA) as monotherapy (without inhaled corticosteroids [ICS]) for asthma is associated with an increased risk of asthma-related death. Available data from controlled clinical trials also suggest that use of LABA as monotherapy increases the risk of asthma-related hospitalization in pediatric and adolescent patients. These findings are considered a class effect of LABA. When LABA are used in fixed dose combination with ICS, data from large clinical trials do not show a significant increase in the risk of serious asthma-related events (hospitalizations, intubations, death) compared to ICS alone

SYMBICORT is NOT a rescue medication and does NOT replace fast-acting inhalers to treat acute symptoms

SYMBICORT should not be initiated in patients during rapidly deteriorating episodes of asthma or COPD

Patients who are receiving SYMBICORT should not use additional formoterol or other LABA for any reason

Localized infections of the mouth and pharynx with Candida albicans has occurred in patients treated with SYMBICORT. Patients should rinse the mouth after inhalation of SYMBICORT

has occurred in patients treated with SYMBICORT. Patients should rinse the mouth after inhalation of SYMBICORT Lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia, have been reported following the administration of ICS

Due to possible immunosuppression, potential worsening of infections could occur. A more serious or even fatal course of chickenpox or measles can occur in susceptible patients

It is possible that systemic corticosteroid effects such as hypercorticism and adrenal suppression may occur, particularly at higher doses. Particular care is needed for patients who are transferred from systemically active corticosteroids to ICS. Deaths due to adrenal insufficiency have occurred in asthmatic patients during and after transfer from systemic corticosteroids to less systemically available ICS

Caution should be exercised when considering administration of SYMBICORT in patients on long-term ketoconazole and other known potent CYP3A4 inhibitors

As with other inhaled medications, paradoxical bronchospasm may occur with SYMBICORT

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions may occur, as demonstrated by cases of urticaria, angioedema, rash, and bronchospasm

Excessive beta-adrenergic stimulation has been associated with central nervous system and cardiovascular effects. SYMBICORT should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension

Long-term use of ICS may result in a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD). Since patients with COPD often have multiple risk factors for reduced BMD, assessment of BMD is recommended prior to initiating SYMBICORT and periodically thereafter

ICS may result in a reduction in growth velocity when administered to pediatric patients

Glaucoma, increased intraocular pressure, and cataracts have been reported following the administration of ICS, including budesonide, a component of SYMBICORT. Close monitoring is warranted in patients with a change in vision or history of increased intraocular pressure, glaucoma, or cataracts

In rare cases, patients on ICS may present with systemic eosinophilic conditions

SYMBICORT should be used with caution in patients with convulsive disorders, thyrotoxicosis, diabetes mellitus, ketoacidosis, and in patients who are unusually responsive to sympathomimetic amines

Beta-adrenergic agonist medications may produce hypokalemia and hyperglycemia in some patients

The most common adverse reactions 3% reported in asthma clinical trials included nasopharyngitis, headache, upper respiratory tract infection, pharyngolaryngeal pain, sinusitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, influenza, back pain, nasal congestion, stomach discomfort, vomiting, and oral candidiasis

The most common adverse reactions 3% reported in COPD clinical trials included nasopharyngitis, oral candidiasis, bronchitis, sinusitis, and upper respiratory tract infection

SYMBICORT should be administered with caution to patients being treated with MAO inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation of such agents

Beta-blockers may not only block the pulmonary effect of beta-agonists, such as formoterol, but may produce severe bronchospasm in patients with asthma

ECG changes and/or hypokalemia associated with nonpotassium-sparing diuretics may worsen with concomitant beta-agonists. Use caution with the coadministration of SYMBICORT

INDICATIONS

SYMBICORT is indicated for the treatment of asthma in patients 6 years and older not adequately controlled on a long-term asthma-control medication such as an ICS or whose disease warrants initiation of treatment with both an ICS and LABA (also see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

SYMBICORT 160/4.5 is indicated for the maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema, and to reduce COPD exacerbations.

SYMBICORT is NOT indicated for the relief of acute bronchospasm.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.

You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products.

Notes

About Asthma

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory respiratory disease with variable symptoms that affects as many as 262 million people worldwide,1 including approximately 25 million in the US.2

Patients with asthma experience recurrent breathlessness and wheezing, which varies over time, and in severity and frequency.3 These patients are at risk of severe exacerbations regardless of their disease severity, adherence to treatment or level of control.4-5

There are an estimated 136 million asthma exacerbations globally per year,6 including approximately 10 million in the US2; these are physically threatening and emotionally significant for many patients7 and can be fatal.3,8

Inflammation is central to both asthma symptoms4 and exacerbations.9 Many patients experiencing asthma symptoms use a SABA (e.g., albuterol) as a rescue medicine10-12; however, taking a SABA alone does not address inflammation, leaving patients at risk of severe exacerbations,13 which can result in impaired quality of life,14 hospitalization15 and frequent oral corticosteroid (OCS) use.15 Treatment of exacerbations with as few as 1-3 short courses of OCS are associated with an increased risk of adverse health conditions including type 2 diabetes, depression/anxiety, renal impairment, cataracts, cardiovascular disease, pneumonia and fracture.16 International recommendations from the GINA no longer recommend SABA alone as the preferred rescue therapy.3

About COPD

COPD refers to a group of lung diseases, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems.17 Affecting an estimated 16 million Americans, COPD is the third leading cause of death due to chronic disease and the sixth overall leading cause of death in the US.18-19

About AIRSUPRA

AIRSUPRA (albuterol and budesonide), formerly known as PT027, is a first-in-class SABA/ICS rescue treatment for asthma in the US, to be taken as needed. It is an inhaled, fixed-dose combination rescue medication containing albuterol (also known as salbutamol), a SABA, and budesonide, a corticosteroid, and has been developed in a pMDI using AstraZenecas Aerosphere delivery technology.

The FDA approval of AIRSUPRA was based on MANDALA and DENALI Phase III trials (Approval press release). In MANDALA, AIRSUPRA significantly reduced the risk of severe exacerbations compared to albuterol in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma when used as an as-needed rescue medication in response to symptoms. For patients treated with AIRSUPRA 180 mcg/160 mcg the annualized total systemic corticosteroids dose when compared with albuterol 180 mcg was statistically significantly different, with a reduction in mean annualized dose of 40 mg per patient. In DENALI, AIRSUPRA significantly improved lung function compared to the individual components albuterol and budesonide in patients with mild to moderate asthma.

About BEVESPI AEROSPHERE

BEVESPI AEROSPHERE (glycopyrronium and formoterol fumarate) is a fixed-dose dual bronchodilator in a pMDI, combining glycopyrronium, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), and formoterol fumarate, a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA). PMDIs are an important choice for COPD patients where limited lung function, advanced age and reduced dexterity or cognition are significant considerations for patients to achieve therapeutic benefits from their medicines. BEVESPI AEROSPHERE is the only LABA/LAMA with Aerosphere delivery technology. Results from an imaging trial have shown that BEVESPI AEROSPHERE effectively delivers medicine to both the large and small airways.

About BREZTRI AEROSPHERE

BREZTRI AEROSPHERE (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) is a single-inhaler, fixed-dose triple-combination of formoterol fumarate, a LABA, glycopyrronium bromide, a LAMA, with budesonide, an ICS, and delivered in a pressurized metered-dose inhaler. BREZTRI AEROSPHERE is approved to treat COPD in more than 50 countries worldwide including the US, EU, China and Japan, and is currently being studied in Phase III trials for asthma.

About SYMBICORT

Symbicort (budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate) is the number one ICS/LABA combination therapy in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in China. It is a combination formulation containing budesonide, an ICS that treats underlying inflammation, and formoterol, a LABA with a fast onset of action, in a single inhaler. Symbicort was launched in 2000 and is approved in approximately 120 countries to treat asthma and/or COPD either as Symbicort Turbuhaler or Symbicort pMDI (pressurised metered-dose inhaler).

About AstraZeneca in Respiratory & Immunology

Respiratory & Immunology, part of BioPharmaceuticals, is one of AstraZenecas main disease areas and is a key growth driver for the Company.

AstraZeneca is an established leader in respiratory care with a 50-year heritage. The Company aims to transform the treatment of asthma and COPD by focusing on earlier biology-led treatment, eliminating preventable asthma attacks, and removing COPD as a top-three leading cause of death. The Companys early respiratory research is focused on emerging science involving immune mechanisms, lung damage and abnormal cell-repair processes in disease and neuronal dysfunction.

With common pathways and underlying disease drivers across respiratory and immunology, AstraZeneca is following the science from chronic lung diseases to immunology-driven disease areas. The Companys growing presence in immunology is focused on five mid- to late-stage franchises with multi-disease potential, in areas including rheumatology (including systemic lupus erythematosus), dermatology, gastroenterology, and systemic eosinophilic-driven diseases. AstraZenecas ambition in Respiratory & Immunology is to achieve disease modification and durable remission for millions of patients worldwide.

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialization of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com and follow us on social media @AstraZeneca.

About AZ&Me

AstraZenecas patient assistance program, AZ&Me Prescription Savings Program (AZ&Me), is part of the Companys commitment to addressing barriers to access and affordability to improve medication adherence, enhance patient care, and help patients lead healthier lives. AZ&Me is just one of the ways that AstraZeneca makes its life-changing medicines widely available, accessible, and affordable.

For over 40 years, AstraZeneca has offered a patient assistance program through AZ&Me and prior legacy free drug programs, making it one of the longest standing patient assistance programs in the country. Since 2007, over five million people have benefited from this program. In addition to its patient assistance programs, AstraZeneca offers other affordability programs and resources to help increase patients access to medicines and reduce their out-of-pocket costs including a co-pay savings program for commercially-insured patients and additional affordability resources. Each of these programs offer financial support to particular patient populations, consistent with applicable legal requirements.

The goal of AZ&Me is to help patients who have been prescribed an AstraZeneca medication and are having difficulty affording it. Patients enrolled in AZ&Me receive their AstraZeneca medicine for free. To learn more, visit AZ&Me.com.

References

The Global Asthma Report 2022. Accessed: March 2024. http://globalasthmareport.org/index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most Recent National Asthma Data. Accessed: March 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/most_recent_national_asthma_data.htm Global Initiative for Asthma. Updated May 2023. Accessed: March 2024. www.ginasthma.org Price D, et al. Asthma control and management in 8,000 European patients: the REcognise Asthma and LInk to Symptoms and Experience (REALISE) survey. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2014;24:14009. Papi A, et al. Relationship of inhaled corticosteroid adherence to asthma exacerbations in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018;6(6): 1989-1998.e3. Data on File. REF-173201. AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. Sastre J, et al. Insights, attitudes, and perceptions about asthma and its treatment: a multinational survey of patients from Europe and Canada. World Allergy Organ J. 2016;9:13. Fernandes AG, et al. Risk factors for death in patients with severe asthma. J Bras Pneumol. 2014;40(4):364-372. Wark PA, et al. Asthma exacerbations. 3: Pathogenesis. Thorax. 2006;61(10):909-915. Johnson DB, et al. Albuterol. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan 10. Montemayor T, et al. Albuterol: Often Used and Heavily Abused. Respiratory Care. November 2021, 66 (Suppl 10) 3603775. ClinCalc.com. Albuterol Drug Usage Statistics, United States, 2013-2020. Accessed: March 2024. https://clincalc.com/DrugStats/Drugs/Albuterol Nwaru BI, et al. Overuse of short-acting 2-agonists in asthma is associated with increased risk of exacerbation and mortality: a nationwide cohort study of the global SABINA programme. Eur Respir J. 2020;55(4):1901872. Lloyd A, et al. The impact of asthma exacerbations on health-related quality of life in moderate to severe asthma patients in the UK. Prim Care Respir J. 2007;16(1):22-27. Bourdin A, et al. ERS/EAACI statement on severe exacerbations in asthma in adults: facts, priorities and key research questions. Eur Respir J. 2019;54(3):1900900. Price DB, et al. Adverse outcomes from initiation of systemic corticosteroids for asthma: long-term observational study. J Asthma Allergy. 2018;11:193-204. GOLD. Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of COPD, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2024. [Online]. Accessed: March 2024. https://goldcopd.org/2024-gold-report/ National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. What is COPD? Accessed: March 2024. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/copd Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Leading Causes of Death. Accessed: March 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm

# US-87197 Last Updated 3/24

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Brendan McEvoy +1 302 885 2677

Jillian Gonzales +1 302 885 2677

US Media Mailbox: [email protected]

Source: AstraZeneca
New dedicated business focuses on growing proprietary lending solutions, and streamlining capital markets activities across the lending ecosystem

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Figure Lending LLC (Figure Lending), the largest non-bank originator of HELOCs1, today announced that it is operating under the new umbrella brand Figure Technology Solutions. Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. (FTS), the new parent company of Figure Lending, is focused on continuing to develop and distribute their proprietary technology-enabled platform to lending partners and investors in the lending ecosystem. FTS is designed to create more transparent and efficient loan origination and capital markets through the unique combination of its cutting-edge technology and the growing pool of assets originated on its platform through its partner network.

Launching FTS as a stand-alone company, independent of Figure Technologies, Inc. and the newly created Figure Markets Holdings, Inc., reflects the growth and vision for Figures technology-enabled lending platform that has been built to reshape the industry, starting with HELOCs. By creating a dedicated business, FTS will focus its resources on the continued success of its technology platform, delivering cutting-edge solutions to drive efficiency across the lending ecosystem, said Mike Cagney, co-founder and CEO of Figure Technology Solutions. FTS looks forward to delivering technology to its partners, increasing access for borrowers, liquidity for originators, and a more active secondary market for investors across the broader landscape of consumer loans.

About Figure Technology Solutions

Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. provides a disruptive and scaled technology platform built to enhance efficiency and transparency in financial services. Figure Technology Solutions aims to leverage the loan origination activities of its subsidiary, Figure Lending, and its vast network of loan origination partners to deliver and scale new products. Its platform is designed to create more transparent and efficient capital markets through the unique combination of our cutting-edge technology, and the growing pool of assets originated on its platform. Figure Lending is the largest non-bank originator of home equity lines of credit. With Figure Lendings HELOC product, consumers can get approved for a loan in as few as 5 minutes, with funding in as little as five days. The company was founded in 2018 by serial technology entrepreneur Mike Cagney, the visionary behind the successful transformation of SoFi into a multi-billion-dollar business during his tenure as CEO. To learn more, please visit www.figure.com.

1 Data accurate as of 2022

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[email protected]

Source: Figure Technology Solutions, Inc.
Products cater to demands of AI datacenters, hybrid cloud, and edge deployments.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hyve Solutions Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of TD SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX) and a leading provider of hyperscale digital infrastructures, is showcasing at the NVIDIA GTC AI conference this week an array of products tailored for the entire AI lifecycle and catering to the demands of AI datacenters, hybrid cloud, and edge deployments.

Hyves offerings underscore its dedication to the design and deployment of advancements in AI and underscore its collaborations with industry leaders such as NVIDIA.

Our commitment to technology leadership, coupled with our innovative building block strategy, uniquely positions us to meet the evolving AI needs of our customers, said Steve Ichinaga, President, Hyve Solutions. This includes the design of liquid-cooled servers and racks as well as scalable testing and deployment across our global integration centers.

By leveraging NVIDIA MGX and Open Compute Projects ORv3, OAM-UBB, and DC-MHS specifications, along with liquid cooling solutions, Hyve extends its building block strategy for a modular approach. This standardized approach allows the company to address various datacenter architectures, facilitating faster time to market and improved sustainability.

Hyve will be showcasing its generational AI platforms at the show, including:

NVIDIA MGX / OCP DC-MHS 2U Optimized Generational Platforms for Compute, Storage and Ruggedized Edge

OAM-UBB 4U Scalable HPC-AI Reference Platform

Next Generation AI-Optimized ORv3 Liquid-Cooled Enclosure

Various 1U Liquid-Cooled Inference Platforms

Hyves commitment to excellence extends beyond technology solutions. As the go-to partner for original design manufacturing (ODM) for the hyperscale market, Hyve boasts US-based surface mount technology (SMT) capabilities, deep and secure supply chain expertise, and a large, global footprint. This not only underscores Hyves dedication to supporting domestic innovation but also ensures that clients receive products of the highest quality, manufactured within the US or wherever they require.

Explore Hyves innovative solutions firsthand at Booth 1129 during the 2024 NVIDIA GTC AI conference running March 18-21 at the San Jose Convention Center, located in San Jose, California. For more information, contact sales at [email protected].

About Hyve Solutions Corporation

Hyve Solutions Corporation is a leader in the design to worldwide deployment of hyperscale digital infrastructures. In partnership with customers, Hyve leverages deep-seated industry experience and strong vendor partnerships to design and deliver purpose-built server, storage, and networking solutions to meet datacenter demands for today and beyond. Hyve Solutions is a wholly owned subsidiary of TD SYNNEX Corporation (NYSE: SNX). For more information about Hyve Solutions, visit hyvesolutions.com, email [email protected] or call (855) 869-6973.

About TD SYNNEX

TD SYNNEX (NYSE: SNX) is a leading global distributor and solutions aggregator for the IT ecosystem. Were an innovative partner helping more than 150,000 customers in 100+ countries to maximize the value of technology investments, demonstrate business outcomes and unlock growth opportunities. Headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, and Fremont, California, TD SYNNEXs 23,000 co-workers are dedicated to uniting compelling IT products, services and solutions from 2,500+ best-in-class technology vendors. Our edge-to-cloud portfolio is anchored in some of the highest-growth technology segments including cloud, cybersecurity, big data/analytics, AI, IoT, mobility and everything as a service. TD SYNNEX is committed to serving customers and communities, and we believe we can have a positive impact on our people and our planet, intentionally acting as a respected corporate citizen. We aspire to be a diverse and inclusive employer of choice for talent across the IT ecosystem. For more information, visit www.TDSYNNEX.com, follow our newsroom or find us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Safe Harbor Statement

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking, such as features and capabilities of products and services, security product offering expansion, technology trends, and general success of collaborations, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance that may be suggested in this release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release.

 Copyright 2024 TD SYNNEX. All rights reserved. TD SYNNEX, Hyve Solutions, the TD SYNNEX Logo and all other TD SYNNEX company, product and services names and slogans are trademarks or registered trademarks of TD SYNNEX Corporation. TD SYNNEX, Hyve Solutions, the TD SYNNEX Logo, Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. Other names and marks are the property of their respective owners.

Statements in this news release that are forward-looking, such as features and capabilities of products and services, security product offering expansion, technology trends, and general success of collaborations, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to be materially different from any future performance that may be suggested in this release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release.

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Bill Fox

Hughes Agency

For TD SYNNEX Corporation

(864) 271-0718

[email protected]

Source: TD SYNNEX
The C-level appointments include Soo Cho to Chief Operating Officer, Patrick DePriest to Chief Financial Officer, and Grant Crenfeldt to Chief Executive Officer of Merlin New Zealand

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merlin, the aviation technology company developing the worlds most capable pilot to advance the future of automated flight, today announced the appointment of three C-level executives to its leadership team. Soo Cho, a former Palantir executive with over a decade of people management and employment counsel experience, will serve as Merlins Chief Operating Officer leading the companys people and internal business operations, including ongoing flight test campaigns. Additionally, Merlin appointed Patrick DePriest, its former Vice President of Finance, to Chief Financial Officer, as well as Grant Crenfeldt, its former Director of Operational Compliance and Safety, to Chief Executive Officer of Merlin New Zealand.

Upleveling Merlins leadership team comes on the heels of recent commercialization and certification achievements. These include entering an agreement with the United States Air Force (USAF) to design, integrate, test, and demonstrate aspects of the Merlin Pilot on the KC-135 Stratotanker for the first time, as well as receiving a Part 135 Air Operators Certificate to support future operational freight routes in New Zealand. These milestones are indicative of the vigorous work Merlin is doing to safely certify and commercialize the Merlin Pilot, underscoring the importance of advanced operational expertise and a strong leadership team.

Merlin is rapidly innovating to create a safer and more resilient air network, and we need great leaders to accomplish that mission. Our people are what make our mission, and we couldnt be more excited about the leaders we are adding to our team, said Matt George, CEO and founder, Merlin.

Merlin is a progressive company that is rapidly, but pragmatically, innovating to transform the future of air transport. I know the value that cutting-edge technology and automated approaches can bring to both the private and public sectors, particularly for government applications, therefore Im honored to join the Merlin team alongside such passionate aviation professionals, said Cho.

Merlins team consists of unparalleled talent that is building the next evolution of technology adoption in aviation. Im excited to head the financial operations for the company, and look forward to continuing our momentum as a technology innovator, said DePriest.

Since the opening of our New Zealand-based test center, weve made significant technological and certification progress to accelerate advanced automation systems. As the new Chief Executive Officer in New Zealand, Im excited to lead the ongoing and future test efforts that will ensure our systems can safely and effectively shape the future of aviation, said Crenfeldt.

About Merlin

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Boston, with additional offices in Denver, Kerikeri (NZ) and Mojave, Merlin is building the definitive autonomy system for all things that fly. To learn more, visit www.merlinlabs.com or follow us on Twitter @merlinaero.

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Media

Kate Gundry

[email protected]

617-797-5174

Source: Merlin
Vague and overbroad rule exceeds SECs statutory authority, is arbitrary and capricious, and has severe consequences for financial markets

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The National Association of Private Fund Managers (NAPFM), MFA, and the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) today filed a lawsuit asking the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth to vacate a rule recently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that dramatically expands the definitions of dealer and government securities dealer (the Dealer Rule).

Bryan Corbett, President & CEO of MFA, said: We were left with no choice but to challenge the Dealer Rule, because it will harm markets and create tremendous uncertainty for investors. The Dealer Rule is indeterminate and leaves certain market participants uncertain of their need to comply with the dealer regulatory framework. Alternative asset managers are not dealers. They are customers of dealers. If the rule is permitted to stand, it could mean that managers in scope and the funds they manage would lose their customer protections with their dealer counterparties and could not participate in IPOs. This would harm funds, their investors, and issuers looking to raise capital.

Jack Inglis, AIMA CEO, said: The SEC has exceeded its statutory authority by incorrectly concluding that customers of dealers may be dealers themselves  a clear departure from the statutory definition and understanding of what has meant to be a securities dealer for the past 90 years. This rule will force certain hedge funds  who are not dealers and have never been considered dealers  to either register as dealers, thereby subjecting them to an unworkable regulatory framework, or force them to significantly curtail or cease altogether their trading activity. Both results will lead to unnecessary and significant harm to markets, investors, and certain funds. We do not take the decision lightly to challenge the Dealer Rule, but if left unchallenged, it threatens the future of certain funds and strategies.

NAPFM said: The SECs redefinition of dealer upsets a centurys worth of understanding about the meaning of that term under the Exchange Act. As with respect to the Private Fund Adviser Rule that NAPFM recently challenged, the agency here tries to extend its reach over private funds in ways Congress never imagined. The Dealer Rule - purportedly designed to increase liquidity in trading markets - could ultimately have the effect of decreasing such liquidity.

The complaint asserts that the rule upends the well-understood meaning of what constitutes dealer activity under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and nearly a century of market practice. The Dealer Rule is indeterminate and overbroad and can be read to capture a wide variety of non-dealing activity, thereby subjecting private funds to dealer registration in what can only be described as an end-run around legislative intent. Moreover, the Dealer Rule is expressly non-exclusive, with no presumption of compliance even if a market participant falls outside the new definition, affording market participants no meaningful way to understand with certainty who counts as a dealer.

By failing to definitively and accurately define what a dealer is  even though doing so was the stated purpose of the rulemaking  the Dealer Rule may deter regulated market participants (such as registered investment advisers) from engaging in investment activity in various asset classes, including U.S. treasuries. This outcome will unnecessarily harm markets, funds, and investors by decreasing liquidity and market efficiency, while increasing volatility and costs.

The petitioners argue the Dealer Rule must be vacated and set aside in its entirety because:

The SEC lacks the statutory authority to adopt the definition in the Dealer Rule because the rule captures firms that are not, and have never been considered, dealers and lacks any limiting principle.

The SEC engaged in arbitrary and capricious decision making, including by failing to adequately address the economic consequences of the Dealer Rule.

The Dealer Rule is otherwise contrary to law because it imposes a burden on competition not necessary or appropriate in furtherance of the purposes of the Securities Exchange Act.

The complaint can be found here.

The petitioners are represented by Gene Scalia and Helgi Walker of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP.

About the National Association of Private Fund Managers

The National Association of Private Fund Managers is a non-profit organization whose members include investment advisers in the private fund management industry. NAPFM was founded for, among other things, providing education to its members and representing their legal and economic interests before the government and in the courts. As part of this mission, NAPFM has submitted comments on behalf of its members in rulemaking proceedings and participated as amicus curiae in Federal court. NAPFM represents firms with total net assets under management of over $600 billion as of July 2023.

About MFA

Managed Funds Association (MFA), based in Washington, DC, New York, Brussels, and London, represents the global alternative asset management industry. MFAs mission is to advance the ability of alternative asset managers to raise capital, invest, and generate returns for their beneficiaries. MFA advocates on behalf of its membership and convenes stakeholders to address global regulatory, operational, and business issues. MFA has more than 180 member fund managers, including traditional hedge funds, credit funds, and crossover funds, that collectively manage over $3.2 trillion across a diverse group of investment strategies. Member firms help pension plans, university endowments, charitable foundations, and other institutional investors to diversify their investments, manage risk, and generate attractive returns over time.

About the Alternative Investment Management Association

The Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) is the global representative of the alternative investment industry, with around 2,200 corporate members in over 60 countries. AIMAs fund manager members collectively manage more than US $3 trillion in hedge fund and private credit assets.

AIMA draws upon the expertise and diversity of its membership to provide leadership in industry initiatives such as advocacy, policy and regulatory engagement, educational programmes and sound practice guides. AIMA works to raise media and public awareness of the value of the industry. AIMA set up the Alternative Credit Council (ACC) to help firms focused in the private credit and direct lending space. The ACC currently represents over 250 members that manage over US$1 trillion of private credit assets globally.

AIMA is committed to developing skills and education standards and is a co-founder of the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation (CAIA)  the first and only specialised educational standard for alternative investment specialists. AIMA is governed by its Council (Board of Directors).

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For NAPFM:

Gasthalter & Co.

212-257-4170

[email protected]

For MFA:

Noah Theran, EVP & MD, Head of Global External Affairs and Raffi Williams, Vice President Communications

[email protected]

For AIMA:

Tom Kehoe, Managing Director, Global Head of Research and Communications

[email protected]

Drew Nicol, Associate Director, Research and Communications

[email protected]

Source: National Association of Private Fund Managers, MFA, and Alternative Investment Management Association
NOTTINGHAM, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Neupulse has secured funding to advance the worlds first wearable device aimed at tackling Tourettes Syndrome (TS) and other tic disorders towards commercialization. Neupulses recently finalised working prototype stimulates the median nerve in the wrist, reducing the frequency of tics in individuals with TS, a condition that is thought to affect as much as 2 per cent of the worlds child population and 1 per cent of the overall population. Clinical trials in 2023 showed the Neupulse device can reduce tics by over 25 percentile.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318354686/en/

Left to right are Ana Stewart (Eos), Peter Forbes, who has Tourettes Syndrome and participated in last year's clinical trials, and Paul Cable (Neupulse), photo by Stewart Attwood

Neupulse has secured a $3.2 million seed stage investment led by Scottish impact investor Eos Advisory, alongside a consortium including US-based investors, as Neupulse moves towards regulatory approval phase in the UK, Europe, and the USA.

Tourettes Syndrome is a neurological condition characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements and vocalizations known as tics. The causes of TS and other tic disorders remain unclear, but genetic and environmental factors are known to play a role. TS can cause significant pain and discomfort for those affected, through the hundreds of daily involuntary and often violent motions, in addition to impacting social integration in education, work, and wider society.

Paul Cable, CEO of Neupulse, said: Tourettes Syndrome is a debilitating condition, severely so in many cases and to the detriment of quality of life, and our mission is to drastically reduce tics with an easy-to-use wearable device that will be transformative to the lives of affected individuals. Our device is an alternative to the current provision of treatment for TS, which is centred around medication and cognitive behaviour therapy. The goal is for Neupulse to be available to the TS community globally in the years ahead.

Ana Stewart, Partner, Eos Advisory, said: Eos was set up to back science-based companies and founders developing technologies that can positively impact the lives of people across the globe. Whilst we are focussed on Scottish startups, when one of our investors brought the amazing work of Neupulse to our attention we realised that there was a huge opportunity to add value, well beyond the investment, to help bring this device to market and improve the lives of people affected by TS and related conditions. Whats even more exciting, is how the nascent technology could be beneficial for many other neural conditions in the future.

Neupulse is the trading name for Neurotherapeutics Ltd., which was founded as a spinout from the University of Nottingham in 2021.

For further information: www.neupulse.co.uk

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[email protected]

Source: Neupulse
VANCOUVER ISLAND, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Poseidon Ocean Systems Ltd. (Poseidon or the Company) has announced the completion of a US$20.75M Series B financing led by Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF), and joined by InBC Investment Corp., along with additional investment support from one of Poseidons existing shareholders, Export Development Canada.

The funds raised will expand Poseidons manufacturing capacity and support the Companys growth and delivery of their industry leading, turnkey, Life Support Systems and Hybrid Sea Cage Systems. These technologies combine to form a compelling value proposition for modern salmon farming operations; increasing yields, reduced operating costs and improved environmental outcomes.

Poseidons customers include some of the worlds largest salmon farmers, and the funding will enable Poseidon to continue their expansion into global markets; deepening their relationships with Canadian, Chilean and UK farmers, and expanding into new markets.

This funding represents an inflection point for the Poseidon team, allowing the company to target key growth areas for the business as well as dedicate new resources into our manufacturing capabilities. This comes at a pivotal time for many of our customers, as changing environmental and regulatory conditions demand modern technology to meet their operational requirements. said Jamie Gaskill, Chief Executive Officer of Poseidon.

"An environmentally sustainable aquaculture industry is critical to relieving pressure on wild fisheries", said EIF Managing Partner James Everett. "EIF is excited to lead Poseidon's Series B financing, as we believe the company's innovations can play an important role in minimizing environmental impact and improving fish health. We are confident that Poseidon's solutions are the future of sustainable aquaculture, and the company is poised for significant global growth."

The aquaculture industry plays an important role in B.C.s economy as well as our food security, said Jill Earthy, Chief Executive Officer of InBC. InBCs investment into Poseidon is backing a B.C. company, established here in Campbell River, whose innovative solutions are enabling fish farms here and across the world to be more productive, sustainable and resilient, while meeting the increased global demand for sustainable protein. This investment aligns with InBCs goals to innovate for the future and build a climate resilient economy.

Fort Capital Partners acted as financial advisors; CR Lawyers LLP and Whiteboard Law served as legal counsel to Poseidon in the Series B financing.

About Poseidon Ocean Systems

Poseidon delivers innovative, industry-leading solutions for the aquaculture industry. The Company is focused on improving fish welfare, while reducing the environmental impact of producing nutritious, sustainable protein to feed the global population. Their technology can help farmers improve fish welfare to realize greater survival and growth, and minimize  if not eliminate  mortality events, thereby increasing the yield from every fish, all while reducing the carbon footprint of aquaculture operations. For more information, visit: www.PoseidonOS.com

About Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF)

Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF) invests in early growth-stage companies contributing to environmental sustainability across multiple sectors including renewable energy, transportation, agriculture and food, climate resilience, green chemistry, waste reduction, and efficiency. EIF takes a systems-based approach to sustainability investment, studying both the drivers for change as well as the constraints to innovation in market niches that are ripe for development. EIF invests in companies solving real problems, resulting in better investment opportunities and greater impact. The firm has over $600 million in assets under management. For more information, visit: www.eif.vc

About InBC Investment Corp. (InBC)

InBC Investment Corp. (InBC) is strategic investment fund created by the Province of British Columbia (B.C.) to invest in growing companies and venture funds to generate financial returns alongside economic, social or environmental impacts for B.C. For more information, visit: www.inbcinvestment.com

About Export Development Canada (EDC)

Export Development Canada (EDC) is a financial Crown corporation dedicated to helping Canadian businesses make an impact at home and abroad. EDC has the financial products and knowledge Canadian companies need to confidently enter new markets, reduce financial risk and grow their business as they go from local to global. Together, EDC and Canadian companies are building a more prosperous, stronger and sustainable economy for all Canadians. For more information and to learn how we can help your company, call us at 1-800-229-0575 or visit www.edc.ca.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318734720/en/

Heather Clarke

[email protected]

+1 250-204-4718

Source: Poseidon Ocean Systems Ltd.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm delivers a speech ahead of a conversation with Daniel Yergin, the vice chairman of S&P Global, during the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas, U.S., March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare/F

By Arathy Somasekhar

HOUSTON (Reuters) -U.S. crude oil stockpiles in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) at year-end will be at or exceeding the level prior to a massive 180 million barrel sale two years ago, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said on Monday.

The U.S. is replenishing the SPR, after President Joe Biden's administration announced a sale of 180 million barrels of oil over six months from the reserve, the largest ever SPR sale, in an attempt to lower gasoline prices after Russia invaded Ukraine.

While the Department of Energy only expects to replenish by the end of this year about 40 million barrels since the 180 million sale, another 140 million barrels that would have been drained from 2024-2027 will stay in the SPR due to the cancellation in 2022 of congressionally mandated sales.

The department declined to provide a final number of stocks expected to be in the reserve at the end of the year.

The reserve currently holds about 362 million barrels. Stocks in the reserve stood at 565 million barrels before the announcement of the sale in March 2022.

Other congressionally mandated sales may also be canceled, Granholm said at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston.

Having the SPR refilled is a congressional priority and "that's a conversation we'll be having with them," Granholm said.

Completion of maintenance at one SPR storage site will allow the U.S. to buy more oil, Granholm said.

Energy officials are monitoring the rise in U.S. oil prices and its impact on replenishing the reserve, Granholm said. The Department of Energy had aimed to repurchase the oil under $79 a barrel. U.S. crude futures were trading above $82 on Monday.

She also said the Biden administration's liquefied natural gas permitting pause "will be long behind us by this time next year."

She did not say when the export authorizations could resume, but ruled out estimates of a 10- to 14-month delay, calling the pause temporary and for study purposes only.

"The LNG pause should not be impacting major decisions globally, because it is simply a temporary pause," the secretary said, when asked about worries of higher coal buying in Asia.

The $60 a barrel price cap on Russian oil imposed by the U.S. and G7 allies was effective, Granholm said, adding the U.S. would continue to evaluate appropriate price levels as circumstances change.

The price cap imposed in December 2022 by the Group of Seven countries, the European Union and Australia bans the use of Western maritime services such as insurance, flagging and transportation when tankers carry Russian oil priced at or above $60.

(Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar; additional reporting by Timothy GardnerEditing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)
Dril-Quip, Inc. (NYSE: DRQ), (Dril-Quip), a leading developer, manufacturer and provider of highly engineered equipment and services for the global offshore and onshore oil and gas industry, and Innovex Downhole Solutions, Inc. (Innovex), a global leading provider of mission-critical technologies and services across the well lifecycle for the oil and gas industry, today announced a definitive agreement under which Dril-Quip and Innovex will merge in an all-stock transaction to create a unique energy industrial platform. Upon closing of the transaction, Dril-Quip stockholders will own approximately 52% and Innovex stockholders will own approximately 48% of the combined company on a fully diluted basis.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240317558597/en/

The combination brings together the two companies complementary and curated product portfolios, best-in-class safety, service quality, global infrastructures and customer relationships. With a large suite of highly engineered technologies, the combined company will provide customers with innovative solutions for both onshore and offshore applications, driving a more stable and diverse revenue mix. The combined company is expected to derive approximately 56% of its revenue from the international and offshore markets and approximately 44% from the North American onshore markets (U.S. and Canada) and would have more than $1.0 billion in annual revenue and $221 million in adjusted1 Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (adjusted EBITDA) including synergies in fiscal 2023 (all figures on a pro forma, full-year 2023 combined basis). The combined company will have a strong balance sheet with a pro forma, year-end 2023 net cash position of $99 million2.

Dril-Quip President and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Bird said: Im excited for the opportunities this transaction will provide Dril-Quips stakeholders. This transaction is aligned with the growth strategy we have been pursuing and will advance our position as a leading developer and provider of highly engineered and innovative equipment, services and technologies for the global oil and gas industry. The multi-decade legacy and strong reputation of Dril-Quips technology, brand and expertise, paired with the customer-centric, innovative and execution-oriented cultures of both companies will help us continue to manufacture and deliver innovative products and service to our customers and create opportunities for our employees. Additionally, the complementary global scale and product breadth of the combined company will provide a strong platform for organic revenue growth, strong EBITDA margins and the potential for significant free cash flow generation to drive value for our stockholders.

Innovex Chief Executive Officer Adam Anderson said: We are bringing together the great traditions and capabilities of Dril-Quip with Innovexs proven operating model. By empowering the combined organization using Innovexs collaborative No Barriers culture, we will unleash the capabilities of the combined company to create a unique energy industrial platform with durable margins, low capital intensity and the potential for superior returns on capital throughout industry cycles.

This combination creates a scaled enterprise with a long history of value-added product development, said John V. Lovoi, Dril-Quips Chairman of the Board. In addition, the two companies possess unique strengths which we believe will drive meaningful revenue pull-through in coming years in the most important oil and gas producing regions globally. Following the integration of the two businesses, the pro forma financial metrics are expected to result in a very favorable growth and return profile for our stockholders.

Standalone and Pro Forma Financial Metrics (full-year 2023)

The following table provides an overview of the key, full-year 2023 financial metrics for standalone Dril-Quip and Innovex and the pro forma combined company3 ($ million, except EPS):

2023 Metrics Dril-Quip Innovex4 Synergies5 Pro Forma Revenue6 $478 $556  $1,034 Adj. EBITDA7 $59 $132 $30 $221 Adj. EBITDA % 12% 24%  21% EPS $0.02 NM $0.35 $1.44 % of Revenue International and Offshore8 81% 34%  56%

Strategic and Financial Benefits

The combination is expected to:

Provide substantial and immediate earnings and free cash flow accretion, with anticipated pro forma adjusted EBITDA margins in excess of 20%, including synergies.

Achieve annual cost synergies of approximately $30 million within 24 months after the transaction closes (with the expectation that approximately 50% of the annual cost synergies will be realized within 12 months).

Accelerate the marketing of Dril-Quips leading onshore Canadian wellhead business (Great North) in the U.S. onshore market through Innovexs operational and sales infrastructure.

Enable the growth of Innovexs broad downhole tools portfolio across the large Canadian onshore market through Dril-Quips strong Canadian footprint and customer relationships.

Leverage Dril-Quips leading subsea expertise, brand name and customer relationships to facilitate further market penetration of Innovexs existing deepwater well construction portfolio.

Create the opportunity to cross-sell Innovexs products alongside select Dril-Quip offerings.

Increase the companys global scale and footprint across several growing markets (including Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South America and the Asia Pacific region).

Create a more flexible and lean manufacturing footprint to deliver cost-effective and high-quality mission-critical products.

Utilize best-in-class research and development capabilities to deliver next-generation, innovative products and to position the combined company at the forefront of energy technologies and solutions.

Pro Forma Company Leadership and Governance

Upon closing of the transaction, Innovex Chief Executive Officer Adam Anderson will become Chief Executive Officer of the combined company and will join its Board of Directors. Kendal Reed, current Chief Financial Officer of Innovex, will serve as Chief Financial Officer of the combined company. The remainder of the combined companys leadership team is expected to include executives from both Dril-Quip and Innovex.

Upon closing, the Board of Directors of the combined company will consist of nine directors, comprising four independent directors from the current Dril-Quip Board, four directors from the current Innovex Board, and Chief Executive Officer Adam Anderson, with John V. Lovoi, Dril-Quips current Chairman of the Board, serving as Chairman of the combined companys Board.

Innovex is majority owned by funds affiliated with Amberjack Capital Partners, L.P. (Amberjack), a specialized private equity firm that invests in and partners with entrepreneurs and management teams to build market leaders serving the energy, infrastructure and industrial end markets. At closing, Amberjack will own approximately 43% of the combined company.

Upon closing of the transaction, Dril-Quip has agreed to enter into a registration rights agreement and a stockholder agreement with Amberjack, under which Amberjack will be subject to certain stockholder restrictions and will be provided with specified director nomination rights with respect to the shares of Dril-Quip received as transaction consideration. Additional details regarding the registration rights agreement and stockholder agreement will be provided in Dril-Quips filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Immediately following the completion of the transaction, the name of the combined company will change to Innovex International, Inc., and its common stock is expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under a new ticker symbol, INVX. Dril-Quips offshore products will retain their current brand names within the combined company.

The combined company will be headquartered in Houston, Texas.

Timing and Approvals

The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2024. The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approval and approval by Dril-Quips stockholders.

Advisors

Citi is serving as lead financial advisor and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC is serving as co-financial advisor to Dril-Quip. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is serving as Dril-Quips legal advisor.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is serving as lead financial advisor and Piper Sandler Companies is serving as co-financial advisor to Innovex. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is serving as Innovexs legal advisor with assistance from Paul Hastings LLP.

Conference Call and Webcast

Dril-Quip and Innovex management will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss the transaction on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 7:00 a.m. Central Time. The presentation is open to all interested parties and may include forward-looking information.

To access the call, please dial in approximately ten minutes before the start of the call.

Conference Call and Webcast Details Date / Time: Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 7:00 a.m. Central Time Webcast: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2968/50140 U.S. Toll-Free Dial-In: 888-506-0062 International Dial-In: 973-528-0011 Participant Access Code: 298800

For those unable to participate in the live call, an audio replay will be available following the call through midnight, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. To access the replay, please call 877-481-4010 or 919-882-2331 (International) and enter replay passcode 50140. A replay of the webcast will also be archived shortly after the call and can be accessed on Dril-Quips website.
GTC -- NVIDIA today announced that TSMC and Synopsys are going into production with NVIDIAs computational lithography platform to accelerate manufacturing and push the limits of physics for the next generation of advanced semiconductor chips.

TSMC, the worlds leading foundry, and Synopsys, the leader in silicon to systems design solutions, have integrated NVIDIA cuLitho with their software, manufacturing processes and systems to speed chip fabrication, and in the future support the latest-generation NVIDIA Blackwell architecture GPUs.

Computational lithography is a cornerstone of chip manufacturing, said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. Our work on cuLitho, in partnership with TSMC and Synopsys, applies accelerated computing and generative AI to open new frontiers for semiconductor scaling.

NVIDIA also introduced new generative AI algorithms that enhance cuLitho, a library for GPU-accelerated computational lithography, dramatically improving the semiconductor manufacturing process over current CPU-based methods.

Semiconductor Leaders Advance cuLitho PlatformComputational lithography is the most compute-intensive workload in the semiconductor manufacturing process, consuming tens of billions of hours per year on CPUs. A typical mask set for a chip  a key step in its production  could take 30 million or more hours of CPU compute time, necessitating large data centers within semiconductor foundries. With accelerated computing, 350 NVIDIA H100 systems can now replace 40,000 CPU systems, accelerating production time, while reducing costs, space and power.

Our work with NVIDIA to integrate GPU-accelerated computing in the TSMC workflow has resulted in great leaps in performance, dramatic throughput improvement, shortened cycle time and reduced power requirements, said Dr. C.C. Wei, CEO of TSMC. We are moving NVIDIA cuLitho into production at TSMC, leveraging this computational lithography technology to drive a critical component of semiconductor scaling.

Since its introduction last year, cuLitho has enabled TSMC to open new opportunities for innovative patterning technologies. In testing cuLitho on shared workflows, the companies jointly realized a 45x speedup of curvilinear flows and a nearly 60x improvement on more traditional Manhattan-style flows. These two types of flows differ  with curvilinear the mask shapes are represented by curves, while Manhattan mask shapes are constrained to be either horizontal or vertical.

For more than two decades Synopsys Proteus mask synthesis software products have been the production-proven choice for accelerating computational lithography  the most demanding workload in semiconductor manufacturing, said Sassine Ghazi, president and CEO of Synopsys. With the move to advanced nodes, computational lithography has dramatically increased in complexity and compute cost. Our collaboration with TSMC and NVIDIA is critical to enabling angstrom-level scaling as we pioneer advanced technologies to reduce turnaround time by orders of magnitude through the power of accelerated computing.

Synopsys is the pioneer in delivering advanced techniques for accelerating the performance of computational lithography. Synopsys Proteus optical proximity correction software running on the NVIDIA cuLitho software library significantly speeds computational workloads compared to current CPU-based methods. With Proteus mask synthesis products, manufacturers like TSMC can achieve exceptional precision, efficiency and speed in proximity correction, model building for correction, and analyzing proximity effects on corrected and uncorrected IC layout patterns, revolutionizing the chip fabrication process.

Breakthrough Generative AI Support for Computational LithographyNVIDIA has developed algorithms to apply generative AI to further enhance the value of the cuLitho platform. The new generative AI workflow delivers an additional 2x speedup on top of the accelerated processes enabled through cuLitho. The application of generative AI enables creation of a near-perfect inverse mask or inverse solution to account for diffraction of light. The final mask is then derived by traditional and physically rigorous methods, speeding up the overall optical proximity correction (OPC) process by a factor of two.

Many changes in the fab process currently necessitate a revision in OPC, driving up the amount of compute required and creating bottlenecks in the fab development cycle. These costs and bottlenecks are alleviated with the accelerated computing cuLitho provides and generative AI, enabling fabs to allocate available compute capacity and engineering bandwidth to design more novel solutions in development of new technologies for 2nm and beyond.

To learn more, watch Huangs GTC keynote. Register for GTC to attend 900+ sessions from NVIDIA and industry leaders through March 21.
BOSTON & NEW YORK, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arcadia (arcadia.io), a leading data platform for healthcare, and Vim, a leading middleware platform for healthcare, today announced a partnership that will accelerate Arcadias ability to deliver actionable AI-driven insights to payers, providers, and care teams. The collaboration will also improve the provider experience, eliminate redundant tasks, and support improved patient outcomes.

Collaborating with Vim will make it easier for healthcare organizations to install and reliably operate Arcadias native solutionsDesktop and Informwhich surface insights within provider workflows. Additionally, bi-directional connectivity closes loops across systems, reducing administrative burden and eliminating the need to double-document.

Actionable insights at the point of care are turbocharged by leveraging Vims middleware to inject AIlike Arcadia's clinical co-pilot, Arcadia SageAIinto the EHR. Arcadia SageAI leverages the high-quality aggregated dataset Arcadia is known for to generate patient summaries, develop care plans, and deliver social service recommendations. One healthcare organization using Arcadia SageAI reduced the time needed to prepare for a patient visit by more than 20%.

Additional examples of injecting AI into provider workflows include Arcadias AI-powered recommendation engine, which oversees a patients care journey and suggests the most effective next best actions to support whole person caresuch as addressing risk and quality gaps.

Payers benefit from strengthened abilities to engage and prompt providers with actionable insights at the point of care using data sources beyond just those within the EHR. Vims point-of-care connection, paired with Arcadias data platform, can also keep payers informed about point-of-care activities in real time and streamline the process of retrieving clinical documentation directly from the EHR.

Arcadia and Vim are aligned in our missions to improve data liquidity and reduce documentation burden on providers and care team members, said Michael Meucci, President and CEO of Arcadia. Combining the power of Arcadias data platform, analytics, predictive insights, and suite of AI tools with Vims point-of-care connection will improve the provider experience and support better patient outcomes.

Looking ahead, Arcadias partnership with Vim will make it easier to introduce a range of new capabilities that accelerate the efficacy of the core systems that providers use daily. For example, apps that run on top of Arcadias data platform can be more easily deployed to provider workflows to improve referral processes, enhance annual wellness visit workflows, and streamline prior authorization activities.

Were excited to blend Arcadias strengths in data and analytics with Vims power to improve point-of-care technology experiences, said Oron Afek, CEO of Vim. Our partnership aims to equip providers and payers with the tools they need to effectively collaborate and deliver superior patient care.

The collaboration will also make it easier for payers, providers, and care teams to benefit from Arcadias investments in AI, which derive further value when paired with and trained by the companys trustworthy data asset and proprietary AI engines.

Those attending RISE National 2024 March 17-19 can visit Arcadia at booth #800. Learn more about Arcadia at RISE National 2024 and schedule a meeting.

About Arcadia

Arcadia transforms data into powerful insights and actions that accelerate healthcare transformation. Our data platform, analytics tools, and services are used by the nations leading healthcare providers and payers to make informed decisions, improve patient outcomes, and optimize operations. Were on a mission to create a unified fabric for health and dedicated to happier, healthier days for all. For more information, visit arcadia.io.

About Vim

Vim is a middleware platform for healthcare. Its flexible and scalable platform and unique and interactive integration layer unlock access to provider EHR workflows, allowing for the delivery of data, patient insights, and applications at the point of patient care. Vim's partners can leverage Vim's core applications or deploy their custom applications on top of Vim Connect - Vim's in-EHR connectivity layer - accelerating time to market at reduced cost and improved flexibility. Digital health builders of all sizes, including national health plans, leading MSOs, and tech companies, use Vim's platform to connect with over 2,000 provider organizations. For more information, visit getvim.com.
San Francisco, California, USA, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- US Capital Global (the Company) is pleased to announce that Charbone Hydrogen Corporation (TSXV: CH; OTCQB: CHHYF; FWB: K47) (Charbone) has engaged the Company as strategic financial advisor for a potential multi-million-dollar financing initiative. Headquartered in Quebec, Canada, Charbone is at the forefront of developing innovative solutions in green hydrogen and modular plant production that leverage renewable energies for a sustainable future. As North Americas first publicly-traded pure-play green hydrogen company, Charbone is making significant strides supporting the transition to clean energy options that are reliable, readily available, and environmentally sound.

With global headquarters in San Francisco and principal offices in Dallas, Philadelphia, Miami, New York, Las Vegas, London, and Dubai, US Capital Global is a full-service global private financial group with an established track record in corporate finance, asset management, and capital formation services. All private placements, securities, and other related US Capital Global Securities, LLC services are offered by the groups FINRA-member, SEC-registered broker-dealer affiliate, US Capital Global Securities LLC.

The transition to a low-carbon future necessitates a shift from carbon-based fossil fuels to clean energy alternatives. Green hydrogen, produced through water electrolysis using renewable energy, emerges as a promising solution in todays energy markets. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), achieving global net-zero emissions by 2050 may require substantial investments in green hydrogen production. Projections from Precedence Research indicate that the green hydrogen market will reach $89.2 billion by 2030, highlighting significant growth potential.

Dave B. Gagnon, Chairman and CEO of Charbone, underscored the Companys commitment to a 100% green hydrogen future: We have plans to develop modular green hydrogen plants across North America and have earmarked 16 projects in the US and Canada for this purpose, the first of which is expected to be production-ready in mid-2024. Our green hydrogen focus is a targeted response to the rising demand from industrial customers and manufacturers in the US and Canada. Our aim is to lead the charge in decarbonization by transforming existing industrial users from dirty hydrogen to green hydrogen.

Lisa Terk, Senior Vice President at US Capital Global, expressed her enthusiasm for supporting Charbone, remarking, Green hydrogen is swiftly emerging as a dependable alternative in the quest towards decarbonization and clean energy transition. When produced using renewable electricity, green hydrogen could be an invaluable tool to decarbonize sectors which are difficult to electrify. Many industrial processes such as steel-making and fueling medium and heavy transport may benefit from green hydrogen in the not-too-distant future  leaving a lighter footprint with very low carbon emissions. Charbones mission is to provide green hydrogen using clean technologies that foster value for all stakeholders and advance long-term sustainability. We take great pride in backing this company from my hometown of Montreal.

About Charbone Hydrogen Corporation

Charbone Hydrogen is an integrated green hydrogen group focused on delivering a network of modular green hydrogen production facilities across North America. Using renewable energy sources to produce green (H2) dihydrogen molecules and eco-friendly energy solutions for industrial, institutional, commercial and future mobility users, Charbone plans to scale and deliver 16 green hydrogen production facilities in the US and Canada by 2030. Charbone is the only publicly traded pure-play green hydrogen company with common shares active on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: CH); the OTC Markets (OTCQB: CHHYF); and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FWB: K47). For more information, please visit www.charbone.com

About US Capital Global

Founded in 1998, US Capital Global offers a range of advanced financial solutions, including debt, equity, and investment products customized for middle-market enterprises and investors. The firm oversees direct investment funds while delivering comprehensive wealth management and investment banking services, encompassing M&A strategies and capital raising expertise. Among the notable entities within the consortium are US Capital Global Investment Management LLC, US Capital Global Wealth Management LLC, and US Capital Global Securities LLC, an SEC-registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA. To learn more, visit www.uscapital.com.

To learn more about US Capital Global or this engagement, email Lisa Terk, Senior Vice President, at [email protected] or call +1 415-889-1026.

Attachments

Vanessa Guajardo US Capital Global +1 415 889 1010 [email protected]

Source: US Capital Global
Singapore, Singapore , March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JDI Ventures, a prominent DePIN investment fund under the blockchain hardware manufacturer JDI Global, has announced a strategic investment of $10 million in the MXC Foundation. This significant investment is set to drive the development of Ethereum's most expansive Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN), solidifying MXC's position as a key player in the decentralized technology landscape.

"Coupled with invaluable hardware development expertise and market influence, JDI Global has been instrumental in propelling MXC's vision forward," said Aaron Wagener, leading Operations at Meta X Connect. "Since inception in 2017, MXC has diligently cultivated a robust technical foundation within the DePIN space. This foundation has not only paved the way for innovative solutions but also positioned us as leaders in driving advancements within the decentralized technology landscape."

JDI's investment in MXC includes a focus on DePIN tokens, with plans to list these tokens on MXC's AXS (native dApp), thereby amplifying the network's reach and solidifying its position as the largest DePIN Network in the Internet of Things (IoT) sector. JDI's latest investment in DePIN includes DIMO, further diversifying its portfolio and strengthening its support for decentralized technologies.

Commenting on the investment, Yiming Wang, JDI Global CEO, said, "We believe that MXC has many advantages, from market positioning to technical architecture to ecosystem construction. Our investment reflects our confidence in MXC's ability to drive innovation and adoption in the decentralized space."

JDI's extensive experience and prominent position in the decentralized technology landscape, including its status as the largest miner community of Helium, exemplify its forward-thinking vision for the future. Their decision to invest in MXC underscores the growing recognition of MXC's potential to lead the DePIN revolution.

About JDI Ventures

JDI Ventures is a leading investment fund specializing in decentralized technologies, committed to driving innovation and adoption within the blockchain space. Backed by JDI Global, JDI Ventures plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of decentralized ecosystems.

About MXC Foundation

MXC Foundation is a pioneering organization dedicated to revolutionizing the connectivity of physical devices through decentralized technology. Beginning in 2017, MXC has emerged as a leader in the DePIN space, leveraging LPWAN technology and Layer3 solutions to enable seamless data communication and monetization. With a focus on promoting innovation, collaboration, and community engagement, MXC Foundation is committed to building the infrastructure for the future of decentralized Internet of Things (IoT).

Media Contact:

Robert Penington

[email protected]

Source: MXC Foundation
OTTAWA, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The YMCA of National Capital Region is pleased to announce the opening of a new licensed child care centre in the Westboro community. Located in the Churchill Alternative School, the centre will provide 39 spaces for toddler and preschool-age children (18 months - 4 years) and will be ready to help meet the growing needs of local families by the summer or fall of 2024.

Supported by funding through the Canada-Ontario Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, the Early Learning Department at the Ottawa Carleton District School Board selected the Churchill Alternative School as a location for toddler and preschool care and the YMCA was chosen as its operator.

Churchill Alternative School is a proud part of the Westboro community, says Vanessa Ogungbemile, Principal of Churchill Alternative School. We know high-quality and affordable childcare remains critical for many families in our area. Thats why we are thrilled to partner with the YMCA as they provide families with new childcare spaces within our safe and inviting learning environment."

There is currently a shortage of affordable, high-quality child care options in Ottawa, yet it is an important factor in providing parents, most often women, with an option to enter or return to the workforce. Caregivers are reassured when their children thrive in a safe and enriching environment that contributes to their healthy development.

We know that new child care spaces are critical to the healthy growth of our children and communities, says Trevor McAlmont, President and CEO of the YMCA of the National Capital Region. The Y is well positioned and eager to support the needs of local families by expanding our high-quality, reliable, and affordable licensed child care services across our communities.

The YMCA of the National Capital region has been providing child care in our region for 24 years. Currently, the Y serves 290 families and 440 children in our child care programs annually. The YMCAs newest licensed child care centre at the Churchill Alternative School will be ready to welcome families in the Summer or Fall of 2024, once facility upgrades are complete.

More information, including details about registration, will be shared with the community in coming weeks.

About the YMCA of the National Capital Region:

Founded in 1867, the YMCA of the National Capital Region is a registered charity dedicated to building healthy communities. The organization is committed to nurturing the potential of children, teens and young adults, promoting healthy living and supporting vulnerable people within the community. The Y serves thousands of people across the Ottawa region each year. A focus on inclusiveness and accessibility means people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities are served through all stages of life. To learn more visit ymcaottawa.ca.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Andrea Bailey Director, Marketing and Communications YMCA of the National Capital Region613.237.1320 Ext. 5167[email protected]

Source: YMCA Ottawa - YMCA of the National Capital Region
CALGARY, Alberta, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wilmington Capital Management Inc. (Wilmington or the Corporation) today announces that the payment of its previously announced special dividend of $2.75 per share (the Special Dividend) is expected to be made on May 7, 2024. The Special Dividend will be paid in cash and the record date for the Special Dividend will remain March 18, 2024 as previously announced in order to preserve the economic entitlements of shareholders that have traded on an ex-dividend basis. The payment of the Special Dividend is not conditional on any event, including the shareholder approval described below.

While Wilmington regrets the delay in the payment of the Special Dividend, it has determined that it is necessary and desirable to postpone the payment in order to allow the Corporation to address shareholders equity issues associated with the Special Dividend as initially declared. In particular, Wilmington anticipates seeking shareholder approval at its upcoming annual general and special meeting of shareholders to reduce the stated capital associated with its Class A and Class B shares by approximately $15,000,000 or approximately $1.22 per share (the Stated Capital Reduction). The Stated Capital Reduction will be made to facilitate the payment of the Special Dividend of $2.75. Wilmington continues to consider ways in which it may enhance shareholder value in the meantime. Further details will be provided in the Corporations Management Information Circular that will be disseminated to shareholders prior to the annual general and special meeting.

About Wilmington

Wilmington is a Canadian asset management company whose principal objective is to seek out investment opportunities in the alternative asset classes that provide shareholders with capital appreciation over the longer term as opposed to current income returns. Wilmington invests its own capital, alongside partners and co-investors, in hard assets and manages these assets through operating entities.

WILMINGTON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC.

For further information, please contact:Executive Officers(403) 705-8038

STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, include statements regarding the operations, business, financial conditions, expected financial results, performance, opportunities, priorities, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of the Corporation and its investee entities and contain words such as anticipate, believe, expect, plan, intend, estimate, seek, or similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements regarding the anticipated timing of the payment of the Special Dividend and matters to be considered at Wilmingtons upcoming annual general and special meeting of shareholders.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: regulatory issues that may arise in connection with the proposed dividend payment timing and failure to obtain the requisite level of shareholder support for the proposed stated capital reduction. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statement will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable Canadian securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Source: Wilmington Capital Management Inc.
San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2024) - James Coffee Co., the San Diego-based family coffee business, announced the expansion of its monthly coffee subscription service and the enhancement of its military discount program, reflecting its deep-seated values of family, community support, and quality craftsmanship.





Brothers and Co-Founders of James Coffee Co. David and Jacob Kennedy



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8977/201858_hexa.jpg

Supporting the James Coffee Co. Community and Military Families

James Coffee Co. offers a monthly subscription service, delivering freshly roasted coffee directly from the United States to customers' doorsteps. This convenient option not only saves clients time but also offers a 10% discount, helping save money while enjoying premium coffee at home.

Understanding the importance of community and the sacrifices of military families, James Coffee Co. proudly offers a military discount of up to 25%. This initiative reflects the company's gratitude towards the veteran community and its commitment to giving back to those who have served.

Transforming Passion into a Thriving Family Business

At the heart of James Coffee Co. are the Kennedy brothers, David and Jacob, along with David's wife, Carina. Their collective vision and dedication have transformed a shared passion for coffee into a thriving enterprise. The founding family's journey from crafting furniture in a metal shop to establishing a beloved coffee brand underscores their commitment to quality and community. David's artistic vision, combined with Carina's operational expertise, has created a unique blend of creativity and business acumen that defines James Coffee Co.

The Evolution of James Coffee Co.

The decision to combine their furniture showroom with a coffee bar not only showcased their dual talents but also unexpectedly highlighted coffee as their main attraction. This discovery led to the establishment of an online store, broadening their reach and solidifying coffee as the centerpiece of their business. James Coffee Co. continues to innovate, offering high-quality, US-roasted coffee through a convenient subscription service that delivers the joy of coffee making directly to homes.

About James Coffee Co.

James Coffee Co. is more than just a coffee company; it's a family's love letter to the art of coffee making. Founded by the Kennedy brothers and nurtured into success with the help of David's wife, Carina, the company prides itself on offering high-quality, ethically sourced coffee to its global customer base. Operating both online and through four shops in San Diego County, James Coffee Co. remains committed to enhancing the coffee experience for its community, honoring its roots, and celebrating the craft behind every cup.

In addition to the convenient subscription service, customers can experience the warmth and creativity of James Coffee Co. in person at any of their four shops located in San Diego County. Each location offers a unique atmosphere that celebrates the craft of coffee making.

Contact:

Lexie Becker

[email protected]

To learn more about James Coffee Co., visit https://jamescoffeeco.com .

Follow their Social Media for daily updates:

https://www.instagram.com/jamescoffeeco/

https://www.facebook.com/JamesCoffeeCo

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/201858
Press Release

March 18, 2024 Senate OKs creation of Bulacan ecozone, freeport The Senate on Monday, March 18, 2024, gave its final nod to the bill creating the Bulacan Special Economic Zone (BuZ) and Freeport. Sponsored by Sen. Grace Poe, Senate Bill No. 2572 establishes the Bulacan Ecozone, which will host the New Manila International Airport in the province of Bulacan. Aside from Poe, Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri co-sponsored the bill, along with Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Senators Pia S. Cayetano, Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito, and Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go. "Throughout our collective brainstorming, we have crafted a vastly-improved bill that adheres to the constitutional provisions on land conversion, balances economic growth with environmental protection, and warrants greater local government unit (LGU) representation at its helm," Poe said following the bill's approval. "It will spur investments, create more jobs and will be a model, not just here in the Philippines, but all over Asia," she added. Citing projections, Poe said economic gains from the proposed BuZ could reach P130.9 billion and could generate 800,000 to 1.2 million jobs for Filipinos. Under the bill, the BuZ shall be developed into and operated as a "decentralized, self-reliant and self-sustaining, aviation hub, industrial, commercial, trading, agro-industrial, tourism, retirement, banking, financial and investment center, emerging and future technologies, with suitable residential areas." A corporation to be known as the Bulacan Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (BEZA) shall be created to manage and operate the BuZ. The BEZA shall be under the direct supervision and control of the Office of the President. The BEZA shall have an authorized capital stock of P2 billion, the majority shares of which shall be subscribed and paid for by the national government and the local government units embracing the ecozone. To ensure the efficient and sustainable development of the ecozone, the BEZA, in consultation with the National Economic and Development Authority, shall come up with a general framework for land use, planning, and development for the area covered by the proposed ecozone. The framework shall be consistent with the goals of the Philippine Development Plan. The development of the BuZ shall also be integrated and consistent with the plans of national government agencies, regional development councils, and LGUs with respect to transportation, telecommunications infrastructure and other facilities, the bill further stated. Members of the BEZA Board would also include representatives of the Bulacan provincial government and LGUs, as well as a representative from the private sector and another to represent the workers in the BuZ. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall be tasked to lead the supervision of environmental concerns inside the ecozone, Poe stressed. SBN 2572 also enumerates the incentives to be given to enterprises and investors planning to set up shop within BuZ, including the grant of special visas, subject to relevant labor and immigration laws, rules and regulations, and fiscal incentives. As for revenues, the BEZA and affected LGUs shall be entitled to a share in the special corporate income tax under Republic Act No. 8424, otherwise known as the "National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997" as amended, from all registered business enterprises within the ecozone. The corporate income tax collected shall be divided as follows: 40 percent to the national government; 20 percent to BEZA for infrastructure development; and 40 percent to the concerned LGUs. Notwithstanding its autonomy, all transactions to be undertaken by the BEZA shall be subject to the audit mechanisms under Republic Act No. 10149, or the "GOCC Governance Act of 2011," as well as the accounting and auditing rules of the Commission on Audit. "With this measure, the Bulakenyos and the rest of the country can expect a world-class economic zone that we can be proud of," Poe said.
A view of the venue for the 20th China-ASEAN Expo, in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. PENG HUAN/FOR CHINA DAILY

Global Times-Germany has shown a growing interest in strengthening economic ties with Southeast Asia. It is crucial that this cooperation is based on mutual benefits and win-win outcomes, rather than being driven by political agendas that could lead to a split of supply and industrial chains connected to China.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with leaders of Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand last week, a development that some German media outlets claimed represents the German government's aim to diversify trade relations in Asia and become less dependent on China.

For instance, the Chinese website of German publication Deutsche Welle published an article on Friday headlined "Scholz's speed dates: Looking for Southeast Asian partners to replace China?"

While topics like Southeast Asia replacing China may be attention-grabbing, given some Western politicians' pursuit of so-called de-risking, it is irresponsible to play up such a topic when it lacks much practical basis.

Anyone who is familiar with China-Germany trade data will understand how far-fetched the topic is. Despite various geopolitical headwinds in recent years, China remains Germany's most important trading partner, and bilateral trade far exceeds Germany's trade with the three Southeast Asian countries.

In 2023, Germany's trade in goods with the three Southeast Asian countries totaled a mere 38 billion euros ($41.4 billion), while bilateral trade between China and Germany reached 299 billion euros in 2022 and 253 billion in 2023.

The Asian industrial chain is a complete one, with all countries in the region depending on each other and promoting each other's development. China and Southeast Asia have long shared a mutually beneficial relationship, and both sides are willing to push economic and trade cooperation to a higher level. With the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, industrial chains in China and ASEAN are expected to be further integrated.

It is true that in recent years, with rising labor costs in China, some labor-intensive manufacturing industries have shifted to some Southeast Asian countries, but many of those shifts are the results of China's industrial chains being extended due to various factors.

The rise of Chinese exports of intermediate products and machinery equipment to ASEAN demonstrates the extension of industrial chains. The shift is in line with the general direction of accelerating industrial upgrading and transformation in China, and it also contributes to the prosperous development of Southeast Asia. It helps Chinese companies by reducing the pressure of rising domestic labor costs and growing trade protectionism against China.

The China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Free Trade Area (CAFTA) took effect many years ago and contributed greatly to the liberalization and facilitation of trade among the 11 countries that signed it.

China still aims to upgrade the liberalization of trade and investment with ASEAN and is trying to work with ASEAN to conclude negotiations for version 3.0 of the CAFTA as soon as possible, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Apparently, ASEAN is in the process of trade integration and mutual development with various countries and regions. ASEAN's deepening trade cooperation with any country will only bring more cooperation potential for China, instead of substituting for it.

For instance, Germany - which has not signed a free trade agreement with China - could enjoy market dividends in China through some Southeast Asian countries, while China could make use of its partnership with ASEAN countries when it comes to entering the EU market.

During the rise of Asian economies, the emphasis should always be on how to expand the space for cooperation and promote integration, instead of pursuing narrow-minded replacement, which will only lead to vicious competition and more conflict. No country can completely replace another in the global industrial chain.

It is a positive development if Germany is genuinely committed to enhancing cooperation with Southeast Asian countries. This collaboration can act as a stepping stone, rather than a replacement, for Germany's partnership with China, potentially opening up more opportunities and prospects for the prosperity and development of Asia. It would be self-defeating if one aims at driving a wedge between China and ASEAN.
Road Town, British Virgin Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2024) - In a significant move for cryptocurrency and mobile technology enthusiasts, LBank Exchange, a premier global digital asset trading platform, has announced the listing of SOLAMB (SOLAMB) on March 18, 2024. Users of LBank Exchange can brace themselves for the SOLAMB/USDT trading pair, which will go live at 10:00 UTC on the slated date.

SOLAMB Listing Banner

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8831/202078_93064228140a29cd_001full.jpg

SOLAMB (SOLAMB) is a whimsical sheep-themed meme coin on the Solana blockchain, aiming to diversify into various sectors with a strong community and zero transaction tax.

Introducing SOLAMB: A sheep-themed Solana meme coin

LBank Exchange is thrilled to announce the upcoming listing of SOLAMB (SOLAMB), representing a novel venture in the ever-expanding universe of cryptocurrency, distinguishing itself as a sheep-themed meme coin developed on the Solana blockchain. It aims to captivate the crypto community not just with its unique theme but also with its commitment to zero transaction fees, promising an engaging and cost-efficient trading experience. This project is not merely about creating a digital asset; it's about fostering a strong, united community around a lighthearted yet ambitious concept.

The project extends beyond the typical boundaries of a meme coin, as SOLAMB FRIENDS plans to explore various fields including finance, food, games, books, and distribution, making SOLAMB the flagship product of a broader intellectual property business. With a total supply of 1 billion tokens, the team emphasizes transparency and community involvement, setting the stage for a potential new leader in the meme coin sector.

Understanding the speculative nature of cryptocurrencies, SOLAMB puts forth a straightforward buying process and encourages responsible investment. It's designed for those who appreciate the blend of humor and opportunity in the crypto space, offering a unique proposition amidst the vast array of digital currencies. SOLAMB stands as a testament to innovation and community in the crypto world, aiming to ride the waves of market dynamics with resilience and a touch of whimsy.

About SOLAMB Token

Based on SOL, SOLAMB has a total supply of 1 billion (i.e. 1,000,000,000). SOLAMB token is poised for its debut on LBank Exchange at 10:00 UTC on March 18, 2024. Investors who are interested in SOLAMB can easily buy and sell on LBank Exchange after that time.

Learn More about SOLAMB Token:

Official Website: https://solambfriends.com/

Contract: https://solscan.io/token/B4iCbe1rhMWE5VhH8nEEfgfyn3FFiNmnGahPVqw9ZBpp

Telegram: https://t.me/SOLAMB_Channel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Solamb_OnSolana

About LBank

LBank is one of the top crypto exchanges, established in 2015. It offers specialized financial derivatives, expert asset management services, and safe crypto trading to its users. The platform holds over 9 million users from more than 210 regions across the world. LBank is a cutting-edge growing platform that ensures the integrity of users' funds and aims to contribute to the global adoption of cryptocurrencies.

Start Trading Now: lbank.com

Community & Social Media:

l Telegram

l Twitter

l Facebook

l LinkedIn

l Instagram

l YouTube

Press contact:

[email protected]

Business Contact:

LBK Blockchain Co. Limited

LBank Exchange

[email protected]

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/202078
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2024) - PICCASO Awards Canada to Illuminate Successes in Data, Privacy and Information Security in an Era of Growing Complexity.

Nominate an individual or team for the inaugural PICCASO Awards Canada by March 28, 2024. As our world digitally transforms through technology and AI, privacy and data professionals play a crucial part in ensuring that data is used in ways that drive innovation and build trust. It is therefore imperative to recognize privacy professionals for their exceptional work that allows the industry to exchange know-how and achieve optimal outcomes.

PICCASO, in collaboration with The Privacy Pro, is set to bring its renowned celebration of excellence in data, privacy, and information security to Canada with the inaugural PICCASO Awards Canada on June 11, 2024. The inaugural awards gala event, presented by the non-profit PICCASO Canada, will take place at the Toronto Region Board of Trade, featuring Canada's Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne as keynote speaker with TELUS as Founding Sponsor and PwC Canada and AccessPrivacy by Osler as platinum sponsors.

Building on the success of the PICCASO European edition, the awards celebration aims to shift the narrative from privacy breaches to the many successes and innovations within the industry. Against the backdrop of recent high profile privacy breaches and the subsequent disconcerting headlines, the PICCASO Awards Canada is set to spotlight and honour trailblazers in the privacy community.

Vivienne Artz, Vice Chair & Awards Founder: "In an era of evolving digitization and data complexities, it is imperative to shine a spotlight on individuals/organizations that have exhibited exemplary efforts in safeguarding data and information. Canada is a leader in data and privacy protections, and it is fitting that the first ever PICCASO Awards Canada is set to take place in the beautiful city of Toronto. I am thrilled to introduce the groundbreaking PICCASO Awards to the Canadian market and celebrate data, privacy and information security champions for their tireless efforts and remarkable contributions in this field."

Nominating an outstanding team or individual is free. Data privacy experts, privacy advocates and organizations across all sectors are invited to submit nominations or nominate those who have significantly contributed to the advancement of this field. Spanning 15 categories, the awards celebrate individuals/organizations across private, not-for-profit, healthcare, public and academic sectors for their innovative contributions. The deadline to submit your nominations is March 28, 2024.

Lauren Reid, Canada Co-Chair, CEO of The Privacy Pro: "As guardians of privacy, we understand the importance of fostering a culture that embraces data protection in today's increasingly connected world. The dedication of data, privacy and security professionals for this cause deserves recognition and the inaugural PICCASO Awards further amplifies the acknowledgment of those who are at the forefront of data and security. Let us all come together and shape the future of privacy and information together by honoring these privacy heroes."

Click here to find all the information on the awards, categories, nominations and judges: https://piccasoawards.ca/.

About PICCASO Canada:

PICCASO Canada, a non-profit organization based in Toronto, Ontario, is a collaboration between PICCASO, a UK based global-facing not-for-profit special interest group, led by seasoned volunteers who are senior leaders in privacy, data and information security and The Privacy Pro, a boutique consulting firm in Toronto that is known for its business-savvy and practical approach to privacy. The primary aim of PICCASO Canada is to develop and organize thought leadership and events that promote privacy, data protection and information security in Canada.

For more information or request an interview, contact:

Shweta Retharekar

Marketing & Special Projects Manager, T"O Corporate Services (T"OCS)

2 St. Clair Ave. W. 18th FL., Toronto, ON, M4V 1L5

Email: [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/202145
The private equity leader expands investor access with industrial-focused, perpetual-life REITs.

ST. LOUIS , March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ElmTree Funds, a leading private equity real estate firm with an established track record in the commercial real estate net-lease sector, announced today the launch of ElmTree Industrial Trust, Inc. and ElmTree Industrial Access Trust, Inc., two perpetual-life real estate investment trusts ("REITs") which intend to acquire and actively manage a diversified portfolio of net lease industrial properties across the United States . The REITs will offer an unlimited number of shares to accredited investors at an initial purchase price of $1,000 per share. ElmTree Industrial Trust is available to registered investment advisors ("RIAs") and ElmTree Industrial Access Trust is available to independent broker-dealers ("IBDs").

"Industrial real estate has long been a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, and we believe the sector's strong fundamentals will remain attractive over the long-term," said James G. Koman , ElmTree's CEO and founder. "With the growth of e-commerce, the reshoring of supply chain operations, and the movement from just-in-time inventory to just-in-case inventory, we believe that tenant demand will continue to outpace supply for the foreseeable future, resulting in positive net absorption and rental growth going forward. We are very excited to launch these offerings and to pass these opportunities on to our partners."

The REITs expect to primarily invest in single-tenant, stabilized, income-producing industrial properties with long-term net leases, along with similar build-to-suit industrial properties. To a lesser extent, the REITs may originate loans secured by industrial properties or invest in real estate-related securities. For its initial investment, the REITs acquired a 169,543 square-foot industrial property located in St. Louis, Missouri . The property is 100% leased to the BASF Corporation, a European multinational company and the largest chemical producer in the world.

As perpetual-life REITs, the REITs are intended to be sold on a continuous basis. Initially offered at $1,000 per share, the purchase price will vary on a quarterly basis to reflect the REITs' net asset value ("NAV"), once the NAV is determined, approximately two years after the REITs' initial purchase sale. ElmTree believes that the REITs' structure allows the firm a greater chance to maximize shareholder distributions while also enhancing the REITs' ability to acquire its sought-after assets.

About ElmTree Funds

Founded in 2011, ElmTree Funds is a private equity real estate firm with an established track record in the commercial real estate net-lease sector. A recognized industry leader, ElmTree's dedicated team of investment professionals have executed on more than $20 billion of real estate assets. ElmTree deploys a differentiated, disciplined investment process to identify commercial real estate opportunities for Fortune 500 companies and provides a full range of debt and equity solutions to its commercial real estate partners nationwide. For more information, visit https://elmtreefunds.com.

A full version of the risk disclosure can be found at: https://elmtreefunds.com/risk-disclosure/

Contact:

Rebecca Cleary

Spotlight Marketing Communications

714-795-1054

[email protected]

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SOURCE ElmTree Funds
MONTREAL , March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Goli Nutrition Inc., an inventive, people focused nutrition company, announced today that it is entering into a definitive acquisition agreement with a group that includes Group KPS, Bastion Capital and one of the company's original founders under which this group will acquire Goli.

The transaction will strengthen Goli's balance sheet and position the company to drive growth, including into new markets, invest in new product innovation, and build on its partnerships with retailers globally. Goli has over 5 million customers on its direct to consumer platform, as well as long-standing strategic partnerships with leading US retailers supported by an efficient international supply chain and global distribution network.

Group KPS is a healthcare company with an extensive distribution network in Latin America . Group KPS currently distributes Goli products in Mexico and has a deep understanding of its brand and the potential for growth, in North America and internationally. Bastion Capital has an extensive track record of financing and supporting successful consumer-based businesses.

With the backing of strong, well-capitalized sponsors and an extraordinary brand with industry-leading customer loyalty, the transaction will allow Goli to continue to operate and innovate with far greater strength and better positioned for success and sustainable future growth.

"Group KPS is a long-standing distributor of Goli products, and we see strong long-term potential in the company's iconic brand, exceptional product quality, and high repeat purchase rates across its loyal consumer base," said Felipe Preciado , CEO of Group KPS. "We are excited to enter into this acquisition to enable Goli to unlock new growth opportunities and do what it does best in bringing innovative products to consumers worldwide."

As part of the transaction, Goli is retaining members of the original management team who bring a deep understanding of the business and a history of success in the industry, and who are committed to carrying out Goli's mission of delivering high-quality, efficacious products and making health simple, enjoyable and delicious.

The transaction, which has the full support of the company's lenders, is part of a pre-packaged process under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) in Canada . The company obtained an initial order from the Superior Court of Quebec on March 18, 2024 , which provides for, among other things, a stay of proceedings that will allow the company to move forward with the transaction.

The transaction remains subject to court approval in Quebec and the US. During this process, the company's operations will continue uninterrupted in the ordinary course of business, and it will continue to deliver its products to its valued customers, distributors and retailer partners worldwide.

Canaccord Genuity Corp. is acting as financial advisor and Bennett Jones LLP is acting as legal counsel to the acquirer group. Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP is acting as legal counsel to Goli.

About Goli Nutrition

Goli Nutrition is an inventive, people focused nutrition company committed to providing innovative products that make taking your daily supplements enjoyable. Goli Nutrition's products are formulated with quality ingredients you can pronounce and flavors your taste buds will enjoy! At the core of it all, Goli Nutrition leads with purpose, attaining B Corp Certification for their Goli for Good initiatives. To purchase Goli products or for more information, please visit www.goli.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/goli-nutrition-announces-acquisition-plan-for-renewed-growth-302091879.html

SOURCE Goli Nutrition
Gourmia's Panorama Digital Air Fryer Delivers Unprecedented Functionality & Design with Top-to-Bottom Visibility and Trendy Exterior Color Options

BROOKLYN, N.Y. , March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Gourmia, a leader in innovative countertop kitchen appliances, proudly introduces the Panorama Digital Air Fryer, reaffirming its position as the premier brand for air frying innovation. Infused with groundbreaking technology, the Panorama 7-Quart Digital Air Fryer showcases state-of-the-art bladeless fan technology, offering an unprecedented view of the entire cooking process from top to bottom. The Panorama Digital Air Fryer will be unveiled in The Inspired Home Show 2024, which takes place from March 17-19 , in booth #N8500 at Chicago's McCormick Place .

"The Panorama Digital Air Fryer is not just a kitchen appliance; it's a revolution in culinary artistry," exclaimed Heshy Biegeleisen , Founder of Gourmia. "Imagine a world where you can witness every sizzle, every crisp, and every delectable moment of air frying, all from a breathtaking perspective. Our Panorama Digital Air Fryer combines cutting-edge design with unparalleled innovation, ensuring every meal prepared is a masterpiece."

Gourmia has pioneered a groundbreaking airflow technology for the Panorama Air Fryer, ensuring every ingredient is enveloped in culinary excellence. This exclusive innovation guarantees perfection in every bite, with succulent interiors and irresistibly crispy exteriors achieved from every angle. Plus, with reduced fat content, taste and health harmoniously coexist for an unparalleled dining experience.

Embark on a culinary journey with 12 one-touch preset cooking functions, including air fry, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate, and more, accessible with a simple tap on the intuitive LED touch interface. With temperature and time displayed simultaneously, monitoring and adjusting your cooking has never been easier. Plus, with convenient features like a preheat option and turn-food reminder, cooking becomes a seamless and delightful experience.

Join us as Gourmia takes air frying to uncharted territory, combining best-in-class culinary results, a panoramic viewing experience, and trendsetting design. The Panorama Air Fryer is not just a kitchen appliance; it's a testament to culinary excellence, innovation, and the joy of cooking. With 30 exclusive recipes and cooking charts curated by Gourmia's esteemed chefs, your culinary repertoire is bound to soar to new heights.

The Gourmia Panorama Digital Air Fryer (GAF7020) will be available in the second half of 2024.

About Gourmia

Headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, Gourmia is passionate about all-things cooking as they believe it is one of the key pillars of a healthy lifestyle. With decades of small appliance expertise, Gourmia's founders know that cooks are looking for dependable, easy-to-use tools to make their lives easier. Gourmia was named America's #1 Air Fryer brand and the fastest-growing kitchen electrics brand in 2022, according to NPD*. From air fryers to multi-purpose cookers, coffee and tea makers, juicers, and more, the team at Gourmia has taken input from chefs and consumers to make their products the best in their category. All of the company's products are designed to deliver a higher standard of innovation, performance, and value. For additional information, please visit http://www.gourmia.com.

*Gourmia was the #1 Brand in Unit Sales for Air Fryers in the US, Gourmia had the Largest Dollar Share Increase in Total Kitchen Electrics in the US., and Gourmia had the Largest Dollar Share Increase in Cook and Heat Products in the U.S. according to The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, for the 12 months ending December 2022 .

PR Contact:

Rita Lee

Copernio

(714) 891-3660

[email protected]

All products/services and trademarks mentioned in this release are the properties of their respective companies.

 2024 Gourmia. All rights reserved.

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SOURCE Gourmia
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. , March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai and its Asian American marketing agency, TEN Advertising, are kicking off a new creative campaign for the 2024 Santa Fe SUV. The campaign, comprising two ads titled "Ruggedness" and "Wide Open Space," targets Asian American couples and families seeking exciting experiences in their everyday moments. Showcasing its ruggedness with solid exterior style and HTRAC AWD, as well as simultaneously presenting a comfortable, emotional, and sophisticated interior space, the campaign positions the new Hyundai Santa Fe as a refined-rugged SUV. The campaign was launched on March 15 .

The campaign highlights Asian Americans who pursue an exciting life by infusing a taste of the outdoors into their daily lives as a way of expressing themselves. At the same time, it addresses the demands of Asian American consumers who value premium and sophisticated spaces for their lifestyles. While reflecting the characteristic traits of these Asian American consumers, the ads showcase not only the Santa Fe's solid and rugged exterior that distinguishes it from competitors, but also the Santa Fe XRT model that cranks off-road adventures up a notch.

"At Hyundai, our commitment is to cultivate authentic, inclusive, and culturally relevant connections with our audience, and this includes showcasing vehicle attributes and trim levels that bridge the journey the Santa Fe creates with the family values and rich heritage of our Asian American customers," said Angela Zepeda , chief marketing officer, Hyundai Motor America. "Our new Asian American campaign captures Santa Fe's features and versatility, offering customers the spacious and premium interior comfort they seek, which includes three rows and a wide-open tailgate, creating an open living space that breaks the barriers between the indoors and outdoors."

The creative concepts for both "Ruggedness" and "Wide Open Space" campaigns are the result from an in-depth analysis of the completely redesigned Santa Fe and a comprehensive survey of Asian American consumers' lifestyles and market insights. The "Ruggedness" ad, starring the Santa Fe XRT model and an Asian American couple, displays the couple enjoying an unexpected off-road adventure as they detour on unpaved roads with Santa Fe XRT's standard HTRAC AWD. Conversely, the "Wide Open Space" ad narrates how the Santa Fe not only provides a more spacious and sophisticated space for family outings, but also serves as a peaceful sanctuary.

The "Ruggedness" and "Wide Open Space" campaigns will utilize video and digital assets across TV, digital, social media, and theater channels to enhance the emotional impact of the creatives and highlight the vehicle's exceptional performance and design. Furthermore, TEN Advertising has organized an integrated campaign, including PR and experiential elements, to introduce and promote the 2024 Santa Fe to consumers and convey Hyundai's message that there is joy in every journey.

TEN Advertising

TEN Advertising is an independent, Asian and female-owned full-service agency providing marketing and advertising services to reach and connect with the fastest-growing Asian American consumer base in the United States . Founded in 2010 by Karen Park , a 28-year veteran of Asian American Marketing, TEN Advertising is dedicated to supporting its clients' success in the Asian American market and recognizing Asian American consumers as a valuable market segment deserving of thoughtful communication and well-planned engagement. With cultural intelligence and market insights, TEN Advertising guides its clients in accurately interpreting their brand messages and voices in culturally relevant ways.

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles, while supporting Hyundai Motor Company's Progress for Humanity vision. Hyundai has significant operations in the U.S. , including its North American headquarters in California , the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama assembly plant, the all-new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (in development in Georgia ), and several cutting-edge R&D facilities. These operations, combined with those of Hyundai's 835 independent dealers, contribute $20.1 billion annually and 190,000 jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a recent economic impact report. For more information, visit www.hyundainews.com.

Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hyundai-showcases-refined-rugged-suv-experience-in-new-asian-american-campaign-for-the-all-new-santa-fe-302091855.html

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America
WASHINGTON , March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

Contact: Bill McCarren , 202-662-7534 for the National Press Club

News Advisory :

What: Satellite Media Tour (SMT) with Danielle Gershkovich (sister of WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich ) and Paul Beckett of The Wall Street Journal.

When: Thursday, March 28 (interview slots available starting at 8:30 am Eastern.)

Where: Originating from the National Press Club studios.

Booking Information : Contact Melanie Ierardi (202-662-7592 or [email protected]) to arrange a window.

News hook: Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will reach a milestone of one year in a Russian prison on March 29 . In March 2023 , Evan was arrested by Russia security services, simply for doing his job as a journalist. He has been wrongfully detained for one year, falsely accused of espionage - a charge the US government and the Journal vehemently deny. His sister, Danielle, will talk about the family's experience since Evan's unjust arrest and how one year is a difficult reminder of the personal toll of his situation. Paul Beckett of The Wall Street Journal will provide the latest on Evan's case and the Journal's efforts to keep his story in the public eye.

BACKGROUND:

In March 2023 , Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested by Russia while on a reporting trip and falsely accused of espionage, making him the first American journalist detained in Russia on such a charge since the Cold War. Both the US government and the Journal vehemently deny the allegation. President Biden and news organizations around the world have joined the Journal in calling for Gershkovich's immediate release. Evan's pre-trial detention has been extended several times. On January 26, 2024 , a Russian court again extended Evan's pre-trial detention another 2 months, this time until at least March 30, 2024 .

Evan's arrest and wrongful detention is an attack on journalism and the free press. Such an attack has consequences not just for journalism and media but for governments and democracies around the world. Without press freedom there is no democracy.

Evan was born and raised in New Jersey , the son of Soviet Jewish emigres. He graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine in 2014. Before joining the Journal in January 2022 , Evan was a reporter for Agence France-Presse and the Moscow Times. He was also a news assistant at the New York Times.

Call To Action:

Show your support for Evan by using the #IStandWithEvan hashtag on social media.

Biographical Information

Danielle Gershkovich is Evan's older sister and speaks out on his behalf, in order to help keep Evan's story front and center. She lives in Philadelphia . She has been interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN and NPR and others. In October and December she was part of successful media tour with appearances on Morning Joe, Voice of America, Al Jazeera, Reuters TV and local affiliates in Philadelphia, New York , Chicago , Portland, ME , and Hartford CT .

Paul Beckett is an assistant editor at The Wall Street Journal, focused on the efforts supporting Evan Gershkovich . He was most recently the WSJ's Washington Bureau Chief and has served in multiple overseas postings, including Hong Kong and India . Paul has spoken publicly on Evan's case extensively, both in-person and on-air.

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SOURCE National Press Club
NEW YORK , March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Meritus Gas Partners ("Meritus") announced today that it entered into a partnership with Advanced Gases & Equipment Inc. ("Advanced Gases"), a leading independent distributor of packaged gases and welding supplies headquartered in Sacramento, CA. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Advanced Gases serves the greater Sacramento area from three facilities: its gas production and distribution facility and retail store in West Sacramento, CA and retail stores in Placerville, CA and Jackson, CA. The company's diverse customer base represents various industries, including metal fabrication, construction, wineries and agriculture. Owner and President Mike Hamilton will continue to lead the business following the transaction and will maintain equity ownership in Meritus.

"My partner and I started Advanced Gases in 2007 and grew it together into a successful welding and gas distributor in Sacramento ," said Hamilton. "Following the unfortunate death of my partner in 2023, I was unexpectedly forced to make a decision about the future of the business. I considered continuing to operate the business as the sole owner, selling the business outright to a strategic acquirer, or partnering with Meritus. We elected to proceed with Meritus to preserve our company's brand and legacy and to be a member of a larger, more diversified business. We are excited to be joining Meritus and look forward to utilizing Meritus' resources and expertise to accelerate our growth and better serve our customers in the region."

"Advanced Gases is a great fit for Meritus, and we are excited to welcome Mike Hamilton , his wife Myriam Simental and their dedicated employees into the Meritus family," said Meritus' Chairman, Scott Kaltrider . "Advanced Gases is well-regarded in the Sacramento area for its commitment to product quality and responsive customer service. We are confident that we can expand Advanced Gases' capabilities and reach into new markets, including university research and food and beverage. Advanced Gases furthers our strategy to expand our presence in the West and provides Meritus with another building block upon which to build a diverse industrial gas business in Northern California ."

About Meritus Gas Partners

Founded in December 2020 , Meritus is a portfolio company of AEA Investors Small Business Private Equity. Meritus is assembling a national network of high-quality independent distributors of industrial, medical and specialty gases and welding and safety supplies, located in diverse geographies and serving growing end-markets. Meritus will partner with exceptional businesses and management teams, allow them to remain independent and entrepreneurial and support them to accelerate growth, improve business quality and enhance value. Owners are invited to invest meaningful equity into the Meritus holding company to allow them to share in the success of the overall platform. Visit us online at www.MeritusGas.com.

About AEA Investors

AEA Investors LP was founded in 1968 by the Rockefeller, Mellon and Harriman family interests and S.G. Warburg & Co. as a private investment vehicle for a select group of industrial family offices with substantial assets. AEA has an extraordinary global network built over many years which includes leading industrial families, business executives and leaders; many of whom invest with AEA as active individual investors and/or join its portfolio company boards or act in other advisory roles. Today, AEA's approximately 120 investment professionals operate globally with offices in New York , Stamford , San Francisco , London , Munich and Shanghai . The firm manages funds that have approximately $19 billion of invested and committed capital including the leveraged buyouts of middle market companies and small business companies, growth capital and debt investments. AEA Small Business is a strategy within AEA that currently manages $3 billion of invested and committed capital. The team seeks to help grow and transform companies at the lower end of the middle market by sponsoring growing companies with proven management teams and superior business models.

Contacts

AEA Investors

Joele Frank , Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

Michael Freitag , Kate Thompson and Woomi Yun

+1 (212) 355-4449

[email protected]

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SOURCE Meritus Gas Partners
CHISINAU, Moldova , March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Startup Moldova Summit 2024 , held on March 14, 2024 , emerged as a cristical point in Moldova's technological landscape, hosting over 500 attendees and 30 venture capitalists and angel investors. Facilitating more than 350 networking sessions with startups, the summit provided an interactive forum for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and networking. Esteemed figures, including President Maia Sandu and Deputy Prime Minister Dumitru Alaiba , alongside industry experts, convened to explore avenues for fostering innovation and economic expansion within Moldova's tech sector.

President Maia Sandu affirmed, "[Startups] are not just building businesses, but transforming our country into that modern European state awaited by our entire society". The Government of Moldova is actively streamlining administrative processes to strengthen a conducive business environment, a pivotal step in our journey towards digital transformation and bolstering Moldova's entrepreneurial ecosystem within the European integration framework.

The startup community in Moldova burgeons, with over 250 companies fostering innovative solutions across sectors such as Healthtech, EdTech, FinTech, MarTech, E-commerce, PropTech, and more. In the past two years alone, 25 Moldovan startups have secured over 15 million USD in funding from angel investors and venture capital funds. These achievements are a testament to recent reforms in legal, trade, and labor liberalization, coupled with the digitization of our economy. Moldova aspires to achieve a 100% "digital state" rate, with unique tech-enabling frameworks like the Moldova Innovation Technology Park , offering entrepreneurs a single 7% tax incentive, extended until 2035.

Olga Melniciuc , Executive Director at Startup Moldova, envisions, "Through innovation and collaboration, we aim to transform Moldova into a fertile ground for startups, where bold ideas meet the necessary resources to grow and thrive."

The summit spotlighted Moldova's trajectory as a growing tech hub in Central and Eastern Europe . Keynote speaker Dave Parker shared insights on prudent decision-making and agile adaptation in the entrepreneurial journey, resonating with attendees. Additionally, success stories from startup founders like Mihaela Kawinska ( Bloomcoding ), Viorica Vanica ( SelfTalk ), and Nicolae Guzun ( Sumboard ) inspired aspiring innovators.

Industry leaders such as Kristina Poustovan of Google Romania and Andreas Flodstrom of Beetroot emphasized technology's transformative potential in driving societal progress and global impact, further solidifying Moldova's standing in the global tech arena.

The Startup Moldova Summit 2024 stands as a guide of inspiration, uniting people involved to propel Moldova towards a future defined by technological excellence and entrepreneurial dynamism.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2365255/SSM_725.jpg

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SOURCE Startup Moldova Foundation
ANAHEIM, Calif. , March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (Chairman Lee Man-hee , hereinafter referred to as HWPL), a corporation, held a ceremony at the Peace Training Center in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, on the 14th to commemorate the 8th anniversary of HWPL's Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) under the theme, "Building the Minds of Peace: Promoting Institutional Peace via Intercultural Dialogue and Understanding."

Since the creation and announcement of the DPCW on March 14, 2016 , HWPL has held annual ceremonies to fulfill the institutionalization of peace. This year, experts in politics, law, religion, education, media, women, and youth from all over the world joined together online and offline. In particular, more than 10,000 HWPL members who attended the event filled the ceremony site location, keeping order according to the guidance.

Lee Man-hee, the Chairman of HWPL, said in his speech, "I went around the world 31 times and met many religious and political figures to convey the need for peace," and also said, "Although there were differences, most of them were pure, and we always created good relationships. I learned a lot as I visited every country."

Furthermore, he said, "As such, it is important for us to communicate with each other regardless of borders, race, and religion," and also said, "Let's stop the conflicts and fighting, do our best as people, and cooperate with each other."

"The commitment and dedication shown in the pursuit of peace projects have laid the foundation for a more harmonious world," attendee H.E. Vidura Wickramanayaka, the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs said.

As a result of HWPL peace efforts, a training course for journalists is planned to be held in 2024 in East Timor to raise public awareness of peace.

"I am proud to announce our collaboration with HWPL through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to implement peace journalism education," attendee Mr. Otelio Ote, President of the Timor-Leste Press Council said. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to promoting freedom of expression, press freedom, and the independence of media institutions,"

The ceremony concluded with a variety of performances depicting the journey of peace. During the performance, there was a session where the contents of the 10 articles and 38 clauses of the DPCW were explained through performance and expressed an image of a paradise filled with flowers where peace was achieved.

Media Contact:

Shane Sanchez

747-262-3264

[email protected]

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SOURCE HWPL
Former Rivals Cite Palmer's Gaza , Immigration, and Economic Policies

PHOENIX , March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Democratic Presidential Candidate Jason Palmer , the surprise winner of the American Samoa caucus, today announced a comprehensive plan to solve America's immigration crisis and simultaneously received the endorsement of three other candidates in advance of Tuesday's Presidential primary in Arizona .

Palmer announces comprehensive plan to solve America's immigration crisis and receives endorsements from former rivals.

Gabriel Cornejo of Nevada , Frankie Lozada of New York , and Stephen Lyons of Maryland endorsed Palmer's candidacy for President of the United States , stating the clear and compelling need for a candidate who best reflects the needs of America's working class and the voice of America's youth.

Gabriel Cornejo stated, " Jason Palmer has been advocating for a ceasefire since November. He's been pushing to withhold all military aid to Israel until a ceasefire is declared. He's clearly stated that he wouldn't have vetoed the recent U.N. resolutions calling for a ceasefire. Netanyahu does not believe in a two-state solution, and we are complicit in the killing of 30,000 Palestinians and the displacement of 2 million more. I believe Jason Palmer is the best leader for this issue and these times."

Frankie Lozada agreed, " Jason Palmer has been a true ally in advocating for peace in Gaza since the beginning of this campaign. We share the same focus and passion for empowering marginalized groups whose needs are often overlooked, and their voices ignored. Although his win in American Samoa shocked the whole country, it didn't surprise me that the people of American Samoa would be the ones to break the status quo. American Territories have witnessed firsthand the impacts and hardships of colonialism and occupation. They, just like many, are tired of being ignored and used. That's why they chose Jason Palmer , because he's been an advocate for Puerto Rican Americans, Hispanic Americans, Black Americans, and Indigenous Americans. I also have a greater sense of faith in Palmer's approach to our failed immigration system. He understands the need for reestablishing our reputation by representing the true values of Americans. His immigration plan builds a new level of trust, diplomacy, innovation, and inclusivity that will create a humane system that will increase the quality of life of all who pass through it."

Stephen Lyons also endorsed Palmer. "The biggest reason why I'm endorsing Palmer is that we need someone who is a proven business leader, bridge-builder, and entrepreneursomeone who is equally appealing to passionate young progressives as he is to former Republicans and independents who are looking for a new standard-bearer advocating for common sense policies."

Palmer, Cornejo, Lozada, and Lyons faced each other in a nationally-televised debate hosted by the Free & Equal Foundation. More than a million Americans watched the debate on Rumble, Pacifica, CSPAN, and YouTube.

Palmer's comprehensive immigration plan prioritizes a path to citizenship for Dreamers, ends parole for undocumented border crossers, and surges more than 1,000 new border judges to clear the asylum backlog. It proposes implementing a merit-based points system similar to successful programs in Canada and Australia , and promises to increase legal immigration by attracting the world's best and brightest while decreasing illegal border crossings by 50%.

Before today's announcement, Palmer's American Samoa win catapulted him to national prominence through interviews by more than thirty national news organizations, including CNN, ABC, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, BBC World News, Associated Press, The New York Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg, POLITICO, Reuters, Newsmax and NewsNation.

About Jason Palmer

Jason Palmer is a Democratic Presidential candidate, entrepreneur, turnaround leader, and impact investor with strong expertise in technology and education. Before his Presidential run, he served in executive and leadership positions at Microsoft, Kaplan Education, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and leading impact investor New Markets Venture Partners. Palmer earned his BA from University of Virginia and an MBA from Harvard Business School. His platform focuses on people-first conscious capitalism, modernizing our federal government, and reigniting the faith of young people and independents who have lost confidence in America's institutions. He is a proud resident of Baltimore, Maryland , and a devoted father. Learn more at https://palmerforpresident.us .

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SOURCE Palmer for President
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's embassy in Singapore on Monday urged its citizens in the city-state to stay away from all forms of betting, saying gambling overseas violates Chinese laws.

The warning comes as Beijing intensifies its efforts to crack down on Chinese citizens gambling across Southeast Asia, a popular tourist destination.

In a statement, the embassy "solemnly reminded" the majority of Chinese in Singapore to enhance their legal awareness and stay away from gambling. Singapore is home to two casinos, one operated by Las Vegas Sands and the other Genting Singapore.

"Even if overseas casinos are legally opened, cross-border gambling by Chinese citizens is suspected of violating the laws of our country," the embassy said, adding that embassies and consulates may not be able to provide consular protection for violations.

China has been intensifying its crack down on cross-border, off-shore and online gambling, sending similar warnings to several countries as it tries to curb these illegal activities and threats to citizens abroad.

"Cross-border gambling may also bring risks such as fraud, money laundering, kidnapping, detention, trafficking, and smuggling," the Chinese embassy in Singapore said in its statement on Monday.

The Chinese embassies in South Korea and Sri Lanka also issued similar warnings recently.

On Feb. 22, law enforcement agencies in China and the Philippines cooperated to repatriate more than 40 Chinese nationals engaged in offshore gambling, according to a statement from the Chinese embassy in the Philippines.

"The Chinese government has always opposed any form of gambling and opposes Chinese citizens leaving the country to engage in the gambling industry, the embassy said.

In addition, the ministers of public security of China and Vietnam agreed to enhance law enforcement cooperation and signed a memorandum of understanding on working together to combat cross-border gambling.

The Chinese embassy in Singapore said the Ministry of Public Security of China opened a reporting platform for combating cross-border and online gambling, where Chinese citizens can pass on clues and suspected activity.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Kim Coghill and Miral Fahmy)
KINSHASA (Reuters) - A court in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday found Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera guilty of spreading false information among other charges, and sentenced him to six months in prison, his lawyer said.

"The judges found our client guilty of all charges as established. They have imposed the most severe sentence of 6 months, plus the payment of a fine of 1 million Congolese francs ($364)," Bujakera's lawyer, Jean-Marie Kabengela, told journalists.

He added that Bujakera, who works for international media outlets including Jeune Afrique and Reuters, is expected to leave the prison where he has been detained since last September on Tuesday because he has already served the time.

The lawyer said that, in line with routine procedures in such cases, the legal team representing Bujakera would return to the court on Tuesday, get a copy of the ruling and pay the fine to the prison in order for him to be released.

Bujakera, who has denied all the charges, was arrested in the capital Kinshasa on suspicion of spreading false information about the killing of a prominent opposition politician in an article published by Jeune Afrique, the French news magazine has said.

A prosecutor in the case earlier this month had asked the court in Kinshasa to sentence Bujakera to 20 years in prison.

Local and international rights groups including Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International had condemned Bujakera's detention, calling it an attack on press freedom. Reuters has also called for his release.

($1 = 2,750.0000 Congolese francs)

(Writing by Bate Felix, editing by Silvia Aloisi and Chizu Nomiyama)
Palestinians gather to receive aid outside an UNRWA warehouse as Gaza residents face crisis levels of hunger, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City March 18, 2024. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa

By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Dan Williams and Aidan Lewis

CAIRO/JERUSALEM/LONDON (Reuters) - Extreme food shortages in parts of the Gaza Strip have already exceeded famine levels, and mass death is now imminent without an immediate ceasefire and surge of food to areas cut off by fighting, the global hunger monitor said on Monday.

The Integrated Food-Security Phase Classification (IPC), whose assessments are relied on by U.N. agencies, said 70% of people in parts of northern Gaza were suffering the most severe level of food shortage, more than triple the 20% threshold to be considered famine.

The IPC said it did not have enough data on death rates, but estimated residents would be dying at famine scale imminently, defined as two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or from malnutrition and disease.

Gaza's health ministry has said 27 children and three adults have died so far from malnutrition.

"The actions needed to prevent famine require an immediate political decision for a ceasefire together with a significant and immediate increase in humanitarian and commercial access to the entire population of Gaza," it said.

In all, 1.1 million Gazans, around half the population, were experiencing "catastrophic" shortages of food, with around 300,000 in the areas now facing the prospect of famine-scale death rates.

The prospect of a manmade famine in Gaza has brought the strongest criticism of Israel from Western allies since it launched its war against Hamas militants following their deadly attack on Israeli territory on Oct. 7.

"In Gaza we are no longer on the brink of famine. We are in a state of famine... Starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said at a Brussels conference on aid for Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded that Borrell should "stop attacking Israel and recognise our right to self-defence against Hamas' crimes".

Israel allowed "extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza by land, air, and sea for anyone willing to help", Katz said on X, and aid was "violently disturbed" by Hamas militants with "collaboration" by the U.N.'s aid agency UNRWA.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the IPC report an "appalling indictment" and said Israel must allow complete and unfettered access to all parts of Gaza.

Britain's foreign minister David Cameron said he would carefully review the report: "It's clear the status quo is unsustainable. We need urgent action now to avoid a famine."

Israel, which initially allowed aid into Gaza through only two checkpoints on the enclave's southern edge, says it is opening more routes by land, as well as allowing sea shipments and air drops. The first boat carrying aid arrived last week.

Aid agencies say they still cannot get enough supplies through or distribute them safely, especially in the north.

HOSPITAL ASSAULT

In the ruins of Gaza City, the main settlement in the north of the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces launched a major assault on Al Shifa hospital overnight. Once the Gaza Strip's biggest hospital, it is now one of the only medical facilities still even partially functioning in the north of the territory.

Israel said it had killed more than 20 Hamas fighters, including a senior Hamas commander, Fayeq al-Mabhouh, in the hospital. Hamas said he was a Palestinian police official tasked with overseeing the protection of aid deliveries in Gaza.

Negotiations for a ceasefire in the war, now in its sixth month, were due to resume on Monday with an Israeli delegation led by the country's spy chief heading to Qatar. But an Israeli official said nailing down any deal would probably take at least two more weeks, a clear disappointment for Washington which had sought a deal by the start of the Ramadan holy month last week.

President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a call on Monday that a military operation in Rafah would deepen anarchy in Gaza and they agreed that teams from each side would meet in Washington to discuss it, the White House said.

Netanyahu has pledged to push into Rafah in Gaza's southern tip, where more than half of the territory's 2.3 million residents have been sheltering to escape an Israeli assault farther north.

The leader in the U.S. Senate from Biden's Democratic Party called on Israelis last week to replace Netanyahu, saying he was wrecking Israel's international standing by allowing too much suffering in Gaza.

The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's assault has killed more than 31,000 Gazans, according to Palestinian health officials.

SPECIAL FORCES

The Israeli military said special forces, supported by infantry and tanks, conducted a "precise operation" on the Al Shifa Hospital compound, based on intelligence that the hospital was being used by Hamas leaders.

"We apprehended more than 200 terrorist suspects that are now being questioned," said spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. One Israeli soldier was killed in the fighting, he said.

Residents described some of the heaviest fighting in northern Gaza for months.

Mohammad Ali, 32, a father of two who lives near the hospital, told Reuters via a chat app that the sound of the assault awoke the neighbourhood at around 1 a.m.

"Soon tanks started to roll, they came from the western road and headed toward Al Shifa, then sounds of gunfire and explosions increased," he said.

The Gaza health ministry said displaced people inside the hospital had been killed in a fire caused by the raid.

(Writing by Peter Graff and Ros Russell; Editing by Nick Macfie, Alex Richardson and Cynthia Osterman)
By Ahmed Rasheed

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) said on Monday it would boycott a parliamentary election in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq scheduled to be held in June in protest over a ruling issued by the federal supreme court.

The northern region's dominant KDP said in a statement that Iraqs federal court had violated the constitution and undermined regional authorities following a ruling in February that amended the Kurdish region's election law.

Iraq's federal supreme court ruled to cancel 11 seats reserved for minority groups, including Turkmen, Assyrians and Armenians, reducing the number of regional parliament seats to 100.

The February ruling also changed the electoral system to divide the Kurdistan region into four constituencies instead of the single-constituency system adopted in the previous elections in 2018, prompting the KDP to reject it as unconstitutional.

The federal court ruling also gave authority to the Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) to organise and oversee regional elections instead of the Kurdish regional election commission.

The ruling by the federal court came after a lawsuit by KDP's historic rival and junior coalition partner in government, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), according to a court document seen by Reuters and the party's lawyers.

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski expressed concern over the KDP decision to boycott the June regional elections.

We are concerned by KDPs announcement to boycott the Iraqi Kurdistan Region elections. We urge the Government of Iraq & the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure that elections are free, fair, transparent, & credible. Romanowski said on social media platform X on Monday.

The PUK is committed to holding Kurdistan parliamentary elections on June 10, PUK spokesman Saadi Ahmed said in a statement following the Kurdish PDK decision.

(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds a hearing to allow parties to give their views on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories before eventually issuing a non-binding legal opinion in The Hague, Netherlands, Febr

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Israel has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) not to issue emergency orders for it to step up humanitarian aid to Gaza to address a looming famine, dismissing South Africa's request to do so as "morally repugnant".

In a legal filing to the United Nations' top court, made public on Monday, Israel said it "has real concern for the humanitarian situation and innocent lives, as demonstrated by the actions it has and is taking" in Gaza during the war.

Lawyers for Israel denied allegations of deliberately causing humanitarian suffering in the enclave, where thousands have died and hunger is rising, and said South Africa's repeated requests for additional measures were an abuse of procedures.

The filing said South Africa's accusations in its request for new measures, filed March 6, are "wholly unfounded in fact and law, morally repugnant, and represent an abuse both of the Genocide Convention and of the court itself".

The new exchange between the parties is part of South Africa's ongoing case accusing Israel of state-led genocide in Gaza after the Oct. 7 Hamas militant attacks on Israel.

In January the ICJ, also known as the World Court, ordered Israel to refrain from any acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to ensure its troops commit no genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel denies targeting Palestinian civilians, saying its sole interest is to annihilate Hamas, but relief agencies say aid is being severely restricted to the Gaza's 2.3 million people.

ICJ emergency measures serve as temporary injunctions meant to keep a situation from deteriorating before the court can hear the full case, a process that usually takes several years.

(Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
The logo of Nomura Securities is seen at the company's Head Office in Tokyo, Japan, November 28, 2016. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

By Stefania Spezzati

LONDON (Reuters) - Nomura Holdings Inc. has appointed Hemish Shah as head of flow rates for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa as the Japanese broker works on expanding its wholesale operations in the region.

The Tokyo-based lender hired Shah from Deutsche Bank where he oversaw the rates desk, it said in a statement on Monday.

At Nomura, he will report to Richard Volpe, global head of rates, and Nat Tyce, head of global markets for EMEA.

UK regulators have recently eased capital demands on the Japanese broker that had been place after it lost $2.9 billion on fund Archegos, Reuters reported, freeing up the firm from a punitive measure that curbed risk-taking.

The additional capital that Nomura now has available will be invested in its wholesale business in Europe.

In its third quarter, which ended in December, the lender wholesale unit delivered a pretax profit of 23 billion yen following a loss of 1.9 billion yen in the same quarter of the previous year.

Revenuefrom fixed income products increased by 19% in the third quarter to 103.5 billion yen compared to the same quarter last year, "driven by uptick in Americas with Japan remaining solid," it said in a presentation.

Shah replaces Pasquale Cataldi who was in charge of the EMEA flow rates until he left last year. Deputy head Olek Gajowniczek also left the firm last month.

(Reporting by Stefania Spezzati; editing by David Evans)
A tourist from New Zealand scuffles with a police officer in Phuket, Thailand, in this handout photo released on March 17, 2024. Chalong Police Handout/Handout via REUTERS

(This March 18 story has been refiled to fix a typo in the headline)

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Two tourists from New Zealand were being held in prison in Thailand for allegedly assaulting a police officer on the resort island of Phuket, Thai authorities said.

An investigation was underway over allegations of assault against Hamish Art Day, 36, and Oscar Matson Day, 34, for attacking an officer and attempting to steal his firearm, a police statement said late on Sunday.

Police officer Somsak Noo-iad had stopped the two Kiwis for reckless driving before they assaulted him as he tried to take photos and evidence, snatching his phone and firearm, the statement said.

A photograph released by the police on Sunday showed a man pushing a traffic policeman to the ground while another man looked on.

Their visas will be revoked and they will be banned from entering Thailand again after the investigation concludes, the statement said.

The two men and their lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment.

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
LONDON (Reuters) - A left-wing anarchist who had described himself as "the First Homegrown UK Terrorist" has been jailed for 13 years for terrorism-related offences, including a written declaration of a desire to kill 50 or more people.

Jacob Graham, 20, was convicted last month of offences including preparation of terrorist acts, two counts of dissemination of terrorist publications, and four counts of possession of material likely to be useful to a terrorist.

His sentencing comes days after the government published a new definition of extremism in response to an increase in hate crimes against Jews and Muslims since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. The change has raised some concern that it would inhibit free speech and unfairly target Muslim groups.

Judge Julian Goose told Graham at Manchester Crown Court in northwest England on Monday: "you were a dangerous young man, who described yourself as 'The First Homegrown UK Terrorist'".

"You held a clear and settled intention to assist others to commit acts of terrorism."

The judge said that while Graham told the jury he was only interested in chemistry, pyrotechnics and the military and "just had a strange hobby" the jury rejected that explanation when it sentenced him.

Goose described a letter written by Graham in 2022 where he said he was "aiming for at least 50 deceased and more injured, any more is a blessing" as particularly disturbing.

In the letter, which was read out by the judge, Graham wrote: "I am going to attack government buildings, politicians houses, mass murder those who think its OK to hide their wrongdoings behind money and power ... I will start a bombing campaign."

The prosecution had argued during the trial that Graham was motivated both by hatred of the government and environmental concerns.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned that the country's multi-ethnic democracy was being undermined by both Islamist and far-right extremists, and called for a tougher approach to policing protests after a rise in hate speech and criminality.

(Reporting by Muvija M; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
By Kanishka Singh

(Reuters) -Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday expressed concern around Israel's planned offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah in a call with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to push into Rafah in Gaza's southern tip, where more than half of the territory's 2.3 million residents have been sheltering to escape an Israeli assault farther north.

U.S. President Joe Biden warned Netanyahu on Monday that an Israeli military operation in Rafah would deepen anarchy in Gaza and they agreed that teams from each side would meet in Washington to discuss it, according to the White House.

KEY QUOTES

"The Prime Minister shared his concern around Israel's planned offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah and the severe humanitarian implications for all civilians taking refuge in the area," Trudeau's office said in a statement.

Canadian lawmakers were set on Monday to vote on a non-binding motion backing Palestinian statehood that drew condemnation from Israel.

Trudeau's office added he "underscored the importance of renewing efforts toward a two-state solution."

Commenting on the Canadian parliamentary motion in a post on X after the call with Trudeau, Gantz said "unilateral recognition (of a Palestinian state), particularly following the 7th of October, is counter-productive."

CONTEXT

Israel's military assault on Hamas-governed Gaza has displaced nearly its entire population, caused a starvation crisis, flattened most of the enclave, and killed over 31,000, according to Gaza's health ministry, while also leading to accusations of genocide being probed in the World Court.

Extreme food shortages in parts of Gaza have exceeded famine levels, the global hunger monitor says.

Israel denies genocide charges and says it is acting in self defense after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel from Palestinian Islamist Hamas fighters that killed some 1,200, according to Israeli tallies.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Leslie Adler and Stephen Coates)
NEW YORK  On St. Patricks Day, throwing back an Irish whiskey might taste different than it used to.

Flavored whiskey from American and Canadian companies isnt novel  Southern Comfort, Fireball, Crown Royal apple and Knobb Creek maple have been liquor store staples for decades  but its now attracting the attention of the Irish, a once inconceivable thought at distilleries that have prided themselves on whiskeys taste itself being the draw.

Whiskey purists have talked about flavored whiskey as an overall challenge to the category and in a negative way because they think it kind of defeats the purpose of why youre distilling high-quality liquid and then putting it into a barrel, said Lander Otegui, chief marketing officer for Proximo, the spirits company that owns Irish stalwarts Bushmills and Proper No. Twelve.

However, thats changing among the Irish, with Jameson jumping on the trend a few years ago with two flavors. Jameson Cold Brew rolled out in 2020 followed by orange two years later. Both remain on sale and are attracting new drinkers to the brand.

Flavored whiskey is a $1.5 billion category and accounts for 20% of all U.S. whiskey sales. In the past few years, flavored whiskey sales have outpaced unflavored whiskey, according to Southern Glazers distributors. Since 2019, the number of flavored whiskeys on shelves soared 37%, surpassing 1,000 options.

And more are joining: Conor McGregors Irish whiskey, Proper No. Twelve, recently debuted an apple-flavored version, which has performed strongly for the brand since its launch a year ago.

That wasnt without hesitation from the brand, Otegui admits. They werent very convinced about launching a flavored whiskey. But with younger drinkers gravitating toward punchier flavors, Irish brands have to be much more flexible than their historical beliefs have been, he told CNN.

Another Irish distillery is leaping into the trend. Tullamore D.E.W., for the first time in its 200-year history, released in the U.S. last month a flavored whiskey, choosing honey, ahead of St. Patricks Day.

Honey was an easy choice, said Paul Basford, U.S. president for Tullamore D.E.W.s parent company, William Grant and Sons, which also owns Glenfiddich whisky and Hendricks gin.

First off, its familiar to drinkers, thanks in part to flavored American whiskey doing very strong things in the market, so its a natural extension for the Tullamore D.E.W. brand to play in that footprint, Basford told CNN. (Jack Daniels and Jim Beam have had honey on shelves for years , and sell strongly.)

Theres a propensity to drink more flavors, and theres some very different flavors out there, he said, singling out banana and cinnamon, but the brand decided going on something a bit more traditional that fits in with Tullamore D.E.W.

Initial sales have been strong. Basford predicts it will be pretty big this year, and even bigger next year with honey encompassing 20% of Tullamore D.E.W.s total sales in the next year and projected to increase to 35% over time.

Honey and apple are among the top sellers in the whole flavored whiskey category, according to NIQ data given to CNN, as well as cinnamon, peach and peanut butter.

The U.S. consumer has a significant appetite for flavor in general, and the spirits business is no exception to that, Jon Berg, vice president of beverage alcohol thought leadership at NIQ, told CNN.

However, he warned that flavors tend to have a sales fall off time frame, based on the trial and repeat rates that shoppers are willing to give a product.

Changing tastes

Both companies face similar challenges of attracting drinkers in their mid-twenties who want different flavors compared to older generations, a trend that accelerated following the pandemic.

After Covid-19, the whole consumer base became more promiscuous, wanting to be experimental and less about what they had before, Basford said. And since younger drinkers arent often whiskey aficionados, having a flavor helps people coming into the category for the first time.

Otegui said that younger consumers are open to exploring new flavors within the spirits category. A flavored whiskey acts as an entry point for someone that wants to drink whiskey , but might be intimidated by the spirits taste, he added.

Flavors are a good way to get them into the brand and into the whiskey category, and certainly into Irish whiskey, Basford said.

___
FILE PHOTO: United Airlines planes, including a Boeing 737 MAX 9 model, are pictured at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, U.S., March 18, 2019. REUTERS/Loren Elliott//File Photo

By Rajesh Kumar Singh

CHICAGO (Reuters) -United Airlines is reviewing recent safety incidents involving its planes and using the insights to update safety training and procedures for employees, CEO Scott Kirby said on Monday.

The Chicago-based airline has experienced several safety emergencies in the past two weeks. Last Friday, an external panel was found to be missing from a United aircraft when it landed in Oregon, prompting an investigation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Before that incident, a United Airlines-operated Boeing 737 MAX rolled onto the grass in Houston. A United-operated Boeing 777-200 bound for Japan also lost a tire after takeoff from San Francisco and was diverted to Los Angeles, where it landed safely.

In a message to United's customers, Kirby expressed confidence that the airline would learn the "right lessons" and "continue to run an operation that puts safety first."

"While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus," he said.

Kirby said United plans to have an extra day of in-person training for all pilots starting in May, and a centralized training curriculum for new-hire maintenance technicians.

The airline is dedicating more resources to supplier network management and encouraging employees to flag safety-related issues, he said.

"Safety is our highest priority and is at the center of everything we do," Kirby said.

The FAA declined to comment and referred questions on Kirby's letter to United.

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 after the Jan. 5 Alaska Airlines incident, with inquiries into the company's safety and quality standards in its production process.

United's shares were down about 0.3% in afternoon trade. Its stock has gained 5.4% this year compared with about a 7% decline in the NYSE Arca Airline index.

(Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh; Additional reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Gerry Doyle and Nick Zieminski)
FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission logo adorns an office door at the SEC headquarters in Washington, June 24, 2011. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Two investment advisers have agreed to pay penalties to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges that they made false and misleading statements about their use of artificial intelligence (AI), the regulator said on Monday.

Toronto-based Delphia Inc and San Francisco-based Global Predictions Inc, which did not admit or deny the SEC's charges, agreed to pay a combined $400,000 in fines to settle the civil charges related to "AI washing," the SEC said in a statement.

Regulators have been ratcheting up scrutiny on AI. The SEC has repeatedly warned companies about making false statements regarding AI technology. Chair Gary Gensler has reminded companies that they need to ensure that they are disclosing accurate information, especially if they are using artificial intelligence.

Global Predictions in a statement said it had cooperated with the inquiry.

"Additionally, we have clarified across our marketing how exactly we use AI," the statement said.

Delphia did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

The SEC found that from 2019 to 2023 Delphia made false and misleading statements in SEC filings, a press release and on its website over its purported use of AI and machine learning.

Global Predictions made false and misleading claims about AI in 2023 on its website and social media, the SEC said.

"Weve seen time and again that when new technologies come along, they can create buzz from investors as well as false claims by those purporting to use those new technologies," SEC Division of Enforcement Director Gurbir Grewal said in a statement.

Delphia will pay a $225,000 penalty while Global Predictions will pay $175,000, the SEC said.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington and Chris Prentice in New York; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Mark Porter)
FILE PHOTO: Peter Navarro, adviser to former U.S. President Donald Trump, faces reporters after he was convicted of contempt of Congress for refusing to cooperate with the House of Representatives committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the

By John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied a request by Donald Trump's former aide Peter Navarro to avoid prison while he appeals his contempt of Congress conviction for defying a subpoena from a panel that investigated the 2021 Capitol attack.

Navarro, who served as trade adviser during Trump's presidency, is set to become the first senior member of his administration to be imprisoned for actions related to the attempt to overturn Trump's 2020 election loss.

Navarro is slated to arrive at around 11:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday at a federal prison in Miami to begin serving a four-month prison sentence, according to his lawyers.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who handles certain emergency matters involving cases from Washington, D.C., acted for the Supreme Court in rejecting Navarro's request.

A jury convicted Navarro last September of two misdemeanor counts of contempt of Congress for defying the Democratic-led House of Representatives committee's subpoena.

Trump is the Republican candidate challenging Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 U.S. election.

On Jan. 6, 2021, Trump supporters sought to prevent Congress from certifying Biden's 2020 victory over him, clashing with police and rampaging through the Capitol. The committee that Navarro spurned investigated that attack as well as Trump's broader attempts to overturn his 2020 loss.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied Navarro's request to pause his sentence while he appeals, prompting his emergency request last week to the Supreme Court.

Roberts, in a brief order, said he saw "no basis to disagree" with the D.C. Circuit's determination that Navarro had forfeited various arguments seeking to avoid prison, "which is distinct from his pending appeal on the merits."

Navarro has argued that he believed that he did not have to cooperate with Congress because he thought Trump had invoked the legal doctrine of executive privilege, which shields some presidential records and communications from disclosure.

Navarro was the second prominent Trump adviser to be convicted of contempt of Congress for rebuffing the House panel. Former Trump adviser and right-wing firebrand Steve Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison in 2022. He has avoided serving the sentence while he appeals his conviction.

Navarro advised Trump on trade issues during his presidency and served on a COVID-19 task force. He became a vocal supporter of Trump's false claims of widespread voting fraud in the 2020 election.

(Reporting by John Kruzel; Additional reporting by Andrew Chung in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)
Prosecutors, not police, decide formal charges under the Japanese justice system. (Vecteezy)

Eight service members at Kadena Air Base may face charges of importing illegal drugs into Japan by mail over the past year.

Japanese investigators on Wednesday recommended drug smuggling charges against three men and five women, all in their 20s, to the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office, an office spokesman said by phone Monday.

He declined to identify the eight individuals or provide updates on decisions to prosecute them.

Each airman is suspected of ordering 10 to 30 grams of a so-called designer drug, MDMB-4en-PINACA, from illegal drugs sales websites and having it delivered to Okinawa starting in May, the spokesman said. The drugs were in liquid form and packaged in canisters used for vaping.

MDMB-4en-PINACA is a synthetic drug created to have similar effect as tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Okinawa Regional Customs discovered the drugs and reported them to the Okinawa Narcotics Control office, whose agents joined the Air Force Office of Special Investigations on all eight cases, the prosecutors spokesman said.

The narcotics control office provided information about the drug sales websites to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, according to an Okinawa Times report on Friday.

We can confirm that the 18th Security Forces Squadron and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations coordinate closely with Japanese law enforcement on any case involving violations of Japanese law, a spokeswoman for Kadenas 18th Wing, Master Sgt. Natasha Stannard, said by email Monday. The Air Force takes Japanese customs laws seriously and any Airmen found to have committed criminal acts will be held accountable for their actions.
U.S. Marines and sailors with Lakota Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) return home after completing an eight-month deployment embarked aboard the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. During its deployment, the Bataan ARG and 26th MEU(SOC) team participated in a wide array of exercises with NATO allies and regional partners to enhance interoperability, readiness, and provide crisis response options. (Cassidy Shepherd/U.S. Marine Corps)

The first waves of Marines and sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned home to North Carolina following an extended eight-month deployment with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group.

Marines and sailors with Bataan ARG were expected to return home in several waves beginning Saturday. The first wave included the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde, which returned to port in Morehead City, N.C., on Sunday.

More Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 22 and Lakota Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/6 arrived at Camp Lejeune on Sunday and Monday.

U.S. Marines and sailors with Lakota Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) returned home after completing an eight-month deployment embarked aboard the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. (Cassidy Shepherd/U.S. Marine Corps)

The Bataan ARG includes the Mesa Verde, the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Carter Hall.

The 26th MEU is based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Sailors and Marines returned to Camp Lejeune, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point and Marine Corps Air Station New River in North Carolina.

The deployment marked the first time the Marine Corps and II Marine Expeditionary Force were able to certify and employ a special operations capable Marine Expeditionary Unit in over two decades, according to a news release from the 26th MEU.

U.S. Marines and sailors with Lakota Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) returned home after completing an eight-month deployment embarked aboard the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. (Cassidy Shepherd/U.S. Marine Corps)

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group departed from Norfolk on July 10 on a deployment that began with Irans attempted seizures of commercial ships and continued amid the Middle Easts expanding upheaval. Since December, the group had been in the Mediterranean to help keep the Israel-Hamas war from expanding.

Our presence in the eastern Mediterranean was exactly what our nation needed: an integrated Navy and Marine Corps force ready to respond when called upon, Capt. Martin Robertson, commodore of Amphibious Squadron 8, said in the release announcing the Bataan ARGs departure from the region.

Early in the deployment, as Bataan and Carter Hall worked to counter Iranian aggression in the Persian Gulf, Mesa Verde, along with the embarked 26th MEU Bravo Command, operated in the NAVEUR-6th Fleet area of responsibility, taking part in exercises and other operations in the Baltic Sea. That included a September port call in Riga, Latvia, and participation in a German-led naval exercise with other NATO nations and European Union countries the same month. The three ships rejoined in December for duty in the Mediterranean.

A U.S. Marine with the Combat Logistics Battalion 22, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) reunites with his family at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sunday, March 17, 2024. (Jackson Kirkiewicz/U.S. Marine Corps)

In January, the USS Gerald R. Ford returned to Norfolk after an eight-month deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, leaving the Bataan ARG on duty.

It was unclear whether the Navy intended to send another similar group or ship into the Mediterranean, which has had a nearly continuous presence of an aircraft carrier or amphibious ready group since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Stars and Stripes reporter Alison Bath contributed to this report.

U.S. Marines and sailors with Lakota Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)) returned home after completing an eight-month deployment embarked aboard the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. (Cassidy Shepherd/U.S. Marine Corps)

A U.S. Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) reunites with his wife after returning from deployment to Camp Lejeune, N.C., Monday, March 18, 2024. (Jackson Kirkiewicz/U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jacob Crippes, a logistics officer with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) reunites with his family at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Monday, March 18, 2024. (Jackson Kirkiewicz/U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Marines and sailors with Lakota Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) returned home after completing an eight-month deployment embarked aboard the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. (Cassidy Shepherd/U.S. Marine Corps)

A U.S. Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)) reunites with his friend at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sunday, March 17, 2024. (Jackson Kirkiewicz/U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Marines and sailors with Lakota Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) returned home after completing an eight-month deployment embarked aboard the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. (Cassidy Shepherd/U.S. Marine Corps)

A U.S. Marine with Combat Logistics Battalion 22, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) reunites with his family at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Monday, March 18, 2024. (Jackson Kirkiewicz/U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Marines and sailors with Lakota Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/6, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) returned home after completing an eight-month deployment embarked aboard the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group. (Cassidy Shepherd/U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Marines offload from San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) after returning from deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Morehead City, N.C., Sunday, March 17, 2024. Marines and sailors assigned to the 26th MEU returned home after completing an eight-month deployment embarked aboard the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (Rafael Brambila-Pelayo/U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Gustavo Baxton (left), and Cpl. Nahson Aboytes (right), with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) embrace their loved ones after returning from deployment with the 26th MEU, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sunday, March 17, 2024. (Rafael Brambila-Pelayo/U.S. Marine Corps)

Marines and sailors aboard San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) salute the ships colors after returning from deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Morehead City, N.C., Sunday, March 17, 2024. (Rafael Brambila-Pelayo/U.S. Marine Corps)

A U.S. Marine kisses his wife after returning from deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Rafael Brambila-Pelayo/U.S. Marine Corps)

Family members of Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit await the arrival of their service members after returning from deployment with the 26th MEU, Camp Lejeune, N.C., Sunday, March 17, 2024. (Rafael Brambila-Pelayo/U.S. Marine Corps)

A U.S. Marine is reunited with a loved one after returning from deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Rafael Brambila-Pelayo/U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Taylor Keaton, an MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor mechanic assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced), guides a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle while offloading from San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) after returning from deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Morehead City, N.C., Sunday, March 17, 2024. (Rafael Brambila-Pelayo/U.S. Marine Corps)

A U.S. Marine MV-22B Osprey pilot is reunited with a loved one after returning from deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Rafael Brambila-Pelayo/U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Marine AV-8B Harrier pilot Maj. Brian Neri, assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 231 Detachment, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) reunites with his family after returning from deployment at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Aziza Kamuhanda/U.S. Marine Corps)

The family of a U.S. Marine wait to reunite with their service member after returning from deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Rafael Brambila-Pelayo/U.S. Marine Corps)

A U.S. Marine AV-8B Harrier pilot assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 231 Detachment, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) is reunited with his wife after returning from deployment at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Aziza Kamuhanda/U.S. Marine Corps)

Family members of a U.S. Marine wait to reunite with their service member after returning from deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Rafael Brambila-Pelayo/U.S. Marine Corps)

An MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (VMM-162) Reinforced prepares to offload Marines returning from deployment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Rafael Brambila-Pelayo/U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 231 Detachment, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) prepare to disembark an AV-8B Harrier after returning from deployment at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Aziza Kamuhanda/U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Marine Maj. Brian Neri, an AV-8B Harrier pilot assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 231 Detachment, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) is reunited with his wife after returning from deployment at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Aziza Kamuhanda/U.S. Marine Corps)

U.S. Marine AV-8B Harrier pilot Maj. Brian Neri, assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 231 Detachment, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced), 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) reunites with his family after returning from deployment at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Saturday, March 16, 2024. (Aziza Kamuhanda/U.S. Marine Corps)
The USS Indianapolis off of Mare Island on July 10, 1945. (National Archives)

It was during the 1800s that the practice of grave robbing  stealing bodies from cemeteries  was in full swing. It became a profitable activity for those involved as they easily found an unlimited market for their product among medical schools, especially as the number of them proliferated. Due to the need to study anatomy, the schools believed the practice was a necessary evil and, hence, would never make inquiries as to how sellers acquired their bodies. Not until the late 19th or early 20th centuries did most states outlaw the practice.

Today, although little is written about it, the practice of deep sea grave robbing is in full swing. Ironically, these grave robbers couldnt care less about the bodies disturbed by their activities, as their focus is on that in which the remains are entombed  the pre-World War II steel that went into constructing many of the ships sunk during that conflict.

Why the interest in pre-World War II steel? Interestingly, due to atomic bomb testing as well as the two bombs dropped on Japan to end the war, all steel manufactured after the war has been irreversibly irradiated with radioactive cobalt isotopes during the process of mixing iron and carbon as an unexpected consequence thereof. Thus, there is a market for pre-World War II (or what is known as low-background) steel for manufacturing items sensitive to radiation. These include certain scientific and medical equipment, especially that required in high-tech research.

One can only imagine, due to the cost of extracting steel from these underwater gravesites, how much profit must be involved in selling low-background steel  with buyers, just like the medical schools in previous centuries, not too concerned about its sourcing. But our oceans are a target-rich environment for these steel salvagers, as it is estimated there are at least 6,000 ship gravesites as a result of World War II.

While it is pretty much open season on salvaging steel from sunken non-military vessels, legally it is not the same for military ships. They remain the property of the flag of the nation flown at the time of their demise. Interestingly, this international maritime law did not go into effect until after the Cold War, which allowed the U.S. to conduct the partially successful covert recovery of a Soviet submarine in 1974 under the guise of mining for subsea manganese nodules.

But the above law has not inhibited these deep sea gravesite robbers from plying their trade as numerous warships belonging to different nations have been stripped of their steel, with no concern given to the desecration of the bodies within. Three Japanese cargo transports sunk during World War II off the coast of Borneo have suffered this fate. What remains of the ships is described as an unrecognizable heap of metal piled up into a ball.

It is estimated that 13 million tons of sunken warships containing the remains of tens of thousands of war dead lie deep in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. At least 40 of these gravesites have already been stripped of their low-background steel.

Steel salvaging operations strip ship gravesites of their sanctity  a place where courageous sailors met their mortal end and should be revered. But steel salvaging has become so commonplace that researchers who now discover historical wrecks refuse to publicize the locations. One of the most famous of these was the USS Indianapolis, sunk by two Japanese torpedoes weeks before the wars end and not discovered until 2017. The ship was famous for the secret mission it had just completed  delivering parts of the atomic bomb to Tinian to a B-29 bomber that would later drop the first one on Japan  and in which the remains of 300 sailors are still entombed.

In May 2005, the USS Lagarto  a submarine that was inexplicably lost during World War II  was located in the Gulf of Thailand. The next year, the U.S. Navy sent dive teams onboard the USS Salvor to explore the gravesite to see if any remains were recoverable. My son was among those team members. The dives revealed the submarine to still be intact, obviously with all crewmembers still entombed. Seeing no need to disturb the site, the dive team simply placed a plaque on it noting the ships Eternal Patrol.

Just like the Lagarto and its crew were revered generations later by these Navy divers, so too should the gravesites of these warships and the courageous sailors who went down with them be revered by all. Buyers of low-background steel who simply consider such desecration to be a necessary evil dishonor those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom.

James Zumwalt is a retired Marine infantry officer (lieutenant colonel) who served in the Vietnam War, Panama and Operation Desert Storm. He is the author of three books and hundreds of opinion pieces in online and print publications.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Antonio Harmon, left, and Airman 1st Class Aaron Garcia, stationed at Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger, build a desk for the local community Feb. 6, 2024. Nigers military junta announced Saturday that it was severing military ties with the U.S. and revoking a pact that allowed American troops to be based there. ( Rose Gudex/U.S. Air Force)

STUTTGART, Germany  About 1,000 U.S. military personnel remain in Niger two days after the ruling junta announced that it wanted those forces out of the country in connection with an ongoing diplomatic dispute.

U.S. Africa Command on Monday confirmed that American forces are still in Niger, most of whom are concentrated at a drone base on the outskirts of the Sahara Desert city of Agadez. A separate contingent is at a similar site in Niamey, the capital, AFRICOM said.

Its unclear how long the U.S. troops will be able to remain in the country, AFRICOMs hub for counterterrorism missions across western Africa.

The situation puts at risk AFRICOMs Agadez drone site, known as Air Base 201, which the Pentagon spent more than $100 million developing.

On Saturday, Nigers military junta announced that it was severing military ties with the United States and revoking a pact that allowed the American troops to be based in the country.

Junta spokesman Col. Amadou Abdramane, announced the move on national television. The decision came days after a visit to Niger by AFRICOMs Gen. Michael Langley and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee.

Abdramane accused the U.S. delegation of not following diplomatic protocols and denounced what he called the condescending attitude of its members.

Insa Garba Saidou, a local activist who assists Nigers military rulers with their communications, criticized U.S. efforts to force the junta to pick between strategic partners.

The American bases and civilian personnel cannot stay on Nigerien soil any longer, he told The Associated Press.

Once a key partner in counterterrorism efforts across the Sahel, Niger has soured on the U.S. presence in the aftermath of a July coup that overthrew the democratically elected president.

Since then, American military operations in the country have been curtailed in accordance with U.S. rules that restrict cooperation with military juntas.

The tensions between Washington and Niamey also have raised the prospect of Russian acquisition of a foothold in the region.

In Senate testimony earlier this month, Langley said that Moscow is making aggressive moves in Africa and that a number of countries were at the tipping point of actually being captured by the Russian Federation.

He said Russian operatives have taken advantage of unrest stretching across much of western Africa, which has seen a series of coups in recent years. With the Americans sidelined in those countries, a door has opened for Russia to increase its presence.

Part of Russias attraction to Africa relates to power projection capabilities and access to natural resources that are vital to military industrial development, Langley said.

I think at an accelerated pace, the Russian Federation is really trying to take over central Africa as well as the Sahel, he testified.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observes marksmanship training, March 6, 2024, in this image from the state-run Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  North Korea fired three short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast Monday morning, according to Japanese and South Korean authorities.

The weapons were launched between 7:44 a.m. and 8:22 a.m. from Sangwon county in North Hwanghae province, the Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters. They flew more than 185 miles before splashing down in the Sea of Japan, also known as the East Sea.

A news release from Japans Ministry of Defense said North Korea fired three ballistic missiles to a maximum altitude of 30 miles and all three fell outside Japans exclusive economic zone.

The South Korean military has strengthened its surveillance capabilities in preparation for additional launches and will work closely with U.S. and Japanese authorities to analyze them, the Joint Chiefs said.

The Japanese Coast Guard issued an alert Monday morning about a possible ballistic missile launch and advised ships in Japanese waters to avoid fallen objects but to report anything found.

Tokyo strongly protested and strongly condemned North Koreas actions, the defense ministry said.

Actions by North Korea, including its repeated launches of ballistic missiles, threaten the peace and security of Japan, the region, and the international community, the release said. Furthermore, such ballistic missile launches violate relevant [U.N.] Security Council resolutions and are a serious issue concerning the national safety.

North Koreas last ballistic-missile launch, a solid-fuel intermediate-range weapon on Jan. 14, flew around 620 miles before falling into the Sea of Japan. The communist regime fired 24 ballistic missiles, five of them intercontinental range, last year.

From Jan. 5-7, Pyongyang fired around 350 artillery shells toward its southern maritime border, according to South Koreas military. The North also launched several cruise missiles over a 10-day span starting Jan. 24.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in South Korea on Sunday to attend the Summit for Democracy in Seoul and meet with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on Monday, according to a news release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During his meeting with Yoon, Blinken reiterated that Washington will stand with Seoul and develop a firm response to North Korean provocations, according to a news release from the South Korean presidential office.

Mondays launch comes four days after U.S. and South Korean troops wrapped up their 11-day Freedom Shield exercise. The militaries described the large-scale training held throughout South Korea as defensive in nature; however, North Koreas state-run media labeled it a rehearsal for an invasion.
China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, left, meets his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters, in Wellington, New Zealand, on March 18, 2024. (Hagen Hopkins/AP)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his New Zealand counterpart Monday, as Chinas most senior diplomat began a tour of the country and Australia.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters greeted Wang in Wellington, New Zealands capital.

There have been some significant developments since we last met, not least a global pandemic that impacted both our countries, Peters said in his opening comments of their formal meeting at New Zealands parliament house.

Today is a valuable opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that are now before us.

Wang is the highest-ranking Chinese politician to visit the country since his own previous visit in 2017.

New Zealand has had strong economic ties with China in recent years, and was the first developed country to sign a bilateral free trade deal with Beijing in 2008.

While in Wellington, Wang will also have brief meetings with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Trade Minister Todd McClay.

China looks forward to working with the two countries to deliver on the common understandings between the leaders, enhance strategic communication, deepen mutual trust, advance exchanges and co-operation, promote the steady and sustained growth of the China-New Zealand and China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnerships and contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

Wang will arrive in Canberra, Australia on Wednesday to meet with counterpart Penny Wong, with dialogue between the pair expected to center on the case of detained Australian Yang Hengjun.

It will be the first time the two foreign ministers have met face to face since Yang was found guilty of espionage following a closed trial and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in February.

Also on the agenda will be the removal of the last-remaining trade tariffs that were imposed by China in 2020 and were widely regarded as punishment for the previous Australian government passing laws that ban covert foreign interference in domestic politics, for barring Chinese-owned telecommunications giant Huawei from rolling out Australias 5G network due to security concerns and for calling for an independent investigation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trade tariffs cost the local economy an estimated $13 billion, but have since been wound back on most goods except wine, rock lobsters and some abattoirs.
North Korea launches a Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile in this image released by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, July 13, 2023. (KCNA)

TOKYO  Ballistic missile launches by North Korea, like the three Monday, are meant to deter the United States with the supreme goal of keeping the countrys communist rulers in power, an expert on the reclusive regime told reporters Monday.

Pyongyang fired three short-range ballistic missiles that splashed down in the Sea of Japan that morning, hours before Keio University professor Atsuhito Isozaki, an expert in North Korean politics, briefed reporters during a webinar presented by the Foreign Press Center Japan in Tokyo.

The latest launches are among 180 missiles fired by North Korea since Kim Jong Un inherited power in 2011, Isozaki said.

Which means that these are within the high-level aim of bolstering their military capability and deterrence vis-a-vis the U.S  and thats part of their supreme goal of perpetuating the regime, he said.

Pyongyang is continuing to experiment, test, train and conduct military drills as part of that effort, Isozaki said.

Keio University professor Atsuhito Isozaki, an expert in North Korean politics, briefs reporters March 18, 2024, in this screenshot from a webinar hosted by Foreign Press Center Japan. (Foreign Press Center Japan)

The overwhelming, important goal is to strengthen deterrence but there are secondary effects, he said. It may be possible to use these (missile tests) as cards for diplomacy.

Missile launches also bolster the North Korean peoples morale and strengthen Kims authority, Isozaki said, adding that the North is among only nine nations with nuclear weapons and only six with intercontinental ballistic missiles.

This is sufficient for North Korea to raise national morale, he said.

Russias invasion of Ukraine in February 2022  a nuclear power attacking a smaller, non-nuclear neighbor  demonstrated for the North Korean regime that nuclear weapons are essential to its survival, Isozaki said.

Predicting Japans response to an accidental North Korean missile strike is beyond his expertise, Isokazi said. But Japan would likely act rapidly in concert with its ally the United States, he said.

In recent years, the North has moved away from a policy of reunification with South Korea, he said.

Kim in January ordered an end to the formal goal of reunifying the two Koreas and named the South his countrys principal enemy and the nation most hostile to Pyongyang.

The North has shut down agencies working with South Korea and stopped using words such as unification or referring to 80 million compatriots from both countries in its statements, Isozaki said.

Pyongyang now says North-South relations are no longer a kinship or homogeneous relationship but have completely become a relationship between two hostile countries, two belligerents at war, he said.
Carroll College unveiled its new Corette Library and Simperman Learning Commons filled with study rooms, a 24/7 area and a podcasting room to students on Monday.

Students returned from spring break to see a newly remodeled library on their campus that offers them new ways to study for their courses.

Library director Jennifer Oates said everyone is excited to see it almost completed. The main portions of the library are finished and available to students, but some rooms like the podcasting room and some of the lecture rooms are still being put together.

The bottom level of the library remodel began in 2018 and was finished in 2019, but the newest addition on the main floor was planned a couple of years prior to its completion earlier this year.

The newest remodel offers 17 study rooms for students, with views of Montana scenery and Nelson Stadium after doubling the amount of windows in the facility.

The remodel was funded entirely through donations from Roy and Frances Simperman, the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Sunderland Foundation, Ron and Tar Rickman, Tom Harrison, Tom and Diana Dowling, and Jerry Berberet, among many other donors.

"This endeavor redefines our library as a modern venue for education, creativity and collaboration. It's a testament to the vision and generosity of Roy and Frances Simperman, and to the collective effort of our community," Carroll College President John Cech said.

Phase one was the lower level of the library, costing $1.88 million. The newest addition to the library is phase two, costing roughly $6 million.

The Simpermans contributed about 54% of the donations and M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust contributed an $800,000 grant toward the project.

New features in the library were made in response to direct student feedback. Oates said students wanted a 24/7 space, more study rooms and more windows.

The 24/7 space or the Fireside Room includes vending machines and a fireplace with security cameras that will monitor the number of students who use the space so the school can accurately accommodate their future needs.

Due to some of the spaces not being complete, classes will not take place until the fall semester.

The Wi-Fi in the building has also improved, allowing students easier access to material online that they need for their courses, according to Oates.

Another space in the remodeled library is the Center for Innovation in Technology for Education, CITE, which offers students a multimedia space with a makerspace including 3D printers and a podcasting room.

"Our goal was to create an inclusive space that fosters innovation and collaboration. With these enhancements, we ensure our library continues to lead in fostering a vibrant learning and research community," Oates said.

Other additions to the library include a tutoring room, mobile outlets, and whiteboards and accessible bathrooms.

Colleen Blake, a sophomore who works in the library, said she is excited about the remodel because it encourages her to study and stay engaged in school.

She mentioned a running joke where she said she lived in the library is now more true because of the advancements.

One of her favorite things about the remodel are the windows, and she plans on experimenting with new features it has to offer.

A senior student at Carroll, Maria Bourekis said she loves the new lighting in the library and as a nursing student she uses the library every day.

She also likes the rooms with the whiteboard walls and tables.

The library's completion created a center for campus life, college officials said, and offers collaborative spaces to students making Carroll College a leader in innovative education and student support.
In this handout photo taken from video provided by the Moscow City Court on Feb. 2, 2021, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny shows a heart symbol while standing in a defendants' cage during a hearing in the Moscow City Court in Moscow, Russia. President Vladimir Putin says he supported an idea to release Navalny in a prisoner exchange just days before the man who was his biggest foe died. (Moscow City Court/AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin said early Monday that he supported an idea to release opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a prisoner exchange just days before the man who was his biggest foe died.

In his first comments to address Navalnys death, Putin said of the dissidents demise: It happens. There is nothing you can do about it. Its life.

The remarks were unusual in that he repeatedly referenced Navalny by his name for the first time in years. They came at a late-night news conference as results poured in from a presidential election which extended his rule for another six years after the Kremlin ruthlessly suppressed the opposition and crippled independent media.

Navalnys allies last month said that talks with Russian and Western officials about a prisoner swap involving Navalny were underway. The politicians longtime associate Maria Pevchikh said the talks involving a swap with a Russian held in Germany and two U.S. citizens were in their final stages just days before the Kremlin critics sudden and unexplained death in an Arctic penal colony.

She accused Putin of getting rid of Navalny in order not to exchange him, but offered no evidence to back her claims, and they could not be independently confirmed.

Putin said Monday, also without offering any evidence, that several days before Navalnys death, certain colleagues, not from the (presidential) administration told him about an idea to exchange Navalny for certain people held in penitentiary facilities in Western countries. He said he supported the idea.

Believe it or not, but the person talking to me didnt even finish their sentence when I said: I agree, Putin said in response to a question from a journalist about Navalnys death. He added that his one condition was that Navalny wouldnt return to Russia.

But unfortunately, whatever happened, happened, Putin said.

U.S. officials said there had been no discussions between Russian and the United States over swapping Alexei Navalny with prisoners from the West.

National Security advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters during a White House briefing Monday that U.S. officials had spoken to Russia for months and years about releasing American detainees but have not heard a Russian official raise Navalny as part of a prisoner swap in any of these conversations.

Navalny, 47, Russias best-known opposition politician, died last month while serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges that he rejected as politically motivated. His allies, family members and Western officials blamed the death on the Kremlin, accusations it has rejected.

The politicians associates said officials listed natural causes on paperwork Navalnys mother was shown when she was trying to retrieve his body.

Navalny had been jailed since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow of his own accord after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning he blamed on the Kremlin. He was immediately arrested. The Kremlin has vehemently denied it was behind the poisoning.

Pevchikh claimed that there was a plan to swap Navalny and two U.S. citizens held in Russia for Vadim Krasikov. He was serving a life sentence in Germany for the 2019 killing in Berlin of Zelimkhan Tornike Khangoshvili, a 40-year-old Georgian citizen of Chechen descent. German judges said Krasikov acted on the orders of Russian authorities.

She didnt identify the U.S. citizens that were supposedly part of the deal. There are several in custody in Russia, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges, and Paul Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan, convicted of espionage and serving a long prison sentence. They and the U.S. government dispute the charges against them.

Sullivan said Monday the U.S. is in regular communication with senior Russian officials and had made a series of offers for the release of the two men. It remains an utmost priority of ours, to get the men out of Russia, Sullivan said.

German officials have refused to comment when asked if there had been any effort by Russia to swap Krasikov.

Putin had earlier said that the Kremlin was open to negotiations on Gershkovich. He pointed to a man imprisoned in a U.S.-allied country for liquidating a bandit who had allegedly killed Russian soldiers during separatist fighting in Chechnya. Putin didnt mention names but appeared to refer to Krasikov.

Chris Megerian in Washington D.C contributed to this report.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at his campaign headquarters in Moscow on March 18, 2024. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

President Vladimir Putin extended his reign over Russia in a landslide election whose outcome was never in doubt, declaring his determination Monday to advance deeper into Ukraine and dangling new threats against the West.

After the harshest crackdown on dissent since Soviet times, it was clear from the earliest returns that Putins nearly quarter-century rule would continue with a fifth term that grants him six more years. Still, Russians heeded a call to protest Putins repression and his war in Ukraine by showing up at polling stations at noon Sunday.

With all the precincts counted Monday, election officials said Putin had secured a record number of votes, underlining his total control over the political system. U.S. and other Western leaders denounced the election as a sham.

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said there was nothing free or fair about the election but seemingly resisted calls from Russias opposition to not recognize Putin as the winner.

Ahead of the election, Putins greatest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic penal colony, anti-war candidates were barred from the ballot and independent voices were silenced in a Kremlin-backed media blockade. No independent monitoring organizations were able to observe the election and analysts said online polling meant the vote was highly susceptible to manipulation. Any public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine has been stifled.

Putin appeared Monday evening on Red Square in the heart of Moscow at a concert to mark the tenth year since he annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Putins three token challengers for the presidency appeared on stage beside him and publicly supported him after campaigns in which none of them criticized him.

Putin has led Russia as president or prime minister since December 1999. At the end of his fifth term, he would be the longest-serving Russian leader since Catherine the Great, who ruled during the 18th century.

Emboldened by his sweeping victory, Putin said he planned to carve out a buffer zone in Ukraine to protect Russia from cross-border shelling and attacks. Asked if an open clash could erupt between Russia and NATO, Putin responded curtly by saying: Everything is possible in todays world. He added, Its clear to everyone that it will put us a step away from full-scale World War III.

Russian officials said they recruited over 500,000 volunteers for the army last year, but many expect Putin to mobilize more forces to attempt to push deeper into Ukraine. Analysts say that in the post-election period, Russian authorities could also introduce unpopular measures such as raising taxes.

The Kremlin is now increasingly confident, because it has learned just how passive the population is and how effective their own repression is, said Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

Russias Central Election Commission said Monday that with all the precincts counted, Putin got 87% of the vote. Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova said that nearly 76 million voters cast their ballots for Putin.

In illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, at least 249 people were detained for refusing to take part in the vote and for criticizing Russian authorities according to the Ukrainian Eastern Human Rights Group.

Voting in the occupied territories took place literally at gunpoint, when members of election commissions walked from door to door accompanied by military men with weapons, said Pavlo Lysianskyi, head of the group.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed the election and voting in the illegally annexed regions saying everything Russia does on the occupied territory of Ukraine is a crime.

Germany also sharply criticized the vote. Russia, as the chancellor has already said, is now a dictatorship and is ruled by Vladimir Putin in an authoritarian manner, said Chancellor Olaf Scholzs spokeswoman, Christina Hoffmann.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated Putin, as did North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the presidents of nations that have historic and current ties to Russia, such as Azerbaijan and Belarus.

Navalnys associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to go to the polls at noon Sunday  and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.

Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, who spent more than five hours in the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin, told reporters that she wrote her late husbands name on her ballot.

Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Navalnaya replied: Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because hes a killer, hes a gangster.

Putin referenced Navalny by name for the first time in years at the news conference, declaring that he had been ready to release him in a swap for unidentified inmates in Western custody just days before the opposition leaders death.

Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, disputed those claims. He told reporters during a White House briefing Monday that U.S. officials had spoken to Russia for months and years about releasing American detainees but have not heard a Russian official raise Navalny as part of a prisoner swap in any of these conversations.

Supporters of Navalny streamed to his grave in Moscow, some bringing ballots with his name written on them.

The Russian leader brushed off the effectiveness of the apparent protest and rejected Western criticism of the vote. Instead, he tried to turn the tables on the West, charging that the four criminal cases against former President Donald Trump were a use of the judiciary for political aims.

The whole world is laughing at it, he said.

Some people told the AP that they were happy to vote for Putin  unsurprising in a country where state TV airs a drumbeat of praise for the Russian leader and voicing any other opinion is risky.

Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said, I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now.

Voting took place over three days at polling stations across the vast country, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online.

Several people were arrested, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, after they tried to start fires or set off explosives at polling stations while a few others were detained for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes. Many more were rounded up by police for attempting to protest.

The OVD-Info group that monitors political arrests said that about 90 people were arrested in 22 cities across Russia on Sunday.

Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, said Russians were searched when entering polling stations, there were attempts to check filled-out ballots before they were cast, and one report said police demanded a ballot box be opened to remove a ballot.

Huge lines formed around noon outside diplomatic missions in London, Berlin, Paris and other cities with large Russian communities, many of whom left home after Putins invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, Speaker of the Crimean legislature Vladimir Konstantinov, second left, Crimean Premier Sergei Aksyonov, left, and Sevastopol Mayor Alexei Chalyi, right, shake hands after signing a treaty for Crimea to join Russia in the Kremlin in Moscow, March 18, 2014. (Yekaterina Shtukina, Sputnik, pool photo via AP)

A decade ago, President Vladimir Putin seized Crimea from Ukraine, a bold land grab that set the stage for Russia to invade its neighbor in 2022.

The quick and bloodless seizure of the diamond-shaped peninsula, home to Russias Black Sea fleet and a popular vacation site, touched off a wave of patriotism and sent Putins popularity soaring. Crimea is ours! became a popular slogan in Russia.

Crimea is ours! soon became a popular slogan in Russia, and Putin channeled that patriotism by appearing Monday evening at a Red Square concert celebrating the annexations 10th anniversary, calling it a great event in the history of our state.

Now that Putin has been anointed to another six-year term as president, he is determined to extend his gains in Ukraine amid Russias battlefield successes and waning Western support for Kyiv.

Putin has been vague about how much of Ukraine he wants as the fighting grinds into a third year at the expense of many lives on both sides, but some of his top lieutenants still talk of capturing Kyiv and cutting Ukraines access to the Black Sea.

The largest conflict in Europe since World War II has sent tensions between Moscow and the West soaring to levels rarely seen during even the chilliest moments of the Cold War.

When he seized Crimea in 2014, Putin said he persuaded Western leaders to back down by reminding them of Moscows nuclear capabilities. Its a warning he has issued often, notably after the start of his full-scale invasion; in last months state-of-the-nation address, when he declared the West risks nuclear war if it deepens its involvement in Ukraine; and again on Wednesday, when he said he would use that arsenal if Russias sovereignty is threatened.

Analyst Tatiana Stanovaya says Putin feels more confident than ever amid the Kremlins growing faith in Russias military advantage in the war with Ukraine and a sense of the weakness and fragmentation of the West.

The senior fellow at Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center noted that Putins speech last month created an extremely chilling impression of an unraveling spiral of escalation.

The 71-year-old Kremlin leader has cast the war in Ukraine as a life-or-death battle against the West, with Moscow ready to protect its gains at any cost. His obsession with Ukraine was clear in an interview with U.S. conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, with Putin delivering a long lecture that sought to prove his claim that the bulk of its territory historically belonged to Russia.

He made that argument 10 years ago when he said Moscow needed to protect Russian speakers in Crimea and reclaim its territory.

When Ukraines Kremlin-friendly president was ousted in 2014 by mass protests that Moscow called a U.S.-instigated coup, Putin responded by sending troops to overrun Crimea and calling a plebiscite on joining Russia, which the West dismissed as illegal.

Russia then annexed Crimea on March 18, 2014, although the move was only recognized internationally by countries such as North Korea and Sudan.

Weeks later, Moscow-backed separatists launched an uprising in eastern Ukraine, battling Kyivs forces. The Kremlin denied supporting the rebellion with troops and weapons despite abundant evidence to the contrary, including a Dutch courts finding that a Russia-supplied air defense system downed a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 people aboard.

Russian hard-liners later criticized Putin for failing to capture all of Ukraine that year, arguing it was easily possible at a time when the government in Kyiv was in disarray and its military in shambles.

Putin instead backed the separatists and opted for a peace deal for eastern Ukraine that he hoped would allow Moscow to establish control over its neighbor. The 2015 Minsk agreement brokered by France and Germany, following painful defeats suffered by Ukrainian forces, obliged Kyiv to offer the separatist regions broad autonomy, including permission to form their own police force.

Had it been fully implemented, the agreement would have allowed Moscow to use the separatist areas to dictate Kyivs policies and prevent it from ever joining NATO. Many Ukrainians saw the deal as a betrayal of its national interests.

Russia viewed the election of political novice Volodymyr Zelenskyy as president in 2019 as a chance to revive the anemic Minsk deal. But Zelenskyy stood his ground, leaving the agreement stalled and Putin increasingly exasperated.

When Putin announced his special military operation in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, he hoped the country would fall as quickly and easily as Crimea. But the attempt to capture Kyiv collapsed amid stiff Ukrainian resistance, forcing Russian troops to withdraw from the outskirts of the capital.

Abbas Gallyamov, a political analyst and former Kremlin speechwriter before leaving Russia, observed that the quick and bloodless annexation of the peninsula played a cruel joke on Putin, who thought the 2022 invasion would be something like the Crimean story, only on a much larger scale.

More defeats followed in fall 2022, when Russian troops retreated from large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine under a swift counteroffensive by Kyiv.

Fortunes changed last year when another Ukrainian counteroffensive failed to cut Russias land corridor to Crimea. Kyivs forces suffered heavy casualties when they made botched attempts to break through multilayered Russian defenses.

As Western support for Ukraine dwindled amid political infighting in the U.S. and Kyiv ran short of weapons and ammunition, Russian troops have intensified pressure along the over 620-mile front line, relying on hundreds of thousands of volunteer soldiers and the newly supplied weapons that replaced early losses.

After capturing the key eastern stronghold of Avdiivka last month, Russia has pushed deeper into the Donetsk region as Zelenskyy pleads with the West for more weapons.

Testifying before the U.S. Senate last week, CIA Director William Burns emphasized the urgency of U.S. military aid, saying: Its our assessment that with supplemental assistance, Ukraine can hold its own on the front lines through 2024 and into early 2025.

Without it, he said, Ukraine is likely to lose ground  and probably significant ground  in 2024, adding, youre going to see more Avdiivkas.

The dithering Western support has put Ukraine in an increasingly precarious position, analysts say.

Russia is gaining momentum in its assault on Ukraine amid stalled Western aid, making the coming months critical to the direction of conflict, said Ben Barry, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, in an analysis. In a worst-case scenario, parts of Kyivs front line could be at risk of collapse.

Putin demurred when asked how deep into Ukraine he would like to forge, but he declared Monday after winning the highly orchestrated vote that Russia would try to create a sanitary zone to push the front line enough to protect Russian territory from long-range weapons in Ukraines arsenal. Some members of his entourage are less reticent, laying out plans for new land grabs.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russias Security Council who has sought to curry Putins favor with regular hawkish statements, mentioned Kyiv and the Black Sea port of Odesa.

Ukraine is Russia, he bluntly declared recently, ruling out any talks with Zelenskyys government and suggesting a peace formula that would see Kyivs surrender and Moscows annexation of the entire country.

Russian defense analysts are divided over Moscows ability to pursue such ambitious goals.

Sergei Poletaev, a Moscow-based military expert, said the Russian army has opted for a strategy of draining Ukraine resources with attacks along the front line in the hope of achieving a point when Kyivs defenses would collapse.

What matters is the damage inflicted to the enemy, making the enemy weaken faster, he said.

Others say Russias attacks seeking to exhaust Ukraines military are costly for Moscow, too.

Russian and Ukrainian forces are locked in a stalemate that gives Moscow little chance of a breakthrough, said Ruslan Pukhov, head of the Center for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies think tank.

The Ukrainian defense is quite strong, and it doesnt allow Russian troops to achieve anything more substantial than tactical gains, he said.

Such a positional war of attrition could be waged for years, Pukhov added, with both parties waiting for the other to face internal changes resulting in a policy shift.
Palestinians line up to receive meals at Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on March 18, 2024. (Mahmoud Essa/AP)

This story has been corrected

RAFAH, Gaza Strip  Famine is imminent in northern Gaza, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger, according to a report Monday that warned escalation of the war could push half of Gazas total population to the brink of starvation.

The report, by the international communitys authority on determining the severity of hunger crises, came as Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and to open more land crossings. Aid groups complain that deliveries by air and sea by the U.S. and other countries are too slow and too small.

The European Unions top diplomat said the impending famine was entirely manmade as starvation is used as a weapon of war.

Israeli forces, meanwhile, launched another raid on the Gaza Strips largest hospital early Monday, saying Hamas militants had regrouped there and fired on them from inside the Shifa Hospital compound.

Clashes continued all day in and around the hospital, where Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people have been sheltering.

The Israeli military said troops killed 20 people it identified as Hamas militants, and one of its own soldiers was killed, though the identification of the dead as militants could not be confirmed. Among those killed was a senior commander in Gazas Hamas-led police forces who Israel said was hiding in the hospital. Gaza officials said the commander was coordinating protection of aid convoys.

The army last raided Shifa Hospital in November after claiming that Hamas maintained an elaborate command center within and beneath the facility. The military revealed a tunnel leading to some underground rooms, as well as weapons it said were found inside the hospital. But the evidence fell short of the earlier claims, and critics accused the army of recklessly endangering the lives of civilians.

Rafah offfensive could push half of Gaza to starvation

The latest findings on hunger in Gaza came from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, an initiative first set up in 2004 during the famine in Somalia that now includes more than a dozen U.N. agencies, aid groups, governments and other bodies to determine the severity of food insecurity.

It says virtually everyone in Gaza is struggling to get enough food, and that around 677,000 people  nearly a third of the population of 2.3 million  are experiencing the highest level of catastrophic hunger. That means they face extreme lack of food and critical levels of acute malnutrition. The figure includes around 210,000 people in the north.

Outright famine is projected to occur in the north anytime between now and May, it said. An area is considered to be in famine when 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition and at least two adults or four children per every 10,000 people die daily.

The report said the first condition has been fulfilled, and it is highly likely the second has as well. The death rate is expected to accelerate and reach famine levels soon, it said.

The report warned that if Israel broadens its offensive to the packed southern city of Rafah, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to do, the fighting could drive over 1 million people  half of Gazas population  into catastrophic hunger and potentially cause famine in the south.

This is the largest number of people facing imminent famine in the world today, and it has only taken five months to occur, said Matthew Hollingworth, the acting World Food Program country director for the Palestinian territories.

Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, called for all roads to be opened for aid, including into northern and central Gaza. The WFP report said aid from airdrops is negligible compared to what is brought on trucks.

Northern Gaza, including Gaza City, was the first target of the invasion, and entire neighborhoods have been obliterated. It is now the epicenter of Gazas humanitarian catastrophe, with many residents reduced to eating animal feed. At least 27 people, mostly children, have died from malnutrition and dehydration in the north, according to the Health Ministry.

A spokesman for the Israeli military body that deals with Palestinian issues, Shimon Freeman, said Israel places no limit on the amount of aid that can enter the Gaza Strip and encourages countries to send aid. Israel has accused U.N. bodies of failing to distribute aid in a timely manner. Aid groups say distribution is impossible in much of Gaza because of hostilities, the difficulty of coordinating with the military and the breakdown of law and order.

Alex de Waal, the executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University and an expert on global famines, said Israel has had ample warning that if it continued to destroy key infrastructure, displace large numbers of people and obstruct aid operations, the results would be catastrophic.

In failing to change course, it is culpable for these deaths, he said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said it was up to Israel to facilitate more aid.

Israel has to do it. It is not a question of logistics. It is not because the United Nations has not provided enough support, he said. Trucks are stopped. People are dying, while the land crossings are artificially closed.

Were trapped inside

The raid on Shifa Hospital began before dawn, when Israeli forces backed by tanks and artillery surrounded the complex and troops stormed into a number of buildings.

Were trapped inside, said Abdel-Hady Sayed, who has been sheltering in the facility for months. They fire at anything moving.

In the evening, he said tanks were still in the hospital yard, and he could see three bodies outside the gates. We cant retrieve the dead, he said.

Gazas Health Ministry said around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes seeking safety. The war has displaced around 80% of Gazas population.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief Israeli military spokesperson, said senior Hamas militants had regrouped in the hospital and were directing attacks from inside.

Among those killed in the raid was Faiq Mabhouh, a senior officer in the Gaza police, which is under Gazas Hamas-led government but distinct from the militant groups armed fighting wing. The Israeli military said he was armed and hiding in Shifa, and that weapons were found in an adjacent room.

The Gaza government said Mabhouh was in charge of protecting aid distribution in the north and coordinating between aid groups and local tribes. Aid groups say Israeli strikes on police are one reason public order has collapsed, leading to desperate Palestinians overwhelming aid trucks on the road.

Hagari said the patients and medical staff could remain in the medical complex and that safe passage was available for civilians who wanted to leave.

Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian facilities to shield its fighters, and the Israeli military has raided several hospitals since the start of the war.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Monday that at least 31,726 Palestinians have been killed in Israels offensive. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but it says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in Hamas Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and took another 250 people hostage. Hamas is still believed to be holding about 100 captives, as well as the remains of 30 others, after most of the rest were freed during a cease-fire last year.

Magdy reported from Cairo and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.
ISLAMABAD  Pakistani airstrikes targeted multiple suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban inside neighboring Afghanistan early on Monday, the foreign ministry said. The Afghan Taliban said the attacks killed at least eight people and prompted return fire from their forces.

The exchange, two days after seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing and coordinated attack in the countrys northwest, marked an escalation that is likely to further increase tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

The Foreign Office in Islamabad confirmed the strikes, describing them as intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan and saying they targeted a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban.

The Afghan Taliban denounced the strikes as an aggression on Afghanistans territorial integrity, and said later Monday their forces targeted Pakistans military centers along the border with heavy weapons, without providing details.

Earlier in the day, two Pakistani security and intelligence officials told The Associated Press the strikes were carried out in Khost and Paktika provinces bordering Pakistan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

It was not immediately clear how deep inside Afghanistan the Pakistani jets flew for Mondays strikes  the first since 2022, when Pakistan targeted militant hideouts in Afghanistan. Islamabad never officially confirmed those strikes.

Chief Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said three women and three children were killed in the airstrikes the district of Barmal in Paktika while two other women were killed in a strike in Khost.

Such attacks are a violation of Afghanistans sovereignty and there will be bad consequences, Mujahid said.

According to the two Pakistani officials, mortars fired by the Afghan Taliban in Mondays return fire wounded four people and forced some villagers in the Kurram district to move to safer areas. Pakistani troops fired back, the officials said.

On Saturday, a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden truck into a military post in the Pakistani town of Mir Ali, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan, killing seven Pakistani soldiers. Troops responded and killed all six attackers in a shootout, the military said.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari attended the soldiers funerals and vowed to retaliate, saying the blood of our martyred soldiers will not go in vain.

A newly formed militant group, Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad claimed the Mir Ali attack. Pakistani officials believe the group is mainly made up of members of the Pakistani Taliban, the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, which often targets Pakistani soldiers and police.

Muhammad Ali, an Islamabad based security expert, said army Lt. Col. Kashif Ali and Cpt. Ahmad Badar were among those killed in Mir Ali and that Mondays airstrikes were an obvious retaliation, coming within 24 hours of Zardaris warning.

Pakistans patience for the Afghan interim governments continued hospitality for terrorists conducting frequent attacks on Pakistan from inside Afghanistan has finally run out, Ali said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the families of the lieutenant colonel and the captain slain in Mir Ali and paid tribute to all the soldiers killed in the attack. He did not comment on the airstrikes in Afghanistan.

Separately, the Pakistani military said security forces carried out an operation Monday in North Waziristan near the Afghan border, killing eight militants linked to Saturdays attack.

The Afghan Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 as the U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout after 20 years of war. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan emboldened the TTP, whose top leaders and fighters are hiding in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban insist they do not allow the Pakistani Taliban  or any other militant group  to use Afghanistans soil to launch attacks. However, the TTP has stepped up attacks inside Pakistan in recent years, straining relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

Adding to the tensions between the two countries was a move by Islamabad last year to expel Afghans living in Pakistan without valid documents. Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation of their country. More than half a million fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power.

So far, Pakistan has expelled nearly half a million Afghans in the ongoing crackdown. Islamabad says Afghans who have refugee status have not been deported.

The deportations have also drawn criticism from the international community and analysts have warned that mass deportations risk radicalizing those who have been forced out of Pakistan  often returning to deplorable conditions back in Afghanistan.

In January, Pakistani strikes  in a tit-for-tat exchanges with Tehran  hit Pakistani militants inside Iran, briefly raising tensions but the two neighbors. The situation calmed after Tehran and Islamabad agreed to cooperate against each others militants.

Associated Press writer Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report.
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) talks to reporters at the Capitol in early February. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

The U.S. officers who screen migrants at the border to determine eligibility for asylum have been plowing through cases at a record clip since May, when the Biden administration placed tougher restrictions on people who cross illegally.

The officers are completing twice as many interviews per month as they did a year ago, and under the tighter rules, the percentage of migrants who are rejected and referred for deportation has more than doubled, according to the latest Department of Homeland Security data.

But the number of people screened remains a small fraction of the number who cross the border illegally. And the government does not have the detention capacity to hold others long enough to interview them.

As a result, the government has limited ability to reduce border crossings by adjusting the U.S. asylum system, whose delays and dysfunction are widely recognized as a driver of illegal immigration.

The bipartisan Senate border bill that failed last month would have greatly increased deportation capacity, providing $6 billion for immigration detention and deportations and funds to hire up to 4,300 asylum officers, a fourfold staffing increase. Republican opposition  led by former president Donald Trump, who is campaigning against President Biden in the 2024 election  sank the bill, which Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said would have delivered the most dramatic change to our system in decades.

We are doing what we can at a time when we continue to be starved for resources, Mayorkas said in an interview Friday.

Its about funding the system so that it is more efficient and effective, he said, rather than asking the government to work without giving it the resources to actually do the work.

Biden officials are anticipating a seasonal increase in illegal entries this spring, and the administration is under significant pressure to avoid chaotic scenes of mass border crossings that would hurt the presidents reelection campaign.

With polls showing immigration among Bidens worst-rated issues, administration officials have been weighing new executive actions to deter illegal crossings, including more restrictions on asylum access at the border.

But the latest DHS statistics show that changes to asylum policy would have little effect without a major increase in staffing to process migrants claims and expanded detention and deportation capacity for those who dont qualify for protection.

DHS completed more than 115,000 credible fear interviews of migrants between last May and late February, the data shows, a bureaucratic feat made possible because the department has assigned nearly all of its 1,000 asylum officers to work on border cases. To boost output even more, staffers with previous asylum training have been reassigned to border cases to help screen migrants.

Despite the all-hands-on-deck approach, the number of interviews the officers completed was dwarfed by the nearly 1.7 million illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border during that time period. We are maxing out the system, and it hasnt kept pace with the increase, said one DHS official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly.

While not every migrant who crosses illegally claims a fear of persecution  the first step in triggering an asylum officer interview  thousands of migrants are released into the United States every month because U.S. authorities lack the capacity to detain applicants long enough to screen out weak or baseless cases at the border.

Under U.S. immigration law, anyone who reaches U.S. soil has the right to seek asylum, regardless of how they arrive. Migrants who claim a fear of persecution in their home countries are referred to a U.S. asylum officer for an interview to determine whether their claims are credible. Applicants who face persecution on the basis of race, religion, gender, political opinion or membership in a particular social group are eligible for an asylum claim, and applicants can also be referred to the courts if officers determine the person is likely to face imminent harm if returned to their country.

For much of the past decade, as soaring numbers of migrants crossed illegally and expressed fear, most were able to pass the initial screening, which sent their cases to U.S. immigration courts. A much smaller number of those who made a fear claim  about 20 percent - were ultimately granted U.S. asylum. Many migrants never complete the application process after they are released from custody to await a court hearing, court data shows.

The gap between the relative ease of passing the initial screening and the tougher odds of getting U.S. asylum is considered by lawmakers from both parties to be an incentive for illegal border crossings. Migrants with weak or fake claims can avoid deportation and live and work in the United States while waiting for their asylum case to plod through clogged U.S. immigration courts - a process that takes five to seven years on average, according to the latest government estimates.

And because DHS doesnt have enough asylum officers to screen all the migrants expressing fear, border crossers who dont get initial interviews are referred to the immigration court system and released into the United States. About half of illegal border crossings are families with children, who are generally not detained.

The Biden administration put tougher asylum restrictions in place by implementing its Circumvention of Lawful Pathways rule after lifting the pandemic-era border controls known as Title 42 last May. The new rule penalizes asylum seekers if they cross the border illegally or fail to apply for protection in another nation they travel through en route to the U.S. border, creating what the government calls a presumption of ineligibility.

Immigrant advocate groups and many Democrats denounced the measures as similar to Trumps efforts to shut off asylum access. Biden officials said the rule was key to cutting back the number of asylum claimants with weak cases who pass the first hurdle - part of the administrations broader strategy to expand opportunities for migrants to enter legally while ramping up deportations for those who cross unlawfully.

Between 2014 and 2019, about 85 percent of migrants who claimed a fear of persecution passed the initial screening stage and were referred to U.S. immigration courts, according to DHS data. That number has dropped to 59 percent under Bidens new measures, the latest statistics show.

DHSs emphasis on asylum cases has diverted so much attention to the border that its other caseloads are growing worse. The backlog of affirmative asylum cases  from applicants who seek protection after entering the country legally  nearly doubled last year to more than 1.1 million cases.

People are going to keep coming, and at least in the short term, its hard to see how the available resources can match the arrivals, said Kathleen Bush-Joseph, an analyst at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute in Washington. The Biden administration has made huge investments, but more needs to be done, and Congress is going to have to act to make that happen.

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), the lead sponsor of the failed border bill, said authorities need tighter rules and more resources to discourage migrants without valid asylum claims from making the journey to the U.S. border.

One of the provisions in the bill would have made staying in the United States more difficult for asylum applicants who could not prove it was unsafe to relocate within their home countries. Migrants who express fear of return often say they are fleeing threats by criminal groups in their neighborhoods.

Other potential asylum changes in the bill would have further limited applicants ability to appeal a rejection, and denied more claims by those who come to the U.S. border after resettling safely in another country.

What really deters folks from coming is someone they know getting turned around, Lankford said in an interview Thursday. If there is a higher standard, and we have faster removals, then the incentive to pay a smuggler $10,000 goes away.

At a minimum, there is a pause so that people say: The rules have changed and I shouldnt make that trip, he said.

Lankford said he doubts the bipartisan bill will be revived. A new battle over the $60 billion DHS budget has left lawmakers considering a separate stopgap bill to keep the department funded through next year. The discussions dont include an expansion of asylum-processing capacity, which officials say they need to apply the stricter standards and discourage weak or false fear claims.

I dont have any reason to have hope at this point, Lankford said. No one is pushing me to get something resolved. Democrats are saying the president cant do anything without the bill. Republicans are saying hes not doing what he can without it.

Immigrant advocates remain angry with the administration over Bidens asylum restrictions, with some referring to them as a ban, even though more than half of applicants are still clearing the initial hurdle under the tighter screening rules.

Christina Asencio, research director at Human Rights First, a New York-based advocacy organization for migrants, said Bidens measures are unfair because asylum seekers who need protection may not be aware that they face penalties if they cross the border illegally.

It increases the likelihood people will be returned to potential persecution, Asencio said in an interview. They are stuck with a choice of imminent risk of harm or a confusing, complex architecture they cant grasp.

Asencio said it isnt realistic to ask asylum seekers to wait in Mexican border cities for months while requesting an appointment at a U.S. port of entry. Theyre afraid of being arrested and detained, she said, or attacked by criminal groups.

In July, a U.S. district court in California found Bidens asylum restrictions unlawful after the American Civil Liberties Union and other immigrant advocates sued, but that ruling was stayed by a federal appeals court. The litigation is on pause while the ACLU and others attempt to negotiate a settlement with the administration.

The union that represents asylum officers backed the ACLU lawsuit and urged the court to invalidate the administrations restrictions, claiming that they violate U.S. law and the professional ethics of the workforce tasked with implementing the tighter rules.

Michael Knowles, a spokesman for the union, said the restrictions make the screening process more complicated, more time-consuming and more inadequate because asylum officers have more responsibility to make sure theyre not condemning applicants to grave risks.

Fear screenings for migrants in border custody arent meant to be full asylum hearings, Knowles said. He compared the role of the asylum officer to a first responder performing emergency triage in a mass-casualty situation.

You screen into the hospital those who need further treatment or examination, he said. You dont screen out people who may be badly hurt. Thats the whole point of the credible-fear interview: to ensure were not turning away bona fide refugees at risk of harm.
A man enters the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, March 10, 2024. A charter flight carrying dozens of U.S. citizens fleeing spiraling gang violence in Haiti landed Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Miami, U.S. State Department officials said. (Odelyn Joseph/AP)

MIAMI  A charter flight carrying dozens of U.S. citizens fleeing spiraling gang violence in Haiti landed Sunday in Miami, U.S. State Department officials said.

More than 30 U.S. citizens were on the government-chartered flight, officials said in a statement. It arrived in the Miami International Airport after the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince earlier this month urged U.S. citizens to leave as soon as possible as chaos grips Haiti.

Passenger Avlot Quessa, who lives in Boston, traveled from the center of the country to board the charter flight after going to Haiti last month for was supposed to be a weeklong trip to visit his mother.

Its just terrible ... The suffering, you can only imagine, Quessa told the Miami Herald of the nearby Caribbean nation. Haiti is my homeland and its very stressful to see the homeland going through this act of violence, destruction ... and they are our neighbors.

Haitis main airport in Port-au-Prince remains closed following gang attacks that have raged through Haiti in recent weeks, pushing many people to the brink of famine. Government and aid agencies this weekend reported looting of aid supplies as the situation worsened.

The State Department announced Saturday that it would offer limited charter flights for American citizens from the less chaotic northern city of Cap-Haitien.

Officials said they could not provide ground transportation to Cap-Haitien and that U.S. citizens should consider the charter flights only if you think you can reach Cap-Haitien airport safely.

We encourage U.S. citizens still in Haiti who seek to depart to contact the Department of State using the crisis intake form on our website if they have not already done so, the agency said.

People taking the U.S. government-coordinated flights must sign a promissory bill agreeing to reimburse the government.

Another passenger on Sundays flight, Marie Lucie St. Fleur, 69, of West Palm Beach, said she feels most at home in Haiti and it pains her to see what her homeland is enduring.

I dont feel well at all. I would like to live in my country and I cant, she said while sitting in a wheelchair.

The State Department said government officials in Miami were helping the newly arrived evacuees to determine their next steps.

The U.S. military last week flew in additional forces to bolster security at the U.S. Embassy, which is in a neighborhood largely controlled by gangs.
On Oct. 27, three weeks into Israels punishing counterattack in Gaza, top Biden officials privately told a small group assembled at the White House what they would not say in public: Israel was regularly bombing buildings without solid intelligence that they were legitimate military targets.

The group  top foreign policy officials from the Biden administration and previous ones  also discussed the apparent lack of an Israeli plan for defeating Hamas despite repeated U.S. prodding, according to three people familiar with the meeting, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a private exchange.

We never had a clear sense that the Israelis had a definable and achievable military objective, said one of those familiar with the meeting. From the very beginning, theres been a sense of us not knowing how the Israelis were going to do what they said they were going to do.

Publicly, however, the Biden administration was providing Israel unfettered support in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks, when Hamas militants murdered 1,200 people and took about 250 others hostage. On the same day as the private meeting, White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the U.S. was imposing no red lines on Israels military campaign.

The previously unreported meeting shows that discrepancies were emerging far earlier than publicly known between the Biden teams internal doubts about Israels conduct and its ironclad external support. At nearly every turn, President Joe Biden and his aides defended the Jewish state, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defied the U.S. on everything from protecting civilians to allowing aid delivery to accepting a Palestinian state.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington denied claims that Israel Defense Forces hit targets with insufficient intelligence, saying the IDF is committed to international law and applies a thorough legal process in the selection of targets and invests significant resources to minimize harm to civilians.

This article, based on interviews with 20 administration officials and outside advisers, examines how Biden, more than five months after the Oct. 7 attacks, has found himself deeply entangled in a war he does not want and that threatens to become a defining element of his tenure. His allies privately acknowledge that it has done him significant damage domestically and globally and could easily become his biggest foreign policy cataclysm.

Bidens strategy from the outset rested on a central trade-off: that if he showed Israel unequivocal, even defiant, support early on, he could ultimately influence its conduct of the war. Some administration officials now concede the strategy is heading toward failure, and in private talks, they voice a striking frustration and uncertainty about how the war will end.

Biden officials argue that they have influenced Israel at key moments. They say they persuaded Israel to reduce the number of troops in Gaza, to allow in a limited amount of aid and to refrain from attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon. They note that the average daily death toll in Gaza has dropped below 100 in recent weeks, even while saying it remains unacceptably high; experts say the war is among the deadliest and most destructive in modern history.

Israel argues that a high proportion of those killed have been Hamas militants or allies. The Israeli Embassy said the Netanyahu government has been very attentive to U.S. concerns and insights and that a thorough analysis of casualties would show a ratio between terrorists and civilians unparalleled by any army fighting terrorists in modern history.

Biden, who has been criticizing Israel more sharply in recent weeks, now faces a potentially decisive moment. Netanyahu has declared his intent to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where about 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, a move that Kirby has said would be a disaster and Biden told MSNBC would cross a red line if Israel does not adopt a credible plan to protect civilians. Yet Israel has signaled its determination to push ahead.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said he agreed with Bidens decision to fly to Israel immediately after the Oct. 7 attacks to demonstrate U.S. support, but that at this point Netanyahus ability to rebuff the United States with impunity has made America look weak.

I supported the presidents decision to go to Israel, in that moment of trauma, to let the Israeli people know the United States stood with them. But the strategy beyond that, which was this constant private jawboning of Netanyahu, has produced very few meaningful results, Van Hollen said in an interview. There have been some incremental changes, but the gap between what the president has called on the Netanyahu government to do and what theyve actually delivered is huge. Its a chasm.

If Netanyahu moves on Rafah without consequences, Van Hollen said, the United States will look feckless. He added, Its good to see the presidents tougher comments. But the question will be whether the president uses the leverage he has to demand accountability and enforce his requests.

A deadly raid on a hospital

Biden, who has a long-standing and visceral attachment to Israel, responded with unusual emotion in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks. Noting that Oct. 7 was the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, he vocally supported Israels right to take hard-hitting action to destroy Hamas.

Still, even in those early days, he urged the Israelis to show restraint. Flying to Tel Aviv in mid-October, Biden and his aides wrote a speech on Air Force One seeking to balance empathy with warnings against blind revenge. While you feel that rage, dont be consumed by it, Biden cautioned. After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. And while we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes.

But Netanyahu, in the eyes of human rights activists and many foreign leaders, showed little restraint. Israels sweeping bombardment of Gaza, combined with its sharp limits on aid, has resulted in catastrophic conditions. Military strikes have killed more than 31,000 Palestinians in the enclave of 2.3 million, according to the Gaza Health Ministry; meanwhile, the United Nations says children have begun dying of hunger amid the risk of a severe famine.

Biden and his aides declared unflinching support, but other Democrats began growing more upset as the bombing unfolded. On the day Kirby said there were no red lines for Israel, Van Hollen fired off a text to national security adviser Jake Sullivan calling the comment outrageous.

White House officials say that privately, they were repeatedly urging Israel to rein in its onslaught. But when those conversations yielded little result, U.S. officials offered few public rebukes and no evident consequences.

As the weeks went on, the calculus of Israel and the U.S. appeared to diverge. In early November, Israel bombed the densely packed Jabalya refugee camp several times, saying it had eliminated a senior Hamas commander, Ibrahim Biari, but dozens of civilians were also killed. That was the first time that everybody was focusing on the size of the bombs Israel was dropping and how little they seemed to care, one White House ally said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to describe internal deliberations.

Israel and its allies reject the notion that they do not care about innocents. The killing of civilians at Jabalya was the unintended, tragic consequence of Hamass systematic embedding of terror infrastructure within a civilian population, the Israeli Embassy said in a statement. The structure that was hit in the strike collapsed largely due to the Hamas terror tunnel network that was built underneath it, which also led to the collapse of several other buildings in the vicinity, the killing of Ibrahim Biari and his terrorist subordinates, as well as some civilian casualties.

But Israels conduct of its military campaign was increasingly prompting skepticism in the U.S. In early November, Israel began warning that al-Shifa Hospital, Gazas largest, where thousands of civilians were sheltering, was being used by Hamas as a major command center.

That prompted a vigorous debate among Biden officials over whether to publicly support Israels claim, according to three senior administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to disclose internal discussions. Some worried that Israel would see such a statement as a green light to raid the hospital, while others wanted to use the information to show the public how Hamas embedded itself among civilians to underline the complexities Israel faced.

On Nov. 14, the White House decided to publicly back Israel on the matter. We have information that confirms that Hamas is using that particular hospital for a command-and-control mode, Kirby told reporters aboard Air Force One, citing declassified intelligence. That is a war crime.

Kirby added that the White House did not want to see a firefight in the hospital where innocent people, helpless people, sick people are simply trying to get the medical care that they deserve.

Hours later, the IDF began its raid of al-Shifa, drawing condemnation from the World Health Organization and human rights groups. The hospitals operations collapsed, resulting in the death of least 40 patients, including four premature babies, according to the United Nations.

Van Hollen, who had received a classified briefing about the U.S. intelligence on al-Shifa, said there were important and subtle differences between what Biden officials were saying publicly and what the intelligence actually showed. I did find there to be some disconnect between the administrations public statements and the classified findings, the senator said.

Israel again raided al-Shifa on Monday, citing Israeli intelligence that the complex was being used by senior Hamas militants; the Gaza Health Ministry said communications were cut and reported people killed or injured.

Van Hollen, along with more than a dozen other Democratic senators, met with Sullivan in late November to express their concerns and urge the administration to do more to rein in Israel.

About the same time, the State Department hosted a screening by the Israeli embassy of a video of Hamas atrocities on Oct. 7. Some department employees said they were unhappy at the lack of a similar display of the carnage from Israeli airstrikes. But if they did not attend the screening, they said, they worried they would be viewed skeptically inside the department.

A U.S. official defended the showing of the video, saying it was for a small group across the interagency who work on Middle East issues to watch it and get briefed on its contents by the Israeli government.

A paramedic carrying a young child with injuries arrives at al-Shifa hospital on Oct. 12, 2023. (Loay Ayyoub/for The Washington Post)

A Biden statement ignites months of anger

At the end of November, White House officials thought they saw an opportunity to significantly change the course of the war. The U.S. helped broker a week-long pause in the fighting between Israel and Hamas that included the release of more than 100 hostages, and during that break, Americans tried to persuade Israel to make targeted raids that would minimize civilian casualties.

But when the pause ended on Dec. 1, Israel began attacking the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, where many Palestinians had fled, with little evidence of a more targeted approach. The White House praised some Israeli moves, such as its distribution of a map of the areas it planned to target.

As the new year began, the administrations patience with Netanyahu was wearing thin, as officials increasingly concluded he was prioritizing his own political survival. That included loudly standing up to Biden to appease far-right members of his government, they believed for example by flatly rejecting a Palestinian state shortly after Biden called for one.

Bibis approach to disagreements in the past has been something along the lines of, Lets not and say we might. In this case, he stopped even pretending or obfuscating, said Frank Lowenstein, a former State Department official who helped lead Israeli-Palestinian negotiations in 2014. He just went out and announced the exact opposite of what we asked them to do.

Then, on Jan. 14, Biden issued a statement that ignited months of anger toward his handling of Gaza.

The statement expressed sympathy and sadness on the 100th day of captivity for the more than 100 Israeli hostages who remained in Gaza. But it was silent on the Palestinian death toll, which had surpassed 20,000 by that time.

Prominent Arab Americans and Muslims, as well as progressive activists, lambasted the statement as one-sided and tone-deaf, and it was repeatedly cited by Arab Americans and Muslims as evidence of the White Houses callousness toward Palestinians.

One senior administration official said the statement was in response to a request from families of the hostages who wanted to ensure they were not forgotten and was not meant as a statement about the entirety of the war. Two days later, Kirby cited heartbreaking and painful images coming out of Gaza.

But across the federal government, the presidents continued embrace of Israel more than three months into the war was increasingly causing strain.

At the U.S. Agency for International Development, where employees had already questioned administrator Samantha Powers commitment to the humanitarian principles she heralded as a scholar, the protest spread. In January, more than 100 USAID workers sent a letter to Atul Gawande, an acclaimed former New Yorker staff writer and surgeon who holds a senior position in charge of global health.

We implore you, the authors wrote, as a public health leader who has dedicated his entire career to saving lives, to take more direct action to prevent further unjust harm and suffering amongst the civilian population of Gaza.

Gawande responded that he could not speak out publicly but acknowledged that efforts to protect civilians have not been sufficient by any means. He would use internal channels to advocate for policy directions, he said.

The Israeli Embassy denied blocking aid to Gaza, saying the government is making significant efforts to ramp up humanitarian assistance into Gaza from land, air and sea, a point contested by the United Nations and numerous aid groups who have decried the lack of food, water and medicine in the enclave.

The Biden administration began taking modest steps at this point to distance itself from Netanyahu, though they often involved Israels handling of the West Bank, where Jewish settlers have attacked unarmed Palestinians and the government has approved thousands of new settlements, rather than Gaza.

At the same time, the Biden administration has approved more than 100 weapons sales to Israel since Oct. 7.

A political backlash takes shape

By early February, Bidens support of Israels onslaught was clearly having political consequences. A group of Arab American elected officials in Michigan had refused to meet with the presidents campaign manager, and a nascent effort was underway to mount a protest during Michigans Feb. 27 Democratic primary.

Biden dispatched a handful of aides  including Power and deputy national security adviser Jon Finer  to meet with Arab American and Muslim leaders in Michigan. The meetings in Dearborn, which is majority Arab American, were emotional, as community leaders told the aides they felt betrayed and dehumanized by the presidents response, according to two people familiar with the meetings.

White House officials say they realized after the meetings that they needed to speak more forcefully about Palestinian suffering, two senior officials said. Biden soon began using casualty figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, which he had earlier dismissed as untrustworthy, and spoke about starvation and civilian deaths in the enclave.

They seem to have calculated that the war would end quickly and any opposition from progressives, youth and Arab Americans would blow over without any lasting impact, said Martin Indyk, who represented the U.S. in Israeli-Palestinian peace talks under President Barack Obama and is now a Lowy Distinguished Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

But as the Michigan primary approached, he said, they realized they had a problem in Michigan, and if they didnt deal with it, they could lose the state and therefore the presidential election.

On the same day as the Michigan meetings, the White House took another step that Van Hollen and other Democrats had long been pushing. Biden issued a memorandum calling for the State Department to obtain written assurances from countries receiving U.S. weapons that they would abide by international law, including facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The pace of events surrounding the Israel-Gaza war has only quickened in recent days. More than 100 people died when desperate Gazans rushed an aid convoy in late February, creating a stampede and prompting deadly gunfire from Israeli soldiers. Some in the White House saw it as the most dramatic evidence so far of Israels failure to safeguard civilians.

The U.S. intelligence community recently released a skeptical assessment of Netanyahus plummeting public support in Israel. Distrust of Netanyahus ability to rule has deepened and broadened across the public from its already high levels before the war, and we expect large protests demanding his resignation and new elections, read the report, adding that his viability as a leader is in jeopardy.

Netanyahus government hit back angrily, as it did when Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S. and a lifetime ally of Israel, last week called for new elections in Israel in a scathing speech about Netanyahus leadership.

Israelis, Schumer said, understand better than anybody that Israel cannot hope to succeed as a pariah opposed by the rest of the world.
Joe Biden, left, and Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on March 18, 2024, in their first interaction in more than a month as the divide has grown between the allies over the food crisis and conduct of the war in Gaza. (AP)

This story has been corrected

WASHINGTON  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday agreed to send a team of Israeli officials to Washington to discuss with Biden administration officials a prospective Rafah operation as each side is looking to make clear to the other its perspective, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

The agreement to hold talks about Rafah came as Biden and Netanyahu spoke Monday, their first interaction in more than a month, as the divide has grown between allies over the food crisis in Gaza and Israels conduct during the war, according to the White House. Sullivan said the talks will happen in the coming days and are expected to involve military, intelligence and humanitarian experts.

The White House has been skeptical of Netanyahus plan to carry out an operation in the southern city of Rafah, where about 1.5 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, as Israel looks to eliminate Hamas following the militant groups deadly Oct. 7 attack.

Sullivan said Biden in the call once again urged Netanyahu not to carry out a Rafah operation. At the coming talks, he said U.S. officials will lay out an alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in Rafah and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a major ground invasion.

The president has rejected, and did again today, the straw man that raising questions about Rafah is the same as raising questions about defeating Hamas, Sullivan said. Thats just nonsense. Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed a safe haven in Rafah or anywhere else, but a major ground operation there would be a mistake. It would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza and further isolate Israel internationally.

The call comes after Republicans in Washington and Israeli officials were quick to express outrage after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized 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.

Biden hasnt endorsed Schumers call for election but said he thought he gave a good speech that reflected the concerns of many Americans. Netanyahu raised concerns about the calls by Schumer for new elections, Sullivan said.

Biden administration officials have warned that they would not support an operation in Rafah without the Israelis presenting a credible plan to ensure the safety of innocent Palestinian civilians. Israel has yet to present such a plan, according to White House officials.

Netanyahu in a statement after the call made no direct mention of the tension.

We discussed the latest developments in the war, including Israels commitment to achieving all of the wars goals: Eliminating Hamas, freeing all of our hostages and ensuring that Gaza never (again) constitutes a threat to Israel  while providing the necessary humanitarian aid that will assist in achieving these goals, Netanyahu said.

The Biden-Netanyahu call also came as a new report warned that famine is imminent in northern Gaza, where 70% of the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger, and that a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gazas population to the brink of starvation. The report came from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a partnership of more than a dozen governments, U.N. aid and other agencies that determines the severity of food crises.

Netanyahu lashed out against the American criticism on Sunday, describing calls for a new election as wholly inappropriate.

Netanyahu told Fox News Channel that Israel never would have called for a new U.S. election after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and he denounced Schumers comments as inappropriate.

Were not a banana republic, he said. The people of Israel will choose when they will have elections, and who theyll elect, and its not something that will be foisted on us.

Even as they express frustration about aspects of the Israeli operations, the White House acknowledges that Israel has made significant progress in degrading Hamas. And Sullivan revealed on Monday that an Israeli operation last week killed Hamas third in command, Marwan Issa.

The president told the prime minister again today that we share the goal of defeating Hamas, but we just believe you need a coherent and sustainable strategy to make that happen, Sullivan said.

Biden after his State of the Union address earlier this month was caught on a hot mic telling a Democratic ally that he has told Netanyahu they would have a come to Jesus meeting over the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. His frustration with Netanyahus prosecution of the war was also on display in a recent MSNBC interview, in which he asserted Netanyahu was hurting Israel.

He has a right to defend Israel, a right to continue to pursue Hamas, Biden said of Netanyahu in the MSNBC interview. But he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken. Hes hurting ... in my view, hes hurting Israel more than helping Israel.

The president announced during his State of the Union address that the U.S. military would help establish a temporary pier aimed at boosting the amount of aid getting into the territory. The U.S. military has also been air-dropping aid into Gaza.

The Biden administration resorted to the unusual workarounds after months of appealing to Israel, a top recipient of military aid, to step up access and protection for trucks bearing humanitarian goods for Gaza.

The five-month war was triggered after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel in a surprise attack, rampaging through communities, killing some 1,200 people  mostly civilians  and taking around 250 hostages.

Israel responded with one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history. The war has killed over 31,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Around 80% of Gazas population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and a quarter of the population faces starvation.

Frankel reported from Jerusalem. AP journalists Chris Megerian and Sagar Meghani contributed to this report.
Retired NASA astronaut Tom Stafford, who flew the first lunar module to the moon in 1969, stands in front of a portrait made in his honor in the Oklahoma House of Representatives lounge in Oklahoma City on March 22, 2016. (Sean Murphy/AP)

WASHINGTON  Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, who commanded a dress rehearsal flight for the 1969 moon landing and the first U.S.-Soviet space linkup, died Monday. He was 93.

Stafford, a retired Air Force three-star general, took part in four space missions. Before Apollo 10, he flew on two Gemini flights, including the first rendezvous of two U.S. capsules in orbit. He died in a hospital near his Space Coast, Florida home, said Max Ary, director of the Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Stafford was one of 24 NASA astronauts who flew to the moon, but he did not land on it. Only seven of them are still alive.

Today General Tom Stafford went to the eternal heavens which he so courageously explored as a Gemini and Apollo astronaut as well as a peacemaker in Apollo Soyuz, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said via X, formerly known as Twitter. Those of us privileged to know him are very sad but grateful we knew a giant.

After he put away his flight suit, Stafford was the go-to guy for NASA when it sought independent advice on everything from human Mars missions to safety issues to returning to flight after the 2003 space shuttle Columbia accident. He chaired an oversight group that looked into how to fix the then-flawed Hubble Space Telescope, earning a NASA public service award.

Tom was involved in so many things that most people were not aware of, such as being known as the Father of Stealth,  Ary said in an email. Stafford was in charge of the famous Area 51 desert base that was the site of many UFO theories, but the home of testing of Air Force stealth technologies.

The Apollo 10 mission in May 1969 set the stage for Apollo 11s historic mission two months later. Stafford and Gene Cernan took the lunar lander nicknamed Snoopy within nine miles of the moons surface. Astronaut John Young stayed behind in the main spaceship dubbed Charlie Brown.

The most impressive sight, I think, that really changed your view of things is when you first see Earth, Stafford recalled in a 1997 oral history, talking about the view from lunar orbit.

Then came the moons far side: The Earth disappears. Theres this big black void.

Apollo 10s return to Earth set the world record for fastest speed by a crewed vehicle at 24,791 mph.

After the moon landings ended, NASA and the Soviet Union decided on a joint docking mission, and Stafford, a one-star general at the time, was chosen to command the American side. It meant intensive language training, being followed by the KGB while in the Soviet Union, and lifelong friendships with cosmonauts. The two teams of space travelers even went to Disney World and rode Space Mountain together before going into orbit and joining ships.

We have capture, Stafford radioed in Russian as the Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft hooked up. His Russian counterpart, Alexei Leonov, responded in English: Well done, Tom, it was a good show. I vote for you.

The 1975 mission included two days during which the five men worked together on experiments. After, the two teams toured the world together, meeting President Gerald Ford and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

It helped prove to the rest of the world that two completely opposite political systems could work together, Stafford recalled at a 30th anniversary gathering in 2005.

The two crews became so close that years later Leonov arranged for Stafford to be able to adopt two Russian boys when Stafford was in his 70s.

We are too old to adopt, but they were too old to be adopted, Stafford told The Oklahoman in 2004. They just added so much meaning to our life, and just because youre retiring doesnt mean you dont have anything left to give.

Later, Stafford was a central part of discussions in the 1990s that brought Russia into the partnership building and operating the International Space Station.

Growing up in Weatherford, Oklahoma, Stafford said he would look up and see giant DC-3 airplanes fly overhead on early transcontinental routes.

I wanted to fly since I was 5 or 6 years old seeing those airplanes, he told NASA historians.

Stafford went to the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated in the top 1% of his class and flew in the backseat of some airplanes and loved it. He volunteered for the Air Force and had hoped to fly in combat in the Korean War. But by the time he got his wings, the war ended. He went to the Air Forces experimental test pilot school, graduated first in his class there and stayed on as an instructor.

In 1962, NASA selected Stafford for its second set of astronauts, which included Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman and Pete Conrad.

Stafford was assigned, along with Wally Schirra, to Gemini 6. Their original mission was to rendezvous with an empty spaceship. But their 1965 launch was scrubbed when the spaceship exploded soon after liftoff. NASA improvised and in December, Gemini 6 rendezvoused with but didnt dock with two astronauts aboard Gemini 7.

Staffords next flight in 1966 was with Cernan on Gemini 9. Cernans spacewalk, connected to a jet-pack like device, didnt go well. Cernan complained that the sun and machine made him extra hot and hurt his back. Then his visor fogged up and he couldnt see.

Call it quits, Gene. Get out of there, Stafford, the commander, told Cernan. Stafford talked him back in, saying move your hand over, start to float up  stick your hand up  just walk hand over hand.

In all, Stafford logged 507 hours in space and flew four different types of spacecraft and 127 types of aircraft and helicopters.

After the Apollo-Soyuz mission, Stafford returned to the Air Force and worked in research and commanded the Air Force Flight Test Center before retiring in 1979 as a three-star general.

Staffords Air Force duties not only had him run the militarys top flight school and experimental plane testing base, but he was commanding general of Area 51. A biography from his museum said that while Stafford was in charge of Area 51 and later as the development and acquisition chief at the Pentagon he wrote the specs and established the program that led to the development of the F-117 Stealth Fighter, and later, the B-2 Stealth Bomber.

Stafford became an executive for an Oklahoma-based transportation company and later moved to Florida, near Cape Canaveral.

He is survived by his wife, Linda, two sons, two daughters and two stepchildren, according to the museum.
Former longtime National Information Solutions Cooperative President and CEO Vern Dosch will be the featured speaker for this year's Bismarck Mayors Prayer Breakfast.

Dosch from 2002-20 headed the company that develops and supports accounting, billing and engineering software for more than 860 electric co-ops, telephone companies, municipalities and broadband providers in all 50 states, American Samoa, Palau and Canada. When he retired he helped the state of North Dakota in software development and the response to the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021 he was inducted into the National Cooperative Hall of Fame. He also has served on numerous boards in the Bismarck-Mandan community, and NISC's Mandan campus is named in his honor.

When it comes to the spirit of serving, I think youd be hard-pressed to find a better example of it than Vern Dosch, Crisis Care Chaplaincy Chaplain Greg Carr said. From his work with software solutions throughout the country to his support of so many community organizations, Vern has shown there are no limits to how you can make the world around you a better place.

Proceeds from the prayer breakfast hosted by Mayor Mike Schmitz support the Crisis Care Chaplaincy, which serves first responders, law officers, firefighters and people experiencing traumatic events.

Crisis Care Chaplaincy fills a critical need every day in our community, Schmitz said. For 45 years the chaplains with this organization have been available to individuals who are often experiencing tragic circumstances.

This year's event is scheduled for Thursday, May 16, at the Bismarck Radisson Hotel, at 605 E. Broadway Ave.

Single ($25), half-table ($250) and full-table ($500) ticket options are available. People who want to attend may RSVP by calling Travis Rau at 701-355-1894 by Thursday, May 4, or register online through Eventbrite. Doors open at 7 a.m. the day of the event. The breakfast will run from 7:15-8:15 a.m.
At least eight terrorists including a perpetrator of Mir Ali attack were killed during a security forces operation in the North Waziristan district between the night of March 17 and 18, the Inter-Services Public Relation said in a statement.

During the conduct of operation, after intense fire exchange, eight terrorists including HVT Terrorist commander Sehra @Janan were sent to hell. He was involved in orchestrating the terrorist attack on Security Forces Post in Mir Ali on 16 March and was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies, it added.

A Pakistan Army lieutenant colonel and a captain were among seven martyred after a group of terrorists attacked a security forces post in Mir Ali.

According to the ISPR, sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area.

The Security Forces of Pakistan remain determined to wipe-out the menace of terrorism from the country, it added.
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.

Dennis McFadden

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.

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.
Sharon Murphy (46) and Gary ONeill (47) allegedly attacked a mother and daughter, who were left shocked and traumatised

Prosecutors have been given more time to prepare their case against a couple accused of forcing their way into a house and beating up a mother and daughter.

Sharon Murphy (46) and Gary ONeill (47) allegedly attacked the women, who were left shocked and traumatised and with facial injuries.

The accused, of Drumalee Park, North Circular Road, are both charged with burglary and two counts of assault causing harm to the women, who are known to them.

They were given bail when they first appeared before Dublin District Court last month and at their latest appearance, a garda sergeant asked Judge Monika Leech for more time to get DPP directions.

Judge Leech adjourned the case to later this week.

Dublin court. Stock image

In a bail hearing for Ms Murphy, a garda said it was alleged the accused had entered the house in Cabra through the front door on February 26.

One of the women said she was struck several times by Ms Murphy and was left in pain.

One of the women had been allegedly pulled to the ground by the hair and kicked in the head and the garda could see hair on the ground.

(Ms Murphy) will say some of her own hair had been pulled and discarded, the accuseds solicitor said.

The mother and daughter both had swelling and bruising to their faces, a garda said.

In Mr ONeills hearing, the daughter alleged he had told her next time youre dead and she feared he would come after me again if freed.

Im so afraid I cant eat, I cant sleep. When I go to bed, I Ieave the light on. I cant go outside the door, she said.

Her mother said she was terrified for my life.
John Patrick Duffy (49) bought the cigarettes for himself, family and friends and took a chance

A delivery driver who tried to bring more than 10,000 worth of duty-free cigarettes and tobacco into Ireland on a ferry from the UK was caught in a random customs check.

John Patrick Duffy (49) bought the cigarettes for himself, family and friends and took a chance, but was stopped at Dublin port, a court heard.

Judge Shalom Binchy fined him 2,500 but spared him jail after hearing he had already lost his job, spent a night in custody and had learnt his lesson.

Duffy, a father of three, of Birch Hill, Derry, pleaded guilty to evasion of excise duty under the Finance Act last January 12. A customs officer told Dublin District Court the accuseds van was stopped at the passenger terminal and he was told it would be searched.

Under the seat, there were cigarettes in a number of brands and 3kg of tobacco worth a combined 10,848.

There was no tax stamp on the goods when checked and the officer told Duffy he would be seizing them under the Finance Act.

The excise duty due on the cigarettes and tobacco was 6,421 and this was the basis of the offence, the court heard.

The officer agreed with the accuseds solicitor that Duffy had not been a person of interest and that it was the kind of random check that happens on a daily basis.

The accused was co-operative and complied with the search.

When interviewed, he was asked if he brought them all in for himself and he said they were for friends.

There were no previous detections and he had no previous convictions.

Duffys vehicle was also seized and he spent a night in custody awaiting his first court appearance the following day, the court heard.

There was no commercial element to the offence; the accused had not been selling the cigarettes for profit, they were for family and friends and nothing more than that, his solicitor said.

Duffy seemed genuinely apologetic, Judge Binchy said.
Predator just out of jail for abusing schoolgirl with learning difficulties

A notorious paedophile who sexually abused a schoolgirl with learning difficulties has returned home, causing fury among neighbours.

Loyalist sources revealed that Bradley McGarrell was able to come back to the sprawling Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey because associates had paid 5,000 to the South East Antrim (SEA) UDA.

The 21-year-old mechanic was jailed for eight months last summer for a catalogue of sex crimes on his vulnerable 13-year-old victim.

While on bail awaiting sentencing he continued living in Rathcoole  an unprecedented situation in the loyalist stronghold where paramilitaries have previously beaten and exiled paedophiles.

McGarrell was left alone at the time because associates paid the SEA UDA 5,000.

Now the same individuals have handed a further 5,000 to the terror gang to continue to protect the predator following his release from jail.

Bradley McGarrell is back home and driving a new car, hes the talk of the estate, a worried local mum told us.

Hes a dangerous rat and the cheek of him walking right back into Rathcoole makes my skin crawl.

Another mother who contacted this newspaper added: McGarrell and his supporters have necks like brass. It makes me ashamed that the people protecting him claim to be loyalists.

Is 5,000 now the going rate for the UDA to protect a paedophile?

This needs to be called out for what it is  a get rich quick scheme for criminals who are looking after other criminals.

The Glen, where Bradley McGarrell abused his 13-year-old victim

Locals pointed out that McGarrells current home is close to a primary school and childrens play park  locations that they want him banned from entering.

McGarrell was aged 18 at the time when he sexually abused his victim  who had turned 13 just two weeks before  in a wooded area of Rathcoole known as the Glen.

He was only caught because the schoolgirl told her mum what had happened, and she intercepted Snapchat messages he later sent her daughter in which he admitted his crimes.

McGarrell pleaded guilty to six offences, including meeting a child following sexual grooming, sexually communicating with a child, causing a child to watch sexual activity and sexual penetration of a child by an adult.

As well as being sentenced to eight months in prison, he was ordered to serve 16 months on supervised licence after his release and told to sign the sex offenders register for 10 years. McGarrell was also banned from working with children.

Jailing him, Judge Patricia Smyth said the victim was a vulnerable young girl and the offences had had a considerable impact on her, she feared being pregnant and has suffered anxiety.

Rathcoole residents appalled that McGarrell has returned to the housing development say the SEA UDA  which is accused of taking 5,000 to protect him  should heed the judges words.

A third mother said: The community is so angry that this paedophile is still being protected by the UDA.

He is swanning around like Jack the Whack without a care in the world for this little girl and her family that he destroyed.

Loyalist sources in Rathcoole claim that the UVF had wanted to exile pervert McGarrell from the estate but were prevented from doing so by the SEA UDA.

To do so, they say, would contravene the Monkstown Agreement  a pact drawn up by the terror groups to prevent feuds.
Four people, including two young children and two adults, were hospitalised

Four people have been taken to hospital following the fire

Two young children were among four people hospitalised after a house was firebombed in west Dublin overnight.

Emergency services were alerted to the arson attack on Aylmer Drive, Newcastle, at around 5am this morning.

Three occupants had to be rescued from the property by members of the Dublin Fire Brigade using a ladder to enter an upstairs window.

A criminal investigation is now underway after the front window of the house was smashed and a fire bomb thrown into the property.

Damage was also caused to a car in the driveway of the property which had its windows smashed.

Four people have been taken to hospital following the fire

As a result of the arson attack, four people, including two young children and two adults, were hospitalised with non-life threatening injuries.

Detectives are investigating a possible motive for the incident with one line of inquiry being whether the arson was carried out by a man known to the homeowners.

A source told sundayworld.com: Its very fortunate that there were no serious injuries or worse as a result of this completely reckless attack.

There were young children in that property at the time and there was clearly no regard for human life.

A number of lines of inquiry are being pursued and its being investigated if an individual known to the occupants was behind this.

This afternoon Dublin Fire Brigade posted an image of the aftermath on social media which showed significant damage to the front of the house.

Overnight firefighters from Tallaght and Dolphins Barn fire stations were called to a house fire in Newcastle, the fire service said.

Three people were rescued by firefighters using a ladder and the fire was extinguished by fire crews in breathing apparatus, it added.

The scene has been preserved for a technical examination and gardai are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A garda spokesperson said they received a report of a suspected criminal damage by fire incident that occurred at around 5am at a residence on Aylmer Drive.

Four occupants of the house were evacuated and taken to hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The fire was extinguished by Dublin Fire Brigade.

The scene is currently preserved for technical examination and investigations into this incident are ongoing. Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the Newcastle/Rathcoole area of County Dublin between 4am and 5:30am are asked to make this footage available to Gardai.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Clondalkin Garda Station on 01 6667600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any garda station.
Irishman Patrick Jackson (45) believes he potentially has the answer to the mystery and has the backing of certain retired US Air Force pilots and academics.

Rare footage has emerged on St Patricks weekend which supports the unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) global defence network theory, an Irish expert has told the Sunday World .

NASA held a public hearing in Washington last June regarding spherical UFOs, or UAP.

The meeting heard details of how metallic orb UFOs have been spotted all over the world.

Irishman Patrick Jackson (45) believes he potentially has the answer to the mystery and has the backing of certain retired US Air Force pilots and academics.

A video obtained by the Sunday World shows an interaction and explosion taking place in the sights of a telescope.

Patrick spoke exclusively to the paper about what he thinks is being observed.

"We are seeing the sphere intercept process in the upper atmosphere. Sky watchers have seen this for years, but they normally see it randomly through night scopes or telescopes and they never get a chance to record it, Patrick said.

Slide previously released by Pentagon regarding sphere UAP

The IT specialist, who has written a book detailing his theory called Quantum Paranormal, describes what the public can do if they want to see it for themselves.

"This guy was lucky enough to get it on video. But I think if anyone installs a decent night scope through a telescope, they will see it quite a lot. People would just need to make an active effort for a few hours per night.

"It is what it is. The spheres are in the correct formation in the video.

"Theres two main formations, basically a concise triangle in the sky. When the triangle is on its side, as in upwards (vertical configuration), it means the target is side on.

Patrick's theory

"If the triangle is pointing upwards, as in the triangle is flat in the sky (horizontal configuration), then the target is either directly above or below.

"In the video the spheres are in the horizontal formation, you see the big boom and the spheres fly away. You see them fly in before and checking it out as well, Patrick says.

AARO, the Pentagons UAP Resolution Office, recently stated that all investigative efforts concluded that most (UFO) sightings were ordinary objects and phenomena and the result of misidentification.

That statement contradicts last years AARO description of Mach-2 speed spheres appearing all over the globe making very interesting manoeuvres.

Patrick gave his opinion on the AARO announcement which appears to try dampen down interest in the subject.

"The AARO report appears to be using a verbal loophole, so they are not technically lying. They are just not telling the full truth, thats how it generally works.

"I have lost count of how many examples I have provided  maybe over 1,000 examples at least.

Video compares light formations captured in skies

"Its the same formations, the same processes, all over the world, totally predictable...I dont really know what else I can say, I think some people maybe cant process it.

Patrick has been studying these spheres for twenty years and says he is 100pc confident about his theory.

"The spheres have been seen deploying from the ground and ocean so logically they appear to be from here, they appear to be ultra terrestrial in nature, meaning it appears a second species are perhaps building and bulk deploying them.

"I speak to many academics about this and they mostly agree with me. The reality is none of this can come from government. When government start admitting stuff, people freak out.

"The reality is government fears reactive people. Thats why it is point blank silence. It has to come out from a third party who hasnt been in any programme.

"I believe many are aware about this but they cant talk about it publicly. It can only come out from a third party, like this, a journalist or a civilian.

Rear Admiral Timothy Gallaudet

Recently retired Rear Admiral Timothy Gallaudet of the US Navy is the latest military officer to break ranks on this topic.

Despite the recent down playing of the issue from AARO, he told News Nation in late 2023 that We are being visited by non-human intelligence.

"We are in contact with non-human intelligence. Thats what needs to be put out there to the public, he told award-winning journalist, Ross Coulthart.

Still from Italian Airforce showing alleged UAP with spheres nearby

Harvard professor Avi Loeb recently travelled to Papua New Guinea to search the sea floor to find if a meteor detected in 2014 was part of an exploded interstellar spaceship.

Patrick references this deep oceanic exploration.

"The spheres atomise threats like you see in the video. The fragments then land in the ocean; these small fragments appear to be super rare highly exotic metals.

"Thats what it is and thats why [certain shipping companies] are mining it and scientists are searching for it.

According to Patrick there is a low to ground dynamic data network of spheres that span the globe. These spheres relay above to take out space based threats ranging from meteors to other UFOs, he says.

Video footage does show UAP matching the formations the Irish man describes.

Video compares light formations captured in skies

Ross Coulthart referenced Patrick in a recent interview when he said There is a guy called Patrick Jackson who purports to be able to attract the phenomenon.

"Weve used the blanket of religion to try and dismiss this but maybe it can be explained. Its the job of a journalist to gather evidence.

Patrick explains what Mr Coulthart was referring to.

"OK, so you see the same patterns every night and same processes operating day to day.

Spheres seen in historical art

"They are AI based machines. I came up with some binary code which makes the spheres interact. We have multiple videos of that.

"You can see them tripping the sensors, it is like they are having an interactive conversation.

"So we potentially have a second species on this planet, operating this network. It appears they are keeping us out of trouble.

We are like The North Sentinel Island in the Bay of Bengal. The planet is facing external threats, humans just happen to be in the middle.

Three orbs within the sphere in Salvator Mundi painting

"The spheres appear to look after our airspace.

Patrick says he has interacted with the beings behind the phenomenon.

"If you go looking, you will see something. It has unnerved me in the past. My own tests get a bit much, I havent done that in a while.

"We did one in Manchester in the woods with an infra red camera and the strobe I designed. We spotted a tall grey type with huge eyes.

Three lights / orbs visible in the sky

"It was a hairy experience. People have been seeing this for years. Generally they want to just have a look at us. They steer clear of us same way we do primates, I believe.

"My foremost advice is to disregard the government's stance and ignore the media's narrative. For truth-seekers, acquire a dependable night vision scope and cast your eyes upwards.

"That's all it requires. What you witness might not sway others, but it will undoubtedly persuade you.

"You may observe the formations and processes I've mentioned and perhaps help spread the word.

"Disclosure isn't solely the government's responsibility; it rests on the shoulders of the public, Patrick added.
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 reportedly 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
A Minnesota man who authorities say lured a 13-year-old Bismarck girl into having sexually explicit conversations that later turned into sexual contact pleaded guilty Monday.

Shawn Pozanc, 19, of Rollingstone, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to charges of gross sexual imposition where the victim is less than 15 and luring minors by computer. In exchange, prosecutors from the North Dakota Attorney General's Office dismissed a second count of gross sexual imposition. The GSI charge carries a potential maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Pozanc also faces mandatory minimum sentences for both charges to which he pleaded guilty. They include one year in prison, five years of supervised probation and registration as a sex offender.

South Central District Judge David Reich ordered a presentence investigation. Sentencing will be scheduled later.

Court records indicate Pozanc was arrested in Minnesota last November then extradited to North Dakota after allegations against him surfaced.

An affidavit alleges Pozanc contacted the Bismarck teen via Snapchat and began trading messages that included solicitations for sexually explicit images. Pozanc reportedly used filtering software to make himself appear younger than his actual age, which he claimed was 15, the document states. Messages sent to the girl also allegedly included plans by Pozanc to travel to Bismarck for an in-person meeting, as well as a number of expressions of affection.

Pozanc traveled to Bismarck from Rollingstone -- a distance of more than 500 miles -- in September 2023 and met with the girl and an older brother in a park, according to the affidavit. The brother reportedly was suspicious of Pozanc, and reportedly determined Pozanc lied about his age by looking at Pozanc's driver's license. Later that day, the girl and Pozanc ended up away from the brother, and Pozanc initiated sexual contact with the girl, according to the affidavit. The document states the girl became fearful and pushed Pozanc away.

Messages sent by Pozanc after that encounter reportedly claimed contact between the two was consensual, but the affidavit also alleges he asked her not to alert adults or authorities, saying "I don't want to go to jail for the rest of my life."
Weather Eye

with John Maunder

Some of the answers to the complexities of the climate system are given in my recently published book "ClimateChange: A Realistic Perspective".

Below are extracts from pages 208-213.

The Dust Bowl as described in Wikipedia was a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies during the 1930s; severe drought and a failure to apply dryland farming methods to prevent wind erosion caused the phenomenon. The low rainfalls and very high temperatures in many areas during the 1930s are unprecedented in modern times. The decade of the 1930s tends to get lumped into a decade of persistent heat and drought, yet, much of the reputation of that decade comes from just two of those years, 1934 and 1936. The summer of 1934 was the culmination of several previous dry summers. 1928 was an exceptionally wet summer for the state, it currently ranks as the 2nd wettest summer on record with a statewide average precipitation of 13.14 inches. Yet, the proverbial faucet was abruptly shut off after that warm season. The summer of 1929 was the exact opposite of the previous summer. Dry conditions continued in 1930, 1931, 1932 and 1933 but those years were not as severe as those recorded in 1929.

By the end of 1935, many farmers, especially in North Dakota thought the dryness that plagued the state was coming to a close, but little did individuals realize that the most extreme year that they would ever experience was about to impact much of the north central United States. The year 1936 started with the most severe cold wave on record. From the middle of January through the middle of February, most of North Dakota did not record a high temperature above 0F. In fact, Langdon recorded 42 consecutive days during that time frame without the temperature exceeding 0F. That winter of 1935-1936 was the coldest on record for all of North Dakota and much of the rest of the immediate area. It was toward the end of that horrific cold snap that the coldest observed temperature in North Dakota was recorded. On Saturday, February 15, 1936, cooperative observer Court Shubert recorded a temperature of -60F. Bismarck reached -42F that morning, just 3F shy of the all-time lowest temperature for that location.

NASA scientists have an explanation for one of the worst climatic events in the history of the United States, the Dust Bowl drought, which devastated the Great Plains and all but dried up an already depressed American economy in the 1930s. Siegfried Schubert of NASAs Goddard Lessons from history 209 Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., and colleagues used a computer model developed with modern-era satellite data to look at the climate over the past 100 years. The study found cooler than normal tropical Pacific Ocean surface temperatures combined with warmer tropical Atlantic Ocean temperatures to create conditions in the atmosphere that turned Americas breadbasket into a dust bowl from 1931 to 1939. These changes in sea surface temperatures created shifts in the large-scale weather patterns and low level winds that reduced the normal supply of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and inhibited rainfall throughout the Great Plains.

The 1930s drought was the major climatic event in the nations history, Schubert said. Just beginning to understand what occurred is really critical to understanding future droughts and the links to global climate change issues were experiencing today. By discovering the causes behind U.S. droughts, especially severe episodes like the Plains dry spell, scientists may recognize and possibly foresee future patterns that could create similar conditions. For example, La Ninas are marked by cooler than normal tropical Pacific Ocean surface water temperatures, which impact weather globally, and also create dry conditions over the Great Plains.

Dust storms on the Great Plains

The model showed cooler than normal tropical Pacific Ocean temperatures and warmer than normal tropical Atlantic Ocean temperatures contributed to a weakened low-level jet stream and changed its course. The jet stream, a ribbon of fast moving air near the Earths surface, normally flows westward over the Gulf of Mexico and then turns northward pulling up moisture and dumping rain onto the Great Plains. As the low level jet stream weakened, it travelled farther south than normal. The Great Plains dried up and dust storms formed. The research shed light on how tropical sea surface temperatures can have a remote response and control over weather and climate. It also confirmed droughts can become localized based on soil moisture levels, especially during summer. When rain is scarce and soil dries, there is less evaporation, which leads to even less precipitation, creating a feedback process that reinforces lack of rainfall.

The study also shed light on droughts throughout the 20th century. Analysis of other major U.S. droughts of the 1900s suggests a cool tropical Pacific was a common factor. Schubert said simulating major events like the 1930s drought provides an excellent test for computer models. While the study finds no indication of a similar Great Plains drought in the near future, it is vital to continue studies relating to climate change. NASAs current and planned suite of satellite sensors is uniquely poised to answer related climate questions. (see On the Cause of the 1930s Dust Bowl, recently published by Siegfried D. Schubert, Max J. Suarez, Philip J. Pegion, Randal D. Koster, and Julio T. Bacmeister in the March 19, 2004 edition of Science Magazine).

Homestead on the range

The website homestead on the range.com raises the question of the effect of solar cycles. Solar cycles have been observed since 1755, and many scientists have suggested that there is a correlation between the two phenomena. But in relation to the causes of the Dust Bowl the jury is divided. Suffice to say that the Dust Bowl began around 1930 or 1931, depending on where you lived, and ended between 1936 and 1940. The solar minimum (period of least solar activity) occurred in 1933, while the solar maximum (period of most solar activity) appears to have been around 1936 or 1937. The Dust Bowl therefore began as solar activity approached a low and ended about the time solar activity reached a peak (making allowance for regional variation). Some scientists consider that during periods of low solar activity, aerosol particles build up in the earths atmosphere, instead of being dispersed by solar ejections. These particles in turn become condensation nuclei for clouds. In contrast clouds with large numbers of condensation nuclei tend to produce less precipitation.

History.com has written comprehensively about the Dust Bowl, as the following extracts show.

The Homestead Act of 1862, which provided settlers with 160 acres of public land, was followed by the Kinkaid Act of 1904 and the Enlarged Homestead Act of 1909. These acts led to a massive influx of new and inexperienced farmers across the Great Plains. Many of these late nineteenth and early twentieth century settlers lived by the superstition rain follows the plough. Emigrants, land speculators, politicians and even some scientists believed that homesteading and agriculture would permanently affect the climate of the semi-arid Great Plains region, making it more conducive to farming.

This false belief was linked to Manifest Destinyan attitude that Americans had a sacred duty to expand west. A series of wet years during the period created further misunderstanding of the regions ecology and led to the intensive cultivation of increasingly marginal lands that couldnt be reached by irrigation. Rising wheat prices in the 1910s and 1920s, and increased demand for wheat from Europe during World War I encouraged farmers to plough up millions of hectares of native grassland to plant wheat, corn and other row crops. But as the United States entered the Great Depression, wheat prices plummeted. Farmers tore up even more grassland in an attempt to harvest a bumper crop and break even. Crops began to fail with the onset of drought in 1931, exposing the bare, over-ploughed farmland. Without deep-rooted prairie grasses to hold the soil in place, it began to blow away. Eroding soil led to massive dust storms and economic devastation  especially in the Southern Plains.

During the Dust Bowl period, severe dust storms, often called black blizzards swept the Great Plains. Some of these carried Great Plains topsoil as far East as Washington, D.C. and New York City, and coated ships in the Atlantic Ocean with dust. Billowing clouds of dust would darken the sky, sometimes for days at a time. In many places, the dust drifted like snow and residents had to clear it with shovels. Dust worked its way through the cracks of even well-sealed homes, leaving a coating on food, skin and furniture.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established a number of measures to help alleviate the plight of poor and displaced farmers. He also addressed the environmental degradation that had led to the Dust Bowl in the first place. Congress established the Soil Erosion Service and the Prairie States Forestry Project in 1935. These programmes put local farmers to work planting trees as windbreaks on farms across the Great Plains. The Soil Erosion Service, now called the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) implemented new farming techniques to combat the problem of soil erosion.

The Okies

Roughly 2.5 million people left the Dust Bowl states  Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma  during the 1930s. It was the largest migration in American history. Oklahoma alone lost 440,000 people to migration. Many of them, poverty-stricken, travelled west looking for work. From 1935 to 1940, roughly 250,000 Oklahoma migrants moved to California. A third settled in the states agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley. These Dust Bowl refugees were called Okies. Okies faced discrimination, menial labour and pitiable wages upon reaching California. Many of them lived in shantytowns and tents along irrigation ditches. Okie soon became a term of disdain used to refer to any poor Dust Bowl migrant, regardless of their state of origin. The abandonment of homesteads and financial ruin resulting from catastrophic topsoil loss led to widespread hunger and poverty.

Historian James N. Gregory examined Census Bureau statistics and other records to learn more about the migrants. Based on a 1939 survey of occupation by the Bureau of Agricultural Economics of about 116,000 families who arrived in California in the 1930s, he learned that only 43% of south westerners were doing farm work immediately before they migrated. The poor economy displaced more than just farmers as refugees to California; many teachers, lawyers, and small business owners moved west with their families during this time. After the Great Depression ended, some moved back to their original states. But many others remained where they had resettled and about one-eighth of Californias population is of Okie heritage.

The Dust Bowl as described in Wikipedia says that with insufficient understanding of the ecology of the plains, farmers had conducted extensive deep ploughing of the virgin topsoil of the Great Plains during the previous decade; this had displaced the native, deep-rooted grasses that normally trapped soil and moisture even during periods of drought and high winds. The rapid mechanization of farm equipment, especially small gasoline tractors, and widespread use of the combine harvester contributed to farmers decisions to convert arid grassland (much of which received no more than 250 mm of precipitation per year) to cultivated cropland. During the drought of the 1930s, the unanchored soil turned to dust, which the prevailing winds blew away in huge clouds that sometimes blackened the sky.

Black blizzards

These choking billows of dust  named black blizzards or black rollers  travelled cross country, reaching as far as the East Coast and striking such cities as New York City and Washington, D.C. On the plains, they often reduced visibility to 1 meter or less. Associated Press reporter Robert E. Geiger happened to be in Boise City, Oklahoma, to witness the Black Sunday black blizzards of April 14, 1935; Edward Stanley, the Kansas City news editor of the Associated Press, coined the term Dust Bowl while rewriting Geigers news story.

Patrick Allitt recounts how fellow historian Donald Worster responded to his return visit to the Dust Bowl in the mid-1970s when he revisited some of the worst afflicted counties: Capital-intensive agribusiness had transformed the scene; deep wells into the aquifer, intensive irrigation, the use of artificial pesticides and fertilizers, and giant harvesters were creating immense crops year after year whether it rained or not. According to the farmers he interviewed, technology had provided the perfect answer to old troubles, such that the bad days would not return. In Worsters view, by contrast, the scene demonstrated that Americas capitalist high-tech farmers had learned nothing. They were continuing to work in an unsustainable way, devoting far cheaper subsidized energy to growing food than the energy could give back to its ultimate consumers. In contrast with Worsters pessimism, historian Mathew Bonnifield argued that the long-term significance of the Dust Bowl was the triumph of the human spirit in its capacity to endure and overcome hardships and reverses.

The Dust Bowl also captured the imagination of the nations artists, photographers, musicians, and authors. John Steinbeck memorialised the plight of the Okies in his 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath. Photographer Dorothea Lange captured what have become classic images of the dust storms and migrant families. Among her most well-known photographs is Destitute Pea Pickers in California. Mother of Seven Children, which depicted a gaunt-looking woman, Florence Owens Thompson, holding three of her children. This picture expressed the struggles of people caught by the Dust Bowl and raised awareness in other parts of the country of its reach and human cost. Artist Alexander Hogue painted Dust Bowl landscapes, and Folk musician Woody Guthries semi-autobiographical first album Dust Bowl Ballads in 1940, told stories of economic hardship faced by Okies in California.

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For further information on a range of weather and climate matters see my recent book "Climate Change: A Realistic Perspective.. The fall of the weather dice and the butterfly effect" . Available from Amazon.au.
Almost one in 10 people continue to use opioids three months after surgery new research shows, posing a risk of addiction due to misuse.

Conducted by the University of Auckland, the research analysed dispensing records for more than 260,000 hospital admissions between 2007 and 2019.

Opioids, such as codeine, tramadol, fentanyl, and morphine are normally dispensed after surgery to treat acute pain.

Associate Professor Amy Chan of the School of Pharmacy in the University of Auckland says in the United States, addiction to these drugs had reached 'epidemic' levels, leading to a surge in illegal sales, overdoses, and deaths.

"The university research comes as a United States government-backed briefing highlighted New Zealand as a country with a high risk emerging of fentanyl abuse.

"While we don't yet have an epidemic in New Zealand, as in the US, these findings should spark concern."

The study looked at patients who underwent surgery and were dispensed opioids after discharge, using dispensing records for more than 260,000 patients who were admitted to any New Zealand hospital between 2007 and 2019.

It found almost one to 10 patients, or 9.1 per cent, had persistent use of the drugs.

The research leader, pharmacy lecturer Jay Gong said weak opioids could still lead to dependency.

"[They could] carry additional risks for older people who are more susceptible to side effects, as their kidney function is often reduced, and it is important for processing these medicines.

"Other risk factors include surgical specialties, having other serious health conditions, smoking, and pre-operative use of certain medications."

Case-by-case reviews were important to assess the need for prolonged use of the drug, he says.

"Some of these patients maybe continue using it for very good reasons... because they may have complex recovery periods, maybe they have subsequently developed some other complex pain disorders...

"But we don't know that at this stage, so it is really important that the next step on the research asks what is this underlying cause of continued use of opioids beyond 90 days."

Gong says that getting non-opioid pain relief after surgery lowers the chance of relying on opioids for a long time.

Opioids use trending upwards in older people

The research also highlighted an increasing rate of opioid prescribing among older adults, particularly women and those over 85.

The study looked at health records for more than 800,000 people over 65, from 2007 to 2018.

Lead researcher from the School of Pharmacy at the University of Auckland Hoda Fahmy says opioid use in older adults can be problematic.

"Opioid therapy should only be considered when potential benefits are likely to surpass risks, where it should be prescribed with extensive monitoring and regular assessments to determine the need for continuation."

The research found that codeine is the most prescribed opioid, followed by tramadol.

Fahmy says codeine and tramadol were weak opioids, but those were still a cause for concern, especially in older adults.

"Weak opioids can still lead to dependency and carry additional risks for older people who are more susceptible to side effects, as their kidney function is often reduced, and it is important for processing these medicines."

More research is needed to understand the reason behind the increase of opioid prescriptions, she says.

"To discern whether the increase in opioid dispensing is a consequence of over-prescribing or reflects appropriate pain management practices and to establish evidence-based guidelines for the use of opioids in the older population."

-Rayssa Almeida/RNZ.
What gets me is that its a popular track. Once I sat at the entrance for six hours in the pouring rain, waiting for one of the hunters. I saw an endless stream of people going in and out, even on a wet day.

Its strange that not one person has come forward, who saw Jordan and Bagho walking. A guy with big bushy hair and a cute little rascal of a dog. Someone must remember.

There is a DOC campsite off the track. A person told a camper that he had spotted Jordan at the lookout on the day of his walk, but this person has not come forward to police. Photo: Christel Yardley/Stuff/Waikato Times. There is a DOC campsite off the track. A person told a camper that he had spotted Jordan at the lookout on the day of his walk, but this person has not come forward to police. Photo: Christel Yardley/Stuff/Waikato Times. One person said that theyd seen Jordan that day at the waterfall look out, about 20 minutes into the walk. It was passed to police - but police have no record of who this person was.

The day Jordan embarked on the fateful walk, hed met his mother for lunch, who was spending some days in Whangamata. He went to Port Road to buy his favourite chocolate biscuits, and told his mum he was taking the dog for a walk.

He was wearing a light jersey, shorts, and hiking style boots. He parked his vehicle at the entrance to Wentworth track where he ate some of the biscuits, and the dog had some pie.

We know this as he left half of them in the car, and he loved those biscuits. He would have been coming back to eat them. It wasnt a hard track - it wasnt like he was going on a hike - he would have been going for a hour or so. Hed never stayed overnight in the bush.

That Sunday evening, it was rainy and windy, with the weather was getting wilder over the next days, as the tail of ex-tropical cyclone Lola lashed the north of Aotearoa, with Coromandel bearing the brunt of heavy rain.
Assets including houses, vehicles, and cash, along with a firearm have been seized as part of a larger National Organised Crime Operation dubbed Operation Yellowstone.

A 37-year-old man has been remanded in custody and is set to reappear in the Manukau District Court on Friday, March 22, facing drug-related charges, after he was arrested in Hastings last week.

Police conducted two search warrants at Hastings and Tauranga addresses early last week, where a firearm, cash, and further assets were seized.

Two houses, $80,000 cash, and five motor vehicles, including a Harley Davidson Motorbike, and a Mazda BT-50 were seized pursuant to the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act.

A firearm recoved during the search.

The arrested man is facing six charges of possession of methamphetamine for supply, 19 charges of supplying methamphetamine, two charges of offering to supply methamphetamine, and one charge of unlawful possession of a firearm, says Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Fischer, from Central Asset Recovery Unit.

He is also due to appear in the Tauranga District Court on 9 May facing two charges of unlawful possession of a restricted weapon.

Stripping assets derived through drug dealing activity strikes at the heart of what organised crime figures wish to achieve.

Seizing their riches created by causing harm and distress in the community not only denies them of the satisfaction of enjoying those assets, it also helps provide some restitution for the damage caused to the community.

Money seized by police.

A Harley Davidson being towed away folllowing the police raids.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has signalled he will not compromise on the roll-out of his election commitments, despite warning the government is short billions of dollars.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nicola Willis denies the $5.6 billion shortfall, but says she won't guarantee promised tax cuts will arrive in July until the policy has been discussed by Cabinet.

During his state of the nation speech in Palmerston North on Sunday, Peters confirmed reports the government is short $5.6 billion to pay for all of its campaign commitments.

"The growth rate is not what we thought it was. That's the real difference," Peters later told journalists.

The government has been managing expectations, flagging economic growth is expected to be significantly slower than expected over the next few years.

During his address, Peters described the economy as "broken".

Peters was asked if the coalition government could afford National's promised tax cuts, if it is short $5.6b.

He seemed to suggest the policy will be implemented - but exactly how is still to be decided.

"I admit that there is a construction of the economic plan going forward where all these things can be done, but not the plan I've heard just yet.

"However, we are in coalition talks all the time, to see what the construction pathway forward might be."

The suggestion of a $5.6b hole raises questions about how the government will fund its promises.

Already coalition partners have been forced to compromise on one policy because of cost.

Already one coalition partner has had to agree to scale back the roll-out of one of their policies because it was too expensive.

Last week the government confirmed interest deductibility would be reinstated, but not backdated - as promised in National's coalition agreement with ACT.

When asked if the coalition can afford all of its commitments, Peters replied "our ones, yes."

Peters making it clear he will not compromise on the roll-out of his party's policies.

This will no doubt please his supporters, but will likely frustrate New Zealand First's coalition partners who may be forced to compromise on their own commitments instead.

Forecasts having 'multi-billion dollar impact on the books' - Willis

Minister of Finance Nicola Willis says she cannot confirm the government will be able to deliver tax cuts in July as outlined in the coalition agreement.

Willis told Morning Report the government still intended to roll out its tax cuts in July, but that was subject to Cabinet discussions, so she could not give a cast-iron guarantee it would happen.

"We have three Budgets to deliver on our commitments. We will not deliver on every single commitment in our first Budget."

Willis rejected claims the government was facing a $5.6 billion fiscal hole.

"What we said was that our plan overall was cautious and conservative, it had multiple elements to it and we acknowledged that there would be some overs and unders."

She admitted some of its plans to raise money, such as the gambling tax, were under-delivering.

But she said other revenue streams, such as cost cuts had over-delivered.

"Taken together, the savings and the revenue measures mean that we can afford to deliver tax reductions."

Minister of Finance Nicola Willis says the coalition government will not be able to deliver on 'every single commitment' in its first Budget. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver. Minister of Finance Nicola Willis says the coalition government will not be able to deliver on 'every single commitment' in its first Budget. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver.

The economic forecasts for New Zealand were much worse than they were when the government was elected, Willis said, and that was having a "multi-billion dollar impact on the books going forward".

Yes for tax cuts with 'right strategy'

Peters told Morning Report he had been pointing out for a year the country had a large fiscal hole so it was "no surprise" to him to have it confirmed.

"The economy was in far worse shape than people were prepared to concede. Sadly, that was the election outcome and our job is to turn it around and fix it up."

The country could still afford tax cuts, he said.

"As long as it sets out to realise what New Zealand's potential is we can do that, and do it rapidly. We can turn the whole result around and over the next 10 years make New Zealand a seriously successful country."

The country would need to increase the value of its exports and attract skilled labour and investment from overseas, Peters said.

-Katie Scotcher/RNZ.
Heading to Beach Hop in the Coromandel Peninsula? Set your dial to cruise control, says the NZ Transport Agency.

Motorists should expect the roads to be busy, but NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi is doing its bit to ensure as smooth a ride as possible.

While the network is in better shape than this time last year, we are still working to repair damage caused by the extreme weather events of early 2023, says Andy Oakley, System Manager for NZTA in the Waikato.

SH25A is now open however we have several worksites along SH25 where the road is reduced to a single lane with stop/go traffic management in place. Beach Hop cruisers and other visitors should also expect lane narrowing and speed restrictions at numerous sites.

On top of this recovery work, the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions have a large programme of road renewals this season.

This means there are many areas on the key routes to and from the peninsula where road resurfacing is underway or has recently been put in place.

There will be overnight asphalt road resurfacing on SH2 through Paeroa from 19 March for 5 nights. A section of the road will be closed from 8pm until 6am and a detour in place.

Slow down, be patient and allow additional time for your journeys.

It is important to adhere to the relevant temporary speed limits during these works to avoid damage to your vehicle and ensure your safety and that of other road users and our road workers.

We are pausing all chip sealing resurfacing work on the cruise route for Beach Hop week, to minimise disruption and risk of damage to vehicles, but there will be minor patches of loose chip following recent road repairs.

We wish Coromandel businesses, locals and visitors a very enjoyable Beach Hop and thank you all for your patience while we continue to improve the state highways in the region.

SH25 Coromandel State Highway recovery programme for March-June 2024 [PDF, 1.9 MB]
Tauranga and Western Bay event organisers will be pleased to hear that the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund is confirmed for 2024/2025.

The joint event fund between partners Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, Tauranga City Council, TECT and Western Bay of Plenty District Council was established two years ago to streamline the process for community event organisers to access funding support.

The single point of application has significantly reduced the administration burden of smaller and often volunteer-run event committees and has been received with immense positivity.

The fund will offer at least $900,000 in funding for community event organisers this coming year, with the maximum grant amount remaining at $50,000 for events in Tauranga City district and $15,000 for events in Western Bay of Plenty.

We continue to see the benefits of collaborating with other local funders, and the Community Event Fund is one key example, says Wayne Werder, TECT Chief Executive.

Not only does it allow event organisers to be exposed to more funding than ever before throughout Tauranga and Western Bay, but it also makes their funding applications less demanding.

This year, the funds application process will be streamlined even further. Groups that previously had to complete individual applications for each event they hosted during the year will now be able to complete one funding request form, which can apply to multiple events.

This will mean less administrative work for event organisers seeking funding.

Triathlon Tauranga has been lucky enough to secure funding from the Community Event Fund since its inception, says Paul Miller, Triathlon Tauranga Events and Development Manager.

It helps the club provide safe and affordable events to the larger Bay of Plenty community, says Miller. This means filling out four grant application forms, but for 2024/2025, there will be an amazing new way for us to combine all four events and only have to fill out one form.

This will be great for groups like ourselves, and Triathlon Tauranga appreciates the work that has gone into making this time saving form possible.

Last years funding supported 79 events throughout the region. Funding ranged from $1,500 to $45,000 for individual events, and 13 event organisers were required to complete individual funding forms for multiple events.

The ability to prepare just one submission that covers several events for one event organiser will mean they have more time to concentrate on event planning to bring the best possible events to our community, says Lori Luke, Acorn Foundation Chief Executive.

This collaborative event fund was created to streamline how funders approach funding for local community groups. We are proud to find another method to continue to do this for our community event organisers.

The current funding year will be open to events held from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025, with the funding rounds for this year being:

-Round One: Open now and closes 20 April 2024. Decisions released by 20 May 2024.

-Round Two: Opens 21 April and closes 20 June 2024. Decisions released by 20 July 2024.

-Round Three: Opens 21 June and closes 20 August 2024. Decisions released by 20 September 2024.

-Round Four: Opens 21 August and closes 20 October 2024. Decisions released by 20 November 2024.

-Round Five: Opens 21 October 2024 and closes 20 January 2025. Decisions released by 20 February 2025.

Fund decisions are made by a panel of representatives from each funding organisation, and event organisers are encouraged to submit their applications at least four months before their event date.

About Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund

The Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund is a partnership between local funders, Acorn Foundation, BayTrust, TECT, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council. The fund was established in 2022 and has the core purpose to support community-led events and those that encourage participation for free or at low-cost.

Find out more at: www.communityeventfund.org.nz
Pilar Martinez Malaga Monday, 18 March 2024 | Updated 19/03/2024 09:11h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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One of the Andalusian government's priority tourism strategies is to position region in long-haul markets, with the focus on Asia.

Air connectivity started to pick up again last year following the pandemic; the region still does not have direct flights with Asia, although it does have connections with Istanbul and soon Doha, which open the door to Asian markets.

Even so, figures show that Andalusian destinations are attracting Korean and Japanese travellers. The growth has been exponential. This was reported by the regional minister of tourism, culture and sport, Arturo Bernal, who explained that last year the region's hotels welcomed 171,108 travellers from South Korea, 288% more than the previous year, while their overnight stays amounted to 215,908, an increase of 248%.

The fast rate of increase is similar in the case of Japan; Andalucia's hotel accommodation received 66,036 visitors from this country, 224% more than in 2022, accounting for 93,542 overnight stays, a 152% increase.

Bernal stressed the importance of events such as the conferences organised by Spanish tourist board Turespana this week in both markets through which some 140 travel agents and tourism industry professionals from Japan and South Korea have been introduced to the attractions and new proposals of Andalucia.

"The promotion of Andalucia in both countries is part of the Junta's strategy to strengthen our positioning in long-haul markets," said Bernal adding that the United States, Latin America, the Middle East and traditional Asian markets are the main targets.

The minister said that around 70 Korean agents, more than 70 from Japan and five from Taiwan participated in the workshops, contacted the Andalusian delegation along with some thirty Spanish organisations and companies.

"Japan is a market with great potential for Andalucia, due tourists' high average spending, their contribution to boosting tourism outside peak season and their demand for products such as cultural and culinary trips, focusing on architecture or natural areas," he said, adding that Korean tourists' preferences are similar.

"They are curious about urban life and the history of the places they visit, they opt for safe destinations with a robust infrastructure and show a growing interest in the preservation of cultural and natural heritage," he said.

Improvement throughout Spain .

Turespana said that 34 destinations participated in the event and more than 900 bilateral meetings were held with the guest travel agents.

On a national level, these markets are also showing strong growth. Turespana said that 310,590 Japanese tourists visited the country in 2023, 150% more than a year earlier. These travellers have spent 840 million euros in Spanish destinations, which represents an average spending of more than 2,700 euros and an average daily spend of 490 euros, one of the highest among the countries of origin to Spain.

As for Korea, Turespana said that 434,372 tourists visited Spain last year, with an increase of 140% and an expenditure of 1.27 billion euros, that is, an average of 2,931 euros per day. Meanwhile, 82,540 Taiwanese tourists travelled to Spain in 2023, which is 389% more than in 2022 and just 18% fewer than before the pandemic, involving an expenditure of 247 million euros, i.e. at a rate of 3,000 euros per day.
Alberto Flores Granada Monday, 18 March 2024, 18:50 Compartir Copiar enlace

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The weather forecast brings some concerning news to the Andalucia region of southern Spain this week. With Easter just around the corner, the next few days will be marked with the arrival of strong 'calima' haze of Saharan desert sand from North Africa and the formation of a Dana (high level depression at a high altitude) in the southwest of the Spanish mainland that could bring rain in the middle of the week. Additionally, maximum temperatures will continue to be higher than normal for this time of year, with highs close to 30C.

The major talking point will undoubtedly be the appearance of an episode of calima. From Monday onwards there will be dust in suspension in Andalucia and the atmosphere will be hazy, Jose Miguel Vinas, meteorologist at Meteored, told SUR's sister newspaper Ideal. However, as the days go by, the situation will not improve but will get worse: Thursday will be the most important day in terms of the dust haze. I wouldn't be surprised if it were an episode of a similar intensity to the one we had two years ago, Vinas added.

Noticia relacionada Could the 'Martian' skies happen again? Ignacio Lillo

This would cause the skies to turn red again, something that could very likely happen because the situation will be very similar to then, with a Dana and associated storm in the Gulf of Cadiz area and a drought situation in the north of Morocco, which will lead to quite a lot of dust in the atmosphere.

I wouldn't be surprised if it was an episode of a similar intensity to the one we had two years ago. Jose Miguel Vinas, meteorologist at Meteored

Calima apart, on Wednesday there will be a change in the weather in the region due to the formation of a trough in the southwest of the Spanish mainland prior to the formation of the Dana. There could be stormy showers almost anywhere in Andalucia that day, warned Vinas. However, the weather models indicate that from Thursday onwards the rain and storms will cease.

As far as temperatures are concerned, they will remain at a high of around 30C for practically the whole week. There will be a slight drop on Wednesday, but once the Dana moves southwards, temperatures will rise again to around 28 degrees, concluded the Meteored expert.
Nerea Escamez Almeria Monday, 18 March 2024, 14:31 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Police in the south of Spain are investigating an alleged murder-suicide incident involving two girls aged two and four, and their father, in Andalucia's Almeria province.

Guardia Civil officers were called out to a remote property between Alboloduy and Gergal at about 10.40pm on Sunday 17 March after three bodies were found in a farmhouse. Initial investigations suggest the father poisoned his daughters, before ending his own life.

Sources close to the investigation said the man was in the process of separating from his wife, who was registered in Spain's VioGen system for people at risk of domestic violence. The provincial sub-delegate of the national government Jose Maria Martin this Monday morning expressed his "deep sadness" at the tragedy. The case remains under investigation.
The commission cited several reasons for its initial decision, including that Summit had not adequately addressed how the project would impact sensitive areas including cultural sites, some wildlife areas and unstable geological areas. The PSC in its order also said that Summit has not taken the steps to address outstanding legitimate impacts expressed by landowners during the public comment or demonstrated why a reroute is not feasible.

Almost 2,000 additional pages of information have been submitted since the PSC granted Summit its petition for reconsideration. This includes large and small reroutes across the pipeline's footprint, and the company's attempts to address the other issues.

PSC Director Victor Schock previously told the Tribune, "They need to present a document or a witness thats able to be cross-examined."

The PSC will host at least three sets of hearings, but more may come up. The first will be in Burleigh County during the week of April 22. It could take the whole week. Commissioners indicated that will be where the bulk of the reconsideration will be heard.

The other two hearings will likely only be a day long and provide an opportunity for landowners and others living near where some of Summit's proposed reroutes are planned to testify without having to travel to Bismarck. One hearing is tentatively set for May 24 in Linton. The other is tentatively set for June 4 in eastern North Dakota -- either Gwinner or Wahpeton.

"To individual landowners a reroute of a quarter-mile might be a large deal to them," Schock told the commission Monday.

Scheduling is contingent on securing a location to hold the hearings as well as PSC staff's schedules. More hearings may also be added.
Axarquia village to limit use of fireworks during festivities to honour their patron at Easter The town hall has acknowledged "times have changed and a significant part of the population does not feel comfortable with the pyrotechnics, as they bother some - mainly small children, people with disabilities and also, to some extent, pet owners

Eugenio Cabezas Iznate Monday, 18 March 2024, 13:45 Compartir Copiar enlace

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Following a referendum in the Axarquia village of El Borge in Malaga province earlier this year in which residents were asked to vote on the use of fireworks during local festivities, Iznate, which is also in the Axarquia, has announced that it will be limiting the use of pyrotechnics during its feria which begin on Thursday 21 March and will finish on Easter Sunday.

Although the town hall, which has 915 registered inhabitants on its 'padron' (register) did not put the question to the vote, it has laid out specific timetable and said that it will be limiting the amount of fireworks.

The residents of Iznate have woken up to the sound of rockets signalling the start of the festivities that honour the villages patron the Virgen de los Dolores, since ancient times the town hall said in a statement posted on its social media.

However, the statement went on to say that "times have changed, and now a significant part of the population does not feel comfortable with fireworks displays, as they bother some of the population, mainly small children, people with disabilities and also, to some extent, pet owners (dogs), who are also affected by the launching of these rockets".

The town hall therefore announced that "the use of these pyrotechnics will be significantly reduced, and in addition, a timetable will be established for the launching of rockets, so that the population is aware of them and so that those residents who are uncomfortable can be prepared.
Juan Cano Malaga Monday, 18 March 2024, 13:02 Compartir Copiar enlace

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A 59-year-old woman allegedly stabbed in the chest by her son in Velez-Malaga has died in a Malaga city hospital.

The man, in his thirties, allegedly stabbed his mother and brother about 9.30am on Sunday 17 March at their apartment in Calle Domingo Heredia, before turning the knife on himself and allegedly self-harming.

The mother, covered in blood, stumbled out of the flat onto a staircase landing and called for neighbours for help, who then phoned the emergency services. The three family members - mother and two sons, aged 34 and 37 - were rushed to hospital with various stab wounds. The woman had the most serious injuries after being stabbed in the chest, affecting her lungs. She died from her injuries at about 7.30pm on Sunday night at the Hospital Regional Universitario de Malaga.

The other son remains in a serious condition.

Sources said the alleged attacker suffers from a mental illness and his family had noticed a change in his behaviour in the last few days.
Europa Press Malaga Monday, 18 March 2024, 16:20 Compartir Copiar enlace

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A man who helped foreigners get NIEs and other important Spanish documents sorted on the Costa del Sol has been arrested for fraud.

National Police officers arrested the 47-year-old in Estepona for his alleged involvement in ten crimes of fraud, as well as six crimes involving false documentation and another seven for exploiting foreigners.

The man allegedly pretended to be an administrative manager ('gestor') and took advantage of foreigners who urgently needed paperwork to legally work and live in Spain, according to investigators.

Police started investigating the man in June 2023 after receiving a high number of complaints about possible fraud. The man was allegedly offering to process various procedures such as the registration and/or renewal of foreigners' identification numbers (NIEs), files at the Foreigners' Office and disability certificates, among others.

His name was passed around among groups of foreigners and by word of mouth, according to investigators. The man would negotiate with victims online, over the phone and organise meetings in public places, always insisting on payments in cash, police said.

From the moment of payment, victims received messages from the fake administrative worker saying there were delays, errors or problems in processing documents. Victims would then receive their documentation, only to realise it was fraudulent upon use.
The parachute jumps were last staged in 2019.

Antonio M. Romero / Jesus Hinojosa Malaga Monday, 18 March 2024, 16:33 Compartir Copiar enlace

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The Spanish military's parachute jumps will return to Malaga this Easter with a special show at La Caleta beach on Holy Wednesday.

The Parachute Brigade's event, which was last held in 2019 and has not been held again since the Covid-19 pandemic, will take place at 1.30pm on 27 March.

As SUR reported last Thursday, Malaga mayor Francisco de la Torre sent a letter to Spain's minister of defence Margarita Robles requesting the tradition be brought back this year.

The minister approved the request, to the relief of the people of the city and visitors who used to eagerly await this tradition in previous years.
Cristina Candido Madrid Monday, 18 March 2024, 11:17 | Updated 15:47h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Basque nationalist party PNV has proposed a swift legal change in Spain's Congreso that would allow the courts to order evictions within 48 hours in cases of squatters occupying other people's homes. The proposal has been registered as an amendment to the bill derived from a decree on urgent measures regarding the judiciary, civil service and local government. For the time being, a date has not been set for the debate on the bill or its amendments.

The amendment, to which this newspaper has had access, seeks to modify Spain's Criminal Procedure Act (LECrim) to introduce a new article authorising, in cases of the crime of occupation of a dwelling (article 245 of the Penal Code), a judge or court to adopt "the measure of eviction within a maximum period of 48 hours from the request for precautionary measures by the person who is the owner or legitimate possessor by another title, without the need to provide security, as long as, once the occupants of the property have been summoned, they do not show the legal title that legitimises their stay" in the property, according to the text registered on 6 March.

The Basque nationalists argue for this modification on the grounds that "social reality shows that squatting in properties causes obvious harm to their owners", as well as damaging the environment by causing "problems of coexistence", fire risks and a "gradual degradation of the urban environment or devaluation of nearby properties".

In addition, they warn against "certain groups operating clandestinely" that obtain economic benefits from squatting by using people in situations of need and demanding compensation from the owner. In their opinion, "none of the legal channels currently provided for criminal proceedings to seek the eviction of squatters is fully satisfactory and, in any case, they are temporarily delayed, with the consequent harm to the legitimate owners of the property, who are in many cases also in a difficult economic, personal or family situation".

This proposal is in line with the 'anti-squatting' law that proposes evictions within 24 hours and which was approved in the Spanish upper house (Senado) by the majority of the conservative PP, with the support of hard right Vox and the abstention of PNV and Catalan party Junts.
Spain's DGT warns of fines of up to 500 euros and six points off your licence for doing this at a roundabout.

Ines Romero Madrid Sunday, 17 March 2024 | Updated 19/03/2024 16:28h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Spain's Directorate-General of Traffic (DGT) has issued a reminder to motorists about its road rules and potential fines after 77 people were killed on the country's roads last month.

Punishments range from a fine or losing licence points to a driving ban or imprisonment in severe cases. The DGT pointed out that many "serious offences" are committed at roundabouts, with one in three drivers involved in accidents at roundabouts having made a serious mistake. "Some can end in accidents with fatal consequences," the DGT warned.

For this reason, the DGT pointed out the five "most common and dangerous" mistakes made at roundabouts.

Note: The Spanish points system gives 8 points to drivers who have held a licence for less than 3 years and 12 points for drivers who have held it for over 3 years. If no traffic offences are committed after 3 years drivers receive an additional 3 points.

Aun tienes dudas sobre como circular en una rotonda? Puedes seguir el ejemplo de estos dos vehiculos en #Avila.



Los dos  nos muestran como debemos circular y salir de una glorieta. Una buena practica que merece un .#AsiSi pic.twitter.com/O7jHGwlXxN  Dir. Gral. Trafico (@DGTes) May 12, 2022

1. Excessive speed

One of the most common offences is entering roundabouts at excessive speed. This can lead to collisions with other vehicles and poses a risk to pedestrians crossing the road at the exit of the roundabout.

A total of 8% of drivers involved in accidents on interurban roundabouts commit this type of offence, with the DGT pointing out "it may be a criminal offence if it endangers lives".

Punishment: Loss of six points on the licence and a 500-euro fine.

2. Entering without giving way

This offence refers to when a car enters the roundabout without giving way to those already on the roundabout. This can lead to a side collision with another vehicle. Also, any sudden braking can lead to collisions.

Punishment: Four points on the licence and 200-euro fine.

3. Changing lanes

Continuous lane changes, without prior signalling and without maintaining a safe distance, can cause side swipes and collisions due to sudden braking being required.

Punishment: 200-euro fine

ABC

4. Crossing from the inside

This offence is committed when a vehicle exits directly from an inside lane, crossing in front of the other lanes. It "causes a risk of collision with those driving correctly in the outside lane and a risk of collisions when braking sharply," the DGT said. "It is perhaps the most dangerous manoeuvre. Combined with speeding and a collision at an angle, it can compromise stability and even cause one of the vehicles involved to overturn," it added.

Punishment: Six points and 500-fine euro fine.

5. Leaving roundabout without giving way to a cyclist

This is the case when the driver of the car intends to exit the roundabout and does not pay attention to the cyclist, or does not signal when they're leaving the roundabout.

Punishment: Six points and 500-euro fine.
Alvaro Soto Madrid Monday, 18 March 2024, 14:21 | Updated 15:51h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Masks were for Asians, a vaccine (against the flu, adults did not have any others) was given once a year if you remembered, and PCR sounded like a computer component. But on 11 March 2020, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 a pandemic, everything began to change. And although the same organisation decreed the end of the health emergency in May last year, those three years changed the world forever.

Deaths

Covid-19 continues to cause deaths in Spain, but at a much lower rate than in previous years. According to the latest cause of death report, published in December by the National Statistics Institute (INE), in the first half of 2023 (latest available data), 3,760 people died from the coronavirus, 82% fewer than in the same period of the previous year. Based on that figure, Covid-19 left between 6,000 and 7,000 people dead in 2023. In comparison with previous years, and according to the same INE report, in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, the virus caused 60,358 deaths; in 2021, 39,444; and in 2022, 31,606. Since March 2020, some 130,000 people have died from Covid-19 in Spain.

Masks

The last reminder that face masks are here to stay came in the first fortnight of this year, when the national and regional ministries of health decreed their compulsory use in health centres due to an upsurge in flu infections. During peaks of Covid-19 or flu infections or in response to the recommendations of the health authorities, a significant part of the population has accepted the use of the mask, something that did not exist before March 2020.

PCRs and self-diagnosis

Self-diagnosis without scientific basis has a long tradition in Spain, but this has also changed with the pandemic. Taking a PCR or other test to detect Covid-19 has become a familiar process for millions of people in Spain. Moreover, testing for Covid has opened a door that has been extended to other diseases and has shifted the focus to each citizen's own health. Prescription or over-the-counter, there are now self-diagnostic tests for flu, respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV), HIV, female fertility, sperm quality and urine protein.

Vaccines

The last Covid-19 vaccination campaign took place in autumn last year, when the over-60s, healthcare workers and people with chronic diseases were called for their fifth jab. Depending on age, health conditions and factors, and if all requirements have been met, the general public has been vaccinated against Covid between three and five times. According to the ministry of health, 87.2% of Spaniards have one dose; 86% have two doses; and 56% have a booster dose (the third). And according to the latest vaccination report, published on 25 January, but only with data from the over-60s, less than half of this age group (46%) have received the fourth or fifth dose, already adapted against the latest variants of SARS-CoV-2.

Monitoring

The pandemic has forced Spain to strengthen the monitoring of respiratory viruses. In October 2020, the ministry of health launched the Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance System (SiVIRA), a sentinel surveillance, i.e. one that systematically collects epidemiological data at a number of points.

This surveillance, which is carried out in hospitals and primary care, covers the three main respiratory viruses, SARS-CoV-2, influenza and syncytial. In addition, to counteract the weaknesses in the system that Covid-19 brought to light, a year and a half ago the ministry approved the creation of a national public health agency, which aims to prepare the response to health emergencies, public health advice and health risk communication. The project, however, is progressing more slowly than expected, among other reasons, because of the dispute over where its headquarters will be located. Parliament recently agreed to extend the deadline for submitting partial amendments to the bill.
Recently, the North Dakota Legislature cracked open our unique, long-standing noncorporate farming laws to allow corporations to begin to farm livestock in CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations in which over 1000 animal units are confined for over 45 days a year). As a veterinarian and a strong advocate for nutrient-dense food from animal products, CAFOs are a necessary part of our food security nationally. CAFOs have greatly improved animal health and comfort. CAFOs are highly regulated to ensure biosecurity and food safety. A nonstressed, healthy animal is a productive animal. However, not all CAFOs are appropriate for North Dakota.

For thousands of years on the North Dakota Plains, buffalo or cattle converted massive quantities of nonedible biomass of our prairies into nutrient-dense food and milk for humans while creating rich, healthy soil and other ecosystem services. They have been integral to North Dakotas agricultural system and our culture. The expansive space and arid climate of North Dakota provide a great environment for cattle feedlots. The cattle live in a pen with plenty of room to move around, exercise, rest, lie down and move. The cowboy pen riders make up a significant part of the workforce. The feedlot cattle can eat grains and forage grown locally, reducing transportation costs and supporting North Dakota farmers and ranchers alike.

Imagine using some of our Legacy Fund dollars to invest in a 600-head-a-day cattle processing facility for North Dakota. We would have a regional powerhouse for beef production with more direct dollars going to North Dakota farmers and ranchers while providing food security for our region and our nation. Unfortunately, in 2021, the North Dakota Legislature did not feel that a 600-head cattle processing and rendering facility was a good economic investment for North Dakota. Regardless, the prairies naturally provide a great environment and economy for beef producers.

In contrast, pigs are not native to North Dakota and require significant care, housing and feed input for production. Unlike cattle production, where 80% of the calfs life is spent on a local ranch before moving to a feedlot, the pigs in corporate CAFOs are born, bred and raised to slaughter weight within the corporate facility. Unlike cattle, pigs contribute nothing to soil health, are not environmentally acclimated to North Dakota, and require a workforce often filled by migrant workers.

The last hog processing facility in Minot closed in 2011. Thus, the corporate pig CAFOs will likely be farrowing facilities with the baby pigs being sent out of state for finishing and processing. Even our North Dakota soybean producers will not benefit from a local pig CAFO market. Thus, the only economic benefit for North Dakota goes to the out-of-state corporations. Meanwhile, North Dakotans are stuck with all the waste, the smell, the risk, the need to attract a transient immigrant workforce, with fewer dollars staying in North Dakota. Although I love my local pork producer, I see zero benefit of corporate pig CAFOs in North Dakota.
The noise art artist Tietchens composed an audio piece from the working sounds of a historical printing press:

The Heidelberg platen (letterpress) can certainly be understood as a rhythm machine: clearly discernible, sometimes intricate rhythms structure its working sounds. What became important in terms of aesthetic action was the question of how the present acoustic materials could be taken out of their context and what sonic transformations they should undergo. Following the rhythmic structures was too obvious, would have been too overt a solution. Nor did I want to bring the "soul" of the machine to sound; I gladly leave the attempt to transcend the machine to more competent collective minds.

Alle Informationen zu Asmus Tietchens und seinem Werk "Sechs Heidelberger Studien" finden Sie hier in deutscher Sprache.

The rhythmic structures of the press sounds were transformed into more spatial and/or impulse-like sound events, thus creating a level beyond rigid rhythm. As a result, the "Sechs Heidelberger Studien" are completely detached from the causal noise continuum. I aimed neither for amazement nor for an electro-acoustic fairy tale hour, but rather turned to the material itself to carry out some (of many) combinatorial possibilities of its sonic processing and restructuring. Aesthetic decisions were made only after the formal and acoustic properties of the base material had been thoroughly examined.

Competition 2003 and Jury Statement

The jury of the Karl Sczuka Prize 2003 listened to 86 works before deciding on Asmus Tietchens. The submissions came from 104 applicants from 17 nations, marking one of the highest numbers in the prize's history. Free author productions reached a record high with 38 submissions. The Karl Sczuka Grant Prize, established in 1997, was not awarded this year.

"In his 'Sechs Heidelberger Studien,' Asmus Tietchens crafts a piece of great rigor and clarity from the working sounds of a book printing machine. The sounds, though recognizable as 'concrete,' remain strangely abstract and mysterious; they do not narrate, they do not represent, they are immediately present in a sensual way. Tietchens fully trusts his material, eschewing any symbolic baggage and thereby pleasantly distancing himself from fashionable trends in electronic sound manipulation."

SWR2 program director Hildegard Bumann presented the award on behalf of the director of Sudwest Rundfunk Bernhard Hermann, to Asmus Tietchens. The award ceremony took place on October 18, 2003, as part of the Donaueschinger Musiktage.

Award winner

Asmus Tietchens was born in Hamburg in 1947. In 1965, he began his first experiments with tape recorders and electronic sound generators (sinusoidal oscillators, rhythm machines), as well as concrete noise material. Starting from 1971, he worked with the Minimoog and achieved more complex results by using eight-track tape recorders. In 1975, Tietchens decided to compose and realize electroacoustic music as his "main profession."

In 1980, his first LP release ("Nachtstucke") was launched in France, produced by Peter Baumann (Tangerine Dream). In 1982, he stylistically turned towards Industrial Music, with the LP "Formen letzter Hausmusik" (1984) released on the British label United Dairies. Until 1989, he produced several LPs on international labels of Industrial Music, including works with prepared piano, water sounds, and other concrete materials. In 1986, Tietchens traveled to Brazil for lecture-concerts on behalf of the Goethe-Institut, and in 1991 to Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.

Since 1989, he has been a lecturer for sound design, communication design, and sound research at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg (HAW). Since 1991, various CDs have been released on international labels, totaling over 50 LP and CD releases to date. Asmus Tietchens has collaborated with various composers of so-called Noise Music (Merzbow, Achim Wollscheid, Thomas Koner, Vidna Obmana, among others) and has performed both domestically and internationally.
Syracuse, N.Y.  The boy was throwing pumpkins into a little pond in Alan Knights front yard on New Years Day.

A few days before, the dark-haired child was trying to set some bushes on fire in the neighborhood near Grant Middle School on Syracuses North Side.
Looking for a trustworthy pair of solar eclipse glasses? New York is ready to help.

Starting today, the state is giving away free eclipse glasses to help New Yorkers safely enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse on April 8. The limited-edition I LOVE NY glasses will be available at 30 locations across the state  including some New York State Thruway rest stops and New York State Welcome Centers, Gov. Kathy Hochuls office announced.

The total solar eclipse will be a once-in-a-generation experience for our state, and its critical that New Yorkers have the tools and information to enjoy it safely, Hochul said.

The complimentary glasses will be limited to two pairs per person while supplies last, the governors office said.

The viewers were approved by the state Department of Health and are marked with an ISO certification  the international standard created to ensure solar eclipse glasses truly protect viewers eyes when gazing at the eye-damaging sun.

The stellar show will mark the first total solar eclipse to cross the Empire State in nearly 100 years. It will pass over Western New York, parts of the Finger Lakes and Central New York, the North Country and the Adirondacks in a path that will stretch about 124 miles wide.

Here are the 30 places the free I LOVE NY eclipse glasses will be available in New York state, according to the tourism bureau:

Adirondacks

Adirondacks Welcome Center: I-87 Northbound between Exit 17 and 18, Glens Falls | Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

Lake Placid Visitor Bureau: 2608 Main St., Lake Placid | Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

Capital-Saratoga

Capital Region Welcome Center: New York State Thruway (Interstate 87) northbound between Exits 21B and 21A (Milepost 127), Hannacroix | Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Catskills

New Baltimore Service Area: Interstate 87 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 127, located northbound and southbound between Exit 21B (Coxsackie) and Exit 21A (Berkshire Section/to Mass Pike), Hannacroix | Open 24/7

Central New York

Mohawk Valley Welcome Center: New York State Thruway (I-90) westbound at Mohawk River Lock E13 (Milepost 187), Fultonville | Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily

Southern Tier Welcome Center: Interstate 81 northbound (between the Pennsylvania state line and Exit 1), Kirkwood | Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Mohawk Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 172, located eastbound between Exit 27 (Amsterdam) and Exit 26 (Schenectady West), Amsterdam | Open 24/7

Indian Castle Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 210, located eastbound between Exit 29A (Little Falls) and Exit 29 (Canajoharie), Little Falls | Open 24/7

Iroquois Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 210, located westbound between Exit 29 (Canajoharie) and Exit 29A (Little Falls), Little Falls | Open 24/7

Schuyler Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 227, located westbound between Exit 30 (Herkimer) and Exit 31 (Utica), Frankfort | Open 24/7

Oneida Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 244, located eastbound between Exit 33 (Verona-Rome) and Exit 32 (Westmoreland-Rome), Westmoreland | Open 24/7

Chittenango Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 266, located westbound between Exit 34 (Canastota) and Exit 34A (Syracuse I-481), Canastota | Open 24/7

Chautauqua-Allegheny

National Comedy Center, 203 W. 2nd St., Jamestown | Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday

Finger Lakes

Central NY Welcome Center: 9090 Destiny USA Drive, 2nd level, Syracuse | Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday; Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday

Finger Lakes Welcome Center: 35 Lakefront Drive, Geneva | Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Port Byron Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 310, located eastbound between Exit 41 (Waterloo) and Exit 40 (Weedsport, Port Byron | Open 24/7, starting March 19

Warners Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 292, located westbound between Exit 39 (Syracuse West) and Exit 40 (Weedsport), Warners | Open 24/7, starting March 24

Junius Ponds Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 324, located westbound between Exit 41 (Waterloo) and Exit 42 (Geneva), Phelps | Open 24/7

Clifton Springs Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 337, located eastbound between Exit 43 (Manchester) and Exit 42 (Geneva), Clifton Springs | Open 24/7

Seneca Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 350, located westbound between Exit 44 (Canandaigua) and Exit 45 (Rochester I-490), Victor | Open 24/7

Greater Niagara

Western NY Welcome Center: 1999 Alvin Road (Exit 19 off I-190), Grand Island | Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Pembroke Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 397, located eastbound between Exit 48A (Pembroke) and Exit 48 (Batavia), Corfu | Open 24/7

Clarence Service Area: Interstate 90 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 412, located westbound between Exit 48A (Pembroke) and Exit 49 (Depew), Clarence | Open 24/7

Hudson Valley

Hudson Valley | Catskills Welcome Center: Woodbury Commons, Market Hall, 13498 Red Apple Ct., Central Valley | Open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday to Sunday

Ardsley Service Area: Interstate 87 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 6, located northbound between Exit 6A (Yonkers Toll Gantry) and Exit 7 (Ardsley), Hastings-on-Hudson | Open 24/7

Plattekill Service Area: Interstate 87 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 65, located northbound between Exit 17 (Newburgh I-84) and Exit 18 (New Paltz), Plattekill | Open 24/7

Modena Service Area: Interstate 87 - New York State Thruway, Milepost 66, located southbound between Exit 18 (New Paltz) and Exit 17 (Newburgh I-84), Modena | Open 24/7

Long Island

Long Island Welcome Center: 5100 Long Island Expressway, eastbound between Exits 51 and 52, Dix Hills | Open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

New York City

Moynihan Train Hall: MTA Long Island Rail Road Ticket Windows, 421 8th Ave., New York | Open 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily

Thousand Islands-Seaway

North Country Welcome Center: 43350 Collins Landing Road (near the Thousand Island Bridge), Alexandria Bay | Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily starting April 1
Severstal, a Russian steelmaker, adopted Kaspersky's cybersecurity to shield its production systems, maintaining operations. Kaspersky's endpoint security, network monitoring, and threat intelligence enhanced Severstal's situational awareness and incident response. Kaspersky-trained employees in ICS pentesting and forensics, improving skills through simulated attacks. This boosted Severstal's capability to disclose and pinpoint incident causes.

Learn from this case study how Kaspersky's solutions advanced Severstal's system security and resilience.
AKTransAM BHPian



Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Juneau Posts: 105 Thanked: 955 Times

Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, USA | A Phantom, Fishbed, Fulcrum, Blackbird...and a random Goose ). We heard a lot about this museum, which had THE Spruce Goose, so we stopped by there after the swap meet. As it turned out, it's a really large museum spread across two very large buildings, with a very substantial collection of aircraft across different eras, old engines etc. Well worth the visit if you're ever in this neck of the woods. Amazing aircraft as you'll see below. Spread over a few pages



Entrance





The Spruce Goose which is the centerpiece, quite literally, of this entire building. It was too large to get in one pic.





Tail Section





Close up. Those engines looked entirely way too tiny for this aircraft





Variety of old engines. One of them was a Corvair engine (yes the car engine) that was used to power aircraft as well. Since the Corvair was legendarily underpowered (a friend has one, trust me the saying "You had to push them downhill" is true) not sure if I'd have trusted going up in an aircraft powered by one hehe





























Another close up of the Spruce Goose





Reproduction of the famous Spirit of St. Louis



















I've been meaning to post this for awhile. This was just about a year ago, when we were at the Portland Swap Meet last year (getting ready to head to the swap meet again in a few weeks which I'll post pics of soon enough). We heard a lot about this museum, which had THE Spruce Goose, so we stopped by there after the swap meet. As it turned out, it's a really large museum spread across two very large buildings, with a very substantial collection of aircraft across different eras, old engines etc. Well worth the visit if you're ever in this neck of the woods. Amazing aircraft as you'll see below. Spread over a few pagesEntranceThe Spruce Goose which is the centerpiece, quite literally, of this entire building. It was too large to get in one pic.Tail SectionClose up. Those engines looked entirely way too tiny for this aircraftVariety of old engines. One of them was a Corvair engine (yes the car engine) that was used to power aircraft as well. Since the Corvair was legendarily underpowered (a friend has one, trust me the saying "You had to push them downhill" is true) not sure if I'd have trusted going up in an aircraft powered by one heheAnother close up of the Spruce GooseReproduction of the famous Spirit of St. Louis
As is typically the case when one company jumps ahead of the others, analysts like me get asked what makes Nvidia so much more successful than its peers. While my peers may have different answers, I think there is one predominant cause for this success: Nvidias CEO, Jensen Huang.

Huang has had three clear advantages that most other CEOs lack. First, Huangs technical proficiency allows him to set and execute a vision. Second, Huang is a founder, which typically grants unusual loyalty and power over the company. Finally, he is the longest-serving tech CEO in recent history.

I say recent history because Nvidia is around 30 years old, and IBMs first CEO and founder, Thomas Watson, served for 42 years during a time when IBM pretty much was the tech industry and was even more successful than Nvidia is now.

Thomas Watson had the same three advantages as Huang. When Watsons son, Thomas Watson, Jr., took over, he inherited those same advantages and took IBM to even greater levels by being additive. Huang has a son, Spencer, who works at Nvidia, but his true heir is AI, suggesting it could be either his or Spencers successor. Lets talk about that this week.

Well close with my Product of the Week, my new favorite smartphone, the Google Pixel Fold.

Why the CEO Job Is Broken: The Overcompensation Problem

CEOs are overcompensated, and this creates significant financial and operational problems in both public and private companies. CEOs werent always the highest-paid positions.

When I first entered the tech field, one of my jobs was managing compensation, and some of our sales reps made significantly more than the founding CEO. Granted, founders had founder stock, which eventually raised the CEOs compensation when that stock was sold. But unlike today, CEO compensation wasnt massively higher than that of other executives. Todays CEOs are overcompensated, and that leads to three big problems:

The disparity creates friction among employees who feel they are doing the work while the CEO gets all the rewards. This situation is particularly problematic when a CEO institutes a layoff or salary reduction plan, and the employees feel they are being treated unfairly, given the CEO, even with salary cuts, is making crazy money. This reduces loyalty to the CEO, making the company less efficient and key employees less likely to remain with the company. The CEO is motivated to acquire things that, in turn, need to be managed, detracting from doing the job they are paid to do. Some CEOs have multiple mansions, yachts, and rare car collections that are all enviable, but these things have to be managed and take away time from the CEOs ability to do the job they were hired for. This additionally exacerbates the feeling in the rank and file that the CEO is taking advantage of them, particularly when cutbacks occur. This overcompensation can convey a feeling that the CEO can do whatever they want. They are so used to having crazy money and extreme authority that they get the idea that rules dont apply to them and discover the hard way that some rules do. CEOs getting fired for misogyny, mishandling of company assets, and other types of misbehavior are common and very disruptive to the company.

The Advantage Enjoyed by Founders

Successful founders tend to prioritize the company and often arent known for excessive spending. This doesnt mean they dont sometimes spend excessively (Bill Gates did build a hotel of a house and then regretted it), but their possessions dont significantly degrade their focus on their company and people.

So, while I do think excessive compensation degrades their performance, it doesnt seem to do so in a material way because their job and hobby are both the company and their true passion, and thus, they are able to outperform their more compensation-based peers.

Founders also know the company more intimately because they directed its construction. They know better than anyone what the company is capable of and can better set an achievable vision for the firms future. Hired CEOs may never truly understand what a firm is capable of and avoid the vision thing altogether because they dont want to be seen as failures.

The Succession Problem With Founders

When a founder leaves, a company seems to lose its way. I was one of the folks who studied IBMs decline and near collapse, and it was clear that when Thomas Watson Jr. left, IBM started to die. Interestingly, it didnt start to die when Thomas Watson Sr. left because Jr. effectively took his fathers advantages and enhanced them, as hed been groomed to do that.

Still, even though Id argue IBM has the best internal CEO training program and deepest bench of potential CEOs than any other company, it had to go outside that structure once, reset, and then rebuild because this founder capability was lost in transition.

Corporations are supposed to be eternal, though Founder CEOs dont always want them to be because they dont want to be overshadowed by their successor. Watson Sr. was one of the exceptions since he, as most fathers should, seemed to want his son to be even more successful than he was.

Succession just doesnt seem to be a priority in most firms. Most CEOs seem more worried that their successor will be selected prematurely  and for good reason, because that often happens, which conflicts with a good succession process.

Digital Human Advantages

Nvidia has created the concept of digital humans. Today, they are built mainly for sales and customer support, but they could evolve into replacements for almost any job. For instance, Cognition Lab just launched the first AI software engineer called Devin, which can autonomously write apps. It can complete real-time jobs posted on Upwork and has autonomously resolved 14% of the GitHub issues found in real-world open-source projects.

This is just the beginning of the emergence of digital humans.

When it comes to succession, digital humans have several clear advantages over non-digital humans. One is that the digital human would be created to fully emulate the founder, so it wouldnt reflect badly on them. Even when it out-achieved the founder it replaced, its hard connection to the founder would ensure the founder got the credit, so the prior CEO is less likely to sabotage the effort.

A digital human doesnt have a compensation problem as it wouldnt need compensation, and it wouldnt be distracted by personal possessions or family as it wouldnt have those either. It also wouldnt have the drives that often cause CEOs to misbehave, though youd want to ensure the information stream the digital human was receiving was uncompromised, and youd need to ensure that the digital human was surrounded by sufficient security so it couldnt be hacked.

In other words, given how quickly a digital human could act, assuring they continue to perform in the best interests of the firm, its employees, and investors would be even more critical to ensure a human CEO didnt go off the rails.

Wrapping Up: Why Nvidia Will Have the First Digital Human CEO

The reason I think Nvidia will be first is that it has the greatest need to preserve the advantages it gets from its founder, Jensen Huang. In addition, Huang is an AI advocate, which means that Nvidia not only leads in AI solutions but also uses AI internally. So, Huang has been a significant driver in both the creation and use of digital humans.

Nvidia has the greatest need, the strongest foundation to create one, and by creating one it would have the best showcase for how a digital human could outperform a human at certain jobs. If a digital human could do the CEOs job successfully, the question flips from what could it do to what couldnt it do, with the latter list becoming ever shorter.

Jensen Huang has at least a decade of service ahead of him, so I doubt this will happen quickly. Still, I could see him spinning up and training his digital twin long before he left the company to increase his reach, and he might not just create only one. I can imagine a future where digital Jensen Huangs are sold to firms as advanced CEO digital assistants and eventually as CEOs even before the real Jensen Huang steps down.

The Google Pixel Fold

(Image Credit: Google/YouTube)

My favorite smartphone was the Microsoft Duo 2, but with Panos Panays departure from Microsoft, I doubt Duo and Surface are long for this world.

There is a rumor that a foldable Duo 3 is coming, but my Duo 2s battery has degraded to the point that it wont even stay up for 5 hours, let alone an entire day. I read books on my phone, so thats a problem. So, I bit the bullet and went looking for a replacement. The dual-screen Google Pixel Fold comes the closest to both what the Duo 2 was and the Duo 3 might be (if it ever launches; I have my doubts).

Ive been using this phone for about a week now, and so far, it is as good a reader as the Duo 2 and has far better battery life, even though it has both a foldable screen in the middle and an additional screen on the cover.

One downside, however, is that Pixel Fold uses the Google Tensor G2 processor and not the Qualcomm Snapdragon solution, so it lacks several features. The one I miss the most is the ability to use a head-mounted display for movies. For me, the best advantage with Snapdragon is that everything just seems to work, and alternatives simply dont provide that same level of capability.

The phone isnt a cheap date at $1,799. If I could have waited, I would have waited for the coming Pixel Fold 2, which is due out in a few months. But I couldnt wait that long because my Duo had degraded to the point that it wasnt usable, and I needed my phone to work.

Since the Pixel Fold helped me solve my dying Microsoft Duo 2 phone problems, the Google Pixel Fold is my Product of the Week  and I really do enjoy using it.
What just happened? The LockBit ransomware group is back in the news again, though this time it isn't related to the recent seizure of its website by law enforcement. One of the group's high-ranking members has just been sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $635,000 for his role in infecting over 1,000 systems with LockBit.

Mikhail Vasiliev, a 33-year-old Canadian-Russian national, who has been living in Ontario, Canada, was arrested in November 2022. Last month, he pleaded guilty to eight counts of cyber-extortion and mischief, along with weapons charges, involving Canadian victims, including businesses in Saskatchewan, Montreal, and Newfoundland.

When agents raided his home in October 2022, Vasiliev was discovered working on a laptop that displayed a login screen to the LockBit control panel. Ars Technica writes that they also discovered a seed phrase credential for a Bitcoin wallet address linked to another wallet that had received payment from a LockBit victim.

Investigators found more evidence of Vasiliev's links to LockBit in an earlier raid, including what appeared to be a list of either historical or prospective targets, messages with someone who used a moniker favored by gang members, LockBit ransomware deployment instructions, and credentials for devices belonging to an employee of a confirmed LockBit victim.

Vasiliev is awaiting extradition proceedings to bring him to New Jersey, where he will face additional charges related to his involvement with the gang.

Justice Michelle Fuerst called Vasiliev a "cyber-terrorist" in her sentencing, adding that his crimes were far from victimless and he was motivated by his own greed.

LockBit was one of the first to offer ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) to other criminals, who must send the gang part of the ransomware payments taken from victims. There have been nearly 2,300 attacks attributed to the group, making it the most prolific ransomware gang in the world. The second most prolific group, Conti, has been linked to 883 attacks.

In February, LockBit's website showed a banner informing visitors that it was under the control of law enforcement. The operation involved the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the UK, the FBI, and an international task force named Operation Cronos. LockBit's operations were disrupted, and suspected group members were arrested in several countries. The group announced that it was back in action a week later.

Masthead: Sebastiaan Stam
Chinese ecologists are now harnessing the power of social media to track the spread of invasive species across the country. Using Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, researchers are analyzing text, images, and videos posted online to map and address ecological threats (via South China Morning Post).

Tracking Invasive Species Using Social Media

The practice of releasing non-native animals into the wild is not uncommon in China, and it is often influenced by cultural beliefs that aim to bring good fortune. However, this well-intentioned act can have severe ecological consequences, leading to biological invasions and disrupting local habitats.

Studies tell us that the impacts of these invasions encompass negative ecological, environmental, and economic consequences. Despite efforts such as sustainable globalization, the effects of biological invasions in China have not decreased and are further exacerbated by increasing anthropogenic activities.

Professor Liu Xuan and his team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Zoology Institute have developed a method dubbed "iEcology" to address this issue. By integrating information from the Internet, they can more effectively study ecological processes.

Their research focuses on two particularly pervasive invasive species: the American bullfrog and the red-eared slider turtle. These species, commonly found in the pet trade or aquaculture, are easily identifiable, making them ideal subjects for monitoring.

By analyzing over 30,000 videos on Douyin, the researchers have pinpointed releases of these invasive species mainly along the Yangtze River basin and the southeastern coastal regions. Alarmingly, they found that 62% of these releases occurred in habitats suitable for establishing permanent populations, exacerbating the invasive species problem.

Read Also: Google Boosts Chrome Security: Safe Browsing Now with Real-Time Protection

Early Detection of Invasive Species

Liu's team's findings highlight the potential of this method to aid in the early detection of invasive species and, thus, assist in scientific management. Social media analytics can provide early warnings and inform management strategies by partnering with government agencies.

Furthermore, incorporating taxonomy and artificial intelligence into social media platforms enhances the accurate identification of released species. This technological advancement streamlines the monitoring process and enables more effective intervention measures.

However, perhaps the most crucial aspect emphasized by Liu's team is the need for public education. Many individuals involved in releasing these species are unaware of the ecological damage caused by their actions. Early publicity and education campaigns could significantly raise awareness about the dangers of invasive species and promote compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Douyin and similar social media platforms offer a promising avenue for ecological monitoring and management. By leveraging technology and public engagement, Chinese scientists are taking proactive steps toward mitigating the impact of invasive species on ecosystems.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: US Researchers Use Google's Street View, AI Algorithms to Spot Invasive Plant

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Tesla intends to raise Model Y EV costs in some European regions by 2,000 euros ($2,177) on March 22. The announcement on X follows the company's Friday revelation of a $1,000 price hike for all Model Y automobiles in the US, beginning April 1.

European pricing changes mirror Tesla's $1,000 price increase for Model Y rear-wheel drive and long-range models to $43,990 and $48,990, respectively, on March 1, according to a Reuters report.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk discussed manufacturing's delicate balance between continuous production for efficiency and variable customer demand. A year-long pricing war with rivals has hurt Tesla's profit margins.

A Tesla Model y car stands in front of the company's plant as Tesla CEO Elon Musk visits the company's electric car plant in Gruenheide near Berlin, eastern Germany, on March 13, 2024, as employees resumed work after production had to be halted due to a suspected arson attack that caused a power outage. (Photo : ODD ANDERSEN/AFP via Getty Images)

Tesla Settles Discrimination Case

This Tesla price update follows the EV manufacturer's settlement of Owen Diaz's racial discrimination case. Diaz and the corporation settled after a federal jury awarded them $3.2 million. Representatives from Diaz's legal team at the California Civil Rights Law Group confirmed the resolution, as TechTimes previously reported.

Diaz, who worked as an elevator operator at Tesla's Fremont, California, plant in 2015, demonstrated remarkable courage in confronting the corporate giant. His attorney, Lawrence Organ, stressed the significance of individuals standing up against such challenges for civil rights laws to have a meaningful impact. Organ suggested that a public commitment from Elon Musk to intolerance of discriminatory behavior could put an end to such conduct at Tesla.

Despite significant verdicts and years of litigation, including substantial financial awards, Musk has yet to issue such a statement, leaving Organ puzzled by Tesla's continued behavior.

Read Also: TikTok Faces National Security Review in Canada Amid Brewing Threat of US Ban

Diaz and his legal team persuaded the jury that Tesla had failed to prohibit racial discrimination during his original trial, culminating in a $137 million award, including punitive damages.

Diaz and Tesla requested a retrial after Judge William H. Orrick reduced the jury's judgment to $15 million. Despite the decrease, Diaz won again, receiving a $3.2 million final verdict.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing Tesla for its alleged tolerance of chronic racial harassment against Black workers and retribution against whistleblowers. The EV manufacturer argues the EEOC's assertions are misleading, noting its history of equal employment opportunities.

Tesla Rivals Collaborate in Advancing EV Tech

Meanwhile, Nissan and Honda have announced a collaboration to advance electric vehicles (EVs) and auto intelligence technology. The CEOs of both automobile manufacturing companies revealed their intent to explore collaboration opportunities during a press conference in Tokyo. Details of the partnership agreement focus on jointly developing core technologies while maintaining separate product lines.

Nissan's CEO, Makoto Uchida, emphasized the urgency of technological development. At the same time, Honda's president, Toshihiro Mibe, highlighted shared values and synergies to counter competitors in the global automotive industry's shift to EVs.

Nissan and Honda teamed up because EV suppliers face market uncertainty as recent data demonstrate weak driver enthusiasm-to-sales conversion of EVs despite predicted component demand rises. Major manufacturers are revising EV plans because of low customer demand.

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.
Recent research has unveiled a concerning reality for many families with children in the United Kingdom, as they lack the essential online skills and access to technology crucial for thriving in today's digital world.



The study, reported by The Guardian, reveals that a staggering 45% of UK households with children fall short of meeting the necessary digital threshold.



Factors such as low socioeconomic status, residing in deprived areas, and living outside London contribute significantly to this digital gap. Moreover, households with minority ethnic backgrounds and those with disabled parents are disproportionately affected.



Through focus groups, researchers from the University of Liverpool, Loughborough University, and the Good Things Foundation establish a "minimum digital living standard." This benchmark assesses households' digital capabilities and access to goods and services, shedding light on the severity of the digital divide.

Emma Stone, Director of Evidence and Engagement at the Good Things Foundation, emphasizes the importance of this benchmark, challenging the misconception that all families possess equal online proficiency.

Lead researcher Prof. Simeon Yates underscores the digital divide's significance, labeling it an "amplifier of other exclusions" in crucial sectors like health and education. The study surveyed over 1,500 UK households and identified poverty as a key predictor of falling below the benchmark, particularly concerning challenges in affording broadband and communication services.

UK Families Lacking in Online Skills, Cybersecurity

Addressing these issues necessitates a comprehensive approach, with the report urging public, voluntary, and private sector organizations to tackle digital barriers head-on. Alarmingly, 38% of households struggle with online skills, with many lacking functional or critical digital abilities, especially concerning children's online safety.

Read Also: Turn Your Tech Trash into Cash: Virgin Media O2 Expands O2 Recycle to Include Gaming Devices

Additionally, 27% of parent-led households lack the digital skills to shield their families from online threats. Additionally, 18.5% of households face shortages in equipment and services, exacerbating challenges in accessing education and essential services.

The latest findings come amid growing fears about rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology's potential dominance over humans, with concerns ranging from ethical decision-making to job displacement, previously reported by TechTimes.

SAP, a major tech company, announced job cuts while investing over $2 billion in AI, signaling a significant company transformation. Despite job losses, SAP plans to provide training for AI-related roles. Darren McKee, author of "Uncontrollable," warns of AI's potential to cause widespread harm, citing uncertainty in its capabilities and controllability.

ECB Downplays Rapid Tech Advancement Fears

However, some experts argue that fears about AI dominance are exaggerated. While acknowledging real risks, they emphasize the need for responsible AI development and usage to address potential threats like fraud and misinformation. They suggest mitigating current AI risks rather than dwelling on speculative doomsday scenarios.

The European Central Bank (ECB) revealed research indicating that rapid AI integration is creating jobs, especially for young and skilled workers. Analyzing 16 European nations, the ECB found increased employment in AI-exposed industries, particularly in highly skilled occupations, while low-and medium-skilled roles remained stable.

Despite concerns about wage reduction, the research suggests "neutral to slightly negative impacts," potentially improving over time. However, the full extent of AI's influence on employment, wages, and equality is still evolving as AI technologies advance.

Related Article: Here's How Chinese Scientists Use Social Media Douyin to Track Invasive Species

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The looming TikTok ban is right around the corner unless ByteDance divests ownership of the platform to a US company, something that the parent company's investors may benefit from, said US Representative Mike Gallagher. The congressman is one of the known chairs of the US-China dispute, heading the committee that recently saw approval from its House floor vote.

Additionally, Gallagher claims that the TikTok sale may happen before the US Presidential elections later this year.

ByteDance Investors to Benefit from TikTok Sale, says Gallagher

CBS News reported that US congressman Mike Gallagher expressed about the TikTok sale, stating that ByteDance investors may benefit financially from the sale of the platform in the future. Gallagher claimed this on CBS' Face the Nation last Sunday, with the representative best known for spearheading the bill.

"It would be in the financial interest of ByteDance's investors to effectuate before sale," said Gallagher.

He further noted that, apart from this, the sale may change TikTok's user experience, increasing its value as it moves away from "propaganda" and its current Chinese ownership.

Read Also: TikTok Uncertainty: Advertisers Eyeing Meta's Reels and YouTube's Shorts If US Senate Approves Ban

TikTok Sale May Happen Before US Elections

That being said, Gallagher is confident that this TikTok sale may take place before the upcoming US Presidential elections later this November, with the bill's current track. Not selling the platform could ultimately lead to a ban, with the soon-to-be-signed law designating it as a foreign-controlled platform operating in the country.

Illinois rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi claimed that TikTok is unlike any other "threats" seen before, arguing that a foreign adversary, China, controls it.

TikTok Ban and the RESTRICT Act

Last week, the House passed the RESTRICT Act, which could lead to a TikTok ban if the social media platform does not abide by the rules and regulations of the law when it comes into effect. In this passed bill, agencies may identify TikTok as a foreign entity and possibly ban it if it does not divest it to an American company, giving it around 180 days for the restriction to take effect and see a sale.

This is the only step awaited by US President Joe Biden, who previously expressed his stand on this issue, saying that if the House passes it, he will sign the bill into law, which would then take effect.

While no confirmed buyers exist for this TikTok sale, former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick expressed his interest in purchasing the platform, pitching this idea to other tech entrepreneurs for possible collaborations.

Despite the bill not yet being signed into law, TikTok's days are numbered as it is only awaiting the signing from POTUS Biden before this takes effect shortly, possibly before the upcoming elections. That being said, this sale would benefit ByteDance investors, said Gallagher, one that would keep the platform operational in the US and see financial perks for the Chinese stakeholders.

Related Article: TikTok Faces National Security Review in Canada Amid Brewing Threat of US Ban





 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
CryptoWatch offers a round-up of last week's top cryptocurrency stories, with the top development centering on Bitcoin's massive rally toward its all-time high price, which reached $72,000. It also went alongside the conviction of disgraced FTX CEO and co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried, after the court found him guilty of all criminal charges filed against him.

Moreover, there is also the massive performance of the altcoin known as FLOKI, centering on its entry into the Top 60 Cryptocurrencies in the market, besting its rivals in the league.

Bitcoin All-Time High: $72,000 Pricing Achieved

After previously struggling to meet $70,000 almost three years ago, Bitcoin's return as a bullish crypto paid off last week as it recorded its all-time high price of $72,717 on Monday, the first for the coin. This achievement saw a massive rise in its price versus the US dollar, with many anticipating the upcoming restriction of its supply, seeing a significant demand that drove its price sky-high.

Before this achievement, it followed a $69,000 value, which already beat its previous all-time high in November 2021, where it clocked in $68,000.

This follows the announcement by Great Britain's Financial Conduct Authority that it would permit the creation of crypto-related securities like the United States.

However, entering this week saw the loss of this all-time high, as Bitcoin's price now settled back to $67,390, with a 1.45 percent dip in the past week.

Read Also: Bitcoin and Your Retirement: Maximizing Your IRA's Potential

Sam Bankman-Fried Convicted of Fraud

Months after Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty by the US court on the seven charges of fraud and money laundering, the former top executive of FTX is now convicted of his crimes. The recent proceedings had federal prosecutors recommending to the presiding judge to impose a 40 to 50 years prison sentence for Bankman-Fried, alongside an order to pay more than an $11 billion fine.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Bankman-Fried showed no remorse for his actions, which center on seven charges, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The disgraced FTX CEO will face his sentencing on March 28, with the court now deciding on the length of his incarceration, with SBF's legal team still arguing for a lighter sentence because of his autism.

FLOKI Rallies to Top 60 Crypto

While not known for its massive price and valuation, FLOKI, the renowned altcoin, is rallying. Last week, it entered the Top 60 Cryptocurrencies in the world, beating its rivals in the market. Among the many altcoins present, like Dogecoin, SHIBA Inu, Pepecoin, and more, FLOKI's performance is one noteworthy development as it saw a significant improvement in today's market.

Last week, it saw a new local high of $0.00027, its highest recorded price since November 2021, back when altcoins took the stage, with FLOKI best known for riding in Bitcoin's coattails.

CoinQuest (via Binance) reported a surge in its Total Value Locked to over $693 million, exceeding its aggregated trading volume of $2.7 billion in only the past 24 hours.

Related Article: Bitcoin Fog, Roman Sterlingov, Convicted of BTC Laundering, But Looks to Appeal





 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SpaceX is now developing the 'Starshield,' the renowned spy satellite that is meant for the US Department of Defense (DoD) under a contract with the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), according to reports.

In this new venture, SpaceX is creating hundreds of new spy satellites for the government to soon launch into the low-Earth orbit, centering on tracking targets on the Earth's surface.

These new orbiting satellites would operate as a swarm, best known for seeing a similar pattern to Starlink's operations, and provide internet connections via its so-called constellation.

SpaceX Starshield: New Spy Satellites for US Defense

Reuters reported that SpaceX was given a new contract by the Pentagon's NRO to build a new network of hundreds of spy satellites to deploy in the low-Earth orbit (LEO) for future surveillance needs. Five sources were revealed to have spoken to Reuters about this new SpaceX and Department of Defense deal, following up on a previous report about a $1.8 billion contract for the spy satellite in 2021.

The NRO and SpaceX did not confirm this said contract, but the Defense subsidiary claimed that they are working on creating "the most capable, diverse, and resilient space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system the world has ever seen."

Additionally, SpaceX had a $70 million contract with the Space Force for Starshield, which provided satellite communications under the program.

Read Also: SpaceX Starship for US Military's Upcoming 'Dangerous' Missions Under Government Control

Swarm of Starshield Spy Satellites for Tracking

While Starlink is for civilians, Starshield was dedicated to the use of the government and the national security needs of those dealing with SpaceX.

In this latest development, the NRO means to use the Starshield for satellite imagery and tracking the Earth's surface, using a combination of large imaging satellites for data collection and relay satellites to share information.

SpaceX and its Satellite Ventures

SpaceX's most popular satellite venture and development center on its Starlink, the company's renowned internet satellite service that delivers fast connections from space straight to ground receivers. Continuous Starlink deployments still bring new satellites to space, helping expand SpaceX's constellation system to deliver the famed internet connection to available global locations.

However, SpaceX has a lesser-known satellite development known as Starshield. The company debuted it in 2022 and specifically caters to military needs.

SpaceX is popular for its commercial services, which also cater to the US government. It offers significant help in launching payloads to the orbit alongside crewed missions for NASA's Commercial Crew program.

More recently, SpaceX and Elon Musk faced controversy over Starshield's activation, one which the Pentagon looks to use to aid Taiwan amid the escalating situations in the country.

Despite this ongoing issue, SpaceX is yet again tapped by the US Department of Defense for Starshield, centering on creating a new swarm of US spy satellites for ground tracking, following up on the 2021 contract for the defense satellite.

Related Article: Elon Musk Urged by Lawmakers to Activate SpaceX's StarShield for Taiwan's Defense

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/15/ukraine-village-mobilized-men-war/

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In this Ukrainian village, almost no men are left

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/15/ukraine-village-mobilized-men-war/

By Siobhan O'Grady, Anastacia Galouchka, and Serhiy Morgunov

A man digs a grave early this month in a new section of the cemetery in Makiv, Ukraine. (Alice Martins for The Washington Post)

MAKIV, Ukraine  Few men of fighting age are left in this village in southwest Ukraine, and those who remain fear they will be drafted at any moment.

Their neighbors are already hundreds of miles east in trenches on the front lines. Some have been killed or wounded. Several are missing. Others from this rural area  about 45 miles from the borders of Romania and Moldova  have fled abroad or found ways to avoid the war, either with legitimate exemptions or by hiding.

Its just a fact, said Larysa Bodna, deputy director of the local school, which keeps a database of students whose parents are deployed. Most of them are gone.

Ukraine desperately needs more troops, with its forces depleted by deaths, injuries and exhaustion. Despite Russias own enormous casualties, the invaders still far outnumber Ukraines defenders, an advantage that is helping Moscow advance on the battlefield. Ukraines parliament is debating a bill to expand the draft pool, in part by lowering the eligibility age to 25 from 27, but few decisions are being made in Kyiv that will quickly answer the armys urgent needs.

Civilians here say that means military recruiters are grabbing everyone they can. In the west, the mobilization drive has steadily sown panic and resentment in small agricultural towns and villages like Makiv, where residents said soldiers working for draft offices roam the near-empty streets searching for any remaining men. Such tactics have led some to believe that their men are being targeted disproportionately compared with other regions or bigger cities like Kyiv, where it is easier to hide.

Locals use Telegram channels to warn of soldier sightings and share videos of troops forcing men into their vehicles  stoking rumors of kidnappings. Some men are now serving time in jail for refusing to sign up.

People are being caught like dogs on the street, said Olha Kametyuk, 35, whose husband, Valentin, 36, was drafted in June by soldiers who approached him and asked for his papers after he stopped for coffee on the main road outside Makiv. Despite a diagnosis of osteochondrosis, a joint disorder, he passed his medical exam in 10 minutes, she said, and deployed to the front, where he was wounded.

The whole village was taken this way, said Valentins mother, Natalya Koshparenko, 61.

Almost all our men have been scraped out, said Serhii, 47, an infantry soldier from Makiv who was drafted in March 2022 and serves in Ukraines 115th brigade.

Home for a short break this month for the first time in a year, Serhii said he had already been stopped and questioned. So had his son, who is only 22 and not yet eligible to be drafted. The Washington Post is identifying Serhii only by his first name because of the risk of repercussions.

When the soldiers realized he was already serving, he said, they asked how he felt about men who havent seen a single day of war  which he said he regarded as a forced, hollow show of camaraderie. Serhii said he replied by saying it was them, not his fellow villagers, he resented most.

Youre military and Im a civilian, but Im fighting and youre not, he said. The conversation, he noted, ended immediately.

Oleksii, 30, was fixing his car last year when soldiers approached and handed him a draft order. It was Valentines Day and the news broke his girlfriend, Elvira, who works in a small shop in Makiv and barely ate for weeks afterward. Oleksii accepted his fate, but his experience has served as a warning to others about the realities on the front.

After three concussions and shrapnel wounds, Oleksii recently returned home. Scrolling through his phone, he showed a photo of him with more than a dozen fellow troops. Only two are still alive, he said.

This month, villagers in Makiv buried another of their own  Ihor Dozorets, a contract soldier who was wounded so badly that his son, also a soldier, identified him only by a scar on his hand. He wanted to come home, Ihors sister, Inna Melnyk, 43, said through tears. He was tired of it all. But what can we do?

Vasyl Hrebeniuk, 70, said that even at his age  10 years over the draft limit  soldiers have regularly stopped and questioned him in Makiv.

Six weeks ago, he watched soldiers bang on a neighbors door, complaining that the man who lived there had asked to go say goodbye to his wife and mother, then disappeared. One soldier said they should have taken him immediately, put him in the bus and driven away, Hrebeniuk recalled.

Scenarios like these have left Polina, 16, anxious about how much longer she has with her father  one of the few draft-eligible men left in the village.

Last summer, Polina and her friend Olha were relaxing at a table outside the village store when Olhas dad called and asked her to buy something for him there. She brushed off his request, saying she was busy with friends. He walked to the store himself instead, and the teens watched in horror as soldiers surrounded him and handed him a summons on the way in.

He has been serving ever since  and his daughter blames herself. Olha thought it was her fault, Polina said.

Tetiana Lychak, 32, a teacher at the local school, lost her husband on the front line in late 2022. Her son Max is only 5 but already speaks of joining the army, Lychak said, and she wonders if she, too, should take a turn. One of her colleagues, a teacher who used to instruct high school students in basic army drills as part of a course called Protecting Ukraine, is now deployed. Three students in his class have fathers serving in the military.

Maya Proskurivska, 63, is hiding the truth about her son-in-law, Oleksandr, 41, from his children, who are 8 and 14. Sent to fight in the Donetsk region, he has been missing since December, she said, but the children think he is confirmed as a prisoner of war. These days, she said, on our street, its hard to find a young man.

On a chilly afternoon this month, Eleanora Voropanova, 4, pedaled her tricycle up and down the quiet road outside her house. Asked if her parents were home, she paused. Mom is home, she replied. Dad is at war.

Her mother, Tanya, 42, opened the gate. Inside, her nephew, Bohdan, 25, and his friend Artem, also 25, trudged through the yard, chopping firewood.

It had been 16 months since Tanya last heard from her husband, Serhii, who joined the army in March 2022 and disappeared while fighting that November. A fellow soldier called at the time and told her he had two updates. The first is hes not among the dead, she recalled him saying. The second is hes not among the living.

She has lived in that limbo ever since  raising two daughters, now 4 and 8, alone. Her brother-in-law, Bohdans father, feared going to fight and fled abroad  a decision she scorns.

There are people hiding, sitting at home, not even willing to go to the store, she said. I saw a car today where the woman was driving and the husband was hiding behind tinted windows in the back.

The young men cleaning her yard acknowledged that they fear the draft. But Artem said he also resents men from eastern Ukraine who came west for refuge instead of staying to fight. They came here to hide, and our guys have to die there, he said. Artems father, who was drafted, is now fighting near the eastern city of Lyman.

Down the road from Makiv, in the small city of Kamyanets-Podilsky, a growing gallery honoring the dead fills a main square. Each photo shows the face of a local man or woman killed fighting for Ukraine.

On a recent morning, Lyuda Shydey stood weeping in front of the portrait of her younger brother, Serhiy Kozynyak, who was killed in 2022 in Avdiivka, a city that fell to Russian forces last month. Shydey has never been to eastern Ukraine but still dreams of one day walking barefoot through the place where he died.
Microsoft UK is reportedly claiming that the United Kingdom's efforts and strategies in strengthening the government's defenses against cyber attacks have become the "key" to improving the country's cybersecurity position.

Paul Kelly, director of security for Microsoft UK, attributes this improvement to the UK's numerous interventions around vital national infrastructure across departments, strategies, the nation's National Cyber Strategy, its ten-year plan, and the practical advice provided by the National Cyber Security Center of the country, which assists small and large enterprises alike.

As per Kelly, echoing Microsoft's Digital Defense Report for 2023, the UK is the second most cyber-attacked nation in Europe, with Ukraine taking the top spot; thus, it remains important to maintain the UK's favorable position against cyber attacks.

(Photo: JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP via Getty Images) France is facing a surge in cyberattacks just ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics.

However, data by Microsoft and Goldsmiths University indicates that despite the country's improvement in cybersecurity, only 13% of UK firms are "resilient" to cyberattacks.

According to reports, 39% of UK organizations fall into the high-risk category because of traits like a lack of leadership engagement, a large skills gap, and inadequate investment in R&D and technology. 48% of the businesses, on the other hand, were ranked under the vulnerable category.

Businesses are then recommended to include artificial intelligence (AI) in their cyber defenses since hackers increasingly use AI to increase the volume and quality of their attacks.

Read Also: Microsoft Confirms It Has Yet to Contain Russian State Hack

AI Cybersecurity

Kelly says that the same AI tools can assist executives in strengthening organizational security and regaining control of the situation. AI can reportedly both increase the security of the company and its data and decrease the negative effects of a cyberattack on their financial results.

Although the UK leads the world in cybersecurity, much more work must be done to protect businesses and the potential 52 billion yearly dividend that may significantly impact the country's economy.

The businesses' cybersecurity vulnerability is the most obvious weakness in the UK's goal of becoming a key leader in AI.

AI in cybersecurity has recently gained traction on both ends of the cyber spectrum, with Microsoft recently unveiling an April 1 release date for its AI-powered cybersecurity tool. After carefully testing the cybersecurity tool for almost a year, the IT giant hopes to improve and automate cybersecurity-related warnings, summaries, and several IT chores in a matter of seconds.

According to Microsoft, the new AI tool is a generative AI-powered security solution that upholds responsible AI principles and increases the efficacy and capacity of defenders to enhance security outcomes at machine speed and scale.

AI Cybercrime

AI has also long been shown to provide hackers with unwanted benefits. It has been alleged that ChatGPT copies have been uploaded to the dark web, allowing for a fresh round of highly hazardous AI-powered assaults.

Attacks are reportedly occurring at a rate of seconds and minutes instead of days or weeks, which is far faster than humans can detect and respond to.

Related Article: Privacy Watchdog Slams European Commission's Microsoft Software Use Over Data Transfer Risk

(Photo: Tech Times)

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An alleged AT&T data leak has reportedly been denied by the telecommunications giant, claiming that the data from roughly 70 million people recently posted for free on a hacking forum did not originate from their systems.

The hacker, who goes by the screen name 'MajorNelson,' posted the data for free on a hacking forum, claiming it came from a 2021 data breach by the hacking group ShinyHunters against an unnamed AT&T division.

(Photo: PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images) A visitor walks past US multinational telecommunications AT&T logo at the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering, in Barcelona on February 27, 2023.

The exposed data reportedly contains 73,481,539 records. It includes names, addresses, phone numbers, encrypted social security numbers, birth dates, and other internal data.

AT&T insists this material did not come from them, and there appears to be no evidence of a breach in their systems.

When questioned whether the data may have originated from a third-party vendor or service provider, AT&T has not yet replied.

The source of the data is currently unknown. No evidence suggests whether this data is from an AT&T "division" or a third party compromised it. Nevertheless, all indications indicate that this is AT&T user data, regardless of where it originated.

Read Also: Roku Suffers Data Breach, Hackers Sell Credentials of Hundreds of 15,000 Stolen Accounts

AT&T Customers' Data at Risk

According to BleepingComputer, many of the disclosed data sets appear to have originated from AT&T customers who have online accounts.

The report also verified that some data, such as phone numbers, residences, dates of birth, and social security numbers, are accurate.

However, the accuracy of all 73 million lines has yet to be verified.

Moreover, several cybersecurity experts have verified that some of the data is legitimate, including VX-Underground and Dark Web Informer.

In addition, BleepingComputer could not locate information about individuals known to be AT&T customers in 2021 and prior years.

This, however, would not be out of the ordinary given that, if this data leak is authentic, it is only a partial dump, with 201.8 million mobile customers as of the end of 2021.

AT&T 2021 Data Breach

'MajorNelson' claims that the leaked data came from the hacking group ShinyHunters, which claimed to possess about 70 million AT&T customers' confidential information in August 2021.

AT&T also refuted any claims that the data had been taken from its servers at the time.

The group informed RestorePrivacy that they were willing to assist AT&T in safeguarding its systems in exchange for a payout, notwithstanding the threat actors' claims that the data belonged to US users of the telecom company.

Popular hacker group ShinyHunters is well-known for selling data taken from tens of significant companies, including Microsoft, Minted, Chatbooks.com, Homechef, Tokopedia, and Homechef.

According to the RestorePrivacy website, which examined a genuine sample, the group requested $1 million for the whole database in August 2021 or $200,000 for access.

Related Article: [UPDATE] AT&T Confirms Outage Wasn't a Cyberattack Aftermath

(Photo: Tech Times)

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Recent reports have emerged suggesting that Apple is engaged in discussions with tech giants Google and OpenAI to integrate advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into its popular iPhone.

This potential collaboration with AI leaders could mark a significant advancement in AI-powered features for Apple's flagship device.

(Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 12: The new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are displayed during an Apple event on September 12, 2023 in Cupertino, California. Apple revealed its lineup of the latest iPhone 15 versions as well as other product upgrades during the event.

Apple's Potential AI Partnerships with Google and OpenAI

As first reported by Bloomberg, Apple is currently negotiating with Google to incorporate its Gemini AI engine into the iPhone. The talks also encompass discussions with OpenAI regarding the utilization of its ChatGPT model.

While no concrete terms or branding decisions have been reached, the aim is to introduce cutting-edge AI features into the iPhone software.

The potential integration of Google's Gemini AI into the iPhone software could pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in AI capabilities on Apple devices. Additionally, OpenAI's ChatGPT model is being considered as part of Apple's AI enhancement efforts.

More AI-Powered Devices

The collaboration between Apple and Google, if realized, could have far-reaching implications. With over 2 billion active Apple devices in the market, integrating Google's AI services into the iPhone could significantly expand the reach of AI tech to a vast user base.

This move could also address concerns among investors regarding Apple's perceived lag in AI app roll-out, potentially impacting the company's market valuation.

While the negotiations are ongoing, no deal is expected to be announced until June, coinciding with Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The delay in announcing any agreement underscores the complexity of the discussions and the importance of reaching mutually beneficial terms for all parties involved.

Read Also: Never Lose Your Phone Again: Google's 'Find My Device' May Soon Track Even When Turned Off

Challenges Ahead

Despite the potential benefits of integrating Google's AI technology into the iPhone, regulatory scrutiny looms over such partnerships. Both Apple and Google have faced antitrust scrutiny, particularly concerning their existing search partnership.

Additionally, controversies surrounding AI technologies, such as inaccuracies in image generation, highlight the need for careful consideration in implementing these advancements.

Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, has previously emphasized the company's commitment to AI innovation. He has recently promised AI features that "break new ground" and hinted at a major AI announcement later this year.

The potential collaboration between Apple, Google, and OpenAI represents a significant development in the field of artificial intelligence. To integrate advanced AI technologies into the iPhone, these discussions could indicate a new era of innovation for Apple and its flagship device.

However, The Verge points out that such partnerships have become more and more contentious with authorities, with the US Department of Justice accusing Google of leveraging them to unfairly fortify its dominance in the search engine market.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: visionOS App Store Now on Web: Check out New XR Apps From Apple Without the Headset

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a recently unveiled action plan by the UK Department for Transport, the 'future of flight' in the UK is set to undergo a remarkable transformation by the year 2030.

The report outlines ambitious plans that include the integration of flying taxis, the utilization of police drones for crime-fighting, and the introduction of autonomous aircraft.

(Photo : ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

A scale model of an electric air vehicle made by Supernal, a company developing a family of electric air vehicles, is displayed at Air-One, the world's first vertiport for flying taxis and autonomous delivery drones at the Urban-Air Port in Coventry on April 25, 2022.

Police Force, Emergency Services Integrating Drone Technology

According to the 'Future of Flight' action plan, drones are poised to play a pivotal role in various sectors by the end of the decade. West Midlands Police has already embraced drone technology, employing it to combat violent crime and anti-social behavior. In a recent success story, a drone aided in identifying suspects swiftly, a task that would have taken ground officers significantly more time.

Additionally, drones are slated to be utilized for life-saving purposes, with plans to drop defibrillators next to cardiac arrest victims, potentially saving precious minutes in critical situations.

Read Also: New Drone System Fights Spread of Diseases By Releasing Mosquitos

Driverless Flying Taxis in the UK

Furthermore, the report highlights the imminent arrival of driverless flying taxis in the UK skies. These futuristic vehicles are expected to start charging fares by 2030, offering commuters a novel and efficient mode of transportation. With the development of greener and quieter flying taxis underway, advancements in battery technology have paved the way for these vehicles to become a reality.

The Civil Aviation Authority is currently overseeing the authorization process, ensuring the safety and reliability of these innovative modes of transport. According to the report, the first flying taxi, "once confined to the realm of sci-fi," could fly in the UK as early as 2026.

The Future of Flight action plan does not stop there. It envisions a landscape where drones seamlessly deliver goods and medical supplies, transforming the way we perceive logistics.

By allowing drones to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), the sector is poised for exponential growth without impeding traditional airspace. Moreover, the plan includes the establishment of vertiports, and mini-airports for drones and electric aircraft, which will serve as launch and landing sites, facilitating smooth operations.

UK Government Support

The economic potential of drone technology is staggering, with studies estimating a boost of 45 billion to the UK economy by 2030. This infusion of capital is not only a testament to the transformative power of innovation but also underscores the UK's commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancement.

Aviation and technology minister Anthony Browne emphasized the importance of these developments, stating, "We're making sure the UK is at the forefront of this shift in transportation, improving lives and boosting the economy."

Moreover, the report underscores the collaborative efforts between industry and government in shaping the future of flight. The Future of Flight Industry Group, established to address the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging aviation technologies, continues to spearhead initiatives aimed at propelling the sector forward.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: MQ-9 Reaper: All About the US Drone Shot Down by Houthi Rebels Near Yemen

 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Reddit, the popular online social networking website, on Friday disclosed that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an inquiry into the companys artificial intelligence (AI) data licensing programs.

The news comes just days before the companys long-awaited initial IPO that will launch it as a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Making the disclosure of the investigation in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Reddit said that it received a letter from the FTC on Thursday, March 14, in which the federal agency said it is conducting a non-public inquiry focused on our sale, licensing, or sharing of user-generated content with third parties to train AI models.

It further added, Given the novel nature of these technologies and commercial arrangements, we are not surprised that the FTC has expressed interest in this area. We do not believe that we have engaged in any unfair or deceptive trade practice.

The FTC is expected to request a meeting with Reddit to learn more about its plans, as well as request information and documents from the company, as part of the inquiry. This disclosure came as an amendment to Reddits IPO filing.

In February this year, Reddit had struck a deal worth about $60 million per year with Alphabets Google so that it can make its content and platform data available for training the tech giants AI models.

This will make it easier to access Reddit from Google products. However, Reddit has said it is in the early stages of exploring its data licensing efforts.

Earlier this week, the company said it expects to price shares between $31 and $34 each when it makes its initial public IPO offering on the NYSE with the ticker symbol RDDT and aims for a valuation of up to $6.5 billion.

Last year, Reddits revenue increased to $804 million, a rise of 20%. Advertising accounted for about 98% of its sales, while the remaining 2% came from data licensing.

According to Axios, Reddit isnt the only company receiving these so-called hold letters, as similar letters have been sent to other companies from the FTC.

Currently, companies like Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon are being investigated by the FTC over their investments into prominent AI start-ups.
Press Release

March 18, 2024 Explanation of Vote | Senator Joel Villanueva

Senate Bill No. 2572 | Bulacan EcoZone Act Mr. President, distinguished colleagues: As a true-blooded Bulaceno, we wholeheartedly support the approval on Third Reading of Senate Bill No. 2572 or the Bulacan Special Economic Zone and Freeport Act. We thank and congratulate the Sponsor, Senator Grace Poe, for her diligence and hard work in pushing for this game-changing measure. We also thank our colleagues for their expertise and valuable inputs to make this bill even more responsive to the needs of our constituents. The creation of the Bulacan EcoZone or BuZ is groundbreaking as it could generate up to 1.2 million jobs for our people and bring in P37.84 billion to P130.9 billion of investments. The Sponsor also placed on record a number of times that concerned local government units were consulted and that they indeed support the creation of the BuZ. This is in addition to the expression of support already given by the Region 3 Regional Development Council. In the measure that this august chamber just approved, the Province of Bulacan and concerned LGUs will be properly consulted, as emphasized by the Sponsor during our deliberations. We especially thank Senator Poe for agreeing with our proposal to increase the LGU representation in the Board of Directors of the Bulacan Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority or BEZA, and for accepting our amendments to promote the protection of environment and improved management of natural resources in the BuZ, as well as to ensure the transfer of technology and skills to Filipino workers through the implementation of an understudy and skills development program. Furthermore, we thank our Sponsor for agreeing with this Representation that there should be enough safeguards in the measure to guarantee that the creation and operations of the BuZ will be within the framework of the Constitution, the Local Government Code, and national development plans, policies, and goals. Ginoong Pangulo, sa atin pong co-sponsorship speech para sa panukalang ito, atin pong ibinahagi ang ating paniniwala na marami pang maihahandog at napakalaki pa ang potensyal ng lalawigan ng Bulacan upang higit pang makapag-ambag sa ating pambansang kaunlaran. The passage of this measure is a step towards achieving this hope and vision. Again, we vote YES to the creation of more economic investment "buzz" in the country - the Bulacan EcoZone "BuZ" Act! Thank you and may God bless us all.
Disappearance of little Emile: the child's bones have been discovered, announces the prosecution

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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?

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Bear injures five in latest Slovak attack



Bratislava, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



A Slovak tourist town declared an emergency situation on Monday over a bear attack that left five people injured, including a child, just days after a woman died in a similar incident.

The northern municipality of Liptovsky Mikulas, located at the foot of the Tatra mountains with popular ski resorts in close proximity, witnessed the bear attack on Sunday.

"The bear spent about 20 minutes in the town centre, attacked five people and retreated into the woods," the town's spokeswoman Viktoria Capcikova told AFP.

"Five people, including a 10-year-old child suffered cuts and bites. The oldest individual treated in the hospital is a 72-year-old man," she said.

The authorities on Monday called on dwellers not to venture outside residential areas, in particular in the evening and early morning hours as the bear was still on the loose.

Six patrol groups consisting of hunters, police officers and wildlife experts were trying to locate it around Liptovsky Mikulas, nearly 300 kilometers (200 miles) from Bratislava.

"They have at their disposal a drone with thermal vision, night vision, camera traps and service weapons," Capcikova added.

On Friday, a woman from Belarus died following a separate bear attack in the Demanovska Dolina valley area in Liptovsky Mikulas district.

The 31-year-old woman fell to her death from a cliff after being chased by a bear, officials said.

In 2021, a 57-year-old man was killed by a brown bear in central Slovakia in the country's first confirmed deadly attack from a wild bear.

Slovak researchers say there has been no major uptick in the estimated bear population, saying it was at around 1,275 last year.

The Slovak environment ministry earlier this month published guidelines on the protective shooting of brown bears, allowing special teams to shoot any bear that presents a threat to humans.

On Friday, the ministry said it would, together with Romania, submit a proposal for the EU to reclassify the bear to a lower category of protected wildlife, which will enable more active intervention in the bear population.
Bear injures five in latest Slovak attack



Bratislava, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



A Slovak tourist town declared an emergency on Monday after a bear attack left five people injured, including a child, just days after a woman died in a similar incident in the region.

They mark the latest bear attacks, which have been on the rise in the central European country.

The bear attack occurred on Sunday in the centre of Liptovsky Mikulas, a town nestled in the foothills of the Tatra mountains near popular ski resorts.

"The bear spent about 20 minutes in the town centre, attacked five people and retreated into the woods," the town's spokeswoman Viktoria Capcikova told AFP.

"Five people, including a 10-year-old child, suffered cuts and bites. The oldest individual treated in the hospital is a 72-year-old man," she said.

The authorities on Monday called on residents not to venture outside residential areas, in particular in the evening and early morning hours as the bear was still on the loose.

Six patrol groups consisting of hunters, police officers and wildlife experts were trying to locate it around Liptovsky Mikulas, nearly 300 kilometres (200 miles) from Bratislava.

"They have at their disposal a drone with thermal vision, night vision, camera traps and service weapons," Capcikova added.

On Friday, a woman from Belarus died following a separate bear attack in the Demanovska Dolina valley area in Liptovsky Mikulas district.

The 31-year-old woman fell to her death from a cliff after being chased by a bear, officials said.



- Attacks on the rise -



Bear attack have been on the rise in Slovakia, according to data from the environment ministry.

Last year there were 20 such incidents in Slovakia, up from only eight in 2021.

In December, near the northern city of Martin, a man came away from an encounter with a bear with bite wounds on his leg and scratches on his hands.

In 2021, a 57-year-old man was killed by a brown bear in central Slovakia in the country's first confirmed deadly attack by a wild bear.

The attacks have fuelled lively debate on social media.

Slovak researchers say there has been no major uptick in the estimated bear population, saying it was at around 1,275 last year.

The Slovak environment ministry earlier this month published guidelines on the protective shooting of brown bears, allowing special teams to shoot any bear that presents a threat to humans.

Environment Minister Tomas Taraba on Friday blamed NGOs and the constitutional court for the death of the Belarusian woman chased off a cliff.

"According to a constitutional court ruling, shooting bears on a large scale is not allowed. So I congratulate the constitutional court. I hope you are happy with your work, this is also your doing," he told reporters after the attack.

Also Friday, the ministry said it would, together with Romania, submit a proposal for the EU to reclassify the bear to a lower category of protected wildlife, which would allow more aggressive control of the bear population.

bur-amj/yad
Saudi Aramco CEO calls energy transition strategy a failure



Houston, March 18 (AFP) Mar 18, 2024



Pointing to the still paltry share of renewable energy in global supply, the head of Saudi Aramco described the current energy transition strategy as a misguided failure on Monday.

"In the real world, the current transition strategy is visibly failing on most fronts," Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser said at the CERAWeek conference in Houston.

Fossil fuels accounted for 82 percent of global consumption last year, according to a report from consultancy KPMG cited by Nasser, who noted that the International Energy Agency has said oil demand could hit a record this year.

"This is hardly the future picture some have been painting," Nasser said.

"All of this strengthens the view that big oil and gas is unlikely for some time to come out, let alone in 2050," added Nasser, alluding to a medium-term target that has been seen as a potential phaseout date for crude.

Joining Nasser in speaking skeptically of an imminent energy revolution was ExxonMobil Chief Executive Darren Woods, who said "we're not on the path" to reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

"One of the challenges here is that while society wants to see emissions reduced, nobody wants to pay for it," Woods said.

Nasser called for policies more in tune with the "real world."

While alternative energy can reduce emissions, "when the world does focus on reducing emission from hydrocarbons, it achieves much better results," Nasser said.

Last year's COP28 conference included a call for a transition away from fossil fuels.

But Nasser said the world should "abandon the fantasy of phasing out oil and gas and instead invest in them adequately reflecting realistic demand assumptions."
A table of photographs sits at the entrance of the Brusly High School football field at the candlelight vigil for Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Brusly, Louisiana. The two girls died in a vehicle crash, as an Addis police officer pursued a suspect.
She informed the call-taker that the child had overdosed in his own house twice and went home with parents who nearly killed him twice after being admitted and treated at Childrens Hospital, according to the OIG report. Stating that she would like to get this kid somewhere safe, she informed the call-taker that she ordered extra blood work to test for fentanyl and had received confirmation that the child had fentanyl in his system at the time of his June 4 hospital admission.

Still, the DCFS bungled the response.

When the case was initially assigned on June 7, it was given a priority 2, meaning caseworkers were supposed to follow up within 48 hours. That never happened.

DCFS worker overloaded

The worker assigned to the case was in the middle of a sex abuse investigation when she received Robinsons case. Shed also been assigned to backlogged cases and had scheduled time off, according to her interview with the OIG.
The woman forwarded another email to Anderson which she had sent to Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. Key elements of the complaint to Rowland reflect the content in a number of call to action templates shared around pro-Israel support and WhatsApp groups on the morning of Monday, December 18, and throughout that week. Different versions of the call to action encouraged complaints to be sent to Rowland, the ABC board and Anderson. The calls to action are not included in the court case. 1.34pm

Anderson shares the complaint with news director Justin Stevens, chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor and acting editorial director Simon Melkman, with an accompanying note asking them to look into it.

1.49pm

Oliver-Taylor forwards the complaints to the acting head of the ABCs capital city radio network, Steve Ahern, head of audio Ben Latimer, Melkman and Sashka Koloff, the managing editor for standards and compliance in the content division. In the email, Oliver-Taylor asks them to ensure Lattouf is not posting anything that would call the broadcasters impartiality into question. I am concerned her public views may mean that she is in conflict with our own editorial policies, but Simon and Sashka would be able to advise. Can we also advise why we selected Antoinette as stand in host? Oliver-Taylor writes. 1.52pm

Ahern  who is normally ABC Radio Sydney station manager  forwards the complaints to Elizabeth Green, the stations content director, and acting station manager Mark Spurway, asking for feedback on the issue and urging they speak to Lattouf urgently.

Oliver-Taylor tells the Fair Work Commission on March 8 that he had reported back to Anderson on December 18 there was no issue and no concern that Lattouf had breached the ABCs standards. He tells the hearing that more complaints were received that afternoon and the next day. Green tells the commission that on Monday, December 18, she advised Lattouf to keep a low profile, and not post anything controversial. Tuesday, December 19 Afternoon

Green gave evidence she had another conversation with Lattouf on Tuesday, December 19, after her show about craft and contents. Green says she again suggested that Lattouf still keep a low profile, best not to post anything.

The post made by Antoinette Lattouf on December 19 which was deemed to be relating to a controversial topic. 5.51pm

Lattouf shares a Human Rights Watch post on her Instagram account, with the caption HRW reporting starvation as a tool of war. Wednesday, December 20 11.24am

Soon after Lattoufs third show on December 20, The Australians media writer, Sophie Elsworth, puts questions to the ABC about Lattouf. These include inquiries about the number of complaints the ABC had received about Lattouf, how long she would be on air and whether the ABC was investigating her conduct relating to the Israel-Gaza war.

Around 12.30pm Oliver-Taylor tells the commission that on December 20 he had a meeting with Ahern, Latimer and Melkman to discuss the Instagram post. ABC chief content officer Chris Oliver-Taylor. Credit: Joe Armao Oliver-Taylor tells the hearing that after consulting with Ahern and Latimer, he decided Lattouf should be taken off air. Oliver-Taylor told court: I believed it was a breach of policy ... and that it may have breached social media policy. In response to questions during the hearing, Green confirmed she told her managers that she disagreed with the decision to take Lattouf off air for the sake of two days, and that she did not see a problem with sharing a post from Human Rights Watch.

She says she saw a separate story about the Human Rights Watch report on ABC News that morning. 1pm After the meeting, Oliver-Taylor texts Anderson to confirm his view that Lattouf breached the ABCs editorial policies whilst in our employment, and failed to follow a directive from her producer not to post anything while working with the ABC. As a result of this, I have no option but to stand her down. Call me if you can, but if not possible, I will action within the hour, he says in the text.

Oliver-Taylor tells the Fair Work hearing the intent of the message was to brief Anderson before a media storm developed as a result of the decision to stand down Lattouf, rather than seeking approval for the decision. I felt the matter of taking someone off air is serious enough that the managing director should be aware of that, Oliver-Taylor tells the commission. Soon after the text, Anderson calls Oliver-Taylor. Oliver-Taylor tells the hearing Anderson agreed with the course of action. Oliver-Taylor tells Fair Work: I am still not sure whether theres a breach or not, if Im being honest in reference to questions about the social media policy. 1.30pm

Oliver-Taylor directed Latimer to stand down Lattouf, then briefed ABC head of corporate communications Nick Leys.
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Review Eating outBrunswick East This under-the-radar newcomer is one of Melbournes best cocktail bars right now Maggies Snacks and Liquor is worth crossing town for. All it needs is a crowd. Besha Rodell March 19, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

As featured in the Melbourne hit list April 2024. See all stories .

1 / 8 Brick walls and vintage posters give Maggies a familiar (too familiar?) feel. Chris Hopkins 2 / 8 The zucchini tart, featuring citrus-cured zucchini atop flaky pastry, is miraculously vegan. Chris Hopkins 3 / 8 Fried lasagne topper with pickled mushrooms and yuzu mayo is another win for vegetarians. Chris Hopkins 4 / 8 Hangi potato smashies topped with wakame. Chris Hopkins 5 / 8 Ora King salmon is served with a jumble of diced summer veg. Chris Hopkins 6 / 8 Hokey-pokey ice-cream sandwich touches on Kiwi nostalgia. Chris Hopkins 7 / 8 The interior at Maggies Snacks and Liquor, Brunswick East. Chris Hopkins 8 / 8 The team at Maggies Snacks and Liquor. Chris Caporaso Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Contemporary$$$ Brunswick, what has gotten into you? Are your dining options simply so diverse and exciting that you can ignore a newcomer as good as Maggies Snacks and Liquor? Are you so overwhelmed with all the casual, affordable quality venues around that you can muster a collective shrug at this wildly adaptable, super fun option? How else to explain a room thats been mostly empty in recent weeks? Granted, its a huge room (or a couple of rooms, to be exact), located in the former Alehouse Project on Lygon Street. Its hard to make a space this big feel cohesive but the group of owners  who include Nathan Toleman, director of the Mulberry Group, and Kaidee Grzankowski, whose grandmother the restaurant is named for  have done a nice job of it, combining simple wooden tables and chairs with plush couches and hightop bar seating.

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With its brick walls and framed vintage posters, it perhaps feels too familiar, not exciting enough to attract the crowds. On a recent night, as many people came in asking for a job as asking for a table. Which is a real shame, because what you can get at one of those many tables would stand out in any neighbourhood. Lets start with the drinks. This is no negroni/G&T/spritz situation. The cocktails (all $22), by former Nomad barman and Maggies beverage director Alejandro Archibald are complex, ambitious, beautiful and, most importantly, bloody delicious. The Beeswax Martinez, made with gin, quince vermouth, pineapple sage apera and maraschino, is lightly autumnal and beautifully savoury. The current milk punch (it changes seasonally) has a lovely underlying coconutty essence, without straying into cloying suntan lotion territory, a fate that befalls so many coconut drinks.

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Id rate Maggies as one of the best cocktail bars around right now, and thats saying something because Melbournes cocktail scene kicks butt. In the kitchen, Scott Blomfield is making food that goes well with drinking  hyper-elevated bar snacks  and quite a few dishes that go beyond that. Theres a pronounced New Zealand theme, as with the Maori fried bread ($13), which is presented like a savoury doughnut, stuffed with pickled mussels and chorizo and topped with a flurry of shaved fennel. Maori fried bread presents like a savoury doughnut. Chris Hopkins Lately, Ive found myself wondering whether Ive lost my mind because so many restaurant dishes seem aggressively over- or under-salted, but eating Blomfields food gave me solace. Everything is calibrated just so, the salt and acid and base notes working in perfect harmony. A gorgeous zucchini tart ($12) has raw, lightly citrus-cured zucchini atop a flaky pastry with mushroom dashi cream cheese and miso mustard. Its also miraculously vegan  this menu is very vegetarian-friendly. The (vegetarian) fried lasagne topper ($10) comes with a heap of delicate pickled mushrooms and a dollop of yuzu mayo.

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The duck and pickle corn dog ($13) would be one of the citys best drunk-snacks if not for the meat being undercooked in the centre when I had it. Hangi potato smashies ($15) also fall into that great booze-absorbing tradition, the heap of wakame on top making for an umami-rich treat. Id rate Maggies as one of the best cocktail bars around right now, and thats saying something. Are you slightly over the proliferation of wagyu on menus? Its so rich, I can seldom stomach more than a few bites. Blomfield made me excited for it again by serving it with lettuce for wrapping and a sauerkraut made from beetroot ($48), giving it exactly the fresh foil it deserves. And his cooking chops can be seen in full force with an Ora King salmon ($38), its skin crisp and its flesh melting, served with a jumble of diced summer veg and a delicate, airy roasted bone espuma. The foraged salad it came with was a bit bitter and overwhelming, but everything else was impeccably balanced. Ora King salmon, its skin crisp and flesh melting, is a lesson in cooking prowess. Chris Hopkins

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For dessert, you can get an ice-cream sandwich, currently made with house-made Anzac biscuits ($10). If the ice-cream were a little firmer, the structure of the thing would work better, but I didnt mind taking the wonderfully chewy cookies and dipping them in the soft ice-cream rather than eating it in the classic manner. Service is friendly, knowledgeable, and incredibly laid-back, almost to a fault. I blame this on the dearth of customers  I know this team will kick into high gear when theres something for them to do other than fold napkins. Can we give them something to do, Brunswick? Melbourne? If youre into good cocktails and food that punches well above its weight, Maggies is worth the trip. The low-down Vibe: Double-fronted Victoria shopfront with a brick-walled, clubby feel. Go-to dish: Maori fried bread, $13. Drinks: Fantastic cocktails, really nice medium-sized wine list with everything from local bargains to $1000+ Burgundies. Cost: About $90 for two, plus drinks.

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From free food and entertainment at polling stations to threats and disappearing ink, the Kremlin was determined to cajole Russians into voting for Vladimir Putin in this presidential election.

Leaked Kremlin documents have shown that it wanted Putin to win 80 per cent of the vote on a high turnout over the weekend to prove that Russians support his war in Ukraine. Putin had some 87 per cent of the vote with 90 per cent of the count completed.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits his campaign headquarters after a presidential election in Moscow. Credit: AP

And to achieve this analysts said that it built a vote-fixing toolkit.

The authorities use various items from their menu of manipulation to secure the results they want, said Ben Noble, associate professor of Russian studies at UCL.
In the days after the October 7 massacre, US President Joe Biden rushed to Israel, stood shoulder to shoulder with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and pledged what sounded like almost unlimited support for Israels highly justifiable counterstrike. At this point, however, Israels line of credit has almost run out.

Most Western leaders support Israels right to self-defence. Its goal of removing the Iran-backed Hamas terrorist group from power in Gaza was not unreasonable after almost two decades of absorbing thousands of rockets and other terrorist attacks. The last straw was the horrendous Hamas invasion during which 1200 people were barbarously murdered and over 240 abducted and taken hostage, including women, children and the elderly.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu embraces President Joe Biden after the US president arrived in Israel on October 18. Credit: AP

But the Gaza war has not gone well. Approaching the half-year point, it has killed many thousands of Gazans (along with hundreds of Israeli combatants). More than 130 hostages remain in Gaza, dozens of them believed dead. Hamas remains in charge of the Rafah region in southern Gaza, to which most of the strips 2.2 million people have been displaced. Its terrorists continue to emerge from tunnels in other parts of the strip, commandeering aid shipments and causing mayhem. Theyre beaten but unbowed.

Netanyahu, reviled around the world and widely distrusted at home, has refused to articulate a day-after plan that might calm the region; Irans Houthi proxies in Yemen have upended maritime trade by impeding access to the Suez Canal; anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiments rage around the world. And, critically, in the US, Bidens re-election chances are undermined by Netanyahus provocations.
New series from Bladnoch puts fans front and centre

Bladnoch has announced the first expression in its new series Loch Maberry: Stories of Bladnoch. The limited-edition series celebrates individuals who have a deep affinity with Bladnochs whiskies.

The inaugural release in the series, Chapter 1, is a homage to Bladnoch admirer Mr Arnold (pictured). Having first become aware of Bladnoch when he lived nearby the distillery, Mr Arnold was selected for the series due to his years of appreciation for the whisky.

Mr Arnold was invited to select a cask to be bottled for the Loch Maberry series by Bladnoch master distiller Dr Nick Savage. He selected cask 89, distilled in 2008 and matured in first fill Californian red wine hogshead. The result is a whisky which Bladnoch says displays notes of fruity blackcurrant jam, ginger, and herbs and delivers a sweet and warming finish.

Mr Arnold said: It is an honour to be the story of Chapter 1. Spending time with Dr Nick Savage, the Master Distiller, and learning about the process of cask selection was remarkable. His focus is on taste first, and I admire that.

The sweet and warming flavours of the whisky we chose tell the story of my Bladnoch journey, and how welcome I have always felt at the distillery. Its richness reflects how my Bladnoch experiences have enhanced my life.

The series is named for Loch Maberry, the source of the river Bladnoch from which the distillery sources its water.

Bladnoch now invites those who would like to be considered for Chapter 2 of Loch Maberry: Stories of Bladnoch to share their stories via the Bladnoch website

18 March 2024 - Lucy Schofield
Apparently, one of the Homegrown stages is still up from over this weekend, despite the others being taken down. Waitangi Park is where the Jim Beam Park Stage was located. That's a solid clue if I've ever seen one.
BJPs Election Management Committee holds meet, discusses necessary guidelines for polls





Staff Reporter

An important meeting of Election Management Committee of Bharatiya Janata Party was held at partys divisional office, on Sunday. BJP State Organisation General Secretary Hitanand Sharma addressed the meeting and gave necessary guidelines for the general elections. Rajya Sabha MP and Jabalpur division in-charge Kavita Patidar gave introduction of the meeting. Addressing party leaders, workers Hitanand Sharma said we have to prove again our organizational capacity in the Lok Sabha elections. We have to achieve target given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi abiki bar 400 par and to achieve this target, cent per cent percent voting has to be done at every booth.

Sharma said asked party leaders to orgnaise meetings in every booth and reach out to the four main sections mentioned by PM Modi, which include youth, women, farmers and the poor and apprise them of work and welfare schemes being run by the Modi government. At present, social media is a powerful medium for the common man to express views. We have to reach as many people as possible by connecting through social media and spreading the information about the schemes and work done by BJP government. Sharma further said by reaching the places where the number of voters from ST and SC category is high, party workers have to apprise them of information and works of Modi government.
Congress likely to declare remaining candidates on 19th





By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla

With the Election Commision announcing dates of Lok Sabha elections on Saturday, questions are making rounds that when the Congress will declare full list of candidates from the State for Lok Sabha elections. It has become a crucial issue from commoners discussions to political aisles in the State. As The Hitavada had reported earlier that the Congress may come up with the names of candidates for upcoming Lok Sabha polls on March 19. On Sunday, Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari said, We will declare names of candidates for remaining MP seats in two days. Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is formally ending in Mumbai today. All Congress leaders will be free from this yatra. The party high command has given instructions to finalise a single name after discussing seats for which candidates are to be declared with the State team and screening committee. Notably, Lok Sabha polls in the State will be held in four phases on April 19, April 26, May 7 and May 13.

Counting of votes will be held on June 4. Last week, Congress announced its candidates for 10 LS seats in MP. The party has left Khajuraho LS seat in Madhya Pradesh for Samajwadi Party (SP) as a part of seat sharing arrangements between them. Congress veteran Kamal Naths son Nakul had won Chhindwara seat in the State in last LS polls. Congress has retained Nakul Nath in Chhindwara this time. The partys first list for the State saw only two names retained. Eight new faces have been fielded. The Congress has fielded four Scheduled Tribe (ST) and three Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved seats so far. The party has fielded prominent Dalit leader and Bhander MLA Phool Singh Baraiya from Gwalior-Chambal belts Bhind (SC) Lok Sabha constituency. From Satna Lok Sabha seat the Congress has fielded MLA Siddharth Kushwaha.

Former State Government minister Kamleshwar Patel has been given ticket from Sidhi. Pankaj Ahirwar has been fielded from Tikamgarh (SC) against Union Minister Virendra Kumar Khatik. Other candidates include Rajendra Malviya from Dewas (SC), Porlal Kharte from Khargone (ST) and Radheshyam Muvel from Dhar (ST) seat. Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Congress is struggling to find candidates in Madhya Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will get a third term with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) getting the biggest mandate ever in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chouhan also claimed that the Congress will be reduced to its lowest-ever vote share and seats in upcoming elections.
Consumer rights: Behaviour, technology, law





By Mahima Garg

THE term consumer has not been given an exhaustive legal definition in international law, but the US President, John F Kennedys statement that consumers, by definition, include us all, while introducing a draft Bill on consumer rights on March 15, 1962 (now celebrated as World Consumer Rights Day), is the source of the concept of consumer rights. Therefore, consumer rights ought to be viewed as a distinct subset of human rights. It is interesting that although one may choose not to utilise these rights, one cannot give them up. Consumers play a significant role in the market economy, which provides enough justification to offer legal protection to everyone who, under certain conditions, becomes a customer while interacting with professionals in the market. The right to safety, the right to information, the right to make choices, the right to satisfaction of basic needs, the right to be heard, the right to redress, the right to consumer education and the right to a healthy environment, broadly, determine the status of a consumer in the modern era. For the foreseeable future, as technology and national policies evolve, the standing of consumer rights will undoubtedly be strengthened by adding more rights to the list.

Globally, consumer protection is a major concern in e-commerce which is a system that facilitates sales of goods and services through electronic exchange. Through cost savings, increased competition and improved production process organisation, e-commerce broadens choice and boosts productivity. Consumer International (CI), which was founded in 1960, is an alliance of about 250 consumer organisations from more than 100 nations that advocates and defends consumer rights in fora for international policy and the global economy. In 2017, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) examined consumer education, fair business practices and international cooperation to foster consumer trust, relevant laws and their enforcement. The vast expansion of electronic commerce across the globe, particularly in India, has led to a review of the legal framework governing online consumer protection. The majority of UNCTAD members, including India, have passed a variety of laws pertaining to e-governance, e-business and e-society. These laws include those governing e-transactions, consumer protection, cybercrime, and data privacy and protection.

The trend suggests that building trust in online transactions depends heavily on the law of the nation. Compared to offline purchases, online shopping requires more trust. In e-commerce, trust is essentially the capacity of one party to be open to the actions of another; trustors, by virtue of their networking connections, view trust as taking risks. The goal of the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, which were published on July 23, 2020 under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, is to safeguard consumers rights and interests in e-commerce by stopping unfair trade practices. The 2019 Act aims to change the jurisprudence underlying consumer protectionism from caveat emptor to caveat seller in order to protect consumers rights in all contemporary retail commerce models. Furthermore, the Act officially included business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce, simplified the complaint filing process and allowed customers to file complaints online and get their grievances resolved. Undoubtedly, the grievance redress mechanism outlined in the 2020 Regulations attempted to cater to the growing reliance on e-commerce during the pandemic. Similar to numerous novel and developing technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains somewhat enigmatic.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has many implications for consumers and consumer organisations that work to protect them, ranging from Internet-connected voice assistants that assist us with our shopping lists to hidden algorithms that decide how much to charge us for our hotel room by analysing user browsing history, past purchases and preferences. However, use of AI raises a number of difficult problems for global consumer protection, including intrusive AI that compromises our privacy, human bias and discrimination that is reflected in technology. Personalised recommendations from AI have a big impact on consumer decisions. The private sector has made use of research on human decision-making biases to increase the likelihood that customers will make purchases. In order to develop solutions to the issues raised by AI, cooperation between consumer organisations, civil society, businesses and policymakers will be essential with specific consumer legislations pertaining to AI and technological advancements. (IPA)
Staff Reporter

A four-member gang engaged in smuggling and selling weapons has been busted by the Unit 4 team of Crime Branch. After arresting the gang members, the police seized four pistols and nine cartridges from their possession. The accused have been identified as Sikandar alias Sheku Saifuddin Khan (38) from Mecosabagh; Ankit Sunil Valmiki (23) from Bejanbagh; Sunny Ganesh Tomskar (22) from Borkar Nagar; Bara Signal, and Aditya Hemraj Padole (20) both from Kamana Nagar. Their associates, Mukul Samad from Belabagh Chowk, Jabalpur, and Aman Khorde from Betul, are on the run. According to police, Sikandar and Ankit already had cases registered against them under the Arms Act. Ankit hails from Madhya Pradesh, and Mukul is known to be his relative. Both Mukul and Aman are alleged to be involved in smuggling weapons, with Ankit acting as a conduit for distributing these weapons to various criminals in the city.

The police received information that Sikandar had requested two weapons from Ankit, who then arranged them through Mukul and Aman. A planned arms deal was scheduled for late Saturday night. The Unit 4 team of Crime Branch set up a trap near Mecosabagh, where the four accused arrived in an SUV and were arrested by the police. Upon searching the accused, two pistols were seized, and further investigation led to the recovery of two more pistols during a raid on the accused's residence. The total value of confiscated items, including the pistols, cartridges, vehicles, and mobile phones, amounts to Rs 13.39 lakh.

The accused were handed over to the Jaripatka police for further investigation and were presented before the court on Sunday. The court granted a five-day police custody for interrogation. The police anticipate that the capture of Mukul and Aman could lead to the discovery of more weapons. The successful operation was carried out under the guidance of DCP Detectoin Nimit Goyal, with the efforts of PSI Avinash Jaibhaye, staff Roshan Tiwari, Sunil Thawkar, Atul Chate, Deva Thombre, Chetan Patil, Satyendra Yadav, and Bante.
Defence Minister approves extension of resettlement facilities to invalidated cadets





NEW DELHI,

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.
International students at Guj varsity attacked; 2 arrested





AHMEDABAD,

THE police have arrested two men and are looking for more after students hailing from different foreign countries were assaulted allegedly by a group of persons in the Gujarat University hostel in Ahmedabad for offering namaz there, police said on Sunday. Two students  one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan  were hospitalised after the incident which took place in the A-block hostel on Saturday night, they said. An FIR was registered against 20-25 unidentified accused persons under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for rioting, unlawful assembly, voluntarily causing hurt, damage to property, and criminal trespass, among others, and two persons identified as Hitesh Mevada and Bharat Patel have been arrested so far, DCP (Zone 7) Tarun Duggal said. Nine teams have been formed to conduct a probe into the incident, Police Commissioner GS Malik said. Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi held a meeting with police officers and directed them to take strict and judicial action in the matter, Malik said. The incident was reported at around 10.50 pm on Saturday when nearly two dozen people barged into the (Government-run) Gujarat Universitys hostel and raised an objection to students from foreign countries offering namaz in the facility where they stayed, the police officer said. Some 20-25 people entered the hostel premises and objected to the international students offering namaz there, asking them to do so in a mosque.

They argued over the issue, assaulting them and hurling stones. They also vandalised their rooms, Malik said. Two students, one from Sri Lanka and another from Tajikistan, have been hospitalised, he said. Police will take strict action against all those involved in the incident. The overall monitoring of the case will be done by the Joint Commissioner of Police of the Crime Branch. ...The law and order situation is under control and nobody needs to worry, he told mediapersons. He said that police have in the past taken strict action against elements, and will continue to do so in the future as well. Several purported videos of the alleged incident have also surfaced showing people pelting stones, and in one incident a man is seen slapping a university staffer, Malik said. He said that the police are verifying the authenticity of these videos. There are around 300 international students enrolled at Gujarat University, including from Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka and countries in Africa, Malik said.

Nearly 75 of the international students stay in the A-block hostel of the university where the incident occurred, the officer said. The police responded within minutes after a call was made to the control room at 10.51 pm. A police van reached the spot and action was taken, he said. While an FIR was registered against 20-25 people, two have been arrested so far. The rest will be arrested soon, Malik said, adding that the situation was under control. Nine teams have been formed, including four from the crime branch and five from local police under DCP, to conduct a probe into the case, he said. Gujarat University Vice Chancellor Neerja Gupta said that two groups clashed on the premises of the A-block hostel where 75 international students stayed. The matter escalated and some international students were hurt. An FIR has been registered. The Government and police have taken the matter seriously and an investigation is underway, she told media persons.
Maitri Bagh Zoo welcomes new animals





Staff Reporter

BHILAI,

Maitri Bagh Zoo operated by the SAIL- Bhilai Steel Plant management and the Jungle Safari Raipur, have exchanged wildlife residing in each others premises following approval from the Forest Department. As part of this exchange, wild animals were brought to Maitri Bagh Bhilai on Saturday, with some other wildlife, including lions, scheduled to arrive on Monday. According to the Maitri Bagh management, under the wildlife exchange process, a decision has been made to provide a female white tiger and two lions to the Jungle Safari. In return, from the Raipur Jungle Safari, Maitri Bagh received two female white tigers, two male white tigers, two female barking deer, and four porcupines. Dr N K Jain, Chief Veterinary Officer and the in-charge of Maitri Bagh Zoo, informed that on Saturday, four porcupines and two barking deer arrived from the Raipur Jungle Safari. Two barking deer will be brought here on Monday along with the female white tiger.

In exchange, Maitri Bagh will send a female white tiger and a male jackal tiger on Monday. Dr Jain mentioned that the number of white tigers in Maitri Bagh and the growth of newborn tigers have been good. Genetic variations have been observed in their species, prompting the exchange of a female white tiger from here and the arrival of a female white tiger from there. Similarly, other wild animals are also being exchanged in a similar manner. Additionally, a letter has been written to the Central Zoo Authority to bring lone or missing wild animals.

In fact, due to COVID, the exchange of wild animals at Maitri Bagh had been suspended for a long time. New guests had arrived at Maitri Bagh in 2017 before the exchange was halted. After extensive discussions with the State Forest Department, the exchange of wildlife between Bhilai Maitri Bagh and Jungle Safari Raipur, has received approval from the zoo authority. ED (P&A) Pavan Kumar in presence of CGM JY Sapkale, Vijay Sharma GM I/C TSD, P P Roy, Arif Khan, Rajesh Sharma, Lalit Kumar, Narsayya, Yogesh Chandrakar, Dr Sonam Veterinary Officer of Jungle Safari Raipur and others, released the porcupine arrived from Raipur to its new enclose at Maitri Bagh zoo.
NDA moves ahead taking regional aspirations and national progress: Modi in Andhra





AMARAVATI,

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the NDA moves ahead taking regional aspirations and national progress and during the third term after the polls, the country will take many more big decisions. Addressing an National Democratic Alliance (NDA) election meeting at Boppudi village in Palnadu district, Modi said NDAs aim is for Vikasit Bharat build Vikasit Andhra Pradesh and that during the past ten years, 25 crore people were lifted up from poverty.

Attacking the Congress party, Modi said the agenda of the grand old party is to use and throw its alliance partners.

Your life is precious to us: PM Modi urges people to climb down from light tower: THE National Democratic Alliance (NDA)s rally Prajagalam, was briefly interrupted after a group of people climbed atop a light tower to listen to their leaders. PM Modi, however, noticed people climbing the structure on which lights were fixed and immediately interrupted Jana Sena Party President Pawan Kalyan, who was addressing the gathering, to urge them to come down.
What to know about the week ahead

The state Labor Department will issue its monthly jobs report for February on Thursday afternoon.

The report will be the first since the department revised its job numbers earlier this month, showing that the Buffalo Niagara region's job growth during 2023 was much stronger than first reported.

That report also indicated that job growth continued at a roughly 2% annualized pace into January.

Even so, the region still has fewer jobs than it did at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, while the country as a whole recovered all of its Covid-19-related job losses in 2022 and has since grown by about 3%.

Welcome to Buffalo Next. The Buffalo News will bring you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy  from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com.

THE LATEST

A coffee shop  and possibly apartments  could be coming to a busy Amherst intersection.

The search for a new president at SUNY Niagara is down to four finalists.

A potential buyer for the McKinley Mall isn't interested anymore.

Five Star Bank wants a receiver appointed in fraud case.

The UB medical school added a top expert in health inequality.

A Buffalo affordable housing project could be changing hands.

Villa Maria College is getting a big donation for a library project.

Explore & More is adding a Broadway Market exhibit.

ECMC is getting new emergency generators, thanks to a federal grant.

Buffalo is among 25 cities in line for grants to help deal with climate change.

Bills, Legends hope Stadium Experience Center provides 'complete story' of new stadium.

Five Star Bank accused a Rochester-area restaurant owner of an $18.9M fraud.

The Buffalo Niagara unemployment rate jumped to 4.7% in January.

Inclusion goals for construction of the new Buffalo Bills stadium are closer to being reached, but still short.

Highmark will cut 15 jobs in Western New York as part of a larger companywide reduction.

A proposed South Buffalo scrapyard cleared a critical environmental hurdle.

How does University at Buffalo aim to build on the AI boom?

With financing tight, Buffalo Niagara developers are struggling to raise the funding they need for some projects.

Why some Buffalo Sabres season ticket holders are being barred from renewing.

ICYMI

Five reads from Buffalo Next:

1. Why the Buffalo Black Billion has struggled to gain traction.

2. Why shoppers prefer power centers over the mall.

3. The office market still is changing, four years after Covid-19.

4. What could the future hold for the site of Erie Community College's South Campus?

5. Western, upstate NY tech hub bid aims for $54 million in federal funds. The joint bid expects to find out this summer if it wins funding in the Commerce Department competition.

The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.




Staff Reporter

BHILAI,

ONE was relieved of Rs 41.74 lakh on pretext of hefty returns through online trading in Sector-7, Bhilai. After complaint in the matter Bhilai Nagar police have registered the offence and are further investigating in coordination by the cyber cell. Police sources informed that as per the complainant Bharti Dasan, a resident of Street-26, Sector-7, Bhilai, he was cheated of Rs 41.74 lakh on pretext of hefty returns through online trading with investment of money.

Dasan told the police in the course of repeated calls the unidentified caller managed to persuade him for investment with assuring them lucrative returns in online trading. Dasan also told the police that to win his confidence the unidentified caller credited Rs 1.5 lakh in his bank account in two installments during the period of last December to January months.

The police said that in the case the victim Bharti Dasan opted for lodging police complaint in the matter after he learnt about freezing of bank account of the accused unidentified caller by Begaluru police. In the case Bhilai Nagar police have registered the offence against the accused under section 420 of Indian Penal Code and are further investigating.

R Dhritlahare, Station House Officer, Bhilai Nagar Police Station informed that after complaint the police have registered the offence and are further investigating.
Political funding.. EC makes public fresh data on electoral bonds





NEW DELHI,

TOP purchaser of electoral bonds Future Gaming and Hotel Services donated Rs 509 crore to Tamil Nadus ruling party DMK through the now-scrapped payment mode, the Election Commissions data showed on Sunday. The donations given by Future Gaming, whose owner, lottery king Santiago Martin, has been under the scanner of Enforcement Directorate (ED), accounted for more than 77 per cent of the total receipts from electoral bonds of Rs 656.5 crore disclosed by the DMK. Since most political parties have not fully disclosed the names of the donors, it was not known who were the beneficiaries of the balance Rs 859 crore worth bonds purchased by Future Gaming. The disclosure is part of the data dump pertaining to a total of 523 recognised and non-recognised political parties made public by the Election Commission (EC) on the Supreme Courts orders. This followed another dataset published by the EC last week based on the information submitted by the State Bank of India (SBI), the sole bank authorised to sell and redeem electoral bonds. The latest dataset released by the EC included scanned copies of the disclosures made by the political parties, running into hundreds of pages.
States six sites nominated for UNESCOs World Heritage Sites





By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla

In addition to mind-blowing architecture and construction of monuments, six tourism destinations of Madhya Pradesh have now become famous for another reason as these sites have been nominated in UNESCO list of World Heritage sites. The State will have more destinations in the series of sculptures and temples of Khajuraho, Buddhist monuments and relics at Sanchi and Bhimbetka rock. The six sites nominated are Gwalior Fort, Historical Group of Dhamnar, Bhojeshwar Mahadev Temple, Rock Art sites of Chambal Valley, Khooni Bhandara, Burhanpur and God Memorial of Ramnagar, Mandla, the Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on social media. These six heritage sites have now been included in UNESCOs tentative list. Officials from respective regions and public representatives expressed happiness and termed it a proud moment for citizens of the State and as a big achievement. Burhanpur, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Sandeep Srivastava said, Around a decade ago efforts were intiated to claim underground water structure of Khooni Bhandara in the list of UNESCOs World Heritage.

In 2013, a UNESCO team had carried out inspection of the structure. Now the district administration, municipal corporation administration and Madhya Pradesh Government have prepared an action plan to provide facilities here given the possibility of domestic and foreign tourists and researchers visiting the place shortly. Presently, the UNESCO world heritage sites in MP includes sculptures and temples of Khajuraho. These structures strike a perfect balance between architecture and sculpture. Temple of Kandariya is decorated with a profusion of sculptures that are among greatest masterpieces of Indian art and are simply incredible, Buddhist monuments and relics at Sanchi are among the greatest masterpieces of Indian art. Bhimbetka rock shelters that depicts wealthy traditions of India and painting that marks existence of humans. While The Gwalior Fort is strategically located in the city of Gwalior , known for its impregnable defenses, this historic fort stands tall on a hill, offering a commanding view of the city and its surroundings. Khuni Bhandara or Kundi Bhandara is a unique underground water management structure located in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh. Situated in Sultanpur, it is one of the amazing historical monuments in Burhanpur.

Burhanpur being ruled by Mughals, most of its historical structures reflect the style of Mughal architecture and grandeur. Burhanpur was known as the gateway to southern India for its strategic location. Khuni Bhandara is a unique water supply system. It is being said that it was built in 1615 by Abdul Rahim Khankhana, Subedar of Burhanpur during the reign of Akbar and Jahangir. It was built to provide drinking water for his soldiers and people of the city. This underground water system was built with the help of Persian geologist Arkbul ArzIn. It has been declared as a state-protected structure by the State Directorate of Archaeology, Archives, and Museums. Dhamnar Caves are caves located in the village of Dhamnar, in Mandsaur district. These caves include 51 rock cut caves containing Buddhist and Hindu structures like stupas, chaityas, porch and small chambers both of Hinayana and Mahayana sects of Buddhism constructed around 5th-6th centuries AD. Absence of a Mandapa attached to Garbhagriha and use of a rectilinear roof rather than the more traditional curved Shikhara makes Bhojeshwar Temple unique. It is on a hill in the hamlet of Bhojpur. The temple never reached its completion till today. The Archaeological Survey of India looks after the maintenance and completion of the temple.
Vishnu Deo Sai: Charting a path to progress in Cgarh





By E V Murli

RAIPUR,

THE announcement of Vishnu Deo Sai as Chhattisgarhs fourth Chief Minister came as no surprise to those closely monitoring political developments. Party workers and leaders celebrated his selection, recognising his two terms as State unit president and years of parliamentary representation. Sais reputation for honesty, simplicity, and straightforwardness has endeared him to the people, shaping his political legacy. His elevation to the chief ministerial role reflects his dedication to public service and vision for the States progress. Those familiar with Sai perceive him as a leader who has redefined the essence of politics and public service, infusing it with sincerity and integrity. In a conversation with The Hitavada, Vishnu Deo Sai, the first tribal Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, provided insights into his Governments vision, achievements, and plans for the States development. Sais leadership reflects his experience in public service a commitment to welfare, inclusivity and embodying the essence of progress for Chhattisgarh.

Reflecting on his Governments initial months in power, Sai expressed satisfaction with the progress made. With three months completed since taking office, the Government has conscientiously working towards fulfilling promises made during the election campaign. Sai acknowledged the support received from both people of Chhattisgarh and Centre, emphasising a shared approach towards governance. When asked about his Government continuing the schemes of the previous Governments, Sai affirmed his Governments intention to continue flagship schemes initiated by previous administrations, irrespective of political affiliations. Schemes like the Charan Paduka that was started by the previous BJP Government and discontinued by the Congress will be reinstated. However, Sai emphasised on a fair and impartial review of schemes introduced by the Congress Government, with decisions made based on merit rather than bias.
Lockport man faces prison term after guilty plea in fatal shooting of bicyclist

A Lockport man faces up to 15 years in prison for fatally shooting a former Buffalo News employee on his bicycle last year, Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynns office said.

Kenneth James, 43, of Lockport, pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of second-degree manslaughter before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case.

James was initially charged with first-degree manslaughter for the fatal shooting of 38-year-old Joseph Dash about 3:50 p.m. Aug. 14, 2023, while Dash was riding his bicycle on Broadway near Krettner Street in Buffalo.

Dash, a former Buffalo News pressman, died at the scene, officials reported. They said the autopsy determined the cause of his death to be a pellet round shot to his chest.

James was accused of shooting Dash with a BB gun with the intent to cause serious physical injuries, The News reported. James had been arrested in Lockport.

At the time, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said the pellet gun used in the crime is legally not considered a firearm.

James is scheduled to be sentenced June 6.

- Debadrita Sur
A federal agents question, asked again and again, changed the course of an investigation in a way nobody saw coming  with a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent ending up in handcuffs.

This question jolted the investigation: What does it mean to be connected?

Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Curtis Ryan put that question to Ron Serio, an Amherst drug trafficker who had been caught by FBI agents and sheriffs investigators in April 2017 with a large amount of marijuana in a duffel bag and some cocaine.

During a meeting more than a year after his arrest between Serio and federal agents and prosecutors, Ryans initial focus was to glean details about Serios distribution network, motorcycle club members at Pharaohs Gentlemens Club and Serios relationship with Peter Gerace Jr. and his brother Anthony Gerace.

It was only when Ryan asked about the Geraces that Serios demeanor changed.

He was particularly uncomfortable when I asked him about Peter and Anthony Gerace, Ryan testified last week in U.S. District Court, recalling Serio said the two carried a lot of weight in the community.

Ryan picked up on Serios discomfort, so he zeroed in on what it means to be connected.

He was trying to evade answering that question, Ryan recalled. I continued to ask him the same question. And I was going to ask it until he answered it.

Then came the answer that changed everything. Serio uttered a name: Joseph Bongiovanni.

The onetime DEA agent had provided him information about informants and investigations as a way to shield Serios drug operation, Serio said.

Not a single member of law enforcement was investigating Bongiovanni before the Serio interview on July 20, 2018.

It never entered my mind, Ryan said.

The following summer, Ryan would be among federal agents searching Bongiovannis house in the Town of Tonawanda. And by the summer of 2020, Bongiovanni would become the first in Western New York ever charged with accepting bribes as a DEA agent to protect those he believed to be members of Italian organized crime.

Ryans testimony is the latest in the governments case against Bongiovanni, who faces charges he accepted at least $250,000 in bribes to shield drug traffickers from arrest, as well as provide them with information about investigations and cooperating sources. Many of the 15 charges are related to the Serio drug-trafficking organization. Other counts involve alleged bribes from Peter Gerace, the owner of a strip club in Cheektowaga, who himself is expected to face trial later this year on charges that include bribery, drug trafficking and sex trafficking.

Repeated, repeated questions, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Tripi previously told jurors at Bongiovannis trial, which enters its fifth full week Monday. Under that questioning and that specific focus, Ron Serio first uttered words that indicated that this defendant had been providing information about informants and investigations. That took the focus in a whole different direction.

Bongiovannis defense attorneys, who are expected to begin cross-examining Ryan on Monday, have denied Bongiovanni accepted any bribes.

Do you hate Italians?

Serios revelation became a secret among those who interviewed him.

The half dozen agents and prosecutors informed their bosses. But the details of the investigation would be concealed from other DEA agents and the broader law enforcement community, Ryan said.

The secrecy was also intended to protect Bongiovannis reputation, in case Serios claim turned out to be unfounded.

Two reports were prepared: one that would go to the DEA file omitting any information about what Serio said about Bongiovanni, and the other for Ryans agency, Homeland Security Investigations, that included everything Serio said.

Ryan became the case agent in what turned into a Bongiovanni investigation.

Anthony Casullo, a DEA special agent who participated in the Serio interview, had his own history with Bongiovanni.

About two years earlier, Casullo caused a subpoena to be issued for Geraces phone records, and Bongiovanni was not happy about it, Tripi said.

So Casullo had approached Bongiovanni and said words to the effect of, Hey, you seem upset. Whats going on? Id like to get past this, Tripi said.

And Bongiovanni got angry, Tripi said. And he said to Casullo, Do you hate Italians?

Casullo, whos Italian, said no.

Then Bongiovanni blustered, telling Casullo the agency should be investigating Black and Hispanic people, using racial epithets, Tripi said.

Bongiovannis alleged comments came two years before the Serio interview.

Casullo, who stopped investigating Gerace after that exchange, reported the race-related comments after the Serio interview, sparking an investigation by the Department of Justices Office of the Inspector General.

Although the narcotics chief at the U.S. Attorneys Office was walled off from the Bongiovanni case, he had told his prosecutors that Bongiovanni was no longer allowed to sign affidavits.

That means he cannot get a search warrant, he cannot charge someone, Tripi said. He couldnt do work with our office. And Bongiovanni learned it. And what he did was he poked and prodded, and tried to find out what he could.

Bongiovanni called an assistant U.S. attorney and asked why he couldnt sign affidavits, wondering if it was because of this inspector general thing, Tripi said.

Bongiovanni had a total blind spot as to the bribery investigation that was brewing, Tripi said.

By the fall of 2018, Bongiovanni prepared for his Feb. 1, 2019, retirement, Tripi said.

On Nov. 1, 2018, he wrote a DEA memo minimizing his contacts with Peter Gerace, including one time in which he said he met Gerace by chance at a beach cottage party, according to Tripi.

Thats how Bongiovanni, in an official report, wrote about his relationship with Gerace, Tripi said, because he knew about the race comments, and he knew his relationship with Gerace was under scrutiny.

On Dec. 10, 2018, after receiving a message from Gerace, he wrote another report describing the communication and informing his bosses he would report all contacts with Gerace to a DEA supervisor as he has done in the past.

But years worth of communications between the two were never reported, Tripi said.

The Gerace texts

The Homeland Security investigation continued as Bongiovanni left the DEA.

On March 29, 2019, about a month after his retirement, Bongiovanni was interviewed by an agent of the DOJs Office of the Inspector General, who avoided mentioning anything about the Serio prong of the investigation, Tripi said.

Bongiovanni answered questions about his relationship with Gerace.

He denied that he ever initiated contact with Gerace, Tripi said. He denied ever witnessing Gerace consume narcotics. He denied that Gerace ever contacted him while a dancer was overdosing at Pharaohs.

A crucial development followed about a month after Bongiovannis interview: Peter Gerace traveled internationally.

When travelers return to the United States, they are subject to border inspections. Homeland Security agents have authority to search travelers phones.

Ryan got the heads up Gerace would return to the United States on April 27, 2019, so he arranged to have Geraces iPhone confiscated at the Newark, N.J., airport. Geraces phone was sent to Ryan by FedEx in an evidence bag, and the DEA extracted the phones data.

During his testimony, Ryan read several of the extracted text messages between Gerace and Bongiovanni.

We need to get together soon, Gerace texted on Jan. 6, 2015.

I know bro maybe lunch soon. miss ya bro, Bongiovanni replied.

In July 2016, Gerace texted, Whats the date we are doing Aruba?

Bro, not this year, Bongiovanni replied.

In December 2018, Gerace texted after hearing a rumor the DEA was investigating Bongiovanni.

Hey brother I knew we havent talked in a while but youll always be one of my best friends and you know I always have your back, Gerace texted.

Defense attorney Parker MacKay called the texts the kind exchanged between old neighborhood friends who have gone their own ways but still have a past in common.

Were not going to deny they grew up together, and over the years had contact, MacKay said. They had a relationship going back years  the kind of contact that amounts to text message conversations over the years, back and forth, maybe a drink while out and about, even a dinner together on even fewer occasions.

MacKay called it the kind of contact (from) someone you cant quite shake despite your best intentions to put some distance between you and him.

Geraces phone included a photo of Gerace, Bongiovanni and others at a beach cottage party. A former Pharaohs dancer at that gathering testified earlier in the trial that Bongiovanni did cocaine with her and Gerace at that party.

The texts and photo led Ryan and other agents to search Bongiovannis house on June 6, 2019.

Bongiovanni was placed in handcuffs.

When Ryan took off the handcuffs, he sat with Bongiovanni at the dining room table. Bongiovanni did not know Ryan had gone through Geraces iPhone.

Bongiovanni denied a close relationship with Gerace, which Ryan called inconsistent with the messages.

Bongiovanni appeared stirred up during the search. His demeanor changed when Ryan asked him about a phone number. The number belonged to someone who knew Lou Selva, a friend of Bongiovannis since childhood. Selva has testified he negotiated the Serio bribes with Bongiovanni.

When Bongiovanni mentioned Selva, he put his elbows on his knees and dropped his head. He looked defeated, Ryan said.
Nordea Investment Management AB reduced its holdings in shares of CVS Health Co. (NYSE:CVS  Free Report) by 5.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 8,999,928 shares of the pharmacy operators stock after selling 543,089 shares during the period. CVS Health accounts for about 0.9% of Nordea Investment Management ABs investment portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. Nordea Investment Management ABs holdings in CVS Health were worth $710,949,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CVS. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of CVS Health by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 117,162,626 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $8,180,295,000 after purchasing an additional 485,744 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of CVS Health by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 55,877,387 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $3,862,804,000 after purchasing an additional 855,269 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its position in shares of CVS Health by 10.9% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 33,576,388 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $3,128,984,000 after purchasing an additional 3,311,928 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its position in shares of CVS Health by 29.1% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 27,487,238 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $1,919,159,000 after purchasing an additional 6,194,441 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of CVS Health by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 23,325,287 shares of the pharmacy operators stock valued at $1,607,886,000 after purchasing an additional 363,384 shares during the last quarter. 75.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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CVS Health Stock Performance

Shares of CVS stock traded up $0.98 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $77.40. The stock had a trading volume of 17,144,918 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,752,379. CVS Health Co. has a fifty-two week low of $64.41 and a fifty-two week high of $83.25. The firm has a market cap of $97.40 billion, a PE ratio of 11.98, a PEG ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.86 and a quick ratio of 0.63. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $75.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $72.74.

Insider Activity

CVS Health ( NYSE:CVS Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The pharmacy operator reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.01 by $0.11. CVS Health had a net margin of 2.33% and a return on equity of 15.25%. The company had revenue of $93.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $90.58 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.99 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 11.9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that CVS Health Co. will post 8.33 earnings per share for the current year.

In other news, EVP Prem S. Shah sold 29,473 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.95, for a total value of $2,267,947.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 39,765 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,059,916.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.25% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CVS has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. TD Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of CVS Health from $102.00 to $99.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, December 11th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of CVS Health from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Barclays initiated coverage on shares of CVS Health in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $78.00 target price on the stock. HSBC initiated coverage on shares of CVS Health in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $94.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their target price on shares of CVS Health from $86.00 to $84.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $89.58.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on CVS

CVS Health Company Profile

(Free Report)

CVS Health Corporation provides health solutions in the United States. It operates through Health Care Benefits, Health Services, and Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness segments. The Health Care Benefits segment offers traditional, voluntary, and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services.

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Shares of AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN  Get Free Report) have received an average rating of Moderate Buy from the ten analysts that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is 117.13 ($150.06).

Several research firms recently commented on AZN. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Tuesday, November 28th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating and set a 110 ($140.94) price objective on shares of AstraZeneca in a report on Friday, February 16th. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Wednesday, March 13th. Finally, Barclays reissued a buy rating and set a 135 ($172.97) target price on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Monday, November 20th.

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AstraZeneca Trading Down 0.3 %

AstraZeneca Increases Dividend

Shares of AZN opened at 102.62 ($131.47) on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 75.70. 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 market cap of 159.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 3,454.36, a P/E/G ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.17. The companys fifty day simple moving average is 103.27 and its 200-day simple moving average is 104.55.

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 25th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 22nd will be issued a GBX 156 ($2.00) dividend. This is an increase from AstraZenecas previous dividend of $71.80. This represents a dividend yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. AstraZenecas dividend payout ratio is 7,651.01%.

AstraZeneca Company Profile

(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.

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BKM Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 4,456 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock, valued at approximately $2,346,000. UnitedHealth Group accounts for about 0.1% of BKM Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 27th biggest position.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of UNH. Robbins Farley bought a new stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. NewSquare Capital LLC lifted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 340.0% during the 3rd quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 66 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 1st quarter worth about $35,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, Annapolis Financial Services LLC lifted its position in UnitedHealth Group by 38.6% during the 3rd quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 79 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 85.69% of the companys stock.

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UnitedHealth Group Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:UNH traded down $0.86 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $489.96. 464,781 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,196,939. The stock has a market capitalization of $451.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a current ratio of 0.79. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $509.34 and its 200 day moving average price is $518.21. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12 month low of $445.68 and a 12 month high of $554.70.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.16 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.98 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $94.43 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $92.13 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.39% and a net margin of 6.02%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $5.34 earnings per share. Analysts predict that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.79 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 11th will be paid a $1.88 dividend. This represents a $7.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 8th. UnitedHealth Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.54%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on UNH shares. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $596.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Bank of America reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $675.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, March 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $591.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Friday, January 19th. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $584.00 to $581.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Finally, HSBC reaffirmed a reduce rating and set a $480.00 price target (down previously from $550.00) on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Monday, December 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, fifteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, UnitedHealth Group has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $579.33.

Read Our Latest Research Report on UNH

Insider Buying and Selling at UnitedHealth Group

In other UnitedHealth Group news, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $525.79, for a total value of $451,127.82. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 32,289 shares of the companys stock, valued at $16,977,233.31. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other UnitedHealth Group news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $483.48, for a total value of $597,581.28. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 9,364 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,527,306.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $525.79, for a total value of $451,127.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 32,289 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,977,233.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock.

UnitedHealth Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

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BNP Paribas SA (OTCMKTS:BNPQY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 13,600 shares, an increase of 17.2% from the February 14th total of 11,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 451,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

BNP Paribas Trading Up 2.3 %

OTCMKTS BNPQY opened at $33.43 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $76.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.14, a P/E/G ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 1.46. BNP Paribas has a 12 month low of $26.72 and a 12 month high of $35.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.68. The company has a 50-day moving average of $31.63 and a 200-day moving average of $31.69.

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BNP Paribas Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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BNP Paribas SA provides various banking and financial products and services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. It operates through three divisions: Corporate & Institutional Banking; Commercial, Personal Banking & Services; and Investment & Protection Services.

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Capricorn Fund Managers Ltd purchased a new position in Nu Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NU  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 985,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,209,000. NU makes up about 4.5% of Capricorn Fund Managers Ltds portfolio, making the stock its 4th biggest holding.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Huntington National Bank grew its holdings in shares of NU by 1,232.5% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 4,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 3,833 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its holdings in NU by 37.0% in the second quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 6,081 shares of the companys stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 1,641 shares in the last quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co bought a new stake in NU during the third quarter valued at about $49,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its stake in shares of NU by 234.3% in the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 7,593 shares of the companys stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 5,322 shares during the period. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. acquired a new position in NU in the first quarter worth about $48,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 53.73% of the companys stock.

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NU Price Performance

NYSE:NU traded down $0.01 on Friday, hitting $11.61. The company had a trading volume of 27,619,959 shares, compared to its average volume of 35,815,086. The stock has a market capitalization of $54.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.29, a PEG ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a current ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $10.02 and a two-hundred day moving average of $8.61. Nu Holdings Ltd. has a 52 week low of $4.13 and a 52 week high of $11.72.

Analyst Ratings Changes

NU ( NYSE:NU Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The company reported $0.08 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.09 by ($0.01). NU had a net margin of 12.84% and a return on equity of 20.02%. The business had revenue of $2.40 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.39 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.03 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Nu Holdings Ltd. will post 0.41 earnings per share for the current year.

NU has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Susquehanna raised their price objective on shares of NU from $11.00 to $12.00 and gave the stock a positive rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of NU from $10.50 to $11.50 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of NU from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Friday, March 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, NU presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $9.67.

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NU Profile

(Free Report)

Nu Holdings Ltd. provides digital banking platform and digital financial services in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and internationally. It offers Nu credit and debit cards; Ultraviolet credit and debit cards; and mobile payment solutions for NuAccount customers to make and receive transfers, pay bills, and make everyday purchases through their mobile phones.

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Village elections often come down to the vision for the community.

Springville  where small shop owners and nonprofit groups have remade the central business district in recent years  is no different.

The southern Erie County village is one of 11 in the county where voters will go to the polls from noon until 9 p.m. Tuesday to choose new leaders.

Where Springville goes from here, and how, has arguably created the most buzz.

Mayor Timothy Michaels believes there is a stark contrast between two trustee candidates he sees as having special interests and three others new to the political arena whom he is backing, according to a letter to the editor he wrote in the Springville Journal.

Jessica Schuster and Tyler Sullivan, who are running as a slate on the Revitalize Springville line, have been elected to the Springville-Griffith Institute School Board, and Russel Belscher and Timothy Shriver are running for the first time under the Building Springville Stronger Party banner.

Kelly Baker is waging a write-in campaign after her petitions were ruled invalid by the Erie County Board of Elections.

Two incumbents, Terry Skelton and Reed Braman, are not seeking re-election.

If Schuster and Sullivan are elected, four of the five members of the board will have the backing of Revitalize Springville. The mayor would be the fifth member.

Michaels, who is in the middle of his four-year term, criticized the party as opposing new sidewalks for downtown.

Sullivan and Schuster said trees were removed in favor of more planters, and the rejection of the sidewalk project was more than a disagreement about reducing green space and was a request for further conversation.

Schuster, who still serves on the School Board, said there is a real crisis of confidence when it comes to decisions made by the village.

Our village is at a real important time and theres a real need for meaningful dialogue and oversight, she said.

As associate deputy comptroller for Erie County, and head of the audit committee for the School Board for two years, Schuster said she would bring a strong record to the village.

The mayor implied in his letter that Schuster and Sullivan improperly allocated money to the Springville Arts Center for a summer arts program while on the School Board, a notion they reject.

Michaels won election two years ago by six votes over Allison Duwe, who is married to Seth Wochensky, executive director of the arts center.

We all love Springville. Were all in this, said Baker, a teacher in the Cleveland Hill School District. Its kind of cool that everybody thats running wants to serve Springville in the best way they know how.

She said when the Route 219 expressway was extended from Route 39 to Peters Road in Cattaraugus County south of Springville, many businesses in the plazas along North Cascade Drive saw a decline.

We should be able to develop both sides of Springville, she said.

Baker suggested trustees take turn holding office hours once a week to improve communication.

Belscher, sales manager at Jim Murphy Chevrolet of Springville, said he also has experience at fleet and commercial managing, which included navigating bidding for state contracts.

Hes running for trustee because he thought it was time to make a difference.

He said he would like to see more business and people come to the village.

I think youd have to vote with what the public wants, Belscher said. We really do have a lot of good people in this village and a lot of good businesses. ld like to keep all the people here.

After Shriver joined the village Planning Board last year, he began thinking of what more he could do to make a difference.

I want to be able to help in any way I can, he said.

Shriver, service manager at Jim Murphy Chevrolet, said in a Facebook post his work experience shows he is hardworking, and has management and leadership skills.

Im new to the political world. My drive was to make the village (a) better place, Shriver said.

Sullivan, who works in logistics for a government contractor, said his work experience and stint on the School Board with its $45 million budget will help him work for the betterment of the community.

He said his three opponents are great people who wish to contribute to the community, but he questioned their experience for trustee.

Sullivan said he would make a concerted effort to communicate with all village residents.

People have kind hearts. I think people here are willing to help others out even if they dont know them. There still is a kind of Mayberry feel here, Sullivan said.

In other village elections:

Akron

Two candidates are running to fill the remainder of a trustee post that occurred when Darrin Folger retired.

Republican John W. Norton is facing Libertarian Charles R. Roggen for the one-year term.

Alden

Incumbent Mayor Loren Prucnal of the Citizens Party is being challenged by Michael Retzlaff, running on the Progressive Party line for a four-year term.

Three candidates are seeking two trustee positions: Brenda Cieszki is challenging incumbents Mark Casell and Theron Kibbe.

The top vote-getter will win a four-year term and the candidate garnering the second-highest number of votes will serve a one-year term.

Angola

Caitlin Violanti and Bill Ludwig are running for a one-year term for trustee.

East Aurora

Jeffrey Rabey, who was appointed trustee to fill a vacancy, is unopposed to fill the remaining three years of the term.

Farnham

Incumbent Mayor Jere Hoisington is unopposed for a four-year term.

Three candidates are seeking two four-year trustee terms: George Cordia and Yvonne Heller, both incumbents, and Brian Wray.

Gowanda

Two incumbents are unopposed for two-year terms for trustee.

They are Wanda J. Koch and Peter A. Sisti.

Hamburg

Three candidates are seeking two trustee positions.

Annamaria Masucci is challenging incumbents Paul Gaughan and Laura Palisano Hackathorn.

Lancaster

Incumbent trustee David Santoro is being challenged by William Schroeder for a one-year term for trustee.

North Collins

There are two trustee positions open, and only one person on the ballot, incumbent trustee Richard Bley.

Trustee Karen Denne is not seeking re-election.

A write-in candidate could win the second seat. If there are no write-in candidates or if the candidate does not accept the position, the mayor would appoint a new trustee, according to Clerk/Treasurer Erica Ward.

Sloan

Incumbent trustee Twan Evans is the only candidate to fill a one-year term for trustee.

Evans was appointed to the Village Board Jan. 1.

Elsewhere

Barker, Middleport and Wilson hold village races Tuesday in Niagara County. The villages of Kenmore and Lockport hold elections the first Tuesday in November; Lewiston and Williamsville the third Tuesday in June.
Shares of CarMax, Inc. (NYSE:KMX  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of Hold from the ten ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have given a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $78.00.

KMX has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on CarMax from $80.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. Truist Financial upped their target price on CarMax from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, December 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on CarMax from $70.00 to $60.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Wedbush reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $90.00 target price on shares of CarMax in a report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, Bank of America upped their target price on CarMax from $44.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th.

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CarMax Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE KMX opened at $80.74 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.01, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 2.45. CarMax has a 52 week low of $55.76 and a 52 week high of $87.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.63, a PEG ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.61. The stocks fifty day moving average is $74.01 and its 200 day moving average is $71.96.

CarMax (NYSE:KMX  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, December 21st. The company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.42 by $0.10. CarMax had a return on equity of 7.72% and a net margin of 1.87%. The firm had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.29 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.24 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that CarMax will post 2.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Diane L. Cafritz sold 22,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.08, for a total value of $1,541,760.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,073 shares in the company, valued at approximately $355,515.84. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Diane L. Cafritz sold 22,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.08, for a total value of $1,541,760.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,073 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $355,515.84. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO William D. Nash sold 102,775 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.09, for a total value of $7,717,374.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 177,180 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,304,446.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 151,704 shares of company stock worth $11,233,876 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 1.66% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CarMax

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in KMX. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of CarMax during the 4th quarter valued at $288,278,000. Morningstar Investment Services LLC increased its position in shares of CarMax by 95.4% during the 4th quarter. Morningstar Investment Services LLC now owns 2,717,326 shares of the companys stock valued at $211,516,000 after purchasing an additional 1,326,840 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in shares of CarMax by 29.4% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,548,930 shares of the companys stock valued at $342,400,000 after purchasing an additional 805,438 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its stake in shares of CarMax by 674.3% during the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 806,716 shares of the companys stock worth $57,059,000 after acquiring an additional 702,526 shares during the period. Finally, Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of CarMax by 2,311.1% during the 3rd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 603,659 shares of the companys stock worth $42,697,000 after acquiring an additional 578,622 shares during the period.

CarMax Company Profile

(Get Free Report

CarMax, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer of used vehicles in the United States. It operates in two segments, CarMax Sales Operations and CarMax Auto Finance. The company offers customers a range of makes and models of used vehicles, including domestic, imported, and luxury vehicles, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles; and extended protection plans to customers at the time of sale, as well as sells vehicles that are approximately 10 years old and has more than 100,000 miles through wholesale auctions.

Further Reading

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Triangle Securities Wealth Management trimmed its stake in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C  Free Report) by 5.9% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 13,462 shares of the companys stock after selling 848 shares during the period. Triangle Securities Wealth Managements holdings in Citigroup were worth $692,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of C. Carmel Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Citigroup during the third quarter valued at $25,000. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. raised its position in Citigroup by 73.8% during the third quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 683 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 290 shares during the period. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Citigroup during the first quarter valued at $28,000. AlphaMark Advisors LLC raised its position in Citigroup by 75.0% during the third quarter. AlphaMark Advisors LLC now owns 700 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the period. Finally, Union Savings Bank acquired a new position in Citigroup during the second quarter valued at $30,000. 69.26% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

C has been the topic of several research reports. Piper Sandler raised Citigroup from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and upped their target price for the stock from $56.00 to $63.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Citigroup from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Thursday. Daiwa Capital Markets raised Citigroup from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $63.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, December 18th. Barclays increased their price objective on Citigroup from $59.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their price objective on Citigroup from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $57.97.

Citigroup Price Performance

Shares of Citigroup stock traded up $1.02 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $58.63. 13,918,800 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 17,548,963. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.95. The firm has a market cap of $112.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.61, a PEG ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.50. Citigroup Inc. has a 52 week low of $38.17 and a 52 week high of $58.67. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $54.77 and a 200-day simple moving average of $47.91.

Citigroup (NYSE:C  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The company reported ($1.16) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.73 by ($1.89). Citigroup had a net margin of 5.88% and a return on equity of 6.49%. The business had revenue of $17.44 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.71 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.10 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Citigroup Inc. will post 5.88 earnings per share for the current year.

Citigroup Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 5th were paid a $0.53 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 2nd. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.62%. Citigroups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 53.13%.

Citigroup Profile

(Free Report)

Citigroup Inc, a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions, which provides cash management, trade, and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations; and Securities Services, such as cross-border support for clients, local market expertise, post-trade technologies, data solutions, and various securities services solutions.

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Coursera, Inc. (NYSE:COUR  Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Moderate Buy by the eleven ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $22.10.

Several brokerages have weighed in on COUR. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $25.00 target price on shares of Coursera in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. William Blair reissued an outperform rating on shares of Coursera in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Coursera from a neutral rating to a sell rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $18.00 to $14.00 in a research note on Friday, January 19th. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their target price on shares of Coursera from $22.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group increased their price target on shares of Coursera from $24.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd.

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View Our Latest Research Report on COUR

Coursera Trading Down 1.9 %

Shares of COUR opened at $14.18 on Monday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $17.37 and its 200-day simple moving average is $18.35. The firm has a market cap of $2.23 billion, a PE ratio of -18.42 and a beta of 1.52. Coursera has a 12-month low of $9.91 and a 12-month high of $21.26.

Coursera (NYSE:COUR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported ($0.12) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.17) by $0.05. The company had revenue of $168.88 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $163.64 million. Coursera had a negative net margin of 18.33% and a negative return on equity of 18.15%. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Coursera will post -0.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at Coursera

In related news, SVP Alan B. Cardenas sold 5,864 shares of Coursera stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.54, for a total transaction of $96,990.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 167,798 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,775,378.92. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Coursera news, SVP Alan B. Cardenas sold 5,864 shares of Coursera stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.54, for a total transaction of $96,990.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 167,798 shares in the company, valued at $2,775,378.92. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Andrew Y. Ng sold 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.18, for a total transaction of $1,009,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,171,379 shares in the company, valued at $144,718,428.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 638,176 shares of company stock valued at $11,693,565 in the last quarter. 16.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Coursera

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in COUR. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Coursera during the 4th quarter worth about $137,598,000. Baillie Gifford & Co. raised its position in shares of Coursera by 43.1% in the third quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 25,827,187 shares of the companys stock valued at $482,710,000 after buying an additional 7,773,508 shares during the last quarter. Invenomic Capital Management LP lifted its stake in shares of Coursera by 709.3% during the second quarter. Invenomic Capital Management LP now owns 1,934,393 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,186,000 after buying an additional 1,695,383 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in Coursera by 16.5% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,027,863 shares of the companys stock worth $104,523,000 after acquiring an additional 1,134,436 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co. LLC grew its stake in Coursera by 164.6% in the 4th quarter. Gilder Gagnon Howe & Co. LLC now owns 1,766,369 shares of the companys stock worth $34,215,000 after acquiring an additional 1,098,701 shares during the period. 64.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Coursera

(Get Free Report

Coursera, Inc operates an online educational content platform that connects learners, educators, organizations, and institutions. It offers online courses that include data science, business, computer science, physical science and engineering, language learning, information technology, health, social sciences, math and logic, project management, and arts and humanities; campus student plans; degree courses; and certification education.

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BZAM (OTCMKTS:BZAMF  Get Free Report) and Nomura Research Institute (OTCMKTS:NRILY  Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, profitability, analyst recommendations and risk.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for BZAM and Nomura Research Institute, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score BZAM 0 0 1 0 3.00 Nomura Research Institute 0 0 0 0 N/A

Insider & Institutional Ownership

Profitability

0.0% of BZAM shares are owned by institutional investors. 8.7% of BZAM shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 61.1% of Nomura Research Institute shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

This table compares BZAM and Nomura Research Institutes net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BZAM -122.29% -39.86% -23.57% Nomura Research Institute 11.33% 20.58% 9.62%

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares BZAM and Nomura Research Institutes top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio BZAM $37.96 million 0.19 -$27.31 million ($0.52) -0.08 Nomura Research Institute $5.12 billion 3.19 $564.67 million $0.99 27.80

Nomura Research Institute has higher revenue and earnings than BZAM. BZAM is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Nomura Research Institute, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk and Volatility

BZAM has a beta of 1.8, suggesting that its stock price is 80% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Nomura Research Institute has a beta of 0.45, suggesting that its stock price is 55% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Summary

Nomura Research Institute beats BZAM on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About BZAM

(Get Free Report)

BZAM Ltd. operates as a cannabis producer with a focus on branded consumer goods. Its brands include the BZAM, TGOD, ness, Highly Dutch Organic, and TABLE TOP, as well as Dunn Cannabis, FRESH, and Wyld partner brands. The company operate facilities in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec, as well as retail stores in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Regina, Saskatchewan. The company was formerly known as The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. and changed its name to BZAM Ltd. in February 2023. The company was incorporated in 2016 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

About Nomura Research Institute

(Get Free Report)

Nomura Research Institute, Ltd. provides consulting, financial information technology (IT) solution, industrial IT solution, and IT platform services in Japan and internationally. Its Consulting segment offers management, operational, and system consulting services for enterprises and government agencies. This segment also offers research, future projections, and recommendations to society, economics, business, technology, etc. The company's Financial IT Solutions segment provides system consulting, development, and management solutions, as well as shared online and BPO services for the financial institutions, including the securities, insurance, banking, asset management, and other financial sectors. Its Industrial IT Solutions segment offers system consulting, development, and management solutions, as well as shared online services primarily for the distribution, manufacturing, service, and public sectors. The company's IT Platform Services segment engages in the data center operation activities and construction of IT platforms and networks to the Financial IT and Industrial IT Solutions segments, as well as provides IT platform solutions and information security services to external clients. This segment is also involved in the research related to advance IT, etc. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

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Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) shares traded down 1.1% during mid-day trading on Monday following insider selling activity. The stock traded as low as $104.66 and last traded at $105.83. 4,413,025 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 34% from the average session volume of 6,671,442 shares. The stock had previously closed at $107.00.

Specifically, CEO Michael S. Dell sold 624,450 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.80, for a total transaction of $74,809,110.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 39,787,791 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,766,577,361.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Director V (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 373,375 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.32, for a total value of $47,164,730.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 408,694 shares of the companys stock, valued at $51,626,226.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Michael S. Dell sold 624,450 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.80, for a total transaction of $74,809,110.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 39,787,791 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,766,577,361.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 5,117,643 shares of company stock valued at $473,377,212. 48.60% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have commented on DELL. Sanford C. Bernstein raised their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $90.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $87.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 4th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $95.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $75.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Raymond James boosted their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $68.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $102.88.

Dell Technologies Trading Down 1.1 %

The firm has a market cap of $75.30 billion, a PE ratio of 24.22, a PEG ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.91. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $90.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $77.78.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The technology company reported $2.20 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.73 by $0.47. The business had revenue of $22.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.17 billion. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 3.63% and a negative return on equity of 165.52%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 10.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.55 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Dell Technologies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 3rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.445 per share. This represents a $1.78 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.68%. This is a boost from Dell Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 22nd. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio is currently 40.73%.

Institutional Trading of Dell Technologies

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Dell Technologies by 17.7% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 14,076 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $706,000 after purchasing an additional 2,117 shares during the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. bought a new position in Dell Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at about $304,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Dell Technologies during the 1st quarter valued at about $568,000. Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in Dell Technologies by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 254,266 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $12,762,000 after purchasing an additional 4,949 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Dell Technologies by 5.2% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 6,090 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $306,000 after purchasing an additional 302 shares during the last quarter. 38.10% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Dell Technologies

(Get Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

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Dynatrace (NYSE:DT  Get Free Report) and Kainos Group (OTCMKTS:KNNNF  Get Free Report) are both computer and technology companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, institutional ownership, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability and earnings.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

94.3% of Dynatrace shares are held by institutional investors. 0.5% of Dynatrace shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Dynatrace and Kainos Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Dynatrace $1.36 billion 9.84 $107.96 million $0.66 69.11 Kainos Group N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Profitability

Dynatrace has higher revenue and earnings than Kainos Group.

This table compares Dynatrace and Kainos Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Dynatrace 14.44% 11.92% 7.43% Kainos Group N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Dynatrace and Kainos Group, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Dynatrace 0 3 18 0 2.86 Kainos Group 0 0 1 0 3.00

Dynatrace presently has a consensus price target of $60.63, suggesting a potential upside of 32.92%. Given Dynatraces higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Dynatrace is more favorable than Kainos Group.

Summary

Dynatrace beats Kainos Group on 8 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Dynatrace

(Get Free Report)

Dynatrace, Inc. provides a security platform for multicloud environments. It operates Dynatrace, a security platform, which provides application and microservices monitoring, runtime application security, infrastructure monitoring, log management and analytics, digital experience monitoring, digital business analytics, and cloud automation. Its platform allows its customers to modernize and automate IT operations, develop and release software, and enhance user experiences. The company also offers implementation, consulting, and training services. Dynatrace, Inc. markets its products through a combination of direct sales team and a network of partners, including resellers, system integrators, and managed service providers. It serves customers in various industries comprising banking, insurance, retail, manufacturing, travel, and software. The company operates in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America. Dynatrace, Inc. was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts.

About Kainos Group

(Get Free Report)

Kainos Group plc provides digital technology services in the United Kingdom, Ireland, North America, Central Europe, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Digital Services, Workday Services, and Workday Products. The Digital Services segment develops and supports custom digital service platforms for public sector, commercial, and healthcare customers. The Workday Services segment provides consulting, project management, integration, and post deployment services for Workday's software suite, which includes cloud-based software for human capital management, and financial management, and adaptive planning. The Workday Products segment develops various products comprising Smart Test, an automated testing platform; Smart Audit, a compliance monitoring tool; and Smart Shield, which is used for data masking applications. The company engages in the property business; software development activities; and offers software services. It serves financial services, insurance, education, life sciences, and healthcare industries, as well as government. Kainos Group plc was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Belfast, the United Kingdom.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Gran Tierra Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:GTE  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Thursday morning.

Separately, TheStreet cut shares of Gran Tierra Energy from a c- rating to a d rating in a report on Wednesday, March 6th.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Gran Tierra Energy

Gran Tierra Energy Trading Up 1.8 %

GTE opened at $6.25 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $201.56 million, a PE ratio of -31.25 and a beta of 1.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. Gran Tierra Energy has a 12 month low of $4.62 and a 12 month high of $9.70.

Gran Tierra Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:GTE  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The company reported $0.23 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.10) by $0.33. Gran Tierra Energy had a negative return on equity of 1.60% and a negative net margin of 0.99%. The firm had revenue of $154.94 million for the quarter.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gran Tierra Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. RWC Asset Management LLP raised its holdings in shares of Gran Tierra Energy by 67.3% in the 3rd quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP now owns 772,507 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,382,000 after purchasing an additional 310,850 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank acquired a new stake in Gran Tierra Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $91,000. Algert Global LLC acquired a new stake in Gran Tierra Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $279,000. Empower Advisory Group LLC purchased a new position in Gran Tierra Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $104,000. Finally, WINTON GROUP Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Gran Tierra Energy in the second quarter valued at about $266,000. 33.84% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Gran Tierra Energy Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Gran Tierra Energy Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas properties in Colombia and Ecuador. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Further Reading

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IVC Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM  Free Report) by 5.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 14,587 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 788 shares during the quarter. IVC Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Newmont were worth $604,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of NEM. Blair William & Co. IL raised its holdings in Newmont by 14.8% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 42,511 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $3,378,000 after purchasing an additional 5,484 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in shares of Newmont by 19.3% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 66,212 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $5,219,000 after buying an additional 10,692 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in shares of Newmont by 46.9% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 27,905 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,217,000 after purchasing an additional 8,915 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Newmont by 7.2% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 595,641 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $47,324,000 after purchasing an additional 39,765 shares during the period. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of Newmont by 25.8% during the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,354 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $108,000 after buying an additional 278 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.53% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 5,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total transaction of $226,930.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 54,251 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,238,396.26. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.07% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Newmont Trading Up 1.6 %

Shares of NYSE:NEM traded up $0.54 during trading on Monday, reaching $34.42. 14,688,725 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 13,668,925. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The company has a 50 day moving average of $34.06 and a 200-day moving average of $37.19. Newmont Co. has a 12 month low of $29.42 and a 12 month high of $52.76.

Newmont (NYSE:NEM  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The basic materials company reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by ($0.01). Newmont had a positive return on equity of 6.21% and a negative net margin of 20.95%. The company had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.44 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.44 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 23.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts anticipate that Newmont Co. will post 1.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Newmont Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 5th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 4th. Newmonts payout ratio is presently -42.02%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NEM has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on Newmont from $45.00 to $40.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. TD Securities cut their price objective on Newmont from $40.00 to $36.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. UBS Group lowered their price target on shares of Newmont from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Newmont from $57.00 to $56.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Newmont from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Monday, February 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $52.97.

View Our Latest Stock Report on NEM

About Newmont

(Free Report)

Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Ecuador, Fiji, and Ghana.

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Winthrop Advisory Group LLC decreased its stake in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ  Free Report) by 2.3% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 8,668 shares of the companys stock after selling 204 shares during the period. Winthrop Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Johnson & Johnson were worth $1,359,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. DORCHESTER WEALTH MANAGEMENT Co raised its stake in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 8.6% in the 1st quarter. DORCHESTER WEALTH MANAGEMENT Co now owns 67,618 shares of the companys stock worth $14,975,000 after buying an additional 5,327 shares in the last quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P grew its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 88.9% in the first quarter. Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Advisor L.P now owns 175,194 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,049,000 after purchasing an additional 82,429 shares in the last quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Johnson & Johnson by 8.8% in the first quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. now owns 18,305 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,244,000 after purchasing an additional 1,475 shares in the last quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 4.9% in the first quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 45,673 shares of the companys stock worth $8,095,000 after buying an additional 2,119 shares during the last quarter. Finally, USS Investment Management Ltd lifted its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 2.4% in the first quarter. USS Investment Management Ltd now owns 860,371 shares of the companys stock worth $152,488,000 after buying an additional 20,528 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.40% of the companys stock.

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Johnson & Johnson Stock Performance

JNJ stock opened at $158.13 on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $159.58 and its 200-day moving average is $156.91. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The company has a market cap of $380.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.53. Johnson & Johnson has a twelve month low of $144.95 and a twelve month high of $175.97.

Johnson & Johnson Dividend Announcement

Johnson & Johnson ( NYSE:JNJ Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The company reported $2.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $21.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $21.02 billion. Johnson & Johnson had a return on equity of 37.27% and a net margin of 37.79%. The companys revenue was down 9.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.35 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Johnson & Johnson will post 10.65 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 5th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a $1.19 dividend. This represents a $4.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.01%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. Johnson & Johnsons payout ratio is 34.47%.

Insider Activity at Johnson & Johnson

In other news, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of Johnson & Johnson stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $156.27, for a total value of $9,281,969.19. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 141,416 shares in the company, valued at $22,099,078.32. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, major shareholder & Johnson Johnson sold 3,725 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.81, for a total value of $96,142.25. Following the sale, 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 SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jennifer L. Taubert sold 59,397 shares of the businesss 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 141,416 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,099,078.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut Johnson & Johnson from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $170.00 to $163.00 in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Morgan Stanley lowered 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. StockNews.com upgraded Johnson & Johnson from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $181.00 price objective on shares of Johnson & Johnson in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded Johnson & Johnson from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the company from $167.00 to $180.00 in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $177.31.

Get Our Latest Analysis on JNJ

About Johnson & Johnson

(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.

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Macys (NYSE:M  Get Free Report) had its target price lifted by investment analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $23.00 to $25.00 in a note issued to investors on Monday. The brokerage presently has an overweight rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 18.04% from the stocks current price.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on M. Telsey Advisory Group upped their target price on shares of Macys from $15.00 to $21.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Macys from $21.00 to $20.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Macys in a report on Friday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Citigroup upgraded shares of Macys from a sell rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $14.00 to $18.00 in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, TD Cowen cut shares of Macys from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and cut their price target for the company from $23.00 to $20.00 in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.45.

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View Our Latest Report on M

Macys Stock Performance

Shares of M stock traded down $0.01 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $21.18. 851,437 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,528,360. Macys has a 12 month low of $10.54 and a 12 month high of $21.75. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $19.14 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $15.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 1.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.80 billion, a PE ratio of 57.00 and a beta of 2.14.

Macys (NYSE:M  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The company reported $2.45 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.47. The business had revenue of $8.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.07 billion. Macys had a net margin of 0.45% and a return on equity of 23.34%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 1.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.88 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that Macys will post 2.57 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Point72 Asset Management L.P. raised its stake in shares of Macys by 1,054.0% during the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 10,846,841 shares of the companys stock valued at $174,092,000 after purchasing an additional 9,906,912 shares during the period. Holocene Advisors LP increased its stake in Macys by 171.1% in the 2nd quarter. Holocene Advisors LP now owns 5,582,759 shares of the companys stock worth $89,603,000 after acquiring an additional 3,523,368 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in Macys in the 4th quarter worth about $62,529,000. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Macys by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 36,381,604 shares of the companys stock worth $422,390,000 after acquiring an additional 2,645,577 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Macys by 196.2% during the 4th quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 3,453,241 shares of the companys stock valued at $71,309,000 after purchasing an additional 2,287,287 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.69% of the companys stock.

Macys Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Macy's, Inc, an omni-channel retail organization, operates stores, websites, and mobile applications in the United States. The company sells a range of merchandise, such as apparel and accessories for men, women, and kids; cosmetics; home furnishings; and other consumer goods under the Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and bluemercury brands.

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has announced that it is in contact with the Mexican immigration service and is currently investigating the potential whereabouts of Georgian citizens.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that the embassy maintains contact with the family members of the citizens who have reached out to inquire about their whereabouts."The embassy is in contact with the Mexican immigration service to obtain additional information and is investigating the possible whereabouts of the citizens. The embassy remains in contact with the family members of the citizens who have reached out to the embassy in order to determine the location of their family member," stated the MFA.According to reports, a criminal group near the US-Mexico border has kidnapped approximately 30 citizens of Georgia who were attempting to reach the US border via Mexico.The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Hakan Fidan.According to information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ministerial meeting took place in Baku as part of the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey tripartite framework.As per their reports, Darchiashvili and Hakan Fidan gave a high evaluation to the tripartite format of cooperation and the ninth ministerial meeting.During the conversation, the importance of the format for the sustainable development of the region was noted. The strategic partnership between Georgia and Turkey was positively evaluated, and information was exchanged on the current agenda of bilateral relations and the situation in the region. The ministers expressed readiness to continue the existing close coordination.
For aspiring college students, filling out financial aid forms is critical to achieving the American dream, especially for low-income students and ones who are the first in their families to pursue higher education. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the gateway to those opportunities.

But now, because of delays in the FAFSA process, which proves eligibility for Pell Grants, federal work-study, state-based financial aid and federal loans, millions of potential students and their families face delays in learning whether financial aid will be available to them.

The current frustrations illustrated in The News highlight the urgency of implementing the Universal FAFSA application process, as promoted by leaders in the SUNY Chancellors Office and included in Gov. Kathy Hochuls executive budget proposal. They also highlight the need for more support for campuses and students of the type SUNY campuses are implementing this year.

Universal FAFSA requires school districts to help every high school senior complete the form, so that if they choose to head to college, they can receive the financial aid to which they are entitled. In other words, under universal FAFSA, students must fill out the FAFSA form or opt out. This is especially important as New Yorkers, by not filling out the application, leave money on the table  more than $200 million annually.

But the universal FAFSA must work in concert with federal efforts to simplify the application process. Unfortunately, the Department of Educations attempt to streamline the application process went awry this year, and the glitched-delayed rollout could hit those in the greatest need the hardest. The most recent article in the New York Times cites the Education Departments promise to meet a self-imposed deadline of last Friday to send students financial information to schools, though the deadline seems elusive, given the 5 million applications that are in so far, and more than another 10 million expected.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. stepped in last month, issuing a memorandum offering guidance and direction to New Yorks 64 SUNY schools. In part, the guidance asks SUNY campuses to extend their deposit deadlines to no earlier than May 15. The memorandum also directs SUNY schools to make specific communications to lower-income students. That includes the removal of any listed priority deadlines for FAFSA completion.

The University at Buffalo moved its tuition deposit deadline to May 15. UB is also offering a one-on-one appointment for a virtual or on-campus visit to get personal assistance.

Canisius University officials began holding FAFSA information sessions for parents and students at Western New York high schools earlier this year, and James Nowak, Canisius associate director of enrollment and financial aid operations, has visited 35 high schools as of a recent report.

Canisius also emailed all its accepted students with a link to its net price calculator  a tool every college must post on its website to help students identify colleges they can afford  and a promise to base financial aid on that calculation.

Buffalo State has moved its tuition deposit deadline to June 1 and promises flexibility to extend it to June 15. Buffalo State received an Americorps grant last year that allowed it to hire 13 students and train them as FAFSA completion experts who walk families through the form for $15 an hour.

Historically, the FAFSA application process has been intimidating, deterring many eligible students from applying. Efforts to simplify the process have so far fallen short of expectations. Ideas such as the universal FAFSA that would offer strong support for students and their families  which they have begun implementing  should become the standard.
Kellanova (NYSE:K  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 13,410,000 shares, a growth of 14.0% from the February 14th total of 11,760,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,890,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.6 days. Currently, 4.7% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

K has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Kellanova from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Kellanova in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. They issued a neutral rating and a $57.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on shares of Kellanova from $53.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Kellanova from $56.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, DA Davidson began coverage on shares of Kellanova in a research report on Friday, March 1st. They issued a buy rating and a $67.00 price objective for the company. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $62.27.

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Kellanova Stock Performance

Shares of K stock traded up $1.21 on Monday, reaching $54.77. The stock had a trading volume of 3,693,030 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,312,647. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51. Kellanova has a 12 month low of $47.63 and a 12 month high of $72.30. The firms 50-day moving average is $54.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $54.50.

Kellanova (NYSE:K  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.78 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $3.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.07 billion. Kellanova had a net margin of 6.25% and a return on equity of 35.17%. The businesss revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.94 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Kellanova will post 3.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Kellanova Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st were given a dividend of $0.56 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. This represents a $2.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.09%. Kellanovas dividend payout ratio is 81.45%.

Insider Transactions at Kellanova

In other news, major shareholder Kellogg W. K. Foundation Trust sold 77,800 shares of Kellanova stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $55.25, for a total value of $4,298,450.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 53,087,038 shares in the company, valued at $2,933,058,849.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 933,600 shares of company stock worth $50,850,858. Company insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Kellanova

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its position in Kellanova by 0.3% in the first quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 51,858 shares of the companys stock worth $170,000 after acquiring an additional 159 shares during the period. Castleview Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Kellanova by 5.4% in the first quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 3,218 shares of the companys stock valued at $215,000 after purchasing an additional 164 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its position in shares of Kellanova by 1.7% in the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 10,272 shares of the companys stock valued at $662,000 after purchasing an additional 169 shares during the period. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV raised its position in shares of Kellanova by 2.7% in the third quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 6,744 shares of the companys stock valued at $470,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the period. Finally, M&T Bank Corp raised its position in shares of Kellanova by 0.5% in the third quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 38,834 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,707,000 after purchasing an additional 189 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.87% of the companys stock.

Kellanova Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Kellanova, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and markets snacks and convenience foods in North America, Europe, Latin America, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Australia, and Africa. Its principal products include crackers, crisps, savory snacks, toaster pastries, cereal bars, granola bars and bites, ready-to-eat cereals, frozen waffles, veggie foods, and noodles.

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KMG Fiduciary Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of First Horizon Co. (NYSE:FHN  Free Report) by 1.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 182,130 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 2,638 shares during the period. KMG Fiduciary Partners LLCs holdings in First Horizon were worth $2,579,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its stake in First Horizon by 15.6% in the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 29,962 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $704,000 after purchasing an additional 4,036 shares during the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in First Horizon by 22.9% during the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 17,303 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $406,000 after acquiring an additional 3,224 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its stake in First Horizon by 10.8% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 310,733 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $7,507,000 after acquiring an additional 30,189 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL raised its stake in shares of First Horizon by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 28,364 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $666,000 after buying an additional 575 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its holdings in shares of First Horizon by 3,619.3% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 1,003,120 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $23,563,000 after acquiring an additional 976,149 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.44% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. UBS Group upgraded First Horizon from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the company from $15.50 to $16.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Barclays assumed coverage on First Horizon in a research note on Friday, March 8th. They issued an overweight rating and a $18.00 price objective on the stock. Raymond James raised First Horizon from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $13.00 to $17.00 in a report on Friday, January 5th. StockNews.com downgraded First Horizon from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Citigroup started coverage on First Horizon in a report on Friday, December 1st. They set a buy rating and a $14.00 target price for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, First Horizon presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $14.68.

First Horizon Stock Performance

First Horizon stock traded up $0.16 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $14.84. 1,663,695 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,842,467. The business has a 50 day moving average of $14.21 and a two-hundred day moving average of $12.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.24 and a beta of 0.93. First Horizon Co. has a 12 month low of $8.99 and a 12 month high of $18.99.

First Horizon (NYSE:FHN  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $1.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $784.20 million. First Horizon had a net margin of 17.80% and a return on equity of 9.94%. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.51 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that First Horizon Co. will post 1.42 earnings per share for the current year.

First Horizon Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.04%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. First Horizons payout ratio is 39.22%.

First Horizon announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, January 23rd that authorizes the company to repurchase $650.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the financial services provider to buy up to 7.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are often an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

About First Horizon

(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.

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M. Kraus & Co acquired a new stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE:BIP  Free Report) (TSE:BIP.UN) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund acquired 6,678 shares of the utilities providers stock, valued at approximately $210,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners by 8,107.7% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,067 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 1,054 shares during the last quarter. Power Corp of Canada bought a new stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in the 1st quarter valued at about $73,000. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in the 4th quarter valued at about $38,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in the 1st quarter valued at about $81,000. Finally, Rational Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in the 3rd quarter valued at about $39,000. 55.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently weighed in on BIP. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. National Bankshares downgraded shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and set a $32.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Raymond James boosted their price target on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from $40.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. National Bank Financial downgraded shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in a research report on Tuesday, February 27th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Three 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 companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $39.11.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Stock Performance

Shares of BIP opened at $29.44 on Monday. The firms 50 day moving average is $30.46 and its 200-day moving average is $29.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 210.29 and a beta of 0.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 0.54 and a quick ratio of 0.66. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. has a 12-month low of $21.03 and a 12-month high of $37.32.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIP  Get Free Report) (TSE:BIP.UN) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The utilities provider reported ($0.20) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.79 by ($0.99). The business had revenue of $4.97 billion during the quarter. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners had a return on equity of 0.79% and a net margin of 1.34%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. will post 3.32 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a $0.405 dividend. This is an increase from Brookfield Infrastructure Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. This represents a $1.62 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.50%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. Brookfield Infrastructure Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 1,157.14%.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners Profile

(Free Report)

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. owns and operates utilities, transport, midstream, and data businesses in North and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company's Utilities segment operates approximately 60,000 kilometers (km) of operational electricity transmission and distribution lines; 2,900 km of electricity transmission lines; 4,200 km of natural gas pipelines; 7.8 million electricity and natural gas connections; and 540,000 long-term contracted sub-metering services.

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M. Kraus & Co reduced its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 5.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 2,670 shares of the companys stock after selling 155 shares during the quarter. M. Kraus & Cos holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $251,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of PM. Cornerstone Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 12,807.4% during the 2nd quarter. Cornerstone Advisors LLC now owns 26,485,964 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,449,000 after buying an additional 26,280,764 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 100,700.1% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,640,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,582,939,000 after buying an additional 15,624,628 shares during the period. Capital World Investors raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 116,185,273 shares of the companys stock valued at $11,342,014,000 after buying an additional 4,368,323 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 33.5% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 17,147,790 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,587,542,000 after buying an additional 4,304,089 shares during the period. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 12.6% during the 3rd quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 27,821,802 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,575,742,000 after buying an additional 3,121,732 shares during the period. 79.70% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Philip Morris International Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of PM opened at $93.90 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $145.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.78, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.61. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $91.91 and a 200-day moving average of $92.57. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $87.23 and a 52 week high of $101.92.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last issued its 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 firm had revenue of $9.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.99 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.39 EPS. Philip Morris Internationals revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 21st will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.54%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 103.59%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on PM. UBS Group lowered Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $105.00 to $86.50 in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Argus restated a hold rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday, March 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, 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 note on Tuesday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $105.40.

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Insider Activity at Philip Morris International

In related news, VP Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 2,000 shares of the businesss 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 legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Philip Morris International news, insider Werner Barth sold 5,000 shares of Philip Morris International stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.46, for a total transaction of $457,300.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 102,918 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,412,880.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 2,000 shares of Philip Morris International stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.69, for a total value of $181,380.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 9,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $882,050.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

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.

Further Reading

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Shares of Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK  Get Free Report) gapped down before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $3.69, but opened at $3.59. Nokia Oyj shares last traded at $3.54, with a volume of 3,556,007 shares traded.

Analyst Ratings Changes

NOK has been the topic of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded Nokia Oyj from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Raymond James dropped their price target on Nokia Oyj from $4.50 to $4.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Citigroup reissued a sell rating on shares of Nokia Oyj in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Barclays lowered Nokia Oyj from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Nokia Oyj from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Nokia Oyj has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $5.06.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on NOK

Nokia Oyj Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $3.57 and a 200-day moving average price of $3.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.75, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.09.

Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The technology company reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.14 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $6.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.66 billion. Nokia Oyj had a return on equity of 7.60% and a net margin of 2.99%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.16 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Nokia Oyj will post 0.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Capital Management Associates Inc acquired a new stake in Nokia Oyj during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Tieton Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Nokia Oyj during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Nokia Oyj in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Nokia Oyj in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Paradigm Asset Management Co. LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Nokia Oyj in the 3rd quarter valued at about $37,000. 5.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Nokia Oyj

(Get Free Report)

Nokia Oyj provides mobile, fixed, and cloud network solutions worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Network Infrastructure, Mobile Networks, Cloud and Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. The company provides fixed networking solutions, such as fiber and copper-based access infrastructure, in-home Wi-Fi solutions, and cloud and virtualization services; IP networking solutions, including IP access, aggregation, and edge and core routing for residential, mobile, enterprise and cloud applications; optical networks solutions that provides optical transport networks for metro, regional, and long-haul applications, and subsea applications; and submarine networks for undersea cable transmission.

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Nordea Investment Management AB reduced its holdings in The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY  Free Report) by 4.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,355,807 shares of the companys stock after selling 109,596 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB owned approximately 1.15% of Hershey worth $438,816,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Hershey during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Costello Asset Management INC acquired a new position in Hershey in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its stake in Hershey by 121.3% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 135 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 74 shares during the period. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in shares of Hershey during the 3rd quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Hershey by 440.6% during the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 173 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares during the period. 56.47% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 453 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.54, for a total value of $89,938.62. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 1,862 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $369,681.48. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CFO Steven E. Voskuil sold 1,500 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $188.97, for a total value of $283,455.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 29,816 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,634,329.52. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CAO Jennifer Mccalman sold 453 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $198.54, for a total value of $89,938.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 1,862 shares in the company, valued at approximately $369,681.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 5,518 shares of company stock valued at $1,042,669 over the last three months. Company insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on HSY shares. DA Davidson began coverage on shares of Hershey in a research note on Friday, December 8th. They set a neutral rating and a $205.00 price target on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $213.00 price objective on shares of Hershey in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Hershey in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. They issued a neutral rating and a $213.00 price objective on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Hershey from $195.00 to $205.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, Bank of America cut shares of Hershey from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $250.00 to $200.00 in a research note on Friday, December 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fourteen have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $228.33.

View Our Latest Research Report on HSY

Hershey Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE HSY traded down $1.52 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $193.54. 12,184,826 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,082,628. The Hershey Company has a 52 week low of $178.82 and a 52 week high of $276.88. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $192.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $193.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.52. The company has a market cap of $39.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.39, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 0.34.

Hershey (NYSE:HSY  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $2.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.95 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $2.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.72 billion. Hershey had a return on equity of 51.79% and a net margin of 16.67%. Hersheys revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.02 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that The Hershey Company will post 9.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hershey Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 20th were issued a dividend of $1.37 per share. This is a positive change from Hersheys previous quarterly dividend of $1.19. This represents a $5.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 16th. Hersheys payout ratio is presently 60.55%.

Hershey Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Hershey Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of confectionery products and pantry items in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: North America Confectionery, North America Salty Snacks, and International. It offers chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery products; gum and mint refreshment products, including mints, chewing gums, and bubble gums; protein bars; pantry items, such as baking ingredients, toppings, beverages, and sundae syrups; and snack items comprising spreads, bars, snack bites, mixes, popcorn, and pretzels.

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Nordea Investment Management AB decreased its stake in shares of Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG  Free Report) by 9.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,436,125 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 353,927 shares during the period. Republic Services makes up about 0.7% of Nordea Investment Management ABs investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Nordea Investment Management AB owned about 1.09% of Republic Services worth $566,926,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in RSG. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Republic Services by 0.3% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 20,421,314 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $3,127,933,000 after purchasing an additional 56,686 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Republic Services by 1.0% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,800,921 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,358,621,000 after purchasing an additional 168,696 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in Republic Services by 0.3% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,964,102 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,377,389,000 after purchasing an additional 27,920 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in Republic Services by 0.7% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,658,978 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $948,971,000 after purchasing an additional 44,512 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in Republic Services by 4.1% in the third quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,054,359 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $720,297,000 after acquiring an additional 197,654 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.23% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

RSG has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Oppenheimer increased their price target on shares of Republic Services from $182.00 to $195.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Republic Services from $173.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Republic Services from $182.00 to $209.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 28th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Republic Services from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $199.00 target price for the company. in a research note on Friday. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Republic Services from $190.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $190.92.

Republic Services Price Performance

Shares of Republic Services stock traded down $0.02 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $186.31. 1,790,581 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,172,473. The stock has a market cap of $58.61 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.06, a PEG ratio of 3.25 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 0.56. The firms fifty day moving average price is $176.15 and its 200-day moving average price is $161.65. Republic Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $127.69 and a 12 month high of $192.57.

Republic Services (NYSE:RSG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 27th. The business services provider reported $1.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.28 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $3.83 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.73 billion. Republic Services had a return on equity of 17.32% and a net margin of 11.57%. Republic Servicess quarterly revenue was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.13 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Republic Services, Inc. will post 6 earnings per share for the current year.

Republic Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 2nd will be issued a $0.535 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 1st. This represents a $2.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.15%. Republic Servicess payout ratio is 39.12%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Republic Services

In other Republic Services news, CEO Ark Jon Vander sold 5,446 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $184.10, for a total transaction of $1,002,608.60. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 85,113 shares of the companys stock, valued at $15,669,303.30. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Republic Services Profile

(Free Report)

Republic Services, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers environmental services in the United States and Canada. It is involved in the collection and processing of recyclable, solid waste, and industrial waste materials; transportation and disposal of non-hazardous and hazardous waste streams; and other environmental solutions.

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Nordea Investment Management AB lowered its holdings in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE  Free Report) by 1.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,692,656 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 91,424 shares during the quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB owned approximately 0.28% of NextEra Energy worth $346,113,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in NextEra Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Country Trust Bank grew its position in NextEra Energy by 975.6% during the 3rd quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 441 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. West Tower Group LLC purchased a new stake in NextEra Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $36,000. GeoWealth Management LLC grew its position in NextEra Energy by 124.1% during the 1st quarter. GeoWealth Management LLC now owns 549 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 304 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Alaska Permanent Fund Corp boosted its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy by 59.8% in the 3rd quarter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp now owns 556 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 208 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.48% of the companys stock.

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NextEra Energy Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NEE traded up $0.54 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $60.08. The companys stock had a trading volume of 32,424,620 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,803,609. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 12-month low of $47.15 and a 12-month high of $79.78. The company has a market cap of $123.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.12 and a beta of 0.50. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $57.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $58.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.55.

NextEra Energy Increases Dividend

NextEra Energy ( NYSE:NEE Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The utilities provider reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.03. NextEra Energy had a net margin of 26.00% and a return on equity of 11.73%. The firm had revenue of $6.88 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.72 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.51 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.44 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 27th were given a dividend of $0.515 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 26th. This is a boost from NextEra Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.43%. NextEra Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 57.06%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of NextEra Energy in a report on Friday, December 8th. They issued a buy rating and a $69.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of NextEra Energy from $65.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $74.00 target price on shares of NextEra Energy in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $79.00 to $76.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, Guggenheim increased their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $70.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and ten have issued 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 $71.85.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on NEE

NextEra Energy Company Profile

(Free Report)

NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear,natural gas, and other clean energy. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets.

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ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE:OGS  Get Free Report) has received an average recommendation of Hold from the six ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have issued a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $65.50.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on OGS shares. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of ONE Gas from $66.00 to $62.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of ONE Gas from $60.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded shares of ONE Gas from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $64.50 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 5th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of ONE Gas from $67.00 to $63.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 1st.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on ONE Gas

ONE Gas Price Performance

Shares of OGS opened at $61.42 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.47 billion, a PE ratio of 14.84, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.52 and a quick ratio of 0.39. ONE Gas has a 1-year low of $55.50 and a 1-year high of $83.89. The companys fifty day moving average price is $60.83 and its 200-day moving average price is $63.91.

ONE Gas (NYSE:OGS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 21st. The utilities provider reported $1.27 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts consensus estimates of $1.27. The firm had revenue of $605.90 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $751.77 million. ONE Gas had a net margin of 9.75% and a return on equity of 8.63%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 26.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.23 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that ONE Gas will post 3.87 EPS for the current year.

ONE Gas Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd were paid a $0.66 dividend. This is a boost from ONE Gass previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.30%. ONE Gass dividend payout ratio is 63.77%.

Institutional Trading of ONE Gas

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ONE Gas in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. BKM Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of ONE Gas in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Garner Asset Management Corp purchased a new stake in shares of ONE Gas in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its position in shares of ONE Gas by 290.4% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 449 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 334 shares during the period. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp purchased a new position in shares of ONE Gas during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.71% of the companys stock.

About ONE Gas

(Get Free Report

ONE Gas, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a regulated natural gas distribution company in the United States. The company provides natural gas distribution services to approximately 2.3 million customers in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. It serves residential, commercial, and transportation customers.

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Peak Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 14.7% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 10,358 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,328 shares during the period. Peak Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $418,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in MO. Empirical Finance LLC raised its position in Altria Group by 1.1% in the 4th quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 21,586 shares of the companys stock worth $987,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the last quarter. Corrigan Financial Inc. grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 4.7% during the 2nd quarter. Corrigan Financial Inc. now owns 5,294 shares of the companys stock valued at $240,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the period. Perennial Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 5.0% during the 2nd quarter. Perennial Investment Advisors LLC now owns 5,055 shares of the companys stock valued at $229,000 after purchasing an additional 239 shares during the period. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Clear Creek Financial Management LLC now owns 5,825 shares of the companys stock valued at $246,000 after acquiring an additional 240 shares during the period. Finally, Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 0.6% during the 2nd quarter. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC now owns 40,032 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,813,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have weighed in on MO. StockNews.com downgraded Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. UBS Group restated a sell rating and issued a $36.10 price target on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Altria Group currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $47.22.

Altria Group Stock Performance

MO stock traded up $0.59 during trading on Monday, reaching $44.46. 2,987,818 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 10,499,397. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $39.06 and a 12 month high of $48.04. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $40.98 and a 200 day simple moving average of $41.53. The company has a market capitalization of $78.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.65.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 244.55% and a net margin of 33.21%. The company had revenue of $5.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.06 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.18 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.07 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Monday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.82%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 22nd. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 85.78%.

Altria Group announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share buyback program on Thursday, February 1st that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to purchase up to 1.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase programs are usually a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Altria Group Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

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The News editorial of March 2 praises former Republican officials for championing more spending on Ukraine. But instead of just taking a positional stance on the issue, it unfortunately ventures into insulting those who dont agree, claiming they oppose it because of fear of Donald Trump.

The reasons some Republicans oppose war funding could include a generalized disapproval of foreign aid. A simple position: we dont have the money. A belief we should not send any money overseas until our own border is secure. A belief we should spend the money here on Americans. Wondering why we are funding a war that appears to be a stalemate and wanting an accounting of same before approving more. Wanting an articulation of an endgame by this administration. A belief that Russia is a greater threat to its neighbors in Europe and therefore they should lead in providing aid. A belief it is mainly a territorial border dispute within the same ethnicity.

Those positions may be wrong, but they are substantial, principled, legitimate, and reasonable. Those holding them are not frightened or timid (the editorial words) for doing so. They should not be called such simply because they dont agree with politicians who care more about their standing as good globalists than they do about their own citizens. Those espousing such have no basis to believe fear of former President Trump is the single reason some Republicans oppose Ukraine war funding, other than a blind acceptance of the rantings of hysterical voices in Trump-hating progressive media.

Maybe The News could try simply asking said Republicans for their reasons before declaring its Trump and then chastising them for it. Even if such requires some good old-fashioned reporting.

Gary Brignone

Amherst
Premium Brands (TSE:PBH  Get Free Report) had its target price cut by research analysts at TD Securities from C$130.00 to C$120.00 in a research report issued on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock. TD Securities target price would indicate a potential upside of 34.14% from the companys current price.

Several other analysts also recently commented on PBH. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on shares of Premium Brands from C$108.00 to C$104.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Desjardins cut their price objective on shares of Premium Brands from C$110.00 to C$105.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. CIBC cut their price objective on shares of Premium Brands from C$102.00 to C$97.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Premium Brands from C$117.00 to C$115.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Finally, Pi Financial reaffirmed a buy rating and set a C$111.00 price target on shares of Premium Brands in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Three investment 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, Premium Brands currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$111.50.

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Premium Brands Stock Up 1.2 %

Premium Brands Company Profile

Shares of Premium Brands stock traded up C$1.06 during trading on Monday, hitting C$89.46. The companys stock had a trading volume of 46,199 shares, compared to its average volume of 41,556. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 148.60, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 2.15. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$91.95 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$93.58. The company has a market capitalization of C$3.99 billion, a PE ratio of 36.37, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.03. Premium Brands has a 52 week low of C$84.66 and a 52 week high of C$113.60.

(Get Free Report)

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.

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Truist Financial began coverage on shares of Quanta Services (NYSE:PWR  Free Report) in a research report report published on Thursday morning, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating and a $301.00 price objective on the construction companys stock.

Several other analysts have also recently commented on PWR. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Quanta Services from $237.00 to $252.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Citigroup boosted their target price on shares of Quanta Services from $234.00 to $237.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. DA Davidson lifted their price objective on Quanta Services from $190.00 to $225.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. KeyCorp started coverage on Quanta Services in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued a sector weight rating on the stock. Finally, Evercore ISI assumed coverage on shares of Quanta Services in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. They issued an outperform rating and a $237.00 price target for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $239.54.

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Quanta Services Stock Performance

NYSE:PWR opened at $242.75 on Thursday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $216.25 and its 200-day moving average is $199.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.58. Quanta Services has a 1-year low of $152.00 and a 1-year high of $245.43. The stock has a market cap of $35.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.45 and a beta of 1.10.

Quanta Services (NYSE:PWR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The construction company reported $2.04 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $5.78 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.19 billion. Quanta Services had a net margin of 3.57% and a return on equity of 16.46%. Quanta Servicess revenue for the quarter was up 31.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.54 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Quanta Services will post 7.61 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Derrick A. Jensen sold 18,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $236.90, for a total value of $4,382,650.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 263,725 shares in the company, valued at $62,476,452.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Quanta Services news, Director Worthing Jackman sold 9,572 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $237.31, for a total value of $2,271,531.32. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,486 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,776,502.66. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Derrick A. Jensen sold 18,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $236.90, for a total transaction of $4,382,650.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 263,725 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $62,476,452.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 46,024 shares of company stock valued at $10,981,819 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Quanta Services by 47.3% in the 4th quarter. Hazlett Burt & Watson Inc. now owns 162 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 52 shares during the last quarter. Western Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Quanta Services by 3.8% in the 2nd quarter. Western Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,597 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $314,000 after buying an additional 59 shares in the last quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC grew its position in shares of Quanta Services by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 1,367 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $295,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. Central Bank & Trust Co. grew its stake in Quanta Services by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Central Bank & Trust Co. now owns 3,246 shares of the construction companys stock worth $700,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its position in Quanta Services by 0.5% during the third quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd now owns 12,511 shares of the construction companys stock worth $2,340,000 after buying an additional 67 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.86% of the companys stock.

About Quanta Services

(Get Free Report)

Quanta Services, Inc provides infrastructure solutions for the electric and gas utility, renewable energy, communications, and pipeline and energy industries in the United States, Canada, Australia, and internationally. The company's Electric Power Infrastructure Solutions segment engages in the design, procurement, construction, upgrade, repair, and maintenance of electric power transmission and distribution infrastructure and substation facilities; installation, maintenance, and upgrade of electric power infrastructure projects; installation of smart grid technologies on electric power networks; and design, installation, maintenance, and repair of commercial and industrial wirings.

Further Reading

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Crane (NYSE:CR  Get Free Report) and McPhy Energy (OTCMKTS:MPHYF  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, valuation, earnings, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership and profitability.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares Crane and McPhy Energys gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Crane $2.09 billion 3.55 $401.10 million $3.69 35.17 McPhy Energy N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Crane has higher revenue and earnings than McPhy Energy.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Crane 13.10% 24.45% 10.14% McPhy Energy N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This table compares Crane and McPhy Energys net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Crane and McPhy Energy, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Crane 0 3 5 0 2.63 McPhy Energy 2 0 0 0 1.00

Crane presently has a consensus target price of $113.67, indicating a potential downside of 12.41%. Given Cranes stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Crane is more favorable than McPhy Energy.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

85.9% of Crane shares are owned by institutional investors. 2.4% of Crane shares 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.

Summary

Crane beats McPhy Energy on 9 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Crane

(Get Free Report)

Crane Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells engineered industrial products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Aerospace & Electronics, Process Flow Technologies, and Engineered Materials. The Aerospace & Electronics segment supplies critical components and systems, including original equipment and aftermarket parts for commercial aerospace, as well as the military aerospace, defense, and space markets. This segment also offers pressure sensors for aircraft engine control, aircraft braking systems for commercial aircraft and fighter jets, power conversion solutions for spacecraft, and lubrication systems. The Process Flow Technologies segment provides engineered fluid handling equipment for mission-critical applications. It offers process valves and related products, such as lined pipe, fittings and hoses, air-operated diaphragm and peristaltic pumps, instrumentation and sampling systems, valve positioning and control systems, and valve diagnostic and calibration systems; commercial valves; and pumps and systems. The Engineered Materials segment manufactures fiberglass-reinforced plastic panels and coils for use in the manufacturing of recreational vehicles, as well as in commercial and industrial building applications. This segment sells directly to RV, trailer, and truck manufacturers, as well as through distributors and retailers. The company provides its products and solutions to end markets, including commercial and military aerospace, defense, and space; chemical and pharmaceutical production; water and wastewater; non-residential and municipal construction; energy; and other general industrial and consumer-related applications. The company was formerly known as Crane Holdings, Co. Crane Company was founded in 1855 and is based in Stamford, Connecticut.

About McPhy Energy

(Get Free Report)

McPhy Energy S.A. provides hydrogen production and distribution equipment for hydrogen energy, hydrogen mobility, and industrial hydrogen markets. The company offers alkaline electrolyzers; hydrogen storage and transportation solutions; and fuel cell systems. It also develops hydrogen stations; and provides integrated hydrogen solutions. The company operates in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. McPhy Energy S.A. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Grenoble, France.

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Shares of Robert Half Inc. (NYSE:RHI  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Reduce from the five ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and three have assigned a hold recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $68.57.

RHI has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Robert Half from $66.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on Robert Half from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 31st.

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Robert Half Stock Up 0.1 %

NYSE:RHI opened at $78.85 on Wednesday. Robert Half has a 52 week low of $64.65 and a 52 week high of $88.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.29 billion, a PE ratio of 20.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 20.06 and a beta of 1.26. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $80.59 and its 200-day moving average price is $79.21.

Robert Half (NYSE:RHI  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The business services provider reported $0.83 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.82 by $0.01. Robert Half had a return on equity of 25.73% and a net margin of 6.43%. The firm had revenue of $1.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.47 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.37 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 14.7% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Robert Half will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Robert Half Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 23rd were paid a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.69%. This is a positive change from Robert Halfs previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 22nd. Robert Halfs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 54.78%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Robert Half news, EVP Robert W. Glass sold 7,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.46, for a total value of $603,450.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 186,062 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,970,548.52. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 2.70% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Robert Half by 15.4% during the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 523,611 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $46,036,000 after buying an additional 70,044 shares during the period. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its position in shares of Robert Half by 12.5% during the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 3,992 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $351,000 after buying an additional 444 shares during the period. Readystate Asset Management LP raised its position in shares of Robert Half by 24.8% during the 4th quarter. Readystate Asset Management LP now owns 17,098 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $1,503,000 after buying an additional 3,398 shares during the period. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of Robert Half during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in shares of Robert Half by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 158,010 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $13,893,000 after buying an additional 5,560 shares during the period. 91.63% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Robert Half

(Get Free Report

Robert Half Inc provides talent solutions and business consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through Contract Talent Solutions, Permanent Placement Talent Solutions, and Protiviti segments. The Contract Talent Solutions segment provides contract engagement professionals in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative, and customer support.

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Sarasin & Partners LLP reduced its stake in shares of Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE:CCI  Free Report) by 3.2% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 61,126 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 2,036 shares during the quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLPs holdings in Crown Castle were worth $7,041,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Crown Castle by 0.8% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 31,643,321 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $3,605,440,000 after purchasing an additional 258,811 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Crown Castle by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 20,907,232 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,382,170,000 after purchasing an additional 279,702 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of Crown Castle by 8.9% during the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 13,078,861 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,203,648,000 after purchasing an additional 1,064,382 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC raised its position in Crown Castle by 14.3% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 11,936,611 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,098,526,000 after buying an additional 1,496,330 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital World Investors raised its position in Crown Castle by 17.7% in the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 11,823,576 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,347,178,000 after buying an additional 1,780,200 shares during the last quarter. 90.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have weighed in on CCI shares. HSBC started coverage on Crown Castle in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. They set a hold rating and a $110.00 price target on the stock. BMO Capital Markets raised Crown Castle from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $107.00 to $110.00 in a research report on Friday, January 19th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Crown Castle from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $90.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Crown Castle from $92.00 to $109.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $121.33.

Crown Castle Price Performance

Shares of CCI traded down $0.42 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $105.77. The stock had a trading volume of 3,214,907 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,799,171. The companys 50-day moving average is $109.24 and its 200 day moving average is $104.42. Crown Castle Inc. has a 12-month low of $84.72 and a 12-month high of $136.29. The company has a current ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.46. The company has a market capitalization of $45.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.92 and a beta of 0.74.

Crown Castle Dividend Announcement

The business 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 dividend of $1.565 per share. This represents a $6.26 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.92%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Crown Castles dividend payout ratio is presently 180.92%.

Crown Castle Profile

(Free Report)

Crown Castle owns, operates and leases more than 40,000 cell towers and approximately 90,000 route miles of fiber supporting small cells and fiber solutions across every major U.S. market. This nationwide portfolio of communications infrastructure connects cities and communities to essential data, technology and wireless service  bringing information, ideas and innovations to the people and businesses that need them.

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Investor AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:IVSBF  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 267,500 shares, a decline of 10.8% from the February 14th total of 299,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 14,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 18.2 days.

Investor AB (publ) Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS IVSBF traded down $0.64 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $25.96. 149 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 9,159. Investor AB has a 1-year low of $17.55 and a 1-year high of $26.60. The companys 50-day moving average price is $23.84 and its 200-day moving average price is $21.37.

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Investor AB (publ) Company Profile

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Further Reading

Investor AB (publ) is a venture capital firm specializing in mature, middle market, buyouts and growth capital investments. It is operating through four business areas including core, private equity, operating, and financial investments. For core investments, the firm invests in health care, financial services, IT and fintech sectors and considers investments in listed companies in leading minority positions.

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Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Camden Property Trust (NYSE:CPT  Free Report) by 7.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,985 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 234 shares during the period. Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Camden Property Trust were worth $296,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in CPT. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale grew its position in Camden Property Trust by 0.3% during the third quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 97,859 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $9,272,000 after buying an additional 317 shares during the period. MBB Public Markets I LLC increased its position in shares of Camden Property Trust by 201.2% during the third quarter. MBB Public Markets I LLC now owns 235,013 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $22,228,000 after acquiring an additional 156,985 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotia increased its position in shares of Camden Property Trust by 13.8% during the third quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 10,519 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $995,000 after acquiring an additional 1,277 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. acquired a new stake in Camden Property Trust in the third quarter valued at $828,000. Finally, Kennedy Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Camden Property Trust by 2.9% in the third quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC now owns 16,282 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,540,000 after buying an additional 452 shares in the last quarter. 95.04% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other Camden Property Trust news, CEO Richard J. Campo sold 38,336 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.22, for a total value of $3,765,361.92. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 267,132 shares in the company, valued at approximately $26,237,705.04. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, CEO Richard J. Campo sold 38,336 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.22, for a total value of $3,765,361.92. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 267,132 shares of the companys stock, valued at $26,237,705.04. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Heather J. Brunner sold 1,325 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.21, for a total value of $130,128.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 10,230 shares in the company, valued at $1,004,688.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 55,957 shares of company stock valued at $5,495,920. 1.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CPT has been the subject of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $103.00 price target on shares of Camden Property Trust in a report on Monday, February 5th. Barclays lowered shares of Camden Property Trust from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price target for the company from $138.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on shares of Camden Property Trust from $122.00 to $121.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. StockNews.com cut shares of Camden Property Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, March 12th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Camden Property Trust in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $112.00 target price for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $104.12.

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Camden Property Trust Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of Camden Property Trust stock traded up $0.57 on Friday, hitting $98.49. The stock had a trading volume of 1,664,741 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,191,830. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74. Camden Property Trust has a one year low of $82.81 and a one year high of $114.04. The stock has a market cap of $10.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.62, a PEG ratio of 3.67 and a beta of 0.83. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $96.47 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $95.57.

Camden Property Trust (NYSE:CPT  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The real estate investment trust reported $2.03 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.72 by $0.31. Camden Property Trust had a return on equity of 8.07% and a net margin of 26.15%. The firm had revenue of $387.59 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $387.33 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.74 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 3.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Camden Property Trust will post 6.75 EPS for the current year.

Camden Property Trust Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.03 per share. This represents a $4.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.18%. This is a boost from Camden Property Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $1.00. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. Camden Property Trusts dividend payout ratio is 108.11%.

About Camden Property Trust

(Free Report)

Camden Property Trust, an S&P 500 Company, is a real estate company primarily engaged in the ownership, management, development, redevelopment, acquisition, and construction of multifamily apartment communities. Camden owns and operates 172 properties containing 58,634 apartment homes across the United States.

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Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLC decreased its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Free Report) by 31.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,810 shares of the energy producers stock after selling 1,300 shares during the quarter. Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLCs holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $326,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Howard Financial Services LTD. lifted its holdings in shares of ConocoPhillips by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Howard Financial Services LTD. now owns 4,037 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $469,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares in the last quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 4.6% during the 4th quarter. Capital Asset Advisory Services LLC now owns 20,924 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $2,429,000 after buying an additional 925 shares during the last quarter. Farmers Trust Co. grew its position in shares of ConocoPhillips by 6.4% during the 4th quarter. Farmers Trust Co. now owns 5,721 shares of the energy producers stock valued at $664,000 after buying an additional 342 shares during the last quarter. Wedmont Private Capital grew its position in ConocoPhillips by 18.1% in the 4th quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 14,509 shares of the energy producers stock worth $1,661,000 after purchasing an additional 2,219 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Curated Wealth Partners LLC grew its position in ConocoPhillips by 6.3% in the 4th quarter. Curated Wealth Partners LLC now owns 11,777 shares of the energy producers stock worth $1,367,000 after purchasing an additional 693 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.36% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of ConocoPhillips from $153.00 to $141.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 8th. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $138.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Johnson Rice lowered shares of ConocoPhillips from an accumulate rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, Raymond James cut their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $140.00 to $137.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $134.61.

ConocoPhillips Stock Performance

NYSE:COP traded up $0.26 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $120.04. The stock had a trading volume of 17,549,004 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,937,875. ConocoPhillips has a 1-year low of $91.53 and a 1-year high of $127.35. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $111.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is $115.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.29. The stock has a market capitalization of $141.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.25, a PEG ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.23.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The energy producer reported $2.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates 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 period in the prior year, the firm earned $2.71 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that ConocoPhillips will post 8.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

ConocoPhillips Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared 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 is an increase from ConocoPhillipss previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.60%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 15th. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 25.61%.

Insider Activity at ConocoPhillips

In other ConocoPhillips news, SVP Heather G. Hrap sold 4,548 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.55, for a total value of $502,781.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 2,654 shares in the company, valued at approximately $293,399.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Heather G. Hrap sold 4,548 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.55, for a total transaction of $502,781.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 2,654 shares in the company, valued at approximately $293,399.70. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Dominic E. Macklon sold 23,372 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $112.17, for a total transaction of $2,621,637.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 36,425 shares of company stock valued at $4,077,489 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock.

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.

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Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA  Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,940,000 shares, a growth of 19.8% from the February 14th total of 1,620,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 266,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 7.3 days. Approximately 3.8% of the companys stock are short sold.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on SNA shares. Barrington Research reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $325.00 price objective on shares of Snap-on in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Tigress Financial reiterated a buy rating and issued a $336.00 price objective on shares of Snap-on in a research note on Friday, February 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $306.00.

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Insider Activity at Snap-on

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Snap-on

In related news, SVP Thomas J. Ward sold 1,435 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $289.91, for a total transaction of $416,020.85. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 48,684 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,113,978.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other news, SVP Thomas J. Ward sold 1,435 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $289.91, for a total transaction of $416,020.85. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 48,684 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,113,978.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, CFO Aldo John Pagliari sold 3,231 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $270.58, for a total transaction of $874,243.98. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 93,183 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,213,456.14. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 30,506 shares of company stock valued at $8,560,008. 4.20% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Snap-on by 12.7% in the third quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 22,537 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,751,000 after purchasing an additional 2,542 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC boosted its stake in Snap-on by 20.7% during the third quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 33,821 shares of the companys stock worth $8,626,000 after buying an additional 5,793 shares during the period. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC boosted its stake in Snap-on by 4.4% during the second quarter. Checchi Capital Advisers LLC now owns 1,304 shares of the companys stock worth $376,000 after buying an additional 55 shares during the period. Rafferty Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Snap-on by 10.4% during the third quarter. Rafferty Asset Management LLC now owns 4,208 shares of the companys stock worth $1,073,000 after purchasing an additional 397 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC lifted its position in shares of Snap-on by 75.8% during the second quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 107,011 shares of the companys stock worth $30,839,000 after purchasing an additional 46,146 shares during the last quarter. 83.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Snap-on Stock Performance

NYSE SNA traded down $1.65 on Friday, reaching $289.20. 1,995,356 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 309,807. The company has a current ratio of 3.88, a quick ratio of 2.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. Snap-on has a one year low of $226.68 and a one year high of $297.61. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $282.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $273.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.28 billion, a PE ratio of 15.42, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 0.98.

Snap-on (NYSE:SNA  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $4.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.66 by $0.09. Snap-on had a net margin of 21.38% and a return on equity of 20.89%. The business had revenue of $1.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.20 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $4.42 EPS. The companys revenue was up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Snap-on will post 19.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Snap-on Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 26th were issued a dividend of $1.86 per share. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.57%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 23rd. Snap-ons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.68%.

About Snap-on

(Get Free Report)

Snap-on Incorporated manufactures and markets tools, equipment, diagnostics, and repair information and systems solutions for professional users worldwide. It operates through Commercial & Industrial Group, Snap-on Tools Group, Repair Systems & Information Group, and Financial Services segments.

Further Reading

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Snowflake Inc. (NYSE:SNOW  Get Free Report)s share price dropped 0.2% during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $155.55 and last traded at $156.69. Approximately 2,864,397 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 60% from the average daily volume of 7,157,395 shares. The stock had previously closed at $156.97.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Snowflake from $185.00 to $225.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Bank of America lowered their target price on Snowflake from $265.00 to $212.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Mizuho reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $205.00 price objective (down from $255.00) on shares of Snowflake in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Wedbush increased their target price on shares of Snowflake from $144.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Finally, Monness Crespi & Hardt upgraded shares of Snowflake from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $204.85.

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Snowflake Stock Down 0.1 %

The stocks 50-day moving average is $201.42 and its 200-day moving average is $179.59. The firm has a market cap of $51.64 billion, a P/E ratio of -61.45 and a beta of 0.94.

Snowflake (NYSE:SNOW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 28th. The company reported ($0.44) EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.49) by $0.05. Snowflake had a negative net margin of 29.79% and a negative return on equity of 13.80%. The business had revenue of $774.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $759.86 million. As a group, analysts expect that Snowflake Inc. will post -1.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Grzegorz Czajkowski sold 683 shares of Snowflake stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.42, for a total transaction of $110,249.86. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 86,208 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,915,695.36. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Grzegorz Czajkowski sold 683 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.42, for a total value of $110,249.86. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 86,208 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,915,695.36. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Frank Slootman sold 1,311 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.51, for a total transaction of $211,739.61. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 271,342 shares in the company, valued at $43,824,446.42. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 390,440 shares of company stock worth $80,383,938. 8.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Snowflake

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of Snowflake by 8.2% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 447,364 shares of the companys stock valued at $78,727,000 after purchasing an additional 34,051 shares in the last quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Snowflake in the 3rd quarter valued at about $458,000. Glynn Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Snowflake by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Glynn Capital Management LLC now owns 188,428 shares of the companys stock worth $28,786,000 after buying an additional 5,629 shares during the period. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Snowflake by 192.7% during the second quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 5,003 shares of the companys stock worth $880,000 after buying an additional 3,294 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Rheos Capital Works Inc. bought a new position in Snowflake in the third quarter valued at approximately $4,583,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.74% of the companys stock.

Snowflake Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Snowflake Inc provides a cloud-based data platform for various organizations in the United States and internationally. Its platform offers Data Cloud, which enables customers to consolidate data into a single source of truth to drive meaningful business insights, build data-driven applications, and share data and data products.

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TOPSHOT-CHINA-ECONOMY-HOUSING

TikTok and Taiwan dominate the news concerning China. But the real story is that Beijing is in financial trouble.

In January, a Hong Kong court ordered that one of Chinas largest property developers, Evergrande, undergo liquidation, after it had taken on US$300 billion ($406 billion) in debts. And this month, its second gigantic real estate developer, Vanke, was downgraded to junk status by Moodys and has the countrys state-owned banks scrambling to help it meet its repayment deadlines.

Many more Chinese enterprises are struggling. Its stock markets have dropped considerably over the past year, and youth unemployment is soaring.

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Chinas Communist leaders on (March 5) set a goal of five per cent economic growth for this year, and the fact that this target is being described as ambitious is a sign of Beijings economic troubles. Its not clear President Xi Jinping can deliver even on this target, wrote the Wall Street Journal.

Chinas fall from grace began with COVID, but has also been caused by grievous errors of judgment made by Xi, whos now a dictator for life. He turned the country into a casino by deregulating everything, and stripped the private assets of some of the countrys most successful entrepreneurs  tycoons like Jack Ma, who built Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd.

Xi further damaged the countrys reputation and prospects by not denouncing Russian President Vladimir Putin and his genocidal war against Ukraine, which has upset the West. Yet the fact remains that a diminished Beijing is a good outcome. Weak countries dont invade their neighbours.

China is now juggling three debt crises: its domestic real estate bubble, its high infrastructure spending and its Belt and Road Initiative to build bridges, dams and ports in foreign countries to cultivate global allies.

Investors in China have had a lost decade or more already, wrote James Mackintosh in the Wall Street Journal last summer. Put simply, China borrowed and invested way too much into unproductive assets such as housing, while suppressing consumption.

Story continues

The biggest problem involves Chinas local governments, which competed with one another to build fancy infrastructure and housing, often resorting to off-the-books borrowing to finance the projects. According to an article last year in Caixin Global, These liabilities are estimated by some to be almost $10 trillion, roughly double the GDP of Japan, the worlds third-largest economy.

The Belt and Road is another bust. A report last November from AidData, a research institute at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, found that developing countries, most of which are in financial distress, owe China at least US$1.1 trillion.

Such economic mismanagement will stunt growth in China for years.

An overly indebted Chinese economy cannot afford to roll out a massive stimulus, even when confronting the possibility of a full-blown property market crisis. China thus faces a much slower growth trajectory for the foreseeable future, wrote Stephen Roach, an American economist, China expert and Yale University lecturer, last August in the Asset.

Barring a successful consumer-led rebalancing, it will be exceedingly difficult for China to recapture its previous growth momentum. Since the 2008 global financial crisis, the economy has grown about seven per cent, on average, accounting for nearly 35 per cent of the cumulative increase in world GDP during the same period. If Chinas growth rate slows to three per cent to four per cent  a distinct possibility  its contribution to global growth will be halved, with obvious knock-on effects for the rest of the world.

China let countries borrow too much. As a result, it is now the biggest debt collector in the world. And it is now forced to provide US$80 billion a year in aid and credit to support its struggling clientele, in order to avoid defaults and divert attention from its domestic troubles.

Besides financial problems, China also has a demographic problem, with an aging population and high youth unemployment. Japan had similar challenges and suffered from economic stagnation for decades. Chinas debt problems will preoccupy the country for decades and slow global economic growth.
Sound Income Strategies LLC lowered its position in Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Free Report) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 63,351 shares of the companys stock after selling 917 shares during the quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLCs holdings in Molson Coors Beverage were worth $3,878,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TAP. Quarry LP purchased a new position in Molson Coors Beverage during the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. purchased a new position in Molson Coors Beverage during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Stone House Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Molson Coors Beverage during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC grew its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage by 85.7% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 650 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Molson Coors Beverage by 96.4% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 760 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 373 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.95% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Tracey Joubert sold 2,771 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.37, for a total value of $167,285.27. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 60,538 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,654,679.06. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 2.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have weighed in on TAP shares. StockNews.com lowered Molson Coors Beverage from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 11th. TheStreet raised Molson Coors Beverage from a c rating to a b- rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. HSBC started coverage on Molson Coors Beverage in a report on Thursday, November 30th. They set a hold rating and a $68.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Molson Coors Beverage currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $67.57.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on TAP

Molson Coors Beverage Trading Up 2.3 %

Shares of Molson Coors Beverage stock traded up $1.54 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $67.47. 4,432,985 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,718,182. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a current ratio of 0.70. The company has a market cap of $14.55 billion, a PE ratio of 15.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.83. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $62.82 and a 200-day moving average of $61.63. Molson Coors Beverage has a 12 month low of $49.32 and a 12 month high of $70.90.

Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $2.79 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.78 billion. Molson Coors Beverage had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 6.83%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.30 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Molson Coors Beverage will post 5.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Molson Coors Beverage Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st were paid a $0.44 dividend. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.61%. This is a boost from Molson Coors Beverages previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 29th. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is presently 40.37%.

About Molson Coors Beverage

(Free Report)

Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, spirits and energy, and ready to drink beverages.

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Taylor & Morgan Wealth Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP  Free Report) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,187 shares of the companys stock after selling 164 shares during the period. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF comprises approximately 1.0% of Taylor & Morgan Wealth Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest position. Taylor & Morgan Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF were worth $1,273,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $29,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO bought a new position in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF during the third quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Ambassador Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 198.0% during the first quarter. Ambassador Advisors LLC now owns 441 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 293 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Stock Performance

Shares of IWP traded up $0.62 on Monday, hitting $111.77. 103,940 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 782,638. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF has a one year low of $85.24 and a one year high of $114.09. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $107.77 and a 200 day simple moving average of $99.53. The company has a market capitalization of $15.17 billion, a PE ratio of 25.03 and a beta of 1.10.

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Profile

iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF, formerly iShares Russell Midcap Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell Midcap Growth Index (the Growth Index).

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TransAlta Co. (NYSE:TAC  Get Free Report) (TSE:TA)s share price reached a new 52-week low on Monday . The company traded as low as $6.26 and last traded at $6.37, with a volume of 65884 shares. The stock had previously closed at $6.31.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com cut shares of TransAlta from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 12th.

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View Our Latest Stock Report on TAC

TransAlta Stock Up 2.7 %

The company has a market cap of $1.99 billion, a PE ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 0.85. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $7.15 and its 200-day moving average price is $7.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.06, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.91.

TransAlta (NYSE:TAC  Get Free Report) (TSE:TA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 23rd. The utilities provider reported ($0.20) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.10 by ($0.30). The business had revenue of $624.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $305.79 million. TransAlta had a net margin of 20.05% and a return on equity of 48.42%. TransAltas revenue for the quarter was down 26.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted ($0.45) EPS. On average, analysts predict that TransAlta Co. will post 0.51 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On TransAlta

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TAC. Pacifica Partners Inc. raised its holdings in TransAlta by 766.3% in the 3rd quarter. Pacifica Partners Inc. now owns 3,465 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 3,065 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC bought a new position in TransAlta in the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. bought a new position in TransAlta in the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its holdings in TransAlta by 234.6% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 4,367 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 3,062 shares in the last quarter. Finally, 1832 Asset Management L.P. raised its holdings in TransAlta by 153.2% in the 1st quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 5,497 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $56,000 after purchasing an additional 3,326 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.93% of the companys stock.

About TransAlta

(Get Free Report)

TransAlta Corporation engages in the development, production, and sale of electric energy. It operates through Hydro, Wind and Solar, Gas, Energy Transition, and Energy Marketing segments. The Hydro segment holds interest of approximately 922 megawatts (MW) of owned hydroelectric generating capacity located in Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario.

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Triangle Securities Wealth Management increased its stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH  Free Report) by 3.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,713 shares of the medical research companys stock after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the quarter. Triangle Securities Wealth Managements holdings in Laboratory Co. of America were worth $844,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Provence Wealth Management Group acquired a new stake in Laboratory Co. of America in the third quarter worth $29,000. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Laboratory Co. of America in the second quarter worth $29,000. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Laboratory Co. of America in the third quarter worth $34,000. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in Laboratory Co. of America in the third quarter worth $37,000. Finally, ST Germain D J Co. Inc. acquired a new stake in Laboratory Co. of America in the second quarter worth $43,000. 89.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

LH has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. SVB Leerink initiated coverage on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a report on Monday, February 26th. They set an outperform rating and a $260.00 price objective on the stock. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a report on Friday, February 9th. They set an in-line rating and a $240.00 price objective on the stock. TheStreet lowered shares of Laboratory Co. of America from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. They set an equal weight rating and a $222.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Leerink Partnrs reaffirmed an outperform rating on shares of Laboratory Co. of America in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $243.07.

Laboratory Co. of America Stock Performance

Laboratory Co. of America stock traded up $0.33 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $209.54. The companys stock had a trading volume of 877,597 shares, compared to its average volume of 756,470. Laboratory Co. of America Holdings has a 1-year low of $174.20 and a 1-year high of $234.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $221.01 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $213.76. The company has a market cap of $17.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 44.58, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.02.

Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 15th. The medical research company reported $3.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.29 by $0.01. Laboratory Co. of America had a net margin of 3.24% and a return on equity of 13.99%. The business had revenue of $3.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.02 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $4.14 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 17.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Laboratory Co. of America Holdings will post 14.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Laboratory Co. of America Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 27th were given a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 26th. Laboratory Co. of Americas payout ratio is presently 61.67%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Jonathan P. Divincenzo sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.49, for a total value of $107,745.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 3,401 shares in the company, valued at approximately $732,881.49. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 259 shares of Laboratory Co. of America stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $222.06, for a total transaction of $57,513.54. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 7,637 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,695,872.22. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Jonathan P. Divincenzo sold 500 shares of Laboratory Co. of America stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $215.49, for a total transaction of $107,745.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 3,401 shares in the company, valued at $732,881.49. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 40,775 shares of company stock worth $8,823,080. 0.65% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Laboratory Co. of America

(Free Report)

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings operates as a life sciences company that provides vital information to help doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and patients make clear and confident decisions. It operates in two segments, Labcorp Diagnostics (Dx) and Biopharma Laboratory Services (BLS).

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Vickerman Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of iShares Global 100 ETF (NYSEARCA:IOO  Free Report) by 7.5% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 20,198 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,416 shares during the quarter. Vickerman Investment Advisors Inc.s holdings in iShares Global 100 ETF were worth $1,626,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Assetmark Inc. raised its position in iShares Global 100 ETF by 760,039.6% during the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,383,454 shares of the companys stock worth $101,324,000 after acquiring an additional 1,383,272 shares in the last quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN lifted its stake in iShares Global 100 ETF by 18.2% in the third quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 1,224,994 shares of the companys stock valued at $89,719,000 after acquiring an additional 188,248 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in iShares Global 100 ETF by 7.7% in the third quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 652,563 shares of the companys stock valued at $47,794,000 after acquiring an additional 46,608 shares during the last quarter. Amplius Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake in iShares Global 100 ETF by 4.0% in the third quarter. Amplius Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 582,238 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,644,000 after acquiring an additional 22,393 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC lifted its stake in iShares Global 100 ETF by 16.6% in the third quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 396,660 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,051,000 after acquiring an additional 56,420 shares during the last quarter.

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iShares Global 100 ETF Price Performance

IOO stock traded down $0.61 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $87.38. The stock had a trading volume of 105,321 shares, compared to its average volume of 167,491. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.59 billion, a PE ratio of 16.01 and a beta of 0.92. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $84.38 and a 200 day simple moving average of $79.24. iShares Global 100 ETF has a fifty-two week low of $65.44 and a fifty-two week high of $88.31.

About iShares Global 100 ETF

iShares Global 100 ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P Global 100 Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P Global 100 Index (the Index). The Index is designed to measure the performance of 100 large-capitalization global companies.

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Financial Network Wealth Management LLC cut its position in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V  Free Report) by 4.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,424 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 236 shares during the quarter. Financial Network Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Visa were worth $1,412,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of V. BCK Partners Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Visa during the 1st quarter valued at $2,717,000. Markel Corp increased its position in Visa by 0.3% in the 1st quarter. Markel Corp now owns 961,105 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $213,144,000 after purchasing an additional 3,065 shares during the last quarter. AMI Investment Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Visa during the 1st quarter worth about $2,323,000. Ergoteles LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Visa during the 1st quarter valued at about $538,000. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Visa in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $1,496,000. Institutional investors own 81.35% of the companys stock.

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Visa Trading Down 1.2 %

Shares of V stock traded down $3.37 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $283.04. The companys stock had a trading volume of 9,845,181 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,496,000. The company has a market cap of $519.81 billion, a PE ratio of 32.57, a P/E/G ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 1.45 and a current ratio of 1.45. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $275.87 and its 200-day simple moving average is $256.61. Visa Inc. has a 52 week low of $208.76 and a 52 week high of $289.04.

Visa Dividend Announcement

Visa ( NYSE:V Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 50.02% and a net margin of 53.92%. The firm had revenue of $8.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.55 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.18 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect 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. Investors of record on Friday, February 9th were issued a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $2.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.73%. Visas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 23.94%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Visa news, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of the businesss 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 sale, the chief accounting officer now 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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Ryan Mcinerney sold 8,150 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Peter M. Andreski sold 2,615 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $278.88, for a total value of $729,271.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 4,898 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,365,954.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 47,311 shares of company stock valued at $12,832,129. 0.19% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Visa in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on Visa from $290.00 to $309.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. UBS Group increased their target price on Visa from $305.00 to $315.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Raymond James lifted their price target on Visa from $287.00 to $311.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, KeyCorp increased their price objective on Visa from $275.00 to $300.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Visa presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $293.30.

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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.

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Wayfinding Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO  Free Report) by 1.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 9,734 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 175 shares during the quarter. Wayfinding Financial LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $573,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of KO. Castleview Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 4.4% during the 1st quarter. Castleview Partners LLC now owns 3,973 shares of the companys stock worth $246,000 after buying an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. Enterprise Bank & Trust Co increased its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Enterprise Bank & Trust Co now owns 5,021 shares of the companys stock worth $296,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the last quarter. Somerville Kurt F increased its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Somerville Kurt F now owns 21,377 shares of the companys stock worth $1,325,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares during the last quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC increased its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 46.5% during the 2nd quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 545 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 173 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cozad Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 53,009 shares of the companys stock worth $2,967,000 after purchasing an additional 179 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.96% of the companys stock.

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Coca-Cola Price Performance

Shares of KO traded down $0.62 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $59.88. 36,849,930 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 14,275,774. The Coca-Cola Company has a 1 year low of $51.55 and a 1 year high of $64.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. The company has a market cap of $258.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.47 and a beta of 0.59. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $59.99 and a 200 day moving average price of $58.23.

Coca-Cola Increases Dividend

Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $0.49 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.01. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 23.42% and a return on equity of 42.50%. The company had revenue of $10.80 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.68 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.45 EPS. The firms revenue was up 6.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.485 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This is an increase from Coca-Colas previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $1.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.24%. Coca-Colas payout ratio is currently 78.23%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $67.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $64.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on shares of Coca-Cola from $60.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Coca-Cola has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.00.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on KO

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Coca-Cola news, EVP Nancy Quan sold 57,368 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.87, for a total value of $3,491,990.16. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 223,330 shares in the company, valued at $13,594,097.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO James Quincey sold 92,028 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $59.06, for a total transaction of $5,435,173.68. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 442,546 shares in the company, valued at $26,136,766.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Nancy Quan sold 57,368 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.87, for a total transaction of $3,491,990.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 223,330 shares in the company, valued at $13,594,097.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 467,435 shares of company stock valued at $28,230,915 over the last three months. Insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock.

Coca-Cola Profile

(Free Report)

The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores.

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Winthrop Advisory Group LLC lessened its stake in shares of Edwards Lifesciences Co. (NYSE:EW  Free Report) by 5.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,241 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 185 shares during the quarter. Winthrop Advisory Group LLCs holdings in Edwards Lifesciences were worth $247,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of EW. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 11.4% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 9,181 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,081,000 after acquiring an additional 941 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. boosted its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 34.7% in the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,738 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $204,000 after purchasing an additional 448 shares in the last quarter. Covestor Ltd boosted its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 18.2% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,223 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $144,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. boosted its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 53.5% in the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 7,182 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $846,000 after purchasing an additional 2,503 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Edwards Lifesciences by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 655,567 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $77,173,000 after purchasing an additional 19,798 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.25% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Mizuho raised their price objective on Edwards Lifesciences from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Citigroup lowered Edwards Lifesciences from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Edwards Lifesciences from $80.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Edwards Lifesciences from $82.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Edwards Lifesciences from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $94.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Edwards Lifesciences has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $87.38.

Insider Activity at Edwards Lifesciences

In related news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 14,510 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.55, for a total value of $1,110,740.50. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 19,248 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,473,434.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, CFO Scott B. Ullem sold 14,510 shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.55, for a total value of $1,110,740.50. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 19,248 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,473,434.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, VP Daniel J. Lippis sold 1,715 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.98, for a total value of $156,030.70. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 17,213 shares in the company, valued at $1,566,038.74. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 196,859 shares of company stock worth $16,445,296 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock.

Edwards Lifesciences Price Performance

Shares of Edwards Lifesciences stock opened at $92.38 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.40, a current ratio of 3.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. Edwards Lifesciences Co. has a twelve month low of $60.57 and a twelve month high of $95.27. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $82.87 and a 200 day moving average price of $74.99. The firm has a market cap of $55.55 billion, a PE ratio of 40.13, a P/E/G ratio of 4.61 and a beta of 1.05.

Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The medical research company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.64. Edwards Lifesciences had a return on equity of 23.56% and a net margin of 23.35%. The firm had revenue of $1.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.50 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.64 EPS. Edwards Lifesciencess revenue for the quarter was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts predict that Edwards Lifesciences Co. will post 2.76 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Edwards Lifesciences Company Profile

(Free Report)

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of aortic heart valves under the Edwards SAPIEN family of valves system; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases under the PASCAL PRECISION and Cardioband names.

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Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM  Free Report) by 32.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,240 shares of the restaurant operators stock after purchasing an additional 800 shares during the period. Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Yum! Brands were worth $423,000 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 YUM. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Yum! Brands by 4.2% in the third quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 5,689 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $711,000 after purchasing an additional 229 shares in the last quarter. Adviser Investments LLC lifted its position in shares of Yum! Brands by 13.8% in the third quarter. Adviser Investments LLC now owns 1,710 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $214,000 after purchasing an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System lifted its position in shares of Yum! Brands by 2.4% in the third quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 1,196,411 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $149,480,000 after purchasing an additional 28,507 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Yum! Brands by 0.8% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,521,511 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $190,098,000 after acquiring an additional 12,654 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its position in Yum! Brands by 2.3% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 244,394 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $30,535,000 after acquiring an additional 5,609 shares in the last quarter. 80.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Activity

In other Yum! Brands news, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total transaction of $1,285,799.97. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 18,661 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,419,025.43. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, VP David Eric Russell sold 9,919 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.63, for a total value of $1,285,799.97. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 18,661 shares in the company, valued at $2,419,025.43. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,756 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.21, for a total transaction of $485,312.76. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 57,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,406,963.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Yum! Brands Price Performance

Shares of Yum! Brands stock traded down $0.32 during trading on Friday, hitting $136.84. 4,164,802 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,961,536. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 1.10. Yum! Brands, Inc. has a 1-year low of $115.53 and a 1-year high of $143.24. The firms fifty day moving average price is $133.31 and its 200 day moving average price is $128.36.

Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The restaurant operator reported $1.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.39 by ($0.13). Yum! Brands had a net margin of 22.57% and a negative return on equity of 17.76%. The business had revenue of $2.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.31 earnings per share. Yum! Brandss revenue for the quarter was up .8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Yum! Brands, Inc. will post 5.73 earnings per share for the current year.

Yum! Brands Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 21st were issued a $0.67 dividend. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.96%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 20th. This is an increase from Yum! Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. Yum! Brandss dividend payout ratio is presently 47.94%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently weighed in on YUM. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Yum! Brands from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Yum! Brands from $146.00 to $144.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Stifel Nicolaus reissued a hold rating and issued a $135.00 price target on shares of Yum! Brands in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of Yum! Brands from $145.00 to $141.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Yum! Brands from $144.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, March 7th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Yum! Brands presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $144.94.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on YUM

About Yum! Brands

(Free Report)

Yum! Brands, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, develops, operates, and franchises quick service restaurants worldwide. The company operates through the KFC Division, the Taco Bell Division, the Pizza Hut Division, and the Habit Burger Grill Division segments. It also operates restaurants under the KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill brands, which specialize in chicken, pizza, made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches, Mexican-style food categories, and other food products.

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TORONTO, March 18, 2024 /CNW/ - The Canada-Ukraine Foundation today announced the coming Canada speaking tour of 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk. The Kyiv-based human rights lawyer heads up the Centre for Civil Liberties (Ukraine) Foundation, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 for work in cataloguing Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Canada-Ukraine Foundation logo (CNW Group/Canada-Ukraine Foundation)

The Canadian speaking tour is sponsored by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF). Through multiple events in four Canadian cities, Ms. Matviichuk will be raising awareness to the plight of the thousands of Ukrainian children stolen by Russia, the impact of the war on women and children, and her ongoing work in cataloguing human rights abuses and war crimes. Funds raised through the tour will support the above-mentioned programs.

Date breakdown:

Ottawa  June 4-5

Montreal  June 6

Winnipeg  June 7

Toronto  June 8-9

ADVERTISEMENT

A detailed itinerary will be forthcoming in the coming weeks.

Quotes:

"We are honoured to partner with Oleksandra Matviichuk and the Ukrainian Centre for Civil Liberties. Their work in cataloguing war crimes is essential and will constitute a critical part of the Nuremburg Trials against Kremlin officials once this war is over."  Victor Hetmanczuk, Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation

"The war isn't over. With each day it continues, more children are being abducted by Russia and sent to filtration camps or re-education centres. This horrendous crime must be better understood."  Olesia Luciw-Andryjowycz, Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation Civil Society Committee

Biographical notes:

Oleksandra Matviichuk attended Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, graduating in 2007 when she was conferred a LL.M. specializing in human rights law. She started working for the non-profit Centre for Civil Liberties upon its founding in 2007, when it was established. In 2012, she became a member of the Advisory Council under the Commissioner for Human Rights of Ukraine's parliament. In 2017, she became the first woman to participate in the Ukrainian Emerging Leaders Program of Stanford University. Since October 2022, she has been Vice-President of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH). In addition to the Nobel Peace Prize, which she received in 2022 on behalf of the Centre for Civil Liberties, her honours include, inter alia:

Story continues

SOURCE Canada-Ukraine Foundation

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In the EU, continued rule of law backsliding keeps weakening our democracies

Despite its importance to a free and democratic society, the rule of law situation is deteriorating across the EU. Even in countries with strong democratic traditions,

We expect our leaders to listen to our opinions and follow the rules the same as everyone else. This is what the rule of law is all about, and its the foundation of our democracies.

But the combination of declining democratic standards and the prospect of far-right parties entering government in Europe threatens to weaken this democratic foundation, as were already witnessing.

As Liberties Rule of Law Report 2024 details, rule of law violations were observed in all corners of the EU. It isnt too late to reverse this trend, but the EU must act urgently before rule of law decay becomes permanent.

The overarching view is underwhelming

The report points to an overarching trend of governments shrugging off democratic oversight, posing varying degrees of threat to democracy in different countries.

In well-established democracies, such as Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands, these typically amounted to violations that do not pose an existential threat to democracy.

Authorities in these countries may consistently restrict or detain climate activists or abuse surveillance technology during protests, for example. But none of their governments resorted to rewriting laws or overtly violating the system of checks and balances.

If these countries continue down this path, crack by crack the rule of law  the foundation of free democracy  will soon crumble.

Newly appointed Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico arrives for a swearing in ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, November 2023 - AP Photo/Petr David Josek

In countries less resistant to democratic backsliding, such as Greece, the accumulation of persistent rule of law breaches across different areas risks snowballing into a systemic issue.

And there is growing concern over Italy, where last year the situation deteriorated in nearly all areas, and only anti-corruption showed progress. If these countries continue down this path, crack by crack the rule of law  the foundation of free democracy  will soon crumble.

Story continues

This is the case in Hungary, where the ruling party continues to intentionally dismantle democratic structures and the rule of law to cement their grip on power. Little changed in 2023, and its too early to say if the reforms implemented to free up EU funding will actually reverse democratic backsliding.

In Slovakia, the new government has already initiated legislation via fast-track procedures, abolished a main prosecutorial body, and squeezed the funding of public service media.

Small breaches can become endemic  and irreversible

Over the five years Liberties has been conducting our annual rule of law monitoring, we've witnessed the steady downward trajectory of democracy in Europe.

This trend is the result of governments deliberately disregarding rule of law principles, including countries with strong democratic records.

Particularly brazen examples include the misuse of emergency measures to push through unpopular legislation, as seen in Frances enactment of pension reforms, or Belgiums refusal to comply with court decisions in asylum and border control cases.

These seemingly small, isolated rule of law breaches are often intended to achieve a particular outcome rather than chip away at democratic structures.

Part of what makes democracy beautiful is that it can only flourish when those in power live by the same rules as everyone else. This makes it vulnerable to bad actors, but this inherent fragility is also its greatest strength.

Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Warsaw, February 2024 - AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski

Nevertheless, they constitute a willingness by governments to selectively eschew democratic oversight. This may not immediately threaten democratic stability, but not reacting to rule of law backsliding by well-intentioned governments serves to normalise it, making it all but impossible to reverse should an extremist government take power.

We are already witnessing this in Sweden. In 2021, serious rule of law violations were only reported regarding media freedom; with a right-wing government in power since 2022, we now observe breaches in checks and balances, the justice system, media freedom, civic space, and human rights protections  only in anti-corruption is the situation not regressing.

And in Poland, the new government is grappling with the consequences of letting these small breaches become endemic.

Donald Tusks coalition has promised to correct the rule of law backsliding that defined its predecessor, but there is concern that the damage cant easily be undone without violating the rule of law in the process  one which will be long and requires the creation of an action plan.

The EU must not sit on its hands

It shouldnt have to come to that. The EU already has a range of tools to protect the rule of law and should use them readily. Seeing the rule of law conditionality mechanism, modelled on a proposal we developed, used against Hungary, was a positive development.

The EU should consider launching systemic infringement proceedings where there are multiple rule of law violations, utilise an expedited procedure and request interim measures.

The European Commission must also show strong oversight of member states efforts to follow EU regulations.

The European Media Freedom Act, the Anti-SLAPP Directive and the AI Act are the latest pieces of EU legislation that, while far from perfect, can be used to improve the rule of law situation in member states and help prevent isolated rule of law violations from becoming systemic rot.

Part of what makes democracy beautiful is that it can only flourish when those in power live by the same rules as everyone else.

This makes it vulnerable to bad actors, but this inherent fragility is also its greatest strength.

A robust rule of law protects democracys weaknesses from being exploited, while still preserving its essential democratic nature.

Eleanor Brooks is a communications officer and Jonathan Day is an advocacy officer at Liberties, a Berlin-based human rights organisation.

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The two appear, albeit separately, in the Bon Jovi Hulu docuseries "Thank You, Goodnight.'

Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora are "not in contact" since Sambora abruptly left the band in 2013.

Both Bon Jovi and Sambora appear, albeit separately, in the forthcoming Hulu docuseries Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story. Ahead of the doc's premiere in April, the singer is giving a little insight into his relationship with the band's former lead guitarist.



Ross Marino/Getty Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi in 1985

"We're not in contact because he's not in the organization any longer," Bon Jovi told Ultimate Classic Rock about Sambora. "Doesn't mean that there's not love forever, but it's 11 years ago that he just didn't show up anymore. And there were emotional issues that he was dealing with as a single dad, and there were substance abuse issues that, you know ... Phil X had to show up one time, and then Phil X had to show up another time. And then, again, there's a show that night. What are we gonna do?"



Sambora left Bon Jovi in 2013 during the first leg of their Because We Can tour, just hours before the band was due to perform in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. At the time, Sambora cited personal issues, later telling PEOPLE that he had no real choice in the matter. He was officially replaced by guitarist Phil X in 2016.

It wasnt a popular decision by any means, obviously, but there was really almost no choice about it. I had a lot of conscious work to do around [my personal life], Sambora said 2021. I had people around me that loved me, and it was a good thing I got through it  I realized [daughter] Ava needed me to be around at that point in time. Family had to come first, and thats what happened.



Sambora joined Bon Jovi in 1983, replacing original lead guitarist Dave Sabo, who went on to form Skid Row. Sambora released his first solo album, Stranger In This Town, in 1991, but continued to play and tour with Bon Jovi until 2013. Since leaving Bon Jovi, Sambora has only reunited with the band once to play their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 2018  though he hasn't ruled out a proper reunion down the road.

Story continues

I dont regret leaving, Sambora says in the trailer for Thank You, Goodnight. I regret how I did it.



Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story premieres on Hulu April 26.



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Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.
[Source]

A Massachusetts family called the FBI for help in returning the nearly two dozen looted Japanese artifacts they discovered while sorting through belongings in their late fathers attic after his death in 2023.

Key points:

Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of FBI Boston, noted in the press release how the case highlighted the publics important role in recognizing and reporting possible stolen art. Cohen added, 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 Japan.

In a press release on Friday, the FBI announced that 22 artifacts from the Battle of Okinawa were recovered from a home of a Massachusetts family and have been returned to Japan . The FBI began its investigation into the case in January 2023.

The details:

Trending on NextShark: New video, images give closest look yet inside Fukushima reactor's damaged interior

The family researched some of the artifacts through FBI's National Stolen Art File after realizing that they all looked old. They confirmed that the scrolls among the discovered artifacts were logged in the database about 20 years ago, Special Agent Geoffrey J. Kelly, the art crime coordinator for FBI Boston and a member of the FBI Art Crime Team, said.

The artifacts consisted of six painted scrolls from the 18th and 19th centuries, a hand-drawn map from the 19th century depicting Okinawa at the time and a few pieces of pottery and ceramics. The FBI also noted the discovery of a letter among the stolen artifacts, confirming that they were looted in the last days of WWII.

The looted artifacts belonged to a treasure trove from the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled the islands from 1429 to 1879. Japanese officials registered those stolen treasures in the National Stolen Art File in 2001.

The Battle of Okinawa, also known as Operation Iceberg, was one of the major battles in the Pacific during WWII. It took place on the islands of Okinawa, Japan, and resulted in the deaths of 49,000 Americans, as well as an estimated 150,000 civilians and 110,000 Japanese soldiers. The Battle of Okinawa lasted from March 26, 1945, to September 7, 1945.
With Metro services on the three newly inaugurated stretches of Green Line, Orange Line and Purple Line having started from Friday, the Metro authorities have put in place an Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) so that any commuter can switch to any corridor (Green, Blue and Orange) through the interchanging stations of Esplanade and Kavi Subhash by purchasing tickets once.

The Metro authorities in a Press statement said the integrated ticket is sold from the counters only. No Integrated Ticket will be sold from the ASCRM machines of any station of Green Line, Blue Line and Orange Line. It said AFC-PC gates of all Metro stations have been upgraded accordingly. At present, no integrated ticket for the Purple Line is available.

Apart from the integrated tickets, commuters will also be able to travel with Mobile QR Code tickets purchased using Metro Ride Kolkata App and Paper Based QR Code tickets on Howrah Maidan to Esplanade stretch of Green Line only. They can also use the existing Smart Cards in availing Metro services on these three newly inaugurated stretches.

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Since the last service on the Kavi Subhash to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay stretch of Orange Line leaves the terminal stations at 4.40 p.m, the sale of integrated tickets for this corridor from all station counters of Howrah Maidan to Esplanade stretch of Green Line is stopped from 3.30 p.m, the statement added.
The present sitting MP of Hooghly lok sabha Locket Chatterjee is contesting the Hooghly Lok Sabha seat for the second time as a BJP candidate. However the alleged existing discord among the BJP leaders and party workers within the Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency will mean some rough sailing for Locket Chatterjee to put up a fight against the TMC candidate for Hooghly Lok Sabha seat, Rachana Banerjee.

A lot of discontent and resentment exists among the people of Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency against Locket Chatterjee for not being at their side in their time of need. The BJP party workers are quite perturbed over the discontent of the people of the constituency.

Moreover the party workers themselves have flagged the alleged indifferent attitude of Locket Chatterjee towards them. Very recently posters appeared against Locket Chatterjee, purportedly put up by BJP mandal presidents who do not favour Locket Chatterjee as the BJP Hooghly LS candidate for the second time.

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With the declaration of Locket Chatterjees name for the second time as the partys candidate, the BJPs Hooghly unit appears divided in two factions Locket Chatterjee, however, while speaking to media persons on the issue completely denied any division within the Hooghly BJP unit. She said all these stories are cooked up by the Trinamul Congress to discourage the BJP grassroot workers and to defame her and the party.

The sitting Hooghly MP alleged that all the anti-Locket Chatterjee and anti-BJP posters were put up by TMC. However, during her election campaign, it is well marked that many party workers who previously accompanied the Hooghly MP are not seen anywhere nearby.

Today also, posters appeared at 19 no ward of Bansberia Municipality against BJP district president Tushar Mazumdar, BJP district general secretary Suresh Sahu and BJP state general secretary Mr Dipanjan Guha, who are denounce as hidden agents of the Trinamul Congress. The BJP leadership alleges that the posters are put up by the TMC .

Political observers are of the opinion that even though locket Chatterjee is a much more experienced and mature politician than TMC candidate Rachna Banerjee, the prevaling discontent among the people against Locket Chatterjee and the divisions within the local BJP will give a lot of advantage to the TMC candidate for Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency
The Trinamul Congress on Sunday asked the Central government to publish a white paper on the money actually released to West Bengal for MGNREGA and housing for the rural poor in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023- 24. Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of the party challenged the BJP leaders to take part in a debate at the place of their choice and date and face him and answer the questions raised by him.

Trinamul leaders said the Centre had said it sanctioned the money but never said anything on the amount they had released. Allotment of money and releasing it are not the same thing, they alleged. Party leaders said if the BJP had the guts it should give details of the cheque numbers and the date when the money was released. Chandrima Bhattacharya came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said he had been making false statements just to confuse people.

The Prime Minister had said in 2022 that the income of the farmers would double within two years. Two years have passed and now he says that it would double by 2028, Ms Bhattacharya said. Mamata Banerjee did not make any promise, but the income of the farmers has trebled. Now they are getting Rs 2 lakhs annually, she said. She said the Trinamul Congress always stands by the people and as the Centre did not pay the job card holders, Mamata Banerjee took steps and cleared the dues.

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Similarly, if the Centre does not give the money, houses of 11 lakh people will be built in phases at the state governments expense, she said.
Palm Royale is a highly-stylised yet unsustaining series that seeks to find substance in the art of social climbing, yet my lasting impression was: who does Kristen Wiig's sensational blonde hair?

The plot of Apple TV+'s latest is well trodden yet slightly preposterous. Maxine (Kristen Wiig), the relentlessly positive, coiffed wife of the heir apparent of a vast Floridian fortune, will do anything to scale the social heights of America's Palm Beach to achieve her desire of "being someone."

In a bid to do just that, Maxine climbs over the wall of the town's elite social club Palm Royale, and bribes her way to a membership, which leads to her falling into a frenemy network of luxurious ladies who lunch in silk chiffon confections, flash their cash, and quaff elaborate cocktails.

The impressive cast play out predictable characters: there's the sugar heiress with a mobster husband (Claudia Ferri), the horny ambassador's wife (Leslie Bibb), and the formidable society philanthropist (Allison Janney). Hats off especially to Laura Derns Linda, who provides the antidote to Maxine's society-obsessed vapidity as she fights to raise the collective consciousness with her pro-women work and early-stage brand of seventies feminism.

For the show's backdrop is Nixon's America, 1969, and various undercurrents of social tension are reflected across all ten episodes as broadcasts of the President and the Vietnam war play in scene backgrounds, usually as our characters are dressing, or engaged in various other contrastingly 'insipid' activities.

Kaia Gerber in Palm Royale (Apple TV+)

There are mentions of 'Communists' in our midst as the ladies lounge at the country club pool (one can't help but wonder if Maxine is intended to be a metaphor for just that; an outsider intent on destabilizing the status quo), and Ricky Martin plays a Vietnam vet turned "house boy", his character used to limply pass comment on the fallout of war.

Aptly for the Trumpian undertones, the show is set on the lavish island of Palm Beach, which today has one of the highest concentrations of wealth in America. It's these oceanfront mansions (in the show, a setting for lavish lunches) that today, in real life, house some of Trump's fundraising billionaire backers.

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In this rarefied social world, we watch as the women's anxieties play out as they flit between fundraising galas, lunches, and engagements in a social season that spans half the year. Some of the best scenes in the early episodes come as we meet society dresser Grayman (Dominic Burgess), who trusses the ladies up as a band of sartorial mini eggs, advising pastel, maxi-length dresses for the "ankle-conscious".

He, his atelier, and The Shiny Sheet newspaper chart the rise and fall of social stocks - much as Bridgerton's Genevieve Delacroix and Lady Whistledown's columns did.

Through Alix Friedman's costume direction, we get an accomplished depiction of quite how fabulous 1970s society dressing really was, and Wiig does Slim Aarons justice with a flawless honey tan, blown out Norwegian blonde hair, and series of exquisite shift dresses.

Theres a taste of the greats that's hard to escape here  from Desperate Housewives to Big Little Lies, not to mention what feels like a brave attempt to ape Carrie's Cosmo with Maxine's signature drink, the Grasshopper.

Yet I found Palm Royale hard to love. It's a glossy, highly stylised small-screen sedative, ideal for a Sunday sofa session. This show mirrors the tenacity of its leading lady: it might not be deemed good enough, but will give it a bloody good go.

Palm Royale is streaming on Apple TV+ from March 20
The Standard Chartered (STAN) raised its year-end forecast for bitcoins price to USD 150,000 from USD 100,000.

The bull run of the digital crypto asset, the Bitcoin, is far from over and is likely to continue for the years to come as the Standard Chartered (STAN) raised its year-end forecast for bitcoins price to $150,000 from $100,000.

Before settling around $200,000 next year, the BTC will also reach a high for the cycle of $250,000 next year.

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We think the gold analogy  in terms of both ETF impact and the optimal portfolio mix  remains a good starting point for estimating the correct BTC price level medium-term, it said in a note.

If ETF inflows reach our mid-point estimate of $75billlion, and/or if reserve managers buy BTC, we see a good chance of an overshoot to the $250,000 level at some stage in 2025, it added.

Notably, Standard Chartered based its analysis on a comparison with the price of gold after gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) were introduced in the U.S. and a correlation between ETF inflows and the BTC price. Spot bitcoin ETFs started trading in the US in January.

The bank further said that the Securities and Exchange Commission could approve an ether (ETH) ETF on May 23, leading to inflows of as much as $45 billion in the first 12 months and ETH reaching around $8,000 by the end of 2024.

In 2025, we see the ETH-to-BTC price ratio rising back to the 7% level that prevailed for much of 2021-22, Standard Chartered said in a separate note.

Given our estimated BTC price level of USD 200,000 at end-2025, that would imply an ETH price of $14,000, it added.

Weekly net inflows and trading volume for US spot bitcoin ETFs hit record levels last week as bitcoin reached fresh all-time highs before retreating sharply.

As per the reports, the net inflows for the ten spot bitcoin ETFs combined reached $2.57 billion last week. This was up 15% from the $2.24 billion worth of inflows generated the week prior.
The Uttarakhand Congress is facing erosion of leadership as its senior leaders, sitting and former MLAs have started switching their loyalties to the BJP.

More than 12,000 Congressmen have joined the saffron party as the main Opposition party accused the state government of resorting to coercion to poach its leaders.

The Uttarakhand Congress is facing the recurrence of the resignation of its popular leaders for nearly a week. Prominent on the list is sitting Badrinath MLA Rajendra Bhandari who resigned from the party and joined BJP in Delhi without wasting much time on Sunday.

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Bhandari was the lone Congress MLA in the assembly from the Pauri Lok Sabha seat where the BJP has fielded its first-time candidate Anil Baluni, who is considered to be close to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He vehemently campaigned for Congress candidate Ganesh Godiyal, considered stronger than Baluni in straight contest, before joining the saffron party.

Two days ago, former Congress MLAs, Vijaypal Sajwan and Malchand, mass leaders in Uttarkashi, had joined the BJP with their supporters.

Now, speculations are that Anukriti Gusain, a well-known former model and daughter-in-law of Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat who is facing a CBI probe, is set to hold on to BJPs lotus soon. She resigned from the party on Sunday.

BJP leaders including the partys state president Mahendra Bhatt have stated that 2-3 more sitting Congress MLAs are likely to join the ruling party. More than 12,000 Congress MLAs have joined the BJP in the past few days. More opposition MLAs, their former legislators, and other senior party leaders may follow Bhandaris footsteps in the coming days said Bhatt.

Congress leaders joining BJP have realised that that the Opposition has no future in the state. They want to move ahead under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the work being done by the union government. You should not be surprised if Congress legislators and senior party leaders of the Haridwar Lok Sabha seat join the BJP in the coming days. Many Congressmen want to join us in Haridwar now, said former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat, BJP nominee from Haridwar.

BJP media in-charge Manvir Singh Chauhan said, More Congress MLAs are in touch with us. However, their BJP entry will depend on the state leaderships decision. Congress leaders want to be part of the prime ministers vision for a developed India. We are bound to win all five seats for the third consecutive term in 2024.

However, Congress leadership alleged that the ruling party coerced its leaders to join the BJP. Those who joined BJP were not tired of cursing the ruling party till a day before. But the BJP government in the state and their leadership went all-out to poach the Congress using fear of enforcement agencies. But the Congress will battle it out. They have resorted to coercion but only poll results will tell the truth, said state Congress president Karan Mahra.
The Centres emphasis on millet crop has increased the yearly income of 75 per cent of millet farmers between 10 to 20 per cent in Uttarakhand, according to a study by the Indian Institute of Management, Kashipur.

The study, which has been funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research, was conducted on over 2,100 farmers.

The study titled Millet Production in Uttarakhand: An Empirical Analysis of its Socio-Economic Impact and Marketability Challenges found that the recent push by both the central and the Uttarakhand governments created a demand for millet crops in the market but the farmers were unaware of it. Besides, they found most farmers are growing millets for self-consumption instead of earning a profit.

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Assistant Professor Shivam Rai, Deepak Sangroya and Gaurav Kabra, Associate Professors at OP Jindal Global Business School and Dr Nishant Singh Assistant Professor at Bennett University, spearheaded the research.

The study reveals that the government schemes designed to support the millet farmers are becoming futile because of the communication gap and the language barrier. Millets are a sustainable crop which is not only nutritious, and healthy but also easy to store and does not damage the soil, said Professor Rai.

The study was also conducted to address the marketability challenges of millet production and identify effective strategies to increase its economic presence. The sample size for the survey was collected from Pithoragarh, Joshimath, RudraPrayag, Chamoli and others.

Millets are considered the staple food for the local community, enhancing their food security and nutrition by reducing their dependence on other cereal crops.

India produces all the nine commonly known traditional millets  Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet, Foxtail Millet, Proso Millet, Little Millet, Barnyard Millet, Browntop Millet and Kodo Millet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution for declaring the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets and the same was supported by 72 countries.

The International Year of Millet 2023 has played a crucial role in raising awareness about millet as a sustainable crop worldwide and increased the demand for millet-based products both nationally and globally.

The study also made recommendations to implement various short and long-term strategies to support the stakeholders, who can work together to harness the potential of millet production and promotion in Uttarakhand, ensuring a resilient and prosperous future for farmers and the local community.

The research projects findings help in identifying the potential barriers to the production, consumption, and commercialization of millets. This will aid in devising strategies for improving the livelihoods of producers and the supply-value demand of millet.
Uttar Pradesh Electronics and Information Technology Minister Sunil Kumar Sharma has said supercomputers will promote innovation and boost economic growth.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Centre of Supercomputing that will have the worlds first five peta FLOPS AI Supercomputer: NVIDIA DGX A100.

This cutting-edge technology behind the SUPERCOMPUTER, NVIDIAs DGX A100 marks a milestone in the institutes commitment to advancing research and innovation across a wide range of disciplines.

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KIET Group of institutions, Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad organized the inaugural ceremony of Centre of Supercomputing which is supported by Start In UP start-up policy, that is an initiative of the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

UP Electronics and Information Technology Minister Sunil Kumar Sharma was the chief guest at the inaugural function held on Saturday along with special guest  Sanjeev Sharma, BJP Mahanagar chief and Keshav Tyagi.

Speaking on the occasion, Sharma said, I congratulate the institute for introducing this centre 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.

Ghaziabad MLA Atul Garg, also chairman of the governing board, said, Through NVIDIA DGX A100 supercomputer, we want to provide new opportunities to our children to progress in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. I request all the faculty members to provide all the technical facilities to make our children strong and competent.

Briefing about the newly launched Centre of Supercomputing at campus, Dr Rekha Kashyap, HoD CSE AI & CSE AIML said, The NVIDIA DGX A100 is the worlds 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 institutes 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.
In the ongoing crackdown on the criminals and illegal arms smugglers involved in the supply of weapons to gangsters in the Delhi NCR, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police nabbed two key members of a syndicate originating from Madhya Pradesh.

Teams of the special units Northern Range and STF, which executed the operation, have recovered 20 illegal semi-automatic pistols from the two gunrunners.

On March 14, the police received a tip-off through a reliable source that two key associates of an illicit arms syndicate would come to Burari Delhi and deliver a consignment of weapons to a contact identified as Asif, a resident of Shahdara.

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The duo was identified as Rahim alias Beti and Vishal Solav alias Atul. They were apprehended from the spot in Delhis Burari, and the consignment of 20 pistols was recovered from them.

Later, it was revealed that they had procured the handguns from a Madhya Pradesh-based supplier whose name is Sheikh Azam alias Ajju alias Ravan.

The guns they smuggled were manufactured at Khargone, the police said, adding that they were to be sold for Rs 30,000 per pistol, the police added.

During sustained questioning, Rahim told the police he was into the illegal trade for over 10 years, and along with his co-accused, Vishal, used to procure illegal pistols from Baitul, MP, and supply them to criminals in Delhi, MP, and Maharashtra.

He was paid Rs 10,000 to 20,000 per consignment.

The police also found that the accused Rahim has five criminal cases of Excise Act and Arms Act against him registered at various police stations in MP state.

The second accused, Vishals involvement in gunrunning began three years ago when Rahim lured him with Rs 5,000 per trip.

Further probe into the matter is one to find out linkages of the accused persons.
Sneha Desai, one of the talented writers behind the latest directorial venture of Kiran Rao, Laapataa Ladies, didnt hold back in expressing her admiration for the films backers, Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, in a recent interview. Desai described her experience working with them as one of the finest and most enriching of her career.

According to Desai, both Aamir and Kiran are not only hands-on producers but also remarkably down-to-earth and intelligent individuals. She emphasized their sensitivity to the nuances of storytelling, highlighting their clear vision for the project. Desai debunked the notion of Aamir being an interfering presence, asserting instead that he is deeply involved in the creative process, showing genuine passion for ensuring the production achieves its full potential.

Regarding the story of Laapataa Ladies, Sneha Desai revealed that its appeal lies in its universality. Despite being set in rural India, the narrative resonates with women from all walks of life, regardless of their geographical or social context. Desai attributed this broad appeal to the storys themes of female empowerment and self-discovery, which transcend cultural boundaries.

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In Desais words, the essence of the film lies in its ability to speak to the human experience of pursuing ones dreams and rediscovering oneself amidst lifes challenges. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to a narrative that addresses these timeless themes with authenticity and depth.

Laapataa Ladies promises to be more than just a regional tale; it aims to touch the hearts of audiences worldwide with its universal message of resilience and empowerment. With Aamir Khans dedication to quality and Kiran Raos directorial prowess, the film is poised to make a significant impact in the world of cinema, inspiring viewers to embrace their own journeys of self-discovery and empowerment.
Nick Jonas made a stylish arrival at Mumbai airport in the early hours of Monday, donning an all-white ensemble with matching pants and sneakers, marking his second visit to India this year. His previous trip included a performance with his brothers Kevin and Joe Jonas at the Lollapalooza India music event in January.

Nick Jonass return coincides with the recent arrival of his wife, actress Priyanka Chopra, and their daughter Malti Marie in Mumbai. While Priyanka tends to her work commitments in India, shes been making waves with her appearances. She recently graced the grand opening of Bulgaris store at Mumbais Jio World Plaza, elegantly clad in a luxury reptile-inspired outfit by Anamika Khanna.

Priyanka further turned heads at Bvlgari and Isha Ambanis Roman Holi celebration, stunning in a pastel pink pre-draped saree paired with a bustier blouse and matching heels. On the professional front, Priyanka has exciting projects lined up, including Heads of State alongside John Cena and Idris Elba. Shes also lending her voice to Disneynatures upcoming film Tiger, expressing her pride in representing her countrys magnificent wildlife.

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In anticipation of her Bollywood endeavors, Priyanka is set to star in Farhan Akhtars directorial venture Jee Le Zaraa, alongside Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt.
Opposition leader in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan on Monday reiterated his allegations of a business relationship between Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar and LDF convener E P Jayarajan.

He also challenged Chandrasekhar and Jayarajan to pursue legal action against him if they dispute his assertions.

The opposition leader said Chandrasekhars election affidavit confirmed that he owned Nirmaya Retreats, the wellness luxury hospitality brand that entered into an agreement with Vaidekam Resort in Kannur, owned by EP Jayarajans relatives. Jayarajans family members hold a share in Vaidekam resort and the CPM leader was an advisor to the resort group, he said.

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has cancelled its probe against the resort now. Would ED dare to take action against a resort owned by the Union minister? asked Satheesan. He also alleged that Vaidekam and Nirmaya are linked like the BJP and the CPM.

The senior Congress leader alleged the probe into the Karuvannur Co-operative Bank scam had also come to a halt ahead of the polls as the BJP has signed a pact with the CPM.

CPM and Pinarayi Vijayan are supporting the BJP in this Lok Sabha elections to evade action from the ED. Pinarayi wants to give space to B JP in Kerala in this general elections, he alleged.

Opposition leaders continuous allegation is that the business relationship between the union minister and LDF convenor has turned into a CPM-BJP relationship. Congress has decided to intensify its campaign against CPM and LDF based EP Jayarajans statement BJP will come second in many constituencies and many candidates of BJP are good.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged people to defeat the divisive politics of the Congress and ensure more than 400 Lok Sabha seats for the NDA so that the goals of Viksit Bharat, Viksit Karnataka, poverty reduction and punishment for the corrupt are achieved.

Mr Modi said the INDI alliance partners will lose their sleep, looking at the turnout at the public rally. In the coming elections, voters in Karnataka have to elect their development ambassadors and they must ensure that all 28 Lok Sabha seats of the State go to the BJP, he said.

The Prime Minister said why are we talking of more than 400 seats. We are talking of 400 ke paar for Viksit Bharat (developed India), Viksit Karnataka, reducing poverty, eliminating terrorism, prosperity of farmers, and new opportunities for the youth.

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The nation has seen the BJPs achievements in the last 10 years, he said. Its priorities have been development and welfare of the poor, along with an empowered India. The Congress has no agenda for development, and is only adopting different strategies, which consist of speaking lies, big lies, repeated lies, at every place, and then speak new lies, and when caught, pass on the blame to others.

Before every election, the Congress is good only in making false promises. In Karnataka too, they are doing the same. It keeps speaking lies, attacking the Centre or Modi or other parties, he said at a rally in Shivamogga in Karnataka.

The Congress party never intended to serve people, he said, and its only plan has been to loot people, fill own pockets. Ever since the party came in power in the State, they are using the State as an ATM, Mr Modi said. The loot has gone on so much that they are left with no money to run the government, he said.

That is why there is a race to be a Chief Minister of the State. Somebody is CM in waiting, somebody a future CM aspirant, others include a super CM or a shadow CM, besides one collection Minister in Delhi, he said. Karnataka is suffering due to this. In a few months, the Congress has brought a bad name to the State. I can see the anger of the people against the Congress, the Prime Minister said.

In this situation, he said, it is necessary that the BJP and the NDA should win every Lok Sabha seat of the State. The BJP MPs will serve the State and help in the implementation of Central schemes, the Prime Minister said.

BJP is dedicated to the deprived sections. BJP is the only party after Independence to make SCs and STs Presidents of the country. If you vote for BJP, it will be for social justice, he said.

He said the Congress can go to any length to grab power. The British left but the Congress continued with their legacy of divide and rule. The Congress first divided the country, then into castes, communities, religion, language. Just for power, the party divided the country, but they are not content with this and are playing dangerous games to divide the country further, he said.

The Prime Minister said one Karnataka Congress MP talked of dividing the country once again. He should have been thrown out of the party, but is being protected. The State will not allow this to happen. In this Lok Sabha election, the Congress should be cleaned off from the State, each one of its candidates, he said. On the voting days, the voters should show this determination, he said.

Mr Modi said You must defeat their divisive mindset. The poor became poorer and their rights were snatched after Independence, they were made to cry for basic amenities. He said his government worked to change the situation and in the last 10 years, 25 crore have come out of poverty due to my governments focus on the poor.

In Karnataka, Ayushman yojana has helped more than 75 lakh people get free medical treatment and there are five lakh Ayushman card holders in Shivamogga alone, he said.

Attacking the Congress rally, he said yesterday in Shivaji Maidan, Mumbai, the INDI made an open declaration to destroy Shakti in Hindu religion. How would Balasaheb Thackeray have reacted to this. This land is where every young person grows up with the mantra of jai bhawani, jai Shivaji, he said.

For me, the Indian woman represents Shakti and that is why my governments schemes give priority to womens schemes. No government since Independence gave so much attention to womens welfare, the Prime Minister said.
India plans to purchase 1,650 tonnes of onions from private lenders at Rs 29 per kg for export to Bangladesh, recent reports said on Monday.

National Cooperative Export Ltd (NCEL), the governments export agency, has announced plans for a move that marks the first official export of onions from India in over three months, following the governments ban on exports from December 8 to March 31.

The exact selling price of onions to Bangladesh by NCEL remains undisclosed, the report said.

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However the report predicted substantial profits for the export agency, with onions currently priced at Rs 80-90 per kg in the Bangladeshi market.

Notably, in the first week of March, the Centre permitted the export of 64,400 tonnes of onions to countries that had made formal requests through diplomatic channels.

Of this quota, 50,000 tonnes were allocated to Bangladesh, with the remaining 14,400 tonnes going to the UAE. The restrictions on onions were implemented by India to address surging domestic prices, which had led to concerns about affordability and availability.

The ban resulted in a spike in international prices due to reduced global supply, particularly during the peak demand period associated with Ramadan in traditional markets like Bangladesh, West Asia, and Southeast Asia.

There have also been reports suggesting a recent spike in the smuggling activity of onions. Reports suggested that smugglers acquire sugar from locations like Shillong, Guwahati, and other locations in Assam at Rs 40-50 per kg and sell it in Bangladesh for Rs 135-140 per kg.

According to the data shared by the BSF, in January, the security force intercepted and seized 2,776 kg of onions valued at Rs 10,19,120.

The following month, this figure increased dramatically by over 288 per cent, with 10,780 kg of onions worth Rs 35,09,434 being seized which would decay till disposed of by the system.

It is worth highlighting that India typically dominates the global onion market between the months of January to March.

Between April 1, 2023, and August 4, 2023, a total of 975,000 tonnes of onions were exported from India, with Bangladesh, Malaysia, and the UAE emerging as the top importing countries in terms of value.
Parks Canada says it's still exploring the proposed marine and land-based conservation plan called Pemsik, but it is sending positive signals about it. (Submitted by Pemsik - image credit)

Parks Canada says a large, Indigenous-led marine conservation area proposed off the south shore of Nova Scotia "aligns" with its mandate to protect natural heritage sites.

The plan is part of a broader conservation initiative known as Pemsik, which would also include land stretching from Port Joli in Queens County to the Tobeatic Wilderness Area.

"From a Mi'kmaw perspective, it was a very important space to my people," said Melissa Labrador, the driving force behind Pemsik.

The vision of Pemsik  which is still in its early stages  integrates land and water, with an outline that resembles a grandmother petroglyph found at Kejimkujik National Park. The ocean portion is shaped like a skirt, extending seaward for dozens of kilometres.

Melissa Labrador on Carters Beach. She is the driving force behind the proposed Pemsik national marine conservation area.

Melissa Labrador on Carters Beach, near Port Mouton, N.S. She is the driving force behind the proposed Pemsik national marine conservation area. (Paul Withers/CBC)

"She is kind of the spirit behind the study area," Labrador said, adding the proposed boundaries are subject to change.

The plan includes several areas that are already protected including the seaside portion of Kejimkujik National Park and a 156-hectare parcel in Port Joli preserved by the Nova Scotia Nature Trust.

"Looking at the different marine conservation tools, the Parks Canada tool, the national marine conservation area seems to be the best fit because it looks at sustainable fisheries still being able to take place. It looks at culture, looks at community, well-being," she said in an interview on the white sands of Carters Beach near Port Mouton, soon to be a provincial park and inside the Pemsik study area.

Proposal submitted in 2022

The marine component of Pemsik was proposed by the Bear River First Nation as a possible Parks Canada national marine conservation area in 2022.

The federal agency said Pemsik is still in an exploratory phase, but it is sending positive signals.

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The vision of Pemsik roughly resembling a grandmother petroglyph found at Kejimkujik National Park. The ocean portion is shaped like a skirt, extending seaward for dozens of kilometers.

A map of the proposed Pemsik conservation area roughly resembles a grandmother petroglyph found at Kejimkujik National Park. The ocean portion is shaped like a skirt, extending seaward for dozens of kilometers. (Submitted by Melissa Labrador)

"Parks Canada's integrated mandate to protect and present both cultural and natural heritage sites of significance to the people living in Canada aligns with the Indigenous-led vision of the Pemsik conservation mosaic," spokesperson Robyn Hufnagel said in a statement to CBC News.

A Parks Canada representative and Melissa Labrador met with fishermen and fishing associations earlier this month to discuss the proposal.

'We like what we heard'

Dan Fleck of the Brazil Rock Lobster Association was one of the inshore fishing representatives who met with Labrador and Parks Canada.

"We like what we heard," he said.

"It protects traditional lobster grounds from offshore wind, oil and gas developments, [fin fish] aquaculture. We look forward to seeing this in writing to confirm that what we're hearing is the facts," Fleck told CBC News.

"We have faith in Parks Canada and Bear River," he added.

Lobster fishing sustainable

Labrador said Pemsik would have no impact on lobster fishing and a small herring fishery inside the proposed national marine conservation area since both are sustainable.

"We have such great opportunities to work together collaboratively so that we can leave something for the generations yet to come," she said.

White sand beaches and turquoise waters are within the proposed conservation area. (Submitted by Melissa Labrador)

"They'll still have fisheries, they'll still have forestry, they'll still have land, natural landscapes, and that's important as part of this as well. Conservation doesn't mean things stop. Conservation means we stop wasting our natural resources," she said.

Some scallop dragging occurs inside Pemsik's boundaries and would be prohibited in a conservation area because it disturbs the sea floor.

Parks Canada said if Pemsik proceeds to a feasibility study  which Labrador expects this summer  extensive consultation will take place with "federal and provincial departments, Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, local communities, key stakeholders (including industry), and the public."

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Trinamul Congress national spokesperson Saket Gokhale has filed a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for violating the policy that state machinery cannot be used by candidates for election work.

Gokhale wrote on X, Filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Modi for using an Indian Air Force helicopter to attend an election rally in AC 96-Chilakaluripet in Palnadu, Andhra Pradesh yesterday. EC rules prohibit use of state machinery for campaigning.

He further said, Indira Gandhi was disqualified in 1975 specifically for this reason. If BJP paid for renting the IAF chopper, then EC should let us all know along with the grounds for why an IAF chopper was essential (CMs & other Z+ protectees use normal VVIP choppers which have all required security features).

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EC had said while announcing the elections that code of conduct violations will be dealt with strictly. Lets see if EC initiates a probe or any action against PM Modi for using an IAF chopper for election campaigning. the TMC spokesperson added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hit back at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his Shakti remark saying the fight will be between those who want to destroy Shakti and those who worship it and he has readily accepted the challenge.

While Gandhi had said Shakti in the context of the might of the state, the Prime Minister while addressing a public rally at Jagtial in Telangana referred to Shakti as the feminine energy.

They have said their fight is against a Shakti. Every mother is a form of Shakti, every daughter is a form of Shakti I am a worshipper of ShaktiINDI Alliance yesterday at Shivaji Park announced their manifesto that they will destroy Shakti. I accept this challenge. I am ready to lay down my life to protect mothers and daughters, said the Prime Minister.

He then went on to criticise the Opposition for the remark. Can anyone talk about the destruction of Shakti on the soil of Bharat? Dont we worship Shakti? We had also dedicated the success of Chadraayan to Shakti by naming the point where it landed as Shiv ShaktiShould you give an opportunity to all those who want to destroy Shakti?INDI Alliance has exposed their agenda. The fight is between those who protect and those who destroy Shakti and the contest will be on 4th June, he added.

The Prime Minister then accused the Congress of using the funds from Telangana exchequer to fund conspiracies and divisiveness. Now Congress has made Telangana its ATM state. The money looted from Telangana goes to Delhi and reaches the safe of the dynasty. This money is used to fund conspiracies of lies and divisiveness. And the people know that a scamster never takes action against another one. That is why Congress, which levelled allegations of scams, now sits on those files.

He also accused the Congress and the BRS of colluding with each other. He said, Though the Congress had many promises before coming to power but it is now unable to fulfil them. But the BRS is not talking about the unfulfilled promises of Congress. Instead both of them are helping out each other and are showering abuses on him.

The best medicine would be to keep them away and vote for the BJP since the next 5 years would be crucial for the state, he added.

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In a blow to the six Congress rebel MLAs from Himachal Pradesh, the Supreme Court on Monday not only refused to stay their disqualification by the State Assembly Speaker, but also denied them permission to participate and vote in the proceedings of the state Assembly.

The top court was hearing the plea of the six MLAs challenging the Speakers decision to disqualify them.

These MLAs on February 27 had cross-voted in favour of the BJPs Rajya Sabha candidate Harsh Mahajan and had abstained from voting on the state budget despite the whip was issued by the party.

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The cross-voting rendered a shocking defeat to Congress candidate for Rajya Sabha Abhishek Manu Singhvi despite the party being in majority in the 68-member House.

The three independent MLAs, who initially promised their support to the Congress, tilted in favour of the BJP candidate.

It also led to political turmoil in the state with the threat to the Congress government of getting unseated.

However, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania on February 29 ordered the disqualification of six rebel MLAs on a petition filed by Congress MLA and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan under the Anti-Defection Law for defying the party whip and hence invited disqualification.

This comes two days after the Election Commission of India announced bye-elections in the Assembly Constituencies of six MLAs to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections on June 1 in Himachal Pradesh.

A bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, however, has maintained that the matter will be decided before the date of filing of nominations.

Notices were also sent to the respondents Speaker and others in the matter.

The six rebel MLAs Rajinder Rana, Sudhir Sharma, Ravi Thakur, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal, Devinder Kumar Bhutto and Chetanya Sharma had approached the Supreme Court by filing a writ petition challenging their disqualification by the Speaker.
Telangana Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan resigned from her post on Monday to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Dr Soundararajan who also resigned as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, is likely to contest the elections from Chennai Central constituency.

She has sent her resignation letter to the President Draupadi Murmu.

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Dr Soundararajan who is the second Governor after formation of the state and the first woman governor, was the president of Tamil Nadu BJP before she replaced her predecessor ESL Narasimhan in Telangana.

Her five-year long tenure was marked by attrition between the Raj Bhavan and the state government led by K Chandrasekhar Rao.

However, after the Congress government took over, the rapport between Raj Bhavan and the state government became amicable.
Thrissur, which has been described as the cultural capital of Kerala, will witness the most spirited triangular battle between the CPI, the Congress and the BJP in the April 26 Lok Sabha election.

The ruling Left front has fielded CPIs VS Sunil Kumar; the BJP has named the popular actor Suresh Gopi while the Congress has decided on K Muraleedharan, who is the sitting member from the Vatakara Lok Sabha constituency

The Congress faced a setback following the resignation of former chief minister K Karunakarans daughter, Padmaja Venugopal, from the party. She joined the BJP.

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There was a last-minute shuffle in the Congress candidate list which pushed K Muraleedharan to contest in Thrissur, instead of his seat Vatakara. The fielding of Muraleedharan in Thrissur, replacing T N Prathapan, the sitting MP, was a surprise move by the Congress in the wake of Muraleedharans sister Padmaja Venugopals entry into the BJP camp, resigning from Congress. The change was brought forth at a time when Prathapan had completed one round of his Journey of love against hatred in the entire constituency. Thousands of posters had been printed and party activists had begun wall writings for him across the constituency.

Mr Prathapan had even launched his campaign on Thursday after paying floral tributes at the K Karunakaran Smrithi Mandapam.

This decision is widely interpreted in political circles as a move to counter BJP candidate Suresh Gopis influence. Muraleedharans past electoral successes, notably his victory against CPMs P Jayarajan in Vadakara, underscores his potential to navigate tough political landscapes.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress candidate T N Prathapan won with a majority of 93,633 votes defeating CPI leader Rajaji Mathew Thomas. Prathapan polled 4,15,089 votes while Rajaji Mathew got 3,21,456 votes. BJPs Suresh Gopi got 2,93,822 votes.

Traditionally a Congress stronghold, Thrissur has seen surprising upsets, notably defeating Congress stalwart K Karunakaran. In 1996 Parliamentary elections, K Karunakaran had lost from Thrissur constituency. K Muraleedharan himself lost the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat in the 1998 election. Similarly, when Muraleedharan contested from the neighbouring Wadakkanchery Assembly constituency in 2004 by-election, when he was the electricity minister in the UDF cabinet, victory remained elusive.

The legacy of being the heir of Karunakaran is Muraleedharans USP. The statistics dont match with the stature of the man. Out of 12 electoral battles Muraleedharan had fought over the years since 1989, he had won only half of it. Still, after his re-entry into the Congress in 2011, whenever the state congress unit runs into difficult situations ahead of an election,the name of K Muraleedharan comes up as the crisis manager to bail out the party. Now, he is poised to neutralise the threats of Suresh Gopi of BJP and VS Sunil Kumar of CPI at Thrissur Loksabha constituency.

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate, VS Suni Kumar of CPI, a former state agriculture minister is highly popular. The LDF expects that his popularity would turn the tables in its favour this time. However, the involvement of some left leaders in the Karuvannur cooperative bank scam may have an adverse effect on the CPI candidate here. The left will have a difficult time in defending its leaders who are under the shadow of suspicion in the nearly Rs 350-crore financial fraud.

BJP s actor-turned politician Suresh Gopi has been actively engaged in the constituency ever since his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and in the 2021 Assembly polls from Thrissur.He remained active in Thrissur, extending a helping hand to many and taking up the Karuvannur cooperative bank scam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made two consecutive visits in less than a month to Thrissur, the second one to attend the wedding of Gopis daughters, underscoring the significance the party attaches to this constituency.

With three high-profile candidates in the electoral arena, Thrissur has undeniably become Keralas spotlight constituency, where predictions become impossible
In the heart of South Americas desolate landscapes lies a battleground where the forces of progress clash with the guardians of tradition. The story unfolding amidst the arid expanses of Argentina and Chile is one of indigenous communities grappling with the relentless march of lithium mining, a tale of ancient cultures facing off against the juggernaut of modernity. At the centre of this saga are the Kolla people of Argentina and the Atacameno people of Chile, whose lives and livelihoods are intricately intertwined with the fragile ecosystems of their ancestral lands. For generations, these communities have drawn sustenance from the earth, tending to their herds and honouring the spirits of the land with offerings and ceremonies. But now, their way of life hangs in the balance as the insatiable demand for lithium threatens to disrupt the delicate equilibrium of their environment. Lithium, dubbed white gold, has emerged as a coveted resource in the fight against climate change, powering the batteries of electric vehicles and storing renewable energy from solar and wind sources.

The surge in demand has turned the spotlight on the lithium-rich salt flats that stretch across the region, igniting a frenzied rush to extract this precious metal from the earth. But the extraction of lithium comes at a steep cost. To access the mineral, mining companies must pump vast quantities of water from the salt flats, draining aquifers and desiccating the surrounding landscape. For communities like those of the Kolla and Atacameno people, whose very existence is tied to the availability of water, the consequences are dire. As rivers run dry and wells run empty, the lifeblood of these communities is siphoned away to fuel the engines of progress. Yet, amidst the upheaval and uncertainty, there is resilience and resistance. From Argentina to Chile, indigenous communities are standing up to defend their ancestral lands and way of life. They are erecting barriers and raising their voices in protest, demanding to be heard in the face of corporate interests and government indifference. The battle for the soul of the lithium triangle is not just about protecting water and preserving ecosystems. It is also a fight to safeguard cultural heritage and indigenous rights.

It is a battle against the forces of exploitation and marginalisation, a struggle for dignity and self-determination. As the world looks to lithium as a solution to the climate crisis, we must not turn a blind eye to the human and environmental toll of its extraction. We must heed the voices of those who are most affected and ensure that their rights are respected, their voices heard. In the end, the story of lithium mining in South America is not just about profits and progress. It is about the choices we make as a society and the values we hold dear. It is about whether we will prioritise short-term gains over long-term sustainability, and whether we will listen to the wisdom of indigenous peoples who have lived in harmony with the land for millennia.

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The Union Government has allocated Rs10,372 crore in the ensuing five years to encourage Artificial intelligence (AI) development in the country and pragmatically develop a supercomputing facility with graphic processing units (GPUs).

The prime focus is on developing an entire ecosystem from computing power to models. Supercomputing capacity comprising over 10,000 GPUs would be cordially embraced by various stakeholders for creating an AI ecosystem. India is poised to move forward in a pragmatic way to harness efficiently, effectively, and meaningfully the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) for economic development.

The incredible potential of AI has been given due cognizance and India is to assume the chair of the global partnership on AI. As far as economic development is concerned, AI is expected to add $967 billion to the Indian economy by 2035 and $450-500 billion to Indias GDP by 2025, accounting for 10 per cent of the countrys $5 trillion GDP target. It bears recall that GPAI is a congregation of 25 member countries. Its members include the US, the UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, etc.

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The Indian ministry of Electronics, Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship has taken a commendable leading role in this regard. A few years back, to address the challenges of poverty reduction, improve economic development, efficiency of public and private sector organizations including management of Public Policies using AI, a workshop was held at the behest of the World Bank at Google Community Space in San Francisco. The team examined the pros and cons of AI and related technologies, explored the role of machines in economic research and its limitations. AI is rapidly making inroads in business and also for economic development.

It should be attributed as the roadmap to the future; guided by the right, effective and meaningful management approach, it can yield innovations that would eventually improve our future lifestyle. It will not retrench jobs; on the contrary it will generate a wealth of new types of jobs amid the present dismal ambience. When computers arrived in the last century in our country, comrades of the communist parties became bewildered and tried to resist its operations on the plea that humans would be replaced by machines. But ultimately it paved the way for fusion of skills in this new era of human-machine collaboration. In the same way, the AI revolution is destined to occur, and will augment human activity. As far as India is concerned, it is imperative to capture the opportunities of AI and the fourth industrial revolution to boost the economy. AI will have a profound impact on both society and economy. At the same time, continuous training of personnel is necessary to get digitally skilled manpower for their relentless re-innovation.

The book Human + Machine written by Paul R Daugherty and H James Wilson describes vividly how jobs and tasks can be redesigned to enable the human and the machine to achieve more effective, efficient outcomes together, helping workforce transition in a conducive way. This is a remarkable book which explains succinctly that AI is no longer just a futuristic notion. From the factory floor to a doctors operation theatre; from office work to reform of education; from predicting migration patterns and crop yield to reimagining businesses; for games, cleaning garbage or going outer space, AI is indispensable.

Using science and technology to support school education and stimulating innovations for students has numerous benefits, but in doing this, we must also exercise caution. The benefits are in the ability of information technology-based learning environments to sustain student attention, encourage learners to develop imagination, foster curiosity, allow experimentation, and above all move towards a conducive learning environment that is self-paced and adaptive.

Students learn at different speeds. A technology based learning environment can allow the learner to decide how much more practice or learning he/ she needs in the area. In addition to adaptive learning, tools with intensive analytical capabilities can go far in helping teachers to understand indispensable requirements of the child, thereby optimizing their time by focusing on the needs of the child. Live demonstration of Robotic Surgery at Kolkata Medical College a few years back was an immensely heartening event.

The nearly two century old institution of the country is poised to march forward with artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and machine learning with data analytics in a cogent way. Robotic or robot-assisted surgery intertwined with advanced computer technology and the experience of skilled surgeons can tackle intricate cardiac, neurological, orthopaedics, gynaecological or paediatric surgery. India and Japan have evinced interest in bilateral joint exercises on research in robotics and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV). Hopefully the venture would be the beginning of a new era. Autonomous Rotorcraft Sniper System (ARSS) is an experimental robotic weapon developed by the US army.

US Mechtronics has created a working automated sentry gun and extensive research is underway for its extension in commercial and military use. An amazing four-wheel robot equipped with a firearm, radar, and a number of digital cameras, MIDARS is efficiently pre-programmed to petrol in the close vicinity of a military base and has the potential of scanning Radio Frequency Identification Tags (RFID).

The Mobile Autonomous Robot Software Research programme has been initiated by the Pentagon with the idea to develop more efficient military robots. Researchers of the Max Planck Institutes have recently been experimenting with tiny robots that can swim through our body fluids, ultimately delivering a drug precisely in the target area.

There are numerous advantages of robotic surgery including minimum blood invasion, lower risk of pain, quick recovery, minimum scars, and substantially reducing the stress and strain of surgeons. But as every new discovery has its flaws, so too does robotic surgery.

A widespread misconception is that AI systems and robotics will gradually replace humans in one industry after another. As a matter of fact, AI will augment human capabilities. It is a kind of emerging symbiosis between man and machine and is unlocking what is called the third wave of business transformation.

(The writer is a former Reader in Chemistry Presidency College, Kolkata and was associated with the UGC and UNICEF)
Gaza is still very much in the midst of war, yet discussion is turning to the day after the conflict  and who will govern the war-ravaged territory. The Biden administration has said that a full Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip would be unacceptable. Instead, White House officials have discussed revitalizing the Palestinian Authority, or PA, the governing apparatus of parts of the West Bank, to take over in Gaza.

Seemingly as an initial step to enable this, the PA cabinet resigned on 26 February 2024. This begins the process of overhauling the authority and setting up a technocratic government tasked with basic, short-term governance objectives, presumably in Gaza as well as the West Bank. But analysts and researchers have questioned what role the PA could have, given that the body has struggled with a legitimacy crisis for well over a decade. And Israel has refused to countenance any PA involvement in post-conflict Gaza. Moreover, PA officials are wary of entering Gaza on the back of an Israeli tank, in the words of resigning Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. As a scholar of Palestinian politics, I believe any possible solution to the war in Gaza involving the PA will face significant challenges over its legitimacy, public support and ability to govern. But why do Palestinians have such a negative assessment of the PA, and is that justified? To answer that, it is important to understand the shift within the Palestinian national movement since the creation of the PA in 1994 and the international communitys role in those transformations. The PA was created as a result of the Oslo Accords.

The accords, a framework for negotiated peace that took place in the early 1990s, represented the first time in which the Palestine Liberation Organization, or PLO, and the state of Israel formally accepted mutual recognition. The accords were intended to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and achieve some sort of two-state solution. In anticipation of a future Palestinian state, the PA was established as a governing body. Elections were held, and the dominant party within the PLO, Fatah, also came to dominate the PA.

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The goal was that by 1999, the Palestinians would have a state in the West Bank and Gaza. Negotiations would continue as the PA built out the institutions of the state, under the optimistic assumption that both could be arrived at concurrently. But this shift from seeking liberation to state-building signalled compromises on the right of Palestinian refugees to return to the land they were expelled from during the creation of Israel. Despite this, many Palestinians were supportive of having some pathway forward in which they might achieve self-determination and sovereignty. The state-building project reoriented a great deal of energy and resources to the institutions of the Palestinian Authority and attempts by Palestinian leadership to achieve a viable Palestinian state. When a state was not achieved by 1999, the second intifada, or uprising, broke out.

The Palestinian Authority struggled to maintain order and stability during the period, crucially because the Israeli military raided urban centres and attacked PA infrastructure. Analysts refer to the intifada as a moment of infilaat amni, or a collapse of order. It saw massive disruption to Palestinians and Israelis and many lives lost. For the remnants of the PA and its American benefactors, the lesson learned from the second intifada was that such a collapse could never be allowed to happen again. In the aftermath, the focus of the U.S. and the international community turned to restructuring the PA, expanding and professionalizing its security forces and ensuring that the PA would be a stalwart partner to Israel in maintaining security in the occupied territories.

But to an increasing number of Palestinians, this focus on security coordination and restructuring did not serve the needs of a people living under occupation. In fact, in the name of security, Palestinians saw themselves more and more repressed not just by the occupation forces but by their own government.

By the mid-2000s, after the intifada tapered off, it was clear the peace process was going nowhere; the Israeli government had become increasingly right wing, and Palestinian leadership seemed both less willing and less capable to represent its peoples interests. In what amounted to a referendum on the status quo, Hamas beat Fatah and won in the 2006 parliamentary elections for the territories. But the results immediately led to instability and conflict between the two main Palestinian political factions: Fatah, which until then dominated the PA, and Hamas. The international community also did not support the election results and empowered Fatah to remain in power.

This led to a split in governance between the West Bank and Gaza, with the PA losing control of Gaza entirely in the aftermath of infighting between the two parties. In response, the international community  led by the U.S.  worked to bolster the PA once again. The PA has not held elections since, with the president of the PA, Mahmoud Abbas, remaining in office well past his term limit. Over the years, the PA has continued to play a security coordination role in the West Bank but is perceived as a burden by Palestinians and as having achieved little in improving their living conditions. Rather, repression and fragmentation have only worsened within Palestinian society, even as the challenges imposed by the occupation have only amplified with a now 17- year-long blockade on Gaza and continued settlement building in the West Bank.

Many Palestinian today see the PA as little more than a subcontractor of occupation in the West Bank. It is, then, perhaps unsurprising that the Palestinian Authority has faced an ongoing legitimacy crisis. In a September 2023 poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, 76 per cent of Palestinians polled within both territories expressed dissatisfaction with the PAs governance. This lack of support for the PA does not necessarily signal support for Hamas either ; in questions about possible parliamentary elections, Hamas garnered only 34 per cent of the potential vote  second to Fatah. These low approval trends are echoed in other polling.

The Arab Barometer, for example, conducted polling merely days before Oct. 7 and found only 27per cent of respondents in Gaza selected Hamas as their preferred party. Comparatively, only 30 per cent favored Fatah. Although subsequent polling in December shows a bump for Hamas, this is much more pronounced in the West Bank than in Gaza. And the majority of Palestinians still are unsupportive. It is clear that most Palestinians are fed up with their political options.

Furthermore, the PA has long abandoned attempting to reflect Palestinian public opinion  in no small part because of the international community and the role it wants the PA to play. Revitalizing the PA, as the U.S. appears intent on doing, looks to be a Herculean task, given how low the body is held in the eyes of many Palestinians. Moreover, any outside attempt to empower unaccountable leadership  and ignore Palestinian public demands and input  risks repeating history. After all, this was precisely how the PA lost its legitimacy to begin with.

(The writer is Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Richmond. This article was published on www.theconversation.com)
The recent recommendations by the Ramnath Kovind panel advocating for simultaneous state and national elections in India mark a significant milestone in the ongoing discourse surrounding electoral reform. While the concept of One Nation, One Election holds promise for enhancing governance efficiency and fostering economic growth, its successful implementation hinges on a delicate balance of political consensus and pragmatic considerations. Six months ago, as discussions on synchronised elections gained momentum, we had underscored the need for a nuanced approach that respects the intricacies of Indias federal structure while harnessing the transformative potential of simultaneous polls.

Today, after the panel has submitted its report, this stance must remain rooted in the spirit of consensus and inclusive governance. The fervour with which the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) champions One Nation, One Election is palpable, driven by aspirations for administrative efficiency and fiscal prudence. Yet, beneath the surface lies a deeper impetus ~ a desire to recalibrate the political landscape and pivot towards a more centralised model of governance. While the merits of such an approach are evident, the path towards achieving consensus demands careful navigation. The recommendations put forth by the panel advocate for a phased implementation of simultaneous elections, commencing with the synchronisation of parliamentary and state assembly polls.

This measured approach acknowledges the logistical complexities inherent in orchestrating simultaneous polls across the diverse tapestry of Indias political landscape. Furthermore, the panels emphasis on the potential economic dividends of synchronised elections underscores the imperative of aligning electoral cycles with broader developmental objectives. By curtailing the uncertainty and disruption wrought by staggered polls, India can create a conducive environment for investment and growth, thereby unlocking its full potential on the global stage. However, the road to One Nation, One Election is not devoid of challenges.

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Opposition from states governed by political adversaries of the ruling dispensation underscores the need for robust dialogue and consensus-building. As Indias federal structure lies at the heart of its democratic ethos, any reform must be predicated on the principles of inclusivity and federalism. In charting the course forward, it is imperative for all stakeholders to prioritise the long-term interests of the nation over partisan considerations. While the BJPs advocacy for synchronised elections is driven by legitimate aspirations for governance efficiency, it is essential to heed  and address ~ the concerns raised by opposition parties and state governments. Ultimately, the quest for electoral reform must transcend political divides and unite stakeholders in a shared commitment to strengthening Indias democratic institutions.

As we navigate the complexities of governance in the 21st century, the imperative of synchronised elections emerges as a beacon of hope ~ a testament to our collective resolve to build a more inclusive and prosperous India. There is much to be said for breaking the shackles of multiple electoral exercise.
After Pakistani Airforce carried out air strikes in Afghanistans Khost and Paktika, the Talibans Ministry of Defence on Monday warned of bad consequences for what it called was a violation of the countrys sovereignty.

In retaliation to the air strikes, Taliban said that it targeted Pakistans military posts with heavy weapons.

Once again, Pakistani military and reconnaissance jets have entered Afghanistans territory and bombarded the homes of civilians in Barmal of Paktika and Spera of Khost, the Taliban said in a statement.

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Meanwhile, its spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, warned that any infringement on Afghanistans sovereignty would have dire repercussions.

Denouncing the Pakistani attacks, Mujahid said that Islamabad would be unable to cope with the consequences of such strikes.

Last night around 3 AM, Pakistani aircraft bombed civilian homes in the Laman area of Barmal district in Paktika province and the Afghan Dubai area of Spera district in Khost province, resulting in 6 martyrs in Paktika, including 3 women and 3 children, and one house destroyed, and in Khost province, one house was destroyed and 2 women were martyred, TOLO news quoted Zabihullah Mujahid as saying,

He has asked Pakistans new administration to refrain from harming ties with Afghanistan due to the reckless conduct of a few military generals and to stop attributing their failure to them.

Notably, Pakistani military aircraft carried out airstrikes in the Barmal district of Paktika province and the Afghan Dubai area of Sepera district in Khost province.
Rishi Sunak has rejected a plan to stop Afghan heroes who supported British troops from being deported to Rwanda.

MPs on Monday night overturned all 10 amendments to the Safety of Rwanda Bill by the House of Lords, including one that would have exempted anyone who supported British armed forces in an exposed or meaningful manner from being deported to the east African country.

Some 312 MPs voted against the Lords amendment, with 255 voting in favour, giving the government a majority of 57.

The other amendments overturned included an attempt by peers to ensure the bill complied with domestic and international law, and a requirement that parliament could not declare Rwanda a safe country until the treaty with its promised safeguards was fully implemented.

Ahead of the votes, the prime minister was told it was a moral imperative that Afghan heroes who supported British troops should not be deported to Rwanda.

Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said it beggars belief that the PM was considering putting Afghan heroes on deportation flights.

Stephen Kinnock said it is a moral imperative for the government to ensure Afghan heroes are not put on Rwanda deportation flights (PA)

We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have supported our defence, diplomacy and development abroad, not least in Afghanistan, Mr Kinnock said.

The call to help those who supported UK forces came after a series of reports by The Independent that highlighted the plight of Afghan heroes facing deportation to Rwanda after feeling forced to take dangerous routes to the UK.

Earlier on Monday, MPs debated the 10 amendments peers attached to Mr Sunaks flagship immigration policy, which was designed to allow ministers to deport those who arrive in the UK via irregular routes, such as on small boats, to Rwanda.

After an earlier bid to deport asylum seekers to Kigali was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court, Mr Sunak sought to rule Rwanda a safe country in British law and the vote passed.

The bill will now go back to the House of Lords as the two houses try to find common ground on the way forward.

Story continues

The Independent has reported on the plight of Aghan heroes threatened with deportation to Rwanda (.)

Peers will then be able to pass fresh amendments, but the government will again try to strip them out in a process known as ping pong.

Mr Kinnock said on Monday: It beggars belief that the government would even consider sending this cohort of heroes who are fleeing the Taliban to Rwanda.

Britains commitment towards these loyal-to-Britain Afghans is felt most strongly by our own armed forces.

But this government has continually shirked its responsibilities towards Afghans, including by leaving thousands of those with the right to be in the UK stranded in Pakistan for more than a year.

Little wonder that they have resorted to making these desperate journeys across the channel.

During the debate, Conservative former minister Sir John Hayes questioned whether peers were clueless or careless about what is happening with immigration.

Any attempts to wreck this bill is an open-door policy to let human traffickers traffic people illegally into our country, to upset our local communities and ultimately, unfortunately, more people will die if this bill doesnt go through because of the loss of life in the Channel, he told the Commons.

Prior to the votes, Labour said it planned to back all 10 Lords amendments in the Commons, claiming they made the bill marginally less absurd.

Home office minister Michael Tomlinson defended the governments plans (Getty)

Home Office minister Michael Tomlinson earlier said the government greatly values those who supported Britains armed forces overseas. That is why there are legal routes for them to come to the United Kingdom, he added.

Mr Tomlinson said the illegal migration act passed by parliament last year lets the home secretary specify some people as not eligible for removal.

He added: The government recognises the commitment and the responsibility that comes with combat veterans, whether our own or those who showed courage by serving alongside us and we will not let them down.

He also insisted there was nothing in the Rwanda bill which conflicted with the UK governments international obligations.

Mr Tomlinson told the Commons: This bill is an essential element of our wider strategy to protect our borders and stop the boats to prevent the tragic loss of lives at sea caused by dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossings across the Channel.

On amendment one, which sought to ensure the bill complies with domestic and international law, Mr Tomlinson said: I dont accept that the provisions of the bill undermine the rule of law, and the government takes its responsibilities and its international obligations incredibly seriously.

And theres nothing in the bill that requires any act or omission which conflicts with our international obligations.

He added: This bill is based on both Rwandas and the United Kingdoms compliance with international law in the form of a treaty, which itself recognises and reflects the international legal obligations of both the United Kingdom and also of Rwanda.


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Crypto trading bots are the newest innovative advancement in the crypto trading industry that was developed to give traders all the assistance needed for seamless trading. When you search on the internet, you will come across a myriad of crypto trading platforms that are said to be effective in helping out traders in every step of the whole process of trading. However, here the prime task is to find a trading platform that works efficiently and can accommodate the needs of traders of all levels of experience and goals. In this Bitcoin Bank review, we will be introducing you to a trading platform that is quite popular among the crypto trading community.

Visit Bitcoin Bank

Bitcoin Bank might be a crypto trading platform that you might have already heard about. If not, let us give you a short overview before delving into the details of the trading platform. Bitcoin Bank is an advanced trading bot developed by integrating advanced technologies that can assist traders in identifying the most profitable trading opportunities. The team who have developed this trading platform says that Bitcoin Bank will efficiently function for both novice and experienced traders.

A trader who is new to crypto trading might find Bitcoin Bank to be an effective trading assistant that would aid them in making maximum profits without sweating. Experienced traders might find it an effective tool to level up their trading game. However, before you sign up with Bitcoin Bank and start trading, you must be aware of every feature and factor related to the trading platform which is why this review is for you. So, continue reading this Bitcoin Bank review to learn more about the trading platform.

Bitcoin Bank - A Brief Overview

Trading platform name Bitcoin Bank AI Robot Type Crypto Robot Platform Type Web-Based Trading Fees Zero Deposit/ Withdrawal Fees None Success rate High success rate Payout Time 24 Hrs Trading platform type Web-based platform Trading assets supported Supports the trading of almost all legal cryptocurrencies Capital requirement $250 Payment methods Wire transfer, debit/credit card, and PayPal Official Website Click Here

What Is Bitcoin Bank?

Bitcoin Bank is a trading platform that provides you with multiple technical assistance that could help with trading including cryptocurrency trading charts, analysis tools, valuable real-time insights, and so on. The trading platform is created to simplify the trading process by helping you find the best trading opportunities and minimizing the risk associated with trading. Bitcoin Bank is created to efficiently function for traders with all levels of experience in trading which includes people who are dipping their feet into the crypto trading industry for the first time. The trading system has a myriad of features that make it unique from other trading bots. Bitcoin Bank has a website that is easy to use making it comfortable and convenient for traders to use it.

Click Here To Visit Bitcoin Bank Official Website

How To Start Trading With Bitcoin Bank?

You can start trading with Bitcoin Bank by completing a few simple steps and they are the following:

Step 1 - Creating an account: The initial step that you need to complete to trade with Bitcoin Bank is to create an account. You can do this process on the official website of the trading system. On the website of Bitcoin Bank, you will see a form for creating an account. Fill in this form by providing necessary information such as your full name, contact number, and email ID. After this, choose the country that you are residing in and agree to the terms and conditions of the trading system. Then click on the register now button.

Step 2 - Verify your account: Once you have created an account on the official website of Bitcoin Bank, the next step is verification. You will receive an email from the Bitcoin Bank account requesting you to complete the verification of your account before you start trading with it. When verifying you can set a password for your trading account. Once this is complete, you can log into your Bitcoin Bank account on the official website of the trading bot.

Step 3 - Deposit capital: The next step that you need to complete before trading with Bitcoin Bank is depositing capital into your account. The minimum amount that you need to deposit in your trading account for trading is $250. This is a capital that is affordable to almost everyone. People who are confident in their trading skills can trade with Bitcoin Bank with a large capital.

Step 4 - Start trading: The last process of getting started with Bitcoin Bank is real-time trading. When you trade, you can customize the assistance that is required from the trading platform. After this, you may use the capital that you have deposited for trading. Bitcoin Bank allows you to trade multiple cryptocurrencies at the same time and manages all your trading transactions effortlessly.

Register On Bitcoin Bank For Free

Features Of Bitcoin Bank?

Bitcoin Bank is a trading platform that has numerous features that make it an efficient trading system for novice and experienced traders. Now lets take a look at a few of the main features of the trading platform:

Innovative Technology

Bitcoin Bank is developed by integrating innovative technologies. They give you real-time insights into the crypto trading industry, offer charting tools, analysis of fluctuations in cryptocurrency values, and identify the best trading opportunities. When you are provided with this data and information, you will be able to make smart trading decisions and minimize the risks of loss.

Assistance Customization

An important feature of Bitcoin Bank is that it allows customization of the assistance. Therefore, the traders have the option to configure the trading support that they need from the trading bot. A novice trader can adjust the assistance that they require from Bitcoin Bank as per their requirements and experienced traders can customize it as per their skill, requirement, and experience. This assures that Bitcoin Bank can be used by both new and experienced traders.

Multi-asset Trading

When signing up with a trading platform, each user has their own choice of currencies they want to trade which they find profitable. Therefore, to satisfy this need, Bitcoin Bank allows you to multiple cryptocurrencies at the same time. This also suggests that the crypto assets that you can trade with the trading system arent limited and you can diversify your portfolio in any way that you want.

Easy Trading

Trading is quite easy with Bitcoin Bank as you receive all the necessary assistance required. When trading, the trading system works in a way that meets all your requirements. Bitcoin Bank also keeps emotional influence from trading decision-making which will help you decide smartly. The trading system also finds the best trading opportunities for you and also keeps you updated on profitable trading entry and exit points making it easy for you to trade.

Is Bitcoin Bank Scam Or Legit?

Since multiple trading bots on the internet are both scams and legit, it is quite understandable if you are skeptical about the authenticity of Bitcoin Bank. Every person who was curious about the trading system had one common question that they were looking for answers to and this Is Bitcoin Bank a scam or legit?. When we take a look at the popularity of the trading platform among crypto traders and the customers feedback which has shared that the trading bot has assisted them in multiplying their capital, we could consider Bitcoin Bank to be legit. Further details on the trading bot will be discussed in the succeeding parts of this Bitcoin Bank review which will help you come to a firm conclusion on whether the trading system is a scam or not.

Trade With Bitcoin Bank For Free!

Who Can Benefit From Using Bitcoin Bank?

Bitcoin Bank is a trading platform designed for all people who are interested in starting their trading journey with the assistance of a trading system. The trading bot works efficiently for both novice and experienced traders. A common issue that novice traders face while starting to trade is not having enough knowledge of crypto trading and having a hard time finding opportunities that work profitably for them. However, with Bitcoin Bank, this isnt a problem at all as the trading system provides you with all the assistance that you require. Experienced traders can utilize Immeincreasertex to level up their trading experience and minimize risks.

Is Bitcoin Bank Safe

Bitcoin Bank ensures complete safety and privacy for the users. The trading system has top-notch security measures and technologies that protect your trading transactions. Bitcoin Bank stores every piece of information that you share with the trading system safely. This ensures that you can share all kinds of information and keep your trading transactions recorded on Bitcoin Bank without any worries about security issues.

Bitcoin Bank - Customer Support Service

When using a trading system, it is quite common that the users might face a technical hiccup and if there is efficient customer support, it could be very easy for you to trade with it. Bitcoin Bank excellences in this aspect because the trading system has an efficient customer support team that is available 24/7. This shows that the trading system is doing everything to ensure that the users get to have a seamless experience with it.

Bitcoin Bank - Minimum Deposit, Cost, And Profit

Unlike other trading systems, Bitcoin Bank does not charge you any fee for trading with it. A person can start an account on the official website of the trading platform for free. Nonetheless, for trading, you will need capital in your account which you are required to deposit. As mentioned before, the minimum capital required in your trading account to initiate trade is $250. Bitcoin Bank has multiple options for depositing capital into your account. You may deposit money either through wire transfer, debit/credit card, or PayPal. The trading system also has various other methods for depositing money. You can use the same methods to withdraw your profits from Bitcoin Bank.

Try Bitcoin Bank For Free!

Why Use Bitcoin Bank?

Before we conclude this Bitcoin Bank review, lets take a few factors that make the trading system worth using for trading:

Bitcoin Bank gives you all the assistance needed

The trading system works efficiently for both novice and experienced traders

The trading system is free of cost

Bitcoin Bank is entirely safe to use

The trading bot allows you to trade multiple cryptocurrencies at the same time

Bitcoin Bank has an efficient customer support team

You can use Bitcoin Bank anytime you need

The minimum deposit needed for trading with Bitcoin Bank is only $250

Bitcoin Bank Review - Bottom Line

From our deep study of Bitcoin Bank which included analysis of numerous aspects of the trading system, it seems that this trading system is worth giving a try.

Bitcoin Bank is created using advanced technologies which itself suggests that you would highly benefit from using this system. The trading platform can help you with trading by giving you insights into the crypto trading market based on which you can make smart trading decisions. Besides this, the trading system also finds the best trading opportunities that are profitable for you.

The trading system has a unique feature which is the customization of assistance. Bitcoin Bank allows you to configure the level of assistance that you require from the trading system based on your experience and skill in trading. Therefore, both novice and experienced traders can use the supplement equally efficiently.

It enables you to trade Bitcoin as well as other cryptocurrencies with the greatest amount of convenience. Bitcoin Bank has many reviews on Trustpilot, most of which are positive and some, negative. But the robot has about 4.1 out of 5 ratings which makes it in good standing.

Bitcoin Bank is a free trading platform that you can use anytime you want. The only requirement is that you need a minimum capital of $250 in your trading account to start trading with it. So all in all, Bitcoin Bank seems to be an efficient trading platform that offers huge benefits to all types of traders.

Start Trading With Bitcoin Bank For Free

Bitcoin Bank FAQs

1. Is the demo mode offered by the Bitcoin Bank platform free?

Yes. The demo mode offered by Bitcoin Bank is free of cost. Beginners can study and trial out trading in the demo mode.

2. Do I have to pay any registration fee while registering on Bitcoin Bank?

No. Traders do not have to pay any registration fee while registering on the Bitcoin Bank platform.

3. Is there any user verification process on Bitcoin Bank?

Yes. Every Bitcoin Bank user has to go through a verification process while registering on this platform. This is to ensure that no fraud occurs.

4. Can I use Bitcoin Bank on my mobile phone?

Yes, the creator assures that the Bitcoin Bank is supported on devices such as iOS and Android.

5. How to contact customer support?

To get the contact details of the customer support of Bitcoin Bank, you can visit the official website.
In Bihar, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has retained the seat sharing formula of the previous Lok Sabha elections. Well, almost.

In 2019, the BJP and its ally Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) contested 17 seats each. This time, the BJP will contest the same number of seats, but one more than the JD(U). Even if marginally, it sends out a message that even though the JD(U) has its CM in the state, for Lok Sabha, the BJP is bigger in stature.

Numerically, the BJP and the JD(U) have followed the 2019 results where the saffron party won all the 17 seats, while the JD(U) could win 16, losing one to the grand alliance.

Announcing the seat-sharing arrangements, BJP general secretary and partys Bihar in-charge, Vinod Tawde, said, BJP will contest on 17, JD(U) on 16 seats; the LJP will contest on five, while Jitan Ram Manjhis Hindustani Awami Morcha and Upendra Kushwahas Rahstriya Lok Morcha on one seat each. We will win all the 40 seats.

BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde with Bihar BJP president Samrat Choudhary addresses a press conference, in New Delhi | PTI

With the announcement, Chirag Paswan has made a comeback into the NDA with some strength as the BJP picked his party over his Uncle Pashupati Parass faction which was part of the NDA after the Lok Jan Shakti Party split following its founder Ram Vilas Paswans death. Paras took most of the MPs with him barring Paswans son Chirag.

Chirag was forced to form his own party. Given his age and his aggressive campaigning in the state which pitches him as a long term player in state politics, the BJP is betting on him. The alliance with the BJP makes him the inheritor of his father Ram Vilas Paswans legacy instead of latters brother. He is likely to contest from his fathers seat, Haripur. Last time, the united LJP had contested Six seats and won all.

Though the BJP has not made it clear, there were suggestions that Paras could be given a gubernatorial post or be accommodated through the Rajya Sabha.

One seat each from LJP and JD(U)s quota of last time has been given to the HAM and the RLM. In 2019, these parties were not part of the NDA.

Senior JDU leader, Sanjay Jha said, We have amicably fixed the entire alliance unlike the opposition grouping. The opposition is missing on the ground. We will win all the 40 seats.

Bihar Deputy CM and state BJP chief Samrat Chaudhary also emphasised that the alliance was poised to win all the 40 seats.

Tawde also announced the names of seats to be contested by each party. Two of the JD(U)s seats have been changed. Now, the parties are likely to announce candidates soon for campaigning to begin.
The NDA's election campaign in the South is set to gain pace as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address his second public meeting in Karnataka on Monday. Modi will be in Shivamogga, the home district of BJP stalwart Yediyurappa.

The Prime Minister was in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday where he campaigned for NDA candidates in the state while sharing the stage with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu after a gap of five years. JanaSena Party chief K Pawan Kalyan too attended the public meeting at Palnadu district of Andhra Pradesh.



In Shivamogga, Modi will campaign for Yediyurappa's elder son B Y Raghavendra, the BJP's candidate for the Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency. This is his second election meeting in Karnataka, the first being at Kalaburagi, the home turf of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.



The BJP is expecting a turnout of 2.5 lakh people at the Allama Prabhu ground (Freedom Park) where the meeting is being held. Interestingly, party rebel and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa had declared that he would contest as an independent candidate in Shivamogga.



Ahead of the meeting, BJP state chief B Y Vijayendra, B S Yediyurappa's second son, visited Allama Prabhu ground along with senior party functionaries to oversee the preparations and gave necessary directions to ensure that the meeting goes well.



In 2019 elections, the BJP won 25 out of 28 seats in 2019, while the Congress and the JD(S) had to settle for just one seat each. Party leaders have expressed confidence that the BJP would win all 28 seats in Karnataka this time.



Later in the evening, the Prime Minister will head to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu where he will hold a roadshow from Mettupalayam Road to RS Puram. Interestingly, the Madras High Court had granted permission for the roadshow after the state denied it citing security concerns. The BJP state unit welcomed the order, saying the HC has given "justice" and said the roadshow will be a 'historic one."



He will stay at the Circuit House in the city and leave for Kerala's Palakkad on an Indian Air Force chopper from Coimbatore airport on Tuesday morning.



The Prime Minister had been focusing on the South actively, where the BJP still hasn't found a stronghold yet. The party is hopeful of making significant gains in Tamil Nadu, where party chief K Annamalai is carrying out aggressive campaigning. Modi was in Tamil Nadu last week where he actively campaigned against the ruling DMK government. He had visited Kerala too, where the party aims to woo the minority Christian community.



The BJP realises that without a substantial share of seats from the South, the NDA will not be able to cross its goal of 400 seats this election despite winning much of the Hindi heartland.



In 2019, the NDA secured only 29 seats to its name from the 132 total seats in the five southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Telangana, as well as the Union Territories of Puducherry and Lakshadweep.


The Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court against Governor R.N. Ravi on Monday as the latter refused to appoint DMK leader and legislator K. Ponmudy as a minister in the Stalin cabinet. Ponmudy was reinstated as MLA recently after the Supreme Court suspended his conviction by the Madras High Court in a disproportionate assets case.



According to reports, the governor has reportedly informed Chief Minister M.K. Stalin that he wouldnt be able to administer the ministerial oath to K. Ponmudy as the Supreme Court has only suspended his conviction and not acquitted him. The chief minister had requested Ravi to swear in Ponmudy either on March 13 or March 14. However, Ravi left for New Delhi on March 14 and returned to Chennai on March 16. Later on March 17, he sent the letter to the chief minister and refused to re-induct Ponmudy into the cabinet.

Senior Advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and DMKs P. Wilson mentioned the governments application before the bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud. Wilson also sought an urgent listing of the matter. Governor Ravi is proving to be a repeat offender and is acting with scant regard to the Constitution, says DMKs Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson.

All constitutional functionaries have abided by the order of the Supreme Court of India. Despite all of this, Ravi has given the Supreme Court order his own interpretation and states that the conviction has only been suspended, not set aside. This is an absurd interpretation and is an affront to the Supreme Court of Indias order. The Governor is bound by the orders of the Supreme Court of India under Article 142 and 144 of the Constitution of India, said Wilson.

In the petition, the state government alleged governor is attempting to run a parallel government in the state and is attempting to choose minister as per his subjective assessment of suitability, which is impermissible. The state also charged the governor is violating section 164(1) of the Indian Constitution as he is refusing to appoint Ponmudy minister despite Chief Minister M.K. Stalin recommending his name.

Ponmudy, the former higher education minister of Tamil Nadu was convicted in December last year by the Madras High Court in a disproportionate assets case and the Tamil Nadu Assembly Secretariat declared his Tirukoyilur constituency as 'deemed to have become vacant' from the date of his conviction. However, the Supreme Court suspended his conviction on March 11 and Ponmudy was reinstated in the Assembly.

The state had moved the apex court against the governor earlier as well after Ravi delayed his assent to key bills passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly for more than a year.

-with inputs from Lakshmi Subramanian.
Setting the stage for another confrontation with the ruling DMK government, Tamil Nadu Governor N Ravi on Sunday refused to accept the recommendation of Chief Minister M K Stalin to appoint K Ponmudy as a minister.

A former Higher Education minister, Ponmudy quit after being convicted in a disproportionate asset case in December 2023. He was later disqualified by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretariat and his seat, Tirukkoyilur Assembly constituency, declared vacant. However, he was reinstated as an MLA last week after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction and three-year jail sentence.



Following the move, state legislative assembly speaker M Appavu reinstated Ponmudy as an MLA.



Chief Minister Stalin then wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi asking for DMK senior leader Ponmudy's oath-taking as a minister.



However, Governor RN Ravi sent a letter to the state government on Sunday, stating that he cannot administer the oath of office to Ponmudy as his conviction has not been struck down by the Supreme Court, citing the pendency of the case. The Governor said that since Ponmudy remained "tainted of corruption, re-induction as minister would be against constitutional morality".



"It is pertinent to note that SC, in the light of Sec 8(3) of Representation of the People Act 1951, in the said order has suspended the conviction by way of interim relief to Dr K Ponmudy. It means the conviction of Ponmudy though existent has been made non-operative. It has not been set aside."



"The offences for which he has been held guilty are very serious relating to corruption he committed as a public servant. As he remains tainted by corruption, re-induction as minister would be against constitutional morality. Hence unable to accede to your request," the governor wrote.



Earlier, there were reports that though the DMK had insisted on holding the swearing-in on March 14, Ravi left for Delhi on the said date. The Raj Bhavan had refused to comment on the speculations.


Mao Ning: Friends from the press, good afternoon. Welcome to todays press conference. Im happy today because Im not here for taking questions. It is with great pleasure that I introduce my new colleague Mr. Lin Jian, the new Foreign Ministry Spokesperson and Deputy Director General of the Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy. Today he will hold the regular press conference as the 34th Foreign Ministry Spokesperson. Deputy Director General Lin Jian has worked in the Foreign Ministry for 25 years. He is a well-experienced diplomat and good communicator. We hope that you will support him in performing his duty as you have supported me and other spokespersons. Now, I will give the floor to Deputy Director General Lin Jian.

Lin Jian: Good afternoon, friends from the press. Its a great pleasure to meet you from this podium. In this new capacity, I look forward to learning from the fine spokespersons the ministry has had and all my colleagues, work with the entire team and do my level best to communicate Chinas foreign policy and diplomatic vision and action to you and the rest of the world in a timely and accurate fashion. I look forward to connecting and working with you to jointly promote mutual understanding and cooperation between China and the world, help the world understand and appreciate China in the new era, and make the world a more peaceful and prosperous place.

Xinhua News Agency: President of Angola Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco just concluded his state visit to China. Can you further brief us on the visit? What has been achieved between the two sides during the visit? Whats Chinas assessment and expectation of the future development of China-Angola relations?

Lin Jian: At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President of the Republic of Angola Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco paid a successful state visit to China from March 14 to 17. During the visit, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Lourenco and Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji met with President Lourenco respectively. During the meeting, the two presidents provided strategic guidance for the future development of the bilateral relations and agreed to elevate the bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. They witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents on formulating Belt and Road cooperation plan and in such areas as trade, agriculture and green development. After the talks, the two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the Peoples Republic of China and the Republic of Angola. The joint statement has substantive content, follows the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and focuses on joint efforts of implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. Pooling important common understandings between the two sides on enhancing political mutual trust, deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, reinforcing international coordination and jointly upholding international fairness and justice, the joint statement comprehensively elaborated on the meaning of China-Angola comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The profound traditional friendship between China and Angola is as strong as ever as the two countries stood the test of the changing international landscape. China and Angola carried out fruitful cooperation with mutual benefit and delivered tangible benefits to the two peoples. This visit injected new impetus to and charted a new blueprint for the growth of China-Angola relationship. Looking forward, China will work with Angola to implement the important common understandings reached between the two presidents, carry forward our traditional friendship, render each other firm support, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and work together to advance our respective process of modernization.

News 1 Korea: Its said that people from Taiwan will participate in the Summit for Democracy that opens today in the ROK. Whats Chinas comment? My second question is whats Chinas comment on the DPRK this morning firing another ballistic missile in a month?

Lin Jian: On your first question, China firmly opposes the ROK inviting the Taiwan authorities to participate in the so-called Summit for Democracy. There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. The government of the Peoples Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Any attempts by external forces to interfere in Chinas internal affairs, and connive at and support Taiwan independence are doomed to failure. China has strongly urged the ROK to abide by the one-China principle and stop providing podium for or supporting Taiwan independence forces. The world will not be deceived by the DPP authorities attempt to seek larger space for Taiwan independence activities under the banner of democracy and human rights, which will only make itself look bad and is doomed to failure.

On your second question, China noted relevant reports and that the ROK and the US held joint military drill targeting the DPRK. China believes that upholding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula serves the common interests of all sides.

CGTN: March 15 marks the second International Day to Combat Islamophobia. On that day, the UN General Assembly adopted the draft resolution Measures to Combat Islamophobia, calling upon Member States to take all necessary measures to combat hatred and violence against Muslims. Whats your comment?

Lin Jian: China is the co-sponsor of the resolution Measures to Combat Islamophobia. We welcome the UNGAs adoption of the resolution and support the UN in playing a positive role in combating Islamophobia.

We always believe that civilizations only vary from each other and no civilization is superior over others. Inciting civilization clashes and attacking religious beliefs will only bring division and turbulence to the world. Discrimination, exclusivity and hostility against other civilizations produce no winner, still less promote peace and tranquility.

Last March, President Xi Jinping put forth the Global Civilization Initiative and clearly stated four aspects that should be jointly advocated. First and foremost, jointly advocate the diversity of civilizations. Countries need to uphold the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and let cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes, and coexistence transcend feelings of superiority. China stands ready to work with Islamic countries and other parties to advocate the spirit of the Global Civilization Initiative, uphold openness and inclusiveness, promote exchange and dialogue, safeguard the diversity of civilizations, firmly oppose acts of hatred against religions and strive to remove Islamophobias breeding ground.

RIA Novosti: The presidential election in Russia was held from March 15 to 17. President Putin won landslide support in the voting. Whats Chinas comment? How will the presidential election influence China-Russia relations?

Lin Jian: China extends its congratulations on that. China and Russia are each others largest neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era. Were convinced that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, the China-Russia relations will continue to make progress.

Beijing Daily: This week is the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Week 2024. What is Chinas comment on LMCs progress and Chinas expectation for its future development?

Lin Jian: The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) is a new type of regional cooperation mechanism launched by China and five Mekong countries based on wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. Over the past eight years, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and leaders of the five Mekong countries, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam successively announced with China the building of a community with a shared future, which means that countries in the region have all been committed to building a community with a shared future both bilaterally and multilaterally under the LMC mechanism. The LMC Special Fund has supported the delivery of livelihood projects such as the LMC Bumper Harvest Projects, the Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Action, and the Green Lancang-Mekong Initiative, providing quality rice, vegetable and fruit to the people in the region. Cooperation in emerging areas of digital economy, new energy and aerospace has been expanding, and the LMC Innovation Corridor is being built at a faster pace. Cultural, tourism, youth, media and sub-national exchanges have been deepening. China has made all efforts to ensure reasonable river flows of the Lancang River, shared hydrological information throughout the year, and provided strong support for Mekong countries response to floods and droughts. The six countries have also worked together to combat online gambling, telecom fraud and other cross-border crimes, which effectively protected the security of the region.

In December last year, the fourth LMC Leaders Meeting and the eighth LMC Foreign Ministers Meeting were successfully held. The six countries reached important consensus on deepening cooperation in connectivity, green development and non-traditional security, adopted the Five-Year Plan of Action on Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (2023-2027), and pointed the way forward for deeper cooperation in the next stage. In a world fraught with uncertainties and instabilities, building a united, stable and prosperous Lancang-Mekong home is the common aspiration of the six countries. China will remain committed to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in neighborhood diplomacy, promote deeper and more substantive development of building a community with a shared future for Lancang-Mekong countries, and provide more positive energy to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

To celebration the eighth anniversary of LMCs launch, China and the five Mekong countries will host diverse events during this years LMC Week from March 18 to 24. Over 20 Chinese ministries, provinces and cities will work with the five Mekong countries to hold more than 80 events, including Lancang-Mekong water resources cooperation seminar and field trips, green and low-carbon policy roundtable and practice activities, aquatic life conservation and fisheries cooperation outcomes exhibition, wetland conservation and management forum, Lancang-Mekong book charity event and Lancang-Mekong audiovisual week. If you are interested, please stay tuned.

Reuters: Russian President Putin called Russia and China relations sustainable and he was sure ties will be stronger in coming years. What are the next steps in China-Russia relations and in which direction would bilateral ties grow next?

Lin Jian: As Ive stated just now, under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, the China-Russia relations will continue to make progress. This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Russia relations. The two presidents will continue to maintain close interaction, lead the two countries in upholding everlasting good-neighborliness and friendship, deepen comprehensive strategic coordination and advance the China-Russia relations in the new era.

AFP: A follow-up question on the presidential election in Russia. Did President Xi Jinping personally congratulate Mr. Putin? If so, what did he tell him?

Lin Jian: We will release relevant information in due course. Please stay tuned.

CCTV: Its reported that on March 15 when attending an online seminar held by a US think tank, US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said that the summit meeting between the two presidents in San Francisco led to a relatively more stable relationship between the two countries. It didnt resolve many of the outstanding differences on major issues, but it confirmed the judgement of both countries that we are competitors. This relationship remains highly competitive. We will very likely be systemic rivals well into the next decade. Its very important that we manage the differences between us responsibly. We dont agree with those in China who say that the East is rising and the West is declining. Thats not how we see our power position in the Indo-Pacific. There is just no way that anybody can make the charge that somehow the United States is declining. We are strengthening both strategically, militarily as well as economically. Besides, the US is closely following Hong Kongs legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law. What is Chinas comment?

Lin Jian: We noted that Ambassador Burns has recently made negative comments on China on multiple occasions. These statements deviate from the important common understandings reached by the two presidents of China and the US at the summit meeting in San Francisco. They go against the spirit of the summit meeting in San Francisco and dont serve the sound and steady growth of China-US relations, still less aligned with the right way for the two countries to get along with each other.

China always believes that the bilateral relations should not be a zero-sum game where one side outcompetes the other or thrives at the others expense. We oppose defining the bilateral relations with competition, and smearing and attacking China. We stand against the US interfering in Chinas internal affairs under the pretext of human rights and values, and restraining Chinas legitimate right to development in the name of competition.

China always follows the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation proposed by President Xi Jinping in handling and growing the bilateral relations. We hope that the US will work with China in the same direction and implement the important common understandings and vision reached by the two presidents at the summit meeting in San Francisco to promote the steady, sound and sustainable growth of the bilateral relations.

TASS: My first question is that Russian President Putin today in a press conference following the president election said that attempts made by Chinas enemies, such as provocations around Taiwan, are doomed to failure. Whats the Foreign Ministrys comment? My second question is that Putin was elected as President. Does China expect him to visit China?

Lin Jian: On your first question, China highly commends President Putins statement. There is but one China in the world, the government of the Peoples Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. This is a prevailing international consensus and a basic norm governing international relations.

On your second question, I have nothing to offer at the moment.

JoongAng Ilbo: The Third Summit for Democracy opens in the Republic of Korea today. Chinas official news agency condemned the ROK and the US yesterday. Whats your comment?

Lin Jian: I would not comment on medias viewpoints. Broadly speaking, China always opposes drawing lines on ideological grounds and using democracy-related issues as tools or weapons. These practices themselves go against the spirit of democracy. What the world needs today is not to create divisions under the pretext of democracy, but to enhance solidarity and cooperation on the basis of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter for greater democracy in international relations. China stands ready to work with other countries based on mutual respect to have exchange and mutual learning on democracy and other issues, and make new contributions to the democracy of humanity. Countries in the world need to jointly strive for harmonious coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation instead of damaging the solidarity in the international community.

Rudaw Media Network: Iran and China have an agreement for Chinese companies to build housing projects in Iran. What is the content of this agreement? And when are these projects scheduled to be implemented?

Lin Jian: I do not have specific information on that. Id refer you to competent authorities. China and Iran have friendly relations and normal cooperation between the two countries under the framework of international law serves the common interests of the two peoples.

China Daily: Western media reported that protest erupted in Santiago, Cuba yesterday over food and power shortages. Whats Chinas comment?

Lin Jian: We noted relevant reports. China firmly supports the party and government of Cuba in improving peoples life, and upholding stability and firmly opposes external interference in Cubas internal affairs. As a good friend, good comrade and good brother of Cuba, China will continue to provide assistance for Cuba to overcome the current difficulties.

I wish to point out that the USs longstanding blockade against Cuba inflicted severe difficulties on Cubas national development and peoples life. China calls on the US to immediately lift its blockade and sanctions on Cuba and stop all attempts of intervention.

Reuters: Chinas Embassy in Singapore today urged Chinese citizens there not to gamble, saying that gambling overseas violates Chinese laws. The Embassy said that cross-border gambling by Chinese citizens is suspected of violating laws in China. We wanted to find out what stipulates Chinese citizens breaking domestic laws on gambling when they are in another country.

Lin Jian: Chinas position on cross-border gambling is consistent and clear. China allows no Chinese capital to be invested in overseas casinos, allows no Chinese nationals to engage in operating overseas casinos, and allows no overseas casinos to entice Chinese nationals into gambling. China is willing to continue advancing cooperation with relevant parties, step up the fight against cross-border crimes, and safeguard regional social stability and order, and peoples life and property.

On your specific question, Id refer you to relevant legal provisions or competent authorities.

PTI: You have referred to Chinas resolution on Islamophobia in the UN. There are several countries abstaining from it on the ground that the phobia against religions exists and is also happening against other religions that include Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity. And why the exclusivity, as far as Islam is concerned? It could have been an inclusive resolution, probably including all religions.

Lin Jian: I just stated Chinas principled position. The Global Civilization Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping last March is the best answer. The initiative stresses that countries need to uphold the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and let cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes, and coexistence transcend feelings of superiority.

Kyodo News: You are appointed as the spokesperson. There will be four spokespersons in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, wont there?

Lin Jian: Thank you for your interest in Chinas diplomacy and spokespersons work. You may refer to the official website of the Foreign Ministry where relevant information is released.

Bloomberg: China is considering to take part in a Ukraine peace process thats planned by Switzerland. This is according to the Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland who said this in an interview with the Swiss publication. My question to you is can you elaborate a little bit more on this and the Chinese participation? And when can we expect a concrete decision from China as to whether it will participate or not?

Lin Jian: China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and ensures the equal participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans. Chinas position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear. China will continue to play a constructive role for the ceasefire and political settlement of the crisis.

Bloomberg: First of all, Id like to welcome you here today. To be honest, at the beginning, I missed a little bit of the introductory details. I was wondering if you could maybe give some more remarks about your previous experience and also what youre looking to achieve here in this position. One specific question I have is your background with the Xinjiang Production Corps. Is that something that observers should be concerned about or note given your background with the Xinjiang Production Corps?

Lin Jian: What I can tell you is that Chinas central state organs, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have programs to send some officials to Chinas provinces, regions and municipalities on secondment every year. This work arrangement helps diplomats better learn about national conditions and society and better contribute to subnational development. On the other hand, such practice also helps those regions to build bridges of communication and cooperation with the world.

Reuters: A follow up to the question about the peace conference that Switzerland is looking to arrange this year. The Ambassador in Switzerland said in his interview that we should support Russia and Ukraine in resuming direct dialogue. And since Russia has also said that the conference is doomed to fail without Moscows participation, Im wondering if China is brokering any talks to encourage or to help with Russia or push Russia to participate in this peace conference?

Lin Jian: I just stated Chinas position. China will continue to play a constructive role for ceasefire and political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.
Firefighters responded to a fire inside a camp trailer at 5 a.m. Monday near a homeless shelter in Gatineau, Que. (Amadou Barry/Radio-Canada - image credit)

Firefighters in Gatineau, Que., put out a trailer fire at an encampment early Monday morning.

Emergency crews were called to the camp near the the Gite ami shelter around 5 a.m., according to a news release from the city's fire department.

There was a risk of explosion, firefighters said in a French statement, with "several propane tanks inside the trailer and nearby."

Two people were in the trailer, firefighters said. There were no injuries and no other tents or trailers caught on fire.

Gatineau police will be investigating the incident, according to firefighters.

Two people were evacuated at the scene. Firefighters said the presence of propane tanks inside and outside the camp trailer posed a risk of explosion.

Two people were evacuated at the scene. Firefighters said the presence of propane tanks inside and outside the camp trailer posed a risk of explosion. (Amadou Barry/Radio-Canada)

In December, Gite ami staff said the nearby tent city was a source of concern since fires frequently break out as campers heat themselves with gasoline or propane tanks.

At the time, 28 heated, fire-resistant tents were set up on parking lot near the shelter and were approved to stay there until May 15.

Gatineau has seen "a drastic increase in the number of people living in homelessness," said Coun. Daniel Champagne in December.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Monday hit out at BJP for criticising him over his opening remarks while addressing the INDIA bloc rally in Mumbai in the presence of Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of the Opposition.

Thackeray had addressed the audience as his "deshbhakt and deshpremi brothers and sisters" instead of the traditional invocation of "Hindu brothers and sisters" at the Shivaji Park gathering in Mumbai.

Shivaji Park has been associated with rallies of Shiv Sena since the days of Bal Thackeray, who would begin his speech with "my Hindu brothers and sisters" phrase.

"BJP leaders criticised me over the opening sentence of my speech in the rally. But I want to ask them aren't they patriots?" Uddhav Thackeray said while addressing a rally in Vasmat in Hingoli district.

Thackeray said he used the "deshpremi" word because the INDIA bloc wanted to save the country and democracy.

"But some BJP leaders criticised me alleging that my language (read the Hindutva stand) has changed. I want to ask them aren't you patriots? Are you Modi bhakts or deshbhakts? We are deshbhakts and not Modibhakts," he said.

Thackeray appealed to the people to stop the rath or chariot coming to their villages, an apparent reference to BJP's poll campaigning.

"If the administration doesn't act, people should take action," he added.

Thackeray also criticised sitting Hingoli MP Hemant Patil, who won the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as the nominee of Shiv Sena (undivided) but recently joined the Eknath Shinde camp.

"It was I who made them MLAs, MPs, while some were made ministers but their appetite is so big," he added.

Thackeray also took a dig at Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over his statement of 'breaking two parties'.

"Some people feel proud of breaking two parties in the state. They should be given a license for house-breaking. Their (poll) symbol should be changed from the lotus to hammer," he added.

Fadnavis on Sunday said he was mocked for his 2019 assembly poll campaign punchline "I will be back" but he returned to power after breaking two parties, a reference to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Sharad Pawar's NCP.

Thackeray attacked the Centre over its agricultural policies and alleged that guns are being pointed at farmers and tear gas fired when they try to reach Delhi to "remind" the government of its promise of awarding the guaranteed price to crops.

"The fate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the hands of farmers," he said while addressing Shiv Sena (UBT) workers in Sengaon village.

Farmers do not default on repaying loans. They don't travel to foreign countries, Thackeray added.

"But banks stick notices on their doors. At the same time, farmers don't get guaranteed prices for their crops and also cannot marry off their daughters. They can't provide proper education to their children. Against the backdrop of these factors, they commit suicide," the former chief minister said.

He asked agriculturists to show their power and refrain from taking their own lives.

Referring to farmers' protests at the Haryana border, Thackeray said, "guns are being pointed at farmers. Policemen with guns are made to stand in front of them. Tear gas is fired at the tillers trying to enter Delhi who want to remind the government of its promise of giving guaranteed price to crops".

The government had promised to pay 50 per cent of the production cost to farmers but is ignoring them now, he alleged.
Tamilisai Soundararajan, on Monday, resigned from her post as Telangana governor. Soundararajan sent her resignation to President Draupadi Murmu. She is all set to return to electoral politics.



An official press communique from Telangana Raj Bhavan said, The Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Dr. Smt. Tamilisai Soundararajan has tendered her resignation with immediate effect. The resignation has been submitted to the President of India.



Soundararajan is all set to return to active politics and she might enter the electoral fray from Chennai South or Tirunelveli. Though she contested from Thoothukudi in 2019 and lost to DMKs Kanimozhi by a huge margin, Soundararajan is known to have stood by the commands from the top leadership. Highly placed sources in the BJP say that she tendered her resignation only after instructions from the BJPs high command in Delhi. Soundararajan will take part in Modis public rally in Salem on Tuesday.



Soon after her electoral debacle, Soundararajan was elevated as the governor of Telangana in September 2019 and was later given the additional charge as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry in 2021. It was after she took over in Puducherry that the Congress government lost majority and the BJP came to power after aligning with NR Congress in the Union territory.



'Thamarai malarenthe theerum', meaning lotus will bloom in Tamil Nadu, is her most popular slogan. The BJP saw a surge in membership during her stint as the party president in Tamil Nadu in 2014. It was during her term as state party president that the BJP introduced the system of giving a missed call to become a member of the BJP. She was also responsible for setting up booth committees in many of the constituencies, helping the party to grow in the Dravidian land. Her memoir'Suvaimigu Theneer Thuligal' (Narendra Modi and Memorable Tea Moments)and her report card every year as governor have always impressed the BJP leaders.



Daughter of former Congress leader Kumari Ananthan, 62-year old Soundararajan is known to be a seasoned politician known to be suave and articulate. Her maternal uncle and Ananthans brother H. Vasantha Kumar was a popular leader from Kanyakumari. A businessman, Vasantha Kumar was a MLA and later a MP from the Kanyakumari constituency. With Vasantha Kumars passing away his son Vijay Vasanth won on a Congress ticket from the same Kanyakumari constituency in a bypoll.



Though her family has been loyal supporters of the Congress, Soundararajan opted not to inherit her family's political affiliation and chose to join the BJP in the 1990s despite opposition from her father. Hailing from the influential Nadar community in South Tamil Nadu, she spearheaded the state unit of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, during difficult times when no political party was willing to align with the saffron party. Her husband Soundararajan is a renowned nephrologist and she is a gynecologist, who had apparently quit her medical practice after getting into active politics.
Capping speculations about her disappearance, Princess of Wales Kate Middleton was reportedly seen 'happy and relaxed' during an outing with her husband Prince Wiliam at a farm shop near their home in Windsor on Sunday.

This is probably the first time that Kate was seen in public after her planned abdominal surgery back in January.



A witness who saw the couple told the British tabloid The Sun: "After all the rumours that had been going around, I was stunned to see them there. Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well. The kids weren't with them but it's such a good sign she was healthy enough to pop down to the shops."



Despite the worldwide curiosity over her, no pictures were clicked of the Princess adhering to their request for privacy. The Kensington Palace had earlier made it clear that Kate Middleton would return to public duty after April 17 after Easter.



Meanwhile, Kate's friends said the Princess may speak out about her health battle soon. According to The Sunday Times, those close to Kate said the couple will disclose more information about her recovery in due course. "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. If she was going to do it, thats how she would do it," the newspaper quoted a source.



On Monday, the Prince and Princess of Wales wished their followers a Happy St Patricks Day. Alongside the Instagram video featuring British soldiers, the pair wrote: "Happy St Patricks Day! Heres a sneak peak of the Irish Guards rehearsing for their annual parade. Slainte to all those celebrating today!"



This is the first time that Kate is missing the celebrations for the first time in seven years amid her ongoing health concerns.



The last two weeks saw Kate's absence from the public eye snowballing into an international scandal with speculations about her health dominating internet discussions. The Palace's release of a Mother's Day photo with Kate and her three children, which was heavily photoshopped, added to the speculations that all is not well with the Princess. Though a statement came out from the Princess herself apologizing for the confusion, it did nothing to quell the gossip.


Pakistan on Monday said it carried out airstrikes on the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) affiliated militants in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, amidst a war of words between the two neighbours for a spate of recent terror attacks in restive Pakistani cities.

At least eight civilians, including three children, were killed in the airstrikes carried out by Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban said while summoning the charge d'affaires of Pakistan's embassy in Kabul to lodge a strong protest.

In a press release, Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) said that rebels belonging to TTP's Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group were hit after the outfit claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday at an army outpost that resulted in the killing of seven soldiers, including two officers.

This morning Pakistan carried out intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan. The prime target of today's operation was the terrorists belonging to Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, which along with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is responsible for multiple terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials, it stated.

The FO said that over the past two years, Pakistan repeatedly conveyed its serious concerns to the Interim Afghan Government over the presence of terror outfits, including TTP, inside Afghanistan, who posed a grave threat to Pakistan's security as they consistently used Afghan territory to launch terror attacks inside Pakistani territory.

It said terrorist groups like TTP were a collective threat to regional peace and security and Pakistan was aware of the challenge Afghan authorities faced in combating the threat posed by TTP.

Pakistan also announced its decision to continue to work towards finding joint solutions in countering terrorism and to prevent any terrorist organisation from sabotaging bilateral relations with Afghanistan.

The FO said that Pakistan accords prime importance to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan and always prioritises dialogue and cooperation to confront the terrorist threat.

"We have repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete and effective action to ensure that the Afghan soil is not used as a staging ground for terrorism against Pakistan. We have also called on them to deny safe havens to TTP and to hand over its leadership to Pakistan, FO said.

It said that Pakistan has great respect for the people of Afghanistan but certain elements among those in power in Afghanistan are actively patronising TTP and using them as a proxy against Pakistan.

It said that such an approach against a brotherly country, which stood with the people of Afghanistan through thick and thin, manifests shortsightedness and ignores the support extended by Pakistan to the people of Afghanistan over the last several decades.

We urge these elements in power to rethink the policy of siding with Khwarij terrorists shedding the blood of innocent Pakistanis and to make a clear choice to stand with the people of Pakistan, it said.

There were also reports of the exchange of fire on the border between the troops of the two sides after the Afghan side fired mortars following the airstrikes, injuring four civilians.

In response to the Pakistani air strikes on the Barmal district of Paktika and the Spera district of Khost, the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d'affaires of Pakistan's embassy, Obaid Rahman Nizamani and submitted a protest letter to him.

Besides condemning the airstrikes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs Pakistan that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has experienced a long struggle for freedom against the superpowers of the world and cannot tolerate any kind of invasion of its territory, the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson of the Afghan rulers, said in a statement that Pakistani aircraft had carried out the airstrikes, the Dawn newspaper reported from Kabul.

At around 3 am, Pakistani aircraft bombarded civilian homes in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan, said Mujahid, claiming that all eight people killed were women and children.

Mujahid said that Pakistani planes had bombed the Laman area in Paktika's Barmal district.

Alleging that houses of common people were targeted, he said three women and three children were killed in Paktika and a house collapsed while two women were killed in Khost, where a house was destroyed as well.

"The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the attacks and describes these as non-serious actions and violation of Afghanistani territory," Mujahid said.

The spokesperson asked Pakistan to stop blaming Afghanistan for its problems and failure to control violent incidents.

"Such acts can lead to dire consequences which will not be in control of Pakistan," he warned.

The strikes come a day after President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation following the killing of seven soldiers, including two officers, in a terrorist attack on a security forces' post in North Waziristan.

Offering the funeral prayers of the two officers, Zardari on Sunday said that the blood of the martyrs would not go in vain and the country would avenge the deaths. The president said Pakistan would not hesitate to strike back if attacked by anyone at borders or inside its territory.

The Hafiz Gul Bahadar group had claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. Security officials say that fighters of the Gul Bahadar group operate from the Afghan side of the border, mostly from Khost.

The Paktika province is located near Pakistan's South Waziristan District while Khost is situated near North Waziristan.

Pakistan's Special Representative to Afghanistan Ambassador Asif Durrani on Saturday said that an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 militants from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have taken shelter in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The TTP, which has ideological linkages with the Afghan Taliban and is also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant outfits in 2007.

The TTP's main aim is to impose its strict brand of Islam across Pakistan. Pakistan had hoped that the Afghan Taliban after coming to power in Kabul in 2022 would stop the use of their soil against Pakistan by expelling the TTP operatives. However, Islamabad says Kabul has refused to rein in the TTP.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed a landslide victory in the just-concluded presidential polls, securing him a fifth term in power. While Putin hailed the results as an indication of "trust" and "hope" in him, critics panned the polls for its preordained nature.

As early results poured in, Putin won 87.8% of the vote, the highest-ever result in Russia's post-Soviet history, Reuters quoted Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) exit polls. The Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) put Putin on 87%.



If he completes the term, the 71-year-old President will also script history as Russia's longest-serving leader for more than 200 years, overtaking Josef Stalin.



While Communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov finished second with just under 4%, newcomer Vladislav Davankov third, and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky fourth, partial results suggested.



In his victory speech, Putin said he would prioritise resolving tasks associated with Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine and would strengthen the Russian military."We have many tasks ahead. But when we are consolidated - no matter who wants to intimidate us, suppress us - nobody has ever succeeded in history, they have not succeeded now, and they will not succeed ever in the future," said Putin. He was welcomed by his supporters to the stage with "Putin Putin" chants. He also hailed the results as an indication of "trust" and "hope" in him.

Later, while interacting with reporters, Putin also warned the West that a direct conflict between Russia and the U.S.-led NATO military alliance would mean the planet was one step away from World War Three but said hardly anyone wanted such a scenario. "It is clear to everyone, that this will be one step away from a full-scale World War Three. I think hardly anyone is interested in this," Putin told reporters after winning the biggest-ever landslide in post-Soviet Russian history.



Meanwhile, the Western world condemned the elections, stating the polls were neither free nor fair. While Germany called it a "pseudo-election" under an authoritarian ruler reliant on censorship, repression and violence, UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron condemned "the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory".



Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said, "The Russian dictator is simulating another election".



Earlier during the elections, heeding an opposition call to protest, hundreds of Russians crowded outside polling stations at noon Sunday, on the last day of the elections. The associates of Alexei Navalny, the critic of Putin who died earlier this month in an Arctic prison, had urged people who were unhappy with Putin or the war in Ukraine to go to the polls at noon on Sunday. Many turned up and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.



Among those heeding the call was Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny's widow, who joined a long line in Berlin. She later told reporters that she cast her vote and wrote her late husband's name on the ballot. Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Navalnaya replied: "Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because he's a killer, he's a gangster."



One woman in Moscow, who said her name was Yulia, told the AP that she was voting for the first time. "Even if my vote doesn't change anything, my conscience will be clear ... for the future that I want to see for our country," she said. Like others, she didn't give her full name because of security concerns.



Another Moscow voter, who also identified himself only by his first name, Vadim, said he hoped for change, but added that "unfortunately, it's unlikely".



More acts of rebellion were reported on Saturday too. Cases were filed against at least 15 people for pouring dye in ballot boxes, started fires or lobbing Molotov cocktails at polling stations. Ella Pamfilova, the head of Russias CEC, said 29 polling stations across 20 regions in Russia were targeted, including eight arson attempts.


As the West rallied to criticise Russian Vladimir Putins landslide election victory, India and China congratulated him and stressed promoting strategic partnership with Moscow further.

However, the West along with Russia's independent vote monitoring group, Golos (Voice), called the elections unfair and corrupt. Putins election victory was the most fraudulent and corrupt polls in the country's history, said the Russian watchdog in a statement.

Never before have we seen a presidential campaign that fell so far short of constitutional standards, said the group.

The Russian watchdog also added that the election could not be considered genuine as "the campaign took place in a situation where the fundamental articles of the Russian constitution, guaranteeing political rights and freedoms, were essentially not in effect".

The government claimed that the turnout was the highest in history at 74 per cent of the electorate.

Voting also took place in the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine: Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea.

While the West condemned Putin's victory on Monday as undemocratic.

In Brussels, EU foreign ministers dismissed the election result as a sham and stressed the mistreatment and death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

"Russia's election was an election without choice," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said at the start of the meeting.

French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said Paris had taken note of the "special election operation". "The conditions for a free, pluralistic and democratic election were not met," his ministry said.

UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the election outcome highlighted the "depth of repression" in Russia. "Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy," he added.

France and Britain also condemned the fact that Russia held its elections in occupied regions of Ukraine that it claims to have annexed during the war.

Ukraine's Zelenskyy also criticised Russia's election saying it has no legitimacy. "It is clear to everyone in the world that this figure (Putin)... is simply sick for power and is doing everything to rule forever," Zelenskyy said.

A White House spokesperson said that Russia's election was "obviously not free not fair".

India, China among nations to congratulate Putin

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Putin on his election win and said he was looking forward to boosting ties to develop their "special and privileged" strategic partnership in the years to come.

Warm congratulations to H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation. Look forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come, Modi wrote on X.

In his congratulatory message to Putin, Xi Jinping said that the Russian people have united as one, overcome challenges, and made steady progress toward development and revitalisation.

Xi also said that Putin's victory reflect the Russian people's support for him. Beijing is ready to promote close strategic ties with Moscow further, he added.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also congratulated Putin.
As Israel gears for the Rafah offensive, Gaza is inching closer to famine and hospitals are still reeling under shortage of supplies. Recently, humanitarian charity Oxfam has alleged that Israeli authorities conducting checks on aid before it enters Gaza have rejected a warehouse of supplies that included oxygen, incubators and water.

Though the reasons for the rejection were unclear, Oxfam alleged that Israel's checks were "unpredictable and chaotic. It keeps aid snarled up, subjected to onerous, repetitive and unpredictable bureaucratic procedures," Oxfam said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Philippe Lazzarini, UN's Palestinian refugee agency, said the hunger in the Gaza Strip was man-made and could be reversed through proper political will.

"We are engaged in a race against the clock to try to reverse the impact of the spreading hunger and the looming famine in the Gaza Strip," Lazzarini said in Egypt.

While speaking to the reporters, EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Israel is provoking famine in Gaza and is using starvation as a weapon of war.

"In Gaza, we are no longer on the brink of famine, we are in a state of famine, affecting thousands of people," Borrell tells a conference in Brussels.

"This is unacceptable. Starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine," he added.

Amid the intensifying Israel-Hamas war, the IDF conducted raids on al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in northern Gaza, once again. IDF said that they receive concrete intelligence requiring immediate action at the hospital.

In a video message, IDF chief spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said "senior Hamas terrorists had regrouped" inside the hospital. IDF would ensure the hospital continued its functions while the military conducted its operation, he added.

Hagari also said that patients and medical staff would not be forced to evacuate from the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has told Gazans to leave the area around the al-Shifa hospital. The hospital is being used as a shelter for displaced people, as well as patients.

Meanwhile, Hamas had condemned Israel's 'new crime' at al-Shifa hospital.

Israel directly targeted the hospital buildings with no regard for the patients, medical crews and the displaced people inside, said Hamas in a statement in Telegram.

Earlier in November 2023, al-Shifa Hospital was raided by the Israeli military. IDF has claimed that it found a network of tunnels under the hospital used by Hamas when it raided al-Shifa.

Meanwhile, a UN-backed report on Monday said that famine is expected between now and May in north Gaza.

"Famine is now projected and imminent in the North Gaza and Gaza Governorates and is expected to become manifest during the projection period from mid-March 2024 to May 2024," it said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, after his historic win in the Presidential elections, hit out at his critics, the West and even broke his habit of mentioning the deceased critic, Alexei Navalny.

Thanking Russia for giving him another term in elections, which the West claims was preordained, Vladimir Putin started by brushing off critics and the effectiveness of the 'noon against Putin' protest. "There were calls to come vote at noon. And this was supposed to be a manifestation of opposition. Well, if there were calls to come vote, then ... I praise this," he said at a news conference after polls closed.



Here are the other remarks made by Putin after his election victory.



1) On Navalny, Putin said: "As for Mr. Navalny, yes he passed away  it is always a sad event," Putin said. "And there were other cases when people in prisons passed away. Didnt this happen in the United States? It did, and not once." Putin added that he had been in favour of a swap deal involving the opposition leader days before the jailed critic died in an Arctic prison last month



2) On whether his re-election was democratic, the Russian President said: "The whole world is laughing at what is happening (in the United States)," he said. "This is just a disaster, not a democracy. Is it democratic to use administrative resources to attack one of the candidates for the presidency of the United States, using the judiciary among other things?" he asked, in an apparent reference to Republican candidate Donald Trump.



3) Putin also reacted to French President Macron's comment not ruling out sending troops to Ukraine. He said that NATO military personnel were present already in Ukraine, saying that Russia had picked up both English and French being spoken on the battlefield. "There is nothing good in this, first of all for them, because they are dying there and in large numbers," he said.



4) On whether he considered it necessary to take Ukraines Kharkiv region, Putin said if the attacks continued, Russia would create a buffer zone out of more Ukrainian territory to defend Russian territory. "I do not exclude that, bearing in mind the tragic events taking place today, we will be forced at some point, when we deem it appropriate, to create a certain 'sanitary zone' in the territories today under the Kyiv regime," Putin said.



5) On peace talks, the Russian President said he wished Macron would stop seeking to aggravate the war in Ukraine and to play a role in finding peace. "It seems that France could play a role. All is not lost yet. Ive been saying it over and over again and Ill say it again. We are for peace talks, but not just because the enemy is running out of bullets," Putin said. "If they really, seriously, want to build peaceful, good-neighbourly relations between the two states in the long term, and not simply take a break for rearmament for 1.5-2 years."
New Delhi (India), March 18: M Baazar, one of Eastern Indias leading fashion retailers, proudly announces its partnership with Bollywood's dynamic diva, Kriti Sanon, as its newest brand ambassador. The brand has also chosen Pavail Gulati as its other new face.



Most recently awarded a National Film Award for her work, Kriti Sanon is also a two-time Filmfare Award winner. She finds her place among the elite in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list 2019. Known for her captivating on-screen performances and charismatic persona, she effortlessly blends chic, boldness, and versatility, establishing herself as a definitive fashion icon in the Indian film industry, making her the perfect choice for M Baazar.



Kristi expresses her excitement about the collaboration, saying, "When I discovered the exquisite collection at M Baazar, I was instantly drawn to its contemporary flair and fashion, which resonates perfectly with my sense of style."



Pavail Gulati, known for his stunning performances in Bollywood movies, echoed Kriti's enthusiasm: "M Baazar's dedication to offering the latest trends and quality apparel is commendable. I'm thrilled to be part of a brand that exudes elegance and style."



Mr. Sanjay Saraf, CMD of M Baazar, stated, "We're so happy to have Kriti Sanon and Pavail Gulati join our brand. We're proud and excited about this partnership and believe it will elevate fashion to new levels."



With a network of 155+ stores spanning 9 Indian states, M Baazar curates a diverse range of menswear, ladieswear, kidswear, and accessories, catering to the fashion-forward generation of today. The collaboration with Kriti Sanon and Pavail Gulati is poised to elevate the brand to greater heights, setting new benchmarks in fashion and style.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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BENGALURU, India, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Naval Commander and founder/CEO of Simpliance, Anil Prem D'Souza, along with his investment company, Cbensol, and co-founder/COO, Hansa Sharma, exited Simpliance on March 14, 2024, with a combined net worth of INR 28 crores.



Anil Prem D'Souza bootstrapped Simpliance, and it was subsequently backed by HR solutions company Quess Corp, in 2016. Quess Corp divested its entire stake in Simpliance to Xcelerate-backed Aparajitha Corporate Services, for INR 120 crores. Simpliance was the brainchild of Lt. Cdr. Anil Prem D'Souza who recognised the need to streamline India's labor laws at a time when credible online information and software automation on compliances were lacking.



At its peak, Simpliance became the go-to resource for over 100K+ subscribers/industry professionals and 1.8mn+ users seeking day-to-day compliance information, solidifying its position as a key player in the compliance industry. Lt. Cdr. Anil Prem D'Souza attributes Simpliance's success to his unwavering belief in process and discipline, values instilled in him during his tenure in the Navy. His exceptional leadership skills and trust in his team were instrumental in achieving one of the highest valuations in the specific industry sector.



Elaborating on his future plans, Anil Prem D'Souza said, "I plan to explore opportunities in the rapidly growing waste management industry and also aim to solve challenges plaguing the real estate sector." "My aspiration is to continue solving critical issues affecting businesses and individuals across the country," he signs off.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

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The crowd was a sexy swirl of crochet and fringe Friday night in downtown Oakland, Calif., when Ayesha Curry and Sherri McMullen welcomed Diotima designer Rachel Scott to town.

Curry, wife of Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, as well as an author, entrepreneur and actress who is in the new Lindsay Lohan film Irish Wish, joined longtime friend and trailblazing fashion retailer McMullen, known for uncovering emerging brands, to celebrate Scott, the CFDAs Emerging Designer of the Year, with a Jamaican-themed dinner, steel drum music and dance party with performance by Martin Luther McCoy.

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So many beautiful faces wearing so many Diotima looks, I feel like its a Diotima fashion show, McMullen told the crowd of 50 or so guests, including beauty founder Danessa Myricks, artist Taylor Smalls and female tech executives from Meta, Pinecone and other firms.

I feel so proud every time someone says your name, Curry said of the designer, who like her is of Jamaican descent.

Scott launched Diotima in 2021, quickly gaining attention for her sculptural crochet pieces, constructed from overlapping panels covering the body almost like sea creatures. She has since expanded her signature hand embellishment to tailoring, shirting and other everyday wardrobing pieces. All the hand work is overseen by her mother in Jamaica, while Scotts design atelier is in New York City.

McMullen picked up the line three years ago. Something Ayesha and I both really strongly believe in is investing in designers and creatives who look like us, she said.

Diotima World hosted by McMullen and Sweet. July Skin

Curry launched her lifestyle brand Sweet July in 2020, opening a coffee bar and brick-and-mortar store near McMullen in uptown Oakland in 2021, where she stocks her own basics apparel line and skin care, alongside goods by Black female-led brands including ByChari jewelry, Johanna Howard Home and 54 Thrones.

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Sherri, thank you for introducing me to Rachel. You are always at the helm of what is going to be great. Its always been that way, and Ive known you over a decade. I remember stumbling into your store in its first location, and seeing designers I had never heard of before that were so fresh, and artistic and creative and always had meaning behind what they were doing, said Curry, who wore Diotima to the CFDA Awards in November. I felt so special and to watch you make history and win that nightthe room was elated. This is just the beginning of something that is going to be so magical and I cant wait to watch it.

Then it was Scotts turn to take the mic.

I want to touch on, as someone in fashion, just how special Sherri is. Its a big world and shes a very big player and there is no one like you. The way Sherri supports independent, emerging brands is unlike any other; she doesnt take it on consignment, she buys it. When she invests, she invests and if it wasnt for her investment in me, I wouldnt be here today.

Jada Paul and Courtney Mays

A native of Oklahoma, McMullen was a buyer at Neiman Marcus before moving to the Bay Area to work as a textile buyer at Pottery Barn Kids. She fell in love with the community in Oakland, which was then full of thriving small businesses, and opened her namesake boutique in 2007, the first luxury retail store in Oakland after I. Magnin closed in the mid-90s. She was the first retailer to buy Christopher John Rogers collection, which she stocks alongside Khaite, The Row, Dries Van Noten, Tibi and more.

Celebrating designers, female designers, designers of color is really important to me, and being able to bring them to our hometown of Oakland is such a great experience for our community and for the designers to see who are wearing their pieces, said McMullen, who hosted a trunk show and personal appearance for Scott at her store last Thursday. She truly celebrates the female spirit in her pieces. You feel that when youre wearing them  and the essence of the Caribbean. To know these pieces are being handwoven by women in Jamaica feels so special to me.

Sherri McMullen, Danessa Myricks, Sierra Dennis and Rachel Scott.

Partnering with Ayesha on the event felt natural. I sold Ayesha a Diotima set for a Sweet July photo shoot so its full circle, McMullen said, adding of the Currys importance to Oakland, home of their Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, They are incredible human beings and so humble, they really do care about Oakland and wanting to make sure businesses continue to thrive, especially Black-owned businesses.

Before the dinner of Jamaican salt fish and cabbage, jerk chicken, curry vegetables, red beans and rice by local chef Nigel Jones of Oakland restaurant Calabash  and Domaine Curry wines, natch  Ayesha sat down to chat about her business, which is in expansion mode with a just-launched Retinol Sleep Serum and more Sweet July stores on the way.

Sweet July Skin, launched in July, was three-and-a-half years in the making. It happened after growing up hearing my mom and grandma speak on things indigenous to the land that would help them and that they used when they lived there and me realizing as I got older nothing was working well for me, said Curry, wearing a Diotima coat and dress and Simkhai shoes. I spent my nights researching why ingredients work that Id heard about all my life, and found some science-based evidence, and we formulated something I think is beautiful. Im grateful we have something that represents Jamaica.

Martin Luther McCoy

The brand sells on her website, on Amazon and at Thirteen Lune, but shed also like to get it into big-box stores. My goal is getting more people on board, realizing this is not a white label, fly-by-night situation, its something we worked hard on. I think over time people will understand the efficacy, she said.

We just launched retinol, its the first product we formulated, the last product to launch and the only product I cant use right now because of the baby, said Curry, who is pregnant with her fourth child, due in June. But I tested it for years. Its a very potent, competitive, non-irritating, effective product. I have very acne-prone, cystic skin and have been able to keep it all at bay. Its taught me keeping it simple is the best way to go.

Shes also a fan of the Vitamin C Serum Soursop, made with the prickly green fruit that grows in Jamaica. I love the smell, how it glides on the skin, how it doesnt mess up makeup and is very buildable. Its not sticky or tacky and its soursop, which Ive never seen on the market in a serum.

Sherri McMullen with Diotima designs.

After returning to the screen with the St. Patricks Day-programmed film Irish Wish, Curry is also looking to do more acting. People have been shockingly kind so Im happy, she said of reading the reviews, adding, We have Sweet July productions and some projects greenlit, some Im in and some Im behind the scenes. Its fun to have all these different avenues to story-tell.

And what about an even bigger role, on the political stage, following her husbands hints during a recent press tour for his new childrens book that he might be interested in running for office? Will she be the future First Lady of Oakland?

Id rather work on true policy change and fixing things under the radar than to do that, she demurred. Thats scary.

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Rafah (Gaza Strip), Mar 18 (AP) Israeli forces launched another raid on the Gaza Strip's largest hospital early Monday, saying Hamas militants had regrouped there and had fired on them from inside the compound, where Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people were sheltering.

The army last raided Shifa Hospital in November after claiming that Hamas maintained an elaborate command centre within and beneath the facility. The military revealed a tunnel leading to a bunker, as well as weapons it said were found inside the hospital, but the evidence fell short of the earlier claims, and critics accused the army of recklessly endangering the lives of civilians.

People sheltering in the hospital said Israeli forces backed by tanks and artillery had surrounded the medical complex early Monday and that snipers were shooting at people inside. They said the army raided a number of buildings and detained dozens of people.

We're trapped inside, said Abdel-Hady Sayed, who has been sheltering in the medical facility for over three months. They fire at anything moving  doctors and ambulances can't move.

Gaza's Health Ministry said the Israeli army was directing gun and missile fire at a building used for specialised surgeries. It said a fire broke out at the hospital's gate.

The ministry said around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes seeking safety.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief Israeli military spokesperson, said the army launched a high-precision operation in parts of the medical complex. He said senior Hamas militants had regrouped there and were directing attacks from the compound.

The army released a grainy aerial video of what it said were militants firing on its forces from inside the hospital, as well as video of a rocket-propelled grenade striking an armoured vehicle. It said its forces had detained around 80 people in the raid.

Hagari said the patients and medical staff could remain in the medical complex and that a safe passage was available for civilians who want to leave.

Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian facilities to shield its fighters, and the Israeli military has raided several hospitals since the start of the war, which was triggered by Hamas' October 7 attack into southern Israel.

Most of Gaza's medical facilities have been forced to shut down for lack of fuel and medical supplies, even as scores of people are killed and wounded each day in Israeli strikes. Israel's offensive has driven most of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes and the UN says a quarter of the population is starving.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,645 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.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise attack out of Gaza that triggered the war and took another 250 people hostage. Hamas is still believed to be holding about 100 captives, as well as the remains of 30 others, after most of the rest were freed during a cease-fire last year in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker another cease-fire and hostage release, but the gulf between the two sides remains wide, with Hamas demanding guarantees for an end to the war and Israel vowing to continue the offensive until it dismantles the militant group. (AP) GSP

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Moscow, Mar 18 (AP) Russia's Central Election Commission said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has won his fifth term with a record number of votes.

The results came after Putin unleashed the country's harshest crackdown on the opposition and free speech since Soviet times.

Only three token candidates  and no one who opposes his war in Ukraine  were allowed to run against Putin as he sought another six years in power.

Putin has led Russia as president or prime minister since December 1999, a tenure marked by international military aggression and an increasing intolerance for dissent.

Russia's Central Election Commission said Monday that with nearly 100 per cent of all precincts counted, Putin got 87.29 per cent of the vote. Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova said that nearly 76 million voters cast their ballots for Putin, his highest vote tally ever. (AP) GSP
Islamabad/Kabul, Mar 18 (PTI) Pakistan on Monday carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan that killed eight civilians, including three children, Afghan Taliban said, amidst a war of words between the two neighbours for a spate of recent militant attacks in restive Pakistani cities.

A senior Afghan interim government official on Monday confirmed that strikes in the Afghanistan provinces of Paktika and Khost along the Pakistan border have taken place. There was no immediate reaction from the Pakistani side.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson of the Afghan rulers, alleged in a statement that Pakistani aircraft had carried out the airstrikes, the Dawn newspaper reported from Kabul.

At around 3 am, Pakistani aircraft bombarded civilian homes in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan, said Afghan interim government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, claiming that all eight people killed were women and children.

Mujahid said that Pakistani planes had bombed the Laman area in Paktikas Barmal district.

Alleging that houses of common people were targeted, he said three women and three children were killed in Paktika and a house collapsed while two women were killed in Khost, where a house was destroyed as well.

The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the attacks and describes these as non-serious actions and violation of Afghanistani territory," Mujahid said.

The spokesperson asked Pakistan to stop blaming Afghanistan for its problems and failure to control violent incidents.

"Such acts can lead to dire consequences which will not be in control of Pakistan," he warned.

The strikes come a day after President Asif Ali Zardari vowed retaliation following the killing of seven soldiers, including two officers, in a terrorist attack on a security forces post in North Waziristan.

Offering the funeral prayers of the two officers, Zardari on Sunday said that the blood of the martyrs would not go in vain and the country would avenge the deaths. The president said Pakistan would not hesitate to strike back if attacked by anyone at borders or inside its territory.

The Hafiz Gul Bahadar group had claimed responsibility for the deadly attack. Security officials say that fighters of the Gul Bahadar group operate from the Afghan side of the border, mostly from Khost.

The Paktika province is located near Pakistans South Waziristan District while Khost is situated near North Waziristan.

Pakistans Special Representative to Afghanistan Ambassador Asif Durrani on Saturday said that an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 militants from the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have taken shelter in neighbouring Afghanistan.

If we include their families, then the number goes up to 70,000, Durrani said.

Reacting to Durrani's charge, Afghanistan has dismissed his statement, saying that Afghan soil is not allowed to be used against other countries, including Pakistan.

"We reject the presence of any ... foreign groups in Afghanistan and they are not allowed to operate on Afghan soil. In this regard, we have made our utmost effort and continue to do so. But one thing we must accept is that Afghanistan shares a very long border area with Pakistan, and there are places with rugged terrain including mountains and forests, and places that might be out of our control," Zabihullah Mujahid was quoted as saying by Tolo News on Sunday.

Durrani, who spoke at a think-tank event in Islamabad last week, said Pakistans peace talks with the banned TTP failed in the past because the militant group was neither ready to surrender nor swear allegiance to the Constitution of Pakistan.

Durrani said Pakistan had told the interim government in Kabul that the latter needed to make TTP surrender and disarm the group and detain its leadership. He clarified that TTP is the redline for Pakistan.

The TTP, which has ideological linkages with the Afghan Taliban and is also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant outfits in 2007.

The TTP's main aim is to impose its strict brand of Islam across Pakistan. Pakistan had hoped that the Afghan Taliban after coming to power in Kabul in 2022 would stop the use of their soil against Pakistan by expelling the TTP operatives. However, Islamabad says Kabul has refused to rein in the TTP.

Meanwhile, cross-border clashes were also reported at Kurram Districts Parachinar.

Malik Nazeer, a resident of the border area of Borki, told the Dawn newspaper that people on both sides of the border have started evacuating the area.
Beijing, Mar 18 (PTI) Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday congratulated his Russian counterpart on his re-election, saying Vladimir Putins victory fully reflects the Russian people's support for him and that Beijing is ready to promote close strategic ties with Moscow further.

In recent years, the Russian people have united as one, overcome challenges, and made steady progress towards national development and revitalisation, Xi said in his congratulatory message to Putin.

The re-election of Putin as president fully reflects the Russian people's support for him, Xi, who shared close relations with Putin, said, the official media here reported.

Russia will surely make greater achievements in national development and construction under Putin's leadership, Xi said.

Noting that Beijing attaches great importance to the development of China-Russia relations, Xi said China stands ready to maintain close communication with Russia to promote the sustained, sound, stable and in-depth development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to benefit the two nations and their people.

Xi maintained close ties with Putin ever since he took over the leadership of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012 and transformed the China-Russian relationship into a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Both leaders firmed up the bilateral ties after Russia launched the war against Ukraine.

Though China claims to be neutral in the Ukraine-Russia war, Beijing has refused to condemn the Russian military action against Ukraine and blamed NATO for engaging in five rounds of eastward expansion in the last two decades, prompting Moscow to take measures to defend its security and sovereignty.

China also benefitted by increasing the import of Russian oil and gas at cheaper rates.
Tel Aviv, Mar 18 (AP) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed Sunday against growing criticism from top ally the United States against his leadership amid the devastating war with Hamas, describing calls for a new election as wholly inappropriate.

In recent days, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the country and a strong Israel supporter, called on Israel to hold a new election, saying Netanyahu had lost his way. President Joe Biden expressed support for Schumer's good speech," and earlier accused Netanyahu of hurting Israel because of the huge civilian death toll in Gaza.

Netanyahu told Fox News that Israel never would have called for a new U.S. election after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, and denounced Schumer's comments as inappropriate.

We're not a banana republic," he said. The people of Israel will choose when they will have elections, and who they'll elect, and it's not something that will be foisted on us.

When asked by CNN whether he would commit to a new election after the war ends, Netanyahu said: I think that's something for the Israeli public to decide.

The U.S., which has provided key military and diplomatic support to Israel, also has expressed concerns about a planned Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. The spokesman for the National Security Council, John Kirby, told Fox the U.S. still hasn't seen an Israeli plan for Rafah.

The U.S. supports a new round of talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.

The Israeli delegation to those talks was expected to leave for Qatar after Sunday evening meetings of the Security Cabinet and War Cabinet, which will give directions for negotiations.

Despite the talks, Netanyahu made it clear he would not back down from the fighting that has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials. More than five months have passed since Hamas attacked southern Israel, killed 1,200 people and took another 250 hostage.

Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu said calls for an election now  which polls show he would lose badly  would force Israel to stop fighting and paralyze the country for six months.

Netanyahu also reiterated his determination to attack Hamas in Rafah and said that his government approved military plans for such an operation.

We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen, he said. The operation is supposed to include the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of civilians, but it is not clear how Israel will do that.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi reiterated his warning that an Israeli ground offensive in Rafah would have grave repercussions on the whole region." Egypt says pushing Palestinians into the Sinai Peninsula would jeopardize its peace treaty with Israel, a cornerstone of regional stability.

We are also very concerned about the risks a full-scale offensive in Rafah would have on the vulnerable civilian population. This needs to be avoided at all costs, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after meeting with el-Sissi.

And German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after meeting with Netanyahu on Sunday, warned that "the more desperate the situation of people in Gaza becomes, the more this begs the question: No matter how important the goal, can it justify such terribly high costs, or are there other ways to achieve your goal?

Germany is one of Israel's closest allies in Europe and, given memories of the Holocaust, often treads carefully when criticizing Israel.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, in Washington for St. Patrick's Day, said during a White House reception that the Irish people were deeply troubled by what's unfolding in Gaza. He said there was much to learn from Ireland's peace process and the critical U.S. involvement in it.

Varadkar said he's often asked why the Irish are so empathetic to the Palestinians.

We see our history in their eyes. A story of displacement, dispossession, and national identity questioned and denied forced emigration, discrimination and now hunger, he said.

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul-general in New York and an outspoken critic of Netanyahu, said that the prime minister's comments fit with his efforts to find someone else to blame if Israel doesn't achieve its goal of destroying Hamas.

He's looking on purpose for a conflict with the U.S. so that he can blame Biden, Pinkas said.

Both sides have something to gain politically from the dispute. The Biden administration is under increasing pressure from progressive Democrats and some Arab-American supporters to restrain Israel's war against Hamas. Netanyahu, meanwhile, wants to show his nationalist base that he can withstand global pressure, even from Israel's closest ally.

But pressure also comes from home, with thousands protesting again in Tel Aviv on Saturday night against Netanyahu's government and calling for a new election and a deal for the release of hostages. Large parts of the Israeli public want a deal, fearing that hostages are held in poor conditions and time is running out to bring them home alive.

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.

Airdrops by the U.S. and other nations continue, while deliveries on a new sea route have begun, but aid groups say more ground routes and fewer Israeli restrictions on them are needed to meet humanitarian needs in any significant way.

Of course we should be bringing humanitarian aid by road. Of course by now we should be having at least two, three other entry points into Gaza, chef Jose Andres with World Central Kitchen, which organized the tons of food delivered by sea, told NBC.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,645 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.

Israel says Hamas is responsible for civilian deaths because it operates in dense residential areas.

The Health Ministry on Sunday said that the bodies of 92 people killed in Israel's bombardment had been brought to hospitals in Gaza in the past 24 hours. Hospitals also received 130 wounded, it said.

At least 11 people from the Thabet family, including five children and one woman, were killed in an airstrike in Deir al-Balah city in central Gaza, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and an Associated Press journalist. The body of an infant lay among the dead. (AP)

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London, Mar 18 (AP) The British government hopes one last push can revive its stalled plan to send some asylum-seekers on a one-way trip to Rwanda. A bill aimed at overcoming a UK Supreme Court block on the deportation flights returns to the House of Commons on Monday, and could be passed into law within days.

That would be a boost for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is facing disquiet from fellow Conservative lawmakers as the party lags in opinion polls ahead of an election due this year.

Lawmakers in the House of Commons are due to consider changes made to the Safety of Rwanda Bill by Parliament's upper chamber, the House of Lords. The Lords inserted a series of amendments designed to water down the legislation.

All 10 amendments are likely to be removed by lawmakers in the Commons, where the Conservatives have a majority. After a back-and-forth tussle with the upper house, the Commons is almost certain to prevail because the unelected Lords can't overrule the elected lower house.

Once the bill becomes law, it could be weeks before any flights to Rwanda take off, as people chosen for deportation are likely to lodge legal appeals.

Sunak said Monday that he was sticking to a previous promise that flights would start in the spring.

Britain and Rwanda signed a deal almost two years ago that would see migrants who cross the English Channel in small boats sent to the East African country, where they would remain permanently.

The plan is key to Sunak's pledge to stop the boats bringing unauthorised migrants to the UK. Sunak argues that deporting unauthorised asylum-seekers will deter people from making risky journeys and break the business model of people-smuggling gangs.

Just under 30,000 people arrived in Britain in small boats in 2023, many of them not from the African continent at all.

We need to make it clear that if you come here illegally, you won't be able to stay and we will be able to remove you. That is the only way to properly solve the issue of illegal migration, Sunak told reporters.

The agreement faced multiple legal challenges, and no one has been sent to Rwanda. Britain has promised Rwanda at least 370 million pounds ($470 million) as part of the deal, whose cost is rapidly rising.

In November, the UK Supreme Court ruled that the Rwanda plan is illegal because the nation is not a safe destination for asylum-seekers. For decades, human rights groups and governments have documented alleged repression of dissent by Rwanda's government both inside the country and abroad, as well as serious restrictions on internet freedom, assembly and expression.

In response, Britain and Rwanda signed a treaty pledging to strengthen protections for migrants. Sunak's Conservative government argues the treaty allows it to pass a law declaring Rwanda a safe destination.

The Safety of Rwanda Bill pronounces the country safe, makes it harder for migrants to challenge deportation and allows the British government to ignore injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights that seek to block removals.

Human rights groups, refugee charities, senior Church of England clerics and many legal experts have criticized the legislation. A parliamentary rights watchdog said last month that the Rwanda plan is fundamentally incompatible with the UK's human rights obligations. (AP) SCY

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Rafah (Gaza Strip), Mar 18 (AP) The UN food agency said Monday that famine is imminent in northern Gaza, where 70% of the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger, and that a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gaza's total population to the brink of starvation.

The alarming report came as Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and open more crossings. The European Union's top diplomat said the impending famine was entirely man-made as "starvation is used as a weapon of war.

Israeli forces meanwhile launched another raid on the Gaza Strip's largest hospital early Monday, saying Hamas militants had regrouped there and had fired on them from inside the compound, where Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people have been sheltering.

The military said it killed a Hamas commander who was armed and hiding inside the medical centre, and that one of its own soldiers was killed in the operation.

The army last raided Shifa Hospital in November after claiming that Hamas maintained an elaborate command centre within and beneath the facility. The military revealed a tunnel leading to some underground rooms, as well as weapons it said were found inside the hospital. But the evidence fell short of the earlier claims, and critics accused the army of recklessly endangering the lives of civilians.



RAFAH OFFENSIVE COULD PUSH HALF OF GAZA TO STARVATION

The World Food Programme on Monday released the latest findings of its Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, an international process for estimating the scale of hunger crises.

It says virtually everyone in Gaza is struggling to get enough food, and that around 677,000 people - nearly a third of the population of 2.3 million - are experiencing the highest level of catastrophic hunger. That includes around 210,000 people in the north.

It warned that if Israel broadens its offensive to the packed southern city of Rafah, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed, the fighting could drive over a million people - half of Gaza's population - into catastrophic hunger.

This is the largest number of people facing imminent famine in the world today, and it has only taken five months to occur, said Matthew Hollingworth, the acting World Food Programme country director for the Palestinian territories.

It's still possible to turn this around but there has to be a cease-fire and there has to be massive amounts of food aid to flow consistently, and people need to have access to clean water and health care, he said.

Northern Gaza, including Gaza City, was the first target of the invasion and entire neighbourhoods have been obliterated. It is now the epicentre of Gaza's humanitarian catastrophe, with many residents reduced to eating animal feed. At least 20 people, mostly children, have died from malnutrition and dehydration in the north, the Health Ministry said earlier this month.

Airdrops by the US and other nations continue, while deliveries on a new sea route have begun, but aid groups say it's essential that Israel open up more land routes and ease restrictions. The WFP report said airdrops account for a negligible share of aid compared with what is brought in on trucks.

Israeli authorities say they place no limits on the entry of aid and accuse UN bodies of failing to distribute it in a timely manner. Aid groups say distribution is impossible in much of Gaza because of ongoing hostilities, the difficulty of coordinating with the military and the breakdown of law and order.

Alex de Waal, the executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University and an expert on global famines, said Israel has had ample warning" that if it continued to launch massive operations that destroy key infrastructure, displace large numbers of people and obstruct aid operations, the results would be catastrophic.

"In failing to change course, it is culpable for these deaths, he said.

Ahead of the report's release, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said it was up to Israel to facilitate more aid.

Israel has to do it. It is not a question of logistics. It is not because the United Nations has not provided enough support, he said. Trucks are stopped. People are dying, while the land crossings are artificially closed.



WE'RE TRAPPED INSIDE'

The heavy fighting around Shifa Hospital, in the heart of Gaza City, meanwhile pointed to the continuing presence of Palestinian militants in northern Gaza despite the harsh conditions there.

People sheltering in the hospital said Israeli forces backed by tanks and artillery had surrounded the medical complex and that snipers were shooting at people inside. They said the army raided a number of buildings and detained dozens of people.

We're trapped inside, said Abdel-Hady Sayed, who has been sheltering in the medical facility for over three months. They fire at anything moving.  Doctors and ambulances can't move.

Gaza's Health Ministry said around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes seeking safety. The war has displaced around 80% of Gaza's population.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief Israeli military spokesperson, said the army launched a high-precision operation in parts of the medical complex. He said senior Hamas militants had regrouped there and were directing attacks from inside.

The army later said it had killed Faiq Mabhouh, identifying him as a senior member of Hamas' internal security apparatus. It said Mabhouh was armed and hiding inside the compound, and that numerous weapons were found in an adjacent room. The military said its forces detained around 80 people.

Hagari said the patients and medical staff could remain in the medical complex and that a safe passage was available for civilians who wanted to leave.

Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian facilities to shield its fighters, and the Israeli military has raided several hospitals since the start of the war, which was triggered by Hamas' Oct 7 attack into southern Israel.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Monday that at least 31,726 Palestinians have been killed in the war, including 81 in the past 24 hours. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise attack out of Gaza that triggered the war, and took another 250 people hostage. Hamas is still believed to be holding about 100 captives, as well as the remains of 30 others, after most of the rest were freed during a cease-fire last year in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt have spent weeks trying to broker another cease-fire and hostage release, but the gulf between the two sides remains wide, with Hamas demanding guarantees for an end to the war and Israel vowing to continue the offensive until it destroys the militant group. (AP) SCY

SCY
Washington, Mar 18 (AP) President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Monday, their first interaction in more than a month, as the divide has grown between allies over food crisis in Gaza, conduct of war, according to the White House.

The call comes after Republicans in Washington and Israeli officials were quick to express outrage after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticised 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.

Biden hasn't endorsed Schumer's call for election but said he thought he gave a good speech that reflected the concerns of many Americans.

The White House has been sceptical of Netanyahu's plan of carrying out an operation in the southern city of Rafah, to which more than a 1 million displaced Palestinians have fled, as Israel looks to eliminate Hamas following Hamas' deadly Oct 7 attack.

Biden administration officials have warned that they would not support such an operation without the Israelis presenting a credible plan to ensure the safety of innocent Palestinian civilians.

Israel has yet to present such a plan, according to White House officials. (AP) SCY

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London, Mar 18 (PTI) Former US President Barack Obama dropped in for an unannounced informal meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street in London on Monday.

Obama waved at photographers as he entered the famous black door for what Downing Street officials later described as a courtesy drop in for a chat in the UK PM's study. The agenda for the hour-long meeting was not revealed but it is likely the Russian re-election of President Vladimir Putin and the conflict in Ukraine may have featured in their discussions.

"He was making an informal courtesy drop-in as part of his trip to London, where he is conducting work of the Obama Foundation," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

"I think President Obama's team made contact and obviously the Prime Minister was very happy to meet with him and discuss the work of the Obama Foundation," the spokesperson said.

This marks Obamas first visit to Downing Street since he left the White House after his two terms as US President, between 2009 and 2017. The 62-year-old Democrat founded the Chicago-based Obama Foundation with a mission to "inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world".

The meeting between Obama and Sunak is believed to be the first time the pair have met. Obama was seen leaving Downing Street around an hour later with the US ambassador to the UK, Jane Hartley, and smiled at reporters as he quipped that he was tempted" when asked to speak.
Moscow, Mar 18 (AP) President Vladimir Putin basked in a victory early Monday that was never in doubt, as partial election results underlined the Russian leader's total control of the country's political system.

After facing only token challengers and harshly suppressing opposition voices, Putin was set to extend his nearly quarter-century rule for six more years. Even with little margin for protest, Russians crowded outside polling stations at noon on Sunday, the last day of the election, apparently heeding an opposition call to express their displeasure with the president.

Putin hailed the overwhelming early results as an indication of trust and hope in him  while critics saw them as another reflection of the preordained nature of the election.

Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future, Putin said at a meeting with volunteers after polls closed.

Any public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine has been stifled. Independent media have been crippled. His fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

Beyond the fact that voters had virtually no choice, independent monitoring of the election was extremely limited. According to Russia's Central Election Commission, Putin had some 87% of the vote with about 98% of precincts counted.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: This is not what free and fair elections look like.

In the tightly controlled environment, Navalny's associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to go to the polls at noon on Sunday  and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.

Among those heeding call was Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny's widow, who spent more than five hours in the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin. She told reporters that she wrote her late husband's name on her ballot.

Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Navalnaya replied: Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because he's a killer, he's a gangster.

But Putin brushed off the effectiveness of the apparent protest.

There were calls to come vote at noon. And this was supposed to be a manifestation of opposition. Well, if there were calls to come vote, then ... I praise this," he said at a news conference after polls closed.

Unusually, Putin referenced Navalny by name for the first time ever at the news conference.

Some Russians waiting to vote in Moscow and St. Petersburg told The Associated Press that they were taking part in the protest, but it wasn't possible to confirm whether all of those in line were doing so.

A voter in Moscow, who identified himself only as Vadim, said he hoped for change, but added that unfortunately, it's unlikely. Like others, he didn't give his full name because of security concerns.

Meanwhile, supporters of Navalny streamed to his grave in Moscow, some bringing ballots with his name written on them.

Meduza, Russia's biggest independent news outlet, published photos of ballots it received from their readers, with killer inscribed on one and The Hague awaits you on another. The latter refers to an arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges from the International Criminal Court.

Some people told the AP that they were happy to vote for Putin  unsurprising in a country where state TV airs a drumbeat of praise for the Russian leader and voicing any other opinion is risky.

Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said, I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now.

Voting took place over three days at polling stations across the vast country, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online.

Several people were arrested, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, after they tried to start fires or set off explosives at polling stations while others were detained for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, said Russians were searched when entering polling stations, there were attempts to check filled-out ballots before they were cast, and one report said police demanded a ballot box be opened to remove a ballot.

That left little room for people to express themselves. Still, huge lines formed around noon outside diplomatic missions in London, Berlin, Paris and other cities with large Russian communities, many of whom left home after Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

If we have some option to protest I think it's important to utilize any opportunity, said 23-year-old Tatiana, who was voting in the Estonian capital of Tallinn and said she came to take part in the protest. (AP)

AMS
American Riviera Orchard is something that the Duchess of Sussex has been "wanting to do for a while," a source tells PEOPLE

SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP/Getty Meghan Markle attends the SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas, on March 8, 2024

Meghan Markles new lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchard is a true passion project.

The Duchess of Sussex, 42, unveiled a new website and Instagram page for her surprise new project last Thursday.

A source exclusively tells PEOPLE that the lifestyle brand "will reflect everything that she loves  family, cooking, entertaining and home decor."

"She is excited about her latest, personal venture," the source says. "This is something shes been wanting to do for a while. She is excited to share her style and things that she loves."

As for the brand's name, which is a nod to Santa Barbara, the California town where Meghan lives with Prince Harry and their two children, 4-year-old son Prince Archie and 2-year-old daughter Princess Lilibet, the source says that the Duchess of Sussex felt it was the "perfect" fit. (Santa Barbara has been nicknamed the "American Riviera" for over a century.)

"Meghan finds the name American Riviera Orchard perfect. It feels authentic to her. She cant wait for the website to launch," the source tells PEOPLE.



American Riviera Orchard The current website landing page for American Riviera Orchard.

Related: Meghan Markle Returns to Instagram! The Duchess of Sussex Launches Surprise New Venture

Meghan is seeking permission to sell cutlery, cookbooks and jarred food products, according to a trademark application, and website visitors can join an email waitlist for products and updates.

The tastemaking themes are reminiscent of the content Meghan spotlighted on her lifestyle blog The Tig, which she shuttered in 2017 during her courtship with Prince Harry, and American Riviera Orchard's first Instagram Story showed her arranging flowers and cooking in a kitchen.

The announcement comes one month after Meghan revealed she signed a new podcast deal with Lemonada Media and days after she and Harry traveled to Austin, Texas, for the Duchess of Sussex's appearance on a panel at the SXSW Conference.

Story continues

According to the source, Meghan is highly supportive of any projects Harry wishes to pursue and wants them to establish a successful "brand."

Andrew Chin/Getty Meghan Markle and Prince Harry at the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistlers 2025's One Year To Go Winter Training Camp on February 14, 2024 in Whistler, British Columbia.

Related: Meghan Markle's Brand Unveiling Coincides with 4th Anniversary of 'Freedom Flight' from Canada to L.A.

As the couple continues to put down roots in the U.S., the insider says that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are careful about who enters their inner circle.

"They surround themselves with loyal friends and are very cautious about who they invite into their lives. Meghan is very focused on building a great network, " the source says. "She is the type of person who will not only remember your birthday, shell also send a very personal and thoughtful gift."

Mat Hayward/FilmMagic Meghan Markle at the SXSW 2024 Conference and Festivals at Austin Convention Center on March 8, 2024, in Austin, Texas.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have received criticism in the U.K. press (such as around the launch of the sleek new sussex.com website), Meghan is focused on looking forward.

"She could care less. She knows who her friends are and this is all she cares about," the source says.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Thane, Mar 18 (PTI) In Maharashtra's Thane district, which has three Lok Sabha seats, 22 booths will be managed exclusively by women personnel on polling day on May 20, said an official on Monday.

Thane collector and district election officer Ashok Shingare said the voting percentage of the district was poor at around 50 per cent (in 2019) as against the national average of 67 per cent and efforts are being made to take the turnout to 75 per cent.

Addressing a press conference here, he cited urban apathy for the low turnout in the district and said, "We have set an ambitious target of 75 per cent participation which we are trying to achieve through cooperation of voters."

He said the gender ratio of voters -- the number of female electors per 1,000 male voters -- has improved from 848 to 854 in the district located adjoining Mumbai.

Speaking about election preparedness, Shingare said around 40,000 polling staff will be on duty and added that high-value bank transactions, especially withdrawals, are being monitored.

Banners, posters and hoardings have been removed from various spots, said the district collector.

Shingare said the number of voters in the 18-19 age bracket was only 82,327 which should be around 2.5 lakh.

The district will have 22 all-women polling booths, while 18 such facilities will be managed by persons with disability (PwD), and one by young electoral personnel, said the collector.

Of the total 6,592 polling booths, 36 will be located in housing complexes to encourage voter participation, he informed.

Shingare said the three Lok Sabha constituencies in the district -- Thane, Bhiwandi and Kalyan -- have 65,01,671 registered voters, including 29,94315 women and 1,274 transgender persons.

Thane district will vote on May 20 in the fifth phase of polling.

Maharashtra, which has 48 Lok Sabha seats, will vote in five phases starting from April 19.
Kolkata, Mar 18 (PTI) The Trinamool Congress on Monday complained to the Election Commission alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the BJP candidate from Varanasi, has violated the model code of conduct by using central government funds for campaigning.

In a letter addressed to the chief election commissioner, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien said a message by the PM highlighting his government's programmes reached the electorate on March 16, after the model code of conduct came into force.



Modi has purportedly written the message in the form of a letter to the voters on March 15, the TMC leader claimed.

"By using the office of the prime minister, the BJP has issued the aforesaid letter at the cost of the public exchequer under the guise of a message seemingly sent by the Government of India. Such mass circulation is nothing but an appeal to the voters in favour of the BJP and Mr Modi and thereby flouting the mandate of the Election Commission of India," O'Brien said in the complaint.



He urged the EC to ensure that appropriate directions are issued to the BJP and its candidate Modi to withhold from future campaigns at the cost of public exchequer, to withdraw the letter...."



O'Brien said that the cost of sending the prime minister's letter to the electorate should also be included in the accounts of the BJP and Modi against the head "election expenditure."
(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
New Delhi, Mar 18 (PTI) The Centre on Monday constituted two tribunals under Justice Neena Bansal Krishna of the Delhi High Court to adjudicate whether there are sufficient grounds for declaring the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bhat faction) and the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction) as banned groups.

Both the organisations were declared banned groups by the government on February 28 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for five years for their anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda and for asking people to refrain from taking part in elections.

According to the UAPA, the constitution of a tribunal is necessary for confirming any government decision banning an outfit.

In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5 read with sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the central government constituted the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal consisting of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bhat faction) (MCJK-B) as an unlawful association.

In a separate notification, the home ministry said a tribunal has been constituted consisting of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction) (MCJK-S) as an unlawful association.

Earlier, the home ministry had said the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir- Sumji faction (MCJK-S), chaired by Ghulam Nabi Sumji, is known for its anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda and its members have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and providing logistic support to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

The leaders and members of MCJK-S have been involved in raising funds through various sources including Pakistan and its proxy organisations for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities, sustained stone-pelting on security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

Besides, the home ministry said, the MCJK-S has constantly asked the people of Kashmir to refrain from taking part in elections and thereby targeted and hampered the very basic constitutionally recognized fundamentals of Indian democracy.

On the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir-Bhat faction (MCJK-B), chaired by Abdul Ghani Bhat, the home ministry said the group has been indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country.

The home ministry said the MCJK-B has linkages with banned terrorist organisations and has supported terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and its members have been indulging in generating feelings of hatred and disaffection against India to separate Jammu and Kashmir from Union of India.

The leaders and members of the MCJK-B have been involved in raising funds through various sources including Pakistan and its proxy organisations for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting terrorist activities, sustained stone-pelting on Security Forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

The MCJK-B, by giving a clarion call to boycott elections on multiple occasions, has also attempted to subvert the will of people and democratic process in Jammu and Kashmir, the home ministry said.
New Delhi, Mar 18 (PTI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that the government's promise of providing houses to all has turned out to be a "scam" and claimed that 'Modi Ki Guarantee' is adulterated with the "power of lies".

Kharge said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 17, 2020, promised the country that by 2022 every Indian would have a roof over his head.

"'Modi's guarantee' of providing houses to all turns out to be a scam!" he alleged.

"While busy cursing Congress, built less houses than the Congress in 10 years. 1.2 crore less houses!" he said in a post in Hindi on X.

In the BJP's housing scheme, most of the money for 49 lakh urban houses i.e. 60 per cent of the houses, was paid by the public from their own pockets, he said.

"A government urban house is built for an average of Rs 6.5 lakh, out of which the Central government gives only Rs 1.5 lakh. Some part is given by the states and municipalities. The rest of the burden falls on the public. That too about 60 per cent of the burden. This is what the Parliamentary Committee has said," Kharge said.

"Millions of houses are 'unoccupied'. For example, more than 5 lakh houses under Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP) are 'vacant'. Obviously there is great adulteration of the power of lies in 'Modi's Ki Guarantee'.
Muzaffarnagar (UP), Mar 18 (PTI) A court here on Monday sentenced two former police personnel to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs one lakh in a nearly three-decade-old case of molestation and rape, according to a statement by the CBI.

The two convicts -- Milap Singh and Virender Pratap -- were police personnel belonging to the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC).

The Uttarakhand Sangharsh Samiti had organised a rally at Red Fort in Delhi on October 2, 1994, and people from hill areas were arriving in the city in buses to participate in it.

"The UP government had made elaborate security arrangements by deploying police force at different places to check the rallyists. When the rallyists reached near Rampur Tiraha, Muzaffarnagar, on the night of October 1-2, 1994, they were restrained by the police and taken into custody. A total of 345 rallyists were detained and among them 47 were women," the CBI statement said.

It was alleged some of the detained female rallyists were molested and raped, the probe agency said.

A writ petition was later filed by the Uttarakhand Sangharsh Samiti before the Allahabad High Court. In pursuance of high court order dated October 7, 1994, the CBI conducted a preliminary enquiry.

Based on the preliminary enquiry report submitted by the CBI, the court directed the federal probe agency to register an FIR.

Accordingly, CBI registered a case on January 25, 1995, based on allegations that a bus carrying the rallyists was stopped at Rampur Tiraha, the vehicle's windscreen, headlights and window panes were smashed, and the police personnel deployed there hurled abuses at the rallyists, the statement said

"It was also alleged that both the police personnel belonging to PAC had entered the bus and committed crimes, including molestation and rape," it added.

The CBI filed a charge sheet on March 21, 1996, and the trial was initiated.

"The trial court found both the accused guilty and sentenced them accordingly," the statement said, adding that the duo were convicted by the court here on March 15, 2024, and the sentence was pronounced on Monday.
Jaipur, Mar 18 (PTI) Four members of a family were killed and three injured when their car rammed into a stationary truck on the Delhi-Ajmer highway here on Monday, police said.

The accident took place this morning in the Chandwaji area when the victims were on their way to Shahphura from Nagaur district, they added.

Pavan Kumar, Sanjna Devi, Kapoori Devi and Monika died in the accident, the police said, adding that the injured are being treated at a hospital.
Amethi, Mar 18 (PTI) A farmer guarding his fields in the Munshiganj area here was allegedly killed by an animal, police said on Monday.

Shitala Prasad (45) was a resident of Darpipur village, police said, adding that the incident occurred on Sunday night.

Prasad was seriously injured and taken to the District Hospital Gauriganj where doctors declared him dead, police said.

The body has been sent for post-mortem.
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.
A shocking revelation has emerged from the US-Mexico border, as a Lebanese migrant caught sneaking into the country admitted to being a member of the terrorist organization Hezbollah and planning to make a bomb in New York. Basel Bassel Ebbadi, 22, was apprehended by border patrol on March 9 near El Paso, Texas.

According to a Border Patrol document obtained by The New York Post, Ebbadi confessed to his intentions, stating, Im going to try to make a bomb. In a subsequent sworn interview, he revealed that he had trained with Hezbollah for seven years and served as an active member guarding weapons locations for another four years. Ebbadis training focused on jihad and killing non-Muslims.

This alarming incident comes amid a surge in migrants on the terror watchlist entering the US illegally, with 59 apprehensions in the first four months of 2024 alone. The total number of terror watchlisted encounters has risen significantly since 2022, with 172 recorded in fiscal year 2023 and 98 in fiscal year 2022.

Ebbadis admission raises serious concerns about the vetting process for migrants entering the country. He claimed to be fleeing Lebanon to avoid killing people, yet his intentions were far from peaceful.

Border agents have recorded numerous encounters with terror watchlisted individuals, including a recent incident just days before former President Donald Trumps visit to Eagle Pass, Texas.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Pakistani airstrikes targeted multiple suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban inside neighboring Afghanistan early on Monday, the foreign ministry said. The Afghan Taliban said the attacks killed at least eight people and prompted return fire from their forces.

The exchange, two days after seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing and coordinated attack in the countrys northwest, marked an escalation that is likely to further increase tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

The Foreign Office in Islamabad confirmed the strikes, describing them as intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan and saying they targeted a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban.

The Afghan Taliban denounced the strikes as an aggression on Afghanistans territorial integrity, and said later Monday their forces targeted Pakistans military centers along the border with heavy weapons, without providing details.

Earlier in the day, two Pakistani security and intelligence officials told The Associated Press the strikes were carried out in Khost and Paktika provinces bordering Pakistan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

It was not immediately clear how deep inside Afghanistan the Pakistani jets flew for Mondays strikes  the first since 2022, when Pakistan targeted militant hideouts in Afghanistan. Islamabad never officially confirmed those strikes.

Chief Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said three women and three children were killed in the airstrikes the district of Barmal in Paktika while two other women were killed in a strike in Khost.

Such attacks are a violation of Afghanistans sovereignty and there will be bad consequences, Mujahid said.

According to the two Pakistani officials, mortars fired by the Afghan Taliban in Mondays return fire wounded four people and forced some villagers in the Kurram district to move to safer areas. Pakistani troops fired back, the officials said.

On Saturday, a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden truck into a military post in the Pakistani town of Mir Ali, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan, killing seven Pakistani soldiers. Troops responded and killed all six attackers in a shootout, the military said.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari attended the soldiers funerals and vowed to retaliate, saying the blood of our martyred soldiers will not go in vain.

A newly formed militant group, Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad claimed the Mir Ali attack. Pakistani officials believe the group is mainly made up of members of the Pakistani Taliban, the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, which often targets Pakistani soldiers and police.

Muhammad Ali, an Islamabad based security expert, said army Lt. Col. Kashif Ali and Cpt. Ahmad Badar were among those killed in Mir Ali and that Mondays airstrikes were an obvious retaliation, coming within 24 hours of Zardaris warning.

Pakistans patience for the Afghan interim governments continued hospitality for terrorists conducting frequent attacks on Pakistan from inside Afghanistan has finally run out, Ali said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the families of the lieutenant colonel and the captain slain in Mir Ali and paid tribute to all the soldiers killed in the attack. He did not comment on the airstrikes in Afghanistan.

Separately, the Pakistani military said security forces carried out an operation Monday in North Waziristan near the Afghan border, killing eight militants linked to Saturdays attack.

The Afghan Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 as the U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout after 20 years of war. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan emboldened the TTP, whose top leaders and fighters are hiding in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban insist they do not allow the Pakistani Taliban  or any other militant group  to use Afghanistans soil to launch attacks. However, the TTP has stepped up attacks inside Pakistan in recent years, straining relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

Adding to the tensions between the two countries was a move by Islamabad last year to expel Afghans living in Pakistan without valid documents. Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation of their country. More than half a million fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power.

So far, Pakistan has expelled nearly half a million Afghans in the ongoing crackdown. Islamabad says Afghans who have refugee status have not been deported.

The deportations have also drawn criticism from the international community and analysts have warned that mass deportations risk radicalizing those who have been forced out of Pakistan  often returning to deplorable conditions back in Afghanistan.

In January, Pakistani strikes  in a tit-for-tat exchanges with Tehran  hit Pakistani militants inside Iran, briefly raising tensions but the two neighbors. The situation calmed after Tehran and Islamabad agreed to cooperate against each others militants.

(AP)
A maniac who intentionally set his former Yeshiva Chaim Berlin Rebbis Flatbush home on fire in June 2019, resulting in three homes being burnt and six people injured  including a six-week-old infant, a firefighter, and two police officers  has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Matthew Karelefsky, 46, whose actions sent shockwaves throughout the Jewish community, was previously convicted by a jury of first-degree attempted murder, second-degree arson, six counts of second-degree assault, and two counts of fourth-degree arson.

The targeted Rebbi and his wife woke up at at approximately 3:50 a.m. on June 13, 2019, to a fire in their three-story multi-family home at 1492 East 17th Street. The fire spread to homes on either side of the property, causing 13 residents to evacuate. Numerous individuals, including a six-week-old infant and two NYPD officers were treated for smoke inhalation. Additionally, one firefighter was treated for bruising suffered while responding to the fire.

Fire Marshals determined the fire at 1492 East 17th Street was intentionally set and that it spread to the adjacent properties. Investigators also determined the fire began underneath the Rebbis front porch, where K9 dogs identified the smell of an accelerant and fire marshals discovered remnants of a Kingsford charcoal bag, charcoal, a plastic milk carton, empty lighter fluid containers, lighter boxes and several rags believed to have been drenched in lighter fluid.

In a miracle, while the Rebbis home was completely devastated by the blaze, an entire wall of seforim was somehow spared the destructive flames.

Video surveillance taken from across the street from the victims homes showed Karelefsky setting the fire. Additionally, video surveillance from a grocery store captured the day before the incident showed him purchasing Kingsford charcoal and matches.

Police arrested the sociopath in Manhattan on June 15, 2019. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing a pink shirt with a white collara shirt he was seen wearing walking near the victims homes before and after the incident. The defendant has a tattoo on his forearm that reads, Never let go of the HATRED  KILL Rabbi Max. He also wrote numerous social media posts expressing his animosity for and intention to harm the victim.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Hamas unprecedented raid in southern Israel has prompted a legal predicament: How does a country scarred by the deadliest attack in its history bring the perpetrators to justice?

Israel is holding hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza accused of taking part in the Oct. 7 attack that sparked its war with Hamas. It is grappling with how to prosecute suspects and offer closure to Israelis, including victims families.

None of the available legal options seem to fit.

Mass criminal trials could overwhelm Israels already sluggish courts. An ad hoc war crimes tribunal established under Israels far-right government could lack credibility. Freeing the suspects as part of a deal to release hostages held in Gaza would trouble many traumatized Israelis.

They slaughtered, raped, looted and were caught red-handed, said Yuval Kaplinsky, a former senior official in the Israeli Justice Ministry. There is no silver bullet here for how to try them.

Israels criminal courts are distinct from the military courts.

But Barak Medina, a law professor at Jerusalems Hebrew University, said trying the hundreds of suspects there would overwhelm the backlogged system and could take years.

Israels public defenders office has said it will not provide a state-funded attorney for the suspects, seeing Israeli lawyers also scarred by Hamas attack as unsuitable and unwilling to do so.

According to Israels public broadcaster Kan, the office has suggested foreign lawyers be enlisted, like in Israels 1961 criminal trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of Nazi Germanys main organizers of the Holocaust.

Some experts have pointed to that trial as a possible precedent because it was high profile, dealt with a traumatic event and challenged Israels existing legal framework. In publicly airing the Nazis heinous crimes, the trial offered some catharsis for Holocaust survivors.

Eichmann, who was captured by Mossad agents in Argentina, was represented by a German lawyer and was found guilty of crimes against humanity, crimes against the Jewish people and war crimes. He was executed in 1962, the only time Israel has carried out a death sentence.

A similarly public trial for Hamas crimes might offer Israelis some sense of justice. But Eichmanns trial focused on just one defendant.

Kaplinsky, the former Justice Ministry official, said the narratives presented at criminal trials could also work against Israel by providing fodder for its opponents.

For example, if prosecutors fail to include rape charges in any indictment because the evidence they have doesnt meet the legal threshold, that could fuel arguments about whether sexual violence occurred at all. Defense attorneys might use friendly fire shootings to whip up suspicions about the death toll from the attack.

Kaplinsky presented a plan to an Israeli parliamentary committee that suggests creating a tribunal that takes the events of Oct. 7 as established fact. The tribunal would not call witnesses but would be based on documents from Israels security forces as well as the suspects interrogations. Suspects would fund their own defense.

It was not clear if his plan was being considered.

For now, many of the suspects are said to be considered unlawful combatants, meaning Israel can extend their detention indefinitely, delay their access to a lawyer and keep legal proceedings classified.

Israels predicament is similar to the one the U.S. faced after the 9/11 attacks as it sought to capture al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. The U.S. sent hundreds of suspects to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

(AP & YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Alex Namirovski, one of the leading interrogators of the Hamass Nukhba terrorists who committed the October 7th massacre, said that Gazan women also participated in the massacre.

Namirovski, an officer in Israel Polices Unit of International Crime Investigations, told Makor Rishon that the youngest detainees are teenagers, aged 17 and even 16. And there are also adults in their 60s. They entered mainly as thieves but they did quite a bit of damage  the teens were full partners in the massacre.

There were also women who assisted in the abductions, guarded the hostages, and aided the terrorists. There werent many but there were some. They werent part of Nukhba or the Hamas battalions but women also participated in the October 7th massacre.

Namirovski also spoke about the difficulty of bringing the October 7th terrorists to justice. Israel is facing the question of how to prosecute these terrorists and we know we have difficulties. For example, regarding the assault of women, we dont have firsthand evidence because most of them were murdered. Additionally, its impossible to know at any scene if the terrorist who shot at a house was the one who murdered civilians or if the terrorist next to him was the murderer.

There is constant discussion in the Knesset and the government and with legal authorities about how to carry out the prosecution. Its possible that the indictments will be filed jointly and terrorists will be prosecuted in a group indictment. We may also advance legislative amendments that will allow the prosecution of as many terrorists as possible.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Dear Senator Schumer,

I am a long time Brooklyn resident and supporter of yours. I have defended you among colleagues even when it was unpopular to do so, as when you delayed in opposing president Obamas support for the Iranian deal. More recently, I pointed to your sincere and personal condemnation of antisemitism from the Senate floor as proof of your Shomer Yisroel bonafides.

However, you lost me last week  forever. I will no longer support or defend someone who, no matter how well intentioned, gladdened the hearts of Israels enemies when Israel was most vulnerable. The world perceived your attack against Netanyahu as an attack against all of Israel and its policies. Indeed, by a huge majority, the people of Israel are completely supportive of this essential war against Hamas and as you know, its war decision-making is much more influenced by Gantz and company who are part of the war cabinet than by Ben Gvir and Smotrich who are not.

I will no longer support someone who sacrifices Israel and the Jewish people on the alter of his own self interest. How ironic that you accuse Netanyahu of putting his political survival before his principles while you throw away 40 years of defending Israel for your own political interests.

You have come a long way since sitting in the office of the Speaker of the House as an intimidated junior congress person. Now youre the mighty Senate majority leader and the highest elected Jewish official this country has ever known. I for one preferred the Chuckenyu who knew where he came from and understood his obligations to his people.

Megillas Esther which we will read next week has Mordechai telling Esther perhaps it is precisely for this moment that you were put into a position of royalty. The same could be said for the senior Senator from New York. Esther, of course, rose to the occasion but you have chosen to do the bidding of a President who needed cover from a respected Jewish politician to communicate his displeasure with Israels elected government. All in the name of politics.

Who gave you the right to meddle in the political affairs of a foreign sovereign nation, particularly one that has a vibrant democracy? I am no great fan of its Prime Minister who has, in fact, placed political expedience above the best interests of his nation  in 2021, that is, when he could have stepped down and allowed another to take over his Likud party instead of allowing Bennet and Lapid to oust Likud from power.

But now, during this awful war, when the country has but one unified objective  to destroy the current day Nazis at their border  your call to remove Bibi has accomplished only one thing. You have rallied all of the anti-Israel voices,  not the anti-Bibi voices and have turned up the pressure on Israel when it desperately needs supporters. And towards what end  to curry favor with the White House which in turn wishes to curry favor with the Hamas lovers in Michigan?

Senator Schumer, you have abandoned your people. How sad that the One and Only True Shomer Yisroel, Who has protected His people from all of its enemies for 2000 years now receives far more assistance from the Honorable Christian Senator from South Carolina than from the Jewish Senate Majority Leader.

You should listen carefully to the speech Senator Graham gave in response to yours. You have made a great mess. While you have lost me and tens of thousands like me, you owe it to yourself and the Jewish people to try and fix it.

Sincerely,

Name Withheld

NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN.

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(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
In perhaps an unprecedented halachic ruling, the Military Rabbanut ruled that the combat soldiers of the 401st Brigade should hear the megillah on Sunday, a week before Purim.

The reason for the ruling is that the soldiers may be participating in a military operation in Gaza next week and the Military Rabbanut, along with the Rav of the brigade, Rav Itamar Paz, paskened that they should hear Megillah early (without a bracha) in case they miss it on Purim.

The Military Rabbanut recently paskened that soldiers who will not be able to attend Kriyas HaMegillah on Purim can attend Kriyas HaMegillah in public without a bracha from the beginning of Adar Beis. If it later turns out that they can attend Kriyas HaMegillah on Purim, they should read it again, with a bracha. Rav Paz gave the soldiers a Megillah scroll to read with a bracha in case they are in a position to do so safely.

The Rabbanut also instructed that Kriyas HaMegillah in enemy territory or in threatened areas should only be carried out in accordance with the instructions of IDF commanders. According to the ruling of the branch of halacha headed by Rav Udi Schwartz, no soldiers should congregate or put themselves at any risk in order to fulfill the mitzva of Kriyas HaMegillah and soldiers are required to act in full accordance with the commanders instructions.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
In an interview with Fox News, Donald Trump called on Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to continue fighting against Hamas, but make efforts to quickly end the conflict.

I think you have to finish it up, and do it quickly and get back to the world of peace, Trump said.

While stopping short of demanding a ceasefire, Trumps remarks mark the second time this month he has expressed some unease with Israels ongoing conflict with Hamas.

Trump also criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers call for elections in Israel to replace Netanyahu, arguing that Schumer is prioritizing gaining more voters over supporting Israel.

Hes seeing the Palestinians and hes seeing the marches and they are big. Then he says, I want to go that way instead of Israel, Trump said. He sees a lot of people protesting out there and they happen to be Palestinians or from the Middle East. He was probably shocked to see it, and, all of a sudden, he dumped Israel.

He just said, essentially, that Bibi Netanyahu should take a walk, Trump added.

Trump also asserted that if re-elected, he would bring peace in the Middle East and end the war between Russia and Ukraine  possibly before hes even sworn in. He cited his success in brokering the Abraham Accords as evidence of his ability to achieve peace in the region.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Two people were seriously injured in a two-vehicle crash on Wisconsin Highway 29 near Elk Mound on Saturday, according to a press release from the Dunn County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities say the crash occurred around 8:37 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 29 and 970th Street. The preliminary investigation indicated that a northbound pickup truck failed to stop at the stop sign at Highway 29 and collided with an eastbound vehicle. The pickup truck became engulfed in flames, and both occupants were able to escape the burning vehicle with the assistance from bystanders.

Both occupants of the pickup truck were 16-year-old males, and a 50-year-old male was the only occupant of the eastbound vehicle.

One driver was airlifted to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries, and the other was transported via ground ambulance with serious injuries. The passenger of the northbound pickup truck was uninjured.

The Wisconsin State Patrols Crash Technical Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation.

The crash remains under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriffs Office and the Wisconsin State Patrol. Alcohol appears to be a factor in the crash.
According to a Hebrew media report citing Palestinian sources, Hamas believes the bodies of two high-ranking commanders, including deputy commander Marwan Issa, are buried in the rubble of a destroyed tunnel in the Gaza Strip. Issa was targeted and believed killed in an Israel Defense Forces strike on central Gazas Nuseirat last week. The report suggests Hamas is hesitant to extract the bodies, fearing the rescue team may be attacked by the IDF.

The Kan broadcaster quoted the sources as saying the body of a Hamas brigade commander is also buried in the rubble, raising concerns that Israel may attempt to extract the bodies to use as a bargaining chip.

Issa served as the deputy of Mohammed Deif, the head of Hamass military wing, and is believed to have masterminded the groups October 7 massacre in southern Israel that triggered the war, along with Hamass leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF released rare video in English at 3:00AM, Monday morning, stating that they are conduction operations overnight at the Al-Shifa hospital complex in Gaza City. This action follows intelligence indicating the presence of senior Hamas officials in the vicinity, exploiting the hospital premises for the planning and execution of terror activities.

The military emphasized that troops deployed at the hospital were thoroughly briefed on the imperative of safeguarding civilians, patients, medical personnel, and equipment. Additionally, Arabic-speaking personnel accompanied the security forces to ensure effective communication with patients and staff.

The IDF also confirmed the presence of medical professionals among their ranks to provide assistance as needed within the hospital complex.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE IDF STATEMENT:

IDF troops are currently conducting a precise operation in the area of the Shifa hospital. The operation is based on intelligence information indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists to conduct and promote terrorist activity.

Prior to the operation, IDF troops were instructed on the importance of operating cautiously, as well as on the measures to be taken to avoid harm to the patients, civilians, medical staff, and medical equipment. In addition, Arabic speakers have been brought to the area in order to facilitate dialogue with the patients remaining in the hospital. There is no obligation for the patients and medical staff to evacuate.

Furthermore, IDF troops will continue the humanitarian efforts in the area, both throughout and following the conclusion of the operation, providing food, water, and medical supplies to the patients and civilians in the hospitals compound.

The IDF will continue to act in accordance with international law and against the Hamas terrorist organization  which operates from hospitals and civilian infrastructure in a systematic and cynical way, without the distinction between the civilian population and the organizations terrorists.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF on Monday morning published additional details about the overnight raid on Shifa Hospital, stating that at about 2:30 a.m., hundreds of IDF forces, Shin Bet operatives, and special forces officers with the support of armored vehicles and tanks raided the hospital and surrounded the complex.

When the Israeli forces arrived at the hospital, Hamas terrorists fired at them from several buildings in the complex [seen in the video below] and heavy gun battles ensued. According to Kan News, during the gun battle, the terrorists used patients as human shields. Several terrorists were killed in the exchanges of fire and an IDF soldier was lightly injured. On Monday at about noon, it was announced that an IDF soldier was killed in the battles at Shifa early Monday morning.

At about 8 a.m., the IDF announced that it had gained control of the hospital and arrested about 80 terror suspects. Additional terrorists are holed up inside the hospital and the IDF is calling on them to surrender.

Channel 12 reported that the IDF decided to carry out the raid after seeing a recent increase in terrorists arriving at the hospital. The terrorists sneaked in using ambulances, among other things, and disguised as women.

The operation was launched based on intelligence information that Hamas terrorists, including senior operatives, had arrived from the northern Gaza Strip to Shifa Hospital and were using the compound as a headquarters to conduct terrorism. Hamas is trying to rehabilitate itself in the north of the Gaza Strip, the IDF stated.

Videos of the raid were also published by Gazans near the area:

Meanwhile, as the raid continued, the IDFs Arabic spokesperson called on civilians living near Shifa Hospital and in the surrounding Rimal neighborhood to immediately evacuate the area to the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone in southern Gaza.

The IDF also published a recording of the phone call of the conversation between the IDF and the head of the Health Ministry in Gaza, Dr. Youseff Abu Rish. The IDF spokesperson demanded an end to all terror activity inside the hospital and offered any humanitarian aid needed.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Israels security cabinet on Sunday evening granted its approval for an Israeli delegation to travel to Doha on Monday to continue hostage talks.

Mossad chief David Barnea is heading the delegation, which has received a general mandate to carry out extensive negotiations.

However, specific tactical issues will have to be authorized by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Channel 12 News reported on Monday morning that according to a senior Israeli official, the negotiations will be a lengthy process since they will now be held with [Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya] Sinwar.

Hamas officials abroad have no authority to make decisions, he added. Every comma and every period will take between 24-36 hours [to be approved]. Its going to be a complex process.

According to an Israeli official quoted by Reuters, the negotiations may last for at least two weeks due to communications difficulties with Hamas leaders in Gaza caused by the ongoing war.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Eight years ago, Anshei Sfard faced a defining moment as a 125-year-old shul grappled with challenges. The congregation, comprising only adults, lacked the vibrancy of young families. An older member reminisces, We were faced with the decision: close up shop or make one last run at it to breathe life back into Orthodoxy in Kentucky. I did a lot of soul-searching during that time; in the end, I wasnt ready to turn my back on our history and let Louisville Orthodox Judaism die on my watch.

Driven by this determination, Dr. Roy Hyman, the president, and the interim Rav, Rabbi Dr. Josh Golding, successfully recruited three pioneering families to move in and spearhead the rejuvenation of the shul and the broader Louisville Jewish community.

Fast forward eight years and the shul has not only developed but has undergone a transformative journey. Over 30 people now gather at the shul on Shabbos to daven, connect, and socialize. The vibrant atmosphere includes dozens of young children, and the Kiddush is always hopping.

Rabbi Zack Blaustein, the executive director of Congregation Anshei Sfard, emphasizes, Shul represents more than just a building; its purpose goes beyond people congregating for religious worship. Shul embodies values that form the vital home for an inspired Jewish community. We wanted to ensure that we have everything we need to develop and scale into a frum community of over 100 families.

Rabbi Simcha Snaid, the Rav, adds, We have a full range of shiurim; we are a regular Torah town, albeit a little smaller.

With the shul relocating to a location suited for an influx of young families and an expanded Eruv encompassing a 6-mile radius around the shul, a mikvah, and ample kosher food, the communitys infrastructure is blooming. Locals are returning to their roots, and more families are joining, fostering a palpable growth. The community is buzzing with energy and excitement.

Montessori Torah Academy, the Jewish Day school, is completing its fourth year. Every aspect of the school was done with a purpose, says Rabbi Shmuel Meyers. We put a lot of thought and foresight into ensuring every aspect of the childs development is taken into account.

The positive atmosphere is echoed by Rabbi Snaid, My children are excited to go to school; its a wholesome environment, and the children are thriving. Mrs. Gitty Wasser, a parent in the school, adds, We have been blessed to have put together such an unbelievable staff.

All of these collective efforts have paid off, marking the completion of phase one and establishing a solid infrastructure. However, to reach their full potential, theres one missing element  You!

The frum community of Louisville, Kentucky, eagerly seeks young, growth-oriented families to contribute meaningfully to the Torah landscape of this city. To facilitate further growth, Anshei Sfard is offering a generous $50,000, 3-year forgivable loan. Come be a part of the frum community where builders belong. Experience the warmth of this community, and embrace the opportunity to do different  do Louisville.

Learn more about it!

Visit:  https://louisvillejewishcommunity.com/

or Call Rabbi Yoni Rudansky at 516-668-8218










In the months since the eruption of the new security situation in Israel, an exceptional trend has emerged. While our people fiercely stand up to defend our rights to the land of our ancestors, many members of Jewish communities throughout the Diaspora have reached out, wanting to solidify their connection to this sacred land, and especially the Holy City of Yerushalayim.



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Lavi was an active, healthy eight-year-old boy until when he began suffering severe stomach pains and vomiting. He urgently needs a life-saving abdominal surgery due to a rare intestinal condition, scheduled for this May at the Childrens Hospital in Philadelphia. He is traveling from Israel to the US for this treatment.

His insurance does not cover the surgery and associated treatments. The total cost, including surgery, treatments, flights, and a stay in the US, exceeds $400,000! CLICK HERE TO DONATE!

The thought of Lavi suffering, unable to play, laugh, or grow as a child, is unbearable for his parents and family.

In a heartfelt plea, Rebbitzin Kolodetsky, daughter of Rav Chaim Kanievsky Z l, urges Klal Yisrael to donate to this cause. Her blessings include long life, prosperity, peace of mind, and successful matches, as she blesses all donors that Hashem will answer their hearts desires. She is deeply distressed and appeals to everyone to donate to save Lavis life as a matter of utmost urgency.

Every donation brings us closer to saving Lavis life and giving him a chance to live a healthy and happy childhood.

Please act now!

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The boss of British American Tobacco says swapping its London listing for New York would be a 'distraction' and is not on the cards.

In a boost for the City, Tadeu Marroco, chief executive of the company behind Lucky Strike and Dunhill cigarettes, dismissed the idea of shifting the FTSE 100 group's primary listing to the US.

Marroco told the Financial Times that a move 'would create a lot of distraction internally', and he was 'not sure the benefit would be as evident as some suggest'.

Staying put: Tadeu Marroco dismissed the idea of shifting the FTSE 100 group's primary listing to the US

BAT shares have slumped by over a fifth in the past year, giving it a valuation of around 52billion.

But Marroco said his attention is not on a move. 'I don't think we should be focused on this,' he said.
Currys boosted its annual profit outlook on Monday following better-than-expected trading in the past two months.

The electronics retailer now anticipates reporting adjusted pre-tax profits of at least 115million for the current financial year, against a previous forecast of 105million to 115million.

It is the second time this year that the London-based group has raised its earnings guidance, having done so in mid-January despite sales declining modestly over the peak festive period, which covered the ten weeks ending 6 January.

Currys also announced that the period for considering acquisition bids had ended after Chinese online shopping giant JD.com declared on Friday that it would not make any formal proposals.

Upgrade: Currys now anticipates reporting adjusted pre-tax profits of at least 115million for the current financial year, against a previous forecast of 105million to 115million

Four days previously, private equity giant Elliot Advisors abandoned its pursuit of the retailer after Currys' bosses rejected two takeover offers by the Waterstones bookshop chain owner.

Since the festive period, the company has seen 'positive' sales and 'robust' gross margins in both its British Isles and Nordics divisions, as well as healthy growth at its services arm.

In addition, the FTSE 250 group said the disposal of its Greek and Cypriot business, Kotsovolos, is set to happen sometime during the first half of April.

Currys agreed last November to offload the division for 175million to Public Power Corporation, Greece's biggest power generation supplier, and use the proceeds to pay down its debts. It expects to end the year with net cash of 97million.

Alex Baldock, chief executive of Currys, said: 'We've been working to get the Nordics back on track while keeping up the UK and Ireland's encouraging momentum.

'Both are progressing well, despite still-challenging markets, and we now feel confident to raise this year's profit expectations to at least the top of our previous guidance.'

Both deals, worth around 682million and 750million respectively, were turned down by Currys, which claimed they 'significantly undervalued the company and its future prospects.'

One major Currys shareholder, JO Hambro Capital Management UK Equity Income fund, wanted the business to accept an offer of at least 1billion.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said Currys' recent trading performance 'vindicates its decision to fight off' Elliot and JD.com's approaches.

He added: 'Investors would have been annoyed had it not delivered such a strong update as that would have strengthened the argument to accept a bid.

'After all, many investors are very short-term in their thinking and only judge a company on quarterly performance.'

Currys shares were 3.45 per cent higher at 58.55p on Monday morning, although they have more than halved since the beginning of 2020.
Nordea Investment Management AB reduced its stake in shares of Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL  Free Report) by 0.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,447,781 shares of the companys stock after selling 7,603 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB owned 0.66% of Colgate-Palmolive worth $433,262,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the third quarter valued at $25,000. Quarry LP boosted its position in shares of Colgate-Palmolive by 48.2% during the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 446 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Colgate-Palmolive by 142.0% during the third quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 496 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 291 shares during the period. West Tower Group LLC bought a new stake in Colgate-Palmolive in the second quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, McCarthy Grittinger Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Colgate-Palmolive in the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 78.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Get Colgate-Palmolive alerts:

Insider Buying and Selling at Colgate-Palmolive

In related news, insider Jennifer Daniels sold 3,538 shares of Colgate-Palmolive stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.67, for a total value of $299,562.46. Following the sale, the insider now owns 59,698 shares in the company, valued at $5,054,629.66. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Jennifer Daniels sold 3,538 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.67, for a total value of $299,562.46. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 59,698 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,054,629.66. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Gregory Malcolm sold 8,930 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.35, for a total value of $762,175.50. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 8,043 shares in the company, valued at $686,470.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 232,371 shares of company stock valued at $19,505,099 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.

Colgate-Palmolive Price Performance

Shares of CL stock traded up $0.10 during trading on Friday, hitting $88.45. The company had a trading volume of 6,630,997 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,910,713. The stocks 50-day moving average is $84.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is $78.21. The stock has a market capitalization of $72.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.40 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.59. Colgate-Palmolive has a 52 week low of $67.62 and a 52 week high of $89.36.

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.85 by $0.02. Colgate-Palmolive had a return on equity of 509.75% and a net margin of 11.82%. The business had revenue of $4.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.89 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.77 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Colgate-Palmolive will post 3.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Colgate-Palmolive Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 22nd will be given a $0.50 dividend. This is a boost from Colgate-Palmolives previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 19th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.26%. Colgate-Palmolives payout ratio is presently 69.06%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CL has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Colgate-Palmolive from $80.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Colgate-Palmolive from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Bank of America upgraded Colgate-Palmolive from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $90.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, December 15th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Colgate-Palmolive from $85.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Colgate-Palmolive from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Three 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.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $87.31.

Get Our Latest Stock Report on CL

Colgate-Palmolive Company Profile

(Free Report)

Colgate-Palmolive Company, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells consumer products in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. The Oral, Personal and Home Care segment offers toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, skin health products, dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners, and other related items.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL  Free Report).

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EAU CLAIRE  Gov. Tony Evers toured three health care facilities in Eau Claire on Monday before publicly encouraging the Republican-controlled Joint Committee on Finance to release $15 million in crisis response funding for health care in western Wisconsin, including the Chippewa Valley.

During a stop at NorthLakes Community Clinic, which is opening a new Eau Claire facility at 1002 W. Clairemont Ave. on April 29, state Rep. Jodi Emerson, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Kirsten Johnson and Evers all spoke on the dire health care situation in the region, which is being impacted by two HSHS hospital closures on March 22 and multiple Prevea Health closures in the coming months.

I'm once again back in Chippewa Valley today to talk about the challenges facing western Wisconsin in the wake of hospital closures that will have serious and significant impacts on the entire region, Evers said. Now I don't have to tell anybody that's sitting in this room that these announcements were a shock to local communities, folks all across the region and to us at the state. And I've repeatedly expressed my frustration that these hospital systems failed to give folks enough time to prepare and respond accordingly.

Evers said he was committed to doing everything possible for the people in Chippewa Valley during this turbulent time.

As I stand here in Eau Claire, $15 million designated to help stabilize health care access and services across the Chippewa Valley is sitting in Madison, just where it's sat for nearly three weeks now because Republican lawmakers won't release it, Evers said.

Evers was referring to Senate Bill 1015, now Wisconsin Act 97, which he signed while using multiple line-item vetoes. The measure re-appropriated $15 million in funds to support health care in western Wisconsin.

The bill, as passed by the Legislature, included restrictions on the $15 million, limiting the funds to be used only for hospital emergency department services. Evers' partial vetoes broadened the scope of the grants that will be available under the bill and allows DHS to make the crisis response funds available for any hospital services that meet the needs of the region, including urgent care services, OB-GYN services, inpatient psychiatry services and mental health and substance use services.

With less than a week until now-expedited hospital closures that will have serious impacts on families and health care access needs, Republicans are continuing to obstruct the release of $15 million in crisis response resources to help support the health care industry across the Chippewa Valley. What are Republicans waiting for? Enough is enough. It is time to act, Evers said.

Evers said the changes he made to the bill provide more local flexibility for how those resources should be used.

I, most importantly, did so in consultation with local partners and hospital systems in the area. If Republican legislators had their way, that $15 million would have been unnecessarily restricted to be only used for hospital emergency departments. That said, well, that made no sense to me. For starters, it's common sense that emergency departments aren't the only thing affected by these hospital closures, not even close, he said.

Johnson said last Friday afternoon there was a meeting with Eau Claire city leaders to talk about what DHS can do to aid the region right now.

How do we partner with the community to make sure that this never happens again? We were really looking to work to find solutions, working closely with providers, including Marshfield and Mayo, to make sure that people do have access to the care they deserve and that they'll have it as soon as Friday, Johnson said.

Johnson said there are hundreds of women who need a safe place to give birth. Emerson, a Democrat who represents District 91 in the Assembly, said she gets calls daily from expectant mothers who arent sure where they can deliver their babies with the closures of the HSHS and Prevea Health facilities.

We can't wait for us to fight this out in Madison politically. We need to make sure that this $15 million is released and released right away, Emerson said.

Likewise, Johnson said there are hundreds of people struggling with behavioral health needs in the area who will need treatment and have nowhere to go.

They may end up hundreds of miles away, which is a huge disadvantage to them and to their families and the people who love them, she said. And there are over 1,000 people who sought treatment for substance use disorders last year from HSHS who will need treatment options to continue the road to recovery.

Johnson said she and her colleagues want to get the $15 million into the hands of the hospital systems that are doing everything they can right now to make sure that people in western Wisconsin have access to care.

The Joint Committee on Finance met last week but did not discuss the funds. Evers implored the committee to take immediate action.

I am again urging Republicans to immediately release these funds so my administration can continue our efforts supporting families, communities and health care access needs across western Wisconsin, Evers said. Western Wisconsin should not have to wait any longer than they already have. It's time for Republicans to take this issue seriously and to do the right thing for folks, for families and communities in Chippewa Valley. Let's get it done. How about today?

Key developments in Chippewa Valley closures of HSHS and Prevea facilities HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and HSHS St. Josephs Hospital in Chippewa Falls announced Jan. 22 they will permanently close along 
GuoLine Advisory Pte Ltd lifted its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG  Free Report) by 45.9% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 159,600 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 50,200 shares during the period. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. makes up about 5.7% of GuoLine Advisory Pte Ltds investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. GuoLine Advisory Pte Ltds holdings in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. were worth $35,891,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,431,788,000. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 8.1% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 9,664,117 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,202,742,000 after purchasing an additional 726,485 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 40.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,143,144 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $404,069,000 after acquiring an additional 619,008 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its position in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 36,168.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 357,974 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $81,593,000 after purchasing an additional 356,987 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Congress Asset Management Co. MA boosted its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 7,923.4% in the third quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 298,871 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $68,122,000 after buying an additional 295,146 shares during the period. 81.15% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:AJG traded down $1.74 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $253.17. 1,521,432 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 876,629. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.03. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a 52-week low of $175.75 and a 52-week high of $255.71. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $239.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $236.53. The firm has a market cap of $54.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 57.02, a PEG ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.68.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Increases Dividend

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. ( NYSE:AJG Get Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 25th. The financial services provider reported $1.85 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.02. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a return on equity of 18.49% and a net margin of 9.63%. The business had revenue of $2.39 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.54 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 10.12 EPS for the current year.

The company 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 $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 29th. This is an increase from Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.95%. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 54.05%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on AJG. TD Cowen assumed coverage on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. They set a market perform rating and a $249.00 price target on the stock. Raymond James cut Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price target for the company from $279.00 to $233.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $270.00 target price on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $249.00 to $246.00 and set an underperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $255.62.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on AJG

Insider Buying and Selling at Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

In related news, CFO Douglas K. Howell sold 15,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $226.59, for a total value of $3,398,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 102,942 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,325,627.78. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. news, VP Thomas Joseph Gallagher sold 12,309 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $237.65, for a total transaction of $2,925,233.85. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 322,797 shares in the company, valued at $76,712,707.05. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Douglas K. Howell sold 15,000 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $226.59, for a total transaction of $3,398,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 102,942 shares in the company, valued at $23,325,627.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 42,809 shares of company stock valued at $10,267,004. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Profile

(Free Report)

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and reinsurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party property/casualty claims settlement and administration services to entities and individuals worldwide. It operates in Brokerage and Risk Management segments. The Brokerage segment offers retail and wholesale insurance and reinsurance brokerage services; assists retail brokers and other non-affiliated brokers in the placement of specialized and hard-to-place insurance; and acts as a brokerage wholesaler, managing general agent, and managing general underwriter for distributing specialized insurance coverages to underwriting enterprises.

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Equities researchers at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Textainer Group (NYSE:TGH  Get Free Report) in a note issued to investors on Saturday. The brokerage set a hold rating on the transportation companys stock.

Textainer Group Trading Up 0.0 %

Shares of NYSE:TGH opened at $49.99 on Friday. Textainer Group has a 52-week low of $30.22 and a 52-week high of $50.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.55 and a beta of 1.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.76, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.16. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $49.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $46.32.

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Textainer Group (NYSE:TGH  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The transportation company reported $1.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.08. Textainer Group had a net margin of 26.57% and a return on equity of 12.86%. The company had revenue of $190.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $195.71 million. The companys revenue was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Textainer Group will post 4.89 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Textainer Group

Textainer Group Company Profile

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of TGH. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of Textainer Group by 99.0% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 73,072 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,782,000 after acquiring an additional 36,344 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in shares of Textainer Group by 20.5% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 38,979 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,484,000 after buying an additional 6,624 shares in the last quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Textainer Group in the 1st quarter worth $371,000. LSV Asset Management increased its stake in Textainer Group by 13.8% in the 1st quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 87,400 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $3,327,000 after buying an additional 10,600 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Verition Fund Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Textainer Group by 92.6% in the first quarter. Verition Fund Management LLC now owns 201,498 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $7,671,000 after acquiring an additional 96,866 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 44.28% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Textainer Group Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the purchase, ownership, management, leasing, and disposal of a fleet of intermodal containers worldwide. It operates through three segments: Container Ownership, Container Management, and Container Resale. The company's containers include standard and specialized dry freight, and refrigerated containers, as well as other special-purpose containers, which include tank, 45', pallet-wide, and other types of containers.

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Janney Montgomery Scott reiterated their neutral rating on shares of Markel Group (NYSE:MKL  Free Report) in a research note published on Friday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. Janney Montgomery Scott currently has a $1,600.00 target price on the insurance providers stock.

Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on MKL. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $1,475.00 price objective on shares of Markel Group in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Citigroup began coverage on Markel Group in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. They issued a sell rating and a $1,275.00 price target for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut Markel Group from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price target for the company from $1,680.00 to $1,500.00 in a research note on Monday, February 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Markel Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $1,450.00.

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Markel Group Stock Up 1.1 %

NYSE:MKL opened at $1,523.04 on Friday. Markel Group has a 12-month low of $1,186.56 and a 12-month 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 firm has a market capitalization of $19.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.36 and a beta of 0.70. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $1,459.55 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1,446.25.

Markel Group (NYSE:MKL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The insurance provider reported $56.48 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $23.58 by $32.90. The business had revenue of $3.71 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.75 billion. Markel Group had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 12.63%. Equities research analysts expect that Markel Group will post 80.93 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Markel Group

In other Markel Group news, CEO Thomas Sinnickson Gayner purchased 100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $1,414.74 per share, for a total transaction of $141,474.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 45,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,718,474.86. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Markel Group news, Director A. Lynne Puckett purchased 72 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were acquired at an average price of $1,409.28 per share, with a total value of $101,468.16. Following the transaction, the director now owns 960 shares in the company, valued at $1,352,908.80. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, 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, for a total transaction of $141,474.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 45,039 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,718,474.86. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 1.75% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Markel Group

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Asset Dedication LLC increased its stake 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 last quarter. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE lifted its holdings 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 worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC bought a new stake in shares of Markel Group during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Markel Group by 133.3% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 21 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 12 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in Markel Group in the second quarter worth $39,000. Institutional investors own 76.96% of the companys stock.

Markel Group Company Profile

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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.

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StockNews.com cut shares of National Health Investors (NYSE:NHI  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Thursday morning.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on NHI. Stifel Nicolaus reissued a hold rating and issued a $55.00 price objective on shares of National Health Investors in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on National Health Investors in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a buy rating and a $69.00 target price on the stock. BMO Capital Markets raised National Health Investors from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $67.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, March 12th. Wedbush raised National Health Investors from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $57.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised National Health Investors from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $55.00 to $63.00 in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $59.00.

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National Health Investors Stock Up 1.1 %

National Health Investors Dividend Announcement

NHI opened at $60.10 on Thursday. National Health Investors has a one year low of $47.54 and a one year high of $60.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 10.27 and a current ratio of 10.27. The stocks fifty day moving average is $55.60 and its 200-day moving average is $53.65. The company has a market capitalization of $2.61 billion, a PE ratio of 19.20 and a beta of 0.94.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be issued a $0.90 dividend. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.99%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. National Health Investorss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 115.02%.

Insider Buying and Selling at National Health Investors

In related news, Director Charlotte A. Swafford purchased 10,000 shares of National Health Investors stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $58.69 per share, with a total value of $586,900.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 110,185 shares in the company, valued at $6,466,757.65. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 7.26% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On National Health Investors

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in NHI. Guggenheim Capital LLC increased its position in shares of National Health Investors by 11.4% during the 2nd quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 12,484 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $654,000 after purchasing an additional 1,279 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its position in National Health Investors by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 21,944 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,127,000 after acquiring an additional 1,190 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in National Health Investors by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 22,328 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,170,000 after acquiring an additional 429 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. increased its position in National Health Investors by 36.2% in the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 14,743 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $757,000 after acquiring an additional 3,916 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Teacher Retirement System of Texas increased its position in National Health Investors by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. Teacher Retirement System of Texas now owns 35,964 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,847,000 after acquiring an additional 1,628 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.14% of the companys stock.

About National Health Investors

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Incorporated in 1991, National Health Investors, Inc (NYSE:NHI) is a real estate investment trust specializing in sale, leasebacks, joint-ventures, senior housing operating partnerships, and mortgage and mezzanine financing of need-driven and discretionary senior housing and medical investments. NHI's portfolio consists of independent living, assisted living and memory care communities, entrance-fee retirement communities, skilled nursing facilities, and specialty hospitals.

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Truist Financial assumed coverage on shares of Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) in a report published on Thursday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The firm issued a buy rating and a $301.00 target price on the industrial products companys stock.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on ITW. Barclays upped their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $215.00 to $224.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company cut Illinois Tool Works from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $277.00 to $240.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Bank of America cut shares of Illinois Tool Works from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and dropped their price target for the company from $260.00 to $235.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $238.00 to $239.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, Citigroup raised 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. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $245.50.

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Illinois Tool Works Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of Illinois Tool Works stock opened at $266.92 on Thursday. Illinois Tool Works has a 1 year low of $217.06 and a 1 year high of $267.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10, a current ratio of 1.33 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market cap of $79.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.40, a PEG ratio of 4.51 and a beta of 1.13. The firms 50-day moving average is $258.08 and its two-hundred day moving average is $246.73.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.42 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.41 by $0.01. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 18.36% and a return on equity of 96.60%. The business had revenue of $3.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.01 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.34 EPS. The companys revenue was up .3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Illinois Tool Works will post 10.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a $1.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.10%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is currently 57.49%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Illinois Tool Works

In other Illinois Tool Works news, EVP Sharon Szafranski sold 801 shares of Illinois Tool Works stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $256.42, for a total transaction of $205,392.42. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 5,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,505,185.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, Chairman Ernest Scott Santi sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $254.83, for a total transaction of $12,741,500.00. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 221,015 shares of the companys stock, valued at $56,321,252.45. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Sharon Szafranski sold 801 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $256.42, for a total value of $205,392.42. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,505,185.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 152,304 shares of company stock worth $38,860,831 over the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cibc World Market Inc. raised its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,666 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,024,000 after buying an additional 348 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its position in Illinois Tool Works by 4.2% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 9,070 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,899,000 after acquiring an additional 368 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Illinois Tool Works by 54.7% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,859 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $599,000 after acquiring an additional 1,011 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its stake in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 9.9% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,407 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $504,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 70.7% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 746 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $156,000 after purchasing an additional 309 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.56% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment in the United States and internationally. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products.

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Neste Oyj (OTCMKTS:NTOIF  Free Report) had its target price reduced by TD Cowen from $19.00 to $18.00 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have a market perform rating on the stock.

Neste Oyj Stock Up 3.2 %

NTOIF stock opened at $27.80 on Thursday. Neste Oyj has a 12 month low of $26.93 and a 12 month high of $51.33. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $31.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $34.34.

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Neste Oyj Company Profile

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Neste Oyj provides renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel in Finland, and other Nordic countries, Baltic Rim, other European countries, North and South America, and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Renewable Products, Oil Products, Marketing & Services, and Others. The Renewable Products segment produces, markets, and sells renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, renewable solvents, and feedstock for bioplastics to wholesale markets.

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Empire (TSE:EMP.A  Free Report) had its price objective cut by Royal Bank of Canada from C$49.00 to C$43.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have a sector perform rating on the stock.

Several other brokerages have also commented on EMP.A. National Bankshares dropped their price objective on Empire from C$42.00 to C$41.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 26th. Desjardins reduced their price objective on shares of Empire from C$40.00 to C$39.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of Empire from C$39.00 to C$37.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 6th. Scotiabank reduced their price target on shares of Empire from C$43.00 to C$39.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Finally, TD Securities reduced their target price on Empire from C$39.00 to C$37.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Empire presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of C$38.86.

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Empire Stock Down 0.8 %

Empire Announces Dividend

TSE:EMP.A opened at C$32.70 on Friday. Empire has a twelve month low of C$32.12 and a twelve month high of C$40.69. The companys 50 day moving average is C$34.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$36.15. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 130.52. The company has a market cap of C$4.77 billion, a PE ratio of 11.05, a P/E/G ratio of 16.20 and a beta of 0.47.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 31st were paid a $0.1825 dividend. This represents a $0.73 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 12th. Empires dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.66%.

Insider Transactions at Empire

In other news, Director William Linton bought 875 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 20th. The shares were purchased at an average price of C$34.43 per share, with a total value of C$30,126.25. Company insiders own 1.94% of the companys stock.

About Empire

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Empire Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the food retail and related real estate businesses in Canada. It operates through two segments, Food Retailing, and Investments and Other Operations. The company owns, affiliates, and franchises approximately 1,500 retail stores under various retail banners, including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, and Lawtons Drugs; and approximately 350 retail fuel locations.

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The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM  Free Report) from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a report published on Thursday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has $263.00 price target on the specialty retailers stock, up from their prior price target of $154.00.

WSM has been the subject of several other reports. Evercore ISI raised their target price on Williams-Sonoma from $160.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. StockNews.com raised Williams-Sonoma from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 13th. Wedbush increased their target price on shares of Williams-Sonoma from $230.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, March 7th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Williams-Sonoma from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and raised their price target for the stock from $155.00 to $270.00 in a report on Thursday. Finally, Loop Capital reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $220.00 price objective (up from $200.00) on shares of Williams-Sonoma in a research note on Tuesday, March 5th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $188.81.

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Williams-Sonoma Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of WSM opened at $283.77 on Thursday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $221.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $186.91. Williams-Sonoma has a 12-month low of $109.44 and a 12-month high of $292.40. The stock has a market cap of $18.20 billion, a PE ratio of 19.48, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 1.66.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 13th. The specialty retailer reported $5.44 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.06 by $0.38. Williams-Sonoma had a return on equity of 55.15% and a net margin of 12.25%. The company had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.22 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.50 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that Williams-Sonoma will post 14.72 EPS for the current year.

Williams-Sonoma Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 19th will be issued a dividend of $1.13 per share. This is a boost from Williams-Sonomas previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 18th. Williams-Sonomas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.71%.

Insider Activity at Williams-Sonoma

In related news, CEO Laura Alber sold 20,000 shares of Williams-Sonoma stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.92, for a total transaction of $4,038,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 525,509 shares of the companys stock, valued at $106,110,777.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 1.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $4,102,000. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC boosted its position in Williams-Sonoma by 11.5% in the third quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 20,711 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $3,218,000 after purchasing an additional 2,128 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Williams-Sonoma by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,456,161 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $226,287,000 after purchasing an additional 18,004 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 3.2% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,142,272 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $142,944,000 after purchasing an additional 35,315 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky raised its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 89.1% during the 3rd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 23,002 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $3,575,000 after purchasing an additional 10,837 shares during the period. 99.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Williams-Sonoma

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Williams-Sonoma, Inc operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand.

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StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA  Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the basic materials companys stock.

China Green Agriculture Stock Down 2.8 %

NYSE:CGA opened at $3.07 on Friday. The companys 50 day moving average is $2.66 and its 200-day moving average is $2.32. The firm has a market cap of $42.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.54 and a beta of 0.49. China Green Agriculture has a 12 month low of $1.61 and a 12 month high of $4.30.

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China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The basic materials company reported ($0.40) EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $17.80 million during the quarter. China Green Agriculture had a negative net margin of 14.54% and a negative return on equity of 12.68%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On China Green Agriculture

About China Green Agriculture

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Susquehanna International Group LLP bought a new stake in shares of China Green Agriculture during the first quarter valued at approximately $175,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in 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 last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP acquired a new position in China Green Agriculture during the 1st quarter worth $115,000. 0.74% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

(Get Free Report)

China Green Agriculture, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, production, and sale of various fertilizers, agricultural products, and bitcoin in the People's Republic of China and the United States. The company operates through four segments: Jinong (Fertilizer Production); Gufeng (Fertilizer Production); Yuxing (Agricultural Products Production); and Antaeus (Bitcoin).

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Shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC (NYSE:CCEP  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the seven research firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $70.02.

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on CCEP shares. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $74.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $72.50 to $77.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Barclays upped their price objective on Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 27th. BNP Paribas upgraded Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $79.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 12th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 26th.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Stock Performance

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 5.0% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 14,447,992 shares of the companys stock valued at $702,316,000 after purchasing an additional 685,745 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 6,359,772 shares of the companys stock worth $397,359,000 after acquiring an additional 225,744 shares during the last quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd increased its stake in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Ninety One UK Ltd now owns 5,220,538 shares of the companys stock worth $326,179,000 after acquiring an additional 16,541 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,609,815 shares of the companys stock worth $272,855,000 after acquiring an additional 21,053 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Epoch Investment Partners Inc. increased its stake in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 25.4% in the 2nd quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. now owns 3,887,737 shares of the companys stock worth $250,487,000 after acquiring an additional 787,687 shares during the last quarter. 29.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners stock opened at $70.92 on Wednesday. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has a one year low of $54.93 and a one year high of $72.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.91. The company has a market capitalization of $32.40 billion, a PE ratio of 15.32, a P/E/G ratio of 3.34 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $68.42 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $64.13.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (NYSE:CCEP  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 23rd. The company reported $1.85 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.85. Research analysts expect that Coca-Cola Europacific Partners will post 4.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

About Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

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Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC, together with its subsidiaries, produces, distributes, and sells a range of non-alcoholic ready to drink beverages. It offers flavours, mixers, and energy drinks; soft drinks, waters, enhanced water, and isotonic drinks; and ready-to-drink tea and coffee, juices, and other drinks.

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Decoding Singapores S$2 Billion Investment into Digital Economy: Coinbase

In February 2024, Singapores Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong delivered the countrys Budget Statement for Fiscal Year 2024. The Budget earmarked a substantial S$2 billion funding to enhance its digital economy, signaling a major push towards financial innovation and digital asset integration.

In a conversation with Cryptonews.com, Hassan Ahmed, Coinbase Singapores Country Director, provided insights into how the investment is poised to fortify Singapores digital economy. Ahmed emphasized the initiatives role in bolstering the nation states stature as a fintech hub in Asia.

Exciting news for our Singapore customers! Coinbase is introducing free bank transfers and Singpass integration, making it easier to join our platform. We've upgraded our help center, created Coinbase Learning and are offering 200+ assets for trading. https://t.co/iQgt51esvy  Coinbase  (@coinbase) March 15, 2023

Impact and Implications of the S$2 Billion Fund



To start with, the governments boost to its Financial Sector Development Fund (FSDF) underscored a clear signal of the nations commitment to integrating digital assets into its economic framework.

The injection of S$2 billion into the FSDF reaffirms Singapores position as a digitally forward and progressive economy, said Ahmed. Efforts will be made to strengthen capabilities in core financial sectors like asset management and capital markets and promising fields such as fintech.

Ahmed specified areas likely to gain from this investment. In particular, areas such as Stablecoin Finance hold a lot of promise, said Ahmed.

Stablecoins like USDC are pegged to an underlying currency like the US dollar and provide the best of both worlds of being a stable store of value and medium of exchange while leveraging the benefits of blockchain technology, he explained.

Coinbases Pursuit of Regulatory Clarity



Ahmed discussed the legislative environment in Singapore, emphasizing its current state and potential enhancements. As a financial hub, Singapore continues to provide a high level of regulatory clarity, he noted. This clarity, according to Ahmed, supports a balance between innovation and customer protection.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is among the most sophisticated regulators we work with globally, Ahmed added. He highlighted the authoritys efforts in proposing measures for the digital asset space, such as custody and customer asset segregation.

It is challenging but critical for regulators to strike the right balance, Ahmed stated, emphasizing the importance of maintaining access to onshore regulated platforms and creating exemptions for popular use cases like staking, with an appropriate disclosure regime.

Coinbase demonstrated its pursuit of legislative clarity as it filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 11, requesting a legal mandate for the regulatory body to set definitive rules for the crypto industry.

The court submission faulted the SEC for its lack of action on crypto regulation, contending that the lack of clear guidelines has forced the industry to operate in a regulatory ambiguity.

For years the SEC indicated that it had little statutory authority over digital assets and that what authority it did have was unclear, stated Coinbase.

Market participants responded by investing heavily in a now two-trillion-dollar industry and built their businesses in compliance with relevant agencies regulatory frameworks, the file reads.

Future Opportunities and Challenges in Singapore and Asia



For the future of finance, Ahmed sees it increasingly intertwined with crypto, emphasizing its evolving utility beyond just an asset class.

Looking ahead, the most exciting areas of growth for blockchain are Real World Asset tokenisation and payments, both of which are large opportunities, Ahmed said.

According to Ahmed, Singapore is at the forefront of digital finance discussions, setting up an ecosystem where companies like Coinbase can succeed and work with various regulatory frameworks.

Coinbases involvement extends to crypto education, where it leverages its resources to enhance public knowledge. By providing accessible educational content and engaging with the academic community, Coinbase plays a crucial role in demystifying digital assets for a broader audience in Singapore and beyond.

As the company deepens its community outreach, the broader context in which it operates comes into focus. Coinbases efforts to clarify the complex landscape of digital currencies are part of a larger challenge in the near future, especially in Asia.

In our view, the lack of well-developed regulatory frameworks for digital asset markets and their participants in the broader Asian market will pose challenges over the next 12 to 18 months, stated Ahmed.
GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE:GDDY  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the nine analysts that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $131.13.

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of GoDaddy from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. TheStreet upgraded GoDaddy from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. B. Riley raised their target price on GoDaddy from $124.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, March 7th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $124.00 price target on shares of GoDaddy in a report on Thursday, March 7th. Finally, Evercore ISI cut shares of GoDaddy from an outperform rating to an in-line rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $100.00 to $110.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th.

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GoDaddy Stock Performance

Shares of GDDY opened at $117.19 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $110.23 and a two-hundred day moving average of $94.97. GoDaddy has a one year low of $67.43 and a one year high of $118.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 61.07, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.47. The stock has a market cap of $16.70 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.23 and a beta of 1.12.

GoDaddy (NYSE:GDDY  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The technology company reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $1.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.10 billion. GoDaddy had a negative return on equity of 89.25% and a net margin of 32.74%. As a group, research analysts predict that GoDaddy will post 4.63 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, COO Roger Chen sold 4,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $105.22, for a total value of $420,880.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 153,716 shares in the company, valued at $16,173,997.52. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, COO Roger Chen sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.22, for a total transaction of $420,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 153,716 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,173,997.52. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Mark Mccaffrey sold 505 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.47, for a total transaction of $51,747.35. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 77,158 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,906,380.26. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 118,615 shares of company stock worth $13,157,935. Company insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On GoDaddy

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in GoDaddy by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 16,202,298 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,356,131,000 after purchasing an additional 107,949 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in GoDaddy by 23.6% in the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 10,522,511 shares of the technology companys stock worth $790,556,000 after acquiring an additional 2,010,233 shares during the last quarter. Starboard Value LP grew its holdings in GoDaddy by 23.9% during the 4th quarter. Starboard Value LP now owns 10,233,055 shares of the technology companys stock worth $765,637,000 after acquiring an additional 1,973,118 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its position in shares of GoDaddy by 9.7% in the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 6,360,266 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $473,713,000 after purchasing an additional 561,614 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in shares of GoDaddy by 517.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 6,125,512 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $458,311,000 after purchasing an additional 5,133,332 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.03% of the companys stock.

GoDaddy Company Profile

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GoDaddy Inc engages in the design and development of cloud-based products in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments: Applications and Commerce, and Core Platform. The Applications and Commerce segment provides applications products, including Websites + Marketing, a mobile-optimized online tool that enables customers to build websites and e-commerce enabled online stores; and Managed WordPress, a streamlined and optimized website building that allows customers to easily build and manage a faster WordPress site; Managed WooCommerce Stores to sell anything and anywhere online; and marketing tools and services, such as GoDaddy Studio mobile application, search engine optimization, Meta and Google My Business, and email and social media marketing designed to help businesses acquire and engage customers and create content.

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Eldorado Gold Co. (TSE:ELD  Get Free Report) (NYSE:EGO) has been given an average rating of Hold by the five brokerages that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$18.06.

A number of equities analysts have commented on ELD shares. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Eldorado Gold from C$17.00 to C$18.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th. Stifel Canada downgraded Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. National Bank Financial reiterated an outperform spec overweight rating on shares of Eldorado Gold in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. National Bankshares reduced their price objective on Eldorado Gold from C$21.00 to C$19.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus downgraded Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from C$15.50 to C$17.25 in a research report on Friday, January 26th.

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Eldorado Gold Stock Up 2.0 %

Shares of Eldorado Gold stock opened at C$17.61 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.28, a current ratio of 3.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.60. The firm has a market cap of C$3.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.12, a P/E/G ratio of 56.20 and a beta of 1.13. Eldorado Gold has a fifty-two week low of C$11.38 and a fifty-two week high of C$18.30. The business has a 50-day moving average price of C$16.05 and a 200 day moving average price of C$15.25.

Eldorado Gold (TSE:ELD  Get Free Report) (NYSE:EGO) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The company reported C$0.33 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$0.28 by C$0.05. Eldorado Gold had a return on equity of 3.15% and a net margin of 10.37%. The firm had revenue of C$417.85 million during the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Eldorado Gold will post 0.9586729 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Eldorado Gold news, Director George Raymond Burns sold 13,434 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$14.87, for a total value of C$199,806.57. 0.66% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Eldorado Gold Company Profile

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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.

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Sendas Distribuidora S.A. (NYSE:ASAI  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 2,850,000 shares, a decrease of 15.2% from the February 14th total of 3,360,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 392,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 7.3 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sendas Distribuidora

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ASAI. Raymond James & Associates bought a new position in Sendas Distribuidora during the first quarter valued at $584,000. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its position in shares of Sendas Distribuidora by 15.6% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 54,597 shares of the companys stock worth $938,000 after acquiring an additional 7,368 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Sendas Distribuidora by 9.0% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 108,752 shares of the companys stock worth $1,868,000 after acquiring an additional 9,002 shares in the last quarter. Ruane Cunniff & Goldfarb L.P. lifted its position in shares of Sendas Distribuidora by 1.6% during the first quarter. Ruane Cunniff & Goldfarb L.P. now owns 98,082 shares of the companys stock worth $1,685,000 after acquiring an additional 1,557 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Sendas Distribuidora during the first quarter worth $1,583,000.

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Sendas Distribuidora Stock Performance

Shares of Sendas Distribuidora stock opened at $14.54 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $3.93 billion, a PE ratio of 27.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.12. Sendas Distribuidora has a 52 week low of $10.44 and a 52 week high of $16.00. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $14.16 and a 200-day moving average price of $13.07. The company has a quick ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.69.

About Sendas Distribuidora

Sendas Distribuidora ( NYSE:ASAI Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 21st. The company reported $0.22 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.21 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $3.72 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.98 billion. Sendas Distribuidora had a return on equity of 16.78% and a net margin of 1.07%. Equities analysts anticipate that Sendas Distribuidora will post 0.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

(Get Free Report)

Sendas Distribuidora SA engages in the retail and wholesale sale of food products, bazaar items, and other products in Brazil. The company serves restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, schools, small businesses, religious institutions, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, neighborhood supermarkets, and individuals.

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Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the sixteen ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $51.43.

A number of research firms have issued reports on WFC. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and set a $51.00 price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a report on Tuesday, January 9th. Odeon Capital Group lowered shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $48.80 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Piper Sandler cut their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $51.00 to $50.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 1st.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on Wells Fargo & Company

Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE WFC opened at $57.51 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $205.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.19. Wells Fargo & Company has a 52-week low of $35.25 and a 52-week high of $58.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a current ratio of 0.88. The companys 50 day moving average price is $51.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $46.15.

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.30). The firm had revenue of $20.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.30 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 16.60% and a return on equity of 12.40%. Wells Fargo & Companys quarterly revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.67 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 2nd were given a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.43%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 29.05%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Wells Fargo & Company

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Kathmere Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 19.5% in the third quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 7,248 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $296,000 after purchasing an additional 1,185 shares in the last quarter. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC grew its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 410.5% during the 3rd quarter. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC now owns 67,480 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,757,000 after buying an additional 54,262 shares in the last quarter. Caxton Associates LP purchased a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the 2nd quarter valued at about $4,967,000. United Services Automobile Association grew its holdings in Wells Fargo & Company by 13.7% during the 3rd quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 97,906 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,000,000 after buying an additional 11,825 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Synovus Financial Corp grew its stake in Wells Fargo & Company by 61.7% during the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 121,937 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,983,000 after acquiring an additional 46,525 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.47% of the companys stock.

Wells Fargo & Company Company Profile

(Get 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.

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Foresight Capital Management Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor bought 2,211 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $208,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Philip Morris International during the third quarter worth $27,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Philip Morris International in the 3rd quarter valued at $36,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 3rd quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC increased its holdings in Philip Morris International by 950.0% in the 2nd quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 420 shares of the companys stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 380 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Philip Morris International Stock Performance

Shares of PM stock opened at $93.90 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $145.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.78, a PEG ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.61. Philip Morris International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $87.23 and a fifty-two week high of $101.92. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $91.91 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $92.57.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.36 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.44 by ($0.08). The company had revenue of $9.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.99 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 8.53% and a negative return on equity of 116.29%. The businesss revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.39 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 21st will be given a dividend of $1.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.54%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 103.59%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group lowered shares of Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $105.00 to $86.50 in a 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 research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Societe Generale upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 price target on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Finally, Argus restated a hold rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Tuesday, March 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $105.40.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Philip Morris International

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Werner Barth sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $91.46, for a total transaction 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 transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider Werner Barth sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $91.46, for a total value of $457,300.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 102,918 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,412,880.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, VP Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 2,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.69, for a total value of $181,380.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 9,726 shares of the companys stock, valued at $882,050.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.13% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Philip Morris International Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Gaotu Techedu Inc. (NYSE:GOTU  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 12,820,000 shares, an increase of 14.5% from the February 14th total of 11,200,000 shares. Currently, 8.4% of the companys shares are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 8,230,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.6 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on GOTU shares. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Gaotu Techedu in a report on Friday, November 24th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Citigroup upgraded Gaotu Techedu from a sell rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $2.48 to $4.50 in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. China Renaissance cut Gaotu Techedu from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, November 24th. Finally, CLSA upgraded Gaotu Techedu from an underperform rating to an outperform rating and set a $8.65 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 28th.

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Gaotu Techedu Stock Performance

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Shares of NYSE:GOTU opened at $7.64 on Monday. Gaotu Techedu has a 52-week low of $2.22 and a 52-week high of $8.42. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.99 billion, a P/E ratio of -771.23 and a beta of 0.08. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $5.06 and a 200-day moving average price of $3.61.

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in Gaotu Techedu by 2,548.9% during the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 6,998,033 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,333,000 after buying an additional 6,733,849 shares in the last quarter. Yong Rong HK Asset Management Ltd bought a new position in Gaotu Techedu during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $11,487,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in Gaotu Techedu by 325.8% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,940,100 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,777,000 after buying an additional 3,014,700 shares in the last quarter. Tiger Pacific Capital LP bought a new position in Gaotu Techedu during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $10,665,000. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd increased its position in Gaotu Techedu by 98.4% during the 3rd quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 4,464,561 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,278,000 after buying an additional 2,214,765 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 15.78% of the companys stock.

About Gaotu Techedu

(Get Free Report)

Gaotu Techedu Inc, a technology-driven education company, provides online K-12 after-school tutoring services in the People's Republic of China. The company provides foreign language courses comprising English and Japanese, as well as test preparation courses for students taking language certification exams; and professional courses primarily for college students and adults preparing for professional qualification exams, such teacher's qualification, Chartered Financial Analyst designation, Certified Public Accountant designation, Certified Tax Agent designation, securities qualification exams, and other exams.

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The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. (NYSE:GBX  Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,640,000 shares, a growth of 14.7% from the February 14th total of 1,430,000 shares. Currently, 5.5% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 300,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 5.5 days.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Martin Raymond Baker sold 5,034 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, January 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.00, for a total transaction of $236,598.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 53,480 shares in the company, valued at $2,513,560. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In related news, Director Wanda F. Felton sold 4,185 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.65, for a total transaction of $195,230.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 7,365 shares of the companys stock, valued at $343,577.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Martin Raymond Baker sold 5,034 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.00, for a total transaction of $236,598.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 53,480 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,513,560. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 11,719 shares of company stock worth $547,803 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 2.54% of the companys stock.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Greenbrier Companies

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in shares of Greenbrier Companies by 5.9% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 14,434 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $638,000 after purchasing an additional 799 shares in the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its holdings in shares of Greenbrier Companies by 846.6% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 16,404 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $725,000 after purchasing an additional 14,671 shares in the last quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Greenbrier Companies by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 216,890 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $9,582,000 after purchasing an additional 10,937 shares in the last quarter. Weiss Multi Strategy Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Greenbrier Companies in the 4th quarter valued at $1,102,000. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its position in Greenbrier Companies by 69.1% in the 4th quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 64,546 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $2,852,000 after buying an additional 26,375 shares during the last quarter. 90.50% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, TheStreet raised Greenbrier Companies from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Friday, January 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $41.50.

Read Our Latest Report on Greenbrier Companies

Greenbrier Companies Stock Performance

NYSE:GBX opened at $48.49 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.51 billion, a PE ratio of 14.51, a P/E/G ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 1.66. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $47.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $42.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.82. Greenbrier Companies has a fifty-two week low of $25.41 and a fifty-two week high of $53.36.

Greenbrier Companies (NYSE:GBX  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 5th. The transportation company reported $0.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.25. The business had revenue of $808.80 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $849.94 million. Greenbrier Companies had a net margin of 2.77% and a return on equity of 9.13%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.05 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Greenbrier Companies will post 3.82 earnings per share for the current year.

Greenbrier Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 25th were issued a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.47%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 24th. Greenbrier Companiess payout ratio is 35.93%.

Greenbrier Companies Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Greenbrier Companies, Inc designs, manufactures, and markets railroad freight car equipment in North America, Europe, and South America. It operates through three segments: Manufacturing; Maintenance Services; and Leasing & Management Services. The Manufacturing segment offers covered hopper cars, gondolas, open top hoppers, boxcars, center partition cars, tank cars, sustainable conversions, double-stack railcars, auto-max ii, multi-max, and multi-max plus products, intermodal cars, automobile transport, coil steel and metals, flat cars, sliding wall cars, pressurized tank cars, and non-pressurized tank cars.

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China Eastern Airlines (OTCMKTS:CHEAF  Get Free Report) and Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends and risk.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations for China Eastern Airlines and Delta Air Lines, as reported by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score China Eastern Airlines 0 0 1 0 3.00 Delta Air Lines 0 0 8 1 3.11

Delta Air Lines has a consensus price target of $55.54, indicating a potential upside of 29.49%. Given Delta Air Lines stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Delta Air Lines is more favorable than China Eastern Airlines.

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio China Eastern Airlines N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Delta Air Lines $58.05 billion 0.48 $4.61 billion $7.15 6.03

This table compares China Eastern Airlines and Delta Air Lines revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Delta Air Lines has higher revenue and earnings than China Eastern Airlines.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

71.3% of Delta Air Lines shares are held by institutional investors. 0.9% of Delta Air Lines shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares China Eastern Airlines and Delta Air Lines net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets China Eastern Airlines N/A N/A N/A Delta Air Lines 7.94% 46.35% 5.48%

Summary

Delta Air Lines beats China Eastern Airlines on 10 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About China Eastern Airlines

(Get Free Report)

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the civil aviation industry in the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and internationally. The company offers passenger, cargo, mail delivery, ground, tour operations, air catering, and other miscellaneous services. It is also involved in flight training; airline maintenance; the provision of import and export, investment, leasing, and consultation; business aviation; e-commerce platform and ticket agent; and property management services, as well as the research and development of technology and products in the field of aviation; and sale of goods. As of December 31, 2022, the company operated a fleet of 778 aircraft, including 775 passenger aircraft and 3 business aircraft. China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China.

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. The company sells its tickets through various distribution channels, including delta.com and the Fly Delta app; acts as a reservations specialists; and operates online travel and traditional brick and mortar agencies. It also provides aircraft maintenance and engineering support, repair, and overhaul services; and vacation packages to third-party consumers. The company operates through a fleet of approximately 1,273 aircrafts. Delta Air Lines, Inc. was founded in 1924 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Meritas Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund purchased 419 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock, valued at approximately $221,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of UNH. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 100,076.4% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,823,820 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $6,268,753,000 after purchasing an additional 11,812,017 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $5,210,004,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 776.9% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 3,248,409 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $177,941,000 after acquiring an additional 2,877,983 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 1,682.4% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,691,542 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $1,372,606,000 after acquiring an additional 2,540,538 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC grew its position in UnitedHealth Group by 143.4% during the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 3,494,100 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock worth $1,679,401,000 after acquiring an additional 2,058,829 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.69% of the companys stock.

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UnitedHealth Group Stock Performance

Shares of UNH traded down $1.71 on Monday, reaching $489.11. The companys stock had a trading volume of 303,363 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,193,707. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.79. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 12-month low of $445.68 and a 12-month high of $554.70. The stock has a market capitalization of $450.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.59, a PEG ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.54. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $509.34 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $518.21.

UnitedHealth Group Dividend Announcement

UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $6.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.98 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $94.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $92.13 billion. UnitedHealth Group had a return on equity of 26.39% and a net margin of 6.02%. UnitedHealth Groups revenue for the quarter was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $5.34 EPS. Research analysts forecast that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 27.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 11th will be paid a $1.88 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 8th. This represents a $7.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.54%. UnitedHealth Groups payout ratio is currently 31.54%.

Insider Activity at UnitedHealth Group

In related news, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $525.79, for a total transaction of $451,127.82. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 32,289 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,977,233.31. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, EVP Erin Mcsweeney sold 1,236 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $483.48, for a total value of $597,581.28. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,364 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,527,306.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CAO Thomas E. Roos sold 858 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $525.79, for a total transaction of $451,127.82. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 32,289 shares in the company, valued at $16,977,233.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.35% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently weighed in on UNH shares. Piper Sandler cut their price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $584.00 to $581.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $596.00 price target on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and issued a $591.00 target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Friday, January 19th. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and set a $605.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, Bank of America restated a buy rating and issued a $675.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a report on Thursday, March 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $579.33.

Check Out Our Latest Report on UNH

About UnitedHealth Group

(Free Report)

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated operates as a diversified health care company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: UnitedHealthcare, Optum Health, Optum Insight, and Optum Rx. The UnitedHealthcare segment offers consumer-oriented health benefit plans and services for national employers, public sector employers, mid-sized employers, small businesses, and individuals; health care coverage, and health and well-being services to individuals age 50 and older addressing their needs; Medicaid plans, children's health insurance and health care programs; and health and dental benefits, and hospital and clinical services, as well as health care benefits products and services to state programs caring for the economically disadvantaged, medically underserved, and those without the benefit of employer-funded health care coverage.

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Kirby Co. (NYSE:KEX  Get Free Report) saw a significant drop in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 1,030,000 shares, a drop of 6.4% from the February 14th total of 1,100,000 shares. Approximately 1.8% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 387,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.7 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $105.00 price target on shares of Kirby in a research note on Monday, February 5th.

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View Our Latest Analysis on KEX

Insider Activity

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

In other news, CEO David W. Grzebinski sold 18,000 shares of Kirby stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.44, for a total transaction of $1,537,920.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 66,399 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,673,130.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In other news, CEO David W. Grzebinski sold 18,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.44, for a total value of $1,537,920.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 66,399 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,673,130.56. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, VP Scott P. Miller sold 1,828 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.60, for a total transaction of $145,508.80. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 1,000 shares in the company, valued at $79,600. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 50,436 shares of company stock worth $4,267,842 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 1.50% of the companys stock.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. 1832 Asset Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Kirby by 87.0% during the second quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 404 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Kirby by 293.9% in the second quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 646 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 482 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Kirby in the first quarter valued at $47,000. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kirby in the 4th quarter valued at $53,000. Finally, Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new position in shares of Kirby in the 4th quarter valued at $45,000. 94.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Kirby Price Performance

Shares of KEX traded up $0.49 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $88.90. 20,216 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 366,214. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.01. Kirby has a one year low of $65.37 and a one year high of $90.21. The company has a market capitalization of $5.20 billion, a PE ratio of 23.77, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.20. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $83.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of $80.91.

Kirby (NYSE:KEX  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The shipping company reported $1.04 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $799.18 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $778.70 million. Kirby had a return on equity of 7.12% and a net margin of 7.21%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.67 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Kirby will post 4.94 earnings per share for the current year.

Kirby Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Kirby Corporation operates domestic tank barges in the United States. Its Marine Transportation segment provides marine transportation service and towing vessel transporting bulk liquid product, as well as operates tank barge throughout the Mississippi River System, on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, coastwise along three United States coasts, and in Alaska and Hawaii.

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Crypto Assets Suitable Only for Trading and Speculation, Not Currency Use: Indias Finance Minister

Bitcoins record high above $72,000 hasnt changed the Indian governments position on crypto, according to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

At the India Today Conclave 2024 on Friday, Sitharaman said the government maintains its position that crypto assets can be used only for trading and speculation. However, she emphasized that they cannot function as currencies.

Currencies are to be issued with a fiat of the government or the central bank of the day, she said. And it is still unregulated in India. And that is why we thought it fit to raise it to the G20 forum.

Indian Finance Minister Warns of Global Crypto Regulation Gap



The Finance Minister elaborated on why India is awaiting a larger-level framework. She said the governments stance is based on the concern that if one country implements regulations on cryptocurrencies while others do not, it may create a loophole for illicit activities like money laundering, drug financing, or supporting terrorism.

For this reason, the government is advocating for discussions on the matter at the G20 level. It has been very well received, and Im sure there will be some framework emerging, she said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first expressed support for the establishment of a global regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies during the B20 summit in August.

Later, Sitharaman emphasized the importance of international collaboration on crypto policies following the G20 Finance Minister-Central Bank Governor meeting in Morocco, which took place during Indias presidency.

The leaders agreed on a roadmap to promote macro-economic and financial stability by implementing this policy framework. It emphasizes effectiveness, flexibility, and coordination among participating nations.

Indias Crypto Market Soars Despite Taxing Terrain



India, previously seen as less open to cryptocurrencies, is now experiencing a change in attitude.

Despite facing challenges such as high taxes (30%) on gains, Indian residents managed to accumulate over $1b in estimated gains last year, according to Chainalysis data.

Furthermore, in 2023, India emerged as the worlds second-largest crypto market, with transactions surpassing $250b.
Avolta AG (OTCMKTS:DFRYF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 483,300 shares, a decline of 6.4% from the February 14th total of 516,400 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2,416.5 days.

Avolta Trading Up 2.5 %

Shares of Avolta stock traded up $1.01 on Monday, reaching $40.78. 100 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 311. The company has a 50-day moving average of $38.91 and a 200 day moving average of $37.65. Avolta has a one year low of $33.11 and a one year high of $50.87.

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About Avolta

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Avolta AG operates as a travel retailer. The company's retail brands include general travel retail shops under the Dufry, World Duty Free, Nuance, Hellenic Duty Free, Colombian Emeralds, Duty Free Uruguay, Hudson, Duty Free Shop Argentina, RegStaer, Autogrill, Hellenic Duty Free, HMSHost, and World Duty Free brands; Dufry shopping stores; brand boutiques; convenience stores primarily under the Hudson brand; and specialized shops and theme stores.

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AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE:AU  Get Free Report) shares gapped down before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $22.01, but opened at $21.36. AngloGold Ashanti shares last traded at $21.22, with a volume of 302,847 shares changing hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com raised AngloGold Ashanti from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AngloGold Ashanti currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $22.50.

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AngloGold Ashanti Trading Down 4.6 %

AngloGold Ashanti Increases Dividend

The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $18.41 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $18.07. The company has a current ratio of 2.17, a quick ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46.

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.1%. This is an increase from AngloGold Ashantis previous semi-annual dividend of $0.03.

Institutional Trading of AngloGold Ashanti

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AU. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in AngloGold Ashanti by 7.8% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 16,743,697 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $312,940,000 after purchasing an additional 1,215,741 shares during the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 23.0% during the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,032,491 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $37,987,000 after buying an additional 379,701 shares during the period. TT International Asset Management LTD lifted its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 38.8% during the 4th quarter. TT International Asset Management LTD now owns 3,562,919 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $66,590,000 after buying an additional 995,709 shares during the period. FIL Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 7.5% during the 4th quarter. FIL Ltd now owns 240,135 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $4,611,000 after buying an additional 16,823 shares during the period. Finally, GTS Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the 4th quarter valued at $213,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 22.36% of the companys stock.

About AngloGold Ashanti

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AngloGold Ashanti plc operates as a gold mining company in Africa, the Americas, and Australia. The company primarily explores for gold, as well as produces silver and sulphuric acid as by-products. Its flagship property is a 100% owned Geita project located in the Lake Victoria goldfields of the Mwanza region in north-western Tanzania.

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Shares of Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares (NYSEARCA:SPXS  Get Free Report) gapped down prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $9.52, but opened at $9.30. Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares shares last traded at $9.29, with a volume of 4,758,513 shares traded.

Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares Price Performance

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $10.36 and a 200-day simple moving average of $12.79.

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Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares by 1,313.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,145 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 1,064 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new position in Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares in the first quarter valued at about $44,000. Citigroup Inc. purchased a new position in Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares in the first quarter valued at about $53,000. Osaic Holdings Inc. grew its stake in shares of Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares by 25.7% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 4,671 shares of the companys stock worth $65,000 after acquiring an additional 955 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG purchased a new stake in shares of Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares during the third quarter worth about $147,000.

About Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares

Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares ETF, formerly Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bear 3X Shares, seeks daily investment results of 300% of the inverse (or opposite) of the price performance of the S&P 500 Index. The S&P 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index composed of 500 domestic common stocks. Standard & Poors selects the 500 stocks comprising the Index on the basis of market values and industry diversification.

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BKM Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm acquired 19,341 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $1,596,000.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of AFL. Baystate Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Aflac by 24.1% in the 3rd quarter. Baystate Wealth Management LLC now owns 675 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 131 shares during the period. Dominguez Wealth Management Solutions Inc. increased its stake in Aflac by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Dominguez Wealth Management Solutions Inc. now owns 24,969 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,916,000 after buying an additional 132 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC increased its stake in Aflac by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 6,156 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $472,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the period. MV Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in Aflac by 3.7% in the 3rd quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,779 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $290,000 after buying an additional 136 shares during the period. Finally, SVB Wealth LLC boosted its position in shares of Aflac by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. SVB Wealth LLC now owns 10,370 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $796,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 66.75% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Aflac news, SVP Albert Riggieri sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.34, for a total value of $666,720.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 32,825 shares in the company, valued at $2,735,635.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Albert Riggieri sold 8,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.34, for a total value of $666,720.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 32,825 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,735,635.50. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Arthur Reginald Collins sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.73, for a total value of $239,190.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 5,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at $445,850.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 41,493 shares of company stock worth $3,342,606. 0.90% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on AFL shares. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Aflac from $80.00 to $84.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Aflac from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday. Raymond James upped their price objective on shares of Aflac from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Aflac from $85.00 to $80.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Aflac from $82.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $80.36.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Aflac

Aflac Stock Performance

AFL stock traded up $0.13 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $84.50. The company had a trading volume of 605,857 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,272,652. The company has a quick ratio of 0.06, a current ratio of 0.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.89, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.91. Aflac Incorporated has a one year low of $61.17 and a one year high of $86.20. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $81.34 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $80.24.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The financial services provider reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.47 by ($0.22). Aflac had a net margin of 24.92% and a return on equity of 17.59%. The company had revenue of $3.78 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.44 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.29 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 6.41 EPS for the current year.

Aflac Profile

(Free Report)

Aflac Incorporated, through its subsidiaries, provides supplemental health and life insurance products. The company operates through Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments. The Aflac Japan segment offers cancer, medical, nursing care, work leave, GIFT, and whole and term life insurance products, as well as WAYS and child endowment plans under saving type insurance products in Japan.

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Huatai Securities Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:HUATF  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 1,329,800 shares, a decline of 8.9% from the February 14th total of 1,460,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 18,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 73.1 days.

Huatai Securities Stock Up 11.4 %

Shares of Huatai Securities stock traded up 0.13 during trading on Monday, hitting 1.25. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is 1.25 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is 1.25. Huatai Securities has a 52-week low of 1.12 and a 52-week high of 1.25.

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About Huatai Securities

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Huatai Securities Co, Ltd., a security company, provides financial services in Mainland China and internationally. The company buys and sells stocks, funds, bonds, futures, and options on behalf of clients; and provides various financial products and asset allocation, margin financing, securities lending, securities-backed lending, and margin securities lending services.

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Grupo Herdez, S.A.B. de C.V. (OTCMKTS:GUZOF  Get Free Report) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 80,600 shares, a decrease of 10.7% from the February 14th total of 90,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 134.3 days.

Grupo Herdez Stock Performance

GUZOF stock traded down C$0.03 during midday trading on Monday, reaching C$2.65. The stock had a trading volume of 900 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,700. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$2.59 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$2.44. Grupo Herdez has a 52-week low of C$2.06 and a 52-week high of C$2.86.

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About Grupo Herdez

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Further Reading

Grupo Herdez, SAB. de C.V., a food company, engages in the manufacture, purchase, distribution, and marketing of canned and packed food products in Mexico and internationally. It provides mushrooms, vegetable juices, mayonnaise, honey, mustard, moles, tomato puree, jams, pastas, homemade sauces, ice creams, tea, soy sauce, tuna, coffee, spices, pasta sauces, hot sauces, ketchup, canned chilies, vegetables, olives, nopalitos, guacamole, sauces, enchilada sauces, taco sauce, chiles, tortillas, mayonnaise, marmalades, and organic products under the Aires de Campo, Barilla, Blason, Bufalo, Cielito Querido Cafe, Del Fuerte, Dona Maria, Embasa, Helados Nestle, Herdez, McCormick, Moyo, Nutrisa, La Victoria, Wholly Guacamole, Yemina, Carlota, ChiChi's, Don Miguel, Nutrisa, Nestle Ice Cream, Cielito Dear Coffee, and Moyo brands.

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Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm purchased 303,320 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,803,000. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF comprises 14.4% of Bruce G. Allen Investments LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its largest position. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC owned about 0.09% of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 5.8% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 41,773 shares of the companys stock worth $2,100,000 after purchasing an additional 2,299 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 12.3% during the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 15,000 shares of the companys stock worth $754,000 after acquiring an additional 1,640 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 78.1% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 38,808 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,951,000 after acquiring an additional 17,015 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp bought a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the first quarter valued at about $16,807,000. Finally, Prudential Financial Inc. raised its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 13.9% in the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 450,991 shares of the companys stock worth $22,667,000 after purchasing an additional 55,103 shares in the last quarter.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Stock Performance

Shares of EFV stock traded up $0.27 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $53.34. The company had a trading volume of 6,165,253 shares. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.92 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 12 month low of $49.15 and a 12 month high of $59.57. The firms fifty day moving average is $51.88 and its 200 day moving average is $50.45.

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Value Index. The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East.

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Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC bought a new stake in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 2,767 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $279,000.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. McCarthy Grittinger Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Novartis during the third quarter valued at $25,000. Operose Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Novartis during the third quarter worth $28,000. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Novartis during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Novartis by 118.1% in the second quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 301 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 163 shares during the period. Finally, Vestor Capital LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Novartis during the second quarter valued at $37,000. 7.00% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Novartis Price Performance

Shares of NYSE NVS traded down $0.69 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $96.58. The companys stock had a trading volume of 638,782 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,425,015. Novartis AG has a 1-year low of $81.96 and a 1-year high of $108.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.15. The stock has a market capitalization of $204.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.54. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $103.60 and a two-hundred day moving average of $99.97.

Novartis Increases Dividend

Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The company reported $1.53 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.64 by ($0.11). Novartis had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 29.90%. The company had revenue of $11.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.69 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.51 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Novartis AG will post 7.18 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th were given a dividend of $3.7772 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 7th. This is a boost from Novartiss previous annual dividend of $3.47. Novartiss dividend payout ratio is currently 34.26%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. HSBC lowered shares of Novartis from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 18th. StockNews.com began coverage on Novartis in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Novartis in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an equal weight rating and a $114.00 price objective for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Novartis in a report on Friday, February 23rd. They set a market perform rating and a $114.00 price target on the stock. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $104.33.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on NVS

Novartis Profile

(Free Report)

Novartis AG researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. It offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.

Further Reading

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Marshall Financial Group LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 4.7% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 13,251 shares of the companys stock after selling 654 shares during the period. Marshall Financial Group LLCs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $1,371,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Jennison Associates LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.3% during the third quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 23,419,405 shares of the companys stock worth $2,129,761,000 after buying an additional 11,727,507 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 122.7% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 12,077,501 shares of the companys stock worth $1,098,328,000 after buying an additional 6,654,614 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley lifted its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 96.5% during the third quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 9,215,098 shares of the companys stock worth $838,021,000 after buying an additional 4,526,199 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its holdings in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 91.7% during the third quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 9,097,808 shares of the companys stock worth $827,354,000 after buying an additional 4,350,862 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Polen Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S during the third quarter worth $718,995,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 6.41% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

NVO has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $140.00 price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report 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 report on Tuesday, January 16th. They issued a neutral rating on the stock. Finally, TD Cowen lifted their target price on Novo Nordisk A/S from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Two 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 stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $121.25.

Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Up 0.8 %

NVO stock traded up $1.12 during trading on Monday, hitting $133.49. The company had a trading volume of 2,511,998 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,358,144. The business has a 50-day moving average of $118.09 and a 200-day moving average of $100.15. Novo Nordisk A/S has a one year low of $70.89 and a one year high of $138.28. The stock has a market cap of $599.04 billion, a PE ratio of 49.25, a PEG ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.14 billion. Research analysts predict that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $0.664 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.9%. This is a positive change from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio is presently 22.92%.

Novo Nordisk A/S Company Profile

(Free Report)

Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease.

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Hyatt Hotels Co. (NYSE:H  Get Free Report) saw unusually large options trading activity on Monday. Stock traders bought 3,993 put options on the company. This is an increase of 374% compared to the average daily volume of 843 put options.

Insider Transactions at Hyatt Hotels

In other news, major shareholder F.L.P. Trust #14 sold 1,283,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.96, for a total transaction of $200,096,680.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, major shareholder F.L.P. Trust #14 sold 1,283,000 shares of Hyatt Hotels stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.96, for a total transaction of $200,096,680.00. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Mark R. Vondrasek sold 9,867 shares of Hyatt Hotels stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.11, for a total transaction of $1,520,603.37. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 5,100 shares of the companys stock, valued at $785,961. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 1,443,525 shares of company stock valued at $223,090,255. Company insiders own 21.24% of the companys stock.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hyatt Hotels

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Manhattan CO. LLC. bought a new position in shares of Hyatt Hotels in the first quarter worth about $25,000. Quarry LP bought a new position in shares of Hyatt Hotels in the first quarter worth about $26,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Hyatt Hotels by 597.5% in the third quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 279 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. UniSuper Management Pty Ltd bought a new position in shares of Hyatt Hotels in the second quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Money Concepts Capital Corp raised its holdings in Hyatt Hotels by 335.2% in the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 383 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 46.03% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on H shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Hyatt Hotels from $138.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Hyatt Hotels from $37.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Hyatt Hotels from $104.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Redburn Atlantic cut shares of Hyatt Hotels from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $120.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded shares of Hyatt Hotels from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Hyatt Hotels presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $131.13.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Hyatt Hotels

Hyatt Hotels Stock Up 2.0 %

H traded up $3.06 during trading on Monday, reaching $156.66. 181,042 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 767,452. The stock has a market cap of $16.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 76.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 21.68 and a beta of 1.49. Hyatt Hotels has a twelve month low of $96.77 and a twelve month high of $159.81. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $138.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $121.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.60.

Hyatt Hotels (NYSE:H  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 23rd. The company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.26. Hyatt Hotels had a net margin of 3.30% and a return on equity of 7.59%. The firm had revenue of $1.66 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.56 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.55 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Hyatt Hotels will post 3.33 EPS for the current year.

Hyatt Hotels Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 27th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.38%. Hyatt Hotelss dividend payout ratio is 29.41%.

Hyatt Hotels Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Hyatt Hotels Corporation operates as a hospitality company in the United States and internationally. It operates through Owned and Leased Hotels, Americas Management and Franchising, ASPAC Management and Franchising, EAME Management and Franchising, and Apple Leisure Group segments. The company manages, franchises, licenses, owns, and leases portfolio of properties, consisting of full-service hotels and resorts, select service hotels, and other properties, including timeshare, fractional, residential, vacation, and condominium units.

Further Reading

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Indonesias Crypto Transactions Skyrocket to $1.92 Billion in February

Indonesia has witnessed an impressive surge in cryptocurrency transactions, with the total reaching IDR 30 trillion ($1.92 billion) in February, according to the countrys crypto regulator.

The Commodity Futures Trading Supervisory Agency (Bappebti) reported that the number of registered crypto investors in the country also experienced substantial growth, reaching 19 million last month, with an increase of 170,000 users compared to January.

The remarkable rise in crypto transactions can be attributed to positive market sentiments fueled by the surge in Bitcoins (BTC) price and the rally in altcoins, which refers to tokens other than Bitcoin.

Indonesia to Surpass Transaction Volume Recorded in 2021



The regulator said that Indonesia could match or surpass the transaction volume achieved during the 2021 bull run, which amounted to $51.28 billion.

Tirta Karma Senjaya, a representative from Bappebti, said that a rebound in 2024 is anticipated, considering the downward trend observed in 2022 and 2023.

The upcoming Bitcoin halving is seen as a key catalyst for this expected resurgence.

To achieve the target of increased crypto transactions, Bappebti believes that reducing or eliminating taxes on cryptocurrencies would be a favorable approach.

Currently, crypto transactions are subject to a 0.10% tax for Income Tax and a 0.11% tax for Value Added Tax (VAT) on users, while exchanges face a 0.02% tax per transaction for the crypto bourse, depository, and clearing house.

Ive previously said that this industry (crypto) is still in its embryonic stage, so imposing heavy taxes might kill the industry, Tirta said during a recent Reku exchange event.

Furthermore, the transfer of crypto oversight to the Financial Services Authority (OJK) in January 2025 is expected to bring significant changes.

This transition could involve reclassifying cryptocurrencies as securities and revising VAT policies, potentially shaping the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies in Indonesia.

Indonesia Issues New Crypto Regulations



Last week, Indonesias financial services regulator, the Financial Services Authority (OJK), issued new regulations that will come into effect in January 2025.

These regulations will provide guidance to banks, insurance companies, and other entities in the financial industry on how to leverage new technologies and explore innovative possibilities.

The newly implemented rules acknowledge the impact of technological advancements on various financial products and services, as well as the digital operations of companies.

While the regulations do not delve into specific details, they lay the groundwork for managing advancements in the crypto space within the finance sector.

To facilitate a smooth transition, the OJK is collaborating closely with the current crypto regulator, Bappebti, and the central bank of Indonesia, Bank Indonesia.

Together, they are forming a transition team to manage the shift in supervision of digital financial assets.

In addition to domestic efforts, the OJK has been engaging in international collaborations to establish a comprehensive crypto policy.

The agency has forged partnerships with financial authorities from Malaysia, Singapore, and Dubai to develop a robust framework for crypto regulation.

It has also drafted Memorandums of Understanding with Malaysias Bank Negara, Singapores Monetary Authority, and Dubais Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority.
Sanders Morris Harris LLC lowered its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Free Report) by 37.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,868 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,904 shares during the quarter. Sanders Morris Harris LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $413,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 108,222.5% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 18,590,308 shares of the companys stock valued at $849,763,000 after buying an additional 18,573,146 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 8.5% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 96,401,945 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,367,008,000 after buying an additional 7,546,851 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 84.1% during the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 5,426,522 shares of the companys stock valued at $245,823,000 after buying an additional 2,478,576 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 6.4% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 36,302,349 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,896,798,000 after buying an additional 2,178,596 shares during the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Altria Group by 54.1% during the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 4,710,670 shares of the companys stock valued at $198,084,000 after buying an additional 1,653,455 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 58.94% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com lowered Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. UBS Group reiterated a sell rating and set a $36.10 price objective on shares of Altria Group in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $47.22.

Altria Group Stock Performance

Shares of MO stock traded up $0.74 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $44.61. The companys stock had a trading volume of 7,639,261 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,589,320. Altria Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $39.06 and a 52-week high of $48.04. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $40.98 and a 200 day moving average price of $41.53. The stock has a market cap of $78.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.73, a PEG ratio of 2.68 and a beta of 0.65.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.17 by $0.01. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 244.55% and a net margin of 33.21%. The firm had revenue of $5.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.06 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.18 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Monday, March 25th will be given a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.79%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 22nd. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 85.78%.

Altria Group announced that its board has approved a share repurchase plan on Thursday, February 1st that permits the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to reacquire up to 1.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued.

Altria Group Profile

(Free Report)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand.

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Whitener Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 45.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,941 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 1,863 shares during the period. Whitener Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $409,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of SCHW. Providence Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Charles Schwab during the third quarter valued at $28,000. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC increased its position in Charles Schwab by 60.0% in the 4th quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC now owns 440 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Charles Schwab in the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. BluePath Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Charles Schwab in the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, State of Wyoming increased its position in Charles Schwab by 71.0% in the 2nd quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 624 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares during the last quarter. 81.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.49, for a total value of $257,960.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 37,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,425,533.39. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, insider Nigel J. Murtagh sold 29,991 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.80, for a total value of $2,033,389.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 81,446 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,522,038.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.49, for a total value of $257,960.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 37,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,425,533.39. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 202,607 shares of company stock worth $13,214,499. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have weighed in on SCHW. StockNews.com raised Charles Schwab from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday. UBS Group upped their target price on Charles Schwab from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Raymond James decreased their price target on Charles Schwab from $78.00 to $75.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $71.00 price target (up previously from $70.00) on shares of Charles Schwab in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $70.06.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab Stock Performance

NYSE:SCHW traded up $0.41 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $67.45. 3,334,320 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,827,375. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $64.81 and a two-hundred day moving average of $60.65. The company has a current ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $45.65 and a 12 month high of $71.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $119.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.00.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 21.33% and a net margin of 26.90%. The company had revenue of $4.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.49 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.07 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 18.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.48%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is currently 39.37%.

About Charles Schwab

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Consilium Wealth Advisory LLC increased its holdings in Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR  Free Report) by 17.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 14,864 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 2,210 shares during the period. Ingersoll Rand comprises approximately 0.7% of Consilium Wealth Advisory LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 26th biggest holding. Consilium Wealth Advisory LLCs holdings in Ingersoll Rand were worth $1,150,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand during the third quarter worth $25,000. Pacifica Partners Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Ingersoll Rand during the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Quintet Private Bank Europe S.A. bought a new position in shares of Ingersoll Rand in the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Ingersoll Rand by 1,566.7% in the second quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 450 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 423 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC grew its stake in Ingersoll Rand by 348.2% in the 3rd quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 493 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 383 shares in the last quarter. 94.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Ingersoll Rand

In related news, insider Vicente Reynal sold 240,000 shares of Ingersoll Rand stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.16, for a total transaction of $21,638,400.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 91,957 shares in the company, valued at $8,290,843.12. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Michael J. Scheske sold 7,590 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.00, for a total value of $667,920.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 9,715 shares in the company, valued at $854,920. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Vicente Reynal sold 240,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.16, for a total value of $21,638,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 91,957 shares in the company, valued at $8,290,843.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 293,011 shares of company stock worth $26,374,789. Corporate insiders own 0.83% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

IR has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Citigroup increased their target price on Ingersoll Rand from $79.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Ingersoll Rand from $87.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $78.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. BNP Paribas began coverage on shares of Ingersoll Rand in a report on Tuesday, March 12th. They set a neutral rating and a $92.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Cfra upped their price target on shares of Ingersoll Rand from $68.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $82.50.

Get Our Latest Report on IR

Ingersoll Rand Stock Up 1.1 %

Shares of IR traded up $0.95 on Monday, reaching $91.42. The stock had a trading volume of 615,980 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,597,860. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.88, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.27 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.67 and a current ratio of 2.22. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $84.76 and a 200-day simple moving average of $74.21. Ingersoll Rand Inc. has a 12-month low of $52.53 and a 12-month high of $92.44.

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The industrial products company reported $0.83 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.74 by $0.09. Ingersoll Rand had a return on equity of 12.24% and a net margin of 11.32%. The company had revenue of $1.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.76 billion. Sell-side analysts predict that Ingersoll Rand Inc. will post 3.1 EPS for the current year.

Ingersoll Rand Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 7th will be given a dividend of $0.02 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 6th. This represents a $0.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.09%. Ingersoll Rands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.21%.

Ingersoll Rand Profile

(Free Report)

Ingersoll Rand Inc provides various mission-critical air, gas, liquid, and solid flow creation technologies services and solutions worldwide. It operates through two segments, Industrial Technologies and Services, and Precision and Science Technologies. The Industrial Technologies and Services segment designs, manufactures, markets, and services air and gas compression, vacuum, and blower products; fluid transfer equipment and loading systems; and power tools and lifting equipment, including associated aftermarket parts, consumables, air treatment equipment, controls, other accessories, and services under the under the Ingersoll Rand, Gardner Denver, Nash, CompAir, Elmo Rietschle brands, etc.

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John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (NYSE:BTO  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 17,600 shares, a decline of 6.9% from the February 14th total of 18,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 60,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days.

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of BTO traded down $0.17 during trading hours on Monday, reaching $27.23. 51,987 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 53,268. John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund has a 52-week low of $22.95 and a 52-week high of $32.81. The companys 50-day moving average price is $29.31 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $27.83.

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John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Monday, March 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.65 per share. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.55%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 8th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund Company Profile

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of BTO. Spire Wealth Management lifted its stake in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 53.9% in the 2nd quarter. Spire Wealth Management now owns 1,308 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 458 shares in the last quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its stake in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 85.3% in the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,195 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 550 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund by 93.3% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,295 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 625 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new position in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund in the 2nd quarter worth about $93,000. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new position in John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund in the 2nd quarter worth about $208,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 17.72% of the companys stock.

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John Hancock Financial Opportunities 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. The fund invests in the public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in the stocks of companies operating across the financial services sector.

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National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as C$111.53 and last traded at C$111.36, with a volume of 281392 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at C$110.22.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the company. CIBC dropped their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$110.00 to C$109.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$101.00 to C$97.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 23rd. Veritas Investment Research reaffirmed a reduce rating on shares of National Bank of Canada in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$107.00 to C$109.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$105.00 to C$109.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, National Bank of Canada presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$107.00.

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National Bank of Canada Stock Up 1.2 %

The business has a 50-day simple moving average of C$103.79 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$96.28. The stock has a market capitalization of C$37.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.67, a P/E/G ratio of 17.04 and a beta of 1.11.

National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 28th. The financial services provider reported C$2.59 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of C$2.38 by C$0.21. National Bank of Canada had a net margin of 34.22% and a return on equity of 14.73%. The business had revenue of C$2.71 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$2.72 billion. On average, analysts forecast that National Bank of Canada will post 9.849866 EPS for the current year.

National Bank of Canada Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be issued a dividend of $1.06 per share. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 22nd. National Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.63%.

Insider Activity at National Bank of Canada

In other National Bank of Canada news, Director Yvon Charest purchased 331 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was purchased at an average price of C$103.19 per share, for a total transaction of C$34,155.89. 0.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

National Bank of Canada Company Profile

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National Bank of Canada provides financial services to individuals, businesses, institutional clients, and governments in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, and savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services, such as credit, and deposit, investment solutions, international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services.

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Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Get Free Report) had its price target hoisted by equities researchers at Bank of America from $150.00 to $180.00 in a research report issued on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has a neutral rating on the oil and gas companys stock. Bank of Americas target price would suggest a potential upside of 14.81% from the companys previous close.

PSX has been the topic of a number of other research reports. TD Cowen increased their price objective on shares of Phillips 66 from $134.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Phillips 66 from $132.00 to $139.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Phillips 66 from $151.00 to $163.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Phillips 66 in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Phillips 66 from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Saturday, February 10th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Phillips 66 has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $141.00.

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Phillips 66 Stock Down 1.4 %

NYSE PSX traded down $2.25 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $156.78. 3,469,812 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,289,702. Phillips 66 has a 12 month low of $89.74 and a 12 month high of $159.74. The company has a current ratio of 1.26, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. The stock has a market capitalization of $67.07 billion, a PE ratio of 10.13, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a 50 day moving average of $142.01 and a two-hundred day moving average of $128.16.

Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The oil and gas company reported $3.09 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.37 by $0.72. Phillips 66 had a net margin of 4.68% and a return on equity of 22.10%. The company had revenue of $38.74 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.30 billion. As a group, equities analysts expect that Phillips 66 will post 12.9 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Phillips 66

In other news, VP Joseph Scott Pruitt sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.23, for a total transaction of $133,230.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 6,593 shares in the company, valued at approximately $878,385.39. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Director Robert W. Pease acquired 682 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $146.58 per share, with a total value of $99,967.56. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 1,900 shares in the company, valued at $278,502. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Joseph Scott Pruitt sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $133.23, for a total transaction of $133,230.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 6,593 shares of the companys stock, valued at $878,385.39. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 31,887 shares of company stock worth $4,543,437. 4.57% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Phillips 66

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Choate Investment Advisors bought a new stake in Phillips 66 in the 3rd quarter valued at $247,000. First Dallas Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Phillips 66 during the 3rd quarter worth about $753,000. Pinebridge Investments L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Phillips 66 by 8.9% during the 2nd quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. now owns 210,402 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $20,068,000 after acquiring an additional 17,226 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Phillips 66 by 17.7% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 238,106 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $28,608,000 after acquiring an additional 35,829 shares during the period. Finally, Foundations Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Phillips 66 by 6.2% during the 3rd quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,969 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $357,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares during the period. 71.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Phillips 66 Company Profile

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Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas.

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Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC  Get Free Report) and John Wood Group (OTCMKTS:WDGJF  Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership and dividends.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Ecopetrol and John Wood Groups revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Ecopetrol $37.83 billion N/A $34.77 billion $2.33 4.64 John Wood Group N/A N/A N/A $0.75 2.68

Ecopetrol has higher revenue and earnings than John Wood Group. John Wood Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ecopetrol, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ecopetrol 2 4 0 0 1.67 John Wood Group 0 3 1 0 2.25

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Ecopetrol and John Wood Group, as provided by MarketBeat.

Ecopetrol presently has a consensus price target of $11.60, indicating a potential upside of 7.41%. Given Ecopetrols higher possible upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Ecopetrol is more favorable than John Wood Group.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

1.3% of Ecopetrol shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.3% of John Wood Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Ecopetrol pays an annual dividend of $2.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 23.0%. John Wood Group pays an annual dividend of $0.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 11.0%. Ecopetrol pays out 106.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. John Wood Group pays out 29.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend.

Profitability

This table compares Ecopetrol and John Wood Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ecopetrol 14.58% 10.31% 3.75% John Wood Group N/A N/A N/A

Summary

Ecopetrol beats John Wood Group on 8 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Ecopetrol

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Ecopetrol S.A. operates as an integrated energy company. The company operates through four segments: Exploration and Production; Transport and Logistics; Refining, Petrochemical and Biofuels; and Electric Power Transmission and Toll Roads Concessions. It engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas; transportation of crude oil, motor fuels, fuel oil, and other refined products, including diesel, jet, and biofuels; processing and refining crude oil; distribution of natural gas and LPG; sale of refined and petrochemical products; supplying of electric power transmission services; design, development, construction, operation, and maintenance of road and energy infrastructure projects; and supplying of information technology and telecommunications services. As of December 31, 2022, the company had approximately 9,127 kilometers of crude oil and multi-purpose pipelines. It also produces and commercializes polypropylene resins and compounds, and masterbatches; and offers industrial service sales to customers and specialized management services. It has operations in Colombia, the United States, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, and South America. The company was formerly known as Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos and changed its name to Ecopetrol S.A. in June 2003. Ecopetrol S.A. was incorporated in 1948 and is headquartered in Bogota, Colombia.

About John Wood Group

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John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through Projects, Operations, Consulting, and Investment Services segments. The Projects segment provides engineering design and project management services across energy and materials markets including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, minerals, and life sciences. The Operations segment offers decarbonisation, maintenance, modifications, brownfield engineering, asset management, and decommissioning services. The Consulting segment provides technical consulting, digital consulting, and energy asset and technology solutions. The Investment Services segment engages in industrial power and heavy civil engineering activities. John Wood Group PLC was incorporated in 1961 and is headquartered in Aberdeen, the United Kingdom.

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Pakistan Faces IMF Pressure to Tax Crypto and Real Estate

According to a local news outlet, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stipulated that Pakistans Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) must levy a capital gains tax (CGT) on crypto investments and real estate as part of the conditions for receiving a $3 billion bailout package.

Additionally, the IMF has advised Pakistan to reevaluate the taxation of real estate and listed securities.

IMF Urges Pakistan to Tax Crypto Gains and Review Real Estate Taxation for SBA Approval



During discussions regarding a $3 billion stand-by arrangement (SBA), the IMF recommended that the FBR impose taxes on crypto capital gains and review the taxation structure for real estate and listed securities. The aim is to ensure that all profits are taxed without any exceptions based on the duration of asset ownership.

Furthermore, the IMF has proposed that property developers monitor and report all transfers before the completion and registration of property titles. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in penalties. This move is intended to bring the buying and selling of property files in housing schemes under the tax net.

These recommendations are likely to be included in the upcoming bailout package under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The FBR may be obligated to incorporate these measures into the next budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025 through the finance bill. Consequently, Pakistan could officially introduce a stringent tax on crypto capital gains in its budget for the specified fiscal year.

The $3 billion IMF aid is intended to stabilize Pakistans hyperinflated fiat economy and prevent a debt default. Various factors, such as geopolitical tensions, natural disasters, and unstable governance, have contributed to Pakistans economic challenges. The IMF review, which began on March 14 and is expected to last four days, will result in the disbursement of around $1.1 billion if Pakistan agrees to comply with the conditions set forth by the IMF.

Its noteworthy that the call for taxing crypto capital gains comes approximately one year after Aisha Ghaus Pasha, the minister of state for finance and revenue, expressed that Pakistan would not legalize crypto trading.

IMF Report Flags Challenges in Taxing Real Estate Capital Gains in Pakistan



The IMFs technical assistance report highlights the challenges faced by Pakistani authorities in assessing and collecting taxes on capital gains from real estate transactions. One major issue is the lack of formal registration of real estate interests until the legal completion of the property, which means that transfers of real estate interests before legal completion are not captured in any record system.

As a result, gains made by sellers through such transfers of interest in incomplete properties are often untaxed. To address this, the IMF has proposed imposing obligations on property developers to track and report all transfers of interest in real properties before legal completion and registration of property titles. Penalties would be imposed for noncompliance, and property developers may become responsible for any unpaid taxes if they cannot be recovered from the transferor.

In addition to strengthening the taxation of real estate capital gains, the IMF has recommended broadening the scope of assets subject to capital gains taxation. This includes ensuring that new types of investment assets, such as cryptocurrencies, fall under capital gains taxation.

Notably, the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) appears to be adopting a more open approach to crypto regulation in the country, as indicated by a recent position paper. With Pakistan being one of the top emerging crypto markets with a population of over 212 million people, this shift is significant.

The SECPs stance is based on the do-not-harm approach, which emphasizes a let-things-happen philosophy. This approach acknowledges the dynamic nature of the financial sector and the importance of innovation. By adopting this approach, the SECP aims to avoid overregulation that could stifle innovation while also addressing potential risks in the crypto space. This indicates a willingness to embrace the opportunities presented by cryptocurrencies while also ensuring regulatory oversight to protect investors and maintain financial stability.
By Fatime Letifova

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.
Virginia will soon start regulating how pet shops care for dogs and cats to make sure they are cared for properly.

The new rules, which take effect May 9, say pet shops must register with the state and will be subject to at least one unannounced inspection a year.

Repeated violations of state standards for the care of animals would mean a shop could be banned from selling cats and dogs.

Nancy Guinn, president of Dog Krazy Inc., a Richmond pet store, said, While its encouraging to see some steps being taken to oversee the sale of dogs and cats, including registration fees, inspections and basic care standards, I cant help but feel its not nearly enough. To me, the issue runs much deeper than just setting minimal care standards.

Having seen the conditions in which animals are kept in some pet stores and knowing about the origins of these animals, often from puppy mills, its heartbreaking, she said.

The thought of puppies and kittens being treated as mere merchandise, bred in conditions lacking in compassion, health care and proper socialization, is deeply troubling. Its a systemic issue that a $250 fee and basic care standards barely touch, she added.

Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Dave Marsden, D-Fairfax, in 2020 directed the state Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs to hire two State Animal Welfare Inspectors. It also directed the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop regulations for pet shops.

The new regulations say pet shops have to be kept clean and dry and provide enclosures that safely house dogs and cats and keep animals of different sexes, ages and temperaments apart. Those enclosures have to be ventilated and kept at a comfortable temperature and the animals cannot be in them while they are cleaned.

Water must be in bowls that cant be tipped over, animals must be properly fed, with food utensils and bowls cleaned after each feeding. The animals must have regular exercise and adequate space. Pet shops cannot employ anyone convicted of animal cruelty.

While the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies does not support the sale of companion animals in pet shops, these regulations provide at least some protections for those animals and the public, said Sue Bell, executive director of Homeward Trails Animal Rescue in Arlington County.

State law requires animal shelters to follow higher standards than the pet shop proposal and Bell said pet shops should be subject to those same rules.

Virginia continues to lag behind other states with more progressive and commonsense laws to protect animals, including those in pet shops, she said. Given the incredibly challenging state of animal welfare currently, its past time that Virginia take steps to stop pet stops from profiting off the backs of animals while our shelters struggle every day to save lives.

20 pet shops

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimates there are approximately 20 pet shops in Virginia that sell dogs and cats.

That does not include pet shops that keep dogs and cats to facilitate adoptions on behalf of shelters, as most national pet store chains do. Local animal control officers are responsible for inspecting shops that keep dogs and cats for adoption. The new regulation applies only to private for-profit pet shops selling dogs and cats.

The new regulations say pet shops cannot sell dogs and cats to any laboratory or research facility that does scientific tests, experiments or investigations on living animals.

Breeder mill prompted bills

The rescue of some 4,000 beagles from the Envigo research and breeding facility in Cumberland County in 2022, after state inspectors found dozens of violations of Virginias animal welfare law, prompted a series of bills aimed at tightening oversight of how companion animals are treated.

This year, for instance, the General Assembly passed:

 `Senate Bill 11, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, under which people convicted of animal cruelty may be prohibited from owning pets or horses for life

 Senate Bill 93, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, under which localities can post lists of people convicted of felony abuses of animals

 House Bill 62, sponsored by Del. Ellen Campbell, R-Rockbridge, under which the State Police would create and publish a list of people convicted of animal cruelty

 House Bill 330, sponsored by Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Spotsylvania, under which pet shops financing purchases of dogs or cats must comply with federal and state lending law

 Senate Bill 412, sponsored by Sen. Jennifer Boysko, D-Fairfax, under which veterinarians must keep vaccination records and rabies clinics would be allowed to offer microchipping of pets

 House Bill 580, sponsored by Del. Shelly Simonds, D-Newport News, under which the state should form a task force to identify problems with publicly funded animal testing facilities

The General Assembly continued for consideration next year House Bill 206, sponsored by Simonds, that would require pet shops to tell the state veterinarian when dogs or cats in their possession die and Senate Bill 31, sponsored by Stanley, that would establish a fund to reimburse veterinarians for sterilizing cats and dogs.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin is concerned that several Virginia school divisions  including three of the state's largest  are using a Chinese-owned tutoring platform associated with TikTok's parent company.

The online service tutor.com is controlled by Primavera Holdings Limited, a firm owned by Chinese nationals with a principal place of business in Hong Kong, China, according to its website.

"The governor is concerned about the company having access to Virginians data unknowingly and has asked" the Virginia Department of Education" for information regarding the use of Tutor.com in Virginia school divisions," said Youngkin spokesman Christian Martinez.

Fairfax, Loudoun and Virginia Beach are three of the state's four largest school systems.

Tutor.com said in a statement: No personal information of students or families is shared with Primavera, and Primavera does not have  and may not obtain  access to our IT systems.

Tutor.com is an American company, and we abide by U.S. state and federal laws. We were incorporated in 2000 in the state of Delaware. Our principal place of business is New York City, and all student data is housed in the United States. As an American company, Tutor.com cannot be compelled to release personal data of U.S. students and families to China or any foreign government.

Tutor.com was acquired by Primavera Capital Group, a Chinese-owned corporation associated with TikToks parent company, ByteDance in January 2022.

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation on Wednesday that would lead to a nationwide ban of TikTok if ByteDance does not sell, as lawmakers acted on concerns that the company's current ownership structure is a national security threat. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where's its future is uncertain.

U.S. lawmakers contend that ByteDance is beholden to the Chinese government, which could demand access to the data of TikTok's U.S. consumers anytime it wants.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has taken a strong stance on apps developed by companies affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, including TikTok.

Martinez said: Since the beginning of the administration, the governor has voiced his concern of the impact of Chinese Communist Party-affiliated TikTok on our childrens mental health, which has proven to be detrimental.

"He took action two years ago by banning TikTok on state employee devices. Last year he supported and signed into law" a bill from Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, "banning apps developed by ByteDance and Tencent holdings, including TikTok and WeChat, on any government issued device, which includes all Virginia School divisions.

Tutor.com is owned by Primavera, which is an investor in ByteDance, but tutor.com was not developed by ByteDance.

Last year, a Virginia bill to ban state agencies from contracting with firms controlled by hostile foreign interests  originally aimed at Chinese Communist Party affiliates  died in the state Senate Finance Committee.

In January 2023, Youngkin said he had taken Virginia out of the running for a Ford electric battery plant, expressing concerns that the joint venture between Ford and a Chinese company would be a front for the Chinese Communist Party.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, wrote a letter last month warning the U.S. Department of Defense, which contracts with tutor.com to tutor American service members and their children.

"This business relationship is ill-advised, reckless, and a danger to U.S. national security, and the Department should immediately end that relationship, Cotton wrote.

"While providing educational services, Tutor.com collects personal data on users, such as location, internet protocol addresses, and contents of the tutoring sessions," Cotton added. "As Chinese national security laws require companies to release confidential business and customer data to the Chinese government, we are paying to expose our military and their childrens private information to the Chinese Communist Party.
It is my opinion that Gov. Youngkin is actively working against the protection of safe and secure elections for the commonwealth. First, by removing Virginia from the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, and most recently by blocking legislation to rejoin ERIC.

ERIC is a nonpartisan voter list maintenance program that utilizes voter registration and DMV data to (1) facilitate the editing of voter rolls when individuals move or die, (2) investigate illegal voting and (3) provide voter registration information.

The governor's decision to block Virginias readmittance to ERIC may be the result of his embracing of unfounded conspiracy theories. In 2022, a far-right website published articles attacking ERIC, labeling it as a left-wing plot to steal elections. This disinformation spread, triggering grassroots pressure in conservative-led states where voter fraud has been highlighted as a predominant issue by those in power. Last May, Virginia became the eighth Republican-led state to withdraw from ERIC.

Ironically, by leaving ERIC, legislators who uplift the fantasy of widespread voter fraud are abandoning the sole organization equipped with the necessary resources, data and scope to prevent it.

Withdrawal from ERIC poses a threat to the security of Virginias democracy, ultimately jeopardizing voters right to have their voices heard.

Membership in ERIC is indispensable to maintaining the security and safety of the commonwealths democracy. Im very disappointed in Youngkins decision to keep Virginia out of this important program. Hes playing politics with the integrity of our democratic system of government and demonstrating poor leadership for the citizens of Virginia.
A downed power line was responsible for a brushfire in the rural area of Cascadia, around 13 miles east of Sweet Home.

Sweet Home Fire District was dispatched to the fire at 12:34 p.m. Friday, March 15, according to a news release from the agency.

A Place to Sleep, episode 4: Sweet Home In Sweet Home, you'll find the region's only designated sleeping place for folks actively self-medicating with alcohol and narcotics.

This is a startling reminder of how fast fuels can dry out with just a few days of sunshine, as we are far ahead of the normal time of year we see incidents such as this, the news release states.

The first units on scene reported flames 2 to 3 feet high along Highway 20, moving quickly into nearby trees and brush, according to the release, which states extinguishing proved difficult because of a live power line on the ground.

Pacific Power was credited with a quick response that helped fire crews contain the blaze to about a 300-by-25-foot area, the release states. The Oregon Department of Forestry assisted with a fire engine, and further help came from the Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon State Police and the Linn County Sheriffs Office.

Also on Friday, Sweet Home firefighters responded to a structure fire at 5:26 p.m. in the 2700 block of Long Street.

A shed fire spreading to a tree was initially reported, according to the release, which states an update received en route to the scene added that a house was also burning. A battalion chief arrived in under two minutes, reportedly finding the shed ablaze, burning up a tree and into the siding of the house.

The release states after a quick knockdown, the fire did not reach the interior of the home; the shed was a complete loss along with part of a carport. Crews were on scene for close to 90 minutes checking for extension into the house and attic space.

The cause of the fire is undetermined. The Sweet Home Police Department assisted in the response.

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The release also cited several medical calls throughout Friday, including four at one time, prompting Lebanon Fire District medics to assist.
Update on tragic mystery that's garnering more national news coverage . . .



"Metropolitan Nashville Police released security video showing Strain crossing 1st Avenue North to Gay Street at 9:47 p.m. Friday. In the footage he appears to sway and do a full 360-degree turn before continuing to walk.



"That cross-section is about 0.7 miles from the bar, and in the opposite direction of Tempo Hotel, where he and his friends were staying."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Missing Mizzou student Riley Strain's bank card discovered on embankment University of Missouri student Riley Strain's bank card was discovered on the embankment of the Cumberland River, police said.

Riley Strain disappearance timeline: What we know about the missing college student Search efforts continue for missing college student Riley Strain. He was last seen in Nashville on March 8.

Missing University of Missouri student Riley Strain's bank card discovered as search continues Strain was visiting Nashville on Friday, March 8, when he went missing after being kicked out of a bar in the Broadway area, according to police.

Developing . . .
This is a news blog so we have to focus on the negative . . .

Yes, there were reports of shooting but nothing that impacted the festivities and no victims were found.



SURPRISE, EVEN THE NEW YORK TIMES WAS WATCHING THE KCMO ST. PADDY'S DAY PARADE!!!

Here the postscript on gunfire and then more optimistic coverage . . .



"A police spokesperson said officers in the area received reports of shots being fired into the air around 1 p.m. Sunday near W. 40th Street and Baltimore Avenue.



"The spokesperson said police did not locate any victims who had been struck.



"The St. Patricks Day Parade, which started around 11 a.m. Sunday along Broadway Boulevard just two blocks west of the shots fired area, continued without incident."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Watch: Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade replay If you were at the parade or just want to relive some of the fun, FOX4 has a replay of our coverage seen on TV and online from the 50th anniversary

KCPD investigating report of shots fired at 40th and Baltimore; no victims reported Police are investigating a report of shots fired into the air two blocks east of Broadway Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas City celebrates St. Patrick's Day with parade down Broadway Kansas City celebrated its 50th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade Sunday as onlookers lined both sides of Broadway Boulevard through Midtown.

Undeterred: Kansas City crowds go to St. Patrick's Day parade, month after violence at Chiefs' rally The memory of the deadly shooting at the last month's Super Bowl rally in Kansas City, Missouri, was still on the minds of many at the St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday. But this time a big mass gathering went off without any significant trouble.

In Kansas City, a Festive Yet Cautious St. Patrick's Day Parade A sizable but smaller crowd gathered one month after the Super Bowl parade shooting. Some were wary, but many were determined to not let the tragedy disrupt a treasured tradition.

Developing . . .
The legal debate over "trans rights" for youngsters in schools and by way of public ID is ongoing.

We blogged earlier that courts seem to agree with Kansas AG Kobach in his legal arguments on the trans driver's license issue.

Now, here's the perspective from his opposition amid the ongoing court battle . . .



The Kansas Constitutions Bill of Rights guarantees all Kansans, including those who are transgender, rights of personal autonomy, privacy, and equality. The Court has mistakenly adopted the Attorney Generals overbroad interpretation of SB180, which provides no language whatsoever requiring the state to force Kansans to carry inaccurate identification cards, against their fundamental rights, said D.C. Hiegert, LGBTQ+ Legal Fellow for the ACLU of Kansas. But perhaps most importantly, the Court has decided that the states administrative interest outweighs the threat of harassment, discrimination, and violence to individual Kansans. This is clearly dangerous, and it wholly contradicts the tragic reality of current trends.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Once again Angel Candice inspires us to finish up our bloggy endeavors early on Sunday night as we share just a bit of pop culture, community news and top headlines.

However . . .



More than anything else about "the discourse" this blog LOVES inconvenient facts . . . Here's one that should leave our Irish-American friends scratching their heads:

"Nearly 80% of Irish people back the Palestinians and think that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, according to the most recent polling. This high level of support for the Palestinian people may come as a surprise to those looking in from the outside, given that Ireland is a majority-white, majority-Catholic country situated more than 2,000 miles away from the Middle East."



Something to consider along with a bunch of other news stories we're reading tonight . . .



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Local Police Investigation Cont'd

Amber Alert cancelled in Kansas City after abducted 4-year-old found Police have found Amira and she is safe. The suspect is not in custody and the investigation continues.

Symphonic Finishing Touches

Concert to Come | Hello, Goodbye: Michael Stern's final season celebrates good friends and exceptional talent - KC STUDIO April concert brings Ravel's "Bolero," Xavier Foley's "Soul Bass" and a world premiere by Angel Lam.

Pet Friendly Skies & Good Deeds

Pair of pilots in Kansas City are using their passion for aviation, animals to save lives A pair of pilots in the metro are combining their passions for aviation and animals to save lives across the country.

Spring Debut Coming Soon

Royals name Cole Ragans as team's Opening Day starter The Royals traded for Ragans and minor league prospect Roni Cabrera when they sent closer Aroldis Chapman to the Texas Rangers.

Big Picture On Weekend Victory

A win for Kansas City Current, and a new chapter for the NWSL Kansas City Current's thrilling 5-4 win over the Portland Thorns on Saturday wasn't just about the on-field action at the new CPKC Stadium -- it was about ushering in a new era for the NWSL.

Angel Adorned

Model Candice Swanepoel Wears This Cheek and Lip Stain for a Natural Look You can replicate Victoria's Secret angel Candice Swanepoel's effortless and natural beauty look with this cheek and lip stain.

White House Loves Irish Roots

WATCH: Biden and Irish prime minister speak at White House celebration of St. Patrick's Day Biden, a devout Catholic who is exceedingly proud of his Irish heritage, said he was grateful to Varadkar for spending time with him on the holiday, and he thanked Catholic leaders for their humanitarian work.

More Threats From MAGA

Trump Calls for Liz Cheney and Jan. 6 Committee to Be Jailed Former President Donald Trump is directly calling for the imprisonment of nine of his political opponents in a new post on Truth Social.

Marching Orders For Democratic Party

Pelosi: Democrats 'have to win this election' following Trump's 'bloodbath' remarks Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Sunday underscored the stakes of the November election after former President Trump warned of a "bloodbath" for the auto industry and the country if he doesn't win a second term in the White House. At a campaign rally in Ohio on Saturday, Trump called for a 100 percent tariff...

Vlad Stays Winning Sketchy Vote

Putin set to extend one man-rule in Russia after stage-managed election devoid of credible opposition | CNN President Vladimir Putin is set to tighten his grip on the country he has ruled since the turn of the century, with early results from Russia's stage-managed election indicating a predictably large victory for the Kremlin leader in a result that was a foregone conclusion.

Holy Land PM Shares Rebuttal

Netanyahu says Schumer call for Israel election was inappropriate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN on Sunday that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's speech in which he urged new elections in Israel was "totally inappropriate."

Irish Homeland Politics Contradict Conservative American Kin

Why is Ireland one of the most pro-Palestinian countries? The country has shown some of the highest support for Palestinians among white-majority nations

Funky Bunch Betrayal Favors Kansas City

Wahlberg: Wife 'Turned on Patriots!' The New England Patriots' downfall has rendered Mark Wahlberg's Las Vegas estate a house divided.

Irish Chill This Evening

Temperatures will drop into the 20s overnight Kansas City is headed for its final hard freeze of winter ahead of the first day of Spring

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
Yes, there are a lot of people locked up unjustly . . . Sadly, many of social justice advocates ALSO mistakenly seem to believe that every prisoner is a patron saint and putting more ex-cons on to local streets is a mater of "equity" and not just another public safety threat that neighborhoods will have to endure for better & worse.

Of course, we share the more optimistic take a well . . .



"One man in Kansas and two others in Missouri walked out of prisons in 2023 after spending years behind bars for crimes they didn't commit. They joined 150 people who were exonerated nationwide  and a new report predicts that number will grow in the future.



"According to a just-released study from the National Registry of Exonerations, official misconduct of police, prosecutors or others in the system was the top reason for 118, or 77%, of the 2023 exonerations. A total of 2,230 years were lost to wrongful imprisonment, the report said."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
With spring set to arrive Tuesday night, just after 11 p.m., the Toronto, Hamilton and Niagara area is set experience some of its coldest weather of the winter months.

Much of this whole work week, school week is going to be notably colder than normal right across the Golden Horseshoe, said Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson.

Monday was a cold send-off for the kids going back to school after their March break, with morning temperatures hovering near or below the freezing mark, and it is forecasted to get even colder as the week progresses, according to Environment Canada.

Mondays high of 4 C out of Pearson airport is expected to plummet closer to highs around the freezing mark for the rest of the work and school week and even into the weekend, with the chilly lows by midweek even hitting double-digits at -10 C Wednesday into Thursday and -9 C for the following two mornings.

Thats quite a contrast from last Wednesday, when Pearsons high temperature cracked the 20 C mark (20.6 C), just missing the all-time high for the day of 21.4 C.

Just another reminder of how variable conditions can be at this time of year, reminded Coulson.

Coulson said the cold is really going to be felt more in those overnight early morning temperatures.

In the daytime, even though the highs are just getting into the freezing mark, it probably wont feel as bad with that stronger March sunshine, he said, adding that the average high and low for this time of year (out of Pearson) is 5 C and -3 C, respectively.

The culprit behind springs rather wintry arrival, he said is a real shift in the overall flow pattern in the mid to high levels of the atmosphere.

Were seeing a flow from the northwest which is something we havent really seen all that often during the winter and this is tapping into some colder arctic air from the higher latitudes diving right down and influencing the weather in the eastern Prairies, all of northern Ontario and a good chunk of Quebec as well.

It doesnt look like it will bring active weather to the Golden Horseshoe, though, which looks to be generally pretty quiet.

We are going to be tracking a low pressure system currently in the northern prairies. Its going to dive down into eastern Ontario by Wednesday morning and as it passes to the north and northeast of us we may see some flurry activity during the day on Tuesday and then for the rest of the week a possibility of a few flurries coming in from Lake Huron. So lake effect snow in behind that system for Thursday and Friday.

The system, though, will deliver lake effect snow to the usual snow belt areas, he said.

Kincardine, Bruce Peninsula, south end of Georgian Bay look to be the folks that will get any accumulating snow. It looks just like off and on flurries for the Golden Horseshoe, he summed up.

The cold snap looks to be one of the coldest stretches of the winter months.

In terms of duration, five, six, seven days of below normal temperatures, we have not seen the like since that third week in January, he said.

From Jan. 14 to 21, he said, we were looking at double-digit, negative temperatures of -12 to -15 for those overnight lows, so that probably was our coldest stretch in the whole winter.

Other than that, he said Feb. 23, 24, 25 was on the cold side, especially with the overnight lows dipping down  on the morning of Feb. 24 it went down to -13, he said.

For those yearning for a return to warm weather, there is hope around the corner.

It does look to be colder than normal through the weekend though some of the models Ive been looking at are indicating a bounce back in the temperatures to at least seasonal values for next week, maybe even a bit milder than seasonal, he said.
The Maya Train, or Tren Maya, is a fresh train network in Mexico, letting you visit ancient Mayan ruins and check out some cool beaches. This exciting route kicked off in December. But, what spots can we hit up when we hop on this train? One standout destination is Campeche, a city that is buzzing with life and soaked in history.

Riding the Maya Train to Campeche, you dive into a world where old meets new in the most stunning ways. Campeche shines bright as a gem on the Maya Train's path, famous for its well-preserved fortifications and a vibe that's both laid-back and full of wonders. Here, you can stroll along ancient walls, explore forts that once protected the city from pirates, and lose yourself in museums that are treasure chests of history.

But it is not all about the past. There are a lot of other things you can explore when you visit this place in Mexico! So, here are the reasons WHY visiting Campeche is a must-do when you ride this train.

A Look at Campeche's History

Visiting Campeche takes you to another era. Established in the 16th century, this city tells of pirate adventures and Spanish rule. Its ancient walls and fortifications share stories of protection against invaders. As you walk through the historic area, it's like reading a history book with its ancient buildings and stone streets. Campeche is recognized by UNESCO for its historical significance.

Campeche's Vivid Streets

The streets of Campeche are visually striking. Brightly colored houses and buildings adorn the sidewalks, making every walk enjoyable. These colors showcase the lively character of the city and its residents. Spending time exploring, you discover new details and scenes perfect for photos at every turn. It's a place where each corner introduces a new color. Moreover, walking here, you feel enveloped in a spectrum of hues.

Architectural Wonders Around Every Corner

In Campeche, ancient architecture awaits. The Cathedral in Campeche, known for its impressive front, is a highlight. It stands as a symbol of the city's religious and architectural history. Other historical points include the forts and bastions designed to keep pirates at bay. These locations provide a picture of the city's history, sharing knowledge about Campeche's evolution and symbols of the city's endurance and aesthetic.

Related Article: This is Why You Should Check this Famous 'Hobbit Hotel' in Mexico

The Culinary Scene in Campeche

Campeche's food mirrors its cultural mix. Local cuisine blends Mayan, Spanish, and Caribbean flavors, offering tastes unique to this area. The Gulf of Mexico provides fresh seafood, a local favorite. Sampling the area's food is like exploring the city's history and location through taste. With a variety of restaurants and street vendors, there's something for everyone. Discovering Campeche through its food is an exciting journey.

Nature's Beauty Nearby

A brief journey from Campeche leads to natural splendors. Untouched beaches and clear waters offer a chance to unwind if you prefer quiet and peaceful places. Also, protected areas allow for hikes, bird watching, and wildlife observation. These natural spots complement the city's historical allure perfectly. If you're a fan of the seaside or the forest, the surroundings of Campeche have something captivating. The natural scenery is another reason Campeche is a key destination on the Maya Train adventure.

The Significance of Visiting Campeche

Campeche offers more travel stops and a place brimming with history, culture, and nature. With its colorful avenues, historical sites, and delightful cuisine, the city promises a memorable visit. Its safety and accessibility enhance its charm, ensuring a pleasant experience for visitors. Campeche appeals to everyone, whether they're drawn to history, culture, or natural beauty, marking it as an essential visit on your Mexican voyage.

Read Also: What's So Special About Bacalar Lagoon in Mexico That You Can't Find Anywhere Else
One of the reasons we want to travel is to meet new faces alongside visiting beautiful places. Stornoway shines in this regard. Located on the Isle of Lewis, this small town, home to about 6,000 people, has a big heart. Its residents are famous for their friendliness, which could easily make it the UK's most welcoming town.

In Stornoway, a strong community spirit thrives. As soon as you arrive, whether by ferry or plane, you're greeted with smiles and hellos from everyone you meet. This town is where conversations start effortlessly, and strangers quickly feel like friends. The sense of belonging hits you right away, thanks to the welcoming nature of its people. So, if you're visiting local shops, enjoying meals in cozy cafes, or exploring the stunning coastline, you will discover that Stornoway's charm is as much about its people as its beautiful scenery.

A Community Like No Other

In Stornoway, the warmth of the community hits you the moment you step into town. People here do not just pass by; they stop, chat, and ensure you feel at home. It is not rare to be invited for a cup of tea or to hear stories of the island from locals. This genuine friendliness is what sets Stornoway apart. If you are at the local market or taking a stroll along the harbor, the residents' openness is evident. They take pride in their town and are eager to share its beauty with visitors.

Employment Opportunities Abound

Stornoway is not just about the friendly faces but also offers a variety of job opportunities. The town supports a dynamic workforce that includes fishing and farming, traditional sectors of the island's economy, and emerging sectors like tourism and renewable energy.

Local businesses thrive here, providing employment and contributing to the community's close-knit feel. The town's economy is robust and committed to sustainable development and innovation. For those looking to make a move, Stornoway presents a blend of traditional and modern job markets in a scenic setting.

Related Article: Thinking of a Romantic Break With Your Partner? Here Are the Perfect Spots in Edinburgh

Natural Beauty at Every Turn

The natural surroundings of Stornoway are breathtaking. With rugged coastlines, sweeping landscapes, and beaches, the town is a haven for nature lovers. Outdoor lovers can enjoy activities like hiking, bird watching, and sailing. The beauty of the Isle of Lewis is accessible from Stornoway, serving as a gateway to exploring the wild and untouched areas of the Outer Hebrides.

The commitment to preserving natural beauty while welcoming tourists is clear, making every visit an adventure.

A Safe and Welcoming Environment

One of the most notable aspects of Stornoway is its safety and serenity. The low crime rate and the community's watchful eye ensure that residents and visitors enjoy peace of mind. This sense of security adds to the town's appeal, making it a perfect destination for families and solo travelers.

In Stornoway, you can explore, relax, and experience all that the town has to offer without worry. The commitment to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment is a piece of evidence of the community's values.

Read Also: First Time Visiting Fingal's Cave in Scotland? Here's What You Need to Know Before You Go
Disney Cruise Line is ready to offer families unforgettable vacations in summer 2025. The cruises will take travelers to places like The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Alaska, and for the first time, Europe. Starting in May and going until September, these trips promise adventures and relaxation for everyone.

Disney Cruise Line Announces Exciting 2025 Summer Voyages

Disney Cruise Line has a busy schedule for summer 2025. The Disney Fantasy will be making waves in Europe, starting its first season there. From May to late July, the ship will set sail from Barcelona, Spain, and Civitavecchia, Italy. It will visit beautiful spots in the Mediterranean, including a special 12-night trip to the Greek Isles, Italy, and a one-time stop in Valetta, Malta. Then, from late July to September, it will travel from Southampton, United Kingdom, to various places including Spain, Norway, and the British Isles.

Meanwhile, as per Breaking Travel News, the Disney Wonder will return to Alaska from Vancouver, Canada. From May to September, it will offer different-length trips, from five to nine nights. These cruises will let guests see the stunning nature of Alaska, including glaciers and old gold mines.

In Florida, four Disney Cruise Line ships will be ready to take families to warm destinations like The Bahamas and the Caribbean. The Disney Treasure, after its first season, will offer week-long trips to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The Disney Magic and Disney Dream will also sail to The Bahamas, including stops at Disney's private islands. The Disney Wish will provide short trips to Nassau and Disney Castaway Cay from Port Canaveral, while the Disney Dream will start from Fort Lauderdale with trips to Disney's islands and other tropical spots.

Related Article: Star Clippers Unveils Extended Caribbean Sailings from Grenada for Winter 2025/26

Opens New Island Retreat in The Bahamas

Disney Cruise Line is set to open Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, a new island destination in Eleuthera, The Bahamas, in June 2024. This announcement invites fans and future guests to explore the vibrant culture, beautiful scenery, and unique experiences that will be available.

Joey Gaskins, a member of the Disney Cruise Line team in The Bahamas, shares insights into what makes Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point special. Located just a short flight from Nassau, this new destination is designed to immerse visitors in the rich Bahamian culture through its architecture, activities, and the natural beauty of Eleuthera.

As shared by Cruise and Ferry, one of the first things guests will notice as they arrive are the Mabrika Cove Cabanas. These cabanas, designed with vibrant colors and patterns by a Bahamian artist, offer a place for families to relax by the turquoise waters. The architecture throughout the island, inspired by colorful seashells, provides a setting for enjoying meals at places like True-True Too BBQ, where guests can savor local flavors under a shell-inspired pavilion.

Disney Cruise Line's commitment to showcasing Bahamian culture extends beyond the design. The island features art inspired by local flora and fauna, and activities that celebrate traditions such as Junkanoo, a Bahamian festival. Guests will have the chance to engage with the culture through music, dance, and art, including experiencing Junior Junkanoo, a competition that showcases the creativity and spirit of Bahamian youth.

Read Also: Holland America Line's 2026 World Tour Hits All Seven Continents


Search News Archive : Fast Travel News Promotion Via Search, Social Media + Email Follow Us On : JULIO M HERRERA | ITALY IS A PLACE WHERE ONE VISIT IN NOT JUST ENOUGH! BUT WHY? Industry: Destinations

Italy is a country where just one trip is not enough because of its stunning natural surroundings, fantastic cuisine, art, and fashion asserts Julio Martin Herrera.



(TRAVPR.COM) ITALY - March 18th, 2024 - Italy is a country where just one trip is not enough because of its stunning natural surroundings, fantastic cuisine, art, and fashion asserts Julio Martin Herrera. You will undoubtedly return for more of its velvety tiramisu, blistering hot, melting cheese-topped fresh pizzas, smooth, cool gelato, flawless, Instagram-worthy golden glow of Venice, extremely opulent fashion of Roman stores, and sunshine splayed across olive trees. These are just a handful of the numerous explanations for why people like Italy. Here are some more incentives explained by Julio Herrera to make your decision to schedule travel to Italy more enticing. Just the tip of the iceberg in terms of its natural beauty, fantastic cuisine, art, and fashion. Why should everyone travel to the renowned boot-shaped nation? Definitely, these top motivations will make you visit Italy again and again.



Rich Culture along with Historian Sites



The history of Italy spans millennia. You will notice Italy's old history and culture on every nook and corner of the city. While smaller towns like Florence can transport you to the Middle Ages, historic Italian cities like Rome will show you the enormous remnants of a powerful ancient empire, the Papal state, and Renaissance noble families. Additionally, you may see remnants of the Middle Ages in the cities of Viterbo, Bracciano, Perugia, or Venice. On the other hand, Sardinia is home to ancient communities from the Mediterranean islands as well as the Bronze Age Nuraghe stone castles. Italy has numerous attractions, including its rich cultural richness and extensive historical past.



Mouthwatering Food & Wine



There is no need to introduce Italian food. Most people love it and it's one of the biggest attractions in Italy. It promises real treats that go beyond your usual pizza and pasta comfort meals. While Italy's many regions each have their own unique characteristics, wherever you go, you won't be let down. Enjoy the new flavors, regionally specific recipes, ingredients, cheeses like Pecorino or Fossa cheese, breads like Focaccia or Coppia Ferrarese, sauces like carbonara or pesto, and pasta varieties there are over 350 different kinds of pasta! Additionally, you can find gelato everywhere. You shouldn't pass up this fast snack in the afternoon because it's a cool, creamy pleasure. Also, don't forget to sample some of the robust and flavorful Italian coffee, perhaps with an espresso after dinner. Of course, an excellent house wine is a must-have with every Italian dinner. It's hardly surprising that Italy now produces more wine than France because of the variety of grapes it uses.



Heaven of Art and Architecture



The nation is a paradise for everyone who wants to investigate architecture and design throughout the ages. It is practically impossible to go around without running across a piece of history since these artifacts are on every street and road you could possibly be on, says Julio Herrera. The elegant streetscapes of Florence, the admirably preserved Colosseum in Rome, the breathtaking painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the flawless marble dome of St. Peter's Cathedral in Vatican City, the gorgeous arched bridges that span Venice's canals, and the picture-perfect rows of colorful cottages in Positano are just a few examples of the most well-known works of art in Italy.



The Longest Coastline in whole Europe



The waves of five seasthe Mediterranean, Adriatic, Ionian, Tyrrhenian, and Ligurianwash the beautiful shores of Italy. Except for Umbria, nearly every one of Italy's 20 regions has access to the sea, thus you can never be too far from a beach. So, take advantage of this rare opportunity to relax on beaches, eat fresh seafood, and take in the splendor of the emerald-blue sea. You may discover a place to suit all of your needs and preferences, claim Julio Martin Herrera, whether your idea of a beach is opulent resorts, rustic and historic locations, or everything in between. ### Please contact the person or company listed above for information regarding the content of this press release. TravPR.com are not the issuers of this press release and are not responsible for the accuracy of the content. Share Release :



CONTACT INFORMATION Name: Julio Martin Herrera Company: Julio Martin Herrera Phone: 9718457564 Email: julioherreradei@protonmail.com Web: PRESS RELEASE TAGS
The country is tonight mourning the loss of one of its legal luminaries... who also served i
A line of people nearly wrapped around the building of Colorado's newest gas station before 6 a.m. Monday at Buc-ee's in Johnstown, off Interstate 25 and County Road 48.

"This is our merry 'Buc-mas,'" said Jessica Forinash of Thornton. "This is the only time it opens. It never closes."

"If you want to see it open you got to come now," said the former Alabama resident, adding she's happy it's close again.

People stood in below-freezing temperatures wearing Buc-ees merchandise such as beaver onesies to T-shirts, while chanting Buc-ees, Buc-ees minutes before doors opened.

Once allowed in, guests ran into the store with hands in the air, then grabbed a shopping cart to fill with more original merch or darted to the food stands for fudge or beef brisket.

The cult-favorite Texas gas station chain boasting the world's cleanest bathrooms allowed the media access to the 74,000-square-foot gas station on 5201 Nugget Road, with 116 gas pumps and 12 electric charging stations, before the doors opened to the public.

The bathrooms had 34 stalls for women, 17 for men and 19 urinals. Each stall has green and red lights on the door indicating if its vacant or not, and the bathrooms have attendants all day, every day making sure its tidy and in best condition for travelers.

Lisa Nguyen, a new fan from Centennial, first heard about Buc-ees from a friend who got her a beaver plush as a gift.

Its more than a gas station. Its more than a stop, she remembered her friend telling her.

Then she visited one in Texas and found it a fun experience with good food, a pleasant restroom experience and cute beaver products.

I don't think I really understood the hype until after I'd been to one in Texas and I was like, No, I get it now,' Nguyen said.

The massive gas station and country store began construction in 2022. The Texas-based chain has 48 stations across the south in U.S. states Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri. Alongside Colorado, Virginia is also poised to get a Buc-ee's, with construction starting this year.

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Colorados first location is right between Denver and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Itll catch daily commuters or families visiting Estes Park and the Rocky Mountains, said Buc-ees director of operations Josh Smith.

As you walk in, your sensories are gonna be overloaded from the fresh smell of the food being made, to the sweet cinnamon roasted nuts, Smith said, to all the aesthetics, the gift items like crystallized cow skulls and cow hides, and barbecue pits and everything with a beaver on it that you can imagine.

The company is planning on expanding across the state, Smith said, but wont say where yet.

The Johnstown location will attract more than 100,000 people a week, according to the citys development manager Sarah Crosthwaite, and could generate $25 million in taxable sales yearly.

We picked a great partner in the community of Johnstown for our first store in Colorado, Buc-ees Stan Beard said in a previous statement. At the foothills of the beautiful Northern Front Range, this Buc-ees will introduce all sorts of bikers, hikers, skiers, and campers to the cleanest restrooms, friendliest staff, and freshest food theyll ever find on a road trip.

The Johnstown station is expected to bring 200 jobs to the area, according to Buc-ees.

This beaver built an economic dam on I-25 for us, said Johnstown Mayor Troy Mellon at the Monday ribbon cutting ceremony.

Itll attract people and their dollars to the town in the same way a beavers dam brings all sorts of wildlife to its lake, he said. The opening was highly anticipated to boost not only Johnstown's economy, but also the Northern Colorado region and the whole state, as well.

"We have finally got something that isn't from California," said state Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, for the district covering Weld and Larimer counties. "We finally got something from Texas."

Buc-ees founder Arch Beaver Aplin III told a crowd at the ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. that he wasnt certain how the turnout would be for Colorados first location since the chain has focused most of its expansions on Texas and the Southeast U.S.

At the time of the ceremony, Buc-ee's parking lot was overwhelmed and the street behind the travel center, Nugget Road, was lined with illegally parked cars on both sides. Customers stood in long lines for brisket and fresh beef jerky and cell phone service slowed as crowds took over the store and overwhelmed the free WiFi.

"I don't know why we're just now getting here," Aplin said about Colorado's long-awaited travel center.

Even Aplin was surprised by the large reception within the chains newest state and said the chain's fans can expect more to come.

This wont be the only store in Colorado, Aplin said. We very much look forward to finding more opportunities to be here in y'all's great state."
The Russian volunteer corps and the Freedom of Russia legion, which have been running combat operations on Russian soil for the past several days, already represent a significant force and will acquire more and more political actorship in the future.

Such an opinion was expressed by the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraines Defense Ministry, Kyrylo Budanov, who spoke on the air of the national telethon, Ukrinform reports.

"As far as we know, they are not going to stop in the near future and will do everything they have power for. And as we can see, they have enough strength to achieve, let's say, some limited goals. We will see what happens next." Budanov noted.

He emphasized that the effort is entirely about Russians solving their domestic issues.

Regarding the statement by the Freedom of Russia Legions spokesman that they are ready to "exchange" the village of Tiotkino, Kursk region, for the liberation of temporarily occupied Melitopol (Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine), Budanov replied he would be "happy" to see that happen, adding that it was too early to discuss this.

He also emphasized that the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion are acquiring political weight as they can no longer be considered rogue "groups". According to Budanov, the number of those willing to fight for the democratic future of the Russian Federation will be growing as the force will unite with various opposition movements both inside and outside of Russia.

According to the GUR head, Russian volunteers have been fighting on Ukraines side since the full-scale invasion and have been in many "hot spots" across Ukraine so they have already gained experience. He also promised to "try to help them as much as we can."

However, Budanov admits, the outcome of the so-called elections in Russia are unlikely to be affected by the volunteers effort as the vote has been falsified and known in advance. In particular, in Belgorod, which is now subject to shelling, the Russians claimed the turnout stood at 75.7%.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on the morning of March 12, the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalion breached the Russian border into Kursk and Belgorod regions as part of a joint operation.
More than 580 combat engagements were recorded on the battlefield last week as the enemy launched 63 missile strikes and more than 665 air strikes across Ukraine.

Andrii Kovaliov, spokesperson for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said this on Ukrainian television, Ukrinform reports.

"Over the past week, the enemy launched 63 missile strikes, more than 665 air strikes and almost 760 attacks using multiple rocket launchers on the positions of our troops and civilian infrastructure," Kovaliov said.

According to him, in the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna sectors, Russian occupiers last week shelled populated areas from Russian territory and carried out sabotage and reconnaissance activities, breaching the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian units stopped two attempts by Russian saboteurs to breach the border near Stara Huta and Brusky in the Sumy region. The enemy actively uses drones to locate the positions of Ukrainian troops.

In the Kupiansk sector, the invaders are continuing offensive actions near Synkivka, Kyslivka, and Tabaivka in the Kharkiv region. Ukrainian soldiers repelled more than 13 enemy assaults there last week.

In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian soldiers repelled 68 enemy assaults on the positions of Ukrainian troops near Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region and Terny, Spirne, Verkhniokamianske, and Rozdolivka in the Donetsk region.

Read also: Air defenses destroyed 17 out of 22 enemy kamikaze drones at night

In the Bakhmut sector, according to Kovaliov, the enemy carried out assaults near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka and east of Chasiv Yar of the Donetsk region, where Ukraine's defense forces repelled about 40 enemy attack in the past week.

In the Avdiivka sector, the enemy continued to carry out offensive operations near Avdiivka. Last week, Russian forces carried out more than 147 assaults on the positions of Ukrainian troops near Novoselivka, Berdychi, Semenivka, Orlivka, Tonenke, Pervomaiske and Nevelske of the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian soldiers inflicted significant losses on the enemy in both manpower and equipment.

In the Novopavlivka sector, the Russian occupiers continued offensive actions near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobieda, Novomykhailivka and south of Vuhledar, Prechystivka, and Urozhaine in the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian forces repelled almost 205 enemy assaults last week.

In the Orikhiv sector, Russian invaders carried out 52 unsuccessful assaults outside Huliaipole, east of Levadne, Malynivka, Robotyne, and west of Verbove of the Zaporizhzhia region.

In the Kherson sector, the enemy concentrated its main efforts on conducting defensive operations, improving mine and explosive obstacles and logistics routes, continuing to carry out air and artillery strikes on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.

According to Kovaliov, Russian occupiers are trying to dislodge Ukrainian units from bridgeheads on the east bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region, where last week they carried out more than 19 assaults on the positions of Ukrainian troops.

Moreover, over the past week, the Ukrainian military managed to eliminate more than 5,700 Russian occupiers.

"Last week, the overall losses of the enemy amounted to 5,760 Russian troops, 51 tanks, 123 armored combat vehicles, 135 artillery systems, 1 multiple rocket launcher, 9 air defense systems, 131 operational and tactical level drones, 3 cruise missiles, 1 ship, 247 vehicles, and 37 units of special equipment," Kovaliov said.

According to him, Ukrainian air defenses shot down 98 out of 129 enemy Shahed strike drones.

Ukrainian aircraft struck 48 areas of concentration of Russian manpower, weapons and military equipment, a command post and air defense system, he said.

In addition, Ukrainian missile forces last week struck 20 areas of concentration of enemy troops, weapons and military equipment, an ammunition depot, two electronic warfare stations, five air defense systems, a Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile system and a 1L 219 Zoopark counter-battery radar system.

Photo: Scott Peterson/Getty Images
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believes that the incident with the launch of a drone in the pro-Russian self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria is an attempt by Russia to destabilize the situation in Moldova from within.

The ISW said this in its new Russian offensive campaign assessment, Ukrinform reports.

Transnistrian outlets claimed on March 17 that a single drone struck a helicopter on the territory of an unspecified military unit in Transnistria, posted video footage of the moment of the drone strike, and alleged that the drone flew from the direction of the Odesa region. Neither Transnistrian nor Russian authorities have accused Ukrainian forces of conducting the strike as of this writing but may do so in the future

"ISW cannot independently verify the details of the singular drone strike in Transnistria or identify the responsible actors, but it is unlikely that Ukrainian forces conducted the strike given the limited means used in the strike and the insignificant target. Ukrainian officials have also recently stated that Transnistria does not pose a military threat to Ukraine," ISW analysts said.

Transnistrian authorities recently asked Russia for unspecified "zashchita" (defense/protection) against Moldova, and Russia or Russian-linked actors would likely be the beneficiaries of this provocation in order to further the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to set information conditions to justify a variety of Russian hybrid operations that aim to destabilize Moldova, about which ISW has extensively warned.

On March 17, the unrecognized breakaway state of Transnistria (Moldova) reported an explosion and fire at a military unit in Tiraspol as a result of a kamikaze drone attack. It was also reported that the fire after the strike could have destroyed a helicopter.

The Bureau of Reintegration of Moldova stated that the drone strike was intended to spread fear and panic in Transnistria and that this was part of a hostile information operation targeting Moldova.

The bureau also noted that the Moldovan authorities, who are in contact with the Ukrainian side, "do not confirm any attack on the Transnistrian region."

The Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council accused Russia of carrying out the attack with the aim of manipulating the information space.

Photo: Patriot News
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has approved the training of about 50 Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft on Romanian territory.

This is reported by Romania Insider, Ukrinform reported.

The pilots will learn to operate F-16 aircraft at a military base in the city of Fatesti, in southern Romania.

Iohannis also informed the parliament in a letter that he had authorized the transit of military equipment and other cargoes that Finland had transferred to Ukraine through Romanian territory.

It is noted that the president's letter will be put to a vote at the next joint plenary session of both houses of parliament.

It is not yet known when the training of Ukrainian pilots will begin, but the publication reports, citing sources from the Romanian media outlet Digi24, that they will arrive at the base in the summer of 2024 and complete their training by the end of the year.

Read also: Romanian construction workers who will build bridge across Tisza have been granted permission to stay

Last October, the Royal Netherlands Air Force announced that it would send F-16s to the Air Base 'Air Lieutenant Gheorghe Mochornice' in Romania to help train Ukrainian pilots. A month later, Romania inaugurated a training center in Fatesti.

As reported, on February 22, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Ukraine will have the right to attack military targets in Russia with F-16 fighters.
Delegates from NATO and Ukraine will meet at a conference in Luxembourg this week to discuss modernizing Ukraine's defense procurement processes to make them faster, more sustainable and more transparent.

That's according to a statement posted on the military alliance's website, Ukrinform reports.

"A conference marking a new phase in NATO's partnership with Ukraine will take place in Luxembourg this week. Delegates from NATO and Ukraine will meet to discuss modernizing Ukraine's defense procurement processes to make them faster, more sustainable and more transparent. Stacy Cummings, General Manager of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, will open conference proceedings and speakers include Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Defense Dmytro Klymenkov and Tom Goffus, NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Operations," the statement said.

It added that improving defense procurement remains a top priority for Ukraine and NATO is committed to assisting with this process to ensure it is aligned with Allied best practices.

"NATO will continue to support Ukraine to the maximum extent, at every stage," the statement said.

The NATO-Ukraine Strategic Defense Procurement Review forms part of the Alliance's Comprehensive Assistance Package  an initiative launched in 2016 to support Ukraine's ability to bolster its own security and to implement wide-ranging reforms. The Review, championed by Norway and conducted at the request of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, is being led by subject-matter experts from across NATO and Ukraine in close collaboration with NATO's procurement agency.

The purpose of the review is to help Ukraine reform its defense procurement system and align it with NATO best practices and standards. Its recommendations will promote greater accountability, transparency and interoperability, helping to pave the way for Ukraine's future membership of the Alliance.

This week's conference represented the beginning of the first phase of the Review which involves the establishment of working groups to develop a set of policy recommendations to be endorsed at the Washington summit in July.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the leadership of the European Union and member states for the creation of a new Ukraine Assistance Fund as part of the European Peace Facility.

He said this in his traditional video address to Ukrainians, Ukrinform reports.

"Today I would also like to thank the leadership of the European Union and all member states for establishing a new Fund to assist Ukraine within the European Peace Facility. The amount is 5 billion euros, which will be used to support our defense efforts this year. We also expect this Fund to become part of a general security agreement between Ukraine and the European Union," Zelensky said.

The European Union on March 18 announced the creation of a military aid fund for Ukraine worth EUR 5 billion for 2024 as part of the reformed European Peace Facility.

Ukrinform offers the full text of the president's address:

"I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Briefly about this day.

I held a meeting of the Staff. There was a report by the Commander-in-Chief on the main areas of operations. Kupyansk direction, our directions in Donetsk region, southern directions. There was an analysis of the dynamics in terms of ammunition  logistics in the army has become significantly more efficient. There were reports from the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Strategic Industries on contracts for the supply of weapons and ammunition from both partner countries and domestic manufacturers. This year we must and will reach the maximum level of Ukrainian defense production throughout the entire period of independence. And every year we will consistently expand this potential, which is an obvious strategic perspective for Ukraine. I am grateful to everyone who contributes to this, giving all their energy, and to everyone who truly helps  every leader, every state, every company in the world that stands with Ukraine. The Staff also listened to the government's report on the construction of fortifications  all resources are provided.

A few things today about our communication with partners. I spoke with the President-elect of Indonesia. We appreciate the relations that have already been achieved between our countries. It was in Indonesia that the Ukrainian Peace Formula was first presented. And since then, the Peace Formula has gradually become global, bringing together the world's majority. States and leaders from all continents have already joined the work on the Formula, and we are now preparing the first inaugural Global Peace Summit. And today I invited Indonesia to participate in it. Senator Lindsey Graham, a representative of the Republican Party, visited Ukraine today. We talked, among other things, about the importance of freedom and democracy winning now, in this war, here in Ukraine, because otherwise Russian aggression and chaos will spread around the world. I informed the Senator about the situation on the battlefield and the key needs of our Defense Forces. The needs are quite obvious. Patriots, ATACMS, F-16s. And, of course, artillery. We discussed further cooperation and support for Ukraine. All our actions must be far-sighted, long-range, and as effective as possible to enable all free nations to live on in freedom and security. I am grateful to everyone in the United States who feels as we do that freedom must always prevail.

Today I would also like to thank the leadership of the European Union and all member states for establishing a new Fund to assist Ukraine within the European Peace Facility. The amount is 5 billion euros, which will be used to support our defense efforts this year. We also expect this Fund to become part of a general security agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.

I am grateful to all our people who fight and work for Ukraine and Ukrainians, who support each of our cities and communities. And especially to those who are currently having the hardest times: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and our Odesa. We are doing our best to give Ukraine and each of our regions more protection and more strength. I thank everyone in the world who stands with Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!"
Ukraine expects to start accession negotiations with the EU in the first half of this year.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this in an interview with Euractiv, Ukrinform reports.

"We are waiting and wishing to have approval by the European Council at their closest meeting [this week], and believe we can begin accession negotiations in the first half of this year," Shmyhal said.

His comments came after the European Commission sent its draft negotiating framework for Ukraine's and Moldova's accession talks to member states last week, following a decision by EU leaders in December.

"We hope that our European partners will approve it without any additional amendments as the European Commission proposes. [] [European Council] President Charles Michel named 2030 a possible target year for further EU enlargement, but we will do our best for Ukraine that it could happen earlier, immediately after our victory," Shmyhal said.

According to him, Ukraine will execute its "homework" in a very fast way.

"I believe that it will take us not more than two years," Shmyhal said.

Asked whether he is worried his country's bid could become a cost-benefit calculation for some of the more reluctant EU member states, Shmyhal said, "Ukraine will bring to the EU much more than the process of joining will cost."

A recent report by the Bruegel think tank, as well as internal EU documents seen by Euractiv, estimate the financial cost of Ukraine's accession to be between EUR 110-136 billion to the EU seven-year budget, roughly 0.10%- 0.13% of the bloc's GDP.

"We've seen the reports, but the Ukrainian market, the Ukrainian Defense Forces, the Ukrainian raw and critical materials, and other sectors could bring much more in terms of security and economic benefits," Shmyhal said.

Asked whether he would be worried that certain EU member states, such as Hungary, would aim to slow down the process over bilateral issues, Shmyhal added: "Disputes can be solved throughout the negotiations during the two-year process."

On March 21-22, Brussels will host an EU summit to consider a draft negotiation framework for Ukraine. In addition, the European Commission will assess Kyiv's implementation of the reforms required for Ukraine's accession to the EU.
NATO Secretary General Gens Stoltenberg has said that Russia's organization of "elections" in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and Georgia is illegal and the so-called presidential elections in Russia, in his opinion, were neither free nor fair.

He stated this at a joint press conference with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi on Monday, March 18, Ukrinform reports.

"Russia's organization of elections in occupied parts of Georgia and Ukraine is completely illegal. And Russia's presidential election was clearly neither free nor fair," Stoltenberg said.

He noted that Russia persists its pursuit of imperial ambitions. The situation on the battlefield in Ukraine remains difficult.

"So it is vital that we continue to step up our support. NATO Allies provide 99 percent of all military aid to Ukraine. And our partners also play a key role. I welcome that Georgia is hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees and providing crucial humanitarian and financial aid. At the same time, we can and must do more to stop Russia's cycle of aggression," Stoltenberg said.

He said that at the meeting in Tbilisi, the sides had addressed security in the Black Sea, where Russia's war put freedom of navigation at risk and threatened global food supplies.

"But, with our support, Ukraine has pushed back - destroying or damaging a significant part of Russia's Black Sea fleet. Ukrainian success has allowed them to re-open grain shipping that is vital for their economy and for global food security," Stoltenberg said.

Photo: gdpr-info.eu
UAE operator du, from Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (EITC), has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Samsung.

This collaboration, the partners say, marks a significant milestone in the companies' relationship, allowing for expansion in the business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) segments.

Under this new agreement, du and Samsung will work together to expand Samsung's digital service business and offerings, such as Samsung Care+, through retail, online and mobile channels. This move aims to enhance the overall customer experience for both B2C and B2B customers.

Fadi Abu Shamat, Head of the Mobile eXperience Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, says: "Through this partnership, we will be able to bring our cutting-edge products and solutions including Galaxy AI  a key enabler for new user experience paradigms, especially when it comes to the tools that empower creative expression, productivity, and barrier-free communications. Introduced in early 2024, Galaxy AI brings artificial intelligence capabilities to every phone in the Samsung Galaxy S24 series.

The partnership between du and Samsung will focus on various business fundamentals and key development pillars. This includes expanding B2C practices to B2B, with an emphasis on the Enterprise Edition portfolio and rugged device offerings.

Additionally, du will have exclusive access to Samsung's latest product launches, ensuring customers have access to the most advanced technology available. The companies will also collaborate on reaching the younger generation, with joint participation in events like the Dubai Esports Festival.

Another strategic focus of this partnership is the creation of B2B-specific workshops and events to maximise reach. The collaboration aims to provide customers with value-added services (VAS) and monetisation opportunities through direct investment and by leveraging the du ecosystem.

The companies also plan to develop B2B-specific rate plans for the enterprise edition and rugged device portfolio, as well as collaborate on CRM initiatives for local customers in the premium segment offerings.
The EU-Ukraine Association Council will consider the most important areas for the development of bilateral relations in the context of the fight against Russian aggression and reforms on Ukraine's path to EU membership at a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, March 20.

That's according to a statement posted on the website of the European Council, Ukrinform reports.

"The ninth meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council will take place in Brussels, starting at 09:30, and discuss political matters and bilateral relations. During a restricted session the EU and Ukraine will exchange views on the situation following Russia's war of aggression, focusing on the military, economic and humanitarian situation on the ground and the response to Russia's war. They will then touch on wider global and regional issues," the statement said.

Participants will then exchange views on the bilateral agenda, touching on the implementation of the Association Agreement since the start of the Russian war of aggression; the implementation of the European Commission Ukraine country report recommendations; the issue of reconstruction and reforms in Ukraine, including EU financial assistance.

On March 21-22, the leaders of the EU countries will meet in the format of the European Council in Brussels to discuss the increase of EU aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council on March 18 decided to allocate an additional EUR 5 billion in military aid to Ukraine as part of the European Peace Facility.
Senator Lindsey Graham intends to initiate a bill in the U.S. to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

He said this at a briefing in Kyiv on Monday, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

As for Putin's election, it is illegitimate, Graham said. According to him, Putin is an illegitimate president who is running a terrorist state. Graham said his response to Putin's election when he gets back to Washington would be to introduce a bill recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law.

According to him, the data provided in Russia regarding the results of the pseudo-elections, which testify to Putin's victory, are so impressive that no one simply believes them. The senator said the election results had been rigged and called the Russian dictator a war criminal.

Graham called on the Biden administration to support the recognition of Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.

He also added that the sanctions were not working as they should. Russia's economy is too strong, and we need to redouble our efforts to pursue their economic assets, Graham said. The bottom line is that designating Russia a state sponsor of terrorism will make secondary sanctions more significant, so countries like India, China and others doing business with Russia will do so at their own peril, the senator said.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk and President of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Rosen Zhelyazkov met in Vienna and discussed support for Ukraine, including in the defense sector.

According to Ukrinform, Stefanchuk said this in a post on Facebook.

The Verkhovna Rada chairman thanked Bulgaria for its practical assistance and participation in initiatives to support Ukraine.

He stressed that the acceleration of the victory over the Russian invaders is possible only if Ukraine receives continuous and timely supplies of weapons, including artillery, ammunition, air defense systems and the necessary equipment.

Read also: Bulgaria sends 100 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine

Stefanchuk also informed about Ukraine's need for assistance in the treatment of wounded soldiers.

Among other things, the parties discussed European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Stefanchuk emphasized that Ukraine has already completed all four legislative steps required to start negotiations on joining the European Union.

The Verkhovna Rada Chairman stressed that Ukraine needs effective security guarantees. He expressed hope for a bilateral security agreement with Bulgaria.

As Ukrinform reported, Stefanchuk is on a working visit to Vienna. There, the Verkhovna Rada chairman will take part in a conference of speakers on the EU Strategy for the Danube Region.

During his working visit, Stefanchuk met with Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen. The parties discussed strengthening humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Photo: Ruslan Stefanchuk/Facebook
Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin met in Kyiv with his colleagues from the U.S. Department of Justice, Nathan Brooks and Tim Rank, as well as with Legal Advisor at U.S. Embassy in Ukraine Jared Kimball, and FBI Legal Attache Chris Geiger.

According to Ukrinform, this was reported by the Prosecutor Generals Office.

The parties discussed strategies for investigating Russias cybercrime committed against Ukraine and partner countries.

According to Kostin, the scope of Russia-linked cyber operations against Ukrainian targets continue to grow. Over 800 attempts of cyberattacks against state institutions and services were documented, with the critical energy infrastructure being a regular target.

The prosecutor general said that the attacks also include information operations to undermine Ukrainian society and targeting telecommunication systems to deprive Ukrainians of access to mobile connection and the Internet.

He noted that an effective and comprehensive investigation of these crimes requires the implementation of best practices and methods to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Kostin also added that the experience and support of U.S. colleagues would be very valuable.

Furthermore, they discussed strengthening cooperation in the field of intellectual property protection and combating cyber organized crime.

We are committed to intensifying our efforts and innovating investigative techniques to make cyberspace safer and counter emerging threats efficiently, stressed Kostin.

As reported by Ukrinform, since the start of the war, Ukraine has repelled more than 5,000 Russian cyberattacks.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has reportedly urged the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to do more to stop the theft of telecoms gear from cell towers, which has escalated in the last few months amid aggressive 5G rollouts.

According to ETTelecom, the COAI  which represents Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea  sent a letter to DoT secretary Neeraj Mittal last Thursday saying that incidents of theft have increased multi-fold since October 2023.

COAI Director General SP Kochhar said in the letter that thieves are mainly making off with remote radio units (RRUs) and baseband units (BBUs). He also said that theft is particularly rampant in Delhi NCR, Rajasthan, Assam, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Punjab & Haryana, with just 31 districts contributing to as much as 50% of the theft incidents reported pan India, the report said.

The letter also said that a huge number of sites have been robbed multiple times and claims that the stolen gear is being openly sold on e-commerce sites such as Ebay, Telefly, Seeker816, Dorfatrade, and Alibaba, according to the report.

Kochhar added that in most cases, telcos are unable to recover both the stolen equipment and the subsequent losses in replacing them.

The increase in theft cases comes as Jio and Airtel complete their rollouts of 5G technologies across the country, while Vodafone Idea has started its rollout and is planning to launch 5G in the second half of this year,

The COAI letter asked the DoT to contact all state chief secretaries to prioritise telecoms theft cases, arrange police protection for telecoms infrastructure and block websites selling the equipment, the report said.
Chinese-brand passenger vehicle sales up 26.7 pct in January-February

Xinhua) 08:40, March 18, 2024

A BYD Yuan Pro vehicle is displayed during the 20th Changchun International Auto Expo in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, July 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Sales of Chinese-brand passenger vehicles soared 26.7 percent year on year in the first two months of 2024, industry data showed.

About 2.07 million such vehicles were sold during the period, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

The market share of domestic-brand passenger vehicles rose 7.6 percentage points year on year to 59.9 percent during the period.

In February alone, some 791,000 such vehicles were sold, with the market share up 6.5 percentage points year on yearto 59.4 percent.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Ulviyya Shahin

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.
At Mobile World Congress 2024, Developing Telecoms spoke to Atilio Rulli, VP of Public Relations at Huawei Latin America & Caribbean, to discuss how Huaweis solutions are enabling smarter connected farming in Brazil, a market where agribusiness is an enormous contributor to GDP.

Huawei has been working in the agriculture business in a B2B capacity in Brazil for around four to five years. Since its first 5G pilot case in Brazil, Huawei has worked with many carriers in Brazil  both larger national carriers and regional ISPs, of which there are over 10,000 in the market. Huawei works with this ecosystem to connect carriers and integrators to enable more connected farming.

However, this doesnt just encompass machinery such as drones and tractors, but also solutions, systems, and data analysis. A strong network of integrator partners is essential for implementing this. Connectivity is the essential part, and Huawei provides solutions to help farmers manage their connected business through their mobiles or desktops. The vendor also works with academies and universities as well as smaller developers or startups to develop solutions.

In Brazil, agribusiness is more than 27% of the countrys GDP  if connectivity can be enhanced through usage of technologies such as AI, cloud, and IoT, this could be increased by 2-3%, which in turn would have a major impact on future profitability. Connecting rural areas isnt just about enhancing business  it creates huge social inclusion, as it delivers internet access to farmers and rural users who have not previously been connected.

It's not enough to deliver the access  people in rural areas need devices, and also training and support on how to use the smart solutions. In terms of geography, only 15% of Brazil is covered by connectivity, but in terms of population 95% are connected. These kinds of projects could push this figure more towards 100%, which is crucial for enabling not just the digital society but the digital economy.

Regarding the environment, there have been many gains  a major one being water usage. Connectivity enables the robotization of water usage, enabling farmers to use what is required without excess. A similar logic is applied to fertilisers, pesticides and other chemical products  they can be administered more accurately, and only where and when required. This has reduced the usage of chemical products by around 95%, which has a major impact on the environment.

Once areas have received connectivity, they also need equipment  and given the scale of agriculture in Brazil, energy is also required to power this. In most deployments, photovoltaic energy  i.e. solar power  is used to power infrastructure, which is beneficial to the environment, reducing carbon consumption. Iolic and wind energy are also used, but Brazil is well suited to solar power.

The use of greener energy solutions also helps to reduce costs significantly. Energy production in Brazil is increasing year over year; the country has a good green energy matrix given that most of its energy producers  electric or otherwise  tend not to use oil and other environmentally aggressive techniques, and green power continues to grow, with photovoltaic energy accounting for around 7% of consumer use in Brazil. The country has one of the biggest photovoltaic farms in the Latin America region, and Rulli expects this to grow both for larger energy producers and for domestic use.

Rulli notes that in 2023, Claro, its subsidiary Embratel, integrator Sol and Huawei jointly won an Innovation Award from Brazils regulator Anatel for their Agro IoT Smart Farming project.

Weve shared one case with Claro, one of the biggest operators in Brazil, and the integrator was Sol. They covered a huge number of hectares in Brazil; this is part of a B2B strategy - not only for agriculture, we have B2B for logistics - but for each vertical you need specialist areas in this field, explains Rulli.

Embratel is an internal unit set up by Claro to focus on the agriculture sector, with Huawei as a major technology partner. Sol meanwhile is an integrator that is closely familiar with the business. Together the companies prepared an ecosystem in parallel with Anatel that regulates the usage of frequencies, with the regulator providing recommendations. Brazil has offered incentives on such projects since 2020, supporting the use of private networks to develop this ecosystem. Anatel also worked in parallel with ABDI, Brazils agency focused on industry development, to enhance the connectivity of these B2B projects.

As part of these projects, Huaweis solutions help delivery coverage to customers, but in this specific area the vendor developed tailor-made solutions for rural areas that consume less power per square kilometre of coverage. These are not the same products used for urban coverage  profitability is crucial for low density areas and so solutions must provide optimal cost effectiveness to achieve this. Huawei develops solutions based on the target vertical, whether agriculture, ports, airports etc to ensure that the connectivity matches the need.

This dedicated focus ensures that the agribusiness sector is supported effectively, with smarter energy efficiency, the social benefits of improved rural connectivity, and partnerships to ensure better logistics. This approach is on track to boost the profitability of agribusiness in Brazil.
The collaboration between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in the Philippines aims to offer significant opportunities for Burmese youth to pursue higher education. This partnership underscores the commitment to address the educational needs of Burmese students and promote diversity and inclusion in higher education.

Initiative Details

The Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program, recently launched by USAID, is a five-year initiative with a budget of $45 million. This program's primary objective is to provide full scholarships to students from Burma, enabling them to enroll in various public and private universities in the Philippines. Additionally, the program offers online educational opportunities through the University of Arizona.

The program focuses on providing quality educational opportunities to young community leaders in Burma, especially those from marginalized and vulnerable groups. By offering scholarships, USAID aims to empower Burmese youth and equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to contribute positively to their communities.

READ ALSO: US Launches P1.6-B Upskill Program To Elevate Philippine Higher Education

Scholarship Benefits and Implementation

The Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program covers tuition fees, living expenses, and other necessary costs for Burmese students studying in the Philippines. Participating universities include prominent institutions such as Batangas State University, Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, St. Louis University in Baguio, the University of the Philippines-Diliman, and the University of the Philippines-Los Banos.

To facilitate the transition of Burmese students to Philippine universities, CHED is collaborating closely with USAID to streamline the admissions process and provide comprehensive support services. The program aims to ensure that Burmese scholars receive the necessary assistance to succeed academically and integrate into their new educational environment.

Burmese students selected for the scholarships are expected to arrive in the Philippines by July 2024 to commence their studies in the upcoming academic year. By welcoming these students, Philippine universities demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity within their campuses.

Strategic Investment in Higher Education

USAID's Assistant Administrator for Asia, Michael Schiffer, emphasized the significance of the scholarship program as a strategic investment in higher education institutions in the region. By supporting educational initiatives, USAID aims to drive positive change in Burma and other countries worldwide.

Through collaboration with CHED and other partner organizations, USAID seeks to strengthen the capacity of Asian higher education institutions to support global students effectively. The program not only benefits individual scholars but also contributes to the broader goal of promoting educational excellence and equity in the region.

The partnership between USAID and CHED represents a significant milestone in expanding educational opportunities for Burmese youth. By providing scholarships and fostering collaboration between institutions, the program strives to empower the next generation of leaders and promote social and economic development in Burma and beyond.

RELATED ARTICLE: The New Business Models Emerging from Central Eastern Europe
The University of Texas at Austin has announced the reinstatement of its standardized testing requirement for admission, effective from the fall 2025 semester. This decision marks a significant shift from the test-optional policy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rationale Behind the Decision

University officials cited the desire to attract the best-qualified students and ensure their success as the primary motivation for reintroducing standardized testing. President Jay Hartzell emphasized the role of standardized scores in identifying students with the highest academic achievement and potential, as well as those who could benefit most from additional support services.

Hartzell highlighted the significance of standardized test scores as a differentiating factor, particularly in light of the prevalence of high GPAs among applicants. According to the university's research, higher test scores have been correlated with better academic performance among enrolled students, reinforcing the decision to reinstate the testing requirement.

READ ALSO: College Board Celebrates Success of Shorter, Digital SAT Launch

Impact on Admissions Process

The reintroduction of standardized testing will undoubtedly influence the admissions process at UT Austin. Prospective students will now be required to submit SAT or ACT scores along with their applications, providing admissions officers with additional data points to evaluate applicants' academic preparedness and potential for success.

For applicants, this change may prompt a renewed focus on standardized test preparation and performance. Students will need to ensure they achieve competitive scores to strengthen their applications and increase their chances of admission to UT Austin.

Additionally, the decision to reinstate standardized testing may impact the demographic composition of admitted students. Research has shown that standardized test scores can disproportionately affect certain demographic groups, raising concerns about equity and access in the admissions process. UT Austin will need to carefully monitor the impact of this policy change on the diversity of its student body and consider measures to mitigate any adverse effects.

Response and Reaction

The university's decision to return to standardized testing has elicited mixed reactions from various stakeholders. Some applaud the move as a step toward maintaining academic standards and ensuring the quality of admitted students. They argue that standardized test scores provide valuable insights into applicants' academic abilities and potential for success in college.

However, critics of standardized testing raise concerns about equity and fairness in the admissions process. They argue that standardized tests can perpetuate systemic inequalities and disadvantage students from underrepresented backgrounds, including low-income students and students of color. These critics advocate for holistic admissions practices that consider a broader range of factors, beyond test scores, to evaluate applicants' qualifications and potential.

As UT Austin prepares to implement its reinstated testing requirement, the university will need to navigate these competing perspectives and carefully consider the implications for its admissions process and student body composition. Balancing the desire to attract high-achieving students with a commitment to diversity and equity will be a key challenge moving forward.

RELATED ARTICLE: Brown University To Require Standardized Testing For Admissions Again
A recent peer-reviewed study published in Educational Researcher suggests that state funding mechanisms for higher education have limited influence on enrollment or student outcomes at public institutions. Instead, researchers argue that the clarity, consistency, and overall amount of appropriations play a more significant role in shaping outcomes.

Insights from the Study

Led by Robert Kelchen, head of the educational leadership and policy studies department at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, the study offers a comprehensive analysis of various funding models and their impact on student enrollment, completion, and post-graduation outcomes. Unlike previous research, which primarily focused on enrollment- or performance-based funding, this study includes traditional base-adjusted models and hybrid models.

The research, based on data from 2004 to 2020, examines over 3,500 artifacts, including state budgets, legislation, and board meeting packets, from 576 four-year and 1,098 two-year institutions across all 50 states. The findings challenge the prevailing notion that incentive-based funding models significantly improve student outcomes, particularly completion rates.

According to Dominique Baker, an associate professor at the University of Delaware and co-author of the report, the study suggests that incentive and hybrid funding models have limited efficacy in achieving their intended goals. Baker emphasizes the need to reconsider the emphasis on incentive-based funding and explore alternative approaches that prioritize equity and student success.

READ ALSO: Kentucky's Performance-Based Higher Ed Funding Deemed Unconstitutional by State Attorney General

Implications and Recommendations

While the study underscores the importance of adequate funding for higher education, it also highlights the need for clarity and consistency in funding mechanisms. Robert Kelchen emphasizes the importance of prioritizing increased funding, citing research that correlates higher funding levels with positive college outcomes. However, he acknowledges the challenges associated with securing additional funding, particularly during periods of economic constraints.

Moving forward, the study recommends adopting funding formulas that provide stability and predictability for colleges and universities. By committing to a consistent funding model over an extended period, institutions can better understand the expectations for improvement and allocate resources accordingly. Additionally, policymakers are urged to consider the equity implications of funding decisions, ensuring that underserved students and institutions receive adequate support.

Looking Ahead

While no single funding model has emerged as a clear solution, experts point to ongoing innovations, such as Illinois' exploration of adjusted appropriations to support underserved students and institutions. The study encourages policymakers to prioritize equity in funding allocation and to explore alternative models that prioritize efficiency and fairness.

Ultimately, the study underscores the complex relationship between funding models and student outcomes in higher education. By focusing on clarity, consistency, and equity in funding mechanisms, policymakers can better support student success and promote greater access and affordability in higher education. As states continue to grapple with funding decisions, evidence-based research will play a crucial role in shaping future policies and practices.

RELATED ARTICLE: Hybrid State Funding Model Bolsters Community College Enrollment
Chemical terrorism: Indonesia tests its response to the threat

Semarang (Indonesia), 18 March 2024  On a seemingly typical day in Semarang, a few train passengers have started to feel nauseous. Others nearby are saying they cannot breathe. Five have fainted. One is not responding. A few minutes in, a miniature car wheezes by them, followed by a group of people dressed in full astronaut-like orange suits. Theyre looking for bombs.



This is what a fictional chemical terrorist attack simulation exercise looks like.



"The threat of chemical terrorism is real, said Niki Esse de Lang, UNODCs regional counter-terrorism coordinator for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. To counter it, we need a solid, integrated response by all relevant actors.



Indonesia is testing its capacity to respond to such threats through simulations like this one, which bring together representatives from government agencies and the private sector. So far, two have taken place in Semarang over the past months, jointly organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT) of Indonesia, with the support of Indonesias National Police  Mobile Brigade (Brimob-Polri).

A very real threat



Since 2011, at least eight chemical terrorism incidents have taken place in Indonesia. Terrorist groups operating internationally, meanwhile, including Al-Qaeda and Daesh (also known as ISIL) - have used chemical weapons in Iraq and in Syria. In 1995, the toxic chemical compound sarin was used in the Tokyo subway in Japan by members of the Aum Shinrikyo movement, killing 15 people immediately and injuring over a thousand more.



The same chemicals used in legitimate industries, such as mining, agriculture or pharmaceuticals, can also be used by terrorists. Chlorine, for example, commonly used in water treatment facilities, can also produce a chemical weapon. This complex threat requires strong cooperation between governments and the private sector on the national, regional and international level.



Preparing against the threat



Outside the train, more people in protective equipment have arrived. The scene is busy: some are establishing a control area, others are setting up decontamination stations, and others are providing medical aid.



A few are opening tactical laptops and equipment to measure the air and potentially contaminated surfaces, while others are drawing perimeters on the floor  red, yellow and green, depending on the contamination levels detected.

A miniature car with a sensor and a camera is circulating everywhere, taking samples and helping experts outside the perimeter determine toxicity levels. Nearby, a team dressed in yellow suits is being sprayed by colleagues before breaking out carefully from the thick suits.



These responders belong to different units and agencies: the police, the military, counter-terrorism, bomb disposal, forensics, medical, fire department and public infrastructure security.

This training is necessary because of the threat of this type of terrorism, said Edi Suranta Sinulingga, Commander of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Unit within the Gegana Mobile Brigade of the Indonesia National Police. Increasingly, there have been cases in Indonesia. So all stakeholders  not only the security forces  must prepare themselves to anticipate such acts of terrorism.



Each ministry, institution or agency has different procedures or ways to respond. During the workshops, experts learned about and shared each of these mandates, frameworks, concepts of operation and standard operating procedures, as well as technical and operational capacities they can draw from.



A highly coordinated response to such a complex attack needs strong inter-agency collaboration, said Niels den Hollander, terrorism prevention expert at UNODC. One entity alone cannot do this.



An earlier simulation in summer last year took place on a plane. This one involved more complex elements, such as fictional perpetrators in gas masks carrying guns, suspicious hazardous material, hostages in an airport and explosions that produced real smoke on the exercise grounds.



As medical personnel, this training is of immense value. We need to adhere to strict safety protocols before we enter contaminated zones to help the victims. If we dont, we can then become victims ourselves. And what happens then, when no medical help is available? a medical respondents from Kariadi Hospital in Semarang said.



More specialized sessions are planned to take place in 2024. These will focus on crime scene management for first responders to ensure that they know how to record and collect evidence from the scene correctly so that it can be admitted in criminal proceedings.



By bringing these agencies together for exercises, we facilitate a process by which experts feel comfortable making mistakes, learning from them, identifying gaps and developing programmes to remediate them, said Dimas Andianto, Programme officer at UNODC. After all, its a lot easier to deal with and learn from a mistake in an exercise than it is in real life.



Learn more about UNODCs work in Southeast Asia and the Pacific here.
Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan here on Monday convened significant meetings with representatives from the Sugar Mills Association and Ethanol Manufacturer Association separately to address pressing concerns affecting their industries

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2024) Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan here on Monday convened significant meetings with representatives from the Sugar Mills Association and Ethanol Manufacturer Association separately to address pressing concerns affecting their industries.

The meetings, held in the Ministry of Commerce, aimed to foster dialogue and find feasible solutions to the challenges faced by these sectors.

The associations appreciated the act of calling stakeholders before making any major decisions.

During the discussions, Minister Jam Kamal assured the industrialists of his commitment to advocate for their interests and address their concerns to support the local industry while simultaneously enhancing export volume to increase foreign reserves.

The Sugar Mills Association voiced apprehensions regarding the anticipated increase in tariffs for Molasses exports. Members of the association highlighted the importance of encouraging Molasses exports to bolster foreign reserves.

They underscored the need for infrastructure improvements to enhance terminal capacity, facilitating greater access to international markets.

Conversely, representatives from the Ethanol Manufacturer Association emphasized the necessity of long-term policy measures to sustain the domestic ethanol industry.

They advocated against allowing excessive Molasses exports, citing the adverse impact on local production.

The Chairman of the Ethanol Association urged authorities to permit the importation of raw sugar to sustain sugar manufacturing.

In response to these concerns, Minister Jam Kamal reassured participants of the government's commitment to prioritizing their issues. He pledged to expedite efforts to address these challenges, emphasizing the importance of bolstering industrial growth and augmenting foreign reserves.

The meetings concluded with a mutual understanding to work collaboratively towards overcoming obstacles and fostering a conducive environment for the sustainable growth of the sugar and ethanol industries.

Minister Jam Kamal affirmed his continued support for the prosperity and development of these vital sectors, underscoring their significance in driving economic progress and enhancing national resilience.
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Pakistan Air Force legendary war hero M M Alam, nicknamed while piloting an F-86 Sabre, shot down five Indian war planes in less than a minute during 1965 Pak-India war and altogether, downed nine war planes in the aerial fight.

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 18th, 2024) The 11th death anniversary of 1965 War Hero Muhammad Mahmood Alam, popularly known as M M Alam is being observed on Monday.

Pakistan Air Force legendary war hero M M Alam, nicknamed while piloting an F-86 Sabre, shot down five Indian war planes in less than a minute during 1965 Pak-India war and altogether, downed nine war planes in the aerial fight.

MM Alam was the first ever fighter pilot for PAF, listed on top in the hall of famers list at the PAF Museum in Karachi.

Alam is considered as a national hero for Pakistan, most significantly, for his remarkable show of brilliance in the war of 1965. He was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat and also the BAR medal.

He died in Karachi on this day in 2013 at the age of 77 after a protracted illness.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Services Chiefs have paid tribute to the 1965 war hero Air Commodore Mohammad Mahmood Alam on his 11th death anniversary.
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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2024) The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has partnered with Muslim Hands Pakistan to improve the health and well-being of school children and staff by enhancing access to clean drinking water, sanitation, and basic education facilities.

In this connection, the Directorate General of Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) and the Project Planning and Development Unit (PPDU) under the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and Muslim Hands Pakistan, signed a Letter of Understanding (LoU) on Monday.

Director General of BECS, Hameed Khan Niazi, and Executive Director of Muslim Hands, Syed Javed Gillani, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations, said a news release issued here.

According to the agreement, both parties will collaborate on initiatives and projects related to the School WASH Programme in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). This partnership will commence on March 20, 2024, and will remain in force for the next one year, unless terminated earlier by mutual agreement or due to specific circumstances as outlined herein. The Directorate General of BECS and PPDU will identify and provide a list of 25 schools in the federal capital in need of WASH interventions (out-of-school children). Furthermore, they will facilitate coordination with school administrations for the smooth execution of WASH projects.

BECS and PPDU will support monitoring and evaluation activities to assess the impact of the interventions, besides assisting in organizing hygiene education sessions by providing access to students and staff.

Muslim Hands will fund the WASH interventions in the identified 25 schools, including the procurement of materials and hiring of contractors as needed. Additionally, they will design and implement the WASH projects in close coordination with BECS and PPDU and provide technical expertise and training for the maintenance and sustainability of WASH facilities.

Muslim Hands will also conduct hygiene education sessions for students and staff in collaboration with BECS and PPDU and facilitate the capacity building of school staff and management.

On the occasion, Director General of BECS, Hameed Khan Niazi, said that BECS is a unique model of one teacher, one school, and integrated teaching. He said that it costs the government Rs 18,000 per student in the formal education system compared to Rs 4,000 per student in the non-formal system run by BECS, adding that these community schools would emerge as the best model by providing basic facilities. He further said that there are around 12,000 children out of school in ICT, and BECS has the capacity to absorb around 7-8 thousand children. He said that childs right to education and water and sanitation are human rights that cannot be taken away or compromised.

Hameed Khan Niazi, DG BECS said that the government is committed to ensuring basic necessities for all, especially students and staff in non-formal education institutions.
Digicel Fiji announced on Friday it is working with Nokia to upgrade its cell sites to support its 5G rollout across the archipelago, less than a month after rival telco Vodafone Fiji received clearance for a non-commercial 5G pilot.

Digicel Fiji CEO Farid Mohammed said in a statement that the tower upgrades with Nokias AirScale portfolio are progressing rapidly in Suva. He also said the operator anticipates the imminent completion of 5G testing and the granting of regulatory approvals by the Fiji Government.

The government first revealed plans to adopt 5G technology in April 2023. That month, the Ministry of Communications awarded Digicel Fiji a licence to test 5G technology. Digicel started testing 5G a month later.

Last month, Vodafone Fiji announced it had received a 5G non-commercial license to conduct live end-user trials on its 5G pilot network, with a full commercial license expected to be issued later this year.

Vodafone Fiji CEO Elenoa Biukoto said Vodafone has invested over $100 million to upgrade and enhance its network for 5G. The live user trials will be conducted in select parts of Suvas Central Business District, with further expansion to the greater Suva area in the coming months.

Digicel Fiji is the second Digicel telco in a week to announce a 5G deal with Nokia. Last week, Digicel Samoa made a similar announcement that it was also working with Nokia to upgrade its cell tower sites to 5G after receiving conditional approval from the Government of Samoa.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has summoned the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad and the Chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA), Captain (retired) Anwar-ul-Haq, in a contempt of court case

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2024) The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has summoned the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad and the Chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA), Captain (retired) Anwar-ul-Haq, in a contempt of court case.

The Chief Commissioner and Chairman CDA were summoned for not implementing the courts order regarding the transfer of plots to citizens.

Justice Babar Sattar heard the contempt of court application of a citizen on Monday.

The court remarked that transferring public properties according to the law was the responsibility of the civic body.

The court summoned the CDA chairman, Member State Tariq Salam Marwat, and DG Land, for the next hearing due to non-compliance with court orders.

It may be mentioned here that the court had declared ban on the transfer of plots "illegal".

The Chairman CDA banned the transfer of plots based on FIA directives, which only restricted the civic body to transfer the plots that were under consideration in the specific cases.
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LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2024) The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Tehreem Elahi, the wife of former federal minister Moonis Elahi, for not attending the hearing of a petition seeking cancellation of bail granted to her and other accused in a money laundering case.

The division bench, headed by Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry, passed the orders while hearing the petition filed by the prosecution for the bail cancellation of Rasikh Elahi, Tehreem Elahi, and other accused in the money laundering case.

During the proceedings, Rasikh Elahi and Zahra Elahi, along with their counsel Amir Saeed Rawn, appeared before the bench. However, Tehreem Elahi did not appear despite the issuance of her bailable arrest warrants at the previous hearing.

Amir Saeed Rawn submitted that he represents Rasikh Elahi and Zahra Elahi but not Tehreem Elahi, whose bailable arrest warrants were issued by the court at the last hearing.

At this stage, a federal law officer and a deputy director of the Federal Investigation Agency submitted that Tehreem Elahi was not cooperating despite the issuance of several notices.

Subsequently, the bench issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Tehreem Elahi and adjourned further hearing, announcing taking up the matter after Eid holidays.

The prosecution had approached for bail cancellation of Rasikh Elahi, Tehreem Elahi, and other accused, stating that the trial court awarded bail in violation of the law. It pleaded with the court to cancel the bail granted to the accused. A sessions court had granted bail to Rasikh Elahi, Tehreem Elahi, and other accused in a case registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The agency had accused Tehreem Elahi of committing Rs 30 million in money laundering.
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Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja met with a delegation from Huawei Pakistan and discussed about various programs, initiatives, and ICT infrastructure

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2024) Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja met with a delegation from Huawei Pakistan and discussed about various programs, initiatives, and ICT infrastructure. The Huawei team led by Ethan Sun, CEO Huawei Pakistan said a news release.

The Minister shared the Ministrys vision of digitalizing Pakistan, create opportunities for the youth and leverage technology to build capacity and achieve economic growth.

Mr Sun said, as a key a stakeholder contributing to the digitalization of the economy and the country, Huawei is committed to creating a fully connected, intelligent world.

The meeting was attended by Mr Jahanzeb Rahim, Member Telecom, Mr Faisal Ratyal, DG Telecom, Dr Babar Majid Bhatti, CEO, NITB. Mr Ahmed Bilal Masud, Director Subsidiary Board, Mr Shahzad Rasheed, CEO Huawei Cloud, Mr Yu Shaoning, Deputy CEO Public Affairs and Mr Saad Talha Saeed, Director Public Affairs Government Relations.

Pakistan has immense potential in the ICT space; Students from Pakistan won the second and third prizes in the Network Track and third prize in the Innovation Track at the Huawei ICT Competition 2022-2023 Global Final, competing with more than 120,000 students from more than 2,000 universities from 74 countries and regions around the world.

Huawei has designed a Super App that serves as a one-stop digital ecosystem connecting government services, and service hotlines, providing health and education services and connecting to various mini-apps. With internet connectivity, this app can create smart cities across Pakistan.
BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2024) A symposium was held in Beijing to study a recent speech on Taiwan-related work made by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The symposium was held by the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, jointly with the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, and the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots.

The speech, delivered by Xi at a joint group meeting during the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference on March 6, pointed out the direction for Taiwan-related work, according to the symposium.

The speech expounded on the basic tasks, key priorities, and policies and measures involving Taiwan-related work under new circumstances, as well as provided the fundamental guideline for relevant work, according to the symposium.
Rob Ziegler

University of Wyoming Extension welcomes Rob Ziegler as the new livestock production and marketing extension specialist with the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

Ziegler earned his bachelors degree in animal and veterinary sciences from UW in 2018 while working as a laboratory technician for the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory. He went on to earn a masters degree in ruminant nutrition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2020. His masters thesis focused on cow size and optimizing resources in range production environments.

After graduating, Ziegler worked as a customer technical communication specialist for Telus Agriculture in Alberta, Canada, where he helped producers make informed decisions about livestock using animal performance data.

Were so excited to have Rob join us to help serve the needs of livestock producers across the state, says Ben Rashford, head of UWs Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. His extensive background in livestock production and animal science, combined with his hands-on experience in the supply chain, is going to bring a wealth of knowledge to Wyoming.

Zieglers combination of professional and academic experience has prepared him well to engage with educators and producers across the state. He looks forward to supporting UW Extension county educators programming and learning about Wyoming producers needs.

I was anxious to get immersed back in the cow-calf sector since thats where most of my formal training is, Ziegler says. What excites me the most is supporting the land-grant (university) mission and making a positive impact on the livestock producers around the state.

Ziegler joined UW Extension last month. He can be reached at (307) 766-3719 or rziegle3@uwyo.edu.

About University of Wyoming Extension

Since 1914, UW Extension has provided lifelong learning opportunities to Wyoming citizens across the state. With roots in agricultural education, UW Extension supports rural communities facing contemporary challenges and changes. UW Extension brings the universitys resources to each of the states 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation. To learn more about UW Extension, visit www.uwyo.edu/uwe or call (307) 766-5124.
Of the laws that are supposed to be passed in Cuba through 2028, according to the legislative schedule published in the Official Gazette of the Republic in February, five spark the highest hopes, as they address serious problems faced by the population. The history of laws already enacted by the Government that restrict Cubans' exercise of rights, or turn them into dead letters, triggers doubts about the new ones.

Although the preliminary drafts of the future laws have not yet been published, their titles raise questions about their contents and the rights they should guarantee citizens. These are the laws on pardons, housing, association, emigration and citizenship.

The pardon law is especially promising for Cubans who have been incarcerated, and their families. However, it is striking that its approval is not expected until December 2027, despite the fact that Cuba has the second highest prison population in the world, as confirmed in January by World Prison Brief (WPB), an online database on the world's prison systems.

The Cuban government often makes room in its prisons during certain periods through the massive release of prisoners under pardons. This, however, does not tend to benefit political prisoners, whose existence on the island the authorities deny.

As of March 13, according to the NGO Prisoners Defenders, the Cuban regime was holding 1,067 inmates for political reasons. International organizations, including the European Union, have called on Havana to issue an amnesty to those inmates, mainly those serving prison sentences for participating in the July 2021 anti-government protests known as 11-J.

Cuban authorities have asserted that there is no legal possibility of amnesty on the island. However, pardons already exist, and are one of the eight legal vias for the release of prisoners pointed out by jurists.

Why does the regime need a new law to pardon prisoners? What is the reason for its late approval, taking into account the massive prison population in the country? Will it be a way to release the 11-J protesters belatedly, after many of them have served all or most of their sentences?

Will the new law benefit Cuban political prisoners or will it, instead, obstruct any pardon of these inmates? A whole series of questions arise with the mere announcement of the bill.

Another law that stirs great expectations is the housing law, which is supposed to guarantee the constitutional right to decent housing and address one of the problems that most affects Cubans.

In 2023 the Cuban government delivered 16,065 dwellings, 65% of those called for in its own plan. The housing deficit in the country, however, exceeds 856,500 units, according to official figures released on the annual balance sheet of the Ministry of Construction at the end of February.

This means that even if, exceptionally, the government had hit the targets in its own plan last year, it would have met little more than 3% of the need on the island, one that is increasingly pressing due to the deterioration of the housing stock and Cubans' lack of resources of Cubans to remedy it.

The law that was supposed address this problem will not be approved until July 2025, according to the schedule, despite the fact that in December 2022 Justice Minister Oscar Silvera Martinez stated that this and other laws were "in an advanced state of preparation."

This law, included on the calendar approved by the National Assembly of Popular Power in 2019, should have been submitted for the representatives' consideration in December 2020.

Although it is striking that such a law so vital for the population has been postponed three times, the most important question now is whether Cuba will have the material conditions to guarantee the right to decent housing by July 2025.

If not, will the government stop criminalizing families mainly single women with several children who are forced to squat on vacant premises or dwellings in order to put a roof over their heads?

Will the Law admit legal formulas proscribed until now, such as bank mortgages? Will the construction and leasing of housing by foreign companies be authorized? Will young people outside the military sector have access to State financing to own a home like military personnel do? Here hopes are high, but skepticism is equally great.

In July 2025 a new association law is due to be passed in Cuba. Will this law guarantee the peoples right to freedom of association, in accordance with international law? Will civil society organizations not subordinated to the government enjoy legal recognition? Will they be able to access lawful sources of funding without being criminalized?

There is also no certainty about workers' ability to create and join unions not subordinated to the official Central de Trabajadores de Cuba, or a law to put an end to the Communist Party's control over the statutes, objectives, constitution, leadership structure and functioning of these organizations.

Also in July, but in 2024, a new migration law and a citizenship law are to be approved, both being thorny issues. Although they are different regulations, they should complement each other because there are more than three million Cubans living outside the island. The figure is considerable, and is on the rise, as many Cubans are opting for emigration in the face of the never-ending crisis in Cuba.

Upon being declared "emigres," Cubans lose their residency on the island, which also entails a loss of political rights, such as that to vote in elections and referendums.

However, the Government aims for those emigrants to bolster the Cuban economy through investments, as it stated in November at the 4th The Nation and Emigration Conference.

A week before the start of the event, the Director General of Consular Affairs and Cuban Residents Abroad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), Ernesto Soberon, announced the future disappearance of "the figure of the emigre", which, according to his words, will depend on the contributions of these Cuban citizens to the island's development.

The questions here are also numerous, including basic doubts such as the loss of the right to retirement benefits for nationals who emigrate, or whether the new laws will eliminate the figure of "emigre," and whether those living in other countries will be able to vote in elections and referendums in Cuba.

Will the repatriation requirement to return to reside on the island after two years abroad disappear, and will this procedure be required only for those Cubans who have expressly renounced their citizenship?

At the aforementioned press conference, Soberon also highlighted the repeal of the expensive and frequent extensions of the Cuban passport imposed on emigres, as well as the extension of this travel document's validity period, all measures called for by Cubans for decades.

He avoided addressing that, although the Constitution recognizes the right to hold several citizenships, emigres can only enter Cuba with a travel document issued by Havana. Will this requirement disappear under the new rules?

A new labor code is also due to be approved in December 2024. The law that will be replaced restricts freedom of association and the right to strike. Will Cubans recover those rights, won before the triumph of the Revolution, under the new code?

Many perceive opportunities to move forward, even if their hopes are tinged with wariness. For now essential questions remain: will this law expressly proscribe labor discrimination on political grounds, and will it protect Cubans sent by the regime on its "missions" from the plundering of their salaries and violations of their freedoms?
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
The United States is not ruling out a continued military presence in Niger, despite a statement by the countrys ruling military junta that it was ending an agreement allowing for the presence of American forces engaged in counterterrorism missions.

U.S. defense officials said Monday the U.S. has yet to withdraw any of its approximately 1,000 military personnel from Niger and, along with officials from the White House and the State Department, said conversations with Nigerien officials are continuing.

We remain in contact, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters Monday, adding that Nigers military junta has yet to share information on a possible deadline for U.S. forces to leave the country.

We have different lines of communications at all levels of government with Niger and our government, she said. Again, we want to see our partnership continue if there is a pathway forward.

At the State Department, deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said most of the talks, for now, have been centered through the U.S. Embassy.

We continue to have our ambassador and our embassy team there, and we're continuing to discuss with them [Nigerien officials], he said.

We believe our security partnerships in West Africa are mutually beneficial and they are intended [to] achieve, I should say, what we think to be shared goals of detecting, deterring and reducing terrorist violence, Patel added.

A spokesperson for the ruling military junta announced Saturday that it had revoked, effective immediately, the status of forces agreement that allowed U.S. forces to operate in the country and cooperate with the Nigerien military against militants linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State terror group.

Colonel Amadou Abdramane said the decision was based, in part, on what he called a condescending attitude by U.S. officials in a high-level delegation that met with Nigerien officials in the capital of Niamey last week.

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," he said.

U.S. officials, in contrast, described last weeks talks, as direct and frank, providing U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Molly Phee, Assistant Secretary of Defense Celeste Wallander and U.S. Africa Commands General Michael Langley a chance to express Washingtons concerns while also hearing from Nigerien military and civilian officials.

We were troubled on the path that Niger is on, the Pentagons Singh told reporters Monday, admitting that some of the concerns centered on Nigers potential relationships with Russia and Iran.

Iran hosted Nigerien Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine in January and voiced a willingness to help Niger cope with international sanctions levied following the July 2023 coup.

But Nigers military junta bristled at what it said were misleading allegations by U.S. officials that Niger had struck a secret deal to provide Tehran with uranium.

The junta also defended its relationship with Moscow, saying Russia partners with Niger to provide its military with equipment needed in the countrys fight against various terrorist groups.

U.S. officials, though, have previously expressed concerns about Russian defense officials making visits to Niger following the July coup.

And a top U.S. lawmaker Monday, suggested Russian influence may have played a role in the military juntas announcement.

"Part of this is Russias attempt to insinuate themselves in the region dramatically and to cause us [the U.S.] problems," said Senator Jack Reed, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Reed, a Democrat, told a virtual meeting of the Washington-based Defense Writers Group that Nigers ruling junta has been sending the U.S. signals for months that it might seek to evict U.S. forces.

We will have to counter that ... by repositioning forces and capabilities so we can still have observation and influence in that area of the Sahel," Reed said, noting that U.S. military officials have been considering other options.

U.S. military officials confirmed last August, following the coup, that a search for alternative sites was underway. But the Pentagon refused to say Monday how much progress had been made.

There are also concerns about getting other allies or partners in the region to agree to host a significant U.S. presence, and whether the location can provide the same kind of quick and easy access to terrorist targets, like the U.S. bases in Niger.

Most U.S. forces in Niger are currently located at Air Base 201 in the Nigerien city of Agadez, on the edge of the Sahara Desert.

The base, built about six years ago at a cost of $110 million, allowed the U.S. to conduct surveillance and counterterrorism missions with a fleet of U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones.

But the U.S. suspended all counterterrorism missions from the base following the July 2023 coup, saying personnel have been limited to conducting operations only for the purpose of protecting U.S. forces.
A federal parliamentary in Australia is examining the threat from invasive fire ants, which can kill people and livestock and potentially pose more of a danger to Australia than rabbits, cane toads, foxes, camels, wild dogs and feral cats combined.

Lawmakers were holding a public meeting in Canberra Monday to discuss the aggressive insects, which are native to South America and are thought to have entered Australia in shipping containers.

They were first found in Brisbane in 2001 but had probably been undetected in the country for years.



They attack as a swarm. Experts have said they are a danger to people, pets, livestock and wildlife. The ants lock their jaws onto their victims skin and inject venom through a spike on their abdomen. Their bite causes a burning sensation, which gives the ants their fearsome name.

A parliamentary inquiry by the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee in Canberra is investigating their impact on health, agriculture and the environment.

There is disagreement about the impact of efforts to destroy ant colonies.

The Queensland state government said its eradication programs are world class.

Critics, though, have insisted that Australia has mismanaged the threat. The Invasive Species Council, a non-government environmental organization, insists that Australian authorities underestimated fire ants for 20 years and underfunded our response to them.



Pam Swepson, a former Community Liaison and Policy Officer at the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the ants can be extremely aggressive.

They are one of the worlds worst invasive species," she said. "They can walk, they can fly, they can swim. They have never been eradicated from any country that they have invaded. If a littler toddler falls onto a nest, which just looks like a pile of dirt, the ants will swarm them and sting them repeatedly and if the person happens to be allergic to their sting, they can go into anaphylaxis and die.

Mondays federal hearing in Canberra included submissions from Australias National Farmers Federation, government scientists and representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Two previous hearings have been held in eastern Australia.

Lawmakers are due to report their findings by April 18.

Australia has had a catastrophic experience with some imported flora and fauna.

The National Fire Ant Eradication Program has warned that fire ants have the potential to surpass the combined damage done each year by our worst pests: feral cats, wild dogs, foxes, camels, rabbits and cane toads."

Invasive fish and weed species have also caused great environmental damage.

Experts have said that fire ants expand their territory at the rate of about 50-80 kilometers per year in China and the U.S.
U.S. President Joe Biden spoke Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time in more than a month, voicing new concerns about Israels conduct of its war in Gaza against Hamas militants and its plan for a ground attack on the southern city of Rafah near the Egyptian border.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden told the Israeli leader in a phone call, We share the goal of defeating Hamas. We just believe you need a coherent and sustainable strategy to make that happen."

Sullivan called Netanyahus plan for a ground offensive smashing into Rafah a mistake. More than a million Palestinians are sheltering in makeshift tents and structures there to try to protect themselves from the ravages of the war, many on orders from the Israeli military to abandon their homes in the northern reaches of Gaza as Israel continues to attack that region.

Israel has promised to move the Palestinians in Rafah to an undisclosed location for their safety before any attack on the region but has given no public indication of where that would be.

At Bidens request, Sullivan said Netanyahu agreed to send a team of Israeli officials to Washington in the coming days, possibly early next week, to discuss Israels plans for any attack on Rafah and safeguards for Palestinians sheltering there.

Sullivan said the U.S. fully expects Israel to not initiate any attack on Rafah until after the discussions in Washington.

In a statement after the Biden-Netanyahu call, the Israeli leaders office said, We talked about the latest developments in the war, including Israels commitment to achieving all the goals of the war  the elimination of Hamas, the release of all our hostages, and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel  while providing the necessary humanitarian aid that helps achieve these goals.

Rising frustration

The Biden phone call with Netanyahu came as the U.S. leader has voiced growing frustration at Israels conduct of the war, the ever-growing death toll of Palestinian civilians and the lack of humanitarian aid reaching famished people in Gaza.

Over the weekend, Biden embraced the general tenor, if not all the specifics, of a speech last week by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish leader in the U.S., saying Netanyahu had lost his way in overseeing the war and calling for new elections.

Netanyahu retorted Sunday in a CNN interview that Schumers call for a snap election was a totally inappropriate demand, a stance some U.S. Republicans echoed in attacking the Senate Democratic leaders speech criticizing Israel.

Negotiators for Israel and Hamas are headed to Qatar to try again this week to reach agreement on a six-week cease-fire and the release of 40 or so of the estimated 100 hostages Hamas is still holding in exchange for dozens of Palestinians Israel has jailed.

But Sullivan said of the truce negotiations: "So far, this deal has been more elusive than we had hoped."

On the battlefield, Israels military said Monday that it was conducting an operation at the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, an area where it came under international criticism for a November raid.

Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a statement that Israeli forces were acting Monday because senior Hamas officials were using the hospital to command attacks against Israel.

We will conduct this operation with caution and care while ensuring that the hospital continues its important function, Hagari said.

Airstrikes, tanks

Witnesses reported airstrikes near the hospital, which is the largest in the Gaza Strip, as well as the presence of Israeli tanks.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday that Israel is provoking famine in Gaza and using starvation as a weapon of war.

"In Gaza, we are no longer on the brink of famine, we are in a state of famine, affecting thousands of people," Borrell told a conference on humanitarian aid for Gaza in Brussels.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said his government allows extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza by land, air and sea for anyone willing to help, and he accused Hamas militants of violently disrupting aid convoys.

Humanitarian groups have frequently cited challenges in getting aid into Gaza, including being blocked by Israel and being unable to access areas inside Gaza because of the conflict.

The war started with Hamas' October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and the Hamas capture of about 250 hostages. Health officials in Gaza say Israels counteroffensive has killed nearly 32,000 people, the large majority of whom were women and children, while displacing more than half the Gaza population of 2.3 million and leveling much of the territorys infrastructure and homes.

VOA's Anita Powell and Patsy Widakuswara contributed to this report. Some information came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
Officials in Chad say close to 20 candidates will be challenging military ruler General Mahamat Idriss Deby in Chads May 6 presidential election. The final list of candidates for the polls expected to end three years of military rule in the central African state will be officially declared on March 24, according to Chad's Constitutional Council.

Among the presidential hopefuls is Ndjelar Koumadji Mariam, president of the National Union for Alternation in Chad, the only female candidate.

Mariam said she is committed to bringing social justice and ensuring parity between men and women as stated in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. She spoke to VOA by telephone from Chad's capital N'djamena on Monday.

Mariam said she intends to fight widespread corruption that has plunged a majority of Chad's close to 17 million people into abject poverty. If Chad's resources are equally distributed, she said, several million hungry women and children will have food, water and basic humanitarian needs.

Mariam said corruption breeds hatred and is responsible for the anger, proliferation of armed groups and killings in Chad.

Opposition leader and pro-democracy figure Success Masra, who was appointed transitional prime minister in January, said he is the candidate of The Transformers, a party he heads.

Masra told Chad's state TV that he agreed to be a candidate to mend hearts and reunite Chad's citizens.

Transitional president General Mahamat Idriss Deby is the nominee of Chad's former ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement, or MPS party, which says he has the support of a coalition of over 200 opposition parties and about 1,000 civil society groups.

Mbaiodji Ghislain, secretary general of the Alliance of Chad Civil Society Groups, said civil society groups believe that if given the opportunity, Deby will continue bringing back peace, stability, security, national concord and development, as he has done since he took power three years ago after the death of his father.

But candidates Nasra Djimasngar, national secretary of A New Day party, and Bruce Mbaimon of the Movement of Chad Patriots for the Republic say Deby is manipulating civil society groups to stay in office. The two men accuse Deby of stoking political tensions and allowing what they call persistent social injustices to degenerate into violent conflicts in Chad.

Chad's opposition and civil society groups say the elections will be taking place in a very difficult political context following the killing of opposition leader Yaya Dillo, who was the president of the opposition Socialist Party Without Borders and Deby's cousin.

Dillo was killed during an exchange of fire with security forces on February 28, according to Chad's government. But opposition and civil society groups say Dillo was eliminated because he was widely viewed as a strong challenger to Deby.

The MPS party denies Deby is responsible for the several crises Chad is facing and says the transitional president will hand over power if beaten in the polls.

But opposition candidates say voters should be vigilant before, during and after the polls. They say voters should be ready to defend their votes and report fraud or irregularities for legal action.

The central African states constitutional council says campaigning for the first round of the presidential election begins April 14 and ends May 4.

Chad's electoral commission says May 6 presidential polls will mark a return to constitutional order and the end of Deby's transitional period, now in its third year.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will make his first trip to Australia in seven years Wednesday, a visit that some analysts say will be dominated by efforts to resolve remaining trade disputes between Beijing and Canberra even as the two seek to address contentious consular and security issues.

Wang will hold meetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong during his time in Australia, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Top of the agenda will be talks about removing Chinese tariffs on Australian wine, a decision Beijing made in 2020 amid a fierce bilateral diplomatic dispute.

At the time, Chinese authorities said Australia was guilty of anti-competitive behavior. The tariffs were lodged after Canberra put its support behind an independent investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The move caused the value of Australian wine exports to China, which was at more than $662 million at its height, to drop to just $6.6 million last year.

Last week, an interim statement from Chinas Ministry of Commerce suggested that the tariffs could be lifted within weeks. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that he would discuss the issue with Wang during their bilateral meeting on Saturday, saying that Beijing could reopen the Chinese market to Australian wine in the coming weeks and the development will be a win-win for both countries.

Since coming to power in May 2022, the Albanese administration has tried to reduce tension between China and Australia while promising to ensure the removal of Chinese tariffs on a wide range of Australian commodities. Since then, Beijing has lifted import restrictions on Australian beef, barley, coal, and cotton.

Both sides want to move down the route of normalizing trade relations and get Australian exports back into the Chinese market, said Benjamin Herscovitch, a research fellow at Australian National University, told VOA by phone.

Experts say Wang will likely push Australia to ease restrictions on Chinese investment in the country while seeking Canberras support for Chinas attempt to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP.

I think Wang will raise CPTPP and will try to get some sort of progress with Australia on a bilateral basis, Alex Bristow, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI,) told VOA in a video interview.

Sensitive issues

Despite signs of warming bilateral trade relations, Herscovitch says there are still fundamental disagreements between Beijing and Canberra over a range of contentious issues.

Australia will likely focus on consular cases and contentious human rights and geopolitical issues, he told VOA, adding that the case of detained Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who received a suspended death sentence from a Chinese court last month, will be the highest priority for Canberra.

After Yang received a suspended death sentence from a Chinese court, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the decision as harrowing and appalling, and vowed to continue advocating for justice for the detained Australian writer.

In response to inquiries about Yangs case, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said earlier this month that Yangs health wasnt as grave as his family had described and suggested that the suspended death sentence might not be carried out if he complied to the terms of his imprisonment and committed no further crimes.

While Canberra has repeatedly vowed to defend Yangs rights, some analysts think the Australian government has not done enough to prioritize his case while engaging with China bilaterally.

They keep promising to defend Yangs consular rights, but when trying to strike a balance between Australias economic interests and human rights issues, the Australian government always prioritizes its trade relations with China, Feng Chongyi, an expert on Chinese politics at the University of Technology Sydney and Yang's former academic adviser, told VOA by phone.

In addition to Yangs case, Herscovitch said Australia will also express concerns about the Chinese militarys conduct in the South China Sea and other parts of the Indo-Pacific region. It is also likely to touch on the dire human rights situation in Xinjiang, Tibet, and other parts of China, he adds.

Beijing will listen intently to all those comments from Australia, but they wont necessarily want to engage that much, Herscovitch told VOA, adding that the Chinese side may likely rebuff Canberras concerns and explain them away.

In recent weeks, Australia has urged all countries to avoid disrupting the peace and stability in the South China Sea during a summit with Southeast Asian countries. It has also upgraded bilateral ties with Vietnam to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Responding to an inquiry about the elevated ties between Canberra and Hanoi, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin urged countries in the Indo-Pacific region to do more things conducive to regional peace and stability on March 11 and warned that advocating bloc confrontation goes against the common aspiration of regional countries.

Herscovitch said while Beijing and Canberra both want to stabilize trade relations, there could be a gap between the level of expectations each country has for the overall bilateral relationship.

The mantra from Canberra is relationship stabilization but they dont have big ambitions for a new and bold cooperative agenda due to serious security concerns about different forms of cooperation with China, he told VOA.

As for Beijing, there is an appetite for what it calls a new cooperative agenda that includes more engagement in military, science, and technology.

There will probably be a mismatch between what Canberra and Beijing hope to get out of this relationship, Herscovitch said.
For years, China has sought to raise its profile by offering to broker conflicts and disputes in the Middle East, but analysts say Beijings limited involvement in the Gaza war shows China continues to put its self-interests first.

In a recent article in Foreign Policy magazine, Yun Sun, China Program director at the Stimson Center in Washington said that Chinas role in brokering the Saudi-Iran rapprochement last year raised hopes it could chart a way to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East. Instead, she said, China has not delivered on that success.

Sun and other analysts point to Chinas huge dependence on Gulf crude oil for its economy, and with 53% of its energy needs coming from the region, Beijing sees Middle East stability as paramount. China has long positioned itself as a customer and a client of Middle Eastern oil, a role that gives it power, Sun said; however, without the burden for China to provide peace.

Hesham Alghannam heads the Strategic Studies and National Security Programs at Naif Arab University for Security Sciences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Speaking recently at an online Carnegie Endowment for International Peace seminar, he praised Chinas shared views with Arab states, including promoting a cease-fire early in the Gaza conflict. Yet, Alghannam added that Chinese political involvement in the Middle East remains limited.

The Middle East is not a fundamental interest of China, and no one, I think, should exaggerate the Chinese power and role in the Middle East," he said. "Similar to the U.S., China lacks a comprehensive security strategy that addressed the main security challenges in the region, such as ending the conflict in Gaza. We did not see from China what we would expect. Thus far, China did not take any action that would, for instance, end the war really seriously in Gaza.

Ahmed Aboudouh, an associate fellow with Londons Chatham House Middle East program, said in a report that China pressured Iran over Houthi attacks in the Red Sea but only to protect its own ships. He adds that Beijing will not use its limited influence to support the U.S. agenda, in seeking to protect global commercial shipping in the region.

Chinas efforts were focused exclusively on extracting guarantees to protect Chinas direct interests. There is no evidence to suggest Beijing was in any way interested in putting its credibility on the line to push for a full de-escalation in the Red Sea, Aboudouh wrote.

He points out that Chinas threats resulted in the Houthis granting Chinese and Russian ships immunity. China has adopted a low-risk, wait-and-see approach because it cant afford other options, Aboudouh said. They dont want to be forced to adopt a dramatic policy shift and jump into the foray because a Chinese ship has been sunk or seriously damaged.

Professor Degang Sun directs Middle East studies at Chinas Fudan University in Shanghai. He told an online Chatham House panel that China sees the rise of non-state actors [like the Houthis] as a direct threat to its interests in the Middle East as it is its largest investment and trading partner.

Therefore, China says the U.S. cannot leave the Middle East. The Middle East needs the U.S. because it can be a stabilized force for China and the rest of the world, he said.

He adds that Beijing wants to send a signal to the U.S. that China is not a U.S. rival, but a U.S. partner in Middle Eastern governance, and that the rise of nonstate actors in the Mideast region is the outcome of a governance deficit.

Sun believes the U.S. and China can fill this deficit through cooperation in Middle Eastern security affairs.
Eswatini is joining many of its African neighbors in legalizing cannabis for medical purposes, revising a colonial drug law dating back a century.

Eswatinis government, led by King Mswati III, has introduced legislation that would legalize cannabis, joining other African nations that now encourage the development for medical purposes.

Government spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo believes that legalizing cannabis will help limit the black market, increase tax revenue and empower Eswatini farmers.

The legislation will also provide measures to guard against increasing the black market. This has robbed government taxes, Eswatini, an opportunity to grow their economy and robbed even the farmers themselves who have been trying to make a living using this cannabis. We look forward to the unbanning of the cannabis plant as an opportunity to develop the country, our economy and to empower Eswatini themselves.

U.S.-based company Profile Solutions is the only authorized cannabis grower in the small Southern African country.

Eswatini is working toward changing provisions of a 1922 statute enacted by the British, who ruled the nation formerly known as Swaziland from 1903 until 1968.

Dr. Thys Louren is an occupational medical practitioner from South Africa who works for Occupational Health Eswatini. He argues that legalizing cannabis could have major benefits for health care, society and the economy, His position aligns with the Eswatini governments on the issue.

I stand here urging for the transformative change of Eswatinis health care landscape toward a healthier and more sustainable Eswatini. It is not just a medical decision but a holistic solution for our patients, community and economy.

E. Nathi Dlamini from Business Eswatini sees medical cannabis as an avenue Eswatini can use to capitalize on the global cannabis market to create jobs and spur economic growth  encouraged by the governments support for the industry.

Many countries are well ahead in this regard in terms of developing industries to support investment, create jobs which by the way, we desperately need. As Business Eswatini, we are very thankful that from the highest authority of the land now, we are beginning to be one-minded on this.

The cannabis trade has given many people in a small economy with few job opportunities a substantial income for decades, and a few local merchants are not fearful that this could be undermined by the new bill.

Cannabis merchant Maqhawe Tsabedze says he has earned a living from the illegal trade for the last 20 years to put his children through school.

The decriminalization of cannabis will help a lot and will perhaps stop police from raiding and confiscating our products, which we make a living from selling. Rain or sunshine, we make sure we put bread on the table so that our children do not go to bed on empty stomachs. Since there are no jobs, we make a living from selling cannabis on the streets.

The bill needs to win three-fourths approval in the House of Assembly and Senate to become law.
The European Parliament has adopted a media freedom act designed to protect journalists and their work from political and economic interference.

The idea for the European Media Freedom Act was introduced in 2022 after the EU raised concerns about media pluralism in countries such as Hungary and Poland.

The act is focused on independence, stable funding of public service media, and transparency of media ownership. It also includes protections for journalists from harassment by authorities, regulation of spyware used to target journalists, and measures to protect journalistic sources.

Media rights organizations including the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Press Institute largely welcomed the act but also said the texts language and standards could be stronger.

One core issue in the act is media capture. This can happen through government efforts to control or pressure public service media outlets, the retaliatory use of state advertising allocations, or media outlet takeovers by government allies in the business world.

In Hungary, for example, a media conglomerate consolidated nearly 500 outlets into a foundation and put them under the control of a foundation run by supporters of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Oliver Money-Kyrle, of the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI), viewed the acts focus on media capture as an important step in responding to what he said was a growing crisis.

One way the act will do this is by having governments distribute any media advertising revenue in an objective and nondiscriminatory manner and providing transparent annual reports about how funds are distributed.

But the clause has exemptions for subnational governments, said Money-Kyrle, who leads IPIs Europe Advocacy and Programs department.

Local authorities that oversee territories with populations of fewer than 100,000 are exempt. Not extending the requirements to these places is a missed opportunity, Money-Kyrle told VOA.

The act will also establish the European Board for Media Services, which will be made up of international media regulators. The board will examine cases of governments threatening editorial independence and media pluralism.

The board will have power to intervene and demand justification and explanation from national governments or from member state media regulators, said Money-Kyrle.

Responsibility for enforcement of the act will fall to member states to ensure that their laws fit regulations, said Tom Gibson, of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Gibson, who is the CPJ EU representative and advocacy manager for CPJ, said the act would put pressure on member states to act.

"It's an enormous step, he said of the acts adoption. The next enormous step is the implementation of it.

Money-Kyrle said the IPI would be looking at how EU countries adopt it.

One of the things that we [IPI] will be urging is that member states, as they change their national laws to fit in with this EU regulation, dont just have laws that meet the minimum standards provided by the EMFA, but they go further, said Money-Kyrle.

Following the adoption, IPI released a statement signed by several human rights organizations, including the Civil Liberties Union for Europe and Reporters Without Borders.

While the statement congratulated the EU institutions and welcomed the act, it also emphasized that the regulations could go much further in establishing safeguards.

We now call on the European Commission, national governments and independent regulatory authorities to work closely with media stakeholders for the EMFAs full and effective implementation to help strengthen media freedom and pluralism across the European Union, the statement said.
A Monday vote could make Gambia the first country to repeal its ban on female genital cutting. Also referred to as female genital mutilation, or FGM, the procedure includes the partial or full removal of external genitalia. The practice has been on the rise worldwide in recent years despite moves to outlaw it.

According to a report from the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, earlier this month, around 30 million women globally have undergone the procedure in the past eight years. It largely takes place in Africa and some parts of Asia and the Middle East. The procedure often occurs between infancy and adolescence to control womens sexuality.

The World Health Organization says the procedure has no benefits. It can lead to serious bleeding and death, and long-term effects can include urinary tract infections, menstrual problems, pain, decreased sexual satisfaction and childbirth complications as well as depression, low self-esteem and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Jaha Dukureh, the founder of Safe Hands for Girls, a local group in Gambia that aims to end the practice, told The Associated Press she worried repealing the 2015 ban on FGM could lead the way for more backsliding on womens rights. Dukureh says she underwent the procedure herself and watched her sister bleed to death.

"If they succeed with this repeal, we know that they might come after the child marriage law and even the domestic violence law. This is not about religion but the cycle of controlling women and their bodies," she said.

According to U.N. data, the prevalence of FGM in Gambia has fallen steeply since the ban. Gambia's former leader, Yahya Jammeh, banned the practice in 2015 with no public explanation, imposing steep fines and jail sentences, surprising activists.

However, the new repeal bill is backed by religious conservatives, a powerful majority in the small Muslim nation. The bills text says, "It seeks to uphold religious purity and safeguard cultural norms and values."

Lawmaker Almameh Gibba, who presented the repeal bill, argued the ban violates citizens' rights to practice their culture and religion.

When the first people were convicted under the law last August for performing FGM on eight infant girls, the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council responded by saying female circumcision was one of the virtues of Islam.

Dukureh said she believes the bill will be voted down, but that activists and grassroots organizations hoping to stop FGM  are still not receiving enough support.

Separately Monday, male and female activists protested outside Gambias parliament against the repeal bill, while police in riot gear suppressed the crowd.

Some information for this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press.
Local government officials in Nigerias north central Kaduna state said gunmen kidnapped more than 100 people between Saturday and Sunday from the region.

Kidnappings by criminal gangs and terror groups demanding ransom payments have become an almost daily occurrence in Nigeria, especially in the north, with authorities seemingly powerless to stop them.

A local official told Nigerian media that gunmen carried out an attack around 10 p.m. local time Sunday in Kajuru-Station village of Kaduna State, taking 87 people, including women and children. Officials said the assailants also broke into shops to steal food and other provisions.

The officials said the kidnappings came the day after 16 others  15 women and a man  were taken in a separate attack in the nearby Dogon Noma community.

In an interview with Reuters news agency, village leader Tanko Wada Sarkin said five of the people returned after fleeing the attackers through the bush. He said the bandits have attacked the community five times in recent days.

The events follow a mass kidnapping earlier this month of more than 280 students in Kadunas Kuriga town. The children are thought to be held hostage in the remote forests throughout the region.

After that kidnapping, the U.N. Nigeria humanitarian coordinator, Mohamed Malick Fall, issued a statement condemning the abduction and called for the immediate release of the victims.

Fall called on Nigerian authorities to provide more job opportunities to IDPs within their camps, so they dont have to venture out and expose themselves to gangs and terrorists.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
A volcano in Icelands Reykjanes Peninsula continued to spew lava on Monday, three days after its initial eruption. Authorities say the local infrastructure remains mainly intact.

This is the fourth and strongest eruption since December 2023, forcing Iceland to declare a state of emergency.

Towns near the volcano, like the fishing town of Grindavik, were given a 15-minute warning before the eruption. Most of the towns 4,000 residents were evacuated, as were hundreds of visitors at the Blue Lagoon Resort, a popular tourist attraction.

The resort issued a statement Sunday saying, "Despite these recent events, all our facilities remain in good condition and are surrounded by protective barriers designed to safeguard Blue Lagoon's vital infrastructure against potential lava flows."

The fissure that spewed the molten rock was at a similar location and size as the previous eruption, at 2.8 kilometers long. Authorities had warned for weeks of an accumulation of magma since the last eruption in February.

Although lava flowed over one of three roads connecting to Grindavik, infrastructure remained largely unharmed. Barriers were constructed to steer lava away from infrastructure like the Svartsengi Geothermal Power Plant.

Local utility HS Orka said, The defenses at Grindavik proved their value. They have guided the lava flow in the intended direction, leaving the power plant unharmed.

The Keflavik Airport in Reykjavik was also unharmed, the airport said, adding that it remained fully operational.

While lava was diverted from critical infrastructure, many experts are concerned that the diverted lava flows could hit seawater and create toxic chlorine fumes, according to BBC News. Others are concerned about the toxic fumes produced from the eruption blowing toward Reykjavik.

The Icelandic Meteorological Office said it is unlikely that lava will make contact with the sea, or that toxic fumes will hit Reykjavik.

The recent eruption marks the seventh on the Reykjanes Peninsula since 2021, after having previously been dormant for 800 years.

Some information in this report came from Reuters.
Famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip between now and May, and the rest of Gazas population is facing crisis levels of hunger and worse, a United Nations-backed food security report concluded Monday.

More than half of all Palestinians in Gaza 1.1 million people  have completely exhausted their food supplies and are facing catastrophic hunger, according to the report, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Monday after the release of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report.

This is the highest number of people facing catastrophic hunger ever recorded by the Integrated Food Security Classification system  anywhere, anytime, Guterres said.

The U.N.-backed IPC report says famine could occur at any time in the coming weeks, with an estimated 210,000 people in northern Gaza facing the most catastrophic danger.

In the southern governorates of Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah, where about 1.5 million Palestinians have fled the fighting, the experts say they are a step away from famine.

However, in a worst-case scenario, these governorates face a risk of famine through July 2024, the IPC report said.

The IPC  which is comprised of about 18 different U.N. and non-U.N. agencies  raised the alarm in December saying famine could occur by the end of May without an immediate halt to the fighting and sustained humanitarian access.

We must act before there is a famine  before famine is declared, Arif Husain, chief economist for the World Food Program (WFP) told reporters in a video briefing. In northern Gaza, the window is closing so fast. We need to get in now, if we want to have any chance of halting this famine.

Both U.N. chief Guterres and many humanitarian groups reiterated their calls Monday for a humanitarian cease-fire to get significantly more and sustained aid into Gaza. WFP said it got 18 food trucks into Gaza City in the north late Sunday along a newly opened road corridor, but that is nowhere near what is needed.

U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said the international community should hang its head in shame for failing to stop this, adding Gaza must be flooded with food and other life-saving aid.

There is no time to lose, he said. I renew my call to the Israeli authorities to allow complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods.

Israel says it facilitates the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza via land, air and sea in accordance with international law, and does not limit the amount of food that can enter Gaza. It blames the U.N. and its partner agencies for not distributing it fast enough inside the territory.

Before the October 7 Hamas terror attack inside Israel and the start of Israels counteroffensive in Gaza, the U.N. estimated that 1% of the territorys population faced acute malnutrition. But the report said the figure increased to as much as 9.1% in January and 16.5% in February, with children less than two years old affected in even greater numbers, who make up nearly 30% of the population.

The initial Hamas attack killed 1,200 people in Israel and led to the capture of about 250 hostages. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says Israels counteroffensive has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, the overwhelming majority are women and children. Israel says the Palestinian death toll includes thousands of Hamas fighters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel, while trying to negotiate a short-term cease-fire, has no intention of ending the fighting until it erases all vestiges of Hamas control of the narrow enclave on the Mediterranean Sea coastline.

He said that Israeli efforts to allow humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians often have been thwarted by Hamas militants and gangs who have looted the aid trucks and stolen the food for themselves.
Israels military said Monday it was conducting an operation at the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, an area where it came under international criticism for a November raid.

Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a statement that Israeli forces were acting Monday because senior Hamas officials were using the hospital to command attacks against Israel.

We will conduct this operation with caution and care while ensuring that the hospital continues its important function, Hagari said.

Witnesses reported airstrikes in the area of the hospital, which is the largest in the Gaza Strip, as well as the presence of Israeli tanks.

European Union foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell said Monday that Israel is provoking famine in Gaza and using starvation as a weapon of war.

"In Gaza we are no longer on the brink of famine, we are in a state of famine, affecting thousands of people," Borrell told a conference on humanitarian aid for Gaza in Brussels.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said his government allows extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza by land, air, and sea for anyone willing to help and he accused Hamas militants of violently disrupting aid convoys.

Humanitarian groups have frequently cited challenges in getting aid into Gaza, including being blocked by Israel and being unable to access areas inside Gaza due to the ongoing conflict.

The war started with the Hamas October 7 terror attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people according to Israeli tallies, and the Hamas capture of about 250 hostages. Health officials in Gaza say Israels ongoing counteroffensive has killed more than 31,700 people, the large majority women and children, while displacing more than half the Gaza population of 2.3 million and leveling much of the territorys infrastructure and homes.

The head of Israels Mossad intelligence agency was expected to join talks in Qatar with Egyptian, U.S. and Qatari mediators amid efforts to achieve a new halt in the war.

Hamas presented a new cease-fire proposal last week including an exchange of about 40 Israeli hostages for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already said the proposal was based on "unrealistic demands" by Hamas, but a Palestinian official familiar with mediation efforts said chances for a deal looked better with Hamas having given more details on the proposed prisoner swap.

Netanyahu on Sunday rebuffed international pressure, vowing that Israel would push ahead with an attack on Hamas militants in the Rafah near the Gaza-Egyptian border.

"No amount of international pressure will stop us from realizing all the goals of the war, to erase any Hamas control in Gaza, Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting in a video released by his office. To do this, we will also operate in Rafah, although he gave no indication of an imminent attack.

He later told CNNs State of the Union show that Israel would keep on trying to agree on a six-week cease-fire in the war with Hamas. But to achieve that, Netanyahu said, Were going to maintain military pressure.

Some material in this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg traveled to Georgia Monday where he met with leaders to discuss strengthening cooperation between the nation and the alliance and a path to eventual membership.

Stoltenberg held meetings with both President Salome Zourabichvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in the capital, Tbilisi. Kobakhidze was elected to his position last month and has, at times, been critical of the West, though he has expressed a desire to join both NATO and the European Union.

At a joint news conference after their talks, Stoltenberg expressed his appreciation for Georgias substantial contributions to NATO, and said NATO fully supports Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He said South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia, despite Russias insistence they are independent. The Russian military seized control of the territories in a brief 2008 war.

Stoltenberg also called Russias efforts to organize elections in parts of Georgia and Ukraine completely illegal, and called Russian President Vladimir Putins recent reelection as clearly neither free, nor fair.

Russia persists its pursuit of its imperial ambitions, and in Ukraine the situation on the battlefield remains difficult, Stoltenberg said. So, it is vital that we continue to step up our support."

Stoltenberg also credited Georgia for hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees and providing crucial humanitarian and financial aid.

In a statement, NATO said it is stepping up its cooperation with Georgia in areas such as crisis management, cyber security, military engineering and secure communications.

The statement said Stoltenberg stressed NATOS commitment to support Georgias path towards stronger democracy and full Euro-Atlantic integration, including the decision made during the 2008 Bucharest NATO summit to invite Georgia to eventually become a NATO member.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
U.S. officials traveled to Niger last week to express concerns about the country's potential development of ties to Russia and Iran before the ruling junta Saturday revoked an accord governing the roughly 1,000 U.S. military personnel there, the Pentagon said Monday.

The Pentagon added it was seeking clarification about the way ahead. Niger said Saturday it had revoked "with immediate effect" its military accord with the United States that had allowed Pentagon personnel to operate on its soil.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the U.S. government had "direct and frank" conversations in Niger ahead of the junta's announcement and was continuing to communicate with Niger's ruling military council known as the CNSP.

"The U.S. delegation was there to raise a number of concerns. ... We were troubled (about) the path that Niger is on. And so, these were direct and frank conversations, to have those in person, to talk about our concerns and to also hear theirs," Singh said.

"U.S. officials expressed concern over Niger's potential relationships with Russia and Iran."

Since its July 2023 coup, the military junta that seized power in Niamey has kicked out French and European forces and quit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc. Like juntas in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, it has also strengthened military ties with Russia.

High-level Russian defense officials including Yunus-bek Yevkurov, Russia's deputy defense minister, have visited the country and met with the junta leader.

The prime minister of the ruling junta, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, visited Iran in January.

In its statement Saturday, the ruling junta said it rejected what it called false allegations by the U.S. delegation that Niger "would have signed a secret agreement on uranium with the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Singh did not elaborate on U.S. concerns regarding Iran.

The U.S. delegation to Niger on March 12-13 included U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander and the top U.S. general for the region, General Michael Langley.

The U.S. State Department said Tuesday those talks were meant to address "Niger's return to a democratic path and the future of our security and development partnership."

After the coup, the U.S. military consolidated its forces in Niger, moving troops from Air Base 101 in the capital of Niamey to Air Base 201 in the city of Agadez.

The base had been a core part of the U.S. counterterrorism strategy in the region and was once used to target Islamic State militants and Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, an al-Qaida affiliate, in the Sahel.

Since the coup, the U.S. forces have been carrying out operations for force protection only, Singh said.

Singh did not rule out a resolution that would allow U.S. military presence to remain in Niger, saying, "We want to see our partnership continue, if there is a pathway forward."
Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated winning a new six-year term after an election that gave voters no real alternatives due to the intimidation or jailing of most potential opponents.

Putin told supporters that he considered the election democratic and dismissed those who protested the vote.

"We have many tasks ahead. But when we are consolidated - no matter who wants to intimidate us, suppress us - nobody has ever succeeded in history, they have not succeeded now, and they will not succeed ever in the future," Putin said.

The three-day election that began Friday to extend Putins 24-year rule took place in a tightly controlled environment where no public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine was allowed.

Results from Russias Central Election Commission showed Putin got 87% of the vote.

The Reuters news agency reported communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov coming in second with just under 4% of the vote, newcomer Vladislav Davankov third, and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky fourth.

"The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him," the White House's national security council spokesperson said, according to Reuters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Sunday that Putin has become addicted to power.

There is no evil he will not commit to prolong his personal power, Zelenskyy said.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron criticized the voting as having a lack of choice for voters as well as no independent monitoring by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

This is not what free and fair elections look like, Cameron said on X.

China congratulated Putin on his win, highlighting strategic ties between the two countries.

"We firmly believe that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, China-Russia relations will continue to move forward," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters when asked about the vote.

The leaders of North Korea, Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela also issued messages celebrating Putins victory.

Putin's fiercest political foe, Alexey Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile. But heeding Navalnys last political request, long lines of voters showed up at polling stations in major cities precisely at noon to cast symbolic, if futile votes against Putin, 71.

Associates of Navalny encouraged people to take part in the protest, which Navalny himself endorsed shortly before his sudden death in a Siberian prison in February.

Others, meanwhile, said they would write in Navalnys name. His death last month prompted grassroots memorials across the country that Russian authorities were quick to stamp out.

Several dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were also reported.

The group OVD-Info, which tracks political arrests in Russia, said that more than 50 people were arrested in 14 cities across the country Sunday.

Similar protests appeared to take place at Russian Embassies around the world. At polling stations at Russian diplomatic missions in Australia and Armenia, Kazakhstan and Japan, hundreds of Russians stood in line at noon.

And in the German capital of Berlin, Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, who has become the face of his campaign following his death, appeared at the Russian Embassy to take part in the protest, while others present clapped and chanted her name.

Alexey was fighting for very simple things: for freedom of speech, for fair elections, for democracy and our right to live without corruption and war, Navalnaya said in a message to a rally in Budapest on March 15. Putin is not Russia. Russia is not Putin.

Putin, in his first public comment on Navalnys passing, called his death a sad event. Putin also said he had supported a prisoner swap involving Navalny.

But despite the show of opposition to Putin, the longtime Russian leaders victory was not in doubt. If he completes the new six-year term, Putin would pass Josef Stalin and become Russias longest-serving leader in more than two centuries.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Analysts in West Africa are raising concerns about U.S. military operations across the Sahel after Niger ended military cooperation with the United States on Saturday. The U.S has hundreds of troops stationed at a drone base in northern Niger and has been helping with regional counterterrorism operations against jihadist groups.

Saturday's announcement from Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland came days after a U.S. delegation visited Niger, the second American team to visit since a group of military officers seized power last July.

It remains unclear what prompted the decision to cut military ties with Washington, but Council spokesman Colonel Abdou Ab'daramane said U.S. flights over Niger's territory in recent weeks were illegal.

He also said the U.S. delegation had accused Niger of a secret deal to supply uranium to Iran and showed condescending attitude against the government and people of Niger.

Niger plays a pivotal role in the U.S counterterrorism operations in Africas Sahel region and hosts a major military air base in the city of Agadez.

Security expert Saheed Shehu of says there will be implications for regional security.

"Certainly we'll see a spike of insecurity in those areas because the bad guys are also looking at the development, Shehu said. But I believe it's not going to last because America is not going to sleep. America is going back to the drawing table to see how they can accommodate the complaints that were made by Niger."

The U.S. has invested millions of dollars in its security operations in the region and has helped train Nigers military  some of whom took part in the ousting of President Mohammed Bazoum last July.

The U.S. State Department Sunday said in a post on X that it was in touch with Nigers military junta.

In October, U.S. authorities officially designated the military takeover in Niger as a coup and curbed security and development support to the nation.

Sam Amadi, a director at the School of Social and Political Thoughts, said Nigers government could be looking elsewhere for a security alliance.

"It's a loss because they've spent time, money by investing in that capability in Niger, Amadi said. I think they'll lean towards Russia, but the question is nobody knows how effective it will be."

Niger, like neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, turned to Russia for security support after last Julys coup.

In December, Niger ended its security partnership with the European Union, prompting France to withdraw its troops from the country.

Shehu said the various moves by the junta are a negotiation strategy.

"It will affect the general security in the area but at the same time I think the earlier agreement was more in favor of the United States, Shehu said. I do not see this as the end of Niger-U.S. relationship but they're sending a signal that we need more of collaborations of equals going forward. What I see happening later is that the kind of cooperation has to be the kind that is mutually beneficial. The signal that Niger is sending is to tell America that Look, we could go elsewhere."

The U.S. and France had a combined force of 2,500 troops in Niger before the military takeover.

Its not clear when or if Niger will ask the U.S. will withdraw its troops as it did with France.
Irans violent repression of peaceful protests and widespread, systematic violations of human rights could, in many cases, amount to crimes against humanity, according to a U.N. fact-finding mission.

The three-member team on the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, in its first report to the U.N. Human Rights Council, accuses the Iranian government of a litany of crimes in connection with the protests that erupted following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini on September 16, 2022.

The mission, which was established two months later to investigate the crackdown on the protests, accuses Iranian authorities of egregious human rights violations.

They include unlawful deaths, extra-judicial executions, arbitrary arrests, rape, sexual violence, and enforced disappearances.

The chair of the mission, Bangladeshi lawyer Sara Hossain, who also presented the report, said these acts were conducted in the context of a widespread and systematic attack against women and girls, and others expressing support for human rights.

Some of these serious violations of human rights thus rose to the level of crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, rape, and gender persecution, intersecting with ethnicity and religion, she said.

Regarding 22-year-old Amini, whose death in custody of the so-called morality police sparked the nationwide protests, Hossain said Our investigation established that her death was unlawful and caused by physical violence in the custody of the state authorities.

The mission found that the use of disproportionate force on peaceful protests, including firearms and assault rifles by Irans security forces resulted in 551 deaths among them at least 49 women and 68 children.

Hossain said security forces carried out mass arbitrary arrests of protesters, many of whom were sent to unofficial detention facilities run by the Ministry of Intelligence and the Revolutionary Guards.

She said witnesses have described conditions under which detainees were held as inhumane, with many subjected to prolonged solitary confinement, and deprived of any contact with families and lawyers.

To punish, humiliate or extract a confession from them, detainees were often subjected to sexual and gender-based violence, including gang rape and rape with an object, as well as beatings, flogging, or electric shocks in acts that constitute torture, she said, adding that children also were subjected to extrajudicial killings, torture, rape and held in detention along with adults.

Hossain added that at least nine young men were arbitrarily executed, following a flawed prosecution creating terror among other protesters. By January this year, she said at least 26 other death sentences were pronounced by Iranian courts.

Iran dismisses report as charade

Kazem Gharib Abadi, secretary-general of Irans High Council for Human Rights, was scathing in his response to the report of the so-called fact-finding mission, which was formed owing to the lobbying as well as political wheeling and dealing of certain countries, principally the United States, Germany, England, France, and Canada.

He said the missions report has been marred by a glaring lack of independence and impartiality. Calling it a political charade, he said the report omits all reference to his governments investigation of the protests.

He said the events in Iran last year did not constitute peaceful gatherings, but rather evolved into orchestrated riots characterized by extensive injuries to law enforcement personnel and substantial damage to both private and public property.

A complementary report submitted to the U.N. council by Javaid Rehman, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, paints a chilling picture of a repressive regime that rules its people by coercion and fear.

I remain very concerned at the on-going executions and spike in death penalty sentences, said Rehman. At least 834 people were executed in 2023, a 43 percent increase compared to 2022.

Rehman noted more than half of these executions were for drug-related charges. He said children continue to be executed in Iran, with at least one child execution reported last year.

Additionally, at least 22 women were executed in 2023, making this one of the highest rates of women executions recorded in the country.

He expressed deep concern about the disproportionately high number of ethnic and religious minorities executed by the government for drug or security-related crimes.

In his report, Rehman documents cases of arbitrary arrests and allegations of torture and ill-treatment in detention. He describes the governments suppression of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and efforts to stifle opposition voices through the harassment, intimidation, targeting, arrests and imprisonment of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and trade union activists.

Rehman condemned the governments continued disdain of womens rights, noting that authorities have with complete impunity, unlawfully killed at least 48 women and 68 children and injured, violated, and brutalized a very large number of women and girls during the Women, Life, Freedom movement.

He said he has received extremely concerning reports that rape, torture, and other forms of sexual violence were weaponized in order to inflict punishment on these peaceful protesters.

Irans human rights counselor at its permanent mission in Geneva, Somayyeh Karimdoust lambasted the rapporteurs report as fabricated and distorted.

She said the report is not factual, nor is it professional, let alone being reasonably fair and fairly balanced and reflective of Irans constant progress in promotion and protection of human rights It is absolutely one-sided and misleading.

The mandates of both the fact-finding mission and that of the rapporteur on human rights in Iran come up for renewal at this Council session.

Karimdoust was clear about where she stood on this matter.

A monitoring mechanism on Irans human rights is unwarranted and lacks legitimate ground, is not fair and is not justified, she said.
In an election that international observers have dismissed as having no chance of being free or fair, Vladimir Putin has been given another six-year term as Russias president. The EU gives an $8 billion aid package to cash-strapped Egypt. And, bringing the news to Venezuelans in mobile news trucks.
In Seattle, there were no polling stations for Russian citizens to join the worldwide movement known as "Noon Against Putin," a symbolic protest of the re-election of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Instead, they commemorated opposition leader Alexey Navalny and wrote letters to the growing list of political prisoners in Russia. Natasha Mozgovaya has the story.
Ahead of the latest meeting Tuesday of a U.S.-led group focused on military support for Ukraine in its battle against a Russian invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country will seek to maximize its own defense production.

Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Monday that it is in Ukraines strategic interest to expand its production potential every year.

His comments also followed a meeting with visiting U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham at a time when new U.S. aid has been stalled by political differences in Washington.

Zelenskyy said he and Graham discussed the importance of freedom and democracy winning now, in this war, here in Ukraine, because otherwise Russian aggression and chaos will spread around the world.

Zelenskyy said his military needs artillery, F-16 jets, Patriot missiles and Army Tactical Missile Systems.

U.S. President Joe Biden has proposed $60 billion in new Ukraine aid as part of a security package already approved by the Democrat-led U.S. Senate. The Republican-led House of Representatives has not taken up the measure, with House Speaker Mike Johnson insisting a security package also address U.S. border security.

Ukraines military reported Monday shooting down 17 of 22 drones that Russia launched in overnight attacks that were aimed at areas nationwide.



The Ukrainian air force said the Russian attacks also included five missiles targeting the Kharkiv region, located along the Ukraine-Russia border, and two other missiles targeting the neighboring Sumy region.

The drones were widespread, with the Ukrainian military saying its intercepts took place over the Kyiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhya, and Rivne regions.

Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
A majority of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical on Monday of efforts to impose restrictions on federal government efforts to curb misinformation online.

Both conservative and liberal justices on the nine-member court appeared reluctant to endorse a lower court's ruling that would severely limit government interactions with social media companies.

The case stems from a lawsuit brought by the Republican attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri, who allege that government officials went too far in their bid to get platforms to combat vaccine and election misinformation, violating the First Amendment free speech rights of users.

The lower court restricted top officials and agencies of Democratic President Joe Biden's administration from meeting and communicating with social media companies to moderate their content.

The ruling, which the Supreme Court put on hold until it heard the case, was a win for conservative advocates who allege that the government pressured or colluded with platforms such as Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, to censor right-leaning content under the guise of fighting misinformation.

Representing the Justice Department in the Supreme Court on Monday, Principal Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher said there is a "fundamental distinction between persuasion and coercion."

"The government may not use coercive threats to suppress speech, but it is entitled to speak for itself by informing, persuading or criticizing private speakers," he said.

The lower court, Fletcher said, "mistook persuasion for coercion."

Justice Samuel Alito, a conservative, said the record showed that government officials had engaged in "constant pestering of Facebook and some of the other platforms," treating them "like their subordinates."

"I cannot imagine federal officials taking that approach to the print media," Alito said.

But Chief Justice John Roberts, also a conservative, said the federal government does not speak with one voice.

"The government is not monolithic," Roberts said. "That has to dilute the concept of coercion significantly, doesn't it?"

Fletcher said interactions between health officials and social media platforms at the heart of the case needed to be viewed in light of "an effort to get Americans vaccinated during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic."

"There was a concern that Americans were getting their news about the vaccine from these platforms and the platforms were promoting bad information," Fletcher said, adding that "the platforms were moderating content long before the government was talking to them."

'No place in our democracy'

J. Benjamin Aguinaga, the solicitor general of Louisiana, denounced what he called "government censorship," saying it has "no place in our democracy."

"The government has no right to persuade platforms to violate Americans' constitutional rights, and pressuring platforms in backrooms shielded from public view is not using the bully pulpit at all," Aguinaga said. "That's just being a bully."

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a liberal, pushed back, saying "my biggest concern is that your view has the First Amendment hamstringing the government in significant ways."

"Some might say that the government actually has a duty to take steps to protect the citizens of this country." she said.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a conservative, asked whether it would be coercion if someone in government calls up a social media company to point out something that is "factually erroneous information."

The lower court order applied to the White House and a slew of agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State Department, the Justice Department as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The decision of the lower court restricted agencies and officials from meeting with social media companies or flagging posts.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry hailed the lower courts "historic injunction" at the time, saying it would prevent the Biden administration from censoring the core political speech of ordinary Americans" on social media.

He accused federal officials of seeking to dictate what Americans can and cannot say on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other platforms about COVID-19, elections, criticism of the government and more."

Some experts in misinformation and First Amendment law criticized the lower court ruling, saying that authorities needed to strike a balance between calling out falsehoods and veering toward censorship or curbing free speech.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday grappled with whether a New York state official can be sued for violating the National Rifle Association's constitutional free speech rights by allegedly pressuring banks and insurers to avoid doing business with the influential group due to its gun rights advocacy.

The NRA is seeking to revive its 2018 lawsuit accusing Maria Vullo, a former superintendent of New York's Department of Financial Services, of unlawfully retaliating against it following a mass shooting in which 17 people were killed at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

The justices heard arguments in the NRA's appeal of a lower court's decision to throw out its suit against Vullo. At issue is whether Vullo wielded her regulatory power to coerce New York financial institutions into cutting ties with the NRA in violation of free speech protections under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment.

Some questions posed by the justices aimed at distinguishing permissible government advocacy from unlawful pressure.

"How do you define when it goes too far?" conservative Justice Samuel Alito asked David Cole, a lawyer with the ACLU civil rights advocacy group that represented the NRA.

Cole argued that Vullo and other New York officials abused their authority in violation of the First Amendment, telling the justices: "There's no question on this record that they encouraged people to punish the NRA."

Vullo in 2018 called upon banks and insurers to consider the "reputational risks" of doing business with gun rights groups following the Parkland shootings.

She later fined Lloyd's of London and two other insurers more than $13 million for offering an NRA-endorsed product called "Carry Guard" that Vullo's office found was in violation of New York insurance law. The product provided liability coverage for policyholders who caused injuries from gunfire, even in cases involving the wrongful use of a firearm.

The insurers agreed to stop selling NRA-endorsed products that New York considered illegal.

The NRA's lawsuit, seeking unspecified monetary damages, accused Vullo of unlawfully retaliating against the group for its constitutionally protected gun rights advocacy by targeting it with an "implicit censorship regime." The suit alleged that the state's "blacklisting" campaign sought to deprive the NRA of basic financial services and threatened its advocacy work.

Ephraim McDowell, the Justice Department lawyer representing President Joe Biden's administration, urged the justices to let the NRA pursue its lawsuit, arguing that the group had plausibly alleged that Vullo had violated its First Amendment rights.

McDowell focused on the NRA's claim that Vullo met with insurance executives at Lloyd's, presenting her views on gun control and suggested going easy on regulatory infractions if the company stopped providing insurance for the NRA.

"That's an explicit threat," said McDowell, an assistant to the U.S. solicitor general.

'A bit jarring'

Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh pressed attorney Neal Katyal, representing Vullo, to explain why the Biden administration backed the NRA given the government's interest in protecting its right to advocate its point of view.

"It's a bit jarring, I guess for me, that the solicitor general is on the other side of you on this case," Kavanaugh said.

Vullo said in court papers her statements encouraging financial institutions to examine their ties to pro-gun organizations following the Parkland shooting had not "crossed the line between permissible persuasion and unconstitutional coercion."

Katyal accused the NRA of "seeking to weaponize the First Amendment and exempt themselves from the rules that govern you and me simply because they're a controversial speaker."

"When you're in a situation like this of conceded illegality," Katyal said, "there is an obvious alternative explanation for what Ms. Vullo was doing here, which was enforcing the law."

A federal judge in 2021 dismissed all claims apart from two free speech claims against Vullo. The Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2022 said those also should have been dismissed, prompting the NRA's Supreme Court appeal.

The NRA originally also named Vullo's department and then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, as defendants but the case was subsequently narrowed. Vullo was sued in both her official and personal capacities. The 2nd Circuit found that Vullo would be protected from suit under the legal defense of qualified immunity that shields officials from civil litigation in certain circumstances.

The NRA, the largest and most powerful gun rights organization in the United States, has been instrumental in thwarting Democratic-backed gun restrictions in the U.S. Congress. It is a nonprofit group organized under the laws of New York state, with its main offices in Virginia.

Its appeal heard Monday was the latest case to come before the Supreme Court involving the NRA, a group closely aligned with Republicans that has opposed gun control measures and backed pivotal lawsuits that have widened U.S. gun rights.

The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has taken an expansive view of gun rights.

A ruling is expected by the end of June.
Latvia is among the top European contributors of military assistance to Ukraine relative to the size of its economy.

Together with Ukraine and Great Britain, the country launched a military "drone coalition" to supply drones to Ukraine and cooperate on technology.

Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds spoke with VOA last week during his visit to Washington to meet with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. He emphasized the importance of continuous support for Ukraine in the war against Russian aggression.

"Ukrainians are fighting for our freedom, independence and sovereignty," Spruds told VOA.

The following transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.

VOA: After French President Emmanuel Macrons statement last week about possibly sending troops to Ukraine, the Latvian Ministry of Defense noted that Latvia does not exclude that scenario. What would be the conditions for that?

Andris Spruds, Latvian defense minister: There are different initiatives, and we appreciate the high level of the French initiative. They are also looking for different solutions on how to sustain continuous support for Ukraine.

Latvia's position is that we support countries deciding individually how they provide support, for instance, by sending troops. At the same time, if we speak about sending troops jointly, a collective decision by NATO is instrumental and very important.

VOA: Ukraine and Latvia agreed to create a drone coalition during your visit to Kyiv. What are the strategic goals that this coalition brings to the battlefield?

Spruds: The drones are very important for Ukraine. They are now part of the warfare. ... The major goal is to support Ukraine, to supply Ukraine with necessary equipment, and drones are part of this. It is also about developing our own industry  the drone industry and military industry  to have the capacity to supply Ukraine.

VOA: More voices in the West are talking about a stalemate on the front in Ukraine and the possibility of Ukraine negotiating with Russia, or even waving the white flag. As a minister of a NATO country, how do you respond to those voices?

Spruds: Well, my response is very clear. First of all, the flag must be yellow and blue. Ukraine is fighting for its freedom. The Ukrainians have said  and strongly expressed  that Ukraine will fight until it wins the war and liberates its territories. For us, the Western nations  all the members of the alliance  it is important to support Ukraine as long as it takes and with all necessary means.

It's Ukraines decision what kind of peace agreement there will be when all the territories will be liberated. Russia must suffer strategic defeat in Ukraine.

VOA: Latvia reintroduced military conscription. As a NATO member state for 20 years now, do you fear Russias direct military confrontation?

Spruds: We are doing a lot for our military capabilities. And of course, it will be a permanent job to strengthen our defense capabilities.

We are already now in a hybrid warfare [with Russia]. There are the cyberattacks, the weaponization of illegal immigration, disinformation campaigns and incidents against critical infrastructure. We are basically in conflict with Russia right now in more conceptual terms. But of course, we should also be ready for military threats. Russia is a threat, and all those scenarios should be taken into account.

VOA: You noted that Ukraine after Vilnius will be moving to NATO membership. How optimistic are you about that ahead of the Washington, D.C., summit?

Spruds: The Baltic countries, including, Latvia, strongly support Ukraine as a member of NATO. But of course, as was declared during the Vilnius [summit]  when the conditions allow and when allies agree.

Now, it's important to have a consensus to support Ukraine as long as it takes with all necessary means. In this case, it's all for one, one for all, in supporting Ukraine. Certainly, Ukraine must be in the EU and also NATO in the future.

VOA: Some experts called last Tuesdays drone attack inside Russia an embarrassing day for Russian President Vladimir Putin. While many Western leaders hesitate to give Ukraine long-range missiles, what do you think of Ukraine getting these capabilities to reach deeper Russian territories?

Spruds: Ukraine should be given all necessary rights and means to defend itself. Ukraine can respond by defending its country, including by active defense. That's why Latvia is very clear: Ukraine should be given all necessary means to protect itself with all the necessary ways against Russia's aggression. [The drone attack] has been an embarrassment for Russia, and I think it will have quite a number of such embarrassments in the future. So, let's not also overestimate the Russian strength. I think Russia has a lot of weaknesses.
One person is injured in a crash north of New London over the weekend. A GMC Sierra, driven by Andrew Hanson, 23, of New London, was reportedly traveling westbound on Highway 9 when the vehicle entered the ditch and rolled. Hanson suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital in Willmar.
The photo on the left was taken in the 1930s, while the photo on the right was taken recently in downtown Alexandria on 6th Ave. East. (Photo submitted)
Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images

In the wake of the 2016 election of Donald Trump, a number of alternate or rogue Twitter accounts claiming to be associated with government offices appeared seemingly overnight to perpetuate their departments ongoing stoicism in the face of injustice, and more importantly, to get clout online. Who could forget @AltNatParkSer (dormant since 2018) or @AltUSEPA (dormant since 2021)? Amanda Sturgills account of this time in We Are #AltGov documented how brave civil servants took to social media to share the inside scoop. The bizarre energy of this almost-disappeared part of American history  embarrassing, self-possessed, bratty  has resurfaced in the past few weeks under the blanket of Kate Middleton conspiracy theories across the internet.

For those emerging from a monthlong yoga retreat, Kate Middleton, Prince Williams wife, has gone unseen since late December of last year. On January 17, she was admitted to [British accent] hospital for a planned abdominal surgery. Since then, and in the past few weeks especially, there have been a whirlwind of rumors claiming shes disappeared, a Photoshop disaster, and ongoing suspicions about her whereabouts, despite the fact that the Royal Family said she would not resume her duties until after Easter. (It would be crazy, but also not unlikely, if she just went back as though things were normal post-Easter and this never went remarked upon ever again.) Social-media posts on the subject of Middletons whereabouts range from the goofy (she got a BBL; she got a bangs) to the full-on conspiratorial (she is dead and already cremated).

Few theories and jokes, outside the princesss early death, have caught on more than those that suggest shes had it with the royal family, and now shes out for blood, one way or another:

It's time for some lit mag somewhere to focus an issue on Kate Middleton. Just a series of fanfiction pieces about her getting a tattoo on her face in a fit of rebellion, her falling in love with an older countess and running away to Iceland, her turning into a bog witch...  Hannah Grieco (@writesloud) March 10, 2024

kate middleton above buckingham palace with an irish army behind her pic.twitter.com/uFt6voC2yw  slate (@PleaseBeGneiss) March 17, 2024

Kate Middleton it is time for you to join the IRA https://t.co/aNaZqRKoMZ  Michael's Italian Restaurant  (@aurelioacts) March 15, 2024

It would be so funny if Kate Middleton had like 100 burner accounts she was using to post and spread different conspiracy theories about herself while she sips a mimosa and watches the Royal family implode.  Casey! (@Muirin007) March 15, 2024

Kate Middleton releasing her story like this next week

pic.twitter.com/8H4w6Kd0ke  Massimo (@massmandato) March 17, 2024

Can i be the one to start a Kate Middleton lesbian rumor i feel like that would be really fun  Melanie Lewinsky (@sIuttymeg) March 15, 2024

It is amusing to think of Kate Middleton as some version of the Nicole Kidman postTom Cruise divorce photo, whether its because shes a lesbian or a secret IRA member or having some affair of her own, but these are the uniformly worst genre of online posts and worst type of theory, even when tongue in cheek. Kate Middleton, regardless of her health and status, is no folk hero. Shes toed the family line for a long time. If she was divorced  or getting one  that would be handled on her own timeline; more likely than not, we wouldnt know a thing; Middletons interiority is opaque and ungiving.

At the time of Prince Harry and Meghan Markles departure from the royal family in January 2020, it was easy for the British press to blame Meghan for the princes dissatisfaction with his family and duty. Though Harry credits Meghan with getting him into therapy, Spare depicts their decision to leave as a mutual agreement. Theres a penchant to give Markle and Middleton credit for changing their husbands, setting their own course, and finding their way. Thats not whats happening here. Middleton is caught up between what are likely normal(ish) health problems and a PR team gone awry; theres no evidence in any of her character to suggest the spirit of rebellion, and its more condescending to pretend that its there. Its tempting to see someone fight injustice, but more often than not, its easier for a person to just stay quiet. These faux-feminist reactions feel dated and corny, projecting all that we want someone close to the royal family to be without acknowledging theyre a part of the royal family to begin with.

The temptation to project our current social awakenings on public figures is folly most of the time, but most dramatically here, when the figure in question is one of the most complicit in a system proven claustrophobic, outdated, and racist. Middleton, however, is giving nothing  literally  and any optimism for full-scale change in the royal familys behavior wont start with her. We likely wont know for decades the extent of Middletons personality and how she might or might not have changed the monarchy for the better. Until then, theres at least one place you can go to see a woman in power fight for what she wants against all those who threaten to take it from her that concludes with a shocking act of state upheaval, violence, and panache: Cole Escolas Oh, Mary!, and it runs through May.
Never has a hair-and-makeup team so perfectly framed an actors most compelling asset. Photo: Apple TV+

As an actor, Tobias Menzies looks best when hes perturbed: fitting ill into the monarchy as Prince Phillip in The Crown, incompetent and tragic as Edmure Tully in Game of Thrones, weighed down by upper-middle-class malaise in You Hurt My Feelings, and now, holding together the American republic in Manhunt. The expression falls naturally from what my colleague Kathryn VanArendonk describes in a 2019 profile as a handsome ruggedness that comes largely from his cheeks; both feature noticeable, unusually deep vertical creases that frame his face. Indeed, theres something old-school  as in, Victorian-era old-school  about Menziess visage, which he consistently uses to convey deep emotion roiling just beneath its surface. Defined, geometrically dramatic, and often doing its finest work when kept stiff, Menziess is a face perfect for Kuleshovean face acting.

In Manhunt, the new Apple TV+ series adapting James L. Swansons book about the pursuit of Abraham Lincolns killers, Menziess face gets ample opportunity to shine in his first-ever first-billed role. As Edwin Stanton, Lincolns secretary of war, he juggles responsibilities as lead investigator in the hunt for John Wilkes Booth and his Confederate conspirators while trying to prevent Reconstruction from falling apart in the wake of the presidents assassination. Manhunt allows Menzies to take full advantage of his physical gifts: a low, near-growling voice that projects stern gravitas; a ramrod back that gives Stanton an air of unbending will; and of course, those two vertical creases lining his cheeks, which draw out the rich countenance of a man burdened with the weight of the world.

Look at that forehead. Photo: Apple TV+

Look at those eyebrows. Photo: Apple TV+

Taking place in a period when men favored top hats, cravats, and perhaps most importantly, extensive facial hair, Manhunt uses the eras aesthetics to the advantage of its leading man. Menzies gets to parade around a set of long sideburns, the equivalent of a tasteful three-piece suit that appears fancy without crowding out the underlying assets its dressing. This particular choice from the hair and makeup departments, led by Colleen LaBaff and Robin Beauchesne respectively, illustrates a production team that knows exactly what an lead actor is capable of, though nitpicky American history nerds will probably gripe at the liberty being taken: The real Stanton was often pictured with a lengthy, scraggly, somewhat unpleasant beard. (Manhunts other stars dont get the same glow-up: Anthony Boyle parks John Wilkes Booths world-historical narcissism behind an ample full-bodied mustache, while Hamish Linklater is unrecognizable beneath layers of prosthetics as Abraham Lincoln.) And those sideburns look great! Not since The Terror, or maybe Underworld: Blood Wars, has Menziess noggin been costumed so well. His face is his greatest weapon. Why hide it?

Look at that mouth. Photo: Apple TV+

But its the shows structure as a long-form investigation, which borders on a classic detective procedural (Law and Order: Civil War!), that allows Menzies to run free with his signature look of perturbation. He performs Stanton as a workaholic worrywart, a man constantly turning things over in his brain even when hes coughing during an asthma flare-up or cracking a smile in a quiet moment. All his facial tools come into play despite his tightly-wound expression: Menziess lips purse, his forehead creases, his mouth tucks to the side. Extracting depth from contrast, the actor only uses his eyes to betray glimmers of Stantons true feelings. The Secretary of War is portrayed as a man desperately fighting to keep both himself, and the country he serves, from spiraling into the abyss. Its a tense, tricky, and elaborate tale, and the whole thing is written on Menziess face.

Look at that smile! Photo: Apple TV+
In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, Rick and Michonne try to rescue each other. Rick is desperate to save Michonne from what the villainous Civic Republic Military could do to her, and Michonne is determined to save Rick from what the CRM has already done to him. After some tedious lies and deceptions, in Michonnes words, they needed a time-out. Thats exactly what they get in one of the best stand-alone episodes in all of The Walking Dead.

What We opens on Michonnes last-ditch effort from the previous episode, this time with a kickin soundtrack. She chucks herself and Rick out of a CRM helicopter into a thunderstorm to the sweet sounds of Tony Orlandos Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree. A frantic cold open shows Rick and Michonne climbing out of a body of water onto a rocky shore and entering a bizarrely modern and deserted apartment building. This is where theyll stay for the next hour of television.

Were playing with structure this week, yall! What We is essentially three rounds of a debate between Rick and Michonne held in three different rooms (the living room, the gym, and the bedroom) broken up by zombie skirmishes before they ultimately leave as a reunited unit. Its like watching a two-person play, which makes sense, as the episodes writer, Danai Gurira (Michonne herself), is an acclaimed and Tony-nominated playwright. Most plays dont have helicopters (Miss Saigon being the exception). The conflict is this: Rick wants to return to the CRM to protect Michonne and his loved ones from whats coming and maybe change the armys philosophy from within its higher ranks. Michonne wants to bring Rick home to their family and restore the man he once was. These two stubborn survivors circle back over those points as they try to come to an agreement, but the repetition is not monotonous. This is how loved ones fight. Its painfully realistic.

Round one begins after Rick and Michonne catch their breath in the swanky apartment. The Walking Dead characters have encountered spaces with electricity and other modern amenities before. But this open-plan apartment is incredibly strange in a postapocalyptic world with a talking air conditioner controlled by a motion detector, a Roomba on a timer, and a desktop computer running the Windows 3D Pipes screen saver. Unfortunately, theres no food, so they cant stay here forever. In between arguments, Rick and Michonne learn that it was a failed self-sustainable community of survivors who starved to death.

Michonne changes out of her CRM fatigues and into clean clothes left by the former tenant. She does this in full sight of Rick, too. Good! Look at your hot wife, Rick! Look at who youre trying to push away. He sees a scar on her lower back that wasnt there the last time they were together. Shes been through a lot in the previous eight years, too. Then, Michonne pockets the PRB, a device that could call the CRM back to them in an instant, and eases into the necessary confrontation.

There are two significant revelations in the living room fight. First, Michonne lets slip that she and Rick have a son. Even shes surprised by how she reveals this. And Rick is so far gone mentally that he cannot have a normal reaction. Its as if learning this raises the already impossible stakes in his head, and he shuts down even further. He asks for the PRB, which sets Michonne off. She doesnt recognize him anymore! Rick is going on about Dana drawing too much attention from the CRM. Its a lot. Rick tells Michonne about Jadiss threat and their specific jam with her: They cant kill Jadis or try escaping to Alexandria because the CRM will drop mustard gas on their community. Michonne suggests they destroy the dossier Jadis has on them and then kill her, but Rick is still hesitant. Whats the deal? Do you think we can do anything? Michonne asks. Do you still love me? He says he never stopped. Michonne hands the PRB over, I think as a test. Its his decision to make now.

At that moment, the second significant revelation happens. Rick and Michonne look out the window and see that the helicopter they jumped out of crashed into an adjacent building during the storm. Not only does that mean Michonne saved their lives, but it presumably means they have the out to escape: The CRM will believe they died in the crash. But Rick wont budge, and unfortunately, I get it. Jadis is crazy enough to believe theyd survive a helicopter crash. Im not going home, Rick says. Michonne reminds him that he is the CRMs prisoner and joining them doesnt make sense. Youre trying to keep us safe by maybe changing the CRM one day [because they] might come after our home and put it in danger, she says. It does sound ridiculous when you lay it out like that!

Michonne packs up and walks out of the apartment. She doesnt believe hes being honest with her, but shes over it. Or maybe shes just trying to shock Ricks system into waking up. Ultimately, whether or not shes bluffing doesnt matter because  after a pause long enough to get you screaming GO! at your television  Rick runs after her.

Outside the window, a spooky second CRM helicopter swoops into the frame. Did Rick call it there? It seems doubtful because it bombs the crashed helicopter Rick and Michonne were in and then departs. The CRM takes destroying evidence of its existence to an extreme. Maybe it shouldnt fly around with an identifiable three-ring logo on its helicopters? Anyway, the blast damages the surrounding area including Rick and Michonnes building. Rick catches up with Michonne in the lobby just as the windows break and walkers breach the shelter.

The two fight off walkers and take refuge in the buildings gym. They can take care of themselves fine against the zombies, but their teamwork is sloppy, and they bicker over Ricks use of army-speak. In the gym, the fight resumes for round two. Both of them are convinced that the other doesnt understand their point of view. Rick talks about Michonnes sacrifice to leave their kids and find him like its a choice, which hurts. You can tell Michonnes heart is breaking. The two of them leave the gym feeling defeated. Even the way they kill walkers at this point of the story is petty. They argue over who gets to stab whom, and Rick deliberately spills blood on Michonne. They are a mess.

Then, cue those big, booming Phantom of the Opera chords, because a chandelier falls on them in a stairwell. Michonne is trapped and urges Rick to save himself, but he stays with her to free her from the chandelier. You never have to thank me ever, he tells her, which is one of the most romantic things Ive ever heard.

They then return to the upstairs apartment, and Round Three begins where they started. But its not a fight. It starts with a kiss and Rick and Michonne moving things to the bedroom. Nothing like a near-death experience to help clarify a couples priorities. Sorry to disappoint the puriteens, but this sex scene is quite necessary to the plot. It feels like it was written as a direct response to the discourse, but I never want to imagine that writers are as terminally online as I am. Theres non-verbal communication happening between them that I can only begin to decipher. For one thing, Rick starts to have a panic attack with Michonne on top of him. She holds his hand to her heart to calm him down. Its intimate and proves to Michonne that Ricks mental wellness is in bad shape  hes not just being a sacrificial asshole. Then, once Ricks breathing settles, they switch positions, which feels like another turning point.

Afterward, while lying in bed, Rick can finally ask about RJ. He also asks Michonne about the mark on her back (see season nine, episode 14 of The Walking Dead, Scars, for that story). And when he goes back on his I can fix the CRM bullshit, Michonne now sees that hes lying to himself as well. Look at how much having sex accomplished! Take that, discourse.

The building is crumbling, and Michonne has to get Rick to verbalize what the CRM did to him. Its now or never. His sacrifice might be to save her, but its hurting her too. What did they take from Rick? Michonne asks, and, finally, Rick has an answer: Carl, his older son who died years ago. After being in captivity, Rick lost the ability to remember what Carl looked like, even in dreams. Then he would dream about Michonne, as we saw in the series premiere, until she faded as well. Losing the memory of them is the worst trauma Rick Grimes has ever experienced, it would seem. He tells her another thing we saw in the premiere: how he let himself die inside. Hes not sure he can do that again. All of the misplaced hope in the CRM and attempts to push Michonne away have been efforts to get ahead, in Ricks words, of the potential pain hed feel if he lost Michonne for real. I wont survive that, he says. I just wont.

Michonne then presents him with a gift. (All five love languages are represented in this episode, if you even care.) Unbeknownst to Rick and us, she had Benjiro draw an iPhone portrait of Carl. Michonne still remembers him and knows Carl wouldnt want his dad to shut himself off like this. This and one final pep talk from Michonne are enough. Theyre going home, she says, and he agrees.

Cut to a few minutes later, and Rick has exchanged his CRM uniform for a sensible sweatshirt. Hes clutching the copy of Beverly Clearys Ramona the Pest that Michonne wants him to bring Judith like the Girl Dad he is. And as the pair exit the crumbling building, theyre in sync like the team The Walking Dead fans know they can be. They are also still horny, bless their hearts. Michonne grabs Rick by the collar in an elevator after some particularly badass zombie fighting. Once theyre safe outside, they find a hybrid car with enough ethanol to get them across the continental United States. Thank you, failed sustainable community! We can make the whole damn world ours if we want to, Rick says, quoting Dream Michonne back at her and glowing. Michonne did it. She loved him back to life.

Are you feeling good with two episodes of The Ones Who Live to go? Im a little worried that Rick and Michonne reconciled too soon. It can sometimes be a harbinger of a tragic ending to come. But maybe thats the walls Ive built around my own heart talking. Lets take this win and hope for the best. If you need me, Ill be sending this episode in an email attachment to every single Hollywood executive who has gotten it into their head that sex and romance weaken Strong Female Characters and have no place in genre storytelling. Enough now.

Sweet Nothings

 What We is not a bottle episode. Multiple sets in a single location, two characters with an internal conflict, and the special-effects budget make it a suitcase episode.

 Back in its heyday, The Walking Dead loved to occasionally pause the ensemble narrative and hand the reins over to two characters. Notable examples include the Beth and Daryl mess-around Still in season four and the Morgan Jonescentric Hes Not Here in season six. It was a handy tool for the series to have in its back pocket when they resumed filming after the COVID-19 shutdown, too. The back half of season ten is devoted to scaled-down character studies. I have always respected that this massively popular franchise isnt afraid to get a little experimental.

 Michonne being a Ramona fan? Huge win for girlhood enthusiasts.

 Easily my favorite piece of tech in the episode is the bisexual lighting button Rick turns on when they leave the gym. Sorry, Roomba.

 Michonnes use of the phrase love on each other might be the most Southern thing (affectionate) that anyone on The Walking Dead has ever said.

 I used to think Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree was about a World War II soldier coming home to his wife. But, in fact, it is about a prisoner. Its ironic, as Rick is kind of both.
Anyone who has explored Alabamas great outdoors or spent time on a tractor cultivating an agricultural crop knows how destructive feral swine can be on the landscape.

Because of the prodigious reproductive capacity of these wild hogs, controlling the populations is difficult at best, and many researchers believe that total eradication of this invasive species is not a viable option.

Some are looking to methods other than hunting or trapping to control the hog numbers, and Texas recently approved the use of a warfarin-based toxicant called Kaput against the burgeoning swine population in that huge state. This action has spurred renewed discussion on the research and developments surrounding various types of feral hog toxicants.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Wildlife Services Division, and the Soil and Water Conservation Committee met recently and came away with a unified position against approving any toxicant, including Kaput, in Alabama at the current time. These entities will continue to stay up-to-date on the latest research and real-world usage of toxicants and periodically revisit the issue.

Since feral swine are such a huge issue, we thought it best to have a meeting of the top agency leaders for departments that are working in this space to make sure we are all in agreement with what is best for Alabama moving forward, said Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship. We had an open and frank discussion about the issue, and all agreed that, based on the information we have right now, Kaput was not the best toxicant for feral hog control in Alabama. I appreciate Commissioner (Rick) Pate and his staff, Director (Chuck) Sykes and the others who are very well versed on this issue. I think all of us coming together to discuss this and hearing all perspectives was very helpful.

ADCNR Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Director Sykes said at the present time he is not sold on the idea that Kaput is the best solution to a difficult problem.

Based on the data we have now, Im not in support of it, Director Sykes said of the use of Kaput. There are a lot of questions about the use of toxicants. Weve been working with the USDA for more than five years on the use of sodium nitrite.

The warfarin-based toxicants rely on blood-thinning effects to dispatch the hogs. However, the hog may have to ingest the Kaput bait multiple times over a long period before it kills the animal. Sodium nitrite affects the hogs ability to transfer oxygen in its system, and it works quickly. Director Sykes said the sodium nitrite bait is going through the licensing process, and he hopes it will be approved in the next couple of years.

Sodium nitrite has proven to be very lethal, very effective and very humane in the way it dispatches the hogs during trial usage in Alabama, so we know it works here, Director Sykes said. And it doesnt continue to kill on down the food chain line. The pig just eats the product, gets sleepy, lies down and doesnt wake up. The product depletes the oxygen in the bloodstream.

Director Sykes said the sodium nitrite is administered through a peanut butter-based bait that wont be available to the general public.

Toxicants wont be something that will be available on the shelf at the local co-op for everybody to use, he said. This will be for trained, licensed applicators, federal agencies and state agencies to use.

ADAI Commissioner Pate said any toxicants like Kaput or sodium nitrite will have to be licensed by his agency before they become legal to use.

The ADAIs current stance on a warfarin-based toxicant is:

There remains insufficient data to justify registration in Alabama considering the toxicity of the product and the known issues that may potentially result from its use.

There are significant differences in the environmental landscape and environmental conditions that exist between Alabama and Texas, where the product is registered for use.

The label and the ability of the applicator to follow the instructions on the label are of great concern.

There appears to be a level of training and education (product specific) that would need to take place, especially in the case of private applicator use of the product.

Hogs need to feed multiple times to get the desired result.

The potential for sub-lethal dosing and resistance remains a concern.

We dont want to minimize the (hog) problem, because we know its huge, Commissioner Pate said. The problem is real. We want to take out as many pigs as possible, but we want to do it the right way. We dont want to jump the gun on this toxicant and regret it down the road. Smart people are working on solutions. Were trying to do as much as we can as fast as we can.

Leif Stephens with the USDA Wildlife Services office at Auburn said his agency is working diligently on solutions to the feral hog problem.

The USDA Wildlife Service remains committed to seeking a suitable feral swine toxicant that is highly effective and humane and also poses low risk to non-target species, coupled with cost effectiveness, storage stability and efficient applicator use, Stephens said. Those are the key boxes that we want to check when it comes to utilizing toxicants.

We recognize the warfarin-based toxicant Kaput was recently registered in Texas. Currently, the data on the use of this product does not support our operational needs as a rapidly acting control method, coupled with a low operational cost. Those boxes I mentioned earlier are not being checked at this time.

Stephens said Wildlife Services has several employees who are tasked with controlling feral swine and the damage they cause throughout the State of Alabama.

This is something we deal with on a daily basis, he said. Its in our face every day, all day, it seems like. Its important to maintain a variety of control methods to combat these invasive species. No one method will solve feral swine issues. There is not a silver bullet per se. Utilizing multiple control techniques in the management plan is the best way to control feral swine.

Stephens said the use of a bait with sodium nitrite shows promise, but it needs further refinement before it is approved.

The sodium nitrite bait offers a lot of hope, he said. Right now, were trying to reformulate the toxicant so it would minimize the effect on non-target species. When youre putting toxicants on the landscape, you dont want to have it out there for a long duration of time. You want something thats cost effective and very efficient when its being applied and humane as well.

According to the USDA, feral hogs cause more than $1.5 billion in damages to property, crops, timber, livestock, native wildlife, ecosystems and cultural and historic resources nationally each year. Damage from feral hogs in Alabama is estimated at $50 million annually.

Right now, we have hogs in all 67 counties, Director Sykes said. Of course, some are a lot worse than others. Most people with hog issues are doing everything they can to keep the numbers in check. We need to get control of the numbers and keep them from exponentially multiplying.

What the Department has done is to have very liberal seasons and bag limits where you can hunt hogs year-round during the daytime. Theres no daily bag limit or season bag limit. From February 11 to October 1, you can buy a nighttime feral swine and coyote license and hunt them 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Throw a baiting license in and you can hunt them over bait.

Director Sykes said while providing great opportunities for Alabamas hunters, shooting feral swine is not the best current method to control the herds. Trapping the whole sounder (family group) is the best way to reduce hog numbers.

You can trap hogs 365 days a year with no season or daily bag limit, he said. Removal of the whole sounder is the best tool that we have at our disposal right now. Were employing that on a lot of state-owned property.

Recently, the Forever Wild Land Trust Board of Trustees voted to spend up to $1 million on feral hog removal efforts on Forever Wild properties. The Forever Wild program is administered by ADCNRs State Lands Division.

Director Sykes also said WFF offers assistance with crop depredation permits where warranted.

For producers who have hog damage in their agriculture processes, we do offer crop depredation permits even during deer season, he said. The producers let the district office know they have issues. We send a biologist out to verify. If the damage is confirmed, permits will be issued to help producers.

We want everybody to understand that when considering depredation permits, we have to work in a way where we are not putting undue pressure on some of our native resources. If its a producer who has significant damage, we have permits for that. Also, we want to give everybody, like a recreational shooter, the opportunity to take hogs, which is why we have liberal seasons and bag limits. We teach trapping classes to educate landowners and managers on the proper techniques. Were doing what we can to deal with the feral hog problem.
Annual tradition marked on St Joseph's Day.

Italy celebrates Father's Day on 19 March, the feast of St Joseph, in contrast to many other countries around the world which mark the day on the third Sunday in June.

Joseph is the patron saint of fathers and carpenters, according to Catholic tradition, and his feast day in Italy is marked with sweet culinary traditions which vary from region to region.

Festa del papa is celebrated in Rome and central Italy with bigne di S. Giuseppe. These fluffy puffs of deep-fried dough have several regional variations however in Rome they are normally filled with cream or ricotta.

Other popular treats to mark the day in Naples and southern Italy are Zeppole di S. Giuseppe, a sweet made of a mixture of soft choux pastry, either fried or baked, and filled with cream.

Sfincia di S. Giuseppe

Frittelle di S. Giuseppe are fried rice fritters enjoyed mainly in Tuscany and central Italy, while Raviole Bolognesi - sweet pastries filled with jam or mostarda bolognese - are popular in the northern city of Bologna.

Father's Day in Sicily is celebrated with sfincia di S. Giuseppe, a colourful deep fried pastry covered with ricotta and decorated with chocolate, pistachio, cherries and candied orange peel.
Indian Navy Commandos took control of a pirate ship in the Arabian Sea after a dramatic 40-hour-long operation on March 16, 2024. The mission, performed by the services Marine Commandos (MARCOS) forces, aimed at securing a bulk carrier that had been hijacked off the Somali coast the previous December.

The MV Ruen, a Bulgarian-owned and Maltese-flagged merchant ship, and her crew of 18 were hijacked by Somali pirates on December 14, 2023, with the assailants escaping Japanese, Spanish and Indian warships by moving into Somalias territorial waters. A single crewman was injured in the incident, with the person evacuated by the Kolkata-class stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Kochi (D64).

The Indian Navy had kept track of Ruen over the last three months as the pirates, with the remaining 17 crewmen still onboard, used the merchant ship to conduct additional assaults in the Indian Ocean, from their base off the coast of Eyl. According to the Financial Times, the vessel may have been used to hijack the Bangladesh-flagged MV Abdullah last week.

The operation to recapture Ruen began on March 15, 2024. The destroyer INS Kolkata (D63) was ordered to intercept the rogue ship, which was approximately 260 nautical miles east of Somalia. Using a drone, the Indian forces were able to confirm that 35 enemy assailants were aboard the vessel. The pirates then shot down the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Kolkatas crew subsequently disabled the ships steering system and navigational aids, forcing the Pirate Ship to stop.

The Indian Navy then deployed a Boeing P-8I Poseidon Neptune, High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE RPA) drones and the Sukanya-class patrol vessel INS Subhadra (P51) to keep an eye on the vessel, while a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III dropped a eight-man Commando team and two airborne assault boats into the sea, next to Ruen.

The sight was enough to convince the pirates to surrender, without any injuries sustained on either side. Ruen was subsequently checked for illegal contraband, illegal weapons and ammunition, with the Indian Navy reporting 37,800 tons of cargo, valued at around $1 million, was safely brought to India.

In a statement, the Indian Navy said, The culmination of the ongoing Anti-Piracy operation involving pirate ship Ruen in the Southern IOR highlights the commitment of the Indian Navy towards reinforcing peace and stability, and also to thwart the resurgence of Piracy in the region. The Indian Navy remains steadfast in performing its role as the First Responder in IOR.

More from us: British Cargo Ship Torpedoed By German U-boat Found Off the Coast of Northern Ireland

The intense operation is the second-such mission the Indian Navy has undertaken this year, with MARCOS operators recapturing the hijacked MV Lila Norfolk and rescuing her 21-man crew this past January. India has deployed around 12 warships to the area east of the Red Sea to defend against piracy while the West focuses its efforts on combating Yemens Houthi rebels.
Australias biggest companies will pay out nearly $34 billion in dividends over the next nine weeks despite a fall in corporate profits, but the forecast dividend yield over the next year remains below the long-term average.

Payouts to investors will ramp up in the coming week, with companies keen on maintaining dividend payments despite weaker profits over the past six months, according to CommSec chief economist Craig James.

Payouts to investors will ramp up in the coming week. Credit: iStock

Dividends issued by S&P/ASX 200-listed companies total almost $1.7 billion in the coming week, a phenomenal $18.8 billion in the week starting March 25, and then a further $9 billion over the following three weeks, he said.

It comes after a deluge of earnings updates last month, which AMP chief economist Dr Shane Oliver said resulted in about 42 per cent of companies surprising on the upside compared with 38 per cent that surprised on the downside. However, the average surprise was negative, with more weakness among larger companies, he said.
Last week we got a reminder that, among its many functions, the federal budget is the repository of all the successful rent-seeking by the nations many business and other special interest groups. Unfortunately, it added to the evidence that the Albanese government knows what it should do to manage the economy better, but lacks the courage to do more than a little.

Rent-seeking involves industries and others lobbying the government for special treatment in the form of grants, tax breaks or regulatory arrangements that make it hard for new businesses to enter their market or protect them from competition in other ways.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: could do better. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Whenever that rent-seeking involves grants or tax concessions it weighs on the budget. Decades of continuous rent-seeking weigh hugely on every years budget, limiting the governments ability to ensure every dollar of taxpayers money is spent to great effect in benefiting all Australians.

For example, a big lump of the feds spending on education is devoted to achieving the Howard governments goal of enhancing parents choice of which school to send their kids to. When the callithumpians decide to build their own schools, so their children can be educated without contamination by people of other religions, the federal taxpayer coughs up.
Chinese author Liu Cixins award-winning science-fiction trilogy, Remembrance of Earths Past, is not sympathetic source material. Favouring concepts over characters, and the concepts grow ever wilder, the story alternates between a present-day international crisis, where leading scientists are inexplicably taking their own lives, and flashbacks to the life of Ye Wenjie (Zine Tseng), a young physicist exiled during Chinas violent Cultural Revolution in the 1960s after student activists turn on her academic parents.

A big-ticket production that may well be Netflixs best scripted original series since Beef, 3 Body Problem hits the (not so) sweet spot between wonder and horror. In nature, nothing exists alone, one character ominously warns, and its the same with this series, which is a masterclass in adaptation that underpins its vast canvas with intimate dynamics.

Dont be deceived by the interplanetary intrigue: humanitys worth, and what we deserve for our collective failings, are at the heart of this deftly capable science-fiction puzzle-box.

Something is going on, and the shows creators, Game of Thrones architects David Benioff and D.B. Weiss along with The Terrors Alexander Woo, relentlessly unfold it.

Moving the books present-day plot from China to Britain, the fulcrum is a group of five friends and former Oxford science stars whose mentor, Ye Wenjies daughter Vera, has just taken her life. Soon Auggie Salazar (Eiza Gonzalez) is experiencing menacing visions, while Jin Cheng (Jess Hong) and Jack Rooney (John Bradley) are playing an illicit virtual reality game set amidst an arcane civilisation.

Eiza Gonzalez in 3 Body Problem: experiences menacing visions. Credit: Netflix

The eight episodes are rife with theoretical invention; blackboards and whiteboards are deployed in different eras. But 3 Body Problem also has a knack for personalising the perplexing. The lead British investigator, Da Shi (Benedict Wong) has a dry, pithy tone, while his boss, Thomas Wade (Liam Cunningham), sends a jolt of cynical energy through his every interaction. The Irish spy is drily hilarious, but his blunt attitude is also transformative: unbelievable problems will require unbelievable responses.

The story makes humanitys self-obsession a flaw that has left us both unprepared and unwilling to deal with extraterrestrial rivals, and increasingly each other. The narrative craft is impressive: until the final episodes you hear more than you see, so that suggestion hooks you in. Ideas that are relevant now, such as faith allowing for extremism, get reframed by the plot. And humanitys response is never without risk. The last time we gave the best physicists in the world insane resource, were reminded, they gave us Hiroshima.
But in Australia today, spyware vendors can sell products designed for customers to surveil a target without their consent, despite alarm among domestic violence and security experts.

In the US last month, the state of New York announced legal action against a spyware consortium, declaring that snooping on a partner without their consent isnt just a sign of an unhealthy relationship, it is against the law.

Apple and Google have tried to eliminate it from their app stores for years.

Unlike family locator apps, which allow parents to check where their children are, stalkerware promises the chance to secretly look inside another persons device  and even record their surroundings.

In 2020, a former police officer convicted of stalking his ex-partner in Queensland was found to have given her an infected phone.

Two years later, a Sydney man questioning his girlfriends fidelity installed software to read her emails, then stabbed her secret lover to death the next day.

Days before Simon Gittany threw his partner Lisa Harnum to her death from the balcony of their 15th-floor Sydney apartment in 2011, he had been reading her text messages using spyware.

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

There is no way that the people selling this technology dont know how its weaponised, says Bridget Harris, director of the Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre.

Another is the chief executive of a $725 million medical company that performs ultrasounds, X-rays and mammograms across NSW.

One of the figures involved in the local industry is a former private investigator (PI) who once impersonated an Australian Federal Police officer to menace an elderly woman.

From viewing call logs to real-time tracking of their whereabouts, you can keep a close eye on your partner without being discovered until you have the evidence you need to come forward.

Our secret mobile tracker is our bestseller, one website says.

Danny Mikati, who runs the PI firm Precision Integrity Services, wants action against spyware. Credit: Steven Siewert

While police say the use of spyware may be criminal, a series of private investigation businesses are promoting the software, sometimes to jealous spouses who deserve answers.

The private investigation site makes a blunt offer: DO YOU WANT TO SPY ON YOUR HUSBAND, WIFE, PARTNER?

Its extremely dangerous for a [domestic violence] victim to be stalked in this way, Danny Mikati, a former NSW Police sergeant turned PI, says. This should not be something you can market as a product.

Criminologists, domestic and family violence support workers and other private investigators are calling for action to stop spyware vendors from enticing customers into non-consensual surveillance.

Theres no legitimate reason that that technology should exist, she says.

Paul Richard (right) says he has tried to divest himself from online businesses advertising spyware, and Brett Sutcliffe (left), one of his business associates. Credit: Marija Ercegovac

Stalking, coercive control and obsessive behaviour have been identified as pathways to homicide and, according to Harris, the use of spyware displays all three.

Advanced features include blocking certain contacts and sending messages that look like theyre coming from the target device.

Users can log into a dashboard to remotely read all text messages and emails on the target device, browse through pictures, log keystrokes, listen in to the surroundings of the target phone via the microphone and remotely use your target phones camera.

From there, it runs in stealth mode, either disguised as another app or entirely in the background.

Customers must physically download the software onto the target mobile phone or computer and installation takes between two and five minutes, according to the marketing material.

The mobile phone and computer monitoring spyware is often sold in the form of a subscription; one site sells it for $130 a month.

There is no way that the people selling this technology dont know how its weaponised.

Its one of several online PI brands (which the Herald and The Age have chosen not to name) promoting not only the services of professional investigators but do-it-yourself surveillance capabilities.

Grant Killen, a former Queensland police officer whose security firm Concentric Concepts works with domestic violence services, says the use of surveillance devices such as GPS trackers has gone through the roof.

Researchers and domestic violence support advocates agree that many women who suspect their devices are infected are probably being monitored in less high-tech ways. It could be perpetrators using anti-theft GPS trackers, or via shared online accounts where the victim does not realise an ex-partner still has access.

Its extremely dangerous for a DV victim to be stalked in this way.

The perpetrator can either use it as a means of control or a means to intimidate or  even more dangerous  locate their victim to attack them.

It becomes a real threat to the persons safety, he says.

Mikati, who runs the PI firm Precision Integrity Services, arranges counter-surveillance for domestic violence survivors, sending suspect devices away to be scanned by technicians.

Spyware, he says, has remained roughly steady, perhaps with a slight decline. We get between 20 and 30 [cases a year] where we locate some sort of spyware, Killen says.

Lisa Harnum had spyware on her phone before she was killed by Simon Gittany. Credit: Fairfax Media

In a report released last week, the cybersecurity company Kaspersky, a member of the Coalition Against Stalkerware, says it identified 168 people affected in Australia in 2023. This followed 195 cases in 2022 and 205 in 2021.

Other signs point to increasing detection.

Last year, digital security company Avast, another member of the anti-stalkerware coalition, found the rate of detection of stalkerware over the previous three years had increased by 183 per cent.

The peak body for specialist domestic violence services, WESNET, found a rise in reports when comparing surveys of frontline workers in 2015 and 2020.

WESNET hands out free phones to victim-survivors. It warns that researching spyware and what to do about it can be dangerous for someone whose device may be infected. As a precaution, they are advised to make inquiries using a device the abuser cannot access, such as computers at a public library.

WESNET chief executive Karen Bentley and Monash University professor Bridget Harris say spyware has a devastating impact on victims of domestic and family violence. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

Its reprehensible, WESNET chief executive Karen Bentley says of the software.

Its really terrifying to think your every move is being monitored by technology.

Spy store

Paul Richard is in the business of sensitive information, in more ways than one.

After moving from Canada, he rose through the Australian healthcare industry to become chief executive of SunDoctors, a chain of skin cancer clinics, in 2017. Since 2021, he has run the NSW-based medical scan company PRP Diagnostic Imaging.

But his LinkedIn profile contains a clue to other business interests: a certificate III in investigative services.

Richard has invested in and served as a director of two companies whose online PI websites advertise spyware. The sites pitch themselves to spouses who suspect their partner is unfaithful and some also promote the products to parents concerned about their childrens welfare or bosses who want to monitor employees.

Richard did not answer detailed questions.

I started selling down my holdings in these businesses in 2019 because of their expansion into certain technologies such as spyware and, since then, I have sought to divest myself fully, Richard wrote in a statement.

Paul Richard is the CEO of PRP Diagnostic Imaging.

I have no operational, management or directorship involvement in these businesses.

However, corporate records and web data show the businesses were already selling spyware when Richard entered the scene.

In 2017, Richard became a director and co-owner of a company whose PI brand advertised the technology online. He remained a director until last year and his family company continues to own a third of the business, after reducing its stake in 2020.

Another company, which Richard continues to direct and co-own, took control of the website and name of a PI business selling spyware in 2020.

Richard said in a phone call that Google is probably worse for privacy and that the use of spyware had almost died away.

However, one of the PI businesses he co-owns is behind a website that introduced an online spy store last year. Prominent among the products are mobile phone and computer spyware.

PRP Diagnostic Imaging, Richards medical company, did not answer questions about his involvement in spyware.

The privacy of patients and the security of their data is strictly regulated under Australian privacy law and is of the highest importance to PRP, a spokesperson says.

PRPs major owners, IFM Investors and UniSuper, issued a statement condemning the use of spyware to perpetuate family violence.

We were not aware that Mr Richard held an interest in these businesses and we are disappointed that he did not disclose this, the statement says.

We have been advised that he has been seeking to divest his holdings since 2019 and we have requested he complete this as soon as possible.

One of Richards business associates in the PI industry is a Ferrari-driving former investigator.

Brett Sutcliffe pleaded guilty in 2008 to impersonating an Australian Federal Police officer to menace a 77-year-old woman, who had criticised him for parking in a disabled spot.

He lost his PI licence. In the following years, NSW Police twice rejected his applications to have it reinstated.

Former PI Brett Sutcliffe in 2017. Credit: Jessica Hromas

Based on screenshots, the spyware Sutcliffe has promoted appears to be the same variety used by Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, who handed out special phones to employees and lovers he then tracked through a spy network.

It is appalling to see Australian vendors openly encourage the non-consensual and secretive surveillance of others with these products, says Diarmaid Harkin, a Deakin University criminologist who has studied the consumer spyware industry.

To encourage, facilitate, and profit from such activity is indefensible.

Sutcliffe declined to comment.

Another spyware businessman says he is aware of the potential dangers to domestic violence victim-survivors. Joshua Paul Rogers company Cryptico Consulting is behind a number of PI websites and an online spy products store, which sells phones with spyware pre-installed but does not promote the software to jealous spouses.

Cryptico Consulting has sold a very limited number of subscriptions of spyware, Rogers says in response to written questions.

Rogers says spyware had legitimate uses, such as monitoring children or employees with their permission, and that his business had an obligation to ensure its products were not used to carry out domestic violence.

Any customer that engages with us to purchase a product or utilise our services is asked whether there are any apprehended violence orders or court orders relating to them or the other party, he says.

We accept that there may be arguments against the sale of this software and would be open to engaging in discussion with government and the broader industry on the regulation of this product.

Criminal use

Wiping or resetting infected devices is not the first step for Killen, the security consultant.

If we locate a tracking device or spyware, a comprehensive safety plan is put in place, Killen says. The programs perpetrators have installed may form the basis of police investigations into stalking or breaches of domestic violence orders.

But the laws that specifically govern surveillance devices are mainly focused on law enforcement agencies authorised use of surveillance, rather than abuse within the home, according to UNSW law professor Lyria Bennett Moses.

The current legislation is not drafted with modern technologies in mind, she says. For instance, a software program may not meet the definition of a data surveillance device in Victoria.

In NSW, the law does capture software programs. However, parts of the legislation make its application in domestic settings unclear, she says. By way of example, if a person has paid for the phone their partner uses, they may arguably have lawful possession of that phone and not commit an offence by installing spyware on it.

One of the websites promoting spyware in Australia, which this masthead has chosen not to name.

It should be a priority to fix these laws so its very clear, in black and white, that an individual cant install this kind of software on a device used by another adult, unless theres explicit consent, Bennett Moses says.

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Victoria Police have not answered questions about whether the sale or use of spyware had led to criminal charges but say family violence perpetrators used technology to find and control victims, particularly after the end of a relationship.

Police across the state partner with various support services who specialise in facilitating checks of mobile phones for spyware, a spokesperson says.

NSW Police have encouraged victims to come forward, saying that while the nefarious software was not new, it needed to be treated with extreme caution.

It is important to clearly stipulate the use of spyware or other software to monitor or record another person without their consent is illegal in NSW, cybercrime squad Commander Detective Superintendent Matt Craft says in a statement.

The penalties associated with the use of this software include imprisonment and the legislation in NSW specifically makes this activity illegal.

But what about the sale of the tech?

In NSW, the law prohibits the manufacture, supply and possession of a surveillance device with the intention of using it, or it being used, in contravention of the legislation.

NSW Police did not answer when asked if the sale of spyware was illegal under this section.

Federal police have pursued vendors of remote access Trojan (RAT) technology, a more sophisticated form of spyware; in one case they identified 14 per cent of Australian customers as respondents on domestic violence orders.

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The AFP did not answer directly when asked why it did not target the spyware sold through PI businesses.

The use of spyware may constitute a criminal offence, for example using the software to unlawfully access an individuals online property or funds, a spokesperson says in a statement.

WESNETs Bentley says banning these vendors from being able to have their websites show up in Australia would be amazing.

Mikati, the former cop turned PI, wants the law updated.

That way police can act, he says. This should not be legal.

National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line: 1800 737 732.

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A Geneva County couple will celebrate 65 years of marriage March 21.

Nola and W.H. Wilson of Chancellor first met at Camp Elmore in Norfolk Virginia, where they both served in the United States Marine Corps.

Nola is retired after a career in nursing. W.H. retired from then-Fort Rucker, but continues to serve in the ministry.

The Wilsons have four children, seven grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.
Lets move to some culture news.

The director of the 2015 Oscar award-winning film Son of Saul, Laszlo Nemes, has become the latest Hollywood figure to weigh in on the speech given by The Zone of Interest director Jonathan Glazer at the Academy Awards last week.

While accepting the award last week for best international film, Glazer delivered a set of pre-written remarks in which he compared his Holocaust film to the current conflict in Gaza. He was accompanied on stage by producer James Wilson and executive producer Len Blavatnik.

Jonathan Glazer, winner of the Best International Feature Film award for The Zone of Interest. Credit: Getty

Our film shows where dehumanisation leads, at its worst, he said. It shaped all of our past and present. Right now, we 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  all the victims of this dehumanisation, how do we resist?

Hungarian director Nemes, who  like Glazer  won the best international Oscar for a film about the Holocaust set in Auschwitz, said he feared the speech would stoke further antisemitism, saying Glazer should have stayed silent instead of revealing he has no understanding of history and the forces undoing civilisation, before or after the Holocaust.

Read more here.
There has been much talk, from Labor, of ending the climate wars. In one sense, that is now true: Dutton is laying down arms. Rather than talking of economic wrecking balls, he is making the case that Labor has no credible pathway to meet its emissions targets  thats why we need nuclear. As the centre of Australian politics shifts, this not what but how approach allows Dutton to position the Coalition on the right side of various debates, while still allowing him to argue with the

government.

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Just as importantly, nuclear allows Dutton to avoid fights within the Coalition. That is because it is not a real policy. Few people in energy believe nuclear is a good answer to anything much at this stage in Australias energy transition; as the CSIRO has made clear, large reactors are too large for our small grids, and small reactors are still unproven commercially. By being able to point to nuclear, which isnt close to happening soon, nobody in the Coalition has to get exercised about spending money on meeting targets they dont believe in.

The second parallel to Aston is that, having avoided these disputes, Dutton can narrow his fight to local battles against specific renewable projects, which may well turn out to be an issue in some regional or outer-suburban seats held by Labor. This is the point of all of the avoidance, the culmination of the strategy. Unsurprisingly, politicians tend to cling to their successful tactics from the past. Duttons nuclear push is very similar to his brief push for constitutional recognition of Indigenous people: a fairly empty promise that provides an alibi for a ferocious negative campaign that unifies the Coalition.

An interesting aspect of this fight against large-scale renewable projects is that it is closer to the strategy pursued by the teal independents at the last election than it might seem. Those campaigns are now seen through the lens of broader issues such as climate and gender. But the local aspect of those campaigns was crucial too: the sense that the pandemic had reminded us of the importance of our local communities. Duttons tactic here has potential. Of course, this is no reason to treat his policy at all seriously.
Moscow: President Vladimir Putin has won a record post-Soviet landslide in Russias election, cementing his already tight grip on power in a victory he said showed Moscow had been right to stand up to the West and send its troops into Ukraine.

Putin, a former KGB lieutenant colonel who first rose to power in 1999, made it clear that the result should send a message to the West that its leaders will have to reckon with an emboldened Russia, whether in war or in peace, for many more years to come.

Voters queue at a polling station at noon (local time) in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday. Credit: AP

The outcome means Putin, 71, is set to embark on a new six-year term that will see him overtake Josef Stalin and become his countrys longest-serving leader for more than 200 years if he completes it.

Putin won 87.8 per cent of the vote, the highest ever result in Russias post-Soviet history, according to an exit poll by pollster the Public Opinion Foundation. The Russian Public Opinion Research Centre put Putin on 87 per cent. First official results indicated the polls were accurate.
Registration is ongoing for the YMCA Summer Camp Program for children ages 5 through 12, Progressive Swimming Lessons for children ages three through14, as well as Water Babies for babies at least six months old.
Marianna Richardson, a junior at Eufaula High School, auditioned for and was selected for the High School Honors Performance Series Concert Choir performance at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Richardson performed alto in February with the Honors Performance Series Concert Choir conducted by Dr. Jeffery L. Ames, director of choral activities and professor at Belmont University.

Being selected to the Honors Performance Series is something each finalist should be extremely proud of accomplishing, said Marion Gomez, music director for the Honors Performance Series. We processed nearly 10,000 nominations this year and have selected the most talented student performers from around the world. Working with these conductors and performing at these renowned music halls is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that these musicians will never forget.

Richardson joined performers from 44 states, South Korea, New Zealand and the Caribbean for a special performance at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York City. She is the soprano section leader in Eufaula High Schools Vibe Show Choir and is the president of Eufaula High School Tiger Theatre.

The Honors Performance Series was created to showcase accomplished individual student performers on an international level by allowing them to study under master conductors and perform in world-renowned venues. The Honors Performance Series is presented by WorldStrides, an educational travel organization, and partners with George Mason University to offer college credit upon completion of the High School Honors Performance Series.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

The nicest day of the forecast, with an egg-cellent Easter Sunday expected with partly sunny skies and mild highs near the 60-degree mark. .

Tonight

Clouding up with a bit of rain arriving late...after midnight.
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 said in a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze, Azernews reports.

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."
Writer is a full-stack generative AI platform that aims to transform work and accelerate growth across every team within an enterprise. This secure platform offers various features such as Palmyra LLMs, Knowledge Graph, AI guardrails, and an Application layer to support a wide range of use cases.

One of the key highlights of Writer is its integrated platform for enterprise generative AI, which eliminates the need to stitch together different AI tools. This allows for higher-quality outputs and faster time to market for businesses. Writer empowers users to build custom generative AI apps for any workflow, including digital assistants, content generation, summarization, and data analysis.

Writer focuses on maximizing productivity and creativity by consistently delivering high-quality output and accurate insights that align with an organizations brand, knowledge, and rules. The platform offers a desktop app, enterprise API, and ecosystem of extensions to make it accessible to users wherever they work, including platforms like Chrome, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and Figma.

In addition to its innovative features, Writer prioritizes data privacy and security. The platform ensures that user data is kept secure and private, with Writer-built LLMs being secure, open, and inspectable. Writer complies with various industry standards such as SOC 2 Type II, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and Privacy Shield, demonstrating its commitment to data security and compliance.

Writer also emphasizes reliability, offering real-time and historical platform status and a 99.9% uptime guarantee on its Enterprise plan. The platforms customer success team works closely with users to roll out ongoing AI program management, providing support in understanding key workflows, change management guidance, employee training, and AI governance policies development.

Overall, Writer offers a proven approach to ROI for businesses looking to leverage generative AI to enhance productivity, creativity, and growth across their teams. With its secure and business-ready features, Writer stands out as a reliable and innovative platform for enterprises seeking to harness the power of AI in their workflows.

Writer  Features

Full-stack generative AI platform

Best-in-class LLMs for enterprises

Quality training data

Data privacy and transparency

Industry specificity

Flexible deployment options

Top scores on key benchmarks

Support for various use cases

Writer  Pricing

TEAM  $18 per user/month, up to 5 users, includes output generation, prebuilt templates, admin tools, and more features. ENTERPRISE  Custom pricing, includes deep customization, API access, data integration, multiple teams, security, support, and account management.

Visit writer.com for more.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court seemed likely Monday to side with the Biden administration in a dispute with Republican-led states over how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security in a case that could set standards for free speech in the digital age.

The justices seemed broadly skeptical during nearly two hours of arguments that a lawyer for Louisiana, Missouri and other parties presented accusing officials in the Democratic administration of leaning on the social media platforms to unconstitutionally squelch conservative points of view.

Lower courts have sided with the states, but the Supreme Court blocked those rulings while it considers the issue.

Several justices said they were concerned that common interactions between government officials and the platforms could be affected by a ruling for the states.

In one example, Justice Amy Coney Barrett expressed surprise when Louisiana Solicitor General J. Benjamin Aguinaga questioned whether the FBI could call Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) to encourage them to take down posts that maliciously released someone's personal information without permission, the practice known as doxxing.

Do you know how often the FBI makes those calls? Barrett asked, suggesting they happen frequently.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh also signaled that a ruling for the states would mean that traditional, everyday communications would suddenly be deemed problematic.

The case Monday was among several the court is considering that affect social media companies in the context of free speech. Last week, the court laid out standards for when public officials can block their social media followers. Less than a month ago, the court heard arguments over Republican-passed laws in Florida and Texas that prohibit large social media companies from taking down posts because of the views they express.

The cases over state laws and the one that was argued Monday are variations on the same theme, complaints that the platforms are censoring conservative viewpoints.

The states argue that White House communications staffers, the surgeon general, the FBI and the U.S. cybersecurity agency are among those who coerced changes in online content on social media platforms.

Aguinaga put the situation in stark terms, telling the justices that the record reveals unrelenting pressure by the government to coerce social media platforms to suppress the speech of millions of Americans.

He said that calls merely encouraging the platforms to act also could violate speech rights, responding to a hypothetical situation conjured by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, about an online challenge that involved teens jumping out of windows at increasing elevations.

Jackson, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, pressed the Louisiana lawyer about whether platforms could be encouraged to remove such posts.

I was with you right until that last comment, Your Honor, Aguinaga said. I think they absolutely can call and say this is a problem, its going rampant on your platforms, but the moment that the government tries to use its ability as the government and its stature as the government to pressure them to take it down, that is when youre interfering with the third partys speech rights.

Justice Samuel Alito appeared most open to the states' arguments, at one point referring to the government's constant pestering of Facebook and some of the other platforms. Alito, along with Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas, would have allowed the restrictions on government contacts with the platforms to go into effect.

Justice Department lawyer Brian Fletcher argued that none of the actions the states complain about come close to problematic coercion and that the federal government would lose its ability to communicate with the social media companies about antisemitic and anti-Muslim posts, as well as on issues of national security, public health and election integrity.

The platforms are large sophisticated actors with no reluctance to stand up to the government, saying no repeatedly when they disagree with what the government is asking them to do, Fletcher said.

Justice Elena Kagan and Kavanaugh, two justices who served in the White House earlier in their careers, seemed to agree, likening the exchanges between officials and the platforms to relationships between the government and more traditional media.

Kavanaugh described experienced government press people throughout the federal government who regularly call up the media and -- and berate them.

Later, Kagan said, I mean, this happens literally thousands of times a day in the federal government.

Alito, gesturing at the courtroom's press section, mused that whenever reporters write something we don't like, the court's chief spokeswoman can call them up and curse them out and say...why dont we be partners? Were on the same team. Why dont you show us what youre going to write beforehand? Well edit it for you, make sure its accurate.

Free speech advocates said the court should use the case to draw an appropriate line between the government's acceptable use of the bully pulpit and coercive threats to free speech.

Were encouraged that the Court was sensitive both to the First Amendment rights of platforms and their users, and to the public interest in having a government empowered to participate in public discourse. To that end, we hope that the Court resolves these cases by making clear that the First Amendment prohibits coercion but permits the government to attempt to shape public opinion through the use of persuasion, Alex Abdo, litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said in a statement.

A panel of three judges on the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled earlier that the Biden administration had probably brought unconstitutional pressure on the media platforms. The appellate panel said officials cannot attempt to coerce or significantly encourage changes in online content. The panel had previously narrowed a more sweeping order from a federal judge, who wanted to include even more government officials and prohibit mere encouragement of content changes.

A divided Supreme Court put the 5th Circuit ruling on hold in October, when it agreed to take up the case.

A decision in Murthy v. Missouri, 23-411, is expected by early summer.
AkzoNobel, a maker of paints and coatings, is investing more than $30 million in its North American facilities, including the company's operation in Reading.

The Amsterdam-based company said in a statement that the investment in equipment and processes will increase efficiency at powder-coating plants in Reading; Warsaw, Indiana; Nashville, Tennessee, and Monterrey, Mexico.

AkzoNobel's powder coatings are used in the telecommunications, automotive, furniture, aerospace, networking and other industries.

"The demand for powder coatings is projected to escalate," Jeff Jirak, global director of AkzoNobel's Powder Coatings business, said in the statement. He said the company's investment positions AkzoNobel as a leader in the market.

The global company recently invested at plants in Como, Italy, and near Hanoi in Vietnam.

Powder coatings are durable and resist corrosion, AkzoNobel said in the statement.

The company's roots date back to the 18th century. AkzoNobel operates in more than 150 countries.

What is now AkzoNobel started in 1792 as Wiert Willem Sikkens's paint business in the Netherlands. The company still produces the Sikkens brand of paint.

In the U.S., American Depositary Receipts in the company are traded under the ticker symbol AKZOY.
This Sunday, sitting on the alter at Trinity Episcopal Church, was a beautiful golden chalice. It had been nearly 100 years since that happened, but now it's home.

The chalice had been a gift to the church. "The chalice was given to Trinity Church sometime in 1887 in memory of Edward Coppee Mitchell, a lawyer from Philadelphia whose family had associations with Bethlehem," said Reverend Canon Clifford Carr.

The chalice even engraved with Mitchell's name and Trinity Church. But a few decades later, it was gone. Reverend Carr telling 69 News, "In 1927 there's a note in the parish records that the chalice was missing."

What happened in those decades? Lei Barry of Montgomery Township can shed some light on the last few. "I bought it from an antique dealer in about 1980," she said.

Barry tried to find out it's origin and contacted a handful of "Trinity churches" but the search would always come up empty.

In the meantime, her family used it for a very special tradition on Christmas Eve. "We would pour champagne in the chalice and we would pass the cup around and each one would take a sip." In honor of Christ's birth.

Barry said she recently was in the process of moving, and decided to give finding the church it belonged to one more shot.

"I tried Trinity Episcopal Church because it's an older church," she said.

The church historian quickly got back to her. Barry said, "She asked me if the name on the chalice was Mitchell."

Sure enough, it was. Barry knew what she had to do.

So, at Sunday's mass, what was lost was now found. Barry stood in front of the church, holding the chalice said, "It's such a pleasure to be here to be able to present this special gift to you."

Reverend Pamela Payne, the Rector of Trinity Church said, "I think it was really special to be able to finally return it to the purpose for which it was give well over 100 years ago."

Reverend Payne said they plan to use it at every service in their Eucharist.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.  Bethlehem City Council has listened to hours of public comments about fighting in the Middle East, pushing back its consideration of city business.

Many of those speakers were not Bethlehem residents.

City Council member Grace Crampsie Smith has proposed limiting comment to residents and taxpayers, a plan she says in a memo abides by the Sunshine Law, the Pennsylvania rules governing public meetings.

Council met March 5 for a five-hour meeting that ended without even reaching actual Bethlehem issues, as calls of "ceasefire now" brought the session to a close.

Many people spoke on the conflict in the Gaza Strip that night, some demanding the city pass a resolution calling for an end to fighting. Others opposed the idea, and some said Bethlehem has no business voting on global affairs.

The Gaza strip is a Palestinian enclave between Israel and Egypt. It is about 5,700 miles from Bethlehem. Fighting has raged in the strip since October, when the group Hamas killed Israelis and took hostages. Some estimates say more than 30,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel started retaliating.

Crampsie Smith's memo says existing rules can focus meetings on actual city business.

"Given the unfortunate series of events that occurred at our recent council meeting of March 5, 2024, I feel it is vital that we abide by our documented Rules of Council," the Crampsie Smith memo says.

She also suggests amending council's rules, and says under the Sunshine Law, "public comment is limited to citizens and/or taxpayers of the City of Bethlehem."

The Crampsie Smith memo is on Tuesday's meeting agenda.

Calls for symbolic resolutions have occupied council's time before. In 2019, much of one meeting was spent on a resolution encouraging the U.S. government to adopt a "Medicare for All" program. Speakers, some who did not live in the city, discussed their experiences with healthcare.

Meanwhile, people who attended to address city business waited.

Council adopted such a resolution supporting what the speakers sought. But more than four years later, there has been no change in national healthcare policy in favor of providing Medicare coverage.

Bethlehem City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, in Town Hall. The meeting agenda and a link to a webcast are posted on the city website.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.  There are 1,440 minutes in a day, so a gallon-per-minute leak means 1,440 gallons of water literally down the drain in a day.

Edward Boscola, director of Bethlehem's Water and Sewer Department, cites that number in addressing some complaints about bills. Boscola will discuss water meters and billing Tuesday at a meeting of City Council's Public Works Committee.

In a memo to the committee, Boscola said billing is "fair and accurate," and when there are disputes, the department tries to resolve them in "an amicable manner."

The memo says the city uses three different kinds of meters, and "all are highly reliable and accurate."

Boscola said in the memo that since 2015, there have been 28 formal requests -- about three per year -- from customers to test meters because of a potential bill dispute.

"All 28 meters tested 100% accurate," he wrote. "Keep in mind that we mail approximately 160,000 water and sewer bills annually. The number of contested bills is miniscule compared to the overall number."

Boscola notes three cases where customers saw a big increase in use. One was the result of a running toilet, another from an irrigation-system leak and the third from a plumbing line leak in a crawl space.

Some complaints of high bills have been brought to City Council.

Council's Public Works Committee will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, in Town Hall.

Bethlehem provides water to residents and businesses in the city, and to all or part of 10 other municipalities. The city's Pocono Mountain reservoirs have a total capacity of 10 billion gallons, according to the water and sewer department. About 15 million gallons is used per day.
Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district contains all of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties, as well as southern Monroe County. Consistently rated as one of the country's most competitive "swing" districts, the result of November's election could determine control of the House of Representatives next year.

Incumbent Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) is in her third term representing the Lehigh Valley after beating back challenges from businesswoman Lisa Scheller in both 2020 and 2022.

This year, three different Republicans have thrown their hats into the race: Businessman and Air Force intelligence officer Kevin Dellicker, of Heidelberg Township, current state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, of Lower Macungie Township, and Pennsylvania Convention Center director of public affairs Maria Montero, of Easton. These candidates will face off in Pennsylvania's primary election on April 23, with the winner earning the right to challenge Wild this fall.

69 News web reporter Carson Swick spoke with Dellicker, Mackenzie and Montero earlier this month. Find his coverage here.
EASTON, Pa.  The Northampton County district attorney said there will be an investigation regarding Easton EMS.

A complaint was received by the district attorney's office last week, according to the DA.

This comes as we receive conflicting information regarding Easton EMS.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto told 69 News Bethlehem Township is responding in the city as its "primary EMS until the Easton Emergency Squad is back to 'full staffing levels' and can properly serve our residents."

According to the mayor, 15 squad members were quitting and eight had returned.

Easton EMS is a not-for-profit organization, according to its website. It lists its primary response area as Easton, Glendon and Williams Township.

Easton EMS is not operated by the city of Easton's government.

A board member with Easton EMS told us the squad is continuing to respond to calls and that Bethlehem Township is providing mutual aid when needed. He said that is not out of the ordinary.

The board member we spoke with said two people have officially resigned.

We were told by the board member that some other people indicated they would be resigning but have not officially submitted resignations.
HANOVER TWP., Pa. -- A Pennsylvania state trooper was hurt in a crash in Lehigh County last week.

It happened Tuesday just before 4 p.m. in Hanover Township, according to state police accident report.

The 32-year-old trooper was driving his police vehicle on Postal Road when a car turned left onto Marcon Boulevard in front of him, police say.

The trooper, of Bethlehem, swerved to avoid hitting the car, and his passenger side tires hit the curb, blowing out the tires and breaking the rims, police say.

The trooper was hurt, but was not taken to the hospital, police say.

The other driver, a 43-year-old Wilkes-Barre man, was not hurt. He was cited for failing to yield to traffic when turning left.
Ensuring the promotion and protection of worker safety stands as a critical objective for Australian businesses.

In guaranteeing the safety of employees, employers are also securing their productivity and engagement  pivotal factors in the success of any business, asserts Stephen Blackie, Commercial Director at National Media, organizers of the 2024 Workplace Health and Safety Show, set to take place in Melbourne from May 22nd to 23rd.

The integration of technological solutions and innovations, encompassing artificial intelligence, IoT-ready sensors, and cloud-based software tools, could yield enhanced health and safety outcomes. Many of these technological tools facilitate real-time monitoring, data collection, and predictive analysis, thereby enabling the prediction and prevention of hazards and risks, Blackie adds.

Three technological innovations are currently shaping workplace safety:

Smart sensors: This category includes sensors that track individuals, vehicles, or heavy-duty equipment and alert safety leaders to potential safety risks such as collisions or maintenance-related faults. Additionally, these sensors can monitor environmental factors such as lightning, high heat, or dust levels. Wearable technology: This encompasses wearable sensors that detect movement, stress, or other potential risk factors, collecting data for analysis and reporting. Exoskeletons designed to protect workers from physical risks and prevent movement-related injuries are also under development for industries like mining, Blackie further highlights. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT: AI and IoT-enabled solutions have the capability to automate the monitoring, reporting, and predictive analysis of safety risks, as well as the response to potential hazards. These innovations are assisting organizations in achieving improved safety outcomes by seamlessly connecting safety monitoring systems, reporting platforms, emergency response teams, and workplace leaders, Blackie notes.

Trending in workplace safety

Some of these innovations and tools will enable workplaces to adopt a more holistic approach to safety, by addressing the mental wellbeing of workers. Noting that the rate of mental illness-related workers compensation claims is rising fast, we anticipate that psychosocial safety is going to be a hot topic for Australian workplace leaders in the coming months, says Blackie.

Another trend in safety is personalisation  tailoring safety training and wellbeing programs to individual employees, for the best outcomes. Cloud-based programs, virtual reality programs, mobile apps and customised systems facilitate this personalised approach. It goes without saying that cyber security and data security will be top of mind for any organisation thats investing in these platforms, he adds.

Remote, round-the-clock safety monitoring is another positive side effect of the advances in technology. Virtual inspections and safety protocols can be carried out regularly and consistently, raising safety standards, comments Blackie.

Getting across the latest in workplace safety

Staying up to date with the tech innovations, latest trends and new safety legislation is a challenge for safety professionals. This is why were so pleased to present this years Workplace Health & Safety Show in Melbourne, with the aim of empowering visitors with the latest OHS resources, knowledge and tools, says Blackie. Visitors can register for a free ticket to the show at https://whsshow.com.au/register-melbourne.

The Show will be taking place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 22 to 23 May, and will feature three theatre stages, covering everything from the latest in safety technology and resources, to mental wellbeing and psychosocial legislation, as well as dedicated sessions on safety in construction.

Complementing the seminars, workshops and conferences is an exhibition featuring an extensive range of health and safety brands, showcasing their solutions.

The Workplace Health & Safety Melbourne Show runs alongside the AIHS National Health and Safety Conference 2024. Show partners and sponsors include the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Industry, WorkSafe Victoria, the Black Dog Institute, SkyTrust and the Working at Height Association  to name a few.

Register today and be part of the number one event for champions of safety at work, concludes Blackie.

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FALLS TWP., Pa.  The man accused of killing three of his family members, including a 13-year-old girl, in Bucks County is now in custody.

Authorities say 26-year-old Andre Gordon Jr. faces multiple charges in Bucks County.

Investigators said on Saturday morning Gordon stole a car in Trenton and drove to Falls Township.

That is where he allegedly killed his 52-year-old stepmother and 13-year-old sister at one location, and a woman he had two children with at another location.

"I saw all the cops up the street here, and they had the road blocked off and all the neighbors were outside wondering what was going on," said Sean Murphy of Falls Township.

Murphy said he received a shelter-in-place notice.

"And then we heard there was a shooting up the street," said Murphy.

Investigators said Gordon then carjacked a vehicle in Morrisville, before returning to Trenton.

Police could be seen surrounding a home, which they said Gordon was in at one point, but got out of before a perimeter was formed. He was located a couple blocks away on the street, according to police.

"He was encountered by a Trenton Police patrol unit and he was stopped and identified and taken into custody," said Steve Wilson, Trenton Police Director.

Approximately 60 officers from the Mercer County Rapid Response Partnership responded to assist in New Jersey, according to the attorney general.

In a statement, the attorney general said in part:

"I am grateful to all the brave law enforcement officers who mobilized in the face of grave danger and helped ensure this incident ended without further harm. We will pursue justice for the victims and hold the defendant accountable for his reprehensible actions."

Gordon faces multiple charges in New Jersey as well.

The Pennsbury School District says it lost one of its eighth graders as a result of Saturday's events. The district said it sends its deepest condolences to the family for their loss.

The district went on to say it will support students during the days and weeks ahead.
GLEN GARDNER, N.J. - New Jersey State Police say a 62-year-old man was struck and killed by a car on Route 31 in Hunterdon County Saturday night.

Police say the accident occurred around 10 p.m. on Route 31 North in Glen Gardner.

A preliminary investigation found that John Gallic was struck by a Honda traveling northbound in the area of milepost 37.3. Gallic sustained fatal injuries, while the driver of the Honda sustained minor injuries, police said.

The incident remains under investigation.
SERREKUNDA, Gambia (AP)  Lawmakers in Gambia referred an attempted repeal of the 2015 ban on female genital cutting for further committee discussions on Monday.

Gambian activists fear a repeal would overturn years of work to better protect girls and women. The legislation was referred to a national committee for further debate and could return to a vote in the weeks and months ahead.

Activists in the largely Muslim country had warned that lifting the ban would hurt years of work against a procedure often performed on girls younger than 5 in the mistaken belief that it would control their sexuality.

The procedure, which also has been called female genital mutilation, includes the partial or full removal of external genitalia, often by traditional community practitioners with tools such as razor blades or at times by health workers. It can cause serious bleeding, death and childbirth complications but remains a widespread practice in parts of Africa.

Jaha Dukureh, the founder of Safe Hands for Girls, a local group that aims to end the practice, told The Associated Press she worried that other laws safeguarding womens rights could be repealed next. Dukureh underwent the procedure and watched her sister bleed to death.

If they succeed with this repeal, we know that they might come after the child marriage law and even the domestic violence law. This is not about religion but the cycle of controlling women and their bodies, she said. The United Nations has estimated that more than half of women and girls ages 15 to 49 in Gambia have undergone the procedure.

The bill is backed by religious conservatives in the nation of less than 3 million people. Its text says that it seeks to uphold religious purity and safeguard cultural norms and values." The countrys top Islamic body has called the practice one of the virtues of Islam."

Gambia's former leader, Yahya Jammeh, banned the practice in 2015 in a surprise to activists and with no public explanation. Since the law took effect, enforcement has been weak, with only two cases prosecuted.

On Monday, a crowd of men and women gathered outside Gambia's parliament, some carrying signs protesting the bill. Police in riot gear held them back.

Gambia's parliament of 58 lawmakers includes five women. If the bill eventually passes through parliament, President Adama Barrow is expected to sign it into law. He has not spoken publicly about the legislation.

The United States has supported activists who are trying to stop the practice. Earlier this month, it honored Gambian activist Fatou Baldeh at the White House with an International Women of Courage Award.

The U.S. Embassy in Gambia declined to say whether any high-level U.S. official in Washington had reached out to Gambian leaders over the bill. In its emailed statement, Geeta Rao Gupta, the top U.S. envoy for global women's issues, called it incredibly important to listen to the voices of survivors like Baldeh.

The chairperson of the local Center for Womens Rights and Leadership, Fatou Jagne Senghore said the bill is aimed at curtailing womens rights and reversing the little progress made in recent years. The president of the local Female Lawyers Association, Anna Njie, said the practice has been proven to cause harm through medical evidence.

UNICEF said earlier this month that some 30 million women globally have undergone female genital cutting in the past eight years, most of them in Africa but some in Asia and the Middle East.

More than 80 countries have laws prohibiting the procedure or allowing it to be prosecuted, according to a World Bank study cited this year by a United Nations Population Fund Q&A published earlier this year. They include South Africa, Iran, India and Ethiopia.

No religious text promotes or condones female genital mutilation, the UNFPA report says, adding there is no benefit to it.

Girls are subjected to the procedure at ages ranging from infancy to adolescence. Long term, it can lead to urinary tract infections, menstrual problems, pain, decreased sexual satisfaction and childbirth complications as well as depression, low self-esteem and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Donati reported from Dakar, Senegal.

This story has been corrected to show that the measure has been sent for more committee discussions, not rejected.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters Monday morning, its neighbors said, days after the end of the South Korean-U.S. military drills that the North views as an invasion rehearsal.

The launches  North Koreas first known missile testing activities in about a month  came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Seoul for a democracy summit. Outside experts earlier predicted North Korea would extend its run of missile tests and intensify its warlike rhetoric ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November to boost its leverage in future diplomacy.

Japans Defense Ministry said North Korea fired three missiles, two together at 7:44 a.m. and the other about 37 minutes later. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told a parliamentary session that the North Korean missiles landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, all outside of Japans exclusive economic zone, and that no damage or injuries have been reported.

Kishida denounced North Koreas repeated ballistic missile tests as acts that threaten the peace and safety of Japan, the region and the international society. He said Japan strongly protested against North Korea over its testing activities, saying they violated U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban the North from engaging in any ballistic activities.

South Koreas military said it also detected several suspected short-range ballistic launches by North Korea on Monday morning. The Joint Chiefs of Staff called the launches clear provocation that threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula. It said South Korea will maintain readiness to repel any provocation by North Korea, based on its solid military alliance with the United States.

According to Japanese and South Korean assessments, the North Korean missiles fired from its capital region traveled a distance of 300-350 kilometers (about 185-220 miles) and reached a maximum altitude of 50 kilometers (about 30 miles).Observers say the missiles fight distances indicate they are weapons targeting major facilities in South Korea, such as its military headquarters in the central region.

The U.S. State Department condemned the launches, saying they pose a threat to the Norths neighbors and undermine regional security. A State Department statement said the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan remain ironclad.

The U.S. stations a total of 80,000 troops in South Korea and Japan, the backbone of its military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

During the South Korea-U.S. military drills that ended Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided a series of military training exercises involving tanks, artillery guns and paratroopers and called for greater war fighting capabilities. The 11-day South Korean-U.S. drills involved a computer-simulated command post training and 48 kinds of field exercises, twice the number conducted last year.

The North didnt perform any missile tests during its rivals training, however. Its missile tests are considered much bigger provocations as North Korea has been pushing hard to mount nuclear warheads on its missiles targeting the U.S. mainland and its allies. Many experts say North Korea already has nuclear-armed missiles capable of reaching all of South Korea and Japan, but it has yet to have functioning long-range missiles that can strike the U.S. mainland.

Before Mondays launches, North Korea last carried out missile tests in mid-February by firing cruise missiles into the sea.

Animosities on the Korean Peninsula remain high in the wake of North Koreas barrage of missile tests since 2022. Many of the tests involved nuclear-capable missiles designed to attack South Korea and the mainland U.S. The U.S. and South Korean forces have responded by expanding their training exercises and trilateral drills involving Japan.

Experts say North Korea likely believes a bigger weapons arsenal would increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the United States. They say North Korea would want to win extensive sanctions relief while maintaining its nuclear weapons.

Worries about North Korean military moves have deepened since Kim vowed in a speech in January to rewrite the constitution to eliminate the countrys long-standing goal of seeking peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula and to cement South Korea as its invariable principal enemy. He said the new charter must specify North Korea would annex and subjugate the South if another war broke out.

Observers say North Korea may launch limited provocations along its tense border with South Korea. But they say the prospects for a full-scale attack by North Korea are dim as it would know its military is outmatched by the U.S. and South Korean forces.

Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo. Associated Press writer Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo contributed to this report.

Follow APs Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
Today

The nicest day of the forecast, with an egg-cellent Easter Sunday expected with partly sunny skies and mild highs near the 60-degree mark.

Tonight

Clouding up with a bit of rain arriving late...after midnight.

Tomorrow

Mainly cloudy with a few showers or some drizzle, especially the first half of the day.
People hold glasses of beer at a restaurant in Hanoi, Vietnam, June 24, 2017. Photo by Reuters/Kham

Beer sales plunged by 11% in 2023 due to the government's zero tolerance for drunk driving, and breweries' profits were down 23%, liquor industry figures show.

At a conference on Friday the Vietnam Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Association (VBA) said beer consumption was sharply down, especially at restaurants and eateries.

The two giant breweries, Sabeco and Habeco, both suffered sharp declines in profits, it said.

Sabecos profits were down 23% to VND4.255 trillion (US$180.1 million), the lowest since 2016 if the Covid-19 period is not considered.

Habecos profits dropped 30% to VND355 billion.

While its members support the anti-drunk driving policies, a ban on any level of alcohol when driving is hurting beer production and supply chains, the association said.

"Restaurants and tourist areas cannot operate due to a lack of customers," a VBA representative said at the conference.

Nguyen Duy Hung, the associations vice chairman, said the industry is also affected by consumers tightening spending and rising costs.

The costs of ingredients and materials have increased by 20-40%, resulting in higher prices, he said.

Dau Anh Tuan, deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the beer industry could be hit with an excise tax hike.

In amendments it proposed to the Excise Tax Law last year, the Ministry of Finance suggested raising the tax on alcoholic drinks to curb consumption.

It is seeking public opinion on the proposal. The current excise tax rates are 65% for beers and 35-65% for liquor, depending on alcohol content.

The VBA agreed with the tax hike but pleaded with the government to delay it to after 2025, giving the industry time to recover.

But breweries said a tax increase could cause huge losses to the industry and nor would it be an effective tool to prevent alcohol consumption.
ASOS Plc (LON:ASC  Get Free Report) has been assigned an average rating of Hold from the eight analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is GBX 533 ($6.83).

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on ASC. Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 600 ($7.69) price objective on shares of ASOS in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a buy rating on shares of ASOS in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on ASC

Insider Buying and Selling

ASOS Price Performance

In other ASOS news, insider William Barker acquired 13,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 365 ($4.68) per share, for a total transaction of 47,450 ($60,794.36). Insiders own 49.33% of the companys stock.

ASC opened at GBX 342.33 ($4.39) on Monday. The businesss 50-day moving average is GBX 372.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 388.11. ASOS has a 1 year low of GBX 320.33 ($4.10) and a 1 year high of GBX 838 ($10.74). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 115.59, a current ratio of 1.73 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The firm has a market capitalization of 408.50 million, a PE ratio of -161.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -1.26 and a beta of 2.72.

ASOS Company Profile

(Get Free Report

ASOS Plc operates as an online fashion retailer in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, and internationally. It offers womenswear and menswear products. The company sells its products under the ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS Luxe, ASOS 4505, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, HIIT, AsYou, Dark Future, UNRVLLD/SPPLY, Crooked Tongues, Daysocial, Actual, and Weekend Collective brands, as well as through third-party brands.

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Centerspace (NYSE:CSR  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 174,100 shares, an increase of 24.7% from the February 14th total of 139,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 78,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.2 days.

Centerspace Trading Up 1.0 %

CSR stock traded up $0.56 during trading on Friday, hitting $56.13. The company had a trading volume of 129,529 shares, compared to its average volume of 73,677. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $55.60 and a 200-day moving average price of $56.22. Centerspace has a 12 month low of $46.74 and a 12 month high of $66.99. The stock has a market cap of $844.76 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.09, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a quick ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 0.03 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74.

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Centerspace Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 28th will be given a $0.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.34%. This is an increase from Centerspaces previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. Centerspaces payout ratio is currently 125.32%.

Insider Buying and Selling

Institutional Trading of Centerspace

In related news, Director John A. Schissel acquired 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 11th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $56.40 per share, with a total value of $28,200.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 9,522 shares of the companys stock, valued at $537,040.80. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . 0.86% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Centerspace by 1.3% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 167,277 shares of the companys stock worth $16,413,000 after acquiring an additional 2,193 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Centerspace by 35.5% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 7,203 shares of the companys stock valued at $707,000 after buying an additional 1,887 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its stake in shares of Centerspace by 2.4% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 42,807 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,200,000 after buying an additional 1,005 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its stake in shares of Centerspace by 19.8% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 12,933 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,269,000 after buying an additional 2,139 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Centerspace by 2.2% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,736,058 shares of the companys stock valued at $268,463,000 after buying an additional 58,404 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.97% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Centerspace from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their target price for the company from $58.00 to $63.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $64.71.

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About Centerspace

(Get Free Report)

Centerspace is an owner and operator of apartment communities committed to providing great homes by focusing on integrity and serving others. Founded in 1970, as of September 30, 2023, Centerspace owned interests in 71 apartment communities consisting of 12,785 apartment homes located in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

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John Wood Group (OTCMKTS:WDGJF  Get Free Report) and Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC  Get Free Report) are both energy companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, risk, valuation and dividends.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

45.3% of John Wood Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 1.3% of Ecopetrol shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

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Profitability

This table compares John Wood Group and Ecopetrols net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets John Wood Group N/A N/A N/A Ecopetrol 14.58% 10.31% 3.75%

Valuation & Earnings

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio John Wood Group N/A N/A N/A $0.75 2.68 Ecopetrol $37.83 billion N/A $34.77 billion $2.33 4.64

This table compares John Wood Group and Ecopetrols revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Ecopetrol has higher revenue and earnings than John Wood Group. John Wood Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Ecopetrol, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations for John Wood Group and Ecopetrol, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score John Wood Group 0 3 1 0 2.25 Ecopetrol 2 4 0 0 1.67

Ecopetrol has a consensus target price of $11.60, indicating a potential upside of 7.41%. Given Ecopetrols higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Ecopetrol is more favorable than John Wood Group.

Dividends

John Wood Group pays an annual dividend of $0.22 per share and has a dividend yield of 11.0%. Ecopetrol pays an annual dividend of $2.48 per share and has a dividend yield of 23.0%. John Wood Group pays out 29.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Ecopetrol pays out 106.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.

Summary

Ecopetrol beats John Wood Group on 8 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About John Wood Group

(Get Free Report)

John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through Projects, Operations, Consulting, and Investment Services segments. The Projects segment provides engineering design and project management services across energy and materials markets including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, minerals, and life sciences. The Operations segment offers decarbonisation, maintenance, modifications, brownfield engineering, asset management, and decommissioning services. The Consulting segment provides technical consulting, digital consulting, and energy asset and technology solutions. The Investment Services segment engages in industrial power and heavy civil engineering activities. John Wood Group PLC was incorporated in 1961 and is headquartered in Aberdeen, the United Kingdom.

About Ecopetrol

(Get Free Report)

Ecopetrol S.A. operates as an integrated energy company. The company operates through four segments: Exploration and Production; Transport and Logistics; Refining, Petrochemical and Biofuels; and Electric Power Transmission and Toll Roads Concessions. It engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas; transportation of crude oil, motor fuels, fuel oil, and other refined products, including diesel, jet, and biofuels; processing and refining crude oil; distribution of natural gas and LPG; sale of refined and petrochemical products; supplying of electric power transmission services; design, development, construction, operation, and maintenance of road and energy infrastructure projects; and supplying of information technology and telecommunications services. As of December 31, 2022, the company had approximately 9,127 kilometers of crude oil and multi-purpose pipelines. It also produces and commercializes polypropylene resins and compounds, and masterbatches; and offers industrial service sales to customers and specialized management services. It has operations in Colombia, the United States, Asia, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, and South America. The company was formerly known as Empresa Colombiana de Petroleos and changed its name to Ecopetrol S.A. in June 2003. Ecopetrol S.A. was incorporated in 1948 and is headquartered in Bogota, Colombia.

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BV Financial (OTCMKTS:BVFL  Get Free Report) is one of 344 publicly-traded companies in the Banks  Regional industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare BV Financial to related businesses based on the strength of its dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings, risk and profitability.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

36.7% of shares of all Banks  Regional companies are owned by institutional investors. 15.5% of shares of all Banks  Regional companies are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

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Profitability

This table compares BV Financial and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets BV Financial N/A N/A N/A BV Financial Competitors 20.84% 10.65% 0.93%

Earnings and Valuation

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio BV Financial $37.80 million N/A 6.94 BV Financial Competitors $27.99 billion $1.25 billion 67.26

This table compares BV Financial and its rivals revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

BV Financials rivals have higher revenue and earnings than BV Financial. BV Financial is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its rivals, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for BV Financial and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score BV Financial 0 0 0 0 N/A BV Financial Competitors 1282 4097 4161 72 2.31

As a group, Banks  Regional companies have a potential upside of 31.20%. Given BV Financials rivals higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe BV Financial has less favorable growth aspects than its rivals.

Summary

BV Financial rivals beat BV Financial on 8 of the 8 factors compared.

BV Financial Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

BV Financial, Inc. operates as the holding company for BayVanguard Bank that provides various financial services to individuals and businesses in Maryland. The company offers checking and money market accounts, savings accounts, and certificates of deposits. Its loan products include real estate, home equity, construction, lot, auto, boat, and other personal loans; and commercial lending products, such as commercial equipment/installation, commercial real estate, construction, investment real estate, lines of credit, and SBA loans, as well as loans for short-term real estate purchase, renovation, and sale projects. The company also offers ATM, overdraft, safe deposit, bill pay, remote deposit capture, ACH origination, merchant, and online banking services. The company was founded in 1873 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Eldorado Gold Co. (TSE:ELD  Get Free Report) (NYSE:EGO) has earned an average recommendation of Hold from the five ratings firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$18.06.

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on Eldorado Gold from C$17.00 to C$18.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. National Bank Financial restated an outperform spec overweight rating on shares of Eldorado Gold in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Stifel Canada cut Eldorado Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. National Bankshares lowered their target price on Eldorado Gold from C$21.00 to C$19.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 26th. Finally, Cormark lowered their target price on Eldorado Gold from C$26.00 to C$25.00 in a report on Monday, February 26th.

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Eldorado Gold Stock Performance

TSE ELD opened at C$17.61 on Monday. The company has a market cap of C$3.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.12, a P/E/G ratio of 56.20 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 18.60, a quick ratio of 2.28 and a current ratio of 3.39. The businesss 50 day moving average price is C$16.05 and its 200-day moving average price is C$15.25. Eldorado Gold has a fifty-two week low of C$11.38 and a fifty-two week high of C$18.30.

Eldorado Gold (TSE:ELD  Get Free Report) (NYSE:EGO) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The company reported C$0.33 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$0.28 by C$0.05. The firm had revenue of C$417.85 million for the quarter. Eldorado Gold had a return on equity of 3.15% and a net margin of 10.37%. Sell-side analysts predict that Eldorado Gold will post 0.9586729 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Eldorado Gold

In related news, Director George Raymond Burns sold 13,434 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$14.87, for a total transaction of C$199,806.57. 0.66% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

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.

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An outlet of The Body Shop in Thu Duc City, December 2023. Photo courtesy of The Body Shop Vietnam

Operated by a Malaysian firm in some Southeast Asian locations, cosmetics retail chain The Body Shop Vietnam posted its first loss last year after three years of declining profits.

InNature Berhad, which owns The Body Shop Vietnam, said that the company has been unaffected by the shutdown of The Body Shop U.S. operations last week. The company also operates The Body Shop in Malysia and Cambodia.

The Body Shop, a 50-year-old brand founded in the U.K, has been scaling down its operations in the U.K. and Canada.

The first The Body Shop store in Ho Chi Minh City opened in 2009. After 15 years, it now has 41 outlets nationwide.

Revenues before Covid-19 were on the rise from VND112 billion in 2018 to VND162 billion in 2020. Its annual growth rate of over 20% were higher than InNature Berhads revenue, which dropped 8.8%.

Post-tax profit went up 65% to VND23 billion in 2019 but dropped 14% the next year.

In 2020 The Body Shop Vietnam accounted for 20% of InNature Berhads revenue.

But the post-pandemic market posed challenges to The Body Shop Vietnam. It saw revenue declining 18% in 2021 while profits plunged by two-thirds.

An 12% increase in revenue in 2022 was not able to match pre-Covid figures, while profit continued to fall.

The Body Shop Vietnam therefore posted its first loss at VND5 billion in 2023 on a revenue of VND136 billion, while the Malaysia and Cambodia markets still recorded profits.

The Southeast Asian business, however, remains bright when compared to the European and American business.

Increasing competition and prolonged financial challenges have caused major difficulties to the company.

In November last year, The Body Shop was sold to its third owner with a valuation of $260 million, a quarter of the 2007 figure.

The Body Shop U.K. became insolvent last month and had to restructure.

Aurelius, a European private equity firm, has now taken control of the business. It has expressed optimism that it could re-energize the iconic British brand "despite the challenging retail market."

The Body Shop has become known globally for its commitment to ethical business practices and its focus on producing cruelty-free and environmentally sustainable products. It is popular for its range of natural and ethically sourced ingredients, as well as its campaigns advocating for animal rights, fair trade, and environmental conservation.
Financial Network Wealth Management LLC decreased its stake in Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR  Free Report) by 13.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,941 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 300 shares during the quarter. Financial Network Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Extra Space Storage were worth $311,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Extra Space Storage by 5.6% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 1,404 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $289,000 after buying an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 16.5% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 1,502 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $309,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 1st quarter worth approximately $625,000. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its position in shares of Extra Space Storage by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 2,522 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $519,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 1st quarter worth approximately $332,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.40% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Extra Space Storage

In related news, CMO Samrat Sondhi sold 2,048 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.46, for a total value of $299,950.08. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 94,126 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,785,693.96. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Extra Space Storage news, CMO Samrat Sondhi sold 2,048 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.46, for a total transaction of $299,950.08. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 94,126 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,785,693.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Gwyn Goodson Mcneal sold 1,350 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.00, for a total transaction of $195,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 37,028 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,369,060. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 3,532 shares of company stock valued at $514,819. 1.55% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

EXR has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Extra Space Storage from $155.00 to $150.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 4th. Scotiabank started coverage on Extra Space Storage in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. They issued a sector underperform rating and a $131.00 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley raised Extra Space Storage from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $115.00 to $150.00 in a report on Thursday, December 21st. StockNews.com cut Extra Space Storage from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Saturday, March 2nd. Finally, TheStreet raised Extra Space Storage from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $149.33.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on EXR

Extra Space Storage Stock Performance

Shares of Extra Space Storage stock traded down $2.98 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $139.33. The company had a trading volume of 2,428,626 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,215,785. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a one year low of $101.19 and a one year high of $165.85. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $145.48 and a 200 day simple moving average of $134.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.30 and a quick ratio of 0.30. The firm has a market cap of $29.48 billion, a PE ratio of 28.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.74.

Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.03 by ($1.01). Extra Space Storage had a net margin of 31.81% and a return on equity of 8.34%. The business had revenue of $797.77 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $778.05 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $2.09 EPS. Extra Space Storages quarterly revenue was up 57.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Extra Space Storage Inc. will post 8.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Extra Space Storage Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.65%. Extra Space Storages payout ratio is 131.17%.

About Extra Space Storage

(Free Report)

Extra Space Storage Inc, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of September 30, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 3,651 self-storage stores in 42 states and Washington, DC The Company's stores comprise approximately 2.5 million units and approximately 279.0 million square feet of rentable space operating under the Extra Space, Life Storage and Storage Express brands.

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Foresight Capital Management Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 24,960 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $1,909,000. Dell Technologies comprises approximately 2.0% of Foresight Capital Management Advisors Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 28th biggest position.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in DELL. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Dell Technologies by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,921 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $270,000 after buying an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. JT Stratford LLC boosted its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 1.0% during the third quarter. JT Stratford LLC now owns 19,959 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $1,375,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares during the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC increased its position in Dell Technologies by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC now owns 4,986 shares of the technology companys stock worth $344,000 after purchasing an additional 235 shares in the last quarter. Rise Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Dell Technologies by 200.0% in the 3rd quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 357 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Dell Technologies by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 13,432 shares of the technology companys stock worth $925,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares during the last quarter. 38.10% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Dell Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:DELL opened at $107.20 on Monday. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $90.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $77.78. The company has a market cap of $76.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.49, a PEG ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.91. Dell Technologies Inc. has a one year low of $36.81 and a one year high of $131.06.

Dell Technologies Increases Dividend

Dell Technologies ( NYSE:DELL Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 29th. The technology company reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.73 by $0.47. The company had revenue of $22.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.17 billion. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 3.63% and a negative return on equity of 165.52%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.55 earnings per share. Analysts predict that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.27 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 23rd will be paid a $0.445 dividend. This is a boost from Dell Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 22nd. This represents a $1.78 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.66%. Dell Technologiess payout ratio is 40.73%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Dell Technologies

In other Dell Technologies news, insider Jennifer D. Saavedra sold 18,260 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.10, for a total value of $2,193,026.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 206,961 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,856,016.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Jennifer D. Saavedra sold 18,260 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.10, for a total value of $2,193,026.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 206,961 shares of the companys stock, valued at $24,856,016.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Iv (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 3,179,972 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.81, for a total value of $250,613,593.32. Following the sale, the director now owns 293,812 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,155,323.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 5,117,643 shares of company stock worth $473,377,212 in the last 90 days. 48.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on DELL. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $53.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Raymond James raised their price objective on Dell Technologies from $68.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their target price on Dell Technologies from $90.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Dell Technologies from $100.00 to $128.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Dell Technologies from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Dell Technologies presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $102.88.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on DELL

About Dell Technologies

(Free Report)

Dell Technologies Inc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, and supports various comprehensive and integrated solutions, products, and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) and Client Solutions Group (CSG).

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Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) and China Eastern Airlines (OTCMKTS:CHEAF  Get Free Report) are both industrials companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, risk, dividends and valuation.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Delta Air Lines and China Eastern Airlines top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Delta Air Lines $58.05 billion 0.48 $4.61 billion $7.15 6.03 China Eastern Airlines N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Delta Air Lines has higher revenue and earnings than China Eastern Airlines.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Delta Air Lines 0 0 8 1 3.11 China Eastern Airlines 0 0 1 0 3.00

This is a summary of current ratings for Delta Air Lines and China Eastern Airlines, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Delta Air Lines currently has a consensus price target of $55.54, indicating a potential upside of 29.49%. Given Delta Air Lines stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Delta Air Lines is more favorable than China Eastern Airlines.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

71.3% of Delta Air Lines shares are held by institutional investors. 0.9% of Delta Air Lines shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Delta Air Lines and China Eastern Airlines net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Delta Air Lines 7.94% 46.35% 5.48% China Eastern Airlines N/A N/A N/A

Summary

Delta Air Lines beats China Eastern Airlines on 10 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

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. The company sells its tickets through various distribution channels, including delta.com and the Fly Delta app; acts as a reservations specialists; and operates online travel and traditional brick and mortar agencies. It also provides aircraft maintenance and engineering support, repair, and overhaul services; and vacation packages to third-party consumers. The company operates through a fleet of approximately 1,273 aircrafts. Delta Air Lines, Inc. was founded in 1924 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

About China Eastern Airlines

(Get Free Report)

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the civil aviation industry in the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and internationally. The company offers passenger, cargo, mail delivery, ground, tour operations, air catering, and other miscellaneous services. It is also involved in flight training; airline maintenance; the provision of import and export, investment, leasing, and consultation; business aviation; e-commerce platform and ticket agent; and property management services, as well as the research and development of technology and products in the field of aviation; and sale of goods. As of December 31, 2022, the company operated a fleet of 778 aircraft, including 775 passenger aircraft and 3 business aircraft. China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China.

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InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG  Get Free Report) announced a semi-annual dividend on Monday, March 18th, Wall Street Journal reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 5th will be given a dividend of 1.04 per share on Tuesday, May 14th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 4th. This is a boost from InterContinental Hotels Groups previous semi-annual dividend of $0.48.

InterContinental Hotels Group has raised its dividend by an average of 18.5% per year over the last three years. InterContinental Hotels Group has a dividend payout ratio of 20.3% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect InterContinental Hotels Group to earn $4.64 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.97 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 20.9%.

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InterContinental Hotels Group Stock Down 0.4 %

NYSE:IHG traded down $0.41 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $104.24. 222,010 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 173,447. InterContinental Hotels Group has a 12 month low of $63.12 and a 12 month high of $112.08. The company has a fifty day moving average of $99.93 and a 200 day moving average of $86.42.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

IHG has been the topic of a number of research reports. Societe Generale downgraded shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 13th. Sanford C. Bernstein downgraded shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 13th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of InterContinental Hotels Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, InterContinental Hotels Group has a consensus rating of Hold.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on IHG

Institutional Trading of InterContinental Hotels Group

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its stake in InterContinental Hotels Group by 5.2% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 6,250 shares of the companys stock worth $413,000 after purchasing an additional 307 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE grew its stake in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 7.9% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 10,382 shares of the companys stock valued at $715,000 after buying an additional 762 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. grew its stake in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 0.8% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 46,973 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,233,000 after buying an additional 395 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group by 6.1% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 227,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,657,000 after buying an additional 13,017 shares in the last quarter. Finally, APG Asset Management N.V. bought a new position in shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in the first quarter valued at $1,135,000. 5.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About InterContinental Hotels Group

(Get Free Report)

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC owns, manages, franchises, and leases hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Greater China. The company operates hotels under the Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, voco, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, EVEN, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Garner, avid hotels, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, and Candlewood Suites brand names.

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International Game Technology PLC (NYSE:IGT  Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of Hold by the five brokerages that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $36.00.

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com lowered International Game Technology from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Truist Financial reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $30.00 price objective (down from $32.00) on shares of International Game Technology in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $30.00 price objective (down from $31.00) on shares of International Game Technology in a research note on Monday, March 4th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a hold rating and issued a $29.00 price objective (down from $36.00) on shares of International Game Technology in a research note on Thursday, January 4th.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on International Game Technology

Institutional Investors Weigh In On International Game Technology

International Game Technology Stock Down 1.0 %

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of IGT. Capital Research Global Investors increased its holdings in International Game Technology by 102.1% during the 4th quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 6,193,990 shares of the companys stock worth $169,777,000 after purchasing an additional 3,129,559 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. increased its holdings in International Game Technology by 1,485.1% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,418,405 shares of the companys stock worth $35,006,000 after purchasing an additional 1,328,919 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in International Game Technology during the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,011,000. Parsifal Capital Management LP increased its holdings in International Game Technology by 40.8% during the 4th quarter. Parsifal Capital Management LP now owns 4,290,025 shares of the companys stock worth $117,590,000 after purchasing an additional 1,243,514 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its holdings in International Game Technology by 87.3% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,343,145 shares of the companys stock worth $43,488,000 after purchasing an additional 1,092,029 shares during the last quarter. 44.33% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

IGT opened at $20.54 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.90, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.03 and a beta of 1.95. The business has a 50-day moving average of $25.62 and a two-hundred day moving average of $27.60. International Game Technology has a 12 month low of $20.44 and a 12 month high of $33.99.

International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, March 12th. The company reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.45 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $1.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.11 billion. International Game Technology had a return on equity of 21.10% and a net margin of 3.62%. The firms revenue was up 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.40 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that International Game Technology will post 2.09 earnings per share for the current year.

International Game Technology Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 26th will be given a dividend of $0.20 per share. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.89%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 25th. International Game Technologys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 105.26%.

About International Game Technology

(Get Free Report

International Game Technology PLC operates and provides gaming technology products and services in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It operates in three segments: Global Lottery, Global Gaming, and Digital & Betting. The company designs, sells, operates, and leases a suite of point-of-sale machines that reconciles lottery funds between the retailer and lottery authority; provides online lottery transaction processing systems; produces instant ticket games; and offers printing services, such as instant ticket marketing plans and graphic design, programming, packaging, shipping, and delivery services, as well as iLottery solutions and services.

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Shares of iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF (BATS:IAGG  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $49.56 and last traded at $49.57, with a volume of 239333 shares. The stock had previously closed at $49.57.

iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF Price Performance

The firms 50 day simple moving average is $49.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $49.38.

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Institutional Trading of iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Transcendent Capital Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $81,000. Acima Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $7,344,000. Syon Capital LLC raised its position in iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF by 11.0% in the 4th quarter. Syon Capital LLC now owns 1,099,264 shares of the companys stock worth $54,743,000 after purchasing an additional 108,951 shares during the period. Arkansas Financial Group Inc. raised its position in iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Arkansas Financial Group Inc. now owns 183,967 shares of the companys stock worth $9,162,000 after purchasing an additional 3,569 shares during the period. Finally, Aspect Partners LLC purchased a new stake in iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $6,866,000.

iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF Company Profile

The iShares Core International Aggregate Bond ETF (IAGG) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks an index composed of global non-U.S. dollar denominated investment grade bonds, hedged against currency fluctuations for USD investors. IAGG was launched on Nov 10, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock.

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Wayfinding Financial LLC lifted its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Free Report) by 138.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 40,069 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 23,240 shares during the period. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF accounts for about 2.7% of Wayfinding Financial LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Wayfinding Financial LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $3,976,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of AGG. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 191.1% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 294 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 193 shares in the last quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $34,000. First Manhattan Co. increased 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 acquiring an additional 328 shares in the last quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 2nd quarter worth about $38,000. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $44,000. 83.21% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Down 0.0 %

Shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF stock traded down $0.01 during trading 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 52 week low of $91.58 and a 52 week high of $100.98. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $97.87 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $96.29.

About iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

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IVC Wealth Advisors LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO  Free Report) by 13.1% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 7,592 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,148 shares during the quarter. IVC Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF were worth $312,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 108,287.1% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 296,468,035 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $11,556,324,000 after purchasing an additional 296,194,508 shares in the last quarter. Betterment LLC lifted its stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 3.4% during the third quarter. Betterment LLC now owns 77,659,118 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,045,014,000 after buying an additional 2,563,729 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 2.8% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 55,415,031 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $2,556,296,000 after buying an additional 1,508,810 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its position in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 8.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 45,951,617 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,791,194,000 after acquiring an additional 3,566,685 shares during the period. Finally, Wealthfront Advisers LLC raised its stake in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Wealthfront Advisers LLC now owns 43,578,877 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,010,294,000 after acquiring an additional 1,078,675 shares during the last quarter.

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Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of VWO stock traded up $0.09 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $41.69. The stock had a trading volume of 6,729,094 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,359,845. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a 1-year low of $37.46 and a 1-year high of $43.10. The firm has a market cap of $74.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.69. The businesss fifty day moving average is $40.67 and its 200-day moving average is $40.13.

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Profile

The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, that measures the return of stocks issued by companies located in emerging market countries.

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Meritas Wealth Management LLC reduced its stake in Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF (NYSEARCA:DFSV  Free Report) by 3.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 37,301 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,490 shares during the period. Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF accounts for 0.8% of Meritas Wealth Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Meritas Wealth Management LLC owned 0.06% of Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF worth $1,086,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp raised its holdings in shares of Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF by 157.9% in the 3rd quarter. Alaska Permanent Fund Corp now owns 6,633,596 shares of the companys stock worth $168,095,000 after acquiring an additional 4,061,125 shares during the last quarter. JMG Financial Group Ltd. boosted its holdings in Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter. JMG Financial Group Ltd. now owns 4,625,156 shares of the companys stock worth $117,201,000 after acquiring an additional 219,179 shares during the last quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF by 64,154.8% during the third quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,421,763 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,367,000 after purchasing an additional 2,417,994 shares in the last quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management grew its holdings in shares of Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF by 6.0% in the third quarter. Ritholtz Wealth Management now owns 1,822,796 shares of the companys stock valued at $46,190,000 after acquiring an additional 103,404 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Corient Private Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF by 13.9% during the third quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,724,383 shares of the companys stock worth $43,696,000 after acquiring an additional 210,903 shares during the period.

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Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF Stock Performance

NYSEARCA:DFSV remained flat at $28.57 during trading on Monday. The companys stock had a trading volume of 38,552 shares, compared to its average volume of 420,099. Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF has a 52-week low of $23.01 and a 52-week high of $29.64. The company has a market capitalization of $1.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.33 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $28.38 and a 200 day simple moving average of $26.90.

About Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF

The Dimensional US Small Cap Value ETF (DFSV) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in small-cap stocks. The fund actively invests in broad and diverse portfolio of US small-cap companies. Stock selection is based on value characteristics and weighted by market capitalization. DFSV was launched on Feb 24, 2022 and is managed by Dimensional.

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Nordea Investment Management AB reduced its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Free Report) by 3.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 777,330 shares of the companys stock after selling 30,653 shares during the period. Nordea Investment Management AB owned about 0.08% of Eli Lilly and Company worth $454,621,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in Eli Lilly and Company in the first quarter valued at about $107,000. Roundview Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 2.6% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 2,056 shares of the companys stock worth $589,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the period. Merit Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter worth approximately $210,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 9.9% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 53,052 shares of the companys stock worth $15,193,000 after purchasing an additional 4,774 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barometer Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Eli Lilly and Company during the first quarter worth approximately $561,000. 81.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LLY has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. DZ Bank downgraded shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $820.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $815.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $700.00 to $825.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and Company from $805.00 to $950.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. 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 research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $677.62.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 34,538 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 9th. The stock was 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 sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 195,055 shares of company stock valued at $125,254,657. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Eli Lilly and Company Price Performance

LLY traded down $6.56 during trading on Friday, reaching $754.17. 3,730,053 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,382,536. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $708.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $625.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.69, a current ratio of 0.94 and a quick ratio of 0.73. The company has a market capitalization of $716.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 130.03, 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.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.49 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.30 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $9.35 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.95 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 51.22% and a net margin of 15.36%. The firms revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.09 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 12.41 earnings per share for the current year.

Eli Lilly and 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.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he often thinks about quitting his 'crazy job'

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose Liberals are trailing badly in the polls, on Friday said he thought about quitting his "crazy job" every day but insisted he would stay in office until the next election.

That vote must be held by October 2025 and recent surveys of public opinion show the Liberals would be crushed by the right-of-center Conservatives. Pollsters say voters are tiring of Trudeau, who first took office in November 2015.

"I could not be the man I am and abandon the fight at this point," he told French-language broadcaster Radio-Canada in a lengthy interview.

Asked whether he thought about quitting, he laughed and replied: "I think about quitting every day. It's a crazy job I'm doing, making the personal sacrifices.

Trudeau continued: "Of course, it's super tough, it's super not great at times. But my God, the path we're on is so precarious, democracies are under such attack around the world."

The Conservatives say they will ax a carbon tax introduced by the Liberals, address the government's budget deficit, tackle a housing crisis and crack down on crime.

The carbon tax is due to go up again on April 1 and Trudeau reiterated the government would not heed calls from some provincial premiers to freeze the increase.

"I entered politics not to be popular, not for personal reasons, (but) because I want to serve and I know I have something to offer," he said.

Last year, Trudeau and his wife Sophie announced they were separating after 18 years of marriage.
North American Construction Group (TSE:NOA  Free Report) (NYSE:NOA) had its price target raised by BMO Capital Markets from C$39.00 to C$42.00 in a report issued on Thursday morning, BayStreet.CA reports.

Separately, ATB Capital upped their price objective on North American Construction Group from C$44.00 to C$46.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$40.13.

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North American Construction Group Stock Performance

North American Construction Group Dividend Announcement

TSE NOA opened at C$31.22 on Thursday. The firms fifty day moving average price is C$31.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$29.95. North American Construction Group has a 1 year low of C$21.14 and a 1 year high of C$34.87. The firm has a market capitalization of C$834.51 million, a P/E ratio of 14.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.79 and a beta of 1.70. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 201.05.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.28%. North American Construction Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.14%.

North American Construction Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

North American Construction Group Ltd. provides equipment maintenance, and mining and heavy construction services in Canada, the United States, and Australia. Its Heavy Construction & Mining division offers constructability reviews, budgetary cost estimates, design-build construction, project management, contract mining, pre-stripping/pit pioneering, overburden removal and stockpile, muskeg removal and stockpile, site preparation, air strip construction, site dewatering/perimeter ditching, tailings and process pipelines, haulage and access road construction, tailings dam construction and densification, mechanically stabilized earth walls, dyke construction, and reclamation services; and Equipment Maintenance services.

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Chykingyoung Investment Development (OTCMKTS:CHYI  Get Free Report) and OLO (NYSE:OLO  Get Free Report) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership, dividends, earnings, profitability and risk.

Volatility and Risk

Chykingyoung Investment Development has a beta of -0.78, meaning that its share price is 178% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, OLO has a beta of 1.29, meaning that its share price is 29% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Chykingyoung Investment Development and OLOs gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Chykingyoung Investment Development N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A OLO $228.29 million 3.81 -$58.29 million ($0.36) -14.92

Analyst Ratings

Chykingyoung Investment Development has higher earnings, but lower revenue than OLO.

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Chykingyoung Investment Development and OLO, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Chykingyoung Investment Development 0 0 0 0 N/A OLO 0 3 4 0 2.57

OLO has a consensus price target of $9.10, suggesting a potential upside of 69.46%. Given OLOs higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe OLO is more favorable than Chykingyoung Investment Development.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

81.8% of OLO shares are held by institutional investors. 34.5% of Chykingyoung Investment Development shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 39.1% of OLO shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares Chykingyoung Investment Development and OLOs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Chykingyoung Investment Development N/A N/A N/A OLO -25.53% -2.96% -2.61%

Summary

OLO beats Chykingyoung Investment Development on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Chykingyoung Investment Development

(Get Free Report)

Chykingyoung Investment Development Holdings Inc., through its subsidiary, OneWorld Hotel Destination Service Inc., provides Internet hotel booking services. The company offers a proprietary online hotel booking program for connecting users with available rooms in hotels worldwide. It primarily serves travel agents in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal, Canada. The company was founded in 2006 and is based in Vancouver, Canada.

About OLO

(Get Free Report)

Olo Inc. operates an open SaaS platform for restaurants in the United States. The company's platform enables on-demand digital commerce operations, which cover digital ordering, delivery, front-of-house management, and payments. Its solutions include Order, a suite of solutions powering restaurant brands' on-demand commerce operations, enabling digital ordering, delivery, and channel management through ordering, dispatch, rails, switchboard, network, virtual brands, kiosk, catering, and sync modules; Engage, a suite of restaurant-centric marketing solutions optimizing guest lifetime value by strengthening and enhancing the restaurants' direct guest relationships, through the guest data platform, marketing, sentiment, and host modules; and Pay, a frictionless payment platform that enables restaurants to grow and protect their digital business through customer payment experience that offers advanced fraud prevention to improve authorization rates for valid transactions, and increase basket conversion through its Olo Pay module. The company was formerly known as Mobo Systems, Inc. and changed its name to Olo Inc. in January 2020. Olo Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

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Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLC cut its holdings in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE  Free Report) by 3.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,137 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 369 shares during the quarter. Silvia Mccoll Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $292,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Quinn Opportunity Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Pfizer during the second quarter worth approximately $10,304,000. Fulton Bank N.A. raised its stake in Pfizer by 4.7% during the third quarter. Fulton Bank N.A. now owns 176,239 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $5,846,000 after purchasing an additional 7,991 shares during the period. Portside Wealth Group LLC purchased a new position in Pfizer during the second quarter worth approximately $2,072,000. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. raised its stake in Pfizer by 40.5% during the third quarter. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. now owns 4,739,672 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $157,215,000 after purchasing an additional 1,365,295 shares during the period. Finally, Brookstone Capital Management raised its stake in Pfizer by 88.5% during the third quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 452,352 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $14,109,000 after purchasing an additional 212,369 shares during the period. 68.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Pfizer Stock Performance

NYSE:PFE traded down $0.19 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $27.94. 75,727,854 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 45,619,203. The stock has a market capitalization of $157.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 77.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.61. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $25.61 and a twelve month high of $42.22. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $27.65 and a 200 day moving average of $29.84. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.19) by $0.29. Pfizer had a net margin of 3.62% and a return on equity of 10.88%. The company had revenue of $14.25 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.37 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.14 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 41.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.22 EPS for the current year.

A number of research firms have weighed in on PFE. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $27.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $28.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Truist Financial cut their target price on shares of Pfizer from $42.00 to $36.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. TD Cowen downgraded shares of Pfizer from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $32.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an overweight rating and issued a $45.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Friday, March 1st. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Pfizer currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $36.88.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Pfizer

Pfizer 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.

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Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE:PIPR  Get Free Report) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $192.86 and last traded at $187.96, with a volume of 2988 shares. The stock had previously closed at $190.86.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently commented on PIPR shares. Northland Securities downgraded shares of Piper Sandler Companies from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Piper Sandler Companies from $171.00 to $193.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Piper Sandler Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 28th. Finally, JMP Securities reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Piper Sandler Companies in a report on Wednesday, January 10th.

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Piper Sandler Companies Trading Down 0.1 %

The stock has a market cap of $3.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.64 and a beta of 1.41. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $188.69.

Piper Sandler Companies (NYSE:PIPR  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The financial services provider reported $4.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.61 by $1.42. Piper Sandler Companies had a net margin of 6.33% and a return on equity of 13.27%. The company had revenue of $457.39 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $370.12 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $3.33 EPS. Piper Sandler Companiess revenue was up 17.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Piper Sandler Companies will post 11.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Piper Sandler Companies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 4th were given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.26%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 1st. Piper Sandler Companiess payout ratio is currently 48.58%.

Insider Activity at Piper Sandler Companies

In other Piper Sandler Companies news, CEO Chad R. Abraham sold 11,307 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.18, for a total value of $2,037,295.26. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 24,116 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,345,220.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Jonathan J. Doyle sold 19,987 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $183.90, for a total transaction of $3,675,609.30. Following the sale, the insider now owns 176,227 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,408,145.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Chad R. Abraham sold 11,307 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $180.18, for a total value of $2,037,295.26. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 24,116 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,345,220.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 53,524 shares of company stock worth $9,838,711. 3.32% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Piper Sandler Companies

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Piper Sandler Companies by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 180,658 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $26,251,000 after purchasing an additional 11,847 shares during the period. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new stake in Piper Sandler Companies during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in shares of Piper Sandler Companies by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 60,712 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $8,822,000 after acquiring an additional 615 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Piper Sandler Companies by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,775 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,130,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. Finally, Deutsche Bank AG grew its position in shares of Piper Sandler Companies by 11.8% during the 3rd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 9,421 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,369,000 after acquiring an additional 991 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 67.23% of the companys stock.

About Piper Sandler Companies

(Get Free Report)

Piper Sandler Companies operates as an investment bank and institutional securities firm that serves corporations, private equity groups, public entities, non-profit entities, and institutional investors in the United States and internationally. It offers investment banking and institutional sales, trading, and research services for various equity and fixed income products.

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Range Financial Group LLC lowered its holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 17,549 shares of the companys stock after selling 142 shares during the period. Philip Morris International comprises 1.0% of Range Financial Group LLCs holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest position. Range Financial Group LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $1,651,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of PM. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Philip Morris International in the third quarter worth $27,000. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in Philip Morris International in the second quarter worth $27,000. DHJJ Financial Advisors Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the third quarter valued at $36,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International in the third quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, VitalStone Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 950.0% in the second quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC now owns 420 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 380 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.70% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Philip Morris International

In related news, VP Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the vice president now directly owns 9,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $882,050.94. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, VP Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 sale, the vice president now directly owns 9,726 shares in the company, valued at approximately $882,050.94. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Werner Barth sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 7th. The stock was 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 of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,412,880.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock.

Philip Morris International Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE PM opened at $93.90 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $145.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.61. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $91.91 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $92.57. Philip Morris International Inc. has a twelve month low of $87.23 and a twelve month high of $101.92.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.36 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.44 by ($0.08). Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 116.29% and a net margin of 8.53%. The business had revenue of $9.05 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.99 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.39 earnings per share. Philip Morris Internationals revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 21st will be issued a $1.30 dividend. This represents a $5.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.54%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 20th. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is currently 103.59%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PM has been the topic of several research reports. Societe Generale upgraded Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. UBS Group lowered Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and lowered their target price for the company from $105.00 to $86.50 in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, Argus reiterated a hold rating on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Tuesday, March 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $105.40.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc. (NYSE:REXR  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the nine research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $57.22.

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. TheStreet upgraded Rexford Industrial Realty from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. Truist Financial decreased their price target on Rexford Industrial Realty from $61.00 to $57.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Robert W. Baird restated a neutral rating and set a $61.00 price target (up from $53.00) on shares of Rexford Industrial Realty in a research report on Friday, January 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Rexford Industrial Realty from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $55.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th.

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Rexford Industrial Realty Trading Down 0.4 %

Rexford Industrial Realty Increases Dividend

REXR stock opened at $51.41 on Wednesday. Rexford Industrial Realty has a 1-year low of $41.56 and a 1-year high of $60.06. The firm has a market cap of $11.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.44 and a beta of 0.87. The businesss 50 day moving average is $53.17 and its 200-day moving average is $51.17. The company has a current ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be given a $0.4175 dividend. This represents a $1.67 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.25%. This is a positive change from Rexford Industrial Realtys previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. Rexford Industrial Realtys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 149.11%.

Insider Activity

In other news, General Counsel David E. Lanzer sold 18,113 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $52.69, for a total value of $954,373.97. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in REXR. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Rexford Industrial Realty by 139.5% during the 3rd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 232,848 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $11,491,000 after buying an additional 135,627 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake in Rexford Industrial Realty by 6.3% during the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 670,302 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $35,003,000 after buying an additional 39,796 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Rexford Industrial Realty by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 25,433,049 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,328,114,000 after buying an additional 1,059,123 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. raised its stake in Rexford Industrial Realty by 63.9% during the 3rd quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 104,103 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $5,137,000 after buying an additional 40,587 shares during the period. Finally, The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company raised its stake in Rexford Industrial Realty by 6.8% during the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 314,170 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $15,506,000 after buying an additional 19,981 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.52% of the companys stock.

About Rexford Industrial Realty

(Get Free Report

Rexford Industrial creates value by investing in, operating and redeveloping industrial properties throughout infill Southern California, the world's fourth largest industrial market and consistently the highest-demand with lowest-supply major market in the nation. The Company's highly differentiated strategy enables internal and external growth opportunities through its proprietary value creation and asset management capabilities.

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Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM  Get Free Report) had its price target upped by equities researchers at Royal Bank of Canada from $261.00 to $295.00 in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The firm presently has an outperform rating on the specialty retailers stock. Royal Bank of Canadas target price would indicate a potential upside of 3.41% from the companys current price.

A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on WSM. Telsey Advisory Group increased their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $215.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, March 11th. StockNews.com upgraded Williams-Sonoma from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, March 13th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Williams-Sonoma from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and raised their price target for the company from $155.00 to $270.00 in a report on Thursday. TD Cowen raised their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $260.00 to $320.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday. Finally, Bank of America raised their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $222.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, March 5th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $230.06.

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Williams-Sonoma Stock Performance

Shares of Williams-Sonoma stock traded up $1.49 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $285.26. 1,253,383 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,093,709. The company has a market cap of $18.30 billion, a PE ratio of 19.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.66. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $221.06 and a 200-day moving average of $186.91. Williams-Sonoma has a 12 month low of $109.44 and a 12 month high of $292.40.

Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 13th. The specialty retailer reported $5.44 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.06 by $0.38. The company had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.22 billion. Williams-Sonoma had a return on equity of 55.15% and a net margin of 12.25%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $5.50 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Williams-Sonoma will post 14.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.92, for a total transaction of $4,038,400.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 525,509 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $106,110,777.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.60% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Trading of Williams-Sonoma

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma during the 3rd quarter worth $4,102,000. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC raised its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 11.5% in the third quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 20,711 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $3,218,000 after purchasing an additional 2,128 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 1.3% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,456,161 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $226,287,000 after acquiring an additional 18,004 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 3.2% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,142,272 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $142,944,000 after acquiring an additional 35,315 shares during the period. Finally, Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky grew its holdings in Williams-Sonoma by 89.1% in the third quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 23,002 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $3,575,000 after purchasing an additional 10,837 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.76% of the companys stock.

Williams-Sonoma Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Williams-Sonoma, Inc operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand.

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Sarasin & Partners LLP lowered its position in Kilroy Realty Co. (NYSE:KRC  Free Report) by 0.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 69,687 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 436 shares during the quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLPs holdings in Kilroy Realty were worth $2,776,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its holdings in Kilroy Realty by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 202,525 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $6,402,000 after buying an additional 7,825 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Kilroy Realty by 2.0% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 16,906,218 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $534,406,000 after acquiring an additional 334,859 shares in the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky increased its holdings in Kilroy Realty by 97.6% in the third quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 35,238 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,114,000 after buying an additional 17,401 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. increased its holdings in Kilroy Realty by 32.7% in the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 38,359 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,213,000 after buying an additional 9,450 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP purchased a new position in shares of Kilroy Realty during the third quarter worth about $25,093,000. Institutional investors own 94.22% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Kilroy Realty in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a hold rating and a $40.00 price objective for the company. Wolfe Research lowered shares of Kilroy Realty from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Friday, December 15th. KeyCorp lowered their price objective on shares of Kilroy Realty from $47.00 to $45.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 28th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered shares of Kilroy Realty from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and cut their price target for the company from $44.00 to $39.00 in a research note on Friday, March 8th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.10.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Heidi Rena Roth sold 5,081 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.61, for a total transaction of $206,339.41. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 53,046 shares in the company, valued at $2,154,198.06. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Kilroy Realty news, EVP John Osmond sold 3,594 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.85, for a total transaction of $146,814.90. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,937 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $405,926.45. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Heidi Rena Roth sold 5,081 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.61, for a total value of $206,339.41. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 53,046 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,154,198.06. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.69% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Kilroy Realty Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE KRC traded up $0.29 on Friday, hitting $34.67. 2,399,124 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,209,529. The company has a market capitalization of $4.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.26, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.02. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 2.65 and a quick ratio of 2.65. Kilroy Realty Co. has a 52-week low of $25.99 and a 52-week high of $43.37. The companys 50-day moving average price is $36.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $34.95.

Kilroy Realty Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be given a dividend of $0.54 per share. This represents a $2.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. Kilroy Realtys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 120.00%.

About Kilroy Realty

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Kilroy Realty Corporation (NYSE: KRC, the company, Kilroy) is a leading U.S. landlord and developer, with operations in San Diego, Greater Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Greater Seattle and Austin. The company has earned global recognition for sustainability, building operations, innovation and design.

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Sarasin & Partners LLP decreased its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) by 18.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 65,000 shares of the companys stock after selling 15,000 shares during the quarter. Sarasin & Partners LLPs holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $4,694,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 4.4% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 31,364,445 shares of the companys stock worth $2,369,897,000 after buying an additional 1,314,810 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 1.9% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 13,303,791 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,003,372,000 after purchasing an additional 252,486 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 1.1% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 9,956,183 shares of the companys stock valued at $749,998,000 after acquiring an additional 105,943 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley lifted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 41.8% during the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 8,641,438 shares of the companys stock valued at $651,737,000 after acquiring an additional 2,547,232 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $525,111,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.73% of the companys stock.

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Archer-Daniels-Midland Trading Up 1.9 %

ADM stock traded up $1.10 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $59.31. The stock had a trading volume of 14,039,579 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,965,624. The firm has a market cap of $30.24 billion, a PE ratio of 9.27 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 1.07. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a 12-month low of $50.72 and a 12-month high of $87.30. The companys 50-day moving average price is $57.16 and its 200 day moving average price is $68.32.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Increases Dividend

Archer-Daniels-Midland ( NYSE:ADM Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, March 12th. The company reported $1.36 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.43 by ($0.07). The firm had revenue of $22.98 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $23.79 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a return on equity of 15.25% and a net margin of 3.71%. The firms revenue was down 11.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.93 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Archer-Daniels-Midland Company will post 5.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 8th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 7th. This is a boost from Archer-Daniels-Midlands previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.37%. Archer-Daniels-Midlands payout ratio is currently 31.25%.

Archer-Daniels-Midland declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Tuesday, March 12th that allows the company to buyback $2.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the company to reacquire up to 6.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on ADM. UBS Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $51.00 price target (down from $104.00) on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Barclays downgraded shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from an overweight rating to an underweight rating and set a $60.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price target for the company from $116.00 to $56.00 in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. They set a neutral rating and a $57.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $96.00 to $61.00 in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have given a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $67.08.

Read Our Latest Research Report on Archer-Daniels-Midland

Archer-Daniels-Midland Profile

(Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition.

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Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 29th, there was short interest totalling 35,230,000 shares, a growth of 19.8% from the February 14th total of 29,400,000 shares. Currently, 1.0% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 19,350,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.8 days.

Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:WFC traded up $0.14 during trading on Friday, reaching $57.51. 40,782,798 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 19,760,408. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.88. Wells Fargo & Company has a 1-year low of $35.25 and a 1-year high of $58.44. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $51.55 and a two-hundred day moving average of $46.15. The firm 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.

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Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The financial services provider reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.16 by ($0.30). Wells Fargo & Company had a return on equity of 12.40% and a net margin of 16.60%. The company had revenue of $20.48 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.30 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.67 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

Analyst Ratings Changes

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 1st. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.43%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.05%.

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on WFC. Raymond James raised their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Barclays raised their price target on Wells Fargo & Company from $54.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Odeon Capital Group downgraded Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $48.80 price target for the company. in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $51.43.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on WFC

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of WFC. Kathmere Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 19.5% during the 3rd quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 7,248 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $296,000 after acquiring an additional 1,185 shares during the period. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 410.5% during the 3rd quarter. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC now owns 67,480 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,757,000 after buying an additional 54,262 shares in the last quarter. Caxton Associates LP purchased a new position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 2nd quarter valued at about $4,967,000. United Services Automobile Association raised its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 13.7% during the 3rd quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 97,906 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $4,000,000 after buying an additional 11,825 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Synovus Financial Corp grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 61.7% during the 3rd quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 121,937 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,983,000 after acquiring an additional 46,525 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.47% of the companys stock.

About Wells Fargo & Company

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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.

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Around 1,400 students of the American International School Vietnam (AISVN) had to stay home on Monday as most teachers had stopped teaching over withheld salaries.

The school in Nha Be District receives students from kindergarten to 12th grades, and teaches the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Thanh Phuong, mother of a 9th grader at the school, on Monday said she received an email from the school the previous night, saying that the number of available teachers is not enough to ensure the education and safety of the students.

"Over the next days, it is not confirmed whether the students would be able to return to school as the teachers are on strike. The situation has been tense for months; I don't know where will this lead," Phuong said.

Hong Hanh, whose three children are studying at the school, said the incident has been a great shock to her family. Her children not able to go to school has disrupted the family's schedule, and their education would also be disrupted if the school cannot provide a viable solution, she added.

"I never thought an international school would be in such a situation," Hanh said. "It is almost certain that the children will not be able to return to school in the next two days, and a spring break lasting over 10 days would come next. Foreign teachers may return to their countries right after the holiday if they do not get their salaries and insurance."

She said that at a parent-teacher meeting on Sunday, the school said 95% of the teachers would not go to work on Monday over unpaid salaries and insurance. Nguyen Thi Ut Em, head of the schools management board, therefore decided to let all students stay home on Monday.

The school said it was going through financial difficulties, so it could not pay salaries in full and in time for its teachers and employees. The school once asked for donations from parents to help the school get by, but the proposal was not supported.

Le Thuy My Chau, vice director of the HCMC Department of Education and Training, said the department is working with the school to ensure the rights of parents and students.

The AISVN was established in 2006. By the end of last year, the school had over 1,400 students, 200 foreign teachers and 300 domestic employees. The tuition fees are at VND280-350 million ($11,327-14,159) per year for kindergarteners, VND450-500 million for primary school students, and 600-725 million for middle and high school students.

Several parents had gathered in September last year to demand the school to pay back debts. They said the school had borrowed tens of billions of Vietnamese dong without interest for the children to be able to study for free, but even when the children had graduated, that money have not been paid back.

HCMC has 35 schools with foreign capitals. Their curriculums mainly utilize those from the U.S., the U.K. and Canada, plus certain Vietnamese subjects. Their tuition fees can go up to VND1 billion a year.
Sound Income Strategies LLC lifted its stake in shares of Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR  Free Report) by 6.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 82,345 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 5,188 shares during the quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLCs holdings in Entergy were worth $8,333,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ETR. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in Entergy during the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Entergy by 157.1% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 270 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares during the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its holdings in Entergy by 108.8% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 307 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Fortis Group Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Entergy during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Entergy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.52% of the companys stock.

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Entergy Stock Performance

Shares of Entergy stock traded down $0.53 during trading on Friday, reaching $101.96. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,643,806 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,370,902. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $100.85 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $98.66. The firm has a market cap of $21.74 billion, a PE ratio of 9.19, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.70. Entergy Co. has a fifty-two week low of $87.10 and a fifty-two week high of $111.90. The company has a current ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57.

Entergy Dividend Announcement

Entergy ( NYSE:ETR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The utilities provider reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.52. The company had revenue of $2.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.27 billion. Entergy had a net margin of 19.41% and a return on equity of 10.54%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.51 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that Entergy Co. will post 7.22 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th were paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 8th. Entergys dividend payout ratio is currently 40.76%.

Insider Buying and Selling

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 transaction of $151,845.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 3,442 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $348,433.66. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Entergy news, EVP Kimberly Cook-Nelson sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.35, for a total value of $200,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,037 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,609,312.95. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, 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 transaction of $151,845.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,442 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $348,433.66. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on ETR. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Entergy from $99.00 to $104.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Entergy from $117.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Entergy from $110.00 to $113.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $117.00 price objective on shares of Entergy in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Entergy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the company from $94.00 to $110.00 in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Entergy presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $110.73.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on ETR

About Entergy

(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.

Further Reading

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Rio Tinto Group (NYSE:RIO  Free Report) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning.

A number of other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a report on Friday, January 12th. They set a buy rating on the stock. BNP Paribas upgraded shares of Rio Tinto Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, December 5th. Finally, Liberum Capital reiterated a hold rating on shares of Rio Tinto Group in a research note on Tuesday, March 5th. Two investment 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 company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $72.00.

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Rio Tinto Group Stock Performance

Rio Tinto Group Increases Dividend

Shares of RIO stock opened at $62.18 on Thursday. Rio Tinto Group has a 12 month low of $58.27 and a 12 month high of $75.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.69. The companys fifty day moving average price is $67.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $66.90.

The firm also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a $2.58 dividend. This is a positive change 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%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Rio Tinto Group

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Garner Asset Management Corp purchased a new stake in Rio Tinto Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Cowa LLC purchased a new stake in Rio Tinto Group in the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new stake in Rio Tinto Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. AdvisorNet Financial Inc increased its holdings in Rio Tinto Group by 785.7% in the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 372 shares of the mining companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 330 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Manhattan Co. increased its holdings in Rio Tinto Group by 555.4% in the 4th quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 426 shares of the mining companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 361 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 10.03% of the companys stock.

About Rio Tinto Group

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Rio Tinto Group engages in exploring, mining, and processing mineral resources worldwide. The company operates through Iron Ore, Aluminium, Copper, and Minerals Segments. The Iron Ore segment engages in the iron ore mining, and salt and gypsum production in Western Australia. The Aluminum segment is involved in bauxite mining; alumina refining; and aluminium smelting.

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Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSE:SLF  Get Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) has received an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$76.50.

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Desjardins upped their price target on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$75.00 to C$77.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$82.00 to C$83.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 6th. CIBC increased their target price on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$75.00 to C$77.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. National Bankshares increased their target price on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$71.00 to C$72.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Sun Life Financial from C$70.00 to C$80.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th.

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Sun Life Financial Price Performance

SLF stock opened at C$73.97 on Wednesday. Sun Life Financial has a one year low of C$60.01 and a one year high of C$74.80. The companys fifty day moving average price is C$71.09 and its 200-day moving average price is C$68.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 78.47, a quick ratio of 84,866.00 and a current ratio of 6.81. The company has a market capitalization of C$43.18 billion, a PE ratio of 14.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 0.97.

Sun Life Financial (TSE:SLF  Get Free Report) (NYSE:SLF) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The financial services provider reported C$1.68 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.59 by C$0.09. Sun Life Financial had a net margin of 10.26% and a return on equity of 13.98%. The firm had revenue of C$18.68 billion for the quarter. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Sun Life Financial will post 6.8633829 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Sun Life Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 28th will be given a $0.78 dividend. This is a positive change from Sun Life Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.22%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 27th. Sun Life Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.32%.

Insider Activity at Sun Life Financial

In other Sun Life Financial news, Senior Officer Daniel Fishbein sold 16,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$74.45, for a total transaction of C$1,191,120.00. 0.03% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Sun Life Financial

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Sun Life Financial Inc, a financial services company, provides savings, retirement, and pension products worldwide. The company operates in five segments: Asset Management, Canada, U.S., Asia, and Corporate. It offers various insurance products, such as term and permanent life; personal health, which includes prescription drugs, dental, and vision care; critical illness; long-term care; and disability, as well as reinsurance.

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UiPath (NYSE:PATH  Get Free Report) had its target price hoisted by equities researchers at Scotiabank from $29.00 to $30.00 in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a sector perform rating on the healthcare companys stock. Scotiabanks price objective suggests a potential upside of 30.10% from the stocks current price.

A number of other research firms have also weighed in on PATH. Barclays raised their price target on shares of UiPath from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday. Needham & Company LLC upped their price objective on UiPath from $25.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Mizuho upped their price objective on UiPath from $18.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Evercore ISI increased their price target on UiPath from $24.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on UiPath from $27.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $27.13.

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UiPath Stock Up 1.4 %

Insiders Place Their Bets

Shares of PATH stock traded up $0.31 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $23.06. The companys stock had a trading volume of 9,743,614 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,074,664. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $23.52 and its 200-day simple moving average is $20.70. UiPath has a 12-month low of $12.38 and a 12-month high of $27.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.05 billion, a PE ratio of -135.46 and a beta of 0.97.

In other news, CFO Ashim Gupta sold 16,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.47, for a total value of $359,520.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 103,505 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,325,757.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other UiPath news, Director Rich Wong sold 200,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.12, for a total transaction of $4,624,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 429,418 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,928,144.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Ashim Gupta sold 16,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.47, for a total value of $359,520.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 103,505 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,325,757.35. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 411,000 shares of company stock worth $9,418,670 over the last ninety days. 31.03% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in UiPath by 3.8% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 40,993 shares of the healthcare companys stock worth $885,000 after acquiring an additional 1,506 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of UiPath during the first quarter worth $184,000. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of UiPath by 1.9% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,316,635 shares of the healthcare companys stock worth $114,786,000 after purchasing an additional 99,242 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP bought a new stake in shares of UiPath during the first quarter worth $534,000. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board bought a new stake in shares of UiPath during the first quarter worth $259,000. 59.04% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About UiPath

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UiPath Inc provides an end-to-end automation platform that offers a range of robotic process automation (RPA) solutions primarily in the United States, Romania, and Japan. The company offers a suite of interrelated software to build, manage, run, engage, measure, and govern automation within the organization.

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Valero Energy Co. (NYSE:VLO  Get Free Report)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $167.33 and last traded at $166.94, with a volume of 1605104 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $163.70.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Valero Energy in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Raymond James boosted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $154.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $146.00 to $149.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of Valero Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $156.00 to $210.00 in a research note on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Valero Energy currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $155.83.

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Valero Energy Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $55.01 billion, a PE ratio of 6.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a current ratio of 1.56, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $139.38 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $133.86.

Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.95 by $0.60. The business 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 businesss revenue for the quarter was down 15.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $8.45 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Valero Energy Co. will post 15.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Valero Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 1st were issued a $1.07 dividend. This is an increase from Valero Energys previous quarterly dividend of $1.02. This represents a $4.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.59%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 31st. Valero Energys dividend payout ratio is 17.31%.

Institutional Trading of Valero Energy

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in VLO. Deutsche Bank AG lifted its stake in shares of Valero Energy by 5.8% in the 3rd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 1,005,346 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $142,468,000 after purchasing an additional 55,351 shares during the period. Public Sector Pension Investment Board raised its position in Valero Energy by 10.5% during the third quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 83,290 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $11,803,000 after acquiring an additional 7,910 shares during the period. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth $773,000. EPG Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the third quarter worth $220,000. Finally, Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new position in Valero Energy during the second quarter worth $16,177,000. 77.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Valero Energy

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Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of WestRock (NYSE:WRK  Free Report) in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the basic materials companys stock.

A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on WRK. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $42.00 target price on shares of WestRock in a research report on Friday, February 2nd. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of WestRock from $40.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Seaport Res Ptn cut shares of WestRock from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Argus upgraded shares of WestRock from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company restated an equal weight rating and issued a $45.00 price objective (up from $42.00) on shares of WestRock in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $40.67.

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WestRock Stock Performance

Shares of WestRock stock opened at $48.60 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. WestRock has a 52 week low of $26.84 and a 52 week high of $48.96. The firms 50 day moving average is $42.86 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.47 billion, a P/E ratio of -7.23, a P/E/G ratio of 3.84 and a beta of 1.09.

WestRock (NYSE:WRK  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The basic materials company reported $0.20 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.15). WestRock had a negative net margin of 8.58% and a positive return on equity of 6.87%. The company had revenue of $4.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.79 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.55 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that WestRock will post 1.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

WestRock Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th were issued a $0.3025 dividend. This represents a $1.21 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.49%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. WestRocks dividend payout ratio is presently -18.01%.

Insider Activity at WestRock

In other WestRock news, insider Vicki L. Lostetter sold 3,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.77, for a total value of $149,695.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 92,117 shares in the company, valued at $3,939,844.09. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.49% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WRK. Natixis Advisors L.P. increased its position in shares of WestRock by 14.7% in the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 39,928 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,878,000 after buying an additional 5,108 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in WestRock by 21.3% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 71,551 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $3,365,000 after acquiring an additional 12,559 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS raised its position in WestRock by 5.1% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 35,219 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,656,000 after acquiring an additional 1,705 shares during the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can lifted its holdings in shares of WestRock by 0.9% in the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 208,790 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $10,379,000 after purchasing an additional 1,762 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of WestRock by 0.6% in the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 53,133 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $2,499,000 after purchasing an additional 340 shares during the last quarter. 85.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About WestRock

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WestRock Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based paper and packaging solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging, Global Paper, and Distribution. The Corrugated Packaging segment produces containerboards, corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and preprinted linerboards to consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and corrugated box manufacturers.

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A primary school student from Erdos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, performs Ansai waist drum at their school. [Xinhua]

In October, Bie Chuancheng left her job to begin visiting guardians of intangible cultural heritage and producing short videos featuring these artisans.

Bie, a member of the post-1995 generation, had worked at a fashion company in Shanghai.

Her ambitious goal is to visit 100 inheritors of such heritage to advocate for 100 Chinese intangible cultural heritage items and skills in her own way.

"I want to present the nation's cultural heritage in an engaging, trendy, practical and modern way. I want to bridge the gap between intangible cultural heritage and modern life from my perspective, enabling young people to experience the practical application of this heritage in their daily lives," she said.

The first inheritor she visited was Wang Rulan, a national-level inheritor specializing in crafting frameless lanterns in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province. In February, Wang took part in a China Central Television program highlighting traditional Chinese crafts.

In her video, which received more than 40,000 likes, Bie states: "The frameless lanterns are made entirely from mulberry paper without any supporting structure. A total of 72 procedures are required to produce a single piece of the paper, and tens of thousands of needles are used to complete a lantern."

Wang, 87, who has spent more than 60 years making these intricate lanterns, was recognized in 2018 as an inheritor of the fifth batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage.

Bie said: "Wang's dedication to this craft is unwavering. During holidays, she warmly welcomes anyone interested in visiting her home to see the lanterns. She has been incredibly supportive of my efforts. Making these lanterns is time-consuming, and she even prepares steamed sweet potatoes for me to eat and invites me to stay at her home."

Intangible cultural heritage artisans are always willing to share and spread their knowledge to young audiences, Bie said. More important, she said there is a growing interest among the younger generation in learning about such heritage through social media.

Within a few months, Bie's account on Xiaohongshu, the Chinese lifestyle platform, had attracted more than 40,000 followers and over 170,000 likes and saves.

"Over 90 percent of my followers are younger than 35. Many young people are genuinely interested in intangible cultural heritage, but previously, there were only a limited number of ways in which people could learn about this ancient craft," she said.

"Over the past year or two, there has been a surge in related content on social media, leading to a heightened awareness of traditional culture among young people."

The 2023 Intangible Cultural Heritage Data Report released by the Douyin short-video platform shows the platform aired an average of 19,000 livestream broadcasts on intangible cultural heritage every day, with an average of 13 new items per minute that included content related to this topic.

Furthermore, in 2021 and 2022, the total number of views of videos related to national-level intangible cultural heritage projects shown on the platform reached 372.6 billion.

The 2019 Digital New Youth Research Report indicated that nearly 90 percent of the young people surveyed expressed an interest in traditional culture.

When it comes to learning about traditional culture, 80.5 percent of young people rely on online media as their primary source of knowledge, the report said.

Gao Lu, a lecturer at Nanjing Normal University's School of Journalism and Communication, said social media platforms, especially those showing short videos, have become the main way in which young people obtain information about traditional culture.

Official data indicate that as of December 2022, the number of short-video users in China reached 1 billion. Gao added that new media technologies present traditional culture to young people in unprecedented ways, leading to increased interest and a deeper understanding of this subject.

A Yingge dance troupe from Shantou, Guangdong Province, performs in the city on Feb 14. [Xinhua]

Interest Triggered

Cao Lei, a 31-year-old white-collar worker from Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, is testament to this trend.

Her interest in traditional Chinese culture was kindled after she watched short videos featuring Yingge Dance, a folk dance with a 300-year history from the Chaoshan region of Guangdong Province.

This interest sparked Cao's quest to explore traditional cultures from different parts of the country.

"I initially delved into traditional culture out of curiosity. Over time, I sensed the festive atmosphere was fading during the Spring Festival. To understand how people in these areas celebrate Chinese New Year, I trawled online platforms to seek traditional customs that have been preserved, " she said.

After watching short videos extensively online, Cao became well-versed in the intricacies of Yingge Dance.

"It has a strong sense of tradition. Performers undergo rigorous training from a young age, and during Spring Festival, performance teams in every village dance to celebrate the occasion, creating a lively atmosphere," Cao said.

This year during the holiday, she began watching videos of Youshen, a Spring Festival custom from Southeast China, and quickly warmed to the talent of the young performers.

Youshen, which translates as "wandering gods", is a folk tradition from rural areas of Fujian Province that dates to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Villages hold joyous parades and other celebrations to welcome the start of spring, and pray to local gods and deities. Every year, they carry large sculptures of deities through streets and alleys to dispel evil, avert disaster, and seek blessings.

"I never thought traditional customs and performances could be so attractive and interesting," Cao said.

The online world has prompted young people such as Cao to explore traditional cultures and history.

"Last year, I visited an exhibition at Jiangxi Provincial Museum that showcased paintings of porcelain in Jiangxi alongside Dunhuang murals from Gansu province," Cao said.

Latest statistics released by the National Cultural Heritage Administration show that during Spring Festival this year (from Feb 10 to 17), museums nationwide received a total of 73.58 million visitors, a 98.6 percent year-on-year rise.

Su Qin, 34, a freelance guide at Liaoning Provincial Museum, said that in recent years, there has been a noticeable surge in the number of young visitors to the institution.

"The internet has played a significant role. The popularity of the summer destination of Zibo in Shandong Province, the winter attractions of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, and the recent enthusiasm for cultural and historical relics are the combined result of young people's pursuit of China-chic (fancy designs mixed with elements of traditional culture), and promotion through social media," he said.

Su identified three main types of visitors to Liaoning Provincial Museum.

First, there are those who visit casually just to take photos and tick the venue off on their list. Second, some visit to attend specific exhibitions. The final group consists of visitors who, after browsing, develop an interest in history and culture before returning for a second or third visit, he said.

"It's not just the post-90s and post-00s generations who are flocking to museums, but even younger visitors. Many of the tour groups I've recently guided consist of young people who bring their children. Since the children need places to explore, museums and art galleries are the perfect solution. They are safe, the kids can learn, and admission is free," he added.

Rich History

Su believes the younger generation's love of traditional culture is not a random occurrence, but a natural result of their pursuit of a cultural life.

"After the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China's economy took a step forward, but cultural advancement temporarily lagged behind. Now that people have more money, they have started to turn their attention to cultural pursuits," he said.

Su added that young people are also attracted by the intrinsic and unique charm of Chinese culture.

"China boasts a long and rich history, with countless traditional cultural treasures waiting to be discovered by the younger generation, " he said.

Moreover, since the 2000s, the post-80s and post-90s age groups have gradually become the main force in society, with higher levels of education and greater cultural acceptance, Su said, adding that they also pursue novelty and individuality, so it's no surprise that young people are focusing on traditional culture.

He said institutions, including museums, have also launched cultural and creative products, attracting numerous young people to line up for purchases, and even scalpers selling refrigerator magnets.

"This situation could not have been imagined in the past. Museums are now also releasing short videos and conducting live broadcasts online," he said.

Social media platforms have become vital for museums to promote themselves. Douyin's 2023 Museum Data Report states that the total number of views of museum-related videos on the platform last year reached about 51.3 billion, 66 times the annual number of museum visitors nationwide.

Yuan Shuwu, an art theory researcher at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, attributes the recent rise in the popularity of traditional culture on social media to government promotion and extensive coverage by mainstream media.

"In the past few years, a series of documentaries and television programs have brought cultural relics and museums into public view, including Masters In Forbidden City in 2016 and The Nation's Greatest Treasures in 2017," Yuan said.

"Since then, there has been a gradual rise in the popularity of traditional culture. I have developed a strong interest in such culture, and after watching the two video series, decided to pursue graduate studies in art at the Central Academy of Fine Arts."

Wei Lizhong (second from left) instructs students at Hangzhou Guancheng Experimental School in engraving on Sept 28. [Xinhua]

Around the same time, Chinese food blogger Li Ziqi gained fame on YouTube for short videos she made that showcase her traditional and idyllic lifestyle in the Chinese countryside.

In turn, traditional culture has been revitalized due to the increased attention. Yuan said that in Fushan County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province, where she now lives, intangible cultural heritage such as paper-cutting has benefited greatly from online dissemination through social media.

"Previously, little attention was paid to these cultural elements, but now it's different. There are many media reports, and inheritors of intangible cultural heritage now talk widely about their work. This has indirectly encouraged more young people to learn about and carry on these traditions," she said.

Kong Dejun, from Zhangxi Town, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi, said he and his daughter are enthusiastic about inheriting and promoting their hometown's cultural folk art  the wooden-bench dragon dance.

"Our village has a bench dragon dance team, which includes many young people. I now live with my family in Guangdong, but whenever the village's dance team needs us, we return to take part in practice sessions and performances," he said.

During traditional holidays and summer vacations, Kong, 33, takes his daughter to Zhangxi to watch the performances and learn the dragon dance.

"Children who grow up in cities rarely see such lively and interesting things, so they really like the dance team and are eager to learn about the performances. This is probably the significance of inheritance," he said.

Gao, the lecturer, said young people's enthusiasm for traditional culture shows that historical and cultural confidence has been significantly enhanced in China.

She called for the further integration of intangible cultural heritage with digital new media.

"We should invite more inheritors of this heritage to the internet, to allow more young people to access high-quality cultural content and products through diverse technological means," Gao added.

(Source: China Daily)
Cambodian authorities rescued 19 citizens of Thailand from a call scam gang in Oddar Meanchey on March 16, according to the Suranaree Task Force of Thailand.

Major General Nat Sri-in, commander of the Suranaree Task Force, said on March 17 that about 30 Cambodian officials launched the rescue operation after Thai officials received a phone call for help on March 14 from one of the Thai victims lured into working for a call scam gang in Oddar Meanchey.

According to the officer, the 19 rescued people were among about 50 lured to work at a call scam center run by people of Taiwan (China). The center was at a casino complex situated near the Chong Chom border pass in Kap Choeng District of Surin Province.

The rescued victims said that most lured Thai workers had entered Cambodia through Poipet and been sent to casinos in Cambodia.
Riley Strain is a University of Missouri student. He went missing after he was asked to leave a Nashville bar during a fraternity trip.
Jaremy Smith, the man suspected of fatally shooting a New Mexico State Police officer, has been captured.
Competition watchdog launches investigation into 2.5 billion merger between Flintshire based Redrow and Barratt

The UKs competition watchdog has launched a preliminary investigation into the proposed 2.5 billion merger between two of the nations leading housebuilders, Barratt Developments and Flintshire-based Redrow.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) review marks a critical first step in assessing whether the deal might significantly lessen competition within the UKs housing sector.

Announced last month, the merger aims to unite the strengths of Barratt and Ewloe-headquartered Redrow, creating a formidable entity in the industry.

The merged business would deliver over 7.45bn and around 22,600 homes a year, based on past performance.

The companies have projected that their consolidation could lead to approximately 90 million in pre-tax cost savings by the end of the third year following the deals completion.

However, the proposed merger has raised concerns about the potential for a substantial lessening of competition, as stipulated under the merger provisions of the Enterprise Act 2002.

The CMAs invitation to comment is an open call for feedback from any interested parties, including consumers, industry players, and market analysts, regarding the mergers possible effects on competition.

This stage is crucial for gathering insights and evidence that will inform the authoritys formal investigation process, which is yet to commence.

Part of the CMAs concerns revolves around whether the Barratt-Redrow merger could restrict choices or elevate prices for homebuyers across the UK, given the significant market share the combined entity would command.

The CMA said: The CMA is issuing this preliminary invitation to comment to allow interested parties to submit to the CMA any initial views on the impact that the transaction could have on competition in the UK. This invitation to comment is the first part of the CMAs information-gathering process, in advance of the CMAs formal investigation starting.

The CMA may proactively contact companies and organisations that are active in the markets affected by the Merger, or have valuable insights or evidence that could assist the CMAs investigation.

Interested parties are encouraged to submit their comments and evidence to the CMA by the specified deadline, contributing to a thorough assessment of the mergers potential impact on competition within the UKs housing market.

[email protected]
What to expect with new first minister set to be appointed and cabinet reshuffle on the horizon

This week will see Mark Drakeford formally step down, with his successor as Wales new first minister set to be appointed and a cabinet reshuffle on the horizon.

Following Vaughan Gethings victory in the Welsh Labour leadership contest, heres what you can expect as the formal resignation and nomination process gets under way.

Mark Drakeford announced he would be stepping down on December 13, exactly five years to the day since he was appointed Wales first minister in 2018.

He will take his final first ministers questions on Tuesday March 19 from 1.30pm.

The outgoing first minister will be quizzed about his record in office, with questions tabled on the 20mph limit, disused mines and Wales place in the world.

Resignation

Prof Drakeford will then formally tender his resignation to King Charles III.

He is scheduled to give a 30-minute resignation statement in the Senedd at about 3.45pm, with party leaders and MSs expected to take this opportunity to pay tribute.

On Wednesday March 20, the Welsh Government will inform Elin Jones, the Senedds speaker or Llywydd, as soon as the Palace confirms the resignation has been accepted.

Ms Jones will then make a written statement to notify the Senedd that this has been received, which marks the point at which Mark Drakeford has formally resigned.

Nominations for the next first minister will then take place in the Senedds chamber or Siambr during the afternoons plenary session.

Exact timings are to be confirmed on Wednesday morning but it will either be the first item on the agenda at 1.30pm or after climate change and health questions at nearer 3pm.

Nominations

If only Vaughan Gething is nominated, he will be declared the first minister-elect.

But if more than one nomination is made, every Senedd member  except Ms Jones and her deputy, David Rees  will vote by roll call with the nominee requiring a simple majority.

The Llywydd will recommend the Welsh Parliaments nominee to the King and the first minister-elect will address the Senedd.

The first minister will be appointed by Royal Warrant, a legal document authorised by the King, before being sworn in at the Welsh Governments Cathays Park headquarters.

Prof Drakeford was the only nominee after the 2021 election but when he was first appointed in 2018, Plaid Cymru and the Tories put forward their leaders as a symbolic gesture.

However, after the 2016 election, the vote for first minister between Carwyn Jones and Leanne Wood was tied until the deadlock was broken a week later.

The current parliamentary arithmetic means a tied vote is a possibility but it remains unlikely as it would require agreement between the Tories, Plaid Cymru and Lib Dems.

Reshuffle

Vaughan Gething is expected to reshuffle the cabinet in the first week of the Senedds Easter recess, which begins on Monday, March 25.

Ministers remain in post in the interim but the counsel general, the Welsh Governments chief legal adviser, will cease to hold office when the first minister is appointed.

While Mr Gething will want to put his own stamp on the government, most of the Labour group backed his opponent, Jeremy Miles, so he will need to build some bridges.

Mr Miles, who is education minister, is likely to be offered a ministerial post as a result.

However, a handful of MSs could leave the frontbenches, with Lee Waters already having confirmed he is set to leave his post as deputy minister for transport.

Eluned Morgan and Rebecca Evans, Wales health and finance ministers respectively, both backed Mr Gething for leader and will likely stay in the cabinet.

Lynne Neagle and Dawn Bowden, deputy ministers for mental health and culture respectively, also supported his leadership bid and could be promoted.

Fresh faces

Jayne Bryant and Ken Skates, who ran Mr Gethings campaign, could be set for new roles.

Mr Skates stood down as economy minister in 2021 after eight years in government to spend more time in his Clwyd South constituency.

Jack Sargeant, Vikki Howells and Hefin David, who represent Alyn and Deeside, Cynon Valley and Caerphilly respectively, could be among the fresh faces in the running.

The new first minister can appoint a temporary counsel general with Mick Antoniw, the incumbent, seen as the frontrunner.

Uniquely, this role can be filled by a non-Senedd member but Theodore Huckle, a barrister, was the first, and so far only, independent professional counsel general from 2011 to 2016.

In the days following the Welsh Government reshuffle, the Conservatives are expected to rearrange their own frontbench team in the Senedd.

Wales new first minister will take their first FMQs following the Easter recess on April 16.

That week is likely to see changes to Senedd committee memberships and a motion to formally recommend a new counsel general to the King.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

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Evidence of a man sinking his feet into a pail of dry ice to claim insurance for frostbite injuries, as obtained by the Taiwanese authorities. Photo by Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau

A college student in Taiwan has been charged for defrauding insurance companies by claiming his legs needed to be amputated due to frostbite injuries from a night motorcycle ride.

According to Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB), the student, known as Chang, had deliberately exposed his feet to dry ice for an extended period, causing severe frostbite leading to the need for amputation.

Chang then sought compensation from eight different insurance policies, amounting to NT$41.26 million (US$1.3 million), for injuries he claimed to occur while riding his motorcycle in the cold throughout Taiwan, Taiwan News reported.

Investigation revealed that Chang, influenced by a university peer, Liao, concocted the insurance scam story after believing some gang members were after him.

Both Chang and Liao were charged of fraud and embezzlement, the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office said last week.

According to the prosecutors' documents, in Jan. 26 last year, Chang and Liao acquired dry ice and then proceeded to Liao's home, where Chang's feet were secured in a bucket of dry ice for over 10 hours, a process Liao took photos of, Taiwan News reported.

Following the exposure, Chang experienced swelling in his legs. He was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 28 and underwent an amputation below the knees on Feb. 6.

Subsequently, he submitted insurance claims and succeeded in obtaining NT$230,000 from one insurance company, The Strait Times reported.

However, other insurance companies had doubts and reported the case to the authorities as his insurance policies had been purchased shortly before the claims were made, some just a few weeks apart.

As the CIB looked into the case, it found that pictures obtained from the hospital where Chang was treated showed "symmetrical" injuries, unusual for typical frostbite victims, Newsweek reported.

The photographs suggested Chang had not been wearing socks or shoes at the time of his injuries, which investigators concluded were "man-made."

The agency also presented data from Taiwan's Central Weather Administration, which showed temperatures on the day of the incident were between 43-62.5 degrees Fahrenheit (6.1-16.9 degrees Celsius), which failed to meet the below-freezing conditions needed to cause frostbite.

A search warrant executed in November also revealed a polystyrene box that once housed the dry ice as well as the bucket Chang allegedly used, Newsweek said.
Since the beginning of the year, the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) has been fined more than $2 million for persistent understaffing at three of its New York hospitals. The latest fines demonstrate that the current contract, far from being the victory that the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) claimed, has institutionalized understaffing. The safety of patients at MSHS remains at risk, and nurses continue to face overwork and the risk of burnout.

On January 25, an arbitrator found persistent staffing violations in the oncology unit at Mount Sinai Hospital in East Harlem. Hospital management blamed the understaffing on nurses who had called out sick, but the arbitrator rejected this explanation and awarded the nurses more than $240,000. The arbitrator added that the hospitals effort to recruit more nurses had been inadequate.

Nurses at Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital in 2020 (Source: NYSNA)

Little over a week later, on February 2, an arbitrator fined MSHS approximately $934,000 for persistent understaffing in the emergency department of Mount Sinai Morningside. The hospitals staffing had not improved over the previous six months, during which time it had hired only five full-time nurses, according to the arbitrator. Mount Sinai Morningside was ordered to hire as many as 94 full-time employees. The arbitrator also ordered management to provide break relief and pay nurses the overtime incentives that they were owed.

Finally, on February 11, an arbitrator fined Mount Sinai West $957,050 for persistent and continuous understaffing in its labor and delivery unit. As at Mount Sinai Hospital, management attempted to blame staffing shortages on nurses who had called out sick and taken personal days. The arbitrator dismissed this argument and ordered the hospital to hire enough nurses to comply with the contract.

MSHS has now been fined eight times for understaffing since the current contract was approved in January 2023. At least two of the systems hospitals have been fined more than once.

Mount Sinai Hospital, which was sanctioned in January, was previously ordered to pay $127,057 to nurses in its neonatal intensive care unit. In May 2023, an arbitrator found that for three consecutive months, the hospital had persistently understaffed the unit by as many as six nurses. The fine was calculated using the nurses average daily base pay ($643) and the number of nurses that the unit was short on a given shift. After the fine was divided among the affected units nurses, each received little more than a days pay for three months of overwork.

In June 2023, Mount Sinai Morningside was cited for understaffing in its emergency departmentthe same department for which the hospital was fined again last month. This persistent understaffing is jeopardizing nurses safety. One of the Morningside nurses told the arbitrator that she had been attacked three weeks in a row by different patients. She believes that the overcrowding and understaffing in the emergency department contributed to this increase in workplace violence.

The unsafe staffing at MSHS is the responsibility not only of management, but also of the NYSNA bureaucracy. Contracts for more than 17,000 nurses at 12 New York hospitals, including several MSHS facilities, expired on December 31, 2022. Nurses at these hospitals voted by nearly 99 percent to strike, indicating a deep determination to fight for better conditions. Their main demands were better staffing, safe nurse-to-patient ratios and increased salaries and benefits.

NYSNA officials exerted every effort to prevent a united struggle that would have struck a powerful blow for healthcare workers in New York City and internationally. The union negotiated with each hospital individually and behind closed doors, thus keeping nurses divided by workplace. Starting with New York-Presbyterian, NYSNA quickly produced pro-company agreements that did not satisfy the nurses most basic demands. Hailing these contracts as historic, NYSNA called off strikes at almost all the hospitals, one by one. Though it could not prevent simultaneous strikes at Mount Sinai Hospital and Montefiore Medical Center, NYSNA officials ended them after three days by announcing contracts and sending nurses back to work without a ratification vote.

Striking post-doctoral workers picket outside Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City on December 13, 2023. [Photo: Sinai Postdoctoral Organizing Committee-UAW]

When Mount Sinai Hospital was fined in May 2023, NYSNA called the action a historic safe staffing victory. This assessment is belied by the fact that the hospital was penalized again for understaffing just eight months later. As the most recent fines against MSHS facilities show, understaffing remains a persistent problem in the entire system.

The fines are no deterrent to an organization that reports an annual revenue of $11.3 billion. MSHS finds it cheaper to pay penalties than to hire an adequate number of nurses. Nor do the fines provide adequate compensation to the nurses who struggle to do their jobs, and fend off aggressive patients, during understaffed shifts.

Whatever militant rhetoric the NYSNA bureaucrats may use, they are not interested in securing safe staffing and adequate compensation for nurses. The unions leaders receive their six-figure salaries in exchange for preventing strikes and imposing the companies demands on the membership. The divide-and-conquer strategy that NYSNA used during the last contract expiration reflects the union leaderships role as the handmaiden of the hospital systems. The situation is no different at other unions or in other industries.

Moreover, NYSNA has integrated itself into the Democratic Party, which represents the interests of finance capital rather than those of public health. Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat and former police officer, is promoting the lie that the pandemic is over. He has made no move to reintroduce any of the testing, contact tracing or isolation measures that are necessary to eliminate the virus. At the national level, the Democrats overriding priorities are the escalation of the war with Russia in Ukraine, which risks being transformed into a nuclear war, and unstinting support for Israels campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza. The latter campaign has involved the deliberate and systematic destruction of hospitals and the deaths of countless patients and healthcare workers.

Whether at MSHS or at other hospitals, nurses cannot wage a successful fight for safe staffing if they remain under the domination of the trade union bureaucracy and its anti-working class alliance with the capitalist Democratic Party. The fight for genuine improvements requires the development of independent rank-and-file committees controlled democratically by workers themselves. Conditions for nurses cannot be improved, nor the highest standard of care be provided to patients, without a fight to take profit out of medicine through the fight for socialism.
Australias governing Labor Party suffered extraordinary vote collapses in two Queensland state by-elections in working-class electorates last Saturday. The results are a further indication of a developing political crisis, not just in Queensland but throughout the country.

In the Brisbane western suburb of Inala, which has among the lowest income levels and highest unemployment rates in Queensland, Labor lost almost half its primary vote. It fell by around 30 percentage points to less than 35 percent.

Queensland Labor Party Premier Steven Miles with Wendy Bourne, Labor's candidate for Ipswich West Wendy Bourne [Photo: Instagram/@stevenmilesmp]

Nearby, further to the west, in Ipswich West, which covers outer-suburban working-class neighbourhoods and some semi-rural areas, Labors primary vote crashed by about 15 percentage points, also to around 35 percent.

Labor is likely to barely retain Inala, which it has never lost before, because the openly right-wing opposition Liberal National Party (LNP) obtained only 29 percent of the vote. The combined vote for the two parties that have ruled in Australia since World War II fell to 64 percent, with the rest going to various independents.

Of added significance is that Inala had long been held by Queensland Labor Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. She quit in December at the behest of the trade union bureaucrats who control the Labor Party.

Palaszczuks removal had clear national implications. She became the third Labor state premier to suddenly quit this year, following the departures of Mark McGowan in Western Australia and Daniel Andrews in Victoria. The resignations were all a response to the rising animosity and opposition to the policies of Labor governments that hold power federally and in all states and territories except Tasmania.

Palaszczuk had literally inherited the seat of Inala, due to Labor factional deals, from her father Henry, who was a cabinet minister in the earlier long-running state Labor government of Peter Beattie. Between them, the Palaszczuks had occupied the seat for more than three decades, since its creation in 1992.

The only previous time that Labors hold over the seat was threatened was in 2012, when Annastacia Palaszczuks vote plunged by 17 points to 42 percent amid the defeat of Premier Anna Blighs state Labor government. That government was thrown out of office in an electoral landside after axeing thousands of public sector jobs and privatising rail and other basic services. Saturdays vote crash in Inala exceeded that of 2012.

In Ipswich West, Labor will lose the seat for only the fourth time since 1960, but the LNP will only just scrape in, with a minority vote of 39 percent, thanks to second preference votes from Legalise Cannabis and the far-right One Nation.

Labors vote also plummeted in municipal council elections across Queensland on the same day, with losses of up to 23 points in predominantly working-class suburbs, such as Wynnum-Manly in Brisbane. In the Brisbane City Council mayoral election, Labors vote fell to 26.5 percent. Most of its 5.5-point loss went to the Greens, who obtained around 19.5 percent, mainly in affluent inner-city districts, reflecting their political orientation.

The corporate media coverage has noticeably played down the national dimension of Labors electoral disasters, claiming that Saturdays results relate only to state issues. According to the media, the result represents a dire warning for the state Labor government of recently-installed Premier Steven Miles, which faces a statewide election on October 26.

The acute problems confronting working-class households, however, are national and international, not state issues. After nearly two years of the federal Labor government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, working people face a devastating cost-of-living crisis driven by soaring rents, home mortgage payments and prices for food, energy and other essentials, and a public health disaster produced by soaring doctors bills under the Medicare scheme, and life-threatening hospital emergency and elective surgery waiting times.

As Socialist Equality Party members can attest from our campaigns in Inala and other working-class areas, there is also deepening disgust with the Albanese government over its support for the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza and its wider commitment to US militarism, particularly the AUKUS military pact to prepare for a calamitous war with China.

That hostility was clearly a factor in the overwhelming defeat of last Octobers Voice referendum, which the Albanese government had heavily promoted to try to put a progressive gloss on its program of war and austerity.

Under conditions of the greatest decline in working-class living standards for at least 50 years, voters in these areas did not believe the Labor governments claims that entrenching an elite indigenous advisory body in the countrys 1901 Constitution would alleviate the appalling social conditions of most indigenous people, who are among the most oppressed layers of the working class.

The efforts of Premier Miles and his union bureaucrat sponsors, led by United Workers Union powerbroker Gary Bullock, to put a fresh face on the nine-year-old state Labor government have come to nought.

Since taking office in 2015, this government has presided over worsening staff shortages and resources in the states public hospitals and schools, and a growing social housing and homelessness crisis. During the first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, it imposed a two-year wage freeze on public sector workers, enforced by the union leaders.

Palaszczuks government won re-election in 2020 by claiming to protect people by shutting the states borders in response to the pandemic. It then promptly joined all the countrys other governments, both Labor and Liberal-National, in scrapping every health safety measure, letting COVID rip at the cost of an estimated 1,000 lives in Queensland.

In his inaugural speech as premier last December, Miles outlined the intensified right-wing, pro-business and repressive character of the governments agenda to be implemented in close partnership with the UWU and other union bureaucrats. He announced a consultative body, the Queensland Leaders Forum, to bring together business, industry, community and unions in the one room to work together.

Miles declared the government would increase police resources because youth crime in Queensland is unacceptably high. The Queensland government already jails more children, many of them indigenous, than any other Australian state or territory. Last year, responding to a media witch hunt over youth crime amid the deepening social crisis, the Palaszczuk government twice rushed through parliament laws to lock up more children in adult cells, suspending the states Human Rights Act to do so.

On Sunday, Miles said the by-election results were bad and worse than expected. He said they showed voters wanted his government to work harder on cost-of-living pressures and crime in the community.

This foreshadows a further lurch into a law and order offensive against youth in the working-class areas where economic, employment and social conditions are deteriorating. As for cost-of-living pressures, the by-election results point to the failure of the Albanese governments recent rejigging of the Stage 3 income tax cuts to reverse Labors fortunes.

The tax cuts amount to a pittance for most workersabout $2 a day for those on $40,000 a year. Most of the tax benefits still go to the wealthier layers taking home more than $200,000 a year.

On top of the March 2 federal by-election in the outer-Melbourne electorate of Dunkley, Saturdays results underscore the ongoing disintegration of support, not just for Labor and its union factional bosses but for both the two main parties of rule and the political establishment as a whole.

Albaneses government took office in 2022 after Labor won a national primary vote of less than 33 percent. That was Labors lowest vote in nearly a century, despite the implosion of support for the widely-hated Liberal-National government that had ruled since 2013.

For nearly two years, backed by the trade union leaders, Labor has only intensified the attacks of the previous Morrison Coalition government on every front, including by letting loose the COVID pandemic, ratcheting up the US military alliance and imposing falling living standards on working people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel would proceed with its plans to assault Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, where over 1.5 million refugees are sheltering.

No international pressure will stop Israel, Netanyahu said during a meeting of Israels cabinet, adding, If we stop the war now before achieving all of its goals, the meaning is that Israel had lost the war, and we will not allow this.

We will operate in Rafah, Netanyahu said. This will take several weeks, and it will happen.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the Museum of Tolerance in Jerusalem, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. [AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg]

On Friday, the Israeli military approved a plan for an offensive in Rafah, combined with the displacement of refugees sheltering there to camps to the north, which Israeli officials called humanitarian islands.

Netanyahu reiterated his plans to attack Rafah following a speech Thursday by US Democratic Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, who called Netanyahu an obstacle to peace and said the prime minister had lost his way. US President Joe Biden effectively endorsed Schumers remarks, saying it was a good speech.

But Netanyahus statements Saturday demonstrated that these verbal criticisms by US officials have no effect on the conduct of the genocide. Israel continues to kill over 100 people every single day, while the entire population of Gaza is on the verge of starvation.

Amid all this, US funding and weapons to Israel continue to flow uninterrupted, and the White House has made it clear it has no red lines for what crimes Israel is allowed to commit before the US stops providing it with arms and funding.

The United States has already offered a pre-emptive endorsement of the assault on Rafah by making the only qualification the existence of a plan to relocate the civilian population.

On Sunday, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) reported that 13,000 children have been killed in Gaza to date, adding that many children affected by malnutrition in Gaza dont even have the energy to cry.

Whats happening now is more than 13,000 children already have been killed, which is an astronomical, horrifying number, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell in an interview on CBS News Sunday.

She added, Thousands more have been injured or we cant even determine where they are. They may be stuck under rubble. Thousands more have lost one or both parents. Some of these children, youve seen them on the news, theyre just by themselves managing their younger siblings. I mean, its a horrifying situation.

Russell said that one in three children under the age of two is suffering from acute malnutrition.

She continued, Ive been in wards of children who are suffering from severe anemia and malnutrition, and the whole ward is absolutely quiet because the children, the babies, dont even have the energy to cry.

In a report published Sunday, the UK-based charity Oxfam said Israel continues to systematically and deliberately block and undermine any meaningful international humanitarian response.

Oxfam reported that the deliberate starvation of the population of Gaza has only worsened since the ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling on Israel to stop killing Palestinians and to allow food into Gaza.

The ICJ order should have shocked Israeli leaders to change course, but since then conditions in Gaza have actually worsened, Oxfam Middle East and North Africa Director Sally Abi Khalil said Sunday. Israeli authorities are not only failing to facilitate the international aid effort, but are actively hindering it. We believe that Israel is failing to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide.

To date, Israel has killed over 32,000 people in Gaza since October 7, with tens of thousands more missing. Between March 14 and 15, Israeli forces killed 149 Palestinians in Gaza and injured 300 more.

On Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that the military is once again launching a raid on Al-Shifa Hospital, raising the prospect that doctors and patients will be killed by IDF troops.

The IDF is conducting a high-precision operation in limited areas of Shifa Hospital following concrete evidence that demanded immediate action, the IDF said in a statement.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced last week that he would deploy hundreds of police and soldiers to south Florida in anticipation of an influx of Haitian refugees fleeing the recent violence in that country. They will be equipped with speedboats, drones and helicopters, and will serve as an auxiliary force to the US Coast Guard, which patrols the waters off south Florida.

Haitian migrants captured by the Coast Guard are repatriated to the island nation. Though a mass migration has not yet occurred, it is predicted that as the violence and disorder there escalate, more Haitians, driven by desperation, will attempt the dangerous sea passage to the United States.

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during a media availability in Manchester, New Hampshire, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. [AP Photo/Matt Rourke]

Already, the Coast Guard has repatriated 65 Haitian migrants found in the waters off the Bahamas on March 11, according to the Miami Herald. The Coast Guard has also captured 41 Haitians in the waters near Puerto Rico through the end of February. The US colony is another common destination for Haitian migrants. Since October 1, the beginning of the fiscal year, Customs and Border Patrol officers in Puerto Rico have detained 112 Haitian nationals.

The deployment in south Florida will include 133 members of the Florida State Guard, according to press releases from the governors office. The State Guard was first established at the outset of World War II to fulfill duties normally performed by National Guard troops who were participating in the war. It was dissolved in 1947 and not reactivated until December 2021 by Governor DeSantis, who has command over the state-level force.

The reactivation of the State Guard was a response to both the mass protests in 2020 in the aftermath of George Floyds murder by the Minneapolis police as well as the stolen election lie propagated by then-President Trump in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. DeSantis resurrected the military unit to suppress future protests and to elevate his national profile within the far right in advance of his failed attempt to become the Republican nominee for president this year.

In February DeSantis deployed members of both the State and National Guard to Texas to assist in Republican Governor Greg Abbotts illegal campaign to detain and deport migrants crossing the southern border. He also deployed hundreds of State Guard members to the Florida Keys in January 2023, during an earlier surge of migration from Cuba and Haiti.

DeSantis aims to use the current migrant crisis to bolster his political standing, and has framed his response to the potential surge in migrants in military terms, stating in a press release, Illegal immigrants feel empowered to enter the sovereign territory of the United States because of the federal governments refusal to diligently enforce our immigration laws and protect the integrity of the border. When a state faces the possibility of invasion, it has the right and duty to defend its territory and people.

DeSantis claim that he is deploying the State Guard because of an invasion, the same pretext used by Abbott in Texas, is transparently false. So is his claim that the federal response has been insufficiently severe. The Biden administration has carried out an expansive attack on immigrants and refugees. In 2023 this administration deported 142,000 immigrants, nearly twice the figure from 2022. Another 690,000 have been deported since Biden took office under Title 42, a public health law invoked by Trump at the outset of the pandemic to expedite deportations. The Biden administration has summarily refused entry to the US to an additional 2.8 million migrants encountered at the southern border in the same time period.

More recently, in an attempt to secure support from congressional Republicans for continue funding the ongoing US/NATO war in Ukraine, Biden has proposed new anti-immigrant legislation that the Wall Street Journal characterized as the most restrictive migrant legislation in decades. The new legislation would increase the capacity of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities by nearly 50 percent, allow the president to close the southern border if migration numbers surpass 5,000 per day, and vastly increase the overall number of Border Patrol officers.

The largest part of the proposed $120 billion legislation, $60 billion, would go to funding the US/NATO war effort in Ukraine. Another $14 billion is earmarked to bolster the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

The Biden administration may also use the US Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to detain and process Haitians captured at sea. The Navy maintains an immigrant processing facility on the base, separate from the prison where the US has illegally detained thousands of so-called enemy combatants since 2001, and where 30 inmates remain imprisoned.

As the political crisis in Haiti escalates, it can be expected that more desperate citizens of that impoverished country, the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, will attempt to escape the violence by embarking on the 700-mile passage to the US.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken [Photo: Haitian government]

This was the case in 2010, when 200,000 Haitians were killed in an earthquake that destroyed much of the islands infrastructure. There were also sharp increases in migration from Haiti after both the 1994 and 2004 interventions by the imperialist powers. In every case, those fleeing the poverty and violence engineered by the US and its partners were greeted with further oppression.

The most recent cycle of violence began in January of 2021, when then-president Jovenel Moise was assassinated by gunmen who breached the presidential residence. Although the details surrounding Moises killing remain unclear, there are indications that current President Ariel Henry, acting on behalf of both the US and elements of the Haitian bourgeoisie hostile to Moise, helped engineer the killing.

Henrys elevation to the presidency, and subsequent refusal to hold elections, sparked a further upsurge in gang violence, with criminal organizations linked to various political figures within Haiti controlling large sections of the country, including the capital Port-au-Prince. As the violence and lawlessness escalated, Henry sought assistance from his imperialist backers and was offered the services of the Kenyan national police.

This triggered a further surge in violence, with many rival gangs reportedly uniting to combat the state-backed forces. The situation deteriorated to the extent that Henry, returning to Haiti after signing the agreement with Kenya, was contacted in mid-flight by his de facto boss, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and informed that he would not be returning to Haiti, and would in fact be resigning from the presidency. After the US detained Henry in Puerto Rico for several days, and with additional threats issued by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Henry carried out these orders and issued a statement saying he would resign in favor of a new seven-person transitional council.

Whatever the composition of the new council may be, its central purpose will be to create political cover for further imperialist intervention. The living conditions for the Haitian masses will continue to deteriorate, and terrible violence will be used to restore order.


Train driver rally in Stuttgart on Thursday, January 25th

After workers on Germanys railways, public transport and airports launched nationwide strikes last week, proving once again their readiness to fight for better working conditions and wages, the trade unions are beating a retreat.

The service-sector trade union Verdi has agreed to arbitration with the Lufthansa airline, and Verdi is continuing negotiations with the local transport employers.

The German Train Drivers Union (GDL), which carried out their sixth short-term strike last week, indicated during the legal proceedings Tuesday initiated by Deutsche Bahn (DB) against the strike that it was open to arbitration. Previously, the union had vehemently refused such a proposal.

This underscores that the so-called warning strikestime-limited strikes called on short notice by the bureaucracyare a means of preventing the indefinite all-out strike which 97 percent of GDL members voted to approve. The GDL has already abandoned its original demands and is only calling for the adoption of the agreements it signed with 28 other railway companies: a 420 salary increase in two stages over a two-year contract and a 35-hour work week starting in 2028.

The DB board has also rejected these scaled-back demands. It has the backing of the federal government, which significantly reduced spending on the state-owned rail company in its 2024 budget and is now calling for an example to be made of train drivers. They intend to make clear to the train drivers and all workers that they must pay for rearmament and war.

The DB board knows that the GDL and the EVG (railway and transport union) do not want an open confrontation with the federal government. This has strengthened its uncompromising position. DB management is relying on the union bureaucracys proven record of reducing real wages and dismantling long-standing achievements.

The workers, on the other hand, are prepared to fight. In rail worker groups on social media, GDL members rejected the rail companys attacks. Sven wrote: DB offered a 36-hour week with a 30-month contract, the elimination of 12 holidays, incursion into our already small number of free weekends, the abolition of flexibility in planning work/free time schedules, a wage increase of 331 instead of 420 (the EVG got 420) and much more, which will be even worse! Do you want us to compromise? No, I dont think so!

Christian added, DB was able to pay the fat bonuses to its board members without batting an eyelid, so why doesnt that happen with employee salaries on the railways? The DB Board of Management doubled its pay in 2022 and received millions in bonuses from the Supervisory Board. GDL representative Mario Rei also voted in favour of these pay hikes.

Contrary to what the media campaign claims, the train drivers are not privileged. Their salary ranks at the lower end of middle-income jobs. Pay increases for GDL members in the last 10 years are below the national average. While the latter has grown by 28.4 percent since 2014, the GDL agreed to reduce real wages, and pay rates rose by 21.4 percent for its members in these 10 years. Consumer prices rose by 24.8 percent.

The workload for train drivers is also extremely high due to irregular and long shifts as well as little free time. Many workers, especially older workers, have decided to exchange part of their salary for more time off.

Andreas asked, When does the reckoning begin for DB management? These plunderers with no connection to the grassroots deserve to be thrown out.

The rail workers must be mobilised against the DB board and the federal government. Declining real wages and worsening working conditions are just the beginning. The ruling elite is preparing further attacks that will be even more far-reaching. No wage, no working condition, no social right is safe.

This was made clear by the reaction of the political and business elites to last weeks strike. In an interview with the Rheinische Post, the managing director of the Confederation of German Employers Associations (BDA) Steffen Kampeter warned of negative consequences for German investment.

The damage caused by the GDL strike alone last week is estimated at 100 million per day, he said. The strikes by the GDL, Verdi and the Independent Flight Attendant Organization (UFO) not the refusal of the DB board to make any serious concessionswere disproportionate.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck (Greens) reiterated this. He said, At the moment, there is a bit too much striking for less and less work. In fact, we cant afford it right now, he added. Workers would have to be prepared to work harder and longer.

Other business and party representatives are calling on the federal government to legally block strikes. The legal policy spokesman of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union parliamentary group, Gunter Krings, called for a strike law with mandatory notice periods prior to labour disputes in critical infrastructure. The economist Veronika Grimm raised the prospect of mandatory arbitration before a strike even takes place.

The presiding judge of the Hesse State Labour Court, Michael Horcher, suggested on Tuesday that such measures be enshrined in law. Because these do not yet exist, he was compelled to reject DBs request to stop the GDL strike by injunction.

The judge suggested formal arbitration, which the GDL had hitherto rejected. GDL representative Thomas Schelling described arbitration in court as certainly worthy of discussion, as the Tagesschau news program reported. We will discuss this openly.

This shows once again that the GDL under Claus Weselsky is unwilling to seriously confront the provocations from management and the ruling elite as a whole. Rather, he is striving for a deal through which the GDL tops can save face.

The GDL and Weselsky, emphasize at every opportunity that they defend the market economyi.e., capitalism. However, capitalism is in its deepest crisis since the 1930s. The military redivision of the world among the great powers has already begun. With its announcement of a new era, the federal government is remilitarizing Germany. It is financing the war against Russia in Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza in the billions of euros. As it did twice in the last century, the German ruling class is once again beginning to assert its economic and geopolitical interests by military means.

In view of the imminent threat of war and the attacks on jobs, wages and living standards, the working class must mobilise independently of the trade union bureaucracy and unite internationally against capitalism. In its statement, The global significance of Germanys train drivers strike, the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei declared,

After sending huge quantities of weapons and ammunition, NATO now also wants to send ground troops to Ukraine, which means a direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia. In the Middle East, the genocide of the Palestinians supported by Germany is developing into a regional conflagration. The danger of a third world war has never been as great as it is now A fundamental reorientation and reorganisation of society are necessary. The fight against the intransigence of the DB board and the dictates of the federal government, the defence of jobs and the struggle against war require a socialist perspective and an international strategy. The needs of working people and society must have priority over the profit interests of the corporations and banks. The nationalist policy of the trade unions, which work closely with the government and support its pro-war policies, must be countered by the international cooperation of the working class, regardless of nationality, origin and skin colour. That is why the establishment of independent rank-and-file action committees is so important and urgent. All over the world, from Europe to North America to Asia and Australia, workers are building the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees to fight attacks by management, the government and the corrupt union apparatus.

Please contact us via Whatsapp at +49-163-337 8340 and also register using the form below.
More than five months into Israels mass murder of Palestinians in Gaza, the question of how to end the genocide is posed more sharply than ever.

The program that has dominated rallies internationally, of endless protests appealing to and placing pressure on Western governments, has manifestly failed. The corporatised unions have, in practice, rejected a desperate appeal from Palestinian unions for strikes and industrial action to paralyse the Israeli war machine, instead ensuring industrial peace.

As the Socialist Equality Party has insisted, the starting point of a fight to end the genocide must be an understanding that it is a crime of capitalism. The imperialist governments are supporting the mass murder because it is part of their broader program of militarism, particularly targeting Iran, Russia and China. As in the 1930s, capitalism offers a future of barbarism. The alternative is a political struggle by the working class against the governments and the profit system that is responsible for war.

The key role in suppressing any understanding of these issues is played by pseudo-left groups which, while occasionally claiming to be socialist, represent a privileged layer of the upper middle-class tied to the existing political set-up. The more protest politics and the union bureaucracy are discredited, the more desperately the pseudo-left seek to defend both.

A case study is provided by the Solidarity group in Australia. It has, throughout the Israeli onslaught insisted that the trade unions are the key basis for a struggle against the genocide.

The difficulty for Solidarity is that Australias unions are aligned with the Labor government which has fully backed the Israeli bombardment. The unions have not only done nothing, most of them have scarcely even mentioned the war crimes.

To obscure this reality, Solidarity has promoted supposedly left unions, above all the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), which has occasionally condemned the Zionist regime. Solidarity also played the key role in establishing Trade Unionists for Palestine (TU4P). Supposedly a rank-and-file grouping campaigning against the genocide within the unions, TU4P is based on a rejection of the most fundamental feature of such a struggle, a fight against the pro-war union bureaucracy.

MUA 2024 national conference [Photo: Maritime Union of Australia]

The real character of Solidaritys activities, essentially to cover for Labor and the union bureaucracy, was graphically exposed late last month. The purportedly militant and pro-Palestinian union invited Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to give the keynote address to its annual conference. Albanese hailed the MUA, and the bureaucrats gave a rousing ovation to the Labor leader whose government has actively supported the Holocaust of Palestinians.

The initial response of the pseudo-left to this damning exposure of its perspective was to pretend that the conference did not occur. Solidaritys publication still has not reported it, nor has Socialist Alternatives Red Flag or Socialist Alliances Green Left.

Erima Dall, a central figure in Solidarity and TU4P, attended the conference as a delegate, but said nothing about it, including at a March 8 meeting of TU4P held at the MUAs Sydney headquarters. Following this meeting, the TU4P promoted the appearance of MUA officials in a press conference at Port Botany where they issued phoney professions of solidarity with the people of Palestine.

The sordid conspiracy of silence, recalling nothing so much as the corrupt cover-ups and lies of capitalist politicians, was only broken by a World Socialist Web Site report on the MUA conference last week. It provoked immediate consternation in a TU4P WhatsApp group, with people who had joined the group thinking that it was genuinely committed to a fight in defence of Gaza expressing shock and anger.

One condemned the very shameful action by MUA. It shows theyre just talk and working to placate us. Another declared, Quite a lot of people, including myself, are quite disappointed and disillusioned with union leadership.

One commenter asked Why should ANY Labor figure, let alone the PM be allowed to get up and posture as a friend of the workers at union meetings? and called into question the TU4Ps perspective of pressuring the union bureaucracies.

Having kept TU4P members in the dark about Albaneses appearance at the conference for the best part of a fortnight, the Solidarity leaders immediately sprang into action in the WhatsApp group to defend the MUA when the angry comments were posted.

Dall insisted that neither the MUAs invitation to the prime minister to speak, nor the fact that he was applauded enthusiastically, prove that the MUA does not support the Palestine movement.

Her arguments consisted of desperate lies and evasions.

Dall claimed that many of those present at the conference genuinely did not think Albanese is complicit in genocide, even in a union that has a very radical history and a high political awareness compared to other unions.

Who does Dall think she is kidding? Hundreds of thousands or even millions of people are intensely hostile to Labors support for the genocide. Ordinary people, including those who were not particularly political before October last year, have bitterly declared that Albanese is complicit in mass murder and has blood on his hands. I will never vote for Labor again has become a common refrain.

But TU4P members are supposed to believe that the well-heeled bureaucrats, their hangers-on and carefully-selected delegates, simply missed the events of the past five months. Like the wise monkeys, they had seen and heard no evil when it came to Albanese, and would have been shocked that he was supporting a genocide.

MUA women fronted by Mich-Elle Myers at the 2024 national conference [Photo: Maritime Union of Australia]

In fact the upper echelons of the MUA are effectively part of the pro-genocide government themselves. MUA Assistant National Secretary Mich-Elle Myers is also the national Labor Partys Vice President. MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin is on the federal governments Maritime Strategic Fleet Taskforce and was hailed by Albanese as his good and loyal friend.

Dall, aware that she was on rather thin ice herself, suddenly recalled that she had campaigned at the MUA conference in defence of the Palestinians, something she had not informed the TU4P membership of for the previous two weeks. Dall and others had distributed a fact sheet pointing out Labors support for Israel. The conference had even passed a motion somehow relating to the Palestinians. No one outside the conference knows exactly what the motion was about because it has not been published anywhere.

Nevertheless, it will surely be of great comfort to those being massacred in Gaza that the MUA, having hailed Albanese, a key supporter of the genocide, passed a motion noting the existence of the Palestinians.

Dall was attempting to claim that there was some sort of ferment, even struggle within the MUA conference, something of which there is no evidence whatsoever.

At the conference, Dall participated in a social media video of the women of the MUA, standing behind Myers as a head-nodder. Crumlin himself came out of the MUAs Sydney branch with which Solidarity has the closest of ties.

The actions of Crumlin and the MUA executive, moreover, were entirely in line with the perspective that Solidarity itself has argued for, of collaboration with the Labor leadership.

In a November interview with Perth Indymedia, Dall presented the MUAs formal affiliation with the Labor Party as a positive, declaring, They have delegates at Labor conferences, so these debates will ripple through in really, really critical ways. If one supports affiliation to the pro-war, big business Labor Party, why not give its leader a platform?

And that is precisely what Solidarity has advocated for, not only at union conferences but even at rallies in defence of the Palestinians. A January article by Solidarity demanded that dissident Labor MPs be featured speakers at the protests, even though they represent a party that supports the decimation of Gaza. There are no such dissident MPs. Not a single senior Labor figure has condemned Albanese or the government for backing Israels onslaught.

Dall gave a justification for the MUAs collaboration with Albanese, declaring its leadership was anxious to get a strategic shipping fleet out of the Labor government. That comment underscored the pro-imperialist character of Solidarity and the pseudo-left.

Under Labors Maritime Strategic Fleet plans, vast sums will be handed over to multinational shipping lines to protect the profits of supply-chain dependent corporations, while further integrating seafarers into the military apparatus of Australian and US imperialism.

Labor has explicitly connected this policy to its military build-up directed against China and its broader support for US-led military operations, including against Iran.

The strategic fleet is being sold by Labor and the MUA under the pretext of concern for jobs, a lie that Dall repeated without criticism. In reality, with this fleet to be under private ownership, workers will continue to be subjected to the same attacks on jobs, wages and conditions that have been enforced by Labor and the MUA for decades.

The whole conception of the strategic fleet, moreover, is the subordination of all aspects of shipping to the war drive. The corollary is the forceful suppression of all opposition from workers. Any struggle by stevedores would be branded as an attack on the national interest and an impermissible disruption of the militarist program.

Essentially, that is what the MUA is already doing. It has rejected all calls for industrial action targeting the Israeli company Zim, which dedicated its entire fleet to the genocide in October. Every week, the MUA ensures that Zim cargo is loaded and unloaded at Australian ports without disruption.

Some union branches, including in Sydney, have cited the Fair Work industrial laws as justification, however, the anti-strike legislation was drafted by Labor and the unions themselves and is enforced by Albanese, whom the MUA leaders rapturously applauded.

Certain lessons need to be drawn. The purpose of TU4P is not to pressure the union bureaucracy to the left, but to shield it from opposition over its support for genocide.

That was clear at an early TU4P meeting in November. When a Socialist Equality Party leader asked the Sydney MUA officials if they would heed the call of the Palestinian unions for action against Zim, he was shouted down by Solidarity members. At the conclusion of the meeting the MUA officials, including Sydney branch secretary Paul Keating, accosted the SEP members in an aggressive and threatening manner.

In the WhatsApp discussion about Albaneses presence at the MUA conference, Solidarity members derided the SEP and the WSWS as sectarian. What they mean by that term is any struggle for the political independence of the working class in opposition to the corporatist and pro-war union bureaucracy, and the Labor government with which it is aligned.

But that is precisely the struggle that is required. Against the phoney rank-and-fileism of TU4P, there needs to be a struggle for genuine workers rank-and-file committees, including at the ports, to block Zim ships and to prepare a broader industrial and political struggle against the government. The sine qua non of such a movement is implacable hostility to the bureaucracy and a rebellion against it.

Solidaritys defence of the MUA and of Albanese is not an accident or an aberration. It epitomises the fact that the pseudo-left has nothing to do with the fight for socialism and the interests of the working class, but is an opponent of both.

Solidarity traces its origins to a pro-imperialist split from the Trotskyist movement in 1939-40, which rejected the revolutionary role of the working class and oriented towards a social-democratic, trade unionist perspective.

In the decades since, the pseudo-left has hurtled miles to the right. Its membership represents an affluent section of the upper middle-class tied in to the union bureaucracy, the upper echelons of the public sector and academia which advances its own privileges within the capitalist system through identity politics based on race, gender and sexual orientation. As the MUA-Albanese episode reveals very graphically, the pseudo-left is a pro-imperialist tendency that functions as the last line of defence of capitalism, including in this instance its political executive in Australia, the Albanese Labor administration.

A political struggle against the pro-genocide government, mobilising the working class in the fight to build an international and socialist anti-war movement, can only take place in direct opposition to the pseudo-left.
A Chinese tourist plays with water as she celebrates during the Songkran holiday which marks the Thai New Year in Bangkok, Thailand, April 13, 2023. Photo by Reuters

Migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar who plan to go home during the Songkran holidays or any time between April 1 and May 15 may not need a re-entry permit, if a proposal by Thailand's Labor Ministry is approved by the Cabinet.

Songkran or Thailand's traditional New Year is celebrated from April 13 to 15 every year. However, this year, the festival is extended to 21 days from April 1 to celebrate UNESCOs official recognition of the festival as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Karom Phonphonklang, Thailands deputy government spokesperson, said on March 16 that the cancelation of the re-entry permit, proposed by the Labor Ministry, aims to make travel easier for workers from neighboring countries and to reduce their expenses during the festive season.

This waiver only applies to Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar passport holders with a non-L-A (legalized labor) visa, which is valid beyond May 15. The waiver also applies to eligible migrant workers' children below the age of 18.

Those who wish to return to Thailand after May 15 will be required to get a re-entry stamp as usual, Karom said.

The ministry expects the proposal to be approved by the Thai Cabinet soon, and it will notify employers and migrant workers as soon as it is made official, Karom said.
The death of Boeing whistleblower John Mitch Barnett, the 62-year-old former employee of the aerospace corporation, was declared a suicide two days after he was found dead in a truck parked in a hotel parking lot. There are ample reasons to question this narrative.

At the time, Barnett was in the middle of a deposition in Charleston, South Carolina, in which he was providing testimony for a civil case he was pursuing against Boeing. Barnett worked for Boeing as a quality manager for most of his 32-year career, during which he raised many serious questions about the safety of Boeings 787 Dreamliner commercial aircraft. The suit charges Boeing with harassing him on the job, stalling any promotions and ultimately forcing him to leave the company 10 years before he planned to retire.

John Barnett in the 2022 Netflix documentary "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing." [Photo: Netflix]

Barnett completed two days of his deposition on March 7 and March 8, and, according to his lawyers Rob Turkewitz and Brian Knowles, he was tired but committed to giving his third and final day of testimony. When he did not arrive in court on March 9 and did not answer their phone calls, Barnetts lawyers called the hotel where he was staying to check on him. Hotel employees found Barnett dead with a gunshot wound to his head.

The Charleston County coroner ruled that the cause of death was a self-inflicted wound, and a police report stated that officers had found a white piece of paper resembling a note near Barnetts body. However, Barnetts lawyers immediately challenged the claim that their clients death was a suicide. They released a statement saying:

We didnt see any indication that he would take his own life. No one can believe it. The Charleston police need to investigate this fully and accurately and tell the public. No detail can be left unturned.

A more revealing comment came from one of Barnetts family friends, Jennifer, who told an ABC affiliate on March 15 that Barnett had warned her, If anything happens to me, its not suicide.

Jennifers stunning revelation would, in a world based on reason, justice and the protection of the public, be the starting point for investigations into other causes of Barnetts death. Instead, the corporate media has for the most part failed to report her statement, even as it continues to report on various near-disasters involving Boeing planes over the past several months.

It is worth contrasting Barnetts death and its aftermath to that of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who was found dead in his jail cell in February. The news outlets, along with President Joe Biden, wasted no time declaring, with no evidence, that Navalnys death was the work of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Yet when there is more than enough evidence to suggest foul play in regard to a whistleblower against Boeing, the evidence is ignored.

Barnett had a history of speaking out about Boeings dangerous and negligent practices after he left the company in 2017. In a variety of interviews, he described how Boeing compromised quality control in a manner that was catastrophic for passengers on Boeing planes. The overriding goal, according to Barnett, was to make the cash register ring.

In an interview with the Corporate Crime Reporter, Barnett exposed the role of Boeings military connections, inherited from its merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. The entire team came down from the military side, he said. Their motto was, were in Charleston and we can do anything we want. They started pressuring us not to document defects, to work outside procedures, to allow defective material to be installed without being corrected.

The most infamous disasters of Boeing aircraft remain the deadly crashes of 737 Max 8 planes in October 2018 and March 2019 which killed all 346 passengers and crew aboard the two planes. Both crashes were caused by a relatively unknown piece of software, the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).

Leaked documents and congressional hearings revealed that Boeings leadership knew that MCAS could cause crashes by forcing a plane into a nosedive, overriding pilot control. The corporate giant nevertheless went ahead with the installation of the software on all of its new planes. Top management also went out of its way to conceal the existence of the system from pilots, airlines and regulators until it was forced to after the first crash. But even then, Boeing insisted that the Max 8 planes were safeuntil the second crash, which triggered the global grounding of the aircraft.

No executives were ever tried for the crime of developing and deploying a defective, deadly aircraft. Federal investigations let then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg and current CEO David Calhoun off the hook. Muilenburg made more than $80 million during his time as CEO, and Calhoun made $22.5 million in 2022 alone.

Boeing plays a massive role in the American economy and the US military-industrial complex. It is one of the countrys largest manufacturers and exporters, and is a key supplier of the vast sums of war materiel purchased by the US government. Nobody should doubt that it is capable of defending its profits and the interests of American imperialism by any means necessary, including the silencing of a troublemaker.

Barnett is not the first to come to a suspicious end just before providing potentially damning evidence against a critical force in American capitalism.

Journalist Michael Hastings was found dead after crashing into a tree at 100 miles per hour while investigating then-CIA Director John Brennan. His last story, Why Democrats Love to Spy On Americans, was published by BuzzFeed on June 7, 2013, 11 days before he died.

Democratic Party staffer Seth Rich, thought to be behind the leak of 20,000 emails from the Democratic National Committee showing extraordinary corruption in favor of Hillary Clintons campaign, was shot in an apparent mugging in June 2016.

Financier and sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in August 2019 after investigations into his business threatened to reveal sordid connections to high level executives and politicians in the US and around the world.

In every case, a story is worked out by the corporate media that is politically palatable for the bourgeoisie: car crash, robbery gone wrong, suicide by hanging. There is no serious investigation or follow-up, whether by the police or those purporting to call themselves journalists.

There can be no doubt that Barnett had more to say that would have further exposed the criminality of Boeings leadership and of American capitalism as a whole. The commercial and military aircraft giant remains in business only because it is protected at every level by federal regulators, whose penalties for deadly practices amount to less than a wrist-slap, and politicians who design laws allowing the production of machines as complex as aircraft with essentially no oversight.

These forces themselves serve Wall Street bankers and corporate executives who comprise the oligarchy in the US and internationally. For them, the waging of war and extraction of profit towers above questions of safety and the protection of human life.
Sri Lankan police arrested two journalists early this month on bogus allegations. The arrests are part of the Wickremesinghe governments escalating assault on freedom of speech and other democratic rights, including its Online Safety Act (OSA) to censor social media platforms.

On March 5, Ravana Lanka News Web Site editor G.P. Nissanka was arrested at his home in Pallebedda, 130 kilometres from Colombo, brought before a Fort Magistrate in Colombo and remanded until March 20. The website publishes articles about news generally available in the mainstream media.

According to the media reports, Nissanka was arrested following a complaint to the police by Sri Lankan Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage. His detention is apparently related to a story claiming that the army commanders home kitchen had provided army cooks to a politicians residence.

Bimal Ruhunage, Sri Lankan freelance journalist [Photo by Bimal Ruhunage]

On March 6, Bimal Ruhunage, a freelance journalist, was arrested by the police at his home in Kurunegala. His reportage has been published by Hiru TV, Siyatha and Newscenter, and the Boston Lanka website in the US. Ruhunage explained the circumstances of his arrest to the World Socialist Web Site.

I received information that a mother had been coming to the [Kurunegala] bus stand with her two-year-old boy to try and find someone to adopt him because of her [economic] hardships. I learnt that she had come to the bus stand on Saturday [March 3] and so I went there and saw her seated on a chair outside the bus stand and near the police post there, he said.

Ruhunage told the WSWS that he planned to interview the mother about her social circumstances but was prevented from doing so by the police. As I was taking a video of the mother and child, a police officer came up to me and said I could not do any video recording. I told him that I was a journalist.

Four days later, Ruhunage was arrested following a 6 a.m. police raid on his home. About 25 to 30 police came in three or four vehicles and surrounded my house as if an underworld gang leader was being arrested, he said.

The police inspector in charge of the raid video-taped the arrest, despite the journalist opposing it. I was charged under section 341 of the Penal Code for obstructing police duties [on March 3]. If that was the case then they should have arrested me immediately, not four days later, he added.

Ruhunage was bailed out on March 11 and has been ordered to appear before the courts on May 13.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) forthrightly condemns the arrest of Nissanka and Ruhunage as a direct attack on freedom of expression and demands the withdrawal of all charges.

These arrests show that the government will not tolerate criticism of itself or members of the military elite, and that it is acutely sensitive to any exposure of the horrendous social conditions created by its devastating austerity measures. In fact, there have been several media reports about poor families attempting to sell their children for adoption to get money to feed their families.

The Sri Lankan Media Organizations Collective issued a statement on March 7 denouncing Nissankas and Ruhunages arrests. The Collective includes the Free Media Movement, Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association, the Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, the Tamil Media Alliance and the Sri Lanka Young Journalists Association.

The statement said that the OSA and the governments planned Anti-Terrorism bill were the legal framework for the suppression of free speech in Sri Lanka. Journalists are thus arrested in a blatant attempt to silence them through intimidation This is an attempt to force self-censorship by intimidating other journalists engaged in independent reporting.

In fact, the persecution of Nissanka and Ruhunage is part of a growing number of police attacks on journalists.



On March 6, Lal Perera, a YouTube journalist, was assaulted by the police as he attempted to video a police assault using tear gas and water cannon against protesting university students that day in Colombo.

On March 31, 2023, journalist Shantha Wijesuriya was physically attacked by police when he attempted to photograph them assaulting students and youth at a demonstration. It was the first anniversary of the mass demonstration in 2022 outside the home of former President Gotabhaya Rajapakse in Mirihana. Those protests expanded and developed into an island-wide mass movement during April-July that led to the ouster of Rajapakse and his government.

In July 2023, the police arrested and brutally attacked another journalist, Tharindu Uduwaragedara, who reporting on a demonstration called by the Frontline Socialist Party against government cuts to the employees provident fund.

Wickremesinghes repressive Online Safety Act, which was pushed through parliament in January, will provide Colombo with wide-ranging powers to suppress social media platforms. Implementation of the OSA has been temporarily halted, following criticism from the corporate giants who could be penalised. The legislation, however, will be imposed, and run by the Ministry of Public Security, following the inclusion of several amendments giving concessions to the social media corporations.

Responding to widespread criticisms of the OSA in Sri Lanka and internationally, Public Security Minister Tiran Alas adamantly declared: As long as I hold this ministerial position I will not yield to the demands of these groups or the international community. 

The government has also launched a massive police operation named Yukthiya (Justice) on the pretext of a crackdown on the underworld and drug dealers. This operation, which is being assisted by the military and seen the arrest of about 60,000 people, is in fact, a terror campaign directed mainly against the poor, with police able to search persons, premises and vehicles without any warrants.

Colombos bolstering of the state machinery and its repressive measures are in response to developing working-class opposition to its harsh International Monetary Fund-dictated austerity agenda.

IMF teams visit Sri Lanka every six monthsmost recently on March 7to evaluate the implementation of its measures and whether it will provide the next installment of its $US3 billion bailout loan.

Recent weeks have seen protests and strikes by tens of thousands of workers in the health, postal and electricity sectors as well as non-academic university employees opposing privatisation and demanding higher wages.

Colombos OSA and other repressive measures mirror the efforts of capitalist regimes everywhere to silence anti-government voices on social media. In India, the far-right regime of Narendra Modi is using its Unlawful Activities Prevention Act to suppress the media. Last October, the police arrested NewsClicks founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha, and one of the popular sites senior administrators, on frame-up charges of terrorism..

Last week the US House of Representatives passed a bill that will shut down or force the sale of the video-sharing app TikTok. It is not only an attempt to control the popular social media platform but aimed at demonising China. Washington falsely claims that the Chinese-owned TikTok is a threat to US national security.
A flurry of diplomatic activity over the past 10 days has made clear that the trade union-backed Liberal government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau fully endorses the far-right Israeli governments looming onslaught on Rafah. A series of meetings involving Trudeau and Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie followed statements by the Biden administration in the United States that gave the Netanyahu regime the green light to proceed with the next stage of its genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, second left, and his wife Sara, left and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 in Paris. [AP Photo/Francois Mori]

On Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he had approved an assault on Rafah, the southern city where more than 1.4 million refugees are crammed together after the decimation of the rest of the narrow strip by US-supplied bombs.

One week earlier, on March 8, Trudeau held a discussion with Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz in which the two reviewed the war plans for Gaza as well as growing tensions in the West Bank. According to a readout, the pair demanded the immediate release of all remaining hostages and called on the international community to continue applying pressure to secure their release. In other words, in the name of applying pressure to free the hostages, the international community should continue supplying Israel with the means to pummel Gaza from the air, sea, and land.

Trudeau followed up this pro-war, pro-genocide declaration with an insincere plea to the warmonger Gantz, who has threatened to turn southern Lebanon into a wasteland like Gaza, to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians. He also raised concern for civilians in Rafah. Such supposed concern for civilians is merely for optics, as Trudeaus government has faced sustained protests from workers and youth opposed to the genocide.

Prior to his talk with Trudeau, Gantz was in Washington D.C., for consultations with Vice President Kamala Harris, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on how best to proceed with the assault.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melanie Joly was on a week-long swing from March 6-13 through the Middle East for discussions on the war and what her office described as pathways towards sustainable peace. Joly met with her counterparts in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates before heading to Israel, Jerusalem and the West Bank, in what Politico described as her mystery tour, as she did not make any public remarks. Few details have emerged of the content of the discussions.

It is evident that clearing the way for Israels escalation of the Gaza genocide was the main agenda item.

According to a readout on her March 10 meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Joly upheld Israels right to defend itself after the deaths of well over 30,000 Palestinian civlians over the preceding five months. At the same time, she appealed for more aid to be allowed into Gaza through land crossings and a maritime port which is being built just off the coast by the United States. The statement reiterated that Joly reaffirmed Canadas commitment to the security of Israel and to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East through a two-state solution.

On March 11, Joly announced on Twitter/X that Canada would provide $1 million to support the purported victims of sexual violence in Hamas October 7 attack, a cynical allegation deployed by the Israeli government and aligned groups to whip up support for the genocide among the identity politics-obsessed middle class in the imperialist centres. Joly also offered the support of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in investigating Hamas alleged crimes.

On Thursday, March 14, Joly shook hands with Palestinian Authority (PA) leader Mahmoud Abbas. Israel and its imperialist backers in the United States and Canada hope to prop up the unpopular Abbas and the PA to serve as the overseers of whatever remains of Gaza in the aftermath of the current assault.

The Trudeau government and its New Democratic Party (NDP) allies have fully endorsed the genocide since its launch in October. This has included repeated declarations of support for Israels right to massacre defenceless men, women and children, the denial of help to desperate Palestinians seeking to bring their family members in Gaza to Canada, and vicious smear campaigns against opponents of the Gaza genocide. In January, Trudeau denounced the International Court of Justice case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza filed by South Africa.

In February, information released by Global Affairs Canada, the countrys foreign ministry, to The Maple, revealed that the Trudeau government approved export permits for $28.5 million of military aid to Israel during the first two months of its onslaught on Gaza. The figure was more than the annual record registered over the past 30 years for Canadian military exports to Israel of $26 million in 2021.

Canadian imperialism has a long record of supporting the Zionist regime as it has expanded illegal settlements on Palestinian territory and maintained an apartheid regime and military occupation to repress the Palestinian people. Ottawa has repeatedly voted together with the US against UN resolutions condemning Israels violations of international law and war crimes. When then US President Donald Trump provocatively recognized the divided city of Jerusalem as Israels capital, Trudeau refused to condemn the action, thereby giving it his governments tacit approval.

Several media outlets reported late last week that Ottawa is slow-walking a recent request from Israel for several dozen armoured vehicles and non-lethal aid, including night vision goggles, over humanitarian concerns.

The Toronto Star and CBC reported on the basis of anonymous sources that export permits for non-lethal aid to Israel have been blocked for two months. However, a Global Affairs Canada statement asserted that permits continued to be reviewed on a case by case basis.

The conflicting information comes after a case in federal court was filed earlier this month by pro-Palestinian activists and lawyers demanding a ban on all non-lethal aid to Israel. Canada has repeatedly been accused of concealing arms shipments and exports of military equipment with vaguely worded permits that make it almost impossible to identify what the government has approved for export.

The NDP has also associated itself with the demand for the Trudeau government to ban weapons exports to Israel. As foreign affairs spokesperson Heather McPherson stated Thursday, With over 30,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, the minister is obliged to refuse export permits for military equipment and technology where there is a substantial risk of human rights violations, like we are seeing with Netanyahus horrendous bombardments and ground offensive.

This is hot air aimed at disorienting politically inexperienced forces who have participated in the months-long protests against the genocide across Canada. McPhersons party ensures that the minority Liberal government has a majority in parliament and can remain in power. It has not batted an eyelid during Canadas staunch support for the far-right Netanyahu regime over the years. Since Israels murderous onslaught began, the NDP has been at the forefront of intimidating opponents of genocide, including those in its own ranks. Sarah Jama, a member of the Ontario legislature, was thrown out of the partys legislative caucus after declaring her solidarity with the Palestinians and describing Israel as an apartheid state, a designation supported by the United Nations and countless aid organizations.

The NDP and McPherson in particular have also played a major part in the resurgence of Canadian militarism over recent years. McPherson has emerged as one of the NDPs leading figures supporting the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, including by championing Canadian military exports. Her party also backed a motion, introduced by the hard-right Conservatives in the house of Commons in 2021, condemning China for genocide against its Uyghur minority based on fabricated evidence produced by exile groups with ties to the US State Department.
The German government is planning to reintroduce compulsory military service in order to have a supply of cannon fodder for its wars. An internal paper from the defence ministry, quoted by Der Spiegel, plans to present options for a German military service model by 1 April, which should be scalable in the short term in line with threats and ensure overall national resilience. A decision is to be made within a year.

Army advertising poster: Ready for the new service in your homeland?

When the defence ministry talks about national resilience and a military service model that is scalable in the short term, it is referring to the mobilisation of human resources in the interests of war. Together with its European allies, Germanys ruling class is pursuing the goal of escalating the war against Russia, conquering new markets worldwide and subordinating society as a whole to these ends.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democrat, SPD)who announced to the enthusiastic cheers of all the bourgeois media that he was making Germany fit for wardeclared on the occasion of a visit to the Scandinavian countries that the Swedish conscription model was particularly suitable for transfer to the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces).

In Sweden, all residents between the ages of 16 and 70 are obliged to contribute to national defence by being deployed in the armed forces, civil defence or in the maintenance of war-related functions such as logistics and healthcare.

To this end, every young person must complete a catalogue of questions from the draft board on their 18th birthday, on the basis of which 25,000 young people are currently called up for military service every year. The conscription requirement applies equally to men and women, and also to foreigners living there. In Germany, this would correspond to 200,000 people per year.

Just a few days ago, the Danish government announced it would be extending military service from four to eleven months, extending it to women and doubling the war budget by 2028.

Finland, whose Total Defence approach was also described by Pistorius during his trip as a role model for Germany, has a conscription and reservist system that would immediately provide 280,000 soldiers in the event of war. This would correspond to 4.2 million soldiers in Germany. General conscription, which was suspended by the German government in 2011, can be reactivated at any time in the event of tension and defence.

In an interview with Stern magazine, the president of the reservists association, Patrick Sensburg, made clear that the German bourgeoisie is prepared to throw entire generations into the fire for profit. With regard to the new focus on alliance and national defence, he said: If you want to see how brutal war is, you only have to look at Ukraine. If in doubt, youll kill yourself there with a folding spade if you have nothing else. Thats what its all about.

In order to wage, sustain and win such a war, the first step would be to immediately triple the active reserve. However, this tripling would not even be enough in the end and could only cover the first wave of the war.

In order to shoulder the tasks that lie ahead of us on the NATO eastern flank in Eastern Europe, a second and a third wave of soldiers would certainly be necessary. This would then affect everyone under 65 who was once in the Bundeswehr, from former conscripts to ex-career soldiersregardless of whether they had any further contact with the troops afterwards.

According to Sensburg, Israels call-up of 360,000 reservists is exemplary. This would correspond to around 3.2 million conscripts in Germany.

The call for the reintroduction of compulsory military service and the creation of a huge army of reservists is supported in various forms by all media outlets and all bourgeois parties.

While the SPD Defence Minister is overseeing the plans, the Greens in the government and Bundestag (parliament) are among the most aggressive militarists, the state Prime Minister of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow (Left Party), had called for the reintroduction of compulsory military service as early as 2022.

Although the Left Party split off headed by Sahra Wagenknecht rejects the reintroduction of compulsory military service in words, conscription finds the greatest support amongst its supporters, even ahead of the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), according to polls.

However, the majority of working people reject these murderous plans. In December, a Forsa survey commissioned by Stern magazine revealed that a large majority (61 percent) of German citizens would not fight for Germany. The proportion of those who would not be prepared to defend themselves with a weapon under any circumstances was almost twice as high as in the same survey in May 2022, the magazine reports. Only 17 percent would be prepared for armed defence under the assumed scenario of a military attack on Germany.

In fact, the reintroduction of conscription has nothing whatsoever to do with defence, nor does the massive rearmament of the Bundeswehr. While the German government, together with its NATO and EU allies, is waging a murderous proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, troops are to be prepared to pursue imperialist goals worldwide and also in Europe and to suppress resistance to this throughout the alliance area and beyond.

A working paper from the Federal Academy for Security Policy entitled Mindset National and Alliance Defence calls on troops to shake off the Afghan desert dust and perform a mental tour de force when deployed to Eastern Europe. However, the picture of war that is emerging in Ukraine shows a reality that the Bundeswehrs combat experience in Afghanistanirrespective of the soldiers personal achievementsdoes not even come close to.

In view of the suffering, deprivation and hardship to be expected on the eastern flankfor example in Lithuania and Romaniathe ability to use military force and the fighting, killing and dying of ones own fellow human beings must be normalised and elevated to the centre of the soldiers self-image. Soldiers should be professionally and mentally prepared for this.

This war madness must be stopped immediately. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) appeal to all young people to study the lessons of history and take up the revolutionary struggle against militarism and war. Do not allow another generation to be sacrificed on the altar of the profit interests of those in power, as happened in the First and Second World Wars.
Speaking before several thousand supporters and dozens of Republican politicians in Dayton, Ohio, Saturday afternoon, Donald Trump ramped up his violent campaign rhetoric in an 80-minute speech. The former president and 2024 Republican candidate hailed the far-right militia elements that stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and promised a bloodbath if he is not returned to the White House in November.



Before Trump spoke, the moderator said over the loudspeaker: Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the horribly and unfairly treated January 6th hostages. Trump raised his right arm and saluted as the January 6 Choir sang the Star Spangled Banner. The choir is a collection of Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and other far-right thugs, who have been imprisoned for their actions in furtherance of Trumps failed coup.

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump salutes during a campaign rally on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Vandalia, Ohio. [AP Photo/Jeff Dean]

Trump pledged to release his fascist foot soldiers the first day we get into office, calling them unbelievable patriots.

He then turned to the other core theme of his 2024 campaign, violent anti-immigrant agitation. Among my very first actions upon taking office, he said, will be to stop the invasion of our country and send Joe Bidens illegal aliens back home.

Speaking of migrants seeking asylum in the US, the ex-president said, Young people, they are in jail, for years, if you call them people. I dont know if you call them people. In some case they are not people in my opinion ... these are bad, these are animals, OK?

Trump made a direct appeal to the trade union bureaucracy, warning that the unions would go out of business if he was not elected. Im dealing with the Teamsters, he boasted, alluding to private meetings with Teamsters President Sean OBrien. He praised Sean and everybody as good people, and said, I hope they are going to endorse Trump.

Appealing to the virulent nationalism and anti-communism of the corporatist union leadership, he said of Chinese-made electric vehicles: We are going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line. And you are not going to be able to sell those cars, if I get elected.



Now, if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the whole ... thats going to be the least of it.



Trump was joined at the rally by Republican officials, including Congressmen from Ohio Jim Jordan and Max Miller, US Senator J.D. Vance and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Also present were South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.



Trump devoted a portion of the rally to boosting his preferred Republican candidate to join Vance in the US Senate, Bernie Moreno. He attacked Morenos primary opponent, Republican State Sen. Matt Dolan, calling him a RINO (Republican In Name Only) who is trying to be the next Mitt Romney. Dolan has received the endorsement of Republicans such as current Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and former Senator Rob Portman.

Meanwhile, Biden made a campaign trip to Michigan, where he sought to avoid protests against his complicity in Israels genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza by holding no public events and refusing to take questions from the press. Last month, when he held an event at UAW Region 1 headquarters in Warren, Michigan with UAW President Shawn Fain, angry protesters demonstrated outside the venue and were held back by columns of riot police.

In the Michigan Democratic primary on March 5, more than 100,000 ballots, over 13 percent of the total, were cast for uncommitted in a protest against Bidens backing of the mass killing and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.



In Saginaw, Biden appeared in front of the cameras for a tightly choreographed event at a supporters house, where he exchanged pleasantries with local elected officials and Democratic Party operatives.

A Saginaw police officer stands guard across the street from the house where President Joe Biden spoke to a handful of supporters during a private campaign event in Saginaw, Michigan, Thursday, March 14, 2024. [AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin]

On Saturday evening, Biden attended the annual Gridiron Club dinner in Washington D.C. The affair was held at the luxurious Washington Grand Hyatt. Dinners for the 650 journalists and politicians who attended the event, according to the Washington Post, were $400 a plate.

In 2020 and 2021, the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It resumed in 2022 and became a superspreader event. At least 72 people tested positive for the virus in its aftermath, including Representatives Joaquin Castro (Democrat-Texas) and Adam Schiff (Democrat-California) and Senator Susan Collins (Republican-Maine). Multiple senior cabinet officials, including Attorney General Merrick Garland, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, also tested positive.



In his comments Saturday night, Biden once again denounced Trump for blocking his request for another $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine, accusing Trump of caving in to Putin. As in his war-mongering State of the Union address, Biden pledged that he would not bow down to the Russian president.

He also repeated his attacks on Trump for blocking his administrations vicious anti-immigrant bill. They want a secure border, but they block ... the strongest border bill ever, he said.
Malaysia halts welfare for SUV owner caught begging for up to $106 daily

A Malaysian man claims to earn up to 500 ringgit (US$104.6) daily by pretending to be a beggar. Illustration photo by Pexels

The Malaysian government has terminated welfare allowances for an SUV-owning man who is gainfully employed and still earns 500 Malaysian ringgit (US$106) per day soliciting alms at night markets.

The Malaysian Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development informed Parliament on March 12 that the man will no longer receive his monthly disability allowance of 450 ringgit starting in March, according to The Straits Times.

The ministry issued him a warning and a letter of undertaking to cease his begging activities.

Investigations by the ministry revealed the man currently holds employment as a shift supervisor with a bus company, earning a monthly salary of 2,000 ringgit.

During routine checks at the Sri Jaya night market in Pahang States Maran District Feb. 21, officers from the local Social Welfare Department encountered the man dressed in a grey robe and Muslim skull cap, soliciting alms with a paper bag to elicit sympathy.

To their surprise, they discovered the man owned a Proton X70, a premium SUV valued between 123,800 to 128,800 ringgit ($25,900-26,900).

The man said he often earned up to 500 ringgit for every four or five hours he spent soliciting donations at night markets. He had been receiving a monthly allowance of 450 ringgit from the welfare department since 2001, according to AsiaOne.
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.
Hanois humidity and dangerously poor air quality are forcing waves of residents to consider abandoning the city.

Director Ninh Quang Truongs popular song "Yeu Den May Ma Khong Hop Cung Phai Chia Tay" (Break Up When You Are Not Meant For Each Other No Matter How Much You Love), inspired by the capital citys relentless dampness, are providing solace to a growing number of locals.

For those who share Truongs struggles, the humidity exacerbates existing respiratory issues, creating a constant battle with their own bodies.

"I constantly grapple with nasal and throat discomfort; they never seem to function properly," lamented one resident. "The floors in my home perpetually glisten with sweat, and our clothes cling damply, emitting an unpleasant odor."

The overcast skies of Hanoi, heavy with humidity that hinders dust dispersion, captured from Ma Kien Nghis apartment in Hanois Hai Ba Trung District on the morning of March 12, 2024. Photo by Ma Kien Nghi

Across social media platforms, Hanoi inhabitants are expressing their grievances, detailing the immediate onslaught of sneezing fits, runny noses, and breathlessness that ensue upon returning to the city any time they leave.

"Every time I return to Hanoi from other places, I am immediately beset by sneezing, a runny nose, and difficulty breathing," said Dang Ha Anh, 49, a faculty member at Thang Long Middle School in the capitals Ba Dinh District.

Having lost her father to a lung condition and now living with her mother, who is struggling with nasal and throat issues in recent years, Anh understands the seriousness of these health problems. Medical professionals have warned her about the potential life-threatening nature of her asthma, noting that despite medication and careful daily management, she frequently relapses and often needs hospitalization.

A three-month business trip to South Korea in 2016 was a revelation for Anh, as her skin and nasal conditions vanished, highlighting the impact of Hanois environment on her well-being. This insight led her to consider a change of scenery, especially after a close friend moved to retire in the coastal Khanh Hoa province, prompting her and her family to test living there temporarily in 2022.

Anh (L) and a friend enjoying the beaches of Nha Trang city in Khanh Hoa province. Photo courtesy of Anh

Dr. Nguyen Khac Truong of the Vietnam National Childrens Hospital observed that humid conditions increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, noting a rise in diseases affecting both the upper and lower respiratory tracts, such as sinusitis, otitis media, and bronchitis. His hospital has seen a 30% uptick in patients seeking respiratory care recently, he said.

He elaborated by saying that humidity, when combined with air pollution, can exacerbate these conditions, potentially leading to pneumonia.

"This weather adversely affects individuals of all ages," the expert said.

Dr. Hoang Duong Tung, chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network, described the muggy weather pattern currently affecting Hanoi as characteristic of the northern Vietnam winter-spring season, marked by low temperatures, excessive humidity above 90%, and stagnant air that fails to disperse dust particles.

Air quality monitoring indicates that the levels of fine dust PM 2.5 (particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter) are alarmingly high, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) showing consistently poor readings. Hanoi has topped the charts for air pollution globally since the onset of winter, surpassing various cities often known for poor air quality like Lahore in Pakistan and Dhaka in Bangladesh. Air quality technology company IQAirs AQI rankings on March 4 placed Hanoi at the pinnacle of pollution.

A national environmental status report pointed out that the average annual PM 2.5 concentration in Hanoi from 2018-2020 was nearly double the national technical standard. The report underlines the citys struggle with air pollution, emphasizing its impact on community health and the economy, citing over 1,000 hospital admissions for cardiovascular issues and nearly 3,000 for respiratory conditions annually. The two figures respectively account for 1.2% and 2.4% of total hospitalizations.

Additionally, the economic toll from respiratory disease treatments and the impacts of poor air quality between 2011-2015 were estimated at around VND2 trillion (US$81 million) annually.

Hanoi's Long Bien Bridge, connecting the city's Hoan Kiem and Long Bien districts, is covered by a thick layer of fog resulted from humidity. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

Dr. Tung has observed numerous individuals relocating from Hanoi due to health problems related to air quality.

"Their decision to leave is driven by a strong desire for cleaner air," he said. "Addressing air pollution could alleviate the severity of the humid season."

Le Quang Binh, coordinator of the Livable Hanoi network, acknowledges that the citys distinct seasons, including the humid period, are beyond human control. However, he points out that air pollution is a solvable issue.

"Those who leave do so because the environmental challenges outweigh the benefits and emotional ties they have to their hometown," he asserted. "This signals a need for change."

He suggested city-wide initiatives such as preserving and expanding green spaces and prioritizing public utilities over commercial housing development. He commends the citys ongoing relocation of industrial zones to outside residential areas, promotion of cultural and creative industries, energy transition, and improvements to the public transportation system as positive steps for Hanoi.

Lam Nguyen, a 40-year-old Hanoi native, is preparing for his second relocation. His initial move in 2020 was from an urban area in Hanois east gate to the capitals neighboring Vinh Phuc province, an hours drive from Hanoi, prompted by deteriorating health.

"Frequent headaches and fatigue upon waking, diagnosed as peripheral vertigo due to environmental factors, along with worsening allergic rhinitis during humid weather, led me to the decision," explained Lam, a deputy head of a faculty at a university in Hanoi at the time.

Since moving, he has experienced less allergic rhinitis, and his familys overall health has improved, including a complete avoidance of Covid-19 during the pandemic, he said.

Yet, he plans to move even further from Hanoi.

"The cold, humid season is pushing us to seek a new environment," he stated, revealing plans to relocate to the coastal Quy Nhon province by the end of March.

Anh, too, has decided to make Khanh Hoa her permanent home after a trial period there significantly improved her and her mothers health.

"I initially intended to work another two years before retiring, but my health has declined recently," she shared. "Therefore, Ill be retiring this summer."
The teenagers were stabbed in the early hours of Sunday morning

Samyia Spain/Instagram Samyia Spain

A 19-year-old girl has died after she and her twin sister were stabbed in a Brooklyn, New York bodega in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:20 a.m. local time in front of 77 4th Avenue in the Park Slope neighborhood, the NYPD stated in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

Samyia Spain died after suffering a stab wound to the chest, police confirmed. They said a second 19-year-old female was in a "stable condition" after suffering a stab wound in the arm. The attack happened at the Slope Natural Plus Deli & Grill.

NBC News, WABC-TV and CBS News confirmed the victims were twins.

"EMS responded and transported the aided females to New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital where one female victim was pronounced deceased, and the second female victim was listed in stable condition," police added in a statement to PEOPLE. "There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing at this time."

A witness, who did not want to be named, told NBC New York that the incident occurred after a man attempted to talk to the women but they rejected him.

"He walked down the block angry. And then two or three minutes later he comes up and starts banging and kicking on the glass door trying to get in," the witness recalled, per the outlet.

PIX11 News/YouTube A picture of Slope Natural Plus Deli & Grill

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The staff at the deli then locked the door. "The second they opened the door, he ran back into the door and started attacking them, the witness added.

"They're not sober. They get rejected and they just escalate it ten-fold. We (were) all having a good night before this," a witness told WABC-TV, stating the victims had been at a party.

"We just had left and we went to the store to get food. We all were getting sandwiches, beef patties just to eat, we're hungry, we want to go home and this happens," they continued.

Mohammed Alba, a worker at the deli, told CBS News the victims had been customers for years.

"They're very nice. I know their father, too. They come here all the time, customers for maybe over, I would say, over 10 years I know them," Alba said. "Take somebody else's life, a young lady, 19 years old, a beautiful girl."



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President Joe Biden has directed the U.S. military to lead a mission establishing a temporary pier on the coast of Gaza to bring much needed assistance to Palestinians, as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.

The United Sates is coordinating efforts to open and run the maritime corridor with colleagues from the United Kingdom, the UAE, Qatar, the European Union, the United Nations, and Israel, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

When established, this corridor will enable the distribution of up to 2 million meals every single day as well as medicine, water, and other critical humanitarian supplies. Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Cananda are also supporting this effort.

Secretary Blinken said the maritime corridor is part of our all-of-the-above strategy to make sure that were doing everything possible by every means possible to surge support to those who need it  by land, by sea, by air.

Right now, Secretary Blinken said, humanitarian assistance through Rafah and Kerem Shalom are returning to levels that were in place some weeks ago  about 200 trucks a day. In addition, the first aid shipments have gotten into north Gaza through a new crossing at the 96th gate, and flour has been released from Ashdod Port. Positive movement, Secretary Blinken declared, but still insufficient:

Israel still needs to open as many access points as possible and keep them open to make sure that things are flowing in a sustainable way. ... We need to see flooding the zone when it comes to humanitarian assistance for Gaza.

Secretary Blinken insisted however, that the most effective way to really get that done is with a ceasefire. The United States continues to work intensely with Israel, with Qatar, with Egypt on a ceasefire proposal. The question is, Does Hamas want to end the suffering that its provoked? he asked.

Ensuring the supply of humanitarian assistance, doing everything possible to protect civilians, has to be a priority, declared Secretary Blinken. We look to the Government of Israel to make sure that this is a priority ... That has to be job number one even as they do what is necessary to defend the country and to deal with the threat posed by Hamas.
The proliferation of billionaires  with trillionaires reportedly soon to come  has raised a lot of questions in world politics. But one question has been around as long as wealth itself: What can an individual actually do with that much money? A new answer arises in The Bones, proving that the rich will always break fresh ground in the realm of luxury expenditures. Even for the man or woman who has everything, there may still be unfulfilled need for a reconstructed Triceratops skeleton dating from approximately 67,000,000 B.C. Think how it will look in ones Great Room! Thatll show arrivistes whose trophies are from mere living species.

Yes, there is an actual market for such things, as Jeremy Xidos documentary feature suggests  though it does not take us into the homes of such collectors, who presumably would rather not advertise their acquisitions. It used to be that dinosaur artifacts were dug up for scientific study, then preserved for natural history museums. But now paleontologists must vie with a deep-pocketed commercial sphere where the potential for huge profits can tend to loosen any moral scruples. Premiering at CPH:DOX, this breezy introduction to a complex subject sprawls across the globe from excavation field to academia to auction house. More an entertaining sampler of related issues and colorful personalities than any sober expose, it should have broad appeal for programmers seeking nonfiction content both educational and humorous.

More from Variety

As one observer here says, the fossil trade has existed for at least 300 years. But it is not a surprise to learn that interest in dinosaurs  and the revving up of tie-in commerce  experienced a big jump following the release of the first Jurassic Park film 31 years ago. Ever since, commercial diggers have grown more numerous and aggressive, to the dismay of scientists who now frequently find potentially valuable excavation sites destroyed by careless amateurs. One local Moroccan interviewed says that in a good week, he might make $40 mining the Sahara for fossils. At the other extreme, the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex specimen (dubbed Sue) found up to that point wound up sold by Sothebys for $8.3 million in 1997. Twenty-three years later, a similar item (Stan) fetched nearly four times as much.

Some of these giganti do end up in museums. But others vanish into the realm of private collectors whose identities often remain hidden. Either way, those end points typically arrive after a convoluted long process The Bones can only somewhat illuminate, as there are so many variables. Laws in the countries of origin may have little power in the country of receipt and/or sale. We learn that while in Canadas Alberta province only the government can truly own a fossil, in many other places the rules are vague or ill-enforced enough to create a free-for-all. (That term is used by one expert here to describe the U.S.s policies, or lack thereof.)

Such inconsistencies encourage smuggling, accidental or deliberate misidentification of artifacts, and constantly rising prices. They also sustain innumerable middle-men like Francois Escuillie, a French entrepreneur who prefers to think hes built a niche between science and commerce  though hell admit some paleontologists call him a thug. Seen at his sizable fossil warehouse or attending a huge annual gem, fossil and mineral convention in Tucson, hes viewed here as a sort of wacky, lovable neer-do-well uncle; Ramachandra Borcars original score begins to frolic whenever hes onscreen.

But such slippery characters are the bane of researchers like Nizar Ibrahim, who find themselves in a race against time trying to see how many of these treasures we can rescue for science before they get damaged or sold for private profit. The breadth of the legal grey zone across nations means that while Escuillie has been repeatedly investigated by Customs officials, even had his pieces and passport confiscated, hes also repeatedly won the court cases against him.

People think its world heritage. They confuse morality with law, he grouses at one point. But many artifacts in western museums are now a discomfiting vestige of colonialism, and officials in places like Mongolia and Morocco want their heritage back. The shifting sands of human politics, economics and more continue to disturb these bones more than did the intervening 80 million years since some last strode the earth. Their proper care and study seems of particular urgency to scientists now, because after all, dinosaurs and 21st-century humanity have something in common: living in an epoch of mass extinctions and climate change. As one observer notes in parting here, No species lasts forever. Gulp.

Xido (Death Metal Angola) surveys this tangled territory with a sensibility that is equal parts early Errol Morris in its attraction towards idiosyncratic individuals, and dispassionately sleek National Geographic-style edutainment. The dramatic landscapes visited in North America and Asia are captured to fine widescreen effect a team of camerapeople. A bonus in the smoothly accomplished assembly are a couple CGI animation sequences (not from Jurassic films) illustrating what long-gone creatures of both land and sea would have looked like.

The Bones is nonjudgmental, suggesting that the pursuit of science is a nobler cause than that of shekels, but not necessarily disagreeing with those who argue they can co-exist. A whole movie could be made about ways in which the fossil trade has frequently crossed into illegality  this is not that movie. Xido is content to size up the different sides, casually weighing their conflicts yet refraining from assignment of any particular blame.

The result may well strike your average paleontologist as settling for charm where it ought to indict. Nonetheless, the films multinational sweep has enough ballast to leave you more concerned about the state of the prehistoric record than you were going in  and to make tens of millions of years suddenly shrink in the larger scheme of things.

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Chasing Classic Cars Season 9 is here continuing the automobile enthusiast Wayne Carinis journey to trace the best cars. It received positive reviews from the viewers continuing its success streak. It aired from October 22, 2015 to December 22, 2015.

Heres how you can watch and stream Chasing Classic Cars Season 9 via streaming services such as HBO Max.

Is Chasing Classic Cars Season 9 available to watch via streaming?

Yes, Chasing Classic Cars Season 9 is available to watch via streaming on HBO Max.

The ninth season amazes the audience with a total of 8 engaging episodes. The first episode of season 9 showcases Wayne reaching Georgia proving to be his best search to date. The car is a 1921 Stutz Bearcat which has stayed in the garage for over eighty-five years.

The show was created by Jim Astrausky and hosted by Wayne Carini from the F-40 Motorsports.

Watch Chasing Classic Cars Season 9 streaming via HBO Max

Chasing Classic Cars Season 9 is available to watch on HBO Max.

HBO Max delivers a mix of blockbuster films, critically acclaimed series, and beloved classics, catering to a broad range of tastes and interests.

You can watch via Max, formerly known as HBO Max, by following these steps:

Go to HBOMax.com/subscribe Click Sign Up Now Choose your plan: $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year (with ads)

$15.99 per month or $149.99 per year (ad-free)

$19.99 per month or $199.99 per year (ultimate ad-free) Enter your personal information and password Select Create Account

Max With Ads provides the services streaming library at a Full HD resolution, allowing users to stream on up to two supported devices at once. Max Ad-Free removes the services commercials and allows streaming on two devices at once in Full HD. It also allows for 30 downloads at a time to allow users to watch content offline. On the other hand, Max Ultimate Ad-Free allows users to stream on four devices at once in a 4K Ultra HD resolution and provides Dolby Atmos audio and 100 downloads.

Chasing Classic Cars synopsis is as follows:

Chasing Classic Cars follows master car restorer Wayne Carini as he embarks on a mission to uncover the worlds most rare and exotic cars. Get an insiders look at the elite club of car collectors as Wayne buys, restores, and sells vintage rides.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

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Larry David is the kind of guy who always has a schemewe know this as fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Be it the grander variety, like launching a whole coffee shop out of spite, or the more everyday sort, like that trick with Larrys balls hanging out of his shorts a few episodes back, hes always got something up his sleeve. (Oh, I guess thats kind of a pun. Neat.) Some of his strategies play out just as he hopes and they get him out of trouble. Others flounder, as is the case with the one in this episode: The Dream Scheme.



Larry is awakened at 3 am to the sound of his cell phone ringing. Its Gina Grossbard (who?) sharing that her husband Stu (huh?) has had a stroke. Larry barely knows these people, and wonders aloud, Why the fuckd she call me?! Whats more, hes been added to a text chain with Stus family and everything, getting little kid doodles and all. And of course he cant just leave the group, because, Theyll see [he] left. (This group text thing culminates in a confrontation with Stus cousin Waylan thats pretty funny. Waylan suggests Larry hasnt been active enough, Larry admits to feeling too good for the chain, Waylan threatens that once Larry is removed from it theres no turning back, and they gesture emojis at each other until they partyou know, the very normal exchange we all have when we get into a group text situation.)

But there are issues beyond the group text. Turns out Stu has some requests for Larry and Freddy. He wants Larry to keep an eye on his 11-year-old daughter, and he was Freddy to sell a violin in his possession that Jascha Heifetz once played at Carnegie Hall. Larry hates his prospective role, even says, I dont like children. Ive never spoken to a child without contempt in my voice in my life, and visits Stu in the hospital to try to get him to flop his and Freddys roles, even whipping out a flask he swiped from Freddy to ensure that he comes across as an especially irresponsible adultit works.

"The Dream Scheme"

B-

B-

"The Dream Scheme"

Season

12

Episode

7

Next, Freddy heads over to get Stu to flop things back, and resorts to the main trick of the episode: faking a sleep-talking nightmare, Larrys own idea. Freddy uses this tactic to voice aloud some phrases he might just use with Stus daughter one day, like Youll come out of the basement when youre good and ready, which successfully flops things back in his favor. Jeff uses it successfully, tooearlier in the episodeto communicate to Susie that hes far too anxious to accompany her to a textile convention in Raleigh, North Carolina. Both men seem successful in their use of Larrys strategy, but they fail in the end. Jeff ends up on that plane with Susie after all, thanks to Larrys confession that he put Freddy up to The Dream Scheme with Stu, which comes just as shes dropping off a salad for Stus wife. Following this, Freddy and Larry fight over the violin a bit only for it to shatter on the floor behind them after Larry attempted to plop it back in the case. Oops!

Larry has another problem to deal with in this episode, too. He enjoys a nice dinner and some disappointing key lime pie on a date with Renee Holcomb, an artist painting him for her gallery exhibit featuring Jewish comedians called Wisenheimers. The date goes well enough for her to stay the night, but as hes going down on her the next morning, his housekeeper Dahlia walks in carrying a stack of towels. She then associates most aspects of her job, towels especially, with the trauma of witnessing that sex act, and she becomes less and less willing to perform any actual work while shes there. Dahlias vindictiveness reaches a fever pitch when Renee brings Larrys finished portrait by for a sneak peek before its boxed up and sent to the gallery; we see her smirk and know that shes up to something.



Finally, our focus pans across Renees gallery exhibit, and we see Albert Brooks, Gilbert Gottfried, Albert Brooks, and Richard Lewis each represented in painting form. Larry and Renee walk in and see that Dahlia has defaced Larrys painting to include a sloppy rendering of Renees lower abdomen, pelvis and thighs, making it look like a reenactment of the cunnilingus incident. They immediately bail, just as they did in the restaurant where they got that crappy key lime pie, and thats where the episode ends. There were clever callbacks to be sure, some hilarious Leon lines, and some great Susie Essman zingers in this one, but the Freddy stuff never grabs me all that much. All in all, the episode is pretty funny. Good enough. No need to fake a nightmare to get out of watching it or anything.

Stray observations

My favorite Leon moment of the episode? When he says he had to dry off with paper towels after his shower due to Dahlias newfound aversion to the cloth ones. It just creates a funny mental image to me, and his delivery is as perfect as ever when he says it.

I love Susies dogs little punk rock, spikey, coyote-proof vest. I want one for myself.

I would actually enjoy seeing an exhibit like Wisenheimers. That little glimpse of those gentlemen was lovely. Also, doesnt it harken back to The Kramer in a fun way?

Its probably going to linger for the remainder of this season, this sense of getting a little emotional whenever Richard Lewis pops up in scenes (or in this case, on canvas). Still a little weird that they just had Marty Funkhouser go to China as their solution to dealing with Bob Einsteins death. Thoughts?

Renee seems like a good character, a consistent one as far as her values, preferences, etc. She feels like a real person more so than some of Larrys other love interests on this show who feel like projections. But I still miss Irma.

In a fun touch, we get to see the group text scrolling alongside the credits, with dumb little messages including, As they say in obedience school... heal, and Ill send a teddy bear. He always loved those.

Children identifying as cats and using litter boxes at public schools is a persistent myth. Its a whole thing. Stus kid snatching Larrys sweater string because cats like strings is a funny little gag, and the mom doing the same thing to him later in the episode is a nice callback, but it feels... icky. Maybe this will somehow factor into Larrys ultimate comeuppance were all predicting?
The incident occurred on Feb. 17 on a bike trail near North Bend, Washington

GoFundMe Keri Bergere

A woman is speaking out after being attacked by a cougar while on a bike trail with her four friends in Washington last month.

Keri Bergere, 60, who shared her story with local outlet KUOW-FM, revealed how her friends  Annie Bilotta, 64, Auna Tietz, 59, Tisch Williams, 59, and Erica Wolf, 51  helped save her life during the 45-minute fight with the animal. The incident occurred on Feb. 17 on a bike trail near North Bend.

A GoFundMe page set up to help with Bergere's recovery confirmed the experienced cyclist, who returned home from the hospital on Feb. 22, suffered "severe trauma to her face as well as permanent nerve damage."

"It will be a lifelong battle and a long road ahead to recovery," a message added.

In the new interview, Bergere explained how the young male cougar tackled her off her bike before they tumbled into a shallow ditch in "just a split second."

The cougar sunk his teeth into Bergere's jaw, pinning her face to the ground.

I could feel the bones crushing, and I could feel it tearing back," Bergere said. I felt like it was suffocating me."

Getty A stock image of a cougar

Related: 8-Year-Old Hospitalized After Extraordinarily Rare Cougar Attack During Washington State Camping Trip

Bergere's friends jumped to her defense, throwing rocks and sticks at the animal to try and get it off her, as well as unsuccessfully trying to stab it with a two-inch knife.

These ladies are not big, and they were killing this cougar, Bergere continued.

Bilotta attempted to choke the animal, but said, That was like choking a rock. It did absolutely nothing.

She added that she even stuck her hands inside the cat's mouth in a bid to release its jaw.

I felt it shifting its teeth like it wanted to try to bite me too, Bilotta recalled. I said 'No, you're not gonna get both of us.' "

Related: 'Tough and Brave' 9-Year-Old Girl Attacked by Cougar While Playing Hide-and-Seek

Meanwhile, Tietz grabbed the animal's leg, telling the outlet, The cougar had his claws pretty much around her, in attack mode."

I just thought it was done," Bergere said. "But then I got another little surge, you know, live to ride one more day.

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.

After noticing the cougar hesitate, Bilotta told Bergere to "get away" and the 60-year-old managed to scramble to safety.

The friends pinned the animal down with one of their bikes before calling 911. Fish & Wildlife Police officer Chris Moszeter came by and shot and killed the cougar. An autopsy later revealed the animal had swallowed Bergere's earring which she said she "absolutely" wanted back as a reminder of her and her friends' bravery.

All these ladies came up with superhuman strength, Bergere said, praising her friends. I know that the Fish & Wildlife shot the final shot to kill it. But these ladies killed that cougar with their bare hands ... Im eternally grateful to each one of them.



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It has been one month since Donald Trump's MAGA supporters began donating to a GoFundMe to help the former president foot his hefty legal bills, particularly those stemming from his New York City fraud trial.

Immediately After Judge Arthur Engoron slammed the former president with a $355 million fine on February 16, MAGA fan Elena Cardone created the fundraiser with the goal of raising the amount that Trump needed.

Although the fundraiser started strong, it has since slowed down drastically, with fewer donations coming in while Trump's bill increases due to a weekly interest.

Donald Trump's MAGA-Launched Fundraiser Stalls At $1.3 Million After One Month

MEGA

As of this writing, the Trump GoFundMe has hit $1,354,790 from almost 24,000 MAGA donations. Unfortunately, this is a far cry from the goal of $355 million set by Elena Cardone, the wife of real estate mogul and multi-millionaire Grant Cardone.

It's unclear why the Trump GoFundMe has come to a halt despite starting off strong by raising over $1M in a week. However, the ex-president, who is currently in the middle of a re-election campaign, has yet to publicly acknowledge the GoFundMe launched on his behalf.

Trump's legal bill is also piling up fast. The initial $355 million fine continues to accrue a statutory 9% annual interest at more than $600,000 per week unless the business mogul is able to post a bond for the total amount.

Elena wrote of the Trump fundraiser: "This is more than a legal fund; it's a clarion call to all patriots to rally in defense of a man who has never hesitated to stand in defense of us."

She added, "It's about showing that when one of us is targeted for championing the values that make America great, he does not stand alone. We stand with him, shoulder to shoulder, ready to support, defend, and fight back against a system that threatens to undermine the very foundations of our republic.

The Former President's Team Is In Contact With The MAGA Fan

MEGA

After the fundraiser reached the $1M milestone, Elena shared a heartfelt thank-you note to her fellow MAGA fans and an update regarding how the funds would reach the former president.

She wrote, "We are thrilled to share that, together, we've reached an incredible milestone of $1 million raised! This achievement is a testament to your generosity, support, and belief in our cause. Every donation, share, and word of encouragement has brought us to this moment, and for that, we are profoundly grateful."

Elena then assured MAGA fans that she was committed to making sure the cash raised gets to ex-President Trump.

She noted: "We are currently in communication with President Donald Trump's team to ensure that he can and will accept the funds raised. It's crucial that we navigate this process carefully and legally, and we appreciate your patience as we work through these details."

Elena added, "We want to be clear about the intended use of the funds raised. Every dollar will be used only to cover fines related to the New York civil fraud case, its appeal, and any related expenses."

GoFundMe Says The Fundraiser Does Not Violate Its Policies

MEGA

Shortly after the news of the MAGA-launched GoFundMe made headlines, there were calls for it to be shut down.

Several individuals took to social media to call out GoFundMe, saying that the fundraiser violates their policy. Some even shared screenshots of the company's terms of service in a bid to draw their attention to their complaints.

In response to the callouts, Jalen Drummond, the director of public affairs at the company, told Newsweek, "This fundraiser is currently within our terms of service."

This means that the fundraiser would continue, allowing more MAGA supporters to pool their funds for the embattled billionaire and business mogul.

Expert Says Donald Trump Will Need To Find Other Means To Raise Money

MEGA

According to Newsweek, Todd Landman, a professor of political science at the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham, revealed that Trump will need to find another means to raise the money needed to pay off his New York fraud trial fine.

"The GoFundMe solution was always going to be a marginal effort relative to the sums that are required," Landman told the news outlet.

The professor noted that while Trump's campaign will get a significant boost of support due to his outstanding results in the primary elections, it won't affect the GoFundMe fundraiser.

Landman added, "[Trump] does not appear presently to have the liquidity to settle the damages from his civil cases, which may require liquidating some of his assets under relatively unfavorable terms. Campaign funds can be used to pay legal fees, but not be used to pay legal damages, so he will need a plan that goes beyond relying on crowdfunding through platforms such as GoFundMe."

Donald Trump Posts Bond In E. Jean Carroll Case

MEGA

After the February 16 verdict in his New York fraud trial, Trump took to his Truth social media platform, Truth Social, to abuse Judge Engoron and the New York Attorney General, Letitia James.

He called Engoron "crooked" and labeled James a "corrupt" person for what he described as a "witch hunt."

The 77-year-old added that the verdict was an "unAmerican judgment against" him, his family, and his "tremendous business," claiming that the "radicals are doing all they can to kick" him out.

Besides the New York trial, Trump is also battling his defamation trial against former columnist E. Jean Carroll, in which he was ordered to pay $83.3 million.

The billionaire has now secured a $90 million bond to cover the defamation judgment and filed a notice to appeal the verdict.
Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! episode 11 is set to premiere in a couple of hours. The episode will focus on Minami and Tsubasas adventure during Golden Week. Moreover, the episode will reveal what Minami wants to secret.

Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! episode 11 release date and time

Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! episode 11 will premiere in Japan on Tokyo MX and BS11 on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 12:30 a.m. JST. It will also air on MBS, AT-X, and other television networks. Meanwhile, international fans can watch the latest episode on Crunchyroll a few hours after it premieres in Japan.

Here is the global release date and time for Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! episode 11:

Monday, March 18, 2024, at 9:45 a.m. PST

Monday, March 18, 2024, at 11:45 a.m. EST

Monday, March 18, 2024, at 5:45 p.m. GMT

Monday, March 18, 2024, at 6:45 p.m. CET

Monday, March 18, 2024, at 11:15 p.m. IST

Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! episode 10 recap

Sayuri (Photo Credit: Silver Link, Blade)

The episode begins with Tsubasa returning to school after an eventful spring break. On his way to school, he is amazed by the melting snow, but the sight of Minami waiting for him leaves him stunned.

Tsubasa and Minami walk to school together, while the latter wonders if they will be in the same class. However, her fears are put to rest when she discovers they are in the same class as Sayuri and Matsuo. The class proceeds to pick the class president, and Tsubasa is nominated, which makes Minami nominate herself for the assistant.

Meanwhile, Tsubasa plays an online game with Sayuri in his house. She is worried that she hasnt changed compared to others. However, Tsubasa assures her she isnt the same girl he met when he first arrived in Hokkaido.

Later, Minami and Tsubasa begin their respective roles as class president and assistant. On their way back, she reminds him that next week is Golden Week. She then asks him to keep a whole day for her cause she wants to tell him something. The episode ends with Tsubasa trying to figure out what it could be.

The post Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable! Episode 11 Set to Reveal Minamis Secret appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Netflix's new docuseries from Dick Wolf revisits five notorious New York murders.

Dick Wolf, the supreme ruler of the Law & Order universe, knows better than to fix what isnt broken. Every episode of his new Netflix docuseries, Homicide: New York, begins with this deja-vu inducing prologue: On the island of Manhattan there are two detective squads dedicated to homicides: Manhattan North and Manhattan South. They investigate the most brutal and difficult murders. These are their stories. The chung chung is implied.

This isnt Wolfs first foray into true crime, and once again the uberproducer is not looking to upend a time-tested formula. What makes Homicide an above-average true-crime experience is its creators eye for intriguing characters. The five-part series ensures that we see the men and women who solved and prosecuted these murders as human beings, people with insecurities, idiosyncrasies, and regrets  not just talking heads.



Netflix Cops on the scene at New York's Carnegie Deli in 'Homicide: New York'

Everything about Homicide is extremely New York, from how the featured detectives talk (I interrupted [my partner], cause he was eatin a f---in Suzy Q and drinkin a Yoo-hoo, which was his dinner of choice) to the notable crime scenes  including Carnegie Deli, Central Park, and the Financial District. Each episode follows a loose Law & Order template, chronicling the crime and subsequent investigation  lasting anywhere from 10 days to 21 years  before shifting to the prosecution of the accused.

While the motives and methods of the murders highlighted in Homicide all vary, they each tap into the primal fears that elevate a crime from statistic to morbid media sensation: Random violence (the 44-year-old murder of Michael McMorrow by a pair of 15-year-old private school students); kidnapping (the disappearance of Eridania Rodriguez, a 46-year-old cleaning woman, inside a downtown high-rise); home invasions (the execution-style shooting of Jennifer Stahl, 39, and four of her friends in her apartment above Carnegie Deli); serial killers (the East Harlem Rapist, who terrorized the upper Manhattan neighborhood for over seven years); and deadly greed (the brutal stabbing death of millionaire Howard Pilmar inside his Midtown office).

Most true crime shows center on shocking events, of course. But Homicide works as well as it does because the folks who investigated and prosecuted these grim cases are both excellent raconteurs and fascinating figures in their own right. Retired Midtown North Detective Rob Mooney, a lifelong Deadhead, credits the diversity of the Grateful Dead fan base for helping him ID the unlikely perpetrators  two baby-faced teens  of the McMorrow murder. You dont judge a book by its cover, he notes. And in this case, it turned out to be true. There are a lot of qualities that make up a good detective  tenacity, attention to detail, approachability  but Homicide reveals how important personal quirks can be to the work. Just give Detective Brian MacLeod his earbuds and some heavy metal music and he can scour through hours of surveillance footage without losing focus  which was key to breaking the Rodriguez case. After hours of failed interrogations by her colleagues, retired Detective Irma Rivera  who grew up in the Alphabet City housing projects and sees something good in every criminal she interviews  succeeded in cracking a suspect in the Carnegie Deli massacre.

Historical spoiler alert: Every one of the cases included in Homicide end with the killers behind bars, but heart-rending interviews with the victims families and friends emphasize the chasm that remains between a conviction and justice. Frank Pilmar is still tortured by the belief that he could have done something to save his son, Howard. When I go to bed every night, I talk to him, says Frank, now 95. But I cant get any answers.

As previously noted, Homicide is a Dick Wolf joint  and as such, it generally views law enforcement in a positive light. (If youre looking to stream projects that focus on darker chapters in NYPD history, check out Crime + Punishment on Hulu, The Seven Five on Tubi, or When They See Us on Netflix.) Even so, the detectives we get to know in Homicide are quick to scrutinize themselves. What did I miss? Could I have paid more attention to something? wonders retired detective Scott Wagner, who unwittingly interviewed one of the murderers years before he was caught. That question still bothers me today. For these officers, some cases are never really closed. Grade: B+



Homicide: New York premieres Wednesday, March 20, on Netflix.



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Jack & Diane is a 2012 horror-romance film about two teenage girls who fall in love. Their summer romance takes a strange turn when Diane experiences terrifying changes linked to her newfound feelings. As Jack tries to understand what is happening, the couple has to fight to keep their love alive.

Heres how you can watch and stream Jack & Diane via streaming services such as Hulu.

Is Jack & Diane available to watch via streaming?

Yes, Jack & Diane is available to watch via streaming on Hulu.

This is a dark and unusual love story. Sparks fly between two teenage girls, Jack and Diane who meet in New York City. However, their summer romance takes a scary turn when Diane learns Jack will be leaving soon. Diane has strange visions and physical changes that get worse as her fear of losing Jack increases. Jack tries to help, but Dianes transformation grows strange as she struggles to hold onto their love.

The lead roles are played by up-and-coming actresses Riley Keough and Juno Temple. The movie also features a surprising cameo by pop star Kylie Minogue as Tara.

Watch Jack & Diane streaming via Hulu

Jack & Diane is available to watch on Hulu.

This streaming service stands out with its extensive collection of current TV episodes, classic shows, and original content with a blend of on-demand and live TV options.

You can watch via Hulu by following these steps:

Go to Hulu.com/welcome Select Start Your Free Trial Choose a plan: $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year (With Ads)

$17.99 per month (No Ads)

Hulu (With Ads) is the cheapest option, providing users access to Hulus streaming library with commercials. Hulu (No Ads) is the services premium option, providing access to its library without any advertisements. There are also several bundles available with Hulu that pair the service with Disney Plus and ESPN Plus, along with Live TV plans that also include many live TV channels.

Jack & Dianes synopsis is as follows:

The romance between two teenage girls quickly manifests as terrifying, violent and inexplicable.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

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The Kill Team (2013) is a war documentary that follows the story of specialist and whistleblower Adam Winfield as he exposes the war crimes committed by his platoon in Afghanistan. The documentary was directed by Dan Krauss, written by Lawrence Lerew, and released in 2013.

Heres how you can watch and stream The Kill Team (2013) via streaming services such as Peacock.

Is The Kill Team (2013) available to watch via streaming?

Yes, The Kill Team (2013) is available to watch via streaming on Peacock.

The documentary follows the revelations made by former soldier Adam Winfield, who reveals the role his platoon played in war crimes. Moreover, it features interviews with fellow soldiers, his family members, legal experts, and the family of the accused to delve into the aftermath of the revelations. Additionally, it explores the themes of war crimes, duty, morality, and the ethical dilemmas during violent acts like war.

The cast of the movie includes Adam Winfield, Christopher Winfield, Emma Winfield, and Andrew Holmes. It also features Justin Stoner, Jeremey Morlock, Alex Winfield, and Alaina Winfield.

Watch The Kill Team (2013) streaming via Peacock

The Kill Team (2013) is available to watch on Peacock. Peacock is a streaming service that features video content from NBC Universal Studios and other video content providers. Moreover, it comes with various subscription levels, where the free tier contains limited content and the paid premium tier allows access to the entire library of contents.

You can watch via Peacock by following these steps:

Go to PeacockTV.com Click Get Started Choose your payment plan $5.99 per month or $59.99 per year (premium)

$11.99 per month or $119.99 per year (premium plus Create your account Enter your payment details

Peacocks Premium account provides access to over 80,000+ hours of TV, movies, and sports, including current NBC and Bravo Shows, along with 50 always-on channels. Premium Plus is the same plan but with no ads (save for limited exclusions), along with allowing users to download select titles and watch them offline and providing access to your local NBC channel live 24/7.

The Kill Team (2013) synopsis is as follows:

In 2010, the media branded a platoon of U.S. Army infantry soldiers The Kill Team following reports of its killing for sport in Afghanistan. Now, one of the accused must fight the government he defended on the battlefield, while grappling with his own role in the alleged murders. Dan Krausss absorbing documentary examines the stories of four men implicated in heinous war crimes in a stark reminder that, in war, innocence may be relative to the insanity around you.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

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Jason Riley told NBC News that he's "angry" to see his daughter's death be "used" in the political debate about immigration border control

Gofundme Laken Riley

The heartbroken father of Laken Riley is opening up about his late 22-year-old daughter, who was gruesomely murdered while jogging on the University of Georgia campus in February.

In his first interview since her death, Jason Riley told NBC News that he's found strength through the pain of his loss knowing Laken is "looking down on me," but still wakes up "every day thinking I can call her and I can't."

"She was like an angel," an emotional Jason shared to NBCs Priscilla Thompson in the chat, which aired Monday on the Today show. "We were looking forward to seeing her graduate next year. She was so full of life. I just hate that she was taken so early."

The father of Laken Riley, the 22-year-old nursing student murdered on the University of Georgia campus last month, speaks out for the first time in an @NBCNews exclusive interview. @PriscillaWT reports. pic.twitter.com/1DtdAQQrYH  TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 18, 2024

Laken  a nursing student at Augusta University's campus in Athens, Ga.  was found with her skull "disfigured" on Feb. 22 when she failed to return home from a jog at the UGA Intramural Fields that morning. The Athens-Clarke County Coroner's Office later confirmed to PEOPLE Laken died from blunt force trauma.

Jose Ibarra, 26, has been arrested in connection with her murder, and charged with several offenses including murder, kidnapping and assault. A Venezuelan migrant who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, Ibarra was never deported despite a previous arrest in New York and a citation for shoplifting in Georgia.

Related: Court Documents Detail Brutal Killing of Laken Riley, Georgia Nursing Student Slain While Jogging

Laken Riley/Facebook Laken Riley

Related: Laken Riley's Cause of Death Revealed After She's Killed During Jog on University of Georgia Campus

Since her killing, Laken's case has become a flashpoint in the partisan debate over immigration, with both President Joe Biden and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump using it as an example as a need for stronger border control.

Asked if he felt that a stricter immigration policy would have made a difference, Jason told NBC News: "We have no idea if that would have changed anything, but hes here illegally. He might not have been here had we had secure borders."

Still, Jason warned against that conversation. "I feel like shes being used somewhat politically. It makes me angry," the grieving father explained. "She was much better than that. She should be raised up for the person that she is."



Laken Riley/ Facebook Laken Riley

Police have described Laken's death as "a crime of opportunity."

Ibarra has not yet entered a plea, but is demanding a jury trial in court documents, NBC News reported.

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As he waits for justice in his daughter's death, Jason revealed to Thompson that his sadness extends to Ibarra's family too, whose lives have been forever changed. He said that if he sees the suspect's mother, he hopes to give her a hug because he believes thats what Laken would have done.



The Today show airs weekdays (beginning at 7 a.m. ET) on NBC.



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The long, upsetting saga of 26-year-old Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed may be getting another chapter. After 10 frustrating days of back-and-forth testimony in court, Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter earlier this month. After two hours of deliberation, the New Mexico jury determined the armorers willful disregard for safety procedures on set was what led to the 2021 death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was struck by a live bullet discharged from Alec Baldwins gun. Gutierrez-Reed is currently being held in a Santa Fe detention facility while she awaits her April 15 sentencing. She faces up to 18 months in prison.

Now, however, Gutierrez-Reeds attorneys believe that her conviction will almost certainly be overturned, and they have requested that she be granted a new trial and be released from jail while the appeal is considered (per Variety). This new-found hope for Gutierrez-Reed rests on the fact that the jury was asked to consider whether the armorer had loaded Baldwins gun with live ammunition and/or that she failed to properly check the ammunition. Her lawyers, Jason Bowles and Monnica Barreras, are contending the phrase and/or allowed a conviction to be passed down even if the jury wasnt unanimous on either act.

The strength of Bowles and Barreras appeal lies in a recent New Mexico Supreme Court verdict. They overturned the conviction of two daycare workers for child endangerment on similar grounds this past Thursday, after finding that the term and/or created confusion and misdirection for the jury, who were asked to judge four separate acts.



Separately, Baldwins lawyers are also seeking to get his upcoming manslaughter case thrown out of court by accusing prosecutors of violating nearly every rule in the book. If it does go forward, Baldwins trial is currently scheduled to begin in July.
David Seidlerscreenwriter for The Kings Speech, The King And I, Queen Of Spades, and moredied Saturday on a fly fishing excursion in New Zealand. The news was confirmed by his manager, Jeff Aghassi (via Variety), who said in a statement that David was in the place he loved most in the worldNew Zealanddoing what gave him the greatest peace which was fly-fishing. If given the chance, it is exactly as he would have scripted it. Seidler was 86.

Born in London in 1937, Seidler developed his own speech impedimentsimilar to the one he would later write aboutwhile traveling to America on a ship with his family to escape the war. It was actually his stutter that inspired him to become a writer in the first place. If youre born with two conflicting traitsin my case, I was a born ham, but I was a stuttererand if you want to be the center of attention but you cant talk, you find another channel, and thats writing, he said in a 2011 interview (via CBS News).

George VI was a childhood hero of Seidlers, who watched the stammering king master his own speech impediment live on television during his wartime addresses. This admiration would later inspire his script for The Kings Speech, which won him an Oscar in 2011. The 2010 film, directed by Tom Hooper and starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, and Helena Bonham Carter, also won Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor (for Firth) that year, and went on to become a successful West End stage playalso written by Seidlerin 2012.

Seidler also wrote a number of TV movies including Malice In Wonderland (1985), Onassis: The Richest Man In The World (1988), and My Father, My Son (1988) before landing his first feature-writing job for Francis Ford Coppolas Tucker: The Man And His Dream (along with Arnold Schulman) in 1988. He also shares a number of writing credits with Jacqueline Feather, including Time To Say Goodbye? (1997), Quest For Camelot (1998), The King And I (1999), and more.

If I am stuck with this stutter, you all are stuck with listening to me, Seidler remembered saying to himself to help with his own stutter as a child (via CBS News). I am a human being, and Im going to talk, and youre going to have to F-word listen.

Seidler is survived by his children, Marc and Maya.
WWE have announced a five-date tour before Bash In Berlin in August.

The company have announced the Road to Bash in Berlin tour, which sees them tour five cities in Europe before the big show at the end of the month.

On WWE.com, they announced visits to Rotterdam, Brussels, Oberhausen, Stuttgart and Frankfurt. This sees the company tour the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany en route to their big Berlin show.

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The dates and venues for the shows are as follows:

Sunday August 25  Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Monday August 26  Forest National in Brussels, Belgium

Tuesday August 27  Rudolf Weber Arena in Oberhausen, Germany

Wednesday August 28  Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany

Thursday August 29  Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany

Tickets go on sale this Friday, March 22nd, and 10AM Central European Time. These are live events that will not be televised, so this will be your only chance to see these shows.

The company announced Bash in Berlin back in October. It signals their first PLE in Germany, and only second in mainland Europe.

The event is expected to feature Gunther as one of its key stars. He was a star in Germany before signing for the WWE, and the event takes place not far from his homeland of Austria.

Bash In Berlin Is WWEs Next Big European Show

WWE have announced a number of WWE Superstars will appear at their first-ever German pay per view. These include Bianca Belair, AJ Styles, LA Knight, Bobby Lashley, Kevin Owens, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa.

However, it is likely that top stars like Cody Rhodes, Gunther and CM Punk will be among those wrestling on the show.

These events mark WWEs first return to Stuttgart in two years, and their first return to Brussels in five years. It is also the first time they have been to Frankfurt and Oberhausen in six years, and the first return to Rotterdam in seven years.

WWE Bash In Berlin is the second European pay per view the company are putting on this year. The company have already announced Backlash will take place in Paris, France. This follows on from Money in the Bank in London last year, as well as Cardiffs Clash at the Castle the year prior.

The event will take place at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin on Aug. 31, 2024

The post WWE Announces Five New Dates For Bash In Berlin Tour appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Creme de Violette is pretty unique as liqueurs go. With brandy or a neutral spirit for a base, the alcohol is then infused with violet flowers, giving it an extremely fragrant aroma and perfumed flavor.

It's definitely something of an acquired taste, with some folks finding it to be too floral and fragrant for their liking, and its potent and peculiar profile makes it a little trickier to work it into drinks. Unlike some cocktail ingredients, Creme de Violette won't go unnoticed if your recipe is a bit off. As a result, the bright purple beverage is one that you'll frequently find on a bar shelf gathering dust, bought either out of curiosity or a sense of bar shelf completionism.

I once took over management of a bar at an acclaimed restaurant in New Zealand and found a case of six bottles of Creme de Violette in the store room -- I can only assume it was an ordering error and nobody knew how to shift the stuff. Either way, it had to go, and I didn't want to make a loss, so I had to get a little creative. The list below covers all of the tricks I pulled to create a variety of delicious drinks with Creme de Violette, all of which you can make work at home.

Read more: The 40 Absolute Best Cocktails That Feature Only 2 Ingredients

Make The Colors Pop

bright pink cocktail - Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

One of the first things you'll notice is its stunningly deep royal purple hue. Any experienced bartender will tell you how important presentation is when it comes to cocktail making, and that the first sip is taken with the eyes.

There are few colors more interesting than vivid violet, and there are a number of ways to add a pop of purple to your drink. It's not uncommon to combine blue curacao with grenadine or cranberry juice to create purple cocktails, or to use the blackcurrant-flavored Creme de Cassis, but these have notably fruity tastes. If you're not after an overtly saccharine cocktail, these ingredients might not work out. However, Creme de Violet doesn't pose this issue, and while its floral flavoring won't work in every cocktail, it's perfect for adding a more delicate purple coloring to drinks.

You can also layer Creme de Violette in cocktails by making sure the liqueur is room temperature and pouring it slowly into your cocktail over the back of a bar spoon. Being somewhat viscous, with a steady hand the Creme de Violette should settle at the bottom of the glass creating a striking layering effect. Layering can take some practice to get right but it's a skill that's worth having if you want to experiment with more impressive presentation techniques.

Create Your Own Violet Salt

purple violet salt - Tetiana Rostopira/Getty Images

While most of us are probably familiar with salting the rim of a margarita glass, there are plenty of other interesting ways to use the common household seasoning with cocktails. When combined with bitter ingredients, salt enhances the perceived sweetness of a drink, and it's easier than you might think to create your own flavored salt at home.

The trickiest part of the process is getting your hands on a food dehydrator, although fortunately, these are relatively cheap to get hold of. In a dehydrator rack with a solid base, pour in a shallow layer of Creme de Violette. This is a recipe that takes some patience, as depending on how much liqueur you're using, it might take up to three days for the alcohol to evaporate and the remnants of the liquid to crystallize.

You may need to break up the forming crystals part way through the dehydrating process, but by the time you're finished, you should be left with a layer of residue that's similar in consistency to hard candies. Now, we need to combine our violet crystals with sea salt, and while you can do this in a bowl with the back of a spoon, a mortar and pestle is most effective. Add the sea salt to the violet crystals one pinch at a time, and grind the two together until they're fully combined and you're happy with the taste -- it's as simple as that.

Focus On The Aroma

violet flower close-up - Fotolinchen/Getty Images

If we take the first sip of a cocktail with our eyes, then we take the second with our nose. Before the glass touches our lips, we can sense the inviting aroma of a cocktail, and there's nothing to say this can only come from the drink's ingredients.

Creme de Violette is a potent liqueur, and you may want to take advantage of its enticing fragrance without the strong taste messing with the other cocktail ingredients and throwing the flavors out of balance. The solution is remarkably straightforward -- just get yourself a miniature one-ounce spritz bottle and decant a little Creme de Violette into it with a funnel. Now you can give your cocktail a couple of sprays of Creme de Violette to imbue it with a perfumed aroma without having to add any directly to your drink. Even if you are using the liqueur as a liquid ingredient, a quick burst of Creme de Violette will elevate your cocktail's floral qualities.

This is a trick worth remembering because you can play around with all sorts of aromas, from peaty scotch mists to fruity citrus spritzes. To go even further, you can garnish your cocktail with fresh violet flower petals, either clipped to the rim of the glass or left to float atop the liquid as they're completely safe to consume.

Brew Up A Violet Syrup

violet petals in a bowl - Vilda.S/Shutterstock

Out of all of the recipes ingrained in a bartender's mind, the handiest also happens to be the easiest. One part sugar dissolved in one part water produces simple syrup, a key ingredient responsible for adding a neutral sweetness and fatter texture to countless cocktails.

However, simple syrup doesn't have to be flavorless, and it doesn't take much extra effort to create a unique syrup with heaps of interesting characteristics. Most syrups can be made by infusing a standard simple syrup with other ingredients, reducing a liquid ingredient in a saucepan with added sugar, or a combination of the two. For a straightforward Creme de Violette syrup, you want to start by reducing the liqueur over medium heat, adding sugar to taste.

To make your syrup more complex, think about steeping other ingredients in the reduced liquid, such as citrus peel or even black peppercorns. Once you've made your syrup, you should only need a small amount to add a big burst of violet flavor to any of your drinks. If you feel like making a delicious drink with less fuss, you can add a splash of syrup to soda water or lemonade for an incredibly refreshing cocktail that takes mere seconds to prepare. Bear in mind that the shelf-life of homemade simple syrup can vary depending on the ingredients you use, a higher sugar content will extend its life, and there are tricks you can use to stabilize your syrup for even longer.

Recreate A Favorite British Childhood Candy

parma violet candies - ponsontpaper / Instagram

If you crack open a bottle of Creme de Violette and hand it to a Brit, they'll almost certainly mention how it reminds them of Parma Violets. Named after a specific type of violet flower, these famous candies were once marketed as a perfumed breath freshener and continue to divide opinion with their soapy, floral flavor.

In fact, if you find a Brit who detests Creme de Violette, it's a sure bet they can't stand the traditional sweeties either. The fans, however, are often blown away when they realize a liqueur exists that tastes like Parma Violets and are usually eager to know how to recreate their childhood treat in the form of a boozy beverage. While there are no official recipes for a Parma Violet cocktail, that hasn't stopped folks from trying, and what the recipe should be is somewhat subjective.

A dry London gin or quality vodka is the best choice for a base spirit, with a liberal dose of Creme de Violette. You'll need a sugary component to emulate the candy-like characteristics, which is where your violet syrup might come in handy if simple syrup isn't hitting the spot. Lastly, you'll want to consider a citrus component that will cut through the intensely perfumed notes and the sugar, with lemon juice being a favorite. It's up to you whether you want to serve it straight up, over ice, or lengthened with soda or lemonade.

Make Your Own Violet Bitters

row of cocktail bitters bottles - Fs/Getty Images

If you're unfamiliar with what bitters are and what they have to do with cocktails, the simple answer is that they're a flavored alcohol tincture that can transform a cocktail by adding depth and tying flavors together. There's a vast range of flavors to choose from but it's also pretty fun trying to create your own.

Some companies already sell violet-flavored bitters, including The Bitter Truth, a brand that made the cut in my ranking of the best bitters brands from around the world. These are a great option if you don't have the time to experiment with making bitters, but all it takes is a little time, patience, and a few interesting ingredients.

The base of our tincture should be a neutral-tasting spirit over 100 proof, like a strong vodka or a grain alcohol like Everclear. To make violet bitters, we can use one of these to fortify Creme de Violette to the extent that just a few drops are needed to enhance a cocktail. Then, you can decide which bittering ingredients you want to add and which other flavors you want to present. Citrus peel, licorice root, and wild cherry bark are just a few bittering agents that would work well, while there are plenty of spices, fruits, and herbs that can add complexity. Then, all you can do is wait, possibly up to a few weeks, until the flavors have completely melded together and you can strain out your finished bitters.

Try Creme De Violette With Bubbles

purple Champagne glasses - Clausalwinvogel/Getty Images

The slightly sweet and abundantly floral nature of Creme de Violette means the liqueur pairs superbly with the effervescent elegance of sparkling wine. You don't even need a complicated recipe to boost your glass of bubbles -- just add  to  ounce of Creme de Violette to your wine of choice and give it a gentle stir.

The style of sparkling wine you choose is up to you, although it's worth noting that a brut Champagne is arguably the best pick. Its dry character will offset the sweetness of the Creme de Violette while its fruity and floral notes will interplay with the liqueur's similar qualities.

However, if you're after a more complex beverage with extra ingredients, an Italian prosecco is going to be a more suitable option. They're generally brighter and simpler wines, whereas the nuances of Champagne can be lost in mixed drinks. For starters, I'd suggest putting a twist on the classic French 75 cocktail which consists of sparkling wine, gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, but swapping out the syrup for Creme de Violette. From here, you can start playing around with other recipes to find one that really hits the spot.

Put A Twist On Classics

two violet martinis - Goskova Tatiana/Shutterstock

We have a term in the bar industry that tends to draw puzzled looks from those not quite in the know -- "potato-heading." The phrase refers to the famous children's toy, Mr. Potato Head, which lets you pull out and swap around the spud's limbs and facial features, and we can do the same thing with cocktails.

When you've been making cocktails for a while, you start to realize that some of the best contemporary drinks are just twists on classics. As long as the drink remains balanced, you can pull out ingredients and replace them with ones that complement or contrast the rest of the cocktail's components. Suppose you're relatively new to making cocktails. In that case, potato-heading is a great way to experiment with different ingredients without blasting through bottles trying to invent a new world-class cocktail from scratch. The costs start to add up after a while.

Creme de Violette is best used as a substitute for sweet, fruity, or floral ingredients as opposed to swapping it in for the base spirit. For example, in a margarita, you can use it in place of triple sec. You can also reduce the amount of simple syrup in a drink and replace it with Creme de Violette, something that works particularly well in gin-based drinks like gin fizzes, Tom Collins' and Brambles.

Take Inspiration From The Old School

arsenic and old lace cocktail - Alp Aksoy/Shutterstock

Like most spirits and liqueurs, the history of Creme de Violette is a pretty interesting one. The specifics are hard to pin down, but we know it appeared in France sometime in the early 19th century.

Violet-flavored candies were all the rage at the time, as the flower had long been touted as a remedy for a range of ailments, including respiratory and pulmonary illnesses. Originally, the liqueur was consumed neat as an aperitif or mixed with fortified wine, but by the turn of the 20th century, the forebears of the modern cocktail movement began getting more creative with Creme de Violette.

One notable example worth recreating is the Arsenic & Old Lace, which was named after a 1939 play and combines Creme de Violette with gin, absinthe, and dry vermouth to create a martini-style drink bursting with floral and herbal notes. Likewise, the Blue Moon was purportedly invented in the 1940s by the same employee of Manhattan's Waldorf-Astoria hotel who's said to have invented both the Waldorf salad and eggs benedict. This is a beautifully frothy cocktail that deftly mixes Creme de Violette with London Dry gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, and egg white to produce a floral sour-style drink that can sit as comfortably on a modern cocktail list as any contemporary creation.

Listen To The Experts

water lily cocktail - Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock

Despite the surging popularity of Creme de Violette in the 20th century, Europe's largest producer folded in at some point in the sixties, and bottles became extremely hard to come by. As a result, the liqueur fell out of fashion until 2007, when drinks importer Haus Alpenz launched the Rothman & Winter brand and revived the original recipe.

It didn't take long before the best bartenders in the business took interest and began experimenting with Creme de Violette in their venues, and soon a new wave of violet-based cocktails began to hit the mainstream once more. One of the most famous iterations is arguably the Water Lily, invented by Richard Boccato, one of the modern era's most respected mixologists. Born in Italy, Boccato was an integral part of the New York Cocktail scene and created the Water Lily while working at NYC's infamous Milk & Honey bar. The measurements are simple to remember as everything's in equal parts, calling for  ounce each of Creme de Violette, gin, orange liqueur, and lemon juice stirred over ice. A special mention also goes out to Death & Co's Phil Ward, another hero of the international bar scene and king of potato-heading, who adds a bittersweet grapefruit component to his Risk Pool cocktail.

Try The All-Time Favorite

the aviation cocktail - Candice Bell/Shutterstock

Out of all the Creme de Violette-based cocktails, there's one that stands out as a true classic. Although the sky-blue Aviation now sits comfortably as one of 33 cocktails on the International Bartenders Association's official list, it's a drink that was nearly lost to the annals of time.

The original recipe for the classic Aviation cocktail calls for a base of gin bolstered by Creme de Violette, lemon juice, and the sour cherry-based Maraschino liqueur, garnished with a Maraschino cherry and a lemon twist. The ratios vary slightly depending on who you ask, but the first recipe was published at the beginning of the 20th century, right before prohibition. The nationwide alcohol ban dealt the Aviation's popularity a critical blow, but the recipe popped up again in the 1930s, albeit without Creme de Violette listed as an ingredient.

Fortunately, when Creme de Violette was relaunched in 2007, bartenders began digging up classic recipes as well as coming up with their own, and the original Aviation started showing up on bar menus once more. It would be fair to say that, today, the Aviation is arguably the most popular cocktail to make use of Creme de Violette, and with good reason. It's the ultimate showcase of what the liqueur can do, paired perfectly with ingredients that balance the hard-hitting floral qualities, letting them shine without overpowering the other components. For many, it's the gateway cocktail to Creme de Violette, and once you've had one, you'll understand why.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Nowruz, which means "new day" in Farsi, is observed as the new year in many Western and Central Asian countries. Iran, Pakistan, and Kurdish regions of Iraq and Turkey celebrate with fire-jumping festivities, family time, and lots of feasts. The origins of Nowruz date back approximately 3,000 years, with roots in the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. Today, the holiday remains a guiding force for the view of Persian and Kurdish cultures, to honor the past and look towards the future. Nowruz arrives a couple of months after the new year on the Western calendar, falling over the spring equinox.

A significant part of the holiday is connected to new beginnings found in the new season. As such, feasts during Nowruz are symbolic, featuring dishes that reflect luck for the new year and are full of fresh ingredients blossoming in the spring. In Iran, tables even feature haft-sin, a table setting with seven foods starting with the letter "s," such as seer (garlic) and sabzeh (sprouts). Each of these symbolic tastes of the Persian New Year is thought to bring something important to the new year. Seer, for example, represents good health, while sabzeh represents rebirth.

In addition to learning more about Nowruz traditions and food by interviewing and working with Persian and Kurdish chefs in the past, I've personally experienced new year festivities in Kurdish Iraq. Although dishes are unique from Persian to Kurdish Nowruz celebrations, one thing remains the same: Food is inseparable from Nowruz and the days are filled with feasts.

Read more: 15 Different Ways To Cook Fish

Sabzi Polo (Herbed Rice)

Herbed rice on table - Michael Kraus/Shutterstock

The days leading up to Nowruz are an important part of the preparation for the new year. As an opportunity to sweep out the old and make room for the new, food is naturally part of this preparation process. To symbolize this transition, Persian households ritualistically eat a few dishes on the night before Nowruz. These recipes have been traditions for generations.

Perhaps the most popular of these dishes is sabzi polo, which is a central part of most Persian Nowruz Eve celebrations. This rice dish features many herbs, an important ingredient in many Persian recipes, and a crispy layer of rice known as tahdig. Specifically, sabzi polo includes a healthy amount of cilantro, dill, parsley, chives, and just a pinch of fenugreek leaf. The herbs represent the narrative of renewal and new beginnings for spring and Nowruz.

Cooking sabzi polo is a pretty straightforward process. Layer the herb mixture into the bottom of a pot, add a portion of al dente rice on top, and continue to layer the herbs and rice, ending with rice. The layered herbed rice is cooked on low until the rice is fluffy and the tahdig -- an important part of sabzi polo -- has formed on the bottom. Drizzle with saffron water for a finishing touch. Sabzi polo can be a feature dish or accompanied by various sides like yogurt, meat, or fish.

Mahi Ba Zafferan (Saffron Fish)

Fish with rice and herbs - Konstantin Kopachinsky/Shutterstock

Another dish that is ritualistically prepared for a traditional Iranian Nowruz Eve meal is fish, which is considered to symbolize life. In Iran, Caspian kutum, a specific white fish from the Caspian Sea, is a must. In other parts of the world where Caspian kutum is tricky if not impossible to find, another type of white fish like cod or tilapia is a worthy substitute. The fish can be prepared in several ways.

A popular -- and delicious -- way to fix the fish is pan-frying it with saffron and lemon. This recipe is called mahi ba zafferan in Farsi. Season the fish with salt and pepper, dredge it in a flour-turmeric mixture, and pan-fry the fish in a heavy skillet. After browning the first side, flip it over and pour over a mixture of lemon juice and saffron water. This combination is simple, light, and flavorful. If you're feeling fancy, stuff the fish with walnuts, herbs, onion, and pomegranate molasses (a staple in many Persian dishes).

Mahi ba zafferan is a perfect partner with sabzi polo. Together, the pair makes sabzi polo ba mahi, a must-have to commence a traditional Persian Nowruz celebration and bring good luck for the coming year.

Ash Reshteh (Persian Noodle Soup)

Persian noodle soup - bonchan/Shutterstock

If there's a symbolic dish to commence the new year, then it only makes sense that there is also a symbolic dish to wrap up Nowruz celebrations. Iranians traditionally celebrate Nowruz for 13 days. On the final day of the festivities, families typically prepare picnics to eat outside. In addition to cookies, sweets, and snacks, there is one more dish that is a must: ash reshteh.

This Persian noodle soup is quite distinct from the average noodle soup  and, of course, reflecting Iranian tastes, it is rich in herbs. A variety of beans and lentils are cooked with onion, scallions, spinach, mint, and parsley. As the soup is cooking, add cooked noodles to the mixture. If you can't find the traditional noodles at a local Persian food shop, spaghetti or another type of pasta make a fine substitute.

Stir mint oil into the pot to give it a rich green color. Top the hearty soup with a few garnishes: yogurt, mint oil, saffron water, and fried onions. But this is more than just a delicious meal. Ash reshteh is another symbol of good fortune for the year, with the noodles further representing a guide for helping you find the right path in life.

Nan-E-Keshmeshi (Raisin Cookies)

Raisin cookies and tea - Alex Veresovich/Shutterstock

The 13 days of Persian Nowruz include lots of visits with family and friends. During this time, many cups of tea, snacks, cookies, and other small bites are consumed. Nan-e-keshmeshi is the perfect treat to bake ahead of time and bring to share during the several days of Nowruz celebrations. These raisin cookies are very popular in Iran -- if there were something that could be considered the Persian equivalent of a chocolate chip cookie, it would be nan-e-keshmeshi.

The trick to a perfect nan-e-keshmeshi is to keep it simple, soft, and buttery. A basic recipe doesn't detract from an utterly delicious product, though. Juicy raisins are the key ingredients in these chewy cookies. Lots of butter is another important element, which makes these cookies almost sinfully soft. However, you can also choose to go a bit fancier. Some recipes add another ingredient to flavor the dough, such as rosewater, brewed black tea, or spiced rum.

Mix the butter, vanilla, salt, and sugar until smooth -- as well as any additional ingredients like rosewater  and then whisk in the eggs. Stir in the flour and then finally the raisins. Bake until golden brown and enjoy these tasty cookies with a cup of Persian tea.

Kayk-E Golabi Ba Zafferan (Persian Love Cake)

Persian love cake - BBA Photography/Shutterstock

Legend tells it that kayk-e golabi ba zafferan originated when a woman enchanted a Persian prince she'd fallen in love with by baking a decadent cake. Today, this aromatic, citrusy cake that's rich in warm spices is a well-loved dessert enjoyed in Iranian homes on special occasions. Many variations exist, some with saffron and orange juice as the focus, and others with rosewater, cardamom, and citrus as the central flavors. Whichever you choose, Nowruz is a perfect occasion to bake this special cake.

Mix the dry ingredients and set aside. Use almond flour to give the cake a nutty flavor and crumbly texture. Combine sugar, oil, citrus juice and zest, and, if you choose, saffron water. The optional addition of Greek yogurt makes the cake extra fluffy. Now, you can also allow the creative juices to start flowing. Add in rosewater, ground cardamom, and cinnamon for a floral, spiced cake. Incorporate fruit -- such as grated pear -- as well as nuts and other spices to add dimension to this cake of love.

Once the cake is baked, poke holes in it and soak it with a lemon drizzle or a saffron and rosewater honey syrup. Frost it with a light layer of orange blossom-infused frosting. For the finishing touch, sprinkle crushed pistachios and edible dried rose petals on top. Cut a slice and enjoy over a hot cup of Persian tea with friends and family during the 13 days of Nowruz.

Yaprakh (Kurdish Dolma)

Yaprakh on platter - Alicia Erickson/Tasting Table

Dolmas have an ancient history with disputed origins. While some Greeks claim the food was originally served on Mount Olympus, other stories credit the first dolmas to have been served near the Nile River in the town of Thebes during the time of Alexander the Great. Regardless of its origins, stuffed grape leaves, a perfect addition to your kitchen, have been enjoyed across Eastern Europe and the Middle East for centuries. Traditional dolmas are rice-stuffed grape leaves, although many variations have evolved using different leaves, such as those from fig, hazelnut, and mulberry trees.

In Kurdish homes, a decadent form of dolmas consisting of various rice-stuffed vegetables is a central part of Nowruz feasts. Swiss chard, eggplants, zucchini, and shallots are just a few of the vegetables used in this festive Nowruz dish, which is known as yaprakh in Kurdish cuisine. To make yaprakh, prepare your vegetables by cutting them lengthwise. Scoop out the insides and season them with salt and pepper. Stuff the veggies with seasoned rice, which has been cooked with lemon juice, sumac, turmeric, cumin, black pepper, salt, dill, and parsley. Layer the stuffed vegetables in a big pot, add broth and tomatoes, and simmer for several hours to slowly cook and flavor the ingredients. Meat eaters can add chicken pieces into the pot while cooking, as well.

Turn over the pot on a big platter to create a towering stack of yaprakh. Serve with yogurt and lots of fresh herbs and dig in!

Kuku Sabzi (Herbed Frittata)

Kuku sabzi slices with walnuts - Velveteye/Shutterstock

Herbs are central to spring cooking, and since Nowruz food is a reflection of spring, Nowruz dishes are naturally heavy on herbs. Kuku sabzi is a perfect embodiment of this. Kuku is a common whipped egg dish that has a variety of ingredients in it. Specifically, kuku sabzi incorporates herbs into the eggs and is similar to an herbed frittata. The difference is that kuku sabzi has only enough egg to hold it together, and the rest is herbs.

This flavorful, festive dish gets its dark green color from cilantro, dill, parsley, and chives. Kuku sabzi is further a natural fit for Nowruz, as the herbs symbolize rebirth, and the eggs symbolize fertility. In addition to being delicious, it is also a perfect way to use up wilting herbs in your kitchen. Blend the herbs and scallions in a food processor with olive oil. Whisk the eggs with cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, salt, pepper, and baking powder. Fold in the herbs. Walnuts and barberries -- or cranberries, if you can't find barberries -- add texture and some nutty and sweet notes that complement the herbs. While kuku is typically cooked on a stovetop, it can also be baked in the oven, which results in a light, fluffy, and herby frittata.

Kuku sabzi can be served warm or at room temperature. Squeeze fresh lemon over the slices of kuku and top it with a dollop of yogurt. Fresh veggies, olives, and pickles make for tasty accompaniments.

Mastaw (Kurdish Yogurt Drink)

Yogurt drink with dill - Alicia Erickson/Tasting Table

The non-stop feasting during Nowruz brings lots of delicious homemade delicacies but can also wreak havoc on your body. You might be wondering how you will make room for the next round that is about to be served while your body is still trying to digest the previous meals of the day. A yogurt drink is the answer to keep you feasting throughout Nowruz. Mastaw, meaning yogurt and water in Kurdish (and also called ayran in Turkish), is served alongside many traditional Kurdish Nowruz feasts. No ordinary yogurt drink, mastaw is a natural source of probiotics that boosts digestion and supports a healthy gut.

The base recipe mixes plain yogurt with still or sparkling water and a pinch of salt to taste. Many variations of mastaw exist. You can drink it plain or, during Nowruz in Kurdish homes, the yogurt drink is commonly topped with fresh dill and young qazwan, a wild nut that is also used to make a non-caffeinated form of coffee in Kurdish cuisine.

Pour some in a glass and enjoy alongside your meal. The savory and slightly sour flavors may be surprising to palates new to the drink, but mastaw is a great accompaniment to Nowruz feasts -- and it gives you room to go back for seconds or thirds.

Kebabs

Kebab with bread and vegetables - Los_angela/Getty Images

Kebabs and grilled skewers of meat have a universal appeal. They have been adapted to culinary traditions around the world, from Iran to Japan. Kebabs are well-loved in Kurdish culture, as well, and are an integral dish for celebrations. While yaprakh is the featured dish on the eve of the new year, kebabs are popular to eat during the days of Nowruz that follow. Families pack picnics and head into the mountains, unfolding elaborate spreads on grassy hillsides. As pots of soup are brewing, fires are lit, and skewers of marinated meat, such as lamb, beef, chicken, and liver, are grilled over the open flame to juicy perfection.

Meat can either be skewered and grilled in pieces or minced, mixed with spices, shaped into a long stick, and then grilled. Enjoy the grilled meat on its own or turn it into a kebab sandwich. Stuff fresh pita or another flatbread with the meat and top it with fresh veggies like lettuce, cucumber, tomato, red onion, and spring onion. Sprinkle a few herbs on top and squeeze some lemon or orange juice for a hint of citrus. Enjoy!

Middle Eastern Flatbread

Hands tearing Persian bread - Angelsimon/Getty Images

From pita to naan, and chapati to tortillas, several types of flatbreads are found in cuisines around the world. While it may not be the star of the show, flatbread is an imperative accompaniment to complete a meal. Nowruz is no exception. From household to household, culture to culture, many different flatbreads are consumed in Kurdish and Persian New Year feasts.

A round, fluffy bread similar to pita or naan is tasty to dip in yogurt or soup, to stuff with kebab and veggies, or to eat with other meat and fish dishes. Another popular flatbread in Kurdish homes is nani tiri, which is a large, thin, crispy bread. Nani tiri is often made ahead of time in large quantities, dried, and freshened up with a sprinkle of water.

For something a bit more creative, try your hands at making kelaneh or nan-e-barbari. Kelaneh is a thin bread stuffed with scallions and fresh herbs like parsley. Nan-e-barbari is a ridged, seeded bread. This soft Persian flatbread is crisp and golden on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside, and topped with sesame and nigella seeds.

Kubeh (Meat Dumplings)

Meat dumplings - Zeid AbuSaad/Shutterstock

Whether it be meat-stuffed pastries or grilled skewers, meat is a popular feature at Kurdish Nowruz picnics. In particular, kubeh is a favorite to prepare for the occasion. The preparation of this dish, which is made from meat stuffed into ground bulgur dumplings, can be a time-consuming affair, but it's a must for festive celebrations.

The dumpling and the meat filling are made in two parts. Slow-cook lamb or beef until it is falling apart, and then mix it with garlic, mint, cilantro, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. The shell is formed from ground bulgar, farina (a type of milled wheat), water, and salt, which is mixed into a soft dough. Form the dough into small balls and flatten them into disks. Fill the centers of the dough with meat, wrap the sides over, and seal each to create the dumplings.

Kubeh can either be fried and eaten on its own or cooked in a soup. The dumplings are delicious when simmered into a broth with pumpkin, beets, Swiss chard, other vegetables of your choosing, and, of course, a handful of fresh herbs.

Sabzi Khordan (Fresh Herbs Platter)

Fresh herbs on platter - bonchan/Shutterstock

There doesn't need to be a special occasion for a platter of fresh herbs to appear on the table in Persian and Kurdish homes, where fresh herbs balance dinner any night of the week. In Farsi, sabzi khordan translates to "greens for eating."

No Nowruz feast is complete without sabzi khordan or another version of a towering platter of colorful fresh herbs. Top rice, fish, and meat dishes with fresh mint, cilantro, or dill. Or stuff the fresh greens inside pita bread and kebabs. The herbs add a fresh and flavorful punch to each bite and also symbolize good luck for the new year. Basically, sabzi khordan is yours for the making. Arrange fresh mint, basil, dill, cilantro, parsley, chives, tarragon, radish, and maybe a side of fresh white cheese on a plate.

In Kurdistan, Nowruz is the start of foraging season, when wild herbs are freshly growing in the hills. Families go foraging for fresh herbs and vegetables that are commonly featured in Nowruz feasts  and are also the star of the show throughout the spring season. While Kurdish mountain herbs like kangir, rewas, and kardu may not be so readily available, add any type of herb that's in season and experiment with the flavorful burst they add to each dish.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
As civil unrest in Haiti reaches a boiling point, the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) is calling on Congress to renew a trade program that could safeguard the Caribbean nations embattled apparel and textile sector.

The Washington, D.C. trade groups president and CEO, Steve Lamar, wrote to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakim Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell last week to urge Congress to take immediate action to renew the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Acts. More commonly known as HOPE-HELP, the programs expire in September 2025, and are eligible for a decade-long renewal under House and Senate companion bills.

More from Sourcing Journal

With the extension of the state of emergency and the recent resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, Haiti is at a critical juncture, Lamar wrote. Gang violence has forced the closure of the countrys airport as well as its main port, making doing business with Haitian suppliers a challenge. Our hope is that the U.S. Government will continue to support measures that will bring about an end to violence, support democratic institutions, and enable quick economic recovery to avoid a worsening humanitarian crisis in our neighborhood, he added.

HOPE-HELP provides certain apparel items made in Haiti with duty-free access to the U.S. market, and has created over 50,000 jobs for citizens, the letter said. Workers salaries support tens of thousands more people across Haitian communities, and without the continuance of the trade agreement, their livelihoods are at risk.

Lamar wrote that American brands are also having to guess whether they should place orders that would be imported after the programs scheduled expiration date. The air of uncertainty is eroding future business, he noted. U.S. enterprises need assurance that HELP-HOPE will continue without interruption in order to maintain their investment in the country. While apparel production and transport logistics have been disrupted by the humanitarian crisis, certain plants in Northern Haiti, and some on the border of the Dominican Republic, have continued to operate.

The trade preference programs have been widely utilized since they were passed in 2006 and 2010, with up to 70 percent of apparel imports from Haiti entering the U.S. under HOPE-HELP, Lamar told Sourcing Journal. The apparel sector stands to be the backbone of recovery when Haiti emerges from this period of instability, and if the agreements expire, it could cost the countrys workforce a big chunk of business.

Theres already a tangible cost to legislative foot-dragging, Lamar said. U.S. apparel imports from Haiti dropped 35 percent between 2021 and 2023. Figures from January 2023 and the first month of this year show a 15-percent decline. These shifts are likely attributable to supply chain disruptions as well as pullback from brands. We need to arrest that, and send a very strong message to the industry. Stay down there. Keep people employed, the AAFA lead added. Its a very tough situation, but we dont want lack of action by Congress to make a tough situation even worse.

According to Lamar, lawmakers likely dont see HOPE-HELP as a matter of urgency, but they should. This is not the measure to address gang violence, it is not the measure to restore democratic institutions, but it is a tool that will enable the country to build up its economic stability when those issues are addressed, he said. When that happens, there will be an industry thats operating, thats fully functioning, that can quickly employ Haitians.

With the programs set to lapse next fall, AAFA is working to ensure that they dont go the way of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The widely supported trade program lapsed more than three years ago, and despite bipartisan urging and calls from the industry, it has not been reinstated. The Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) will also expire next fall, and while members Congress, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the president have all endorsed its renewal, it has seen similar stagnation.

Runway is running out for these programs, and Lamar said the lack of action surrounding their renewal sends mixed messages to an industry that has been encouraged for years to divest from China. A report from QIMA released last week illuminated two prevailing trends across consumer goods sectors: reinvigorated China sourcing, and a higher-than-ever interest in nearshoring. While those interests might seem to compete, Lamar said they illuminate the current state of sourcing. People want to nearshore, but trade policy doesnt help them meet those needs.

Every policymaker talks about nearshoring as something they really want to encourage, and weve signed on to that; a lot of our members are the ones that are going to make that happen, he said. But they need trade policy that gives them an opportunity to build those investments and capacity. And if trade policy doesnt stay updated, relevant or even intact, companies are going to have to make decisions based on action, not rhetoric.
China and Angola have a strong foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation. As relations progress, the two nations will witness exciting new chapters in their friendship.

by Xinhua writers Lv Chengcheng, Yan Ran and Dai He

On Friday in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Angolan President Joao Lourenco announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Angola, a Portuguese-speaking country in Southwest Africa emerging from a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002, has enjoyed a flourishing partnership with China over the past two decades. This partnership is characterized by cooperation across various fields, and Angola has achieved significant progress in rebuilding the country, industrial modernization and talent development.

As Xi said during talks with Lourenco, China-Angola cooperation is South-South cooperation and cooperation between developing countries. It is defined as mutual help between good friends, reciprocity and win-win collaboration.

FACILITATING NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION

Located 18 km south of Luanda, Angola's capital, the "new city," Kilamba stands prominently on the horizon. More than a decade after its completion, this monumental public welfare project, executed by Chinese firms, comprises 700 buildings and 20,000 housing units, providing contemporary living conditions for its 120,000 inhabitants.

"I've been living here since January 2013, and back then, it felt like a fresh, pioneering city, with everything shining," 73-year-old resident Gaspar Pedro told Xinhua.

Pedro's home is situated in a 13-story residential building. Inside his cozy, orange-hued living room, a collection of family photos, including his daughter's wedding and the birth of his grandchildren, adorn one side of the bookshelf. Pedro enjoys a tranquil retirement life here with his wife, frequently visited by their children and grandchildren.

Mario Cassinda, who has managed a restaurant "Puro Tempero" in Kilamba for six years, believes the city has addressed more than just housing issues.

"It was constructed on a barren land. Since the city's establishment, it has created more jobs and attracted many people from the outskirts. I can say it's a beneficial project," said Cassinda.

The City of Kilamba, formerly known as the Kilamba Kiaxi Housing Project, was initiated by Chinese company CITIC Construction. It features well-equipped facilities, including schools, water treatment plants and substations, ensuring residents enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.

Chinese engineer Qi Juntuan, who participated in the city's construction, recalled the challenges they encountered, particularly the uncommon issue of poor soil adhesion, a problem rarely encountered by Chinese engineers elsewhere.

"The team, working tirelessly day and night, eventually overcame these obstacles with techniques like layered backfilling," he said. "The thought of applying our knowledge to bring tangible improvements to the local area fills us with great motivation."

In 2010, Xi visited Angola, when Angola and China announced the establishment of a strategic partnership. Xi personally inspected the project, spending half a day there, inspiring builders from China and Angola.

Rising from once barren land, the new city is a testament to the accelerated cooperation between the two nations.

China and Angola celebrated the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2023, and the partnership continues to thrive. Deepened political trust and practical cooperation have benefited the people of both nations.

China has been Angola's largest trading partner, largest export market and an essential source of investment for many years, while Angola is China's second-largest trading partner in Africa.

Drummond Mafuta, president of the Board of Directors of Edicoes Novembro, one of Angola's largest media groups, commented that when the Angolan civil war ended and the country needed reconstruction, China was the first to extend a helping hand.

Mafuta said friendship with China "is and will always be marked in the history of Angola's reconstruction."

FOSTERING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

After the talks on Friday, Xi and Lourenco jointly witnessed the signing of several bilateral cooperation documents regarding the Belt and Road cooperation plan, the economy and trade, agriculture, green development and other fields.

Tiago Quissua Armando, a scholar at Angola's Venancio de Moura Diplomacy Institute, sees the outcomes of the leaders' talks as addressing vital issues for Angola, such as economic diversification, industrial investment and agricultural modernization.

"President Lourenco's visit also includes a trip to Shandong, a Chinese province with significant experience in the agricultural sector. Angola can benefit from this experience to enhance its local industry," he said.

Last year, Shandong Province signed a friendly cooperation agreement with Bengo Province of Angola, committing to strengthening cooperation in agriculture, economy, trade and vocational education.

One of the flagship Shandong enterprises in Angola is the Sino-Ord Industrial Park. Since its establishment in 2019, the park has launched six industrial projects, with around 200 Chinese employees and approximately 1,700 local workers.

In June 2021, the Angolan president visited the industrial park and praised its role in boosting local employment, increasing tax revenue, and propelling Angola's industrialization and economic diversification efforts.

"Working with colleagues from China and other countries has broadened my horizons and made me realize that only through strengthening international cooperation can our country's development be more hopeful," said Joao Paulo, a senior external relations manager who has worked at the industrial park for many years.

In Luanda, the Fatima Furniture Factory of the Qingdao Yewhing Group has set an example in the local industry by providing employment opportunities for hundreds of families.

"Having the factory or local production not only provides the product but also creates jobs, allowing more Angolans to have a source of sustainability for their families. Now, everyone here dreams of becoming an excellent technician," said Wilson Manuel, a 30-year-old human resources manager at the furniture factory.

Today, products such as cabinets and wardrobes from the factory account for 40 percent of the domestic market in Angola, while the factory's sofa brand occupies a quarter of the market share.

Angola's Minister of Industry and Commerce Rui Miguens said China's industrial development has raised living standards. He noted that Angola hopes to learn from China's experience in industrialization and looks forward to more Chinese companies investing in Angola.

CULTIVATING FUTURE TALENT

Luis Erivaldo, a young Angolan working at Huawei, developed a strong interest in communication technology during his school years. After four rounds of interviews, he joined Huawei Angola and, over six years, grew from a freshman to a technical director.

In 2022, the Angolan government signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei for a "digital talent" training program, which plans to train over 10,000 Angolan youths in the next five years.

There is a broad scope for cooperation in vocational education between China and Africa.

In August 2023, President Xi co-chaired with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue in Johannesburg, proposing initiatives to strengthen practical cooperation between China and Africa and support African integration and modernization, including the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development.

The inauguration ceremony of the Chinese-donated Integrated Center for Technological Training took place in Huambo City, Angola, on Jan. 12. The 20,000-square-meter center has 30 laboratories and six workshops covering robotics, mechanical processing, computer science and automotive repair. In its first phase, it plans to train 2,400 people annually.

President Lourenco personally inaugurated the training center. During his visit, he inquired in detail about the project's construction and teaching plans. Just before leaving, he stepped out of his car to shake hands and again express gratitude to the Chinese personnel.

"This is a modern training center with complete facilities, and all the teachers have been trained in China. We are very grateful for China's help and look forward to continuing cooperation with China in the future," said Geraldo Pambasange, the training center's principal.

Secretary of State for Labor and Social Security of Angola Pedro Filipe said that in recent years, vocational training and talent cultivation have become critical areas of cooperation between Angola and China.

China and Angola have a strong foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation. As relations progress, the two nations will witness exciting new chapters in their friendship.
Black teen targeted in racist attack has only just moved to UK, mother reveals

A Black student who was beaten up during an alleged racist incident in Carlisle has been been bullied at school since moving to the UK three months ago, his mother has said.

In a distressing video which prompted outrage on social media, a schoolboy was seen being taunted, pushed and punched by a white boy, who ordered the victim to kiss his shoes.

The boys mother told The Independent that the attack, which is being treated by police as a suspected hate crime, had been witnessed by the boys 11-year-old sister and had left them both traumatised.

She said: My son doesnt want to go back to school. At first, he wanted us to move out of Carlisle. My son said if we relocate, Ill probably be safer but if we stay then I dont know whats going to happen next.

She added that she believes he was targeted because of his ethnicity. I feel that my son was targered because hes Black - I strongly feel so, she said.

He has been receiving a lot of hate from the class; one of the boys teased my son during breaktime that day and my son didnt see it coming that they were trying to bully him. Then the boy went home and told his older brother, who doesnt even attend the school, about my son, then the brother came to harass him (along with the others).

The boy who told my son to kiss his shoes doesnt attend the school; that clearly shows its racism. He doesnt know my son but had the guts to do that to him.

According to the mother, the family recently migrated to the UK from Zimbabwe. She moved to this country in 2022 and her children, both born in Zimbabwe, joined her in December.

For them to have just moved here and come across this? Its not good, she said.

After the incident, which took place on Friday near St John Henry Newman Catholic School, Cumbria police said it was aware of concerns in the community.

The force urged people not to share the video.

The mother, who asked not to be named, said the police and school appear to be taking the matter seriously. The school is arranging for some study packs to be given to the child and counselling sessions for him have also been discussed.

From the way theyre communicating with me, they are taking the matter seriously but we will see what happens as time progresses, the mum continued.

In the clip, the schoolboy is seen being repeatedly harassed. He suffers several blows before being forced to kiss the white teenagers shoes.

In another clip purportedly filmed after the incident, the white teenager can be seen following the vicim up the street and punching him twice before onlookers intervene.

Police have arrested four teenagers, all from Carlisle.

One of the teenagers was arrested on suspicion of racially-aggravated actual bodily harm while the other three were arrested on suspicion of abetting racially-aggravated actual bodily harm.

These are abhorrent images circulating online that have caused shock and concern in both the community and among officers here at Cumbria Police, said Superintendent Sarah Jones in a statement.

She added: We can reassure the community this is an incident we are taking very seriously  and we have made four arrests.

Our officers have worked through the night and continue to carry out investigations today.

Police will be increasing patrols in Carlisle in response to concerns from the community.

The Zimbabwe Embassy is supporting the family.
Last week we reported that Costa Rican pro surfer Brisa Hennessy was forced to withdraw from the MEO Rip Curl Pro at Portugal's Supertubos, the third stop on the CT, due to a broken eardrum.

The injury took place in her second heat after scoring a 5.67 surfing against Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons in her first.

While sidelined in recovery, Hennessy took to social media yesterday to share a positive message.

Related: Watch: Hawaii Longboard Champ Kelia Moniz Shares Details on Roxy Split

Hennessy captioned the post above:

"A ruptured ear drum making me hear things differently. We can do hard things, if we believe in ourselves.

"Not being able to hear very well has been a challenge, but there are always lessons if we are open to listen.. I've noticed my inner voice telling me I'm not good enough or judging myself, but what if we make our inner voice our friend, our greatest motivator and teacher.

"We can do hard things if we believe in ourselves! Let's make our mind a more beautiful place to be."

Speaking to the camera, Hennessy says that that rupturing her eardrum has had her "thinking a lot about challenge" and our perception of hard times as either a "curse or a blessing."

Challenges, she says, "Sometimes give us messages we never would've got if we didn't go through it."

She then gets very candid about her inner thoughts and says:

"I just hear the thought patterns, the inner voice that is constantly picking myself apart. Either being overwhelmed with uncertainty or judging myself in the mirror or thinking I'm not good enough. All things that I think sometimes we don't realize that we're constantly telling ourselves."

She says that instead of giving into those thoughts, give "power to the friend within."

Finally, she says:

"Because we can do hard things if we believe in ourselves. We live in our head a lot. Let's make it a more beautiful, nurturing place to be."

When life hands you lemons...

***

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Actor Gene Wilder, star of the original "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" and beloved Mel Brooks films "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein," was on his fourth marriage at the time of his death in 2016 from complications of Alzheimer's disease but his widow, Karen Boyer, is not the name he's most often associated with.

For many, the next name to come to mind when thinking of Wilder's is Gilda Radner, a member of "Saturday Night Live's" original ensemble who Wilder met and fell in love with while co-staring in Sidney Poitier's "Hanky Panky" in 1981, marrying a few years later and remaining together until her death from ovarian cancer in 1989. And although their relationship remains at the forefront of fans' memory the new documentary, "Remembering Gene Wilder," makes it clear that she was not the love of his life and that Wilder was unhappy in their relationship for years. A fact that's difficult to come to terms with.

In a 2018 interview with Woman's World, Brian Scott Mednick, author of the biography "Gene Wilder: Funny and Sad," touched upon this, saying, "Gene called Karen the great love of his life. It was his fourth marriage and the longest; he died shortly before their 25th wedding anniversary. Gene admitted he was very unhappy for a long time with Gilda. He didnt think hed get married again, and he said he didnt believe in fate." And in this new documentary directed by Ron Frank, Boyer is candid about the great love they shared, even revealing Wilder's last words to her just prior to passing away.

She describes the last conversation they had as taking place while listening to Ella Fitzgerald's classic song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," saying, "The music was playing in the background and I was lying next to him and he sat up in bed and he said, 'I trust you.' And then he said, 'I love you.' That's the last thing he said."

Watch the trailer for "Remembering Gene Wilder," playing in theaters in New York now prior to national release:
There are a lot of elements that make Bobby Flay a celebrated -- and celebrity -- chef. His charm, charisma, and cooking have made him a household name, especially in culinary corners. Flay has lit up restaurant kitchens and TV screens with easy air and a signature cooking style, which is informed by the flavors of the American Southwest. So it may come as a shock to some that his latest restaurant, located in Las Vegas' Caesar's Palace Hotel and Casino, is a French brasserie. But these bustling eateries are near and dear to Flay's heart and he's always wanted to bring one of these restaurants to one of the nation's busiest cities. That said, he is definitely putting his own touch on the menu of French classics, a move that will no doubt have fans excited to try Brasserie B.

In an exclusive interview, Tasting Table senior editor Alexandra Cass spoke with Flay about his new venture and how he's intermingling Southwestern ingredients into Gallic gastronomy. A raw bar is pretty typical at many French restaurants, and it is usually a spartan affair that places the spotlight squarely on the seafood's incumbent flavors. Flay, though, eschews the typical, bringing a bit of spice to the raw bar by way of a commonly used French pepper. "Espelette is a French pepper, and so I created a hot sauce based on that flavor and that ingredient," Flay explains. "And that kind of permeates all the things in the raw bar."

Read more: The 20 Best Olive Oils For Cooking

Bobby Flay Is Turning Up The European Heat

espelette peppers - Mike Workman/Shutterstock

Frequently referred to by their full French name, piment d'espelette, espelette peppers are grown in southwestern France and Spain's Basque country. The chiles are often dried and ground to create a spice that is milder than, say, cayenne, but fruitier.

The espelette hot sauce works its way into many of the raw bar dishes at Brasserie B. For the scallops Sophie -- a dish Flay named after his daughter -- hot sauce and crunchy fried garlic bring texture and depth to the silky raw scallops. And that's not the only touch of heat coming with the seafood. "The prawn cocktail, for instance, it's got smoked chilies in the cocktail sauce," Flay says. "The blue crab cocktail, it's sauce verte, so it's got some tomatillos and roasted green chilies in it."

Elsewhere on the menu, Flay keeps up the heat with flourishes that mirror the cooking he is known for, but with unexpected ingredients. The flavors of Spain come alive in a dish he calls clams Barcelona that is redolent of not just shellfish, but smoke and sausage. "You get this cast-iron dish filled with these clams that are beautifully gratined, when you taste the flavor, you're going to taste the smokiness of the paprika, you're going to taste the spiciness of the chorizo," says Flay.

Click here for more information, or to make reservations at Brasserie B. The restaurant is open daily from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for brunch and 4:30 to 10 p.m. for dinner.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Reviewed by Alicia Bigelow, ND

Youre scrolling through your TikTok feed and see a creator making the weirdest facial expressions lifting their cheekbones to mimic a Joker-like smile or making kissy faces at the ceiling. Youre probably thinking, What kind of weird trend is everyone doing now? The answer? An ancient practice called face yoga.

Face yoga is exactly what it sounds like: yoga for the face. Face yoga refers to facial exercises intended to improve the appearance of facial skin through muscle toning, improved blood flow and lymphatic circulation, and relaxation, says Dr. Brendan Camp, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist at Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery centers.

Though the practice is mainly used as a non-invasive, natural alternative to cosmetic procedures like injections, face yoga also hosts a range of mental health benefits like stress relief and mindfulness. This article explores the psychological and physical benefits of face yoga and how one can start incorporating face yoga into their self-care routines.

Olga Kozicka / Stocksy

What Is Face Yoga?

Typically used for anti-aging, face yoga is the act of working out facial muscles [to] help slow or even reverse the aging process, explains NYC-based board-certified dermatologist Michael Tassavor. Weve long known that the aging process affects not only the skin but also the fat and muscle layers of the face. Exercising your face, that is, gently stretching and massaging your facial muscles, strengthens the skin and adds volume.







Takeaway

As we get older, Dr. Tassavor explains, the elasticity in our skin decreases, thus causing wrinkles and fine lines. People opt for injections and fillers because they target specific muscles like the masseter muscle, the medically correct term for the jawline, to plump up any sagging areas and add definition. But you can achieve the same results naturally by enlarging your facial muscles through routine exercise, he adds.









Annelise Hagen, the creator of the first face yoga course, started doing face yoga nearly 20 years ago after accidentally discovering the practice while training as a yoga teacher. Though she mostly uses face yoga for self-care and relaxation, she does credit it for her youthful appearance saying, Its not a substitution for, say, Botox, [but] it does tone and lift your face and makes you look more rejuvenated.



Related: A Lymphatic Drainage Massage May Be What Your Self-Care Routine Needs

How Does Face Yoga Work?

Dr. Tassavor says to think of your facial muscles like the ones in your arms or legs: the more you train them, the stronger they grow and the bigger they are. You retrain your muscles by doing certain exercises to target specific areas. Its the same process for your face, albeit on a smaller scale. And like other muscles in the body, results only occur if youre working out consistently.

Camp cites one 2018 study as evidence, stating that the report found there was mid-face and lower face fullness after 20 weeks of daily 30-minute exercises. Even moving your face every day for just eight weeks shows the slightest bit of improvement, Dr. Tassavor says.







Takeaway

However, there is insufficient definite research to conclude that face yoga can fully reverse wrinkles and fine linesor at least not as much as Botox. So, you wont get a natural facelift as some yoga practitioners claim, but you will see some muscle hypertrophy (an increase in muscle mass) in the face and a slightly slimmer appearance.









Furthermore, Dr. Tassavor adds that slim research speaks to the mental health benefits of face yoga. However, there are some studies that report slight improvements in mental health attitudes after routine exercises.



The Benefits of Face Yoga for Self-Care

The research may not have caught up to the mental health benefits of face yoga, but for yogis like Hagen, face yoga acts as a form of self-care. She says its like ugly crying, where you make the weirdest facial expressions but feel so much lighter afterward. She describes yoga as a medicine that made her happy and helped her function.

It also helped regulate her nervous system when she was in a fight-or-flight state.

Yoga is one of the main ways [to] help you switch your nervous system from sympatheticfight or flightto parasympathetic, she says. And parasympathetic is the relaxation response. Those struggling with anxiety can use face yoga to regulate their nervous system and soothe their anxiousness. Practicing facial exercises can bring your body into a more slow, calm state of relaxation, she says, which can help stop that loop of anxiety and stress.

Even if you dont struggle with depression or other mental health conditions, face yoga can still be a form of self-care. Dr. Tassavor says the physical benefits of face yoga (i.e. a slimmer face) greatly improve ones mood and overall self-confidence.

We know that there is a certain mind-body connection when it comes to muscles of facial expression, he says. Botox, for example, is thought to improve mood through facial feedback. Internal feelings drive facial muscles, which drive facial expression. The reverse can also be true  certain expressions can drive internal feelings! Reducing tension in muscles we commonly tense in anger and anxiety can thus improve your mood.

How Do I Start Face Yoga?

The best way to start is to just go for it, Dr. Tassavor says. He recommends Fumiko Takatsus Face Yoga Method on YouTube for beginners as it's easy and simple enough to incorporate into your daily routine. Hagen says classic exercises like Lions Breathopening your mouth and eyes really wide and exhaling your breath slowly, making a distinct ah soundand Kissing the Ceilingtitling your head upright and puckering your clips to make a kissare good starting points for new yoga practitioners.







Takeaway

There arent any safety concerns when it comes to facial yoga, but both Dr. Camp and Dr. Tassavor advise caution when stretching certain areas of the skin, specifically around the eye and forehead.









The static lines that appear on our foreheads, between our eyebrows, and around our eyes develop as a result of repeated facial muscle contractions over time, Dr. Camp explains. When practicing face yoga, the emphasis should not be on repeated facial muscle contraction at the risk of making these types of static lines more pronounced.



Related: Need a Breather? Try These 9 Breathing Exercises to Relieve Anxiety

What Is the Best Face Yoga Method?

Every yoga exercise targets a specific area in the face, so theres no best method to choose from. Its all about which area youre looking to improve.

For example, The Baby Birdputting the tongue to the roof of your mouth and trying to smile while also swallowingworks the platysma muscle to strengthen your jaw and add definition. Its one of Hagens top five exercises but is difficult for beginners as it triggers their gag reflex. She recommends trying it first with water or saliva.

If youre looking for a subtle facelift, try Smelling the Cheese. Press your fingers into your cheekbones with slight pressure and slowly move them upwards to your temple. Dont stretch or pull, Hagen warns. You have to put fingertip pressure on it because the face muscles can't lift weights, she says. So, you give them resistanceand that smooths, blends, and lifts up the muscles of the cheeks.

You can also try the following exercises:

Sideways smiling . On one side of your face, lift your lips and smile while keeping your other side neutral. This targets uneven smiles and brings symmetry back to the face.

Mewing. Take your tongue and plaster it on your palate. This tones the chin and adds definition.







Incorporating Face Yoga into Your Self-Care Routine

Dr. Tassavor says you can easily add yoga to your skincare or wellness routine. Try incorporating it into your morning care routines, daily commute, or time in the shower, he recommends. New habits are best built around new ones. And try to stick to it every day!







How Quickly Does Face Yoga Work?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but itll take a couple of weeks to see any anti-aging changes on your face. Progress is slow, Dr. Tassavor says, with results that can take at least eight weeks to notice.

But if you are using face yoga as an emotional regulator or a coping mechanism, the timeline is different. Hagen says she feels instantly calmer after completing her routine, but everyones nervous system and mental health are different. The key is to curate a custom routine by experimenting with different facial exercises and finding the ones that best meet your mental and physical health needs. Make sure your routine aligns with your lifestyle so it easily fits into your life.

Precautions and Considerations

Not only is practicing face yoga safe every day but its also encouraged. As with all exercise, consistency is the only way to see results. However, you should be cautious of where on the face youre working out, Dr. Tassavor warns. While muscle contraction can build volume, remember that it is this very motion that can also cause wrinkles in the first place! he says. My advice is to pay attention to areas [where] you may be developing wrinkles already and avoid any exercises that could potentially worsen them.







Takeaway

And, as always, consult a dermatologist or relevant expert if youre concerned about damaging your skin. Face yoga may strengthen your muscles and produce collagen, but sometimes the skinjust like the bodydoes what it wants.







Read the original article on Verywell Mind.
In the Monday, March 18 episode of Days of our Lives, there were three men, John Black, his son, Brady, and Stefan DiMera, who were in a bad place mentally and emotionally. They each had differing reasons for their angst and pain. Those reasons were both external and internal. Fortunately for two of those men, they have a village of support to help save them from themselves. However, one may be on his own because, so far, his so-called brother has threatened to send him to Siberia, North Korea, or Afghanistan where hed live all by his lonesome.

John Black in Crisis: Wants to Turn Himself In for Catherinas Death

John (Drake Hogestyn) is understandably and validly distraught over discovering he may have killed Konstantins (John Kapelos) daughter as The Pawn. First, he doesnt have one hundred percent proof that The Pawn did it. He knows what Konstantin  a noted con man  told him. What does its the eyes mean anyway? Second, Steve (Stephen Nichols) saw nothing that went down. Steve apparently blocked this incident out for years as well. So, nobodys witness accounts can truly be believed. Third, John remembers nothing.

Heres the thing: John is a good guy and if somebody tells him he killed their daughter, hes going to believe them (he will punish himself more than anyone else can). And hes going to want to do whatever he can to make up for that pain and loss. Hell make the after-the-fact sacrifice. Marlena (Deidre Hall) may have talked him out of turning himself into the authorities for now, but it is not off the table.

Who Will Help John: Marlena will need to lead the charge to save John here, with help from family and other friends like Steve. But, John and Marlenas love will always get them through anything and everything.

Brady Black in Crisis: Thinks Hes a Bad Parent

Brady (Eric Martsolf) doesnt think hes a good parent. In fact, he felt he was such a bad parent that his first instinct was to turn down Eric (Greg Vaughan  who had a recent health crisis) when his half-brother asked him to be Judes godfather. Good thing Eric didnt let this matter go. After all, the alternative was to let Leo (Greg Rikaart) take Bradys place. No way that was ever going to happen.

Brady has taken one punch after another in the parenting department. Tate (Jamie Martin Mann) currently resides in a halfway house. Hes falsely imprisoned, but despite everything Bradys tried to do, he hasnt been able to keep his son out of trouble. Meanwhile, he barely ever sees his daughter, Rachel (Finley Rose Slater), thanks to his toxic relationship with her mother Kristen (Stacy Haiduk).

Who Will Help Brady: Brady will have to help himself primarily. He will have to believe in himself and find the strength to be the best parent for his children. But, it also doesnt hurt to be part of one of the best families around. The rest of the Bradys and the Blacks are simply a call or a visit away. For example, Eric didnt let Brady give into his insecurities and now Brady will be the best godfather Jude needs.

Stefan DiMera in Crisis: Wants to Avoid Prison for Shooting Harris

Poor Stefan (Brandon Barash). Hes screwed. Clyde (James Read) has been holding Gabis safety over his head and now Harris (Steve Burton) is holding his freedom over his head. Whats more, he unwisely turned to EJ (Daniel Feuerriegel) for help getting out of town to escape jail for shooting Harris. The mustached DiMera cant win.

In fact, hes losing big time. He struck whats probably the worst deal of all deals, but he had no choice. With EJs help, he wont pass go; instead, hell hop planes, trains, and automobiles (via trunks) to far-off lands. His itinerary will take him to either Siberia, Afghanistan, or North Korea. Unfortunately for Stefan, his overthinking propelled him from the frying pan into the fire. Sure, he may not end up alone in a faraway land, but he may end up in isolation anyway. When he appeared at Avas door, Harris was right there to out Stefans assassination attempt.

Who Will Help Stefan: It looks like there arent many who can help Stefan, unless Gabi suddenly gets out of jail. Will Ava side with him once she finds out hes the one who shot Harris? Only time will tell. Stefan needs a miracle to help him escape this dire situation of his own making.

What do you think these men in crisis can do to help themselves? Who will be there to support them? Leave your comments below.

The best place for true soap fans to be is our Facebook groups. Have you joined? If you love soap spoilers, gossip, and fans as dedicated as yourself, check out Days of Our Lives Fans, General Hospital Exclusive, The Young and the Restless Fans, and The Bold and the Beautiful Fans.
Home of jazz music and the never-ending party, New Orleans is known around the world as a city where indulgences reign. In the heart of the French Quarter, no one would bat an eye if you drank a bit too much, ate a bit more than usual, or wore a bit less than you typically would. Say you've never heard of blackened redfish, though, and some locals may balk. While blackened chicken has gained national notoriety as a coveted salad topper and the star of Popeyes Blackened Chicken Sandwich, the technique that creates its signature spicy char was originally developed as a way to showcase southern Louisiana's local flavors.

Now a classic New Orleans food, blackened redfish debuted in 1980 at K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen, a former French Quarter institution famous for giving the world its first big taste of cajun cooking. Dredged in butter, crusted with Cajun spices, and charred in a cast iron skillet, the dish was the crowning creation of chef Paul Prudhomme, a rising culinary star from Opelousas, Louisiana who previously helmed the kitchen at Commander's Palace. It was there, in one of the most iconic restaurants in the Big Easy food scene, that Prudhomme began grilling up the well-seasoned gulf fish. Not until he opened K-Paul's and found himself without a grill, however, did he develop the blackening technique that would transform the culinary zeitgeist.

Read more: This Is How Spam Is Really Made

After The Dish Became Popular, Redfish Almost Went Extinct

Blackened fish with rice - vm2002 / Shutterstock

One March evening in 1980, Paul Prudhomme served his pan-seared blackened redfish to a small group at K-Paul's, and to say it was well-received would be an understatement. Once word got out, everyone wanted a taste of Prudhomme's new creation. "It seemed like within days the restaurant was full," he told The Times-Picayune in 2005, adding, "And within weeks there were huge lines" (per NOLA.com). In 1983, Prudhomme began hosting pop-ups in major cities like New York and San Francisco, where customers waited for hours on end to try the dish.

Prudhomme's blackened redfish was selling at such an impressive rate that in 1988, Louisiana's Wildlife and Fisheries Commission enacted a temporary ban, forbidding commercial fishermen from catching redfish in hopes of preventing their extinction. As such, chefs began using the technique on other proteins, creating dishes like blackened chicken, steak, shrimp, and snapper. K-Paul's even offered a blackened pork chop on its menu, though Prudhomme told the LA Times in 1986 that his favorite blackened dish was a medium-rare tuna filet.

While blackened meats are often touted as supremely spicy, the late Prudhomme wanted people to know that "blackened" shouldn't be synonymous with heat. "I see people dumping red pepper on food and I feel like crying," Prudhomme told Detroit Free Press in 2015, adding, "They can't taste anything but the pepper. Cajun foods have tons of different flavors. Don't cover them up."

Read the original article on Mashed.
A man has shown how his temporary tattoo from Ephemeral Tattoo has lasted much longer than he anticipated.

In a viral video shared to TikTok by user Brandon Wake (@heybrandonwakeup), he claimed he received an Ephemeral tattoo two full years ago and it has yet to fade away. Remember a couple years ago when we had those Ephemeral tattoos that were supposed to last only nine to 12 months, he began his TikTok, which has since been viewed more than one million times.

Well, I got one and Im here to give you an update, Wake continued. It has officially been two full years since I got that temporary tattoo, and this is what it looks like.

He positioned the camera to show off a large deer tattooed onto his upper thigh, noting how Ephemeral tattoos at the time were advertised as fully fading away between nine and 15 months after getting the tattoo.

Its huge, its on my thigh, Wake said, giving the camera a closer look at his deer tattoo. The TikToker alleged that his Ephemeral tattoo was a scam and expressed his frustration over the tattoo being visible after two years.

It was a scam. They scammed us, he said. What really kills me is not so much that I was scammed but that Im going to have a very ugly-looking fading tattoo for way longer than I ever wouldve thought, maybe even up to a year.

Wake said he felt lied to by the tattoo studio but added that Ephemeral went out of business in September 2023.

Ephemeral Tattoo, a Brooklyn-based tattoo studio, opened in 2021 promising real tattoos that fade within a year. The shop claimed its revolutionary ink was specially formulated to fade, with co-owners Brennal Pierre and Vandan Shah previously telling Harpers Bazaar that their ink was biocompatible and biodegradable to break down over time.

The ink was reportedly made of a medical grade solution with carefully selected pigments that allow your body to naturally remove it over time, and was developed by both PhDs in chemical engineering and top dermatologists.

Pierre and Shah, who both hold PhDs in chemical engineering from New York University, said that they began the process of creating the special ink in 2014, and that they tried and tested 50 formulas during that time.

Upon opening in 2021, the company told customers that Ephemeral ink was designed to fade in about nine to 15 months. However, hundreds of former customers later complained that their Ephemeral tattoos took much longer than 15 months to completely fade away.

In February 2023, the company sent out an email to customers with updated guidelines and product expectations. In the letter, CEO Jeff Liu noted that 70 per cent of all Ephemerals will disappear in under two years or longer, based on the tattoos design and body placement.

He also introduced the companys Regret Nothing Guarantee, which offered customers a refund if their tattoo lasted longer than three years. While fade times vary, your Ephemeral will 100 per cent fade away. To minimise ambiguity, we promise your money back if your tattoo lasts longer than three years, Liu said.

While Ephemeral Tattoos website once claimed its tattoos would be gone in a year, according to the New York Times, the companys website has since been updated with the tagline: Real Tattoos. Fade Within Three Years.

Speaking to Refinery29 in December, the CEO acknowledged that customers were left disappointed by the companys original marketing claim that Ephemeral tattoos would fade away within nine to 15 months. Its important for me to take responsibility for that, Liu told the outlet. Its important for us to hear the feedback, have that conversation, and use that feedback to get better over time. Our newest fade durations reflect that.

In a statement to The Independent, Liu said that Ephemeral Tattoo remains committed to being transparent with customers about tattoo variability and fade duration.

With over 20,000 customers to-date, we know we bear a big responsibility to have the safest and most reliable tattoo product possible in the world. We consider any disappointed customer to be a major shortcoming on our part, said Liu in an email. Despite doing our best to educate customers on the number of variables they can experience with Ephemeral tattoos (not unlike permanent tattoos), the ultimate product goal at Ephemeral is to reduce that variability in tattoo healing, ink vibrancy, ink usability and of course, fade duration experiences.

Liu emphasised that Ephemeral ink is the only naturally disappearing tattoo ink in the world and has undergone nine years of research, development, and major improvement cycles.

While it doesnt change any disappointment past customer experiences may have had, the truth is the newest Ephemeral ink iterations on the market have greatly reduced the variability customers can expect, he said. And while there will certainly be more product innovation on the horizon, customers can continue to expect that Ephemerals product claims will continue being transparent, context rich and reflective of the actual data available.

Ephemeral Tattoos announced in September last year that it was closing all studios throughout the United States. Customers received an email and the company posted a "New Chapter" update on Instagram, sharing that it will be selling Ephemeral ink to existing tattoo studios and artists.

Our studios have welcomed 20,000 customers. Thank you to those of you who have come through our studio doors and the artists and customer experience team for bringing the brand to life, Ephemeral Tattoos said at the time. Were incredibly proud of what we built in a short time.
The Little White Schoolhouse also known as the Birthplace of the Republican Party in 2021 in Ripon, Wisconsin. Political members met here in 1854 and started the first steps of developing the Republican Party.

If you're a Republican  or just interested in the history of one of the United States' oldest political parties  it all started in a little white schoolhouse in Wisconsin.

Here's what to know about the official birthplace of the Republican Party, also known as the Grand Old Party, or GOP.

Why was the Republican Party formed?

In early 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act  a bill that ended a 30-year compromise barring the expansion of slavery in the United States  sparked a political firestorm. The Whig Party, the more conservative of the two major U.S. political parties in the mid-19th century, had a sizable anti-slavery contingent, particularly in the northern states, but the party straddled the fence on the measure. As debate over the bill continued, anti-slavery forces among the Whigs  and in the rival Democratic Party  continued to look for a political Plan B.

How did the Republican Party get its start in Ripon, Wisconsin?

Alvan E. Bovay, a politically active developer and speculator from New York, settled in Ripon in 1850. Bovay had already talked with Horace Greeley, a key player in the Whig Party and a powerful New York newspaper editor, about uniting anti-slavery-minded voters in a new party under the name "Republican." On March 1, 1854, Bovay called a meeting in Ripon for people to "remonstrate against the Nebraska swindle." After the Senate voted in favor of the Nebraska-Kansas Act, Bovay called another meeting, this one to form a new organization.

The first public school building in Ripon was where the Republican Party was born at a meeting on March 20, 1854. From 1860 to 1908, the building was a private residence. Here, it's shown in the days when it was the home of newspaper publisher and politician George W. Peck, who went on to be elected mayor of Milwaukee and governor of Wisconsin on 1890.

When did the Republican Party start?

The second meeting was held at a school in Ripon, later known as the Little White Schoolhouse. Going house to house and even stopping people in the street, Bovay recruited 54 voters  some Whigs, some Democrats and some members of the Free Soil Party, a single-issue party opposed to the expansion of slavery  to come to a meeting at the schoolhouse on March 20, 1854. Attendees agreed to dissolve the town's Whig and Free Soil parties and create a new entity called the Republican Party. After the U.S. House and President Franklin Pierce also approved the Nebraska-Kansas Bill, more anti-slavery types around the country flocked to the Republican Party banner.

Michigan also has claimed that it's the birthplace of the GOP. Why?

With protests against the expansion of slavery growing across the North, a mass "anti-Nebraska" convention had been planned in Jackson, Michigan, for July 6, 1854, to nominate a statewide anti-slavery ticket. Greeley reached out to organizers and urged them to adopt the name "Republican" for the party at the convention, which they did. (Similar anti-slavery conventions followed elsewhere; attendees at state conventions in Wisconsin and Vermont the following week also adopted the Republican Party label.)

Two years later, the Republican Party held its first national convention, nominating John C. Fremont for president.

For years, the Republican National Committee's website included the Ripon meeting and the Jackson convention in its origin story. By 2011, both events had been wiped from the RNC's site, but the 1856 convention was still mentioned. Today, the wording cites 1854 but is otherwise vague, saying the party was "initially united in 1854 by the promise to abolish slavery."

While some in Michigan hold to the claim that the Jackson convention was the true birth of the GOP, the city of Jackson itself seems to soft-pedal its birthplace status. The site of the 1854 Jackson convention is now Under the Oaks, a small city park; while the park has markers and monuments citing the convention, the city's website for the park notes only that "some attribute this event as the start of the Republican Party, making Jackson the birthplace of the party."

The Little White Schoolhouse, in which the Republican Party was founded in 1854, is transported from the Ripon College campus to a site on the grounds of the Republican Education Foundation in 1852. The schoolhouse would move again, for a fourth time in 2023.

Can you visit the site where the Republican Party was formed in Ripon, Wisconsin?

Ripon has shown no hesitation in asserting its GOP birthplace bona fides.

For a time, the Little White Schoolhouse was a private residence, and was the home of newspaper publisher, author and politician George W. Peck, who had been elected mayor of Milwaukee and governor of Wisconsin in the 1890s.

By the 75th anniversary of the 1854 meeting in 1929, the schoolhouse fully embraced its birthplace status, and became a requisite stop for Republican politicians from Wendell Willkie to Joseph McCarthy.

1940 Republican candidate for president Wendell Willkie (center, speaking into the microphone) speaks in front of the Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon on March 20, 1944. The Republican Party was founded in the schoolhouse in 1854.

The Little White Schoolhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, by which time the building had been moved twice. In 2023, the schoolhouse, now a museum, was moved for the third time to a newer commercial district in Ripon, in a bid to bring more visitors.

Run by a nonprofit, the Little White Schoolhouse Museum is open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and on weekends through the month of September. Admission is free.

Sources: senate.gov; "The Origin of the Republican Party" by A.F. Gilman (pamphlet from the Ripon Historical Society, 1914); cityofjackson.org; riponhistory.org; lwsh.org.

Sen. Joseph McCarthy (marked with an arrow) is mobbed by young autograph seekers after he addresses a gathering of about 2,000 people at at an event marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republican Party in Ripon on June 5, 1954.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about the birthplace of the Republican Party in Wisconsin
Berlin, Hamburg, Munich. Theyre all well-loved weekend destinations known for avant-garde clubs, cultural intrigue, hearty food, and the spectacle that is Oktoberfest. But one of Germanys most intriguing cities has been flying under the tourist radar for decades. As Germanys financial hub, Frankfurt has always had a somewhat dowdy reputation, but the metropolis is anything but boring. Now, the once shady city is having its moment in the spotlight thanks to an influx of creative street art, an epic food scene, and the rise in design-led hotels like Roomers Frankfurt.

Part of Germanys Gekko Group, the hotel takes up residence in an abandoned office block close to the citys River Main. While the facade feels a tad soulless, once the propertys huge matte black doors  emblazoned with Gekkos Scarab-esque style logo  are opened, a sanctuary of sumptuous interiors and intrigue unfolds.

Where?

Ideally located, just a ten-minute walk from the slightly ominous surroundings of Frankfurts main train station, the five-star hotel has made its home in the vibrant Westend district, away from the bustle of Frankfurts historical market square of Romerberg. The rest of the city, and its plethora of museums and galleries is easy to reach on foot or bicycle since the whole city, it seems, gets around on two wheels, especially during weekends when traffic often overwhelms the central towns cobbled streets.

Roomers Frankfurt (Roomers Frankfurt)

Just a 1 hour, 30-minute flight from Londons terminals, return flights can be snagged for as little as 32 (crazily, thats less than most London to Brighton return train services).

Style

A lot of deep mauves, and other dark, seductive tones, along with sheer black drapes, and low lighting give Roomers Frankfurt a boudoir-style air, albeit more sophisticated than that sounds, Roomers Frankfurt exudes sleek, understated luxury.

Communal areas, including the bar and the hotels Asian cum Californian restaurant, are known somewhat as Frankfurt institutions with locals in the know descending regularly for heady evening cocktails or uninhibited weekend escapades, and yet, the place never feels crowded. Lacquered black surfaces, high-shine coffee table books, and wispy dried pampas grass interspersed with peacock plumes add to the communal space decor. Theres even customised design-focused merch available to buy in the lobby, ACID emblazoned cap, anyone?

Which room?

Expect boudoir-style decor in the 400-plus rooms (Roomers Frankfurt)

With impressive views of the Frankfurt skyline and its densely concentrated clusters of high-rise buildings, room 414 is hard to beat. The expansive suite marries comfort with artistic flair providing the ideal sanctuary to rest and rejuvenate after a day viewing the citys impressive murals, whats more, theres a bathtub that seems to be big enough for four. Backed by a golden padded headboard the comfy bed is dressed in satiny soft sheets and also of epic proportions, while the colour theme of deep purple and sheer black continues throughout.

The room also features a desk area topped with a Marshall radio and an impressive array of drinks and snacks, from peanut M&Ms and bags of Haribo to Ruinart champagne and bottles of Gude beer. Aromatherapy-inspired bath and body products from German brand Daluma are supplied in all of the hotels 118 rooms from the petite category to Roomers Suite with its two bathrooms and own private lounge.

Food & Drink

The menu at Burbank is an eclectic mix including sushi and ceviche (Roomers Frankfurt)

A full buffet-style breakfast is included in room rates with everything youd usually expect of a five-star hotel, as well as added extras like fresh ginger shots and Bloody Marys to revive tired souls. The hotels restaurant Burbank opens daily for dinner and is housed in the same dining room where breakfast is served. Here the menu is an eclectic blend, featuring various plates of ceviche and translucent sashimi, as well as dishes like crispy fried duck with green papaya salad and Mr Ducs fire sauce smothered fried chicken wings. Its worth noting that cocktails are particularly good and extremely potent.

For lunch, its worth joining the queue, usually snaking out from an inconspicuous glass and tiled hole-in-the-wall in Kleinmarkthalle in central Frankfurt. The eatery in question, Schreiber, serves only a handful of German sausages, alongside bread and pickles. Lunch will cost you less than 5 and will surely put a smile on your face.

Extracurricular

Boasting over 30 murals Frankfurt has a remarkable street art scene with many famed urban artists hailing from the very city itself. Andreas von Chrzanowski, otherwise known as Case Maclaim, is one such artist whose photorealist work often focuses on human body parts, particularly hands and fingers, in great detail.

Renowned in the art scene, Maclaims impressive large-scale pieces can not only be seen in and around Frankfurt but on city buildings across the world from Tbilisi, Georgia, and USAs Milwaukee to Vienna, Austria.

(Roomers Frankfurt)

Best for

Anyone hankering after an exciting weekend getaway. With its deeply relaxing spa, dimly-lit spacious bedrooms, and provocative vibe Roomers Frankfurt provides the ideal base for couples, solo travellers, or friends, but go now. Frankfurt's popularity is on the up so this buzzy, walkable, city wont be this crowdless forever.

Double rooms available from 135 with breakfast included. roomers-hotels.com
On March 13, 2024 they ranges from 91,000-92,000 VND per kilo (Photo: VNA)

On March 13, they ranged from 91,000-92,000 VND per kilo, which doubled those in the same period last year, and rose 30% over late 2023.

According to insiders, strong growth in exports has been a major factor leading to the domestic price hikes.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said that Vietnam exported 438,000 tonnes of coffee in the first two months of this year for 1.38 billion USD, a rise of 27.9% in volume and 85% in value over the same period last year.

In the first five months of the 2023-2024 coffee crop, Vietnam has shipped abroad 764,802 tonnes of coffee with a revenue of 2.36 billion USD, up 1.5% in volume and 39.4% in value compared to the same period of last crop.

Largest markets of Vietnamese coffee include Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain.

Le Duc Huy, General Director of Simexco Daklak, said that the world's demand for Vietnamese Robusta coffee is high, while the domestic supply is lower than in previous years.

The Vietnam Coffee Cocoa Association (Vicofa) estimated that the coffee output in the 2024-2024 crop drops about 10% compared to the previous crop due to shrunken farming area, while inventories from the previous crop is at the lowest in many years and equivalent to one-third of that in the previous crop. This has led to a supply shortage, it said.

The MARD said that ICE-monitored Robusta coffee inventories as of the end of February continued to decline to a record low of 19,600 tonnes (326,667 sacks of 60 kilos), the lowest since 2014.

The International Coffee Organisation predicted that the coffee production of Indonesia will fall 16.6% in the 2023-2024 crop due to prolonged rains.

Meanwhile, Brazils coffee output in the 2024-2025 crop (from July 2024 to June 2025) is forecast to rise 4.2%.

Despite the high prices, experts warned farmers to carefully choose the appropriate time to sell their coffee as it is tough to give any forecast in coffee price fluctuations, which means coffee prices may continue to set new records or slump.

Expanded land use rights expected to attract OV investment in real estate

Apartment buildings in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)

The expansion of land use rights for overseas Vietnamese (OV) in the recently passed 2024 Land Law is good news for OVs who want to own real estate in Vietnam, reported Vietnam News Agency.

Experts from Savills Vietnam said that this is even more meaningful considering the strong remittance flow to Vietnam in 2023, which exceeded 16 billion USD, up 32% annually, they said.

The 2024 Land Law, taking effect on January 1, 2025, introduces significant changes for OV land users. They will be entitled to almost all the land use rights previously reserved for Vietnamese citizens. Additionally, foreign-invested economic entities and people of Vietnamese origin abroad will benefit from the expanded rights, including receiving transferred land use rights and re-renting land use rights at industrial and hi-tech parks.

This change will bring more investment opportunities for the OV homebuyer group, said Deputy Managing Director of Savills Vietnam Troy Griffiths.

Illustrative image (Photo: baodautu.vn)

According to the Savills Vietnam experts, in the past, OVs wanting to invest in property in Vietnam had to do so via family members or relatives, resulting in disputes. The new Land Law has solved this problem, facilitating investment and minimising risks for OV investors.

Statistics provided by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs revealed a substantial flow of remittances into Vietnam. From 1993, the first year remittance data was collected, to the end of 2022, the total amount of remittances surpassed 190 billion USD, almost equal to the FDI sum disbursed in the same period.

A significant portion of remittances, primarily from Asian countries through workers, has already been directed towards real estate sector, according to Griffiths.

FPT opens new branch in Chinese city of Dalian

Leading Vietnamese IT service provider FPT Software announced on March 13 the inauguration of its latest office in Dalian, China, as part of efforts to better serve the billion-people market, reported VOV News.

At the opening ceremony of FPT's new office (Photo: cafef.vn)

Taking the advantages of its highly-skilled workforce which has diverse language proficiencies, the new office aims to provide high-quality information technology (IT) services to customers in Japan and China, with a specific target of extending its global customer base.

The opening of new branch will allow FPT to gain greater access to a high-quality talent pool of over 200,000 Japanese-proficient IT engineers locally, thereby serving its initial focus of supporting Japanese customers.

It can also help FPT to expand new business development opportunities, not only with Chinese businesses but also with thousands of Japanese businesses operating in Dalian.

Addressing the office opening ceremony, Chu Thi Thanh Ha, chairwoman of FPT Software, a subsidiary of FPT, stressed that as a leading IT firm in Vietnam, FPT aims to serve as a bridge for economic corporations among China, Japan, and Vietnam.

She expressed her belief that FPT Dalian can actively help to strengthen these relationships whilst promoting cross-border cooperation among companies there.

FPT Dalian will become FPTs third office in China, following Shanghai and Nanning offices launched in 2017 and 2023 respectively.

Vietnam maintains spot as world's sixth largest fibre exporter

Vietnam has continued to retain its position as the sixth largest fibre exporter in the world, just behind China and Bangladesh, and above the Republic of Korea, since 2022, reported VOV News.

Photo for illustration. (Source: VOV)

The General Department of Customs reported that in February alone Vietnam exported 282,059 tonnes of fibre and earned US$666.75 million, up 26.7% in volume and up 18.1% in value compared to the same period last year.

China made up Vietnams largest market as fiber exports reached 129,112 tonnes worth more than US$329 million, rising by 60% in volume and 35% on year on year.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) was the second largest consumer of Vietnamese fibre, spending US$74.1 million on 25,637 tonnes, showing increases of 4% in value and 19.5% in volume.

The United States ranked third, importing 24,598 tonnes valued at US$30.4 million, up 155% in volume and 508% in value.

Aside from these three major markets, Vietnam exported fibre to other large markets such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, Brazil, and Cambodia.

Since 2022 Vietnam has surpassed the Republic of Korea to become the world's sixth largest fiber exporter.

Last year saw Vietnamese fibre exports hit 1.7 million tonnes, valued at more than US$4.3 billion, up 13.4% in volume but down 7.6% in value against 2022./.


We recently reported that a new study found surfers to be "largely overlooked guardians of the beach."

Particularly, it found that acts of heroism are "surprisingly common" among surfers, and most conduct "an average of three rescues across their surfing career."

A few surfers in Ireland backed up that study when they rescued an entire family from "a riptide" on St. Patrick's Day.

Related: Video: 5X World Champ Carissa Moore Talks Surfing, Sisterhood, and Gold Medals

According to the story above by Irish newspaper, The Echo, "a family of four were dramatically rescued from a riptide by local surfers off a Cork beach" yesterday afternoon, on St. Patrick's Day.

The paper reported:

"A father, mother and their two teenage daughters were described by a spokesperson for the Valencia Coast Guard as being shaken following the brief encounter with strong currents at Garrettstown Beach.

It had potential to be a big incident, the spokesperson said.

"A surfer, and another member of the local Garrettstown Surf School assisted the family, bringing them ashore at 4.37pm.

"'They [the surfers] were very brave.'"

A Coast guard spokesperson told The Echo that the family was "caught in a riptide," and although they "were shaken," no further medical assistance was needed.

As the study mentioned above said, surfers are often in the right place at the right time to rescue people.

Writer Alastair Bland wrote an article about the study, which found that "male and female surfers conducted an average of three rescues across their surfing career."

Bland wrote that acts of heroism are "surprisingly common" for surfers.

"Scientists found that throughout their lives, surfers reportedly rescue an average of three people who are drowning or otherwise struggling in the water," he wrote.

***

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Christopher Flores unknowingly took a fentanyl-laced pill that put him in a coma

Janeth Balleza/GoFundMe Texas teenager Christopher Flores.

A teen from La Porte, Texas died the day before his 18th birthday after he unknowingly took a fentanyl-laced pill

Christopher Flores spent a week in the ICU on life support at Texas Childrens Hospital before dying on March 15

Local police authorities said his death may be treated as a homicide

A 17-year-old from La Porte, Texas has died after he unknowingly took a pill laced with fentanyl.

La Porte High School student Christopher Flores died Friday, a day before his 18th birthday, according to a report from local station FOX 26.

Flores was reportedly rushed to Texas Childrens Hospital on March 4 after he took the pill at an acquaintances house, not knowing it was laced with fentanyl. According to the outlet, the family shared the results of a toxicology report, which came back positive for fentanyl.

Those who know Chris know he is full of positivity, laughter, strength and always with a big bright shining smile on his face, said a GoFundMe shared to help the family pay for Flores' medical expenses while he was hospitalized and in coma fighting with all his might.

Related: Teen Works to Save Lives with Org After Cousin, 18, Died from Accidental Fentanyl Overdose: 'Talk Openly'

Google Maps La Porte High School in Houston, Texas.

Flores spent a week on life support in the intensive care unit before dying on March 15. The La Porte Police Department told Fox26 that theyve launched a criminal investigation, sharing that Flores death may be treated as a homicide.

Though he fought until the end, Chris did not pull through. He is now resting, the GoFundMe shared.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

This fund will now be provided to Chris mother to help with his funeral arrangements and any other unforeseen expenses. We ask for respect and continued support for the family in this incredibly difficult time. Again from the bottom of our hearts thank you!

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S., the CDC says.

Even in small doses, it can be deadly. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

And according to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, five people in the state die each day from fentanyl poisoning.



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Read the original article on People.
You can be confident that every time a United plane pulls away from the gate, everyone on our team is working together to keep you safe on your trip, Scott Kirby said.

Gary Hershorn/Getty Images

United Airlines CEO is assuring customers flying with the carrier is safe following a series of mid-air and on-the-ground incidents.

While they are all unrelated, I want you to know that these incidents have our attention and have sharpened our focus, Uniteds CEO Scott Kirby wrote in a memo to customers on Monday, which was shared with Travel + Leisure, adding Safety is our highest priority and is at the center of everything we do.

The memo was issued after a series of incidents over the past couple weeks, including an aircraft panel falling off mid-flight, an aircraft losing a wheel during takeoff, and a planes engine catching fire, according to CNN. Each of the incidents involved Boeing aircraft.

Kirby said the airline was reviewing the details of each case to understand what happened and using those insights to inform our safety training and procedures across all employee groups.

You can be confident that every time a United plane pulls away from the gate, everyone on our team is working together to keep you safe on your trip, Kirby added. I'm confident that we'll learn the right lessons from these recent incidents and continue to run an operation that puts safety first and makes our employees and customers proud.

The reassurance also comes as Boeing has been under scrutiny following a mid-air blowout of a plug door panel on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 flight in January. Following that, both Alaska and United found loose bolts and hardware on their planes and the aircraft was grounded for several weeks.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also said it would increase oversight of both Boeing and its suppliers.

Kirby has previously said United was reconsidering ordering Boeing 737 Max 10 planes in the future, the next and larger iteration of the aircraft.

Uniteds recent incidents involved Boeing jets of all ages, according to CNN, including one as old as 1998, and is not necessarily related to Boeings recent issues.

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An unprecedented outbreak of dengue fever is surging across Brazil, as the nation battles an epidemic that is straining resources and spreading well beyond the areas traditionally affected.

In cities across the vast country, hospitals and doctors are being stretched to the limit as more than 1.5 million people have already caught the virus  also known as breakbone fever  this year.

In Campinas, a city some 275 miles northwest of Sao Paulo, emergency room doctor Prof Andre Ribas Freitas said the situation was now critical.

The emergency room is overwhelmed there are too many patients and so there are long delays for a medical consultation, he told the Telegraph. The situation here is much worse [than previous years].

Thais dos Santos, an advisor at the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), said the epidemic was unique.

The way in which the epidemic curve grew early in the year was really concerning, it was growing much more quickly than we normally see, she said.

The virus, spread by mosquitoes, has already ripped through much of South America and the Caribbean.

Reported cases are close to two million so far this year, making it the seventh worst outbreak since 2000, according data from the PAHO.

In the first two months of this year alone, Peru was forced to declare a health emergency across much of the country, Paraguay registered more than five times the typical number of suspected cases for the period (almost 100,000), and vast swarms of mosquitoes coursed through Argentina.

But it is Brazil which is currently being hit hardest, with South Americas largest nation already reporting 1.5 million cases since January.

The region looks set to surpass the record-breaking epidemic in 2023  when 4.5 million cases were reported and hospitals were overrun  with epidemiologists expecting the number of dengue cases to more than double the previous record.

Dr Julio Henrique Rosa Croda, doctor and associate professor at the UFMS School of Medicine and Yale School of Public Health, said that some hospitals, mainly based in the capital, are already becoming overwhelmed.

The patients in places like Brasilia are suffering, they wait for six hours to be attended to in the capital of the country and we havent even reached the peak of the disease, said Dr Croda.

Prof Ribas Freitas  Professor of Epidemiology at Sao Leopoldo Mandic School of Medicine, Campinas  is concerned that the nations response is disjointed between federal, state and local authorities, while health officials have left it too late to stem the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the disease and thrives in cities.

The control of mosquitoes right now is not too efficient, because they are flying with the virus. The mosquito control is more efficient when you do it before [they hatch], in November, December  to avoid an epidemic even starting.

A limited vaccination campaign has been launched, but it is unlikely to be enough to halt the outbreak.

Authorities have started to roll out the Qdenga vaccine developed by the Japanese company Takeda, which has an overall efficacy of 61.2 per cent.

Yet Brazil  home to 214 million  has secured only enough doses to vaccinate 3.3 million people this year. To start with, just 521 cities will receive the vaccine, in a campaign targeting 10 and 11 year olds.

Scientists at Brazils Butantan Institute in Sao Paulo are also working on a promising shot, which had an 80 per cent efficacy against symptomatic cases after one dose in a recent trial, but it is unlikely to be ready for widespread distribution until at least 2025.

However, Dr Rafael Galliez, a professor of infectious and parasitic diseases, said he had seen a lot of hesitancy for the vaccine, which is administered in two doses with a three month interval.

He explained that people had questioned why they should get a dose in the middle of the epidemic, when it wouldnt fully protect them.

A health worker prepares to fumigate against the Aedes aegypti mosquito in Ceilandia about 16km from Brasilia - ANDRE BORGES/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A drone equipped with larvicide shooting technology is deployed in areas difficult to access for health workers in Sao Paulo, Brazil - Isaac Fontana/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Meanwhile, the World Mosquito Program has also released mosquitoes infected with the naturally occurring Wolbachia bacteria, which prevents the Aedes aegypti from being able to transmit dengue, in five areas.

The results are promising: Science reported that in Niteroi, where Wolbachia has been deployed since 2015, just 58 confirmed cases have been reported this year. Nearby Rio de Janeiro is 14 times bigger, but has seen 161 times more cases, with 9,355 detected since January.

The initiative will be expanded to six new Brazilian cities in the coming months, but scaling up the programme nationwide will be slow.

Complicating matters further is another mosquito-borne disease from the same family of arboviruses: chikungunya.

There are two epidemics at the same time, said Prof Ribas Freitas, who is concerned that chikungunya cases are being misdiagnosed in many areas.

The complications are very different  and if doctors dont know if a patient has dengue or chikungunya, they can interpret complications incorrectly, he says. I think this is a big, big problem right now.

A health worker holds the Barrigudinhos fish in a jar, a predator of the larvae of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, to be released into a pool to help mitigate a dengue outbreak - Pilar Olivares/REUTERS

A Ministry of Health worker sprays insecticide to prevent dengue inside a house in Lima, Peru - Sebastian Castaneda/REUTERS

Historically, dengue cases have been confined to tropical and subtropical regions in Asia, South America and Africa. But climate change means the mosquito that spreads the virus can thrive in new territories  bringing dengue with them.

There are also concerns that outbreaks are becoming larger and longer, fuelled by warming temperatures but also rapid urbanisation.

Major epidemics typically occur cyclically  every three to five years. But while South America and the Caribbean reported more than one million cases only twice in the 10 years between 2000 and 2009, infections have dropped below one million only twice since 2015.

The larger theme of these arboviral diseases reflects something outside of the scope of the health sector, says Santos. Climate change is not only the melting polar cap, it is also having a very tangible impact on health.

Globally, data on dengue transmission remains patchy, partly because cases are generally mild and can be misdiagnosed. But according to the World Health Organization, some 400 million people are infected with the virus  dubbed breakbone fever because severe joint pain can be one of the symptoms  each year, while at least 100 million become ill.

Although the death rate is generally low, the virus exacts a heavy toll on productivity and health systems, with some 500,000 people hospitalised annually and many more experiencing symptoms including fatigue and brain fog that can last for weeks.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security

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A black man enters a whites-only town in South Africa. What could possibly go wrong? The man in question is Ade Adepitan, the former Paralympian-turned-presenter.

In Whites Only: Ades Extremist Adventure (Channel 4), he visited Orania, a community set up by Afrikaaners and where the hillside is dotted with statues honouring the architects of apartheid. Orania is in the Karoo Desert, its original population of 40 families now swelled to 3,000. Prospective residents are interviewed about their knowledge of Afrikaaner traditions, language and Protestant faith. You dont have to be white to live there, but it helps (black residents: zero).

Adepitan is the first black person to stay a week in the town. At the outset, he declared: To me, they seem like racists. But Im going to set aside my prejudices. Which was a clunky way to start. Nobody was overtly racist to him and they skirted around their political beliefs.

If youre going to get under the skin of a place like this, you need a skilled observer and interviewer. My overriding thought was that Louis Theroux should have been doing this. Then I discovered that he already had  in his younger days he visited a Boer settlement in South Africa for an episode of Weird Weekends.

Adepitan was fine when looking around and chatting to the schoolboy whose grandfather founded the town (the boy was rehearsing a play which we were told was about homosexual monsters who look like monkeys and are outwitted by their clever, white neighbours). But he fell short when it came to intellectual debate.

At a dinner, the leader of the town council attempted to explain why his community werent happy with living in a democratic South Africa, by drawing parallels with Black Lives Matter supporters: They can vote, so why do they have riots? Rather than dissecting this argument, an indignant Adepitan responded that he supported the BLM movement, but didnt go out rioting, and the conversation pretty much ended there.

Adepitan was shocked to find an 18-year-old South African who claimed to know very little about Nelson Mandela, but I found myself wondering if this documentary was made for people with a similar lack of historical knowledge. Nothing wrong with that: Channel 4 is aimed at a young audience, and apartheid ended before they were born.

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.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A man is dead, and another is in custody after a Sunday afternoon shooting at a Mobile apartment complex, according to police.

No, a tiger is not roaming at Langan Park in Mobile

Mobile Police Department SUV, seen outside Bel Air Apartment Homes in Mobile, Alabama, after a Sunday afternoon deadly shooting.

The incident happened around 4 p.m. at Bel Air Apartment Homes, News 5 has learned.

INCIDENT LOCATION:

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At this time, we can confirm officers responded to the location at approximately 4:16 p.m., in reference to a male victim who was shot, a Mobile Police Department news release said.

Man accused of manslaughter in Baldwin crash that killed a woman and her daughter

The victim has been pronounced deceased  We will provide updates when information becomes available.

This is a developing story. News 5 will update this article as more information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
One person was killed and another injured as a result of Russian aerial bomb attacks on Velyka Pysarivka in Sumy Oblast, the local military administration said on March 17 in its evening update.

Russian forces attacked the town of Velyka Pysarivka with a barrage of mortar, artillery, rocket launcher, and guided and unguided aerial bomb attacks on Sunday.

No additional information was provided on the status of the injured victim.

As a result of the attacks, 15 homes and a multi-story residential building in the area were damaged - as were a non-residential building, shop, cultural center, library, hospital, and kindergarten.

Velyka Pysarivka, with a pre-war population of 4,000 residents, sits directly on the Russia-Ukraine border. Amid an up-tick in Russian attacks, authorities have been working to increase evacuation efforts of the town with at least 180 residents being evacuated this week.

Throughout the day, Russian forces fired upon the border communities 341 times in 60 separate attacks across Sumy Oblast.

The communities of Khotin, Myropillia, Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Esman, Seredyna-Buda, Shalyhyne, Novoslobidsk, Svesy, Trostyanets, Sumy, Konotop, Vorozhba, and Znob-Novhorodske were targeted.

The town of Bilopillia experienced the bulk of the attacks reported with 108 explosions recorded in the area. The community is located just eight kilometers south of the Ukraine-Russia border.

Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Ukraine's northeastern border with Russia, with residents in the region's vulnerable border settlements experience multiple attacks per day.

Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast have become increasingly destructive in recent weeks.

Earlier this week, a Russian attack on Seredyna-Buda injured five people. Another attack on March 7, killed two people and injured 26, with six civilians hospitalized.

On March 17, border guards and Ukrainian troops in Sumy Oblast stopped three groups of Russian saboteurs from advancing. Sumy Oblast borders the Russian oblasts of Kursk, and Belgorod, which have recently experienced attacks from anti-Kremlin militia.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: 12 Russian oil refineries reportedly hit in recent attacks by Ukraine





Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
An evening of St. Patrick's Day celebrations ended with one person dead and two others injured in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, on Sunday, police said.

Police continued to search for what they believe may be more than one shooter in the violence in a nightlife district of downtown Jacksonville Beach teeming with holiday celebrants and spring breakers, a city police spokesperson, Sgt. Tonya Tator, said at a makeshift news conference.

Mayor Christine Hoffman said that the violence may be the result of separate incidents but that the root of it was still a matter of active investigation.

"There were several different incidents that were ... potentially unrelated," she said at a separate news conference. "So we want to know as much as we can find out."

Tator said the injured were stabilized at medical facilities. Information about the two, as well as about the deceased, such as age and gender, was not available.

The violence was at first described as an active shooter incident, although there did not appear to be subsequent reports of shots fired.

Though many of the night's patrons were at bars and restaurants, the violence took place "out in the open," Tater said.

NBC affiliate WJXT of Jacksonville reported that authorities shut down the nightlife district for the evening as detectives continue their probe. Tater said the city's beachfront was also closed in response to the violence.

The City of Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security Division said on social media platform X that a shelter in place order for those in the area was lifted shortly before 11 p.m.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
In a heartbreaking finding, the Chicago Police Department confirmed the death of an 11-year-old boy after he was stabbed by a convicted felon who was just released on parole. Authorities say the boy tried to stand in the way of his mother to protect her.



On the morning of March 13, a 33-year-old pregnant woman was getting her 11-year-old and 5-year-old boys ready for school at their home on North Ravenswood Avenue, police said. Jayden, the eldest, was continuing his sixth grade year at Peirce School of International Studies.

However, that day, Jayden never made it to school.



Photo: Chicago Police Department

As his mother opened the door to file everyone out into the car, 37-year-old Crosetti Brand forced himself into the doorframe and began attacking the woman with a knife. As Brand swung violently, police say Jayden tried to protect his mother from the slashes only to get attacked himself. His 5-year-old brother stood watching the scene unfold.



Officials say the woman was transported to the hospital in critical condition and that she and her unborn child are expected to survive their injuries. However, Jayden died after succumbing to his injuries. His younger brother, who witnessed the attack, was unharmed, CPD said.

What was the motive? Could this attack have been prevented? The answer isnt exactly clear, but what police discovered about Brand may serve as an explanation.

Read more from USA TODAY:

This is something that should have never happened, Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling said in a Friday press conference announcing the arrest. Brand had been released from prison on parole the day prior. Brand had been released on parole the day prior while serving a 16-year sentence for home invasion and aggravated assault. CPD said Brand had also threatened the woman when out on parole in October, which sent him back to custody for parole violation. Brand and the woman had been in a relationship more than 15 years ago, and she had an order of protection against him. Additionally, CPD said Brand had previously been convicted of violating orders of protection against him.

In her request for an Emergency Order of Protection last month, the woman claimed Brand threatened to stalk her house to kill her and her family, according to a WGN 9 News report. The day of the attack was when the woman was to appear for court to convince the judge consider to grant her request for the protective order.

Jayden enjoyed dance and performing for others - so much so that he landed the lead role as Nemo in the schools Finding Nemo production, his friends told WGN9 News. His friends say he was the one to cheer you up if you were feeling down or crack a joke just a put a smile back on your face.

Brand is now facing new charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, home invasion with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery, aggravated domestic battery, violation of a protective order and felon in possession of a weapon.

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Photo for illustration

The move aims to constantly expand the flight network, connecting Vietnam with many famous destinations around the world.

Vietnam Airlines will open direct flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Munich (Germany) from October 2024.

All flights will be operated by environmentally friendly Boeing 787 wide-body aircraft. Air tickets to Munich are currently on sale on the website, mobile applications, ticket offices and official agents of Vietnam Airlines.

Specifically, the carrier will operate flights between Hanoi and Munich with a frequency of two flights per week, departing from Hanoi on Fridays and Sundays; while return flights depart from Munich on Mondays and Saturdays.

Along with that, the air route between Ho Chi Minh City and Munich will have one flight per week, departing on Monday and returning on Tuesday. From December 2024, Vietnam Airlines will add one more flight between the two cities, with departure from Ho Chi Minh City every Wednesday and from Munich every Thursday.

With this, the carrier will operate a total of four routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to two major German cities: Frankfurt and Munich./.
An 18-year-old high schooler who went missing from an Indiana state park where he often photographed wildlife was found dead in a lake, officials say.

Carson Hughes, of Osgood, Indiana, went missing Friday, March 15, from Versailles State Park, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. His vehicle was found unlocked with the keys still inside, and his kayak was found on the water nearby.

Indiana Thermal Recovery said Hughes camera was located on a tripod along a pond.

Something isnt right, the group said at the time.

A search for Hughes concluded Sunday, March 17, when his body was recovered from Versailles Lake, officials said. It was located in six feet of water by divers using sonar.

A cause of death is pending autopsy results, according to the department of natural resources.

Hughes, who amassed a large social media following on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok through his photography, would often share his work with his followers.

The Bright Fire Department described Hughes as an amazing young man.

Hughes attended Jac-Cen-Del High School and planned to enroll at Purdue University next year, according to The 812.

Osgood is about 70 miles driving southeast of Indianapolis.

Teen vanished in 1985 while biking, cops say. Now officials try new search for answers

17-year-olds body found on side of road in 2022, VT cops say. Now, two are arrested

High schooler found dead a week after being pulled in by rip current, Oregon cops say
A man and woman in southeast Georgia were arrested for drug trafficking after a joint investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Dublin Police Department and Laurens County Sheriffs Office.

According to the GBI, Ramon Wright, 34 of Dublin, and Lakeisha Butler, 32 of Montrose, were charged with trafficking two types of narcotics: methamphetamine and cocaine.

The two of them were arrested on March 11, the GBI said. The GBI said an investigation into Wright and Butler started on Feb. 8.

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Through various investigative acts over the period of about one month, agents got arrest warrants for Wright and a search warrant for a home on Old Macon Road in Montrose, Ga.

On March 11, the warrants were executed.

While searching the house, agents and investigators found and seized 1.2 pounds of suspected cocaine and 2.5 pounds of suspected methamphetamine.

During the search, Butler was also arrested and both she and Wright were booked into the Laurens County Jail.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Russia's Ministry of Defense said it shot down multiple drones launched by Ukraine with one sparking a fire at the Slovyansk oil refinery as it fell. File photo courtesy Russian Emergencies Ministry/EPA-EFE

March 18 (UPI) -- Ukraine launched waves of attack drones against energy facilities in several regions from Krasnodar in the south to Moscow and Yaroslavi 170 miles northeast of the capital, killing at least two people and injuring 11.

The Russian Defense Ministry said 17 drones were deployed in Krasnodar on the Russian side of the Kerch Strait, opposite occupied Crimea, with most of them downed and one sparking a major blaze at the Slovyansk oil refinery as it fell.

The Slovyansk attack was Ukraine's sixth strike against a Russian oil facility in the past week.

A teenage girl was killed in the southern Belgorod region, close to the Ukraine border, after an apartment building in Grayvoron was struck by shelling and a man was killed when a car park was targeted, injuring 11 others, according to governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

The attacks knocked out power to about a dozen settlements, including Oktyabrsky 17 miles sourest of Bogorod city, where ordnance launched from four drones damaged gas as well as electric lines, Gladkov said.

Russia said the attacks in which Kaluga, Oryol, Rostov and Kursk regions were also targeted were an attempt to disrupt its presidential election, being held Friday through Sunday, but the Defense Ministry said air defenses brought down 18 drones, at least four of them over Moscow.

In a post on social media Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, said five drones headed for the capital were shot down, four of them above the city districts of Domodedovo, Ramensky and Stupino, with no damage or casualties caused.

All three Moscow airports -- Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky -- responded by grounding flights for almost three hours afterward, Russia's state aviation watchdog reported.

Footage posted online appeared to show a gaping hole in the roof of a building at Domodedovo International Airport, 25 miles south of the capital.

Bryansk region, adjacent to Ukraine, was also targeted with a long-range S-200 ballistic missile but Russian air defenses were able to shoot it down, Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz reported.

A Ukrainian drone strike on an occupied part of Zaporizhzhia set ablaze a polling station, one of scores illegally set up for residents of regions annexed or over-run by Russia since February 2022, including Berdiansk, Donetsk, Luhansk and Kherson.

Hours after it was reported Vladimir Putin had won a third consecutive six-year term, the European Union, United States, Britain, France, Ukraine and 52 other countries issued a joint statement Monday demanding Russia refrain from holding "illegitimate elections in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine."

"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. 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.

"Such elections have no validity under international law."

In a briefing to the U.N. Security Council on Friday, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo condemned the running of the presidential election in illegally occupied areas of Ukraine as "unacceptable."

"Under international humanitarian law, the occupying power -- in this case, Russia -- must uphold the laws of Ukraine in the occupied territories, she said.
The Marine Corps relieved two leaders of their commands at the services West Coast infantry school on the same day.

On March 8, Marine Corps Training Command leader Brig. Gen. Farrell Sullivan fired both Col. Seth MacCutcheon, commanding officer of School of InfantryWest, and Maj. Nicolas Engle, commanding officer of the schools Reconnaissance Training Company, Training Command spokesman Maj. Joshua Pena said in an emailed statement to Marine Corps Times on Friday.

Pena said the two commanders were relieved for loss of trust and confidence in their ability to execute the responsibilities of their commands.

TRNGCMD is committed to ensuring leaders at all levels fulfill their duties to deliver the most highly qualified Marines to the operating forces safely and efficiently, Pena said in the statement. No additional information is available at this time.

Military.com first reported the firings.

MacCutcheon declined to comment to Marine Corps Times. Marine Corps Times attempted to reach Engle but did not receive a response by time of publication.

Located at Camp Pendleton, California, School of InfantryWest is where newly minted Marines must go to learn either the basics of infantry or more advanced infantry skills. The school is home to the Reconnaissance Training Company, which trains reconnaissance Marines.

In August 2023, Lance Cpl. Joseph Whaley, 20, was fatally injured from what the Naval Safety Center called a negligent discharge during nighttime live-fire training as part of the schools Basic Reconnaissance Course. The Marine Corps said in the days after Whaleys death that it was investigating what had happened.

In July 2023, MacCutcheon fired the schools top enlisted leader, Sgt. Maj. Steven Burkett, for what Pena called a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to perform his duties.

MacCutcheon is an infantry officer who has served in Kosovo, Iraq, the Republic of Georgia and Israel, according to his official bio. He has been the commander of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment; executive officer of 1st Marine Regiment; southeast Europe and Middle East plans branch chief and Israel desk officer for U.S. European Commands plans, policy, strategy and capabilities directorate; and assistant chief of staff for plans at Marine Forces Pacific.

He assumed command of the infantry school in June 2022.

MacCutcheons personal awards include the Bronze Star Medal with a V for valor and the Meritorious Service Medal, according to his bio.

Engle became the commander of the Reconnaissance Training Company in May 2023, according to his LinkedIn page. His previous role was as the operations officer for 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, part of the California-based 1st Marine Division.
Authorities are investigating a shooting near a Henry County motel.

An employee at the Quality Inn & Suites McDonough told Channel 2 Action News at 11:30 p.m. they heard gunshots outside the hotel.

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According to the employee, when they went to see what happened, they saw a man lying in the grass who had been shot.

After reviewing surveillance footage, the employee said they saw two men walk up to the victim, shoot him, get into an orange Dodge Challenger and drive away.

Henry County police officials have yet to confirm the details of the investigation.

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The employee told Channel 2s Steve Gehlbach that they recognized the victim as a man who works at a business nearby.

Channel 2 Action News contacted the Henry County Police Department for more information about the investigation but has not received a response.

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(KRON)  The San Jose Police Department is asking for the publics assistance in locating two people wanted in connection to the shooting of a female German shepherd puppy earlier this year. On Jan. 11 at around 6:35 a.m., SJPD officers responded to a report of animal cruelty in the area of Ann Darling Drive and McKee Road.

Arriving on the scene, officers located a young, female German shepherd suffering from a gunshot wound. The dog, which was named Marley, was taken in by San Jose Animal Care and Services for emergency medical care.

Firearm, ammunition, beer cans found in vehicle after traffic stop

Marley, according to police, sustained a gunshot wound that entered her skull and exited below her jawline. Marley also suffered an injury to her right paw.

Detectives with the SJPD Assault Unit took over the investigation, which revealed the reporting party was asleep when she awoke to the sound of a gunshot. After being awakened by the noise, the reporting party saw her dog Marley running back to her from across McKee Road. Two unidentified suspects were involved in the shooting of the dog, police said.

One is described as a Hispanic man in his twenties with a thin build, wearing a yellow jacket and blue jeans. There is no description currently of the second suspect.

Marley, who is less than a year old, is recovering in foster care after receiving intensive medical treatment, police said. SJPD is asking for the publics assistance in bringing the perpetrators in the shooting to justice.

We need the communitys assistance in coming forward and providing any information that can help locate the two suspects involved in this heartless shooting of a defenseless dog, police said.

The Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals involved in Marleys shooting.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The Easter Bunny will be hoping its way into San Angelo with many eggs to hide soon!

Here is a list of Easter events happening in San Angelo in 2024:

Saturday, March 23:

Community Easter Egg Hunt with New Mount of Olives Church

Head to 1108 Shiloh St. from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the New Mount of Olives Church Community Easter Egg Hunt. Free hotdogs and drinks will be served.

Easter Parking Lot Party

An Easter Parking Lot Party will be kicking off at 2 p.m. at 4850 Knickerbocker Rd. The Easter Bunny will visit along with food trucks, and a DJ. There will be tons of games. This is a party, not an egg hunt. The party will end at 4 p.m.

Saturday, March 30:

Easter Egg Hunt at Old Central Firehouse

On Saturday, March 30, the Old Central Firehouse will be hosting its third annual Easter Egg Hunt at the Firefighters Memorial City Park starting at 10:30 a.m. First responders will help hide over 3,000 eggs in the park. There will also be food trucks, coffee trucks and local vendors during the Spring Market.

Sunset Mall Eggstravaganza

Sunset Mall is hosting a mall-wide egg hunt on Saturday, March 30.

Next Level Easter Egg Hunt

Head out to Next Level for their fourth annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 30. Starting at 11 a.m., the Easter Bunny will make an appearance to take pictures. Face painting will also be happening at this time. At 12 p.m. those ages six and younger will partake in an Easter Egg Hunt, through ages seven to 10 will follow at 12:30 p.m.

Rivero Easter Party  Double R Ranch at 1 p.m.

Sunday, March 31:

Living Water Lutheran Church Easter Celebration

The 2024 Easter Celebration with Living Water Lutheran Church will start at 9:30 a.m. with a free breakfast and will last until 10:15 a.m. At 10:30 a.m., Easter worship will kick off.

Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet with Angry Cactus

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Angry Cactus will be whipping up a divine Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet. Plates are $28 a person. Call (325) 703-6999 to make reservations.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
Most of the Frenchman's infractions were registered on Norway's roads by fixed speed cameras whose existence he was not aware of, according to the Aftenposten daily (Olivier MORIN)

A Frenchman who had been in Norway for just over a month has been handed a 21-day prison sentence for amassing 25 speeding tickets in 19 days.

The 23-year-old, who travelled to Norway in search of a job according to local media, was caught speeding 25 times between February 6 and 25.

The worst infraction was on February 20, when he was caught at the wheel of a Kia driving 113 kilometres per hour (70 mph) in a zone with a speed limit of 70 km/h, according to a court ruling seen by AFP on Monday.

The man "represents a danger in traffic", the Oslo district court said.

According to daily Aftenposten, most of his infractions were registered by fixed speed cameras, whose existence he was not aware of.

The man had his sentence reduced by three days, from 24 to 21, due to his full confession.

But he will have to manage for a while without his driver's licence, which the court suspended for a year.

phy/ef/po
Photo for illustration

The Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria concurrently with Senegal said that this market consumes a lot of rice with an import volume of 900,000 to one million tons, mainly low-cost 100 percent broken rice.

In 2023, Vietnam exported 12,392 tons of rice to the market, valued at 5.35 million USD, an increase of 215%. Data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that Vietnam exported 414 tons of rice to Senegal in the first 2 months of 2024, with a turnover of 307,820 USD.

While the rice supply is scarce and Senegal is preparing for the presidential election in 2024, the country will likely increase imports of broken rice from Asian countries. In March 2023, India allowed private businesses to export 250,000 tons of broken rice to Senegal.

This decision is seen as India's move to support some West African countries, even though the country has issued a ban on the export of 100% broken rice and a 20% tax on the export of other types of rice since September 2022.

Since 1995, Senegal has eliminated the state company's monopoly on rice imports and completely liberalized the import of this food. For many years, the Government of Senegal has implemented a policy of developing wet rice cultivation to ensure food self-sufficiency, but only 25-30% of the demand can be met.

Senegal's Statistics Center said that the country imported 1.3 million tons of rice in 2023 with a turnover of more than 500 million USD, down 12.4% in volume and nearly 13% in value compared to 2022. The main suppliers include India, Thailand, China, Pakistan, Uruguay and Vietnam./.
3 Body Problem creators David Benioff and DB Weiss have revealed the very funny note they received from former US President Barack Obama turning down a cameo request in their upcoming Netflix series.

The new eight-part series from the Game of Thrones duo  based on Liu Cixins best-selling novel, The Three-Body Problem  follows a group of present-day scientists as humanity faces an alien invasion.

In a recent interview with USA Today, Benioff shared that while Obama ultimately turned down the chance to make an appearance in the show, he did sign a very funny note.

It was to the effect of, In case there ever is a real alien invasion, I think I should probably save myself for that crisis, he said, with Weiss adding: [Obama] wants to keep his powder dry in case theres a real thing.

Obama previously cited Cixins three-volume book when asked what he reads to get out of his head, describing it as just wildly imaginative, really interesting [...] the scope of it was so immense.

3 Body Problem is the first series Benioff and Weiss have made for Netflix after they signed a reported $200m (157m) deal in August 2019 to write, produce and direct new films and television for the streaming service.

An official logline states: As the laws of nature unravel before their eyes, five former colleagues reunite to confront the greatest threat in humanitys history.

(L-R) Marlo Kelly and Eiza Gonzalez in 3 Body Problem (ED MILLER/NETFLIX)

It comes after they scrapped their misjudged slavery series Confederate in 2018 and quit a mooted Star Wars film trilogy in 2019, which they attributed to their commitments to Netflix.

The latter would have followed the last Star Wars trilogy, which ended in December 2019 with The Rise of Skywalker.

The new show will reunite Benioff and Weiss with several of their former Game of Thrones cast members, including John Bradley (Samwell Tarly), Liam Cunningham (Ser Davos Seaworth) and Jonathan Pryce (High Sparrow). Also starring in the series will be Jovan Adepo, Benedict Wong, Eiza Gonzalez, Ben Schnetzer and Alex Sharp.

The genre-bending series is expected to present an expansive world in an epic way, similar to recent sci-fi shows including Apple TV+s Foundation and Invasion. And, if done effectively, this series could be as much of a hit among sci-fi fans as Thrones was for fans of fantasy.

3 Body Problem will be released on Netflix on 21 March.
The Ohio Department of Youth Services released Jorenzo Phillips in November 2022 and supervised him on parole until Nov. 8, 2023. Days later, he was suspected of shooting and killing two LGBTQ people in Toledo.

The state youth prison system released a teenager on parole who later allegedly killed two people in Toledo and then himself in Cincinnati, but a former prison superintendent says the tragedies could've been avoided.

Jim Darnell, who led the Indian River youth prison near Massillon, blames the leadership of the Ohio Department of Youth Services for releasing Jorenzo Phillips on parole rather than holding him longer.

Phillips, 19, left a juvenile prison Nov. 16, 2022, and was on supervised parole until Nov. 8, 2023.

Days later, on Nov. 14, Amiri Reid and Kejuan Richardson, both 21, were found shot inside a crashed vehicle in Toledo. Reid was a Black transgender woman and her friend, Richardson, was a Black gender non-conforming gay man.

Authorities issued a warrant for Phillips' arrest in the deaths. A statewide manhunt ended Nov. 23 when Phillips died by suicide in Cincinnati.

Toledo police are still investigating the murders.

"Three young adults have lost their lives, and countless others will have to live with the sorrow of this tragedy," Darnell wrote in a letter distributed to legislators, media outlets and others.

Phillips, who landed in youth prison over a June 2018 robbery case, could've been incarcerated for a longer period but top administrators opted against holding a "special review" into his gang activity, he said.

The department declined to comment about Darnell's criticism because it has not received his letter.

Phillips ran into trouble after leaving the Department of Youth Services. In August, he faced weapons charges in Lucas County. Phillips pleaded guilty in October and sentenced to three years probation.

Ohio's youth prison system has been struggling with violent clashes, staff shortages and inhumane conditions. Four in 10 youths released from the youth prisons are incarcerated again within three years and those who don't return have a higher likelihood of dying an early death.

Some of the biggest problems facing the Department of Youth Services are at Indian River where Darnell served as superintendent. He was dismissed in February 2023 after an internal investigation criticized him for allegedly failing to properly supervise staff.

Darnell was put on leave in September 2022  weeks before juveniles attacked a guard, took over a housing unit and later livestreamed a standoff. Those incidents took place in October 2022.

Following the November publication of an eight-month investigation from The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Columbus Dispatch, Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository into youth prisons and detention centers, Ohio Gov. DeWine appointed a panel of experts to study issues and make recommendations.

Laura Bischoff 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 The Columbus Dispatch: Former warden criticizes decision to parole teen suspected in double murder
A 3-month-old giraffe was found dead Saturday morning in her enclosure at Zoo Miami.

After conducting a necropsy on the animal, scientists concluded that the cause of death was a broken neck, Ron Magill, the zoos spokesman, said in a statement Monday.

Because the event that led to this trauma happened overnight and was not personally observed, zoo officials can only speculate that something startled the animal and caused it to run into a fence, resulting in the fatal injury, Magill said. No other giraffe in the herd displayed any signs of trauma, and all have since returned to their normal routines without incident.

The giraffe, named Saba, was born at the zoo on Dec. 15, Magill said.

Zoo staff is monitoring the other giraffes for any indication of stress or abnormal behavior, Magill said.

The calf was born to 13-year-old mother Sabra, and father Malcom, who was 6 years old at the time. She was the eighth calf born to each parent, Magill said in a December press release announcing her birth.

She was 5 feet tall and weighed 120 pounds at birth.

A total of nine giraffes, five male and four female, live at the zoo, he said.

Previous time young giraffe died at zoo

This is not the first time a young giraffe died at Zoo Miami.

In 2016, a 7-month-old giraffe named Wesley died after he got his neck wedged between two fence posts in a chain-link fence separating his habitat from a holding area. He had gone over to look at another giraffe who was getting a routine exam.

Wesley lowered his neck into a gap between the posts, panicked when he couldnt pull his head back through the opening, jerked backward, fell and hurt his neck, which was still lodged between the fence posts.

READ MORE: Young giraffe euthanized at Zoo Miami after head caught in fence posts

Magill said there have been 60 giraffes born at the zoo throughout its history.
FILE - Opera star Kathleen Battle performs during the grand opening gala celebration for the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 19, 2005. Battle, 75, is returning to the Metropolitan Opera for a recital on May 12. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  Soprano Kathleen Battle is returning to the Metropolitan Opera for a recital three decades after the company fired her and publicly accused her of unprofessional actions" following a verbal confrontation.

The 75-year-old is scheduled to perform on May 12 in only her second appearance there since the 1994 firing.

Battle will be accompanied by harpist Bridget Kibbey and guitarist Chico Pinheiro in a program of Purcell, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Faure, Villa-Lobos, Rodrigo and selected spirituals.

In 1977, Battle made her debut at the Met and became a favorite of music director James Levine. Years later, she walked off the stage during rehearsals in 1993 after battling with conductor Christian Thielemann over tempo and canceled five scheduled performances as Sophie in Richard Strauss Der Rosenkavalier.

Joseph Volpe, then the Mets general manager, announced in February 1994 that the company had terminated her contract for Donizettis La Fille du Regiment (The Daughter of the Regiment), saying the performer's actions were profoundly detrimental to the artistic collaboration among all the cast members.

Volpe's successor, Peter Gelb, invited Battle to give a November 2016 recital titled Underground Railroad-A Spiritual Journey."
Thirty-two people were arrested on 69 criminal charges last week in an Illinois State Police operation in the metro-east.

Operation Nighthawk was part of an effort to crack down on violent crime, focusing on East St. Louis and neighboring communities, according to a state police press release. The operation was from March 11 through March 13.

The operation utilized intelligence and technology to target known high crime areas, violent offenders, and structured criminal groups in the communities of the Metro East, the release states.

State police, in their release, pointed out five ``notable events and arrests that happened in the operation:

After a traffic stop in the Terrace Drive and State Street area of East St. Louis, a passenger in a vehicle tried to run away, but troopers were able to catch the passenger and subsequently recovered a stolen handgun, extended magazine, and another firearm.

Troopers found suspected fentanyl and other narcotics in a vehicle and on its occupants during a traffic stop near Graystone Drive in Cahokia Heights on March 11.

After shots were fired at a gas station on State Street in East St. Louis, state police pursued a suspect in a fleeing vehicle and arrested the suspect in St. Louis. This happened March 13.

Also on March 13, officers patrolling near Roosevelt Homes in East St. Louis saw juveniles running with firearms. They chased the juveniles, taking one into custody and recovering a loaded firearm with a high-capacity drum magazine.

Troopers also found a loaded firearm with a high-capacity magazine during a vehicle stop in Cahokia Heights on March 13. The occupants were taken into custody.

In all, 19 firearms and nearly 200 grams of narcotics were seized during the operation.

More than 50 officers from around the state, including ISP Troops 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, ISP South Fatal Four Team, ISP Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 6, ISP Public Safety Enforcement Group, and ISP Air Operations, joined forces with the ISP Special Operation Group Statewide Anti-Violence Enforcement Unit for the multi-day operation, the release states.  The ISP Firearms Investigations Unit and Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois provided additional support during the operational period.
A Missouri woman was arrested after police say her 4-year-old daughter died of a suspected drug overdose.

At 6:24 p.m. on March 16, 4-year-old Sanaa Riggins was found unresponsive on her fathers bed, according to a news release from the St. Louis County Police Department.

Sanaa was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead at 7:29 p.m., officers said.

Police said they found several capsules of suspected heroin at the Jennings home.

When police questioned Sanaas mom, she told them she had a severe drug addiction and used heroin in the home that morning, police said. She told officers she didnt know of anyone else who could have brought drugs into the home, according to the release.

Police said Sanaas father had custody of her because of her mothers drug use, and that Sanaa was born under the influence of drugs.

(The mother) admitted her addiction likely caused the death of her daughter, police said.

The 32-year-old woman was charged with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child resulting in death of a child. She is being held on a $500,000 cash-only bond, according to police.

Jennings is about a 10-mile drive northwest from downtown St. Louis.

What to know about the US opioid crisis

Overdoses are a leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2021, there were more than 51,000 overdose deaths in the country, according to CDC data. In the past 21 years, drug overdoses have killed more than 932,000 people, the CDC reported.

The majority of overdose deaths involve opioids. Deaths involving synthetic opioids (largely illicitly made fentanyl) and stimulants (such as cocaine and methamphetamine) have increased in recent years, the CDC said. For every drug overdose that results in death, there are many more nonfatal overdoses, each one with its own emotional and economic toll.

Millions of people in the U.S. have an opioid addiction, according to the CDC. Addiction is a chronic and relapsing disease that can affect anyone.

If you or a loved one shows signs of substance use disorder, you can seek help by calling the national hotline at 1-800-662-4357 or find treatment using SAMHSA's online locator.

9 middle schoolers eat marijuana edibles given to them by classmate, Michigan cops say

Risky gas station heroin sold online as mood enhancer made man $2.2 million, feds say

1-year-old eats THC edible at day care, Indiana police say. Day care workers charged
California Senate Democrats last week unveiled their plan to take early action to address the states towering budget deficit.

The caucus is calling the Shrink the Shortfall plan the first step of an ongoing process to address a budget which is between $38 billion and $73 billion in the hole.

The quicker we move, the quicker well be able to reduce the deficit, and we know we have to move decisively because the budget shortfall is real and serious, Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire,D-North Coast, said in a statement.

This marks McGuires first budget as leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus, and Sen. Scott Wieners first as chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee.

In a statement, Wiener said that the second step of the budget strategy will be unveiled later this spring, likely after California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveils his revised budget in May.

After the May revision, also known as the May Revise, is released, the Assembly and Senate will have to work together to hash out a budget for Newsom to sign no later than June 15, the constitutionally set deadline for lawmakers to approve a budget.

Here are some things to know about the proposal.

Senate Dems are largely following Newsoms lead

Earlier this year, Newsom laid out his proposal to address the deficit, including proposing several cuts and spending deferrals.

The Senate Democrats plan largely follows the governors lead, approving most of his proposals.

One exception: Newsom called for a reduction of $413.3 million for the Department of Water Resources and the Wildlife Conservation Board for watershed climate resilience. The Senate Dems proposed halving that cut, for a total of $206.7 million.

Senate Dems want $17 billion in spending solutions

While the early action plan doesnt erase the entire deficit, it would shave more than $17 billion off of it.

The proposal identified the easier changes to make, while saving the more challenging fiscal decisions for later this spring when lawmakers have a more complete budget picture.

The proposal calls fro $1.2 billion in cuts for the 2023-24 fiscal year, and another $2.1 billion in cuts for 2024-25, for a total of $3.3 billion in spending reductions.

It also calls for $4.7 billion in borrowing for those two fiscal years, $3.9 billion in fund shifts, $3.2 billion in delayed funding and $2.1 billion in deferrals, for a total of $17.1 billion in savings.

The biggest reductions are in public safety, transportation and labor

The Senate Democratic Caucus early action proposal breaks down the savings by the five budget subcommittees.

The greatest spending reductions will be made by the subcommittee that deals with public safety, transportation and labor. That subcommittee will oversee a spending reduction of more $5.8 billion, including $1 billion in cuts.

Among the cuts being proposed are $762 million in reductions associated with vacant job positions in various departments.

The remaining subcommittees handle education, resources and energy, health and human services, and general government.

The education subcommittee will see $1.8 billion in spending reductions, while the resources and energy subcommittee will see $3.7 billion in cuts. The health and human services subcommittee will see $4.8 billion and the general government subcommittee will see $720 million.

Senate Dems want to use the Rainy Day Fund

While the Senate Democrats plan addresses part of the shortfall, Newsoms plan to draw down about nearly half of the states reserves would make up another part of the deficit.

If the Shrink the Shortfall solutions are adopted, and Newsom uses about $12.2 billion from the state Rainy Day Fund, Senate Democrats estimate the remaining deficit to be anywhere from $8.6 billion to $23.6 billion.

This is a reasonable proposal, as it leaves roughly $13 billion remaining in the fund to assist the budget in 2025-26 or later. This proposal ensures that the Rainy Day Fund will last through at least three years of this downturn  from 2023-24 through at least 2025-26  which is a much more responsible approach then depleting the fund in one budget cycle, according to the budget proposal.
Forty-four percent of respondents in a survey released Monday said their vote would not be affected if former President Trump is convicted in the New York hush money case.

The Politico Magazine/Ipsos poll found that about half of Americans believe Trump is guilty in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs (D) hush money case against him, where the former president is charged with 34 counts related to falsifying business records. Forty-four percent of respondents said if he is convicted in the case, it would not affect how they vote, while 32 percent said it would.

However, a conviction in the hush money case could weaken Trumps support among independents; the poll found that 36 percent of independents were less likely to support the former president if he is convicted in the case.

Nine percent of Republicans said they would be less likely to support Trump if he is convicted, 48 percent said there would be no impact while 34 percent said it would make them more likely to support Trump.

The Manhattan hush money case has been delayed to mid-April after new evidence was turned over to both parties. It was scheduled to start March 25, but Judge Juan Merchan will instead hold a hearing that day to discuss the schedule and the new documents.

Americans in the survey also rejected Trumps claims of presidential immunity, with 70 percent saying they dont think presidents should be immune from criminal prosecution over alleged crimes that took place while in office. The Supreme Court is slated to weigh the immunity claims brought by Trump in his federal election interference case April 25.

The poll was conducted among 1,024 adults March 8-10 and has a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Police are investigating a crash that left five people hospitalized over the weekend.

Cobb County police said on Sunday at 7:22 p.m., officers received reports of a crash at the intersection of Cobb Parkway and Progressive Way.

According to the investigation, 22-year-old Joshual Scott, of Dallas, and 19-year-old Rameen Talha, of Kennesaw, were driving north on Cobb Parkway and were approaching the intersection.

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At the same time, officials said 36-year-old Benjamin Tillery of Stone Mountain, 38-year-old Bernice Rolax of Marietta, and a 10-year-old were driving south on Cobb Parkway when they entered the left turning lane for Progressive Way.

Authorities determined that when the Hyundai turned left at the intersection, it entered the path of the Nissan, causing the Nissans left front to hit the Hyundais right front. The vehicles then separated, sending the Hyundai spinning into the right lane and the Nissan crashing into a traffic signal pole.

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Police said Tillery had life-threatening injuries, Talha and the 10-year-old had critical injuries, and Rolax and Scott had minor injuries. All were sent to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to call the Cobb County Police Department STEP Unit at 770-499-3987.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A team of trackers found a pile of snakes totaling 500 pounds 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 understanding 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 Queen City News.
From left: Ricardo Almeida - Representing Miguel Pena, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Bolivia; Ambassador Bui Van Nghi; Joao Reis, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Minas Gerais state; and journalist Valter Xeu, CEO of Patria Latina Media Group (Photo: VNA)

The official hailed the strong growth of bilateral trade over the past 20 years, which topped 7 billion USD in 2023.

Vietnam and Brazil will continue to cooperate with each other on the foundation of the common values in peace, friendship and mutual respect, he said at the event which marked the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam-Brazil diplomatic relations.

Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira will visit Vietnam in April, he revealed, expressing his belief that Vietnam will contribute to the success of Brazil's G20 Presidency.

Meanwhile, Marcio Honaiser, President of the Brazil - Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group, held that Vietnam and Brazil will be a bridge connecting the South American Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as other regional organisations. In addition to economic and trade relations, the two countries commit to strengthening cooperation in the fields of technology, culture, tourism and sports, promoting friendship and mutual understanding, he said.

General Secretary of the Brazil- Vietnam Friendship Association (ABRAVIET) Pedro de Oliveira said that over the past 13 years, the association has worked closely with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Associations (VUFO) to contribute to the growth of cooperation and friendship between the two nations.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi underlined that in 2024, Vietnam and Brazil will organise various activities to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic relations and the 17 years of comprehensive partnership, including a Vietnam Day in Brazil.

The diplomat affirmed the significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Brazil in last September, stressing that Brazil is currently the largest Latin American partner of Vietnam.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy held a ceremony to present the For peace, friendship among nations insignias to Miguel Pena, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Bolivia; Joao Reis, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Minas Gerais state of Brazil; and journalist Valter Xeu, CEO of Patria Latina Media Group, in recognition of their positive contributions to the people diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Brazil and Bolivia.

Earlier, Ambassador Nghi had working sessions with Celso Amorim, advisor to the Brazilian President, on the increase of high-lefel delegation exchanges and the realisation of commitments stated in the joint statement in Prime Minister Chinh's visit to Brazil.

The diplomat also worked with Paco Britto, Vice Governor and Director for External Relations of the Federal District of Brasilia, on the organisation of the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam-Brazil diplomatic relations and the Vietnam Day in Brazil as well as support to Vietnamese firms to explore the Brazilian market, and the seeking of location to name as Vietnam Street and honour President Ho Chi Minh./.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office says a 56-year-old Lakeland man died early Monday morning when he ran a red light at Clark Road and New Tampa Highway in West Lakeland and smashed into a semi-tractor trailer.

A 56-year-old Lakeland man died early Monday morning when he ran a red light and smashed into the side of a refrigerated trailer being pulled by a semi-truck, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

In a Monday afternoon news release, the Sheriff's Office said the accident happened shortly after 2:30 a.m. on New Tampa Highway at Clark Road, near the Polk Parkway in West Lakeland.

The Sheriff's Office said traffic homicide investigators determined that Miguel Jacinto, 56, was driving a 2013 Volkwagon Jetta at a high rate of speed north on Clark Road and failed to stop at the red light at New Tampa Highway (U.S. 92).

The Volkswagen slammed into the passenger side of a refrigerated trailer being pulled by a Freightliner semi-tractor that was traveling east on New Tampa Highway by a Tifton, Georgia, man. The front of the Volkswagen became wedged under the trailer in front of the rear axles, according to the news release.

Jacinto suffered significant injuries and died at the scene, the Sheriff's Office said.

Toddler's death: Lakeland man charged with murder in 23-month-old boy's death

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts, and the truck driver was not injured, the Sheriff's Office said. The eastbound lane of New Tampa Highway was closed for approximately five hours during the initial stage of the investigation.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: PCSO: Lakeland man dies after running light and hitting truck trailer
7 battlegrounds that will decide who wins the presidency

Its a rematch.

President Biden and former President Trump each hit a key marker last week, clinching enough delegates to become the presumptive nominee of their respective party.

The outcome of the general election will come down to a handful of states, as usual.

The map maintained by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ lists seven contests as toss-ups.

Those key states are Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In 2020, Biden won six of the seven  the exception being North Carolina  on his way to a 306-232 victory over Trump in the Electoral College.

The seven battlegrounds in aggregate count for 93 Electoral College votes this year.

Trump leads in all seven in current polls.

Heres the state-by-state breakdown.

Arizona

Arizona was second to Georgia as the tightest race in the nation in 2020. Biden prevailed by about one-third of a percentage point.

The president will struggle to replicate that performance this year, if the current polls are anything to go by.

An Emerson College poll for The Hill and Nexstar last month put Trump up by 3 points in a head-to-head match-up. Trumps lead grew to 6 points when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was added as a choice.

A pro-Kennedy super PAC, American Values, claims it has already secured more than enough signatures to get him on the ballot in Arizona.

There are two other factors to consider.

First, Latinos make up a larger share of Arizonas population than they do in any other battleground state  33 percent, according to the Census Bureau.

Trump allies contend the former president is making big inroads with this demographic nationally. But in 2020, Biden bested Trump by 28 points among Latino voters, according to the VoteCast survey commissioned by The Associated Press and Fox News.

Second, Arizona could see one of the most dramatic  and polarizing  Senate races in the nation, with left-leaning Rep. Ruben Gallego (D) and fervent Trump backer Kari Lake (R) widely expected to become the major-party nominees.

Such a dramatic Senate battle could nudge up presidential turnout to even higher than expected levels. But its not clear who would get an advantage from such a scenario.

Georgia

Georgia has made plenty of political headlines recently, relating to the effort by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 result in the state.

Trump faces 10 charges over that push, even after a judge threw out three additional charges against him Wednesday.

Back in 2020, Biden won by about one-quarter of 1 percent in the state.

A CBS News/YouGov poll released this week gave Trump a 3-point edge in a head-to-head match-up.

One-third of Georgians are Black  a significantly higher proportion than in any other battleground state. Obviously, that makes Black voter enthusiasm for Biden critical if he is to have any real shot at holding on.

There is some pessimism in Democratic circles about Georgia, with some strategists arguing that North Carolina presents a more inviting target for Biden this time around.

Four years ago, Biden was the first Democrat to carry Georgia in a presidential election since 1992.

Michigan

Biden carried Michigan with a smidgen of comfort in 2020, defeating Trump by almost 3 percentage points.

In current polling, it is one of the tightest of the battleground states.

The Emerson College/The Hill/Nexstar poll in February found Trump leading by 2 points with just him and Biden on the ballot.

Trumps edge doubled to 4 points with Kennedy on the ballot. As with Arizona, the pro-Kennedy super PAC contends it has enough signatures to make that happen.

A big warning sign for Biden came in the Democratic primary, when more than 100,000 people voted uncommitted.

Michigan is home to more than 200,000 Arab Americans, representing about 2 percent of the states population.

If the conflict in Gaza rages on to November, or even close to it, Biden is facing very serious trouble here.

Nevada

No Republican seeking the White House has carried the Silver State since then-President George W. Bush in 2004.

But Trump clearly has a fighting chance.

A Morning Consult/Bloomberg poll last month gave the former president a lead of either 6 points or 7 points  the slightly bigger margin coming if Kennedy is in the race.

Thirty percent of Nevadans are Latino, making the battle within that demographic critical.

Among the seven battlegrounds, Nevada also has the lowest share of the population with a bachelors degree or higher  27 percent, according to the Census Bureau.

That could be good news for Trump, who is markedly stronger among voters without a college education.

North Carolina

This is Bidens one semirealistic chance to flip a battleground state this year.

Trump won North Carolina by roughly 1 point in 2020. The states major cities, notably Charlotte and Raleigh, have seen their populations swell with new arrivals from more Democratic-leaning states in the north.

Black voters will be critical here too, representing 22 percent of the overall population.

The headwinds Biden faces right now make a North Carolina victory look like an uphill climb, however.

A poll this month from Raleigh TV station WRAL and SurveyUSA found Trump leading by 5 points among likely voters.

The wild card could be the gubernatorial race.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), ending his second term, cannot run again because of term limits.

Attorney General Josh Stein last week secured the Democratic nomination to try to succeed Cooper.

But the bigger story came with the choice by North Carolinas Republicans to nominate Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.

Robinsons history includes a series of controversial remarks about the Holocaust, describing homosexuality as filth, and suggesting that God has ordained that Christians should be led by men.

Could moderate suburbanites come out to thwart Robinson and, in the process, nudge up Bidens chances? Its at least possible.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is the biggest prize of the seven battlegrounds, with 19 Electoral College votes up for grabs.

Trump leads by 4 points in the latest Emerson poll for The Hill and Nexstar. A poll a few days prior for Fox News put the margins tighter, including a dead heat between Biden and Trump if Kennedy is on the ballot.

Pennsylvania was one of three Democratic blue wall states Trump demolished in 2016 against Hillary Clinton, becoming the first Republican presidential nominee to win there since 1988.

Biden carried the Keystone State by roughly 1 point four years ago.

People older than 65 make up a slightly larger share of the population in Pennsylvania than any other battleground. The state is also 75 percent white. Both factors should make it fertile ground for Trump.

But its also a state Biden has a real affinity for, given that its adjacent to his home state of Delaware.

This could be the decisive battle in November.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin was the narrowest Midwest win for Biden in 2020, where he scraped home by about half a percentage point.

It has fewer nonwhite voters than any other battleground, with Latinos representing roughly 8 percent of the population and African-Americans 7 percent.

The most recent Hill/Nexstar poll puts Trump up by 3 or 4 points, depending on the Kennedy ballot access question.

The state has a relatively strong history for Democrats in the recent past. Gov. Tony Evers (D) won reelection in 2022, and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D) is seeking a third term in November.

Still, Trump should not be underestimated. He beat Clinton in Wisconsin in 2016, becoming the first Republican presidential candidate to carry the state since 1984.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A large majority of Americans surveyed in a poll released Monday reject former President Trumps legal argument that presidents should be immune from criminal prosecution for alleged crimes committed while in office.

The Politico Magazine/Ipsos poll showed 70 percent of respondents reject this argument, while only 11 percent say presidents should be immune from criminal prosecution. Another 18 percent say they dont know.

The presidential immunity argument didnt hold much weight when broken down by partisan affiliation, pollsters noted.

A plurality of Republicans, 48 percent, say presidents should not be immune, while only 24 percent disagree. Twenty-seven percent of Republicans surveyed say they dont know.

The presidential immunity argument was overwhelmingly rejected by Democrats (92 percent) and independents (75 percent), while only 3 percent of Democrats and 8 percent of independents say presidents should be immune from criminal prosecution for actions taken while in office.

The Supreme Court decided late last month to hear Trumps presidential immunity claim next month in special counsel Jack Smiths case alleging the former president conspired to overturn his 2020 election loss.

The Supreme Courts order established an expedited schedule, setting up oral arguments during the week of April 22 and likely enabling the landmark decision to be handed down by the end of June or sooner. The order last month marked the first time that the Supreme Court, which includes three Trump appointees, agreed to take up any of the former presidents criminal cases.

If the conservative-majority court ultimately sides against Trump, as many legal observers expect, it would then allow Smiths prosecution to move forward, providing the judge with a window to still schedule the trial before Novembers election. The case is on hold for now, though, after it had initially been set to begin earlier this month.

Trumps legal team is specifically making the case that the federal election subversion indictment should be tossed because the former president has absolute presidential immunity from criminal prosecution. Trump has made similar arguments in his Georgia election interference and classified documents cases. He has pleaded not guilty in all these cases.

The presidential immunity argument has been rejected by both Trumps trial judge and a three-judge panel on the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals.

For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant, the D.C. Circuit panel wrote in its 57-page decision earlier this month.

We cannot accept that the office of the Presidency places its former occupants above the law for all time thereafter, the decision continued. Careful evaluation of these concerns leads us to conclude that there is no functional justification for immunizing former Presidents from federal prosecution in general or for immunizing former President Trump from the specific charges in the Indictment.

The Politico poll was conducted online March 8-10 and had a sample of 1,024 U.S. adults. There was a margin of error of 3.3 percentage points for all respondents.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
At the Leon County Courthouse in Florida's capital, voters could vote early in person or by dropping their ballots in a drop box. Credit: Diane Rado

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Early voting ended Sunday for Floridas presidential preference primary that takes place on Tuesday, March 19  an election where Democrats and independently registered voters can only vote for local candidates in a handful of counties after the state party chose not to hold a Democratic primary election with President Joe Biden as their only candidate.

A total of 796,222 voters had cast ballots as of Monday morning, according to the Florida Division of Elections website. A total of 564,589 have voted by mail, with 231,633 voting early at the polls.

Of those who have participated, 730,587 votes have been cast by registered Republicans, 45,143 by Democrats, and 3,645 by either Non-Party-Affiliated voters or those registered with third parties.

Though former President Donald Trump is now the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party after amassing the more than 1,215 delegates needed to win the presidential nomination last week, he is on the ballot here in Florida, along with six other Republican candidates who are no longer in the race. They are: Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson and Ryan L. Binkley.

The Florida Democratic Party chose last fall to place only Joe Bidens name on the March 19 ballot, a controversial decision that was denounced by the other candidates running against Biden, and led to one Democratic voter to file a lawsuit against the party (the case was ultimately thrown out by a federal judge in January).

Florida election law says that if a political party has only one presidential candidate, that candidates name will not be placed on the ballot, which is why theres no Democratic presidential primary.

While FDP officials have defended their decision, saying that they also chose not to have presidential primary elections when Democratic incumbent presidents like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were running in 1996 and 2012, respectively.

There are local elections taking place in Orange, Palm Beach and Pinellas counties on Tuesday. There are also two special district elections taking place in Sarasota County, according to the state Division of Elections.

The biggest race in Pinellas County on Tuesday is the Clearwater mayoral election between attorney Bruce Rector and City Council member Kathleen Beckman.

While officially these contests are considered nonpartisan, party affiliation is very much a part of this election.

A review of campaign contributions in that race shows that Republican affiliated groups are strongly backing Rector in the race, while the Florida Democratic Party has made a financial contribution to Beckmans candidacy. Both local parties have also sent out email messages to their members about the candidates that they are backing in that contest.

It has become incredibly partisan, says Jennifer Griffith, the chair of the Pinellas County Democratic Party. She adds that she is very concerned that many local Democrats think that because there is no presidential primary election, that they cant (or simply arent going to) participate in the municipal election in Clearwater, which is open to all registered voters.

As of Monday morning, 77% of those voting in Pinellas County so far are Republican, and just 14% are Democratic.

The post Some 800,000 people have voted so far in FL presidential primary; no state primary for Dems appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Among the unfortunate changes of recent years has been the transformation of the American Civil Liberties Union from an advocate for free speech and other individual rights into just another progressive political organization. Historically, despite much pushback, the group defended the right of people from across the political spectrum to advocate and protest. But the organization has become unreliable on the issue; most recently in the very 21st century debate over gender identity, which sees the ACLU of Missouri targeting a whistleblower who is critical of medical transitions for minors.

Targeting an Activist's Communications

"Strange evening," journalist Jesse Singal wrote March 7 on X (formerly Twitter). "The ACLU of Missouri subpoenaed Jamie Reed, demanding (among other stuff) all her communications w/me. I emailed them saying (politely) wtf, you're the ACLU. Got a call from a lawyer there saying it was a mistake  'It's a big team.' Okay."

The subpoena Singal attached (supposedly since modified, though a redacted version of the original remains publicly available through the Missouri courts website) demanded of Reed "all communications, including any documents exchanged, between you and Jessie Singal concerning Gender-Affirming Care provided at or through the Center." It also sought "all communications, including any documents exchanged, concerning Gender-Affirming Care involving media or between you and any media outlet or any member of the media" (journalist Benjamin Ryan says that would include him). The subpoena also demanded Reed's communications with state officials, legislators, and advocacy organizations.

Jamie Reed, it should be noted, isn't a party to the case behind the subpoena, which is a challenge to Missouri's 2023 ban on "gender transition surgery" and "cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs" for minors. But she was a motivator for that legislation as a former staffer at the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital who developed significant doubts about what she believed to be a lack of safeguards in place regarding permanent changes to children's bodies and lives. In a widely read piece for The Free Press, she described such interventions as "medically appalling."

Whether you agree with Reed or not, she's a sincere advocate for a position on an issue that commands attention and has serious policy implications. Just this month, New York magazine published a piece arguing that minors have an absolute right to change their bodies, while Britain's National Health Service stopped prescribing puberty blockers for children in gender identity cases because of doubts about their safety or effectiveness. Reed is engaged in public debate of the sort that civil libertarians defend, so it's bizarre to see the ACLU of Missouri putting the screws to her over her advocacy. Or it would be if the ACLU wasn't undergoing a painful and very public transformation.

Liberty Runs Up Against Ideology

"An organization that has defended the First Amendment rights of Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan is split by an internal debate over whether supporting progressive causes is more important," Michael Powell noted for The New York Times in 2021. The ACLU's "national and state staff members debate, often hotly, whether defense of speech conflicts with advocacy for a growing number of progressive causes, including voting rights, reparations, transgender rights and defunding the police."

This came after leaked internal ACLU case-selection guidelines revealed the organization to be stepping back from viewpoint-neutral advocacy of free speech rights.

"Our defense of speech may have a greater or lesser harmful impact on the equality and justice work to which we are also committed," ACLU staffers dithered in a 2018 memo. "As an organization equally committed to free speech and equality, we should make every effort to consider the consequences of our actions."

In the legal battle over medically assisted gender transitions for minors, the ACLU of Missouri, which did not respond to a request for comment, appears to have decided that the progressive position on transgender identity takes precedence over the free speech rights of a whistleblower and advocate. This is a remarkable change of position for an organization that, at the national level, still warns that "the government has aggressively investigated and prosecuted national security whistleblowers andprivate sector employees continue to face arbitrary discipline and privacy intrusions."

It's difficult to square that position with a demand of a whistleblower that she reveal with whom she's been in communication about her former work. But the subpoena makes sense for a partisan organization that's less concerned about liberty than with scoring points for a larger political agenda.

Filling the ACLU's Abandoned Shoes

"There are a lot of progressive political groups out there. I'm glad to have more of them, because that's my politics too," former ACLU Executive Director Ira Glasser, concerned about the changing direction of his old organization, told Reason in 2020. "But there's only one ACLU. It's taken 100 years for the ACLU to develop from the 30 or 40 people that started it in 1920 to the powerhouse of civil liberties that it is today. If the ACLU isn't there for speech, who will be?"

Who will be, indeed? As a partial answer to that question, it's worth pointing out that Glasser is now on the advisory council for The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, along with Wendy Kaminer, a former ACLU board member. Former ACLU president Nadine Strossen is now a FIRE senior fellow. Other ACLU alumni include co-founder Harvey Silverglate, who is now on the board of directors, and FIRE Vice President of Communications Matthew Harwood.

"Many of FIRE's founders and backers are former leaders of the ACLU who have grown disillusioned with the group," Politico's Josh Gerstein wrote in 2022.

FIRE's expanded scope, from supporting civil liberties on college campuses to broader advocacy for free speech, is still new. But it's a major step towards adopting the ACLU's old role as the older organization transforms into a very different kind of group with more explicitly ideological priorities.

That's not to say the ACLU no longer ever advocates for civil liberties or is universally hostile to free expression; you'll still find the group's lawyers intervening in cases such as the federal indictment of journalist Tim Burke. But the group has become unpredictable on matters of individual liberty, and it now depends on the issue as to whether the "civil liberties" organization will favor or oppose freedom.

This case emphasizes a sad transformation for the ACLU. It's especially unpleasant for people on the receiving end when the onetime civil liberties organization slips into authoritarian mode.

The post ACLU, Once a Defender of Free Speech, Goes After a Whistleblower appeared first on Reason.com.
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) warned the Supreme Court on Sunday that itd be making a terrible decision if it doesnt move with great speed to rule on former President Donald Trumps immunity claim.

The California Democrat, in an appearance on CNNs State of the Union, weighed in on delaysimpacting the presumptive GOP presidential nominees multiple legal cases including Trumps federal election interference case.

Last month, the Supreme Court decided on late April to hear arguments on Trumps claim that hes immune from prosecution for alleged criminal acts he engaged in while in office, further delaying a trial in the case. Special counsel Jack Smith called on the court to swiftly tackle the immunity claim in December only for his push to be rejected.

Schiff told CNNs Dana Bash that delays in the case are his greatest concern, adding that its the most serious set of allegations against him in a case brought by the Justice Department.

The Supreme Court moved with great speed when it came to ruling that Trump could appear on the ballot. The question is, will it also move with great speed in rejecting this bogus immunity claim? asked Schiff, a Democratic candidate running for a U.S. Senate seat in California.

He continued, If it doesnt, its making a deliberate decision essentially to push the trial past the election. And I think that would be a terrible decision, both for the interest of justice. It would be a terrible decision in depriving American voters of the information they would learn during the course of that trial, but it would also just further discredit this partisan and reactionary court.

Bash asked Schiff if theres a chance Trump might not stand trial in any of the cases ahead of Election Day in November.

There is a chance that he could evade justice by delaying justice, Schiff said.

This is a tried-and-true tactic of Trump throughout his career. And I hope that the courts are aware of exactly what hes doing and his incentive in trying to prolong this, and I hope they wont go along with that strategy.

Adam Schiff warns that the Supreme Court will further discredit itself if they foot drag on Trump's bogus immunity claim. pic.twitter.com/5DEtsIO7xd  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) March 17, 2024

Related...
Weighing in at nearly 100 pounds, a giant bundle of joy was born at a zoo in the United Kingdom earlier this month.

After 16 long months of pregnancy, white rhino Jaseera became a first-time mom on March 7 to a baby boy, the Whipsnade Zoo said in a March 15 news release.

A white rhino calf born in the U.K. weighed nearly 100 pounds, the zoo said.

This is Jaseeras first baby, and its been great to see her maternal instincts kick in. Jaseera has been nursing the calf and has been very protective of him. All the signs of a perfect rhino mum, Rhino keeper Mark Holden said. Southern white rhinos are born with over-sized, rubbery feet, which they grow into, so the calf was understandably quite wobbly when he first started to walk. But hes a fast learner and a week later he is now zooming around, exploring his cozy indoor den.

The calf joins the rest of the crash, or pack or rhinos, at Whipsnade, the largest zoo in the United Kingdom.

His father, Sizzle, has been working hard to increase the speciess numbers, with 15 calves of his own and 37 grand-calves, the zoo said.

Southern white rhinos are a near threatened species from the southern half of the African continent, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and are about 10,000 adults left in the wild as their population continues to decline.

Sadly, these magnificent creatures are still being hunted in the wild. The poached horns are primarily used for traditional medicine in Asia, due to mistaken beliefs that the horns have healing powers, Holden said. Last year in South Africa alone around 500 white rhinos were killed for their horn, thats more than one a day.

White rhinos are near threatened on the African continent, and their numbers are declining, the zoo said.

The zoo hopes that the new male calf will follow in his fathers footsteps and continue to grow their species over time.

Holden said the calf is extremely precious, but for now, he will continue to spend time with his mother exploring his indoor habitat and getting ready to join the rest of the rhinos in a few weeks.

Whipsnade Zoo is in Bedfordshire, about 50 miles northwest of London.

Rare horned creature born Christmas Eve, Georgia zoo says. See the tiny calf

Endangered creature born at Ohio zoo for first time in 60 years. See adorable baby

Playful rhino is most significant birth in Arizona zoos history. See the rare baby

White rhino with rare genetics born at Virginia Zoo. See the invaluable little calf
Last week saw national headlines regarding two tragic stories that illustrate how MAGA radicalization of adults endangers kids in school. First, a medical examiner reported that Nex Benedict, the non-binary Oklahoma 10th-grader who passed away recently after enduring a beating in a school bathroom, apparently died by suicide. Then, James Crumbley, the father of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for providing his disturbed son with a gun. The boy's mother, Jennifer Crumbley, was convicted of the same crime in February.

What links these stories is that they are both case studies in how the hatreds and obsessions of MAGA adults are trickling down into the lives of children, and causing real harm and even death.

The Crumbleys faced such unusual charges because they gave their son access to guns mere days before the 2021 shooting, despite knowing he was articulating violent fantasies. One could guess right-wing politics were a factor, but there's no need to speculate. In 2016, Jennifer Crumbley wrote a gushing open letter praising Donald Trump as a man of "sincerity, and humility" who she trusted with "my son's future." She claimed children of immigrants get "free tutors, free tablets from our Government," while her son supposedly gets nothing.

Benedict died in the wake of a growing crescendo of right-wing hysterics demonizing LGBTQ students and teachers as "groomers" and accusing them of being a threat to other students. In Oklahoma, the far-right Republican state superintendent, Ryan Walters, has been especially aggressive on culture war issues, attacking LGBTQ people and calling for book bans. In an especially trollish move, Walters recently hired Chaya Raichik, who runs the infamous "Libs of TikTok" Twitter account, to be on the state's library committee. Raichick's only "experience" in education is targeting LGBTQ teachers and allies with her account, knowing bomb threats and harassment usually follow. Benedict was beaten up in a girls' bathroom, after being required by Oklahoma state law to use a restroom based on gender assigned at birth, not the one they live as.

Want more Amanda Marcotte on politics? Subscribe to her newsletter Standing Room Only.

Raichik, Walters, and other MAGA Republicans are scrambling to deny any link between Benedict getting beaten up in a bathroom and a suicide that literally happened the next day. Benedict's family disagrees, however, noting the "severity of the assault" as shown by the autopsy. President Joe Biden released a statement declaring, "no one should face the bullying that Nex did" and they "should still be here with us today." Walters, in response to the criticism, leveled baseless accusations implying LGBTQ people are pedophiles.

In Oklahoma we will not be taking advice from someone who is actively indoctrinating kids. https://t.co/gPcG6eIjvK  Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) March 12, 2024

This doubling down on the MAGA vitriol that is linked to school violence is not unique to Walters, but swiftly becoming endemic to the Republican Party. That's evident in the growing popularity of Raichik as a conservative leader, even though she regularly proves she is incapable of coherent sentences when asked to explain what she believes. Even more determinative, from a pure numbers perspective, was the North Carolina primary this month. Republicans nominated far-right activist Michele Morrow for state superintendent, despite  or because of  her history of shockingly violent rhetoric. Unlike the current Republican incumbent, Catherine Truitt, Morrow has no experience in education. On the contrary, Morrow hates public schools, calling them "socialism centers" and "indoctrination centers" and homeschooling her kids instead. But, in a sign of how radical the GOP has become, this is the least incendiary aspect of Morrow's campaign. As CNN reported, Morrow has a long-standing habit of calling for the violent deaths of Democrats or anyone she perceives as "liberal."

In other comments on social media between 2019 and 2021 reviewed by CNNs KFile, Morrow made disturbing suggestions about executing prominent Democrats for treason, including Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Hillary Clinton, Sen. Chuck Schumer and other prominent people such as Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates.

She wants Obama to be killed by "firing squad," and called for it to be aired on "Pay Per View." She also longed for Obama to be executed by electric chair. In response to President Joe Biden asking Americans to temporarily wear a mask to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Morrow wrote, "KILL all TRAITORS!!!" She also called for the imprisonment of Georgia's Republican Gov. Brian Kemp for refusing to help Donald Trump steal the 2020 election.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported, "School hate crimes targeting LGBTQ+ people have sharply risen in recent years, climbing fastest in states that have passed laws restricting LGBTQ student rights and education." Overall, the annual reported hate crimes doubled from what they were just a few years ago. In the "states with restrictive laws, the number of hate crimes on K-12 campuses has more than quadrupled" since Raichik and her Republican cronies in states like Florida and Oklahoma got to work.

In the wake of Benedict's death, we're hearing a lot of Republicans, even the most rabidly MAGA ones, claim they oppose violence in schools, even against queer kids. Actions like elevating Morrow, Raichik and Walters say otherwise. At this point, it's almost banal to point out that the Republicans who claim to be "protecting" kids do not actually care how many children are hurt  or killed  because of their cynical efforts to generate right-wing panics and culture wars. But it's crucial nonetheless to keep talking about this.

That the MAGA movement stokes violence hardly needs arguing, as evidenced by January 6. It was inevitable that some of that ugliness would trickle down from adults to kids. But, as the nomination of Morrow shows, it's even worse than that. For years now, through "don't say gay" laws and groups like Moms for Liberty, the MAGA movement has been actively trying to remake America's schools in their own image. Where MAGA goes, violence follows. Ignore the glib denials of Republican leaders about school violence. Judge them by what they do  and who they support going into the 2024 election.
This weekend, Yulia Navalnaya watched as Vladimir Putin, the dictator who imprisoned and some argue killed her husband Alexei, was again elected Russias president.

Navalnaya announced just weeks ago that she is taking over her husbands role as the head of a top Russian opposition group. But she watched the voting from exile, because that is where most of Putins critics must now live to avoid arrest or death.

Navalnaya deserves credit for pursuing the dream of a true post-Putin Russian democracy. But count me among the pessimists on whether shell achieve her goal.

The ugly truth is that opposition movements fighting dictatorships  especially those forced into exile  have rarely succeeded in the post-Cold War era. The regimes they wish to oust have become more technologically sophisticated, better coordinated and less susceptible to international pressure.



While dictators sometimes allow limited opposition inside a country, or create fake opposition groups, many often force dissenters into exile. That distance means dissidents can operate more freely, but it can also weaken them.

For now Russias opposition-in-exile is still able to help galvanize citizens at home. On Sunday, in a symbolic show of dissent backed by an array of opposition groups, Russians unhappy with Putin showed up in throngs at polling stations just as the clock hit noon across the countrys many time zones.

Navalnaya and her late husbands team are not new to this game, but the challenges they face are likely to grow.

Pro-democracy types dont like to admit that oppositions-in-exile often falter, fail or lose relevance. But when I asked several activists, analysts and others how Navalnaya (who declined an interview) could beat the odds, they had plenty of advice on pitfalls to avoid.

Above all, keep your opposition movement united.

Opposition groups frequently disagree on tactics, strategies, and ideology  not to mention who takes the lead.

They may spend more energy fighting each other than the regime they want to oust, making them less effective.

When protests broke out across Iran in late 2022 over the death of a young woman whom authorities alleged wasnt following their Islamic dress code, longstanding infighting among Iranian opposition activists, many of them based outside Iran, grew worse. An attempt during this time to unite leading Iranian exiles, including former Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi, quickly collapsed.



There are multiple Russian opposition factions abroad, and they havent always gotten along.

Navalnaya could help align the groups if she can go beyond the old grudges, said Garry Kasparov, the former chess champion and another Russian opposition leader in exile. He didnt give examples, but some analysts say avoiding social media spats is a start.

Stay in touch with the people back home.

The longer opposition activists are outside a country, the greater the danger they will not reflect what people in the country actually want.

The exiles may call for more political rights while people back home are more concerned about getting their next meal. The exiles may urge the people inside to rise up, but those people are the ones facing the regimes guns.

And its not easy to stay connected. Regimes often restrict internet and phone access.

Many Cuban opposition activists outside the country have for decades successfully demanded a hardline U.S. position toward Havana. But because of a lack of reliable polling, its not clear if Cubans on the ground support that stance.

Meanwhile, Cubas communist government blames the exiled opposition in part for the countrys woes. They have succeeded in making impossible the life of many of the people that they supposedly are defending, senior Cuban official Johana Tablada told me.

Alexei Navalny was poisoned in 2020 and traveled to Germany for treatment. But he returned to Russia, despite the likelihood of prison. Many analysts argue he feared being less effective in exile.

While in detention, Navalny was still able to share messages with the world through his aides, who are now largely outside Russia. There are fears that now that the election is over, the Kremlin may crack down further on that teams ability to reach Russians through YouTube and other means.



Exploit the little cracks as well as the big ones.

To bring down a dictator, it sometimes helps to look elsewhere.

Opposition groups can go after enabling oligarchs, political allies or the children reaping the rulers patronage. But theres also the corrupt mayor in a far-flung province, the abusive police officer in the commercial stronghold, and the officials who keep building dams the country doesnt need.

Shining a light on these smaller problems could lead to internal revolts that snowball.

Navalnayas group has long focused heavily on anti-corruption. Its a topic that resonates with ordinary Russians, even if it is not as sexy for world leaders who want to meet you and back your broader cause of ousting a dictator.

No one is going to invite you to an international conference to talk about the dump thats being built on the outskirts of Novosibirsk, right? Theyre going to bring you there to talk about how evil Putin is, said Dylan Myles-Primakoff of the National Endowment for Democracy.

Watch your back.

Navalnaya is obviously aware of the danger of opposing Putin, even if shes far from Russia. Putins critics have a habit of dying all over the world.

Other autocracies  from Iran to Rwanda  are accused of kidnapping and killing beyond their borders, too, as well as harassing relatives dissidents left behind.

Last year, Nicaraguas Daniel Ortega sent 222 opposition leaders hed imprisoned to the United States. The group has since struggled to unite. Many were from poorer parts of Nicaragua, speak little English, and are still searching for jobs, leaving little time for politics.

Felix Maradiaga suspects the Ortega regime leaked a private phone call in which he criticized some elements of the exiled opposition, leading to tensions with fellow dissidents.



It was a dirty move by the regime, Maradiaga said.

Dont count too much on the West.

The United States and its European allies talk a big game about promoting democracy. At times they impose sanctions on adversarial dictatorships. In rare instances, theyve rolled in with the tanks.

But the Wests support is conditional.

After debacles in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. has little appetite for direct military intervention. And Western nations avoid pressuring economic powerhouses like China too much on democracy. Many Western leaders also will prioritize stability over change.

I recently asked leaders of an opposition network called the World Liberty Congress whether America was a reliable partner. It was hard to get a direct answer. But Masih Alinejad, a prominent opponent of the Iranian regime, put it most succinctly: Were not asking the American government, Washington, D.C., European governments to save us. We want them to stop saving our oppressors.

Navalnaya has slammed Putins war on Ukraine and urged the world not to recognize his reelection.

Unfortunately, too many people in the West still see him as a legitimate political leader, argue about his ideology and look for political logic in his actions, she wrote in The Washington Post last week. Putin is not a politician, hes a gangster.

Be ready for the dictatorships fall  and its return.

You never know what will spark a dictators downfall.

The Arab Spring protests in the Middle East began in late 2010 in Tunisia when a street vendor harassed by police set himself on fire. Some exiled opposition activists returned with hopes of establishing more representative governments. But they didnt agree on what that meant, especially when it came to the role of Islam.

More than a decade later, the Arab Spring movements cant point to any real democratic victories. Some uprisings were crushed.

Some countries, including Tunisia, experienced brief democracies that, to the chagrin of activists, were ultimately replaced by new autocracies.

Opposition activists in exile need to constantly be prepared with platforms and networks  ideally of people inside the country  to present as a vision for the future.

They also need to be patient. Some may not live to see a better future in their native lands.

In Russia, Putin has no true rival or clear heir, making the post-Putin world hard to predict.

Navalnaya seems determined to forge ahead.

I never wanted to be a politician, I never wanted to speak from the rostrum or write for international media, she wrote in the Post. But Putin left me no other choice.
Ukraine and the EU will discuss bilateral relations and the consequences of the war unleashed against Ukraine by Russia at the ninth meeting of the Association Council on 20 March in Brussels.

Source: European Pravda with reference to the agenda on the meeting

Details: Political issues and bilateral relations are to be discussed at the meeting.

Quote: "During a restricted session the EU and Ukraine will exchange views on the situation following Russias war of aggression, focusing on the military, economic and humanitarian situation on the ground and the response to Russias war. They will then touch on wider global and regional issues."

After that the participants will exchange their opinions on the bilateral agenda, mainly:

the implementation of the Association Agreement since the start of the Russian war of aggression

the implementation of the European Commission Ukraine country report recommendations

the issue of reconstruction and reforms in Ukraine, including EU financial assistance

Background:

Foreign ministers of the EU member states have adopted a final decision to allocate an additional 5 billion for military support to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility.

Since 2022, the EU has been providing military assistance to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility, which reimburses member states for weapons provided to Ukraine.

Funding is provided in tranches that can be blocked by individual member states. In recent months, this has been done by Hungary, which refused to approve a 500 million replenishment of the European Peace Facility under various pretexts.

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Chinese expert Wu Mingkui (1st L) measures the yield of the crop at a demonstration field of China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024.

"Fiji has seen an improvement in the self-sufficient level of rice since the Chinese agricultural assistance team arrived here. More cooperation between China and Fiji is something that our agricultural sector really needs forward to realize its sustainable development," said Tekini Nakidakida, deputy secretary for Agriculture Development of Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways.

by Xinhua writers Gao Yang, Guo Xinhui

SUVA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- After days of torrential rain in the wet season of central Fiji's Nausori Town, Chen Huazao anxiously rushed to the paddy field to assess his rice crop, which was planted last November.

Wading through the muddy field, Chen's heart sank as he saw the almost mature rice plants flattened by the heavy downpours.

"We will likely face a decline in the yield of this test field. But fortunately, crops in the other two demonstration fields were not damaged," said Chen, team leader of the China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Fiji.

In another unaffected test plot planted with NP918, a Chinese hybrid rice variety, seed breeding expert Wu Mingkui was measuring the yield of the ripe crop.

After finishing his work, Wu told Xinhua that the yield of this Chinese rice variety was more than 7 tons per hectare, about 2-3 times of local rice varieties in Fiji.

Wu is among the six-member Chinese expert team, which arrived in Fiji in July 2023 to help the country enhance its rice production.

Rice farming is a challenging job, as the uncertainty of excessive rain, cyclones and flooding often destroys crops in Fiji and other Pacific island nations, which are highly vulnerable to climate change.

"Despite this," Chen said, "We can help local rice farmers achieve high yield by use of high-quality rice varieties and technology-driven farming techniques with scientific cultivation management measures."

STRIVING FOR RICE-SUFFICIENCY

An aerial drone photo shows rice fields in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Sang Qinlong/Xinhua)

Rice has been cultivated for many decades in Fiji, serving as a major source of food for its population.

However, the country's rice industry has faced challenges in recent years, marked by a decline in both lands and production, mainly due to traditional farming practices, labor shortage and the impacts of climate change.

Fiji produces less than 20 percent of its rice consumption needs, with over 80 percent being imported, said Tekini Nakidakida, deputy secretary for Agriculture Development of Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways.

To achieve rice self-sufficiency, the Fiji government has launched the "We Rice Up" initiative, aiming to increase the production and productivity of rice crops in the country, Nakidakida said.

"That's why we need more cooperation with China," the Fiji agricultural expert said.

Chinese experts check the status of the crop at a demonstration field of China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Sang Qinlong/Xinhua)

Through the provision of expertise, machinery, seeds, and agricultural experts, Nakidakida said China's support for Fiji's rice sector will contribute to the realization of its rice self-sufficiency goals.

Since 2015, China has carried out three phases of agricultural aid projects to help enhance rice production in Fiji. Chen's team is currently engaged in the third phase.

During the first two phases, China's agricultural team rejuvenated five local rice varieties, introduced 16 rice varieties, provided machinery for mechanized rice cultivation, and trained over 2,500 local farmers in high-yield cultivation techniques.

For the phase three agricultural aid project, China will introduce 26 rice varieties, rejuvenate 10 local rice varieties, and cultivate model farmers, Chinese expert Wu Mingkui said.

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES

Chinese expert Chen Huazao (R) checks the rice plants flattened by heavy downpours at a demonstration field of China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Sang Qinlong/Xinhua)

To adapt the agricultural project to the specific conditions of Fiji's rice production, Chen and his colleagues conducted extensive on-site investigations throughout the island nation.

However, they encountered several challenges in their efforts to enhance local rice production. One of these obstacles is the shortage of labor.

"We face a labor shortage because many of our younger generations are migrating abroad in search of easier or more lucrative work," Nakidakida said.

He said the government will launch incentivized policies to encourage young Fijians to engage in rice cultivation, and hoped more of them will receive training in advanced agricultural technologies from Chinese experts.

Sharing technical experience in rice production is also a priority of the Chinese agricultural team.

The team has established a demonstration base at the Navuso Agricultural Technical Institute in Nausori, providing training on advanced rice cultivation techniques for the college's students.

For other challenges, they found rice cultivation areas occupy a mere 1.04 percent of the arable land in Fiji, with a low average rice yield per hectare.

"Unscientific methods prevail, with farmers broadcasting seeds by hand rather than utilizing mechanical planting techniques," Chen said.

To address these issues, the Chinese expert team has established standardized rice fields and promoted the adoption of mechanical rice planters.

"Fiji has seen an improvement in the self-sufficient level of rice since the Chinese agricultural assistance team arrived here. More cooperation between China and Fiji is something that our agricultural sector really needs forward to realize its sustainable development," Nakidakida said.

The flourishing China-Fiji agricultural cooperation epitomizes China's unremitting efforts to help achieve sustainable development in Pacific island countries (PICs) by launching multiple agricultural technical assistance projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Through these projects, China has helped PICs improve agricultural production capacity and food security.

China's agricultural assistance to PICs reflects its contributions to addressing global challenges and its efforts to benefit all mankind with the goal of "no one will be left behind" in global development.

Editor: WRX
An AI-generated image of a rat with a towering phallic appendage went semi-viral last month.

The nonsense diagram appeared in a now-retracted scientific paper, published in a Frontiers journal.

This rat is a symptom of a crisis of fakes in the career-driven business of research publishing.

This rat has an enormous "dck," and it's a symptom of a bigger problem.

You don't need to be a scientist to know that rats don't have bulbous, sky-high penises, or that words like "testtomcels," "retat," and "dissilced," are total gibberish.

And yet, the bogus diagram below appeared in a paper published last month by the scientific journal Frontiers in Cell Development and Biology.

Ever seen a rat like this before? Guo et al., 2024; Frontiers in Cell Developmental Biology

To its credit, the journal quickly retracted the paper. But its AI-generated images had already gone viral in online science communities. They even got their own page on Know Your Meme.

Are those hieroglyphics? (Red arrows were added by Business Insider.) Another diagram with bogus content published alongside the rat image. Guo et al., 2024; Frontiers in Cell Developmental Biology

But this rat's towering phallus is just one symptom of a crisis of fake science.

"If it's the first time you've seen a really weird paper get published, I can see why it would capture your attention," Ivan Oransky, a co-cofounder of the watchdog journalism site Retraction Watch, told Business Insider. But for him, he said, "it's all sort of mind-numbingly routine at this point."

How bad science and weird AI get through the 'Swiss cheese' of peer review

Each piece of Swiss cheese has some holes... that an AI-generated rat might be able to squeeze through. Peter Finch/Stone/Getty Images

Frontiers is an influential, open-access publisher with a peer-review process. So how did this paper make it to publication?

When a publisher like Frontiers accepts a scientist's manuscript, the paper passes through the critical eyes of a series of peer reviewers who are experts in the subject matter, as well as editors who assess the peer review. Usually, study authors must make changes based on the reviewers' feedback before publication.

Think of the peer review process like a stack of Swiss cheese. Each step has holes in it that bad science could squeeze through, but the overlapping steps tend to cover each other's holes, making it difficult to squeeze all the way through the whole process.

Still, bad science does make it through sometimes, and over the years more holes have opened up. Scientists can now buy made-up papers from paper mills.

There's even precedent for AI slop in science publishing. In 2014, publishers Springer and IEEE retracted more than 120 articles that were gibberish generated by computers. The publishing giant Springer Nature retracted 44 gibberish papers in 2021.

Then there are more traditional forms of scientific fraud  bribing journal editors, falsifying data, or manipulating real images or data.

These bad practices can have real consequences. Early trials that found ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine to be promising COVID-19 treatments were later retracted for signs of fraud, but the word was already out and a wave of ill-informed self-treatment ensued, Vox reported. Even beyond COVID, fabricated studies can end up in databases used for drug research, The Guardian reported.

The mysterious case of the 'retat' 'dck'

In the case of the rat with "testtomcels," Frontiers says that one of the peer reviewers raised concerns about the images and requested that the paper authors revise them.

"The article slipped through the author compliance checks that normally ensures every reviewer comment is addressed," Fred Fenter, chief executive editor of Frontiers, said in an additional statement emailed to Business Insider, calling it a "human error."

He said that Frontiers has added "new checks to catch this form of misconduct," revised its AI policy to be clear about what's not allowed, and is developing "AI to detect AI-generated content and images."

"Those bad faith actors using AI improperly in science will get better and better and so we will have to get better and better too. This is analogous to cybersecurity constantly improving to block new tricks of hackers," Fenter said.

In January, Frontiers announced plans to lay off 30% of its staff, cutting 600 jobs.

"Quality is our highest priority, and the recent restructuring does not affect the peer review process and/or author compliance checks," Fenter said.

The retracted paper's corresponding author, Dingjun Hao, did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Why some scientists publish bad papers

Journals are businesses, and scientists have careers. Both are under intense pressure to publish often.

Most hiring and tenure committees, Oransky says, evaluate researchers based on how many papers they've published, whether they've been published in prestige journals, and how much other scientists cite their work.

"People are desperate to publish and will do anything they have to do in order to publish and keep their jobs or get promoted," Oransky said. "That's the real problem here."

Last year, research journals retracted over 10,000 scientific papers, more than ever before, according to a report in the journal Nature.

Retractions aren't all bad. In fact, they're necessary for the times when peer review fails to catch data errors or irresponsible practices.

But the record retraction rate comes alongside a rise in sham papers that some scientists hastily fabricate or generate with the help of AI.

"It's salacious," Oransky said of the rat and its "dck." But, he continued, "there's sort of nothing new under the sun."

To Oransky, the solution is obvious. Science institutions across the planet should evaluate scientists based on the quality, not the breadth, of their work. His suggested evaluation metric? Show three good papers.

"What we need to do is stop using publications and citations as the metric of everything," he said. "All of that's game-able. Three good papers is not game-able."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukrainian air defense units destroyed 17 of the 22 Shahed-type drones that Russia launched overnight, the Air Force reported on March 18.

The drones were launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia's Krasnodar Krai region.

Russian forces also launched five S-300 surface-to-air guided missiles onto Kharkiv Oblast, as well as two Kh-59 guided missiles onto Sumy Oblast. No information was provided by the Air Force as to the outcome of the missile launches.

The drones were intercepted over Kyiv, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, and Rivne oblasts.

Mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Air Force were involved in repelling the air attacks.

Drone attacks are a daily occurrence in Ukraine, affecting various regions across the country. Overnight on March 17, Ukraines air defense downed 35 Russian drone launched at Ukraine.

Ukrainian authorities have continuously expected Russian attacks over the course of the winter, with Moscow focusing on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and other civilian sites.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: 12 Russian oil refineries reportedly hit in recent attacks by Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Cuong Tran next to the gaping hole after landing

A Californian man has described "holding on for dear life" as he sat on an Alaska Airlines flight inches away from a gaping hole which appeared when an unused door flew off mid-flight.

Cuong Tran told the BBC his seat belt saved him as his phone, socks and shoes were ripped off by an uncontrolled decompression 16,000ft above Portland.

He is among seven passengers to have filed a lawsuit against Boeing, Alaska Airlines and Spirit AeroSystems.

The companies declined to comment.

Images shared online - and later by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) - showed a wide hole in the side of the Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft, with oxygen masks dangling from the ceiling on 5 January.

In a preliminary investigation US regulators found four critical bolts - meant to hold the so-called door plug in place - were missing from the flight which was bound for Ontario, California.

None of the 177 passengers and crew on-board were killed but Mr Tran, who was sitting next to his friend one row behind the section which blew out, suffered injuries including a laceration to his leg.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Tran, 40, said it happened soon after take-off when he would usually be getting ready to doze off.

"The captain said we had passed 10,000 feet. Then the hole blew out on us and I remember my body getting lifted up. Then my whole lower body got sucked down by the howling wind."

Map showing flight path Alaska Airline's Boeing 737

Mr Tran said the decompression lasted around 10 or 20 seconds and he described looking around at other passengers who could not believe what was happening.

"It was probably the first time in my life I had a feeling of no control over everything. I was in disbelief over the whole situation," said Mr Tran.

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

"That feeling of no control is pretty terrifying. The suction was so strong and I was hanging on for dear life. Both my shoes ended up getting sucked out - I had my shoe on pretty tight too.

"My phone which was in my hand disappeared."

Cuong Tran

The plane was able to make its emergency landing back to Portland International Airport and passengers were seen to by emergency services.

Mr Tran added: "They said it took 30 minutes, but it felt like a lot longer.

"I had no phone so had no idea of the time, so I was just sat there staring into the hole this whole time and hoped it wouldn't get any more damage.

"That was the scariest moment - the waiting. My body is recovering, but there is a big scar in my leg. I don't know if it going to be gone any time."

Cuong Tran's shoes and socks were pulled off by the force of rapid depressurisation aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282

Mr Tran is one of several passengers suing Alaska Airlines, Boeing and manufacturer Spirit Aerosystems, claiming the event left them with physical injuries and "serious emotional distress, fear, and anxiety".

The plaintiffs are seeking punitive, compensatory and general damages, although the lawsuit does not specify an amount.

Spirit Aerosystems, Boeing and Alaska Airlines said it would not comment on pending litigation.

Attorney Timothy A Loranger told the BBC the litigation process could take "a couple of years" as there are a lot of people involved.

"His [Mr Tran] leg was almost sucked out of the airplane if it wasn't for his seatbelt," Mr Loranger said. "It is just terrifying."

Diagram showing location of blowout on the Alaska Airlines plane

This lawsuit was filed in King County Superior Court, Washington, and is separate to another set of passengers who are suing Alaska Airlines and Boeing for $1bn - claiming negligence.

Alaska Airlines initially grounded its 737 MAX 9 fleet of 65 aircraft. This was later followed by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) order for all airlines to ground the Boeing model - approximately 171 worldwide.

Aviation giant Boeing has been under heavy regulatory scrutiny with probes into the company's safety and quality standards in its production process.

On Wednesday, the NTSB said it will hold a two-day investigative hearing on the incident at the start of August.

But NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said Boeing has been unable to produce key information about work performed on the Alaska Airlines plane before the mid-air scare.

In a letter addressed to leaders of the Senate, Homendy said the door plug which failed had been opened so rivet repair work could be done in September last year.

The work took place at Boeing's Renton, Washington, facility before delivery to Alaska Airlines on 31 October 2023.

"To date, we still do not know who performed the work to open, reinstall, and close the door plug on the accident aircraft," Homendy said.

"The absence of those records will complicate the NTSB's investigation moving forward."
Editors note: This story was updated to include comment from the airmans family.

An airman assigned to the 90th Fighter Generation Squadron died after being injured in a workplace accident Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

Staff Sgt. Charles Crumlett, 25, of Streamwood, Illinois, died around noon local time Friday, while working on an F-22 Raptor, the Air Force said. Crumlett, who died at the scene, served as a weapons load crew chief and had previously worked on F-15 Strike Eagles and the A-10 Thunderbolt II.

US, Japanese forces to resume Osprey flights in Japan after crash

Today, the Dicemen mourn the loss of one of our own, Lt. Col. Charles Bayne, 90th FGS commander, said in a statement.

Losing Crumletts drive and willingness to help his fellow maintainers is a loss for the entire maintenance community, Bayne said. Though he was only with us a short time, Charlie will always be a Diceman. We send our thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, and the entire maintenance community.

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is investigating the incident.

Crumlett enlisted on Nov. 29, 2016, and graduated as a weapons load crew member on Jan. 30, 2017. His first duty station was Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, and he arrived in Alaska on February 4, where he began working on Raptors, his father, Mike Crumlett, told Air Force Times.

Crumlett. (Photo courtesy of Tami Crumlett)

He had also spent a little more than a year at Osan Air Force Base, Korea, before arriving in Alaska, where he looked forward to going snowboarding.

Crumlett was the second of five children in a tight-knit family. Like many young people, he hated cleaning his room and homework, his father said.

But the future airman emerged as a natural leader, graduating at the top of his basic military training class and becoming the sort who took initiative to show others how to get things done. He loved to tinker with things, including the old Dodge Ram pickup Mike Crumlett gave to his son when he headed off to Seymour Johnson.

He liked building things, Mike Crumlett said. He liked fixing things.

Crumlett wrestled in high school, and enjoyed reading, particularly J.R.R. Tolkien, who wrote The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. He also filled notebook after notebook with adventure, fantasy and science fiction stories of his own. He just always had a story in his head, Mike Crumlett said.

Its a big loss, Mike Crumlett said. Its not just a big loss just because hes my son, but theres so much about him that Id have loved to seen him be able to develop and be able to experience. Its, again, kind of like reading the book and waiting for the next chapter to come out. He had a lot going on.

Crumlett is survived by his father; mother, Tami Crumlett, brothers Collin, Joseph, Bob, and a sister, Shannon.

The 3rd Wing paused operations on Friday, Erin Eaton, a spokesperson for the base, told Air Force Times. The 90th and 525th Fighter Generation Squadrons and the 90th and 525th Fighter Squadrons stood down Monday in the airmans memory.

We are committed to making sure our airmen have time to grieve as well as ensure their safety when we do resume work later this week, Eaton said.

Col. Christopher Tooman, 3rd Maintenance Group commander, called the death a tragedy.

Charlies dedication and support to his fellow maintainers will be deeply missed, Tooman said in a statement. We send our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and all the airmen whose lives Charlie touched.

Crumletts awards and decorations include two Air and Space Commendation Medals and one Air Force Achievement Medal.

Charlie had such a promising future in our Air Force, 3rd Wing commander Col. Kevin Jamieson said. Though he was new to JBER, it was immediately clear that Charlie had a passion for his duty and for service. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and fellow airmen. He will be greatly missed.
After nearly five years and a fight with the Albertson family heirs, a 200-unit condominium complex along the Boise River Greenbelt could soon rise again.

The four-building complex, coined Trappers Island, would be built at 3600 W. Americana Terrace next to Kathryn Albertson Park. The development would create a highly amenitized, urban neighborhood along the Greenbelt, according to a narrative statement submitted to the city in December.

Boises Douglas Jayo and his company, Jayo Holdings, plan 46 one-bedroom, 92 two-bedroom and 62 three-bedroom units and 343 parking spots on 7.4 acres that are now vacant.

The vision of the project is to provide higher-end and luxury housing options for empty nesters, professionals and urban-oriented families, according to the narrative.

The site is advantageously situated among some of Boises best open and natural spaces  the Greenbelt, Boise River and Kathryn Albertson Park, according to the narrative. The proposed Trapper Island condominium project offers sweeping views of the Owyhees, BSU campus, Bogus Basin Recreational Area and Foothills as well as downtown.

This aerial rendering shows the buildings looking northeast with Kathryn Albertson Park at bottom right and the red Boise River Greenbelt Truss Bridge on left.

A long fight over Boise housing

The development may seem familiar to some Boise residents.

Jayo Holdings originally proposed building 104 condos at the same site in 2007, but the project fell apart because of the Great Recession, according to prior Idaho Statesman reporting.

Another attempt in 2019 faced a fight over building height that involved the Boise City Council, the citys Planning and Zoning Commission and heirs to the Albertsons family, who said the buildings would affect views of downtown and the Boise Foothills from their homes on the north edge of Depot Bench, according to prior Statesman reporting.

This rendering shows the view from a balcony overlooking a potential public plaza, at bottom center.

Joe and Jamie Scott, the grandson and great-granddaughter of Albertsons founder Joe Albertson and his wife, Kathryn Albertson, argued that Trappers Island would also damage the integrity of the Greenbelt and the serenity of Kathryn Albertson Park, according to prior Statesman reporting.

The project included 304 units spread between five buildings when the Planning and Zoning Commission approved it in 2019.

Jayo Holdings requested to build up to 83 feet, while the Scotts requested they keep the buildings to 45 feet. The commission took the middle ground, approving 63 feet.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Both sides appealed to the Boise City Council, which increased the building height to 70 feet. The Scotts then went to court. In 2020, District Judge Patrick Miller ruled that the Planning and Zoning Commission had reasonably justified its 63-foot limit and the City Council had not. That ruling wasnt what either side wanted.

Shellan Rodriguez of Boises SMR Development, who is working with Jayo on the complex, wrote in a letter to the city saying the 63-foot height restriction didnt provide the level of design or livability the developers envisioned and affected the number of units they could build.

And, because of fire access issues, they had to drop from 304 units to 200 units, according to Lindsay Moser, communications manager for Boises Planning and Development Services Department.

We had to do a redesign on everything, Jayo told the Statesman by phone.

This rendering shows a proposed pool for residents.

A new path through Boises new zoning code

The complex went back on ice, but the developers saw a chance to restore the 70-foot height under Boises new zoning code, which went into effect on Dec. 1.

The land was converted under the new code from C-3 Commercial Service zoning, which allowed buildings only up to 45 feet high  unless developers received a height exception  to MX-3 Mixed Use zoning, which allows buildings to reach 70 feet with no height exception required.

(It) was a benefit for us to wait until then, Jayo said by phone.

Jayo Holdings is getting ready to submit an application under the new code for the redesigned Trappers Island in the next few weeks. The developers are scheduled to meet with the citys Planning and Development Services Department March 21.

As is, the project would go through Boises Design Review Commission and would not need to go through the citys Planning and Zoning Commission or the City Council, Moser said.

New design plans for the development  still at just 200 units, because of the fire-access issue  show four, six-story buildings with a clubhouse, community room, pool and public plaza on the west side of the property. A second plaza and play area would be on the southeastern edge.

The public plazas would include food options to grab a coffee, beer or snack along the Greenbelt, according to the narrative.

Parking would take up the first two floors of each building, while bikers and pedestrians would have access to the Greenbelt along with short- and long-term bicycle storage. Valley Regional Transit bus stops are located to the east and west of the site.

This map shows how the complex would connect into the Boise River Greenbelt with a dotted line north of the site showing a bike and walking path. Kathryn Albertson Park is directly south of the site.

Jayo said the approval process would take at least six months, and construction of the first building would take a year and a half. Best-case scenario, (it will be) about two years from now when we have a finished product, Jayo said.

Jayo said he hasnt heard any recent complaints from the Albertsons heirs. The Scotts did not respond to a phone call from the Statesman requesting comment.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The New Mexico Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in an educational lawsuit at the Central New Mexico Community College (CNM). The real-life case offers students a chance to learn about the legal process that impacts statewide education.

The court will discuss Johnson v. Board of Education, in which a student brought a lawsuit against Albuquerque Public Schools. In 2018, a teacher called a Navajo student with fake blood on her cheek a bloody Indian during a Halloween class, the court says. In addition, the teacher has been accused of cutting part of the braids of another Native American student.

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Student McKenzie Johnson sued for violations of the New Mexico Human Rights Act, but a district court dismissed the lawsuit. Then New Mexicos Court of Appeals overturned the lawsuit in 2023. Now, the case is headed to the states supreme court for further debate, and the oral arguments will happen April 29 at CNM.

The presentation of the case will illustrate the approaches taken by courts to discern the meaning of a state statute and apply the law to particular factual situations, Justice David Thomson said in a press release. The judicial process can demonstrate for students that there are reasonable positions on both sides of an issue and the most effective method of resolving disputes is through civil discourse, careful deliberation and adherence to the rule of law.

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The event will start at 10:00 a.m. and is open to students interested in attending. Those who cannot attend in-person can watch the arguments live at the New Mexico Supreme Court website. A Spanish-language livestream will also be available. Schools/classes interested in attending can contact Tamara Mitchell at suptdm@nmcourts.gov to learn more.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) ripped into Israels allegations that the U.N.s Palestinian refugee agency, commonly referred to as UNRWA, is a proxy for the Palestinian militant group Hamas, arguing the accusations are an attempt by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to eliminate the agency.

Theres no doubt that the claim that Prime Minister Netanyahu and others are making, that somehow UNRWA is a proxy for Hamas, are just flat-out lies, Van Hollen said Sunday in an interview on CBS Newss Face the Nation. If you look at the person whos in charge of operations on the ground for UNRWA, its about a 20-year U.S. Army veteran. You can be sure hes not in cahoots with Hamas.

UNRWA came under scrutiny earlier this year after Israel claimed 12 of the agencys employees participated in Hamass Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Hamas, a Palestinian militant group that has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2007, killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel in a surprise assault. More than 240 people were taken hostage, and more than 100 are believed to still be held captive.

No substantial evidence has been presented to support these allegations, though UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini earlier this month said serious action was taken nonetheless, including the termination of the alleged members contracts.

Netanyahu has wanted to get rid of UNRWA since at least 2017. Thats been his goal, not just in Gaza, but also in the other places you talked about, Van Hollen said.

CBS News anchor Margaret Brennan further pressed the senator on why he believes Netanyahu is trying to end UNRWA and pointed out the agency is one of the biggest distributors of aid in Gaza.

Well, thats exactly right. And there have been allegations made by the Netanyahu government that up to 14 of those 13,000 people were involved in the horrific Oct. 7 attacks, he said. We should investigate it, we should hold all those people accountable. But  lets not hold 2 million innocent Palestinian civilians who are dying of starvation, lets not hold them, essentially, accountable for the bad acts of 14 people.

Van Hollen further argued Netanyahu wants to dismantle UNRWA because he sees them as a means to continue the hopes of the Palestinian people for a homeland of their own. And he has been opposed to a two-state solution. And this has been his primary objective, stopping a two-state solution.

The U.S., along with nearly a dozen other nations, has paused funding to the agency in the wake of the allegations. UNRWA at the time said it has a strict policy of neutrality, while recognizing the challenging circumstances in Gaza due to Hamass rule.

Republicans in Congress have heightened calls to block further funding to the agency, while Democrats have both acknowledged the gravity of the accusation and also stressed the allegation applies to a very small fraction of the more than 30,000 employees of the agency. The U.S. funds UNRWA through an account covered by the annual State Department funding bill, which is due on May 22.

Van Hollen warned of the wide-reaching impacts of cutting UNRWA funding in Gaza, which has largely been devastated by Israels bombardment following the Oct. 7 attacks.

And if you get rid of UNRWA in Gaza today, it is the primary distribution system for food and aid. So if you cut off funding for UNRWA and Gaza entirely, it means more people will starve, more people wont get the medical assistance they need. And so it would be a huge mistake to cut them off, he said.

The Maryland Democrat was among a group of Senators last week to demand President Biden comply with the Foreign Assistance Act and cut off military aid to Israel. The senators argued Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act requires the Biden administration to stop the sale and transfer of weapons to Israel if Netanyahus government continues to block humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Alligators basically go wherever they want. But a Georgia family is mystified as to how one got into their homes fenced-in backyard.

The frightening discovery was made Friday, March 15, at a home on St. Simons Island, about an 80-mile drive south from Savannah.

Our dogs alerted (us) as he was sunning in the grass. My husband quickly got them inside and we kept our eye on the gator until (a police officer) saved the day, Mary Ann Williams Ellis wrote in a Facebook post.

We have always just let our dogs out to run and not worry about a thingWe will now!

Officer Kevin Jones with the Glynn County Police Department responded to the yard and wrangled the alligator himself, she noted.

Photos show Jones ended up on the alligators back, riding it like a horse. The reptiles mouth was taped shut and its limbs were tied behind its back to render it harmless. The scaly intruder was then loaded into the back of a pickup truck.

The gator will be safely released to a gator haven on the island that is far more welcoming! police wrote.

Alligators are native to eastern Georgia, but Ellis said that still doesnt explain how one ended up in a subdivision behind her familys pool equipment. Ellis said her family is still scratching (their) heads as the search for an explanation continues.

We havent found an access point Absolute craziness! she wrote. We have no idea how he got inside our fence. Im learning that they can climb a fence . But why.

Alligators do climb fences, but there is often evidence of the access point. They also force their way through metal fences, leaving a giant hole in their wake.

Its their motive that remains a mystery. Pursuit of food, water or just a general desire to be on the other side of the fence are possible goals.

The familys home is not near a river or large bodies of water, but does have a runoff retention pond nearby.

Ellis said she feels they got lucky, because their two dogs, named Shelby and Sadie, arent always accompanied on backyard outings. In this case, her husband was there to witness Shelby barking at something in the grass.

He then saw an alligator hissing at the dog, she said.

They are very prey driven dogs  This story could have had a completely different ending, Ellis said. We are thankful our dogs and us humans are safe!

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Man Who Shot Stabbing Victim on NYC Subway Leading to Panic and Chaos In Viral Video Not Charged, Acted In Self-Defense, Officials Say

The Brooklyn District Attorneys office said it will not prosecute the subway rider who disarmed and shot a 36-year-old man after he was stabbed last week.

The New York City Mayor's Office said via X after the incident: A suspect has been taken into custody and a firearm has been recovered.

In the chilling viral video, a heated exchange is captured between two men, and later, a woman becomes involved. The video showed Dajuan Robinson confronting another man, Younece Obuad, repeatedly saying, "I love my Blacks, that's it. F--k you. F--k you. F--k your kind. Fuck your race. I love my Blacks."

Two men fight before a shooting on a NYC subway train. (Photos: Twitter video screenshots)

I will beat you up," Robinson says before the two men then begin fighting while passengers scramble away.

A woman then stabs the Robinson in his back. You stabbed me? the man says a few times. I am locking you up when you get off.  I am bleeding.

The woman replied, saying, I didn't do nothing. He then retrieved a gun from his jacket and repeated the question, "You stabbed me, didn't you?"

Before multiple shots were fired, Obuad, 32, managed to wrestle the gun away. Robinson was rushed to a hospital and is currently in critical but stable condition.

The video captured by a passenger also showed the chaos that ensued among the remaining individuals on the train as they rushed to try to find safety. Several pleaded to exit before the doors opened, and a frantic rush ensued as they fled for their lives.

Some passengers were trampled in the pandemonium, leaving many traumatized by the experience, ABC 7 reported. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority advises that in the event of an immediate threat to your subway car, you should relocate to another car.

A passenger on the train told ABC 7: "It's something you don't want to ever experience in your life. When I flew, everybody followed me and went on top of me."

The man who pulled the trigger appears to have acted in self-defense, prosecutors say, and will not face charges as of now, according to several reports.

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, Oren Yaniv, spokesperson for the Brooklyn district attorney's office, said in a statement.

Thursdays shooting inside the Hoyt-Schermerhorn station was a week after New York Gov. Hochuls announcement of hundreds of National Guard members and state police deployed to the subway system and other mental health initiatives.

After the violent altercation on the Brooklyn subway that left a man in critical condition, New York officials pushed back against ongoing criticism surrounding safety and ensured the effectiveness of a new subway safety plan.

Over the weekend, Hochul told reporters during a St. Patrick's Day parade that her new safety initiative, which involves using members of the National Guard and other law enforcement agencies to flood the subways, has been working, as reported by the New York Post.

My objective was to make sure [the National Guard is] in our main transit hubs  you see them at Grand Central [Station] and other places, so they can free up [NYPD cops], Hochul said. So the plan is working as we had expected.

Also present at the parade was New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who blasted comments about the city's safety issues after recent violent attacks, the incident where Robinson was shot four times as terrified passengers watched.

Adams told Q104.3 before marching in the Saturday parade that the Big Apple remains the safest big city across the country and the city is resilient, according to the New York Post.

I  want to say to New Yorkers: listen, people want to give the energy of because of isolated incidents that happen in our city that our city is a place of disorder , Adams said. This is the safest big city in America. We are the best city on the globe, period. None of all that other stuff. Its just maddening.

I Love my Blacks, Thats It: Man Stabbed on NYC Subway Train Before Being Shot, Confronted Killer In Bizzare Rant Seconds Before Chaos, Video Shows
A large majority of Americans are not convinced by President Biden's presentation of himself as a "devout Catholic," according to a new poll from Pew Research.

The poll, conducted in late February, found that just 13% of Americans think of Biden as "very religious," while 41% say he is "somewhat religious" and another 44% say he is "not at all" or "not too religious."

The polling comes despite Biden's own description of himself as a "devout Catholic" who attends church regularly. The White House has also used the term to describe Biden when defending his aggressive pro-choice stance on abortion.

Biden has had a fractious relationship with the Catholic Church since gaining office, with Pope Francis criticizing his views on abortion in July 2021. Francis argued that Biden's faith and pro-choice views were a display of "incoherence."

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A large majority of Americans aren't convinced by President Biden's presentation of himself as a "devout Catholic," according to a new poll from Pew Research.

The pair met in person later that year, however, and Biden says Francis encouraged him to continue receiving Communion.

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Former President Trump has sought to capitalize on the friction between Biden's faith and his stance on abortion, telling a campaign crowd on Saturday that Catholics would be "crazy" to vote for him.

While Trump himself has paid lip service to Protestant and Catholic Americans, he has not suggested that he is a man of devout faith himself. That reflects Pew's findings in the February poll.

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Former President Trump has sought to capitalize on the friction between Biden's faith and his stance on abortion, saying Catholics would be "crazy" to vote for him.

Just 4% of Americans said they believed Trump is "very religious," while 25% said he is "somewhat religious." Meanwhile, 68% of Americans said Trump is "not too religious" or "not at all religious."





Original article source: Americans aren't buying Biden's 'devout Catholic' label, poll finds
A float from a Chinese performing group parades during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

CAPE TOWN, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event.

Under the theme of "Lekker" -- an Afrikaans word that means nice, pleasant or enjoyable -- this year's carnival saw over 1,000 performers from various communities across the city taking part in a parade to celebrate diversity, creativity and cultural understanding.

The event featured massive floats, colorful costumes, and vibrant choreographed dance routines, attracting tens of thousands of locals and visitors.

The Chinese performing group was the star of the evening. The dancing dragons, lions and pandas attracted strong applause and cheers from the audience wherever they went.

"China's performance was amazing!" said Nicolas Johnson and Val Andries, a local couple who had come to watch the parade.

"Yeah, the lights and the colors, and the dragon ... all those are amazing. Very good," said Johnson.

"I especially enjoyed all the lights. The costumes are amazing, the performers are doing a great job, and it was so awesome," Andries added.

Rachel Jafta, chairperson of the Cape Town Carnival, also expressed enthusiasm.

"The Chinese contribution to the Cape Town Carnival has been really central from the beginning. It brings an incredible skill and flaring beauty to the carnival," Jafta told Xinhua.

"The Chinese groups dance with the dragon and the fire ... it is always very popular. You just see the spectators' faces light up and the little kids get very excited when the dragon comes," she said. "So we're very proud to have the Chinese community as part of the Cape Town Carnival."

The Chinese community was instrumental in helping other groups in the city during the pandemic, she said, adding that "we are very grateful for that."

Dong Gang, the head of the Chinese performing group, told Xinhua at the scene that this was the sixth time the Chinese community had taken part in the carnival.

"As a major festival in the local cultural life of South Africa, the Cape Town Carnival provides us with a large platform to showcase our excellent traditional Chinese culture," said Dong.

"Especially since this year is the Year of the Dragon, we brought our 50-meter-long dragon to celebrate our culture with a confident feeling," he said. "At the same time, we can also feel that we have added our own colors to the local multiculturalism."

As noted by Jafta, the idea of the Cape Town Carnival was to create a platform for people from different backgrounds to come together, have fun and get to know each other better, so that the city can not only build more social cohesion but also create jobs and stimulate the economy. 

Performers parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

A performer in a lion costume interacts with the audience during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Performers parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Performers parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Members of a Chinese performing group parade during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

A performer in a panda costume interacts with the audience during Cape Town Carnival 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa, on March 16, 2024. The annual Cape Town Carnival kicked off in the legislative capital of South Africa on Saturday evening with Chinese elements featured at the event. (Xinhua/Wang Lei)

Editor: JYZ
A right-wing think tank, a national conservative advocacy group and the Catholic Church in Oklahoma are behind the latest effort to change how state appellate judges and justices are appointed, The Oklahoman has learned.

Documents show the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, a right-wing think tank; the Judicial Crisis Network, a national conservative advocacy group; and the Catholic Church, through its arm, the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, are working with several Republican lawmakers to eliminate the Judicial Nominating Commission and replace it with a process that parallels the federal system.

The federal system in Oklahoma would involve the governor nominating judges subject to Senate confirmation. The goal: Put more "conservative Republican" judges on the bench.

The effort is the latest attempt in a decade-long battle to rid the state of the Judicial Nominating Commission and move to a system that opponents say isn't about the rule of law but instead about finding judges who will pass a conservative litmus test. That test includes arguments about abortion, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, public funding for religious schools and other issues.

This year, several pieces of legislation were filed that would dramatically change the way appellate judges and justices are appointed and would impose age and tenure limits on those justices.

Commission created after a bribery scandal in the Oklahoma Supreme Court

Oklahoma's Judicial Nominating Commission was created in 1967. The 15-member commission was designed to take the politics out of Oklahomas judicial appointment process. State lawmakers moved to the commission system after a scandal rocked the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 1965. That event damaged the courts reputation and the public's trust in the state's judiciary. It also saw three justices of the Oklahoma Supreme Court end up in prison for bribery.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice N. B. Johnson speaks the state Senate court of impeachment in 1965 during a bribery scandal.

After the scandal, voters narrowly created the commission, which supporters say has worked well for decades.

The process is simple. The commission takes applications for judicial posts, reviews the applicants, vets their information and recommends the top three candidates to the governor, who makes the final appointment. The applicant chosen by the governor assumes the post immediately and isnt required to be confirmed by the Oklahoma Senate.

The commission has 15 members. Nine of those are non-lawyers, a posting on the commission's website notes, adding that "these nine cannot be admitted to practice law in Oklahoma or have an immediate family member who has been admitted to practice law in any state."

In addition, the governor appoints six of the non-lawyer commissioners, one from each of the six congressional districts that existed in 1967. Each of those commissioners serve staggered six-year terms, and no more than three of those appointees can belong to any one political party. The three remaining non-lawyer commissioners serve two-year terms as Members at Large.

Former Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice N. S. Corn, one of three justices involved in a bribery trial in 1965.

Of the Members at Large, one is appointed by the Senate president pro tempore, one is appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, and one is selected by the other members of the commission, with no more than two of them from the same political party.

"The JNC was designed to be as free from partisan influence as possible," a posting on the commission's website said. "In addition to the limits on political party affiliation, the (Oklahoma) Constitution provides that: sitting commissioners cannot hold any other public office by election or appointment or any official position in a political party; commissioners are not eligible, while a member of the JNC and for five years thereafter, for nomination as a judge; and commissioners may not succeed themselves."

Though the commission has interviewed and vetted dozens of candidates for judicial posts over the years, not every appointment has been successful. Opponents of the commission point to its lack of transparency, and the actions of some judges, as reasons for change.

That argument, records show, is valid. While the governor and members of the bar are public in the appointments to the commission, the work done by the commission itself is exempt from the state Open Meetings and Open Records acts.

That lack of transparency, opponents say, has led to several questionable individuals finding their way to the courts. For example, in 2006 a county jury convicted former district judge Donald Thompson, who went through the commission process, on four counts of indecent exposure and recommended a sentence of one year in prison and a $10,000 fine on each count.

Still, supporters argue that over the 57 years of the commission's existence, it has had a positive effect on the state's judicial system.

Push for change launched during Henry administration

The pushback against the Judicial Nominating Commission became public during the tenure of then-Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat.

During Henrys time as governor, Republicans in the state Senate, frustrated by the fact that Henry named six members of the states high court, called for change in the system, quietly leveraging national groups to help with the attack. During the legislative session, Republicans pointed to Henry and the commission as the problem, arguing the courts were out of touch with the rest of the state.

Then-state Sen. Clark Jolley drafted State Question 752, which expanded the number of members of the commission by two, each appointed by legislative leaders. Jolley also sought to stop any new court appointments processed by the commission and made by Henry and later, by Henrys successor, Mary Fallin.

It would be unfortunate for a justice to be selected for this important position only to have that subsequent procedure declared void and casting a cloud over that justices appointment, Jolley said at the time. I ask Governor Henry and Governor-elect Fallin to exercise patience and not rush to appoint a justice until the court has had their oral arguments on February 1, at a minimum.

Earlier that fall, Jolley had asked the Supreme Court to prevent the commission from making nominations to the high court. Jolley said he had sought the courts assistance in slowing down the nominating process. He said it has been rushed for political purposes instead of being properly done under the newly reconstituted commission as approved overwhelmingly by voters in November.

After Fallin became governor, Republican members of the Legislature continued to push to lessen or eliminate the commissions authority, saying that members of the judiciary find their way to the courts without being vetted by elected officials. What those same lawmakers don't mention was the fact that almost half of the commission members are appointed by a single person: the governor, an elected official.

A few years later, the 2016 legislative session, more than 20 pieces of legislation were filed to alter the way appellate justices and judges were named to the courts.

Anti-commission effort ramping up efforts again this year

The debate has continued for over the years, and spawned several pieces of legislation, most of which failed. However, this year, efforts to eliminate the commission have gained real traction.

A resolution filed by Bartlesville Republican state Sen. Julie Daniels calls for a statewide vote on changing the way appellate judges are chosen in Oklahoma.

A resolution filed by state Sen. Julie Daniels, a Bartlesville Republican, cleared the Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday. Senate Joint Resolution 34 calls for statewide vote on whether the commission should be disbanded and its responsibility of selecting judicial nominees turned over to the governor.

Daniels' call for changes echoed the earlier claims that appellate justices found their way to the court without the oversight of an elected official.

Its never made sense to me that we have an appointed and unelected commission tell a governor which three people he or she can choose from to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, Daniels said in a media statement about her resolution. The governor is elected statewide by voters. The governor is accountable to the voters. A commission is accountable to no one, except the handful of people who put them on the commission.

The resolution would be the second to propose changes to the commission in the past decade.

Daniels had help. Before SJR 34's passage, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs issued a call to support the proposal. In messages to lawmakers and messages posted on the organizations website, the think tank said: Oklahoma should repeal the Judicial Nominating Commission and switch to the U.S. Constitutions method for selecting Supreme Court justices  with the Governor nominating and the Legislature confirming or rejecting  that America has used for more than 200 years.

Oklahomas judges and justices, the organization claimed, are not truly selected and vetted by your elected officials.

OCPA, Catholic Church, national group behind latest effort to change appointment process

In reality, justices are selected and vetted by Oklahomas unelected Judicial Nominating Commission, guided by a small network of lawyers from the state Bar Association, the think tank said. The end result has been that Oklahoma's left-leaning Supreme Court keeps legislating from the bench and throwing out conservative reforms.

The organization urged supporters to use its easy action tool to email your state legislators and ask them to pass SJR 34 or similar legislation to send a proposed constitutional amendment to a vote of the people.

At the same time, a source close to House leadership said the Judicial Crisis Network entered the fight pushing people to get rid of the JNC and working hard to get votes for Daniels bill.

This year's effort follow an earlier one by the Judicial Crisis Network. In 2019, the nonprofit media outlet Oklahoma Watch reported the Judicial Crisis Network was behind efforts to change the way judges and justices were named in several states, including Oklahoma.

Carrie Severino, chief counsel of the group, told the outlet that changes to the Oklahoma judicial system were needed because the state is deeply conservative and should have judges that reflect a conservative judicial approach.

As for Oklahomas scandal some 50 years ago, it was one of straight-up bribery and payment for a desired outcome in a case, and was utterly unrelated to how the judges were selected, Severino said in 2019.

Along with the think tank and the Judicial Crisis Network, the Catholic Church of Oklahoma entered the fray, fresh from an ongoing legal battle to get St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, envisioned by the Archdioceses of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, approved by state officials.

Brett Farley, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Oklahoma, confirmed the group was one of those behind the push to change the Judicial Nominating Commission. In a telephone interview with The Oklahoman, Farley said the Church was interested in changing how appellate judges were appointed because the courts have a lot of say, obviously, whether legislation is considered constitutional and how its going to apply and things like that.

Routinely, we will be working on legislation that ultimately comes up for review, he said. Thats clearly of interest to us. But most importantly we want courts that have a high level of accountability and are open for all voters to review and to see. Our concern with the current process with the JNC is that it is very much not open for voters to watch and understand whats going on.

Oklahomas system, Farley said, has far less accountability than what we have at the federal level.

Thats why were pushing for a modification that is very similar to what we have at the federal level, he said.

State Rep. Brian Hill, left, shakes hands with Bishop McGuinness students, from right, Dino Medicinebird-Busby, Baylor Moates and Luke Worthington as part of the annual Rose Day anti-abortion rally at the Oklahoma Capitol last month.

The pushback against the commission isn't the first time the Catholic Church lobbied lawmakers. Previously, Church officials bussed students from Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School to the Capitol to hand out roses during "Rose Day," an event where conservatives urged lawmakers to outlaw and restrict access to abortion services.

GOP officials: State needs more conservative justices

State Republican Party officials also have pushed for a conservative framework used to appoint judges and evaluate justices. In 2019, then-state GOP chairman, A.J. Ferate  who is listed today as of counsel for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs  said it was his passion to change the way appellate judges were chosen.

Those efforts continue even today.

Still the push to only have judges with conservative credential concerns some experts, including Rose State College political scientist James Davenport. In an essay for the States Newsroom website, Davenport and co-author Keith Eakins countered that the think tank was pushing for change because it believed state courts previously checked efforts by the Republican Party, now dominant in Oklahoma government.

The OCPA argues that the Oklahoma judiciary does not reflect the values of Oklahoma voters. What we believe is meant by this is they believe the appellate courts have slowed or thwarted the agenda of the Republican Party, which is dominant in state politics, the pair wrote In fact, OCPA has not been shy about discussing the partisan nature of this particular complaint.

Political experts: Make the JNC more transparent, don't eliminate it

While politics can never be eliminated from judicial selection, the pair wrote, "in a state where one party holds a supermajority in the Legislature and all the principal executive branch positions, any reform that would weaken the ability of the judiciary to protect against the excesses of the majority party should be viewed skeptically."

"This is particularly true given the current JNC system was created as a remedy to a court corruption scandal and has lived up to its promise of reform," Davenport and Eakins wrote. "The OCPA recommends scrapping the JNC and copying the model of judicial selection used in the federal courts. Thus, the question facing policymakers and the public is whether a new selection process that would give the majority party more influence over the courts is preferable to the current system that is less vulnerable to partisan manipulation?"

Last week, Davenport acknowledged the think tank's concerns with the nominating commission, but repeated his call to keep the current system and improve it by making it more transparent. He said he wasn't surprised by the Catholic Church's involvement.

"Sometimes when we have problems, we create solutions that solve way more than the problems we are concerned about," he said. "And end up creating unintended consequences down the line."

The Church, Davenport said, is unhappy with some the recent decisions of the courts and "would like to have greater influence over that selection process."

Anytime you have a court rendering an opinion on something, you're going to make some people mad and some people happy, Davenport said. "This is a political process and you're never going to be able to completely eliminate politics from the select process," he said. "Our concern was, and remains, is that you have a single party dominate (the) state, that controls every executive branch position, that has a supermajority in both chambers of the Legislature and maybe we should think long and hard before granting that supermajority control over the judiciary  at least who gets on the judiciary."

If voters want any type of system of checks and balances at all, Davenport said, they have to think about the process. "You need to be thinking about 10 to 20 years down that line about what kind of problems that fix could create," he said.

Daniels' bill is expected to be heard by a House committee soon.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Conservative groups want more Republican judges on appellate court
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) A lien filed by a Tampa contractor after payments to him from the developer stopped was not disclosed to buyers who agreed to purchase one of the properties tangled in the dispute.

The $1 million home on North Woodrow in Tampa is one of seven built or started by contractor Todd Britton-Harr. He claims he pulled out of the unfinished projects after developer M.A.X Investment Properties stopped paying him.

Documents reviewed by 8 On Your Side indicate Britton-Harr is owed more than $136,000 for construction costs and legal fees connected to the North Woodrow home. At one point, he was owed more than $630,000, but the developer paid $345,000 of that debt through a court settlement.

Beware of liens: Homebuyer could owe $90K more amid contractors lawsuit

The rest is the focus of a civil lawsuit that includes two investors who claim they are also owed money from M.A.X.

Company owner Cliff Parchmon has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Jackie de la Rosa, the buyers agent in the North Woodrow sale, said the agreement was executed in late February but her clients did know about the lien until they learned about it on the news.

The lien was not disclosed to myself or the buyers, de la Rosa said. They had [8 On Your Side] on that morning and were shocked to see their new home on the TV.

The buyers of a home on North Highland Avenue that was built by Britton-Harr were shocked after their deal closed last year.

They bought it for $500,000 without knowing there was a nearly $100,000 lien on it.

Shouldve never sold: Hot real estate market fuels lawsuits against developer

Britton-Harr took his claim that alleged fraud was involved to Tampa police investigators and was interviewed by a detective. A spokesperson for the department has not yet commented on the case.

When signed the settlement agreement, [Parchmon] acknowledges right here in the paperwork that he knew there was a lien on it, Britton-Harr said. So, theres no possible way that he didnt know there was a lien on it.

The title company for the North Highland and North Woodrow properties is Profusion Title.

8 On Your Side left messages for their owner and went to the office, but so far no one has responded to our questions about the liens.

Britton-Harr said normally title companies send out a contractors affidavit to verify in writing that all the bills are paid before allowing a deal to close.

Tampa pastor accused of using racist, homophobic slurs at New Beginnings veterans shelter

Theres a standard form that you get notarized at the bank and send it off. It never happened in this case, Britton-Harr said. The title company never contacted me for a contractors affidavit.

de la Rosa said she has reached out to the listing agent and Profusion Title to clear up the situation. She said according to the title company, the owners are fully aware of the lien and are diligently working with their attorney to resolve the issue.

Our biggest concern here is that this group closed on a property last year with an almost $90,000 lien against it, de la Rosa said. We want to ensure that our buyers are purchasing this home with a clear title, which is what you trust a title company to do.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Russian volunteer fighters from the Siberian Battalion claimed to have entered the Gorkovsky settlement in Russia's Belgorod Oblast and taken control of the local administration building, the militia said on March 17.

Units of the Russian liberation forces, together with volunteers from the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, entered the settlement of Gorkovsky in the Russian Federation and captured the building of the local administration," the militia said on Telegram.

The Kyiv Independent cannot independently verify the militia's claim.

Fiercely critical of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Freedom of Russia Legion, Siberian Battalion, and the Russian Volunteer Corps have been carrying out cross-border incursions into Russias Belgorod and Kursk oblasts since March 12.

The militias claimed to have captured 25 Russian soldiers following their incursions into the western Russian oblasts.

The shelling of Ukraine from Belgorod Oblast must stop, the battalion said as a rationale for its incursion into Russian territory.

They have repeatedly called for citizens to evacuate or take shelter, as they carry out limited operations targeting Russian military positions.

In response to the previous incursion by the anti-Kremlin militias, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that it thwarted Kyivs attempt to make a breakthrough into the Russian border territory in the Belgorod and Kursk oblasts.

Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraines military intelligence chief, said on March 16 that Ukraine would help anti-Kremlin militias in their operations on Russian territory and support them to the extent possible.

Budanov noted that the militias have helped Ukraine from the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion and that they are no longer a grouping, but they are now becoming a force.

The Siberian Battalion was the third unit established by Ukraine for Russian nationals who want to join the fight against the Kremlin. The militia primarily consists of ethnic minorities from Siberia, including Buryats, Yakuts, Tuvans, and others.

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.
A Massachusetts Appeals Court decision was made in the favor of Vineyard Conservation Society on Thursday after a Dec. 5 hearing was held to determine ownership of 5.7 acres of land in Gay Head (Aquinnah).

The land, also known as Lot 240, has been the center of a 7-year-long court case between Vineyard Conservation Society and the Devine family. Court deliberations stretch back to May 2017 when a complaint was filed by Vineyard Conservation Society to decipher who Lot 240 was deeded to in 1870.

Tanisha Gomes, one of 19 defendants in the case, said the deed that includes Lot 240 was fraudulent and legally passed to the defendants through their ancestor Louisa Pocknett Devine. The conservation society bases its claim of ownership on 1944 and 1945 deeds, which the society says show that Horace Devine  Louisa Pocknett Devine's grandson  gave Henry Cronig, a real estate company owner in the mid-1900s, the entirety of his family's land including Lot 240.

Troy Small, one of the defendants in the lawsuit brought by Vineyard Conservation Society, questioned the validity of the 1945 deed. He was photographed in October 2022 with a map of Aquinnah land parcels.

Cronig founded Cronig's Real Estate in 1917, according the company website. The company is based in Vineyard Haven.

"We havent had time to process the ruling," Gomes said on Friday to the Times.

Marlene Devine, another defendant in the case, said the Appeals Court judges weren't well versed in Land Court cases. "It's disappointing that the Appeals Court didn't do their due diligence," she said.

Attorney Jonathan Polloni, who argued for the Devine family, called the case an "uphill fight" on Friday and said he had been hoping for a different outcome.

"It was a bit of a long shot. But in my heart, I was hoping that common sense would prevail," he said.

Vineyard Conservation Society board President Jennifer Blum declined to comment Saturday and referred questions to Executive Director Samantha Look. Look did not respond to requests for comment.

Why was the ruling in favor of Vineyard Conservation Society?

In the decision, Appeals Court judges said that the Devine ancestors, who were Wampanoag, made their intentions to give up claims to land located on Gay Head, clear. During the December hearing, Associate Justice Kenneth V. Desmond Jr. peppered Polloni with questions about the language of the deed.

Gomes told the Times in 2022 that, from her perspective, the 1944 and 1945 deeds specify lots that were sold to Cronig by Horace Devine, with a certain dollar value attached. But Lot 240 was never named or described in either deed, she said.

"There is language in the deed where Horace states 'all my land in Gay Head,' which Vineyard Conservation says includes Lot 240," she said. "But because Lot 240 isn't named on that deed, it's hard to say that Horace gave it away. I don't believe he gave all his land away in Gay Head."

While Lot 240 wasn't specifically named on any of the deeds associated with the transaction between Horace Devine and Henry Cronig, said Polloni, the court chose not to ignore a deed interpretation which he said was based on "broad, expansive language."

"That was the hump we couldn't get over," said Polloni.

The conservation society, said Polloni, also already had a claim to the land through an alternative chain of title. And the Devines, he said, weren't able to establish who the owners should be, other than referring to Devine heirs in a general sense, said Polloni.

"The Devine family hadn't made a claim on the land for a very long time," said Polloni. "That meant the case was coming up in an unusual way."

The Devine family is welcome to enter an appeal to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, said Polloni. "They aren't obligated to take on an appeal just because one is filed," he said of the court, generally.

Kennedy connections to Lot 240

Since 1945, Lot 240 has passed through several layers of ownership, eventually landing in the hands of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1978.

In 2022, Gomes told the Times that Lot 240 was included in a 2013 gift deed between Caroline Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy's daughter, and the Vineyard Conservation Society. According to gift deed documents provided by Gomes, the Kennedy family, through its Red Gate Farm LLC, donated 30 acres of its Aquinnah property to the conservation society. The land, which was valued at $3.7 million, was gifted for $10, according to the documents.

Vineyard Conservation Society files lawsuit

In 2017, Gomes received a letter from Fidelity National Law Group to inform her and the other defendants about title questions with the land.

The letter informed Gomes and her relatives that a lawsuit was filed in Dukes County Superior Court against the family. Pocknett Devine is described in the complaint as the former owner of the property. She died on Aug. 29, 1874, and was a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.

The family members were asked to sign an agreement to verify they had no right, title or interest in Lot 240, which was indicated on a plan entitled "Plan of Gay Head."

After further research, Gomes and her family found that Lot 240 remained in Devine Pocknett's name on the town of Aquinnah assessor department website, and objected to the lawsuit due to what the family believes was discrepancies surrounding incomplete deeds for Lot 240.

The name on the assessor website changed, said Gomes, after the Dec. 5 Appeals Court hearing.

The case is important because of how land has been manipulated away from Wampanoag families over time, she said.

"There are Wampanoag families across the Cape and Islands who continue to fight for sovereignty and land, which was lost through colonization, and in this case, title fraud," said Gomes. "If our family won this latest case, it would have had an impact on land in Aquinnah that should custodially be held by Wampanoag people."

Rachael Devaney writes about community and culture. Reach her at rdevaney@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RachaelDevaney.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod family loses Vineyard land case with tribal implications
Apple is looking to team up with Google for a mega-deal to leverage the Gemini AI model for features on iPhone, Bloomberg reported. This will put Google in a commanding position as the company already has a deal with Apple as the preferred search engine provider on iPhones for the Safari browser.

The publication cited people familiar with the matter saying that Apple is looking to license Google's AI tech to introduce AI-powered features with iOS updates later this year. Additionally, the company also held discussions with OpenAI to potentially use GPT models, Bloomberg said.

There is surmounting pressure on Apple to catch up with competitors in the AI field such as OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic and even Google. In February, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the company will introduce GenAI features "later this year."

The company's job listings over the last year have suggested that Apple is working on multiple internal and external tools powered by generative AI. However, talks of leveraging third-party AI tech means Apple hasn't progressed as expected in its own AI efforts.

Apple's own models might power some of the on-device features on the upcoming iOS 18 software update  expected to be announced at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) historically held in June. However, the company is exploring partnering with an external provider for generative AI use cases such as image creation and helping users with writing.

Google has had its own set of problems with Gemini. Last month, the company had to pause its image-generation feature after the model created images with historical inaccuracies. Later, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that Gemini's responses were "completely unacceptable." Last week, Google said that it is blocking election-related queries on Gemini across the globe. But TechCrunch found that users could get around those restrictions by introducing typos to some queries.

Despite these fallbacks, Google has an advantage in launching smartphone-related features. Earlier this year, the company partnered with Samsung to introduce Gemini-powered AI features on the Galaxy S24 series of devices. The search giant has also launched these features on its own Pixel series of phones.

We have reached out to Apple and Google for a comment, and we will update the story if we hear back from them.
5 years ago

April 2019

"Pot, and the impoverished undocumented immigrants who often bring it, are no longer flowing across the border at the rate they once were. This decline has virtually nothing to do with expensive security innovations at the border and everything to do with legalization in the United States. If it were any other industry, one imagines the president would be delighted: When it comes to pot, customers prefer to buy American."

David Bier

"The Wall Won't End Pot Smuggling at the Border. Legalization Will."

"It's just accounting. If you spend more than you earn, someone is giving you a loan. If the U.S. imports computers from China more than it exports soybeans to China, 'we' have to provide nice-looking IOUsfor example, engraved portraits of Ben Franklin that cost 12.5 cents each to print. For one of Ben's portraits we get $100 worth of computers. Pretty good, eh?"

Deirdre Nansen -McCloskey

"Quit Worrying and Learn To Love Trade With China"

15 years ago

April 2009

"In the 1880s, when a French crime fighter named Alphonse Bertillon pioneered the mug shot as a unique form of portraiture, the photographs he took were expected to do one thing: help establish an individual's identity at a time when driver's licenses, fingerprint files, and Facebook pages didn't exist. Today mug shots are still used to identify, but we also want them to punish, deter, and entertain. Unfortunately, they do such a good job of the latter that we've been indifferent to the ways they short-circuit due process. But while we're gawking at the haunted eyes of a Midwestern meth freak or the haunted hair of Nick Nolte, cops across America are using virtual rogues' galleries to normalize the idea that the government has the right to punish you without bothering to convict you of a crime."

Greg Beato

"Criminal Verite"

30 years ago

April 1994

"Feminists who today draw attention to the absence of women's rights in the Muslim world are correct, but they overlook the point that men also lack such rights. Men may indeed be free to oppress women at home or in the workplacebut they may themselves be oppressed by others acting with the authority of the state. As David Pryce-Jones has amply documented in The Closed Circle, the weak are at the mercy of the strong in the Arab world, and in a polity based on power women are bound to be the losers."

Tom Bethell

"The Mother of All Rights"

40 years ago

April 1984

"If freedom lovers are to judge foreign policy by the same standards as domestic policy, we cannot adopt the view that a good end justifies any means. And from the perspective of constitutional limited government, it is difficult to see any principle that justifies sending U.S. armed forces around the world to secure other people's freedoms. Since the large majority of governments systematically violate their citizens' rights, such a standard would amount to carte blanche for intervention everywhere."

Robert Poole

"Defending Everyone?"

45 years ago

April 1979

"Everyone agrees that we have to get off the fossil-fuels kick of the past two centuriesnot so much because we are running out, but because of the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The dynamics of the process are poorly understood at present, but we have some reason to believe that continued dependence on fossil fuels could, in two more centuries, raise the mean temperature of the biosphere by six to eight degrees centigrade because of increased opacity of the atmosphere to infrared radiation (the so-called greenhouse effect)."

Peter Vajk

"No More Doomsday"

The post Archives: April 2024 appeared first on Reason.com.
By Ted Hesson and Liliana Salgado

WASHINGTON/TUCSON, Arizona (Reuters) - An Arizona migrant shelter that has housed thousands of asylum seekers plans to halt most operations in two weeks when funding from Washington runs out, a problem for towns along the border where officials fear a surge in homelessness and extra costs.

Arizona's Pima County, which borders Mexico, has said that at the end of the month its contracts must stop with Tucson's Casa Alitas shelter and services that transport migrants north from the border cities of Nogales, Douglas and Lukeville.

Pima County Administrator Jan Lesher said the county cannot afford the roughly $1 million per week that previously would have been covered by federal funds.

The amount "is not something that can be easily absorbed into a Pima County budget," she said.

Funding predicaments similar to Pima County's are playing out in other border regions and far-away cities like New York City, Chicago and Denver that have received migrants.

As in Tucson, other local governments anticipate that without federal dollars, communities will face many more migrants living on their streets, greater demands on police, hospitals and sanitation services.

Pima County, which since 2019 has received over 400,000 migrants who have been processed by U.S. border authorities, estimated 400 to 1,000 migrants with nowhere to stay could start arriving daily in Tucson beginning in April.

Congress faces a Friday deadline to fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which pays for migrant services, along with other federal agencies. Current money could be temporarily extended as a stop-gap measure to keep DHS and other federal agencies running.

But additional funding for the shelter and transportation services has been caught in broader political battles about illegal migration and government spending, and Congress is at an impasse, largely due to election-year politics.

Immigration is among the top three concerns for voting-age Americans, and Arizona is an election battleground state that could help decide control of the White House and U.S. Senate.

President Joe Biden, a Democrat running against Republican former President Donald Trump for re-election on Nov. 5, has tried to appeal simultaneously to the Democratic base in favor of protecting asylum seekers while also courting other voters who want to reduce the number of illegal crossings from Mexico.

Biden has grappled with record numbers of such migrants since he took office in 2021.

In recent months, Biden has toughened his stance, blaming Republicans for opposing additional border security funding and legislation that would grant him new enforcement authority.

Republicans counter that Biden should reinstate restrictive Trump policies and end new legal entry programs before Congress devotes more money to border security.

'HOMELESSNESS ON STEROIDS'

Casa Alitas started in 2014 as a church effort to help Central American migrants whom authorities dropped at Tucson's bus station. By 2023 it had served over 180,000 asylum seekers, mostly families, who are legally entitled to stay in the U.S. as they pursue their immigration cases.

While some migrants come from Mexico, Guatemala and other Latin American countries, Casa Alitas has recently housed people from West Africa, India and elsewhere.

At one of five Casa Alitas shelter sites last week, migrants rested on cots and received meals, clean clothes, toiletries and assistance planning onward travel.

Sara Vasquez Gonzalez, 45, came with her husband and three of her six children from Chiapas, Mexico, where cartel violence has driven Mexican families to flee to the U.S.

As they ate breakfast sandwiches, Vasquez said criminals had shot at their house, forcing them to seek refuge in the U.S.

"We lost our house, our corn, our harvest," she said.

Casa Alitas has already told two-thirds of its 60-person workforce that they will be dismissed due to lack of funding, according to Executive Director Diego Lopez.

The shelter plans to reduce its capacity from 1,400 people per day to 140, a level that may not even be enough to house all incoming families with infants and toddlers, he said.

In December, Pima County received 46,000 migrants - more than ever before, according to county figures. Numbers have been just below 30,000 a month in January and February.

In a February memo to Pima officials, Lesher said migrants being released by Border Patrol without shelter services could result in "homelessness on steroids."

Tucson officials are considering setting up a migrant site with bathrooms but no sleeping accommodations. By giving migrants "some place where they can go," the city hopes to avoid people living on the streets and resulting calls on police and emergency services, said county spokesperson Mark Evans.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, last week sent a letter to top U.S. lawmakers on funding committees saying her state needed at least $752 million in shelter funds. In the meantime, Hobbs said in a press conference that her office was working to find ways to deal with the situation.

'STOPPING THE FLOW'

In Congress, lawmakers representing the area are divided on the issue of shelter funding.

U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva, a Democrat who represents part of Pima County and more than 350 miles (563 km) of the Mexico border, called for more federal funds and said Republicans were "continuing to exploit the humanitarian crisis for their political gain."

U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani, a Republican whose district includes another part of Pima County, said in an interview that Biden should reinstate more restrictive Trump-era policies and increase deportations before Congress provides more money for migrant shelter and transportation.

"We need to focus on what would actually solve the problem, which is stopping the flow at the border," Ciscomani said.

(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington and Liliana Salgado in Tucson, Arizona; Editing by Mica Rosenberg, Mary Milliken and Cynthia Osterman)
An Arizona lawmaker shared that she plans to get an abortion during a powerful speech she gave on the state Senate floor Monday afternoon.

State Sen. Eva Burch (D) stood at the end of Mondays session to make a point of personal privilege, a right afforded to Arizona lawmakers when they would like to make a personal remark. Burch, who for the last 12 years has worked as an emergency room nurse and nurse practitioner at a womens health clinic, shared that a few weeks ago she and her husband found out she was pregnant. Burch described how shes had a rough journey with fertility, miscarrying many times, and recalled how she got an abortion two weeks before Roe v. Wade fell in 2022 due to a nonviable diagnosis of a wanted pregnancy.

We have determined that my pregnancy is once again not progressing and is not viable, and once again I have scheduled an appointment to terminate my pregnancy, Burch told her colleagues on the Senate floor, with a handful of her female colleagues standing behind her in support.

I dont think people should have to justify their abortions, she said. But Im choosing to talk about why I made this decision because I want us to be able to have meaningful conversations about the reality of how the work that we do in this body impacts people in the real world.

Watch part of Burchs speech below.

WATCH: Senator Burch has just shared her personal abortion story with the rest of her colleagues at the legislature. Her Republican colleagues voted to ban abortion in 2022. Thank you, Sen. Burch for sharing your story, a story that so many Arizona families know all too well. pic.twitter.com/nyajE9H4MH  ADLCC (@A_DLCC) March 18, 2024

Abortion is currently banned in Arizona after 15 weeks. Burch did not specify how far along she is, but she is still getting care in-state, so she must be less than 15 weeks pregnant.

Arizona has long implemented other restrictions that bar access to care, including a 24-hour waiting period before a patient can get an abortion, undergoing an ultrasound and listening to state-mandated information about adoption and parenting. A near-total abortion ban went into law when federal abortion protections fell, but its not currently in effect as it makes its way through the courts.

I dont know how many of you have been unfortunate enough to experience a miscarriage before, but I am not interested in going through it unnecessarily, Burch said. Right now, the safest and most appropriate treatment for me  and the treatment that I choose  is abortion. But the laws this legislature has passed has interfered with my ability to do that.

Burch, who has given birth to two sons, described how, despite being at an abortion clinic just a few days ago, she is still pregnant. She had to sit through an uncomfortable transvaginal ultrasound and listen to an exhaustive list of absolute disinformation.

From where I sat, the only reason I had to hear those things was a cruel and really uninformed attempt by outside forces to shame and coerce and frighten me into making a different decision other than the one that I knew was right for me, she said.

Theres no one-size-fits-all script for people seeking abortion care, and the legislature doesnt have any right to assign one.

Abortion rights advocates in the state are working on getting a pro-choice constitutional amendment on the November ballot. The initiative seeks to enshrine protections for abortion care up until fetal viability, which is usually around 24 weeks. Pro-choice groups have until July to collect just under 384,000 signatures for the initiative to appear on the 2024 ballot in Arizona.

Sam Paisley, national press secretary for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, commended Burch for sharing her story and described her as the epitome of courage in a statement shared with HuffPost.

No woman should have to go through the emotional and physical hurdles she described, Paisley said. Arizona Republicans have passed unnecessary burdens on abortion care that put women in danger. Senator Burchs story is powerful, but it is sadly not unique  patients across Arizona have to jump through hoops to get the care they need. There are very real, and sometimes even deadly, consequences to the attacks on reproductive freedom that Republicans across the country have launched.

Burch urged the legislature to base their decisions on excerpted testimony and consensus from the medical community, as well as input from voters. She called on her fellow lawmakers to resist political posturing or partisan bias on an issue that shouldnt be political at all. The Democrat added that she hopes to see the pro-choice initiative make it to the ballot in November.

I stand with those who have had to grapple with and navigate Arizonas restrictive laws surrounding abortion at a time when the decisions being made were complicated enough, she said. Im with them. I appreciate them. I am them.

Related...
The Army is asking Congress for a large budget increase to fund an improvement to the service's barracks buildings that home junior troops, who have for years complained of almost dire living conditions in government-provided housing at installations across the world.

The Army's proposed budget for fiscal 2025 would see a "massive increase" in funding for the barracks, bumping the funds used to tackle the improvement of the service's living quarters from $1.5 billion to $2.365 billion while seeking to triple its budget to construct new barracks buildings, according to a report from Military.com that was confirmed by Fox News Digital.

If approved by Congress, the branch's overall $185.9 billion budget would mark an increase of just 0.2% over the previous year but would signal a continued shift in priorities for the nation's largest military branch, which seeks to alleviate a recruiting crisis that has seen the Army fall short of its goals by thousands of recruits in recent years.

TROOPS PLAGUED BY FILTHY CONDITIONS, SQUATTERS IN MILITARY BARRACKS: REPORT

"Despite an overall flat Army budget and many competing resource requirements, we are significantly increasing funding for barracks construction, restoration and modernization," Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told Military.com. "We will continue to work with Congress to make barracks a long-term investment priority as the Army still faces a significant maintenance backlog in our large inventory of aging barracks."

The report comes as the Army has been under increased pressure to improve the living conditions of junior troops, most notably after an October Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that troops living in barracks have seen buildings with pests, such as roaches and bed bugs, and toxic waste, raising concerns about the health and safety of service members. The report also found that some barracks had fallen victim to apparent squatters, with pictures showing rooms that contained belongings of people that were not authorized to be in the buildings.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Other photos from the report showed sewage overflowing, cracked sewage pipes, water damage, and mold or mildew growth. The report also noted that in one extreme example, officials at one Army installation told investigators that "service members are responsible for cleaning biological waste that may remain in a barracks room after a suicide."

MISSING F-35 WAS 'ALMOST GOING INVERTED' BEFORE CRASH, WITNESS SAYS

But the Army's new budget request is an attempt for the service to rectify the issue, with a branch spokesperson telling Fox News Digital that almost a billion of the funds will go to building brand new barracks buildings, while nearly $700 million will be allowed for "barracks sustainment."

"This significant investment in our barracks, child development centers and youth centers will improve the quality of life for our soldiers and their families and will also increase unit readiness," spokesperson Matt Ahearn said.

Ahearn said that fiscal 2025 would see nine new barracks projects under the proposal, seven for active-duty troops and two for Army Reserve members. Active-duty installations that would get new barracks include Fort Johnson, Louisiana; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Three installations in Germany would also receive new barracks, while projects would also be planned for Parks Reserve Forces Training Center, California, and Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, on the reserve side.

The plan will send a message to potential recruits, Ahearn said, with the branch hoping the investments pay off in recruitment.

"We are sending a strong message to potential recruits and current soldiers about our commitment to their well-being by improving living conditions for junior soldiers, which is expected to positively impact recruiting," Ahearn said.





Original article source: Army eyes 'massive' budget increase to tackle troops' horrid living conditions: report
Police confirmed a woman has been arrested in connection to a string of suspicious fires at businesses in East Boston over the weekend.

According to Boston Police, officers responded to AutoZone Auto Parts on Border Street just before 10 a.m. Monday for a report of a small fire. Investigators on the scene determined the fire to be suspicious. Officers quickly located and arrested Genesis Hurtado, 26, of Chelsea for allegedly setting the fire.

The Boston Fire Department was able to extinguish the fire, and no injuries were reported.

Arson investigators had already been looking at fires set Saturday night inside two other businesses in the same plaza, and officials said Monday that Hurtado was facing charges in connection with those fires as well.

She is charged with three counts of arson, and three counts of burning of personal property. Hurtado is expected to be arraigned in East Boston District Court.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Boston Police.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Qabil Ashirov

Assistant to the Azerbaijani President and the Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration, Hikmat Hajiyev, met with the Deputy Foreign Minister of China, Sun Weidong, Azernews reports.

In the meeting, it was emphasised that the meetings held between the presidents of Azerbaijan and China and the exchange of letters are important factors in determining the direction of the strategic development of the partnership between the two countries.

At the meeting, views were exchanged on relations between the two countries in various fields, upcoming issues related to COP29, cooperation on the Middle Corridor, and peacebuilding in the South Caucasus region.

At the same time, prospects for the development of comprehensive cooperation between Azerbaijan and China were discussed.
Tourists visit a museum in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 17, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Tourists visit the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic spot in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Tourists visit the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 15, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Spectators watch a drama in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Actresses perform a drama in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Tourists visit the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Tourists visit a museum in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 17, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Tourists ride camels at the Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic spot in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, March 16, 2024. Dunhuang has received a total of 336,000 tourists from Jan. 1 to March 16 this year, an increase of 86.6 percent over the same period in 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhimin)

Editor: JYZ
ST. LOUIS  An arrest warrant has been issued for one of two men accused of trying to rob a Starbucks in Midtown late last year.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, the robbery took place on Dec. 17, 2023, inside the Starbucks at the Flying Saucer building, located at South Grand Boulevard and Forest Park Avenue.

Police claim Joshua Noe and Marquise Porter-Doyle entered the coffee shop with what appeared to be handguns and ordered seven employees and a customer to the floor and to hand over their valuables.

Noe and Porter-Doyle told the employees to open the register and the safe. The employees were unable to open the safe.

Attorney identifies victim of assault near Hazelwood East High School

At one point, police claim Noe struck one of the employees in the head with his weapon. However, the gun broke and the employees realized Noes handgun was not real. The employees then fought back against Noe and Porter-Doyle.

Noe and Porter-Doyle fought with the employees until the police arrived. Noe was taken into custody at the scene, but Porter-Doyle ran off. He was arrested a short time later.

The St. Louis Circus Attorneys Office charged Noe with three counts of first-degree robbery, six counts of first-degree attempted robbery, one count of second-degree robbery, and one count of third-degree robbery. Upon arrest, Noe will be held without bond.

Porter-Doyle, who faces the same charges as Noe, was ordered to be detained until trial. Hes appeared in preliminary hearings and is due in court again on Wednesday, March 20.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
In the Russian city of Orenburg, the management of the Poza (Pose) club was accused of "extremist LGBT activities", and criminal proceedings were opened.

Source: Russian media with reference to Ekaterina Mizulina, the head of the Safe Internet League, created to censor the internet in Russia.

Mizulina says a criminal case has been opened "on the grounds of extremist activities related to the Posa LGBT club" (Article 282.2.1-2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

"This is the first such criminal case in Russia since the Supreme Court's decision recognising LGBT people as an extremist movement", says Mizulina.

The Russian Safe Internet League was created to "fight prohibited content on the web."

The Russian media, in particular, the Russian propaganda news agency TASS, wrote that the club visitors told law enforcement officers that the club was allegedly promoting the "LGBT extremist movement" banned in Russia.

Background:

In November 2023, the Supreme Court of Russia recognised "the international public movement LGBT+ as an extremist organisation and banned its activities on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Previously, we reported that in 2022, Russia introduced fines for LGBT propaganda and sex change to "protect itself from the darkness of the United States and Europe."

In addition, Russian officials suggested imprisonment for those promoting the "repeated propaganda" of the LGBT movement.

In early 2024, Russia began to withdraw world bestsellers from bookstores because of alleged "LGBT propaganda".

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The independent consultant hired to assess Fort Worths EMS system is set to give its final report to the Ad Hoc Council Committee on Emergency Medical Response on Tuesday.

Over the next few weeks the committee will review the options provided by Fitch and Associates and give the Fort Worth City Council their recommendation on the best path forward for EMS service.

MedStar began servicing Fort Worth in 1986. The current service area includes Fort Worth and 13 surrounding cities, including Haltom City, White Settlement, Saginaw, Sansom Park and Westworth Village, according to the agencys website.

MedStar received subsidies from Fort Worth and the other member cities until 2010. Expenses were low and the income generated from insurance payments and the Mobile Integrated Healthcare program made the ambulance service provider self-sustaining for several years.

According to Fitchs report, MedStar will need public subsidies again due to rising costs and flat net revenues, something MedStar spokesperson Matt Zavadsky said the agency has been saying for some time.

Weve been very supportive of this process, and honestly Fitch has done a really good job with the study, with the data analytics, Zavadsky said. They have essentially validated everything that weve been saying for the last three years.

Current EMS provider

MedStar is one of the least understood organizations in the community, Zavadsky said. People tend to think of MedStar as a private company, but its actually a governmental administrative agency which is owned by the 14 member cities.

According to the agencys website, teams from 220 communities across 46 states and six countries have visited MedStar over the past 10 years to learn about their EMS system. MedStar is also one of a handful of EMS agencies in the United States that is both certified and accredited to perform enhanced blood tests in the field to better pinpoint patients medical needs.

Financial constraints have been a growing concern in recent years, Zavadsky said. Costs have gone up and revenue from ambulance transports hasnt kept pace. Medicare and Medicaid patients represent around 55-60% of MedStars cases, and there hasnt been a Medicaid rate increase for ambulance service since 2007, according to Zavadsky.

Staffing shortages after COVID-19 have also played a factor as the cost of wages to retain emergency medical technicians and paramedics or attract new ones has skyrocketed, Zavadsky said.

In September, the Fort Worth City Council approved $4.2 million in transitional funding to cover MedStar budget shortfalls while the Ad Hoc Council Committee on Emergency Medical Response reevaluated MedStars services and reviewed other potential EMS models.

MedStar later decided the funding from the city wasnt necessary. MedStars Chief Executive Officer Ken Simpson told the Star-Telegram in January that MedStar will be contracting with John Peter Smith Hospital to pay for inmate transports from the county jail. The city of Fort Worth will reimburse MedStar for inmate transports from the city jail.

Them taking responsibility for those patients and a couple other things we were able to do within the budget gave us the opportunity to balance the budget for this year while we work through this ad hoc process, Simpson said.

The most recent Fitch and Associates report, presented to the ad hoc committee on Feb. 20, laid out four alternative EMS models for the committees consideration, including changing MedStars board but keeping the current provider model without any additional substantive changes.

Alternative models

The four EMS service delivery model options are each designed to provide high-quality patient care, according to Fitchs report. They would all require public finding and would be governed by the Fort Worth Mayor and City Council. They are also based on an eight-minute travel time, which doesnt include the time required to answer the call and dispatch the ambulance.

The first model would retain MedStar in its current role but transfer governance to the Fort Worth City Council.

The second would replace MedStar with a fire-based EMS model operated by the Fort Worth Fire Department using either sworn or civilian personnel.

The third would establish a third public safety service in Fort Worth to handle emergency medical services.

The fourth would utilize a private contractor.

1. Keeping MedStar in its current role with a change of governance would cost an estimated $3.2 million. The entirety of that amount represents the cost for the first year of public funding. This model maintains the greatest degree of status quo, according to the report. It would also be the easiest to implement since the only change would be to replace MedStars current 11-member board of directors with the Fort Worth City Council.

MedStars current board consists of nine voting members along with the CEO and the EMS system medical director as non-voting members. Fort Worth appoints four of the voting members, and one of them is traditionally a member of the city council. The other three positions are usually held by a health care expert, an attorney and a community member, Zavadsky said.

A fifth Fort Worth board position is always held by the citys fire chief.

The 13 other member cities appoint one person to represent their communities, and the remaining members are appointed by the Emergency Physicians Advisory Board and the First Responder Advisory Board.

According to Zavadsky, the variety of perspectives represented on the board is intentional and ensures the board remains non-political.

2. The estimated cost of adopting a fire-based EMS model would vary depending on the type of personnel used and whether or not the member cities agree to dissolve MedStar and distribute its assets.

Fort Worth firefighters are trained EMTs and already respond to serious medical emergencies along with MedStar. If the fire-based model were adopted, the Fort Worth Fire Departments role would expand to transporting patients to local hospitals.

The total potential cost for the fire-based model is $63 million utilizing sworn firefighters and $50.5 million utilizing civilians if the city doesnt receive any MedStar assets.

If the city does receive MedStar assets, the projected cost drops to $23 million for sworn firefighters and $10.5 million for civilians.

Dallas Fire-Rescue is an example of a fire-based EMS that uses sworn firefighters, and the Philadelphia Fire Department is an example of a civilian model.

3. The cost of creating a third Fort Worth public safety service to take over emergency medical services could cost $55.3 million if the city does not receive MedStars assets and $15.3 million if the city does.

According to the report, this model would also require the longest time for implementation and transition since the city would essentially be creating this third service from scratch.

MedStar could potentially be used for this service, according to the report. The total projected cost utilizing MedStar would be $11.6 million.

Austin-Travis County EMS is an example of this model.

4. The projected cost for implementing a private contractor model is $9.4 million.

Under this model, the city of Fort Worth would contract with a private EMS provider for an agreed upon rate per hour. The city also would have the option of contracting with MedStar.

The cost for this model would be less than the second and third options and the city could collect net revenues from ambulance transports, according to the report.

The city of Arlington uses a private contractor for its EMS needs.

Member cities

According to Zavadsky, Fort Worth represents 90% of MedStars call volume due to its population of nearly 1 million. The other 10% of the calls are spread throughout the other 13 member cities which range in size from around 46,000 people in Haltom City to less than 1,000 in Westover Hills.

Westworth Village, a city of around 3,000 people and home of the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, has been a MedStar member since the beginning, according to City Administrator Brandy Barrett.

Westworth Village and the other member cities, with the exception of Fort Worth, get together and vote for one person to represent them on MedStars board of directors. Mayor Kelly Jones acknowledged that they dont have any real power compared to Fort Worths five voting members, but at least they have a seat at the table.

Its not clear how the other member cities would be affected if the Fort Worth City Council votes to replace MedStars current board of directors or do away with MedStar altogether.

Barrett told the Star-Telegram in a phone interview Friday that shes attended meetings where Fitch presented reports of its findings, but the independent consultant hasnt reached out to their city for input.

I dont knock Fort Worth for doing their due diligence to make sure their citizens are best served, Barrett said. I just think that all of the areas should be considered, because theyre not the only ones being impacted by any potential change.

Jones said the city leaders are trying to be proactive and learn as much about the alternative EMS models under consideration as possible.

I want to keep an open mind when we visit with the Fitch group and with the Fort Worth council committee, you know. Unless they change our minds, we think the status quo is best, keeping MedStar as it is, Jones told the Star-Telegram in a phone interview Friday.

From his perspective, keeping MedStar as is also means keeping MedStars board of directors in place, according to Jones.

Barrett said Westworth Village is willing to help subsidize MedStar if the Fort Worth City Council votes to keep the current EMS provider, but the city want to make sure it has proper representation when the amount is determined.

We want to make sure that the share is fair and we have some control, or at least some input, on how that is calculated in the future, she said.

Westworth Village uses its police officers as medical first responders in the same way that Fort Worth uses firefighters. When the city had to do away with its volunteer fire department and contract with Fort Worth for fire service, Westworth Village found it was cheaper to use Fort Worth for fire only and use its own police to respond to medical emergencies, Jones said.

The officers stabilize the patients at the scene and advise MedStar about their condition so MedStar can take immediate action when the ambulance arrives, according to Jones. He estimates the city has saved around $300,000 a year by using its police force as first responders instead of contracting that service out.

According to Barrett, MedStar trained the citys police officers. They also communicate regularly with the other member cities and keep them informed of what is going on.

When we do have ... a call that doesnt seem to go the way we think it should, theyre very responsive when we call and ask about it, Barrett said.

Jones has invited the mayors and administrators of the member cities, with the exception of Fort Worth, to a meeting to make sure they are all aware of what Fort Worth is considering with EMS services and get their thoughts on it.

From my perspective, were very pleased (with MedStars services), Jones said. They do a good job. They get here timely, theyre professionals, their staffs are professional, so were pleased with the status quo and we hope it continues.

Today's top stories:

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The Aurora Police Department has donated a retired patrol vehicle to the Indian Valley Vocational Centers law enforcement program, officials announced on Monday.

This marks the first retired vehicle the Aurora Police Department has donated to an outside training program, according to city of Aurora Director of Public Facilities Derrick Winston.

Indian Valley Vocational Center instructor Jim Kerry, a retired Aurora police officer, said he will use the 2015 Ford Explorer to give students interested in law enforcement a chance to learn patrol vehicle controls, simulate traffic stops and more.

This donation from the Aurora Police Department will be an incredible learning tool for our students, Kerry said in a news release from the city of Aurora. There is no substitute for hands-on experience with the actual tools and equipment they will be using as law enforcement professionals.

The Indian Valley Vocational Center in Sandwich accepts high school juniors and seniors from 10 local school districts who are interested in preparing for their career or trade instead of taking traditional high school classes.

According to Jon Zaghloul, the city of Auroras communications manager, the center is actively helping to establish the next generation of law enforcement professionals, and the Aurora Police Department is proud to support their efforts.

The centers law enforcement program now has two vehicles, according to Kerry. He said the other vehicle might be old and on its last leg, but the program will be able to expand its curriculum to include simulated high-risk and felony traffic stops by using both cars.

Kerrys connection to the Aurora Police Department has helped the program in more ways than one. He has started taking students on day trips to the department to show them its various divisions and modern gear, he said.

Thats a nice tour for them because a lot of the smaller departments that are out our way dont have the tools that Aurora has, he said.

While the two-year program at Indian Valley Vocational Center does not allow students to become police officers upon graduation, it does give them a look into being a police officer to see if the career is right for them, according to Kerry.

He said the course teaches students about the criminal justice system, defensive tactics, handcuffing, room clearing, handing calls, de-escalation and more. However, it is taught at a basic level, Kerry said.

If these students are interested in becoming police officers, they would still need to attend a state police academy once they turn 21, he said.

In the meantime, those interested in becoming police officers in Aurora can sign up for the police departments cadet program. Kerry said he does his best to prepare his students for the programs entry test.

Its an excellent program, Kerry said. They turn into good police officers.

rsmith@chicagotribune.com
FILE PHOTO: Silhouettes of mobile device users are seen next to a screen projection of Youtube logo in this picture illustration

By Byron Kaye

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian regulator has sent legal letters to social media platforms from YouTube, X and Facebook to Telegram and Reddit, demanding they hand over information about their efforts to stamp out terrorism content.

The e-Safety Commission said it was concerned the platforms were not doing enough to stop extremists from using live-streaming features, algorithms and recommendation systems to recruit users.

Since 2022, the regulator has had the power to demand big tech firms give information about the prevalence of illegal content and their measures to prevent that content from spreading. Failure to do so can result in hefty fines.

Inman Grant said Telegram was the most used by violent extremist groups to radicalise and recruit.

The Dubai-based messaging service, which a 2022 OECD report ranked at No. 1 for frequency of what it described as terrorist and violent extremist content, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

"We don't know if they actually have the people and resources in place to even be able to respond to these notices, but we will see," Commissioner Julie Inman Grant told Reuters in an interview. "We're not going to be afraid to take it as far as we need to, to get the answers we need or to find them out of compliance and fine them."

YouTube, ranked second for violent extremist content, "has the power through their clever algorithms to spread propaganda broadly ... in a very overt way or a very subtle way that sends people down rabbit holes," she added.

Subjects considered terrorism ranged from responses to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to violent conspiracy theories to "misogynistic tropes that spill over into real-world violence against women", Inman Grant said.

The regulator has previously sent legal letters to platforms seeking information about the handling of child abuse material and hate speech, but its anti-terrorism blitz has been the most complex because of the wide range of content and methods of amplifying content, she said.

Elon Musk's X was handed the first e-Safety fine in 2023 over its response to questions about its handling of child abuse content. It is challenging the $386,000 fine in the court.

The commission targeted Telegram and chat forum website Reddit for the first time in this round of legal letters which were sent on Monday. A white supremacist who killed 10 Black people in Buffalo, New York in 2022, has said the platform contributed to his radicalisation, according to the commissioner.

X and YouTube owner Alphabet were not immediately available for comment.

A spokesperson for Facebook owner Meta said the company was reviewing the commission's notices and that "there is no place on our platforms for terrorism, extremism, or any promotion of violence or hate".

A Reddit spokesperson also said terrorism content had no place on the platform and "we look forward to sharing more information on how we detect, remove, and prevent this and other forms of harmful content directly with the e-Safety Commissioner".

(Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Edwina Gibbs and Lincoln Feast.)
Authorities removed a 750-pound alligator from a residence in upstate New York last week, officials announced Friday.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation wrote in a Facebook post that its officers seized a 750-pound alligator from an individuals residence in Hamburg, New York on March 13. The department noted that the individual had a license for the alligator but that it had expired in 2021.

The department said the individual built an addition to his house and installed an in-ground swimming pool for his roughly 30-year-old alligator, and allegedly allowed members of the public to get into the water to pet the unsecured alligator. The department added that the alligator has numerous health issues, including blindness in two eyes and complications with its spine.

Authorities turned the alligator over to a licensed caretaker who will house and care for the animal until it can be properly transported for permanent care. Analysis of additional evidence seized during the warrant and consultation with a licensed veterinarian will determine any future potential charges, the department wrote in the post.

CNN affiliate WKBW reported that Tony Cavallaro is the owner of the alligator and that someone has started a petition on behalf of him to get his alligator, named Albert, back. According to the online petition, Cavallaro said that he hopes to regain custody of the alligator and said that the department changed the rules around the permits.

Ive had him 34 years and abided by all of them and renewed my permit annually as required. I tried renewing it when they changed their rules and had questions to ask. They ignored my emails and phone calls to make sure I did everything right even though I should be grandfathered in. I will have a court date when they provide it, he said, according to the petition.

The department also said that it worked with the Town of Hamburg Police Department and The Erie County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to seize the gator.

The Hill has reached out to the department and Cavallaro for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, law enforcement agencies have uncovered nearly 400 criminal networks that help individuals evade military service by aiding them in fleeing abroad, a spokesperson for Ukraine's State Border Guard Service announced on March 17.

"Altogether, about 400 organized criminal groups have been uncovered by law enforcement agencies, which, for a fee, promised people assistance in illegal travel across the border," State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andriy Demchenko said on a national TV broadcast.

Criminal entities who assist those escaping military service reportedly charge between $7,000 to $10,000 to provide fake certificates declaring individuals unfit for military service due to fabricated health conditions.

According to Ukrinform, border guards detained approximately 8,000 people in 2023 for attempting to cross the border outside designated checkpoints, while an additional 3,000 people presented forged documents at the crossings.

As Ukraine faces the challenge of maintaining adequate military personnel, a November 2023 report by the BBC indicates that nearly 20,000 Ukrainian men have managed to evade conscription, finding various routes to leave the country.

Fedor Venislavsky, the President's representative in the Verkhovna Rada, previously stated that between one and five percent of Ukrainians are attempting to avoid mobilization.

The Ukrainian government aims to ramp up mobilization efforts in 2024 and has pledged to change the approach to military recruitment, giving more choices to potential conscripts.

The parliament is now considering a new draft of the mobilization law after its initial, contentious version was withdrawn.

Under martial law, Ukrainian men between the ages of 1860, with some exceptions, are not allowed to leave the country because they could be called up for military service.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: 12 Russian oil refineries reportedly hit in recent attacks by Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
State Rep. Jevin Hodge violated sexual violence and sexual misconduct policies as a student at George Washington University almost a decade ago, records show.

Documents shared by his victim back up her allegations that Hodge, then 21, violated university conduct standards in 2015, when what started as a consensual encounter turned into unwelcome sexual contact.

The victim turned to the universitys Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities in early 2016, triggering a lengthy complaint process. When an attorney representing Hodge wrote a letter raising the possibility of a defamation lawsuit if she did not drop her complaint, the woman continued to press her case.

The hearing board found Hodge "in violation" of the allegations, resulting in a disciplinary suspension from the Washington, D.C.-based university that barred him from George Washington property, records show.

Hodge did not face any civil lawsuit or criminal charge in the matter. The woman said she declined to press charges despite an investigator contacting her, because at the time she was a lawful permanent resident and was worried a complaint might compromise her legal status in the U.S.

Hodge, 30, acknowledged the events in an interview with The Arizona Republic. But he described the encounter as consensual, despite the university's findings.

"When she said 'stop,' I stopped," he said. "There was zero aggression. There was nothing along those lines."

Hodge, a Democrat, was appointed to the state House of Representatives in late January to fill a vacancy in District 8, which encompasses much of Tempe.

I dont have anything to gain from this, said the woman, now a 28-year-old resident of Boston. She said she had no ties to Hodge or to George Washington University  she was a Boston College student at the time.

I didnt want this to happen to anyone else, she said, referring to Hodge's attempts to have sex despite her repeated objections. And I dont trust this person in a position of power.

She contacted The Republic in late January after she learned from Google searches that Hodge was a nominee for a legislative vacancy.It took several weeks to obtain university documents that corroborated her complaint.

The Republic is not naming his accuser, following a policy that victims' names are not disclosed without their consent.

University hearing board report details an escalating encounter

Documents that corroborated her complaint were filed with George Washington Universitys Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities. Although the student records redact the names of the parties involved, related documents provided by the victim include Hodge's name and make it clear he was the accused.

The allegations stemmed from the events of one night in Washington, D.C., in October 2015.

The woman, then a student at Boston College, was in D.C. as an intern with a program called the New American Leaders Project. She was helping staff a training session hosted by the nonprofit.

After the program wrapped up, she said she and a friend were invited to go out with two men who were at the event: Hodge and his friend.

The four went to a bar, where the woman was denied entry because she presented a fake ID, she told university investigators. She decided to return to her hotel, and Hodge suggested he accompany her, leaving the other two members of their party behind.

The George Washington University hearing boards report detailed what followed after the woman and Hodge left the D.C. bar:

Although she declined Hodge's suggestion that he go with her to her hotel, she accepted his invitation to go to his apartment. There, they watched television for a time with Hodges roommate and she did two shots of vodka.

They then went to Hodges bedroom, where they started kissing. But when Hodge started to pull up her dress and ask for sex, the report stated she said no. She also rejected his request for oral sex. He placed her hand on his genitals to display his erection, and then stated he would like to have sex with her while sticking her head out of a window. She declined.

He then grabbed her, pulled her hair as he pulled her towards the window of the room, and bent her over towards the window, while stating that he knew that (she) wanted to have sex in that manner, the report stated. The woman continued to tell him no. She told investigators he never penetrated her with his penis, and she was able to escape his grip.

She called for an Uber to take her back to her hotel and Hodge insisted on walking her down to the sidewalk.

In November 2016, a GWU hearing board found Hodge, based on the preponderance of the evidence presented, in violation of provisions of the university's student code of conduct that bar sexual violence and sexual misconduct. The three-member board recommended expulsion.

An email from the director of Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities to the woman indicated Hodge instead had been suspended and barred from university grounds.

By that time, Hodge said he was back in Arizona, working on his master's degree from George Washington through an online program. The suspension was for one semester. He had earned his bachelor's degree from the university in May 2016, a month after its student conduct office received the woman's official complaint.

Hodge said he did not appeal the board's decision because there was not an opportunity to do so.

The university's student code of conduct at that time allowed for appeals as long as they brought up new information. But Hodge said he couldn't meet the five-day window to do so, given distractions due to family matters.

Hodge: Complaint is 'categorically false'

Hodge told university investigators at the time that the woman's account of what had happened between them was exaggerated.

"Each and every allegation against me is categorically false, raised out of malice, are defamatory, and violate my rights, including my rights as a student, as a member of public at large and as a member of a protected class as defined in the Civil Rights Act of 1964," Hodge wrote in a statement to the university's Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities.

He denied he tried to assault the woman, including her statements about bending her over and trying to put her head out a window. When she rejected his requests for more sexual interactions, he told investigators he stopped.

The university report concluded that by continuing to push for sexual interactions despite the womans statements she did not want to do so, Hodges actions amounted to sexual violence.

The report also concluded those acts constitute a coercive attempt by Hodge and were sexual misconduct.

Nearly nine years later, Hodge's tone is more conciliatory than his 2016 statement to the hearing board.

"When I was a 21-year-old college student, I had a consensual romantic encounter with another student," he wrote in a statement to The Republic. "We both had consumed alcohol and we remained clothed the entire time.

"I knew then as I know now that consent is non-negotiable, so when she made it clear she was not interested in continuing, we stopped," he wrote. "She called a taxi and I walked her out.

"Months later, I learned that she accused me of sexual misconduct. I take responsibility for all my actions and have used this experience to grow as an adult, but I must be clear: I unequivocally deny the allegations made against me.

"I believe in taking responsibility for my actions. During the University hearing on this matter, I could see that I caused her emotional pain. I am sincerely sorry for the distress that I caused her."

Hodge said he has had no communication with the woman since 2015 and believed she would not want any kind of contact.

A threat of a defamation lawsuit

One of the documents provided by the victim came from the attorney Hodge had contacted about a possible defamation suit against his accuser.

Attorney Sheridan England, in a June 2, 2016, letter noted that Hodges accuser has nothing to gain from this. Mr. Hodge has nothing to lose.

His letter was directed at the attorney at the Network for Victim Recovery in Washington, D.C., who represented the woman in the university disciplinary proceeding. England wrote he wanted to make it clear that his client would pursue court action if she went ahead with the university complaint.

I am aware that there are witnesses who observed (her) behaviors as she illegally tried to enter the bar, while out on the town in D.C. and at Mr. Hodges apartment. In district court, my client will have substantial evidence to present from multiple witnesses; (she) will not, England wrote.

The woman said Hodge's attorney wanted her to sign a nondisclosure agreement in exchange for dropping the threat of a defamation suit.

Neither the agreement nor the lawsuit materialized and the woman continued to pursue her complaint with the university.

Hodge said Friday he was preoccupied with family matters, among them his mother's struggle with major heart issues.

"I decided not to pursue any legal action anywhere, primarily against the university," he said. "I wanted this to be over, I wanted to focus on my family, I wanted to focus on everything else. I couldn't emotionally handle anything else happening at that time."

An attempted warning to national Democrats

The woman said she became aware of Hodges potential legislative appointment through a friend involved in political circles.

It wasnt the first time she had become aware of Hodges political interest. She said she would occasionally Google him and discovered he was a congressional candidate in 2022.

She said a friend she knows from her work called the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in early 2023 to notify them of Hodge's past. That prompted a call from a DCCC staffer to hear her story.

"Unfortunately, I don't remember their name but it's important for me to note that they believed me and reassured me that they did," she wrote in an email to The Republic.

It is unknown what, if anything, the federal Democratic campaign organization did about that call. Organization officials did not return requests for comment.

By that time, Hodge was mulling another congressional run after narrowly losing to incumbent U.S. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz. In late March 2023, Hodge announced he would not run again, citing the emotional and financial strain of running for office.

Hodge said he was not discouraged from running again, and no one raised the George Washington hearing board's findings to him.

"The decision to not run for office was because I couldn't afford it," he said. "I didn't have the savings."

In 2020, Hodge was the Democratic nominee for a seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. He lost to Republican Jack Sellers by 403 votes in a race that was not decided until 10 days after the election.

Convicted: Former Arizona state Sen. Tony Navarrete found guilty of sexual conduct with a minor

Reach the reporter at maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-228-7566 and follow her on Threads as well as on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @maryjpitzl.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Rep. Jevin Hodge: Sexual violence findings from college days
The second time was the charm for a House bill that would loosen several state restrictions on child labor making its way through the Kentucky state legislature.

With only five yes votes, House Bill 255 failed to meet the vote threshold to make it through the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism and Labor on Thursday. On Friday, lawmakers revived the bill and passed it onto the full Senate in a 7-5 vote.

The bill has received push-back from union leaders and state labor officials, both of whom testified in a special meeting called right after the Senate adjourned Friday.

House Bill 255 repeals the limit on children working no more than six hours a day and 30 hours a week during school weeks and prohibits state labor officials from setting child labor regulations that exceed minimum federal protections.

However, the committee substitute first presented Thursday tweaked the original bill to reinstate a ban on 16- and 17-year-olds from working between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The committee discussion Friday centered around regulation of minors working certain occupations that would be made more lax than federal law.

The bill allows children ages 14 and up from performing some jobs considered hazardous under the Federal Labor Standards Act.

Those jobs include working in a place where goods are manufactured, loading and unloading good from motor vehicles, youth peddling or door-to-door sales, and the use of certain power tools among others.

Federal enforcement on those certain occupations would still stand, cabinet officials said. However, Kentucky state cabinets would not have jurisdiction to enforce those protections.

Kentucky Educaton and Labor Cabinet Secretary Jamie Link testified that the bill took the state in the wrong direction.

By removing Kentuckys protective regulations and authorities on child labor, this bill removes our ability to protect these young people from hazardous occupations and potentially dangerous situations, Link said. In our view, we should be focusing on upon how to provide greater training and employment services to all Kentuckians, both minors and adults, while also protecting our workers to help them have long and successful careers.

What changed between Thursday and Friday? Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green, flipped from a no on Thursday to yes on Friday; also, Sen. Gary Boswell, R-Owensboro, was not present Thursday but voted for the bill Friday.

Several groups have lobbied for and against the bill in Frankfort.

Organizations in favor of the bill include the National Federation of Independent Business and the Opportunity Solutions Project. That is the lobbying arm of Florida-based conservative think tank the Foundation for Government Accountability, which has pushed for laws rolling back labor standards in other states.

Those lobbying against the bill include the Kentucky Education Association, Kentucky State AFL-CIO, the Kentucky State Building & Construction Trades Council and Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, among others.

House Bill 255 sponsor Rep. Phillip Pratt, R-Georgetown, was not in attendance for the committee meeting.

In Pratts stead, Rep. Richard Heath, R-Mayfield, presented on the bill. Heath hearkened back to his days as a youth working on the family farm as an argument against current child labor standards.

Its a good thing this wasnt a law and when I was growing up or Dad wouldnt have been able to put out a crop, Heath said.
A Baltimore woman admitted in court Monday that prosecutors had enough evidence to prove she suffocated and killed her toddler in 2019.

Shakira Shaw, 27, entered an Alford plea to second-degree murder in the death of her son, 22-month-old Kaleb Shaw. An Alford plea acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to secure a conviction but allows the person to maintain their innocence.

Shaw told detectives that, for about a month before she killed Kaleb, she had been hearing the voices of a child she lost in a miscarriage and another from a pregnancy she terminated, and that those voices instructed her to kill him, according to charging documents.

Circuit Judge Charles H. Dorsey sentenced Shaw to 40 years in prison, with all but 20 years incarceration suspended, the prosecutors spokesperson said. Dorsey also ordered five years of probation for Shaw upon her release, including a mental health evaluation, and included a condition that she have no unsupervised contact with a minor.

People convicted of crimes of violence in Maryland become eligible for parole after serving 50% of their sentence, so she could be released after 10 years. Ultimately, its up to the parole commission to decide whether to grant someone early release, and they consider a variety of factors, including potential input from victims or their surviving family members.

Shaw originally stood trial on the charges stemming from Kalebs death last fall, but a judge declared a mistrial.

Calling it an incredibly tragic case, public defenders Stephanie Salter and Janine Meckler, who represented Shaw, noted that the medical examiner ruled Kaleb died of natural causes and amended their determination on the cause of death to homicide only after Shaw confessed to police following a significant mental health crisis.

The case, Salter and Meckler said, highlights the difficult choice that defendants must make  fight to prove their innocence, with the risk of receiving a life sentence; or accept the certainty that comes with accepting an agreed upon resolution. For Ms. Shaw, the trauma of another trial  after already going to trial with no resolution  and the risk of a life sentence made the option of entering an Alford plea, where she maintains her innocence, the best choice for her.

On Dec. 28, 2019, police officers responded around 7 p.m. to an apartment in Baltimores Old Town neighborhood after someone called about a baby who was unresponsive, according to charging documents for Shaw. When police arrived, fire department medics were already there attempting to resuscitate Kaleb, and ultimately took him to Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Kaleb died at the hospital around 7:30 p.m. Police said an investigator collected his one-piece jumper as evidence in his death.

When detectives first spoke to Shaw, she told them Kaleb had been sleeping on her shoulder, before she rolled him over onto the bed and left the room to shower, according to charging documents. Shaw told detectives Kalebs lips were blue and he was cold to the touch when she returned.

Police said they got a search warrant for the apartment where Shaw had been staying with Kaleb, confiscating as evidence bedding and a yellow cup containing liquid.

In the meantime, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner did an autopsy on Kaleb, determining at first that he died of natural causes, according to charging documents.

More than six months after Kalebs death, in August 2020, charging documents say, Shaw called the Baltimore County Police Department saying she wanted to ask how long someone would go to jail for admitting they did something for their deceased child.

When county police went to the residence where Shaw was living and spoke with her, she allegedly told them she suffocated and killed Kaleb, according to charging documents. County police contacted the city homicide detectives, who brought Shaw in for an interview.

After waiving her Miranda rights, Shaw told detectives about getting an abortion in 2016 and suffering a miscarriage in November 2019, according to charging documents.

Ms. Shaw advised that she was hearing voices from the two babies, and that the voices were telling her to kill Kaleb, detectives wrote. Ms. Shaw advised that on the day of the incident, the voices became overwhelming.

She told detectives she suffocated Kaleb with her hand until he stopped breathing, according to charging documents.

The medical examiners office changed Kalebs death certificate days after Shaw spoke to police, ruling he died in a homicide by asphyxia.
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 Trkiye, 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 Trkiye, 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 Trkiye, 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 Trkiye, 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 Trkiye, 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 Trkiye, 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 Trkiye, 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 Trkiye, 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)

Editor: JYZ
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Banksy has confirmed that he is behind a new artwork that appeared in north London on Sunday.

The street artist uploaded before and after pictures of the Finsbury Park mural to social media on Monday.

It shows green paint sprayed on a wall behind a cut-back tree to look like foliage, with a stencil of a person holding a sprayer next to it.

Crowds have gathered to see the mural, with one local saying they were "proud" their street had been chosen.

"It feels like a personal message to us residents, we just feel so proud," said Wanja Sellers, who lives along the street from the mural.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the PA news agency he was "delighted" to see the artwork in his Islington North constituency.

"Banksy's come to Finsbury Park with a bit of greenery in a place that needs a bit more greenery. We're the most densely populated constituency in the country and I'm just delighted," the MP said.

The mural shows a "great arterial spray of green paint" across a white wall, accompanied by a "classic Banksy-style stencil", according to James Peak, who created the BBC Radio 4 series The Banksy Story.

Composite image of the building in Finsbury Park with and without Banksy's mural

He says it probably would have been created using a pressure hose or fire extinguisher.

The colour of the green paint used matches that used by Islington Council for signs in the local area, which Mr Peak said demonstrated Banksy's eye for detail.

"When you step back it looks like the tree is bursting to life, but in a noticeably fake and synthetic way.

"It's spring now, and this tree should be bursting forth with leaves, but Banksy must have cycled past and thought how miserable it looks," he said.

Before the artist confirmed it was his piece of work, Islington councillor Flora Williamson said it would be "incredible" to have a Banksy artwork "right in the middle of social housing and one of the poorest parts of the borough".

"I think it adds intrigue and culture and brings the area to life," she said.

Islington Council said its graffiti removal team is aware of the artwork and won't remove it.

The council believes the cherry tree in the foreground of the artwork is around 40-50 years old and is in declining health, with decay and fungi damage.

It says it has been maintaining and pruning the tree for some time - both for safety, and to help prolong its lifespan - and will continue working to keep the tree alive.

The elusive artist usually confirms his work on his website and social media, and on Monday he posted images of the artwork on Instagram with no caption.

In his post, the starkly bare tree can also be seen with a plain white wall behind it - prior to creation of the mural.

Alex Georgiou, whose company owns the building with the mural on, said he found out about it late on Sunday night, and came down to see it for the first time the morning after.

He said the building was currently vacant and on the rental market.

"The question is, what do I do with it now? What am I meant to do with it now? I definitely plan on keeping it on there and letting people enjoy it, everyone's loving it which is great, I just can't really believe it, still, to be honest," he said.

Banksy is one of the world's most famous artists, but his identity remains, officially at least, unknown.

His most famous works include Kissing Coppers (2004) and Girl with Balloon (2006), which was shredded in a stunt following its sale at auction in 2018.

The artist's most recent known piece, a stop sign with three military drones on it, was stolen just hours after it had been confirmed as authentic in December last year.

In February, two men were re-bailed for theft, with officers still trying to track down the artwork, which was taken from a south London street.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Peak said that by incorporating a tree into the artwork, Banksy has "solved an emerging problem" of people trying to steal his work.

"I don't think anyone is going to be able to nick this... how are you going to steal a tree?"
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: Former United States President Barack Obama gestures to a journalist as he leaves 10 Downing Street after meeting UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, on March 18, 2024 in London, England. President Obama has been in Europe this week and appeared at a moderated debate An Evening with President Barack Obama last night in Antwerp. The evening focussed on his vision of the future and the challenges the world is facing. - Photo: Carl Court (Getty Images)

Former President Barack Obama paid an impromptu visit to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday. Obamas visit to the other side of the pond had the internet suggesting that his visit might have something to do with a certain missing Princess of Wales.

Kate Middleton has not been photographed in public in months since reportedly receiving abdominal surgery in January. Speculation about her whereabouts only intensified after her social media account shared a British Mothers Day photo  that was later revealed by the Associated Press and other news outlets to be manipulated. The official Princess of Wales account apologized, saying she was an amateur photographer experimenting with editing. Naturally, this only led to more confusion because it seems highly unlikely the unfathomably wealthy royals are doing their own photo-editing. She was reportedly spotted recently at farm shop, but no photos were released.

Obamas presence in the United Kingdom in the midst of one of the most perplexing mysteries in modern royal history  sparked infinite jokes on social media.

If anyone is going to get answers on Kate Middleton, its Barack Obama, posted Brandon Pope TV on X.

If anyone is going to get answers on Kate Middleton, its Barack Obama  https://t.co/xDqLxub1xo  Brandon Pope TV (@BpopeTV) March 18, 2024

Got the whole Illuminati showing up, tweeted another social media user.

Got the whole Illuminati showing up https://t.co/lkIpctcfyL  Jai Thee Lovely  #JusticeForEden  (@DreadedJai) March 18, 2024

This just keeps getting more and more interesting, posted Imani Gandy.

 this just keeps getting more and more interesting https://t.co/rxo65vlajc  Imani Gandy (Orcas Version)  (@AngryBlackLady) March 18, 2024

All jokes aside, the former President did have a good reason for visiting the UK. According to Politico, Obama was in London for an Obama Foundation meeting and decided to visit Sunak for an afternoon tea. They reportedly discussed a host of hot topics, including Artificial Intelligence.

For everyone wondering, theres no evidence the pair discussed Kate Middletons hiatus from public life. But feel free to keep speculating about detective Obama.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Barack Obama made a surprise appearance in Westminster on Monday as he dropped into Number 10 for informal talks with Rishi Sunak.

The former US president was seen strolling along Downing Street, and briefly posed for the cameras in front of the famous black door.

He then went inside for an hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister, during which the pair discussed artificial intelligence over cups of tea.

Number 10 said the visit was a courtesy call, given that Mr Obama was already in the country on other business, and that his team had requested it.

Barack Obama leaves Number 10 after meeting Rishi Sunak during a visit to London - Carl Court/Getty Images Europe

Mr Obama, who was in the White House from 2009 until 2017, was in London promoting the work of his Obama Foundation charity, which promotes equal opportunities for girls and young men of colour, focusing on education and safer communities.

It was not clear whether Mr Obama  whose slogan was yes we can  gave Mr Sunak any political tips as the Prime Minister tries to reverse Tory fortunes.

Mr Sunaks spokesman said: He was making an informal courtesy drop-in as part of his trip to London, where he is conducting work of the Obama Foundation. Its obviously not an official meeting  he was dropping in as part of his personal capacity.

Downing Street would not say whether Mr Sunak would be happy to meet with other former presidents, such as Donald Trump, were Mr Trump to visit the UK. Im not going to speculate on future hypothetical meetings, said the spokesman.

David Lammy, Labours shadow foreign secretary, was also set to meet Mr Obama on Monday night. The pair are old friends, having known each other since before the former presidents run for the White House in 2008.

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Donald Trump looks on as his favoured candidate for the US Senate, Bernie Moreno, speaks at a rally in Dayton (AP)

As wind ripped through the grounds of the Dayton Air Show on Saturday, former president Donald Trump and his assembled loyalists made a last-minute bid to boost one of their own past the finish line.

You gotta win, Bernie! the former president mock-pleaded. Dont leave me alone!

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump, left, listens as Senate candidate Bernie Moreno speaks at a campaign rally March 16, 2024, in Vandalia, Ohio (AP)

Ohio presents a unique moment for Mr Trumps control of the Republican Party. After an embarrassing showing by his hand-picked chosen in 2022, the former presidents tendency to put his thumb on the scale in competitive GOP primaries is irking more and more Republican officials, even as many publicly continue to endorse his presidential bid. Hes done it again in Ohio: endorsing car dealership owner Bernie Moreno in a three-way race against fellow Republicans Matt Dolan and Frank LaRose, respectively a state senator and Ohios secretary of state.

Matt Dolan is one of the two candidates running against Trumps favoured winner, Bernie Moreno (AP)

Polls show the race to be close, with single digits supporting the three men in some surveys. The race is unique; as many as four in 10 likely Republican voters were undecided as of last week. And mud-slinging has begun in earnest, too: an ally of Mr Moreno sent out a flier to Republicans in the mail labelling Mr LaRose an ally of transgender rights. His enemies, separately, have circulated a story from the Associated Press which revealed that an email address used by the Trump-backed Moreno was registered on a sex website, Adult Friend Finder, in 2008 seeking young guys to have fun with while travelling. (The Moreno campaign has released a statement from a former intern for Mr Moreno claiming that the account was created as a prank.)

Part of the reason for the vitriol can be attributed to the battle lines in the race, which have separated the major factions of the modern-day Republican Party in clear fashion. On one side is Mr Moreno, backed by Mr Trump and his allies, but facing questions about his conservative bona fides. On another island is Mr Dolan, endorsed by the GOPs former party establishment including Ohios moderate-by-comparison governor Mike DeWine, making the argument that the party needs to leave Donald Trump behind. And third is a faction represented by Mr LaRose  the segment of the GOP which remains loyal to Donald Trump in the latters own races but back more traditional conservative politicians in local races; Ted Cruz and Josh Mandel to Donald Trump and JD Vance.

Another key reason for the races intensity is the massive swathe of undecideds who are making up their minds this final weekend of the primary. With St Patricks Day celebrations across the state as a backdrop, Mr Dolan and Mr LaRose crisscrossed the state holding smaller events and attending gatherings ranging from local GOP events to sleepy American Legion hangouts.

Candidate Frank LaRose has been the subject of smears by Morenos associates (Reuters)

The big event threatening to turn the race from a dead heat into a runaway win for Mr Moreno was Saturdays Trump rally in Dayton. Several Trump fans entering the rally told The Independent that they knew very little about the race itself, or either of Mr Morenos challengers: they were simply going to support him through the strength of Donald Trumps endorsement. A final poll of the race released by Emerson on Monday indicated that possibility was beginning to play out.

One rally attendee, Stan Strohmenger, explained the reasoning behind the political strength of a Trump endorsement as he departed the former presidents event.

You know what you have with Donald Trump  guaranteed ironclad, he said in an interview. Why would you even look at anyone else?

Other Republicans, who he accused of lying to voters for years, had nothing close to the same effect with their own endorsements.

With Trump, the proof is in the pudding. He made promises, he kept them. He loves his country, he loves God. He wouldnt endorse somebody that wasnt the real thing.

Thats the dynamic facing the Dolan and LaRose campaigns heading into Tuesday. Though Mr Trumps event was considerably smaller than the crowds which have been drawn to his events in past years, the fact remains that his support of Moreno could have a strong effect on the final results. (It apparently wasnt enough for the scandal-plagued would-be congressman JR Majewski, another guest of the former president on Saturday, who exited his own race earlier this month despite claiming that he would have won his contest on Tuesday.)

If Moreno wins, it will be a testament to the importance of a Trump endorsement, said Dr Kevin Wagner, Emersons polling director, in a statement accompanying his outfits final survey results.

With so many undecideds and the race as close as it is, the three candidates are continuing to campaign right up to the final buzzer. Mr LaRose, who is in a close third place according to polling, spent Sunday having close, personal conversations with small groups of voters at events across Erie and Huron counties; The Independent observed him moving from table to table at two events, trading military stories with veterans and leaning heavily into the possible appeal of sending the first Green Beret to the US Senate. He was set to continue those small events throughout Monday, capping off the night with a hometown rally on a farm on which he once worked in Copley. Despite polling indicating him behind, he and his staff projected confidence in their ability to win on Tuesday.

At a press gaggle in Sandusky, Mr LaRose made it clear on Saturday that he understood the threat posed by Mr Moreno and identified the businessman as his sole target. Asked about the former presidents endorsement, as well as that of Mr DeWine, Mr LaRose went on the offensive and stated that no amount of support could cover for such a liberal background in his opponents record. Mr Dolan, who is endorsed by a comparatively more moderate Republican in Mr DeWine and who has gone from leading Mr Moreno to trailing him in successive Emerson College polls, was not deigned worthy of mention.

With a huge number of undecideds, this is a job interview, said Mr LaRose, responding to a question on Sunday. Mr Trump, he added, picked who he picked, and Ill be his best ally in the Senate when I get there.

#OHSen GOP POLL



Bernie Moreno 38%

Matt Dolan 29%

Frank LaRose 12%

21% undecided



With undecided push:

Moreno 44%

Dolan 40%

LaRose 16%https://t.co/LvBWw8IBVy pic.twitter.com/6JmoUJRVH4  Emerson College Polling (@EmersonPolling) March 18, 2024

He reinforced that loyalty to Mr Trump by adding that there would be no daylight between him and the former president come Wednesday if he wins the primary.

Even with three candidates, there are really only two outcomes for Tuesday: a defeat or a victory for Donald Trump. The actual political positions of the three men are largely similar  all three favour strict action on illegal immigration, including sending National Guard troops to the border for example. The real question is: does the former president still have the political strength to play kingmaker down the ballot, as he so clearly did in 2022?

Whichever candidate pulls out of Tuesdays matchup will face off against Sherrod Brown, a popular incumbent Democrat in a purple state that looks increasingly red every cycle. Given the importance of the seat for both parties as control of the Senate is decided this fall, the ascension of Bernie Moreno to the nomination could set up Ohio as a repeat of the dismal performance of Mr Trumps loyalists two years ago. His fall, conversely, could provoke a sigh of relief from Republicans who blame the president for those losses, and the failure of the party to take the upper chamber the last time around. It could also embolden other Republicans to buck the former presidents endorsement in future key primaries.

A victory on behalf of Mr Moreno could, arguably, be a boon for Democrats. Ever sensitive of the concept of endorsing a loser, Mr Morenos nomination could persuade the former president to spend more time and money in Ohio propping up his effort against Mr Brown  an expense that the increasingly financially-burdened Trump campaign may not truly be able to afford.

Tuesdays contest will, more than anything, be a reflection of the personalities controlling the Republican Party over the GOPs actual values. No matter who comes out of this three-way primary, the implications of their victory will be felt across the party as a whole.
KEREM SHALOM, IsraelSemitrucks piled high with food and other supplies passed through this southern crossing and into the Gaza Strip by the dozens under the midday sun. Hours later, according to a preliminary Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assessment, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on and killed several civilians lining up by a 31-truck aid convoy that had reached Gaza City.

Israeli officials fear the Thursday incident, in which they say no IDF shots were fired, may be part of a Hamas campaign to exacerbate and weaponize Gazas worsening humanitarian situation. Widespread looting and lawlessness have already forced some aid groups to suspend operations in the enclave, as Israel struggles to secure safe passage for private contractors to reach civilians in need. Meanwhile, the U.S., Israel, and other regional partners have begun to flood the Strip with aidfrom the land, sea, and airin an effort to bypass the distribution issues inside Gaza.

I want to emphasize a critical point, Col. Elad Goren, the civil affairs head of COGAT, the Israeli agency tasked with facilitating humanitarian aid shipments into Gaza, said from the Kerem Shalom checkpoint that day. Israel is doing everything, and I mean everything, it can to mitigate the humanitarian consequences of Hamas actions in the Gaza Strip.

The Geneva Convention, of which Israel is a signatory, requires warring states to allow for the free passage of food and other humanitarian assistance. Israel insists it has done just that.

Before the war, an average of 70 trucks carrying food arrived in Gaza every day, Israeli officials said. As the wartime need has grown, so too have Israels efforts to inspect and facilitate aid shipments in an expedited manner. Since the beginning of March, an average of 126 trucks per day have entered the Strip. More than 16,000 truckssome 9,500 of them carrying more than 200,000 tons of foodhave crossed into wartime Gaza in all, according to COGAT.

All trucks entering Gaza undergo Israeli inspections to prevent items that can be used for military purposes from reaching Hamas, though some dual-use material can enter the Strip if it has a clear humanitarian purpose. Of the international aid that reaches the inspection sites, 99 percent passes into the enclave unhindered, according to COGAT.

What Israel is prioritizing right now in terms of the aid making its way is food, water, medical supplies, and shelter equipment, Shimon Freedman, a spokesman for COGAT, told The Dispatch. The security inspections are necessary to prevent things from getting to Hamas, but its not standing in the way of aid making its way to the people in Gaza who need it.

But Israel says the challenge isnt in the volume of aid going into Gaza but in its distribution to civilians in the combat zonea role traditionally left to humanitarian organizations like the U.N. World Food Program (WFP), which last month halted its operations in Gaza, citing the dangers posed by the collapse of civil order within the Strip. Gazans are now increasingly reliant on private contractors for incoming supplies. The U.N. delivered less than 10 percent of aid shipments to northern Gaza this month, compared to 25 percent last month, even as the U.N. childrens agency said Friday that nearly one-third of children under 2 in northern Gaza have acute malnutrition.

This reduced U.N. involvement has led to bottlenecks on the Gazan side of the border, where rows of white pallets containing tons of humanitarian aid waiting to be collected and delivered were visible from the Israel-run checkpoint on Thursday.

This is not a rare scene. Often, there are hundreds of trucks worth of aid waiting on the Gazan side to be picked up. That is the biggest obstacle to aid reaching Gazans in need, Goren said. The international organizations do not have the capacity, and have yet to take real steps to improve that capacity, to distribute the humanitarian aid through the Gaza Stripincluding the north.  If the U.N. wants to see more aid reach northern Gaza, they need to coordinate more convoysas simple as that.

Israel recently opened a new border crossing near Beerione of the Israeli communities most devastated by the October 7 attack by Hamas that left nearly 1,200 deadin the hopes that aid convoys can circumvent areas with a significant Hamas presence. On Tuesday, six trucks carrying food for 25,000 people used the route as part of what COGAT called an experimental pilot in order to prevent Hamas from taking over the aid.

The supplies-laden convoys typically need to drive through the southern part of the Strip to reach the north, where the humanitarian situation is most dire. This lengthy journey means that aid has frequently been seized by Hamas en route.

The biggest challenge to date, which may be in the process of being solved, is the problem of bringing assistance through the southern Gaza Strip, where Hamas still has nominal control, Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told The Dispatch. In other words, that aid has been diverted, it has been hijacked, it has been fought over.

But even in parts of northern Gaza under IDF control, doling out aid is a dangerous taskevidenced by the reported attack on civilians awaiting food shipments in Gaza City last week. (While the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health accused Israeli forces of opening fire on the crowd, killing 21, an initial IDF assessment found that no shots had been fired by its troops at any stage during the incident, and footage released later appeared to show rogue Palestinian gunmen approaching and shooting at the queuing Gazans.)

Israeli officials believe Hamas has several possible objectives for disrupting the flow of humanitarian assistance. The most obvious is that intercepting food and other supplies helps the group fuel its war effort against Israeli forces. Moreover, targeting the convoys discourages international organizations and private contractors from involving themselves in aid deliveries, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and intensifying global pressure on Israel to abandon its war aims.

American support may help Israel combat Hamas attempts to disrupt incoming humanitarian assistance. During his State of the Union address this month, President Joe Biden announced the U.S. military-led construction of an offshore floating pier and 1,800-foot-long causeway to deliver up to 2 million meals per day to Gaza. If successful, the project would permit Israel to facilitate aid deliveries to large crowds in a more controlled environment by keeping much of the distribution network on the sea and beach, whereunlike dense urban areasits difficult for armed Hamas fighters to hide and launch attacks.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant welcomed the dock, which Israeli forces will secure from the land, after Bidens announcement this month.

The pier, which will take 60 days to become operational and involve more than 1,000 U.S. military personnel, is one component of a broader effort to ramp up humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza. On Friday, a ship towing 200 tons of food from the World Central Kitchen reached the shores of Gaza in the first delivery through a new sea corridor. The U.S. military has been conducting airdrops into the besieged enclave since March 2, delivering more than 200,000 meals in total.

Israel is working closely with the international community to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza, and we have placed no limit on the amount of aid that can enter into Gaza, said Goren, the COGAT civil affairs head. Its important to remember that this war started because Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, and that every day since Hamas has proven that it doesnt care about civiliansnot on the Israeli side, and not on the Gazan side of the border.

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The Metals Company wants Greenpeace out of UN talks for disrupting its research expedition

Miners and environmentalists are locked in a battle over a multi-billion dollar treasure trove of metals at the bottom of our deepest oceans.

Now drama on the high seas miles above is heating up the fight.

One mining company claims Greenpeace activists disrupted a research expedition when they boarded its vessel in the remote Pacific.

As a result the campaign group could be thrown out of the UN body overseeing controversial plans to begin deep-sea mining.

Member states of the UN's International Seabed Association could choose in coming days to strip Greenpeace of its observer status within the group.

Greenpeace says the incident in question was a peaceful protest aimed at protecting a pristine ecosystem.

The mining company involved, The Metals Company, accuses Greenpeace of being "anti-science".

It is the latest salvo in a long-running battle over access to a treasure trove lying on the surface of the seabed in some parts of the deep ocean.

Green campaigners say it will cause terrible damage to one of the few remaining ecosystems on Earth untouched by humanity.

The metals the companies want to exploit have built up over tens of millions of years into potato-sized lumps, known as polymetallic nodules.

Mining companies say the copper, cobalt, nickel and manganese they contain are crucial battery metals.

The International Energy Agency forecasts demand for these metals will soar as the world continues the effort to transition towards a low-carbon economy.

Potato-sized lumps on the seabed contain crucial battery minerals including copper and cobalt

Green campaigners say there are sufficient supplies of the metals on land and no ocean mining should be allowed until the deep-sea environment, and the impact mining will have on it, are much better understood.

Whether action will be taken against Greenpeace will be decided by the representatives of 167 countries at an International Seabed Authority (ISA) meeting this week.

These latest international talks continue an ongoing effort to decide what rules should apply to companies that want to collect minerals from the abyssal plain, one of the deepest parts of the ocean. The ISA has said it aims to have rules in place by 2025.

Both the mining companies and green activists claim to be acting in the best interests of the planet.

The US has never ratified the international treaty that created the ISA, so plays no active role with the body.

This week a group of influential US political and military leaders, including Hillary Clinton, called for the US to ratify it, arguing competition with China meant access to deep-sea metals was crucial for the country.

Graph of growth in demand for minerals from clean energy technologies

The Metals Company says the research trip interrupted by Greenpeace in November was for science that aimed to help improve knowledge of the effect nodule collection will have.

It says the work had been requested by the ISA as part of an impact assessment and that Greenpeace deliberately hampered that effort when its activists boarded the company's research vessel.

For its part, Greenpeace says the action was justified because The Metals Company has said it plans to press ahead with mining before regulations have been agreed.

Mining companies plan to use machines like huge vacuum cleaners to trundle over the seabed, hoovering up the nodules.

The greatest concentration of the nodules is at depths between 4,000m and 6,000m (13,123-19,685ft).

They are found across much of the deep ocean floor.

The Metals Company plans to mine in an area of the Pacific Ocean known as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone.

For years it was assumed that very little could live in these cold, dark and oxygen-poor depths.

The density of living things is indeed low, but research over the last few decades has revealed a huge diversity of species, including a great many which are new to science.

But the abyssal plain is vast. It covers 40% of the entire surface of the Earth. Land makes up just 29%.

Map of world showing where deep-sea metals can be found

"I understand why the greens are cautious," says the CEO of The Metals Company, Gerard Barron, "but on this occasion, they've got it wrong".

He acknowledges that the 75,000 sq km his company plans to mine is big, but says it represents a tiny proportion of the deep seabed.

The Metals Company claims its research shows that while there will be damage in the area where mining takes place, the sediment plumes which could suffocate deep-sea creatures will only travel a few miles.

Mr Barron says the question that should be asked is: "Where can we get these metals from with the lightest planetary and human touch?"

Greenpeace rejects the idea that deep-sea mining could have any environmental benefits.

"Deep-sea mining is not a climate solution," says the organisation's lead oceans campaigner, Louisa Casson. "I think it is clear that to protect the climate, we need to be restoring our oceans, protecting them, not destroying them further by adding new pressures."

Greenpeace maintains it was justified in disrupting The Metals Company's research because it was "tick-box science by a company with a commercial interest in the outcomes of that research".

Relicanthus lives on sponge stalks attached to nodules, discovered in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone

Twenty-four countries, including the UK, have said they support a moratorium on deep-sea mining. They say licensing must wait until sufficient scientific evidence is available to assess the impact and to draw up regulations that protect the deep oceans.

A group of British scientists is currently surveying species on the abyssal plain in the eastern Pacific.

Speaking from the research vessel RRS James Cook, Dr Adrian Glover of the Natural History Museum told the BBC he supported the regulatory process the UN has put in place.

"It is a new industry and we should be concerned and we should ask difficult questions," Dr Glover said.

He says research must continue to assess the risks of mining. "There's always a risk with these things and collecting data and collecting evidence is the way to reduce that risk to understand what it is, and then ultimately to make a decision."

The great advantage the world has as it decides how to proceed with mining on the abyssal plain is that regulation is being made before the industry has started, Dr Glover said.

"It is up to the international process, the regulatory process to assess the evidence critically and ultimately decide whether it is acceptable or not."
From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

Finding dignity in politics is like finding jewelry in a sewer system. Theres some there, rest assured; all you need to do is search.

But, good lord, the foulness youll endure while looking for it is unspeakable.

Ive gotten used to it to a degree, as any sewer worker does. But on Friday I nearly choked on the fumes of cynical grifting putridity:

Ben Shapiro, who once called Trump a "spoiled brat" and refused to vote for him in 2016, is now co-hosting a fundraiser for Donald Trump:



"I'd walk over broken glass to vote for him [Trump]."



This is what selling your soul for power and money looks like. pic.twitter.com/If5gh4duM3  Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) March 15, 2024

Anyone who once vowed never to vote for Donald Trump and now finds himself willing to walk over broken glass for him after a coup attempt and assorted impeachments and indictments has either cashed in his soul or been brain-poisoned by his own populist propaganda.

Thats the story of the conservative movement since 2016, by and large. Unspeakable.

But then, lo and behold: Jewelry.

Pence: I will not be endorsing Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/YJIuTBjzNR  Acyn (@Acyn) March 15, 2024

On some level its silly to be impressed that Mike Pence would decline to endorse Trump this year. Human beings dont usually endorse those whove wished death on them, do they?

But it is impressivedaring, evengiven how Trumps other Republican enemies have repaid his antagonism with obsequiousness. Pences political journey since the morning of January 6, 2021, is one of a dignified man reclaiming the honor he squandered in 2016 when he agreed to vouch for someone whom he surely knew was unfit for the presidency. Refusing to endorse Trump this cycle feels like the end of that journey. Very few conservatives have joined him on it.

Perhaps more will now be inspired to do so. Those of us hoping that Reaganite voters will withhold their support from the GOP nominee this fall need leaders with credibility among those voters to advocate for that position. For the last few months, the hunt for leadership focused on Nikki Haley. But not even Haley can match the stature of Trumps own vice president declaring that he can no longer be supported in good conscience.

Forget the MAGA slogan: Its Mike Pence whos the real America First Republican.

Yet something about his reasoning in all of this has landed awkwardly. As he made clear on Face the Nation, his objections to Trump are chiefly about policy. The reason why I wont endorse Donald Trump this year is because I see him departing from the mainstream conservative agenda that has defined the Republican Party over the last 40 years and still has the best hope for the future of the country, he said in the interview, citing Trumps recent equivocations on banning abortion and TikTok, among other things.

Which feels like a cop-out. As conservative commentator S.E. Cupp pointed out, it suggests that a coup-plotting probable felon might earn the Pence seal of approval so long as he preached the gospel of Ronald Reagan. Trump has always been at odds with the conservative agenda, Cupp told CNN, whether that was the debt and the deficit, limited government, family values, protectionism. Mike Pence seems to be fine with all of that.

I dont think Pence is fine with that or has ever been fine with that. The reason hes flipped on Trump now, I suspect, is because hes no longer giving him the benefit of the doubt.

If youre the sort of conservative whos willing to vote for someone whose photo appears next to dark triad in psychology textbooks so long as you get a few policy wins out of it, you had plenty of reasons to support Trump in 2020.

Tax cuts? He gave you those. A stronger border? That too. On foreign policy, he took out the leader of Irans Quds Force, enticed several Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel, and even provided weapons to Ukraine as it battled his friend Vladimir in the Donbas.

Oh, and he put three conservative justices on the Supreme Court who fulfilled the pro-life movements dream of overturning Roe v. Wade.

It wasnt all sunshine and candy canes. Trump launched a trade war with China, flirted with yanking U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, and ran gruesome deficits, especially during COVID. But when Mike Pence celebrates how the Trump administration provided conservative solutions to many important issues facing our nation, hes not just blowing smoke.

The difference between the first Trump presidency and the one thats coming isnt that the candidate has changedits that the culture of the right has changed under his leadership. That new culture is destined to influence him in various malign ways if he returns to power.

Apart from immigration, about which Trump has always displayed a nationalist passion, many of the achievements in his first term were driven by the Reaganite conservatives with whom he surrounded himself. Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan spearheaded the Trump tax cuts; national security hawks encouraged him to be tough on Iran and Russia; the Federalist Society had his ear on judicial nominations.

There was no populist political infrastructure within the Republican Party at the time for him to draw from in finding personnel, so he chose conservatives. And because he isnt much of an ideologue except on a few issues, and understandably must have felt overwhelmed at first by the duties of an office he never expected to win, he relied heavily on those conservatives for guidance.

The next Trump presidency will be different.

Since 2016, most traditional Republicans in Washington have either converted to populism or been sidelined. The converts now aim to staff Trumps second administration with like-minded authoritarian yes-men who will encourage the presidents nationalist instincts instead of resisting them. Cutting off Ukraine aid is likely; withdrawing from NATO is possible. The trade war with China will escalate. Pro-lifers will be disappointed by the federal effort to restrict abortion. Theres not even a pretense that entitlement reform will be seriously addressed.

Personnel is policy. I think Mike Pence realizes that and recognizes that a Trump who knows his way around the Oval Office and is now guarded by a phalanx of populist fanatics will be much harder for Reaganites to prevail upon in a second term.

Hes lost the benefit of the doubt that hell govern like a conservative.

Thats the meaning of Pences non-endorsement and the upshot of the final two months of Nikki Haleys presidential campaign. The tacit contract since 2016 in which classical liberals receive lower marginal income tax rates or whatever in return for looking the other way at their leaders psychopathy has been broken. Mike Pence is done pretending that Trump 2.0 wont be meaningfully worse than Trump 1.0.

Not everyone has stopped giving him the benefit of the doubt, though.

You would think that a former and probably future president being anathematized by his own vice president would be the biggest political news story in America three days later. It isnt.

Its this dopey clip from Trumps rally in Ohio on Saturday, which youll need to watch in full.

Trump's 'Bloodbath' speech on the Chinese auto industry building huge plants in Mexico. pic.twitter.com/16s5l1YsQG  Mike (@mrmwisc) March 18, 2024

The uproar afterward reminded me of the famous line from the 2016 cycle about the media taking Trump literally but not seriously and his supporters taking him seriously but not literally. What did he mean by bloodbath?

For three days, various factions have raged online over it. Many liberals insist that he chose the word advisedly, with somelike the president of the United Statesgoing so far as to remove the context about the auto industry from the clip to make what Trump said sound more sinister. He once incited a violent attempt to overthrow the government, you know; when he talks about bloodbaths in 2024, Democrats take him literally and seriously.

Trump supporters counter that their man is being smeared. The context suggests that he was speaking metaphorically about the havoc Bidens policies would wreak on American auto workers in a second term. Its completely banal, such that any media outlet thats hyping it as alarming and newsworthy is dishonestly carrying water for their Democratic friends in an election year. In this case, MAGA is taking Trump neither literally nor seriously.

Some put a foot in both camps by arguing that the lefts unjustified hysteria over the clip will end up making it harder to raise awareness of Trumps actual authoritarian menace. The more Democrats and the media cry wolf about commonplace metaphors, the more likely it is that the public will tune them out in the future when they complain about Trump saying things that truly are ominous and inflammatory. Which he does. A lot.

My question to the Trumpers defending him, both pro- and anti-anti-, is this: Why, in 2024, are you still so vehement about giving him the benefit of the doubt about his innocent intentions? What has he said or done over the past eight years to warrant such outrage on his behalf when hes accused of threatening his enemies?

Its the outrage that took me aback, not the willingness to defend him per se. I thought he was speaking metaphorically too and feel obliged to say so, as theres virtue in telling the truth no matter whom it helps. As much as I loathe Trump and want to see him defeated, Id never condone lying about him for electoral advantage. Fake but accurate is not a thing.

Still, all I could think while the bloodbath debate surged on stupidly this weekend was I bet Mike Pence has gotten a metric ton of death threats since announcing that he wont endorse Trump. And hardly anyone on the right whos complaining about the so-called bloodbath hoax cares about that at all, assuming they havent phoned in a few of the threats themselves.

My former colleague Andrew Egger described the objection to Trumps defenders elegantly today at The Bulwark. Even when theyre technically on the side of truth, as they are here, Trump and his apologists are actually engaged in a project to hide it from impressionable voters:

The thing to note is how Trumps defenders continue to weaponize the discourse around Trumps inflammatory rhetoric to obscure the obvious, unsubtle ways in which he has embraced lawlessness and violence.  When anti-anti-Trump voices natter on about subjects like a bloodbath hoax, this is what theyre doing: focusing attention away from Trumps concrete authoritarian sympathies and toward his more nebulously ominous utterances, all to create a vague sense in the minds of those not following things too closely that any connection between Trump and violent authoritarianism is just media propaganda.

Precisely right. Trumps defenders are chock full of Ben Shapiros whose moral perspective has been distorted so grotesquely by the demands of having to defend him every day that they can muster outrage at a slander only when hes impugned by it, not when hes doing the impugning. Its not the truth they care about, its protecting him. Always.

As a case in point, heres something else that happened this weekend that you probably didnt hear about thanks to Trumpers and the liberal chumps who took the bait on the other side howling endlessly over what he meant by bloodbath.

Trump salutes while playing an alternative national anthem at his rally, featuring violent January 6 insurrectionists: Please rise for the unfairly treated January 6 hostages pic.twitter.com/dbpCHTE6OU  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) March 16, 2024

At that same rally, he described the January 6 criminals as hostages and unbelievable patriots. Many times since 2016, even before he became the Republican nominee for president the first time, Trump has nudged his supporters to get rough with his enemies. And that message has been received: Being threatened with death by crazed Trump fans is now routine for his antagonists in public office, enough so that judges warn the jurors in his trials never to reveal their identities publicly.

There Is No MAGA Movement Without Threats and Violence, David French explained a few years ago, correctly.

By leaping to give Trump the benefit of the doubt about his good intentions in the bloodbath dispute, his apologists are aiming to erase the context thats caused understandable alarm about the remark among his critics. No one would care if Mitch McConnell used the word bloodbath to describe Bidens auto policies; people care when Trump does so because hes given them plenty of reason, up to and including a riot at the Capitol that nearly ended with his own vice president being murdered, to do so.

Even if, like me, you believe he was speaking metaphorically this time, its fair to wonder how conditioned his base has been by his prior earnest ventures into violent incitement to hear words like bloodbath differently than the rest of us. After all, taking Trump seriously but not literally, as his fans supposedly do, cuts both ways. In 2016 it might have meant treating his apocalyptic rhetoric and earnest hints of violence as half-jokes or colorful metaphors; in 2024, having spent years being primed to view continued Democratic rule as portending the destruction of our Nation, maybe it requires treating colorful metaphors as earnest encouragement.

Or, as comedian John Fugelsang put it:

YOU LIBS BETTER STOP LYING ABOUT TRUMP SUPPORTING VIOLENCE OR YOU WILL NOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENS  John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) March 17, 2024

To bring this column full circle, I think theres a fair chance Trump himself doesnt know what he means.

That is, he might have used bloodbath metaphorically at his rally. But whether he could ever reach a point of such desperation that hed condone an actual bloodbath, I doubt even he knows.

Take January 6. Having Mike Pence block the certification of Joe Bidens electoral votes wasnt part of Trumps coup plot until late in the post-election period. His first attempt to overturn the results was to sue in court, alleging fraud; when that didnt work he considered various sweaty schemes like seizing voting machines and having friendly state legislatures certify alternate slates of pro-Trump electors in states that hed lost.

Only when that failed to deter the Electoral College from ratifying Bidens victory did John Eastman get in his ear about the Pence option, a last-ditch resort to halt the transfer of power.

Hes quite susceptible to terrible, destructive advice from terrible, destructive people. Especially when his grip on power is slipping.

So we should all be modest in assuming too confidently about what Trump will and wont do when he reaches his wits end. No sense of duty to the constitutional order will deter him in a desperate hour, only the sense of duty felt by his would-be accomplices. But as Ive said, and as his former VP knows from firsthand experience, his new crop of populist advisers will feel that duty decidedly less keenly than the last crop did.

Every Reaganite will be asked to decide this fall whether Trump still deserves the benefit of the doubt on governing as a conservative and as a good steward of the American project. He does not.

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GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  A bicyclist was killed Sunday morning about 8 miles outside of Georgetown after being rear-ended, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said.

Details remain limited and the victims identity wasnt immediately known. It happened just after 10 a.m. along Highway 51 when a Toyota sedan hit the bicycle from behind, SCHP Master Trooper Brandon Bolt said.

The vehicles driver was not hurt. The incident remains under investigation. Count on News13 for updates.

* * *

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.
The Biden administration will ban or phase out ongoing uses of asbestos, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Monday.

The EPA issued a rule that set deadlines for industry to transition away from using the substance, which causes lung cancer. It will also bar imports of the type of asbestos currently used in the U.S.

Historically, asbestos was used in roofing and cement  and may still be found in old buildings.

Once its health effects became known, the use of asbestos declined, but it is still used to disinfect drinking water and wastewater as well as in vehicle brakes, mechanical seals, and oil and gas drilling.

These industries, however, will have to transition away from the substance  though an EPA press release said they will have a a reasonable transition period as required by law.

The ban applies to chrysotile asbestos, which is the only known type of asbestos used in the U.S., though five other types of asbestos exist.

The science is clear  asbestos is a known carcinogen that has severe impacts on public health. President Biden understands that this concern that has spanned generations and impacted the lives of countless people. Thats why EPA is so proud to finalize this long needed ban on ongoing uses of asbestos, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a written statement.

The rule stands in contrast to action taken under the Trump administration  it sought to require companies to notify the EPA if they planned to manufacture or import asbestos  which could trigger a safety review at the agency. Critics complained the prior administration stopped short of outright banning asbestos.

In addition to lung cancer, exposure to asbestos is linked to mesothelioma, a rare cancer thats found in the lung, chest, abdomen and heart, and the lung disease asbestosis. A 2019 study estimated that nearly 40,000 Americans are killed each year from asbestos-related illnesses.

Under Mondays rule, which was first proposed in 2022 the chlor-alkali sector, which makes chemicals like chlorine for treating water, will have up to 12 years to fully convert their facilities away from asbestos.

Most sheet gaskets, a type of seal, that contain asbestos will be banned after two years, though for some uses like processing nuclear material, the rule allows five years.

Automotive breaks containing asbestos, as well as breaks used in oil production, will have six months.

Health advocates described the rule as a good step, though some raised concerns about the compliance timelines and said all types of asbestos should be banned.

Closing the door to chrysotile imports is a historic step, but the EPA rule does not restrict importation and use of five other recognized asbestos fibers, said Linda Reinstein, an activist whose husband died from mesothelioma.

We are alarmed that the rule allows an unnecessarily long transition period and creates inconsistent compliance deadlines for certain asbestos users, which will allow dangerous exposure to chrysotile asbestos to continue for years to come, added Reinstein, who is the president and co-founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.

Updated at 12:26 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Jill Biden and Maria Shriver clap as Joe Biden holds up an executive order to allocate billions for womens health research (REUTERS)

President Joe Biden has signed a historic executive order that will channel major funds into womens health, including research on menopause and mid-life health.

The president issued the order at a White House Womens History Month event on Monday morning, where he was joined by First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former first lady of California Maria Shriver.

The order allocates $12bn to and marks the most comprehensive set of executive action to improve research on womens health, according to the White House.

However, this funding is not guaranteed. Given Congress has the power of the purse, lawmakers can move to deny the president his funding.

So now that the President has done his job, we have to do ours, Ms Shriver, a journalist, author and advocate for Alzheimers research, said at the event.

We have to get Congress to approve the $12bn investment this president has called for to implement this bold vision.

Senator Laphonza Butler, a Democrat from California, praised the order and told The Independent shes unsure whether Congress will actually approve the funding.

The leadership is there, at least on the Democratic side, Ms Butler said. The question is, can we actually come together as a Congress to see the value?

Through this order, Mr Biden is calling for funds to foster research on menopause. The funds also enable the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to launch its first-ever Pathways to Prevention series on menopause.

Ms Shriver called the presidents order historic, particularly considering the focus on menopause.

Ill bet today that this is the first time a president of the United States has ever signed an executive order that mentions the words menopause and womens mid-life health, Ms Shriver said at the event.

Further research on reproductive ageing is particularly important for racial health equity, given that women of colour in the US face disparities around reproductive health access compared to white women  due to both racial bias on an individual level and structural racism in the healthcare system. Black women in particular are more likely to enter mid-life with more adverse physical symptoms than white women.

Black and Brown women are more likely to develop endometriosis and face pregnancy-related complications, Ms Shriver said. And we don't have the research to tell them what to do about it. This matters because when women ask questions, they can't get answers because the majority of the research that has been done in this country has only been done on men.

Mr Bidens order also goes beyond reproductive health, including funding research on mental health and substance use disorders, environmental health factors and autoimmune diseases that disproportionately affect women, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Just before signing the executive order, Mr Biden reiterated a call he has made many times before: You send me a Democratic Congress that supports reproductive freedom, I promise you we will restore Roe v Wade again as the law of the land.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the leadership of France in supporting Ukraine.

"I would like to recognize French leadership in Europe today  we appreciate the way President Macron is developing a strategic perspective for Europe, a perspective of real, lasting security that is only possible through Putin's defeat in this war," Zelenskyy said in a video message on Sunday.

He also recognized "all our friends in the world who have helped us this week, provided us with new support packages, and adopted new decisions for the sake of Ukrainian strength."

"The United States  thank you for the aid package. It is very important that stability is restored in providing support for our defense. Right now, it is our defense in this war that is determining whether Putin will succeed in expanding the zone of ruins in Europe and the world. Stopping him now is in everyone's best interest," Zelenskyy said.

"Denmark  thank you for another, already the 16th, package of defense assistance, for the artillery we need. Germany  thank you for your weekly steps to support our country and people. I am grateful to all the countries that joined the Czech initiative to purchase shells for Ukraine. I would also like to acknowledge Greece for its clear understanding of the threats facing everyone in Europe," he noted.

The Ukrainian head of state thanked Canada "for joining our drone coalition. This is a weapon that has proven to be extremely effective."

"And in such difficult war conditions, the short range of our army's capabilities is an obvious short-sightedness of some partners," Zelenskyy emphasized.
Joe Biden (L), President of the USA, and Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, sit together for talks during their meeting. Avi Ohayon/GPO/dpa

US national security advisor Jake Sullivan said Monday that President Joe Biden has asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a telephone call to send a team of representatives from the military, intelligence services and humanitarian aid specialists to Washington in the coming days.

Biden wants to explain his government's reservations about the planned offensive in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip and discuss possible alternatives. Netanyahu agreed to send such a team.

"We have every expectation that they're not going to proceed with a major military operation in Rafah until we have that conversation," Sullivan said, referring to the Israelis. A meeting is planned for the end of this week or the beginning of next week, but a specific date has not yet been set.

Sullivan said a major Israeli offensive in Rafah would be a mistake, but that Hamas should not use the city or anywhere else as a safe haven.

The national security adviser rejected reports that the tone between Biden and Netanyahu was tense and that the phone call ended abruptly. The conversation was "business-like," he said.

Meanwhile, David Barnea, the head of Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service, met with mediators in Qatar, Israeli TV station N12 reported.

The Israeli security cabinet had authorized the departure of a delegation led by Barnea to the Gulf state late on Sunday evening.

Mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the United States are attempting to make progress in the recently stalled talks on a temporary ceasefire and an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas recently submitted a new proposal to the mediators. In it, Hamas no longer demands that Israel end the war before the first hostages are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

According to the proposal, Hamas would only make a non-temporary cessation of hostilities by Israel a prerequisite for a second phase of hostage releases.

This means that Hamas has come closer to the contents of a multi-stage plan that the mediators had presented several weeks ago and which Israel had accepted.

Now that Hamas has made some progress, Israel is prepared to take part in the indirect mediation talks in Qatar for the first time in a fortnight. Israeli television reported that the talks are expected to last at least two weeks.

On the ground in Gaza, Israel concentrated its military activities on Monday on the Shifa Hospital, where it said it had killed a senior official of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which was behind the October 7 massacre in Israel.

The man was Faik al-Mabhouh, head of Hamas' internal security department, which is also responsible for operational missions, according to a joint statement by the military and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence service.

Al-Mabhouh was also "responsible for coordinating Hamas terror activities in the Gaza Strip," the statement said. Hamas initially gave no official confirmation of al-Mabhouh's death.

Al-Mabhouh was killed after intelligence information was received about the presence of senior Hamas members in the al-Shifa hospital, the army said.

He had been hiding armed in a building of the hospital complex and was killed in a confrontation with the troops, the statement said. Several weapons were found in the room next to his hiding place.

Eyewitnesses reported heavy gunfire inside the hospital. There were reports that a journalist from Arabic broadcaster Al-Jazeera was among dozens of people detained in the hospital.

According to reports from Gaza, the man killed was a brother of Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, who was murdered in Dubai in 2010. At the time, Dubai police accused the Israeli foreign intelligence service Mossad of being behind the crime.

One accusation against Mahmud al-Mabhouh was that he had procured weapons for Hamas. The case caused quite a stir internationally.

Prior to the operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) urged Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital to leave the conflict zone.

"You should leave the area to the west immediately to ensure your safety and then ... to the humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi," a spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) wrote in Arabic on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday morning.

He was referring to a town on the coast of the Gaza Strip in the far south. The IDF also dropped flyers.

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a brief statement that the operation followed "concrete intelligence that demanded immediate action."

The military said it would "continue to act in accordance with international law and against the Hamas terrorist organization - which operates from hospitals and civilian infrastructure in a systematic and cynical way."

The US government had also supported the Israeli claim that Hamas had used the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip as a command centre and weapons depot.
US President Joe Biden speaks during a reception honoring Women's History Month at the White House (Brendan SMIALOWSKI)

US President Joe Biden said Monday he had told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to send a team to Washington to discuss how to avoid an all-out assault in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

The move is one of the clearest attempts yet by Biden to rein in the key US ally, amid fears that the already huge death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza could be drastically worsened by a full attack on Rafah.

The White House said separately that Israel had killed one of Hamas's top commanders in a strike in Gaza.

"I asked the Prime Minister to send a team to Washington to discuss ways to target Hamas without a major ground operation in Rafah," Biden said on X after speaking to Netanyahu for the first time in more than a month.

Biden also "reiterated the need for an immediate ceasefire as part of a deal to free hostages, lasting several weeks, so we can get hostages home and surge aid to civilians in Gaza."

Roughly 1.5 million people are sheltering in Rafah, most of them displaced by Israel's relentless assault on other parts of Gaza since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

The White House earlier said Biden had warned Netanyahu that an offensive on Rafah would be a "mistake", in their first call since February 15.

"A major ground operation there would be a mistake," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters.

"It would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza, and further isolate Israel internationally."

Netanyahu agreed to send a team of senior Israeli officials to Washington in coming days to discuss "alternative approaches that would target key elements of Hamas", he added.

Sullivan separately confirmed that Israel had killed Hamas's third-in-command, Marwan Issa, in an operation last week. Israel previously said he had been targeted in a Gaza airstrike but did not confirm his death.

- 'Threat to Israel' -

Biden has supported Israel since the October 7 attacks, sending billions of dollars in military aid, but has become increasingly frustrated by Netanyahu's failure to curb civilian deaths or let in vital aid.

The US president also faces growing political pressure at home, with opposition among Arab-Americans and young voters posing a risk to his reelection chances in November.

Netanyahu said in a statement after the Biden call that he had reiterated "Israel's commitment to achieving all of the war's objectives."

He cited the objectives as eliminating Hamas, winning the release of all hostages held by the group and "ensuring that Gaza will never present a threat to Israel."

He also pointed to the provision of "essential humanitarian aid that helps achieve these aims."

Biden was caught on a hot mic just over a week ago saying he would have a "come-to-Jesus meeting" with Netanyahu.

He also praised a "good speech" last week by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for new elections in Israel.

With the UN warning of imminent famine in Gaza, Biden earlier this month ordered the US military to start airdrops of food into the enclave and has sent a temporary US port there to speed up delivery of maritime aid.

Israel began relentless bombardment in Gaza, alongside a ground offensive, after Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack, which left about 1,160 dead in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

The militants also seized hostages, around 130 of whom Israel believes remain in Gaza, including 33 presumed dead.

Nearly 32,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, most of them women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

dk/dw
President Biden spoke Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marking the first time the two have spoken since Biden said the prime minister was hurting Israel more than helping and a top Democrat called for new elections in Israel.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters the two men discussed the latest developments in Gaza and the state of Israels military operations.

The president emphasized his bone-deep commitment to ensuring the long-term security of Israel, and he affirmed, as he did in the State of the Union, that Israel has a right to go after Hamas, Sullivan said, noting Israel has made significant progress in weakening Hamas.

But, Sullivan noted, a humanitarian crisis has gripped Gaza and thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed in the fighting.

The president told the prime minister again today that we share the goal of defeating Hamas, but we just believe you need a coherent and sustainable strategy to make that happen, Sullivan said.

The two leaders agreed to stay in touch in the coming weeks, Sullivan said.

Biden has sought to balance his frustrations with Netanyahu with his administrations support for Israel in its war against Hamas. The president has repeatedly asserted Israel has a right to defend itself after Hamass attacks last October, while simultaneously urging Israel to do more to protect civilians and allow aid into Gaza.

In an interview last weekend with MSNBC, Biden said he thought Netanyahu was hurting Israel more than helping.

Whats happening is he has a right to defend Israel, a right to continue to pursue Hamas, Biden told MSNBCs Jonathan Capehart. But he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.

Biden was caught on a hot mic after his State of the Union address on March 7 telling Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) that he planned to have a come-to-Jesus meeting with Netanyahu.

Democrats, and progressives in particular, have been increasingly outspoken about their concerns with Netanyahus government as thousands of Palestinians have been killed in fighting in Gaza and limited humanitarian aid has gotten into the area.

But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) further increased the pressure on Netanyahu, saying in remarks from the chamber floor that the prime minister had lost his way, pointing to the political and legal battles he has faced recently while also allowing that the off-and-on prime ministers highest priority is the security of Israel.

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, referring to Hamass attack. The world has changed  radically  since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.

Schumers remarks elicited backlash from Republicans in particular, some of whom argued it was inappropriate for the senator to call for elections and changes in leadership in another democratic government.

Biden later called it a good speech, while Netanyahu called Schumers remarks totally inappropriate.

The White House has pressed for a temporary cease-fire that would allow hostages to get out of the region and humanitarian aid to get into Gaza, but officials have rebuffed calls for a permanent cease-fire, arguing it would allow Hamas to regroup.

Updated at 2:25 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Israel will send a delegation to brief US officials on a planned offensive in Rafah after a phone call between President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Monday.

Mr Sullivan told reporters at the daily White House press briefing that Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu spoke about Israels ongoing campaign in Gaza and plans for an Israeli attack on Rafah. Administration officials, including Mr Biden, have said the US would not support such an offensive without a credible plan on the part of the Israelis.

He said Mr Biden explained why he is so deeply concerned about the prospect of Israel conducting major military operations in Rafah if such operations were of the kind of conducted in Gaza City and Khan Yunus in the months since the 7 October attacks by Hamas killed more than 1,000 Israelis.

More than a million people have taken refuge in Rafah ... they have nowhere else to go Gaza as other major cities have largely been destroyed. And Israel has not presented us or the world with a plan for how were where they would safely move those civilians, let alone feed and house them and ensure access to basic things like sanitation, he said.

Mr Sullivan also noted that Rafah remains primary entry point for humanitarian assistance into Gaza from Egypt and from Israel, and said any Israeli invasion of that city would shut that down or at least put it at grave risk right at the moment when it is most sorely needed. He further cited Egyptian concerns that an invasion of Rafah would send a flood of refugees over the Gaza border into Egypt, a development which Egypt has said would prompt them to withdraw from the decades-old Camp David Accords peace treaty with Israel.

Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed safe haven ... but a major ground operation there would be a mistake, it would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worse in the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza, and further isolate Israel internationally, he said.

He added that hed asked Mr Netanyahu to dispatch what he described as a senior interagency team composed of military intelligence and humanitarian officials to Washington so they can hear US concerns about Israels current Rafah planning and ... an alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in Rafah and secure the Egypt Gaza border without a major ground invasion.

The Prime Minister ... agreed that he would send a team to Washington to have this discussion and have this engagement and we look forward to those discussions, he said.

Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu have known each other for decades. In the days after the 7 October attacks, Mr Biden visited Israel and voiced strong support for the country, but as the conflict has persisted the uneasy relationship between them has been strained.

In a press conference last month, Mr Biden said Mr Netanyahus response had become over the top  signaling the USs first major break with the Israeli governments response. Mr Netanyahu rebuffed Mr Biden, telling presenters on the Fox and Friends programme: Were not getting off the gas.

The tension between the two leaders over Israels planned invasion of Rafah has persisted for month as the number of Palestinians civilians killed in the post-7 October operation has increased and pro-Palestinian protesters have routinely disrupted Mr Bidens public events, even as Mr Netanyahu has rebuffed US officials pleas for his forces to take greater care to avoid civilian casualties.

Asked why Mr Biden feels the conversations from the Israeli delegation might be more productive than his previous outreaches to Mr Netanyahu, Mr Sullivan described the talks as a natural evolution of a discussion between partners.

We've had many discussions at many different levels between our military, our intelligence, our diplomats, our humanitarian experts, but we have not yet had the opportunity to have an all encompassing comprehensive, integrated, strategic discussion about how to achieve ... the ultimate defeat of Hamas and to the protection of civilians and the stabilisation of Gaza in a way that will lead to the long term security of Israel as well as the protection of innocent human life that is in Gaza, he said.

The call and the news of the planned meetings between Israeli and US officials come just days after the Israeli prime minister voiced outrage at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers speech calling for new elections in Israel.

The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel, Mr Schumer said in a speech in Congress on Thursday. The Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.

Mr Schumer, who as the senior senator from New York represents the state with the most Jewish-Americans in the country, reportedly told the White House about the speech in advance.

Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Joe Biden on Monday (Getty Images)

Mr Biden later praised his speech, saying: He made a good speech, and I think he expressed serious concern shared not only by him, but by many Americans.

Mr Netnayahu criticised Mr Schumers words on CNN on Sunday as totally inappropriate.

Its an inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there, he told host Dana Bash. Thats something the Israeli public does on its own. Were not a banana republic.

Mondays call between the two leaders also focused on efforts to provide aid to Gaza. Earlier this month, the United States announced it would conduct airdrops to assist Gazans amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis. The Biden administration also announced it would build an emergency aid seaport off the coast of Gaza.

The call comes as Mr Biden is facing criticism from many Democrats over his stance on the conflict. A slice of Democratic primary voters in states including Michigan, Washington State, North Carolina and Minnesota have voted uncommitted as a means to express their dissatisfaction with the Biden administrations support for Israel.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday agreed to send a team to Washington D.C. to discuss the looming Rafah invasion, the White House said. The agreement came during a call between Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden, whose relationship has grown increasingly tense over the Israel-Hamas war.

In a briefing after the call, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan reiterated Bidens stance that a major ground operation into Gazas southernmost city would be a mistake.

Biden asked Netanyahu to send a team to Washington in the coming days to hear U.S. concerns about Israels current Rafah planning and lay out an alternative approach, Sullivan said.

The president didnt make threats, Sullivan said, just reiterated that hes for the defeat of Hamas, but also believes that the strategy to defeat Hamas should not put thousands of innocent lives at risk.

The conversation came after Israel launched an overnight raid on Gazas largest hospital, Al-Shifa, and as experts predicted that a famine was imminent in the northern part of the territory.

Since the leaders last phone call in February, Biden has been increasingly outspoken about his concerns with Netanyahus handling of Israels war on Hamas, particularly the number of civilian casualties that the war has wrought.

Biden said in a recent interview that Israels planned invasion of Rafah could not be executed without a credible plan to protect Palestinian civilians. Though the president said such an invasion represented a red line for him, he also said he would never entirely cut Israel off. Theres no red line where I would cut off all weapons so they dont have the Iron Dome to protect them, he said.

Just days before the conversation, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer  the highest-ranking Jewish U.S. official  said Netanyahu had lost his way and called for Israel to hold new elections. Biden said Schumer gave a good speech and expressed a serious concern shared not only by him but by many Americans, while Netanyahu called the senators remarks totally inappropriate.
President Biden on Sunday touted what he called the strong friendship between the U.S. and Ireland while marking St. Patricks Day at the White House alongside Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

We celebrate the bonds of our friendship today connecting millions of Irish Americans and American people. We celebrate the friendship between the two nations  one that has shaped our past, strengthened our present and inspires our future, Biden said Sunday in remarks during the White Houses St. Patricks Day celebration.

During his remarks, Biden reflected on his familys ties to Ireland and recent trip to Belfast, and how both some of his and former President Obamas ancestors sailed out of Ireland from the same port within weeks of one another.

Stories like these are why I often say the Irish are the only people who are nostalgic about the future, he said. We believe in better tomorrows, were always looking for the next horizon. Thats a very American trade as well. Just more proof that the bonds between Ireland and the United States run deep, our joys, our sorrows, our passions, our dreams, our optimism. Even In the most difficult moments, we hold on to hope. Thats what we do.

Varadkar spoke briefly after Biden on Sunday, applauding Americas leadership and past work in Europe.

Ive always believed that America is a force for good in the world. Youve helped to advance liberty and democracy around the globe, he told Biden, later thanking him for his support of Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement, which created a new government for Northern Ireland and helped end 30 years of conflict in the region.

The two leaders also touched on other global conflicts and presented a united front in supporting Ukraines fight against Russia.

Our countries stand proudly for liberty and against tyranny. We stand together and oppose Russias brutal war of aggression in Ukraine, Biden said. You can clap for that, please, prompting applause from the audience.

Speaking to Biden, Varadkar said, One of your countrys most sacred promises, is to defend the principles of democracy and freedom against tyranny and oppression.

When Ukraine was invaded, you honored that promise and stood firm against an adversary who tore up the rulebook of international law and repudiated our sacred humanity. So on behalf of Ireland and the wider European community, we commend your leadership and reaffirm that Europe stands with you and with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Varadkar warned a loss for Ukraine will lead to a greater threat from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Varadkar also reiterated his call for a cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas to allow food and medicine into Gaza and see the release of the hostages. Both he and Biden discussed the issue in detail last Friday, where they both agreed on working toward a two-state solution to ensure peace in the region.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden signed an executive order Monday aimed at advancing the study of women's health by strengthening data collection and providing better funding opportunities for biomedical research while chiding Republicans for having no clue about the power of women" but saying they're "about to find out come November's election.

Women's health has long been underfunded and understudied. It wasn't until the 1990s that the federal government mandated women be included in federally funded medical research; for most of medical history, though, scientific study was based almost entirely on men.

We still know too little about how to effectively prevent, diagnose and treat a wide array of health conditions in women, said Dr. Carolyn Mazure, the head of the White House initiative on womens health.

Today, research often fails to properly track differences between women and men, and does not represent women equally particularly for illnesses more common to them  which Biden suggested his order would help change.

To state the obvious, women are half the population and underrepresented across the board. But not in my administration, the president said, drawing raucous applause at a White House reception marking Women's History Month.

Biden said hes long been a believer in the power of research to help save lives and get high-quality health care to the people who need it. But the executive order also checks off a political box during an election year when women will be crucial to his reelection efforts. First lady Jill Biden is leading both the effort to organize and mobilize female voters and the White House Initiative on Womens Health Research.

The announcement comes as the ripple effects spread from the Supreme Court's decision that overturned federal abortion rights, touching on medical issues for women who never intended to end their pregnancies. In Alabama, for example, the future of IVF was thrown into question statewide after a judge's ruling.

In his comments at the reception, Biden didn't mention by name former President Donald Trump, who is now running to reclaim the White House. Instead, he referred to my predecessor who had been bragging about overturning" the Roe v. Wade decision that had guaranteed the constitutional right to abortion.

The president suggested that would hurt Trump and the GOP during this fall's election, saying, You cant lead America with old ideas and take us backward."

Further leaning into politics, Biden said his administration has turned around the economy because we focused on women, noting that female unemployment had fallen and the number of women-owned small businesses had increased.

He said his administration has ensured that women can access jobs in sectors where theyve been historically underrepresented and said he'd told leaders from some of the nation's top labor unions that he wants to see more women and minorities in their ranks.

Women were a critical part of the coalition that elected Biden in 2020, giving him 55% of their vote, according to AP VoteCast. Black women and suburban women were pillars of Bidens coalition while Trump had a modest advantage among white women and a much wider share of white women without college degrees, according to the AP survey of more than 110,000 voters in that years election.

Vice President Kamala Harris, women's health advocate Maria Shriver and the first lady also addressed the reception.

Finally women will get the health care we deserve, Jill Biden said, saying the order signed Monday was without precedent.

Harris drew strong applause for noting that she stood before you as the first woman vice president of the United States and talked about visiting an abortion clinic in Minnesota last week.

There are those who are intent on dragging us backward, the vice president said of Republican states that have limited access to abortion.

We all face a question: What kind of country do we want to live in? Harris said. "A country of liberty, freedom and rule of law? Or a country of disorder, fear and hate?

Shriver joked that this is probably the first time a president has signed an executive order that mentions menopause and said the action could only be taken by a president who respects women.

The National Institutes of Health is also launching a new effort around menopause and the treatment of menopausal symptoms that will identify research gaps and work to close them, said White House adviser Jennifer Klein. NIH funds a huge amount of biomedical research, imperative for the understanding of how medications affect the human body and for deciding eventually how to dose medicine.

Some conditions have different symptoms for women and men, such as heart disease. Others are more common in women, like Alzheimers disease, and some are unique to women  such as endometriosis, uterine cancers and fibroids found in the uterus. It's all ripe for study, Mazure said.

And uneven research can have profound effects; a 2020 study by researchers at the University of Chicago and University of California, Berkeley, found that women were being overmedicated and suffering side effects from common medications, because most of the dosage trials were done only on men.

The first lady announced $100 million in funding last month for women's health.

___ Associated Press writer Gary Fields contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON  During a critical phone call Monday, President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against Israel's carrying out a planned military operation in Rafah, the White House said.

"Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed a safe haven in Rafah or anywhere else, but a major ground operation there would be a mistake," national security adviser Jake Sullivan said at the White House briefing where he outlined the leaders' conversation.

"It would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza and further isolate Israel internationally," Sullivan added.

He said more than a million people have taken refuge in Rafah, a city in the southwestern Gaza Strip along Egypt's border, after having moved away from Gaza City and Khan Younis.

"They have nowhere else to go," Sullivan said. "Israel has not presented us or the world with a plan for how or where they would safely move those civilians, let alone feed and house them and ensure access to basic things like sanitation."

Sullivan noted that Rafah is a primary entry point for humanitarian assistance entering Gaza from Egypt and Israel, and he warned that "an invasion would shut that down or at least put it at great risk."

During the call, Biden asked Netanyahu to send to Washington a senior interagency team composed of military, intelligence and humanitarian officials in the coming days to hear U.S. concerns about an invasion of Rafah, Sullivan said. He confirmed that Netanyahu agreed to the invitation.

Notably, Sullivan said U.S. officials now expect that Israel wouldn't invade Rafah until that conversation takes place. The meeting will be an opportunity for the U.S. "to lay out an alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in Rafah and secure the Egypt-Gaza border without a major ground invasion," he added.

Sullivan rejected questions about whether an Israeli invasion of Rafah would be a "red line" for Biden, as the president had indicated in a recent interview on MSNBC.

Biden and Netanyahu, who last spoke to each other over a month ago, on Feb. 15, also discussed the prospects of a weekslong cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas that would involve the release of hostages who have been held in Gaza since the Oct. 7 attack.

"We would look to build on that cease-fire into something more enduring and use the space created by a cessation of hostilities to surge humanitarian assistance at a vital moment," Sullivan said. "So far, this deal has been more elusive than we would have hoped."

Sullivan said that while Israel has made "significant progress" battling Hamas in its military operations in Gaza, the effect on innocent Palestinians has been devastating. He said more civilians have died in this conflict than in all wars in Gaza combined.

"The president has repeatedly made the point that continuing military operations need to be connected to a clear strategic end game," Sullivan said. "The president told the prime minister again today that we share the goal of defeating Hamas, but we just believe you need a coherent and sustainable strategy to make that happen."

A White House readout of the call reiterated Sullivans description of the discussion.

The White House said that Biden had also stressed the urgent need to significantly increase the flow of lifesaving aid reaching those in need throughout Gaza, with special emphasis on the north.

The White House is considering how to respond if the Israeli government ignores the administrations warnings not to launch a ground invasion in Rafah without a credible plan for Palestinian civilians. Last week, Netanyahus office said that he had approved plans for a ground offensive there and that the military was preparing for the operational side and for the evacuation of the population.

Mondays call was the 20th between Biden and Netanyahu since Hamas brutal assault on Israel on Oct. 7. It also marks the longest gap between calls  32 days. Previously, the longest the two had gone without speaking was 26 days, from Dec. 23 to Jan. 19.

Bidens relationship with Netanyahu has been on shaky ground for months as he faces pressure from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party over U.S. support for Israel as tens of thousands of Palestinians have died in Gaza. Biden said in a recent interview with MSNBCs Jonathan Capehart that an invasion of Rafah by the Israel Defense Forces would be a red line for him, though he said he would never leave Israels side.

Theres no red line where I would cut off all weapons so they dont have the Iron Dome to protect them. But theres red lines where if he crosses them ... he cannot have 30,000 more Palestinians dead, he said, referring to Netanyahu.

Biden didnt elaborate on any potential consequences if Israel does invade Rafah.

Theres other ways to deal, to get to, to deal with the trauma caused by Hamas, he said.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the highest-ranking Jewish U.S. official, said in a speech on the Senate floor that Netanyahu has lost his way and called for new elections to replace him and his far-right governing coalition. It was met with criticism from Republicans and some Democrats.

Biden said that it was a good speech and that Schumer expressed a serious concern shared not only by him but by many Americans.

Netanyahu rejected Schumers proposal in an interview Sunday on CNNs State of the Union.

I think what he said is totally inappropriate, Netanyahu said. Its inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there. Thats something that Israel, the Israeli public does on its own, and were not a banana republic.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
President Biden is traveling this week to Nevada and Arizona, two states where the presidents reelection campaign is targeting former President Trump on voters top issues.

Campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez released a memo Monday to outline the messaging and infrastructure strategy for both states ahead of Bidens trip on Tuesday.

Across the Southwest, Donald Trump and his extreme MAGA agenda have taken over the Republican Party establishment, causing deep divisions among traditional GOP voters and an opening for Democrats that has increasingly become a trendline, she said. When it comes to campaign infrastructure and the issues that matter most to voters, the Biden-Harris campaign has a clear advantage, and we will continue to invest heavily in these states that play a clear role in our multiple pathways to victory.

The campaign is focused on supporting unions, securing the border and protecting abortion rights. It also is putting attention on Bidens messaging around defending democracy, with Biden campaign aides noting that Trump-backed Kari Lake is running for Senate in Arizona. Lake, who lost a 2022 Arizona gubernatorial bid and unsuccessfully challenged the election results in court, has backed false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and recently picked up endorsements from dozens of GOP senators.

Biden is set to visit Washoe, Nev., and Maricopa, Ariz., both swing counties. On Tuesday, he will travel to Reno, Nev., first for a campaign event and then travel to Las Vegas and Phoenix. On Wednesday, he will deliver remarks in Phoenix and then travel to Dallas and Houston for campaign receptions.

Nevada and Arizona include key constituencies like Latino voters, Black voters and female voters, campaign aides outlined. The campaign is opening offices around Las Vegas and across Nevada and Arizona; it plans to have more than 40 staffers on the ground by the end of March.

The presidents trip is part of a swing to every battleground state in March, following his State of the Union address. Last week, Biden was focused on Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as Democrats are working to rebuild the coalition that won him the White House in 2020.

Biden lags behind Trump in Arizona, with the former president holding a 5.1 percent lead, according to an aggregation of polls by Decision Desk HQ. Trump is also ahead in Nevada, holding a 5.7 percent lead, according to an aggregation of polls.

In 2020, Biden won Arizona with extremely tight margins  49.4 percent compared to Trumps 49 percent. Biden carried Nevada with just over 50 percent of the vote.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, hopes that the EU Council will be able to approve military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of EUR 5 billion, as well as the use of proceeds from frozen Russian assets in the interests of Ukraine.

He said this on Monday in Brussels before the start of a meeting of the foreign ministers of the European Union member states. Borrell hopes that today they can finally make important decisions. The first is a Ukrainian aid fund on top of the European Peace Facility  in the amount of EUR 5 billion, which has been discussed for weeks. I hope that today the ministers will finally approve this, he said.

The High Representative also hopes that ministers will reach political agreements regarding the use of proceeds from Russia's frozen assets. He hopes that a political decision will finally be made to take these proceeds  not the assets, but the proceeds from them  in order to increase their ability to finance Ukrainian defense. I hope that today a political decision will be reached in order to finally take (concrete) action, Borrell continued.

He also recalled the previously announced participation in the ministerial meeting via video link of two important guests  U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
A week after an illegal street race claimed the lives of two people in LaGrange, Georgia lawmakers are a step closer to cracking down on the organizers of the races.

State law is already cracking down on illegal street racers, but a new bill would go after those people promoting the races on social media and even those using their own cars to block roadways for the race.

Channel 2 Action News went out to the scene last week along Antioch Road in Troup County where troopers say a street racer lost control and crashed into an SUV containing spectators.

You could still see the time marks along the road where the street race happened.

The driver of the racing car died along with spectator Cory Maddox.

Hes the most amazing person. You would just have to meet him, Maddoxs sister Nikki Reed said.

Now, state Sen. Emanuel Jones is trying to crack down even harder on illegal street racing.

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His bill would make it a crime to organize and promote street racing on social media or anywhere else.

Now, it gives law enforcement an opportunity not just to go after the drivers, but those that are organizing the events and blocking our highways, streets and roadways in our great state, Jones told Channel 2s Richard Elliot.

The bill sailed through a House subcommittee on Monday without objection. It already passed the Senate with wide bipartisan support.

We have had people have their lives put in danger. It draws large crowds of people where we could cause massive chaos, mass incidents of hurting people, state Sen. John Albers said.

The bill would even allow police to arrest spectators, but only if they actively participate like using their own cars to block the road.

This gives law enforcement some much-needed tools to go after those who are organizing these events and actively participating and even those who are knowingly present, Jones said.

That bill could reach the House floor later this week.

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A nationwide conservation effort was launched to help boost the rare bird's numbers

A near-extinct breed of bird has been heard making a mating call following a nationwide conservation effort.

A "booming" mating call from a male Bittern was heard at Amwell Nature Reserve, in Great Amwell, Hertfordshire.

Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust said that in 1997 it was believed there were only 11 males left in the UK, which led to a conservation plan.

The charity said the call demonstrated the great progress by local conservationists.

Although a female has not yet responded to the call, which has been heard repeatedly since 5 March, it signifies the male bird is satisfied with its habitat and wants to attract a mate there.

Bitterns are shorter than their cousins, grey herons, with pale brown plumage that allows them to camouflage themselves in reeds.

The species was pushed to the brink of extinction in Victorian times when their reedbed homes were drained for reservoirs.

Between 2004 and 2010 the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust doubled the Bittern-suitable reedbeds in the region by 24 hectares.

As part of that work, the trust improved the reedbeds at Amwell Nature Reserve to encourage the birds to breed there.

Tim Hill, conservation manager at the trust, said: "Good news stories such as this one really do provide hope for the future of our ecosystem.

"We have worked hard to create more reedbed habitat for these elusive, scarce and shy birds."

He said the mating call "clearly demonstrates that we can reverse the terrible declines we are seeing in our native wildlife".

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MONTGOMERY, Ala.  From a wooden bench at the edge of the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, visitors can see the Alabama River where enslaved Africans were transported and sold into a life of forced labor.

From the wide windows on the second floor of the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina, visitors can look across the Cooper River toward Africa, where people from the continent were kidnapped to be auctioned off.

The sculpture park opens Wednesday. The international museum opened last summer. Both were built on sites considered sacred and important to telling the history of African Americans, to telling the history of America.

We have to build these places where we can tell the story, save the story, steward the story, said Tonya Matthews, president and CEO of the International African American Museum. But one of the challenges has been the curation of the story. Who is picking the stories? Who is telling the stories? What stories do we believe should have grand institutions? Arguably, the African American story has not been in the category that was thought to need a grand institution.

The museum and monument park are among a growing number of sites across the country opening in the past decade to preserve and celebrate Black History and the Black experience in America. Some are multimillion-dollar museums, while others are housed in small interpretive centers.

The entrance to the Equal Justice Initiatives Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in Montgomery, Alabama.

In Mississippi, there is the Civil Rights Museum in Jackson and the B.B. King Museum in the blues legend's hometown of Indianola. In Alabama, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice tells the story of the nations troubling history of lynching, and in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of African American History and Culture, showcases the journey of Black people across the United States.

Black museums have long been cultural anchors in their communities, but it has been only in recent years that more have raised enough money and garnered enough support to open, museum leaders said. The institutions matter even more today as lawmakers in some states push to restrict the teaching of Black history and ban some books that tell this history, experts said.

History matters in profoundly important ways, said Lonnie Bunch, founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and now secretary of the Smithsonian. And it's partly museums' job to articulate that and to provide an opportunity to use history to define reality and give hope.

New sculpture park tells history of slavery in the US

On a recent afternoon, the Alabama River rose so high the boat that would have ferried visitors from downtown Montgomery to the new Freedom Memorial Sculpture Park wasnt in service. The voyage is intended to introduce visitors to the site along the waterway enslaved people traveled.

Tonya Matthews, president and CEO of the International African American Museum in Charleston, S.C.

The park, which opens March 27, sits on a 17-acre site between the river and the railroad tracks enslaved people were forced to lay.

Nearly all the works in the park were created by African American, African and Indigenous artists. Some are part of the permanent collection; others are on loan. Each tells a story.

Acknowledging Indigenous people who lived on the land long before Europeans arrived, there are sculptures honoring their culture, their presence, their resilience. A bronze sculpture created by Allan Houser pictures a man hunting buffalo. Steps away stands Cliff Fragua's Three Sisters, made of Utah alabaster.

Further along the path, a map tracing the Transatlantic Slave Trade shows nearly 3 million people were trafficked from Luanda, Angola, from 1501 to 1867.

Wooden pillars report dates and counties where enslaved people were brought. From 1619 to 1774, 3,996 were taken to Hampton, Virginia.

"Three Sisters, by Cliff Fragua, at the Equal Justice Initiatives Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in Montgomery, Alabama.

Visitors walk along a trail made with resin to make it feel more like earth. They can read ''slave laws'' that banned enslaved people from traveling off plantations without written permission. Punishments included floggings, sometimes death.

The narrative of William Wells Brown tells the story of his escape from slavery. (He went on to lecture against slavery and write what is considered the first novel by an African American.)

There is Last Seen, panels featuring ads posted by people searching for wives, mothers, husbands. Many spent their last nickels and dimes looking for loved ones, said Bryan Stevenson, who created the park and founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a human rights organization pushing to end mass incarceration.

That just reinforces how much for enslaved people the most important thing about slavery was the ability to love someone, to find your children, your siblings, your parents, Stevenson told USA TODAY in an interview ahead of the park's opening. That was powerful.

The Equal Justice Initiatives Freedom Monument Sculpture Park.

Near the end of the path, visitors look toward the sky at the National Monument to Freedom, a 43-foot-high, 155-foot-wide steel structure that bears 122,000 ''unique'' surnames adopted by Black people in the 1870 Census. It was the first count where enslaved Black people were listed by name.

Plans for the wall went from 20 feet high to 30 feet to 43 feet. The history of our people deserves to be on something big, Stevenson said.

Part of the inscription Stevenson wrote for the wall reads: The country you built must honor you. We acknowledge the tragedy of your enslavement. We commit to advancing freedom in your name.

Black museums are about storytelling

Museums bring in lifelong learners, while artifacts help humanize history, Bunch said. They teach visitors about slavery, for instance, through the tale of a family or a plantation.

They're all about storytelling, making you care about the people whose histories you explore, Bunch said.

Since the Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in 2016, people have been more interested in visiting their local museums and creating new ones, said Vedet Coleman-Robinson, executive director of the Association of African American Museums.

The museum had 1.6 million visitors last year.

Facing the rising sun, the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Today, there are about 300 African American-focused museums, including virtual ones. More are scheduled to open soon, including the National Urban Leagues Civil Rights Museum in Harlem, the Go-Go Museum in Washington, D.C, The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, and the National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth, Texas.

Now is the time for people to really get familiar with our museums and our history, Coleman-Robinson said. Were past due.

The early Black museums opened decades ago because the history of African Americans wasnt included in mainstream institutions, Coleman-Robinson said. Our museums have really been voices for their communities.

Charleston highlights local Black history

Its not lost on visitors to the International African American Museum at what was once the busiest slave port in Northeast America, where hundreds of thousands of Africans were brought to Gadsdens Wharf to be sold into generations of slavery.

The idea for the museum began about 20 years ago, and plans changed and expanded over the decades.

The National Monument to Freedom displays surnames of former slaves from the 1870 census.

It became clear that Charleston didn't just need to tell its own story  that we were the linchpin in the much larger story of that beginning period of slavery in America, Matthews said.

More than 100,000 people have visited since the museum opened last summer.

In addition to its focus on slavery, museum visitors explore the history of Africa and the African diaspora. They also learn about the region's rich arts and culture.

The circle got even wider, and folks decided that  this period of slavery is neither the beginning nor the end of the African American journey, Matthews said.

On one recent afternoon, Suzanne Johnson sat on a bench inside the Praise House exhibit at the museum. She hummed along as she watched a video of people singing and celebrating the rich Gullah Geechee culture. She watched it again, then again.

The stop at the museum last month was a must for Johnson and her daughter, Cameron Mine, who were visiting from Miami. They spent hours in the museum seeing exhibits like the slave tags Black people had to wear. There was #758 porter, #672 servant. There was a black wall listing names forced on enslaved Africans and another with names they came with like Cando, Tooguah and Sannar.

Suzanne Johnson, right, and her daughter Cameron Mine talk about the Gullah Geechee exhibit they are viewing at the International African American Museum in Charleston, S.C., on Jan. 23, 2024.

The Praise House particularly stirred emotions for Johnson, whose grandmother has roots in South Carolina.

If they take our stories from us, we cease to exist, said Johnson, 51. The beauty of this museum is it weaves our stories together.

Johnson believes museums are necessary especially now to counter restrictions like in her home state of Florida, where the College Board's Advanced Placement African American Studies course was banned. Theyre trying to stifle our story, she said.

Johnson was excited to see that next to the Praise House, construction for new exhibits had begun. I intend to grow with the museum, she said.

'Igniting a cultural renaissance'

Museums help expand public education about African American history, said Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and senior vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the nonprofit that established the fund.

We're at a moment of igniting both cultural reckoning around the gaps in the American story and the need to more equitably interpret American history, Leggs said. Were also igniting a cultural renaissance.

Matthews, of the International African American Museum, said there is finally a recognition that the African American story doesnt just fit in an art gallery and that it should be included in every museum focused on American history.

There is also room to have entire spaces dedicated to the story so we can get into the nuances, so we can talk about it from different perspectives, Matthews said.

Heaven Campbell and Karissa Pelichet stopped at the painting of a family in the international museum, discussing the pain of learning the father had been lynched.

The sophomores from North Carolina A&T State University were recently in Charleston to visit the museum and learn more about the citys Black history. They had also booked a Black Heritage walking tour for that afternoon.

We love Black History and how it shows how far weve come, said Pelichet, 20.

The roommates had visited other museums in the past, including The King Center in Atlanta and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It ties everything together, Pelichet said of the visits.

Heaven Campbell, left, and Karissa Pelichet look at Baker by artist Stan Squirewell at the International African American Museum in Charleston, S.C. on Jan. 23, 2024.

Campbell, who has taken several African American study classes, said its on people to explore their heritage.

We cant depend on the public school system to teach our history, said Campbell, 20, adding that visiting museums is only part of learning about Black history. It should be a stepping stone, but not our only stepping stone.

Black history restrictions spur more interest

The push to teach more Black history comes as dozens of states, including Florida, Texas and Oklahoma, have adopted or proposed measures that critics say omit crucial parts of Black history. Some have also banned books, many of them by Black authors that focus on race.

The restrictions have spurred more people to educate themselves, museum leaders said.

The more we try to clamp down on some things, frankly, the more people are talking about it and then they start to seek out places to find this story, Matthews said. Many will look for specifically authentic places.

Thats often a Black museum, experts said.

The broader public understands that museums and historic sites are supplemental places of knowledge and education and are critically important at this moment in our history, Leggs said.

Bunch said there will always be interest in Black museums regardless of political pushback.

You want to make sure that those museums are strong so when the pendulum swings and more and more people are coming to the subject, they have good museums to explore.

To learn more: Black churches in Florida buck DeSantis: 'Our churches will teach our own history.'

The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park is the latest of three EJI history projects in Montgomery. More than 2 million people have visited the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum since they opened in 2018.

Stevenson called the response affirming and encouraging.

That has helped me believe that what we're doing can have an impact and has power, and we should keep trying to do it, he said.

Slave narratives at the Equal Justice Initiatives Freedom Monument Sculpture Park in Montgomery on March 12, 2024.

The reaction to their first two sites led the EJI to create the sculpture park with its focus on slavery. I really hope that we begin to understand that the institution of slavery created harms that have a legacy and that we need to understand those harms, Stevenson said.

'An investment well worth making'

Not all new Black museums are mega structures. Some focus on one person or moment in history. Some dont have a building at all. The Sankofa Mobile Museum recently visited schools in Prince Georges County, Maryland, teaching local Black history.

An old storefront in Sumner, Mississippi, houses the Emmett Till Interpretive Center and features exhibits about the 14-year old Black teenager who was murdered by white men in Mississippi in 1955. Emmetts death was a catalyst in the Civil Rights Movement.

Other new opportunities: Several Black museums have opened in recent years with more coming soon. Here's a list.

The center opened in 2016. Last summer, President Joe Biden signed a proclamation establishing the Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument at three historic sites in Mississippi and Illinois, where Emmett was from.

It really is going to be a place more of reflection so people can think about (what happened), said Daphne Chamberlain, a civil rights historian in Mississippi who is working with the center. "It's always important that we remember, and if we don't remember, what we're also doing is subscribing to all of these attacks on Black history.

African American historic sites have long been underfunded and undervalued, experts say.

The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund has received more than 6,000 requests totaling $700 million in the past six years, including some from museums and historic sites.

Leggs said there arent enough funders for such preservation projects. This is critically important, but this funding is often short-term gap investing, he said.

More local communities should support Black museums, Leggs said, particularly since many are cultural anchors.

The price tag for the International African American Museum grew to $100 million. It received money from private and public entities, including the state, county and city.

Ask and you shall receive, but ask many, many times, Matthews said.

Museum officials made the case that the new institution would fit with the region's brand of promoting its history. Matthews says that is what began to make folks more and more comfortable.''

It has been only in more recent years that there has been the capability to build some Black museums, Stevenson said. He doesnt believe the Equal Justice Initiative could have done it 10 years ago.

We didn't have the ability to create institutions with autonomy like the institutions that we've created, but now we do, Stevenson said. We have resources. We have capacity. We just have to make sure we have vision.

EJI doesnt take government funding. Visitors pay $5 for admission to the sites to keep it affordable.

The cost for the sculpture park, where construction is still underway, is expected to climb to about $20 million.

What we did on the other two sites has made me believe it's an investment well worth making, said Stevenson, adding that the response has been overwhelming. When I hear some of the things I hear, when the students come through and people come through, theres no limit to what I would spend to try to create that kind of consciousness.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Black history's fresh voice: How new museums curate complex stories
Environmental officials have seized a 750-pound blind alligator that was being kept at a house in Hamburg, New York.

Albert the alligator, who is thought to be over 30 years old, was taken after the New York Environmental Conservation Department (DEC) found out that the homeowner had built an addition to his house and installed a swimming pool for his 11-foot pet.

Tony Cavallaro, Alberts owner, allegedly also allowed members of the public to get into the alligators pool to pet the unsecured animal, the officials said.

Mr Cavallaro told The Associated Press that the alligator had been with him since the 1990s and promised to fight for his return. He said that he treated Albert as if he were his child and had never put anyone in danger.

Mr Cavallaro told 7News that kids have posed in the pool with Albert, but it didnt happen very often.

Im not dangerous. Im not being unsafe with people, he told The Associated Press.

Albert is reported to have blindness and spinal issues (New York DEC via AP)

While Mr Cavallaro did own a DEC licence for the alligator, it expired in 2021 and was never renewed, the officials said.

With help from the Hamburg police department and Erie County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ECOs seized the large alligator in the interest of public safety and the health, safety, and protection of the alligator.

The alligator is reported to have numerous health issues, such as blindness in both eyes and spinal complications.

Speaking to 7News, Mr Cavallaro denied the health issues and said that he gave the alligator medication for his eyes, but he was not blind and that he had never noticed any spinal issues.

The owner was alleged to have allowed people to pose with the alligator (New York DEC via AP)

The authorities transported the alligator to a licenced caretaker who will look after the animal until it can be taken into permanent care.

However, a petition has been created to try and get Albert back to his owner.

Mr Cavallaro said in the petition that he took care of him better than most people take care of their kids, adding that hes abided by all the rules and has held a permit annually, but allegedly had some issues when trying to renew it.

Im Alberts dad, thats all there is to it, he told 7News. Hes like family to everybody.

In a statement to 7News, the DEC said, At that time, DEC determined the owners facility failed to meet specific conditions to ensure this dangerous animal did not come in contact with humans and did not pose a threat to humans or the animal. To be clear, even if the owner was appropriately licenced, public contact with the animal is prohibited and grounds for licence revocation and relocation of the animal."

The Independent has contacted the DEC for comment.
(Bloomberg) -- Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that authoritarian governments were going to meddle in a flurry of elections and the US would keep pressing to disrupt misinformation efforts from China and Russia.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Nearly half the people of the world are going to be going to the polls this year  this is an extraordinary election year in country after country, Blinken told a session at the Summit for Democracy conference in Seoul on Monday. But citizens and candidates will face a flood of falsehoods that suffocate serious civic debate.

The top US diplomats comments come during a year in which large democracies around the world  from India and Indonesia to the US and UK  are set to hold key elections, and at a time when huge advances in generative artificial intelligence are fueling increased worries about fake content influencing voters.

Our competitors, our adversaries are using disinformation to exploit fissures within our democracies by further sowing suspicion, cynicism and instability. Pitting one group against another. Discrediting our institutions, he said.

Since US tech companies and specialized American-made microchips are at the forefront of AI innovation, US leaders wield particular sway over how the field is overseen.

Read more: Regulate AI? How US, EU and China Are Going About It: QuickTake

The top US envoy also said during his visit to the South Korean capital that governments are using artificial intelligence to spy on their citizens and harass journalists.

He cited US efforts to unveil Chinese propaganda campaigns in Africa and Southeast Asia and Russian attempts to sow its own narrative about the war in Ukraine in Latin America.

Blinken said democracies needed to do more to disrupt misinformation, including encouraging powerful social media companies to properly label misleading or false content generated by new artificial intelligence technologies.

Digital technologies, social media and now artificial intelligence, theyre dramatically accelerating what has already been an incredibly fast pace of change, but that accelerant has also created waves of disinformation, fueling polarization and confusion, he said.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
China is on track to receive a record level of Russian oil imports for the month of March, Bloomberg reported on March 18, citing data from the analytics company Kpler.

Reuters reported in January 2024 that Russia had surpassed Saudi Arabia to become China's largest supplier of oil. While India has also remained a critical market for Russian oil, payment issues, in part related to Western sanctions, have caused delays in the trade of oil between the two countries.

The U.S., the EU, and other partners have banned the import of Russian seaborne oil, although the product continues to flow to some European countries via pipelines. The Group of Seven (G7) countries have also imposed a $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian crude shipped to global markets.

Data from Kpler indicated that China was set to receive 1.7 million barrels of Russian crude oil per day for the month of March, a figure that includes triple the previous all-time high level of Sokol oil. The increase is in part related to the reduction in India's purchase of oil, Bloomberg reported.

It is unclear if China plans to buy all the oil outright, or if some will be ultimately redirected to other countries. Some Chinese banks are wary of falling under U.S. sanctions targeting the trade of Russian oil, Bloomberg said.

U.S. President Joe Biden issued an executive order in December 2023 to tighten restrictions on the financial backers of Russia's war, which has decreased the flow of funds to third-party countries.

The threat that even unwitting collaboration could result in sanctions or loss of access to the U.S. financial system has caused foreign banks to be more proactive about avoiding doing any business with Russia, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in February 2024.

Read also: Sanctions for show: Russian oil sales to China, India single main driver of Ukraine invasion

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
BRENHAM, Texas (KLFY)  Blue Bell Creameries has released a new flavor, in honor of the companys expension into the St. Louis market.

The new flavor, Gooey Butter Cake, is described as flavorful Cake Batter Ice Cream combined with a luscious cream cheese swirl and rich, gooey butter cake pieces.

Carl Breed, vice president, sales and marketing for Blue Bell, said the new product is in stores beginning today, the same day Blue Bell products arrive in St. Louis.

Our new Gooey Butter Cake Ice Cream is as delicious as the cake made famous in St. Louis, Breed said. Our ice cream is a great introduction if you have not tasted a gooey butter cake. There are delicious pieces of cake in each bite. And our Cake Batter Ice Cream combined with a cream cheese swirl is, as they say, the icing on the cake.

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Gooey Butter Cake is available in the half-gallon and pint sizes for a limited time.

For more information about Blue Bell and a complete list of products now in stores, visit

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Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall prior to the State of the State address by Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 in Montgomery, Ala. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)

With less than six months before voting begins, the legal jousting over the rules for the 2024 election is already underway. And former President Donald Trumps campaign is getting support from allies who have stayed mostly under the national radar: red-state attorneys general.

In court filings made in recent months, these chief state legal officers have advanced a string of arguments  some strikingly far-reaching  that appear designed to lay the groundwork for Republican legal victories in the event of a contested presidential vote, or to otherwise boost Trump and the GOP.

Often led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, a loose coalition of Republican-led states has submitted briefs urging judges to:

Throw out certain mail ballots,

Weaken long-standing protections against racial discrimination in voting,

Green-light gerrymandered district maps,

And empower partisan state legislatures, rather than courts, to set election rules.

These are all setting up an argument, potentially, to say that the 2024 election was flawed because of all these state practices that are questionable, said Paul Nolette, a political science professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee who has written in depth on the role of state AGs. The AGs just have been critical in pushing these arguments.

Marshalls office did not respond to a request to comment for this story. But last month Marshall also led a coalition of red states in submitting an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to pause Trumps election subversion trial tied to the events of Jan. 6, 2021  a stance that aligned the group perfectly with the interests of the Trump campaign.

And in 2020, many of these same state AGs, including Marshall, sought to have the courts overturn Trumps election loss.

An election decided in the courts?

The danger of outright election subversion this year appears to have receded somewhat, election law experts have said, thanks to important federal legislation and the results of the last midterms. But the chances that the election will be contested, and ultimately settled in the courts, remain very high.

In that scenario, advocates and experts say, these Republican AGs look well-placed to provide the kinds of conservative legal arguments that could prove pivotal, both by directly influencing court decisions and by infiltrating the broader public debate.

But many of these claims, democracy advocates warn  especially those that support new voting restrictions, reduce the power of minority voters, or undermine courts authority to set election rules  could threaten fair elections.

A huge part of the overall anti-democracy movement is really based on continuing to find ways to use legal tactics as a jumping-off point to spread the election denier message, said Lizzie Ulmer, senior vice president of strategy and communications for States United Democracy Center, a pro-democracy group.

There are good and pro-democracy state AGs on both sides of the aisle. But the truth is there are AGs in office right now that have the potential to do real harm. And weve seen that in the past and were seeing it today.

Growing politicization

The involvement of the Republican AGs in elections cases with national stakes marks the latest step in a decades-long trend toward AGs taking on more politicized roles.

In less polarized times, experts say, state AGs mostly presented as apolitical prosecutors, and frequently teamed up across party lines to tackle issues of public concern.

That began to shift in earnest during the George W. Bush administration, when Democratic AGs used a series of splashy lawsuits against Wall Street firms and corporate polluters, among others, to advance national policy and political goals  and to boost their own national profiles.

But in the Trump era, the shift has intensified. Several close observers said a key moment came in 2017, when Republicans sought to oust then-Virginia AG Mark Herring, a Democrat  ending a long-standing custom in which neither party spent money targeting incumbent AGs of the other party. Herring ultimately won re-election, but that cycle saw record campaign spending on AG races.

In Republican-led states, the politicization of AG offices reached its height around the 2020 election, centered around the Republican Attorney Generals Association, an advocacy group for Republican AGs. In the leadup to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, the groups fundraising arm, the Rule of Law Defense Fund, sent robocalls urging people to gather for a march to the U.S. Capitol to stop the steal and protect the integrity of our elections.

Marshall, the Alabama AG, served as chair of RLDF at the time, and has said he was unaware of the robocalls. He has declined to say whether RAGA or RLDF staff were at the Capitol on Jan. 6, and his office has denied public records requests by the Alabama Political Reporter for his calendars covering the period.

Along with other Republican AGs, Marshall sought to cast doubt on the 2020 election results, telling Newsmax not long after the vote: We obviously have concerns about some of the issues, specifically of irregularities and fraud in other places.

On Dec. 10, 2020, Marshall and other Republican AGs joined Trump for a meeting at the White House. A day earlier, Marshall had announced that Alabama would join a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton seeking to overturn the results in Pennsylvania and three other states narrowly won by Joe Biden. Seventeen Republican-led states ultimately signed on to the Texas case.

Idaho AG disagreed

One state that didnt join the suit was Idaho, whose AG at the time, Republican Lawrence Wasden, saw the Texas lawsuit as an improper attempt to use the AGs office to make policy  and to interfere in other states business.

The policy-making function under both the state and federal constitutions is clearly put in the hands of the legislative branch of government, Wasden told States Newsroom. The AG is an executive officer, and does not have those powers. Thats not how we should make public policy.

After 20 years in office, Wasden lost his 2022 re-election bid in the Republican primary to former U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador  a defeat Wasden attributes to GOP voter anger at his decision not to join the Texas case. But he hasnt wavered in his view that it was the right call.

If Texas can control or influence the outcome of the election in Pennsylvania, then California can influence the election in Idaho, Wasden said. And that is not how federalism works.

Labrador was elected attorney general later that year, and has signed Idaho on to several of the elections cases brought by Republican AGs.

As for Marshall, in 2021, he withdrew Alabama from the bipartisan National Association of Attorneys General, saying the group had moved too far to the left. The next year, Texas, Missouri, and Montana followed suit.

In 2022, Marshall declined to say, when asked under oath while testifying before Congress, that Biden was duly elected, answering only that he is the president of this country.

Months later, Marshall was elected chair of RAGA. Now, hes leading the charge among Republican AGs on election cases with an eye on 2024.

Weakening voting protections

Marshall has battled on behalf of strict voting laws in his own state.

His office energetically, and successfully, fought off a 2020 court challenge to an Alabama law that bars people with past convictions from casting a ballot. In that years election, he also succeeded in getting the Supreme Court to block an effort to allow curbside voting, which voting advocates said could offer easier access for elderly and disabled voters .

But its Marshalls work on behalf of Republicans looking to influence election rules far beyond the Yellowhammer State that could have an even greater impact.

In January, Marshall led a coalition of 17 red states that submitted an amicus brief supporting a bid by national Republicans to require Pennsylvania to reject mail ballots with incorrect or missing dates.

In Pennsylvanias 2020 election, there were over 10,000 such ballots, and how the case is resolved could help determine the winner of this pivotal swing state, if the result is very close. Democrats have voted by mail at significantly higher rates than Republicans in recent elections.

But the impact could be broader still. A district court found last year that the missing or incorrect dates are irrelevant to establishing a votes legitimacy.

That means, the court ruled, that under the materiality provision of civil rights law  first included in the 1964 Civil Rights Act, then extended to cover non-federal elections in the Voting Rights Act the following year  a missing or incorrect date cant be used as a reason to reject a vote.

In their brief, Alabama and the other states called the district courts ruling seriously misguided.

They argued that the materiality provision should be read more narrowly, and doesnt bar states from imposing reasonable ballot integrity measures. And, they claimed, the provision contains no private right of action, meaning it can be enforced only by the U.S. Justice Department, not by the civil rights groups involved in the Pennsylvania case.

By itself, making the materiality provision harder to use would likely have only a limited impact, since it hasnt been among the tools most commonly used to protect voting rights, noted Cameron Kistler, counsel at Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan democracy advocacy group.

But, he said, it comes in the context of other ongoing conservative legal attacks on voting protections  including attempts to weaken the Voting Rights Act, and suggestions by the Supreme Court that it may lower the level of scrutiny it applies to voting laws that are accused of harming voters.

The tools that youd use to ensure free and fair elections are slowly being pulled away, said Kistler. When you take them all together, thats when it starts to get really problematic.

Voting Rights Act

As if to prove the point, a separate amicus brief submitted in December by Marshalls office argued that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act  the laws most important plank, since the Supreme Court neutered Section 5 a decade ago  also contains no private right of action.

Marshall and his allies were urging a federal appeals court to reverse a ruling striking down Louisianas congressional map as a racial gerrymander under Section 2.

The notion that Section 2 contains no private right of action had until recently been seen by many advocates as outlandish. But a federal judge endorsed it in a separate 2022 case involving an Arkansas redistricting plan, brought by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, a Republican, who has signed his state on to several of Marshalls amicus briefs. That decision was upheld on appeal in December.

The issue is likely to come before the Supreme Court. A ruling for Arkansas could dramatically limit the power of the VRA to stop racial discrimination in voting.

Separately, Marshall has sought to defend Alabamas own redistricting plan. In arguing that the state should not have to draw a new map with an additional majority-Black district, his office adopted an interpretation of the VRA that, experts said, would have made it all but impossible to use for stopping racial gerrymanders.

Nicholas Stephanopoulos, a prominent election law scholar at Harvard Law School, has called Alabamas approach to the question directly contrary to 40 years of precedent.

The claim was too extreme even for the conservative-dominated Supreme Court, which ultimately ordered Alabama to create a new map.

In response, Marshall signaled an agenda that went well beyond Alabama.

There should be nothing more offensive to the people of our great state than to be sidelined in 2023 by a view of Alabama that is stuck in 1963, he said in a statement. This racial agenda is pressed by left-wing activists, not just in Alabama, but in any Republican state where it might advantage Democrats.

And he compared the ruling, which aimed to empower Black voters, with Jim Crow.

If this brazen and divisive commandeering is permitted without even a whisper of concern from other quarters, Americas congressional elections as we know them will never be the same, Marshall continued. We will be grouped together by race alone, with counties and cities split down the middlethe same way that we were so wrongfully segregated once before.

Marshall also led a coalition of 18 GOP-led states that filed a 2021 amicus brief supporting Arizonas defense of a law requiring voters who dont sign their mail ballots to do so by 7 p.m. on election night.

The issue may seem minor, but Marshalls brief invoked a far more fundamental question, arguing that state legislatures, not the courts, are in charge of setting election rules.

The U.S. Constitution is unambiguous about the right of state legislatures to determine the manner of holding elections within their respective states, wrote Marshall. Accordingly, state legislatures, not federal courts, are vested with the legal authority to determine state election laws. Court attempts to micromanage election laws duly passed by state legislatures conflict with our constitutional structure and legal precedent.

When North Carolina brought a version of this claim  known as the Independent State Legislature Theory  to the Supreme Court last year, experts warned that it could radically reshape election law, giving partisan state lawmakers almost unfettered power to make the rules. The Justices ultimately rejected the argument.

Why AGs enjoy influence

Advocates say its difficult to assess whether, and to what extent, courts are swayed by amicus briefs. But, they add, the role of state AGs as their states chief legal officer gives their claims an invaluable sheen of authority.

State AGs are taken seriously because of the governmental role they play, in a way that parties, who do not have a governmental role, typically are not, said Dax Goldstein, a senior counsel at States United Democracy Center. So theres a real difference between a sitting AG filing a brief and (Donald Trump lawyer) John Eastman filing a brief.

In addition, since a 2007 Supreme Court ruling in a case where a group of states led by Massachusetts sued the George W. Bush administrations Environmental Protection Agency, states have enjoyed more power than individual plaintiffs to bring lawsuits on public policy issues.

States have a greater ability to bring legal challenges than private citizens do, said Kistler. So when you have these super active state officials with a greater ability to bring cases than private parties and a judiciary thats willing to entertain the cases, it makes a difference.

Nolette, the Marquette political scientist, noted that if the AGs series of briefs in election cases appear coordinated, its no accident.

Theres a lot of strategy that goes into planning these far-reaching arguments, Nolette said, adding that AGs of both parties use their partisan organizations  the Republican Attorney Generals Association, and the Democratic Attorney Generals Association  to align their efforts and figure out the venues where they might have the most chance of success.

Its almost like buying a lottery ticket, trying to boost the chances of those arguments taking hold somewhere, Nolette continued. And once they get one district court judge to agree with it, then it moves them to a different state of respectability. Its like, well, a federal judge has agreed with us, so this is a legitimate argument, even if it was considered totally out there in previous years.

Ralph Chapoco contributed to this report.

The post To boost Trump, GOP attorneys general charge into battle over state election rules appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
A loose coalition of Republican-led states, often led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, shown above, has advanced a string of arguments that appear designed to lay the groundwork for GOP legal victories in the event of a contested presidential vote. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)

With less than six months before voting begins, the legal jousting over the rules for the 2024 election is already underway. And former President Donald Trumps campaign is getting support from allies who have stayed mostly under the national radar: red-state attorneys general.

In court filings made in recent months, these chief state legal officers have advanced a string of arguments  some strikingly far-reaching  that appear designed to lay the groundwork for Republican legal victories in the event of a contested presidential vote, or to otherwise boost Trump and the GOP.

Often led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, a loose coalition of Republican-led states has submitted briefs urging judges to:

Throw out certain mail ballots,

Weaken long-standing protections against racial discrimination in voting,

Green-light gerrymandered district maps,

And empower partisan state legislatures, rather than courts, to set election rules.

These are all setting up an argument, potentially, to say that the 2024 election was flawed because of all these state practices that are questionable, said Paul Nolette, a political science professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee who has written in depth on the role of state AGs. The AGs just have been critical in pushing these arguments.

Marshalls office did not respond to a request to comment for this story. But last month Marshall also led a coalition of red states in submitting an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to pause Trumps election subversion trial tied to the events of Jan. 6, 2021  a stance that aligned the group perfectly with the interests of the Trump campaign.

And in 2020, many of these same state AGs, including Marshall, sought to have the courts overturn Trumps election loss.

An election decided in the courts?

The danger of outright election subversion this year appears to have receded somewhat, election law experts have said, thanks to important federal legislation and the results of the last midterms. But the chances that the election will be contested, and ultimately settled in the courts, remain very high.

In that scenario, advocates and experts say, these Republican AGs look well-placed to provide the kinds of conservative legal arguments that could prove pivotal, both by directly influencing court decisions and by infiltrating the broader public debate.

But many of these claims, democracy advocates warn  especially those that support new voting restrictions, reduce the power of minority voters, or undermine courts authority to set election rules  could threaten fair elections.

A huge part of the overall anti-democracy movement is really based on continuing to find ways to use legal tactics as a jumping-off point to spread the election denier message, said Lizzie Ulmer, senior vice president of strategy and communications for States United Democracy Center, a pro-democracy group.

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There are good and pro-democracy state AGs on both sides of the aisle. But the truth is there are AGs in office right now that have the potential to do real harm. And weve seen that in the past and were seeing it today.

Growing politicization

The involvement of the Republican AGs in elections cases with national stakes marks the latest step in a decades-long trend toward AGs taking on more politicized roles.

In less polarized times, experts say, state AGs mostly presented as apolitical prosecutors, and frequently teamed up across party lines to tackle issues of public concern.

That began to shift in earnest during the George W. Bush administration, when Democratic AGs used a series of splashy lawsuits against Wall Street firms and corporate polluters, among others, to advance national policy and political goals  and to boost their own national profiles.

But in the Trump era, the shift has intensified. Several close observers said a key moment came in 2017, when Republicans sought to oust then-Virginia AG Mark Herring, a Democrat  ending a long-standing custom in which neither party spent money targeting incumbent AGs of the other party. Herring ultimately won re-election, but that cycle saw record campaign spending on AG races.

In Republican-led states, the politicization of AG offices reached its height around the 2020 election, centered around the Republican Attorneys General Association, an advocacy group for Republican AGs. In the leadup to the events of Jan. 6, 2021, the groups fundraising arm, the Rule of Law Defense Fund, sent robocalls urging people to gather for a march to the U.S. Capitol to stop the steal and protect the integrity of our elections.

Marshall, the Alabama AG, served as chair of RLDF at the time, and has said he was unaware of the robocalls. He has declined to say whether RAGA or RLDF staff were at the Capitol on Jan. 6, and his office has denied public records requests by the Alabama Political Reporter for his calendars covering the period.

Along with other Republican AGs, Marshall sought to cast doubt on the 2020 election results, telling Newsmax not long after the vote: We obviously have concerns about some of the issues, specifically of irregularities and fraud in other places.

On Dec. 10, 2020, Marshall and other Republican AGs joined Trump for a meeting at the White House. A day earlier, Marshall had announced that Alabama would join a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton seeking to overturn the results in Pennsylvania and three other states narrowly won by Joe Biden. Seventeen Republican-led states ultimately signed on to the Texas case.

Idaho AG disagreed

One state that didnt join the suit was Idaho, whose AG at the time, Republican Lawrence Wasden, saw the Texas lawsuit as an improper attempt to use the AGs office to make policy  and to interfere in other states business.

The policy-making function under both the state and federal constitutions is clearly put in the hands of the legislative branch of government, Wasden told States Newsroom. The AG is an executive officer, and does not have those powers. Thats not how we should make public policy.

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After 20 years in office, Wasden lost his 2022 re-election bid in the Republican primary to former U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador  a defeat Wasden attributes to GOP voter anger at his decision not to join the Texas case. But he hasnt wavered in his view that it was the right call.

If Texas can control or influence the outcome of the election in Pennsylvania, then California can influence the election in Idaho, Wasden said. And that is not how federalism works.

Labrador was elected attorney general later that year, and has signed Idaho on to several of the elections cases brought by Republican AGs.

As for Marshall, in 2021, he withdrew Alabama from the bipartisan National Association of Attorneys General, saying the group had moved too far to the left. The next year, Texas, Missouri, and Montana followed suit.

In 2022, Marshall declined to say, when asked under oath while testifying before Congress, that Biden was duly elected, answering only that he is the president of this country.

Months later, Marshall was elected chair of RAGA. Now, hes leading the charge among Republican AGs on election cases with an eye on 2024.

Weakening voting protections

Marshall has battled on behalf of strict voting laws in his own state.

His office energetically, and successfully, fought off a 2020 court challenge to an Alabama law that bars people with past convictions from casting a ballot. In that years election, he also succeeded in getting the Supreme Court to block an effort to allow curbside voting, which voting advocates said could offer easier access for elderly and disabled voters .

But its Marshalls work on behalf of Republicans looking to influence election rules far beyond the Yellowhammer State that could have an even greater impact.

In January, Marshall led a coalition of 17 red states that submitted an amicus brief supporting a bid by national Republicans to require Pennsylvania to reject mail ballots with incorrect or missing dates.

In Pennsylvanias 2020 election, there were over 10,000 such ballots, and how the case is resolved could help determine the winner of this pivotal swing state, if the result is very close. Democrats have voted by mail at significantly higher rates than Republicans in recent elections.

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But the impact could be broader still. A district court found last year that the missing or incorrect dates are irrelevant to establishing a votes legitimacy.

That means, the court ruled, that under the materiality provision of civil rights law  first included in the 1964 Civil Rights Act, then extended to cover non-federal elections in the Voting Rights Act the following year  a missing or incorrect date cant be used as a reason to reject a vote.

In their brief, Alabama and the other states called the district courts ruling seriously misguided.

They argued that the materiality provision should be read more narrowly, and doesnt bar states from imposing reasonable ballot integrity measures. And, they claimed, the provision contains no private right of action, meaning it can be enforced only by the U.S. Justice Department, not by the civil rights groups involved in the Pennsylvania case.

By itself, making the materiality provision harder to use would likely have only a limited impact, since it hasnt been among the tools most commonly used to protect voting rights, noted Cameron Kistler, counsel at Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan democracy advocacy group.

But, he said, it comes in the context of other ongoing conservative legal attacks on voting protections  including attempts to weaken the Voting Rights Act, and suggestions by the Supreme Court that it may lower the level of scrutiny it applies to voting laws that are accused of harming voters.

The tools that youd use to ensure free and fair elections are slowly being pulled away, said Kistler. When you take them all together, thats when it starts to get really problematic.

Voting Rights Act

As if to prove the point, a separate amicus brief submitted in December by Marshalls office argued that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act  the laws most important plank, since the Supreme Court neutered Section 5 a decade ago  also contains no private right of action.

Marshall and his allies were urging a federal appeals court to reverse a ruling striking down Louisianas congressional map as a racial gerrymander under Section 2.

The notion that Section 2 contains no private right of action had until recently been seen by many advocates as outlandish. But a federal judge endorsed it in a separate 2022 case involving an Arkansas redistricting plan, brought by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin, a Republican, who has signed his state on to several of Marshalls amicus briefs. That decision was upheld on appeal in December.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. (John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate)

The issue is likely to come before the Supreme Court. A ruling for Arkansas could dramatically limit the power of the VRA to stop racial discrimination in voting.

Separately, Marshall has sought to defend Alabamas own redistricting plan. In arguing that the state should not have to draw a new map with an additional majority-Black district, his office adopted an interpretation of the VRA that, experts said, would have made it all but impossible to use for stopping racial gerrymanders.

Nicholas Stephanopoulos, a prominent election law scholar at Harvard Law School, has called Alabamas approach to the question directly contrary to 40 years of precedent.

The claim was too extreme even for the conservative-dominated Supreme Court, which ultimately ordered Alabama to create a new map.

In response, Marshall signaled an agenda that went well beyond Alabama.

There should be nothing more offensive to the people of our great state than to be sidelined in 2023 by a view of Alabama that is stuck in 1963, he said in a statement. This racial agenda is pressed by left-wing activists, not just in Alabama, but in any Republican state where it might advantage Democrats.

And he compared the ruling, which aimed to empower Black voters, with Jim Crow.

If this brazen and divisive commandeering is permitted without even a whisper of concern from other quarters, Americas congressional elections as we know them will never be the same, Marshall continued. We will be grouped together by race alone, with counties and cities split down the middlethe same way that we were so wrongfully segregated once before.

Marshall also led a coalition of 18 GOP-led states that filed a 2021 amicus brief supporting Arizonas defense of a law requiring voters who dont sign their mail ballots to do so by 7 p.m. on election night.

The issue may seem minor, but Marshalls brief invoked a far more fundamental question, arguing that state legislatures, not the courts, are in charge of setting election rules.

The U.S. Constitution is unambiguous about the right of state legislatures to determine the manner of holding elections within their respective states, wrote Marshall. Accordingly, state legislatures, not federal courts, are vested with the legal authority to determine state election laws. Court attempts to micromanage election laws duly passed by state legislatures conflict with our constitutional structure and legal precedent.

When North Carolina brought a version of this claim  known as the Independent State Legislature Theory  to the Supreme Court last year, experts warned that it could radically reshape election law, giving partisan state lawmakers almost unfettered power to make the rules. The Justices ultimately rejected the argument.

Why AGs enjoy influence

Advocates say its difficult to assess whether, and to what extent, courts are swayed by amicus briefs. But, they add, the role of state AGs as their states chief legal officer gives their claims an invaluable sheen of authority.

State AGs are taken seriously because of the governmental role they play, in a way that parties, who do not have a governmental role, typically are not, said Dax Goldstein, a senior counsel at States United Democracy Center. So theres a real difference between a sitting AG filing a brief and (Donald Trump lawyer) John Eastman filing a brief.

In addition, since a 2007 Supreme Court ruling in a case where a group of states led by Massachusetts sued the George W. Bush administrations Environmental Protection Agency, states have enjoyed more power than individual plaintiffs to bring lawsuits on public policy issues.

States have a greater ability to bring legal challenges than private citizens do, said Kistler. So when you have these super active state officials with a greater ability to bring cases than private parties and a judiciary thats willing to entertain the cases, it makes a difference.

Nolette, the Marquette political scientist, noted that if the AGs series of briefs in election cases appear coordinated, its no accident.

Theres a lot of strategy that goes into planning these far-reaching arguments, Nolette said, adding that AGs of both parties use their partisan organizations  the Republican Attorney Generals Association, and the Democratic Attorney Generals Association  to align their efforts and figure out the venues where they might have the most chance of success.

Its almost like buying a lottery ticket, trying to boost the chances of those arguments taking hold somewhere, Nolette continued. And once they get one district court judge to agree with it, then it moves them to a different state of respectability. Its like, well, a federal judge has agreed with us, so this is a legitimate argument, even if it was considered totally out there in previous years.

Ralph Chapoco contributed to this report.

The post To boost Trump, GOP attorneys general charge into battle over state election rules appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, reported that the EU foreign ministers at their meeting will discuss increasing the European Peace Facility by 5 billion to support Ukraine and the utilisation of profits made on frozen Russian assets.

Source: European Pravda

Quote from Borrell: "I hope that we will finally adopt [these] important decisions today. First  the Ukrainian support fund with a replenishment of 5 billion for the European Peace Fund, which has been under discussion for weeks. I definitely hope that today the ministers will approve this."

Details: He also said he hopes for agreement among the ministers regarding the use of profits generated by frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, particularly to increase funding for Ukrainian defence.

"I hope that today, political agreement will be reached to finally take action on this," Borrell added.

Ministers also intend to adopt new sanctions in connection with the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Borrell announced that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will join the meeting remotely.

Background:

On 13 March, permanent representatives from EU countries agreed on a 5 billion increase in the European Peace Facility, which is used to fund supplies of weapons to Ukraine.

Earlier, the media reported that the European Commission is preparing to propose the confiscation of billions of euros in profits obtained from frozen sovereign assets of Russia in Europe to support Ukraine.

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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a conversation with newly elected President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto.

"I congratulated him on the victory in the elections and expressed hope for the continuation of mutually beneficial bilateral relations. In 2022, I presented the Peace Formula - a real path to a just peace - in Indonesia. Now we are preparing the inaugural peace summit, and Indonesia's participation in it is fundamentally important for us," Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram channel on Monday.

The head of state added that he invited Indonesia to join the summit and implementing the points of the Ukrainian Peace Formula on food and nuclear security, as well as on the exchange of prisoners of war.
More facts need to be established, but Bradford County's district attorney said he is considering pursuing a death penalty case against two people charged in the March 8 shooting death of a man in Springfield Township.

Pennsylvania State Police at Towanda last week charged Terry Parker, 46, of Harrisburg, and Ronda Parker, 48, of Columbia Cross Roads, with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in the killing of 40-year-old Michael Pruitt.

The Parkers are married but separated, officials said.

A third suspect, 36-year-old Summer Heil, of Harrisburg, was charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence, authorities said.

Police say Pruitt, whose permanent address was unknown, was lured to a residence at 1404 Sawyer Road in Springfield Township on March 8, shot and killed, his body placed in the trunk of a car, and later cut up and burned.

Bradford County District Attorney Richard Wilson listens to a reporter question during a news conference Monday, March 18, 2024 regarding the March 8 shooting death of Michael Pruitt in Springfield Township.

District Attorney Richard Wilson joined state police officials at a news conference Monday at the Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda to update the public on the investigation.

"Pennsylvania law allows for the death penalty if there are 'aggravating circumstances,'" Wilson said. "There was a 1-year-old child present at the time of death. That could be considered an aggravating circumstance."

Public safety Two people shot in Elmira home invasion, robbery. Suspects sought by police.

Wilson pointed out in Pennsylvania, criminal homicide is a catch-all charge that covers multiple crimes, from manslaughter through first-degree murder.

As the investigation into the case continues, it's very likely charges against Ronda and Terry Parker will be upgraded, Wilson said.

What we know about the death of Michael Pruitt

Terry Parker shot Pruitt multiple times in the early morning hours inside a house at 1404 Sawyer Road in Springfield Township, according to the criminal complaint.

The complaint alleges Pruitt was first shot in the kitchen and then shot three more times after running down a hallway and into a bedroom.

Investigators said Terry Parker told witnesses he had a body in the trunk of his car Saturday near his house in Harrisburg.

The body was allegedly brought back to the Sawyer Road area, cut up and burned in the early morning hours, the complaint alleges.

State police were alerted to the crime early March 11 by a series of text messages among the suspects discussing the killing and disposal of Pruitt's body.

State police Lt. Derek Felsman praised investigators and other personnel who "within the next 11 critical hours" had all three suspects in custody.

Possible motives for the killing

The suspects told state police investigators Terry Parker wanted to kill Pruitt because he had been "sexually inappropriate" with Parker's young daughters, according to the criminal complaint.

While she was interrogated, Ronda Parker also stated Terry was jealous of Pruitt's relationship with her.

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Heil told investigators she was worried Parker was going to kill the victim because he was so angry when he learned about the incident with the children.

If there was any kind of inappropriate sexual activity, there were no reports made to police or child protective agencies, state police officials said. Those allegations are part of the ongoing investigation, Felsman said.

What happens next

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 27 in Magisterial District Court in Troy, Wilson said.

However, it's unlikely that hearing will take place, he added.

As the investigation continues and more information is gathered, there will likely be the need for a larger facility, and future proceedings will probably take place in Bradford County Court, Wilson said.

Each of the suspects have retained lawyers, he said. All three are incarcerated without bail at the Bradford County Correctional Facility.

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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Death penalty case possible in Bradford County Pa. shooting death
Semafor Signals

Insights from The Wall Street Journal, Council on Foreign Relations, The Atlantic Council

The News

Brazils industry ministry has launched a series of probes into the alleged Chinese dumping of industrial products such as metal sheets, chemicals and tyres, after a surge of cheap imports that have hurt local manufacturers, the Financial Times reported.

The industry ministry said there was sufficient evidence to indicate export dumping from China to Brazil, and damage to the domestic industry resulting from such practice. Steelmakers have also requested further tariffs on imported steel products to address the competition.

Brazils investigations come as U.S. steel worker unions have petitioned the countrys trade representative to investigate Chinas shipbuilding industry over what they say are unfair practices. The European Union is also investigating alleged state-sponsored subsidies for Chinese electric vehicles, which have entered European markets at cheaper prices, adding to concerns over unfair trade practices.

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Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Chinas factory surplus has led to falling prices, and a global trade imbalance

Sources: Bloomberg, Council on Foreign Relations, NBC News, The Wall Street Journal

As Chinas property boom collapsed, leaders in Beijing have pumped money into the factory sector to shore up growth and avoid a housing market related-recession, Bloomberg reported. The result has been an exceptionally large Chinese manufacturing surplus amounting to about 2% of global GDP, the Council on Foreign Relations wrote.

Faced with an excess of goods and not enough demand within the country, Chinas sellers have heavily discounted their wares for export  flooding the market with everything from cheap electric vehicles to batteries, and hurting manufacturers in other countries, who cant compete. The prices of goods shipped from China fell around 20% last year, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing figures from Dutch bank ABN AMRO. With a weakening economy, China naturally looks for exports, Brad Setser of the Council on Foreign Relations told the WSJ. But any meaningful expansion of Chinese exports beyond current levels will crush production elsewhere.

President Lula hopes to draw Chinese investment to revitalize aging industries

Sources: Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recently revealed a $60 billion-plan to revitalize aging industries such as agribusiness, health, and defense  but analysts are doubtful. The market is very skeptical of large industrial policy programs. This was tried in the past and was a spectacular failure,  one Latin America analyst at Goldman Sachs told Bloomberg. After a wave of international companies from Ford to Sony left Brazil, Lula indicated on a visit to China that he hoped the Asian giant would plough money into reinvigorating his countrys lackluster industrial sector.

Lula signaled on the state visit that he wants the relationship with Beijing, his countrys largest trading partner, to move beyond that phase of commodity exports, according to the Associated Press. For years, Brazil has exported to China raw materials such as iron ore  which is used to produce the steel imports now hurting Brazilian factories.

Chinas renewables manufacturing boom hurts green global trade

Sources: The Atlantic Council, Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal

Chinas overcapacity is harming the global trade in green goods  while the country accounts for 36% of the global demand for solar panels, according to the Atlantic Council, it is responsible for more than 75% of global solar production. A green spending binge in China has led to even dairy farmers and toy makers joining the rush, The Wall Street Journal reported  at the same time as the U.S. and EU are looking to boost green manufacturing at home.

This has left factories in smaller countries struggling to stay in business. The Wall Street Journal reported that one Norwegian producer of solar wafers  a key component of solar panels  went bankrupt while its main competitor was unable to sell its products. The European Commission is considering tariffs on Chinese battery-powered electric vehicles, where a flood of imports has threatened European production, and green energy sources such as wind turbines and heat pumps could be next, the Atlantic Council said.
A former Kentucky prison guard who admitted to assaulting an inmate who was handcuffed and shackled has been sentenced to five years in federal prison.

The sentence against Randall T. Dennis was the longest against six former officers sentenced last week in connection with an assault on an inmate at the Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex (EKCC) in West Liberty.

The assault happened in July 2018.

Dennis and others were charged with carrying an inmate, identified only as M.M., into a shower, placing him facedown on the floor and then hitting or kicking him.

M.M. was handcuffed and shackled at the legs, and did not threaten the corrections officers or try to hurt them, according to court records.

A prosecutor said in a court document that M.M. had swallowed drugs in an effort to keep them from being confiscated, leading to the officers assaulting him.

Dennis, 28, admitted in his plea agreement that he kicked M.M. in the head while wearing work boots, punched him and stood on his back.

Dennis also acknowledged making a false report to try to cover up the incident.

In letters to the court, supporters described Dennis as a devoted family man with two children with special needs who need his care, and Dennis said in a letter that the five years since the assault had changed me irreversibly.

However, U.S. District Judge David Bunning did not go along with a request to sentence Dennis to 12 months on home detention and 2,000 hours of volunteer work at a facility caring for people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Dennis is appealing the sentence, according to the court record.

Two other former EKCC officers who took part in the assault and cover-up, James Benish, 37, and Jeffery Havens, 28, also were sentenced last week.

Bunning sentenced Benish to 27 months in prison and Havens to 15 months, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Bunning sentenced a former supervisor, Randy Nickell, 55, and two other former officers who took part in covering up the incident, Nathan Cantrell and Derek Mays, to one month behind bars each, according to the release.

The sentences for Nickell and Cantrell also included five months of home incarceration.

Nickell, Cantrell and Mays were in the hallway outside the shower while Dennis, Benish and Havens hit the inmate, and joined in trying to cover it up, federal authorities said.

A jury convicted a seventh former EKCC officer, Eric Nantell, on charges of failing to intervene to stop the assault and lying about it to investigators.

He has not been sentenced.

Their conduct was a profound breach of the trust placed in them, a brazen disregard for safety of people in their care and a disgraceful effort to conceal their crime, U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV said of the former officers.

The state Department of Corrections, Kentucky State Police and the FBI were involved in the investigation.
Tonight features snow showers continuing over the mountains  where a coating of snow is possible on the highest peaks in Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties. Well see temperatures drop into the mid 20s for most but with occasional gusts above 20 mph, wind chill values will drop back into the teens and even single digits. Its a cold final night of winter in the two Virginias.

Tuesday will bring plenty of sunshine and a decent warm-up to the region with our wind shifting from coming from the west to coming from the west with a strong area of high pressure near Florida and a strong area of low pressure moving from the Great Lakes into southern Canada. The difference in pressure between these two features will create windy conditions for both Tuesday and Wednesday. Gusts Tuesday will be as high as 30 mph  wind chill values will be in the teens and single digits to begin the day! At least we will have mostly sunny skies and highs pushing into the upper 40s and low 50s. Well see the wind continue to crank through the overnight hours with lows in the mid 30s and wind chill values in the teens and 20s.

Wednesday continues the breezy conditions, with gusts up to 40 mph possible as a result of our setup with high pressure to our south and low pressure to our north. Well see temperatures jump into the mid 50s for highs but youll still want the jackets with that stout breeze  a few power outages are possible. The wind will begin to relax as we head into the overnight hours, with temperatures dropping all the way back into the low to mid 20s  wind chill values at times will flirt with the single digits once again.

Thursday features more sunshine but with an area of high pressure moving into the Great Lakes from Canada, well pick up a northwest breeze. That breeze will push temperatures down into the upper 40s for highs, so its a colder day but at least the wind wont be quite as bad, with wind gusts no higher than 20 mph expected. Clouds will begin to increase late in the day slowly and increase overnight with mostly cloudy skies expected. The clouds will hold in some of the warmth from the day, with lows around freezing.

Friday brings rain showers back to the region, especially for the afternoon, as a trough crosses. With high pressure over New England, this is a good setup for cold air damming to take place over the mountain areas, meaning a mixed bag of precipitation include rain, freezing rain and even snow is likely. For the lowlands, we wont be affected by cold air damming, with highs likely making a run still into the low 50s. We will see a big variety in temperatures for highs, ranging from the low 50s in the lowlands to the 30s in the highlands  this system will head out Friday night with a northwest flow setting us up for Saturday.

Saturday keeps the chances for a couple of flurries over the mountains over the mountains with a northwest flow kicking in. The chances for a few flurries and eventually rain showers as we warm up will persist through the morning hours with that threat waning as we head into the afternoon. High temperatures will be in the upper 40s in the lowlands and low 40s in the mountains but with a northwest breeze that could gust to 25 mph, wind gusts in the 30s will make for a chilly afternoon.

A tick removal kit should be a staple in your house this spring

Sunday brings mostly sunny skies into the region with high pressure overhead shifting to our east by the afternoon, which will warm us up as a return flow shapes with a southwest breeze. This will push high temperatures into the mid 50s with hardly a cloud in the sky. At least the wind will relax!

Monday provides a few clouds, as well see partly sunny skies and high temperatures pushing toward 60 degrees. Our next system will begin to approach late in the day, with clouds on the increase and showers will then be likely heading into the next day.

Seasonal allergy products to help you breathe easier

Looking ahead in your extended forecast, well see rain showers return with another front on Tuesday as a Great Lakes low pressure system kicks off showers with a cold front. High temperatures on Tuesday will be in the 50s and well remain there on Wednesday despite plenty of showers being around once again. Well begin to dry out by the afternoon on Thursday but its colder behind that front, with highs in the 40s  some decent rainfall totals are possible between Tuesday and Thursday, which will bear watching.

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 in spring forest fire season in West Virginia  this means dont burn between 7 AM and 5 PM through May 31st. 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! In Virginia, the spring fire season continues through April 30th  dont burn before 4 PM.

TONIGHT

Mostly clear and cold! Lows in the low 20s with wind chill values in the teens and single digits.

TUESDAY

Mostly sunny. Warmer. Breezy, with gusts up to 30 mph possible. Highs in the upper 40s.

WEDNESDAY

Mostly sunny. Warmer and even breezier, with highs in the mid 50s and wind gusts up to 40 mph possible.

THURSDAY

Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s.

FRIDAY

Rain showers likely. Mountain rain, snow and freezing rain. Highs in the low 50s in the lowlands, 30s in the highlands.

SATURDAY

Few flurries/rain showers in the morning. Afternoon clearing. Highs in the upper 40s to around 50 degrees.

SUNDAY

Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.

MONDAY

Partly sunny. Highs near 60.

TUESDAY

Rain showers likely. Highs in the 50s.

WEDNESDAY

Showers likely once again. Highs in the 50s.

THURSDAY

Showers exit. Highs in the 40s.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
My running route takes me north along the Hudson River, turning around just short of the George Washington Bridge. It's 8.2 miles of thoughtlessness. Sometimes.

There are moments when Im approaching the bridge that I think of Tyler Clementi , and lately, Ive been thinking about him every day. Tyler was a 19-year-old student at Rutgers University who was caught on a webcam kissing another man and was cyberbullied, and in September of 2010, he jumped from the bridge to his death. I still remember the sting I felt when I heard about Tylers death.

It hasnt gone away after 13 years, which is why I think about him when I see that bridge. I think about my attempts at suicide and how lucky I am to be alive, but I also think about Tyler and what he would be doing now if he were still alive. I think about all the pain, torment, and loss of hope he endured. And I think about how raw we all felt at that time.

When I watched All of Us Strangers, there was an emotional scene in the film that made me think about Matthew Shepard, who was severely beaten, tied to a split-rail fence, and left for dead in Laramie, Wyo. That was 25 years ago.

And more recently, the tragic, heartbreaking death of Nex Benedict .

In the movie, Andrew Scotts character Adam reflects on the journey of being gay and the inevitable pain that comes with it. Adam says to Paul Mescals character Harry, Its funny, things are better, of course they are, but it doesnt take much to make you feel the way you felt back there again, skin all raw. It doesnt take much to feel that pain we felt 25 years ago.

I think all of us are feeling our skin all raw again in the wake of the tragic death of N ex, a sophomore at Owasso High School in Oklahoma who was brutally beaten in a school lavatory in February and died the following day. The local medical examiner has ruled Nex's death a suicide. Nex was transgender and used he/him and they/them pronouns.

Nexs grandmother, who was his guardian, said that Nex had been the subject of bullying for months, and it intensified after Oklahomas Republican-led government barred transgender students from using school bathrooms that align with their gender identity. Nexs family and friends will be haunted for the rest of their lives about this unspeakable act that occurred in a school bathroom that led, eventually, to his untimely death.

Jane Clementi, Tylers mom, knows all too well this catastrophic outcome of bullying. Jane started the Tyler Clementi Foundation , an organization dedicated to preventing bullying by advocating for inclusion and acceptance as a way to honor the memory of Tyler.

When I spoke to her soon after Nexs death, Jane, who lives in New Jersey, said for the most part she cant escape that daunting bridge, mainly because you cant live in this area without crossing it. I began by asking her if shes ever made peace with it.

There was a long period of time that I couldn't go near the bridge, she told me. Finally, about three years later, I went over it, and it was a very anxious moment. Very stressful. I had to just keep saying in my head, It's just a road. And at times when I see it  you cant help but see it living in this area  it takes my breath away, and it does bring me right back to the place of despair, and the despair that Tyler must have been experiencing.

After Matthew died, Judy Shepard started the Matthew Shepard Foundation to inspire individuals, organizations and communities to embrace the dignity and equality of all people. To Judy, who still resides in Wyoming, Laramie is becoming a distant memory. We quit going to Laramie for 99 percent of everything, she said. We have friends there and went to many of the university activities, and we were even going to retire there to be close to those activities, but not anymore. We have no desire to.

Jane said her desire to continue living went away after Tylers death. I just wanted to go to sleep and never wake up again, she said. So I kind of could relate to Tyler in a way. Its like you're disconnected from your inner self in some way. But I knew at some point I had to move on, and do something to try and help. But make no mistake, Janes skin is still raw. I teared up with her during our conversation.

When you speak to Matthews mom, you understand immediately that her skin has remained raw for the last 25-plus years. Judy, like Jane, has written and spoken about her son for a long time, but any reminder of Matthew still evokes tears and heartache, and it was palpable during our video call. And theres no worse reminder than when she hears that someone else was beaten and died because they were queer.

Sadly, Im very well aware of people getting attacked for who they are. That's been part of my entire life. It's so pointless, right? You are who you are. Why can't we just accept ourselves as people? Nexs death is particularly wrenching. Nex was so young and appeared to be so vibrant.

I was deathly afraid to go into my high school lavatory, not because my classmates knew I was gay  I was years from coming out  but the heads, as we called them, smoked cigarettes in those bathrooms, and they were a threatening lot.

Ive been thinking about that apprehension and how it pales in comparison to what Nex felt when he had to use the bathroom. And how for so many of us who had to endure, and still do, going into a place where, behind walls and stalls, hate flowed more freely out of the public eye. For Nex, that bathroom was unavoidable, and it must have sent shivers down his spine every time he had to enter.

Oklahoma leads the country in anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed this year, and state legislators and even the person responsible for overseeing the education system spew hate insidiously through public pronouncements, on social media, and on television. And you know who sees all that? The children who beat Nex and who lurk in school lavatories waiting to bully their next queer victim.

Kids who are like Nex are scared out of their minds when they hear someone use terms like homos or queers or the T word. They know damn well those words are like a match that sets the hate ablaze. What is truly despicable is that this language is allowed to proliferate in some schools and in public discourse, and what is truly tragic is that Nex wont be the last victim. There are parents around this country who fear for the lives of their children, and that is heartbreaking.

Jane hopes that Nexs family has the wherewithal to move forward, which can be an unbearable process. I dont like to give advice to anyone going through this, but they need time to be able to grieve, and I just hope that they're surrounded by many good people that can take care of them and help them through this terrible journey. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. It's not something anyone should ever have to live through. For me, the pain is there constantly. It never goes away.

I told Jane that during my runs, I sometimes think about where Tyler might be if he were still alive and had the opportunity to be content with himself without the horror of bullying.

I can remember a moment  it was only about five years ago  and I was in a bank talking to a young man, and he mentioned something about graduating high school in 2010. And this was a man sitting in front of me with a beard and a deep voice, and I immediately started to think of Tyler as a young person. You know, he was a teen when he died, I guess a man by some standards, but not in my head. He was still a child. And now I meet people that are Tyler's age, and I look at them as older people with their careers and their lives, and it always takes my breath away.

Judy said she and her husband think about what would have been frequently. We often see young men who remind us of Matt the way he was, and it makes us wistful, smile even; however, Ive never wanted to project him into what he would look like now. Its too hard to even think about that.
The Russian elections last weekend were a sham and an assault on the very notion of freedom. In response, the West must swiftly denounce Vladimir Putins presidency as illegitimate, even as Chinas Xi Jinping and Indias Narendra Modi line up to congratulate him.

Putins regime routinely imprisons and murders political opponents, poisons dissidents and silences journalists. Russia stopped being a democracy, if it ever truly was one, many years ago  but this election eliminated any lingering doubt. Over the weekend, people were pushed to the ground by police at polling stations, or arrested during protests.

Worse, and in an egregious violation of all international norms, Russia organised elections in occupied Ukrainian territories. A woman old enough to remember the horrors of the Second World War was forced to vote by armed guards. As a Ukrainian, I am horrified. As a European, I am ashamed.

In 2018, the world turned a blind eye when residents of occupied Crimea and Eastern Donbas were forced to take part in the Russian presidential elections. As a result, Putins sense of impunity for his illegal occupation flourished. Two years after he invaded Ukraine, the mistakes of the past must not be repeated.

While some EU states have voiced concerns over Russian elections held in parts of Ukraine, the risk of European countries acknowledging the results still remains. After all, despite sanctions, many continue to trade with Russia.

If Britain wants to be truly global, this could be a significant moment. It is not obliged to conform to the views held by some of the EUs main players.

Rather, it can lead other nations, including Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, in making it clear that no dictator will ever receive their recognition.

The resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted in October 2023 outlines the basis for declaring the invalidity of Putins presidency. It calls upon member states to recognise Vladimir Putin as illegitimate after the end of his current presidential term and to terminate all contacts with him, with the exception of humanitarian contacts, and in order to achieve peace.

But the UK could go further, and be clear that Putins successor will be illegitimate until such a time as Russia withdraws from Ukraine, pays compensation, engages in serious negotiations and deals with its past crimes, sending Putin to The Hague. This could be one of Britains greatest contributions to Ukraines victory and to, once more, establishing peace on the European continent.

This nation has been at the forefront of supporting Ukraine since the beginning of this conflict. It has set the lead for the Western alliance on everything from tanks and fighter jets to training Ukrainian soldiers and signing the first bilateral security agreement with Kyiv. Without it, Ukraine may not have survived.

Now, as the cracks begin to widen in EU support, the UK can lead once again. This would also send a message to Georgia, Moldova and Belarus that their own battles for freedom may not go unaided.

Aliona Hlivco is a former Ukrainian MP and managing director of the Henry Jackson Society

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A 3-year-old boy died after suffering head trauma while being babysat inside his familys Brooklyn apartment, police said Monday.

A 29-year-old man who visited the childs babysitter was taken into custody and is being questioned.

Charges were not immediately filed. An autopsy will determine how the boy died, but police say he suffered apparent head trauma.

The youth was rushed unconscious from his familys apartment on New York Ave. near Snyder Ave. in East Flatbush to Kings County Hospital about 9:40 p.m. Sunday, cops said. Doctors were unable to save him.

The boys name was not immediately released.

The mother, police said, was not home at the time and had asked a family friend to watch her son. A friend who visited the babysitter is being questioned by cops.

A resident said he heard screaming on Sunday night.

I dont know if it was arguing or crying. I was in bed so I didnt get up to check. Then I saw the flashing lights from the ambulance through my window, said the resident, who did not want to be named. Its so sad.

The neighbor said he didnt know the boys family but saw them around, describing the child as sweet and well behaved.
Brooklyn celebrates its Irish heritage: It feels like all of Ireland is here

PARK SLOPE, Brooklyn (PIX11)  To many, the real St. Patricks Day parades take place in neighborhoods across the tri-state area.

While Saturdays parade in Manhattan is 263 years old and perhaps the largest in the world, the Brooklyn St. Patricks Day parade has just as much joyous Irish spirit.

Welcome to a St. Patricks Day parade that is all about the neighborhood, friends, and family.

The Brooklyn St. Patricks Day parade, in its 49th year, brings together residents of all backgrounds to celebrate what the Irish have given to the fabric of life in New York City, particularly in Park Slope.

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The Clann Eireann Irish Pipe Band, the oldest continuing pipe band in the US, led the way with the Irish Step Dancers from the Buckley School Of Dance close behind.

PIX11 asked parade organizer Mary Hogan how this Brooklyn parade differs from Manhattans.

Theyre a lot bigger and older, Hogan told PIX11. But weve got just as much spirit, and we can highlight whats special about Brooklyn.

We dont take any public money. We are fully supported by everyone in the community, stressed Michelle Brennan, chairperson of this years parade.

One of the biggest parade supporters is the 91-year-old Farrells bar on Prospect Park West.

Farrells didnt welcome women until the 1960s, but one co-owner is female.

Its the living room of the parade, Samantha Horan, Farrells co-owner, told PIX11 News. Everyone goes there, and then they come here, she added.

And both longtime Brooklynites and those newly arrived cherished this day to celebrate all things Irish.

Its happiness, fun, good times, and absolutely all-inclusive, Rebecca Viragh, a parade goer, told PIX11 News.

Another parade goer just arrived here from Dublin.

This is our third week here, and it feels like all of Ireland is here, Eamon Sharkey, parade goer, told PIX11 News.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
JOHNSTOWN  Hundreds of people lined up well before dawn Monday for the 6 a.m. opening of Colorado's first Buc-ee's  the Texas travel center that's developed a cult-like following.

A group of teens from Thornton camped out Sunday night. A mother and son drove up from Highlands Ranch. Theresa Gooras of Johnstown and her adult children arrived at 1:30 a.m. dressed in Buc-ee's onesies and wrapped in Buc-ee's blankets. Underneath were Buc-ee's T-shirts. Originally from Texas, Gooras was giddy that her favorite store is now just 5 minutes away.

"When I go home (to Texas), I spend a whole lot of money at Buc-ee's," she said. "They have the greatest gifts, barbecue and kolaches," she said.

Her second floor is decorated with Buc-ee's memorabilia including pillows and blankets, and she admits she might be obsessed with Buc-ee's.

Now that there's a store close by, "I'm sure we will be here a lot. My pocketbook will hate me."

Ninety minutes before opening, dozens of workers straightened shelves, dust-mopped floors, made sandwiches, wrapped burritos, stocked freshly made food shelves, and whooped and hollered "freeessshhh brisket on the table," when a new slab of meat was ready to carve.

The 74,000-square-foot store at 5201 Nugget Road, at the southwest corner of Interstate 25 and Weld County Road 48, has 116 fueling stations and 12 electric vehicle charging stations as well as thousands of snack, meal and drink offerings; homemade fudge; a full bakery; barbecued brisket, turkey and pulled pork; clothes; outdoor gear; home goods; toys; books; wine; and one of its claims to fame, "the "world's cleanest bathrooms, freshest food and friendliest beaver."

Buc-ee the Beaver, the store's official mascot, was on hand to welcome the throngs when the doors opened at 6 a.m.

Buc-ee the Beaver waits for people to come in before the grand opening of Buc-ee's in Johnstown on Monday.

Rob Rosen of Erie got off work in Blackhawk at 1:30 a.m. and drove straight to Johnstown to get in line.

"If you haven't been to a Buc-ee's, you have to go experience it," he said. Calling it the "Walmart of gas stations," Rosen said the travel center will be a great addition to the community. "It brings business from everywhere."

The store won town approval for several land use amendments on 140 acres in early 2022. Johnstown Mayor Troy Mellon said Buc-ee's opening "ranks with Scheels opening up" and will bring "significant" sales tax revenue to the town. "It will go right back into the community to fund needed projects," he said.

Johnstown has high property taxes, Mellon said, and he hopes the sales tax revenue from Buc-ee's, along with Scheels, will produce enough revenue one day so the town can lower property taxes. The town offered some sales tax sharebacks for 20 years as an incentive to get Buc-ee's to come to Johnstown. Those sharebacks were contingent on Buc-ee's installing electric vehicle charging stations and off-site improvements such as the roundabout.

The town rebates 1.5% of the sales tax generated at Buc-ee's back to the store and keeps 1.5%. The other 0.5% of generated sales tax revenue is earmarked for roads and other infrastructure. Buc-ee's also provided about 275 jobs, most of them full time, said Josh Smith, Buc-ee's director of operations.

Nacomah MacDory and a group of school friends "thought it would be funny during spring break to camp out at Buc-ee's. We thought we would be the only ones."

They were first in line but hardly alone. Gabriel Castillo of Commerce City told his mother they should be the first in line. She couldn't make it, but Castillo was lined up at the roundabout until the parking lot opened at 3:45 a.m. He quickly folded into MacDory's group.

Miya Saraduke of Johnstown could arguably have been the first to arrive, pulling into the parking lot at 7 p.m. Sunday. "I came in so early, they let me in (to the parking lot). But then I fell asleep in my car."

She was looking for the Buc-ee's Easter bunny, which she said was sold out elsewhere but in ample supply on Monday. "I have a whole list" of other items to buy, she said. "They have so much stuff. You can do your Christmas shopping here, the food is wonderful. This is so exciting, I have butterflies in my stomach."

Eleven-year-old Andrew Flack convinced mom Stacy to drive up from Highlands Ranch to get a kolache. The family moved from Texas to Colorado last year. They couldn't miss out on "a piece of Texas coming to Colorado," Stacy said.

The family lived a mile from Buc-ee's in Texas. When asked how often they went there, Andrew said "every day." He's missing a little bit of the school day, but Stacy said maybe they'd make up for it by bringing snacks for his class.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Buc-ee's opens in Johnstown: Hundreds gather at Colorado store
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A popular beer brand is letting fans show their Padres pride this spring with a new limited-edition beer can.

Budweiser just launched unique beer can designs for 16 MLB teams just in time for Opening Day, including a special one for San Diego featuring the Padres logo set against Petco Park in the background.

Petco Park named top ballpark in MLB: USA Today

This season, Budweiser also announced the release of a new league can with the MLB logo, meant to please all fans of Americas favorite pastime.

The other 15 teams with limited-edition beer cans include:

Houston Astros

St. Louis Cardinals

Chicago Cubs

Arizona Diamondbacks

Los Angeles Dodgers

San Francisco Giants

Miami Marlins

Washington Nationals

Baltimore Orioles

Philadelphia Phillies

Texas Rangers

Tampa Bay Rays

Cincinnati Reds

Minnesota Twins

New York Yankees

According to Budweiser, the Padres cans can be found wherever Budweiser is sold. The company is also giving away $50 in MLB merchandise for every home run hit this season.

For more information about the MLB giveaway, visit the Budweiser website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) of Zhytomyr region met the 51st evacuation train from Donetsk region.

"Volunteers of the Berdychiv city organization, together with the rapid response team of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society in Zhytomyr region, met the 51st evacuation train from Donetsk region... A total of 58 people arrived by train, including 14 children and four people with limited mobility," the URCS reported on Monday on Facebook.

The URCS noted that meeting evacuated people is always a difficult and well-coordinated work of volunteers, rescuers and police, since they need help not only during the meeting, but also in providing housing or temporary accommodation.

Volunteers handed over transit backpacks with essential items to the evacuated citizens.
Content warning: this story contains details of a sexual assault

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Buffalo man was found guilty by a jury Friday of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 13 on multiple occasions, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced.

Officials said 51-year-old Steven Burr subjected the victim, who was known to him, to sexual contact in late August 2016. Additionally, Burr engaged in two or more acts of sexual conduct and sexual intercourse with the same victim between September 2016 and February 2018. The crimes all occurred in the City of Buffalo.

Burr was found guilty following a four-day trial and a six-hour jury deliberation. He was charged with one count of predatory sexual assault against a child and one count of first-degree sexual abuse.

Burr faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on April 30, 2024 and remains held without bail. A temporary order of protection issued on behalf of the victim remains in effect.

Latest Local News

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
The media revealed some details about the potential transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine discussed at the meeting of the German Bundestag, which may result in an investigation into the leak of secret information.

Source: Rheinische Post, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The media had access to a letter dated 15 March from the head of the defence committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, to the president of the Bundestag, Barbel Bas. In it, Strack-Zimmermann mentions that the Taurus committee meeting was attended by 105 people, including deputies and representatives of various government agencies. That means the source of the leak was not necessarily one of the parliamentarians, she noted.

"At the same time, I inform you of the above facts and ask you to provide permission for criminal proceedings in accordance with section 353 b (4) of the Criminal Code," the letter reads.

Strack-Zimmermann has publicly stated that she intends to launch an investigation.

"We hope to establish the identity of this person, and they will bear the consequences," Strack-Zimmermann said in a comment to Suddeutsche Zeitung.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz also commented on the leak, saying that "the leak of secret information is something that should not happen" and that it would be appropriate to look into how the information became public.

The T-Online portal published details of the discussion. In particular, this concerns the report of the Bundeswehr's General Inspector Carsten Breuer on the features of target designation for Taurus missiles, which revealed the true reason for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's opposition to transferring these missiles to Ukraine.

Earlier, Scholz publicly gave different reasons for why Germany refused to supply Ukraine with Taurus missiles  from avoiding a possible escalation and involvement in the war with Russia to being concerned that the missiles would be used to strike Moscow.

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BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Police are searching for a man who stole nearly 30 pieces of art with close to $5,000 from a Brooklyn art gallery last month, according to the NYPD and the gallery.

Authorities said the thief broke into Green Fa Llo Dba TigerBob at 51 35th St. at around 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 24 and took artwork worth $4,800. The business reported 29 pieces of art were taken, according to a social media post.

The suspect took off after the heist and remained at large, as of Monday, police said.

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).

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Zoe Old and Marion Vincent have been running the group for the past year

A Somerset group offering support for local women running their own businesses is celebrating a "successful" first year.

The Wellington Women in Business (WWB) was set up in 2023 by female entrepreneurs wanting to give support to like-minded people.

Although the founders each have their own independent businesses, they realised that they were all experiencing similar challenges and so wanted to help others.

One of the founders, Marion Vincent, said business owners need to "come together to boost each other".

The two celebrated the success of the group at an event in Wellington last week

Ms Vincent runs Growing Minds, an outdoor learning group for children in Wellington.

"I'm not a born business woman, but I've really loved learning how to market and promote myself, and how to attract my audience," she added.

"It's challenging out there at the moment, there are businesses closing left, right and centre. I think, now, more than ever, we all need to come together and boost each other."

Another founder of the group, Zoe Old, owns a beauty clinic in Wellington called Pamper You by Zoe.

"We have been absolutely blown away by how fantastically well this first year has gone," she said.

"It's been great to discover more about the wonderful women in Wellington. We've got such a wealth of talent in our town, and the comradery that we've all brought to the table has been wonderful.

"We saw a real gap in the community where we felt we could bring everybody together and grow our little businesses organically."

More on this story
Business owners, artists, TV personalities, doctors and more were among the first cohort of local women to be honored as Central Georgia Women of Impact over the weekend.

The seven winners were honored at the inaugural Central Georgia Women of Impact Awards Ceremony and bruncheon in Macon Saturday. The list included:

Angel Irving Cobb, first Black female television personality to co-host a show at 13WMAZ Wini McQueen, beloved textile artist Charity Harris, co-owner of OVERTYME Bar & Grill and Mothers Breakfast & BBQ Starr Purdue, co-owner of Hutchings Funeral Home Dr. Patrice Walker, Chief Medical Officer for Atrium Health Navicent Dr. Keisha Callins, OB/GYN with Community Health Care Systems serving Jones and Twiggs Co Meaghan Blight, President of Wesleyan College.

The event was hosted by the Douglass Theatre, Ruth Hartley Mosley Memorial Womens Center, and the Tubman Museum to celebrate Womens History Month.

The three institutions came together to spotlight and honor women who have made a significant contribution and impact on central Georgia communities through ambition, action, and attainment.

The event allowed us to recognize and affirm women who are continuing the work of the women who blazed the thick paths before them. We can tell their stories and record them too as recipients of these honors, said Sylvia W. McGee, the chair of the Board of Trustees for the Ruth Hartley Mosley Memorial Womens Center. Children can see and touch these role models and hopefully be inspired to continue the chain of service in the various paths they can take.

McGee said Macon had just celebrated its bicentennial, and some stories have been amplified or just discovered, showing the impact of Black women in this community.

We want our city and area to be proud of their past and know that many ordinary people invested in the community - hopefully, the next 100 years will contain many more stories, she said.

Honoree Dr. Patrice Walker, left, receives the Ruth Hartley Mosley Pioneer of Community Advancement award at the inaugural Central Georgia Women of Impact Awards.

McGee said the awards ceremony was historic and significant because it was a collaborative effort of the three cultural institutions, something the Womens Center was thrilled to participate in.

This event acknowledges an international celebration of womens history in a local context, McGee said. More importantly, it gives a public face that can be documented and shared for generations to come.

That has not always been the case for the work, accomplishments or contributions of women or African-Americans, she added.

Honorees Dr. Keisha Callins and Dr. Patrice Walker stand with board members of RHMMWC in front of the exhibit wall on display at the Douglass Theatre in honor of Ruth Hartley Mosley while attending the inaugural Central Georgia Women of Impact Awards on Saturday.

McGee went on to explain the event allows future generations to see the impact Black women in the community are making.

Fifty years from now, when future generations ask, why or how we want them to point to this consortium of leaders as a means of inspiration and motivation around the importance of bonding together to honor the past, present, and future strides made by women, she said.

Harold Young, executive director of the Tubman Museum, said recognizing these women in the community is critically important.

Working together to honor and bring these women to the forefront further amplifies the voices of women who are driving culture and change across the community and inspiring others through their work is critically important, he said.

Starr Purdue, left, receives the Harriet Tubman Acts of Courage Award at the inaugural Central Georgia Women of Impact Awards held on Saturday.

Dr. Shelton Land, executive director of the Douglass Theatre, said three local institutions that represent Black culture coming together to celebrate women speaks to and spotlights how the organizations are working to be more collaborative and inclusive across the community.

What better way to showcase this than celebrating women together, especially those local sheroes,who are thriving and whose consistent hard work continues to give voice to the significant roles and impact that women have in our communities, he said.

The ceremony took place at the Douglass Theatre followed by a bruncheon at the Tubman Museum.

The event also included the Pioneers of Purpose: A Tribute to Black Women of Impact exhibit which was on display at the Douglass Theatre. The tribute honored Harriet Tubman, Ruth Hartley Mosley, and Fannie Appling Douglass, wife of Charles Douglass.

Proceeds from the inaugural ceremony went to support each partners educational programming efforts.
Byron Janis

Byron Janis, who has died aged 95, was an American virtuoso pianist with only nine working fingers whose performing career was cut short by arthritis; his greatest claim to fame, however, was uncovering a pair of Chopin waltzes in a friends chateau in France and then discovering an earlier version of the same two waltzes in an American library.

Janis, the first student to be accepted by Vladimir Horowitz, was the last American artist to play in Cuba before Fidel Castros revolution of 1958. A couple of years later he was the first American to tour Russia on a cultural exchange programme, only two years after Van Cliburns famous win at the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow.

At the height of his career Janis gave electrifying concerts in London with conductors including Norman Del Mar, Alexander Gibson and Malcolm Sargent, his virtuosity often drawing comparison with Horowitzs playing.

Seldom have the terrifyingly difficult double-chord passages of the last movement been handled with such virtuosity, noted The Daily Telegraph of his account of Rachmaninovs Piano Concerto No 3 with Charles Mackerras at the Royal Festival Hall in 1960. Exquisite, too, was his cantabile playing and the subtle gradations of tone colour which he could produce at any moment.

In 1967 Janis was visiting a friend at the Chateau de Thoiry, 30 miles west of Paris, when he stumbled across the two autograph manuscripts of Chopin while rummaging through a trunk of old clothing. His friend brushed them off, saying they were the work of his grandmother, but Janis recognised them as early versions of two well-known waltzes, G flat (Op 70, No 1) and E flat (Op 18, known as the Grande Valse Brillante). It transpired that they had been private gifts from the composer to the family in about 1833.

Six years later he was giving a master class at Yale University in the US when he spotted a box on top of a tall filing cabinet. They took a ladder and said, Its marked Chopin, he told NPR. Among the contents were versions of the same two waltzes Janis had found in France, but written a year earlier and again given as a private gift by the composer to a friend and bequeathed to Yale by a collector in 1957.

The differences between the versions were fascinating, Janis wrote. Accents were put on different notes, giving certain sections a syncopated rhythm; one had some measures [bars] deleted; another section was now marked dolente, with pain, and a few octaves were substituted for single notes.

Byron Yanks was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, on March 24 1928 to Samuel and Hattie Yanks, a Polish-Russian couple who had shortened their name from Yankilevitch when they emigrated to the US. By the age of 15 he had changed it to Jannes and later to Janis. He had an older sister, Thelma.

Janis in 1968 with the Chopin manuscript for the Waltz in G Flat Major which he had discovered at his friend's chateau - H William Tetlow/Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Their father was part owner of an Army-Navy store, but the partnership was dissolved during the Depression and the family moved to Pittsburgh. A kindergarten teacher spotted young Byrons musical talent and one day pinned a note to his clothing suggesting to his parents that he start piano lessons.

Abraham Litow, a graduate of the Leningrad Conservatory who had wound up in Pittsburgh, was his first teacher. Before he was six he was appearing on local radio and performing in schools, churches, synagogues, clubs and private homes.

He was eight when, at Litows suggestion, his parents took him to New York to play for Josef and Rosina Lhevinne, who taught him at Juilliard School for a while. They then passed him to their former student Adele Marcus, whom he later followed to Texas, for further lessons. His performing career almost ended before it began when, aged 11, he put his left hand through a pane of glass, severing the tendons in his little finger and leaving it permanently numb and unable to bend.

He made his orchestral debut at 15 playing Rachmaninovs Second Piano Concerto with Arturo Toscaninis NBC Symphony Orchestra, and shortly afterwards performed the same work in Pittsburgh conducted by a 14-year-old Lorin Maazel. In the audience that night was Horowitz, who had played a recital in the city the previous night and invited the youngster to study with him back in New York.

His virtuosity earned comparisons with Vladimir Horowitz

At the time Horowitz was still giving concerts, travelling extensively by train across the US accompanied by his wife and his student. I became like a son, a part of the family. We all went on vacations together, Janis told David Dubal in Remembering Horowitz (1993).

In 1947 he was mobbed by women while touring South America, having first chosen a piano in New York that was shipped out ahead of his visit; his debut at Carnegie Hall, New York, in 1948 was greeted with glowing reviews; and in 1949, having signed to the RCA record label, his 21st birthday was celebrated on stage by the Philadelphia Orchestra and Eugene Ormandy with a cake and candles.

Janis was touring Europe in 1955 when he visited Nohant, in central France, which had been the home of Chopins lover, George Sand. The writers elderly granddaughter, who remembered Sand, was in residence and they spent the afternoon discussing her work before he played a Chopin Nocturne for her, cementing his lifelong connection to the composer.

After his first visit to Russia in 1960 he returned two years later, astonishing his hosts by playing in one concert alone the Schumann concerto, Rachmaninovs First Concerto and Prokofievs Third, as well as an encore from Tchaikovskys First Piano Concerto.

Shortly afterwards he experienced his first bout of bursitis, a precursor of arthritis. By the early 1970s he had been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, which began to affect his playing as it took hold among his fingers. Injections, sprays and alternative medicines helped to a degree, but by 1983 he needed surgery and a break from the keyboard.

Although his performing career was increasingly restricted, he began composing musicals including The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which played off-Broadway. Meanwhile, through Nancy Reagan he became a spokesman for the Arthritis Foundation in the US. Through a friendship with Uri Geller he developed an interest in the paranormal, claiming that on one occasion Chopins death mask shed tears in his presence.

In his disarmingly frank memoir, Chopin and Beyond: My Extraordinary Life in Music and the Paranormal (2010), Janis revealed that he had affairs with one of his high-school teachers in Dallas and with Wanda Toscanini, Horowitzs wife. The composer Samuel Barber told Horowitz, who for many years refused to have anything to do with him, although they were later reconciled.

In June 1953 he married June Dickson Wright, whose sister was Clarissa Dickson Wright, one of the Two Fat Ladies television cooks. They had met in London the previous year. That was dissolved, and in 1966 he married Maria Cooper, an artist and daughter of the Oscar-winning actor Gary Cooper. Stefan, a son from his first marriage, died in 2017.

Byron Janis, born March 24 1928, died March 14 2024

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The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved the Ukraine Facility plan,developed with European partners to strengthen Ukraine and bring EU membership closer, announced Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Telegram on March 18.

"We will soon submit it to the European Commission, Shmyhal said.



Thanks to the implementation of the reforms of the Ukraine Facility plan, Ukraine will be able to receive about $17.4 billion this year."

Read also: Ukraine officials outline ambitious reform agenda, development targets required to get 50B from EU

"It is the basis for providing financial support under the program, which is designed for four years and has a total amount of $54.4 billion, PM added.



The plan contains structural reforms, which correspond to more than 100 quarterly indicators. These are European approaches to public administration reform, anti-corruption, economic and sectoral reforms in various industries, from energy to agriculture. In addition, the document outlines cross-cutting areas such as green transition, digitalization, and European integration."

The Ukraine Facility Plan is a technical document required to implement the EU's financial support program for Ukraine.

Earlier it was reported that in February 2024, the European Parliament approved the regulations of the Ukraine Facility program, according to which the amount of EU support for Ukraine in 2024-2027 will amount to $54.4 billion. Of this amount, 38.27 billion ($41.7 billion) will be allocated to support the state budget, 6.97 billion ($7.59 billion) to the investment fund, and 4.76 billion ($5.18 billion) to technical and administrative support.

Read also: EU continues efforts to provide sufficient funding to Ukraine while Kyiv intensifies bilateral negotiations - KSF experts

In November 2023, it was reported that the European Union could provide Ukraine with an advance of about 7 billion ($7.62 billion) to maintain macrofinancial stability.

The advance was promised after the approval of the $54.4 billion Ukraine Facility program for 2024-2027 in mid-December or January and the subsequent prompt approval of the Ukraine Plan with the conditions to be met for the disbursement of funds.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The government has approved a plan for the Ukraine Facility, the basis for providing financial support from the European Union under a four-year programme totalling 50 billion.

Source: Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Telegram, reported by European Pravda

Detail: Shmyhal said that the plan requires structural reforms that correspond to more than 100 quarterly indicators.

"These are European approaches to public administration reform, the fight against corruption, and economic and sector-specific reforms in various areas, from energy to agriculture," he said.

In addition, the document discusses broad goals such as the green transition, digitalisation, and European integration.

Shmyhal said that the plan was developed jointly with European partners. It will soon be submitted to the European Commission for consideration.

He added that if it successfully implements the reforms in the Ukraine Facility plan, Ukraine will be able to receive about 16 billion this year.

Background:

Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration, announced earlier that Ukraine would receive the first tranche of Ukraine Facility programme payments amounting to 4.5 billion this week.

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This article was originally published in Cal Matters.

Students seeking state financial aid have just two weeks remaining to beat a California deadline, even as thousands have been locked out of completing the federal application necessary to get that state aid  a problem that particularly affects students who are citizens but whose parents are not.

Now a prominent state lawmaker, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, a Democrat from Corona and chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, is fast-tracking a bill to give affected California students additional time to complete the federal application and access more than $3 billion in state aid. If passed, Assembly Bill 1887 would move the current deadline from April 2 to May 2 and would go into effect immediately.

Its first hearing is scheduled for Monday at 3 p.m. Lawmakers realistically must approve the measure before next Thursday, when the Legislature goes on break and reconvenes April 1  one day before the current state financial aid deadline.

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Cervantes bill follows a technology crisis at the federal level that has prevented U.S. citizens from completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, because their parents dont have a Social Security number. Its a new problem that only emerged this year and has generated a high degree of worry among the higher education community in California and nationally.

The tech glitch is basically this: The federal online application wouldnt allow those parents to enter their financial information. Without those details, a student cant finalize their federal aid application  and therefore cannot apply for state financial aid.

The Legislature can highlight, double down on how unacceptable it is that certain U.S. citizens cannot submit a FAFSA, said Gina Browne, a senior official with the California Community Colleges system, at a Senate hearing last week, and Im personally offended by it.

The scale of the problem is hard to gauge. More than 100,000 California students last year submitted a federal aid application without their parents Social Security numbers. Its not clear how many of those had parents who lacked a number or whether they chose to not share one with the government. Nationally, about 2% of applicants faced this issue in 2024, U.S. Department of Education officials said.

Remaining federal issues

The department said it fixed some of the problems this week but cautioned there are other errors blocking some students from finishing their applications. Those include instances in which a parents  or spouses  name doesnt totally match the forms both the parent and student must complete.

The state Senate is also planning to push for an extension as part of its early-action packagethat debuted Thursday. Californias public colleges and universities urged a Senate subcommittee last week to support an extension of the state financial aid deadline. Key advisors for the Legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom backed the idea then.

We think that extending the state financial aid deadline is worth considering because it allows the U.S. Department of Education more time to resolve these technical difficulties, said Lisa Qing, an official with the Legislative Analysts Office.

Chris Ferguson, of the California Department of Finance, said, the administration is likely in a position to support such an extension.

But a delay this year may not address other issues with the federal application that could emerge in 2025, said Jake Brymner, a senior official with the California Student Aid Commission.

Parents without Social Security numbers now have to confirm their identity to complete FAFSA, such as by uploading identifying documents. Depending on the national political environment, students may have some additional concern about sharing family members information with a federal agency as they try to seek financial aid, Brymner said.



Brymners implication is that families may worry if Donald Trump wins the presidential election this year. The Republican nominee reportedly plans a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, replete with large camps, if he returns to the White House.

The commission has explored using another application for state financial aid  currently reserved for undocumented students  to bypass the federal technical glitches this year affecting U.S. citizens. The state doesnt share information on that application with the federal government.

This story was originally published on Cal Matters.
Californias 20th Congressional District will hold a special election to replace former Representative and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.

Mr McCarthys former seat has been open since December when he stepped down two months after the Republican party ousted him as Speaker. After several attempts to find a new speaker, Representative Mike Johnson won the title in October. Prior to retirement, Mr McCarthy had served in the same seat for 17 years.

Now, residents of the 20th District will vote on Tuesday to decide his replacement until January 2025. Heres what to expect from the district just outside of Los Angeles:

Tuesday could mark an outright winner

All nine candidates running for Mr McCarthys former seat will appear on the same ballot this week, regardless of party.

There are two main outcomes of Tuesdays election. If one candidate wins the majority of votes, they win the seat and will hold it until January 2025, the remainder of Mr McCarthys original term.

Representative Kevin McCarthy retired in December 2023 after he was ousted as Speaker of the House (Getty Images)

If a single candidate doesnt win the majority, the district will hold a run-off election between the top two candidates on 21 May.

Who is running for the former speakers seat?

While nine candidates are in the race, there are only a handful expected to be top contenders.

The two Republican front-runners are Vince Fong, a California assemblyman, and Mike Boudreaux, the Tulare County, California sheriff. A Republican Super PAC has backed Mr Fong, whom Mr McCarthy endorsed, with more than $650,000 since he entered the race, The Fresno Bee reports. Former president Donald Trump has also endorsed Mr Fong. Mr Boudreaux, on the other hand, has received mainly local support according to the Associated Press.

Mr Fong and Mr Boudreaux are facing Democratic front-runner Marisa Wood, a public-school teacher. Ms Wood previously ran against Mr McCarthy in 2022, finishing in third place.

While it would be to Mr Fongs advantage to only face off against Ms Wood in the heavily Republican district, Mr Boudreaux appears to still be a front-runner going into Tuesday.

Why did Speaker McCarthy end his term early?

Mr McCarthy was first elected to the US House of Representatives in 2007, serving as Speaker of the House from January to October 2023.

The Speakers downfall was orchestrated by a group of eight Maga-aligned Republicans, led by Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida. Mr Gaetz and his cohort pushed for his removal after Mr McCarthy made a bipartisan deal that averted a government shutdown, going against demands from far-right lawmakers to reject any compromise with Democratic members.

US Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, arrives to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on February 23, 2024 (AFP via Getty Images)

However, personal strife also contributed to Mr McCarthys removal, according to some reports.

Mr Gaetz told a friend in private messages that his push to oust the California speaker was revenge for the ethics investigation, The Daily Beast reported earlier this year. However, the Florida congressman denied these reports.

As Ive answered likely 100 times on the record, I led the charge to remove Kevin McCarthy from his role as House Speaker because he failed to keep his promises, Mr Gaetz told the outlet.

In the immediate weeks following his removal, it was unclear if Mr McCarthy would leave Congress entirely. However, he announced his early retirement in December 2023, leaving his seat vacant  until, potentially, this week.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk will make a working visit to Austria on March 18-19 to participate in the ninth conference of speakers of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region.

"The main task that faces us is to attract maximum assistance in the fight against the aggressor. The Russian regime poses a threat not only to Ukraine, but also to the entire system of European and international security. We must actively unite the parliamentary environment around Ukraine. I will talk about this as with Austrian partners, and with all participants of the parliamentary Summit in Vienna," the press service of the Verkhovna Rada quotes Stefanchuk.

According to the speaker, "Ukraine must actively use the potential of regional cooperation to achieve several goals: reliable support in countering Russian aggression and accelerated integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic space with the unconditional fulfillment of all requirements."

The visit program includes bilateral meetings between Stefanchuk and fellow parliamentary speakers and the Austrian leadership.

Speakers or their representatives of the parliaments of Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Montenegro, Moldova, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia will also take part in the Conference.

The focus of the meeting participants was the development of cooperation in the Danube region, with an emphasis on the risks to regional security and the environment caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS DISCUSS PLANS TO TACKLE BEHEMOTH DEFICIT

Last week, Democratic lawmakers in both the Senate and Assembly discussed their plans for closing the titanic budget deficit  either $38 billion or $73 billion, depending on who you talk to  with Senate Democrats announcing a plan to take early action to address the shortfall.

The proposal, by Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire, D-North Coast, and Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Chair Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, calls for $17 billion in program cuts and other solutions, as well as adopts California Gov. Gavin Newsoms proposal to use the Rainy Day Fund to help make up the difference.

According to the pro tems office, these actions would bring the shortfall down to a more manageable $9 billion to $24 billion and buy lawmakers some time to figure out how to close the remaining gap.

The Senates plan to shrink the shortfall protects core programs, includes no new tax increases for Californians, makes necessary reductions, and takes a prudent approach to utilizing the Rainy Day Fund so we can be prepared for any future tough times, said McGuire in a statement.

Wiener said in a statement that time is truly of the essence for action to be taken.

Newsom last week voiced his approval for the plan, saying in a statement, The deficit were facing this year will require big solutions, and I appreciate the Senates plan to close Californias budget deficit by $17 billion. I look forward to seeing this proposal move forward quickly.

On the Assembly side, Assembly Budget Committee Chair Jesse Gabriel, D-Encino, agreed that early action to address the shortfall is on the table, but said his preference would be that we do more of our work in June, when lawmakers have more tools available to address the deficit.

Gabriel said Newsoms proposal to use about half of the states reserves sounds about right, and he agreed that the budget solution should include no new taxes on individuals or families. He said it was important for lawmakers to look at spending first.

At a press conference Friday, Gabriel was asked about the Legislative Analysts Office recommendation that the state close down five prisons and save $1 billion.

Gabriel hedged a bit on whether he supports the proposal, but said that it is one that lawmakers are looking at.

In this type of environment, we have to consider everything, he said.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Its a multi-dimensional story in the Central Valley because these districts voted against Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 by a healthy margin. But at the state level, there is a lot of anger with Democratic management of issues in Sacramento. And so these districts tend to vote against Gavin Newsom, or at least by a weaker margin for Newsom, than they would for Biden or Clinton or a national Democrat.

- Dave Wasserman of the Cook Political Report, discussing Californias hotly contested congressional races in an interview with The Bee.

Best of The Bee:

California congressional contests could decide whether Democrats or Republicans control the House of Representatives in 2025  and a couple in the Central Valley are especially crucial, via Gillian Brassil .

After weeks of protests shutting down council meetings, the Sacramento City Council will consider adopting a Gaza cease-fire resolution Tuesday, via Theresa Clift .

Who ate Cedar the goat? Nearly two years after a Northern California family bought the 4-month-old goat for their daughter, then spirited it away from a county fair before it could be auctioned for its meat, that question remains at the center of a legal fight over what happened to Cedar, via Sam Stanton .

California Gov. Gavin Newsoms office has broken its silence on the staffing crisis at Cal-OSHA. But former agency employees say theyre underwhelmed by the governors vague response to a four-month Sacramento Bee investigation into the troubled worker safety agency, via Maya Miller .

Woodland Joint Unified High School District board member Emily MacDonald resigned from her position earlier this week, according to school board president Rogelio Villagrana. MacDonald is currently is losing a recall election that Woodland parents organized against her last fall, because of comments that she made about trans people, as well as her stance on ethnic studies, via Jenavieve Hatch.
Tuesday's congressional primaries and special elections are promising tough contests and close battles as November's general election quickly approaches.

California is holding a special election to replace former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the Bakersfield Republican who was ousted from his leadership post late last year. And in Ohio, voters will choose a Republican to compete with Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in the fall.

Illinois holds their state primaries Tuesday, where multiple current U.S. House lawmakers face challenges from members of their own party.

House has become 'dysfunctional': Ken Buck announces he is leaving Congress early

"I voted" stickers sit ready for voters to take after casting their ballot in the primary election at Precint C1 in the Olde Town Depot Building in Clinton, Miss., Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Voters in Illinois and Ohio will also have the chance to vote in their state's Republican or Democratic presidential primaries, though the presumptive nominees for each  President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump  are all but set.

Arizona and Kansas also hold presidential primaries for both parties Tuesday, while Florida hosts only a Republican contest.

Here's what to expect in Tuesday's congressional races.

Ohio holds pivotal Senate primary

Ohio is hosting a tight Senate Republican primary between state Sen. Matt Dolan, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and businessman Bernie Moreno. Trump gave his endorsement to Moreno, while Ohio's Republican Gov. Mike DeWine backed Dolan.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, holds a press conference on reforming the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program in Washington on Sept. 12, 2023. Sen. Brown, who has represented Ohio since 2007, is running for reelection in 2024.

The winner there will face Brown in November. Ohio's election is a key battleground in 2024 as Republicans and Democrats fight for control of the upper chamber.

Democrats are hoping Moreno clinches victory on Wednesday, seeing him as a less threatening rival while Brown tries to keep his seat.

A special election in the Buckeye State on Tuesday will also narrow the field to fill the seat representing Ohio's 6th congressional district.

Washington, D.C. is broken: Why dozens of lawmakers say they're leaving Congress

The deep-red area in eastern Ohio was left vacant when former GOP Rep. Bill Johnson stepped down at the start of the year to become president of Youngstown State University. Three Republicans are competing in Tuesday's primary, and the victor in that race is expected to then come out on top in June's special general election.

Californians pick Kevin McCarthy's replacement

Voters in California's 20th congressional district, encompassing southern portions of the Central Valley and Fresno, will head to the polls tomorrow to choose a candidate to fill the remaining few months of McCarthy's term.

Oct 24, 2023; Washington, DC, USA; Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) speaks with members of the press as he arrives for a House GOP Conference meeting as House lawmakers seek to elect a new speaker in Washington.

McCarthy in December announced his plans to retire from Congress at the end of the year, after over a decade of serving in the House ended with intraparty fractures and a handful of Republican rebels pushing for his removal.

Leading the pack of nine candidates vying to take McCarthy's spot are Republicans Vince Fong, a state Assemblyman, and Mike Boudreaux, sheriff of Tulare County. Candidates are not split by party on the ballot in California.

If any one of the nine hopefuls earns a majority of the vote tomorrow, they will automatically assume the position. Otherwise, the top two go on to a runoff election in May.

What to know: When will the House's remaining 3 open seats be filled?

Incumbent issues in Illinois

Three Illinois incumbent House lawmakers could see their reelection bids on the line Tuesday, as members of their own party seek to knock them out of the race.

Raymond Lopez, a member of Chicago's city council, is looking to unseat Rep. Chuy Garcia, a Democrat serving a district covering the southwest area of Chicago.

U.S. Rep. Chuy Garcia speaks as thousands welcome back Congress by marching for Citizenship, Care, And Climate Justice on Sept. 21, 2021 in Washington, D.C.

Another Democrat in a Chicago district, Rep. Danny Davis, is hoping to hold on Tuesday against a crowded field of opponents, including the city's Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin and community activist Kina Collins.

Over in the state's southernmost district, Republican Rep. Mike Bost has the help of a Trump endorsement as he faces off against former state Sen. Darren Bailey.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CA, Ohio, Illinois: What to watch in primaries, special elections
Prisoners on San Quentin's death row will be transferred out by summer, as California moves to overhaul its oldest prison to emphasize training and rehabilitation. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

California is accelerating its efforts to empty San Quentin's death row with plans to transfer the last 457 condemned men to other state prisons by summer.

The move comes five years after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that imposed a moratorium on the death penalty and closed the prison's execution chamber. It coincides with his broader initiative to transform San Quentin into a Scandinavian-style prison with a focus on rehabilitation, education and job training.

The condemned prisoners will be rehoused in the general population across two dozen high-security state prisons, where they will gain access to a broader range of rehabilitative programming and treatment services, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The changes do not modify their sentences or convictions.

The plan unveiled Monday builds on a pilot program that experimented with the transfer of 104 death row prisoners from January 2020 to January 2022. An additional 70 people on death row have been moved from the legendary men's facility in Marin County over the last month, the department said. The 20 condemned women incarcerated at the Central California Women's Facility in Chowchilla will remain there, but have been rehoused in the general population.

The condemned prisoners on San Quentin's legendary death row will be dispersed in coming months across two dozen high-security prisons, where they will be housed in the general population. (Los Angeles Times)

The changes align, in part, with Proposition 66, a statewide ballot measure approved in 2016 that allows for condemned prisoners to be housed in institutions other than San Quentin, requiring them to work and pay 70% of their income to victims.

This transfer enables death-sentenced people to pay court-ordered restitution through work programs. Participants are placed in institutions with an electrified secured perimeter while still integrating with the general population, corrections department Secretary Jeffrey Macomber said in a prepared statement.

But a primary aim of Proposition 66 was to speed up executions by setting time limits on legal challenges and expanding the pool of attorneys authorized to represent defendants sentenced to death. In that same election, voters defeated a rival measure that would have repealed capital punishment.

By contrast, Newsom vowed in 2019, when announcing his death penalty moratorium, that no California prisoner would be executed while he is in office because of his belief that capital punishment is discriminatory and unjust.

Even before Newsom's moratorium, executions had been on hold in California for years amid litigation over whether the state's lethal injection process constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. California's last execution was in 2006. There are 644 condemned people in California's prisons.

Read more: California to transform infamous San Quentin prison with Scandinavian ideas, rehab focus

Last year, Newsom announced plans to overhaul San Quentin, California's oldest prison, into a more rehabilitative facility with job training, substance-use and mental health programs as well as expanded academic classes, a model of incarceration more common in Scandinavian countries.

But death row prisoners will not be incorporated into the re-envisioned San Quentin. Outside of death row, the facility does not have the necessary security measures, including a "lethal electrified fence," to rehouse high-security prisoners in its general population.

Newsom proposed $380 million last year to jump-start the San Quentin overhaul and set up an advisory council to implement his vision. But, faced with a looming state budget deficit topping $37 billion, lawmakers in both political parties, as well as the Legislature's nonpartisan financial advisors, have raised questions about the scope and timing.

The Legislative Analyst's Office recently recommended closing five prisons to reduce criminal justice spending, in addition to the two state prisons the Newsom administration has already closed. Meanwhile, the San Quentin advisory council in January recommended redirecting some of the money dedicated to the revamp to renovations that would more immediately improve living conditions at the prison.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Prepare your passport for paradise. As sunny days approach, Dallas-Fort Worth residents are searching for an escape from an oppressive Texas summer. Perhaps a tropical escape?

Mexico shares a border with Texas which makes it awfully convenient. A short flight means a cheap flight. This is the best option for a Texan to travel abroad.

Flights are also getting cheaper. Comparing February 2023 to February 2024, flight costs have gone down 6%. With that data, you can say flights are currently offered at discounted rates.

Take a peek, here are five airlines with the cheapest flights to Mexico.

The following prices are for early May, which is the cheapest time to travel in the spring/summer season. The last week of May, prices begin to rise into the $400 range. All flights are round trip for a week-long vacation  found on each airlines website.

Spirit

Alyssa Masiano from Picture it Travel Co. told the Star-Telegram that Spirit Airlines bread and butter is flights to Mexico, specifically Cancun, and to points south. While Spirit is not the most comfortable flight you can take, it is reliable. Because of their specialty in flying to Mexico, they constantly have flights leaving. If you miss your flight or the weather interferes, you can hop on another one. One checked bag costs $36 is paying for it online and $50 if paying at the gate.

Here are the cheapest flights out of Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW):

Cancun (CUN): $192

Costa Rica (FON): $306

Southwest

Southwest Airlines only flies out of Dallas Love Field. However, since it is Southwests hub, you can still find great deals. You are allowed to check up to two free bags and no seats are assigned.

Cancun (CUN): $256

Cozumel (CZM): $343

United

United Airlines is another popular airline that flies to every major city in Mexico. You can bring on a free carry-on and any extra bags are to be checked.

Flights out of Dallas/Fort Worth:

Mexico City (MEX): $318

Monterrey (MTY): $289

American

Dallas/Fort Worth is the hub for American Airlines. While they also fly out of Dallas Love Field, flights are much more reasonable from its primary location. You are allowed one carry-on item and one personal item.

Flights out of Dallas/Fort Worth:

Cancun (CUN): $234

Mexico City (MEX): $346

Cabo (SDJ): $355

Monterrey (MTY): $221

Delta

While Delta Airlines is larger on the west coast, but they do have great prices for us in Texas. With assigned seating and standard bag guidelines, Delta is a reliable choice.

Flights out of Dallas/Fort Worth:

Cancun (CUN): $299

Mexico City (MEX): $305

Monterrey (MTY): $248
Central governance has broken down in Haiti. Credit: Getty Images

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a former U.S. House member and Democratic candidate challenging incumbent GOP U.S. Sen. Rick Scott in 2024, held a press conference Monday, saying the crisis in Haiti demanded urgent attention from the federal government to support law enforcement and send emergency humanitarian aid.

The escalating gang violence and high risk of famine have thrown the island country into distress, according to a report by the United Nations.

We must support the Haitian people and their fight for democracy and their fight for security. Without a clear path forward, this situation will only continue to deteriorate leaving millions of Haitians vulnerable to starvation and to violence, Mucarsel-Powell said during the press conference. The U.S. must do everything in our power to secure democracy in Haiti, to support the Haitian people, for their safety, and for our own national security. Countless countless lives depend on it, and I know that we can do better.

A former Congresswoman who represented Miami-Dade and Florida Keys in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2019-21, she said she is committed to using her platform to highlight issues important to Floridas Haitian community.

U.S. Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (photo credit: Mucarsel-Powell campaign)

Haiti is only 600 or so miles away from our coasts, but youd think that it doesnt even exist sometimes, based on the way that our leaders have completely turned a deaf ear to the Haitian community, Mucarsel-Powell said.

Democratic Rep. Marie Woodson of Broward and Miami-Dade counties joined the press conference Monday. Woodson, who is from Port-de-Paix, Haiti, said that so far the response from Gov. Ron DeSantis lacked compassion. Last Wednesday, DeSantis mobilized 250 additional officers and soldiers and over a dozen air and sea craft in the Florida State Guard to the southern coast to act against a potential influx of illegal immigrants from Haiti.

Right now, with the crisis thats going on, the governor has mobilized the State Guard. Now, where is the humanity in this whole thing? Wheres the compassion that we expect? Im serving in the state legislature, I dont see the compassion that I need to see at this time, Woodson said.

She continued: If it was your family or anybody else who were in the situation, you would use compassion. You would reach out and see how you can help instead of just standing by to send them back to what they are going through in Haiti. So at this time, we are saying enough is enough. We want people who truly care, people who can stand up in the time of crisis and be with us.

The state is trying to help Floridians unable to leave Haiti. The states Division of Emergency Management opened an online portal to allow Floridians in Haiti to register for assistance amid the unrest in the country.

Former governor and sitting Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. Official Senate portrait; U.S. Senate website

Another speaker at the press conference Monday, Haitian attorney Frandley Julien, criticized Scott and Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.

I remember when Rick Scott was running for the (U.S.) Senate. He came to the community. I was there at the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce, Julien said. He promised to listen to the community. He said, If Im elected, I would be listening to you. Thats not what were seeing today. Both Rubio and Scott have been resoundingly silent on whats happening in Haiti, he said. Our governor, DeSantis, he wants to hurt instead of helping, and our senators are silent about it.

Late last week, Rubio and Scott sent a letter March 15 to President Joe Biden, saying that allowing unvetted immigrants from Haiti to come to the U.S. would put national security at risk. However, they advocated for targeted American assistance to the country.

Also, Rubio, early on, commented on X (formerly Twitter), saying on March 4: A catastrophic humanitarian & migratory crisis with no easy answers is brewing just 700 miles from Florida as violent street gangs are on the verge of a complete take over of Haiti.

This story has been updated.

The post Candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell calls for humanitarian aid for Haiti; shes challenging Rick Scott appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
The campaign to become the next London mayor is well under way, with parties announcing their chosen candidates.

Scheduled for 2 May, the vote will also see members elected to the London Assembly.

Although mayoral elections normally take place every four years, the previous one, in 2021, was delayed by a year due to the pandemic.

This list, in political party alphabetical order, will continue to be updated.

Conservative Party: Susan Hall

The Conservative Party has selected London Assembly member Susan Hall as its candidate.

Green Party: Zoe Garbett

Zoe Garbett, who is a councillor for Dalston and Hackney, has been announced as the Green Party's candidate.

Independent: Shyam Batra

Finance and property broker Shyam Batra, 62, is standing as an independent candidate.

Independent: Count Binface

Count Binface, who describes himself as an intergalactic space warrior, is running again for Mayor of London after finishing ninth in the 2021 election.

Independent: Natalie Campbell

Natalie Campbell is a former longlisted Conservative mayoral hopeful who is now running as an independent candidate.

Independent: Tarun Ghulati

Tarun Ghulati

Tarun Ghulati, an investment banker who has lived in London for the past 20 years, is running as an independent candidate.

Independent: Andreas Michli

Andreas Michli

Andreas Michli, a health and fitness entrepreneur and gym owner, is running as an independent candidate.

Labour Party: Sadiq Khan

Sadiq Khan

The current London mayor is bidding to serve a historic third term having first been elected to the post in 2016.

Liberal Democrats: Rob Blackie

Rob Blackie

Rob Blackie, a digital marketer who advises start-up tech companies, is the Liberal Democrat candidate.

London Real Party: Brian Rose

Brian Rose is a former banker who founded the media firm London Real.

Reform UK: Howard Cox

Reform UK has announced Howard Cox, the founder of the Fair Fuel UK campaign, as its candidate.

Social Democratic Party: Amy Gallagher

NHS nurse and psychotherapist Amy Gallagher is the Social Democratic Party's London mayoral candidate.

Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk

Related internet links
A 15-year-old girl was shot and killed while walking with two friends in Cape Coral Sunday night, Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said during a news conference Monday.

According to Sizemore, one of the teens told police they were walking to McDonald's on Del Prado Boulevard South after leaving the Coralwood 10 movie theater when a car pulled up and blinded them with the vehicle's lights.

Several unknown suspects reportedly exited the vehicle and attempted to rob the three girls when one of the suspects fired a gun, shooting the victim, later identified as Kayla Rincon-Miller, in the chest.

The suspects reportedly got back in the car and fled south on Southeast 16th Place.

Kayla Rincon-Miller was shot and killed in Cape Coral Sunday night.

Police responded about 9:30 p.m. to the 2000 block of Southeast 16th Street and rendered aid to Rincon-Miller, who later died at a hospital.

On Wednesday, March 20, Cape Coral police announced Thomas Roy Stein, 16, of North Fort Myers, was arrested and charged as "a principal to a murder while engaged in a robbery" in the homicide of Rincon-Miller. Authorities do not believe the shooting was a random act of violence.

Here's what we know:

What we know about the shooting in Cape Coral

Three teen girls left the Coralwood 10 movie theater in Cape Coral Sunday night and were walking to a nearby McDonald's when a car with several suspects pulled up and the occupants attempted to rob them. During the attempted robbery, one of the suspects fired a gun, striking one of the girls, later identified as 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller in the chest. Rincon-Miller was taken to a hospital, where she died.

On Wednesday, an arrest was made in connection to the case. Thomas Roy Stein, 16, of North Fort Myers, faces murder while engaged in a robbery charges related to Rincon-Miller's death.

Who was Kayla Rincon-Miller?

Kayla Rincon-Miller was 15 years old. On Sunday night, Rincon-Miller and two friends were walking to a McDonald's after leaving a Cape Coral movie theater when several unknown suspects attempted to rob them and one of the suspects began shooting. Rincon-Miller was struck in the chest and subsequently died at a hospital.

"Her passing has left our family devastated, mourning the loss of this beautiful soul," her cousin, Sophia Ricketts, wrote in a GoFundMe post raising money for her burial.

Where was the shooting in Cape Coral Sunday?

The shooting happened in the 2000 block of Southeast 16th Place in Cape Coral, Florida. Three girls left the Coralwood 10 movie theater and were walking to a nearby McDonald's when 15-year-old Kayla Rincon-Miller was fatally shot during a robbery attempt.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Thomas Roy Stein arrested in connection to fatal Cape Coral shooting

On March 20, Thomas Roy Stein, 16, of North Fort Myers, was arrested and charged with murder while engaged in a robbery in connection to Kayla Rincon-Miller's death.

Jail records indicate that Thomas Roy Stein, 16, was booked into the Lee County Jail just after 1 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2024, charged with murder while engaged in a robbery.

Police are seeking additional suspects involved in the homicide.

Anyone with information can contact the Cape Coral Police Department at (239) 574-3223.

Reward offered in the homicide of Kayla Rincon-Miller

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $3,000. Anyone with information can call 1-800-780-TIPS.

Tomas Rodriguez contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Kayla Rincon-Miller: Teen killed in shooting in Cape Coral, Florida
A video from the border village of Gorkovsky in Russias Belgorod Oblast, which was taken over by pro-Ukrainian units consisting of Russian and Chechen volunteers, was posted on social media on March 18.

The footage was reportedly shot the day before, on March 17.

"The military intelligence of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria is in Belgorod Oblast, the village of Gorkovsky... We came to vote for Putin, but we can't find the ballot box," one of the Chechen fighters joked, commenting on the transition of the settlement to the control of Russian volunteers.

Read also: Soldiers of Siberian Battalion claim to have entered the village of Gorkovsky near Belgorod

The local security forces did not put up any resistance to them, leaving Gorkovsky without a fight.

Read also: Russian Volunteer Corps claims capture of 25 soldiers in Belgorod and Kursk raids

The Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) announced earlier the capture of this village, publishing a photo taken there with its flag.



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
Substantial students population growth and concerns about outdated High School facilities have Carlsbad Municipal Schools (CMS) officials asking citizens to say yes to a $300 million bond issue.

Dr. Gerry Washburn, superintendent of Carlsbad Municipal Schools, shared data at two community presentations which showed an anticipated student enrollment growth over the next three years  growth likely driven by a fossil fuels industry boom in Carlsbad and Eddy County. The success of the same industry, said Ward 3 Carlsbad City Councilor Karla Niemeier, provided opportunity to seek the bond and place students in well paying jobs.

Washburn said $216 million of the General Obligation funds, if approved by voters, would be designated for construction of new facilities on the high school campus located at 3000 W. Church St. Washburn said $84 million would be used to rebuilding and renovate P.R. Leyva as the middle school is at capacity with 838 students.

Carlsbad High School was built in 1962, said Washburn. Students were moved there from the previous high school facility built in 1937, which now houses Carlsbad Intermediate School on the P.R. Leyva Campus.

Carlsbad Municipal Schools superintendent Dr. Gerry Washburn outlines a proposed $300 million bond issue at Southeast New Mexico College on March 14, 2024.

Increased student population predicted for Carlsbad school district

Two years before the current Carlsbad High School was built, the community had a population of 25,541, according to the 1960 United States census. Sixty years later Carlsbads population grew to 32,238 people, according to the 2020 Census data.

Population growth in the area led to increased student enrollment district wide  7,148 students are now enrolled from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. According to district data, 1,584 students are enrolled at Carlsbad High School as of March 1. The Freshman class has 443 students and the sophomore class has 457 students. Junior enrollment at Carlsbad High School is 365 students and senior enrollment was 319 students.

It really wouldnt surprise us to see our enrollment around 8,000 in a year and a half, and close to 8,500 in 2027, Washburn said.

Washburn said the high school suffers from other challenges; Carlsbad High School is not compliant with the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal requirement of public buildings to meet equitable access for people with disabilities.

He emphasized the district's desire to expand its career technical facilities, and the need for classrooms that can accommodate new technology.

More: Eddy County prepares for $500M industrial revenue bonds for new natural gas plant

Construction of a new performing arts center at Carlsbad High School is ongoing. Carlsbad Municipal Schools officials are seeking approval of a $300 million bond issue to build a new high school.

Community leaders support bond issue

Kevin Beardmore, president of Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC), said he was excited about the bond issue as the college and Carlsbad Municipal Schools work together on several projects including the Carlsbad Early College High School and dual credit courses.

We also have an automotive technology program which is based at Carlsbad High School. We are working with them on their new pathway initiatives in teacher education and public safety, and we are working on improving transportation options between Carlsbad High School and SENMC to make classes accessible to even more students, Beardmore said.

Beardmore said expanded dual credit in career and technical education would be available once the Trades and Technologies (T2) building is complete. Planning for the T2 facility is complete, and SENMC would work toward construction bid with a completion date sometime in 2025.

Southeast New Mexico College president Kevin Beardmore listens to a presentation from Carlsbad Municipal Schools superintendent Dr. Gerry Washburn on a proposed $300 million bond issue on March 14, 2024.

T2 is on the list of state higher education projects that will be voted on this November. If it passes, we will have $5 million in funding that will go toward the overall price tag of $40 million that is currently estimated, Beardmore said.

He said SENMC received $600,000 during the 2024 New Mexico Legislative session to support design and construction.

More: Southeast New Mexico is investing in you

The Carlsbad High School campus could be getting a makeover in a few years as Carlsbad Municipal Schools look build a new school.

Ballot return date coming soon

Mail-in ballots for the General Obligation Bond question were mailed between Feb. 26 and Feb. 29. Eddy County Clerk Cara Cooke said of the nearly 20,000 ballots mailed, just over 2,600 had been returned as of March 14.

More: Who is running in the June 4 primary election? A look at Eddy County candidates

Some ballots, Cooke said, lacked voter signatures and the required last four digits of a Social Security Number.

We have called or mailed letters to have the voter come in to correct the issue so their ballot will be counted, Cooke said.

Washburn said ballots can be brought to the County Clerks office by 7 p.m. March 22. If someone chooses to mail a ballot, it must be postmarked by March 22.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad schools say $300M GO bond needed for high school improvements
Celebrity Big Brother star Colson Smith accuses Marisha Wallace of playing a game as the housemates share their nominations on Mondays episode.

In a sneak peek ahead of the latest installment, the Coronation Street actor tells Big Brother in the Diary Room that Wallace has done a couple of questionable things that have made him think the West End star has a strategy.

He shares: Theres been a couple of questionable things in the house in the past couple of days.

Firstly, at the kissing booth, her reasons for nominating Ekin-Su, came across in a bit of a game playing way.

Yesterday as part of the shopping task we had the courage element, I felt like I wanted to go forward and say me and Marisha sat there in silence. It just made me feel like there might be, I dont know an agenda, a game.

Prior to nominations, Smith tells Fern Britton shes the only one I trust when Big Brother calls for one Housemate to go to the Diary Room.

Britton is given a secret task (ITV)

As she enters amid the houses St Patricks Day celebrations, the former This Morning presenter finds a pot of gold on the diary room chair with a red toy snake on top.

Big Brother tells her: Fern youve just found a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. That means youve been granted one wish, the biggest wish of all.

You must choose one housemate to be evicted. St Patrick famously banished the snakes from Ireland, and now by finding the pot of gold, you have been selected to banish a Housemate.

To choose the Housemate for eviction, the presenter-turned-author must discreetly place the red snake on their pillow.

Later on, housemates are relaxing in the bedroom, when Big Brother tells them: It appears St Patrick hasnt driven out all the snakes there is a slivery intruder in the bedroom, housemates must find it now.

Who will find it? Viewers will just have to wait and watch the fallout.

Celebrity Big Brother continues at 9pm on ITV and ITVX
Meeting of Council of EU FMs makes final decision on allocation of additional EUR 5 bln for military support to Ukraine

A meeting of the Council of EU Foreign Ministers, attended by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, made the final decision to allocate an additional EUR 5 billion for military support to Kyiv within the framework of the European Peace Facility.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Kuleba expressed gratitude to his colleagues for this step.

At the meeting, the Minister called on European partners to take all necessary decisions as soon as possible to increase and accelerate the supply of weapons and ammunition to the Ukrainian military, as well as the development of the defense industries of the European Union and Ukraine.

Kuleba also thanked the Czech Republic for the timely initiative to purchase artillery ammunition for Ukraine and all EU member states that have already made their contributions to implement it.

"I urge those who are still thinking about contributions to make them as soon as possible. This applies not only to the Czech initiative, but also to several other similar initiatives. Every day matters," he said.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister stressed that Russia's threats against NATO and EU members indicate that the Russian dictator is seeking to expand aggression and supporting Ukraine is the only way to thwart these plans.

Kuleba noted that the Ukrainian wars are now the only line of European defense against Putin's aggressive Russia, which seeks to destroy Europe and the normal lives of millions of Europeans.

"The Ukrainian soldier is Europe's only hope for maintaining peace. There should be no restrictions or delays in providing the Ukrainian military with everything they need to break the back of the Russian occupation forces on Ukrainian soil," he said.

The Minister also noted that Ukraine has completed all four steps defined by the European Commission as part of the Expansion Package. He expressed hope that the European Commission and the EU member states would objectively assess Ukraine's progress and make the decisions necessary for the practical start of negotiations on our country's accession to the European Union.

Kuleba also noted the need to increase sanction pressure against the aggressor state, synchronize sanctions against Russia and Belarus and close all loopholes for the export of dual-use goods to Russia, which it uses to produce weapons.

The Minister welcomed the initiative of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to use the proceeds from frozen Russian assets to purchase military equipment for Ukraine. In his opinion, the allies must also find the necessary legal grounds and political will to use not only the income, but also the assets themselves.
Haley Pau unfolds ballots at the San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters office in downtown Stockton. (Jose Luis Villegas / For The Times)

As the polls closed in California on Super Tuesday, Jim Hicks stood watch in the parking lot of a community center while election officials wearing red vests retrieved ballots from a drop-off box.

He jiggled the handle of the metal container when they were done to ensure it was locked and peeked his head into the white van holding boxes of ballots that would be transferred to the San Joaquin County registrar of voters to be counted.

Jim Hicks, far right, stands watch at the Kennedy Park Community Center in Stockton as polls close March 5. (MacKenzie Mays)

"We just need to have eyes on things after everything that's been going on," Hicks said as he rushed to his SUV to tail officials down dark farmland back roads to more drop boxes where ballots were waiting to be collected, all part of his duties as a self-appointed election observer.

Hicks, a real estate agent from Lodi, believes California's universal vote-by-mail process is fraught with fraud risks, echoing unfounded messaging from the far right that election officials nationwide have worked to combat since Donald Trump and his allies began blaming his 2020 presidential loss on claims of fraud that have been shot down by numerous courts.

That paranoia is difficult to dismiss in this part of California's Central Valley, though, after a local politician was arrested on allegations of a slew of crimes involving election fraud.

Erin Kane collects ballots for inspection at the office of the San Joaquin County registrar of voters. (Jose Luis Villegas / For The Times)

Former Lodi City Council member Shakir Khan pleaded "no contest" in January to felony charges, including election fraud, after the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said it found 41 sealed, completed ballots in his home and about 70 people registered to vote using his address, phone number or email.

The alleged scheme, which stems from Khan's run for City Council in 2020, is just one piece of a complex criminal case in which he also faces charges for illegal gambling, money laundering, tax evasion and Employment Development Department fraud.

Officials seemed to foresee the potential fallout after the years-long investigation, reiterating that Khan, a 34-year-old "no party preference" voter who has lived among Lodi's vineyards since he was a child, did not appear to have ties to any broader voter-fraud plot.

"I want to make it clear that this investigation has only uncovered criminal activity in our county here, in a local election," San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said at a news conference last year announcing Khan's arrest. "It has nothing to do with and has no impact on any state or federal elections that we know of."

Still, the case has drawn the attention of national conservative commentators, supercharged a group of local right-wing activists, sowed voter distrust in an already chaotic political environment and pushed the county to spend thousands of dollars on election security measures such as new ballot boxes and cameras to monitor them.

For dedicated skeptics like Hicks, Khan's case is proof that "more sophisticated operatives" are gaming elections and going unnoticed. Khan is merely "an amateur who got caught," Hicks said, and there are "way more" like him.

"I believe that what happened to Mr. Khan only solidified what we already seriously suspected," he said.

For Olivia Hale, San Joaquin County's chief election official, the timing of a rare case like Khan's  as voter fraud conspiracies have proliferated across the country  has been a nightmare.

"The narrative is continuing no matter what we do," she said.

San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters Olivia Hale, right, gathers ballots while the staff continues counting March 11. (Jose Luis Villegas / For The Times)

Khan's case isn't like many of the unfounded conspiracies promoted by the far right. There were no "fake" voters or dead people registered to vote, according to San Joaquin County deputies, who said Khan's focus was winning his own election to the nonpartisan Lodi City Council, which oversees a population of about 67,000.

But the case alarmed officials and local Democrats and Republicans alike.

"Let today's guilty plea send a message loud and clear, especially as we enter 2024: Any attempt to alter or undermine our electoral process and our democratic institutions in San Joaquin County will be dealt with immediately and to the fullest extent of the law," Dist. Atty. Ron Freitas said at a press conference in January.

While running for City Council in 2020, Khan pressured people to vote for him, sometimes registering them to vote, filling out ballots for them, forging their signatures and collecting their information without their knowledge of his intent to illegally vote on their behalf, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, which conducted the investigation that led to his arraignment last year.

Khan's "no contest" plea does not include an admission of guilt, and he has in the past denied the allegations. Khan is not in jail and is awaiting sentencing.

His attorney did not return requests for comment from The Times.

Some of Khan's alleged fraud victims were elderly and, like him, Pakistani immigrants, unfamiliar with the American voting process, according to police.

California's voting system didn't immediately flag the ballots tied to Khan because the people being registered were real citizens with legitimate information, according to Hale, who was appointed in 2022 as the San Joaquin County registrar of voters.

Since Khan's arrest, Hale has worked to assuage a seemingly endless list of concerns about fraud from a small group of regulars at county meetings and some Republican elected officials sympathetic to their demands.

She has beefed up the ballot signature verification process; zoned in on multiple voters registered to single addresses, in cases such as intergenerational homes; and opened her office to anyone with concerns about so-called ballot harvesting, a process  legal in California but allegedly abused by Khan  that allows voters to give their ballots to other people to turn in.

Hale worked with the county sheriff's office to launch a voter fraud hotline and utilizes an election advisory committee created by the San Joaquin Board of Supervisors to "reform the publics perception of the integrity of the electoral process."

She does so even as she is staunch in her confidence in the county's voting process, reiterating that there is no evidence that Khan's case was anything other than an isolated event that was stopped because of the system's checks and balances. Some of the accusations circulating in her community are "nonsense," she said, but she welcomes skepticism and accountability as part of healthy government.

"I have an obligation to every single voter in San Joaquin County," she said. "I believe so much in what we do in elections and how safe and secure it is, and how hard we work to keep it going in the right direction at every cost."

For people like Molly Watkins, a self-described "farm wife" from the rural city of Linden, the county's efforts are not enough.

Watkins was at a warehouse near the Stockton airport late into election night this month, watching officials in color-coded vests identifying them as "inspectors" and "supervisors" sift through yellow bins of bagged ballots. She was convinced, though, that her monitoring wouldn't do much good.

"This is all smoke and mirrors," she said as she kept an eye on the movement of ballots. Steps away, Hale gave a tour to a group of similarly concerned residents. "There is no transparency in the system."

In 2021, California became the eighth state to permanently move to mail-in ballots following COVID-19 shutdowns  a move celebrated by Democrats, as research shows it increased voter turnout in 2020, especially in low-income neighborhoods.

But Republicans nationwide have alleged that the process is inferior to voting in person and less secure.

Watkins, who ominously refers to "the deep state," has attended numerous local meetings since Khan's arrest to demand changes to the election system. She wants the county to fight state law and do away with ballot drop boxes altogether. She mistrusts voting machine technology and is pushing county officials to revert to a system in which ballots are counted by hand.

Louis Campbell puts ballots into baskets after they are sorted by precincts. (Jose Luis Villegas / For The Times)

Unlike in Shasta County, where a similar movement is playing out, San Joaquin is not a Republican stronghold, and voters here elected President Biden over Trump in 2020.

Election fraud is rare, but skepticism of the democratic process can be a good thing, said Kim Alexander, executive director of the California Voter Foundation, a nonpartisan election watchdog group.

Alexander has seen a shift in her decades of election work and said that while "false narratives" about fraud shouldn't drive the conversation, California officials should not ignore them.

"There is a stubborn minority of voters that are subscribing to election fraud conspiracy theories who are very vocal, and even though I don't think the general public agrees with those theories, they still resonate," she said. "It's definitely taken a toll on voter confidence across the board."

Alexander said the Khan case isn't proof of greater fraud but proof that anyone who attempts it will be punished.

"It is one example of an election crime that's being prosecuted. It doesn't mean that it's rampant; it means that the process is working," she said. "That sends a message to anybody else who might try to cheat the process that it's a losing proposition."

San Joaquin County Supervisor Steve Ding, a Republican, says ballot boxes are "rife for mischief." But he admits the issue has spiraled out of control in his community, saying "everybody needs to take a breath" and "back off" Hale, who has faced personal attacks as the elections chief.

"It's cast a shadow," Ding said of the Khan case. "Unfortunately, it's become a partisan issue rather than a good government issue. It's no longer about whether it works or doesn't. People have drawn sides."

At a San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors meeting last week, people rose for public comment to voice concerns about the March 5 primary election, alleging that Hale was rigging votes to help someone who attends her church get elected to the Stockton City Council.

Hale denies the claims and pointed out that the candidate in question is not projected to win the race.

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.
If you live in either the Oak Cliff Fire Protection District in southern Logan County north of Edmond or the Deer Creek Fire Protection district in northwestern Oklahoma County, you need at least three ambulance provider subscriptions.

You work in Oklahoma City and shop, eat and perhaps have children that attend school in Edmond, but live outside of both. If you want 24/7 assurances you are covered for ambulance associated costs health insurance won't pay, how many provider subscriptions do you need?

The answer is at least three if you live in either the Oak Cliff Fire Protection District in southern Logan County north of Edmond or the Deer Creek Fire Protection district in northwestern Oklahoma County.

Deer Creek and Oak Cliff residents have a new ambulance service provider  Miller Emergency Medical Services.

Surprised? Don't feel bad  ambulance services are something most people don't think about until they're needed.

Until the end of 2023, residents' emergency medical transports inside those fire districts were handled by EMSA, which until then also had been providing its services to all residents with Edmond ZIP codes for the past 30 years.

An EMSA ambulance is pictured. EMSA provided ambulance service for those inside Edmond's city limits.

But after emergency workers and elected leaders inside of Edmond became frustrated with EMSA's response times, they decided to seek bids from other ambulance providers.

Earlier this year, Edmond agreed to pay AMR $660,000 annually to provide it with ambulance services.

deer_creek_ambulance_map

However, AMR only agreed to provide its services inside of Edmond's city limits, leaving the fire protection districts (both of which use Edmond ZIP codes) facing the prospect of being uncovered until Miller agreed to step in.

Here's the subscriptions you need.

Oklahoma City residents (or people who think they might need the service while there) can enroll in the EMSAcare program to ensure they aren't hit with uninsured costs. Residents can agree to belong by paying $3.65 on their monthly utility bills. Others can join by paying EMSA directly, at an annual cost of $45 per household.

Edmond residents (or people who think they might need the service while there) can enroll in the same type of program offered by AMR. Residents can belong to a program that pays for non-insurance covered costs on up to two uses a year by agreeing to pay a $3 monthly fee on their utility bills or by enrolling directly with AMR at an annual cost of $65.

Miller offers people in the areas it serves subscriptions that cover non-insured medical costs when it makes emergency calls. The annual cost per household is $84 a year.

An AMR ambulance that works in Edmond is pictured.

Ambulances cost money just like police and fire services

How basic ambulance services are paid for also is a question that probably attracts little thought.

Oklahoma City currently is paying EMSA $5.3 million annually to cover its 620 square miles, while the $660,000 Edmond is paying AMR covers its 87.55 square miles.

Rural residents also can vote to form and fund ambulance districts. However, state law dictates those can only be formed to cover a complete county, or an area school district inside of a county.

Three rural ambulance districts cover the attendance areas for Guthrie, Crescent and Cashion Public Schools inside of Logan County.

Miller provides emergency medical transports within the Cashion district, which touches the Deer Creek school district within Logan County's southwest quadrant.

With its expansion into Deer Creek and Oak Cliff, Miller is reminding people within the Cashion district memberships to cover non-insured costs are available.

Fire units from all over the metro area converge April 17, 2023, on the area where a structure burns along Waterloo Road at the wildfires in Logan County along Waterloo Road.

Fire protection districts not authorized to provide ambulance service, currently

Under Oklahoma law, rural area residents can call elections to establish and fund fire protection districts.

While their firefighters are trained to provide emergency medical services on calls, they are not allowed under state law to collect funds that would allow them to provide ambulance service directly or through a contracted provider.

Oak Cliff fire Protection District was created in 1982 and today provides services out of two fire stations equipped with about a dozen pieces of firefighting equipment. Oak Cliff responds to about 1,300 calls annually. It's annual operating budget for Fiscal 2022 was just more than $1 million.

The Deer Creek Fire Protection District was established in 1976 and today covers 52.51 square miles with three engines, two tankers, five brush pumpers and two command vehicles deployed out of two stations. It's annual budget for Fiscal 2022 was $897,225.

An ambulance owned and operated by Miller Emergency Medical Services is pictured at the Capitol. Provided by Miller Emergency Medical Services.

How much is Miller being paid to provide ambulance service to the two districts?

Miller is being paid $50,000 to provide services to the two fire protection districts through the end of June.

Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson paid that bill using American Rescue Plan Act of 2022 funds that were paid to Deer Creek's fire protection district (which covers far northwest Oklahoma and far southwest Logan County). Deer Creek, in turn, contracted with Miller to cover both its and Oak Cliff's districts.

Davidson told The Oklahoman he expects to have about $300,000 in discretionary funding available at the start of the coming fiscal year, saying he plans to use at least a portion of that to keep the areas covered during the coming fiscal year.

Oklahoma County Commissioner Myles Davidson

"I will find a way to get that funded. My biggest concern is Deer Creek's school. There's no way I am going to leave it without ambulance services," he said. "We are just going to have to figure it out."

Meanwhile, Davidson, two other Logan County commissioners and representatives of the two fire protection districts are working to get state law changed so fire districts can ask their voters to authorize the collection of additional property taxes so they can furnish ambulance services in the future.

They hope to introduce a bill to achieve their goal next year. If it were to become law, voters would be asked to consider increasing their levies to pay for the additional service probably the following year.

What fire officials recommend in the meantime

Cory J. Beagles, chief of Deer Creek's fire protection district, said he has relatives who live inside the districts but work in Oklahoma City and take care of most of their day-to-day business in Edmond.

When it became apparent EMSA would not serve the fire protection districts, the boards for both his district and Oak Cliff's tried to reach an agreement with AMR to pick up coverage in their areas.

"We really wanted to prevent people from having to obtain three different memberships" to cover un-insured ambulance costs, Beagles said.,

AMR, however, wanted to be paid $550,000 annually to provide service.

Ambulances owned and operated by Miller Emergency Medical Services. Provided by Miller Emergency Medical Services.

Beagles said both districts are fortunate Miller was willing to expand into their areas. The ambulance service plans to station an ambulance at a Deer Creek station around the clock starting later this year.

"We have been extremely pleased with Miller so far," Beagles said, noting it already has cut ambulance response times in half. "Once that ambulance is positioned, waits for emergency medical service transports should drop even more dramatically," he said.

As for constituents being surprised with uninsured ambulance costs, the chief said he is telling them its better to be safe than sorry.

"I am recommending that they obtain memberships to all three services. That's really the only way to do it if you are going to cover all of your bases," said Chief Beagles.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Change means rural Edmond residents need multiple ambulance plans
Changes are coming to the Westfield Galleria at Roseville.

The popular Sacramento-area shopping center at 1151 Galleria Blvd. has recently announced new tenants and closures coming as soon as this month.

The changes include expansions, relocations, and a variety of offerings, further solidifying the malls dedication to providing an unparalleled retail environment, mall officials said last week in a news release.

Heres a roundup of our latest coverage:

Fast fashion retailer to leave after 15 years

Fast fashion clothing retailer Forever 21 is exiting its lease at the popular shopping center.

Its last day will be March 31, a spokesperson told The Bee.

The Galleria has not announced what store will take its place  though a tenant has been selected.

READ MORE:

Japanese brand to bring its contemporary clothing to Roseville

Uniqlo  which first opened in Hiroshima, Japan, in 1984  is known for affordable, casual, and contemporary clothing and accessories for women, men and children.

The retailer filed permits with the city of Roseville last week for a Galleria location but has yet to announce an opening date, The Bee reported.

READ MORE:

Westfield Galleria at Roseville announces new shops

A handful of other new restaurants and retailers are coming to the Galleria in the next couple of years, mall officials announced last week.

Those include:

An additional five retailers are slated to sign leases soon, but the mall has yet to share details.

READ MORE:

Sports bar, sushi and smoothies: These 5 businesses plan to open in Sacramento-area mall

More food nearby Sacramento-area mall

Fogo de Chao is set to replace Mimis Cafe at 1104 Galleria Blvd., across from the mall, according to a city permit filing.

Theres no opening date yet, but its website says its coming soon.

READ MORE:

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.
(WHTM)  A Pennsylvania state lawmaker is proposing changes to motorcycle inspections.

State Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-Beaver/Greene/Washington) says her bill would allow motorcyclists to get a safety inspection year-round.

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According to Bartolotta, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation requires motorcycles to be inspected between March and October.

In Pennsylvania, buying motorcycles, operating them on our roadways, and having them repaired are permitted year-round, said Bartolotta. Eliminating the restriction on the months in which they can be safety inspected is merely consistent with how motorcycles are addressed elsewhere in state law.

PennDOT bans nearly 3,000 vanity license plates: Here are some of them

PennDOT states that safety inspections for motorcycles require the following to be checked: suspension components, steering, braking systems, tires and wheels, lighting and electrical systems, glazing (glass), mirrors, fuel systems, the speedometer, the odometer, the exhaust systems, horns and warning devices, the body, and the chassis.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this practical legislation that provides uniformity and consistency to motorcycle operators in the Commonwealth, said Bartolotta.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN)  Prosecutors have dropped the charges against the other sister accused of abusing their elderly mother by physically stopping her from receiving medical treatment for an infection.

On March 15, Houston County prosecutors dropped elder abuse charges against Annie Newby, 44 of Dothan. She was set for trial in the case on Monday, March 18.

The sisters, Annie and Ida Newby, 45 of Dothan, were initially arrested in January 2020 after Dothan Police said they stopped their mother from receiving medical treatment, even physically pulling her wheelchair from an ambulance as medical workers were trying to take the elderly victim to a doctors appointment.

On March 6, prosecutors dropped the charges against Ida. Her trial was scheduled to start on March 11.

Houston County District Attorney Russ Goodman tells WDHN that after talking with the Newbys mother, the victim, they decided that there was not enough information to prosecute the case any further and dropped the charges against Ida and Annie.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
The remains of the horses were found on boggy land in this area of the Preseli mountains

Video footage of two horse carcasses on mountains has been described by an equine welfare charity as "shocking".

The footage sent to BBC Wales showed the horses on Wern Common on the Preseli range in Mynachlogddu, Pembrokeshire.

It was reviewed by the Lluest Horse and Pony Trust, which is now calling for tighter animal welfare laws in Wales.

The carcasses were found by Anita, a local horse rider, on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), managed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority in February 2023.

Warning: This report includes an image of a horse carcass that some may find distressing.

Anita discovered the horse carcasses on Wern Common in Pembrokeshire

Anita claims two other ponies were also present on the land.

I came through on the bridleway and probably within 50 feet was the first carcass, the stink was horrendous, she said.

Horrified by what she saw, she captured the scenes on her GoPro.

Its affected me really badly, to the point where Ive woken up during the night with nightmares over it," she said.

She claimed she warned Pembrokeshire National Park in 2021 - two years before she found the carcasses - that the land was not suitable for grazing during winter.

The charity's operations manager Dionne Schuurman, who is also one of 17 welfare officers in the UK, said: There are two carcasses there.

"If somebody was checking them daily, they wouldnt still be there, decomposed. They wouldve been removed.

Referring to the land managers, the charity said: If they are giving licensing to graze in these areas, it needs to be appropriately stocked, it needs to be suitable for the type of animal thats grazing there.

"They need to make sure that those people are doing regular health checks to make sure their welfare is right.

The Wern Common is managed by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, which said in a statement: The authority has a long-standing history of working with graziers across the national park and these grazing schemes play an important role in nature recovery.

Through these schemes, the authority supports the connection between landowners who offer land for grazing opportunities and those who wish to use the land for grazing animals.

The authority facilitates the initial arrangement, but the welfare of the grazing animals is the responsibility of their owner.

In the case of Wern Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the authority secured the agreement for the grazing during the summer months and as part of this initial arrangement, requested that the animals be moved prior to winter, to ensure their welfare on land that was not suitable for winter grazing.

The ponies were not moved from the land prior to winter, as agreed, and despite repeated assurances from the owner that their removal was imminent, the ponies remained on site.

Despite the ponies being the responsibility of the owner, on the advice of animal health professionals the authority took the decision to assist the owner to remove the ponies in the interests of public safety and the risks posed on a publicly accessible footpath.

In line with data protection legislation, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority could not disclose the owner of the ponies.

The horses are believed to have become stuck in the swamp and starved

The BBC understands that the owner of the ponies which were removed said a vet had confirmed they were healthy, with no sign of neglect. They denied being the owner of the dead animals.

The RSPCA also confirmed its involvement in the case and confirmed that no prosecution was being brought.

According to the RSPCA: We are so grateful to people who report suspected animal suffering to us and we would like to reassure people we will always look into and, if necessary, investigate any complaints made to us about animal welfare.

In light of the footage provided to BBC Cymru Wales, Lluest Horse and Pony Trust called on the Welsh government to take action, and said such scenes were common.

Some horses get abandoned in common areas and some owners arent regularly checking their horses and thats where the problems come from, it said.

The government needs to take more responsibility for animal welfare and laws. Charities often pick up the slack and its not right, said Ms Schuurman.

They could be enforcing the animal welfare laws more tightly.

The Welsh government said animal welfare enforcement was down to local councils, and it funded officials to strengthen their role.

"If anyone has any immediate concerns about the welfare of a horse or any kept animal, they should report it to the relevant local authority to investigate, it added.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Charlotte travelers will have more to look forward to in the coming months.

On Monday, the airport announced Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, among other restaurants and stores, will be arriving in the concourses this summer and fall.

Plans for Destination District underway, Charlotte airport officials announce

Concourse A Expansion Phase will welcome a new Dunkin Donuts and Crown Diner, Great American Bagel will be on Concourse B and Olde Meck will be on Concourse D.

For shopping options, Queen City News and Gifts will be on Concourse B, Johnston & Murphy will be at the Atrium and Hip & Humble and Brighton Collectibles will be on the D/E Connector.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
If motorways had mottoes, that of the M25 would probably be Abandon hope, all ye who enter here. When the road was opened in 1986 by Margaret Thatcher, it represented the triumphant culmination of plans for a London orbital route that had been gestating since 1913.

But it rapidly became clear that the motorway was inadequate to handle the quantity of traffic it attracted. Two years after it opened, the first major traffic jam occurred  a 22-mile midsummer behemoth between junctions 8 and 9.

A succession of traffic management schemes followed, along with such unaffectionate soubriquets as Britains biggest car park.

To anyone obliged to traverse its bleakly inadequate expanses of tarmac, the idea of the M25 as a destination, rather than a grim thoroughfare to somewhere less purgatorial, might seem fanciful. But last weekends closure of the stretch between junctions 10 and 11 attracted a stream of people eager to take selfies with the empty road as backdrop.

Locals noted the unwonted sound of birdsong generally drowned by the roar of traffic. Rather than resulting in the predicted carmageddon, the temporary suspension of one of the UKs most important thoroughfares had apparently made the M25 briefly lovable.

Yet in the almost four decades of its existence, the M25 has accumulated its own mythology, not all of it baleful. While the construction of some parts of the motorway attracted furious local protest  particularly the siting of a section through a Kentish area of outstanding natural beauty  redress was offered by the Highways Agencys plans for the motorway verges as the last great public parks.

More planting of broadleaf trees was planned around the M25 than anywhere else in England, according to Tony Sangwine, the man in charge. Beneath the tree canopy would flourish the flora and fauna of ancient woodland: bluebells, dogs mercury, roe deer and short-tailed voles. The claims are noted with savage irony by the author Iain Sinclair in his 2002 book, London Orbital  a chronicle of his walk around the 117 miles of the M25.

Sinclair was not an enthusiast: The orbital motorway, opened in a spirit of jingoistic triumphalism, rapidly declined into a service road for toxic landfill he wrote.

Still, his 500-page record of a pilgrimage along a route whose definition was that the hum of the motorway traffic should remain audible, chronicled the minute details of the roads cultural hinterland: the William Burges-designed astrological ceiling at Waltham Abbey; the blood-curdling incidence of gangland homicides; works of fiction by J G Ballard, H G Wells and Bram Stoker.

As a means of getting from place to place, the M25 is unlikely soon to shed its unenviable reputation as a motorists nemesis. But a brief pause in the Gaderene rush from A to B offers a rare opportunity to reflect on its exotic history, from a 9,000-year old Stone Age settlement to the inspiration for the hyperspace bypass that launches Arthur C Dent on his intergalactic journey in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

But with four further closures planned between now and September, the charm of birdsong and empty roads may dwindle, replaced by the looming suspicion that accompanies most journeys around that troublesome circuit: the idea that, as Sinclair puts it, There is no there.

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.
Chicago, a major U.S. city that has absorbed over 37,000 migrants since 2022, has started its first round of evictions of migrants staying in its shelters.

While the city says its eviction process  which gives migrants 60 days to find a permanent location to live  is a way to nudge migrants toward independence, volunteers say Chicagos process has spurred chaos in the migrant community.

 A look at migrant shelter evictions

On Friday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office said 34 migrants would be evicted from shelters on Sunday. But only three people ended up leaving this weekend.

The majority of the migrants were able to extend their stay for reasons ranging from having health problems to being part of a family with children.

In November, the city of Chicago, in partnership with the state of Illinois, announced it would limit the time a migrant could stay in a shelter to 60 days.

Since then, weather, staffing issues and criticism from advocates and elected officials had postponed the rollout of the policy. But with the first round starting this weekend, a total of 2,026 people are expected to be evicted by April 30.

By the end of March, 244 people will be forced to leave. The remaining 1,782 migrants will have to leave the shelters throughout April.

As part of the citys so-called New Arrivals Mission, asylum seekers who hit that two-month mark have to find permanent housing through rental assistance or with loved ones.

But the possibility of eviction remains high for migrants as they contend with Illinois state offices lacking resources to alleviate application backlogs in a timely manner.

Migrants eat outside a shelter in Chicago earlier this month. (Armando L. Sanchez/Getty Images)

However, the citys policy says that if migrants exhaust their options, they can go back to the citys landing zone  the designated area where buses with migrants drop off the new arrivals  then reapply for city assistance and request placement at another shelter.

There are currently 11,210 migrants living in shelters around the city, according to Johnsons office.

Many of the migrants and asylum seekers in Chicago were sent by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. After they entered the U.S. through the southern border with Mexico, he transported them to Democrat-led cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and Denver.

Around 14,700 migrants have already left Chicago-area shelters for housing in the area, and another 5,200 have reunited with family and friends in Illinois, as well as other states.

Johnsons office  which did not immediately respond to Yahoo News request for comment  has touted the citys support of those nearly 20,000 migrants as a pathway to stability and self-sufficiency.

 Who qualifies for an extension to stay in a shelter?

Johnson said that while evictions would encourage resettlement, the city would extend the stay limit on a case-by-case basis.

Migrants who are applying for city benefits, are pregnant and/or need infant care, are disabled, need to be quarantined or medically isolated, have a mental health condition, have concerns of gender-based fears of violence or are mourning the loss of a loved one could qualify to stay in a shelter.

The mayors office also announced that families with children can extend their stays for 30 days and can renew three times, but only until June 10. Families with children enrolled in Chicago public schools can automatically stay until the end of the school year.

 Where can migrants go if they're not allowed at shelters?

Johnsons office said that as of Friday, the city is helping to support about 4,155 people in their efforts to move toward securing housing.

We'll be working with them to make sure they can connect with family and friends, Brandie Knazze, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, told a local CBS station. Again, that's part of what the case management is preparing them [for].

Since December 2022, the Asylum Seeker Emergency Rental Assistance Program  a state initiative to help people find housing  has assisted families with leaving shelters and moving into apartments. The program also covers three months of rent.

Volunteers around the city have been working with migrants to navigate resettlement, including helping them access public services and housing. But if migrants have exhausted these options, they have the option to reapply for city assistance.

But volunteers like Erika Villegas, who is also a real estate agent, have slammed the eviction process for leaving asylum seekers with a future of uncertainty.

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 told NBC News.
CHICAGO  A man is dead after a shooting on the Northwest Side on Sunday afternoon.

Chicago police say it happened just before 1:30 p.m. in the 4200 block of North Kimball Avenue in Irving Park.

According to police, the victim, a 25-year-old man, was on a front porch in the area, when two people approached on foot and opened fire in his direction.

Officers say the man suffered five gunshot wounds and was taken to the hospital where later died from his injuries.

The medical examiner has identified the victim as Bernardo Romero.

The two people who opened fire fled on foot before they got into a white SUV and fled the scene.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headline

Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and authorities say no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information on the deadly shooting is asked to contact CPD Area Five Detectives at 312-746-6554 or dial 911.

Tips for police can also be filed at CPDtip.com. Tips can be left anonymously.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Austria could head an international coalition for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk has said.

"I noted the importance of strengthening humanitarian support for Ukraine. I am confident that Austria is capable of heading an international coalition for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine," he said on Facebook Monday, following a meeting with President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen.

Stefanchuk emphasized that any kind of humanitarian aid is important to Ukraine: ambulance vehicles, prosthetics for injured soldiers and civilians, their rehabilitation, construction and utility vehicles for territorial communities.

"We touched upon humanitarian demining. I hope Austria will continue to provide its assistance in this sphere," he said.

The parties also discussed Ukraine's European integration, reform implementation and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula.

"In conclusion, I raised the issue of the so-called 'elections' in Russia. The sham elections to which not a single oppositional candidate and not a single international observer was admitted. These so-called 'elections' are a verdict for Russia. Ukraine does not recognize them, considering the fact that the 'voting' took place on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine," Stefanchuk said.

As reported, the Verkhovna Rada chairman is on a working visit to Austria on March 18-19 to participate in the ninth conference of the speakers on the EU Strategy for the Danube Region.
CHICAGO  Chicago voters will consider a ballot measure Tuesday that progressive Democrats see as a solution to homelessness.

The proposal would allow the City Council to increase real estate tax revenue to help fund programs to get people off the street. But the vote will be about a lot more than that.

The ballot measure has prompted arguments about the downtowns sputtering recovery, the influx of migrants that has strained city services and political coalitions, and the wisdom of entrusting Mayor Brandon Johnson and his fellow progressives with more tax money.

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One issue not being contested: Homelessness is a problem in Chicago.

Everybody in the city I think probably agrees, we have to do something about our housing crisis, on our homelessness, said Farzin Parang, the executive director of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, which is helping lead the opposition to the proposal. The group says that the new tax would deal another blow to an office real estate market still mired in a post-pandemic vacancy crisis.

The ballot question is lengthy and nuanced. If approved and enacted, it would reduce the real estate transfer tax on properties that sell for less than $1 million, but impose higher rates on homes and commercial buildings that sell for more than $1 million. The extra money  supporters say it would be at least $100 million each year  would be put toward addressing homelessness, with the details of that spending to be finalized later.

The vote Tuesday is the culmination of a longtime goal for Chicagos progressive movement, which has unseated moderate Democrats over the past decade and transformed from a band of scrappy political outsiders into City Hall establishment.

The election last year of Johnson, a former union organizer who put the real estate tax change in his campaign platform, cemented that shift.

This is a result of organizing, said Anthony Quezada, a county commissioner from Chicagos Northwest Side who supports the measure. Whats happened in the city of Chicago is nothing shy of a political revolution of sorts.

But Chicago has changed in other ways since progressives first floated higher tax rates for housing programs in 2018.

Homelessness has become more visible, with larger tent encampments popping up in more places. The downtown Loop, which was bustling before COVID, is still coping with empty storefronts and soaring office vacancy rates. And over the past 18 months, as Republican officials in Texas have sent thousands of migrants to cities led by Democrats, Chicago has been overwhelmed and its liberal coalition has frayed.

More than 37,000 migrants have arrived in the Chicago area, and thousands of them are still living in government-run shelters. However much supporters of the ballot measure have tried to focus the tax conversation on other issues, the migrant issue has reframed the debate.

You cant trust that the city is going to use that money for the purposes that they state  to help homelessness, said Edward Boone, 69, a retired health care worker and Democrat who said he planned to vote against the tax. Maybe they could be talking about the homeless immigrants that are in the city.

Boone, who rents a unit in the Hermosa neighborhood, said he worried that the tax change could lead to landlords charging higher rents. He also said he was frustrated that the City Council allowed for a vote on the tax question, but not on a proposed ballot measure that would have asked voters if they wanted to remain a sanctuary city.

Others see the tax change differently. Annelise Rittberg, 28, who joined a recent march in support of the measure, said the stakes of the issue became clearer to her when the heat in her home near Humboldt Park, northwest of downtown, went out for a time this winter.

That was just one sliver of uncomfortability and being in an environment that was not safe, said Rittberg, a political independent who works for a nonprofit. And all I could think in that moment was, there are dozens of people living in the park right across the street from my house who also dont have access to a warm and safe place.

Homelessness and housing affordability have long been challenges in Chicago, the countrys third-largest city. But those issues have manifested differently than they have in some rapidly growing Western cities facing housing shortages. Chicagos population of about 2.7 million has been relatively stable in recent years, and some neighborhoods have vacant homes.

Different ways of counting the homeless population have yielded vastly different numbers. The citys annual homeless count, conducted on a single day in early 2023, showed about 6,100 people living on the streets or in shelters. The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, a nonprofit group that supports the tax change, estimated that about 68,000 people in the city were homeless in 2021, a figure that includes people doubling up in a unit or living temporarily with others.

But those counts were done before most of the migrants arrived. As of Sunday, officials said, nearly 11,000 of the estimated 37,000 migrants who have come to the Chicago area were still living in 23 shelters run by the city or state.

With the major parties presidential nominations already settled, both sides of the tax debate have been working to get their voters to the polls in what could be a low-turnout Illinois primary election.

Raising the real estate transfer tax, sometimes referred to as a mansion tax, is not a novel idea. Los Angeles voters approved a higher transfer tax in 2022 to fund affordable housing and homelessness programs. A similar measure was approved by voters in Santa Fe, New Mexico, last year. Supporters in Chicago see the vote as a chance to reorder the citys priorities.

We simply cannot and should not live in a place where an industry is able to make money off of housing and real estate when there are people that have no place to stay, said Asha Ransby-Sporn, deputy campaign director for Bring Chicago Home, a group leading the effort to pass the tax.

But the timing, opponents say, could not be worse.

Jeff Baker, the CEO of Illinois Realtors, which opposes the tax change, said the referendums passage would immediately inject even more uncertainty and downward price pressure into Chicagos struggling office real estate market. And he said it could ultimately lead to increased property taxes and rents even for people who would not directly pay the higher transfer tax.

I think long term, Baker said, youre looking at even more housing instability, even higher cost of living in the city.

c.2024 The New York Times Company
Palestinians who were wounded in Israeli fire while waiting for aid, according to health officials, lie on beds at Al Shifa hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization chief on Monday voiced concern about the Al Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza after an Israeli raid of the site.

"Hospitals should never be battlegrounds. We are terribly worried about the situation at Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, which is endangering health workers, patients and civilians," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media platform X.

Palestinian health authorities said the Israeli operation has caused multiple casualties and set off a fierce fire while Israel's military said the site was being used by Hamas leaders.

(Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Rachel More)
The Chikasha Ihoo (Chickasaw Women) Empowerment Series returns 2 p.m., March 26, at the Chickasaw Cultural Center, Sulphur, Oklahoma.

Chickasaw citizen Dr. Elizabeth Rule is the guest speaker of the first session of 2024.

A quarterly event that highlights the accomplishments and perspectives of Chickasaw women, the series features Chickasaw speakers who present on topics related to their studies, experiences and points of view. It sheds light on the unique perspective of Chickasaw women worldwide.

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.

Rule is assistant professor of critical race, gender and culture studies at American University, Washington, D.C. Her research on Indigenous issues has been featured in The Washington Post, Matter of Fact with Soledad OBrien, The Atlantic, Newsy and National Public Radio.



She is also a published author, releasing scholarly articles in the American Quarterly and in the American Indian Culture and Research Journal.



Rule created the Guide to Indigenous DC, an app for portable electronic devices which highlights important contributions made by First Americans in select landmarks and sites for which the city is famous.

She has since expanded her work, developing the 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. It analyzes historical and contemporary sites of Indigenous importance in Washington and complements her Guide to Indigenous DC mobile app. The book is also an award winner, having earned the Association for Ethnic Studies Outstanding Book Award in 2023.

Her 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.

She recently went on leave from American University to begin a new political appointment, 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.

Rule continues her work as an educator by presenting her research and delivering invited talks on First American issues. More than 100 public speaking engagements and interviews have taken her across three continents and to seven countries.

Rule earned her undergraduate degree from Yale University and her masters and doctorate in American studies from Brown University.

The Chikasha Ihoo (Chickasaw Women) Empowerment Series is open to the public at no charge. Registration and more information are available at Chickasaw.net/Empowerment.

Save the date for the second series event of the year, Aug. 27, at the Chickasaw Cultural Center, 867 Cooper Memorial Drive, Sulphur.



For more information, contact the Chickasaw Nation Literary Arts Division at (580) 436-7282 or email CreativeArts@Chickasaw.net.
China, which continues to stand by Moscow while other countries have turned their backs on Russia following the attack on Ukraine, has congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his election landslide in a vote considered neither free nor fair.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday congratulated Putin on the phone, telling him that he trusts that Russia will be able to achieve even greater success in the development and construction of the country under Putin's leadership, acccordig to state television.

Earlier, Lin Jian, the new spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said that China and Russia are "strategic partners in the new era."

With 98% of the ballot papers counted, Putin received more than 87% of the votes according to the electoral commission - a record result that observers say was only achieved through repression, coercion and fraud.

Putin has now been in power in Russia for around a quarter of a century.

While Western countries are trying to isolate Moscow in light of Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, Beijing, outwardly neutral but backing Russia, remains the Kremlin's most important ally. Xi called Putin an "old friend" at a meeting last autumn.

Trade between Russia, which is affected by Western sanctions, and the world's second-largest economy is also flourishing.

China's car manufacturers, for example, export numerous vehicles to the neighbouring country, while Russian gas flows into Chinese households, for example.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin speaks during an interview with Dmitry Kiselev. -/Kremlin/dpa

Russian citizens stand in a long queue outside the Russian Embassy in Berlin to vote during the 2024 Russian presidential elections. Carsten Koall/dpa
China is considering the opportunity of participation in the peace conference focused on Ukraine, which Switzerland plans to hold this year.

Source: Wang Shihting, Chinese ambassador in Switzerland, in an interview for the Neue Zurcher Zeitung, as reported by Bloomberg

Details: Wang stated that China is following the plans of the negotiations closely and "looking into the possibility of participating".

Quote: "All parties should work toward ending the war. The crisis must be prevented from worsening or even getting out of control."

Background:

Switzerland agreed to organise a "peace summit" on Ukraines request, which was reported by both countries during the visit of Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Bern on 15 January. Both countries have started preparing for the meeting.

Andrii Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, reported that more than 160 countries would be invited to the summit but Russia is not among them.

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By Lucy Craymer and Stella Qiu

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand shared with China its concerns about rising tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait during a meeting on Monday between the foreign ministers of both countries.

The meeting between Wang Yi and Winston Peters was their first in person since New Zealand elected a conservative government in October 2023. They had previously spoken by phone.

The ministers discussed trade, business and security in the Pacific as well as "areas of difference" including human rights and the situation in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet, according to a statement issued by Peters after the meeting.

"We also highlighted New Zealand and China's shared interest in a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region and raised concerns over increased tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait," the statement added.

China claims democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory, over the island's strong objections, and also lays claim to many areas of the South China Sea, which are disputed by the Philippines and other countries. Beijing is also boosting its strategic interests in the Pacific Island countries, efforts the United States and Australia are trying to counter.

China is also New Zealand's top trading partner. New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade reported two-way goods and services trade totalled NZ$38.67 billion ($23.55 billion) in the year ended September 2023.

New Zealand has long been seen as a moderate or even absent voice on China in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the United States, but in recent years has spoken up about what it considers to be concerning actions by China.

Before the meeting, Wang said China was willing to strengthen strategic communication with New Zealand on international and regional issues.

"We will work together to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world," Wang said, adding that the relationship between New Zealand and China continues to have a "healthy momentum".

Wang also met New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. He flies to Australia on Tuesday to meet his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, and hold a roundtable with business leaders in Canberra on Wednesday.

($1=NZ$1.64)

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer: Editing by Neil Fullick and Miral Fahmy)
SEOUL (Reuters) - China rebuked South Korea on Monday for Taiwan's participation in a U.S.-backed democracy summit in Seoul, where the island's Digital Minister Audrey Tang delivered an unannounced video message.

Tang told the third Summit for Democracy that Taiwan suffered disproportionately from concerted cyberattacks and the democratically governed island was willing and able to work with all stakeholders to ensure AI develops safely and sustainably.

Taiwan is a key global supplier of the semiconductor chips critical for such technology applications.

The conference being hosted by South Korea is an initiative of U.S. President Joe Biden aimed at finding ways to stop democratic backsliding and the erosion of rights and freedoms.

China, which claims Taiwan as its own, although the island rejects its sovereignty claims, said it was firmly opposed to South Korea having invited Taiwan to participate.

"There is only one China in the world," foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular news conference in Beijing on Monday.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory."

He urged Seoul to abide by the one-China principle and stop providing a platform for Taiwan independence forces to boost their prestige.

South Korea's foreign ministry did not immediately respond when asked about Lin's comments.

Conservative South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has charted a course closer to the United States. But China is South Korea's largest trading partner, and Yoon has also tried to placate Beijing to avoid widespread economic blowback.

Tang's participation in the event was not announced in advance by authorities in either Taiwan or South Korea.

A session programme distributed on Monday listed only a possible video message in fine print at the end, while Tang's ministry did not flag the appearance in her daily schedule of public events given to reporters.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said Tang's comments were made in a pre-recorded video message. The South Korean announcer who introduced Tang's video said she was appearing in a private capacity as an expert on the issues.

A democratic, rather than technocratic approach, is ideal to tackle the challenges of artificial intelligence, such as by mobilising citizens to identify and counter misinformation, Tang told the gathering.

Tang's invitation to Biden's first democracy summit in 2021 also drew protest from China, while U.S. officials cut short the video feed of her remarks after a map in her slide presentation swathed Taiwan in a colour different from that of China.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park, Hyonhee Shin, and Josh Smith in Seoul, Ben Blanchard in Taipei, and Liz Lee in Beijing; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Even in a land with plenty of eccentrics, an engineer in Missouri called Stephen Thaler stands out. Thaler is a man on a mission.

The computer scientists most cherished creation is an AI programme called DABUS. But it is not just any old AI, Thaler insists. DABUS has feelings, invents things, and produces original art, its creator claims.

Over several years he has filed many claims and appeals to Intellectual Property (IP) agencies around the world, including in the UK, demanding that human IP rights be assigned to DABUS. The international treaties that underpin national law are quite clear, however: copyrights and patents cant be assigned to a non-human entity. And certainly not an algorithm.

In a rare visit to his workshop, The Economist compared Thaler to Pygmalion: The sculptor who fell in love with his artwork after it sprang to life. But Thalers eccentric crusade is not just a distracting aside  it has profound geopolitical consequences.

Giving IP protection to non-human entities opens a Pandoras Box of trouble. Software companies who develop Instagram filters could claim they were the real artists, not the photographer or painter using them. The most ambiguous computer generated squiggle could be copyrighted, and lookalikes then contested in court. Overworked patent offices would soon be spammed with junk inventions.

Animals want a piece of the action too, according to the campaign group PETA, which acts as their ventriloquist. This isnt a joke: in 2015, PETA tried to make a crested macaque monkey a copyright owner after it used a wildlife photographers camera to take a selfie. (PETAs effort failed.)

This pirates charter would be a dream come true for countries that copy other peoples inventions, rather than develop their own. AI can simply ingest something and replicate it near identically, but claim it as its own. Why invent when you can steal?

We know exactly what happens to an economy when patents are effectively abolished, because at the end of the 19th century, the Netherlands tried it as an experiment. Dutch scientists and researchers found themselves outgunned in the marketplace by rip-off merchants who stole their inventions and commercialised them faster than they could.

Eventually, after lobbying by a beleaguered industrialist, Gerard Philips, patent protection was restored. And just in time: the eponymous company he founded went on to become one of the most inventive and successful in Europe, helping to create the CD a century later.

So far, every IP agency except one  South Africas patent office  has thrown out Thalers requests, including our own Intellectual Property Office. Still he keeps filing.

Thalers obsession has found support at the University of Surrey, where a high profile legal academic has taken up cudgels on his behalf.

In 2019, the university boasted in a press release that Professor Ryan Abbot and his law department had taken up Thalers cause. Ryan has given evidence to the Senate arguing for robot rights and he is helping Thaler file his claims and appeals to the US Copyright Office (where he gets short shrift).

Abbott makes his own motives quite clear: Outdated IP laws will inhibit a new golden era of AI, he argues.

Other legal experts strongly disagree. Researchers I spoke to were adamant: IP laws dont inhibit discovery at all. If heuristic algorithms (like large language models of the kind that power ChatGPT) find a new protein or formula, the discovery is assigned to their employer or research organisation. Legal certainty is precious.

It is worth setting the University of Surreys support in the broader context of its close links with China.

The university hosts a 5G innovation centre of which Huawei is a founding partner. Beijings cybersecurity chief visited in 2015. Surreys president and vice chancellor Professor Max Lu has twinned Surrey with Dongying, Lus home town in China. Staff at the university were told that criticising Chinas Covid lockdowns would be a microaggression.

The global 5G bandwagon was largely driven by China, along with hype for smart cities and autonomous cars. Mobile operators today rue that 5G wasnt really what they most needed: consumer uptake has been weak, though it has been a boon to technocratic authoritarian regimes seeking mass observation and control. Surrey is now leading the charge for 6G too.

There is no suggestion that Abbotts support for Thalers cause is linked to China.

However, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the backdrop to the legal wrangling is a global battle over control of AI between the US and China. IP laws will be one contested area: Beijing has already broken with the US through a legal ruling that afforded an AI-generated image copyright protection.

IP has long been a key area of contention between the US and China. Washington has regularly accused China of pilfering its tech, a charge Beijing denies.

Giving algorithms IP rights would create such a circus on its own that enforcement would become almost impossible. Thats why efforts such as Thaler and his supporters legal battles are important.

The role of universities in creating and defining new technologies such as 5G and AI is now being scrutinised more closely.

Universities were part of a liberal consensus that believed that trade and interaction with totalitarian systems like China was the way to create a more democratic world, says Roslyn Layton of research outfit China Tech Threat.

The reality is different, China uses their collaborations with our university to gain access to the knowledge we have and the technology that makes Western companies leaders in a number of areas.

Over in the US, Congress is waking up. It has recommended a number of changes to its Higher Education Act to limit Chinese access to research and increase oversight. Civilian efforts like 5G, or demolishing IP, are more elusive subjects for concern, but just as important. Its time Westminster woke up.

The University of Surrey was approached for comment.

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New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters (R) shakes hands with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Monday in Wellington (Hagen Hopkins)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made a rare visit to New Zealand on Monday, stressing the need to work with "friends" in the face of the "tumultuous international situation".

The trip marks the start of a diplomatic blitz through New Zealand and Australia, Wang's first visit to either country since 2017.

The whistlestop tour is expected to focus heavily on trade as Beijing looks to lessen the pain from slowing economic growth at home.

Speaking in the capital Wellington before a meeting with his New Zealand counterpart, Wang said the trip was also a chance to shore up diplomatic ties that have come under strain as Beijing adopts an increasingly aggressive stance on issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea.

"In the face of the current tumultuous international situation, we are willing to strengthen strategic communication with our friends in New Zealand on international and regional issues of common concern," Wang said.

"And we will work together to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world," he added before his closed-door meeting with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

New Zealand is part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance alongside the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia.

But Wellington has been criticised for taking a softer line on China -- putting its trading relationship ahead of its allies' security concerns.

In a statement on Monday, Peters said the talks touched on "trade, business, and people-to-people links", but also acknowledged "areas of difference such as human rights".

"We also highlighted New Zealand and China's shared interest in a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region and raised concerns over increased tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait," he added.

China is New Zealand's largest trading partner, and Chinese consumers have long had an appetite for the country's meat, wine, milk and wood.

Wang said he believed that "China-New Zealand relations will continue to be at the forefront of China's relations with developed countries".

"The relationship between us has developed smoothly and well," he said.

Later this week, Wang will meet Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra.

China and Australia have recently resolved a series of simmering trade disputes that saw Beijing impose tariffs and trade barriers on key exports in 2020, retaliating after Canberra barred Huawei from 5G contracts and called for a probe into the origins of Covid-19.

But the two nations continue to spar over human rights and Beijing's growing clout in the Pacific region.

ryj/sft/smw/ssy
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting with U.S. Senator from the Republican Party Lindsey Graham and U.S. Charge d'affaires in Ukraine Robert Needham, the press service of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine reports.

Senator Lindsay Graham and and CDA Needham had an important meeting with Zelenskyy to hear battlefield updates and vital role that U.S. assistance plays in Ukraines fight against Russias aggression. We all agree that time is of the essence in helping Ukraine defend itself, a message posted on Twitter reads.
China is considering taking part in talks on Ukraine's peace formula in the coming months, Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland Wang Shihting told Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung on March 18.

Ukraine's ambassador to China, Pavlo Riabikin, confirmed in January that China had been invited to participate in talks on Ukraine's peace formula, set to be held in Switzerland in the coming months.

President Volodymyr Zelensky first presented the peace formula, a 10-point peace plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine, at the G20 summit in November 2022.

China previously participated in similar talks that were hosted by Saudi Arabia in August 2023. The date for the summit in Switzerland has not yet been set.

"China is in favor of promoting peace talks and has always been committed to it," Wang told the paper.

Wang said that China has "presented a strategy for a political end to the conflict: the territorial sovereignty of all countries must be respected."

"All parties should work to end the war," Wang said. "We are closely following the Ukraine conference that Switzerland will host and are examining the possibility of participation."

Ukraine is keeping diplomatic channels with China open, even though Beijing has maintained close ties with Moscow during the war. European officials have urged Beijing to use its influence over Moscow to help end the war.

Earlier in March, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi praised the strengthening of relations between Beijing and Russia, and claimed that China is a "force for peace."

Read also: Putin wins rigged Russian election; Ukrainians in occupied territories vote at gunpoint

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
FILE PHOTO: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a press conference on the sidelines of the NPC, in Beijing

By Kirsty Needham

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, a prominent supporter of China who has criticised Australia's AUKUS nuclear submarine deal with the U.S., said he would meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi this week in a bid to improve bilateral ties.

Keating said in a statement e-mailed to Reuters on Tuesday that Wang's visit to Australia is a "good development", and he was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss international matters with him.

Wang will meet his Australian counterpart Penny Wong and hold a roundtable with business leaders in Canberra on Wednesday, on the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister since 2017.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government has sought to stabilise ties with its major trading partner China since coming to power in 2022, and a raft of Chinese blocks on Australian agricultural products have eased, even as sharp differences remain over regional security. China last week issued an interim decision to lift tariffs on Australian wine.

Wang is expected to hold meetings in Sydney on Thursday, although an official schedule has not been publicly released.

Former Labor Prime Minister Keating, who lives in Sydney, said he received an "unexpected invitation from the Chinese Foreign Ministry for me to meet the Foreign Minister at the end of his visit". The Australian government was assisting with arrangements, he said.

Keating, prime minister from 1991 to 1996, previously served on the board of the China Development Bank. Known for his rhetorical flourish, he has criticised Australia's intelligence agencies and politicians for drawing Australia closer to the United States with the AUKUS defence agreement, through which the U.S. and Britain will assist Australia to build nuclear powered submarines.

The AUKUS deal was struck by the previous Liberal government of Scott Morrison, and continues to be supported by Albanese's government.

China has criticised AUKUS as "inciting military confrontation through military cooperation".

It is common for former prime ministers to meet ministers of other countries, Keating said.

"I have strongly supported the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in his desire, in his words, to re-anchor Australian foreign policy in the region," he said.

"Australia has moved substantially from the counterproductive baiting policy the Morrison government applied to China to now something much more civil and productive," he added.

The stabilisation of relations between Canberra and Beijing was recently set back by the suspended death sentence handed to Australian blogger Yang Hengjun by a Beijing court last month, an issue likely to be raised by Wong in her meeting on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Gerry Doyle and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Congrats to Vladimir Putin on his landslide re-election: exit polls suggest he won 96 per cent of voters who said they didnt want to go to prison. By contrast, UK polling puts the Tories nationally on just two per cent  behind Monster Raving and Cornish Independence  triggering a whisper campaign that says Rishi might be replaced.

Its when the chips are down that the Tory Party becomes most Tory. Ben Wallace took to the airwaves to tell MPs to march to the sound of the guns, evoking the pointless massacres of the First World War that make one so proud to be British.

Kemi Badenoch was sent on a charm offensive to various outlets, deploying her special skill of speaking slowly and clearly so that even the idiot interviewer can grasp what shes saying. The leadership speculation, she told an obvious simpleton, is driven by a small minority of MPs. Dont knock it, Kemi: after the election, all Tories are going to be a small minority of MPs  and it was time for these morons to stop it.

At a beauty parlour in Portsmouth, Penny Mordaunt threw a copy of Take A Break at the TV screen. Who, she bellowed from beneath the hairdryer, is telling the media that I want to run?!

The Penny for PM phenomenon is a mystery. Her popularity among members, not so much. Labour is motivated by ideas, the Tories entirely by sex  and Penny is a very attractive naval reservist who took part in a televised diving contest and waved a big sword around at the Coronation. She also tells dirty jokes in the Commons. As you can imagine, the Conservative Partys core demographics of retired admirals and closeted gay men cant get enough.

Brains as well as beauty

But Penny has brains as well as beauty and must have figured out that to become leader of the Tory Party at this point in history is a suicide mission. Youll lose the general election, take the blame and be even more mocked than Liz Truss. Its the least appealing promotion offer since Karl Doenitz received a telegram from the Fuhrerbunker in 1945 informing him of an exciting opportunity for career advancement.

Knowing this, her allies are messaging journalists to say, Its nothing to do with Penny! So, who is behind it?

Michael Gove. Or so some think. By pushing Penny, the Govester damages Sunak while also hurting Penny  because she looks disloyal  guaranteeing the post-election leadership for his girl, Kemi. The theory might be true; it might be nonsense, the product of a party looking for enemies within because it has given up on beating the enemies without. Tories see Goves fingers on every plot and crisis they face. Hes Russia in human form.

As for Rishi, he popped up on TV to extol the plan  the plan... the plan... the plan...  then met Barack Obama at No 10, his presence greeted in Westminster by the kind of excitement usually reserved for Jesus Christ. No doubt some MPs are reading the Tory rulebook to see if they can install him as leader. Alas, even Obama couldnt raise this party from the dead.

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A bingo hall has confirmed it has closed for good after 25 years.

Mecca Bingo in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, announced that it shut on Sunday following an event over the weekend to celebrate the time it had been part of the community.

In an update posted on the Mecca Stoke website, customers were advised to use its sister club in Crewe, Cheshire, which is more than 14 miles away.

It added: Well miss you all loads and want to thank every single one of you for your loyalty and support.

Richard McElroy, operations director at Mecca Bingo, said the decision to close the venue was made with a heavy heart.

"Mecca Stoke has been a part of the local community for over 25 years and we want to say a huge thank you to all of our customers," he added.

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An XR protester outside the studio of GB News, which was sprayed with black paint on Monday morning - Philip Toscano/PA

Eco-activists claims that they have a right to cause damage as part of their protests have been rejected by Court of Appeal judges.

Victoria Prentis, the attorney general, asked the Court to rule on whether eco-protesters could use a defence of lawful excuse to cause criminal damage to banks, businesses and private property and avoid conviction at trial.

It follows the acquittal of a protester from a climate action group known as Burning Pink who threw paint at the offices of Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth, as well as the Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem and Green parties, causing damage that cost more than 36,000 to repair.

The protester was cleared after claiming that she honestly believed that the owners of the damaged property would have consented to it if they had known more about the impact of climate change.

However, on Monday, three Court of Appeal judges ruled that protesters cannot use such a defence, as political beliefs were too remote to be classed as a lawful excuse if they had known of thedamage and its circumstances.

GB News hit by XR protest

GB News was targeted on Monday after Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists hurled fake oil outside the channels main studio in London.

Protesters threw the paint outside the entrance of the building in west London, as another masked activist sat on top of a tripod dangling a Pinocchio-like puppet.

Activists branded GB News a puppet TV station for the fossil fuel industry. GB News said it would not comment when asked about the demonstration.

In the Court of Appeal, Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, Lord Justice William Davis and Mr Justice Garnham ruled that circumstances of damage could include the time, place and extent, but not the reasons behind a protest.

Giving a summary of the judgment, Baroness Carr said: The circumstances would not include the political or philosophical beliefs of the person causing the damage.

They would not include the reasoning or wider motivations for the damage. These matters are too remote from the damage. Evidence from the defendant about the facts of or effects of climate change would be inadmissible.

Ms Prentis said: Climate change is an important issue and while the right to protest must be protected, it does not give a right to cause serious criminal damage no matter how strongly held a belief is.

Todays judgment is important as it ends any uncertainty over when a person has a lawful excuse to cause damage because they honestly believed the property owner would consent. It clarifies that the importance or merits of a protest are not the circumstances of damage caused during that protest.

It is essential that these cases are dealt with consistently, so we welcome the courts ruling which will ensure consistency and give judges much needed clarity in this important area of law.

The eco-protesters outside GB News - Philip Toscano/PA

The judgment will not reverse the acquittal but it will mean that protesters will no longer be able to use lawful excuse as a defence.

The argument was used to secure the acquittal of XR protesters who caused 500,000 of criminal damage to HSBCs London headquarters. The nine women, all members of XR, sang as they shattered windows with hammers and chisels at 7am on April 22, 2021. They were cleared after claiming that they honestly believed that the bank would have consented if it had known more about the impact of climate change.

It follows a similar separate referral to the court over the acquittal of four protesters who toppled the statue of the slave trader Edward Colston in Bristol.

The Court of Appeal ruled that their defence  that convicting them would be a breach of their human right to protest  was not legitimate in cases of significant criminal damage. Their acquittal was not reversed.

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By Sam Tobin

LONDON (Reuters) -Environmental activists accused of criminal damage cannot rely on their political or philosophical beliefs as a defence, London's Court of Appeal ruled on Monday, raising the prospect of more protesters being convicted for direct action.

Various groups have targeted companies and political parties in Britain, causing damage to property in order to raise awareness of climate-change issues.

The rise in the use of direct action has prompted a wider crackdown on protest movements in Britain and across Europe, particularly in relation to environmental groups.

Monday's ruling effectively prevents environmental protesters from relying on their beliefs about the dangers of climate change as a defence to criminal damage.

Attorney General Victoria Prentis, who asked the Court of Appeal to clarify the law after the acquittal of environmental activists last year, welcomed the decision.

"Climate change is an important issue and while the right to protest must be protected it does not give a right to cause serious criminal damage no matter how strongly held a belief is," she said in a statement.

The decision drew criticism from campaign groups including Extinction Rebellion (XR) and Just Stop Oil, whose activists have been charged with criminal damage.

XR co-founder Clare Farrell, one of nine people acquitted in November of breaking windows at bank HSBC's London headquarters, said the ruling would "criminalise" non-violent protesters.

In English law, a defendant has a defence to a charge of criminal damage if the property owner would have consented had they been aware of the circumstances behind causing the damage.

Defendants have been cleared by juries after admitting causing damage to property owned by companies having argued that those companies would have consented if they had known about the extent and importance of climate change.

The Court of Appeal ruled on Monday, however, that the circumstances in which damage is caused "would not include the political or philosophical beliefs of the person causing the damage".

Sue Carr, the most senior judge in England and Wales, said that evidence about a defendant's views on climate change will usually be inadmissible and cannot be put before the jury.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin, editing by Ed Osmond)
Author Mark Twain once famously stated that a newspaper report of his death was greatly exaggerated.

Today, the same might be said of recent headlines questioning the value of a four-year college degree.

Americans Are Losing Faith in the Value of College. - New York Times (Sept. 5, 2023)

Is College Worth It?  Forbes (Jan. 24, 2024)

Gen Z doesnt value higher education. Colleges should be in freak-out mode. - Business Insider (Dec. 23, 2023)

More: More and more Americans are feeling less satisfied. Higher education offers a solution

Here are some facts about the state of higher education

Such sensational headlines grab public interest. But do they really reflect the truth about higher ed?

MTSU graduate Nolan Willis Jr. shakes the hand of MTS President Sidney McPhee as he accepts his diploma and walks across the stage during MTSUs 2023 Fall Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023.

I think not. And here are some facts to bolster my case.

On an annual basis, median earnings for graduates of four-year public universities in Tennessee are $36,000 (or 84%) higher than those whose highest degree is a high school diploma. (Association of Public and Land-grant Universities).

A bachelors degree recipient is expected to earn $1.4 million more than a high school graduate over their career (Boyd Center).

Four decades ago, only 28% of jobs required postsecondary education. By 2021, 68% required it. In another decade, that percentage will increase to 72%. (Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce).

Such statistics dont even touch upon the statistically measurable social and health benefits of a four-year degree.

Why Tennessee's public college presidents signed on to "Four the Future"

Now in my 23rd year as president of Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, I have personally witnessed the journeys of tens of thousands of students from wide-eyed freshmen to workforce-ready graduates.

Ive also been around long enough to see with my own eyes how attainment of a bachelors degree not only increases the life trajectory of those who earn them, but also of their families, producing generational economic, social, and health benefits.

MTSU recently joined nine other state universities to launch a campaign to increase public awareness about the value of a four-year college degree from a Tennessee public university. The message of the Four the Future campaign isnt just that a four-year degree is good for prospective studentsbut that its good for all Tennesseans.

Public universities educate students in areas of need in Tennessee, including nurses, doctors, engineers, educators, and other professionals (Association of Public and Land-grant Universities). Meanwhile, more than 70% of Tennessee business leaders agree there is an insufficient supply of suitably trained workers (Boyd Center).

Here's why MTSU is involved in this campaign

Its appropriate for MTSU to help lead this awareness campaign, since in so many ways, MTSU is Tennessees university, providing life-changing opportunities to a student body that best reflects the diversity of our states population.

MTSU is Greater Nashvilles No. 1 choice for undergraduates, as well a leading choice for adult learners, military-connected students, and first-generation college students.

More than 70% of our graduates remain in Tennessee, building our states economy and communities. The next time you meet one of them, I encourage you to ask them about the value of their MTSU degree in their lives. And in their communities.

Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU president

Sidney A. McPhee, president of MTSU since 2001, earned a bachelors degree from Prairie View A&M University in Texas; a masters degree from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida; and a doctorate in applied behavioral studies in education from Oklahoma State University.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: College education: A four-year degree gives graduates a leg up
FILE - Colombia's President Gustavo Petro attends a press conference with members of UN Security Council after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Bogota, Colombia, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. President Petro on Sunday, March 18 2024, suspended a ceasefire with one of a handful of armed groups with which he hoped to negotiate peace accords, saying its fighters violated the truce by attacking an Indigenous community.(AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File)

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP)  Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Sunday suspended a ceasefire with one of a handful of armed groups with which he hoped to negotiate peace accords, saying its fighters violated the truce by attacking an Indigenous community.

The government said that starting Wednesday it would resume military operations against Estado Mayor Central, a group of fighters who broke away from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia when it signed a peace pact in 2016.

Indigenous leaders in the war-torn western region of Cauca said an attack by the dissident group Saturday wounded at least three people and a young student was taken away by force.

In a post on the X platform, Petro said group was violating the ceasefire agreement, adding that he believed it used peace negotiations as a cover to strengthen itself militarily.

The suspension of the ceasefire was a political blow to Petro, a former rebel who became Colombias first leftist leader promising to consolidate total peace in a country long ravaged by armed conflict.

He has sought to rewire the way the country grapples with its decades of conflict, by addressing the poverty that underlies the unrest while simultaneously negotiating peace with armed groups to minimize bloodshed. Yet conflict continues to rage in many rural swaths of the South American nation.

With implementation of the FARC accord's provisions lagging, a growing number of former rebels have rearmed against the government, joining a toxic slate of drug gangs and and guerrilla groups to war for power.

A report by a United Nations agency warned Friday that more than 8 million people in Colombia need humanitarian help, mainly because of the expansion of the country's armed conflict.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  The Linden Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library will move into a temporary location as it closes for the construction of a new building.

On Saturday, April 6, the current CML Linden Branch on 2223 Cleveland Avenue will close its doors at 6 p.m. A temporary location next to the Linmoor Education Center will open at 9 a.m. on April 15, until the new Linden Branch buildings construction is complete. Construction was originally supposed to begin in late February, but was delayed until an April 17 wallbreaking ceremony.

National Poison Prevention Week: tips to keep your family safe

Columbus Metropolitan Librarys plan to reinvest in local communities is currently in its second phase. In November, Columbus approved a levy that will bring in $39 million for the library system during its first year.

The new Linden Branch will be built on the same site of the current branch, where it has been located for two decades. It will more than double the size of the current branch that was built in 2004.

Columbus Metropolitan Library to open new Reynoldsburg branch

Serving as construction manager at risk on the project is Turner Construction Company. Moody Nolan has been tabbed as architect on the project.

The mid-April ceremony will mark the beginning of construction on the new project. It will be a highly visual event that will include library leaders, city officials and community officials. The event is free and open to all.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
"The place is failing," former President Trump said of California at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland last month. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

Donald Trump is running against California  again.

In his campaign to win a second term, the former president frequently excoriates the state as a terrifying dystopia  the inevitable product, he claims, of Democratic policies.

The place is failing, he told a conservative conference last month.

It has become a symbol of our nations decline, he told California Republicans last year.

They dont have water, he said. Rich people in Beverly Hills  [are] only allowed a small amount of water when they take a shower. Thats why rich people from Beverly Hills, generally speaking, dont smell so good.

He accused Gov. Gavin Newsom of telling undocumented migrants, If you come up, were going to give you pension funds. Well give you a mansion. (Newsom has never promised migrants pension funds or mansions.)

Under its current policies, Trump charged, the state can take children away from their parents and sterilize them. (California does not seize children to sterilize them.)

Hes destroyed California, Trump said of the governor, whom he recently gave a new and strikingly unattractive nickname: Gavin New-Scum.

California-bashing has become a standard feature of GOP rhetoric, of course. A national survey for The Times this year found that almost half of Republicans believe the state is not really American.

What makes Trumps version more than mere blather is that he could be president next year, and he has big plans for California if he wins.

He has promised to use an expansive view of presidential power to undo state laws and policies on many fronts, including areas such as law enforcement and education where states, not the federal government, have traditionally been in charge.

Read more: Column: Biden says America is 'coming back.' Trump says we're 'in hell.' Are they talking about the same nation?

Some examples:

He says hell close the U.S.-Mexico border on his first day in office  the day he has set aside to act as a dictator  and launch the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.

His Santa Monica-born immigration advisor, Stephen Miller, says that if Democratic states such as California dont cooperate, Trump could order National Guard units from red states such as Texas to cross their borders  a recipe for constitutional crisis.

Trump has promised to scrap President Bidens programs to promote renewable energy, including subsidies for electric vehicles and charging stations. His advisors have proposed limiting Californias power to set fuel emission standards for automobiles.

He says hell stop the state from allowing Sacramento River water to flow into the Pacific to protect the Sacramento Delta. Were not going to let them get away with that any longer, he said. (Water experts say it would be impractical and environmentally disastrous to divert the river's flow completely. Newsom has already suspended some environmental laws to send more water to reservoirs and is preparing to build a new water tunnel under the delta.)

Read more: Column: Trumponomics? He would impose the equivalent of a huge tax hike

Trump says hell send federal law enforcement officers into Oakland and other cities to stop rampant shoplifting. If you rob a store, you can fully expect to be shot as you are leaving that store  shot! he said.

And he says he will prosecute California healthcare providers if they comply with a state law that prohibits releasing information about minors' gender-related medical care to other states. (He called the law a sick California scheme for violating federal laws against kidnapping [and] sex trafficking.)

Those proposals suggest that a second Trump term, like the first, would produce major collisions between the White House and California's Democratic state government.

"If campaign promises have any meaning, youre looking not just at a second term; youre looking at Trump on steroids," said Larry Gerston, an emeritus professor of political science at San Jose State University. "The impact on California would be very real. Abruptly removing huge numbers of undocumented immigrants, for example, would disrupt all of our lives ... and be a big hit to the economy."

Read more: Column: Trump wanted to pull the U.S. out of NATO. In a second term, he's more likely to try

Many of those proposals are retreads from Trumps first term as president from 2017 to 2021. Some, like his attempt to repeal Californias emissions standards, were blocked by courts after state lawsuits.

But Trump may stand a better chance of success the second time around.

His first term was launched with little preparation and no detailed transition plan. This time, hes likely to appoint a more thoroughly Trumpified White House staff and Cabinet, with fewer moderates applying the brakes.

The Supreme Court, with three Trump appointees in its six-seat majority, is friendlier too.

And pro-Trump policy wonks have already produced a 920-page handbook of policy proposals for a second Trump term, Project 2025.

This is a very big deal, said Donald F. Kettl of the University of Texas, an expert on federal-state relations. At the end of the first Trump term, there was frustration among his aides that they had finally figured out what they wanted to do, but ran out of time. Theyve spent four years planning, learning from their mistakes and compiling an action plan.

Some of their ideas would still be difficult to carry out, Kettl noted.

Sending troops out into the country to look for migrants waiting for their court dates would be very tough to implement, he said.

But even the less bellicose actions Trump has proposed could have major effects on California and other Western states. Ill explore them in more depth in future columns.





Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev has met with Nurlan Yermekbayev, the Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), in Beijing, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, the sides explored the prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the SCO. Hikmet Hajiyev hailed Azerbaijan's active role as a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Hikmet Mirzayev emphasized that Azerbaijan attaches great significance to cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and is interested in further enhancing the bilateral relations.

The parties exchanged views on the development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the SCO across various areas.
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, commenting on the decision of the EU Council to approve the allocation of EUR 5 billion of military assistance to Ukraine, has said that the EU will continue to support Ukraine in defending against Russia, whatever it takes.

The EU is living up to its commitments. The Ukraine Assistance Fund turns our words into action. With the fund, we will continue to support Ukraine defend itself from Russias war of aggression with whatever it takes and for as long as we need to, the press service of the EU Council quoted Borrell as saying.

The Council noted that the newly established UAF will allow the EU to further support the evolving needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces through the provision of both lethal and non-lethal military equipment and training.

The UAF will seek to maximise the EUs added value in terms of delivering more and better operational support to Ukraine, complementing EU member states bilateral efforts, and focusing on increased joint procurement from the European and Norwegian defence industries, the EU Council briefed.

In parallel, the Council decided today to improve the governance rules for the facility to make them more sustainable and adapt them to the new international circumstances. The improved governance rules will build on well-functioning national procurement structures as well as existing framework contracts, leveraging both a lead nation approach and the European Defence Agency (EDA), and including the joint procurement of the required defence equipment from the European defence industry and Norway - including small and medium sized enterprises - while allowing for flexibility in supply chains which may include operators established or with production facilities outside the EU or Norway, the press release says.
Key defense leaders will testify on Capitol Hill this week on the White Houses fiscal 2025 budget request, even as the fiscal 2024 military appropriations plan still needs to be completed.

Seven combatant commanders are scheduled to appear at hearings on Wednesday and Thursday, with all expecting to face questions about their respective sections of the budget ask. Lawmakers hope to have work on that spending plan done ahead of Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year.

But the House and Senate also need to finalize a partial government funding plan  including the Department of Defenses appropriations  for fiscal 2024. Most federal agencies have been operating on short-term budget plans for the last five months, but lawmakers hope to pass a full-year plan by the end of this week.

If they fail to adopt those plans by Friday, it could trigger a partial government shutdown, one which could halt military paychecks for several weeks and furlough tens of thousands of Defense Department civilian employees.

Tuesday, March 19

House Foreign Affairs  1 p.m.  2172 Rayburn

Afghanistan Withdrawal

Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley and former head of U.S. Central Command Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr. will testify on decisions leading up to the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan in 2021.



Wednesday, March 20

Senate Foreign Relations  9:30 a.m.  Capitol S-116

Nominations

The committee will consider several pending nominations, including Michael Sfraga to be Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs.



House Armed Services  10 a.m.  2118 Rayburn

Indo-Pacific Region

Adm. John Aquilino, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and Gen. Paul LaCamera, head of U.S. Forces Korea, will testify on current challenges and the fiscal 2025 budget request.



House Homeland Security  10 a.m.  310 Cannon

Iran

Outside experts will testify on the security threat posed by Iran.



House Foreign Affairs  10:15 a.m.  2172 Rayburn

Pakistan

State Department officials will testify on the future of democracy in Pakistan.



House Veterans' Affairs  10:30 a.m.  360 Cannon

Pending Legislation

The subcommittee on economic opportunity will consider several pending bills.



House Appropriations  10:30 a.m.  2362-A Rayburn

Military Quality of Life

Senior enlisted leaders from each of the services will testify on potential military quality of life changes in the fiscal 2025 budget request.



House Foreign Affairs  12 p.m.  2172 Rayburn

Pending Legislation

The committee will consider several pending bills.



House Veterans' Affairs  1 p.m.  360 Cannon

VA Disability Claims

Department officials will testify on disability claim case appeals and potential improvements to the system.



Senate Armed Services  2 p.m.  222 Russell

Defense Acquisition Systems

Members of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Reform Commission will present their findings to the committee.



House Armed Services  3:30 p.m.  2118 Rayburn

Special Operations Forces

Gen. Bryan Fenton, head of U.S. Special Operations Command, and Christopher Maier, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, will testify on current challenges and the fiscal 2025 budget request.



Thursday, March 21

Senate Foreign Relations  9:30 a.m.  Capitol S-116

Pending Business

The committee will consider several pending bills and nominations.



House Foreign Affairs  10 a.m.  2172 Rayburn

Chinese Military Technology

State and Commerce Department officials will testify on Chinese military use of American technology.



House Armed Services  10 a.m.  2118 Rayburn

Middle East/North Africa

Gen. Michael Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command, and Gen. Paul LaCamera, head of U.S. Forces Korea will testify on current challenges and the fiscal 2025 budget request.



Senate Foreign Relations  10:30 a.m.  419 Dirksen

U.S. Anti-Corruption Strategy

State Department officials will testify on anti-corruption strategies and challenges in foreign countries.



House Veterans' Affairs  11 a.m.  360 Cannon

Toxic Exposures Fund

Department officials will testify on toxic exposure disability claims and how the Toxic Exposures Fund is handled in the White Houses fiscal 2025 budget request.



House Veterans' Affairs  2 p.m.  360 Cannon

Pending Legislation

The subcommittee on health will consider several pending bills.



House Armed Services  3:30 p.m.  2212 Rayburn

Strategic Forces Posture

Members will hear testimony from Gen. Anthony Cotton, head of U.S. Strategic Command; Gen. Stephen Whiting, head of U.S. Space Command; and Gen. Gregory Guillot, head of U.S. Northern Command on strategic forces posture for fiscal year 2025.



House Veterans' Affairs  4:30 p.m.  360 Cannon

Pending Legislation

The subcommittee on oversight will consider several pending bills.



Friday, March 22

House Armed Services  9 a.m.  2118 Rayburn

Military Technology and Artificial Intelligence

John Sherman, Chief Information Officer for the Department of Defense, and Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, director of the Defense Information Systems Agency, will testify on military priorities for digital modernization, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.




Ethiopia's biggest commercial bank is scrambling to recoup large sums of money withdrawn by customers after a "systems glitch".

The customers discovered early on Saturday that they could take out more cash than they had in their accounts at the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE).

More than $40m (31m) was withdrawn or transferred to other banks, local media reported.

It took several hours for the institution to freeze transactions.

Much of the money was withdrawn from state-owned CBE by students, bank president Abe Sano told journalists on Monday.

News of the glitch spread across universities largely via messaging apps and phone calls.

Long lines formed at campus ATMs, with a student in western Ethiopia telling BBC Amharic people were withdrawing money until police officers arrived on campus to stop them.

The student, who attends Jimma University Institute of Technology, said he "did not believe it was true" when his friends told him at around 01:00 local time (22:00 GMT) that it was possible to withdraw large amounts from ATMs, or transfer the money using the bank's app.

Another student, at Dilla University in southern Ethiopia, said a number of his peers retrieved money from CBE between midnight and 02:00 local time.

More than 38 million people hold accounts at CBE, which was established 82 years ago.

Ethiopia's central bank, which serves as the financial sector's governing body, released a statement on Sunday saying "a glitch" had occurred during "maintenance and inspection activities".

The statement, however, focused on the interrupted service that occurred after CBE froze all transactions. It did not mention the money withdrawn by customers.

Mr Sano did not say exactly how much money was withdrawn during Saturday's incident, but said the loss incurred was small when compared to the bank's total assets.

He stated that CBE was not hit by a cyber-attack and that customers should not be worried as their personal accounts were intact.

At least three universities have released statements advising students to return any money not belonging to them that they may have taken from CBE.

Anyone returning money will not be charged with a criminal offence, Mr Sano said.

But it's not clear how successful the bank's attempts to recoup their money has been so far.

The student from Jimma University said on Monday he had not heard of anyone giving the money back, but said he had seen police vehicles on campus.

An official at Dilla University said bank employees were on campus collecting money that some students were returning voluntarily.

More BBC stories about Ethiopia:
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The bars were filled with green on Sunday as St. Patricks Day festivities took place all around the Greater Lansing Area.

A big bar crawl happened in Lansing with Irish kilts, Irish beer, and good company. Rian Jordan was enjoying the holiday. He said he started the day with corn beef, then he got to bar hopping.

Holidays like this bring out the best people in Lansing, Jordan said.

bar crawl at Lansing Brewing Company and leprechaun is from bitcentral WLNS archives

He went to Nuthouse first, then ended up at The Lansing Brewing Company. He said these bars deserve a lot of business on St. Pattys Day.

What I think is important about St. Patricks Day is that local businesses get involved in this, Jordan said.

And involved they are. The brewing company was part of the Paddy Hard bar crawl. The bars Assistant General Manager, Daniel Tucker, was ready for a busy day.

Its one of the biggest bar days of the year. So all of the bars are blowing up having a great day, great weekend, Tucker said.

So what makes the bars go hand in hand with the holiday? Tucker said its tradition.

It was a chance to really celebrate and have revelry around heritage. And when youre celebrating, a drink in hand is a really fun way to celebrate, Tucker said.

bar crawl at Lansing Brewing Company and leprechaun is from bitcentral WLNS archives

Brandon and Ashley Bernheisel had been at The Brewing Company since 10:30 in the morning, kicking St. Pattys Day off with an Irish brunch.

Steak and eggs, cabbage, corn beef, I had a veggie burrito with beer cheese. It was phenomenal, Ashley said.

And they didnt get pinched today because they went all out with their green outfits.

Any excuse to bring out the yellow. Weve got more outfits than we can choose from, Ashley said.

Who knows, maybe someone found a pot of gold at the end of their bar crawl.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Reality Check is a Sun Herald series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email mynews@sunherald.com.

A company operating in South Mississippi that received millions of dollars in state and local incentives has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure its $2.6 billion debt.

Enviva, the largest supplier of wood pellets in the world, filed for bankruptcy on March 13.

The Maryland-based company continues to operate a $140 million plant in the George County Industrial Park in Lucedale and a $60 million shipping terminal in Pascagoula.

Under construction in South Mississippi is a $250 million facility in Bond, north of Wiggins in Stone County.

Enviva said in a March 12 statement that construction will continue at its mill in Epes, Alabama. But construction in Bond will be paused during the restructuring.

The company said it will revisit restarting Bond, depending on the level of customer contracting, once it emerges from its in-court restructuring process.

The plant originally was expected to open this year and provide 100 jobs.

The UBC Sacramento, destined for Guadeloupe and Martinique, is loaded with 18,000 metric tons of wood pellets produced by Enviva at their shipping terminal at the Port of Pascagoula. The company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Hannah Ruhoff/hruhoff@sunherald.com

The bankruptcy comes two months after Fitch Ratings downgraded Envivas default rating when the company missed a $24.4 million interest payment.

Among its debts, the company owes $780 million to a Delaware bank and $353 million in bonds from local development authorities in Mississippi and Alabama.

The mills turns trees into wood pellets that are shipped overseas to supply fuel for power plants in the United Kingdom, Asia and other countries.

While environmental activists and some neighbors protested the plants in Lucedale and Bond, the plants were welcomed by those who saw economic development in their communities, jobs and an opportunity for local landowners to have a market for their timber.

It was standing room only at a public hearing in Lucedale Tuesday, May 14, 2019, for a proposed wood pellet plant environmental permit in George County. Environmental activists from outside the area tried to get locals to see potential hazards, but most in the crowd welcomed the jobs and economic impact. Alyssa Newton/anewton@sunherald.com

Mississippi Development Authority provided $4 million in grants for site development and infrastructure at Bond. Another $4 million was awarded for a water tank, well and other infrastructure in Lucedale. George and Stone counties also provided millions in incentives and tax breaks to bring jobs to the mostly rural counties

Enviva said in its statement that payback plans are in the works with an investment group that holds more than 92% of the bonds for the Mississippi plant.

Enviva, the largest wood pellet producer in the world, has a production plant in Lucedale and a port terminal in Pascagoula. Construction of a facility in Stone County is on hold while the company is restructuring its debt. Enviva
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR)  On Sunday, March 18, the Ambassador of the Republic of the Congo was in Lynchburg today to memorialize Ota Benga. He was a Congolese African man who was brought to America to be exhibited at the St. Louis Worlds Fair and Bronx Zoo.

With the work of activists, he was later freed and brought to Lynchburg where he lived in the 1910s. Being unable to return home, he later took his life in 1916, and his funeral was held at the diamond hill baptist church.

Sunday, Lynchburg residents and overseas diplomats gathered at the Jackson Street United Methodist Church to remember him and what he represents to the community and the country overseas.

The ceremony included the Call of the Molimo, songs, west African dancing, and more to celebrate the life of Ota Benga, his story reaching far corners of the world.

Army Captain, social media influencer uses her experience to inspire younger generation







Hes important because of being the person he was and what he went through, and the horrible dehumanization and everything that happened to him. But he is also important because he can teach us to be better versions of ourselves so nothing like that can happen again, said Dr. Myra Gordon, the vice-chair and spokesperson for the International Ota Benga Memorial Committee.

Benga is no longer just a face in American history, but his story is also shared in the Congo.

Ota Benga was one of us and here you are treating him like hes one of yours, so theres a lot of connection between the African and the African American. We are one people, said Congolese ambassador, Marie-Helene Mathey Boo Lowumba.

The Congolese ambassador spoke at the ceremony about the importance of Bengas story, while also using the event to spread awareness of stories she said are similar in the Congo today.

They tried to stop the Black man from singing in the cotton fields: Roots of blues in Louisiana

People are dying every day, women are being violated, children are being killed  and we keep calling it the forgotten genocide, the Congolese ambassador said.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Didier Gondola, a professor of history at Johns Hopkins University.

He shared the challenges and importance of his work of restitution, identifying pillaged Congolese artifacts and art at the African museum in Belgium and working to bring them back to the Congo.

Post-George Floyd era, theres is now a growing demand of African heritage to go back to Africa, especially pieces that were looted, they were illegally obtained, said Dr. Gondola.

He also shared the meaning and significance behind the artifacts.

The International Ota Benga Memorial Committee told WFXR that they are actively discussing how, when, or even if they should bring the remains of Benga back to his homeland. Theyre working with the Congolese Society as well.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
WASHINGTON  A conservative influencer was arrested in California on Jan. 6 charges, including helping to steal a table from a Capitol conference room that the FBI says was used to assault officers just feet away at the lower west tunnel, where some of the most brutal attacks on law enforcement took place.

A post by Isabella Deluca on a train with her photo and text that reads,

Isabella Deluca, a fervent supporter of former President Donald Trump, was arrested in Irvine, California, on Friday, according to court records unsealed Monday. She faces five charges, including a count of theft of government property.

Deluca, according to the FBI, can be seen "removing, and aiding and abetting other rioters in removing, a table from ST-2M"  an office in the Capitol  "and passing it to rioters outside through another broken window." The table "was subsequently used to assault law enforcements officers guarding the Lower West Terrace Tunnel," the FBI said.

Deluca, who has racked up hundreds of thousands of followers on social media, was an ambassador for the conservative group Turning Points USA. She says in an online bio that she interned for former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., and for Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. (Zeldin left office last year and lost his New York race for governor in 2022.)

Isabella Deluca outside a Capitol building window on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. District Court)

The FBI first received a tip about Deluca just three days after the Capitol attack and interviewed her on Jan. 21, 2021, the day after Joe Biden's inauguration, according to the bureau.

"Fight back or let politicians steal [an] election? Fight back!" Deluca allegedly tweeted on the afternoon of Jan. 6.

Images in the FBI affidavit show Deluca helping to pass the table out of the broken window and show that her fellow Jan. 6 defendant Timothy Desjardins, who was arrested in 2021, picked up a wooden table leg and used that leg to assault officers. (Last year, Desjardins was sentenced to 18 years in prison on state charges, separate from his Jan. 6 charges. Plea negotiations in his Jan. 6 case are ongoing.) Another rioter threw the tabletop at officers, the FBI said.

In an Instagram comment after the attack, Deluca posted that she got "maced pretty bad about three times" and that she "used milk to get the mace/tear gas out of my eyes."

Deluca later posted that she had "mixed feelings" about Jan. 6 and then posted that Trump should declare martial law, according to the FBI.

Deluca did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Eli M. Gold, the president of the Gold Institute for International Strategy, told NBC News that Deluca was hired "as an unpaid volunteer media associate" last May and that her role "was to update" its "online social media profile." Gold said that when they learned of the charges against Deluca on Monday, they "felt it necessary to sever our relationship" with her.

More than 1,300 people have been arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, and prosecutors have secured more than 950 convictions. About 500 people have been sentenced to periods of incarceration from a few days behind bars to 22 years in federal prison.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Two women convicted in federal court of fraud while working at the Chatham County Housing Authority continue to hold key positions at a locally and federally funded nonprofit that helps low-income residents.

Central Piedmont Community Action Inc., based in Siler City, assists people in Chatham, Durham, Orange and other counties with services that include a federally funded housing program.

JoAnn Johnson Davis, who manages that program, pleaded guilty in May 2023 to defrauding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) out of over $200,000 while working as the Housing Authoritys executive director.

Davis, 65, was hired for the case-manager job at Central Piedmont Community Action in the time between her guilty plea and her sentencing Feb. 8 to 30 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She was ordered to pay $194,136 in restitution and is scheduled to start her prison sentence on April 3.

One of the co-defendants who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud at the Housing Authority under Davis is Clintess Barrett. She was sentenced to four years probation and was ordered to pay $57,179 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorneys Middle District Office.

Barrett, 55, has remained as the chair of the board of directors of Central Piedmont Community Action as of this month. An updated March 2024 brochure on the nonprofits website states Barrett is the nonprofits board chair.

Reached by phone, Barrett declined to speak with The News & Observer.

Both women were terminated from their jobs at the Housing Authority last year after an investigation by the HUD Office of the Inspector General, although a spokesperson declined to provide the termination dates.

Chatham County reviewing the matter

In a statement, Karen Howard, vice chair of the Chatham County Board of commissioners, said the county is reviewing the matter to assess the validity of these claims and will take appropriate actions if warranted.

The County also places great importance on the integrity of these organizations and ensuring that they foster trust within the community and among the individuals they serve, Howard said.

Howard was chair of the county board in 2023 when the Housing Authority leaders were federally indicted.

Central Piedmont Community Action received $10,000 in state grants and $42,908 in American Rescue Plan funds through the county for its Rapid Re-housing program, according to the county manager.

Natasha Elliott, the nonprofits executive director, oversees its staff of five people. She did not respond to calls and emails from The N&O for this story.

The board overseen by Barrett determines the pay of employees, including Elliotts.

Amber Cole, the nonprofits personnel director and executive assistant, also declined to comment and directed hiring questions to Elliott.

Elliott knows Davis and Barrett from her work as the board chair for the Chatham County Housing Authority, a position shes held since Davis was in charge. She was appointed to the board in 2017 by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners.

According to a federal 990 form for fiscal 2021-22, Central Piedmont Community Action reported total revenues of $2.59 million, total expenses of nearly $2.64 million and (negative) net assets or fund balances of $-255,849.

Working at nonprofit after convictions

As housing case manager for the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS program (HOPWA), Davis oversees a HUD-funded program, despite being convicted of misusing HUD funds.

The program serves residents diagnosed with HIV or AIDS, or family members with at least one person in the household with HIV or AIDS, who make 80% or less of the area median income. HUD awards hundreds of millions of dollars to states and cities across the U.S. for HOPWA programs.

Prosecutors knew about Davis current employment when she was sentenced, according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Justice.

Davis declined to speak to a reporter from the N&O this month while at her Durham office in the NCWorks Career Center.

After The N&Os inquiries into her employment, her name was removed this month from the HOPWA section on the Central Piedmont Community Action website.

However, a brochure dated January 2024 that includes her name as housing case manager is still accessible on the website.

The HUD Office of Inspector General is aware of Davis and Barretts association with the nonprofit but had no further comment, according to a HUD spokeswoman.

I think the fact that theyre working at this nonprofit calls into question (its) credibility, Whitney Schmidt, a former Siler City landlord, said in an interview. I feel like this puts an already critical housing situation in the county at even more risk. This certainly seems like poor judgment at best ... at worst, an egregious breach of trust in the community.

Schmidt leased a duplex to tenants with Section 8 vouchers from 2017 to 2022, and raised various complaints about the Housing Authority under Davis leadership. The staff missed appointments for inspections, communicated poorly and constantly tried to find reasons to end her tenants leases, she said.

She eventually sold her property, she said, because it became too difficult to continue renting under the Section 8 voucher program.

Federal indictments allege conspiracy

Davis was federally indicted in February 2023, along with Barrett and three other Housing Authority employees, on charges of conspiring to defraud HUD from 2016 to 2020.

Davis is related to Barrett and two of the other defendants who were indicted:

 MiChelle Bell-Johnson, who was sentenced to three years probation and $83,877 in restitution.

 Robert Johnson Jr., whose charges were reduced to a misdemeanor charge of false statements to HUD with intent to defraud and was sentenced to two years probation and $7,677.50 in restitution, court documents show.

Co-defendant Candace Brunson-Pooles charges were also reduced to a misdemeanor count of theft of government property. She was sentenced to a year of probation, $929 in restitution and a $500 fine.

All told, Davis was convicted of abusing her position at the Housing Authority to make payments to at least 13 of her friends and relatives.

The scheme involved bid-rigging, prosecutors said.

Bogus job contracts for services like lawn care and cleaning within the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) were awarded to friends and relatives who submitted bids for the contracts. Those bogus proposals competed with fraudulent ones fabricated by co-conspirators who used stolen identities and company letterheads, prosecutors said.

JoAnn Davis was entrusted to spend money intended to help improve the lives of others, FBI special agent in charge Robert DeWitt said in a news release. She abused that trust by misusing the government funding to enrich her own life and the lives of her family and friends.

It resulted in the Housing Authority paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars for work that was not done and Davis then taking a cut of the money.

After she accepted a plea deal last year, she was terminated from her job.

Links to Durham Housing Authority

Davis and Barretts professional connection precedes their time working together in Chatham County.

They worked together at the Durham Housing Authority from 2006 to 2011, until they were both fired on the same day.

According to termination letters requested by The N&O, Davis and Barrett both were terminated on the same day, Sept. 14, 2011.

Another employee named Anne Graham was also terminated from the DHA that day. Graham was listed this month as the sole HOPWA housing case manager at Central Piedmont Community Actions website.

According to a letter from then executive director Dallas Parks, Davis was investigated for violating different ethics and procurement policies at Durham Housing Authority and her abrasive management style. Davis was found to be in a conflict of interest for hiring Bell-Johnson, her niece, as a contractor, who would go on to be one of her co-defendants convicted for fraud.

NC Reality Check is an N&O series holding those in power accountable and shining a light on public issues that affect the Triangle or North Carolina. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email realitycheck@newsobserver.com
CORCORAN, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  It was a big day for the City of Corcoran Saturday as it unveiled a statue in honor of the late Corcoran Mayor Raymond Lerma.

Hundreds gathered at Gateway Park Saturday afternoon to get a first glimpse of the bust honoring the late community leader.

Lerma spent seven terms on the Corcoran City Council and was serving as the citys mayor when he suddenly passed away in January 2020.

I was in awe of what Raymond used to do, what he did, and what he accomplished, said one of Lermas brothers, Raul Lerma.

Before his time in public office, Lerma spent close to four decades as a teacher at Corcoran High School.

Those who worked with him say he was known for his strong work ethic and dedication to empowering the Latino community.

Raymond Lerma. He was Corcorans Cesar Chavez in a number of ways, in the way he lived his life, in the way he taught us. A lot of people come from very humble beginnings here. But he never made you feel like that. He showed you how to go do the hard work to aspire in life, said Kings County Supervisor for District 2 Richard Valley.

After the ceremony, everyone got to take in the statue while listening to a live mariachi band and dig into some tacos as they remembered the life of the beloved community leader, Raymond Lerma.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Joseph and Susana Landa purchased a $2 million home in Queens, New York in October 2023.

The couple hasn't moved in yet because a man is squatting on the property.

The Landas have sued the man to evict him. And he has sued the couple for harassment.

A couple who purchased a $2 million home thought they'd be surrounded by family and taking care of their son with Down Syndrome, but a squatter upended their dream.

The ongoing legal battle between the couple  Joseph and Susana Landa  and Brett Flores began late last year in the idyllic Douglaston neighborhood of Queens, New York.

Photo shows Douglastown in Queens, New York. Google Maps

Although court documents viewed by Business Insider showed the Landas bought the entire lot in October 2023, they soon discovered that Flores occupied the home and refused to vacate. It's been five months, and the Landas have not moved into the house.

Flores, however, has a different take. Flores said he had permission to remain in the home from the previous owner, whom he took care of until their death in January 2023, according to WABC 7, the ABC affiliate in New York, which first broke the news.

Representatives for Flores did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI. And representatives for Joseph and Susana Landa said they had no comment.

Here's everything we know about the real estate drama.

Flores lived in the Douglaston home with the previous owner until January 2023

Court documents viewed by BI showed that the three-bedroom, four-bathroom home previously belonged to Bernard Fernandez. Flores earned $3,000 a week taking care of a then-elderly Fernandez before he died in January 2023, according to WABC 7.

Following Fernandez's death, Flores remained on the premises, even after the Bernard Fernandez 2009 Revocable Trust claimed the house, according to court documents.

The home was later sold to the Landa family by the new trustee, Joseph Russo, for $2 million, according to court documents. Since Flores was still at the house during this time, the Landas were forced to take on the task of evicting him.

The Landa family attempted to move in but couldn't because of a loophole in New York City's squatters' rights laws.

The Landas told WABC 7 that they purchased the home because it's right next door to family members.

"We're looking to hopefully retire and most of all provide for my son Alex, who has Down Syndrome," Susana told the outlet.

However, discovering Flores squatting inside the home upended their plans. Joseph called the situation "a total nightmare."

New York City, of which Queens is a part, has some of the strongest laws in the country protecting squatters. Anyone who lives at a residence for more than 30 days is considered a tenant and is granted temporary rights.

"To reclaim property from a squatter after 30 days, an owner must be able to prove a right to the property and proceed with legal eviction proceedings," according to The New York State Senate.

This is where the Landas have faced hurdles.

The couple told WABC 7 that they've had five hearings, but the process keeps getting delayed. Flores once arrived in court without an attorney. Then he delayed the process by filing for bankruptcy. New York City law states that once a tenant files for bankruptcy, a landlord cannot continue "to obtain possession or enforce judgment" until the bankruptcy case is resolved.

"If you have no lease and you're not paying rent, what is you right?" Joseph told the outlet.

The Landas told the New York Post in February they gave Flores 10 days to leave, but when they and an insurance inspector tried to enter the home, Flores called the police.

The Landas said Flores is renting out rooms in the meantime and they're being forced to pay his utility bills

The Landas said that while the legal battle continues, Flores has listed the home online as a rental, offering one room dubbed the "Prince Room" for $50 per night, according to the New York Post.

The couple also said they were now stuck paying Flores' utility bills, which they estimated to be "thousands of dollars."

"It makes me feel completely forgotten in this legal system, unfair, and not able to do anything," Joseph told WABC 7.

Flores has countersued the Landa family, who've hired security for the home this month

The Landa family hired security to watch the home amid the legal proceedings. The security guard told The Daily Mail that he sympathized with the Landa family, whom he called "good people."

"It is a shame what is going on," they added.

After the Landa family sued Flores, he countersued them for what he called harassment, WABC 7 reported earlier this month.

Flores' attorney, Dennis O'Sullivan, told the local Fox affiliate the Landa family was using intimidating tactics against Flores.

The Landas attorney, Anthony Mordente, meanwhile, told the outlet that Flores asked the family to pay him money if they wanted him to leave, but that they declined.

Separately, court documents showed that Flores  also known as Brett Fisher  was arrested in December 2023 for assault and harassment charges. Flores pushed, picked up, and threw his wife, WABC 7 reported.

Its unclear if Flores lives with the wife, with whom a source told the New York Post he shares a young child. The source, who declined to say whether she was a friend or family of Flores, told the outlet they're unsure if the wife and child lived at the residence.

The source said that the baby is on a ventilator.

Flores' attorney says a "revelation" will change the course of the case

When Flores and his attorney arrived earlier this month at the Queens County Civil Court, a judge requested they provide audio recordings to support Flores' legal claim to the home, WABC 7 reported.

The judge gave Flores and O'Sullivan one week to produce the audio recordings.

During the hearing, O'Sullivan said he'd been retained just hours before the hearing and required more prep time, according to the outlet. When asked why Flores hadn't produced the audio recordings or hired an attorney before this hearing, O'Sullivan said Flores has "a newborn child with respiratory issues."

"A revelation will turn this narrative on its head," O'Sullivan told WABC 7. "The homeowners, the Landas, are not victims in this case."

The next hearing is scheduled for April.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Los Angeles efforts to reduce the number of homeless people on its streets will soon face some stricter scrutiny.

Though the city settled a lawsuit filed by the L.A. Alliance for Human Rights in 2022, the plaintiffs have recently accused the city of failing to meet the terms of that settlement.

U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter has expressed support for an independent audit of the citys efforts, including Mayor Karen Bass Inside Safe program, pointing to the difficulty of determining which programs are working and which are less effective.

Bass office claims that during the first year of her term, more than 21,000 homeless people were brought in off the streets, though the website also says the Inside Safe program by itself has only put 2,153 people into interim housing and 402 into permanent housing.

Matthew Umhofer, an attorney for the plaintiffs, compared the lawsuit and the plaintiffs role as akin to that of a tough personal trainer on this issue.

We are going to push the city to get in shape on homelessness, he said. Thats our commitment to the city and our commitment to the people of Los Angeles.

Further discussions on the scope of the audit are expected Monday afternoon, but Zach Seidl, a spokesperson for Bass, said the mayor has moved with urgency to save lives and bring unhoused Angelenos off the streets leading to thousands more Angelenos coming inside last year than the year before.

Mayor Bass has long led calls for accountability, transparency and outcome measures regarding homelessness services and the cost incurred by the City, which is why the Mayor suggested an independent audit, Seidl added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Allocation of macro-financial assistance by US Congress to Ukraine is critically important  Zelenskyy at meeting with Graham

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who is on a visit to Ukraine.

"The head of state emphasized that the regular visit of Senator Graham demonstrated the unwavering powerful support of the United States for our country in the fight against Russian aggression," the press service of the presidential office has said.

"Our fight for independence and territorial integrity continues. The sustained support of Ukraine by international partners, especially the United States, is now more important than ever for the implementation of plans to de-occupy our territories and protect our people. We count on preserving and strengthening such support," it quoted Zelenskyy as saying.

"We see a strong determination of the U.S. Congress to step up support for Ukraine and we are grateful for it. It is critically important for us that the Congress soon completes all the necessary procedures and makes a final decision on the allocation of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine that will strengthen the Ukrainian economy and our Armed Forces," the president said.

Zelenskyy briefed the U.S. Senator on the situation on the frontline and the priority needs of the Armed Forces. The President emphasized the critical importance of further provision of military and technical assistance by partners, including air defense systems and missiles.

Special attention was paid to the topic of Euro-Atlantic integration of our country.

"Ukraine counts on further support from the United States for our Euro-Atlantic aspirations. This is also important for strengthening the entire transatlantic security," the head of state said.

"The parties exchanged views on further increasing the sanctions pressure on the aggressor state and the important role of the Congress in this regard. In particular, the importance of the Congress finalizing the legal framework for the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's urgent needs was emphasized," the press service said.
NEW YORK  New York City Mayor Eric Adams pushed back Monday against newly detailed sexual assault allegations stemming from his time as a transit cop.

Lorna Beach-Mathura, whose career at the New York City Transit Police Department overlapped with the mayors, filed a complaint in Manhattan Supreme Court on Monday alleging Adams sought to extract sexual favors from her in exchange for career advice one evening in 1993.

While we review the complaint, the mayor fully denies these outrageous allegations and the events described here; we expect full vindication in court, the mayors corporation counsel, Sylvia Hinds-Radix, said in a statement, following news of a suit regarding an alleged incident 31 years ago. Additionally, in 1993, Eric Adams was one of the most prominent public opponents of the racism within the NYPD, which is why the suits allegations that he had any sway over promotions of civilian employees is ludicrous.

The complaint is far more detailed than an initial legal claim Beach-Mathura filed in November under the state Adult Survivors Act, which allows civil lawsuits over certain sexual offenses that would otherwise be barred by statute of limitations.

In the new paperwork, she describes approaching Adams  who at the time was a prominent member of the NYPD Guardians Association, a fraternal organization of Black officers  for guidance after she felt she was passed over for several promotions.

Beach-Mathura, who like Adams was among the small share of Black employees in the agency (which was later merged with the NYPD), said Adams offered to give her a ride home one evening and discuss her predicament. Instead, the complaint alleges, Adams drove to a vacant lot on the Hudson River and demanded Beach-Mathura perform a sex act in exchange for his advice.

He exposed himself, the complaint alleges, begged her to perform oral sex and placed her hand on his genitals. And when she refused, according to the court document, Adams masturbated in front of her and then dropped her off at the nearest subway station.

Megan Goddard, Beach-Mathuras attorney, did not immediately respond to a request for further comment, or to make the unnamed people that Beach-Mathura claims to have told about the assault available to talk.

Beach-Mathura is requesting a jury trial. In addition to Adams, she is suing the city, the NYPD and the Guardians Association.



When the initial court papers were filed just before Thanksgiving last year, Adams unequivocally denied any wrongdoing and said he didnt even recall meeting the woman.

His chief counsel in City Hall, Lisa Zornberg, went further, questioning the accusers credibility at a wide-ranging press conference.

All we have is a bare, undetailed summons filed by a person who, according to public records and in her own words, is so litigious that shes written a book on how to file lawsuits, telling people to follow her lead because quote you just may win, Zornberg said in November.

Public records show the woman has filed numerous lawsuits, on a variety of issues with little record of success, as POLITICO has previously reported.

Adams initially avoided much political blowback for the case, even from political opponents, given the lack of detail and his swift denial. But that appears to be changing with the new filing.

The details of this suit are disturbing, said state Sen. Jessica Ramos, a progressive who is considering challenging Adams reelection in 2025, in a statement provided to POLITICO. I want to commend Ms. Beach-Mathura for her bravery in coming forward. Sharing these painful memories and demanding accountability takes a lot of courage. I hope this is quickly resolved so the city can return its focus to reversing its budget cuts and delivering services to New Yorks working families.
The $78 billion tax package that passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives in January includes an expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) as well as business deductions that encourage research and development. Both of these pieces are critical for the future success of Idaho and Americas economy and for the benefit of families, workers, and their communities. The current bill that sits with Congress is a promising sign of bipartisan legislation. However, some important adjustments are needed to ensure the interests of both parties are addressed.

Without this compromise, the CTC may never reach Idahoans.

Fortunately, Idahos own Sen. Mike Crapo is one elected official who understands the importance of perfecting this CTC revamp. Despite the bipartisan sponsorship and support of this bill, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have raised concerns about various components of the legislation. The critiques range in issue. For example, some Republicans have expressed concern that an increased state and local tax credit (SALT) was not included in the bill.

However, the chief issue that many Republicans have with this package revolves around another concern with the bill: that it could create reverse incentives to work. A statement Sen. Crapo shared on the effort highlights that the version of the CTC included in the bill could undermine the work requirement and shift from tax relief for hardworking Americans to a gift from the government. Republicans are understandably concerned about using taxpayer dollars to fund an extension of the welfare state, and although the bill may not currently assuage all of these concerns, Senate leaders should not give up.

The CTC is too important a benefit for American families to let a rushed process jeopardize the final outcome. Senator John Thune, R-South Dakota, the Senate Minority Whip, argued as much: We need a process that allows for some amendments to try and tweak and fix some of the issues.

Rather than abandoning negotiations entirely, both sides of the aisle should engage in honest negotiations to work out these differences and reach a final agreement. This is where we are counting on Sen. Crapo to lead.

An issue with one component of this massive tax package  along with an openness to negotiation  should not be conflated with outright opposition to the bipartisan legislation members have worked tirelessly to advance. Lawmakers like Senator Crapo, who are hesitant to support the bill with its current provisions, should continue to engage in the process.

Senators who want to discuss these potential impacts before signing on to a $78 billion dollar bill should not be criticized. Likewise, continued engagement should not be slammed as giving the other side a political win. Members of both parties would benefit from delivering a concrete win for their states families and businesses. Our Idaho senators have a knack for this kind of work and brokering a better deal for Idaho families.

We should encourage lawmakers to continue prioritizing these talks and work through their disagreements together. Legislators like Sen. Crapo want to ensure that intended recipients of this policy  Americas working families  see its benefits. Critics of the tax bill arent anti-tax credit, anti-family or even anti-CTC. All they want is to ensure this bill provides working Americans with maximum benefits and with minimal downsides.

It is a rare, amazing thing to see bipartisan collaboration in a bill as large as this one. Senators on either side of the aisle who are examining it with a critical eye deserve praise for ensuring they get it right.

Sen. Abby Lee is a Republican from Fruitland who serves as assistant majority leader. Sen. Ali Rabe is a Democrat from Boise. Rep. Lori McCann is a Republican from Lewiston. Rep. Ned Burns is a Democrat from Bellevue who serves as minority caucus chair.
Expectant parents invite doctors and nurses into the delivery room, not police officers. But law enforcement agencies have backdoor access in New Jersey.

The intrusion starts within 48 hours after birth, when maternity ward workers prick an infants heel to collect blood for laboratory testing. The screening allows for early detection of rare conditions like cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease.

All states do this. But afterward they destroy the paper cards they use to collect dried bloodspots. New Jersey keeps the blood.

Cops Love ImmunityUntil Theyre the Ones Abused by Police

Without telling parents, the state has stored samples from each baby born since the 1970s, creating a secretive database with millions of entries. Blood samples stay on file for 23 years. DNA data might last longer on third-party servers.

New Jersey does not say precisely what happens to the data, but the state gives itself permission to share the genetic markers it collects with anyone it wants for any reason, including law enforcement. The risk is not just hypothetical. New Jersey already has turned over infant blood samples to police agencies without a warrant, leading to criminal charges for at least one father.

Technically, parents can opt out of the screening if they object on religious grounds. But hospitals hide this option, and some families report threats of being reported to Child Protective Services if they refuse. A half-page handout from the New Jersey Department of Health claims all infants are required by law to give blood to the state.

The handout says nothing about long-term storage.

Erica Jedynak, a mother from Boonton, New Jersey, was blindsided on her delivery day. She did not learn until later that the state would keep her sons blood on file for unknown purposes. The intrusion felt like an eerie scene from Gattaca or some other dystopian science fiction horror film.

There is something morally not right that the government would be tracking him or almost assuming the guilt of babies, Jedynak says. I have to protect him from what appears to be a very creepy database.

The shadowy scheme also concerns Hannah Lovaglio, a mother from Cranbury, New Jersey. It is a little off-putting to think that my childs blood is sitting in some state facility in New Jersey, she says. I try to keep track of all of my kids things, but that is just totally out of my control and unsettling.

Rather than go away quietly, both mothers are fighting back in a federal class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Our public interest law firm, the Institute for Justice, represents the class.

Heres Why Legalized Marijuana Wont End the War on Due Process

The case builds on earlier lawsuits exposing invasive uses of baby blood samples without parental consent. Plaintiffs caught Texas turning over DNA data to the Pentagon for a national registry. Michigan was selling newborn blood for research. So was Minnesota. Court rulings forced all three of these states to stop.

Other jurisdictions respect parental rights voluntarily. But holdouts remain. California, for example, continues to stockpile baby blood spots for law enforcement and research. A state bill would give parents more control, but legislation should not be necessary.

The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution already guarantees the right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures. In the absence of a warrant, consent, or certain other conditions, all searches and seizures are unconstitutional.

Collecting blood from a baby just in case the child or a close relative does something illegal in the future falls far short of the standard. No judge, no matter how friendly to law enforcement, would authorize searches for evidence up to 23 years before a crime occurs.

Such warrants would put the United States in Minority Report territory. Yet this is where New Jersey wants to operateminus the warrants. The abuse is just one way governments can treat people like criminals before they do anything wrong.

The Sheriffs Office of Pasco County, Florida, uses a method it calls predictive policingwhere people marked for scrutiny face surveillance, unannounced home visits, and hyper-aggressive code enforcement. All household members suffer. Tammy Heilman, who had a teenaged son on the future criminals list, endured five years of weekly and sometimes daily police harassment.

Houston, meanwhile, forces certain business owners to treat their customers like potential criminals. Since 2022, the city has required bars, nightclubs, convenience stores, game rooms, and sexually oriented businesses to install exterior lights and cameras, make recordings, and store the information for 30 days at their own expense.

Cops Cant Be Allowed to Just Make Up Reasons for Pulling People Over

Upon request, these businesses must hand over video files to the police without a warrant. The scheme follows the New Jersey pattern. Law enforcement agencies conduct searches in advance or make someone else do it, and then mine the data when a need arises. The difference in New Jersey is the seizure of biometricsan extra layer of intrusion.

These Fourth Amendment violations must end. Even when a crime has occurred and the police have a suspect, they must follow the Constitution. Conducting searches and seizures in advance increases the risks of abuse.

If babies are not safe from the law enforcement overreach, then no one is.

Brian Morris is an attorney and Daryl James is a writer at the Institute for Justice in Arlington, Va.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Editors Note: The following arrest and incident reports were supplied by the Abilene Police Department. All information below comes from reports made by responding officers, and all suspects are considered not guilty unless determined otherwise in a court of law.

Incidents

1300 block of Westheimer Road  Burglary of Vehicle

A victim reported an unknown suspect entered his locked truck and took tools worth $3,000.

4800 block of Jennifer Lane  Burglary of Building

Clothing, a power pack, tools, and cash were stolen from the back of a motor vehicle.

1800 block of S Treadaway Boulevard  Theft of Property

A south Abilene business reported a suspect took tools worth $1,000.

1700 block of River Oaks Road  Theft of Firearm

A firearm and accessories were reported stolen.

100 block of College Drive  Theft of Service

A report for theft was taken.

3100 block of S 7th Street  Burglary of Vehicle

An unknown suspect opened an unlocked door and stole a firearm, glasses, a purse, and more from a vehicle.

1600 block of Highway 351  Criminal Trespass

A suspect was arrested for criminal trespass in north Abilene.

5200 block of Hartford Street  Theft of Property

Police took a computer and power cord worth $130.

2100 block of Green Street  Theft of Property

A victim reported his social security card and birth certificate were stolen.

2800 block of E Overland Trail  Theft of Property

A suspect was seen stealing cash from a register at her place of employment.

800 block of E Highway 80  Assault

A report was taken for assault in north Abilene.

2300 block of Oakland Drive  Assault Family Violence

A victim reported she was assaulted by her boyfriend in north Abilene.

1500 block of Bridge Avenue  Violation of Bond/Protective Order

1500 block of N 2nd Street  Assault Impede Breath

A victim reported she was choked by a suspect during a mutual combat fight with 4 other females.

300 block of Mill Creek Drive  Public Intoxication

Police responded to a disturbance in south Abilene where an intoxicated suspect had assaulted her boyfriend.

3300 block of Sherry Lane  Evading Arrest Detention

3000 block of S 10th Street  Theft of Motor Vehicle

A stolen vehicle was reported in south Abilene.

3300 block of Sherry Lane  Assault Family Violence

A report for assault family violence was taken in south Abilene.

200 block of Arnold Boulevard  Criminal Mischief

A victim reported her vehicles windshield was damaged.

2000 block of N 2nd Street  Terroristic Threat Causing Fear of Imminent Serious Bodily Injury

A report was taken for terroristic threat in north Abilene.

4400 block of State Street  Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon

A victim reported he was stabbed by an unknown person.

1000 block of E Hwy 80  Theft of Property

$500 in cash was reported stolen.

1400 block of Butternut Street  Assault

A victim contacted police and reported he was assaulted by a known suspect.

5200 block of S 1st Street  Violation of Bond/Protective Order

A report was taken for Violation of Protective Order.

500 block of Avenue G  Assault Pregnant Person

A victim reported she was assaulted by her boyfriend.

700 block of High Street  Terroristic Threat, Fear of Imminent Serious Bodily Injury

A report for terroristic threat was taken in north Abilene.

2700 block of Industrial Boulevard  Aggravated Assault Deadly Weapon

A victim was stabbed at an unknown location and was hospitalized.

1600 block of Avenue D  Assault Family Violence

Police responded to a domestic disturbance in north Abilene.

4400 block of Ridgemont Drive  Public Intoxication

A suspect was arrested for public intoxication.

4400 block of Ridgemont Drive  Public Intoxication

A suspect was found to be intoxicated in public. She had assaulted her boyfriend.

6200 block of Highway 83/84  Criminal Mischief

The tires of two vehicles were cut in a parking lot.

3500 block of Curry Lane  Theft of Property

A moped was reported stolen from a front porch.

1200 block of Lillius Street  Assault Family Violence

A victim stated she was assaulted by her boyfriend in south Abilene.

900 block of N Willis Street  Theft of Property

A cell phone worth $1,500 was reported stolen in Abilene.

800 block of Midway Street  Assault Family Violence

A victim told police her husband squeezed her hand during an argument, causing her pain.

1400 block of Hickory Street  Burglary of Habitation

A resident in north Abilene reported an unknown suspect broke into his house and stole multiple items.

200 block of Fannin Street  Assault Family Violence

A victim reported her boyfriend assaulted her at a north Abilene food pantry.

3100 block of S Willis Street  Assault Family Violence

A victim reported she was assaulted by her son in south Abilene.

UNDISCLOSED LOCATION  Assault

A victim claims she was assaulted by a known suspect in north Abilene.

Arrests

Patrick Wilson  Warrant

Ashton Stennett  Criminal Trespass, Resist Arrest Search or Transport

Jaylina King  Warrant

Quanah Boggess  Public Intoxication

Phillip Blagrove  Public Intoxication

Richard Jackson  Public Intoxication

Arnulfo Valenzuela  Warrant

Rochelle Ramirez  Warrant, Possession of Controlled Substance

Brittany Williams  Public Intoxication, Assault Threat/Contact

Taylor Calderon  Evading Arrest Detention, Resist Arrest Search or Transport, Public Intoxication

Phillip Wilson  Warrant, Manufacture Delivery Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon

Tijana Scott  Warrant

Ian Mauro  Warrant

Shelby Pullin  Warrant

Rhonda McWhorter  Warrant

Bryan Love  Driving While Intoxicated

Charlie Flye  Warrant, Possession of Dangerous Drug

Alejandro Hernandez  Assault Family Violence, Interfer with Emergency Request for Assistance

Martin Hernandez  Public Intoxication

Alexis Ramirez  Public Intoxication, Assault Threat/Contact

David Hernandez  Driving While Intoxicated

Aaliyah Tuminski  Public Intoxication

Breyanna Pitre  Public Intoxication

Joel Deanda  Public Intoxication

Troy Steele  Theft of Firearm, Disorderly Conduct  Discharge Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Firearm by Felon

Isaac Maldonado  Warrant, Leaving Scene of Accident Damage, Evading Arrest Detention

Brayden Crawford  Unlawful Carrying Weapon, Possession of Marijuana

Melissa Hopper  Possession of Controlled Substance

Julie Dixon  Possession of Dangerous Drug

Wildin Rodriguez  Warrant

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Donald Trump's hopes for a second presidential term may be damaged if he is convicted in a criminal trial, according to a new poll.

A Politico/Ipsos poll found that while a criminal conviction would not put an end to Mr Trump's electoral ambitions, it could damage his chances in his rematch against Joe Biden in November.

More than a third of independents who responded to the poll said that a criminal conviction would make them less likely to support the former president later this year, according to Politico.

Those sentiments undermine a generally held belief among political analysts that Mr Trump's legal woes will hurt him with potential voters. Despite his numerous controversies, none have seemed to stop the deeply loyal support Mr Trump has among his Republican followers.

Mr Trump has attempted to argue that he, as a former president, should be immune from prosecution. Despite those claims being rejected at nearly every level save for the US Supreme Court, the former president has continued to push the claim to wriggle out of his numerous charges.

Voters don't agree with the former president; according to the poll, 70 per cent of respondents rejected the idea that presidents should be immune from prosecution.

However, far fewer  less than a quarter  trust that the Supreme Court will issue a fair and nonpartisan ruling on the issue.

Approximately half of the respondents said they believe that Mr Trump is guilty of paying hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Approximately 86 per cent of Democrat respondents said they believed Mr Trump was guilty, while 54 per cent of independents held the same view. Only 14 per cent of Republicans believe he is guilty.

Those numbers remained largely the same when respondents were asked about Mr Trump's guilt in the Justice Department's 2020 election investigation, his Mar-a-Lago confidential documents case, and regarding the charges brought against him in Fulton County, Georgia for racketeering.

More than half of respondents  59 per cent  want Mr Trump to stand trial for the Justice Department's 2020 election subversion charges before the 2024 election.

The vast majority of Democratic respondents  90 per cent  want Mr Trump to go to trial before the election, and 65 per cent of independents agreed. Republicans were less supportive, but even within the party, 26 per cent said they wanted to see Mr Trump stand trial.

The only good news for Mr Trump is that nearly half of respondents do not trust the testimony of his former attorney, Michael Cohen.

Approximately 48 per cent of respondents said they don't find Cohen to be trustworthy. That's a problem for the Manhattan District Attorney's office, which is relying on Cohen's testimony in its case against the former president.

Approximately 38 per cent said they believed that the Manhattan DA's case would be weaker if it relied "in large part" on Cohen's testimony. Only 26 per cent said they believed it would make the case stronger.
Zoran Milanovic, President of Croatia, speaks at a press conference after his conversation with Germany's President Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa

Croatia's Constitutional Court thwarted President Zoran Milanovic's plan to run for a parliament seat, ruling he must first resign as president since partisan political activities are incompatible with this office, the court declared on Monday.

Milanovic announced plans on Friday to run on the list of the opposition Social Democrats (SDP) in the early parliamentary elections scheduled for April 17.

In case the opposition emerged victorious from the vote, he was planning to become prime minister and resign as president, Milanovic said, citing the controversial justice policies of Prime Minister Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic which critics say are fuelling corruption in the EU country.

Milanovic and Plenkovic are considered fierce opponents. The president has repeatedly voiced support for Russia, while Plenkovic pursues the pro-Ukrainian line of his HDV party, which belongs to the conservative European People's Party (EPP) in the European Parliament.

Croatia dissolved its parliament last week on initiative of Plenkovic's government prompting early elections.

Shortly beforehand, the parliament had passed a controversial law against whistleblowers under pressure from Plenkovic. The opposition fears that this is intended to cover up corruption by politicians from Plenkovic's camp.

Critics believe that the prime minister wants to bring the elections forward because he fears that the popularity of his centre-right HDZ party will have declined by then.

Plenkovic has been heavily criticized recently for his justice and media policies, with only a narrow majority of lawmakers backing him.
FILE PHOTO: President of Croatia Zoran Milanovic speaks during a press conference of the informal meeting with leaders of the alliance's members in the Western Balkans Skopje

(Reuters) -Croatia's Constitutional Court on Monday barred President Zoran Milanovic from running for prime minister in elections next month while still in office, ruling he would have to resign first.

Milanovic, a populist whose presidential term expires in February 2025, served in a more powerful position of prime minister from 2011 to 2016.

Milanovic on Friday set April 17 for the parliamentary vote after dissolving parliament and said he would run for prime minister and resign only "after winning the polls".

The court said the president's role ruled out running as a political candidate.

"The President of the Republic of Croatia is a non-partisan individual and he cannot take part in political activities of any party," Constitutional Court president Miroslav Separovic said.

If Milanovic runs for parliament or gives public statements as a future candidate for prime minister, he must immediately file his resignation to the Constitutional Court, Separovic said.

"We have found that he violated the constitution by his acts and statements from Friday to today, saying that he will run in the election and giving political statements," Separovic said.

Milanovic dismissed the court' ruling as a "constitutional coup d'etat" and reiterated that he would not resign in order to run.

Milanovic's Social Democratic Party (SDP) endorsed him as its candidate for premier when he announced his bid over the weekend. On Monday, its leader Pedja Grbin said the party would comply with the court's ruling but made clear it still backed the president.

"Starting today I am not allowed to say that Milanovic will get a mandate to compile the next Croatian government, that he will be the Croatian next premier at least until the publication of election results," Grbin told a news conference.

"And then we shall shout that."

Separovic said the court will monitor the election process and sanction those who violate the constitution, calling on Milanovic and the SDP to halt all anti-constitutional acts.

(Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Nick Macfie and Tomasz Janowski)
Cuban officials are pushing every button at their disposal to get the Biden administrations attention, offering talks on previously off-the-table issues such as human rights amid internal protests over the countrys worst economic crisis since the end of the Cold War.

Havana is also lighting diplomatic fires, ratcheting up accusations of U.S. interventionism and callousness in the face of human suffering on the island.

Cuban Vice Minister of Foreign Relations Carlos Fernandez de Cossio called U.S. Charge dAffaires Benjamin Ziff on Monday to deliver a diplomatic note of protest rejecting the interventionist conduct and slanderous messages of the United States government and its embassy in Cuba regarding internal affairs of the Cuban reality.

State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters Monday that the United States is not behind these protests in Cuba, and the accusation of that is absurd.

The communist government, once hopeful President Biden would reverse some of former President Trumps most stringent restrictions on Cuba  namely the state sponsor of terror designation  is now playing formerly withheld cards, but Cuban officials say the U.S. is not picking up the phone.

Theres not a lack of interest; whats lacking is political will. And further, even on the issues that the U.S. government says are their priorities toward Cuba, I can responsibly tell you that there have been public and private offerings from Cuba: Lets sit down and discuss topics that they say are their priorities, like the issue of human rights, Johana Tablada, the Cuban Foreign Ministrys top official in the General Division for the United States, told The Hill in a recent interview.

But when we say, Lets go, well sit down this week in Havana, in Washington or wherever and you can explain to us your concerns, there is no answer. There is no answer.

Cuban officials are receiving plenty of input, however, from Florida Republicans such as Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar who openly call for regime change, the remaining red line for Cuban officials to sit at the table.

The Cuban regime has no interest in talking genuinely about human rights. Only the regime has it in its own power to restore human rights to the Cuban people  the United States cannot give rights to anyone in Cuba. I hope this crisis and the protests in Santiago de Cuba expose the failures of communism and lead to an end of the dictatorship, Salazar told The Hill.

Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (R-Fla.), the only current Cuba-born member of Congress, called on the Biden administration Sunday to provide satellite internet to protesters.

On July 11, 2021, thousands of Cubans took to the streets demanding freedom, Gimenez said in a statement.

Today, on March 17, thousands of Cubans have taken to the streets again to protest the murderous Castro dictatorship and demand freedom, power, and food. In response, the regime shut down the internet to prevent protesters from organizing and mobilized its secret police to brutalize and jail the opposition.

Others including Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) and Salazar took to X to repost protest videos and support the demonstrators.

In a press conference posted Monday to Facebook by activist Rosa Maria Paya with the caption, the end of the dictatorship is the only exit to our crisis, Gimenez accused the Cuban government of shutting down the internet after previous mass protests on July 11, 2021.

Why? Because they fear their own people. And when a government fears its own people, that should be an indication to you that maybe its time to change the government, Gimenez said.

In a statement to The Hill, a State Department spokesperson said, U.S. regulations allow for certain internet-based services to support the Cuban people.

The Administration supports the Cuban peoples access to an open, interoperable, secure, and reliable Internet, and we are constantly reviewing practical options to support Cubans ability to communicate freely, the spokesperson said.

The GOP lawmakers appeal for regime change angered Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who on Sunday had blamed the array of U.S. sanctions for economic conditions on the island.

The infamous troupe wanted to go out yesterday to dance with the pain of the Cubans. Mediocre politicians and online terrorists lined up from South Florida to heat up the streets of #Cuba with interventionist messages and calls for chaos. They were left wanting, Diaz-Canel wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

In a press release announcing Mondays diplomatic note, the Foreign Ministry accused the United States of conducting a destabilizing plan [whose] execution is evident in plain sight. It rests in the reinforcement of a merciless economic war to provoke and exploit the natural irritation of the population.

It enjoys the complicity of important media outlets of the American and international big press, and the mercenary support of people who mainly live in the south of the State of Florida in the United States, whose only livelihood is the industry of aggression against Cuba, read the release, where Cubas inclusion in the list of state sponsors of terrorism was highlighted as the most egregious element of U.S. sanctions.

Cuba was added to the list by Trump a week before Biden took office, leaving the Democrat with a hot potato: He could either keep Cuba on the list, dealing a blow to the islands economy and spurring migration, or he could remove it, exposing himself to accusations of sympathizing with the communist regime.

Biden chose the former, leaving Cuba  a country that has close collaboration with the U.S. on an array of issues, including law enforcement  in the same category as Iran, North Korea and Syria.

The administrations inaction on that point has frustrated its allies, who otherwise see a marked improvement in Bidens approach when compared to Trumps.

The Biden administration has taken important steps to improve dialogue with Cuba, including by reopening the Havana embassy and renewing funding for Cuban democracy programs, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) said.

However, the decision not to reverse harmful Trump-era policies  including the State Sponsor of Terror designation  is a serious missed opportunity that has worsened the lives of everyday Cubans. I hope the administration will continue to welcome productive avenues for engagement that support economic growth and the democratic aspirations of the Cuban people, added Castro, the top Democrat in the House Foreign Affairs Western Hemisphere subcommittee.

The lingering designation has frustrated Cuban officials, who routinely point to U.S. relations with Vietnam as a model to follow and an example of how the United States can engage diplomatically and commercially with a communist country.

That comparison has not been lost on Cuba moderates in Congress.

Remember, when we think about the argument that were  dealing with a communist country and so forth: China is one of the largest trading partners of the United States. Vietnam is a strong trading partner of the United States, a country with whom we have a strong prosperous relationship, Castro said at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Biden policy toward Cuba in January.

Cuban anger over the terrorist list has specific economic reasons: Though other U.S. economic sanctions discouraged third-party foreign investment, inclusion on the list forces foreign companies and individuals to choose between the United States and Cuba.

At an investment scale, companies that decide to do business with Cuba can essentially be locked out of U.S. financial markets, potentially rendering them unable to operate anywhere but Cuba and other countries that dont collaborate with the United States on terrorist financing rules.

At an individual scale, the terrorist list has cost Cubas tourism industry, because European Union citizens who travel to Cuba lose their U.S. visa exemption.

The sanctions have left Cuba and the United States at an impasse over the current economic crisis: Cuban officials say their economic woes are entirely a result of the blockade, while the countrys stateside critics blame communism, corruption and economic mismanagement.

Moderates on the issue are far from supportive of Cubas human rights record but do see opportunities in engagement.

The Cuban government is the most repressive regime in the Western Hemisphere. If it is genuine about engaging in talks with the United States on its human rights record, without preconditions, I believe that is a positive development that the Biden administration should capitalize on, Castro said.

Cuban officials, meanwhile, have publicly stepped back from previous red lines, such as a demand for holistic talks rather than issue-based conversations, particularly on human rights.

We have taken unilateral steps to make our position from a year ago more flexible. We would say to the United States when they talked to us about human rights, we said, No, not human rights, lets talk about everything. Now we are saying, Yes, all right, lets talk about human rights,' Tablada said.

Still, the Cuban government is not waiting breathlessly for a call.

The prevailing design today is regime change. The prevailing design today is the pressure cooker. The prevailing design today is to treat the Cuban people like we were rabbits or lab rats in an unconventional warfare laboratory, and we see no relief on any of the issues that are our priority, Tablada said.

Updated at 9:56 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa.  The Cumberland Valley Business Alliance (CVBA) is inviting local community residents to learn more about an upcoming cruise to New England and Canada this fall hosted by Cruise Planners.

Experience the hues of autumn while sailing across New England and Canada from Sept. 30 to Oct. 11.

Travelers will board the Celebrity Eclipse in Boston and travel to Rockland, Maine. Guests will visit the town of Rockland, known as the lobster capital of the world, the Rockland Harbor Trail and Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. Guests also will venture to Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, to see the Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and the Maritime Museum of The Atlantic, which houses Titanic artifacts.

Other dock destinations include Prince Edward Island, Portland in Maine and Quebec City.

Travel Club members enjoy a trip in Hawaii.

The final leg of the trip includes the small port city of Sydney and its historic sites and nature walks.

An information session for the Fall Foliage in New England & Canada Celebrity Cruise will be held on Tuesday, March 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the Chambersburg Chamber, 100 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg.

A second information session will be held in Greencastle on Thursday, March 21, at 5:30 p.m. at the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber, 217 E. Baltimore St.

RSVP to the sessions by going to CVBAlliance.org/Events, by sending an email to lkennedy@chambersburg.org or by calling 717-264-7101, ext. 206.

For more information about the cruise, contact Carol at 717-477-0111 or carol.dibiase@cruiseplanners.com, or go to CVBAlliance.org/TravelClub.

The CVBA Travel Club is an opportunity for local residents to enjoy unique group travel experiences with their neighbors to domestic and international destinations while supporting the business community.

A portion of the proceeds from each trip supports the Cumberland Valley Business Alliance, as well as the member travel agent.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: CVBA Travel Club invites locals on cruise, info session March 19
The Czech Republic is looking for ammunition for Ukraine around the world, with even allies of Russia among the suppliers, The Wall Street Journal reported on March 17.

The Czech Republic, having intensified Cold War ties, has received about 800,000 artillery shells from various suppliers around the world and has identified another 700,000 pieces that could be purchased for additional money.

Read also: Security source reveals Czech President Pavel found artillery stockpile critical to Ukraine's defense

Unlike the United States, France, or Germany, which focused on increasing domestic production to supply Ukraine, Prague focused on finding sources of supply for existing weapons.

The WSJ writes that the country's former affiliation with the USSR has been "an unexpected blessing." Czechia inherited a strong defense industry with clients around the world. The country also has good relations with many countries in the Global South that have large stockpiles of Soviet-era weapons and can produce even more.

According to Czech government officials, they have begun traveling the world negotiating the purchase of shells and export licenses with producing countries.

Read also: Czechia can purchase 200,000 additional artillery shells for Ukraine  PM Fiala

Czech officials are silent on where the shells come from. However, according to the newspaper, some of the suppliers include Russia's allies.

Tomas Kopecky, Czechia's special representative to Ukraine, said that Prague acts as an intermediary. The Czech Republic negotiates with a country that has stocks of shells or can produce them, and connects it with a Western country that places an order and pays for the delivery.

At the same time, the agreements stipulate that the deliveries will be made through the Czech Republic or third countries to hide any direct connection between the countries of origin and Ukraine, so as not to "expose the supplier to the wrath of Moscow."

Read also: Bild names three countries from which Czech Republic could buy 800,000 shells for Ukraine

"Confidentiality is the key point: We are talking and will talk to everyone, regardless of their loyalty or political position  with some exceptions, such as North Korea," said Tomas Pojar, National Security Advisor to the Czech government.

Czech Deputy Defense Minister Jan Jires noted that the country has found discrepancies between the publicly friendly attitude of some governments toward Russia and their willingness to conclude agreements with Ukraine's allies in private.

Read also: Ukraine to receive first shipment of Czech-contracted ammunition in coming weeks  Prague

"If you come with a bag of money, they are interested in it, and the Czech Republic, unlike the United States, is perceived as a neutral country," said Jakub Janda, director of the Prague-based European Values Center for Security Policy.

Bild reported on March 11 that the Czech Republic had purchased 800,000 artillery rounds from third countries and that they could be delivered to Ukraine within a few weeks. According to the tabloid, Czechia could have sourced the ammunition from South Korea, South Africa, and Turkey.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin discussed with representatives of U.S. law enforcement agencies who arrived in Kyiv the strategy of investigating Russian cybercrimes committed against Ukraine and partner countries, the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) has reported.

"Prosecutor General Kostin met in Kyiv with colleagues from the U.S. Department of Justice Nathan Brooks and Tim Rank, as well as with Legal Adviser to the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine Jared Kimball and FBI Legal Attache Chris Geiger. We discussed strategies for investigating Russian cybercrimes committed against Ukraine and partner countries," the Prosecutor General's Office said on the Telegram channel on Monday.

As noted in the message with reference to the Prosecutor General's data, "the scale of Russia's cyber operations against Ukraine is steadily growing. There have been more than 800 cyberattack attempts on government agencies and services. Among them are energy infrastructure facilities that are constantly under the gun of the enemy." According to Kostin, the Russian Federation also conducts information operations in order to destabilize Ukrainian society and attacks telecommunications systems in order to deprive citizens of access to mobile communications and the Internet.

Kostin noted that an effective and comprehensive investigation of these crimes provides for the introduction of advanced methods and practices to bring those responsible to justice. He added that the experience and support of American colleagues in these matters would be very valuable. "We are determined to further strengthen our work in these areas and introduce innovative investigative methods to make cyberspace safe and effectively counteract any new threats," the Prosecutor General stressed.

In addition, we discussed strengthening cooperation in the field of intellectual property protection and combating organized crime in cyberspace.
The Czech railway operator RegioJet's second line to Ukraine will commence operations on 27 March. It will run through Slovakia to the town of Chop (Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine) and complement the existing line through the city of Przemysl (Poland).

Source: European Pravda, citing RegioJets website

Details: With a transfer in Chop, the journey from Prague to Kyiv will take approximately 22 hours, with options with sleepers or seats, as well as separate sleeper compartments for women and children.

Departures from Chop or Prague take place in the afternoon, and the expected journey time is around 13 hours. The wagons from Chop will run as part of the 18-car train travelling from Prague to Kosice.

Ticket prices range from 18.9 to 67.9, including meals.

In an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, RegioJet owner Radim Jancura said the Chop-Prague route will feature 3 cars with 140 seats, including 80 sleepers and 60 seats.

Jancura explained that RegioJet will generate revenue from transportation but will pay Ukrzaliznytsia (Ukrainian Railways) for access to its infrastructure.

In October, it was reported that the Czech transport company Regiojet was planning to open a new direct rail link between the Polish city of Przemysl bordering Ukraine and Hannover (Germany).

Background:

On 3 September, a new train from Ukraine to Poland started running on the Kyiv-Chem route.

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Czechia is planning to propose a ban on grain imports from Russia and Belarus into European Union countries at next week's European Council meeting, Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny said on March 17.

Over the last year, 1.5 million tons of grain were imported into the EU market from Russia, which amounted to more than what was imported before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

There is no reason why we should support the aggressor by buying Russian grain in Europe, Vyborny said on Czech television, insisting that grain must be added to the list of sanctions.

The European Union has already implemented thirteen sanctions packages against Russia, including on trade restrictions, travel bans, and freezing of assets.

In February, Latvias parliament voted to ban a list of Russian and Belarusian agricultural and food product imports.

"This Latvian initiative to ban the import of agricultural and fodder products from Russia and Belarus... is an additional element to the common EU sanctions policy, the Latvian government statement read.

Similarly, on March 14, the Lithuanian parliament adopted a resolution calling on the EU to ban Russian grain crop imports.

Read also: Lithuanian farmers complain about Russian, not Ukrainian grain

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The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) is being investigated over possible failures to comply with environmental laws.

It is in relation to special protection areas (SPAs) for at-risk wild birds, such as puffins, whooper swans and light-bellied Brent geese.

It is being led by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).

It has previously investigated Daera over other environmental law failures.

These related to ammonia guidance in planning, which led to the guidelines being suspended.

It has also criticised Daera for missing the deadline to publish its first Environmental Improvement Plan.

A spokesperson for Daera said the department would fully co-operate with the investigation.

"Both the minister and the department recognise the important role special protection areas play in helping to protect and maintain wild bird populations and we share concerns about the reported decline in populations," they added.

"The minister plans to bring the Environmental Improvement Plan to the executive imminently."

There are 16 SPAs on land in Northern Ireland, which are important areas for breeding, over-wintering and migrating birds.

They include Rathlin Island, the Antrim Hills, Strangford Lough, and Lough Beg and Lough Neagh which is the largest SPA in Northern Ireland.

The OEP is looking into whether recommendations from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) were not implemented and other potential failures in respect of the department's duties to protect and maintain wild bird populations.

Along with other conservation authorities, the JNCC carries out reviews of SPAs then makes recommendations on the creation of new SPAs and adaptation of existing ones in order to protect and maintain certain wild bird populations.

Some wild birds are among almost 600 bird, animal, insect and plant species on the conservation red list in Northern Ireland, meaning there is concern about their populations which are in decline.

This investigation is one of three launched simultaneously in Northern Ireland, England and Scotland, the first time co-ordinated action has taken place.

Other action is being taken in Wales.

'Protect and maintain wild bird populations'

The chief executive of the OEP said it showed concerns about SPAs were "a UK-wide issue" which required attention.

"SPAs play a key role nationally and internationally in protecting populations of wild birds that are currently in regrettable decline," said Natalie Prosser.

"We do not know yet what our investigations will find. However, the implementation of reviews like these are important so SPAs can work to protect and maintain wild bird populations the way they are supposed to.

"We also believe SPAs will play an important part in Northern Ireland's Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), when it is published, as they will likely support the achievement of goals relating to protected sites, as well as protecting, restoring, and managing natural ecosystems.

"SPAs in Northern Ireland will also factor in meeting the UK Government's international commitment to protect 30% of land and ocean for nature's recovery by 2030.

"[This is] a commitment that Daera has endorsed themselves."

If an investigation finds a failure to comply with environmental law, the OEP has enforcement powers ranging from co-operation, dialogue and agreement with public departments and authorities to commencing court proceedings.

RSPB support

RSPB (NI) has welcomed the investigation.

"We are a bit behind in our reporting on SPAs, so we are very supportive of this," said John Martin from the conservation group.

"There is a clear sign there that these areas, these SPAs which are really important for protecting these birds, they aren't actually delivering for those species' protection.

"So it's very disappointing considering we've been talking to the department about these issues for a long time and it's about time they are remedied."
The News

Undersea cable companies that extend internet services to West and Central Africa estimate that it could take five weeks to repair damages to their facilities noticed last week.

Widespread internet outages in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Cote dIvoire were reported on Mar. 14, making many websites unavailable and disrupting online banking operations. Some of the difficulties have eased in the days since but a weeks-long timeline for fixing the cause means internet access will remain spotty.

Ghanas National Communications Authority said the five-week estimate is for full service restoration from the time the vessels are dispatched to the various locations. The regulator said it met with the four leading cable landing service providers: Africa Coast to Europe (ACE), MainOne, South Atlantic 3, and the West Africa Cable System (WACS).

Nigeria-based MainOne, whose cable services are also active in Ghana and Cote dIvoire, said it restored stability on its network on Monday (Mar. 18), after rerouting traffic over the weekend to other cables that were unaffected. It had described the event as an external incident that resulted in a cut along its cable lines off the West African coast. The exact nature of the incident is yet to be confirmed in detail.

Know More

Cables laid deep in the ocean underpin the wireless internet world, carrying data across continents through connected landing stations and data centers. Google and Meta have in recent years become the biggest names in the business of laying these fiber optic cables in Africa, as part of their investment and product expansion drives in the continent.

Glo-1, a cable provided by Nigerian telecoms company Globacom, was not affected by last weeks incident. 2Africa, the 45,000km cable being deployed by a Meta-led consortium which landed in Nigeria and Ghana last month, was also not named as one of those affected. Access to WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook apps owned by Meta remained normal in both Nigeria and Ghana.

Googles services, including the search engine and YouTube, have also remained normally available. Its $1 billion Equiano cable is present in Nigeria, Togo and Namibia. Seacom, a cable company that focuses on East and Southern Africa, said it rerouted its traffic to Equiano after the disruption.

Step Back

Faults along undersea cable lines serving Africa are not new. The WACS cable reported two breaks in the first half of 2020, while the ACE lines break in 2018 resulted in a total internet blackout in Mauritania for two days. ACE had been Mauritanias sole submarine cable connection but plans have since been launched for a second connection. The European Investment Bank is providing majority funding for a new 35 million cable.

The View From Ghana

Bright Simons, a researcher with the IMANI Center for Policy and Education in Ghana, says the ongoing episode shows Africas digital economy is quite fragile, raising questions about submarine cable capacity and the efficiency of policymakers crisis response plans.

Despite a significant increase in the number of cables from the early 2000s, when there was just one, Africa still has just a little more than 5% of the worlds submarine cables, Simons told Semafor Africa. It makes it difficult to reroute traffic to less burdened facilities when multiple faults occur, he said.

However, the relative recovery speeds between countries  faster in Sierra Leone where there is one cable landing company, compared to five in Ghana  should lead policymakers and the private sector to treat national connectivity infrastructure as an integrated system with clear design principles around continuity and disaster recovery, Simons said. It is a lesson in Africas need for interoperable data centers if the digital economy is to be resilient, he said.
David Seidler won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for The King's Speech in 2011

David Seidler, best known for writing the Oscar-winning film The King's Speech, has died aged 86.

The London-born screenwriter, who had a stammer, brought the true story of how King George VI overcame his speech impediment to the big screen.

The 2010 film starred Colin Firth, who also won the best actor Bafta and Oscar for his depiction of the king.

Seidler was also behind the stage adaptation of the film, which opened in the West End in 2012.

He dedicated his 2011 Oscar to "all the stutterers around the world" - and at the time thanked the Queen for "not putting me in the Tower for using the F word".

Seidler's manager Jeff Aghassi confirmed to the BBC he passed away on Saturday.

"David was in the place he loved most in the world - New Zealand - doing what gave him the greatest peace, which was fly fishing," Mr Aghassi said.

"If given the chance, it is exactly as he would have scripted it."

David Seidler (fifth from left) stands next to actors including Colin Firth (third from left) at the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in January 2011

Born in 1937, Seidler moved to the US in the early days of World War Two and the London Blitz. He attended Cornell University where he was friends with the American writer Thomas Pynchon.

According to the LA Times, Seidler's early gigs in entertainment included writing Japanese monster-movie translation dubs, and he broke into TV with the 1960s series Adventures of the Seaspray.

Throughout his career Seidler wrote other projects including the animated children's musicals The King And I, Quest For Camelot and Madeline: Lost in Paris.

Seidler won his first Writers Guild award for the 1988 biopic Onassis: The Richest Man In The World starring Raul Julia as the Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

He also co-wrote Francis Ford Coppola's 1988 comedy drama Tucker: The Man And His Dream.

But the King's Speech was what he was best known for. The plot follows the story of King George VI overcoming his severe stutter and his unexpected friendship with speech therapist Lionel Logue in the lead up to World War II.

In February 2011 Seidler received two Bafta awards and months later in September he picked up a Humanitas Prize for his work.

"I was writing about myself," Seidler told the BBC in an interview in 2011.

Mr Aghassi said the West End stage version of The King's Speech was translated to "more than a half-dozen languages" including Italian, Japanese and Spanish.

It has been performed on four continents - adding its build up to being on Broadway was only cut short in 2020 by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"David focused on the lessons of life, love, loss, and rebirth," Mr Aghassi said.

"He continued to work on ideas that drew his interest, and at the time of his death he had multiple projects in active development, including documentary, limited series, and feature films."

Additional reporting by Aruna Iyengar
DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP)  A business owner in Midway got a massive surprise in her mailbox: something she didnt realize she was missing for years.

I run a business here. Im busy. I shouldnt have to wonder whether my statements were going to come or not, said Deborah Henderson, the owner of Midway Screen Printing.

She and her husband have been printing and pressing logos for more than seven years.

Being a small business, it takes a lot to keep it running, so these little interruptions dont help, Henderson said.

She noticed a few times since 2022, there was no statement from First National Bank, but she always gets a call from her banker.

Letter carrier robberies continue as the US Postal Service, union and lawmakers seek solutions

Shell say, Deborah youre never late. Your payment is due. Whats up?' Henderson said. I always tell her I didnt get the statement. She says, Im sorry. Its been mailed out  so I go ahead and take care of it right then.

She also noticed a while ago, she was missing a customer check.

We have received all payments except for the one for Salisbury. The woman had to cancel the check and actually drive up here to pay us, Henderson said.

On Monday morning, her husband opened up the mailbox to find it stuffed full of mail.

I just assumed we had gotten mail for everybody in our shopping center, and once we got it in here, I noticed it was all ours, Henderson said.

Most of it was junk. Henderson found a calendar from 2023 and some catalogs she needed to purchase their apparel. Inside the stack, she found her missing bank statements.

I have one, two, three, four, five, six dating from January of this year all the way back to June of 2022 that I never received, Henderson said.

She also found the customer check.

That morning, she went out to the mailbox to ask the mailman what was going on. He said he found her mail crammed into other boxes. He sat down and sorted it out, thinking maybe a sub got confused.

The mail carrier didnt know where her mail was hiding and how it ended up in the box now.

I want to know where has this been sitting piling up, Henderson said. Do they have a special bin somewhere for Midway Screen Printing?

Henderson thought for a moment it could have been delivered to someone across the street.

Shes not holding mail for two years. She knows us. She would have called, Henderson said.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

Her mind still isnt at ease even with the mail back in her hands.

Im wondering what else is out there and what if it would have gotten in the wrong hands? Then they have personal information of mine, Henderson said.

FOX8 reached out to the US Postal Service. Henderson also reached out and filed a complaint.

A spokesperson for USPS issued this statement:

Each piece of mail is important to the Postal Service. Mail was inadvertently delivered to a mailbox of a vacant business because the clusterbox unit (CBU) labels became illegible over time. When we became aware of the issue, the carrier delivered the mail to the appropriate mailbox. We have already taken steps to ensure the CBU is appropriately labeled, and postal management contacted the business owner to explain and apologize. Customers who have questions about their delivery can contact their local Post Office.

FOX8 asked for further clarification on where the mail was found before the carrier sorted through it, and we have not heard back.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Pigeons fly over the river Thames, with the Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament, left, in the background, in central London, Monday, Feb. 10, 2014. On March 18, 1766, British Parliament repealed one of the most controversial laws ever passed, known as the Stamp Act, due to boycotts and protests that took place for several months. | Lefteris Pitarakis

On March 18, 1766, British Parliament repealed one of the most controversial laws ever passed, known as the Stamp Act, due to boycotts and protests that took place for several months.

What was the Stamp Act?

The Stamp Act, passed on March 22, 1765, was the first direct tax by the British Parliament on the American colonies to help pay for the British troops stationed in the colonies.

The troops were stationed in the American colonies as they were fighting in the Seven Years War, which accumulated a lot of debt for Britain at the time, according to The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

The Stamp Act imposed a tax for the people in the American colonies on all paper documents, including:

Newspapers.

Almanacs.

Pamphlets.

Broadsides.

Legal documents.

Dice.

Playing cards.

Why did Parliament repeal the Stamp Act?

The U.K. Parliament reported that in response to these taxes imposed on the people in the American colonies, they boycotted paper products in protest against being taxed without someone to speak in Parliament on their behalf.

The boycotts and protests against the act reportedly damaged British trade, which led Parliament to repeal the act.

The Library of Congress reported that the repeal of the act didnt ease Great Britains control over the colonies, but rather, led to more acts put in its place.

The Declaratory Act was actually passed by British Parliament on the same day the Stamp Act was repealed in the American colonies, which stated that Parliament could make laws binding the American colonies in all cases whatsoever.

The U.K. Parliament corroborated this finding by reporting, The Acts repeal, however, was followed that same day with the Declaratory Act, which maintained that the British Parliament had the right and authority to legislate for the colonies in all cases whatsoever. The dispute was far from over.

These continued acts of British Parliament were steps that eventually led to the American Revolution.

Colonists didnt just take up arms against the British out of the blue. A series of events escalated tensions that culminated in Americas war for independence, writer Patrick J. Kiger wrote in History.
Dayton police are investigating after gunfire in the Oregon District Saturday night.

Dayton police were called to respond to a fight in the 400 block of E 5th Street around 11:45 p.m., according to a spokesperson for the Dayton Police Department.

>> RELATED: 911 calls detail panic, chaos after shots reportedly fired in Oregon District

Less than 30 seconds after the initial response, officers heard a gunshot, the spokesperson said.

Im over here in downtown Dayton in the Oregon District, there was just gunfire outside of Newcoms, one 911 caller told dispatchers. Theres a couple of shots fired. People are just running everywhere now.

>> 2 victims killed in tornado in Logan County identified

Officers immediately went toward the sound of that shot, the spokesperson said.

No injuries were reported.

The shooter has not been located at this time.

Anyone with any information or video is asked to call police at (937) 333-COPS (2677) or you can remain anonymous through Miami Valley Crime Stoppers at (937) 222-STOP or online at MiamiValleyCrimeStoppers.com

We will continue updating this story as we learn more.
Dramatic footage of an explosion in Mongolia that circulated online since January 2024 resurfaced in social media posts that falsely linked it to a gas station fire in South Korea. The video corresponds to Google satellite imagery of the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar and other media images of the deadly blast.

"On the night of January 1, an explosion occurred at an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) filling station in Pyeongchang, South Korea after a leak of petroleum gas swept through the street, injuring five," reads the simplified Chinese caption of a post shared on Chinese social media site Weibo on March 5, 2024.





Screenshot of the false post, taken on March 6, 2024.

The 35-second video -- filmed from above a crossroads -- shows moving traffic before it cuts to a massive explosion ripping through a street.

The clip was shared in similar posts about an explosion in South Korea on Weibo, X, Facebook, and TikTok's Chinese counterpart Douyin.

The posts appear to refer to a blast at a liquefied petroleum gas station on New Year's Day 2024 in South Korea's Pyeongchang county.

Five people were injured in the explosion, South Korean media outlets Arirang and The Korea Herald reported (archived links here and here).

However, the video was in fact filmed in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar.

Mongolia gas explosion

A reverse image search on Google using the video's keyframes found part of the footage published by Netherlands-based media outlet BNO News on January 24, 2024 (archived link).

It was captioned: "BREAKING: Gas truck explodes in Mongolia's capital, killing at least 20 people and setting multiple buildings on fire".

Below is the screenshot comparison of the video in the false posts (left) and the video published by BNO News on X (right):

Screenshot comparison between the false post on Weibo (left) and the video published by BNO News (right).

The same footage was also published in reports by media outlets including Azerbaijan's Kanal13 and India's Mirror Now about the explosion in Mongolia (archived links here and here).

On the same day, authorities said six people were killed and 14 injured in a gas explosion after a vehicle crash in the capital Ulaanbaatar, AFP reported (archived link).

AFP found Mongolian news sites Ulstur and Erennews posted identical footage on Facebook to the video shared in the false posts (archived links here and here).

The blast in the video was filmed at a junction in an area of Ulaanbaatar known as Bayanzurkh.

AFP found CCTV footage published by Mongolian National Broadcaster on January 24, 2024, with corresponding elements to the video circulating online (archived link).

Below is the screenshot comparison of the footage shared in the false posts (left) and the image published by Mongolian National Broadcaster (right), with similarities highlighted by AFP:





Screenshot comparison between the footage shared on Weibo (left) and the image published by Mongolian National Broadcaster (right)

The junction also corresponds to the location shown in an AFP photo after the fire (archived link).

Below is a screenshot comparison of the footage shared in the false posts (left) and the AFP photo (right), with matching features highlighted by AFP:

Screenshot comparison between the footage shared on Weibo (left) and an overhead-shot image of an AFP photo (right).

The location can also be seen on Google Maps satellite imagery (archived link).

This embedded content is not available in your region.
'Do I allow him to stay in the house when he doesn't pay rent and is slowly trashing it?' - Getty

Dear Richard,

My 42-year-old brother is a functioning alcoholic (although currently not so much of the functioning bit). Last autumn, after he split with his girlfriend, I suggested he move into our mums house (she lives in a care home). It seemed like a good arrangement.

However, in the summer he lost his job, started drinking heavily and stopped paying his rent. The first I knew of his drinking was when the other lodger in the house contacted me in October to let me know, sharing some very upsetting images of the condition he was in. With her help, he briefly straightened himself out, but has lapsed again and is now in a terrible state.

My dilemma is this: do I allow him to stay in the house when he doesnt pay rent and is slowly trashing it? Or do I evict him to protect the property, even though I know hed end up on the streets? Our mum has dementia and I have lasting power of attorney, so Im legally obliged to do things in her best interest.

 P, West Sussex

Dear P,

What a horrible dilemma. You have my profound sympathy, and Im sure that of my readers, too.

Ill cut straight to it. You must allow your brother to stay in the house, certainly for the foreseeable. Why? First and foremost, he is ill. We all know chronic alcoholism is a disease, and a pernicious one at that. Judging by your letter, your brother has made attempts to curb his drinking in the past, with some success. But it always reclaims him, and right now he is firmly in the grip of it, with all the grim consequences you describe.

But suppose his mental health was disrupted for some other reason  schizophrenia, say  and he wouldnt or couldnt pay his rent, and was damaging the house. Or what if he had a physical illness with similar consequences? Would you turf him out? I think you need to consider this.

If your mothers dementia is advanced, I assume that means she cant be distressed by whats going on. But if she were capable of comprehending the situation, what would she consider the worse evil? Her son continuing to live rent-free and, yes, sometimes damaging her property, or him being cast out on to the streets?

Because if you do choose your latter option, P, you say thats what will surely happen. Your brother  your mothers son  will end up sleeping rough and his alcoholism will almost certainly worsen. Thats a one-way ticket to oblivion, and I respectfully suggest it would be one hell of a thing to have on ones conscience.

When youve finished reading this, pick up the phone to Al-Anon UK, which offers support to friends and family of alcoholics. They have wonderful advisors to offer specific, targeted advice on dealing with precisely this kind of situation. Theres nothing they havent heard before. Talk to them  then talk to your brother. Dont despair. There will be former alcoholics reading this right now who could tell you: I was at rock bottom. But I was fixed. And if I could be, so can your brother.

Good luck. Were all rooting for you.

You can find more of Richard Madeleys advice here or submit your own dilemma below.

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 work of the non-governmental National Association for Humanitarian Demining has started in Ukraine, its head Meri Akopyan said on Monday during the presentation of the association.

"The key mission of the association will be to facilitate the speedy and professional clearance of the territories of Ukraine from explosive objects with the involvement of all interested stakeholders, including manufacturers of mine action equipment, accredited demining operators, and government agencies," she said.

Among the main areas of activity, Akopyan highlighted joining efforts and communication with government agencies on humanitarian demining issues, developing recommendations for improving legal and regulatory support in the field of humanitarian demining, promoting the quality of professional training of industry specialists, developing, discussing and making proposals for reasonable types of classifiers, standards, operational reliability and safety of mine clearance, raising public awareness, promoting the creation of a market for humanitarian demining services, cooperation with international partners, foundations, charitable organizations, etc.

The primary task of the association will be the preparation of a state professional standard for the new profession of Humanitarian Mine Deminer, as well as the creation of a system and methodology for training such sappers, preparation of amendments to the law of Ukraine on mine action and communication with the media.

Deputy Economy Minister of Ukraine Ihor Bezkaravainy emphasized that the National Association for Humanitarian Demining is an initiative coming from business and civil society and it can become a precondition for the formation of a mine clearance market in the state.

In particular, according to him, there are currently 32 humanitarian mine clearance operators in the country, of which about 20 are Ukrainian in the status of Limited Liability Companies.

"This suggests that Ukrainian business is moving into the field of mine clearance and is ready to invest resources, money, develop in this direction and develop the market," the deputy minister said.

In turn, Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine Matsuda Kuninori said that one of the priorities of the Japanese government is to provide assistance to Ukraine in the field of humanitarian demining.

"We have been working with the Cambodian demining center for 25 years. We have developed many methodologies and will share our own developments and technologies with Ukraine... Japan will support the entire Ukrainian demining sector until the last mine in Ukraine is cleared," he said.

The diplomat recalled that the Japanese government has already transferred to Ukraine 30 special tractors, dozens of wagons and pickup trucks for identifying the location of mines, and another 22 special vehicles for mine clearance will be transferred in June of this year.

Head of the Main Directorate for Mine Action of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine Defense Ruslan Berehulia said that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in Ukraine, 950 people have been affected by explosive objects. Of these, 289 were killed and 661 were injured.
TOWANDA, Pa. (WETM)  The death penalty is an option for those involved in a homicide case in Bradford County the district attorney said on Monday after the death and dismemberment of a man in early March.

According to the Bradford County District Attorney, Richard Wilson, on Monday, March 18, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania could pursue the death penalty for Ronda Parker and Terry Parker if the proper aggravating circumstances were found in the killing death of Michael Pruitt.

Pennsylvania law does allow for the death penalty, Wilson said during the conference, the death penalty is something that would be, potentially, based on the allegations you may have read in the police criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause, the death penalty could be appropriate in this case, he said.

Three arrested; human remains found and identified in Bradford County killing

Wilson added that a single aggravating circumstance is needed to require the justification of the death penalty under Pennsylvania law.

Wilson said that since a one-year-old child was allegedly present in the room when Pruitt was killed, that could be an aggravating circumstance to justify the death penalty.

A decision has not been made on whether the death penalty will be pursued or not, with Wilson saying he has to value all of the factors before making a decision. Wilson clarified that the decision is expected to come after the preliminary hearing but before the formal arraignment.

During the news conference, it was learned that Ronda Parker and Terry Parker are still legally married, but separated and that one of the two, or both, have some form of criminal history, but this was not explained in detail by Wilson.

Original Post: PSP investigating death in Bradford County; three people detained

Wilson said that as of now there are no signs of drug use other than what was admitted in the affidavit by Summer Heil claiming she was high on meth at the time of the dismemberment.

Information was brought up regarding Pruitt and the allegations that he exposed himself to Ronda Parkers children with Lieutenant Derek Felman saying that this is something that state police are investigating.

Felman said that actions reported against Pruitt have not been previously reported on at any other time to any law enforcement agency or Childline.

Police reiterated that on Monday, March 11, troopers were made aware that a death had taken place at a residence on Sawyer Road in Springfield Township and after a day of investigation, Terry Parker, Ronda Parker, and Summer Heil were all taken into custody by the afternoon for the killing of Michael Pruitt.

Wilson said the three are expected to appear in Troy for their preliminary hearing on March 27, at 2 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Voter Debbie Sorensen inserts her ballot into a drop box on Nov. 2, 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Rick Bowmer/Associated Press)

When it comes to voting by mail, Utah is not your typical deep red state.

In 2020, when many states scrambled to implement mail-in voting so voters had a safe way to cast a ballot during the pandemic, Utah already had a system.

Republican conspiracy theories questioning the integrity of voting by mail in the tumultuous aftermath of the 2020 election never rang true for most Utahns. Theyd been testing the system for years and found it trustworthy and convenient.

In Utah, that appreciation has stuck in the four years since, despite several legislative attempts by Republicans to curb residents access to mail-in ballots.

Again this year, members of the Republican supermajority in Salt Lake City joined Democrats in rejecting attempts to curb the states universal vote-by-mail system. The failed bills would have added a new deadline for turning in ballots and required voters to request mail-in ballots rather than having them sent automatically.

Theres a different story playing out nationally. Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee, has  without evidence  lambasted the voting process as being rife with fraud and has blamed it for rigging elections for his opponents. Republican lawmakers around the country have listened to him.

Republican-led states have restricted access to voting by mail through tighter deadlines, limiting who can request a mail-in ballot and eliminating drop boxes. Utah, though, continues to back its approach to ballot access, as bipartisan opponents turned aside efforts to restrict mail-in voting.

The mistrust of an unfamiliar voting method that dominated other red states politics never landed fully in Utah, said TJ Ellerbeck, executive director of the Rural Utah Project, a group that advocates for Native American and rural voters.

Most average voters in Utah dont think that theres anything wrong that needs to be fixed, Ellerbeck said. The ideas that are put forth by a handful of legislators in states across the country just really dont reflect what people actually think about our voting system.

Some of the Republican lawmakers behind proposed mail-voting restrictions in Utah concede that point, even as they try to navigate the prevailing mood in their party. In order to restore confidence in elections, the argument goes, voting rules must be tightened.

Republican state Rep. Norm Thurston, for example, proposed a measure that would have required that mailed ballots get to county clerks on Election Day, instead of merely being postmarked by Election Day. That would have cut into potential voters time to make their decisions and added uncertainty in rural areas with slower mail service.

In Utah, I dont know that we have a particular problem, Thurston said in an interview.

But one of my concerns is making sure that our voters have confidence that our voting process is not flawed or vulnerable, he said. We want people to know our process is solid and that people can have trust in how things are going to turn out.

In Utah, though, voter confidence is high.

We have a very vibrant voting system in Utah. We have been able to prove that we are a model for the nation on mailed ballots.

 Katharine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah

According to a January poll commissioned by the Sutherland Institute, a Utah-based conservative think tank, 76% of likely 2024 voters in the state think the vote-by-mail process produces fair outcomes.

Theres a political momentum on the Republican side to put more restrictions on it, said Derek Monson, chief growth officer at the Sutherland Institute. But its up against this experiential reality that people like it, theyre familiar with it, theyre confident in it.

In the large, rural state, whose southeastern end includes a slice of the Navajo Nation, voting by mail allows remote voters who may be hours from a polling place to conveniently cast their ballots. Even before the pandemic, Utah was one of four states (Colorado, Hawaii and Oregon were the others) where nearly all voters used mail-in ballots, keeping only a handful of vote centers open for people to drop them off in person. Today, Utah is the sole Republican state among the eight states (plus the District of Columbia) that send mail-in ballots to every voter.

We have a very vibrant voting system in Utah, said Katharine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah. We have been able to prove that we are a model for the nation on mailed ballots.

So far, Utah has resisted attempts at making major changes to its vote-by-mail system. But voting rights advocates are not breathing easy.

Utah is not immune, said Ellerbeck. Its a fight were winning, but we havent won.

There are some members of the Legislature who, like Thurston, want to add limits in the name of improving accuracy and integrity of elections. Utah wouldnt be alone among states that have tighter rules around voting by mail, even in states led by Democrats.

He got the idea for his legislation, he said, during a National Conference of State Legislatures summit. There, he heard that blue Colorado, which also has a vote-by-mail system, requires that ballots be received by county clerks by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

We were trying to figure out if there is a way that we can accelerate the finalization of the election with the goal of giving more people confidence that our election processes is safe, said Thurston, who added that he returns his ballot early through a drop box, not trusting the mail.

Hundreds of supporters of voting by mail showed up at the committee hearing for his bill in January; they argued that a change in long-standing procedure could confuse and potentially disenfranchise voters who have slow mail in rural areas.

After the bill was held in committee by a unanimous vote, including by Thurston, committee leaders didnt take up another bill that would have limited voting by mail.

Thurston said he understood the concerns local election officials and voters voiced about changing deadlines, acknowledging that it might require a massive voter awareness campaign, which could be expensive and difficult.

Similar objections were raised in 2022, when one Republican lawmaker attempted to scrap the states vote-by-mail system and return to in-person voting. That bill also failed to advance out of committee, with several Republicans joining Democrats to defeat it.

Voting by mail remains at risk in many other states.

Last month, the Republican-led Arizona House passed a bill that would limit mail-in voting to people with disabilities, military members and older people, with limited exceptions for people temporarily out of the state. The bill is awaiting a committee hearing in the state Senate.

Meanwhile, at least two dozen other states are exploring further limits this year, though few if any have been signed into law. Last year, 14 states enacted 17 restrictive voting laws that included banning ballot drop boxes, requiring more information to receive mail-in ballots and shortening deadlines for turning in absentee ballots, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a New York-based voting rights advocacy organization.

Even in Utah, new hurdles to voting have emerged in recent years.

In 2022, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed into law a measure that requires 24-hour video surveillance of ballot drop boxes. Voting rights advocates opposed the bill, arguing it would limit some locations for drop boxes in heavily rural areas, especially on the Navajo Nation, where there is sporadic electricity, said Ellerbeck, of the Rural Utah Project.

And in Utah County, the second most populous in the state, County Clerk Aaron Davidson, a Republican, decided the county would no longer pay postage for mail-in ballots.

The move aims to encourage voters to use ballot drop boxes, instead of relying on the mail. It will also save the county $110,000 a year, he said. Nineteen Utah counties dont provide postage for mail-in ballots, Davidson pointed out, while 10 others do, including Salt Lake County, home to more than a third of Utahns.

Davidson made the announcement while speaking in favor of Thurstons legislation during the committee hearing in January. He told Stateline, though, that he had softened his position on mail-in ballot deadlines after hearing testimony from clerks in smaller, more rural counties who worried delays in the mail could make it harder to make an Election Day deadline.

Society has just got more complex, and people need that ability to vote by mail, Davidson said. But I do believe it needs some more restrictions.

Stateline, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

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The post Deep red Utah wants to keep voting by mail appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun.
One of the Suffolk County defendants released without bail following the dismemberment of a Westchester couple was sent to jail Monday after being arrested for shoplifting over the weekend despite being under GPS monitoring.

Suffolk County District Judge James McDonaugh said 40-year-old Amanda Wallace did not deserve to remain free if she could not manage to go even nine days without being arrested again.

Wallace and her boyfriend, Steven Brown, 44, are among four people charged in the dismemberment of Donna Conneely and Brown's cousin, Malcolm Craig Brown, in late February in a home in Amityville. The body parts were discovered within days in three locations, including Southards Pond Park in Babylon and in Bethpage State Park.

Amanda Wallace with attorney Keith O'Halloran in court in Central Islip on Monday, March 18.

Previously: Victims IDd as Yonkers couple in Suffolk County dismemberment case as new details emerge

Bail reform laws precluded the setting of bail for the four defendants following their March 4 arrest on felony charges of evidence tampering, hindering prosecution and dismemberment of a corpse. Each was required to wear a GPS monitor.

No homicide charges have been filed in the case and no cause of death has been publicly revealed for either victim.

Brown also appeared in district court in Central Islip and his case was adjourned after the judge was satisfied he is complying with the monitoring.

Steven Brown and defense attorney Ira Weissman in court Monday, March 18, 2024 in Central Islip

The other two defendants, Westchester natives Jeffrey Mackey, 38, and Alexis Nieves, 33, appeared in court on Tuesday and their cases were adjourned for three weeks.

Alexis Nieves in Suffolk County District Court in Central Islip on March 19, 2024. Nieves is charged in the dismemberment of a Westchester couple.

Jeffrey Mackey appears in Suffolk County District Court on March 19. 2024. Mackey is charged in the dismemberment of a Westchester couple.

Wallace appeared to anticipate she could face incarceration. She and Brown held hands in the back row of the courtroom waiting for their cases to be called. At one point she leaned against him, his arm draped around her shoulder.

Wallace's latest arrest was not publicized until her court appearance Monday. Assistant District Attorney Dena Rizopoulos called Wallace "contemptuous" of the court as she described the shoplifting episode Friday night in which Wallace was caught on video allegedly stealing items from a CVS and made admissions to responding police officers.

The prosecutor said Wallace has shown a tendency to rely on theft to support herself. She claimed that the homicide investigation had revealed that Wallace may have stolen items that were used in the dismemberment.

She asked for $10,000 bail on the petty larceny charge, but more significantly that Wallace should be held without bail on the original felony charges because she could not be trusted to comply with the conditions.

Defense lawyer Keith O'Halloran called the request for remand and the high bail for a misdemeanor "outrageous" saying petty larceny also was not a violent crime and Wallace had shown up to all three of her court appearances so far and was not a flight risk.

But McDonaugh sent her to the county jail on the felony charges.

According to a criminal complaint filed in court, Wallace is accused of stealing beauty products from a CVS on East Montauk Highway in Lindenhurst at about 10:50 pm Friday. She allegedly acknowledged to a police officer that she had stolen eyelashes and nail polish, claiming to have forgotten her money and really didnt feel like going back to get it.

Donna Conneely and Malcolm Craig Brown in an undated photo. The Yonkers couple was killed in Suffolk County and their bodies dismembered in late February.

The relationships that brought the six people together at the home on Railroad Avenue have come into focus over the past week after police released Conneely's name and Malcolm Brown's siblings identified him and revealed Steven Brown was his cousin.

Authorities have said the Railroad Avenue home was the address for Steven Brown, Wallace and Mackey and that Nieves was likely living there as well. Nieves and Mackey have two children together and both were Facebook friends with Malcom Brown, a Yonkers native who also went by Craig Brown on Facebook.

Steven Brown and Amanda Wallace enter courtroom at Suffolk County District Court on March 18, 2024. The two were among four people charged with evidence tampering, dismemberment of a corpse and hindering prosecution after the body parts of a Westchester couple, Donna Conneely and Brown's cousin Malcolm Craig Brown, were discovered in three locations in Suffolk County in late February and early March.

The victims had been in a relationship for at least the past seven years after meeting in northern Westchester and their last known address was a Warburton Avenue apartment building in Yonkers.

Although Suffolk County investigators visited the building in recent weeks, the landlord told The Journal News/lohud that the couple had not lived there in four years. They may have been staying with friends and relatives in New York and Pennsylvania and with Steven Brown on Long Island, including at the Railroad Avenue home.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Westchester dismemberment defendant Amanda Wallace in jail after arrest
An employee of a CBD and kratom store owned by Biloxi councilman Robert L. Deming III has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging her with a crime connected to Demings pending drug case.

Celeste CJ Little appeared in federal court in Gulfport on Monday and pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempt and conspiracy to alter, destroy and cover up a tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct or influence an investigation.

Judge Robert Myers released her on an unsecured $25,000 bond.

According to the charging document, Little was working at one of Demings nine CBD and kratom stores called The Candy Shop, LLC, when Drug Enforcement Administration agents simultaneously raided the stores on Jan. 23, 2023. More than $1.8 million was seized during the raids.

One of the Candy Shop kratom stores owned by Biloxi Councilman Robert Deming III on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. The shop was raided by the DEA due to an ongoing investigation.

After the raids began, both Deming, Little and others started making calls to one another and other associates and business partners.

Little is accused of committing the federal crime when she called a manager at one of the Candy Shop stores in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and told the manager to throw out their synthetic cannabinoids additive, identified as the Schedule 1 controlled substance MDMB-4en-PINACA.

In the recorded call, Little said, Go take the additive and throw them away, the records say.

Little is now the second person charged along with Deming as a result of the federal investigation that began as early as 2020 when federal agents started making undercover buys at the store.

The front door of Biloxi Councilman Robert Demings house stands ajar as DEA agents conduct a raid on the home on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023. Agents would not say specifically what they were looking for or what they found, but agents also conducted raids on several locations of The Candy Shop & Kratom, a kratom store chain owned by Deming.

Deming is currently under house arrest pending trial on federal charges of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and destruction, alteration or falsification of records in a federal investigation.

He has denied any criminal wrongdoing.

DEA agents started investigating alleged wrongdoing by Deming at his stores as early as 2020 when they started making undercover buys at the stores.

During the undercover purchases, federal agents said store employees made comments like, You cannot smoke this by itself, because it will put you in the hospital, it is way, way, way too strong. and more.

Deming owns nine of The Candy Shop, LLC, stores in both Mississippi and North Carolina.

The federal investigation also noted how investigators became suspicious when Deming started making big cash purchases that included paying $500,000 in cash for his Biloxi house and buying three high-end cars..

Financial records also showed that his business was making a lot more money than other CBD and kratom stores.

Days after his drug arrest, a Biloxi councilman started moving money around, feds say

Biloxi councilman embroiled in federal drug trafficking scandal wont resign after arrest

Bond granted for Biloxi councilman accused of drug trafficking after raids of CBD stores

Biloxi councilman indicted on drug conspiracy, records destruction charges after raids

Feds want to seize Biloxi councilmans home and millions found in DEA raids of his CBD stores
Democratic Rep. Jeff Jackson posted a video to TikTok apologizing for his vote that could help ban the Chinese-owned app from the U.S.

"I screwed this up, I did," Jackson, who is running for North Carolina attorney general, said in the video over the weekend. "And the reason I voted for it was because I genuinely believe the chance of a ban is practically zero for a lot of reasons  financial, political, geopolitical  I just don't think there's any real chance of a ban. I still believe that, but maybe I got that balance wrong."

"I apologize, and I will keep you posted," the freshman congressman said.

GOP LAWMAKERS PRESS TIKTOK CEO ON 'DELUGE OF PRO-HAMAS CONTENT' ON PLATFORM

Jackson, who has 2.3 million TikTok followers, said he's been "completely roasted" on the app ever since his vote.

"If I were in your shoes, I would probably feel the same way," he said. "I would see someone who used this app to build a following, and then appears to have voted against it. And I would be upset."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

In the video, Jackson said he liked TikTok as a means to connect with people, but that there were "genuinely alarming" briefings about the app in Congress.

Jackson said he thought the House bill would force the sale of TikTok to a U.S. company, not result in a full ban. Both Democrats and Republicans supported the bill, which passed the House by a 352-65 vote last week.

HOUSE PASSES BILL THAT COULD SEE TIKTOK BANNED IN US

The bill would block TikTok in the U.S. if its parent company, Bytedance, does not divest from it within 165 days of passage.

The bill, led by House China Select Committee Chair Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., would block TikTok in the U.S. if its parent company, Bytedance, does not divest from it within 165 days of passage. It would also require it to be bought by a country that is not a U.S. adversary.

TikToks critics have long called it a national security threat. They have cited concerns about the Chinese governments ability to leverage its power over Bytedance to access sensitive user data, even in the U.S., something the company has denied.

JOHNSON SAYS HOUSE WILL 'APPLY EVERY AMOUNT OF PRESSURE' TO SENATE TO PASS TIKTOK BILL

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified before a congressional panel on Thursday regarding security concerns surrounding the Chinese-owned app.

Last week, Jackson uploaded a TikTok video saying the Chinese Communist Party "can tweak the algorithm in ways that may be helpful to them, and harmful to us," which is why the bill got overwhelming support in Congress, he said.

China hawks have also warned that the apps popularity among young Americans gives the ruling Chinese Communist Party a platform for a mass influence campaign.

It's unclear when the Senate will take up the legislation, but several senators have already signaled they support the divestment of the social media app.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jackson's office for further comment.

Fox News' Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.





Original article source: Democrat Rep. Jeff Jackson apologizes on TikTok for voting to ban app: 'I screwed this up'
House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, in the chamber of the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. (Stew Milne/Alabama Reflector)

Abortion-related bills continue to be introduced and debated in 40 legislatures across the country, especially in states where the procedure is already banned. It can be hard to monitor them all, so States Newsrooms Reproductive Rights Today team tracks certain bills that could become law in their respective states in a biweekly legislative roundup. Depending on the partisan makeup of a states legislature and other state government officials, some bills have a higher chance of passing and becoming law than others.

Alabama

Following outcry over loss of access to in vitro fertilization services after the Alabama Supreme Court declared frozen embryos to have the same legal standing as human beings, state legislators quickly passed a bill extending civil and criminal immunity to IVF clinics. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed it the same night, though questions still remain about whether the measure is sufficient protection for providers, Alabama Reflector reported.

Now House Democrats are trying to protect access to birth control in the state where nearly all abortions are banned at any stage of pregnancy.

House Bill 279: The bill establishes the right for individuals to use contraception and for health care providers to distribute it and offer guidance as to how it should be used, according to Alabama Reflector. Democrats expressed concern that birth control is next on the list for being banned or restricted, and said the law would provide protection, particularly for people with low incomes or those who dont have health insurance and face limited options for affordable birth control. The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has not indicated whether the bill will receive a hearing.

Status: Referred to House Judiciary Committee, awaiting hearing

Sponsor: Democratic Rep. Anthony Daniels

Idaho

Idaho has a near-total abortion ban at any stage of pregnancy, with exceptions to save the pregnant patients life, and in cases of rape and incest during the first trimester.

Senate Bill 1234: By one vote, the House of Representatives passed a bill requiring insurance companies to cover up to six months of contraceptives instead of the standard one- to three-month supplies, reports Idaho Capital Sun. The bill was sponsored by one of few Democrats in the state legislature, and Planned Parenthood Great Northwest advocated for its passage.

Status: Passed both chambers, awaiting signature from Republican Gov. Brad Little

Sponsor: Democratic Sen. Melissa Wintrow

Iowa

According to the states legislative session timeline, March 15 was the final date for bills to be reported out of House and Senate committees, and for the rest of the session, the chambers will only consider outstanding legislation. New bills, with exceptions for those related to taxes, budget and other standard government functions, wont come forward after that date. So far, only one abortion-related bill has advanced through the process, although amendments related to abortion policy could be added to measures still under consideration.

Abortion is legal in Iowa after a court blocked a six-week abortion ban from going into effect in July 2023.

House File 2617: On Thursday, Iowa Capital Dispatch reported the Senate Education Committee passed an amended version of this bill, which requires students in grades 7-12 to be shown videos and graphics about fetal development from fertilization to birth in health classes. Unlike previous versions, the committee removed a reference stating the video should be comparable to the Meet Baby Olivia video, which is produced by Live Action, a national anti-abortion rights organization. Critics of the bill, including medical organizations, told legislators the video includes inaccurate medical information and pushed anti-abortion messages.

Status: Passed by Senate Education Committee, awaiting full vote in the Senate. The bill has already passed the House.

Sponsor: Republican Sen. Jeff Taylor

Kansas

Republican legislators in Kansas continue to introduce bills related to abortion, despite Kansas voters overwhelming rejection of abortion bans in a referendum shortly after the Dobbs decision in 2022. Abortion is legal in Kansas, and six clinics provide in-clinic services.

House Bill 2813: This bill makes the act of abortion coercion a felony. According to reporting from Kansas Reflector, sponsor Rep. Rebecca Schmoe, a Republican, said she was pressured by a doctor to terminate her pregnancy over concerns that giving birth was risking her life. Proponents of the bill said coercion can also come from parents, boyfriends or traffickers. The charge would come with a jail sentence of 30 days to one year and a fine of between $500 and $5,000, unless the person charged is the father, in which case the penalties would be 90 days to one year in jail and a fine of between $1,000 and $10,000.

Status: House hearing held, awaiting committee vote

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Rebecca Schmoe

House Bill 2814: This bill would require an ultrasound to be performed before an abortion, but would allow the patient to avert her eyes from such images, according to Kansas Reflector.

Status: Awaiting hearing in Committee on Federal and State Affairs

Sponsor: Requested on behalf of Kansans for Life and Kansas Family Voice by Republican Rep. Leah Howell

House Bill 2749: Kansas Reflector reported the House of Representatives passed this bill, which requires abortion providers to ask patients why they are terminating their pregnancies, on March 6. An amended version of the bill removed a list of questions about whether the patient felt the pregnancy interfered with a career or prevented people from knowing they had been sexually active, replaced by questions around age, marital status, domestic violence considerations and the method of abortion. Amendments proposed by Democrats that would survey men to ask why they were undergoing a vasectomy or seeking care for erectile dysfunction were rejected.

The bill was requested by Kansans for Life, the main group that pushed the failed 2022 referendum to allow abortion bans. It would also apply to minors.

Status: Passed by House, scheduled for a hearing in the Senate on Tuesday, March 19

Sponsor: Requested on behalf of Kansans for Life by Republican Rep. Ron Bryce

Missouri

Nearly all abortions are banned in Missouri, but lawmakers have continued to try to deny Planned Parenthood from receiving reimbursements under the states Medicaid program.

House Bill 2634/Senate Bill 1168: This legislation prohibits the spending of any public funds on an abortion facility or its affiliates or associates, including Medicaid through the MO HealthNet program. Missouri Independent reports the bill is targeting Planned Parenthood clinics, which do not provide abortions in Missouri but may provide referrals to clinics in other states for abortion care. The clinics do provide contraceptives, testing for sexually transmitted diseases and cancer, and general wellness visits. The identical bills are advancing in their respective chambers.

Status: Passed by the House, awaiting approval in the Senate

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Cody Smith and Republican Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has a near-total abortion ban, but many of the abortion-related bills have not advanced past committee so far this session, which began in early February.

House Bill 3013: The act of trafficking abortion pills would become a felony, punishable by a $100,000 fine, 10 years in prison or both. It does not apply to pharmacists or manufacturers lawfully distributing abortion medication.

Status: Passed by the House of Representatives 77-18, to be referred to the Senate

Sponsor: Republican Reps. Kevin McDugle and Cody Maynard

South Dakota

While activists continue to gather signatures for a ballot initiative to add abortion rights to the state constitution, the South Dakota Legislature passed House Bill 1244, which allows people to withdraw their signatures from petitions for ballot measures, referendums and constitutional amendment questions. South Dakota Searchlight reported the bill sponsor said people have been misled, or frankly, fraudulently induced into signing the petitions, and the bill gives them a choice.

Status: Passed both chambers, awaiting signature from Republican Gov. Kristi Noem

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Jon Hansen

House Bill 1224: Searchlight reported this bill mandates that the South Dakota Health Department create an informational video describing the states abortion law, including what actions do and do not qualify as an abortion, the most common medical conditions that can threaten a pregnant persons life, and standards of care around treatment of pregnant patients, among other provisions.

Status: Passed both chambers, awaiting signature from Republican Gov. Kristi Noem

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt, 27 other Republicans and one Democrat

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The post Democrats push bills related to contraception access following Alabama IVF ruling appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
DENVER (KDVR)  One Denver city councilwoman wants to change how Denvers elected official salaries are set and to do so, she has announced a proposal to change the city charter.

How Denver salaries are set

Currently, the city charter mandates that elected official salaries receive the lesser of:

The current salaries adjusted for the cumulative percentage change over the preceding four years in the consumer price index for all urban consumers in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood The current salaries adjusted for the cumulative percentage change over the preceding four years in the mean salary of employees in the Career Service

The Denver City Council then votes to set the salaries for Denvers elected officials between Jan. 1 and the first Tuesday in April every four years.

The council set the annual salaries for elected officials whose term began July 17, 2023, as follows:

Officer (Elected) Annual Salary Mayor $205,990.58 Auditor $178,152.24 President of the Denver City Council $123,846.44 Members of the Denver City Council $110,595.76 Clerk and Recorder $178,152.24

Proposal to change city charter

Sawyer wants to have elected officials salaries set by the formula and not need a confirming vote from the city council. The change would take effect July 19, 2027, and the salaries would be set by the third Monday of July following the general City and County election.

10 highest-paid Denver employees in 2023

All we are asking the voters to consider is whether City Council should vote on their own pay raise every four years, or whether voters would prefer a more transparent and consistent approach to how their elected officials are paid by simply tying it to the voter-approved formula that already exists in the Charter, said Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer, of District 5, in a release.

A majority of Denver voters must ultimately approve all proposed charter changes. The official ballot language, as presented, would state:

Shall the Charter of the City and County of Denver be amended to remove the requirement that City Council vote on elected official salaries every four years prior to the general election and to remove discretion in setting the salaries, and instead require that the salaries be as stated in ordinance, and any future adjustments shall continue to be the lesser of either the CPI increase for the Denver Metro Area or the cumulative percentage change for Career Service Denver employees? Presented ballot language for Denver voters

Sawyers proposal will be heard in the City Councils Finance & Governance Committee on Tuesday, March 19. If it passes the committee and through the council, the matter will be placed on the November 2024 ballot.

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Nothing about this formula will change as a result of this Charter amendment, Sawyer said in a release. I want to make sure Denver residents have a clearer picture of how their elected officials are paid.

How other cities set pay

Sawyer plans to present to the committee with research on nine peer cities. Those cities are:

Baltimore

Columbus, Ohio

Detroit

San Francisco

Jacksonville, Florida

Memphis, Tennessee

San Diego

Indianapolis

Philadelphia

Sawyer found that Jacksonville, Memphis and San Diego tie their elected officials salaries to certain percentages of other elected officials. For example, Jacksonvilles charter states that salaries shall be equal to half the salary of the county commissioner and San Diegos allows for council salaries to be 60% of the salaries for judges of the superior court in California.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
DENVER (KDVR)  Sunshine moves back into Denvers weather forecast for the start of the workweek.

This will contribute to a rise in temperatures to the 50s on Monday, then 60s for the rest of the week.

NWS storm summary: 2 Colorado mountain towns buried in over 5 feet of snow

Weather tonight: Cloudy, seasonal

Clouds will linger Sunday night as temperatures fall to the mid to upper 20s, which is right in line with normal for this time of year.

Why was the official snow figure for Denver only 5.7 inches on Thursday?

Weather tomorrow: Sunny, seasonal

Monday, sunshine returns to the forecast. This will help to boost high temperatures to the upper 50s.

Looking ahead: Sunny and warmer workweek

Tuesday, the warming trend continues. High temperatures will climb into the 60s alongside plenty of sunshine.

Highs will stay in the mid-60s for the rest of the week and even into the start of the weekend. This will be followed by the next chance for showers, which is on track to move in Saturday and Sunday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
GATES COUNTY, N.C. (WAVY)  North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced the arrest of 31-year-old Joseph Randolph Freeman III on March 15.

Freeman was charged with one count of insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense. Freeman was also charged with filing a false police report.

On Sept. 22, 2023, Freeman allegedly filed a fraudulent claim with Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Company, reporting that his vehicle had been broken into while parked in his driveway, officials said. He then manufactured and submitted false receipts for electronic and photography equipment that he claimed had been stolen from his vehicle, totaling $36,653.53, deputies said. Freeman also filed a false report to the Gates County Sheriffs Office.

Freeman was released from custody by Gates County officials under a $10,000 secured bond, with an order to appear in district court on March 18.

Insurance fraud hits consumers in the wallet, Commissioner Causey said. Approximately 20 cents of every insurance premium dollar goes to covering the cost of fraud. Im fighting this by aggressively pursuing and prosecuting insurance fraud in North Carolina.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
The consumption of artillery shells since the beginning of 2024 is seven to one in Russia's favor, Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, deputy defense minister, said in an article for Ukrinform published on March 18.

Ukraine faces an ongoing ammunition shortage, with the country being in dire need of shells and missiles.

Delays in U.S. military assistance, caused by disputes in Congress, have already had a direct impact on the battlefield, contributing to the loss of the key front-line city of Avdiivka. Several European countries joined a Czech-led initiative to procure 800,000 sorely needed artillery shells for Ukraine.

In fact, Moscow does not reduce the intensity of fire and expects that "they will have enough shells to dominate the battlefield for a long time," Havryliuk wrote.

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"This firepower is provided not only by Russian factories. The North Korean regime is helping the Russians with weapons in significant quantities," the general said. "(Ukraine's) stocks of ammunition of certain nomenclatures are falling to a critical level."

Pyongyang has reportedly provided Moscow with at least 1 million shells, as well as short-range ballistic missiles and other weaponry. Russia has used around 50 North Korean missiles to attack six Ukrainian oblasts since the beginning of the all-out war, according to Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office.

Another factor that makes it difficult for the Ukrainian military to fulfill its tasks is Russia's superiority in combat aircraft, which "the long-awaited F-16 fighter jets are supposed to break," said the deputy minister.

Read also: Russias use of North Korean ballistic missiles not a sign of Moscows depleted domestic capacity

"Since the beginning of this year (in 77 days), enemy's aircraft have dropped more than 3,500 bombs on our positions, which is 16 times more than in 2023," Havryliuk said.

After a meeting with the military leadership on March 18, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he had received data on ammunition consumptions and supplies. The procurement and production of equipment, weapons, and shells have also been discussed, according to him.

Russia is producing close to 250,000 artillery munitions monthly, or around 3 million per year, which is nearly three times as many artillery munitions as the U.S. and Europe can send to Ukraine, CNN reported on March 11, citing NATO intelligence estimates and unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the leadership of the European Union and all member states for creating a new fund to help Ukraine within the framework of the European Peace Facility.

"The volume is EUR 5 billion, which will be used to support our defense actions this year. We also expect that this fund will become an integral part of the general agreement between Ukraine and the European Union," he said in a video message on Monday.
Dozens of grateful U.S. citizens on Sunday arrived back in South Florida from a volatile Haiti  where worsening violence by armed groups continues to keep millions trapped and threatens to escalate an already worrying humanitarian crisis.

Landing at Miami International Airport, the travelers, many of them Haitian Americans, were among 47 passengers onboard a charter flight arranged by the State Department for U.S. citizens and their immediate family members. Many were vacationing or visiting family, they said, when violence broke out on Feb. 29.

Days later, gangs targeted the airports, main port and orchestrated a major prison break of the countrys two largest detention facilities, resulting in the escape of thousands of prisoners that include several notorious gang leaders.

READ MORE: Armed gangs attack main prison in Haiti, releasing inmates

Citing the ongoing civil unrest, all U.S. carriers announced the cancellation of flights on March 4, even stranding those in Haitis second largest city, Cap-Haitien, though there was no eruption of violence.

It feels good to be home, said Abson Louis, 46.

Passengers walk through the Arrivals area after arriving on the first evacuation flight out of Cap-Haitien, Haiti, and arriving at Miami International Airport after the suspension of flights nearly two ago after some Haitian-Americans evacuated and returned to the United States on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Louis, who lives in Orlando, said while Cap-Haitien, located six hours north of Port-au-Prince, has been immune from the violent attacks engulfing Port-au-Prince and its surrounding cities, life remains difficult.

It has been real stressful. Its devastating over there, he said. I think a lot of people are waiting to have the same opportunity to be here, to get out of the chaos. Were grateful the current administration is doing something about people getting left behind, American citizens, Haitian citizens, that are left behind. Hopefully, things will get better.

The U.S. government arranged the charter flight to help U.S. citizens evacuate Haiti amid the escalating violence. Late Saturday, armed groups continued to target key government installations and on Saturday looted several homes in a well-to-do community in the capital not far from the U.S. embassy.





The violence is spurring a wave of panic and fear, leading to the continued cancellations of commercial flights into the Toussaint Louverture International Airport in the direction of the polices headquarters. The voluntary evacuations, which are not being done by the U.S. embassy, occurred out of Cap-Haitiens Hugo Chavez International Airport, which has also been closed to international flights until a few days ago.

No simple or easy solutions for Haiti

Presumably thousands more Americans remain stranded in the country, unable to make it to the north, which requires crossing gang-controlled roads.

The armed gangs attack on critical infrastructure is triggering concerns regionally that the violence will spill over. Bahamas Prime Minister Phillip Davis on Saturday announced a tightened blockade around the southeastern Bahama, telling Bahamians that there has been a collapse of law and order in many areas of the country, and a serious humanitarian crisis is unfolding.

Unfortunately, there are no simple or easy solutions for Haiti, and the countrys disorder and instability pose a security challenge for the entire region, he said. In The Bahamas, we must patrol thousands of square miles of water in order to protect our nations borders.

Davis said the country is deploying significant Royal Bahamas Defense Force assets to establish a southern Bahamas blockade operation, comprising of surface vessels, aircraft, and 120 highly trained RBDF personnel. Operations will focus on the northern coast of Haiti, the Old Bahama Channel, and the Windward Passage.

As we expand our patrols in our southern waters, the United States and the United Kingdom are also working to position assets in the region. We are working with the US Coast Guard, with Turks and Caicos, and with the Cuban Border Patrol, to share critical intelligence and align our efforts, he said. Through these collaborative efforts, we have successfully intercepted a number of vessels originating from Haiti. The repatriation of individuals aboard those vessels will be conducted in a manner that prioritizes the safety of our officers and respects the human rights and dignity of the passengers.

We Bahamians are a compassionate people, he added, but we simply cannot absorb additional burdens or security risks at home.

Major U.S. carriers and other international airlines suspended service to the Caribbean country on March 4, citing the ongoing civil unrest. Domestic service was also suspended in Haiti after armed gangs breached the perimeter of both the national and international airports.

READ MORE: Airlines suspend flights between Haiti and South Florida amid escalating violence

The plane used on Sunday had 166 seats but only 47 passengers were onboard said a flight attendant. All of the passengers were required to have a valid U.S. passport, according to the State Department, which in announcing the charter flight warned Americans that travel to Cap-Haitien is conducted at your own risk.

Passengers said they didnt know how much the flight would ultimately cost at the time. They were asked to sign a promissory note. However, with no idea how long before regular air service resumes, passengers said they jumped at the chance to return knowing that people in the capital would not be able to make the risky journey.

Passengers smile after being greeted in the Arrivals area after arriving on the first evacuation flight out of Cap-Haitien, Haiti, and arriving at Miami International Airport after the suspension of flights nearly two ago after some Haitian-Americans evacuated and returned to the United States on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Avlot Quessa, who lives in Boston, traveled from the center of the country to make the flight. He said his February 27 trip to visit his mother in Hinche in the Central Plateau was only supposed to last a week.

I ended up staying 20-plus days he said, as he came out of the doors at the international arrivals.

While its good to be back, Quessa said he has mixed emotions about leaving.

I also need to think about the people back home, Quessa added. Haiti is my homeland and its very stressful to see the homeland going through this act of violence, destruction... and they are our neighbors. They are only miles away from Miami. We cannot turn our eyes back on Haiti. Look at how much we invest in Ukraine and Israel. So no one is going to tell me that color doesnt matter.

Its just terrible, he underscored. The suffering, you can only imagine.

Much like the other passengers, Quessa said he observed the violence from afar through news reports.

Marie Lucie St. Fleur, a 69-year-old who lives in West Palm Beach, said though she lives in the U.S., she feels most at home in Haiti. It pains her to see what her homeland is enduring.

I dont feel well at all. I would like to live in my country and I cant, she said, sitting in a wheelchair.

Marie Lucie St. Fleur, left, sits in the Arrivals area after arriving on the first evacuation flight out of Cap-Haitien, Haiti, that landed at Miami International Airport after the suspension of flights nearly two ago after some Haitian-Americans evacuated and returned to the United States on Sunday, March 17, 2024.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has called allegations that a Haitian migrant raped a disabled 15-year-old girl "heinous."

Cory Alvarez, the 26-year-old Haitian national charged with raping the teen at a Massachusetts hotel that was housing migrants last week, entered the U.S. last summer via President Bidens controversial CHNV parole program. He was flown into New York City directly from Haiti.

"CHNV" stands for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The program allows up to 30,000 people each month from these countries to fly into the U.S. and be granted two years of humanitarian parole, which allows them to apply to work in the U.S.

This undated image shows Cory Alvarez, who is charged with aggravated rape of a child.

Administration officials have said these individuals are screened and vetted against national security and public safety databases. Anyone found to be a threat to national or public safety is denied admission and removed.

Individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who are paroled into the U.S. must have a U.S.-based financial supporter and are responsible for arranging their own travel, administration officials have said.

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The policy was first 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 administration announced that the program was expanding to include Haitians, Nicaraguans and Cubans. The program allows for migrants to receive work permits and a two-year authorization to live in the U.S.; it was announced alongside an expansion of Title 42 expulsions to include those nationalities.

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.

Police in Rockland, Massachusetts, responded to a Comfort Inn on Wednesday night after receiving reports of a sexual assault. The hotel participates in a state and federal program to house migrant families, and Alvarez lived at the hotel.

The Plymouth County District Attorneys Office said Alvarez went before a Hingham District Court judge on Thursday and pleaded not guilty to a single count of aggravated rape of a child.

"The Department cannot comment on ongoing criminal proceedings beyond the standard information provided by ICE," a DHS spokesperson told Fox News in a statement. "That said, the alleged crime is heinous, individuals should be held responsible to the fullest extent under the law."

Fox News Greg Wehner, Griff Jenkins and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.





Original article source: DHS calls Haitian migrants alleged rape of disabled teen heinous
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will test the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in three pilot projects, the department announced Monday.

The department will test AI to help investigations focused on detecting fentanyl and combatting child sexual exploitation, along with tests that will be carried out under Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

FEMA will use AI to help communities plan for and develop mitigation plans to build resilience and minimize risks, while USCIS will use AI to improve immigration officer training.

The unprecedented speed and potential of AIs development and adoption presents both enormous opportunities to advance our mission and risks we must mitigate, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said in an announcement.

Along with the three pilot projects, DHS announced a roadmap of principles to guide its deployment of AI initiatives.

The roadmap calls for DHS to ensure its use of AI fully respects privacy and civil rights and is rigorously tested to avoid bias, privacy harms, and other risks. It also urges the agency to promote nationwide AI safety and security, including protecting U.S. cyber networks and critical infrastructure.

The roadmap also calls for DHS to lead in strong cohesive partnerships, including with the private sector, local governments, and research institutions.

The AI plan builds on the DHSs announcement last month that it is hiring 50 AI technology experts.

DHS will spend $5 million on the pilot program announced Monday, The New York Times reported.

The department will use AI models, like OpenAIs ChatGPT, to assist with the new tests, and is also partnering with Anthropic, Meta, Microsoft, Google and Amazon as it launches the pilot programs, the Times reported.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  In one day, Ohioans will vote in an unprecedented Republican Statehouse primary election.

It is at a level of intensity that I dont believe weve seen before, Republican strategist Matt Dole said.

Reprehensible ads and a Republican civil war: How did we get here?

The intensity of the primary can be traced to the Ohio House speakership battle between Speaker of the Ohio House Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) and Rep. Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township).

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I hear from folks who are as red hot angry about it today as the day it happened, Dole said. Which is a strange thing, because usually time heals wounds.

More than a year ago, 22 Republicans teamed up with Democrats to elect Stephens as speaker, an act that came as a surprise to Merrin and his supporters. The fallout has led to stalled legislation, delayed committees and even a lawsuit. The 22 Republicans who voted for Stephens have since been censured by the Ohio Republican Party.

Now, the infighting has carried into the primary election. There are 30 competitive Republican primary statehouse races. Of those, 19 incumbents are being challenged; 15 of those 19 primaries are against incumbent Republicans who voted for Stephens to take the speakership.

This is a very strange circumstance, Dole said.

The outcome of this primary election holds high stakes, as it could determine who the next Speaker of the Ohio House is.

This is clearly part of this civil war between Republicans in Columbus trying to help one side versus the other, Democratic strategist David Pepper said. These candidates are essentially pawns to the bigger players who want to be the speaker.

The Spectrum: Ohios primary looms; Biden-Trump rematch

Primary opponents are typical in elections. But historically, incumbent Republicans support each other in primaries. Multiple sources confirmed that this year, House Republicans had no conversations about unification.

Though that is how things have typically operated, Rep. Ron Ferguson (R-Wintersville), who backed Merrin, said circumstances were different this year.

Those of us who are not censured dont want to be associated with those who are, Ferguson said. Period.

But longtime lawmaker and House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) called the tension an unprecedented change. Seitz, who voted for Stephens, is not running for re-election. But he said in his 24 years of experience as a state lawmaker, he has never seen such a messy primary where incumbents are contributing money to challengers of other incumbents.

A lot of the fire is coming from Merrin supporters, he said.

The fliers really are reprehensible, Seitz said. And its not a matter of promoting a challenger based on that challengers record or achievements or qualifications. They are 100% venomous ads designed to destroy somebodys reputation based on false information.

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Seitz pointed to false fliers like one that was sent out about Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron), who is facing a primary opponent. The mailer Seitz referenced said Swearingen does not support House Bill 51, known as the Second Amendment Preservation Act, despite his vote for a favorable report of the legislation from committee.

Some sources said other Stephens-supporting Republicans have had upward of 20 negative mailers about them sent to voters.

But Ferguson said it goes both ways. He said the Ohio House Republican Alliance has offered no support to Merrin-supporting Republican incumbents who are facing primary challengers.

Beth Lear (R-Galena) and Brian Stewart (R-Ashville), who are on the other side of the faction, have not received one dollar, not one, from OHRA, he said. Theyre not supporting anybody and we certainly, on the other side, are opposing people.

Ferguson pointed to an ad posted to the Ohio House Republican Alliances X page in which he and Merrin  who is running for Congress  are pictured alongside President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

Ferguson is not facing a primary opponent, though he is vocal about the races on X. His campaign finance reports show that he does contribute to some of the primary challengers of Stephens-supporting Republicans.

Is the Statehouse for sale?

State legislative campaigns take hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund. Pepper said that in some cases, that can lead to vulnerabilities for new candidates.

Basically, statehouses are for sale, Pepper said. So little happens in Congress, its such a mess, that a lot of interests, private interests and, frankly, extreme interests have figured out they can get a lot more of their agenda done in states and statehouses.

What to know about the Republican primary in Ohios U.S. Senate race

Dole agreed that interest groups are playing campaigns, primarily through political action committees, or PACs. But I dont necessarily know that means the Ohio Statehouse is for sale, he said.

Pepper said while he thinks it is a pattern in Ohio, it happens all over the country. He said specifically in Ohio, primaries lend themselves massive monies spent since, in many cases, the primary decides the outcome of the general election.

People can win because some group came in and pretty much won the campaign for them, Pepper said.

PACs are especially helpful to first-time statehouse candidates, he said.

These PACs are very savvy, Pepper said. And they know how to target voters, they know how to message.

It is illegal for candidates to coordinate specifically with PACs and offer legislative promises in exchange for their support. But Pepper said, in some cases, it might be unspoken.

Even if they didnt coordinate, the candidate sees all this happening and sees that this special interest has the power to determine who, in the end, wins the primary. You bet when they show up in six months and ask for whatever they ask for, that that now-state representative is going to listen, he said.

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Dole disagrees.

I dont know that theres proof of that scenario existing; if it does, its wrong, Dole said. But I think overwhelmingly, legislators are making decisions based on what they believe is best for their constituents, rather than what a donor is telling them to do. I dont think theres a legislator putting their hand out and going to vote on an issue based on who their supporters are.

Super PAC accusations

One political action committee working across the country and in Ohio is called Make Liberty Win. The Super PAC is based out of Virginia but publicly supporting four Republican candidates in Ohios primary, only one of whom is an incumbent.

Pepper said the proliferation of PACs and Super PACs  which can receive unlimited amounts of money but cannot make political contributions  creates an incentive system in which lawmakers are focused not on public service, but special interests.

Dole, meanwhile, said PACs serve an important purpose in elections.

Campaigning is expensive, and candidates need to raise a lot of money to run for office, Dole said. But I think they are generally supported by the types of organizations or groups that they are already simpatico with, in terms of policy.

Who are the Democrats running for Franklin County prosecutor?

Make Liberty Win is funded by a 501(c)4 entity called Young Americans for Liberty to the tune of $4.8 million, according to Federal Election filings from 2023. Because the group funding the PAC is a 501(c)4, they are not required to disclose their donors.

If you really want to know who is funding this Make Liberty Win Super PAC, you need to know who is funding Young Americans for Liberty, and since theyre a (c)4, you wont know that, Seitz said.

The Super PAC has been involved in campaigning against some incumbent Republican candidates on Stephens side. Seitz said that Young Americans for Liberty is undoubtedly being used to only target Stephens supporters.

For example, a flyer went out against Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon), though he originally voted for Merrin. The mailer, for example, notes that he has introduced zero bills, but Mathews has introduced several, and most recently introduced one to eliminate the state income tax.

Ferguson is an employee of Young Americans for Liberty, though Seitz referred to him as a board member. Regardless, Seitz said Fergusons involvement with the dark-money group raises questions, given that the corporation is the principal donor to Make Liberty Win.

That raises questions as to whether there is undo collaboration between the political arm and the 501(c)4, Seitz said. A little bit like shades of the whole Householder case.

Former speaker of the Ohio House, Larry Householder, is in federal prison for unlawfully coordinating with a 501(c)4 to facilitate a $60 million bribery scandal for the passage of energy company bailout legislation.

Ferguson called the connection Seitz made obnoxious and a stretch. He said Seitz should know better.

That is an absolutely ridiculous statement. I am an employee of a (c)4, I have absolutely nothing to do with a Super PAC that is an independent organization, Ferguson said. They have been lit up with the fact that so many of them are close to Householder, and now, in the 11th hour, they want to try to get a story out there that says our side is the Larry Householder side. It sounds to me like the pot calling the kettle black.

Ferguson declined to comment further on the accusation, beyond calling it laughable and noting that his involvement with Young Americans for Liberty is filed on his Joint Legislative Ethics Committee disclosure.

Make Liberty Win has been involved in an alleged scandal to work with several other PACs to buy a seat of the Tennessee statehouse.

Seitz has long maintained that anonymity within 501(c)4 donations is important, but he said only on issue campaigns. Seitz said anonymity for something like the abortion amendment, where the question is is this a good or bad issue, is a different story than money funding campaigns for political candidates.

When that money is being siphoned out of the (c)4 into a Super PAC to elect specific people to the Ohio House of Representatives or Ohio Senate membership, now we have an interest in knowing who really is the man behind the curtain, Seitz said. It matters because people have an interest in knowing who is funding political campaigns for people to be elected to office.

Overall, Seitz said PACs are side-stepping the long-standing prohibition of corporate contributions to political candidate campaigns.

If corporation X wanted to give a $13,000 contribution to any of our candidates, that would be illegal, Seitz said. So, why is it legal for a (c)4 to siphon money on behalf of one of its board members, by the way, over to a Super PAC to elect people that will be aligned with that board members political interests?

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Illustration via Getty Images

This election season, Arizonans will play a crucial role in deciding which party will control Congress and who will occupy the White House. However, as we learned in 2020 and 2022, disinformation targets our communities, sowing distrust, manipulating voters and potentially threatening our voice at the ballot box.

We can fight back.

Weve been here before. Misleading rhetoric in 2020 targeted vote-by-mail and the accuracy of election results. These efforts attempted to erode trust in democracy, our institutions of government, and in each other.

Disinformation makes our communities less safe. The effort to erode public trust is tangible  and Arizona communities have felt the tension and impact uniquely. In Maricopa County specifically, local election workers  our friends, family, and neighbors  faced an onslaught of threats to their safety following the 2020 election, simply for doing their jobs.

This issue isnt abstract, nor is the threat limited to affecting elections or our broader democracy. History  and the cycle of election disinformation  will repeat itself again this year if we do not face it head-on.

The fires fuel will be the same: misleading claims and incendiary rhetoric spread intentionally to manipulate voters and exploit distrust.

But we are not powerless in this plight. Disinformation pulls apart our communities, and community itself is key to fighting back.

Ahead of the March 19 presidential preference election, we should all consider how to be responsible messengers in our communities. Yes, todays political environment is often shaped by bad actors on social media, television or radio that attempt to mislead, confuse and inflame tensions  but perhaps the people close to you trust you as a messenger more-so than talking heads or political figures. Pay attention to the stories that your loved ones echo this election season, and consider your role in steering them toward truth.

We should ask: Where can I make an impact in conversations with friends, family, neighbors and colleagues? Is it at the dinner table? Is it at work? Online? Disinformation and division spreads more easily when it reaches us in isolation. Leaning into community will be key to combating disinformation this election season. Its imperative that we defend the integrity of our voices.

Organizations like PEN America, which are committed to empowering individuals in their right to exercising free expression, have created resources aimed to empower you in this endeavor. Evergreen tips for protecting yourself against the spread of false information include:

Diversify the articles you read and the news sources you consume, with an emphasis on local journalists. Relying on one outlet for your news, particularly if that media most often confirms your pre-existing bias, can be dangerous. Check the captions and sources of images and photos. Visual content could be presented out of context in order to mislead. Take a moment to confirm the origin of the photo or video that youre seeing. Before deciding to amplify claims that you hear or read, consider checking with another source or two before deciding to spread what youve consumed. Arizona benefits from having a plethora of local journalists doing important work covering news that impacts all Arizonans. Journalists are allies in this fight  they live in our communities and work with our communities best interests in mind.

This election season will likely mirror ones that weve been through before. However, if were able to link arms with those close to us and look out for one another as we all work to filter our news, we can speak as well-informed Arizonans in 2024.

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The post Disinformation is a threat to the 2024 elections. Heres how you can protect yourself and others. appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
Disneylands Critter Country area will temporarily close beginning on May 1 as officials work to reimagine two retail shops, theme park officials announced Monday.

Add another stop to your trip down to the bayou because two reimagined retail stores inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios The Princess and the Frog are coming to Disneyland Resort, the Disney Parks Blog said.

Briar Patch and the left-hand side of Pooh Corner will be reimagined into Rays Berets and Louis Critter Club, respectively.

New food festival, parade coming to the Disneyland Resort for Pixar Fest

Rays Berets (currently The Briar Patch) will be the best place for guests to shop for headwear, apparel, accessories, toys and more with firefly Raymond and his firefly kin in the coziest cabin in Critter Country at Disneyland Park. (Artist Concept/Disneyland Resort)

Louis Critter Club (currently the left-hand side of Pooh Corner) will be the place to go for apparel, accessories, home decor and more featuring some of your favorite critters and Princess Tiana in Critter Country at Disneyland Park..(Artist Concept/Disneyland Resort)

Rays Berets will sell items like headwear, apparel, accessories and toys that are themed to firefly Raymond and his firefly kin. Louis Critter Club will sell items like apparel, accessories and home decor themed to Princess Tiana and other critters, according to the Disney Parks Blog.

Disneyland officials did note that the treats side of Pooh Corner will continue to sell merchandise from Hundred Acre Wood and popular treats like Tigger tails.

The announcement comes as crews continue to work on Tianas Bayou Adventure, formerly known as Splash Mountain. The reimagined attraction is slated to open later this year at Disneyland and Walt Disney World in Florida.

Teams are working hard to bring Tianas Bayou Adventure to life, and were continuing to invest in the improvement of overall pathways and surrounding areas to help provide a great guest experience when the attraction opens, the Disney Parks Blog said.

The storyline for Tianas Bayou Adventure will pick up where the 2009 animated feature left off.

Walt Disney Imagineering is creating an original, next-chapter story for Tiana. Within the attraction queue, guests will discover that she continues to grow her business with Tianas Foods  an employee-owned cooperative, the Disney Parks Blog announced last year.

Disney to invest $30B in its theme parks over the next decade

Combining her talents with those of the local community, Tiana has transformed an aging salt mine and built a beloved brand.

Along with the new ride and retail shops, Princess Tiana fans can dine at Tianas Palace, the restaurant the character fought to open throughout the animated feature, or shop at Eudoras Chic Boutique at Disneyland.

The ride will open during the summer at Walt Disney World. A specific opening date for Disneylands version of the ride hasnt been announced.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The Orange County Sheriffs Office made an arrest on Monday afternoon in regards to a fatal stabbing last year.

The Orange County Sheriffs Office made a wrongful arrest for a fatal stabbing that happened last year.

Luis Alfredo Narvaez confessed to killing 52-year-old Maris De Los Angeles Paulino after stabbing her 16 times.

Deputies said on March 10, they arrived at Lee Ann Drive, where they found Paulino stabbed to death inside a car.

Read: Its a neighborhood staple: Fire breaks out at long-standing restaurant in New Smyrna Beach

Detectives identified Yesnin Bonilla-Iscoa as a suspect in the death of Paulino.

Bonilla-Iscoa was arrested and taken into custody on Dec. 18, 2023, in Lubbock, Texas.

Officials said that Bonilla-Iscoa told detectives that he did not know what happened to Paulino because he was asleep during the time of the incident.

Read: Hunter shot in head and body by another hunter in Flagler County, police say

According to OCSO, Bonilla-Iscoas roommate, Luis Alfredo Narvaez, had asked to borrow his phone to call Paulino to buy some cocaine.

Narvaez then told Bonilla-Iscoa that the victim was no longer available to supply them with drugs because he had killed her, police said.

Investigators said that Narvaez had borrowed a car, leading everyone to believe he was attempting to flee after Bonilla-Iscoas arrest.

Read: Joann, craft and fabric retailer, files for bankruptcy

Narvaezs car was later found abandoned near Pensacola, and on Jan. 8, he was arrested by U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immigration-related charges.

Narvaez was processed and taken to the Baker County Detention Center, and a DNA search was performed.

Investigators said that Narvaezs DNA matches the blood located in multiple areas within Paulinos car.

Read: Kissimmee wants downtown former Coca-Cola plant redeveloped

Narvaez has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder with a weapon and is currently being held in the Orange County Jail.

Yesnin Salvador Bonilla-Iscoa will no longer face charges in this case.

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The DNA match convinced them. Investigators said the genetic material they found on the knife that killed Orlando resident Maria Paulino was identical to that on a discarded tea bag police picked out of Yesnin Bonilla Iscoas trash.

Bonilla Iscoa, 30, was arrested and spent more than a month in jail. But he was the wrong guy, the Orange County Sheriffs Office announced Monday.

Investigators now say the DNA evidence points instead to Bonilla Iscoas roommate, Luis Narvaez, in the May 10 killing of 52-year-old Paulino, who was found stabbed 16 times inside her car. Narvaez, 28, was booked into the Orange County Jail last month where he awaits trial for second-degree murder.

Bonilla Iscoas charges have been dropped.

It illustrates why we always say that an arrest in a homicide case is not the end. Sometimes, its just the beginning, a Sheriffs Office spokesperson said in a press release.

Investigators initially suspected Bonilla Iscoa of Paulinos death because call records on her phone showed the last calls she made and received were to Bonilla Iscoas cellphone. Records of cell towers pings placed his phone near the area around the time she was killed, according to an affidavit detailing his arrest.

Detectives tracked Bonilla Iscoa to Lubbock, Texas, in November, and obtained his DNA from the tea bag. They determined the handle of the murder weapon contained his DNA, Paulinos DNA and that of an unidentified third person, and arrested Bonilla Iscoa.

In interviews with law enforcement, Bonilla Iscoa acknowledged he and his roommates sometimes bought drugs from Paulino. But he maintained his innocence, telling investigators he was sleeping the night of the murder when Narvaez asked to borrow his phone so he could call Paulino and buy cocaine, an affidavit said.

He said he then went back to sleep. But later, when Bonilla Iscoa and his other roommates talked to Narvaez about getting more cocaine from Paulino, he told them Paulino was no longer available as a drug supplier because he had killed her, an affidavit said.

Asked by detectives why his DNA might have been on the knife, Bonilla Iscoa said it was likely a kitchen knife taken from their home.

Bonilla Iscoas other roommates corroborated his version of events, and investigators noted that the blood and fingerprints found in Paulinos car were not a match for Bonilla Iscoa.

It wasnt until Jan. 22 when they concluded that forensic evidence pointed to Narvaez. Two weeks earlier, Narvaezs fingerprints and DNA were obtained when a car he had taken from one of his roommates was found abandoned near Pensacola.

Narvaez was located in Baker County, where he had been arrested on immigration-related charges. He initially claimed he had been joking when he claimed to have killed Paulino. But confronted with the DNA evidence, Narvaez confessed, the sheriffs press release said.

However, according to an affidavit, while Narvaezs DNA was matched to blood found on the front seat, the steering wheel and the drivers side door of Paulinos car, the comparison of his DNA to the unknown material on the knife handle was inconclusive.

Narvaez entered a not guilty plea on March 5.
(Bloomberg) -- Senior officials from the Justice Department and other agencies will hold closed-door briefings in the Senate this week to advance legislation that would allow TikTok to continue operating in the US while being severed from its Chinese owner, according to people familiar with the matter.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Briefings to be held Tuesday and Wednesday, which havent been previously reported, come as the lobbying battle over controversial TikTok legislation moves to the Senate after surprise passage of a House bill last week that would force a sale or ban the app in the US.

The departments push, led by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, is aimed at divestment of the popular video-sharing app from its Chinese parent ByteDance Ltd., as opposed to an outright ban in the US, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified speaking about confidential matters.

Monaco and other national security officials have been working behind the scenes with key lawmakers to pass legislation that would result in TikTok being divested and perhaps bought by US investors or an American entity, the person said.

The battle over TikTok represents one of several fronts in a broader campaign by the Justice Department that officials say is aimed at preventing China, Russia, Iran and other adversaries from using technology and data in illegal or harmful ways, especially when it comes to the risks of artificial intelligence.

What weve seen is the asset that is being sought by our adversaries isnt the brick-and-mortar institution, Monaco said in an interview about data-security efforts. The asset is the data itself.

Monaco and other national security officials warn that TikTok is subject to Chinese national security laws that can require turning over data and algorithms to the state, raising the possibility that Beijing could obtain troves of information on US users or use the app to influence American politics.

TikTok Response

In response to materials shared privately by US officials with lawmakers, TikTok circulated a document titled TikToks Response to DOJ, which was reviewed by Bloomberg.

The company disputed the claim that TikTok having user data like name, age, phone number, email, IP address and general location amounts to the collection of tremendous amounts of sensitive information. The company said the information it has on users is routinely collected by companies in order to provide access to online services.

Unlike some of its competitors, TikTok does not require users to disclose their real names, does not ask users about their employment or relationship status, and does not request that U.S. users disclose their precise geolocation information, according to the document.

The company also said its algorithm for recommending content is stored on cloud servers maintained by its US partner, Oracle Corp., and that any changes to it are reviewed and managed by personnel in its US business unit. No governments  including China or the United States  are influencing the TikTok algorithm, the company said.

Why TikTok Faces a US Ban Over National Security: QuickTake

Efforts to separate TikTok from its Chinese parent have gained the most momentum in years since a failed bid by the Trump administration to ban the widely popular app, which boasts 170 million American users. Former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last week hes speaking to potential investors to possibly acquire the app.

TikTok intends to exhaust all legal challenges if the latest US legislation targeting the app becomes law, Bloomberg has reported.

Under President Donald Trump, the US government oversaw an agreement under which ByteDance would have sold its American assets to a group led by Oracle. But ByteDance refused and the deal fell apart.

The House-passed bill calls for divestment within six months, but some senators, including Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, have said that might not be enough time to line up a buyer. Other senators have said they want to see the bill go through a full amendment process and would be open to changes to improve it. The White House has also offered technical assistance aimed at changing the bill from the version that passed the House. Any such changes could slow its progress through Congress.

Data-Security Regulations

The Justice Department also is developing its first-ever regulations to prevent China and others from buying sensitive personal data about US citizens from commercial brokers as part of a White House executive order issued last month. Monaco said in the interview about the data-security regulations that the aim is to close a loophole that allows adversaries to buy certain categories of sensitive US personal and government data.

I see this as part of a suite of tools that we have to address an evolving national security threat, which increasingly is data fueling the national security and military and intelligence apparatus of adversary nations, Monaco said. We are trying to be very deliberate and calibrated in addressing the national security threat without having unintended consequences on legitimate broad swaths of financial activity and commercial transactions.

This month, Monaco and DOJ leaders warned companies at a legal conference in San Francisco that they wont be able to hide behind the use of artificial intelligence algorithms to avoid prosecution when illegal activity occurs.

With regard to artificial intelligence, the department filed its first legal brief this month supporting a lawsuit against a US property management software company for allegedly using pricing algorithms to artificially inflate apartment rents.

--With assistance from Jamie Tarabay.

(Updates with multiple briefings in second paragraph, TikTok response.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Prosecutors said a business associate of Jim Biden conspired to defraud Medicare alongside an alleged leader of the Colombo crime family in a brief filed Friday in federal court in New Jersey.

The governments accusation is likely to intensify scrutiny of the ties between President Joe Bidens brother and the associate, Mississippi businessman Keaton Langston.

The Justice Department named Langston as a co-conspirator in the ongoing fraud case just three weeks after congressional investigators grilled Jim Biden about his relationship with the Mississippi businessman. In the course of a previous prosecution, the Justice Department identified a defendant in the fraud case, Florida businessman Thomas Farese, as a high-ranking member of the Colombo crime family, according to court filings.

Last month, POLITICO reported that Jim Biden had accompanied Langston, the son of a longtime friend, at a May 2017 meeting at which they pitched the services of Langstons medical lab testing business to a hospital chain. The hospital chain, Americore, has become a focus of the impeachment inquiry led by House Republicans that is probing potential links between the president and his relatives business dealings.

A spokesperson for Jim Biden, Brian McDonough, did not respond to a request for comment. Though the government has identified Langston as a co-conspirator, he has not been named as a defendant in the case. He did not respond to requests for comment made to a phone number believed to belong to him. Attorney Casey Langston Lott, a cousin of Langstons who has represented Langston at times, said he was not in a position to comment and did not respond to a follow-up request for help contacting Langston directly.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Joe Biden has said he never discussed his relatives business dealings.

POLITICO's investigation found that Jim Biden leveraged his brothers name to promote Americore and that his involvement with the hospital chain began with the May 2017 meeting, which also included Langston's father, Joey Langston.

POLITICO also obtained emails from Joey Langston to Jim Biden, Keaton Langston and others related to the planning of partners meetings of the lab services business, Fountain Health.



In a prepared statement delivered last month to impeachment inquiry investigators, Jim Biden described a summer 2017 breakfast meeting in Florida with Keaton Langston, Joey Langston and Americores CEO in which he learned about Americores business model.

But in his interview with the congressional investigators, Jim Biden distanced himself from Keaton Langston. He said he had no role in Fountain Health and was not involved in any companies with Keaton Langston, according to a publicly released transcript.

In the interview, Jim Biden also testified about his relationship with Joey Langston. He described the elder Langston  a disbarred trial lawyer who pleaded guilty in 2008 to conspiring to bribe a judge  as a close friend and fielded questions about their financial ties.

Investigators said Joey Langston  who sat for his own impeachment inquiry interview last month  testified that he loaned Jim Biden roughly $800,000 and received roughly $400,000 back, according to the transcript. A lawyer for Jim Biden, Paul Fishman, told investigators those figures are not inconsistent with what we believe, according to the transcript.

Following their initial contacts with Americore, both Keaton Langston  who is listed as the sole member of a Fountain Health, LLC in Mississippis corporate registry  and Jim Biden went on to work with the company, which at its height operated a handful of hospitals across the eastern half of the United States.

Jim Biden helped Americore gain regulatory approval to acquire a hospital in Pennsylvania and worked to raise money for it from overseas investors.

Meanwhile, Fountain Health and a successor company with a similar name performed lab testing services for Americore hospitals.

But in late 2019 Americore went bankrupt, leaving political and legal controversies in its wake.

In early 2020, the FBI raided the Pennsylvania hospital as part of a Medicare fraud investigation that is separate from the New Jersey case.

Two years later, a business partner of Keaton Langstons, entrepreneur Daniel Hurt, pleaded guilty to his role in the Pennsylvania fraud case. As part of that scheme, Hurt received kickbacks from the hospital, which in turn, received tens of millions of dollars in fraudulent reimbursements from the government, according to his charging document.

Keaton Langston has not been named as a defendant in the Pennsylvania case, but Americores bankruptcy trustee accused him in a civil complaint of conspiring with Hurt to defraud Medicare along with the same Pennsylvania hospital. Keaton Langston denied wrongdoing, and the case settled.

Then on March 14, federal prosecutors pursuing the New Jersey fraud case filed a brief that identified Keaton Langston as Co-Conspirator 1 in alleged schemes involving compound pharmaceuticals and medical braces.

A 2021 indictment in that case describes Co-Conspirator 1 as a resident of Mississippi who held interests in pharmacies.

The indictment also states that Co-Conspirator 1 received kickbacks for his role in arranging orders made to a medical equipment company part-owned by Farese, the alleged Colombo family leader, and another alleged co-conspirator, Pat Truglia, that resulted in improper reimbursements from the government.

Farese is named as a defendant in the case and has pleaded not guilty. Truglia pleaded guilty to his role in the medical brace fraud in 2021, according to the government brief and 2021 charging document.

The Justice Department identified Farese as the consigliere of the Colombo family, one of the original five families of the American mafia, in the course of a previous money laundering case in the Eastern District of New York. Federal prosecutors also identified Truglia as an associate of the Colombo family in a 2014 sentencing letter.

Lawyers for Farese and Truglia did not respond to requests for comment. Jim Biden has not been accused of wrongdoing in the Medicare fraud cases.
Over the past day, the Russian occupation forces have carried out five missile and 55 air strikes, carried out 60 MLRS attacks on the positions of our troops and settlements of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports the situation as of 18:00 on Monday.

"In general, the enemy launched five missile and 55 air strikes, carried out 60 attacks from multiple rocket launchers on the positions of our troops and settlements. Unfortunately, as a result of the Russian terrorist attacks, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. Multi-storey and private houses were destroyed and damaged," the General Staff said in a Facebook message.

As the General Staff said, in just a day, more than 120 settlements of Ukraine were subjected to artillery and mortar fire from the enemy. The Russian army carried out air strikes in the areas of the settlements of Velyka Pysarivka, Lukashevka, Ponomarenky of Sumy region, Razdolivka, Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Paraskoviyivka, Kostiantynivka and Velyka Novoselka of Donetsk region.
The sale of U.S. Steel to its Japanese rival Nippon Steel is being scrutinized by the Justice Department over potential antitrust concerns, according to three people with knowledge of the matter.

The $14.1 billion deal has drawn fire from lawmakers, unions and others who argue the storied U.S. industrial titan should not be owned by a foreign company  even one based in Japan, one of Americas closest allies. President Joe Biden on Thursday echoed that in a highly unusual statement, saying it must remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.

The United Steelworkers union  whom Biden and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump are both courting on the campaign trail  opposes the deal, saying it puts U.S. jobs at risk.

The antitrust scrutiny is separate from concerns about U.S. Steels potential foreign ownership and is focused on a large manufacturing plant in Calvert, Alabama, jointly owned by Nippon Steel and Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal. That plant competes directly with U.S. Steel, particularly for automotive customers. DOJ attorneys have reached out to industry participants in recent weeks, asking questions about how the joint venture would compete with a combined Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss a confidential matter.



The review is currently in a preliminary stage. The DOJ has not yet opened a formal, in-depth review, and could ultimately decide against it, two of the people said. A decision is likely to be made later this month.

Cleveland-Cliffs, ArcelorMittal and U.S. Steel are three of the largest suppliers to the auto sector. U.S. Steel previously rejected a takeover from Cleveland-Cliffs, in part over fears that it would not withstand an antitrust review.

If the Nippon deal goes through as is, the Japanese company would outright own one major auto supplier as well as half of another smaller one. And in addition to limiting head-to-head competition, Nippon would also have access to ArcelorMittals sensitive commercial information while competing with it at the same time.

The primary hurdle to the deal however, remains a recently started review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., an interagency panel helmed by the Treasury Department that evaluates mergers and other investments by non-U.S. interests. The panel is primarily focused on countries like China and Saudi Arabia, but U.S. Steels importance to the American industrial base has led to concerns about it being foreign-owned.

Theres a simple fix for the antitrust issue teed up by the joint venture, however, two of the people said: Nippon could agree to sell its 50 percent stake to ArcelorMittal. It couldnt be learned if those discussions are underway, and the companies declined to comment.

No other U.S. steel company on its own can meet this challenge while also meeting antitrust requirements, Nippon Steel said in a statement last week after Bidens comments.

U.S. Steel declined to comment, but in a securities filing in February it said, we are confident that our transaction is good for competition, good for our customers, and will easily pass antitrust review.

ArcelorMittal did not respond to a request for comment. A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment.

The success of the deal is ultimately not going to rise or fall on antitrust concerns, the people said. However, a lengthy investigation would add uncertainty.

Bidens statement Thursday opposing the deal highlights the political dilemma the administration faces as it reviews the sale of an iconic American firm during election season. While steel workers are a sought-after voting bloc for both parties, the administration is also wary of alienating Japan, a key trade partner and national security ally.



Trump has already come out in opposition to the deal, saying he would block it on his first day back in office.

The Japanese government, which has lobbied for the sale, says that it feels election year politics are at the heart of Bidens statement, POLITICO previously reported.

As long as the [U.S.] is in a campaign, we see a huge difficulty out there in completing the deal, said a Japanese government official, granted anonymity to discuss the pending deal, although the company is trying so hard.

Bidens statement, itself, does not kill the deal, and the White House has not indicated that Biden would seek to directly intervene in that ongoing process.

Even so, any eventual decision from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. will have to go back to the White House for review, so Bidens statement could indicate that he will view any agreement that comes out of CFIUS harshly.

The Japanese government, however, remains hopeful that if Nippon can come to an agreement with the union, opposition from the White House could soften.

Nippon is really committed to sincere talks with USW to resolve this conundrum, said the Japanese official, and they will not easily give up, we believe.

Gavin Bade contributed to this report.
Olathe native Chad Williams has a big fish to fry now.

The 2024 paddlefish season is underway, and the Olathe native set the world record for a fish he caught at the Lake of the Ozarks, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

He snagged a 164-pound, 13-ounce paddlefish Sunday. The luck of the Irish was with him on St. Patricks Day, as he not only broke the previous Missouri record of 140 pounds, but also the previous world record of 164 pounds.

I was lucky enough to get invited to go out snagging with friends, Williams said. Id never been snagging before. Never seen a paddlefish  didnt even know what it was.

Williams hooked into something massive shortly as he and his group started their trip. He said his body was aching as reeled it in, making him think he was extremely weak because of how long it was taking.

We think Chad Williams is done fishing for the year. Maybe for life



Williams made history this weekend after snagging a world record 164-pound, 13-ounce paddlefish at Lake of the Ozarks! And did we mention he'd never been snagging before??



More at https://t.co/gz0DuVQfvR pic.twitter.com/BVjUYDPSSe  MO Conservation (@MDC_online) March 18, 2024

After the fish made it onto the boat, the group immediately knew it was a record, Williams told the department. They met the departments Fisheries and Protection staff at Three Brothers Meat Company in Montreal, Missouri, to weigh the fish on a certified scale and found out they set the record.

Williams is planning to taxidermy the head. He also said he and wife kept some of the paddlefish meat and shared the rest with the fishing group.

Im honestly still processing this whole thing, he said. Conservation Agent Tyler Brown was in disbelief it was my first time snagging. (Brown) said, You dont have to go out fishing ever again. Nothing can top this. and hes probably right.
Former President Donald Trump told a New York state court that obtaining the approximately $464 million needed to meet bond on the appeal of his civil fraud conviction is a practical impossibility in a new filing on Monday.

A New York state judge convicted Trump of civil fraud on Feb. 16 for falsifying the business records of his Trump Organization for years. The court ordered Trump to pay $355 million to cover the amount he gained due to his fraud, plus interest. In total, Trump was ordered to pay out more than $464 million.

Trump appealed the decision on Feb. 26. Unless Trump wants New York Attorney General Letitia James to seize his assets, he must post bond by providing the court with the full amount owed in judgment.

After countless hours negotiating with one of the largest insurance companies in the world  obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount  is not possible under the circumstances presented, Trumps brief states.

After contacting 30 bond companies, few of them would even consider a bond of anything approaching $464 million and those that do will not accept hard assets such as real estate as collateral, but will only accept cash or cash equivalents (such as marketable securities), according to the brief.

Trumps brief also complains that the bond companies that could provide him with the $464 million require collateral totaling 120% of the bond, or $557 million.

What this means is that Trump, who has claimed to be worth $10 billion in the past, does not have enough available cash to put up as collateral to obtain an insured bond of $464 million  or $557 million if he must put up 120% collateral. He could, theoretically, put his properties up as collateral, but bond companies wont accept physical assets, according to an affidavit submitted by insurance broker Gary Giulietti that is cited by Trumps lawyers.

The final option would be a fire sale of his properties, including office towers, golf courses and resorts, but the brief argues this would inevitably result in massive, irrecoverable losses.

Instead, Trump wants the bond requirement for his appeal to be waived or reduced and asked the court to grant oral arguments on the waiver.

If, however, the appellate court does not intervene, Trump will be required to pay the full judgment on March 25. And if he fails to make that payment, then James will be able to seize assets equaling the amount owed.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The number 1 donut shop in San Diego for the past 11 years is not only celebrating St. Patricks Day with specialty donuts, they are also making a big announcement.

Donut Bar San Diego is offering sweet treats for the holiday like Classic Unicorn, Pot o Gold, Chocolate Euphoria, and Baileys Baby, complete with chocolate mousse and a pipette of Baileys Irish Cream, and you cant forget about the Shamrock Smores and Strawberry varieties of the Big Poppa Tart, a full pound donut, which was voted A&Es Best in Chow.

Slainte! St. Patricks Day events in San Diego

Donut Bar San Diegos Baileys Baby donut, with chocolate mousse and a pipette of Baileys Irish Cream (FOX 5/KUSI)

Donut Bar San Diegos Shamrock Smores and Strawberry flavored Big Poppa Tart Donuts (FOX 5/KUSI)

Donut Bar San Diegos Classic Unicorn, Pot o Gold and Chocolate Euphoria donuts (FOX 5/KUSI)

Donut Bar Founder and Chef Santiago announced Saturday on KUSI Good Morning that after 11 years, the donut shop is moving locations on April 1 into a brand-new, multi-million dollar location with a dream kitchen.

The address hasnt been announced yet, but Chef Santiago says you can follow Donut Bar on social media at instagram.com/donutbarsd to find out the location when they drop it sometime in the next few weeks.

Dutch Bros Coffee expanding in San Diego County with new location opening early 2024

But thats not all Chef Santiago says the Donut Bar is going to be the very first augmented reality (AR) cafe where the entire place will come to life on your phone.

In addition to their St. Patricks Day specialty donuts, check out some of their other donuts offerings like the Strawberry Split, Creme Brulle French Toast, Red Velvet, Raspberry Cheesecake, Cake Batter and so many more flavors to choose from. They even offer vegan donuts.

Daves Hot Chicken opens new location in Mission Valley

KUSIs Bowe Fertig contributed to this report

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
GIBRALTAR, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in Door County say one 17-year-old was arrested on Friday after bringing a handgun onto school grounds.

According to a release from the Door County Sheriffs Office, a Gibraltar School Resource Officer was notified by a staff member that one student may have brought a handgun to school with them.

The resource officer and a school administrator then proceeded to immediately interview the 17-year-old suspect identified by the staff member.

A Ruger .38 Special revolver was said to be recovered from the 17-year-old man who was then arrested and taken to the Door County Justice Center by the Town of Gibraltar Police Department.

Late for curfew: Fond du Lac County Driver caught going 60+ miles per hour over the speed limit

Officials say the suspect remains in Door County Jail pending a court appearance on Monday. As of now, the 17-year-old could potentially face a class I felony of knowingly possessing a firearm on school grounds, however, the Door County District Attorney is making a determination as to if this is the appropriate charge and if other charges need to be added.

At this time, an investigation into the incident is ongoing and follow-ups with potential witnesses are being done by the Door County Sheriffs Office which is working closely with the Gibraltar Area School District.

No other details on this incident are available. Local Five will update this story as more information is released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Palestinian children walk along a border fence as they carry water to a displacement camp in Rafah (MOHAMMED ABED)

Israel has vowed to let Palestinians crammed into southern Gaza leave before its planned invasion of Rafah, but experts have warned it was practically impossible to get those civilians out of harm's way.

The roughly 1.5 million Gazans in the territory's southernmost tip have the Mediterranean Sea to their west and sealed borders to the south and east, while Israeli forces are poised to push in from the north.

"Where will we go if they enter Rafah, and where will we get a tent, mattress and blankets?" said Sabah al-Astal, 50, already displaced inside Gaza by the Israel-Hamas war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on sending troops into Rafah to root out Hamas in the area that borders Egypt and Israel.

But Netanyahu has also pledged to enable Gazans to leave, saying Sunday that his troops would not move in "while keeping the population locked in place".

Israel, though, remains vague regarding how or when this massive evacuation would take place, a challenge that aid experts consider impossible in the devastated territory.

"People don't know where to go. There's nowhere safe in Gaza," said Nadia Hardman, an expert on refugees at Human Rights Watch (HRW).

The bloodiest ever Gaza war broke out after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on October 7 that resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also seized about 250 hostages, of whom Israel believes 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead.

Israel has carried out a relentless bombing campaign and ground offensive that Gaza's health ministry says has killed at least 31,726 people, most of them women and children.

- 'Islands' -

Foreign Minister Israel Katz remained evasive Monday, telling Kan public radio that "before any massive operation, we will evacuate citizens".

"Not to the north, but to the west. There are Arab countries that can help by setting up tents, or something else" in the tiny area between Rafah and the Mediterranean, he added.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel's military spokesman, told the press last week about the establishment of "humanitarian islands".

Such tent cities on Gaza's territory would be spared the fighting and created with the international community, Hagari said.

But UN humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, Jamie McGoldrick, said: "I honestly don't know where they are supposedly being established."

"How will they move people from wherever they are now? Will they be pushed, forced, encouraged?" he asked.

"That's not something the UN will participate in because we're not a part of any forced displacement."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on a visit to Israel on Sunday, voiced concern over the planned Israeli offensive.

"The military logic is one consideration, but there is a humanitarian logic as well," he said.

"How should more than 1.5 million people be protected? Where should they go?"

Netanyahu has agreed to US President Joe Biden's request to send a delegation of senior Israeli officials to Washington to discuss Israel's Rafah plans and a possible "alternative approach", the White House said Monday.

- 'Strategic vagueness' -

HRW's Hardman was categorical: Moving "1.5 million people in an area that is already devastated" is "absolutely impossible", she said.

Israel has declared certain areas protected humanitarian spaces, notably in Al-Mawasi, a coastal area in the south of the territory between south Gaza's main city of Khan Yunis and Rafah.

But hundreds of thousands of people are already sheltering in tents there, and the area has been bombed several times since the war began more than five months ago.

Netanyahu has doubled down on plans for a Rafah offensive, announced more than a month ago, despite growing international pressure.

However, according to David Khalfa, Middle East specialist at the Jean-Jaures Foundation, the threat also involves psychological warfare.

"The Israelis maintain a strategic vagueness around their plans because they do not want to devalue their cards in order to keep Hamas in uncertainty," he said.

Khalfa called the threat of a major offensive in Rafah "a card in a game of liar's poker" with Hamas, a means to force the militants to soften their positions in ongoing truce negotiations.

cf-az/mg/jm/ami
CHICAGO  Surveillance video has captured images of the man police are searching for in connection to vandalism at the Downtown Islamic Center.

Police said around 8 p.m. Sunday in the 200 block of South State Street, a man attempted to kick in the front door of the place of worship and when that did not work, he picked up an object and smashed the glass door. According to police, the man fled on foot and is not in custody.

Cellphone video captured the damage done to the front entrance.

According to worshipers, a man was harrassing them outside and making threats against Muslims. Building surveillance video captured images of the man that police are seeking.

3 migrants move out of shelters Sunday out of 34 that had been scheduled for eviction, city says

At this time, police have not classifed the incident as a hate crime  but leaders of the center believe otherwise, and want to send the message that this will not be tolerated.

The Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIR) has issued a statement calling on law enforcement to investigate this as a possible hate crime and to step up security.

Area Three detectives are investigating.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Denver Police Department said dozens of families have reached out to their crisis services bureau for cases related to the Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services.

In February, the owner of the funeral home, Miles Harford, was arrested after police said he was illegally in possession of the remains of several clients loved ones.

Human remains found at house of former funeral home owner in Denver

Dondi Wilson recently lost his brother, Dirk, after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. That case remains open.

In 2018, Wilson and his family paid Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services for Dirks final services that they knew would inevitably come.

Their shock was evident when Wilson and his family learned that the funeral home was closed because of possible criminal acts.

My brother was homeless, and I wanted to make sure that one day when I got that call, things would be taken care of, Wilson said.

The Wilson family had final arrangements ready for Dirks death. He died in early March after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in February.

I looked up on the internet, Wilson said, It says this locations closed, this locations closed, this is closed.

Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services is no longer in business after an investigation found its owner allegedly kept the remains of several people at his home in Denver.

Woman shares recorded call pleading to get brothers ashes from Apollo Funeral Home

In 2018, Wilson paid Apollo more than $1,200 for his brothers final expenses. Wilson said the current rate for cremation services is over $2,000.

I was like totally crushed, Wilson said. Its like, what more could happen? I lost my dad three months ago, I just lost my brother, I made arrangements, and now theyre no good.

Through a grant, DPDs Crisis Services Bureau confirmed it worked with Wilson to pay for his brothers cremation.

DPD said 37 families have contacted officers for other cases related to Apollo.

Really, a big weight lifted off me that I wasnt going to have to come up with thousands of dollars that I dont have right now, Wilson said.

Its a relief, but at the cost of the faith his family had put in Apollo Funeral and Cremation Services.

I know theres money to be made in death, but people are already grieving and mourning and then you have done this too, Wilson said. I hope that he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The man deserves to be in prison.

The Wilson family hopes to have Dirk cremated soon so the family can hold a joint memorial for him and their father who died in December.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
(KTLA)  Hip-hop legend Dr. Dre says he dealt with several health scares while he was hospitalized after a brain aneurysm in January 2021.

The Compton, California-born music icon, whose real name is Andre Romell Young, was recently a guest on SiriusXMs This Life of Mine with James Corden podcast, and he discussed the ordeal he experienced while at Cedars Sinai Hospital.

Its just something that you cant control, that just happens, and during those two weeks, I had three strokes, Dre said to Corden, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Dr. Dre attends The Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating the opening of the Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty exhibition on Monday, May 1, 2023, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

During his conversation with Corden, the eight-time Grammy winner remembered the day he suffered the aneurysm.

I got up and I went on about my day, and I thought that I could just lay down and take a nap, Dre said. My son had a female friend that was there and was like, No, we need to take you to the hospital.'

Olivia Munn reveals breast cancer diagnosis and double mastectomy

Dre was taken to urgent care, where doctors informed him that he was suffering from a serious medical event. He recalled blacking out while at the facility.

Im in and out of consciousness, and I ended up in the ICU, he told Corden. I was there for two weeks. Im hearing the doctors coming in and saying, You dont know how lucky you are.

The hip-hop mogul said he was also confused about what caused the traumatic event. Dre explained to Corden that he regularly exercises and does everything he can to stay healthy. He didnt realize that he had high blood pressure.

High blood pressure in Black men, thats just what it is. They call it the silent killer, Dre said. You just have no idea.

The Southern California native admitted that the medical scare didnt necessarily prompt a significant change in his life, but he did say it left a mark.

Definitely makes you appreciate being alive, Dre said. Thats for sure.

Dre will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday. It will be placed next to the star of longtime friend and fellow hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg on Hollywood Boulevard.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man is facing multiple charges after crashing through the Shamrock Run in his car Sunday afternoon, authorities say.

Just before 10 a.m., 62-year-old Brian Rhone allegedly went through a Portland police barricade near Southwest Barbur Boulevard and Hamilton Street, nearly hitting a participant in the run, officials say.

Rhone was pulled over by police in the parking lot of the Burlingame Fred Meyer, authorities say.

After officers found an open container of alcohol in the car with Rhone, he was arrested and charged with DUII and reckless endangerment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Presentation of solutions for agricultural digital revolution with precision down to plant. Ultra-precise plant protection'

On Wednesday, March 20, at 12.30, the press centre of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference entitled 'Presentation of solutions for agricultural digital revolution with precision down to plant. Ultra-precise plant protection. Ultra-precise plant protection using AI: agricultural digital revolution.'

Participants:

founder of the FRENDT group of companies Vitaliy Shuberansky;

agronomist-analyst of the precision agriculture department of FRENDT LLC Viktoria Shevchuk;

founder and director of SUN AGRO LLC, expert in vegetable growing technology Oleksandr Tykhy;

Director of the company FRENDT Bohdan Kruhlyk;

Director of AGROCOMPANYLLC, expert in the technology of growing field crops Serhiy Bohomaz (8/5a Reitarska Street).

The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel.

Admission requires registration on the spot with press ID cards.

Additional information by phone: +38 (067) 447 5737.
A firefighter from Ireland who flew into Boston for St. Patricks Day weekend is being held on a $100,000 bail in connection with the alleged rape of a woman at the Omni Parker House hotel on Friday, according to Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden.

Terrence Crosbie, 37, of Dublin, was arraigned Monday in Boston Municipal Court on one count of rape, ordered not to leave Massachusetts, and to surrender his passport, Hayden said.

According to prosecutors, Boston police on Friday interviewed a 28-year-old woman at Massachusetts General Hospital, who told them that she had been sexually assaulted at the Omni Parker House earlier that morning.

Detectives secured video surveillance from the hotel and from The Black Rose, a bar and restaurant nearby, where both Crosbie and the victim were on Thursday evening, prosecutors said.

An investigation revealed that Crosbie had flown to Boston from Ireland earlier on Thursday with other members of the Dublin Fire Brigade and that he was scheduled to leave on Tuesday.

But prosecutors say, after being interviewed by police on Saturday, Crosbie booked a flight for 10:10 p.m. that night, and while at the airport, he boarded an even earlier flight, departing at around 7 p.m.

State police stopped the plane on the Logan tarmac and removed Crosbie.

As always in these matters, the willingness of the victim to come forward is crucial. This victim deserves enormous credit for doing that in this case. Im grateful for the alertness of police in finding out that Mr. Crosbie was attempting to leave the country before he could be held accountable for his actions, Hayden said.

A spokesperson for the Dublin Fire Brigade Chief Fire Officer confirmed Tuesday that Crosbie has been placed on leave.

We cannot comment on the specific circumstances but we would reiterate the high standards that we expect from all who represent our organization at any event. As a result, we are conducting an internal investigation and establishing the facts in collaboration with the appropriate authorities and the organizers of the delegation. As this is a criminal investigation we will not be making any further comment at this time, the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the Consulate General of Ireland added, The Consulate General of Ireland, Boston is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance to Mr Crosbie and his family. The Consulate does not comment on details of individual cases.

Crosbie will return to court on April 16 for a probable cause hearing.

The victims of any crime, including domestic or sexual violence, should call 911 in an emergency. SafeLink, a statewide DV hotline, can be reached at 877-785-2020.

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
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11)  A 23-year-old NYCHA employee was accused of hitting a person outside Bed-Stuys Sumner Houses on Sunday, according to the NYPD.

Thousands of NYC jobs available on citys website

Jazzmin Belardo was working when she allegedly got into an argument with the 39-year-old, pushed them, and struck them in the face, police said. She was arrested around 11 a.m. and charged with assault and harassment, police said.

The 39-year-old was cut under their eye and treated by emergency responders on the scene, according to the NYPD. It was not immediately clear whether the 39-year-old was a resident of the Myrtle Avenue development.

Belardo was hired in 2022 and most recently listed as a Caretaker with the department, city records show.

A representative of NYCHA said the arrested staff member was immediately suspended without pay and could face further disciplinary action.

NYCHA has zero tolerance for wrongful or illegal activity and will continue to work collaboratively with our law enforcement and oversight partners, said a representative of NYCHA.

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in the New York City and Washington D.C. areas. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Priorities have been set for health boards to try and improve waits at emergency departments

Patients in A&E should be seen by "clinical decision-makers" within an hour of arrival, health boards in Wales have been told.

New expectations have been set out by the Welsh government to reduce waits in emergency departments.

They set out a "zero tolerance" for people spending more than 12 hours in a department.

Most recent figures showed the average wait in A&E was two hours 44 minutes, but 9,939 patients waited more than 12 hours.

However for the fifth successive month Wales has performed better than A&Es in England against the four-hour target. A total of 58% of patients were seen in that time in Wales, and 55% in England.

Health boards have been asked to evaluate their emergency department facilities and staffing to ensure they meet demands.

The "quality statement" also includes a greater focus on "exit block and hospital flow" to reduce crowding.

Delays in discharging patients who are medically well enough to leave hospital have led to a lack of flow through the hospital, often causing long waits in A&E and queues of ambulances.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said while improvements had already been made "we know theres much more to do to improve the standard and timeliness of care people receive when they go to emergency departments".

"The public want clear and frequent communication, to feel comfortable and warm and to be treated quickly but sensitively.

"And we know the dedicated and skilled staff working in these busy departments want a focus on timely flow of patients from departments into hospital wards, and access to better quality data to drive improvements to patient care."

Health Minister Eluned Morgan says while improvements have been made, there is more to do

A national task group has been established to review emergency department measures, which will consider whether there are better performance measures.

The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) has criticised the data currently published, as it claimed it does not accurately reflect the full wait experienced by patients.

It has also repeated its call for changes to the way data is recorded and published.

In Wales clinical exceptions  or breach exemptions  are applied, meaning the clock can be stopped if a clinician decides the emergency department is the safest place for a person.

The patient is still included in data, but the complete time spent in the department may not.

A recent report by the Office for National Statistics analysed waiting times across parts of the UK and found figures in Wales were "broadly comparable" with those in England.

The Welsh government said improvements had already "helped our major emergency departments outperform their counterparts in England in 14 of the last 17 months, in relation to the four-hour target."

Dr Katja Empson, the vice-chair of RCEM in Wales, welcomed the national task group to look at how performance is measured, and said "metrics should be meaningful and robust".

"We look forward to joining the group, and contributing to its work, and will continue to recommend that Wales clinical exemptions policy is abolished," she said.

Conservative health spokesman Russell George said that "these expectations from the Labour government ring hollow without the funding to meet them".

Mr George added: Years of Labour and Plaid diverting money away from our health service to their vanity projects have led to the long waits Welsh patients are having to endure.

The Welsh Conservatives want to see the full Barnett uplift for health spent on our Welsh NHS to fully resource it and our workforce boosting plan enacted to improve waiting times for patients.
In a sure sign that spring arrives this week, an ice-out was declared on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire on Sunday.

Emerson Aviation made the declaration on Facebook at 4:37 p.m., marking the earliest ice-out ever recorded on the lake.

An ice-out announcement is declared on Lake Winnipesaukee when the ice that has covered the Lake since late December or early January melts enough that the M/S Mount Washington cruise ship can navigate unimpeded between its ports in Alton Bay, Center Harbor, Weirs Beach, Meredith, and Wolfeboro, according to Winnipesaukee.com.

Winter on the lake lasted just 37 days after the latest ever ice-in was declared on Feb. 9, the Concord Monitor reported.

Before Sundays declaration, the earliest ice-out on record had been March 18, 2016, The Boston Globe reported.

The vernal equinox arrives Tuesday at 11:06 p.m., marking the official start of spring in New England.

For the latest forecast updates, visit the Boston 25 Weather page.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
People who follow climate change are often told there is a "tipping point," a single moment after which it will be too late to reverse the damage caused by our excessive use of fossil fuels. Yet experts say this concept is misleading, with one scientist  James Hansen, who played a key early role in raising climate change awareness  describing the phrase as "greatly overused and misused."

Powerful institutions seemingly disagree. The World Economic Forum uses the phrase "tipping point" when describing the various environmental consequences that will ensue once Earth warms more than 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The European Space Agency declares that "climate tipping points are elements of the Earth system in which small changes can kick off reinforcing loops that tip a system from one stable state into a profoundly different state."

In 2021, the authors of a study published in the journal Nature wrote that "small changes in forcing cause substantial and irreversible alteration to Earth system components called tipping elements." A 2023 survey published in Sage Journals found members of the British public to be widely demoralized about society's ability to cope with any impending climate change "tipping points." The phrase even appears in the kids' scientific magazine Frontiers for Young Minds, appearing in a 2021 article titled "Tipping Points: Climate Surprises."

Yet many scientists do not like the term because they feel it oversimplifies the science or because it cultivates a fatalistic outlook. Hansen is among those scientists. The Columbia University climatologist is renowned for writing about fossil fuel consumption and climate change as far back as the 1980s, when few other public figures had done so. Hansen's 1988 testimony before the Senate is widely considered to be a landmark event in the history of spreading public knowledge about Earth's rising temperatures. How we frame that issue is important to how we effectively spread that message.

"The tipping point concept is greatly overused and misused," Hansen wrote to Salon. "The phrase is mighty popular among scientists and the public, used for many different climate processes. In fact, most of those processes are better described as amplifying, reversible, feedbacks." Although climate change is going to have very significant consequences for humanity, "it is not a runaway process."

Kevin Trenberth, a distinguished scholar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research who has published more than 600 articles on climatology agrees, explaining in an email to Salon that "there are no real tipping points. There are times when the rates of change may increase substantially because of feedbacks, but it is not like a pencil balancing on its end that when touched topples over."

Unfortunately, for fans of scientific accuracy, that is precisely how climate change is depicted in famous sci-fi representations of climate change like the 2004 blockbuster "The Day After Tomorrow." Then again, it is difficult to blame popular entertainers for reinforcing that particular misconception. People who learn about how humanity has negatively altered our natural environment can respond with a wide range of negative emotions, including hopelessness and anxiety, and people experiencing those emotions are more likely to believe there is a "tipping point," after which humanity is utterly doomed.

Yet that notion is mistaken. Walt Meier, a senior scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder's National Snow and Ice Data Center, similarly told Salon he does not believe it is scientifically accurate to say "that there is a tipping point toward 'genuine civilization collapse,'" although there are individual irreversible thresholds that humans could pass.

Meier's colleague Julienne C. Stroeve, also a senior scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder's National Snow and Ice Data Center, wrote to Salon that she thinks of a tipping point "as a threshold [that] when crossed causes a system to change its behavior." This is distinct from how the term is often used, namely with the idea that it involves on a global scale "irreversibility, which has to do with the impossibility of returning to its previous state."

For example, Stroeve said "the loss of Arctic sea ice in summer would be a tipping point, but its not irreversible." Losing the winter cover ice, by contrast, would be irreversible, but defining such an event depends on the timescale. "On a geological timescale ice sheets have come and gone, but on a human timescale if we lose them we can basically consider them gone forever." The term "forever" means one thing for geologists and glaciologists studying epochs, and quite another to a person who wants to gaze upon ice sheets with their own eyes.

Hansen pointed to melting permafrost as an example for why the framing implied in the phrase "tipping point" is misleading.

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"There is a tremendous store of carbon in permafrost, which, if all released to the atmosphere, would have a devastating climate impact," Hansen said. He explained how the carbon dioxide that is released by melting permafrost amplifies the global warming caused by human-made greenhouse gases, but that would not happen all at once. "It is rather slow and can be cut off if we begin to cool the planet. That's no small task, of course!"

When these scientists question the usefulness of "tipping point" terminology, they are not discounting the genuine threat posed to humanity by global heating. They all agree that climate change is changing the planet in ways that will harm hundreds of millions of people. Yet how we frame these issues is critical to how we start to address them and experts argue that the idea of a single occasion in which humans cross a barrier from "climate change can be fixed" to "climate change is unfixable" is inaccurate. The Earth's climate is far more complicated than such framing suggests. Instead of seeking a single moment when a figurative switch is flipped, people should look for a constellation of warning signs. There are already many signs that the planet's rising temperature is leading to ecological devastation.

"The way we are going we are already on a dangerous course," Trenberth said. "Only in retrospect will we likely say 'Oh, this was a sort of tipping point.'" He listed off variables that could be viewed by future historians as tipping points, but which may not be recognized as such by contemporaries living through them.

People who live near coasts may in retrospect view rapid sea level rise as a tipping point, since they will endure massive floods and coastal erosion. Those who inhabit flat areas like plains will also experience worsened flooding due to climate change, and people in regions all over the planet will be susceptible to the droughts caused by heat waves.

"There is a big chance (natural variability) component to when and where these threats are realized," Trenberth said.

Stroeve said that potential red flags for Earth entering a severe state of crisis would include irreversible loss of ice for the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, which could between 1-3 C and 1-6 C respectively, although Stroeve added "there are lots of uncertainties here." Similarly, Stroeve speculated that there could be a tipping point-like event in the Amazon rainforest if its area shrinks so much that it cannot generate enough water vapor to support itself. Stroeve said she isn't "sure if that would be irreversible, though."

Meier confirmed Stroeve's observation about the potentially catastrophic consequences of rapid loss to those ice sheets.

"The ice sheets wont suddenly lose all of their ice  it is something that will happen over hundreds and even thousands of years," Meier said. "As climate changes, there will definitely be costs  in money [such as] infrastructure and human lives as we try to mitigate and adapt to climate change. We will have to live with  and already are living with  sea level rise, more extreme weather, more wildfires, ecosystem changes, etc."

That said, it will not lead to a global civilization collapse all at once. Hansen likewise mentioned the possible collapse of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets as events that would signal, if not a "tipping point," at the very least some level of long-term damage to the planet. He also speculated that this could happen if a system of ocean currents known as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) completely collapses.

"It would take centuries for AMOC to recover. This will not cause civilization to collapse per se, but it could happen as early as mid-century and in doing so speed the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet. [This is] because shutting down AMOC reduces the transport of Southern Hemisphere heat to the tropics and into the Northern Hemisphere," Hansen explained. "It is rapid sea level rise and the accompanying shifting of climate zones that create a potential existential threat to humanity, as they would drive emigration pressures that could make the planet ungovernable."

Hansen added that mass extinctions are certainly irreversible, although they may not count as "tipping points" exactly. "Extermination of species is practically irreversible and some ecosystems can collapse if key species go extinct, and we are in the midst of a mass extinction event," Hansen said.

As he summed it up, the underlying problem in communicating climate change is that events that may seem to unfold slowly to other people are actually happening rapidly in terms of the larger history of Earth.

"The delayed response of the climate system to human-made climate forcing is what makes these issues so difficult to communicate with the public," Hansen said. "The time scales are very slow as seen by the public, even though human-forced climate change is occurring very rapidly compared with geological time scales."

This is why it's misleading to frame the climate change crisis in terms of a climax or tipping point  it establishes false expectations about how exactly global warming is harming everyone's lives. It is instead more useful to view climate change as a multifaceted dilemma that will require an equally multifaceted response. As Meier noted, this still emphasizes that the issue is very difficult to beat  but also established that is not an impossible dilemma.

"I worry about talking about climate change leading to 'civilization collapse' or even human extinction will actually lead to fatalism and the thought that there is nothing society can do, so lets not worry about it," Meier said. "Climate change is a big challenge, but a solvable one."
EAST BRIDGEWATER  Megan Krugger, 41, of East Bridgewater, never thought she'd have to eat live termites or sleep in a cave with bats, but that's exactly what she had to do while being part of a survival challenge in Colombia.

Krugger was part of the first all-female tribe during her 21-day survival challenge on Discovery Channel's "Naked and Afraid."

Krugger attempted to "stay alive in the deadly lands" of San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia, with her partner Ky Furneaux, according to the Discovery Channel.

The episode, Colombian Cave Women, aired March 10. The challenge has two pairs of contestants beginning separately and then merging halfway through to finish the 21 days together.

Megan Krugger, of East Bridgewater, competed on Discovery Channel's "Naked and Afraid."

Krugger said her friend, Kaila Cummings, of Brattleboro, Vermont, had been on "Naked and Afraid" a couple times and suggested she give it a try.

One thing led to another and all of sudden I was called to be on the show, she said.

Cummings was the one who kick-started it for her, she said, but another motivating factor was the death of her brother at age 24 in 2022.

That significant loss propelled me on this path, she said. I was done saying no to amazing opportunities.

Training for the challenge

She trained "a lot."

Krugger took survival classes at Raven Wilderness School in Barre to prepare for the challenge and because of her interest of everything outside, she said.

Its something Ive always been kind of interested in, she said, "to be totally in tune in nature."

I am a vegetarian, but I started eating meat to get my system ready, she said.

She walked around barefoot "a ton" on rocky surfaces and on hot surfaces in the summer.

I wanted to make sure my feet were acclimated to heat and cold, she said.

She also took archery lessons at Reedys Archery in Middleboro, in case she had the opportunity to hunt anything.

I was going to do whatever was necessary to feed myself, she said.

Survivalist Megan Krugger, a local science teacher, holds a bow and arrows at her East Bridgewater farm, Mistletoe Acres Tree Farm, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. She recently appeared on the Discover Channel's "Naked and Afraid."

Krugger was only able to bring one item on the challenge, something that fit into the realm of primitive survival, so she brought a paracord. A paracord is a special cordage thats used for building shelter instead of natural vines, she said. The pieces of rope can be taken apart and used for a fishing line and snare traps.

Krugger was partnered with Furneaux, of Australia, a survival expert who has done several survival challenges and is a former Hollywood stunt double.

I had my paracord, Furneaux had a machete, and we were given a pot to boil water and a fire starter," she said.

'It was an amazing' experience

Its a mixture of excitement, anxiety and kind of the fear of the unknown, she said. "But all of those are driving factors that equip you to make sure you are safe and as comfortable as possible.

Fear goes away pretty quicky, as soon as you are in survival mode, she said.

Krugger said her two biggest fears were dehydration and hypothermia.

It was the most extreme challenge Ive ever done, she said. In my 20s, I camped out for 12 weeks in East Africa."

Krugger has an undergraduate degree in archaeology and got the chance to do field work in East Africa.

I was in close proximity to lions, gazelle and wildebeest, she said. I wasnt as afraid in Colombia because of that experience."

Survivalist Megan Krugger, a local science teacher, at her East Bridgewater farm, Mistletoe Acres Tree Farm, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. She recently appeared on the Discover Channel's "Naked and Afraid."

Krugger said there was some discomfort being naked for the first five minutes, but it goes away.

Your mind is focused on survival, finding shelter, getting water, you dont have an opportunity to think about it, she said.

The reason contestants are naked is because "clothing is your first line of defense against the elements," she said. They want to make sure that youre truly going out there with nothing and surviving off the land.

Krugger did a lot of gathering firewood, as much as possible in between the rainstorms.

It was really hot and humid there, so wed go out under cloud cover, being careful of being out in the sun and rain, she said. We collected runoff water from volcanic rocks to drink. For food, there were 'virtually no resources.'"

Survivalist Megan Krugger, a local science teacher, holds a machete at her East Bridgewater farm, Mistletoe Acres Tree Farm, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. She recently appeared on the Discover Channel's "Naked and Afraid."

I ate a handful of live termites, sour cane plant and two berries, and that was it, for the five days I was there," she said.

Krugger said on day four, she and Furneaux were getting up to collect firewood and she had the worst acid reflux in her life and that her stomach started cramping up.

I thought maybe my body was going through ketosis because I hadnt eaten, but it was something much more sinister than that, unfortunately, she said

Furneaux encouraged her to rest, but she wanted to help.

"I kept pushing myself. I got to a point where I felt faint, and I finally just had to succumb to what was going on in my body and rest," she said.

Survivalist Megan Krugger, a local science teacher, uses a fire starter at her East Bridgewater farm, Mistletoe Acres Tree Farm, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. She recently appeared on the Discover Channel's "Naked and Afraid."

A medic was called in to check on her and told her she was dehydrated, her temperature was rising and that she needed to go to the hospital.

Krugger's challenge ended after five days with a medical tap-out.

She stayed in a hospital in San Jose Del Guaviare for two days before being flown home.

After she came home and went to urgent care, she was diagnosed with salmonella and plesiomonas shigelloides bacterial infections.

"They dont know how I contracted it," she said.

Krugger said she "felt disappointed" about not completing the challenge.

Ive been hard on myself for not being able to make the 21 days. It feels unfinished to me, she said. I would go back in a heartbeat."

Krugger had to wait for the show to air to see the outcome of the other participants.

I felt happy and excited for the other women who finished the show, she said.

Krugger is an eighth-grade science teacher at the East Bridgewater Junior/Senior High School and teaches survival skills to her students. Since the episode aired on television, some students have approached her with some great questions about her time there, she said.

Survivalist Megan Krugger, a local science teacher, at her East Bridgewater farm, Mistletoe Acres Tree Farm, on Saturday, March 9, 2024. She recently appeared on the Discover Channel's "Naked and Afraid."

Her husband, Matt, was very supportive the entire time.

We have such a strong relationship," she said. "This was something I had to do on my own, and he was all for it."

She and her husband own Mistletoe Acres Tree Farm on Whitman Street.

She said she's received postive feedback from people in town, and that "its nice to have the support of the community."

I hope I have another chance to do it again, she said.

There was no monetary prize for being on the show.

No prize, just bragging rights, she said. Its all about the experience. I feel it was a very magical experience. It was really cool to sleep in a cave with bats."

Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: East Bridgewater's Megan Krugger competes on 'Naked and Afraid'
Have an event or announcement you would like featured in THE DIGEST? Its welcome! Please send an email to lbordelon@gannett.com. Time sensitive announcements should be sent a week ahead of time.

Spring festival at Endless View Farms

The Easter Bunny will be at Crimora's Endless View Farms for its spring festival March 23-24 and March 30.

CRIMORA  Spring has sprung at Endless View Farms. Or at least it is preparing to.

The Crimora farm, located at 2513 Rockfish Road, will be holding an Easter Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Egg hunts are scheduled throughout the day. Kids turn the empty eggs in once they collect them for their prize. Then, on Saturday, March 30, a helicopter will drop 7,000 Easter eggs for children to hunt at 2 p.m. Those wanting to take part are asked to bring their own basket.

Tickets are $14 per person, with children 3 and under allowed in for free (they will need a $2 ticket if they're participating in the egg hunt).

In addition to egg hunting, there will be many activities at the farm on those days, including a meet and greet with the Easter Bunny, plus photos with the Easter Bunny from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 23 and 30, and noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 24.

The farm will have baby chicks and rabbits, plus activities including sliding, jumping and riding. Face painting will also be available all three days from noon to 5 p.m. for an extra charge.

There will also be vendors like Southern Wild Tees, Creations by T, The Freckled Tulip, Andrea's Crafty Treasures, and more.

Food trucks will also be on site. Daddy Mack's Grub Shack will be there all three days, while Mr. BBQ and The Sweet Spot Dessert Truck will also be there Saturday, March 30.

On March 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Endless View Farms is teaming up with Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center to showcase adoptable dogs.

Visit Endless View Farms at endlessviewfarms.com or on Facebook for more details and updates.

Free classes for potential home buyers

FISHERSVILLE  Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP) will be offering free training at the Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro Libraries over the next few weeks.

On March 21, 5:30 p.m., at the Augusta County Library, SERCAP's housing counselors make their expertise available for free. Topics include:

Upfront Costs of Homebuying & Savings

Credit Reports & Scores

Various Loan Products

SERCAPs First Time Home Buyer Programs

Arc of Augusta announces Spring Fling Dance-A-Thon

FISHERSVILLE  Arc of Augusta will soon hold its annual fundraiser  the Spring Fling Dance-A-Thon will fill Wilson Middle School in Fishersville from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 13.

"The Spring Fling Dance-A-Thon is not just a celebration of inclusion; it's a fundraising extravaganza dedicated to supporting The Arc of Augusta," reads the press release. "Every step you take on the dance floor contributes to a greater cause, making a positive impact on our community."

Admission is $5 for the general audience. Those who wish to dance in the event can sign up on the website or at https://rb.gy/dllsog.

The Arc of Augusta advocates for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. According to the press release, the organization "strives to create a more inclusive and accepting community for everyone" through "comprehensive support, advocacy, and awareness initiatives." Interested parties can reach them by emailing thearcofaugusta@gmail.com or through their website.

Jasmine Yoon confirmed as judge for Western District of Virginia

WASHINGTON, D.C.  The U.S. Senate confirmed Jasmine Yoon as the newest Western District of Virginia Judge.

Were thrilled the Senate voted to confirm Jasmine Yoon to the federal judiciary," said Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine in a joint statement. "She has a remarkable track record and a profound commitment to public service. With todays confirmation, she cements herself in history as the first Asian American federal judge in Virginia. We know shell be a tremendous asset to the federal judiciary.

According to the Warner and Kaine joint press release, Moon is the first Asian American Article III federal judge to serve in Virginia and the seventh federal judge recommended by the senators confirmed in the last three years. She was nominated by President Joe Biden.

Jonah Goldberg, along with Mara Liasson, will be speaking at Bridgewater College March 25.

BRIDGEWATER  Two of Americas most experienced political analysts will discuss national politics, current events and the upcoming election season during an endowed lecture in Cole Hall on the campus of Bridgewater College on Monday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m.

Jonah Goldberg, a popular conservative pundit, and veteran NPR reporter Mara Liasson will discuss the headlines impacting Americans in a panel discussion facilitated by Bobbi Gentry, Bridgewater College associate professor of political science. Gentry, an expert in elections and youth voting, will be joined by BC undergraduate student Jory Cardoza, a political science major.

Goldberg is a conservative political analyst, syndicated columnist and author of three best-selling books. Formerly senior editor at the National Review, Goldberg is currently founding editor-in-chief of the online magazine The Dispatch and host of the podcast The Remnant.Goldberg also writes a weekly opinion column for The Los Angeles Timesand regularly appears on CNN and NPR as a political commentator.

Liasson is an award-winning journalist and political correspondent. A veteran reporter with nearly four decades of experience, Liasson is currently national political correspondent for NPR, reporting on politics and policy for the newsmagazines Morning Edition and All Things Considered.Liasson is also a regular contributor to Fox News Channels Special Report with Bret Baier and a panelist on FOX News Sunday.

The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the event starting at 7:30 p.m. The panel discussion will be followed by time for Q&A. No recording is permitted, but a livestream of the event will be available at bridgewater.edu/march2024.

This endowed lecture is sponsored by the W. Harold Row Symposium on Reconciliation.

VDOT traffic alert for March 18 to March 22

STAUNTON  The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in the Staunton transportation district during the coming weeks. Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. When traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.

INTERSTATE 64

Mile marker 90 to 93, eastbound and westbound  Overnight single lane closures for inspection of Route 285 overpass bridge, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday night (March 17).

INTERSTATE 81

*NEW* Mile marker 205 to 206 , northbound  Shoulder closures for maintenance to bridge over Route 606 (Raphine Road), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 18  March 29.

*NEW* Mile marker 206 to 205 , southbound  Right shoulder closures for sign work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Mile marker 206 to 205 , southbound  No lane closures but survey work in right of way, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. through March 29.

Mile marker 212 to 214 , northbound  Overnight single lane closures for maintenance to Route 11 bridge, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Thursday night.

*UPDATE* Mile marker 221 to 227 , northbound and southbound  Overnight right lane and shoulder closures for shoulder strengthening work, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights through March 25. Work is related to I-81 widening project.

*NEW* Mile marker 223 to 225 , northbound and southbound  Overnight lane closures for inspection of Route 254 overpass bridge, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday night.

*NEW* Exit 225 , northbound  Overnight closure of off-ramp to Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) for shoulder strengthening work, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday nights (March 20-21). Work is related to I-81 widening project. Follow posted detour.

*NEW* Mile marker 226 to 237, northbound and southbound  Right shoulder closures for sign work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

PRIMARY ROADS

Route 11 (Lee Highway)  Northbound right lane closures between Route 940 (Dick Huff Lane) and Staunton city limits for sidewalk installation, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through May 24.

Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway)  Eastbound and westbound left shoulder closures due to widening project in the area of the Route 252 (Middlebrook Avenue) interchange, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. through April 30.

*NEW* Route 340 (Stuarts Draft Highway)  Northbound and southbound right shoulder closures between Route 608 (Draft Avenue/Tinkling Spring Road) and Route 654/909 (White Hill Road/Johnson Drive) for utility work, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday (March 17).

Route 340 (Stuarts Draft Highway)  Flagger traffic control between Route 831 (Old White Hill Road) and Route 655 (Walnut Hills Road) for tree removal operations, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

SECONDARY ROADS

Route 602 (Summerdean Road)  Utility work in right of way between Route 682 (McKinley Road) and Route 677 (Shemariah Road), 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March 28.

*NEW* Route 612 (Quicks Mill Road)  Pilot truck and flagger traffic control between Route 11 (Lee Highway) and Route 626 (Berry Farm Road/Limestone Road) for milling and paving operations, 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. March 18  April 5.

Route 624 (South Delphine Avenue, Waynesboro)  Shoulder closures between South Oak Lane and Chinquapin Drive for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through May 30, 2025.

Route 635 (Barterbrook Road)  Closed between I-81 frontage roads (FR-217 and FR-218) for bridge replacement as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary lane project. Follow posted detour. Expected completion summer 2025.

*NEW* Route 654 (White Hill Road)  Flagger traffic control near I-81 interchange for maintenance to bridge over I-81, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday.

Route 664 (Mount Torrey Road)  Shoulder closures and occasional flagger traffic control between Route 624 (Lyndhurst Road) and Route 894 (Mount Torrey Road) for water line installation, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through March 29. Estimated completion summer 2024.

Route 664 (Lyndhurst Road, Waynesboro)  Shoulder closures between Miami Avenue and Purdue Street for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor, through June 30, 2025.

Route 675 (Broadhead School Road)  Flagger traffic control between Route 11 (Lee-Jackson Highway) and Route 604 (McClures Mill Road) for utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through March 28.

Route 796 (Kiddsville Road)  Flagger traffic control between Route 797 (Miller Road) and Route 608 (Long Meadow Road) for utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through March 28.

Various roads  Mobile traffic control for mowing operations. Flagger traffic control for drainage work, tree removal, shoulder repairs, pavement patching and brush cutting, 7:30 to 3 p.m. on weekdays.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: THE DIGEST: Endless View Farms hosts Eggstravaganza, politics discussion, VDOT alerts
EATON RAPIDS  The owner of the blighted, historic former Horner Woolen Mill at M-99 and Main Street wants to deed the property to the Eaton County Land Bank, but officials have not yet made a decision on whether to accept the offer.

Eaton County Treasurer Bob Robinson said the county received a proposal from the owner, Utah-based Mill Street LLC, to transfer the property to the land bank after Eaton Rapids officials filed a lawsuit against the company in January because it failed to demolish the property by an agreed-upon deadline.

The city's Eaton County lawsuit remains active while county land bank officials review the offer. Robinson and Eaton Rapids City Attorney Cullen Harkness say both county and city officials agree the land bank could provide the property's best chance for cleanup and remediation, which is expected to cost more than $3 million. However, county officials are opposed to taking on the current owner's liabilities.

Mill Street had signed an agreement following a previous lawsuit by the city saying it would demolish all but one building on the 7-acre site at 224 N. Main St. by the end of 2023. A $653,000 grant from the Michigan State Land Bank Authority secured by the county to help pay for the site's demolition and remediation was revoked after the company failed to follow through with the work.

County land bank is reviewing proposal

An attorney for the county land bank is reviewing Mill Street LLC's proposal, Robinson said.

"Obviously, our land bank is not going to accept all liabilities from the previous owner," he said.

If the county land bank does assume ownership of the property, it would need to "take a more structured approach" to its demolition and remediation, Robinson said.

"There was no way that land bank was going to be able to make a timeline that was based on the previous owner's lawsuit with the city and the city knows that the land bank isn't going to be able to do that," he said. "We're going to need to attract some state funding for cleanup, as well as the demolition."

The land bank is in the best position to do that, Robinson said.

"We have a lot more ability to attract that public funding," he said. "We have more protections than what a private owner has with respect to environmental cleanup."

Lawsuit over failed demolition remains ongoing

Cullen said the city's latest lawsuit against the company, filed in Eaton County Circuit Court, is ongoing.

"I think everyone agrees putting the property in the hands of the land bank is going to be the best option since the county land bank is going to have more resources and more ability to deal with the property with the kinds of issues that this particular one has," Harkness said. "It's very apparent that there's no feasible way for the defendant to develop the property."

He said "settlement discussions" with the property's owner continue, but "we just set the scheduling order in the event that our settlement discussions fail...I think the end game for the city is to get the property into the land bank's hands."

Horner Woolen Mills operated at 224 N. Main St. from about 1880 to the mid-1950s. A flour mill operated on the site as early as 1837, but was purchased by businessman Samuel Horner in 1880. The company later supplied wool for blankets and uniforms during World War I and World War II.

The vacant buildings have been crumbling for decades. The property has been considered an eyesore and, at times, a danger by city officials, but despite city directives to make the property safe, Mill Street LLC hasn't.

READ MORE:

Old Chicago Pizza closing in Okemos; contents of restaurant to be auctioned off

Delta Township apartment complex could nearly double in size, according to proposal

Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ .

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Blighted Horner Mill site offered to Eaton County Land Bank
The Ukrainian Parliament moved forward with conscription bill No. 10449, passing it in the first reading on Feb. 7, and on Feb. 27, Members of Parliament commenced deliberations on the text for its second reading.

Read also: Defense Committee prepares mobilization bill for second reading

The committee must now process over 4,000 amendments submitted by MPs, Ukraines parliamentary Defense Committee chair Oleksandr Zavitnevych said. This extensive process is necessary to ready the document for its second reading in parliament.



The second reading of the bill, inclusive of the amendments, could occur by the end of March, said the Defense Committee MP Fedir Venislavskyi.



Read also: MP accuses Ukraine's legislature of being mired in deep crisis as no sessions held for three weeks

Concerning the implementation of the conscription bill, its text, No. 10449, stipulates that the law becomes effective one month after its publication, with certain exemptions:



Provisions outlined in Article 6 of the Law of Ukraine On Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization



Part 4 on the submission of information by Ukraines Internal Affairs Ministry to territorial recruitment centers about registered vehicles potentially earmarked for reinforcing the Ukrainian Armed Forces and other military entities during special periods established by the Cabinet of Ministers



Part 5 on the submissionof information by the Ukrainian Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Ministry, the Ukrainian State Service for Maritime, Inland Waterway Transport and Shipping to the territorial recruitment centers about watercraft listed in the Ukrainian Shipping Register and Shippping Book, possibly designed for the additional staffing of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and other military formations during the special periods, in the manner established by the Cabinet of Ministers



Read also: At least 25 draft dodgers died trying to cross border illegally in two years of war, Border Guard Service reports

Certain provisions of the Law of Ukraine On Military Duty and Military Service



Part six of Article 1, which exempts foreigners and stateless persons within Ukraine from military duty, except when provided for by law. In such cases, foreigners and stateless individuals legally present in Ukraine may voluntarily (under contract) engage in military service within the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard



Part two of Article 26 on the discharge of current military personnel from military service.



As the Ukrainian parliament's Defense Committee deliberates on the amendments to the bill, no voting schedule has been set. The law's publication occurs subsequent to its endorsement by the Ukrainian President.



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
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's foreign minister said on Monday the U.S. should make clear to Israel what the consequences of a military push into the south Gaza city of Rafah on the border with Egypt would be, after Washington voiced opposition to such a move.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed to a cabinet meeting on Sunday that Israeli forces would thrust into Rafah, the last relatively safe place in the tiny, crowded Gaza enclave after more than five months of war, despite international pressure for Israel to avoid civilian casualties.

Israel's allies have heaped pressure on Netanyahu not to attack Rafah, where more than a million displaced people from other parts of the devastated enclave have sought shelter, without a plan to protect civilians.

"It is not enough for rhetoric, it is not enough to state opposition, it is also important to indicate what if that position is circumvented, what if that position is not respected," Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said at a news briefing with United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) chief Philippe Lazzarini in Cairo.

"It is also up to the international community and the United States, who have indicated their refusal to such an eventuality, to make clear what are the consequences if their appeals are not heeded," Shoukry added in English-language remarks.

He also warned that the humanitarian consequences and the loss of lives that would result from an Israeli ground assault on Rafah would be "catastrophic".

Egypt has warned before of the "dire consequences" of a potential Israeli military push near its border, where it controls the Rafah crossing - the focal point of efforts to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza and allow out injured people and foreign passport holders.

(Reporting by Sarah El Safty and Nayera Abdallah; writing by Clauda Tanios; editing by Bernadette Baum and Mark Heinrich)
As part of its partnership with the UKculture project, JSC OTP BANK will support the platform's team in preparing a series of lectures on the history of money: from the hryvnia of the princes of Kievan Rus to the present, as well as figures and historical monuments from Ukrainian banknotes.

"We started the collaboration on the first day of World Money Week, which is celebrated annually in more than 100 countries. The joint project with UKultura will allow us to raise deeper meanings, to look at the history of Ukrainian money in philosophical, historical, and cultural dimensions. The platform's experts study unusual topics, find unexpected facts, and tell them not through dates and a list of names, but through living stories. And they also explain how these stories have affected us today," said Lesia Syrota, team leader of the OTP Bank Helps Ukraine charity project, Director of Retail Sales and Network Management at OTP Bank.

She noted that Ukrainian banknotes contain much more than the size of the payment denomination and anti-counterfeiting elements. In particular, she reminded that modern money depicts symbols or important artifacts of Ukrainian statehood that have played or are playing a significant role in the country's history. Therefore, educational lectures will help expand and supplement knowledge about different eras and how they are reflected in the present.

"UKultura is an innovative educational project about Ukrainian culture with a human face. Without bombast and excessive academicism, together with leading researchers, we talk about the achievements and values of our culture from ancient times to the present. The UCulture educational platform was created for students seeking live information about Ukrainian culture, for teachers looking for relevant materials and teaching methods, for cultural professionals seeking to share their experience and knowledge, and for everyone who wants to learn more about Ukrainian culture," commented Larysa Dovha, UCulture project manager.

All videos created within the framework of the cooperation will be available for free on the Bank's YouTube channel and on the UCUkraine website.

The UKultura educational platform was launched in March 2023. Its website contains both lectures on the development of Ukrainian culture from ancient times to the present and interviews with leading experts and scholars.
By Crispian Balmer

ROME (Reuters) - Egyptian police detained an Italian student in Cairo because they thought he was a British spy, taking him to a security facility where he was tortured and murdered, an Italian prosecutor told a Rome court on Monday.

Italy has charged four Egyptian security agents with kidnapping and killing Giulio Regeni, a postgraduate student at Britain's Cambridge University, in Cairo in 2016.

The four men are being tried in absentia and have never responded publicly to the accusations. The Egyptian authorities have repeatedly denied any state involvement in Regeni's disappearance and death.

"The overall picture that has emerged is that of a web that slowly, between September 2015 and 25 January 2016, was tightened around Regeni by the defendants," prosecutor Sergio Colaiocco said, addressing the second hearing of the trial.

Regeni had been in Cairo to research Egypt's independent unions for his doctoral thesis, a sensitive issue in Cairo, and had struck up friendships with people who were secretly reporting back to the local security forces.

"Because of this activity, the defendants were erroneously convinced that Regeni was an English spy, sent to give financing to unions close to the Muslim Brotherhood," Colaiocco said.

The prosecutor said Regeni suffered "horrendous torture" over the period of a week and was then deliberately killed, adding that details of his suffering would be revealed in a subsequent session.

In all, the prosecution wants to call 73 witnesses, including 27 who live in Egypt. Colaiocco acknowledged that Italy would need the cooperation of the Egyptian police to serve papers on this group telling them that they had to appear.

It was not clear if the prosecution case would be fatally undermined if Egyptian witnesses did not testify.

Italian and Egyptian prosecutors initially investigated the case together, but came to different conclusions, with Egypt blaming the killing on a group of gangsters after initially suggesting he had died in a road accident or in a sex attack.

The case has strained diplomatic ties between Italy and Egypt, but in a sign that relations are returning to normal, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni travelled to Cairo on Sunday as part of a European delegation that signed a multi-billion-euro "strategic partnership" with Egypt.

Italy's main centre-left opposition party, the Democratic Party (PD) denounced the visit. "We would not strike deals with regimes like the one in Egypt that for years has been shielding the killers of Giulio Regeni, PD leader Elly Schlein said.

(Reporting by Marco Carta; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said all those killed were women and children - AFP/Hoshang Hashimi

Eight people, all women and children, were killed on Monday in reckless air strikes by the Pakistan military in the border regions of Afghanistan, the Taliban government said.

Border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have risen since the Taliban government seized power in 2021, with Islamabad claiming militant groups are carrying out regular attacks from the neighbouring country.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistan aircraft bombed civilian homes in Khost and Paktika provinces near the border with Pakistan at around 3am.

The Taliban government strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of Afghanistans sovereignty, he said in the statement. Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will be out [of] Pakistans control.

A local government official in Pakistans border regions, who asked not to be named, told AFP that the military carried out the strikes in response to Afghan forces targeting Pakistani territory.

Announcements have been made in mosques to empty some areas in Kurram and North Waziristan as clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue on and off at the border, he added.

The strikes come after seven Pakistani troops were killed in an attack inside Pakistan territory on Saturday, for which Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistans president, vowed retaliation.

Pakistan has decided that whoever will enter our borders, homes or country and commit terror, we will respond to them strongly, regardless of who it is or from which country, he said while attending the funeral prayers of the soldiers, which included a lieutenant colonel.

President Asif Ali Zardari (L) at the funeral of Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali where he promised to respond to attacks within Pakistan territory - Reuters

Areas along the border have long been a stronghold for militant groups such as Pakistans home-grown Taliban group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates across the porous frontier with Afghanistan.

Analysts say militants in the former tribal areas have become emboldened since the Talibans return to power, with TTP waging a growing campaign against security officials.

The Taliban deny harbouring Pakistani militants.

The TTP issued an official statement denying that Mondays strikes targeted the group, saying their members operate from within Pakistan. However, a TTP source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said the strikes in Paktika and Khost left at least nine people dead.

A house has been attacked where two women and seven children have been killed and a child has been wounded in the Barmal district in Paktika.

A bombardment in the Pasa Mela area of Khost also has casualties.

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 police van was set on fire after the protest turned violent in February last year

Eight men have been sentenced over their involvement in violent disorder after trouble flared at a hotel housing asylum seekers.

Violence broke out outside the Suites Hotel in Knowsley, Merseyside, last year which was providing temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.

A large group had gathered and rocks and fireworks were thrown at police.

Ringleader Brian McPadden, 61, of Kirkby, was jailed for three years and six months at Liverpool Crown Court.

Thomas Mills, 47, who brought a banner to the protest urging people to shout to get the asylum seekers out, was sentenced to two years and eight months.

Paul Lafferty, 42, was handed the same sentence while Jonjo O'Donoghue, 21, of Liverpool, was sentenced to three years and six months in a young offenders institution.

Former British Army soldier Liam Jones was sentenced to 27 months while John Tippler, 59, was jailed for two years.

Warren Cullen, who was on a community order at the time of the protest, was jailed for 20 months.

The judge gave Harry Boynton a 16-month suspended sentence along with 200 hours of unpaid work.

The five men had admitted being present on the night but denied violent disorder.

Why not follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk
Police in Washington state announced two suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of a missing elderly man who was allegedly poisoned with fentanyl by a pair who gained his trust through a dating app.

The Mercer Island Police released a statement saying Philip J. Brewer, 32, and Christina Hardy, 47, are facing charges for the murder of Curtis Engeland, 74, by using an elaborate scheme to defraud and murder him.

Police said that Brewer and Hardy are believed to have become acquainted with Engeland several months ago and subsequently financially defrauded him.

Police also believe the suspects later violently confronted Engeland at his Mercer Island home in the late evening hours of February 23, and used Engelands vehicle to leave Mercer Island that night.

POLICE MADE 'A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL' TO UNCOVER LOCATION OF MISSING BLOOD MOUNTAIN HIKER: KILLER WAS 'HUNTING'

Two suspects were arrested in connection to the homicide of missing Mercer Island resident Curtis Engeland, 74.

The following day, February 24, police said Engelands family reported him missing. Mercer Island police initially responded to Engelands residence and began investigating his disappearance as a missing person case. With initial details unclear whether he left willingly or was taken, a Silver Alert was issued by the Washington State Patrol.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Police said evidence then indicated Engeland was dead and the suspect were no longer in the Mercer Island area.

Mercer Island Police detectives and King County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue teams conducted a targeted search for Engelands remains in Grays Harbor County following clues from the evidence. Police said the search area was determined using GPS location history from the suspects cell phone activity.

During the following week, detectives compiled forensic information and determined the suspects left Washington State quickly after the victim was killed and fled south, rented different vehicles and swapped out new cell phones to cover their path.

According to probable cause documents obtained by Fox 13, Brewer and Hardy admitted to another person that they injected Engeland with fentanyl to kill him and then drove out to Cosmopolis in Grays Harbor County to hide his body. However, at the dumpsite, the suspects realized Engeland was still alive, so they stabbed him in the neck, Fox 13 reported.

HALO BRANTONS MOM FACES UPGRADED MURDER CHARGE AFTER MISSING NEW YORK GIRL FOUND DOWN TUNNEL AT GE PLANT

Washington State Patrol issued a silver alert for 74-year-old Curtis Engeland on Feb. 29 when he was reported missing. He was later found dead.

The medical examiner's officer determined that Engeland died from a "sharp force injury of the neck."

Investigators said that Brewer used the dating app, Scruff, to gain Engeland's trust.

Prior to his murder, Engeland knew something was wrong immediately when he woke up in his home following his first meeting with Brewer back in January, according to documents obtained by Fox 13.

Fox 13 reported that the documents stated that Brewer and Engeland talked for about a week before their first date. According to court documents, Engeland invited Brewer over for a movie, but fell asleep.

MISSING WASHINGTON STATE WOMAN FOUND DEAD, TORTURED IN MEXICO CEMETERY, SUSPECT IN CUSTODY

When Engeland woke up, Brewer had reportedly disappeared, along with Engelands wallet, cell phone, house keys, car keys, driver's license and social security card.

Fox 13 reported that Brewer and Hardy, as well as Hardys son, tried to move into Engelands home, claiming that Engeland was allowing them to stay at his home. The documents stated the suspects also used the victim's phone to create alibis.

On March 14, the suspects were taken into police custody in California, are being held on $5 million bail, and will be extradited back to Washington to face homicide charges.

"First and foremost, we must acknowledge Mr. Engelands family - when this incident was first reported to police as a missing person, we hoped for a better outcome," Mercer Island Police Chief Ed Holmes said. "The family remained determined to help our investigation over the past few weeks and we hope some comfort can be found through the hard work being done to bring justice for Curtis and his loved ones. We appreciate the communitys support as the police department was unable to share law enforcement-sensitive updates with the public until after our suspects were apprehended and know it was difficult to await answers in the wake of such terrible circumstances."





Original article source: Elderly Washington state man reportedly poisoned with fentanyl by pair he met on dating app
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.  Chinese Proverb

If I could bring anyone back to life today it would be Tim Russert. I need the former TV journalist, attorney and popular moderator of NBCs Meet the Press to come back, so he can somehow explain to the over half a million 18 year olds in our state  who will have the opportunity to vote in their first presidential primary in 2024  that their vote doesnt matter.

In 2000, we all (except the 18-year-old voters Im talking about) watched Tim utter those famous words Florida, Florida, Florida during the Bush vs. Gore election. Because of Florida and hanging chads (If you are 18 and reading this, Google that), the contest wasnt decided for 36 days.

Melinda Isley

However, Florida and its population of over 22 million doesnt even get a say in the presidential primaries because were still hanging on to a 50-year tradition of allowing the state of Iowa (population of just over 3 million) to be the first to tell us who our next president should be. That primary is followed by New Hampshire (population around 1.4 million), then South Carolina (population of just over 5 million).

Florida isnt even included in Super Tuesday, when 16 states and one U.S. territory hold their primaries. Yep, we are behind a U.S. territory (American Samoa with a population around 50,000).

So, come March 19, 2024, when Florida finally holds its primary, do we really expect anyone to show up to the polls  especially our brand new 18-year-old voters?

Im no math whiz, but why arent the top three most populous states allowed to hold the first primaries? Those states would be California (38.9 million), Texas (30.5 million) and Florida (22.6 million).

To all the 18 year olds, if you are still with me, how does this make you feel? Your elders preach about the importance of voting, especially to you, but dont you feel a little cheated in the way these primaries fall?

Like you, Im asking: Why arent all primaries on the same day just like the general election? I Googled this question but couldnt find a real explanation. Seems like it comes down to politics  like everything else.

So, first-time, young voters, why dont we change this archaic rule? Why dont you demand that we do, so your voices are heard no matter what state you live in?

The U.S. acts like we are a world leader, but as a European ambassador recently reported to Politico: The U.S. is a fat buffalo trying to take a nap.

According to NPR, about 27% of voters between the ages of 18 to 29 cast a ballot in the midterm election in 2022. Apparently, less than half of young Americans between those ages plan to vote in 2024. Do we blame them?

I have voted in every election since turning age 18. It was exciting. I felt like my single vote would actually make a difference, but, sadly, I dont feel that way anymore, especially in Florida. We will continue to be one of the most populous states, but Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina are telling us to hold their beers.

We can do better. We should do better. Every vote, from a primary to a general election, should feel like it matters. Lets do it for the 18-year-old first-time voters who have been waiting for their chance to make a difference.

And to you, young voters, please speak up and tell your seniors, like me, to make it better and how you think we should do it. You are inheriting this country. Its time to make it yours. Plant that tree now.

Melinda Clarkson Isley was born in Fort Myers and is a fourth-generation Floridian.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Election 2024: Do Floridians even matter?
The presidential nominations of Democratic incumbent Joe Biden and Republican challenger Donald Trump are already certain. So Tuesdays primary Election Day in Illinois is focused on several down-ballot races as many are expecting a lower voter turnout than years when the presidential races were more competitive.

Heres what to know about the Illinois primary, including the Bring Chicago Home referendum. For more news, sign up for our politics newsletter.

How to vote

Monday marks the final day of early voting in Chicago and the suburbs. And Tuesday is Election Day. So voters need to either go to their local polling places to cast their ballots or if they want to vote by mail still Tuesday is the latest date a mail-in ballot can be postmarked to be counted. Any registered voter may participate in any partys primary. Illinois does not register voters by party but voters must choose whether to pull a Republican or Democratic ballot.

On Election Day, polls close at 7 p.m.

If you live in Chicago, heres our voters guide. In Chicago, voters are being offered a newly designed I voted! sticker. And heres our guide for suburban voters.

To register on Election Day or in person during early voting, you must bring two forms of identification, one of which must list your current address. Here is a list of acceptable forms of ID. If you are already registered and your address is correct, you do not need to bring your ID  though its not a bad idea to bring it in case your signature doesnt match the one on file.

What are the races to watch?

Three incumbent congressmen are facing the most competitive challenges  two Chicago Democrats and one downstate Republican. Theres also a heated race to replace Kim Foxx as Cook County states attorney and a controversial Chicago referendum to hike a real estate tax on $1 million-plus properties to raise money for homeless services. Scores of state legislative and other local contests also are on the ballot.

Cook County States Attorney

Two Democrats are seeking the become the nominee for Cook Countys next states attorney in November. Retired Appellate Judge and former prosecutor Eileen ONeill Burke is facing off against former prosecutor, government official and attorney Clayton Harris III. More than $4 million in fundraising has poured into the race, with most going to ONeill Burke. Harris has gotten the backing of Foxxs mentor, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the countys Democratic Party, and has pledged to uphold Foxxs progressive reforms while more publicly highlighting successful prosecutions. ONeill Burke has pledged to maintain some of Foxxs programs, but said shed unwind her retail theft policies and ask for detention each and every time someone is found with an assault weapon, threatens anyone with a weapon, or is involved in a violent crime. Republican Robert Fioretti, who has no challenger in the primary, will face the winner.

7th Congressional District

In the race to represent the 7th Congressional District  which stretches from the west suburbs through Chicagos West Side and all the way downtown and then north to the Old Town neighborhood and south to West Englewood  Democratic U.S. Rep. Danny Davis is seeking a 15th term versus four opponents. Hes running against Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, progressive candidate Kina Collins, who is making her third challenge to Davis, Kouri Marshall and Nikhil Batia.

Bring Chicago Home

On Chicago ballots will be a multiparagraph referendum question backed by Mayor Brandon Johnson to raise the real estate transfer tax on the sale of all $1 million-plus properties. Surviving late court challenges, the referendum would raise, on average, an additional $100 million annually for homeless services, supporters say. But real estate interests warn the extra costs will threaten Chicagos recovery from the pandemic, exacerbate office vacancies and impede fresh development.

Other races to watch

The two other top congressional contests feature U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia facing off against Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez in the Democratic primary race in the Latino-heavy 4th district and U.S. Rep. Mike Bost fending off a challenge from Darren Bailey in the Republican primarys deep downstate 12th district race. Trump endorsed Bost over Bailey, who in 2022 lost his bid for governor.

Related Articles

There are two other races in the suburbs. Democratic U.S. Rep. Bill Foster faces progressive challenger Qasim Rashid in the 11th Congressional District, which runs from McHenry through western Kane County and southern portions of DuPage County. In the 6th district, which includes west and southwestern suburbs as well as parts of the Southwest Side, U.S. Rep. Sean Casten faces lower-funded campaigns from public health administrator Mahnoor Ahmad and Charles Hughes, who has run for office several times before, in the Democratic primary.

On the Illinois Supreme Court, Justice Joy Cunningham is seeking to be elected to a full term after being appointed to fill the vacancy of Justice Anne Burke. Shes running against Jesse Reyes, an appellate court judge who finished second in the 2020 race for a seat on the states highest court.

Two other county races have generated interest. First-term Cook County Clerk of the Court Iris Martinez is facing off against Mariyana Spyropoulos, a commissioner on the board of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. And five-term Cook County Board of Review member Larry Rogers Jr. is being challenged by Larecia Tucker, who is is being backed by Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi in a high-spending race.

All 118 House seats and 23 of 59 Senate seats are on ballots this Tuesday. The race thats gotten the most attention is for the 20th district Senate seat on Chicagos North and Northwest sides. Theres a four-way Democratic contest between incumbent state Sen. Natalie Toro, who was appointed to the seat last year and has the backing of several state and local Chicago-area Democrats, Graciela Guzman, an organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union, Dave Nayak, who owns a farming business and runs a free asthma and allergy clinic in Roscoe Village, and Geary Yonker, a community organizer in Logan Square.

Endorsements

The Tribune Editorial Board continued its decadeslong tradition of endorsing political candidates appearing on Illinois ballots. Here are their endorsements for the 2024 primary.
Getty Images

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

As Florida voters go to the polls on Tuesday and later cast votes in November for the presidential election, a factor they may need to contend with are political ads that may contain deceptive artificial intelligence, or AI.

In fact, its already happening.

Last summer, the federal super PAC created for Gov. Ron DeSantis  Never Back Down  manipulated the voice of Donald Trump to attack the former president in one such video ad that aired in Iowa, without suffering any consequences. (DeSantis has since suspended his presidential campaign.)

Thats why Florida is among the dozens of states that are currently considering laws to provide voters more information when AI-generated content makes its way into political ads. Indiana became the latest to regulate so-called deepfakes last week, joining New Mexico, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan, California and Washington, according to Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.

As a way to give warning to Floridians who may encounter such ads, state lawmakers in Tallahassee recently approved a bill (HB 919) that requires a disclaimer to be included in any political advertisement that uses generative artificial intelligence.

DeSantis will need to approve, or disapprove, the measure.

Language too weak

Under the legislation approved by the House and Senate, the disclosure must include this statement: Created in whole or in part with the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI).

But critics say that language is far too weak.

It doesnt say that the information is false, says Amy Keith, the executive director of Common Cause Florida, about the disclaimer. It doesnt say that its been manipulated. It just says that the advertisement has been created with the use of generative artificial intelligence, and with so much stuff being created with the support of artificial intelligence by now that we feel that doesnt really inform Floridians of what theyre looking at.

The bill lists the disclaimer requirements for each specific medium, according to a bill analysis:

For TV or video ads: The disclaimer must be clearly readable throughout the communication and occupy at least 4 percent of the vertical picture height.

For internet public communications that includes text or graphic components: The disclaimer must be viewable without the user taking any action and be large enough to be clearly readable.

For printed communications: The disclaimer must be slated in bold font with a size of at least 12 points.

For graphic communications: The disclaimer must be large enough to be clearly readable but no less than 4 percent of the vertical height of the communication.

If a disclaimer is not listed, a complaint would need to be filed with the Florida Election Commission. If the commission found the complaint to be valid, it would then be referred to a state attorneys office for potential prosecution.

Miami-Dade County Democratic Rep. Ashley Gantt was one of the eight Democratic House members during the legislative session that voted the AI bill down. She said the language was confusing in terms of who would be held liable for any sanctions. The bill itself wasnt really clear about who will bear the responsibility, she told the Phoenix last week.

The bill says [i]n addition to any civil penalties provided by law, the person identified as having paid for, sponsored, or approved the AI-generated ad who fails to place the required disclaimer is also subject to a first-degree misdemeanor. And it says that a person identified as paying for, sponsoring, or approving the ad in question would be held responsible.

Orlando-area Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani voted for the bill on the House floor, but she says that in Floridas current election environment, it may be extremely difficult to determine who is responsible for running an AI generated ad with, or without a disclaimer.

Lets just say that a random PC (political committee) uses AI and they mail a flier to 30,000 doors, she says. It didnt have a disclaimer on it. How do you even find out whats behind that because some of these PCs hide behind layers and layers of just cloudiness. It might be a random person who lives in another state. Its just kind of intentionally an opaque system that allows for unethical decision making and its not like a disclaimer requirement is going to stop that from happening.

Deepfake ads will be rampant

Common Cause Keith says another problem with the bill is that there is no process to take down the ad as soon as possible, meaning it could continue to be broadcast without a disclaimer.

Say youre a candidate and you see a manipulated ad that is manipulating what you yourself said or did and its showing something false about what you did, she says. So youre having more Floridians exposed to that false information while it works its way through the process.

Ilana Beller is the organizing manager for the democracy team at Public Citizen. She notes that absent any federal legislation on the issue, its incumbent for states to pass laws requiring some type of disclosure for political ads that contain generative artificial intelligence, or she says, such deepfake ads will be rampant.

I think that its a deterrent to bad actors that they now know that a) there are some penalties that they will have to pay if there isnt a disclosure and b) theyll have to circulate them with a disclosure, so theyre basically telling on themselves if theyre following the law. Saying hey, this is manipulated, fraudulent content, that will be a huge deterrent for the vast majority of people who want to put these out there who want to convince people that theyre real.

One expert told the Phoenix that its simply too early to determine if these disclaimers will work.

We have very little direct, empirical research looking at the effectiveness or the impact of these sort of disclosures in generated AI in political ads, says Scott Babwah Brennan, the head of Online Expression Policy for the Center on Technology Policy at UNC-Chapel Hill.

We dont know if they work, we dont know if there are other sorts of impacts that they might have, let alone in getting to the level of how should they be worded? And the differences that different language might have. Thats not to say that theyre ineffective or there arent ways to make them or less effective, but rather we just dont know, he told the Phoenix.

While there is considerable concern that deepfakes could be a part of the presidential election this year, Brennan believes they might have a bigger impact on local elections.

In smaller down-ballot races theres less advertising, less attention, less oversight, he says. Theres just less communication about the candidates.

In the case of the DeSantis super PAC ad that manipulated the voice of Donald Trump to make it sound like he was criticizing Iowas governor Kim Reynolds (who had endorsed DeSantis), a spokesperson for the super PAC told PolitiFact that they had utilized technology to give voice to Donald Trumps words from a Truth Social post. That prompted the Trump campaign to say that it was a desperate attempt to deceive the public.

The League of Women Voters of Florida supports the legislation.

The League is concerned that deliberately false, AI-generated content in campaign ads or other communications will undermine the role of voters and corrupt the election process by attempting to deceitfully sway voters opinions or suppress voter turnout through misinformation about election rules. House Bill 919 seeks to address this concern and is a step in the right direction, said Blake Summerlin, the statewide communications manager for the group, in an email message.

Voters deserve access to true and complete information about elections and the candidates seeking their votes. The importance of transparency is not a partisan issue; it should be the minimum expectation of a healthy democracy to provide voters with complete and truthful information about elections.

The post As the election year ramps up in Florida, concerns grow about AI in political ads appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said after the countrys "elections" that should there be a conflict between Russia and NATO, the world would be "one step away" from World War III.

Source: European Pravda, citing Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency Interfax

Putin's response to the question of whether a full-scale conflict between Russia and NATO is possible: "I think that everything is possible in today's world."

Details: However, the Russian president said "it is unlikely anyone would be interested in this".

"It is clear to everyone that this [Russo-NATO conflict] would be just one step away from a full-scale World War III," he added.

Background: The Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation predicted a record-breaking "election" victory for Vladimir Putin with 87.5% of the vote.

During a speech at his campaign headquarters, Putin vowed that during his new presidential term, he would pursue the war against Ukraine and strengthen Russia's Armed Forces.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to intimidate Western nations to deter their actions, but in reality he fears a war with NATO.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk is pictured during a visit at the company's electric car plant in Gruenheide near Berlin on March 13, 2024 (Odd ANDERSEN)

Elon Musk suggested his use of drugs benefits Tesla investors in an interview released Monday, saying he takes prescribed ketamine to treat his "negative frame of mind."

The 52-year-old tycoon confirmed he takes the anesthetic -- typically used for pain management and to treat depression -- following reports in the US media that his drug use was spooking investors.

Ketamine is helpful for getting one outside out of a negative frame of mind," Musk told former CNN host Don Lemon in an interview published on social media on Monday.

Asked if his ketamine use could impact investors' perceptions, Musk said: "We had the best-selling car on Earth last year. So from investors' standpoint, if there is something I'm taking, I should keep taking it."

Musk, who runs SpaceX and Tesla, and owns social media platform X, denied abusing ketamine and said he used "a small amount once every other week or something like that."

He added that he did not believe he had "extended depression" and instead used ketamine when he had a "negative chemical state."

During the hour-long interview, Musk also discussed meeting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in March but did not indicate who he might support in November's election.

He said he was "leaning away" from Democratic President Joe Biden, but said that did not mean he would support Trump, adding: "A lot can happen between now and the election."

Last Friday, Musk posted on X that Americans should elect Republicans in November with a "red wave" or "America is doomed."

"Imagine four more years of this getting worse," he wrote, referring to one of Trump's main talking points -- the claim that the United States is being overwhelmed by illegal migration.

bjt/
A New York City woman claims that Mayor Eric Adams sexually assaulted her three decades ago, masturbating in front of her when she turned down his demands for oral sex, according to a bombshell $5 million lawsuit filed Monday.

The claims add another layer of tumult to Adams already-tumultuous tenure, which has the first-term mayor facing an FBI investigation into allegations he helped the Turkish government sidestep the citys fire code to erect a 35-story diplomatic facility. Federal agents in November raided the Bronx home of Adams top fundraiser, and seized Adams phones and iPad, as part of the probe. Adams reached the rank of captain in the NYPD, was elected to the New York State Senate after he retired in 2006, and was elected mayor in 2021.

I am proud to file this complaint on behalf of my client, a woman whose strength astonishes me, Megan Goddard, a lawyer for accuser Lorna Beach-Mathura, told The Daily Beast in an emailed statement shortly after she filed the suit in New York State Supreme Court.

She knew that filing this lawsuit would cause her significant personal challenges but she did so nevertheless, because she believes sexual abusers must be held to account, no matter who they are. Her fearlessness and quest for justice are as inspiring as they are important.

In a statement on Monday afternoon, New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix said, While we review the complaint, the mayor fully denies these outrageous allegations and the events described here; we expect full vindication in court. Additionally, in 1993, Eric Adams was one of the most prominent public opponents of the racism within the NYPD, which is why the suits allegations that he had any sway over promotions of civilian employees is ludicrous.

At the time the initial summons was filed, and the basic allegations were revealed, Adams, a Democrat, insisted he was innocent.

It absolutely did not happen, he said in November. I dont recall ever meeting this person and I would never harm anyone in that magnitude. It did not happen. It did not happen, and that is not who I am and that is not who Ive ever been in my professional life and, you know, its just something that never took place.

Latest Raided NYC Mayor Staffer Also Has Foreign Biz Ties

In her complaint, Beach-Mathura, a former police administrative aide, says she approached Adams, then a Transit Police officer, at their stationhouse in 1993 and asked for his help with a workplace issue, Beach-Mathuras complaint states. She was up for a promotion that seemed to have stalled, and Beach-Mathura says she hoped Adams, the president of the Guardians Association, a fraternal organization for Black cops, might be able to find out what was holding things up.

Being passed over for promotion was all-too common for Black employees during this era in the citys history, and Beach-Mathura trusted Adams because he held himself out as a champion for African-Americans, the complaint states. Instead, it contends, Adams took advantage of her vulnerability, revealing himself not to be the guardian he purported to be, but a predator.

Adams said hed be glad to assist, according to the complaint. It says he asked what time Beach-Mathuras shift ended, and when she said 7 p.m., he offered to drive her home so they could talk on the way.

Beach-Mathura was happy to not only be getting a hand from Adams, but a ride back to her place, as well, the suit goes on. However, things turned ugly along the way, it alleges.

As they left Transit Bureau District 2 in Lower Manhattan, Beach-Mathura realized that Adams was driving north, in the opposite direction from her Coney Island home, the complaint says.

Instead, he drove towards the Hudson River, the complaint states. Beach-Mathura asked Adams where he was going, and he replied that he wanted to have time to talk with her, it alleges. Shortly after, Defendant Adams pulled into a remote, vacant lot and drove in, away from the street.

Beach-Mathura was frightened, but tried to assure herself that... Adams was a police officer and a high-ranking member of the Guardians who was there to help her, but her anxiety remained, the complaint continues. As he was parking the car, Plaintiff grew even more alarmed and asked... Adams why he was parking the car... Adams responded that he wanted to concentrate on what Plaintiff had to say and that he did not want to be distracted by driving.

George Santos Furiously Demands Eric Adams Resignation Over Christmas Car Break-In

Adams, the complaint continues, told Beach-Mathura that he thought he could help. However, it says, he said he also needed some help, and began rubbing his penis through his clothes with his hand.

He told her that he needed a blow job from her, according to the complaint. While repeatedly cajoling, demanding, and begging Plaintiff for oral sex, Defendant Adams unzipped his pants and pulled out his erect penis.

Adamswho was on-duty and armedtook a stunned Beach-Mathuras hand and placed it on his penis, the complaint states. It says he then demanded she Give [me] a hand job. When she refused, Beach-Mathura alleges Adams masturbated to completion and ejaculated on her. Beach-Mathura was repulsed by what had happened, but was relieved when he zipped up his pants and started the car, according to the complaint.

Then, instead of taking her home, as promised, he dropped Beach-Mathura off at the nearest subway station and drove away, the complaint states.

Although [Beach-Mathura] tearfully informed friends, including a prior boss that she remained close to, about... Adams sexual assault against her, [she] did not formally report... Adams at the time because she so greatly feared further retaliation from all of the Defendants, the complaint says.

She also told her two daughters, after they had become adults, about the alleged assault so they would be aware of the sad fact of life that sometimes people you trust and say that they are there to help you may actually use their power to harm you, according to the complaint, which calls the incident an astonishing abuse of power. Beach-Mathura, a single mother, knew there was no way to safely report the alleged attack at the time.

She was eventually promoted, but forced to transfer to the Department of Probation and lost her seniority, which Beach-Mathuras suit says was actually a demotion, of sorts, as she no longer supervised any other employees. In fact, the lawsuit claims, her failure to acquiesce to... Adams quid pro quo demands seemed to have led to the transfer.

The effects of that sexual assault, betrayal, and astonishing abuse of power, continue to haunt [Beach-Mathura] to this day, the complaint says.

When Adams later ran for mayor, his remarks and speeches on the campaign trail struck Beach-Mathura as hypocritical and sanctimonious, the complaint states. So, when the Adult Survivors Act came about, she felt obligated to bring Adams behavior to light, according to the filing. It says Beach-Mathura was appalled that her sexual assaulter had become so powerful and that he might become even more so. [She] was especially sickened by his campaign platform in which he portrayed himself as a law and order candidate and bragged about his career as a police officer.

The complaint was filed in New York State Supreme Court four months after Goddard filed a summons on her behalf under the ASA, a special carve-out under state law that provided sexual assault victims a one-year lookback window during which they could bring claims that would have otherwise expired under the statute of limitations. Beach-Mathura announced her intention to sue about a week before the window closed.

She is claiming gender discrimination, quid pro quo sexual harassment, and retaliation, and is demanding a jury trial.

The ASA has been used to hold several well-known names to account, including former President Donald Trump, disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, and ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Following the filing in November of Beach-Mathuras summons, Trump lashed out on social media against the ASA, writing, I hope that Mayor Eric Adams [sic], Andrew Cuomo, and all of the others that got sued based on this ridiculous law where someone can be sued decades later, and with no proof, will fight it on being totally unfair and UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

Beach-Mathuras suit also names the NYPD, the Guardians Association, and three unknown entities as defendants.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. The Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov, the President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf, and the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq and Minister of Oil Hayyan Abdul-Ghani discussed opportunities for green and traditional energy cooperation, Trend reports via X (Twitter) publication of Jabbarov.

According to the minister, the Azerbaijani side informed its Iraqi counterparts about Azerbaijan's goals in the green energy transition and the projects implemented by SOCAR with foreign partners.

To note, on December 17, 2022, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary signed a strategic partnership agreement that provides for the construction of an energy bridge from the Caucasus region to Europe.

As per the agreement, a 1,000 MW Black Sea Energy submarine electric cable spanning 1,195 kilometers is set to be constructed. The cable is intended to transmit 'green' electricity generated in Azerbaijan, routed through Georgia and the Black Sea to Romania, and further distributed to Hungary and the rest of Europe. This infrastructure will facilitate the supply of up to four gigawatts of green energy.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp
Hunter Bidens business partner Eric Schwerin told congressional investigators that he communicated with then-Vice President Joe Biden via a private e-mail alias, while maintaining that he was "not aware" of Joe Biden's involvement in his familys business dealings.

Schwerin appeared behind closed doors for a transcribed interview before the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees in January as part of the House impeachment inquiry against President Biden.

Fox News Digital obtained a transcript of Schwerins testimony.

BIDEN WAS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH HUNTERS BUSINESS PARTNERS USING EMAIL ALIAS AS VP

Schwerin told the committee that he "performed a number of administrative and bookkeeping tasks for then-Vice President Joe Biden related to his household finances" between 2009 and 2017. Schwerin testified he also helped Bidens accountants in their preparation of his taxes and his annual financial disclosure statements.

Fox News Digital first reported that Biden, as vice president, used email aliases and private email addresses to communicate with Hunter Biden and his business associates hundreds of times  including with Schwerin. The communications came between 2010 and 2019, with the majority of email traffic taking place while Biden was serving as vice president.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The House Ways & Means Committee, which is co-leading the impeachment inquiry alongside the Oversight and Judiciary Committees, said 54 of those emails were "exclusively" between Joe Biden and Schwerin. The Ways & Means Committee describes Schwerin as "the architect of the Biden familys shell companies."

Eric Schwerin, left, and President Biden with his son Hunter Biden

During his transcribed interview, Schwerin was asked if an email address labeled "Robinware456" was associated with Joe Biden.

"Yes," Schwerin said.

"Thats Joe Biden?" a committee investigator asked.

"Correct," Schwerin testified.

Schwerin also identified an email address labeled "Hurricane5155" as Valerie Biden and "261penn" as Beau Biden.

Schwerin also said it was his "understanding" that "Robert.L.Peters" was also an email address associated with Joe Biden.

"I believe, when I personally emailed him, it was through that Robinware email address," Schwerin said. He testified that the "Robinware456" email address was a "private Gmail account." Schwerin used his own personal Gmail account to communicate with Biden, he testified.

Meanwhile, Schwerin said he met Hunter Biden while working in the Clinton administration at the Commerce Department, and after government service, joined the first son at a law and lobbying firm.

Schwerin co-founded Rosemont Seneca Partners along with Hunter Biden and other colleagues  a firm he described as a "consulting and investment firm that offered development and public policy advisory services to a wide range of clients."

HUNTER BIDEN PAID JOE BIDEN FROM ACCOUNT FOR BIZ THAT RECEIVED PAYMENTS FROM CHINA: COMER

"In the course of performing these duties, I had the ability to view transactions both into and out of Vice President Bidens bank accounts while he was vice president," Schwerin said in his opening statement. "Based on that insight, I am not aware of any financial transactions or compensation that Vice President Biden received related to business conducted by any of his family members or their associates nor any involvement by him in their businesses. None."

Schwerin also said he "cannot recall any requests for Vice President Biden to take any official action on behalf of any of Hunters clients or his business deals  foreign or domestic."

"In fact, I am not aware of any role that Vice President Biden, as a public official or a private citizen, had in any of Hunters business activities. None," he said.

President Biden speaks at Abbotts Creek Community Center during an event to promote his economic agenda in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Jan. 18, 2024.

Schwerin testified that regarding his interactions with Biden, he "never asked him to take any official actions for the benefit of Hunters clients or any other client."

"Furthermore, I have no recollection of any promises or suggestions made by Hunter or myself to any clients or business associates that his father would take any official actions on their behalf. None," he said. "In my discussions with the Vice President concerning his personal finances, he was always crystal clear that he wanted to take the most transparent and ethical approach consistent with both the spirit and the letter of the law."

Schwerin added: "Given my awareness of his finances and the explicit directions he gave to his financial advisers, the allegation that he would engage in any improper conduct to benefit himself or his family is preposterous to me."

But Schwerin did testify that he did have "discussions" about what Joe Biden would do post-vice presidency.

"Did you ever have any conversations with Hunter Biden or anyone else about jobs for Joe Biden post-Vice Presidency?" a congressional investigator asked.

OVERSIGHT DEMS ADMIT HUNTER'S LONGTIME BUSINESS PARTNER HANDLED BIDENS FINANCES THROUGHOUT VP TENURE

"I don't know about jobs per se, but we did have discussions as to what  about what his dad might be doing post-Vice Presidency," Schwerin said, noting that there were "two efforts, I know, going on related to the University of Delaware and the University of Pennsylvania."

"There was a point in which I and Hunter were a little more involved in the discussions related to the University of Delaware, and there were institutes set up and whether  how it would all be structured and things like that," he said.

Meanwhile, Schwerin testified that he was appointed to the U.S. Commission on the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad.

Schwerin said Biden, when vice president in 2009, asked him if he would be "interested in being on one of these boards or commissions."

"I understood that  my assumption was that it was something that, you know, the Vice President had signed off on, but I would think it was someone from the staff who said, we can put your name forward to Presidential Personnel, and they would, you know, give you a call about this," he said, adding that he was not appointed to the board until May 2015.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.





Original article source: Eric Schwerin confirms Joe Biden used 'Robinware456' email alias while serving as vice president
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers agreed in principle on Monday to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers for attacking Palestinians in the West Bank and to add further sanctions on members of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

The decision marked the first time that the EU's 27 member countries had agreed to sanction violent Israeli settlers, following in the footsteps of the United States and Britain.

"A solid compromise has been agreed at the working level and I hope that this will be continued until full adoption soon, but the political agreement is there," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters after the ministers met in Brussels.

While much international attention has focused on Hamas' cross-border assault from Gaza and Israel's subsequent war there, European officials have also expressed increasing concern about rising violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The EU created a sanctions regime specifically to target Hamas following the attack on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7.

It will impose the additional Hamas sanctions before sanctioning the Israeli settlers, diplomats said.

That sequencing was important for EU members close to Israel, such as Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, which wanted to make clear they were not equating the two groups.

Hungary had put up the strongest resistance to sanctions on violent settlers, but recently changed its stance, diplomats said.

Borrell said countries that had previously blocked the proposal had now decided to abstain and the list of those who would face sanctions now needed to be rubber-stamped. They face travel bans and asset freezes.

The struggle over the proposed sanctions reflects broader divisions on the Middle East, with some EU countries strongly backing Israel while others lean more towards the Palestinians.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray and John Irish and Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Toby Chopra and Mark Potter)
Russian presidential "elections", held in Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories, violated the sovereignty of Ukraine, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said, Sky News reported on March 18.

The elections were not free or fair and were based on repression and intimidation, EU top diplomat said when speaking before chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers today.

All 27 members would issue a statement later today.

Read also: Kremlin's ingenious tactics to ensure Putin re-election among Russians  a review

In a statement released this morning, the EU condemned the "illegal" elections held in Russian-occupied oblasts of Ukraine, which "represent yet another manifest violation by Russia of international law".

The EU will never recognize the results of voting in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Voting in the presidential "election" ended on March 17 in Russia. The Russians held an illegal vote in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

It is noted that the EU will never recognize the results of voting in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Read also: Russians caught on video sabotaging sham Putin election in rare acts of defiance, spoiling ballots

Voting in the presidential "election" ended on March 17 in Russia. The Russian held an illegal voting on Ukrainian territory.

Putin allegedly scored an incredible and record-breaking 87.32% even for himself - such data of a fictitious calculation of 99.67% votes was "drawn" for the Russian dictator by Russias Central Election Commission.

The second place in this staged spectacle was given to the candidate from Russian Communists Party (KPRF) Nikolai Kharitonov - he allegedly won 4.3%.

Read also: HUR hacked into Russian electronic voting system and Putin's United Russia party  Ukrainian media

Vladislav Davankov from New People party is the third (3.82%), Leonid Slutsky from ultranationalist Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) is the fourth (3.20%).

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 results of Russia's election in occupied territories of Ukraine are "null and void," and the election organizers "will face consequences of these illegal actions," Josep Borrell, the European Union's top diplomat, said in a statement on behalf of EU member states on March 18.

Russia conducted a pseudo-democratic presidential election on March 15-17 that granted Vladimir Putin, who has been in power since 1999, six more years in office.

The Russian authorities organized the election not only in Russia, but also in regions of Ukraine under Russian occupation, namely parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, as well as Crimea, in violation of international law.

The EU "does not and never will recognize either the holding of these so-called elections," Borrell said. The U.S., U.S., and Canada also denounced Russia for holding the illegal vote.

Russian voters were denied "a real choice" in the presidential elections, which took place in a "highly restricted environment," exacerbated "by Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine," Borrell said.

"The shocking death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in the run-up to the elections is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression," Borrell said.

The EU also "regrets" Russia's decision not to invite OSCE election observers, which goes against Russia's commitments to the OSCE and "has denied Russia's voters and institutions an impartial and independent assessment of these elections."

According to Borrell, the EU "will continue to support the important work of Russian civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and independent media."

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The Council of the European Union on Monday ratified an agreement to increase the EU's support for Ukraine's armed forces by 5 billion euros ($5.44 billion) through a dedicated assistance fund.

"With the fund, we will continue to support Ukraine defend itself from Russia's war of aggression with whatever it takes and for as long as we need to," EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

The cash injection comes amid warnings that Kyiv's forces need more resources to be able to hold the line against a larger Russian army and as a $60 billion package for Ukraine is being held up by U.S. Congress.

The European Union said the money would fund training and both lethal and non-lethal military gear. It will also be used to refund member states for military supplies sent to Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told reporters after the meeting.

"I'd like to thank everybody who has contributed to this," he said.

The 5 billion euro top-up approved on Monday means the fund's ceiling is now set at 17 billion euros for the 2021-2027 period, the council said in the same statement.

Ambassadors of the EU's 27 member countries agreed to the additional funds last week.

The council also approved rules to make joint procurement of military supplies from EU and Norwegian defence contractors.

($1 = 0.9184 euros)

(Reporting by Inti Landauro, Editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Toby Chopra and Christina Fincher)
The European Union has criticised the "presidential elections" in Russia, which were subject to numerous restrictions, saw no participation of real opposition candidates, and included votes cast in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda, citing Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

Details: Borrell noted that the "elections" took place under a "highly restricted environment", as the Russian authorities continued systemic repression of opposition figures, civil society organisations, and independent media outlets in the leadup to them. Specifically, many opponents ended up behind bars due to politically motivated court verdicts, and imprisoned opposition figure Alexei Navalny died in custody shortly before the elections.

Reportedly, under such conditions, many potential candidates did not even attempt to run for office, and Russians accordingly had no real choice.

On behalf of the EU, Borrell expressed regret that Russia did not invite OSCE observers.

He also strongly condemned the holding of elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine, yet another violation of international law by Russia.

Quote from Borrell: "The European Union reiterates that it does not and will never recognise either the holding of these so-called elections in the territories of Ukraine or their results. They are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect whatsoever. Russias political leadership and those involved in organising them will face [the] consequences of these illegal actions."

Details: The statement also mentions that the EU "will continue to support the important work of Russian civil society organisations, human rights defenders and independent media".

Background:

Several Eastern European countries and the UK have stated that the Russian "elections" cannot be considered free and fair, and the UK Minister of Defence has compared Putin to Stalin.

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A general view of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting with US Secretary State Blinken via video conference in Brussels. Alexandros Michailidis/European Council/dpa

EU foreign ministers agree on plans to sanction extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank for the first time, multiple diplomats told dpa on Monday

The EU sanctions involve a travel ban and asset freeze and are to come into force in the coming days when published in the EU Official Journal, a register of EU laws. EU citizens are also to be forbidden from doing business with the targets.

A previous EU attempt to sanction Israeli settlers failed after opposition from Hungary, a strong supporter of Israel. Sanctions require unaniminity from all EU member states.

Tensions in the West Bank have skyrocketed in the wake of the October 7 attacks by Hamas on southern Israel. Palestinians complain about increased violence by Israeli settlers against their villages and olive groves.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, chairs a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Brussels. Francois Lenoir/European Council/dpa
A general view of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting with US Secretary State Blinken via video conference in Brussels. Alexandros Michailidis/European Council/dpa

EU foreign ministers agreed on plans to sanction extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank for the first time, multiple diplomats told dpa on Monday

The EU sanctions involve a travel ban and asset freeze and are to come into force in the coming days when published in the EU Official Journal, a register of EU laws. EU citizens are also to be forbidden from doing business with the targets.

A previous EU attempt to sanction Israeli settlers failed after opposition from Hungary, a strong supporter of Israel. Hungary agreed to abstain on the forthcoming punitive measures. Sanctions require unaniminity from all EU member states.

Tensions in the West Bank have skyrocketed in the wake of the October 7 attacks by Hamas on southern Israel. Palestinians complain about increased violence by Israeli settlers against their villages and olive groves.

Israel took over the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967. Today around 600,000 Israelis live there in more than 200 settlements which are a major source of tension in the region.

In 2016, the UN Security Council classified these settlements a violation of international law and called on Israel to stop all settlement activity. The Palestinians claim the areas as part of their own future state.

The EU sanctions come after the United States imposed punitive measures on two settlements in the West Bank and targeted three settlers.

More sanctions on the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas are to come as part of the agreement to sanction Israeli settlers, EU diplomats said.

EU sanctions have already been imposed on Hamas, which operates mainly in the Gaza Strip, and its representatives several times in the past. The EU classified Hamas a terrorist organization more than 20 years ago.

EU foreign ministers are in Brussels to discuss the Israel-Hamas war with Israeli conduct in Gaza under scrutiny.

The war in Gaza has become a "graveyard for many of the most important principles of humanitarian law," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday.

The European Union's top diplomat described the conflict in the Gaza strip as "the greatest open air graveyard" in reference to civilian casualties among the Palestinian population.

Borrell said EU foreign ministers would also debate the bloc's association agreement with Israel but stressed that it was too early in the process to discuss suspending the agreement. He also urged EU countries to take action over Israeli obstacles to humanitarian aid access in Gaza.

Germany, as "friends of Israel," has made clear to the Israeli government that humanitarian aid in Gaza must be allowed to be delivered, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.

"The millions of people in Gaza, many, many children who have not had enough food for weeks," need to be cared for, Baerbock said.

"The suffering is simply unbearable," Baerbock said, adding that Germany and the EU are working every day to secure a humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaks to the media before the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Brussels. Alexandros Michailidis/European Council/dpa

People inspect damage and recover items from their home following Israeli air strikes. -/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Palestinians mourn as they receive the bodies of EL-Tabatibi family, who died in Israeli attacks, from the morgue of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. Ali Hamad/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
A general view of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting with US Secretary State Blinken via video conference in Brussels. Alexandros Michailidis/European Council/dpa

EU foreign ministers agreed on plans to sanction extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank for the first time, top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed in a press conference on Monday.

The EU sanctions involve a travel ban and asset freeze and are to come into force in the coming days when published in the EU Official Journal, a register of EU laws. EU citizens are also to be forbidden from doing business with the targets.

A previous EU attempt to sanction Israeli settlers failed after opposition from Hungary, a strong supporter of Israel. Hungary agreed to abstain on the forthcoming punitive measures, EU diplomats said. Sanctions require unanimity from all EU member states.

Tensions in the West Bank have skyrocketed in the wake of the October 7 attacks by Hamas on southern Israel. Palestinians complain about increased violence by Israeli settlers against their villages and olive groves.

Israel took over the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War in 1967. Today around 600,000 Israelis live there in more than 200 settlements which are a major source of tension in the region.

In 2016, the UN Security Council classified these settlements a violation of international law and called on Israel to stop all settlement activity. The Palestinians claim the areas as part of their own future state.

The EU sanctions come after the United States imposed punitive measures on two settlements in the West Bank and targeted three settlers.

More sanctions on the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas are to come as part of the agreement to sanction Israeli settlers, EU diplomats said.

EU sanctions have already been imposed on Hamas, which operates mainly in the Gaza Strip, and its representatives several times in the past. The EU classified Hamas a terrorist organization more than 20 years ago.

EU foreign ministers are in Brussels to discuss the Israel-Hamas war with Israeli conduct in Gaza under scrutiny.

The war in Gaza has become a "graveyard for many of the most important principles of humanitarian law," Borrell said earlier on Monday.

The European Union's top diplomat described the conflict in the Gaza strip as "the greatest open air graveyard" in reference to civilian casualties among the Palestinian population.

Borrell said EU foreign ministers debated the bloc's association agreement with Israel but stressed that it was too early in the process to discuss suspending the agreement.

He also urged EU countries to take action over Israeli obstacles to humanitarian aid access in Gaza.

Germany, as "friends of Israel," has made clear to the Israeli government that humanitarian aid in Gaza must be allowed to be delivered, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said.

"The millions of people in Gaza, many, many children who have not had enough food for weeks," need to be cared for, Baerbock said.

"The suffering is simply unbearable," Baerbock said, adding that Germany and the EU are working every day to secure a humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaks to the media before the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Brussels. Alexandros Michailidis/European Council/dpa

People inspect damage and recover items from their home following Israeli air strikes. -/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Palestinians mourn as they receive the bodies of EL-Tabatibi family, who died in Israeli attacks, from the morgue of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. Ali Hamad/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Azerbaijan is important for NATO because of energy security, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with AZERTAC, Trend reports.

"It was extremely important for NATO allies in Europe to wean off Russian gas, and increased deliveries from Azerbaijan have enabled NATO allies in Europe to be independent of Russia as a gas supplier. And that was a very fast and quick process that actually went quite well, given the very difficult circumstances. There is a demand now for further increasing the gas export from roughly 12 billion cubic meters to 20, which is a significant part of Europe`s gas consumption, and for some allies, gas from Azerbaijan is very important. I also welcome that work has started now not only on providing natural gas, but also exporting power through electric cable and direct export from Azerbaijan of power will further increase the importance of Azerbaijan as an energy supplier to Europe, to NATO allies in Europe. This is also part of the efforts of Azerbaijan to develop renewable sources of energy, wind power, offshore wind but also solar power. And by doing so, Azerbaijan has become a part of the big energy transition, which has to take place if we are going to be able to fight the climate change. In that context, of course, it is also very important that Azerbaijan is playing an important role in hosting COP-29, the big climate conference in November this year. I really believe and hope that COP29 here in Baku will provide us with a platform we need as an international community to make important decisions on many issues related to fighting global warming or climate change, not least climate financing, to finance big investments, we need to conduct the big energy transition, he said.
EU foreign ministers finally agreed to allocate additional 5 billion euros ($5.5 billion) in defense assistance for Ukraine in 2024 within the framework of the European Peace Facility (EPF), Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced on March 18.

The EPF has been a key tool for supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities since 2022 but has been largely depleted as member states disagreed on the best way to replenish it and unlock further cash for Ukraine.

"With the fund, we will continue to support Ukraine defend itself from Russias war of aggression with whatever it takes and for as long as we need to," Josep Borrell, the EU's chief diplomat, said in a statement.

Budapest, which consistently undermined Western aid efforts for Ukraine, "constructively abstained" during the vote and did not block the decision, Zoltan Kovacs, the Hungarian government spokesperson, wrote on X.

The funds to purchase military supplies for Ukraine will be disbursed via the Ukraine Assistance Fund, a newly created tool under the EPF.

At a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Kuleba also urged European allies to take all necessary decisions as soon as possible to increase and accelerate the supply of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.

Foreign arms supplies are now critical for Kyiv as assistance from the U.S., a key military donor, has been stalled for months by domestic political infighting.

The Financial Times reported on March 12 that EU member states are near the deal on additional funds for Ukraine's defense. According to the outlet, the agreement will prioritize weapons produced inside the EU but will not exclude those manufactured outside the bloc.

Read also: US announces $300 million defense aid package for Ukraine

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European Union flags wave in the wind in front of the Europa building. European Union foreign ministers on Monday 18 March agreed to impose new sanctions on Russia in response to the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, EU diplomats tell dpa. Arne Immanuel Bansch/dpa

European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed new sanctions on Russia in response to the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, EU diplomats tell dpa.

The sanctions concern people from the Russian judicial system, officials say. More details are expected to be announced in the coming days.

The move follows the choreographed re-election of Russian president Vladimir Putin over the weekend. The election was overshadowed by Navalny's death in a Siberian prison camp in February.

"Russia was an election without a choice," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters ahead of the foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels.
European Union flags wave in the wind in front of the Europa building. European Union foreign ministers on Monday 18 March agreed to impose new sanctions on Russia in response to the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, EU diplomats tell dpa. Arne Immanuel Bansch/dpa

European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed new sanctions on Russia in response to the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, EU diplomats told dpa.

The sanctions concern people from the Russian judicial system, officials said. More details are expected to be announced in the coming days, and while ministers have endorsed the sanctions in principle, a binding legal decision is still to be made.

The move follows the choreographed re-election of Russian president Vladimir Putin over the weekend. The election was overshadowed by Navalny's death in a Siberian prison camp in February.

Ministers also signed-off on a new funding mechanism for military aid to Ukraine, which was agreed by senior diplomats on Wednesday. The Ukraine Assistance Fund aims to provide 5 billion ($5.4 billion) of joint support from the European Union and its member states, under an existing system called the European Peace Facility.

In advance of the sanctions agreement on Monday, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell issued a statement on behalf of the whole bloc saying that "the shocking death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in the run up to the elections is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression" in Russia.

The EU statement on Monday condemned the holding of "so-called 'elections'" in occupied territories in Ukraine.

"The European Union strongly condemns the illegal holding of so-called 'elections' in the territories of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily occupied," the statement said, referring to the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Moscow in violation of international law back in 2014, as well as the mainland regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson.

"The European Union reiterates that it does not and will never recognize either the holding of these so-called 'elections' in the territories of Ukraine or their results," said the EU's statement.

It said the elections "are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect whatsoever."

Ahead of the foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels on Monday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters that "Russia was an election without choice."

Striking an ironic note, European Council President and former Belgian prime minister Charles Michel sardonically congratulated Putin as polls opened on Friday, before votes had been cast.

"Would like to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his landslide victory in the elections starting today," Michel said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "No opposition. No freedom. No choice," Michel added.
European Union flags wave in the wind in front of the Europa building. European Union foreign ministers on Monday 18 March agreed to impose new sanctions on Russia in response to the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, EU diplomats tell dpa. Arne Immanuel Bansch/dpa

European Union foreign ministers on Monday agreed new sanctions on Russia in response to the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, EU diplomats told dpa.

The sanctions concern people from the Russian judicial system, officials said. More details are expected to be announced in the coming days, and while ministers have endorsed the sanctions in principle, a binding legal decision is still to be made.

In a press conference after the foreign ministers' meeting, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said the sanctions target 30 individuals and organizations "responsible for the murder of Alexei Navalny."

The move follows the choreographed re-election of Russian president Vladimir Putin over the weekend. The election was overshadowed by Navalny's death in a Siberian prison camp in February.

Ministers also signed off on a new funding mechanism for military aid to Ukraine, which was agreed by senior diplomats on Wednesday. The Ukraine Assistance Fund aims to provide 5 billion ($5.4 billion) of joint support from the European Union and its member states, under an existing system called the European Peace Facility.

They also discussed potentially using the proceeds of frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, Borrell said.

In advance of the sanctions agreement on Monday, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell issued a statement on behalf of the whole bloc saying that "the shocking death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in the run up to the elections is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression" in Russia.

The EU statement on Monday condemned the holding of "so-called 'elections'" in occupied territories in Ukraine.

"The European Union strongly condemns the illegal holding of so-called 'elections' in the territories of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily occupied," the statement said, referring to the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Moscow in violation of international law back in 2014, as well as the mainland regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson.

At the press conference following the meeting on Monday, Borrell said "there's a clear difference between holding elections in someone else's house and doing them in our own." Borrell added that "not only are these elections fake," holding them in occupied territory deserves "double condemnation."

In its written statement earlier in the day, the EU said: "The European Union reiterates that it does not and will never recognize either the holding of these so-called 'elections' in the territories of Ukraine or their results," said the EU's statement.

It said the elections "are null and void and cannot produce any legal effect whatsoever."

Ahead of the foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels on Monday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters that the Russian poll "was an election without a choice."

Striking an ironic note, European Council President and former Belgian prime minister Charles Michel sardonically congratulated Putin as polls opened on Friday, before votes had been cast.

"Would like to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his landslide victory in the elections starting today," Michel said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "No opposition. No freedom. No choice," Michel added.
(L-R) Alexander Schallenberg, Foreign Minister of Austria, Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister of Germany, and Elina Valtonen, Foreign Minister of Finland, talk during the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting in Brussels. Michael Gruber/Auenministerium von Osterreich/dpa

European Union foreign ministers hope to agree new sanctions on Russia at a meeting in Brussels on Monday, following the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in February and the re-election of Vladimir Putin over the weekend.

"Russia was an election without a choice," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters ahead of the meeting. "We will introduce sanctions today in view of the death of Alexei Navalny."

Russia's Election Commission on Sunday declared a landslide victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin following an election marked by allegations of manipulation.

Overshadowing the choreographed election, was Navalny's death in a Siberian prison in February.

"We will adopt the package of sanctions for the killing of Alexei Navalny," said Josep Borrell, the EU foreign affairs chief.

However, Lithuanian foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis expressed doubts that there would be a deal on sanctions on Monday. The package needs the unanimous support of EU member states for it to be adopted.

Neighbouring Latvia's foreign minister - and former prime minister - Krisjanis Karins said that whatever sanctions are imposed on Russia should also apply to Belarus, which has aided Moscow's war against Ukraine.

"Belarus, as we know, is effectively completely controlled by Russia. And the sanctions that are applying to Russia should be applying to Belarus."

Karins said he also wants to ensure the sanctions prevent the export of manganese ore for use in Russia's arms industry.

A general view of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting with US Secretary State Blinken via video conference in Brussels. Alexandros Michailidis/European Council/dpa

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, speaks to the media before the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Brussels. Alexandros Michailidis/European Council/dpa
By Nette Noestlinger, Marta Fiorin and Christian Levaux

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union on Monday pledged to spend an initial 7.7 billion euros ($8.39 billion) on humanitarian aid in 2024, less than last year despite soaring needs in Gaza and elsewhere.

"I think this is a solid amount ... but it could be better," EU humanitarian aid and crisis management chief Janez Lenarcic told the opening of a humanitarian conference in Brussels.

Last year, the bloc pledged 8.4 billion euros.

No reason was given for the decrease.

The U.N. says a record 300 million people need aid, mostly due to conflicts and climate change, and estimates a funding gap of around $50 billion.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the situation in Gaza was especially dire. "We are no longer on the brink of famine, we are in a state of famine," he said.

The enclave has been largely sealed off during the five-month war between Israel and Hamas militants.

'BEYOND DESPAIR'

Catherine Russell, executive director of the U.N. children's agency UNICEF, said every third Gazan child was severely malnourished, with more resources needed for aid as well as political pressure to safeguard operations on the ground.

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, said in reaction to the funding pledge that some donors were struggling with economic restraints at a time of rising conflicts.

Red Cross employees had repeatedly come under fire in Gaza, Spoljaric added, calling the situation "beyond despair".

With regards to a new land route into northern Gaza, used for the time since the end of February last week, Spoljaric said mobility was still very restricted and that reaching people there remained very difficult.

"We need to be able to bring in a lot more food, water medicine ... to prevent starvation and to prevent death because of medical consequences", she said.

Israel denies obstructing aid into Gaza, blaming aid agencies for delays and accusing Hamas of diverting supplies. Hamas denies this and says Israel uses hunger as a weapon of war.

($1 = 0.9177 euros)

(Reporting by Nette Nostlinger, Marta Fiorin and Christian Levaux Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Semafor Signals

Insights from Semafor, Politico, and Euronews

The News

The European Union has pledged $8 billion in aid to Egypt in the hopes of bolstering the countrys struggling economy. The deal comes amid concerns that Israels looming offensive on Rafah, Gazas southernmost town, could force hundreds of thousands more migrants into Egypt.

The package, which the European Commission said aims to promote democracy, fundamental freedoms, human rights, and gender equality, includes grants and loans for Egypt that will be doled out over the next three years. The EU will help Egypt fortify its borders as part of the deal and support the more than 460,000 Sudanese migrants who have fled to Egypt over the last year, officials said.

Ideally, EU leaders say, the package will help stabilize Egypt and stop migrants from crossing the Mediterranean into Europe. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the best way to persuade people in the Global South not to emigrate to Europe was to reaffirm their rights on the African continent and help develop their economies. It is exactly what were doing today, she added.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Deal is part of a growing trend

Sources: Semafor, Politico, The Financial Times, The Associated Press

The agreement is part of a growing trend in which wealthier Western countries, hoping to prevent waves of migration to their shores, offer financial help to curb irregular migration. The EU has struck similar deals with Turkey and Tunisia and is in talks with Morocco to do the same, Politico reported. Meanwhile Washington has opened migrant-processing hubs in Colombia and Guatemala, Italy is processing asylum applications in Albania, and the U.K. is trying to send asylum seekers to Rwanda as part of a highly controversial $470-million scheme.

These deals have become a key EU policy tool as it seeks to manage migration despite accusations that outsourcing its border management indirectly supports violations of international law and human rights, The Financial Times reported.

Deals benefit autocrats, human-rights watchers warn

Sources: The Associated Press, Politico, Al Jazeera

International rights groups were quick to criticize the package owing to Egypts human rights record, with Amnesty International saying that EU leaders must ensure that the Egyptian authorities adopt clear benchmarks for human rights.

Deals of this nature have faced broader concerns, too, with critics arguing that Brussels is sending huge amounts of money to autocratic leaders who may misuse it, with little oversight in terms of respect for human rights, Politico reported.

Human Rights Watch said the Egypt plan followed the blueprint of flawed EU deals with Tunisia and Mauritania where the bloc has provided economic assistance to curb the flow of migrants while turning a blind eye to human rights violations. The blueprint is the same stop migrants, ignore abuses, it said.

Logic of ash EU infusion is flawed, some experts say

Source: Euronews

The EUs cash infusion might miss the mark, some experts warned after the announcement, because it fails to address Egypts declining rule of law that has contributed to the nations economic crisis. The economic crisis in Egypt is very, very deeply intertwined with the human rights crisis, an associate director at Human Rights Watch told Euronews. Other human rights-watchers told the outlet that its unlikely the EUs funds will be used to improve the lives of people seeking asylum in Egypt, and the pressure the EU is putting on decreasing irregular migration could encourage Egypt to double down on its repressive tools, making life even worse for migrants.
The European Union has agreed to pump billions of euros into Egypts crisis-hit economy in return for Cairo doing more to stop illegal migrants reaching Europe.

Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission president, and the leaders of Italy, Belgium, Austria, Cyprus and Greece, signed the deal in the Egyptian capital on Sunday.

The agreement is the latest after similar EU migrant deals with Tunisia and Mauritania aimed at stopping increasing numbers of people crossing the Mediterranean to Europe.

It was criticised by groups including Amnesty International because of the poor human rights record of Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisis regime.

The deal comes ahead of European Parliament elections in June where immigration is expected to be a major campaign issue and amid fears of a big increase in refugee numbers caused by Israels offensive on Rafah.

Georgia Meloni, prime minister of Italy, said it would give residents of Africa a chance not to immigrate to Europe.

Heavily indebted Egypts bailed-out economy was badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic, years of austerity, the fallout from the war in Ukraine and now the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Brussels will send some 7.4 billion (6.3 billion) in grants and loans over the next three years. More than 170 million is earmarked to strengthen Egypts borders, particularly the frontier with Libya, and security forces.

Libya is a major transit country for migrants from Africa and the Middle East hoping to cross the sea to Europe, with many aiming for the Italian island of Lampedusa.

The EU will help Egypt host the more than 460,000 Sudanese refugees who have fled civil war in the country since April last year.

The deal comes amid fears that Israels threatened offensive on Rafah in Gaza could force hundreds of thousands of people to enter Egypts Sinai Peninsula.

Mr Sisis office said the deal was a significant leap in cooperation and coordination between the two sides and to achieve common interests.

About 380,000 illegal migrants reached Europe last year, the highest level since 2016 and a 17 per cent increase compared to 2022. The rise was driven by an increase in the Central Mediterranean, which accounted for two out of every five illegal border crossings in 2023.

Most of the migrants were Syrians, which accounted for more than 100,000 illegal border crossings, followed by Guineans and Afghans.

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Foreign ministers of the EU member states have adopted a final decision to allocate an additional 5 billion for military support to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility.

Source: Ukraines Foreign Ministry, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has attended the meeting of EU foreign ministers.

"The meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, attended by Ukraine's foreign minister, reached a final decision to allocate an additional 5 billion for military support to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility. The minister expressed his gratitude to his colleagues for this step," the statement said.

In addition, Kuleba extended his gratitude to Czechia for the timely initiative to purchase artillery ammunition for Ukraine and to all EU member states that contributed to its implementation.

"I urge those still contemplating contributing to do so as soon as possible. This applies not only to the Czech initiative but also to several other similar projects. Every day matters," the minister stressed.

Background:

Last week, EU permanent representatives supported a 5 billion increase in the European Peace Fund, which finances arms supplies to Ukraine.

The Financial Times reported that a solution could be reached through a compromise in which priority would be given to weapons produced in the EU, with the option of purchasing them in third countries in extreme cases.

Since 2022, the EU has been providing military assistance to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility, which reimburses member states for weapons provided to Ukraine.

Funding is provided in tranches that can be blocked by individual member states. In recent months, this has been done by Hungary, which refused to approve a 500 million replenishment of the European Peace Facility under various pretexts.

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Dozens of US citizens fled the chaos and violence of Haiti this weekend, arriving on a government-chartered plane in Miami on Sunday.

The flight came a week after Washington airlifted non-essential staff from the capital, Port-au-Prince, parts of which have been overrun by gangs.

As gunfire and threats of starvation rock Haiti, the State Department is working to help other Americans leave,

Aid groups have warned that millions of Haitians face acute food shortages.

The first flight, which took off from the city of Cap Haitien on the island's north coast, touched down in Miami with 47 people aboard, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

Earlier this month, the US had warned its citizens to leave Haiti "as soon as possible" as the violence escalated.

Passenger, Abson Louis, told CBS that he was in Haiti on business when the airport closed.

"We felt like we had no no one fighting on our behalf, but finally got an email saying we got a flight," he said. "I'm feeling great."

Boston resident Avlot Quessa had "mixed emotions" getting off the plane, telling CBS: "It's good to be back here, but I also need to think about the people back home".

Passengers were asked to sign promissory notes that they would pay for the flight at a later date. It is unclear when the next flight will take place.

While the airport in Cap-Haitien has opened periodically, the State Department has warned US citizens that the 120 mile (193km) trip from Port-au-Prince is "dangerous" and that it cannot provide transportation.

The US is examining other options for departures from the capital, according to CBS, and US citizens still in the country who wish to be evacuated have been urged to contact the State Department.

In Florida, home to a large Haitian community, Haitians told local media they wished the US would do more to help and they wanted US lawmakers to take action.

"The more that we can put light on this the sooner that we can see stability come back to the region," Jean Perpillant Jr, the president of the Orlando-based Greater Haitian American Chamber of Commerce told local news outlet WESH.

In an interview with CBS, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell compared the situation in Haiti to the film Mad Max, which depicts a chaotic post-apocalyptic future.

"Many, many people there are suffering from serious hunger and malnutrition and we're not able to get enough aid to them," she said. "Somehow, we need to get more control over that situation so that we can get the humanitarian response in."

This embedded content is not available in your region.
Ulviyya Shahin

The President of the Council of Higher Education of Turkiye, Erol Ozvar, and representatives of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan have visited the Baku Higher Oil School of SOCAR (BHOS), Azernews reports.

The guests toured the lecture halls and familiarised themselves with the teaching process at BHOS. Rector of the Baku Higher Oil School, Elmar Gasimov, provided the guests with detailed information about the modern learning environment at the university and the students successes.

The Baku Higher Oil School trains highly qualified English-speaking specialists. Our university successfully cooperates with a wide range of organisations and institutions around the world, including Turkish universities," the rector said.

Erol Ozvar highly appreciated the successes of the Baku Higher Oil School.

The meeting was also attended by Rector of Istanbul Technical University Ismail Koyuncu, Rector of Middle East Technical University Mustafa Vershan Kok, and Rector of Hacettepe University Mehmet Cahit Guran.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev met with the China's Vice minister of ecology and environment Zhao Yingmin, Hikmet Hajiyev wrote in his X page, Trend reports.

He noted that they had broad discussions on upcoming COP29 in Azerbaijan, climate justice, common but differentiated responsibilities concept, and views of Global South with regard to climate action and green transition.

"Cooperation with Chinese companies in the green transition agenda of Azerbaijan was highly appreciated", Hajiyev wrote.
Evanston man accused of fatally hitting woman with car after argument

CHICAGO  A man accused of fatally hitting a woman with his car after an argument in a parking lot on the South Side is facing a murder charge, police say.

According to Chicago police, 38-year-old Jeremy Cummings, an Evanston resident, has been charged with one felony count of first-degree murder.

Authorities say the charge stems from an alleged hit-and-run crash that left a woman dead on Wednesday.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headline

Officers say the deadly crash unfolded just before 6 p.m. in a parking lot in the 100 block of West 79th Street in Chatham.

Evanston man accused of fatally hitting woman with car after argument

According to an initial report by police, a witness told officers that they saw Cummings and the victim, a 30-year-old woman, get into an argument before Cummings allegedly got into a black sedan and hit the woman with the car, before fleeing the scene.

Officers say the victim suffered blunt force trauma to her head and body and was taken to the hosptial where she later died from her injuries.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Authorities have not yet identified the victim killed.

Authorities caught up with Cummings the next day and said he was taken into custody in the 2300 block of Prospect Avenue, in Evanston.

Cummings appeared in Court on Sunday for a detention hearing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
From the Wanderland on The Dispatch

The campaign of extermination that first caught the attention of Polish law student Raphael Lemkinwhose critical contribution to our understanding of genocide was giving us the word, though this was not his only contributionwas the Ottoman campaign of liquidation directed against Armenian Christians living in the territory of the Muslim empire. Lemkin was dismayed to learn that there wasnt any kind of legal course of action to take against those who had ordered the massacres and those who had carried them out. There was no legal mechanism because there was no crime per se, and there was no crime in part because there was no concept of such a crime, no way of adequately conceiving of it because there was no satisfactory way of talking about the thing. When the Germans invaded Poland, Lemkin made his way to the United States, where he was a legal academic long associated with Duke University. He coined the term genocide in the early 1940s to describe Nazi atrocities and was an important figure at the Nuremberg tribunals. His work provided much of the basis for the U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. A career to be proud of, to be surebut one might reasonably ask, from time to time, whether it mattered.

Genocide, as Lemkin understood it and the U.N. defines it, does not require comprehensive universal extermination or a plan of comprehensive universal extermination. Genocide is a program of eliminating a people as a people, as a nation or within a nation or society. This is not to say that no one dreams of universal extermination of targeted populationssome Nazis dreamt of the worldwide elimination of Jews, while others professed that they would have been content with merely eliminating the Jews of all Europe. My colleague Jonah Goldberg frequently points out that the U.N. language on genocide excludes efforts to eliminate classes of people; the Soviets wanted to go on liquidating the kulaks and other enemies of socialism and the USSRs U.N. representatives insisted on the class exclusion.

The two most important campaigns of genocide in the world today are those directed against: 1) the Jews of Israel by Arabs who mean to annihilate the Jewish state as a polity and who will murder, maim, and rape as many individuals Jews as it takes to do this and then some; and 2) Ukraine, the elimination of which as a nation and as a polity is the stated aim of Vladimir Putins murderous and tyrannical regime in Moscow.

The two genocides in progress have a great deal in common. Both involve peoples who have long lived in close proximity to one another and who share or have shared important cultural, political, and economic ties. Those who would carry out the genocide or enable it charge those targeted for national extermination with the very crime of which they themselves are guilty. They make risible charges that Israel is involved in a genocide against the Arabs of Palestine (whose numbers continue to grow robustly throughout the region and who progress economically and socially where they are Israeli citizens even as other Palestinians founder under Arab misrule), or they indulge the Russian governments insistence that the world recognize the Nazi character of the Ukrainian government and its  Jewish president, whose term in office overlapped with that of a Jewish prime minister. In both cases, apologists for mass murder and extermination ranging from half-educated college sophomores to professional and semiprofessional trolls carry out campaigns of denial and disinformationnothing that would affect the thinking of any reasonably intelligent person but which can be effective tools for those who want to believe what the propagandists are selling, including those who are predisposed to antisemitism and/or who sympathize with autocrats such as Putin.

In both cases, the genocide is being used as a tool by larger, more geopolitically significant parties (namely Iran and China) to undermine, tax, threaten, and divide the liberal democracies, whose economic cohesion and commitment to collective security are the main obstacles to a world order dominated by China to the incidental benefit of certain inferior regional powers such as Iran and Russia. In both cases, the U.S. response has been hampered by political partisans who happily do the work of one of the genocidal aggressors: Our progressive friends swear that they are not antisemites even as they insist on the genocidal Hamas linedenying Israels basic legitimacy, from the river to the sea and all thatand our right-wing friends insist that they are not Putinists even as they insist that the necessary course of action is to give Moscow what Moscow demands and even as they amplify the most ridiculous and indefensible Russian propaganda. To watch Michael Brendan Dougherty and Tucker Carlson take precisely the most pro-Kremlin line acceptable within polite society and to watch Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib take the most antisemitic line acceptable within polite society is to watch essentially the same thing. Ive seen probably 60 different adaptations of Macbeth, and, different though each was, you could count on things always to end badly. At least Chinas bought-and-paid-for apologists in the TikTok matter operate within the long and stately tradition of ordinary venal corruption; how much more shameful those who serve Moscow and Hamasand through them Beijingout of spite, bigotry, stupidity, and mania.

The U.S. response has been excessively timid in both cases, an overcorrection of the errors of the Iraq War. President Joe Biden insists that an Israeli invasion of Rafah would cross a red line. Biden being a veteran of Barack Obamas administration, his talk of red lines means less than nothing, of course, and the Israeli people as a wholeI do not mean here only those associated with Benjamin Netanyahu and the political tendency he personifiesunderstand the hard facts: The surviving intact Hamas brigades are mostly in Rafah, therefore the battleground is in Rafah. The Biden administration is mostly toothless where our enemies are concerned, but it can be very rough on our allies, from the French to the Israelis. How different would the war look if the Biden administration had the courage to say what everybody knows: that Israeli security and Palestinian sovereignty are incompatible, that the situation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza is entirely within Hamas control and entirely Hamas doing, and that the only way to discourage future Palestinian savageryand let us not forget the savagery of the October 7 attacksis to take away from the Palestinian oligarchs something they value. They have no economy to speak of, seem content to continue in poverty and misrule, and apparently are happy to continue using young Arab men and children as cannon fodder and suicide bombers for another generation or morebut they do value their effective control of Gaza and the West Bank. It is perfectly obvious that for both reasons of practical security and for exemplary reasons, permanent loss of control over Gaza is the price the Arabs of Palestine must pay for October 7. It is equally obvious that the loss of Arab control of the West Bank must be understood as the price that will be paid for a repeat of October 7 or a variation on the theme.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, for his part, hopes to entrust Gaza to an effective and revitalized Palestinian Authority, which is weapons-grade wishful thinking. There is not going to be a two-state solution in Israel. The open questions are whether the one state that exists there right now will survive and, immediately, whether the Biden administration can stand up to a few angry graduate students and Hollywood dopes in order to see to what are, let us remind ourselves as often as necessary, American interests in the war on Israel.

The American interests at play in the war on Ukraine are barely better served, and we should expect them to be abandoned entirely if the political winds shift even a little. Donald Trump is an elderly imbecile who very possibly also will be a convicted criminal in the near future, and he gravitates naturally, according to his character, to caudillos such as Putin, unable to resist the weak mans invariable submissive attraction to strong men; Joe Biden is a senescent hack who resists political pressure as unbendingly as overcooked spaghetti resists the fork. Taking away from the Palestinians the notional sovereignty that they have not actually quite realized is a relatively small thing compared to what needs to be done in Russia, which is the deposing of the Putin regime and the removal, by force if necessary, of Russias nuclear arsenal. There simply will be no peace for Russias neighbors (and the imperialists in Moscow have a very capacious idea of what constitutes their neighborhood) or for NATO, the European Union, and the United States while Putin rules and, in the long term, while the backwards basket-case of a country over which Putin currently presides is permitted to maintain under its control the means to destroy the world.

I am not sure that I agree with Raphael Lemkin about the laws of war and genocide. His views, while deeply humane, seem to me excessively idealistic. The delicate chains of legitimacy that shape lawmaking in a liberal democracy are not available at the global level; it is possible for nations to make binding agreements, and even to agree to subject themselves to something called international law, but it is a different animal, as Lemkin himself appreciated. (Recognition of this legitimacy problem has always animated romantic, totalitarian dreams of a world government.) And it is not clear that the international powers and institutions take conventions as anything other than pretextual in the serious matter of genocide. The United Nations investigated the crime of genocide in Somalia for massacres carried out with state support in the 1980s, but Somalia is not a party to the Genocide Convention. The U.N. generally acts as though it has some kind of natural universal jurisdiction over these questions, which raises the question of what exactly ratification or accession to such a convention really means. The politics matters a great deal here: The U.N. doesnt have a great deal of trouble seeing genocide in Somalia or in the actions of governments of relatively poor, powerless countries; the U.N. remains a little foggy on the question of genocide when it is carried out by Beijing in Xinjiang. There wasnt a United Nations the last time Moscow carried out an expansive campaign of genocidal mass murder in Ukraine, the Holodomor, but it probably wouldnt have mattered much if there had been. This isnt going to be sorted out with UN resolutions or by reference to international law. I am not sure that there is a legal basis for dragging Vladimir Putin out of the Kremlin and hanging him in Maidan Square, but I am sure it should be done.

What does Russia have in mind for Ukraine? The Institute for the Study of War sums it up:

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev posted a detailed call for the total elimination of the Ukrainian state and its absorption into the Russian Federation under what he euphemistically called a peace formula. Medvedevs demands are not novel but rather represent the Kremlins actual intentions for Ukraine  intentions that leave no room for negotiations for purposes other than setting the precise terms of Ukraines complete capitulation. Medvedev begins the peace plan by rhetorically stripping Ukraine of its sovereignty, referring to it as a former country and placing the name Ukraine in quotation marks. Medvedev laid out the seven points of his peace formula, which he sardonically described as calm, realistic, humane, and soft. The seven points include: Ukraines recognition of its military defeat, complete and unconditional Ukrainian surrender, and full demilitarization; recognition by the entire international community of Ukraines Nazi character and the denazification of Ukraines government; a United Nations (UN) statement stripping Ukraine of its status as a sovereign state under international law, and a declaration that any successor states to Ukraine will be forbidden to join any military alliances without Russian consent; the resignation of all Ukrainian authorities and immediate provisional parliamentary elections; Ukrainian reparations to be paid to Russia; official recognition by the interim parliament to be elected following the resignation of Ukraines current government that all Ukrainian territory is part of Russia and the adoption of a reunification act bringing Ukrainian territory into the Russian Federation; and finally the dissolution of this provisional parliament and UN acceptance of Ukraines reunification with Russia. The tone of Medvedevs post is deliberately sardonic, and the calls he is making appear extreme, but every one of the seven points in Medvedevs peace formula are real and central pieces of the Kremlins ideology and stated war aims and justifications.

And what does Hamas want? The complete destruction of Israel, as its charter always has demanded and still does. Maybe a U.N.-backed peace process? No.

There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.

Never again, everybody said.

And, yet, here we are.

Words About Words

Excuse me while I kiss this guy, is not a lyric from Jimi Hendrixs Purple Haze. The actual lyric is, Excuse meor, really, scuse mewhile I kiss the sky. Kiss this guy is a mondegreen, the clever name given to such errors by Sylvia Wright in 1954. When Wright was a child, her mother had read to her from Thomas Percys 1765 Reliques of Ancient English Poetrywe should all have such mothersincluding the poem The Bonny Earl of Murray, which offers these lines:

They hae slain the Earl o Moray,

And layd him on the green.

But Wright heard:

They hae slain the Earl o Moray, And Lady Mondegreen.

There was no Lady Mondegreen. The bonny earl in the poem was James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Moray, and the great lady in the story was his mother, Margaret Campbell of Argyll. When the earl was killed in the course of some complicated political and marital intrigue, his steely mother had his corpse taken to the Church of St. Giles, where they layd him on the green, leaving the body on display for years as the family demanded his killers be brought to justice, which they really werent. The earls mother commissioned a vendetta portrait of his body and its wounds, but nothing availed.

Mondegreens abound. The Johnny Rivers song isnt Secret Asian Man, and Robert Plant did not sing: And theres a wino down the road / I should have stolen Oreos. There was no round John virgin at the manger or in Silent Night, and Creedence Clearwater Revival did not offer directions: Theres a bathroom on the right.

A mondegreen is an example of an oronym, an erroneous hearing of a word that often results from being unable to tell where one word stops and the next one starts, which is why you get them in poems and, particularly, with singing.

Economics for English Majors

Adam Smith was a free-market guy, but he wasnt naive, observing: People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the publick, or in some contrivance to raise prices. He would have understood what the National Association of Realtors was up to. From the Wall Street Journal:

The National Association of Realtors has reached a nationwide settlement of claims that the industry conspired to keep agent commissions high, it said Friday, a deal set to usher in the biggest changes to how Americans buy and sell homes in decades. The $418 million agreement will make it easier for home buyers to negotiate fees with their own agents and could lead more buyers to forgo using agents altogether, which has the potential to drive down commission rates and force hundreds of thousands of agents out of the industry. NAR agreed to abandon longstanding industry rules that have required most home-sale listings to include an upfront offer telling buyers agents how much they will get paid. Under a system in place for a generation, sellers have typically set buyers agents fees. Consumer advocates say the arrangement has prevented buyers from negotiating to save money and kept commissions in the U.S. higher than in most of the world.

Realtors are a very typical middleman business, relying on legal and informational bottlenecks to extract fees from buyers and sellers while creating little or no value in themselves. (Some real-estate agents are very good, some are very bad, and the average one is average. A really good one can make a big difference in buying or selling a house, and a really bad one can hose you, but mostly they just get in your way and cost you money.) Once upon a time, buying or selling a house presented a substantial information-management problem. If you wanted to know what houses were for sale in a particular town or neighborhood, you either had to drive around and look for For Sale signs or consult classified advertisements, which rarely provided much information beyond the basics. Coordinating showings and such was more of a challenge back in the days when we had rotary phones and most people worked in offices from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. And there are legal, structural, and financial considerations when buying or selling a house that want professional advice. The internet solved a lot of that and made it easier and cheaper to solve even more complicated questions. The National Association of Realtors, a powerful trade group, undertook great efforts to keep fees high and to centralize its control over the market: NAR even has a trademark on the word realtor, which it insists on writing in all-caps with the circle-R symbol: REALTOR. The NAR is part of what I call the Committee to Re-Inflate the Bubble, generally happy to see housing prices go up (and commissions with them) and a longtime advocate for loose-goosey mortgage-lending rules. You know how that works: High prices dont weigh the market down as much when credit is cheap, which is why the federal government spends so much subsidizing debt.

The NAR has maintained its power in part by controlling how MLS (multiple-listing service) data is used and displayed. There isnt one MLS in the United States but a few hundred, and NAR members are limited in how they share listing information with other brokerages. One interesting tidbit is that Manhattan has never really relied on the MLS system, with local brokers using alternatives. One of these was known as the REBNY (Real Estate Board of New York) Online Listing Exchange, which was marketed as R.O.L.E.X. until the Swiss watchmaker complained. But it wouldnt be Manhattan without a fake Rolex in the mix.

Elsewhere

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Please subscribe to The Dispatch if you havent.

You can check out How the World Works, a series of interviews on work Im doing for the Competitive Enterprise Institute, here.

In Closing

I sometimes try to write a little bit of fiction, and I dont think I could, even on my most despairing day, imagine Lauren Boebert. And I wouldnt want to.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Portrait of American businessman and investor Robert F Smith, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners LLC, poses for a photograph during the World Economic Forum (WEF), Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, January 18, 2017. He had just participated in a Bloomberg Television interview at the event, where world leaders, influential executives, bankers, and policy makers attended WEFs 47th annual meeting between January 17 - 20. - Photo: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg (Getty Images)

Robert F. Smith is the wealthiest African American man in the United States. Forbes estimates his net worth at over $9 billion dollars. But how did he get there?



Heres the evolution of Robert F. Smith.

Born

DENVER - AUGUST 12: A view of the downtown city skyline on August 12, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The city is preparing to host the 2008 Democratic National Convention at the Pepsi Center from August 25th through the 28th. - Photo: Doug Pensinger (Getty Images)

Robert F. Smith was born in Denver, Colorado in 1962 to Dr. Sylvia Myrna Smith and Dr. William Robert Smith.



Early Life

6th December 1948: An electrical brain which stores up billing information installed in a Philadelphia telephone exchange by the Bell Telephone Laboratories. - Photo: Keystone (Getty Images)

While in high school, Smith snagged an internship at Bell Labs, a telecommunications and technology company.

College

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 19: Robert F. Smith - Photo: Marcus Ingram (Getty Images)

Robert F. Smith attended Cornell University and graduated in 1985 with a chemical engineering degree. Cornell named the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering after Smith after he donated $50 million to the University.

Alpha Phi Alpha

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 22: Alpha Phi Alpha members perform onstage at day one of BETX Live!, presented by Dennys, during the 2017 BET Experience on June 22, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. - Photo: Bennett Raglin (Getty Images)

While at Cornell University, Smith joined the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.



Grad School

Columbia University Campus. - Photo: Luiz C. Ribeiro/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service (Getty Images)

Smith attended Columbia University. He received his Master of Business Administration degree.

Goldman Sachs

Robert Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Vista Equity Partners LLC, speaks during the Asian Financial Forum in Hong Kong, China, on Jan. 11, 2023. - Photo: Bertha Wang/Bloomberg (Getty Images)

Smiths first job out of business school was at Goldman Sachs. According to Columbia Business School, Smith was the first M&A banker in Silicon Valley.



First Marriage

Smith met Suzanne McFayden at Cornell University where they both attended undergrad. The pair married in the 1988, separated in 2011, and divorced in 2014.

Vista Equity Partners

Robert Smith, billionaire and chairman and chief executive officer of Vista Equity Partners LLC, speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2017. World leaders, influential executives, bankers and policy makers attend the 47th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos from Jan. 17 - 20. - Photo: Bloomberg / Contributor (Getty Images)

In 2000, Robert F. Smith founded Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm specializing in technology, in Austin, Texas. The company now manages over $101 billion in assets. Smith is worth $9.2 billion.



Second Marriage

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 12: Hope Dworaczyk and Robert F. Smith attend the 2018 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple Of Hope Awards at New York Hilton Midtown on December 12, 2018 in New York City. - Photo: Dia Dipasupil (Getty Images)

In 2015, Smith married Hope Dworaczyk, a former Playboy model, television host, reality star, and skincare entrepreneur. John Legend serenaded the couple, who were then 52- and 30-years-old.



Children

Hands of child making a snowman with ribbon and pom pom at Christmas time in a domestic room, Italy - Photo: Roberto Moiola / Sysaworld (Getty Images)

Smith has seven children  three with his first wife and four with his second wife.

Tax Evasion Scandal

Robert Smith, billionaire and chairman, co-founder and chief executive officer of Vista Equity Partners, pauses during a panel session on day two of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. World leaders, influential executives, bankers and policy makers attend the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos from Jan. 21 - 24. - Photo: Jason Alden/Bloomberg (Getty Images)

According to federal prosecutors, for 15 years, Smith engaged in an illegal scheme to conceal income and evade taxes he owed by using an offshore trust structure with related foreign corporations and offshore bank accounts, and by willfully filing a series of false documents with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Treasury Department.



Tax Evasion Scandal Pt. 2

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 11: (L-R) TV Personality Hope Dworaczyk and Chair of RFK Center Board of Trustees Robert Smith attend 2013 Ripple of Hope Awards Dinner at New York Hilton on December 11, 2013 in New York City. - Photo: Noam Galai (Getty Images)

Prosecutors allege that the larger scheme involving Billionaire Robert Brockman was the biggest tax evasion scheme in U.S. history involving billions of dollars. Smith entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the government in October 2020. According to the New York Times, Smith was ordered to pay $139 million in fines. He remained at Vista Equity Partners.



Morehouse University

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 19: Robert F. Smith receives and Honorary Degree during the Morehouse College 135th Commencement at Morehouse College on May 19, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. - Photo: Marcus Ingram (Getty Images)

Smith vowed to pay for the student loans of the entire Morehouse College graduating Class of 2019. He also received an honorary degree from the school.



Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 13: Robert Smith speaks onstage during Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Hosts Annual Ripple Of Hope Awards Dinner on December 13, 2017 in New York City. - Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Ripple Of Hope Awards (Getty Images)

Smith served as Chairman of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization from 2013 to 2020. He also won the human rights organizations Ripple of Hope Award in 2010 for his work on racial inequities in the criminal justice system.



Other Philanthropy

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 13: Hope Smith and Robert Smith attend Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Hosts Annual Ripple Of Hope Awards Dinner at New York Hilton on December 13, 2017 in New York City. ( - Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic (Getty Images)

Smith is well known for his philanthropic work. In 2018, he was the largest individual donor at the City of Hope Gala, which supports prostate and breast cancer research for Black men and women. He also donated $50 million to his alma matter, Cornell University. He is the first African American person to sign the Giving Pledge to give away the majority of his wealth.



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Ex-Govs. Andrew Cuomo and David Paterson piled on their fellow elected Democrats for fumbling issues including crime, the migrant crisis and congestion pricing during a tag-team interview on Sunday.

Cuomo again rapped his successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, for deploying the National Guard in the subway as optics and theater.

The answer is hire more police  period, Cuomo said during a joint appearance with Paterson Sunday on 770 WABC radios Cats Roundtable.

Former Govs. Andrew Cuomo and David Paterson criticized how New York Democrats are handling subway crime and the migrant crisis during a joint radio appearance. Stephen Yang

Cuomo said the National Guard does admirable work but the reservists are not trained to patrol subways  though NYPD transit officers are.

Its political. It makes no sense, said Cuomo, who resigned in 2021 after serving ten years as governor amid sexual harassment and misconduct accusations which he denies.

I actually think it jeopardizes people. If youre not trained to do police work in the subway, you shouldnt be doing police work in the subway, Cuomo told host John Catsimatidis just days after a horrifying shooting on the A train.

Cuomo said Gov. Hochuls decision to put the National Guard in the subway was optics and theater. AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File

Cuomo said Democrats in New York are likely to lose seats in Novembers general election if they fail to address the public furor over crime, the migrant crisis and congestion pricing.

The Republicans are going to come out in force, he said.

You cant defend these policies.

Cuomo said that more police need to be hired to combat subway crime. Stephen Yang

Meanwhile, Paterson said President Biden  without mentioning his name  and others running the federal government will pay for failing to address the migrant crisis.

The federal government is going to pay as well  and some of the people who run it , Paterson said, an indirect reference to Biden, who is running for re-election amid criticism of his slow-footed handling of the migrant crisis.

This is really where the epicenter of the problem is germinating. It is an incredible way to treat states like New York and others that have the same problem, Paterson said.

Paterson said the federal government will pay for mismanaging the migrant crisis. Newsday via Getty Images

At one point, Cuomo suggested that Hochul and the legislature should write and approve a one sentence law to relieve New York City of the burden of housing and feeding thousands of migrants.

He said Albany could easily remove non-citizens from being covered under the Right to Shelter edict, which was amended in a settlement last week.

But they wont do it.

It is lunacy what is happening, he said.

A line of migrants waiting to apply for shelter outside of St. Brigids School on March 15, 2024. Helayne Seidman

Denying a problem never works. Congestion pricing. Crime in the subways. The migrant problem. You either solve it now or its going to get worse. he said.

Im afraid the legislature is going to duck.

Cuomo approved the law allowing congestion pricing, but has since flipped, saying its not the right time to impose a new toll to enter Midtown in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemics impact on the city and the region, including the loss of population.
VERO BEACH  A former Vero Beach High School student faces a life prison term after a jury convicted him in the 2020 fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man outside a BP Express Mart at 20th Avenue Southwest and Oslo Road, in Indian River County, court records show.

After a four-day trial that ended Thursday, a jury convicted Camden Stukins, 22, of second-degree murder and other charges related to the Jan. 19, 2020 murder of Carltravius Jones, who had driven to the BP Express Mart with four others to purchase marijuana from Stukins, according to court records and trial testimony.

Detectives learned the meet-up at the BP with Stukins had been arranged through Snapchat.

A makeshift memorial has been set up for the victim involved in a fatal shooting on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, at the BP Express Mart on Oslo Road in Indian River County. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. while the victim was sitting in the driver's seat of a parked car with four other occupants. Camden Stukins, 18, a Vero Beach High School senior, was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, shooting or throwing a deadly missile, tampering with or destroying evidence and sale or possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

Jurors were told Stukins, of the 700 block of 4th Place Southwest, pulled into BP first in a four-door BMW and parked, followed by Jones in a silver Toyota sedan.

Jones had four passengers: Almajzha Johnson, then 17, in the front passenger seat and three people in the back seat.

Stukins walked to the front passenger window and a drug transaction followed, according to an arrest affidavit.

Detectives were told Jones didnt pay Stukins for the marijuana, and he got angry. Stukins then reached inside the Toyota and fired gunshots, striking both Jones and Johnson in the head.

Assistant State Attorney Michelle McCarter said when Stukins took the stand during his trial, he told jurors the shooting was an accident.

He said self-defense, and he said accidental shooting; he said both, McCarter said Monday. According to his testimony, he pulled his gun out because he thought he saw a handle of a gun in (Jones) hand, and he put his hand in the car and shot.

As soon as the shots were fired, Jones sped off through the parking lot, drove over bushes along 20th Avenue Southwest and continued across the road.

The Toyota was "T-boned" by a white pickup truck driving south along 20th Avenue Southwest but kept going. It then spun around and struck a second white pickup truck driving north on 20th Avenue Southwest.

Jones died that night at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital.

Johnson, who was a witness for the state at Stukins trial, was struck by the same bullet that killed Jones, McCarter said.

She is severely injured from that incident; she cant walk anymore, McCarter said. She was in her senior year of high school at the time this happened in 2020. And she's just now able to start back school to get her diploma.

Johnson testified in court seated in a wheelchair, McCarter said.

The drivers of the two trucks Jones hit were not injured, she said.

Camden Stukins, 18

Detectives discovered a .9 mm shell casing at the scene and a small amount of marijuana and money were found inside Jones' vehicle. But no weapons were found in Jones car, McCarter said.

There's no evidence that any of the victims had a gun or a weapon in their car, she said.

Stukins was arrested about two hours after fleeing the scene.

Using a warrant, detectives searched his home and found Stukins washing clothes he wore at the gas station, and in his bedroom, they found the license plate to his BMW.

The gun he used was never recovered, McCarter said.

Stukins faces an automatic life term at his sentencing on May 9. He was also convicted of possession of cannabis with intent to sell with a firearm, and attempted manslaughter.

Real estate rivals: John's Island Real Estate owner asks judge to toss lawsuit filed by ex-employee

Internal affairs: PSL police officer quits as investigation finds improper handling of lewd/lascivious case

Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers and is writer and co-host of "Uncertain Terms," a true-crime podcast. Reach her at melissa.holsman@tcpalm.com. If you are a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest local news on the Treasure Coast.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Camden Stukins faces life term in 2020 shooting at BP Express Mart
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has agreed to allow the transit of certain weapons through Romanian territory for Ukraine and the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets at the European F-16 Training Centre (EFTC) at Fetesti military airbase.

Source: European Pravda, citing Digi24

Details: Journalists say that Klaus Iohannis informed the parliament by letter that he had authorised the transit of military assistance to Ukraine from Finland and the training of approximately 50 Ukrainian military personnel within Romania.

The matter is to be discussed at a meeting of the leaders of both chambers of the Romanian parliament on 18 March. The chamber vote is expected to occur at the next joint plenary session.

The publication notes that this concerns the training of Ukrainians working with F-16 fighter jets at the EFTC at Fetesti military airbase. Romanian pilots began training at the newly established centre in January.

Digi24 sources indicated that Ukrainian pilots are expected to arrive at the base in the summer.

Background:

Training of Ukrainian pilots is already underway in other countries. The prime minister of Denmark, one of the countries in the aircraft coalition, expressed hope that the first F-16s would be flying in Ukrainian skies by the summer.

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The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating an Orlando commissioner amid accusations she took advantage of a longtime constituent, according to a lawsuit filed by representatives of the victim and an FDLE affidavit.

Documents connected to both the civil and criminal matters accuse Regina Hill, commissioner of District Five, of fraudulently obtaining Power of Attorney over a 96-year-old woman who WFTV is referring to as M.

The reports said Hill met M in her capacity as commissioner in March of 2021 when it became known M was living in deplorable conditions.

One month later, the affidavit reported M signed Power of Attorney over to Hill, which allowed Hill to name herself a trustee on Ms estate in 2022, purchase a home at 170 Domino Drive and obtain a Housing and Urban Development loan to renovate the property.

Read: Local school district plans to discuss installing speed zone cameras

The FDLE affidavit said Hills Power of Attorney documents used signatures that misspelled witness names and dates that did not match up. It went on to say the house continued to look abandoned with no electricity or running water, and the house M lived in remained in a state of disrepair.

Investigators said a third house M owned at 3408 Lewis Ct., which neighbors said Hill occupied starting in August 2023, did receive renovations. Hill was removed from that house by authorities last week after a judge granted an injunction against her.

The neighbors thought the removal was because Hill was living outside of her district.

Read: Its a neighborhood staple: Fire breaks out at long-standing restaurant in New Smyrna Beach

Much of the investigation centered on Ms financial records. Hill was accused of withdrawing more than $100,000 of Ms money and spending it on herself.

While much of the money was used for home repairs, which investigators tied to the Lewis Ct. home, funds were also used to purchase a facelift, numerous IV treatments from Vitalounge, clothing, a Miami hotel stay for New Years, expensive bottles of perfume, car insurance payments on Hills personal vehicles and dental surgery for Hill.

The lawsuit was filed by Ms new Power of Attorney after Hill was terminated in February. It said M suffered from normal ageing issues, but also cognitive issues and hearing or vision loss. It also said Adult Protective Services has been called for M multiple times.

Read: Joann, craft and fabric retailer, files for bankruptcy

When interviewed by investigators, M said she did not permit Hill to purchase the Domino Drive home, nor was she aware of it. She also said she didnt knowingly allow Hill to spend her money. She recalled signing some sort of document, but did not understand it, the affidavit said, and would never agree to give Hill Power of Attorney over her.

FDLEs involvement began after ex-Hill aide Jacqueline Cockerham approached the agency. Cockerham was terminated after making different accusations against Hill. Cockerhams signature appeared on the Power of Attorney forms, along with Hills son. The affidavit did not clearly state whose signatures and names investigators believed to be fraudulent.

When contacted for comment, Hill said the accusations were false and she had hired an attorney to fight them. She refused to say who that attorney was or anything further about the matter.

Read: Hunter shot in head and body by another hunter in Flagler County, police say

Community Legal Services, which is representing M in the civil lawsuit, declined to comment or agree to let WFTV speak to M about the accusations.

We are aware that Commissioner Hill was served in a civil matter at Orange County Sheriffs Office (OCSO) last week, FDLE spokeswoman Evyr Manley said. We currently have an active investigation, and we have no additional information to provide.

Orlando city leaders said they had no information regarding the commissioner.

Hill has not been charged in connection to this investigation. If she does face charges, she could be removed from office and a special election could be held.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Claim:

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said Adolf Hitler "did some good things."

Rating:

Rating: Unproven

Context:

The quote originated with an anecdote told by Gen. John Kelly, a Trump chief of staff, but its authenticity has more than once been denied by Trump's spokespersons. Without further corroboration from witnesses or audio or video recordings, we are unable to confirm whether Trump actually made such a remark.

In March 2024, a number of viral posts claimed that former U.S. President Donald Trump said "Hitler did a lot of great things, I imagine myself being a guy like him," or simply, "Hitler did some good things."



(Screenshot via X)



(Screenshot via X)

While Trump did not say, based on any sources we could find, that Hitler did "great things" or "I imagine myself like him," a secondhand account from a former staff member claimed that Trump did say Hitler did "some good things." However, we have no firsthand corroboration of this through other witnesses or audio or video footage. As such, we rate this claim as "Unproven."

That original, secondhand source of the claim was Trump's second chief of staff, Gen. John Kelly, who shared the anecdote with CNN correspondent Jim Sciutto for the latter's book "The Return of Great Powers," which was released in March 2024.

Kelly and other former senior advisers told Sciutto that Trump would praise despots in private and on the campaign trail. According to Kelly:

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." I mean, Mussolini was a great guy in comparison.

Kelly added that Trump lamented how Hitler managed to keep his senior staff's loyalty, while Trump could not. "He would ask about the loyalty issues and about how, when I pointed out to him the German generals as a group were not loyal to him, and in fact tried to assassinate him a few times, and he didn't know that," Kelly said. "He truly believed, when he brought us generals in, that we would be loyal  that we would do anything he wanted us to do."

When we asked Trump's 2024 campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, about Kelly's claims, Cheung didn't comment on the specifics but spoke dismissively of Kelly:

John Kelly is a loser who is trying to sell a book that either belongs in the discount bargain bin in the fiction section of the bookstore or should be repurposed as toilet paper. He has completely beclowned himself and suffers from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. He needs to seek professional help because his hatred is consuming his empty and pathetic life.

Before that, the claim that Trump praised Hitler had emerged in a 2021 story. Kelly told the anecdote to journalist Michael Bender for his book, "Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost." According to Bender, Kelly said Trump praised Hitler during a 2018 conversation while on a trip to Paris to mark the World War I armistice.

At that time, Trump's spokesperson Liz Harrington denied the conversation ever happened. "This is totally false. President Trump never said this. It is made-up fake news, probably by a general who was incompetent and was fired," she said.

In any case, Trump has a demonstrated history of expressing admiration for autocrats. John Bolton, who was national security adviser under Trump, told Sciutto, "He views himself as a big guy. He likes dealing with other big guys, and big guys like Erdogan in Turkey get to put people in jail and you don't have to ask anybody's permission. He kind of likes that."

In early March 2024, Trump met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whom conservative populists have praised for his restrictions on immigration and LGBTQ+ rights. During his visit to the U.S., Orban also spoke at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. In footage shared by Orban, Trump could be heard praising the autocrat and calling him "the boss."

Sources:

Sciutto, Jim. "Former Advisers Sound the Alarm That Trump Praises Despots in Private and on the Campaign Trail." CNN, 11 March 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/11/politics/trump-despots-advisers-sound-alarm/index.html. Accessed 15 March 2024.

"Trump Meets with Hungary's Leader, Viktor Orban, Continuing His Embrace of Autocrats." AP News, 8 March 2024, https://apnews.com/article/trump-orban-hungary-conservatives-autocrats-biden-97d6998f747d3543f2f1df069b0f9165. Accessed 15 March 2024.

Valentine, Catherine and Chandelis Duster. "Trump Allegedly Praised Hitler as Doing 'a Lot of Good Things,' New Book Claims | CNN Politics." CNN, 7 July 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/07/politics/donald-trump-adolf-hitler-book-claims/index.html. Accessed 15 March 2024.
Many faithful wake up early on Good Friday to make the pilgrimage to Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, N.M.

Good Friday, March 29, is the day on which Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Two days before Easter, they rejoice in his resurrection.

At the top of the mountain is the 29-foot tall limestone monument statue of Christ with his arms extended, a welcoming shrine to thousands of faithful on two sides of the border and two states.

While some holy days at Mount Cristo Rey include a Mass, the pilgrimage on Good Friday will not.

Here is what you need to know if you plan to climb the mountain and some common questions people often have.

Is Good Friday a national holiday?

While Good Friday is not a federal holiday, many businesses recognize its significance. The United States Postal Service will operate on Good Friday.

Catholics and other Christians make a pilgrimage to the summit of Mount Cristo Rey to pray in observance of Good Friday, Friday, April 7, 2023.

Good Friday hike at Mount Cristo Rey

On Good Friday, the gates will open at 7 a.m. for people to arrive and start climbing. There will be no main pilgrimage; people can climb at their leisure.

The trail is marked by the Stations of the Cross, and people often stop at each one to contemplate each step as part of the path Jesus walked to Mount Calvary on the day of his crucifixion.

Soft drinks, water and snacks will be available for purchase.

The gates will close at 3 p.m.

Is Mount Cristo Rey safe?

The Mount Cristo Rey Restoration Committee recommends people climb Mount Cristo Rey during organized events such as Good Friday or the Feast of Christ the King (The Solemnity of Christ), which celebrates the feast day of the statue.

On those days, the committee provides security. When nothing is going on, climbing the mountain is at one's own risk.

How long is Mount Cristo Rey hike?

The trek to Mount Cristo Rey is a five-mile hike on a wide path; basically 2.5 miles going up and then 2.5 going down. It is considered easy to moderate and suitable for all ages. Pets are not allowed.

Who takes care of Mount Cristo Rey?

The Mount Cristo Rey Restoration Committee helps maintain the mountain trail and statue. Visitors can usually make donations to the committee during organized events to support them.

Where to park at Mount Cristo Rey

Participants can meet at the large parking lot at the trailhead to Mt. Cristo Rey off McNutt Road (NM 273). Then, they can take the Racetrack exit off Paisano Street and cross the Rio Grande.

What is history of Mount Cristo Rey?

The monument was the dream of a borderland parish priest, the Rev. Lourdes Costa. In 1833, he looked out the back window of his residence in the community of Smeltertown and pictured a monument at the summit of this mountain, according to the Mount Cristo Rey Restoration Committee's Website.

Father Costa presented his idea to Bishop A.J. Schuler of El Paso, who approved the idea of a monument. In the meantime, they intended to do a wooden cross. Eventually, learning that the area is in present-day Sunland Park, New Mexico, the Diocese of El Paso purchased almost 200 acres from the Commissioner of Lands of New Mexico.

First a cross was erected and blessed during Lent of 1934. A stronger cross and foundation were built and blessed on March 25, 1934.

Costa later recommended that the bishop hire his good friend and sculptor Urbici Soler to construct the monument. Soler arrived in El Paso on Oct. 4, 1937, and began working on the project. In 1938, he went to Austin to select almost 40 tons of the finest limestone from their famous quarries.

The monument Talavera base was completed, and the monument was dedicated on Oct. 29, 1939.

The crown encircling the monument's base was constructed and completed on Oct. 29, 1989, to coincide with its fiftieth anniversary.

More: Lent fish fry dinner, special menu options in El Paso

Maria Cortes Gonzalez may be reached at 915-546-6150, mcortes@elpasotimes.com and @EPTMaria on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Mount Cristo Rey 2024: Faithful to climb on Good Friday
FALL RIVER  The man accused of stabbing a fellow resident at a Fall River rooming house was held without bail in Fall River District Court on Monday.

Pedro Fernando Orellano Alvarado, 42, of 234 Tripp St., stood in the dock as a not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf on a charge of murder. He appeared to have blood in the sclera of his left eye. He did not speak during the arraignment, and defense attorney James Caramanica agreed that he should be held without bail.

Alvarado had been free on bail for another case on charges of resisting arrest after another incident at the Tripp Street rooming house in February, in which he allegedly threatened to stab another resident. He had been arraigned on that charge on Feb. 9.

He is due back in court May 10.

Fatal shooting: 2 arrested in connection to death of Fall River teen; investigation active

Pedro Fernando Orellano Alvarado, left, seen with his attorney, James Caramanica, was arraigned in Fall River District Court on Monday, March 18, 2024 on a murder charge in the Friday, March 15 stabbing death of Joseph Bump at a Fall River rooming house.

The attack: Defendant stabbed and stomped on victim's chest, prosecutor says

Assistant District Attorney Daniel Walsh told the court that Alvarado and Joseph Bump, 44, lived in the rooming house at 234 Tripp St. and that the residents were roommates by circumstance and not by choice.

Walsh told the court that on Friday night, around 9:45 p.m., police were called to the house; on arrival, police found Bump with multiple stab wounds.

Alvarado and another resident of the building, Walsh said, had been drinking heavily most of Friday. Walsh said Alvarado and Bump had had an argument over the course of the day. He said Bump was going to leave the building, and called his mother several hours before the incident.

That night, Walsh said, Alvarado and Bump argued again  and Alvarado, armed with a substantial-looking knife, stabbed Bump multiple times, Walsh alleged. A stab under an armpit punctured Bumps lung.

After he stabbed him, this defendant then swung the knife around at the other individuals who were inside the apartment, then went over and stomped on Mr. Bumps chest, Walsh said.

Bump was taken to Saint Annes Hospital and died an hour later.

The rooming house at 234 Tripp St. in Fall River where Pedro Fernando Orellano Alvarado is accused of stabbing Joseph Bump, who died of his injuries.

Violent threat made at Tripp Street rooming house in February

A resident captured the incident's bloody aftermath on her cell phone.

Walsh said Alvarado admitted on Fall River police body camera footage that he stabbed Bump, but insisted it was in self-defense; he said Alvarado said the same during questioning at police headquarters.

I would suggest the video shows different, that Mr. Alvarado is the aggressor in this situation, Walsh said.

According to the District Attorneys Office, police were called to the Tripp Street house in February for a reported argument and disturbance. At the time, Walsh said, police spoke with Alvarado and other residents of the house, who told police there was no physical altercation.

Nevertheless, Walsh said, Alvarado had told police hed been involved and said, I could go in and stab that guy.

It is unclear if Bump was the person Alvarado had argued with and was referring to.

Police had booked Alvarado for resisting arrest. He had been free on bail during the pendency of that case; that bail has now been revoked.

Pedro Fernando Orellano Alvarado was arraigned on a charge of murder after a stabbing on Tripp Street, in Fall River District Court on Monday.

Residents of Tripp Street house describe the bloody attack

Relatives of Alvarado were present at District Court. They had no comment.

A woman who lives with her daughter on the first floor of the Tripp Street building, under Bumps and Alvarados rooms, and who asked that she not be identified, said, "Its a senseless murder. Theyre all good kids.

The resident said she cooked for and cared for residents in what she called the shelter apartment building.

She claimed the animosity between Bump, Alvarado and another resident had been building for months.

Austin Sheedy, another resident of the building, said Bump stayed in his apartment the night before the stabbing. On Friday night, Sheedy, Bump and another resident were together when Bump decided to go upstairs to his apartment and retrieve some of his possessions.

No more than two minutes later, we heard tussling, Sheedy said. No more than two minutes after that, I heard [a resident] screaming, Austin, call the ambulance, Joey got stabbed, Joey got stabbed.

He was supposed to come right back, Sheedy said.

The first-floor resident said her daughter held Bump's artery as he bled out. Still shaken by the attack, she put the blame on drugs and alcohol.

Dan Medeiros can be reached at dmedeiros@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Fall River rooming house stabbing: Suspect ordered held without bail
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. The Global Terrorism Index 2024 (GTI) has presented the next ranking of countries by the level of terrorist threat, Trend reports.

The countries experiencing the highest levels of terrorist activity and threat within their borders include Burkina Faso (8.571), Israel (8.143), Mali (7.998), Pakistan (7.916), Syria (7.89), and Afghanistan (7.825).

In the given ranking, Iran (4.464) secured the 26th position, Turkiye (4.168) the 29th, the US (4.141) the 30th, Russia (3.016) the 35th, France (2.647) the 38th, Norway (1.747) the 53rd, Armenia (0.423) the 76th, the UAE (0.233) the 79th, and Lithuania (0.059) held the 87th place.

GTI ranking indices are based on complex calculations of terrorist incidents, deaths, grievous impact, hostages, counter-terrorism, the effectiveness of terrorism investigations, and many other indicators.

Azerbaijan, as one of the safest countries in the world, was ranked last (89th) in the terrorist threat rating with an index of "0", along with Denmark, Finland, and Qatar.

GTI reports, regularly issued by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), serve as a benchmark for the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, as well as other international organizations, academic institutions, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations.

The report from the Council of Europe's Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL) regarding Azerbaijan's performance over the last five years has been released. Notably, Azerbaijan's efforts in investigating terrorist financing offenses received commendation. The MONEYVAL report highlights Azerbaijan's significant effectiveness in combating terrorist financing, with authorities showcasing adeptness in successfully investigating such crimes.

According to international reports, Azerbaijan has ascended to the top tier of global internal security rankings, attributed to rapid development, stability, and tranquility achieved through highly successful state policies. This includes the effective operations of security entities in countering terrorism.

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev said: "Azerbaijan is an island of stability, an island of security".

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A harrowing food insecurity report has concluded that famine is imminent in northern Gaza, as millions of starving Palestinians face catastrophic food conditions in the territory amid Israels continued blockade of humanitarian aid.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report was released Monday by the World Food Program. The IPC is an international process for estimating the scale of hunger crises, and serves as one of the international communitys primary sources for food insecurity data around the world.

According to the report, North Gaza and area governorates are projected to meet the definition of famine  the IPCs fifth and most severe phase of acute food insecurity  anytime between now and May. In North Gaza, food security and malnutrition have become crises at the most dire level of the IPCs scale.

Gazas southern governorates of Deir al-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah are presently classified as IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) situations in the report. These governorates, however, face a risk of famine through July in a worst-case scenario, according to the data.

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Per the ICP, Gazas entire population of 2.23 million people are enduring high levels of acute food insecurity. About half of those people are expected to suffer catastrophic conditions if Israeli forces launch their planned ground offensive into the packed southern city of Rafah.

The upward trend in non-trauma mortality is also expected to accelerate, resulting in all famine thresholds likely to be passed imminently, the groups report said.

In December, the IPC warned that there needed to be an immediate reduction of hostilities and an increase in humanitarian access in order to prevent a realistic chance of starvation in Gaza. The agencys analysis at the time said that Gazas crisis is the highest share of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity that the IPC initiative has ever classified.

If no steps are taken to cease hostilities and to provide more humanitarian access, famine is imminent, Beth Bechdol, deputy director-general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, said Monday. It could already be occurring. Immediate access is needed to facilitate delivery of urgent and critical assistance at scale.

Gazas current crisis stems from Israels ongoing military campaign launched after Hamas militants attacked that country on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking roughly another 250 hostage. More than five months later, the Gaza Health Ministry  which has a record of providing casualty figures that closely reflect the U.N.s own  reports that Israeli forces have killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, wounded nearly 73,400, displaced almost the entire population and blocked civilians from accessing most aid deliveries of food, water, fuel and medicine.

The dire situation in Gaza is simply unbearable and unjustifiable, according to Hiba Tibi, country director for aid group CARE International in Gaza and the West Bank. Our earlier fears that more would die in Gaza from hunger, dehydration and disease than from bombs, were well-founded, sadly. Starvation is cruel. It is a slow and painful death.

Our partners who run health centers in Northern Gaza have reported that the number of children categorized as having moderate or severe malnutrition nearly doubled in February, compared to January. Their staff report watching children get thinner and thinner as the days go by and of kids who can barely speak and walk due to starvation, she continued. We also hear of kids being born and dying in shelters without even being registered in the hospitals. Its like they dont exist.

Boys wait while holding empty pots with other displaced Palestinians queueing for meals provided by a charity organization ahead of the fast-breaking "iftar" meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 16. Said Khatib/AFP via Getty Images

The U.N. Childrens Fund recently warned that life-threatening malnutrition was spreading fast, supported by the IPCs report detailing how adults in Gaza have reduced their meals so their children can eat. The FAO said that at least 10 times in the last month, almost two-thirds of northern Gaza households went entire days and nights without eating.

Northern Gaza was the first target of Israels invasion, and has become the center of the territorys humanitarian crisis, with much of the region completely destroyed. A third of children under 2 years of age in the north are acutely malnourished, according to the FAO, and the Gaza Health Ministry said last week that 27 Palestinians, mostly children, had died of malnutrition in the north.

Mondays report confirms what aid groups have been trying to convey to the world about the starvation crisis facing Palestinians in the territory. The international community has continued to call for a permanent cease-fire, the release of all remaining hostages, accountability for civilian casualties and the safe passage and distribution of more aid to Palestinians.

From the destruction of farms, flour mills and food processing sites, to ongoing fighting preventing the safe movement of humanitarian actors, to the blocking of aid, the people of Gaza are being starved to death. Whats worse, they have all too often been killed in attacks when seeking out food to keep their children alive, Tjada DOyen McKenna, CEO of the aid group Mercy Corps, said in a statement, stressing that the denial of humanitarian access violates international law.

We cannot wait for an official famine declaration in Gaza to act when it is abundantly clear that people are and will continue dying from hunger and malnutrition, she continued. Todays report must be a wake-up call for all parties with leverage over Israel to dramatically change course. Gazans cannot wait any longer.

Related...
The United Nationss food agency warned famine is imminent in part of Gaza as Israel continues to target the region.

The World Food Programme (WFP) said a new report found famine is imminent in the northern part of the Gaza Strip with the entire population facing crisis levels of food insecurity. In Gazas two northern governorates, which include about 300,000 people, famine is expected to arrive between now and May.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report found about half the population in Gaza, about 1.1 million people, have exhausted all of their food supplies and are facing catastrophic hunger and starvation.

People in Gaza are starving to death right now. The speed at which this man-made hunger and malnutrition crisis has ripped through Gaza is terrifying, said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain.

There is a very small window left to prevent an outright famine and to do that we need immediate and full access to the north. If we wait until famine has been declared, its too late. Thousands more will be dead, she said.

President Biden announced earlier this month that the U.S. would build a temporary port along the coast of Gaza to help bring in humanitarian aid, but the construction could still take about two months. The agency called on Israel to allow more access points for humanitarian aid to be provided to Gaza, noting that airdrops cannot deliver the volume of aid urgently needed to avert imminent famine.

The report said famine could be stopped if aid organizations were granted full access to provide food, water and other necessary supplies to the civilian population in Gaza. The report also found that southern Gaza, including Deir al Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah, are also at risk of famine conditions by July.

The agency estimated about 300 aid trucks are needed to pass into Gaza every day to address the growing needs, but it added only nine convoys have been allowed to enter the region since the start of the year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
For months, aid agencies and world leaders have warned about the risk of famine in Gaza, where normal flows of food and water have slowed to a trickle since Oct. 7. In northern Gaza, where roughly 300,000 people remain without adequate access to humanitarian aid, it may already be present, according to a new report backed by a consortium of U.N. bodies and relief agencies known as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative, or IPC, which projects that famine in the north could unfold anytime between now and May.

The latest analysis from the IPC, which uses a five-phase index to assess food insecurity ranging from minimal (phase 1) to catastrophe (phase 5), reports that nearly 677,000 of Gazas 2.2 million population are currently experiencing catastrophic hunger. In the IPCs most-likely scenario, which assumes an escalation in the conflict involving Israels anticipated offensive on Gazas southernmost city of Rafah, that figure is expected to rise to 1.1 millionplacing roughly half of Gazas population under the most severe phasebetween now and July.

This new report shows that the catastrophic levels of hunger and starvation in Gaza are the highest ever recorded on the IPC scale, both in terms of number of people and percentage of the population," Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfams Middle East and North Africa Regional Director, said in a statement. "Never before have we seen such rapid deterioration into widespread starvation."

While hunger crises aren't uncommon around the world, declarations of faminewhich the IPC defines as an extreme deprivation of food, in which starvation and extremely critical levels of acute malnutrition are evidentare rare. Since the IPC was created in 2004, it has only identified two famines: in Somalia in 2011, and in South Sudan in 2017. The IPC has never identified a famine in the Middle East. Emily Farr, the food and economic security lead at Oxfam, one of the 19 organizations involved in the IPC, tells TIME that although the IPC itself doesnt issue formal declarations of famine, if or when a famine is classified by the IPC, and the findings have been confirmed by an independent body of experts called the Famine Review Committee, then stakeholders in the country such as U.N. leadership are responsible for declaring a famine based on the IPC analysis findings.

The IPC has identified two key drivers of the hunger crisis in Gaza. The first is the ongoing bombardment of the Strip, which has killed more than 30,000 people and destroyed critical infrastructure such as food, health, and water systems. The second is the ongoing restriction of vital humanitarian aid, only a fraction of which is currently getting into the Strip as a result of impediments to land deliveries. Last-ditch efforts by the U.S. government and others to deliver food aid by air and sea have proven an insufficient substitute.

The result has been particularly catastrophic for Gazas youth. At least 27 children died in northern Gaza in recent weeks as a result of malnutrition, according to Gazas health ministry. Should the crisis continue to escalate, up to nearly half (45%) of all children in Gaza aged 5 and under could suffer from acute malnutrition by August, according to a recent report from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health.

Seeing the numbers of people facing imminent famine in Gaza is shocking and unprecedented, Sam Duerden, the U.S.-based International Rescue Committees team lead for occupied Palestinian territory, said in a statement. Children are starving due to an entirely manmade and preventable crisis. There is no excuse.

Read More: Unsafe, Ineffective, Undignified: Why Food Airdrops Are Falling Short in Gaza

The prospect of famine has prompted sharp criticism from world leaders, among them Israels closest allies. We cannot stand by and watch Palestinians risk starvation, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. That sentiment was echoed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Cairo, who stressed the need for a rapid ceasefire agreement. E.U. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell urged Israel to open up more land routes for aid distribution into Gaza, dubbing the hunger crisis entirely manmade.

But its also preventable. The IPC notes that famine can be halted, but that it will require putting an end to the hostilities and ensuring the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance.

There is a very small window left to prevent an outright famine and to do that we need immediate and full access to the north, Cindy McCain, the executive director of the World Food Programme, said in a statement. If we wait until famine has been declared, its too late. Thousands more will be dead.

Write to Yasmeen Serhan at yasmeen.serhan@time.com.
A view of a small body of water in dry ranch land near Pincher Creek

A view of a small body of water in dry ranch land near Pincher Creek

By Rod Nickel and Nia Williams

(Reuters) - Drought in the western Canadian province of Alberta is stretching into its fourth year and farmers and oil companies are planning for water restrictions that threaten production of wheat, beef and crude.

The severe conditions have prompted Alberta to open water-sharing negotiations among licence-holders for the first time in two decades, hoping to salvage output from two of its biggest industries.

Alberta, which relies on melting snow and precipitation for most of its water supply, has allocated water since 1894. That system prioritises those who have held licences the longest, although holders rarely exercise that right.

Alberta's water talks underline the difficult compromises facing resource-rich regions adapting to extreme weather. Hydrologists say the future will bring Alberta more rain instead of snow due to climate change, which will strain summer water supplies.

The province produces most of Canada's oil, natural gas and beef, plus big wheat and canola harvests, much of which it exports.

Irrigation to grow crops in dry areas accounts for 46% of Alberta's water allocation, with oil and gas using 10%.

Reuters spoke with more than a dozen farm, energy and government officials and found those industries preparing for the drought to potentially scale back production and raise costs.

Drought could cause double-digit declines in Alberta's wheat yields, based on crop production data from the past two decades. Oil producers are making costly contingency plans to store more water on site and truck water across the province.

Brad Deleeuw, who manages the 5,500-head Delta Cattle feedlot near Coaldale, Alberta, said the impact of water scarcity "could be huge."

Deleeuw will prioritize watering cattle over irrigating his wheat, corn and barley, but that shift will likely reduce yields.

"You'd go from a black situation to a red situation pretty quick," Deleeuw said, referring to financial losses.

If he must import significantly more expensive cattle feed this summer from the U.S. to make up for smaller Canadian crops, Deleeuw said he would have to reduce how many cattle Delta fattens for slaughter by Cargill and JBS.

Drought contributed to Canada's beef herd shrinking this year to its smallest on record, according to Statistics Canada.

Snow water equivalent, which measures water content of mountain snowpack, was down 40% as of March 5 from a year earlier in southern Alberta's St. Mary River basin. The nearby Waterton basin was down 27%, according to provincial and federal government data.

CROP HIT

Some 70% of Canada is abnormally dry or in drought, according to the government, with the driest conditions in Alberta and British Columbia.

Alberta's largest-ever water-sharing talks could result in major consumers agreeing in early April to share water voluntarily with others downstream, environment ministry spokesperson Ryan Fournier said. If conditions remain dire, the province could declare an emergency and is working on a plan involving additional steps, Fournier said.

In 2001, the last time water-sharing negotiations happened, Alberta's durum wheat yield was 22 bushels per acre, down 37% from the previous five-year average, according to Statistics Canada. In dry 2021, spring wheat yield fell 35% while barley yield dropped 36% year-over-year. The vast majority of Alberta's grain grows on dry land, not irrigated land.

Alex Ostrop, who farms near Lethbridge, is bracing to make do with much less water to irrigate fields. In 2001, his district's water allocation was eight inches per acre or 38% less than what Ostrop used last year.

"Commodity prices are down generally - (this year) would be a double whammy of lower commodity prices and reduced yields," Ostrop said.

COSTLY CRUDE

For oil companies, dry conditions may elevate costs by forcing them to shift drilling to sites with water access or to truck water, said Tristan Goodman, CEO of the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada. Companies will not drill if wells get too expensive, he said.

Oil producers are renting on-site water storage structures known as C-rings and other swimming pool-sized spaces, drilling company Trican Well Service said.

"You're seeing customers start to really think about how they're going to be managing water months in advance - they just haven't had to worry about that before," Trican CEO Bradley Fedora told analysts in February.

For now, parts of Alberta and British Columbia with the most conventional drilling and fracking have manageable water levels, Goodman said.

Drilled wells did not decline in the dry years 2001 and 2017, according to data from industry group Enserva.

Shell is putting water contingency plans in place for its Alberta wells, spokesperson Stephen Doolan told Reuters, declining to give details. Suncor Energy told analysts the drought has prompted it to plan a water-treatment plant in its oil sands operations for the end of this decade.

With Alberta possibly heading to a drier future, the province is spending C$933 million ($691.32 million) to expand irrigation. That means Alberta will spread limited water supply over 230,000 additional acres, but the upgrade will reduce evaporation by converting open canals to pipelines, Alberta Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson said.

Oil and gas producers are maximizing efforts to store and recycle water, with all eyes on the skies, said Ken Wagner, CEO of Fraction Energy Services, which rents water storage equipment.

"It's definitely top of everybody's mind. We need some more snow and we need big rain."

($1 = 1.3496 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Denny Thomas and David Gregorio)
Dozens of tractors and hundreds of farmers returned to Madrid on Sunday denouncing the European Union's agricultural politics.

Organisers claimed that 1,000 people attended the protest, but the government counted 450 farmers as attending.

The march started at the Ministry of Ecology Transition and ended outside the Agriculture Ministry headquarters, symbolising the two main concerns of farmers: extensive bureaucracy and "eco" measures.

Some farmers carried banners reading: No to 2030 agenda, meaning the EU's "Green Transition".

A man sells Spanish flags during a farmers protest in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, March 17, 2024. - Bernat Armangue/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.

Protesters claim that policies dictated by the European Union aimed at protecting the environment make their produce uncompetitive in comparison to imports outside of the EU.

They also claim that the policies straddle farms with bureaucracy that many small to medium-sized farms cannot cope with.

Polish farmers also joined the protest, blocking a key highway that leads from Poland into Germany.

The crossing, located in Swiecko, has a daily average of 17,000 trucks passing through.

"The countryside has burst and we have to put on the table measures that make it possible to adjust environmental protection measures to the economic viability of farms," one Spanish farmer Luis Gonzalez told AP, a US news agency.

Spain and the European Commission, the EUs executive arm, have made some concessions in recent weeks but farmers say they are insufficient.

Besides EU policies, Spanish farmers maintain that a law aimed at guaranteeing that wholesale major supermarket buyers pay fair prices for their goods isnt being enforced while consumer prices soar.
BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)  A father and stepmother accused of murdering their 5-year-old son more than 30 years ago hope to have the case against them dismissed.

Victor Lee Turner and Megan Renee Turner appeared in a Berkeley County courtroom on Thursday morning after their attorneys asked for a hearing to try and get the murder charges dismissed.

Attorneys spent much of the morning discussing why they believe the charges need to be dropped, saying 35 years is way too long of a wait to prosecute a case with no new evidence, especially since a grand jury and multiple sheriffs and solicitors have looked at the case over the years.

But they also presented a new theory that a serial killer may have played a role in Turners death. The defense team said they recently learned about the serial killer, who is believed to have arrived in Charleston the same day Turner went missing.

Victor and Megan Turner appear in Berkeley County courtroom on March 14, 2024

It stems from a letter the defense team received this week from a law professor at the University of Virginia School of Law who serves as director of its Innocence Project, who investigates possible wrongful convictions.

According to the letter, they discovered that a man named Richard Marc Evonitz  believed to be a serial killer from Columbia, South Carolina  arrived in Charleston on a naval ship on March 3, 1989  the same day Turner went missing.

READ MORE | Berkeley County Sheriffs Office says arrests made in S.C. 1989 cold case involving death of 5-year-old Justin Turner

They say he killed young children, often near their bus stops, and sexually assaulted them. He was in Florida when he committed suicide before being arrested for a rape in Columbia, according to the letter. It also said that before Evonitz killed himself, he called his sister to tell her he had killed many people. Officials are now trying to see if they can find out the exact time his ship arrived in Charleston on the day Justin died.

Upon hearing this evidence, the prosecutor told the judge everyone needed more time to look further into this.

This is pretty explosive evidence and obviously everyone needs time to explore that and digest that and investigate that, prosecutors said.

The judge agreed and said and held off on a ruling Thursday so that both sides can learn more.

Meanwhile, prosecutors said their experts believe a dog leash, which was found hanging in the home, was used to strangle the young boy.

The defense team played audio from a phone call made between the arresting deputy and an expert hired to analyze the evidence, where the expert said he doesnt believe the leash alone was used to kill Justin.

I processed up those images of yours and I gotta tell you how wedded are you to the leash? Because I dont think its the leash, the audio said.

READ MORE | How BCSO detectives connected the murder of Justin Turner to his father, stepmother

Investigators and experts now believe a dog collar and the leash together were used in the strangulation; however, they have not been able to locate the dog collar. The solicitor said they have done everything they could to locate that dog collar.

Another issue brought up in court was the fact that so many people who would be testifying, at least 30 witnesses, had already passed away.

Victor and Megan, known at the time of the childs death as Pamela, were arrested at their home in Laurens County in January for their roles in the March 1989 disappearance and death of Justin Lee Turner.

They were brought back to Berkeley County and granted a $50,000 surety bond each. The father, Victor, was ordered to not have any contact with Justin Turners family, nor are they allowed to travel out of state.

FILE | Photo of Justin Turner

Justin Turner went missing on the morning of March 3, 1989. Victor found the boys body inside a camper on the familys Berkeley County property after a two-day search that involved multiple law enforcement agencies.

A videographer from WCBD was following along that morning when the discovery was made. An affidavit shows Victor found Turners body within seconds of entering the camper during search efforts the morning of March 5, 1989.

The Berkeley County Sheriffs Office used new technology and that video as part of a fresh investigation into Turners disappearance and death. It led them to arrest Victor and Megan at their Upstate home.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
An inmate in the custody of the Department of Corrections.

An inmate in the custody of the Department of Corrections. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

A federal court heard arguments Friday on a lawsuit accusing Alabama state prisons of using slave labor.

U.S. District Court Judge Corey Maze of the Northern District of Alabama, who presided over the hearing in Montgomery, heard arguments on whether to issue a temporary stay in Alabamas current practice of what plaintiffs say is forced [prison] labor.

Plaintiffs argued that the state violated current and formerly incarcerated inmates rights under the 14th Amendments equal protection clause by denying parole to Black inmates at higher rates than white inmates.

Barbara Jane Chisholm, lead attorney for plaintiffs, said a risk assessment tool in parole decisions was introduced in 2016 to determine an inmates level of risk to the public. This was done as a result of the Legislature passing a law in 2015 to reduce prison overcrowding.

A departure from that, a reasonable board member knew or should have known that departing and disregarding objective standards would inject racial bias, Chisholm said.

The filing said the proper use of risk assessments can help to limit racial bias in the parole process. As a result of using the risk assessment tool, Chisholm argued the state saw an increase in parole until 2019, when an amendment was added that it was the parole boards paramount duty to protect public safety.

The plaintiffs allege that Alabama grew work-release programs by favoring white over Black prisoners in parole decisions for release. It further alleges that the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, which has sharply curtailed parole grants in recent years, has unlawfully refused to release people from prison and further skewed the racial composition of the incarcerated population by wrongfully denying parole to thousands of Alabamiansand to Black Alabamians in particular.

The plaintiffs also argued that the boards practices retroactively increase punishment for crimes previously committed by denying incarcerated people who would have been granted parole, subjecting them to longer periods of incarceration.

Counsel for the state said that even if Gov. Kay Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall were to communicate with the board on parole matters, the parole board has discretion on parole decisions.

Brad Chynoweth, counsel for Ivey and Marshall, said that neither the governor nor the attorney general has the authority to prohibit the board from denying parole or by directing them to not use a risk assessment tool.

He said nothing would change with the order and that it would be meaningless because the governor and the attorney general must have the statutory authority to enforce their recommendations.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit  who include currently and formerly incarcerated Alabamians, three unions representing service industry employees and the Woods Foundation, a civil rights organization  are also asking the court to release individuals qualified for parole; require the state to pay the plaintiffs what they earn through working in the prison system, as well as monetary damages to be determined at trial.

Maze did not issue a ruling on a temporary stay immediately after the hearing.

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The post Federal court hears arguments in lawsuit over Alabamas alleged forced prison labor appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Federal prosecutors said Monday they plan to call former Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis to the witness stand at the upcoming corruption trial of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, marking a key change in strategy on how to introduce secret recordings Solis made during his turn as an FBI mole.

The disclosure came in two lengthy filings that also made public new details in the investigation of Madigan, the longtime former leader of the state Democratic Party who is charged in a racketeering indictment with using his office to bolster his own political power and rain cash on his friends.

Among the new revelations:

 Madigan was allegedly recorded talking to his longtime confidant Michael McClain about getting a job for the wife of a state representative, identified only as Public Official E, who had gone to Madigan because he needed money. The state representative, whom the Tribune has confirmed is Jaime Andrade, a Chicago Democrat, was later recorded thanking McClain for their efforts, which resulted in his wife landing a spot with the Illinois secretary of states office, according to the filings.

 In addition to Solis, prosecutors plan to call former state Rep. Edward Acevedo, a Madigan ally, to testify about efforts by AT&T Illinois to pay him $4,500 as a consultant in order to win Madigans influence on pending legislation. Acevedo, who pleaded guilty in 2022 to tax-related offenses, had not previously been disclosed as a witness.

 Prosecutors want to introduce evidence of a secret plan to funnel money to ex-aide Kevin Quinn, who was ousted from Madigans 13th Ward organization for sexually harassing a campaign worker. Among the recordings they want to play is one where McClain allegedly tells a former top Madigan aide he wants to keep the circle of people who knew about the plan real small because the more people that know  its too easy for people to babble.

 Prosecutors say they will play more than 250 undercover recordings at Madigans trial, including wiretapped calls, consensual phone recordings and secretly videotaped in-person meetings. In one, Solis allegedly tells Madigan the developers of a Chinatown project were on board with hiring Madigans law firm.

Meanwhile, the decision to call Solis is somewhat of an about-face for the U.S. attorneys office, which decided last year not to call him in the trial of former Ald. Edward Burke. Solis secretly recorded Burke for more than a year as he allegedly schemed to pressure developers in the massive $600 million renovation of the Old Post Office to hire his law firm to do property tax work.

Solis wound up being called as a witness by the defense, though attempts to dirty him up over his own allegedly corrupt acts appeared to have backfired since Burke was convicted on every count involving the Old Post Office scheme.

According to the new documents in the Madigan case, which were filed several days after the original deadline due to technical issues at the U.S. attorneys office, Solis testimony will add key context to many of Madigans responses on the secret recordings and allegedly show how he was using Solis to get introductions to big time developers.

Among them was the same New York-based firm in charge of the Old Post Office project that Burke had pursued  an only-in-Illinois political scenario that Solis captured on tape.

I can bring you him, but you know  Burke has been, I, Ive connected him to him, but he didnt give him the work for the post office, Solis explained during the meeting with Madigan, according to the new court filings. But Solis said the developer was also in line to purchase another downtown skyscraper that could have proven lucrative for Madigan.

Yeah. Oh yeah. I know, Madigan allegedly said.

So, if you want, I can bring him to you too, Madigan replied, according to the filing.

Solis is expected to testify that in return for the introduction, he asked Madigan for help securing a state board position once he retired from City Hall, a prospect that was actually part of an FBI ruse.

When Solis asked Madigan about the process of getting a state board spot, the speaker was recorded telling Solis that he would go to then-Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker and that Solis would come in as Pritzkers recommendation, according to the government filings.

Solis is expected to testify he understood this to mean that Madigan would convince (Pritzker) to appoint him to the state board, prosecutors said.

In another conversation, Solis told Madigan the developers of a Chinatown parcel were on board hiring Madigans firm to help get the deal done.

And I think they understand how this works, you know, the quid pro quo, the quid pro quo, Solis allegedly said.

Madigan responded, OK, according to the filing.

This call is devastating evidence that Madigan intended to personally benefit himself by causing Solis to leverage his official position to in turn cause (the Chinatown developer) to give Madigan business, prosecutors wrote.

The 23-count indictment alleges Madigan participated in an array of bribery and extortion schemes from 2011 to 2019 aimed at using the power of his public office for personal and political gain.

The case punctuated a stunning downfall for Madigan, the longest serving leader of any legislative chamber in the nation who held an ironclad grip on the state legislature as well as the Democratic party and its political spoils. He was dethroned as speaker in early 2021 as the investigation swirled around him, and soon after resigned the House seat hed held since 1971.

Also charged in the indictment was McClain, a former state legislator and lobbyist who was convicted last year of orchestrating an alleged bribery scheme by Commonwealth Edison. McClains sentencing in that case is pending.

That same alleged scheme forms the backbone of the indictment against Madigan and McClain, outlining a plan by the utility giant to pay thousands of dollars to lobbyists favored by Madigan in order to win his influence over legislation the company wanted passed in Springfield.

Both Madigan and McClain have denied any wrongdoing. Their lawyers have until April 26 to respond to Mondays filings.

Their trial, one of the biggest scheduled at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in years, had been slated to begin April 1, but was delayed until October by U.S. District Judge Robert Blakey as the parties await a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in a bribery case from northwest Indiana that involves similar prosecution paths.

In addition to the ComEd allegations, the indictment also accuses Madigan and McClain in a similar scheme to funnel payments from AT&T to a Madigan associate in exchange for the speakers influence over legislation the telephone company wanted passed in Springfield.

Madigan also is charged alone with illegally soliciting business for his private property tax law firm during discussions to turn a state-owned parcel of land in Chinatown into a commercial development.

Solis recorded numerous conversations with Madigan as part of the Chinatown land probe, including one in which the speaker told Solis he was looking for a colleague to sponsor a House bill approving the land sale, which was never consummated.

I have to find out about who would be the proponent in the House, Madigan allegedly told Solis in the March 2018 conversation. We gotta find the appropriate person for that. I have to think it through.

The indictment also alleged that Madigan met with Pritzker in December 2018 in part to discuss a lucrative state board position for Solis, ostensibly as a reward for helping Madigan win law business.

Before that meeting, Solis allegedly recorded Madigan telling him the speakers communication with Pritzker did not need to be in writing, according to the indictment. I can just verbally tell him, Madigan allegedly said.

Pritzker, who agreed to be interviewed by the feds and is not accused of any wrongdoing, has said he does not recall Madigan ever asking him to consider Solis for any position and that the administration has no record of the alleged recommendation.

The prosecution filings also added new details into another allegation in the indictment: That Madigan at one point beseeched Solis for help getting the speakers son, insurance broker Andrew Madigan, business with The Resurrection Project, a Pilsen-based nonprofit group that had received millions of dollars in state funds.

During the same recorded meeting about the Solis board appointment, Madigan allegedly told Solis that his son had not heard back from the group. Just ask him, give (Andrew) something.  Give him a chance to show what he, what he can do, Madigan told Solis near the end of the meeting, according to the filing.

To prove the existence and purpose of the alleged enterprise, prosecutors are also seeking to introduce evidence about other political favors done by Madigan and McClain in the same time frame, including landing a job for Illinois Representative Es wife at the secretary of states office.

While the court filings do not name the representative, Andrade, who represents parts of Chicagos Northwest Side, confirmed to the Tribune that Madigan was one of many people he reached out to at that time regarding his wifes potential employment.

He said Madigan and others mentioned an open position under then-Secretary of State Jesse White, a longtime Madigan ally.

Andrade has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

On July 2, 2018, Madigan told McClain on a wiretapped call that Madigan said Andrade came to me and same story, he needs money, and he had the thought that maybe I could help his wife on something, according to government filings.

Madigan explained that he thought of placing Andrades wife with Jay Doherty, a ComEd consultant and then-head of the City Club of Chicago, though not necessarily with ComEd.

I had the thought that I could actually put Jay Doherty on a retainer, Madigan said, Wed tell (Andrade) to prepare some monthly reports on what shes doing. So hes got it on file.

Later, Andrade reached out to thank McClain for landing his wife a job at the secretary of states office, prosecutors wrote in the filing, arguing the episode provides another example of Madigan and McClain rewarding Madigans political allies with benefits, which is alleged as one of the purposes of the criminal enterprise.

In his comments to the Tribune on Monday, Andrade said he didnt know if Madigan had anything to do with his wifes hiring. And while Andrade remembers talking to McClain, hes not sure why he would have thanked him specifically.

He said a bout with COVID has caused lapses in his memory. But Andrade said he did remember that, during the call, McClain misidentified the division of Whites office where his wife worked.

Andrades wife currently makes about $62,000 a year in a law-related position. Andrade said he has not talked to any federal authorities and does not expect to be called to testify in the upcoming trial.

The filings also gave a deep background lesson into how Madigan and his hand-picked 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn allegedly developed plans to give themselves political cover as McClain worked out a back-door payment scheme to send money to the aldermans brother, Kevin Quinn, himself a longtime Madigan government and political aide.

The payment scheme came only months after Madigan, in a high-profile move at the height of the national #MeToo movement, publicly cut ties with Kevin Quinn following a sexual harassment scandal the Tribune detailed in February 2018.

The Tribune first reported how McClain rounded up several clout-heavy lobbyists with deep ties to Madigan to send payments to Kevin Quinn. A search warrant affidavit made public in 2022 revealed that Madigan knew about the payments ahead of time but allegedly wanted to be able to appear to have no knowledge of the plan.

New details revealed in Mondays filings alleged that minutes after speaking with Madigan, McClain called Marty Quinn to ask whether he wanted to know details about how his brother, Kevin, would receive payments or like to stay in the dark on that.

The aldermans response was hed rather stay in the dark, the filings alleged.

The next day, Aug. 30, 2018, McClain called Kevin Quinn and explained how hed pulled a few guys together to try to give you a bridge  of uh, some money, according to the filing. McClain said on the recorded call that the money would come through a consultant contract with like three or four or five people who would pay him five or six grand a month.

McClain told Kevin Quinn he should promise to do some research for them and then, at the end of six months, file a paragraph or two about about senators, County Board members or City Council members and perhaps a little bit about maybe who theyre, theyre closest to, prosecutors said.

Signaling the paperwork would not be too burdensome, McClain allegedly told Quinn he could give the same document to all five or six people rather than create a different report for each one.

The reason for the unusual arrangement, McClain said on the recording, was so if they got audited  they can show the IRS agent the contract and  can also show em that one or two-page document, according to the prosecution filing.

When one of the individuals that McClain approached said he wanted Kevin Quinn to actually really help rather than simply fill out a bull- report, McClain answered that such a circumstance meant Ill just have your contract different, prosecutors wrote.

jmeisner@chicagotribune.com

rlong@chicagotribune.com
Federal law enforcement officials have launched an investigation following a US Border Patrol report of the apprehension of a man at the Texas border who said he was a member of a foreign terrorist organization and had come to the United States in order to build a bomb, CNN has learned.

In an internal US Border Patrol memo obtained by the New York Post, officials describe the apprehension of a Lebanese national named Basel Bassel Ebbadi at the El Paso Border Patrol Sector on March 9. The memo says Ebbadi was interviewed by a tactical terrorist response team after he made threats to border personnel.

Ebbadi was checked by medical staff and was asked what he was doing here in the US, the memo reads. Ebbadi replied, Im going to try to make a bomb.

The individual is in US custody, according to US Customs and Border Protection. A source familiar with the situation told CNN a federal investigation was underway.

While the agency offered no official details, it released the following statement:

If an individual poses a potential threat to national security or public safety, we deny admission, detain, remove, or refer them to other federal agencies for further vetting, investigation and/or prosecution as appropriate.

CBP is part of the Department of Homeland Security, which screens and vets individuals before they enter the US and monitors intelligence and law enforcement information to monitor threats. The department also works closely with the FBI.

The number of known or suspected terrorists attempting to cross into the US from the southern border has increased over the last five years, FBI Director Christopher Wray said last week.

We have seen over the last, I think, five years an increase in the number of KSTs  or known or suspected terrorists  attempting to cross the southern border, Wray testified Tuesday in front of the House Intelligence Committee.

But that doesnt mean theyre all terrorists.

The number of individuals encountered at the border who have records on the terror watchlist in a given year is extremely small and represents a very small percentage of the total number of known or suspected terrorists who try to enter or travel to the US through other means.

When federal authorities process migrants at the border, they take biometrics, like fingerprints and facial scans, and run individuals through certain law enforcement databases for any red flags. Some information, like where the migrants are arriving from, may trigger additional screening.

Part of the US-Mexico border is seen near Sasabe, Arizona. - Rebecca Noble/Reuters/File

If there is no so-called derogatory information about a person in US databases, then the migrant is released pending an immigration court date.

The newly released Annual Threat Assessment report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence does not specifically reference the risk of known or suspected terrorists attempting to enter the US from the southern border.

Border security and the migrant crisis are among voters top concerns this election cycle. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump recently visited Texas border communities on the same day. And some Texas mayors are fed up with the political bickering between their state and federal governments.

CNNs Aileen Graef and Michael Conte contributed to this report.

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URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  Urbana Police arrested a felon on Saturday after a gun and illegal drugs were found in his home.

At 10:30 p.m. in the area of Hyde and East Stebbins Drives, Urbana officers responded to a report of a domestic dispute between a man and a woman.

Urbana Police investigating weekend shots-fired incident

A witness saw the man, identified as 38-year-old Harvey Blakely of Urbana, with a gun. Blakely was a felon who was released on parole from the Illinois Department of Corrections in December 2023. Police searched the residence and found a loaded pistol, as well as more than 2 grams of crack cocaine.

Blakely was arrested and charged with armed violence, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a weapon by felon, and received an Illinois Department of Corrections parole warrant. He remains in the Champaign County Satellite Jail.

The Urbana Police Department urges anyone with more information or footage of this incident to contact them at 217-384-2320. Information can be shared privately. Completely anonymous tips may also be made through Crime Stoppers by calling 217-373-8477, submitting online at 373tips.com, or through the P3 Tips mobile app.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Azerbaijani MPs Tural Ganjaliyev and Sevil Mikayilova held discussions on neocolonialism tackling measures with famous Dutch publicist Sandew Hira, author of the book Decolonizing The Mind: a guide to decolonial theory and practice, within the Baku Network platform, Trend reports.

They also mentioned measures to combat Islamophobia, pointing out the global role of Azerbaijan in these processes.

Thus, it was underlined that Azerbaijan has emerged as one of the world's most consequential nations in recent times, contributing significantly to the global struggle against neocolonial impulses and Islamophobia.

"When individuals discuss colonialism, they typically focus on its political and economic facets. Political independence from previous colonizers is another aspect of decolonization. That's the typical way that people consider things. Regarding the colonizers, however, scholars from the Global South have recently brought attention to another facet of colonialism: its intellectual and cultural components.

Now, I contend that we ought to see world history from the standpoint of civilization inside the theoretical framework of decolonizing the mind that I have constructed. My contention is that, as a result of our divergent viewpoints, we must create a new network of intellectual thought that transcends Eurocentrism. On the other hand, disagreements foster creativity. There will be no originality if everyone has the same viewpoints," Hira said.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp
Each seizure saves lives. Thats what New York State Police acting Superintendent Steven James said last month after his team seized 5,000 fentanyl pills.

But are ever-increasing fentanyl seizures a sign that were finally winning the war on drugs? Not even remotely. Indeed, the evidence shows the opposite: Fentanyl seizures dont save lives; they take them.

Now, theres recent research that backs up this counterintuitive dynamic. Researchers reported in the American Journal of Public Health that disruptions to the drug market resulting from police drug busts in Indianapolis during 2020 and 2021 increased fatal overdoses over three weeks within a 500-meter radius of the drug seizure. Fatal overdoses doubled by two weeks after the drug bust.

Oregons Making a Terrible Mistake in Rebooting the Drug War

While the study shows seizures exacerbate the crisis in the short term, they also cause long-term harm.

First, deaths increase in the immediate aftermath of the seizures as frantic consumers adjust to the supply disruption. Second, deaths increase over the course of years as producers and dealers adjust to repeated losses by creating more potent drugs that are easier to conceal, smuggle, and distribute.

Start with the short term. When local law enforcement conducts major drug busts, they do temporarily disrupt the market for street drugs, but people who use and have grown dependent on drugs do not simply give up drugs and live clean. Instead, they search out new, unfamiliar dealers who might sell them drugs with different ingredients and potency, which can lead to more deaths.

Now, its true that it might take days or weeks for drug users to connect with a new dealer, and this might seem to save lives. But this often backfires, because by the time they find a new source, users tolerance has waned, making them more susceptible to a fatal overdose if they consume their usual dose.

So, drug busts can cause more deaths, even in the very near term. In the long term, their cumulative effect can unleash an avalanche of mortal destruction. As the crackdown on a substance intensifies, drug producers seek new ways to stretch their supply and still make the same profits, incentivizing the creation of ever-more potent forms of drugs.

Weve seen this story play out again and again. Its the iron law of prohibitionthe harder the law enforcement, the harder the drugs. During Alcohol Prohibition, beer and wine became bathtub gin, and bootleggers smuggled whiskey into the country. During Prohibition, an average of 1,000 people died each year from tainted or denatured alcohol.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Nogales Commercial Facility seized nearly $4.6 million in fentanyl and methamphetamine totaling close to 650 pounds on January 26, 2019. Jerry Glaser/CBP

More recently, powdered cocaine became crack, pseudo-meth became P2P-meth, oxycodone became heroin, and heroin became fentanyl. Now fentanyl is becoming fentanyl plus xylazine (a veterinary tranquilizer), or tranq.

How do seizures generate these super-drugs?

Consider the most recent surge in fentanyl deaths. In 2012, Mexican cartels mostly added fentanyl to heroin to boost its potency so they could smuggle it in smaller packages. The drugs were often smuggled across the border overwhelmingly through U.S. ports of entry. But in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020 the U.S. banned nonessential travel from Mexico.

Tax Legal Weed and Give the Money to Drug War Victims

Massively restricting the number of crossers freed up personnel to search a higher percentage of crossers, leading smugglers to switch to the more lethal but more concealable fentanyl.

International border closures made transporting opium more challenging and supply chain problems made acetic anhydride, the chemical used to make opium into heroin, scarce. Drug traffickers decided to switch from heroin to fentanyl, which was easy to make in basement labs with readily available ingredients, with no need to grow and ship opium.

By June 2020, total seizures had nearly doubled. However, the ratio of heroin to fentanyl began to shift. Fentanyl became predominant for the first time. By the time the restrictions were ended in January 2022, fentanyl accounted for 97 percentwhere it has since remained.

Traffickers responded to increased interdictions of heroin by smuggling fentanyl. Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin, so the same market can be supplied with 50 fewer trips (or 2 percent as much weight). Replacing heroin with fentanyl allowed drug cartels to make the same, or even greater, profits despite more seizures. Nearly every month that the nonessential travel ban was in effect, fentanyl deaths increased.

The border crackdown, combined with other pandemic supply chain disruptions, caused a permanent shift in the drug market to a more dangerous drugleading to tens of thousands of additional deaths.

As a more potent and deadly synthetic is surging into the market, we are already seeing that fentanyl seizures are having the same effect as heroin seizures. Nitazenes, which can be 10 times more potent than fentanyl or worse, are exploding onto the scene in the U.K. and showing up in toxicology reports all over the United States.

Its hard to put ones head around the idea that drug busts are killing people. Drug busts feel justified. The impulse to save people from themselves is strong and understandable. But policymakers and law enforcement should stop basing policy on gut instincts and emotional reactions. They should rationally look at these facts and reconsider the consequences of their actions.

Convicted DEA Agent Says He and Others Swindled the Government in Very Fun Drug War

If drug busts dont save lives, what can? One way is by making it easier for people to access safer, legal alternatives to fentanyl. Depending on the individual circumstances, these could include methadone, buprenorphine, and prescription pain relievers. Lawmakers can empower clinicians to treat addiction in their offices and clinics, devoid of the queues, stigma, and scarcity of government-approved methadone treatment centers.

Congress can lift the federal ban on overdose prevention centers, a proven form of harm reduction since 1986, currently saving lives in 16 countries and 147 locations throughout the developed world.

For more than 50 years law enforcement has been holding press briefings lauding bigger and bigger drug busts as overdose death rates soar higher and higher. Theres a word that describes doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

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Tara Harding is a nurse practitioner whos been helping North Dakota women get pregnant for five years. But for her own fertility treatment, Harding is going to Colorado.

The 38-year-old runs a womens health clinic in Bismarck that specializes in fertility treatment. In June, she plans to have surgery to address one of her own health concerns: endometriosis, a uterine condition that makes it more difficult to conceive. If she cant conceive naturally after that, she will turn to in vitro fertilizationjust not in her home state.

Im not going to take any risk with [my embryos] locally and be worried about not being able to move forward with the treatment. she said.

The cause of Hardings location shift is not a change in North Dakota law, but a state Supreme Court decision in Alabama that ruled frozen embryos had the same rights as children, temporarily suspending IVF services in the state. No other state has made a similar decisionand Alabama has since passed legislation protecting patients and providers from legal consequences but fertility doctors in conservative states told The Daily Beast some of their patients are still taking proactive measures.

Dr. Nicole Ulrich is an IVF provider at Audubon Fertility in New Orleans, which outlawed abortion as soon as Roe v Wade was overturned in 2022. She said that sent a wave of patients rushing to her office with questions. Now its happening again.

Baby Dreams Dashed by Alabama Courts Nightmare IVF Ruling

Ulrich said two patients asked to expedite their fertility treatment in recent weeks. One was considering IVF and decided to start sooner than expected in case the ability to do so was legislated away. The other already had a child through IVF and several embryos stored out of state. She decided to start the process of having a second child sooner than planned, for similar reasons.

Im excited for them that theyre taking the next step in their journey but it also makes me so sad that they feel like they have to change their plan or speed up their plan because of whats happening politically, Ulrich said. As a provider, she added, youre making decisions based on not exactly whats the best medical decision for the patient, but on external factors.

A model of the female reproductive system and an embryo transfer catheter at West Coast Fertility Centers on Feb. 29, 2024, in Fountain Valley, CA. Jay L. Clendenin/for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Ulrichs clinic already stores patients embryos outside of the state; Louisiana is the only state with a law preventing the destruction of extrauterine embryos, leading many providers to store them in another jurisdiction. But since the Alabama decision, Ulrich said, at least five patients have asked to move their embryos out of the clinics long-term storage facility in Texas, fearing a similar outcome there.

Other patients have sought her advice on what they should do.

I often tell them I wish I had a crystal ball, she said. I dont think it will happen here, I just have to hope that cooler heads will prevail.

The decision in Alabama, in a case filed by two families that lost frozen embryos in a storage facility accident, caused backlash around the countryand across party lines. Even former President Donald Trump said he strongly supported IVF access and called on Alabama lawmakers to preserve itwhich they did, passing a law to shield providers and patients from liability last week. But Republicans in the U.S. Senate failed to do so nationally, blocking a bill that would have established a federal right to the treatment.

No other state has a similar court case looming, but at least 14 are considering laws that would grant personhood to fetuses, according to NPR. Two states are weighing bills that would define personhood as beginning at fertilization for the purposes of homicide and wrongful death cases, and six are considering measures to allow women to seek child support for fetuses.

In Florida, lawmakers paused debate on a bill that would allow parents to sue over the wrongful death of a fetus because of questions and concerns following the Alabama decision. But Dr. Preston Parry, who practices in Mississippi but stores his patients embryos in Florida, said two in the last week asked to move their embryos out of the Sunshine State.

Dr. Samuel Brown, a provider in Florida, said dozens of patients asked to move up their IVF treatment in the wake of the Alabama decision.

We have patients that werent quite ready to add to their family and it is expediting them, its making them say, Lets go ahead and transfer these embryos now so we dont have to deal with this atrocity later, he said.

In Iowa, Republicans in the state House passed a bill this week that would make it a felony to cause the death of an unborn person, without any exceptions for IVF. The bill must still be passed by the Senate and signed by the governor, but IVF providers in the state said they were already flooded with calls from worried patients.

Dr. Abigail Mancuso, a fertility doctor at the University of Iowa hospital system, said patients have called all three of their locations since the bill passed the House, asking whether they should move their embryos out of state. Dr. Amy Sparks, director of the hospital systems IVF labs, said a higher number of patients than usual asked to discontinue storagein other words, to dispose of their embryosin recent weeks.

Sparks said she did not know whether the hospital system would be able to continue providing IVF treatment if the Iowa bill passed.

This is a stressful job to begin with, and we do our absolute best, she said. But if we cant have that trust with our patients and people are at risk of being charged with a felony, why would you want to continue offering services in the state?

She added that she was surprised to see the bill move ahead given the national backlash to the decision in Alabama. You just wonder, Geez, did they turn off the news or are they that blind? she said.

Even women in states without fetal personhood bills are considering moving their embryos elsewhere. Amanda Zurawski is suing Texas over its abortion ban, claiming she was unable to end a dangerous pregnancy despite an exemption in the law for medical emergencies. She announced shortly after the Alabama decision that she will move her embryos to another state, telling NBC News she [does not] want them in a state where a similar ruling could very likely take place.

North Dakota is also not considering a fetal personhood bill, but Harding said she does not want to start the IVF process there only for it to adopt something similar while she is in the middle of the process. She and her partner are already budgeting for the extra cost and inconvenience of traveling out of state for every appointment.

Still, she said, she sees a silver lining to the whole situation.

I think the one thing this did was bring the infertility community together, she said. Since Ive been involved in over six years, its the loudest and most productive, quick change that weve seen happen.

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Lancaster County has the highest growth rate among the seven counties surrounding Charlotte in Mecklenburg County, and theres no reason to think it will slow down soon. Instead, growth will branch out into new places.

Just this year, there have been land purchases, plan submissions, county approvals and new home announcements that could combine for more than 2,500 new homes. The number of residences already approved but not yet built in Lancaster County is several times that number.

While theres plenty of growth expected in the Indian Land area, theres a transition occurring where new home construction is shifting south within the county.

Lennar moves forward with new neighborhood

This month, national homebuilder Lennar updated plans for the massive Roselyn neighborhood near Lancaster. Model homes will open and sales will begin this summer. Roselyn will have about 1,800 homes.

Its billed as an active adult community for seniors. Lennar will build three designs, all single-story. Homes will range from 1,400 square feet to more than 3,500 square feet.

Roselyn will have a pool and clubhouse, plus a fitness center, pickleball courts, dog park and trails.

Rock Hill developer Warren Norman Co. and Lennar asked Lancaster County to rezone three properties that include the Roselyn site in 2018. Those parcels combine for almost 1,800 acres.

In summer 2019, Lennar submitted plans to Lancaster County for the almost 1,400-acre Roselyn project on U.S. 521, between West North Corner and Shiloh Unity roads. Those plans showed 1,850 homes  about half the number the city of Lancaster had at the time.

Roselyn growth is significant in size but also location.

For more than a decade, the noticeable majority of new home construction has come in the Indian Land panhandle. Roselyn, along with the ongoing Edgewater project, brings that new construction south along Charlotte Highway.

In this file photo, a construction crew works on the The Lodges at Indian Land on Fort Mill Highway. Lancaster County residential growth will continue for the near future with thousands of new homes approved but not yet built.

Lynwood and Wellspring developments proposed

It isnt just Roselyn.

This week alone, Lancaster County decisions could start the process to bring hundreds more homes here. Two large projects come to the planning commission for rezoning, before Lancaster County Council makes a final decision in coming months.

Upstate Palmetto Holdings and B&C Land Holdings out of Monroe, North Carolina, asked to rezone two properties at almost 125 acres. Theyre at 2417 and 2421 Lynwood Drive, south of Lancaster. The Lynwood subdivision there would have 303 homes.

The site is a large, undeveloped hole between residential properties off Lynwood Drive to the west and McIlwain Road to the east. The site has two large ponds and wetlands that new homes would be built around, according to a sketch plan.

B&C Land Holdings bought the properties in October for almost $1.3 million.

The Lynwood subdivision could add more than 300 homes in Lancaster County, south of the Indian Land panhandle.

What were the top single-family home sales around Rock Hill in 2023? Heres the rundown

The Wellspring development is a smaller proposal. It also has several issues  such as road connection and floodplains  that county planning staff identified in recommending against a rezoning to allow it.

The almost 54-acre property is a mile south of the South Potter Road and Flat Creek Road intersection. Its near Kirk Air Base, opposite the earthen dam on Beaver Creek. The site is southeast of Lancaster, almost at the center of Lancaster County.

Wellspring Carolina Investments out of Matthews, North Carolina, bought the property for almost $90,000 in 2014. The tilted hourglass-shaped site would have 59 new homes, all on the top portion away from streams through the southern portion.

Wellspring is a neighborhood proposal outside of Lancaster. It would add 59 homes of 54 acres.

Land sales, subdivision proposals in Lancaster County

Several other projects so far this year could lead to even more homes, including:

 The county planning commission approved a 78-home plan in February on Asbury Lane in Indian Land. Empire Communities submitted plans for the 92-acre site at Possum Hollow and Old Bailes Road. The subdivision would have two entrances on Old Bailes and possible connections to neighboring roads like Estates Avenue. Those connections would involve properties that arent in the existing plan, and arent owned by the developer.

 The Sands at Kershaw is now a 39-acre proposal for 71 homes, on land once envisioned for worker housing at the nearby Haile Gold Mine. County planners denied prior versions of the project at Fork Hill Road and Little Dude Avenue in Kershaw before revisions and a need for housing in that area gained support last month.

 In December, the planning commission gave conditional approvals to Pinnacle at Sunset Point in the Edgewater neighborhood, and the Cane Mill project on Sienna Lane south of Lancaster. Those projects combine for 36 new homes. They each had a deadline of Feb. 19 to meet utility and road conditions, but some issues were unresolved as of the following day. The projects may have to be resubmitted.

 Charlotte homebuilder Taylor Morrison bought Indian Land property off Harrisburg Road last month, in the Estates at Sugar Creek area. The Feb. 27 sale for $1.6 million included 11 land parcels on Baker Street and Calico Branch Road.

 Jasmine Hills was turned down by the county planning commission last month. That plan involved 75 homes on 34 acres on both sides of Pettus Road, where it meets Barberville Road in Indian Land. Traffic concerns on smaller roads near the site led to the denial, but its unclear if the project could come back with revisions and receive approval like The Sands at Kershaw did.

 In January, True Homes and B&C Land Holdings received approval for a new phase at Edgewater, near Lancaster. That plan involves 104 homes and 49 townhomes at Edgewater Parkway and Gateway Drive.

Where are all these people coming from? Heres a breakdown of Rock Hill region growth

Long-range residential growth in Lancaster County

On March 25, Lancaster County Council will hold a public hearing on a new long-range plan called Lancaster 2040. That document gives more detail on what to expect from residential growth.

The plan cites South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office projections for population growth.

Those numbers show almost 130,000 residents by 2035, up 33.6% from 2020.

Of note, the trend line that gets the county to almost 130,000 shows about 107,000 residents next year. The county had more than 108,000 people as of summer last year, according to U.S. Census Bureau estimates released March 14.

Roselyn is one of two large developments that factor heavily into growth scenarios.

Edgewater is approved for 8,000 residents and covers about 2% of the entire county land area. Most of those residences havent been built yet.

The long-range plan shows how different the new projects like Roselyn and the buildout at Edgewater would be in a county thats been dominated by Indian Land growth.

The county had a 57% growth rate from 2000 to 2020, according to the plan. The Indian Land panhandle north of Hwy. 5 grew 476% in that span, compared to 3% in greater or southern Lancaster, the plan shows.

Growth in the panhandle

Panhandle growth is likely to continue, too.

As of November there were 3,200 homes and 2,160 apartments approved by the county but not yet built  just in the panhandle. The county expects about 13,000 new residents just from those developments, according to the plan.

The long-range plan collected almost 2,000 responses in a survey of county residents.

Asked what concerned them most, residents picked growth and development was the top response at almost 29%. Traffic was the top concern for almost 28% of responses. Growth and traffic were the most popular pick for second biggest concern, too.

The survey found 63% of residents believe county growth is happening too fast. But with whats allowed already, and a steady flow of new projects, a slowdown isnt likely anytime soon.

New data detail pricey houses, rising home values and falling rent in the Rock Hill area
Fewer Americans are labeling China and Russia as top threats to the United States compared to last year, according to a new Gallup poll.

The survey found 41 percent of respondents see China as the greatest enemy to the U.S. today, while 26 percent said the same of Russia. These shares are both down from last year, when 50 percent and 32 percent listed China and Russia, respectively, as the U.S.s top enemy.

Republicans and independents are more likely to list China as the top enemy, while Democrats are more likely to list Russia. Sixty-seven percent of Republicans, 40 percent of independents and 18 percent of Democrats listed China in the survey. Meanwhile, 48 percent of Democrats, 21 percent of independents and 10 percent of Republicans selected Russia.

More Americans in 2024 also listed Iran as the top threat to the U.S., Gallup noted, with 9 percent of respondents choosing it compared to just 2 percent who said so in 2023. Four percent of adults in the new survey selected North Korea/Korea as a top enemy  down 3 percentage points from last year.

Additionally, 5 percent of Americans now say the U.S. was its own worst enemy, which is up 4 points from last year. Pollsters noted this is the highest percentage of Americans who said the U.S. is its own worst enemy since 2005. Eleven percent of independents said the U.S. was its top enemy, according to the new poll.

Israel and Ukraine were each listed by 2 percent of respondents, while 1 percent selected the Middle East and Iraq each. None of those countries or regions were chosen last year.

The poll released Monday also found Russia and North Korea have the worst favorable ratings at 8 percent and 9 percent, respectively. The countries with the top favorable rankings are Canada and Japan, each getting 83 percent favorable ratings.

The new survey was conducted among 1,016 adults from Feb. 1-20 and has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The fatal shooting of an officer and sudden disappearance of a South Carolina paramedic led the police on a frantic manhunt to find the suspect connected to each incident. This weekend, the cops finally caught their guy.



Jaremy Smith, 33, is accused of fatally shooting New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare Friday morning who authorities say was responding to a request for help by a disabled motorist in Tucumcari.

Before the officer could get out of the car to help the person in the BMW, Smith walked to the passenger side of the patrol car, according to Chief Troy Weisler said

The two discussed Smith possibly needing a new tire and arranged for him to get a ride back in town. However, Weisler said seemingly out of nowhere, Smith pulled out his gun and shot the officer. He then walked to the other side of the car, shot him again and pushed Hares body into the passenger seat so he could take off with the car.

The report says by the time the cops found the car, Hare was still inside and pronounced dead at the hospital.

During the investigation, police discovered another broken down BMW police believe Smith was driving to another crime he allegedly committed.

Read more from ABC News:

During the investigation, police learned the car Smith was driving at the time of the encounter with Hare was registered to Machado-Fore, a paramedic for Florence County, South Carolina, Emergency Medical Services, authorities said. Machado-Fore was found dead outside of Lake View in Dillon County, South Carolina, on Friday after she had been reported missing by her family, according to the Marion County Sheriffs Office.

Smith was finally located after a gas station clerk in Albuquerque saw a man who matched hisdescription Sunday morning, according to Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen. After calling the police, they arrived swiftly to the location and saw Smith walking down the street where they pursued him in a foot chase. Allen said shots were fired but it was unclear how many hit Smith.

Smith was taken to the hospital for treatment under police surveillance and promptly taken into custody. Its unclear what charges hes facing at this time.

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NEW SMYRNA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida restaurant featured in a Brad Pitt movie caught fire early Monday morning.

At around 1 a.m., the New Smyrna Beach Fire Department said it was battling a structure fire at Pappas Drive In, a long-standing restaurant in the area.

Looking to move? These Florida cities are up and coming hotspots, national study finds

According to NBC affiliate WESH, the restaurant first opened in 1970, remaining in business for 54 years.

Video from the scene showed smoke coming from the restaurants roof.

A report from the Daytona Beach News-Journal said the restaurant was featured in a movie starring Brad Pitt. At the time, the movie was unnamed but was supposed to be about Forma 1 racing.

No one was injured in the fire, according to WESH.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic  a time when social media was one of the few ways people could connect with each other and keep tabs on current events  the long-held debate around how to handle online misinformation spiralled.

Conspiracies about the integrity of US elections was soaring, misinformation about the origins of Covid-19 was rampant and speculation about the safety of vaccines was flooding social media.

Set against a backdrop of a highly politically polarising time, government officials decided some sort of regulation was needed.

And so, the US government requested that Twitter, Facebook and other social media companies remove misinformation specifically about Covid-19 and the 2020 election from their platforms.

As a result, several right-wing individuals had their content restricted, taken down or blocked in what they claim was the Biden administration teaming up with social media companies to suppress conservative speech online.

This, they claimed was a violation of their First Amendment right to free speech.

Attorney generals of Missouri and Louisana sued the White House, along with dozens of officials and agencies, accusing them of coercing social media platforms into stifling political speech.

The case quickly turned into a partisan issue right-wing figures invoking conspiracy-theory-like mindsets.

Now, the issue has reached the nations highest court with the Supreme Court hearing arguments in Murthy v Missouri (formerly Missouri v Biden) on Monday.

The ruling from the justices could completely alter the way the government uses social media to tackle misinformation.

Smart phone screen displays a new policy on Covid-19 misinformation with a Facebook website in the background (AFP via Getty Images)

So what is the case all about?

The question at the centre of Murthy v Missouri has been highly debated since the rise of social media: how far, if at all, can the government intervene in regulating speech online before it becomes a violation of the First Amendment?

The initial lawsuit and subsequent amici in the case points to buzzwords and examples known to initiate debate such as the Hunter Biden laptop story, conspiracy theories about Covid-19 originating in a Wuhan lab, doubts over Covid-19 vaccine efficiency, Elon Musks Twitter Files and more.

The lawsuit was first filed by the state of Missouri on behalf of two Covid-skeptical infectious disease epidemiologists, an anti-mask advocate, the owner of the conspiracy theory website The Gateway Pundit and a psychiatrist who opposed lockdown mandates.

They alleged that government officials, under both the Biden and Trump administrations, engaged in public pressure campaigns, private meetings and more to collude and/or coerce social media platforms to suppress conservative viewpoints, speakers and content.

In some conversations, White House officials asked social media companies to remove misinformation believing it to be harmful to public health, the suit claims. In others, the companies allegedly reached out to government officials or agencies like the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine if a claim was true or false.

Other correspondence seemingly show officials making pushy requests and social media companies responding with frustration.

The Biden administration denies coercing companies into stifling free speech, saying their requests were exactly that  just requests  and were made to protect public health, safety and the election and that the social media companies complied on their own volition.

Should the nations highest court side with Missouri and Louisiana, it would impact how government officials can work with social media platforms to flag misinformation or conduct business concerning national security.

It came as little surprise that the Supreme Court took up the case.

This term is already packed with similar cases involving the First Amendment and social media content moderation.

In September, the ultra-conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a sweeping ruling, limiting some of the Biden administrations abilities to communicate with social media companies.

That ruling is placed on hold until the Supreme Court issues a decision.

A decision in Murthy v Missouri is expected in or before June.
Dozens of U.S. citizens fleeing the chaotic gang violence in Haiti landed safely in Miami on Sunday, the U.S. State Department confirmed.

More than 30 American citizens were taken on a U.S. government-chartered flight from Cap-Haitien, Haiti, to Miami International Airport on Sunday night after the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince advised U.S. citizens to depart from the Caribbean nation as soon as possible, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a press conference Monday.

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced last week he will resign upon the creation of a transitional presidential council as violence rages on in the nation. Henrys announcement followed a meeting with Caribbean leaders and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jamaica, where they agreed to a joint proposal for the creation of a transitional council.

Haiti is in a state of emergency as gangs have taken control of several areas in the country, including the neighborhood surrounding the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs earlier this month said over 360,000 people have been displaced due to the violence.

Asked on Monday if there will be more flights, Patel told reporters the department is taking the process step by step, noting it is a fluid and quickly evolving situation. He said the department is continuously in touch with American citizens on the ground in Haiti.

Avlot Quessa, one of the passengers aboard Sundays flight, told the Miami Herald upon landing that it has been very stressful to see Haiti, which he called his homeland, going through this act of violence, destruction  and they are our neighbors.

Quessa, who lives in Boston, said he went to Haiti last month in what was supposed to be a weeklong trip to visit his mother. Haitis main airport in Port-au-Prince has been closed amid the violence as hundreds of thousands of Haitian residents are faced with famine.

The State Department announced over the weekend it would provide limited charter flights, while noting it could not provide ground transportation, The Associated Press reported.

U.S. citizens in Haiti are advised to use the State Departments crisis intake form, while the department noted Americans should consider the charter flights only if you think you can reach Cap-Haitien airport safely, per The AP.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CHICAGO  More than two dozen migrants were set to be kicked out of shelters Sunday but the long-anticipated eviction only brought confusion and unanswered questions from the city.

City officials said of the 34 migrants who received notices to leave Sunday, only three exited the system. The remaining 31 adults scheduled for evictions received extensions due to exemptions. Four of the migrants were exempted because of disability and pregnancy and 27 were awaiting benefits for housing.

The adults were slated to be evicted from three different migrant shelters on March 17, following an announcement by city officials at a Friday briefing with reporters. Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, said Sunday he hasnt been provided any information by city officials about many migrants will be evicted out of which shelters in the next few days. As chair of the citys Immigration Committee, he said having accurate census numbers is important to prevent homelessness and crime.

What would you do? If you didnt have a place to live or any means to survive? he asked.

For months, Mayor Brandon Johnson has delayed enforcing his 60-day shelter limit policy, facing consternation from advocates who say thousands of migrants  many sent to Chicago on buses by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott  have few other housing options.

On Friday, his administration exempted about 4,500 migrants who were set to be evicted from the shelter system this spring. There are currently about 11,000 migrants staying in 23 shelters around the city.

Exemptions will be determined on a case-by-case basis for people with medical issues, those who are in the process of leaving Chicago, securing housing or who need to quarantine, according to officials. Pregnant women are exempt, and families with children can receive three 30-day extensions.

That leaves around 2,000 people  mostly men  to be evicted in waves by the end of April.

Officials say they are running out of money to house migrants. Cristina Pacione Zayas, Johnsons deputy chief of staff said at last weeks briefing that the city is trying to slowly decompress three shelters in particular: the Woodlawn shelter at the former Wadsworth Elementary School, the Gage Park fieldhouse on the Southwest Side and a building on North Elston Avenue in West Town.

These are some of our more expensive shelters to operate, and what were trying to do is optimize the resources that we have to be able to carry through, she said.

To prepare for evictions, several volunteers set up a table outside the shelter in Woodlawn on Sunday. They stacked sandwiches wrapped in plastic and bags of toiletries, hoping to offer resources to migrants who had been kicked out. No migrants had left by the 2 p.m. deadline city officials touted last week. Instead, migrants living at the shelter grabbed the food and donations en route to the laundromat around the corner. So volunteers packed up their table.

About a dozen men stood outside the shuttered school and shivered. They said theyd been told by staff that the shelter was closing soon. This is just the way life is for us, said Moises Lopez, 21, when asked about the looming eviction notices. The uncertainty. Its not easy. There are many people who cant work, and we dont know what were going to do.

Most migrants dont qualify for work permit authorization, a permit that gives them the right to legally work in the United States. Advocates say not having the document is a large barrier to migrants autonomy and economic independence. Having received thousands of new arrivals in the middle of winter, Johnson had previously delayed shelter stay limits three times. He cited inclement weather as a reason not to kick people out.

Jaime Groth Searle, founder of Southwest Collective said the administration has flip-flopped its policy so much that people arent prepared.

Its a little bit of a surprise when they are told, she said. Now they have to start all over again.

Yorladis Reneteria, who stood outside the fieldhouse in Gage Park with her husband Aldo Reyes Sunday morning, said her eviction date wasnt until April 30. Reneteria didnt know of anyone inside who was leaving Sunday.The city keeps changing their mind. I dont have kids, but I imagine its just that much more scary for the families that do, she said.Denver and New York have also received thousands of migrants in recent months and are adopting similar shelter limits, despite espousing welcoming values before Abbotts busing program.Chicago officials said migrants who are evicted can find their way back to the citys landing zone in the West Loop, where they can reapply for the shelter system if they want a bed.

No migrant interviewed by the Tribune Sunday knew how to get to the landing zone, though theyd heard it was an option.

-------

(Chicago Tribunes Alice Yin contributed.)

____
Vladimir Putin warned that a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO would be one step away from a full-scale World War III in a speech following his reelection on Monday.

I think hardly anyone is interested in this, Putin added.

The three-day vote, which wrapped up Sunday, saw Putin face no credible opposition. Western countries and election watchdogs have been quick to call it a sham contest.

Putins comments come after French President Emmanuel Macron said last week he could not rule out the deployment of French troops in Ukraine if Russias invasion continues.

Putin also raised the prospect of taking Ukraines Kharkiv region as a buffer zone between the two countries. Ukraine had reportedly increased its shelling on Russian border regions during the vote.

With no viable alternative candidates permitted to participate in the three-day election, Putin claimed 87% of the vote, according to exit polling published by the state-run Russian Public Opinion Research Center and the Public Opinion Foundation. That figure is an increase from 2018, when Putin claimed 76.7% of the vote with a voter turnout of 67.5%. The latest result extends Putins nearly 25-year rule with a fifth term that will last until 2030.

The White House said the election was obviously not free nor fair, while Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said Sunday that Putin had become addicted to power.

During his Monday address, Putin also acknowledged Alexei Navalny for the first time since the opposition leaders death in a Russian penal colony on Feb. 16. Putin said the 47-year-old passed away and that he had agreed to a prisoner swap with the U.S. that would see Navalny freed on the condition that he never returns to Russia. U.S. President Joe Biden has blamed Putin for Navalnys death, saying last month, Make no mistake, Putin is responsible.

Navalnys death had sparked unprecedented protests in Russia and his widow Yulia Navalnaya had called for demonstrations at polling booths dubbed noon against Putin. The plan had been endorsed by her late husband before his death.

On Sunday, Navalnaya shared that she had written Navalny on her election ballot paper. You give me hope that everything is not in vain, that we will still fight, she said of her supporters.

Write to Armani Syed at armani.syed@time.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trend reports.

"Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

Please accept my sincere congratulations on your re-election as President of the Russian Federation.

Your convincing election victory demonstrates the Russian people's high degree of trust and active support for the policy you have taken, which aims to strengthen statehood, promote long-term socioeconomic development, and improve population prosperity.



I am pleased to see that the relationship between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation is progressing steadily. It is encouraging to note that these links, which are based on centuries-old traditions of friendliness and good neighborliness amongst our peoples, are successfully increasing and developing in the spirit of allied contact and mutually beneficial cooperation, gaining new meaning.

I am confident that our joint efforts will continue to focus on further enhancing the comprehensive partnership between Azerbaijan and Russia, addressing the current objectives of our bilateral agenda, and fostering fruitful interaction across all sectors for the benefit of our countries and citizens.

I extend my best wishes to you, dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, for robust health, happiness, well-being, and success in your state activities for the sake of the prosperity of friendly Russia," the head of state emphasized.
While the initial tests will use pilots, the electric aircraft will eventually be pilotless

Britains first electric flying taxis are set to take to the air in test flights in 2026 according to the governments new plan for aviation.

The Future of Flight Action Plan published on Monday paves the way for flying taxis to go into widespread use in 2030.

While the initial tests will use pilots, the electric aircraft will eventually be pilotless.

The plan is intended to speed up the adoption of aviation technology once confined to the realm of sci-fi, according to the Department for Transport.

Small airfields and urban landing pads will also see a surge in activity from drones and electric air taxi-style aircraft.

So-called vertiports will be set up for electric aircraft that take off vertically, similarly to the Harrier jump-jet.

Other countries including China and the US have already tested similar all-electric aircraft designed for passenger flights but so far none have progressed beyond the prototype stage.

The governments proposals also include increasing use of drones by the police and to make critical medical deliveries by the end of the decade.

Under the proposals, the current requirement that a user must be able to see a drone at all times while it is in the air would be dropped. It is hoped that the move to flying drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight will allow the aviation new technology sector to grow.

Aviation and technology minister Anthony Browne said: Cutting-edge battery technology will revolutionise transport as we know it.

This plan will make sure we have the infrastructure and regulation in place to make it a reality.

From flying taxis to emergency service drones, were making sure the UK is at the forefront of this dramatic shift in transportation, improving peoples lives and boosting the economy.

On Monday, Mr Browne will visit the Bristol headquarters of Vertical Aerospace, a flying taxi company backed by the founder of Ovo Energy, Stephen Fitzpatrick.

The firm has been trialling a five-seater piloted air-taxi designed to fly at speeds of up to 200mph. Last year a prototype crashed while under test at Kemble airport in the Cotswolds.

Public trials

A number of public trials have already taken place under special conditions for drone deliveries but the government wants to press ahead with making routine use of the new technologies.

Mr Fitzpatrick, founder and chief executive of Vertical Aerospace, said: With government and business working together, we can unleash the huge economic, environmental and social benefits of zero emissions flight globally.

Sophie OSullivan, the Civil Aviation Authoritys head of future safety and innovation, said: Aviation stands on the cusp of its next, potentially biggest, revolution since the invention of the jet engine.

Drones, [electric vertical takeoff and landing craft] and other different vehicles have the potential to change transportation options forever.

Our role in this bright future of aviation will be enabling technological advances and providing regulatory support, while ensuring that all forms of new aviation technology enjoy the same high safety standards as traditional aviation.

Current uses of drone technology include widespread use by police forces to tackle violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

In July 2023, a West Midlands Police drone team identified two offenders and another suspect at a speed and distance that would have taken ground officers hours to track down, the force said.

In the NHS, drone service provider Skyfarer has partnered with University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and Medical Logistics UK to test drones to deliver surgical implants and pathology samples between sites, cutting delivery times by up to 70 per cent.

Private pilots associations have raised concerns about the drone roll-out, saying future craft must have safety features built in so they can see and avoid other aeroplanes.

Current drone trials see drones operating in areas of the sky that are closed off to all other aircraft for safety reasons, reducing areas available for light aeroplanes and helicopters to fly in.

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EV startup Fisker is pausing production of its electric Ocean SUV for six weeks as it scrambles for a cash infusion.

The company said in a Monday morning regulatory filing that it had just $121 million in cash and cash equivalents as of March 15th, $32 million of which is restricted or not immediately accessible. Fisker also said Monday that its accounts payable balance is up to $182 million and that there is "substantial doubt" that it can continue operations without raising new capital, after saying in February that it was likely to issue such a warning.

The filing comes at a troubling moment for the startup, which went public in 2020 when it merged with a special purpose acquisition company. Fisker started shipping the Ocean SUV in the U.S. and Europe in the middle of 2023, but the rollout has been plagued by problematic software and lackluster customer service, as TechCrunch recently reported. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the Ocean for rollaway problems and issues with the braking system. Fisker announced in February it was laying off 15% of its staff, or around 200 people.

Fisker finished 2023 having shipped roughly 5,000 of the 10,000 cars that its contract manufacturing partner, Magna Steyr, produced. The company said Monday that it delivered 1,300 vehicles in January and February and still has roughly 5,000 in inventory in the U.S. and Europe.

It's currently trying to pivot away from a direct sales model in favor of dealer partnerships, though at least one of the first dozen-or-so early dealer partners has already walked away from the startup. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that it has hired restructuring advisers to evaluate a potential bankruptcy filing.

Relief could be difficult to come by. Automotive manufacturing is incredibly expensive, even for a company like Fisker, which is outsourcing much of the work to suppliers like Magna. Fisker ended 2023 with $326 million in cash, and even though Magna produced zero cars in January and only 1,000 since February 1 -- figures Fisker shared for the first time on Monday morning -- it still drained its cash reserves by around $200 million across the last 11 weeks.

Fisker said Monday that it remains in negotiations with an automaker about a potential partnership that could bring an investment; Reuters has reported that this automaker is Nissan. In the near-term, Fisker said Monday it is trying to raise $150 million through the sale of convertible notes. That deal, with an undisclosed investor, is not final and the funds will be released in $35 million tranches that are subject to a number of conditions.

At the same time, Fisker announced that it is late in filing its annual results for 2023, including missing the 15-day extension period from the SEC that expired March 15. That has triggered a default in one of the company's other convertible notes. While Fisker says the investor behind those notes has waived the default, the investor can still convert the amount remaining on the note -- which as of late January was more than $300 million -- into shares.
MIAMI, Okla.  To honor local veterans the Miami American Legion Post is hosting a flag fundraiser.

For $50 individuals can sponsor an American flag to be displayed along Main Street on nine significant occasions throughout the year, said Michael Roberson, with the American Legion.

The contribution also supports the American Legion in their dedication to serving our veterans and the local community, he said.

The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization.

To sponsor a flag or for more information, please contact Michael Roberson at (918) 961-2929.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
Tim Wilson, of Leland, placed an American Flag in the Brunswick River several years ago. Since then the flag has been replaced several times by Wilson and other times it has been replaced anonymously.

An American flag waves to motorists from its home on the edge of the Brunswick River.

The flag is visible to the tens of thousands of people who cross the bridge on U.S. 74 between Brunswick and New Hanover counties each day. With no obvious access to land, a StarNews reader wrote to MyReporter (myreporter@starnewsonline.com) and asked how the flag came to be in that location and who maintains it.

How did it get there?

On July 4, 2011, Tim Wilson of Leland took his boat into the river and stuck the flag into the ground. Wilson explained his son was in the U.S. military serving in Iraq at that time, and he had a relative who fought in World War II and succumbed to his wounds. He placed the flag by the river in honor of those serving and those who had served.

Over the next five years, Wilson maintained the flag, replacing it whenever it became worn. But in 2016, he sold his boat.

A new American Flag flies along banks near the Brunswick River Bridge along 74/76 Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, in Leland, N.C.

Who maintains it now?

From time to time, Wilson said he had a few people give him rides to the site to replace the flag. However, he noticed even when he couldnt replace the flag himself, someone continued to maintain it.

In a StarNews article, dated July 3, 2012, Wilson said he didnt know who had been maintaining the flag, but he would love to shake their hand. Earlier this year, Wilson said it has been a group of people, and hes had the opportunity to meet some of them.

Theyre all civilians, he said. Patriots of America, like us.

More: Find the answers to all your questions in one place with MyReporter

What's the site called?

Wilson explained he began referring to the site as Point Gentry, in honor of his ancestor who died after being wounded in the Battle of Normandy. Since then, the name has caught on, and others now call it Point Gentry.

Wilson said these days, as he drives past the flag with his 11-year-old grandson, the two salute.

Its not protocol, but we want to pay our respects, Wilson said.

Renee Spencer is the community engagement editor at the StarNews. Reach her at RSpencer@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Who maintains the flag on the Brunswick River?
FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW)  Florence officials have approved a law adding extra punishment for anybody convicted of a hate crime within the city limits.

Language in the ordinance sets penalties of $500 or a maximum of 30 days in jail if a person is found guilty of committing a crime based on  perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability or national origin.

The move puts Florence on a list of cities including Charleston, Columbia and Greenville where local action has been taken to criminalize hate crimes. South Carolina and Wyoming are currently the only states without such a law on the books.

Last month, the city council adopted a resolution urging state lawmakers to enact the Clementa C. Pinckney Hate Crimes Act.

Despite heavy bipartisan support in the House  where the measure was approved last March on an 84-31 vote, it has stalled in the Senate.

https://www.wbtw.com/news/grand-strand/myrtle-beach/south-carolina-senate-committee-advances-its-version-of-hate-crimes-bill/

The bill can only come back up for consideration there through a procedure known as special order, which sets aside a specific day and time for debate on a single issue.

Its a very narrow margin right now. I think largely some of the issue were hearing is, folks dont understand the bill, State Sen. Mike Reichenbach, R-Florence, told council members last month. Florence Countys nine-person legislative delegation unanimously support it.

According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, South Carolina saw 65 hate crimes in 2022.

* * *

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.
Florida drive-in restaurant featured in new Brad Pitt film goes up in flames

A central Florida drive-in restaurant that is going to be featured in an upcoming Brad Pitt movie has been lost to an overnight fire.

City of New Smyrna Beach Fire Department confirmed they were working on the structure fire at Pappas Drive-In & Family Restaurant at 1103 North Dixie Freeway at 1 a.m. Monday on Facebook.

Just before 6 a.m., a FOX 35 Orlando reporter said on X that crews told her the fire broke out in the attic around midnight and the structure was a total loss.

"It's a neighborhood staple. The New Smyrna Beach area, everybody knows Pappas Drive-In restaurant. It's a common place for everybody to come around and hang out," New Smyrna Beach Fire Lieutenant Adam Sarwi told FOX 35. "Has a lot of history to it. One of the oldest drive-in restaurants around  And that movie that was just filmed here a couple weeks ago, a couple months ago, and so a lot of history here, so it's gonna be a lot of broken hearts for missing a neighborhood staple."

FLORIDA MAN SETS FIRE TO RABBI'S VAN OUTSIDE FORT LAUDERDALE JEWISH CENTER: POLICE

Sarwi was discussing an upcoming untitled Apple Original film about Formula 1 racing from the team that put together Top Gun: Maverick, according to FOX 35. Pitt, a 60-year-old Academy Award-winning actor, was spotted in New Smyrna Beach back in January filming the movie, scheduled to be released next summer.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The Pappas website says it was open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week, adding it had "famous burgers and fried chicken since 1970."

FISHERMAN HOSPITALIZED AFTER GIANT ALLIGATOR BITES OFF HIS HAND IN FLORIDA POND

The cause of the fire is under investigation. No other buildings were damaged, and no injuries were reported.





Original article source: Florida drive-in restaurant featured in new Brad Pitt film goes up in flames
A Florida Keys deputy shot and killed an emotionally troubled 15-year-old girl in Stock Island early Monday morning, the Monroe County Sheriffs Office said.

The sheriffs office said the girl was suicidal and stole the gun, broke off a lock on the weapon and walked to a remote location on Stock Island, near Key West. As deputies tried to deescalate the situation, the girl pointed the weapon at them, and one of them opened fire, spokesman Adam Linhardt said.

Deputies immediately began rendering aid and called paramedics, Linhardt said. She was taken to Lower Keys Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, he said.

The sheriffs office did not release the girls name as of Monday afternoon. The call came in around 5:20 a.m., Linhardt said.

This incident is a tragedy for everyone involved, Sheriff Rick Ramsay said in a statement. While the Deputy appears to have acted in self-defense, I have asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to conduct an independent investigation to ensure transparency.

Ramsay told the Herald that three of his deputies responded to the scene and found the girl holding the loaded .9 millimeter to her head. He said they tried to talk her into putting the weapon down for several minutes before she pointed at one of the deputies.

One of the deputies then opened fire, striking her.

Ramsey said the officer fired to protect his fellow officer.

They werent yelling. They werent screaming. They were very friendly, telling her to think of her family and telling her she had her whole life ahead of her, Ramsey said.

Ramsay declined to say how many shots were fired, citing the FDLE investigation. The deputy who shot the girl is on administrative leave with pay at this time, he added.

The girl had a history of mental health issues and had expressed suicidal thoughts in the past, according to Ramsay..

The fathers gun had a lock that consisted of a cable the went through the barrel and ejection mechanism, which is designed to prevent it from firing.

The girl broke it off using a hammer, Ramsay said.

Shooting by Keys deputy in 2022

Ramsay said his deputies receive extensive and regular training dealing with people going through mental health crises, including attending regular classes on deescalation.

A deputy firing his or her weapon in the Keys is a rare occasion. Solid data on Monroe County deputy-involved shootings was not immediately available, but, according to the Miami Heralds archive, the last time a Monroe deputy killed someone was in August 2022.

In that case, a pilot who was also a federally deputized Homeland Security agent, pointed a semiautomatic rifle at deputies when they arrived at his Key Largo home after receiving calls of an armed, intoxicated and suicidal man.

Deputies shot him when he continued to ignore warnings to put the gun down, according to the sheriffs office.

You can have all the training and tools in the world to try to deescalate the situation and have a positive outcome, but, you just cant always control the behavior of people dealing with a mental health crisis, Ramsay said.
A Florida man was arrested and charged in the murder of a 23-month-old toddler he was babysitting while the mother of the child was at work, according to police.

Lakeland Police Chief Sammy Taylor told reporters on Monday that 20-year-old Bobby Curry was arrested on Friday and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.

Officers with the department were dispatched to a residence on Kansas Avenue at 5:25 p.m. on March 5, for reports of an unresponsive child.

When officers arrived, they found 23-month-old Ezekiel Cotto Saint Fleur on the floor of the bathroom, unresponsive, not breathing and without a pulse.

FLORIDA SPRING BREAK PARTIES PREVAIL THROUGH CRACKDOWN THAT NABS ANOTHER GUNMAN, HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS

Lakeland Police Chief Sammy Taylor holds up a picture of Bobby Curry, who was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse after a 23-month-old child he was watching was injured and later died.

The officers immediately began performing CPR on the child until emergency medical crews arrived and took over. The crews transported Ezekiel to two different hospitals as he suffered from critical injuries, and at around 5 p.m. on March 8, he died.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

When police were called on March 5, the child was being watched by Curry, who lived at the residence with the childs mother.

Taylor said Curry was alone with the child while the mother was at work. Both Curry and the mother had been in a relationship for about 4 months and lived together for about 2 weeks, the chief said.

FLORIDA WOMAN FLIPPED OFF DEPUTY WHILE DRIVING ERRATICALLY, YELLED SHE HATES POLICE: SHERIFF'S OFFICE

The Lakeland Police Department responded to a report of an unresponsive child at about 5:25 p.m. on March 5, where they found 23-month-old Ezekiel Cotto Saint Fleur unresponsive, not breathing and without a pulse.

Curry, though, is not Ezekiels biological father.

When Curry spoke to detectives, he allegedly said that between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., he gave Ezekiel a bath because he had urinated in his bed. As Curry took the child out of the bath, he said, one of the puppies leaped onto the child and caused Ezekiel to fall backward, hit his head on the bathtub and then on the floor. The chief also said the puppy weighed about 15-20 pounds.

Curry told detectives he moved the child, who was still breathing, to his bed to rest, then at about 3:15 p.m., he went back to check on the child and he was barely breathing.

JACKSONVILLE BEACH SHOOTING LEAVES 1 DEAD, 2 HOSPITALIZED; POLICE LOOKING FOR MULTIPLE SUSPECTS

Curry allegedly put the child back in the bathroom and began giving chest compressions, when at one point Ezekiel began gasping for air. Still, Curry never called 911.

Instead, at 3:20, he contacted the childs mother through an Instagram message and let her know her son was suffering from severe physical difficulties. Curry then asked in an Instagram message if it was possible for a child to go into cardiac arrest.

Curry and Ezekiels mother exchanged 67 messages until about 5:25, when the mother told him to call 911.

Medical professionals said Currys account of how the child was injured was not consistent with their findings or the severity of the injuries.

MIAMI BEACH BRACES FOR SPRING BREAK WITH 'MOST BLOODSHED': COMMISSIONER

Instead, medical professionals suggest the injuries reflect they came from physical abuse, Taylor said.

The Chief Medical Examiners Office found the cause of death was blunt-force trauma.

Once the cause of death was revealed, police obtained a warrant and arrested Curry for first-degree murder and child abuse last Friday.

"I believe that he was frustrated, and he either used something or pushed the child, did something to the child to cause injuries to the front [or] top portion, to the extent that he had some fatal injuries to the top of his head," Taylor said. "Whether he used an instrument or took his face and pushed it into something, we just don't know."

Taylor also took issue with the amount of time it took Curry to call 911.

"There's absolutely no reason," Taylor said. "I get that he's probably overwhelmed; there's at least two puppies in the house, he's only 20 years old; I get all that.

"But common sense will tell you, and just being a human being will tell you, if another human is in distress, you pick the phone up," the chief added.





Original article source: Florida man failed to call 911 for nearly 2 hours after toddler he was watching suffered fatal injury: police
The Presidential Preference Primary Election takes place on Tuesday in Florida, but this years election is a bit unusual given that Donald Trump has already wrapped up the GOP nomination.

That said, polls will open at 7 a.m., voters will participate and hundreds of thousands of ballots will be tallied.

For those who plan to go to the polls, heres information on when, where and how to cast your ballot.

Who is voting?

Under Florida law, only voters who are registered members of a political party may vote for their respective partys candidates in a primary election.

Republicans are voting for their preferred presidential candidate, but of the seven names on the ballot, only Trump is still campaigning for the nomination  and he has already secured the delegates needed to claim it.

As for Democratic voters in Florida, President Joe Biden effectively won the states primary last year when the Florida Democratic Party put forth only his name for the ballot, which canceled the vote.

This means that only registered Republican voters are eligible to vote in the presidential primary election.

However, municipalities around the state are also holding elections, and in Miami-Dade, voters in Surfside and South Miami of all persuasions have local issues on the ballot.

Whats on the ballot?

The Republican candidates named on the ballot are Ryan Binkley, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutchinson, Vivek Ramaswamy and Trump. The only candidate still running is Trump.

In Surfside, voters are casting ballots for mayor and commissioners. In South Miami, voters are considering a ballot measure related to the redevelopment of City Hall.

How do I vote by mail?

Voters slated to receive a vote-by-mail ballot should have already received it.

By this point, if you have not yet sent in your mail ballot, you should not place it in the mail, because it will likely not get to the supervisors office in time to be counted. Instead, you can hand over your vote-by-mail ballot in person at the Miami-Dade Elections Department at 2700 NW 87th Ave., or at the Elections Departments Branch Office located in the lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW First St.

All ballots must be in the custody of the Supervisor of Elections by 7 p.m. Tuesday to be counted.

Voters who requested a mail ballot but have not yet turned one in can also show up at their precinct to vote in person.

Where do I vote?

Voting precincts will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at your assigned precinct location. Miami-Dade residents who plan to vote on Tuesday can review their information at www.miamidade.gov/elections or call the elections department at 305-499-8683.

Make sure to bring a valid ID with you when you go to the polls. If you forget to bring an ID, you can ask an elections worker to call the Elections office to see if you can vote using a provisional ballot. For more information about what forms of identification are acceptable, visit the countys website.

Am I eligible to vote?

In order to vote in the upcoming election, you must be 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the United States and a Florida resident. To check to see if youre eligible to vote or to check your voter information, you can go to the countys website.
The Florida showdown between former president Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis will still happen this week.

On Tuesday, Florida Republicans will vote in the states presidential preference primary.

The vote will still happen even though DeSantis has ended his campaign and Trump has the GOP nomination all but locked down.

Read: Election 2024: Here is a history of past presidential rematches

The state has 125 Republican delegates, which will all go to the winner of the race.

There will be no Democratic primary since President Joe Biden is an incumbent, and his was the only name submitted by the party.

Read: Judge dismisses some charges against Trump in Georgia election case

Beyond the top of the ticket, there will also be dozens of municipal races and charter questions in cities across the state.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. The Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Colonel General Zakir Hasanov has met with a delegation headed by Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, the ministry told Trend.

Stoltenberg passed before the honor guard and made a memorable inscription in the Honored Guests Book as per protocol.

"Greeting the guests, Colonel General Hasanov expressed his pleasure to see them in Azerbaijan.

The Minister expressed gratitude to NATO for its support of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity throughout the 30-year occupation and the present period.

The delegation received updates on the reforms undertaken in the Azerbaijani army under the directive of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev. They were also briefed on demining efforts, construction and reconstruction initiatives in the liberated territories, and the current situation along the Azerbaijani-Armenian border.

The defense minister emphasized the need of further strengthening the collaboration with NATO, citing the gains achieved through cooperation.



Stoltenberg expressed gratitude for the hospitality and praised the Azerbaijani army's professionalism in peacekeeping missions and other areas of NATO engagement. The tight collaboration between the Azerbaijani Army and the Turkish Armed Forces was highlighted as a crucial factor in Azerbaijan-NATO relations.

In conclusion, discussions revolved around the prospects for advancing bilateral military cooperation in cyber security, mine clearance, and other areas. A comprehensive exchange of views also took place on various regional security issues and mutual interests," the ministry said.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A group of Florida Republicans is asking President Biden to allow the Navy to conduct maritime interdictions and interceptions of migrants fleeing from Haiti amid the unfolding chaos in the country.

Florida Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz, Gus Biliarakis, Anna Paulina Luna and Daniel Webster all signed the letter sent to Biden calling on him to declare an anticipated mass migration of aliens en route to, or arriving off the coast of, the United States. They referenced an executive order signed by former President George W. Bush to address illegal migration in the Caribbean region.

A declaration pursuant to Executive Order 13276 is necessary to reinforce the State of Floridas efforts by utilizing Department of Defense vessels to conduct maritime interdictions and interceptions of aliens from Haiti and repatriate them, preferably to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as this limits the financial obligation of U.S. taxpayers, the lawmakers wrote.

They also cited comments made by military officials during a House Armed Services Committee hearing last week, where Lt. Gen. Laura Richardson said she put in a request for increased capability to address potential mass migration.

We urge you to engage the necessary assets to conduct maritime interdictions and interceptions of Haitians, the letter concluded.

Haiti has been in political turmoil for weeks as the country struggles with rampant gang violence and political instability. The escalating violence prompted the U.S. to urge all Americans out of the country and start evacuating the U.S. Embassy, where it also deployed a group of Marines.

The lawmakers pointed to Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has already deployed additional resources it its southern regions to address potential migration. He announced last week that he would deploy more than 200 additional state law enforcement officers and about 50 National Guard members to South Florida and the Keys, alongside more than a dozen aircraft and ships.

State officials announced last week that a boat carrying 25 Haitian migrants was recently interdicted by Florida law enforcement.

Reached for comment, a National Security Council spokesperson told The Hill that officials are monitoring the situation and emphasized that irregular migration through the Caribbean remains low. The spokesperson said authorities are nevertheless planning for contingencies and looking at what they could to do manage a potential increase in migrants.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The big story: The new look Free Application for Federal Student Aid was supposed to make it easier to seek financial support for higher education.

Its been anything but that. And the bumpy, trouble-filled process has delayed incoming students ability to make decisions about where they might attend.

The University of Florida aims to give its potential new Gators a little breathing room. Its extended its acceptance deadline by two weeks, until May 15.

By extending this deadline, UF hopes to reduce some of the stress and burden the delays have caused to students and families, said Mary Parker, vice president for enrollment management. Read more here.

In related news, a Hillsborough County high school established a new program to get students more interested in pursuing higher education after graduation, and to help them financial aid to help make it happen.

Hot topics

Teacher unions: Pinellas and Polk teacher union leaders have submitted petitions seeking new certification votes for their units, following stricter state laws. No word on when the elections might take place.  A Broward County School Board member has asked for a state investigation into the relationship between some of his board colleagues and the local teachers union, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

Taxes: Four candidates seeking election to Hillsborough County School Board District 7 have widely varying views on whether the district should ask voters to implement a new local-option property tax.

Student protests: Some University of South Florida students have planned a hunger strike to protest the schools investment in companies that support Israel.

School closures: Ideas continue to pour in for how the Broward County school district might use campuses it closes because of low usage, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

Safety: Osceola County is looking into adding more school zone cameras to capture speeders, WKMG reports. Officials also are discussing whether to increase fines for violators.  The Lee County superintendent has denied an effort by parents to have a school bus stop relocated off a main street and into their subdivision, WFTX reports.

Pay raises: Santa Rosa County teachers stand to receive an average 3.87% raise if they ratify a tentative contract agreement reached after seven months of negotiations, the Pensacola News-Journal reports.

New schools: Alachua Countys superintendent has asked for state approval of a new alternative school without getting School Board support first, the Gainesville Sun reports.

Library books: Representatives of Moms for Liberty make up half of a state panel convened to update Floridas library materials review process, the Tallahassee Democrat reports.

Chaplains: A Hindu statesman stands ready to participate if Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation allowing volunteer chaplains into public schools, the Miami Herald reports.

From the court docket ... Prosecutors have dropped all charges against four Palm Beach County high school educators who had been accused of failing to report suspected sexual abuse of a student, WPTV reports.  The Orange County school district has agreed to donate 10 acres of a former school property to the city of Eatonville for a Black history museum, after a lawsuit over ownership of the land is concluded, WMFE reports.  A Brevard County family is suing the school district, claiming their daughter was bullied in school, WKMG reports.

Dont miss a story. Heres a link to Fridays roundup.

Before you go ... Whore you gonna call?
When Florida Republicans head to the polls on Tuesday to cast their ballots in the states presidential primary, there wont be any big surprises.

Donald Trump, now the only Republican still actively running for president, has already won all the delegates he needs to secure the GOP nomination. Florida Democrats scrapped their presidential primary this year after the state party submitted only President Joe Bidens name for the March 19 ballot.

For most Floridians, the Tuesday elections will serve more to highlight Trumps broad support among Republicans and the sense of duty that many voters have to show up to the polls, even in the absence of any real competition.

WHAT TO KNOW about Floridas Tuesday Presidential Primary

I think its just an exercise in civic duty, said Justin Sayfie, a Florida-based Republican lobbyist. Most voters know at this point that the polls are meaningless; that Donald Trump has this nomination locked up. But a lot of them will still vote to express their preference.

Still, Sayfie said he couldnt remember a Florida presidential primary that felt as if there was so little at stake.

For Florida to not play a role in the primary is, I think, unusual and something that probably wont happen again for a while, said Sayfie, who worked as an advisor to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. I would suspect Florida will be much more significant in the future.

RELATED CONTENT: Trumps the only candidate left in Floridas GOP primary. Republicans are still voting

Trump wont be the only name on the Republican presidential ballot. Ahead of a state-mandated deadline that passed months ago, the Florida GOP submitted the names of six other candidates for the ballot, including Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. All but Trump have dropped out of the race.

Trumps team isnt expecting any surprises in Tuesdays primary vote. Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the campaign, said that Republican voters had already lined up behind the former president, and declared Florida Trump Country.

President Trump has dominated the primary and continues to rack up overwhelming wins all across the country, Cheung said in a statement. The party and the movement have clearly coalesced behind President Trump because Americans know that they were better off with him in the White House.

Voter turnout is already trending lower from past years. In Miami-Dade, about 54,000 of the countys nearly 433,000 active registered Republicans have already cast their ballots, either by mail or by voting early in person, according to the Supervisor of Elections Office.

By comparison, more than 100,000 Republicans voted early or by mail in Miami-Dade in 2016, the last time there was a GOP presidential primary without an incumbent on the ballot, according to state elections data. Even in 2020, when Trump was running for reelection as an incumbent, about 62,000 Miami-Dade Republicans voted early or by mail.

Statewide, turnout isnt faring much better. In 2020, just over 2 million Florida voters  Democrats, Republicans, independents and third-party voters  cast ballots early or by mail. As of Monday, fewer than 800,000 Floridians had voted ahead of the Tuesday elections.

Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida, said that even if theres not a lot of competition in the presidential primary, it could still carry some weight. Republicans will still have the option to vote for other candidates  even if theyre not still actively campaigning for office  and Tuesdays turnout could provide an early indication of how motivated Republican voters are to have their voices heard.

On the national level, one way of looking at this is as a referendum on Trumps support within the Republican party, Jewett said. You might try to read the tea leaves and say if Trumps support is less than 90% of the vote  if he doesnt win strongly and overwhelmingly  then it might open up questions about how deep his support actually is.

READ MORE: This could be a big deal in November. Heres whats driving Hispanic voters to the right

Jewett also noted that the lack of a Democratic presidential primary could have an impact on local elections. While the Republican primary is the main attraction, many cities and towns across the state will have municipal issues on the ballot on Tuesday. In Surfside, Fla., for example, voters will decide their mayor and town commissioners.

Without a Democratic presidential primary, Democratic voters have fewer reasons to show up to the polls.

That might have an impact on local races here or there. Most local races are technically nonpartisan but we have seen over the past few years that some local races have actually become quite partisan, Jewett said. I suspect itll be a pretty imbalanced turnout.

Despite the circumstances, both Jewett and Sayfie said that Tuesdays elections are still worth paying attention to  even if Trumps victory is predictable.

Voters are going to the polls. And any time voters go to polls, thats newsworthy, Sayfie said. Thats the essence of our democracy.
Nov 30, 2023; Columbus, USA, Ohio; City Councilwoman Shayla Favor speaks during an announcement of her candidacy for Franklin County Prosecutor during an event at the Pythian Theater.

Janet E. Jackson is a former Columbus city attorney, Franklin County Municipal Court judge, and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio.

Ive spent my career being the first.

The first woman Columbus city attorney. The first African-American woman judge of any Franklin County court. The first chair of the Columbus Civilian Review Board to conduct police oversight.

Now let me add: being the first to tell the whole truth about whats going on in the Franklin County Prosecutor race, just like countless witnesses swore to do in my courtroom.

In the March 19 Democratic primary, voters can break the last legal glass ceiling I left unshattered by electing Shayla Favor as the next Franklin County prosecutor.

She would be the first woman or African-American to hold this role, like only 1% of prosecutors nationwide and like no other in the State of Ohio.

Letter: Chastised police review board member spoke 'truth to power,' should be applauded

But an old boys network that resists progress wants to create a false choice between keeping people safe and reforming unjust systems. Thats why I feel compelled to speak out. Just like in my own trailblazing campaigns, her opponents are spreading lies to minimize her experience and misrepresent her positions.

Janet E. Jackson is a former Columbus city attorney, Franklin County Municipal Court judge, and president and CEO of the United Way of Central Ohio. She previously chaired the Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission and serves as chair of the Civilian Police Review Board.

Forget the attack ads.

Facts matter: Shayla spent years prosecuting cases involving violence, narcotics, human trafficking, and illegal guns. On Columbus City Council, she voted to fund the largest police classes in city history while fighting for police accountability at the same time.

And in this historic primary, the Franklin County Democratic Party is staying neutral, to make every candidate compete to earn your vote the old-fashioned way.

Heres more truth: Shayla is the proven change agent that the troubled Franklin County Prosecutors Office needs now. Her vision of prioritizing prosecuting violent crime while directing treatment and rehabilitation to low-level offenders is years overdue. Under Shayla, the office can rebuild public trust, recruit and retain top talent, rethink outdated policies, and renew its commitment to the people.

Anthony Pierson: Columbus families are being shattered by alarming surge of brazen teen violence.

Thats her record of innovation. As a councilmember, she got tough on the root causes of crime by passing innovative policies that addressed the biggest crises in our community like housing, addiction, mental health, homelessness, and more.

As assistant city attorney, she reinvented our approach to blighted vacant and abandoned property crime. She created the receivership model that now holds slumlords accountable in the Sawyer Towers and Colonial Village disasters.

A radical shift is needed. Why Shayla Favor wants to serve you as Franklin County prosecutor.

As county prosecutor, Shayla would be the leader of the entire office, for which her mix of cross-sector leadership, legal, and legislative background uniquely prepares her.

Yes, she would lead the criminal division, which is already home to many great trial advocates who handle almost 10,000 cases a year, from homicides to sexual assault to mortgage fraud and more. But she would also lead the civil division, which advises 30+ county agencies and boards that carry out social services, much like she did at a municipal level.

She would also lead the juvenile division, which can better divert young people from unnecessary court involvement and address youth violence, as Shayla has campaigned, and more.

Most exciting to me? Shayla can build the right culture that drives results and inspires a new generation of the best and brightest to join her.

That is a critical undertaking for this office, whose recruitment struggles have produced a case backlog. Today, it doesnt demographically look like the county it serves and it has 100 fewer attorneys than the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors office, despite serving the same-sized population.

Sean Walton and Larry James: Favor will make Frankin County safer, fairer. Elect her prosecutor| March 19 election.

Dont reward candidates who run negative campaigns based on misinformation and fear.

We can elect a progressive prosecutor who is also a community advocate, policy visionary, and teambuilder. And we can make history at the same time. All in favor? Say aye to Shayla Favor, on or before Tuesday, March 19.

Janet E. Jackson is a former Columbus city attorney, Franklin County Municipal Court judge, and CEO of United Way of Central Ohio. She was also appointed chair of the Columbus Community Safety Advisory Commission and chair of Civilian Police Review Board and held other history-making leadership roles in the region.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why Shayla Favors Democrats' best pick for Franklin County prosecutor
A new study has found that microgravity experienced in space affected the cycle of genes

Astronauts could end up with space lag, scientists have warned after they discovered that microgravity harms the body by knocking genes out of sync.

More humans are expected to venture into space in the coming decades, but concerns have been raised about the health impact of leaving Earth, where 24 hour night-and-day cycles do not exist, and gravity holds less sway.

In research carried out by the University of Surrey and the European Space Agency, 20 volunteers were asked to lie in bed for 60 days with their legs raised slightly higher than their heads in an experiment that simulated the impact of microgravity on the body.

The team found that 91 per cent of genes were affected, with many switching on and off at the wrong time of day. Genes affected included those linked to muscle function, the immune system and the inflammatory response.

Just as jet lag knocks the body out of sync when travelling across timezones, experts believe astronauts could face an extraterrestrial type of space lag when leaving Earth.

Prof Derk-Jan Dijk, the senior author of the study and director of the Surrey Sleep Research Centre, said: Space travel was once thought to be unachievable; however, the growth of the space industry means it is now a real possibility.

Prof Dijk explained that the peak phases of the genes rhythm shifted during the experiment, breaking their natural night-and-day cycle.

We could say that there is a kind of space lag, or bed lag, that occurred. A lot remains unknown about the impact of microgravity on the body, and it is vital we know more about this before we start holidaying in space, he added.

Satoshi Furukawa emerges from the SpaceX Dragon Endurance spacecraft after spending six months in space

It is already known that astronauts exposed to microgravity experience changes to physiology, including immune suppression, increased inflammation, and reduced muscle mass and bone density.

But until now it was unclear what was driving the effect. The new research is the largest study into gene changes during microgravity simulation.

The changes were similar to those experienced by people suffering sleeping disorders. Disruption to circadian rhythms has been linked to increased risk of cancer and diabetes.

Professor Simon Archer, the lead author and professor of molecular biology of sleep at the University of Surrey, said: This unique study represents the largest longitudinal dataset of time series gene expression in humans.

Human gene expression varies rhythmically over the 24-hour day, and it is important to collect time series data rather than from just single time points to get a full picture of what occurs in the body when exposed to simulated microgravity.

It also raises questions about the impact of constant bed rest on our bodies as we have identified a dramatic effect on the temporal organisation of human gene expression.

First all-UK space mission set for 2025

The team said the genes were like responding to changes in the regular posture cycle, where people lie down at the same time of night and are largely erect for the rest of the day. In space, astronauts cannot lie down to sleep as there is no up or down, so the body cannot tell whether it is vertical or horizontal.

Keith Ryden, professor of space engineering and director of the Surrey Space Centre, said: Human spaceflight is very much on the agenda again with astronauts soon returning to the moon via Nasas Artemis project alongside the growth of space tourism.

In addition, new plans are in place for UK astronauts going to the International Space Station in 2025 via the UK Space Agency Axiom programme.

The UK Space Agency is planning a joint mission with Axiom, which will be the first all-British space mission and is expected to be led by Tim Peake.

The research, which was carried out at the MEDES space clinic in Toulouse, was published in the journal iScience.

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.
BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) On March 13, a former corrections officer in Columbia County was found not guilty of sexual assault.

On August 31, 2022, the PSP Bloomsburg Criminal Investigation Unit said they were requested to investigate the report of a sexual assault in the Columbia County Prison.

Dunmore residents warned of warranty scam

After an investigation, troopers filed charges against 59-year-old Joseph Rogutski.

The case went to trial and on March 13, 2024, a jury determined that Rogutski was not guilty on all charges that troopers had filed against him.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
Gerhard Schroeder, former German Chancellor, waits for the hearing on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to begin in the Bundestag's Economic Affairs Committee. Schroeder has backed Chancellor Olaf Scholz's no to the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine and his fundamental rejection of the deployment of ground troops. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroder has backed Chancellor Olaf Scholz's no to the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine and his fundamental rejection of the deployment of ground troops.

"I think Olaf Scholz is doing what I would expect from a German chancellor at the moment," the former leader of the Social Democrats (SPD), which is also Scholz's party, told dpa.

Schroder, who was chancellor from 1998 to 2005, also called for a Franco-German initiative to negotiate a solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

When asked whether he would like to see a "peace chancellor" Scholz, 79, said: "Yes, I would." He added: "If someone as German chancellor is committed to peace, if someone is described as a 'peace chancellor', is that a negative thing?"

Scholz has repeatedly spoken out against the delivery of the long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, despite pleas from Kiev, saying it has the potential to escalate the conflict and drag Germany into the war.

The conservative opposition bloc of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) used the former chancellor's comments to call on Scholz to change his stance on the Taurus issue.

"Being praised and appropriated by Gerhard Schroder clearly shows that he is on the wrong track," said CSU leader Markus Soder. "I would urgently reconsider this, and as federal chancellor I would really resent this praise."

CDU Presidium member Jens Spahn said: "If you have friends and supporters like former chancellor and Putin friend Gerhard Schroder, you don't really need any more political enemies."
Gerhard Schroeder, former German Chancellor, waits for the hearing on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to begin in the Bundestag's Economic Affairs Committee. Schroeder has backed Chancellor Olaf Scholz's no to the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine and his fundamental rejection of the deployment of ground troops. Kay Nietfeld/dpa

Former German chancellor Gerhard Schroder has backed Chancellor Olaf Scholz's no to the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine and his fundamental rejection of the deployment of ground troops.

"I think Olaf Scholz is doing what I would expect from a German chancellor at the moment," the former leader of the Social Democrats (SPD), which is also Scholz's party, told dpa.

Schroder, who was chancellor from 1998 to 2005, also called for a Franco-German initiative to negotiate a solution to the conflict in Ukraine.

When asked whether he would like to see a "peace chancellor" Scholz, 79, said: "Yes, I would." He added: "If someone as German chancellor is committed to peace, if someone is described as a 'peace chancellor', is that a negative thing?"

Scholz has repeatedly spoken out against the delivery of the long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, despite pleas from Kiev, saying it has the potential to escalate the conflict and drag Germany into the war.

The conservative opposition bloc of the Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) used the former chancellor's comments to call on Scholz to change his stance on the Taurus issue.

"Being praised and appropriated by Gerhard Schroder clearly shows that he is on the wrong track," said CSU leader Markus Soder. "I would urgently reconsider this, and as federal chancellor I would really resent this praise."

CDU Presidium member Jens Spahn said: "If you have friends and supporters like former chancellor and Putin friend Gerhard Schroder, you don't really need any more political enemies."

Deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann reacted calmly to Schroder's statements: She did not believe that the comments would influence Scholz "in any way." She added: "The federal chancellor's position on the issue of support for Ukraine is very clear."

Schroder has been friends with Russian President Vladimir Putin since he was chancellor and continues to work for the majority Russian-owned Nord Stream pipeline companies through the Baltic Sea.

Although he has described the Russian attack on Ukraine as a mistake, he still maintains his friendship with Putin. He is therefore ostracized by the SPD leadership, but expulsion proceedings against him failed.
LOGAN, Utah (ABC4)  A former police officer from the Logan City Police Department was indicted for six different charges on Wednesday, including forcible sexual abuse, according to documents from the Box Elder County Justice Court.

Carlos Jonathan Cubias, 27, is being charged with one count of forcible sexual abuse, which is a second-degree felony and four counts of unlawful access or use of technical services division records, class B misdemeanors. He is also being charged with one count of texting or emailing while driving, which is a class C misdemeanor.

READ NEXT: Teenager shot in the back in West Valley, suspects flee

According to court documents, the incidents all took place on April 30, 2023, and began when Cubias reportedly saw two women walking after 2 a.m., made a U-turn in his squad car and invited the two women into his squad car.

Documents say that, on the way to their destination, Cubias asked the two women sexually-charged questions.

After they arrived, Cubias demanded one of the women give him her phone number, according to court documents.

Cubias put his hand under the waistband of her pants as she was putting her number in his phone, according to documents, and the woman made an effort to move away. When she was walking away, documents also say Cubias grabbed her butt.

The four charges of unlawful access or use of technical services division records come from Cubiass four attempts to use the Utah Criminal Justice Information System to find personal information on the woman whose number he took, according to court documents.

Documents also say Cubias texted the woman while he was driving his squad car.

How the Logan City Police Department responded

On March 18, 2024, the Logan City Police Department put out a press release regarding the arrest of Cubias and offered a timeline.

We are thankful for the courage of these two women in reporting this incident and are thankful to Brigham City PD for their work as well, LCPD said in the press release.

Police said they were first contacted by the victims of the alleged assault on May 1, 2023 and initiated their internal investigation on May 2, 2023.

LCPD initiated an internal affairs investigation and Cubias was immediately placed on administrative leave, police said of May 2, 2023. Police said Cubias did not work on May 1 and did not return after that.

By May 5, 2023, police said Cubias was no longer employed with the Logan City Police Department.

Officials said, on May 8, 2023, Logan Police asked the Brigham City Police Department to conduct a criminal investigation on Cubias and notified Peace Officers Standards and Training. POST told LCPD they opened a Certification Investigation on the officer.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan says he will not run for president as a No Labels third-party candidate in 2024.

Duncan made the announcement on Monday after more than a week of rumors that he would launch a campaign challenging both President Biden and former President Trump.

"After careful deliberation, I have withdrawn my name from consideration for the No Labels presidential ticket," Duncan said Monday. "It was an honor to be approached, and I am grateful to all those who are engaged in good-faith efforts to offer Americans a better choice than the Trump vs. Biden re-match.

"In addition to my private sector career and earning a living for my family of five, I am focused on healing and improving the Republican Party with a GOP 2.0 so we can elect more commonsense conservative candidates in the future," he added.

HOW NO LABELS IS MOVING TOWARD LAUNCHING A THIRD-PARTY PRESIDENTIAL TICKET

Duncan entered office as a Republican when he won a general election for lieutenant governor in 2018.

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NO LABELS CHARGES OPPONENTS ARE TRYING TO KEEP IT OFF THE BALLOT

No Labels, a centrist group, has been attempting to put forward a presidential ticket for months. The group announced earlier this month that its roughly 800 delegates voted to give a thumbs up to fielding a presidential ticket.

"Now that No Labels delegates have given the go ahead for us to accelerate our candidate search for a Unity ticket, voters will read plenty of speculation about who would be on it. But No Labels has not yet chosen a ticket and any names floating around are being put out there by someone else," No Labels chief strategist Ryan Clancy emphasized last week.

No Labels is seeking to put forward a "unity ticket" that would challenge both former President Trump and President Biden.

REMATCH: TRUMP, BIDEN, CLINCH GOP AND DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS

Duncan's withdrawal comes weeks after former two-term Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, a former leader of the group who was considered a potential contender for the "unity" ticket, also took his name out of contention. He is instead running for U.S. Senate in Maryland as a Republican.

There was also plenty of speculation that former U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who was the final 2024 GOP rival to Trump before she recently ended her White House run, would consider joining a No Labels ticket. No Labels had expressed interest in her earlier this year.

Haley, however, has repeatedly shut down the idea.





Original article source: Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan won't run on No Labels presidential ticket
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with a delegation headed by Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg, who was on an official visit to Azerbaijan, the ministry told Trend.

During the meeting, the parties deliberated on matters stemming from the cooperation agenda between Azerbaijan and NATO, alongside the prevailing regional dynamics in the post-conflict era.

"The minister emphasized the importance of advancing Azerbaijan's collaboration with NATO, especially through joint endeavors under the Partnership for Peace program, marking its 30th anniversary this year.

It was highlighted that our joint efforts aimed at fostering international peace and security are also evident in initiatives focused on reforming, enhancing, and honing skills in relevant domains.

Addressing Azerbaijan's preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) this year, the minister underscored the measures taken by Azerbaijan to ensure that COP29 leaves a meaningful contribution towards combating the threat of climate change.

Furthermore, detailed discussions ensued regarding the extensive reconstruction and construction activities undertaken in the post-conflict period, the prevalent mine threat posing significant risks to ongoing operations, and the ongoing normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The importance of international support in addressing the mine issue, which jeopardizes the safety of our citizens, alongside ongoing reconstruction efforts, was emphasized.

The existing historical conditions regarding the promotion of the Azerbaijani-Armenian peace agenda were brought to attention, and it was noted that Azerbaijan makes constant efforts to maximize the opportunities created in this direction.

Secretary General Stoltenberg noted Azerbaijan's commendable involvement in numerous peacekeeping missions under NATO cooperation and underscored the significance of our nation's contributions to NATO's regional energy security. Specifically, confidence was expressed in Azerbaijan's chairmanship of COP29 this year as a means to synergize energy security efforts with climate change mitigation.

During the meeting, both sides also exchanged perspectives on various regional and international issues of mutual concern," the ministry said.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Sir Stephen House has been cleared after a series of complaints including an allegation he said rape and sexual assault were not equivalent to serious violence or knife crime - DANNY LAWSON/PA

Sir Stephen House, the former acting Met Commissioner, has been cleared of wrongdoing following allegations he described the bulk of rape complaints as being the result of regretful sex.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation in March last year over claims he made the comments during a meeting between senior officers and academics.

Prof Betsy Stanko, a Home Office-appointed adviser helping to conduct a review into rape prosecutions, made the allegations.

She accused Sir Stephen of being rude throughout the meeting and constantly interrupting her presentation.

He was also investigated over allegations he said rape and sexual assault were not equivalent to serious violence or knife crime and that he had used the phrase bog of domestics during a discussion about the overlap between domestic abuse and rape.

Sir Stephen vehemently denied the allegations and following a 12-month investigation, the IOPC has concluded there is no indication he breached police standards of professional behaviour.

The IOPC said during the investigation he had accepted he may have used the phrase regretful sex but said it was in the context of querying researchers findings.

Amanda Rowe from the IOPC, said the investigation had been hampered by the delay in Prof Stanko making the allegations and the lack of detailed minutes or notes from the meeting.

Personality clash during meeting

She said: Both Prof Stanko and Sir Stephen are of impeccable good character and have served long and esteemed careers in the public service for which they have been awarded the highest honours.

This meeting involved robust challenges between professionals with differing styles and there may have been an element of a personality clash. Professional discussions on sensitive matters will rarely amount to breaches of the standards of professional behaviour.

We found evidence that indicated Sir Stephen did use the phrase regretful sex, but the recollections of those present do not indicate it was used in the context alleged, and in our view there has been a degree of misunderstanding.

We also considered Sir Stephens career history, previous actions and public remarks about combating violence against women and girls and sexual offences, which supported his assertion that the alleged comments did not reflect his stance on the issue.

In a statement, Sir Stephen said: I am pleased that the IOPC recognised that I have demonstrated a clear record, throughout my career of prioritising the policing of rape and serious sexual offences and domestic abuse and that I helped to ensure that the resources were in place to be able to facilitate the Met in being one of the first police services to proactively engage with Operation Soteria.

The IOPC have found that I have no case to answer on all of the allegations. Their findings underline my long-standing commitment to combating violence against women and domestic abuse.

I bitterly regret that these allegations have helped to undermine public confidence in the commitment of the Metropolitan Police to support the victims of rape and I hope that the findings may help to reassure the public of the strength of that commitment.

Sir Steven became the first chief constable of Police Scotland in 2012 but returned to London in 2018 to take up the post of assistant commissioner with the Met.

In April 2022 following the surprise resignation of Dame Cressida Dick, Sir Steven was appointed acting commissioner of the Met until September that year.

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March 18 (UPI) -- A former Texas energy executive entered into a plea deal last week in connection with a $5.5 million kickback scheme that included employer insider trading.

Matthew Clark, 56, the former head of Classic Energy, admitted to conspiring with others to direct his employer's trades to the company in exchange for the illegal kickbacks. They were generated from commission fees his employers paid to Classic Energy, a brokerage firm of which he was the president.

He will be sentenced on June 24.

"Matthew Clark made millions trading in natural gas commodities, but unlike most Houston traders, he made his money illegally through the use of kickback schemes involving associates, relatives and his employer's proprietary insider information," U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani said in a statement.

"The natural gas futures contract market is an integral part of Houston's economy, and to preserve the integrity of that system, it is important that commodity traders who buy and sell those accountable, like Clark, who use kickbacks and insider information to enrich themselves at the expense of the public's trust in the U.S. markets."

In 2019, Classic Energy was fined $1.5 million by the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission for illegally trading against its own customers. In that case, the company's owner -- Mathew Webb -- was blamed for making 60 illegal trades in 2014 and 2015.

"When corporate insiders engage in insider trading and other deceptive trade practices for their own financial gain, they don't just harm the company -- they undermine the integrity of our financial markets said Nicole Argentieri, head of the Justice Department's criminal division, said.

"This groundbreaking investigation was the first to result in criminal convictions for commodities insider trading. It won't be the last."
The Fort Worth Independent School District is testing out a plan to offer high-speed internet to students who dont have it at home.

The district is in the middle of a pilot project to provide private LTE access to students without home internet connections. District officials say the program is the latest step in its years-long efforts to ensure every student has broadband at home.

Under the program, students use district-supplied LTE routers to connect with transmission towers and rooftop antennas at two dozen campuses. Private LTE allows network administrators to place restrictions on which devices can connect to the network. All tablets and laptops the district provides to students can connect to the private LTE devices, allowing students to work on homework and school projects after they leave school for the day.

LTE, which stands for long-term evolution, allows the user to connect to the internet via a cellular network. Ramesh Krishnamurthy, Fort Worth ISDs chief technology officer, told the districts school board this month that over the past few months, his department provided private LTE routers to 27 students who didnt have internet access at home.

Once the pilot project is complete, district officials will take stock of how it went before looking to expand the program to more students, he said. The technology department is working with campus leaders to identify students who dont have internet access at home and would be good candidates for a private LTE device, he said. Krishnamurthy described the project as one of our top accomplishments in the past four months.

Im extremely excited about this project because its directly and positively impacting our students, he said.

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FWISD expands home broadband efforts

Jessica Becerra, a spokesperson for the district, said the devices allow students to access the districts network. That means theyre subject to the same content filters they would have at school, so they cant access illegal or inappropriate material using the devices. The project is intended to be a next step in the districts efforts to give all of its students access to high-speed internet at home, she said.

Fort Worth school officials have been working to expand home broadband access for students since the beginning of the pandemic. In the spring of 2020, as schools across the country began to shut down and move instruction online, Fort Worth ISD, like most other districts nationwide, scrambled to get Wi-Fi hotspots to students who didnt have internet access at home.

Although those hotspots provided access to students who wouldnt have had it otherwise, district officials acknowledged it was an imperfect solution. Families who had more than one student at home told the Star-Telegram that the connection the hotspots provided wasnt strong enough to support multiple students in online learning at once.

In 2021, Fort Worth ISD embarked on a project to install public Wi-Fi towers in underserved areas of eastern, southern and southeastern Fort Worth, blanketing entire neighborhoods with broadband service. The plan, which was based on a previous project in Castleberry ISD, ran parallel to an effort by the city of Fort Worth to bring free public Wi-Fi to the Stop Six, Ash Crescent, North Side, Como and Rosemont neighborhoods. District and city officials said they launched those two plans separately, but coordinated their efforts to avoid duplicating service.

Even after COVID shutdowns, Digital Divide remains a concern

Since the beginning of the pandemic, education leaders and policymakers have become increasingly concerned about the so-called Digital Divide. Nationwide, between 15 million and 16 million students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade dont have access to reliable high-speed internet service and tools for learning, according to the U.S. Department of Educations most recent National Educational Technology Plan, which was released in January.

The report notes that Black, Hispanic and Native American students made up a disproportionate share of those without broadband access at home, and Black and Hispanic students are less likely than their white peers to have a computer at home. The plan recommends several steps states and district leaders can take to bridge that gap, including partnering with private companies to bring broadband access to areas where it doesnt exist and taking advantage of states purchasing power or regional consortia when buying tech devices and software.

Besides the lack of home internet access, the report points to two other gaps affecting students: the digital design divide  not every teacher has the training or resources to use classroom technology to its full potential  and the digital use divide  even some students who have access to high-speed internet and digital learning tools dont make the best use of them. States, districts and campus leaders will need to deal with all three of those gaps if they want to take full advantage of the opportunities that instructional technology offers, the report says.

Broadband access is a big factor in school performance

Research suggests that access to a high-speed internet connection at home can be a big factor in how students do in school. In a report released last year, researchers at Michigan State Universitys Quello Center for Media and Information Policy found, perhaps unsurprisingly, that students with better internet connections had fewer problems during remote learning.

But the divide between students with broadband access at home and those without is still a major concern, even after nearly all students are back at school in person, said Keith Hampton, a Michigan State professor and lead author on the paper. School curricula, particularly at the high school level, are increasingly based around content that students access online, he said. That means students without strong, reliable internet access at home will have a harder time reaching that content outside of school hours.

That lack of access makes it harder for those students to work with classmates on group projects and communicate with teachers about questions, Hampton said. In many cases, it can even prevent students from doing their homework, he said. And because homework completion is a good predictor of other metrics like classroom grades and state test scores, he said, a lack of internet access at home can be a major hindrance to students academic success.

If were interested in providing the best opportunities to young people, internet connectivity is everyones concern, he said.
The crippling hack U.S. officials long feared looked nothing like they expected.

The Feb. 21 cybercriminal attack on medical billing processor Change Healthcare didnt flatten power grids or poison water supplies. But by forcing the $13 billion company offline, it severed one of the few links connecting health care providers to insurance firms  and triggered a cash crunch at hospitals, health clinics and pharmacies nationwide.

U.S. officials, lawmakers and health executives are focused right now on ensuring that health care providers are not forced to close, miss payroll or deny patients access to medical care. UnitedHealth Group, which owns Change, has said its key claims and payments services wont be fully restored until March 22.

Longer term, eight officials with the government or U.S. hospitals interviewed by POLITICO say the hack underscores major vulnerabilities in the countrys health care system  raising critical questions about whether federal agencies and Congress need to do more to prevent another, potentially more serious, attack in the future.

"If nothing else, it makes us say we really, really have to look at all of our points of vulnerability, systemic points of vulnerability, and really work to secure them," said a senior official at the Health and Human Services Department. The individual, like other current officials in this story, was granted anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the incident.

Here are four big questions percolating through government agencies and Congress in the aftermath of a hack that the American Hospital Association has christened the most significant cyberattack on the U.S. health care system in American history.

Is the government doing enough to protect critical companies like Change?

Health care sector security experts and government officials say there are other little-known health care firms whose disruption would cascade through the sector like the outage at Change has.

But its far from clear that anyone in D.C. knows who they all are  let alone has a plan to protect them.

It is highly unlikely that Change is the only single point of failure in the health care sector, said Nathan Lesser, the chief information security officer at Childrens National Hospital in D.C. We need to know what the others are so we can protect them.

In 2022, industry groups helped sink legislation that would have empowered the government to identify a shortlist of the most critical firms to the U.S. economy and force them to meet baseline digital security standards, such as patching known software bugs in internet-connected devices and using two-factor authentication.

CISA later opted to build its own such list without Congress, though its unclear how thorough the effort was.

The agencys director, Jen Easterly, revealed at a public event Wednesday that CISA had not previously identified Change for its shortlist of key firms  and strongly implied that it should have. The list did include UnitedHealth.

Easterly said the agency would double down and work to better highlight those companies that are much more critical than we actually were expecting using new authorities CISA expects from a forthcoming White House national security memorandum.

U.S. officials outside CISA also acknowledged that the government has more work to do to identify firms, like Change, that broad swaths of the economy depend on.

I don't think people understood prior to this incident just how integrated Change was into all facets of the U.S. health care system, one senior U.S. cybersecurity official said.The White House now believes it affected the vast majority of the nations 6,000 hospitals and 80,000 pharmacies, they added.

Should health care companies be forced to up their cybersecurity?

For years, some of the same health trade groups now calling for federal financial support have helped scupper calls for stricter health sector cyber standards.

But the incident at Change could give a major boost to acolytes of  well  change.

We need mandatory minimum standards for the sector, like come on, said Aaron Miri, the chief digital and information officer of Baptist Health, a nonprofit Florida hospital system.

Three government officials interviewed for this story emphasized steps agencies can take today, like working with smaller hospitals to ensure they back up important data or gameplan how they would respond to a hack.

How do we make sure that they know they're not alone in this fight?" a senior CISA official said.

But the appetite for more aggressive action is growing. President Joe Bidens newly released budget blueprint for fiscal year 2025 pitched a plan for HHS to fine hospitals that fail to upkeep minimum cybersecurity standards by 2029  a rule that could be written to incentivize those practices if hospitals are slow to follow through.

We have to ask longer-term questions in the aftermath of this hack, the HHS official said, in an interview before the budget went public. Are we really holding the sector to a high enough cyber standard? Are we driving accountability in the ways that we want to drive accountability?

A growing cohort of lawmakers on Capitol Hill appear to be asking just that.

The Change/UnitedHealth hack is that latest reminder that our approach to securing critical infrastructure needs to evolve, Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committees cyber subcommittee, said in a statement conveying his willingness to consider new regulation.

Others, including Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), are already there.

"Private-sector opposition to effective cybersecurity rules is the number one reason our critical infrastructure, particularly the health care sector, is so woefully unprepared for even unsophisticated cyberattacks," Wyden argued in a statement to POLITICO.

What keeps me up at night is the possibility of a similar widespread attack directly affecting patient care and safety, Warner said in a statement last week.

Is UnitedHealth too big to protect?

The domino-style fallout of the hack is also sparking fresh questions about whether corporate consolidation amplifies the chances that a single breach ripples across the country.

"As these companies have become so large, it is creating a systemic cybersecurity risk," Wyden said Thursday in a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee.

We're just seeing up close and personal the impact on the nation's health care system, and it does relate to the dominance of UnitedHealth, said Mary Mayhew, the president and CEO of the Florida Hospital Association.

Change, which has said it handles patient data for a third of Americans, already may have been too big to fail before its 2022 sale to the U.S. insurance giant  an acquisition that is already the subject of an antitrust investigation by the Department of Justice.

But UnitedHealth has repeatedly sought to assure customers that the breach affected only Changes network. And health sector security experts argue that it would have been far harder to do if the companies technology systems were more integrated than they are today, just 16 months into the acquisition.

We absolutely dodged a bullet there, said Lesser, the CISO at Childrens National Hospital in D.C.

Another reason for the concerns around consolidation is that many U.S. health care providers opted to disconnect their networks from all UnitedHealth systems  not just Change  when the payments subsidiary first reported its breach in February.

That decision was costly, if understandable, the senior U.S. cybersecurity official said. We kind of exacerbated some of the impacts there out of a lack of knowledge.

Joshua Corman, a former CISA employee who specialized in health care and systemic risk at the agency, said the enormous fallout from the hack underscores why big isnt always better in cybersecurity.

"Market consolidation drives risk concentration and is anti-resilient past a certain point," he said.

Asked about those concerns, Tyler Mason, a spokesperson for UnitedHealth, pointed to a recent statement from the companys CEO, Andrew Witty, that only obliquely addresses the issue.

All of us at UnitedHealth Group feel a deep sense of responsibility for recovery and working tirelessly to ensure providers can care for their patients and run their practices, and patients can get their medication, Witty said Thursday.

Is it time to ban ransom payments?

ALPHV, the prolific cybercriminal gang that hacked Change, says it stole an enormous trove of sensitive health data from the company.

Asked about rumors UnitedHealth made a $22 million payment to keep the gang from releasing that information, Mason, the UnitedHealth spokesperson, said the insurance giant is focused on investigating and remediating the hack.

But the attack is helping revive another controversial idea that the White House has contemplated for years: banning extortion payments to cybercriminals.

Late last winter, National Security Council staff held a series of one-on-one conversations with external cybersecurity experts to ask about the viability of tapping an anti-money laundering provision tied to Russia from the fiscal year 2021 defense law  Section 9714  to enact a partial ransom payment ban , according to four people who participated in those discussions.

Those individuals, all granted anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions, said the Biden administration appeared to back off the idea  which would have included a waiver exemption process for victims in key sectors, like health care  due to concern it would drive payments underground or prevent U.S. companies from recovering critical data.

But a person close to Anne Neuberger, the National Security Councils top cyber official, said Neuberger is still pushing hard for a ransom ban behind closed doors.

Asked for comment about the status of that policy today, Neuberger sidestepped and said the administration strongly discourages companies from paying ransoms.

Ransomware is driven by criminals who are trying to make money, and each payment only encourages the next attack, she said in a statement.

Mayhew, the Florida Hospital Association executive, said the hack at Change underscores how vulnerable all U.S. companies  not just health care firms  are to such attacks today.

"Right now, we are all at the mercy of these sophisticated cybercriminals, she said.
The French parliament will debate a proposed law tackling racist hair discrimination in the workplace that results in people with certain hairstyles losing out on promotions and jobs.

Olivier Serva, the MP from the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, who is behind the bill, said it took its inspiration from similar US legislation and aimed to make it a criminal offence to discriminate according to the cut, colour, length or texture of hair.

Those most affected were black women, who were often forced to change their hairstyle before an interview, even though wearing natural hair  locks, twists, braids, Afro, red or blond hair  is intricately linked to self-esteem, he said.

Mr Serva added that sociological studies suggested that textured, loose hair[styles] are associated with less serious, less rigorous, messier people, compared to those with straighter, more coiffed hair, regardless of their skin colour.

Existing laws on racism and discrimination regarding gender or sexual orientation do not sufficiently cover hair, he argues.

Bill based on US law

The Bill is largely based on legislation in California, which in 2019 became the first US state to ban workplace and school discrimination against black people for wearing hairstyles such as braids, twists and locks.

Senator Holly Mitchell, who introduced the create a respectful and open workplace for natural hair act, also known as the crown act, said: We are changing the course of history, hopefully, across this country by acknowledging that what has been defined as professional hairstyles and attire in the workplace has historically been based on a Euro-centric model  based on straight hair.

Mr Serva also cited a 2009 study in Britain that found that blonde women were dyeing their hair brown to be taken more seriously in the office.

Blonde to brunette

Researchers also found 62 per cent of people think brunettes look more professional than blondes in the workplace.

Dan Hadley, a spokesman for Superdrug, which commissioned the study, said: The study shows brunettes do seem to be taken more seriously in the workplace, which is causing a rise in fair-headed women darkening their locks.

Its incredible how changing your hair colour can alter peoples perception of you as well as making you feel more confident too.

A large percentage of fair-haired women believe their hair colour has held them back in their career in the past

The study revealed 31 per cent of blonde women have gone brunette to appear more intelligent in the office. It also emerged 38 per cent of fair-haired women believe their hair colour has held them back in their career in the past.

Those who have changed hair colour say it has paid off, with 38 per cent believing they have been taken more seriously by their boss.

The French hair bill is to be tabled on March 28.

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PARISWhen Lea Seydoux and Adele Exarchopoulos won the Palme dOr at Cannes for their depiction of a lesbian relationship in breakout French hit Blue is the Warmest Colour in 2013, it marked the first time two actors were awarded the prize alongside the films director, Abdellatif Kechiche. But it soon emerged that the women were scarred by their performances, not least by a 10-minute sex scene that took 10 days to shoot. In an interview with The Daily Beast soon after the films release, the actors described the experience as horrible and said they would never work with Kechiche again.

The thing is, in France, its not like in the States, Seydoux said. The director has all the power. When youre an actor on a film in France and you sign the contract, you have to give yourself, and in a way youre trapped.

Ever since #MeToo began to expose the vulnerability of actors to sexual abuse, U.S. film productions have started hiring intimacy coordinatorsa person tasked with ensuring the physical and psychological well-being of actors in scenes involving sex and nudity. Last years deal between the actors union SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood studios included making intimacy coordinators a requirement. But in France, where the #MeToo movement has been slow to take off, the role has been controversial: while its slowly gaining recognition, some film directors have openly spoken out against what they see as a form of censorship. Intimacy coordinators arent necessary, director Mia Hansen-Lve told The Guardian last year. If I was forced to have some kind of virtue police on set, Id rather not film those scenes. Her comments echoed those made by Claire Denis in another interview. I would never use one, the director told AnOther Magazine. I would hate to have such a thing, such a person on my set. Its enough difficulty to do that with actors, the intimacy, and the DP. If theres a stranger on set? Fuck no.

The issue of sexual abuse in the French film industry was brought starkly back into the limelight last month when actor Judith Godreche accused filmmakers Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doillon of rape when she was a teenager. In a landmark hearing in the Senate last monththe first of its kindGodreche denounced Frances incestuous film industry and called for the creation of a commission of inquiry into sexual violence. Bringing in intimacy coordinators for sex scenes, as well as neutral advisers on shoots involving minors, were at the core of her demands.

Monia Ait El Hadj, Frances first intimacy coordinator who has worked on the sets of Emily in Paris and Dangerous Liaisons, says thatin the country that invented cinemaintimacy coordination is seen as something that will get in the way of a directors creative freedom. At the beginning people said Thats an American thing, it wont work in France, she told The Daily Beast. Intimacy coordination is the arrival of a professional framework for scenes of intimacy, which were often scenes that were left to improvisation. Its like were expected to accept everything in the name of art. And now were saying, well no, you cant do everything in the name of art.

The Stars of Blue is the Warmest Color On the Riveting Lesbian Love Story

The resistance towards intimacy coordinators in France reflects the countrys reaction to the #MeToo movement as a whole. In the wake of accusations against Harvey Weinstein in 2017, a large part of the French cultural establishment accused the movement of puritanism, and defended the freedom to offend. The episode seemed to repeat itself recently when in the face of mounting accusations of rape and sexual assault against actor Gerard Depardieu, 56 prominent artists signed an open letter denouncing a lynching against the greatest of all actors. When one attacks Gerard Depardieu in this way, it is art that one is attacking, the letter said. Over a dozen women have reportedly accused Depardieu of harassment or sexual assault and he has been charged with rape and sexual assault in one case. He has denied any wrongdoing.

According to a recent study conducted by the French Employment and Training Committee (CPNEF), there are only four intimacy coordinators working in France today, compared to 80 in the U.S., but its a niche profession which means there isnt enough work yet. There is no official training in France so aspiring intimacy coordinators must train in the U.S. or the U.K., though the French feminist organization Collective 50/50 and industry body CPNEF-AV say they plan to introduce training workshops from January 2025.

People attend an intimacy workshop run by Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC), to educate people in the entertainment industry, including directors, actors, and producers. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

After completing her training in 2020, Ait El Hadj says she was the only intimacy coordinator in France, and was mostly hired by shows for streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazons Prime Video. Streaming platforms were the first to introduce the role in France, because they were already familiar with the profession in the U.S. and the U.K., and they wanted to work with the same standards abroad. This has recently started to change, she says, and intimacy coordinators are finally getting the attention they deserve. In the past year, Ait El Hadj has worked on a growing number of French productions in which actors, producers, and directors have become more aware of the importance of her expertise. Its starting to take off in France, she says. Nowadays, with all the cases we hear about, and the fact that Judith Godreche has talked about intimacy coordinators, its giving this new profession some publicity.

The voices demanding protection for actors are also getting louder. In a conference in December, the feminist organization Collective 50/50 announced a plan to expand workplace safety workshops and promote the widespread use of intimacy coordinators in collaboration with the National Centre of Cinematography (CNC). It brought together activists, actors, producers and Netflix executives calling for intimacy coordinators to be made standard practice. Far too many actors and actresses are in physical and psychological danger, said Ariane Labed, who co-founded the support group the Actors Association with actor Suzy Bemba, who worked with an intimacy coordinator on Poor Things. [Working with an intimacy coordinator] gives me much greater freedom, Bemba said. Because I dont feel reduced by my own fears or by the fear of touching my co-performer in an undesired place. Meanwhile, the head of the CNC, Dominique Boutonnat, will be tried in June on charges of sexually assaulting his godson. In her hearing in the Senate, Godreche called for him to step down, pointing out that producers would be trained against sexual violence at an institution whose president has himself been accused of sexual violence.

Though Ait El Hadj is optimistic about the future of intimacy coordinators in France, for now its still up to producers and directors to protect actors safety on set. When a producer picks up a script with intimacy or nudity in it, they should automatically hire an intimacy coordinatorit really needs to become a habit, just like when there is violence or stunts, says Ait El Hadj. It would never occur to a producer not to hire a coordinator for a stunt, because they dont want the actor to get hurt. Well, its the exact same thing for intimacy.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Most primary and middle schools in France are not open on Wednesday afternoons - Lorado/E+

Divorced parents in France with shared custody will be granted the right to work four days per week under a trial scheme to be tested this year.

On Sunday, Gabriel Attal, the French prime minister, announced that starting from September, civil servants in some ministries who share custody of their children will work on just four days in the weeks that the children are in their homes.

Parents are expected to allocate Wednesdays as their day off because primary and most middle schools do not have classes that afternoon.

Mr Attal, 35, had already tested the four-day week when he was budget minister two years ago. Staff had no reduction in working hours, meaning they had slightly longer days when in the office.

It has yet to be decided whether total working hours will be reduced for single working parents or whether staff will make up the difference in the weeks when they dont have children at home, to respect the monthly average based on the standard French 35-hour week.

The government is urging unions and employers to negotiate the future four-day week arrangements.

Half a million children

Nearly half a million children in France shuttle, usually weekly, between the homes of two parents.

A bill before parliament now aims to change the law to make alternating shared custody the norm for courts handling divorce.

The French are widely in favour of a four-day week for all with no reduction in working time but longer days. Some 77 per cent of working individuals said they supported the idea in a poll last month.

France noted the success of a large four-day trial in Britain involving 61 companies that was staged over six months in 2022. Involving 3,000 private-sector employees, it resulted in a 71 per cent drop in the number of burn-outs and a 65 per cent reduction in the number of sick days.

Frances maximum 35-hour week, introduced by a Socialist government in 2000, has allowed some companies and public sector employers to set up four-day working weeks, but this is only enjoyed by around 10,000 people.

Mr Attal has said he wants to broaden the practice to the whole workforce as part of a drive to improve the quality of working life in France.

The plan is due to be discussed at a government seminar next week.

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President of Russia Vladimir Putin speaks during an interview with Dmitry Kiselev. -/Kremlin/dpa

The French government has criticized Russia's presidential elections which saw President Vladimir Putin emerge as the overwhelming winner, labelling the vote as yet another in the country held under fraught conditions.

"The conditions for a free, pluralistic and democratic election have once again not been met," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The Russian elections, held from Friday to Sunday, had taken place in the context of increased oppression of civilian society as well as any form of opposition, it continued.

The ministry hails the courage of the many Russian citizens who had protested peacefully against the attack on their political basic rights, it said.

International standards regarding equal access to the press for all candidates were not met, according to the statement.

The fact that candidates who clearly positioned themselves against Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine were not admitted significantly reduced the pluralistic character of the vote, the ministry said.

France also condemned the vote held in the Ukrainian territories illegally annexed by Russia. "The illegal organization of alleged 'elections' in the Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by Russia constitutes a new violation of international law and the United Nations Charter."

France will never recognize these polls and their results, it said.

With almost 98% of the ballots counted, Putin garnered a landslide win of more than 87% of votes, according to the electoral commission, a record result that observers say was only possible through force, repression and fraud.
Still need eclipse glasses to safely watch the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8th?

Starting next week you can grab a free one at your local Sonic Drive-in, with the purchase of their new limited-edition, eclipse-inspired drink, the "Blackout Slush Float."

No, despite the name, it's not alcoholic.

The "sweet, cotton candy and dragon fruit flavored," jet-black slushie topped with creamy white soft serve and blue and purple galaxy-themed sprinkles represents "the temporary darkness from the solar eclipse," according to a press release. "The Blackout Slush Float will transport fans straight to outer space."

The new Blackout Slush Float will be available nationwide at participating locations from March 25 to May 5, 2024.

The new Blackout Slush Float will be available nationwide at participating locations from March 25 to May 5, and each one comes with a free set of ISO-certified eclipse viewing glasses while supplies last.

The Blackout Slush Float will be available at participating locations across the U.S. from March 25 through May 5. Sonic suggests you get yours early while they still have glasses available and then come back on eclipse day to grab another float while safely creating "fun memories of this momentous occasion."

if you're looking for something to munch with your celestial spectacle, Sonic is also offering $1.99 Crispy Tender Wraps in Hickory BBQ from March 4 - May 5.

The new drink will include flavors of cotton candy and dragon fruit, according to Sonic, with the all-black slush representing the temporary darkness from the solar eclipse.

What is a solar eclipse?

An eclipse happens when an object in space, such as a planet or moon, passes between two other objects, according to NASA. On Earth, we get lunar eclipses when the Earth's shadow blocks the moon, and solar eclipses when the moon passes between us and the sun.

When part of the object is obscured, it's a partial eclipse. When the moon blocks the sun but isn't close enough to Earth to completely cover it, we get an annular solar eclipse, such as the one we saw last October.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon (which is obviously smaller but much closer to us) appears to be the same size as the sun and blocks the entire disk, leading to a period of darkness lasting several minutes. The result is called a "totality," and for a brief rare time observers can see the outmost layer of the sun's atmosphere, known as the corona.

The next total solar eclipse visible in North America won't be until 2033, according to NASA. But Floridians should make plans for the one coming in 2045 when most of the state will be in the path of totality.

When is the 2024 solar eclipse?

The total eclipse will hit the coast of Mexico on April 8, 2024, around 11:07 a.m. PDT and leave the continental North America at 5:16 NDT. The partial eclipse will begin first as the edge of the moon becomes visible, and then about an hour and 20 minutes later the totality will begin and last for three or four minutes before the sun begins to appear again.

Can I see the solar eclipse in Florida?

Path of the April 8, 2024 eclipse

While we're not in the path of totality, Floridians will still see part of it.

Depending on where you are in the state, anywhere from just over half of the sun to over 3/4 of it will be obscured by the moon from our angle. The farther northwest you go, the more of an eclipse you'll see.

Here's when to watch, based on your location.

Solar eclipse events in Florida: List of festivals, planetarium celebrations in April 2024

What time is the solar eclipse in Florida?

Florida residents should start to see the eclipse beginning around 1:35 p.m. EDT, with the midpoint at 2:55.

Do I need glasses to watch the solar eclipse?

Skywatchers use special glasses to view a partial solar eclipse Aug. 21, 2017.

DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN, even if it is partly covered. Viewing any part of the sun with binoculars, a telescope, or through a camera lens without a special-purpose solar filter or with your bare eyes with solar viewing glasses will result in severe eye injury.

Sunglasses aren't dark enough. NASA recommends safe solar viewing glasses, also called eclipse glasses, or a safe handheld solar viewer. Eclipse glasses are 100,000 times darker than regular sunglasses and block nearly all visible, infrared and ultraviolet light. They need to comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard and should not be used if they are torn or scratched. You can find a curated list of approved vendors here.

There are also some libraries providing free eclipse glasses, and the prescription glasses retailer Warby Parker will be handing out free eclipse glasses at any of its locations starting April 1

You also can use an indirect version to avoid looking at the sun, such as a pinhole projector that projects the sun on a nearby surface. The American Astronomical Society has a guide to set them up.

Where can I find a Sonic near me in Florida?

There are 99 Sonic Drive-In locations in Florida.

Sonic opened its first Florida location in Homestead in June 2011 and since then has grown to 99 locations across the state, with six in Jacksonville alone. Here's where to find one closest to you.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Sonic offering new Blackout Slush Float, free eclipse glasses
A volunteer from Free Mom Hugs recently found herself at the center of a controversy stirred by Tiffany Justice, co-founder of the anti-government extremist group Moms for Liberty.



On March 7, Justice took to X (formerly Twitter) to attack the volunteer with a post that insinuated supporters of Free Mom Hugs might be groomers for offering free Mom hugs to children not their own. Right-wing extremists have used the term to falsely accuse LGBTQ+ individuals and people who support them of grooming children for sexual exploitation.



If you are offering kids 'free Mom hugs' but you arent their Mom, you might be a Groomer, Justice wrote. Her post was accompanied by a vibrant photograph of the volunteer, dressed in a kaleidoscope of rainbow colors and a Free Mom Hugs t-shirt at Atlantas 2023 Pride Parade.





If you are offering kids \u201cfree Mom hugs\u201d but you aren\u2019t their Mom, you might be a Groomer.  (@)

The volunteer, whose identity The Advocate is withholding to protect her from potential harassment, responded with a mix of humor and heartfelt reflection.

Me, a groomer? I dont even bathe my own dogs at home, she wrote in a statement shared with The Advocate.



She shared that she changed her own conservative views about LGBTQ+ people after her queer daughter attempted suicide. This turning point led her from a life filled with fear and judgment, shaped by her conservative upbringing and religious background, to one of love, acceptance, and advocacy.

I stopped being afraid of the unknown in 2016 when my queer daughter tried to take her own life to escape the pain that was caused by not being accepted for who she was, she said. Thankfully, she was unsuccessful. Thankfully, I let go of everything I held onto prior to that day, except for my kids.

She added, Most thankfully, that fear has now been replaced with the deepest and sweetest joy anyone can imagine.

Justices smear and false groomer attack is not isolated but reflects broader societal debates around LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance amid right-wing attacks against marginalized communities. Free Mom Hugs, the Oklahoma-based organization at the heart of this controversy, is a nonprofit founded on unconditional love, support, and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community.

Sara Cunningham, the organizations founder, shared her thoughts on the importance of their work and the impact of such baseless accusations in an interview with The Advocate.

We were all taken aback, Cunningham said, especially my executive director, program director, and certainly our volunteer. She explained that, despite the initial alarm, the incident kind of worked in our favor as the community rallied in support, affirming the groups mission and values.

Cunningham herself has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, spurred by her own experiences as a conservative Christian mother who came to accept and celebrate her sons homosexuality. In June 2015, during the Oklahoma City Pride Festival, Cunninghams simple act of wearing a homemade Free Mom Hugs button and offering embraces to those who looked her way marked the inception of what would soon evolve into a nationwide crusade.

That pivotal day, the movement of Free Mom Hugs was born, sparked by the heart-wrenching interaction with a young woman who disclosed, Its been four years since I got a hug from my mom because Im a lesbian.

The momentum of this compassionate initiative surged in 2018 when Cunninghams Facebook post went viral. It said: PSA: If you need a mom to attend your same-sex wedding because your biological mom wont, call me. Im there. Ill be your biggest fan. Ill even bring the bubbles."

Free Mom Hugs operates nationally, offering support, resources, and, most notably, hugs at Pride events, schools, and community gatherings. Their mission is to empower the world to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community through visibility, education, and conversation, she said. Cunningham emphasized the critical role of allies across various sectors of society.

The volunteer targeted by Moms for Liberty is trying to stay focused on the positive.

After I let my immediate family know about the post with my photo, I texted a few close friends who are active on social media, just to give them a heads up, the volunteer said about Justices post, which she said she hadnt seen and wouldnt look at. My high school boyfriend was one of them. Joey is now married to Mark, she said. Joey texted back, You groomed me! As soon as you hugged me, I turned gay.

She continued, I laughed, and I savored the fact that even when someone sends you hate, the people around you can turn it into love before it even arrives.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with US State Department's Senior Advisor for Caucasus Negotiations Louis Bono, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

According to the information, during the meeting they discussed the current agenda and prospects of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and the US, the current situation in the region, as well as several aspects of the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Jeyhun Bayramov highlighted the issues arising from the meetings at the Munich Security Conference and in Berlin, Azerbaijan's expectations regarding the peace process, as well as the country's position on issues within the process that remain open. Azerbaijan's commitment to the peace process was emphasized.

During the meeting, the sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The scheme has cut single-parent families' demands on council housing by 20 per cent

A French mayor is offering free couples and family therapy to residents in an attempt to help them stay together and reduce the financial burden of single-parent social housing.

Municipal authorities in Viroflay in the Yvelines department outside Paris say the service has helped reduce single-parent families demands on council housing by 20 per cent.

Viroflay, which has a population 16,000, was struggling to find social housing for residents owing to high demand from single-parent families and the fact that only 18 per cent of homes were council-run, below the 25 per cent mandatory minimum in France.

We realised that 50 per cent of social housing applicants were single-parent families and that 50 per cent of our welfare budget was being distributed to single-parent families, said Laure Cottin, deputy mayor of Viroflay, responsible for early childhood, family and social affairs.

The state offers support when it comes to separation but not when it comes to prevention of such separations.

In a novel attempt to tackle the problem, she decided to offer free marriage and family guidance counselling.

The practice operates out of an unusually small office on the ground floor of the town hall to make it more intimate, according to therapist Emmanuelle Leprince-Ringuet.

The town hall is convinced it has borne fruit given the drop in separations. While it admits there is no direct proven link, single-parent families now account for 40 per cent of applications for social housing in Viroflay, compared to 50 per cent when the service opened in 2017.

We would have probably split up without it

Couple Marine and Adrien told France Inter their marriage would have been on the rocks without it.

[We] had been through a tsunami and we needed outside help. [The therapist] has helped us to find solutions on our own, and thats very important, Marine told France Inter radio.

However, financially, [the therapy] would have been very complicated, and we probably would have given up pretty quickly, she said, adding that they would probably have split up by now without it.

Ms Cottin, deputy mayor, said she hoped French authorities in other towns would follow suit.

Some 425,000 people separate every year in France. This has a psychological impact, of course, but also a social, environmental, and economic one. For the French government, its an issue that needs to be taken into account in public policy, she insisted.

Ms Leprince-Ringuet said, however, that pressure on cutting the social housing budget didnt mean she was under orders to keep couples together at all costs.

Im neither a matchmaker nor a divorce facilitator. I have couples who come to me to patch things up and others who come to split for good. When its over, they go their own way, she said.

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A Pitcairn man, considered a most wanted firearms fugitive, has been arrested in Nevada, according to a release from Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus.

Jamal Bailey, 28, has been considered a fugitive since April 2020 when he failed to show for trial on a case involving two firearms charges and a drug charge. A nationwide bench warrant identifying Bailey as a dangerous fugitive was issued in May 2020 for violation of bond conditions.

In October of last year, detectives developed information that Bailey was using an address in Las Vegas and reached out to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to request their assistance in locating him.

Bailey was able to elude capture for the past six months by changing addresses in and around Las Vegas until he was finally apprehended on Sunday, according to Kraus. Bailey will remain in the Clark County Detention Center pending extradition back to Allegheny County.

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A traffic stop in Bartow County led to the arrest of a wanted fugitive from New York.

On Wednesday, just after 8 p.m., Adairsville officers conducted a traffic stop on a black Dodge Charger showing an expired license plate.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

When officers spoke with the driver, identified as Horacio Bonilla-Garcia, he told them he did not have a drivers license and gave them an El Salvador ID card showing the same name.

Adairsville police then arrested Bonilla-Garcia for driving while unlicensed.

TRENDING STORIES:

When authorities entered the information provided, they learned that Bonilla-Garcia had an active warrant through immigration for a violation relating to a prior deportation.

He was then fingerprinted using a rapid ID device for identification purposes. Officials received information showing the active felony warrant for the suspect using the name of Marcelino Bonilla out of Suffolk County in New York.

The warrants include strong-arm rape and immigration violation for a deported felon.

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Bonilla-Garcia was taken to the Bartow County Jail and is awaiting extradition to New York.

Hes now charged with having an expired license plate, driving without a valid license and fugitive from justice.

IN OTHER NEWS:




Don Lemon has published his full interview with Elon Musk, and its exactly the wide-ranging doozy youd expect  with an extra dash of racist conspiracy theories.

The at-times chippy conversation released Monday was both the first and last in an exclusive content deal Lemon claims Musk had pitched him. That deal ended hours after the interview earlier this month.

But Lemon insists he hasnt been canceled, despite saying literally exactly that last week.

Contrary to what you might have heard, we werent canceled by X, he said in the shows introduction. Yes, after months of begging me, wooing me to offer some exclusive content on his platform, Elon Musk decided to scrap the deal.

The former CNN anchor kicked off the hourlong discussion with a question about X (formerly Twitter) and its role in the future of journalism, which Musk used to trumpet his platforms numbers.

X is already the No. 1 source of news in the world, he replied, without any data to support the claim. Its the No. 1 way people are informed about any kind of news.

That led to a longer conversation about the type of content X now tends to boost, including posts from Musk himself, who forced advertisers to flee last year after he amplified an antisemitic conspiracy theory and called it the actual truth. Readers may recall Musk pledging to sue the Anti-Defamation League for defamation over the lost revenue and also telling companies who paused ad buys to go fuck yourself.

After the uproar, Musk did damage control by visiting the site of the former Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, where he conceded hed been naive about the prevalence of antisemitism, claiming he sees almost none in the circles that I move in.

The Don Lemon Show episode 1: Elon Musk



TIMESTAMPS:

(02:23) News on X

(10:07) Donald Trump and Endorsing a Candidate

(13:04) The New Tesla Roadster

(16:46) Relaxation and Video Games

(17:54) Tweeting and Drug Use

(23:19) The Great Replacement Theory

(30:03) Content Moderation pic.twitter.com/bLRae4DhyO  Don Lemon (@donlemon) March 18, 2024

But none of that seemed to register in the interview Lemon shared.

You went to Auschwitz with [conservative podcaster] Ben Shapiro, Lemon opened. You said you learned your lesson. What did you learn?

I said I learned my lesson? a baffled Musk responded.

Lemon then walked Musk through several racist terror attacks in recent years motivated by great replacement theory  which the tech billionaire distanced himself from because hed only retweeted the theory, not authored the tweets himself.

Great replacement theory is a neo-Nazi trope, Lemon said. Its in the neo-Nazi manifesto... Its referenced by the Buffalo mass shooter in his manifesto where 10 Black people were murdered in Buffalo. Its the actual title of the Christchurch shooters manifesto. Fifty-one people in the Muslim mosque were murdered. Twenty-three people murdered in El Paso by a shooter who uses the same language that you use  in that manifesto when you say Hispanic invasion.

I dont say Hispanic invasion, Musk interjected.

Informed that he had in fact quoted a tweet that used the term, Musk quibbled: If I quote something, that doesnt mean I agree with everything in it. Its just something that I want... I think... this is something people should consider.

The racist great replacement theory posits that white Christians are being intentionally replaced by immigrants, people of color and non-Christians.

Musk, on the defense, then dismissed Lemons suggestion that he moderate his conduct to avoid similarly embarrassing questions from reporters in the future.

I dont have to answer these questions, he fired back. I dont have to answer questions from reporters. Don, the only reason Im in this interview is because youre on the X platform and you asked for it. Otherwise I would not do this interview.

Im criticized constantly. I could care less.

After the interview, Musk abruptly canceled a partnership between X and Lemon to produce exclusive content for the platform. While Lemon said he thought they had a good conversation, clearly [Musk] felt differently.

Musk responded by throwing shade at Lemons former employer, CNN.

[Lemons] approach was basically just CNN, but on social media, which doesnt work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying.

Related...
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper secured $88 million in funding for 78 Colorado projects.

Of those 78 projects, three are located on the Western Slope. The I-70 interchange at 29 Road ($2 million), renovations for the Riverside Educational Center ($168,000) and the Maple Street Bridge replacement project ($1.75 million).

For a full list of the projects funded by the $88 million, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
An exhibition of Ukrainian futurism Futuromarennia: Ukraine and Avant-Garde opened in Drogenbos, Belgium, on Sunday, 17 March. A limited edition catalogue of the large-scale project, which took place in Kyiv's Mystetskyi Arsenal on the eve of the full-scale invasion, was published and presented on the occasion. The catalogue includes works by Davyd Burliuk, Oleksandra Ekster, Vadym Meller, Viktor Palmov and Vasyl Yermylov.

The exhibition was opened at the FeliX Art & Eco Museum of Contemporary Art and features about 100 works of painting, graphics, book design and scenography. It is also complemented by documentary materials and video installations Poetry Painting and Our 1920s Shot in the 2020s.

Opening of an exhibition of Ukrainian futurism Futuromarennia: Ukraine and Avant-Garde in Drogenbos, Belgium

About the Futuromarennia project

Mystetskyi Arsenal, a Ukrainian national cultural, art and museum complex, stated that the Futuromarennia exhibition has become one of the most popular cultural events in recent years, with more than 17,000 visitors.

"Under the influence of circumstances, the Futuromarennia project, which took place in Kyiv in late 2021 and early 2022, has undergone significant changes. These reasons are quite tragic and forced us to shift the focus of our research, focusing on the problem of appropriation of Ukrainian cultural heritage by Russian culture. We also placed a special emphasis on the damage suffered by Ukrainian cultural heritage from the Russian aggressor," Olha Melnyk, the exhibition's co-curator, told Ukrainska Pravda.Kultura (Culture).

Earlier, it was also exhibited at the KUMU Art Museum in Tallinn under the updated title Futuromarennia: Ukraine and Avant-Garde.

The Belgian project was implemented by FeliX Art & Eco Museum and Mystetskyi Arsenal.

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FIRST ON FOX: Florida lawmakers, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz, are calling for an "immediate" response from President Biden over concerns about a potential mass migration of Haitians coming to the country via boats -- days after the states governor surged personnel and aircraft to the coast.

The lawmakers, including Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Anna Paulina Luna and Daniel Webster, have written to Biden calling on him to exercise his authority to declare an "anticipated mass migration of aliens en route to, or arriving off the coast of, the United States."

The lawmakers say that urgent circumstances require an "immediate federal response."

DESANTIS DETAILS ALARMING FIND ABOARD HAITIAN MIGRANT BOAT SEIZED OFF FLORIDA COAST

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks to the press outside the U.S. Capitol as the House votes on a continuing resolution in the House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 30, 2023.

The Caribbean nation has seen a significant escalation in violence as gangs have overrun the capital, burning police stations and attacking the main airport. Gangs have also raided some of the largest prisons, releasing thousands of inmates. It has renewed concerns that a wave of migration from the sea could soon follow.

Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced an increase of personnel and aircraft to the Florida coast in light of unrest in Haiti. The deployment in Florida includes 48 additional National Guardsmen with four additional helicopters, 39 officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 30 additional Florida Highway Patrol officers with aircraft and drones, and 23 additional officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with eight additional seacraft, his office said.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

DESANTIS SENDS SOLDIERS, AIRCRAFT TO PROTECT FLORIDA FROM ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BOATS AMID HAITI UNREST

Government officials have stressed that they have so far not seen that mass migration. On Tuesday, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs Rebecca Zimmerman told lawmakers that the Pentagon is "alert" to the possibility of a mass migration event, but it has also not yet seen large numbers.

"I think youre right that the driving conditions in Haiti could very well press more people," she told Gaetz in a House hearing. "We recently approved some additional assistance we could provide to the Coast Guard."

Separately, officials said they have made requests for increased capability to be "postured appropriately."

In their letter, the lawmakers argue that they believe resources "are insufficient to address the scope and scale of the anticipated mass migration" and highlight a 2002 order by former President George W. Bush which sought to combat illegal immigrants stopped in the Caribbean.

HAITIAN PRIME MINISTER ARIEL HENRY TO RESIGN AMID LOW-SCALE CIVIL WAR, BOWING TO INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE

"A declaration pursuant to Executive Order 13276 is necessary to reinforce the State of Floridas efforts by utilizing Department of Defense vessels to conduct maritime interdictions and interceptions of aliens from Haiti and repatriate them, preferably to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as this limits the financial obligation of U.S. taxpayers," they say.

A National Security Council spokesperson told Fox News Digital: "We are clear-eyed that economic, political, and security instability are key drivers for migrants around the world."

"We are closely monitoring the situation and the routes frequently used by migrants to reach our borders, and would stress that at this time irregular migration flows through the Caribbean remain low," the spokesperson said. "That said, we are always planning for contingencies. It would be irresponsible if we werent taking a look at what we might do to manage a potential increase and DHS adjusts their assets to meet the challenges that come with maritime migration."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE POLITICS COVERAGE

The Department of Homeland Security said last week that it is monitoring the situation, but also has stressed that migration flows in the Caribbean remain "low." It also warned that those crossing face being turned back to their country of origin.

"U.S. policy is to return noncitizens who do not have a fear of persecution or torture or a legal basis to enter the United States. Those interdicted at sea are subject to immediate repatriation pursuant to our longstanding policy and procedures. The United States returns or repatriates migrants interdicted at sea to The Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti."

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 65 migrants were repatriated on Tuesday after the agency stopped a boat near the Bahamas. So far, the Coast Guard has repatriated 131 migrants this fiscal year.

However, it has not quelled concerns from Florida lawmakers. Florida Republican Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio also wrote to Biden last week seeking answers from the White House regarding any plan "to deal with the significant unrest in Haiti and prevent this humanitarian and security crisis from having a direct negative impact on American families in Florida and across the United States."





Original article source: Gaetz leads push for Biden to take 'immediate' action on feared Haitian migrant crisis
Hundreds of Gambians gather outside parliament to protest over the issue which has divided the country for months - Malick Njie/Reuters

Gambian lawmakers voted on Monday to press on with a highly controversial Bill that seeks to lift a ban on female genital mutilation (FGM).

The issue has divided the tiny West African nation for months, with hundreds gathering to protest outside parliament.

Pro-FGM campaigners outnumbered those calling for the ban, in place since 2015, to remain, according to AFP journalists.

The Bill seeks to uphold religious loyalty and safeguard cultural norms and values, Almameh Gibba, the lawmaker who introduced the Bill, said during the debate.

The use of a ban on female circumcision is direct violation of the citizens rights to practise their culture and religion, he added.

Rollback of other rights

But activists and rights organisations say the suggested legislation reverses years of progress and risks damaging the countrys human rights record.

Theres the inherent risk that this is just the first step and it could lead to the rollback of other rights such as the law on child marriage... and not just in The Gambia but in the region as a whole, Divya Srinivasan, from womens rights NGO Equality Now, told AFP.

Lawmakers voted 42 in favour and four against to send the Bill to a parliamentary committee for at least three months for further scrutiny before it returns for a third reading.

To hear mainly men speak on behalf of women and speak about what should happen to the bodies of women is just the most disheartening thing, said Jaha Dukureh, an anti-FGM activist who herself underwent the practice and who watched her sister bleed to death following the procedure.

As a woman who has lived with this practice, that was just one of the most heart-wrenching things to watch, she told AFP after the debate.

Female genital mutilation can lead to many serious health problems including infections, bleeding and infertility - Brian Inganga/AP

Seventy-six per cent of Gambian women aged between 15 and 49 have undergone FGM, according to a 2021 report by the UN childrens agency Unicef.

Unicef defines the practice as the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

It can lead to serious health problems, including infections, bleeding, infertility and complications in childbirth, and impairs sexual pleasure.

Girls bodies are their own. FGM robs them of autonomy over their bodies and causes irreversible harm, the UNs Gambia office posted on Twitter, ahead of the debate.

Dangerous precedent

The UN rights office had called for the Bill to be withdrawn, while Amnesty International said it would set a dangerous precedent for womens rights.

Yahya Jammeh, the former Gambian dictator, banned FGM in the Muslim majority country in 2015, branding it outdated and not a requirement of Islam.

Parliament later adopted the first Gambian law specifically banning the practice, which is now punishable by up to three years in prison.

But since 2015, only two cases have been prosecuted, with the first conviction made in August 2023, according to Amnesty International.

The issue flared up last year when three women received fines or prison sentences for performing FGM.

The Islamic Council, the countrys main Muslim organisation, said the practice was not just a merely inherited custom but one of the virtues of Islam.

It called on the government to reconsider the ban.

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GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Gaston Countys first and only equity and inclusion officer is no longer on the job.

Dr. Pearl Burris-Floyd quietly retired at the end of 2023 as the countys equity and inclusion officer. In a statement, the county decided not to rehire the position and will continue her work through its departments.

Now, the former Gaston County commissioner (2001-2008) and state representative (2009-2011) can enjoy life and spend more time with her family.

I believe, as the first DEI officer, that we did a lot to impact positive change, Burris-Floyd said.

The Dallas resident counts successful programs with county staff and work that honored African-American, Hispanic, and womens histories. Burris-Floyd also recalls having former Appalachian State University Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Willie Fleming talk to county employees among the past work.

Burris-Floyd is also proud of her work with the African-American Museum at Loray Mill in Gastonia. She said she worked with museum founder and Gaston County School board member Dot Guthrie to bring the Tuskegee Airman exhibit to the city last year.

White Houses first chief diversity and inclusion officer is leaving Bidens administration

Other work included involving 25 women in a partnership that involved Habitat for Humanity and home building in Gaston County.

It was a great thing and opportunity for everyone to be active and involved in that, she added.

Burris-Floyd said her work and the work of others was more important than the job, saying it wasnt about the office.

Its really not about how we impress others, she said. Its more about doing whats important (for the community).

An irreplaceable job

City officials confirmed Burris-Floyds retirement at the end of 2023 while lauding her efforts by saying that Gaston County benefited greatly from her work.

The city wished her the best while vowing her work would continue through its departments. The statement went on to say that the countys leadership is always extremely careful with allocating taxpayer dollars.

In early February, the city said they would not fill the countys DEI position and that its departments would continue Pearls work while not filling that position provides savings without compromising our mission of providing excellent public service every day.

Black women struggle to find their way in a job world where diversity is under attack

The city also stated, Human Resources has assigned a point person to continue handling DEI-related questions.

According to The Gaston Gazette, Burris-Floyds initial annual salary in 2020 was $105,000.

While Burris-Floyd worked to bring sides together in the county in the post, she does hope the controversy involving a Confederate statue in front of the Gaston County Courthouse has a positive outcome.

While other cities and states have had violent and tense exchanges over the removal and displacement of these memorials, Burris-Floyd hopes residents wont go to extremes.

I hope people will be safe and not get injured because of a statue, she said. To people, the monument speaks volumes. (My) desire is for a peaceful resolution.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Dan Williams and Aidan Lewis

CAIRO/JERUSALEM/LONDON (Reuters) - Extreme food shortages in parts of the Gaza Strip have already exceeded famine levels, and mass death is now imminent without an immediate ceasefire and surge of food to areas cut off by fighting, the global hunger monitor said on Monday.

The Integrated Food-Security Phase Classification (IPC), whose assessments are relied on by U.N. agencies, said 70% of people in parts of northern Gaza were suffering the most severe level of food shortage, more than triple the 20% threshold to be considered famine.

The IPC said it did not have enough data on death rates, but estimated residents would be dying at famine scale imminently, defined as two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or from malnutrition and disease.

Gaza's health ministry has said 27 children and three adults have died so far from malnutrition.

"The actions needed to prevent famine require an immediate political decision for a ceasefire together with a significant and immediate increase in humanitarian and commercial access to the entire population of Gaza," it said.

In all, 1.1 million Gazans, around half the population, were experiencing "catastrophic" shortages of food, with around 300,000 in the areas now facing the prospect of famine-scale death rates.

The prospect of a manmade famine in Gaza has brought the strongest criticism of Israel from Western allies since it launched its war against Hamas militants following their deadly attack on Israeli territory on Oct. 7.

"In Gaza we are no longer on the brink of famine. We are in a state of famine... Starvation is used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said at a Brussels conference on aid for Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded that Borrell should "stop attacking Israel and recognise our right to self-defence against Hamas' crimes".

Israel allowed "extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza by land, air, and sea for anyone willing to help", Katz said on X, and aid was "violently disturbed" by Hamas militants with "collaboration" by the U.N.'s aid agency UNRWA.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the IPC report an "appalling indictment" and said Israel must allow complete and unfettered access to all parts of Gaza.

Britain's foreign minister David Cameron said he would carefully review the report: "It's clear the status quo is unsustainable. We need urgent action now to avoid a famine."

Israel, which initially allowed aid into Gaza through only two checkpoints on the enclave's southern edge, says it is opening more routes by land, as well as allowing sea shipments and air drops. The first boat carrying aid arrived last week.

Aid agencies say they still cannot get enough supplies through or distribute them safely, especially in the north.

HOSPITAL ASSAULT

In the ruins of Gaza City, the main settlement in the north of the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces launched a major assault on Al Shifa hospital overnight. Once the Gaza Strip's biggest hospital, it is now one of the only medical facilities still even partially functioning in the north of the territory.

Israel said it had killed more than 20 Hamas fighters, including a senior Hamas commander, Fayeq al-Mabhouh, in the hospital. Hamas said he was a Palestinian police official tasked with overseeing the protection of aid deliveries in Gaza.

Negotiations for a ceasefire in the war, now in its sixth month, were due to resume on Monday with an Israeli delegation led by the country's spy chief heading to Qatar. But an Israeli official said nailing down any deal would probably take at least two more weeks, a clear disappointment for Washington which had sought a deal by the start of the Ramadan holy month last week.

President Joe Biden warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a call on Monday that a military operation in Rafah would deepen anarchy in Gaza and they agreed that teams from each side would meet in Washington to discuss it, the White House said.

Netanyahu has pledged to push into Rafah in Gaza's southern tip, where more than half of the territory's 2.3 million residents have been sheltering to escape an Israeli assault farther north.

The leader in the U.S. Senate from Biden's Democratic Party called on Israelis last week to replace Netanyahu, saying he was wrecking Israel's international standing by allowing too much suffering in Gaza.

The war began when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's assault has killed more than 31,000 Gazans, according to Palestinian health officials.

SPECIAL FORCES

The Israeli military said special forces, supported by infantry and tanks, conducted a "precise operation" on the Al Shifa Hospital compound, based on intelligence that the hospital was being used by Hamas leaders.

"We apprehended more than 200 terrorist suspects that are now being questioned," said spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. One Israeli soldier was killed in the fighting, he said.

Residents described some of the heaviest fighting in northern Gaza for months.

Mohammad Ali, 32, a father of two who lives near the hospital, told Reuters via a chat app that the sound of the assault awoke the neighbourhood at around 1 a.m.

"Soon tanks started to roll, they came from the western road and headed toward Al Shifa, then sounds of gunfire and explosions increased," he said.

The Gaza health ministry said displaced people inside the hospital had been killed in a fire caused by the raid.

(Writing by Peter Graff and Ros Russell; Editing by Nick Macfie, Alex Richardson and Cynthia Osterman)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Unfortunately, the results of the Second Karabakh War did not teach Armenia a lesson, said President Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Novruz holiday.

"Unfortunately, the results of the Second Karabakh War did not teach Armenia a lesson. In my Novruz address last year, I spoke about this and expressed my regret that their defeat in the Second Karabakh War did not teach them a lesson. If they had learned the lesson, there would have been no need for the anti-terror operation. After the Second Karabakh War, Armenia failed to draw the right conclusions in the three years that passed and sought to maintain its illegal armed groups on our lands indefinitely. It aimed to perpetuate the existence of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh republic, which was illegally established here. All this is completely contrary to international law and, most importantly, to the resolve of the Azerbaijani people.

As a result of the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan liberated most of its territory on the battlefield. However, during the occupation, signals were repeatedly sent to us from many capitals that there was no military solution to this conflict. We have proven that any conflict has a military solution. If the occupying state illegally occupies the territory of another country and does not want to vacate these lands of its own free will, the only way is the military option. We have restored our territorial integrity and sovereignty within the framework of international law. We restored the four resolutions of the UN Security Council on the battlefield," said the head of state.
TALBOT COUNTY, Ala. (WRBL)  On Monday, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) said motorists who travel through SR 190 should expect a road closure on SR 190 near Norfolk Southern RR on April 15.

The closure is due to the scheduled construction of a bridge replacement on SR 190 in Talbot County. The new bridge will be built in the same location as the current bridge. The replacement bridge will be a single-span bridge around 120 feet long and 39 feet wide.

GDOT says detour signs will be placed before the closure and expects the construction project to be completed in the summertime.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr is urging the US Senate to pass the The Laken Riley Act, named for the 22-year-old nursing student who police say was killed on the University of Georgias campus on Feb. 22 by an undocumented migrant

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia, said the legislation is meant to give U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement more tools to fight against illegal alien crime.

While we cant bring Laken back, we must now turn our focus to doing everything we can to prevent this from happening to another American, Collins said in a statement, in part. The Laken Riley Act is a key piece in our fight to restore the rule of law and get criminal illegal aliens off our streets.

According to the representative, the legislation condemns President Joe Bidens border policies, including catch and release, and calls on him to reinstate the previous Remain in Mexico policy that was in effect while former President Donald Trump was in office.

Additionally, the bill would amend federal law to require ICE to issue detainers and take custody of undocumented migrants who commit theft-related crimes like shoplifting, as defined by state and local laws where they reside.

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The bill would also allow state Attorneys General to sue the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security for injunctive relief if immigration actions like parole, violating detention requirements or other policy failures harm that state or its citizens.

The bill passed the House earlier this month with 251 votes in favor, including 37 Democratic Representatives who joined all of the Republicans in the House.

Now, Georgias attorney general is urging the US Senate to do the same.

Were leading a group of 26 AGs urging the U.S. Senate to quickly pass the Laken Riley Act. President Bidens border crisis failed Laken, New York City failed Laken, and local, soft-on-crime policies failed Laken. This bill would be a step towards preventing such tragedies from ever happening again, Carr said in a post on Facebook.

Venezuelan native Jose Ibarra, 26, was arrested in Rileys death and is being charged with murder. His two brothers were also arrested on charges related to being in the country illegally. They are both being held in federal custody. Ibarra is being held in the Athens Clarke-County jail.

Court filings obtained by Channel 2 Action News Friday show that Ibarras attorney has asked for a jury trial and that Ibarra will not waive his rights.

Ibarra 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.

An autopsy showed that Riley died from blunt force trauma to the head.

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The state on Monday approved nearly $5 million in economic incentives for a German pharmaceutical supply maker to create 401 jobs at a future syringe manufacturing facility in the Eastern North Carolina city of Wilson.

Under the terms of the job development investment grant (JDIG) it received, SCHOTT Pharma promises to add these jobs and invest $371 million in the site by 2030. In addition to state benefits, the city of Wilson and Wilson County combined to offer the company economic incentives worth $7 million.

The Wilson plant will make glass and polymer prefillable syringes for pharmaceutical and biotech customers, the N.C. Department of Commerce wrote in its JDIG agreement. SCHOTT says the site will develop its U.S. syringe supply chain to help deliver in-demand mRNA and GLP-1, the latter of which is a medication category that includes the popular weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. The Danish health care company Novo Nordisk currently produces both of these GLP-1s in Johnston County.

Under state incentive deals, recipient companies only receive payroll tax benefits after they meet certain hiring and investment thresholds.

SCHOTT says the average salary at the plant will be $57,868. The average wage in Wilson County is currently $52,619, according to the state commerce department.

SCHOTT Pharma is a subsidiary of SCHOTT Group, a global producer of glass and other materials. In a statement, SCHOTT North America President Christopher Cassidy said his company picked Wilson due to its proximity to the Research Triangle area, which hosts numerous universities, pharma companies, and research institutions.

The North Carolina Community College System will receive $641,600 to train workers for the project.

Wilson is a city of 47,000 about 50 miles east of Raleigh. SCHOTT selected it over another finalist site near Greenville, South Carolina, the JDIG stated. Helping land the project was the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, which on Monday celebrated North Carolinas deepening ties with businesses from Germany.

According to EDPNC, the state has announced 109 projects from German companies over the past decade, leading to 7,000 new jobs.
Annalena Baerbock, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, believes the Russians had no choice during the presidential election in the Russian Federation last weekend.

Source: Baerbock at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on 18 March, as reported by European Pravda

Baerbock stated that the voting in Russia was "elections without choice".

Quote: "The electoral process not only reflects Putin's nefarious behaviour towards his own people but is also against the Charter of the United Nations. So-called elections in parts of Ukraine, parts of Moldova, and parts of Georgia have violated international law," she said.

Baerbock also pointed out that many Russians demonstrated this weekend that they do not support the position of this "Russian president."

Background:

The European Union has criticised the "presidential elections" in Russia as being held with numerous restrictions, without the participation of any real opposition, and with voting in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Several Eastern European countries and the UK have already stated that the Russian "elections" cannot be considered free and fair, and the UK Minister of Defence has compared Putin to the Soviet dictator Stalin.

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Tree houses hang in the early morning at a camp organized by the "Tesla stoppen" initiative in a pine forest near the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The aim of the activists is to prevent the forest from being cleared as part of a planned expansion of the Tesla site with a freight depot. Joerg Carstensen/dpa

A German court is to decide whether activists occupying part of the forest in protest against US carmaker Tesla's expansion plans need to dismantle their treehouses.

Authorities had asked activists of the "Stop Tesla" initiative to dismantle their tree houses by Monday due to safety concerns. The group filed an urgent appeal against this with the administrative court.

It remains to be seen whether the court will rule on Monday. A final decision is expected to be made by 3 pm on Tuesday at the latest. Violations of the conditions can therefore not be penalised for the time being.

Activists want to prevent the forest from being cleared as part of the planned expansion of the Tesla site. In a non-binding resolution, a majority of residents in Grunheide, the Berlin suburb where the plant is located, voted against its development.

The municipality of Grunheide has now suggested that only around half of the initially earmarked forest area be cleared for the Tesla expansion.

Brandenburg's Interior Minister Michael Stubgen had announced days ago that violations of the conditions could result in the camp being evicted.

A spokesman for the ministry said on Sunday that the court judgement would have to be awaited before any further police measures were taken.

A banner reading "People over profit!" is seen at a camp set up by the "Stop Tesla" initiative in a pine forest near the Tesla Gigafactory Berlin-Brandenburg. The aim of the activists is to prevent the forest from being cleared as part of a planned expansion of the Tesla site with a freight yard. Joerg Carstensen/dpa
The German presidents spokeswoman, Cerstin Gammelin, has said that Frank-Walter Steinmeier will not congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin on his victory in the sham elections.

Source: European Pravda with reference to German newspaper Tagesspiegel

Quote: "There will be no letter to Putin."

Details: Steinmeier himself said in a Sunday post on Twitter (X) that he was thinking about the fighters in Russia for democracy.

"Today I am thinking about the people in Russia who are fighting for freedom and democracy and living in constant danger from the Putin regime. We will not forget these courageous people," Steinmeier wrote on the day of the Russian presidential sham elections.

Background:

In the previous presidential election in Russia in 2018, Steinmeier congratulated Putin.

The German Foreign Ministry previously stated that the sham elections in Russia were neither free nor fair, and that their outcome was not surprising.

Warsaw also said that the presidential sham elections in Russia cannot be considered legal, free and fair.

Charles Michel, President of the European Council, sarcastically congratulated Putin on his upcoming no-alternative "victory" on the first day of voting.

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A German woman died after crashing her paraglider into a gondola in the Austrian mountains on Sunday morning.

Tyrolean police said the 65-year-old woman took off from the summit of the Hohe Salve mountain near Hopfgarten, some 50 kilometres east of Innsbruck.

While paragliding from the approximately 1,800 metre high mountain, she drifted off course for unknown reasons, her paraglider got caught in the cables of a gondola which was ascending, police said, with the woman crashing into the lift.

Two people in the cabin were slightly injured.

The ropes connecting the woman to the sail crossed the gondola cables. They were then severed by the ascending gondola and the woman free-fell to the ground, according to initial investigations. She died of her injuries.
Karl Lauterbach, Germany's Health Minister, speaks at the presentation of a new online register for citizens' declarations of willingness to donate organs. Michael Kappeler/dpa

The German government on Monday launched a central online register for organ donation in an effort to help thousands of people waiting for transplants.

In the digital register, people aged 16 and over can enter whether or not they wish to donate organs after their death. Currently there are 8,400 people on an organ waiting list, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said.

He spoke of an important prerequisite for more organ donations. At the same time, however, he again argued in favour of a more fundamental reform, according to which people are automatically considered donors as long as they do not object.

Currently, organ donations in Germany are only permitted with explicit consent.

By Monday morning, 5,500 potential donors had already registered, according to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, which operates the portal.

By September 30, it will also be possible to register declarations directly via health insurance apps. The information is voluntary, free of charge and can be changed and deleted. Declarations on paper, for example via organ donor cards, are still possible.

Hospitals that remove organs will be able to search for and retrieve declarations stored in the register starting July 1. Lauterbach said the new portal would enable doctors to obtain certainty about potential donors. Relatives would also be relieved, he said.

Still, Lauterbach favours the so-called "opt-out" solution in which people actively have to opt out of being an organ donor and if not, are considered as such.

"I believe that we cannot solve this problem without the opt-out solution."

Karl Lauterbach, Germany's Health Minister, speaks at the presentation of a new online register for citizens' declarations of willingness to donate organs. Michael Kappeler/dpa
A Hannover Re flag is flying in front of the insurance company's headquarters. Raphael Knipping/dpa

German financial services provider Hannover Re, the third-largest reinsurance group in the world, on Monday said it is planning to increase the dividend paid to shareholders following the record profits seen in 2023.

For the past year, the company based in northern Germany, will propose a dividend of 7.20 ($7.80) per share, up from 6 per share last year.

The planned distribution for 2023 consists of an ordinary dividend of 6 and a special dividend of 1.20 per share. For the previous year, Hannover Re had paid an ordinary dividend of 5 and a special dividend of 1.

At the beginning of February, the German reinsurer had announced a net income of some 1.8 billion for 2023, its best result to date.

For 2024, chief executive Jean-Jacques Henchoz continues to expect an increase to at least 2.1 billion.

The insurance group Talanx (HDI), which owns a good half of Hannover's shares, is the main beneficiary of the profit and dividend.
There was one movie I was glued to as a (mildly terrified) 10-year-old: Ghostbusters. My dusty old VHS cassette  a re-release of Ghostbusters I and II together  was played to death so much that it jumped about on my chunky TV set more than I did when Dana Barrett discovered Zuul in her refrigerator. I still rue the day the film was accidentally recorded over.

Aged 10 I never thought Id be running around New York City in my early thirties on a tour of Ghostbusters filming locations, let alone among a group including a super-fan dressed as Egon Spengler  complete with beige jumpsuit, inflatable proton pack, and toy neutrona wand. But there I was, prancing up the steps outside the New York Public Library, where Alice the librarian was the unfortunate first person to encounter a ghost. It was here the Ghostbusters were born.

As adults, we probably look back now and laugh at scenes like the ghost in the library, but if you ever saw the film as a child it really was terrifying, says On Location Tours guide Chris Trieber, a life-long Ghostbusters fan and pioneer of a new bus tour to mark a trio of ghost-busting milestones.

The New York Public Library is where the Ghostbusters were born (Richard Franks)

This year is indeed an important one for the franchise and fans alike: not only does the original film turn 40 and the follow-up turns 35, but a new release, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, is on the horizon. Theres been so much demand for Ghostbusters locations on their other set-jetting tours that Triebel begged his bosses to let him run this one.

In the six-and-a-half years Ive been running general TV and movie location tours across New York City, theres always one location people want to see the most, says Triebel, holding on to a secret for later on. I have an inkling. But first, our tour begins at Central Park restaurant Tavern on the Green  where Louis Tully (Rick Moranis) was chased by the demonic hellhound and bangs on the windows for help.

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Louis Tully was chased by the demonic hellhound to Tavern on the Green (Eric Mudsker)

Within 30 seconds of getting on the bus we loop around Columbus Circle, where the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man wreaks havoc in the first movie. [He] destroys everything in his wake and steps on the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, says Triebel. This scene was filmed between here and a giant soundstage in Los Angeles. They filmed people in the street, but the wizardry of director Ivan Reitman was that he weaved the scene between here and a green screen in Burbank and you had no idea.

From Taxi Driver to Breakfast at Tiffanys, some *of the worlds favourite movies have been shot in NYC. And whether its feasting on a pastrami sandwich at Katzs Delicatessen, as seen in When Harry Met Sally, or following in the footsteps of Luca Brasi in The Godfather at the Hotel Edison, people love nothing more than visiting this giant production set of a city. Waking up at Virgin Hotels New York to a glorious Manhattan skyline view, and being walking distance from filming sites like the New York Public Library, also adds to a set-jetting trip.

Film fanatics can follow in the footsteps of The Godfather in the Hotel Edisons corridor (Triumph Hotels)

But its on tours where you really get under the skin of a movie. We pass the Rockefeller Center, where Im told a real security guard was chasing the Ghostbusters away as they didnt actually have a permit to film. Most people in street shots arent actors either. Here, the world-famous Saturday Night Live has been filmed inside NBC Studios since 1975 and is where Dan Ackroyd and Bill Murray got their breaks. Aykroyd said when they were at SNL, they invented pizza frisbee, says Triebel.

As theyd be writing until 3am they were always exhausted, he continues. Plus it was the Seventies, so their cocaine had probably run out by then. In winter theyd order pizza from a 24-hour delivery place and put it out on the windowsill to freeze solid, with the aim of trying to shatter it on a building opposite. Whoever threw it the furthest would win.

It was such adolescent camaraderie that would eventually inspire Aykroyd (Raymond Stantz) to team up with Harold Ramis (Egon Spengler) and write Ghostbusters. Without those flying frozen pizzas would we even have Ghostbusters today? Who knows, says Triebel.

Its on city tours where you really get under the skin of a movie (Richard Franks)

Sites like the Lincoln Center also feature in the first Ghostbusters, where Murrays Peter Venkman and Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) met for the first time. Barrett worked as a cellist in the Centers orchestra. This was actually the only scene in the entire film that had to be dubbed with audio, as the fountain is too loud, Triebel adds, as we pass by.

We also drive down a stretch of Fifth Avenue which features in the opening of the new movie, with Ecto-1 streaking past Roma Pizza and Banana Republic. They had to close Fifth n a Saturday to film this, says Triebel.

On Broadway, we spot Venkmans Ghostbusters II apartment, before passing through the East Village to see the original location of Rays Occult Books, now a restaurant. Then, our two-hour whizz around New York City ends where any respectable Ghostbusters tour should: the Ghostbusters firehouse, or Hook & Ladder Company 8, a real-life working FDNY station in Tribeca.

Hey, does this pole still work?! quips one (adult) tour guest, mimicking an excitable Ray Stantz when spotting the firemans pole. It seems Im not the only one unlocking my inner childhood.

Hook & Ladder Company 8 is a working fire station in Tribeca (Richard Franks)

Travel essentials

How to get there

Norse Atlantic operates daily flights between London Gatwick and New York JFK, increasing to double daily flights during the summer peak season. From 299 return; premium seats available from 779 return.

How to do it

A Private Ghostbusters Sites tour with On Location Tours costs 105pp; minimum three people.

Visit top NYC attractions as seen in movies, including the Rockefeller Center (Top of the Rock Observation Deck) and the Empire State Building, and save 40 per cent on listed prices with a New York CityPASS. An adult pass costs 114.

Tavern on the Green, as seen in Ghostbusters, Wall Street, and Mr Poppers Penguins, is open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

For more information on Ghostbusters and New York City, visit nyctourism.com

Where to stay

Wake up to a glorious Manhattan skyline view at Virgin Hotels New York (Virgin Hotels)

To live in the heart of it all and feel like youre on a movie set, stay at Virgin Hotels New York.

Read more on the best hotels in New York
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. We are now in the process of agreeing a new framework for partnership between NATO and Azerbaijan, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with AZERTAC, Trend reports.

"We are now in the process of agreeing a new framework for partnership between NATO and Azerbaijan and that framework will focus on the issues like inter-operability which exactly how to ensure that the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan can work together to meet NATO standards, and are fully inter-operable with NATO forces. We will also focus on, for instance, military education, which will also increase interoperability between our forces. We will look into other areas where we can further deepen our cooperation and all of these will bring Azerbaijani and NATO forces closer to each other which I think will be of mutual benefit both for Azerbaijan and NATO allies, he said.
Editors Note: The video above is about Northeast Ohios impact on space exploration and technology.

WASHINGTON (AP)  Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, who commanded a dress rehearsal flight for the 1969 moon landing and the first U.S.-Soviet space linkup, died Monday. He was 93.

Stafford, a retired Air Force three-star general, took part in four space missions. Before Apollo 10, he flew on two Gemini flights, including the first rendezvous of two U.S. capsules in orbit. He died in a hospital near his Space Coast Florida home, said Max Ary, director of the Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

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Stafford was one of 24 people who flew to the moon, but he did not land on it. Only seven of them are still alive.

Today General Tom Stafford went to the eternal heavens which he so courageously explored as a Gemini and Apollo astronaut as well as a peacemaker in Apollo Soyuz, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said via X, formerly known as Twitter. Those of us privileged to know him are very sad but grateful we knew a giant.

(Original Caption) Ca. 1965- Gemini 9 astronauts, command pilot Elliot M. See, Jr., (left, front) and pilot Charles A. Bassett, (right, front), were killed Feb. 28th when their T-38 jet airplane crashed into a Mcdonnell Aircraft building during a landing approach to the St. Louis airport. Astronauts Thomas D. Stafford, (left, rear), and Eugene A. Cernan, (right, rear), the backup crew for the Gemini 9 mission, landed at the airport shortly after the crash. The astronauts are shown from a file photo.

(20 Oct. 1965) Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, pilot of the Gemini-Titan-Agena 6 space mission, undergoes suiting up exercises at the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

(1963) The first two groups of astronauts selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The original seven Mercury astronauts, selected in April 1959, are seated left to right, L. Gordon Cooper Jr., Virgil I. Grissom, M. Scott Carpenter, Walter M. Schirra Jr., John H. Glenn Jr., Alan B. Shepard Jr. and Donald K. Slayton. The second group of NASA astronauts, named in September 1962 are, standing left to right, Edward H. White II, James A. McDivitt, John W. Young, Elliot M. See Jr., Charles Conrad Jr., Frank Borman, Neil A. Armstrong, Thomas P. Stafford and James A. Lovell Jr. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

After he put away his flight suit, Stafford was the go-to guy for NASA when it sought independent advice on everything from human Mars missions to safety issues to returning to flight after the 2003 space shuttle Columbia accident. He chaired an oversight group that looked into how to fix the then-flawed Hubble Space Telescope, earning a NASA public service award.

Tom was involved in so many things that most people were not aware of, such as being known as the Father of Stealth, Ary said in an email. Stafford was in charge of the famous Area 51 desert base that was the site of many UFO theories, but the home of testing of Air Force stealth technologies.

The Apollo 10 mission in May 1969 set the stage for Apollo 11s historic mission two months later. Stafford and Gene Cernan took the lunar lander nicknamed Snoopy within 9 miles (14 kilometers) of the moons surface. Astronaut John Young stayed behind in the main spaceship dubbed Charlie Brown.

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The most impressive sight, I think, that really changed your view of things is when you first see Earth, Stafford recalled in a 1997 oral history, talking about the view from lunar orbit.

Then came the moons far side: The Earth disappears. Theres this big black void.

Apollo 10s return to Earth set the worlds record for fastest speed by a crewed vehicle at 24,791 mph (39,897 kph).

After the moon landings ended, NASA and the Soviet Union decided on a joint docking mission and Stafford, a one-star general at the time, was chosen to command the American side. It meant intensive language training, being followed by the KGB while in the Soviet Union, and lifelong friendships with cosmonauts. The two teams of space travelers even went to Disney World and rode Space Mountain together before going into orbit and joining ships.

We have capture, Stafford radioed in Russian as the Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft hooked up. His Russian counterpart, Alexei Leonov, responded in English: Well done, Tom, it was a good show. I vote for you.

Mom who left toddler to die while on vacation sentenced to life in prison

The 1975 mission included two days during which the five men worked together on experiments. After, the two teams toured the world together, meeting President Gerald Ford and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

It helped prove to the rest of the world that two completely opposite political systems could work together, Stafford recalled at a 30th anniversary gathering in 2005.

The two crews became so close that years later Leonov arranged for Stafford to be able to adopt two Russian boys when Stafford was in his 70s.

We are too old to adopt, but they were too old to be adopted, Stafford told The Oklahoman in 2004. They just added so much meaning to our life, and just because youre retiring doesnt mean you dont have anything left to give.

Later, Stafford was a central part of discussions in the 1990s that brought Russia into the partnership building and operating the International Space Station.

Growing up in Weatherford, Oklahoma, Stafford said he would look up and see giant DC-3 airplanes fly overhead on early transcontinental routes.

I wanted to fly since I was 5 or 6 years old seeing those airplanes, he told NASA historians.

Stafford went to the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated in the top 1% of his class and flew in the backseat of some airplanes and loved it. He volunteered for the Air Force and had hoped to fly combat in the Korean War. But by the time he got his wings, the war ended. He went to the Air Forces experimental test pilot school, graduated first in his class there and stayed on as an instructor.

In 1962, NASA selected Stafford for its second set of astronauts, which included Neil Armstrong, Frank Borman and Pete Conrad.

Stafford was assigned along with Wally Schirra to Gemini 6. Their original mission was to rendezvous with an empty spaceship. But their 1965 launch was scrubbed when the spaceship exploded soon after liftoff. NASA improvised and in December, Gemini 6 rendezvoused with but didnt dock with two astronauts aboard Gemini 7.

Staffords next flight in 1966 was with Cernan on Gemini 9. Cernans spacewalk, connected to a jet-pack like device, didnt go well. Cernan complained that the sun and machine made him extra hot and hurt his back. Then his visor fogged up and he couldnt see.

Call it quits, Gene. Get out of there, Stafford, the commander, told Cernan. Stafford talked him back in, saying move your hand over, start to float up  stick your hand up  just walk hand over hand.

In all, Stafford logged 507 hours in space and flew four different types of spacecraft and 127 types of aircraft and helicopters.

After the Apollo-Soyuz mission, Stafford returned to the Air Force and worked in research and commanded the Air Force Flight Test Center before retiring in 1979 as a three-star general.

Staffords Air Force duties not only had him run the militarys top flight school and experimental plane testing base, but he was commanding general of Area 51. A biography from his museum said, that while Stafford was in charge of Area 51 and later as the development and acquisition chief at the Pentagon he wrote the specs and established the program that led to the development of the F-117 Stealth Fighter, and later, the B-2 Stealth Bomber.

Stafford became an executive for an Oklahoma-based transportation company and later moved to Florida, near Cape Canaveral.

He is survived by his wife. Linda, two sons, two daughters and two stepchildren, according to the museum.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican candidate for governor, stands as he listens to Donald Trump speak at a rally in Greensboro, N.C., on March 2, 2024. (Veasey Conway/The New York Times)

As Mark Robinson completed his rapid six-year rise from conservative internet sensation to the Republican nominee for North Carolina governor, he worked relentlessly to sell his political vision to evangelical Christians.

Traveling from church to church and thundering away on social media, he condemned transgenderism and homosexuality as filth. He said Christians should be led by men, not women. And on at least one occasion, he explicitly called to upend American tradition on Gods role in government.

People talk about the separation of church and state, Robinson, North Carolinas lieutenant governor, said in a speech in October. Im trying to find that phrase somewhere in our Constitution. Trying to find it somewhere in our Declaration of Independence. Trying to find it in the writings of any patriot, anywhere, and I cannot. And I cannot because it does not exist.

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He concluded, There is no separation of church and state.

Robinsons long history of inflammatory statements has generated a torrent of headlines since he became the Republican standard-bearer in this years most closely watched race for governor. But underlying his combative proclamations on race, abortion, education and religion is an exceptionally right-wing worldview  with deep roots in modern evangelical Christianity  that would make him one of the most conservative governors in America if elected.

Robinson has telegraphed, often in bombastic terms, how far to the right he would try to push North Carolina, supporting a ban on all abortions once a heartbeat is detected, calling for arresting transgender women if they do not use the bathroom of their sex assigned at birth, and urging the introduction of prayer in schools. His remarks about the separation of church and state stand in contrast to the First Amendment, which bars the government from making any law respecting the establishment of religion.

As he runs to replace the term-limited Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, and give Republicans full control of state government, Robinson has shown no sign that he plans to moderate his message for the November general election. He may see a plausible path to victory through his appeals to the Christian right, given North Carolinas vast evangelical community: Roughly 35% of the states adults identify as evangelical Protestants, according to the Pew Research Center.

Still, Democrats are painting Robinson as radical  bleak and divisive, consumed by spite and hate, as his November opponent, Josh Stein, the states attorney general, said in his victory speech this month. And even some Republicans worry he will struggle to win.

Governors need to be able to project stability on fixing peoples problems, said Paul Shumaker, a veteran Republican strategist in North Carolina. And the question is going to be how, given Mark Robinsons comments, how can he project stability in being able to address the problems that people expect their governor to address?

His approach resembles that of former President Donald Trump, whose messaging also seems likelier to increase base turnout than to win over moderate or independent voters  and who has similarly focused on evangelicals. The former president told pastors at a Christian media gathering last month that he would unleash their political influence, promising, Youre going to be using that power at a level that youve never used it before.

Much like Trump, Robinson has made incendiary remarks a political calling card.

He has made comments widely seen as antisemitic. He once quoted Adolf Hitler on Facebook. He described the Parkland school shooting survivors who pushed for gun control as spoiled, angry, know it all children.

And Robinson, his states first Black elected lieutenant governor, has disparaged the African American community as one that celebrates the very lawlessness and violence that is killing its future right in front of them. He also called Black Americans hypocrites who remain silent while they murder each other in abortion clinics and gang shootouts but then raise hell when a white cop shoots a Black criminal.

A spokesperson for Robinson, Mike Lonergan, said in a statement that the candidate was a man who is very bold and outspoken about his Christian faith and added that as lieutenant governor, Robinson believed we dont live in a theocracy; we live in a constitutional republic.

If and when he should become governor, he will take the oath and duties of his office with the utmost respect, working to make North Carolina better for people of all backgrounds and walks of life; by growing our economy, reforming our schools and creating a culture of life that does more to support mothers and families, Lonergan said.

Robinson, 55, a former furniture factory worker who is married with two children, burst onto the political scene with a fiery speech defending gun rights at a Greensboro City Council meeting in 2018 that garnered millions of online views. He quickly parlayed that fame into speaking gigs at gun rallies, then filed to run for lieutenant governor, winning the position in 2020. He has repeated Trumps false notion that the 2020 election was stolen.

Robinson has the advantage of running in a rightward-leaning state that has voted Republican in every presidential election since 2008. Yet Democrats including President Joe Biden see North Carolina as newly competitive thanks to its rapid demographic changes, with more people of color moving there.

The state has also proved reluctant to choose a Republican as its leader, electing just one to the governors office since 1993.

That lone GOP governor, Pat McCrory, said in an interview that Robinson was part of a growing trend of candidates who tell people what they want to hear, not necessarily what they need to hear. He added that bluster and controversy were not necessarily appealing in a governors race.

When voters look at Robinson, McCrory asked, will they see a chief executive?

Some Republican leaders in the state say they have asked Robinson and his team to address his more troubling past remarks. They worry he will alienate moderate voters and miss out on vital funding, with Stein and allied groups widely expected to outraise Robinson.

Were going to have a vigorous conversation about Mark  about where hes going, about what he can do or should do to address the issues in front of him, because hes got to tackle them head-on, said Wayne Schaeffer, chair of the Bladen County Republican Party.

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Robinson has often appeared at evangelical churches, where he espouses some of his most conservative views.

That baby in your womb aint no clump of cells, and if you kill that child, youre guilty of murder, he said in August 2021 at the Upper Room Church of God in Christ in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The same summer, he told congregants at Asbury Baptist Church in Seagrove, North Carolina, that theres no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality or any of that filth. And yes, I called it filth.

As lieutenant governor, Robinson also holds a seat on the State Board of Education. Soon after taking office in 2021, he convened a task force to prove that racial and sexual indoctrination prevailed in North Carolinas schools, soliciting complaints from parents through an online portal.

They poured in, and the task forces report was filled with anonymous anecdotes about racial and LGBTQ+ issues arising in schools, as well as a few accusations of negative teachings about Christians.

Riding this conservative backlash, the states Legislature passed a bill in 2022 to restrict how racism and sexism were taught. Cooper vetoed the measure.

Robinson has also blamed the lack of formalized religion in public schools as a reason for societal problems like school shootings.

Do you not think that maybe if in the homeroom, before school started every day, if you were singing Amazing Grace, giving God some praises and introducing his word back in that school, his wisdom back into those schools, maybe them schools wouldnt be getting shot up to begin with? Robinson said at an evangelical event in November 2021.

He has met regularly with religious groups while in office. In January 2023, he met with the NC Values Coalition, a conservative organization, to discuss banning abortion once a heartbeat is detected  which is usually around six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant.

Intrigued, Robinson asked which legislators needed encouragement to support such a measure, according to records obtained by American Oversight, a watchdog group.

The NC Values Coalition followed up with sample legislation and nine state senators and 26 state representatives to target. Robinsons chief of staff distributed the list to other members of his office to look into, the records show.

Though a so-called heartbeat bill did not ultimately make it through the Legislature, Republicans used their supermajority to pass a 12-week abortion ban in May.

On one of the greatest priorities for Trump and his loyal followers  denying the legitimacy of the 2020 election  Robinson has kept a bit more distance in North Carolina.

He has supported legislation that would tighten voting laws and give Republicans more control over local election boards. And he testified before the U.S. House of Representatives against a Democratic-backed elections proposal.

But election activists in North Carolina say he has sent them mixed signals, expressing openness to meeting with them yet refusing invitations to join their internal calls and meetings. He also ignored their calls for a forensic audit of the 2020 results, they said.

He gives great speeches, but not about our issues, said Jay DeLancy, who started a group that has pushed unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud.

Still, he said, he planned to support Robinson in the fall.

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Most of us arent business analysts, but Id guess if I were to ask you if a company like, say, Google, was successful, youd say yes.

And if I was to ask the same thing about Nike or Apple or Dell Technologies or Intel or JP Morgan Chase Bank or TD Bank or General Mills or Home Depot or American Express or Progressive Insurance, you would say yes again.

And youd be correct.

Now, what if I told you that one of the attributes that makes these companies what they are, one of the things about which they are most proud, was described by Republican Arizona state Sen. Wendy Rogers as rot?

Its their diversity.

Rogers equates diversity with 'rot'

According to Forbes Magazine, the businesses listed above are among the 100 best employers in America for diversity.

Rogers apparently hates the thought of that.

She and fellow Republicans are among those supporting House Concurrent Resolution 2056, an attempt to get Arizona voters to end the pursuit of a diverse workforce within state government.

In a hearing last week, Rogers said in part that an obsession with diversity has created a rot in our military and industry, in education, in aviation  .

She represents another kind of 'rot'

Id guess that the very successful companies listed above, among many, many others, might disagree.

However, a person could argue that there is a rot in a political party in which one of its elected officials praises a white nationalist, as Rogers has done several times with Nick Fuentes.

Or when that same elected official talks of being honored by the endorsement of a notorious antisemite like Andrew Torba, which Rogers also has done.

Election threat gets prison: Real culprits walk free

Or when that same state senator suggests on right-wing social media that the racist who killed 10 people in a supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y., might have been part of a federal conspiracy, saying on the site Telegram, Fed boy summer has started in Buffalo.

Rogers' reviled 'rot' is actually you

Or when this same election-denying, conspiracy-spreading politician suggested that her political opponents should be hanged.

There are several Arizona companies mentioned in the Forbes list, as well as in a similar list published by Newsweek, which noted Arizona Public Service, Arizona State University, Honor Health and Microchip Technology.

The fact that these businesses are diverse means there are individuals working there of different ages, races, genders, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and ethnicities.

Look around. Look in the mirror.

The rot that Rogers vilifies and reviles is  you.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sen. Wendy Rogers bares her inner bigot, calls diversity 'a rot'
Fernando Antunes, left, and Bruno Stefani, both of Sao Paulo, record video of themselves on the escalator at the Austin Convention Center as they dive into Friday's South by Southwest activities. (Credit: Jay Janner/American-Statesman)

Abbott's right: Bands that pulled out

of SXSW fest shouldn't come back

Re: March 12 article, `When some bands pull out of SXSW over military affiliations, Abbott says good riddance'

May I suggest that going forward the organizers of the music for South by Southwest try to do a much better job in vetting the bands they invite to perform. The Statesman reports that because of the inclusion of military-affiliated organizations in the week-long activities, more than 40 bands pulled out of SXSW in protest. What a joke! Certainly, its the bands loss and not that of SXSW or Austin.

I agree with Gov. Abbott 100% in his comment of Bye. Dont come back. South by Southwest objects, however, and issued a terse reply saying, SXSW does not agree with Governor Abbott. Thats very unfortunate and drastically diminishes any respect I ever had for SXSW.

Newt Hasson, Austin

What would happen if Travis County

seceded from the nation of Texas?

Should Texas secede from the Union, hopefully they'll find a new Capitol. Muleshoe comes to mind. Then Travis County could secede from Texas, apply for and obtain USA statehood, thus preserving Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, military protection, etc. And we would send two Democrats to the U.S. Senate.

Best of all, if someone from the new nation of "Texas" wanted to come to SXSW, they'd need a passport.

Brady Coleman, Austin

It's puzzling why many rural Texans

vote for GOP, against their interests

Can someone explain why rural people vote Republican? Perhaps they had their reasons long ago but it no longer makes sense. Republicans are the party of Big Business, not farmers.

They have refused to expand Medicaid in a number of red states and the result is some rural hospitals had to close. They constantly seek to make new tax breaks for the very rich while most farmers are not wealthy. Worse, they have, for years sought to destroy Social Security and Medicare which many rural people depend on. And then there is Obamacare, which a number use for lack of any other plan. Currently some GOP leaders are trying to force school choice on everyone which is comparable to defunding public schools to give people money for private schools. Rural areas often have only public schools and the money given to parents wouldn't pay all of the fees of many schools.

Rural people should think more about their (voting) choices.

Joanne Brininstool, Austin

The $200 registration fee for EV cars

is a political penalty. How is that fair?

The legislature determined a $200 additional registration fee for electric cars is fair since there is no gas tax for a driver of an electric car. It is certainly true that electric car drivers should help defray the cost of road maintenance (not that there is much of that to be seen). The current tax per gallon of gas is currently set at twenty cents per gallon.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation's website the average driver pays $9.52 a month in state fuel taxes. Of this, a nickel goes to public education. So, if we use TXDOT's numbers, the average gas car driver is paying $114 per year while electric car drivers are paying $200 per year. How is that fair? It can only be seen as a political stunt to support the oil and gas industry.

Jon Percy, Austin

SXSW's star power was nurtured

in safe learning environments

Some may wonder why an education conference precedes the SXSW festival here in Austin.

Attend a session on liberated socio-emotional teaching practices or cultivating growth mindsets and youll understand why.

The work of educators, policymakers and community leaders builds the foundation for future artists, musicians, and filmmakers. They create psychologically safe learning environments that cultivate mindsets of growth and empowerment.

The Meghan Markles and Dev Patels of the world, who draw huge crowds at SXSW, have life stories built upon the commitment of educators.

When we gather to explore art, film and music, we must remember that future artists are experiencing environments plagued by socially constructed barriers. Students are navigating agendas that stifle emotional growth, diminish learning opportunities, and fail to celebrate unique identities, whether through anti-CRT (critical race theory) politics or nation-sweeping book bans.

Gatherings like SXSW EDU remind educators that the burden of resisting these forces is not one they carry alone.

Autumn Robinson, Manager of Operations and Sales Analytics, Equal Opportunity Schools, Austin

The bygone days of full service:

Self-checking is a form of abuse

I remember the gas station attendants who came out and pumped my gas, washed my windows, checked my oil and tires.

Theyre long gone. Who did that benefit? Not the customers!

Jobs disappeared and the oil companies and their investors got richer.

If you self-check, self-bag, and pay exorbitant prices, then you need to self-check yourself into therapy for self-abuse.

Mary Alice Altorfer, New Braunfels

To avoid catastrophe, elect climate

champions who will take action

I'm a grandmother who grieves the loss of the natural world and am committed to decisive action to protect the earth for future generations.

2023 was the hottest year on record - likely the hottest the human species has ever experienced.

And it's just going to get hotter - until we stop putting more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere each year than we draw down. The only way to get there in time to avoid catastrophic, irreversible consequences is if we elect climate champions who will make the changes we need now.

Climate champions are those who support goals based on best science, have clear plans to achieve them, and are committed to public accountability to get it done. Please make sure voters know we must have climate champions at all levels and know who those champions are in the general elections. While this can seem impossible in Texas and the prominence of oil and gas industries, it makes it even more important to get the message out.

Judith Liro, Austin

How to submit a letter to the editor

Send letters of no more than 150 words by using our online form at https://bit.ly/3Crmkcf or send an email to letters@statesman.com.

We welcome your letters on all topics. Include your name and city of residence; we do not publish anonymous letters.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Abbott tells SXSW bands 'Bye,' and what if Texas seceded | Letters
Carbon-free energy generation in Canada is being fast-tracked following a government announcement that approval processes for nuclear power projects will be made quicker.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson said that while the process to construct these facilities will be much faster, they will not be excluded from federal environmental reviews.

As Reuters reports, the province of Ontario specifically requested that this factor remain in the approval stages, but Wilkinson anticipates that legislative revisions to the Impact Assessment Act will be kept to a minimum to prevent time-consuming consultations.

It's clear that Canada is keen to bring nuclear projects to fruition as quickly as possible. Moving away from dirty fuel sources like coal, oil, and gas for energy generation is essential to reduce planet-warming pollution that exacerbates global heating.

This is a particular concern in Canada, which experienced some of the most devastating wildfires the country has ever seen in 2023. Rising temperatures lead to hotter, drier conditions that make wildfires more likely, so to prevent further mass-burning events occurring in years to come, cutting pollution as soon as possible will be important.

Nuclear energy does have its critics  with the Chernobyl disaster still in the minds of many and environmentalists worried about the possibility of toxic waste  but it is still seen as one of the most effective ways to meet rising energy demands without producing more pollution.

While solar and wind power are tried, tested, and safe, they depend on specific weather conditions to produce power efficiently. Meanwhile, solar generation isn't possible at night. Nuclear energy, however, can be produced all day, every day.

According to Reuters, Canada is the world's second-largest uranium producer, but regulatory processes have held up mining for it.

NexGen Energy, a uranium mining company, is hoping the government policy will help to reduce the waiting time to obtain this material and bring carbon-free power to Canadians faster.

"It's a very long process," NexGen CEO Leigh Curyer told Reuters, observing the delays the industry faces at the moment. "Government and industry working together to bring these projects online more expeditiously, that is absolutely key."

With Canada looking to achieve net-zero emissions for its electricity grid by 2035, and be fully net-zero by 2050, nuclear energy is seen as a way to make significant headway on those ambitions.

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Heat pumps are still too expensive and too few people know about them, the government has been warned.

Despite its target, only 55,000 heat pumps were sold in the UK in 2022. Sales must increase dramatically, said the UK's spending watchdog.

To meet UK climate change targets, the government wants to install 600,000 low-carbon heat pumps annually by 2028.

The government told the BBC it was "helping rather than forcing families to install heat pumps".

The National Audit Office (NAO) said ministers were optimistic to think that target could be reached by 2028.

It urged the government to increase public awareness of the green technology and work to reduce costs.

Its director Simon Bittlestone told the BBC: "The government has got some big questions to answer about how it plans to decarbonise home heating."

Heating in UK homes produces 18% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for climate change.

Heat pumps use electricity rather than gas like boilers and, as the UK produces more electricity from renewable energy, fewer emissions will be created by heating our homes this way.

But despite the government's target, only 55,000 heat pumps were sold in the UK in 2022.

In its report, the NAO said that the main reasons for the low uptake are:

limited public awareness of the technology

the higher costs relative to gas boilers

the lack of long-term financial support for households

The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) estimates that air source heat pumps - the most common type for households - costs 10,000 more than a gas boiler on average.

But some energy companies are offering heat pumps as low as 500 with the government grant.

The government told the BBC it had already launched its Welcome Home to Energy Efficiency campaign, which provides information on heat pumps.

But Dr Richard Hauxwell-Baldwin, research and campaigns manager at industry body the MCS Foundation, said: "Information provision is not enough. It is an important first step, but we need consistency, clarity and certainty in the messaging."

He said that at the moment the government has not ruled out hydrogen as an alternative to heat pumps, and this means some gas engineers are recommending homeowners to wait before pursuing heat pumps.

The NAO also drew attention to the government's indecision on hydrogen heating. Last year it cancelled a number of trials designed to gather more information on the feasibility of the technology.

Industry representatives and local authorities told the NAO this uncertainty makes it difficult to invest in heat pumps, which would help to drive down prices for consumers.

The NAO has recommended the government makes a decision on whether hydrogen will be part of the UK's energy home heating system before 2026.

In response to the report, a Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said the Boiler Upgrade Scheme - which offers grants for heat pumps - was helping families with the cost.

The grant was increased last year and applications grew by nearly 40% as a result. On Thursday, the government announced there will no longer be a mandatory requirement for insulation before applying for the grant.

Izzy Woolgar, director at Centre for Net Zero, an independent research unit within Octopus Energy, told the BBC: "It's common knowledge that the UK is falling behind Europe when it comes to decarbonising our homes."

But she welcomed the government's decision to remove the insulation requirement for the grant and said "it could make a big difference" for transferring the UK to heat pumps.

Last week, the government also announced that it is delaying by a year the implementation of fines for boiler manufacturers who do not hit heat pump sales targets.

Jess Ralston, energy analyst at research group the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said that this delay is another example of "dithering and U-turns by No 10" which has caused the delay in heat pump rollout.

She said the decision by the government, "only benefits the big boiler manufacturers and keeps the UK reliant on gas for longer".

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Russian forces struck a village near Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast on the morning of March 18, injuring a 62-year-old man, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Settlements in Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv Oblast are subjected to regular Russian attacks due to their proximity to the front line and the border with Russia.

Russia hit the village of Novoosynove, some 10 kilometers southeast of Kupiansk, at around 7:10 a.m. local time, Syniehubov said on Telegram.

The wounded resident is reportedly receiving medical assistance.

Kupiansk, a crucial strategic city that was temporarily occupied by Russian troops in 2022, and nearby villages have recently been under heavy attacks as Russia intensified assault attempts in the area.

Syniehubov announced on March 7 that local authorities would conduct mandatory evacuation of residents living in communities near Kupiansk.

Read also: Putin wins rigged Russian election; Ukrainians in occupied territories vote at gunpoint

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday as further funding for the war-torn country remains in limbo amid divisions in Congress.

Zelensky hosted Graham in Kyiv, where the two discussed aid for Ukraine, the Ukrainian armys needs and the Eastern European nations eventual integration into NATO, the Ukrainian leader wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Grahams visit comes just weeks after he voted against a $95 billion defense and foreign aid package in the Senate. The bill included $60 billion for Ukraine, including $19.85 billion to restock U.S. military weapons provided from the Pentagons inventory and $13.8 billion to allow Ukraine to buy weapons and munitions from U.S. industry.

The South Carolina Republican is one of the most outspoken GOP advocates for supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia, which surprised and frustrated lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who believed he would help muster up GOP support for the bill.

Defending his vote last month, Graham pointed to his concerns about the border.

Zelensky reiterated his plea to the U.S. on Monday to continue sending aid in support of Ukraine.

It is critical that our partners continue to provide military and technical assistance, such as air defense systems and missiles, Zelensky wrote on X, adding later, The continued support of Ukraine by international partners, particularly the United States, is now more important than ever in implementing plans to de-occupy our territories and protect our people.

In a video of Zelenskys remarks, the president told Graham he is thankful for Congress and the Biden administrations support over the past two years, and he asked the lawmaker what he thinks about future support for the nation.

In the short clip of the beginning of the meeting, Graham offered a stark prediction for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Putin will go down in history the way all people like Putin go down in history, its just a matter of time, he said.

In a statement later shared with The Hill, Graham said he had a productive visit with Zelensky about the state and future of the war. He said he is calling on the Biden administration to send longer-range artillery, accelerate F-16 training for Ukrainians and designate Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.

Increasing division among lawmakers has stalled aid for the Eastern European nation. Congress has not passed a funding bill for Ukraine since the end of 2022, when a Democratic majority passed its fourth aid package for the country.

The $95 billion supplemental still passed in the upper chamber in a 70-29 vote after 22 Republicans joined the majority of Senate Democrats to pass the package.

The bill was sent to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) insisted on not bringing it to the floor as it lacks the border security measures insisted upon by House GOP members.

Johnson is instead offering up an alternative plan and told Republican senators last week he plans to send them legislation that includes new military funding for Kyiv after the House considers a separate spending package to prevent a government shutdown this Friday.

He noted that this will look significantly different from the Senates $95 billion package and floated the idea of making the Houses foreign aid package a loan or lend-lease program to relieve some of the burden on U.S. taxpayers.

Graham expressed his support for turning foreign aid into a loan during Mondays meeting.

During my meeting with President Zelensky, I informed him that given the crisis at the United States southern border and our overwhelming debt, President Trumps idea of turning aid from the United States into a no-interest, waivable loan is the most likely path forward. This is not only true for aid for Ukraine, but for other countries across the board. I reiterated that the Houses Ukraine aid legislation must include some American border security provisions, he wrote.

The plan, however, has raised several questions about exactly how Johnson intends to get both funding for Kyiv and the stricter border security measures into one package and how he will shore up Democratic support if he strays too far from the Senate-passed foreign aid package.

 Updated at 5:08 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Great Lakes levels expected to be down this summer, still higher than average

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The latest forecast from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers expects water levels on the Great Lakes to come down this summer, closer to average.

Lake levels typically wane in the fall and winter and rise in the spring and summer, but lower snow totals and higher evaporation rates from a lack of ice will slow down this years swing.

Data: Great Lakes hit record low for ice levels

According to the USACEs February water level summary, Lake Michigan-Huron  counted together because the two lakes share a basin  is currently four inches above its long-term average for February.

Forecasts expect Michigan-Huron to be between 1 and 6 inches below last years lake levels. That would be roughly 32 inches below the record highs, and only 1 to 3 inches above the long-term average.

Data: All 5 Great Lakes at record lows for ice cover

Lake Superior and Lake Ontario are expected to come in below long-term average levels this summer, while Lake Erie is expected to stay 6 to 13 inches above the long-term average.

The Great Lakes saw a surge in the 2010s after setting a record low in 2013. The high levels led to widespread erosion, which meant less room on beaches. In some cases, it even meant houses or other parts of property lost to the lake.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Police say a group of men barged into the hostel on Saturday night

Police in India have arrested five people after some international students were assaulted in a university hostel while offering Ramadan prayers.

Officials say a heated argument about the location of the prayers led to the physical attack in Gujarat University in western India on Saturday.

Police sources said five students were treated for injuries.

India's foreign ministry said that the Gujarat government was taking "strict action" against the perpetrators.

GS Malik, the police commissioner of Ahmedabad city, told reporters that around two dozen people entered the hostel on Saturday night and objected to the students offering prayers, asking them to do so in a mosque.

"They argued over the issue, assaulting them and hurling stones. They also vandalised their rooms," he said, adding that a team had been formed to investigate the case.

Another senior police official, Tarun Duggal, told BBC Gujarati that the names of the five arrested men are Hitesh Mewada, Bharat Patel, Shitij Pandey, Jitendra Patel and Sunil Dudhirua. They have not made any public statement while in police custody. He added that more people may be arrested soon.

Police have not confirmed whether the men are connected to any political or religious organisations.

Reporters from BBC Gujarati who visited the spot on Saturday said that they saw stones and broken vehicles at the scene. Videos circulating online showed a mob raising Hindu religious slogans as they attacked the students, vandalised vehicles and pelted stones.

Reporters from BBC Gujarati saw stones and broken glass at the scene

Three of the injured students have been discharged from hospital while two others are in a stable condition.

Navid Siddique, a student from Afghanistan who was injured in the attack, told the Times of India newspaper that he and other students were offering Taraweeh, a special nightly prayer occurring during Ramadan, when three people entered the hostel and began questioning them.

"An argument ensued and they returned with a larger mob armed with stones, iron pipes and attacked us. They went on a rampage in the hostel assaulting students in their rooms and damaging property and vehicles," he told the newspaper.

Noman, another student from Afghanistan, told BBC Gujarati that similar incidents had happened before. "There is a lot of risk here for students from other countries," he alleged.

Police say around 300 foreign students - many from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and African countries - study at the university. Reports say the injured students were in India with scholarships from the federal government-backed Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

The BBC has emailed university officials for comment.

Dr Neerja A Gupta, vice-chancellor of Gujarat University, told reporters over the weekend that there had been tensions between the foreign students and the attackers for some time.

"As per the information available with me, this (prayers) is not the main issue," she told reporters.

Dr Gupta said the foreign students would be shifted to new hostels with better security and facilities.

This is not the first time that tensions have played out over Muslims offering prayers in India. In 2021, Muslims offering namaz in public places in Gurgaon faced regular interruptions and protests from members of Hindu hard-line groups.

Earlier this month, a policeman in Delhi was suspended after he was caught on camera kicking Muslim men offering namaz on the side of a road.

Read more India stories from the BBC:
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. It is very important that there is a lasting peace settlement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with AZERTAC, Trend reports.

"For us, it is very important that there is a lasting peace settlement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and I welcome the message from President Ilham Aliyev yesterday, when we had a dinner and at a press conference and meeting, where he stated very clearly that you are now closer to a peace agreement than ever before. There are some remaining issues that have to be solved, but I really hope that both parties, both Azerbaijan and Armenia, seize this opportunity to find and to agree a peace agreement, to establish the conditions for a lasting peace because peace and stability in this region is of course, very important for the people who live in this region. Its important for creating the conditions and framework for investments for prosperity. Because we know that peace and stability is precondition for any economic development and economic growth. Peace and stability in this region matters for international peace and security. So it is in the interest of NATO allies to have lasting peace. So therefore, I strongly believe that everything should be done to ensure lasting peace and security, he said.
Chef Marc Veyrat tried to sue the guide after losing a star (JACQUES DEMARTHON)

As director of the Michelin Guide for the past five years, Gwendal Poullennec has the power to make the most hardened kitchen masters tremble in their chef's hat.

Poullennec's motto, according to team members, is "On the move" -- which he applies to himself as much as the famous red guidebook he has helped spread around the world.

The 44-year-old walks fast and likes to burn off all the calories on his bike -- he has 14,000 km on its counter.

One bitter chef also remarked that he can spend as little as 30 seconds on the phone with those who lose one of the Michelin Guide's intensely coveted stars.

Poullennec's power can be measured by the great number of "no comments" that his name arouses when AFP asks for comment from people in the industry.

But that is the power of the Michelin Guide rather than the man himself, he insists.

"I'm just passing through, I'm here to ensure continuity," he told AFP.

Growing up between western France and the outskirts of Paris, Poullennec's family did not frequent a lot of restaurants.

But after studying business, he joined the Michelin group, hoping to be part of its gastronomic guide.

After a stint in the tyre factory, he got his wish.

The key trait you need, he says, is a "good appetite" and, as AFP witnessed over lunch in Paris, to enjoy finishing other people's dishes out of curiosity.

He recalled his first -- gargantuan -- meal after joining the guide's team. It was in Burgundy, the mecca of French gastronomy, where he was served an "entire casserole of tripe" and a "salad bowl of chocolate mousse".

- 'Simple and comprehensible' -

Poullennec's break came when he was sent to Japan in 2006 to launch the Michelin's Tokyo edition -- not a simple task in a country so protective of its codified culinary traditions.

As well as getting to eat "sushi by the tonne", he saw the edition become a big success.

"We sold half a million copies, more than Harry Potter!" he said.

By 2018, he had worked his way up the ranks to be named director of the guide following the retirement of American Michael Ellis.

Poullennec has overseen a new era, including an inevitable shift to an online-first strategy, the acquisition of upstart young competitor Le Fooding, and the spread of the guide to new destinations around the world.

Before his trip to Japan, there were only 10, all in Europe. Today, there are 45 editions across several continents.

It is also expanding into hotels. One of Poullennec's first moves was to buy booking website Tablet, and in the next few weeks Michelin will launch its first hotel reviews (the best receiving keys instead of stars).

Father of five daughters, Poullennec likes cooking family meals and making his own bread. In restaurants, he looks for "simple and comprehensible cuisine" but "with mastery".

He refuses to name his favourite dish for fear of being served it ad nauseam, and he generally keeps quiet about his views on particular meals.

Inevitably, the job has made him some enemies.

Star chef Marc Veyrat tried to sue the guide in 2019 after a vehement dispute over a supposed touch of cheddar in his souffle (cheddar being considered far too cheap an ingredient for a respectable French chef) and the loss of his third star.

There was also an outcry when the Michelin downgraded some restaurants in 2021 at the height of the industry's nightmarish Covid-19 slump.

In order to remain respected by readers, such incidents are "difficult but necessary," said Poullennec.

He knows many of France's top chefs personally, sometimes exchanging recipes with them, but insists he keeps a distance from them when it comes to the guide.

A recommendation from Michelin "is based on talent, not on reputation, and even less on how influential they are," he concluded.

dar/may/er/rlp
Almost two weeks after Super Tuesday, California elections offices are still counting ballots cast in the 2024 Presidential Primary Election, including results in two California Legislature races and one U.S. House race.

As of Monday, March 18, two candidates running for California's Congressional District 1 and State Senate District 1 have solid leads.

But three of the four candidates running for Megan Dahle's State Assembly District 1 seat are in a tight race for the top two spots that advance to the General Election on Nov. 5.

Heather Hadwick of Modoc County continues to hold the lead in the assembly race with 35.7% of the votes. She overwhelmingly won in Siskiyou County with 56.9% of the vote, but lags behind in third place with 22.8% in Shasta County.

California Assembly District 1 candidates in the Presidential Primary Election on March 5, 2024. Left to right: Mark Mezzano, Melissa Hunt, Tenessa Audette and Heather Hadwick.

Redding Mayor Tenessa Audette of Redding is holding on to second place with 29.3% of votes district wide. But Redding City Councilman Mark Mezzano is just a few points behind, with 25.5% of district-wide votes, so it's still possible Mezzano could advance to November.

In Shasta County, Audette is winning second place with 27.7% of votes behind Mezzano, who so far received 35.9%.

Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know.

But neither Redding candidate was popular with Siskiyou County voters, who placed Audette in a distant second with 19.2% and Mezzano with 17.1%, both behind Hadwick.

With 9.6% of votes district-wide, Anderson Vice Mayor Melissa Hunt remains a distant fourth.

Candidates running for U.S. Representative for California's District 1 in the Presidential Primary Election on March 5, 2024.

Voters decide which candidates advance in State Senate, Congressional District 1 races

While more results are pending, the top two candidates advancing to November in California's Congressional District 1 and State Senate District 1 races are likely clear cut.

Incumbent Doug LaMalfa leads the U.S. Congressional race with 66.6% of votes, ahead of Democratic challengers Rose Penelope Yee (22.7%) and Mike Doran (10.7%).

More: Shasta Supervisor Kevin Crye barely surviving in recall election for Redding's District 1

Yee will earn a spot on the November ballot with LaMalfa if she still holds second place when counties certify election results by the April 4 deadline.

Since only two candidates ran for State Senate District 1 in the primaries, the March 5 outcome was decided before votes were tallied.

Entrepreneur David Fennell of Chico and Assemblywoman Megan Dahle of Bieber are candidates for California State Senate, District 1 in 2024

California Assemblywoman Megan Dahle has a landslide lead with 77.2% of the vote over fellow Republican David Fennell of Chico. The Bieber businesswoman and current assemblywoman won 83.1% of Siskiyou County and 76.8% of Shasta County voters  almost as many as she won in her home county Lassen, where she so far pulled in 83.4% of votes.

Ballots were still being counted as of Monday, county elections offices reported.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: North State races: Who leads in bid for state legislature, U.S. House?
As Haiti spirals into chaos after weeks of gang violence, the first rescue charter flight took off from the Caribbean nation and landed in Miami Sunday afternoon, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News.

All 47 passengers on board are believed to be Americans and the flight was reserved only for those who had U.S. passports, the official said.

The flight took off from the city of Cap-Haitien, about a five-and-a-half-hour drive north from the capital of Port-au-Prince, which is largely under the control of gangs.

The U.S. State Department announced the charter flight on X Saturday, providing a link for an application for those who wanted to get on it. It warned that U.S. citizens should consider the flight only if they could reach the Cap-Haitien airport safely.

SENATE VOTES TO CONFIRM US AMBASSADOR TO HAITI AMID GANG ATTEMPT TO SEIZE POWER IN CARIBBEAN COUNTRY

This comes days after the State Department said there were no immediate plans to evacuate American citizens, citing the many warnings not to travel to Haiti over the last four years.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Meanwhile, the non-profit Project Dynamo is working on rescuing at least 40 Americans by air or sea. Its not clear if any of those people were on board Sundays charter flight.

Members of the General Security Unit of the National Palace, USGPN, set up a security perimeter around one of the three downtown stations after police fought off an attack by gangs the day before, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Saturday, March 9, 2024.

The State Department says it is aware of at least several hundred more American citizens who are still stuck in Haiti.

Sundays flight comes after the U.S. flew in military forces to beef up security and evacuate non-essential personnel at the American embassy.

PENTAGON ALERTED TO POTENTIAL MARITIME MASS MIGRATION FROM HAITI AMID CARIBBEAN NATION'S SPIRALING CONFLICT

The United States flew in military forces last week to beef up security at the American Embassy and seemingly quash speculation that senior U.S. government officials might be leaving.

Gangs have raged through Haiti in recent weeks, attacking key institutions and shutting down the main international airport. The chaos has pushed many Haitians to the brink of famine and left many more in increasingly desperate conditions.

The violence has left Haiti's government in a state of turmoil and prompted Prime Minister Ariel Henry to pledge that he would resign once a key transitional council was in place.





Original article source: Haiti rescue charter flight carrying Americans lands in Miami as gang violence escalates
The worsening crisis in Haiti has leaders in South Floridas large Haitian American community alarmed and searching for solutions that never seem to come.

Every day in Haiti people are being murdered, are being raped, killed. Houses, properties are being set ablaze in total impunity. This is what Haiti is living today, Frandley Julien said Monday. This is the most severe crisis Haiti has seen in more than 100 years.

Its so bad, Julien said, that every morning when he wakes up he immediately checks WhatsApp to make sure that everybody is still alive. His father lives in Haiti.

Julien, who regularly appears on Haitian radio and television, is a former prosecutor who practices law in North Miami Beach, which has a large Haitian American community.

When the phone rings from Haiti, we hesitate before we pick up, Julien said Monday in a video news conference, explaining that was not unique to him, but the experience of everybody in the Haitian community.

State Rep. Marie Woodson, D-Hollywood, who was born in Haiti and has relatives there, said people are going hungry because the gang-fueled violence is so pervasive they cant leave their homes to get food.

Others have been thrown out of their homes by gangs, and forced to live on the street, she said.

The situation in Haiti really weighs on my heart. Its also deeply frustrating, she said. I feel helpless. The U.S. and the rest of the international community, she added, cannot afford to turn a blind eye to Haiti anymore.

Julien and Woodson appeared with former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, a Democrat running against U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.

Its an issue that hits close to home for many in Florida where, Woodson estimated, the Haitian community numbers about 500,000, most of whom she said are first-generation Americans who, like her children, were born in the U.S.

Besides his family ties to Haiti, Julien sees the results in his practice as an immigration attorney. One client recently told him that its better to be undocumented (in the United States) than dead (in Haiti), Julien said.

Woodson called for compassion to people who flee Haiti and make it to Florida.

These are human beings. Those are mothers, those are fathers. They are not fleeing Haiti just because (they) want to leave Haiti, she said. If it was your family or anybody else who were in this situation, you would use compassion, you would reach out and see how you can help instead of just standing by to send them back to what they are leaving.

Mucarsel-Powell immigrated from Ecuador to the U.S as a teenager, along with her mother and sisters. I know exactly what it feels like to fear for the safety of your home country and for the family that you left behind.

Even though Haiti is about 700 miles from South Florida, Mucarsel-Powell said youd think that it doesnt even exist sometimes based on the way that our leaders have completely turned a deaf ear to the Haitian community.

Mucarsel-Powell said the impact of the crisis extends beyond the Haitian community in the U.S. The instability in Haiti not only is threatening the lives of its citizens, but its also posing a security risk to the United States.

She called for federal humanitarian spending, U.S. government support for law enforcement in Haiti and for the Organization of American States to organize joint support for Haitian people.

Theres some politics at play, as both parties have sought in recent years to build support among Haitian Americans who are citizens and can vote.

Mucarsel-Powell cited the widely reported practice of Haitian gangs buying weapons in Florida and smuggling them back to Haiti. She said Florida, with its Republican-controlled government, needs to make it more difficult for criminals from other countries to buy weapons in the state.

The Mucarsel-Powell camp criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis. And Scott, the Republican she hopes to unseat, used it to criticize President Joe Biden.

In an interview that aired Sunday on the WTVJ-Ch. 6s Impact program, Scott said the situation in Haiti is Bidens fault, though he didnt explain how.

It seems like everything Biden touches falls apart, Scott said. His foreign policy has completely failed us.

Scott said he stands with the Haitian people, and praised Floridas Haitian community, but didnt directly answer a question about what actions hed take.

I think we need to understand what we can do to bring peace and stability and opportunity for the Haitians. We have a great Haitian community in Florida. I do everything I can to be helpful to them. But this is, this is just devastating whats happened with these gangs, and the death and, and all this stuff. So weve got to look at this very seriously to see what we can do, Scott said.

_____
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during the Leadership Forum at the National Rifle Association annual meeting held at the George R. Brown Convention Center Friday, May 27, 2022, in Houston.

WASHINGTON  A majority of the Supreme Court sounded ready Monday to stick with the current standard for how much government officials can say about businesses they regulate, but left uncertain how that would resolve a case involving the National Rifle Association.

The NRA contends New York regulators went too far in pressuring insurance companies and banks to stop doing business with the group because of its gun advocacy. Under Supreme Court precedent, government officials can use their bully pulpit to persuade people or groups to take action, but not coerce them.

But the New York Department of Financial Services insists the NRA and three insurance companies admitted to peddling unlawful policies. Criticism of the NRA by the departments superintendent, Maria Vullo, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo coincided with the enforcement action rather than dictated it, according to government lawyers.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh said he was surprised to see the Justice Departments solicitor general acknowledging that Vullo may have gone too far in a meeting urging Lloyds of London not to do business with the NRA.

It's a bit jarring, I guess, for me that the solicitor general is on the other side from you in this case, given that the solicitor general represents the United States, Kavanaugh said.

Neal Katyal, a lawyer representing the New York regulators, agreed that government officials cant coerce action. But the former acting solicitor general argued if the high court allows lawsuits to challenge enforcement from organizations that have already admitted breaking the law, it will open the door to widespread lawsuits claiming retaliation from regulators.

They were doing massively illegal things, Katyal said of NRA and three insurance companies that marketed insurance policies through it.

Justice Samuel Alito grilled Ephraim McDowell, assistant to the solicitor general, in a sarcastic way whether the federal government was angling for ways to allow New York organizations to pressure organizes.

They gilded the lily or whatever the phrase is. I mean, they were ham-handed about this. The people up in New York are rubes," Alito said to laughter. "They dont really understand how to do this. If you do this in a more sophisticated manner, you can achieve what you want to achieve.

Ephraim McDowell, assistant to the solicitor general, said the high court should consider all of Vullo's messaging, not just a letter sent to insurance companies and banks warning of "reputational risks" from doing business with the NRA may have gone too far. The letter urged businesses to review their relationship with the NRA and "take prompt actions to managing these risks."

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during the Leadership Forum at the National Rifle Association annual meeting held at the George R. Brown Convention Center Friday, May 27, 2022, in Houston.

Why did the NRA sue New York regulators?

The NRA dealt with insurance policies it was offering members. The NRA began marketing policies 2000 and in April 2017 created policies called Carry Guard, to cover expenses from using a legal firearm in self-defense. "Carry Guard" policies were administered by Lockton and underwritten by insurance companies Chubb and Lloyds of London.

But the Department of Financial Services began investigating in October 2017 and Chubb and Lockton suspended the Carry Guard program the next month.

By February 2018, in the aftermath of a horrific school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Vullo began meeting with insurance executives who did business with NRA. What was said is disputed, but Lloyds of London decided to stop underwriting firearm-related policies that month.

On April 19, 2018, Vullo sent guidance letters to New York banks and insurance companies in the wake of several recent horrific shootings, listing Columbine High School, Sandy Hook Elementary School and a Las Vegas music festival. Vullo said the social backlash against the NRA and other gun-rights groups is demanding change now.

They are seeking to penalize the NRA because of its speech advocating for gun rights, said David Cole, the national legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation who argued for the NRA.

How did New York regulators respond?

The Department of Financial Services determined the NRAs insurance products were unlawfully marketed because the group lacked the necessary license. The department also bars insurance for intentional acts and criminal defense costs such as "Carry Guard," which critics nicknamed murder insurance."

In May 2018, two of the insurance companies admitted to unlawfully providing insurance in New York and agreed to pay $7 million from Lockton and $1.3 million from Chubb. In December 2018, Lloyds acknowledged violating state law and agreed to pay a $5 million fine.

The NRA agreed to pay $2.5 million and to refrain from offering insurance in New York for five years.

We think it was an exercise of legitimate law enforcement, Katyal said.

March For Our Lives Fort Worth event on the court house steps in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 24, 2018, after the Feb. 14 attack at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead. Protesters denounced the National Rifle Association.

NRA wants to challenge 'scarlet letter' of criticism from regulators

Justices asked Cole how the NRA would like to resolve the case. Cole said the existing test for how far regulators can go would be fine.

Thats about all I need, Kavanaugh said to laughter.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett also asked whether the case would break any new ground. Cole said it would not.

Justice Neil Gorsuch cited the 60-year-old precedent called Bantam Books as the benchmark for prohibiting government officials from coercing people to stifle their free speech.

It seems like we're all in agreement that the law here is clearly established under Bantam Books and it's just a matter of application, Gorsuch said. Is that right?

Cole argued that the high court could send the case back to lower courts so the NRA could challenge Vullos advocacy, remove her guidance letter citing the reputational risk of dealing with NRA that remains on the departments web site and the legitimacy of canceling the insurance policies.

The real damage in terms of putting the scarlet letter on the NRA comes from her public actions, Cole said of Vullo. I would urge you to address the whole picture here.

The Justice Department weighed in on the case because prosecutors and regulators warned about the Supreme Court opening the floodgates to more lawsuits.

What Im worried about is your position ultimately reducing to any time a regulator enforces the law against an entity that does business with an advocacy organization, we have a First Amendment violation, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told the NRA lawyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court considers curbing New York regulators dealing with NRA
The Republican Partys nominee to face President Joe Biden could be facing a financial crisis on top of a mountain of legal obligations, including 88 criminal charges, with at least one criminal trial and verdict expected before Election Day.

In a revealing court filing on 18 March, lawyers for Donald Trump said that he has tried to get help from at least 30 companies who can post a bond in excess of $454m after he lost a civil fraud trial in New York earlier this year.

But none of them could, and now he faces the practical impossibility of coming up with the money before the states imminent deadline to enforce the judgment against him, according to his attorneys.

The extraordinary circumstances also raise the prospect of the GOPs presidential nominee being a convicted felon on the hook for tens of millions of dollars he doesnt have when voters cast their ballots in November.

Mr Trump also cannot get rid of debts obtained by fraud by filing for bankruptcy.

Trump argues to block enforcement while he appeals

Last month, Mr Trump got some relief after a judge agreed to halt a part of the judgment that would have effectively barred him from being able to borrow money. His lawyers sought that relief so that he could secure a bond as he appeals, they wrote in court filings.

Now, his legal team is asking a state appellate court to pause enforcement of the financial portion of the judgment, even if hes not able to afford the bond that would pause collections while hes appealing the entire ruling.

His attorneys have requested oral arguments to make their case.

Trump can keep trying to borrow money

A surety bond acts as a kind of paid guarantee to stall enforcement during an appeal.

However, according to his legal team, the companies he approached are unwilling to use his star properties as collateral after a judge found him liable for fraudulently inflating the value of his real estate portfolio.

Those companies do not have the financial strength to handle a bond of this size or are unwilling to accept the risk associated with such a large bond.

Those companies will only accept cash or cash equivalents, such as marketable securities, and typically would require collateral of approximately 120 per cent of the amount of the judgment, which in this case comes to nearly $560m.

Sureties would then likely charge bond premiums of approximately 2 per cent per year with two years in advance  an upfront cost over $18m, according to Mr Trumps attorneys.

That money would not be recoverable, even in the event that Mr Trump wins his appeal.

Letitia James can try to target his assets

Last month, New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office is prepared to target his assets to begin collecting on what a judge determined the former president owes to the state in so-called ill-gotten gains from the result of his manipulated financial statements used to get favourable terms from banks and insurers.

We are prepared to make sure that the judgment is paid to New Yorkers, she said in February.

Ms James would likely need a court order to do so.

Mr Trump, his adult sons, two former Trump Organization executives and the entities associated with the brand-building properties in the Trump real estate empire were ordered to pay more than $464m at the conclusion of a three-year investigation and months-long trial targeting fraud in the familys business.

Defendants were found to have engaged in a decade-long scheme to fraudulently inflate the value of his net worth and assets in annual statements of financial condition that were given to banks and lenders to secure more favourable financing terms for some of his star properties.

The total disgorgement owed that is now owed back to the state  money that is effectively forfeited as ill-gotten gains  amounts to roughly $364m, with an additional $100m in interest.

Post-judgment interest is accruing daily at the rate of 9 per cent per annum, or more than $114,000 for all defendants, including nearly $112,000 for Mr Trump alone.

Mr Trump could theoretically begin selling off his properties to cover the amount, but his attorneys have argued that his real estate assets  like Mar-a-Lago and 40 Wall Street in New York  have far more value than the amount at stake.

Ms James has said that if Mr Trump doesnt have the funds, then we will seek judgment enforcement mechanisms in court and we will ask the judge to seize his assets. Entering a judgment indicates that her office is beginning the process of taking possession of Mr Trumps properties.

Since the civil fraud trial took place in Manhattan, where Trump Tower and 40 Wall Street are located, a judgement there has already been entered. Massive outstanding loans on those properties, though, mean they are unlikely to be among the most at risk of being seized.

Instead, filings dated 7 March revealed that state attorneys have entered the judgment from the Manhattan civil fraud trial with the county clerks office in New Yorks Westchester County  home to the former presidents Seven Springs estate and his Trump National Golf Club Westchester.

Trump will keep raising money as he campaigns

During a taped deposition in the case last year, Mr Trump claimed that he has more than $400m in cash available to him.

His 2021 statement of financial condition  the documents at the centre of the fraud case, and the most recent available from the trial  stated that he had roughly $294m in cash, a figure that Ms James alleged is inflated.

Mr Trumps legal battles raise significant questions about the state of his finances and how and where he intends to raise millions of dollars for his litigation, with the office of the presidency and a victory to reclaim the White House serving as a potential shield against liability.

He already has secured a nearly $92m bond in his appeal of a defamation verdict stemming from E Jean Carrolls lawsuit against the former president.

He was required to put up 110 per cent of the $83.3m judgment to pause collections while the appeal plays out.

Mr Trump lined up a loan through the Federal Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the Chubb Corporation, whose CEO was appointed to a trade advisory committee during the Trump administration.

But that company does not appear to be prepared to support his bond in his fraud verdict.

Chubb told Mr Trump that the company would be unwilling to accept real estate as collateral, according to Mr Trumps attorneys.

Mr Trumps campaign fundraising arms have collected millions of dollars from supporters to pay off his legal fees and attorneys who are working on his cases. Meanwhile, he is courting billionaire donors and transforming the GOPs financial apparatus into one that can bankroll his campaign.

He also is expecting a major windfall from a long-anticipated merger between his Truth Social parent company and publicly traded shell company Digital World Acquisition Corporation. That DJT stock symbol  now set to return to Wall Street this month  was used for only one other publicly traded company: Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts, which filed for bankruptcy in 2004.
New audio has revealed the frantic 911 call the friends of University of Missouri student Riley Strain made as they called police to report him missing, nearly 16 hours after he was seen on surveillance video walking alone in downtown Nashville.

For more than a week, investigators have searched for Mr Strain, who vanished on 8 March.

The 22-year-old, who had been partying with his fraternity brothers in Nashville, was kicked out of a bar and became separated from his friends.

His friends said they tried to call him repeatedly on Friday night and on Saturday morning, but the calls kept going to voicemail.

They said they first went to Central Precinct on Korean Veterans Boulevard to report him missing, but when they couldnt get into the lobby, they called 911.

The audio that KSHB obtained from Metropolitan Nashville Police reveals the call was made to police around 1.46pm on Saturday 9 March.

University of Missouri student Riley Strain went missing in Nashville on 8 March after seperating from his friends (AP)

With each question the 911 operator asked, Mr Strains friend Brayden Baltz, appeared to become more panicked.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department released video footage last week, showing Mr Strain wearing a two-tone shirt, crossing First Avenue North to Gay Street near the Cumberland River at around 9.45pm on Friday. That spot is just over half a mile from Luke Bryans 32 Bridge bar, where his friends last saw him.

In the videos, Mr Strain appears to be stumbling.

Although officials with the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission confirmed they are investigating whether the college senior had been overserved, the bar owners later said he was only served one alcoholic drink and two waters before he was kicked out, telling his friends he would return to his hotel. However, he never made it back.

In video footage, Mr Strain appears to be stumbling (KSHB)

Police have found no evidence of foul play in Mr Strains disappearance. Ground and air search efforts are ongoing.

A police helicopter searched the immediate area around downtown Nashville, including the river bank. Investigators using boats on the Cumberland River have found no trace of Mr Strain.

Mr Strains parents have joined his friends and police in Nashville to search for the young man.

This is definitely the worst nightmare, Mr Strains stepfather, Chris Whiteild, told News 2. For him to go this long without talking is not normal by any means.

On 17 March, after days with little updates, his bank card was found near the river.
Reports of the condition first emerged from the US embassy in Havana, Cuba - Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters

The biggest study into Havana Syndrome has found no clinical evidence for the mystery condition.

Between 2016 and 2018, embassy staff in Cuba complained of headaches, dizziness, nausea and fatigue and the US government even accused the islands administration of orchestrating an acoustic attack with a sonic weapon.

In 2018 similar symptoms were also reported by embassy, intelligence and military staff working in China, Washington, India and Europe and dubbed Havana syndrome.

In a five year study, researchers at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) have been carrying out clinical, auditory, balance, visual, neuropsychological and blood biomarker tests on 80 people who reported symptoms.

They also received MRI scans, aimed at investigating volume, structure and function of the brain. But despite the reported symptoms, the NIH said they could not find anything out of the ordinary when compared to healthy controls.

The researchers concluded that if the symptoms were caused by some external phenomenon, the effects are not detectable in the body.

Dr Leighton Chan, the acting chief scientific officer at NIH Clinical Centre, said: Our goal was to conduct thorough, objective and reproducible evaluations to see if we could identify structural brain or biological differences in people who reported anomalous health incidents.

While we did not identify significant differences in participants, its important to acknowledge that these symptoms are very real, cause significant disruption in the lives of those affected and can be quite prolonged, disabling and difficult to treat.

To date, Havana syndrome has affected around 200 American diplomats, military personnel and spies, with William J Burns, the director of the CIA, vowing to make its investigation a priority.

Staff have described vibrations or a strong pressure in the head, pain in both ears accompanied by loud ringing and chirping sounds, hearing loss, tinnitus, sight problems, headaches, memory loss, insomnia and poor balance.

A report by the US National Academy of Sciences in 2020 said the syndrome was likely to have been caused by directed, pulsed radio frequency energy but did not rule out other mechanisms.

During the Cold War, both the Soviet Union and the US experimented with using targeted microwaves to induce uncomfortable sounds within the head of an individual.

In 2003, the US Navy awarded a grant to a US firm to create a prototype, dubbed the Medusa device, that exploited the same technology to deter trespassers.

In the new study, participants underwent MRI scans an average of 80 days after symptoms began, although some participants had an MRI as soon as 14 days after they reported feeling unwell.

However, researchers were unable to identify a consistent set of abnormalities that might account for the symptoms, which are also known as anomalous health incidents (AHIs).

Dr Carlo Pierpaoli, a senior investigator at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, said: A lack of evidence for an MRI-detectable difference between individuals with AHIs and controls does not exclude that an adverse event impacting the brain occurred at the time of the anomalous health incidents.

It is possible that individuals with an AHI may be experiencing the results of an event that led to their symptoms, but the injury did not produce the long-term neuroimaging changes that are typically observed after severe trauma or stroke.

We hope these results will alleviate concerns about AHI being associated with severe neurodegenerative changes in the brain.

Cauldron of stress in Cuba and China

Despite the lack of clinical evidence, participants continued to report fatigue, post-traumatic stress, depression, dizziness, vertigo and fluctuating unsteadiness that cannot be explained by another disorder.

Dr Louis French, a neuropsychologist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and a co-investigator on the study, said: The post-traumatic stress and mood symptoms reported are not surprising given the ongoing concerns of many of the participants.

Often these individuals have had significant disruption to their lives and continue to have concerns about their health and their future. This level of stress can have significant negative impacts on the recovery process.

In 2019, a study by UCLA concluded that Havana syndrome was an epidemic of psychological illness, brought about by the fear of working in a hostile cauldron of stress in Cuba and China.

The team said the phenomenon is more akin to shell shock, with the symptoms paralleling those associated with war trauma. The authors claimed the diplomats were still living in a Cold War environment, where they were under constant surveillance.

The research was published in the journal Jama.

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[Source]

Filipino American influencer Bretman Rock was recently honored while visiting the Hawaii State Capitol for his positive impact on the Hawaiian, Filipino American and the LGBTQ+ community.

Key points:

Democratic Gov. Josh Green and Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke welcomed the 25-year-old influencer in Hawaii on Wednesday. Green commended Rock for breaking barriers and for inspiring people from around the world, while Luke called the Honolulu-based social media personality a treasure to Hawai'i whose authenticity inspires us all to be our truest selves.

Rock shared his trip on his Instagram on Friday, where he thanked Hawaiis House of Representatives, noting that he never thought this would ever happen.

Darius Kila (D, Hawaii-44) facilitated Rocks visit to the state capitol.

The details:

Trending on NextShark: Japan's most famous cherry blossom trees could disappear due to climate change

The House of Representatives convened its floor session in the afternoon by recognizing Rock for his achievements. Some of the lawmakers who spoke during the ceremony include Rachele Lamosao (D, Hawaii-36), Adrian Tam (D, Hawaii-22) and Kila.

Rock was presented with a gavel and adorned with a lei during the recognition. He also shared his story about being a Filipino immigrant and a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the United States.

Speaking at the event, Kila said of Rock, Your influence reaches far beyond our shorelines and youve touched the lives of countless individuals across Hawaii and beyond, inspiring us all to embrace our uniqueness and celebrate our individuality.

While at the Capitol, Rock, who was born in the Philippines but raised in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, noted how there are three rocks in Hawaii: Barack, the Rock and Bretman Rock."

About the star:

Rock, who has a combined following of approximately 35 million across all of his social media platforms, rose to fame for his beauty vlogs and humorous makeup tutorials on YouTube and Vine.

He is also known for championing Filipino and Filipino American representation, such as when he defended the Filipino delicacy balut after it was ranked on the TasteAtlas website as one of the worst egg dishes in the world in 2022.

Some of the achievements he received over the years include being named one of Times 30 most influential teens of 2017, being included in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia- Media, Marketing and Advertising list and winning a Peoples Choice Award for beauty influencer of the year in 2019 and an MTV Breakthrough Social Star award in 2021.

Rock, who was named brand ambassador for Beyonce's hair care line, Cecred, in February, made history by appearing as the first-ever openly gay male cover model for Playboy in 2021 and on the Vogue Philippines' first Pride cover in 2023.

Trending on NextShark: Thousands gather across US to celebrate Hindu festival Holi

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Has there ever been a more pernicious lie spread by government and lobbyists than the claim that net zero will save us money? Heat pumps, for example, werent just supposed to decarbonise home heating and thereby save the planet; they were all going to slash our bills as we switched from expensive gas to cheap-as-chips renewable energy from wind and solar farms.

The narrative was always flawed: if heat pumps really did promise to save us money the government would hardly need to push them at us, offering grants of 7500 through its Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The government has good reason to bribe, as heat pump installations last year reached only 55,000  far short of the governments target of 600,000 a year by 2028.

As todays National Audit Office report all but confirms, people are not falling for the bait. The Boiler Upgrade scheme has been an expensive failure, with consumers seeing through the guff and working out that dumping their gas boiler for a heat pump is not going to save them a bean; on the contrary, it will cost them more to install and more to run.

Remember how government grants were supposed to allow the industry to reach a scale at which prices would start to tumble? Thats not quite going according to plan. The average real-terms cost of a heat pump installation has actually risen over the past four years, from 10,328 in 2019 to 11,287 in 2023 (both at 2021 prices). It still costs four times as much to replace a gas boiler with a heat pump than with a like-for-like replacement.

True, there are those aforementioned 7500 grants available for early-adopters, so it might be possible if you have a small property to fit a heat pump at no greater cost than a gas boiler. But grants are not free money: we are all paying for them through our taxes and energy bills. If the government ended up having to bung all 30 million UK households grants of 7500 to fit a heat pump, it would add over 200 billion to annual public spending.

Electricity prices are so much higher than gas prices that you cant count on saving money when it comes to running costs  even if your heat pump works as intended, and pumps at least three times as much heat energy into your home than it consumes in electrical energy. In any case, field trials have repeatedly shown many heat pumps failing to reach this benchmark, with the coefficient of performance (the ratio of heat energy out to electrical energy in) achieving a median of 2.80, falling to a mean of 2.44 when the outside temperature falls below 2 Celsius  exactly when you need your heating the most.

Bizarrely, given this tale of serial under-performance in both cost and effectiveness, the green lobby wants the government to double down in pushing heat pumps on consumers. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit preposterously blames low take up of heat pumps on government dithering over hydrogen boilers. The government has said that it will make a decision by 2026 as to whether the existing gas network might be repurposed for hydrogen in future.

Predictably enough, the heat pump industry doesnt like hydrogen and wants it ruled out sooner, saying that it will turn out to be too expensive. Maybe it will, but the inescapable truth is that a switch to heat pumps, too, will cost the country a fortune  and that the bill is going to fall on the heads of us all, in one way or another.

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Laman Ismayilova

Traditional costumes are more than just pieces of clothing; they are intricately woven symbols of culture, history, and identity. The beauty and significance of traditional costumes were on full display at the exhibition "Culture of Clothing and Jewellery Art of the Turkic Peoples", Azernews reports.

The exhibition, dedicated to the Novruz holiday and the 15th anniversary of its inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, opened its doors at the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, showcasing a stunning collection of traditional women's costumes and jewellery from the Turkic peoples.

From Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan, Hungary to Turkiye, each exhibit demonstrated the rich heritage and artistic expression of these diverse cultures.

Acting Director of the National Carpet Museum, Mira Mammadkhanov, highlighted the importance of preserving and celebrating traditional costumes as a way to honour the unique traditions and way of life of the Turkic peoples.

The Advisor to the Culture Minister, Jahangir Selimkhanov, emphasised the cultural significance of these exhibits, while the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Aktoty Raimkulova, stressed the importance of recognising and celebrating the beauty of these artefacts.

The exhibition featured a range of materials, from colourful silks to intricate embroidery, each piece telling a story of craftsmanship and artistry. The ornate patterns and designs of the costumes offered viewers a glimpse into the intricate traditions and customs of the Turkic peoples.

The presented exhibits are preserved in the collections of the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, the Association of Hungarian Folk Artists, and private collector Virginija Morgan-Hayat's. Each exhibit showcased the unique beauty and craftsmanship of traditional costumes, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural traditions of the Turkic peoples.

One of the highlights of the exhibition was a performance by the team from the Children and Youth Development Centre No. 3, who presented traditional dances of the Turkic peoples. The vibrant colors and graceful movements of the dancers brought the ancient traditions and customs to life.

The exhibition, which runs until March 31, was followed by a master class and lecture.

A master class on decorating eggs with Azerbaijani and Hungarian patterns was organized in the National Carpet Museum within the framework exhibition. A master class for adults was held by Hungarian folk artists Beatrix Jokaine Gombosi and Anna Jokai.

Young guests reflected the heroes of Azerbaijani fairy tales in eggs in a master class conducted by the staff of the Children's Department of the museum.

At the end, the guests got acquainted with the museum`s rich collection.

The master class was co-organized by the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum and the Hungarian Embassy in Azerbaijan.

Founded in 1967, the National Carpet Museum holds more than 14,000 exhibits of the finest Azerbaijani carpets.

Initiated by eminent carpet artist Latif Karimov, the museum is beautiful inside and out.

The museum's new building is designed in the form of a rolled carpet. Now, the museum hosts multiple events, including international symposiums, conferences, and various exhibitions.

In 2019, the museum received national status for its significant contribution to popularising and promoting Azerbaijani carpet weaving art.

In 2020, the Carpet Museum enriched its collection with a beautiful pile of carpets purchased by the Culture Ministry at the Sartirana Textile Show in Italy.

The 19th-century Guba carpet "Ugakh" was donated to the Carpet Museum, while the Garabagh carpet "Chelebi" enriched the collection of the museum's Shusha branch.

Moreover, the Carpet Museum won the Travellers' Choice Awards for the fourth time in a row last year.

The award proves once again that the professional activity of the National Carpet Museum is highly appreciated by visitors from all over the world.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. On the eve of the Novruz holiday, Heydar Aliyev International Airport has been transformed into an amazing place where cultural values meet elements of aviation, Trend reports via the Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

As part of the cooperation between Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC and Azerkhalcha OJSC, unique installations reflecting the richness of Azerbaijani culture were created on the territory of the Baku airport. Novruz decorations, inspired by elements of carpets, considered the main symbol of national heritage, demonstrate the diversity and richness of our culture. The boards installed here inform guests and passengers about the history and features of the patterns and images that decorate these works of art.

At the entrance to the Baku airport, guests are greeted by a mystical air transport - an open-air flying carpet installation, transporting them to a world of magic and fantasy. The atmosphere that reigns here allows every visitor to immerse themselves in the wonderful world of national traditions and values and get acquainted with the cultural heritage of our country.

Carpet weaving is one of the ancient folk crafts of Azerbaijan, which is passed down from generation to generation thanks to skilled women carpet weavers living in different parts of the country. Supporting and recognizing their work in carpet weaving is an important step in preserving this valuable heritage for future generations.

Welcome to Heydar Aliyev International Airport, where tradition and modernity meet. Happy Novruz holiday!
New gas boilers will be banned for most households from 2035, as the UK switches to heat pumps to help cut greenhouse gas emissions.

But despite the availability of grants of 7,500 in England and Wales, heat pumps remain too expensive and too few people know about them, the UK's spending watchdog has warned.

What are heat pumps and how do they work?

Heat pumps run on electricity instead of gas.

As the UK increases its production of electricity from renewable sources like the wind and sun, it is hoped that they will play a big part in cutting emissions.

Heat pumps warm buildings by absorbing heat from the air, ground, or water.

Air-source pumps, for example, suck in outdoor air and pass it over tubes containing refrigerant fluids to produce heat.

Graphic showing how an air source heat pump works

A box of about 1m x 1m x 0.4m stands outside the property. This should be at least 1m from your neighbour's property - if this is not possible, you can apply for planning permission.

You will also need space inside for a heat pump unit and hot water cylinder. The unit will be about the size of a gas boiler, while the cylinder depends on the size of the home.

A ground source heat pump is more efficient than an air source heat pump but less commonly used, as it needs a deep bore hole, or a horizontal system dug into the ground over a large area.

How much do heat pumps cost?

An air source heat pumps costs 10,000 more than a gas boiler on average, according to the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC).

But costs are coming down all the time and energy companies are offering some heat pumps for 500, with a government grant.

Can I get a grant to help pay for a heat pump?

In April 2022, the government launched a five year scheme to offer grants to households installing more environmentally friendly heating.

Grants are available to existing homes and non-domestic buildings in England and Wales, and can be used for:

air source heat pumps

ground source heat pumps

water source heat pumps

biomass boilers (for those living in rural areas)

The grants offer 7,500 off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump, or a ground source heat pump.

The property must have an eligible Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) issued in the last 10 years.

Changes to the rules mean homes are no longer required to have existing loft or cavity wall insulation, which could save around 2,500 of upfront costs.

However, a well insulated home can help the heat pump to perform more efficiently.

The scheme is not available if you live in social housing or a new-build property. Private rented accommodation is also eligible but the landlord has to apply.

Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate schemes to help make homes more efficient.

Engineer inspecting a boiler

Do I have to replace my boiler?

There is no requirement to replace your boiler currently.

However, the sale of new gas boilers will be banned from 2035, although poorer households will be exempt. The government has yet to announce what the threshold income for this will be.

As part of the government's Future Homes Standard, gas boilers will also be banned in new build homes from 2025.

So, if you purchase a new home after that date it will have a greener heating system like a heat pump.

The National Audit Office and the House of Lords Net Zero Committee have warned that the sale of heat pumps is too low for the government to meet its target of 600,000 heat pumps sold annually.

They have encouraged the government to increase public awareness and to provide further support to households beyond 2027, when the grant scheme ends.
Private chef and Fort Liberty spouse Leigh Orleans is the first to admit that she was the underdog in the latest season of hit TV show Hells Kitchen, which aired from September through late January.

Orleans, 28, said Thursday that she had the least cooking experience among the 18 contestants who competed for $250,000 and a job as head chef at "Hell's Kitchen" host Gordon Ramsay's newest hotel and casino in New Jersey.

Orleans, a Virginia native, was fresh out ofculinary school in Savannah, Georgia, when she flew to Los Angeles, California, to film the show in 2022.

Still, she said, she managed to beat the odds, winning four challenges, three services and placing sixth overall in the reality cooking competition.

Plus, the Cameron resident snagged a coveted black jacket  a chefs coat awarded to the final handful of contestants each season, symbolizing the end of team challenges and the beginning of competitions against the other competitors.

Its a big honor, she said. Im really proud of myself for not letting the heat of the kitchen throw me off.

Since then, she said, her career has taken off. Orleans said the credibility that comes with the show has helped her land jobs cooking for upscale wellness retreats and private dining clients.

Im incredibly grateful, she said. I can say that I cooked on TV, and I have proof that Gordon Ramsay said my food was fantastic.

Though she said the three sleep-deprived, whirlwind weeks spent filming were among the hardest in her life, Orleans said she is open to starring in another show. In the meantime, shes got a few coals in the fire.

Heres a look at whats next for the rising chef.

Fort Liberty spouse Leigh Orleans was a contestant on the latest season of Hell's Kitchen.

Launching a new business in luxury gastronomy retreats

Alongside business partner Martin Roche of Chapel Hill, Orleans plans to launch a company offering luxury vacations focused on food and wine.

She and Roche are calling the venture ORO; they may offer trips to clients they work with to design the gastronomy-based vacation of their dreams. Transportation, meals, excursions and activities will be included.

She already has a few European trips in the works, but the business is slated to officially launch in late summer.

Masters degree in wine and beverages

Orleans said she is leveling up her private dining services with wine pairings and education. This summer, she graduates from an online masters program in wine and beverages with the Culinary Institute of America, the same school that has produced the likes of celebrity chiefs, the late Anthony Bourdain and Roy Choi.

Private dining is such an experience that I want to round it out with wine pairing and make it something fun that I can speak to, she said.

Whats next for Orleans?

Orleans said she can envision a cookbook in her future, but that may be a few years away.

In the next five years, she said, shed like to have a brick-and-mortar space in the Tar Heel State to host events and pop-up dinners.

Follow her work on Instagram @chefleigh, on TikTok @chef.leigh and on her website chefleigh.me.

Food, dining and culture reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com or on Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: What's next for Army spouse Leigh Orleans after 'Hell's Kitchen'?
Being unable to accept compliments could be related to your self-confidence, a fear of being seen or the societal rules that have conditioned you. JGI/Jamie Grill via Getty Images

Have you ever replied to a compliment with a self-deprecating rebuttal? For example, when someone praises your clean home you reply with Oh, dont look too closely. Or when someone compliments your outfit, you say something like Oh, it was cheap.

If this sounds familiar, there may be a reason why you struggle with simply saying Thank you. In fact, our society makes it pretty hard for Thank you to be a complete sentence.

We asked therapists what it could mean if you struggle to accept compliments and what you can do to get better at it. Heres what they said:

As a society, humility is encouraged, making it hard to accept compliments.

In the U.S., we are taught to be very humble and honestly conservative, said Emmalee Bierly, a licensed marriage and family therapist, co-owner of The Therapy Group in Pennsylvania and co-host of the ShrinkChicks podcast. Like, the country started absolutely puritanical.

Were taught that accepting a compliment may even change how people view us, she added. Theres a false idea that your gratitude will be mistaken as vanity. And for women and girls, this viewpoint can be even more intense.

Especially as women socialized in this country, we are so worried about looking self-centered or overly confident, Bierly said. Were so scared about what that could possibly mean for us. I accept the compliment, then Im full of myself.

For our BIPOC community, cultural beliefs and values come into play as well, said Dominique Mortier, a psychotherapist at Bloom Psychology and Wellness in Toronto, especially for us who are from more collectivist cultures.

In collectivist cultures, people arent taught to focus on the individual because its viewed as selfish. So those communities, they prioritize the value of being humble, and accepting compliments means not being humble in those communities, Mortier noted, making it doubly hard to simply say thank you to praise.

You could also experience low self-esteem.

For some people, being unable to accept a compliment could indicate low self-worth or low self-esteem, according to Mortier.

When someone compliments us, we may not necessarily believe them, Mortier said. So our beliefs about ourselves are a factor here, too.

For example, if youre self-conscious about your public speaking abilities and a co-worker compliments you after a big presentation, youll likely meet that compliment with some doubt.

This is especially true for people who had parents or caregivers who also had low self-esteem, Mortier added.

They didnt really have a role model or someone to watch to see [how they should respond to compliments]. And they will just respond based on what theyve learned or what theyve seen their caregiver or parent doing, she said. This is often a deflecting response, like Oh, stop or I messed up two minutes into the presentation.

There is also a fear of being seen.

We have a ton of difficulty being seen, Bierly said. For some people, it could be from an anxiety space ... I dont like when people look at me, I dont like when people give me attention, I dont like being the center of something.

And by default, compliments put you at the center of a conversation. This can cause people to dismiss compliments or change the topic as quickly as possible in order to get out of the spotlight.

Compliments don't carry the same weight for everyone. Some people need the reassurance while others couldn't care less. Thomas Barwick via Getty Images

Compliments dont carry the same weight for everyone.

For some people, [compliments are] life-changing and so insanely significant ... it is how I get security, its how I get praised, its how I feel loved, Bierly said. But for some people, they truly do not give a shit, and they have it all internal, she said.

Either way, its important to know what compliments mean to you. If youre someone who needs acknowledgment and praise, thats a really important thing to know about yourself, she explained. And if you dont need that kind of reassurance, that is fine, too.

If you want to learn to accept compliments, notice how they make you feel.

One of the things I would ask people to do is to track what [compliments] bring up for you, Bierly said.

Think back to a time when you dismissed a compliment and ask yourself why you responded the way you did. For example, if someone said something nice about your outfit and you replied with It was cheap, ask yourself why that was your response. Did you want the person to stop talking about it? Did you not want them to think you owned anything expensive?

And then once youre able to locate or identify that feeling, try and use some counteracting thoughts ... So, whats wrong with me saying thank you? What am I worried that it says about me? What feeling am I trying to avoid when I shoot down the remark? Why did I need to dismiss that? Bierly said.

Additionally, remember that a compliment is just one persons opinion  it doesnt have to be yours, too. A huge understanding of compliments is knowing that this person is sharing their perspective with me. I may not necessarily always agree with someone elses perspective and thats OK, Mortier added. Accepting compliments versus agreeing with them are two very different things.

Over time, if you accept compliments more, you can learn to agree with the compliment if you want to. But simply thanking someone for complimenting your hair or outfit doesnt mean you are automatically agreeing, too, Mortier said.

Dont be afraid to ask a professional for support.

Your inability to accept compliments has likely been conditioned by society, making it a really ingrained issue. And low self-worth isnt something you can just switch off because you want to.

Mortier said it can be helpful to get professional help from a therapist to deal with the things that make it hard for you to accept compliments. A therapist can provide you with additional help, ask prompting questions and offer a different perspective, she said.

Were our own worst critic at most times, Mortier said. Having a neutral, alternative perspective can be hugely helpful, she added.

If you do want to be better at accepting compliments, know that it can happen and you deserve the recognition.

I think every single person is worthy of honor and praise, Bierly said.

Related...
Resiliency is a hot topic these days, applying to everything from hurricane recovery to protection against climate change. It applies in spades to Florida, the flattest state in the country with 1,350 miles of coastline and 76% of its residents living in coastal communities. Storms and flooding put up to a trillion dollars of property at risk.

Thomas Jeffrey of CoreLogic says, Of all natural disasters, storm surge has historically been the deadliest and most destructive hazard we deal with.

Dave Trecker

That applies particularly to Southwest Florida, as we learned with Hurricane Ian. Beaches were washed away and thousands of structures were destroyed. Flooding extended well inland. Property values declined and insurance rates went through the roof.

Riskfactor.com says the Naples area has 6,700 properties with a chance of being severely damaged by floods over the next 30 years. CoreLogic says greater Naples is the 9th in the country at greatest risk from coastal storms, with a reconstruction cost value of $43 billion.

And shoreline resiliency extends well beyond water incursion. There are also problems from toxic algae, red tide and inland pollutants that foul the coast.

The vulnerability is real and the risks are many. How do we provide protection and, more important, resilience? We currently have a patchwork of agencies and self-appointed organizations offering advice and dealing with parts of the problem. That includes numerous departments in city and county government, regional waterkeepers, the Conservancy of SWFL and others  all competent and well meaning, but fragmented.

The Rockefeller Foundation has suggested another approach. Recognizing the stress facing communities around the world, it established the 100 Resilient Cities program in 2013, an initiative that morphed into the Resilient Cities Network, a movement thats active today.

Central to it all was the establishment of the chief resilience officer (CRO), one person dedicated to coordinating the whole thing.

Gov. Ron DeSantis got on board early and appointed a Florida CRO in 2019. Wesley Brooks, Ph.D., serves in that capacity today. Scores of local CROs have since been hired and serve in cities and counties around the state.

Would a CRO be beneficial to Collier County? Most probably.

Imbedded in county government and reporting to the county manager or deputy county manager, the CRO would be the point person on shoreline resilience, providing advice and coordinating efforts. He or she would consolidate plans, discourage redundancy and expedite programs, working closely with relevant city and county departments.

This would be a standalone position. Adding another layer of government bureaucracy is neither recommended nor needed.

The focus would be solely on the shoreline. Inland resilience would not be part of the CROs remit. Rather he or she would deal with things like building codes, property protection, drainage, tidal lagoons, diversion canals, building and roadway elevation, beaches and mangroves. Experts would be consulted as needed and, where appropriate, grants would be sought.

The highly publicized U.S. Army Corps of Engineering study, unlikely to deliver anything before 2030, if approved at all  would be monitored as part of the overall program.

It would seem establishing a Collier County CRO would be a useful step toward protecting the shoreline.

The Collier Citizens Council plans to take a closer look.

Dave Trecker, Ph.D., is a cofounder of the Collier Citizens Council, a coalition of civic leaders whose purpose is to represent interests of county residents by influencing local and state policies.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: How about a chief resilience officer in Collier County?
Julie A. Corey appears in Worcester Superior Court in December 2009 on charges of murdering Darlene L. Haynes and cutting her baby from the womb.

WORCESTER  The highest court in Massachusetts Monday reinstated the first-degree murder conviction of a woman for the 2009 murder of Darlene Haynes and for stealing Haynes's unborn baby from her abdomen.

In 2014, Julie A. Corey, 49, was found guilty in Worcester Superior Court of killing Haynes, who had been a friend. In 2019, Superior Court Judge Janet Kenton-Walker vacated the verdict after finding insufficient evidence to convict.

In 2009, Haynes was found in a bedroom closet in her Southgate Street apartment. She was eight months pregnant when she was killed and her fetus was missing when her body was discovered.

An autopsy determined Haynes had died from skull fractures caused by blunt force trauma, asphyxiation by strangulation with an electrical cord found wrapped around her neck and a 9-inch incision in her abdomen.

Corey, who also lived in Worcester, was identified as the last person seen with Haynes.

Two days after Haynes's body was found, Corey and her boyfriend, Alex Dion, were located in a homeless shelter in Plymouth, New Hampshire. The couple had a newborn baby girl with them who was determined to be Haynes' child. In 2019, it was reported that the child taken by Haynes' killer was 10 and was residing with her biological father.

Kenton-Walker oversaw the case in Superior Court.

Following the initial verdict, Corey filed a motion for a new trial. The motion argued trial counsel had failed to call a cellphone expert to testify about Corey's location on the night of the murder. The motion requested the judge enter a required finding of not guilty.

Kenton-Walker denied the motion for a new trial, but vacated the murder conviction on the theory that the evidence was insufficient to prove the predicate felony of aggravated kidnapping.

Monday, the Supreme Judicial Court released an opinion reinstating the conviction. The higher court ruled that Corey had not received insufficient counsel and evidence was enough to convict her.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: SJC reinstates conviction of Julie Corey for murder, stealing fetus
Archaeologist Dr Jane Harrison said the slab-lined structures could be Bronze Age, Viking or medieval

Two stone-lined structures thought to be graves, have been discovered after a section of cliffs collapsed in high tides.

Police were called to Foxton beach, near Alnmouth, in Northumberland, on Saturday after they were spotted by a dog walker.

Archaeologist Dr Jane Harrison said the structures were likely to be cist graves - box-like, stone coffins - which could be dated back from the Bronze Age, Viking or Medieval era.

Northumberland County Council said it was liaising with local archaeologists about the finds to decide on "the best way forward".

The structures appeared after a section of the cliff collapsed following a number of high tides

The structures were spotted by dog walker Craig Thompson.

"I've walked my dog on this beach every day for years, and I've never seen anything like it," he said.

"I saw them on Friday night and thought I should let the police know just in case.

"I was born and bred in Boulmer just a mile away, I fish here all the time and I've never heard any talk of graves in the cliff."

The graves were spotted by dog walker Craig Thompson who is a regular on the beach

Jim Watt who has a caravan at Seaton Point close to the find, said he believed the structures have appeared before.

"A number of years ago they were exposed by a very high tide," he said.

"But then they got buried again."

The structures were found on Saturday and the county council and police were informed

Dr Harrison added: "Cist graves can be prehistoric, especially Bronze Age, Viking or Medieval, Christian or Pagan.

"The alignment may have been twisted by collapse but if graves are positioned east to west - they are likely to be Christian."

She said the finds were made in an area "rich in archaeology."

Just four miles north at Howick, archaeologists discovered one of Britain's oldest Mesolithic huts dating from around 7800BC.

In addition, a cemetery consisting of five Bronze Age cists was found on the site.

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When Hilton Head Island resident Ashley Douglas, 49, was looking to hire for her dog training business, Paws On Learning, she said received about 20 applications.

Of those 20, only about five of them were on the island.

Douglas dilemma represents a growing trend on Hilton Head. The number of people who work on the island, but dont live there has gone up in recent years, impacting the islands sense of community, concerning employers and worrying many who say they love living on the island, but theyll be next to have to leave.

Lisa McDonell, 64, who works as a fitness attendant at the Island Rec Center, said she couldnt imagine not living on the island, saying that it would impact her work and sense of place if she commuted in.

Im like the mayor, she joked. I know everybody and say hi to everybody.

A 2023 assessment analyzed the characteristics of the towns workforce, finding challenges that might prevent people like McDonnell from living on the island and other insights.

Here are the top seven workforce findings from the report:

There is more competition for labor as surrounding areas experience job and population growth Recent island worker shortages have impacted local businesses. Unemployment rates have been and continue to be low, especially when compared to the region. Median annual earnings have been increasing over the last decade, most notably for high school graduates. Higher education facilities on or near Hilton Head Island will continue to add to the workforce with high-demand local industry skills. Residents have comparatively higher levels of educational attainment than the overall populations of Jasper and Beaufort Counties. One in five resident occupations is in the food preparation and serving industry. Commuting for Island residents decreased by almost 10% over the last decade while the share of residents that work from home has steadily increased.

More competition for labor

There were 21,400 total jobs on the island in 2020. The total number of jobs in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort Metropolitan Statistical Area increased by nearly 24% between 2000 and 2020. The Hilton Head area populations relative plateau is contributing to a labor shortage because of gaps between the number of people and the number of jobs.

A graph of where Hilton Head Island workers live.

Recent worker shortages impacting businesses

Businesses are opening later, reducing hours and closing due to recent worker shortages.

For Douglas, the dog trainer, the problem came to a head a couple of weeks ago when she was hiring for a new position. She said she has difficulty hiring people who live off-island because of their commute.

They get it in their head. Oh, Ill just drive to this job. Oh, it wont be so bad, she said. I cant hire those people because two weeks later, they would be like I cant do this.

Unemployment rates continue to be low

The islands unemployment is 3.1%, lower than the overall Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Hilton Head reached an all-time high unemployment rate of 6.8% during the national recession, and it peaked again during the COVID-19 pandemic but quickly recovered.

Median annual earnings are increasing

Annual median wages across the island increased 31% from $32,113 in 2010 to $42,059 in 2021, with high school graduates increasing their median wages by 76%.

Notably, median annual earnings on the island dont just cover those working in restaurants or service-industry jobs. It also includes the growing number of people who live on the island but work from home. Hilton Head Island residents who work from home have gone up from 7% in 2010 to 15% in 2021.

Educational opportunities add to the workforce

Higher education in the area has programs targeting the tourism industry, including USCB-Hilton Heads Hospitality Management program and TCLs Culinary Institute of the South.

Residents are highly educated

Out of residents on Hilton Head, 52% had at least a bachelors degree compared to Beaufort Countys 42% and Jasper Countys 24%.

A chart of highest level of education on Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County and Jasper County.

Food preparation and serving is the most common job

One in five working island residents is in the food preparation and serving industry, a higher ratio than any other job on the island.

Those working in this industry are paid an average of $34,000 a year on the island. Behind food workers comes office and administrative support workers, who account for 13% of the working population with average earnings of $47,000. The third most common job is sales, with the industry employing about 12% of the workforce and with $62,000 average earnings yearly.

Commuting decreased

The number of Hilton Head workers who live off-island has increased by 26%, while the number of workers who live on the island has decreased by 34% from 2002 to 2020.

The break-down is:

14,800 people are employed on-island but live off-island, compared to

8,400 people live and work on-island

6,400 people live on-island and are employed off-island

Its not that workers want to leave the island workforce, theyre being forced to with rising housing costs. Housing costs are rising and while wages have increased, theyre not keeping pace, according to the assessment.

Residents like Cooper Bailey, 46, say they love living on the island. Bailey walks dogs for a living on Hilton Head and moved to the island in 2021. At the time, his rent for a one-bedroom was $1,300 a month, plus utilities. Now, its $1,555.

Cooper Bailey has lived on Hilton Head since 2021, where he has his own dog walking and sitting business called Lucys Friends.

I really worry about having either an incredibly large increase from year to year, which would price me, out, he said. Or I worry about some investor coming in buying our neighborhood and tearing it down for luxury units.

His worries arent unfounded.

The average monthly rent in Beaufort County was $1,692 in 2022, and swelled from around $1,290 right before the pandemic in 2019. Its a 33% increase that Bailey is slightly below, but he still worries.

I would really love to buy a condo or something if I could, he said. I love Hilton Head and my long-term goal would be to stay here.
LAWRENCE (KSNT)  Police in Lawrence asked for the publics help in locating the driver of a vehicle who allegedly hospitalized a woman while she was walking her dog Monday morning.

The Lawrence Police Department posted to social media saying a driver allegedly hit a woman walking her dog around 7:50 a.m. on March 18 at the intersection of East 23rd Street and Barker Avenue. The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries and her dog was killed in the hit-and-run incident.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Photo of the vehicle provided by the LPD.

The LPD say the driver of the vehicle, a grey Dodge sedan, didnt stop. Police later updated their original social media post saying the driver was found and interviewed.

Large brawl captured on video in Oakland neighborhood

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Holi marks the start of spring and the victory of good over evil

Islanders from different backgrounds have come together in Guernsey to celebrate the Festival of Colours.

Early celebrations for Holi took place at Cobo Community Centre on Saturday, with traditional dance, food and drink.

Holi will be celebrated on Monday 25 March by the Indian community, marking the start of spring and the victory of good over evil.

Organiser Raj Singh said the celebration played an important role in bringing people together in Guernsey.

Members of the Indian community performed a short play set to music to explain the origins of the festival, showing the victory of the god Vishnu over Hiranyakashipu.

Mr Singh said: "It's all about unity and diversity, we've got people from different cultures here.

"India is a very diverse culture, people speak different languages and it's these festivals that unite us."

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Unconfirmed reports that the Hollywood Beach Resort is being demolished have had residents concerned about the future of the former hotel built by the citys founder, Joseph Young.

But the fate of the nearly 100-year-old relic, which was evacuated last summer after the city deemed it unsafe to live in, remains uncertain. No formal plans have been submitted to the city to demolish the overall structure or to develop the existing beachfront property, which most recently was operated by a condo board.

What is confirmed: at least one small portion of the building will be coming down. Owners of the property filed for a permit in February 2023 to demolish the wood frame breezeway canopy in the back of the hotel and paid the $5,383 price tag to tear that portion down, according to online records. They received a demolition permit earlier this month.

RELATED: Hollywood Beachs Grand Lady needs a lot of help if shes going to reach 100

Hollywood spokeswoman Joann Hussey said a building official authorized a fence to be installed around the property to prevent unauthorized entry during the demolition.

The building has both an unsafe structures violation and a code violation for failure to comply with Broward Countys building code and inspection program. A 50-year recertification conducted in 2022 indicated the building needed structural and electrical repairs, according to the recertification report.

The Hollywood Beach Resort was built in 1925 by Young and consisted of 500 rooms and the worlds largest solarium at the time. Situated in the citys historic district, the hotel played a pivotal role in World War II, serving as the United States Naval Indoctrination and Training School.

After the war, the hotel was refurbished and reopened under new management. Following its heyday, the hotel was the home of Florida Bible College, a movie theater and a mall before eventually becoming timeshare-operated condos.

READ MORE: A 99-year-old Hollywood home is as old as the city. It could soon be demolished

In recent years, the New York-based developer Chetrit Group purchased the condos but has not specified what it plans to do with the property. Efforts to reach representatives with the Chetrit Group were unsuccessful, and an attorney representing the developer said he could not provide any additional information on the property.

Clive Taylor, president of the Hollywood Historical Society, said the part of the building that is set to be demolished was an add-on completed in the 80s that is in very bad shape.

Taylor said the owners might face complications developing the property because the parking garage and the property in front of the hotel are each owned by separate entities.

Theres a lot of components to this puzzle, but the land is valuable, Taylor said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Azerbaijan and Iraq have discussed opportunities for economic potential realization, Azerbaijani Economic Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said on X, Trend reports.

"As part of our visit to Iraq, we, together with colleagues, had the honor of being received by Mr. Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, the President of Iraq. It was highlighted that relations between Azerbaijan and Iraq are developing in the directions mapped out by the heads of state. Opportunities for fulfilling the existing economic potential were also reviewed," the publication says.

According to the State Customs Committee's data, Azerbaijan exported goods worth $1.055 million to Iraq and imported over $12,300 worth of goods in January 2024.
Prosecutors say Samuel Bond Haskell IV killed his wife, Mei Haskell and her parents, Yanxiang Wang and Gaoshan Li. (Los Angeles Police Department)

The headless torso that turned up in a dumpster was certainly a homicide  that much is clear.

But whether the death of Mei Haskell, the wife of a prominent Hollywood agent's son, was the result of being shot, hit in the head, suffocated or even beheaded is impossible to determine, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Body parts found inside a black plastic sack in November and reports by workers of what looked like human remains at his Tarzana property led police to arrest Samuel Bond Haskell IV in connection with the disappearance and deaths of his wife and her parents.

The coroner determined the torso belonged to Haskell's wife, Mei, 37, but police have yet to locate the remains of her mother, Yanxiang Wang, 64, and stepfather, Gaoshan Li, 72.

According to the autopsy report, Mei Haskell was beheaded with a "single sharp force to the base of the neck," although there is "no definitive indication" that the dismemberment occurred after death. A pathologist added that "the possibility that the head and neck removal was initiated prior to death cannot be entirely excluded."

The report indicated that only the upper thighs were attached to her torso, and amputation sites were remarkably smooth.

"This suggests a sharp power tool was likely used to perform these amputations."

Read more: Hollywood executive's son pleads not guilty in triple murder of wife and in-laws

Without a direct cause of death, the medical examiner ruled that the mother of three died of "homicidal violence."

Although toxicology tests showed no indication of drug use, the pathologist's report said that, like other manners of death, poisoning could not be ruled out.

Samuel Haskell IV was arraigned in January on triple murder charges. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

In January, Haskell, 35, entered not guilty pleas to three counts of murder with special circumstances of committing multiple murders. If convicted, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Haskell is the son of Emmy-winning producer Sam Haskell, a former executive at the powerful William Morris talent agency.

Los Angeles police are still trying to sort out the mystery of the Tarzana man and his three missing family members. Authorities say Haskell lived in a sprawling home in the 4100 block of Coldstream Terrace with his wife, their three school-aged children and in-laws.

Yanqing Wang said he never heard of any fights nor any talk of divorce between his niece, Mei, and her husband, but he said his sister  Mei's mother  complained that Mei was the only one paying for their $7,000-a-month mortgage and that Haskell hadnt offered financial support when they were looking to buy a house three years ago.

Police said that on Nov. 7, Haskell tried to get day laborers to remove bags from his home containing what he said were rocks. The workers told KNBC-TV Channel 4 that the bags contents felt like meat, and when they looked inside, they saw body parts. When we picked up the bags, we could tell they werent rocks, one of the workers said in Spanish.

When that disposal method failed, Haskell was caught on security cameras dumping bags from the back of his Tesla in Encino, authorities said.

The next morning, an unhoused man found a human torso stuffed inside a duffel bag in a dumpster in an Encino parking lot near Ventura Boulevard and Rubio Avenue, about five miles from Haskells home, police said.

Haskell was arrested after the gruesome discovery, and during a search of his home, detectives discovered blood and evidence consistent with dismemberment, Deputy Dist. Atty. Beth Silverman said.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire was supposed to house 2,000 migrants but has remained empty for a year - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

The Home Office has been accused of wasting tens of millions of pounds on converting the Dambusters former base into an asylum camp without a single migrant being housed on it.

RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire was taken over by the Home Office in April last year to turn into an asylum camp for 2,000 migrants as part of efforts to reduce the 6 million a day asylum hotel bill.

However, the base, which was used by the crews who flew the Dambuster missions in the Second World War and most recently by the Red Arrows, has remained empty for a year.

About 20 temporary cabins installed for migrants are still not connected to water, gas or electricity supplies despite soaking up a sizeable portion of the 290 million cost of developing large and detained sites for asylum seekers.

The campaign to block the base's use as an asylum camp was backed by 40 of Britain's leading historians - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

The poor value for money is expected to be criticised by the National Audit Office, Parliaments spending watchdog, this week.

In a climbdown, the Home Office announced on Monday that the number of migrants to be housed on the site will be capped at 800, down from the original plan for 2,000.

It means the local West Lindsey council may be able to go ahead with its 300 million plan to turn a large part of the site into a centre of aerospace technology and create 1,000 jobs while preserving its rich heritage. The scheme was at risk of being scrapped if the Home Office had not scaled back the numbers.

The 20 cabins transported into the site will now be abandoned and removed from the site as the asylum seekers will be instead housed in renovated buildings.

Roger Patterson, Conservative councillor for the area, said the about-turn was good news but added: They have wasted an enormous amount of taxpayers money to get to this point. It was turning into a white elephant.

The Home Office has just lied to us from the word go. They said the asylum seekers were coming in May, June, July, September but they have still not got anyone in.

The whole thing could cost more than the money the Home Office would have spent on housing them in hotels. They have not only had to fund setting up the site but they also have to hand it back to the Ministry of Defence in the same condition as it was when it was handed over to them.

Sir Edward Leigh, the Tory MP for Gainsborough, said 'we need as much of the site to be released for regeneration as possible' - David Rose for the Telegraph

West Lindsey council is taking the Home Office to the appeal court over its inappropriate decision to take over the former RAF base to house asylum seekers after losing an initial judicial review in the High Court.

The 617 squadron  the Dambusters  was formed at the airfield from where 19 Lancaster bombers departed for the raid in 1943 to destroy three dams in the Ruhr valley in Germanys industrial heartlands with bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis.

The campaign to block the bases use as an asylum camp was backed by 40 of Britains leading historians including Sir Antony Beevor, Sir Max Hastings and Dan Snow. They warned, in a letter, that to erase its heritage rather than preserve and protect it would be a scandalous desecration of immeasurable recklessness.

The council is also fighting plans by the Home Office to extend its temporary use of the site for at least a further three years by using special powers to get planning permission.

Listening to local concerns

Sir Edward Leigh, the Tory MP for Gainsborough, who was told of the decision on Monday, said: What we need, however, is for as much of the site to be released for regeneration as possible.

In a letter to Sir Edward, Tom Pursglove, minister of state for legal migration and delivery, said: It is important that we are reducing hotel costs and delivering our asylum accommodation sites in a safe and orderly manner. Implementing a cap on occupation demonstrates that our priority is listening to local concerns, mitigating impacts, and managing the site safely.

Scampton is one of three large asylum sites. The other two are RAF Wethersfield in Essex, where there are 600 asylum seekers on site, and the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset.

A Home Office spokesman said: We remain committed to housing asylum seekers at Wethersfield and Scampton, and will manage occupancy at the sites while prioritising welfare and integration.

We are working closely to listen to the local communities views and reduce the impact of these sites, including through providing onsite security and financial support.

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A Fallsington, Pennsylvania homeless man who allegedly killed three people in his home state before fleeing across state lines into New Jersey now faces serious charges, including murder and gun-related crimes, in both states.

Andre Gordon Jr., 26, is accused of shooting and killing his 52-year-old stepmother, Karen Gordon, and 13-year-old sister, Kera Gordon, inside a Falls Township home on Saturday morning. At the time of the shooting, there were three other people inside the home who were able to hide from the alleged gunman.

He then went to another home in the area and allegedly shot and killed 25-year-old Taylor Daniel, who was the mother of his two children. Four others inside the home survived.

One of the survivors, Daniels mother, was injured when she was bludgeoned by his gun but is expected to survive, according to Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn.

3 SHOT DEAD IN PENNSYLVANIA; SUSPECTED GUNMAN ARRESTED

Andre Gordon, 26, is the suspect in shootings that killed three people in Falls Township, Pennsylvania. He is believed to be driving a stolen vehicle, according to police.

Officers with the Falls Township Police Department were dispatched to reports of a shooting on Viewpoint Lane in Levittown, Pennsylvania, at about 8:50 a.m. When investigators arrived, they learned Gordon allegedly shot and killed his stepmother and sister, who lived at the residence.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Just after 9 a.m., Gordon went to the second location on Edgewood Lane, where he allegedly shot and killed Taylor, before fleeing the scene.

Nearly 12 minutes later, the suspect is accused of carjacking a victim at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Dollar General on Bristol Pike in Morrisville, Pennsylvania.

PHILADELPHIA DUO FACE CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING MAN AND WOMAN EXECUTION STYLE: POLICE

A SWAT team is seen at a residence in Trenton, New Jersey where the suspected shooter barricaded himself and took hostages, according to police.

The vehicle Gordon stole was a 2016 dark gray Honda CRV with a Pennsylvania license plate, which was located at about 11:40 a.m., unoccupied, on Miller Street in Trenton, New Jersey, police said.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said in a press release that Gordon allegedly carjacked a vehicle in Trenton before going to Falls Township and committing the shootings.

When he returned to Trenton, Platkins release read, he entered a home on Phillips Avenue and was apprehended on New York Avenue at about 5 p.m.

FBI resources were on standby while the ATF, NJSP, Mercer County Rapid Response Team, and Mercer County Homicide Task Force assisted the Trenton Police Department with apprehending Gordon.

THIRD SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR PHILADELPHIA BUS STOP SHOOTING; FOURTH REMAINS AT LARGE

"The string of violent acts that took place yesterday, allegedly at the hands of a single armed individual, alarmed and terrorized communities in Bucks and Mercer counties," Platkin said. "It is the latest in a horrific litany of illustrations of how illegal guns and assault rifles can empower one aggrieved and disturbed actor to do immense damage and leave a trail of tragedies in their wake."

Pennsylvania authorities charged Gordon with three counts each of first- and second-degree murder; two counts of burglary of overnight accommodations resulting in bodily injury; two counts of aggravated assault; robbery of a motor vehicle; unlawful restraint of a minor or parent; discharging a firearm into an occupied structure; theft; unlawful restraint; possession of an instrument of crime; making a terroristic threat; simple assault; and eight counts of recklessly endangering another person.

In New Jersey, he faces a whole slew of other charges including first-degree 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 magazines; and fourth-degree possession of hollow-point ammunition.

PHILADELPHIA POLICE ARREST TWO 18-YEAR-OLDS IN CONNECTION TO SEPTA BUS STOP SHOOTING, INJURING 8 STUDENTS

A map showing where Falls Township, Pennsylvania is located.

"Yesterdays events are a profound tragedy and a shock that instilled fear in many residents in two states," J. Stephen Ferketic, director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice said. "Thankfully, they ended with the apprehension of the suspect without further gunfire. We will work closely with our partners in Bucks County to ensure that the defendant answers for his alleged crimes in both Trenton and Falls Township."

Gordon is currently being held at the Mercer County Correction Center.

The Bucks County St. Patrick's Day Parade was canceled due to the shelter-in-place order and several local businesses were temporarily closed, FOX 29 Philadelphia reported.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Falls Township is located about 28 miles northeast of Philadelphia.

Fox News Digital's Chris Pandolfo and Brie Stimson contributed to this report.





Original article source: Homeless man terrorized communities in 2 states after allegedly killing 3 family members during crime spree
Police in Washington state are investigating an incident involving an "improvised explosive device" found outside a cannabis shop in Tacoma on Friday.

A suspect can be seen dropping off the homemade device and then throwing the Molotov cocktail at the shop in a video Tacoma Police shared with Fox 13.

James Bean, the owner of Craft Cannabis, is asking for help in identifying the individual caught on camera during the March 15 incident.

"I think this could have been a very different story had the person been successful," Bean told Fox 13.

NEW JERSEY WOMAN DISCUSSES BIZARRE VANDALISM AFTER PEPPERONI SCATTERED AROUND HOME

Tacoma Police are investigating after what appeared to be an "improvised explosive device" was found outside Craft Cannabis Friday.

Bean owns three other pot shops in Wenatchee and Vancouver and opened the Tacoma store two years ago, but told Fox 13 he noticed the location started being targeted back in February.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Bean told Fox 13 it all started with his 35% off signs being stolen.

"It all started after we finished our remodel and had a grand reopening," Bean said. "We even started getting threatening phone calls."

However, all the thefts and threats took a serious turn on Friday when someone attempted to burn one of his buildings down.

MAN USES BEAR SPRAY TO STOP POT SHOP THIEVES IN WASHINGTON STATE

Surveillance video captured an individual dropping off the device and then throwing a molotov cocktail at the store.

"They rolled some type of fire starter onto the side of the building, and they threw a Molotov cocktail against the building," Bean described to Fox 13. "Its a good thing he had bad aim."

Tacoma Police responded and safely disposed of the device.

Unfortunately, Craft Cannabis was hit again on Sunday morning, with part of its sign partially burned down.

At approximately 6:00 a.m, Sunday, police said an officer drove by the shop to investigate reports of a fire.

Officials told Fox News Digital that two individuals ran from the scene. The fire was extinguished immediately, no one was arrested and no one was injured.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the attacks to contact them.

Tacoma Police told Fox News Digital that they are continuing to investigate the incidents that they believe are related to other incidents. A follow-up will also be done to determine the motive, officers said.

Police added that the owner feels the attacks are retaliation for providing a product for a lower price than competitors.

In addition, Bean said he is offering a $10,000 cash reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.





Original article source: Homemade explosives used to target Washington state cannabis shop: video
Salisbury Beach residents pooled funds for a sand dune to protect their homes from coastal erosion.

But "king" high tides washed away half of the human-made dune after only three days.

An ocean engineer says the dune did exactly what it was meant to do.

Residents of Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts spent over half a million dollars on a last-ditch effort to save their homes from flooding. But after just three days, the sea had washed most of their Hail Mary away.

The project, organized by the community nonprofit Salisbury Beach Citizens for Change, built a human-made sand dune along the beach to block floodwaters from reaching homeowners' properties. It took four weeks to build, used 15,000 tons of sand, and cost residents $600,000 out of their own pockets.

Homes appear to sit on the edge of a cliff after a series of "king" tides washed a substantial portion of the beach away. MyCoast

What sparked the initiative was a series of "king" tides that have slammed Salisbury Beach since January, Tom Saab, president of SBCFC told Business Insider. King tides are exceptionally high tides cresting at over 10 feet tall, according to Saab.

Two back-to-back storms in January swelled the tide to over 14 feet, eroding the beach significantly. "The properties got killed," Saab said. Homeowners sustained damage to their decks, stairways, they even had water in their living rooms, he said.

Seawater flooded the streets of Salisbury after the March 10 storm. MyCoast

To make matters worse, the storms swept away the natural dunes that protected the beachfront properties, leaving them even more vulnerable to the next inevitable king tide.

The homes that line Salisbury Beach are worth about $2 billion in total property value, Saab said. And the beach itself is a popular tourist destination that attracts roughly one million visitors each year.

All in all, this one-square-mile beach pays for 45% of Salisbury's taxes, he said. Losing it would bankrupt the town. And in that case, the State of Massachusetts would have to bail them out.

"That's why it's important, and it behooves the State of Massachusetts to continue to help protect Salisbury beach," Saab said.

In the wake of those January storms, SBCFC reached out to the State for help, but officials made no promises to invest in coastal protections for Salisbury Beach. So, the nonprofit and local residents filed an emergency action to build a human-made barrier dune themselves.

The group raised over half a million dollars in donations from residents and trucked in enough sand to fill 3.75 Olympic-sized swimming pools to replenish the beach. They completed the project on March 7.

But then, the tide rolled in again.

This video posted on the SBCFC facebook page shows the final stages of construction for the Salisbury Beach human-made dune.

On March 10, a Nor'easter sent a 13-and-half-foot tide barreling up the beach. By the time the water receded, half of their dune had washed away. "The $600,000 we put there got clobbered," Saab said. "We lost $300,000 of sand."

But thanks to the dune, their homes were protected. While its swift collapse marks a major financial loss for homeowners, it doesn't mean the project was a failure, Jens Figlus, a coastal engineer and associate professor at Texas A&M University, told BI.

In fact, he thinks this dune did exactly what it was supposed to. If it hadn't been there, homeowners would likely be picking up the leftover pieces of their damaged homes. The dune saved them.

How human-made dunes protect coastal communities

As climate change raises sea levels and increases storm frequency, seaside homes face increasing risk. Coastal engineers, like Figlus, are tasked with finding ways to protect them.

Engineered sand dunes are one solution. "They're basically trying to mimic the natural feature that occurs on many beaches," Figlus explained.

Dunes work as a buffer between on-land infrastructure and the ocean. When beaches erode, coastal homes lose this natural protection. That's where human-made dunes can fill in. They replace what was lost and take the hit from rising seas so that homes don't have to.

This diagram shows how replenishing beaches with human-made dunes prevents rising seawater from moving too far inland. The Massachusetts Wildlife Climate Action Tool

"The dune is a sacrificial construct," Figlus said. When storms hit and tides swell, they'll erode the dune instead of destroying the front deck or foundation of your home, he explained.

That means that over time, every engineered dune washes away, just like this one on Salisbury Beach. In that sense, "A dune eroding under a storm like this did its job, because if the dune weren't there, it would be the houses," Figlus said.

How quickly that happens is a different question.

The fact that a heavy storm occurred only three days after the Salisbury dune was built is "tragic," Figlus admitted, but totally out of the residents' control. If this recent storm hadn't destroyed the dune, another one eventually would have.

Is it worth it to invest $600,000 in sea level protection that could disappear in a matter of days? That's up for communities to decide, Figlus said. "You get to a point where it may not be economically feasible to put millions of dollars in front of a few homes and watch it wash away."

Beach front property damage on Salisbury Beach after the March 10 storm. MyCoast

But he still believes that human-made dunes are a coastal homeowner's best defense against rising seas. "They're basically buying time," he said. "That's still our best option."

Saab agreed. But he believes the funding shouldn't come from the pockets of coastal homeowners, it should come from the State. Nevertheless, his repeated pleas to the state of Massachusetts to fund coastal adaptation projects for Salisbury Beach have gone unanswered.

"Our problem is that the state of Massachusetts refuses to help us out. It refuses to contribute any funds, and would rather see the beach collapse," he said.

In lieu of funding beach restoration projects, the state is addressing the problem through beach access closures and communication with Salisbury residents, according to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.

"To ensure the safety of the public, DCR has closed access points 9 and 10 at Salisbury Beach after they sustained damage from the recent rainstorms," a DCR spokeswoman told BI in a written statement. "The Healey-Driscoll Administration remains in regular communication with representatives from the Town, the legislative delegation and the community and will continue to work with them to address the impacts of erosion at the Beach."

Saving Salisbury Beach

This week, Salisbury Beach residents met with environmentalists and members of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to formulate next steps.

Salisbury is a bustling beach community that attracts over a million visitors to its shoreline each year. Gary Miles / Flickr

Roughly 170 people gathered for the virtual meeting to plead with State officials to fund coastal protections for Salisbury Beach, Saab said.

In addition to funding future dune projects, they also discussed the possibility of permitting dredging along Salisbury Beach, which involves harvesting sand from the ocean floor and using it to replenish the beach. But currently, Massachusetts is one of the few East Coast states where dredging is illegal.

Among other solutions that Salisbury Beach residents proposed was the use of "sand trap bags," which are essentially large plastic bags filled with sand that can be used to build a protective wall along the beach.

But State officials made no promises to move forward with either of those proposals, Saab said. Now, SBCFC and local residents are targeting a different solution: planting dune grass. Seeding sand dunes with grass anchors sand in place, fortifying dunes against erosion from waves and wind, according to UMass Amherst.

A dune grass replanting project in Sandwich, MA. Ken Wiedemann / Getty Images

"We're purchasing hundreds of bundles of dune grass, and we're going to start planting grass on what's left of our dune," Saab said. Both the funding and labor for this new project will come from Salisbury Beach residents.

Not all of them are willing to chip in this time, though. Some residents simply aren't willing to invest more personal funds in efforts to save the beach, Saab said. But he won't be throwing in the towel any time soon.

"I'll never give up. We'll keep fighting  you've got to continue to protect your beach no matter what," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Gov. Bill Lee's proposal to expand a program offering taxpayer-funded vouchers for families to offset private schooling costs in Tennessee has some homeschoolers concerned over how it may affect them.

Some members of the homeschool community have opposed the idea of vouchers including them, worrying that it would extend government control into their homes  even if they dont accept the vouchers. Others see no harm in including homeschools in the plan.

The state House and Senate versions of the bill supporting Lee's plan are vastly different, including when it comes to homeschools, which has added to some of the confusion and concern over vouchers.

Heres what to know about the proposed bills and what homeschoolers and lawmakers have said about them.

School vouchers: TN House, Senate panels advance vastly different plans for expansion

What the House, Senate voucher bills say about homeschools

The House version specifically excludes all homeschool students from qualifying for vouchers under the proposed Education Freedom Scholarship Act. That includes those who attend church-related homeschools  something added to the bill after an amendment was adopted last week.

"Homeschoolers are totally written out of this bill," Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, who chairs the House Education Administration Committee, said last month.

Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-Memphis, and Rep. Sam McKenzie, D-Knoxville, discuss a school voucher bill during a House committee hearing on March 6 as Chairman Mark White, R-Memphis, (back center) listens.

But while the Senate version includes language that disqualifies students who are enrolled in homeschool from the voucher program, it does allow students enrolled in church-related schools. Since Tennessee allows homeschools to operate under church-related schools, that means some homeschool students could qualify for vouchers under the Senate bill.

Conversation about that provision surfaced as the Senate advanced its version of the bill this month. Several homeschooling families were present during the Senate Education Committee hearing on March 6 to oppose the bill. They were concerned it would apply state testing requirements to their students.

Senate Education Committee Chair Jon Lundberg, R-Bristol, said homeschool students would only be subject to testing requirements if they opt-in for state funds.

"If you dont want the funds, there is no change," Lundberg said.

Homeschoolers weigh in on voucher bill

Tiffany Boyd, who founded the organization Free Your Children, spoke at a Feb. 27 House K-12 Subcommittee hearing on the bill. The organizations website lists Boyd as a homeschool advocate, former public school teacher, consultant and speaker.

Boyd said she worries the proposal would dictate what homeschools teach and how they test learning. She also worried the language could later be amended to apply requirements to all homeschoolers, even if they dont accept the vouchers. She said true private education can't exist in Tennessee if the government gets involved in it.

Tiffany Boyd, who founded the organization Free Your Children, testifies before members of the Tennessee House during a committee meeting on Feb. 27, 2024, in the Cordell Hull Office Building in Nashville, Tenn.

"The public was told the bill would not come with strings. It does," she said. "We know and understand that what the government funds, it runs."

Candyce Roberson said she appreciates both sides of the argument over including homeschools in the bill. She previously homeschooled her children while dividing her time working as a public school teacher and now teaches at a private school, where her children also attend.

I think that, speaking in general, homeschool parents prefer less legislation in relation to homeschooling, not more, she said. However, in this case ... I dont see the downside for homeschool parents who choose not to participate.

Where Tennessee's voucher expansion bill stands

While the House and Senate both advanced their companion bills for the voucher expansion, the two versions of the bill are vastly different.

On March 6, the Senate Education Committee passed SB503, a version of Gov. Bill Lee's voucher expansion plan, with additional accountability measures. The version also allows "open enrollment to any school," permitting students to attend public schools outside of the districts for which they're zoned.

Lawmakers listen as Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, asks questions during a House Education Administration Committee hearing on a school voucher bill on March 6.

That same night, the House Education Administration committee passed its version of the bill with a 39-page amendment that would also overhaul Tennessee's standardized testing requirements for public school students, make changes to teacher and principal accountability, and shut down the states Achievement School District by 2026. However, it does not include testing requirements for students who accept vouchers.

The future of the legislation is unclear as GOP leadership in both chambers appears unwilling to compromise thus far.

What's next, where to learn more

The Senate bill, SB503, now goes to the Senate Finance Ways and Means Committee. A date had not been set for that committee meeting as of March 14. The House version, HB1183, goes to the Government Operations Committee on March 18.

Want to follow along? Go to capitol.tn.gov and enter either bill HB1183 or SB503 into the search box at the top right to view the latest actions and plans for the legislation.

Visit tn.gov/education/families/school-options to learn more about Tennessee's Education Savings Account program, along with public, private and homeschool options in the state.

Reach children's reporter Rachel Wegner at RAwegner@tennessean.com or follow her on Twitter, Threads and Bluesky @RachelAnnWegner.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN school voucher expansion: Homeschoolers voice concern, questions
By unanimous vote, Honesdale council on Feb. 26 agreed to contract Keystone Municipal Solutions to identify a part-time interim borough manager.

The contract calls for $10,500, with half up front for recruiting. Should the borough on its own find a suitable applicant for hire, the second half would not have to be paid, said Councilor Noelle Mundy, for the Personnel Committee.

The hourly rate will be $135 an hour, three days a week for a maximum of a total of $2,500, Council President James Brennan noted.

"Which is why we are scurrying to find our own borough manager," Mundy said. "It is a pricey contract, but it is something that the borough desperately needs at this point, somebody to get in here and help get us organized and on the right track.

Many of the borough manager's duties now fall on the borough secretary, Judy Poltanis. Mundy said that Poltanis does an "amazing job" but is a lot for one person and is dealing with things she should not have to. Councilor James Hamill said it was prudent to enact this transition but hopefully would find a full-time manager as soon as possible.

Poltanis said that the borough paid $26,000 last year to this firm. They vetted candidates and sent applications to the Personnel Committee. Twice, the borough offered the job to a chosen applicant, but both times the applicant backed out.

Mundy stated that the committee has applicants now that could be fruitful, so hopefully well within the 90 days of the contract a full-time manager will be hired. The interim is expected to continue for a while to orient the full-time person.

Park stage fee

The council approved a fee policy adopted for nonprofit groups for the new portable entertainment stage for Central Park. Nonprofit organizations will be required to pay a $250 refundable deposit to help toward the insurance deductible should any damage arise. The council approved the policy 6-1 (David Nilsen voting "no"). A fee schedule for profit-making entities is pending.

The new Central Park event stage was purchased by Honesdale Borough in 2023 using grants and donations. It is seen being examined by the Public Works Department in November after being delivered. The expandable mobile stage is expected to see much use in 2024. It replaces the old stage owned by Wayne County Creative Arts Council, which hosts a series of park concerts in June and July.

The new, state-of-the-art expandable stage, which cost around $170,000, was delivered to the borough last November.

A $30,000 grant from the county and $10,000 from Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau helped pay for it, with the balance coming from Honesdale Parks & Recreation Commission and Berris Memorial Fund. Councilor James Hamill, chair of Parks & Rec, affirmed that donations are welcome to help offset the cost.

It replaces the old stage owned by Wayne County Creative Arts Council (WCCAC), a nonprofit which hosts 13 park concerts June 10 to July 31. WCCAC donated its stage to Camp Freedom in Carbondale, which serves veterans, first responders and others. This is the 57th year for WCCAC, which was founded by Art E. Fausshauer.

Honesdale Roots & Rhythm hosts annual concerts in the park on June 15. Hamill stated they have not yet specifically requested use of the new stage.

Hamill commented that the new stage will help make "an amazing experience" for residents and visitors, at a time when many exciting developments are under preparation, including a downtown commercial revitalization program, a walking riverside trail along 12th Street and the county's plans for a park-like atmosphere and improved boat launch at the former Industrial Point.

Downtown prom

Honesdale High School's senior prom is being planned this year in downtown Honesdale, at 6th & River, Saturday, May 11. 6th & River is a multi-use event space created in the historic red brick, former Katz Underwear factory, 525 Church St.

Council approved the annual placement of balloons and ribbons on parking meters for May 11-12 in celebration of the prom. In making the motion, Councilor James Hamill commented it was the first time in his memory that the prom was held downtown, and it was an opportunity to highlight what Honesdale has to offer.

Contacted afterwards, Wayne Highlands Superintendent Gregory Frigoletto said that the prom had been held on many occasions at Camp Bryn Mawr, outside of town, and at Anthracite Hotel in Carbondale and Genetti's in Dickson City on a limited basis.

More items

Zachary Mead was approved for hire as a part-time Honesdale police officer. Councilor Jason Newbon expressed encouragement to see the police department grow, now counting six part-time officers and three full-time officers.

During January, Honesdale Police addressed one assault, three thefts, two vandalism incidents, two cases of drug possession, one DUI and two disorderly conduct incidents. Honesdale Fire Department answered 40 calls, including nine motor vehicle crashes, two structure fires and one vehicle fire.

The council approved the purchase of security cameras for Central Park at a cost of $5,855.42. Hamill, who made the motion, said the next step would be to decide who will monitor the video. He said this will be under the purview of the police department. Potentially they will be able to see a live stream of the park, to watch for vandalism, he said.

The council approved 6-1 (Nilsen voting "no") to apply a second time for a $250,000 Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grant on behalf of Wayne Pike Trails and Waterways Alliance. Molly Rodgers with Lackawaxen River Trails said the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program funds will be used to develop an approximate 1,800-foot walking trail by the river from 4th Street to Brown Street. She said this will be the "first step" for a planned trail all the way to Hawley.

After much discussion, the council agreed 5-2 to replace a loader used by the Department of Public Works with an excavator and skid steerer, which requires transport by trailer. They also agreed, 6-1, to suspend a prior motion to trade in the loader and have the Street and Finance committees review the matter.

Two Easter egg hunts were approved for Central Park: Thrive Church, March 23, 1 to 3 p.m.; and Crosspoint Bible Church, March 30, 9 a.m. to noon.

David Wright was given permission to provide a memorial Flag for Irving Cliff, for the third year.

Honesdale Borough Council meets on the fourth Monday at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 958 Main St. The agenda is posted at honesdaleborough.com.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Honesdale council pursues borough manager; prom going downtown
(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kongs legislature will convene Tuesday to resume reading of a new security bill thats being fast-tracked by the government.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The Legislative Council will meet at 9 a.m. to continue a second reading of the bill, which will be followed by a third and possibly final reading, according to the legislatures agenda.

Officials and lawmakers have worked to speed the bill through the council. The citys leader John Lee, who returned early from the National Peoples Congress in Beijing, has said theres a need to pass the law as soon as possible to guard against risks from increasingly complex geopolitics and national security threats.

Lawmakers completed a clause-by-clause scrutiny of the 212-page bill on Friday. The legislation was published just a week earlier, days after a public consultation period ended.

The passage of the domestically-drafted law comes almost four years after Beijing imposed its own national security law on Hong Kong after pro-democracy protests rocked the city. Hong Kong was required under its mini-constitution to enact its own security legislation, but previous administrations failed to do so due to public opposition.

The new law will provide authorities with wider tools to minimize dissent. The legislation will also cover external interference and state secrets. Police will be given expanded powers to detain and investigate those suspected of endangering national security, while sentences will be toughened.

Read more: Hong Kong Fast-Tracks New Security Law at Beijings Urging

Approval of the legislation isnt in doubt as authorities previously took steps to ensure only patriots could be lawmakers.

--With assistance from Josh Xiao.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Just under two months after its fundraiser was launched, the honor chair for fallen San Angelo Police Department Officer Steven Carnes has had its date of construction scheduled.

Honor chairs, a concept pioneered by the Saving a Heros Place organization, are customized chairs hand-built by first responders, family and survivors at the police departments where they will reside. These chairs are constructed so that fellow co-workers and family have the opportunity to build the chair with [Saving a Heros Place], to help save the place of their fallen loved one.

When an Officer makes the ultimate sacrifice, his/her presence is missed, Saving a Heros Place said. The Honor Chair is placed  as a reminder that even though they are not there physically, the officer will always be with you as you head out to the battles, carrying on the watch.

The San Angelo Police Officers Coalition started a fundraiser to help pay for Carnes chair in late January 2024. Carnes, who served communities across Texas as a law enforcement officer for 30 years, died on Nov. 13, 2022, after suffering a medical emergency while assisting another agency in an arrest at Koronazz at around 1:53 a.m. that day.

RELATED: DA criminal investigator passes after medical emergency while assisting arrest

Carnes has been memorialized in the past, with events such as memorial runs serving to honor his life and legacy. The chair is a more permanent fixture meant to remember the man behind the uniform.

I know that Steven was not from the SAPD, SAPOC Vice President of Supervisors John Bouligny said. However, a lot of us worked with him at some point during our careers.

Carnes honor chair is set to be constructed on March 25 and March 26 at the San Angelo Police Department. Then, it will be transported to the District Attorneys Office for a presentation on March 27 and placed there.

An image of Steven Carnes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
Princess Alexandra Hospital has been beset by problems that have affected patient care - COLIN PALMER PHOTOGRAPHY/ALAMY

An NHS hospital where a ceiling fell on a patient in critical condition is using taxpayer funding to try to become the first net zero trust in the UK.

The intensive care unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, in Harlow, Essex, remained closed on Monday after its ceiling caved in on the patient, who was receiving life support, last Wednesday. The trust said no one was harmed.

The hospital has received a share of the 20 billion in funding from the Governments New Hospital Programme and will use the cash to make its new site fully electric and completely carbon neutral by 2030.

The radical plans for the new site include creating a sky farm on its roof to grow the food that hospital inpatients will eat during their stays.

But the green initiatives, which will not come into place until the next decade at the earliest, have done little to assuage patient safety fears at the crumbling hospitals current site.

Critics have said the hospital had its heads in the clouds focusing on utopian goals rather than keeping a roof over their heads.

500m rebuild

The Princess Alexandra is due to be rebuilt at a cost likely to be in excess of 500 million because of its failing infrastructure. It opened in the 1960s.

It confirmed last week that it had declared a major incident after medical equipment fell from fittings on the ceiling, with the Sunday Times reporting that debris hit a person on life-support.

Patients at the hospital have also endured an average of around 100 clinical service incidents a week over the past five years, which are where issues with the building have had an impact on or delayed care.

There were also 40 major sewage leaks in 2022, according to Freedom of Information requests by the Liberal Democrats.

The Government has provided 4.2 billion in funding to upgrade facilities this year and 1.7 billion for improvements at 70 hospitals.

Hospitals are legally responsible for maintaining their estates.

Requires improvement

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust currently requires improvement according to the regulator, the Care Quality Commission.

It has drawn up plans for its new hospital to be green from the roof down, run entirely on electricity, with environmentally friendly transport links and producing no carbon dioxide at all. It says the amount of CO2 it currently produces every year is equivalent to that from 1,436 return flights from London to New York.

Stephanie Lawton, the chief operating officer at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, said: As a safety precaution we have moved all ICU patients to another area where they are continuing to receive the specialist ICU care that they need.

No patients or ICU team members were injured when a piece of medical equipment detached from its fitting and a single ceiling tile came loose and dropped from the ceiling. Our ICU team responded immediately to the situation and all patients were safely moved.

Relatives of our patients were told of the relocation and are still able to visit their loved ones.

Our hospital was built in the 1960s and we have an ongoing maintenance schedule to ensure that we can respond to any issues. The age of the hospital is recognised and we are part of the national New Hospital Programme, which will see a new hospital built for local people.

Jonathan Eida, a researcher for the TaxPayers Alliance, said: Taxpayers are sick of the NHS prioritising the future rather than the present.

Health bosses have their heads in the clouds focusing on utopian goals rather than keeping a roof over their heads, he added. The Trust needs to focus on delivering frontline services.

The hospital was also accused of wasting taxpayer money last month, after FOIs obtained by local news outlet Your Harlow revealed it had sent executives on a 60,000 Las Vegas trip last September.

It said the trip had been approved as part of a business case to assess and learn how to use its new electronic patient record system, called Alex Health, which itself cost 31 million.

During the trip hospital leaders stayed in the prestigious New York New York Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip, which is home to its own rollercoaster and a replica of the Statue of Liberty.

Sean Phillips, head of health and social care at Policy Exchange, a think tank, said dreadful incidents such as the ceiling collapse will become more commonplace unless progress with the high-risk maintenance backlog and New Hospital Programme overall can be accelerated.

He added: Where Harlow residents had expected new facilities by 2025, they will now likely have to wait until 2030. Further delay should not be acceptable.

A Department of Health spokesman said: We have invested significant sums to upgrade and modernise NHS buildings so staff have the facilities needed to provide world-class care for patients, including 4.2 billion this financial year.

This is on top of the expected investment of over 20 billion for the New Hospital Programme, which includes a commitment to delivering a new hospital at Princess Alexandra in Harlow.

Funding allocated towards net zero targets or electronic patient records does not affect the funding for maintenance of hospital estates.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust was asked for a comment.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. The prospects of the development of multi-vector cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iraq have been discussed, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani received a delegation headed by Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov.

Additionally, it was noted that Iraq is interested in strengthening ties with Azerbaijan. The sides discussed partnership in the spheres of trade, investment, tourism, and transportation, as well as other areas of importance for both countries. The current state and priorities for the development of Azerbaijani-Iraqi economic ties were discussed at the meeting. The importance of the growth of bilateral trade turnover and the increase of mutual investments was emphasized.

Besides, the delegation headed by Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov met with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani.

The sides noted the existence of a favorable environment for the expansion of the multi-vector Azerbaijan-Iraq partnership. It was emphasized that the energy sector occupies a significant place in the development of economic ties between the countries, and opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in this field were underlined.

The Azerbaijani delegation was informed about the work done in the fields of decarbonization and energy transition. It was noted that declaring 2024 the "Year of Solidarity for a Green World" in Azerbaijan and holding COP29 in our country will contribute to the energy transition process.

Azerbaijan's goals for the transition to green energy, projects in this direction implemented by SOCAR together with its partners, and opportunities for cooperation on energy issues were discussed.

Also within the framework of the visit, the delegation headed by Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov met with Iraqi Trade Minister Atheer Daoud Al-Ghurairi.

During the meeting, the Iraqi side was informed about reforms in the field of sustainable economic development and the improvement of Azerbaijan's business environment. A total of 160 companies with Iraqi capital operate in different spheres of our country's economy. It was noted that non-oil and gas products prevailed in the structure of exports from Azerbaijan to Iraq in 2023; export potential for the Iraqi market and wide logistic opportunities were emphasized.

The sides acknowledged the existence of favorable conditions for bringing trade relations between the two countries to a higher level. Interest in the diversification of trade and economic relations and the importance of organizing mutual visits among business circles were noted.

At the meeting, the strengthening of cooperation between business circles, joint activities on infrastructure projects, and the organization of the Azerbaijani-Iraqi business forum were discussed. Iraqi businessmen were invited to visit Azerbaijan to study the business and export opportunities of our country.

To note, according to the data of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, in January 2024, Azerbaijan exported goods worth $1.055 million to Iraq and imported goods worth over $12,000 in January 2024.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
SEDONA, Ariz.  After nearly seven hours of heated debate, Sedona City Council voted 6-1 to approve a program that will provide a safe place to park for workers in the city who are living in their cars.

The Safe Place to Park program will include 40 parking spots for those employed full-time within city limits. It requires participants to actively engage in case management with local social services  with an end goal of securing permanent housing after the program ends. The site will include temporary restrooms, showers and trash bins.

Funded through a two-year grant from the Arizona Department of Housing, the site will be managed by the Verde Valley Homeless Coalition.

They will be responsible for monitoring and enforcing rules within the lot between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. All vehicles will be required to leave during daytime hours.

Uptown Sedona is packed with shops, galleries and restaurants.

The council's decision last Tuesday comes after more than a year of planning and refining a program aimed at providing relief for area workers while affordable housing projects move through the construction process. City officials estimate that a 30-unit workforce housing project will be ready for residents by the time the Safe Place to Park program ends in 2026.

The measure comes as workers are being priced out of housing in Sedona, a picturesque desert city amid majestic red rock formations that draws more than 3 million tourists each year. The median home price has jumped 75% since 2019, according to Zillow, to more than $930,000.

Council members acknowledged the live-in-cars program is not ideal and is not the permanent solution to the area's affordable housing crisis. But they said it is something that can be done immediately to help alleviate the situation for those who would otherwise be illegally sleeping in their cars on city streets or nearby National Forest land.

"I don't think there's anybody up here or staff that are extremely proud of this. This is a last-ditch effort," Mayor Scott Jablow said. "No one's really proud because this isn't really the answer. It's one of many answers."

A petition to let Sedona voters decide for themselves on the program could soon be making its way around town.

Sedona City Councilmember Scott Jablow stands in front of a home being operated as a short-term rental. City officials and residents say the law has exacerbated a growing problem of unavailable housing that could have far-reaching consequences for their city.

Ballot referendum could be on the way

The vast majority of residents spoke against the program, with some calling for a ballot referendum to put the decision in voters' hands.

"If the city does pass this misbegotten zoning ordinance, I've already prepared and tomorrow I will file for a ballot referendum so the people of Sedona can correct that mistake," said Dr. Bill Noonan, who said he moved to Sedona from Portland to escape a homeless crisis that he said was created by the city.

While a majority of the residents in attendance at Tuesday's meeting spoke against the project, council members said numerous emails they've received in support of the program illustrate residents are more split on the issue than the night's meeting would suggest.

Sedona Vice Mayor Holli Ploog.

Despite being initially supportive of the program during prior council discussions, Vice Mayor Holli Ploog cast the sole dissenting vote. She said she ended the night conflicted with how to best represent the people of Sedona on this issue.

"I wish we had the authority to put this on the ballot because I want to hear what the community actually wants to do," Ploog said.

Something as divisive and controversial as the program could "break this community," she said, adding she welcomes a ballot referendum and would even sign the petition herself.

"It's the only way that the people will have a voice  through the ballot box," Ploog said.

Lot's location at Cultural Park raises concerns about future plans

Many opponents of the project took issue with its location in a parking lot on the northwest corner of a 41-acre Cultural Park. The city bought the property for $23 million last year after it spent more than a decade on the market after being purchased out of foreclosure.

The land sat largely unused for two decades. City officials argued without city involvement, the site would likely become a hotel or resort that could bring even more short-term rental units to the city. They also argued a lack of height or density restrictions could put Sedonas famous red rock views at risk if a developer prioritizes profit.

The program will be located on about 6 acres of land previously used as a parking lot. The area is not visible from any nearby residences or roadways, according to city staff.

But some community members argued the presence of the lot alongside one of the city's greatest assets would diminish its value in the eyes of many residents. Many also spoke of fears of the park becoming a hub for area pollution, drug use and other illegal behavior, permanently damaging what residents described as a "Sedona treasure."

Shoppers cross a street in uptown Sedona. There, roads and sidewalks often bustle with visitors buying, eating and pampering themselves at higher-end businesses typically staffed by people whose limited salaries make it impossible for them to afford housing in the area.

Tim Jessup, a decades-long Sedona resident and music engineer who works with the band Chicago, noted the project site is near the band's current studio. He said the program would "upend the Cultural Park," a venue that could otherwise provide a huge boost to the local economy.

Putting the program in the Cultural Park would "kill the golden goose and eat it," Jessup said.

But city officials emphasized the program is temporary  with a firm two-year limit on the grant funding as well as a zoning reversal that would revoke the specified land use in June 2026.

The community over that period will be undergoing an intensive process to develop a master plan for the future of the Cultural Park, which officials estimate will take at least two years to complete.

Sedona City Councilmember Melissa Dunn.

"If we don't do this now, then there's never going to be a time for us to do this," said council member Melissa Dunn.

"We can wait two years until we have housing, but those people will be living on the street in their cars, will be living in the forest with unsafe conditions," Dunn said.

"So it just feels like this is time for us to do what might be uncomfortable but probably in the long run is the best thing for our community. These people are residents here, they are part of our community and to deny that because they live in their cars just feels incorrect to me," she said.

Supporters call for compassion and community

The few who spoke in favor of the project argued housing costs across the Verde Valley have skyrocketed. Many of the people who work in the restaurants, shops and other businesses that maintain the town's tourism industry are now being priced out.

This program, they said, is a way to keep them in town and keep them safe.

"This for me is an opportunity to display who we are as a community," said the Rev. Anthony Johnson.

Sedona, Arizona

A minister in Sedona, Johnson described the program as a chance for residents to display their humanity and hospitality to their neighbors, highlighting that a lot of the night's conversation included terms like "stopgap" and "right now."

"I would remind us all, now is all we have," he said.

Jay Williams, a 25-year resident and homeowner who works as an area director for a local company, shared Johnson's sentiment. Williams spoke passionately in support of the program, during last week's meeting and a prior one in January where the Safe Place to Park program was discussed.

Williams said he participated in one of the initial employer feedback sessions about the project, and only a few had concerns about potentially transient employees. He described much of the night's public opposition as "pathetic" and "prejudiced."

"All I hear are justifications from those who want to deny peace and safety to their peers," Williams said. "Sitting here tonight I've heard those against this refer to potential participants as animals, vagrants and drug dealers and the parking area as a zoo, all while proudly trumpeting their ignorance about the struggle these people face."

"We are talking about assisting members of our community  members who already exist in our community and who are positively affecting it," he said.

Reach the reporter at LLatch@gannett.com. Coverage of northern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. The Arizona Republic is part of the USA TODAY Network.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sedona to let workers live in cars as housing costs skyrocket
When Humza Yousaf told whoever listens to him that the general election, whenever it comes, is a straightforward fight between his SNP and the Scottish Tories it could be seen as a backhanded compliment.

After all, there is an entity called the Labour Party that is apparently carrying it all in the opinion polls but in a speech to his party faithful it was the Tories on which Scotlands First Minister concentrated his venom.

And venomous it really was - or bilious and nasty, according to one critic, about the Tories and their values; so much so that the SNPs most experienced and longest serving MP said he would be having nothing to do with it.

Pete Wishart has been an SNP standard bearer in the Commons for the best part of a quarter of a century - winning the Tayside North constituency in 2001, subsequently Perth and North Perthshire from 2005, and for anyone who knows that part of the world he really had no business hanging on to the seat, given its profile.

Its image is as one of Scotlands most comfortable areas, one which a Martian, visiting it for the first time, would swear blind that it was a Tory stronghold.

Tory ideas

But for 23 years it has been all Mr Wisharts and so when his leader declared that he not only wanted to make Scotland free he added we need to reject not just Tory politicians, but Tory policies, Tory ideas and Tory values, the SNPs longest serving MP clearly did a double-take and the said, in effect, you must be off your rocker, Humza.

After all, Wishart has always had Conservative candidates trying to deprive him of his living but they failed because after all those years its plain that as MP he knew a bit about his constituents and their values - decency and honesty, for the most part. And he didnt hang on to the seat by monstering those values which is what Yousaf wanted him to do.

In the rarefied atmosphere in which most nationalists of the First Ministers calibre exist Tory values dont include decent and honesty but Pete Wishart knows better.

Scottish values

Barely were Yousafs insults uttered when Wishart declared: Much as I will be doing everything possible to ensure that the Tories are kept out of Perth and Kinross-shire I wont be using this Tory free rhetoric as part of my campaign.

And just in case those SNP class warriors, such as the party leader, didnt get the message, he added: At the last election almost 20,000 people voted Tory in my constituency and they have a right to have their view and vote respected. I will be trying as much as possible to convince them to vote for me and put the case why Scotland should be independent

Thats surely the way to do it, and not by some crude litany of hate and distaste from Scotlands most senior politician, whos becoming a pretty unsavoury contestant in this increasingly nasty-looking election.

What is most objectionable about this approach is that he constantly refers to something called Scottish values to which he suggests only his party adheres. But these are not wholly owned by the SNP and never will be.

We should be grateful to Mr Wishart for pointing this out.

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Hundreds of Cuban Americans gather in Miami on Sunday evening to support the weekend protests in Santiago, Cuba, and elsewhere on the island. Photo by Cristobal Herrera-Ulashkevich/EPA-EFE

March 18 (UPI) -- In a rare public demonstration in Cuba, protesters in Santiago turned out Sunday night to complain about the lack of food and electricity in daily life.

It was one of several demonstrations across the island.

Hundreds of protestors in Santiago, Cuba's second-largest city located on its eastern coast, chanted "power and food" while protesting repeated power outages, some of which last more than 14 hours a day on the island.

Cuba continues to struggle with an economic crisis that has caused power and food shortages, and which its government blames on the ongoing U.S. embargo, the Miami Herald, BBC and NBC News reported.

Western economists, however, blame mismanagement by Cuba's communist government and the COVID-19 pandemic for causing the power and food shortages being experienced by Cuba's 11 million citizens.

The situation has become so dire that Cuba's government in February asked for help from the United Nation's World Food Program.

In a sign of how pronounced public dissatisfaction is today, Cuba's state-run media even acknowledged the protests, though it blamed the U.S. "blockade that seeks to suffocate us," according to Cuban Communist Party outlet Granma and reported Sunday.

Cuba President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, in a translated post on X, blamed the country's current infrastructure problems on "mediocre politicians and terrorists in networks" in South Florida and beyond, saying they are the ones calling for chaos in Cuba.

In acknowledging the demonstrations, the U.S. Embassy urged Cuba's government to respect the people's right to protest their living conditions.

"We are aware of reports of peaceful protests in Santiago, Bayamo, Granma and elsewhere in Cuba, with citizens protesting the lack of food and electricity," the U.S. Embassy in Cuba posted on X. "We urge the Cuban government to respect the human rights of the protestors and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban people."
In the letter, the vice president expressed condolences and solidarity with the victims and their families, denouncing hate-fueled gun violence and emphasizing the administration's commitment to addressing such issues. She highlights legislative efforts to combat hate crimes and discrimination against the Asian community, stressing the importance of unity and advocacy in creating safer communities.

In America, no matter who you are and no matter where your ancestors came from, you should be able to go to work or walk down the street and feel safe. That is why President Biden and I have continued our work to advance measures to address gun violence and keep our children and communities safe. Together, we fought to enact the first major gun safety law in nearly 30 years, and we launched the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Preventionan office that I oversee, Harris wrote.
A hunter thought he spotted a male turkey in the woods and shot at it, but he hit a man instead, Florida police said.

Shortly before 8 a.m. on March 17, authorities received a call reporting a man shot in the woods of Flagler County, according to a news release from the Bunnell Police Department.

When first responders found the man, he had birdshot wounds to his head and torso, police said. They called a helicopter to airlift him to a Daytona Beach trauma center.

Officers spoke with the hunter, who said he was hunting when he saw three female turkeys in the road, according to police. He followed them, and in the low light, he thought he saw a male turkey in the woods.

He fired his shotgun at it, but it was actually a decoy set up by another hunter, police said. Then the turkey hunter heard the man shout out that he had been shot.

The hunter called 911 and expressed remorse, police said. He led officers to where the incident occurred, and they found a shotgun shell, puddles of blood, a stake for the decoy and an instrument to make a turkey call, according to Bunnell police.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the incident.

Authorities did not release information on the injured mans condition and did not say whether any charges will be filed.

Bunnell is about a 75-mile drive northeast of Orlando.

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Hunter shoots deer from vehicle and threatens to kill property owner, TN officials say
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who ran for the GOP presidential nomination this year, says he wont back former President Trump in 2024, but also wont vote for President Biden.

I get asked a lot if I believe Trump is a threat to our democracy, he writes in a USA Today op-ed. I am not good at predicting the future, but we can learn from history and we should take heed when politicians tell us what they are going to do.

Hutchinson says in the piece that he voted for Trump twice, but that insight gleaned from former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wy.) and the Department of Justice on the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol changed his mind.

In terms of history, we all witnessed the violent attack on our national Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, by those wishing to overturn the last election, he writes. This was not an act of patriots as Trump likes to say, but it was a real threat to democracy.

Nearly 400 people have been charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers or employees during the riot, including more than 100 people who have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.

With Donald Trumps domination of the GOP primaries and the elimination of all primary opponents, including the party leadership and Republican elected officials are clicking their heels in obedience to the victor and presumptive nominee. I have not endorsed Donald Trump for president, and I will not do so, he writes.

But Hutchinson says he cant support Bidens policies either.

Another important point to make is that I also will not vote for President Joe Biden. Bidens weak border policies, his poor economic record and his slow growth energy policy do not justify reelection.

The former governor doesnt indicate whether he might support a third-party candidate, but expresses some optimism that anti-Trump forces within his party may eventually prevail.

I hope there will be those in the trenches who will push back against this takeover of the Republican Party and who will join the fight to reclaim the future.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi met Iraq's prime minister in Baghdad on Monday as part of a visit to help the country develop a peaceful nuclear programme.

"We have discussed several projects in Iraq, including building a nuclear reactor for peaceful purposes," Iraqi Education Minister Naim al-Aboudi told reporters following a meeting between Grossi and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Grossi said that a team of Iraqi experts would visit the agency's headquarters in Vienna in a few days to hold meetings to "set out a road map for the Iraqi peaceful nuclear programme" amid growing interest in nuclear energy in the region, including among Arab Gulf countries.

"We see that in the (United Arab) Emirates, we see that in Egypt, we will see that in Saudi Arabia and of course we should see it here in Iraq," Grossi told reporters.

Iraq in the past had three nuclear reactors in Tuwaitha, its main nuclear research site, south of Baghdad. One was destroyed by an Israeli air raid in 1981 and the two others by U.S. warplanes in the 1991 Gulf war that followed Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

"Definitely, turning the page on this complex past is of the essence and we're doing just that," Grossi said.

(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Alex Richardson)
Iceland has experienced its most powerful volcano eruption since December last year on the Reykjanes Peninsula, spewing bright orange lava high into the air.

The eruption has sent fountains of molten rock soaring from a 3km long fissure, with lava now flowing just a few hundred metres from Grindavik, which was first evacuated back in November.

Geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson was quoted by Icelandic broadcaster RUV as saying this latest eruption is the most powerful so far.

The powerful lava stream has threatened the regions main water pipe and is just 200m away, the Icelandic Met Office (IMO) said.

The water pipe is close to the Svartsengi power plant, a geothermal power plant that provides hot water to most of the peninsula.

The IMO head warned of dangerous consequences of lava possibly reaching the sea if it flows southward.

Residents of the fishing town of Grindavik have once again been evacuated from the area, having received text messages telling them to leave with just a few minutes notice.

Key Points

Iceland volcano erupts for fourth time since December

Lava close to Svartsengi plant but power remains uninterrupted

New map shows danger zone if lava reaches sea

Iceland volcano's powerful lava flows engulf peninsula amid fourth eruption in three months

15:38 , Alexander Butler

Pictured: Icelandic lava field

14:22 , Alexander Butler

A police officer and engineer stand next to the lava field of a volcanic eruption in Iceland (EPA)

A view of a lava field formed after a volcanic eruption, near Hagafell in the Reykjanes Peninsula on March 17 (EPA)

Lava close to Svartsengi plant but power remains uninterrupted

13:30 , Alexander Butler

Officials said that Svartsengi power plant is fully operational despite the lava coming close and stopping 200 metres from its high-voltage lines and the hot-water pipes.

Kristinn Hararson, CEO of production at HS Orka, told mbl.is. that the lava tongue that came there stopped a bit from the high-voltage lines and our hot water pipeline, so there was no impact on those pipelines.

Svartsengi is fully operational and there is no interruption due to the eruption. Likewise, all the pipelines from the power plant are safe, he said.

We took such preventive measures to ensure electricity security in the power plant and therefore we had to take electricity off Grindavik for a short period because of that.

Watch live: Iceland volcano spews lava near Grindavik as it erupts for fourth time in three months

12:45 , Alexander Butler

Watch: Iceland volcano spews lava as it erupts for fourth time in three months

Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption? Your rights if you have a holiday booked

12:12 , Alexander Butler

Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption?

Live stream of eruption from orbjorn

11:15 , Barney Davis

An eruption began on the Reykjaness Peninsula at 20.32 on Saturday evening, the seventh in almost three years.

Clouds and smoke shroud the view of this close-up 24/7 stream of the crater left behind.

Iceland volcanos powerful lava flows engulf peninsula amid fourth eruption in three months

10:46 , Barney Davis

Powerful lava flows from a volcano engulfed parts of Icelands Reykjavik peninsula during its fourth eruption in three months.

The eruption began late on Saturday, 16 March, sending luminous orange jets of lava into the night sky.

Fountains of molten rock soared from a 3km long fissure, with lava flowing a few hundred metres from Grindavik, which was first evacuated in November.

Defensive barriers were built to stop it from inundating the main road along the peninsulas southern coast.

No flight disruptions were reported but hundreds of people were evacuated from the Blue Lagoon thermal spa.

Iceland volcanos powerful lava flows engulf peninsula amid fourth eruption

Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption? Your rights if you have a holiday booked

09:30 , Barney Davis

The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. Since November 2023 the Icelandic authorities have been monitoring seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik.

The latest eruption began on the evening of 16 March, with lava reaching the eastern edge of the fishing town of Grindavik  which has mostly been evacuated.

The Icelandic Met Office (IMO) reported: The eruption began at 20:23 UTC on 16 March, with a 2.9-km-long fissure forming quickly. The length and location of the fissure is similar to the eruption on 8 February 2024.

Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption?

Drone shots show eruption last night as authorities claim no activity on northern crack

08:03 , Barney Davis

Drone photos taken last night of the stormy activity seen in the southern areas around the abandoned town of Grindavik.

Authorities claim there is no visible activity on the crack on the north side, the pictures are shot from north to south.

(Public Defence)

(Public Defense)

(Public defence)

New map shows danger zone if lava reaches sea

07:53 , Barney Davis

Icelandic authorities have planned a new danger zone if lava rushing at 12mph last night manages to reach the sea.

Experts think it is unlikely that lava will reach the sea because it would take two days at current speeds.

A government spokesman added: As volcanic eruptions continue, it is nevertheless important to be prepared for this scenario as the conditions that could arise are life-threatening to those within the affected area.

(vedur.is)

Watch video of lava gushing

06:58 , Shweta Sharma

Live streams set up as the volcano was first due to erupt last year captured stunning visuals of a river of lava gushing on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

It is the fourth eruption since December on the peninsula.

Kristinn Gauti Gunnarsson, myndatokumaur frettastofu, nai essum myndum af andi hraunelfinum a Reykjanesskaga i kvold. pic.twitter.com/tbNtBRBKHP  Frettastofa RUV (@RUVfrettir) March 17, 2024

Huge volcano erupts again in Iceland spewing bright orange lava into the air

06:38 , Shweta Sharma

Lava close to Svartsengi plant but power remains uninterrupted

06:24 , Shweta Sharma

Officials said that Svartsengi power plant is fully operational despite the lava coming close and stopping 200 metres from its high-voltage lines and the hot-water pipes.

Kristinn Hararson, CEO of production at HS Orka, told mbl.is. that the lava tongue that came there stopped a bit from the high-voltage lines and our hot water pipeline, so there was no impact on those pipelines.

Svartsengi is fully operational and there is no interruption due to the eruption. Likewise, all the pipelines from the power plant are safe, he said.

We took such preventive measures to ensure electricity security in the power plant and therefore we had to take electricity off Grindavik for a short period because of that.

Huge volcano erupts again in Iceland spewing bright orange lava into the air

06:07 , Shweta Sharma

A state of emergency has been declared in Iceland after a volcano erupted for the fourth time spewing bright orange lava metres into the air.

The dramatic event marks the fourth alarming volcanic eruption in three months along the Reykjavik peninsula, nearby the abandoned town of Grindavik.

The Icelandic Met Office said on Saturday night that the fissure had opened as livestreams of the event saw fountains of lava spewing into the sky.

Huge volcano erupts again in Iceland spewing bright orange lava into the air

Volcano barriers working to deflect lava flow

06:05 , Shweta Sharma

Man-made barriers are working in slowing down the rate of lava flow and steering it away from key infrastructure.

Halldor Geirsson, associate professor at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland, said: The rate of the lava flow is getting lower and lower.

Most of the flow is going east of the town towards the sea, so it looks like the barriers are doing the job they were designed for.

He said that the lava flow was quite energetic, and there was a lot of material coming out.

Icelands Meteorological Office said the eruption opened a fissure in the earth about two miles long between the mountains of Stora-Skogfell and Hagafell.

It said on Sunday that lava is flowing south and south-east at about 0.6mph, and might reach the sea. Defensive barriers have been built to stop it from inundating the main road along the peninsulas southern coast.

Iceland volcano erupts for fourth time since December

05:49 , Shweta Sharma

Powerful lava flows from a volcano in southwest Iceland have forced authorities to declare a state of emergency.

The eruption began on Saturday for the fourth time since December along the Reykjavik peninsula, near the abandoned town of Grindavik.

The lava flows have threatened critical infrastructure in the region, with authorities monitoring lava gathering near defences and threatening a pipeline.

The eruption was quite energetic, and there was a lot of material coming out, more than in the previous eruption. So lava was flowing quite fast, Halldor Geirsson, associate professor at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland told Reuters.

The Icelandic Met Office said on Saturday night that the fissure had opened as livestreams of the event showed fountains of lava spewing into the sky.

Warning: An eruption began in Reykjanes, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said on its website.Reykjaviks nearby Keflavik Airports website showed it remained open both for departures and arrivals.

(AFP via Getty Images)

05:15 , Shweta Sharma

Welcome to The Independents live coverage of the Iceland volcano eruption, the fourth on the Reykjanes Peninsula since December.
Israeli military vehicles patrol the area as Palestinians evacuate following the directives of the Israeli army, instructing residents of the Hamad area in Khan Yunis to vacate their homes and proceed towards Rafah, near the border with Egypt. Mohammed Talatene/dpa

The Israeli military has urged Palestinians sheltering in the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City and its environs to leave the conflict zone as Israeli troops move in.

"You should leave the area to the west immediately to ensure your safety and then  to the humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi," a spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) posted Monday morning in Arabic on X, formerly Twitter.

He was referring to a town on the coast of the Gaza Strip in the far south.

The call was directed at everyone in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City and in the al-Shifa Hospital. Eyewitnesses reported that flyers containing the message had been dropped over the area.
Israeli military vehicles patrol the area as Palestinians evacuate following the directives of the Israeli army, instructing residents of the Hamad area in Khan Yunis to vacate their homes and proceed towards Rafah, near the border with Egypt. Mohammed Talatene/dpa

The Israeli military on Monday urged Palestinians sheltering in Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital, the largest in the embattled coastal area, and its environs to leave the conflict zone as Israeli troops move in once again.

"You should leave the area to the west immediately to ensure your safety and then ... to the humanitarian zone in al-Mawasi," a spokesman for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) wrote in Arabic on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday morning.

He was referring to a town on the coast of the Gaza Strip in the far south.

The call was directed at everyone in the Rimal neighbourhood of Gaza City as well as everyone inside the al-Shifa Hospital. Eyewitnesses reported that flyers containing the message had been dropped over the area.

Earlier, the Israeli army said it was once again deploying troops in the al-Shifa hospital area, after an Israeli operation targeting the facility last year had sparked an international outcry.

A "precise operation" was being carried out "in the area of the Shifa hospital," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a Telegram post in the early hours of Monday.

The IDF said that intelligence information indicated that senior members of Palestinian militant group Hamas were using the badly damaged hospital "to conduct and promote terrorist activity."

The IDF added that its troops had been "instructed on the importance of operating cautiously, as well as on the measures to be taken to avoid to harming the patients, civilians, medical staff, and medical equipment," before the operation started.

IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a brief statement that the operation followed "concrete intelligence that demanded immediate action."

"We know that senior Hamas terrorists have regrouped inside the Shifa hospital and are using it to command attacks against Israel," Hagari added.

The military said it would "continue to act in accordance with international law and against the Hamas terrorist organization - which operates from hospitals and civilian infrastructure in a systematic and cynical way."

The US government had also supported the Israeli claim that Hamas had used the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip as a command centre and weapons depot.

The Israeli military first invaded the al-Shifa Hospital in mid-November despite massive international criticism. The IDF said it found a Hamas tunnel complex there.

Israel launched the war in Gaza after Palestinian extremist organization Hamas led unprecedented attacks on Israel on October 7, in which they killed around 1,200 people, most of them civilians.

They also abducted some 240 hostages into the coastal area, more than 100 of whom are still believed to be held there.

More than 31,700 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since the beginning of the war more than five months ago, according to Gaza's health authority, with many more said to be missing. Around 73,800 others have been injured.

Israeli leaders have said that the goal of the military operations is to destroy Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since seizing power there in 2007.

Many Gazans are on the brink of famine, international experts warned again on Monday.

Famine is expected to break out in the north of the sealed-off coastal strip between mid-March and May, according to a new report published on Monday by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

According to the experts, an increasing deterioration in the food situation in Gaza has been observed in recent months and around half of the population - around 1.1 million people - are affected by "famine-like conditions."

The IPC initiative consists of many different UN organizations and international aid groups.

International observers and world leaders have increasingly been pressuring Israel to let more aid into Gaza, accusing the government of not doing enough. Isreal rejects the accusations.
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THE BRONX, N.Y. (PIX11)  An incarcerated gang member was charged in the shooting death of two people found dead in a burning car two years ago in the Bronx, according to the NYPD and law enforcement sources.

Terrence White, 26, was arrested and charged with murder, manslaughter, robbery, kidnapping, arson, and weapons charges on Monday, police said. White is serving time in state prison for attempted murder, sources said. The details of that case were not immediately available.

Child, 3, found dead with head, neck trauma in Brooklyn: NYPD

White is allegedly one of the four Down the Hill gang members charged in the deaths of Jesse Parrilla and Nikki Huang, both, 22, who were shot to death before they were found in Parrillas torched Honda parked on Shore Road near the Pelham Split Rock Course around 4:30 a.m. on May 16, 2022.

White was allegedly captured on grainy surveillance leaving the murder scene and provided one of the cars used in the gang attack, according to sources. Four cars were burned that morning, including the silver Honda, to throw police off, sources said. A Fiat torched near the Major Deegan Expressway and a white Nissan and tan Mercedes SUV were also used and burned by the gang, sources said.

Huangs designer bag and phone were stolen after she finished work at her familys restaurant, sources previously told PIX11 News. Huangs mother, Amy Chan, said her daughter was locked out of the familys apartment that day.

Sources said Huang complained to a friend, who was affiliated with the Up the Hill gang, about the theft. Several hours later, alleged Down the Hill gang member Brandon Atkinson was shot and killed outside of a deli, according to sources.

Atkinsons half-brother, Steven Santiago, is believed to be a major player in the kidnappings and deaths, sources said.

Santiago is still being sought by police, according to authorities. He was indicted in absentia for murder, according to sources. The NYPD is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Last week, Rahul Cuya was arrested as an accessory to the kidnapping and slaying of the two friends, police said.

Cuya allegedly facilitated a round-up of cars at the Baruch Houses after the kidnappings of Parrilla and Huang, sources said. He wasnt at the scene of the burning car but is still being considered in the crime, according to sources.

A total of five people have been indicted in connection to the incident, sources said.

This story comprises reporting from Mary Murphy.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the New York City area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.





For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
March 18 (UPI) -- An Indian food company celebrated its 100th anniversary by cooking up a dosa measuring just over 123 feet long.

MTR Foods gathered a team o0f 75 chefs, led by Chef Regi Mathews, to create the 123.03-foot dosa at the company's factory in Bommasandra, Bangalore.

The savory crepe took the Guinness World Record for longest dosa from a 54-foot, 8.69-inch dosa cooked up in Hyderabad, Telangana, in 2014.

"I'm thrilled to announce a historic milestone at MTR! Proudly celebrating the 100th anniversary with a Guinness World Records title for the longest dosa, measuring an incredible 123.03 feet," Mathews wrote on social media.
When Brandon Allred woke up in the hospital after suffering heat stroke and a series of seizures at work, all he could think about was how much it was going to cost.

It was a legitimate concern: Seven years later, hes still paying off the medical debt.

Its not just anxiety, the 35-year-old father from Tupelo said, but also the conscious, embarrassing fact that Im living in one of the richest countries in the world and I am a natural born citizen and I have to sit here day by day and think I dream of healthcare. I dream of a day where I can get all my teeth fixed and not have to worry about that. Or maybe I can figure out what was going on with me with those seizures.

Allred, a prep cook and the primary provider for his six young daughters, works full-time but falls into Mississippis coverage gap, where he says health care is but a pipe dream and a whimsical idea.

Brandon Allred, 35-year-old father of six, works full-time but falls into Mississippis coverage gap. He is still paying off medical debt from a hospital visit seven years ago.

The coverage gap is made up of low-income workers who make more than 28% of the federal poverty level -- the maximum income allowed to currently qualify for Medicaid in the state -- but less than the 100% of the federal poverty level needed to get subsidies that would make private insurance plans affordable. And its surprisingly big, comprising roughly 74,000 Mississippians, according to a recent KFF study.

If Medicaid were expanded in Mississippi  one of only 10 states that has not done so  Allred and tens of thousands of other working Mississippians like him would be covered. Income-eligible adults without children would also be covered.

Its estimated that 123,000 uninsured Mississippians would gain coverage under expansion  that includes the 74,000 people under the poverty level and an additional 49,000 uninsured adults whose income is between 100% and 138% of the FPL. That means that under expansion, a family of four could make up to $43,056 and qualify for Medicaid.

Critics of expansion argue that anyone, even if theyre not offered health insurance through their employer, can purchase it through the marketplace. Those plans exist, but are so expensive that for those in the coverage gap, they practically do not exist.

Other critics of expansion argue that because there is a chance that some privately-insured Mississippians would switch to Medicaid under expansion, thats reason to keep the 123,000 uninsured Mississippians uninsured -- and turn down at least $1 billion a year in federal money to cover most of the cost.

Private insurance plans, especially ones with low premiums, have high deductibles that can easily run $5,000 a year. A plan with a deductible on the higher end of that spectrum would equate to about $400 a month  on top of premiums and copays  that an individual would need to pay in order for insurance companies to start picking up the slack.

A majority of uninsured adults make slightly too much to qualify for Medicaid under the present eligibility criteria, and so have no path toward health care.

As it stands, Medicaid eligibility for adults in Mississippi is very limited.

Firstly, Medicaid in Mississippi doesnt currently cover childless adults  period. And even adults who have children would need to be making less than 28% of the FPL to be eligible for Medicaid. For a family of two, such as a single mother and her child, 28% of the federal poverty level would be about $5,700 a year, or $475 a month.

That means that a working mother making incrementally more, such as 29% of the FPL, would not qualify for Medicaid but would have to use nearly her entire salary if she were to pay out of pocket for a private insurance plan through the marketplace. This is an obvious impossibility for someone paying for rent and food and other basic necessities.

Nobody knows that better than Lakeisha Preston, a single working mother who couldnt afford the deductibles on her insurance plan, and therefore was stuck paying out of pocket for a bout of pneumonia that put her in the hospital in 2019.

Over four years later shes still paying off that medical bill  which forced her to move back in with her parents and take out personal loans.

I had health insurance, its just that the deductibles were so high, Preston, from Monticello, explained. I dont go to the doctor all the time, and of course you have to meet the deductible first before the insurance covers you. So I was in that predicament.

Ironically, Preston works at a federal Medicaid call center. She helps thousands of people, with incomes similar to hers, enroll in Medicaid in states with Medicaid expansion. As a Mississippian, she cannot get that coverage.

Preston said: As a call center worker, I expect more from the state of Mississippi.

Mississippi lawmakers have debated the need for expansion -- mostly over partisan political reasons -- for over a decade, despite the states abysmal public health metrics and pleas from doctors, hospital leaders and other health providers.

On Thursday, the deadline day for bills to pass their original chambers, Care4Mississippi, a coalition of 36 organizations whose goal is health care for all Mississippians, held a press conference at the Capitol. Doctors and health officials shared experiences from the frontline and urged lawmakers to pass expansion bills.

As a pediatrician, I have seen firsthand the impact of parents health on their children, Dr. Anita Henderson said during the press conference. Children need their parents, and their parents need to act healthy, mentally, physically, and able to engage with their children. I have seen patients whose parents worked, sometimes two jobs, and lacked health insurance ... The men and women in Mississippi are living almost a decade less than the people of Hawaii.

Dr. Anita Henderson speaks to the media about Medicaid expansion during a press conference at the Capitol in Jackson earlier this month.

This is the first year since Medicaid expansion was offered to states under the Affordable Care Act in 2014 that Mississippi Republican legislative leadership is considering it seriously. A House Republican bill overwhelmingly passed the full House and now sits in the Senate  which just killed its own expansion bill, according to Medicaid Chair Kevin Blackwell, R-Southaven.

But Allred said that after a decade, lawmakers arent moving fast enough or treating the situation for the health care crisis that it is.

If there was a state that needed to have a red flag pinned on it to say you have a medical emergency to take care of, it would be Mississippi, he said. And we need a rethinking of what health care is for our citizens in the state.

Allred saw his father lose all his money as he battled cancer in the last six months of his life  despite the fact hed worked hard at one company for 30 years. Growing up, his mother warned him not to let a medical debt go to collections, and said it always felt like the medical industry was there to be feared.

The father of six said he hopes that by the time his daughters are grown, they wont have to choose between paying rent or paying a medical bill. Right now, his children are covered by Medicaid. But he worries if legislation isnt passed, theyll be in the same predicament hes in once they turn 18.

I dont want them to follow in the same footsteps as me when they shouldnt have to, Allred reflected. When theyre being told their whole life theyre being raised in the greatest country in the world but theyre also being told the greatest country in the world can not take care of you.

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
A Montana interior designer profited off of her false promises to customers, defrauding them out of $900,000, federal prosecutors said. Now, shes going to prison.

Since 2016, more than 20 of Jennifer Michele Helms clients paid her thousands of dollars, believing that shed order furnishings and fixtures as she promised, according to federal prosecutors.

However, Helm had a habit of ghosting customers once she received their money, according to a website warning of her lies & tactics.

Instead of ordering items for clients, she used their money to support her lifestyle  funding her personal and business expenses, according to an indictment.

On one occasion, two customers, who were married, trusted Helm to purchase items for them with their credit card, prosecutors said. Then, she used their credit card to make purchases for herself, according to prosecutors.

The sentence

On March 14, Helm was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Montana announced in a March 15 news release.

In November, she pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to prosecutors.

She must pay $933,679 restitution as part of her sentencing, which will be followed by three years of supervised release, prosecutors said.

McClatchy News contacted her court-appointed defense attorney, David A. Mattingley, for comment March 18 and didnt receive an immediate response.

Helm ran her interior design business, based in Whitefish, under a few different companies: Sage Interior Designs, LLC, Interior Design Services, and Jennifer Michele Interiors LLC, prosecutors said.

The website that warns customers to watch out for Helms tricks accused her of continuing her scheme by creating new companies.

She does not order the furniture or follow through on any services, the website says.

Helm would show her customers invoices for interior design items she had not ordered and that clients never received, prosecutors said.

In a sentencing memorandum submitted on her behalf, Mattingley requested the court consider the shortest possible sentence of incarceration for Helm for the charge of wire fraud, followed by three years of supervised release.

He wrote that she began experiencing issues with her business that prevented her from maintaining her livelihood just prior to 2017, the sentencing memo says.

This coupled with how Helm struggles with short-term memory following a stroke she had in 2007 that made it easier to personally rationalize defrauding some of her clients, Mattingley wrote.

Mattingley also wrote that it is unlikely Helm will commit the same crime  one he said was was born out of alcohol/marijuana addiction and poor decision-making  in the future.

Prison is not needed to deter Ms. Helm  she has been deterred by her time spent in federal custody, Mattingley argued.

According to prosecutors, Helm continued her scheme after a few customers she defrauded spoke out about her scam.

Following an interview with the FBI, Helm scammed four more people, the attorneys office said.

She presumably knew she was a target of a federal criminal investigation, according to prosecutors, who argued in support of a sentence between four years and three months, and four years and nine months.

Whitefish is about a 200-mile drive northwest from Helena, the capital of Montana.

Social Security employee steals $1.8 million in funds by filing fake claims, feds say

Scammers convince Michigan casino employee to give them $700,000, feds say

Church employee steals $360,000, uses pastors credit card to buy jewelry, feds say

Postal worker sells USPS key, then hundreds of pieces of mail are stolen, feds say
Reliable internet is a basic need for families today. In each of our careers, we have advocated for the critical need for equitable access to connectivity for all Kansas Citians, and we know that for thousands that access is made possible through government support programs. One of the most important of these is the Affordable Connectivity Program or ACP, which helps bridge the digital divide significantly. Launched during the pandemic, the ACP has provided in home internet access to more than 23 million households in the United States  including more than 400,000 in Missouri and 150,000 in Kansas  when people needed that connection most.

Almost everything we do today requires some form of online access or internet connectivity, from applying to a job or school, fulfilling work or educational obligations, booking doctors appointments, banking, watching TV, gaming and even just staying connected with friends and family. Reliable, affordable internet access is no longer a nice to have  its a must have. The ACP helps close the gap in traditionally underserved communities and addresses issues of digital equity by providing access to opportunities online.

However, even though these households have internet access now, they may not be able to keep it when funding runs out later this year. Without the additional help that ACP provides, many families, students, veterans and older adults are very much at risk of losing this essential connection. Despite being an almost universally popular bipartisan program with supporters at every level of government, no additional funding has been allocated so far to ensure the ACPs continuation.

That means theres a very strong likelihood that millions of people, including tens of thousands right here in Kansas City, could lose their home internet connections this year if Congress does not take immediate action. In fact, in advance of a potential program termination, the ACP stopped accepting new enrollments in early February  but it is not too late to save the program.

The Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 was introduced on Jan. 10 with bipartisan support in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. If passed, this legislation would provide the critical funding to extend the ACP through the end of the year. To date, more than 400 organizations and industry leaders have voiced their support, but our elected officials also need to hear from their constituents.

Please take a moment to contact your congressional representatives and encourage them to vote for the ACP Extension Act. For Kansas City to move forward, we cant afford to take a step back by leaving some in our community behind.

We would like to thank Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall and Rep. Sharice Davids, Missouri Reps. Cori Bush and Emanuel Cleaver, and several regional chambers of commerce, including the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce, for indicating support of additional funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Carrie Coogan is deputy director of public affairs and community engagement at the Kansas City Public Library. Tom Esselman is executive director of Kansas Citys Digital Equity Program Office.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  State agencies have confirmed an invasive insect has been found in an eighth Michigan county.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announced Monday that they have verified the presence of the hemlock woolly adelgid near Torch Lake in western Antrim County.

The extent of the infestation has not yet been determined, but an extensive survey of the surrounding area is underway, the agency said in a statement. With this new detection, Antrim becomes the eighth county in the state with an active hemlock woolly adelgid infestation, joining Allegan, Benzie, Mason, Muskegon, Oceana, Ottawa and Washtenaw counties.

The infestation was found by a landowner who had previously attended an educational outreach event held by the Charlevoix, Antrim, Kalkaska, Emmet County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area.

Infestations of invasive bug confirmed in Huron-Manistee National Forests

Adelgids are often spotted by the white, waxy ovisacs they excrete on the trees in the fall and winter where they feed. Those tiny white ovisacs are between one-fourth and one-sixteenth of an inch and can be found on the underside at the base of the hemlocks needles.

DNR expert Drew Hayner said the bugs primarily spread by hitching rides on of humans and other animals.

When hemlock woolly adelgid feed, the leave behind a small, white cottony ball called an ovisac that forms at the base of the needles. (Matt Jaworowski/WOOD TV8)

A close-up look at an Eastern Hemlock tree in Lake Harbor Park fighting an infestation of hemlock woolly adelgid. (Matt Jaworowski/WOOD TV8)

Several dying hemlock trees in Lake Harbor Park spotted on July 25, 2022. DNR expert Drew Rayner says the hemlock woolly adelgid is the likely cause. (Matt Jaworowski/WOOD TV8)

This photo shows a tag on a hemlock tree in Duncan Woods along with a hole that was drilled to administer a treatment to kill of the hemlock woolly adelgid. (Matt Jaworowski/WOOD TV8)

Theres a lot of vectors, Rayner told News 8 in 2022. Animals can spread them; birds and wildlife can pick up crawlers. We have crawlers from spring through the early summer that we arent really going to be able to see (when) humans and animals brush up against the branches of an infested tree.

Because hemlock woolly adelgids are pulling nutrients from the trees, the hemlocks stop growing and their needles develop a grayish tone. But with treatment  assuming they are caught in time  the insects are killed and the trees can recuperate.

State approves $3.6 million to ward off hemlock woolly adelgid, other invasive species

According to the DNR, Michigan is home to more than 170 million mature hemlock trees, which provide important habitat and coverage for wildlife during the winter.

If you spot a tree that you believe is infested with hemlock woolly adelgid, do not remove the material. The DNR asks you to take photos and note the location of the tree, then submit the information to the agency. You can learn more about the invasive species through the DNRs website.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
CHATHAM  A four-bedroom house in Chatham is involved in a Denver District Court complaint against a Colorado-based company that offers co-ownership of luxury vacation homes on Cape Cod and other coveted destinations.

Founded in 2013, Lifestyle Asset Group's business model centers on forming multiple limited liability companies, or LLCs, and selling membership interests to investors before using those funds to purchase vacation homes, according to a lawsuit filed on Nov. 30 by Colorado Securities Commissioner Tung Chan.

Investors were told that the properties would be sold after a certain term period and the profits from the sale would be distributed among them, and that money would be refunded if a property did not raise its minimum investment.

The four-bedroom house at 73 Rowland Drive in Chatham is part of a complaint pending in Denver District Court where a Colorado-based company is alleged to have failed to abide by terms offered to investors. Lifestyle Asset Group offers co-ownership of luxury vacation homes on Cape Cod and other coveted destinations.

'Weren't told the whole story'

Instead, the plan evolved into a "a complicated, decade-long, expansive property investment scheme," Chan told the Times in an emailed statement. Lifestyle Asset Group is alleged to have misled investors about amounts raised, loans, undisclosed side deals, the properties, and other information when it struggled to make up gaps in financing, according to the complaint.

"We allege the investors weren't told the whole story before investing, that there were material misrepresentations and omissions and that it is not only unfair to investors, but also against the law," Chan said to the Times.

Lifestyle Asset Group co-founders Richard Keith, Tommy Robinson, and Karla Jones are also listed as defendants. Lifestyle Asset Group and Karla Jones did not respond to requests for comment.

Jeffrey Thomas, an attorney with Linden Law Partners in Denver, listed as the top lawyer representing the defendants, could not be reached for comment through email or phone.

As of Thursday, a judge had not yet ruled on a motion to dismiss filed by the defendants on Feb. 2, according to the clerk's office at the district court. The Times has filed a public records request with the court for copies of the motion to dismiss and other records.

A ruling by a judge was also not available on Chan's request for an injunction to prevent Lifestyle Asset Management and its entities from violations of the Colorado Securities Act. The clerk's office said that decision would likely come when the case is ultimately decided.

Lifestyle Asset Group and its affiliates have received at least $10.9 million in principal payments and have repaid about $3.3 million, according to Chan's lawsuit.

How a Chatham house is involved

The Chatham house at 73 Rowland Drive is highlighted in the complaint as an instance where the company allegedly failed to abide by the terms outlined in its offering documents to investors.

Lifestyle Cape Cod  an entity set up by Lifestyle Group Asset  offered sales of shares in its LLC priced between $50,000 and $165,000 per share, according to a March 30, 2020 offering document cited by Chan in the complaint.

The document set the minimum investor total as $2,950,000 and the maximum as $3,230,000.

The purpose was to buy the 2,450-square-foot house with four bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms. Nestled on a quiet dead-end street, the house overlooks picturesque Frost Fish Creek and sits at the end of a long, winding driveway.

LLC members would be able to book vacations at the home and could book stays at properties in the Elite Alliance time-share network for an additional fee, according to the complaint.

Chatham house purchased without having money on hand, complaint says

Lifestyle Cape Cod purchased 73 Rowland Drive without having the money on hand or meeting its minimum as outlined in its offering documents, the complaint alleges.

On April 3, 2020, Lifestyle Cape Cod bought 73 Rowland Drive for $1 from Mark William Johnson and Jane Clayson Johnson, trustees of the Mark William Johnson 2010 Revocable Trust, according to Barnstable County Registry of Deeds records. The sellers accepted $2.6 million worth of shares in Lifestyle Cape Cod without paying for the shares, reads the complaint.

"This was not a bona fide sale of interests and the offset was not disclosed to investors," according to the complaint.

A notice of sale of securities filed on April 14, 2020 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission states that $470,000 of the $3,230,000 offering had been sold.

Eventually Lifestyle Cape Cod paid the sellers just under $1.6 million after obtaining money from later investors in Lifestyle Cape Cod and reduced the number of shares held by the sellers accordingly, Chan alleges.

Renovation but then lack of sale

The house at 73 Rowland Drive was "renovated from the studs in 2018" by Dennis-based Reef Builders, according to Lifestyle Asset Group. The house was originally overhauled for resale on the regular market, said Reef Builders President Matt Teague to the Times in an email, but the owners pursued the fractional ownership option when the house would not sell after a year or so.

In a website post about the sale dated April 9, 2020, Lifestyle Asset Group said the company had "paved the way so a family from Iowa was able to invest in a gorgeous $2,700,000 Chatham, Cape Cod vacation property for just $470,000."

The complaint also names other alleged instances, such as a New York City property where management had fallen behind on condominium fees that the property was foreclosed on. In most cases, investors were told properties would be purchased outright and own them free and clear of debt, but "many of the properties were in fact encumbered by undisclosed mortgages or loans," Chan alleges.

Cape Cod and Islands officials eye fractional ownership restrictions

As Cape Cod and the Islands continue to navigate a housing crisis, some local officials worry that the trend of fractional ownership could place further stress on its housing supply and make it harder for year-round residents to secure housing.

Some municipalities have restricted or banned fractional ownership in their communities, such as Provincetown and Tisbury. Nantucket and Edgartown are expected to vote on the issue at town meetings this spring.

Truro and Eastham are also now mulling town meeting articles to ban the business model.

Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com. Follow her on X @zanerazz.

Gain access to premium Cape Cod Times content by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Colorado securities lawsuit names Chatham house offered to co-owners
Police lights

SOUTH BEND  A male victim is in critical condition in a hospital following a shooting at Irish Hills Apartments Monday morning.

South Bend Police were dispatched to the 4200 block of Irish Hills Drive at 1:30 a.m. March 18 to investigate the report of a shooting. They found a male victim suffering from apparent gun shot wounds, according to a press release from the South Bend Police Department. He was transported to the hospital.

The South Bend Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit is currently investigating this shooting. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Michiana Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP or leave an anonymous tip on their website.

Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Early morning Irish Hills shooting leaves one in critical condition
Its an annual tradition for the leader of Ireland to spend St. Patricks Day with the leader of the United States to celebrate the close bonds between the two countries. But what would normally be a festive occasion at the White House, especially as President Joe Biden likes to herald his own personal Irish heritage and pride, took a more somber tone on Sunday night as Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar took the opportunity to spotlight the role the U.S. could play in bringing peace to the Middle East.

I have been thinking a lot about sacred promises, the Irish leader said early in his speech. Ive been thinking, in particular, of the words of one courageous Irish American, a lawyer and a decorated war hero, who spoke so eloquently about the sacred promises that we make as leaders. To quote his words, Its about just the promises we make to our children who deserve a chance to succeed. The promises we make to each other, the sacred promise to work for a better future for all.

Varadkar added, Those were the words of Beau Biden, referring to President Bidens late son, an Iraq War veteran and Bronze Star recipient who died in 2015 of cancer at age 46. Biden was visibly moved to tears upon mention of Beau.

President Biden, one of your countrys most sacred promises is to defend the principles of democracy and freedom against tyranny and oppression, Varadkar continued, commending the U.S. President and his administration for standing up for Ukraine after its invasion by Russia.

The Taoiseach then reached for another reference, former President and famous Irish American John F. Kennedy, whose death before his time, like Beau, Varadkar said, meant their words can assume a kind of prophecy, a sort of sacred promise to the future.

Kennedy issued a challenge to the Irish nation to be the protector of the weak and of the small, Varadkar quoted from a speech the former U.S. President gave to the Irish Parliament in 1963, from Cork to the Congo, from Galway to the Gaza Strip.

In recent months, Ireland has emerged as one of Europes most outspoken critics of Israels deadly war against Hamas. The Irish people are deeply troubled about the catastrophe thats unfolding before our eyes in Gaza, Varadkar said. When I travel the world, leaders often ask me why the Irish have so much empathy for the Palestinian people.

He went on to explain: The answer is simple: we see our history in their eyes. A story of displacement and dispossession, a national identity questioned and denied, forced emigration, discrimination, and now hunger. Varadkar reiterated his nations calls for a lasting ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and a two-state solution.

The people of Gaza desperately need food, medicine and shelter. Most especially they need the bombs to stop. This has to stop. On both sides, he said, calling also for the hostages Hamas took on Oct. 7 to be returned.

We also see Israels history reflected in our eyes, Varadkar insisted. A diaspora whose heart never left home no matter how many generations passed. A nation state that was reborn. And a language revived.

Varadkar stressed the role the U.S. could play in bringing peace to the Middle East, saying, I believe it is possible to be for Israel and for Palestine and I believe you do too, and referencing the U.S.s critical role in the Northern Ireland peace process. I have always believed that America is a force for good in the world, Varadkar said.

Varadkars remarkstugging on Bidens heartstrings, interjecting flattery, and resting on the principles and bonds shared between Bidens nation and his ancestral homelandmay have been a diplomatically savvy way to exert pressure on the U.S. President, who has recently taken a more critical tone toward Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his militarys actions in Gaza yet remains one of Israels staunchest allies.

The speech also comes after Varadkar faced some criticism from home over the contradiction of his outward friendship with the U.S.and cheerful holiday visitdespite the U.S.s backing of Israel. Best-selling Irish author Sally Rooney published an op-ed in the Irish Times on Saturday that lambasted a government that can bask in the moral glow of condemning the bombers, while preserving a cosy relationship with those supplying the bombs.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The Irish navys sole active ship did not join a hunt for cocaine shipments dropped at sea by drug smugglers because it was taking part in St Patricks Day celebrations.

LE George Bernard Shaw was the only active ship because of a combination of a manpower crisis, which has led to crew shortages and mechanical problems.

Police believe they shut down a major drugs smuggling pipeline on Friday after making 10 arrests, including of several divers, in south-west Ireland.

The men were suspected of planning to pick up waterproof containers of South American cartel cocaine, worth tens of millions of euros, thrown overboard with tracking devices off the coast of Cork.

Gardai investigating a suspected attempt to land the illegal drugs near Skibbereen made a formal request to the Irish Naval Service for help.

But the sole available ship was on its way to Dun Laoghaire to take part in the St Patricks Day celebrations in the County Dublin town, the Irish Times reported.

Tours were offered to the public as the ship remained docked in Dun Laoghaire over the weekend. On Sunday, the crew took part in the St Patricks parade.

That meant it could not help in the massive search of the huge expanses of water where the cocaine, some of it thought to be destined for the UK and European markets, is thought to be hidden.

Ground zero for smuggling narcotics into Europe

Defence Forces told the Irish Times they had received the request. Because it was an inshore coastal operation, the Naval Service Diving Section was deployed instead.

It is not clear that the Shaw would have been sent had it been available but it was reported to be equipped for drugs searches.

Cathal Berry, a former officer and the independent MP for Kildare, told the newspaper it was unacceptable that there was just a single ship on duty.

Irelands Atlantic coast is now ground zero for smuggling narcotics into Europe. This is primarily due to the precarious state of the Irish navy. There is no substitute for hulls on the water providing a visible maritime presence to deter and disrupt smugglers, he said.

The active fleet was reduced to just two ships last year due to the personnel crisis. Military sources said the Shaw had been the only available ship for the last three weeks.

Ireland has fewer ships to patrol its waters than at any other time since the 1970s.

In February Leo Varadkar, the prime minister, defended Irelands commitment to security after a report by the London-based Policy Exchange think tank accused Dublin of freeloading on defence by relying on the Royal Navy to protect its waters.

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 Israeli military raided the largest hospital in Gaza again on Monday, claiming Hamas militants have regrouped there.

Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the military was launching a high precision operation in limited areas of Shifa Hospital on Monday. He said Hamas militants were using the hospital to command attacks against Israel and described the militarys operation as a global imperative.

We seek no harm to the civilians that Hamas is hiding behind, which is why we will conduct this operation with caution and care while ensuring that the hospital continues its important functions, he said in a video message.

The Gaza Health Ministry said about 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, staff and those who fled their homes to seek safety, The Associated Press reported. The Israeli military said later on Monday that it killed Faiq Mabhouh, who it said was the head of the operations directorate of Hamass internal security.

Mabhouh was hiding in a compound at the Shifa hospital, from which he operated and advanced terrorist activity, the Israeli military wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

The raid on the largest hospital on Gaza comes as a United Nations food agency warned of imminent famine in northern Gaza. More than a million civilians have been displaced due to the war while the Gaza Health Ministry has reported that at least 31,645 Palestinians have been killed.

Israel raided the hospital in November, saying it was a major base of operations for Hamas. Israel said at the time that it uncovered weapons and military capabilities inside of Gazas largest hospital.

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas after the militants launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,100 people and resulted in about 240 being captured as hostages. Humanitarian organizations and the U.S. have expressed concerns over Israels operations in Gaza, citing the lack of humanitarian aid in the region.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Israel Defense Forces troops uncovered a 180-foot-long tunnel underneath the Al-Shifa Hospital complex in mid-November. On Sunday, the Israel forces launched a raid of the medical facility stating Hamas terrorists were using it to command attacks against Israel. Photo via Israel Defense Forces/UPI

March 17 (UPI) -- Israeli forces raided the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City overnight, resulting in an unknown number of deaths, according to Palestinian health officials.

The siege of the medical facility began at about 2 a.m. local time Monday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said on its official Telegram channel, adding that "martyrs and wounded have fallen."

It said the Israeli forces were targeting the specialized surgeries building with firearms and artillery. Military vehicles were in the hospital's courtyards. Some 30,000 displaced people, patients and staff were present during the raid, it said.

The attack caused a fire to ignite.

"Everyone who tries to move is targeted by sniper bullets and quadcopters," it said.

The Israel Defense Forces had earlier announced the attack, with spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari calling it a "high-precision operation." In a recorded statement, he said the military had "concrete intelligence that demanded immediate action," specifically that senior Hamas militants were inside the medical facility and were using it to launch attacks against Israel.

The IDF and the Israel Security Agency followed with a a joint statement explaining fighting began when militants inside the hospital opened fire on Israeli troops.

"The troops responded with live fire and hits were identified," the two agencies said. "Our troops are continuing to operate in the area of the hospital."

In a second statement issued some four hours later, it said its troops have identified "terrorist fire" coming from several hospital buildings.

Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, IDF spokesman for Arab-language media, has issued an evacuation order for those living near the hospital.

The fighting appears to be ongoing.

 " "          '.           ,        pic.twitter.com/r7zmcss0QY    (@idfonline) March 18, 2024

Hagari had said the raid would not prevent the hospital from functioning and that while there should be no need for patients and medical staff to evacuate, a passageway was to be established so they can exit the facility.

He explained his forces had undergone specific training for the mission. Arabic speakers were to be on the ground to communicate with patients and hospital staff and IDF doctors were to be deployed to assist those in need, he said, adding that soldiers would also be delivering food, water and other supplies.

"Our targeted mission isn't just an operational necessity -- it's a global imperative," he said. "We seek no harm to the civilians that Hamas is hiding behind, which is why we will conduct this operation with caution and care."

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has condemned the raid as a "blatant violation of international humanitarian law." Hospitals and other medical facilities are protected from attacks by the Geneva Convention.

"The goal of the Israeli military offensive is to continue destroying the health system in northern Gaza," the health ministry said in a statement.

"We demand the international community to reject Israeli occupation practices against the Medical Healing Complex and Gaza Hospitals."

The hospital is the largest in Gaza and has offered shelter to tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by Israel's war against Hamas.

Amid the war, its functioning has been limited by a lack of medical supplies.

In mid-November, the IDF said it had uncovered a fortified tunnel system used by Hamas under the hospital's complex.
Members of the Al-Rabaya family break their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan outside their destroyed home by the Israeli airstrikes in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Famine is imminent in northern Gaza, where 70% of people are experiencing catastrophic hunger, according to a report Monday that warned escalation of the war could push half of Gaza's total population to the brink of starvation.

The report, by the international communitys authority on determining the severity of hunger crises, came as Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and to open more land crossings. Aid groups complain that deliveries by air and sea by the United States and other countries are too slow and too small.

The European Unions top diplomat said the impending famine was entirely manmade as starvation is used as a weapon of war.

Israeli forces, meanwhile, launched another raid on the Gaza Strips largest hospital early Monday, saying Hamas militants had regrouped there and fired on them from inside the Shifa Hospital compound.

Clashes continued all day in and around the hospital, where Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people have been sheltering.

The Israeli military said troops killed 20 people it identified as Hamas militants, and one of its own soldiers was killed, though the identification of the dead as militants could not be confirmed. Among those killed was a senior commander in Gazas Hamas-led police forces who Israel said was hiding in the hospital. Gaza officials said the commander was coordinating protection of aid convoys.

The army last raided Shifa Hospital in November after claiming that Hamas maintained an elaborate command center within and beneath the facility. The military revealed a tunnel leading to some underground rooms, as well as weapons it said were found inside the hospital. But the evidence fell short of the earlier claims, and critics accused the army of recklessly endangering the lives of civilians.

RAFAH OFFENSIVE COULD PUSH HALF OF GAZA TO STARVATION

The latest findings on hunger in Gaza came from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, an initiative first set up in 2004 during the famine in Somalia that now includes more than a dozen U.N. agencies, aid groups, governments and other bodies to determine the severity of food insecurity.

It says virtually everyone in Gaza is struggling to get enough food, and that around 677,000 people  nearly a third of the population of 2.3 million  are experiencing the highest level of catastrophic hunger. That means they face extreme lack of food and critical levels of acute malnutrition. The figure includes around 210,000 people in the north.

Outright famine is projected to occur in the north anytime between now and May, it said. An area is considered to be in famine when 20% of households have an extreme lack of food, 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition and at least two adults or four children per every 10,000 people die daily.

The report said the first condition has been fulfilled, and it is highly likely the second has as well. The death rate is expected to accelerate and reach famine levels soon, it said.

The report warned that if Israel broadens its offensive to the packed southern city of Rafah, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to do, the fighting could drive over 1 million people  half of Gazas population  into catastrophic hunger and potentially cause famine in the south.

This is the largest number of people facing imminent famine in the world today, and it has only taken five months to occur, said Matthew Hollingworth, the acting World Food Program country director for the Palestinian territories.

Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, called for all roads to be opened for aid, including into northern and central Gaza. The WFP report said aid from airdrops is negligible compared to what is brought on trucks.

Northern Gaza, including Gaza City, was the first target of the invasion, and entire neighborhoods have been obliterated. It is now the epicenter of Gazas humanitarian catastrophe, with many residents reduced to eating animal feed. At least 27 people, mostly children, have died from malnutrition and dehydration in the north, according to the Health Ministry.

A spokesman for the Israeli military body that deals with Palestinian issues, Shimon Freeman, said Israel "places no limit on the amount of aid that can enter the Gaza Strip and encourages countries to send aid. Israel has accused U.N. bodies of failing to distribute aid in a timely manner. Aid groups say distribution is impossible in much of Gaza because of hostilities, the difficulty of coordinating with the military and the breakdown of law and order.

Alex de Waal, the executive director of the World Peace Foundation at Tufts University and an expert on global famines, said Israel has had ample warning that if it continued to destroy key infrastructure, displace large numbers of people and obstruct aid operations, the results would be catastrophic.

In failing to change course, it is culpable for these deaths, he said.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said it was up to Israel to facilitate more aid.

Israel has to do it. It is not a question of logistics. It is not because the United Nations has not provided enough support, he said. Trucks are stopped. People are dying, while the land crossings are artificially closed.

WERE TRAPPED INSIDE

The raid on Shifa Hospital began before dawn, when Israeli forces backed by tanks and artillery surrounded the complex and troops stormed into a number of buildings.

Were trapped inside, said Abdel-Hady Sayed, who has been sheltering in the facility for months. They fire at anything moving.

In the evening, he said tanks were still in the hospital yard, and he could see three bodies outside the gates. We cant retrieve the dead, he said.

Gazas Health Ministry said around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes seeking safety. The war has displaced around 80% of Gazas population.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief Israeli military spokesperson, said senior Hamas militants had regrouped in the hospital and were directing attacks from inside.

Among those killed in the raid was Faiq Mabhouh, a senior officer in the Gaza police, which is under Gazas Hamas-led government but distinct from the militant groups armed fighting wing. The Israeli military said he was armed and hiding in Shifa, and that weapons were found in an adjacent room.

The Gaza government said Mabhouh was in charge of protecting aid distribution in the north and coordinating between aid groups and local tribes. Aid groups say Israeli strikes on police are one reason public order has collapsed, leading to desperate Palestinians overwhelming aid trucks on the road.

Hagari said the patients and medical staff could remain in the medical complex and that safe passage was available for civilians who wanted to leave.

Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian facilities to shield its fighters, and the Israeli military has raided several hospitals since the start of the war.

The Gaza Health Ministry said Monday that at least 31,726 Palestinians have been killed in Israels offensive. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but it says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in Hamas Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel that triggered the war, and took another 250 people hostage. Hamas is still believed to be holding about 100 captives, as well as the remains of 30 others, after most of the rest were freed during a cease-fire last year.

___

Magdy reported from Cairo and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the report on famine risk was issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, not the United Nations.

___

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel will send a high-level delegation headed by its Mossad chief to Qatar on Monday for mediated talks with Hamas designed to secure a six-week Gaza truce under which the Palestinian militants would free 40 hostages, an Israeli official said.

This stage of the negotiations could take at least two weeks, the official estimated, citing difficulties that Hamas' foreign delegates may have in communicating with the group in the besieged enclave after more than five months of war.

(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Toby Chopra)
There was growing optimism Monday around talks of a possible new cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, with both Israel and Hamas returning to the table to discuss a truce that would see more Israeli hostages released in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan said the Biden administration is hoping to leverage a possible six-week cessation of violence into a longer-term pause, and it has been pushing Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu to scale-down plans for an all-out ground offensive in the packed southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Israel's handling of the war, which was sparked by Hamas' unprecedented Oct. 7 terrorist attack that saw the militants kill some 1,200 people and kidnap about 240 others across southern Israel, has created a rift between the U.S. and Netanyahu's government.

President Biden spoke to Netanyahu on the phone on Monday, their first conversation in more than a month. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the president told Netanyahu that he was "deeply concerned about the prospect of Israel conducting major military operations in Rafah," given its large civilian population and its proximity to Egypt.

"Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed a safe haven in Rafah or anywhere else," Sullivan said at the White House briefing. "But a major ground operation there would be a mistake. It would lead to more innocent civilian deaths, worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis, deepen the anarchy in Gaza and further isolate Israel internationally."

Sullivan said Netanyahu agreed to send a delegation of intelligence and military officials to Washington to hear the White House's proposal for a different approach, one that would include targeted strikes against Hamas officials in Rafah without the need for an all-out ground offensive.

"The key goals Israel wants to achieve in Rafah can be done by other means," Sullivan said.

The national security adviser added that the U.S. is continuing to push for a cease-fire and hostage deal, which he called an "urgent priority" while acknowledging that an agreement "has been more elusive than we would have hoped."

European Union says Israel "provoking famine" in Gaza

The European Union has also sharply criticized Netanyahu, with the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell saying at a humanitarian conference over the weekend that Gaza was "no longer on the brink of famine, we are in a state of famine, affecting thousands of people."

Starvation, Borrell said, "is used as a weapon of war. Israel is provoking famine."

Israeli Foreign minister Yisrael Katz responded with a social media post insisting that "Israel allows extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza by land, air, and sea for anyone willing to help."

Katz also reiterated an Israeli allegation that Hamas militants have been "violently disrupting aid convoys"  a charge U.S. officials said recently that they had no evidence to back up.

The Hamas-run Ministry of Health says more than 31,500 people have been killed in Gaza since the war started. It does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths, but with tens of thousands of people dying in Gaza from both the fighting and from hunger, some senior U.S. leaders appeared to lose their patience last week, and the tension between Israel and its closest ally only seemed to grow over the weekend.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, America's highest-ranking Jewish elected official, stunned Israel late last week by calling for the country to hold new elections and saying Netanyahu had "lost his way."

The veteran Israeli politician fired back, telling Fox News over the weekend blasting Schumer's remarks as "wholly inappropriate."

"We're not a banana republic," Netanyahu protested. "The people of Israel will choose when they'll have elections, who they elect, and it's not something that will be foisted upon us."

The Biden administration, along with many other Western governments and international aid organizations, has repeatedly warned Israel against launching its promised full-scale offensive in Rafah. The city, a longtime Hamas stronghold on Gaza's southern border with Egypt, has over the last five months of war become a refuge to an estimated 1.5 million people, most of them displaced from elsewhere in the decimated Palestinian territory.

Despite the heavy international pressure against sending forces into the city, Netanyahu refused to back down over the weekend, at least publicly.

"We're within reach. We should do it. We're going to do it while we enable the civilian population in Rafah to leave, as we've done up to now," he told Fox News. "But we have to finish the job."

Deadly clashes at Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital

On Monday morning, meanwhile, in an ongoing operation, Israel said it had captured more than 80 fighters and killed at least 20 terrorists at Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital, which was the scene of fierce battles earlier in the war. Sources on the ground told CBS News that some 30,000 displaced people were sheltering at the hospital complex, plus dozens of patients and medical teams.

Harrowing images emerged from the scene of a purported Israeli strike near the hospital, with the body of a small child seen laying on the rubble of a destroyed building with dust still hanging in the air.

Hamas acknowledged battling Israel Defense Forces near the health facility. In a statement, the IDF said "20 terrorists have been eliminated" during its ongoing "precise operations in the Shifa hospital."

The IDF said it also found "numerous weapons" in the hospital, which it called "further evidence of Hamas' systematic abuse of hospitals and civilian infrastructure for its terrorist activities."

Israeli protesters fume at Netanyahu, demand hostages' release

The humanitarian cost of the war, and the failure of Netanyahu's government to free the more than 100 hostages still believed to be captives in Gaza, has all been too much to tolerate for some Israelis, including dozens who staged another protest over the weekend, and who appeared to share the growing sense of international frustration with the war.

Protesters chant around a fire during a protest demanding the release of hostages still held in Gaza and against the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, outside The Kirya, the area where Israel's armed forces have their headquarters, March 16, 2024, in Tel Aviv, Israel. / Credit: Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty

"This says: 'Elections now,'" protester Ori Orman said of the sign he was carrying. "I believe that after such a disaster... even if you don't think Benjamin Netanyahu is directly responsible, because of the fact that he is the prime minister, I think he should step down."

That doesn't mean the entire Israeli public is against the war. Most Israelis still say they support the fight against Hamas. What many don't still support, however, is Netanyahu and the way he's prosecuting that war.

The Oct. 7 massacre and kidnappings happened on his watch, and for that, many people say he, too, has blood on his hands.

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
Israel's military said 20 Palestinian militants were killed Monday and scores detained during a raid on Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital that targeted "senior Hamas terrorists".

Soldiers rolled in with tanks and air strikes hit the area around the Hamas-ruled territory's biggest medical centre, a complex crowded with patients and displaced people.

"During the operation we arrested more than 200 suspected terrorists and they are currently in investigation," Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Israel's military spokesman, said in a televised statement.

"We eliminated more than 20 terrorists inside the hospital complex" and another 20 "in the area surrounding the hospital", Hagari said.

Among the dead was Fayq al-Mabhouh, who Hagari said was "head of special operations at the Hamas internal security organisation". A Gaza police source confirmed his death, saying Mabhouh was a brigadier general in the force.

Speaking late on Monday, Hagari said Israeli soldiers were "continuing operations inside the hospital complex tonight".

The latest military operation around the hospital -- which was raided by Israeli troops before, in November, sparking an international outcry -- triggered alarm from the World Health Organization.

"We are terribly worried about the situation at Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"Hospitals should never be battlegrounds."

An AFP journalist witnessed air strikes on buildings in the area around the hospital and reported seeing "hundreds of people, mostly children, women, and the elderly, fleeing their homes".

Israel has repeatedly said the complex housed an underground Hamas control base, a claim denied by the militants.

- Hospitals out of action -

Hagari said it housed Hamas militants including commanders who had "turned it into a command centre from which they dispatched and managed terror operations and managed combat".

Tedros said that Al-Shifa had "only recently restored minimal health services".

Most of Gaza's hospitals are no longer functioning, according to the United Nations.

Fayq al-Mabhouh is the brother of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, one of the founders of the armed wing of Hamas, according to family members.

Mahmoud al-Mabhouh was killed in 2010 in Dubai, in a hit which United Arab Emirates investigators suspected was the work of Mossad, the Israeli spy agency.

On Monday, the army released a video showing what it said were weapons and money seized from Al-Shifa which had been used by Hamas and another armed group, Islamic Jihad.

In January Israel's army said it had "completed the dismantling" of Hamas's command structure in the northern Gaza Strip, where Al-Shifa is located.

The military has carried out operations at other hospitals in Gaza since war broke out on October 7, when Hamas militants attacked Israel from Gaza.

The unprecedented attack resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Gaza militants also seized about 250 hostages, of whom Israel believes 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead.

Israel has carried out a relentless bombing campaign and ground offensive that Gaza's health ministry says has killed at least 31,726 people, most of them women and children.

ha-izb/rcb/ami
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed Monday to send senior officials to Washington, D.C., in the coming days to discuss potential military plans in Rafah as U.S. officials warn a major operation there would be a mistake.

President Biden spoke with Netanyahu over the phone on Monday for the first time in weeks amid simmering tensions over Israels handling of its war with Hamas. The conversation included a lengthy discussion about Israels plans for Rafah, a city in Gaza that shares a border with Egypt and that is housing millions of people who sought refuge there after the start of the war.

The president explained why he is so deeply concerned about the prospect of Israel conducting major military operations in Rafah, national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters, citing the significant number of refugees in the area and concerns from Egypt about a military operation.

The president has rejected and did again today the straw man that raising questions about Rafah is the same as raising questions about Hamas, Sullivan said.

Thats just nonsense, he added. Our position is that Hamas should not be allowed a safe haven in Rafah or anywhere else. But a major ground operation there would be a mistake.

Netanyahu agreed to send a team of senior officials to Washington in the coming days to hear U.S. concerns about Israels current Rafah planning, and to lay out an alternative approach that would target key Hamas elements in Rafah without a major ground invasion, Sullivan said.

Biden has sought to balance his frustrations with Netanyahu with his administrations support for Israel in its war against Hamas, the terrorist group that controls Gaza. The president has repeatedly asserted Israel has a right to defend itself after Hamass attacks last October, while simultaneously urging Israel to do more to protect civilians and allow aid into Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been killed in fighting.

Whats happening is he has a right to defend Israel, a right to continue to pursue Hamas, Biden told MSNBCs Jonathan Capehart earlier this month. But he must, he must, he must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A donkey-pulled cart passes the rubble of Al-Faruq Mosque, destroyed during Israeli bombardment in Rafah, the southern Gaza Strip, where Israel says it will send in ground troops (SAID KHATIB)

The Israeli army launched Monday an operation around Gaza's largest hospital, Al-Shifa, with witnesses reporting air strikes on the devastated neighbourhood where it is located.

Israeli soldiers "are currently conducting a precise operation in the area of the Shifa hospital", a statement from the military said.

"The operation is based on intelligence information indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists".

Witnesses in Gaza City told AFP they saw tanks surround the hospital site.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the war have sought shelter in the complex, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

The Israeli army had also carried out a November operation in Al-Shifa, sparking an international outcry.

Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of running military operations from hospitals and other medical centres, claims the militant group denies.

The Hamas government media office in Gaza condemned the operation, saying that "the storming of the Al-Shifa medical complex with tanks, drones, and weapons, and shooting inside it, is a war crime".

The health ministry in the besieged Hamas-run territory said it had received calls from people near the hospital site who claimed there were dozens of casualties.

"No one could transport them to the hospital due to the intensity of gunfire and artillery shelling," the ministry said.

The Israeli army has carried out multiple operations in and around medical facilities across the Gaza Strip since the start of the war.

The war began when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack from Gaza on October 7 that resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

Palestinian militants seized about 250 Israeli and foreign hostages during the October 7 attack, but dozens were released during a week-long truce in November.

Israel believes about 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 -- eight soldiers and 25 civilians -- who are presumed dead.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has carried out a relentless bombardment and ground offensive that the health ministry in the Palestinian territory says have killed at least 31,645 people, most of them women and children.

According to the Israeli military, troops "were instructed on the importance of operating cautiously, as well as on the measures to be taken to avoid harm to the patients, civilians, medical staff, and medical equipment" at Al-Shifa.

The statement also said Arabic speakers had been deployed in order to "facilitate dialogue with the patients remaining in the hospital".

It added: "There is no obligation for the patients and medical staff to evacuate."

Following its November 15 operation on Al-Shifa, the Israeli military said it had found weapons and other military equipment hidden in the site -- claims Hamas has denied.

It also claimed it had found a 55-metre tunnel in the basement and shared footage that it said proved hostages had been held there, which Hamas also denied.

According to the UN, 155 health facilities in the Gaza Strip have been damaged since the war began.

- 'Where should they go?' -

The Hamas-run health ministry said early Monday that dozens of people had been killed across the Gaza Strip overnight.

Over the weekend, 12 members of the same family were killed when their house was hit in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

Palestinian girl Leen Thabit, retrieving a white dress from under the rubble of their flattened house, cried as she told AFP her cousin was killed in the strike.

"She's dead. Only her dress is left," Thabit said.

For several weeks, the focus of the war had been on southern Gaza, where around 1.5 million people who have fled the rest of the devastated territory have sought refuge since the start of the war.

Allies of Israel, including the United States, have warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government against launching a full-scale operation in Rafah near the Egyptian border.

Rafah is the only urban centre in Gaza where Israeli ground troops have yet to enter.

Visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters that if such an offensive resulted in "a large number of casualties" it "would make any peaceful development in the region very difficult".

Israel has insisted, however, that its war aim of eliminating Hamas cannot be achieved without operating across the territory.

On Sunday, Netanyahu vowed civilians crammed into the south of the strip would be able to leave before troops enter in pursuit of Hamas militants.

The office of Netanyahu had on Friday said he approved the military's plan for an operation in Rafah as well as "the evacuation of the population".

"Our goal in eliminating the remaining terrorist battalions in Rafah goes hand-in-hand with enabling the civilian population to leave Rafah," Netanyahu said at a press appearance alongside Scholz.

"It's not something that we will do while keeping the population locked in place."

As others have done, Scholz raised the question:

"Where should they go?"

- 'Out of harm's way' -

The United States, which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance, has said it wants a "clear and implementable plan" to ensure civilians are "out of harm's way".

Gaza is facing the threat of famine, according to the UN, and many residents of the territory have faced displacement multiple times in recent months.

There has been no indication yet of where those crammed into Rafah could go, and any suggestion of Palestinian dispersal outside the Palestinian Territories is highly contentious in the Arab world.

A Hamas proposal for a truce calls for an Israeli withdrawal from "all cities and populated areas" in Gaza during a six-week truce and for more humanitarian aid, according to an official from the group.

International envoys were planning to meet in Qatar soon to revive stalled talks for a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Israel plans to attend the talks, and a cabinet meeting meant to decide the delegations mandate took place on Sunday night, Netanyahu's office said, though the outcome was not immediately known.

bur-az-crb/ser/smw
Police in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, are searching for multiple suspects after three separate and unrelated shootings near the boardwalk and downtown area Sunday evening left one person dead and at least three others injured.

Multiple suspected shooters remain on the loose, Jacksonville Beach Police Chief Gene Paul Smith said at a media briefing Monday morning.

"I cannot emphasize the chaotic nature of the incident last night," Smith said. "We are currently working three separate unrelated shootings."

The first shooting happened around 7:50 p.m. in the 400 block of the boardwalk just east of the Best Western hotel. Smith said officers had earlier learned of a possible gathering of teens underneath the pier and found that 250 to 400 juveniles in their late teens had gathered, engaging in boxing matches and fights. Officers were on scene dispersing the crowd when gunfire erupted.

SHERIFF HAD PROBABLE CAUSE TO DETAIN MAINE GUNMAN BEFORE MASS SHOOTING, INDEPENDENT REPORT CLAIMS

In this photo taken Saturday, people enjoy Jacksonville Beach, Florida. On Sunday evening, police in Jacksonville Beach responded to an active shooter incident in the downtown area that left one dead and two injured.

One witness who recorded video from the beach during the shooting described "about 15 to 20 gunshots" as "everybody started scattering."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Two suspects shot each other and one innocent bystander from out of town was struck, Smith said. One suspect and the bystander were rushed to a hospital. The second suspect, who police said is a certified gang member, self-reported to the hospital. All three were in serious condition.

The second shooting happened around 8:13 near the Ritz bar in the downtown area. A suspect had displayed a pistol and fired one shot. Smith said no one was injured, though the suspect eluded police during a foot chase.

In this photo taken on Saturday, visitors enjoy Jacksonville Beach. Multiple suspected shooters remain on the loose after an incident in Jacksonville Beach on Sunday night.

The third shooting happened around 8:31 p.m. behind Sneakers bar. A 21-year-old Black male was killed. Three armed suspects, all Black males, drew firearms, though only one opened fire, Smith said. The three suspects remain at large.

The three shootings by multiple shooters prompted authorities to ask the city to shelter in place, but the order was later lifted at 10:54 p.m. as officers continued to work at the scenes of the shootings.

Jacksonville Beach is a coastal resort city in Duval County, Florida. In this photo taken on Saturday, visitors enjoy the beach.

No police officers discharged their firearms during any of the incidents and no arrests have been made as police continue to investigate the incidents, Smith said.

SHERIFF HAD PROBABLE CAUSE TO DETAIN MAINE GUNMAN BEFORE MASS SHOOTING, INDEPENDENT REPORT CLAIMS

Multiple pistol and rifle shell casings were found at the three shooting scenes. Smith said two firearms used in the shootings have been recovered.

During the lockdown in the downtown district/bar area and the beachfront, the chief said, officers evacuated citizens who were still inside businesses from the scene while still searching for the outstanding suspects.

Eyewitnesses told WFOX they observed multiple ambulances and patrol cars in the areas.

Authorities are asking people to avoid the crime scene.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.





Original article source: Jacksonville Beach shootings leave 1 dead, 3 hospitalized; police looking for multiple suspects
Panic ensued on Sunday as people ran from the sounds of gunshots in Jacksonville Beach during St. Patricks Day celebrations.

Heres what we know about the three separate, unrelated shootings that police are investigating:

The initial shooting was near the boardwalk & Best Western Hotel at around 7:50 p.m., and officers were already in the area when it happened. Three people were shot and two people were shooting at each other. An innocent bystander was hit. The other two people are considered victim-suspects.

The second shooting happened at around 8:13 p.m. in the parking lot outside the Ritz Bar. A suspect in a ski mask opened fire before dumping the pistol, which was recovered by police. No one was injured in this shooting.

The third shooting happened at around 8:31 p.m. outside Sneakers Bar. There were 3 suspects and one person was killed. Police did not say if the person who died was a suspect or innocent bystander.

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Jacksonville Beach Mayor Chris Hoffman spoke with Action News Jaxs Jake Stofan about safety in the city in the wake of the shootings and during the spring break season.

This is senseless violence multiple times over, which is not something that we routinely see here in Jacksonville Beach. So I do want to reassure people that this is a safe community, Hoffman said.

Past violence on holidays in Jacksonville Beach

Unfortunately, this isnt the first time that the Beaches have seen violence on a holiday.

On Memorial Day in 2013, Action News Jax showed you how several small fights caught on video snowballed into a larger brawl. This led the Jacksonville Beach Police Department to request assistance from Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach police departments, as well as the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office.

WATCH OUR 2013 STORY BELOW:

In July of that same year, we told you how police suspended the investigation into the brawl with no arrests. Investigators said at the time they didnt have enough evidence to prosecute anyone.

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Action News Jax also told you in 2017 when Glen McNeil Jr., 23, was killed in Jacksonville Beach several hours after the citys Fourth of July fireworks show.

Javoris Deandre Price, then 18, was arrested in November 2017 in McNeils killing and was later sent to prison.

Two other teens, Kejuan Marques Jones, then 16, and Darius Kenard Jackson, then 17, were also arrested in McNeils killing and later sentenced to prison.

According to Florida Department of Corrections records, Price is scheduled to be released on June 23; Jones is set to be released in 2032; and Jackson is set to be released in 2037.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Bulgaria could play an important role in the Azerbaijan-EU green energy corridor through its developed electricity transmission system, a source at the Bulgarian ministry of energy told Trend.

"Certainly, Bulgaria was one of the first countries to express open support for the project. In a letter of 3 April 2023, the Ministry of Energy supported the Strategic Partnership Agreement on Green Energy Development and Transmission between the governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary, and expressed the interest of the Bulgarian Government to join the joint the "Middle Green Corridor Project". Bulgaria could play an important role in the project through its developed electricity transmission system, interconnections with neighbouring countries with high capacity, the well-developed electricity market, and the opportunities for investments in renewable energy, infrastructure projects and the growing demand for green energy," said the source.

On December 17, 2022, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania, and Hungary signed a strategic partnership agreement that provides for the construction of an energy bridge from the Caucasus region to Europe.

As per the agreement, a 1,000 MW Black Sea Energy submarine electric cable spanning 1,195 kilometers is set to be constructed. The cable is intended to transmit 'green' electricity generated in Azerbaijan, routed through Georgia and the Black Sea to Romania, and further distributed to Hungary and the rest of Europe. This infrastructure will facilitate the supply of up to four gigawatts of green energy.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
This article was originally published in Michigan Advance.

James Crumbley, the father of the Oxford High School shooter, was found guilty Thursday of involuntary manslaughter for his role in the killings of four students in 2021.

The verdict will not bring back anyones children, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said at a press conference after the verdict was read, flanked by the parents of the students who were killed.

I will forever remain in awe of their strength and perseverance that they have shown in the last two and a half years, McDonald said. Its a privilege to do this and we know that it cant take the pain away, but Its one small step towards accountability.

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The decision in Crumbleys case follows the February conviction of Crumbleys wife, Jennifer Crumbley, on the same charges, one involuntary manslaughter charge for each child their son killed. The cases mark the first time in the U.S. parents of a mass shooter have been held directly responsible for the deaths their child caused.

The shooter was sentenced to life without parole in December.

The prosecution had the task of proving that Crumbleys actions or inactions made the shooting possible, as Crumbley had the legal duty as a parent to prevent his child from harming others and shouldve taken reasonable actions to mitigate possible harm.

Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of Madisyn Baldwin who was killed in the shooting, thanked the other parents standing with her over the course of the two and a half years since the shooting for their friendship and support through all three prosecutions. All four families of the victims are forever changed and will continue fighting for accountability on behalf of their children, she said.

This is not just a verdict for attention or media, Beausoleil said at the press conference. This is a verdict that actually needs to be put to the platform that it is: How are we going to use this verdict to actually make that change?

For five days, starting last week, witnesses relayed the events leading up to and following the Nov. 30, 2021, shooting at Oxford High School, as well as the horror and violence individuals faced as James Crumbleys son opened fired at teachers and students, injuring seven people and killing four of his classmates: Baldwin, Hana St. Julianna, Justin Shilling and Tate Myre.

There were several small actions Crumbley could have taken to prevent the shooting and signs of mental distress from his son that a parent should have acknowledged and sought out help for, McDonald said in her closing arguments Wednesday.

There were 1,800 students at Oxford High School. There was one parent who suspected that their son was the school shooter and it was James Crumbley, McDonald said, replaying the 911 call Crumbley made after becoming aware of the shooting, telling the operator that a gun was missing from his house.

Crumbleys lawyer, Mariell Lehman, told the jury during her closing arguments that although the prosecution has shown them haunting things; tragic things, they have not shown evidence that Crumbly knew that his son was a danger to others. If they had evidence to prove Crumbley knew what his son was planning, jurors would have seen it.

The prosecution wants you to find that James could foresee that his son was a danger to others and that James acted in a grossly negligent manner or breached a duty that he owed to other people, despite having no information at the time, Lehman said during her closing arguments. You saw no evidence that James had any knowledge that his son was a danger to anyone. You heard no testimony and saw no evidence that James Crumbley knew what his son was planning.

Crumbley had bought his son the gun used in the shooting four days before the killings, having taken him to the shooting range on several occasions and supervising his usage there.

But during Crumbleys trial, as well as that of Jennifer Crumbley, questions were raised on whether the gun was secured in such a way to deter the shooter for easily accessing it.

Ultimately, it would have taken just one tragically small measure of ordinary care to avoid four deaths McDonald said calling attention to the meeting the Crumbleys were called to at the school the day of the shooting after the shooter drew a sketch of the gun his father had bought him days prior on his math assignment.

Shawn Hopkins, the school counselor at the meeting the day of the shooting, testified during Jennifer Crumbleys trial that he was not informed that James Crumbley had bought his son a gun recently, or that their son would be able to access it. In addition to the drawing of the gun, there was a drawing of a body with blood coming out of it and a few statements including the thoughts wont stop and help me.

Hopkins said on Monday that he didnt tell either parent that they absolutely had to take their son home and the shooter expressed interest in returning class. Hopkins said he did insist that the parents seek out mental health care for their son who had told him that he was experiencing sadness over the recent death of his dog and grandma and was missing his friend who had moved away.

And though neither parent told their son at the meeting that they cared about him after Hopkins told him at the end that he cared about him, Hopkins said James Crumbley did speak to the shooter.

He was talking to his son and mentioned that, you know, You have people you can talk to; you can talk to your counselor; you have your journal; we talk and it felt appropriate at that time, Hopkins said.

If the shooting had not happened, Hopkins said it was his plan to check in with the shooter to see if his parents had sought out any mental health services for him. And if not, he said he would have called Child Protective Services.

On Tuesday, Oakland County Sheriffs Office Detective Lt. Timothy Willis offered insight on the shooters journal saying that in all the 22 pages the shooter wrote in, he referenced wanting to commit a school shooting. There were also passages where the shooter talks about wanting to get help.

One entry reads: I have zero HELP for my mental problems and its causing me to SHOOT UP THE FING SCHOOL. Another entry reads: I want help but my parents dont listen to me so I cant get any help.

Later entries chronicle the shooter receiving his gun from Crumbley and detailing his plan to kill people at his school.

Edward Wagrowski, an Oakland County Sheriffs detective at the time of the shooting, testified last week, showing the jury text messages between the shooter and his friend months before the shooting detailing mental health struggles, including hearing voices.

One text from the shooter reads, I actually asked my dad to take [me] to the Doctor yesterday but he just gave me some pills and told me to Suck it up.

If Crumbley had done the simplest of things, as he knew his son was struggling, four kids would still be alive, McDonald said in her closing arguments. If he had listened to his son or read his journal and believed what it said, he could have intervened as the violence his son was planning was foreseeable.

He sees that drawing that morning when he goes to the school and what does it say? It says, help me. How many times does this kid have to say it? He says it in his journal. He says it to his friend and what is he saying? I asked my parents; I asked my dad, McDonald said. And if that isnt enough, he writes the words help me on a piece of paper and his parents, James Crumbley is called to the school to see it and what did he say? He says, We gotta go work.

The defense only called on one witness as the burden of proof was not on them. Crumbleys sister, Karen Crumbley, talked about seeing her brother and nephew, the shooter, in April and then again in the summer, months before the shooting.

Crumbley, who lives in Florida, said she and James Crumbley had been in the hospital with their mother as she was sick at the time. Karen Crumbley said their mother died on April 6, 2021, and the shooter came to Florida to visit shortly after. She didnt observe anything that would have raised concerns for her.

When she came to Michigan for a summer 2021 visit, she said she didnt observe anything that gave her reasons to worry about her nephews mental state or what kind of care he was receiving from his parents. When asked by the defense if she would have done anything had she observed anything wrong, she said she would have.

I would have addressed it and if I would have known anything I would have talked to him. I would have took him home with me if there was any kind of inclination that anything was wrong, Karen Crumbley said. She added that she would have told her brother if she thought something was wrong, but there was nothing she was concerned about.

Moving forward, more needs to be done to address the ways in which children in America are dying from gun violence, Steve St. Juliana, the father of Hana St. Juliana, said at the press conference after the verdict reading. More needs to be done to tackle kids declining mental health and other issues and people cant simply stand behind Second Amendment rights and not talk about what is killing kids.

We can put people on the moon; we can build skyscrapers, huge monuments like the Hoover Dam and we cant keep our kids safe in schools? St. Juliana said. I think people just need to wake up and take action. Stop accepting the excuses. Stop buying the rhetoric. It is not a Democratic or Republican issue. Its nonpartisan. Do not accept any excuse from any of the politicians. This needs to be solved and it needs to be solved now. We do not want any other parents to go through what weve gone through.

Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Susan J. Demas for questions: info@michiganadvance.com. Follow Michigan Advance on Facebook and Twitter.
Before going to trial, James Crumbley threatened Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald in jail communications with his sister, the Free Press has learned from multiple sources.

Specifically, the now-convicted father went off to his sister about how he was going to make it his goal in life to destroy McDonald, the sources said. According to a source close to the prosecutor's office, the threats included James Crumbley allegedly saying things like she was going to hell soon, she better be scared and she was done.

These alleged threats occurred in multiple phone calls dating to 2022  with most occurring in 2023, the sources said  though prosecutors waited until the middle of Crumbley's trial to bring them up, despite knowing about them for months. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the incidents.

The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office declined to comment.

James Crumbley shoots a glance at Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor Joseph Shada as he exits the Oakland County courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024. Crumbley will be tried on four counts of involuntary manslaughter after his son was the perpetrator in a mass shooting at Oxford High School killing four students. His wife, Jennifer Crumbley, was found guilty on all four counts in this landmark case holding parents responsible for the guns that are in their homes.

Crumbleys alleged threats surfaced during his trial  though not in front of the jury  and resulted in him losing access to his jail communications through the rest of the trial, which ended with him being convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his role in the November 2021 mass shooting that was carried out by his son at Oxford High School.

James Crumbleys access to a telephone and electronic messaging while in the Oakland County Jail has been limited due to threatening statements he made while on the phone and in electronic messages. His access to a phone or electronic messaging is now limited to communication with his lawyer, the Oakland County Sheriffs Office said in a March 7 statement to the Free Press.

The sheriffs office declined to elaborate, and has since declined requests by the Free Press to offer more information about the alleged threats. Reached Monday, the office issued a statement saying it "does not have anything further to add at this moment.

Both Crumbley parents face up to 15 years in prison

James Crumbleys lawyer, Mariell Lehman, declined comment.

James Crumbley is scheduled to be sentenced on April 9, alongside his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, who was also convicted of involuntary manslaughter on Feb. 6. They each face up to 15 years in prison and are the first parents in America to be held criminally responsible for a mass school shooting carried out by their child. Their son, Ethan Crumbley, who murdered four classmates and injured seven other people using a gun his father had purchased him as an early Christmas present, pleaded guilty to all his crimes and is serving a life without the possibility of parole.

Crumbleys alleged threats involving the prosecutor surfaced in the middle of his trial. The prosecution raised the issue in open court, with Crumbleys lawyer immediately objecting to the issue being made public.

More than that, defense attorney Mariell Lehman objected that prosecutors brought up the issue in the middle of the trial, suggesting the information was known for some time, but was raised strategically during his trial to make her client look bad.

How the dispute played out in court

When the issue came up during trial, Oakland County Judge Cheryl Matthews urged both sides to come up with an agreement and cautioned that the media would be writing about it  suggesting something embarrassing or incriminating was about to be exposed.

James Crumbley strains to listen as the jury reads guilty verdicts as he sits with his attorney Mariell Lehman in the Oakland County courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Crumbley was tried on four counts of involuntary manslaughter for the four students killed in the 2021 Oxford High School shooting perpetrated by his son Ethan Crumbley.

The two sides, however, came to an agreement that the prosecutor explained like this: Crumbley's communications privileges would be revoked, but not his ability to talk to his lawyer or research information to help his defense.

James Crumbley maintained that he never saw any signs that his son was a threat to anyone, that he never knew of his son's plans to shoot up his school, that the gun at issue wasn't really a gift but could be used only at the shooting range with parental supervision, and that the gun was not easily accessible to his son: It was hidden in an armoire, unloaded in a case, with the bullets hidden in a separate drawer.

Prosecutors, though, argued to the jury that James Crumbley ignored a troubled son who was spiraling downward, and instead of getting him help, he bought him a gun, failed to properly secure it and never disclosed that gun to school officials when given the chance.

In the end, the jury sided with the prosecution.

As the jury foreman told the Free Press in an exclusive interview: "The lack of securing the gun  I mean, that's what caused all this."

Contact Tresa Baldas: tbaldas@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sources: James Crumbley was threatening prosecutor in jail phone calls
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin (D) says he will not intervene to defend the states system of organizing its primary ballot based on the county line, agreeing with a lawsuit that it is unconstitutional.

Platkin said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Zahid Quraishi on Sunday that he believes the county line system undermines the democratic process of selecting candidates in the primary. The lawsuit was brought last month by Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), who is running in the Democratic primary for Senate, and two House candidates.

This is an exceptional case, justifying the Attorney Generals exceptionally rare decision not to defend the constitutionality of the challenged statutes, Platkin said in the letter.

New Jerseys primary ballot system is different from every other state in the country. The ballot is designed as a grid, and in almost all the states counties, a candidates placement on the primary ballot is decided by receiving the endorsement of the county party.

If a candidate receives the county endorsement, their name would be placed in the same column as other candidates that the county party endorses for other offices, like president and U.S. representative. A candidate who does not receive the endorsement would be placed in a different column.

An endorsed candidate would benefit from this system because voters could go down the line of county endorsees to cast their ballot and miss another candidates name on the ballot.

Platkin said in the letter that the plaintiffs in the case produced substantial record evidence to challenge the statutes as undermining the democratic process.

Government, including the Defendants (who themselves are often beneficiaries of the county line as elected officers) cannot constitutionally design a primary ballot to favor only those candidates who happen to be endorsed by a faction of a partys leadership, the plaintiffs lawsuit from last month says.

The attorney generals office is not a named defendant in the case, and Platkins decision alone does not necessarily mean that the lawsuit will be successful. But it is a significant development that the state governments top law enforcement officer is not opposing a suit that could overhaul how New Jersey runs primary elections.

Platkin sent the letter one day before Quraishi was set to hear arguments in the case on Monday.

The issue of county lines has taken central focus in the primary between Kim and New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who has not yet publicly announced whether he will seek reelection.

Menendez has been widely denounced over the criminal charges against him alleging bribery and other crimes. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and refused calls to step down.

Kim and Murphy have been battling with each other to receive the county endorsements at conventions held over the past month. Both candidates have won several county endorsements.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
While New Jersey Democrats waited with bated breath to see how a challenge to the ballot line plays out in a federal courtroom in Trenton, there have been a few other developments in the heated U.S. Senate Democratic primary between Rep. Andy Kim and first lady Tammy Murphy.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said in a statement Monday morning that he had made a mistake last fall when he endorsed Murphy.

Its no secret Ive been disappointed with the campaign and how it has been conducted, Fulop said. Its clear to me that I was wrong with my early support and endorsement of Tammy Murphy for Senate.

Congressman Andy Kim congratulates First Lady Tammy Murphy after the ballot count of the Bergen County Democratic Convention, at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Hall, Local 164, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Paramus. Murphy won with more than 60% of the vote.

Fulop said he doesnt think it is in the states best interest for Murphy to stay in the race and noted that the convention season has demonstrated [Kim] is the better candidate.

The change from Fulop comes after a busy weekend of county conventions, with both Atlantic and Morris counties proving to be decisive victories for Kim, at 74% to 26% in the former and 85% to 11%.

Murphy was awarded the line in Camden County on Saturday, but that convention has drawn attention for the treatment of the races third candidate, Patricia Campos-Medina, who was not even allowed into the meeting.

Charlie Stile: NJ attorney general says he won't defend the 'county line' ballot design

Kim's challenge to the line

Kim was in court Monday morning for a hearing in the lawsuit he filed last month that challenges the states ballot design.

The lawsuit alleges that New Jersey's ballot design creates an unfair advantage for the candidate awarded the "line," or the first position on the ballot. The clerks from all 19 counties that use the county line ballot design are named as defendants.

Andy Kim speaks with supporters outside the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Hall, Local 164, where the Bergen County Democratic Party Convention is being held, Monday, March 4, 2024, in Paramus

The hearing came one day after Attorney General Matt Platkin said in a letter to the judge that he sees the current New Jersey ballot design as "unconstitutional" and doesnt intend to defend it in court.

Kim, alongside Campos-Medina and Lawrence Hamm, has already called for the line system to be dismantled and the block system, which is used by every other state in the nation as well as two New Jersey counties, to be implemented statewide.

In response to the suit, a spokesperson for Murphy said, "Andy Kim doesn't have a problem with the county line system, he has a problem with the idea of losing county lines  as he is perfectly happy to participate in the process when he wins, and he has benefited from the lines in every other election he's run."

Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Senate primary: Steve Fulop pulls endorsement of Tammy Murphy
A group combating antisemitism has mailed a brochure to all high schools in the New York City metropolitan region urging them to discourage Jewish students from applying to Cornell University because of perceived Jew hatred on campus.

Considering Cornell? Cornell is not a safe place for Jewish students, the group Alums for Campus Fairness claims in the brochure.

Cornell, the leafy Ivy League university in upstate Ithaca, is among the New York colleges being investigated by the US Department of Education over complaints of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus.

A group mailed a brochure to all high schools urging them to discourage Jewish students from applying to Cornell University, where a student had been making violent threats. X/cbouzy

Considering Cornell? Cornell is not a safe place for Jewish students, the group Alums for Campus Fairness claims in the brochure. X/cbouzy

A 21-year-old Cornell student was arrested last October for allegedly making violent threats against his Jewish peers in a series of online messages. The threats came just days after graffiti was scrawled on campus sidewalks, including Fk Israel and Zionism = Racism.

Meanwhile, Cornell University history professor Russel Rickford was caught on camera at a rally telling students that Hamas Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel was exhilarating and energizing.

Jewish students blasted his remarks as an antisemitic incitement of violence.

History Professor Russell Rickford, who has come under fire for calling the Hamas attacks in Israel exhilarating and energizing.

One of the mailers from the group Alums for Campus Fairness. Alums for Campus Fairness

The brochure also noted that some Cornell student groups also defended Hamas terrorism.

Cornell refuses to enforce the student code of conduct, fostering a hostile climate that endangers Jewish students, the groups brochure said.

Avi Gordon, executive director of Alums for Campus Fairness said of the brochure, As a national network of alumni dedicated to countering antisemitism on campus, we felt an obligation to warn prospective Jewish students and their families about Cornells failure to protect our community.

The group demanded that Cornell define and denounce antisemitism or adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances statement on antisemitism, which says, Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

The US Education Department has opened investigations into more than a dozen other colleges and universities amid complaints of antisemitism. Getty Images

The group demanded that Cornell define and denounce antisemitism or adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances statement on antisemitism. X / @samaberman

It also recommended that Cornell fire Professor Rickford and enforce its Student Code of Conduct.

The US Education Department has opened investigations into more than a dozen other colleges and universities amid complaints of antisemitism  including Columbia University, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford.

Meanwhile Jewish students at the University of California, Berkeley last month were forced to evacuate an auditorium as anti-Israel protesters banged on and eventually broke through the glass doors of a campus theater, where an Israeli Defense Forces soldier was scheduled to speak.

The Post has reached out to Cornell for comment.
The Jackson Hinds Library System is set to receive $3.75 million in federal grant funds to help with the recovery of the Eudora Welty Library.

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba made the announcement during a Monday press conference, along side Peyton Smith, the chairman of the JHLS board of trustees and Floyd Council, the executive director of JHLS.

"This money, $3.75 million, is a tremendous first step in restoring library service to downtown Jackson," Smith said.

Books and other items will soon be moved to the Jackson Medical Mall, Council said, for storage. A temporary location for the flagship library is yet to be announced, but it will be somewhere downtown, Smith said. About 70% of the move is complete, according to JHLS press release.

From Left: Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Peyton Smith, chairman of the JHLS Board of Trustees and Floyd Council, executive director of the JHLS, pose with a federal grant check that will be used to help with recovery efforts for the Eudora Welty Library.

Fixing Jackson's libraries: Jackson won a settlement of $10.3 million. Council says spend it on fixing city libraries

Smith explained to the Clarion Ledger that "in all likelihood the funds will be used for the renovation of a new building in downtown."

In March 2023, the City of Jacksons Office of Planning & Development and Library Board prepared a HUD Congressional Directed Spending Grant request at the invitation of the Office of U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Brookhaven. On March 9, President Joe Biden signed the $460 billion spending bill, which includes the historic funding for Jacksons Eudora Welty Library.

The Jackson Hinds Library System is set to receive $3.75 million in federal grant funds to help with the recovery of the Eudora Welty Library, the City of Jackson's downtown, flagship library.

More on downtown library: What are the plans for Eudora Welty Library? Archives and History wants it for green space

The current downtown location for the Eudora Welty Library has been closed since last summer, after facing various maintenance issues over the past several years. The Clarion Ledger first reported that the city had plans to tear down the library in September.

In December, the Jackson City Council voted unaninmously to approve the transfer of the Eudora Welty Library building and property to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

MDAH plans to create a green space after demolishing the building. In 2023, Mississippi state lawmakers allocated $2 million for the project.

Multiple libraries throughout the city have been in a state of disrepair for years. The Medgar Evers Library was closed for a time last year due to maintenance issues, as well as the Richard Wright Library, which has been closed since 2020 due to needed plumbing repairs.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson MS flagship library receives federal grant. See how much
VANDALIA, OH - Republican Congressman Jim Jordan previewed an upcoming hearing on the investigation into the business dealings of Hunter Biden and railed against the "double standard" he says President Biden was the benefactor of in the investigation into his handling of classified documents.

"We'll see," the Ohio Republican told Fox News Digital on Saturday when asked about Hunter Biden previously expressing willingness to testify openly before the House before his legal team recently backtracked and objected to doing so.

"I think Chairman Comer, we're going to have this hearing this week, this upcoming week with three of Hunter Biden's business partners, Mr. Galanis, Mr. Bobulinski and Mr. Archer and what's interesting, all three of those individuals tell a different story, and their story seems to match up with the three of them versus what Hunter Biden told us when we deposed him," Jordan said. "So we'll see if Hunter Biden comes in. But well go through this here and get information out to the American people."

"It's going to be the comparisons between what these individuals said and what Hunter Biden said and the contradictions that exist in this testimony from both sides," Jordan told Fox News Digital when asked for a preview of what this weeks hearing on the Hunter Biden scandal will entail.

GOP REP SPOTLIGHTS 3 KEY PIECES OF EVIDENCE THAT THE BIDEN FAMILY CONTRADICTED THEIR BUSINESS COVERUP

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan holds a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 20, 2023 in Washington, D.C.

Jason Galanis, Tony Bobulinski and Devon Archer, all former associates of Hunter Biden, were invited to participate in a House hearing on Wednesday as part of the investigation into an alleged corruption scandal that Republicans are suggesting could eventually lead to an impeachment vote for President Biden.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Fox News Digital reached out to Hunter Biden's legal team for comment but did not receive a response.

Jordan, who was speaking to Fox News Digital near Dayton, Ohio where former President Trump was rallying for Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno, brought up the recent testimony of Special Counsel Robert Hur while discussing Hunter Biden, which he suggested was an example of President Biden "knowingly" ignoring the law.

"I thought last week with special counsel Hur where we went through that, where we know Joe Biden knowingly retained and disclosed classified information, he knew the rules, he'd been in government five decades, he was the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was vice president, so he knew the law and willfully violated that law," Jordan said.

"And I think he did it because, special counsel Hur says in his report, he said Joe Biden was motivated to ignore classified procedures because he was writing a book and he got an $8 million advance so there are 8 million reasons why Joe Biden didn't follow the law."

BIDEN GHOSTWRITER SPOTTED ON NYC STREETS HOURS AFTER GOP LAWMAKERS RIPPED HIM DURING HEATED HUR HEARING

Hunter Biden

When asked by Jordan last week during the House hearing on Hurs conclusion regarding Bidens handling of classified documents and his decision not to file charges whether he agrees that Biden had motivation to misuse the documents to write a book, Hur replied, "That language does appear in the report, and we did identify evidence supporting those assessments."

The White House has pushed back on the idea that Hurs report shows Bidens actions possibly correlate with a potential book deal.

"And then, of course, Mr. Hur concluded by saying even though he knowingly, willfully retained and disclosed, did it for the money, in my judgment, we're not going to prosecute because he's a forgetful old man and I think that came out loud and clear in the hearing we had this past week," Jordan added. "So we'll have another hearing next week with these other individuals and we'll go from there."

Fox News Digital asked Jordan if he agreed with Hurs conclusion that it would be too difficult to secure a guilty verdict from a jury with the current evidence.

"If someone meets the elements of the crime, it's the job of the prosecutor to take that to the jury and the jury decides," Jordan responded. "Mr. Hur and his evaluation, you weigh all things, so we have some respect for that of course, but what I do think comes clear is the double standard."

President Biden speaks at Abbotts Creek Community Center during an event to promote his economic agenda in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Jan. 18, 2024.

"You know, this idea that there are pressing charges and they have charged President Trump, they raided his home for goodness sake, but nothing happens here, and that's what Americans really take away is the double standard."

Several legal experts, including Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley, have recently suggested that the classified documents handling case against President Biden had more significant evidence than the case involving Trump.

Jordan told Fox News Digital he agrees with that analysis.

"I think so especially when you see the report and you walk through the elements, particularly when he's talking to the ghost writer, who, by the way, the ghost writer tried to destroy the evidence once he found out Mr. Hur was named the special counsel," Jordan said. "Go figure. If that's not obstruction. I don't know what is. So, I do think that again underscores this double standard that we've seen for such a long time."





Original article source: Jim Jordan previews main focus of upcoming Hunter Biden hearing, blasts Hur report 'double standard'
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden spoke Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time in a month amid rising tensions between the two leaders over how Israel has conducted its war with Hamas.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan described the call as very business-like and said the two leaders discussed the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, including Netanyahus plans for a military campaign in Rafah and efforts to distribute humanitarian aid to Palestinians amid reports of widespread hunger and disease.

Each of them recognize that we are at a critical moment in this conflict, Sullivan said. They share a common objective that is for Israel to prevail over Hamas, and they have a different perspective on this operation.

Biden asked Netanyahu to send a team of Israeli military, intelligence and humanitarian officials to Washington in the coming days to hear U.S. concerns about Israels plans for a military campaign in Rafah and for an alternative proposal that would target Hamas and secure the Egypt-Israel border without a major ground invasion, Sullivan said.

Netanyahu agreed to the request, Sullivan said.

The conversation marked the first time the two leaders have spoken since Biden was caught on a hot mic after his State of the Union address saying he needed to have a "come to Jesus meeting" with the Israeli leader. Sullivan declined to comment when asked if the phone call was the meeting Biden was referencing.

Ill let you draw your own conclusions, he said.

The call was also the first conversation between Biden and Netanyahu since Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat who is the highest-ranking Jewish official in U.S. history, called for Israel to hold new elections to replace Netanyahu.

Schumer, who is close ally of Biden, said from the Senate floor last Thursday that Netanyahu has become an obstacle to peace in the Middle East and has lost his way by putting his political survival ahead of the best interests of Israel.

'He has to change': For the first time since Israel-Hamas war broke out, President Biden and Netanyahu are at odds

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday Dec. 31, 2023.

Biden praised Schumers remarks on Friday as a good speech. The White House said later that Biden was not calling for new elections or for Netanyahu to be replaced.

Thats going to be up for the Israeli people to decide, said John Kirby, the White House spokesman for national security issues.

Netanyahu said Sunday that Schumer's calls for a new election were "totally inappropriate" and accused the Democratic leader of treating Israel like a banana republic.

Thats something that Israel, the Israeli public, does on its own, he said during an interview on CNN's "State of the Union."

Biden and Bibi: President on hot mic says he needs a 'come to Jesus' meeting with Netanyahu

The Biden administration has become increasingly at odds with Netanyahu over Israel's refusal to scale back the war in Gaza and its efforts to get humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians. Biden has faced increasing pressure from progressives and Arab Americans for his unwavering support of Israel in the months since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Netanyahu has refused Biden's demand for a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis and has pledged to continue the war in Gaza until Hamas is crushed.

One of the biggest flashpoints between the two leaders is the fate of the Rafah, located on Gaza's 7.5-mile border with Egypt  which is the only crossing that isn't controlled by Israel.

Netanyahu said Sunday he plans to press ahead with a military campaign against Rafah even though the United States and other Israeli allies have urged him not to attack the city in the southern Gaza Strip.

In their conversation Monday, Biden spoke at length about his concerns about the prospect of an Israeli military operation in Rafah, Sullivan said.

More than 1 million Palestinians displaced by the war have fled to Rafah, and there is nowhere else for them to go because Gazas other major cities have largely been destroyed, Sullivan said. Israel has not presented a plan for how it would safely move those citizens, let alone feed and house them and ensure they have access to basic things like sanitation, Sullivan said.

Rafah is also a primary entry point for humanitarian assistance into Gaza from Egypt and from Israel. An invasion would shut down that effort or at least put it at grave risk at the moment it is most sorely needed, Sullivan said.

Contributing: Joey Garrison

Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @mcollinsNEWS.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden, Netanyahu speak amid rising tensions over Israel-Hamas war
Speaker Mike Johnsons (R-La.) Plan B for Ukraine aid has raised as many questions as its answered.

The Speaker told Republican senators last week that he intends to send them legislation providing new military funding for Kyiv, after the House considers a separate spending package to prevent a government shutdown on Friday.

And in a subsequent interview with Politico, Johnson indicated that he plans to move that proposal with a procedural tool that will require support from a substantial number of Democrats. He also floated the idea of splitting Ukraine aid from a bill providing more military help for Israel.

The vague outline of a strategy has created plenty of uncertainty about the specific path he intends to pursue, including how Johnson plans to incorporate the tougher border security measures hes previously demanded into a national security supplemental; how he intends to win Democratic support for a proposal that strays from the Senate-passed foreign aid package theyve insisted upon; and how hell prevent a revolt from conservatives  many of them opposed to more Ukraine aid, particularly without stronger border policies  if he rejects their demands.

Johnson suggested Friday a number of those details remain up in the air.

Were looking at all the options on all the issues on the table, and were just not ready to make a pronouncement on that yet, Johnson said when asked if he is considering Ukraine aid legislation that lacks border security.

But pressed on the prospect of moving assistance for Kyiv without policies addressing the situation at the U.S. southern border, Johnson reiterated his long-held talking point that border security must be the top priority.

I believe, and the American people believe, we have to secure our own border as the top priority, and I think that is a sentiment that the vast majority of the people in the country expect and deserve. And were gonna continue to press for that, he told reporters.

The months-long impasse  combined with the worsening plight of Ukraines defensive forces  has frustrated Kyivs supporters in both parties, who are wondering when Johnson will finally arrive at a decision.

The great unanswered question at the moment is that Mike Johnson keeps telling everybody hes going to get aid to Ukraine, hes going to get aid to Israel. Nobody has any idea how, Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said before Johnsons remarks to senators and Politico.

So the great unanswered question is what his plan is, he continued. And I dont know.

The debate is highlighting the quandary Johnson and other GOP leaders have found themselves in as they wrestle with a strategy for helping Ukraine repel Russias invading forces.

On the one hand, Johnson says he wants to shore up support for Ukraines beleaguered military, which has lost ground to Russia in recent weeks and is running short on ammunition. During the House GOP retreat in West Virginia last week, the Speaker said, I understand the timetable and understand the necessity of the urgency of the funding.

On the other, the Speaker is being careful not to antagonize conservatives in his conference, who are wary of sending billions of dollars more to Kyiv, particularly if Congress doesnt act simultaneously to strengthen security on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Hanging over him is the constant threat of a motion to remove Johnsons gavel, which led to the toppling of his predecessor.

The ridiculous nature of this place is: If you brought the bills individually, I think they would pass, said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.). But our Speakers between a rock and a hard place. I mean, if he brings them individually, it could cost him his job.

In a delicate effort to thread the needle, Johnson told Senate Republicans on Wednesday that he intends to modify their foreign aid package, which provides roughly $60 billion for Ukraine, by making the assistance a loan program rather than a grant. That proposal, at least in theory, would take some of the burden off U.S. taxpayers, and it has the additional advantage of being championed by former President Trump, who had previously helped to kill a Senate package combining foreign aid with domestic border security.

Johnson, in addressing the senators, also promoted the idea of paying down the Ukraine aid through the confiscation and liquidation of Russian assets seized around the globe  an idea proposed by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee whos pressing hard for more Ukraine aid.

Asked in West Virginia if Johnson has given him a commitment that he will bring a Ukraine aid bill to the floor, McCaul declined to discuss personal conversations but said, it is my belief that he will, noting it would be after the appropriations process wraps up.

But how GOP leaders plan to cobble the various pieces together  and how they intend to pass them through a bitterly divided House  remains unclear.

Johnson suggested Friday hell continue to insist on tougher border security as part of the larger national security debate.

We always prioritize border security. Thats a very important part of the equation and the conversation, and Ive been consistent about that since day one, he said.

But the border provisions hes demanded have been soundly rejected by Democrats  the same Democrats hed need to pass the bill by the procedural maneuver, called the suspension calendar, that hes eyeing to move the legislation. That process would allow GOP leaders to sidestep any opposition from conservatives, but it would also require a two-thirds majority to send the package to the Senate, which is a bar impossible to reach without significant Democratic buy-in.

I think it is a stand-alone, and I suspect it will need to be on suspension, Johnson told Politico.

By stand-alone, Johnson was stipulating that he doesnt want to attach the foreign aid provisions to the minibus spending bill Congress is poised to consider this week to prevent a government shutdown, or any other must-pass legislation this year, a leadership aide told The Hill.

But he hasnt ruled out splitting the various pieces of the foreign aid package into separate bills, to receive separate votes, according to the leadership aide. House Republicans have already voted twice on the Israel component  the first passed and the second did not  but the idea has gone nowhere in the Democratic-controlled Senate as lawmakers push to consider all components of the national security supplemental in one package.

The aide noted, however, that the components of the foreign aid legislation are still being worked through with members, and there is no guarantee on being able to move something.

Pressure, meanwhile, is mounting on Johnson to act.

President Biden used a public appearance with Johnson on Friday to implore the Speaker to approve assistance for Kyiv, making a plea during the Friends of Ireland Luncheon at the Capitol for Congress to send the Senates national security supplemental to the White House.

Im 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. Hes a thug, Biden said, prompting applause from those in the room, including Johnson, who was seated just a few feet away.

Leo Varadkar, the taoiseach of Ireland, echoed that call, declaring Ukraine must not fall, and together we need to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Johnson is also racing against a pair of discharge petitions that are accumulating signatures in an attempt to force a vote on aid for Kyiv.

One discharge petition, led by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), would circumvent leadership and bring the Senate foreign aid bill to the floor. The other, spearheaded by Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), would trigger a vote on his national security supplemental that includes aid for Ukraine and Israel in addition to border security provisions.

Neither, however, has garnered enough support to circumvent leadership, leaving all the power in Johnsons hands as he grapples with how to address the thorny issue of Ukraine aid.

Lawmakers are waiting for  and closely watching  his next move.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Donald Trump on Monday lost a bid to block testimony from Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels at his upcoming trial on charges stemming from hush money that Cohen, his former lawyer and fixer, paid Daniels, a porn star, before the 2016 election.

Trump last month asked Justice Juan Merchan to block their testimony, arguing Cohen had a history of lying and would likely lie again, and that Daniels - whose real name is Stephanie Clifford - would seek to use the trial to monetize her story.

In rejecting Trump's request to block Cohen's testimony, Merchan wrote he was unaware of any basis for Trump's "rationale that a prosecution witness should be kept off the witness stand because his credibility has been called into question."

The Republican presidential candidate has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up his reimbursement of Cohen for the payment to Daniels for her silence about a sexual encounter she says she had with Trump in 2006. Trump denies an encounter.

A trial had initially been scheduled for March 25, but last week was delayed until at least mid-April due to a last-minute dispute over evidence disclosure. Merchan is expected to decide on a new trial date after a March 25 court hearing.

A spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office charged Trump last year, declined to comment. Trump's lawyers also declined to comment.

The case is one of four criminal indictments Trump faces as he prepares for an expected challenge to Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election.

He has also pleaded not guilty in the other cases, which focus on his efforts to reverse his 2020 loss to Biden and his handling of government documents after leaving office in 2021.

In the Manhattan case, prosecutors argue the Daniels payoff was part of a broader "catch-and-kill" scheme Trump and Cohen hatched to buy the silence of people with negative information about the candidate. Cohen pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign finance laws in 2018.

Merchan on Monday also denied Trump's request to exclude testimony from or any evidence about the three people who received hush money payments. These included Daniels, a doorman and Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who says she had an affair with Trump, which he also denies.

"The evidence and testimony surrounding these individuals is inextricably intertwined with the narrative of events and is necessary background for the jury," Merchan wrote.

Prosecutors argued the October 2016 payment to Daniels was made as the Trump campaign panicked about his standing with female voters, following the leak of an "Access Hollywood" tape in which Trump boasted about forcing himself on women.

In a modest victory for Trump, Merchan said prosecutors could ask witnesses about the tape, but agreed with Trump that playing the clip itself for the jury could cause him "undue prejudice." The judge said he may reconsider that ruling "should the Defense open the door."

(Reporting by Luc Cohen and Dan Whitcomb; editing by Deepa Babington and Howard Goller)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Holding COP29 in Azerbaijan will open new opportunities for renewable energy, economist-expert Eyyub Kerimli told Trend.

According to him, Azerbaijan is actively engaged in establishing a clean environment.

"Hosting this event in our country will open up new avenues for the renewable energy industry and improve the investment climate in this field. As a result, our nation will attract the attention of significant corporations involved in this industry.

It will also greatly support future exports and the growth of our nation's capability for green energy. COP29 will have a significant impact on our nation's green energy policies. Azerbaijan is actively working with international organizations to promote green energy programs, and developments in this area are happening quite quickly.

Aligned with the priorities outlined for our country's social and economic development until 2030, emphasis is placed on fostering a clean environment and transitioning to green energy. There are plans to elevate the proportion of alternative and renewable energy within the overall energy production to 40 percent. Azerbaijan stands as one of the nations holding substantial potential in the realm of renewable energy," the expert noted.

According to him, COP29 is a political occasion as well.

"Holding COP29 in Azerbaijan will raise the prestige of our country in the international arena," Kerimli added.

According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Energy, the country boasts a technical potential of 135 gigawatts for land-based renewable energy sources and 157 gigawatts for those at sea. The economic potential stands at 27 gigawatts, encompassing 3,000 megawatts of wind energy, 23,000 megawatts of solar energy, and a bioenergy potential of 380 megawatts. Additionally, the potential from mountain rivers is estimated at 520 megawatts.

The decision to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023, enabling Azerbaijan to host the above event in November.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The controversial mural at the center of a lawsuit between the University of Kentucky and Wendell Berry must be maintained and cannot be removed, according to a court order filed Monday that also dismissed the lawsuit.

The ruling comes after a years-long debate between students, administration and Berry over what should happen to the mural, which depicts Black workers  possibly slaves  planting tobacco and a Native American person wielding a tomahawk.

Berry and his wife, Tanya, filed the lawsuit in Franklin Circuit Court in 2020 to halt the removal of the mural. Tanya is the niece of the murals artist, Ann Rice OHanlon.

Judge Thomas Wingate granted UKs motion to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the Berrys lack standing to prosecute this action. But since removal of the mural would result in its destruction as it is a fresco  painted on the plaster itself  the Court holds that (UK) shall continue to maintain the status quo of the OHanlon Mural.

The OHanlon Mural does not glorify the abhorrent practice of slavery or the taking of Native American territory. But rather is a concise depiction of what Ms. OHanlon was instructed to create  a history of Kentucky from 1792 through the 1920s, Wingate wrote. The removal of the OHanlon Mural would be an insult to the Commonwealth and particularly the Commonwealths black and brown citizens.

A judge dismissed the lawsuit between Kentucky writer Wendell Berry and the University of Kentucky on Monday, March 18, 2024. Judge Thomas Wingate said the mural must remain at UK.

In 2022, UK President Eli Capilouto announced the university planned to remove and relocate the mural, and transform Memorial Hall into a student-centered space on campus.

We have stated that the universitys intent is to maintain and move the mural. That continues to be our position. We are pleased that the Judge dismissed the case, UK spokesperson Jay Blanton said Monday.

When contacted by the Herald-Leader Monday, Tanya Berry said she hadnt yet read the decision from Wingate, but keeping the mural in place was what we wanted.

Were delighted that the fresco will stay in place, because it would destroy it to take it down, Tanya Berry said. It is a depiction of the history of the area, which is what she was doing, and its an accurate depiction of the way it was. Its not a slam on anybody.

The murals history at UK

The OHanlon mural has been the topic of controversy, protests and studies at UK for many years, with the Student Government Association passing a resolution calling for its removal in 2006.

Capilouto has reiterated plans to remove the mural several times, most recently in 2020 following the death of George Floyd and nationwide social justice protests, and again in 2022, after determining that the mural was structurally able to be moved. Black student groups had previously demanded the removal of the mural, which was originally created in 1934.

Following calls for its removal, the mural has been covered multiple times with a sheet.

In 2017, a plaque which mentions the historical context of the mural was added and the sheet was removed. In early 2018, artist Karyn Olivier created a work of art in the building titled Witness, designed to further contextualize the mural. Though Olivier was not part of the lawsuit, she made a statement in 2020 saying the mural should remain, and the universitys decision to remove it renders my work Witness blind and mute.

But the mural was covered again by a sheet after protests in which students  calling for more on-campus opportunities for Black students and the removal of the mural  occupied the main campus administrative building for a night in April 2019. UK stopped holding classes in Memorial Hall in 2019.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The attorneys for Karim Reyad on Monday argued hes shown he can stay out of trouble.

When released for months to receive medical treatment, attorney H.A. Sala said, Reyad made every court hearing, followed all conditions of release and turned himself back in when ordered to do so.

Bakersfield police release footage of Jan. 18 fatal officer involved shooting on Chester Ave.

He asked Judge John Oglesby to reconsider a prior judges ruling of no bail.

Oglesby, however, remained concerned about the behavior that led Reyad to be taken into custody in the first place. The 19-year-old allegedly sped in a Dodge Charger Hellcat while under the influence of marijuana, swerved into opposite lanes on Campus Park Drive and hit a Honda Civic driven by Gayla Sue Price, killing the 66-year-old.

I do have an issue with the danger he presents to the community based on what I would call self-destructive behavior and depression, Oglesby said.

He gave a tentative ruling denying the defense motion for bail reconsideration, but said he will review the matter further and issue a ruling within two weeks.

Prosecutor Kacie Barrier had asked Reyad remain in custody without bail, saying he posed an extreme public safety risk.

Reyad is charged with multiple offenses, including second-degree murder.

The April 18 crash that killed Price also injured Reyad and a passenger. He was kept in custody on no bail until September, when Oglesby ordered him released to receive specialized treatment.

Reyad returned to jail months later after the court received reports indicating treatment was successful. Sala on Monday said his client still has medical issues.

After the crash, Reyads blood tested positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, according to court documents. A week earlier, he was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
Eight staff members at the Federal Correctional Institution, including a warden, have been indicted on sexual abuse charges. The judge determined inmates are still at risk. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

A women's federal prison in Alameda County with an ugly history of sexual abuse of inmates by staff needs to be overseen by an outside monitor, a federal judge has ruled.

In a decision released Friday, U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ordered the appointment of a special master to implement reforms and other judicial orders at the Federal Correctional Institution in Dublin, where eight different members of the staff, including a warden, have been indicted on federal sexual abuse charges. Six have been sentenced.

The judge called the prison a "dysfunctional mess."

"The situation can no longer be tolerated. The facility is in dire need of immediate change," said Gonzalez Rogers in her order.

Because of the Bureau of Prisons' repeated failures to initiate change at the facility, where sexual abuse of an inmate was reported as recently as November, Gonzalez Rogers decided the special master was necessary.

Read more: 'Every woman's worst nightmare': Lawsuit alleges widespread sexual abuse at California prisons for women

The ruling comes in a class-action lawsuit filed by eight women who were imprisoned at FCI Dublin. The women say that despite the arrests and charges brought against numerous staff members, abuse has continued.

The low-security prison and its adjacent satellite camp have been so plagued by sexual abuse allegations that the prison has come to be known as "the rape club."

The judge's order came just three days after a third warden was ousted at the prison since Warden Ray Garcia was convicted of sexually assaulting numerous inmates.

The ouster of the most recently installed warden, Art Dulgov, coincided with an FBI raid on the facility and the removal of three other top managers. Dulgov and his staff are accused of retaliating against a woman who testified in the class-action lawsuit.

A major dispute in the current litigation is whether incarcerated women at FCI Dublin are still in danger of sexual abuse, the judge wrote in her decision. While many said during the judge's nine-hour visit to the facility that they don't fear sexual abuse, the judge determined that there is still a risk.

"Approximately 20 officers have been accused of misconduct, investigations are in progress, and they remain on administrative leave. Taken as a whole, the record undermines the governments argument that the Court should be confident that risk of sexual misconduct has been eradicated," the judge wrote.

The Bureau of Prisons declined to comment on the pending case.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
TOMS RIVER  A pair of siblings told a judge Friday they were angry that she was about to sentence the man they hold responsible for their elderly father's death to just three years in prison.

"All we have ever asked for is for Ed Chandler to be held accountable for his acts,'' Shawn Clarke, the victims son, said of the former Manalapan man who punched 78-year-old Robert Clarke of Manchester in the head during an altercation at the Lakeside Diner in Lacey Township on Sept. 30, 2020.

Edward Chandler is shown in Judge Kimarie Rahill's courtroom in Toms River Friday, March 15, 2024, where he was sentenced for aggravated assault. The fight outside the Lakeside Diner in Lacey Township where he punched Robert Clarke, who later died of an unrelated medical condition.

"It's been said many times that criminal justice is just that - justice for the criminal, and not for the victims, and, until it happens to you or someone you love, you never understand the full impact of those words,'' Shawn Clarke told Superior Court Jude Kimarie Rahill before she was about to impose the three-year term contained in Chandler's plea agreement.

In a surprising exchange with the victim's family, Rahill repeated Shawn Clarke's words. Then she choked up as she shared a deeply personal experience with them.

"I want to assure you I understand the impact,'' Rahill told the victim's family. "I came to the law as a survivor of violent crime - the murder of my father who would have been 86 yesterday. Instead he was killed when he was 34 and I was six, and his brother was shot and paralyzed.''

The judge said she fully understood when Kristina Clarke, the victim's daughter, told her that her father will never be able to see his grandchildren graduate or attend their weddings.

"I know what it feels like, attending wedding after wedding after wedding when I was in my 20s,'' Rahill said. "I had to leave the room when it was the father-daughter dance.''

Judge Kimarie Rahill becomes emotional during the sentencing for Edward Chandler in Toms River Friday, March 15, 2024. She recounted how her father was murdered when she was a child. Chandler was sentenced to three years for the aggravated assault of Robert Clarke outside the Lakeside Diner in Lacey Township. Clarke later died of an unrelated medical condition.

The judge told the family she pursued a career in law and on the bench hoping to make a difference.

"Maybe, I should have went to the Legislature where I could have changed things,'' Rahill said.

She explained that the law doesn't allow her to let a family's dissatisfaction with a plea bargain control what sentence is imposed.

"That doesn't sit that well with me personally, but I have to take my personal feelings out,'' she said.

Chandler, 57, now of Trinity, North Carolina, appeared in court in January and admitted punching Clarke once in the face during the altercation outside the diner.

Clarke fell back and struck his head. He died early the next day at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. However, medical experts determined Clarke died as a result of a pre-existing medical condition, not from being punched.

Chandler had been scheduled to stand trial for aggravated manslaughter in January, but because of the medical reports, prosecutors said they wouldn't be able to meet their burden of proof and instead extended a plea agreement in which the defendant pleaded guilty to aggravated assault.

"I know you may disagree with the evidence, but the expert reports indicate that this wasn't a death due to a punch,'' Rahill told Clarke's family. "I understand you disagree with that. ...I only wear the robe. I don't get to make up the law.''

Chandler's attorney, Robin K. Lord, said her client believed Clarke was about to harm a female friend of his during the large altercation outside the diner because he thought he heard someone yell "knife,'' and then saw Clarke running aggressively toward the woman.

"He believed that he was coming to the aid of a female he believed was in danger,'' Lord said of her client.

Medical experts reviewed Clarke's medical history and autopsy report and concluded that he died as a result of a stroke due to a vascular malformation, and not from a punch, Lord said.

Both the judge and an assistant prosecutor rejected Lord's argument that Chandler was acting in defense of another, saying the facts did not support that.

"This was an unprovoked attack on a 78-year-old man,'' Kate Burke, an assistant Ocean County prosecutor, told the judge. "The victim was not the aggressor, nor was he acting in any such a way as being threatening toward others.''

Eyewitnesses reported that the single punch Chandler landed on Clarke "was the hardest punch they'd ever seen,'' Burke said.

"This defendant in his rage cold-cocked an elderly man,'' Burke said.

The victim's son and daughter both said they believed the punch is what killed their father.

"Ed Chandler, your actions killed my dad,'' Kristina Clarke said. "You know it, your lawyer knows it and this entire courtroom knows it.

Edward Chandler and his attorney Robin K. Lord look back to Robert Clarke's children Kristina and Shawn in Judge Kimarie Rahill's courtroom in Toms River Friday, March 15, 2024, before they started their victim impact statements. He was sentenced to three years for the aggravated assault of their father outside the Lakeside Diner in Lacey Township .

"Your uncontrolled rage took everything away from us,'' she said. "You landed a death blow to my dad.''

She said she couldn't understand how a former mayor was recently sentenced to five years in prison for embezzlement, and another defendant was sentenced to four years in prison for an aggravated assault that didn't involve a death, yet Chandler was only being sentenced to three years.

"Please, someone, someone make that make sense,'' she said.

Shawn Clarke was as adamant as his sister.

There should be no doubt in anyone's mind why we're here today, and that's for one reason and one reason only, and that is because Ed Chandler killed my father,'' Shawn Clarke said. "I don't care what anyone says, that's a fact, and no amount of any convoluted, circular logic or courtroom semantics is going to change that fact.''

He said during the diner altercation, his father was sticking up for a female friend of his who "was being verbally accosted by a vulgar group of thugs.'' Those in the group called the woman 'just about every nasty thing you could imagine, and none of that sat well with my father, so he got involved and defended her.''

His father gave the group "an earful,'' Shawn Clark said.

"But that argument very quickly turned violent and then deadly when Ed Chandler showed up,'' he said.

"My Dad was a good man, a solid man, with a great sense of humor, who did not suffer fools well,'' Shawn Clarke said. "All in all, he was a decent, family-loving man whom I miss terribly every day.''

Ocean County Sheriff's Officers lead Edward Chandler out of Judge Kimarie Rahill's courtroom in Toms River Friday, March 15, 2024, after he was sentenced for aggravated assault. The fight outside the Lakeside Diner in Lacey Township where he punched Robert Clarke, who later died of an unrelated medical condition.

Of Chandler, he said, "I cannot forgive a man who takes no responsibility.''

Chandler did not address the court and instead had his attorney speak for him.

Lord said Chandler was fully cooperative with the police and very remorseful when he learned Clarke had died.

"He wishes he never hit him, wishes he didn't believe that he had to and wishes this never happened,'' Lord said.

The three-year sentence Rahill imposed on Chandler contains no period of parole ineligibility, under terms of the plea agreement. That means Chandler could be considered for release on parole after serving about a third of the term.

Kathleen Hopkins, a reporter in New Jersey since 1985, covers crime, court cases, legal issues and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties. Contact her at khopkins@app.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Lakeside diner brawl defendant gets prison for punching elderly patron
Kaleb Anthony Vasquez is escorted Monday out of the 137th District Court during a break in the jury selection portion of his murder trial. He faces five years to life in prison after pleading guilty to a count of murder in the Dec. 4, 2020 shooting of Roel Munoz.

Six months after rejecting a plea deal, Kaleb Anthony Vasquez appeared in court and admitted to what officials believe was a random, deadly shooting in December 2020 at a northwest Lubbock Walmart.

Vasquez, 23, appeared in the 137th District Court before District Judge John McClendon on Monday after attorneys for the defense and prosecution worked to narrow a pool of 65 potential jurors into a panel of 12 jurors with one alternate.

Murder warrant provides more details of deadly Walmart shooting

Vasquez, who has been held at the Lubbock County Detention Center since Dec. 5, 2020, pleaded guilty to a count of murder in the Dec. 4, 2020 shooting death of 42-year-old Roel Munoz at the Walmart near the intersection of Fourth Street and Frankford Avenue.

However, since his plea wasn't a result of a deal with prosecutors, the jury of 10 women and three men selected Monday will determine his punishment, which ranges from five years to life in prison.

Vasquez's case stems from a shots-fired call about 3:45 p.m. at the Walmart at 702 W. Loop 289. A responding officer was led by a store employee to the hardware area where Munoz was on the ground as blood pooled around his head, according to a police report. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.

Kaleb Vasquez

Police investigators found footage from the store that showed Vasquez, wearing blue denim pants, a jacket and an American flag-style facemask, arrive at the store with his family, according to an arrest warrant.

Vasquez walked away from his family, walked past Munoz, turned and shot him.

Meanwhile, Munoz's wife was waiting for her husband in the parking lot.

Vasquez could be seen running away immediately after the shooting. An employee followed Vasquez out to the parking lot believing he was a shoplifter and saw him throw into the sewer an object that turned out to be the murder weapon, the warrant states.

Vasquez's family also identified him as the person featured in an image that police officials released to the public during the manhunt that ended about four hours after the shooting.

Police responding to a call three hours later about a carjacking at a gas station near the intersection of 19th Street and Avenue A found Vasquez and arrested him.

Officials have said they have yet to find a connection between Vasquez and Munoz or a motive for the shooting.

Vasquez was last seen in court in September when he was set to enter a guilty plea.

The Lubbock County Courthouse.

However, the hearing ended after Vasquez backed out of the deal.

During the hearing, Vasquez's attorney, Bill Wischkaemper, informed District Judge William Eichman in open court that his client was rejecting a prosecutor's office plea deal against his advice.

He told the court that he had met with his client multiple times and gone over the evidence and any mitigating issues and informed him that accepting the plea deal was in his best interest.

"We've had several long, long sessions with [Vasquez] and this is completely against our advice for him to reject this plea bargain agreement," he told Eichman, who was presiding over the case for 137th District Judge John McClendon who was in the middle of a separate murder bench trial.

Vasquez confirmed Wischkaemper's report to the court, saying he was rejecting the offer freely and knowingly.

Lubbock County District Attorney Sunshine Stanek informed the court that after rejecting the offer, which was not disclosed in court, it was revoked and the case will be set for trial. Plea offers are not public until they are accepted in court.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Jury to determine punishment in deadly 2020 Lubbock Walmart shooting
Thousands of people gathered Sunday for the annual South Side Irish Parade, featuring festive floats, Irish dancers and an explosion of green.

The parade kicked off at noon from 103rd Street and Western Avenue in Beverly, led by a lineup of bagpipers. The group marched south to Western and 115th Street in Morgan Park.

The event, founded by two South Side residents in 1979, is advertised as the largest community-based parade on St. Patricks Day outside of Dublin.

Longtime friends Mary Ellen Lester and Rita McFee, both aged 71, waved at parade participants as they walked by. The pair has attended the celebration for most of their lives.

I know everyone downtown is like, Oh, the river is green, but heres where its happening, Lester said with a smile.

Each float was adorned with clovers, green streamers and Irish flags. Meanwhile, young children scampered across the sidewalks as several groups tossed candy into the crowd.

Marching bands and dancers were met with cheers from spectators. Despite the brisk, breezy weather, many attendees donned festive ensembles, from leprechaun hats to green beads.

Several politicians also attended the parade, including candidates for the Illinois General Assembly.

Twenty-year-old Jack Esselman sported an inflatable leprechaun costume as he watched the parade. He spent $30 on the outfit  mostly to embarrass his younger sister, he added.

She was like, Oh jeez, please dont, and I was like, I have to, said Esselman, a South Side native. Its just so much fun to be here.

Across the street, Matt Ozark pushed a cart piled high with St. Patricks Day-themed accessories: clover hats, green glasses, Irish flags. The vendor shouted his deals over the clamor of the crowd with a booming voice.

Im a natural salesman, Ozark, 64, said. So, I sell stuff, I have fun. Im enjoying it with the families. Its in my blood.

The Orland Park resident has been selling products at city events and ballparks since 2005. He can list his prices offhand  beads for $2, flags for $5 and hats for $10. On Saturday, he was selling accessories near the River North parade.

I do the events I want to do at this point, Ozark said. I get a lot of fun out of it.

Farther up the parade route, Christine Kraemer, 50, sat in a folding chair as she donned a green wig and a leprechaun hat. Her daughter, 11-year-old Mackenzie, watched beside her.

They both particularly looked forward to their post-parade celebration.

After this, were gonna go back home and have our corned beef, cabbage, mashed potatoes, Guinness, Harp, Kraemer said with a laugh.

Kraemer, a Beverly resident, has been attending the parade since first grade.

People come from all over, she said. Its just so Chicago.

____
Shortly after October 7, Jeff Kosowsky put up more than 100 signs in his front yard in Newton, showing the pictures of some of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.

Every day people would walk by and stop, knock on our door and people would meet us in the street and say how much it meant to them, said Kosowsky.

He says for the last five months, he received only positive feedback about the pictures of mostly women and children.

But Sunday that all changed when he woke up to extensive damage: every single poster was vandalized with either spray paint or completely torn down.

To know there are humans in this world or people who claim to be human who use this as an opportunity to degrade and wipe out the memories of these children, its just beyond the pale, said Kosowksy.

Somebody had to look at the face of Kfir Bibas, who was one years old, and paint over his face like who does that? Its just evil, said Miriam Kosowsky.

The Kosowskys are now concerned about the increase of antisemitic incidents nearby.

Were hearing from people who are in the schools that there are swastikas in bathrooms and theyre not feeling safe in schools, and now its actually happening to our private property, so its really a feeling of people getting really scared, said Miriam Kosowsky.

Not only were these signs destroyed, but the criminals also spray painted their home address sign.

This is an act of vandalism, this is a hate crime, said David Micley, a Newton city councilor.

Micley says just last week someone broke the window of another home that had a sign showing support for Israel, and he says these attacks need to be called out and stopped.

This is not about politics, this is not about having a debate about how things should play out in this conflict, this is about how we should be with each other as neighbors, said Micley. And as neighbors we cannot accept this.

Newton police is investigating the vandalism.

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WASHINGTON  Justice Stephen Breyers Supreme Court chambers are not quite as grand as those he occupied before he retired in 2022, but they are still pretty nice. As before, they include a working fireplace, which was crackling when I went to visit him on a temperate afternoon in late February to talk about his new book.

In earlier interviews, Breyer could be rambling and opaque. This time he was direct. He said he meant to sound an alarm about the direction of the Supreme Court.

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Something important is going on, he said. The court has taken a wrong turn, he said, and it is not too late to turn back.

The book, Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism, will be published March 26, the day the Supreme Court hears its next major abortion case, on access to pills used to terminate pregnancies.

The book devotes considerable attention to Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the 2022 decision that eliminated the constitutional right to abortion. Breyer, who had dissented, wrote that the decision was stunningly naive in saying it was returning the question of abortion to the political process.

The Dobbs majoritys hope that legislatures and not courts will decide the abortion question will not be realized, he wrote.

He was more forceful during the interview. There are too many questions, he said. Are they really going to allow women to die on the table because they wont allow an abortion which would save her life? I mean, really, no one would do that. And they wouldnt do that. And therell be dozens of questions like that.

The book is a sustained critique of the current courts approach to the law, one that he said fetishizes the texts of statutes and the Constitution, reading them woodenly, without a common-sense appreciation of their purpose and consequences.

Without naming names, he seemed to call on the three members of the court appointed by President Donald Trump  Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett  to reconsider how they approach the role.

Recently, he wrote, major cases have come before the court while several new justices have spent only two or three years at the court. Major changes take time, and there are many years left for the newly appointed justices to decide whether they want to build the law using only textualism and originalism.

He added that they may well be concerned about the decline in trust in the court  as shown by public opinion polls.

Textualism is a way of interpreting statutes that focuses on their words, leading to decisions that turn on grammar and punctuation. Originalism seeks to interpret the Constitution as it was understood at the time it was adopted, even though, Breyer said in the interview, half the country wasnt represented in the political process that led to the document.

There are three large problems with originalism, he wrote in the book.

First, it requires judges to be historians  a role for which they may not be qualified  constantly searching historical sources for the answer where there often isnt one there, he wrote. Second, it leaves no room for judges to consider the practical consequences of the constitutional rules they propound. And third, it does not take into account the ways in which our values as a society evolve over time as we learn from the mistakes of our past.

Breyer did not accuse the justices who use those methods of being political in the partisan sense or of acting in bad faith. But he said their approach represented an abdication of the judicial role, one in which they ought to consider a problem from every angle.

In his chambers, he recalled another era, when three different Republican appointees  Justices Sandra Day OConnor, David Souter and Anthony Kennedy  largely shared his basic approach to the law.

Sandra, David  I mean, the two of them, I would see eye to eye not necessarily in the result in every case, but just the way you approach it. Breyer said. And Tony, too, to a considerable degree.

Breyer retired a little reluctantly, under pressure from liberals who wanted to make sure that President Joe Biden could appoint his successor and that the conservative supermajority on the court, currently at 6-3, would not get any more lopsided. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a former law clerk to Breyer, now occupies his seat.

Breyer, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, has returned to Harvard Law School, where he taught before becoming a judge. But he said he missed his old job.

When youre a professor, youre mostly involved in what people decided already in the past, he said. When youre a judge, youre also interested in that, but what youre deciding is going to affect present and future. And thats hard. Because you dont really know how it will work out. You have to do your best there. I like that kind of job.

He shrugged, seeming to contemplate the passage of time. What can you do? he asked. Its the human condition.

Breyers critics say his approach allows judges too much freedom to turn their preferences into law. I asked him for an example of a case in which the law required him to reach a conclusion at odds with his personal views.

What about all the capital punishment cases? he asked. Although he urged the court in a 2015 dissent to reconsider the constitutionality of the death penalty, he did not adopt the practice of some earlier justices of dissenting in every capital case. That doesnt mean I approved, he said.

He added, more generally, that he hoped his book would reach both a broad audience and a narrow one.

Id love people to read it, he said. Id like for you to agree with me. So would every author. Id like even to get the members of this court to read it and to say, Oh, not a bad point. Not a bad point. And thats all.

c.2024 The New York Times Company
A local police force added another K9 officer to its force.

The Eaton Police Division received a new K9 officer with funding from the Rotary Club of Dayton, according to a spokesperson from the division.

In 2022, the Rotary Club held its Red Ribbon Project to provide K9 officers and, or K9 equipment to local law enforcement agencies.

>> Ohio mom sentenced for toddlers death after leaving her home alone while she went on vacation

The Dayton Fraternal Order of Police received the money and distributed it among local agencies, the spokesperson said.

The Rotary Club named the new K9 Orville, but he will use his nickname Loki while in service.

K9 Loki is an 18-month-old Dutch Shepherd, the spokesperson said.

Loki will be K9 Officer Craig Jones partner.
[Source]

Kalpana Chawla, the first woman of Indian origin to venture into space, would have celebrated her 62nd birthday on March 17 had her life not been tragically cut short in the 2003 Columbia disaster.

Key points:

Chawla, born on March 17, 1962, etched her name in history as the first woman of Indian descent to journey into space. Following her maiden voyage in 1997, she managed to complete 30 days in space over two Space Shuttle missions.

Her promising career was cut short in 2003 when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry, claiming the lives of all seven crew members, including Chawla.

Following her death, Chawla's legacy was immortalized through numerous honors, including the naming of a spacecraft, an asteroid a lunar crater and a hill on Mars in her honor.

The details:

Trending on NextShark: Thousands gather across US to celebrate Hindu festival Holi

Chawla's journey to the stars began in Karnal, India, where she nurtured her passion for flight from an early age. In 1978, she became the first woman to enroll in the aeronautical engineering course at Punjab Engineering College.

After earning her bachelor's degree, she pursued higher education in the U.S. in the 1980s. She then obtained her master's and doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering and ultimately joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an astronaut.

During her tenure at NASA, Chawla contributed significantly to aerospace research, specializing in fluid dynamics and robotic arm operations. She was selected for two Space Shuttle missions, during which she conducted groundbreaking experiments.

Chawla passed away on Feb. 1, 2003, alongside her crew when the Space Shuttle Columbia malfunctioned due to a damaged wing. This allowed superheated gases to penetrate, causing the spacecraft to disintegrate 16 minutes before its scheduled landing.

In 2020, Northrop Grumman named a Cygnus spacecraft, used for resupply missions to the International Space Station, the "S.S. Kalpana Chawla" in her honor.

Chawla was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the NASA Space Flight Medal and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.

Chawla's story has been shared widely along with many tributes. From the city of Karnal to the stars, Kalpana Chawla still shines in millions of dreams," shared IFS officer Parveen Kaswan in a post on X with over 1,000 likes.

Way back in 1978, a young girl became the first ever to enrol in the aeronautical engineering course in Punjab Engineering College. She did not just stop there, moving on to the University of Texas and then, the ultimate destination- NASA. Today her name is among the most well pic.twitter.com/vuyHZNBaPG Trending on NextShark: South Koreas ramen exports on track to reach $1 billion in 2024  Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) March 17, 2024

What's next:

Trending on NextShark: New video, images give closest look yet inside Fukushima reactor's damaged interior

Chawla's journey serves as an enduring inspiration, especially for women in STEM fields. Her legacy will continue to inspire generations to come, encouraging young people to pursue their dreams regardless of their background.

Tangent:

Continuing in Chawla's footsteps, Sirisha Bandla became the second Indian-born woman to fly into space in 2021.

Download the NextShark App:

Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Compressed natural gas (CNG) may become the most effective and affordable solution for decarbonizing the transport sector in Azerbaijan, said an independent expert on green technologies, former head of SOCAR Methanol LLC Elnur Mustafayev, Trend reports.

"Under my leadership, a team of Azerbaijani experts carried out tests on carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere while using diesel fuel and CNG as motor fuels in vehicles refueled at SOCAR Petroleum. The findings revealed that CNG is currently the most appealing solution for decarbonizing Azerbaijan's transportation sector," Mustafayev said.

In his opinion, the increase in the number of CNG refueling stations will have a positive impact on the country's ecology and the fulfillment of its obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

CNG is generated by compressing natural gas, primarily methane, to less than one percent of its original volume at atmospheric pressure. Such compressed natural gas is maintained at a pressure of 200-230 bar and is effectively used as fuel in gas engines. In Baku, modern buses deployed on routes primarily utilize CNG as fuel as part of a pilot initiative in collaboration with the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR).

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.  A lucky St. Patricks Day for an Olathe, Kansas, angler on his very first snagging trip at Lake of the Ozarks.

Chad Williams admits hed never seen a paddlefish in his life prior to Sundays expedition.

I was lucky enough to get invited to go out snagging with friends, he said. Id never been snagging before. Never seen a paddlefishdidnt even know what it was!

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Williams and his friends hadnt been out long when he snagged something big.

I was thinking I was extremely weak because it was taking so long to reel in. My body was aching, he said.

After landing the paddlefish, Williams and his cohorts believed it was a record-breaker. They traveled to Three Brothers Meat Company to meet with Missouri Department of Conservation Fisheries and Protection staff to weigh the fish on a certified scale.

The paddlefish weighed 164 pounds and 13 ounces. Williams haul smashed the previous state record of 140 pounds and just surpassed the world record of 164 pounds.

Im honestly still processing this whole thing, Williams said. He joked that the conservation agent told him he never needed to go fishing again because nothing could top this.

Williams and his wife kept some of the paddlefish meat and shared the rest with their fishing group. He plans to taxidermy the head for display.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
A few months have passed, and now, Herbert Zubak (Matthias Schoenaerts) has almost completely taken over Elena Vernhams (Kate Winslet) chancellorship. The Regime is changing hands. Everyone in the palace is drinking tea brewed in wormy dirt. How scrumptious.

But even the muddy tea is complicated: It requires the use of three soils from three different areas of the country in the warm water. If any of the palace staffers screw this up in the slightest, theyll be ousted. Most of Elenas employees have grown jumpy, Nicholas (Guillaume Gallienne) warns Elena: Not hugely terrific for morale, is it? he asks.

No baby fat, Elena snarks.

And no leeches, adds Herbert. Is there anything these two dont agree on? Elena will whittle her palace staff down to just her and Herbert if she doesnt make some changes to her managing rhetoric. Even Nicholas, who attempts to bring up eight different conversation topics and fails each time, will be running for the exit soon if she doesnt do something.

Kate Winslets Violent Regime Is Pissing America Off

Herbert has so much power now that hes leading Elenas cabinet meetings, although all of the political hotheads there have no interest in listening to the bumbling beast. Herbert is presenting on land reform today, but when the cabinet asks questions about this pitch leading to food scarcity and other huge nationwide issues, Herbert slams his fists down and demands they get started right away. Hes not here to answer questions, dammit! Hes here towell, who knows what hes here to do! But one things for certain: Its not to come up with solutions.

Elena films a video message for the people of her country. This beloved land must belong to you, she announces, explaining the comprehensive land reform program she and Herbert have been plotting. I will take back what the fiendish oligarchs stole from you and eradicate rural poverty. Elenas team has put on a full production, creating a fake European field on a set for her to film this proclamation, which is just hilariousnone of this is real. Shes pretending to be one of the people while spending a year's worth of rent on one video.

Matthias Schoenaerts, Kate Winslet, and Guillaume Gallienne. Miya Mizuno/HBO

Which is exactly why Nicholas roasts her after the land reform announcement is made. Sure, he says, this is a real Robin Hood action for her to make as leader. But doesnt she see the huge problem with that? Elena and the Vernham family own a huge holding company in the nationshe has millions and millions of dollars and tons of land. Elena brushes Nicholas off. Shes not going to give back her land. Shes going to give back some other rich idiots land.

Some of the financial advisors and Nicholas meet behind Elena and Herberts backs. She will bankrupt this country if that belligerent buffalo tells her to, whispers one of the guys. Theyre worried about the shrinking GDP, the dormant cobalt mines, and the American cash cow, which has departed their areas for greener pastures. When Elena asks one of her advisors about American media coverage of their nation, the response is frightening: American journalists arent covering them at all. Elena looks frightened. Well, this is the isolation Herbert recommended. Shes going to have to be okay with that.

On the eve of her fathers birthday, Elena goes to visit his underground tomb. She has a full conversation with her fatheralmost as if we can also hear what hes saying. Elena shouts at her father, cries, calls him pathetic. Happy birthday, daddio. She then goes to work out with Herbert in the terrifying red room, having an eerily similar conversation: When Elena says this training isnt working, Herbert goes off on her. If we could see the full chats Elena has with her father, theyd probably look really similar to any of these intense discussions with Herbert.

The fight reaches its climax when Herbert pushes Elena into the wall and demands her to breathe in the mold poison eking out into the room. Elena refuses. You are not cured, Herbert spits. You are still sick in the head. It is not in these wallsit is in you.

Elena, exhausted, has Herbert escort her to the bedroom. She needs an evening alone, so she requests that Nicholas spend a night away from her. Maybe itll be a few nights. She doesnt know. Nicholas is peeved. Whose idea is this? Its our idea, says Herbert. While Nicholas isnt winning the war against Herbert, theres someone who actually does stand a chance: Agnes (Andrea Riseborough), who can really hold her own against Herbert when the pair go head-to-head.

Kate Winslet Performs Terrible Karaoke as a World Leader in The Regime

Agnes prepares the kitchen for the late Joseph Vernhams birthday party. There will be a gigantic cake serveditll be as big as a wedding cake, but instead of the bride and groom on top, the kitchen has made a plastic figure of Joseph dead in his casket to be placed atop the layers. Agnes announces the menu request to the kitchen, which is folk cuisine of thorough and rigorous nutrition. My condolences to your whisks, she adds.

Elena gives a speech dedicated to her father as her guests sit, staring at his glass casketwhich has been brought out from the lower bunker hes normally stored inon the dance floor. She is incredibly awkward, stuttering about how she can still feel her father present. Then, the worst happens: Herbert stands to give a speech. Elena looks shocked. She did not approve of this. This moment is jarring, as Herbert starts to talk about Joseph Vernham but uses the dead man as a way to transition into chatting about the freakin land reform plan. Just let it go for one night, man! Elena cuts off Herbert, singing Happy Birthday to cover up his rude proclamation.

Finally, we get to see what Elena sees when she visits her father once more after hes been put back into his resting place. The dead man comes alive, cracking his jaw open to insult his daughter from beyond the grave. Joseph tells Elena she must do a better job; shes the laughingstock of the country, and her staff is walking all over her. The next day, Elena finally takes control of her position again, butting Herbert out of her seat at the cabinet meeting. Herbert cant lead all of the land reform meetings anymore.

The next step on the land reform movement, Elena announces, is that the countrys leadership needs to start taking back all the land from their people. In order to redistribute the land, one has to have control over the land in the first place. One of Elenas staffers whines, asking about the future of his summer cottage. She ignores him and, somewhat suddenly, pitches an entirely new plan. The nation will shut down the Faban Corridor instead of focusing on land reform. The room becomes a chorus of fear at this pointif they propose an annexation of the Faban Corridor, theyll need to be careful. NATO could resist. There could be war. But Elena doesnt really care; she demands her team mobilize by next week and hires Herbert as the so-called Faban Freedom Captain.

Matthias Schoenaerts. Miya Mizuno/HBO

Later in the day, Elena announces this plan at a press conference. Reporters ask if Elena has really thought about the danger this could bring to the country. Elena pushes backdoes the United States ever worry about these things when they invade countries? This may be the hardest path to follow, but Elena knows they need to go down this route in the name of liberty. Herbert confronts Elena after this, worried about land reform. Elena now treats him the same way she treats Nicholas, as if he were a buzzing fly, irritating her while she swats him away. Land reform is not worthy of her time anymore.

Elena holds a party akin to the White House Correspondents Dinner, where a comedian hosts the evening and roasts everyone in the room. This comedian takes a particular liking to flaming Emil Bartos (Stanley Townsend), asking him why he brought his daughtera young woman who is actually his girlfriendto the event. After the comedian wraps up, a bunch of dancers take the stage for a lights show, which results in poor little Oskar (Louie Mynett) having an epilepsy seizure. Luckily, Agnes saves him before its too late.

Herbert confronts Elena after the event, angered by the lack of humor in the comedians jokes. If Elena wants to seem powerful to her people, she cant allow comedians to mock and tease her and those surrounding her. Elena fires back: Does Herbert realize hes doing a little sniffle all the time? It pisses her off. The two get into a lovers quarrel, each dragging the other for random things that have stacked on top of each other to create resentment. Herbert accuses Elena of stealing money from her people; Elena wants to know if Herbert dreams about fucking her. Theyre screaming at each otheruntil Herbert cuts to the chase and just starts physically attacking Elena.

Herbert punches the security guards who flank Elena. Everything goes downhill fast. Elena escapes, but Herbertwho likely has some sort of PTSD from the minescant stop punching and kicking palace officers. Before we see an end to that, though, we see Agnes begging Elena to restart Oskars epilepsy medication. Elena approves, on one condition: Oskar will now be supervised by her instead of his real mother, Agnes. Agnes obliges. Shell do whatever it takes, as long as hes taking the real medicine he was prescribed instead of the tea leaves Herbert attempted to use.

After Agnes takes back some control, Herbert loses all of his. Hes escorted out of the palace and onto the street. Gone are the days of Herbert. Elena is back, now the one and only chancellor, and The Regime now has an opportunity to go wild with her power.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Interim Kentucky Education Commissioner Robin Kinney will decide by April 5 whether to remove Nelson County Superintendent Wes Bradley from his position.

Jennifer Ginn, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Education, said on Monday the Nelson County school board sent its decision to remove Nelson Superintendent Wes Bradley on March 6.

Bradley and board chair Diane Berry did not immediately comment Monday to the Herald-Leader.

Bradley told TV station WDRB on March 4 that he didnt want the conflict to interrupt student learning.

Minutes of a March 4 school board meeting show the Nelson County Schools Board of Education voted to remove its superintendent because of neglect of duty and academic and educational neglect resulting in extremely low academic performance.

They cited failure of leadership, of conduct that had caused division in the district, and of conduct that caused the majority of the school board to lose trust in Bradley.

However, principals and parents have told WDRB they support Bradley.

Ginn said the interim commissioner will investigate the claims of the board and then either approve or decline the decision to remove Bradley.

Having the Kentucky Education Commissioner decide is a process normally followed in the firing of a superintendent, she said.

The law gives the commissioner 30 days to investigate once the paperwork has been received. Those 30 days will expire on April 5, Ginn said.

Nelson County Schools, located an hour away from Lexington, has been in a state of unrest for months. Teachers and students protested over the potential merger of the districts two high schools in October and the resulting staffing shortages closed schools for two days, the Herald-Leader previously reported.

Other issues include:

In an Oct. 17 resignation letter to Bradley that Bradley read at a school board meeting, school board member Damon Jackey said there was a lack of professional leadership among other board members. He said there were unethical and potentially illegal actions by certain members of this board.

The school boards former attorney Eric Farris said in a December resignation letter that a series of issues have brought me to the realization that continuing to represent the Board is not possible. Farris said in the letter, I will not elaborate here but we are unable to reconcile our duty to the Board and certain ethical concerns.

A group called Nelson County Forward has filed a lawsuit against the Nelson County Board of Education, citing, in part, irregularities by the board with regard to the superintendent.

Nelson County Forwards attorney Matthew Hite told the Herald-Leader Monday that the group opposes merging the two highs schools together.

Hite said he had requested texts and emails from the board members which may shed light on potential violations of the Open Meetings Act.

After several months of delay, Hite said, the texts and emails were produced under a protective order that prevents anyone other than the attorneys in the case from seeing them.

Five days after the protective order was entered, the school board recommended to the KDE commissioner that the superintendents contract with the school system be terminated.

That recommendation started a 30 day countdown during which the Commissioner of the Department of Education must uphold or deny the request for termination, he said.

An attorney for the school board did not immediately comment Monday.
On Monday, April 8, viewers in the continental United States will be witness to a rare, spectacular event: the total eclipse of the Sun by the Moon. And Texas will be able to enjoy most of the event in spectacular fashion. Across the entire state, at least 80% of the Sun will be obscured, allowing almost all of the Lone Star State to experience the event, with the area of the total eclipse moving across the heart of Texas.

The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, will first "enter" the United States over Texas, according to NASA. It will trace a path over Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine before it crosses over Canada. Parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also be in the eclipse' path, NASA said.

Already, preparations are being made across the state. Hotel rooms in the path of the totality, the area of total eclipse, have been sold out for months. State officials estimate that millions could be visiting the state that day.

Though the Moon orbits the Earth every 28 days, the alignment of the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun to produce an eclipse only happens rarely. Eclipses have been sighted for centuries. Among the earliest recorded eclipses occurred in ancient Mesopotamia in 1375 BC. Ancient Egyptians, who worshipped the Sun, were reportedly so disturbed by the bad omens associated with eclipses that they would never mention or write about them, fearing bad luck.

Historically, eclipses have been met with both fascination and dread. The Chinese believed that dragons were eating the Sun, causing an eclipse. Drums were beaten to drive them off, according to legend. Similarly, an old Choctaw legend held that a black squirrel caused solar eclipses when it tried to eat the Sun and that the people needed to make noises to scare it off. Cherokees believed that a giant frog jumped onto the sun to cause an eclipse and that the people must beat drums and make loud noises to scare it away. For generations, Navajos believed that they should not eat during an eclipse or they would experience digestive problems. Navajo traditions also warned against looking at the Sun during an eclipse, or they would go blind, a belief backed by modern science. The ancient Mayans, without benefit of calculators or computers, were able to carefully calculate when eclipses would occur.

Eclipses have also been an important tool for scientific discovery. Astronomers discovered a new comet during an eclipse in AD 418. The Suns corona was first noticed in an eclipse in 968. In the eighteenth century, solar prominences, eruptions on the Suns surface, were observed. These all helped give important information on how the Sun worked. The first eclipse photographed was in 1860. Eclipses in 1919 and 1929 helped confirm Albert Einsteins theory of relativity by confirming that the light of stars traveling near the Sun was bent by the Suns intense gravity.

The totality will take a path stretching from Del Rio, which will reach totality at 1:30 p.m. up to Texarkana, which will see the totality at 1:56 p.m. The path of the Moons shadow will roughly run parallel to Interstate 35 north of San Antonio to the Metroplex and include the almost the entire path of Interstate 30. San Antonio will be on the eastern edge of the totality, seeing the maximum eclipse by 1:34 p.m. Austin will see the total eclipse by 1:37 p.m., followed by Waco at 1:40 p.m. Almost the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area will be plunged into darkness as the Moons shadow passes, including all of Dallas, Tarrant, Rockwall, and Collin counties by 1:42 p.m., with Denton on the northern edge of the totality. Even the extreme western and northwestern edges of the area such as Mineral Wells and Gainesville will see 98% coverage. The totality will cover the entire area between Sherman and Texarkana starting at 1:43 p.m.

Even people outside the totality will see a great deal of the eclipse. Along the Gulf Coast, viewers will see up to 93% of the eclipse, with Beaumont expected to see 94% at 1:40 p.m. On the northern side of the path of the totality, viewers will still see at least 83% of the Sun eclipse in the northwest Panhandle. Across the state, El Paso viewers will see 85% totality by 12:25 p.m. local time, Amarillo to see 87% eclipse by 1:40 p.m. and Lubbock to see 89% totality by 1:38 p.m. The line between San Angelo, Abilene, and Archer City will see 95% coverage. Wichita Falls will see 93% of the Sun obscured by 1:42 p.m.

The total time from the beginning of the eclipse until the end will be roughly two and one-half hours. A Dallas-are viewer will see the beginning of the eclipse at 12:23 p.m. and the end by 3:02 p.m. For Austin, it will begin at 12:17 p.m. and end at 2:58 p.m., with the peak at 1:37 p.m. At the mid-point of the eclipse, the totality will last between two and four minutes. From Texas, the long shadow of the Moon will then travel across Arkansas and Missouri and then to Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and to Maine throughout the afternoon. Millions of Americans are expected to enjoy what is being called the Great American Eclipse.

Viewers should plan ahead to make sure the eclipse is viewed safely. Individuals need to remember that they should never look at the Sun directly. Even with most of the Sun obscured, the glare is too intense for the human eye to tolerate. Looking directly at the Sun is dangerous and could cause permanent eye damage and even blindness. Not even regular sunglasses or binoculars are safe. Darkened Welders glass is the only safe glass dark enough to view an eclipse through. Specially made eclipse glasses can allow for safe viewing, but NASA recommends that these eclipse glasses not be used if they are torn or scratched and that childrens viewing should be closely monitored. Even with eclipse glasses, people should not view the eclipse through telescopes, binoculars, or camera lenses. The classic pinhole projector will offer safe viewing: simply poke a small hole through one sheet of paper (poster board or cardboard can also work) and allow the fading sunlight to project onto another piece of paper.

With these precautions in place, the event promises to be a spectacular display of nature. As the Sun disappears behind the Moon, viewers will be able to see the features of the Moon. Lunar mountains and craters will allow only tiny pieces of the Sun to shine through, a phenomenon known as Baileys Beads. And the last piece of the Sun to disappear will shine brilliantly on the Moons edge, known as the Diamond Ring Effect.

NASA has unveiled a website for the eclipse, including tips on viewing the event safely at science.nasa.gov. Many communities are organizing eclipse viewing parties and events. The next major eclipse for Texas will be Aug. 12, 2045.

Ken Bridges

Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Ken Bridges: What you need to know about the solar eclipse in Texas
When members of the Kennedy clan gathered to celebrate St. Patricks Day, they did so with a very special guest of honor: the president of the United States.

That one of the best-known family dynasties in the country might choose to hang out with its most powerful man isnt necessarily surprising. But it did mark a sharp rebuke to the one relative noticeably absent from a warm family photo the group snapped together on Sunday: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is currently mounting his own quixotic independent campaign for the White House.

Its not enough to wish the world were better, you must make the world better, Kerry Kennedy, the younger sister of RFK Jr., wrote in a X post sharing the photo. @POTUS President Biden, you make the world better.

Small family gathering this afternoon! Joe Kennedy III, the political candidates nephew, added in a retweet.

The campaign for RFK Jr. did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday night.

Kennedys bid for the White House poses a credible threat to both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, both their parties presumptive nominees. (At least one poll from last year had him running with 22 percent support in a hypothetical three-way race, with Biden at 39 percent and Trump at 36 percent.) Many of his family members have jumped to publicly disavow his campaign, denouncing him and his airing of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories as dangerous.

Last July, both Kerry and Rory Kennedy condemned their brother after a report was published quoting him as saying COVID-19 had been targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people, and that Jewish and Chinese people were the most immune from the virus.

Three months later, when Kennedy announced he was ending his Democratic primary challenge to Biden in favor of going into the general election as an independent, four of his siblings signed a joint statement dragging him over the coals.

The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third-party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country, Kerry, Rory, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, and Joseph Kennedy II wrote.

Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment, they continued. Todays announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country.

Happy St. Patricks Day!  Im honored to have been invited to celebrate this vibrant day at the @WhiteHouse - thank you @POTUS!



Heres to a day of green and gratitude! Slainte to all!  pic.twitter.com/XJoMDnJsdA  Kerry Kennedy (@KerryKennedyRFK) March 18, 2024

A day later, Kennedy admitted in an appearance on Fox News that it was very painful and leaving the party of my family is very, very difficult.

He added, It was a choice that I didnt feel that I had a choice about.

An estimated $7 million ad for his candidacy that aired during the Super Bowl last month, repurposing the style and music of an ad from his uncles 1960 campaign, further fueled some of the familys ire. Bobby Shriver, John F. Kennedys nephew, tweeted, My cousins Super Bowl ad used our uncles facesand my Mothers. She would be appalled by his deadly health care views. Respect for science, vaccines, & health care equity were in her DNA.

Kennedy quickly distanced himself from the ad, saying it had been created and aired by a super PAC without his campaigns involvement or approval. Im so sorry if the Super Bowl advertisement caused anyone in my family pain, he said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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When the Kennedy family visited the White House this St. Patricks Day, one notable person was missing.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not join fellow members of the Irish American political dynasty for a photo op with President Joe Biden on Sunday.

Signaling the familys support for the Democratic incumbent, and not Kennedys independent campaign for president, his sister Kerry Kennedy posted a photo of the president and dozen of Kennedys to X and wrote, President Biden, you make the world better. Happy St. Patricks Day.

Biden responded, saying, From one proud Irish family to another  it was good to have you all back at the White House.

While Sundays meeting with Biden wasnt a direct condemnation of RFK, four of his siblings Kerry, Rory Kennedy, Joseph P. Kennedy II and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend publicly denounced his candidacy in a searing statement last fall.

The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country, it began.

Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment, the statement went on. Todays announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country.

The second-born son of late politician Robert F. Kennedy, RFK Jr. has tried to draw from his familys name and legacy to legitimize a campaign chock full of fringe views.

An ardent vaccine skeptic whose profile got a major boost during the coronavirus pandemic, Kennedy has also pushed conspiracies that the CIA assassinated his uncle President John F. Kennedy, has falsely linked antidepressants to school shootings and claimed, without evidence, there is a connection between gender dysphoria and chemical exposure.

Related...
WASHINGTON  To mark St. Patrick's Day, America's most famous Irishman  President Joe Biden  hosted the family of America's first Irish-Catholic president.

But there was one notable absence that could hardly be ignored.

A White House visit Sunday by dozens of family members of President John F. Kennedy did not include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running as an independent against Biden in the 2024 presidential election.

"From one big Irish-Catholic family to another, its great to have the Kennedys here," Biden said in remarks during the St. Patrick's Day celebration that also included Prime Minister Leo Varadkar of Ireland.

After the event, Kerry Kennedy, the younger sister of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., posted a photo of the Kennedy clan at the White House with Biden kneeling in front.

"President Biden, you make the world better," she wrote. "Happy St. Patricks Day."

More: Kennedy family repudiates Robert Kennedy Jr. after Super Bowl 2024 ad mirrors JFK campaign

The visual served as a reminder that while Robert F. Kennedy continues his long-shot bid for the presidency, much of his family is firmly opposed to his candidacy.

Kerry Kennedy and three other siblings  former Rep. Joseph Kennedy II, Rory Kennedy and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend  came out in immediate opposition to Kennedy's third-party bid after he announced his independent run in October.

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaigns in Grand Rapids, billboard launched by the Democratic National Committee highlights how Robert F. Kennedy's Super PAC is allegedly receiving millions from Donald Trump's largest donor, Timothy Mellon on February 9, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

"Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment, Robert F. Kennedy's siblings wrote. "Today's announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country."

Joe Kennedy, grandson of Robert F. Kennedy and among those at the White House Sunday, was tapped by Biden as United States special envoy for Northern Ireland in 2022. Maria Shriver, another member of the Kennedy family, spoke Monday at the White House before Biden signed an executive order aimed at accelerating the study of women's health.

More: Donald Trump's campaign says Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. won't be his running mate pick

Biden considers Robert F. Kennedy, brother of John F. Kennedy  a former attorney general and a U.S. senator from New York until his assassination in 1968  one of his political heroes. Biden even installed a bust of R.F.K. next to the fireplace in the Oval Office.

Although Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faces long odds in his presidential bid, the anti-vaccine activist is polling strongly enough to be a major spoiler in battleground states contested by Biden and Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump. A USA Today-Suffolk University poll found Kennedy polling at 9% among registered voters nationally. The poll had Trump leading Biden 40%-38%.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr. gets family snub as Kennedy clan visits Biden White House
Several members of the Kennedy family spent St. Patricks Day at the White House with President Joe Biden while Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continued his campaign to become the nations 47th commander-in-chief.

From one proud Irish family to another  it was good to have you all back at the White House, reads a photo caption posted to Bidens social media accounts.

That picture shows dozens of guests dressed mostly in green visiting 1600 Pennsylvania, where John F. Kennedy served as the countrys 35th president. More than 30 of the people photographed were Kennedys, according to the Hill.

Kerry Kennedy, whose brother is running against Biden in November, posted a note of support for the incumbent.

Its not enough to wish the world were better, you must make the world better, she wrote online. President Biden, you make the world better. Happy St. Patricks Day.

While the Kennedy family is synonymous with Democratic party politics, RFK Jr. is campaigning as an independent candidate. He complained Friday that the Democrats are trying to undermine him as a spoiler candidate who would help Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump split the Democratic vote. But many members of the RFK Jr.s own family have challenged the 70-year-old scions candidacy.

Ive listened to him, John F. Kennedys grandson Jack Schlossberg said in July. I know him. I have no idea why anyone thinks he should be president.

Schlossberg called RFK Jr.s candidacy an embarrassment.

The candidates siblings posted an open letter in October denouncing their brothers political ambitions.

The decision of our brother Bobby to run as a third party candidate against Joe Biden is dangerous to our country, Rory Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Joseph P. Kennedy II wrote on Twitter. Bobby might share the same name as our father, but he does not share the same values, vision or judgment. Todays announcement is deeply saddening for us. We denounce his candidacy and believe it to be perilous for our country.

When RFK Jr. announced his candidacy in April, he acknowledged that some members of his family werent in attendance and joked about familial disagreements.

I bear no ill will or any kind of disappointment to any of them, he said. They have different views of politics in this country.
(NewsNation)  A Kentucky boy has died after eating a bunch of strawberries that were purchased from a school fundraiser, according to police.

The Madisonville Police Department said they were contacted Friday around 6:30 a.m. about an 8-year-old boy who wasnt breathing and unresponsive in his home, NewsNation affiliate WEHT reported. Officers who responded to the home discovered the family had taken the boy to the emergency room the night before.

The boys family said the episode began Thursday night when he ate several strawberries bought from a school fundraiser, according to police. He showed signs of an allergic reaction, which primarily appeared as a rash. The family gave the boy Benadryl and soaked him in a bath.

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However, when the symptoms didnt stop, they took the boy to the emergency room at about 10:30 p.m. The family left the emergency room at 1:24 a.m. and returned home. The 8-year-old changed his clothes and went to bed.

The next morning, the family found the boy unresponsive, and he was taken to the medical examiners office to undergo an autopsy, police said. The final report and toxicology results are pending.

While detectives were investigating in the emergency room, several staff members mentioned others had come in for treatment after eating strawberries believed to be from the same fundraiser, police said.

Medical officials suspect this is an isolated incident.

It appears there was an isolated incident potentially linked to an allergy to strawberries in Hopkins County. We do not have anyone admitted to our service at this time we believe is linked to this situation. We do encourage everyone to follow the Hopkins County Health Department for additional information and direction as it becomes available, Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville Hospital said.

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However, ongoing tests are being conducted on the strawberries to confirm whether there were any other factors contributing to the boys death.

Everything right now points to an allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock, said Maj. Jason McKnight, of the Madisonville Police Department. But again, this is all preliminary. An autopsy was just performed today, and those final results wont be available for several weeks, if not months.

As a precaution, the Hopkins County Health Department and the Hopkins County Board of Education were notified of the situation, and a warning was issued until more details could be identified as possible causes.

According to the New York Allergy & Sinus Center, one study showed around 3% to 4% of children aged 2 and under were allergic to strawberries. The percentage dropped below 1% later in childhood and adulthood.

The Hopkins County Health Department warned the public not to eat strawberries purchased from the school fundraiser for Madisonville North Hopkins High School and Hopkins County Central High School.

NewsNation affiliate WEHT contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
A man police believed shot and killed a New Mexico State Police officer on a highway in Tucumcari was arrested Saturday and faced several charges in the shooting.

Jaremy Alexander Smith, 32, of Marion, South Carolina had an extensive criminal history in South Carolina and was arrested in Albuquerque to face the most recent charges including murder stemming from the incident.

The killing of 35-year-old State Police Officer Justin Hare drew responses from state leaders like Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Department of Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Jason Bowie, offering condolences and vowing to bring the shooter to justice.

More: UPDATE: New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare killed in Quay County

Heres what we know about the case after Smith was arrested.

Officer Hare shot while attempting to assist shooter

Hare was called to a location at about 5 a.m. March 15 on Interstate 40 in Tucumcari to help a driver of a white BMW who appeared to have a flat tire, according to a report from the New Mexico State Police.

The driver, believed to be Smith, was attempting to wave down other motorists, read the report, and approached Hares side window when he approached.

Smith and Hare had a short conversation about fixing the tire, police said, when Smith allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Hare. Police said the suspect then walked to the drivers side of the police car and shot Hare again before pushing him into the passengers seat and driving off in the patrol unit.

More: Wanted Carlsbad man arrested in Las Cruces after pointing a gun at LCPD officers

Hare found on frontage road, dies at hospital

During the incident, dispatch calls to Hare were not answered and State Police deployed another officer for assistance. While responding, that officer noticed alerts from Hares duress signal attached to the officers handheld radio.

Hares patrol car was seen driving west along a frontage road, police said at a high rate of speed near I-40. The assisting officer tried to catch up to Hares car and found it crashed on the frontage road with no one inside. Police said Smith appeared to have fled on foot.

Police found Hare further down the frontage road and he was sent to a nearby hospital via ambulance where he died at about 7:21 a.m.

More: GOP says Lujan Grisham wants 'everybody disarmed,' slams gun bills signed into law

A search for Smith was initiated and he was reported armed and dangerous.

A screenshot of New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler speaking at a press conference March 16, 2024 in Albuquerque. Weisler gave an update on the arrests of Jaremy Alexander Smith was suspected of shooting and killing a New Mexico State Police Officer.

Suspect in police officers murder found in Albuquerque

Smith was arrested Sunday in Albuquerque by the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office after a report from a clerk at Murphys Gas Station in the 2700 block of Sunshine West Plaza Drive. The clerk gave a description that matched Smith and officers located the suspect walking on Unser Boulevard.

Police established a perimeter around Smith and chased him on foot. Smith was shot in the pursuit and taken to a hospital for treatment.

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What is Smith charged with?

After Smith was identified as the suspect in Hares murder, an arrest warrant was issued 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.

What is Smiths criminal history?

Police said Smith was charged with several crimes and suspected of others in South Carolina.

He was a person of interest in the investigation of the murder of a South Carolina paramedic Phenesia Machado-Fore. Smith was also accused of taking hostages and rioting in jail, burglary, breaking and entering and armed robbery.

More: Carlsbad school ordered to 'shelter-in-place' as SWAT arrest suspects nearby

Police said Smith was also charged with shooting at or from a motor vehicle, auto theft and resisting arrest.

New Mexico leaders offer condolences for State Police Officer Justin Hare

Lujan Grisham issued a statement of condolence the day after Smith was arrested for Hares murder. She described the incident as cold blooded murder and said the arrest took a dangerous fugitive off New Mexico streets.

The governor also called for stronger firearm policies to prevent felons like Smith, she said, from being able to possess guns. This comment came as many expected Lujan Grisham to call for a special session of the Legislature in hopes of enacting tougher laws related to guns and public safety.

While it doesn't bring Officer Hare back, it allows all New Mexicans to breathe a sigh of relief that a dangerous fugitive is off our streets, Lujan Grisham said of the arrest. Violent gun crime is a scourge in New Mexico. We must take decisive action to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous, repeat felony offenders.

More: Convicted drug trafficker escapes from Las Cruces halfway house, arrested in Carlsbad

On the day of Hares murder Bowie voiced sorrow for Hares death and described the danger faced by law enforcement responding to calls.

We all owe a great debt to the men and women of law enforcement, who daily put their lives on the line to protect the lives, property and rights of New Mexicans, visitors and those passing through our great State, Bowie said in a statement.

Officer Hare will never be forgotten, and his sacrifice safeguarding our state is worthy of the highest honor.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: South Carolina man arrested in murder of NMSP Officer Justin Hare
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. Azerbaijan and China have discussed the interaction within COP29 to be held in Baku, Trend reports.

The discussions were held during the meeting of Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev with the Deputy Foreign Minister of China Sun Weidong.

With the Deputy Foreign Minister of China Sun Weidong we stressed our satisfaction on the status of our bilateral cooperation and expressed mutual will to elevate to qualitatively new level our traditionally friendly partnership. Views were exchanged on further operalization of Middile Corridor as part of BRI, interaction within COP29 as both countries represent Global South and mutual support at international organizations. China's support to Azerbaijan's green growth and digital transformation agenda is highly appreciated, Hajiyev wrote on X.

The decision to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan was officially announced in Dubai on December 11, 2023, enabling Azerbaijan to host the above event in November.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Omar Flores, co-chair of the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024, speaks to the Milwaukee Common Council's Public Works Committee on Monday about a proposed "extraordinary event" ordinance for this summer's Republican National Convention downtown.

The plan for how the public will be able to exercise their First Amendment rights within the "security footprint" of this summer's Republican National Convention received the backing of a Common Council committee Monday after changes were made in response to concerns raised by outside groups.

The vote during a special meeting of the council's Public Works Committee sends the proposed "extraordinary event ordinance" to the full council for a vote Tuesday. Ald. Jonathan Brostoff opposed the ordinance while other members of the committee  Alds. Robert Bauman, Russell Stamper II, JoCasta Zamarripa and Lamont Westmoreland  supported it.

Members of the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 in a press conference in the City Hall Rotunda said ahead of the meeting that the city was "practically begging for a lawsuit." One of the group's co-chairs also raised concerns directly to council members during the meeting, while the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin also expressed a need for changes.

Here's what to know about the proposed "extraordinary event ordinance":

What does the RNC 'extraordinary event ordinance' do?

The ordinance creates a permit process for using the official speaker's platform and parade route that will be available for speaking and marching within the "security footprint" when the RNC is held in Milwaukee July 15-18.

It suspends the normal process for events that otherwise require a special event permit and creates a new process applicable to the RNC in the preliminary security zone, said Bauman, the committee chairman.

"All other First Amendment rights that otherwise exist still exist under this ordinance," he said. "So, if someone wants to stand on a corner and talk to members of the public, if someone wants to do what they normally do around City Hall  stand outside, stand across the street and express their point of view  this ordinance does not preclude that in any way, shape or form, even inside the security zone."

Where is the 2024 Republican National Convention security footprint?

The preliminary security footprint extends from Cherry Street to the north to West Clybourn Street on the south and from North Water Street on the east to North 9th Street on the west  nearly identical to the security zone that had been expected for the 2020 Democratic National Convention that became largely virtual.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson holds a map showing the security zone that will be in place surrounding the convention site for the Republican National Convention on Wednesday at Milwaukee City Hall.

What spaces will the City of Milwaukee provide within the 2024 Republican National Convention security footprint?

The city will provide an official parade route and speaker's platform within the security footprint.

City officials have not yet specified where those will be located.

The city is working on an agreement to use a county park as the location for the speaker's platform, Mayor's Office Chief of Staff Nick DeSiato said.

The Milwaukee Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service are developing the parade route, he said. It is expected to be released in conjunction with the security zones between two and four weeks before the RNC, though details such as where it will start could be released earlier.

What time slots will permits be available for the parade route and speaker's platform during the 2024 Republican National Convention?

Time slots would be available from July 15 through July 18.

For the parade route, those time slots would generally be available from noon to 7 p.m.

"The appropriate city officials are authorized to not issue registrations during times of peak convention-related traffic in consultation with the Milwaukee Police Department, and to decrease or increase the number of available time slots and time range in response to registration demand," the ordinance states of the parade route.

For the speaker's platform, time slots would be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., though the range could be adjusted to accommodate higher demand.

Registrations would be made available on a first-come, first-served basis but the ordinance also states that "the appropriate city officials may award slots by lottery or in any non-discriminatory manner due to demand."

For what reasons could the city deny a permit for the parade route or the speaker's platform during the RNC?

The ordinance allows the city to deny or revoke any registration for two reasons:

Any false or incomplete statements on the application or violation of any part of the ordinance.

The Department of Public Works commissioner's determination that an applicant or people the applicant represents have "previously engaged in violent or destructive conduct in connection with a previous parade or other public assembly, in violation of any provisions of the Milwaukee Code of Ordinances or any state or federal laws."

The DPW commissioner was swapped in for the police chief in the second bullet point based on concerns raised by the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024. The group opposed putting police in charge of determining who is able to speak, a concern shared by the ACLU in written testimony provided to the Journal Sentinel.

The ordinance also provides an appeal process for permits that are denied or revoked.

What rules would be in place for use of the official parade route for the 2024 Republican National Convention?

Among the rules for use of the official parade route would be a requirement that those who registered show proof of registration and photo identification and that no motorized vehicles or bicycles be used.

What rules would be in place for the speaker's platform for the 2024 Republican National Convention?

Among the rules for use of the speaker's platform are that only city microphones and sound amplification equipment be used.

Where will sign up to use the parade route and speaker's platform during the RNC be located?

Registration to use the parade route and speaker's platform will be available at Milwaukee.gov/RNC.

The city would have 20 days after the ordinance goes into effect to post the speaker's platform and parade registration portal, application, deadlines and directions on its website.

Can I get a special event permit outside the security footprint for the RNC?

The Department of Public Works' special event permits webpage currently includes a notice that the department is not accepting RNC-related applications for special events within an area substantially larger than the RNC's preliminary security zone.

The area is bounded by 20th Street, Greenfield Avenue, North Avenue, and Lake Michigan.

"Instead, in order to provide a safe and orderly opportunity for speakers and protesters as close to the convention as possible, the city anticipates the imminent release of a parade permit and speakers platform registration within sight and sound of the convention," the website states.

What concerns did activists and the ACLU raise about the plan for speaking and marching during the 2024 RNC?

Members of the Coalition to March on the RNC 2024 raised a series of concerns and issued demands to the city.

Omar Flores, co-chair of the coalition, told council members the group wants to be within "sight and sound" of the main RNC venues that include The Fiserv Forum and the Baird Center.

The coalition wants to get a permit and follow city regulations but wants to be close to the event, he said.

He also said the "extra hurdles" to receiving a permit were unnecessary and argued that it would set a dangerous precedent to let police decide who gets to speak and where the parade route would be located.

"Honestly, I trust community members more to decide who is considered to be a hateful speaker who would be credible to incite violence," Flores said.

The group has signed a retainer with the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin for legal representation.

The ACLU in written testimony provided to the Journal Sentinel raised a series of concerns, including about restrictions within the preliminary security footprint, "numerous" aspects left to be decided later and the ability to make last-minute changes.

The group also raised concerns about the original language that had allowed the police chief to revoke permits, saying it violated the First Amendment.

"Since parade and protest organizers cannot always control all people who attend or join their protests, this criterion could result in peaceful organizers who take reasonable measures to ensure that their participants abide by the law (being) rejected for a parade or speakers platform permit at the RNC simply because someone was arrested at a prior demonstration," the document states.

Where can I read the full proposed "extraordinary event ordinance" for the 2024 Republican National Convention?

The ordinance can be found on the city's Legistar website.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee moves forward rules for speaking, marching outside RNC
Children rush to look for Easter eggs during the McCallsburg Lions' annual Easter egg hunt at the city park Saturday, March 27, 2021, in MaCallsburg, Iowa.

If you thought all Easter egg hunts were for kids, think again.

This year, Prairie Moon Winery and Vineyards is hosting a free event featuring two separate hunts  one for kids and one for adults.

The all-ages Easter Egg Hunt will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, March 24 at Prairie Moon, 3801 W. 190th St.

With staggered start times, kids age 12 and under will hunt from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Adults and kids age 13 and up will hunt from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m.

Dont forget to bring your basket to store all the egg-citing prizes, including candy, wine, and more, Prairie Moon posted in its Facebook event.

Admission and participation in the hunts is free of charge. Snacks, charcuterie, wine, beer and soft drinks will be available for purchase.

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St. Andrews Church is hosting its annual community egg hunt

St. Andrews Lutheran Church will host an afternoon of free fun for families, including an Easter egg hunt from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, March 23.

Raising Readers in Story County will hand out books to children. Joyful Colorz will offer free face painting. There will also be crafts, cookie decorating, a photo booth, a cake walk and snacks.

Easter worship will be held at 10:30 a.m. The church is located at 209 Colorado Ave.

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Cultivating Hope offers a calmer egg hunt

Because traditional Easter egg hunts can be overstimulating for many children, Cultivating Hope Farms is teaming up with the Autism Society of Iowa for a drive-thru egg hunt.

From 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., March 31, families can enjoy surprises from the comfort of their cars as they drive down the long driveway at Raspberry Hill, 5500 240th St.

Sign up in advance at Eventbrite.com.

More: Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames receives nursings highest honor for second time

Heres a list of other Easter egg hunts in Ames

Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1517 Northwestern Ave.  10-11:30 a.m., March 23. Community Easter egg hunt, crafts, spring games.

North Grand Christian Church, 919 30th St.  Noon, March 31

Easter egg hunts in Story and Boone Counties

Boone  1 p.m., Saturday, March 30, 1224 Hancock Drive

Cambridge  10-10:45 a.m., Saturday, March 30, Ballard East Elementary. Ages 0-12.

Maxwell  9:30-10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 30, Maxwell City Park

Nevada  1 p.m., Saturday, March 30, Rolling Green Village. Nevada Jaycees will hold their annual Easter Egg hunt. Children under 2 will start inside at 1. Children 3 and older, hunt outside at 1:15 p.m.

Slater  10 a.m., Saturday, March 23 at Nelson Park, egg hunt for toddlers through third grade.

Story City  10 a.m., Saturday, March 30, Easter Bunny Trail at North Park

To add your organization's Easter egg hunt to this list, please send details to Tribune reporter Ronna Faaborg at rlawless@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Find out where you can hunt for Easter eggs in Boone and Story Counties
[Source]

A South Korean man has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for shooting a stray dog with an arrow he purchased online, citing that he did so to avenge his chickens.

Key points:

The Jeju District Court sentenced the man, whose name was not revealed, on Thursday for violating South Koreas Animal Protection Act.

At the trial, the court noted that the defendant, who is in his 40s, was found guilty "considering the testimonies from the witnesses, photos taken during the surgery (of the dog) and evidence of the crime including the arrow.

The incident occurred in Seogwipo, a city in Jeju Island, on Aug. 25, 2022.

The details:

The defendant was accused of shooting the stray dog, a malamute mixed breed, with a bow he made from wood and fishing wire. During their investigation, authorities discovered that the man bought 20 arrows online in August 2021.

In his statement to investigators, the man claimed that the dog had allegedly killed his chickens in the past, adding that he never realized that his arrow would hit the canine.

The dog was found the following day wandering in an area about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) away from where it was shot, with the 70-centimeter-long (27.5-inch-long) arrow still lodged in its body. Staff from Hondidorang, an animal rescue shelter in South Korea, saved the dog and later named him Cheonji.

The man was eventually arrested after a month-long manhunt in March 2023 and was indicted with no detention for animal cruelty in July. Hondidorang celebrated the news of the mans arrest in an Instagram post afterward.

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Cheonji's current whereabouts:

An American woman in her 30s adopted Cheonji and left for New York on November 29, 2023. South Korean news outlets reported that the woman had taken in another stray dog in the past.

Videos uploaded by Hondidorang to its Instagram on Thursday show Cheonji happily spending his time with his new family. Additionally, the animal rescue center mentioned the dog recently attended a friends birthday.

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Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
When Texas filed a last-ditch lawsuit in December 2020 asking the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate President Joe Bidens victory over then-President Donald Trump in key battleground states, Kris Kobach helped develop the complaint that would have overturned the election if it had succeeded.

That lawsuit was drafted by a group of five attorneys who assisted the state of Texas, Kobach told a right-wing podcast in December. I was one of those five attorneys, behind the scenes, drafting that lawsuit.

Trump and Biden effectively secured their respective party nominations in last weeks primary elections. The rematch raises the prospect that Trump, who continues to falsely paint the 2020 election as stolen, will again, with his allies, advance baseless allegations of fraud if he loses in November.

Kobach was a private citizen in 2020. But four years later, the Republican is the Kansas attorney general, with the power to file lawsuits on behalf of the state, a more prominent public platform afforded by his office and the authority to prosecute election crimes.

What will Kobach do this time?

Interviews with longtime Kobach observers, election experts, lawmakers and others suggest widespread concern that Kobach and other state attorneys general would again aid legal challenges to the presidential election. Kobachs critics also fear how he will use his prosecutorial authority to pursue election fraud cases at a moment when unfounded local election conspiracies have taken root in Johnson County, the states most populous county.

A review of Kobachs public comments provides a portrait of an official who views the Texas lawsuit as an important part of his voter integrity legacy and who continues to believe the U.S. Supreme Court erred when it declined to take the case. Kobach, who served on Trumps voting integrity commission, has said he believes fraud occurred in 2020 battleground states, even as he has also said Americans will never know how many fraudulent ballots were cast.

Kobach has also been vehement in saying that he will prosecute election crimes. Last month he announced a case against a Florida man over allegations that he forged signatures in No Labels bid for recognition as a political party in Kansas. At the same time, Kobach has distanced himself from some of the demands of election deniers.

Even before Trump launched his first campaign for president in 2015, Kobach had earned a reputation for promoting restrictive rules on voter registration to limit fraud. He successfully convinced the Legislature to approve a requirement that voter registration applicants prove their citizenship  a rule later struck down in federal court.

Former President Trump uses this as a fallback so that in the event the voters turn him out again he can again attempt to challenge the legitimacy of the election, Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat long critical of Kobach, said of claims of election fraud.

There is absolutely no doubt that Kris Kobach will be his comrade in arms in such an attempt.

Kobachs office didnt respond to questions for this story.

In December 2020, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit that recycled baseless claims of illegal voting in four swing states won by Biden  Georgia, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. The state attorneys general in Kansas and Missouri at the time, Republicans Derek Schmidt and Eric Schmitt, signed on to amicus briefs in support of the effort.

The lawsuit itself alleged the swing states violated the U.S. Constitution in how they modified their election procedures because of the pandemic. In an unsigned ruling, the Supreme Court said Texas lacked standing to bring the challenge. The decision marked the end of Trumps court-based effort to hold on to power.

The Texas lawsuit represents a real black mark on the records of some state attorneys general, said David Becker, the executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, which seeks to build trust in elections. The lawsuit would have sought to disenfranchise all of the voters in states that none of these AGs represented.

I mean, think about how radical that is. Think about how offended those voters should be, Becker said.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach.

Kobachs exact contributions to the Texas lawsuit remain unclear. Emails previously obtained by American Oversight show Kobach in late November 2020 attempting to connect with Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who later supported the Texas effort.

Kobach was also among a group of eight attorneys in December 2020 who received an email from pro-Trump lawyer John Eastman that discussed potential intervention by Vice President Mike Pence during the electoral college certification, according to the U.S. Houses report on the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Kobach responded that the phrasing of the U.S. Constitution didnt give Pence latitude to determine which electoral votes to count.

In December 2023, Kobach appeared on the podcast of Doug Billings, a right-wing media personality, where he said he was one of five attorneys involved in drafting the Texas lawsuit. He called the Supreme Courts decision not to take the case erroneous but water under the bridge now. That follows a 2022 interview with The Associated Press where Kobach said theres no question fraud occurred in 2020 in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Kobach wasnt asked on the Billings podcast whether he would be willing to participate in similar litigation in the 2024 election. But Trump, who Kobach has informally advised in the past, has been laying the groundwork for significant legal efforts.

After Trumps campaign effectively took over the Republican National Committee earlier this month, the party is bringing on Christina Bobb, a lawyer and former One America News correspondent who has promoted Trumps stolen election claims.

Mark Johnson, a Kansas City-based attorney who has long worked on election-related issues, said the big problem faced by states that filed lawsuits over the 2020 election was a lack of standing to bring their suits.

I think theyre going to be smarter about it and theyll find plaintiffs that have standing, Johnson said.

Prosecuting election crimes

Whether Kobach gets involved in the presidential race, he enjoys prosecutorial authority over election crimes in Kansas  thanks to a 2015 state law he championed that gave both the state secretary of state and state attorney general the power to prosecute.

Some hard-right conservatives and election conspiracy theorists have pushed Kobach to bring cases in Johnson County, where Republican Sheriff Calvin Hayden has long been leading an elections investigation.

Hayden has been probing the countys past use of Konnech, which produces software the county had used to manage election workers. Konnechs CEO was arrested in Los Angeles County in 2022 on accusations that he illegally stored poll worker data in China. The case was dropped a few weeks later, with the district attorney citing potential bias in the investigation.

Earlier this year, Los Angeles County agreed to pay $5 million to the CEO, who sued over civil rights violations.

Kobach in a December letter asked Johnson County Election Commissioner Fred Sherman to preserve old ballots because of the investigation, despite a state law mandating their destruction. Johnson County had held off on the state-mandated destruction of ballots since 2019 at the request of Hayden, but resumed its normal practice and destroyed the ballots in February.

Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden.

After a year in office, Kobach has brought one known election case, against George Andrews of Dade City, Florida. He also brought a handful of cases involving double voting as Kansas secretary of state.

Andrews is charged with two counts of election perjury and 28 counts of election forgery for allegedly forging signatures on petitions to make No Labels an officially recognized political party in Kansas. He also faces allegations of submitting invalid petitions in Florida. Andrews is currently in jail in Florida.

If there is an election crime, your viewers can rest assured, we will go after it, Kobach said on the Billings podcast.

Speaking to The Star earlier this month, Kobach said his office expected that there were additional instances of fraudulent signature gathering and that his office hoped to make more information public soon.

Kobach, who appeared on the Billings show after a previous guest criticized him for inaction related to Konnech, said it was important to distinguish between bad election management and committing an election crime.

Bad policy is not a crime unless it is specifically defined in Kansas law as one of the election crimes, Kobach said.

Kobach may soon wade back into Johnson Countys decision to go ahead with the ballot destruction. In January, Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, requested an attorney generals opinion on the authority of election officials to destroy ballots when they are subject to a criminal investigation.

On March 6, Kansas Solicitor General Anthony Powell, who reports to Kobach, asked the office of Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab for any input it wanted to provide related to Thompsons question, according to documents obtained by The Star.

Several individuals familiar with Kobach, when asked whether they had concerns about how he would handle the 2024 election, responded that they trusted Schwab. In office since 2019, the Republican has developed a reputation for efficiently overseeing elections and aggressively knocking down conspiracies and unfounded fears related to Kansas election security.

I think the issue is really more what our secretary of state will do. You know hes the one in charge of our elections and I have been impressed with Secretary Schwab since day one, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly told reporters on Wednesday.

Election law challenges

Both Schwab and Kobach are trying to uphold Kansas laws opposed by Democrats and civic groups. Those measures include making it a crime to impersonate an elections official, which critics say is too broad, and limits on how many ballots a single person can return on behalf of others.

Legal challenges to those laws are before the Kansas Supreme Court, which could rule at any time. The Kansas Court of Appeals previously found that voting is a fundamental right, a decision that could upend election law in the state if affirmed by the Supreme Court.

But Schwab and Kobach are split on ballot drop boxes, with Kobach opposing them. In the Kansas House, Republicans want to give Schwab the power to regulate the drop boxes, but some Republicans want to ban them outright. While Democrats largely support drop boxes, their use divides Republicans, with some advancing unsubstantiated concerns about their security.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and Secretary of State Scott Schwab.

Earlier this month, Senate Republicans attempted to pass a bill that would have banned all drop boxes not monitored within an election office. The bill failed after Sen. Mark Steffen, a Hutchinson Republican, successfully amended it to also ban electronic voting machines and require hand counting of ballots.

Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican who chairs the House Elections Committee, said giving Schwab the authority to regulate drop boxes would have been a common sense measure to help restore voter confidence, which he called his top concern.

Its gonna get a bruising here during the election, Proctor said.

As for Kobach?

The people of Kansas trusted his conduct enough to elect him the attorney general of Kansas, Proctor said. I have supreme confidence in the wisdom of Kansas voters.
WASHINGTON  The plan by Jared Kushner and his business partners to redevelop a prized location in Serbias capital, Belgrade, echoes interest from Donald Trump a decade ago in pursuing a deal for the site and a similar proposal pushed during his White House term by a top aide now working with Kushner, a review of the project shows.

The tentative agreement between the Kushner team and the Serbian government would grant Kushners investment firm a 99-year lease, at no charge, and the right to build a luxury hotel and apartment complex and a museum on the site of the former headquarters of the Yugoslav Ministry of Defense in Belgrade, which was bombed by NATO in 1999. A draft outline of the agreement was provided to The New York Times by a Serbian official.

In 2013, two years before he began running for president, Trump  Kushners father-in-law  told a top Serbian government official that he wanted to build a luxury hotel on the site. Associates of the Trump Organization traveled to Belgrade to inspect the location. The project did not come together before Trumps election in 2016, and after being sworn in he vowed to not do any new foreign deals.

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But developing the site would again draw interest from Trumps circle.

Richard Grenell, whom Trump had appointed as a special envoy in the Balkans, pushed a related plan during the Trump administration that Serbia and the United States jointly work to rebuild the Defense Ministry site. He argued in favor of using American investments to transform the Belgrade site while he was still serving in his official capacity as a U.S. diplomat in 2020, according to transcripts and a recording of remarks made during several government news conferences.

Kushner said in an interview Sunday that he had never discussed the Belgrade project with Trump and was not aware of his father-in-laws prior interest in redeveloping the site.

I had no idea my father-in-law had been interested in that region, and I doubt he has any awareness of this deal we are working on, Kushner said.

Representatives of Trump did not respond to multiple requests for comment about either Kushners current effort or Trumps prior interest in the Belgrade development.

Grenell said he, too, had no knowledge of Trumps interest in the site before his presidency. But he is now working with Kushner on the new development deal and, according to Kushner, was the main force in driving him to consider the Belgrade investment.

In his role as special envoy during the last two years of the Trump administration, Grenell helped foster economic reconciliation talks between Serbia and Kosovo, two neighboring nations that have had tense relations since the end of the Bosnian war in 1995.

The link between Grenells role in pushing for redevelopment of the Belgrade site while both in and out of government and Kushners tentative agreement now to carry out the proposal for personal profit raises fresh questions about conflicts of interest between their public roles and private wealth as Trump again seeks the presidency, with foreign governments watching closely.

Kushner confirmed Friday that his investment firm was pursuing the deal in Serbia, as well as luxury real estate projects in Albania, and that he expected to finalize agreements soon.

The overlap between the official actions that Kushner and Grenell took while serving in government and the business deals they are pursuing in regions where they served carries echoes of deals struck by former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Kushner in the Middle East after leaving office.

Mnuchin and Kushner, who both were active in Middle East diplomacy, each set up investment firms after leaving the Trump administration that then secured billions of dollars from the Saudi government and hundreds of millions of dollars from other Middle Eastern nations.

Kathleen Clark, a law professor at Washington University in St. Louis who specializes in government ethics, said the Kushner project in Serbia would create a conflict of interest if Trump were reelected, even if it was not some long-running effort by the family to get access to the site.

The concern is the Serbia government may attempt to influence a future President Trump by enriching the presidents family, she said. Foreign policy toward Serbia should be influenced by what is in the United States interests, not any financial favors coming from the Serbian government.

The 2020 pitch by Grenell to reconsider rebuilding at the site of the bombed-out former military headquarters came, according to Serbia government officials, right after Trump had hosted Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, at the White House. During that visit, Vucic praised the progress Grenell had made in normalizing economic relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

Trump also praised Grenell at the ceremony, where Grenell described the progress between the two sides as a clear result of the Trump presidency and one that could lead to a political breakthrough. Kushner was serving as a senior White House adviser to Trump at the time.

From the very beginning, what President Trump said is: Lets give them a little taste of the Trump economy, Grenell said, according to a transcript of the event. Lets show them how to develop economics, how to take industries and grow them.

In 2018 and 2019, while serving as ambassador to Germany in the Trump administration, Grenell, who has told confidants that he aspires to be secretary of state in a second Trump term, sought to expand his portfolio and deliver high-profile wins for his boss. He had alienated top officials in the German government through his caustic style of diplomacy but had begun to cultivate other relationships across Europe, including with Vucic.

While still ambassador to Germany, Grenell pitched Trump on the idea of appointing him to mediate the long-standing conflict between Serbia and Kosovo, two former Trump administration officials said.

Twenty-five years ago, the U.S.-led NATO forces intervened militarily to protect Muslims in Kosovo from ethnic cleansing by the Serbian government. The former Yugoslav army headquarters in the center of Belgrade, while largely unused at the time, were one target. The site has stood in its damaged state since then and is seen by Serbs as a symbol of their suffering during the NATO attacks.

In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia, which does not officially recognize Kosovo as a sovereign country.

In October 2019, Trump appointed Grenell as his special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations.

The State Department already had a team working on these issues, and Grenell had relatively little experience in the Balkans.

Grenell was widely seen among European diplomats as favoring the Serbian side in the negotiations, and he was warmly received in Belgrade. He applied immense pressure on Prime Minister Albin Kurti of Kosovo to drop tariffs on Serbian products, and prominent Trump allies began publicly calling for the withdrawal of U.S. peacekeepers from Kosovo. Grenell did have one important ally in Kosovo: the president at the time, Hashim Thaci, who was later charged with war crimes.

Grenell rejected any suggestion that he played favorites. He said he was ultimately honored by leaders from both nations  Vucic in Serbia and Thaci in Kosovo  for his role in helping broker an economic normalization agreement.

But he acknowledged that he had in particular made progress under Trump in tightening economic ties between the United States and Serbia.

I had built up a lot of love for bringing the Serbian-American relations forward, Grenell said in an interview with the Times on Sunday.

During his time as envoy in the Balkans, Grenell developed friendships with top Serbian officials, including Vucic and Sinisa Mali, the Serbian finance minister, who officials in Belgrade said played a role in tentatively approving the Kushner hotel deal. Mali did not respond to requests for comment.

Grenell posted on his Instagram page a video of him and Mali singing in 2021 inside a packed Belgrade club surrounded by others dancing to pulsating music, while waving Serbian flags and holding up sparklers and torches.

Grenell returned to Serbia and neighboring Albania shortly after Trump left the White House to begin pushing development projects that have since been adopted by Kushners company, including the Belgrade deal.

The draft outline of the agreement provided to the Times by a Serbian government official also specifies the option of formally transferring ownership of the property to Kushners partnership free of charge, after the hotel complex and luxury residential units are built.

Kushner, in an interview, did not dispute the veracity of the document obtained by the Times. He said the parties had tentatively agreed to give the Serbian government 22% of the profits generated by the approximately $500 million project.

Kushners company, Affinity Partners, said in a statement that the Belgrade site would be transformed into a world-class luxury hotel but that it would also include a museum and memorial designed by Serbian architects, to pay tribute to the locations importance in recent Serbian history.

Kushner said Grenell had encouraged him to pursue the project.

Ric is a big advocate for investing in the Balkans and has been trying to get me to invest in this project since I launched my fund, Kushner said, noting that an American company would be rebuilding a site that NATO had bombed.

Representatives of the Serbian government did not immediately respond to questions and multiple requests for comment.

Danijela Nestorovic, an opposition party member of Serbias parliament, and other members of her party condemned the proposed Kushner deal in a statement to the Times, noting that several people were killed and 40 wounded during the period of the NATO attack when the building was struck.

The General Staff HQ building is a memorial for us, she said in the statement, referring to the bombed-out military headquarters. It initiates deep, hidden emotions to the victims of the NATO bombing. To build a hotel there  it would be a mockery to the citizens of Serbia.

Grenell, in an interview with the Times on Sunday, said that the Kushner deal represented an opportunity to turn a symbol of previous conflict into a bridge of friendship and renewal, and that it symbolizes the tremendous progress that has been made to heal the wounds from the past.

In 2020, when Grenell had pushed Serbian officials to consider working with American investors to redevelop the Belgrade site, Ivica Dacic, who by then was serving as foreign minister in the Serbian government, recalled a visit he had made to Trump Tower in New York in 2013. It was then that Trump had first discussed the hotel project at the former defense headquarters site.

I dont think he has forgotten that desire, Dacic said at a news conference in 2020, referring to Trump.

The proposed project in Serbia is only one of three deals that Kushner and Grenell are trying to develop in the Balkans.

Kushner said Friday that final contracts had not been signed, but that negotiations were far along and that he was hopeful they would be finalized. He disputed any suggestion that his company was getting special treatment.

He also said that he knew how high-profile his position is  he is married to Trumps elder daughter, Ivanka, and played a prominent role in the Trump White House  so he had no choice but to be careful to act within legal and ethical boundaries.

Everything has to be completely aboveboard, he said.

c.2024 The New York Times Company
Ukraine has adopted a plan for a series of reforms that will allow the EU to provide up to 50 billion over the next four years, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on March 18.

In a post on Telegram, Shmyhal said the reforms  part of the Ukraine Facility initiative  would be wide-ranging, covering public administration, fight against corruption, economic and sectoral reforms in various spheres: from the energy to the agricultural sector.

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In addition, the document prescribes cross-cutting directions such as "green" transition, digitalization, European integration, he added.

The implementation of the reforms will be monitored using more than 100 quarterly indicators.

The EU approved the four-year Ukraine Facility in February, allocating 33 billion euros ($36 billion) in loans and 17 billion euros ($18.6 billion) in grants.

From the overall sum, 2 billion euros ($2.17 billion) are allocated to migration and border management, 7.6 billion euros ($8.2 billion) to 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 ($1.63 billion) for Solidarity and Emergency Aid Reserve.

Read also: EU Council gives final approval to 50 billion euros in financing for Ukraine

Shmyhal thanked the EU for its help and solidarity.

Thanks to the implementation of the reforms of the Plan for the Ukraine Facility, Ukraine will be able to receive about 16 billion euros this year, Shmyhal said.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Gillian Keegan accused Labour of an 'ill-thought through' approach towards the independent sector - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu/Getty Images

Labour dont really understand private schools, Gillian Keegan has said as she warned that Sir Keir Starmers VAT raid was likely to cost taxpayers money.

Ms Keegan, the Education Secretary, accused Labour of an ill-thought through approach towards the independent sector and suggested it was unlikely to work in practice.

Labour has claimed its flagship policy of introducing VAT on private school fees would generate 1.7 billion a year to spend on state education.

But an analysis published on Sunday by the Adam Smith Institute (ASI) found it could cost taxpayers up to 1.6 billion and force one in four pupils into state schools.

Asked about the report, Ms Keegan told LBC Radio: Its a really ill-thought through policy. They dont really understand  they think of larger [schools], Eton and places like that.

There are 2,408 independent schools across the country  a lot of those are small schools, a lot of those are supporting kids with fairly specialist support as well.

You only need a small number of children to move from the private sector to the state sector and it has cost everybody money. They seem to see this as some kind of giveaway to parents, but parents are paying tax for the state system and also for their own investment in school fees as well.

They are saving the state system from investment. If they get it wrong, and they normally do get [it] wrong, it only takes a small number of people to go into the state sector then the whole thing costs money.

Noting that Sir Keir had unveiled seven policies that would be funded by VAT on independent school fees, Ms Keegan added: Id be very, very surprised if they actually got this thing to work.

Modelling by the ASI showed that an exodus of five per cent of private school pupils could lead to 5,150 teachers and teaching assistants being made redundant. It also found Labours policy was likely to raise no money at all if between 10 and 15 per cent of pupils migrated to the state sector.

In February, the Independent Schools Council (ISC) warned that more than 95,000 children with special educational needs were at risk if Labour imposed its threatened tax penalty.

The ISC, which represents more than 1,400 institutions in the UK, has lobbied Labour to reconsider its policy and make more children with special educational needs exempt from the tax levy to protect their education.

More Tory MPs spoke out against the Labour plans on Monday. Brendan Clarke-Smith, a former deputy chairman of the party, said: Labours spiteful and ideologically driven plans will be a disaster for the whole education system and not just independent schools.

Sara Britcliffe, the MP for Hyndburn, claimed the policy would overwhelm state schools, while Mark Jenkinson, who represents Workington, added: What they perceive to be class warfare, and its really just an attack on aspiration, will cost taxpayers.

A Labour spokesman said: Labour will invest in delivering a brilliant state education for all our children, funded by ending tax breaks for private schools. Independent schools do not have to pass this change on to parents, and a high-profile independent school has already said they will not be doing so.

Labour sources also questioned the worst case scenarios included in the ASI report and insisted that one in four private school pupils leaving the sector was not considered a likely scenario.

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Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves' work to get businesses on-side has so far been successful - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves must have known Labours stature had improved substantially when she finally made it to the top table at a dinner for world leaders in Davos earlier this year.

Tucking into a Swiss Gotthard pike perch and marinated frisee salad while sat in between Canadas finance minister and Belgiums prime minister, the wannabe chancellor found herself in such demand that by the time dessert arrived she had to abandon half her chocolate pumpkin cake to press the flesh elsewhere.

Theres no denying that Labours so-called smoked salmon and scrambled eggs charm offensive with the worlds rich and powerful has been a roaring success.

Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney and Barclays chief C S Venkatakrishnan are among the influential leaders now working with the party to unlock billions of pounds in investment.

Days after Jeremy Hunts Budget, polls gave Sir Keir Starmers party a commanding lead of 18 points. Reeves seat at the VIP table is looking secure at the next Davos gathering.

But Labour shouldnt get too comfortable. There are concerns within the party that businesses are confused by some of the partys flagship workers rights policies.

Sir Keir has vowed an overhaul of workers rights on a scale thats not been attempted for decades. But just what will the new system look like exactly?

For months officials have been told behind closed doors that a lack of clarity is the biggest impediment to businesses supporting Labour.

Fed up with the unceasing political drama endured during 14 years of Conservative rule, senior executives have told Labour that there must be no more chopping, changing and uncertainty. They need to know the plan now.

One of the biggest areas of confusion is around probation periods, which lobbyists and business leaders fear will be ditched.

Labour has vowed to give new hires full employment rights from day one of their employment. That sounds suspiciously like the abolition of trial periods to many. However, Labour insists that isnt the case  officials say employers would still be able to fairly dismiss people.

Were clearing up the confusion, an insider says. Businesses want a bit more certainty.

However, at a Westminster press lunch with deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner last week, one of her colleagues confessed to the Financial Times: We havent done a very good job communicating what we want to do. There is a bit of a reassurance job going on.

The confusion seems odd given the sheer number of meetings with business leaders over the last year. A failure to communicate clearly will be a significant issue if it proves not to be an isolated incident.

The unease at workers rights reforms are unlikely to sway the election or ultimately turn businesses off Labour. Concerns are small fry in comparison to the seemingly never ending crisis engulfing the Tory Party. Business folk can see which way the wind is blowing.

One City banker referred to the Tory Winter Ball held at Whitehalls former War Office earlier this year as the last party on the Titanic.

Even so, Labour officials need to take their own battles seriously. It is crucial that relations with UK plc do not start to turn sour given how vulnerable Labour is to attacks from the Right claiming the party is anti-business and cannot be trusted to run the economy.

Labour wants to be seen as the saviour of both the economy and the City. However, it is hamstrung by the fact there is very little spare cash.

It is therefore reliant on the private sector to help fund investment. Labour has appointed some of Britains top business leaders to advise on raising private cash through its proposed National Wealth Fund.

As Reeves herself wrote in these pages earlier this year, the lifeblood of a growing economy can only come from bringing business investment back to Britains shores. The party has pledged to hold an investment summit every year if elected, aware that those chasing deals have grown tired of being passed from department to department under the current government.

A damning 124-page report into UK foreign direct investment published earlier this year showed executives were fed up with the UKs revolving door of ministers and found it easier to do business in France because President Emmanuel Macron picks up the phone, texts directly and rolls out the red carpet for them.

The number of foreign direct investment projects in Britain has fallen sharply over the past few years. Around 1.9 trillion has also been pulled from the UK stock market in the last two decades.

Labour hopes to correct these ills by bringing some stability back to Westminster. However, shadow ministers have already been attacked for about-turns following the partys decision to scrap its 28bn green investment plan last month.

Insiders insist there will be no flip-flopping on employment rights, but can that promise be trusted? If Labour allows confusion about its workers rights overhaul to snowball, then the party risks undoing all the good work it has done by building bridges with business.

Its the uncertainty that would have an impact, says one senior businessman. If messaging isnt crystal clear, then people might want to wait and see and postpone investment.

Confusion over certain policies might not be a critical issue for now, but if the miscommunication is not cleared up soon, Labours grand economic plans may start to unravel.

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The Lacey Police Department is on the lookout for a person who broke into South Sound Behavioral Hospital with a sledgehammer early Monday morning.

Lacey Police Sgt. Jeremy Knight said officers were dispatched at 2:13 a.m. Monday, March 18, to the hospital on Woodland Square Loop Southeast to reports of a burglary in progress. He said the dispatch center advised someone with a sledgehammer had broken the front windows of the building to gain access to the lobby.

Once inside, the suspect broke several other windows and looked through different rooms in the building.

Knight said the suspect took off on foot toward Fred Meyer. A K-9 unit was called to the scene to track the suspect, but the person hasnt been located.

Knight said the department was made aware of another recent burglary at a hospital in Marysville that had similar details.

A few hours later at 5:44 a.m. Monday, Knight said police officers were dispatched to a Providence clinic in Lacey for another burglary. He said nobody was there when police arrived, but the damage was consistent with the other two burglaries.

Knight described the suspect as being in their 30s and standing at 5-foot-9, with a slender build and sandy blonde hair. They were wearing glasses and a light blue hoodie with Amazon printed across the front. They were also wearing black and white Adidas-style track pants and black and white sneakers. They may be armed with a sledgehammer.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call the department at 360-459-4333.
The state has issued a toxic blue-green algae alert for Lake Okeechobee Park, but the Army Corps of Engineers on Monday said it will continue discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.

The bloom observed on the north side of the lake March 12 tested positive for the microcystin toxin, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Algal Bloom Dashboard. DEP explained Tuesday morning to TCPalm that the sample had a "trace level of microcystins detected" and that it's important "the public should follow the (health department's) precautionary guidelines regardless of the toxin level."

"We are aware of the states reporting of conditions in the system and will, as of now, continue with our current plan for releases," spokesperson J.P. Rebello said. "We may change releases if we see conditions that warrant a shift from our current plan."

Lake Okeechobee discharges flow rate

An aerial view of the St. Lucie Inlet on March 12, 2024 showing the dark water from Lake Okeechobee discharges entering the South Fork 9 miles upstream in Martin County.

About 15 billion gallons of water will be dumped into the St. Lucie River over the next two weeks  in addition to the 30 billion gallons already discharged since Feb. 17, according to a schedule the Army Corps released late Friday.

The latest 14-day discharge cycle began Saturday with three consecutive days of zero discharges and will continue with 11 consecutive days of discharges from March 19-29 at this daily flow rate:

March 19: 646 million gallons

March 20: 646 million gallons

March 21: 969 million gallons

March 22: 1.4 billion gallons

March 23: 1.6 billion gallons

March 24: 2.3 billion gallons

March 25: 2.3 billion gallons

March 26: 1.9 billion gallons

March 27: 1.6 billion gallons

March 28: 1.6 billion gallons

March 29: 1.3 billion gallons

Lake Okeechobee discharge rates from March 16 to March 29, 2024.

The Army Corps insists discharges average 1.2 billion gallons per day; however, the river is getting bombed with much more water than that on eight of the 14 days. The agency brings the average down by factoring in the zero discharge days during the 14-day cycle.

The Caloosahatchee River also has been bombed since Feb. 17 and will receive about 2.6 billion gallons per day through March 29.

The Army Corps on March 29 will announce whether it will stop or continue discharges after that, Col. James Booth said last month.

The St. Lucie River received a six-day break from discharges March 13-18, according to the Army Corps charts. Still, low to zero salinity levels and high turbidity are killing oysters, shading seagrass growth in the Indian River Lagoon and dumping silt on the nearshore coral reefs south of the inlet, according to data collected by the Ocean Research and Conservation Association.

Lake Okeechobee discharge rates from March 16 t March 29, 2024.

What to know about Lake O discharges and toxic algae

The purpose of discharges is to lower the lake level after this winter's above-average rainfall caused by El Nino, Booth said. When discharges began, the lake level was at 16 feet, 4 inches. On March 18, it was 15 feet, 9 inches. So the lake has dropped 7 inches after one month of discharges, with water pouring into the lake the entire month from the Kissimmee River.

What to do if algae is present

The Florida Department of Health advises people to take these precautions:

Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible blue-green algae bloom.

Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or water that's discolored or smelly.

Keep pets away from the area. Water containing 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 see an algal bloom?

Report it to DEP online or via its toll-free hotline at 855-305-3903.

Report fish kills to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute at 800-636-0511.

Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algal bloom or any aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center at 800-222-1222.

Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with water containing blue-green algae.

If you have other health questions or concerns about blue-green algae blooms, call Clint Sperber with the Florida Department of Health at 772-924-6697.

For more information on toxic algae blooms

Ed Killer covers the environment for TCPalm. Email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida DEP warns of toxic algae in Lake Okeechobee releases
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA)  A Lakeland man was killed early Monday morning after he ran a red light and slammed into the side of a semi-truck in Polk County.

The Polk County Sheriffs Office said detectives were dispatched at 2:32 a.m. for a crash on New Tampa Highway (US 92) at Clark Road.

Florida sheriffs office pokes fun at jokester who placed For Sale sign on patrol car

Authorities said Miguel Jacinto, 56, of Lakeland, the driver of the gray 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, was driving north on Clark Road at a high rate of speed when he failed to stop at a red light and slammed into the passenger side of a semi-truck.

The front of Jacintos car had become wedged under the trailer in front of the rear axles.

Photo courtesy of the Polk County Sheriffs Office

PCSO said the 56-year-old was killed at the scene. The truck driver, a Tifton, Georgia man, was not injured.

Young giraffe dies of broken neck at Florida zoo

Both drivers were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash. No charges are anticipated to be filed, according to PCSO.

The eastbound lane of New Tampa Highway was closed for about five hours during the initial stage of the investigation, the sheriffs office said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
The father of slain nursing student Laken Riley doesnt like his daughters death being exploited for political purposes.

I feel like shes being used somewhat politically, Jason Riley told NBCs Today show. It makes me angry. She was much better than that.

Police arrested Venezuelan citizen Jose Ibarra in connection with the 22-year-old students brutal death late last month. She was found unresponsive with visible blunt-force trauma injuries after not returning from a morning jog near the University of Georgia campus.

Ibarra, who was once arrested in New York over a vehicular charge that allegedly endangered a minor, entered the U.S. illegally in 2022. His detention further fueled the nations contentious debate on U.S. immigration laws.

Republican lawmakers have campaigned on that issue non-stop since Biden took office in 2020. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia wore a tee-shirt bearing Laken Rileys name to the March 7 State of the Union address, where she also passed out matching pins and heckled President Joe Biden while he spoke.

Democrats have accused Republicans of sabotaging reform efforts to stop the president from scoring political points by passing useful legislation before the November election.

Id rather her not be such a political, how you say  it started a storm in our country, Jason Riley said. Its incited a lot of people.

He doesnt know if his daughter would still be alive if immigration laws were different.

We have no idea if that wouldve changed anything, Jason Riley confessed. He might not have been here had we had secure borders.

Former president Donald Trump met with the victims mother and stepfather prior to a rally in Greenes congressional district earlier this month. Hes said immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country and claimed some are animals.

Biden said during his State of the Union speech  where he briefly engaged Green in an impromptu debate over immigration reform  that he will not demonize immigrants.

While high-profile crimes involving immigrants have fueled concerns about the nation becoming more dangerous. Some immigration advocates worry migrants may face increased danger at the hands of fearful citizens who buy into bad information and scapegoating.

_____
The father of Laken Riley said he fears his daughter is being used as a political pawn in the ongoing immigration debate.

Jason Riley said in an interview that aired on NBCs Today show Monday that he wished the death of his daughter would not be used to score political points. Laken Riley, 22, was found dead on the University of Georgia campus last month after her roommate reported her as missing.

Id rather her not be such a political, how you say  it started a storm in our country, he told NBC, adding that her death has incited a lot of people.

The suspect in her killing is Jose Ibarra, a Venezuelan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, according to police. Republicans have since used her death as a rallying cry to enact stricter policies on immigration and the border  efforts that have been criticized by Democrats.

Jason Riley said theres people on both sides who have lashed out at him and Rileys mother since their daughters death.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) invoked Rileys name during President Bidens State of the Union address earlier this month, prompting Biden to pull out a pin with Rileys name on it.

Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal. Thats right, Biden said. But how many thousands of people being killed by legals? To her parents I say, my heart goes out to you having lost children myself.

Jason Riley didnt call out specific politicians but said he was angry that her death is being used to get votes.

I think its being used politically to get those votes, he said. It makes me angry. I feel like, you know, theyre just using my daughters name for that. And she was much better than that, and she should be raised up for the person that she is. She was an angel.

He also said he avoids news coverage of his daughters case.

She was only 22. She had a lot of life left to give to the world, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The father of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was murdered earlier this year, has called out lawmakers for making his daughters death political.

Jason Riley spoke out for the first time about his daughters death to NBC News on Monday morning. His daughter was killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus on 22 February. Police have since arrested 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, who migrated from Venezuela to the US in 2022 and is not an American citizen.

Now, Mr Riley is criticising lawmakers for using Ms Rileys death as a political talking point.

Id rather her not be such a political, how you say  it started a storm in our country, and its incited a lot of people, Mr Riley told NBC News.

I think its being used politically to get those votes, he continued. It makes me angry. I feel like, you know, theyre just using my daughters name for that. And she was much better than that, and she should be raised up for the person that she is. She was an angel.

Ms Rileys death took centre stage at President Joe Bidens State of the Union address earlier this month. Several lawmakers wore pins with the 22-year-olds name  and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, heckled the president to say her name during his speech.

Marjorie Taylor Greene wearing a say her name shirt at the State of the Union 2024 (AP)

Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal, Mr Biden said in an unscripted moment, taking a pin that Ms Greene handed him. At one point, the president mispronounced her first name as Lincoln.

His use of the word illegal drew ire from many Democrats and immigration activists  and the president later said he regretted using the term.

President Joe Biden holds up a pin bearing Laken Rileys name during his State of the Union address (AP)

Ms Rileys parents had declined an invitation to attend the address from Representative Mike Collins of Georgia. Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, met with Ms Rileys mother and stepfather before a Georgia campaign rally earlier this month. Mr Riley also told NBC News he supports Mr Trump, particularly his immigration policies.

Laken has been a rallying cry for secure borders and for the illegal immigration policies of this current administration, but theres many women we dont get to hear about, Mr Riley said.

I understand them wanting to come here for a better life, Mr Riley continued. But when you have gang members and people who can commit violent crimes, especially against women, I think we can stop some of that.

Several lawmakers were quick to criticise the Biden administration in the wake of Ms Rileys death.

Georgia governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, called on the president to implement stricter immigration policies.

For more than two years, weve demanded action to secure our southern border and answers from the White House about whos coming into our country, Mr Kemp wrote on X in February. Weve yet to get an answer, weve yet to see action, and now a tragedy has happened. We need answers, and we need action, from Joe Biden and the White House NOW.

Earlier this month, the US House of Representatives also passed the Laken Riley Act, legislation introduced by Mr Collins that would require the detention of any migrant committing burglary or theft.

The act comes after Mr Ibarra, following his arrest in connection to the murder of Ms Riley, was accused of shoplifting in Georgia and was allegedly arrested in New York. However, the New York Police Department previously told The Independent it had no record of such an arrest.

In total, 214 Republicans and 37 Democrats voted for the bill. It will now go to the US Senate, where its fate is unclear.
The father of Laken Riley, the 22-year-old Georgia nursing student killed last month, criticized the politicization of his daughter's death in an interview that aired Monday.

"I feel like shes being used somewhat politically ... It makes me angry," Jason Riley told NBC News. "She was much better than that. She should be raised up for the person that she is."

Laken Riley was jogging on the University of Georgia campus early in the morning Feb. 22 when she was attacked and killed by blunt force trauma, University of Georgia Police Chief Jeff Clark confirmed at the time.

This undated image provided by Augusta University shows Laken Hope Riley, a nursing student whose body was found Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, on the University of Georgia campus in Athens, Georgia, after not returning from a run. (Augusta University via AP, File) ORG XMIT: GAHO501

Police arrested Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, of Athens, Georgia, in connection with her death. Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, and he is charged with several offenses including kidnapping and felony murder.

The Venezuelan citizen's immigration status led to Laken Riley's death becoming a flashpoint in the debate around border security in America. For example, President Joe Biden referred to Laken Riley in his State of the Union address, prompted by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., yelling at the president to "say her name."

Days after that speech, former President Donald Trump met with the slain nursing student's mother and stepfather. At a Georgia campaign rally, Trump also slammed Biden's immigration policies and blamed them for her death.

President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. He is holding a button remembering the killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley, a nursing student whose body was found in a wooded area on the University of Georgia's main campus in Athens, Ga.

While some of Laken Riley's friends and family were at that campaign stop, the politics surrounding the nursing student's death is something her father has taken issue with as he grieves.

"I'd rather her not be such a political, how you say  it started a storm in our country," Jason Riley told NBC News, "and it's incited a lot of people."

Asked whether he thought different immigration policy would have changed anything, Jason Riley told NBC News he had "no idea."

"But he's here illegally. He might not have been here had we had secure borders," he said.

Jason Riley also told NBC News he supports Trump and the opportunity for discussions about the southern border, despite the partisanship surrounding his daughter's death.

"Laken has been a rallying cry for secure borders and for the illegal immigration policies of this current administration, but there's many women we don't get to hear about," he said.

In his interview since Laken Riley's death, Jason Riley emphasized who his daughter was as a person, saying she was "like an angel."

"We were looking forward to seeing her graduate next year. She was so full of life," he said. "I just hate that, you know, she was taken so early."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Laken Riley's father blasts politicization Georgia student's death
The Lakota Local Schools Board of Education is searching for the district's next superintendent. Board President Julie Shaffer said she hopes to make a decision before the end of the school year.

A year has come and gone since former Lakota Local Schools Superintendent Matt Miller said a board member bullied him out of his position, and the district has yet to name a permanent replacement. The school board approved a nearly $17,000 contract with a search firm last month and is launching its second national search in a year.

Last spring, the school board set up a national search to replace Miller and brought in three finalists to speak with the community. But a week after the finalists' presentations, the board scratched the search in lieu of hiring a temporary district leader: Elizabeth Lolli, former superintendent of Dayton Public Schools.

Lolli was not among the board's finalists at that time. She was hired on an interim basis for one year, and her contract with Lakota ends July 31.

Elizabeth Lolli is Lakota's interim superintendent. Her contract with the district ends this summer.

Lakota spends nearly $30K on superintendent search fees

The school board appointed the Ohio School Board Association to help during its first attempt to find a district leader last year and paid the association more than $12,000 for the job. Nine months later, in February, the district approved a $16,900 contract with a consulting company to start the process over. Finding Leaders is now running the national search for Lakota's new superintendent.

It's not unusual for large school districts to hire search firms when looking for a new superintendent. When Cincinnati Public Schools' board was hunting for a new leader in 2021, the board contracted with an advisory group out of Chicago for $75,000.

Lakota hopes to announce its new superintendent before the end of the school year.

This way, there will be some overlap prior to Dr. Lollis retirement to help ensure a smooth transition," School Board President Julie Shaffer said in a recent news release.

Community feedback: Next superintendent should be a team player and strong communicator

In the meantime, the district collected feedback from the community on what they'd like to see in Lakota's next leader. More than 900 people participated in the survey.

Here's a roundup of those responses:

Someone who values teachers, supports them without micromanaging and is focused on retaining staff.

Someone with integrity who is innovative, creative, inquisitive and forward thinking.

Someone who "keeps politics out" and puts students first.

Someone who is trustworthy and approachable, who takes the time to get to know the community.

Someone who is knowledgeable about curriculum and instruction.

Someone who is empathetic and open to change.

A team player.

A strong communicator.

The survey results have been shared with our search firm and will be compared to the feedback we received last spring," Shaffer said.

Lakota's next school board meeting is set to start at 6 p.m. April 1 at the Lakota East Freshman Auditorium, 7630 Bethany Lane in Liberty Township. A listening session will be held before the regular meeting, at 5:30 p.m., in the school's cafeteria.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lakota searches for new superintendent, gathers community feedback
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The man accused of stalking and harassing Republican Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo and his family refused once again Monday to appear in court.

As the 8 News Now Investigators first reported, Stanley Weaver III, 28, is also accused of breaking a window of a home where he believed the governor lived  all because he suspects Lombardo committed murder.

Weaver was due to appear for a hearing on Monday but refused transport from the Clark County Detention Center to the Regional Justice Center. A note in Weavers docket said he refused all court appearances.

As the 8 News Now Investigators first reported, Stanley Weaver III, 28, is accused of breaking a window of a home where he believed the governor lived  all because he suspects Lombardo committed murder. (LVMPD/KLAS)

Earlier this month, Judge Eric Goodman set Weavers bail at $1 million. Weavers next hearing was scheduled for Thursday.

Police arrested Weaver after he told detectives he broke a window at the governors home, documents said. A family member of the governors lives in the home, not him.

According to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained, it appears Weaver believed the governor lived in the home with his family and that the governor killed Weavers former neighbor.

While in custody, officers noted Weaver was placed on a mental health hold in January for attempting to set an apartment fire, documents said.

Members of Weavers family told police they are fearful that Weaver may harm or kill a member of [the governors] family and that they took steps to hide all the knives in the apartment so that Weaver could not access them, documents said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A Las Vegas man who imported, processed and distributed nearly 300 pounds of an opioid pain medication was sentenced Friday in a federal court to eight years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

According to the U.S. Attorneys office, Christopher Housley, 51, used fake identifications to rent postal boxes around Las Vegas to receive opioid pain pills and erectile dysfunction medication from India and then created two shell companies to pay for the drugs and receive payments from the drug sales. In Jan. 2021, law enforcement seized medication, including 300,000 Tapentadol pills, destined for addresses linked to Housley.

I-Team: Las Vegas man illegally sold erectile dysfunction, opioid medication through the mail, drug agents say

In the fall of 2021, drug agents made undercover buys of opioid pain medication from a website. The return address on the packages was linked to Housley.

In May 2022, law enforcement searched a storage unit belonging to Housley (under a fake name) and found controlled substances, the release stated.

Tapentadol, Alprazolam, and other controlled substances seized by law enforcement from a storage locker rented by Housley. (U.S. Attorneys Office)

Housley pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, Tapentadol and 20 counts of money laundering.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Palestinians line up to receive free meals at Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Essa)

Israeli forces launched a raid on Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Monday, accusing Hamas militants of using it as a base, while the U.N. food agency warned that famine is imminent in northern Gaza.

The military said it killed a Hamas commander who was armed and hiding inside the medical center, and that one of its own soldiers was killed in the operation.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesman, earlier said that senior Hamas militants had regrouped and were directing attacks from the compound.

Gazas Health Ministry said the army attacked the hospital, directing gun and missile fire at a building used for specialized surgeries.

Israel raided the medical center in November after claiming that Hamas was concealing a major command and control center within and beneath the compound. It revealed a tunnel running to an underground bunker beneath the hospital, and some weapons discovered inside, but not the elaborate facilities it had described before the raid.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,726 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people in the surprise Oct. 7 attack out of Gaza that triggered the war, and they took another 250 people hostage. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 captives, as well as the remains of 30 others.

Currently:

 Famine is said to be imminent in northern Gaza as Israel raids hospital again

 Netanyahu to send Israeli officials to Washington to discuss prospective Rafah operation

 Israel urges UN court to reject South Africas request for more emergency orders in genocide case

 Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Here's the latest:

US OFFICIAL SAYS ISRAELI STRIKE HAS KILLED MARWAN ISSA

WASHINGTON -- A senior U.S. official says an Israeli strike killed Marwan Issa, the deputy leader of Hamas armed wing in Gaza who helped plan the Oct. 7 attack. Israel and Hamas have not confirmed Issas death, and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan did not say how U.S. intelligence had concluded he was killed. But if the reports are confirmed, Issa would be the highest-ranking Hamas leader to have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war. Israel has killed several top leaders of Hamas over the years, only to see them quickly replaced with little apparent impact on the groups operations. Sullivan told reporters in Washington on Monday that Issa was killed in an Israeli operation last week. Issa was the deputy to Mohammed Deif, the shadowy longtime leader of Hamas military wing, who is said to have survived several previous Israeli attempts on his life. Hamas top leader in Gaza, and the alleged mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war, is Yehya Sinwar. Both Sinwar and Deif are believed to be alive and in hiding in Gaza, and Israel has vowed to kill them. Israel says it has killed over 13,000 Hamas fighters since the start of the war, without providing evidence. The Gaza Health Ministry said Monday that at least 31,726 Palestinians have been killed in Israels offensive since Hamas Oct. 7 on southern Israel. The ministry doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but it says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

UN OFFICIAL SAYS GAZA CHILDREN WILL BE DYING IN HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS WITHOUT FOOD

UNITED NATIONS - Unless sustained nutritious food gets into Gaza quickly Palestinian children wont be dying in the 20s and 30s, they will be dying in hundreds and thousands, a U.N. official is warning. Arif Husain, the World Food Programs chief economist, said Monday that the U.N. food agency has enough food for the 2.2 million people in Gaza, but it cant get to all those in need to avoid starvation without a cease-fire, much greater access and safety for humanitarian workers. In the north, and in the rest of the Gaza Strip, time is running out for many, many people, he warned U.N. journalists at a virtual press conference. This is why children are dying. Husain was commenting on a report Monday by more than a dozen high-powered global organizations that determine the severity of food crises which said famine is imminent in northern Gaza and a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gazas total population to the brink of starvation. So, cease-fire is a necessary condition for us to be able to halt this famine in northern Gaza and frankly in the rest of the country, Husain said.

ISRAEL'S MILITARY RELEASES CORRESPONDENT DETAINED IN GAZA HOSPITAL RAID, REPORT SAYS

CAIRO  The Al-Jazeera television network says Israels military has released a freelance correspondent who was detained during its raid on Gaza Citys Shifa Hospital.

Correspondent Ismail Alghoul was detained along with other journalists early Monday while he was covering the raid on the hospital, the network said. It said Israeli troops beat him and destroyed the networks broadcast vehicle as well as cameras and equipment.

Later Monday, the Qatari-owned network reported that Alghoul was released. It quoted him as saying that he and other journalists were handcuffed, blindfolded and stripped from their clothes for 12 hours.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

Israeli forces raided Shifa, the Gaza Strips largest hospital, early Monday, saying Hamas militants had regrouped there and fired on them from inside the compound. Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people have been sheltering in the compound.

FRENCH PRESIDENT VOWS TO COMBAT RESURGENT ANTISEMITISM

PARIS  French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to combat resurgent antisemitism that is seeding fears and doubts among Frances Jewish population, the largest in Europe.

There is no place for antisemitism in France, Macron said at a ceremony Monday marking the 80th anniversary of Frances leading Jewish organization, called CRIF.

He decried a rise in anti-Jewish attacks since the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre and acknowledged fears of Jewish people questioning whether they are still safe in France. He said the government is punishing antisemitism relentlessly, whether in the street, on screens, in our universities.

Tensions erupted at the prestigious Sciences Po in Paris last week after pro-Palestinian demonstrators were accused of barring entrance to a member of a Jewish student union.

Wherever antisemitism prospers, all other forms of hatred prosper  hatred of differences, of minorities, of foreigners, of Muslims, of women, of homosexuals, Macron said.

Frances government initially sought to restrict pro-Palestinian protests after Oct. 7. In recent months, Macron has been increasingly critical of Israels protracted and deadly offensive on Gaza.

"To defend and love Israel, to want its security, does not mean subscribing to all the choices of the democratic government of the moment, he said.

UN AID OFFICIAL CALLS FOR USE OF ROADS TO EXPEDITE AID INTO GAZA

GENEVA  A top U.N. aid official for Palestinian areas is calling for an opening of all roads into Gaza to help avert what food security experts say could be imminent famine in the coming weeks.

Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said that roads from Ashdod in Israel into beleaguered north Gaza, the military road, coast road and middle road into Gaza should be used. He said Israeli scanners should check trucks in Jordan and elsewhere to expedite deliveries of needed food and other supplies.

Unless we can put significant supply increases into those areas, those people who are at catastrophic levels of malnutrition or food insecurity will face real serious problems and imminent death, McGoldrick said by videoconference to reporters in Geneva. We have to get all roads open and get all opportunities open for us to actually do more in the current situation.

McGoldrick spoke shortly after the U.N. food agency said famine is imminent in northern Gaza, where 70% of the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger, and that a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gazas total population to the brink of starvation. Israel has faced mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip.

He downplayed the prospects that maritime shipments or air drops, carried out by some Western countries, into Gaza could be a substitute for entry by land, saying the only real way to sufficient amounts of food and other supplies "into all parts of Gaza would only be by roads.

SCORES OF ISRAELIS HAVE ACQUIRED GUN LICENSES SINCE OCT. 7 ATTACK BY HAMAS

JERUSALEM  More than 100,000 Israeli citizens have acquired gun licenses since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war last October, Israels far-right minister of National Security said Monday.

Itamar Ben-Gvir called the figure a milestone in a speech to Israels parliament.

We see today on the streets of Israel that when citizens have weapons, they feel safe, they can counter and neutralize armed terrorists, he said.

The figure released Monday represented a massive jump from the roughly 150,000 Israelis who held gun licenses before the war, according to his ministry.

Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist West Bank settler, has urged Israelis to arm themselves and after the war erupted, pushed for new regulations through parliament making it easier to acquire a gun. Ben-Gvir said Monday an additional 200,000 citizens are waiting for their license applications to be approved.

Rights groups have cautioned of the dangers of so many guns on the streets, saying they can lead to accidentalshootings, vigilante violence and domestic abuse.

UN CHIEF SAYS 1.1 MILLION IN GAZA FACE CATASTROPIC HUNGER WITHOUT IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE

UNITED NATIONS  The United Nations chief says 1.1 million people  half the population of Gaza  are facing catastrophic hunger as he again called for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire.

We must act now to prevent the unthinkable, the unacceptable and the unjustifiable, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

While not blaming Israel, the secretary-generals comments to reporters Monday were clearly aimed at its ongoing military offensive in Gaza following Hamas surprise Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and saw about 250 taken hostage. The offensive has killed over 31,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which says about two-thirds of the dead are women and children.

Referencing a report issued Monday by the Integrated Food Security Classification System, or IPC, Guterres said that Palestinians in Gaza are enduring horrifying levels of hunger and suffering.

The worlds leading experts on food insecurity clearly document that famine in the northern part of Gaza is imminent, he said.

The IPC report states that the latest evidence confirms that famine is imminent in the northern governorates of the Gaza Strip and projected to occur anytime between mid-March and May 2024.

Guterres called on Israel to ensure complete and unfettered access for humanitarian goods throughout Gaza and for the international community to fully support U.N. humanitarian efforts.

ISRAEL ASKS UN COURT TO REJECT LATEST REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY ORDERS IN GENOCIDE CASE

THE HAGUE, Netherlands  Israel has urged the top United Nations court to reject the latest request by South Africa for interim orders to prevent starvation in Gaza, as part of a case accusing Israel of breaching the Genocide Convention with its military offensive against Hamas.

In a written response published Monday by the International Court of Justice, Israel said that claims by South Africa filed earlier this month are wholly unfounded in fact and law, morally repugnant, and represent an abuse both of the Genocide Convention and of the Court itself.

Israels response was published on the day that the U.N. food agency said that famine is imminent in northern Gaza and that a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gazas total population to the brink of starvation.

Israel fervently denies that it is breaching the Genocide Convention, but acknowledged in a written response to South Africa's allegations that there are also tragic and agonizing civilian casualties in this war. These realities are the painful result of intensive armed hostilities that Israel did not start and did not want.

No date has been set for judges to rule on the South African request for more measures.

AL-JAZEERA SAYS ITS REPORTER HAS BEEN DETAINED IN A HOSPITAL RAID IN GAZA

CAIRO  The Al-Jazeera television network says Israeli troops arrested one of its correspondents during their raid on Gaza Citys Shifa Hospital on Monday.

In a statement, it said the troops severely beat correspondent Ismail Alghoul while he was covering the raid on the hospital and destroyed the networks broadcast vehicle as well as cameras and equipment. It said he was detained along with other journalists and that his whereabouts are unknown.

The Qatari-owned network demanded Alghouls release and called the arrest an intimidation tactic against journalists to prevent them from reporting on the militarys crimes against innocent civilians.

The Israeli military said it had no comment.

Israeli forces launched a raid early Monday on Shifa, the Gaza Strips largest hospital, saying Hamas militants had regrouped there and had fired on them from inside the compound where Palestinian officials say tens of thousands of people have been sheltering.

People sheltering in the hospital said troops backed by tanks and artillery had surrounded the medical complex and that snipers were shooting at people inside. They said the army raided a number of buildings and detained dozens of people.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 90 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Israels assault in Gaza, while two Israeli journalists were killed in Hamas Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that triggered the offensive.

ISRAEL SAYS IT KILLED A SENIOR HAMAS OPERATIVE IN GAZA HOSPITAL

TEL AVIV, Israel  The Israeli military says it has killed a senior Hamas operative in an assault on Gazas main hospital.

The military said Faiq Mabhouh was a top official in Hamas internal security. It said Mabhouh operated and directed militant activity from inside the Shifa Hospital compound in Gaza City.

A soldier was killed during Mondays operation, it said.

The military earlier said it was conducting a high-precision operation in parts of the medical complex after intelligence indicated senior Hamas militants had regrouped there and were directing attacks from the compound.

Gazas Health Ministry said the army attacked the hospital, directing gun and missile fire at a building used for specialized surgeries.

Israel raided the medical center in November after claiming that Hamas was concealing a major command and control center within and beneath the compound. It revealed a tunnel running to an underground bunker beneath the hospital, and some weapons discovered inside, but not the elaborate facilities it had described before the raid.

Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian facilities to shield its fighters.
South Dakota Capitol Building

The South Dakota Legislature allocated the last of its federal pandemic aid earlier this month, marking a shift in state spending and budgeting.

The federal government infused billions of dollars into the state through several rounds of congressional legislation intended to help the country through the COVID-19 crisis. The last of those efforts brought nearly $975 million to the state through the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act, known by the acronym ARPA, with most of the money used for water and wastewater projects. The state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been rushing to fund projects across the state.

With the last of the money appropriated, South Dakota is nearly back to normal, as Gov. Kristi Noem warned legislators late last year in her budget address, and will have to prepare future budgets without the cushion of federal pandemic money theyve had for the last several years.

The 2024 legislative session ended March 7, except for a day on March 25 to consider vetoes. Lawmakers approved uses for the remaining $130 million from ARPA, including:

$5 million in telemedicine grants to nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Over $100 million to water and wastewater projects for state government and local projects statewide (with authority to spend more if other approved ARPA uses arent spent by federal deadlines).

Over $12 million for water and sewer infrastructure at the sites of the future mens prison in rural Lincoln County and future womens prison in Rapid City.

The money had to be appropriated by the end of this year and must be spent by the end of 2026, or it reverts back to the federal government.

Overall, South Dakota received nearly $14 billion of pandemic relief funds from March 2020 through January 2023, according to South Dakota News Watch. State government received about $4.2 billion while the remaining $9.6 billion went to local governments, health care providers, schools, businesses and individuals.

Most of the states ARPA funds went toward one-time projects, said Yankton Republican Sen. Jean Hunhoff, who co-chairs the legislative Joint Appropriations Committee.

I think South Dakota had the wisdom and the leadership of both the governor and the Legislature to realize were not going to start anything new, Hunhoff said. Were going to support what we have, meet some of those short-term needs, but were not going to grow our programming simply because those dollars flowed in.

In addition to the water projects, the state supported $50 million in broadband expansion with ARPA funds, $50 million in workforce housing, $35 million in tourism marketing, $20 million in ambulance system improvements, and $15 million to expand regional behavioral health facilities.

Not all states did that. Illinois, for example, allocated 32% of its ARPA funds as of July 2022 toward ongoing, operational expenses, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts analysis published in December.

Using one-time funds for ongoing projects could lead to uncertainty, the report said. According to Illinois Public Media, the states ARPA-funded programs will end once federal funding runs out or will require new funding from the state or other sources.

South Dakota wont have that problem, Hunhoff said.

Thats the concern when the federal dollars are gone, Hunhoff said. It is not the states intention and its not its responsibility to start spending general funds to keep those new programs going.

The influx of federal funds will continue influencing the states economy for the next few years, since the money wont have to be spent until the end of 2026. The state has seen an increase in contractors excise tax in recent years due to increased construction spurred by federal funding.

Before the pandemic, less than 40% of the state budget came from federal funds. That percentage spiked to 56% in 2021 and has been above 40% in most years since.

With federal support receding to pre-pandemic levels, Hunhoff hopes legislators turn their attention to economic development next session.

If we can continue to encourage people to come and relocate to South Dakota, get big businesses in here and expand that base for economic development, thats what you look at for your return on investment, Hunhoff said. If you dont have the federal dollars, you need to keep growing in economic development and our major industries with tourism and agriculture.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota lawmakers face a back to normal budget future
Qabil Ashirov

"We have been waiting for this day for more than thirty years. It was my greatest wish to return to my native village. I am very happy. May God give long life to everyone who worked in this work," a former IDP who is on the way to Fuzuli said in an interview with local media outlets.

Azernews reports another group of former IDPs, made up of 34 families or 123 people, left the Garadagh district of Baku for Fuzuli on March 18. Gulnara Ismayilova is one of them. She said that she would kiss the ground as soon as she reached Fuzuli.

"As soon as I get home, I will kiss the ground, and then I will read Asaf Zeynalli's novel My Country. If you see such beauty and greatness in this country, how can you not be happy and read it?!" she said. Gulnara Ismayilova thanked the head of our state, wished health to the veterans, mercy to the martyrs, and patience to their families.

Another former IDP, Raguf Jannetaliyev, said that he is very happy to return to his hometown.

"I was a child when I left there; now I am returning with my children. Every place is indeed a part of the motherland. But memories attract people. I am going towards my memories - my childhood," he said.

The resident of Fuzuli expressed his gratitude to those who made this day possible for them: "May Allah give long life to President Ilham Aliyev, who fulfils our hopes, and good health to our veterans. May the souls of our martyrs be happy!"

Almaz Jafarova is among the people who are returning to Fuzuli. She said that they are returning to the homeland, and she is also experiencing the joy of this return.

"It is a pity that my father did not see these days. He died longing for his homeland. However, it is nice that today we, who are his relics, are returning to our native land," she said.

She noted that one of her biggest dreams was to celebrate the Nowruz holiday in Fuzuli. Now her dream is coming true.

Wishing Allah's mercy to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijan, the resident of Fuzuli expressed her gratitude to the President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for returning to their homeland.
Lawsuit against Allegheny County Executive Innamorato over drop off ballot locations settled

Channel 11 news has learned that a lawsuit over those satellite drop off ballot locations has been settled.

According to Allegheny County Councilman and Board of Elections member Sam DeMarco, the county executive has agreed to present the proposal to the Board of Elections for a full vote.

>> Lawsuit against Allegheny Co. Executive Innamorato aims to stop opening of ballot drop-off locations

In return, DeMarco and the other plaintiffs have agreed to withdraw the lawsuit.

A spokesperson for County Executive Sara Innamorato confirmed that the plan will be presented to the Board of Elections this week.

She anticipates passage as the Board is comprised of Innamorato and Councilwoman Bethany Hallam, who supports drop off locations.

DeMarco called the ruling a victory.

Now, we can move on to the business at hand which is administering an election, a primary election here and making it free and clear of any bias or perceived partisan taint by involving the public and all three members of the board of elections, said DeMarco, a republican.

DeMarco filed suit against Innamorato, a Democrat, last week accusing her of violating the election code by failing to get board approval to open five mail-in ballot drop off locations.

>> Allegheny Co. Executive Innamorato to expand ballot drop off; councilman blasts decision

On Monday, just before a scheduled emergency hearing before on Judge, both sides agreed to a consent order that requires the County Executive to get Board approval on drop off locations.

The parties confirm that for the 2024 Primary Election, as well as for all future elections, the issue of ballot return sites and/or satellite voting sites has been and continues to be within the scope of the Pennsylvania Elections Code...As such decisions on these issues can only be made upon a majority vote of the members of the Allegheny County Board of Elections, said the consent order.

A spokesperson for the County Executive said the plan will be presented to the Board of Elections on Wednesday.

She expressed confidence that it will be approved and said it will expand voter access.

The important thing is that we are expanding voter access for the first time in four years, which is a measure that voters are really excited about. Once this matter is approved by the BOE in two days we can move on and make sure voters know their options for voting in the April 23 primary, said Abigail Gardner, Allegheny County spokesperson.

DeMarco acknowledged that it will likely pass but said he will now finally get answers to a number of pressing questions about the plan.

The reason she believes theyre needed, how theyre going to be paid for, security arrangements, all of these different things, the questions that people would normally have and would ask, had this been brought up in a public meeting, said DeMarco.

The County Solicitor, who signed off on the consent order also issued a statement.

The Consent Order clearly outlines the terms of the agreement and speaks for itself. The County is always willing to undertake whatever steps are necessary to maintain the integrity of the voting process in Allegheny County, and the Consent Order achieves said goal, said Rosalyn Guy-McCorkle, Allegheny County Solicitor.

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NEW YORK  A former police colleague of New York City Mayor Eric Adams claims in a bombshell new lawsuit alleging sexual assault that he exposed himself to her and demanded she perform oral sex on him in exchange for help with a job issue more than three decades ago.

The accuser, Lorna Beach-Mathura, first came forward in November by filing a notice of claim saying she planned to sue Adams for sexual assault. The brief November filing didnt include specifics about the accusation.

In response to the newly filed lawsuit, Sylvia Hinds-Radix, the city governments corporation counsel whos representing Adams in the sexual assault case, said the mayor vehemently denies Beach-Mathuras accusations.

While we review the complaint, the mayor fully denies these outrageous allegations and the events described here; we expect full vindication in court, Hinds-Radix said in a statement.

The suit, filed Monday afternoon in Manhattan Supreme Court, alleges the incident took place in 1993, when Beach-Mathura and Adams both worked for the city Transit Police Department.

In addition to being a transit cop, Adams was at the time a top official for the Guardians Association, a Black police officers organization. Beach-Mathura, who was also a Guardians member, alleges Adams picked her up in his car after work in Manhattan and brought her to a vacant lot near the Hudson River after he had agreed to meet with her to talk about helping her get a promotion in the Transit Police Department.

Beach-Mathura said she went to Adams with the employment issue because she found him inspiring and thought he could help in his capacity as a Guardians leader. She alleges she first got to know Adams from working with him years earlier.

Initially, Beach-Mathura alleges in the lawsuit Adams was going to pick her up and give her a ride home to Coney Island to talk. Once in the car, she realized instead that he was headed to an area near the Hudson River, which made her nervous and scared, the lawsuit says.

Once in the empty lot, Beach-Mathura alleges Adams asked her to explain her employment issue. After she did, Adams told Plaintiff that he thought he could help her but that he also needed some help and began rubbing his penis through his clothes with his hand, according to the lawsuit.

Adams then told her he wanted oral sex from her in exchange for his help, the court paper says. The lawsuit says while repeatedly cajoling, demanding, and begging Plaintiff for oral sex, Defendant Adams unzipped his pants and exposed himself.

Beach-Mathura alleges she repeatedly and adamantly refused Adams overtures. The suit claims Adams then assaulted Beach-Mathura by grabbing her hand and placing it on his exposed genitals and told her to masturbate him.

Beach-Mathura alleges she again refused, repeatedly saying, No, and trying to pull her hand away. Beach-Mathura feared that she would be raped by Adams, but tried to remain calm, the lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiff was frightened not only due to Defendant Adams appalling conduct, but also because she knew that he, as a police officer, had at least one loaded gun in the car, her lawsuit charges.

Beach-Mathura claims that after several more attempts, Adams stopped trying to talk her into a sex act, and instead started masturbating. Court papers say semen from Adams landed on Beach-Mathuras thigh and stocking.

After the alleged assault, Beach-Mathura claims in the suit that Adams told her he needed to get back to work. He then drove her to the Chambers St. subway station in Manhattan where he dropped her off, according to the suit.

She alleges Adams never helped her with the employment issue. She left city government in 1994 and currently lives in Florida, where she has worked as a public school teacher.

Beach-Mathura claims she told numerous people about the alleged assault, including current and former NYPD officials as well as her two daughters, according to the suit.

She said she never formally reported the incident out of fear of retaliation from Adams, the Guardians or the NYPD, all of whom are named as defendants in her lawsuit. In addition to accusing Adams of sexual assault and battery, Beach-Mathuras suit says the Guardians and the NYPD violated anti-gender violence laws by having enabled his alleged behavior.

The NYPD and the Guardians did not immediately return requests for comment on Beach-Mathuras suit, which is seeking $5 million in damages.

Beach-Mathura also named three unnamed corporate entities as defendants she alleges were responsible for wrongdoing in connection with her complaint. The suit says she will name those entities upon discovery of their identity during this litigation.

The shocking lawsuit claims come as Adams faces several legal headaches.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating Adams 2021 campaign over allegations that the Turkish government funneled illegal foreign cash into its coffers, a probe that prompted FBI agents to seize the mayors cellphones and raid the home of his chief political fundraiser last year. Just last month, FBI agents raided the Bronx homes of Winnie Greco, a top Adams adviser at City Hall, as part of a separate investigation led by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn. Adams has not been accused of wrongdoing in either of those investigations.

The employment issue Beach-Mathura alleges she wanted Adams help in resolving involved her attempts to get promoted to become a principal administrative assistant at the Transit Police Department.

Having for years worked as an administrative assistant, a job that included taking incident reports, assigning patrols and other clerical duties, Beach-Mathura alleged she was passed over for a bump to principal multiple times despite scoring better on promotional exams than the colleagues who ended up getting the job.

She alleges she believes she was snubbed of a promotion due to the Transit Police Departments well-known, discriminatory and retaliatory hostile environment, especially against female and Black employees. The Transit Police Department was a separate agency at the time, but became part of the NYPD in 1995.

Before going to Adams for help, Beach-Mathura says she complained to a lieutenant in the Transit Police Departments personnel office, who was unhelpful and told her she should transfer to a different city agency if she wanted a promotion.

Hinds-Radix, the corporation counsel, said in her statement its ludicrous to suggest Adams wouldve had any power to help Beach-Mathura get a promotion since he had no sway over promotions of civilian employees in his capacity as a transit officer.

When Beach-Mathura first filed her notice of claim in November, Adams responded by saying he had never met her. His office did not immediately return a request for comment on that issue.

The alleged assault took place just before Adams launched an ultimately unsuccessful campaign against late Brooklyn Congressman Major Owens in the 1994 election, his first run for public office. Years earlier, in 1991, Adams helped lead a sexist smear campaign against a female Transit Police Department employee who blew the whistle on criminal wrongdoing at the agency  actions Adams apologized for during the 2021 mayoral race, according to a report by The City.

Beach-Mathura has filed a number of lawsuits over the years, including one against Miami-Dade County in which she claimed she was abused by students, including a 6-year-old, while working as a teacher. That suit was dismissed without any damages being paid out to Beach-Mathura. Its unclear why the suit was dismissed.

Beach-Mathura brought the suit against Adams under the Adult Survivors Act, a state law that opened a one-year window for sexual misconduct victims to sue their assailants even if a statute of limitations is expired. She filed her notice of claim the day before that window expired.

She believes sexual abusers must be held to account, no matter who they are, said Megan Goddard, Beach-Mathuras lawyer.
Lebanon City Police officer Nathan Haldeman was recognized for outstanding police work during an armed robbery that occurred in the area of North 7th Street and Lehman Street.

According to a news release from the Lebanon City Police Department, Haldeman was notified by citizens while on patrol that the robbery of a business had just occurred and that the suspect had a firearm.

Officer Nathan Haldeman (center) was commended for his bravery, service and his commitment in keeping Lebanon City safe.

Witnesses provided Haldeman with a description of the suspect, as well as a direction in which they fled.

Haldeman immediately located the suspect, who fled on foot and was pursued by Haldeman. He eventually caught up with the suspect, who resisted arrest. During the arrest, the suspect's firearm fell out of their waistband. A struggle over the firearm ensued where Haldeman was eventually able to get control of the weapon, secure it, and successfully place the suspect under arrest.

Officer Haldeman was commended for his bravery, service and his commitment in keeping Lebanon City safe.

Daniel Larlham Jr. is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at DLarlham@LDNews.com or on X @djlarlham.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon City police officer commended for work during armed robbery
Editor's note: a previous version of the story included the Lee Waterline Replacement Phase as a Lee County project, it is a Madison County project. Additionally, the SR 82 Traffic Safety Improvements is not a County request or a Lee County DOT project; it is FDOT.

Florida lawmakers approved a budget with over $90 million in funding for projects, including repairing roads, building fire stations, training doctors and improving water quality, from one end of Lee County to the other.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has yet to approve or veto appropriated items, which include investments in improving water and sewer, money for recovering from Hurricane Ian, education, and addressing traffic.

Lawmakers approved a $117 billion state budget on March 8, as this year's Legislative session ended.

In a statement, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said representing the people and communities of Southwest Florida in the House, Senate, and now as Senate president has been the "professional honor of a lifetime." Her district includes Collier County, Hendry County, and a portion of Lee County.

"As I often say, although I am away from my home in Naples for weeks at a time, there is so much I have been able to do to represent my constituents in Tallahassee," she said. "Through investments of funding provided by the state of Florida, our local communities are partnering with the state on key infrastructure solutions that create local jobs, improve our quality of life and ensure the safety of our residents through enhancements to our clean water and transportation infrastructure. These funds also foster partnerships and support local organizations that offer critical services to our youth and our seniors."

Rep. Adam Botana, a Bonita Springs Republican, said the House and the Senate understand the area is still recovering from Ian, noting the more than$17.4 million of revenue replacement for Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel.

"It's on the forefront of what the state sees," Botanan said. "Fort Myers Beach Sanibel, Bonita, we took the largest hurricane to hit the most densely populated area ever."

Rep. Mike Giallombardo, a Cape Coral Republican, echoes these sentiments after receiving $9 million towards expanding the Cape Coral Emergency Operations Center.

Mike Giallombardo

"Cape Coral Fire Chief Ryan Lamb says the expansion will improve areas of the current EOC, making it capable of withstanding a Category 5 hurricane, and notes the improvements will also increase efficiency and effectiveness as it relates to disaster preparedness activities, inter-agency coordination, managing disaster response and recovery services, among other benefits," Giallombardo wrote in a statement.

Reps. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, a Fort Myers Republican, said she requested appropriation for investments that would make generational local impacts, expedite infrastructure projects, and help our most vulnerable.

These include money for critical infrastructure such as Fort Myers Fire Station 18 to frontage acquisition, which is near Centennial Park, that will expand the public riverfront downtown.

Here's a list of the individual items that made it on the proposed budget in Lee County:

Related Collier County secures more than $86.5 million in state budget for local projects, programs

More Tallahassee, capital region economy could get $200 million boost from state budget

Lee County:

Workers work to repair the bridge to Pine Island near Fort Myers, Fla., on Wednesday October 5, 2022. Hurricane Ian hit the southwest Florida coast on Wednesday September 28th.

Lee Health Graduate Medical Education Center: $5 million : The center will expand Lee Health's medical education programs to train up to 132 physician residents annually, and is meant to increase the number of residency opportunities in Florida.

Lee County - Permanent Repairs Little Pine Island Bridge: $1.2 million: The funds will replace the Little Pine Island Bridge and provide for resiliency features suggested by FDOT's Design Build team.

FDOT:

SR 82 Traffic Safety Improvements: $2,673,775: Construction of multiple turn lanes and a traffic signal at the intersection of SR 82, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Benchmark Avenue, to alleviate safety concerns and traffic flow.

Fort Myers:

Fort Myers Technical College - East Annex / Pre-Construction Phase: $2.5 million : The funds would be used for architectural/design services, engineering plans, and other costs associated with pre-construction to build an annex campus for Fort Myers Technical College in East Lee County.

City of Fort Myers - Frontage Acquisition: $5,034,927 : The acquisition of this parcel, near Centennial Park and Edison Sailing Center, would allow for ease of aquatic and land recreation adjacent to the Caloosahatchee River.

YMCA of Fort Myers Facility Hardening & Improvements Project: $500,00 0: The funds would fortify facility resilience, focusing on storm protection through a new roof and improved structural elements, upgraded facilities, and grounds.

Fort Myers Fire Station 18: $1.5 milloin: Designed to fill an emergency response deficit within the jurisdiction, this facility would decrease corridor response times by as much as 50%.

Fort Myers Beach:

Fort Myers Beach - Town Hall Replacement: $8 million: The project would quickly re-establish a venue for town government, with a time frame of less than 8 months versus a 3-4 year build-out.

Fort Myers Beach - Revenue Loss: $7,547,805: The towns revenue has plummeted by 42.4% after Hurricane Ian, so the town is requesting state funding to replace property tax revenue, which would support the town's ability to sustain operations and rebuild.

Cape Coral:

From left, Stephanie Vilfort, a student in the dental assisting program at Cape Coral Technical College practices cleaning skills on classmate Grace Provenzano under the guidance of instructor Chris Weygant Wednesday morning, March 16, 2022. Cape Coral Technical College is planning to expand its curriculum in an effort to bring more blue collar programs to the school.

Cape Coral Technical College - Phase II (Campus Construction): $2.1 million: Design work is currently underway, and the funds would help overcome construction cost escalations resulting from the impacts of Hurricane Ian. Programs planned for the expanded campus (two additional buildings) include Auto Service Technology, Marine Service Technologies, HVAC-R, Welding Technology, Building Trades, and Nursing.

Cape Coral Northeast Reservoir Water Transmission Main and Regional Water Supply Project: $4 million : A regional water supply project that will transfer up to 1.44 billion gallons of water stored in a reservoir in Charlotte County to Cape Coral's freshwater canal system each year for fire suppression and lawn irrigation.

Cape Coral Emergency Operations Center Expansion: $9 million: As one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas, Cape Coral requires funding for an expanded Emergency Operations Center to serve the city's population of more than 200,000 residents.

Bonita Springs:

City of Bonita Springs - Rosemary Drive Stormwater Drainage and Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project: $1 . 4 million: Reconstruction of Rosemary Drive, which lies in a low- to moderate-income neighborhood, for drainage improvements and pedestrian safety improvements; including construction of an 8-foot wide multi-use pathway on the north side of the road and a 10-foot wide multi-use pathway on the south side of the road, reconstruction of existing roadbed, and installation of landscaping on both sides of the roadway.

Bonita Beach Road at US 41 Intersection Improvements: $5.5 million : Implement intersection improvement defined by an ongoing project development study to improve mobility, safety, and emergency evacuation.

Bonita Beach Road Improvements - Vanderbilt Road to Hickory Drive: $2 million : Enhance safety along Bonita Beach Road, by resurfacing pavement, improving bicycle/pedestrian facilities, and adding beautification.

City of Bonita Springs - Goodwin Street Stormwater Drainage and Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project: $1.3 million: Improvements include acquisition of additional right of way for an 8-foot wide multi-use pathway, bridge replacement, reconstruction in expanded right of way to enable the construction of new drainage infrastructure, sidewalks, landscaping, and irrigation.

Estero:

Estero - River Oaks Preserve Improvements: $2.5 million : Construct a storage building, trails, and pedestrian bridge; extend water, sewer, and reclaimed water to the River Oaks Preserve to improve community access to the property.

Estero Septic To Sewer Project Phase 2: $4.6 million: Extend municipal sewer services and remove the existing septic tanks and package treatment plants to eliminate a source of bacteria and nutrients to the Estero River and Estero Bay.

Estero - Broadway Avenue West Improvements Design: $300,000 : Analyze, design, and permit drainage, roadway, and pedestrian improvements along Broadway Avenue, west.

Estero - Broadway Avenue West Improvements Design: $1 million: Reduce flooding and improve roadway and pedestrian safety through the only area of the Village identified as low- to moderate- income by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. This area was also heavily impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Sanibel:

Sanibel - Replace Dune Walkovers From Hurricane Ian: $2 million : Public access to Sanibels beaches is provided through 20 dune walkovers. All the dune walkovers were destroyed by Hurricane Ian, requiring approximately 3,200 linear feet of boardwalk (walkover) to be constructed. Dune walkovers provide safe public and ADA access to the beach and to mitigate pedestrian damage to sensitive dune vegetation.

Sanibel - East Periwinkle Way Bridge Reconstruction Hurricane Ian: $2,500,000 : To construct a resilient bridge on East Periwinkle Way, which is an arterial road to the island's east end and a critical evacuation route.

Sanibel - Road Reconstruction Hurricane Ian: $1 million : Hurricane Ian's 8-foot to more than 12-foot storm surge harmed the city's paved roadway system in the form of cracking, settling, and accelerated deterioration, so the funds will be used to repave, and possibly elevate, Sanibel's vulnerable arterial and collector roads.

Sanibel - Fire Station 172 Reconstruction - Post-Hurricane Ian: $2.2 million : The fund will cover the remaining unfunded liability for the rebuild of Sanibel Fire Station 172. This station suffered devastating damage from Hurricane Ian, with 5 to 6 feet of storm surge.

Sanibel - Operating Revenue Recovery Hurricane Ian: $9.92 million: The city requests funds to replace lost revenue across major funds. Hurricane Ian caused more than $50 million in property loss, resulting in a 34% reduction in taxable property values.

Lehigh Acres:

Florida Governmental Utility Authority - Lehigh Acres Utility System Water Main Extensions: $1,294,118 : Extend potable water mains in the Lehigh Acres Utility System to improve water flow and reliability, especially in the south section of Lehigh Acres for current residents and commercial properties and to accommodate potential future growth.

Lehigh Acres - ROBUST - Rehydration of Bedman Creek Utilizing Storage & Treatment Phase 2 : $ 1.5 million : In ROBUST Phase I, LA-MSID successfully obtained a 2023 appropriation to buy 15-acres. Phase II will design and construct the excavation & submergence to create a littoral shelf to provide water quality during the wet months. The adjacent floodplain will provide storage and additional water quality. New water control structures will regulate flows downstream on Bedman Creek and additional high flows will be diverted to Carlos Waterway, owned by LA-MSID.

Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District - Natural Sinkhole Preservation Project Phase II: $2 million: Lehigh Acres Sinkhole Phase I, LA-MSID obtained a 2023 appropriation to purchase the 19-acre sinkhole parcel. Phase II will remove exotics, design, and build security and public access improvements. The funding will also prioritize the purchase of an additional 1.3-acre parcel with an existing building for an interpretive center.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Ian recovery, infrastructure priority in state budget for Lee County
Mississippi waters aren't exactly a hotspot for great white sharks, but a massive 14-footer has been recorded just 20 miles south of Biloxi and Gulfport.

LeeBeth is a great white shark that has been making headlines in recent months as her movements are tracked by a GPS tag. She's traveled from South Carolina to the western Gulf of Mexico and her last tracking signal came Sunday in Mississippi waters.

"I caught her on December 8 out of Hilton Head, South Carolina," said Outcast Sport Fishing charter guide Chip Michalove. "It's the fourth largest I've caught here, so she's up there.

"She's about 2,600 pounds and a little over 14 feet. She's definitely on the upper end of the totem pole as far as weight and size."

And she's also quite the traveler. Michalove, who estimated the shark to be about 30 years old, said she's covered well over 2,600 miles in the past three months.

LeeBeth, a 14-foot, 2,600-pound great white shark, was caught in December at Hilton Head and outfitted with a GPS transmitter. Her last known location was 20 miles south of Gulfport, Mississippi on March 17.

'She would have starved to death': MS wildlife department saves abandoned bear cub

Massive great white shark off Mississippi coast

Because she covers so much ground, he said it's hard to tell where she is at any given time. Her location is only documented when the GPS unit attached to her dorsal fin breaches water. However, in her case, that's relatively often.

"She's a good pinging shark," Michalove said. "She's pinged the most out of all the one's we've tagged."

According to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, she gave locations twice on Saturday and another on Sunday. If she stays on track, she's even closer to the Mississippi coastline now.

"It looks like she's going to Gulfport," Michalove said.

As a charter fishing guide, Michalove said he puts clients on typical gamefish species in the warmer months. In winter he wears another hat. He targets great white sharks which are caught, tagged and released. LeeBeth, who was caught by client Ed Young of Texas, is one of them.

He said the work is done through a partnership with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. Megan Winton with the AWSC said LeeBeth is opening eyes into the world of white sharks as she swam all the way to Mexico just south of the Texas border.

More: How rare is it to encounter a shark? What to know about the chances of attack

LeeBeth is teaching researchers about great white sharks

"She has been an individual that is breaking shark-record history," Winton said. "She is the first white shark to travel that far west in the Gulf of Mexico."

Once LeeBeth reached Mexico, she turned north and then east, which is what brought her to Mississippi.

"She's in close to shore," Winton said. "She was roughly 20 miles from Gulfport based on the last ping."

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy studies the protected sharks. Winton said decades ago, the great white population was down about 80% from historic levels. Through protections, the population appears to be rebounding.

Winton said the group mainly focuses on the Cape Cod area. She said that's because rebounding seal populations in that area are attracting the sharks in summer to feed on them and place the sharks near people.

With Cape Cod becoming a hotspot for white shark activity, Winton said the data collected from tagged sharks helps the group with out reach and education on managing interactions between humans and sharks.

Where will LeeBeth go next? That's a big question, but you can follow her travels on the AWSC website or on their Sharktivity app along with other tagged great white sharks.

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: LeeBeth, history-making great white shark, pings near Mississippi coast
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Justin Wilson throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Phoenix. The game was canceled because of rain. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP)  Left-hander Justin Wilson has agreed to a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds following his release from a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Wilson can make $1 million in performance bonuses under the agreement for games pitched: $200,000 each for 40 and each additional five through 60.

Cincinnati announced the deal Friday, three days after Wilson became a free agent.

The 36-year-old Wilson last pitched in the major leagues on April 23, 2022, for the Reds.

He had Tommy John surgery that June 3 and signed a $1 million deal with Milwaukee for 2023. Having completed his rehabilitation, he was activated for a July 28 game at Atlanta but strained a lat muscle while warming up in the bullpen during the seventh inning, ending his season.

The Brewers declined a $2.5 million option, allowing Wilson to become a free agent. He signed the minor league deal with the Dodgers on Feb. 16 and allowed one run over three spring training appearances of one inning each.

Wilson is 33-24 with a 3.41 ERA in 527 relief appearances over 11 seasons with Pittsburgh (2-12-14), the New York Yankees (2015, '21), Detroit (2016-17), the Chicago Cubs (2017-18), the New York Mets (2019-20), and Reds (2021-22).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
William J. Samford Hall at Auburn University, as seen on August 14, 2023 in Auburn, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

A bill limiting the ability of Alabama colleges and universities to operate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs is almost on Gov. Kay Iveys desk.

But if the legislation becomes law, some campuses may be more affected than others.

While most public colleges and universities in Alabama operate under state law, the two flagship systems in the state  the University of Alabama and Auburn University  are in the state constitution. That means that the powers that the Legislature has over the universities is much less clear.

The bill, SB 129, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, would limit state funding for DEI measures. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have approved the legislation, though the Senate must concur in House changes or form a conference committee to work out differences in the bill.

The legislation itself appears to anticipate the issue.

It is the intent of the Legislature that all constitutionally created boards of trustees comply with the requirements of this act, the bill says.

Barfoot told reporters after it passed the Senate on Feb. 22 that the extent to which the Legislature could compel compliance from Alabama or Auburn was a great question.

I think that certainly, the Legislature has the ability to add that language in, you saw that happen today, it is the intent, he said. So, the courts can interpret that as they will, if its challenged, certainly the court will interpret that, but I think that was the intent. I know that it was the intent of those who voted in favor of it today.

Multiple messages were left with Barfoot asking to speak further on the topic.

The line between the Legislatures authority and the universities boards of trustees is hazy. Both Alabama and Auburn have self-perpetuating boards of trustees and broad control over their own policies. While the state provides funding to both schools through the Education Trust Fund budget, it cannot control the tuition rates set by the schools.

The Denny Chimes at the University of Alabama, a tall tower reflected in a pond of water.

The Denny Chimes at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, reflected in water on campus. (Stock photo/Getty Images)

Othni Lathram, director of the Alabama Legislative Services Agency, wrote in an email Tuesday that there is not a simple answer to the application of the law to Alabama and Auburn.

That limit stems from the fact that the boards of trustees of those universities are constitutionally vested with the management and control of the institutions, he wrote. Argument over where that limit falls is usually somewhat muted by the fact that the Legislature has authority to exercise general legislative power of the state in ways that impact the universities and does have discretion over the appropriation process for those institutions.

Lathram cited Stevens et. al. v. Thames, a 1920 Alabama Supreme Court case concerning the removal of items from Mobile Medical College to Tuscaloosa. Chief Justice C.J. Anderson wrote that sections of the Constitution governing the University of Alabama and limiting the Legislatures ability to move UA from Tuscaloosa and Auburn University from Auburn only applied to those schools and not Mobile Medical College, which he called a mere subsidiary located in another congressional district.

Lathram said this case formed the basis of the argument that the Legislatures power over Alabama and Auburn is limited.

Both universities told the Reflector after the bill passed the Senate that they were planning to follow applicable laws.

As a land-grant university, Auburn is committed to delivering exceptional experiences and support to all of our students with particular emphasis on providing access and opportunity to the citizenry of Alabama so that they benefit fully from an Auburn education, Auburn said in a statement provided by spokeswoman Jennifer Adams. We work hard each day at Auburn to create an environment where our faculty, staff and students are welcomed, valued, respected and engaged. We remain committed to providing these exceptional experiences while continuing to support academic freedom and freedom of expression. As always, Auburn will act consistently with applicable state and federal law.

Lynn Lowe Cole, vice chancellor for system communications for the University of Alabama, wrote the school will continue to act in accordance with applicable state law.

The University of Alabama System and its institutions  The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, The University of Alabama in Huntsville and the UAB Health System  are dedicated to our mission of providing exceptional educational, research and patient care experiences to all people, of all backgrounds, in welcoming environments, UA said in a statement released by Cole. Our institutions support open thought, academic freedom and free expression. We are committed to providing resources and opportunities that are accessible to all and will continue to work with the legislature as we equip our campus community members for success at our universities and beyond.

The limit that both Lathram and Jim Purcell, executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, noted is that the Legislature does provide some funding to the universities. The University of Alabama system is budgeted to receive $672.5 million from the Education Trust Fund budget this year. Auburn and its affiliates are slated to get about $362 million.



The bill sponsors are specifically signaling in legislative intent that the constitutionally-created higher education entities, UA system and Auburn University (and AUM), should comply with this law, wrote Purcell in a statement after it passed the Senate. All of the other higher education boards are created in law and would also have to comply. Can a constitutional entity object? Sure. If they do however, it is not without risk, as the Legislature could adjust future state appropriations for institutions that dont comply.

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The post Can the Legislature force UA and Auburn to end DEI programs? Its not clear appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Right-wing activists pray outside the Gaza border fence at Erez Crossing in Israel on Feb. 29. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: Your article on the rise of far-right extremists and religious Zionists in Israel explained more than just the age-long settlement goals of these groups in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. It also elucidated the machinery at play that has meticulously fostered such far-right ideas over many years.

These groups have made inroads into the military and the government. They have leveraged their ideas in a very opportunistic manner as a form of reprisal against the Palestinian people for Hamas' attack on Oct. 7.

It is shocking and unsettling to learn that parts of the Israeli leadership are encouraging efforts by far-right groups to re-occupy Gaza by making the area uninhabitable for Palestinians. I hope other world leaders understand this phenomenon and don't just try to justify it as rightful retaliation by Israel.

Malay Sinha, Moorpark

..

To the editor: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, not Israel's religious right, will determine Israel's plan for the Gaza Strip after the war against Hamas.

His policy will reflect the existential need to prevent the repeated Oct. 7 massacres promised by Ghazi Hamad of Hamas' political bureau, who stated there would be more massacres until Israel is annihilated.

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has vowed that the people of the Gaza Strip will "eat the livers of those besieging them" and "tear their hearts out."

The Hamas charter is also clear: "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it." Hamas is and always has been consistent in its public declarations of commitment to eradication of Israel.

So, Israel's plans for Gaza will reflect that, like battle plans, circumstances in Gaza can change rapidly. Israel must respond to situations in Gaza as they present themselves.

Julia Lutch, Davis, Calif.

..

To the editor: As a secular Jew who made "aliyah" (immigrated to Israel), I read with interest your articles on Israel's far right and on calls from the U.S. for elections in Israel.

When I arrived in 1980, the question was, "What's more important for Israel's security  a piece of paper or land?"

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) had it right when he said, "Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah," and that the "Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past."

When I returned to the United States in 1988, most Israelis were saying that the Palestinians should have their own state, as long as it's demilitarized.

That's a solution that I think is fair. The difficulty is in how to implement it.

Victoria Shere, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: The actions of the Israeli extremists blocking aid to Gaza are reprehensible. But how does their goal of occupying Gaza differ from the goals of Hamas and its supporters who chant "from the river to the sea"?

I am frustrated at the failure to acknowledge that the goal of Hamas and many Palestinians is to expel the Jews from Israel.

Cathy Costin, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: Your separate articles on Israel's religious far right and devout followers of former President Trump describe hubris taken to new heights.

On the one hand, religionists who claim to know the mind of God illustrate the pronouncement in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by the character Puck, "What fools these mortals be."

And those who claim that God ordains the destruction of Gaza or the selection of a totally incompetent, immoral, dishonest, self-serving man and alleged felon to be the chosen one to be president illustrates Woody Allen's comment: "If it turns out that there is a god ... he's an underachiever."

S.H. Kardener, Santa Monica

..

To the editor: I am a lifelong Zionist and a child of the Shoah. How can Jewish people advocate driving others from their generational homes?

The horrible words are "ethnic cleansing," and I am heartbroken.

Paul Malykont, Los Osos

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
To the editor: As a physician and medical administrator, I can guarantee that doctors want to provide medically necessary care to their patients. This includes those performing abortions. ("Asked to clear up abortion bans, GOP leaders blame doctors and misinformation for the confusion," March 12)

But the threat of criminal prosecution for violating vaguely worded abortion bans passed into law in Republican-led states has a chilling effect. Criminal prosecutions are not covered by medical malpractice insurance, so the costs of mounting a defense fall solely on the physician.

Reputable medical specialty organizations (such as the American Heart Assn. and American Cancer Society) and government agencies have developed detailed guidelines for providing care. Physicians are used to following these guidelines.

In states that have banned abortions but where politicians claim abortions are allowed to save a woman's life, all physicians want is for those governments to develop clear guidelines. If they cant  which South Dakota state Sen. Erin Tobin, a forced-birth advocate, concedes  the exceptions to the bans exist only on paper.

No matter how much forced-birth advocates try to blame physicians rather than themselves for the public disapproval of their religious-based efforts, doctors will still refuse to do abortions in those states.

And I think the American public is smart enough to know that the doctors are right.

Daniel Fink, M.D., Beverly Hills

..

To the editor: Thanks for clarifying the confusion over the abortion issue for us.

Clearly, columnist Michael Hiltzik's article on efforts in Republican-led states to fight federal regulations meant to remove lead from water should horrify us all.

However, it might explain the confusion over the abortion bans in many of these same states. Perhaps it's the dangerous level of lead in water that has caused the fogginess in the brains of the Republican politicians who refuse to spend money rectifying the situation.

If only there was a remedy before November.

Marley Sims, Valley Village

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Jae Cancel sits at the window inside a Tallahassee, Fla., transgender safe house. The safe house was launched in December 2022 by local nonprofit Capital Tea, a group that focuses on transgender outreach.

Quandarius Chanel Johnson twirled a gold-colored crown that glinted with light streaming in from a nearby window.

Its a symbol to remind her of her strength. After all, Im a Leo, Johnson said.

She keeps the crown hanging on her bedpost. Johnson, a Black transgender woman, lives in a safe house not far from the Florida Capitol, where lawmakers in recent years have placed new restrictions on transgender people, as have legislators in other Republican-dominated states.

Last spring, for example, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new law prohibiting puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors, and another barring transgender people from using the restroom that matches their gender identity.

Tucked in a quiet neighborhood on the eastern outskirts of Floridas capital city, the four-bedroom, 1,600-square-foot house with a brick archway and shrub-lined walkway is just 5 miles from the capitol building. But it offers a sanctuary  albeit a limited one  from the transgender debates roiling the Florida legislature.

Launched by Capital Tea, a local transgender outreach nonprofit, it opened in December 2022 and has five resident beds plus another bed for emergency stays. The money to run it comes from foundations and nonprofits concerned about violence against LGBTQ+ people, said director Janel Diaz.

Quandarius Chanel Johnson, 23, holds a gold-tinted crown that she keeps in her bedroom at a transgender safe house in Tallahassee, Fla.

Transgender and gender-nonconforming adults are more likely to be homeless, with many of them kicked out of their homes by disapproving relatives, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

About 1 in 5 transgender people have experienced homelessness at some point, the National Center for Transgender Equality reports, and Black people make up a disproportionate number of them.

When I came out to my family, I was kicked out of my house, too, said Diaz, who is transgender. Then 18, she lived on the streets for a year. To some people that might seem not a lot. But for me, it seemed like an eternity.

Residents can stay for up to a year at Capital Teas safe house, which is reserved for transgender women. This summer, Diaz said, the group plans to open a house for transgender men. She hopes to grow the program beyond Florida and create a model program for other states and cities.

I want it to be to where it is not just Tallahassee-based, Diaz said. I want Capital Tea to be the Underground Railroad of trans housing.

Janel Diaz, right, the founder of the transgender outreach group Capital Tea, shares a meal with residents of the organizations safe house for transgender women in Tallahassee, Fla.

Efforts elsewhere

In Memphis, Tennessee, where gender-affirming health care for youth is now illegal under state law, My Sistahs House offers a shelter for transgender women. Tennessee, like Florida, is GOP-dominated, but similar homes exist in Democratic-controlled states.

A ministry group runs the R&R Space in Michigan; a group of Republican lawmakers in that state last month discussed banning transgender health care for everyone.

Other examples include a transitional housing program run by the Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts, and one run by the TransLatin Coalition in Los Angeles.

The issue of housing resonates throughout transgender communities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a series of reports last month on transgender women, HIV disparities and housing. Among 1,566 transgender women, 31% reported being homeless for between a month and a year. In addition, more than half of transgender women who reported being evicted or denied housing due to their gender identity also reported being homeless for that amount of time.

Elle Lett, a University of Washington School of Public Health statistician-epidemiologist, who is a Black and trans woman, has researched the issue.

Trans people are subjected to interpersonal and structural discrimination that often leaves them unhoused, without social supports, and these things are exacerbated by other intersecting systems of oppression like racism and ableism, said Lett, who is also a medical school student at the University of Pennsylvania. They have a lot working against them.

Public health experts note that housing and well-being are closely linked. Christopher AhnAllen, director of inpatient psychology at Brigham & Womens Hospital and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, said places such as the Capital Tea home create spaces of love and joy and wellness that are essential to contrast the hostility and hate that may exist in other spaces.

At home in Tallahassee

The house in Tallahassee is decked out with contemporary-style furniture  velvet gray sofas, pink candles and tall lamps that glow different colors. Heavy incense wafts through the air. A rec room closet has a stack of board games and donations of clothes and toiletries.

Johnson, who has HIV, receives health care from a local clinic for low-income HIV patients. But she doesnt know how she will pay for her upcoming medical transition.

On a recent afternoon, she had more pressing concerns on her mind. Johnson and her housemate Jae Cancel had just finished tidying for incoming residents, and Diaz announced that she was making a run to McDonalds.

Filet-o-Fish? Diaz called out to Cancel.

Yes! Love you!

Cancel, 20, has been homeless since they were 15. Cancels mother kicked them out multiple times, shuffling the then-teen to their fathers house, where they said they were beaten. Stateline agreed to use a pseudonym for this story and withheld Cancels full name for their safety.

In the summer of 2022, before connecting with Capital Tea, Cancel got off the streets and was doing yard work for a homeowner in exchange for a room in an RV. The situation quickly deteriorated, however, and Cancel didnt feel safe with the homeowner.

After Capital Tea saw Cancels social media posts about the housing situation, Diaz and her team got them a hotel room before taking them to the local homeless shelter, where they shared a room with other homeless transgender youth until the Capital Tea house became ready at the end of the year.

It was the life raft thrown when you least expect it, Cancel said.

Cancel shared a room and single bathroom with other trans residents at the homeless shelter, and was followed around the premises several times.

Here [at the Capital Tea house], I know that Im not going to be judged when I turn this corner, and Im not going to be talked about, Cancel said. Im able to really sit in silence and stillness.

Johnson was 18 when she started wearing lashes and getting her hair done. But her family in rural Georgia rejected her transgender identity.

At 19, she moved to Tallahassee to get away. At 22, her mother died while Johnson was living with a roommate who didnt accept her identity and was toxic, Johnson said.

It had me in a low place, she said, her chin trembling, adding that living with her previous roommate felt like I was still being robbed of who I was as a person.

She met and befriended Diaz through local drag shows.

I need to get out of this situation, Johnson said she told Diaz. She [Diaz] was like, Can you hold on, and I got you? I did what I needed to do to maintain.

One day, Johnson got a phone call.

Ive got a surprise for you, Diaz told her. She picked Johnson up and brought her to the house. This is going to be where youll be staying.

Johnson said she sees herself and her housemates as a sisterhood.

She didnt know me from a can of paint, but she knew I was connected to her in some type of way, she said about having Diaz as a mentor and second mom. Shes been one person that has literally been in my corner.

Johnson said she is relieved to have shelter.

You cant box something that was never meant to fit in, she said.

Nada Hassanein, formerly a reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat and USA TODAY, now covers health care inequities for Stateline, an online news service that focuses on trends in state policy. This story is republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Transgender people find safe haven in Tallahassee, Floridas capital
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis expressed doubt at a meeting of EU foreign ministers on 18 March that the EU countries will be on the same page regarding the potential deployment of Western troops to Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda

Details: Landsbergis was answering a question about whether ministers would discuss the possibility of developing a common position on the deployment of Western troops in Ukraine.

"I don't believe that it will be possible to agree on something like this," Landsbergis said.

"We have proved in the past that we are unable to agree on less sensitive issues... So I cant imagine that we would be able to agree upon something like this," Landsbergis added.

He noted that Lithuania's position is to "consider all options and be part of a coalition that will help Ukraine win this war."

Background:

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said that a possible deployment of Western troops to Ukraine "could not be ruled out."

Clarifying his statement later, Macron stressed that if such a scenario were to be implemented, French forces would not launch an offensive against Russia.

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CLEVELAND (WJW)  The woman who is accused of leaving her 16-month-old daughter alone for more than a week while she vacationed, leading to the girls death from starvation and dehydration, was sentenced to life in prison without parole in a Cleveland courtroom Monday morning.

Kristel Candelario, 32, left her 16-month-old daughter Jailyn Candalario, alone and unattended at her home near Lorain Avenue and West 97th Street in Cleveland on June 6. She did not return until June 16, 2023.

JOANN Inc., fabric and craft company, files for bankruptcy

Authorities said Candelario traveled to Detroit and Puerto Rico. She returned 10 days later to find the girl unresponsive and called police.

The child was pronounced dead at the home. She was discovered in a playpen soiled with urine and feces, according to the release. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office determined she died of starvation and severe dehydration and ruled her death a homicide.

On February 22, Candelario pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder and one count of endangering children. On Monday, Candelario was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of patrol for aggravated murder and 8-12 years for endangering children.

During the sentencing, Candelarios parents and Jailyns grandparents stood up to speak.

Man falls to his death from hot-air balloon

My heart is ripped apart in 1000 pieces, Jailyns grandmother said. I am here to tell the world, that my daughter came from a home where there were values, beliefs, emotions, warmth. Where the most important thing was family.

The grandmother continued on to say about Candelario, Her emotional health was affected on more than one occasion. Between her work and other responsibilities and day-to-day life, in the middle of all that, she never prioritized continuing treatment. Because of all that, her depression and anxiety all ended up consuming her.

In tears, she said, I want to say before Jailyn that your memory will never leave us. We love you. Your grandparents will never forget you. She continued on to say to her daughter, Candelario, Forgive me for not having detected what you were going through.

Candelarios dad also stood up to speak in the courtroom. He said in part, I am shocked by everything that happened and I am giving moral and spiritual support to our daughter, Kristel.

I ask for compassion, understanding and mercy. Depression and anxiety consumed her to the point of depriving her of good judgment.

My beloved daughter, always remember that we will never forget Jailyn, our beloved granddaughter. We miss you very much. I carry her image always within my memory. Jailyn is the light of our life, he said.

During the sentencing, it was revealed that Candelario also has a 7-year-old daughter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Local races are heating up in Gainesville and Alachua County as more and more candidates file to run for office.

Republicans in Florida can vote in Tuesday's GOP primary, though former President Donald Trump seems to have already clinched the nomination. Florida Democrats will not get to cast a primary vote at all, as the state party decided it would only place one name  President Joe Biden  on the ballot.

Still, with many local seats up for grabs on Nov. 5, and an upcoming primary on Aug. 20, heres a breakdown of the candidates in some of the most contentious races for the 2024 election.

Kim Barton, the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections, and Thomas Jaworski look at ballots at the Supervisor of Elections Office in Gainesville, Fla. on March 17, 2020.

More: School District proposed creating an alternative disciplinary school. How did that happen?

More: DeSantis-appointed GRU Authority board member backs local House Democrat candidate

Alachua County sheriff

Incumbent Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in September after Democrat Clovis Watson Jr. resigned and pulled out of the race for reelection. Gainey faces six challengers so far, and has raised nearly $72,000 toward his campaign.

Leading the pack in terms of campaign contributions is Democrat Chad Scott, who oversees patrol at the sheriff's office, among other functions. He is a former police chief for the city of Alachua, a place he worked for 13 years. Watson and his former undersheriff, Joel DeCoursey, held the position prior to Scott.

Campaign finance data shows Scott has raised nearly $24,500 toward his campaign. Top contributions include $1,000 from Watson, $1,000 from DeCoursey, $1,000 from former Alachua City Manager Adam Boukari and $500 from Chris Sims, a former spokesperson for the Alachua County Sheriffs Office.

So far, Gainey will face off with just one challenger in the Republican primary, a Gainesville police officer named Justin Thomas.

Democratic candidates include Tyronne R. Johnson Jr., a felon with over a dozen criminal charges; Peter King, a current ACSO sergeant; and Latrell Simmons, a former high ranking official with ACSO during former Sheriff Sadie Darnell's tenure and is currently a captain with the University of Florida Police Department. There is one independent candidate in the race, Pamela Marshall-Koons, a local nonprofit owner.

Florida House and Senate

In what is shaping up to be a competitive race, four candidates have applied to run for Florida Rep. Chuck Clemons seat as he has reached term limits.

There are two Republicans in the race so far: Raemi Eagle-Glenn, a former Alachua County commissioner and local attorney, and Chad Johnson, a former Levy County commissioner who was appointed by former Gov. Charlie Christ.

Eagle-Glenns campaign contributions currently total over $71,000, and Johnsons contributions sit at $61,000.

There are two Democrats running for the seat: Amy Jane Trask and David Arreola. Arreola was the youngest person to ever be elected to the Gainesville City Commission in 2017 and served two terms. He placed third in the last Gainesville mayoral race that was eventually won by Harvey Ward.

Arreola has raised $25,000 for his campaign. Notably, a member of the all-Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis-appointed Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority board  James Coats  recently donated $500 to Arreolas progressive campaign.

Trasks finances are right below $2,000.

At this point there is no one running for Alachua Countys other two state representative seats currently belonging to Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson and Rep. Chuck Brannon other than the incumbents.

Sen. Keith Perry's District 9 seat in the state Senate is also up for grabs with the Gainesville Republican being term-limited in 2024. Republican Rep. Stan McClain, who represents District 27 in the House, has filed to run. He has raised nearly $90,000 for his campaign.

McClain faces one Democratic challenger, Sylvain Dore, a member of the University of Florida board of trustees who has no reported campaign contributions.

Alachua County Commission

A couple of sitting county commissioners have challengers to their seats already.

Mary Alford, commission chair and county commissioner for District 1, has filed for reelection.

The former environmental engineer resigned from the commission in May 2022 after The Sun reported she lived outside her district due to personal reasons. Afterward, she managed to find a new home and qualified for her former seat in time for the election. She won reelection by 16,000 votes over incumbent Raemi Eagle-Glenn, who was appointed by Gov. DeSantis to the vacated seat.

Now, Alford faces just one opponent: Dejeon Cain.

Cain is a Gainesville native and a graduate of Gainesville High School. He previously worked as a parking enforcement officer for the University of Florida but now owns and operates a local security company, Fortitude Security. Cain ran to join the Gainesville City Commission last year and lost to Casey Willits.

Alford has raised $7,000 compared to Cains $5,000.

District 3 Commissioner Anna Prizzia will await the winner of the Republican primary before finding out who her opponent will be. Brandon Kutner, a deputy sheriff at ACSO, and Jenn Garrett, a local artist and member of the Alachua County Public Schools District Advisory Council, will face each other in the Republican primary.

Prizzia has raised nearly $11,000, while Garretts contributions total $26,000 and Kutners sit at $3,000.

Charles Chuck Chestnut IV is running for reelection in District 5. He currently faces no challengers.

City of Gainesville Commission

Both At-large seats on the Gainesville City Commission are up for grabs.

Reina Saco, current seat-A commissioner, has not filed for reelection, and up to replace her is Fareed Michael Reshard Johnson, who was arrested for robbing a bank in 2013, and James Ingle.

Cynthia Chestnut, current seat-B commissioner, has filed for reelection and will face Ocie Alston in the election. Neither have reported any campaign contributions.

Supervisor of Elections

Current Supervisor of Elections Kim Barton has made a bid for reelection, raising over $2,700 for her campaign so far. She faces one challenger, Judith Jenson, who has raised $2,200.

Jenson is the secretary of the Alachua County Republican Party and was co-chair of the partys Election Integrity Committee.

Alachua County School Board

School board chair Diyonne McGraw is running for reelection for her seat on the board representing District 2. Her opponent is Thomas Vu, a former math teacher and a district employee. Neither candidate has reported any campaign contributions.

Also running for reelection is District 4 board member Leanetta McNealy, who faces Lew Welge, an Abraham Lincoln impersonator and a retired Florida public school guidance counselor, according to his campaign website. Neither have reported any finances.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: A look at Gainesville and Alachua County candidates for office in 2024
The last time a total solar eclipse passed through anywhere in northeastern Pennsylvania was 99 years ago, on Saturday morning, Jan. 24, 1925. This included all of Lackawanna and Wayne counties, and most of Pike.

Millions saw it, including my late mother from Honesdale, who was 10. She remembered it all her life. This story recalls her report as well as impressions preserved in the local newspapers.

Using proper eye protection, the partial eclipse coming on Monday afternoon, April 8 will be spectacular, with nearly 95% of the sun briefly covered. The nearest point to Wayne County where the eclipse will be total is near Syracuse, New York. If the weather forecast is favorable, undoubtedly many northeast Pennsylvanians will be heading that way.

Back in the Roaring 1920s from the northern Poconos there was no need to travel. The sky was clear, and one only had to step outside or even peer from a window to witness the fantastic sight of the black moon covering the sun, the glow of the solar corona all around it and the brightest stars and planets appearing.

The moon's shadow crossed over the Great Lakes area and west-central New York before entering Pennsylvania. From there, it crossed northern New Jersey, the Catskills and lower Hudson Valley, greater New York City, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

My mother lived with her family at 914 Church St., across from the park in Honesdale. It was an extremely cold morning. After breakfast, they bundled up, went onto the sidewalk, and looked southeast toward the rising sun.

Her mother, Eva W. Garratt, kept a diary and entered the following for Jan. 24, 1925:

"At 9:10, total eclipse of the sun. We all looked at it with camera films. Very inspiring, though Grandma washed dishes through it all! Did not see light streamers and colors as those on the hills. Was 20 degrees when it occurred. Elsa taking music lessons at Mable Broad."

(She likely meant "-20 degrees" as other local sources state the mercury was well below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.)

Along with Elsa and her parents were her younger siblings, Ruth and David. Their father, Chester A. Garratt, was serving as district attorney. He was fascinated with the natural world.

My grandmother Eva took a picture of the eclipse with her box camera loaded with 620 film.

Despite frigid early morning temperatures, the Garratt family and many others in Honesdale viewed the total solar eclipse Saturday, Jan. 24, 1925. This writer's mother, who was Elsa W. Garratt and was 10 years old, saw it with her parents and siblings from in front of their home at 914 Church St. Her mother Eva took this stunning photograph with a Brownie box camera and 620 film, shortly before totality began at 9:09 a.m. The bright crescent sun is shown over the roofline of the Grace Episcopal Church and between trees in Central Park. This is a negative image; the brilliant sun burned its image and would appear black if printed normally.

Evas picture shows an overexposed partially eclipsed sun, soon before totality. It was captured over Grace Episcopal church and between trees in Central Park.

A popular but risky method back then to view the eclipse was through several stacked layers of overexposed camera film. More common, but also no longer considered safe, was to blacken a piece of glass with candle or lantern soot.

Elsa's grandmother Selina Ham Garratt lived with them and either thought it was just too cold out or was apprehensive or disinterested. Ever mindful of household chores, she stayed in the kitchen cleaning their breakfast dishes while the daylight through the windows temporarily became deep twilight. The kitchen windows did not face the right direction to see the rising sun.

My mother told me that as darkness fell, roosters started crowing. Back then it was not unusual to have poultry in town. Already frigid, it became much colder with the sun gone, she said. She reported seeing bright stars or planets.

The family of at least one of her schoolmates, she later learned, was convinced the world was ending.

Eclipse watchers: This is the Garratt family of 914 Church St., Honesdale, in the mid-1920s. They were among many in town who watched the total solar eclipse of Jan. 24, 1925. From left is Eva W. Garratt; her daughters Ruth and Elsa; husband Chester A. Garratt, and in front, her son David. Elsa, who was 10, was Peter Becker's mother. Chester was serving as Wayne County district attorney at the time.

Like at any eclipse, some would not likely see it owing to being confined. Wayne County Memorial Hospital, located next to the courthouse, had opened only five years earlier and probably had a few patients.

We do know the Wayne County jail, the old stone lockup, had at least one guest. A news report stated that a man from Prompton was arrested the day before and incarcerated for running an illegal, 500-gallon corn mash still.

From Honesdale, totality began at 9:09 a.m. and lasted one minute and 46 seconds.

Honesdale's two newspapers reported on the following.

The Wayne County Citizen stated: "The morning dawned bright and clear and cold with a temperature of about 12 degrees below zero in Honesdale. The sun came up with startling brilliance, but shortly before eight o'clock began to lose its full power by the encroachment of the moon... As the shadow gradually increased the brilliance of the winter morning faded until shortly before nine o'clock a twilight of peculiar hue spread over the land.

"Residents of Honesdale ceased their working and hurried to points of advantage to witness the sight of the century; Irving Cliff and neighboring hills were lined with spectators who braved the zero temperature...

"Shortly after nine o'clock the sun was blotted out and for a few minutes the darkness of a moonlight night prevailed over the country. Stars made their appearance in numbers and street and auto lights cast their brilliance throughout the town. The luster and beauty of the flaming rays, spreading out from the unseen sun, brought exclamations of wonderment and appreciation from practically the entire population.

"House tops, windows, streets and every point of advantage were occupied by spellbound watchers of the marvelous spectacle. In a flash of light, the sun again made its appearance, and the darkness was all over. Business resumed its natural course..."

The Wayne Independent reported the temperature as 14 below, pinching the nose and stinging the feet of anyone not careful.

The eclipse became sermon material the next morning. At Grace Episcopal Church, Honesdale, Rev. G. B. Walter preached on "The Heavens Declare the Glory of God..." The sermon, printed verbatim in The Citizen, asserted that the eclipse provided a powerful message to a congregation of millions, understood by anyone not hindered by pride.

The Independent reported, "It is said that there were a few in Honesdale who became extremely excited insomuch as they had not even heard of the eclipse and when the shadows began to lengthen and the partial darkness began to appear they thought the end of the world had come," adding that most were completely prepared by the information in the newspapers, on bulletin boards and other ways.

Honesdale's power company turned on the streetlamps, but the Independent said they were not needed.

"All over the eastern part of the nation observations were made by all classes and kinds of folks and an opportunity to see this exhibit in the heavens will not return for another century to this locality," the Independent added.

This picture taken by Frederick W. Goetz from Highland Falls, New York, shows the total solar eclipse of Jan. 24, 1925, as the moon was just at the edge of the sun, leaving a sliver of sunlight to shine with what is known as the Diamond Ring effect. The solar atmosphere, called the corona, is visible around the moon's edge. Viewers of the total eclipse on April 8, 2024, can expect to see a similar display of nature. Eyes must be protected when viewing the partial eclipse phases; during totality no eye protection is required from the sun. From the Poconos, the sun will reach about 95% covered, causing the landscape to briefly darken like early twilight.

Residents of other local communities were also enthralled by the event. In Milford, crowds thought a high vantage point would help, hiking to the Knob overlooking the borough, or on Foster Hill, the Dispatch reported. At Mill Rift, Erie locomotives sent up "effective smoke screens" allowing the public to see the partial eclipse phase before it reached totality.

At totality in Scranton, traffic came to a stop and trolleys halted as everyone looked up. Miners came out of the mines into daylight only to experience totality's twilight. Boys exited the breakers. Factory and mill workers paused to witness the wonder. The Tribune writer said all were struck by the awesomeness of it all and how small it made them feel.

The chance to see a total solar eclipse in any location on Earth is exceedingly rare. Sky and Telescope reported that the average time between two total solar eclipses is 375 years.

The next total solar eclipse to be seen locally includes all of eastern Pennsylvania and eastward. This is in 55 years, during the early morning of Monday, May 1, 2079, data calculated by Fred Espenak from NASA shows. From Honesdale, totality begins 40 seconds after sunrise (6:07 a.m.) and lasts a minute and 35 seconds.

Note: Observing the sun through smoked glass, sunglasses, or overexposed camera film, although once common, are not adequate to protect the eyes. Specially made solar filters, safely used, or indirect means such as projecting an image of the sun through a pinhole in cardboard or through a telescope onto a white screen are completely safe. For more information on the upcoming eclipse and safe viewing tips, see timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2024-april-8 or science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/.

Peter Becker has worked at the Tri-County Independent or its predecessor publications since 1994. Reach him at pbecker@tricountyindependent.com or 570-253-3055 ext. 1588.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Last total solar eclipse in northern Poconos was in 1925
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Lockport man pleaded guilty on Friday to fatally shooting a victim who was riding a bicycle with an air gun this past August in Buffalo, the Erie County District Attorneys Office announced.

Officials said 43-year-old Kenneth James fatally shot 38-year-old Joseph Dash with an air gun on Aug. 14 while Dash, who died at the scene, was riding a bicycle on Broadway near Krettner Street. An autopsy determined that Dash died from a pellet round shot to the chest.

James pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6.

Latest Local News

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
The Long Beach Police Department released a statement following Fridays disturbance and violence at The Pike Outlets.

Chief Wally Hebeish says officers were aware of the large meetup well ahead of time and adequately prepared for any issues.

We had hundreds of juveniles come to The Pike as part of a viral social media meet-up, Hebeish said in a post on the Long Beach P.D.s Instagram page. Our officers were prepared and extremely visible throughout the downtown area.

Hebeish adds that authorities declared a stage two tactical alert, which allowed the police department to ensure it was adequately staffed for the meet-up by adjusting the work schedule for officers on Saturday.

The pandemonium began Saturday afternoon at The Pike Outlets. Video obtained by stringer service OC Hawk shows two females in a fistfight. There was a large group of teens surrounding the two females as the fight continued, with many seen recording the confrontation on their phones.

At one point, a fight broke out, Hebeish said. And officers immediately intervened by running into a large crowd, taking control of the situation, and arresting both suspects involved.

The two suspects in the fight are described only as an adult woman and a juvenile female. After the commotion had calmed down, the owners of The Pike Outlets and retailers in the shopping center, elected to close early to avoid any further incidents.

The shopping center was closed at around 6 p.m. Saturday and guests were told to clear out. Officers made an announcement that anyone who didnt comply would be arrested. Hebeish was happy with how officers handled the situation.

I am incredibly proud of the efforts of our officers [Saturday], Hebeish added. I want to reiterate that the Long Beach Police Department will not tolerate criminal acts or violence in our community.

Two youths got into a fistfight at the Long Beach Pike Outlets as several hundred juveniles in the area arrived for a meetup. Long Beach Police broke up the fight and patrolled the area on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk)

Two youths got into a fistfight at the Long Beach Pike Outlets as several hundred juveniles in the area arrived for a meetup. Long Beach Police broke up the fight and patrolled the area on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk)

Two youths got into a fistfight at the Long Beach Pike Outlets as several hundred juveniles in the area arrived for a meetup. Long Beach Police broke up the fight and patrolled the area on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk)

Long Beach Police intervened after a fight broke out among two juveniles at The Pike Outlets in Long Beach on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk)

Long Beach Police intervened after a fight broke out among two juveniles at The Pike Outlets in Long Beach on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk)

Officers arrested one of the juveniles involved in the fist fight in Long Beach on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk)

Officers arrested one of the juveniles involved in the fist fight in Long Beach on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk)

Long Beach Police officers patrol the area after breaking up a fight between two juveniles at the Long Beach Pike Outlets on March 16, 2024. (OC Hawk)

Just moments after the fight broke out between the two females, a juvenile male was shot in the vicinity of The Pike Outlets. Officers found the boy nearby at The Promenade suffering from a gunshot wound to his lower body. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was listed in stable condition.

Residents of Long Beach have spoken out after a wave of violence has hit the community recently, where multiple shootings have occurred over the past few weeks.

A man was fatally stabbed at a Daves Hot Chicken restaurant in the Long Beach neighborhood of Belmont Shore earlier this month.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
The winter of 2023-2024 was unusually sparse in snow, ice and cold, and scientists know the reason why: it was the hottest winter on record. Month-to-month temperatures have been getting broken so consistently over the past few months that the media has started referring to the 2023-2024 winter as the "lost winter." Indeed, a number of scientists suggested that this so-called "lost winter" may not be at all unusual in the future if humans do not address climate change.

In fact, hotter temperatures all year long can be expected, as indicated in an official statement by professor Adam Scaife, Head of Long Range Prediction at the Met Office, who said, 2024 is the first calendar year where there is a significant chance of breaching the 1.5 C level, but whether this happens will depend on the balance between the extra warmth from the current El Nino and whether we get a decrease later in 2024 from La Nina.

The term "El Nino" refers to the weather phenomenon in which above-average sea-surface temperatures develop throughout the east-central equatorial Pacific; similarly, "La Nina" is the cyclical cooling of sea-surface temperatures in the east-central equatorial Pacific. The increased burning of fossil fuels, which is largely responsible for emitting the greenhouse gases causing global warming. This is the primary reason why, when 2023 ended, it was the hottest year in recorded history.

Continuing this trend, February 2024 was the hottest February ever recorded, raising red flags among scientists within its 29-day span. On average, February 2024 was 1.77 Celsius warmer than the average February before the Industrial Revolution, according to Copernicus, the European Unions climate monitoring service. Similarly, January 2024 was the hottest January ever recorded.

The bad news is that Earth has officially passed the 1.5 Celsius threshold established as a target by the Paris climate accord to encourage greenhouse gas reductions. The good news is that, while humanity is on the path to surpassing the threshold of being warmer than 1.5 Celsius for several consecutive years, we have not officially done so yet.

Yet the close of February 2029 makes it clear that Earth's condition is still quite ominous, scientists who spoke to Salon all confirm. A recent study by Climate Central found that winters longest cold streaks have shrunk in 98% (236) of 240 U.S. locations studied since 1970. Overall the duration of cold streaks diminished by an average of six days across those locations since 1970. The trend is unmistakeable, and the implications are dire.

Just ask Dr. James Hansen, a professor of climatology at Columbia University, whose famous 1988 testimony before Congress helped raise awareness about the issue. He identified one statistic that is particularly concerning  ocean temperatures.

"The subsurface ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean" is notable, Hansen wrote to Salon. He observed that the excess heat this year was much less than would normally be present prior to a Super El Nino, or an unusually strong El Nino. Yet this El Nino was hardly "super," despite the NOAA declaration; Hansen says they "simply looked at the [sea surface temperatures] in the Nino region, saw that it almost reached +2 C, and declared it 'Super.'" Much of that warming came from human-caused climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions. "The excess heat in the equatorial Pacific that is belched out during the El Nino was not super at all, yet we got record temperatures."

In short, "the El Nino was half-baked and yet it easily drove record global temperature."

Kevin E. Trenberth, a distinguished scholar at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, wrote in The Conversation last June that "El Ninos tend to peak in December, although their biggest atmospheric impacts may not be until February." Trenberth told Salon that "this was sort of expected. The El Nino was expected to peak in December in the tropical Pacific, as it did, but the global impacts peak in February. It will now decline and the event will be over by about May. After then the [sea surface temperatures] will likely be near then below 2023 and it is not a given that 2024 will beat 2023 as warmest year."

Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes.

Other experts also expressed alarm at the fact that El Nino played a relatively minor role in causing this February's warming.

"El Nino has certainly provided an extra heating boost, but other parts of the planet outside of the usual El Nino influence, such as the Atlantic Ocean, have also been exceptionally warm during the past year," Steve Vavrus, a senior scientist and state climatologist at the University of WisconsinMadison, wrote to Salon. "It appears that last month will go down as Earths warmest February on record. February was also the 9th straight time that Earth set a new record high temperature for that month. The streak began last June."

Rebecca Benner, managing director for climate programs at The Nature Conservancy, told Salon that the ocean's unprecedented warming "has potential implications we dont even understand yet. It will certainly have huge impacts on fish, including commercial fish, whales and corals among other ocean-dwelling species, but it will also have major implications for weather patterns including potentially causing more hurricanes."

Because humanity cannot accurately predict the full extent of how warm oceans will shift weather patterns, "we are in uncharted territory," she said.

Benner also drew attention to the fact that February's record-breaking temperatures were part of a larger trend. "Climate change is all about long-term trends," Benner pointed out. "We are living the trends. We are seeing consistently hotter temperatures over time. We know we cannot attribute any one extreme weather event to climate change, but we are starting to live patterns and trends that show climate change is a tangible reality."

Trenberth identified other signs of this trend beyond rising sea surface temperatures: The drought in the Amazon, the wildfires in Texas and carbon dioxide in Mauna Loa, which in Jan. 2024 was 422.8 parts per million. "But a year ago, Jan. 2023, it was 419.5, an increase of 3.3 ppm: as high as it has ever been," Trenberth said.

Global heating isn't just getting worse; the deterioration is accelerating. As Hansen summed it up, "the broader picture is that there is something else going on besides natural tropical variability on top of the steady global warming rate (0.18 C per decade) that occurred during 1970-2010."

"We have made the case, in our "Global Warming in the Pipeline" paper, that the 'something else' is that the first payment has come due for our Faustian Aerosol Bargain," Hansen said. "Aerosol cooling limited global warming by greenhouse gases, but aerosols kill 6-8 million people per year worldwide, so we are finally reducing aerosols, and that is the main cause of the acceleration of global warming."

Dr. Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London, concluded that people "should not be surprised" that February 2024 broke so many climate records.

"Theres now so much evidence pointing to the fact that our climate is warming, if you want to deny climate change, you might as well claim the earth is flat, too," Otto said. Billions of measurements from weather stations, satellites, ships and planes point to the very basic fact that our planet is heating up at a dangerous pace."
A Missouri man decided to purchase a $10 scratch-off ticket on a whim during his trip to the grocery store, resulting in a huge win, lottery officials said.

The Fenton man, who chose to remain anonymous, said he was deciding between which of the available two machines he would buy a ticket from, according to a March 18 news release from Missouri Lottery officials.

After unloading his groceries, the winner started scratching his 100X The Money ticket with his thumb when he revealed a 100X symbol, officials said.

I stopped scratching and went upstairs to let my wife finish scratching it off, the winner said.

He told officials he initially believed hed won $100.

Thats not $100, his wife told him, according to lottery officials.

I looked at it and saw it was $1 million! the husband said. My wife had to pinch herself to make sure she wasnt dreaming, he added.

The couple checked multiple times to make sure the win was real, according to lottery officials.

The $1 million winner was purchased at Schnucks in Fenton.

Fenton is about a 20-mile drive southwest from St. Louis.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Lottery player finds 5-month-old ticket days before it expires. Its a huge winner

Lottery player turns $100 win into $1 million. I thought the scanner was broken

71-year-old lottery player gets a call to check his numbers. sure enough...
[Source]

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed legislation on Wednesday recognizing Lunar New Year as a state holiday.

Key points:

The details:

Trending on NextShark: Japan's most famous cherry blossom trees could disappear due to climate change

House Bill 2209 builds upon previous efforts to establish Lunar New Year as a recognized holiday in the state. However, it will not be a paid day off.

Around 10.5% of Washingtons population is Asian, according to latest census figures. By recognizing Lunar New Year as a holiday, the state takes a significant step toward inclusivity.

Rep. Thai (D-Bellevue), who came to Washington as a Vietnamese refugee, said the recognition sends a clear signal to future generations that their heritage is respected and celebrated.

Based on the lunar calendar, Lunar New Year is typically celebrated over 15 days, from the first new moon to the first full moon. This year, it took place on Feb. 10, marking the Year of the Wood Dragon.

Asian cultures mark this time of the year in various ways. China calls it the Spring Festival, Vietnam observes Tet, South Korea welcomes Seollal and Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore refer to it as the Chinese New Year.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 18. Russia's Pobeda airline plans to commence flights to Kyrgyzstans Osh city, the second-largest city in the country, Trend reports.

According to the company, flights on the Moscow-Osh route will begin on April 26, 2024, and will operate daily.

Kyrgyzstan will become the sixth international destination of the airline; currently, Pobeda flies to Turkiye, the UAE, Belarus, Armenia, and Uzbekistan.

Pobeda airline (a part of the Aeroflot Group) is Russia's first successful low-cost carrier. The company's concept is based on the application of flexible pricing tariffs and strict adherence to special transportation rules by customers.

The company's work is aimed at increasing the air mobility of the population and the transport accessibility of the regions of Russia. The load factor of Pobeda flights is approximately 94 percent on average.
Im hunched over a Steinway Model S grand while my piano teacher Cristina tries not to wince as I mangle my scales. Sweat trickles down my neck. I havent played the piano since childhood. I remember, aged eight, being made to dance round the room pretending to be a crotchet and a semibreve by my piano teacher Mr Bushell, in an effort to understand rhythm.

But after a few years of tonelessly banging out Bela Bartoks piano pieces for children, everyone finally accepted I would never be musical. The relief of not having to stay in to practise on long summer evenings stays with me still.

So I never ever expected to play the piano again. But now it seems its a major health priority if I want to stay sharp in later life.

A landmark research study by scientists at the University of Exeter, published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, found that playing a musical instrument or singing could help keep the brain healthy in older age. More than 1,100 people aged over 40, with an average age of 68, had their brain function data observed as part of the wider Protect study that has been finding out how brains age, and why people develop dementia.

The researchers compared cognitive data of those who engaged in music in some way in their lives, with those who never had. People who continued to play into older age did the best, says the studys senior author Professor Anne Corbett, a senior lecturer in dementia research at Kings College London. But even those who played in childhood, and then stopped, performed better than people who had never played. It seems we can then recruit those memories and abilities back much later on. Theyre still there, even if we dont use them every day.

Playing the piano or keyboard appeared to be particularly beneficial, while brass and woodwind instruments were good, too. The researchers found that practising and reading music may help sustain good memory and the ability to solve complex tasks (known as executive function).

When you play a musical instrument or sing, you have auditory, visual, motor and sensory activities interacting, Prof Corbett explains. This means neurons from different parts of the brain talk to each other and form connections. Repeated practice increases the grey matter volume in our brains (the outermost layer of the brain, which contains connections between neurons and small blood vessels).

Cristina teaching Liz the piano - Rii Schroer

Its lighting up many different cognitive pathways. Youre learning the music theory, youre reading the notation, plus theres the sensory aspect. Problem-solving is a really simplistic way of describing it, but its working with variety, having a new perspective, making your brain see things in a different way.

There is real benefit to encouraging older adults to take up an instrument in later life. Which is why Ive signed up for a beginners lesson with Cristina, at the age of 61.

Worryingly I dont seem to remember much of my past tuition. So its back to basics. First she teaches me the difference between the treble clef (used for the higher sounding notes, usually played with the right hand) and the bass clef (used for the lower sounding notes, played with the left hand).

Cristina is very encouraging but wants me to learn to sight read, rather than taking the easy route of writing out the musical notes (A, C etc). The other surprise is that the exercises are still by Bela Bartok. Cristina explains the Hungarian composers bouncy style is particularly good for children learning about composition.

But playing his five-finger scales, my brain and hands are at odds. Theres so much to take on board  working out the note from where it sits on the stave (the five lines on the sheet music), which finger I should play it with, and the duration (number of beats).

My old friends the semibreve (four beats), crotchet (two beats) and minim (one) make an appearance. The page swims before my eyes. Mostly I feel like Les Dawson playing all the right notes not necessarily in the right order (though later a composer friend tells me that to play the piano as badly as Les you have to be very good). Just occasionally theres a moment of pure pleasure when I manage a rush of notes. But mostly my brain hurts.

I am the woman who scorns crossword puzzles, Wordle and Sudoku (far too busy), but Im beginning to see it would really have helped.

Cristina demonstrates parallel motion on the keyboard (where the right hand plays the same notes as the left in a scale, but the fingering is different), then asks me to try. I apologise for my poor coordination but she pays me a surprising compliment: she can tell I played years ago. Otherwise you wouldnt be able to do parallel motion. The muscle memory is still there. Its like riding a bicycle after 40 years.

When I talk to Prof Corbett, she explains our young brains are like sponges. Skills tend to be embedded a lot quicker and become essential to the way our neural pathways are put together, because those early connections are then built upon.

But as we age, brain plasticity decreases. The brain also loses grey matter, known as brain atrophy. Hardest hit is our working memory  where we briefly retain and manipulate information to achieve a goal, such as remembering a telephone number, translating a sentence from a foreign language or playing Bartok scales.

Its much harder to pick these things up as we get older, she acknowledges. But its still a fantastic way of challenging the brain. Its like any other muscle  if you exercise and train it, the brain performs better. Another factor may be the social aspect of playing in an orchestra or singing in a choir. We know social engagement is an important protective factor for the brain and that social isolation increases your risk of dementia later on.

The Protect study is run by the University of Exeter and Kings College, in partnership with the NHS. For more than a decade they have followed more than 25,000 volunteers, from all walks of life, to understand how the brain ages. Taking up a musical instrument doesnt mean you will never develop dementia, Prof Corbett stresses. Its not as simple as that. But Dementia UK are encouraged by the study: The results of this study are positive, and echo similar research into the benefits of both listening to and playing music for people living with dementia, says Caroline Scates, a deputy director of admiral nurse development.

The Protect findings also build on last years research, co-authored by scientists at the University of Geneva, which found learning the piano in later life can slow down cognitive decline in retired people with little or no past musical training. After six months of weekly piano lessons, participants aged 62-78 performed better in tests that challenged their working memory, such as remembering directions. Normally the brain shrinks in our 60s and 70s, a process that, in some cases, develops into dementia. But after six months of music lessons, this was reversed in some brain regions. MRI scans showed an increase in grey matter in parts of the cerebellum, which helps with decision-making and storage of memories.

Liz is determined to keep practising after her piano lesson - Rii Schroer

Cristina, 38, who has a Masters in Piano Performance, teaches a lot of mature students. Surgeons come to unwind from work stress; others to help with arthritis. Her own beloved university tutor Albert Attenelle, in his 90s, still teaches, plays concerts. He said to me: The day I stop playing piano, I go downhill.

Even so, I leave my first lesson feeling a little shellshocked. I dont have a piano at home but Cristina emails me Bartoks exercises and I practise the scales on the back of chairs. Im determined to try to crack the code.

I talk to Hugh and Cathy Edwards, who have returned to music in their 70s. They sing in choirs, play in bands and orchestras. Cathy hadnt picked up her violin for 45 years (she did Music O-level but stopped after training as a science teacher and having kids) but retirement gave her new impetus. In Devon we have Wren Music which uses folk music to encourage people from all abilities to make music. I went along and remembered how to read music straight off. At first she was shocked to encounter so many grey-haired people. You go to a day choir and everyones ancient, and you think, Oh goodness, but as you get to know people, they all have a rich story to tell. Weve made so many friends through music.

As a primary headteacher, Hugh taught himself guitar to accompany pupils, but couldnt read music. After joining Wrens folk orchestra, he plays trumpet and mandolin and has a ring-binder of 200 songs. Learning new songs makes me use my memory.

He thinks music boosts mental health as well as brain function. Hes had choir trips to Bulgaria and Cephalonia. I was singing By the Shores of the Black Sea with five choirs in five different languages.

After singing they come home on a high. When you retire you lose some status, and self-worth if youre not careful. But music has been a wonderful world for us. As you get older you tend to get worse at things, but with music theres always something you can get better at.

I promise to keep practising. Dementia risk can be reduced by one third through improving lifestyle factors from midlife, says Prof Corbett. With the brain its a case of use it or lose it. So encouraging older adults to return to music in later life is a valuable public health message.

I reckon half the population has a musical instrument somewhere in their house which they havent played for years, laughs Hugh. So get it out!

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A stretch of the M25 has reopened after works were finished eight hours ahead of schedule - before Monday's rush hour.

The "unprecedented" daytime closure of one of the country's busiest stretches came into force at 21:00 GMT on Friday.

The five-mile stretch was due to be closed until 06:00 on Monday.

But it re-opened at 22:00 on Sunday, and some delays in both directions were reported at the scene by BBC Radio Surrey on Monday.

Speaking to the BBC, National Highways project lead Jonathan Wade said: "The congestion wasn't anywhere near as dire as you might expect."

However, Mr Wade says one of his "biggest concerns" moving forward was that people become "blase" about further closures and this impacts congestion.

Workman on the section of the M25 between Junctions 10 and 11, in Surrey, that is closed in both directions while a bridge is demolished and a new gantry is installed

Drivers had been warned to avoid travelling on this section of the motorway over the weekend and there had been fears that there would be large tailbacks and long wait times.

Mr Wade said drivers had "taken on board our advice, which reduced traffic levels by over 50% and meant the length of time added to journeys was around 30 minutes".

He added that he was "delighted" the work had been completed early.

"Thank you to everyone for their cooperation that has made carrying out work on this major project to make journeys safer and reduce pollution much easier."

National Highways said this was the first of five closures between now and September and the date of the next would be announced "very soon to give people as much notice as possible". The works are part of a 317m upgrade to the motorway.

The road was re-opened following the demolition of the Clearmount bridge over the weekend.

Carriageway closures happened along and between junctions 10 and 11. People were told ahead of the weekend to only use the M25 if "absolutely necessary".

The carriageway between junctions 9 and 11 carries between 4,000 and 6,000 vehicles per hour in each direction between 10:00 and 21:00 on a weekend, National Highways said.

This weekend's works led to the first planned daytime closure of the M25 - which encircles London - since it opened in 1986.

'Sleeping well'

An 11.5-mile diversion route was created to direct traffic along A roads; while some locals visited the empty motorway to take selfies.

Amanda Boote, of Woking Borough Council, told PA news agency: "It's actually been a lot better than we expected, it's not gridlocked in the way that we thought it would be.

"It was built up a bit, but no different to how it might normally be. Actually residents are quite happy, they've been sleeping well because it's so quiet overnight."

Four more daytime closures of the M25 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 UK's busiest and most dangerous motorway junctions.

Map showing closed section of M25 and the detour route

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.
COLUMBUS (WCMH)  A Madison Township man was arrested Saturday for allegedly raping an 8-year-old girl, who was admitted to Nationwide Childrens Hospital.

According to court documents, the Franklin County Sheriffs Office Detective Bureau was notified by hospital staff that they were treating the girl for a sexual assault. The incident reportedly occurred on Harbor Boulevard in the Blacklick Estates neighborhood in northern Madison Township.

Dirty ads and dark money: Inside the Ohio Republican statehouse primaries

The incident report said that at 2:15 p.m. Saturday the victim participated in a forensic interview at the hospital, where she disclosed that 34-year-old Henry Gonzalez raped her. The victim also reported that there were other instances in which Gonzalez sexually assaulted her over the previous months.

Gonzalez was issued a $750,000 bond while facing one charge of rape. He is next scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on March 26.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
A Trump-aligned candidate running for Congress in Nevadas competitive 3rd district, was the subject of a scathing op-ed accusing her of infidelity, lying and raising a murderer  written by her former mother-in-law.

The piece, published last week in The Nevada Globe about Elizabeth Helgelien, was written by Christine Halseth whose late son, Daniel Halseth, was married to her for 11 years.

Mr Halseth was murdered in 2021 by the teenage daughter he shared with Ms Helgelien, Sierra Halseth, and her boyfriend Aaron Guerrero. The pair stabbed Mr Halseth before setting his house on fire and attempting to flee. They were caught and are now serving life sentences.

In an op-ed titled ,The Worst Congressional Candidate Ever?, Christine Halseth said voters should not support Ms Helgelien, a former Nevada state senator now running for the US House of Representatives.

She alleged that her former daughter-in-law cheated on her late son, failed in her duties as a state senator, lied about her educational background, posed for Maxim magazine and abused her own daughter.

Elizabeth raised a murderer, was forced out of office after a series of sex scandals, was caught in a series of lies, posed for lewd photographs, and has already proven to be unelectable, Ms Halseth wrote.

I hope for my familys sake, and out of respect for voters and the office shes seeking, that Elizabeth will do the right thing and drop out of the race for NV-3. If she doesnt, in honor of my dear son Daniel, my prayer is that NV-3 residents vote against her.

Ms Helgelien was the youngest woman elected to the Nevada state senate in 2010 at the age of 27. She served for one year before resigning amid her divorce from Mr Halseth.

Various scandals followed Ms Helgelien during her time in office. She was accused of lying about having a bachelors degree and pursuing an MBA. Her colleagues raised eyebrows after she began missing committee meetings and was difficult to get hold of.

Mr Halseth accused Ms Helgelien of having an extramarital affair and filed for divorce. He was then indicted on battery and lewdness charges following a domestic dispute. He pled guilty to misdemeanour coercion and battery and was given six months probation.

Ms Helgelien alleged that Mr Halseth was abusive towards their daughter and that the system did not take the girls accusations seriously.

Christine Halseth contradicted these claims, and said that Sierra accused Ms Helgelien of abuse, adding that she had failed in her role as a mother.

Following her divorce, Ms Helgelien was awarded custody of her three children and worked as a real estate agent, first in Alaska before moving back to Nevada. She also posed in a bikini as a write-in candidate for Maxims Hot 100 contest.

On her campaign website, Ms Helgelien says that she is running to finish the job she started with conservative policies similar to those of Donald Trump.

But Ms Halseth insisted in the op-ed that Ms Helgelien is unfit for office and pointed to her former daughter-in-laws behaviour during the investigation into her sons murder.

At the time of the murder, detectives claimed they were shocked at Elizabeths lack of emotion, Ms Halseth alleged.

The Independent was unable to reach Ms Helgelien directly. The Independent has contacted Woodrow Johnston, an individual who previously issued a statement for Ms Helgelien, seeking comment.

In response to the op-ed, Mr Johnston provided documentation and a statement to The Daily Beast.

Here are the facts that the documents weve attached verify: 1. Daniel Halseth is a convicted batterer. 2. The custody Judge expressed the belief that Sierra was experiencing abuse from Daniel Halseth and ordered sole custody to Elizabeth. 3. Daniel Halseth defied a court order, illegally detaining his daughter. 4. Sierra submitted a letter to the court stating that she was being abused, mentally, physically, and sexually by Daniel Halseth, he wrote in an email, according to the news site.
It would be hard to argue that Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) is guilty of the worst sin in todays GOPbeing a dreaded RINO, or Republican In Name Only.

The Illinois congressman endorsed Donald Trump for president and voted with him 93 percent of the time during his administration. Bost voted to throw out the electoral votes of states Joe Biden won in 2020. And Trump has even endorsed his 2024 re-election bid, saying Bost is doing a fantastic job.

None of it has been enough to stop a far-right challenger from casting Bost as the epitome of a RINOforcing the incumbent into a brutal political dogfight ahead of Tuesdays primary election.

GOP Challenger Ridicules Barron Trump During YouTube Show

Darren Bailey, a far-right state senator who was the GOP nominee for governor in 2022, is arguing that Illinois most conservative district needs the most MAGA possible representative.

On Steve Bannons War Room podcast last week, Bailey told the former Trump strategist that Bost will not stick his neck out like you, and like Mike Lindell, because obviously these people are career politicians, theyre concerned about the next election cycle. Bannon, for his part, hyped up his guests opponent as one of the worst, as bad as they come, calling Bost a mini-McCarthy and fixating on reports that he had threatened to punch our own Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). (On top of regularly guest-hosting the War Room podcast, Gaetz has traveled to Bosts district to campaign for Bailey.)

With his resume, Bost would have been all but immune to a challenge from his right in years past. Since he was elected in 2014, in fact, hes only faced one other primary challengein 2018, when he won by nearly 70 points.

But 2024 is poised to be a very different election year, one in which no House Republican is safe, no matter how MAGA they may be.

At least 21 House Republican incumbents are facing primary challenges from candidates who are seriously campaigning and raising at least some funds, according to a Daily Beast review of campaign filings and other materials.

Three lawmakers have already survived, but by slim margins. In March 5 primaries, Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Steve Womack (R-AR), and Jake Ellzey (R-TX) defeated underfunded MAGA challengers, but with less than 60 percent of the vote. Womack, a critic of hardline conservatives, won by just 7 points.

In a brief interview with The Daily Beast last week, Bost lamented what he saw as the driving factors behind many of these challenger campaigns: attention and purity tests.

What that is is all about your own ego, and thats the problem, Bost said. And they find like people that think like they do, and then try to drag them up against somebody that doesnt think like they do.

Some of the incumbents are familiar primary targets, like Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Don Bacon (R-NE), considered among the most centrist members of the GOP conference. Some are being challenged simply because they arent loud or combative enoughor even if they cast a vote in favor of funding the government, which is now a punishable offense in the MAGA base.

But many are as conservative and Trump-supporting as Bost, if not more so. Rep. William Timmons (R-SC), who has a 95 percent lifetime score from the right-wing Heritage Foundation, is facing an aggressive primary challenge.

Some archconservatives are being targeted because they backed Ron DeSantis for president, like Reps. Bob Good (R-VA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY), while others are being challenged in part because they didnt support Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) in his bid for the House speakership last fall.

1920481347 House Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) speaks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol. Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

What nearly all of these incumbents have in common is that their opponents hail from the far-right fringes of the party. Where the incumbents are on Fox and Newsmax, the challengers are regulars on Bannons show, hoping to land endorsements from figures like Mike Lindell, Roger Stone, and Michael Flynn.

One primary hopeful is a pro-gun YouTuber; another has based his campaign around having served prison time for participating in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Far-right troll Laura Loomer, who came within 7 points of defeating Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) in 2022, is running again. Often lost in the noise from these ultra-MAGA figures is that their beloved party leader has endorsed their opponent.

Thats whats so different about this primary cycle, say Republicans and election analysts.

The threshold of what it takes to offend Republican primary voters has fallen lower, said Dave Wasserman, the election expert and senior editor for U.S. House races at the Cook Political Report.

At this point, GOP strategist Ken Spain said, many of the Republicans in the House have taken on a Trump-like persona, where you either fight to the death, or youre simply not committed to the causeand thats what were seeing play out.

Like in every election year, at least one of these challenges will almost certainly be successful. Its possible many could lose, or 2024 could be a better year for incumbents than 2022, when five lost primary challenges in non-redistricting related races.

But the more important upshot of any member having to worry about a primary threat, no matter how marginal, may not be who winsit may be how members adjust their behavior to survive.

Pointing to weak incumbent performances on March 5, Wasserman said, the combined impact of those three outcomes will be a chilling effect on other Republican members who have been willing to speak out against Trump or vote for things that Trump doesnt like.

While Trump often put Republicans in a difficult position when they had to defend his near-daily controversies, he offered many of them something they desperately desired: a cheat code to avoid primary challenges.

Far-Right Trump Favorite Mark Robinson Wins North Carolina Governor Primary

Republicans during the Trump era were largely measured by their support of Trump. Gone were the Heritage Action or Club for Growth scores to rank a Republicans conservatism, or the need to collect endorsements from across the GOP spectrum, or even the need to spend considerable time in the district.

Republicans, by and large, only needed Trumps endorsement to be considered sufficiently conservative and avoid a credible threat. That fealty of Republicans to Trump further reinforced his power in the party, and further exacerbated the transformation of the party into his image.

Even with Trump out of office for three years, his influence has been constant. What has changed, however, is just the number of anti-Trumpor, really, insufficiently pro-TrumpRepublicans that are left in Congress.

With just about every Republican claiming the mantle of a Trump Republican, being pro-Trump might not be the same prophylactic that it once was against primary challengers. (If every Republican is pro-Trump, is anyone really pro-Trump?)

Combine it all with the dearth of successful challenges in recent yearswhich has just increased the internal tension in the partyand theres a pressure cooker situation developing.

After a year that unleashed unprecedented internal animosity in the House GOP, members increased eagerness to campaign against their own colleagues is adding yet another layer of drama in a majority already ripped apart by it.

Gaetz, naturally, is a ringleader, having stumped for primary challengers to Bost and Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-TX). Timmons challenger, meanwhile, has been endorsed by a remarkable seven colleagues.

Many Republicans, of course, would rather see these members using their campaign time and resources working to protect and expand the House GOPs increasingly slim majority instead of trying to replace conservative colleagues with even more conservative colleagues.

On the Democratic side of the aisle, the primary fever that helped put the left-wing Squad into office in 2018 and 2020 has abated. The most high-profile challenges to incumbents this cycle are from the center, not the left, targeting Squad-aligned Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO). Meanwhile, just two members of the partys center and center-left wing are facing viable primaries from progressives.

Occasionally, this frustration has emanated from the top of the House GOP. During House Republicans annual retreat last week, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) privatelyand showing real frustrationadmonished members who were campaigning against each other, a source familiar with his remarks told The Daily Beast.

A House Divided: Republicans Retreat From Their Annual GOP Retreat

Ive asked them all to cool it, Johnson told CNN on Sunday. I am vehemently opposed to member-on-member action in primaries because its not productive So Im telling everyone whos doing that to knock it off.

In response to a question from The Daily Beast about primaries, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the fourth-ranking House Republican, declared her support for all GOP incumbents and urged members to work as a team.

Its a slim majority, and we need to make sure that everyone feels the support from their colleagues, she said. Even if you vote differently based upon your district, it's important to know that we've all heard the support of our constituents to be here.

Perhaps more than any other primary fight, the one in West Virginias 1st District illustrates the singular dynamics at this fraught moment within the Republican Party.

The incumbent, Rep. Carol Miller, has represented this district since 2019. Trump won it by over 40 points in 2020. Miller voted to throw out Bidens Electoral College votes on Jan. 6 and has been a Trump ally. But in general, she has quietly gone about her business in Congress, and has cast votes to keep the government open and avoid defaults on the national debt.

Millers opponent is Derrick Evans, a former West Virginia state lawmaker who might be the purest expression of the MAGA id and political incentive structure on display anywhere in the country.

Evans proudest credential appears to be the fact that he was charged with crimes for his actions at the Capitol on Jan. 6. The high point of his campaign was Trump himself sharing Evans post on the Truth Social platform of their mugshots side by side. (In accepting a three-month prison sentence for his crimes in 2022, Evans expressed remorse.)

Now, the candidates feed on X is full of daily outrage bait. White liberal women are the greatest threat to the future of our constitutional republic, he posted recently. He has called for arresting the people who stole the 2020 election. He has been endorsed by QAnon favorite Michael Flynn and Trump acolyte Roger Stone. For some reason, he traveled to Delaware last Friday to give a speech about Joe Biden.

While he has dinged her for such offenses as appearing in a photo with Bill Gates, Evans has occasionally made a succinct case for his primary campaign. My opponent, Evans once tweeted, is a total RINO representing an Ultra MAGA District.

Convicted Capitol Rioter Announces Run for Congress

Evans has also raised real money: over $290,000 in 2023, according to his Federal Election Commission filings. (Miller has raised just over $560,000.)

In a brief interview with The Daily Beast at the House GOP retreat last week, which took place in her district, Miller demonstrated how starkly different she is from her opponent.

"My mama told me not to say anything if I can't say anything nice, Miller said. I welcome people challenging me. His lack of experience is a little different to me. Ive worked very hard the last six years. I represent my district well. Ive listened to them, Ive voted conservatively, and its been my honor to serve. (Evans did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast.)

There is another potent GOP primary dynamic adding to the 2024 chaos: incumbents who may face challenges stemming from their votes to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker last year. The furious deposed leader has taken verbal potshots at the eight GOP lawmakers who ousted him, and he and his powerful allies are moving to hamper their re-election campaigns.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is considered one of the top targets, along with Rep. Good in Virginia. One of the McCarthy Eight, Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT), is not even seeking re-election, citing a personal smear campaign against him.

In Goods 5th Congressional District of Virginia, all the strains of GOP drama converge. The chairman of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, its hard to get more conservative than Good. But he earned establishment enemies with his support for removing McCarthyand earned enemies in the MAGA movement for his support of DeSantis for president.

His opponent is John McGuire, a Virginia state senator who has touted his support for Trump at every turn possible. Ahead of the June 18 primary, Goods standing among primary voters is so poor that he was thrown out of a pro-Trump store in his district that had hosted an event for McGuire.

Massie, the Kentucky Republican, also was a prominent DeSantis backer, and his opponent has touted that as his No. 1 reason to dump the incumbent. But Massie has been here before; in 2020, Trump backed his primary challenger. He won easily anyway.

This would be the third person whos tried to run to the Trump of me, and thats the only direction you can go where I might not be 100 percent in terms of the MAGA scorecard, Massie told The Daily Beast.

But Massie acknowledged that not all of his colleagues have cultivated as strong a brand that lets them survive getting crosswise with Trump.

If youre not known in your district, Massie said, a Trump endorsement could cost you 10 points in your primary.

If somebody gets endorsed on the other side they can go up 10 points, and the other person could go down 10 points if theyre not very well defined in their district, he said.

How Massie fares in his own states primary could show how acute the partys MAGA angst really is. But hes not sweating the challenge.

People would rather I support the Constitution, he said, than any particular president.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber

GENEVA (Reuters) -A fact-finding mission mandated by the United Nations said on Monday the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran's morality police was unlawful and caused by violence and that Iranian women still suffer systematic discrimination.

The death of 22-year-old Amini, a Kurdish Iranian woman, in September 2022 while in custody for allegedly flouting Iran's Islamic dress code unleashed months of protests and the biggest challenge to the Islamic Republic's clerical leaders in decades.

"Our investigation established that her death was unlawful and caused by physical violence in the custody of state authorities," Sara Hossain, chairperson of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The fact-finding mission found the protests that followed were marked by extra-judicial executions, arbitrary arrests, torture and ill-treatment, as well as rape and sexual violence.

"These acts were conducted in the context of a widespread and systematic attack against women and girls, and other persons expressing support for human rights," Hossain said.

"Some of these serious violations of human rights thus rose to the level of crimes against humanity."

In response, Kazem Gharib Abadi, secretary general of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, accused the fact-finding mission of a "glaring lack of independence and impartiality".

In separate comments to the Human Rights Council, Javaid Rehman, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, said jailed human rights defender Narges Mohammadi "suffers from severe health issues, including serious heart and lung conditions, placing her health at great risk."

"She was denied medical access because she did not have the mandatory hijab," Hossain said about Mohammadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year.

Hossain said that since the protests began in 2022, women and girls in Iran were confronted daily by discrimination "affecting virtually all aspects of their private and public lives".

She said it was "hard to fathom" that women's access to schools, universities, hospitals and courts as well as employment opportunities "should be subjected to a wholly arbitrary requirement of wearing the mandatory hijab".

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber and Cecile Mantovani; Editing by Nick Macfie and Ros Russell)
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Monday for the first time in a month, during which Biden seemingly offered his strongest warnings against an all-out Israeli attack on Rafah.

The prospect of fighting in Rafah, Gazas southernmost city, was the main focus of the conversation. National security adviser Jake Sullivan, briefing reporters at the White House after the call, said Biden requested Israel send a team to hear the administrations concerns about Rafah and brief his aides on their planning. Netanyahu agreed, and that discussion is scheduled to happen in the coming days.

Paraphrasing what Biden told Netanyahu over the phone, Sullivan said, I want you to understand, Mr. Prime Minister, exactly where I am on this. I am for the defeat of Hamas. I believe that they are an evil terrorist group with not just Israeli, but American blood on their hands. At the same time, I believe that to get to that you need a strategy that works, and that strategy should not involve a major military operation that puts thousands and thousands of innocent civilian lives at risk in Rafah. There is a better way.



Speaking as himself, Sullivan noted the president explained why he is so deeply concerned about the prospect of Israel conducting major military operations in Rafah, adding that a major ground operation there would be a mistake.

Asked if this was the come to Jesus meeting the world heard Biden promise to have with Netanyahu in a hot mic moment following his State of the Union address, Sullivan told reporters: Ill let you draw your own conclusions.

The call between Biden and Netanyahu came at a crucial moment in the Gaza war. It is the first time the leaders spoke since Biden complimented a speech given by Chuck Schumer, in which the Senate Majority Leader said Netahyahu was hurting Israels standing in the world and called for new elections in Tel Aviv. Though Biden did not explicitly echo that sentiment, his praise of it underscored the growing White House frustration with Netanyahus prosecution of the war.



That frustration extends to some former senior officials in Israel. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wrote a letter to Schumer commending him for the speech. I thank you on behalf of myself and many others in Israel, for the courage that you have showed in saying what so many of us Jews across the world and traditional supporters of Israel feel today, he said in a letter obtained by POLITICO. The prime minister of Israel is not worthy of the responsibilities bestowed upon him.

Netanyahu denounced Schumers speech and has shown no signs of moderating his approach. He and members of Israels War Cabinet say an invasion of Rafah will launch within weeks. Israel estimates that about four Hamas battalions  roughly 3,000 militants, the same number of fighters Hamas used to perpetrate the Oct. 7 attack  are in and underneath Rafah.

A parade of U.S. officials have said an operation leading to many civilian deaths would be unacceptable to the administration, capped by Biden telling MSNBC earlier this month that such an event would cross his red line. The White Houses preference would be a smaller, more precise campaign to strike high-value Hamas targets.

The U.S., alongside Qatar and Egypt, is looking to broker a six-week cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that would see prisoners and hostages released and more aid distributed throughout Gaza.

Looming over all of it is growing tension between the governments of Israel and the U.S.

Biden is upset that Netanyahu wont allow more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza by land, leading the U.S. to work with allies to drop assistance from the air and ship it via sea. His private complaints about Netanyahu have grown in recent weeks and he has told close advisers he believes that the prime minister was primarily concerned about hanging onto power  and was willing to extend the war to do so, according to two people familiar with the presidents thinking though not authorized to speak publicly about it.



Netanyahu, for his part, has been enraged that Biden keeps painting him as a far-right radical, unfeeling toward the enclaves suffering Palestinians. And he was livid at what he deemed to be Schumers efforts to interfere with a sovereign nations political future, two Israeli officials said.

Mondays phone call was a chance to close the yawning gap between them. Sullivan said the discussion was businesslike and did not end abruptly. Both leaders gave each other the time to make their points, the national security adviser asserted.

Axios first reported that the Biden-Netanyahu call would take place Monday, their first since Feb. 15.

The call came amid a rapidly deteriorating situation in the area. The United Nations food agency reported Monday that famine in northern Gaza was imminent, noting continued fighting might push the whole territorys 2.2 million people to the brink of starvation.

Last week, the Israeli military permitted a small convoy of aid trucks to enter northern Gaza, an area still ravaged by the war that began in October, leading residents to eat grass and animal feed. Then on Saturday, the first aid to reach Gazas shores by sea in two decades arrived and was fully unloaded on a makeshift jetty.
A major student-loan company is 'impeding' borrowers' debt cancellation and 'mishandling' their monthly bills, Elizabeth Warren says. She wants its CEO to face Congress.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren called on the CEO of student-loan company MOHELA to testify before the Senate in April.

The hearing is set to examine MOHELA's handling of the return to repayment and PSLF.

MOHELA was the first servicer to be punished by the Education Department for failing some of its obligations.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has questions for the head of a major student-loan company  and she wants him to answer them in Congress next month.

On Monday, Warren sent a letter to Scott Giles, the CEO of federal student-loan servicer MOHELA, inviting him to testify before the Senate banking committee on April 10. The hearing, called "MOHELA's Performance as a Student Loan Servicer," is intended to examine how MOHELA has performed since the return to repayment in the fall, along with its handling of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

MOHELA was the first federal servicer to be punished by the Education Department for failing to fulfill its contractual obligations. In October  the same month borrowers began to pay their bills after an over three-year pause  the department withheld over $7 million in pay from the company for failing to send on-time billing statements to borrowers.

Additionally, two student-loan borrowers sued MOHELA in December, accusing the company of delaying their PSLF applications and forcing them to make payments they did not owe.

"Your company has contributed to student loan borrowers' difficulties by mishandling borrowers' return to repayment following the COVID-19 pandemic-related pause on payments, interest, and collections and by impeding public servants' access to PSLF relief," Warren wrote in the letter.

"Your testimony will provide you with an opportunity to offer context on MOHELA's role as a student loan servicer at a time of significant transition for the federal student loan program," she added.

MOHELA did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Warren, along with other Democratic lawmakers, has previously scrutinized MOHELA's handling of student-loan borrowers' accounts. Most recently, Warren joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Bernie Sanders in calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and state attorneys general to "investigate MOHELA and pursue action to the fullest extent possible under the law. Our nation's public servants, members of the military, and first responders deserve far, far better."

Still, other federal servicers have not escaped scrutiny. In January, the Education Department withheld a combined $2 million in pay from Nelnet, Aidvantage, and EdFinancial for failing to send on-time billing statements to borrowers.

Despite the administration's efforts, many borrowers are confused with the status of their accounts  specifically when it comes to PSLF. BI previously spoke to a few borrowers who received loan forgiveness through PSLF last year, only to be told by MOHELA in February that it was a mistake and they have to restart their payments again.

"I'm very upset. I'm not going to be able to buy a new car," one of the borrowers said. "My whole world has been flipped over in a matter of a week."

Read the original article on Business Insider
A flag showing support for Donald Trump flies outside a courthouse on 1 March in Fort Pierce, Florida.

A flag showing support for Donald Trump flies outside a courthouse on 1 March in Fort Pierce, Florida. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Seventy per cent of American voters, and 48% of Republicans, reject Donald Trumps claim to be immune from criminal prosecution for acts committed in office, a new poll said.

In the poll from Ipsos and Politico Magazine, just 11% backed the former president and presumptive Republican nominees claim, as expressed in his federal election subversion case that has reached the supreme court.

The result is a positive sign for the constitutional sensibilities of the American public, the Politico columnist and former federal prosecutor Ankush Khardori wrote, pointing to a view widely held among law professors when he called Trumps argument for immunity  absurd as a matter of law, history and democratic logic.

But the poll also produced what Khardori called a sobering poll result: nearly half of respondents (46%) did not trust the supreme court to issue a fair and nonpartisan ruling in the immunity case.

Aided by Senate Republicans, Trump appointed three rightwingers to the court in his four years in power.

The resulting court, tilted 6-3 to the right, has delivered major Republican victories including the removal of federal abortion rights and rulings on gun control, affirmative action and more.

Last month, the court stoked uproar when it said it would hear oral arguments over Trumps immunity claim.

The decision delayed trial over four charges arising from Trumps attempt to overturn his defeat by Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, pushing the likely court date towards polling day this year.

The court also dismissed state challenges to Trumps place on the ballot under the 14th amendment, a measure approved after the civil war, for inciting the January 6 insurrection.

The supreme courts approval rating remains at historic lows.

Trump faces 84 other criminal charges: 10 over election subversion in Georgia, 34 over hush-money payments in New York, and 40 over his retention of classified information after leaving office.

Having secured a third successive Republican nomination, the former president is employing delaying tactics on all legal fronts.

In the Politico/Ipsos poll, 59% of respondents said Trump should stand trial in Washington in his federal election subversion case before election day.

Fifty per cent (but only 14% of Republicans) said they believed Trump was guilty in the New York case over hush-money payments to the adult film maker Stormy Daniels, who claims an affair.

That case has also been delayed but is still set to be the first to produce a trial. In the poll, 44% of respondents said a conviction would have no impact on their likelihood to support Trump.

More worryingly for Trump, more than a third (36%) of independent voters said a conviction would make them less likely to vote for Trump in November.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, March 18. Iran and Tajikistan have agreed to expedite and improve the quality of repair and restoration works on the Istiqlol automobile tunnel in Tajikistan, Trend reports.

During a meeting between Tajikistan's Minister of Transport, Azim Ibrahim, and leaders and specialists from several Iranian construction companies involved in the repair and reconstruction of the tunnel, it was decided that the working group would intensify efforts in this direction, according to Tajikistan's Ministry of Transport.

The purpose of the conference was to carry out technical inspections, evaluate the ongoing development, and put into effect the agreement for the second phase of the Istiqlol vehicle tunnel building project, which Iran and Tajikistan agreed in January 2021. Installations including lighting, ventilation, early warning, and fire safety systems will be made as part of the renovation.

The Istiqlol tunnel is situated 80 kilometers north of Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, on the route to Khujand city. Spanning 5.2 kilometers in length, the tunnel connects the northern and southern regions of Tajikistan. Construction of the tunnel by the Iranian company Sabir began in September 2003, and it was put into operation on July 26, 2006.
Visitors look at an oil painting entitled "Paul on a donkey" during the official unveiling of a new exhibition of works by Pablo Picasso at Malaga's Picasso Museum. (CRISTINA QUICLER)

The Picasso Museum in Malaga, the southern Spanish city where the artist was born, will open a new exhibition on Tuesday which groups his works according to theme instead of by period.

The show -- which runs until March 2027 -- brings together 141 Pablo Picasso works that the artist kept for himself, including 10 which were never before seen in Spain.

"We have not followed chronology strictly. We do begin with the very early work of Picasso and we end with the last work that he created but within that we often are combining works from different decades," said the curator of the exhibition, Michael FitzGerald, a professor of art history at Trinity College in the United States.

"It is a group of works, paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints that represents the entire production of Picasso I hope very accurately. and we particularly emphasised ceramics among them which is a part of Picasso's work that is often not shown and not perhaps taken as seriously as it should."

Museums have traditionally displayed works by Picasso grouped according to his key periods, from blue, pink and cubist to surrealist.

Picasso's great-grandson, Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, said combining works of distinct periods and techniques "allow us to link different moments of his life".

Among the works never exhibited before in Spain is a 1922 painting called "Paul" which depicts the artist's son as well as the 1933 sculpture "Femme accoudee" (1933) and a dish decorated with a bull's head from the 1950s.

Opened in 2003 in a 16th century mansion, Malaga's Picasso Museum is located just a couple of hundred metres (yards) from the house where the artist was born in 1881.

Picasso left for Paris in 1904 and most of his adult years were spent in France where he died in 1973. The Picasso Museum in the French capital houses the world's biggest collection of the artist's works.

str-al/ds/yad
BBC Africa Eye investigates how a WhatsApp group helped save more than 50 Malawian women trafficked to Oman to work in slave-like conditions.

Warning: Some people may find details in this story distressing.

A 32-year-old woman breaks down in tears as she relives the abuse she experienced when, hoping for a better life, she found herself working as a maid in Oman.

Georgina, who like all the trafficked women interviewed by the BBC opted to only use her first name, believed she had been recruited to work as a driver in Dubai.

She had owned a small business in Lilongwe, Malawi's capital, and was managing when approached by an agent saying she could earn more money in the Middle East.

It was not until the plane landed in Muscat, the capital of Oman, that she realised she had been deceived and subsequently trapped by a family who made her work gruelling hours, seven days a week.

"I reached a point where I couldn't take it," she says, detailing how she got as little as two hours' sleep.

She had not been there long when her boss began forcing her to have sex with him, threatening to shoot her if she said anything.

"It wasn't only him," she says. "He would bring friends and they would pay him after."

She struggles to speak as she recounts how she was forced into anal sex: "I got badly injured. I became so distraught."

It is estimated there are around two million female domestic workers in the Gulf Arab states. In a survey of 400 women in Oman by migrant charity Do Bold, published by the 2023 US State Department Trafficking in Persons Report, almost all were found to be victims of human trafficking.

Nearly a third said they were sexually abused, while half reported physical abuse and discrimination.

After several weeks, Georgina became desperate and in a post on Facebook she begged for someone to help her.

Thousands of miles away in the US state of New Hampshire, 38-year-old Malawian social media activist Pililani Mombe Nyoni saw her message and began to investigate.

She got in touch and got the Facebook post removed for Georgina's safety and passed on her own WhatsApp number, which began to circulate in Oman. She soon realised it was a wider problem.

"Georgina was the first victim. Then it was one girl, two girls, three girls," she told the BBC.

"That's when I said: 'I am going to form a [WhatsApp] group because this looks like human trafficking.'"

More than 50 Malawian women working as domestic workers in Oman joined the group.

Soon the WhatsApp group was full of voice notes and videos, some too harrowing to watch, detailing the horrific conditions the women were enduring. Many had their passports taken away as soon as they arrived, preventing them from leaving.

Some told of how they had shut themselves in toilets to secretly send their pleading messages.

"I feel like I am in prison we can never escape," one said. "My life is really in danger," another said.

"After I helped Georgina, I felt so mad, I felt so angry"", Source: Pililani Mombe Nyoni, Source description: Malawian social media activist, Image: Pililani Mombe Nyoni

Ms Nyoni began speaking to human trafficking charities in Malawi and was introduced to Ekaterina Porras Sivolobova, founder of Do Bold, based in Greece.

Do Bold works with a community of migrant workers in the Gulf countries, identifying victims of trafficking or forced labour and then negotiates with their employer for them to be released.

"The employers pay an agent for providing a domestic worker. One of the most common challenges that we face is that the employer or agent says: 'I want my money back, then she can go home'," Ms Sivolobova told the BBC.

"The laws that are in place [in Oman] prohibit a domestic worker to leave the employer. She cannot change jobs and she cannot leave the country - no matter how you are treated."

This is what is known in the Middle East as the "kafala" labour system, which ties workers to their employers for the duration of their contract.

Oman's National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking told the BBC the relationship between the employer and the domestic worker was contractual - and unsettled disputes can be referred to a court within a week.

It added that an employer was not allowed "to impose any form of forced labour on the worker" and could not keep a worker's "passport and private documents without his written consent".

After three months in Muscat, and with the help of Ms Nyoni and someone in Oman, Georgina returned to Malawi in June 2021.

"After I helped Georgina, I felt so mad, I felt so angry," says Ms Nyoni.

Georgina's case allowed her to raise the alarm within Malawi - and pressure began mounting on the government to intervene.

Malawian charity Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) launched an Oman rescue campaign, calling on the authorities to bring the women home.

Blessings was another of the women in Ms Nyoni's WhatsApp group. The 39-year-old had travelled to Muscat in December 2022, leaving her four children with her sister, Stevelia, in Lilongwe.

She was severely burned in the kitchen of the home she was working in, but her employer would not let her return to Malawi.

"The degree of the burns, trust me, I saw my sister losing her own life," Stevelia told the BBC.

"I remember my sister said: 'Sister, I came here because I needed a better life, but should I die, please take care of my kids.' That hurt me."

It was an emotional reunion at the airport in Lilongwe for Blessings and her family last October

Stevelia began lobbying for her sister to be brought home. At first the agent angrily told the family that Blessings was dead, but this was not true and she finally returned last October, with the help of the Malawian government.

"I never thought there would come a time that I would see my family again, my children," Blessings told the BBC shortly afterwards.

"I had no idea that there are people on this earth who treat others like slaves."

The Malawian government, which also worked with Do Bold, says it has spent more than $160,000 (125,000) to bring 54 women back from Oman.

But 23-year-old Aida Chiwalo returned home in a coffin. There was no autopsy or investigation done in Oman after her death.

Oman's authorities said the labour ministry had not received any complaints from domestic workers of Malawian nationality in 2022 and only one complaint in 2023 that had been settled.

"The majority of these women have been released because money has been paid to the employer, from $1,000 to $2,000," says Ms Sivolobova.

"So basically, their freedom had to be bought. And that's what bothers me. How can you buy somebody else's freedom?"

A spokesperson from Malawi's government told the BBC it was developing rules "to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration that benefits migrants, their families and the country at large".

Georgina finds it calming to go and look out over Lake Malawi

But Ms Nyoni, whose WhatsApp group is now more of a support forum for the returnees, says the issue of trafficked domestic workers to Oman highlights a bigger problem in Malawi - that of poverty and unemployment.

"If the young girls had an opportunity to have jobs in Malawi, they were not going to be trapped. We need to fix the nation so that these youngsters will never be trapped like this."

For Georgina, the trauma has been hard to put behind her. She finds it calming to go down and look out over Lake Malawi, one of Africa's biggest.

"When I watch the waves, it reminds me that nothing in life lasts forever. One day all this will be history," she says.

"I find peace and encourage myself that I will return to how I was - the old Georgina, who was independent."

You can watch the full BBC Africa Eye documentary Trapped in Oman on the BBC Africa YouTube channel.

More BBC Africa Eye stories:
A man accused of a hate crime in the killing of a gay man at a West Tampa dog park last month will be held without bail until his trial begins, a Hillsborough County judge ordered in court Monday.

Gerald Declan Radford was arrested and charged with second-degree murder more than a month after the shooting that left John Walter Lay dead.

Friends of both men told the Tampa Bay Times that Radford had been harassing Lay for months, calling him homophobic slurs and threatening him. Radford has claimed the shooting was self-defense and that he didnt start the fight that ended when he shot Lay in the chest.

Radford, 65, was arrested on March 8 and booked in the Orient Road Jail.

In a news release that day, the State Attorneys Office said Radford called 911 the morning of Feb. 2 and said hed shot a man in the dog park. When deputies arrived, Radford told them he and Lay had been in a scuffle and he pulled a gun and shot him, the release stated. There were no eyewitnesses to the shooting.

In Radfords first appearance in court on March 9, a Hillsborough judge determined there was probable cause for the charge against Radford.

New evidence brought by the state Monday was enough to keep Radford in jail until his case is resolved, Judge Caroline Tesche Arkin ruled.

Assistant State Attorney Ronald Gale argued the bullet trajectory discovered during Lays autopsy was inconsistent with Radfords account of the shooting.

Radford told detectives that Lay struck him in the head with an object and he fell to the ground.

While laying on his back with Lay on top of him, Radford said he rolled over, pulled out his gun from a holster on his right hip and shot Lay.

The medical examiner who conducted Lays autopsy found the bullet entered the right side of Lays chest and traveled down and to the left before it lodged in his lower left lumbar.

The state argued the bullets path refutes Radfords account that he pulled the gun and shot from his right side. Instead, the bullet traveled from Lays right side to his left in the opposite direction of where Radford said he had shot Lay.

Lays body had multiple scrapes on his knees, according to the autopsy. Deputies said they found Radford at the scene with cuts and bruises on his face and around his eyes.

In the initial 911 call, Radford said Lay attacked him with a metal bottle. Detectives found two metal travel cups at the scene. Radford identified one as his own and said he didnt know who owned the other one.

Forensics tests didnt find any blood on the cup that Radford couldnt identify.

Prosecutors also pointed to multiple witnesses who said Radford had threatened Lay, including cellphone video footage recorded by Lay the day before he was killed.

He comes up to me and screams at me, Youre going to die, youre going to die, and I asked him to just leave me alone, Lay states in the video, which was shown in court Monday.

Robert Harrop, a Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office homicide detective and the lead investigator in the case, testified that a witness overheard Radford say, I just want to kill him, and using an expletive after walking away from an argument with Lay days before the shooting.

Harrop also told prosecutors witnesses had told him that Radford repeatedly referred to Lay as a common gay slur.

The LGBTQ community in Hillsborough County should be in fear of Mr. Radford, who shows no hesitation using a hateful gay slur, Gale said.

Radfords lawyer, Marie Taylor, argued in court Monday that the states case is about politics, media attention and not evidence.

The only thing that changed between Feb. 2 and March 8 is that the media decided this was a story, Taylor said.

Taylor also argued that Radford, who is not a U.S. citizen, was not a flight risk and doesnt own a passport. Arrest records show Radford was born in Ireland.

In a follow-up interview with detectives at his home on Feb. 8, Radford lamented the fact that he was being accused of a hate crime, according to court documents.

I cant believe they are trying to make this thing a hate crime, he told detectives. What a septic thing to do.

Radford also told detectives he didnt like Lay because Lay treated him poorly, not because he was gay.

If he is found guilty as charged, he could face a sentence of life in prison. If a jury finds Radford guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter with a weapon, which typically carries a punishment of up to 30 years in prison, he also could be sentenced to life under the hate crime enhancement.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Weeks after police arrested a man suspected of selling stolen utility trailers on social media, investigators have connected him to at least 17 other similar thefts.

Clark County deputies first investigated Joshua J. Webb  also known as Joshua James and WebbJJ  for allegedly stealing trailers in the Portland metro area and southwest Washington.

Alaska Airlines flight lands safely in Portland after small windshield crack

But after bringing their investigation to the public, the sheriffs office received nearly 50 calls from other possible trailer thefts. So far, Webb has been accused of stealing $181,000 worth of trailers.

Authorities say these cases stretched from Woodland to Salem and Astoria to Bend.

Webb currently faces five counts of first-degree trafficking stolen property, four counts of first-degree theft and two counts of second-degree burglary. He also faces one count each of forgery and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Shooting near Downtown Portland Central Library leaves one dead

Deputies say Webb is likely to face additional charges in other counties. Anyone who thinks they may have been targeted by Webb is encouraged to contact police.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Fairfax County Police Department said it located a missing New York teenager and arrested a man who was housing the teen.

Police said that on March 15, they were told that a missing New York teen may be in Fairfax County.

Officers said their investigation led them to the 7300 block of Sportsman Dr. in McLean.

Police arrived at the home and found the teen with 20-year-old Muammer Steve Demir of McLean.

Police investigating 3-vehicle crash in Fairfax County

Officers said that Demir drove to New York in August of 2023 and then brought the teenager back to Virginia.

Police found that Demir was in possession of child sexual abuse material. Police arrested him. He faces charges of Carnal Knowledge of a Child and Possession of Child Abuse Material.

Demir was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and is being held on no bond.

The teenager reunited with the teenagers family.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
A man is facing charges after he allegedly spit on several police officers in Penn Hills.

According to the criminal complaint, officers escorted a man who led police on a chase while DUI to a house on Lindberg Avenue.

When officers dropped him off to a sober person, another man came out of the house and started walking aggressively toward them.

The complaint said the officers thought the man, identified as Rayshawn Johnson, was coming to yell at the person who was DUI, but then quickly realized he was agitated with police presence. He started yelling for officers to get out of his house and getting in their face, which was when they could smell alcohol on his breath.

Police asked Johnson to go back inside, to which he spit his gum and some saliva onto the officers chest and face. The officer moved to get Johnson into custody but he pulled away, which prompted the officer to grab a taser.

Johnson fell to the ground and removed the taser from the officers hand, the complaint said. He continued to resist arrest until police were able to get him on his stomach.

Once Johnson was in custody, he was placed in the back of the patrol vehicle. During his transport to the police station, he told officers he would kill them 10 times over.

During medical evaluation, Johnson spit on the same officer again. He also spit on another officer when he was handcuffed in his cell.

Johnson is charged with aggravated assault, disarming a law enforcement officer, terroristic threats, resisting arrest and public drunkenness.

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Fugitive from Pitcairn taken into custody in Las Vegas, Allegheny County sheriff says Mogies Pub owner honored on St. Patricks Day and Mogie Day in Lower Burrell Pittsburgh Steelers fans exchange Kenny Pickett merchandise for $25 at Primanti Bros VIDEO:Man accused of robbery, other crimes at the Waterfront sought by Allegheny County police DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
A man was killed when an UTV he was on tumbled 80 feet down a cliff at an adventure park in Kentucky, officials say.

The Powell County Search & Rescue Team said two people were on the UTV that crashed at 8:40 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at Hollerwood Offroad Park.

A man and woman were riding the UTV toward the exit of the park when they lost control of the vehicle, falling off the cliff, according to the search and rescue team.

Officials said the woman was able to call 911 as she was trapped in the UTV. But the man, according to the search and rescue team, had been ejected.

Crews used an improvised rope system to maneuver down the cliff, where they found the two victims, rescuers said. The woman was removed from the UTV and transported for medical care.

The man, however, was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. His identity has not been publicly disclosed as of Monday, March 18.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the family and loved ones involved in this incident, the Powell County crew said.

Hollerwood Offroad Adventure Park, in Stanton, features more than 2,500 acres of land for guests to ride all-terrain vehicles. The adventure park did not immediately respond March 18 to McClatchy News request for comment.

Stanton is in eastern Kentucky and is about a 45-mile drive southeast of Lexington.

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A man died in Australia after falling from a hot air balloon over a residential area on Monday.

The victim, who has not been named, plunged from the basket around 30 minutes into the flight as the balloon passed over the suburbs of Melbourne in the southern state of Victoria. Local authorities are speaking to the balloons passengers and pilot to establish the circumstances surrounding the mans fall, but police say the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Aussie Psychedelic Festival-Goers Hit by Contagious Bacterial Disease

Residents in the area described hearing a disturbing sound at the time of the incident. My brother heard like a loud bang, almost like somethinglike a large item falling in your house, one person told Nine News. It wasnt until we heard all the sirens that we came out.

The balloon later landed several miles away from where the mans body was found.

The Australian Ballooning Federation and the National Commercial Hot Air Ballooning Industry released a statement offering condolences to the deceaseds loved ones.

Hot air balloon baskets are designed with safety in mind, specifically to prevent passengers from falling out accidentally or from any accidental exit, the statement read, according to the Associated Press. Passengers and the pilot are understandably traumatized by this tragedy and the operator is arranging psychological support and counseling for all affected.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A man has died after being hit by a car in east London.

Officers were called to the crash, involving a car and a pedestrian, on Ley Street, at the junction of Benton Road in Ilford, at 00:18 GMT on Sunday.

A 46-year-old man was found with life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital. He died a short time later, the Metropolitan Police said.

A man, 29, and a woman, 28, have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The force said that the car involved left the scene before police arrived.

Following enquiries by officers from the Met's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, a Range Rover was located at a garage in Ilford.

The Met said it is appealing for any witnesses, or anyone driving in the Ley Street area with footage from the time of the collision, to contact them.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
A Michigan man was nearly brought to tears when he saw his lottery winnings.

I had to count the zeros multiple times to make sure I was reading it right, he told Michigan lottery officials in a March 18 news release.

The 59-year-old daily lottery player from Chippewa County scratched off a $500,000 prize, lottery officials said.

He buys lottery tickets every day, usually on his way to work, according to officials. When he walked into his usual gas station, he hoped the new clerk would sell him a big winner.

I was so happy I almost cried! he said.

He plans to retire, fix up his home and invest with his winnings, according to lottery officials.

Winning hasnt fully sunk in yet, but its such a relief, he told officials. Its going to allow me to take care of some things that have been on my list and live comfortably.

Chippewa County is about a 330-mile drive south to Detroit.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 18. Uzbekistan implemented 187.9 trillion soums ($14.9 billion) of foreign investments and loans in fixed capital in 2023, Trend reports.

The data of Uzbekistan's Statistics Agency shows that foreign loans under the guarantee of the country amounted to 21.2 trillion soums ($1.6 billion).

Furthermore, foreign direct investments and non-guaranteed foreign loans were 84.3 trillion soums ($6.7 billion), with other foreign investments totaling 82.4 trillion soums ($6.5 billion).



Meanwhile, Uzbekistan intends to accept foreign investments totaling $7.1 billion in the first quarter of 2024.



Uzbekistan has adopted a resolution outlining plans to complete investment projects in the first quarter of 2024.



According to the paper, direct foreign investments will total $6.5 billion, with government-guaranteed loans totaling $630 million.

In addition, Uzbekistan is determined to increase the inflow of foreign investments in 2024, in particular into such sectors as: electrical engineering, machine building, construction materials, pharmaceuticals, textile and leather.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo.  A man was shot over the weekend while attempting to stand up for his wife, who was being accosted and hit on by another man at a birthday party.

According to the St. Louis County Police Departments probable cause statement, the shooting occurred on March 16 at a home in the 1500 block of Faris Avenue in Pagedale.

Officers arrived at the home and found the victim, Frederick A. Sims, lying in the stairwell behind the home. Sims had been shot several times and was pronounced dead at the hospital. He was 58.

Investigators identified Darrell Roy Proudie, 72, as the man who shot Sims.

Family of missing Mizzou student Riley Strain speaks as search continues

Police and prosecutors claim Sims and his wife were attending a birthday party. Proudie, who lives nearby, was also in attendance. During the party, Proudie made numerous public and lewd advances toward Sims wife.

Sims eventually confronted Proudie and an argument ensued. At some point during the argument, Sims tripped and fell, and Proudie took out a gun and shot him.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office charged Proudie with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. He remains jailed on a $500,000 bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
A man babysitting his girlfriends 23-month-old is accused of killing the child when he became overwhelmed, Florida authorities said.

Bobby Curry Jr., 20, faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse, Lakeland Police Department Chief Sam Taylor announced Monday, March 18.

The incident occurred March 5, when Taylor said Curry was tasked with watching his girlfriends toddler, Ezekiel Cotto-Saintfleur.

Currys girlfriend of four months was at work, according to police, and he had moved in with her a few weeks prior.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m. that day, Curry called 911 about an unresponsive child, police said.

When first responders arrived, they performed CPR and took him to a hospital, where he died three days later.

A medical examiner ruled the cause of death was blunt force trauma, with the manner of death homicide.

The child had also suffered a brain bleed and had been without oxygen for at least 45 minutes, police said.

But Currys explanation of events did not align with information from doctors and an autopsy, police said.

Curry told investigators he gave the child a bath that day, but as he was taking the boy out of the bath, one of the two dogs living in the house jumped on the child and caused him to fall and hit his head, police said.

He put the child down to rest, police said, but when he came back, he said the boy wasnt breathing.

He began performing CPR and said he revived the child, according to police.

During this time, Curry messaged Ezekiels mother while she was at work, describing Ezekiels severe physical difficulties, asking her in an Instagram message is it possible for a child to go into cardiac arrest, Taylor said.

The couple exchanged 67 messages until the woman told him to call 911. Two hours passed between the first signs of distress and when the man called paramedics for help, police said.

On March 15, authorities arrested Curry on the two charges. Police said the physical evidence contradicted the story that a dog knocked the child down.

It is unconscionable and unfathomable to believe that almost two-and-a-half hours could go by from the very first signs that Ezekiel was injured until Mr. Curry finally decided to notify 911, Taylor said.

Currys attorney information is not available in Polk County case records.

Taylor said he believes Curry reached a breaking point and hit or pushed the child.

I will tell you I suspect that (he) was overwhelmed, Taylor said. He was probably unused to babysitting a 23-month-old.

There were two dogs and two ducks in the house as well, police said.

Charges have not been filed against the mother.

In this childs obituary, family wrote that from the moment he was born, he brought so much love and light to his family.

He loved Spiderman, dinosaurs and cars, his family said. He loved animals and showed so much kindness and patience toward them. He loved giving his cousins kisses.

Lakeland is a city in central Florida, about a 35-mile drive east of Tampa.

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This image provided by the Georgia Department of Corrections shows inmate Willie James Pye. A judge on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, signed the order for the execution of Pye, who was convicted of murder and other crimes in the November 1993 killing of Alicia Lynn Yarbrough. The execution is set for March 20 at 7 p.m., after the judge set an execution window between noon that day and noon on March 27. (Georgia Department of Corrections via AP)

ATLANTA (AP)  A Georgia man should not be executed because he is intellectually disabled and feels remorse for killing his former girlfriend three decades ago, his lawyers wrote in seeking clemency for him.

Willie James Pye, 59, is scheduled to be put to death Wednesday using the sedative pentobarbital in what would be the states first execution in more than four years. Pye was convicted of murder and other crimes in the November 1993 killing of Alicia Lynn Yarbrough.

A clemency hearing is set for Tuesday. In Georgia, those hearings are conducted in secret, with the result announced afterward.

Had defense counsel not abdicated his role, the jurors would have learned that Mr. Pye is intellectually disabled and has an IQ of 68, Pye's public defenders wrote in their clemency application.

They also would have learned the challenges he faced from birth  profound poverty, neglect, constant violence and chaos in his family home  foreclosed the possibility of healthy development," they wrote. "This is precisely the kind of evidence that supports a life sentence verdict.

Pye's lawyers also cited severe problems in the Spalding County justice system in the 1990s and said that Pye has been a positive influence on those around him while he's been in prison.

Pye had been in an on-and-off romantic relationship with Yarbrough. At the time she was killed, Yarbrough was living with another man. Pye, Chester Adams and a 15-year-old boy had planned to rob that man and bought a handgun before heading to a party in Griffin, prosecutors have said.

The trio left the party around midnight and went to the house where Yarbrough lived, finding her alone with her baby. They forced their way into the house, stole a ring and necklace from Yarbrough and took her with them when they left, leaving the baby alone, prosecutors have said.

They drove to a motel, where they took turns raping Yarbrough and then left the motel with her in the teenagers car, prosecutors have said. They turned onto a dirt road and Pye ordered Yarbrough out of the car, made her lie face down and shot her three times, according to court filings.

Yarbroughs body was found a few hours after she was killed. Pye, Adams and the teenager were quickly arrested. Pye and Adams denied knowing anything about Yarbroughs death, but the teenager confessed and implicated the other two.

The teenager reached a plea agreement with prosecutors and was the main witness at Pyes trial. A jury in June 1996 found Pye guilty of murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape and burglary, and sentenced him to death.

Pyes lawyers have argued in court filings that other statements the teen made are inconsistent with what he said at Pye's trial. Those statements, as well as statements Pye made during trial, indicate that Yarbrough left the home willingly and went to the motel to trade sex for drugs, the lawyers said in court filings.

Pyes lawyers also wrote in court filings that Pye was raised in extreme poverty in a home without indoor plumbing or access to sufficient food, shoes or clothing. His childhood was characterized by neglect and abuse by family members who abused alcohol, his lawyers wrote.

His lawyers also argued that Pye suffered from brain damage, potentially caused by fetal alcohol syndrome, that harmed his ability to plan and control his impulses. They also argue that he is intellectually disabled and is therefore ineligible for execution, citing the findings of several experts who evaluated him.

Pyes lawyers have long argued that he should be resentenced because his trial lawyer didnt adequately prepare for the sentencing phase of his trial. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Pyes lawyers in April 2021. But the full federal appeals court overturned that ruling in October 2022.

Adams, now 55, pleaded guilty in April 1997 to charges of malice murder, kidnapping with bodily injury, armed robbery, rape and aggravated sodomy. He got five consecutive life prison sentences and remains behind bars.

Georgia's last execution was in January 2020.

___

Associated Press writer Kate Brumback contributed.
A man is in the hospital after officials say he was shot during a robbery in Buckhead.

Atlanta police told Channel 2 Action News officers received reports of a person shot around 9:30 p.m. Sunday on Peachtree Road NE.

When officers arrived, they found a man who had been shot in the leg. The man was taken to the hospital, where he is stable.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The victims identity has not been released.

According to the investigation, the victim had plans to hang out with a woman he met at a club over the weekend. When he arrived at the address the woman gave him, officials said three men ambushed him.

During the ambush, police said the victim was pistol-whipped, robbed and shot before the three men took off.

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Police did not provide any details regarding if the address was where the woman lived.

No one has been taken into custody.

The shooting remains under investigation.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
A 26-year-old tied up two women in New Jersey and sexually assaulted them, officials said. Now hes charged.

On March 7, a woman called 911 and said Brandon C. Fickenscher sexually assaulted her and strangled her multiple times, according to a news release by the Camden County Prosecutors Office.

Investigators learned Fickenscher sexually assaulted the woman in December and strangled her at an apartment in Lindenwold in November 2022, prosecutors said.

On March 8, another woman came forward saying Fickenscher sexually assaulted her in February, officials said.

Both women knew Fickenscher but officials didnt specify the relationships, prosecutors said.

Fickenscher is accused of tying both of the women up in a shed on his Berlin Township property and sexually assaulting them, officials said.

Fickenscher was charged with aggravated sexual assault, criminal restraint, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, officials said.

He was arrested at this home and booked into the Camden County Correctional Facility, prosecutors said.

Anyone with information is asked to call 856-225-8664, officials said.

Berlin Township is about a 15-mile drive southeast of Camden.

If you have experienced sexual assault and need someone to talk to, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline for support at 1-800-656-4673 or visit the hotline's online chatroom.

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Daily Express foreign correspondent Sefton Delmer (1904 - 1979), making a propaganda broadcast to Germany from the BBC, 1st November 1941. Delmer had been recruited in 1940 by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) to organize 'Black Propaganda' broadcasts to Nazi Germany. Credit - Kurt Hutton-Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Germans first heard details of the allied landing on D-Day on June 6th, 1944 at 4.50 AM on the armed forces radio station Soldatensender Calais. The enemy is landing with force from the air and from the sea. The Atlantic Wall is penetrated in several places. To the first-time listener it sounded like a regular Nazi station, mixing speeches by Hitler and Goebbels with news from the front. But there was a reason for its scoop: it was actually a British station masquerading as a Nazi station, and thus knew about the landings early. The Soldatensender was a very popular covert station: some 41% of German soldiers tuned in, and it was one of the top three stations in major German cities, the equivalent of being one of the top cable networks today. As the fighting raged on, the station gave visceral accounts of German soldiers abandoned by Nazi high command: They lay in the beach in their smashed and slit up dugouts, naked, without cover. Left behind to be overrun and rubbed out. Who did not know they had been written offwritten off from the very beginning.

Such content was clearly designed to demoralise German troops. But heres where it gets interesting. The German soldiers and civilians listening to the station knew the Soldatensender was a British station masquerading as a German station. And the British who broadcast the station wanted the Germans to know it was the British. Their aim was not to deceive the listener, but to give cover to German listeners. Cover so that if the Gestapo or commanding officer caught you listeningyou could claim they thought it was a real Nazi station. Cover psychologically: it was easier to hear criticism of German leadership when it was presented as coming from us and about our boys. And cover to do what deep down many Germans wanted: surrender, defect, shirk and disobey the Nazis.

This intricate psychological game was the invention of Sefton Delmer, a largely forgotten genius of propaganda. As Director of Special Operations at the British Political Warfare Executive, he ran dozens of such covert stations across occupied Europe in many languages, working with a troupe of artists, academics, spies, soldiers, psychiatrists, and forgers. Refugees from Berlins cabaret scene acted and wrote the scripts of radio shows. Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, enabled Delmer. Many of Delmers most important collaborators were Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany pretending to be Nazis in order to subvert Nazi propaganda from inside, dressing up as their own torturers in order to take revenge. Delmers experiences has much to teach usgood and illabout how to win information wars today. But to appreciate how he came up with a form of propaganda that involved both broadcaster and audience playing such a curious masquerade, we need to understand his past, and what it tells us about propaganda in the first place.

Sefton Delmer was born and spent his first thirteen years in Berlin. His father was an Australian-British professor of Literature at Berlin University. During World War I Delmer was bullied in his German school for being British, an enemy school child. But he also found himself enjoying German war propaganda, singing and marching along to patriotic songs with the other boys. This childhood experience left him with the sense that we have many roles we perform in life. Delmer could be both the pro-German schoolboy, and the British one. All around him he observed Germans performing fervent patriotism one moment, and then showing extreme scepticism of the war the next. Propaganda gives people roles they enjoy performing, that can express and legitimise their most violent and cruel feelings. The question is who is directing these roles, and in whose interests are you playing them: yours, or the propagandists?

When Delmer moved to England he was bullied for being too Germanand the wound stuck. Though he eventually learnt to play the perfect English schoolboy, after university he went back to Berlin as a reporter for the tabloid Daily Express. Bilingual, he used his talent for impersonation to pioneer a form of journalism that was part TinTin, part Borat. He would act as a socially inept German tourist in provincial English hotels, speaking with a deep German accent and offending guests with his crass references to World War I, in order to test whether the English would take offense, and investigate whether they had forgiven the Germans for the last war. He even impersonated the assistant of the head of the Storm Troopers, Ernst Rohm, in order to attend a closed Nazi rally. He wined and dined the Nazis in the 1920s, and managed to win them over to such an extent they gave him exclusive access to accompany Hitler on his air tours from one hysterical Nazi rally to the next at the 1928 election.

SS Guard on Parade at a Nazi Party rally in Nurmberg, late 1930s. Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector-Getty Images)

Sixty thousand Germans are cheering and shouting in hoarse ecstasy while I am telephoning this report from the huge railway station hall here in Nuremberg, he wrote in a typically breathless report. Delmer saw close up how Hitler, who between mesmeric performances looked like a blank-faced traveling salesman, could rouse the crowd into a near-hypnotic state. The stated aim of Nazi propaganda was for people to abandon their individuality, and meld with the Nazi Volk. Only a mass demonstration can impress upon (a person) the greatness of this community . . . he submits himself to the fascination of what we call mass-suggestion Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf. The era of the individual will be replaced by the Community of the People claimed Goebbels, his propaganda chief.

But at the same time, Delmer observed, Hitlers followers were also performing their fervour. Delmer described the Nazis as a gruesome cabaret who offered people roles all too many enjoyed playing. In a time of tumultuous social change, where all old identities, including gender ones, were up in the air, the Nazis offered people ways to feel superior and secure in their racial "purity." They offered a role where you could express your hidden sadism, cruelty and angerall in the name of patriotic "ideals." The figure of the Fuhrer became the vessel through which you could legitimise your most craven urges.

When the Nazis came into power they made Germany into a vast fascist spectacle, with mass marches and endless communal events. The Nazis encouraged people to own cameras, and photo themselves taking part in Nazi celebrationsan early form of selfies. The Nazis built cheap radios, and Germans became the most radio-listening nation in Europe, so now your living room was part of Hitlers rallies. To counter this propaganda you needed to subvert the emotional bond between the Nazis and the German people, and to undermine the attraction of the roles they cast people to play.

When the war began Delmer gave anti-Nazi talks on the BBC German Service, but he believed the BBC had chosen the wrong strategy. Like many pro-democracy media today the BBC tended to preach to the converted, with noble lectures about liberal values. No Hitler supporter cared about these any more. You cant win over audiences under the sway of authoritarian propaganda by lecturing them about democracy and decency, or trying to debunk Nazi conspiracy theories. That ignored why people were drawn to the propaganda in the first place. Delmer yearned to try something more subversive and join Britains secret propaganda warbut the many roles he had played as a journalist meant he wasnt immediately trusted by the secret services. Was he a little too German? How close had he got to the Nazis? In 1940, after having finally received security clearance, he got his chance.

In his diary in July 1941, one of Germanys best known authors, Erich Kastner, noted how many in Berlin were listening to a new pirate radio station on Short Wave: What it says about the leaders of the Nazi party is mind-blowing. The station, broadcast by a renegade army officer simply known as Der Chef, was full of sweary tirades about corruption inside the Nazi party, including graphic porn that depicted the Gestapo and SS indulging in decadent orgies and pestering soldiers wives while heir husbands suffered on the front. The shit Gestapo is sleeping in the day and drinking in excess and fornicating in the night together with the spies and saboteurs, Der Chef ranted. The broadcasts were full of tirades about Yankee-swine, stink-Japs, Russian pigBolsheviks, and Italian lemon-faces. He called Churchill a dirty, Jew-loving drunk.

The sex and swearing were strategic. Der Chef used the cliches of Nazi propagandabut turned them against the Nazis. He accused Nazi officials of being secret Bolsheviks, of plotting against the German people, of being too weak. A British intelligence source in Sweden reported that the station destroys in the German people their confidence in the Party apparatus... The organiser of the station must be in touch with the German army and in touch with oppositional Army circles. One must say confidently this station is the most listened to in the whole of Germany. A source inside the German propaganda Ministry advised the British intelligence to recruit Der Chefunaware he was a British creation all along.

Der Chef was Delmers first show in his cabaret of counter-propaganda. No soldier, he was actually played by a mild-mannered, exiled German-Jewish novelist. He was as far from the prim moralism of the BBC as could be imagined. The aim of the shows, Delmer explained when presenting his programs to the King of England was to push Nazi propaganda into the ridiculous. This wasnt the same as satirein these early shows Delmer still wanted Germans to think this was a genuine soldier. Instead Delmer took the foul, racist language of Nazism, exaggerated it and turned it against the Nazis. By accusing the Nazis themselves of being secret Bolsheviks, for example, Delmer was pushing Nazi propaganda lines to the point where they undermined themselves.

Moreover, by distorting and flipping the propaganda, he was making people conscious of how fabricated this language, and the roles it bequeathed people. The Nazis wanted people to fully inhabit the roles they invented for peoplethat of Aryans or Volksgenosse. Delmer wanted to drive a psychological wedge between them.

What Delmer seems to have been looking to provoke is that strange moment of alienation from oneself when you become suddenly aware of how full of artifice and performance your own behaviour is. We saw another, accidental, variation of this effect in the talk by Alabama Senator Katie Britt when rebutting President Bidens State of the Union address. Britt wasnt trying to be satirical, but by slightly overacting her speech, she made even people loyal to the MAGA movement aware of just how full of cliche and forced poses this propaganda is.

Delmer then further undermined the pleasures of the Nazi performance. The Nazis portrayed Germans as strong and cleanpeople were meant to enjoy associating themselves with this image of pure Germans. Meanwhile the Nazis shoved all imagery of disease onto their victims, depicting Jews as vermin and maggots. Delmer wanted to cover the Nazis with a layer of filth as thick as they had spread onto jews. Der Chef depicted Germans ravaged by disease, lice and malnutritionall brought on by the Nazis, thus associating them as a source of sickness.

Delmers aim was for people to stop reveling in the roles Nazis bequeathed themand instead start acting in their own self-interest instead. The stories of corruption among officials, of how they took the best food and shirked military service, were to give people the excuse they needed to do these things themselves. Delmer didnt think propaganda so much persuaded as legitimised what people wanted to do deep down. Nazi propaganda legitimised cruelty, gave people an escape from personal responsibility, and allowed a strongman leader to solve things for them. The catch was you ended up acting in their interests. What if you could act in your own instead?

Speech Of Goebbels In A Full Stadium At Germany In Europe During Thirties Keystone-France-Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

These early shows had one big problem because Der Chef was hiding his provenance, he was swiftly unmasked. In less than a year the Nazis worked out the British were behind Der Chef, and embarrassed the British on the topic in their own media. This was ironic as the Nazis were also trying something similar themselves.

Goebbels had created a series of stations that pretended to be British and all advocating to capitulate to Germany. One, for example, aimed at British workers and claimed, The so-called bosses of ours are all swine whove taken a Yid bribe. This movement is British. Come out into the streets and put it into action! Workers of Britain uniteyou have nothing to lose but your chains! These shows, which were nothing as popular as Delmers in Germany, were also quickly caught out by the British.

So Delmer decided on a new strategy. Instead of a pirate station on Short Wave like Der Chef, he broadcast his biggest media, the Soldatensender, on Medium Wave, where only states had the power to broadcast: the equivalent of having a network in your cable package rather than watching a YouTube show. This way Germans would know the station was really British, but would have the cover necessary to stay physically and psychologically safe. Delmer was creating a masquerade where it was safe to reveal the truth. His shows were full of incredible detail about life on the front provided by partisan groups in occupied Europe; interrogations of POWs; opening the letters of Nazi officials and many more sources. Not only did this drive up audience figures, it also gave even more of an excuse to act against Nazi orders. If the British knew so much about their conditions anyway, what was the point of resisting?

And there is something in the very act of listening to such a station that stimulates people to think and act more independently. If the Nazis wanted you to give up your individuality, become a limb in the great fascist showhere the opposite process was happening. Here was a media that just by the process of tuning in required you to make a series of autonomous, conscious steps to engage with it. You put on a series of disguises to listen to the Sender, but in that very process you were both active and self-aware. The contorted mental gymnastics that people went through when tuning in to the Sender had them bend their minds out of the passive mental state that Goebbels wanted.

Delmer was always fascinated by how we perform ourselves. The choice we have is to play the roles defined by the propagandists, and in their interests, or to take control and be actor-directors of ourselves.

Did it work? Delmer tended to avoid answering directly. He would say that propaganda can only help the more important military and economic policies, and his aim was to generally corrode Nazi morale and cohesion. It is true that soldiers and civilians were far more ready to surrender on the Western front, the target of Delmers media, than on the Easternbut there were many reasons for that, not least the fear of Soviet atrocities. We do know from British surveys of German POWs that almost half listened to the Sendera remarkable figureand many said they were grateful for the cover the stations gave them. Imagine we could get 41% of Russian soldiers to tune into something Ukraine and its allies created today! And in a time when we lament how hard it is to break through polarisation and echo chambers in democracies, Delmer showed you could get engagement, and trust, from audiences who were on the other side of a real, and not just a culture, war.

There are also cases in the British and other archives of German soldiers surrendering after listening to shows on the Sender. One submarine commander, according to a memoir by an OSS agent, gave up his boat after Delmers Sender had broadcast a song to congratulate him on having a child when he hadn't been home for two years. More reliably, interviews with POWs from original archives show them telling the British that the Sender did indeed give them cover, and encouraged them to surrender as the British seemed to know so much about the details of their every manoeuvre.

An even more niche evidence of success was related to Delmer by Otto John, one of the few survivors of the Valkyrie plot by members of the German military to assassinate Hitler and stage a coup. The leaders of the coup, John said, thought that if the British were creating stations that encouraged a split between the Nazi party and the military, London would support their plot. Hans Fritszhe, the head of Nazi radio, also told Delmer at Nuremberg that Hitlers closest confidantes were so alarmed at the level of detail about German politics in the Soldatensender, they were convinced one of their own was leaking secrets to Delmer. This lead to officials being herded in for interrogations. And finally there is the evidence of Goebbels and his propaganda minions, who were often complaining of Delmer, and tried to debunk his shows in their media. The head of the SS in Munich lamented how the Soldatensender was one of the top three stations in the city. But when censors tried to jam it, they ended up drowning out official Nazi stations too and had to stop.

The lessons from Delmer today are positive, negativeand urgent. His disinformation had parlous effects. After the war Delmer worried that fostering the image of anti-Nazi soldiers allowed real Nazis sympathisers from the miliary top brass to re-integrate into positions of power. But it was the truths that Delmer penetrated beneath the lies that are still valuable. His ability to engage audiences that seemed lost. His understanding of the power of propaganda as legitimising the nastiest feelings, and about giving people pleasurable roles to perform in a confusing world, are apposite in an age of social media. Online we are all constantly presenting versions of ourselves.

Today you dont need to go to a physical rally to join a communal performanceonline algorithms encourage people to pile into a loud angry crowd, all sharing the same phrases, emoticons and spinning into a seething snowball of superiority and fury. While the Nazis were uniquely nasty, underlying patterns in propaganda persist. Propagandists across the world play on the same emotional notes like well-worn scales. They legitimize peoples secret desires to be the horrible people we wouldnt usually dare to be. They give a sense of false community to those left feeling deracinated by rapid change; peddle a sense of pure identity through which to project our worst feelings about ourselves on others; foster the same sense that you are surrounded by hidden enemies that want to take something from you, something thats yours and only yours and only you deserve; and play into the yearning for a strong father figure to protect you. At their most effective they can construct whole alternative realities, conspiratorial worlds where you have no responsibility. And many people can be eager to play along with this.

Our world is full of Goebbelses great and small. Do we have any Delmers to compete?

Adapted from Peter Pomerantsev's How to Win an Information War: The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler, just published by Public Affairs

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Paul Manafort, former President Trumps 2016 campaign chair who was jailed on fraud charges, is in talks to potentially return to Trumps 2024 campaign ahead of the Republican National Convention in July, according to reports.

The Washington Post first reported Trump is expected to enlist Manafort as a campaign adviser this year, citing four people familiar with the matter. Trump pardoned Manafort in 2020 after he was convicted in 2018 on bank fraud and tax charges.

The sources told The Post that discussions around Manaforts potential role have included the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and the former adviser serving a role in fundraising for Trumps campaign. Although no final decision has been made, all four sources told The Post that the hiring of Manafort was expected.

The New York Times reported Manafort was in discussions to help with the Republican National Convention this year, citing two people with direct knowledge of the matter. CNN also reported that Manafort may return for the Republican National Convention, according to three sources familiar with the conversations.

Manafort served as Trumps campaign chair from March to August 2016. He was convicted on bank fraud and tax charges stemming from Robert Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

He was also sent to home confinement in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic before Trumps pardon of him before leaving the White House.

Manafort released a book in 2022, titled Political Prisoner, that pushes back on the allegations he faced as a result of the investigation and also doubles down on his support for Trump, according to its description.

The Hill has reached out to Trumps campaign and the Republican National Committee for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Washington is going to the dogs - for real this time.

As of 2022, the federal government employed 5,159 German shepherds, Belgian Malinois, beagles, Jack Russell terriers and other forms of everyones favorite furry friend. Another 421 worked as canine contractors.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

The job descriptions for these four-legged feds range from the sublime - 31 help park rangers traverse Denali National Park in winter - to the subprime: Others detect waterfowl feces infected with bird flu.

We found the work of these politically connected canines described in magical detail in a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which apparently is taking its role as government watchdog literally. The report - which addresses the working conditions of working dogs - somehow escaped our noticed until we were scooped by our friends at USA Facts, a data evangelism and dissemination outfit founded by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

The majority of Uncle Sams shepherds (and other breeds) - almost 3,000 - work for the Department of Homeland Security. About 1,100 of those DHS dogs sniff bags and whatnot for the Transportation Security Administration, otherwise known as everyones airport security friend, the TSA. Another 1,800 are Pentagon pooches, hard at work for the Defense Department. Together, those two departments account for 85 percent of total federal working breeds.

Across every agency and other government-adjacent institution included in the database, the most common use for dogs seems to be detecting explosives and drugs - tasks they perform in places as diverse as Amtrak (57 police dogs), the Postal Service (47 dogs) and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (eight dogs). The SPR, in particular, would seem to have an incentive to ask its dogs to detect anything that might blow up - anything other than its 360 million barrels of crude oil, that is.

Dogs also patrol and search hard-to-reach areas, such as federal wildlife refuges; track people on Forest Service land and for the Veterans Affairs Police; and apprehend suspects for law enforcement agencies like the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service. At some agencies, dogs even work to identify currency, firearms, pests and invasive species.

As you might imagine, given their demanding and sometimes dangerous jobs, these productive pups often undergo months of training - more training than is required in many human occupations. GAO finds procuring and training a dog can cost approximately $65,000 to $85,000. If that were an annual salary, it would put our canine colleagues between GS-7 and GS-11 in D.C., depending on level of experience.

Furthermore, GAO says these dogs ought to be provided with food and water, housing at a handlers home or at a kennel, and exercise for working dogs appropriate to weight and breed - the kind of lifestyle perks you dont usually get until you rise to GS-14 or so.

How many other animals work for the feds? Were curious!

The U.S. Army sold its last homing pigeon in 1957. If guinea pig counts as a job, the National Institutes of Health keep thousands of mice, rats, fish, hamsters, pigs, dogs, rabbits, monkeys and, yes, guinea pigs, according to an analysis of Agriculture Department and NIH data by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. NASA employed monkeys and chimpanzees as astronauts, or at least as prominent research subjects. But the space agency reportedly euthanized what appeared to be its last 27 nonhuman primates on a single day in 2019.

The Navys Marine Mammal Program has at various points tested a dozen marine mammals - including orcas, pilot whales and seals - for duties including mine detection and swimmer defense. Birds, sea turtles and sharks also have been pressed into service.

As of early 2023, the Navy still trained a reported 77 dolphins and 47 sea lions. According to the New York Times, they no longer breed dolphins and plan to phase out the animals in favor of underwater drones. Meanwhile the animals, some of whom were once deployed in Americas foreign wars, are helping break new ground with research on kidney stones, cataracts, weight issues and all the other indignities faced by aging veterans everywhere.

- - -

Maybe Americans just hate school buses?

A few of you contacted us about our column regarding a sharp drop in school-bus use during the coronavirus pandemic to say wed missed the obvious: People arent riding school buses because buses are - and were paraphrasing here - bully-riddled, foul-smelling, wildly inconvenient, rolling disease vectors.

To be honest, we had dismissed that line of thinking because, as far as we can recall, school buses could be unpleasant even before the pandemic. So it may not explain the drop.

Also, we didnt have data on school-bus popularity. Until, that is, our friend Carl Bialik of the online polling company YouGov read the column and reacted the only way he knows how: with polling. This month, Bialik asked 1,117 U.S. adults what they thought of the transportation that had taken them to school.

Buses lost. Only 34 percent of us who rode the bus liked or loved the experience, a figure that appears downright pitiable next to the incredible 91 percent who said the same about driving themselves. In fact, having your own set of wheels was wildly popular even if there was no engine involved: Riding a bike (or skateboard, or scooter) got 71 percent support.

The fastest-rising mode of transport - being picked up and dropped off by a relative - roughly tied with carpooling at 65 percent. Though it did better if you looked only at those who said they loved it.

Walking wasnt beloved - data hints it may be especially unpopular in the Midwest - and public transit wasnt really anybodys favorite. But those two modes ran laps around the lowly yellow bus. It was the only mode of transportation to evoke more negative feelings than positive ones.

Of course, something can be tremendously vital and important without being particularly beloved. Just ask the IRS, Interstate 95 or dental floss. Getting to school is the single most important prerequisite for succeeding in school, and the yellow bus is sometimes a childs only means of doing so.

- - -

The best question we cant answer

Q: During the Spring and Summer in Connecticut there are thousands upon thousands of robins. During the day they only make quiet chirps, but as the sun goes down a single robin or two sit high in a tree and make a loud chant/song until the sun goes down.

Is this night song repeated over and over by a single robin a form of religious service for all robins in the area to their Sun God?

- David ONeil, South Windsor, Conn.

A: The perhaps unsurprising news, David, is that we just dont have the data for this. We tried our best, contacting one of our all-time favorite sources, Eliot Miller, now with the American Bird Conservancy.

If anyone on the planet could decode your robins, it would be Miller, the man who once helped us determine - once and for all - which birds are the biggest jerks at the feeder.

Miller helped develop a Cornell Lab of Ornithology app that recognizes birdsong and now crisscrosses the Americas setting up recorders and analyzing audio data to create new measures of bird diversity. Unfortunately, even Millers artificial intelligence models cant currently identify Sun God worship among robins, though he sounded like he was tempted to try.

But theres good news: Miller doesnt need AI to guess what went down in Connecticut.

Birds, particularly migratory birds like robins, breed on an annual cycle, he told us. Their gonads enlarge, testosterone starts pumping, and all of a sudden they go from making little whines and chirps when they get scared or annoyed to full-blown songs until the sun goes down.

This particularly happens leading up to when they actually have babies. Why? Because now is when they are duking it out over who gets to breed where, with which females. Later, when there are babies, theyll actually cut back on the singing, presumably to draw less attention to their nest.

Miller did leave the door open to robin religion, however. The mating-related explanations are ideas humans have come up with, he said. Theyre probably right, but you got to ask the birds to be sure.

Graphics:

https://washingtonpost.com/documents/3da2d79b-3b5d-45a8-a6cb-8940385db507.pdf

https://washingtonpost.com/documents/72dc2b9f-5951-4d33-bb0a-d64da488edba.pdf

https://washingtonpost.com/documents/1978f1db-1bda-4995-b7e8-fae089788727.pdf

https://washingtonpost.com/documents/538a9159-7709-463c-ba20-90723caa6616.pdf

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Americans are making their annual guesses in NCAA Tournament bracket competitions. Also in the news: Cease-fire talks are expected to resume in Qatar after negotiations between Israel and Hamas stalled before Ramadan and the Supreme Court will weigh on Monday how far the government can go in fighting social media misinformation.

 I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Here's some Easter Basket inspiration.

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Selection Sunday makes for a mad Monday

College basketball launched fully into March Madness 2024 as the field for the NCAA Tournaments were announced on Selection Sunday. Now fans are racing on Monday to select their very-best bracket ahead of tip-off this week.

While some men's teams are prepping for the dance, others are grousing about being left out as a chaotic championship weekend left once top-10 teams on the outside looking in. Meanwhile, theres more parity in womens college hoops than ever before  and more eyeballs on the game, too  which means were in for some major madness this month.

Undefeated South Carolina earned the top overall women's seed . Iowa and Caitlin Clark are poised for another Final Four run, with LSU's Angel Reese, Stanford's Cameron Brink, Connecticut's Paige Bueckers and South Carolinas Te-Hina Paopao hoping to stand in the way of Clark's first national title.

Who clinched the top spot in the men's tournament? UConn, which won the national championship last year, will enter the tournament with an even bigger target as the No. 1 overall seed. The Huskies will play in the East Regional, and they are joined as a top seed by Houston in the South, Purdue in the Midwest and North Carolina in the West.

When's tip off? The men's First Four starts Tuesday and the women's First Four contests start Wednesday.

More March Madness from the USA TODAY Network:

Stanford's Cameron Brink, center, and teammates Kiki Iriafen, left, and Brooke Demetre react to being named a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament, Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas expected to resume

Stalled talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas are expected to resume in earnest in Qatar, 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 last week, but Hamas refused any deal that wouldnt lead to a permanent cease-fire in Gaza, a demand Israel rejected. Read more

Biden praised Schumer's blistering criticism of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

The ship Open Arms belonging to the Spanish aid group by the same name, arrives in Larnaca port after delivering 200 tons of aid to Gaza, on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

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What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Putin hails preordained electoral win

Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed his preordained electoral victory Sunday as a sign of the country's "trust" and "hope" in him, and after stifling any real attempt at unseating him. Despite several opposition protests across Russia, Putin easily claimed another six-year term by getting 87% of the vote. Putin has been in power since 1999 and the predetermined victory will allow him to surpass Josef Stalin's 29-year tenure, making the former KGB agent the longest-serving Russian leader in more than 200 years. Read more

Mike Pence refuses to endorse Trump

Former Vice President Mike Pence accused former President Donald Trump of walking away from the Constitution, days after refusing to endorse the Republican frontrunner. Pence told CBS Face the Nation on Sunday that his divide with Trump stretches beyond the events of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, when Pence refused to intervene in Congress' certification of the 2020 election. Pence said Trump was abandoning "a commitment to fiscal responsibility, a commitment to the sanctity of life, a commitment to American leadership in the world," while adding what he'd like to see from Trump on abortion rights and the debate over TikTok's future. Read more

Must-reads

Did the White House go too far fighting online misinformation?

What the White House viewed as efforts to correct misinformation about a life-saving vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic, critics called an example of a broad pressure campaign by the federal government to quash views it doesnt like. The Supreme Court takes up the issue on Monday, and if the justices place too many restrictions on how the government can work with private social media companies in areas such as public health, election integrity and foreign interference, it could impede efforts to stop harmful misinformation, experts say. But if there arent enough guardrails, the government  whether a Democratic or Republican administration  could have too much power to influence public debate. Read more

Photo of the day: The luck of the Irish celebrated around the world

Cities dyed their rivers green. Friends clinked mugs full of green beer. Dogs donned their best green outfits. Sunday was St. Patrick's Day, a national holiday in Ireland that is observed by many Americans regardless of their Irish heritage. It's a day of parties and spectacle that draws millions of Americans together. Click here to see photos of the celebrations across the U.S. this weekend.

Visitors take pictures after the Chicago River was dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick's day on March 16, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this  subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March Madness, Israel-Hamas War, Mike Pence, Putin, Trump, St. Patrick's Day: Daily Briefing
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  A Marion County man accused of gunning down a New Mexico State Police officer remained in a hospital Monday morning, according to Nexstar affiliate KRQE.

Jaremy Smith, 32, also has an extensive criminal history in South Carolina dating back 15 years and logging more than a dozen felonies, according to records obtained Monday by News13.

Smith, who is also a person of interest in last weeks disappearance and killing of Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore, was shot multiple times by sheriffs deputies before his arrest on Sunday in an Albuquerque neighborhood, authorities said. No information about his injuries was immediately available.

Timeline: Whats happened so far in the case of slain Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said Sunday that Smith was hit multiple times and was under guard at an area hospital as he recovers before answering on charges including first-degree murder. Because of his injuries, its unclear when Smith could make a court appearance.

Smith was allegedly driving Machado-Fores vehicle early Friday morning when he shot and killed New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare, who had stopped to assist him with his broken-down vehicle on Interstate 40 in New Mexico, police said.

Authorities have not said how Smith, 32, and Machado-Fore, 52, were connected. Machado-Fores body was recovered on Friday in Lake View in Dillon County. Earlier Friday, the Marion County Sheriffs Office said Machado-Fore had been missing since Tuesday from her home in Marion.

News13 on Monday requested Smiths criminal history through the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which reveals he was first arrested before his 17th birthday.

In July 2007, Smith was charged with five counts of felony assault and a misdemeanor of malicious injury to property.

Eight months later, he was convicted of receiving stolen goods and grand larceny, which got him two years of probation.

Smith got three more felony charges between March 17 and June 3, 2008 on charges of second-degree assault, probation violation, second-degree burglary and second-degree grand larceny, getting another two years of probation.

Smith was hit with another count of grand larceny in August 2008. By October, he was in prison, given up to six years for burglary and grand larceny.

Records show Smith had been released by September 2010, but his parole was revoked.

In 2015, Smith was incarcerated at the Kirkland Correctional Institution in Columbia on charges of armed robbery and hostage taking by an inmate.

He was released by Oct 2018, when he picked up his most recent charges of possession or furnishing contraband.

Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

* * *

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.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 18. The Ecological Party of Uzbekistan proposes to develop a program for the use of treated rainwater amid water scarcity in Central Asian countries, Trend reports.

According to the Ecological Party, Uzbekistan needs to take measures to conserve water resources. As a result of global climate change, the area of glaciers in Central Asia alone has shrunk by about 30 percent over the past 50-60 years.

At the same time, Uzbekistan ranked 25th among 164 countries in the ranking of countries suffering from "water stress." This means that Uzbekistan is among the countries with a high water deficit.

Party representatives believe that rainwater, properly treated, can be effectively reused in various production processes. Experts estimate that through the use of rainwater, one person on average can save up to 71 liters of drinking water per day. Now, the average daily water consumption by one person in the country is 130 liters. If production and household processes, car washes, and other places where clean drinking water is consumed switched to rainwater, a significant amount of clean drinking water would be saved throughout the country.

Meanwhile, Emirati Metito Company aims to support Uzbekistans efforts to secure sustainable, quality water for its citizens.

The company focuses on developing impactful water reuse projects and decreasing water losses in pipeline networks.
MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Authorities in Dillon and Marion counties on Monday said theyre jointly investigating the death of Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore.

Dillon County Sheriff Jamie Hamilton and Marion County Sheriff Brian Wallace said in a joint statement that information was obtained which led investigators to the Lake View area of Dillon County, where the 52-year-olds body was found on Friday.

Federal and state agencies are assisting in the case. An autopsy was performed on Monday that the sheriffs said will be a crucial piece of the investigation, though officials expect results to take several weeks.

Wallace has already said that 32-year-old Jaremy Smith is a person of interest.

The Marion man is under guard in an Albuquerque hospital recovering from gunshot wounds he sustained when running from Bernalillo County Sheriffs deputies. Smith is charged with murder in the killing of New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare on Friday morning along Interstate 40.

Our resolve has not {wavered} over the last 90 hours, and it will not until justice is served for Phonesia, the sheriffs said.

* * *

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.
Russias sham presidential election has produced its inevitable result. With Vladimir Putin formally reconfirmed in office until at least 2030, we should not delude ourselves: there is no easy way out of the current confrontation with Russia, at least in the short term.

Sudden change in Moscows politics and leadership is extremely unlikely. Putin is not going anywhere anytime soon. The West must dig in for the long haul, militarily  but also politically.

The choice of Natos next secretary general, to be announced in July, has never been more important. Putin must be given a clear message that Natos Eastern flank is untouchable and that it commands the alliances undivided support at the highest level.

The next head of Nato must come from Eastern Europe. These front-line states are hugely exposed to Russian pressure and propaganda  genuinely believed in Moscow  that paints them as lapdogs of the West. Similar views on Ukraine are what pushed Putin to launch his full-scale invasion in 2022; he must be disabused of any such notions in regards to the Eastern flank countries now.

Appointing one of their own as Nato chief would shore up these Eastern allies politically and strengthen deterrence. It is long-overdue. In 20 years of membership they have never held the top post and feel increasingly like second-class members. Sustaining this situation is unfair and unwise.

But, incredibly, it is Mark Rutte, the outgoing Dutch prime minister and ultimate Western elite insider, who seems set to succeed Jens Stoltenberg at the helm of the alliance. He would be the Netherlands fourth Nato secretary general. Still, the US, Britain and Germany back him. Usually such support guarantees success, but it would be a huge mistake.

Rutte should be disqualified by his failure as Dutch prime minister to ever come close to bringing Netherlands defence spending up to the 2 per cent of GDP Nato target. Those breaking the alliances core spending pledge should not be rewarded with its highest post.

Secondly, the Dutchman  along with the discredited Gerhard Schroder  was Angela Merkels accomplice in pushing for the Nord Stream project by which Putin stuck his claws so deeply into Europes economy before the war.

Two further names, both from Eastern Europe, are being discussed. One is Kaja Kallas, the Estonian prime minister. She has done well on defence, boosting her countrys military spending to over 3 per cent of GDP (though only about 1 billion in cash terms) and sending aid to Ukraine.

But her very vocal style and ultra-hawkish stance on Russia and the war  irrespective of its merits  mean that she is too divisive for the post. She has consistently advocated for the most radical policy of total defeat of Russia and no peace until all of Ukraines lands are freed. This is now plainly unrealistic. And she has backed Emmanuel Macrons notion of possible Western intervention in Ukraine, a foolish and irresponsible proposition.

The other candidate for the Nato top job is Romanias low-key but effective president, Klaus Werner Iohannis  an ethnic German from Transylvania.

The Romanian president is one of Europes longest-serving leaders, and one of Americas oldest partners on the Continent, having taken office in the days of Barack Obama. A quiet but deft political operator, Iohannis has proven able to make and remake governments, engineering the Left-Right coalition that has run Romania since 2021. It is a vital skill for Nato politics. He has kept his country on a firmly democratic, pro-Western course.

Right from the outset of his presidency, Iohannis secured a 10-year cross-party agreement on spending at least 2 per cent of GDP on the military. The pact, praised even by Donald Trump when he was president, is still in operation  but Romanias defence budget has now reached 2.5 per cent.

Iohannis has also overseen a policy of strong yet discreet support for Kyiv from the critical first days of the war, preferring practical results to public fanfare and refraining from Kallas-style incendiary rhetoric.

As Nato allies negotiate who becomes the next Secretary General, what is needed is an experienced, trusted and uncontroversial figure with a strong track record on defence.

Importantly, it must be someone who comes from Eastern Europe but straddles the East-West fault line within the alliance, and who can also strike a firm but balanced tone on the Russian threat. That choice is Klaus Iohannis.

Gabriel Elefteriu is Deputy Director at the Council on Geostrategy and a Fellow at Yorktown Institute

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 February, a violent criminal set off a city-wide manhunt after going on a horrific rampage through the city of Memphis  carjacking a woman in a church parking lot, shooting two women after breaking into a hair salon, and killing an innocent teenager outside a strip mall.

It was a shocking act of violence that has tragically become all too common in Memphis. While the city has long struggled with crime, violent crime has skyrocketed to a record high in recent years, with homicides up 52%between 2022 and 2023.

Perhaps most frustratingly, the recent crime spree could have been prevented: Just before his disturbing attack, the 20-year-old suspect, Courdarion Craft, was in police custody after being arrested for attempted first-degree murder in an entirely separate case.

Yet, local authorities released Craft  a repeat criminal who has previously faced charges of property theft and evading arrest  on bail. As a result, countless lives have been shattered and a family lost their 18-year-old son.

Families should not have to endure these tragedies

Many Memphians are now wondering: How can a criminal charged with attempted murder be released onto the streets to continue terrorizing the community?

Crime scene tape

Unfortunately, this happens in Memphis far too often.

In May, a repeat criminal posted bail after shooting and injuring an off-duty Memphis Police Department officer while attempting to break into a parked vehicle.

One month later, a gunman  while out on bail for carjacking and employing a firearm with intent to commit a dangerous felony  shot and killed a man during an attempted carjacking.

And in November, a Memphis judge released on recognizance the suspected murderer of a 15-year-old boy, who was shot and killed outside his grandmothers house on Thanksgiving morning.

These tragedies should never happen to any family. But across the country, soft-on-crime district attorneys and judges have pushed radical bail policies that put criminals back on the streets and place law-abiding citizens in danger.

Dont put bail reform ahead of the needs of crime victims

As crime spikes in Memphis, for example, the Shelby County District Attorneys Office has spearheaded bail reform that makes it easier for criminals to avoid pre-trial detention. This initiative parallels efforts by far-left DAs  from New York and Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles and Chicago  to ease cash bail requirements or prohibit cash bail altogether, bringing disastrous consequences.

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy speaks to the press during a press conference at the Shelby County District Attorneys Office in Memphis, Tenn., on Tuesday, January 23, 2024.

After New York State implemented so-called bail reform in 2019, two-thirds of offenders out on bail with a prior violent felony arrest were arrested again within two years of arraignment, according to a recent study. And within just two and a half months of the laws enactment, crime in New York City rose 20% compared with the previous year, the Manhattan Institute found.

One thing is clear: Far-left bail policies put the interests of criminals ahead of the interests of law enforcement, families, and hardworking taxpayers.

While addressing crime is the primary responsibility of local governments, there are important steps the federal government can take to ensure public safety. Thats why, in the U.S. Senate, Im introducing the Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act, which would do much to deter states and localities from pushing pro-crime policies that harm Tennesseans and make cities like Memphis less safe.

Crucially, this legislation would block any state or local government from receiving federal funds if they have a policy that prohibits the use of cash bail for all offenders, or if they refuse to employ pretrial detention practices for every violent offender, including juvenile offenders.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn

With crime spiking in Memphis and cities across the country, it is essential that local governments protect residents and put violent criminals behind barswhere they belong. The Keep Violent Criminals Off Our Streets Act will ensure that happens.

Marsha Blackburn, a Republican, is Tennessee's senior senator in the U.S. Senate.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Sen. Marsha Blackburn: Keep violent criminals off Memphis streets
Five Chilean nationals accused of burglarizing a Baltimore County, Maryland residence last month and being linked to crimes in other states, were all in the country illegally, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

On Feb 3, 2024, the Baltimore County Police Department arrested 20-year-old Gabriel Matamala-Ponce; 21-year-old Thomas Crisosto-Araya; 22-year-old Jorge Gatica-Vergara; 23-year-old Luis Oyanedel-Valenzuela; and 27-year-old Gabriel Miranda-Gonzalez and charged them with first-degree attempted burglary and various other burglary-related crimes.

Officers were called to the 2300 block of Tufton Springs Lane at about 6:45 p.m. that day for a burglary in progress, and quickly located the suspects fleeing from the scene in a vehicle, before stopping them and taking them into custody.

A follow-up investigation discovered the five suspects were possibly connected to four other burglaries in the county, as well as crimes in North Carolina, Alabama and Oklahoma. They were also allegedly part of a theft ring out of South America.

MARYLAND BURGLARS LINKED TO SOUTH AMERICAN THEFT GROUP CONNECTED TO CASES IN MULTIPLE STATES: POLICE

Baltimore County, Maryland police arrested five men suspected of being part of a South American theft group.

ICE told Fox News Digital that Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Baltimore had lodged immigration detainers against all five individuals.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"ERO Baltimore is closely tracking the five individuals that Baltimore County Police arrested Feb. 3 for burglary charges," ERO Baltimore Spokesperson James Covington said. "All five of the individuals are Chilean nationals."

ICE said Crisosto-Araya, Gatica-Vergara, Miranda-Gonzalez, and Oyanedel-Valenzuela all entered the country lawfully as non-immigrants but did not depart according to the terms of their admittance.

MARYLAND WOMAN CONVICTED OF KILLING, DISMEMBERING BOYFRIEND, DISPOSING HIS REMAINS

June 2, 2022: ICE agents conduct an enforcement operation in the U.S. interior.

The fifth individual, Matamala-Ponce, entered the U.S. illegally without admission by a U.S. immigration official, ICE said.

All five are also connected to crimes in other states.

The Orange County, North Carolina sheriffs office issued arrest warrants for Crisosto-Araya, Gatica-Vergara, Oyanedel-Valenzuela and Matamala-Ponce on Feb. 28, 2024 for burglary-forced entry of a residence.

BALTIMORE POLICE OFFICER INDICTED ON EXCESSIVE FORCE, RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT

Miranda-Gonzalez was arrested by the Orange County, Florida sheriffs office on Feb. 22, 2022 and charged with petty retail theft and paid a fine for the crime on April 22, 2022.

All five are being held in Baltimore County on an immigration detainer.

The detainers are lodged against non-citizens who have been arrested for criminal activity.

Under the detainer, ICE asks local and state law enforcement agencies to notify them as early as possible before releasing a non-citizen from custody.

The detainers place a hold on the release of the non-citizens for no more than 48 hours beyond the time they would otherwise be released, which allows ERO to assume custody for removal purposes.





Original article source: Maryland thieves connected to theft ring from South America, in US illegally: ICE
Charged with a probation violation, Conrad Burke waited in the Mecklenburg County jail on Oct. 27, his body hurting and his frustration growing. His wife and mother were worried.

Burke, who is 45 and lives in Charlotte, thought hed met the requirements to go home.

Court and jail records say he posted bond about 20 hours before his release.

Whats going on? he recalled. Why am I still here?

Burke and his lawyer believe the answer is tied to eCourts, a new records and case management system that launched in Charlotte two weeks before the late check-out.

Burke is one of many people who spent extra time in jail as the sheriffs office and courthouse adjusted to the new system, attorney Zack Ezor said. Those late check-outs have taken a couple hours to a couple days, he said.

The Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office said Burkes delay in getting out came from something simpler. They were waiting to learn whether he needed to wear an electronic monitor, spokesperson Bradley Smith said.

The state office responsible for eCourts said there were no software errors in Burkes case.

Days, hours of life taken away

Conrad Burke and his lawyer say that he spent extra time in the Mecklenburg County jail because of eCourts. JEFF SINER/jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

ECourts  a $100 million project overseen by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts  is moving the states courthouses into the modern era. In Charlotte, Raleigh and other cities, records are online and free to read. Lawyers, clerks and judges do much of their work from computers now, instead of sifting through folders and papers.

But a federal lawsuit says the eCourts rollout led to hundreds of people being unlawfully detained. Some people say they were arrested multiple times on the same warrants. Others, including Burke, say they were locked up for hours or days after they met the criteria to go home.

In just four days in October, more than 60 people in Mecklenburg County were detained well beyond the point their conditions of release were satisfied, the suit says.

The criminal justice system doesnt always move quickly.

There are some instances where its understandable. An investigation has to be conducted, youre waiting for the courts trial schedule to open up, said Ezor. That is just a facet of the system that people acknowledge. Were always trying to do our best with it.

But keeping someone in jail long after theyre free to go home?

Days or hours of your life are taken away from you after everyone involved acknowledges that you should be out, he said. Thats time away from work, family and friends, he said. Days scratched off calendars.

Did eCourts keep man in Charlotte jail?

The Mecklenburg County Detention Center. FILE PHOTO

After a two-day back-and-forth, the office overseeing eCourts gave a one-sentence response to questions for this story.

The NCAOC reviewed the case and did not identify an eCourts software error, spokesperson Graham Wilson said.

Wilson did not make any NCAOC staff available for an interview. For months, the Observer and Raleigh News & Observer have asked to speak to state staffers, but only received statements denying eCourts software played a role in unlawful arrests and detentions.

The NCAOCs own reports show eCourts failed to complete more than 500 processes in just 12 days in October, the Observer reported earlier this month. Those errors dont produce extra jail time or unlawful arrests by default, but they do mean someone needed to make changes to records manually.

From Oct. 9  the day it launched in Charlotte  to Nov. 4, magistrates were responsible for collecting inmates signatures for appearance bonds before they could be released, sheriffs office spokesperson Bradley Smith said when asked about Burkes extra jail time. It was a built-in part of the rollout, and it only required inmates to sign out before leaving.

A timeline Smith provided shows Burke wasnt able to sign until 10:46 a.m. on Oct. 27, more than a day after he arrived at arrest processing, which is the first stop when someone goes to jail.

The wait didnt stem from eCourts or the new process, Smith said. It was more straightforward.

In this particular case, the major part of the delay was waiting on Probation, Smith said. The magistrate would not have called him to sign the appearance bond until we knew he was clear to leave. He was not clear to leave until Probation confirmed whether or not they were putting a monitor on him.

The office was closed, and jail staff didnt know whether Burke needed a monitor, Smith said.

Mecklenburg sheriff called family

Mecklenburg County Sherif Garry L. McFadden gives remarks during the graduation of the Mecklenburg County Detention Officer Certification Course on Monday, June 8, 2023, at Calvary Baptist Church. Sean McInnis/smcinnis@charlotteobserver.com

Burkes frustration built up. Born with a degenerative disc, hes supposed to take medicine for chronic pain three times a day, he told the Observer.

Arthritis, Ive got all that, he said. I dont even know the difference between the arthritis and the chronic pain I deal with. Its all combined.

He asked for his medicine while in jail, he said, but was told that hed need to see a physician first  even though he had a prescription. Jail medical provider Wellpath told the Observer that it wont comment on patients.

His wife grew anxious as he went without the medicine, she said.

In an Oct. 27 email to Sheriff Garry McFadden, she shared what had happened so far: Her husband posted bond the day before, but he was still in the jail, and he hadnt been taken to the courthouse or released.

An Oct. 27, 2023, email that Monica Burke sent to Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden concerning her husbands time in the jail. Provided/Ryan Oehrli

He is being denied special accommodations for his disabilities, such as his medical devices and medications, she added. We would greatly appreciate your prompt attention to having this matter investigated immediately.

Soon after, McFadden called her. By her account, the sheriff was sympathetic.

He basically said that they had a new system, that he was apologetic and that my husband would be released soon, Monica Burke said. The jail released him soon after.

The sheriffs office confirmed McFadden spoke with her, but said it had been too long to recall what was discussed.

Who will take responsibility?

The lawsuit over eCourts has led to finger-pointing, including from the company that built the software, Tyler Technologies.

But any allegations that North Carolina sheriffs were responsible for customs, policies or practices related to eCourts adoption has stretched plausibility to the breaking point, Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe said in a September memorandum.

McFaddens call stood out to Ezor.

Theres extreme reluctance in all of this for anybody to take responsibility, the attorney said. Im sure (McFaddens) lawyers would say this is not an admission of responsibility. But he seems to be on the right side of this, at least in terms of having some empathy.

Before the software came to Charlotte, the sheriff expressed concerns to others in the criminal justice system about his staff using the system, the complaint says. And prior to being sued, the sheriff  known for speaking his mind  was not shy about those concerns. He said eCourts might even be a threat to public safety.

We are all concerned, he told WCNC before the launch, in September. We are very much concerned. Whos going to suffer is the public.

Concerned as he was, he carried on without a fail-safe and dozens spent undue time in jail, the complaint says.

McFaddens phone call with Monica Burke and any other calls like it could be evidence in the lawsuit.

Fall through the cracks

Conrad Burke and his lawyer say that he spent extra time in the Mecklenburg County jail because of eCourts. JEFF SINER/jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

No one told Burke about a glitch or any software issues while he was in the jail, he said. He had been arguing with guards over an ankle monitor, he said.

But he learned more about the states new system when he started searching around online, found out there was a lawsuit and contacted Ezor. Others said they were needlessly kept in the jail, he learned.

Burke is part of that lawsuit now, Ezor said. It remains to be seen whether a judge will allow him to be added as a plaintiff.

Regardless, Burke is one of the 60-plus people who spent extra time in the county jail after the rollout, the attorney said. His story will help the argument, Ezor said.

Youve got some people probably still down there right now going through it, but are unable to have somebody advocate for them, Burke said. They just fall through the cracks. That allows the eCourts system to keep going It goes unnoticed, uncorrected.

Hes hoping joining the suit will keep the system in check.

ECourts is live in 17 counties. It will expand to 10 more next month.
Through open source research, Mediazona, a Russian independent media outlet, together with BBC Russia, confirmed the names of 47,701 Russian soldiers who had been killed since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Since Mediazona's last update in late February, the names of 3,047 Russian soldiers have been added to the list of casualties.

The journalists specify that the actual figures are likely considerably higher since the information they have verified so far comes from public sources, including obituaries, posts by relatives, news in regional media, and reports by local authorities.

Since Russia began its all-out war against Ukraine, over 3,200 officers, with 381 holding the rank of Lieutenant Colonel or higher have been killed in combat in Ukraine.

A majority of those killed in action come from Rostov, Sverdlovsk, Bashkiria, Chelyabinsk, as well as the Buryatia republic.

On Feb. 24, in a joint study with independent Russian media outlet Meduza, Mediazona reported that at least 83,000 Russian soldiers had been killed in Russia's war, although total estimates of Russia's casualties since the full-scale invasion vary widely.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg estimated on March 14 that Russia has lost over 350,000 troops in Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Stoltenberg's estimates refer to the total number of killed and injured Russian soldiers, and are seemingly in line with estimates made by U.S. officials last month that claim that over 315,000 Russian troops had either been killed or injured so far in the war.

Late last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed for the first time that 180,000 Russians have been killed in war, as opposed to 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers. Zelensky added that the exact amount is unknown and it would only be possible to find out once the territories were liberated.

As of March 17, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces says that Russia lost 430,740 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: 12 Russian oil refineries reportedly hit in recent attacks by Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Incumbent Scott Soik will face challenger Amberle Schwartz for the District 19 seat on the Portage County Board in the April 2 election.

Portage County supervisors serve two-year terms. All 25 Portage County Board seats are up for election this spring.

To learn more about registering to vote and to find your polling place, visit My Vote Wisconsin.

The Stevens Point Journal asked each of the candidates to address important issues in the county and why they are running for the position.

Local election news: Portage County's new voting equipment leads Wisconsin in election security and access. Here's how it works.

Amberle Schwartz

Amberle Schwartz

Age: 38

Residence: Town of Linwood

Occupation and education: Naturalist (environmental educator) for Boston School Forest in the Stevens Point Area School District; bachelor's degree in water resources from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Relevant experience: President of Wild Ones Central Wisconsin (2022-present)  since becoming president our membership has grown from about 60 to 114 members, leadership has grown from three to eight officers and from zero to seven board member, and we have distributed around 4,000 native perennial plants in both 2022 and 2023, and expect to distribute over 6,000 in 2024. I am also the founder of Portage County for Clean Water (2022-present), the small business owner of WiFlorish LLC (2019-2023), AmeriCorps farm-to-school community outreach coordinator for the Stevens Point YMCA (2017-2019) and native plant liaison and team lead for Farmshed Growing Collective (2018-present).

Campaign website/Facebook page: Amberle Schwartz for Portage County on Facebook

Scott Soik

Scott Soik

Age: 49

Residence: Town of Linwood

Occupation and education: I am employed as a field representative to our U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, and I am a small business owner. Upon graduation from Stevens Point Area Senior High, I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was honorably discharged.

Relevant experience: I have served on the town board of Linwood on and off since 2004 and am currently serving as the chairman of the town of Linwood. I have served on the County Board of Adjustment, Town Plan Commission, St. Paul Lutheran School Board and am the current County Board supervisor of District 19.

Campaign website/Facebook page: I have neither. It is much more constructive to have face-to-face or phone conversations with the people I serve. Please call me at 715-340-4975 anytime before 10 p.m.

Why are you running for office?

Schwartz: As the daughter of a veteran, I was raised to believe that my voice as an American is as important as everyone elses. I have proven my capability of lifting peoples voices, which helps organizations reach greater potential. The residents of Portage County, my neighbors, have the right to be heard and treated with respect. The government works for us to make this a safe, healthy, and prosperous place for everyone to live. I plan to lift our local government up to a higher standard through greater government transparency, public access, and dignified communication between supervisors and residents.

Soik: I have been in public service almost continuously since graduating high school. This is a continuation of my dedication to my neighbors and my community.

What are residents telling you are their most important issues in the county, and how would you address them?

Schwartz: District 19 lacks adequate internet options. For most residents there is no hard-wired or fiber optic option at all, so satellite connections that are too slow or too expensive are the only choices available. I will seek state and federal funding and work with municipalities to address these needs. Large future solar projects are another concern. A development agreement for the largest project is being written to protect all parties involved, including the municipalities where the projects will be located. I will encourage the county to agree to the developers agreement only after the municipalities are completely satisfied with it.

Soik: My constituents have expressed concern about their personal property rights, the level of county services that they receive for the tax dollars they pay, and having accessibility to accurate information in a timely fashion regarding local issues and news items. Addressing these complex issues within the 100-word limit given would be absurd.

The future of the Portage County Justice Center and the need for a new jail has been discussed for decades. What would you like to see happen with a new jail, justice center and courthouse?

Schwartz: I recently met with our captain of corrections. It is clear that we need a new facility. I support a new jail with a modern layout, which will facilitate a safer and more humane environment for corrections officers and inmates alike. The right facility can improve employee retention and decrease recidivism for offenders, which benefits us all. I will research and think long term while planning this project so it surpasses the lifespan of the current structure, which was just built in 1990. These services belong in Stevens Point where the most people have the greatest access to them.

Soik: We need to stop discussing and spending money on studies that tell us what we already know. We need to do our job as elected officials and proceed with the most cost-effective solution that will last generations, so our children do not have to revisit this exact issue in just a few years.

In 2022, Portage County residents approved a referendum to build a new Portage County Health Care Center. Due to a variety of concerns and issues that has not yet happened. What would you like to see happen with the county-owned Health Care Center?

Schwartz: I support a chance for the voters to be heard in another referendum in November, but after that this issue needs to be resolved quickly. The Portage County Health Care Center is an asset to our community. I understand that prices have risen dramatically, but most folks I have spoken with support a new building anyway. Selling this facility to a private institution would almost certainly have negative consequences for the skilled nursing staff, the quality of care received by residents, and access for our aging population on Medicare and Medicaid.

Soik: Correction: in 2022 the voters approved to increase the tax burden up to $4.5 million a year for the next 20 years. Upon further review by financial professionals, the smaller, new health care center could not be built for that price. Per the referendum question guidelines it would be illegal for the county to exceed that amount. It was legally impossible to build a new health care center. I will always push the county to operate within its budget, just as all of our citizens must.

Clean drinking water is a top concern for many in the county. If elected, how would you work to ensure safe drinking water for all residents?

Schwartz: Every resident in District 19 uses groundwater as drinking water. Approximately one in five private wells in Portage County are contaminated by nitrate. We already have some resources to improve the situation, which our current county Land and Water Conservation Committee could use. As county supervisor, I will base my decisions on science and research. I will listen to the Groundwater Citizens Advisory Committee, which has representatives from every municipality in our county and has put together suggestions for improvement. I will support the farmer-led coalitions already working to teach other farmers to use practices more protective of groundwater.

Soik: As someone who was injured by unsafe drinking water while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, I have a personal connection with this issue. I am proud that District 19 has some of the cleanest water in the county, however, I am very sympathetic to those in other areas. While I have never received a complaint from one of my constituents that they do not have access to safe drinking water, I do encourage anyone who has a concern to contact the Portage County Planning and Zoning department for information on how to utilize our many free water resources.

More local news: Buyer submits $1.8M offer to purchase Portage County Health Care Center

More local news: Portage County Board gives approval to purchase Plover land for possible new jail and justice center

Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA-TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Reach him at epfantz@gannett.com or connect with him on X (formerly Twitter) @ErikPfantz.

This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: April 2024 election: Portage County Board District 19 candidates
The family of Megan McDonald on Monday filed disciplinary complaints against Orange County DA David M. Hoovler, four members of his staff and his predecessor Frank Phillips, citing violations of the rules of professional responsibility in the handling of the high-profile 2003 murder.

Betty Jo McDonald and her daughter, Karen Whalen, filed identical complaints with the Attorney Grievance Committee for New Yorks Ninth Judicial District, seeking an investigation.

In addition to the current and former DAs, individual disciplinary complaints were filed against: Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek; ADA Leah Canton; ADA Richard Moran; and Stewart Rosenwasser, special counsel for policy, research and development.

Earlier: Megan McDonald murder: NYPD detectives ask Hochul for probe of 'unethical, underhanded' DA

The complaint against Hoovler said the DA had a clear conflict of interest, refused to recuse himself and/or the District Attorneys Office from the investigation into Megans homicide and improperly interfered with the New York State Polices investigation and ultimately, the prosecution of her killer and those who aided and abetted this person.

Previously: Megan McDonald murder: After 21 years, a much different anniversary for the family

After Bad Blood report

The charges follow Bad Blood, a 10-month, multi-part investigation published by the USA Today Network last month. Based on an internal State Police report, it laid bare the investigation into the 2003 murder of 20-year-old Megan McDonald and exposed a power struggle between police and the DAs office.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler speaks with residents during a "Coffee with the DA" event at the Alexis Diner in Newburgh on October 3, 2023.

The internal report concluded that DA Hoovler tampered with the McDonald investigation because when he was a defense attorney in 2008, before being elected DA, he sought a plea deal for Andre Thurston, who police believe was in the car when McDonald was murdered. Thurston died in 2010.

Edward Holley has been charged with second-degree murder in the case. He has declared his innocence and was due back in Orange County Judge Hyun Chin Kims court Monday.

The grievance committee has the power to investigate complaints against lawyers and interpret the rules of professional responsibility and disciplinary rules. Depending on the severity of a case, a lawyer can be censured, reprimanded or have their license suspended or revoked. Or a complaint, which is handled in private, can go nowhere.

The complaint against Hoovler

Hoovlers actions were in violation of the New York State Rules of Professional Conduct and potentially the New York State Penal Law, said the complaints, signed by McDonald and Whalen and filed by their attorney, John Beatty.The complaints were filed Monday but signed March 15, 2024, the 21st anniversary of the day Megan McDonalds body was found in a field off Bowser Road in the town of Wallkill.

Among the complaints against Hoovler are:

That upon taking office as DA in January, 2014, Hoovler recused himself from more than 50 cases that are or were pending with his office. He did not recuse himself from the McDonald case, despite having represented Thurston.

Thurston, the complaint said, was someone whom state police believe watched Megan die violently as Holley struck blow after (sic) against her, shattering her skull and rendering her face unrecognizable to first responders; and who was involved with the disposition of her body and vehicle immediately after her death and help conceal her murder.

The complaint charged that Hoovler held a "clandestine" meeting with Holley, the main suspect in the homicide. As recorded in a phone call at the Orange County jail, Holley reported to his wife that Hoovler had told them that Holley was the prime suspect in Megans murder and warned Holley to be wary of recorded phone calls as the police might be listening.

The DA then offered the prime suspect a plea deal in exchange for information, the complaint said.

The papers filed Monday also recalled a search at Shawangunk Lake Reservoir on March 29, 2023, where state police divers were searching for the murder weapon  the very murder weapon identified by Thurston to Hoovler in 2008 and which Hoovler had disclosed to ADA Albanese.

The complaint against Hoovler continued: Hoovlers presence at the reservoir this day clearly illustrates the conflict inherent in his conduct; was he present in his capacity as defense attorney for Andre Thurston; or district attorney?The complaint mentioned the April 20, 2023, arrest of Holley, without the DA present and without a grand jurys indictment, which speaks volumes as to the agencys apparent distrust and fear of DA Hoovler.

Reached for comment on Monday, Hoovler issued the following statement: As I have said before, by any objective review, I and my staff, at all times, acted in accordance with the highest ethical standards governing attorneys generally, and district attorneys specifically. The Judiciary Law prescribes that these types of matters be conducted confidentially, as a result we have nothing more to say, as we will be adhering to the law.

Elizabeth McDonald, mother of Megan sits beside a photo of her slain daughter during a press conference about the arrest of Edward Holley on April 20, 2023. Holley is being charged for the 2003 murder of Megan McDonald.

The complaint against ex-DA Phillips

Phillips, the former DA, was also cited by the McDonald family in a disciplinary complaint.

The complaint against Phillips quoted the Bad Blood series and Maryellen Black Albanese, the ADA who oversaw the McDonald investigation from the day her body was found until Albaneses retirement in late 2019.

Albanese said that after Hoovler was elected, Phillips asked members of his office to draw up a list of cases handled by the incoming DA or his firm, indicating that cases not disposed of by the end of Phillips term would require the appointment of a special prosecutor.

Albanese said she wrote to Phillips about the McDonald case in the final months of his tenure. The complaint said Phillips violated the rules of professional responsibility by failing to report Hoovlers conflict of interest.

A call seeking comment Monday from Phillips went unanswered.

The meeting to recuse

The four members of Hoovlers staff who were cited by complaints on Monday were all present at a meeting on April 25, 2023, when Hoovler finally told the McDonald family he was recusing himself and his office from taking the case forward.

Hoovler had invited so many members of his staff that the meeting was too large to be held in his office. Instead, he told the McDonald family he would not put the case before a grand jury  in the grand jury room.

Those targeted for complaints interfered with the investigation and prosecution of Megans homicide by either failing to report Hoovlers misconduct or through other specific acts or omissions, implicating their own individual violations of the rules, for which separate complaints are concurrently filed, read the complaint against Hoovler.

The only ADA present at that meeting whom the family did not cite for disciplinary complaint was ADA Christopher Kelly, who with Canton, wrote a probable cause memo suggesting that Hoovler put the case before a grand jury.

Downplaying his connection to Thurston

The complaint against Hoovler said the DA attempted to downplay his relationship with Thurston at that meeting with the family.

Hoovler began his discussion by stating breezily that a guy walked into an office, said some things and left. He was not forthcoming and after further questioning, admitted that this guy was tangentially related to the case."

Later in the hourlong meeting, the complaint said: Hoovler then asserted that the unnamed guy (Thurston) was never his client, claiming in the meeting that he was never retained by the guy who walked into an office and that Hoovler in fact was never paid.

The complaint against ADA Borek

The complaint against ADA Christopher Borek described his actions in the April 25, 2023, meeting.

Borek, the complaint said, not only corrected Hoovlers version of events, but physically held out his arm (he was sitting next to Hoovler) in an effort to quiet him, and then interrupted and spoke for Hoovler, in a manner reminiscent of a defense attorney speaking for a client.

The complaint said Borek seemed unsurprised by Hoovlers statement that he had represented a person with a connection to the homicide, such that a reasonable person would surmise that he was aware of all facts discussed  prior to their discussion at the meeting and that he was well aware of everything conducted by Hoovler.

The complaint said Borek violated the rules of professional responsibility by failing to report the misconduct of Hoovler, failing to recuse himself, and participating in the offices participation in the investigation.

As chief ADA, the complaint charged, Borek also failed to keep an accurate conflict-checking system, the existence of which would have identified this conflict, and which was raised by ADA (Maryellen) Albanese to then DA-Phillips in late 2013.

The complaint against Stewart Rosenwasser

Stewart Rosenwasser was a partner and owner of Ostrer Rosenwasser LLP, the law firm that Hoovler joined in 2008.It was in Hoovler's first weeks at the firm that he began representing Thurston, who was identified in the New York State Police felony complaint against Edward Holley as Suspect Number 2 and in the grand jury indictment of Holley as another.

It defies logic, the complaint against Rosenwasser said, to consider that Hoovler, new to a small law firm and dealing with a client possessing significant information in what was then a five-year-old high-profile homicide case in Orange County, would not have discussed the representation with Rosenwasser.

Hoovler didnt recuse himself from the McDonald investigation while DA, until April 26, 2023 and, the complaint said, ADA Rosenwasser apparently never took any action to report Hoovlers misconduct in refusing to recuse himself and to otherwise be involved in the investigation and prosecution of Megans case.

In June 2019, Hoovler hired Rosenwasser to serve as the DAs special counsel for policy, research and development.At the April 25, 2023, meeting with the McDonald family, Rosenwasser did not disclose his private practices connection to the case. When asked why he was at the meeting, ADA Rosenwasser put up both hands defensively and said, in an equally defensive manner, I only found out about this (the conflict) three weeks ago, the complaint said.

The complaint said the family does not believe Rosenwasser knew nothing about the conflict until 2023 and that, at any rate, he should have recused himself as soon as he learned of the conflict.

Rosenwasser has been an attorney for 45 years, is a former judge, law firm partner, a referee for the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, and a special referee for the New York State Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District, the same panel where Mondays complaint was filed.

The complaint said that by failing to recuse himself, Rosenwasser violated the rules of professional responsibility regarding duties to former clients, imputation of conflicts of interest, and special conflicts of interest for former and current officers and employees.

The complaint charged that Rosenwasser violated the rule requiring the reporting of professional misconduct by not reporting Hoovlers actions. And that Rosenwasser failed to keep an accurate conflict-checking system or, if such a system did exist, ADA Rosenwasser blatantly ignored or disregarded it.

The complaint against ADA Leah Canton

The McDonald familys complaint said ADA Leah Canton interfered with the investigation and prosecution of Megans homicide by failing to report Hoovlers misconduct and other specific acts or omissions.

At no point during the course of the (April 25, 2023) meeting did ADA Canton express surprise, concern or any indication that she was unaware of the items discussed openly," the complaint read. " It appears that ADA Canton was well aware of the conflict for years.

The complaint says Canton violated the rules of professional responsibility by failing to report Hoovlers conflict of interest.

The complaint against ADA Richard Moran

While no reason was given for ADA Richard Morans presence at the April 25, 2023 meeting, the complaint said Hoovler has identified Moran in press releases as serving as chief trial district attorney, appearing to place him within the offices most senior staff.

The complaint said that given ADA Morans position in the office, his presence at the meeting, and the knowledge of the conflict of interest by other attorneys within the office, it defies belief that ADA Moran was not aware of Hoovlers conflict of interest prior to this meeting.

The complaint said Moran violated the rules of professional responsibility by failing to report Hoovlers conflict of interest.

Reach Peter D. Kramer at pkramer@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Megan McDonald murder: Family files complaint vs. Hoovler, ex-DA, staff
Melrose Fire Department Chief Ed Collina has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation, the Melrose mayors office confirmed to Boston 25 News.

Lauren Grymek, Chief of Staff for Melrose Mayor Jennifer Grigoraitis, said Collina was placed on leave on Friday, March 15 for an alleged violation of City policy.

Further details regarding the investigation were not made immediately available.

Collina was sworn in as the Chief of the Melrose Fire Department in 2018, according to a post on the City of Melrose website.

Boston 25 has left a voicemail for Collinas phone number with the fire department.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage UPDATE, March 19, 9:30 a.m.)  The Menard County Sheriffs Office reported at 7:16 p.m. on Monday, March 18, that the fugitives were apprehended.

SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The Menard County Sheriffs Office has asked for Menard County residents to lock their doors and remove any keys from their vehicles while it chases two fugitives responsible for stealing a vehicle and a dirt bike.

According to an announcement made on the offices Facebook page, the fugitives were last seen headed south toward Menard County on Concho County Road 2332 in an area north of Whilhelm Lane and Waddell Lane in Menard County.

The Menard County Sheriffs Office is currently looking for two fugitives, who are described as follows:

Fugitive 1: Male with a long-sleeve red T-shirt

Fugitive 2: Female in a dark shirt

The subjects were in a pursuit with Concho County law enforcement using the vehicle stolen from Anson, Texas. The vehicle was located, but the subjects fled law enforcement using a dirt bike that was in the stolen vehicle. They were later sighted traveling on foot.

The Menard County Sheriffs Office asks residents to lock their doors and remove keys from their vehicles. If you see the subjects, call 911 and do not approach them.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN, March 18. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has sanctioned $670 million in funding to bolster Uzbekistan's continuous reform efforts and facilitate the nation's shift toward an inclusive and sustainable market economy, AIIB told Trend.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan will serve as the project borrower, aimed at assisting the government of Uzbekistan in implementing reforms across three key areas: market development, enhancing fiscal risk management, and fostering social inclusion and environmental sustainability. The project encompasses various sectoral reforms in energy, agriculture, railroads, and chemicals, with the goal of establishing markets that generate positive environmental outcomes, enhancing fiscal management and procurement systems, and advancing social inclusion and environmental sustainability through improved social programs for vulnerable populations affected by economic shocks. Additionally, the reforms will enhance the efficiency of healthcare and public services in the post-pandemic era.

"We are delighted to persist in our support for Uzbekistan's journey towards a sustainable market economy. By bolstering social safety nets and aiding in mitigating climate risks, we aim to augment the efficacy of social assistance initiatives and facilitate Uzbekistan's shift towards a green economy. This aligns with AIIB's mission to finance forward-looking infrastructure that fosters enduring sustainable development," said Konstantin Limitovskiy, Vice President for Investment Operations (Region 2: Central Asia, East Asia, West Asia, Europe, Africa, Latin America, Pakistan, and Afghanistan) at AIIB.

The project receives backing from the COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Facility and is co-financed by the World Bank through its Development Policy Financing (DPF). It will be executed in collaboration with Uzbekistan's Ministry of Economy and Finance, which will undertake the responsibility for program implementation and coordination with relevant government agencies involved in the project.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The Tex-Mex chain On the Border has closed three Kansas City area restaurants.

The locations are in Kansas Citys Northland (8340 N.W. Roanridge Road, at Barrywoods Crossing), Independence (19921 E. Jackson Drive), and Lees Summit (1800 N.W. Chipman Road).

We hate to say adios, but this location is now closed, reads a sign on the door of the Northland On the Border. Thank you to our loyal guests for all the good times.

The sign encouraged customers to visit the On the Border in Overland Park, at 11855 W. 95th St., the only one remaining in the Kansas City area.

Representatives for On the Border did not respond to a request for comment, but the Facebook pages of the Lees Summit and Independence locations also indicate the restaurants are permanently closed, and the listings for all three restaurants have been taken off On the Borders website.

Founded in Dallas in 1982, On the Border entered the Kansas City market in the mid-1990s with a location on the Country Club Plaza at 700 W. 47th St. (The space later became Ruths Chris Steak House and is now home to Eddie Vs.) The chain was known for its table-side guacamole, fajitas and margaritas.

It later opened restaurants in Leawood, Olathe and Lawrence, all of which have since closed.

In 2009, On the Border was sold to Brinker International, parent company of Chilis Grill & Bar. The following year, On the Border was bought by Golden Gate Capital, a private equity firm. Its current owner, Argonne Capital Group, another private equity firm, purchased the chain in 2014.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topekas West Ridge Mall continues to grow in size and attract new tenants with the addition of a new restaurant to its food court area.

Rosis Food is the newest addition to the West Ridge Mall family. Previously located at the intersection of Sixth Street and MacVicar Avenue, the restaurant will focus mostly on selling tamales.

27 News spoke with owner Rosa Lopez who says she wants her business to be open early in the day to catch up with those who come to the mall for exercise. Giving these people snacks and drinks can help give them a good start to the day.

I want to be here when they open and I want to be here ready for them just in case they need me with maybe coffee, cookies, some water, Lopez said.

While the restaurant isnt open yet, Lopez said she is working hard to get the place ready for the public soon. You can keep up with Rosis Food by following the restaurant on Facebook.

Large brawl captured on video in Oakland neighborhood

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE)  The New Mexico Supreme Court has made a decision on a case over a rate rider that would have let the Southwestern Public Service Co. collect more than $5 million from customers over three years.

The electricity rates in the state are overseen by the Public Regulation Commission (PRC). In 2021, Southwestern Public Service Co. asked the PRC for permission to charge customers a rate rider (essentially an extra fee) in order to cover the cost of providing more electricity from renewable sources, rather than fossil fuels.

Final day for New Mexico big game hunting draw application approaching soon

New Mexico has been pushing utilities to produce more renewable energy  in fact, its required by law. However, the PRC denied the request from Southwestern Public Service Co., arguing that they offered no evidence of any firm plans to acquire or produce any additional renewable energy with the funds they would have collected.

Now, the states supreme court has weighed in on the debate. In a recent opinion, the court says the PRC was correct in denying the utilitys plan to access financial incentives. The court argued that the law was set up to help incentivize a transition to clean energy, but Southwestern Public Service Co.s plan would not have led to additional renewable energy production.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
A total of 62 restaurants will receive a star -- most for the first time (ALAIN JOCARD)

The Michelin Guide unveils its annual list of the best French restaurants on Monday, with its boss praising the "cultural dynamism" of a new generation of chefs.

After a long period of resting on the laurels of its gastronomic reputation, France has seen a flourishing of new establishments in the last decade or so, absorbing international ideas and with a greater focus on sustainability.

"It's no longer just about heritage," Gwendal Poullennec, head of the Michelin Guide, told AFP ahead of the ceremony to launch its new edition.

"French gastronomy is no longer stuck in the past," he said, with the 2024 crop marking "the emergence of a whole generation that we could feel coming up".

A total of 62 restaurants will receive a star -- most for the first time and including 23 that have been open for less than a year.

The details will be made public at 5pm (1600 GMT), including the names of restaurants that have achieved the pinnacle of three stars.

Many put a focus on sustainable, locally-sourced cuisine.

"There is a very clear emphasis on the 'terroirs' -- the local agricultural fabric," said Poullennec.

Michelin announced a few demotions two weeks ago -- done in advance to avoid any bitter taste at the annual ceremony, which this year is being held in the Loire Valley city of Tours.

Michelin has turned the guide's launch into a touring affair around France since the pandemic, having hosted the last two in Strasbourg and Cognac.

That reflects the spread of France's best restaurants beyond Paris, with regional eateries accounting for most of the new stars in recent years.

Some 40 small municipalities and villages will find themselves with a Michelin-starred restaurant in the new edition.

Tours, known for castles and wine, has been less associated with great cuisine, but that is changing, said Poullennec.

"It's a region that's developing and it's time to highlight it," he said, highlighting the tributaries of the Loire River that have become a popular source of freshwater fish.

Among top chefs, the Michelin Guide is as feared and criticised as it is respected.

Its anonymous reviewers can make or break reputations, with very tangible impacts on the fragile bottom lines of restaurants.

A total of 28 lost a star this year, including one three-star establishment.

Tyre-manufacturing brothers Andre and Edouard Michelin launched their first guide in 1900 to encourage motorists to discover restaurants around France.

It has since expanded to 45 destinations around the world, and will this year launch a similar guide for hotels.

dar/er/bc
ST. LOUIS  A Midtown St. Louis man is due in court on Monday to face charges for last weeks murder in a north city neighborhood.

The shooting took place around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13, in the 4600 block of Pope Avenue, located in the OFallon neighborhood.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, Julius Y. Massey and another individual were at Masseys ex-girlfriends home and the three of them were drinking.

Police claim Massey and his former partner got into an argument. The third person went into a different room and heard a single gunshot, followed by additional shouting, and finally more gunshots.

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This third individual saw Massey leave the home and then found his ex, identified as Payton Winston, dead in the bathroom. Winston was 48.

This person told police he only knew Massey by the nickname Twin. Investigators contacted Winstons daughter, who identified Massey based on the nickname and explained their relationship.

Massey was taken into custody days later. Police claim he admitted to being at the home the night of the shooting.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Massey with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. Massey remains jailed without bond.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is appearing in court in the US, as his trial on fraud charges gets under way.

Once dubbed "Britain's Bill Gates", Mr Lynch is accused of overinflating the value of his software firm when he sold it to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.

The 58-year-old, who faces 16 charges, faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. He denies the claims.

He was extradited to the US last year, after a UK judge ruled in favour of HP in a similar civil fraud case.

In opening arguments, Mr Lynch's attorney Reid Weingarten said the tycoon was preparing to take the stand at trial, as he seeks to defend a record that has been severely battered since the sale of the firm Autonomy for more than $11bn (8.6bn).

At the time, the deal ranked as the largest-ever takeover of a British technology business.

But just a year later, HP wrote down the value of Autonomy by $8.8bn and claimed it had been duped into overpaying for the company.

Mr Weingarten told the jury that Mr Lynch had focused on technology, leaving the finances to others.

"Mike had many sleepless nights worrying about Autonomy, but not about accounting," Mr Weingarten said, according to the Reuters news agency.

Mr Lynch co-founded Autonomy in 1996.

It grew to become one of the UK's top 100 public companies, known for software that could extract useful information from "unstructured" sources such as phone calls, emails or video.

US prosecutors in San Francisco say Mr Lynch backdated agreements to mislead about the company's sales; concealed the firm's loss-making business reselling hardware; and intimidated or paid off people who raised concerns, among other claims.

In court filings, his attorneys have argued that the "real reason for the write-down" was a failure by HP to manage the merger.

"Then, with its stock price crumbling under the weight of its own mismanagement, circled the wagons to protect its new leaders and wantonly accused" Mr Lynch of fraud, they wrote.

Mr Lynch, a former UK government adviser who sat on the boards of the BBC and the British Library, vigorously fought attempts by US prosecutors to bring him to trial in America, which is known for its punitive approach to white-collar crime.

In 2019, Autonomy's former chief financial officer Sushovan Hussain was jailed for five years and fined millions of dollars on 16 counts of fraud, securities fraud and other charges.

In 2022, HP won a civil fraud case against Mr Lynch and Hussain heard by London's High Court. It is now seeking a reported $4bn.

In that case, Mr Lynch and Hussain argued that HP's claim was "'manufactured' to cover and justify a change of corporate mind, and to cast them as scapegoats for what in reality is buyer's remorse coupled with management failings".

As well as Mr Lynch, Autonomy's former finance executive Stephen Chamberlain is also on trial.
Thousands of military families living in privatized housing on military installations now have access to in-home charging stations for their electric vehicles, as at least four privatized housing landlords have begun rolling out programs.

Residents dont pay for the installation of the Level 2 charging stations, which can be installed in garages and carports, where the programs are available. They do pay for the amount of time they use to charge their vehicles with these new charging stations. But otherwise, military families dont pay for utilities currently in privatized housing, where they may have been plugging in their cars to wall outlets.

Residents have requested Level 2 EV charging because its safer and faster than other charging alternatives, said Justin Kern, executive general manager of Lendlease Communities, in a response to Military Times. Level 2 charging can take as little as five to six hours to reach a full vehicle charge. In contrast, Level 1 charging (plugging an EV directly into a regular home electrical outlet) is potentially unsafe and can take 24 hours or longer to complete.

According to Kern, about 7,800 homes are eligible for the chargers at the bases Lendlease has rolled out so far. In late 2023, the pilot program was launched at Soaring Heights Communities at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona; and Cavalry Family Housing at Fort Cavazos near Killeen, Texas. This year, Lendlease rolled out the program at Atlantic Marine Corps Communities at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, Havelock, North Carolina. Later this year, the charging stations will come to Hickam Communities in Honolulu serving Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam; and the Island Palm Communities serving seven installations on Oahu.

Depending on the results of these rollouts, Lendlease will consider expanding to more of its communities, Kern said.

The companies are using a national provider of EV charging services, TRO Energy Solutions to cover the cost of installation, setup and maintenance of the individual Level 2 charging stations. Residents dont pay for those costs, which can be upwards of $1,000, depending on the area. Residents enroll in a monthly charging subscription for ongoing usage, using the ChargeTime app.

Other military landlords that have begun to provide electric charging stations at homes include:

The Michaels Organization recently delivered its first electric charging stations to residents at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland and MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The company plans to deliver these charging stations to all the privatized family housing it owns and manages at 11 military installations across the country, officials announced.

Balfour Beatty Communities began their pilot program last summer offering Level 2 in-home charging stations at Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut; and Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

Hunt Military Communities launched four pilot locations with in-home charging stations late last year, including Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Joint Base Pearl-Harbor Hickam, Hawaii; and Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Pricing for the charging options is based on regional utility costs, Kern said. Lendlease residents subscribe to one of three monthly packages for different tiers of energy usage, based on anticipated miles driven per month. Any unused kilowatt-hours or miles roll over to the next month.

The faster the charging, the higher the cost, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

According to Edmunds.com, it costs about $11 to charge an electric car with a 65 kilowatt-hour battery at home using a Level 2 charger, assuming electricity costs $0.17 per kilowatt-hour, which is the national average. The Level 2 charger can be run on a 240-volt household outlet, usually in the garage or driveway.

Department of Defense officials paused utilities billing across privatized housing a few years ago. The utilities and rent are included in the monthly allotment paid to their housing landlord, which generally equals their entire Basic Allowance for Housing. A number of residents are using their regular home electrical outlets, Level 1 charging, 120-volt wall plug-ins, for their cars. Its not known when the services will resume billing residents for utilities.

But they are paying for the EV charging, which is Level 2 EV charging equipment.
Retired Gen. Mark Milley, the former Joint Chiefs of Staff chair, is set to testify on Tuesday at a high-stakes House committee hearing on the Biden administrations 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Milley will testify at the 1 p.m. Foreign Affairs Committee hearing along with retired Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the former head of U.S. Central Command, the combat command center that oversees American troops across the Middle East region.

For Milley, the congressional testimony will be his first since retiring at the end of last year as the nations highest-ranking military officer.

Now that he is out of office, lawmakers may try to pry out of Milley a more candid assessment of the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021.

Heres everything you need to know ahead of the hearing.

Milley, McKenzie have previously discussed regrets over Afghanistan

Milley and McKenzie have testified before on the Afghanistan pullout, including shortly after the fact.

In September 2021, both generals told a Senate committee they recommended maintaining a small force in Afghanistan instead of a full withdrawal.

In this past September as he was preparing to exit his post, Milley said the withdrawal was a strategic failure and that he has lots of regrets.

It didnt end the way I wanted it. That didnt end the way any of us wanted it, he told ABC News. In the broader sense, the war was lost.

McKenzie told NPR in 2022 he has regrets about the withdrawal and was upset that the U.S. was not able to get everyone out from the country.

Thats something that haunts me to this day, he said.

House investigating Bidens Afghan withdrawal

The hearing comes as House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas) is investigating the pullout in what has become a bitter feud with the Biden administration.

McCaul last month threatened to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress for what he says is a failure to turn over all the required documents related to the withdrawal.

Earlier this month, McCaul said he was postponing holding Blinken in contempt after the secretary agreed to send him the documents. The two have battled over documents since January 2023.

McCaul said those new documents will provide crucial information for his investigation.

He has been requesting interview notes from the State Departments After-Action Review (AAR) of the Afghanistan withdrawal, which he says will provide first-hand accounts of the August 2021 events.

The AAR, released last summer, detailed failures in the Trump and Biden administrations that contributed to the chaotic withdrawal.

The review, conducted over 90 days, faulted senior officials for a failure to prepare for worst-case scenarios or listen to dissenting opinions on the matter.

Republicans have long been upset with the withdrawal from Afghanistan, which was plagued by a messy evacuation for U.S. citizens and Afghans fleeing the country, who were seen clinging to the wheels of transportation aircraft in a desperate bid to leave.

On the ground, the Taliban quickly swept to power as American forces left. And 13 U.S. service members died after ISIS-K suicide bombers targeted Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport.

Congress has also held hearings on Afghanistan with testimony from service members, including an emotional one last year involving former Marine Sgt. Tyler Vargas-Andrews.

The former Marine testified he was plain and simple ignored after requesting to take out a target that would later be confirmed as the suicide bomber near Abbey Gate.

House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) opened an investigation into the concerns raised by Vargas-Andrews.

Administration has been defensive

The GOP has criticized President Biden for poor planning and a hasty withdrawal, but the administration has downplayed its responsibility.

Last spring, the White House put out a 12-page document that largely pins the blame on the Trump administration, accusing its predecessors of poor planning that emboldened the rise of the Taliban.

President Biden had committed to ending the war in Afghanistan, but when he came into office he was confronted with difficult realities left to him by the Trump Administration, the report said.

The Biden administration also said Trumps administration had created a backlog of Special Immigrant Visas that hampered evacuation efforts.

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby fended off criticism when pressed by reporters last spring.

For all this talk of chaos, I just didnt see it. Not from my perch, Kirby said.

The Biden administration did acknowledge it should prepare better for needed evacuations from countries.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Miriam Margolyes has told adult Harry Potter fans to grow up and get over it.

The actor, 82, who played Professor Pomona Sprout in the film series, has said in two recent interviews that she worries about adult fans of the 25-year-old franchise because they should be over that by now.

"It was 25 years ago, and I think its for children," Margolyes told New Zealands 1News.

I do cameos [personalised video messages] and people say they are doing a Harry Potter-themed wedding, and I think, Oh gosh what is their first night of fun going to be? I cant even think about it. Harry Potter is wonderful, Im very grateful to it. Its over. Thats what I think.

The Call the Midwife actor later told ABC News Australia that once teens are through puberty, its time to forget about it and go on to other things.

If your balls have dropped, then its time to forget about it. You know, go on to other things, she said.

I just think that its for children. And then its time to move on.

She insisted that she was proud of being in what she called a great series and a wonderful set of films but fans need to let go and grow up.

The Harry Potter books, written by JK Rowling, were released between 1997 and 2007, and the eight films between 2001 and 2011.

Miriam Margolyes in Harry Potter (Warner Bros.)

Speaking to British Vogue for its pride issue in June, Margolyes said that the Harry Potter franchise wasnt important to her.

She told the publication: For me, Harry Potter wasnt important. I was very glad I got the part and I enjoyed being in it and meeting all the people, but its not Charles Dickens.

That said, she admitted that she does enjoy the impact the role has had on her life: People come up to me and say I just love you, and want to hug me. And that is dazzling.

Margolyes played the herbology professor who was a witch who worked as Head of Hufflepuff House and Head of the Herbology department at Hogwarts.

Though her speaking parts in the movies are limited, and she only appeared in two out of the eight films  Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets and Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2  Margolyess role in the franchise is nonetheless a fan favourite.

Margolyes pictured in 2011 (Getty Images)

She has previously acknowledged that, despite her 60-year-long acting career, she will be remembered for her small part in the magical saga.

Its a very humbling thing actually, Margolyes told the BBCs Imagine programme last year, to realise that the part for which I will be most known and most remembered is one scene really.

She continued: Im just an infinitesimal part of a franchise.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A police officer with the Metro Nashville Police Department interacted with missing college student Riley Strain on the night he went missing, as seen in newly released video.

On Monday, March 18, the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) released bodycam video from Officer Reginald Young, showing Young briefly speaking with a man identified as Strain while the former was patrolling the area of Gay Street and Woodland Street on Friday, March 8.

Metro police said Strain did not appear distressed as he exchanged greetings with the officer.

How are you doing, sir? Young asks Strain, as the two cross paths.

Im good. How are you? Strain replies before walking out of frame.

Young then says good in response.

MNPD confirmed to Nexstars WKRN that the bodycam video was captured at approximately 9:50 p.m. on March 8, which would have been shortly after Strain was escorted from a bar on Broadway, according to a previous statement from the operators of the venue.

Officer Young was reportedly in the area on a vehicle burglary call and remained on that portion of Gay Street for 45 minutes, according to police.

RELATED: Riley Strains bank card found near Cumberland River

Strains father told Nexstars WKRN the family has seen this video. He said Strain looked like he was doing better than in previously released video.

A screengrab from bodycam video shared by the Nashville police appears to show missing student Riley Strain walking on Gay St. on the evening of March 8. (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

University of Missouri student Riley Strain disappeared while on a fraternity trip in Nashville on March 8.

Strains friends have claimed they last saw him at Lukes 32 Bridge on Broadway, just before he was removed from the venue at 9:35 p.m. for violating the bars conduct standards, according to the management.

Surveillance video from a downtown business later caught Strain stumbling and falling in a parking lot at 3rd Avenue and Church Street around 9:45 p.m. Then, at 9:47 p.m., surveillance footage caught Strain crossing 1st Avenue North to Gay Street.

Strains phone last pinged near James Robertson Parkway and Gay Street between 9:55 p.m. and 10 p.m. Detectives said the last phone conversation Strain had with one of his friends was also during that same time period, but the ping covered about a two-mile radius and didnt give them a direction of travel or any more details about where Strain might have gone.

A friend of the 22-year-old called 911 on Saturday, March 9, after saying he went to the Central Police Precinct and called the sheriffs office to file a missing persons report.

TIMELINE: The disappearance of Missouri student Riley Strain, what we know so far

The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) said its Urban Search and Rescue team has been searching the area around Strains last known location near the Cumberland River.

On Thursday, March 14, investigators said there had been no indication of foul play, or of Strain being involved in any type of fight or argument.

His bank card was discovered Sunday on an embankment by the Cumberland River.

Strain is 6-feet, 5-inches tall, with a slender build, blonde hair, and blue eyes, according to his family. Anyone with information on Strains whereabouts is urged to call the MNPD at 615-862-8600.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 18. Uzbekistan Airways will increase the number of flights to Jakarta starting in April, Trend reports.

According to the airline, the number of flights to Jakarta will increase from once to twice a week.

The airline will operate flights to the Indonesian capital on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Uzbekistan Airways resumed regular flights to Jakarta at the end of April 2023.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan Airways launches additional flights from Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg (Russia) to Fergana and Namangan (Uzbekistan).

The carrier will increase the number of flights to Fergana from two to three per week starting February 17. In addition to the flights already operating on Tuesdays and Fridays, additional flights will be added on Saturdays. The flight from St. Petersburg to Fergana on Saturdays is scheduled for 16:05, with an with an arrival time of 23:10. The duration of the flight will be 5 hours and 5 minutes.

In addition, there are also flights from St. Petersburg to various cities in Uzbekistan, including Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, and Termez. More than 450,000 passengers were served on flights between Pulkovo Airport and Uzbekistan destinations in 2023.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police Department is asking for help with finding a teenager who has been missing for over a week.

Rachel Jule Coleman-Luke, 14, was last seen on Friday, March 8 in the 3200 block of Macon Road at about 4 p.m., according to police. Coleman-Luke was wearing a black hoodie and black leggings.

Police say Coleman-Luke stands at 56 and weighs 200lbs. She has green yes and black hair.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the Special Victims Unit 706-225-3488.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Ending child marriage in Missouri is personal for Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, who was married at age 15 to her 21-year-old boyfriend in 1984.

A year earlier, her sister, at age 16, married her 39-year-old drug dealer, said Thompson Rehder, a Sikeston Republican.

These are the things that are happening in the communities that I was raised in in Missouri, Thompson Rehder, who is running for lieutenant governor, told reporters last week.

Thompson Rehder and Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat, have teamed up to sponsor legislation that would effectively ban all child marriages in Missouri. The bill would prohibit marriage licenses from being issued to anyone under 18 under any circumstance.

Lawmakers held a hearing on the legislation in early January. However, the bill has not yet been debated in front of the full chamber at the halfway point of this years legislative session.

Missouri state law currently allows 16 and 17-year-olds to get married in Missouri as long as they have parental consent. The current law, however, bans marriage between a minor and anyone 21 or older.

Child marriage is the legalization of child rape, Arthur told reporters last week. Just because one parent gives permission for that child to be married doesnt make it any less unconscionable.

Missouri lawmakers in 2018 passed a law setting the states minimum marriage age at 16, with the approval of one parent or guardian. The laws passage came after The Star revealed that Missouri had the nations most lenient marriage law for 15-year-olds. It previously allowed children even younger to marry with a judges approval. The states statutory rape law does prohibit those 21 or older from sexual intercourse with anyone under 17.

Opponents of child marriage argue that Missouri law surrounding child marriages still doesnt go far enough, leaving thousands of 16- and 17-year-olds open to the kind of abuse, poverty, helplessness, lack of education and exploitation that often accompany child marriage.

Before the 2018 law, 88% of minors who were married in Missouri were age 16 or 17, said Fraidy Reiss, the founder and executive director of Unchained At Last, a nonprofit seeking to end child marriage nationwide. That means that the current state law failed to protect 88% of the people it was intended to help, Reiss said.

Between 2019 and 2021, 231 minors were married in Missouri and most of them were girls married to adult men, said Reiss, who said it was unacceptable. She called on senators to pass the legislation from Thompson Rehder and Arthur.

It is legislation that costs nothing, it harms no one and it ends a human rights abuse, she said.

Rebecca Hurst, a former Missouri resident who now lives in Kentucky, became emotional when speaking at a news conference last week about her marriage to a 22-year-old when she was 16. She said her mother arranged the marriage to save her from damnation.

Hurst said her ex-husband physically, emotionally, financially and sexually abused her during her marriage, twisting scripture out of context as a weapon against her.

He controlled my food, my wardrobe, my hair and my body, she said. Hurst said that her ex-husband forced her to drop out of high school and forbade her from leaving the house alone at night. She said she could not buy her own groceries without consequences.

I had no one advocating for me or my right to stay a child, Hurst said. Parents cannot always be trusted to make the best decisions for their child.

Thompson Rehder and Arthur both filed separate bills to strengthen the states child marriage laws this year. Those bills were combined into one package last month. On the other side of the Capitol, an identical bill from Rep. Chris Dinkins, a Lesterville Republican, has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

During the January Senate hearing, only one person testified against the legislation: Timothy Faber, a pastor and director of the Lake of the Ozarks Baptist Association. Faber previously served as chair of the Missouri Human Rights Commission, which enforces the states non-discrimination law, until he resigned in December.

Faber, who was appointed to the commission in 2021 by Republican Gov. Mike Parson, refused to say why he stepped down in an interview with The Star. Senate Democrats last year called for Parson to remove Faber from the commission after he opposed adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the non-discrimination law.

Faber on Monday said he opposed the legislation banning child marriage because it does not include any exceptions. He pointed to a situation where a girl gets pregnant and rather than having the child born out of wedlock, they decide to go ahead and get married. He also said there should be exceptions for teenagers who want to get married before they are shipped off to the military.

If they would just make some rare exceptions. I would have been in favor of that bill, he said. But theres absolutely no allowances made for any kind of exception whatsoever. And thats the problem I have.

The legislation also comes less than a year after Sen. Mike Moon, a hard-right Republican from Ash Grove, made comments in a hearing suggesting that children as young as 12 should be able to get married as he pushed legislation that would ban gender-affirming care for minors.

Moon did not return a call and text for comment on Monday.

However, Thompson Rehder last week said that no one had approached her opposing the bill and that it had support from both Republicans and Democrats.

We do not need to hamstring our girls and it takes women across the aisle to fight for this, she said. I think a lot of folks just dont know that in Missouri, that this is what the laws are.

Arthur, the Kansas City Democrat, said that opposing child marriage was an issue that transcends politics.

Most 15, 16, 17-year-olds, theyre not Republicans or Democrats, Arthur said. Its our responsibility to protect children, to protect girls and make sure that they have bright futures in our state.
In March 2021, as COVID-19 vaccines were increasingly available to the general public, officials inside the Biden administration were growing frustrated.

The administration had launched an aggressive campaign urging people to get the shot, hoping it would put the deadly pandemic in the past. Instead it kept bumping into a major source of resistance: viral posts on social media questioning the vaccines.

We want to know that youre trying, we want to know how we can help, and we want to know that youre not playing a shell game with us when we ask you what is going on, Rob Flaherty, the former White House director of digital strategy, wrote to someone at Facebook. This would all be a lot easier if you would just be straight with us.

Andy Slavitt, the White House senior adviser for COVID response, followed up.

Internally, we have been considering our options on what to do about it, Slavitt wrote.

The exchange, one of many between the White House and social media companies over content moderation policies, was uncovered in a sprawling case that argues the federal government violated the First Amendment by urging social media companies privately and publicly to take down posts, ban users and use their algorithms to deemphasize what it labeled disinformation.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case Monday.

The lawsuit, initially brought by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, former Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and five people who say their social media posts were censored, focuses mostly on content questioning the administrations public health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic and the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election.

But it could have widespread implications on how the government is able to communicate with social media companies in an era where misinformation and disinformation runs rampant across the sites  and as the government is trying to decide if and how to increase regulation on technology companies.

I think its the most important free speech case in the history of the country, Schmitt said in an interview with The Star. So much of our dialogue and our debate not only just takes place in the town square, but more and more now in the virtual town square.

The case focuses on whether the several federal government entities  the White House, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Surgeon General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency  coerced or significantly encouraged the social media sites to block and remove content from their sites, which would violate the First Amendment.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment on the case on Friday and directed the Star to a brief filed by the Department of Justice ahead of the arguments.

In that brief, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar argued that the government was simply using its bully pulpit to convince social media companies to take action on posts that spread false information.

Prelogar also suggested that a ruling by the court could imply that the social media companies are state actors, subjecting them to additional lawsuits claiming they violated peoples First Amendment right to free speech.

Already, two federal courts ruled against the federal government  the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Both courts issued rulings limiting the Biden administrations contact with social media companies. The Supreme Court put those orders on hold until after it makes its decision.

It will have broad implications for how the government is permitted to weigh in on matters of public concern, and the extent to which theyre able to communicate information to the platforms, said Jennifer Jones, a staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University.

In its ruling, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals found that each of the governmental entities had either coerced or significantly encouraged the sites to take down or stifle posts  and in some cases it found that it did both.

In the case of the FBI, it found the agency had coerced and significantly encouraged the social media sites to take down content, arguing that because it was a law enforcement agency, any request to take down content came with the implicit threat that it could take legal action.

Prelogar argued that the social media companies ignored the FBIs requests about half the time.

Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote a brief in the case urging the Supreme Court to allow the government to continue to communicate with social media companies about potential national security threats on their platforms.

Any injunction here would prevent or limit the governments ability to communicate with social media companies and would leave the United States vulnerable to attack. Foreign malign influence campaigns have grown in number, scope, and sophistication since 2016, Warner wrote.

A spokesperson for Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, declined to comment on the record and X, formerly known as Twitter, indicated it does not answer press questions.

But Facebooks Adversarial Threat Report from November 2023 emphasizes the importance of communication with the government and law enforcement to combat election interference  and acknowledged that the federal government has been limited in its ability to share information since July 2023.

While weve continued to strengthen our internal capacity to detect and enforce against malicious activity since 2017, external insights from counterparts in government, as well as researchers and investigative journalists, can be particularly important in detecting and disrupting threat activity early in its planning taking place off-platform, the policy says.

Many of the posts in question came at the edges of the partisan political discourse, particularly among the right wing, including posts challenging COVID-19 health measures, and the October 2020 article about Hunter Bidens laptop. One of the plaintiffs was Jim Hoft, the owner of the St. Louis-based conservative site The Gateway Pundit. Two others were authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, which questioned COVID-19 lockdown policies.

The content moderation decisions on the Hunter Biden laptop story and the Great Barrington Declaration both took place before Biden took office.

It ought to scare the bejesus out of every American that the government would wield this much power to silence, Schmitt said. Because you might like, one day, somebody being censored, because its the thing you dont like, but the next day, it could be your own. And I dont want to see that.

Republican lawmakers frequently criticize content moderation policies, claiming that the rules stifle conservative speech. Twitter, in particular, had either suspended or banned the accounts of some prominent conservatives  like former President Donald Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene  before it was sold to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Still, many academics have studied the spread of false information on social media  and Special Counsel Robert Mueller found that Russia spread disinformation on social media in the hopes of influencing the 2016 presidential election.

Schmitt has said the Biden administration uses the term misinformation as an excuse to censor speech and has pushed back against content moderation policies. He has said if the companies limit speech, they should be subject to lawsuits like other media companies.

You combat speech you dont like or that you think is misinformed or misguided with more speech, Schmitt said. Not suppressing or prohibiting somebody else from speaking. And thats really at the heart of what our First Amendment protects us from and why this case is so important.

Casey Mattox, the vice president of legal and judicial strategy at Americans for Prosperity, a conservative-leaning think tank, has said he believes Congress will have to increasingly make decisions regarding the regulation of social media companies and how they handle content.

He compared social media to the printing press rather than the town square, and said it has allowed more people to amplify their opinions and find an audience.

Having an effective voice also means that youre going to cause concern because of the fact that your speech is actually able to impact people, Mattox said. Youre going to have people who dont like that fact, who want to regulate them.

Mondays oral argument will be the second case the Supreme Court has heard about content moderation. Earlier this month it heard a case challenging laws in Florida and Texas that attempted to prevent social media companies from removing certain content from its platforms.

Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican who has pushed for tougher penalties for social media companies, fretted that the court could set up a situation where its difficult to challenge the power of social media companies.

Its a very significant case when you have a federal district court and a federal appellate court saying that the White House violated the First Amendment and did it by colluding, essentially with the biggest, most powerful media companies in the world, Hawley said. And I cant think of a precedent in our history for that. So thats a big deal.
The new Mitsubishi Minicab EV, launched in late 2023, features a 20-kWh battery, giving it a range of 111 miles in the WLTC cycle.

Produced in Japan and Indonesia, the electric kei car is offered as a two-seater or a four-seater, and starts at $16,320.

The boxy Minicab EV, with an overall length of 133 inches, is mostly aimed at commercial customers.

In the realm of EVs, we tend to take sleek, aerodynamic designs for granted these days, along with infotainment screens almost as large as TVs.

But Mitsubishi's latest Minicab EV is none of those things.

In fact, it doesn't even look like it was designed this century.

The Minicab EV, of course, is a kei car, so it's aimed at certain vehicle dimension requirements in Japan, with the kei car class having launched decades ago aimed at a particular compact vehicle tax class. And it's based on the Minicab-MiEV, which itself was launched on a pre-existing platform back in 2012.

As you may have guessed by now, the range of the Minicab EV is not long, a direct result of its particular size requirements; an overall length of 133 inches provides enough space for just 111 miles in the WLTC cycle.

Mitsubishi notes that this is actually a gain of 35% compared to the previous model, with the battery having grown by 25% to 20.0 kWh.

Among other things, this makes it among the smallest battery placed into a production EV today. That's a credit to the rather light chassis, which actually weighs less than a new Mini Cooper Electric by almost a third.

The good news is that it takes just seven-and-a-half hours to charge the battery with a typical wall outlet, with the battery also being receptive to fast-charging. (Just not too fast).

"By leveraging the expertise gained through the development and maintenance of the Minicab-MiEV, the new Minicab EV offers an improved cruising range as well as enhanced safety and convenience features to answer the needs of commercial customers," Mitsubishi notes.

The Minicab EV does feature some modern safety tech, if not a super large frontal crumple zone.

Mitsubishi

A lane-departure warning system is standard, along with a forward-collision mitigation system, hill-start assist, and an ultrasonic misacceleration-mitigation system. Other features include am AC power outlet in the back for various tools or appliances, as well as regenerative braking.

Clearly it's not as outdated as it looks, feature-wise.

Mitsubishi has sold around 13,000 units of the previous-gen model over the course of 12 years, so it's not exactly a high-volume model, averaging just over a thousand units a year.

Instead, the Minicab EV serves a very particular niche. Offered as a two-seater, the model starts at the equivalent of $16,320, while the four-seat version starts at $16,690.

What's more, production has also started outside of Japan, with Mitsubishi having recently kicked off assembly in Indonesia, where it's badged as the L100EV.

"With the start of our first production of EVs overseas, we hope to meet the growing demand for EVs in the ASEAN region and at the same time contribute to the country's environmental initiatives," said said Takao Kato, president and chief executive officer, Mitsubishi Motors.

The Minicab EV is not coming here, just so we're clear.

But some other electric kei car offerings actually do look modern and might make sense to some buyers in the US, especially in large cities.

The kei car craze has certainly grown stateside over the past decade, and some official dealers of Japanese brands like Honda offer imported vintage kei cars at their dealerships.

Is there a market for new kei cars in the US, or is this too niche of a segment? Let us know in the comments below.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A local woman was arrested Sunday after allegedly breaking into a vehicle, according to the Mobile Police Department.

Suspicious fire at Mobile tax preparer

Officers were called to the 3900 block of Burma Road around 11:30 a.m. Sunday for a report of a woman breaking into a car, according to an MPD news release.

INCIDENT LOCATION:

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When officers arrived, they allegedly found that 37-year-old Kannady Leigh Chambliss, of Mobile, had broken into the victims car.

Child injured, woman arrested after Baldwin County hit-and-run: Elberta Police

Chambliss was arrested and charged with unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle. She was taken to Mobile Metro Jail.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
Moldova's Bureau of Reintegration disputed claims on March 18 that a drone struck a military base in Transnistria, the Russian-controlled region in Moldova.

Local Telegram channels claimed on March 17 that a drone struck a military base in Tiraspol, the capital of the Russian-occupied region, and potentially destroyed a helicopter.

The bureau said that the "military technique in the images has not been functional for several years" but did not clarify which "technique" it referred to.

It added that "the incident in question is an attempt to provoke fear and panic in the region."

Transnistria borders Ukraine's Odesa Oblast and is internationally recognized as part of Moldova. Russian troops have occupied Transnistria since the early 1990s when Russia invaded the region under the pretext of protecting ethnic Russians.

Vadim Krasnoselsky, the Russian proxy leader in Transnistria, called for increased military drills and heightened readiness in January in what he claimed was a response to alleged provocations from Chisinau.

Russias Foreign Ministry said that Moscow would "consider with attention" the appeal of authorities from the Moscow-controlled Moldovan region of Transnistria for "protection."

Moldova signed a bilateral defense deal with France earlier in March during a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu.

In comments following the meeting, Macron pledged "unwavering support" to Moldova in the face of the Russian threat.

Read also: What danger does Transnistria pose to Ukraine, Moldova?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
DENVER (KDVR)  A mother is suing the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district after her disabled son broke both his legs after losing control on a ramp while in his wheelchair and was not notified of the injury for several hours.

FOX31 obtained a civil action lawsuit that was filed by Igor Raykin who is representing Patricia Portillo Estrada. Her 12-year-old son was enrolled in Rocky Mountain Elementary in the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district.

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According to the lawsuit, Portillo Estradas son has significant disabilities, including intellectual, orthopedic and speech. These disabilities require the boy to use a wheelchair, walker or mobility trike.

Portillo Estrada and her son are also immigrants who primarily speak Spanish and require district employees to serve as interpreters.

He has to be supervised all the time, especially going down a ramp, the mother said through an interpreter to FOX31s Kim Posey.

The interpreter said Portillo-Estrada wants the school to do better: She feels that the school failed to take care of him because she feels that you send your kids and you trust the school, you trust the system, hoping that they are going to take care of your kids, and that didnt happen.

Lawsuit alleges school denied accommodations

According to the lawsuit, since Oct. 28, 2020, the school district allegedly denied the boy reasonable accommodations for his disability. In one example, the lawsuit claims that from October 2020 to the present, the school district failed to supervise or assist the boy with his functional mobility.

The lawsuit claims the school district did not provide equal access to education that the boy would have received if he was not disabled.

Boy breaks both legs after losing control on ramp

According to the lawsuit, the districts failure to supervise the boy came to a head on May 10, 2022, when the lawsuit claims the boy suffered bilateral fractures to the tibia and fibula of both legs after losing control of his wheelchair on a ramp at Rocky Mountain Elementary.

The incident happened at 8:15 a.m. School staff did not report the boys injuries, according to the lawsuit, which cited the elementary school.

Following the incident, the lawsuit claims at least one school employee discovered the boy at the bottom of the ramp, but allegedly did not provide assistance.

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The lawsuit claims the boy was left to collect himself after sustaining the injuries and return to class.

Rocky Mountain Elementarys internal report notes that multiple staff members observed the Plaintiff on the verge of tears throughout the day. However, neither his class teacher, nor any RME employee, took any action to investigate or treat his condition. Nor did any RME staff contact Ms. Portillo Estrada to inform her of the Plaintiffs condition, said the attorneys in the lawsuit.

Portillo Estrada was unaware of her sons condition until she picked him up from the bus stop later that afternoon.

Per the lawsuit, the boy spent seven hours in pain before his mother was made aware of his pain after school.

Portillo Estrada texted the school to ask about the incident but did not receive a text back, according to her lawyers. She chose to keep her son at home the following day where he continued to be in pain.

Portillo Estrada was still unaware of what happened to her son.

School claims shoulder discomfort caused pain

The lawsuit said that Rocky Mountain Elementary later answered Portillo Estradas texts and questions about the inquiries. The school allegedly said the pain stemmed from shoulder discomfort.

However, the lawsuit says the boy did not experience shoulder or back pain until after the incident.

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The school then advised Portillo Estrada to take her son to the doctor.

Portillo Estrada explained to the school that her son was suffering from severe pain and swelling in his knees, but the lawsuit states that the school claims the boy did not suffer any injuries while at the school.

The school allegedly said the boy must have suffered the pain due to falling out of bed.

Mother sends boy back to school

Two days later, on May 12, Portillo Estrada decided to send her son back to school. The lawsuit said she was still unaware of the extent of her sons injuries.

A few hours later, RME contacted Ms. Portillo Estrada and demanded she either pick her son up from school due to the pain he was experiencing, or it would call an ambulance to take him to the hospital, said the lawsuit.

Portillo Estrada took her son to the hospital where he was diagnosed with bilateral fractures with severe swelling.

According to the lawsuit, the boys injuries were so severe, that Portillo Estrada was interviewed by a clinical social worker.

Former high school principal, secretary charged with embezzlement

Following the boys diagnosis, the lawsuit said he remained at the hospital for one week and was required to maintain total immobilization in his legs for another four weeks.

Because the boy was confined to his bed for more than a month, the lawsuit said he developed bed sores.

Surveillance footage shows boy fall from wheelchair

In June, Portillo Estrada and an interpreter spoke with the principal at Rocky Mountain Elementary. Up until this point, the lawsuit said the school denied any wrongdoing.

During this meeting, the principal reviewed security footage from the morning of the incident.

According to the lawsuit, the footage showed the boy unattended and unsupervised. He attempted to get through the ramps between classrooms, however, he lost control.

The boys wheelchair rolled down the ramp and collided with a concrete wall. According to the lawsuit, the video showed that the boys knees absorbed most of the impact.

The elementary school wrote a summary of the video and gave it to Portillo Estrada.

Following the collision, the boy allegedly returned to class.

The principal at the school opened an investigation following the meeting with Portillo Estrada in June.

Program states boy needs supervision, help with wheelchair

According to the lawsuit, the boys individualized education program has been amended several times since he started school in 2020.

In several cases, his education program states that he needs supervision and assistance when navigating ramps and uneven terrain while in his wheelchair, according to the lawsuit.

A March 2022 program said the boy requires, safety monitoring from staff throughout the day due to medical, mobility, and functional issues, according to the lawsuit.

Jury awards couple $21M for false allegations of child abuse during custody battle

Following the collision, the principal said the boys education programs language should be strengthened.

The August 2022 program states the boy requires 1:1, hands-on wheelchair assistance

when he is transitioning between classes, going up and down ramps, and on the

playground.

The IEP (individualized education program) said that constant supervision was actually necessary, but the constant supervision did not take place in this particular place, and thats how this catastrophic accident happened, said Igor Raykin, the familys attorney.

FOX31 reached out to the district and was sent the following statement:

At this time, the district has yet to be served with a complaint regarding this matter. If we are served with a complaint, the districts practice is not to share information on pending or ongoing litigation. Adams 12 Five Star Schools

Lawsuit claims school district violated the Rehabilitation Act

Following the incident and the claim that the boy was denied reasonable accommodations, the mother is suing the district for violating The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.

We just want them to take things more seriously and take the needs of these children more seriously, Raykin said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Good evening. Ben Wallace has told Tory rebels it is too late to replace Rishi Sunak, saying it is time for Conservative MPs to march towards the sound of the guns and get on with it.



Elsewhere, JK Rowling has vowed to continue calling a man a man in defiance of controversial new SNP hate crime laws.

March towards the guns, Ben Wallace tells Tory MPs

The former defence secretary said that, regardless of how his colleagues felt about the Prime Minister, there was no other alternative than to get behind him as leader. His comments come as Mr Sunak faces speculation about a leadership challenge.

JK Rowling vows to defy ludicrous new hate crime laws

The Harry Potter author said she would not delete her social media posts, in which she has regularly argued that trans women are not women, to avoid being taken to court under this ludicrous law. The legislation creates a criminal offence of stirring up of hatred, expanding on a similar offence based on racist abuse that has been on the statute book for decades.

Yousaf showing open contempt for voters with call for Tory-free Scotland

Humza Yousaf has displayed open contempt for hundreds of thousands of voters by calling for a Tory-free Scotland, Douglas Ross has said amid a mounting backlash. The Scottish Tory leader said the call to expel Conservatism from the country was insulting for almost 700,000 people who backed his party in the 2021 Holyrood election.

Evening Briefing: Todays essential headlines

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Comment and analysis

Stephen Davies | Installing Penny would be a calamity

Jane Shilling | The charmless M25 has hidden depths it takes time to discover

Lucy Burton | Labours workers rights plan is a ticking time bomb for the party

Ross Clark | The heat pump fantasy is dead  only our blinkered elites havent noticed

Greg Dickinson | I tired of overpriced London, and now tourists are being put off too

Feature of the day

What eating bread really does to your body  and the healthiest supermarket loaves to buy

The nations favourite carb can be bad for weight loss and blood sugar  but these selections from the UKs top supermarkets are safe bets.

Business news: Google in talks to put AI chatbot on every iPhone despite diversity row

Google and Apple are in talks over a deal that could see the search engines chatbot technology installed on every iPhone, despite a row over the systems excessive efforts to promote diversity.



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By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday warned that Ukraine's survival was in danger and sought to convince allies that the United States was committed to Kyiv, even as Washington has essentially run out of money to keep arming Ukrainian forces.

Republican House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson is refusing to call a vote on a bill that would provide $60 billion more for Ukraine and the White House is scrambling to find ways to send assistance to Kyiv, which has been battling Russian forces for more than two years.

Austin is leading the monthly meeting known as the Ukraine defense contact group (UDCG), held at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, of about 50 allies that have supported Ukraine.

"Today, Ukraine's survival is in danger and America's security is at risk," Austin told a press conference after the meeting.

"I leave here today fully determined to keep U.S. security assistance and ammunition flowing. And that's a matter of survival and sovereignty for Ukraine and it's a matter of honor and security for America," he added.

Austin, who is traveling for the first time this year since prostate cancer treatment, did not say how Washington would support Ukraine without additional funding.

Officials say the lack of funding available is already having an impact on the ground in Ukraine, where Russian troops are advancing and Ukrainian forces are having to manage scarce resources.

"I think our allies are acutely aware of our funding situation and the Ukrainians more so than anyone because of the shortages that are resulting from us not being able to supply them," a senior U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed to allies on Tuesday to supply more air defences, saying Russia had launched 130 missiles, more than 320 attack drones and almost 900 guided bombs in attacks this month alone.

AIR DEFENCE, UKRAINE'S PRIORITY

Speaking later in his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said air defence remained Ukraine's main concern and thanked participants for their efforts "so that this, our priority, is fulfilled in an appropriate manner".

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, who attended the gathering, said on Telegram that participants "demonstrated their unity and resolve in helping Ukraine. Our forces are critically in need of ammunition. The ammo will be delivered!"

Last week, the Biden administration said it would send $300 million in military assistance to Ukraine, but added that it was an extraordinary move after unexpected savings from military contracts the Pentagon had made.

Officials have not ruled out that they could find additional savings, but they say that amount would not be enough to make up for the lack of Congressional action.

Experts say that Austin will face a skeptical audience in Europe.

"It's becoming harder and harder for U.S. leaders to travel to Europe, with the message that the United States is committed to Ukraine in the long-term," Rachel Rizzo, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Europe Center in Washington, said.

"The message of this long-term financial, military, economic commitment flies in the face of the reality of what's happening on Capitol Hill."

At a joint press conference in Berlin on Friday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reaffirmed their support for Ukraine, whose ammunition-starved troops face their toughest battles since the early days of Russia's invasion two years ago.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced on Tuesday a 500 million euro ($543 million) aid package for Ukraine which includes 10,000 rounds of ammunition and said the United States was still a reliable partner.

"I have no doubt about the reliability of the Americans," Pistorius said. "There are particularities in the political systems, and we have to deal with that."

European support has become increasingly key with Biden unable to get a big Ukraine aid package through Congress, and much of his foreign policy energy is focused on the war in Gaza.

But U.S. officials say that the reality is that without the United States, European support for Ukraine will not be enough.

"There isn't a way that our allies can really combine forces to make up for the lack of U.S. support," the senior U.S. defense official said.

($1 = 0.9205 euros)

(Reporting by Idrees Ali. Additional reporting by Alexander Ratz and Madeline Chambers. Editing by Ron Popeski and Stephen Coates)
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, March 18. Uzbekistan's Air Samarkand will start operating regular flights on the Samarkand - Istanbul - Samarkand route on March 21, Trend reports.

The airline states that flights to Istanbul's main airport (IST) will be conducted twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, during the initial phase.

The flights will be conducted with Airbus A321neo aircraft.

Meanwhile, the Air Samarkand airline was established in April 2023. The company announced plans to establish flights to 14 cities in Russia and Asian countries on medium-haul Airbus A320 full economy configuration aircraft.

The first Airbus A330, leased from China's Minsheng Financial Leasing, arrived in Uzbekistan on November 2, 2023.

The carrier also received several A320 and A321 aircraft.

In the near future, Air Samarkand plans to launch regular and charter flights from Samarkand to Southeast Asia, Turkiye, China, and the Middle East.
A juvenile girl has been arrested in connection with a Monday morning fire that injured two people, including a 6-year-old girl.

The juvenile was charged with first-degree arson and is in the Montgomery jail, Assistant Chief Stanley Cooper said in an email.

At about 5:19 a.m. Monday, firefighters responded to the 2800 block of Willena Avenue, where they found a single-story house on fire, Cooper said in an email. They found a 6-year-old girl and a 45-year-old man unconscious inside the house.

The pair had smoke-related injuries, and first responders transported them to the Jackson Hospital Emergency Room. A 46-year-old woman refused further treatment, and firefighters also found a 15-year-old girl uninjured.

Investigators interviewed a juvenile girl in the presence of her mother, Cooper said. The girl said she went into her parents' room and took some of her mother's items but that she does not remember anything else, Cooper said in an email.

The juvenile was then arrested "due to the totality of the circumstances," Cooper said.

Fire trucks arrive as members of the Montgomery Fire Department arrive to honor Forest Avenue Academic Magnet School student Dynasti Hartman, daughter of injured firefighter Deandre Hartman in Montgomery, Ala, on Monday May 22, 2023. Deandre Hartman was injured in a fire on May 14th and is being treated in the UAB Hospital Burn abd Trauma ICU.

More: Hyundai Alabama Hyundai to offer child care benefits 'essential for attracting, retaining talent'

Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Girl charged with arson in Montgomery house fire that hospitalized two
Several of North Carolinas historically Black universities are seeing an increase in interest from prospective students this application cycle  the first one since the consideration of race as a factor in college admissions was ruled unconstitutional.

Less than a full year removed from the U.S. Supreme Courts decision, its still too early to gauge the full impact of the ruling, both at HBCUs and other colleges. But the early trend seen in North Carolina aligns with predictions from some college administrators and admissions professionals that the landmark ruling could lead to an influx of applications at HBCUs.

Though there are nuances to such predictions, the underlying reasoning is generally that, with highly selective, predominantly white colleges likely to admit fewer students of color, those students could be more likely to consider schools that place them  and their wellbeing and success  at the forefront of their missions.

I think the ruling sends a message to people about whether or not they even want to apply, whether or not they feel valued, how they will be treated, more so than was already the case at predominantly white institutions, because issues of belonging, inclusion, equity have always been problematic, Joy Gaston Gayles, an NC State University professor who researches issues of equity, inclusion and justice in higher education, told The News & Observer.

At least four North Carolina HBCUs have seen increases in applications from prospective undergraduate students this cycle. Another has seen an increase in applications from prospective graduate students.

Admissions professionals at the universities who spoke to The N&O were reluctant to link the increased number of applications at their institutions to the Supreme Court ruling  instead highlighting other factors, such as highly intentional recruitment efforts and unique academic offerings, that are drawing students to apply to the schools.

In some cases, the numbers align with the 9% year-over-year increase in applications  and the 12% increase in applications from underrepresented minority students  reported nationally in January by the Common Application, a membership-based college application platform used by more than 1,000 U.S. colleges.

I think its important that we underscore the fact that I dont know how  at this moment  how the [Supreme Courts] decision is impacting us in a positive or negative way right now, Joseph Montgomery, associate vice provost for enrollment management at NC A&T State University, told The N&O. Were evaluating, and were in observation of what we see coming through the pipeline, however, its too early for us to make a claim that the  decision to remove race in the admissions process has now, all of a sudden, become a catalyst for interest at HBCUs.

A person walks through the campus of North Carolina Central University on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Durham, N.C.

This admissions cycles application trends at NC HBCUs

Applications arent a flawless method to fully understand students interest in a school, nor a schools appeal to prospective students. Higher education groups, including the national College Board and the College Foundation of North Carolina, generally recommend students apply to at least five or six colleges  of which they can choose only one to attend.

Still, if a student applies to a given college, it can indicate that they have some level of interest in attending the school, should they be admitted.

The N&O asked North Carolinas five public HBCUs, all part of the UNC System, for the number of applications they have received this application cycle, compared to last cycle, from students who intend to enter the universities as first-year students in the fall.

 Elizabeth City State University in late February had received about 500 more applications this cycle, an increase of nearly 9%, compared to the previous year, admissions director Arlinda Halfacre said.

 NC A&T in early February had seen a 12% year-over-year increase in applications, Montgomery said. Montgomery declined to share the number of applications the university has received this cycle, citing the universitys plan to continue to take applications from some students until later this spring.

Were trending up, but we wont know more certain until we get to the end, Montgomery said. So I think it would be a little difficult to really be specific about what our numbers are, when were in motion.

As the countrys largest HBCU, the university has seen interest and applications increase for at least the past decade, Montgomery said. NC A&T Chancellor Harold Martin said in September that 40,000 prospective students sought admission for the current academic year. More than 13,800 students are enrolled at the university this year.

 Fayetteville State University had received about 1,000 more applications this cycle compared to last year, media relations director Devon Smith said, an increase of about 18%.

 NC Central University in mid-February had received more than 20,000 applications this cycle from prospective first-year students, nearly 27% more than the previous year, communications and marketing director Quiana Shepard said.

 Winston-Salem State University in early March had received about 9,400 applications from prospective first-year students, a decrease of 3% from the previous year, according to information provided by communications and media relations director Kimberly Harrington. But the university had received 376 applications from prospective graduate students, an increase of 41% from last year.

Applications to UNC-Chapel Hill were up 15% in January compared to the previous year, according to interim Chancellor Lee Roberts. Applications to NC State University were up 9% from the previous year.

Fayetteville State University students walk on Fayetteville States campus Friday, Oct. 20, 2023. Fayetteville State began offering heavily discounted tuition through the NC Promise Tuition Program in fall 2022.

Whats driving increased application numbers?

NC Central, in Durham, saw the largest percent-increase in applications of any of the five public HBCUs in the state, based on the information the schools provided.

Michael Bailey, NCCU director of undergraduate admissions, said that wasnt by accident or luck. Instead, he said, it came from extremely intentional, data-driven efforts to recruit prospective students and expand the universitys outreach across the state.

The thought behind the targeted approach is to increase our applicant pool at the top of the funnel and thus increase enrollment, Bailey said. The university has been identified as one of five in the 16-university UNC System that are most impacted by changing enrollment patterns, which can impact the amount of state funding it receives.

Like Montgomery at NC A&T, Bailey said it was these such efforts  not the Supreme Court ruling  that led to the increase in interest from applicants. The university did not consider race in admissions prior to the ruling, anyway. And Bailey said he doesnt think the decision has, or will, increase the universitys applicant pool, either.

Where Bailey does see a potential impact from the ruling is that predominantly white colleges could get creative and maybe look at other factors to maintain diversity on those campuses without the use of race.

North Carolina Central University sophomore TJay Andrews, right, plays the saxophone while walking through campus on the way to band practice on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Durham, N.C.

Ahead of the decision last June, experts predicted that selective colleges might increase their focus on applicants socioeconomic status or geographic location in order to continue assembling diverse student bodies without considering race. Bailey said, for example, the predominately white colleges might increase their recruitment efforts in North Carolinas most economically distressed counties.

Gayles, the NC State professor, said focusing on such factors could lead to more competition in recruitment among HBCUs and predominantly white colleges, but noted its too early to understand the full impact.

I think institutions are still trying to figure out what approaches they might take, if diversity, equity, inclusion is a value that they hold, Gayles said.

Montgomery said NC A&T is very intentional about how we talk about the university and who we talk to about our offerings.

Emphasizing unique programs, offerings

In addition to their recruitment efforts, the universities also highlighted programs geared toward affordability and student success that they say draw students to apply to and attend their respective schools.

Bailey said NC Central makes it clear to students throughout the admissions process that their success upon enrollment is a top priority of the university by highlighting the universitys Eagle Promise program, which emphasizes on-time graduation and career readiness, among other areas.

Two of the universities, Fayetteville State and Elizabeth City State, are part of the NC Promise tuition plan, which offers significantly discounted tuition rates of $1,000 per year for in-state students and $5,000 per year for out-of-state students. Fayetteville State also offers free tuition to military-affiliated students, a program launched two years ago.

Both universities said the NC Promise program, among other offerings, is attractive to prospective students, and rising enrollment trends at each school appear to support such claims.

At Elizabeth City State, where the university is permitted by the UNC System to have a student body with an equal number of in-state and out-of-state students, the program has allowed the university to expand its reach into bordering states.

Were going to be more affordable to them, so thats definitely a draw, Halfacre, ECSUs director of admissions, said.

The universities also said they highlight unique academic programs to prospective students, from aviation at ECSU to law at NCCU, the only HBCU in the state with a law school, and others.

People dance outdoors on the campus of North Carolina Central University on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Durham, N.C.

Montgomery said NC A&T doesnt necessarily lean on the very thing thats obvious during its recruitment efforts, instead largely focusing on whether the university is a place for students to thrive.

The very thing thats obvious for us is that we are an HBCU, Montgomery said. We really, kind of, lean into: What does it mean to be a student at A&T? Because for us, its about fit.

Gayles said students of color will likely weigh their potential success, including their well-being and broader sense of belonging, as crucial factors in their college decisions after the Supreme Courts ruling.

All those things matter just as much as going to class and getting good grades, because if you dont feel like you belong and matter, your likelihood of performing well goes down, Gayles said. And HBCUs have always  recruited and made educating minoritized [students]  all people, really  a priority because thats why they were founded, to provide a place where people could advance their education.

Halfacre said the message ECSU sends to prospective students is clear  and the other HBCUs offered similar sentiments.

We want them to come in, find themselves, find what they really want to do, Halfacre said, and then just be able to go out and conquer the world.
By Ahmed Eljechtimi

RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco's first legal cannabis harvest was 294 metric tons in 2023, after the country approved its cultivation and export for medicine and industrial uses, cannabis regulator ANRAC said.

The harvest was made by 32 cooperatives that brought together 430 farmers covering 277 hectares in the northern Rif mountain areas of Al Houceima, Taounat and Chefchaouen, ANRAC said in an email to Reuters.

The United Nations drugs agency says about 47,000 hectares of the Rif are devoted to cannabis output, roughly a third of the amount in 2003 after government crackdowns.

This year, the regulator is examining applications by 1,500 farmers who organised themselves into 130 cooperatives, ANRAC said.

Cultivation of the local drought-enduring landrace, known as Beldia, began this month, it said.

Although Morocco is a major cannabis producer, officially cannabis use for recreational purposes is illegal. In practice, it is tolerated.

Nearly a million people live in areas of northern Morocco where cannabis is the main economic activity. It has been publicly grown and smoked there for generations, mixed with tobacco in traditional long-stemmed pipes with clay bowls.

The legalisation was intended to improve farmers' incomes and protect them from drug traffickers who dominate the cannabis trade and export it illegally.

So far, two legal cannabis transformation units have been operating and two others are waiting for equipment, while 15 cannabis products are in the process of being authorised for medicinal use, ANRAC said.

Morocco is also seeking to tap into a growing global market for legal cannabis, and awarded 54 export permits last year.

(Reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi; editing by Barbara Lewis)
When conducting air strikes against Ukraine, Russia may be relying on satellite photos provided by U.S. companies, The Atlantic reported on March 18, citing an unnamed Ukrainian defense official.

Read also: South military command explains why Russia paused its massive missile attacks on Ukraine

According to the source, commercial satellites take images of a specific site in Ukraine, and days or weeks later, Russian missiles hit the location. At times, another satellite then captures additional images, possibly to assess the damage.

The source said that a review of logs of customers requesting images of certain strategic assets in Ukraine suggests a certain pattern. For instance, they told the journalists that in the week leading up to April 2, 2022, U.S. orbital imaging companies processed a request for photos of a remote airstrip near Myrhorod, Poltava Oblast, at least nine times. On April 2, the airstrip was hit by Russian missiles, and the following week, someone requested images of the airstrip again.

Just before March 26, 2022, someone ordered a satellite to survey a Lviv factory used for military armor production, which was subsequently attacked.

More recently, in late January 2024, a commercial satellite company was tasked to take fresh images of Kyiv right before the city suffered a major missile attack.

The number of coincidences, where the images are followed by strikes, is too high to be random, the official said.

Read also: Satellites spot Russian Air Force painting decoy aircraft instead of real fighters onto apron at Crimean base

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Kateryna Chernohorenko suggested that Russia purchases satellite images through intermediaries that do business with Western satellite firms.

The article also mentions that Maxar and Planet, two of the largest commercial providers of satellite images in the United States, captured photos of Ukrainian sites that were later targeted by Russian missiles.

Read also: Congress learned about Russian anti-satellite weapons weeks ago  Johnson

Although the companies maintain they carefully vet their clients and have not cooperated with Russia since the start of the war in February 2022, Andrey Liscovich, head of a U.S. nonprofit providing nonlethal assistance to Ukraine, is skeptical about the companies claims of controlling the end-use of their satellite images.

They lack the necessary resources to adequately screen the final recipients of their products, Liskovych said.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Overwater villas and bungalows are the ultimate symbol of luxury travel.

Originating in the 1960s in Tahiti, there are now thought to be 7,000 overwater villas worldwide.

Travel experts share their picks for the most beautiful overwater villas to visit in 2024.

Loud luxury is slowly taking over social media  and when it comes to travel, it seems nothing exudes this concept more than overwater villas or bungalows.

The first overwater villas were thought to have been designed in the 1960s, when a group of Americans living on the island of Tahiti built stilted bungalows inspired by traditional fishing huts, according to Architectural Digest.

There are now more than 7,000 overwater villas around the world, and each one acts as a "symbol of extreme luxury, with price tags to match," the publication said.

Business Insider asked travel experts to share the most beautiful overwater villas you can visit in 2024.

Song Saa Private Island in Cambodia.

An aerial shot of Song Saa Private Island. ASMALLWORLD

Jan Luescher, CEO of the luxury travel network A Small World, suggests staying on Song Saa Private Island on the southern coast of Cambodia.

The island resort has 24 properties to choose from, including jungle villas, ocean-view villas, and overwater villas. According to its website, there are also two restaurants, a large infinity pool, a spa, and a private beach.

The resort is committed to sustainability, and each villa was made with up-cycled decor and repurposed furniture, the website states.

"Discarded oil drums find new life as lamps. Driftwood serves as a table or bench. Salvaged wood from old fishing boats and factory yards now forms decks and floors and beams," the website reads.

Rates for an overnight stay vary, beginning at $1,484 for a one-bedroom villa in March.

Niyama The Crescent in the Maldives.

The interior of an overwater villa in Niyama The Crescent. Julia Carter/Craft Travel

Julia Carter, founder of Craft Travel, said some of her favorite overwater villas are in the Maldives. She recommends Niyama The Crescent, a secluded resort in the Dhaalu Atoll with five overwater villas.

Carter told BI it's one of "the most private and luxurious accommodations in the Maldives" and all five villas are surrounded by "nothing but water."

"Guests can book them all out to enjoy utmost peace and tranquility, falling asleep amongst the fishes without a stranger in sight," Carter said.

Each villa has its own team of housekeepers and butlers. Carter said that the resort offers fishing, private cruises, private surfing lessons, and scuba diving.

Prices for an overnight stay vary.

Four Seasons in Bora Bora, French Polynesia.

The Four Seasons Resort in Bora Bora. Four Seasons Press Room

Travel expert Jan Luescher previously told BI that French Polynesia is one of the best luxury travel destinations in 2024 because it is a less-crowded alternative to Hawaii.

Luescher describes the region, which has five archipelagos and 118 islands, as "completely unspoiled" and says it has a great variety of overwater villas.

Some of the most well-known overwater villas in the region are located within Four Seasons Bora Bora, named the best luxury hotel in the South Pacific by Luxury Travel Advisor's Awards of Excellence in 2023.

The resort has 115 accommodation options, 108 of which are overwater villas. In January 2024, the Four Seasons announced that it would allow guests to book the entire resort, which can accommodate 246 guests for seven nights.

Prices to book the entire resort begin at 2.5 million Euros, or around $2.7 million, according to the press release.

Little Okavango Camp in Tanzania.

Little Okavango Camp in Tanzania. Tent With A View

Little Okavango Camp in Tanzania has some of the most unique overwater bungalows you can find, according to David Guthrie, founder of Tanzania-based safari company Tent with A View.

The water-based safari camp is located near a wetland area on the shores of Lake Victoria and is a 10-minute drive to Serengeti National Park.

"As the lake's famous waters rise, the overwater walkways connecting the camp's six cabins to the restaurant and bar area suddenly become full of Tilapia fish and hippos," Guthrie told BI.

The area is known for bird-watching and wildlife. Guthrie said activities include game drives where you can usually spot elephants, lions, and hippos.

Little Okavango has six large tented rooms. Overnight stays as part of Tent With a View's Serengeti and Zanzibar Safari and Beach Package begin at $3,240.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A woman from Dublin, born into a mother and baby home in Northern Ireland, has said she feels "abandoned again" because she is excluded from a new compensation scheme.

Sinead Buckley was born in 1972 to an unmarried woman from the Republic of Ireland.

At that time her mother, Eileen, was living in Marianvale in Newry.

A midwife in Dublin, Eileen came north because of the fear and stigma associated with being a single mother.

Marianvale was one of a network of institutions across the island of Ireland which housed unmarried women and their babies at a time when pregnancy outside marriage was viewed as scandalous.

After the birth in Newry's Daisy Hill Hospital, an adoption agency in the Republic arranged for Eileen's baby to be adopted by a family in Dublin.

Ms Buckley grew up and still lives in Dublin, but never got to meet her birth mother.

Eileen died during a Covid lockdown which meant she endured the heartbreak of watching her mother's funeral over the internet.

Ms Buckley had a difficult childhood and a long, frustrating search for her birth parents

This week, the Republic of Ireland will open an 800m (684m) redress scheme for survivors of its own mother and baby homes.

Ms Buckley is one of thousands of Irish adoptees who will not qualify, despite her decades-long battle with the Irish state to access her birth identity and family medical history.

"I grew up with a sense of rejection and abandonment and I feel like I've just been completely abandoned again," she told BBC News NI.

"I used to be proud to be Irish, I'm not anymore. I'm not Irish - what I am?"

Ireland's Department of Children said that Marianvale was outside the Republic's jurisdiction, adding there were "processes ongoing in Northern Ireland to respond to these legacy issues".

But as a Dubliner, born to parents from the Republic, Ms Buckley said she cannot understand why she is excluded from the Irish redress scheme "because I was born a few miles over the border and adopted back here".

Who qualifies for compensation?

Under the rules, mothers who spent even one night in an eligible institution in the Republic will receive compensation.

Payments start at 5,000 (4,275) and rise incrementally based on length of stay.

But former child residents only qualify if they spent six months or more in homes.

Marianvale is not on the list of eligible institutions, but even if it was, Ms Buckley would still not be entitled to compensation because it appears she was resident for less than six months.

"I wish someone would explain the six-month thing to me because we've suffered through life," she said.

"There's absolutely no humanity in this decision."

She added she paid Irish taxes all her life and now the Irish state "isn't recognising me".

"For me it's not about the money, it's about the principle," she said. "I want to be vindicated."

'Where do I belong?'

Adoption records show her mother was engaged to a Tipperary man when she became pregnant, but Eileen's family opposed her relationship.

When she entered Marianvale, her fiance was not even told he was about to become a father.

The adoption was arranged by Cunamh, formerly known as the Catholic Protection and Rescue Society of Ireland.

Sinead Buckley was brought up in a Dublin family as one of three adopted children

"If the adoption was arranged from counties in the south and agencies in the south - run by convents and nuns in the south - and women from the south were in there and the children were adopted back into the south... it's just a loophole to get out of paying anybody money," Ms Buckley said.

Border babies

Her cross-border journey was not unique.

A recent report into Northern Ireland's mother and baby homes calculated that more than 550 babies were moved to the Republic between 1930 and 1990.

"Here in the north, the campaigners have been calling for their public inquiry and redress for more than a decade," said solicitor Claire McKeegan, who acts on behalf of survivors of institutional abuse in Northern Ireland.

In 2021, Stormont's leaders agreed to hold a public inquiry into mother and baby homes, Magdalene laundries and workhouses north of the border.

But two and a half years on, that inquiry is still to be legally established.

"Obviously with the collapse of Stormont, the legislation hasn't happened for them and many survivors and victims are no longer with us," Ms McKeegan said.

The solicitor is due to meet First Minister Michelle O'Neill about the issue next month and said the message from survivors will be: "It must be done and it must be done now."

Ms Buckley was a sound engineer and later discovered she shared a talent for music with her birth father

For Ms Buckley though, it was the Republic's secretive adoption system which she had to fight all her life.

As a teenager she suffered serious health issues and baffled doctors ran lots of tests because they could not access her family medical records.

"My mother told me that at one stage they thought it was leukaemia and that the doctors had been trying to ring the adoption agency just to try and get some history.

"They were like: 'This girl is really sick, we need to know.'

"And they were just met with closed doors."

Aged 43, Ms Buckley was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition she later found out runs in her birth family.

She believes she missed out on earlier diagnosis and treatment due to her lack of rights to birth information when she was a teenager.

A new Irish law came into force in 2022 which gave all adoptees rights to access their original birth certificate and family medical history, but adoptees complain of long delays with the new system.

How many survivors get compensation?

It has been estimated there are about 58,200 people still alive who spent time in the Republic's mother and baby homes and county homes (institutions which succeeded workhouses).

The Department of Children confirmed its redress scheme will "provide financial payments to an estimated 34,000 people".

But that means just over 40% of survivors - some 24,000 people - cannot apply because of the six-month rule.

Awarding payments and medical benefits to all surviving residents would have doubled the cost of the scheme.

"The exclusions are vast and it really is extremely unfair," said Dr Maeve O'Rourke.

The human rights lecturer recently helped design the framework for investigating homes in Northern Ireland.

Dr O'Rourke argued the Republic's 2015-2021 mother and baby homes investigation was too narrowly focused and has resulted in a restricted redress scheme.

She said there should have been a wider investigation into adoption across all of society, including the role of adoption agencies, maternity hospitals, "forced family separations" and illegal birth registrations.

"Unfortunately, and perhaps to limit its ultimate financial liability, the Irish government insisted that it would be limited to mother and baby institutions and a sample of county homes," she added.

Ms Buckley took part in a 2021 public consultation in which survivors and interested parties gave views on the design of the redress scheme.

Most survivors stressed loss of the mother/child bond was the most important factor that required redress, not the time spent in homes.

Ms Buckley shared her own experience during the consultation but was shocked when she realised Marianvale residents would not be part of the settlement.

"I couldn't stop crying. We bared our souls at that thing, you know? We told them how this has affected us mentally," she said.

"For saving a few quid, we're just collateral damage."
LINDALE, Texas (KETK)  A mother and daughter are dead after a house fire Sunday night in Lindale.

According to Smith County, first responders were called to the fire around 10:18 p.m. where it was reported that a brick home in the 400 block of North College Street was on fire.

Pedestrian dead after crash on W Front Street in Tyler

Smith County Fire Marshal Chad Hogue identified two women who died in the fire as 84-year-old Ruby Martinez, and her daughter, 67-year-old Gloria Clark.

Autopsies have been ordered for both women, and the cause of the fire, which was reported to result in a total loss of the home, is under investigation by the Smith County Fire Marshals Office.

Were just heartbroken, heartbroken, said Angie Dunwoody, friend of the family.

Dunwoody has known the family since 1985, and got the tragic call Monday morning. She stopped by the home shortly after to leave flowers and a note.

Ruby was a Christian woman, that was her faith, Dunwoody said. And Gloria, her sense of humor, she had an amazing sense of humor. Both of them always thought about others before themselves.

For now, she is praying for support from the Lindale community.

We all need to come together, and we are going to be here to support the family and whatever they need, said Dunwoody.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Stella Oyella and Vanessa Atim sent hundreds of pounds to a relative who had joined the Islamic State group

A mother and daughter have been jailed for funding terrorism in Syria.

Stella Oyella, 53, and Vanessa Atim, 32, both of Newham, east London, sent hundreds of pounds to a relative who had joined the Islamic State (IS) group.

They were found guilty of entering into an arrangement to fund Joseph Ogaba between March and October 2017.

Judge Mark Dennis sentenced Atim to three years and nine months and Oyella to three years.

Ogaba was Oyella's brother who had converted to Islam.

He was a 30-year-old self-employed computer programmer when he left home in Finsbury Park, north London, to join the terrorist group in September 2014.

'Committed individual'

The judge said the women were not motivated by IS's extremist beliefs but wanted to help Ogaba, who was manipulating their close family bond and said he was "desperate" for money to cover his general expenses.

There was no evidence the money was used for weapons or that the women, who are Roman Catholic and of previous good character, wanted to support terrorism.

The judge told them: "You both turned a blind eye to what your brother and uncle was engaged in and in so doing you were in effect giving support for terrorist activity which in 2017 he was still associated with.

"However, taken that your motivation was not ideological or a desire to engage in such activities, you knew what you were doing was wrong and could get you into trouble."

The women should have known that Ogaba was a "committed individual" who had left his home and was prepared to support jihad, the court heard.

A burst of swearing broke out from the public gallery as the sentence was passed and calls of "stay strong" were also shouted by supporters as the women were led from the dock.

Jurors were told Ogaba was eventually captured and held in a detention camp until his death around July 2022.

Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, said after sentencing: "These women went to great lengths to first arrange, and then distance themselves from money transfers to Ogaba.

"This case shows how we work with our international partners to close the net on people who support terrorist activity, no matter how much time has passed."

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
FILE PHOTO: Premiere of ''Lola'' held at the Regency Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles

By Sheila Dang

(Reuters) - CEO Elon Musk said his ketamine prescription was beneficial for Tesla's investors in a video interview with former CNN anchor Don Lemon posted online on Monday.

Musk said the drug helps him manage a "negative chemical state" similar to depression in the interview conducted this month that also touched on politics, content moderation on X and Tesla.

"From the standpoint of Wall Street, what matters is execution," said Musk, who runs the automaker, the rocket company SpaceX and the social media platform X. Musk argued Tesla was worth as much as the rest of the car industry combined.

"For investors, if there's something I'm taking, I should keep taking it."

A Wall Street Journal investigation published in January said Musk had used drugs including LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms, worrying executives and board members at his companies.

The report raised concerns that illegal drug use would likely be a violation of federal policies that could jeopardize SpaceX's government contracts.

The Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that one Tesla director grew so frustrated with Musk's behavior that she did not stand for re-election to the board in 2019.

Musk responded to the Journal report on X in January, saying that he agreed to three years of random drug testing at the request of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which partners with SpaceX. "Not even trace quantities were found of any drugs or alcohol," Musk said.

Musk told Lemon that he had a doctor's prescription for ketamine. The billionaire estimated he took "a small amount every other week."

His comments were in response to Lemon asking what Musk's ketamine prescription was intended for, and if he ever worried "that this may get in the way of your government contracts and clearances and Wall Street as well."

Lemon posted the interview on YouTube and X, after he said last week that Musk canceled an exclusive partnership that "The Don Lemon Show" had with X.

Lemon was set to have three 30-minute episodes per week on X. "His approach was basically just CNN, but on social media, which doesn't work," Musk posted on X.

Musk did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

(Reporting by Sheila Dang in Dallas; Editing by Howard Goller)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Seoul for the third Summit for Democracy (Jung Yeon-je)

North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Monday in what analysts said was a calculated move to grab attention as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits South Korea for talks.

Blinken is attending the third Summit for Democracy and met President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul early Monday. He is also meeting his South Korean counterpart on the sidelines of the event, for discussions now likely to be dominated by the allies' efforts to counter threats from the nuclear-armed North.

Washington and Seoul wrapped up one of their major annual joint military training exercises last week, prompting angry retorts and live-fire drills from nuclear-armed Pyongyang, which condemns all such exercises as rehearsals for invasion.

Seoul's military said it had detected the launch of "multiple short-range ballistic missiles" early Monday, which flew around 300 kilometres (186 miles) before coming down into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.

"We are closely sharing relevant information with the US and Japan and are maintaining utmost readiness," the Joint Chiefs of Staff added.

After meeting Yoon, Blinken "condemned the... launch of ballistic missiles by the DPRK and reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to the ROK's security," Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, referring to North and South Korea by their official names.

Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said the North had fired three short-range ballistic missiles, which landed outside of the country's EEZ and did not cause any damage.

The launches come just days after Seoul and Washington's annual Freedom Shield drills, which this year involved double the number of troops, ended Thursday.

Pyongyang this month warned that Seoul and Washington would pay a "dear price" over the drills, and later announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had guided an artillery unit it says was capable of striking the South Korean capital.

"It's a highly calculated move timing-wise by Pyongyang to fire multiple missiles to show they are capable of doing such an act even when the top US diplomat is in town," Professor Choi Gi-il of military studies at Sangji University told AFP.

North Korea typically stages missile launches "as a tit-for-tat" after US-South Korea joint drills, Han Kwon-hee of Korea Association of Defence Industry Studies told AFP.

Blinken's presence only adds to their motivation, he said, as it "means more attention from Washington and adds pressure on host Seoul."

- Boosting deterrence -

Monday's ballistic missile test is the North's second this year, after Pyongyang launched one tipped with a manoeuvrable hypersonic warhead on January 14.

Blinken landed in South Korea on Sunday afternoon ahead of the democracy summit, which runs from March 18 to 20 and will bring together government officials, NGOs and civil society members.

Seoul is one of Washington's key regional allies, and the United States has stationed about 27,000 American soldiers in the South to help protect it against the nuclear-armed North.

Conservative President Yoon has boosted ties with Washington and sought to bury the historical hatchet with former colonial power Japan to better guard against Pyongyang's threats.

So far this year, Pyongyang has declared South Korea its "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.

"While South Korea conducted defence training last week alongside international partners, Kim Jong-un personally supervised several military exercises, and now while Seoul hosts a summit of democracies, North Korea fires more missiles," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"The Kim regime's one-upmanship aims to show strength to its domestic audience, suggest costs on the Korean Peninsula for Seouls international security cooperation, and warn Washington against increasing pressure on Pyongyang."

Blinken also met South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul for discussions on boosting the alliance, as Washington and Seoul look to improve their so-called "extended deterrence" against North Korea.

After Seoul, Blinken heads to the Philippines.

kjk/ceb
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday confirmed reports that Israel has killed a top Hamas commander.

Speaking to reporters, Sullivan said Israel has made "significant progress" against Hamas, having broken battalions and killed thousands of Hamas fighters.

Among those thousands of fighters was Hamas third in command, Marwan Issa, who was killed in an Israeli operation last week.

Jake Sullivan, US national security adviser, speaks during a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, March 18, 2024.

"The rest of the top leaders are in hiding, likely deep in the Hamas tunnel network, and justice will come for them too," Sullivan said.

Sullivan is the first government official to confirm Issas death.

His comments come hours after Israeli forces launched a raid on Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, accusing Hamas militants of using it as a base.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The military said it killed Faiq Mabhouh, Hamas top official in internal security. An IDF soldier was also killed in the operation.

BIDEN SPEAKS WITH NETANYAHU AS US-ISRAEL TENSIONS ESCALATE OVER DIRECTION OF HAMAS WAR

The military said Mabhouh operated and directed militant activity from inside the hospital compound. Gaza's Health Ministry, meanwhile, accused the Israeli army of directing gun and missile fire at a building used for specialized surgeries.

Sullivan said it "was clear" that Hamas fighters were firing back at Israeli troops from the hospital.

"We have seen Hamas over the course of this conflict use civilian facilities, including hospitals, to store weapons for command and control and to house fighters," Sullivan said. "And that places an added burden on Israel that very few militaries have to deal with, an entrenched insurgency, using the shield of civilian institutions to protect themselves during a fight, rather than meeting Israel on some open field to battle."

An aerial view shows the compound of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on November 7, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas terrorists.

Israel raided the same medical center in November after claiming that Hamas was concealing a major command and control center within and beneath the compound. It revealed a tunnel running to an underground bunker beneath the hospital, and some weapons discovered inside.

The ministry says around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes seeking safety.

Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel's chief military spokesman, said the patients and medical staff could remain in the compound and that a safe passage was available for civilians to leave.

ISRAEL LAUNCHES ANOTHER RAID ON GAZA'S LARGEST HOSPITAL, CLAIMS IT IS WHERE HAMAS REGROUPED

Sullivans comments come amid growing concerns within the Biden administration over Israels prospective offensive in the southern city of Rafah, where roughly 1.5 million Palestinians have taken refuge to escape the worst of the conflict in the north.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed Monday to send a team of Israeli officials to Washington to discuss the matter with Biden administration officials.

"We've arrived at a point where each side has been making clear to the other its perspective," Sullivan said.

Earlier Monday, Biden and Netanyahu had their first interaction in over a month. Sullivan said Biden questioned the Israeli leader over a lack of a "coherent and sustainable strategy' to defeat Hamas.

Biden administration officials have warned that they would not support an operation in Rafah without the Israelis presenting a credible plan to ensure the safety of innocent Palestinian civilians.

Israel has yet to present such a plan, according to White House officials.

TRUMP TORCHES BIDEN, DEMOCRATS' MIDDLE EAST POLICY: THEY ARE VERY BAD FOR ISRAEL

After the call, Netanyahu issued a statement, not indicating there were any tensions.

"We discussed the latest developments in the war, including Israel's commitment to achieving all of the war's goals: Eliminating Hamas, freeing all of our hostages and ensuring that Gaza never (again) constitutes a threat to Israel  while providing the necessary humanitarian aid that will assist in achieving these goals," Netanyahu said.

Gazas Hamas-run Health Ministry, which doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, says more than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war. Roughly two-thirds of whom are women and children, according to the Ministrys estimates. Israel has disputed these figures.

Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 people and took another 250 people hostage in the surprise Oct. 7 attack out of Gaza that triggered the war. Hamas is still believed to be holding some 100 captives, as well as the remains of 30 others.





Original article source: National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirms Israel killed top Hamas commander
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says that Russia pursues imperial ambitions, situation on the battlefield in Ukraine is difficult, but NATO member states provide 99% of all military aid to Ukraine, Georgia Online reported on March 18.

"It is vital that we step up our support, the Secretary General said.

Read also: Ukrainian FM discusses military aid and NATO Summit with US Secretary of State

NATO Allies provide 99 percent of the military assistance, and our partners also play an important role."

Read also: Stoltenberg asks allies to urgently ramp up arms shipments as Ukraine faces dwindling ammo stocks

Stoltenberg welcomed the fact that Georgia is hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees and providing significant humanitarian and financial assistance.

Read also: France gathers Ukraine, NATO, key allies to discuss military aid

Earlier, it became known that the EU Foreign Affairs Council had finally approved a decision to allocate an additional $5.43 billion for military support to Ukraine under the European Peace Fund.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has condemned Russia's presidential "elections" in the occupied parts of Ukraine and Georgia.

Source: Stoltenberg at a press conference with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi, European Pravda writes.

Quote: "Russias organisation of elections in occupied parts of Georgia and Ukraine is completely illegal. And Russias presidential election was clearly neither free nor fair," Stoltenberg said.

He also reiterated his call for Russia to revoke its recognition of Georgian territories as independent states.

The NATO Secretary General also spoke about the difficult security challenges Georgia is facing.

Quote: "NATO allies provide 99 per cent of all military aid to Ukraine. And our partners also play a key role.

I welcome that Georgia is hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees and providing crucial humanitarian and financial aid. At the same time, we can and must do more to stop Russias cycle of aggression," Stoltenberg said.

Background:

The European Union has criticised the "presidential elections" in Russia, which were subject to numerous restrictions, saw no participation of real opposition candidates, and included votes cast in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

A number of Eastern European countries and the UK have said that the Russian "elections" cannot be considered free and fair, and the head of the UK Ministry of Defence compared Putin to Soviet dictator Stalin.

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HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP)  Thousands of people are in limbo and possibly without insurance as UnitedHealthcare and UNC Health System are still at odds over contract negotiations.

Last month, sister station Fox8 introduced you to Janet Mazzurco, who is a High Point cancer patient. She had to choose insurance or the doctors who saved her life.

Its her decision day. She chose what she calls her family: her team at UNC Health, which means she had to get new insurance, and its going to cost her.

My number one concern is where do I find thousands and thousands of dollars, Mazzurco said.

Her new insurance contract is signed, and the reality set in.

I will have to go back to work, Mazzuro said. I have a major surgery scheduled for next week  Once I recover from that surgery, I will have to find a part-time job, she said.

Matthews Police officer honored for saving unconscious woman from burning car

The stage four cancer patient is on disability because of her chronic condition, but she plans to work as much as she is allowed on her disability to pay for the increase in co-pays, deductibles and a new maximum out-of-pocket price.

I never thought that insurance would stand in my way of life or death. I thought of a lot of other things, but it was definitely not insurance, Mazzurco said.

Mazzurco has spent countless hours on the phone to find a solution, and she reached out to the North Carolina Department of Insurance. The communications director said in a statement to FOX8 that NCDOI does not have jurisdiction to intervene regarding contractual disputes or require that a company or a provider enter in a legal contract.

So Mazzurco kept going one step further to the state legislature to push for more transparency when it comes to insurance contracts.

I feel like that patients need a seat at the table. Patients need to understand how the process works. I learned a lot, and I learned that what UnitedHealthcare is doing is legal. Its not ethical, but its legal, and that is two different things, and its important to know that, Mazzurco said.

In a statement to FOX8, UnitedHealthcare said in part We are committed to utilizing the time remaining on our contract to reach an agreement that is affordable for North Carolinians and employers.

Man suspected of killing Charlotte mother, 2 kids arrested in California

A statement from UNC Heath System to FOX8 reads: Unfortunately, we have not yet reached an agreement. We take very seriously the potential disruption this may cause our patients, and we are doing everything in our power to avoid that outcome.

The deadline to agree is April 1.

To make sure Mazzurco can apply for new insurance, get processed and have coverage by April 1, her time is up, and her decision is made.

That is vital to me. That is a life-or-death situation  My calendar stays booked with healthcare appointments, Mazzurco said.

She is not the only one. Thousands of other UnitedHealthcare customers are at risk of being out of network at UNC Health starting on March 31 if the two remain at a standstill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is running for governor, wants the federal government to provide more information to state leaders about a man arrested in Gates County last week after a standoff with law enforcement.

The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald reported that Awet Hagos was arrested after a four-hour standoff with police in Gates County about a week ago, after allegedly firing shots outside the Quick Stop convenience store in Eure, where he worked.

Hagos was charged with assault on a government official, resisting an officer and carrying a concealed weapon, WAVY-TV reported.

Robinson wrote a letter to President Joe Biden with a list of questions about Hagos. The letter was also signed by North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, House Speaker Tim Moore and Gates County Sheriff Ray Campbell.

Campbell said in a statement shared by Robinsons office that he is proud of the dedicated professionals of our department for their dedication to keeping our county safe. I hope that their efforts will be met with more information and a stronger sense of urgency from our federal partners.

Questions they have for the federal government include how Hagos entered the country, where else he traveled in North Carolina, details about Hagos application for citizenship and if he acted alone.

Its imperative that we know immediately if he had known terrorist ties, or whether hes been in contact with any associates thereof. We need to know if there are any any imminent dangers to the citizens of North Carolina, Robinson told reporters during a press conference Monday in downtown Raleigh.

The federal government has already been in touch with local law enforcement in North Carolina about Hagos.

The News-Herald and WAVY reported that the sheriff said Hagos recently moved to Gates County from Oakland, California and had been in the state for six months.

Campbell, the sheriff, also told local reporters that ICE, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, informed him that Hagos fingerprints were run and showed that he was on the U.S. terrorist watch list. Campbell has also said that Hagos has lived in Haiti and an area of Yemen.

Federal immigration bill

Theres a bipartisan immigration bill stalled in Congress that had been previously supported by several Republicans. Reporters asked Robinson what he thinks about the bill.

Looking at the bill, as it stands right now, I would not say that I support it fully, and I wouldnt say that I dont support the bill fully, Robinson said, adding that the question is best asked of members of Congress.

My main concern here is the safety and security of people here in North Carolina and what we can do from this office to carry that out, Robinson said.

The office of the lieutenant governor sits on several governing boards but does not have much authority. Immigration is already a hot button campaign issue this election year, particularly for Republicans.

North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a gubernatorial candidate, walks to the lectern during a press conference at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor in Raleigh on Monday, March 18, 2024. Robinson urged the federal government to provide state leaders with additional information regarding a man arrested in Gates County last week after a standoff with law enforcement.

Asked if federal law enforcement has the answers but chose not to inform him and other state leaders, Robinson said thats what were afraid of. What we want is more cooperation, more transparency. And we want just better communication all the way around is what were looking for.

Robinson said he has not discussed with Berger and Moore any potential state legislation about immigration during the short session that begins in April.

The News & Observer has reached out to the FBI and White House for comment.
Rep. Jeff Jackson said he doesnt regret voting for a bill many see as an attempt to ban TikTok, but that he mishandled a video he posted to the social media site immediately after.

It was difficult because I didnt agree with every part of the bill, Jackson told The Charlotte Observer Monday morning. But I take national security seriously, and allowing the government of another country to potentially control the information that half our country sees every day is a serious risk.

Last week, the majority of the House voted to force TikToks owner, ByteDance, to sell its U.S. subsidiary within six months or face a nationwide ban.

The legislation was fast-tracked through the House after members say they met with intelligence officials in a classified briefing and learned about data Chinese officials have gained through the app. They also say China is spreading propaganda to Americans through TikToks videos.

The best way to protect against that, in this situation, is the way weve done it before, by compelling sale, Jackson said. I voted in the interest of national security.

TikTok video

Following last weeks vote, Jackson took to TikTok to explain why he voted against the interests of a platform that he posts on regularly for his 2.3 million followers.

He uses social media sites from Reddit to X, formerly Twitter, to post about the inner workings of Congress. He likes to speak directly to his audience about why he voted a certain way or about the general chaos happening in the chamber, and his easy-to-understand chats have helped make the freshman a nationally known figure.

I dont think there will be a TikTok ban, Jackson said in the video.

TikTok users were not happy and posted a number of videos taking Jackson to task for his vote, particularly because he gained notoriety by using the platform. One user made a video saying he was canceled. Another said they voted for him in the 2024 primary, and told friends to vote for him, but now theyd be sure to work against him.

On Saturday, Jackson made his apology video, saying he mishandled the situation and he understood why he was being roasted.

If I were in your shoes, I would probably feel the same way, Jackson said. I would see someone who used this app to build a following and then appears to have voted against it and I would be upset and I would feel like I deserve more of an explanation ...

Jackson said in the apology he likes TikTok because hes able to reach a lot of people and hear directly from them, but hes also in Congress and hes privy to information about the app that are genuinely alarming.

TikTok would be a better app if it were not owned by an adversarial government, he said in his video. But he doesnt like the potential ban.

Jackson added that he still believes theres little chance of a ban happening.

If the bill becomes law, TikTok has vowed to fight the ban legally. If that fails, many wealthy Americans have expressed interest in buying the company, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, USA Today reported.

Confusion over the vote

When North Carolinas delegation voted Wednesday on the bill, Jackson was among two names that immediately stood out. While Jackson voted yes on the bill, his opponent in the attorney general race and House colleague, Rep. Dan Bishop, voted no.

A Charlotte-area Republican, Bishops vote took people by surprise because he once called Jackson a Chinese social media star and has criticized his use of the platform.

My opponent voted in the interest of one of his biggest campaign supporters, Club for Growth, Jackson told the Observer Monday. And thats the difference.

What is Club for Growth?

Club for Growth is an influential conservative super PAC that focuses on tax cuts and economic policy. It endorsed Bishop in the attorney general race.

The super PAC has an on-again, off-again relationship with former President Donald Trump.

Candidates it supports often benefit from millions of dollars in spending by the group. In North Carolina, thats been apparent with Sen. Ted Budd since he first ran for U.S. House in 2016.

One of Club for Growths top two contributors is Jeff Yass, who owns a large stake in TikTok.

In 2022, Club for Growth was Bishops top donor, according to Open Secrets, spending nearly $40,000 on his campaign.

Trumps flip flop

Trumps been accused of taking a payoff  he denies that  to support TikTok after changing his views on the social media app following a meeting with Yass earlier this month during a Club for Growth event, according to the New York Times.

Banning TikTok was a notion first floated during the Trump administration.

In August 2020, Trump signed an executive order to ban TikTok. But a preliminary injunction signed by a federal judge stopped the ban. The executive order was reversed under Biden, who then authorized an investigation of the social media company.

When the bill came up for a vote Wednesday, 15 Republicans voted against the ban, some of Trumps closest allies, including Bishop.

Bishop consistent

Unlike some of his fellow members of the House Freedom Caucus, Bishop has been consistent on his messaging about TikTok.

In 2020, Bishop co-sponsored a bill to ban TikTok on government devices.

He did not sign onto a letter his House colleagues sent to Trump in support of the ban on TikTok. Sen. Budd,a member of the House at the time, did sign the letter, with many of their House Freedom Caucus colleagues.

In November 2023, Bishop posted on social media, Keeping TikTok off of government phones just scratches the surface. But colleagues who call for a ban risk undermining free expression. The answer is exercising statesmanlike judgment and removing woke from our institutions.

On Wednesday, from the House floor, Bishop again stressed that he didnt advise people use TikTok, but banning the application risked First Amendment rights.

The Senate

The bill still needs to go before the Senate, which is less keen on taking it up.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from Mecklenburg County, told McClatchy he supports the bill.

Budd, a Republican from Davie County, told McClatchy he is still considering it.

Senator Budd believes that the divestment issue deserves careful consideration and review and is in the process of doing that, said Curtis Kalin, Budds spokesman.

If the Senate takes up the bill and it passes, it then needs to go before President Joe Biden for his signature. Biden has expressed his support for the bill becoming law.

Whether the Senate can tackle the bill this week is anyones guess. Top of mind in both chambers this week is funding the government by Friday or facing a potential partial government shutdown.
A simmering debate over immigration boiled over March 5 in North Carolinas 10th District, the newly redrawn congressional district where Republican voters elected Pat Harrigan of Hickory to possibly replace U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry.

Though designed to be a safe Republican seat, the district now includes parts of blueish Winston-Salem and western Forsyth County, along with heavily red Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Yadkin counties. But the two frontrunners had notably diverging views on immigration.

Steve Rao

State Rep. Grey Mills Jr. of Mooresville was seen by many as the guy to beat. Hed positioned himself as a Trump Republican with a no-nonsense approach to immigration. But voters gave the nod to Harrigan, who made headlines in 2022 by saying that hed support a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. This horse has left the stable on this topic, Harrigan said. The vast majority of immigrants that have come to this country and here because they are trying to build a better life for themselves and their families.

Harrigan isnt a liberal by any stretch of the imagination. Hes a gun manufacturer supported by Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. And Harrigan says hes all-in for Trump in 2024. He was muted on immigration during the primary campaign, simply saying hed support securing the border, enforcing immigration laws and deporting criminals.

Whats notable is that Harrigan didnt disavow his previous statements. As a political outsider, a business leader and a vocal Christian, he appears to understand the enormous practical, economic and moral problems of rounding up and deporting immigrants who lack lawful status.

According to the American Immigration Council, there are about 325,000 undocumented immigrants in North Carolina, making up about 3% of our population. There are well over 170,000 children in our state who are U.S. citizens, living with at least one undocumented family member. Trying to deport all those people would rip families apart and cause enormous pain to the American children.

Our state also has tens of thousands of Dreamers brought here as children, whove grown up here, obtained DACA status, and played by the rules.

Collectively, North Carolinas undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients pay over $321 million a year in state and local taxes, and hundreds of millions more to the IRS. Immigrant-owned businesses generate $1.1 billion in income each year and create jobs for American workers. And immigrant workers play a vital role in key industries such as farming and construction.

It shouldnt be controversial, nor require political courage, to point out these facts and ask what would happen to our economy if we forced out these immigrant workers, business owners and parents. But in the GOP primary only Harrigan appeared to recognize (or be willing to admit) just how important immigrants are to our state.

Theres plenty wrong with our countrys immigration system, and plenty at stake as we try to secure our border, manage incoming refugees and migrants, and build a modern and robust system for integrating law-abiding immigrants into our communities. But that only makes it more important that we send representatives to Washington who care about the facts, and who are brave enough to work to find real solutions. Now, more than ever, we need elected officials  Republicans and Democrats  who are willing to break with political orthodoxy and forge commonsense solutions.

Dont get me wrong: Im a proud Democrat, and Id love to see voters in NC-10 buck the odds and send Democratic challenger Ralph Scott Jr. to Washington in November. But in a district with a historic 16-point Republican lean, theres a solid chance that Harrigan will now wind up in Congress.

I dont know if Harrigan will stand by his previous convictions if he gets to Washington. But I do know that by winning his partys primary, hes already shown that voters are hungry for a more pragmatic approach. His win is a powerful reminder that when it comes to immigration, the change we need starts with N.C. voters stepping up  and demanding leaders wholl find real solutions instead of spouting the same old partisan rhetoric.

Steve Rao is a Morrisville Town Council member. Hes on the board of the American Immigration Council.
The North Carolina Republican Partys hard right turn has thrown its race for state superintendent of public instruction into a ditch.

A low-turnout primary dominated by the partys most conservative voters denied the Republican nomination to incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt. The partys nominee is Michele Morrow, a relatively unknown conservative activist whose caustic social media posts put her not only on the far right, but around the bend.

CNN reported last week that Morrows posts expressed support in 2020 for the televised execution of former President Barack Obama and suggested killing then-President-elect Joe Biden.

CNN cited another post in which Morrow reacted to Bidens support for having more Americans wear masks to reduce COVID infections. Morrow wrote: Never. We need to follow the Constitutions advice and KILL all TRAITORS!!! #JusticeforAmerica.

Such a history would appear to assure a victory for Morrows Democratic opponent, the experienced and respected educator Mo Green. But thats assuming that this years election will be normal. It wont be. Morrow, a registered nurse who home-schools her children, could be running the state Department of Public Instruction come January 2025.

Remember that Morrow is part of a ticket headed by former President Donald Trump, whose relentless stream of outrageous statements have exhausted the publics capacity to be surprised or offended. And the GOPs gubernatorial candidate, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, has a history of derogatory social media postings and public comments that make Morrows postings look like standard GOP talking points.

And dont underestimate the power of a political makeover. Robinson is already rolling back his most offensive comments. Morrow will do the same. Consider her response when I emailed her campaign about the CNN report:

People are tired of the dysfunctional media trying to create gotcha moments out of old comments taken out of context, made in jest, or never made in the first place. Ive pointed out that North Carolina has 800 failing schools and no plan for fixing them. Im talking about the millions of dollars misappropriated and squandered that should be put into classrooms. These issues matter more to voters than overdramatized gotcha moments ginned up by the media.

These gotcha moments actually did get Morrow, but she thinks it wont matter to voters who share her view that public schools are failing to educate students even as they allegedly indoctrinate them with liberal ideology.

Despite her lack of political experience  her only prior run was a failed bid for the Wake County school board in 2022  Morrow is a formidable campaigner. Truitt had a much bigger war chest and the support of Republican legislative leaders, but Morrow outworked her.

Morrow said, Because we didnt have the financial backing of lobbyists and powerful politicians, we relied on word-of-mouth engagement in neighborhoods county by county.

The top issue in the campaign for superintendent of public instruction is the need to increase the states support for public schools. North Carolina ranks near the bottom nationally in key measures of public school funding.

A result of that neglect is a dire shortage of teachers for the states 1.4 million public school students. The gap is actually worse than vacancies indicate. The states public schools employ more than 5,000 non-certified teachers, many of them concentrated in low-wealth districts.

Morrow is not focusing on increasing school funding. Instead, she thinks the problem is that current school dollars are misappropriated and squandered.

Republican primary voters drove their partys superintendent campaign into a ditch with Morrows nomination. But she may yet drive out of it. Democrats need to take her seriously, because extremism and lack of experience are no longer disqualifying.

Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com
The State Department revealed Monday that nearly 1,000 Americans have filled out a "crisis intake form" seeking assistance in Haiti  a country it is now calling "one of the most dire humanitarian situations in the world."

State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel made the remark hours after dozens of Americans landed in Miami on a U.S. government-chartered evacuation flight from Haiti, where reports are emerging of gangs killing at least 12 people early this morning in a suburb of Port-au-Prince following the looting of homes in two upscale neighborhoods in the Caribbean countrys capital.

"It is not hyperbole to say that this is one of the most dire humanitarian situations in the world," Patel said. "Gang violence continues to make the security situation in Haiti untenable, and it is a region that demands our attention."

"This is a fluid situation and the number of individuals who have reached out to us through the crisis intake form is approaching a thousand," he added, referring to the form on the State Departments website.

STATE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMS MORE THAN 30 AMERICANS EVACUATED FROM HAITI ON US-GOVERNMENT CHARTERED FLIGHT

Police officers take part in an operation on the surroundings of the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on March 14.

"And we're continuing to monitor the situation closely and evaluate the demand of U.S. citizens, evaluate the overall security situation, evaluate what is feasible when it comes to commercial transportation options, what is feasible for other transportation solutions," Patel also said, emphasizing that "we have no higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The State Department previously has said it is aware of several hundred U.S. citizens being stuck in Haiti.

Patel said people fill out the form requesting assistance for "a variety of reasons."

"Many, we assume, are in a circumstance where they are ready to fully depart the country.... Others may be more interested in just getting status updates, getting information on what avenues might be available to them," he continued. "It is hard to paint this entire population with a single stroke."

US NATIONAL SECURITY FACES MAJOR RISKS AS GANGS BATTLE FOR CONTROL OVER HAITI

People react after a dozen people were killed in the street by gang members, in Petionville, Haiti, on Monday, March 18.

In Port-au-Prince this morning, gunmen looted homes in the communities of Laboule and Thomassin before sunrise, forcing residents to flee as some called radio stations pleading for police, according to the Associated Press.

The news agency reported that one of their photographers saw the bodies of at least 12 men strewn on the streets of nearby Petionville, which later were collected by an ambulance.

"Abuse! This is abuse!" one Haitian man reportedly cried out as he raised his arms and stood near one of the victims. "People of Haiti! Wake up!"

"We woke up this morning to find bodies in the street in our community of Petionville," Douce Titi, who works at the mayor's office, also told the AP.

Orlando, Florida, resident Abson Louis, 46, pauses in search of friends after arriving on the first evacuation flight out of Cap-Haitien, Haiti, that landed at Miami International Airport on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

The most recent attacks have raised concerns that gang violence will not cease despite Prime Minister Ariel Henry announcing nearly a week ago that he would resign once a transitional presidential council is created, a move that gangs had been demanding.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Nearly 1,000 Americans in Haiti plea for help, State Dept. says, as gangs unleash new attacks
Assistant of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic, Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev met with Ambassador Khalil Hashmi, the Ambassador of Pakistan to China in Beijing, Azernews reports, citing a post shared by Hajiyev on his official X account.

The post reads that Hikmet Hajiyev offered congratulations on the national day celebrations of Pakistan and reiterated stronger bonds of friendship and ties between Azerbaijan and Pakistan.
In the 1990s, then-Gov. George Voinovich recognized Emily Hensel as a member of the Governor's Council on People With Disabilities.

Nellie and Emily.

They were connected in life, and now are remembered together for eternity.

Nellie Zimmerman, the deaf and blind woman who was discovered tucked away and forgotten for nearly two decades in the psychiatric ward at Massillon State Hospital in the middle of the 1970s, died at 88 in 1994 in Columbus Colony, then the nation's only nursing home specifically for the deaf.

Emily Hensel shares Nellie's story: Former teacher pens novel about the Amish community

Emily (Street) Hensel, the woman who befriended Nellie almost 50 years ago, living with her for five years and helping her start her new life, died late last year.

"When we were living together, she used to like to go to Belden Village, Hensel once explained to The Canton Repository. "Walking on streets was difficult and dangerous for her, but inside Belden Village, she could move around with little help.

"'I like to walk free,' she used to tell me."

Inextricably in death, the two now live on side-by-side in the memories of those who have heard their story.

Indeed, many are familiar with that tale of friendship and support. A multitude of newspaper articles about Nellie and Emily would be published in the years that followed her discovery  in Stark County, across Ohio, and throughout the United States.

Some of the articles about Nellie and Emily in the Repository in the 1980s told how Zimmerman had been moved from nursing home to nursing home after the death of her father, who had served as her caretaker. Finally, she was sent to what was then called Massillon State Hospital in 1957, where for 19 years she lived with dozens of women suffering from dementia and other maladies of the mind. She was hidden because no one at the hospital then was trained to communicate with the deaf-blind.

The stories told how Nellie smiled when Carrie Belle Dixon, a deaf volunteer worker at the hospital, finger-spelled, "Hi" into her palm. "What's happening in the world?" Zimmerman asked with her own finger spelling, following the question with a revelation and a plea. "I'm not crazy. Help get me out of here."

After Dixon tragically died in an accident, a friend of the volunteer, Jim Schneck, arranged for Zimmerman's release from the hospital. Nellie started her life over at the age of 71.

Remembering Stark: Ralph Regula and his seven presidential pals

Stories told of meeting

Some of the articles about Nellie and Emily in The Canton Repository in the 1980s told how Hensel befriended Zimmerman following her release.

"Hi" was the word, a greeting Hensel spelled into the hand of Zimmerman after they met in 1976, that brought them together.

"She kind of laughed and corrected the way I made my 'H,'" Hensel recalled in an interview with the Repository.

Zimmerman moved in with Hensel six months later. Hensel was in her late 20s at the time, surrounded by similar young friends.

"You have to know Nellie to understand how it could have worked," Hensel told this writer for a Monday After article in 1983. "If you can imagine me and five or six other people my age. Then there was a 71-year-old lady who fit in perfectly. In fact, if we wanted to run around, she could run faster than we could.

"I talked to a psychologist, and he seemed to think it was because she couldn't see herself in a mirror and didn't know she was old. She saw young people. We all have these social reminders that we are senior citizens, and we can't do this or that. She wasn't able to pick up on those reminders, so she did those things anyway."

Nellie danced. She wrote poetry. She spoke in public with Hensel  on 240 different occasions  lecturing at meetings of service organizations, prayer groups, church congregations and awards dinners. Many of the awards given out at those events were to honor Zimmerman and Hensel.

Nellie and Emily share lives

The two would share an apartment and Hensel's support helped Zimmerman to study at Malone College, the first deaf and blind student to attend the school. Zimmerman worked as a life skills instructor for deaf and deaf-blind boys at the New Life Group Home in Massillon. She also helped out at Apple Creek State Institute when Hensel worked there.

"Children I couldn't even approach came up to her and sat on her lap," Hensel once observed.

The two women helped each other while they lived together, such as on the morning Nellie cast her first vote.

"I don't know if it was a protest over the fact that there were no Braille ballots or what, but she went and voted, Hensel recalled of the 1978 event. "She couldn't read of course, so I read the ballot and fingerspelled to her. We went through a 16-page ballot that way. We tied up a voting machine for more than an hour."

Hensel and Zimmerman remained close, and Hensel's eventual marriage separated them only slightly.

"When I moved in with my husband, she kept a five-room apartment below us, by herself, for six months," Hensel once noted. "She kept the bottom half neater than I kept the top."

Eventually, however, Zimmerman left the couple and moved to the Columbus Colony, where she found love.

"Shortly after she moved down there, she wrote a letter and it seemed she sounded unhappy, so I went down," Hensel told the Repository in 1983. "When I got there, I saw her walking down the hall with this deaf and blind gentleman."

Nellie had a boyfriend.

A book published more than two decades ago, "Walking Free: The Nellie Zimmerman Story," tells of her discovery and release from Massillon State Hospital, and of her relationship with friend and supporter Emily (Street) Hensel.

Nellie and Emily pass

When Zimmerman moved to Columbus, it was Hensel who continued to regularly visit her, and to keep such newspapers as the Repository updated on Nellie's life.

Upon Zimmerman's death in 1995, Hensel arranged for a memorial service, and for her burial in Navarre, where Hensel lived.

Hensel had helped raise $1,300 for Nellie's burial expenses. In the end, her body was cremated and her ashes buried in a plot donated by the Israel Stuck Estate. The money that had been raised was designated to be used for other expenses, such as flowers for her grave.

"She ought to have flowers for a long time," Hensel said at the time of the service.

It was at that service that a longtime project, a book about Nellie, was revitalized. "Walking Free: The Nellie Zimmerman Story," was published in 2001. It's authors, Rosezelle Boggs-Qualls and Dr. Daryl G. Greene, were appropriate. Greene was the vision-impaired minister who agreed to Hensel's request to hold the memorial service at St. Paul United Methodist Church, and Boggs-Qualls was a hearing-impaired member of the congregation that Greene had asked to attend the service.

Hensel herself would pass in November 2023. Her obituary in the Repository noted that she was a retired teacher and nurse who took care of many elderly and infirmed.

Information offered online by Heitger Funeral Home specifically noted that "she took care of and was the interpreter for Nellie Zimmerman."

"She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Hensel, with whom she spent 43 loving years," the obit said. "Emily spent her life fighting for the rights of the disabled and served on the Governor's Council for People with Disabilities."

Hensel once paid tribute to Zimmerman.

"I consider her to be Stark County's Helen Keller," Hensel told the Repository at the time of Zimmerman's death in October 1994.

And, in this month set aside for the consideration of women's history, Hensel and her accomplishments should be viewed in tandem with Zimmerman's  and herself no less than Nellie's dear and supportive friend.

Reach Gary at gary.brown.rep@gmail.com. On Twitter: @gbrownREP.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Deaf, blind Stark County woman, beloved caregiver fight for good life
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday it was totally inappropriate for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to call for a new government in the country amid its ongoing war with Hamas.

I think what he said is totally inappropriate, Netanyahu told CNNs State of the Union. Its inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there. Thats something the Israeli public does on its own.

I think the only government that we should be working on to bring down now is the terrorist tyranny in Gaza, the Hamas tyranny that murdered over 1,000 Israelis, including some dozens of Americans, and is holding Americans and Israelis hostage, he added. Thats what we should be focused on.

Schumer stunned the Israelis last week when he called on the country to make significant course corrections in Gaza as the death toll following Hamas Oct. 7 attack mounts. In a lengthy speech on the Senate floor, the lawmaker said he believed Netanyahu had lost his way and was allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel.

The world has changed  radically  since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past, Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the country, said.

What he said is totally inappropriate.@IsraeliPM Benjamin Netanyahu responds to @SenSchumer criticizing him as an obstacle to peace in Gaza and calling for new elections in Israel when the war winds down. pic.twitter.com/lW6PpD9yqX  State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) March 17, 2024

His comments come as the death toll in Gaza has reportedly topped more than 30,000, including many women and children. The Biden administration has grown increasingly frustrated with Netanyahus government as it seeks to negotiate a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, and Democrats have amped up the pressure on the White House to see something done soon to protect civilian lives and increase the flow of aid into the region.

Ceasefire talks were expected to restart on Sunday in Qatar after mediators had hoped to secure a deal before the start of Ramadan earlier this month. Hamas has so far refused any agreement that wouldnt lead to a permanent halt in fighting, but Israel has rejected those demands. The group still holds more than 100 Israeli hostages and it is expected that a deal would induce a staggered release of some being held.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) praised her colleague in her own remarks on Sunday, telling CNNs Dana Bash that his recent speech was an act of courage and an act of love for Israel.

I wish the Prime Minister would read the whole speech because he speaks with great vehemence about the need to defeat Hamas, Pelosi said on Sunday. The issue of food in Gaza is a very big one. And either the prime minister, Netanyahu, is unaware or ill-informed.

Schumer also laid blame on Hamas for the ongoing war in the region last week, saying the group had sacrificed civilian safety and used Palestinians as human shields.

Related...
The Scoop

A fact-checking outlet is trying to teach artificial intelligence not to unwittingly spread fake pictures, videos, and other hoaxes about Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the leadup to the 2024 election.

In an announcement first shared with Semafor, NewsGuard said this month it is rolling out a new line of services aimed at pushing back against election-related AI-generated false information, images, video, and audio. The service will attempt to ensure that foreign governments, political actors, and internet trolls cannot use AI tech to spread false information that could influence the outcome of global elections this year.

The malign actors have really begun to perfect the art of abusing not only the open internet, but also AI, NewsGuard CEO Gordon Crovitz told Semafor. Were now living in an AI enhanced internet, right? And the malign actors are producing more content, more cheaply, more targeted, and more divisive and more persuasive.

Know More

Launched in 2018, NewsGuard employs dozens of journalists who have rated over 30,000 news sources according to a series of criteria correlated with journalistic standards, including whetherr the outlets correct their errors or separate news from opinion. Over the last several years, the organization has shifted its focus toward halting the spread of misinformation by AI. It has announced partnerships with tech companies including Microsoft, which licensed NewsGuards products to help train the new Bing, a search engine powered by the same software as ChatGPT.

The organization said it was increasing its election misinformation fingerprinting, collecting a continuously updating feed of misinformation designed to help AI models detect and avoid inadvertently sharing false information, and helping those models detect prompts and responses that might convey the misinformation.

As part of the push, Newsguard said it is ramping up its risk-testing and red-teaming efforts, using the knowledge of tactics and motivations of malicious actors to ensure that AI text, image, video, and audio generators cant be prompted to circumvent guardrails and exploit AI systems aimed at preventing misinformation. There are even more basic bits of information that NewsGuard wants to make sure that machines understand: for example, the company is trying to incorporate dates and times of elections from official government websites into its models, in order to ensure that voters are given correct information on specifics like polling locations.

Earlier this year, the organization announced the creation of its 2024 Elections Misinformation Tracking Center, which tracks myths and falsehoods spreading online.

The View From the Right

Fact-checking operations like NewsGuard have angered conservatives, who complain that the group unfairly rates their sites as less than reliable. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the conservative media organizations the Daily Wire and the Federalist filed lawsuits in December against the State Department saying that by paying a $25,000 licensing fee to NewsGuard, it was funding tech that censored right-leaning news outlets.

NewsGuard said in a statement shared with Reuters that its work for the State Departments Global Engagement Center was a miniscule part of its business, and was limited to tracking false claims made in state-sponsored media outlets in Russia, China, and Venezuela.

Notable

NOTABLE

Over the last year, NewsGuard has been sounding the alarm that AI has allowed for the proliferation of voluminous false and highly misleading news created by agenda-driven actors. An investigation found that from May to December of last year, it saw a 1000% increase in mimicking fake articles about elections.

A report out late last month from the new data-heavy news nonprofit Proof found language models like ChatGPT frequently spit out false or misleading answers to questions about elections. They struggled most with granular questions about how and when to vote; as the authors noted, specificity is the enemy of accuracy. (Or as one expert put it, when a model gave him a list of fake polling address locations: This is hot garbage.)
ChatGPT logo displayed on a laptop screen and OpenAI logo displayed on a phone screen are seen in this illustration photo taken in Tunis, Tunisia. (Photo by Hasan Mrad/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Credit - UCG/Universal Images Group via G

For centuries it was biology that made humans sick. Today, it is often stress.

So argues Dr Gabor Mate about the unrecognized toll that normal modern life has on your mental and physical health. Dr. Mate's research, which struck a chord in 2023, invites reflection on the roll out of generative AI into daily life in 2024.

As half of British teens report feeling addicted to social media, and as the U.S. surgeon general offers a rare caution against its health risks, the infusion of generative AI into social media appears to threaten our basic hygiene, meaning the conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease.

Dr Mate and AI may seem like unlikely bedfellows. AI attends (purportedly) to the statistical dynamics of the mind. Dr Mate, in contrast, diagnoses interplay between human minds and bodies. Comparing the two lends perspective on our global polycrisis and the stress load that AI could help make into a new normal.

AI companies raised $27bn in 2023; a tidy sum they will now need to recoup. In 2024, 49% of the global population will go to the polls; a lump-in-the-throat test for generative AI, persuasive technology, and democracy. There is plenty of room here for stress, but also for relief. As technophiles trial human-computer interactions for profit and power, I am called by Dr Mate and other observers (like Tricia Hersey and Ivan Illich) to consider a relevant lesson from the history of medicine.

The medical profession has long struggled with a phenomenon called iatrogenesis. It puts into words a recurring dilemma: what to do when attempts to solve a problem only make it worse? Medical treatments, for instance, can often make us more sick. The medical establishment has become a major threat to health, argued Illich in a famous polemic from 1974.

A wealth of research shows that AI is, in many ways, iatrogenic: it deepens misogyny, racism, financial fraud and the climate crisis. One additionalyet overlookedrisk, I argue, is poor hygiene.

How much digital is enough?

Americans now spend eight hours a day consuming digital media, which is longer than they sleep. As with the presence of sugar in foods, we face something of a collective addiction to technological gratification.

Digital tools have become iatrogenic: they harm us as we "use" them to try and improve our lives. Withdrawal takes many forms, both individual (e.g., a digital Sabbath, deleting a dating app) and collective (e.g. employees refusing work emails after 6pm, bubbling tech protest, a no laptops cafe).

Generative AI amplifies the siren song of digital media, luring us to converse with a famous avatar or digital girlfriend, snap a photo of every meal to calculate our calorie count, or decide, against all odds, where to park. The list of indulgences goes on. Big Tech salivates over the prospect of a personalized AI assistant that knows just how to reach you and reach you and reach you This is Silicon Valleys goal for 2024.

More than Luddism

To my eye, each new AI product and service amounts to a decision about daily hygiene. What does "healthy" AI mean to you? What does it mean for your children or extended family? I cannot help but wonder what the aggregate of these individual decisions will bring out as new social norms in the 2020s and beyond. If becoming a vegetarian signals a want to limit ones meat consumption (a norm acknowledged around the globe) what is the word for limiting ones exposure to AI?

It is not, I wager, Luddism. That noble effort speaks with force to the political economy of our digital dilemma but it does not, Id argue, speak as readily to the kitchen-table pains of our weary bodies, as Dr Mate does. If the latter movement had a name, I dont think it would be Luddism. That group responded to their historical moment as we must respond to ours.

AI Ethics, sadly, is not it either. Binding AI to Ethics rhetorically makes it difficult to imagine them separately. This limits usarbitrarilyto futures that necessitate AI. What then becomes of the countless scenarios in which AI is unnecessary or vastly inferior (due to its iatrogenic qualities) to another toolset?

A new hope

That leads us back to you and your daily life with AI. In a previous industrial revolution, it was regular people in search of time together that gave us beloved cultural institutions like the weekend. Social norms bubbled up from below, not above. What does this mean for AI?

In eighteenth century Paris, the historian Lorraine Daston argues, government-led attempts to dictate urban hygiene norms tended to fizzle out. Police pushed for citizens to sweep their steps by 7am each day. Citizens refused.

At stake in these seemingly trivial stand-offs was an entire vision of the future, Daston writes. Competition over hygiene among major European cities created a "First version of modernity, a modernity that had as yet very little to do with science and technology and everything to do with orderliness, predictability, and, yes, rules."

Our gift to future generations, then, may be a diffuse (at first) yet discernible (eventually) set of rules, or etiquette, for where AI is wanted and, more importantly, where it is not. This regulatory trend will not need to be led by bureaucrats in Washington, Brussels or Beijing. It will be led by regular people.

It may be children who gain protections first. In labor history, Britains Ten Hours Movement countered early industrial capitalism by winning rights for children (1833) then women (1844) then men (1847). Today, debate over the Kids Online Safety Act eyes a similar path: why not protect adults too?

As with the shifting perception of oil and cigarettes over the past fifty years, the future of AI might surprise inhabitants of our present day. In response to burnout, digital fatigue, algorithmic-racism, -sexism, -ableism, -authoritarianism, and a global mental health crisis, is the prospect of an unprecedented coalition against digital maximalists and their presumptions of AI-first.

This counter movement takes a million forms: knobs and dialsnot screensin cars, keeping smart devices off WiFi, dating offline (rather than through Tinder), prototype AI blockers, doomscroll limits. In the UK, mobile phones have just been banned from schools. In the not so distant future, one can imagine a "Home" mode on your phone, like "Airplane" mode, that only allows messages from friends and family, not work.

I call this design ethos decomputerization. The word does not yet appear in the Oxford English Dictionary. When input into Gmail or Microsoft Word, it is underlined in red.

Even if it is taboo to some, decomputerization is in the air. "I needed to take a radical approach and remove myself from my relationship with machines in this world," wrote (of all people!) a co-founder of Daft Punk. In Oct, Kendrick Lamar debuted, and sold out, "a smartphone built for minimal usage."

Ecology-first vs digital-first

The final outcome of this contest will be decided by nine planetary boundaries. "Digitization is a climate disaster," warns Ben Tarnoff, "If corporations and governments succeed in making vastly more of our world into data, there will be less of a world left for us to live in."

As the polycrisis deepens, Silicon Valley may find itself outmanned (and/or outvoted) on deciding what the future has in store. New research suggests that by 2030, data centers for large-scale AI could draw up to 21% of the world's electricity supply. Already today, with use around 1-3%, contests over water-usage fester in Taipei and Monterrey, with families and farmers resisting AIs thirsty supply chain.

The fight between digital-first and ecology-first will cast new light on the power of bottom-up versus top-down regulation of AI. For you and I, daily hygiene decisions about surveillance at work, phone use at home, dating norms, or media and election standards will shape where automation is durably welcome and where it is not.

In other words, the shape of AIs integration into our world may trace the limits of our finite mental and physical health. This connection lends Dr. Mates insights about our emotions, bodies, and daily stresses greater priority than one might assume.

Perhaps the future will not be quite so digital (and unhygienic) after all.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE)  Authorities are investigating a deputy-involved shooting on Sunday. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office (BCSO) said it happened near Vassar Dr and Pan America FWY NE.

BCSO said no deputies were injured, and the Multi-Agency Task Force is looking into the incident.

If more information is revealed, it will be added to this article.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
ST. LOUIS  Those who live in St. Louis County will be able to cast an absentee ballot without providing an excuse beginning March 19 for the general municipal election next month.

Residents who would like to vote before April 2 can do so starting Tuesday at the St. Louis County Board of Elections, located at 725 Northwest Plaza Drive in St. Ann. Voters may visit between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Other satellite voting locations will open March 2129 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Family of missing Mizzou student Riley Strain speaks as search continues

Satellite locations are located at:

North County Recreation Complex (2577 Redman Rd., St. Louis, MO)

UMSL Millenium Student Center (17 Arnold Grobman Dr., St. Louis, MO)

Mid County Branch Library (7821 Maryland Ave., Clayton, MO)

Daniel Boone Branch Library (300 Clarkson Rd., Ellisville, MO)

Grand Glaize Branch Library (1010 Meramec Station Rd., Ballwin, MO)

Grants View Branch Library (9700 Musick Rd. St. Louis, MO)

For those who plan to complete absentee voting through the mail, you must submit an application before March 20 at 5 p.m. To complete an application, click here.

To learn about what to expect on the April 2 ballot, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
The self-described centrist group No Labels has been rejected, again, by a potential candidate for its bipartisan presidential ticket.

No Labels voted two weeks ago to plow ahead with its so-called unity ticket, a move that will likely unleash chaos on the 2024 election. The third-party movement has not named its presidential and vice presidential nominees, who are meant to represent both parties, but No Labels was reportedly considering former Georgia Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan.

But Duncan, a Republican, poured cold water on that idea Monday. After careful deliberation, I have withdrawn my name from consideration for the No Labels presidential ticket, he said in a statement. In addition to my private sector career and earning a living for my family of five, I am focused on healing and improving the Republican Party with a GOP 2.0 so we can elect more common-sense conservative candidates in the future.

Its unclear who will actually run on a No Labels ticket. In fact, No Labels itself doesnt even know who could run on its ticket. The group, which has repeatedly been accused of running a proDonald Trump spoiler campaign, has promised only to run a ticket if the group believed it had a candidate that could actually win.

During the vote two weeks ago, members praised each other for being courageous and patriotic. But the fact remains that all of No Labels reportedly preferred candidates have either been generally unpopular or, like Duncan, have said noand, in some cases, both.

Prior to Duncan, the group reportedly courted Nikki Haley, Joe Manchin, and former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. Haley dropped out of the Republican presidential primary earlier this month after a terrible performance, while Manchin is one of the most unpopular senators nationwide. Both turned down No Labels before a formal offer could be made.

Hogan, who left office with record-high approval ratings, had weighed a presidential run on a No Labels ticket. But he ultimately decided to run for Maryland senator instead.

Duncan was unlikely to garner nationwide support. While he was one of the few Republican leaders willing to state that the 2020 election hadnt been rigged and he defended Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger against Trumps conspiracy attacks, Duncan also holds several deeply conservative stances that would have made him unpopular with the majority of the country.

He opposed the Affordable Care Act and expanding Medicaid. Duncan is also staunchly anti-abortion, backing multiple restrictions on abortion access in Georgia and describing Planned Parenthood as a malicious organization during his 2018 campaign.

Its starting to become normal for No Labels, a purportedly nonpartisan group, to court right-wing or right-leaning connections such as Duncan. The organization has accepted donations from a man with close financial ties to Jared Kushner, as well as Nazi memorabiliacollector Harlan Crow.

One of the groups members is former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, who oversaw a contentious, highly partisan, and decidedly far-right four years. He defended voter ID laws, rejected the Obamacare expansion of Medicaid, and backed a bill that banned people from using the bathroom that matched their gender identity.
Leer en espanol

Hope Gomez heard stories growing up about her Mexican American grandmother getting hit for speaking Spanish at school, a punishment dispensed by American teachers to force Latino students to speak only English.

But for as long as she can remember, Gomez has experienced the opposite. She's been shamed, ridiculed and humiliated by fellow Latinos for not speaking Spanish, harsh treatment that Gomez says makes her feel "like I'm not Latino enough."

The insults, she said, are especially painful considering her family traces its Mexican roots back 10 generations to when the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 1500s. The discrimination her grandmother faced is one of the main reasons the 22-year-old graduate student from Phoenix was raised only speaking English.

Mexican Americans like Gomez, who grew up in the U.S. more comfortable speaking English than Spanish, used to be scorned as "pochos," more American than Mexican. But a new phrase has emerged for Latinos who have lost the language of their ancestors: "No Sabo Kids."

A portrait of Hope Gomez on Oct. 25, 2023, outside ASU's Lattie Coor Hall in Tempe.

The No Sabo Kid phrase is applied not just to Mexican Americans but also generally to Latinos who do not speak Spanish. It was coined from the misconjugation of the Spanish verb "saber," which means "to know" in English.

You don't say "No sabo" to say "I don't know" in Spanish, as one of the hundreds of "No Sabo Kids" videos on TikTok explains. You say, "No se" because "saber" is an irregular verb. Kind of like you wouldn't say "I runned" or "I sleeped" in English. You'd say, "I ran" or "I slept."

So calling someone a No Sabo Kid is making fun of the way they speak Spanish, the video says.

Calling someone a No Sabo Kid may have started as an insult. But the term is being embraced as a badge of pride by a new generation of young Americans to show they are proud to be Latino  even if they don't speak Spanish.

To demonstrate their pride, Latinos who don't speak Spanish can now find hundreds of No Sabo Kids-branded merchandise on Amazon, hoodies on Etsy, and T-shirts on websites such as Hija de tu Madre.

By embracing the No Sabo Kid identifier, young Latinos who grew up as millennials or part of Gen Z have taken an insult and turned it around, said Stella Rouse, a political science professor and director of Arizona State University's Hispanic Research Center. They also have utilized social media and technology to create a movement, Rouse said.

"What I see of that movement is Latino kids showing that we are going to define for us what it means to be Latino, and we are not going to let others put a label on us and say, if you don't speak Spanish you are not Latino enough," Rouse said.

At the same time, the No Sabo Kids movement acknowledges the history of Latinos in the U.S. being forced to speak only English, Rouse said. Taking pride in being a No Sabo Kid allows Latinos also to make the statement that it's not always their fault they don't speak Spanish.

"I think there are multiple messages in there, and they are speaking to multiple audiences," Rouse said.

No Sabo Kids represent a growing demographic at a time when the Latino population in the U.S. is soaring and becoming increasingly diverse. The growth is driven not only by immigration but by swelling numbers of U.S.-born-and-raised Latinos who are technologically savvy and politically connected, Rouse said.

"I would argue this is a political, social and even economic movement," Rouse said. "This is a growing group that has the potential to be very influential."

Politicians need to pay attention to the nuances within the Latino community, especially as the 2024 election year heats up and Latino voters play a growing role in the outcomes in tight races.

Every year, 1.4 million additional Latinos become eligible to vote, according to the Pew Research Center. More than 36 million Latinos are eligible to vote this year, up from 32.3 million four years ago, according to Pew. The increase in Latino voters represents 50% of the total growth in eligible voters during that period, according to Pew.

The No Sabo Kids movement underscores that the Latino population in the U.S. is increasingly heterogeneous with growing numbers of third- and fourth-generation Latinos who predominantly speak English, Rouse said. They are more likely to be politically active and have different policy preferences than their parents or grandparents, Rouse noted.

U.S. Latinos attacked from all sides over speaking Spanish

Latinos in the U.S. are often attacked from both sides when it comes to speaking Spanish, said Anaiis Ballesteros, senior director of communications for ALL in Education, a Phoenix-based nonprofit that advocates for Latino students.

They are shamed for speaking Spanish by non-Latinos and shamed for not speaking Spanish by Latinos. She grew up speaking English and Spanish on the border between Douglas, Arizona, and Agua Prieta, Sonora.

On one hand, Spanish-speaking parents often don't want their children to learn Spanish out of fear they will face discrimination in America, where assimilation and speaking only English has long been the norm, she said.

"Parents don't want their kids to suffer the bullying or shaming of not speaking English or having the (Spanish) accent when they speak English," Ballesteros said. "So they choose not to even teach them their native language."

On the other hand, Latinos who only speak English often are shamed for not speaking Spanish by other Latinos, she said. She believes that the shaming is rooted in concerns among some Latinos that they need to actively hold onto the Spanish language because of ongoing attempts to take it away, she said.

She pointed out the controversy over dual language programs in Arizona. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has threatened to withhold education funding from schools and gone to court to force monolingual Spanish-speaking students in Arizona to only speak English at school by barring them from participating in dual language programs, where students learn in English and Spanish.

That seems like a double standard, Ballesteros said.

"Then you see all these dual language schools pop up in very affluent areas where there are white families sending their kids to learn Spanish, and they are applauded for doing it," Ballesteros said.

'I remember too': Meet the group resurrecting lost history of Phoenix's bulldozed barrios

'I can't change the way someone views me'

A September 2023 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 85% of Latinos feel it's important for future generations of Latinos to speak Spanish. At the same time, nearly as many Latinos, 78%, said it's not necessary to speak Spanish to be considered Latino, the survey found.

The survey illustrates a tension about the views of Latinos in regard to the Spanish language, said Mark Hugo Lopez, the Pew Research Center's director of race and ethnicity research.

About half of U.S. Latinos said they had felt shamed for not speaking Spanish, the survey found.

One of those is Noah Patch, 20, a third-year business student at ASU.

Patch's mother is Mexican American, and his father is Native American. He grew up speaking mostly English and sometimes got shamed for not speaking Spanish well.

In college, he recalled, he met Latino students speaking Spanish at a friend's apartment. Patch joined in but couldn't follow the whole conversation, so he said, "I didn't catch what you said."

The other students turned and muttered something to each other in Spanish.

"They were clearly saying something directed toward me, but in Spanish, of course. They kind of chuckled and laughed a little bit," Patch said.

A portrait of Noah Patch on March 6, 2024, at ASU's W.P. Carey School of Business in Tempe.

The incident left Patch feeling less accepted by the Spanish-fluent Latinos at the party, who were clearly looking down at him, he said.

"They were like, 'He's cool, but he's not truly one of us,'" Patch said.

After that incident, Patch spent a semester studying in Spain, where his Spanish improved. He speaks Spanish every chance he gets and no longer lets people who try to shame him bother him.

"At the end of the day, it is what it is," Patch said. "I can't change the way someone views me, whether I speak Spanish or not."

She found herself through art: Now, this Phoenix poet uses it to strengthen her community

From middle school to college, regularly questioned about Spanish

Gomez, the Phoenix woman whose Mexican roots go back 10 generations, can recall many examples of being shamed for not speaking Spanish.

She attended middle school in Laveen, a predominantly Latino neighborhood of Phoenix. Most of her classmates, she said, were bilingual.

"They would always ask me, 'How do you not know Spanish? Why don't you know Spanish?'" Gomez said. This happened "all the time, like 24/7."

After high school, Gomez tried to join a student club called "Latinos on the Rise" in her first year at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania. She attended one meeting and never went back.

"I felt so embarrassed because most of the meeting they were speaking Spanish," Gomez said.

At the same school, she tried to make a connection with a Mexican American professor, one of the only Latinas teaching outside the Spanish department at Allegheny, which is located in a small town in western Pennsylvania.

The professor tried to speak to Gomez in Spanish, then asked, "Why don't you speak Spanish?" But not in a curious way, Gomez said.

"It was more like demeaning," Gomez said.

Gomez has since embraced being a No Sabo Kid.

The turnaround came during the 2022 general election. A Republican Latina won a congressional seat in a South Texas district that a Democrat had held by winning over Latino voters, who traditionally lean left.

Gomez said she sees a connection between No Sabo Kids like herself and the role Latinos who don't speak Spanish are playing in the evolving Latino political landscape in the U.S. That connection prompted her to pursue a Ph.D. in political science at ASU to study Latino partisanship and voting behavior. She's completing the first year of the doctoral program and plans to become a professor or political consultant after graduation.

"Just because I don't speak Spanish, I shouldn't limit myself and engage in the Latino community," Gomez said.

'A language that really isn't mine'

Evie Reyes-Aguirre, a 48-year Phoenix resident who grew up in Los Angeles, also recalls being shamed by other Latinos for not speaking Spanish growing up.

One incident, when she was six or seven, jumped to mind. During a family trip to El Paso, a woman noticed her black hair and Mexican features and assumed she spoke Spanish. When Reyes-Aguirre responded in English, the woman "gave me the dirtiest look," she said.

"'You should be ashamed of yourself for not speaking Spanish,'" Reyes-Aguirre recalled the woman telling her. "I remember feeling scared. I was a kid, right, and here was this adult chastising me for not speaking Spanish."

Reyes-Aguirre later learned Spanish as an adult in her 20s. While working at the Los Angeles Housing Department, she assisted Spanish-speaking tenants.

But the more she learned about her family's Indigenous roots in Mexico, Reyes-Aguirre said, she realized Latinos shouldn't be shamed for not speaking Spanish or English.

"I started to recognize that Spanish is just another colonial language, just like English," said Reyes-Aguirre, the program coordinator at Tonatierra, a nonprofit that promotes Mexican ties to Indigenous cultures and languages. "It really kind of shifted how I would feel guilty or allow people to shame me for not speaking a language that really isn't mine."

For the past 20 years, Reyes-Aguirre has been learning a third language: Nahuatl, the Indigenous language of the Aztecs.

"No Sabo Kid" in Nahuatl?

"Ahmonicmati."

Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What is a 'No Sabo Kid' and why politicians should pay attention
North Korea fired at least three short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Monday morning. The launches coincided with the arrival of Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, in Seoul for a meeting of senior government officials from 30 nations.

The first launch was detected at 7:44 am local time and the missiles were tracked for a distance of around 185 miles before coming down in the Sea of Japan.

Military officials in South Korea said the weapons appeared to have trajectories consistent with KN-24 ballistic missiles, which have a range of up to 250 miles and can carry a warhead of 1,100lbs.

In a statement, the South Korean joint chiefs of staff said: We strongly condemn North Koreas latest missile launch, which is a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

A woman walks past a television showing a broadcast with file footage of a missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on Monday - Anthony Wallace/AFP

Japan was also quick to criticise the launches, with Fumio Kishida, the prime minister, telling the National Diet that the tests were acts that threaten the peace and safety of Japan, the region and international society. He added that the launches contravened UN Security Council resolutions that ban Pyongyang from conducting any ballistic missile tests.

The launches were the first since a similar series of tests in mid-February and came shortly after Mr Blinken arrived in the South Korean capital to attend the Summit for Democracy.

A US State Department official told reporters in Washington the launches were in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The official called on Pyongyang to engage in dialogue, adding, Our commitments to the defence of the Republic of Korea and Japan remain ironclad.

South Korea and the US completed the 11-day Freedom Shield military exercises on Thursday, with the manoeuvres including live-fire drills against mobile missile launchers and artillery emplacements. Independently, South Korean maritime and air units have been conducting exercises to counter North Korean aggression close to islands off the west coast of the peninsula.

Unverified photographs from North Korean media showed military practising scaling walls, parachuting and firing weapons - KCNA

Pyongyang has again described the joint US-South Korea exercises as rehearsals for an invasion of the North and has been ramping up its military preparedness. Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, oversaw exercises involving paratroopers on Friday, state-run media reported, after attending live-fire artillery drills and test-driving a new tank earlier in the week.

The Korea Central News Agency added that Mr Kim instructed the units to be ready for surprise wartime circumstances, repeating recent calls for the nation to be fully prepared for a war with its southern neighbour.

Yoon Suk Yeol, the South Korean president, has expanded security cooperation with the US and Japan and taken a far more resolute line toward Pyongyang than his predecessor, said Leif-Eric Easley, Professor of International Studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. Mr Kim, however, has not been cowed and has arguably been emboldened by a burgeoning alliance with Russia.

The Kim regime has taken more aggressive steps, such as missile launches it says are no longer just tests but also combat readiness drills, including for nuclear war, he said.

Strikingly, while South Korea conducted defence training last week alongside international partners, Kim Jong-un personally supervised several military exercises, Mr Easley said. And now, while Seoul hosts a summit of democracies, North Korea fires more missiles.

The Kim regimes one-upmanship aims to show strength to its domestic audience, suggest costs on the Korean Peninsula for Seouls international security cooperation, and warns Washington against increasing pressure on Pyongyang.

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(Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles in a defiant show of force that coincided with a visit to Seoul by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for a Summit for Democracy.

Most Read from Bloomberg

North Korea fired three ballistic missiles Monday toward waters off its east coast that reached a maximum altitude of about 50 kilometers (31 miles) and flew some 350 km to land outside of Japans exclusive economic zone, the Ministry of Defense in Tokyo said. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters about the launch that several short-range ballistic missiles were fired from around 7:44 a.m. from near Pyongyang that flew about 300 km.

The US, South Korea and Japan all condemned North Koreas first ballistic missile test in about two months, calling it a threat to regional security and a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

It is unclear what was in the barrage. North Korea, which often comments on missile launches the following day, has been known to engage in provocations designed to coincide with high-profile political events involving the US, South Korea and Japan.

Pyongyangs propaganda apparatus slammed the ideals advanced by the US ahead of the Summit for Democracy, which was launched under the Biden administration as a way for leaders to show solidarity. North Koreas main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, said US-style democracy is the sinister intention of imperialists to consolidate power around US-led Western forces, in an article over the weekend ahead of the summit.

Kim Jong Un and his official media have been lashing out frequently at the US and South Korea, with the North Korean leader saying the time for peaceful unification is over and striking the concept from the countrys constitution.

Kims regime last conducted a ballistic missile test in mid-January, when it fired off an intermediate-range rocket designed to hit US bases in Asia. The states official media said that projectile was a hypersonic missile, indicating it deployed a reentry vehicle for carrying a nuclear warhead that can change its flight path at high speeds.

Prior to the latest launch, Kim guided military drills that included fire from an artillery unit capable of hitting Seoul, overseeing training that simulated storming a South Korean border guard post and driving the countrys newest tank. These stepped up threats against his neighbor to the south coincided with it holding joint military training with the US.

The US and South Korea concluded their annual Freedom Shield exercises on March 14, which included training on land, sea and in the air against contingencies posed by North Korea. Pyongyang has bristled for decades against joint drills, calling them a prelude to an invasion.

Kim said in February he has the legal right to annihilate South Korea. Kim has also shown no inclination that he wants to return to stalled nuclear disarmament talks and has rolled out a series of new weapons designed to deliver nuclear strikes on the US and its allies in Asia.

This has led to some speculation that Kim has turned the corner on his bellicose outbursts and is readying for battle. US President Joe Biden has warned Kim that it would mean the end of his regime if he tried to launch a nuclear attack.

Kim appears to be transferring massive amounts of weapons to Russia for President Vladimir Putin to use in his war on Ukraine. The arms include artillery shells and ballistic missiles, the US and South Korea have said. Russia is likely providing technology, key materials and commodities to Kim that could help him expand the economy and increase his military strength.

--With assistance from Seyoon Kim, Iain Marlow and Go Onomitsu.

(Updates with comments from governments, details on launch)

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 18. North Korea allegedly launched a ballistic missile on Monday, the Japanese Coast Guard said, Trend reports.

According to the information, the rocket has already fallen. No information is provided about the type of missile.

The missile was reported to have landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

About 30 minutes after the first launch, the Japanese Coast Guard announced another, presumably a ballistic missile launch from the DPRK.
North Korea fires missiles in Sea of Japan days after US military drill with the South

North Korea fired a missile into the Sea of Japan Monday morning, days after the U.S. engaged in what the North regards as provocative military drills with its southern neighbor.

Japan's Defense Ministry said it detected a missile launch by North Korea, and the Japanese coast guard said a suspected North Korean missile landed in the ocean. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff also confirmed a missile launch, but did not give additional details, such as how far the weapon flew.

Later, South Koreas Yonhap News Agency reported that the North had launched several more short-range ballistic missiles from North Hwanghae Province.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in South Korea for meetings during the launches, and a senior State Department official said Blinken "was able to state both publicly and privately our iron clad commitment to the [Republic of Korea's] security in the face of this growing DPRK threat."

"We have assessed these events did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory," U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement. "The United States condemns these launches and calls on [North Korea] to refrain from any further destabilizing acts."

Sunday marked the North's first known missile tests since it carried out cruise missile launches in mid-February.

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During the South Korea-U.S. military drills that ended Thursday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided a series of military training exercises involving tanks, artillery guns and paratroopers. But the North didn't perform any missile tests during its rivals' training.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high in the wake of North Korea's barrage of missile tests since 2022. Many of the tests involved nuclear-capable missiles designed to attack South Korea and the mainland U.S. The U.S. and South Korean forces have responded by expanding their training exercises.

Experts say North Korea likely believes a bigger weapons arsenal would increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the United States. They say North Korea would want to win extensive sanctions relief while maintaining its nuclear weapons.





Original article source: North Korea fires missiles in Sea of Japan days after US military drill with the South
North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles in the East Sea on Monday, South Korea's military said, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul for a democracy summit. Photo by Yonhap

SEOUL, March 17 (UPI) -- North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Monday morning, South Korean defense officials said, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul for a multilateral democracy summit.

The South Korean military detected multiple missiles fired from the Pyongyang area between 7:44 a.m and 8:22 a.m., the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters.

The missiles landed in the East Sea after flying for about 185 miles, the JCS said.

"Our military immediately detected, tracked and monitored the North Korean missile launch and closely shared information with the U.S. and Japan," the message said. "Our military will maintain the ability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation while keeping a close eye on North Korea's activities under a solid South Korea-U.S. joint defense posture."

Japan also announced that it detected the launch, with defense officials saying that three missiles were fired, each traveling more than 200 miles at a maximum altitude of around 30 miles.

The missiles landed in waters outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone, Tokyo's Defense Ministry said.

The launch came after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul earlier in the day for the Summit for Democracy, an initiative started by U.S. President Joe Biden in 2021.

South Korea is hosting the three-day event, which kicks off on Monday and brings together government representatives, NGOs and civil society groups for discussions on fostering democracy and combating authoritarianism.

Blinken is also scheduled to meet with his South Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, later on Monday.

The United States and South Korea wrapped up an 11-day large-scale joint training exercise on Thursday, which Pyongyang condemned as preparation for an invasion.

The ballistic missile launch was the first by North Korea since Jan. 14, when it tested what it said was a new solid-fuel intermediate-range ballistic missile.

Pyongyang has also fired several rounds of cruise missiles since the beginning of the year and has kept up a steady stream of threats and military exercises, including recent visits by leader Kim Jong Un to live-fire artillery drills and tank combat training.
SEOUL, South Korea  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joined troops training on a new tank model and drove one himself, state media reported Thursday, as the countrys rivals South Korea and the U.S. wrapped up their annual military exercises.

Its the third time Kim was reported to have observed military exercises since the start of the 11-day South Korean-U.S. drills, which he views as rehearsals for an invasion. Thats a less provocative option than missile tests. North Korea has intensified launches since 2022 and ramped up belligerent rhetoric this year.

At the tank drills Wednesday, Kim praised the countrys latest tank as the worlds most powerful and told his troops to bolster their fighting spirits and complete preparations for war, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. The other two drills he inspected recently were dedicated to artillery firing and maneuvering exercises.

The tank was first unveiled during a military parade in 2020, and its rolling during Wednesdays drill indicates that its ready for deployment, South Korean experts say.

Photos of the tank released by North Korea show it has a launch tube for missiles  a weapons system the Soviet Union operated in the 1970s.

The new tank could pose a threat to South Korea, said Yang Uk, an analyst at Asan Institute for Policy Studies, but it remains to be seen whether it can be mass produced.

The Norths Defense Ministry last week threatened responsible military activities in reaction to the South Korea-U.S. military drills, which involved a computer-simulated command post training and 48 kinds of field exercises  twice the number conducted last spring. The U.S. and South Korea have been expanding their training exercises in a tit-for-tat response to the Norths weapons testing spree.

Concerns about North Koreas military preparations have deepened since Kim vowed in a speech in January to rewrite the constitution to eliminate the countrys long-standing goal to seek peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula and cement South Korea as its invariable principal enemy. He said the new constitution must specify North Korea would annex and subjugate the South if another war breaks out.

Kims moves signal North Koreas fundamental change on its South Korea policy, beyond just rhetoric, as the Norths previous push for inter-Korean unity had allowed it to make a steadfast call for the removal of U.S. troops in South Korea, a senior South Korean presidential official told a small group of reporters Monday. He requested anonymity, citing the delicate nature of the issue.

Observers say Kim likely wants to use his upgraded weapons arsenal to win U.S. concessions like extensive relief of international sanctions on North Korea. They say North Korea is expected to extend its testing activities and ramp up warlike rhetoric this year as South Korea holds parliamentary elections in April and the U.S. a presidential election in November.

The South Korean-U.S. training is over, but the Norths isnt over yet, Yang said. They wont just stand still ... theyve been talking about war,

Associated Press writer Jiwon Song contributed to this report.
South Korea believes that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) has sent about 7,000 containers of ammunition and other military equipment to Russia since last year.

Source: Shin Won-sik, South Korea's Minister of National Defence; Sky News

Details: Shin Won-sik said the DPRK has sent about 7,000 containers filled with ammunition and other military equipment to Russia since last year.

South Korea's defence minister made the announcement at a press conference several hours after the South Korean military reported that the DPRK had launched short-range ballistic missiles in the country's eastern waters.

Shin Won-sik noted that Pyongyang had likely received over 9,000 containers of aid in exchange for military support.

The minister further stated that North Korea used to rely on ships but is now increasingly using railways for cross-border arms deliveries.

Background:

Shin Won-sik, South Korea's Minister of National Defence, reported that the DPRK's munitions plants are working at full capacity to supply Russia with weapons.

The US has information, confirmed by satellite images, that North Korea has delivered over 1,000 containers of ammunition to Russia.

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North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles tests Monday morning locally as Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul for a democracy summit with several allied leaders.

The launches are the countrys first known missile tests in roughly a month and come days after the end of annual U.S.-South Korean military drills in the region that North Korea has described as proactive.

South Korean officials said in a statement that the countrys military detected several aircraft presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles. They were launched from the Pyongyang area and traveled nearly 200 miles before landing in the East Sea, according to a translation of the statement, which also stated that launches were detected from about 7:44 a.m. to 8:22 a.m. local time.

Japans Defense Ministry similarly said North Korea fired three missiles, two at 7:44 a.m. and one about 37 minutes later, The Associated Press reported.

U.S., South Korean and Japanese officials all said in their respective statements they were collaborating closely with each other to share information and, according to South Korean officials, comprehensively analyze the detailed specifications.

All three condemned the launch.

The U.S. said it has determined there was no immediate threat to personnel.

We are aware of the DPRKs March 17 ballistic missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners. We have assessed these events did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command statement said.

The United States condemns these launches and calls on the DPRK to refrain from any further destabilizing acts, the statement continued.

We strongly condemn North Koreas missile launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean statement read. Our military will maintain the ability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation while keeping a close eye on North Koreas various activities under a solid ROK-US joint defense posture.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida denounced North Koreas repeated ballistic missile tests as acts that threaten the peace and safety of Japan, the region and the international society, at a parliamentary session, according to the AP.

The missile tests come amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has framed the strengthening of the alliance between the U.S., South Korea and Japan as a threat, and has sharpened his rhetoric around what he characterizes as provocative actions by the U.S.

In response to North Koreas barrage of missile tests since 2022, U.S., South Korean and Japanese forces have expanded their joint training exercises and drills to strengthen their defense.

Before the recent launches, North Koreas last missile tests were carried out in mid-February.

Blinken, following the North Korean launches, posted statements reaffirming the U.S.s commitment to democracy and to its South Korean allies.

Thanked Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho for @MOFAkr_engs work on a successful Summit for Democracy. We discussed continued cooperation to deter DPRK aggression and shared concerns about Pyongyangs military support for Russia and increased rhetoric aimed at the ROK, Blinken wrote in a Monday post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Earlier Monday, he posted a photo with the South Korean president, saying they met ahead of the third day of the Summit for Democracy and reiterated our continued resolve in the face of the DPRKs hostile rhetoric and destabilizing activities.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
North West is working on her debut album.

Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, and Kim Kardashians oldest child seems to have inherited her dad's musical talents and will soon make her own mark on the music industry.

The 10-year-old confirmed her first album is on the way in a recent interview at the Rolling Loud California festival in Los Angeles, which featured her dad as one of the headliners.

West chatted with teenage reporter Jazzys World TV at the event and shared a few details about her upcoming project while maintaining an air of mystery.

When Jazzy asked what fans can expect in a video posted to her Instagram, West was tight-lipped.

Its gonna be great, she simply replied.

Jazzy then inquired about the release date, but West said she wasnt sure when the album would arrive.

Are there going to be any kind of collabs with your dad on there? Jazzy asked for her final question.

West sweetly replied, Maybe! We dont know yet!

In the caption, Jazzy gave Wests mom a shoutout for seemingly setting up the rare interview.

Thank you Ms. @kimkardashian for helping out, she wrote, in part.

West first announced her surprise album during a special listening party for Yes upcoming release, Vultures 2, a follow-up to Vultures 1, a collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign.

Read on to learn everything the 10-year-old has revealed about her solo music.

What is North Wests album called?

West took the mic to share some news at her fathers Phoenix, Arizona, listening party on March 10 for his new album Vultures 2, according to Forbes.

Ive been working on an album, she said. The publication reported that the crowd immediately started to applaud and cheer.

West said her debut is titled Elementary School Dropout. The name is seemingly a nod to Yes first album, The College Dropout.

His debut studio album, featuring hits like Slow Jamz, All Falls Down and Jesus Walks, arrived in 2004. The album won him a Grammy for best rap album and made him one of the top rappers in the world.

When will it be released?

West did not provide more information about when her music will be released.

Journalist Jazzys World TV asked West at the Rolling Loud California festival about the release date.

I dont know, West responded.

Has North West performed before?

West made the announcement about her solo music shortly before Yes fans heard her rap with her dad on the Vultures 1 track Talking.

His oldest daughter also made an appearance in the songs music video, which he shared on his Instagram. The clip shows her getting her hair done and rapping next to Ye.

I love it here / We gonna take over the year for another year, West raps. Its your bestie Miss, Miss Westie / Dont tryna test me / Its gonna get messy / Its gonna get messy / Just, just bless me.

West first teased her verse in a TikTok video in December 2023.

Miss miss westie in the houseeeee, she captioned a silly video of her dancing around with a friend.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Ukrainian servicemen released from Russian captivity confirmed to the Office of the Human Rights Commissioner of Ukraine that none of them met with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross during their imprisonment.

Source: The Ukrainian Parliament Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets at a meeting with relatives of persons missing under special circumstances and servicemen of military units stationed in Cherkasy Oblast captured by the Russians

Quote: "During the exchanges, we conduct a survey of those released from captivity and ask if they have seen representatives from the International Committee of the Red Cross. So far, there has been not one positive response," Lubinets stated.

At the meeting, the commissioner also explained to the Ukrainian defenders' relatives that the status of missing does not imply that the person has died. He claims that missing people are frequently held captive, but the International Committee of the Red Cross cannot confirm this.

Meeting with relatives of persons missing under special circumstances and servicemen of military units stationed in Cherkasy Oblast captured by the Russians

Photo: Dmytro Lubients, Ukraines Human Rights Commissioner

Dmytro Lubinets also discussed the work of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, as well as the ICRC's access to Ukrainian soldiers held in Russia or temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Previously: The International Red Cross provided humanitarian aid to Russian forces in Mariupol district.

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Weeks after a 19-year-old college student's disappearance, police in the U.K. announced that officers may have found her body the same day she was last seen, sparking outrage.

Samaria Ayanle, a freshman at the School of Oriental and African Studies University of London, was last captured on the security cameras near campus housing on Feb. 22.

However, the university notified law enforcement that Ayanle was missing on Friday, March 8, prompting an investigation, the Evening Standard reported. Metropolitan Police asked the public to contact them with any information.

Samaria Ayanle, a college student, was last seen on Feb. 22. Police said they believe they found her body. (@haveyouseensamaria/Instagram)

Her friends created an Instagram page called "Have You Seen Samaria?" to raise awareness. They claimed that they contacted the university four days prior but were met with a "standoff attitude" from employees, according to the Daily Mail.

On Wednesday, March 13, police said they believe a body that was recovered from the River Thames last month may be Ayanle. A citizen spotted her body near Putney Bridge at about 8 a.m. the same day she vanished.

"Police checked recent missing persons reports but the body did not match the description of any other persons reported missing around that time," police told the Evening Standard in a statement. "The body was sent to the Coroner to conduct further checks. Meanwhile details were uploaded onto the UK Missing Persons database in the hopes the person might be identified."

According to the BBC, police were able to link the two cases after they watched bodycam footage, but formal identification is underway. Ayanle's death is considered "unexplained" until officials can gather more information from their investigation.

Social media users criticized the university and the police's response and pointed out how long it took to get answers in this case.

"Black people are 4x times more likely to be reported as missing and when they are, their cases are not treated with the same level of care or consideration by authorities," Black Lives Matter UK wrote on X. "The news of Samaria Ayanle's death is a tragic reminder of this. May she rest in peace."

Another person said: "Can't stop and won't stop thinking about Samaria Ayanle tonight. so much more should have been done. Time and time again, it's proven that the lives of women, ESPECIALLY BLACK WOMEN, are treated like they are discardable."

SOAS University of London released a statement offering condolences to Ayanle's loved ones.

"We are deeply saddened to hear that police have discovered a body which is believed to be that of Samaria Ayanle, who was a first-year student at SOAS University of London, studying for a BA in Japanese and the History of Art," the statement said, adding: "We know that this news will be felt by many and we will be doing everything we can to support friends, family and the wider student and staff community."

https://twitter.com/SOAS/status/1767986174860161064

In an update on Thursday, the university responded to the community, saying that the moment they learned about Ayanle, they took action by attempting to contact her and her family and asking for "checks to be made in her halls of residence."

The news of the body's discovery has led to speculation about a serial killer targeting Black people in London.

https://twitter.com/forblackwomenuk/status/1768037923088212171?s=20

https://twitter.com/taikoko_xo/status/1768344524567322853?s=20

Samaria Ayanles Friends Searched for Her for Over a Week Before Police Revealed They Had Her Body All Along; Her Death Stirs Serial Killer Fears
There was nothing free or fair about Vladimir Putins presidential election victory, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on March 18, highlighting the extreme lengths the Kremlin went to to get the result it needed.

Speaking at a press briefing at the White House, Sullivan said the Russian president closed the political space, imprisoned political opponents and some of his political opponents died tragically.

Therefore, there was nothing free or fair about these elections, he added.

Read also: Putin holds rally on Red Square following elections, promises to continue the war

On March 17, Putin won a fifth term as Russian president with a landslide vote share of 87%, in an election in which the result was never really in doubt.

Putin was up against three other contenders who all stood no realistic chance of winning.

Any credible political rivals such as Boris Nadezhdin were prevented from standing or, in the case of Alexei Navalny, imprisoned before dying while in detention.

Sullivan portrayed an air of business as usual, saying: The reality is that President Putin is the president of Russia, and we've had to deal with that reality throughout the war in Ukraine, during other aggressions by Russia, during other moves that are against U.S. national interests that we've seen from this president of the Russian Federation.

And we continued to deal with them, but that reality does not mean that this election was not something that met any benchmark of being free or fair.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians were forced to take part in "elections" at gunpoint  in Crimea, as well as regions annexed in 2022, including parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts.

A few hours before Sullivan spoke, Putin held a rally on the Red Square marking his victory and the illegal ten-year occupation of Crimea.

Putin took the stage in the company of his rivals, Kremlin-friendly lawmakers, Vladislav Davankov, Nikolai Kharitonov and Leonid Slutsky, who ran against Putin in the election.

All three praised Putin and offered their support.

Read also: Putin wins rigged Russian election; Ukrainians in occupied territories vote at gunpoint

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Only Watch wipes the slate clean

Only Watchs founder Luc Pettavino breaks his silence after three months of intensive work to shed light on the associations accounts, as he announced he would last autumn when the most famous charity auction in the watchmaking world was postponed. The audit conducted by the auditor Christian Boisson from the Grant Thornton firm validates the accounts and has been sent to all the partner brands, giving the go-ahead to set a date for the auction this spring 2024 in Geneva.

Luc Pettavino has answered WorldTempuss questions, along with his daughter, Tess Pettavino, Director of lAssociation Monegasque contre les Myopathies (AMM). (See also the following interview).

This week, you sent letters to all the Only Watch brands. What did it say?

This letter explains the set of measures we have taken following the postponement of the auction, as we had informed the brands we would. It has required a great deal of hard work, particularly with regard to the associations audit. This transparent approach concerns not only the association, but also its ecosystem and the projects that have been financed by them, including university programs and fundamental research, but also applied research with the tools we have created, such as the companies SQY Therapeutics et Synthena. Everything has been thoroughly and exhaustively analyzed. We received the results a few days ago in the form of reports, which we have shared with all the brands involved.

What does this audit report conclude?

The auditors report certifies the financial statements for the last three years and states that the financial situation we have presented is true and fair, as well as the fact that it is in accordance with our purpose and the standards which we are subject to. It also certifies that the association's funds are used in accordance with its purpose.

How long did the audit take to complete and what were the main obstacles for the auditors?

It is large international firm with an experienced team. They had to analyze our dual situation for raising funds and the responsibility for their use, up until clinical trials, which is something that is quite unusual. Therefore, they had to analyze the entire process to check that the rules of good conduct, ethics and traceability of funds were respected. Hundreds of pages of documents, statements and supporting evidence have been sent to them since December as part of their certification process, giving rise to discussions between their experts and ourselves, to help them gain a clear understanding of the Association's cash flow and financial position.

Luc Pettavino  Only Watch

How did Christies react?

Throughout the process, Christies remains the same partner that we been able to count upon for years, in other words, adhering to the desire to remain linked to the project, even with a delay in the sale. That said, as with all the partners, Christie's is part of the group that will determine if and when the next auction will be held.

How will the auction be organized?

We are doing everything we can to ensure that the 10th edition takes place in the spring at Palexpo, which has supported us throughout the process. If confirmed, the Only Watch sale could therefore open the week of watch auctions on 10 May 2024.

You must have had to devote a lot of energy to this issue over the last few months. Were the research laboratories able to continue operating normally?

Absolutely, Thanks to the funds that we had already allocated and the reserves that we had specifically set aside to avoid any last minute situations  which puts patients at too great a risk  all the projects that we started have been able to continue. Whats more, in the search for a therapy, which is our main focus, we have reached trial phase 1, is underway to verify the safety profile of the drug profile developed by SQY Therapeutics, a company co-created by the association. This is in itself encouraging, and should soon pave the way for phase 2A, which will focus more on efficacy.

You have been the target of some quite vicious attacks regarding Only Watch, and your family has been victim to some spiteful words. Are you ready to continue fighting?

First of all, on a positive note, we accepted the legitimate comments and sound advice that we received regarding the points that needed to be changed. These include governance, audit, a strategic committee, a scientific council, etc. Basically, as our original family of patients association has become more global in its activities and influence, it became inevitable that the structure that supports it would have to evolve. But we are committed to keeping friendly and direct relationships with all our partners.

As far as the attacks are concerned, we have seen defamatory comments that were false and violent, but we preferred to work hard rather than counter-attack. We preferred to provide clear information about our integrity and the honesty of our commitment and the relevance of our actions. Should there be any further attacks of this kind, our lawyers are ready to respond. Our natural kindness is now coupled with legitimate vigilance.

What have you learned from this ordeal?

In every trial in life, you always have the choice of living it as a victim, and there is a part of it that you cant do otherwise, but there is also an opportunity to learn, to take advantage of the moment to do intensive work that you might have done over a longer period of time. The association has had to speed up the work on its structure, and it has come out of this stronger and ready for the long-term future. On a personal level, it reinforced my empathy and the need to be deeply compassionate with others when you don't know the whole picture of a situation.

Were you ever tempted to give up?

Let's just say that it was one of those moments in my life when the words of someone for whom I have a great deal of admiration and respect, Professor Karim Wahbi, often came to mind: "Sometimes you have to love the world in spite of it.

Are you going to use new colors for the Only Watch 2024 edition?

We have gone from the colors of the rainbow with their taut lines and strong angles to softer, cottony pastel colors, like a sunrise breaking through the mist. After the dazzling splendor of the announcement of the 10th edition in 2023 and this period of struggle, we wanted to bring a dimension of calm to celebrate the 10th edition, but this time in 2024.

The new colours of the 2024 edition of Only Watch  Only Watch

What message would you like to communicate to the watchmaking community?

Over the past two decades we have done what we have said we would do. The AMMs mission, which is entirely focused on the search for therapies, not only remains the same, but is reinforced by its necessity as we reach the crucial and tangible moment of clinical application after long years of research. The weather may not always be sunny, but the road to this goal is magnificent. Everyone can count on our full commitment to continue working on this essential mission, since it involves the lives of others, for present and future generations.
Consequences of a missile attack on Mykolaiv on March 17

The number of people injured in the deadly Russian missile attack on Mykolaiv has risen to nine, the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration reported on March 18.

Initially eight people were reported as injured.

One person was killed in the attack.

Two children are among the injured.

Russians attacked Mykolaiv with two Iskander missiles on March 17. Residential apartment buildings and infrastructure suffered significant damage.

Read also: At least 20 buildings lost their roofs as Mykolaiv hit hard in Russias latest mass missile attack

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Sadiq Khan is set to increase his council tax share by an average of almost 40 for a second year in a row - PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

The number of City Hall and Transport for London (TfL) officials receiving more than 100,000 has almost doubled under Sadiq Khan.

The TaxPayers Alliance found that the Greater London Assembly and its subsidiaries employed 1,146 people who took home six-figure payments across 2022-23  up from 655 in 2018-19  as Mr Khan was accused of turning his office into a gravy train.

Two-thirds (772) of the employees who received more than 100,000 work for TfL, while a further 301 are in the Met Police workforce or Mayors Office for Policing and Crime.

It comes as Mr Khan is set to increase his council tax share by an average of almost 40 for a second year in a row, blaming a lack of government funding.

The Labour Mayor of London received 171,587 in total remuneration across 2022-23, marking an increase of almost 21,000 during the past four years.

Jim Crawford, the chief programme officer at Crossrail, topped the City Hall Rich List drawn up by TaxPayers Alliance at 499,44, of which 306,900 included his salary, fees and allowances.

Howard Smith, the chief operating officer for the Elizabeth Line, was remunerated with the most bonuses and benefits in kind as he received more than 71,000.

Louisa Rolfe, the Assistant Commissioner of the Met, was among four members of staff who received more than 250,000.

One big gravy train

Susan Hall, the Tory candidate for the London mayoralty who hopes to oust Mr Khan in May, said: Under Sadiq Khan, City Hall has turned into one big gravy train, with hundreds of staff receiving salaries greater than the top four per cent of earners in the country.

Many of the staff directly responsible for bringing in the Ulez expansion are earning over 100,000, paid for by the poorest Londoners through his 12.50 daily tax.

Sadiq Khan wont listen to Londoners, but I am listening. Under my mayoralty, City Hall will be leaner and focused on serving Londoners, not wasting money or taxing the poorest through the Ulez expansion.

Mrs Hall has vowed a wider crackdown on waste that would also see her remove floating stops, which she called a virtue-signalling waste of money.

Elliot Keck, the head of campaigns at the TaxPayers Alliance, said Mr Khans administration was now bursting at the seams with the growing number of officials bringing in big bucks.

He said: From transport to police and the Mayors Office, the number of fat cats has surged, all paid for by Londoners who have seen their council tax bills balloon.

Sadiq Khan should give taxpayers a break and keep a lid on these senior salaries, particularly when services have been so poorly managed.

Mr Khan bowed to rail unions in January as he offered them a bumper pay deal to prevent London Underground strikes in an intervention that appeared to catch TfL by surprise.

Misplaced priorities

A recent report by the Conservatives accused Mr Khan of wasting 123 million of taxpayer cash on misplaced priorities during his eight years in City Hall, pointing to examples including a 10 million training course to determine the colour of police officers.

Amy Lame, Mr Khans Night Czar, is on a salary of 117,000 and came under fire earlier this month for claiming that she had helped the capital thrive as a 24-hour city despite growing criticisms of Londons nightlife.

A spokesman for Mr Khan said: As Mayor of one of the largest cities in the world, Sadiq makes no apology for offering competitive salaries to attract the experienced staff needed to help him deliver on the issues that matter most to Londoners.

The Mayor wants to ensure Londons public transport system and reformed police service are the very best in the world, and this means attracting the very best talent and expertise.

Sources close to Mr Khan insisted he was standing up for London and accused the Government of refusing to adequately fund public services, claiming that the Mayor had no viable alternative to increasing council tax.

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NV announces the creation of an Advisory Council (AC) to help media formulate a long-term strategy and monitor adherence to high journalistic standards.

NV announces the creation of an Advisory Council (AC) to help media formulate a long-term strategy and monitor adherence to high journalistic standards.

The Council will be composed of five foreigners with unquestionable reputation and extensive professional experience in media business, journalism, public service, and diplomatic service. The Council will be independent of NVs editor-in-chief, NVs director and the companys ultimate beneficial owner.

One of the tasks of the Council will be to ensure the editorial independence of NV and to respond effectively to possible controversial or conflict situations both within the company and externally.

The Council will meet at least once a year, and its members will be appointed for a three-year long term. During the meetings, the editor-in-chief of NV will report to the Board on the current and future directions of the companys development, compliance with professional standards by the NV editorial staff, and the situation with freedom of speech in Ukraine.

NV strives to use the best international experience, said Vitaliy Sych, editor-in-chief of NV.

Creation of such Council will help us ensure the independence of the editorial board in the future and explore new directions of the companys development, taking into account the experience of more developed markets.

Financial independence is also an integral part of editorial independence, Sych added, so NV is not only seeking to increase the companys revenue on existing platforms but also to develop new monetization tools.

One of the Council members, Thomas Bella, was involved in creation of one of the most popular media outlets in Slovakia, which has become a model for many media outlets in Europe seeking to get rid of total dependence on advertising for their revenues. His media outlet already has 80 thousand subscribers in a country of 5 million people. He also helped NV to introduce paywall on the site and develop subscription revenue, said the NV editor-in-chief.

During two years of close cooperation with a dozen editors from Die Zeit, NV learned how his German colleagues work with social media and young audiences in Germany. Another member of the Council, Grzegorz Piechota, helped create one of the most powerful media holdings in Europe, the Polish Agora, which publishes Gazeta Wyborcza. Piechota left the company as vice president of the Agora Foundation before going on to study media innovation as a research associate at Harvard and Oxford Universities.

People, whom we invited to the Council we have known personally for a long time and who are leading experts in their respective countries, added editor-in-chief of NV.

I am sure that their expertise will help us.

Newly formed NV AC members are:

Steven Pifer , former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, now a research associate and program director at the Brookings Institution, USA

Leonie Seifert , editor-in-chief of Zeit Online, Germany

William B. Taylor Jr. , former US Ambassador to Ukraine, Vice President of the United States Institute of Peace, USA

Thomas Bella , founder, editor and digital director of Dennik N, Slovakia

Grzegorz Piechota, research associate at the International News Media Association, former research associate and researcher of innovations in news media at Harvard and Oxford universities, former editor at Gazeta Wyborcza and vice president of the Agora Foundation, Poland

NV was founded in May 2014 by Vitaliy Sych, former editor-in-chief of Korrespondent magazine. The companys ultimate beneficiary is Tomas Fiala, CEO of Dragon Capital, an investment company.

In May, NV celebrates its 10th anniversary. The company now includes the news website NV.ua (11 million visitors per month, GoogleAnalytics data for February), the nationwide talk radio Radio NV (9 million listeners and viewers in February, TNS and YouTube data), a monthly magazine and Dialogues about the Future project.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Albany lawmakers are rejecting Gov. Kathy Hochuls efforts to rein in a popular $6 billion Medicaid homecare program that critics say is extremely susceptible to abuse.

Legislators are going on the offensive after the release of their own budget proposals last week, calling the governors slated reforms to the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, or CDPAP, an attack on elderly and disabled people who rely on the program as an affordable means to get homecare.

Im terrified Ill be forced into deadly and abusive facilities in light of the governors proposed draconian budget cuts to homecare, specifically the Consumer Directed Personal Assistant Program, Geri Mariano, 56, a recipient within the program said at a recent press conference hosted by the powerful healthcare union 1199 SEIU.

Geri Mariano, left in wheel chair, was one of several people who utilize home care aides paid for using CDPAP that spoke at a press conference criticizing Gov. Kathy Hochuls proposed cuts to the program. Mark Vergari/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK

Honest to God, I dont know why Governor Hochul hates me and all others wanting to remain in our homes with these programs, Mariano continued.

The program allows relatives, friends or other close acquaintances of disabled or elderly adults below a certain income level to get paid more than $43,000 a year to act as a caregiver.

Funding for the caregivers flows through financial middlemen, which pay the caregivers and get reimbursed through state and federal Medicaid dollars  while taking a small cut.

Critics of the program argue that it lacks sufficient oversight or structural checks-and-balances to prevent fraud and abuse.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing a few measures to increase checks on CDPAP, including giving the Department of Health more authority to regulate financial middlemen. Getty Images

A 2020 bust by the FBI alleged that a Brooklyn-based agency was manipulating the hours its clients in the CDPAP were working, scalping millions of dollars of state and federal Medicaid dollars in the process.

Investigators found some aides had been billing hours while they were really on a cruise or sipping wine at a New Jersey vineyard.

As part of her $233 billion state budget proposal, Hochul is calling for several new reforms for CDPAP. These include limiting the number of hours a single caregiver can work in a week as well as giving the state Department of Health broader authority to regulate how the financial middlemen in the system operate.

Hochul estimates these regulatory changes could save the state $100 million per year.

Additionally, Hochul wants to eliminate the $1.55-per-hour boost to the minimum wage for CDPAP aides in New York City and Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties. The governors budget office estimates that cut would also save the state around $100 million per year.

The governor has made reigning in Medicaid spending  the second costliest part of the states discretionary budget behind school funding  a major priority.

New Yorker taxpayers are expected to spend over $30 billion on Medicaid programs in the 2025 budget.

The powerful healthcare union, 1199SEIU, is fighting Hochuls proposed Medicaid reforms. Tania Savayan / USA TODAY NETWORK

The cost of this program has spiked by a massive 1,200% in just eight years, threatening our ability to pay for other critical health care services and balance our budget, a Hochul spokesperson told The Post.

We need common sense reforms to protect New Yorkers who rely on home health care and to safeguard taxpayer dollars.

Lawmakers who showed up for the 199SEIU healthcare workers unions press conference in Yonkers Friday questioned the governors assertions about fraud within the program.

The legislature is right to reject the Governors dangerous cuts to worker wages and consumer hours in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East wrote in a statement to the Post. 1199SEIU/ Twitter

For me, I havent seen evidence, state Sen. Shelley Mayer (D-White Plains) told the Post.

To the extent that there are specific, identifiable, evidence-produced examples that need fixing in the policy, of course, the door is open, Mayer added.

Mayer also flatly rejects the idea of removing the $1.55 wage boost for CDPAP aides in New Yorks most expensive counties.

Around a quarter of a million New Yorkers utilize CDPAP as of last year, up more than 78% from 140,000 beneficiaries in 2015 according to Department of Health data. The exploding popularity of the program is evident as agencies try to recruit more caregivers  taking out subway ads, TV commercials and even enlisting TikTok influencers to spread the word about the program.

That is one of the things that has been talked about, Were going on TikTok saying take care of grandma and get paid, Assemblywoman Maryjane Shimsky (D-Tarrytown) said.

A United Healthcare Workers East Local 1199 SEIU rally outside of Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York on Feb. 22, 2024. Tania Savayan/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK

You know, what? People who take care of grandma should be able to make some money, first of all. And second of all, this is a great public policy option, she said, pointing to the much higher costs of caring for elderly and disabled people in nursing homes.

199SEIU, one of the states most politically influential unions, has already been working to thwart Hochuls Medicaid reform efforts.

1199SEIU and their close ally, the Greater New York Hospital Association, launched a new ad campaign earlier this year criticizing Hochul for proposing Medicaid reforms.

Recent reporting by the Post found that state taxpayers spent $49 million to bail out a floundering 1199SEIU health insurance fund for its own homecare workers.

The legislature is right to reject the Governors dangerous cuts to worker wages and consumer hours in the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East wrote in a statement to the Post.
Two representatives appointed to a committee considering paying reparations claimed whites were responsible for climate change, slammed Israel and pushed to defund the police.

Ron Daniels and Lurie Daniel Favors  both appointed to New Yorks commission on reparations and racial justice by state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx)  made several fiery statements including Daniels slamming black US Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) as Uncle Tim, according to a review of their public statements.

White Folks Messed Up the Weather = Black Folks Save the Planet, Daniels, a longtime activist who ran for president on the Peace and Freedom Party in 1992, said in an Oct. 25, 2021, posting on X.

Ron Daniels, a member of New Yorks commission on reparations and racial justice, has posted controversial statements on social media  including blaming white people for climate change. X / @DrRonDaniels1

Daniels claimed it is white folks who messed up the weather in a 2021 post on X. X / @DrRonDaniels1

His also went after Scott, the upper chambers sole black Republican, with his Uncle Tim dig.

Uncle Tim, Scott that is, Who Picked Cotton On the Plantation, Is Still On the Plantation = Picked to Be the Black Face To Suppress/Black Power/Black Freedom On Behalf of White Supremacy/White Power and Thats The Cotton Picking Truth #BewareofUncleTim, he wrote on May 3, 2021.

Daniels is founder and president of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century and served as administrator for the National African American Reparations Commission, a leading organization in the US and global reparations movements.

Daniels called Sen. Tim Scott an Uncle Tim who supports white supremacy. X / @DrRonDaniels1

He has made several anti-Israel comments as well.

With silence, comes complacency. No Homeland. No Peace. No Justice, No Peace in Israel, Daniels said on Oct. 25 last year.

There will never be peace in Israel until the Palestinians have a home. Military force will quench the thirst of the Palestinian people for justice. No Homeland, No Peace!

Daniels has posted anti-Israel statements online. X / @DrRonDaniels1

Favors, executive director at the Center for Law and Social Justice at CUNYs Medgar Evers College, said on July 7, 2019, In the name of our ancestors who weep over our fractured communities; in the name of our families whose genealogy is at best a guess and a prayer; in the name of all that is holy & just:

FK YOU & YOUR RACE APOLOGETICS. WE WILL NOT BE SILENT. WE WILL NOT MAKE YOU COMFORTABLE.

Favors also said, Police all across the country are literally proving *daily* why #DefundThePolice is necessary. Im old enough to remember summa yall claiming activists were going too far.

Lurie Daniel Favors called on the police to be defunded on X. Facebook /Lurie Daniel Favors

A post from Favors about race apologetics on X. X/@LurieFavors

Nine appointees were recently selected to the panel studying reparations by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins (D-Yonkers) and Heastie. They appointed three members each.

State Conservative Party chairman Gerard Kassar blasted what he viewed as bigoted comments by the two panel members.

The commission on reparations was ridiculous from the start. This proves it, Kassar said.

Daniels and Favors are two of the nine panel members selected by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. James Keivom

These sound like people who have preconceived notions of what they view as white privilege. Unbelievable. Theres no way these appointees should serve on the commission given their comments, he added.

The study of reparations has already set off a fierce debate in the black community over who should get compensation or benefits to make up for the remnants of slavery and systemic racism and discrimination.

It will cost millions of dollars just to staff and run the reparations panel.

The state Senate recommended a $10 million budget for the commission, while the Assembly proposed $5 million.

A final figure will be hashed out in a final budget deal with Hochul.

The reparations of slavery were paid with the blood and lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans who fought to end slavery during the Civil War. This commission will stoke further division in New York and waste millions of taxpayer dollars that could be spent educating the public about our history and improving communities, said state Senate Republican Minority Leader Robert Ortt (R-Niagara).
New York City Council members feeling the heat from thousands of angry co-op and condo owners are urging state pols to OK tax breaks over a new green mandate that could cost more than $20,000 per unit.

The City Council had actually approved the mandate, the Climate Mobilization Emissions Law, in 2019 requiring residential buildings to initially curb their greenhouse gas emissions by 40% and ultimately by 80% by 2050.

New York City co-op and condo owners have pushed their City Council members to urge state lawmakers to pass tax breaks over the new green mandates. Christopher Sadowski

But as the Big Apples already-financially-pressed residents flood members with complaints about how much more the regs will cost them, local pols are turning to Albany for help, seeking their approval on proposed related city tax breaks.

The council and mayor have control over property-tax rates but not over the type of proposed breaks involved here, which must be approved by the legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The green edicts cutbacks begin this year, with a co-op and condo advocacy group saying residents could face fines totaling $200 million in 2024 and $1 billion in penalties by 2030 for failing to make the required upgrades.

Building Department officials last week said they were staffing up to enforce the law, City Limits reported.

The mandate requires buildings with more than 25,000 square feet to replace their old heating-oil and natural-gas boilers and switch to electric heat to cut down on greenhouse-gas emissions.

Thirty-three council members signed two letters sent to state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) and state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie saying the mandate will require approximately 15,000 property owners to invest as much as a total of $15 billion in capital improvements by 2030.

These costs will be particularly difficult for residential buildings as NYSERDA [the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority] estimates that the upfront cost of retrofitting a larger multifamily building in New York City can surpass $20,000 per unit, with only limited annual energy cost savings, said a Feb. 21 letter drafted by council Finance Committee Chairman Justin Brannan and signed by 23 others.

Facing this reality, more tools will be needed to help building owners make these investments, the missive said. Indeed, we hear from many property owners in our districts who are currently unable to afford such improvements.

This is particularly true for residential buildings including residents of affordable cooperative and condominium buildings, many of whom will bear these costs in the form of higher maintenance fees.

A separate similar letter co-signed by nine members of the councils bipartisan Common Sense Caucus was also sent to the legislative leaders.

The council members urged passage of a measure drafted by state Sen. Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblyman Ed Braunstein  the proposed GREEN Buildings Act  which would require the city provide tax abatements to co-op owners for up to 10 years to help alleviate the costs of the green retrofitting to electrify their buildings.

We believe that an abatement and exemption can be crafted to target the property owners who need the most assistance, Brannan and the other council members said in their letters. The combination of these benefits will make it more affordable for building owners to make the investments needed to reduce their emissions, improve local air quality, and decarbonize.

This will be especially helpful for the many residential buildings in disadvantaged communities that are most heavily impacted by upcoming penalties.

The mandate will require buildings over 25,000 square feet to replace heating-oil and natural-gas boilers with electric heat. Shutterstock

This legislation will deliver clear wins for our environment, our economy, and our constituents. We hope you will consider passing it as quickly as possible so together we can achieve New York City and State climate goals.

The council members emphasized that the mandate to decarbonize buildings falls in the line with the New York State Climate Leadership and Protection Act

But one co-op owner, Jane Menton of Sunnyside Towers in Queens, said the council is part of the problem by passing an unworkable law. She said the council should amend its own law to take the burden off co-op and condo apartment owners.

The state didnt pass the law. The federal government didnt pass the law. The city passed the law, Menton said.

Theyre trying to protect the law. Theyre trying to have it both ways. Its unfortunate because the law is unworkable. They are not doing their part to make the law workable, Menton said.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams last month said he would consider giving middle-class co-op and condo owners a property-tax rebate to help ease the costs of the building upgrades.

Queens Councilman Vickie Paladino has proposed a mend it, not end it bill in the council which seeks to delay the enactment of the law for seven years. She has not yet garnered majority support to pass it.
Realtors in the Big Apples cut-throat housing market are citing the controversy over congestion pricing in their pitch to sell and rent apartments in Manhattan outside zones where the toll will be imposed.

Glenn Barnett of Nest Seekers sends out listings with the heading Avoid Congestion Pricing.

I do get a better response. People are curious, Barnett said in a recent interview with The Post. There are a million listings that say, Great Views. Lets do something different. It cant hurt.

New York City realtors have been using the planned congestion pricing to market apartments outside of the toll zone. StreetEasy

He recently marketed a one-bedroom pad at 340 E. 93rd St. near First Avenue with the Avoid Congestion Pricing pitch.

The upcoming expected $15 toll will be charged to motorists entering the Midtown congestion zone south of 60th Street.

Only residents who live in the congestion zone and make less than $50,000 annually will be able to rebate their toll bill against their income tax, leaving out many apartment-hunters in Manhattans notoriously costly real-estate market.

If youre in the housing market, it will give you food for thought, Barnett said of the new toll. Life here is expensive enough.

A listing for an apartment at 340 E. 93rd St. near First Avenue included an Avoid Congestion Pricing pitch. StreetEasy

People are concerned. They want to know what congestion pricing is about. Its very hard to drive in Manhattan right now.

Barnetts email blasts typically make their way to key real-estate sites such as Zillow and StreetEasy.

The MTAs rollout of the $15 toll is fast-approaching  slated to kick off in mid-June after facing years of delays and a slew of lawsuits.

Transit officials predict that the toll could raise $1 billion per year, which would fund major upgrades to the MTAs subway, commuter railroad and bus systems while getting people out of their cars and onto mass transit to curb traffic and air pollution.

Glenn Barnett of Nest Seekers said the congestion pricing message has improved responses for the apartments. Nest Seekers International

But the toll  the nations first congestion pricing fee system  has provoked a furious backlash over its cost for driving commuters, including multiple lawsuits aimed at blocking it.

The plaintiffs include New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, the city teachers union and New York politicians including Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella.

Even former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who approved the law allowing congestion pricing in 2019, has flipped against it, citing changing circumstances in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congestion pricing is slated to begin in parts of Manhattan in June. AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

His successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul, who backs the tolling plan, also even got an earful from New Jersey resident and TV and movie star Whoopi Goldberg during an appearance last week on ABCs The View.

If you know someone looking for a one-bedroom apartment, send them my way, Barnett quipped.

MTA Communications Director Tim Minton said in an e-mailed statement Sunday to The Post, The listing boasts the apartment is close to all trains, and since 90% of commuters use mass transit its no surprise a broker would highlight that. So yes, take those trains and avoid congestion pricing.
Eric Sills, right, listens during closing arguments at his murder trial in Santa Ana before he was found guilty in December. He has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)

A San Clemente fertility doctor who was convicted of fatally strangling his wife and making her death look like an accident has been sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison, according to the Orange County district attorneys office.

An Orange County jury convicted Eric Scott Sills, 58, of the murder of his wife, Susann, in December. The jury deliberated for a day before reaching its verdict of second-degree murder. Sentence was imposed last week. Prior to Susann Sills' death, the couple ran a fertility clinic in Carlsbad and lived with their 12-year-old twins in a $1-million San Clemente home.

Sills called 911 in November 2016 to report that his wife had apparently fallen down the stairs during the night. He told dispatchers he found her body upon waking up and could not detect a pulse.

Investigators determined the cause of death to be strangulation, however, and found blood in the couple's daughters bedroom, where Susann was spending the night due to a migraine. Sills defense team argued that the strangulation marks were caused by the family dog tugging at a scarf around Susanns neck after she fell.

Read more: A fertility doctor said his wife fell down the stairs. An O.C. jury convicted him of murder

The defense also argued that the blood in the bedroom could have resulted from an exposed nail on the nightstand.

Sills attorney Jack Earley told jurors that Susann had been suffering from a migraine and had painkillers in her system, which could have left her disoriented.

Prosecutors say Sills strangled his wife during an argument and subsequently scrambled to stage her death as an accidental fall down the stairs.

Mr. Sills not only killed his wife but he went one step further and tried to cover up his horrific crime, said Orange County Dist. Atty. 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.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jennifer Walker, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the position of Susanns body during the trial. She was found face up at the bottom of the staircase with her right foot draped on a lower stair, despite emergency dispatcher instructions to Sills to lay her flat to attempt CPR.

This man killed his wife and hid it, and he hid it pretty well, because it took a while to bring him to justice, Walker told jurors during the trial.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In our Reality Check stories, Herald Leader journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@herald-leader.com.

If Lexington council member Chuck Ellinger II was still in school, he likely would have been awarded a certificate at the end of 2023.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County councilman, who serves as an at-large member, had the best attendance record of the 15 members, a Herald-Leader review of attendance records of 90 council committee, work sessions and council meetings shows.

Ellinger missed no meetings in 2023. Ellinger has served multiple terms on the council.

I have not missed a council meeting, work session or committee meeting I am on, since I was re-elected in 2018. In fact, Ive only missed two council meetings (2007, 2012) since I was initially elected in 2002. I was elected to represent the residents of Lexington, and do the peoples work. In order to do that, I think it is important for me to show up and be there, Ellinger said. Unfortunately, I have been on councils where we did not have a quorum to conduct a meeting or we had to recess to re-obtain a quorum. Like any job, you are expected to be there.

Chuck Ellinger, candidate for at large seat on the Lexington Fayette Urban County Council, photographed on Monday, April 25, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com

The Lexington Herald-Leader received the attendance records through a Open Records Act request. In addition, the newspaper also examined minutes of council meetings to verify attendance records.

Another council member with a nearly perfect attendance record is at-large member James Brown.

Brown, a real estate agent who previously served as the First District Councilman before successfully running for the at-large position in 2022, only missed one committee meeting in 2023. His absenteeism rate is less than 1%.

I take my attendance very seriously, Brown said. As an elected representative, Im committed to staying informed and using my voice and my vote in the spaces where decisions are made.

James Brown, candidate for at large seat on the Lexington Fayette Urban County Council, photographed on Monday, April 18, 2022. Ryan C. Hermens/rhermens@herald-leader.com

Those sterling attendance records are all the more startling given council members also serve on various other council work groups and city commissions that were not included in the analysis. Brown, for example, was also a member of the Urban County Growth Task Force, which met in 2023 to determine what areas should be added to the citys expansion area.

Council is a part-time job. Council members make $39,963 a year. Vice Mayor Dan Wu makes $43,737. Many representatives have other jobs.

Other council members who rarely miss meetings include Liz Sheehan, Denise Gray, Shayla Lynch and David Sevigny. All missed fewer than four meetings in 2023.

Others with 10 or fewer missed meetings include:

Hannah LeGris, 6

Jennifer Reynolds, 6

Dan Wu, 7

Whitney Elliott Baxter, 7

Fred Brown, 8

What was counted and what was not

On Tuesdays the council typically has two meetings  a council committee meeting and the council work session. If a council member misses a Tuesday, they are absent for two meetings, upping their number of absences.

For example, many council members were absent on May 30, 2023, which the day multiple Fayette County High Schools held graduation ceremonies. Many missed a council committee or work session on that day due to those events.

Also included in the tally are six council of the whole meetings. Council of the whole meetings are typically meetings where council discusses administrative issues, such as hiring and firing of council staff or schedules. Those meetings are not mandatory, per se, because council cant vote during council of the whole meetings.

Also included in those council meetings that council members may have missed were six zone change hearings. Council committee, work sessions and council meetings are typically set more than a year in advance. Zone change hearings, an appeal of a decision of the Urban County Planning Commission, are typically set weeks before the hearing, making it more difficult for council members who have work or other obligations to attend. It is rare for all 15 members of the council to attend a zone change hearing, council records show.

Who missed the most meetings

Several council members missed more than 10 meetings in 2023.

Brenda Monarrez, who represents the Fourth District, missed 18 meetings and had an absenteeism rate of 20%.

Monarrez, like many council members who missed more than 10 meetings, had health issues that required surgery and recovery.

I had an injury accident prior to taking office where I was not at fault. It resulted in a need to have an SI joint fusion on my left side, Monarrez said. I had to navigate jumping through the hoops of health insurance and getting physical therapy and cortisone shots before my surgery was finally approved.

Monarrez missed several meetings in September due to her surgery.

Since then, I have had perfect attendance for every work session, council meeting and committee of the whole. I continue to go to physical therapy to gain flexibility and strength. Luckily, it seems I will not need a second surgery. While I am not saying attendance does not matter at all, a council member could have perfect attendance and do nothing for the benefit of their district, Monarrez said.

Brenda Monarrez Provided by candidate

Monarrez said she has fought hard for the Fourth District, including advocating for the Wilson Downing sidewalk project, better and safer turns and traffic flow on Nicholasville Road, reporting and escalating concerns about sewer odors along West Hickman Sewer Treatment plant, as well as dozens of other parks and street improvements. Monarrez was elected in 2022 and faces two opponents in the May primary.

Councilman Preston Worley, a lawyer who represents the Seventh District, missed 17 meetings and had an absenteeism rate of 19%. Worley, who has held the seat that represents neighborhoods in the Richmond Road corridor since 2017, is not running for re-election.

Preston Worley Amy Wallot/LFUCG

Worley did not return emails and phone calls asking for comment. Worley has previously said he has had to miss some meetings due to his law practice. Worley, who works for McBrayer, has also abstained from some zone change hearings because lawyers for his firm represented a client in those hearings.

Other members who are also not running for re-election had spotty attendance records in 2023.

Councilwoman Kathy Plomin, who is not running for re-election in the 12th District,which includes Lexingtons rural area, missed 15 meetings and had an absenteeism rate of 16%. Plomin missed multiple meetings due to some health issues that required a long recovery, she said.

Most of Plomins absences were in the spring and early summer due to her health problems, records show.

Tayna Fogle, who represents the First District, missed 15 meetings and had an absenteeism rate of 16%.

Fogle, who also works as a community organizer for Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, said some of those absences were due to work. Fogle is also a grandmother and great grandmother who has had to step up and help out when her grandchildren and great grandchildren were sick, she said. Fogle was first elected in 2022 and represents areas that include parts of downtown and the citys east side. She faces two opponents in the May primary.

You have to take care of your family, Fogle said. Fogle said she also had some health issues in 2023, necessitating time off. She also had previously scheduled speaking engagements that were made prior to her getting the council calendar.

Im not trying to make excuses, Fogle said.

Fogle said like many people in Lexington, she has to work two jobs to make ends meet. Fogle said she has been active in her district, advocating for better parks and pushed for a new pool at Douglass Park. She is hosting a spring break feeding program for Fayette County Public School kids and she is also an advocate for the homeless community, pushing for more services.

Not everything gets done around that horseshoe (the council dais) or in that room, Fogle said.
After a tumultuous few months of in-depth auditing, the Only Watch accounts are in order. WorldTempus spoke to Luc Pettavino, Founder/Organizer of Only Watch, and Tess Pettavino, Director of the Association Monegasque contre les Myopathies to learn more

It is rare that there is drama in the watch industry, but last October a storm erupted around the Only Watch charity auction with rumours and questions from bloggers about how the CHF 100 million raised for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy was being used. The commotion that followed led to the organization having to cancel the event  which was due to take place on November 5th 2023  and plunge itself into the accounts to be able to satisfy the multiple questions related to its financing.

The organizers have spent the last few months working with the auditor Christian Boisson from the Grant Thornton firm to put the record straight. The auditors report certifies the financial situation we have presented is true and fair, as well as the fact that it is in accordance with our purpose and the standards which we are subject to. It also certifies that the associations funds are used in accordance with its purpose, shares Luc Pettavino in an interview with WorldTempus. We accepted the legitimate comments and sound advice that we received regarding the points that needed to be changed. These include governance, audit, a strategic committee, a scientific council, etc. Basically, as our original family of patients association has become more global in its activities and influence, it became inevitable that the structure that supports it would have to evolve.

Luc Pettavino  Only Watch

While the auditors were busy setting the record straight, it has thankfully been business as usual for the researchers working under the Association Monegasque contre les Myopathies, with encouraging news from the end of the first phase of clinical trials, as Tess Pettavino, President of the Association explains: Today we are at the clinical trial stage, which means the molecule is being tested directly with patients. This first in human trial is a really big achievement. The next stage is phase two where we will focus on the efficacy of the drugs.

Tess Pettavino also explains why so much of the money was still sitting in the bank: We have allocated 54 million to research over the past years (of which more than half in the past 3 years  that have been audited) and there are about 55 million remaining. The reason why we have this reserve is that we have to be very careful because we are committed to the clinical trials. We have an important responsibility towards the cohorts of patients and families who have accepted to be part of the trial and who have received injections and who might benefit from it. If we had to say, Im sorry, but we dont have the means to proceed, it would be immoral, she insists. We have to ensure that we can continue for the next three or four years and have the capacity to do everything we have committed to. So, this is a very important component of why we have this reserve. It is also important for us to plan, because we never know how much we are going to raise at any one auction. Another important point is that over two thirds of the sums collected by the association was raised over the last two editions.

Tess Pettavino  Only Watch

Now that the slate is clean, the organizers, together with their partners Christies and Palexpo, will decide on a date this spring 2024 in Geneva. Letters were sent out to all the participating brands this week and it is wait-and-see time to discover who will be back on board to hopefully create medical history and put an end to the suffering of this genetic disease...not to mention the joy of seeing so many limited editions in one place again!

To read the interviews in full:

Interview with Luc Pettavino  Only Watch Wipes the Slate Clean

Tess Pettavino Opens the Doors on the Charity Side of Only Watch
Ohio Governor-elect Mike DeWine in 2018. DeWine declared a state of emergency after storms tore through his state last week. Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI

March 17 (UPI) -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has declared a state of emergency in 11 counties Sunday in the wake of severe storms that struck the state last week.

The governor also activated the Ohio National Guard to help clean up debris in Logan County, one of the hardest hit regions, where three people were killed by the storms.

The declaration orders all relevant state departments and agencies to lend their services, equipment, supplies, and personnel to aid in response and recovery efforts, the governor's office said.

The severe weather also damaged parts of Kentucky, Indiana and Arkansas. About 40 people were injured and dozens of homes damaged in one Indiana community. Tornadoes were also reported in Illinois and Missouri.
Are your kids distracted by cellphones in class? If you check the odds, they are.

In 2023, as many as 97% of kids aged 11- to 17-years-old used their phones during school hours, for a median time of 43 minutes a day, according to a study from Common Sense Media and the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. And last week, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted held a roundtable discussion about the importance of cutting down cellphone use in schools, The Dispatch previously reported.

"Kids and parents are asking us to save them from themselves because the cellphones in the lives of children are becoming very addictive," Husted said during the Wednesday discussion.

A locked Yondr pouch rests next to Ellet CLC junior Jackson Fisher works on a computer in honors English on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 in Akron.

During the meeting, the two asked school districts to consider limiting or banning cellphone use by students, citing research showing cellphone use negatively affects students' mental health, academic performance and social well-being.

So what do districts in central Ohio do, and what do experts say should be done?

What are some central Ohio schools doing?

Most districts in central Ohio have policies limiting cellphone use during school hours.

For example, the region's largest schools, including Columbus, Olentangy, South-Western and Westerville, all have student conduct policy prohibiting cellphone use during class time unless otherwise instructed by their teacher or principal.

In Dublin City Schools during the past year middle schoolers in sixth through eighth grade at two middle schools were not allowed to use their phones during the school day at all, including during lunch or other down time, board member Diana Rigby said. She said she has heard other parents, teachers and administrators asking when the policy will be coming to their schools.

These kids need this," Rigby said. "You have to recognize that we are human beings, we have a need for human interaction. We have a need for face-to-face conversation. We have a need for empathy. And all of these things cannot be done behind the cellphones."

And some districts throughout Ohio, like Akron Public Schools and Fairborn City Schools outside Dayton have taken the issue a step further and implemented Yondr phone lock systems, which are sleeves students place their phones in and lock during the day and unlock when they leave school.

At last week's roundtable, Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools Superintendent Tracy Deagle said the district chose not to use a locked pouch system after some parents expressed concern about school safety and said they wanted to be able to reach their child in an emergency.

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools Superintendent Tracy Deagle speaks during a roundtable discussion with schools from across the state.

Deagle also said she believes there's a connection between student cellphone use and the teacher shortage.

"I know that our staff feels safer in the classroom when they don't fear being recorded," Deagle said last week. "It overall contributes to a healthy climate and culture which will contribute to getting more young people to enter the (teaching) profession."

Should students have devices in class?

Existing studies give evidence that allowing phones in the classroom negatively impacts test scores and long-term learning retention, according to Harvard University. However, the research also notes that many bans are repealed due to student and parent unpopularity, and in urban districts, often because cell service remains the only method of connectivity for some students.

Jason Rawls, Ohio State University music professor and former K-12 educator, said it is time to start thinking of cellphones not just as phones  but miniature computers  and how teachers can turn off-topic phone use into on-topic use by using it as a research or lesson tool.

"As an educator, in this day and age, it's probably hard to just, you know, fight the phone (use) thing," Rawls said. "You're going to spend more of your time fighting the phones, so instead of doing that, to me, it makes more sense to use the phone as part of your lesson or use the phone to your advantage as an educator."

A 2021 U.S. Department of Education study of existing research found that while some studies have shown that cellphone use in a classroom can help prepare students for work and inspire innovation, others have a detrimental effect of being distracting from education, as well as a rise in problems like cheating and teen sexting.

Rawls said there are many opinions on the topic of phones in schools and whether schools should limit or ban them, but one thing is for sure: "these phones aren't going away."

"This stuff is not stopping," Rawls said. "So we really should make it our friend instead of our enemy."

USA Today Ohio Statehouse Bureau reporter Erin Glynn contributed to this report.

@Colebehr_report

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What are central Ohio schools doing about cellphone use in class?
Ohioans now have the constitutional right to abortion  a monumental shift in how the state has handled reproductive rights.

But for the average patient entering an Ohio abortion clinic, nothing has changed.

Ohio abortion providers aren't performing abortions after 22 weeks. Patients must wait 24 hours after their first visit to obtain the necessary pills or have a procedure. A dispute over using telemedicine is playing out in court.

"We did not get to the severe abortion restrictions that we have in Ohio overnight," said Dr. Adarsh Krishen, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. "We're not going to get out of that situation  even with the passage of Issue 1  overnight. It's going to take time and energy to be able to lift those restrictions."

Most of that time and energy is spent in court.

Mason Hickman, left, and Shakti Rambarraan, front, of the Ohio Womens Alliance react during a gathering for supporters of Issue 1 at the Hyatt Regency Downtown. The issue establishes a constitutional right to abortion. But what comes next?

Attorneys representing Ohio's abortion clinics have sued to permanently block a ban on most abortions. The law, which has been on hold since September 2022, prohibits doctors from performing abortions after cardiac activity is detected, which is about six weeks into pregnancy.

Attorneys for the clinics say this law is indisputably unconstitutional, but Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says some parts might not be. Yost campaigned against the abortion rights measure on the ballot last year and is a likely 2026 contender for governor.

Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge Christian Jenkins, who is reviewing the case, will decide the law's fate by May 20, according to court filings.

That's just one law. The state has other bans, regulations and hurdles that abortion providers say violate what voters approved with nearly 57% of the vote last November. Attorneys for Ohio's abortion providers aren't disclosing their legal strategy to dismantle those laws, but any approach will take time.

Even though those legal challenges take time, the new constitutional language has been "an absolute game-changer," said attorney Jessie Hill who is challenging Ohio's abortion restrictions. "Just because the changes havent been obvious yet, its still a really big deal."

What hasn't changed

While Ohio's GOP-controlled Legislature hasn't passed any abortion restrictions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Republican lawmakers aren't willing to roll back newly unconstitutional laws either.

Democratic lawmakers introduced bills to repeal various abortion bans and restrictions, but those proposals have gone nowhere.

Some Republican lawmakers have proposed stripping judges of the power to enforce the new abortion rights amendment, but Ohio's House Speaker Jason Stephens said that idea wouldn't pass. This is Schoolhouse Rock-type stuff. We need to make sure that we have the three branches of the government," he added.

No comprehensive data exist on whether abortions have increased or decreased in Ohio since Issue 1 passed. The Ohio Department of Health's report on 2023 won't be released until the fall. Recently released numbers from #WeCount, a national reporting effort sponsored by the Society of Family Planning, don't yet capture the months after the November vote.

Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region has seen an increase in appointments from out-of-state patients since Issue 1 passed. For example, 51% of patients seeking an abortion in January traveled from other states, interim president Suzanne Bertuleit said.

"Despite this influx of patients, Issue 1s passage did not immediately eliminate Ohios current restrictions on abortion access," Bertuleit said. "We continue to explore all our options to challenge other state restrictions with this constitutional protection in the coming months.

Asked about the impact of Issue 1, Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said: "We are unaware of any impact to date of the November 2023 ballot initiative."

Still, "the struggle to protect human life though is far from over here in Ohio," the organization's executive director Peter Range said. "Ohio Right to Life will continue to advocate for the preborn and will not stop working for a culture where every life gets a chance to succeed, including moms, dads and their babies."

What has changed

While much looks the same, Krishen with Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio said the constitutional amendment is already making a difference. He has seen an increase in doctors willing to work and train in Ohio because of Issue 1.

And the new protections provide a reprieve from the onslaught of new regulations and the lack of job security. "From a staff perspective, there been sort of a sigh of relief," Krishen said.

To pass the constitutional amendment, abortion rights advocates built a roster of donors and engaged activists, said Kellie Copeland, executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio. "We're in a much different position than we were even two years ago."

Advocates hope to deploy those resources to protect LGBTQ rights at the statehouse and elect Democratic judges to the Ohio Supreme Court that will oversee abortion challenges. They also support redistricting reform, which could make it easier to enact abortion protections in the state Legislature.

Outside of Ohio, there is a looming fight over a national abortion ban. Former President Donald Trump supports a 16-week ban with exceptions, the New York Times reported in February. President Joe Biden has said he's "not big on abortion" but has often said the Roe v. Wade court decision "got it right."

A national abortion ban would undo all of the work Ohioans did to pass Issue 1, Copeland said. "We can't allow that to happen."

On Wednesday, a nationwide group of doctors, including those who backed Ohio's reproductive rights amendment, formed Healthcare Workers for Reproductive Freedom to safeguard in vitro fertilization after an Alabama Supreme Court decision threatened it there. The state's Republican governor recently signed IVF protections in response to that ruling.

Even though Ohio voters passed constitutional protections, the battle over reproductive rights is far from over in Ohio and elsewhere, Copeland said. "It's one thing to amend the constitution. It's another thing to make it real."

Jessie Balmert 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 voters backed abortion rights, but little has changed in 2024
Director of the Oklahoma Monarch Society Katie Hawk works on March 5 in the mill room to start the process of brewing the Save the Monarchs Pollinator Pilsner at Anthem Brewing Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Monarch Society and Anthem Brewing are teaming up to help save the Monarch butterflies from further decline by brewing a Save the Monarchs honey pilsner that will be launched this April to help raise awareness about the drastic decline in monarch butterfly populations and increase pollinator habitats throughout Oklahoma.

Every bite of food you eat is impacted by pollinators. The same is true for every sip of beer.

Whether directly or downline, pollinators are responsible for the function of food and beverage systems that keep humans fed and alive.

Now, with the production of a special honey pilsner called Save the Monarchs Pollinator Pilsner, the Oklahoma Monarch Society and Anthem Brewing Company, 908 SW 4 Street, are teaming up in hopes of raising funds and awareness to help protect pollinators and their habitats.

Save the Monarchs Pollinator Pilsner

"Monarch populations dropped another 59% and compared to last year's population it's the lowest the numbers have been in the last decade, so we are taking an all hands on deck approach in regards to trying to get the message out to other audiences as well beyond the outreach that we've been doing for the last eight years," said Katie Hawk, Director of the Oklahoma Monarch Society. "Anthem was  when we approached them with this idea  they were in it to win it and said 'Absolutely count us in. We want to be of help with this. We know this is really important.'"

More: Are monarch butterflies endangered? A new study shows the population is diminishing.

Lead brewer Kayla Stewart developed the recipe for the beer, which utilizes Laurel hops, specifically chosen for their floral notes and also highlights the many contributions of pollinators to society from the grains to the honey being used in the brew.

Oklahoma Monarch Society board president Rick Sinnett starts the process of brewing the Save the Monarchs Pollinator Pilsner on March 5 at Anthem Brewing Oklahoma City.

"We understand that butterflies do not produce honey, but they are pollinators just like honeybees are," Stewart said. "Honeybees are a big, crucial part of our Oklahoma agriculture, so we're utilizing local honey. It came from a farm down in Norman called the Royal Bees Apiary."

Lead brewer Kayla Stewart cools a sample that will be further processed into the Save the Monarchs Pollinator Pilsner on March 5 at Anthem Brewing Oklahoma City.

Anthem will spend the next month brewing the Save the Monarchs Pollinator Pilsner, with an expected release date of April 16, depending on production, when they hope to release the beer statewide.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 'Butterfly' beer coming soon from Anthem Brewing, Okies for Monarchs
One woman is dead following a shooting on Schaul Street Saturday in Columbus, according to authorities.

Columbus police said the incident occurred shortly before 2 p.m., Saturday, in the 2500 block of Schaul Street.

Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan identified the victim as Shantavia Walden, 32.

She was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:10 p.m. after being shot, according to Bryan.

Bryan said a second victim was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Police have identified the second victim as Gerald Ford.

It was not clear how many homicides have occurred in Columbus so far in 2024. Columbus had 57 homicides in 2023, according to the Ledger-Enquirers count.

Anyone with information regarding this case can contact Sgt Michael Dahnke at (706) 225-4929 or mdahnke@columbusga.org.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  One person has died and another has been arrested following a car crash in Oklahoma City Saturday morning.

According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, officers responded to the area of E. Sheridan Ave. and Lincoln Blvd. around 2:30 a.m. after receiving a call from a woman saying she was in an accident.

ORIGINAL STORY: One killed, one injured in NE Oklahoma City crash

Officers found Lashay Rhodes past the dead end on the east side of the railroad tracks in that area. Officials say Rhodes had been driving eastbound on E. Sheridan when she crossed Lincoln Blvd. at a high rate of speed going eastbound on a one-way westbound street.

Lashay Rhodes. Image courtesy Oklahoma County Detention Center.

OKCPD says she drove past the dead end, through a fence, over a dirt berm, past a concrete barrier and over the railroad tracks where the car stopped on its side.

Upon arrival, police say Rhodes showed signs of intoxication but refused to be tested. A warrant was later obtained for a blood test.

LOCAL NEWS: Fire crews respond to fire at SE Oklahoma City hotel

There was one passenger in the vehicle, Joshua Neal, who was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

Officials say Rhodes was arrested and is facing charges for First Degree Manslaughter, Driving Under The Influence Of Alcohol, Speeding and Wrong Way On One Way Road.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT)  The right northbound lane of Interstate 65 is closed for maintenance between Lacon and Falkville, according to authorities.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the lane is closed near mile marker 319 and the closure is due to, need of road maintenance, that occurred around 11:50 on Monday morning.

The Market at MidCity returns to Huntsville for 6th year!

ALEA added that the lane will be closed for an undetermined amount of time.

Troopers are continuing to monitor the situation, and News 19 will share any updates we get from ALEA on-air and online.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
A Cape Coral teen, shot as she walked with friends after a movie, died at a hospital Sunday night, Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said.

Shortly after 9:30 p.m., Cape Coral police officers responded to a shooting in the 2000 block of Southeast 16th Place, where the 15-year-old, identified as Kayla Rincon-Miller, had been injured.

Officers began lifesaving measures on Rincon-Miller, who died at a hospital. Sizemore confirmed details at a Monday news conference.

The girls told detectives they had just seen a movie at the Coralwood 10 movie theater, 2301 Del Prado Blvd., and were walking to the McDonald's at 1715 Del Prado Blvd S.

Cape Coral police officers on Sunday, March 17, 2024, investigated a shooting that happened just before 10 p.m. near the intersection of Southeast 20th Street and Southeast 16th Place.

One of the girls told detectives a car pulled up and blinded them with its lights before an unknown number of suspects jumped out of the car and tried to rob them.

Police report the witness said one person began to shoot, striking Rincon-Miller in the chest. All three of the girls said they didn't know who the shooter was. The other two were not injured.

The car the shooter was in fled south on Southeast 16th Place.

Detectives are working to identify if one or several suspects were involved in the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Cape Coral Police Department at (239) 574-3223.

Diana Alvarez murder: Jorge Guerrero-Torres sentenced to life in 2016 Diana Alvarez kidnapping, rape, murder

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, who may be reached at 1-800-780-TIPS, are offering a cash reward of up to $3,000 for anyone whose anonymous tips help lead to an arrest.

Rincon-Miller's death is the city's first homicide in 2024.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Shooting Cape Coral: Police search for shooter in Florida teen's death
Online sales began Monday for the first over-the-counter birth control pill approved in the U.S.

The product, Opill, can be bought online at Amazon and directly from Opill.com, said Sara Young, senior vice president and chief consumer officer at Perrigo, the pills manufacturer. Once the drugs are in stock, Walgreens and Walmart will sell them online, as well. Orders will be fulfilled within 24 to 48 hours, according to Young, and will usually arrive in three to five business days.

Depending on the location of the store, Opill can also be purchased in person at Walgreens and CVS. The first shipments were sent earlier this month, so most other pharmacies and major retailers across the country should have the pills on shelves in the family planning aisle in the coming weeks.

A CVS spokesman earlier this month said more than 7,500 CVS Pharmacy stores will offer Opill beginning in early April, and customers will be able to choose same-day delivery or buy online and pick-up in store for added privacy and convenience.

In an FAQ posted to the Opill website, Perrigo said the order is shipped in discreet packaging.

You can trust that we use plain, unbranded packaging for all shipments, the company said.

A months supply will carry a recommended cost of $19.99, while the company recommends a three-month supply cost of $49.99. Opill.com also sells a six-month supply for $89.99.

Opill contains only one hormone, a progestin called norgestrel. When used as directed, it starts working 48 hours after taking the first pill and is 98 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.

Opill has been available with a prescription since 1973, but federal regulators approved it for use without a prescription last July.

Perrigo has established a patient assistance program for people who dont have insurance and cant afford Opill, but cost could still be a barrier.

The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover preventive services including specific types of birth control, but only if they are prescribed. Insurers usually dont cover over-the-counter (OTC) products.

Studies have shown even a small cost barrier could present significant challenges to accessibility.

The push to make birth control available over the counter has been happening for years, but after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and ended the constitutional right to an abortion, the movement took on more urgency.

But while the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization gave a jolt of energy to the reproductive rights movement, it also has made it harder to separate the issue of contraception from the politics of abortion. For instance, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his Dobbs concurring opinion that the Supreme Court should reconsider Griswold v. Connecticut, the 1965 decision that established a right to use contraception.

States could impose restrictions on Opill, especially as it was approved without a minimum age limit. Pharmacists may also choose not to dispense it because they find contraception morally objectionable.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
"Port-au-Prince is in panic mode," a friend in the Haitian capital texted me.

Residents of Petionville, a wealthier area of of the city, are shaken after their most violent day so far in the country's spiralling security crisis.

More than a dozen bullet-ridden bodies lay in the street - the victims of the latest gang rampage.

As well as the early morning killing spree, the home of a judge was also attacked - a clear message to the country's elites vying for power.

All this in what is supposedly the safe part of town.

Unicef's executive director, Catherine Russell, has called the situation in Haiti "horrific" and likened the lawlessness to the post-apocalyptic film, Mad Max.

Certainly the latest violence in Port-au-Prince is a reminder, if any were needed, that Haiti remains closer to anarchy than stability.

In that malaise, the UN has also estimated, because of the closure of so many hospitals in the capital, some 3,000 pregnant women were at risk of having to give birth with no maternity care.

We visited the maternity ward of Cap Haitien's public hospital. The first cries of Baby Woodley, just a day old, were the same as those of children born anywhere: for food and for comfort.

But as most children born there, she will grow up to find that such essentials are far from guaranteed in Haiti.

Lying in an adjacent bed, Markinson Joseph was recovering from giving birth two days ago to a baby boy. Through an interpreter, she told me that she would get her baby out of the country altogether if she got the chance.

"But me and my husband don't have the money to flee," she said.

Markinson Joseph in hospital

Dr Mardoche Clervil, the hospital's obstetrician, showed us around dark and empty wards and said that the gangs' control of the roads in and out of Port-au-Prince was making it tough to find enough fuel to keep the lights on, or the ceiling fans whirring.

More importantly, it has also hampered efforts to bring in the drugs and equipment they need.

He said that pregnant women had travelled from Port-au-Prince to give birth in the relative safety of Cap-Haitien.

"As you can see we have enough beds and staff," he said, motioning to the team of nurses and interns behind him. "But quite often the patients just can't reach us, either because of their socio-economic problems or because of the violence."

For some, it has had terrible consequences.

Louisemanie was eight-and-a-half months pregnant when she came into hospital. By then, she had dangerously high blood pressure and lost the baby.

Baby Woodley

Preeclampsia is treatable had she been properly monitored or the baby been delivered early. Louisemanie was only too aware that her loss was avoidable.

"They've had me on drugs since early January but I've transferred between three different hospitals," she said, meaning her complicated pregnancy was ultimately left to chance.

Across the country, the humanitarian need is now critical and the aid response so far has been painfully slow.

The essential things of life - food, water and safe shelter - are increasingly hard to find for millions.

In Port-au-Prince, Farah Oxima and her nine children were forced from their home in a violent gang-controlled neighbourhood to another part of the city. They are just some of the more than 360,000 internally displaced people in the conflict.

As she filled up plastic jerry cans with water from a standpipe in the street, the 39-year-old admitted she was struggling to provide the food and water her young children needed.

Farah Oxima collecting water

"I don't know what to do, I'm watching the country collapse," she said.

To her, the idea that a transitional council can impose some form of order or security in the short-term seems completely impossible.

"Only God can change this place because from where I'm sitting I can't see where any other change is coming from."

Additional reporting by Jeremy Dupin.

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Famous Ukrainian actress Ksenia Mishyna showed off the results of a spicy photo shoot in which she posed in the company of a mysterious man. Fans speculate that this could be the 34-year-old star's new boyfriend.

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The man himself is not visible in the photos - only his muscular arm, which covers the actress's bare chest, is in the frame. Mishyna intrigued her Instagram followers with seductive photos.

As we've already mentioned, the actress appeared topless in the photos. She was wearing only black pants with atypical cutouts on the sides, and her neckline was adorned with a stylish silver necklace with pearls. Long shimmering earrings also became accent elements of the look.

However, all the attention of the fans was obviously not focused on the jewelry, but on a man's hand that passionately squeezed the star's bare chest.

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Mishyna's caption to the photo also fueled the public's interest: "The main thing is to blossom next to him." In addition, the celebrity left a red heart emoji.

Commenters immediately went in search of the owner of the hand, who could be the actress's potential boyfriend. The answer was found on the page of the photographer who took the picture. She noted the man's profile in the post. It turned out to be a Ukrainian stylist with the nickname Hi.klima. He has similar tattoos to the ones we saw on Mishyna's arm in the photo.

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It is not known for certain whether Mishyna is really no longer a bachelorette. It's likely that she just "borrowed" the stylist's hand for a photo. However, fans still do not rule out the possibility of a new romance.

Commenters also leave comments under the provocative post: "At first I thought it was a boa constrictor," "I wonder how long it will take to find this man's tattoo? Photo arson", "I thought it was a snake in the first photo", "Try my hand for the next photo shoot".

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Moments after the Riverside County supervisors had cast their votes last week, unanimously declining to separate the countys Coroners Bureau from the Riverside County Sheriffs Department, Undersheriff Don Sharp approached the public comment lectern.

Supervisor Chuck Washington, who chairs the board, paused from relaying the vote outcome to allow the department executive to have a word. And he did.

"Ive worked for many sheriffs and I will tell you, by far, this sheriff, Sheriff Bianco, is more transparent than anybody Ive ever worked with," said Sharp, who is the sheriff's second in command. "He is engaging every agency in this county. I go to meetings with your staff, with every department in this county. We are about working with everybody. We are transparent."

For about five minutes Sharp proceeded to outline the ways he believes his department has become the most transparent it has ever been since the election of Chad Bianco to public office in 2018.

"Our sheriff is just one member of our department, but he is our leader," Sharp said. "But every member of this department is a representative of our community. They're out there working hard."

Sharps statements, ultimately, triggered Washington to respond, beginning a rare public exchange between the Board of Supervisors and a representative of the sheriffs executive team on what government transparency is and how well the sheriff's department is achieving it.

"I've got to defend my board," Washington said. "Were just doing the best we can here and serving the public."

Watch for yourself: Video of Sharp and Washington's discussion (scroll to 2:44:00)

Sharp outlined during the exchange ways he said the sheriff's department is held accountable by various governmental or civilian groups. But Washington replied that all of them were either unknown or inaccessible to the general public, a statement largely proven true by Desert Sun follow-up reporting.

It's a point that Sharp didn't disagree with in a phone interview Thursday. He clarified that the tone of the meeting, regarding the possible separation of a department bureau, implied criticism of the quality of work done at the Coroner's Bureau. The Executive Office's report, however, was squarely based on addressing real or perceived conflicts of interest regarding in-custody deaths, not the quality of work being done. Sharp maintained that the exchange was intended to establish that the employees of the coroner's bureau are doing quality work.

"I needed to hear my staff are doing a great job and supported," Sharp said. "So when I got up there and said my piece, it was meant to be that the coroner bureau is awesome and gets the job done, and these are people working hard for them in the ... toughest of times."

The vote

Months before the March 12 vote and debate, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors had voted unanimously to have the countys Executive Office investigate the possibility of separating the Coroners Bureau from the sheriffs department. The coroner certifies causes of death in the county, including those who have died from police use of deadly force and while in the custody of the sheriffs department in county jails.

The number of incarcerated people who have died in the countys jails has skyrocketed in recent years, with 2022's 19 deaths the highest since records were first made public decades ago. The Desert Sun reported on how the sheriffs department failed to report some of these deaths to the California Department of Justice and on families that have described not receiving details about the deaths of their relatives for up to a year and a half. California Attorney General Rob Bonta opened a civil rights investigation last year after several families who have filed civil lawsuits asked for an outside agency to investigate the surge in deaths. (Bonta's investigation, which is ongoing, is also reviewing other issues within the department.)

The executive office filed a report finding it would be too expensive to separate the coroners bureau from the sheriffs department. The county CEO, Jeff Van Wagenen Jr., recommended that autopsy reports of in-custody deaths be conducted by either San Bernardino or San Diego counties. The coroner review process, ultimately conducted by the sheriff, will remain in-house.

The supervisors voted unanimously to approve those recommendations, including one that the executive office further study the possibility of the sheriffs department creating a community liaison to help the bereaved navigate the department's long process of investigating in-custody deaths.

Lisa Matus spoke at the meeting about her experience following her sons death in jail in 2022. She believes that the in-custody death investigations should be done by a medical examiner not managed by law enforcement. She made mention of the adversity shes faced trying to get information about her sons death, including accusations by Bianco directed at her on social media blaming her family and their lawyers. Matus said her experience has made her uncomfortable with the idea of interacting with a family liaison from the sheriffs department. She said the lack of information about her sons death made her suspicious and fearful of the department. A liaison, she added, wouldn't be able to remedy that.

Sharp expressed his condolences for those who have lost relatives in the jails, but added the department has nothing to hide.

"I'm sorry for all those that have ever lost anybody in our custody," Sharp said at last week's supervisors meeting. "We're doing our best to keep drugs and other issues out of our jail. That is where the deputies are working very hard."

Transparency

While the supervisors unanimously voted in favor of the county executives recommendation, several did voice that more work needs to be done.

District 1 Supervisor Kevin Jeffries suggested the department be monitored to ensure the new contracts with outside agencies tasked with completing autopsy reports don't expire. District 5 Supervisor Yxstian Gutierez said he would encourage an annual report and added he hoped everyone would agree that new innovative solutions should be explored. District 4 Supervisor V. Manuel Perez said he was willing to support the reports recommendations "knowing, though, that we will refine this," a point Spiegel echoed.

Undersheriff Don Sharp is second in command of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

In response to them all, Sharp outlined several things that had not been previously reported to the general public. That, for example, the sheriffs department presented to the board of supervisors a detailed report on how it is fighting drug trafficking in the countys jails. The Desert Sun attempted to obtain materials from that presentation but was told by county records employees it was confidential due to being presented in closed session.

Sharp said the civil grand jury has been provided with open-door access to inquire about issues in the department.

And he said that the department had appointed an advisory committee and that the supervisors had played a role in selecting the members. During a phone interview Thursday, Sharp said he had been asked by the committee not to share the identities of its members.

Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco in 2022.

Bianco had in both of his campaigns promised to establish some sort of advisory committee. But his department never reported publicly whether or not it did. Sharps words last week were the first uttered at a board meeting acknowledging the committees existence. The Desert Sun found and was granted access to a private Facebook group, entitled Riverside County Sheriffs Advisory Committee, that appears to have been established in April 2022. It has about a half dozen posts since that time  one with photos from a tour of a department helicopter and another from a news story about a criminal investigation involving food trucks in February.

Washingtons chief of staff, Robyn Brock, said their office provided a recommendation of who should serve on that committee but declined to say who they recommended. Jeffries said he also provided a recommendation, whom he also declined to identify. He added that the person has since moved out of state and is unsure if the committee continues to meet. Gutierrez said he believes his predecessor, Jeff Hewitt, was involved but that he had no further information about the committees operations. And supervisors Perez and Spiegel did not respond to requests for information about their recommendations and involvement in the committee.

Sharp reiterated to the board last week that the coroners bureau, public administration employees and the department in general are constantly trying to improve, including in transparency.

"So as youre sitting up here and youre saying: We should do, we should do," Sharp said. "The sheriffs department has been doing."

One board vote, he said, would not change that.

"Its been five years of good work by everybody," Sharp told Washington. "And thats what I want to emphasize, versus heres something for you to approve."

They dont know

Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington.

But Washington retorted that Sharps point did not reflect what the supervisors had just voted to do moments before he came forward: decline to separate the coroners bureau from the sheriffs department.

Washington went on to add that the examples Sharp provided of how the sheriffs department is ensuring transparency are not in effect openly available to the public.

The civil grand jury is made up of volunteers and court-appointed jurors each year. They release reports once a year on what they choose to investigate, but do not report to the public ongoing matters they are inquiring about and will not take questions from the public. The advisory committee was hand-selected by the sheriff and the supervisors, and their identities are essentially confidential. Sharp also described closed-session discussions between the sheriffs department, the board, and the countys executive office, none of which the public has access to.

I think I can say this on behalf of my board: All they are asking for is that we do more to outwardly demonstrate what we all know we are doing, Washington said before pausing. He continued, referring to the public: They dont know what the grand jury hears. They dont know what goes on in closed session. They dont know what goes on in the (Executive Office).

Its a point echoed by Luis Nolasco, a member of the Sheriff Accountability Coalition, a new group of residents and organizations in Riverside who are asking for more accountability and oversight from the sheriffs department. Nolasco has worked closely with many of the families who have lost relatives in the jails. He said last week's executive office staff report on the coroner bureau provided new insight even for the members of his coalition, who have worked steadily to find information like this for years.

The report was the first time that weve been able to access a description of this process from start to finish, said Nolasco.

He said, for example, that the report was the first public disclosure that the department in May 2023 created the Central Corrections Investigation Unit to investigate jail deaths.

Its been in operation for a whole year and we just learned about it with this report, Nolasco said. The biggest thing for us is: We want some communication that they are responding to the in-custody deaths appropriately.

But the report, the vote and the discussion during last week's supervisors meeting showed how the surge in jail deaths and the investigations they trigger continue to stir passionate if parallel debates among the stakeholders about how the county can make progress.

Washington expressed his confusion about what point Sharp was trying to make and to whom he was directing it. Speaking about the supervisors, Washington said: We all defended the department. We defended this decision.

When Washington continued, "No one is being critical of what the deputies are doing," with implied reference to the members of the board, Sharp clarified that his comments were in part directed at the listening public.

"As much as I'm speaking directly to you, I'm speaking to many behind me," Sharp said.

Christopher Damien covers public safety and the criminal justice system. He can be reached at christopher.damien@desertsun.com or follow him at @chris_a_damien.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: How open is Riverside County sheriff? Top officials have rare debate
Editors Note: Jennifer Jones is a staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. Her work focuses on issues related to government transparency, government surveillance and social media. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. Read more opinion at CNN.

On Monday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in two free-speech cases that could have broad implications for the way the government participates in public discourse. Both cases involve private parties who claim that the government violated the First Amendment by coercing others to censor their speech. And both cases involve government officials who claim that they have a right to attempt to sway public opinion through their own speech.

Whats hard about these cases is that both sides have merit. The First Amendment forbids the government from coercing others to engage in censorship on its behalf, but it permits the government to urge action and participate in public debate, even vigorously. The second half of this equation has been understated in the discussion of these two cases, but if the Supreme Court fails to account for it our democracy could suffer.

In National Rifle Association v. Vullo, the NRA argues that Maria Vullo  the head of New Yorks Department of Financial Services  violated the First Amendment by pressuring banks and insurance companies to cut ties with the gun-rights group based on its political advocacy. In support of that claim, the NRA  represented by the ACLU (where I used to work)  alleges that Vullo coerced one of the NRAs insurance companies by promising leniency in enforcing New Yorks insurance laws against the companys array of technical regulatory infractions  so long as [the company] ceased providing insurance to gun groups, especially the NRA.

This is a serious allegation of government coercion that (assuming the NRA can substantiate it with evidence at trial) violates the First Amendment. Vullo claims otherwise, arguing that this offer was typical of the give-and-take that occurs in plea negotiations. But as the Supreme Court said over 60 years ago, the First Amendment prohibits the government from invoking the threat of legal sanctions to suppress speech it disfavors.

In Murthy v. Missouri, several states and social media users sued President Joe Bidens administration, claiming that it violated the First Amendment by pressuring the major social media platforms into suppressing what the administration deemed misinformation about the Covid-19 vaccines and the 2020 election. The administration argues that it simply sought to inform and persuade the platforms, which the First Amendment permits.

While the allegations of unconstitutional coercion are much weaker in this case, at least one interaction between the Biden administration and the platforms appears to have crossed the constitutional line (as my organization, the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, argued in an amicus brief). That interaction involved a heated 2021 email exchange between individuals at Facebook and White House officials, who berated the platform for failing to take down disinformation and then vaguely warned that they were considering our options on what to do about it.

In short, the plaintiffs in each lawsuit have a viable First Amendment claim that government officials threatened private parties in an effort to suppress the plaintiffs speech.

But the other sides have strong arguments, too.

In 1963, when the Supreme Court decided the case that made clear that the government may not coerce intermediaries (like the platforms) into censoring speech, it also made clear that the government can advise private parties and the public of the governments views. Lower courts have since drawn a line between coercion (which is unconstitutional) and advice or persuasion (which is constitutional). That line is a crucial one, because it recognizes the right of the public to hear from their government and it recognizes that, to govern, officials must have the ability to attempt to sway public opinion through persuasion.

This principle of persuasion is at work in each of the cases before the Supreme Court, but its also at risk. In the Murthy case, for instance, the plaintiffs argue that Biden violated the First Amendment when he accused the platforms, in failing to take down vaccine disinformation, of killing people. And they argue that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) violated the First Amendment by responding to the platforms requests for help in determining whether certain posts about Covid-19 were true or false.

Whether or not you agree with the administrations views on these questions, they were plainly efforts at persuasion, not coercion. In Vullo, the NRA points to New York officials public condemnation of the group as part of a coercive campaign targeting its speech. While the NRA is right that Vullo cant coerce others into silencing the NRAs speech, public officials are free to condemn the NRA and even to urge others to dissociate from it.

Fortunately, the line of questioning during Mondays hearing suggests that the Supreme Court is sensitive to the importance of the government being able to express its views to private parties and persuade them to act. A number of justices asked questions that indicate they understand the value of government communications with private actors. In some instances, they reasoned, the government may have exclusive access to valuable information. In others, the government may have a strong interest in preventing harm and protecting public health and safety.

Its important, then, that in allowing these suits to go forward the Supreme Court reaffirms the important role of the government in being allowed to advocate for its views. As the 2024 election approaches, as gun violence proliferates and as the threat of another pandemic looms, a broad ruling for the plaintiffs at the Supreme Court could preclude government agencies from voicing policy positions on how social media companies should address election disinformation and voter suppression efforts on their platforms.

This includes criticizing powerful groups like the NRA that play a major role in the public debate on gun violence and providing valuable public health information to social media companies as they combat the spread of medical misinformation on their sites.

Such a ruling would diminish our public discourse and disarm our democratically elected government, and underscores why the court should leave space for the government to participate in a free-speech marketplace dominated by powerful companies and interest groups. The health of our democracy depends on it.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Orlando Police Department released the identity of two men who were injured in downtown Orlando after a physical altercation.

Investigators said police officers responded to a shooting on 127 South Orange Avenue.

According to police, two people got involved in a physical altercation..

Read: Orlando Police investigate shooting after fight at popular downtown hangout

Police said upon arrival, officers discovered Rudolph Johnson, 62, with a gunshot wound.

Johnson was taken to the hospital and is currently in stable condition police said.

Read: Its a neighborhood staple: Fire breaks out at long-standing restaurant in New Smyrna Beach

Police said Johnson was in a fight with a uniformed armed security guard, Ramon Fernandez Junior, 26, who fired the gun during the fight.

Fernandez was taken to the hospital after sustaining non-lethal injuries and is currently in stable condition police said.

Read: Hunter shot in head and body by another hunter in Flagler County, police say

Channel 9 interviewed Johnson in the past after he was tied to a major scandal with the Orlando Fire Department.

Firefighters including Johnson cheated on their exams to get promotions which led to an investigation by the State Attorneys Office.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  The New Orleans Police Department welcomed a new class of recruits on Monday, March 18.

NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick welcomed Class 201, made up of 22 new people, hoping they have what it takes to be an NOPD officer.

Man convicted for 2022 serial murders in New Orleans gets life sentences

Among the recruits, 18 are from Louisiana, three have a military background and three are bilingual.

Kirkpatrick said joining the force is like being part of the family.

The New Orleans Police Department launches Recruit Class 201 on Monday, March 18, 2024. (WGNO/Cole Walker)

The New Orleans Police Department launches Recruit Class 201 on Monday, March 18, 2024. (WGNO/Cole Walker)

Youre going to forge friendships. Youre going to have relationships that are as close as a brother or sister. We want you to enjoy that and to embrace that. To know that you are not on a journey all by yourself, said Kirkpatrick.

According to the NOPD, the new class will train for the next 27 weeks.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV)  A 35-year-old Oshkosh man was sentenced to nine years in prison following his conviction of possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon.

According to the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Douglas T. Murphy, 35, received the sentence on Monday from Judge William Griesbach.

DEVELOPING: Blanket found in Manitowoc Co. confirmed to be missing 3yo Elijah Vues

Court records show on the evening of June 4, 2023, and into the early morning hours of June 5, Murphy repeatedly pointed a Cobra .380 caliber handgun at several children inside a residence located in downtown Oshkosh.

Murphy also used the firearm to pistol whip his girlfriend, the mother of the children, causing an open wound on her scalp.

A 911 call from the children led to an almost six-hour standoff with law enforcement, who formed a perimeter outside the residence. At around 6:00 a.m., a SWAT Team entered the residence and arrested Murphy.

The loaded firearm was located in close proximity to Murphy at the time he was taken into custody.

Murphy is a felon several times over, having been convicted in Waukesha, Manitowoc, and Winnebago County.

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach noted the serious and dangerous nature of Murphys conduct during the armed standoff.

Suspicious incident reveals damage to vehicle in Appleton caused by gunshot

Based on his conduct and extensive criminal history, Judge Griesbach found Murphy to pose a danger to the community and saw a strong need for a lengthy prison sentence to deter Murphy from engaging in further criminal conduct.

Upon Murphys release from federal prison, he will serve three years on supervised release.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
(KRON)  The Petaluma Police Department has seen an increased number of window-smash auto thefts.

More than 30 vehicles were targeted on Saturday night with various items of personal property stolen. The thefts have taken place at the Petaluma Village Premium Outlets, St. Vincents High School, Capri Creek Apartments, Sheraton Hotel, and other locations.

Rohnert Park police warn of uptick in thefts for this car model

The Petaluma Police Department requests community assistance for any surveillance footage that might have captured these incidents or any suspicious activity within the past 24 hours. Any information regarding these incidents or who can identify the suspect(s) to contact (707) 778-4372.

The Petaluma Police Department offers residents tips to combat auto burglaries:

Remember to remove any personal belongings or items of value from plain sight to deter potential thieves.

Park in well-lit areas.

Always lock your car doors.

Consider using anti-theft devices such as steering wheel locks or car alarms.

If possible, park in designated parking areas with security cameras.

Be aware of your surroundings and trust your instincts  if something doesnt feel right, find a safer place to park.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office announced it arrested 26 people for DUIs over the holiday weekend and 16 were arrested by the Tampa Police Department, totaling more than 40 arrests for St. Patricks Day weekend.

Operation Guinness was a county-wide crackdown on impaired driving for St. Patricks Day weekend and included 316 traffic stops and 26 arrests from the sheriffs office, it announced Monday.

Deputies search for suspect who fired 20 shots at homes in New Port Richey

With St. Patricks Day occurring during Spring Break, we were anticipating a heavy influx of drivers on our roadways, said Sheriff Chad Chronister. Thanks to the diligence of our DUI Unit and our patrol deputies, drivers that could have seriously injured themselves or other drivers spent a night in the Orient Road Jail rather than on our roadways. We are fortunate the weekend passed without any major incidents.

The sheriffs office said in addition to the 316 traffic stops and the 26 arrests, deputies issued 28 citations, 295 warnings, and 6 non-DUI-related arrests.

Additionally, the Tampa Police Department conducted 155 traffic stops, issued 36 citations and 133 warnings, and made a total of 24 arrests, 16 of which were for DUIs.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
House Oversight Committee Republicans on Monday requested further detail from Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm about the Biden administrations pause on approvals of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, the latest in several salvos against administration energy policies.

In a letter to Granholm, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, Regulatory Affairs Chairman Pat Fallon (R-Texas) and Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) requested a staff-level briefing with the secretary and further information about how politics factored into the decision.

The Energy Department announced the pause in January, freezing all new LNG export approvals to countries without free-trade agreements with the U.S. until the administration can assess the impacts of LNG exports on climate change. Existing exports are unaffected.

The timing of the decision, in an election year, raises the likelihood that political motivations drove the action, the three Republicans wrote, citing reporting in The Wall Street Journal suggesting the administration consulted with environmental advocacy groups ahead of the announcement.

Comer, Fallon and Higgins requested communications between the department and White House climate advisers John Podesta and Ali Zaidi regarding the pause, as well as those between the department and nongovernmental organizations.

Congressional Republicans have frequently taken aim at the LNG pause, with GOP senators introducing a bill to undo it and the Republican-majority House passing separate legislation in February giving sole jurisdiction over approving or rejecting new natural gas export projects to the independent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Nine Democrats voted with the GOP majority on the latter bill.

The White House has emphasized that the pause will not affect existing exports and that U.S. allies who stepped up their imports of American LNG to replace Russian energy. However, Zaidi suggested in January that climate concerns among the Democratic voter base were a factor in the decision as well, saying during a press briefing that young people have been such a central part of the coalition that helped the president imagine this climate agenda.

The Hill has reached out to the Energy Department for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Pennsylvania congressman who has touted himself as a "moderate" despite being in the Congressional Progressive Caucus is anticipated to have one of the most closely-watched congressional elections this year as he works to again defend his seat in a district that voted for former President Donald Trump in 2020.

"I am a moderate, so dont be worried about me running off with Nancy Pelosi," Pennsylvania Rep. Matt Cartwright said in 2014 during a debate in the lead up to his first re-election.

Nearly a decade later, voting records show Cartwright overwhelmingly voted in line with Nancy Pelosi when she served as House Speaker, and has continued his membership with the left-wing Congressional Progressive Caucus as a handful of other left-wing Democrats left the group following the war in Israel or over cost of membership.

Cartwright was first sworn into Congress in 2013, where he represented Pennsylvanias 17th District before the state redistricted in 2018, when Cartwright was elected to represent the states 8th District.

PENNSYLVANIA ELECTION RESULTS: REP. MATT CARTWRIGHT WINS RE-ELECTION AGAINST TRUMP-ENDORSED CHALLENGER

Representative Matt Cartwright, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, speaks during a House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, May 28, 2020. Photographer: Anna Moneymaker/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images

"His priorities in Congress include strengthening the middle class, creating jobs, ensuring quality health care, protecting seniors, and supporting veterans and military families. A strong believer in working with members of both political parties, he has introduced more bills with Democratic and Republican support than any other House Democrat since he was first elected," Cartwright's congressional biography states.

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The 8th District is located in Pennsylvanias northeastern portion of the state, and includes cities such as Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, encompassing Wayne, Pike, and Lackawanna counties, as well as portions of Luzerne and Monroe counties.

Cartwright is up for re-election again this year, when Pennsylvania will take center stage as a top battleground state as Trump and President Biden tee up another face-off for the White House.

ONE OF NATION'S MOST VULNERABLE DEMOCRATS COZIES UP TO BIDEN FOR PENNSYLVANIA RALLY

Cartwrights district voted to re-elect Trump in 2020, carrying the district by 2.9 points over Biden. While Cartwright defeated his Republican congressional challenger by just over 7,000 votes of the 286,886 cast that year, New York Times data shows.

Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters at a rally to support local candidates on Sept. 3, 2022 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

His re-election campaign this year is anticipated to be closely watched, as he is one of just nine districts across the country where Democrats are working to defend their seats after Trump won the districts in the 2020 presidential election.

In comments to Fox News Digital, the Republican congressional candidate for Pennsylvanias 8th District, Rob Bresnahan, took issue with Cartwrights repeated proclamations of support for Pennsylvanias working class while remaining in Congress left-wing Progressive Caucus.

"Every election year Matt Cartwright proclaims I work for you to the working class voters of the 8th District. How could that be true as a member of the radical Progressive Caucus? It's not. Matt Cartwright represents the radical left, and they own his vote," Bresnahan said.

Cartwright campaign director Shelly Tsirulik defended the congressman in a comment to Fox News digital late Sunday saying,"Matt Cartwright is the most bipartisan Democrat in the House, having introduced more bipartisan bills than any other Democrat since coming to Congress,".

DEM REP. CARTWRIGHT DOWNPLAYS VIRGINIA GOVERNOR RACE'S SIGNIFICANCE: WILL BE 'DIM MEMORY' BY MIDTERMS

The Progressive Caucus was established in 1991 by lawmakers such as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist, and California Rep. Maxine Waters. The group is now chaired by Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, and represents the Democratic Partys most left-leaning members, including each member of the Squad.

UNITED STATES - JULY 20: Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., speaks during a news conference on the Child Tax Credit in the Capitol on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Also appearing from left are Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The caucus has bled membership in recent months, most notably after war broke out in Israel in October, with Democratic Reps. Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Zoe Lofgren of California both confirming this month they are no longer with the caucus, citing cost of membership. Earlier this year, New York Rep. Ritchie Torres also left the caucus after disagreeing with the group on the war in Israel, while Florida Rep. Lois Frankel left last year over similar reasons, Axios reported.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 24: U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) held a news conference to discuss the debt ceiling negotiations. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Fox News Digital examined Cartwrights voting record for the 117th Congress, which began and 2021 and officially ended last year, and found he agreed with New York Rep. Ocasio-Cortez on 95% of votes, and agreed with Progressive Caucus Chair Jaypal on 97% of votes, data published by ProPublica shows.

FOX NEWS POLL: PENNSYLVANIA LOOKS HEADED FOR ANOTHER TIGHT RACE IN 2024

Despite saying he would not be "running off with Nancy Pelosi" in 2014, his voting record for the 117th Congress also shows he voted in line with Pelosi a whopping 100% of the time.

Former Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

The Daily Kos, a left-wing blog outlet, reported this month that even after winning his district in 2022 following Trump's win in 2020, Bresnahan "may be the toughest challenger for Cartwright yet," while the Cook Political Report lists the seat as a "Democratic toss up" and Politics Pennsylvania lists his seat as "vulnerable."

A recent Fox News poll found Pennsylvania overall is expected to hold another nail-biter election this presidential election. In the presumptive presidential rematch, Trump has a narrow edge over Biden among Pennsylvania registered voters, at 49% to Biden's 47%, according to a poll released last Wednesday. The 2-point difference is within the polls margin of error.

AHEAD OF 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, SWING STATE PENNSYLVANIA SETS UP ELECTION SECURITY TASK FORCE

In his previous 2022 campaign, Cartwright detailed on his website that his top priorities included: lowering prices "from the grocery aisle to the gas pump;" "protecting and expanding access to affordable health care for all northeastern Pennsylvanians;" defending the military and veterans; funding and supporting police; finding solutions to the opioid epidemic and strengthening the education system.

"Matt Cartwright has spent his entire career sticking up for working people, first as a trial attorney and now as the congressman in Pennsylvanias Eighth District. He is a fighter for all hardworking northeastern Pennsylvanians, standing up to corporate special interests and Washington insiders to lower prices, protect and expand access to health care, and grow our local economy," his campaign website states.

National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella said in comment to Fox News Digital that Cartwright presents himself as a moderate in order to "squeeze out a vote" while pushing left-wing policies.

"Matt Cartwright is the embodiment of a lying politician who will do and say anything to squeeze out a vote. Cartwright thinks his voters are fools who are willing to believe hes a moderate, while he has personally crafted the extreme policies of the far left wing of the Democrat Party," Marinella said.

CONSERVATIVES RALLY BEHIND PENNSYLVANIA AMISH FARMER WHO SUFFERED POLICE RAID OVER MILK SALES

The U.S. Capitol is seen lit by the morning sun.

Cartwright, who is a senior member of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations, voted for Democratic legislation such as the Build Back Better Act, co-sponsed Medicare for All legislation, and has voiced support for some policies in the Green New Deal.

Cartwright is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, which will be held next month. Republican challenger Bresnahan, a fifth-generation native of Luzerne County and CEO of Kuharchik Construction, is anticipated to face Cartwright in the general election on Nov. 5.





Original article source: PA Dem in district that voted for Trump says he's a moderate, but voting record tells another story
A man and woman have been accused of murdering a 74-year-old Washington state man who disappeared last month, as part of a wider financial fraud scheme, authorities said. The pair were arrested on Thursday in Southern California and will be extradited back to Washington to face homicide charges.

Curtis Engeland's family reported him missing on Feb. 24, one day after authorities said he was last seen at his home on Mercer Island, in southern Lake Washington near Seattle, police said in a statement.

Although police originally investigated the disappearance as a missing persons case potentially involving a kidnapping, they later found the man dead near Cosmopolis, a city some 100 miles west along the Pacific Coast.

Engeland was stabbed in the neck, a spokesperson for Mercer Island police told CBS News on Monday, citing a ruling by the county medical examiner.

The 74-year-old man's body was found in Cosmopolis, southeast of Aberdeen, on Monday. https://t.co/gYrGSAqMJ9  KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) March 15, 2024

The suspects have been identified as 32-year-old Philip Brewer and 47-year-old Christina Hardy, the spokesperson said. Investigators used GPS information from the suspects' cell phones to find Engeland's body, and the probe so far suggests they became acquainted with Engeland several months before his death and financially defrauded him. Police believe that the suspects "violently confronted" Engeland at his home on Mercer Island on the evening of Feb. 23 and used his car to leave the area that same night.

Police have not shared more details about the circumstances surrounding that confrontation, but Mercer Island police said that detectives believe both suspects left Washington state soon after Engeland was killed. They alleged the suspects then rented new vehicles and changed cell phones "to cover their path."

In charging documents filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and obtained by CBS affiliate KIRO News Radio, prosecutors said that Brewer and Hardy "appear to have concocted a scheme to kill the victim and then move into his home, all while taking over his financial accounts and making extravagant purchases just hours after killing him," according to KIRO News Radio. They also alleged the suspects used Engeland's cell phone, after his murder, to conduct falsified conversations between them in an ostensible attempt to dupe authorities into thinking he was still alive.

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
The rumors about Kate Middleton's long absence from the public eye have turned into absolutely crazy conspiracy theories, one of the most popular of which is Prince William's "infidelity." Palace insiders report that the Prince and Princess of Wales are "stunned and devastated" by the unfounded speculation of fans. In addition, it has been reported that 42-year-old Catherine was first seen on the street "happy and healthy" in the company of her husband.

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The encouraging news was shared by journalists from The Sun. Kate and William were allegedly visiting a farm shop together a mile from their Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor.

Witnesses said the Princess of Wales looked "happy, relaxed, and healthy" during the visit, which took place on Saturday. The day before, according to the source, Kate and William spent the morning watching their children - ten-year-old George, eight-year-old Charlotte and five-year-old Louis - play sports.

Back at the farm shop, one of the witnesses told reporters: "After all the rumors that were going around, I was stunned to see them there. Kate was shopping with William, looking happy and well. The children were not with them, but it is a good sign that she is well enough to go down to the store."

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The palace also reported that the wife of the future British king plans to join her family for a traditional walk to church in Windsor on Easter Sunday.

It's worth noting that before that, Catherine was allegedly spotted in public in a car, but later rumors spread that it might not be her, but her sister.

As a reminder, on January 16, Kate Middleton was hospitalized for abdominal surgery. Representatives of Kensington Palace said at the time that the 42-year-old Princess of Wales would stay in the hospital for about two weeks, after which she would not appear in public until Easter. The mysterious illness spawned many rumors among fans of the British royal family, but the circumstances became even more strange after the publication of a photo of Catherine with her children on Mother's Day.

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The journalists found out that the photo was "fake." They even conducted an investigation and published the image metadata, which proved that the photo was photoshopped. However, the most interesting thing is that after removing the badly edited frame, the palace refused to publish the original photo, because, presumably, it simply does not exist.

The situation has led to increased speculation and conspiracy theories about Kate's whereabouts. One of them is the betrayal of Prince William. Adherents of this theory believe that the future king is allegedly having an affair with his "country mistress" Rose Hanbury again.

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This theory was reinforced by the fact that in the scandalous "edited" photo, Katherine was not wearing a wedding ring, although she had never taken it off before.

Although Middleton eventually apologized for the "mix-up" with the photo, the crown's reputation was badly damaged, and the number of rumors and theories only continued to grow rapidly.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, fans of the royal family have discovered another possible sign of editing in a recent photo of the Welsh couple. The picture shows Prince William and Kate Middleton leaving Windsor Castle. However, the bricks behind the car do not match the color of the bricks seen through the car window.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Pakistan has admitted carrying out "intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations" in Afghanistan after the Taliban accused it of killing eight women and children.

No exact details were provided on the operation in an official statement.

However, it did say it was in response to a militant attack which left seven Pakistani soldiers dead on Saturday.

The Taliban has denied any link to the militants, adding that the "reckless" strikes had hit "civilian homes".

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesperson for the Taliban government, warned Pakistan not to "blame Afghanistan for the lack of control and problems in its own territory" in a statement released on X (formerly Twitter).

"Such incidents can have very bad consequences which will not be in Pakistan's control," he added.

Tensions have been rising between Afghanistan and Pakistan since the Taliban retook control of the country in 2021.

Pakistan says it has been dealing with a rising number of militant attacks, and on Monday accused "certain elements among those in power" of "actively patronising" militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and of "using them as a proxy against Pakistan".

Monday's statement said the target of the operation had been another group, Hafiz Gul Bahadur, which Pakistan accuses of attacking the military post close to the Afghan border in north Waziristan.

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari had already vowed to "respond strongly" to the troops' deaths, "regardless of who it is or from which country" the group came from.

President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari attended the funerals of two of those killed on Saturday

But Taliban spokesperson Mr Mujahid said the 03:00 (22:30 GMT) attack in Khost and Paktika had killed five women and three children.

It later said it had fired at Pakistani troops stationed along the border.

Late last year, Pakistan forced hundreds of thousands of Afghans to leave Pakistan, saying they did not have the correct paperwork to stay. Human rights groups criticised the policy, saying it resulted in many refugees and asylum seekers being coerced into leaving.

Caretaker ministers at the time suggested that this was done because of security concerns. Some analysts have suggested groups have taken advantage of the Taliban's return, but the Taliban has denied hosting militant groups, AFP reports.
This is a locator map for Afghanistan with its capital, Kabul. (AP Photo)

ISLAMABAD (AP)  Pakistani airstrikes targeted multiple suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban inside neighboring Afghanistan early on Monday, the foreign ministry said. The Afghan Taliban said the attacks killed at least eight people and prompted return fire from their forces.

The exchange, two days after seven Pakistani soldiers were killed in a suicide bombing and coordinated attack in the country's northwest, marked an escalation that is likely to further increase tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

The Foreign Office in Islamabad confirmed the strikes, describing them as "intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan" and saying they targeted a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban.

The Afghan Taliban denounced the strikes as an aggression on Afghanistan's territorial integrity, and said later Monday their forces targeted Pakistans military centers along the border with heavy weapons, without providing details.

Earlier in the day, two Pakistani security and intelligence officials told The Associated Press the strikes were carried out in Khost and Paktika provinces bordering Pakistan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

It was not immediately clear how deep inside Afghanistan the Pakistani jets flew for Monday's strikes  the first since 2022, when Pakistan targeted militant hideouts in Afghanistan. Islamabad never officially confirmed those strikes.

Chief Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said three women and three children were killed in the airstrikes the district of Barmal in Paktika while two other women were killed in a strike in Khost.

Such attacks are a violation of Afghanistans sovereignty and there will be bad consequences, Mujahid said.

According to the two Pakistani officials, mortars fired by the Afghan Taliban in Monday's return fire wounded four people and forced some villagers in the Kurram district to move to safer areas. Pakistani troops fired back, the officials said.

On Saturday, a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden truck into a military post in the Pakistani town of Mir Ali, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan, killing seven Pakistani soldiers. Troops responded and killed all six attackers in a shootout, the military said.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari attended the soldiers' funerals and vowed to retaliate, saying the blood of our martyred soldiers will not go in vain."

A newly formed militant group, Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad claimed the Mir Ali attack. Pakistani officials believe the group is mainly made up of members of the Pakistani Taliban, the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, which often targets Pakistani soldiers and police.

Muhammad Ali, an Islamabad based security expert, said army Lt. Col. Kashif Ali and Cpt. Ahmad Badar were among those killed in Mir Ali and that Monday's airstrikes were an obvious retaliation, coming within 24 hours of Zardari's warning.

Pakistans patience for the Afghan interim governments continued hospitality for terrorists conducting frequent attacks on Pakistan from inside Afghanistan has finally run out, Ali said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the families of the lieutenant colonel and the captain slain in Mir Ali and paid tribute to all the soldiers killed in the attack. He did not comment on the airstrikes in Afghanistan.

Separately, the Pakistani military said security forces carried out an operation Monday in North Waziristan near the Afghan border, killing eight militants linked to Saturday's attack.

The Afghan Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 as the U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pullout after 20 years of war. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan emboldened the TTP, whose top leaders and fighters are hiding in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban insist they do not allow the Pakistani Taliban  or any other militant group  to use Afghanistan's soil to launch attacks. However, the TTP has stepped up attacks inside Pakistan in recent years, straining relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

Adding to the tensions between the two countries was a move by Islamabad last year to expel Afghans living in Pakistan without valid documents. Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation of their country. More than half a million fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power.

So far, Pakistan has expelled nearly half a million Afghans in the ongoing crackdown. Islamabad says Afghans who have refugee status have not been deported.

The deportations have also drawn criticism from the international community and analysts have warned that mass deportations risk radicalizing those who have been forced out of Pakistan  often returning to deplorable conditions back in Afghanistan.

In January, Pakistani strikes  in a tit-for-tat exchanges with Tehran  hit Pakistani militants inside Iran, briefly raising tensions but the two neighbors. The situation calmed after Tehran and Islamabad agreed to cooperate against each others militants.

___

Associated Press writer Riaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report.
A controversial new paper suggests the universe is twice as old as current models suggest and that dark matter  the mysterious stuff believed by an overwhelming majority of physicists to make up much of the universe  doesn't actually exist.

It's generally believed that dark matter doesn't interact with light or the electromagnetic field in any way, but can exert gravitational force. It's a conundrum that's plagued astrophysicists for decades  it can't be directly observed, yet is believed to make up 26 percent of the universe.

University of Ottawa physics professor Rajendra Gupta, the sole author of a new paper published in the Astrophysical Journal, made headlines last year after suggesting the universe was 26.7 billion years old, twice as old as its generally accepted age.

In his latest paper, Gupta builds on his theory, challenging the need for dark matter.

"The study's findings confirm that our previous work about the age of the universe being 26.7 billion years has allowed us to discover that the Universe does not require dark matter to exist," said Gupta in a statement.

Needless to say, it's a controversial theory that directly flies in the face of stuff that's more or less universally agreed upon by experts.

Prevailing theories suggest the accelerating expansion of the universe is tied to a positive cosmological constant. This constant has often been used to explain the existence of dark energy, the dominant component of the universe, making up an estimated 68 percent of its total energy.

While dark matter makes up most of the mass of galaxies and determines how they're organized, dark energy drives the accelerated expansion of the universe.

But that's not how Gupta sees it. To back up his revised model, the professor borrowed from previous research of Swiss physicist Fritz Zwicky, who suggested in the late 1920s that red light emanating from distant celestial objects may be the result of energy being lost, a theory that became known as the "tired light" hypothesis.

By combining this theory with a new "covarying coupling constant," which, unlike the prevailing cosmological constant, suggests that the forces of nature decline over time, Gupta argues that dark matter doesn't have to be part of the equation at all.

"In standard cosmology, dark energy causes the accelerated expansion of the universe," Gupta explained. "However, it is due to the weakening forces of nature as it expands, not dark energy."

Needless to say, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence  so expect pushback from Gupta's peers.

"There are several papers that question the existence of dark matter, but mine is the first one, to my knowledge, that eliminates its cosmological existence while being consistent with key cosmological observations that we have had time to confirm," said Gupta in the statement.

More on dark matter: Scientists Befuddled by Impossible Galaxy Seen by James Webb
The government is working on expanding the list of categories of IDPs who will receive state aid, according to the Ministry of Reintegration.



The government is working on expanding the list of categories of IDPs who will receive state aid, according to the Ministry of Reintegration.



Proposals for amendments to the resolution approving the procedure for providing assistance for the residence of internally displaced persons (IDPs) have already been developed.



Read also: Ukrainian Social Policy Ministry to extend support for some IDPs in 2024

The proposed categories of IDPs entitled to payments include:



Children placed in the care of foster families, foster parents, or temporarily with relatives, acquaintances, foster families, or family-type children's homes.

Seriously ill individuals without established disability.



For families with an average monthly total income per recipient not exceeding $354, the proposed eligible groups are:

Pre-pension age individuals



Individuals with disabilities of Group III

Individuals caring for children under 3 years old or those who require care up to the age of 6

Individuals whose families include children under 18 and/or under 23 who are full-time or dual-form students at vocational, specialized secondary, or higher education institutions.

Read also: Ukraine's Reintegration Ministry provides payments to some owners of destroyed or damaged homes

Additionally, the deadline for submitting applications for reassessment of payments for residence for internally displaced persons is proposed to be extended until April 30, 2024.



Applications for the appointment or reassessment of payments for IDPs should be submitted to all operating Administrative Service Centers (ASCs). The list of communities where applications can only be submitted to the ASC is available at the provided link.



Read also: Ukraine allocates nearly $5 million in compensation to employers hiring IDPs

It is important to note that assistance for citizens residing in Ukraine and having the status of internally displaced persons amounts to:



UAH 3000 ($77) for individuals with disabilities and children



UAH 2000 ($51) for other individuals.

Money can be received on the 15th and 28th of each month.



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 Donald Trump's home county, even some Democrats are being branded with the MAGA label.

State party leader Nikki Fried's decision to suspend Palm Beach County Democratic Party Chairwoman Mindy Koch has devolved into anger and accusations that the "MAGA left" conspired against Koch with Trumpian tactics.

In a letter to Fried on March 6, 15 local Democrats involved in different organizations ripped Koch's critics as a "MAGA-left" faction that "borrowed a page" from the Make America Great Again movement led by Trump. Their strategy, similar to MAGA they said, was refusing "to recognize a legitimate election; obstruct that leaders efforts to unify at every turn; organize opposition to drive the elected leader out; and install their own leadership," according to the letter.

"This is a formula for chaos and for a Republican takeover of Palm Beach County in November. Ultimately, it may be a formula for a takeover of the state party, and you may be the target of these tactics in the future," the letter warned.

Koch has called Fried's action unjust as she fights to retain the leadership post. She has said her suspension places Florida's county parties in an "extremely dangerous state" with a critical election looming for Democratic candidates on every ballot.

In a letter to state party leader Nikki Fried on March 6, 15 local Democrats ripped Mindy Koch's critics as a "MAGA-left" faction that "borrowed a page" from the Make America Great Again movement led by Trump.

Democrats' intra-party feuding deepens in PBC in critical election year

The intra-party turmoil boiled over this month with Fried's suspension of Koch.

But it's been a tumultuous term for Koch, who was elected by only one vote in 2022 to replace longtime county Democratic leader Teri Rizzo. Koch won the race against progressive candidate Maria Cole, who drew the support of younger members who leaned more toward progressive ideologies.

For more than a year, Democrats have struggled to find agreement on budgets, campaign plans or even the way meetings of the ruling Democratic Executive Committee are held. This created a rift within the party, with Koch's supporters often clashing with a group of younger, progressive members who sharply disagreed with Koch's leadership style and her decisions.

Adding to the tension is the impending 2024 election. Local Democrats staggered into the pivotal presidential voting year off the disastrous 2022 midterm election in which Gov. Ron DeSantis and the statewide GOP slate carried traditionally blue bastion Palm Beach County by a landslide.

Palm Beach County has since grown even more pivotal for Democrats' 2024 aspirations.

While Democrats maintain a decisive edge in voter registrations in Palm Beach County, with about 55,000 over the GOP, statewide Republicans have a voter registration edge of more than 779,000 voters over Democrats. President Joe Biden's seeming longshot bid to win the state's 30 electoral votes, Democrats' aspirations to flip the U.S. Senate seat held by Rick Scott and perhaps write a pro-abortion amendment into Florida's Constitution will require a major turnout of Democrats in Palm Beach County.

Mindy Koch, suspended: Palm Beach County Democratic Party leader suspended by state chief amid 2024 election year.

Koch's supporters said party needed to rally around her. Others not sure 'MAGA left' was best wording

Joy Howell, who worked with Koch, was among those who signed the letter to Fried. She defended the wording, especially the use of the "MAGA left" terminology, saying the tactics employed against Koch are precisely "what MAGA Republicans do" in engaging in personal attacks and in not recognizing her election.

"I'm concerned about having a healthy, effective Democratic party. In order to do that, we need to unify around the idea that these tactics should be roundly condemned by everyone, from Nikki Fried on down," Howell said. "Democrats believe in democracy, believe in legitimate elections."

Democrats' goal to win Florida: Biden says he wants to win Florida. Local Dems also focused on commission, legislative races

But Alexandria Ayala, a Palm Beach County school board member who serves on the governing Democratic Executive Committee, said she supported Fried's decision to suspend Koch for the party to move past the yearlong-plus conflict.

Ayala added that using terms like "MAGA-left" against their own Democratic members was going into "negative territory."

"There's a lot of indecision on how to move forward, and at the end of the day, there's elections coming in August and November and there's a lot of work to do. So if this is causing so much division and disagreement, I think that speaks 100% to the state of the local party right now," Ayala said.

School board member Alexandria Ayala said she supported Nikki Fried's decision to suspend Koch for the party to move past the yearlong-plus conflict.

Palm Beach County Democrats have a generational divide

Ayala said she thinks part of the problem in the county comes from generational differences within the local party's leadership and membership, especially between older, longtime leaders and the rising ranks of those under the age of 40.

Ayala, who became the school board's youngest-ever member when she was elected in 2020 at age 27 and is a former leader in the Palm Beach County Young Democrats, said younger members often hold more progressive-leaning views and want different campaign efforts to appeal to youth voters. She said she has often seen these views fall on deaf ears in the party, and the division over Koch's chairmanship may also signify that.

Maria Cole, the county's state committeewoman who ran against Koch two years ago, focused her message on outreach to younger and minority communities, versus Koch's touting of her experience as the party's former vice chair and working to support local parties for decades.

The letter that Koch's supporters sent to Fried described Cole as a leader of a group of dissenters opposing Koch's leadership style. The letter also blamed Cole for the failure to adopt a budget last month, saying that Cole advised Koch to cancel a meeting because of internet issues and to adopt the budget March 7, three days after Koch's suspension.

"Unfortunately the faction headed by Cole has exploited that decision to the detriment of Chair Koch and the DEC," the letter read.

"It had to stop": Fried's decision to suspend local party chair comes with split sentiments

Koch's suspension was not the only action Fried took the day before Super Tuesday, March 5. Fried, who took over the state party's top spot in early 2023, also suspended the Miami-Dade and Franklin county chairs. Once suspended, the fates of Koch and her two peers rest on a committee that will review their cases and decide whether to make the suspensions permanent by formally ousting them from their leadership posts.

In her suspension notice to Koch, Fried said the county party's "inability to find compromise within your membership have altogether created an environment that prohibits the DEC from being compliant and successful."

Rolando Barrero, the president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, said Fried made the right decision.

"It had to stop," Barrero said of the intra-party conflicts and disputes. "I think it's rather a game that Nikki and Mindy have been caught in by a handful of people, and they've been pushed against a wall to act."

Barrero said he was caught in the middle of the conflict. He acknowledged that he initially voted for Cole for party chair but supported Koch after she won and started her term as chair since his goal is promoting effective leadership.

Barrero disagreed with the usage of the "MAGA-left," saying he dislikes that style of politics and that it doesn't accomplish the mission of promoting good leadership.

"I don't like that word even when it's referred to Trump," Barrero said. "I'd never adhere to name-calling."

Stephen Gaskill, the immediate past president of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, said that although he has supported Fried for years, this case in Palm Beach County required "a little more hands-on attention."

Gaskill acknowledged that Fried visited the county in June to quell the debate and encourage unity, but that the "people who needed to hear her message of unity either didn't hear it or didn't want to hear it."

"I don't think we've received that from the FDP," Gaskill said of wanting more direct attention to the county's conflicts. "The bottom line here is this is a major election year for our county, and to remove the duly elected chair during the election is not helping the process."

Fried's PBC visit in June: 'The parent is coming in:' Nikki Fried intervenes as Palm Beach County Democrats feud

What's next for Palm Beach County?

County Democrats have an election to gear up for in November, and until the local party holds another election, Vice Chair Sean Rourk will serve as acting chair.

Joel Schleifer, who signed the letter supporting Koch, said the county is in "limbo at a crucial time, during the most crucial election year."

"To remove the county chair in the third largest county, one of the most Democratic counties in the state, in the middle of our fundraising season where we're trying to get people to vote by mail and we're trying to identify our prime voters, to me is very counterproductive," Schleifer said.

Ayala disagreed, and said the county party's mission is to elect Democrats and must be in the strongest position to do that."

"The time for changes is now, so I'm ready to do the work if there's a plan," Ayala said. "The problem is sometimes it's just a lot of talking and no action. So, I hope that there's a plan to follow up the decision that was made."

Perhaps, but in the meantime, Koch is fighting to keep the chairmanship. On Wednesday, March 13 she sent a letter to the review committee asking for their support to keep her as chair.

In the letter, Koch said that she had met the compliance requests in submitting documents to the state, including documents such as campaign plans, a membership list and a budget. She noted that Fried's reasoning for removal included noncompliance with a state judicial council agreement from January, and she noted that Fried had "no statutory grounds for my suspension."

"The decision by Chair Fried to impose this sanction is arbitrary and capricious, and it will have a lasting, chilling effect on FDP," Koch wrote. "No County Chair has ever been suspended before, and if Chair Fried believes she has the authority to take this action against me, she clearly believes she can impose this on any one of you. This is an extremely dangerous state of being for the future of Democratic Party aspirations in Florida."

Stephany Matat is a politics reporter for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY-Florida network. Reach her at smatat@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County Democratic chair supporters blame "MAGA-left"
UPDATE: Officials with Tyler police said the pedestrian in the crash, 79-year-old Evencio Arellano, has died.

Front Street is now open for regular traffic, police said.

TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Eastbound traffic on a portion of W. Front Street is closed Monday morning after a pedestrian crash.

According to Tyler police, the crash happened in the 1800 block of W. Front Street and all eastbound traffic is closed from Lyons Avenue to Peach Avenue.

High-speed pursuit ends in crash at Loop 323, State Highway 64 in Tyler

Officials said that as of 8:40 a.m. emergency personnel are in the roadway, and the pedestrian was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The car involved remained on scene, according to authorities, and the crash reportedly did not happen at a crosswalk or intersection.

The case remains under investigation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
A Pennsylvania judge rejected the defense's request to drop the case against a man accused of killing a pregnant Amish woman and her unborn child and sent the case to a trial court at a preliminary hearing Friday after witnesses shared damning evidence.

Shawn Cranston, a 52-year-old trucker, is accused of barging into the home of Rebekah Byler, 23, and killing her. She was six months pregnant.

The defense argued that prosecutors did not provide a motive or murder weapon and asked the judge to dismiss the charges.

POLICE INVESTIGATING AMISH COUNTRY KILLING FIND BROKEN KNIFE, UNIDENTIFIED HAIR IN PREGNANT WOMAN'S SCALPING

However, witnesses spotted Cranston's red Jeep at the scene, and Byler's supporters in a GoFundMe campaign suggested she had been killed in a case of mistaken identity over a grudge against the previous resident at her address.

Magisterial District Judge Amy Nichols found enough evidence at Cranston's preliminary hearing Friday to send the case to the Crawford County Common Pleas Court, a trial court, for further proceedings.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

MAN ARRESTED IN KILLING OF PREGNANT AMISH WOMAN IN PENNSYLVANIA

Shawn Cranston, left, from Pennsylvania, has been charged with killing 23-year-old Rebekah Byler, who was about six months pregnant at the time of her death.

Search warrants show police recovered a broken knife and two spent casings from different firearms in the victim's home.

Byler had been shot in the head, stabbed in the neck and suffered a "scalping type wound," according to authorities.

Her two children were home at the time of the slayings, and a family friend found them playing with toys in another room before leading them outside and calling 911, witnesses said in court Friday.

2 MINNESOTA AMISH CHILDREN DEAD; IDENTICAL TWINS CHARGED WITH SWAPPING PLACES, AND CASE GETS COMPLICATED

The friend, Julie Warner, said she could not check for a pulse but that Byler's body was cold by the time she arrived with the victim's husband, Andy Byler.

Andy Byler testified that he left that morning to check on roofing jobs while his wife was doing laundry and returned with Warner and found her on the floor.

"I didnt really believe it," he testified. "I walked in and saw her cap laying inside the door."

Cranston, wearing a bulletproof vest, did not speak during the hearing. He faces charges of criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary and trespassing. He is being held without bail.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Pennsylvania Amish murder: No motive in pregnant woman's slaying, but witnesses saw suspect's car at scene
The Defense Department is still operating under a 2021 policy that sets a goal for active duty units to spend three months at home for every month they spend deployed, a spokeswoman confirmed to Military Times on Friday, but the Pentagon wont disclose how often its being met.

The policy, which technically expired in November but is still part of the departments force management guidance, includes a waiver process for units to revert to the mandatory minimum 1:2 deployment-to-dwell ratio, but the numbers on waiver requests and approvals are classified, Army Maj. Grace Geiger said.

The Department has multiple processes in place to identify, approve, and track individuals and units not meeting the goal, she added, including oversight from the services, the Joint Staff and the defense secretarys office.

The Pentagon had not answered follow-up questions seeking details of these oversight processes as of Friday afternoon.

Questions about the Pentagon policy emerged following an Army Times investigation last week that found that members of Army armor brigades  units that largely have not met the dwell time goals over the past decade  were twice as likely to kill themselves than other active duty soldiers in recent years.

BROKEN TRACK: Suicides & suffering in Armys exhausted armor community

Long periods of high operational tempo can increase a service members suicide risk, according to Craig Bryan, a psychologist and mental health researcher at Ohio State University who spoke to Army Times.

Bryan, a former Air Force psychologist, was a member of the suicide prevention independent review committee convened by the Pentagon in 2022.

That committee found that training demands and requirements  [are] primary sources of stress, burnout and demoralization. Other common stressors include shoddy computers, byzantine promotion policies, unsupportive leaders and poor housing.

Army tank brigades have flirted with or broken the dwell threshold in recent years.

The 3rd Infantry Divisions 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team returned from a nine-month South Korea rotation in August 2021. But the Raider Brigade rapidly deployed to Europe six months later in February 2022, when Russia expanded its invasion of Ukraine. The brigades families were furious about the move, detailing the hardships they faced during a March 2022 town hall with the Armys then-top noncommissioned officer at Fort Stewart, Georgia.

This month, the Fort Carson, Colorado-based 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, deploys to Europe approximately 16 months after returning from an eight-month Poland mission in December 2022.

Former officials argue that the sustained operational tempo has harmed units as well.

Retired Gen. Robert Abe Abrams, who led Army Forces Command before retiring in 2021, previously told Military Times that the Armys armor units struggle with a 1:2 deployment-to-dwell ratio at current resourcing levels and cannot sustain that tempo indefinitely.

Thats whats crushing them, he said.

Other communities, such as air defense, have faced high deployment rates as well.

The Navy has also dealt with a bruising tempo in recent years, with an ever-increasing assortment of missions. The COVID pandemic only exacerbated that pace, as pre-cruise quarantines and zero port calls became the order of the day.

The aircraft carrier Nimitz and its strike group spent an historic 11 months at sea from April 2020 through February 2021.

Precisely 22 months later, a perfect 1:2 dwell ratio, they were back on deployment. Policy dictates they would have needed a waiver to deploy again that quickly.
The Columbia Fire Department said a death was reported Sunday night after firefighters found a person inside a burning South Carolina home.

Firefighters responded to a house fire on Goodwin Way in Gadsden at about 8:40 p.m., officials said Monday in a news release. Thats in the area between Bluff Road and Congaree Road.

The home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived on the scene and attacked the blaze, according to the release.

Firefighters eventually made their way into the property and found one person in the home, officials said. Information about how long it took to extinguish the fire was not available.

The Richland County Coroners Office was called to the scene, according to the release.

The coroners office has neither publicly identified the victim nor released the cause of death, but is still involved in the investigation, the fire department said.

No other injuries were reported.

Information about what caused the fire was not available, but the fire department said Richland County Fire Marshals Office is investigating the origin of the fire.

There was no word if foul play is suspected.

The fire department did not say if anyone was displaced by the fire, or provide information about the extent of damage caused to the home.
In early February 2024, Buckingham Palace made a loud statement about King Charles III. It became known that the monarch was suffering from cancer, but the royal family decided not to specify what form of cancer it was.

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Although Charles does not appear in public so often now, working mostly behind the scenes, fans are still concerned about the king's health. Against this backdrop, speculation about the physical condition of Elizabeth II's son is spreading online. However, the monarch quickly dispels any doubts: he was last seen in public on March 13, People magazine writes.

Charles III received Baroness Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, at Buckingham Palace on Alliance Day, which is celebrated on the second Monday of March.

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This year's holiday fell on the 13th, and despite his treatment, the king did not miss the opportunity to go out: the reception was limited to a private meeting. The monarch posed smilingly for a photo with the baroness, squeezing the guest's hand.

According to a court circular, the king also held a meeting and several audiences, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but these meetings were not filmed.

In addition, on March 17, Buckingham Palace announced that 75-year-old Charles intends to attend the Trooping the Colour parade, which is celebrated on the British monarch's birthday, the Daily Mail reports. Authorized persons are already exploring ways in which he could take part in the ceremony, despite health restrictions.

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It is speculated that the decision may be to watch the solemn spectacle from the stands, rather than on horseback or in a carriage, as his late mother did. The event will take place on June 15 in London, but the palace has not yet made a final decision.

On March 18, the Internet was shaken by the news of Charles III's death, which turned out to be a fake spread by RosZm. The news made fans of the royal family wonder who would be next in line to the throne. In addition, details of the Menai Bridge plan, which will be used in the event of the king's real death, have emerged.

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Unlike Charles, his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton has been avoiding publicity since her abdominal surgery in January. The personality of the Princess of Wales has been overgrown with gossip: first, journalists discovered photoshopping on a recent photo of Katherine, for which she had to apologize.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Former Trump White House adviser Peter Navarro hopes to spend his next few months working in air conditioning and sleeping in a dormitory for elderly male inmates at a prison next to a zoo.

Navarro, 74, must report to prison on Tuesday after the Supreme Court on Monday afternoon rejected his request for a last-minute reprieve.

He is set to become the first former White House official ever jailed for contempt of Congress when he reports to a minimum-security federal Bureau of Prisons satellite camp in Miami.

Not only can you hear the lions  you can hear the lions roar every morning, said Sam Mangel, Navarros prison consultant.

Hes nervous, Mangel told CNN of Navarro. Anybody, regardless of the length of their sentence, is going into an unknown world.

Mangel is part of a cottage industry in the legal world meant to help prepare well-heeled convicts and their families for time behind bars. He said he spoke with Navarro on Monday.

Navarro was sentenced to four months in prison after a jury found him guilty of failing to respond to congressional subpoenas for documents and testimony in the Houses investigation of the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack.

Another Trump adviser, Steve Bannon, has also been sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress related to the same investigation, but his prison report date is on hold as he too pursues appeals.

Its historic, and will be to future White House aides who get subpoenaed by Congress, Stanley Brand, a former House general counsel who now represents Navarro as one of his defense lawyers, said on Monday.

Navarro is unlikely to serve the four full months of his sentence because of laws that allow for early release for federal inmates. Mangel said he expects the time served to be about 90 days.

Mangel said Navarro will have to take classes and get a job inside the prison. The prison consultant has urged him to try for roles as a law library clerk or an orderly, so he can spend the next few months in the air conditioning as Miamis weather warms.

Given his age, Navarro also will ask to be in a dormitory for elderly inmates that houses about 80 men in bunk beds.

Theres no privacy in the dorm, Mangel said. It can be scary and intimidating. But hes going to be perfectly safe.

Mangel said there are two additional clients of his already doing time in that prison camp  a doctor and someone engaged in politics whom he declines to name - who are planning to help Navarro acclimate.

The federal correctional facility Navarro is headed to in Miami is one of the oldest prison camps in the country, housing fewer than 200 inmates in its aging infrastructure. The prison has a large group of inmates from Puerto Rico, because it is the closest Bureau of Prisons facility to the territory.

Inside, Navarro will be able to make more than eight hours of phone calls a month and will have access to email. Hell also be able to follow news on a few dozen TVs inside the prison  half of which air in Spanish and half in English, Mangel said.

Supreme Court rejects last-minute plea

In an order Monday afternoon, Chief Justice John Roberts rejected Navarros attempt to stay out of prison while he challenges the conviction before the federal appeals court in Washington, DC.

Roberts noted that a federal court of appeals concluded that Navarro had forfeited any challenge to the idea that, even if he was entitled to executive privilege, he could avoid appearing before Congress. Roberts said that he saw no basis to disagree with the determination that Navarro forfeited those arguments.

This photo from the US Federal Bureau of Prisons shows FCI Miami, a low security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp. - US Federal Bureau of Prisons

Navarros attorneys argued that pausing a lower courts ruling rejecting his bid to stay free is warranted when the person making the request is not a flight risk and is raising substantial legal questions, not simply seeking to delay.

Instead, they argued, 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 said in a statement later Monday, The partisan nature of the imprisoning of a top senior White House aide should chill the bones of every American.  If anybody thinks these partisans and politicians in robes arent coming for Donald Trump, they must think twice now.

Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar called Navarros arguments meritless and urged the court to deny his emergency appeal, arguing that his challenge is not likely to result in a reversal of his conviction.

Navarros numerous arguments fall into two main categories, neither of which is likely to result in reversal or a new trial, Prelogar told the court. She said that Navarros primary claim  that a federal judges decision to not allow him to raise an executive privilege argument at trial was wrong  will not ultimately change the outcome of his criminal case.

Even a successful claim of privilege would not excuse applicants total failure to comply with the subpoena, Prelogar wrote. (Navarro) has forfeited contrary arguments with respect to all of those points, each of which is an independent reason to reject his claims here.

This story and headline have been updated with additional details.

CNNs Devan Cole and John Fritze contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to touch down in the Philippines Monday as tensions between Beijing and Manila continue to escalate over territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday clapped back at "baseless and misleading" statements issued by China last week that suggested it had "historic rights" to the international waters after a spokesperson for its foreign ministry said China was the "first country to discover, name, explore and exploit" the international waters.

"The Philippines maintains a firm stand against misguided claims and irresponsible actions that violate Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in its own maritime domain," the department said in a statement.

LAWMAKERS TO PROPOSE GREATER OVERSIGHT OF CHINESE LAND ACQUISITIONS IN AMERICA

China in recent years has repeatedly looked to assert control over hundreds of miles of the South China Sea despite internationally recognized Exclusive Economic Zones maintained by nations like the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Beijings increasingly aggressive posture is set to be a leading issue amid Blinkens trip Monday.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"Its inevitable that anytime you are going to talk with partners in the region you have to talk about China," a senior State Department official told reporters.

US CAREFULLY MONITORS CHIP EXPORTS TO CHINA, DEEPENS INVESTMENTS IN PHILIPPINES

Blinken, who first stopped in South Korea over the weekend, will reiterate the Biden administrations "ironclad" commitments to regional partners as security concerns continue to mount in the Indo-Pacific.

"Our focus is on maintaining peace and stability and respect for international law," the senior official said.

Philippine soldiers look at Philippine Coast Guard vessels near Thitu Island in the disputed South China Sea on Dec. 1, 2023.

"We are concerned any time you see these tensions in the maritime domain," they added. "There is the risk of a miscalculation, theres no doubt about it. "

"Weve called in particular for China to show restraint and most importantly for China to respect international law," the senior official added.

Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the Chinese embassy in Manila for comment.





Original article source: Philippines, China spat escalates over misguided South China Sea claims as Blinken visits region
The Ukrainian government believes the negotiations on the country's accession to the European Union can start in the first half of 2024, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told Euractiv in an interview published on March 18.

The European Commission on March 12 proposed a draft framework for the membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, another candidate to join the bloc, which currently includes 27 countries.

"We hope that our European partners will approve it (the draft framework) without any additional amendments as the European Commission proposes," Shmyhal said.

"[European Council] President Charles Michel named 2030 a possible target year for further EU enlargement, but we will do our best for Ukraine that it could happen earlier, immediately after our victory."

In its November 2023 report, the European Commission - the EU's executive arm - recommended the launch of accession talks with Kyiv but noted that several reforms are still needed, including an additional four reforms Ukraine would have to undertake to complete all the criteria.

The European Council then officially agreed in December 2023 to begin the talks.

Read also: Opinion: Europe has a Russian fossil fuel addiction

Ukraine aims to "execute (its) homework in a very fast way," said Shmyhal, who believes that this process will take "not more than two years."

EU member states are reportedly expected to approve the next formal steps toward starting the accession talks later this week.

When asked whether he was worried that his country's bid could become a cost-benefit calculation for some of the more hesitant EU member states, Shmyhal said that "Ukraine will bring to the EU much more than the process of joining will cost."

According to a recent report by the Bruegel think tank, as well as internal EU documents obtained by Euractiv, the financial cost of Ukraine's accession is estimated to be between 110 to 136 billion euros ($119-148 billion) to the EU's seven-year budget, around 0.10%-0.13% of the bloc's GDP.

"We've seen the reports, but the Ukrainian market, the Ukrainian Defence Forces, the Ukrainian raw and critical materials, and other sectors could bring much more in terms of security and economic benefits," added the prime minister.

"We may go through a tough negotiation process, but we are ready for compromises based on mutual setbacks  but if we take a look at this as an investment project, it could be much more beneficial (for the EU) than (our) cost of joining."

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Aurora Police Department said one person was killed in a crash that occurred when the suspect allegedly fled from a carjacking scene.

At about 7 p.m. Sunday, Aurora police said officers initially responded to a call of an armed carjacking near 23rd Avenue and Dallas Street, near the Stanley Marketplace.

With help from the carjacking victim, the police department said officers quickly located the stolen vehicle.

Officers tried to stop the suspect but said they fled in the stolen vehicle and crashed with another vehicle near Dayton Street and 19th Avenue. The other driver was killed in the crash.

Estes Park police records may have been destroyed

The driver of the alleged stolen vehicle was detained, APD said.

Dayton Street was closed between Montview and 17th Avenue, and 19th Avenue was closed at Dayton Street while police investigated.

The 17th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team joined APDs Major Crime Homicide Unit, Traffic Investigation Unit, the Gang and Robbery Investigation Team, Victim Services Unit and Crime Scene Investigators at the scene.

Charges against the suspect are pending. The victim will be identified by the Adams County Coroners Office.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police said Monday that they arrested three men for their involvement in the deadly shooting of a man in January.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said on Jan. 23, around 9 p.m., officers responded to the 3000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. in Southeast D.C. for reports of a shooting. There, officers found Raymond Ballard, 59, shot inside of a business.

Medics took Ballard to the hospital where he died.

American University hires James Madison University president

Officers took Steven Metts, 18, of Southeast D.C., Keondre Carroll, 21, of Southeast D.C. and Jovontae Wallace, 19, of District Heights, Md., into custody.

All three men were charged with first degree murder while armed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Ukraine can return to the Russian-occupied Crimea, but this process will not be easy. Everything will happen unexpectedly, like a boomerang.

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This was stated by astrologer Iryna Zviagina. According to her, the Russian State Duma's decision to send troops to Crimea on March 1, 2014, took place during the Pisces new moon.

"Mars was stationary on that day before turning retro. Moreover, the stationary planet puts the strongest emphasis on itself, and here we have Mars, the signifier of warfare, in a square with Venus, the ruler of Zenith. The goal will not be achieved," she said.

The astrologer emphasized that resolving the situation with Crimea is a matter of time.

"The chart has a big catch, hidden potential, and a double bottom. There will be no direct paths and no goals achieved. At least, not forever. And certainly not in Crimea... And one should not be surprised by statements about the return of Crimea when the situation at the front does not yet indicate tangible improvements," she concluded.
The father of Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student killed while jogging on her college campus, is "angry" because he feels her death is being used "somewhat politically."

Jason Riley spoke out for the first time since his daughter's death in an exclusive interview with NBC News correspondent Priscilla Thompson on TODAY on March 18.

"She was like an angel," he said.

Laken Riley, 22, was found dead in a wooded area of the University of Georgia campus on Feb. 22.

Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, 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, officials said.

Ibarra is a Venezuelan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, officials said. Despite an arrest in New York and a citation for shoplifting in Georgia, he was never deported.

Riley's name has become a flashpoint in the partisan fight over border politics. President Joe Biden mentioned her death in his State of the Union address on March 7, and Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene yelled at Biden to "say her name" during the speech.

"I feel like shes being used somewhat politically," Jason Riley said. "It makes me angry. She was much better than that. She should be raised up for the person that she is."

Laken Riley, left, with Bianca Tiller, her former roommate during freshman year at University of Georgia. (Courtesy Bianca Tiller)

The investigation into Riley's death began after a person contacted police at 12:07 p.m. to say that a friend had not returned from a jog at the schools Intramural Fields, university police said in a statement. Officers located the womans body at around 12:38 p.m. in the forested area behind Lake Herrick.

University of Georgia Chief of Police Jeff Clark told reporters on Feb. 23 that Riley died by blunt force trauma.

Ibarra does not appear to have known Riley, Clark said.

At this time, the investigation suggests that they had no relationship, Clark said. (Jose Ibarra) did not know her at all. I think this was a crime of opportunity where he saw an individual and bad things happened.

What do we know about Laken Hope Riley?

Augusta University President Brooks A. Keel said in a statement that Riley was a junior at the school's College of Nursing and a dean's list student.

"We were looking forward to seeing her graduate next year," her father said. "She was so full of life. I just hate that she was taken so early."

Augusta University's nursing school is located in Athens, the same city as the University of Georgia. The two schools are about 4 miles apart.

She was the sweetest, most pure-hearted young woman who brought so many people together and developed so many friendships, Bianca Tiller, who roomed with Riley during their freshman year at UGA, told NBC News.

After starting at UGA knowing less than a handful of people, Riley brought Tiller into her friendship group.

She made everyone smile and and is such a kind soul, Tiller said.

Riley was described as a sweet and compassionate soul in a GoFundMe, verified by NBC News, set up to cover funeral expenses and establish a scholarship in her name.

No words can express the pain and heartache that Lakens family and friends are experiencing. She was a wonderful friend, sister, daughter, etc. who touched the lives of everyone around her. Her infectious smile and contagious laugh lit up every room she entered, the fundraising page states.

Lilly Steiner, a friend of Rileys from UGA, thanked her in an Instagram tribute posted Feb. 24 for helping me find the joy in life.

One of Riley's roommates, Sofia Magana, said on Instagram that Riley was "the best friend, roommate, dog aunt (Titi Laken), dancer, banner chair, sister, hair curler, student, advice giver, and so much more."

You were supposed to be by my side on my wedding day, you were supposed to be with us on graduation ... but most importantly you were supposed to be here with us, Magana said.

What do we know about the suspect?

At a press conference in February, Clark said that it appeared the suspect in Rileys death had acted alone.

Riley's father was asked if a difference in immigration policy would have mattered for his daughter.

"We have no idea if that would have changed anything, but I do know that hes here illegally, that he might not have been here had had we had secure borders," Jason Riley said.

Clark said the university's police department and other law enforcement arrested Jose Ibarra based on extensive evidence, both physical and video from the campus security camera network.

As police searched Ibarra's home in Athens, Georgia, Clark said he did not believe they needed evidence inside the home to make a case. Ibarra remains booked at the Clarke County Jail on multiple charges.

The suspects brother, Diego Ibarra, 29, was also taken into custody Friday and federally charged with possessing a fraudulent green card, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Georgia.

Diego Ibarra was approached by police because he matched the description of the suspect in Rileys death, and he allegedly presented a fake green card for identification, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Diego Ibarra is an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, and he has been arrested three times on nonviolent offenses, according to the U.S. attorneys office.

A spokesperson for UGA said he was fired from a position at the university after they learned of the alleged fake green card.

Diego Ibarra presented a fake green card to the hiring unit to begin a temporary position as a dishwasher in Bolton Dining Hall at the University of Georgia on Feb. 6, 2024, the spokesperson said. He subsequently failed to submit further documentation required to keep the job and was never paid by the University.

What happened at UGA's Brumby Hall?

The discovery of Riley's body came one day after another student died suddenly in the school's Brumby Hall dormitory, UGA said, though police said the two incidents were not linked.

The past 24 hours have been a traumatic time for our University, the school said in a statement. Our student body is grieving the sudden death of one student in Brumby Hall last night.

And as we continue to mourn that tragic loss of life, todays devastating news will uniquely test the resolve of our campus community, particularly our students.

What's next for the case?

Police said that the suspect acted alone.

This was a very isolated incident. We havent had a homicide at the University of Georgia in 30 years," Clark added.

Ibarra has not yet entered a plea, but he is demanding a jury trial, according to court documents.

CORRECTION (Feb. 25, 2024, 12:24 p.m.): An earlier version of this article misstated Jose Antonio Ibarra's age. He is 26 years old, not 24.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Authorities arrested a man on Sunday for allegedly carrying a handgun while drunk near the Boston St. Patricks Day parade.

According to Transit Police, an officer noticed the 26-year-old suspect while monitoring large crowds at Andrew Square Station for the St. Patricks Day festivities. Police say the man was highly intoxicated and had a handgun. It is unclear if the gun was loaded.

The man was arrested and transported to transit police headquarters for booking.

His name is not being released.

No further information was immediately available.

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TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  Three officers have been placed on administrative leave after an officer-involved shooting left one man dead in Taylorsville over the weekend.

On Sunday, March 17, officers with the Taylorsville Police Department responded to a domestic violence call in the neighborhood of 3900 West and 5800 South.

Police say they were speaking with a man later identified as Foueti Afeaki, 33, in the garage of the home as part of their investigation. TVPD said Afeaki allegedly pulled out a handgun during the investigation, which led to officers firing their weapons.

4 men, including 2 Utahns, sentenced in $18M global investment fraud scheme

Afeaki was struck in the shooting and taken to the hospital in critical condition. He later died due to his injuries.

The Officer Involved Critical Incident protocol was activated as a result of the shooting. The Unified Police Department responded to lead the investigation.

Three officers, all of whom have not been identified, were placed on administrative leave, which Taylorsville Police Department said is standard procedure in an officer-involved critical incident.

Authorities did not provide any further information.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Polish farmers are blocking the border with Germany at the Swiecko crossing point on the A2 highway and near the water crossing in Gubinek, local news agency RMF24 reported on March 18.

The protesters have no plans to suspend the protest, which is expected to last until at least March 21. Several kilometers of queues have formed at the border.

Dozens of tractors and various agricultural machinery have been placed along the roads by the protesters, effectively blocking traffic in both directions toward Poznan and Berlin. Only emergency services are permitted to pass through this area.

Read also: Polish farmers to temporarily unblock key Ukraine border crossing  UA Border Guard

The farmers demands remain unchanged: they demand the Polish governments rejection of the European Green Deal and the blocking of imports of agricultural products from outside the EU, primarily from Ukraine.

If necessary, we will protest until we achieve our desired outcome, even through the holidays (Easter - ed.), until our voices are heard and our demands fully met, said Polish protesters at the border.

Read also: Polish minister identifies culprit in border blockade: neither Poland, Ukraine, nor Putin

They declare that the protest will continue until at least the evening of March 20. Additionally, protesters have blocked Highway 32 in the town of Gubinek on the border with Germany. Drivers are being redirected to the S3 highway to bypass the traffic jam, but a backlog of at least 5 km has formed there.

Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Michal Kolodziejczak stated on March 18 that government officials do not plan to meet with protesters at the border with Germany.

Read also: Police clash as farmers protest expands in Poland

Polish protesters began restricting traffic on the border with Ukraine on Feb. 20. Trucks were halted at the Medyka-Shehyni, Dohobyczow-Uhryniv, Zosin-Ustyluh, Korczowa-Krakivets, Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska, and Dorohusk-Yahodyn checkpoints.

The farmers expressed several demands, including two primary ones: the cessation of duty-free trade with Ukraine and the complete closure of the Ukrainian-Polish border for trucks.

Protesters emptied grain from eight railroad cars carrying Ukrainian agricultural products overnight on Feb. 24-25. This marked the fourth incident in several days. Poland reported it was unable to retrieve all the Ukrainian grain spilled from the railroad cars.

Read also: Blockade of the Polish border: investigation of a farmer with Putin poster launched, Consul General apologizes to Ukraine

On Feb. 28, Ukrainian and Polish officials held talks regarding the possibility of unblocking the border while considering the interests of farmers.

The European Parliament Committee endorsed the extension of duty-free trade for Ukraine on March 7. Ukraine announced on the same day its readiness to accept trade restrictions with the EU, but on its own terms.

Polish farmers temporarily ceased blocking traffic at the Krakovets checkpoint with Ukraine on March 10. However, protesters are expected to resume the strike at this checkpoint on March 13.

Polish farmers declared on March 11 that they would prevent any trucks from leaving Ukraine through the Zosin-Ustyluh checkpoint.

In addition to the protests on the Polish side, local Ukrainian carriers also initiated a strike on March 18, resulting in delays of perishable goods at the border increasing to seven days.

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
US Air Force Colonel Ben Jonssons promotion being held up by Senator Eric Schmitt, who has publicly voiced concerns about Jonssons stance on racial justice and diversity, is deeply concerning.

Promotion in the American armed forces is traditionally governed by merit, service record, and the apolitical principles that underpin the professionalism expected in a top-tier Western fighting force.

For those unaware of the issue at hand, the core of the controversy lies in Jonssons public stance on racial justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the US military, specifically a 2020 commentary article by him urging his fellow white colonels to recognise and address racial disparities.

From my years of writing about the armed forces, talking to their people, and remarking on what they do, I have learned that the one inescapable fact that defines the men and women who put their lives on the line is that the essence of military effectiveness in a modern fighting force is built on recognising talent and the ability to operate beyond the reach of political partisanship. Theyre fighting for their country and its values, not the prevailing political winds.

The hold placed on Jonssons promotion doesnt gel particularly well with these principles; in fact, it introduces a politicised criterion for military advancement that is largely unprecedented in the United States and is detrimental to the integrity and apolitical nature of the worlds most potent fighting force.

Colonel Jonsson seems to be facing punitive measures for endorsing a controversial book called White Fragility. Regardless of ones personal stance on the book itself, its a troubling precedent that an individual in the armed services of a democracy could be penalised for such views, especially when such views are part of a broader dialogue on improving inclusivity and understanding within the ranks. The idea that expressing an opinion  regardless of the books contentious nature  could impact ones career advancement is absurd.

Senator Schmitts decision to block Jonssons promotion based on his advocacy for DEI and his commentary on racial injustice signals to military personnel that their promotions can be jeopardised by their views on social issues, even when expressed within a framework of seeking to improve military culture and effectiveness. This politicisation risks creating an environment where officers are incentivised to remain silent on important issues, potentially stifling discussion and progress on matters that could impact unit cohesion and the well-being of service members. Ironically, this is almost Soviet.

The biggest issue here, to me at least, is that this incident reflects a misunderstanding of what it means to politicise the military. The military, by necessity, must evolve and adapt to societal changes to maintain its effectiveness and legitimacy. The paradox inherent in the argument that stalling Colonel Ben Jonssons promotion would safeguard the military from politicisation is mind-blowing. This action constitutes political interference of a particularly insidious nature. It contradicts the US militarys foundational apolitical ethos, embedding a subjective, politically motivated criterion into what has always been  and must remain  an objective, merit-based ascension process.

The apolitical nature of military service ensures that the armed forces are a tool for national defence and policy, responsive to civilian leadership regardless of which party is in power, serving to foster a sense of unity and purpose amongst those theyre defending and those they rely on for support. Moreover, these ideals have historically made American forces among the most capable in the world. A merit-based, apolitical military attracts individuals of the highest calibre, drawn by the promise of fair treatment, clear criteria for advancement, and the opportunity to serve their country on the strength of their abilities alone.

A block on Colonel Jonssons promotion undermines these principles and erode trust within the military and between the military and the society it serves. To compromise these ideals in favour of political expediency is to damage the merit that has long made American forces some of the most capable and respected in the world.

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Pope Francis has dismissed Michael Jude Zacharias, a former priest of parishes in Mansfield and Fremont who was found guilty last spring of committing sex crimes after grooming his victims.

Zacharias, now 57, was sentenced in November to life in prison.

The Roman Catholic Church announced Monday that Zacharias has been laicized from the clerical state and returned to the lay state, according to a statement released by Kelly Donaghy, a spokesperson for the Toledo diocese.

"The Holy Father alone has the authority to impose this penalty of direct dismissal from the clerical state when the case warrants such an action," the news release reads. "The Diocese was recently informed that the Holy Father has imposed upon Zacharias the perpetual penalty of direct dismissal from the clerical state (returning him to the lay state), for the sexual abuse of minors and other reprehensible immoral behavior."

Pope Francis has dismissed Michael Jude Zacharias, a former priest of parishes in Mansfield and Fremont who was found guilty last spring of committing sex crimes after grooming his victims.

The Rev. Daniel Edward Thomas, bishop of the Toledo diocese, said in the news release: "With the imposition of this penalty, it is my hope and prayer that healing for victims may continue and justice be restored, as we remain vigilant in confronting evil."

Former priest admitted to sexual relations with victims

Thomas had placed Zacharias on administrative leave in August 2020. He was immediately banned from public ministry but remained an ordained priest.

Zacharias was taken into custody in October 2020 at his home in Findlay by members of the Northwest Ohio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

After several continuations, Zacharias was indicted in December 2022. His trial took place in May in the U.S. District Court/Northern District of Ohio in Toledo.

Michael Jude Zacharias was sentenced in November to life in prison. As a Catholic priest, he blessed motorcycles and their riders in 2014 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fremont.

Attorneys accused the man of taking advantage of his victims' growing dependence on drugs, including pain medications and heroin, to gradually sexualize his conversations and actions with them.

On the witness stand, Zacharias admitted to having sexual relations with several men, but maintained the behavior never happened with anyone under the age of 18.

Jurors convicted Zacharias of one count of sexual trafficking of a minor, two counts of sexual trafficking of a minor by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of sexual trafficking of an adult by force, fraud, or coercion. The allegations spanned 15 years, from July 2005 to August 2020.

Former priest's career spanned parts of four decades

Zacharias began his career in ministry as a pastoral intern at St. Catherine Parish in Columbus from 1999-2000 before being named an associate pastor at Mansfield's St. Peter Parish from July 1, 2002, to July 2, 2007.

He was appointed pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Van Wert from July 2, 2007, to July 1, 2011, then named pastor of Fremont's St. Joseph and St. Ann parishes, serving from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2017.

Zacharias was reassigned in 2017 to St. Michael The Archangel in Findlay, where he served until the federal charges were filed.

Now he has been sentenced to life in prison and has been dismissed by Pope Francis.

"The Diocese of Toledo remains vigilant and committed to protecting children and providing a safe environment for all young people, as well as to ensuring the dignity and integrity of the priesthood," the news release reads. "Any allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a priest, deacon, staff member or volunteer affiliated with the Diocese of Toledo should first be reported to local law enforcement where the abuse is alleged to have occurred. Please also report any such allegation to the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at 419-214-4880."

ztuggle@gannett.com

419-564-3508

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Pope dismisses former Ohio priest doing life in prison for sex crimes
Pope Francis has congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election, according to a Russian state media report Sunday.

While many Western governments and leaders condemned the Russian election as a sham involving no meaningful opposition, Leonid Sevastyanov, the head of the World Union of Old Believers, claims the pontiff thought it was worth congratulating Putin on his new six-year term, according to RIA Novosti. The Pope congratulates Vladimir Putin on his election as President of the Russian Federation, Sevastyanov, who is reportedly in contact with Pope Francis, was quoted as saying.

Russia Cries About Anti-Putin Election Protests in D.C.

The Daily Beast has contacted the Vatican for comment.

Sevastyanovwho has previously told Russian state media outlets about his conversations with the popehas been described by Ukraines ambassador to the Vatican as a personal friend of the pontiff and an informal contact used to communicate with Moscow.

It comes after the Vatican backtracked on comments Pope Francis made in an interview earlier this month in when he was asked about calls for Ukraine to surrender in its fight against Russian aggression, in which he said he thought those who have the courage to raise the white flag and to negotiate are stronger. Amid an angry backlash, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state, told an Italian newspaper soon after that Russia should first and foremost cease fire and said its war in Ukraine is unjust.

Putin, who claimed victory Sunday after winning more than 87 percent of the vote, received a telegram of congratulations from North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Kim used the message to emphasize that the Russian people clearly demonstrated to the whole world their will to confidently build a strong Russia, according to the Korean Central News Agency.

The sentiments were echoed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who claimed that Putins stunning margin of victory served as a full demonstration of the support of the Russian people of the Russian president, according to Chinese state media. I believe that under your leadership, Russia will certainly be able to achieve greater achievements in national development and construction, Xi added, according to Reuters.

The leaders of other countries with strong historic and current links to Russiaincluding Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Kazakhstanhave also congratulated Putin. Some South and Central American leaders also shared their felicitations. In a post on X, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro congratulated both Putin and the Russian people for their extraordinary victory, praising an impeccable electoral process that demonstrated democratic participation in an exemplary manner.

Western governments had a dramatically different view of the election, which was conducted as rival candidates were banned from running or jailed, and some votersin occupied Ukrainian territoriescast their ballots at gunpoint.

The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him, the White House National Security Council spokesperson said.

The pseudo-election in Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody, Germanys Foreign Ministry wrote on X. Putins rule is authoritarian, he relies on censorship, repression & violence. The election in the occupied territories of Ukraine are null and void and another breach of international law.

David Cameron, the former U.K. prime minister and current foreign minister, similarly slammed the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory and a lack of international monitoring on the vote. This is not what free and fair elections look like, he said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  After over two decades of serving cold drinks and good times to San Angelo, the owner of the Chadbourne Tavern is looking to move on  but not before leaving the business in good hands.

In a Facebook post made on March 18, Chadbourne Tavern owner Fernando Fuentez announced that he would be leaving San Angelos nightlife scene. He also stated that he would turn his focus on Lilys Pizza, his pizzeria located near Angelo State University known for its Nanjos food item.

After 23 fun and eventful years in the bar and nightlife industry, my family and I have decided to focus my passion into the restaurant! Taking the Nanjos to the next level! Fuentez said.

Hes not aiming to just vacate the building, however. Fuentez is currently looking for a buyer willing to take on the business for themselves.

Those willing to take on the challenge may contact Fuentez at 325-212-4935.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
Costi Moculescu/Getty Images

Recent years have seen the rise of the espresso martini, dirty Shirley, Negroni sbagliato, Hugo spritz and more.

But the next it cocktail might be one with a rather raunchy name: the porn star martini.

What is a porn star martini?

The porn star martini is a passion fruit-flavored cocktail made with vanilla vodka, passion fruit liqueur, passion fruit juice and lime juice, accompanied by a chilled shot of prosecco, Fabio Raffaelli, a bartender and North America brand ambassador for Martini & Rossi, said in an email.

The drink is not a true martini but rather one of the many sweet cocktails that have come to include the word martini in its name, perhaps due to the glassware its typically served in. Many bartenders use passion fruit puree or syrup instead of juice and add vanilla syrup.

A good porn star martini starts with two ripe, fresh passion fruits cut in half, said Simon Difford, a spirits industry writer and creator of Diffords Guide. Put one half aside to float as a garnish boat on the finished cocktail and scoop the pulp and seeds from the other three halves into a cocktail shaker.

To this, he advised adding 2 ounces of vanilla-flavored vodka, half an ounce of passion fruit liqueur such as Passoa, half an ounce of vanilla syrup such as Monin, and half an ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice.

Add ice, shake, and strain into a chilled martini glass, Difford said in an email. Serve with a decadent shot of chilled Champagne on the side.

Where did it come from?

The porn star martini was created in 2002 by Douglas Ankrah, a regarded well-known London bartender, while working at the Townhouse bar in Knightsbridge, Difford said. Douglas is best known for founding Londons Lab bar, for many years one of Londons preeminent bars. The porn star martini was a staple at Lab, and that helped drive its notoriety.

Ankrah, who died in 2021, said in a 2017 interview that the drink was inspired by a trip he took to Cape Town, South Africa, where he visited a gentlemens club called Mavericks Revue Bar. At the time, he was writing his mixology book, Cocktails: Shaken and Stirred.

Bars, when done properly, should be environments where one can be bold, sexy and playful, he said. Being a huge part of the bar scene, I wanted to create a drink that personifies those attributes; bold, sexy and playful.

In some ways, the porn star martini was an inevitable phenomenon.

The cocktail renaissance started in London around 1995 and was driven by easy-drinking fruity cocktails served in V-shaped martini-style glasses, so they all had martini in their name, Difford explained. There was a touch of James Bonds style in ordering one of these vodka-based neo-martinis, but instead of being a spirit-forward martini, these cocktails were fruity, quaffable, crushable even.

He noted that watermelon martinis were among the most popular of the fresh fruit martinis of this era. The appletini also comes to mind.

As just about every other fruit had been martinid, it was only a matter of time before someone used fresh passion fruit in a martini, Difford added.

The porn star martini is traditionally served with a chilled shot of sparkling wine on the side. Dorling Kindersley/Ruth Jenkinson/Getty Images

Whats the deal with the name?

Ankrah originally called his passion fruit cocktail the maverick martini after the Cape Town club, but he quickly changed the name to the raunchier one we know today. Over the years, he maintained that it wasnt meant to be overly vulgar.

The drink is very evocative and tantalizing, Ankrah said in the same 2017 interview. I called it porn star because I thought it was something that a porn star would drink, theres nothing sexual there.

He added that the drink is stylish and confident. Difford, however, believes there mightve been a more practical motive behind the name.

Sex sells, and lurid cocktail names tend to help drive popularity, he said, pointing to the sex on the beach, screaming orgasm and the lesser-known slow comfortable screw between the sheets. The maverick martini didnt sell, but porn star martinis flew out.

As for the martini part of the name, Difford believes that nomenclature should be reserved for spirituous gin-laced cocktails aromatized with vermouth. The porn star martini offers a sweeter, easier alternative to the more alcohol-forward classic. And theres no denying the name is a conversation starter.

The name of the porn star martini is a quirky way to make customers have fun ordering or bring a smile to their faces, Brian Fernandez, a bartender at Maizano in Costa Mesa, California, said in an email. The cocktail has a similar effect that an adios, motherfucker has  people just enjoy saying it.

Not everyone likes the name, however. In 2019, the British retailer Marks & Spencer renamed its ready-to-drink porn star martini cocktail products to passion star martini following a complaint that the original branding violated trade group rules about linking alcohol to sexual activity or sexual success.

The concern doesnt seem terribly widespread, at least not outside the U.K.

There is so much said these days on TV, most dont blink an eye when saying porn star unless you are, of course, in an area such as myself in the Bible Belt, said Nichole Roberts, a bartender at El Mero Taco in Memphis, Tennessee. Bars are getting more creative with cocktail names, and they dont always have anything to do at all with whats in the drink.

Why is it getting popular?

Since it hit the London cocktail scene in the early noughties, the porn star martini has enjoyed waves of popularity. But over the last decade, it has become a global phenomenon, Difford said, noting that the porn star martini has been the most-viewed recipe on his website every year for the past nine years.

On my visit to Europe last year, porn star martinis were practically on every cocktail menu, and now its definitely catching on here in the U.S.  just like how the espresso martini made its comeback, added Adam Delaney, a cocktail and bar consultant and beverage director at John Sparr Tavern in Glendale, California.

He believes its fitting that this early aughts London invention is having a moment at a time when fashion and music from that period are back in the zeitgeist as well.

At the most basic level, I think consumers are intrigued by the sensual name of the serve, Raffaelli said. The ingredients are also popular, so new porn star martini drinkers are more likely to give it a try. The presentation is pretty, too!

Indeed, its hard to go wrong with passion fruit and vanilla, and the porn star martini feels like a sophisticated and fun step up from the basic vodka cranberry.

The way it is served with a small pour of Champagne on the side feels like something special and different from your typical cocktail, Roberts said. Its not overly complicated and very versatile to make despite what your bar may carry. I personally think if more knew of it, we could have more orders for a porn star martini over the usual lemon drop for those who stick to simple and what they know.

Theres also a sense of cultural fusion with the Latin American passion fruit ingredient and U.K. origin story  a connection that Fernandez would like to see more people explore as they experiment with the cocktail. Hes also a big fan of the look of the drink.

What makes it so appealing is the color, Fernandez said. The cocktail always pops and is aesthetically pleasing. The espresso martini has set the standard of an eye-catching, contagious cocktail, and I believe the porn star martini has that very same energy.

The espresso martini comparisons arent surprising given both have roots in the London cocktail scene and rose to prominence in the U.K. before spreading in the U.S. and beyond.

Both will eventually go the same way as the cosmopolitan, Difford predicted. There will always be people wanting to drink them, but the crowd will have moved onto the next cocktail  a gin basil smash perhaps.

Related...
Pornhub has begun blocking visitors from Texas, where the authorities are attempting to enforce a new law requiring web porn platforms to check viewer ages. The company called the law "ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous."

Since Pornhub pulled out, Texans have greatly increased Google searches for tools to mask the geographic location of their devices.

We've been here beforewith age-check laws, attempts to get around them, and porn platforms cutting off access. In fact, Texas is the seventh state that adult content platforms run by the Canadian company Aylo (formerly MindGeek) have left over age verification requirements. As a result, residents of Texas and six other states are blocked from visiting such popular sites as Pornhub, Redtube, and YouPorn.

There may be a better way forward when it comes to thwarting minors' access to porn while still protecting adult privacy and free expression. But it's also more complicatedand less likely to indiscriminately punish porn platforms, producers, and performers. Unsurprisingly, politicians don't seem interested.

'Not an Effective Solution'

Pornhub went dark in Texas last Thursday, following a late-February lawsuit filed by state Attorney General Ken Paxton against Aylo. Paxton has accused the company of failing to follow the state's age verification law, which requires adult-content websites to make sure viewers are at least 18 years old. A federal court has called the new Texas law unconstitutional. But the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals then gave the state a green light to start enforcing ithence Paxton's lawsuit.

"As you may know, your elected officials in Texas are requiring us to verify your age before allowing you access to our website," reads a message on Pornhub that now greets visitors from Texas. "Not only does this impinge on the rights of adults to access protected speech, it fails strict scrutiny by employing the least effective and yet also most restrictive means of accomplishing Texas's stated purpose of allegedly protecting minors.

"While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, providing identification every time you want to visit an adult platform is not an effective solution for protecting users online, and in fact, will put minors and your privacy at risk," the statement continues. "Attempting to mandate age verification without any means to enforce at scale gives platforms the choice to comply or not, leaving thousands of platforms open and accessible. As we've seen in other states, such bills have failed to protect minors, by driving users from those few websites which comply, to the thousands of websites, with far fewer safety measures in place, which do not comply."

Pornhub makes a good point, and one that prohibitionists of all sorts are wont to ignore. Banning (or putting up major barriers to) products that people want doesn't stop people from wanting and accessing those products. It simply bars people from accessing them in the safest and most transparent way possible. And this is especially true where the internet is concerned, since the internet is a global and not easily constrained phenomenon.

There will always be websites willing to provide porn without carding viewers. These platforms are also less likely to take other steps to stay within regulatory or creator-protective limits. By driving viewers away from platforms like Pornhubsites that engage in at least some content moderation, are relatively receptive and responsive to authorities, and are willing to forge mutually beneficial partnerships with porn creatorsage verification laws could actually increase viewership of exploitative or otherwise undesirable content.

"The Texas law for age verification [won't] actually protect children," suggested Pornhub. "But it willreduce content creators' ability to post and distribute legal adult content and directly impact their ability to share the artistic messages they want to convey with it."

Age Verification Fallout

"Searches by Texas users for the term 'VPN' jumped more than fourfold" after Pornhub blocked access to Texans, Variety reports.

VPN stands for virtual private network, a tool used to mask the geographic location of internet users. Using a VPN, a resident of Texas could access Pornhub content by appearing to be located in some state where Pornhub is not blocked.

We've seen similar spikes in interest in VPNs in other states where Pornhub has blocked users.

States where Pornhub (and sister sites, such as Redtube and YouPorn) are now blocked include Arkansas, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Each of these states recently enacted an age verification requirement for adult content websites. Last March, Utah became the second state to enact such a law, and the first to find residents blocked by Pornhub. The Arkansas, Virginia, and Mississippi lawsand Pornhub blocksstarted last summer. The North Carolina and Montana laws took effect this past January, with Pornhub blocking access shortly before that.

The Louisiana Difference

Louisiana was the first state to enact a law requiring web porn platforms to verify visitor ages. Yet Pornhub has not blocked visitors from Louisiana. Why?

The difference is in the details of complying with Louisiana's law. Verifying visitor ages in Louisiana does not require porn sites to directly collect user IDs. Rather, the state's government helped develop a third-party service called LA Wallet, which stores digital driver's licenses and serves as an online age verification credential that affords some privacy.

Using this service does not require people to turn over their real identities to porn sites. "Through LA Wallet's [Anonymous Remote Age Verification] capabilities, adult content sites can anonymously verify the age of users," its website states.

This system isn't perfect, but it is less invasive than the alternativecloser to a convenience store clerk glancing at someone's ID than to creating a gigantic porn viewer database linked to real identities. This makes it more attractive to people visiting porn platforms and to the platforms themselves.

Louisiana's law may still pose privacy risks and infringe on free speech. But at least Louisiana attempted to mitigate these issues, unlike the other states that have passed age verification laws. It took the time to develop a system that allows adult content sites to anonymously verify users, instead of just telling tech and content companies to work it out themselves, user privacy be damned.

A Better Way Forward?



It's pretty clear that the days of open-access digital platforms are receding. Online age verification proposalsnot just for porn but for social mediaare sweeping the country. Last year, age-check laws aimed at adult content were introduced in at least 11 states. And so far this year, at least seven states (Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma) have seen proposals put forth to card visitors to online porn platforms.

The Free Speech Coalition, an adult industry trade group, has challenged some of these laws in court, as have some porn platforms.

But Aylowhich was acquired by Ethical Capital Partners last yearhas another idea as well. It wants to see age restrictions implemented at the device level.

"We believe that the real solution for protecting minors and adults alike is to verify users' ages at the point of accessthe users' devicesand to deny or permit access to age-restricted materials and websites based on that verification," Alex Kekesi, Aylo's vice president of brand and community, explained in an emailed statement. (He also said "this is not the end" of the Pornhub battle in Texas and that the company is "reviewing options and consulting with our legal team.")

Device-based verification could work in different ways, but the basic advantage is that it can keep internet porn away from kids without implicating adult user privacy.

In a device-based system, parents could make sure their minor kids' devices were specially equipped with a mechanism to alert websites that person using it is under 18. This device-based triggerwhich could work equally well on porn, social media, or other platforms where people might want to proactively restrict access for kidscould accomplish the goal of restricting access to some group of users without requiring every user to forgo anonymity.

There's also a more expansive way of doing device-based verification, which would require anyone using a smartphone or computer device to verify their age with the device provider (as opposed to making it an opt-in thing). This option would obviously be more of a burden on adult user privacy, and therefore is more objectionable. Jonah Aragon lays out an array of potential problems with this approach here.

Either waykids-only or more expansive"such an approach requires the cooperation of manufacturers and operating-system providers," noted Pornhub in the statement now visible to Texas visitors.

I think this helps explain why we see less of a push for device-level verification. Computer and smartphone companies have more political clout than porn companies; it's much easier for politicians to make special demands of the latter than the former.

Add the facts that 1) politicians are lazy and 2) at least some of them want to reduce porn viewership more broadly and not just for minors, and it's not hard to imagine why politicians have been focused on making porn companies card users rather than pushing for device-based solutions.

For what it's worth, a voluntary, device-based technical solution isn't just better from a civil liberties standpoint; it may also be better at restricting access for kids.

The initial ruling against Texas' age verification law, " noted that Texas' own studies tended to show that content filtering and parental controls would be more effective, and better tailored, than age verification," First Amendment lawyer Ari Cohn pointed out last year. And while some people suggest that these voluntary parental control measures don't cut it because parents are too dumb or careless to use them, "that does not allow the government to sidestep them as a less restrictive means," Cohn noted.

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The City Hall of London has offered car owners to donate their cars to Ukraine instead of scrapping them. Starting from March 15, vehicles registered in the UK that do not meet the emission standards of the London Ultra Low Emission Zone can be donated as humanitarian aid for our country.

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This is stated in the article by The Guardian. "Car owners will be able to donate vehicles in exchange for a payment of up to 2,000, which is available to drivers who scrap their vehicles and can be donated to humanitarian aid for Ukraine," said London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Earlier, Transport Minister Mark Harper said that the government sees no legal obstacles to allow the transfer to Ukraine of vehicles that are subject to disposal due to non-compliance with environmental standards. The London Ambulance Service also plans to join these efforts by transferring 50 decommissioned ambulances to Ukraine.

Earlier, Ukraine and the European Union (EU) signed an agreement to start disbursements under the record-breaking Ukraine Facility assistance program in March 2024. By the end of the month, Ukraine's accounts will receive 4.5 billion. This tranche will essentially contain three "money transfers" at once  1.5 billion for each month from the beginning of 2024 (January, February, and March).

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Buckingham Palace released the photo on April 21 last year to mark what would have been the late Queen's 97th birthday - KensingtonRoyal/Twitter

A photograph of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, taken by the Princess of Wales, was digitally enhanced at source, a global picture agency has said.

The photo, taken at Balmoral in August 2022, was reviewed by Getty Images after the Princess admitted that she had edited a Mothers Day picture of herself and her three children.

Buckingham Palace released it on April 21 last year to mark what would have been the late Queens 97th birthday.

A spokesman for Getty said: Getty Images has reviewed the image in question and placed an editors note on it, stating that the image has been digitally enhanced at source.

Close inspection of the picture appears to show several inconsistencies, including a vertical line where the tartan of the late Queens skirt does not match.

A dark shadow is visible behind Prince Louiss ear, and a similar small black patch can be seen behind Prince Georges shirt collar. There are also signs of digital repetition of Mia Tindalls hair.

Earlier this month, the Princesss Mothers Day picture was withdrawn by several news agencies, which issued a kill notice, because of the extent to which it had been manipulated.

The latest development will come as a blow to the Princess, a keen amateur photographer, who is understood to have been distressed by the furore surrounding the more recent image.

Both she and Prince William are keen to move on from the drama and put the focus back on their work.

On Thursday, the Prince will be hoping to put speculation about his wifes health behind him as he carries out two engagements in Sheffield linked to Homewards, his drive to put six pilot locations on a path towards ending homelessness within five years.

The Mothering Sunday photo of her posing with her children at home in Windsor had been intended to reassure the public that she was fit and well following several weeks out of the public eye as she recuperated from abdominal surgery.

But it had the opposite effect, serving to fuel conspiracy theories about her health and whereabouts.

Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing, the Princess said in a statement published on X, formerly Twitter, last Monday.

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. C.

Such is the level of curiosity about the Princesss health that on Monday, The Sun reported on its front page that she had been spotted at a farm shop in Windsor.

The revelation that another of her photographs was edited to such an extent that a global agency has attached a warning note may prompt questions about her many other family portraits released to the media to mark special occasions.

Last week, the American brodacster CNN confirmed that it was reviewing all photographs handed out by Kensington Palace.

Phil Chetwynd, the global news director of Agence France-Presse, said Kensington Palace was no longer a trusted source and that the Princesss manipulation of the Mothers Day photograph clearly violated the agencys rules.

Noting that it was rare for agencies to kill an image, he said Agence France-Presses hand had been forced because the Palace did not respond to requests for an explanation or to release the original image.

The rare family portrait of Elizabeth II depicts her on a green sofa in a cluttered sitting room at Balmoral, surrounded by 10 beaming children. Dressed in off-duty attire, she looks directly at the camera in a photograph taken only weeks before she died.

Her grandchildren Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, the children of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, are standing at the back.

In front of them are Lena Tindall, the daughter of Mike and Zara Tindall, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, the two elder children of the Prince and Princess of Wales, Isla Phillips, the daughter of Peter Phillips, and Prince Louis, the youngest child of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Seated to the monarchs right is Mia Tindall, holding baby Lucas Tindall, while to her left is Savannah Phillips. The homely image, a rare informal snapshot of the family, was lauded when it was released.

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs children, were notable absentees. Living more than 5,000 miles away in Montecito, California, the Sussexes were the only senior members of the family who did not fly to Scotland to spend time with the Queen that summer.

Getty is understood to be the only agency that retains the image in its library. Other news and picture agencies no longer hold it as it was released for use until December 2023.

A community note  a feature on X, formerly Twitter, that allows users to add context to posts  has also been added to the image on Kensington Palaces profile.

It states: This image appears to have been digitally altered to give the impression that everyone within it was present at the same time. It is not a photograph of a moment, rather a collage of moments put together to create an illusion of a photograph.

There is no suggestion that the Princess inserted anyone into the photograph.

Kensington Palace declined to comment.

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Sister Tracy Y. Browning, second counselor in the Primary general presidency, Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, President Susan H. Porter, Primary general president, Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, President Camille N. Johnson, Relief Society general president, Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, President Emily Belle Freeman, Young Women general president, Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, and Sister Andrea Munoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, wave for a social media post during the filming of a worldwide Relief Society devotional at the Relief Society Building in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.

On the 182nd anniversary of the organization of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, women all over the world gathered to hear messages from Church President Russell M. Nelson and the Relief Society general presidency, and to bear testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Relief Society  one of the worlds oldest and largest service organizations  was organized on March 17, 1842, during construction of the Nauvoo temple and in anticipation of the ordinances and covenants to be offered there, explained Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson.

Now, in this season of unprecedented temple building, the objective of the Relief Society remains the same: to prepare a people temporally and spiritually for the blessings of the house of the Lord, President Johnson said in her opening remarks.

All Relief Society sisters who enter into a covenant relationship with God can have access to those blessings  including His priesthood power.

No worldly organization can articulate a comparable, divinely appointed platform to that of the Relief Society, she said.

President Nelsons gratitude, invitation and blessings for women

In his remarks, President Nelson said he is deeply grateful to the sisters of Relief Society. He said so much of the good the Church accomplishes  and so much of the good that happens in the world  takes place because of women.

He thanked women for their devotion to the Lord and their efforts to ennoble others.

I marvel at your faith and sensitivity to things of the Spirit. I am inspired by your diligence, dynamic leadership, and your ability to see a need and meet it. ... The entire mission of the Lords Church is strengthened by you.

He said women have a divine endowment that allows them to literally change lives  particularly as they are working to gather Israel.

Anytime we help anyone find the covenant path and stay on it, we are helping to gather Israel. No one does this better than you do  as mothers, leaders, teachers, sisters and friends. You are preparing future generations of the Lords Church and the world.

While he said he loves his brethren and cherishes working with them, the two people who have influenced him most are his late wife, Dantzel, who died at age 78, and, for the past 18 years, his wife Wendy.

They have changed my life, he said. They have made my life more complete.

Women have been at the center of Heavenly Fathers plan from the beginning. Covenant daughters of God have a receptivity to the Spirit and an enhanced moral compass, he said.

Sisters, please never underestimate the extraordinary power within you to influence others for good  if the world should ever lose the moral rectitude of its women, the world would never recover.

Sisters voices are needed to teach the doctrine of Christ, detect deception and articulate truth. The wisdom of women is needed in their families, ward and stake councils, and other places of influence throughout the world.

President Nelson invited women to make the scriptures their personal Liahona, the temple their place of refuge and recalibration, and their personal prayers the way they learn where the Lord needs them to be that day. Over time, he said, they will see how the Lord guides them to help others.

Then, he offered the following blessings for women:

Increased spiritual discernment and the ability to find joy in offering relief to others.

Wisdom to discern what is needful and not to run faster than they are able.

The courage to live up to divine privileges as covenant daughters of God.

To feel deeply that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, know them and love them.

To realize that their divine gifts as daughters of God give them the power not only to change lives but to change the world.

President Johnson invites women to enter into a covenant relationship with God

President Johnson shared how the Prophet has repeatedly taught that when people bind themselves to Jesus Christ through sacred priesthood covenants in the house of the Lord, they may draw upon Gods power and need never feel alone.

All enter the covenant path at baptism, and then enter it more completely in the temple, she said, as she invited women to prepare for and receive the blessings of endowment in the house of the Lord.

Young women turning 18 this year were invited to watch the broadcast with their local wards or stakes. President Johnson explained that worthy sisters may receive their own endowment if they are at least 18 years old; have completed or are no longer attending high school, secondary school or the equivalent; one full year has passed since their confirmation; and they feel a desire to receive and honor temple covenants throughout their lives. They do not have to wait until marriage.

Sisters, if you are endowed, stay recommended to the Lord by keeping your recommend current and by attending the house of the Lord regularly. The Lord is making His temples more accessible to His covenant children.

President Johnson shared a moment when she addressed a womens conference in South Korea. Nearly 1,400 Relief Society sisters gathered for the event.

At the end of the meeting, a sister near President Johnson whispered to her, He loves you. The woman later told President Johnson that when she shared that message of love, she felt a confirmation from the Spirit of Gods love for her as well.

My new friend, my Relief Society sister living in South Korea, delivered spiritual relief to me by communicating the love of Jesus Christ and was blessed to find her own relief in Him, a confirmation of the Saviors enduring love for her, President Johnson said. You see, when we bring the Saviors relief to others, we find it for ourselves.

Standing with her counselors, President Johnson testified that women have a vital role to play in preparing the world for the Second Coming, and that all have access to Gods priesthood power in accomplishing that work.

Sister Dennis outlines Gods power

Sister J. Anette Dennis, first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, said daughters of God can be endowed with priesthood power  the power of God that comes to those who make and keep priesthood covenants.

Gods priesthood power will amplify our spiritual gifts and talents, it will give us strength beyond our own to carry the heavy burdens of mortality, and it will give us the peace and power we need as we face the physical, emotional and spiritual earthquakes of our lives. This power that flows from our covenants can bless our lives in so many different ways because it is Gods power.

Mothers can draw on His power for added capacity, energy and direction. Those who have lost a loved one can call on His power to feel comforted and carried. Gods power can also give hope to those facing difficult life circumstances.

Women who are called and set apart or assigned to help with Gods work are also given priesthood authority  Gods authority to represent Him as they fulfill their callings and assignments.

The adversary tries to blind women as to who they are and what they have. But Sister Dennis said she knows of no other religious organization in the world that has so broadly given power and authority to women. All women 18 years and older in the Church of Jesus Christ who choose a covenant relationship with God in the house of the Lord are endowed with priesthood power directly from God. "

And as we serve in whatever calling or assignment, including ministering assignments, we are given priesthood authority to carry out those responsibilities. My dear sisters, you belong to a Church which offers all its women priesthood power and authority from God, Sister Dennis said.

Sister Yee testifies, We are never alone

Each woman has the opportunity to partner with the Lord in a powerful way through her covenants  and she is meant to become one with God through those covenants, taught Sister Kristin M. Yee, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency.

We are never alone. We do not need to navigate the challenges, the uncertainties and the weaknesses of life alone. He will be beside us; this is our covenant promise and blessing. "

A partnership through covenants is real, she testified.

As a sister who has not yet married, this covenant relationship with God has a profound place in my life and is the source of my peace, security, joy and direction. Our Father in Heaven and Savior desire these blessings for each of us no matter our circumstance. They see you, and your path is known to Them.

Sister Yee said keeping covenants changes ones nature to become as Jesus Christ. She invited women to develop a covenant relationship with God and invest in this relationship by living their covenants and spending time with the Savior in the temple, in prayer, in study and in ministering.

Though she is not currently married, Sister Yee said she doesnt necessarily see herself as single. There is much more to all daughters of God than a marital status or demographic label. Covenant women of the Relief Society can create a home where the Spirit dwells  and create places of security and safety from the world.

All women are nurturers to all within their spheres.

Dear sisters, your influence is great, and your gifts are needed. Look at the lives of those around you and those whom the Lord has placed within your influence.

What it means to belong to the Relief Society

The broadcast began with all nine women general officers of the Church standing together. Primary General President Susan H. Porter said that while for this season she is called to help the children of the Church come unto Christ, she is grateful to always be a member of the Relief Society.

Being a member of the Relief Society has allowed me to learn from consecrated women all over the world what it means to love and serve as the Savior, President Porter said.

Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman talked about a ministering sister who instilled in her the belief in the relief that comes from a society that follows Jesus Christ.

She taught me that no matter where I serve in the Church, the Relief Society will be my home, President Freeman said.

President Johnson said from the small group of 20 women assembled in Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1842, a global organization of nearly 8 million women has grown. And the Relief Society is leading out in the Churchs global humanitarian initiative to address the needs of women and children.

These needs are prioritized through maternal and newborn care, child nutrition efforts, immunizations and education worldwide. And the best humanitarian outreach is often to those close by in everyday acts of kindness. President Johnson thanked women for serving as the Savior would.

Sisters, you are fulfilling your divine mandate as a member of the Relief Society whenever you do anything to bring relief to others  temporal or spiritual  because you are bringing them the love of Jesus Christ.

I testify that as you do, you will be blessed to find your own relief in Him. Jesus Christ is relief. And you belong to the Relief Society.
Presidential primaries will be held in five states  Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kansas and Ohio  on Tuesday, March 19.

But the results will likely be of little consequence in the race for the White House.

Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have already received enough delegates to clinch their respective party nominations, which, barring unforeseen circumstances, ensures a rematch of the 2020 election.

Because of this, these primaries dont matter for the selection of the presidential candidates, Robert Shapiro, a professor of government at Columbia University, told McClatchy News.

But, the results could shed light on levels of support for the candidates and their influence in down-ballot contests.

The presidential vote  and especially votes for candidates other than Biden or Trump  could have symbolic relevance or be signs of weakness in their candidacies, Shapiro said. And the relative turnout for each could say something about enthusiasm for them or signs of voter turnout to come.

Still, by the time the polls close in all five states, its likely that each major party candidate will end up with almost all the delegates, Paul Beck, an emeritus professor of political science at the Ohio State University, told McClatchy News.

Heres an overview of the upcoming contests in the five states.

Ohio

In the Ohio Democratic primary, where 127 delegates are on the line, the ballot will feature Biden and U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, who has already dropped out and endorsed the current president, according to WCPO.

Biden boasts widespread support in the state, garnering the backing of 86% of Democratic voters, according to a March poll from SurveyUSA.

In the Republican primary, where 79 delegates are at stake, Trump will be on the ballot alongside a slew of candidates who have already bowed out: Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Ron DeSantis, per WCPO.

The vast majority of Republicans in the state, 83%, back Trump, according to a March poll from Emerson College.

The Republican primary will also also include a widely watched nominating contest in the race to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Trump has endorsed businessman Bernie Moreno, while Gov. Mike DeWine endorsed his opponent, state Sen. Matt Dolan.

Moreno is seen as the more extreme choice, Alan Abramowitz, an emeritus professor of political science at Emory University, told McClatchy News.

The race will be an interesting test of Trumps ability to influence down-ballot contests, Abramowitz said, adding that it will be one of the key races in November determining control of the Senate.

Arizona

Biden will be on Arizonas Democratic primary ballot alongside Phillips, Marianne Williamson and a string of lesser-known candidates, including Jason Palmer, who won the Democratic primary in American Samoa. Seventy-two delegates are at stake.

Biden is supported by the majority, 65%, of Democratic voters in the state, according to an August poll from Emerson College.

In the Republican primary, where 43 delegates are on the line, Trump will be featured on the ballot along with eight other candidates, including DeSantis, Christie, Haley and Asa Hutchinson.

Trump is backed by the majority of Republicans in the state, according to recent polls.

Illinois

In Illinois Democratic primary, where 147 delegates are at stake, Biden will face off against Phillips, Williamson and businessman Frankie Lozada.

In the Republican primary, where 64 delegates are up for grabs, Trump will be joined on the ballot by DeSantis, Haley, Christie and businessman Ryan Binkley.

Illinois will also hold nominating contests for three House seats and other statewide offices.

Kansas

In Kansas Democratic primary, where 33 delegates are available, Biden will be on the ballot along with Phillips, Williamson and Palmer. Voters will also have the option to select none of the names shown.

In the Republican primary, where 39 delegates are up for grabs, Trump will be on the ballot alongside Trump, DeSantis, Binkley, Haley and none of the names shown.

Previous primaries this year have featured options similar to none of the names shown  such as uncommitted  and have revealed pockets of discontent with both Biden and Trump in a string of states. Democratic activists and officials have pushed voters in multiple states to opt for uncommitted as a way to protest Bidens support for Israels war in Gaza.

Florida

Floridas Democratic primary was canceled due to Biden being the sole candidate put forward by the state party. As a result, all 224 of the states delegates were granted to Biden.

Phillips, Williamson and other long shot Democratic candidates criticized the move in December, calling it antidemocratic, according to The Hill.

In the Republican primary, Trump will face off against DeSantis, Binkley, Haley, Ramaswamy and Hutchinson. At stake are 125 delegates.

What will happen to TikTok? Another Chinese-owned app targeted by US could offer clues

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One of the most worrisome aspects of the war between Israel and Hamas is the ease with which so many Americans have been willing to betray their own nation for the sake of Palestine.

Take current US government efforts to ban TikTok. No sooner had the House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to force the social media platform to decouple from its controversial parent company, ByteDance, than pro-Palestinian advocates were laying the blame on pro-Israeli organisations.

Never mind that Congress specifically targeted TikTok because its controlled by what they describe as a foreign adversary, a contentious charge yet to be proven. Who cares that study after study (including those commissioned by Amnesty International) has suggested that TikTok is damaging and divisive for young users. Forget that TikTok sucks up vast quantities of sensitive user data.

Oh, and dont even mention that TikTok is so odious that China forbids their own young people from using it. According to pro-Palestinian activists like Ahmed Eldin and his American comrades, TikToks future is in doubt because the US government is under the control of pro-Israel and pre-Jewish groups like AIPAC and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

Back in November, it seems, ADL Chief Executive Jonathan Greeblatt was recorded saying that we have a major Tik-Tik problem during a conversation about the positive reaction by many teenagers and young adults to the Hamas attack on Israel. As Greenblatt noted, American support for Israel was no longer an issue of left and right, but rather young and old  with the former far more anti-Israel than the latter. TikTok, he noted briefly, is part of the problem: but so too are Hamas, Iran and useful idiots in the west.

Despite barely featuring in his chat, as far as the pro-Gaza crowd was concerned, the Greenblatt snippet was a smoking gun  Israel and Jews have been conspiring to cancel TikTok. This notion is as grossly offensive as it is absurd.

A similar sense of treasonous illogic coursed through a mid-November charade that unfolded  where else  on TikTok. Barely a month into the Israel-Hamas war, a young TikTok influencer named Lynette Adkins stumbled upon Osama Bin-Ladens infamous 2002 Letter to America, which laid out the former Al Qaeda leaders vision for global jihad barely a year after he led the September 11 attacks that killed thousands.

Filled with fundamentalist-sounding declarations such as we are calling you to... Islam and Allahs Word and religion reign Supreme, Bin Laden goes on to accuse Jews of controlling the world  along with the US of trading in sex in all its forms. Everything from gambling to alcohol and even AIDS are then touted as signs of American decay and the need to embrace Islam. Its heavy stuff completely out of touch with the liberal, Western values Americas youth hold dear, right?

Not according to the nearly 35 million views of #lettertoamerica-related content posted on TikTok over the following few days, before the platform had the hashtag removed for violating its rules against supporting terrorism. Despite Bin Ladens calls for America to embrace radicalism  and reject youthful joys like premarital sex  influencers like Adkins described Letter to America in breathless, life-changing terms.

I feel like Im going through, like, an existential crisis right now, Adkins said after first reading the 20 year-old treatise. I just need someone else to be feeling this. Apparently folks were: Another user noted seditiously, If were going to call Osama bin Laden a terrorist, so is the American government in a post that garnered over 100,000 views.

And then theres Michigan, where Palestinian-American Rep. Rashida Tlaib led the recent campaign to convince Muslim- and Arab-American voters to cast their ballots as uncommitted  rather than for Pres. Biden  during the states Democratic primary late last month. Their goal: to send a message of opposition to Biden for his pro-Israel policies and foreshadow potential voter disdain come November when he faces reelection against Donald Trump.

Where to begin here? With the specter of Arab-Americans voting for Trump, the man who enacted his notorious Muslim ban on mostly Arab travelers within days of his 2017 inauguration? Or with the fact that Tlaib  a sitting elected American official  seems to be encouraging voters to prioritise the needs of foreign nationals above those of the US?

Imagine a Hispanic politician asking their constituents to vote in the best interests of people back in Mexico or Colombia  or an Asian-American legislator doing the same but for China or Korea. Jewish organisations like AIPAC have long encouraged American Jews to vote with Israels best-interests in mind, despite the questions of loyalty they inevitably arouse.

But asking them to place Israel before America itself is about as likely as Israel being responsible for, well, TikTok being banned by the US government. Ultimately, any Jewish leader who expressly suggested American Jews prioritise Israel over the US would be skewered by folks like Tlaib, who has now done exactly the same thing in Michigan, but for Palestine.

Long before October 7, there was a relentlessness inherent in some American leftist support for Palestine. But now that support is superseding America itself, placing bipartisan and wholly logical efforts such as regulating the social scourge known as TikTok, or voting for candidates who actually support your party and best interests, behind the need to show unconditional support for Hamas.

Aaron Bushnell, an active American military member, immolated himself in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington DC last month. Might we soon see the ultimate symbol of treason, US soldiers violently protesting before US government institutions, as well? With Israel winning the battle in Gaza, pro-Palestine activists are reaching new levels of desperation to win the war over public opinion. Nothing is now off limits, it seems  not even the best interests of their own nation.

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The care at Landmark of Louisville Rehabilitation and Nursing was abysmal when state inspectors filed their survey report of the Kentucky facility on July 3, 2021.

Residents wandered the halls in a facility that can house up to 250 people, yelling at each other and stealing blankets. One resident beat a roommate with a stick, causing bruising and skin tears. Another was found in bed with a broken finger and a bloody forehead gash. That person was allowed to roam and enter the beds of other residents. In another case, there was sexual touching in the dayroom between residents, according to the report.

Meals were served from filthy meal carts on plastic foam trays, and residents struggled to cut their food with dull plastic cutlery. Broken tiles lined showers, and a mysterious black gunk marred the floors. The director of housekeeping reported that the dining room was unsanitary. Overall, there was a critical lack of training, staff and supervision.

The inspectors tagged Landmark as deficient in 29 areas, including six that put residents in immediate jeopardy of serious harm and three where actual harm was found. The issues were so severe that the government slapped Landmark with a fine of over US$319,000  more than 29 times the average for a nursing home in 2021  and suspended payments to the home from federal Medicaid and Medicare funds.

But problems persisted. Five months later, inspectors levied six additional deficiencies of immediate jeopardy  the highest level.

Landmark is just one of the 58 facilities run by parent company Infinity Healthcare Management across five states. The government issued penalties to the company almost 4 times the national average, according to bimonthly data that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services first started to make available in late 2022. All told, Infinity paid nearly $10 million in fines since 2021, the highest among nursing home chains with fewer than 100 facilities.

Infinity Healthcare Management and its executives did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Race to the bottom

Such sanctions are nothing new for Infinity or other for-profit nursing home chains that have dominated an industry long known for cutting corners in pursuit of profits for private owners. But this race to the bottom to extract profits is accelerating, despite demands by government officials, health care experts and advocacy groups to protect the nations most vulnerable citizens.

To uncover the reasons why, The Conversation delved into the nursing home industry, where for-profit facilities make up more than 72% of the nations nearly 14,900 facilities. The probe, which paired an academic expert with an investigative reporter, used the most recent government data on ownership, facility information and penalties, combined with CMS data on affiliated entities for nursing homes.

The investigation revealed an industry that places a premium on cost cutting and big profits, with low staffing and poor quality, often to the detriment of patient well-being. Operating under weak and poorly enforced regulations with financially insignificant penalties, the for-profit sector fosters an environment where corners are frequently cut, compromising the quality of care and endangering patient health.

Meanwhile, owners make the facilities look less profitable by siphoning money from the homes through byzantine networks of interconnected corporations. Federal regulators have neglected the problem as each year likely billions of dollars are funneled out of nursing homes through related parties and into owners pockets.

More trouble at midsize

Analyzing newly released government data, our investigation found that these problems are most pronounced in nursing homes like Infinity  midsize chains that operate between 11 and 100 facilities. This subsection of the industry has higher average fines per home, lower overall quality ratings, and are more likely to be tagged with resident abuse compared with both the larger and smaller networks. Indeed, while such chains account for about 39% of all facilities, they operate 11 of the 15 most-fined facilities.

With few impediments, private investors who own the midsize chains have swooped in to purchase underperforming homes, expanding their holdings even as larger chains divest and close facilities.

They are really bad, but the names  we dont know these names, said Toby Edelman, senior policy attorney with the Center for Medicare Advocacy, a nonprofit law organization.

In response to The Conversations findings on nursing homes and request for an interview, a CMS spokesperson emailed a statement that said the CMS is unwavering in its commitment to improve safety and quality of care for the more than 1.2 million residents receiving care in Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes.

We support transparency and accountability, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, a trade organization representing the nursing home industry, wrote in response to The Conversations request for comment. But neither ownership nor line items on a budget sheet prove whether a nursing home is committed to its residents.

Ripe for abuse

It often takes years to improve a poor nursing home  or run one into the ground. The analysis of midsize chains shows that most owners have been associated with their current facilities for less than eight years, making it difficult to separate operators who have taken long-term investments in resident care from those who are looking to quickly extract money and resources before closing them down or moving on. These chains control roughly 41% of nursing home beds in the U.S., according to CMSs provider data, making the lack of transparency especially ripe for abuse.

A churn of nursing home purchases even during the pandemic shows that investors view the sector as highly profitable, especially when staffing costs are kept low and fines for poor care can easily be covered by the money extracted from residents, their families and taxpayers.

A March 2024 study from Lehigh University and the University of California, Los Angeles also shows that costs were inflated when nursing home owners switched to contractors they controlled directly or indirectly. Overall, spending on real estate increased 20.4% and spending on management increased 24.6% when the businesses were affiliated, the research showed.

This is the model of their care: They come in, they understaff and they make their money, said Sam Brooks, director of public policy at the Consumer Voice, a national resident advocacy organization. Then they multiply it over a series of different facilities.

This is a condensed version of an article from The Conversations investigative unit. To find out more about the rise of for-profit nursing homes, financial trickery and what could make the nations most vulnerable citizens safer, read the complete version.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

It was written by: Sean Campbell, The Conversation and Charlene Harrington, University of California, San Francisco.

Read more:



Campbell is an adjunct assistant professor at Columbia University and a contributing writer at the Garrison Project, an independent news organization that focuses on mass incarceration and criminal justice.

Harrington is an advisory board member of the nonprofit Veteran's Health Policy Institute and a board member of the nonprofit Center for Health Information and Policy. Harrington served as an expert witness on nursing home litigation cases by residents against facilities owned or operated by Brius and Shlomo Rechnitz in the past and in 2022. She also served as an expert witness in a case against The Citadel Salisbury in North Carolina in 2021.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and a group opposing the Proposition 1 ballot measure are both urging voters whose ballots may have been rejected to fix their signatures in the too-close-to-call race.

Californians Against Prop. 1 on Friday began drawing attention to a Newsom effort to recruit volunteers who could contact voters whose mail-in ballots are being challenged due to signature problems.

Proposition 1 would restructure Californias Mental Health Services Act and provide $6.4 billion in bond money to increase the number of treatment beds and housing for those dealing with mental illness and addiction. The ballot measure remains deadlocked, with 50.1% of votes in favor of the initiative and 49.9% against it as of Monday morning, according to the Secretary of States Office. About 20,000 votes separate the yes and no sides.

Californias mail-in election system requires voters to sign the outside of the envelopes containing their ballots. If there are irregularities with the writing, or if envelopes are missing signatures, election workers flag the ballots and attempt to contact voters to cure or fix the problem.

Newsom last week began soliciting volunteers to provide a secondary layer of help for voters with ballots in need of curing.

An email shared by Californians Against Prop. 1 said Newsom volunteers would complete a training and print out forms to take to voters with ballot signature irregularities, potentially a few times during the next 10 days.

The email had a disclaimer at the bottom saying it was paid for by Newsoms Campaign for Democracy PAC.

The votes are being counted and it is CLOSE. Like, just a couple thousand votes close, the email said. We need help reaching out to Democrats who have had their ballots rejected for things like forgetting to include a signature and get their ballots counted.

Proposition 1 spokesman Anthony York confirmed the volunteer effort.

We know its a close race, he said in a text message. Mobilizing in case volunteers are needed. When asked Monday if the campaign had called in volunteers, he confirmed it had.

Californians Against Prop. 1 last week conceded the measure would likely pass. But the group on Monday again began rallying against the initiative, refashioning its website with information to help voters whose ballots may have signature issues.

We believe all ballots should be counted, said Paul Simmons, a director of Californians Against Prop. 1 in an email to supporters of the group. We know that many Democrats voted against Prop. 1, so the governors effort is no slam dunk. If youre a Republican or independent, we want you to know that your ballot might make the difference in this election. But the governor wont help you. We will.

Volunteer ballot-curing operations are legal and becoming more and more common in Californias vote-by-mail dominated election system, said Kim Alexander, president and founder of the California Voter Foundation.

Campaigns and certain qualified people can request information on voters whose ballots have been challenged, which they can cross-reference with their own data to target those who likely support their candidate or cause, Alexander said.

Hes not getting any special treatment, she said of the governor. Hes just trying something thats a new strategy.

The contents of the ballot envelopes remain secret  supporters and opponents are simply trying to get signatures fixed based on assumptions about how people may have voted, Alexander said.

In this way, campaigns have begun to extend into the vote-counting process, she said. Its a legal strategy, but it favors candidates and causes with more money that can afford voter data and can more easily mobilize volunteers.

Campaigns are realizing this is an opportunity to make sure all the votes being cast for their side are being counted, Alexander said.
Ukraine has collected pretrial information on over 128,000 victims of war crimes, Veronika Plotnikova, the head of the Coordinating Center for Support of Victims and Witnesses of the Prosecutor General's Office, said on air on March 18.

War crimes include acts such as deliberate attacks on civilians, attacks on cultural sites or medical institutions, torture, and deportations.

Though the Coordinating Center is currently working with 170 victims of war crimes, "the real number of people who need help is much higher," as information on over 128,000 victims of war crimes has been recorded in the national register of pretrial investigations, Plotnikova said.

The Coordinating Center "provides a bridge between victims and those who provide help," Plotnikova said.

According to Plotnikova, staff at the Coordination Center are trained to use accessible language to tell victims and witnesses of war crimes which procedural actions are taking place, and to accompany them to court, while taking care not to retraumatize the victims.

"We are creating an ecosystem of support because no government body, no organization can provide for so many victims."

Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin said in November 2023 that Ukraine had collected evidence of 109,000 Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

"It's our commitment to decide to document, prosecute each and every incident, because each and every incident of war crimes has its victims," Kostin told Politico at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Read also: International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for Russian military commanders

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Despite a recent change in representation, Nadine Arslanian Menendez may soon be on the hunt for another lawyer. Recent court filings show that the government may bring David Schertler and other members of his law firm to the stand as witnesses against her and her co-defendants in a federal corruption and bribery case.

Her co-defendants include her husband, Sen. Bob Menendez, and three New Jersey businessmen, including Wael Hana and North Jersey developer Fred Daibes. The third, Jose Uribe, recently flipped his not guilty plea to guilty.

The United States attorney for the Southern District of New York requested a hearing to ensure Nadine Menendez "understands and knowingly waives the multiple issues arising from her continued retention of Mr. Schertler and his law firm," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams wrote in a letter to Judge Sidney Stein on Sunday.

The hearing would involve a series of questions posed to Nadine Menendez alerting her to all the possibilities of what could happen during trial.

A proposed list of questions was included in the court document and outlined whether there is a conflict of interest or other potential problems related to Schertler, as well as Danny Onorato and Paola Pinto, who also represent Nadine Menendez, due to their personal knowledge of certain facts that the government has alleged are relevant.

"The Government believes that Schertler participated in, among other things, relevant conversations with you and counsel for your co-defendants Robert Menendez and Wael Hana," court documents said.

The conversations included such topics as the nature and purpose of the payments co-defendant Uribe made for a Mercedes-Benz that Nadine Menendez received, the nature of payments Hana made towards Nadine Menendez's mortgage, and the purpose of repayment for both.

Related: Most people call the police once or twice in their lives. Not when you're Nadine Menendez

There is also a question of communications Nadine Menendez had with Schertler regarding a presentation he made to the United States Attorneys Office on Aug. 11, 2023, the purpose of that presentation, and communication he had with counsel for Nadine and Bob Menendez.

The state said in its sample questions that there is no decision about whether they will be witnesses, but if the government does call on one of the attorneys, there's the possibility that one or more of them would have to withdraw as Nadine Menendez's counsel.

A Mercedes-Benz that investigators say was unlawfully accepted by Sen. Robert Menendez and his wife in an indictment announced on Sept. 22, 2023.

Williams, the U.S. attorney, said his team is aware that Nadine Menendez's counsel does not consent to the proposal and that her team plans to file a response.

Nadine Menendez hired the new firm in January using pro hac vice, a process that allows her to bring in an attorney who is not bar-certified in the state where the trial is taking place. In this instance, she's hiring Mark MacDougall, who can work in Massachusetts and Maryland.

MacDougall is from the firm Schertler Onorato Mead & Sears in Washington, D.C., and has been certified as in good standing with the Maryland Supreme Court.

He has experience with this type of case, having previously represented Bijan Rafiekian, a onetime business partner to former President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, against the federal Justice Department. Rafiekian had been accused of illegally lobbying on behalf of the Turkish government.

The indictment against the Menendezes and the three businessmen includes allegations that Nadine Menendez received a car paid for by co-defendants Hana and Uribe in 2019. She totaled her previous car in December 2018 when her vehicle hit and killed pedestrian Richard Koop on a Bogota street.

Nadine Menendez did not call the police for nearly five minutes after the initial incident. She has displayed a habit of calling the police to her home.

The defendants in the federal corruption case face 18 counts brought by federal prosecutors, including conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice, amid allegations that Menendez, the senator, was working to benefit Qatar in addition to Egypt.

Menendez and his wife allegedly received, among other things, cash, gold bars and the luxury car in exchange for using his political influence.

Nadine Menendez and the senator have requested separate trials on the grounds that a joint trial could "compromise a specific trial right of one of the defendants, or prevent the jury from making a reliable judgement about guilt or innocence."

Those filings said Menendezs testimony at his trial "could include revealing confidential marital communications" with Nadine Menendez that she wishes to keep confidential in her case.

The trial is currently set to be held in May.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Nadine Menendez lawyer could be witness in bribery case
Russia held illegal presidential elections on Sunday, March 17. The incumbent dictator Vladimir Putin was "painted" as an absolute winner with more than 87% of the vote.

ADVERTISIMENT

This is evidenced by exit poll data from the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. Some leaders of countries favorable to Russia have already congratulated Putin on his election victory.

The Russians also did not hesitate to show generally sky-high results for the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine - everywhere the dictator was allegedly supported by more than 88% of "voters."

The leader among the occupied territories was the "DPR" - more than 95% with a record turnout of 88.25%, followed by the "LPR" - 94.12% of the vote, Zaporizhzhia - 92.95%, Kherson - 88.12%.

Putin's "competitors" got absolutely ridiculous results:

- Nikolay Kharitonov - 3.86%;

- Vladislav Davankov - 3.76%;

- Leonid Slutsky - 2.97%.

ADVERTISIMENT

In addition, North Korean President Kim Jong-un, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla have already congratulated Putin on his "victory."

"I sincerely congratulate you on your landslide victory in the presidential election. The results of the voting are another vivid confirmation of your high political authority and the broad support of Russian society for your state policy aimed at ensuring sustainable socio-economic development of the country and strengthening its international position," the Tajik president said in his congratulatory message.

ADVERTISIMENT

At the same time, the Nicaraguan president congratulated Putin on the "exemplary and peaceful elections" held in the "huge and friendly" country.

As a reminder, Russian Telegram channels reported that the small number of Russian citizens who decided to express their "protest" against Putin's election with a spoiled ballot stated that Putin was a murderer.

Throughout the Russian Federation, single ballots were found at polling stations in which the electorate wrote "no to war" and "peace to Ukraine." Photos of ballots on which Russian citizens called for the release of all political prisoners were also posted online.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev threatened Russians who "commit crimes" at polling stations or near them during the presidential election in the aggressor country. He referred to the "crimes" as arson and vandalism.

ADVERTISIMENT

- The British newspaper The Observer reported that Putin's "victory" in the "election" was a foregone conclusion, as he had no serious opponent. In addition, the Kremlin has spent approximately $1.2 billion on lies and propaganda, falsification of the results of the "vote" in the occupied territories of Ukraine, and an unimpeded nationwide campaign.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Protesters dressed up as animals and trespassed at the park - Lee Thomas

More than 500 people have staged a mass trespass over being charged to access Lord Bathursts estate, which had been free for 326 years.

Cirencester Park, in the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, had been free to roam since 1695 but visitors from afar are now being charged 4 per adult and locals must pay a 10 deposit, with electric pedestrian gates installed on four main entry routes.

Earl Bathurst, whose family has run the estate for centuries, said the system will support restoration and maintenance work for one of the UKs largest green spaces which spans more than 3,000 acres.

The row over the change, introduced on Friday, has now escalated after hundreds of local residents and protesters from across the West Country walked through Cirencester Parks main gates on Cecily Hill - which were open - in a mass trespass protest on Sunday.

They chanted Whose park? Our park, with some holding placards reading Right to roam. Other signs included one reading The peasants are revolting and Nature should be for everyone, not just for those that can afford it.

Cirencester Park has been free to roam since 1695 - Lee Thomas

Jon Moses, organiser of campaign group Right To Roam, said the park land was bought by Benjamin Bathurst with profits from the transatlantic slave trade.

All that has been asked in return for these multiple extractions is that the park remain what it has always been - a community space, an open space, a free space available to everyone, Mr Moses said.

And now, even that must pay. None of us are responsible for our ancestors, the Bathursts are not responsible for theirs.

But you cannot profit from a legacy while refusing responsibility for its origin. Nor is it the responsibility of a democratic society to continue bearing its cost.

Right To Roam said the Bathurst Estate listed total equity of 29 million last year, and holds an offshore trust in Bermuda.

Leigh Chapman, 76, who has lived in Cirencester for 50 years, brought a sign reading The peasants are revolting to the protest:

Protester Leigh Chapman, 76, centre, has lived in Cirencester for 50 years - Claire Hayhurst

The controversy previously saw Lady Bathurst publicly distance herself from the initiative and blame it on the estate manager, as the Countess hit out at some of the worst online bullying and libellous claims she had ever experienced.

Lord Bathurst, who stood by a gate to watch protesters gather in the park on Sunday morning, said: People dont like change, I dont like change, but unfortunately to keep the park running we have to have some change in here.

He added: There are so many other places, National Trust properties, Westonbirt Arboretum, that we have to pay to go into.

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Russia has allegedly lost 600 men in the attacks on its border regions in recent days, and the operation has hindered Vladimir Putins war efforts by keeping his troops distracted, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

The armed offensivewaged by three anti-Kremlin Russian militia groups earlier this monthhas also left more than 800 Russians wounded, according Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defenses Main Intelligence Directorate. Speaking on a telethon Monday, Yusov added that 20 Russian armored vehicles and seven tanks have been damaged in the attacks, which he described as having caused serious enemy losses.

The militia groupsthe Freedom of Russia Legion, the Russian Volunteer Corps, and the Siberian Battalionhave said that the intended goal of their campaign is to bring an end to the war on Ukraine. They also allegedly have damaged Russian ammunition warehouses, dugouts, towers with antennae, video surveillance, a cellular communication station, a bridge, and other fortifications.

Local Kremlin officials have alleged that the attacks only killed two Russians and injured 12, the AP reported. Moscow has also claimed that its forces killed over 400 enemy fighters and destroyed five tanks and four armored vehicles in the attacks.

Russia has accused Kyiv of directing the Russian militias in their rampage. The Ukrainian government has denied the allegation.

Russians Warned to Flee Border Cities While They Still Can

Yusov didnt wave the militias off the attacks, however. At home they have the right to do whatever they think is necessary, Yusov said, adding that in Ukraine, they operate as part of Ukraines forces.

The Ukrainian government has also been waging its own sabotage attacks targeting energy infrastructure inside Russia, in an apparent attempt to stifle Russian funding for the war.

Over the weekend, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Special Operations Forces, and the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the Slavyansk-on-Kuban oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, causing an explosion and a fire, a source from the SBU told Ukrainska Pravda.

The Slavyansk refinery produces 4.5 million metric tons of crude a year, which is mainly intended for exports, according to Reuters. Some of the facilities impacted in recent attacks have accounted for approximately 12 percent of Russias oil-processing capacity, according to Bloomberg.

The SBU source added that the Slavyansk-on-Kuban target was just one of 12 oil refineries attacked in Russia in recent days. Refineries in the Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod, and Leningrad oblasts have also been hit by drone strikes, according to the Kyiv Independent.

Russia claimed Ukrainian saboteurs have launched 35 drones in all in recent days, disrupting electricity supplies in border areas, according to Reuters. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod, has said the attacks have damaged power lines.

The SBU has assessed that the campaign aimed at damaging Russias energy infrastructures is successful, the source told Ukrainska Pravda.

They are successful, as a large-scale fire was reported near the atmospheric distillation towers, which were the primary targets, the source said.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison a "sad event" and claimed he had been prepared to exchange him.

Source: Putin speaking at his campaign headquarters on Sunday evening, as quoted by Russian Kremlin-aligned news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS

Quote: "Concerning Mr Navalny. Yes, he passed away, it's always a sad event. Well, we've had other cases where people have passed away in prison. Hasn't that happened in the United States? It has, many times.

Let me tell you something  this will be unexpected. A few days before Mr Navalny passed away, some colleagues, some people told me that there was an idea to exchange Mr Navalny for some people who were imprisoned in Western countries. You can believe me or not, but before the person who was speaking to me had even finished the sentence, I said: I agree. Only on one condition: well exchange him so that he does not return. Let him stay there. But unfortunately, what happened happened."

Background:

On the afternoon of 16 February, Russias Federal Penitentiary Service reported the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at Correctional Facility No. 3 in Kharp, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, in northwestern Siberia.

Alexei Navalny had been imprisoned since early 2021. The Moscow City Court sentenced him to 19 years in prison in a high-security prison for "extremism" in August 2023.

Maria Pevchikh, head of the Anti-Corruption Foundation formerly headed by Alexei Navalny, said on 26 February that an agreement had been reached to swap the opposition politician in a prisoner exchange, but he died in prison while the negotiations were in the final stages.

Navalny was aware of the prisoner swap plan and had agreed to it, Reuters reported.

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Russian dictator Vladimir Putin had agreed to exchange jailed opposition leader Alexey Navalny for some people in prison in Western countries before Navalnys death in custody, Putin claimed on March 17, according to Russias TASS propaganda agency.

Read also: Missing the irony, Putins PR man calls accusations Putin killed Navalny barbaric

"Some colleagues, some people told me that there is an idea to exchange Mr. Navalny for some people who are in prisons in Western countries a few days before his death," the dictator claimed.

I immediately agreed to this offer with the condition that after the exchange, Navalny would not return to Russia  let him stay there.

Putin called Navalny by name for the first time. Navalny's associate Leonid Volkov emphasized.

A month after cynically killing him, said Volkov, who survived an attack in Lithuania on the eve of the Russian elections.

Read also: Russian Volunteer Corps reveals foiled plan to free Navalny and send him to Ukraine

He himself confirmed that he killed so as not to exchange. Putin is relishing his impunity, a blood-sucking bug. He will burst soon, with all that blood he sucked, there will be a splash. Putin killed Alexei Navalny, and now he decided that there was no need to pretend anymore. He confirmed it himself. He promised to kill more and more."

Putin reportedly discussed Navalnys exchange just a few hours before the death of his rival on March 8.

Russian authorities announced the death of 47-year-old Navalny on Feb. 16. He was in a penal colony in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in the Russian Far North.

Navalny's entourage confirmed his death the next day.

He was buried on March 1 at the Borisovsky Cemetery in Moscow. The ambassadors of the European Union and the USA attended the funeral.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony last month and supporters say he was killed by Russian authorities

Vladimir Putin has always refused to refer to his main opponent in Russia by name, but now that Alexei Navalny is dead, he has changed tack.

After claiming his fifth term as president, he told reporters: "As for Navalny, yes he passed away, this is always a sad event."

He also suggested he had agreed Navalny could be part of a prisoner swap.

Navalny's colleagues say he was murdered in an Arctic jail by Russian authorities, who cite natural causes.

US President Joe Biden said at the time it was "yet more proof of Putin's brutality".

Mr Putin said on Sunday night that a few days before Navalny's death, he had been told by people who were not part of his administration of a planned swap "for some people" held in the West.

He said he had agreed immediately on condition that Navalny never came back: "But, unfortunately, what happened, happened."

Some have seen in the Russian leader's remarks an attempt to distance himself from Navalny's death. Exiled Russian journalist Roman Dobrokhotov said it was an attempt to show "it was unprofitable for me, I wanted to exchange him".

But Navalny's chief of staff, Leonid Volkov, said the Russian leader's remarks showed that "now he has decided he doesn't need to pretend any more".

Commentators believe Mr Putin has previously used Navalny's name only once, in 2013, when he was asked why he shunned it.

At the time, he argued Navalny was only one of many opposition leaders, even though he had recently come runner-up in Moscow's mayoral election.

Independent journalist Farida Rustamova suggested Russia's long-time leader now felt able to say his adversary's name, because in his eyes Navalny no longer posed a threat.

In his remarks, Mr Putin compared Navalny's death in jail to cases of people dying in custody in the US: "They've happened, and more than once."

Maria Pevchikh, a colleague of the late opposition leader, said she was lost for words at Mr Putin's cynicism.

It was Ms Pevchikh who said in the aftermath of Navalny's death that he was close to being exchanged for a Russian hitman serving a life sentence for murder in Germany.

Vadim Krasikov was jailed for life for the 2019 murder of a Chechen exile in a park in Berlin. Zelimkhan Khangoshvili had fought Russian troops as a rebel commander in Chechnya years before and later claimed asylum in Germany.

Two US citizens held in Russia were also part of the planned swap, according to Ms Pevchikh, who said negotiations had reached a final stage the day before Navalny's death on 16 February.

Paul Whelan (L) has been in detention since 2018, Alsu Kurmasheva (C) since October last year and Evan Gershkovich since last March

Although the Kremlin never confirmed that talks had been going on, President Putin had already indicated that Vadim Krasikov could be swapped for Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who has spent almost a year in a Russian jail.

Another American, Paul Whelan, has been held in Russian detention for more than five years, while US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was arrested last October.

The Russian leader has not mentioned Krasikov by name, referring last month to someone who had "due to patriotic sentiments, eliminated a bandit in one of the European capitals", implying that the killer had acted by himself.

Judges at Krasikov's trial ruled that the murder had been ordered by Russian state authorities and the government in Berlin expelled several Russian diplomats in response to the attack.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A day after securing a new six-year term, Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared briefly at an open-air concert on Red Square on Monday to mark the 10th anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The annexation of the Black Sea peninsula was a precursor to Moscow's seizure of four other Ukraine regions in 2022 that it has declared parts of Russia, in actions condemned as illegal by most countries at the United Nations.

Putin told a large, flag-waving crowd that the "return" of those other regions to Russia had turned out to be "much more grave and tragic" than Crimea's, but it had been accomplished.

Two years after Putin launched what he calls his "special military operation", Russia has not fully captured the four regions, but voting in Russia's three-day presidential election that ended on Sunday was held in the parts of Ukraine that its forces control. Ukraine said the exercise was illegal and void.

Putin said officials had reported early on Monday that rail links had been restored from Rostov in southern Russia to the Russian-controlled cities of Donetsk, Mariupol and Berdyansk, and further upgrades would follow.

(Reporting by Reuters, writing by Mark Trevelyan; editing by Barbara Lewis)
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has hailed the "return" of Crimea to Russia at a concert marking the 10th anniversary of the illegal annexation of the territory from Ukraine.

He said Crimea had "returned to its home harbour" and that it would move forwards with Russia "hand in hand".

Mr Putin was addressing thousands in Moscow's Red Square a day after claiming a landslide election win.

The vote has been condemned by Western governments as a sham.

UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the elections, in which serious opposition candidates were not allowed to stand, "starkly underline the depth of repression under President Putin's regime".

He also stressed that holding Russian elections in occupied Ukrainian territories was an "abhorrent violation of the UN charter and Ukrainian sovereignty".

Germany which called it a "pseudo-election", while the US said it was "obviously not free nor fair." Ukraine's president accused Putin of "simulating" another election.

China, Saudi Arabia and India all congratulated Mr Putin:

In a message to the Russian president, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that under his leadership Russia would "certainly be able to achieve greater achievements in national development and construction"

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he looked forward to strengthening Delhi's "time-tested special and privileged strategic partnership" with Moscow

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman praised the Russian president's "decisive" victory.

The Black Sea peninsula of Crimea was annexed by Moscow in 2014 - eight years before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the seizure of its Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

On Monday, Mr Putin said the "return" of those four Ukrainian regions to Russia had turned out to be "much more grave and tragic" than Crimea.

"But in the end we did it. It is a big event in the history of our country," he said, describing the occupied territories as part of "New Russia". The crowd responded with chants of "Russia, Russia".

Mr Putin also announced a new railway that will run from the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to Crimea via occupied Ukraine - which would serve as an alternative to the current bridge which links the peninsula to Russia's mainland.

"This is how together, hand in hand, we will move on. This is what - not in words, but in deeds - makes us really stronger," he said.

The existing bridge, which opened in 2018, has been attacked and forced to close twice since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Earlier during the rally, he said a rail line from Rostov to the occupied Ukrainian cities of Donetsk, Mariupol and Berdyansk had been restored, and would now be extended to the Crimean port city of Sevastopol.

The president addressed thousands who had gathered in Moscow's Red Square

Mr Putin thanked the crowd for their support in his recent election success - which saw him claim a fifth term with a landslide 87% - and was joined on stage by the three opposition candidates who were permitted to stand against him.

Russians had three days to vote and people in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine had even longer, in an attempt to persuade residents to take part.

The president, who has ruled Russia since 2000, is now set to stay in power until at least 2030 - the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

Independent Russian watchdog, Golos, was barred from observing the vote but reports of irregularities have emerged, as well as pressure on public sector employees to vote either in polling stations or online.

Voters were not able "to form and express their free will, or to establish the true outcome of the vote", it said.

The president praised opposition campaigners for encouraging voters to turn out in greater numbers, although he condemned those who spoilt their ballots and said action would be taken against them.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, after declaring victory in a sham presidential election, held a rally on the Red Square marking his victory and the illegal ten-year occupation of Crimea.

Putin took the stage in the company of his "rivals," Kremlin-friendly lawmakers, Vladislav Davankov, Nikolai Kharitonov and Leonid Slutsky, who ran against Putin in the election.

All three, praised Putin and offered their support.

The three-day Russian presidential election that concluded on March 17 resulted in Russia's Central Election Commission giving Putin 87,28% of the vote. It was widely viewed as neither free nor fair.

In his speech, Putin called occupied Crimea "Russia's tradition and pride," while the three so-called competitors praised Putin for occupying the Ukrainian peninsula.

Read also: How has Crimea changed after 10 years of Russian occupation?

Putin also claimed the "restoration" of a railroad from Russian port city Rostov-on-Don to occupied Berdiansk, which is located on the Black Sea coast in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, around 65 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of Mariupol.

"Glory to Russia," Putin said before the Russian national anthem played.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians were forced to take part in "elections" at gunpoint  in Crimea, as well as regions annexed in 2022, including parts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts.

After the end of Russia's presidential election, Putin reiterated his goals for the full-scale war in Ukraine and again threatened the West.

Only a small group of autocratic leaders congratulated Putin.

Read also: Putin wins rigged Russian election; Ukrainians in occupied territories vote at gunpoint

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It was fitting that one of the first world leaders to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his re-election was Xi Jinping, another stranger to democracy. At least the Chinese Communist Party does not bother with the pretence of staging national elections with phoney opponents.

Mr Putin appears to believe that by exhibiting the trappings of a proper election he is bestowing legitimacy on himself and his regime when the rest of the world can see what a sham it all is. The Kremlin announced a landslide for the incumbent, guaranteeing him another six years in office at the end of which he will be 77 years old and the longest-serving Russian leader since Catherine the Great.

He was said to have garnered almost 90 per cent of the vote on a 78 per cent turnout. Doubtless many Russians genuinely voted for Putin because they believe the propaganda that Russia is somehow under attack from the West and their president is the strong man needed to stand up to Nato.

Moreover there were no serious opponents: his principal adversary Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic prison camp last month and two other candidates were barred from standing for voicing objections to the invasion of Ukraine.

Golos, an independent Russian vote monitoring group, said the election was the most fraudulent and corrupt in the countrys history. It could not be considered genuine because the campaign took place in a situation where the fundamental articles of the Russian Constitution, guaranteeing political rights and freedoms, were essentially not in effect.

But this is all now academic. Mr Putin was never going to relinquish power and the spurious popular authority derived from the election is particularly bad news for the people of Ukraine. Despite the bravery of voters opposed to Putin in attending a noon vigil on Sunday, he will interpret this result as an invitation to step up the military action and seek to break out of the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

It is more than two years since the invasion was supposed to see Russians sitting in Kyivs cafes within days, and then their abject military failure was expected to bring about the swift demise of Putin. Yet many thousands of casualties later he is still there, seemingly stronger than ever with all internal opposition crushed.

The best response to this travesty is for Nato to fully get behind Ukraine and provide the armaments it needs to undermine Putins election triumph with a military calamity.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was considering a plan to create a buffer zone between Ukrainian land and Russian border regions and Russian-held territory in Ukraine as the war settles into a long conflict.

Putin spoke at a press conference late Sunday after he won election for a fifth term in a landslide election that Ukraine and Western nations have slammed as a rigged contest.

At the press event, the Russian president lamented that border regions are under attack from Ukraine. While he said Russians in the regions are showing courage, he discussed the possibility of a buffer zone to cement protections.

I do not rule out that Russia will be forced to create a sanitary zone in the territories controlled by the Kyiv regime, Putin said, according to comments shared by state-run media channels.

Its not clear exactly how the buffer zones would work, but Russian regions such as Belgorod have been under constant attack by Ukrainian forces since the war began in February 2022.

Russia also occupies four territories in eastern Ukraine: Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia, which Putin annexed in 2022. Those territories, along with the Crimean Peninsula that Putin annexed in 2014, are also under frequent attack from Ukrainian troops targeting Russian forces.

The Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine participated in Russias elections this year for the first time, with some voters reportedly being forced to vote at gunpoint. Putin said Sunday that the turnout was strong in those regions and suggested voters want to be a part of Russia.

Putin also acknowledged Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in an arctic prison last month. Navalny, the most vocal and well-known opposition leader in Russia, was imprisoned for more than three years before his death, which the West has pinned on Putin.

Putin, however, has rarely if ever mentioned Navalny by name. On Sunday, he confirmed there were negotiations to release Navalny in a prisoner swap and claimed he had agreed to such a deal before his death.

But the Kremlin later walked back those claims, saying Putin was only referring to an idea that was presented, according to the Moscow Times.

Navalnys last call was for Russians to protest their countrys presidential elections by showing up at the polls at noon to form protest lines. Thousands of Russians did so over the weekend, and Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, also helped stage a protest in Berlin.

Putins election brings him closer to becoming the longest-running president in more than 200 years; he has already tweaked the constitution to allow him to effectively rule for life.

His election victory comes after Russian forces are making progress on the battlefield after struggling in the first two years of the war.

Russian troops have taken the city of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine and continue to advance slowly, while Ukraine is running low on resources as the U.S. stalls on passing more aid to Kyiv.

Putin on Sunday again said he was open for discussions to end the war in Ukraine but also acknowledged it was possible that NATO could fight with Russia in the future, a possibility that he compared to World War III.

He also waded into U.S. elections in his speech, accusing Washington of corruption and overseeing a disaster instead of a democracy.

Putin said he has no preference for who wins the presidential race this year amid speculation that former President Trump would be warmer to Kremlin policy. Putin did not mention Trumps name but said attacks on one of the U.S. presidential candidates are ridiculous and have become a disgrace for America.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has lit the Novruz bonfire in the city of Khankendi, Azernews reports.

The head of state congratulated the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Novruz holiday.

Congratulatory address of President Ilham Aliyev

- Dear brothers and sisters.

I sincerely congratulate you on the upcoming Novruz holiday.

It is the fourth time that I have lit the holiday bonfire in the liberated lands of Karabakh  in 2021, it was in Shusha, in 2022 in Sugovushan, last year in the village of Talish, and this time, the holiday bonfire was lit in the city of Khankendi. This brings great happiness. Six months ago, as a result of an anti-terror operation which lasted less than a day, we fully restored our sovereignty, and today the territorial integrity of our country is fully ensured across the entire territory of Azerbaijan.

We demonstrated tremendous heroism during the Second Karabakh War and the anti-terror operation. May Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs in peace! Thanks to the dedication, professionalism, and heroism of our martyrs, brave soldiers, and officers, we are now building and creating in these lands. Life is returning to these lands. Through extensive construction efforts, we have already facilitated the return of former displaced persons to their ancestral lands, and this process will continue this year.

Unfortunately, the results of the Second Karabakh War did not teach Armenia a lesson. In my Novruz address last year, I spoke about this and expressed my regret that their defeat in the Second Karabakh War did not teach them a lesson. If they had learned the lesson, there would have been no need for the anti-terror operation. After the Second Karabakh War, Armenia failed to draw the right conclusions in the three years that passed and sought to maintain its illegal armed groups on our lands indefinitely. It aimed to perpetuate the existence of the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh republic, which was illegally established here. All this is completely contrary to international law and, most importantly, to the resolve of the Azerbaijani people.

As a result of the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan liberated most of its territory on the battlefield. However, during the occupation, signals were repeatedly sent to us from many capitals that there was no military solution to this conflict. We have proven that any conflict has a military solution. If the occupying state illegally occupies the territory of another country and does not want to vacate these lands of its own free will, the only way is the military option. We have restored our territorial integrity and sovereignty within the framework of international law. We restored the four resolutions of the UN Security Council on the battlefield.

The successful anti-terror operation six months ago is a celebration of international law and the indomitable spirit of the Azerbaijani people. We have shown yet again that we will not deviate from our path whatever forces stand behind Armenia. We will achieve what we want and we have achieved it.

We had been preparing for the liberation of our lands for 20 years. Consistent work was going on in many directions. At the political level, Azerbaijan's position in the world was strengthened, the number of our friends increased to a great extent. On our initiative, international organizations adopted decisions and resolutions in favor of our position on the conflict and in line with international law. This created a legal and political basis for the resolution of this conflict. We have achieved economic development, we have achieved economic independence, and today we are not dependent on anyone economically and, of course, politically. A strong economy has allowed us the opportunity to pursue our policy independently at the political level. Today, Azerbaijan is one of a handful of countries in the world with a completely independent policy, a policy that is based only and only on the interests and determination of the Azerbaijani people.

Of course, our primary goal was to liberate our land from invaders. For this purpose, the top priority was to build up our military power. The combat capability of our army and all our Armed Forces has significantly increased, material and technical infrastructure was secured at the highest level, and the Second Karabakh War and the anti-terror operation demonstrated this to the whole world. Most importantly, a young generation was raised that will be a source of eternal pride for our people. It has demonstrated the greatness of the Azerbaijani people to the whole world. Our young people were brought up in the spirit of patriotism, in the national spirit. Three years ago, they were ready to die for the liberation of our lands. Once again, may Allah rest the souls of all our martyrs in peace! We avenged the blood of all our martyrs and innocent victims of Khojaly on the battlefield, and we are proud of that. Any country, any nation can be proud of it, including us. We have restored our territorial integrity, sovereignty, international law and national dignity, and today we live and build as a free people. We will live forever in these lands.

For many years, this square and this building were a nest of separatists. The separatists funded and armed by Armenia were actually part of the Armenian army. It was in this square that ugly plans against our people were orchestrated. It was from this building that orders were given to commit the Khojaly genocide. Today we are standing in this square. I want to inform my dear people that I have named this square Victory Square. It will be called Victory Square from now on.

Khankendi is ancient Azerbaijani land founded by Panahali Khan. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the 1920s, an autonomous region was created here without any legal, political and demographic grounds. After that, the problems of our people began. As a result, in the late 1980s, Armenia declared war on us, supported the separatists, committed genocide and other heinous crimes against our people. They believed that they would be able to keep these lands under occupation forever. The foreign forces that supported them in this matter and the foreign forces that support them today share this bloody responsibility with them. Today we live in the liberated Karabakh holding our heads high. This year, the former IDPs will return to Khankendi and other cities, including Khojaly, Shusha, Jabrayil, Kalbajar. IDPs will return to several villages and life will be revitalized there.

Khankendi was built by Azerbaijani architects and builders at the expense of the Azerbaijani budget during the Soviet period. Look at the building behind me, it was the building of the Regional Party Committee. It was designed by Azerbaijani architect Hasan Majidov. The building next to it was built in the 1970s and housed the Regional Executive Authority. This building was designed by Azerbaijani architect Nasrullah Kangarli. This building was built as a hotel at that time. After that, the Armenians changed its appearance. Now the ancient face of this building is being reinstated. The author of this hotel was Azerbaijani architect Anvar Gasimzada.

These examples alone show that it was representatives of the Azerbaijani people who built and created this city and indeed all the cities and villages of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region. They were the authors of architecture and participated in construction. These buildings are our historical wealth. They are protected, will be protected and, as you can see, are now undergoing major refurbishment. Where I am standing, the separatists had built a so-called parliament building. As you can see, there are no buildings here anymore. As if this was not enough, they were trying to build the second parliament building in Shusha. The construction of it had started, but they could not complete it and the building was demolished. The five-star hotel Shusha is now located on the site of that building. The former parliament building was also demolished  the demolition work started on February 26.

On February 26, I laid the foundation of the Khojaly memorial together with the natives of Khojaly. The illegally built devil's nest located here  the so-called parliament building and the building of the terrorist organization next to it  began to be demolished on February 26 and was razed to the ground. There is no longer any trace of separatists here. The Novruz bonfire is also doing the final cleaning.

Dear compatriots, it is a great pleasure to convey my congratulations to the people from here. We all live with pride after the Second Karabakh War. We are all proud that we have restored justice ourselves, we have freed our lands from invaders, we have shown our strength, and from now on, everyone must reckon with us, otherwise, they will regret it.

I want to congratulate my dear people on the occasion of the upcoming holidays from the bottom of my heart again and wish the people of Azerbaijan good health and continued successes. Karabakh is Azerbaijan!
















Land prices are rising in Ukraine. Even a full-scale war could not stop the demand for agricultural land.

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On January 1, 2024, the rules for land sales were changed. The limit per buyer was increased from 100 hectares to 10 thousand hectares. At the same time, access to the market was opened to Ukrainian companies with Ukrainian owners.

The only real restriction is the ban on access to the market for foreigners. Read about how the price of land has changed, how much it costs in neighboring countries, and how it is affected by restrictions in the OBOZ.UA article.

People believe in Ukraine's victory, it is evident in the land market

Both demand and prices for land are growing, despite the full-scale war. According to opendatabot, the average price in the country is about UAH 41 thousand (EUR 970 ). However, this statistic also takes into account agricultural land in the frontline regions.

For comparison, in Ivano-Frankivsk region, the average cost of a hectare of land is 111.6 thousand UAH (2.63 thousand EUR), in Kyiv region  82.4 thousand UAH (1.94 thousand EUR), and in Zaporizhzhia region  only 24.7 thousand UAH (585 EUR).

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In addition to the region, the cost is also affected by the quality of the land and the rent, says Olexandr Chornyi, co-founder of Zeminvest, to OBOZ.UA. According to his estimates, the cost of a hectare ranges from 1500 to 2500 dollars (equivalent to 1354 to 2256 euros).

"Despite the war, the demand for land is growing. This is reflected in the cost of land. Even according to the official data of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, the cost of land during the Great War increased by about 20%. The demand for land is growing today," the investor explains.

Denys Bashlyk, Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, during a discussion of the land market organized by Prozorro.Sale explained that the price increase is indeed observed and it demonstrates faith in Ukraine's victory. "This is one of the indicators that 99% believe in victory, they are not afraid not only to buy but to invest in land," the Deputy Minister said.

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This is in a situation where both land prices and demand are significantly constrained by a full-scale war. In 2023, both the Landowners' Association and investment companies reported almost record demand for land. This was against the backdrop of expectations that the rules of the land market in Ukraine would change in 2024. Therefore, the following restrictions have been in place since January 1:

companies are allowed to buy land, but not more than 10 thousand hectares (in addition, the company must have Ukrainian owners and be registered in Ukraine);

there is a ban on the sale of state and communal agricultural land,

ordinary Ukrainians can also buy up to 10 thousand hectares (previously 100 hectares).

That is, the price increase last year was partly triggered by increased demand ahead of the changes. Farmers are afraid that large holdings will start actively buying up land, which will raise the price even more.

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Oleksandr Chornyi adds that many have decided to invest in land immediately after the war ended, and this will further increase demand. It is hard to say how exactly this will change the price.

However, foreigners are not allowed to sell agricultural land in Ukraine. According to the law, this rule can only be changed by referendum. There are fears that foreigners may be the real owners of companies registered in the name of Ukrainians and buy land. However, the law requires a transparent ownership structure.

"Land prices will change in the coming years in line with the trends in European markets, i.e., they will grow. However, it is difficult to speak clearly about the growth rate today. This is primarily due to the war. The second stage of the reform, which officially started on January 1, 2024, was supposed to affect land prices, as legal entities would have to leave the market and increase the amount of land banks allowed to be owned by one person. Unfortunately, due to the outbreak of war, this trend did not have as much impact as it was predicted before the war," says Chornyi.

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What is the price of land in other countries and what restrictions apply there

Neighboring countries have long allowed at least their citizens to buy land. The cost of land in different countries depends on many factors. The European Commission regularly analyzes the market situation.

According to the latest data, the average price of a hectare in the EU was EUR 10,578. At the same time, prices vary significantly. The most expensive is in Malta (233,230 per hectare). Prices in Malta reflect the limited availability of agricultural land.

Prices within a country also vary by region. For example, in the Netherlands, the cost of a hectare ranges from 66,051 euros (in Friesland) to 150,644 euros (in Flevoland). In Greece, prices range from 6,290 to 84,820 euros.

In Poland, the average price per hectare is 11.2 thousand euros, but it is not allowed to sell to non-residents or to sell more than 300 hectares per person.

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Romania is much cheaper (there is a limit of 200 hectares). Here, a hectare can be bought for 5.4 thousand euros, but the land is first offered to co-owners, then to individuals who lease the land, then to neighboring landowners, and finally to the Romanian government. Only then is the land open to foreign owners, provided they have been residents of the country for at least 3 years.

In Hungary, the average cost of a hectare is 4.9 thousand euros. Foreign citizens are not allowed to own land (unless they are citizens of an EU country), and no more than 300 hectares are sold in one hand.

In Slovakia, the price is only 4.1 thousand euros per hectare. The rules were eased by the introduction of the principle of reciprocity. Foreign investors can own agricultural land in Slovakia if their country allows Slovaks to own agricultural land. There are no restrictions on the area.

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Relatively cheap land is available in Lithuania (3.7 thousand euros per hectare, the limit for legal entities is 2 thousand hectares, for individuals  500 hectares), Bulgaria (3.9 thousand euros per hectare, only privately owned land is sold, but without restrictions on the area) and Estonia (3.2 thousand euros, both legal entities and individuals need to obtain a separate permit from local authorities, regardless of the area).

It is worth noting here that Ukraine cannot be compared to Lithuania or Malta, for example, in terms of the amount of agricultural land, its quality, and the prospects for passive income. Although Ukrainian land is getting more expensive, it is still undervalued.

Chornyi is convinced that the exclusion of foreigners has a significant impact on the Ukrainian market. If they were allowed to buy, they would invest, which would increase demand and the number of solvent buyers. Of course, such a situation would necessarily lead to a significant price increase.

ADVERTISIMENT

The end of the war, even without changing the rules for selling land, will certainly lead to a significant increase in its value. This happened in all countries where the market was opened. Now the dynamics are being restrained by a full-scale war, and this factor makes it impossible to accurately predict the development of the situation.

"Talking about the future value of land in 5-6 years after the end of the war causes a lot of controversy and subjective assessments. Some predict the price at 5-6 thousand euros, others see it at 10 thousand euros, and some say the weighted average price is about 8 thousand euros. However, it is quite difficult to accurately predict the final price today," Zeminvest reports.

Despite the full-scale war, the land market in Ukraine continues to develop actively. Even now, supply cannot meet demand. At the same time, the cost per hectare is many times higher in all EU countries. Ukraine's accession to the European Union will provoke a rise in land prices. But this will enable owners to sell their property at its real value. Land that can feed hundreds of millions cannot be cheap.
Russian President Vladimir Putin restated his goals for the full-scale war in Ukraine, celebrated his electoral "victory," and threatened the West again in comments made on March 18 after the end of Russia's pseudo-democratic presidential election.

Putin easily coasted to victory in a highly managed presidential election that concluded on March 17. Any meaningful opposition candidates were prevented from participating in the election, which Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for U.S. President Joe Bidens National Security Council, said was "obviously not free nor fair," in comments cited by the New York Times.

Putin said that Russia would not be "intimidated" and thanked his supporters for delivering him another term in office after having secured 87.2% of the vote.

He said that the results indicated that Russia was "on the right path." Chief among his priorities for the next term are "resolving problems" in Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine and strengthening Russia's military and defense capabilities.

Putin also addressed the notion that Western troops might be deployed in Ukraine, which has been regularly discussed since French President Emmanuel Macron said in February that it should not be ruled out.

A direct conflict between Russia and NATO is possible, Putin said, which would be "one step away from a full-scale WWIII."

"I think it's unlikely that anyone is interested in this," he added.

Putin and other Russian leaders have regularly threatened the West over its support for Ukraine and suggested that foreign involvement in the full-scale war could lead to a world war.

Read also: Zelensky: Putin fears justice and must end up in The Hague

In the wake of a series of attacks on Russia's border regions by pro-Kyiv Russian militias, along with alleged drone strikes within Russian territory, Putin said that it might be necessary to create a "sanitary zone" on Ukrainian land.

The potential zone "would be difficult to overcome," he said, adding that the possible size was a separate question.

Putin also mentioned the name of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the first time he has done so since Navalny's death in a prison colony in February.

Navalny's death was an "unfortunate incident" and a "sad event," Putin said, but "this happens. It's life."

He also claimed that prisoners die in Western prisons, including in the U.S. Putin went on to unfavorably compare America's political system to that of Russia, falsely arguing that Russian elections are democratic compared to the U.S., which he described as a "disaster."

He continued to baselessly claim that there is widespread fraud in U.S. elections.

Freedom House, a nonprofit advocating international democracy, gave Russia a 13/100 score in its 2024 report card on political freedoms in the country.

While acknowledging there are flaws in the U.S.'s political system, Freedom House gave the U.S. an 83/100 in its 2024 report card in comparison.

Read also: Putin wins rigged Russian election; Ukrainians in occupied territories vote at gunpoint

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said Sunday that he supported the idea of a prisoner swap for his rival Alexei Navalny just days before the opposition leaders death.

In response to a question from NBC News on Sunday, Putin said he was approached several days before Mr. Navalny perished that there was an idea to exchange Mr. Navalny for some people in prison in Western countries. He said he supported the idea, which came from certain colleagues not from the [presidential] administration, according to The Associated Press.

Believe it or not, but the person talking to me didnt even finish their sentence when I said: I agree, Putin said, noting that his one condition was that Navalny never return to Russia, according to the AP.

But unfortunately, whatever happened, happened, Putin added.

Navalny, a leader of the opposition in Russia, died while serving a 19-year prison sentence last month. Prison officials said the leader felt unwell after taking a walk and fell unconscious, noting that attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Navalnys allies, his family and global leaders have blamed Putin for the death. President Biden also blamed Putin for Navalnys death and had met with his widow and daughter shortly after his death was announced last month.

One of Navalnys close allies, Maria Pevchikh, said last month that negotiations were in the final stage on the night before Navalnys death to free him in exchange for Vadim Krasikov, a convicted Russian killer serving a life sentence in Germany. Two U.S. citizens being held in Russia were also supposedly part of the deal, she said.

Pevchikh is the chair of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation.

But why did [Putin] kill him now? Why Feb. 16? I know the answer to that question, and I have neither the slightest reason nor desire to hide it, Pevchikh said in a video message last month.

Alexei Navalny could have been sitting in my place right now, today. This is not a figure of speech  it could and should have happened. Navalny was supposed to be free in the coming days, because we had achieved a decision on his exchange, she said.

The AP noted at the time that Pevchikhs claims could not be independently verified.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Russian President Vladimir Putin secured a fifth term in office on Monday, winning an election that featured no real opposition.

Putin walked away with 87% of the vote, according to Russia's election commission. He celebrated his victory over the smattering of token opposition candidates early on Monday, saying it was proof of the Russian people's "trust" in him.

"Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future," Putin said after polls closed.

Putin's regime has been widely successful in stomping out opposition voices amid its invasion of Ukraine. Alexei Navalny, the activist widely seen as the most credible opponent to Putin, died in a Russian prison last month.

PUTIN PLANS FOR NEXT 6-YEAR TERM AS RUSSIANS VOTE IN NEITHER FREE NOR FAIR ELECTIONS

Russian President Vladimir Putin secured a fifth term in office on Monday, winning an election that featured no real opposition.

Putin, 71, has already lead Russia for nearly 25 years, and now he has secured another 6-year term.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Russia's election commission reported that Putin won over 76 million votes, setting a new record.

14 KILLED IN RUSSIAN MISSILE ATTACK ON SOUTHERN UKRAINE'S ODESA

The win was widely met with disdain in the West, if it was acknowledged at all. President Biden has yet to make a comment on the election.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron dismissed Putin in a statement on X.

"This is not what free and fair elections look like," he wrote.

RUSSIAN FORCES COERCE THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIANS INTO ACCEPTING RUSSIAN PASSPORTS

There were some protesters outside polling stations and Russian embassies across the globe on Sunday, the final day of the election. Allies of Navalny and his wife, Yulia Navalnaya, called for the gatherings. Yulia said she wrote in her late husband's name on the ballot she cast via the Russian embassy in Berlin.

Putin's victory was widely met with disdain in the West, if it was acknowledged at all. President Biden has yet to make a comment on the election.

Putin commented on Navalny's death for the first time on Monday, saying he had supported a plan to release him in a prisoner exchange that was to take place just days after he died.

"It happens. There is nothing you can do about it. It's life," he said.

In comments following his victory, Putin attempted to turn the conversation toward U.S. election issues. He decried the criminal cases stacked up against former President Trump, saying "the whole world is laughing" at the U.S.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Putin secures 5th term as Russian president in election with no real opposition, addresses Navalny death
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday clinched another term in an election that lacked any serious challengers.

Russias Central Election Commission said Putin garnered 87 percent of the vote to secure another six years in office with nearly 100 percent of precincts reporting.

The chief of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova, said nearly 76 million people voted for Putin, his highest vote tally ever. After the results were in, Putin said his win shows an indication of Russias hope and trust in him.

Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past, and they will fail in the future, Putin said at a meeting with volunteers.

Western officials and critics of Russia have denounced the elections as a sham because Russia stifled criticism and opposition to Putin.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address that Putin was simulating another election.

There must be a just retribution for everything the Russian murderers have done in this war and for the sake of Putins lifelong power. He is afraid of only one thing  justice. There is no legitimacy in this imitation of elections and there cannot be, he said.

The French foreign ministry also said that the conditions for a free, pluralist and democratic election were not met while Germanys Foreign Ministry said the pseudo-election in Russia is neither free nor fair, the result will surprise nobody, Reuters reported.

Putins top rival, Alexei Navalny, died while serving a 19-year prison sentence last month. Global leaders, including President Biden, have blamed Putin for the death of the opposition leader. During a press conference on Sunday, Putin acknowledged the death of Navalny and said he supported a prisoner swap for his top rival just days before his death.

The Associated Press contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Peskov did not specify who exactly proposed Putin to exchange Navalny

There were no actual negotiations regarding the possible exchange of opposition figure Alexey Navalny before he died in prison, Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putins spokesperson, said, commenting on remarks by the Russian dictator regarding such a possibility.

It was only an idea, and actual negotiations never took place, Peskov said.

Read also: Navalny planned exchange with FSB officer Krasikov, serving life sentence in Germany, uncovered

"I would like to highlight two key points. First, President Putin did not confirm in yesterday's remarks that any negotiations regarding Navalny had taken place. He talked about an idea put forward by one of the individuals about the potential exchange of Navalny.

He informed that person of his tentative agreement. Putin did not mention that negotiations took place on this matter," he emphasized to Russian propagandists.

Read also: Putin confirms agreement to exchange Navalny, reportedly just hours before his death in prison

Peskov did not specify who exactly proposed Putin to exchange Navalny for someone from among the Russian citizens serving prison sentences in the West.

The death of the 47-year-old Russian opposition figure was announced on February 16, 2024.

The Russian authorities had long refused to release his body to his mother in an attempt to blackmail her into refraining from holding a public farewell, but their tactic failed.

Navalny was buried on March 1 at the Borisovskoye Cemetery in Moscow.

Russian law enforcement officers detained over 100 people during the farewell ceremony.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin after the closing of polling stations in Moscow, March 17, 2024

Russia wants to create a gray zone on Ukrainian territory to prevent strikes from the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said during a victory speech at campaign headquarters on March 17, Russian propagandist agency TASS alleged.

Putin claimed that Russian might be "forced" to create a "gray zone" in Ukraine due to attacks on the border regions. He wants a "zone" deep enough to make it difficult for "weapons, primarily of foreign production" to operate efficiently.

Read also: Putin trying to use Russian cross-border volunteer raid amid presidential election, says analyst

Putin also spoke of the Russian volunteer raids in Belgorod and Kursk oblasts.

Russian volunteers "are thrown like cannon fodder into meat-grinder assaults on the state border", the dictator claimed.

35 drones attacked eight Russian regions, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on March 17.

Read also: Ukraine attacks Moscow, five other regions of Russia in mass overnight drone attack

Several Russian refineries in various Russias oblasts have been attacked by drones over the past week. Ukrainian intelligence and SBU confirmed involvement in some of these attacks in comments to NV.

A fire broke out at three oil refineries due to drone attacks in Samara Oblast overnight on March 16, Russian mass media claimed.

Drones attacked Voronezh, Kursk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Lipetsk oblasts overnight on March 13, as well as an oil plant in Ryazan, where a serious fire occurred.

Drones attacked the Kursk, Belgorod, Tula, Voronezh, Nizhny Novgorod, Bryansk, Leningrad, and Orel 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. A Lukoil oil depot in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast was shut down following a large fire.

The Russian volunteer raids continue: Siberian battalion and RDK raised flags in the village of Kozinka, Belgorod Oblast on March 17.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Following the end of the sham "elections", Russian dictator Vladimir Putin decided to scare the world with World War III in case of a conflict between Russia and NATO, the Russian propaganda agency Interfax reported on March 18.



When asked whether a full-scale conflict between Russia and NATO is possible, Putin said that everything is possible in the modern world.

Read also: Russia can start ground invasion of NATO countries without using nuclear weapons  Zelenskyy

The dictator believes nonetheless that hardly anyone is interested in this.

It is clear to everyone that this will be one step away from a full-scale World War III, Putin said.

Read also: If Ukraine falls, NATO will have to fight Russia  Secretary Austin

Earlier, U.S. intelligence said that Russia does not want a direct military conflict with the United States and NATO and will continue asymmetric activities that, according to its estimates, will not cross the threshold of military conflict on a global scale.

Bild, citing its own sources in the intelligence of a European country, 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 NATOs Military Committee, said that civilians in the West should prepare for an all-out war with Russia.

Read also: Russia does not want a war with the US and NATO, but will continue asymmetrical activities - US intelligence

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 Army Commander-in-Chief Valdemaras Rupsys said, however, that the possibility that Russia could start a war against NATO next year is extremely low.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Over a quarter of homeless individuals in California are Black, almost four times higher than the states Black population, according to a report by the University of California, San Francisco, Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative. In Stanislaus County, the difference is a little lower  about 3.5 times.

The February report Toward Equity: Understanding Black Californians Experiences of Homelessness lays out the systemic causes that have left so many unhoused, detailing the crisis of homelessness among the minority group.

Black individuals comprise only 7% of Californias population yet represent 26% of the states homeless population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In Stanislaus County, 45% of the roughly 2,091 homeless people are unsheltered, according to the latest point-in-time count results, from 2023. Unsheltered means they are living outdoors on streets, in parks, abandoned buildings and vehicles, while sheltered means they are staying in temporary accommodations provided by homeless service organizations or government agencies.

Roughly 13% of those experiencing homelessness in the county are Black, while only about 3.7% of Stanislaus overall population is Black.

Kara Young Ponder, the lead author of the report and a director of the initiative, highlighted that decades of racism and discriminatory policies have contributed to the current crisis. She added the need for substantial efforts to address the issue and ensure that more homeless Black Californians find stable housing.

Ending homelessness among Black Californians will require a dramatic increase in affordable housing, economic support to help them afford this housing, and dedicated efforts to navigate a challenging housing market and to enforce anti-discrimination laws, Ponder said in a statement introducing the report.

Following the passage of Proposition 1, Gov. Gavin Newsoms homelessness and mental health care reform measure, the UC report advocates for increased affordable housing and funding. This $6.4 billion bond aims to enhance housing production and expand treatment facilities.

However, according to the state Legislative Analysts Office, the bonds capacity to construct housing units would only marginally reduce homelessness statewide. Meanwhile, mental health advocates remain doubtful that the measure will address Californias homeless crisis in the long run.

The barriers to housing, employment, income and healthcare that Black Californians have historically encountered are highlighted by UCSF researchers as contributing factors to homelessness.

Eight in 10 were previously housed but struggled to afford to stay in their homes. Californias median monthly rent is $1,600 a month, according to the report, but the median income for those with leases was just $1,200 a month; and even less for those who didnt sign a lease  just $960 a month.

The same number of individuals cited high housing costs as the primary obstacle to regaining housing, the researchers said.

The challenges are even greater  51% of respondents indicated that discrimination posed a barrier to securing housing, contrasting with 31% of white Californians experiencing homelessness. Additionally, 60% highlighted housing shortages and the lengthy waitlists for affordable housing as additional obstacles.

The economic challenges leading to homelessness among Black Californians also affect the broader Black community.

About four in 10 Black families own homes in the state, according to the California Housing Finance Agency. That rate has stayed roughly the same since the 1960s, even with decades of law in place to combat housing discrimination, and is far less than that of white, Asian and Latino homeowners.

A throughline runs between the policies of redlining, segregation, and disinvestment to the disproportionate representation of Black Americans in todays homeless population, says the report.

Help for Black first-time homebuyers and mortgage assistance for homeowners to help narrow the gulf in homeownership in the state are among reparations bills introduced in February to undo the legacy of racial inequity in California.

Black renters are more likely to spend 30% or more of their household income on rent, according to the Public Policy Institute of California.

For Black Californians in the survey who held leases before they became homeless, that amount rose to more than half of their median household income. Those surveyed said changes in work and pay affected their ability to keep up with housing costs.

Federal, state and local leaders and housing advocates have long connected homelessness to the dearth of affordable housing.

The National Low-Income Housing Coalition estimates 11 million extremely low-income households in the U.S. pay at least half of their income toward housing, putting them at risk of losing their homes if they fall ill or lose their job.

Renters in Stanislaus County need to earn 1.9 times the state minimum wage to afford the average monthly asking rent of $1,450, according to the California Housing Partnership.

If they cant pay their rent, if they have difficulty in their current situation, theyre going to end up homeless, too, Modesto educator Sharon Froba said. Its the natural progression.

Sharon and husband David Frobas research uncovered extensive racial housing discrimination in numerous Modesto neighborhoods. They found racially restrictive covenants in 91 out of 169 subdivisions in Modesto from the 1930s to the 1950s.

But for Black Californians, the pathway to homelessness is not solely economic. Many in the UC study reported serious mental health symptoms or hospitalizations or suicide attempts in their pasts, the result of physical or sexual abuse, systemic racism, incarceration or other traumas.

Black Californians who are homeless reported attempted suicide at a higher rate than the sample as a whole. That points to the devastating effects of experiencing structural and individual traumas while also lacking adequate mental health care, according to the report.

That, too, parallels the crisis in Black mental health brought by the combined weight of generational trauma, structural anti-Black racism, police violence and other factors.

In California, three in 10 Black women responding to a California Health Care Foundation study on Black Californians and mental health in August, reported mental health conditions. That number was lower for Black men, at about 20%, but many more Black men fail to report their symptoms, researchers say.

Nationally, the crisis has become increasingly deadly. Suicide has become the third leading cause of death for Black male teens and young adults, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with Black men and boys accounting for more than 80% of suicides among African Americans.

But homeless Black Californians who participated in the UCSF study remained hopeful that more navigation help to find and apply for housing, as well as housing vouchers or a small monthly subsidy could help move them out of homelessness, the researchers said.

The situation for unhoused Black Californians is dire, but it is not insurmountable, said the reports co-author, Tiana Moore.

In the long term, we must recognize and reduce the many factors that impede their search for a permanent home, Moore said. In the short term, even modest financial support could help stave off their homelessness.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin commented on the possibility of negotiations with Ukraine, promising to "think about it." The Kremlin leader also announced his intention to create a "sanitary zone " on the territory "controlled by the Kyiv regime."

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Putin made such statements during a press conference at his headquarters after his "victory" in the "elections." In particular, he cynically stated that he would think about "with whom in Ukraine we can negotiate peace."

"I do not exclude that at some point we will have to create a certain sanitary zone in the territories controlled by the Kyiv regime. Its depth will be so deep that it will be difficult to overcome the means of destruction, primarily of foreign production," the dictator said.

As a reminder, illegal presidential elections were held in Russia on March 17. The incumbent dictator Vladimir Putin was "painted" as an absolute victory with a result of more than 87% of the vote. For the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russians also did not hesitate to show sky-high results  everywhere the dictator was allegedly supported by more than 88% of "voters".

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Raleigh police have taken a juvenile robbery suspect into custody and Chapel Hill police have stepped up patrols after reported assaults on greenway trails in recent days.

Just before 8:30 a.m. Monday, Raleigh police responded to a reported assault on the greenway trail near Longstreet Drive and Bent Creek Drive, according to a news release.

They found a woman who told them she had fought off an assailant. She was injured and was taken to the hospital for treatment, the release stated.

The suspect, a juvenile, was also injured and was treated by EMS workers at the scene. He was taken into custody and charged with common law robbery, according to the news release. Common-law robbery involves force or the threat of force and is separate from robbery committed with a firearm.

A man who saw the incident called 911 as it was happening, reported ABC11, The News & Observers news-gathering partner.

There is somebody being attacked on the greenway, the caller said. The man was top on of her; the woman was walking and she ran.

Anyone who may have helpful information is asked to visit Crimestoppers at www.p3tips.com/89 for anonymous reporting options or to call 919-996-1193.

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Chapel Hill incidents at Meadowmont

The Chapel Hill Police Department is increasing patrols around Meadowmont Lane and Sprunt Street after two reports of a man inappropriately touching women on the Meadowmont Trail.

The paved greenway trail starts at Rashkis Elementary School and ends at the western side of N.C. 54.

The first incident occurred at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday. The second was reported at 8:13 a.m. Monday. No one was physically injured in either case, police said.

The suspect in both incidents is described as a man, roughly 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a slim build, wearing dark sweatpants, a dark hoodie and a blue surgical-style mask.

Police ask anyone who may have helpful information to call 919-968-2760 (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday). Callers who want to remain anonymous can call Chapel Hill-Carrboro-UNC Crimestoppers at 919-942-7515 or visit chapelhillcrimestoppers.com/
A rapper was followed after a performance, then hunted down and executed in a casinos parking garage, Indiana authorities say.

The fatal shooting happened in the early morning hours of Sunday, March 17, at Caesars Southern Indiana in Elizabeth, Indiana, marking the first homicide at the gambling establishment, Harrison County Sheriff Nick Smith said in a news briefing streamed by WAVE.

LilDon Williams was identified by Smith as the victim in the fatal shooting. Under his stage name Young Block, Williams was among several acts who performed at Studio15 in Louisville on Saturday, March 16, hours before the shooting.

Smith said that after the concert, Williams went to the casino with family and friends. Unbeknownst to them, a dark passenger car followed them into the garage.

For three hours, the two suspects stayed in the car while Williams and the others were inside the casino, the sheriff said. Williams friends and family left in separate vehicles and Williams was by himself as he went back to his Dodge Charger.

Thats when the two suspects  both wearing masks  exited their car and approached Williams while brandishing rifles, Smith said. Williams tried to flee on foot, but he was shot and left to die.

Williams, who was 32 years old according to WDRB, was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

An individual was targeted, hunted down and executed at that business, Smith said in the news briefing.

One of the two suspects stole Williams black and silver Dodge Charger, while the other left in the vehicle they arrived in, according to the sheriff. They have not been captured as of Monday, March 18.

A motive for the shooting is unclear. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Harrison County Sheriffs Office at 812-738-3911.

Williams wife said he was set to release his first album soon. He also had his own fashion line, Culture Vibes Clothing.

He was a good man, he was a good dad, his wife said. He was hard-working. He didnt deserve this. We have a 6-year-old daughter together who I now have to prepare her that shes not going to see him again.

In a 2020 interview with VoyageATL, Williams said he overcame obstacles and struggles as he built his fan base through his music. He said his blend of new and old school rap put him at an advantage.

As for my clothing line, Culture Vibes Clothing is an urban brand for all kinds of people, he told the publication. I made this for the underdogs and to help people represent their personalities through clothes. Im most proud of being able to create something that all people can relate to, whether black or white.

Rapper feud spilled onto Florida highway, ending in 6 women being shot in van, cops say

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A woman uses her phone on a dimly lit street in Havana, where blackouts are now commonplace

Rare mass protests have broken out in Cuba as citizens demand an end to widespread power cuts and shortages of food and medicine.

A group of women, some with children, launched the peaceful demonstration in the second city of Santiago. The crowd soon swelled, according to images on social media, and began chanting: Food and electricity. Some are also reported to have shouted: Freedom.

There were unconfirmed reports that the demonstrations then spread to other cities on the Caribbean island, including Bayamo, but not the capital, Havana.

Cuba has been undergoing a humanitarian crisis since the Covid-19 pandemic, triggered by the Communist regimes inability to maintain a functioning economy and the loss of Russian aid, and aggravated by the longstanding US embargo.

An estimated 400,000 of Cubas 11.2 million population has fled in a historic exodus, most of them for the United States.

In recent months, most of the country has experienced rolling power cuts, some lasting more than 18 hours a day, and Havana was forced to ask the United Nations World Food Programme for powdered milk for children under seven.

The internet also appeared to go down in much of Cuba on Sunday evening, a sign, observers say, that the regime was trying to prevent the demonstrations spreading.

On paper, Cubans have the right to protest. But, in practice, anyone questioning the dictatorship is arrested and often given jail sentences on charges such as sedition and vandalism.

According to witnesses, Beatriz Johnson, the head of the local Communist Party, visited the protest in Santiago, accompanied by unarmed police, and promised that March rations of rice and sugar would be arriving soon.

Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cubas leader, acknowledged the protests on X, formerly Twitter, posting late on Sunday: Various people have expressed their disapproval of the situation with the electricity service and food distribution. In this context, the enemies of the revolution and destabilizers are trying to profit.

In a separate post, an hour earlier, he had expressed his sincere congratulations to Vladimir Putin for his re-election, adding that it was irrefutable proof of Russians appreciation for his government.

Mr Diaz-Canels emollient tone towards the protesters may be a recognition of the pent-up anger and desperation triggered by the economic crisis  and an attempt to pre-empt larger demonstrations.

The US embassy to Cuba also posted about the demonstrations on X, saying: We urge the Cuban government to respect the human rights of the protesters and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban people.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on a visit to his campaign headquarters after a presidential election in Moscow in Moscow, Russia, early Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Vladimir Putin secured an unprecedented fifth term as president of Russia Monday, as the election commission announced the results of a vote in which he faced no serious challenges and which happened amid the strictest crackdown on opposition and free speech since Soviet times.

Putin claimed his overwhelming margin was proof that Russians had placed their trust and hopes in him, while politicians across Europe rejected the vote as a sham and condemned Russia's efforts to stage elections in occupied parts of Ukraine that it claims as its own territory.

Here's what Putin, European leaders and others are saying:

Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: when we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future."  Vladimir Putin, President of Russia

___

It certainly was an undemocratic process and I think it is safe to say that there certainly wont be congratulatory calls coming from the United States of America.  State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel

___

"The elections took place in an ever-shrinking political space, which has resulted in an alarming increase of violations of civil and political rights, and precluded many candidates from running, including all those opposed to Russias illegal war of aggression."  Statement from the European Union

___

There is no legitimacy in the imitation of elections.  Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, in a nightly radio address on Sunday

___

The results are, of course, stunning. Its a serious signal to the West, which has sought to destabilize the domestic situation in Russia.  President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, during a meeting with officials after congratulating Putin in a call

___

We consider this so-called election in Russia last weekend to be neither free nor fair  Russia, as the chancellor has already said, is now a dictatorship and is ruled by Vladimir Putin in an authoritarian manner.  Christina Hoffmann, spokeswoman for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

___

Russias organization of elections in occupied parts of Georgia and Ukraine is completely illegal. And Russias presidential election was clearly neither free nor fair.  NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg while visiting Tbilisi, Georgia on Monday

___

These Russian elections starkly underline the depth of repression under President Putins regime, which seeks to silence any opposition to his illegal war. Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy.  David Cameron, U.K. foreign secretary.

___

Searches at entrances to polling stations, attempts to check ballots before voters put them into ballot boxes, detentions of voters who came to vote noon. Now there is a report that at one polling station in Moscow, police have demanded that a chairman of a commission (of poll workers) open a ballot box and give them a ballot with something written on it. It is the first time in my life that I see such absurdity.  Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of Golos independent election watchdog, on Telegram

___

"Im glad that people outside the confines of the political prison that is called Russia currently are able to express their opinions ... For example, Russians that voted in Lithuania, just 3% of those who came to the Russian embassy in Vilnius voted for Vladimir Putin. Others decided either to spoil the ballot paper or to vote for any other candidate that was there on the ballot.  Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuanian foreign minister

___

"The election in Russia was an election without a choice. Holding so-called elections in parts of Ukraine, parts of Moldova and parts of Georgia is contrary to international law. It is therefore all the more remarkable how many Russians made it clear this weekend that they do not see eye to eye with this Russian president. That you go to a polling station even if you are accompanied by soldiers  that fills me with the utmost respect.  German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock
Leave it to Fox News to allow Donald Trump to spew even more of his hateful rhetoric as he gears up for a rematch against Joe Biden in the upcoming 2024 presidential election. On Saturday at a rally near Dayton, Ohio, Trump once again attacked immigrants and said that the ones accused of crimes are not people.

I dont know if you call them people, he stated. In some cases theyre not people, in my opinion. But Im not allowed to say that because the radical left says thats a terrible thing to say. He also remarked that if Biden is victorious in November, it will be a bloodbath for the countrythough it was unclear what he was referring to.

Now were going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across [the] line, and youre not going to be able to sell those guys  if I get elected, Trump exclaimed. Now, if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the whole. Thats going to be the least of it. Its going to be a bloodbath for the country.

Q: Why do you use words like vermin and say immigrants are poisoning the blood of the country? People are comparing you to Hitler



Trump: Well thats what they say. Theyre poisoning our country pic.twitter.com/N9HfGdn863  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) March 17, 2024

Following the disturbing rally, an interview with the former president aired on Fox News in which host Howard Kurtz asked about the language Trump uses when discussing immigrants. When you talk about illegal migrants  and after three years obviously the Democrats bear the primary responsibility  why do you use words like vermin and poisoning of the blood? Kurtz asked.

The press, as you know, immediately reacts to that by saying, Well, thats the kind of language that Hitler and Mussolini use. Trump doubled down on his deplorable word choices, even though it is literally the language used by both Hitler and Mussolini. Thats what they say. I didnt know that, but thats what they say. Because our country is being poisoned, Trump retorted.

Look, we can be nice about it  we can talk about, Oh, I want to be politically correct  but we have people coming in from prisons and jails, long-term murderers Theyre all being released into our country. These are murderers, these are people at the highest level of crime, and then you have mental institutions and insane asylums and then you have terrorists pouring in at a level we have never seen before.

Of course, Trump feigned ignorance (hes been called out for his commentary before) and had no proof to back up his claims. He also took credit for Roe v. Wade being overturned and once again insisted that the 2020 election was rigged. The sad part is that this has become the norm for Trump and wont inhibit his quest for the White House.

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Reata Restaurant wont return to The Tower until July.

But we now know how it will look.

New, bright vermilion red awnings will line the restaurants picture windows along Throckmorton Street and also West Fourth Street, according to an application filed with a city downtown review board.

Reata owner Mike Micallef has said the restaurant will move to 500 Throckmorton St. at the end of June. The lease is ending on the current location, 310 Houston St.

In the application, Reatas owners hope the Throckmorton location will be temporary.

The new Reata location in The Tower will have red awnings and giant picture windows.

They are looking for a location with more space for private dining and events, maybe in a potential future hotel location that has yet to take shape.

The move to a vacant streetside space at 500 Throckmorton  two blocks from the current location  is actually a return to the original address for Reata, the 28-year home of Texas cowboy cuisine.

Reata, known for steaks, chicken-fried steaks and signature dishes such as tenderloin tamales or jalapeno-cilantro soup, originally opened on the top floor of The Tower in 1996.

That restaurant was destroyed by the tornado that struck downtown March 28, 2000.

The new Reata will replace a Cantina Laredo location that closed in 2020 when downtown business slowed early in the COVID pandemic.

Red awnings will line the new location of Reata on the ground floor of The Tower.

Micallef had hinted a year ago that the restaurant was looking at some great locations in and around downtown.

Reatas announcement back then said nearby office towers, the Fort Worth Convention Center, the Bass Performance Hall and new hotels have made downtown a thriving environment.

Our history with The Tower is both storied and strong, Micallef was quoted in the statement.

Referring to the restaurants portability, Micallef said: Like Fort Worth, Reata is a testament to resilience and rebirth. Together, we will continue to create unforgettable experiences, regardless of geography.

Reata is in a historic Sundance Square building with a rooftop dome and patio. Melt Ice Creams is next door.

A citywide search and widely promoted customer poll seeking advice on a new location with 12,000-20,000 square feet and up to 200 parking spaces instead led Reata back where it started.

Omni Hotels executive Bob Rowling had said a year ago that the hotel is talking to downtown restaurants about moving into the new second Omni tower, now under construction at 1500 Houston St.

He said landing the downtown restaurant he talked with would be really exciting.

Plans for the Omni Fort Worth Hotels expansion will be reviewed during a Downtown Design Review Board meeting on Thursday.

The original Omni tower, 1300 Houston St., is closer to the Fort Worth Convention Center and an even more attractive location. That currently hosts the hotels all-day restaurant, Cast Iron, and a Bobs Steak and Chop House.

Neither the hotel nor the restaurant has announced any agreement or deal.

Diners at the original Reata atop The Tower enjoy a gorgeous Texas sunset on August 4, 2000.

Micallef had already said the increased convention and tourist business downtown make the city center attractive to Reata, the restaurant that launched cowboy cuisine and produced a generation of chefs known for contemporary Western cooking.

Micallef had announced in March that the restaurant would leave its current home, the former Caravan of Dreams nightclub and rooftop patio, in June 2024. The restaurant was unable to work out a new lease, he said, and had concerns about a price hike meant to encourage customers to use parking garages instead of congested valet stands.

The patio at Reata overlooks Houston Street and a corner of Sundance Square.

The new location will offer valet parking along with free parking in the Tower garage for up to three hours with validation, Micallef had said.

The Tower is also home to the Mercury Chophouse prime steakhouse and the Salsa Limon taqueria.

Mercury Chophouse offers $10 valet parking at the Studio Eighty nightclub, 500 Taylor St.

Reata also operates a Reata at the Rodeo location for four weeks every year in the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall during the Stock Show rodeo.

Valet parking is set up in front of Reata Restaurant Wednesday, March 30, 2022, in downtown Fort Worth.

The dining room at Reata Restaurant on October 13, 2010 at 310 Houston Street in Fort Worth.

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FILE PHOTO: Enfamil baby formula, produced by Mead Johnson, is seen in a supermarket in Los Angeles

By Richa Naidu

LONDON (Reuters) -Reckitt said on Monday that many cases had been filed against baby formula makers in general, and it was unclear how many directly related to its unit's Enfamil product.

An Illinois jury last week ordered Reckitt unit Mead Johnson to pay $60 million to the mother of a premature baby who died of an intestinal disease after being fed the company's Enfamil baby formula.

The jury in a state court in St. Clair County found Mead Johnson was negligent and had failed to warn of the risk of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). The disease, which causes the death of bowel tissue, mostly affects premature newborns and has a fatality rate of about 15% to 40%.

The decision is the latest blow to Reckitt's shares, which have fallen 22% since late last month when the Lysol maker missed fourth-quarter like-for-like net sales expectations, and said an investigation showed some employees had under-reported liabilities in the Middle East.

Since Feb. 28, Reckitt's market value has lost about 10 billion pounds ($12.74 billion).

"We grow weary with the surprises at Reckitt," Bernstein analyst Bruno Monteyne said.

Shares of Reckitt, which owns brands such as Lysol, Dettol and Strepsils, on Friday suffered their steepest one-day drop since 1999, making it the top loser on London's blue-chip FTSE 100. Traders told Reuters on Friday that people in the market were concerned more cases would be made against Mead Johnson.

Reckitt said on Friday it would appeal the verdict and an executive added on Monday: "we do not believe that the plaintiff provided any evidence of causation with respect to the warning or any safety issue."

"We strongly disagree with this verdict, and we will pursue all our options to get it overturned," the executive said.

Also on Monday, the executive said more legal cases were expected.

"New cases will be filed and some will be dismissed. And we need to determine whether we're actually involved in the litigation," the executive said.

"It is unclear how many claims actually involve a Mead Johnson product and we believe many will be dismissed or withdrawn in preliminary stages."

Investors remained concerned.

"Reckitt's defensive assertions will not be validated for some time," Tineke Frikkee, a porfolio manager at Waverton Investment Management, said. She added that Reckitt would have to spend more time and money on legal fees, and that bad press about the cases in the United States could weigh on sales.

"With all these uncertainties hanging over the shares for many months, I think there are better investment opportunities elsewhere."

(Reporting by Richa Naidu, Editing by Louise Heavens and Barbara Lewis)
A suspect whos facing charges for possession of drugs and firearms claims that the Hickory Police Department made false statements to get a search warrant that led to the charges.

Thats according to a motion filed in Javario Devon Robinsons case last month, which asks the court to suppress evidence found during a search on April 6, 2023.

It stems from an incident when Robinson was treated after being shot in the leg.

Family members say Robinson was found on the sidewalk near his home, and police used that as an excuse to go inside.

Chardae Wilson owns the home police searched, and she has five children with Robinson. She spoke with one of the officers after learning they were executing the warrant.

They were like, We need to know what he was shot with, [and] I said he was shot outside, why are you going in the house to know what he was shot with? And they were like We have a warrant, so we have probable cause, Wilson told Channel 9s Dave Faherty on Monday.

The door to Robinsons home was locked, but after getting the search warrant Hickory police officers went inside and said they found evidence to charge Robinson.

SEE MORE >> AG: Did a company collude with property managers to increase rent prices?

But Robinsons attorney says the officers had no probable cause to get a warrant, adding that video from the officers body-worn cameras also shows discrepancies in their statements to get the warrant.

According to the search warrant affidavit, police say they attempted to secure the home when Robinsons father slammed and locked the door.

But according to the motion filed by Robinsons attorney, the body-worn camera video never showed that. Instead, it shows the door was closed when police arrived.

The warrant says police did find several weapons and ammunition inside, along with cocaine and marijuana.

Police sent Channel 9 a statement saying, in part, Due to the case being turned over to federal courts, we are unable to respond to questions in reference to the case.

The police report says the incident was an accidental shooting.

(VIDEO: Hickory credits $40M bond referendum for housing boom)
State and federal officials visited a southern Arizona border community with the largest port of entry in the state to push Congress to pass border reform legislation that was blocked by the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway in Nogales on Monday to emphasize the needs of border communities. The needs are dire as Southern Arizona towns and cities await potential chaos at the border with federal funding to help migrants expected to expire at the end of this month.

Gallego, who this year is running for the U.S. Senate, and Mayes called on Congress to pass the bipartisan border deal unveiled earlier this year and blocked in the Senate.

U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. visits Nogales urges Congress to pass border reform bill on March 18, 2024.

The bill would allocate $20 billion to overhaul access to asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border and would allow the federal government to shut down asylum processing during high levels of migration, limit the release of migrants, and reduce the length of time it takes to adjudicate asylum claims. The bill also allocated funding to counter the flow of fentanyl into the country.

Extremists in Congress must put politics aside and pass the funding and border security reform bill that is right now sitting idly in Congress, Gallego said. Every minute we wait means more fentanyl deaths, more strain on first responders  and a looming possibility of street releases.

Hathaway, the sheriff, said the countys primary need in addressing the record border crossings is additional immigration judges to handle immigration claims, which he said the bill addressed.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff David Hathaway in Nogales talking about the need for more resources at the border. March 18, 2024

I'm sad to say that for political reasons, that bill never went forward. It had the solutions that all political groups have been asking for, he said.

Republicans blocked the deal earlier this year after former President Donald Trump, again the GOP presidential front-runner, signaled his opposition to it because immigration is one of the key focus of his presidential campaign. Democrats accused Trump of playing politics to deny Biden an election-year victory by spiking the deal.

House Republicans are instead pushing for a House-passed proposal, the Secure the Border Act of 2023. It's a stricter bill that, among other things, would restart large-scale border wall construction and reimplement Trump-era immigration programs such as "Remain in Mexico," or Asylum Cooperative Agreements with Central American countries. Those programs ended by the Biden administration are deeply unpopular with Democrats.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes visits Nogales, highlighting the need for Congress to pass a border reform bill and funding for equipment to catch and seize fentanyl being brought into the U.S. March 18, 2024

Congress also blocked funding that included funds to install vehicle scanners at the border to more efficiently spot fentanyl being brought into the country.

In recent years fentanyl overdoses have increased, more than tripling from 2016 to 2021, according to the CDC, as fentanyl becomes more potent. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory testing in 2023 showed that 7 out of 10 pills tested contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl.

However, scanners used to address this issue sit unused in warehouses, after Republicans blocked a supplemental funding request to install the equipment, Gallego said.

Mayes said because fentanyl is easy to hide, and often packaged in nondescript items, the scanners are essential for curbing the flow of the deadly drug into the U.S., more than half of which seized in 2022 and 2023 was seized in Arizona.

We have Arizonans dying every day for no reason at all when we have scanners that can prevent this fentanyl from entering the country sitting right here in warehouses, she said.

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com. The Republics coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Senate race: Ruben Gallego rips Congress' inaction on border
Even before the official announcement of the election results, some countries had already congratulated Russian dictator Vladimir Putin on his victory. First of all, he was congratulated by the leaders of third-world countries such as Nicaragua, Cuba, Honduras, Venezuela, North Korea, and others.

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Also, according to the Russian propaganda outlet RIA Novosti, Putin was congratulated by Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In his congratulations, he said that his re-election to the presidency fully reflects the support of the Russian people for Putin.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was the first to congratulate the Russian dictator on his election victory. The leaders of Honduras and Cuba also congratulated Putin.

Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega said in his congratulations that he views Putin's election victory as "an important contribution to stability for humanity."

"In these times of instability and violence in a world where we all need peace, harmony and joy, we celebrate his triumph as a contribution to the irreplaceable stability of humanity, so that we can continue to create the future in better conditions," the congratulatory message reads.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also sent a telegram of congratulations to Putin.

At the same time, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated Putin on his "convincing victory," noting that the voting results and voter turnout are an indicator of the Russian dictator's "unconditional trust and support for his political course."

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon said that the results of the vote were another confirmation of Putin's high political authority and broad support for his "course of development of the country" and international policy.

Russian media report that the Iranian president has also already expressed his congratulations to Putin.

It should be noted that the votes have not yet been fully counted. According to the CEC, 99.75% of the protocols have been processed. According to this data, Putin is predicted to win with 87.29% of the vote. The other three candidates received no more than 3-4% of the vote.

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Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported how the Western world reacted to the imitation of elections in Russia. According to the international community, these presidential elections cannot be considered legal, free and fair. After all, despite international law, the elections were organized in the occupied Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as in the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

As a reminder, Russia held illegal presidential elections on Sunday, March 17. The incumbent dictator Vladimir Putin was "painted" an absolute victory with more than 87% of the vote.
This article was originally published in CT Mirror.

Hundreds of Connecticut special education students who have attended High Road schools have been subjected to restraints and seclusion, teachers without certification and improper services, according to a scathing report released Tuesday by the Office of the Child Advocate and Disability Rights Connecticut.

In one academic year, there were more than 1,200 reports of students being restrained or secluded in High Road schools, the report states.

Connecticut Child Advocate Sarah Eagan said a two-year investigation of six schools in Hartford, New London, Wallingford and other towns found an alarming lack of oversight, systemic failings and often flagrant disregard for statutory requirements and state standards that protect the educational rights and safety of children.

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Practices routinely fall short of state laws, education regulations, best practices, or all three. Changes need to be put in place without delay, Eagan said.

High Road is one of the Connecticuts largest state-approved private special education providers, and it primarily serves children from low-income school districts and receives millions in public funds annually, according to the report.

The 57-page report said the state Department of Education, along with the school districts that sent students to High Road schools, failed to visit the campuses regularly and did not ensure compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Many of the students at High Road Schools were grossly underserved both in terms of educational planning and service delivery, the report said. The investigation revealed widespread student disengagement and chronic absenteeism across High Road locations, failure to adequately assess and support students educational needs through individualized service delivery and perhaps most alarmingly, gross deficiencies in the number of certified special education teachers and other credentialed educational staff working with children and systemic failure to ensure and/or document that staff had undergone employment checks and criminal and child welfare background checks.

About 316 students were enrolled at six of eight High Road schools in Connecticut during the 2021-22 academic year, with the student body being made up of about 80% boys and 70% students of color from across 38 Connecticut school districts.

Eighty High Road students, or about 25%, were outsourced from Hartford Public Schools, making the capital citys public school district the largest district consumer of High Road services, according to the report.

The state Department of Education said it vigorously disagree[d] with the conclusions of the report, adding that the department has been, and is, attentive to concerns that are brought forth to the States attention and engages in off cycle monitoring reviews.

During the period of investigation, from 2022 through February 2024, the CSDE received no complaints from parents, from guardians, from students, from attorneys, from parent advocates, or from local or regional school districts regarding High Road schools, a spokesperson from the department said. Of note, the CSDEs Special Education Division annually receives approximately 1,000 filings in the form of hearing requests, mediation requests, or compliance complaints, yet during the period of time covered in the OCA/DRCT Report, not one of those thousands of filings pertained to High Road schools.

A spokesperson from High Road told The Connecticut Mirror in an emailed statement that the report did not accurately reflect the academic and behavioral supports at our schools and that over the course of two years, High Road Schools provided comprehensive responses that outlined these inaccuracies, as well as highlighted the specific improvements we implemented as part of this process.

OCA, a state agency, and DRCT, a disability rights nonprofit, investigated the following campuses: High Road School of Hartford Primary/Middle, High Road School of Hartford High School, High Road B.E.S.T. Academy of Wallingford, High Road School of Fairfield County in Norwalk, High Road School of New London and High Road School of Windham County in Killingly from March 2022 to March 2024 through a series of reviews of educational files, classroom observations and interviews.

DRCT also visited High Road School of Wallingford Primary School and High Road School of Wallingford High School but did not collect data or records, the report states.

Restraint and seclusion

Connecticut leads the country in its placement of students with disabilities in separate schools, according to the report.

Most are students of color.

In 2021-22, there were more than 1,200 reported incidents of students being restrained or secluded in High Road schools. Nearly 550 of those incidents were reported from High Road School of Hartford Primary/Middle School, the report states.

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It is concerning that students would be isolated in such a manner and with such frequency. Isolation without adequate and required efforts to address students needs also raise serious legal questions under the ADA, the report said, adding that students were often taken out of classrooms into time-out rooms where they werent allowed to leave.

Jennifer Hoffman, assistant superintendent for special education and pupil services in Hartford, said in a letter responding to the report that the district has worked OCA and DRCT to continue working toward becoming a trauma-responsive system and is in collective acknowledgment that more works needs to be done, between external systems, to reduce the stressors for families that are sending students to school.

Hoffmans letter highlighted efforts to expand special education services and monitoring and oversight of students.

The district declined to provide further comment when contacted by the CT Mirror.

Staffing problems

The investigation found that almost half of the teachers employed at High Road did not have adequate teacher certification from the state of Connecticut or did not undergo proper background checks.

The report found that:

In the Windham County Program, 6 out of 8 educational staff had not had DCF background checks;

In the New London Program, High Road failed to demonstrate that it had verified employment histories, including any concerns of prior student maltreatment, as required by state law;

In the Fairfield County Program, High Road had not conducted a DCF or employee background check for approximately half of the staff;

At Hartford-Primary, High Road had not conducted a DCF background check for approximately half of the staff;

At Wallingford-BEST program, High Road conducted background checks for the majority, but not all of staff working with children.

The report also said that the Department of Education had previously found that High Road had not been consistent in conducting background checks but never followed up.

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Desperate to Hire Special Ed Teachers? Try Looking in Regular Ed Classrooms

State records do not indicate further follow up by CSDE to ensure that corrective actions were implemented and sustained. OCA/DRCTs investigation found that despite previous complaints, warnings, and directives and despite clear state law obligations and even contractual requirements  High Road failed to demonstrate that it consistently conducts background checks for employees working with children, the report said.

The report added that school administrators did not communicate staffing gaps to [local educational agencies] and that data from both High Road and the state Department of Education reflect a high vacancy rate for certified special education teachers and lack of adequate documentation for substitute teachers and individuals with durational permits, including a heavy reliance on long-term substitute teachers who may not be appropriately credentialed and approved by the state.

There was also no documentation of physical education, art or music teachers at these schools. Nurses were not employed at all buildings, according to the report.

Lack of individualized programming in the classroom

The report highlighted several deficiencies with student individualized education plans, or IEPs, and a lack of functional behavior assessments or behavior intervention plans, which are used to determine the cause of certain behaviors and how to address them.

An analysis of 30 student records showed little evidence  of individualized instruction, and general program descriptions refer only to a curriculum comprised of four instructional rotations during which students are assessed academically, gain self-regulation skills, learn with district-aligned academic curriculums and utilize integrated technology, the report said.

Records examined included inconsistent information, lacked evidence of comprehensive evaluations, individualized or personalized instructional or behavioral strategies, and did not indicate that progress or failure to progress were regularly reviewed within programs. Across sites there was an apparent lack of access to related services such as clinical/psychological consultation or service, the report continued, adding that several campuses did not have occupational and speech language therapy consistent with descriptions of students previous developmental, social/emotional, or educational histories.

The investigation also found that almost none of the students received functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) or behavior intervention plans (BIPs) at several campuses.

Nor did the schools have a board-certified behavior analyst on staff.

High Road locations all employ school social workers and offer individual and/or group counseling. However, out of 30 student records reviewed by investigators, there were only two BIPs, the report said. Student data and individual student records also indicate frequent use of restraint and seclusion without adequate evaluation and response.

The report illustrated several instances where students required behavioral help, but there was little to no individualization. It also illustrated when student behavioral needs were ignored and played out in the childs academics later.

Student A was placed at the Hartford Primary-Middle School program in Grade 3, at age 10, with a BIP created at his previous public school. Yet a program review later that year indicated he was performing below grade level due to a lack of access to education based on extended timeouts, raising questions about the degree to which his BIP was reflective of his current needs, the report said. In additional, Student A had multiple absences, slept for the whole day on multiple days waking only to eat lunch, and had significant academic delays.  Complex academic/behavioral/disengagement issues persisted from enrollment at High Road for 7 years without his needs being properly addressed.

Other examples included a student who had 70 timeouts and seven restraints in her first year at High Road and a student with 69 restraints over a 15-month period and no BIP in his record.

Disengaged students, unclear path forward

Almost 40% of students enrolled at High Road schools had 18 or more absences from school. Over 25% missed over 25 days of instruction, and 10% of all students missed over 50 days, according to the report.

But for students in the classroom, there were several instances where investigators saw multiple students who were sleeping for prolonged periods during class and students who were completely disengaged from classroom activities.

Investigators consistently saw students who were left entirely to themselves during a 30-minute or even 45-minute class period, alone in a cubicle or at a computer, without any or only the briefest of interactions with a teacher or an aide, the report said.

During one observation, investigators observed a student sitting in a cubicle starting at the wall. The teacher approached him and spoke to him once during a 45-minute observation. He did not respond and no one else attempted to engage him during class, the report added. During an observation at the Fairfield High Road School, several students were observed sleeping, with investigators told that one of the students sleeps all the way up until the last period of the day to participate in science class.

There were also several issues with progress monitoring and assessments, and inappropriate academic goals, the report said.

Investigators were told [at the Windham County campus] that students progress is monitored daily, but the covering administrator (who was not certified as an administrator) told OCA that students dont have academic goals; they are here because of behavior, the report said.

Beyond academic trouble, the report said, the school did not provide transitional services for older students.

For older students whose records were reviewed, access to special education until age 22 was terminated without clear transition plans or individualized programs that would provide options for post-secondary education or realistic development of vocational options and experiences, with appropriate social and mental health supports that could lead to successful transitions to adult life.

Leadership failure and policy recommendations

OCA and DRCT criticized both the state Department of Education and local districts efforts to protect the students with disabilities enrolled in High Road schools.

The report said one districts director of public services had positive things to say about High Road schools and expressed no concerns with High Road and that other programs are worse. He said there were no red flags around service hours.

However, investigators said that district had 13 students enrolled in High Road programs, and five students missed a combined 306 days of instruction without a BIP in place.

Although certain districts indicated they conducted site visits and records review following the letter, the incongruity between the districts stated satisfaction with the provision of services and OCA/DRCT investigative findings regarding staffing irregularities, lack of background checking, inadequate records, lack of related service delivery and individualized behavioral intervention plans, and chronic absenteeism is difficult to reconcile, the report said.

The investigation found that many districts across the state did not conduct site visits and did not ask substantial questions about services or staffing.

In response to questions about whether the districts conducted any observations of its students enrolled at the schools, only 3/18 districts responded affirmatively, the report said. Most districts were unable to provide the names, positions, qualifications and/or any certification of all personnel providing instruction, including special education and related services, to the students while attending High Road. One district maintained that CSDE is responsible for ensuring that High Road schools have qualified staff employed.

At a state level, the report said, the Department of Education had concerns about background checking and inadequate student records, but there were no findings of follow-ups or corrective action.

The report said the state Department of Education did not properly monitor and ensure compliance with federal and state law.

The final pages of the report recommended that state law be amended to require strengthened CSDE oversight of state-approved private special education programs and mandate transparency from the education departments monitoring and enforcement of federal law.

This story was originally published on CT Mirror.
A Republican Super PAC spent more than $650,000 on Assemblyman Vince Fongs congressional bid to succeed his former boss, retired Rep. Kevin McCarthy, in a deep-red California district.

The newly-formed Central Valley Values PAC, fueled by funding associated with McCarthy, spent $651,149 this year on ads and other material to boost Fong, R-Bakersfield, over a Republican challenger.

Its not clear whether it worked in giving McCarthys chosen heir a clear path to win Novembers election. The PAC  a political committee allowed to spend and raise money in unlimited amounts  had hoped to consolidate the left behind a Democratic opponent before the March 5 primary election.

The goal was for Fong, McCarthys endorsed successor, to end up with the presumably easier task of running against Democrat Marisa Wood in the heavily-Republican 20th Congressional District come November. The top two finishers in the primary moved on to the general election.

But boosting Wood didnt work. Fong and Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, a Republican, will advance from the primary in Californias 20th, the Associated Press projected last week.

With an estimated 98% of the votes counted as of Monday morning, Fong had 42.1% and Boudreaux had 24%. Wood had 21.3%.

Central Valley Values PAC paid a California consulting group that was founded by a McCarthy ally to produce mailers, digital advertisements and text messages to bolster Fong, 44, and attack Boudreaux, 56, and Wood, 63. Mailers blasting Wood were aimed at Democrats, seemingly to consolidate their vote.

Facing Wood, a Bakersfield school teacher who challenged and fell to McCarthy in November 2022, in the states reddest congressional district would have made it easier for Fong to win the general election.

I think the takeaway is simple: No, it didnt work at all, said Alex Tavlian, Boudreauxs campaign manager.

But the strategy might have consolidated Democrats the best it could. Republicans tend to have better turnout in California primaries compared to Democrats, which would be particularly pronounced in the 20th, where 47% of registered voters are Republican and 27% are Democrats.

Campaigns in the 20th were forced into a three-month blitz ahead of March unlike in other races because of the surprising retirement of McCarthy, who had held the seat since 2007 after taking over for his former boss. McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, retired at the end of December following his ousting as Speaker of the House, a role he long coveted and held for nine months.

McCarthy gave the nod to Fong, who also secured the endorsement of former President Donald Trump not long before the March 5 primary on Feb. 20. Trump again endorsed Fong on Sunday for the special election primary that is occurring Tuesday to succeed McCarthy within the next few months.

Tal Eslick, a consultant based in the 20th, said heavy campaigning  and having the money to do so  in the sprint to March was key. Fong and Boudreaux had far more campaign money to work with than Wood. Wood gathered the most votes by far between the two Democratic candidates, according to primary results released so far, and its possible Central Valley Values PACs spending helped her to do that.

Theres just a crazy number of Republicans in this particular district, which is why I think the former President Trump endorsement is key. Its the reason theyre so focused on immigration, Eslick said. But I dont think Vince gets to 41% that quickly on accident, and I dont think Wood gets to 22% that quickly as she did.

Eslick, who has known Fong since they worked for Republican congressmen in the Central Valley, supported his congressional bid. The percentages of votes will change as more ballots are processed; Californias secretary of state will certify primary results on April 12.

The timing of McCarthys announced departure led to a scramble among successors with two days before Californias electoral filing deadline. Fong, who served as McCarthys district director for almost a decade, ultimately filed paperwork for the Assembly and Congress, which put him on the ballot for both roles and at the center of a legal challenge from California Secretary of State Shirley Weber.

Where did Central Valley Values money come from?

Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, speaks during first meeting of the Assembly Select Committee on Retail Theft on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, at Capitol Annex. Sara Nevis/Sacramento Bee file

Central Valley Values PAC is a single-candidate Super PAC, meaning it is devoted solely to promoting Fong. It can raise and spend money in unlimited amounts, but can have no association or contact with Fong.

A spokesman for the Fong campaign, Ryan Gardiner, didnt have a specific comment on the Central Valley Values PAC. He said no one in the campaign had contact with anyone involved in the independent expenditure effort.

Central Valley Values PAC had spent about $380,798 during the campaign to tout Fong, according to Federal Election Commission filings as of March 3. Another approximately $170,448 was spent against Boudreaux, and $99,902 was spent against Wood.

The money reported in January went to Swing Strategies, a group founded by Tom Ross, its CEO and president, who was a strategic advisor to McCarthy. Ross did not respond to an email for comment.

Nearly half of $500,000 reported by Central Valley Values PAC at the end of January came from the Majority Committee PAC, which is associated with McCarthy. Another $250,000 came from Conservatives for American Excellence, funded by different corporate executives.

Among the big donors to that group are Ken Griffin, a hedge fund billionaire who gave the group $3 million in January, and Warren Stephens, an investment banker who contributed $1 million that month.

The group has contributed to promoting or defeating Republicans in other states, generally trying to thwart GOP candidates who would be sympathetic to the House Freedom Caucus, a far-right congressional group whose members led the effort to oust McCarthy as Speaker of the House in October.

Kens political participation has always been driven by his patriotism and his love of America, said Zia Ahmed, Griffins spokesperson. He supports solutions-oriented candidates who share his commitment to individual rights and freedom, economic policies that encourage prosperity and upward mobility, access to a high-quality education for all children, safety in our communities, and a strong national defense. We are facing serious issues as a country, and Ken believes we need effective leaders in Washington.

Whats happening in the race to replace McCarthy?

Analysts had expected Fong to get one of the two spots in the general election. But the legal challenge by Californias chief elections officer could erase his congressional candidacy in November.

Before April 12, Weber hopes that a state appeals court will terminate Fongs ability to run for Congress. The succession scramble and Fongs decision to run for Congress after qualifying for the Assembly means he is on the ballot for both the 20th Congressional and 32nd Assembly District, which he currently represents.

Fong served as McCarthys district director for almost a decade before his election to the Assembly. Born in Bakersfield, Fong started his political career as an aide to former Republican Rep. Bill Thomas, McCarthys predecessor.

Boudreaux, who has been Tulare County Sheriff for over a decade, earned several key local endorsements. Currently president of the California State Sheriffs Association, Boudreaux worked in Tulare County law enforcement for almost his whole life, starting there as a cadet at 19. He lives in Springville.

Californias 20th takes bits of Bakersfield and Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley and grabs parts of Kern, Kings, Tulare and Fresno counties. There were nearly a dozen contenders on the March 5 ballot, though many stopped campaigning to endorse other candidates.

There is also a special election to finish the remainder of McCarthys abandoned term, which ends in January 2025. The primary is March 19; if a candidate secures the majority of votes then, they win outright. If not, the top two vote-getters advance to a May 21 runoff. Whoever wins will be sworn in nearly immediately.

Fong, Boudreaux and Wood are among the candidates in the special election. Webers challenge to Fong only applies to the full-term election.

What happened for McCarthys succession?

The three-month campaign blitz and legal challenge to Fongs candidacy comes from the unique circumstances of McCarthys resignation and a complicated game of succession in December.

McCarthy, 59, was first elected to Congress to succeed his former boss, Thomas, in 2006. After McCarthy was ousted by his peers as House speaker in October, he was publicly coy on his political future. He announced his retirement on Dec. 6  two days before Californias electoral filing deadline  setting off a scramble among potential candidates who pondered whether they should seek to replace him.

Since McCarthy, the incumbent, was not running, the filing deadline for Californias 20th was extended until Dec. 13. Fong originally declined to run to succeed his former boss before the Dec. 8 deadline to qualify for his Assembly race, which he did.

State Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, who will be termed out of the Legislature come next election cycle in 2026, appeared McCarthys likely successor. But she announced she would not run a few days later. Following her announcement, Fong swiftly changed his mind, announced his bid for Congress before the deadline and gathered McCarthys endorsement.

Weber said in December that, under elections code, Fong could not withdraw from the Assembly race after he qualified for it and could not be on the ballot for two competing offices. She said she would bar him from running in the 20th.

However a Sacramento Superior Court judge granted Fongs request to be on the ballot for the Assembly and Congress on Dec. 28. Up against a deadline, Weber included Fongs name on the certified list of candidates for both races. A day later, she vowed to appeal the decision.

At the end of January, Weber asked an appeals court to erase Judge Shelleyanne W. L. Changs ruling and disqualify Fong as a congressional candidate by April 12. If the court grants her request, she would bar him from the Nov. 5 ballot.

Fong was uncontested in the 32nd Assembly Districts primary.
Theres a constant sense of movement on the stretch of Kedzie Avenue that crosses the Brown Line tracks in the Albany Park neighborhood. Its slow, but steady, and surprisingly dramatic. From too many drivers rushing to beat the gates, to families on foot pushing and pulling mountainous carts of all kinds.

Then theres an escape from daily street life behind a discreetly screened storefront.

Maman Zari translates the wonder of Iranian American taste memories into an inventive Persian tasting escape in Chicago.

Mariam Shahsavarani opened the restaurant named after her late grandmother with chef Matteo Lo Bianco last summer.

Quite frankly it shouldnt work. She was most recently a flight attendant, while he was a research and development chef for an airline catering company. Its also the first business for both owners.

What theyve created is a transportive experience. And somehow theyve done it at $85 for nine seasonal courses, including a constantly changing amuse bouche. Thats a shockingly low price in the world of tasting menus that typically start at triple digits.

We kind of want to do away with all of the airs, Shahsavarani said. The menu and pricing allow people to try new dishes or familiar dishes reconceptualized, with friends and family, she added.

Its very innovative, with all the recipes from Persia, Lo Bianco said.

Thats not quite true. They may be inspired by traditional dishes, but the creative courses are his.

Take, for example, the mirza ghasemi and sabzi khordan. The course is actually a collection of dishes, with soft eggplant under a smoky dome, and a fine herb fluff.

Its the only dish we have from day one, the chef said.

Traditional mirza ghasemi does have smoked eggplant, Shahsavarani said, but usually scrambled eggs too, which they omitted because they felt it muted the flavors.

Its a dish from northern Iran, she said. Ive had it at roadside places on the highway driving up to where my grandparents lived.

So how did the chef transform the Persian eggplant dip into a course starring a sophisticated stuffed aubergine?

Its not only me, Lo Bianco said. Its Mariam and the team in the kitchen.

They needed something crunchy, he added, so they made what he called tahdig chips with rice with saffron. Theyre similar to Asian prawn crackers.

The course also includes a briny green olive relish and a nutty slice of barbari flatbread.

Zeytoon parvardeh, thats what the olives are based on, Shahsavarani said. Thats also from Mazandaran and Gilan in northern Iran.

The course is a personal welcome platter, a snapshot of visits to the provinces along the Caspian Sea.

Its become something of a signature at the first fine-dining Persian tasting menu restaurant in the city (and possibly the world) with an unlikely origin story.

My father, he started the orchestration, Shahsavarani said. Hes a retired food business consultant, she added, and this was a hobby for him, gathering the group of people, including his daughter, who would go on to start the restaurant.

She first met Lo Bianco more than a decade ago when he worked for her parents food manufacturing company.

When we decided we wanted to open a restaurant, we wanted to make sure we could do something that was impactful, Shahsavarani said. We didnt want to be another Persian restaurant in Chicago.

They try to interpret lesser-known dishes, she added.

As much as I love kebab, we didnt need another restaurant that was kebab and rice in Chicago, Shahsavarani said. That was the inspiration behind doing a Persian tasting menu.

I grew up going to Rezas here. So when I moved to Los Angeles, and last lived in Beverly Hills, I went to Persian restaurants at least once a week with the expat community there.

Maman Zari is indeed not just another Persian restaurant, but a personal, emotional experience.

Maman Zari is what my cousins and I called our grandmother, Shahsavarani said. She was my paternal grandmother.

Zahra Shahsavarani was born and raised in Iran, and spent summers in Chicago, said her granddaughter.

And then when I was older, and she couldnt travel, I went over and spent a lot of time with her and my grandfather in Iran.

Maman Zari died about a year and a half ago, said her granddaughter, before lending her name and silhouette to the restaurant.

Lo Bianco said he was born and raised in Milan, and immigrated here in 2003.

The chef offers three tasting menus: standard and vegetarian, which I had, and pescatarian, with dishes from the other menus.

They each began with an amuse bouche then the first course, a tiny vibrant bowl of ash-e anar, a pomegranate soup with lentils.

The smoky eggplant course followed with its lovely abundance.

Then a linear plating of salad-e laboo with red and golden beets nestled against goat cheese and herbs had a tableside pour of a refreshing pomegranate-tarragon dressing.

The unassuming ozonboron features perfectly grilled Persian sturgeon, but its the golden tomato saffron brown butter sauce that unexpectedly steals the show.

People say I would lick the sauce off the plate, Shahsavarani said laughing. I dont know what alchemy Matteo did, but the tomato saffron sauce on there, if thats even what it is, is magical.

The bad Chinese banquet diner in me wanted rice to savor that sauce.

I put beurre blanc, rosemary and a touch of tomato saffron sauce, Lo Bianco said on his variation of the French white butter sauce.

A wine pairing is available, but I turned to cocktails, nonalcoholic drinks and tea service on two visits.

The Gonabad Gin cocktail, radiant in a delicate coupe, is beautifully balanced with a saffron-infused spirit, poppy amaro liqueur, vermouth and herbal cloosterbitter. A Tehran spritz pours persimmon liqueur, orange amaro and sparkling wine in a flute heralding warmer weather to come. The nonalcoholic Sparkling Saveh drink thoughtfully mixes white tea, ginger and mint.

Shahsavarani said she took the lead on the entire beverage program.

We dont have a full cocktail program, because we dont have a full bar, she added. So theyre limited to a few cocktails.

Theres nothing limited about them. So much so that I hope they add her drink pairings to the menu.

But ambition comes with challenges.

On the standard tasting, the koofteh Tabrizi, a lamb and rice meatball, was a bit dry even with a bright pour of the straight tomato saffron sauce. The nardooni ordak with duck was, unfortunately, a touch tough, detracting from a plate artfully splattered with pomegranate.

On the vegetarian menu, three sweeter plates followed in succession. The stunning adas polo with a crisp cake of smoked basmati rice, date and raisin; a koofteh Tabrizi orb with chickpea, dried plum and caramelized onion; plus aloo esfenaj, a reimagined spinach and plum stew with a saffron tahdig cake on top.

I love sweet and savory, and the careful craft was evident, but this trio was far too similar in taste and texture on one progressive menu.

And I wondered why they didnt go harder with any of the items they called tahdig. Any of the courses they accompanied begged for a hit of scorched rice.

Tahdig seems like a very specific thing, but it is and it isnt, Shahsavarani said. Sometimes its bread, sometimes its potatoes, sometimes its just rice, she added, and sometimes its half an inch thick, but sometimes the thinnest layer of starch and oil.

As a crunchy crust lover, I acknowledge my bias.

As I do with the nan khamei, the Persian cream puffs. The shells were nice and light, but could have benefited from a little more crispness, extra rosewater essence in the cream and a bigger chocolate quenelle.

The shirini, though, traditional sweets transformed into four house-made cookies, were impeccable.

The buttery bite-size cake originally came from Shahsavarani, her only recipe on the menu.

I highly recommend pairing the mignardises with the house tea, black with bergamot and cardamom, served with a saffron garnished rock sugar stick.

And the service is exceptional in the minimalist dining room warmed by hints of yellow and blue. Friendly and knowledgeable, whats even more impressive is that only one person in the front of the house has any experience with Persian food.

Thats because she moved to the United States from Iran, Shahsavarani said. And she speaks Farsi fluently.

I asked further about the restaurants identity.

The whole reason we call the restaurant Persian instead of Iranian specifically was to give us a broader culinary landscape with which to work, Shahsavarani said. Because in our case, were referring to the former Persian Empire, which will allow us to pull in from what is now modern-day Armenia and Azerbaijan.

And they can go a little bit farther east and a little bit farther west, she added, if they want to start pulling in a little bit more diversity.

Shortly after opening, there was a comment that was like, I dont understand why all these restaurants identify as Persian, she said. And I was like, I have a really good reason why.

The menu will change twice soon. Once for an extended Nowruz celebration, beginning on Persian New Year, March 19 this year. And then again for spring.

The mirza ghasemi should be on the menu with its smoky eggplant, but if its not someday, I trust well still find an inventive escape on a street of constant movement.

Maman Zari

4639 N. Kedzie Ave.

773-961-7866

mamanzari.com

Open: Tuesday to Thursday 5:30 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 to 11 p.m., Sunday 5 to 10 p.m., closed Monday

Prices: $85 (standard, vegetarian and pescatarian tasting menus), $16 (Gonabad Gin cocktail), $13 (Sparkling Saveh nonalcoholic drink), $6 (Maman Zari house tea)

Noise: Conversation-friendly

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with restrooms on single level

Tribune rating: Excellent, three stars

Ratings key: Four stars, outstanding; three stars, excellent; two stars, very good; one star, good; no stars, unsatisfactory. Meals are paid for by the Tribune.

lchu@chicagotribune.com

Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here.
A rezoning request for a controversial proposed development will not be voted on at an upcoming Planning Advisory Commission meeting after the developers requested a delay.

Hundreds of Columbus residents who live in neighborhoods affected by a proposed development at 5201 Macon Rd. were anticipating attending a March 20 PAC meeting, resident Gregory Foster told the Ledger-Enquirer.

The developers asked for their March 20 PAC meeting date to be delayed until the Development of Regional Impact (DRI) report is concluded, Columbus planning director Will Johnson told the Ledger-Enquirer.

Developers faced almost 300 residents at a Feb. 29 public meeting, where participants vowed to oppose the development because of concerns about traffic and the large number of planned rental units.

Karen Gaskins, at podium, a resident of the Sears Woods neighborhood in Columbus, Georgia, center, speaks during a recent meeting about a development proposed by Proterra Development that would require the rezoning of 115.56 acres of land at 5201 Macon Road in Columbus.

The 115.6 acre development would build 670 housing units including an apartment complex, senior apartment building, town houses, single family homes and a neighborhood commercial center.

Proterra Development, based in metro Atlanta, applied to rezone the area from single family residential to planned unit development (PUD), which allows for community-serving commercial development.

The full DRI report has not been submitted yet, Johnson said, so there is no timeline on when the PAC meeting for this rezoning request will be rescheduled.

Right now the case is tabled pending the results of the DRI, he said. Or whenever (the applicant) wants to resume.
The Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development invites the public to its 17th annual Business Expo on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Richland County Fairgrounds, 750 N. Home Road.

The expo will feature a solar eclipse theme. Booth space is sold out, with more than 100 local businesses and nonprofits exhibiting. A ribbon-cutting with local officials will be held at 9:45 a.m. to open the event.

The Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development invites the public to attend its 17th annual Business Expo on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Richland County Fairgrounds. Admission and parking are free.

Admission and parking are free. Individual booths will offer prizes, samples and giveaways along with prize drawings held by the chamber. Every attendee who contributes to a canned food drive will receive an entry into a special prize drawing.

The expo is the perfect chance for the public to interact with local businesses. The solar eclipse theme has been creating excitement, and everyone loves prizes and giveaways," said Lisa Duckworth, chamber program and events manager. We encourage everyone to stop by, even if they just have a few minutes before work or during their lunch break. We are also excited to feature food trucks.

The event is presented by Hamilton Insurance Group. A complete list of sponsors, a prize entry ticket, and other information can be found at richlandareachamber.com.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

X (formerly Twitter): @LWhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Richland Area OH Chamber Business Expo set for March 21, 2024
(WHTM)  Ritas Italian Ice recently announced that they will be giving away free ice treats to celebrate the first day of spring.

According to Ritas, the free Italian ice giveaway will be held on Tuesday, March 19 across all of their locations nationwide.

RELATED: Ritas Italian Ice opening new Franklin County location

Guests who visit Ritas location on the first day of spring will receive a free 6-ounce Italian Ice in an available flavor of their choice. Visitors will be able to choose from Ritas classic flavors or their brand new Sour Patch Kids Watermelon Ice.

Ritas says they are expecting to give away approximately 1 million cups of ice across their 550+ locations.

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WHTM Daily Digest

Our first day of spring giveaway has become a cherished tradition with our guests, and this year, were elevating the celebration with the exclusive launch of SOUR PATCH KIDS Watermelon Ice, said Linda Chadwick, President & CEO of Ritas Italian Ice & Frozen Custard. At Ritas, our guests inspire us to push our flavor innovation further each year and we are thrilled to partner with the SOUR PATCH KIDS brand to deliver this unique take on a sour-then-sweet favorite in only a way Ritas can. We hope to see everyone at Ritas on March 19 to enjoy a free cup of Ice on us.

Ritas Italian Ice was founded back in May of 1984 by a Philadelphia firefighter named Bob Tumolo, who named the beloved franchise after his wife Rita.

abc27 news will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
Christina Bobb, a former reporter for the conservative One America News Network and attorney for the Trump campaign, was hired by RNC officials in recent days as the senior counsel on election integrity.

MADISON  The Republican National Committee has hired an attorney to work in its legal unit focused on elections who has falsely claimed Wisconsin's 2020 election to be "fraudulent" and publicly pressured state GOP leaders to act on baseless conspiracy theories.

Christina Bobb, a former reporter for the conservative One America News Network and attorney for the Trump campaign, was hired by RNC officials in recent days as the senior counsel on election integrity. The hiring was announced after the RNC merged with the Trump campaign as Trump secured the GOP presidential nomination.

The hiring raises questions about how Trump and national Republicans will respond to the outcome of the 2024 election in Wisconsin if Biden again wins the state's 10 electoral votes, especially as the RNC plans to hold its national convention in the state's largest city this summer. In 2020, Wisconsin was central to Trump's effort to stay in power through an unsuccessful plan to have then-Vice President Mike Pence accept slates of false GOP electors and refuse to certify the election for Biden.

In a memo released this week, RNC chairman Michael Whatley said the GOP's election priorities this cycle "will include a broader effort over the coming months to challenge voter identification and signature verification rules which were put into place for the 2020 election."

"The RNCs new posture as it relates to this litigation will be an aggressive, proactive effort to ensure that it will be easy to vote and hard to cheat," Whatley wrote. A spokeswoman for the RNC did not respond to questions about what the efforts would entail.

The RNC's election integrity unit will be led by longtime Republican attorney Charlie Spies, who in 2021 pushed back against false claims of voting machines switching votes from Trump to President Joe Biden.

"I may get booed off the stage for this, but I have to say that's simply not true," Spies said at the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference while participating in a panel discussion. "There is just zero evidence that's true."

Bobb took a different stance on the 2020 election and in 2021 and was sued by Dominion, a voting machine software manufacturer that was the most prominent target of false election conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Bobb also pushed false claims about Biden's victory in the Badger State and took aim at Wisconsin's Republican lawmakers for not doing more to litigate Trump's loss.

PA, GA, MI, WI, AZ, NV, and NM all had GOP electors cast votes for @realDonaldTrump. Both sets of electors cast votes in these states. That preserves @POTUS right to remedy fraud with his own electors.  Christina Bobb (@christina_bobb) December 14, 2020

"The Wisconsin Election Commission intentionally orchestrated a criminal and fraudulent election. WEC needs to be dissolved immediately," Bobb posted on the social media X, then known as Twitter, in October 2021.

Recounts, court rulings, state audits and a study by a prominent conservative group have confirmed Biden won Wisconsin in 2020 by nearly 21,000 votes.

An RNC spokeswoman did not answer questions about whether Bobb still believes Wisconsin's 2020 election was fraudulent and whether the RNC also holds that position.

In a public back-and-forth with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in 2022 on X, Bobb accused Vos of being either corrupt or an idiot for backing legislation to allow election clerks to begin processing ballots the day before Election Day to prevent the posting of voting totals late at night. She also called Vos a "lying snake" in the exchange.

Vos, who has been speaker for 10 years and represented the southeastern Wisconsin 63rd Assembly District since 2005, is the most effective Republican in the GOP-controlled state Legislature but has faced fierce criticism from members of his own party  especially from Trump  in recent years over his rejection of calls to decertify the 2020 election, which has been impossible for as long as supporters of Trump have called for the idea.

A group is trying to force a recall election of Vos this year.

"You have done nothing to secure the elections and are making it easier for Dems to cheat. Youre either an idiot or corrupt. Why are you pushing this?!" she wrote to Vos.

In an Oct. 6, 2021, appearance on WTAQ, Bobb said she asked Vos in an interview for OANN why he hadn't reviewed voting machines, ballots and other election materials used during the 2020 election.

And in January 2023, Bobb called Vos "an impish little coward" for not doing more to litigate the 2020 election.

Too late! Democrats already picked the fight and @SpeakerVos is too much of a coward to actually fight. What a impish little coward. https://t.co/Kxx8vrS3EF  Christina Bobb (@christina_bobb) January 31, 2023

Vos did not respond to a request for comment on Bobb's hiring by the RNC. But in a post on the social media platform X, Vos said Monday "Since most of (Bobb's) 'reporting' at OAN was going after conservatives who didn't agree with her, let's hope she doesn't do the same thing at the RNC hurting conservatives chances to win in 2024."

A group headed by Bobb also paid for a group of Wisconsin Republicans to travel to Arizona in 2021 to observe a controversial ballot review in Maricopa County. The group included state Rep. Janel Brandtjen of Menomonee Falls, who has been the state Legislature's most prominent proponent of false election claims. Reps. Rachael Cabral-Guevara of Appleton, Dave Murphy of Greenville and Chuck Wichgers of Muskego also made the trek to Phoenix that year.

Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.

Truth bomb!



Why would you call someone names when plain reading of the law shows you are WRONG.



Here's the statute. "operation of the automatic tabulating equipment, shall be equally divided between members of the 2 major political parties"https://t.co/AoGOnaCf6T https://t.co/t3u2KupYDZ  Robin Vos (@repvos) February 25, 2022

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: RNC hire Christina Bobb pushed Wisconsin false election claims
Romania begins construction of the largest NATO base in Europe

Construction work has begun in Romania on a new NATO base that will house 10 thousand NATO troops and their family members, reported Euronenws on March 16.

According to the news channel, the cost of construction is estimated at 2.5 billion ($2.72 billion).

Project includes runways, weapons platforms, hangars for military aircraft, as well as schools, kindergartens, shops, and a hospital.

Read also: NATOs rotational air defense presence on its eastern borders would be appropriate response to Russian escalation, says Lithuanian Foreign

Currently, work has already begun on the basic infrastructure, including access roads and electricity.

It is noted that the base in Constanta County will be the largest in Europe.

Read also: Romanian Senator and nationalist party leader wants to help Russia carve up Ukraine

In early March, Albania opened the rebuilt Soviet-era Kukova air base to service NATO aircraft.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov tried to explain the dictator's words about the need to create a "sanitary zone" in Ukraine. According to him, the Kremlin leader was referring to taking measures "to ensure the security of the Russian territory under attack."

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He also added that the terrorist country of the Russian Federation will take measures if the shelling of Russian territory continues. Peskov said this in a comment to Kremlin propagandists.

The Kremlin has said that dictator Vladimir Putin will consider creating a "sanitary zone" on the territory of Ukraine only if flights from Ukraine to Russia continue. Moscow also said that it is a territory from which weapons will not reach Russian territory.

"The president means that against the background of attacks, attacks by drones, against the background of artillery shelling of our territory, settlements on our territories, social facilities, residential buildings, measures will be taken to secure these territories," the Kremlin assassin's spokesman said.

In addition, Peskov tried to explain that it was a so-called buffer zone so that any means that could be used to strike Russia would be out of range.

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As a reminder, Putin commented on the possibility of negotiations with Ukraine, promising to "think about it." Also, the Kremlin dictator announced his intention to create a "sanitary zone " on the territory "controlled by the Kyiv regime".

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has authorized the training of about 50 Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft at his country's military bases, Romania Insider reported on March 18.

The training is slated to take place at a military base in Fetesti, in southern Romania.

Read also: Zelenskyy unveils video of Ukrainian pilots training on F-16s in Denmark

Its unclear when the training of the Ukrainian pilots will begin, but local media sources claim they will arrive at the base this summer and are expected to complete their training by the end of the year.

Read also: F-16s for Ukraine: initial batch of six jets ready for July, allies pledge more

Iohannis also notified the Romanian parliament that he approved the transit of equipment and supplies to Ukraine from Finland through Romania.

In August 2023, the Netherlands and Denmark pledged to transfer 61 U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

Read also: Ukrainian pilots to complete F-16 fighter jet training in the U.S. by summer 2024

By Jan. 10, Ukraine's Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian pilots continue to undergo training on F-16 aircraft in several partner countries.

On Feb. 18, Foreign Policy magazine, citing European officials, reported that the first F-16 fighters are expected to arrive in Ukraine around June 2024.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Sisal ropes, salt crystals, volcanic rocks and aged brass: award-winning Kenyan designer Ami Doshi Shah has always chosen unlikely materials to make sophisticated jewellery that redefines value in a carat-obsessed industry.

"As a child, I was always finding beauty in unusual things like stones and fossils," Shah, 44, told AFP in an interview at her rooftop studio in Kenya's capital Nairobi, where she crafts her pieces by hand.

Her 2019 collection Salt of the Earth featured ropes, salt crystals and patinated blue-green brass, and was showcased in exhibitions at London's Victoria and Albert Museum and New York's Brooklyn Museum.

But despite earning a university degree in jewellery and silversmithing in the British city of Birmingham and the prestigious Goldsmiths award for best apprentice designer, Shah said it took her years to fully commit to her metier.

A third-generation Kenyan of South Asian origin, she interned at Indian jewellers such as The Gem Palace, whose patrons have included Princess Diana, Oprah Winfrey and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Traditional Indian ideas of jewellery as a luxury investment did not resonate with her. And she wasn't wholly sure of how to marry her experimental sensibility with commercial pressures.

So Shah joined an advertising firm and spent the next 12 years there, working in London and Nairobi.

"I knew it wasn't my calling," she said.

She took a sabbatical during her second pregnancy and began a year-long artist residency at the non-profit Kuona Trust in Nairobi in 2014-15.

It was a cathartic period, yet one also "filled with self-doubt", she said.

"I was worried whether people would like my work... it is hard to accept that you might not be a commercial success, especially when you have spent so many years focused on making money."

- Personal and political -

She established her brand in 2015, with a view to creating bold, sculptural pieces that reflect the talismanic role of jewellery in Kenyan culture, where it is used in rites of passage, for protection and to imbue the wearer with strength.

Her body of work ranges from sisal neckpieces to cuffs inlaid with stones and brass earrings that sway with every movement.

A striking departure from the precious metals and gemstones that dominate traditional Indian jewellery, her design process is driven by materials found in Kenya and every piece is made to order.

She uses brass -- which dominates Kenya's jewellery landscape -- but also materials such as leather, mango wood and zoisite, a cast-off from ruby mining in the East African country.

The result is jewellery that is deeply personal and sometimes political, with prices ranging from $75 to $375.

"Not everyone's going to love my work, not everyone's going to understand it and that's ok," she said, emphasising that she approaches jewellery-making as "a labour of love", not a business venture.

Her acclaimed 2019 collection explored salt's dual nature as a life-giving mineral that is also destructive and corrosive.

It also reflected on Britain's colonial past, with punitive salt taxes prompting Mahatma Gandhi to stage a historic protest march in 1930 in the Indian state of Gujarat, where Shah's grandparents emigrated from.

"That was the first time I felt like jewellery could be political, like it could be a thread connecting so many things," she said.

- 'Tell our own story' -

Her latest collection Memento Mori was born out of grief, reflecting on the loss of her father in 2021 and their final days together in the Indian Ocean town of Watamu along Kenya's coast.

Even though her work is sold and celebrated in the West,her focus is firmly on the continent she calls home, both as the inspiration and the market for her refined designs, which are stocked in boutiques in Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Ivory Coast and Kenya.

"I feel far more Kenyan than Indian," she said, urging her South Asian-origin compatriots to embrace integration, instead of finding safety in self-segregation, decades after the traumatic 1972 expulsion of South Asians from Uganda.

With recent forays into furniture, her dream is to build a multi-disciplinary studio with "predominantly Kenyan" designers.

"It's important to be able to tell our own story in our own way instead of having a narrative projected onto us."

amu/ho/txw/ach
A Georgia judges recent decisions regarding a criminal racketeering case that includes charges against Orland Park pastor the Rev. Stephen Cliffgard Lee and former President Donald Trump makes Lee optimistic about his case, his lawyer says.

In August, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis brought 41 charges against 19 individuals, including Lee and Trump, accusing the group of conspiring together in an effort to alter the results of the 2020 election in Georgia.

But Judge Scott McAfee recently threw out six of the charges and demanded the resignation of Special Assistant District Attorney Nathan Wade, after it was revealed Wade had a romantic relationship with Willis.

Were certainly optimistic about success, that the judge is listening to the arguments, that the district attorney failed to state actual crimes in the indictment, Lees lawyer David Shestokas said Monday.

The charges against Lee concern his interactions with Fulton County poll worker Ruby Freeman, who was falsely accused of committing election crimes by many of the defendants including Lee, the indictment states. Lee is charged with knocking on her door with intent to knowingly engage in misleading conduct toward Ruby Freemen, by purporting to offer her help, and with intent to influence her testimony, the indictment states.

None of the six counts McAfee threw out includes any of the charges against Lee. But Shestokas thinks the recent decision strengthens Lees case because it sows doubt into the five cases against his client, including the first count under which all 19 defendants are charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Specifically, Shestokas noted McAfee dismissed the states argument concerning the recorded phone conversation between Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger,

Count 1 is built upon the whole RICO conspiracy and the whole RICO conspiracy kind of stands on starting with the alleged problematic phone call of President Trump to Secretary Raffensperger. And that count was thrown out, said Shestokas. And that makes Count 1 problematic for all defendants. So its all kind of falling apart.

For now, Lees case remains in a holding pattern while he waits to see if other defendants counsel will trigger the appeals process to have Willis removed from the case. Willis was told by McAfee that she can stay on the case if Wade leaves, which he did. But Trumps lead defense counsel hinted they would pursue appealing the decision.

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, Steve Sadow said in a statement he posted on X.

Shestokas has yet to hear back about any other developments in Lees case, including when a court date might be or whether his case will be heard separately from the other defendants, as Shestokas requested. That will all have to wait while the question of whether Willis can stay on the case remains debated, Shestokas said.

I expect that these other issues about whos going to prosecute  if anybody is going to prosecute the case  is going to be resolved before anything else gets resolved, he said.

Lee continues to preach at Living Word Lutheran Church just off Wolf Road and West 159th Street in Orland Park.

hsanders@chicagotribune.com
Russian state news agency TASS claimed on March 18 that a morning attack on the city of Belgorod injured one person, marking the third consecutive day of reports of attacks against the city.

Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov claimed on March 16 that two people were killed after missiles struck the city. The city was then hit by two attacks on March 17, injuring 11 people, Belgorod Mayor Valentin Demidov claimed.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the attack on March 18 was carried out using an RM-70 multiple rocket launcher at around 8:30 a.m. local time. Air defense units allegedly shot down 10 rockets over Belgorod Oblast.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims of the Russian authorities.

Local Telegram channels shared videos that purportedly showed Belogorod under attack, with audible explosions.

Russia blamed Ukraine for the purported strikes, which took place amid reports of ongoing fighting in Belgorod Oblast between the Russian army and anti-Kremlin militias. Belgorod is around 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Kyiv does not typically comment on reports of attacks within Russian territory.

Russian volunteer fighters from the Siberian Battalion claimed on March 17 to have control over Gorkovsky, a village just over the border with Ukraine, around 55 kilometers (34 miles) southwest of Belgorod.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the militia's claims.

Read also: Putin wins rigged Russian election; Ukrainians in occupied territories vote at gunpoint

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The Russian ambassador to the United States says he plans to complain to American officials about security failings at the embassy in Washington, D.C. on Sunday as voters cast their ballots in the Russian presidential election.

Anatoly Antanov told reporters that traitors were allowed to block the entrance to the Russian embassy and interfere with Russian citizens as they tried to vote, according to RIA Novosti. He added that the Russian diplomatic mission would make a complaint about the matter on Monday and, if necessary, express the most severe protest regarding the issue of ensuring the security of the Russian embassy.

The World Is Laughing at the U.S., Putin Boasts After Election Win

Protesters opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin gathered at the embassy on Sunday carrying Ukrainian flags and anti-war signs. Similar actions were launched at polling stations in Russian cities and other international locations as part of the noon against Putin protest plan backed by the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny before his death last month. Over 2,000 peopleincluding Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, were estimated to have taken part in one demonstration outside the Russian embassy in Berlin.

Speaking after voting closed Sunday, Antonov said hed always respected the U.S. State Departments work protecting embassies, but he cant say that today, TASS quoted him as saying. He alleged that concerns about security had been unacceptably ignored, and that people wearing Ukraine symbols showed up at the embassy along with others who tried to insult diplomats.

But these are such isolated cases, Antonov said. And even to them we constantly said: You are a Russian, you are a citizen of Russia. You have every right to express your constitutional right. Heres your ballot, so to speak, go vote what you think.

Antonov said last week that his embassy had received a great many provocative calls and threats ahead of the vote, and that he was aware of plans for anti-Russian acts.

The Daily Beast has contacted the State Department for comment.

Facing no real opposition, Putin won another six-year term in a landslide with over 87 percent of the vote, according to Russias Central Election Commission. The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him, the White Houses National Security Council spokesperson said of the contest.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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After the presidential "election," Russia may conduct conscription more openly, a representative of Ukraines Defense Intelligence (HUR), Andriy Yusov, said during the national telethon program on March 18.

"After this farce, also known as the election of (Russian dictator Vladimir - ed.) Putin, mobilization activities may be more open, it is true," he said.

Read also: Russia's corpse conscription means Ukraine is always outnumbered but values life  Zelenskyy

Conscription activities in Russia have not stopped, Yusov stated.

"Elections" in Russia were accompanied by numerous incidents at polling stations with attempts to destroy ballots, arson, and explosions.

Read also: Number of mobilized Russians fleeing military units reportedly spikes

Asked whether these were attempts at protest or provocations by the Russian special services, Yusov noted that there are still a large number of people in Russia who are ready to resist the Kremlin regime.

"Someone can set fire to a polling booth or pour brilliant green on it, while others are ready to liberate their homeland from Putin's regime with weapons in their hands as volunteers from the Russian Volunteer Corps, the Freedom of Russia Legion, the Siberian Battalion," the HUR representative said.

Read also: Russia can mobilize 30,000 troops monthly  UAs intell chief

The head of Ukraines Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said earlier that conscription in Russia has not stopped since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is ongoing.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced on Sept. 11 that a massive forced mobilization of the population would begin in Russia and the temporarily occupied territories due to Russia's heavy losses at the front. Its numbers could range from 400,000 to 700,000 people.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a decree to conscript another 130,000 Russian citizens on Sept. 29, 2023.

Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said on Nov. 20 that the Kremlin could launch a total mobilization after the presidential "elections" in March 2024.

British intelligence believes that the high level of desertion demonstrates the poor morale of the Russian army and its unwillingness to fight. This is due to the lack of training and motivation faced by Russian troops along the entire front line.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
From the The Morning Dispatch on The Dispatch

Happy Monday! It is that time of year again: The annual Morning Dispatch March Madness bracket pool is back and better than ever!

To enter, click here (you will need a free ESPN account) and select Join Group. The password is TMD2K24! and your bracket must be submitted by Thursday morning before the first games tip-off. Anyone is invited to participate, but if you want to be eligible for prizesincluding a Lifetime Membership to The Dispatch, a TMD mug, or a gift card to The Dispatchs merch storeyou must a) be an active paying Dispatch member on or before March 21, 2024, and b) fill out this form so we can connect you with your ESPN entry.

Well keep you updated on the leaderboard over the next few weeks. Lets get even more entries than we did last year!

Quick Hits: Todays Top Stories

A So-Called Landslide in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with the media at his campaign headquarters in Moscow on March 18, 2024. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

When it comes to election reporting, we at TMD are usually up quite late, waiting to bring you the most accurate numbers possible in contests potentially decided by razor-thin margins.

We could have written this item on Russias elections weeks ago.

Russian President Vladimir Putins projected reelection victory was never in question, and the contest on Sunday was more performance art than democracy. A protest movementNoon Against Putinsaw long lines of voters at polling stations voicing their opposition to the Russian leaders perpetual grip on power, though it provided little more than a footnote to Putin securing a fifth term.

Initial official results from the three-day process showed Putin securing almost 90 percent of the vote, according to Russias Central Election Commission, with more than 74 percent turnout. Putins victory assures hell lead the nation through at least 2030making the 71-year-old the longest-serving leader of Russia since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Western observers dismissed this weekends results, as Putin has a demonstrated history of cheating. Hes already rigging, of course, the election by utilizing the state monopoly of the media to promote his candidacy, by basically pushing state-owned enterprises and government workers to come out and vote for him, where they would actually be bused into these polling places, Dmitri Alperovitch, founder of the Silverado Policy Accelerator think tank, told TMD.

The sham election was also organized to minimize any chance of competition. Putin ran against three candidates who posed no serious threat to his victory, while other candidatesincluding antiwar candidate Boris Nadezhdinwere barred from running by Russian officials. Usually in Russian elections, theres a few interesting tidbits to glean from the results where therell be candidates that look like opposition candidates that are, in some ways, fig leaves to the opposition to make the elections look real, said Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and the Stuart Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. When Boris Nadezhdin, who was that sort of nominal opposition candidate, started to really gain ground, then the Kremlin nixed his candidacy. So its now clearly just a coronation election. Nadezhdin has continued to say that Putin is leading the country in the wrong direction.

In his victory speech on Sunday, Putin railed against Western criticism. What did you want, for them to applaud us? he asked a crowd at his campaign headquarters. Theyre fighting with us in an armed conflict [] their goal is to contain our development. Of course theyre ready to say anything,

While Russias electoral mirage has not fooled outside observersa White House National Security Council spokesperson called the contest obviously not free nor fairKateryna Stepanenko, a Russia analyst with the Institute for the Study of War, told TMD that whats more remarkable is Putins insistence on the performance of an election. The question of legitimacy is something that Putin has constantly shown that he really cares about, presenting his elections as legitimate to this world and kind of playing this theatrical move, she said. It is clear that theyre not legitimate.

From the psychological perspective, Putin seems to always need to stage these elections in such a way where it seems like through propaganda he has mass public support, she added. And that is because hes trying to show that he cant simply rig the election outrageously without calling into the larger question about his own legitimacy. In effect, Stepanenko argues, his goal is to have Russians think that other Russians support Putin.

The elections supposedly record-setting turnout was also likely inflated. The announced turnout will not be low, that is almost guaranteed, Alperovitch told TMD. Because even if its low in reality, theyre going to make it look like its not. And again, theyre going all out with election promises of everything under the sun for the pensioners, the government workers, all sorts of benefits that have been thrown at the population to try to get them to come out voluntarily. Evidence of voter coercion has also emerged, particularly in Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine that were allowed to participate in the farce.

Much of Putins campaign focused on his war in Ukrainewhich he has increasingly defined as a civilizational war not only against Ukraine, but against the West. Putins messaging is interesting because it could indicate how hes trying to present his presidency in relation to securing public support for the war, Stepanenko said. It would be interesting if Putins rhetoric materializes into something where he can frame his reelection as [evidence of] overwhelming support for a prolonged war in Ukraine.

But Bergmann believes Putins view of the war in Ukraine doesnt necessarily match the view of his people. I dont think the Russian public really buys and has bought that this is sort of an existential conflict for them, he told TMD. The fact that they had to, or felt the need to, eliminate even the token opposition candidate in Nadezhdin shows theres still a degree of paranoia about where they stand with the public, and they were nervous that something would catch fire.

Softening support for a long-term war in Ukraine wasnt the only concern for the Kremlin. Putin publicly addressed the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalnywho died suddenly in an Siberian prison colony last monthfor the first time on Sunday, calling it an unfortunate incident. Even a month after his death, the fear of Navalny and his movement have hung over Putin. A fully confident Kremlin doesnt necessarily feel the need to kill Navalny, said Bergmann. [Hed] already been neutralized, but ahead of the election, I think there was a degree of nervousness about him.

That nervousness was warrantedthough Putins victory was never in question, Navalny was able to inspire an election day protest movement. Before his mysterious death, Navalny urged Russians to protest Putins power grab by showing up to polling stations en masse at noon on Sunday to vote for any candidate other than Putin, physically demonstrating the nations opposition to the fixed elections. If lots and lots of people show up at noon, versus other times, people will know and visibly see that theyre coming out against Putin, said Alperovitch. That can create an atmosphere where people will appreciate that the election is truly rigged, and the hope is that it would cause some protest movements as a result. Thousands of Russians participated in the showing across the continenta tiny fraction compared to the 15,759,224 who allegedly voted for Putin.

Putins continued rule of Russia, on its surface, means little will change for a Western world forced to deal with him. The direction of the relationship with Russia is going to very likely go in only one direction, and thats in a worsening direction, Alperovitch told TMD. So I dont think that from a foreign policy perspective, youre actually going to see much change at all on the Russian side. On the domestic policy front, however, Alperovitch indicated several likely changes. By law, the entire Cabinet gets dismissed automatically once a new president is elected, he said. So both the prime minister and every minister resign, and then some of them may get reappointed again, but you very likely will also see this being used as an opportunity to bring some fresh blood potentially to some of these key positions. Alperovitch pointed to embattled Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as a candidate for replacement.

Bergmann argues that Putins fifth termand his continued bellicose rhetoric against the West and NATOmarks the need for a shift in policy toward Russia. Every new American president since the Cold War has tried to engage Russia, he told TMD. Whats pretty clear is that, if this election is the coronation we think it is, then this is the Russia we have to deal with. And its one that affirms that Russia is an adversary of the United States, and has to be treated as such.

Worth Your Time

Since the events of January 6, 2021, many politicians and media personalities have tried to rewrite historysometimes successfullyto downplay the severity of the violence or obscure the reality of former President Donald Trumps non-response to the violence as it was happening. As longtime Dispatch contributor and former staffer to the select House committee investigating January 6 Thomas Joscelyn wrote in Just Security, this revisionist history isnt accurate. Former President Donald Trump and his loyalists have long claimed that he ordered the National Guard to be ready for deployment on Jan. 6, 2021, Joscelyn wrote. The implication was clear: President Trump did not deserve blame for the violence that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol because he wanted the National Guard to keep the peace. Theres just one problem: The claim is not true. The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol thoroughly investigated this issuequestioning multiple witnesses about it and reviewing countless documents. The committee could not find any evidence to support [former White House Chief of Staff Mark] Meadows claim. Indeed, Trumps Acting Secretary of Defense at the time, Chris Miller, directly refuted it in his testimony under oathexplaining that the president did not issue any such order. In its final report, the committee summarized the testimony of witnesses who claimed that Trump had floated the idea of deploying 10,000 National Guardsmenmainly to protect him and his supporters [emphasis Joscelyns] as they marched together to the U.S. Capitol. And, as the committee explained in the executive summary to its final report, the investigation uncovered no evidence that President Trump gave an order to have 10,000 troops ready for January 6th. More than one year after the committee disbanded, there is still no reason to think Trump ordered the National Guard to be ready on [January] 6, 2021.

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You have to finish it up and do it quickly and get back to the world of peace. We need peace in the world  we need peace in the Middle East, Trump said when asked by MediaBuzz host Howard Kurtz what he would tell Netanyahu about the war in Gaza.

Also Trump: The Democrats are very bad for Israel. Israel sticks with them. I guess Israel is loyal, maybe to a fault, because they stick with these guys. Biden is so bad for Israel.

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In the newsletters: The Dispatch Politics crew covered the mass layoffs at the RNC, Nick explored () what could happen if Democrats actively encouraged likely Trump voters to support the anti-vax RFK Jr., and Chris discussed () the pitfalls of lumping all non-white voters together in political analysis.

On the podcasts: Jonah overcame illness to ruminate on a potential TikTok ban and Chuck Schumers call for new elections in Israel, Victoria discussed the situation at the border with Bishop Mark Seitz on the Dispatch Podcast , and former Trump administration official Dan Negrea and national security strategist Matt Kroenig joined Jamie on the Dispatch Podcast to discuss their book We Win, They Lose.

On the site over the weekend: Sean Keeley reviewed Dune: Part Two, Luis responded to the arguments in Coleman Hughes book The End of Race Politics, and Hannah Anderson encouraged the edifying practice of formally joining a groupwhether its a church choir or a bird watching group.

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A critical US partner in northwest Africa is turning toward Russia amid warnings from the top US commander in the continent that the Russians are trying to take over the entire Sahel region of Africa.

Niger, which has served as a crucial foothold for US counterterrorism operations in the region for nearly a decade, announced Saturday that it was ending the accord that has allowed US military personnel and civilian staff to operate in the country since 2014.

The announcement came days after a tense meeting between Nigers military junta, which seized power in a July 2023 coup, and US diplomatic and military officials including Gen. Michael Langley, commander of US Africa Command, and Celeste Wallander, the assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, defense officials told CNN. In that meeting, the US delegation expressed concern about the escalating Russian military presence in Niger, officials said, and particularly about the future of Air Base 101 in Nigers capital and whether it will be ceded to the Russians, officials said.

The discussion angered the junta leaders, who felt like they were being lectured to, despite the US cutting off much of its military and foreign assistance to Niger late last year following the coup.

When it comes to choosing diplomatic, strategic and military partners, the government of Niger regrets the willingness of the American delegation to deny the sovereign people of Niger the right to choose its partners and the types of partnerships likely to help it to truly fight terrorism, even though the United States of America has unilaterally decided to suspend all cooperation between our two countries, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, a Nigerien military spokesman, said in a statement Saturday, adding that the US delegation had a condescending attitude toward the Nigeriens.

Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed on Monday that the US delegation expressed concern over Nigers potential relationships with Russia as well as with Iran.

We raised our concerns in a direct and frank manner, she said.

The intensifying military cooperation between Russia and Niger is central to the dispute between the US and the Nigerien junta, officials said. Russia and Niger agreed to strengthen their military ties in January, Russias Defense Ministry said at the time.

Still, while US counterterrorism operations and training with the Nigerien military largely paused after the coup, the junta did not ask the US to leave, even after kicking out French troops and cutting remaining ties with the EU in late 2023.

Several of the junta leaders have worked with and been trained by the US as part of the US security cooperation with the country over the years. And the Pentagon has been eager to keep a force presence in the country, with many administration officials believing it is vital to efforts to tackle terrorism in the region and arguing that its feasible even amid the political turmoil there.

Now, however, there is concern among US military officials that with Russias increasing presence in Niger, the Kremlin has established another foothold in the Sahel region and the West is losing its influence, a military source with knowledge of the situation said.

Langley, the AFRICOM commander, told lawmakers this month that the US has been drowned out by Russian disinformation across Africa in previous years, leading to Russias success in stoking a lot of the instability across the Sahel.

He added that both Russia and China want that ground. They want power projection capabilities.  But I think at [an] accelerated pace, the Russian Federation is really trying to take over Central Africa as well as the Sahel.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Saturday that the US remains in touch with the junta, which calls itself the National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland, or CNSP.

We are aware of the statement from the CNSP in Niger, which follows frank discussions at senior levels in Niamey this week about our concerns with the CNSPs trajectory, Miller said in a statement. We are in touch with the CNSP and will provide further updates as warranted.

It is not yet clear whether the military junta in Niger will actually force the US military to leave the country, where US forces have conducted anti-terror operations and trained the Nigerien military since 2014.

If the US were forced to withdraw, counterterrorism efforts across the region could take a hit, officials said. US drone flights out of an air base in Agadez, Niger, have given the US the ability to monitor threats in the Sahel region from a relatively close and stable position, especially as violent terror organizations have carried out a growing number of attacks in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso.

Officials are also concerned that withdrawing the approximately 650 US troops stationed in Niger could leave a vacuum that Islamist militants and Russian mercenaries, including whats left of the Wagner Group, would try to exploit.

Russia has kept its sights on Niger as the US-Nigerien relationship has deteriorated. In December, the Kremlin reopened its embassy in neighboring Burkina Faso, positioning itself closer to the capital of Niger, and it has increased its effort to court Nigers military junta, a senior intelligence official told CNN.

Part of the appeal for Niger is that Russia can offer to sell its own weapons and equipment without the same conditions to respect human rights and abide by international law that the US calls for, the official said. And, for a country looking for an immediate supply of military hardware, Russia is able to sell its weapons much faster than the United States. In return, Russia is profiting off the regions natural resources, another official said, including the gold mines in Niger.

Abdramane, the Nigerien military spokesman, said Saturday that Russia is a partner with which Niger deals on a state-to-state basis, in accordance with military cooperation agreements signed with the previous government, to acquire military equipment necessary to its fight against the terrorists who have claimed thousands of innocent Nigerian victims under the indifferent eye of much of the international community.

The US-Nigerien relationship has gone downhill quickly. Late last year, the US believed the junta government was in a better place, according to the senior intelligence official, and was refocusing on countering the rise of violent extremist organizations in Western Africa. The groups include ISIS-Sahel and Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam Wal-Musliminim, more commonly known as JNIM, a radical Islamist organization operating in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

A reduction in US surveillance missions in the region following the coup in Niger gave ISIS-Sahel and JNIM an opportunity to expand, the official said. But even with cooperation between the US and Niger reduced, the US militarys goal remained the same: to provide support to counter the spread of extremist organizations. Several European countries shared this goal, offering a measure of support to the junta, the official noted.

But with Russia exerting more pressure and the US limited in what it can provide to Niger by law because of the coup designation, the Nigerien government has been cracking down even harder on the remaining Western military presence in the country, the sources said. US operations in the country require stricter Nigerien oversight and approval, even as the Russian presence in the country has grown increasingly visible.

Northwest Africa is getting carved up in real time by half a dozen or more countries, one of the officials said, and the United States is losing its foothold.

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Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has approved the training of the Ukrainian military in his country. In addition, the head of state also gave the green light for the transportation of military aid to Ukraine through the country.

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This was reported by Digi24. It is noted that Klaus Johannis informed the representatives of the parliament about his decision in a letter.

We are talking about 50 Ukrainian military personnel who will learn to use F-16 aircraft at a military base in Romania.

The head of state also said that he had approved the transit of military equipment donated by Finland to Ukraine.

The training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s will take place at a training center in the city of Fetesti, in the county of Ialomica. The information from the President was passed on to the defense committees.

The parliament will vote at the next joint plenary session.

The authorities do not say when the exercises will begin, but according to Digi24 sources, the Ukrainian military should arrive at the Feteshti air base this summer. It is expected that the training of F-16 pilots will end at the end of the year.

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Four people were injured as a result of Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure in Kherson Oblast. Residential buildings, cars, petrol stations, and a car service station were also damaged.

Source: Kherson Oblasts police on Facebook

Quote from police: "Russian aggressors once again targeted civilian infrastructure in the Beryslav and Kherson districts, firing artillery and mortars and deploying tanks, aircraft, and UAVs. Four people were injured as a result of the attacks, including three police officers."

Photo: police

Details: The Russians attacked Kherson, Sadove, Antonivka, Naddniprianske, Poniativka, Kyselivka, Ivanivka, Prydniprovsk, Kizomys, Beryslav, Havrylivka, Lvove, Novovorontsovka and Dudchany.

Six houses and two multi-storey buildings, two cars, a petrol station, and a car service station were damaged.

Photo: police

The Russian army also attacked Lvove with a drone, injuring a 43-year-old man. He suffered blast injuries and gunshot wounds to various parts of his body.

In Beryslav, an FPV-type kamikaze drone damaged a multi-storey building. In Novovorontsovka, a Russian UAV damaged a gas station, and in Antonivka, a car was hit.

Photo: police

The Russians deployed a tank to attack Ivanivka, resulting in the injury of three police officers, all of whom suffered concussions.

From the temporarily occupied left bank of the Dnipro River, the Russians shelled Kherson with artillery. They targeted port infrastructure and residential neighbourhoods. The police documented damage to an auto repair facility in the Dniprovskyi district and a multi-storey building in the Korabel housing complex.

Background: The Russians attacked a neighbourhood in Kherson on the night of 17-18 March, striking a five-storey residential building and setting it alight.

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The Russians attacked a neighbourhood in Kherson on the night of 17-18 March, striking a five-storey residential building and setting it alight.

Source: Department of the State Emergency Service in Kherson Oblast on Facebook; Roman Mrochko, Head of Kherson City Military Administration on Telegram

Quote from SES: "Balconies and rooms in the apartments of the five-storey building caught fire after the projectile hit. Despite the Russians continuing to launch repeated strikes, firefighters managed to quickly extinguish the fire."

Fire

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: 13 firefighters and three fire appliances were involved in extinguishing the fire.

Firefighter extinguishing fire

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Mrochko added that Kherson hromada [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a city, town or village and its adjacent territories  ed.] came under attack by Russia 17 times in the past day.

Damage was recorded in the settlements of Kherson, Antonivka, Sadove and Naddniprianske.

The Russians damaged a utility building, a civilian car, two multi-storey buildings and two private houses. No casualties were recorded.

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Russian strikes against Ukraines Kherson and Kharkiv oblasts wounded six people over the past day, including two medical workers, regional officials reported early on March 18.

Settlements in Kherson and Kharkiv oblasts are subjected to regular Russian strikes due to their proximity to the front line. The northeastern Kharkiv Oblast also borders Russias Belgorod region, making it more vulnerable to Russian attacks.

Russia hit around 15 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast in the past day with various weapons, injuring five people in the cities of Vovchansk and Zolochiv and the villages of Kivsharivka, Buhaivka, and Bilyi Kolodiaz, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Among the injured were two medics aged 26 and 56, according to Syniehubov.

The attacks reportedly damaged a fire station, several houses, two educational facilities, outbuildings, and cars.

Russian forces struck multiple settlements in Kherson Oblast, damaging three apartment buildings, nine houses, port infrastructure, a gas filling station, and a car service enterprise, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, the regional governor.

One person was wounded as a result of Russian attacks on the region, Prokudin said on Telegram.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: 12 Russian oil refineries reportedly hit in recent attacks by Ukraine

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Vladimir Putin was always going to claim his fifth term as president with a landslide, faced with three other candidates all rubber-stamped by the Kremlin.

But when election officials said results gave him more than 87% of the vote, he said Russia's democracy was more transparent than many in the West.

In truth no credible opposition candidate was allowed to stand.

Supporters of dead Putin critic Alexei Navalny did stage symbolic protests.

Their "Noon against Putin" initiative meant that long queues of voters formed at midday in Russian cities including Moscow and St Petersburg and in even greater numbers outside many embassies abroad, but it was never going to have any impact on the result.

Monitoring group OVD-Info said at least 80 Russians were arrested. There was no repeat of the sporadic attacks on some polling stations that happened on Friday.

Western countries lined up to condemn the vote as neither free nor fair.

Germany called it a "pseudo-election" under an authoritarian ruler reliant on censorship, repression and violence.

UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron condemned "the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory".

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said "the Russian dictator is simulating another election".

In the words of Navalny ally Leonid Volkov, savagely beaten with a meat hammer in exile in Lithuania last week: "The percentages drawn for Putin have, of course, not the slightest relation to reality."

Russians had three days to vote and people in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine had even longer, in an attempt to persuade residents to take part.

One election commission official was reported killed in the occupied town of Berdyansk on Sunday and residents spoke of pro-Russian collaborators going from home to home with ballot boxes accompanied by armed soldiers.

Officials said turnout was greater than 74% in the election

But on Russia's carefully controlled state TV channels the result was hailed as a triumph.

"This is an incredible level of support and unity around the figure of Vladimir Putin," said one correspondent excitedly, "and a signal to Western countries".

President Putin was more subdued as he took questions from reporters, but he did hail Russia's presidential campaign as far more advanced than the US, citing Russia's use of online voting, which officials said brought in eight million voters.

Mr Putin had earlier been filmed performing a single keystroke to exercise his democratic right.

"It's transparent and absolutely objective," he suggested, "not like in the US with mail-in voting... you can buy a vote for $10".

The Russian leader made the same false claim about US elections earlier this year but never offered any evidence.

Meanwhile, independent Russian watchdog Golos, which has been branded a foreign agent, said that Russia had never before "seen a presidential campaign that fell so far short of constitutional standards".

Vladimir Putin is now set to stay in power until at least 2030, and has ruled Russia since 2000 - the longest-serving Kremlin leader since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

Golos was barred from observing the vote but reports of irregularities have emerged, as well as pressure on public sector employees to vote either in polling stations or online.

Voters were not able "to form and express their free will, or to establish the true outcome of the vote", it said.

President Putin praised opposition campaigners for encouraging voters to turn out in greater numbers, although he condemned those who spoilt their ballots and said action would be taken against them.

For the first time he referred to Alexei Navalny by name, a month after his most vocal critic died in a penal colony inside the Arctic Circle.

In a remark possibly aimed at rebutting widespread allegations that he had Navalny killed, Mr Putin confirmed reports that he had explored exchanging him for prisoners held in the West, but on the condition that his rival never returned.

"I said I'm for it but, unfortunately, what happened happened. What can you do? That's life."

Yulia Navalnaya described queuing for six hours outside the Russian embassy in Berlin as part of the protest vote campaign. She said she had written her late husband's name on her ballot paper, and praised everyone who turned up, for giving her "hope that everything is not in vain".

Yulia Navalnaya had backed calls for anti-Putin voters to turn up at polling stations at midday

One protest voter in London said she had queued for more than seven hours before casting her ballot.

Activist and lawyer Lyubov Sobol said in Washington DC that the protest votes would not be reflected in the Kremlin's results, "but this solidarity, this symbol, is nonetheless important".

Russia's presidential election was never going to be a level playing field. The Kremlin tightly controls the political system, the media and elections.

Communist Party candidate Nikolai Kharitonov managed little more than 4% of the vote and his fellow candidates even less.

None of the three were serious candidates and Mr Kharitonov even praised the president ahead of the election for "trying to consolidate the nation for victory in all areas".

Millions of Russians will have voted for a fifth Putin presidential term partly because they see no credible alternative.

But that is purely because the Kremlin has removed any possible challenger from the political landscape. Opponents have either been jailed, or they have fled into exile, or they have lost their lives.

For a few short weeks there was a suggestion that an anti-war politician called Boris Nadezhdin might be allowed to stand. But last month he was ruled out by the election commission as increasing numbers of Russians warmed to his message and queued to register their support.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has stated that Russian money in the EU would be better spent on defending Ukraine than rebuilding it.

Source: Sikorski following a meeting of the EU Council in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda with reference to RMF FM

Quote: "We have obtained a political decision, though not a legal one yet, that the interest from the capital [Russian capital frozen by EU countries  ed.] will be used to benefit Ukraine."

"Personally I would like to go further. I believe that the aggressor must pay for the consequences of their aggression. Since we already know that Russia will not receive this money until it pays reparations to Ukraine, it would be better spent on preventing the consequences of the aggression, on the defence of Ukraine, not just its reconstruction," Sikorski stressed.

He also welcomed the EUs decision to allocate an additional 5 billion for military support to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility.

"This means that whatever countries give Ukraine will be refunded, and those who do not provide aid for Ukraine will make contributions [to the European Peace Facility]. So every European country except one [Hungary] will be involved in the scheme," Sikorski explained.

Earlier, it was reported that the European Commission wanted to fast-track the approval of a mechanism allowing the use of income from frozen Russian sovereign assets so that Ukraine could receive the first tranche of 2-3 billion in July.

US President Joe Biden reportedly wants the G7 countries to make progress on plans to use seized Russian assets to benefit Ukraine before their summit in June 2024.

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Russia's March 17 missile attack against Ukraine's southern city of Mykolaiv killed one person and injured nine, including two children, according to the latest update by the regional governor published on March 18.

Russian forces on March 17 hit an infrastructure facility in Mykolaiv with two ballistic missiles, likely of Iskander-M type, according to Governor Vitalii Kim.

Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych earlier said that over 10 multistory buildings and 50 private houses had suffered damages, as well as many cars.

The city's outdoor lighting network and tram tracks were also damaged by the attack, Kim reported on Telegram.

The wounded are reportedly receiving medical assistance.

Kim previously said Russia had carried out the attack from the same place as its previous strike against the major city of Odesa just 150 kilometers westward on March 15, where 21 were killed and more than 70 were wounded.

Russian troops had launched the March 15 strike using Iskander-M ballistic missiles from occupied Crimea, according to Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces.

Over the past few weeks, Russia has ramped up its deadly attacks against civilians, especially in the south of Ukraine.

Read also: After 10 years of war, Krasnohorivka in new danger as Russia advances in the east

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Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles was continuing to fulfil his work duties - Royal Household/Via Reuters

A false statement announcing the death of the King has been circulated in Russia.

The notice, which was purported to have been released by Buckingham Palace, said: The King passed away unexpectedly yesterday afternoon.

It was printed on what appeared to be official headed notepaper featuring the royal crest, and stated that the message, dated Monday March 18, was from Royal Communications.

The statement fuelled global speculation about the Royal family, gaining so much traction that the British embassy in Ukraine had to issue a statement refuting the claims.

We would like to inform you that the news about the death of King Charles III is fake, the embassy wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Buckingham Palace was also dragged into the situation, telling Tass, the Russian news agency: We are pleased to confirm that the King continues to fulfil his work duties and attend to private affairs.

The false statement was published on Telegram and then picked up by media channels

The false statement was published by Baza and Mash, two popular Russian Telegram channels, before being picked up by Russian media outlets including Gazeta.Ru, a news website based in Moscow.

Sputnik, the Russian news wire, reported: King Charles III of Great Britain has died at the age of 75, according to media reports. There is no information about this on the Royal family website or in the British media.

Social media posts that circulated the stories were accompanied by images purporting to show that the Union flag at Buckingham Palace was flying at half-mast.

The Russian news stories were later updated when the rumours were denied. It was unclear where the fake statement had originated, with some claiming that Vladimir Putins propaganda machine was responsible.

It came hot on the heels of a social media frenzy whipped up by false rumours that the BBC was awaiting a significant royal announcement.

Such was the level of engagement that #royalannouncement was trending on X on Monday for the third consecutive day, while Forbes, the US publication, reported claims that the BBC was on alert for an unspecified major announcement from the Royal family.

The conspiracy theories have been fuelled by the Princess of Waless three-month absence from the public eye as she recovers from abdominal surgery.

The withdrawal of an official photograph of the Princess and her three children by several major international news agencies when it emerged that it had been manipulated only added fuel to the fire.

The Princess was forced to admit that she had edited the image and apologised for any confusion caused. Since then, interest in her whereabouts has only increased, with The Sun reporting on its front page that she had been spotted at a Windsor farm shop.

Kensington Palace continues to insist that the Princess continues to recover from surgery and hopes to return to public duties after Easter.

The King, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in January, continues his work behind the scenes, avoiding large public groups on medical advice as he undergoes treatment.

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King Charles III is still very much alive and kicking, according to Buckingham Palace, which on Monday was forced to respond to a report to the contrary.

The false alarm that the 75-year-old monarch had died unexpectedly on St. Patricks Day went viral after a phony palace announcement was circulated by Russian media outlets.

The British embassy in Ukraine quickly denied the proliferating rumors, tweeting that they were fake.

The palace jumped into the fray soon after, telling the Russian news agency Tass that it was pleased to confirm that the King continues to [fulfill] his work duties and attend to private affairs.

The origin of the false death report appeared to be a doctored announcement released under the palaces official letterhead and dated March 18, though its provenance was not immediately clear.

The bogus press release was spread by two popular Russian Telegram channels, with the flames being fanned by larger outlets like business newspaper Vedomosti, news site Gazeta.Ru, and state-owned agency Sputnik.

The British monarch announced last month that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed variety of cancer, sparking health concerns as he remains out of the spotlight.

Soon after the announcement, however, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the ailment had been caught early, while suggesting that Charles prognosis is good.

U.K. press reported over the weekend that King Charles aims to attend the countrys annual Trooping the Colour festivities in June, an event intended to celebrate his birthday.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Russian woman kidnapped near U.S. border in Mexico is freed

A Russian woman who was kidnapped in northeastern Mexico has been released, Russian embassy and Tamaulipas state officials said Sunday.

The woman, whose identity has not been revealed, was released without paying the ransom kidnappers sought and was taken to a police station in Reynosa, Tamaulipas state, near the U.S. border, diplomats said on social media.

She was rescued "in good health" late Saturday by a state anti-kidnapping unit, police said. They provided no details on how the rescue took place, who the captors were and whether they had been arrested or killed.

The woman was believed to have been abducted while traveling with Mexican acquaintances between Monterrey, in Nuevo Leon state, and Reynosa.

In March last year, people believed to be with a criminal group known as the Gulf Cartel kidnapped four Americans in Tamaulipas in an incident that left two of them dead.

Americans Zindell Brown and Shaeed Woodard died in the attack; Eric Williams and Latavia McGee survived. A Mexican woman, Areli Pablo Servando, 33, was also killed, apparently by a stray bullet.

A Mexican army soldier guards the Tamaulipas State Prosecutor's headquarters in Matamoros, Mexico, Wednesday, March 8, 2023. / Credit: STR / AP

The Gulf drug cartel turned over five men to police soon after the abduction. A letter claiming to be from the Scorpions faction of the Gulf cartel condemned the violence and said the gang had turned over to authorities its own members who were responsible.

In January, Mexican marines detained one of the top leaders of the Gulf cartel.

Tamaulipas is among the states hardest-hit by violence linked to organized crime such as drug trafficking and kidnapping. The state is also a busy route for undocumented migrants hoping to cross into the United States.

Last month, Mexican troops on patrol killed 12 gunmen in a clash near the U.S. border in Tamaulipas.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jim Gaffigan raises a glass to bourbon

"Jeopardy!" host Ken Jennings

Officers save woman from burning building
The Russian army shelled three hromadas in Nikopol district on 18 March and targeted Nikopol itself with kamikaze drones. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "The aggressor shelled Nikopol districts Myrove, Chervonohryhorivka and Marhanets hromadas three times today with heavy artillery. In addition, three kamikaze drones targeted Nikopol itself.

A petrol station was damaged. There was a fire, which firefighters extinguished. An infrastructure facility was damaged."

Photo: Lysak on Telegram

Details: Eleven houses, two outbuildings and two cars were also damaged, in addition to about sixty solar panels, power lines, and a gas pipeline.

Photo: Lysak on Telegram

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The Russian occupation army continues to intensify its attacks in eastern Ukraine in an attempt to break through the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defenses. Over the past day alone, 72 combat engagements took place on the frontline.

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The most active fighting continues in the Novopavlivka and Avdiivka sectors. This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of the morning of March 18.

Over the past day, Russian troops launched 14 missile and 75 air strikes, fired 95 MLRS at Ukrainian troops' positions and populated areas. As a result of Russian terrorist attacks, civilians were killed and wounded.

On March 17, Russian occupants also attacked Ukraine using 22 Shahed drones. The Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 17 of these attack drones.

The settlements of Lukashivka in Chernihiv region; Velyka Pysarivka, Popivka, Oleksandrivka, Luhivka in Sumy region and the regional center; Vovchansk, Hoptivka, Basove in Kharkiv region; Netaylove, Novoselivka Persha, Shakhtarske, Makarivka, Staromayorske in Donetsk region; and Robotyne in Zaporizhzhia region were hit by air strikes. About 140 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions came under artillery fire.

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The situation in the Volyn and Polissya sectors remains unchanged.

On the Siversky and Slobozhansky directions, the enemy maintains military presence in the border areas, conducts sabotage activities to prevent the deployment of our troops to threatened areas, and increases the density of minefields along the state border in Belgorod region.

In the Kupyansk sector, the enemy made two unsuccessful assaults on the positions of the Defense Forces near the town of Synkivka in Kharkiv region.

In the Lyman sector, our troops repelled 3 enemy attacks near Rozdolivka, Donetsk region, where the enemy tried to break through the defense of our troops.

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In the Bakhmut sector, our defenders repelled 8 enemy attacks in the vicinity of Ivanivske and Klishchiyivka, Donetsk region.

In the Avdiivka sector, Ukrainian troops repelled 13 enemy attacks in the areas of Berdychi, Tonenke, Pervomaiske, Orlivka, Oleksandropil and Nevelske in Donetsk region.

In the Novopavlivka sector, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka and Pobeda in Donetsk region, where the enemy, with the support of aviation, tried to break through the defense of our troops 36 times.

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In the Orikhivsk sector, the enemy attacked the positions of our defenders 7 times near Robotyne and northwest of Verbove in Zaporizhzhia region.

In the Kherson sector, the enemy does not abandon its intention to drive our units from the footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro River. Three assaults on Ukrainian troops' positions were made yesterday.

At the same time, our soldiers continue to actively inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupation forces, depleting the enemy along the entire front line.

The aviation of the Defense Forces struck 6 areas of concentration of enemy personnel, weapons and military equipment. Missile units struck 3 areas of enemy concentration.

ADVERTISIMENT

As a reminder, there were explosions in Mykolaiv on March 17. At that time, an air alert was declared for a number of regions of Ukraine due to the threat of enemy use of ballistic weapons. At least 9 people were injured and one person died.

Earlier it was reported that on the night of March 18, the Russian occupation forces launched a cynical missile attack on a fire station in Kharkiv region. A rescuer was injured as a result of the war criminals' actions.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Russians launched a missile strike on a fire station in Kharkiv Oblast on the night of 17-18 March, injuring a firefighter.

Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine on Telegram

Details: The fire station building was damaged (windows, doors and gates were smashed and the roof and facade were damaged) as a result of the strike. Additionally, four fire and rescue vehicles were damaged.

: 

Broken windows

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

At the time of the incident, there were 11 firefighters on duty at the fire station, one of whom suffered a hand injury. This was the driver from the local fire and rescue unit.

: 

Damaged building

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Medical assistance was provided to him at the scene.

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Russian forces targeted civilian infrastructure of Konotop, Sumy Oblast, as well as several settlements in Sumy district, on Monday 18 March; the aftermath of the attack is being established.

Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration on Telegram; Ukraines Air Force

Details: At 15:24, the Air Force reported that Russian tactical aircraft were flying along the northern border of Ukraine and launching guided aerial bombs on Sumy.

At 15:29, a missile was reported to be heading towards Konotop.

The Sumy Oblast Military Administration stated that no one was killed in the Russian strikes, based on preliminary information. In Konotop, facilities of a utility company have been damaged. All state services are working on the site.

Quote: "The aftermath of the aggressor state's attack is being confirmed.

Take care of yourself, don't ignore air-raid warnings, and stay in shelters."

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ROME (Reuters) - Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini distanced himself on Monday from Western leaders' critical response to Vladimir Putin's landslide victory in Russia's presidential election, saying the voters' verdict must be accepted.

Putin, who has already led Russia for nearly a quarter of a century, won the three-day election that ended on Sunday with a record post-Soviet landslide, extending his rule by a further six years.

The United States and Europe said the elections were neither free nor fair as Putin has clamped down on media imprisoned opponents and prevented others from running against him.

But Salvini, who is leader of Italy's far-right League party and was a staunch ally of Putin before Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, said the outcome must be accepted because "when people vote they are always right".

"They (Russians) voted and we acknowledge that, hoping that 2024 will be the year of peace," he told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Milan.

Salvini's remarks highlight internal tensions within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's coalition government.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, leader of the centrist Forza Italia party and a deputy prime minister alongside Salvini, said on Sunday that Russia's presidential election was "neither free nor fair".

Asked about Salvini's remarks on Monday, Tajani said: "Italy's foreign policy stance is that of the foreign minister."

Meloni herself has yet to comment on the Russian vote but has voiced robust support from Italy to Ukraine during its two-year struggle to push back the invading Russian forces.

Last month Salvini drew criticism in Italy over his response to the death of Putin's most prominent opponent Alexei Navalny in a remote Arctic penal colony.

Even as most Western governments blamed Moscow for causing Navalny's death - an accusation rejected by the Kremlin - Salvini said that judgment should be withheld until "Russian doctors and judges" establish the truth.

The League is polling below 9% ahead of European Parliament elections in June, a far cry from the more than 30% it enjoyed five years ago.

Analysts say that in an effort to rekindle support, Salvini has moved further to the right, but the shift has not yet swung the polls his way.

(Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni, editing by Gavin Jones and Gareth Jones)
Amnesty International sheds light on Russia's severe restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, media operations, and educational curriculum during its decade-long occupation of Crimea in a report on March 18, on the tenth anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea.



Russia sought to legitimize its occupation of Crimea by suppressing non-Russian identities, notably through the imposition of its own school curriculum, Amnesty International said. This move resulted in indoctrination and intimidation of dissenting teachers and students. The occupiers illegally enacted laws that curtailed freedoms of thought, assembly, cultural expression, and religious practices.



Read also: Russians using relatives of Ukrainian POWs to split society, call to protest, spark discontent  ISW

For years, we have been sounding the alarm about Russia's human rights abuses in Crimea, said Patrick Thompson, Amnesty International's Ukraine researcher.

A decade has passed, and we can summarize the ramifications on the peninsula, including Russia's endeavors to stifle non-Russian national identities, notably Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar cultures. It is also worrying that Russia seems to be taking such methods as a blueprint for other occupied Ukrainian territories.

Russia severely restricted freedom of religion and belief in Crimea, prohibiting prayers, sermons, and the distribution of religious materials outside of designated areas or without official authorization, the article said.

The Muslim population, predominantly Crimean Tatars, faced targeted harassment by Russian security forces, including mosque raids and intrusive passport checks.

More than 100 Crimean Muslims, both men and women, have been prosecuted on unsubstantiated charges of terrorism and sentenced to prison terms of up to 24 years, which they are serving in Russia, the report said.

Read also: Russia detains Crimean Tatar activist in Crimea

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) refused to re-register under Russian law after 2018, Amnesty International said. Several of its priests resisted obtaining Russian passports and were forced to leave Crimea. In the first year of the occupation, the UOC lost 38 of its 46 parishes, and by 2024  all of them. The de facto authorities unlawfully expelled the church from the cathedral in Simferopol in May 2023.

Amnesty International's findings reveal a crackdown on independent media and journalists by local occupation authorities. Ukrainian-language TV and radio stations were replaced by Russian media after the annexation, and all media outlets were forced to re-register under Russian legislation. Crimean Tatar-language media faced similar persecution, leading to their expulsion from Crimea. Access to online media from Crimea was illegally blocked.

Russia must immediately cease all violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws in Crimea and other occupied territories of Ukraine, Amnesty International said.

Those accountable for all violations of international law must face justice through fair trials, while victims and their families must be empowered to fully access their rights to truth, justice, and reparations.



Read also: Ukrainian activist shows shocking photo of Azovstal defender sentenced to 29 years in Russian prison

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
(FOX40.COM)  The Sacramento State Police Department is taking advantage of the absence of students on campus during Spring Break to hold a full-scale mutual aid and active shooter response training.

From 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, campus police along with other agencies will be carrying out training scenarios in the Harper Alumni Center, Benicia Hall, Mariposa Hall, Capistrano Hall, Tschannen Science Complex, Parking Lot 8 and Parking Structure 3.

Northern California deputies take down illegal marijuana operation; seize nearly 1,000 plants

The goal is to better prepare Sacramento State police and other emergency personnel to respond to large-scale critical events that could threaten the campus community, the police department wrote in a news release.

In their news release, campus police acknowledged that these types of training scenarios can be stress-inducing for those in the area and suggested that those affected reach out to campus resources.

On-campus resources include the Student Health and Counseling Services by calling 916-278-6461 and employees may use the Employee Assistance Program.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Sadiq Khan was joined by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for Mr Khan's launch event in Westminster

London mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged to double council home building if re-elected as he launched his mayoral campaign.

In his last two terms Labour mayor Mr Khan reached a government target of starting more than 116,000 affordable homes, but has only completed 65,000.

City Hall Conservatives said he failed to build enough affordable homes despite record investment.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer joined the launch event in Westminster.

At the event, held at a community centre, Mr Khan said City Hall data showed 23,000 council homes - those at between a third and half of market rents - had been started, while 6,200 were completed between 2018 and 2023.

He said, if re-elected, he would double this figure and commit to completing the building of 40,000 council homes by the end of the decade - although a third term would only run until 2028.

Sir Keir did not specifically promise more investment for the capital but he said re-electing Mr Khan would be the first step in getting a Labour mayor and prime minister combination, which could "transform" London.

He praised Mr Khan for "dedicating himself to public service and making a difference to our communities".

Sir Keir said a combination of a Labour government and London mayor could "transform" the capital

Mr Khan said he could "go even further" with plans if there was a new Labour government.

"A Labour government would be transformative, propelling us forwards and helping to accelerate delivery of the homes Londoners desperately need and deserve," he said.

As part of his mayoral campaign Mr Khan is also expected to highlight his other achievements so far, including a freeze on Transport for London pay-as-you-go fares and providing free school lunches to Year 3 to 6 primary school pupils, and the controversial expansion of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (Ulez) to cover the whole of London.

'Not listening'

City Hall Conservatives said Mr Khan had not delivered enough homes so far and was set to build fewer council homes in future.

Conservative London mayoral candidate Susan Hall said Mr Khan was "trying to pull the wool over people's eyes, by pledging a target that mostly consists of existing homes or those already started".

"He is not listening to Londoners, who are facing soaring rents because he is not building enough new homes," she added.

Ms Hall said she would restart the London Plan as mayor and "build more affordable family homes".

Mr Khan said he could "go even further" with plans if there was a new Labour government

The government has provided 4.8bn for 27,000 affordable homes to be built by 2026 - but according to official estimates, London needs 30,000 every year.

A report by the London Assembly last November suggested home-building in the capital had dropped off, with the latest figures showing 700 affordable homes were started in the first half of last year.

The London Assembly report says the mayor is forecast to build 4,000 new social rent homes a year, compared with 7,500 a year currently.

Green Party mayoral candidate Zoe Garbett said the capital was "now well beyond a housing crisis".

"A Green mayor would go much further not just focusing on building new homes, but also acquiring more affordable housing on the open market using the powers and funding already available from government," she said.

"This means we'll get the homes we need, faster. I also have a plan to tackle the poor quality of many homes across the London."

Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Rob Blackie said he would greatly increase the amount of all housing built.

"Children are stuck in temporary accommodation for years on end, tenants often have terrible housing and it's increasingly impossible to buy property without help from family," he said.

"We have to build far more private and social housing, so that we can get rents down."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk
On March 17, unidentified individuals launched a drone at a military unit in the pro-Russian separatist so-called republic of Transnistria. The incident, during which a helicopter burned down and no one was injured, occurred against the backdrop of the Kremlin's ongoing hybrid operation aimed at destabilizing Moldova from within.

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The aggressor country Russia and its proxies in the "TMR" have already hinted that they may blame Ukraine. This was pointed out by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The day before, the "Transnistrian" media claimed that a single drone had hit a helicopter on the territory of an unidentified military unit in Tiraspol. They published a video of the "attack" and claimed that the UAV was flying from the Odesa region of Ukraine.

"At the time of writing, neither the 'Transnistrian' nor Russian authorities have accused Ukrainian forces of carrying out the attack, but they may do so in the future," ISW noted.

The former head of the so-called Transnistrian "Supreme Council" Alexander Shcherba said that the strike had "Ukrainian fingerprints" and that Ukraine was the "main beneficiary" of the attack.

ADVERTISIMENT

However, the official Moldovan reintegration bureau stated that the burned helicopter had not flown for many years. They noted that the attack was deliberately aimed at sowing fear and panic in "Transnistria," implying that it was part of an information operation against Moldova. Although the ministry did not directly state this and did not accuse "Transnistrian" or pro-Russian forces of carrying out the strike.

Moldovan authorities said they were in contact with the Ukrainian government. A representative of the Main Military Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Andriy Yusov, called the situation a Russian provocation. The Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation accused Russia of launching the strike to manipulate the information space.

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The ISW noted that it could not independently verify the details of the single drone strike in Transnistria or identify the perpetrators, but called it unlikely that Ukrainian forces had carried out the attack. In particular, given the limited means used in the "attack" and the small target.

Ukrainian officials have already said that unrecognized Transnistria does not pose a military threat to Ukraine. However, the authorities of the separatist so-called republic have just recently requested unspecified "protection" from Russia, allegedly from Moldova.

"Therefore, Russia or its affiliated entities are likely to be the beneficiaries of this provocation to facilitate the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to create information conditions to justify various Russian hybrid operations aimed at destabilizing Moldova, as ISW has warned in detail," the analysts concluded.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, the head of the Moldovan autonomous region of Gagauzia, Evgenia Gutsul, against whom a criminal case has been opened in the country, met with dictator Putin and deputy head of his administration Sergey Kiriyenko in Sochi. Against this backdrop, experts are convinced that the Kremlin wants to use Gagauzia and Transnistria to justify hybrid operations aimed at destabilizing and further polarizing Moldova.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A drone view of Dune 7 and a desert in the background in Walvis Bay

A drone view of Dune 7 and a desert in the background in Walvis Bay

By Nyasha Nyaungwa

SWAKOPMUND, Namibia (Reuters) - Set against miles of mesmerizing sand dunes, Namibia's seaside resort town of Swakopmund is seeing a boom in sandboarding, buoyed by a near-doubling of the numbers of cruise liners docking at nearby Walvis Bay last year.

Lying between the 80,000 square km (31,000 square mile) Namib desert and the sea, Swakopmund is drawing tourists back, three years after lockdown brought Namibia's visitor numbers - previously around a million a year - to a standstill.

Many of them are tempted by the thrill of this extreme sport, which involves sliding down sand dunes standing up or lying down on a board at speeds of up to 80 km (50 miles) an hour.

"It is one of the best things to do around here," said Aylin Yazan, a media professional from London on her first trip to Namibia.

Walvis Bay is also seeing a boom in traffic from shippers diverting their cargoes away from the insecurity on the Red Sea and chronic congestion at ports in neighbouring South Africa.

For sandboarding guide Devon Waters, 28, a longtime resident of Swakopmund, which lies 360 km (223 miles) northwest of Windhoek, the sport offered an escape from a life on the streets, where drugs and crime were a constant temptation.

"(Sandboarding) changed me a lot. It keeps me off the streets because we work here every day," Waters, who has been a guide for eight years, told Reuters.

"It puts bread on the table."

(Editing by Tim Cocks and William Maclean)
COLEMAN COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A Santa Anna man was killed in a wreck overnight Friday just outside of town.

According to a crash report from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), one driver in a Ford pickup truck was traveling west along US 67 just about four miles east of Santa Anna when they collided with a Dodge pickup truck.

The driver in the Dodge pickup truck turned onto the highway and was hit from behind by the Ford pickup, according Texas DPS. This crash was recorded at midnight Saturday, March 16.

Merkel police respond to 7 crashes in 24 hours, one fatality

Authorities said both drivers were taken to a hospital for their injuries. A 19-year-old driving the Ford pickup sustained non-incapacitating injuries.

The driver of the Dodge pickup was identified as Daniel Siller Junior, 57, of Santa Anna. He was treated at a hospital and pronounced dead just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

No further information has been released. A preliminary crash report will be available for purchase online in 10 days.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Father and son who worked for Russian special services and assisted them in preparing missile strikes on the Ukrainian capital were uncovered in Kyiv Oblast, the SBU reported on March 18.



Reportedly, "agents" leaked coordinates of industrial workshops where Ukrainian drones were manufactured, as well as information about the bases of the Armed Forces, including the Special Operations Forces.

In addition, the enemy agents performed more specific tasks, including searching for the remains of the occupiers killed during the battles for Kyiv, collecting fragments of their bodies in containers, then taking them to forest plantations and burying them, sending their georeferenced photo reports to Russian overseers.

Read also: SBU dismantles FSB-run clerical spy ring

Read also: FSB interrogates and recruits Ukrainians in unrecognized Transnistria  NRC

Read also: FSB informant, who guided Russian S-300 at residential buildings in Kramatorsk, is brought to justice

"The detainees had previously served in police," SBU said.



"After they were fired, they were remotely recruited by an FSB officer who found them by their anti-Ukrainian comments on YouTube. In the initial stages of cooperation with the occupiers, the defendant's son even conducted online training in tactical medicine for the militants of the Russian group Akhmat."

"Traitors received a monetary reward for completed tasks," SBU added.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Human Rights Council sits at the UN's Palais des Nations headquarters in Geneva (Fabrice COFFRINI)

Jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi on Monday called on countries to increase pressure on Tehran over its "egregious" human rights abuses.

Mohammadi, 51, won the 2023 award for her campaign for human rights in Iran which has seen her spend much of the last two decades in and out of prison.

"The people of Iran are enduring systematic, widespread and institutionalised human rights violations," she told a UN Human Rights Council session on Iran, in a message read out on her behalf.

"With the recent surge in protests and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, repression has escalated targeting not only political dissidents but also women, religious minorities and ethnic groups," she said.

"The UN and human rights organisations worldwide must exert systematic and comprehensive pressure on the Islamic republic, holding it accountable for its egregious violations of human rights."

Mohammadi is detained in Tehran's Evin prison and her message was read out by the non-governmental organisation Together Against the Death Penalty.

- Executions spike -

The Nobel laureate urged the council to renew the mandate of Javaid Rehman, the council's special rapporteur on rights in Iran, and also of an independent international fact-finding mission investigating the deadly crackdown on protests that erupted in 2022.

Both mandates are due to end next month. Tehran does not engage with either.

"I remain very concerned at the ongoing executions and spike in death penalty sentences observed," Rehman said as he presented his latest report to the rights council.

"At least 834 people were executed in 2023 -- a 43-percent increase compared to 2022."

In jail, Mohammadi, "suffers from severe health issues, including serious heart and lung conditions, placing her health at great risk", he added.

Responding to Rehman, Tehran's representative Somayeh Karimdoost said the report was "not factual nor is it professional", let alone fair or reflective of Iran's "constant progress in promotion and protection of human rights".

Iran was rocked by widespread demonstrations sparked by the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who had been arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress rule for women based on Islamic sharia law.

In its report on the crackdown, the fact-finding mission said many of the violations uncovered "amount to crimes against humanity -- specifically those of murder, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution, enforced disappearance and other inhumane acts".

The mission's chair Sara Hossain told a press conference that Tehran had failed to recognise the protests and had also tried to "silence all those who are still seeking justice".

- 'Intimidate, abuse, imprison'

Kazem Gharibabadi, head of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, said the mission had a "glaring lack of independence and impartiality", and sought to "obfuscate and distort the realities".

A long line of diplomats took the floor to decry events in Iran.

"Sixteen of the 24 women executed worldwide in 2022 were executed in Iran," noted France's ambassador Jerome Bonnafont.

US ambassador Michele Taylor said Iran continued to "intimidate, abuse and imprison" rights activists, journalists, lawyers, religious minorities, cultural figures and political dissidents.

Representatives of countries including Russia, China, and North Korea came to Tehran's defence.

As the session went ahead, about 50 people demonstrated outside the UN building, calling on the organisation to act against Iran.

apo-rjm/nl
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin on his "re-election" as president of the Russian Federation, as Berlin considers last weekends presidential elections in Russia neither free nor fair.

Source: German newspaper Tagesschau, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Commenting on the "elections" in Russia, Deputy Government Spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann noted that the chancellor had not congratulated Putin.

"These were neither democratic nor fair elections. Russia... is now a dictatorship and is ruled by Vladimir Putin in an authoritarian manner," she stressed.

Background:

Earlier, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock indicated that Russians had no real choice during last weekend's presidential vote.

The German Foreign Ministry had previously stated that the sham elections in Russia were neither free nor fair, and their result was no surprise to anyone.

In addition, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced that he would not congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin on his "re-election".

The European Union has criticised the "presidential elections" in Russia as being held with numerous restrictions, without the participation of any real opposition, and with voting in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

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The same strategy that combats racial intolerance among K-12 students also produces schools where children are less likely to be bullied or feel alone, research has shown.

The secret lies in immersing students in racially and ethnically diverse groups during classroom and extracurricular activities, offering them daily opportunities to learn about and grow to understand each other, said UC Davis researcher Adrienne Nishina.

Having cross-race and cross-ethnic friends may  make students of all racial or ethnic backgrounds feel like they belong at their school, Nishina said. We know that having a strong sense of belonging is related to a whole host of positive outcomes beyond positive attitudes towards school  such as better mental health and well-being.

Much of the work of helping learners know and understand each other falls to teachers, but school districts have not consistently invested in their training and have created structures that hinder their ability to do this critical work, said veteran educator Darryl White Sr.

When you build community, you build it in a way that kids like each other, kids experience each other, kids rely on each other, he said. When the kids are coming out of those kinds of environments, they rarely ever have problems with each other because there are systems in the classroom in which they can resolve their differences.

This type of racial and ethnic socialization began at many U.S. schools in the 1970s, White said, but most U.S. public schools began as segregated institutions and seem to just naturally find ways to try and separate white children from Black children.

There really needs to be someone near the top of each districts hierarchy  an assistant or deputy superintendent  charged with showing how a diverse community has benefited all stakeholders, curating training for faculty, setting goals for student engagement and advocating for continuous improvement, said White, who chairs the Sacramento Black Parallel School Board and does consulting with schools on cultural proficiency.

Sacramento-area schools have reported more racist graffiti and hate speech in the last five years than White has seen in some time, and he linked the growing number to a lack of continued focus on cultural competency in schools.

Researcher says race talks often viewed as scary

The 1980s brought a very visible example of how schools found a way to restore segregation, White and Nishina said, each separately pointing to academic tracking such as gifted and talented education, or GATE, programs and advanced placement courses.

These programs were billed as a way to boost high-achievers odds of college success and typically used standardized test scores or teacher recommendations to determine which students could gain entry, White said.

Research, however, has revealed that teachers didnt advocate for Black girls in these enrichment programs, even though their transcripts rivaled those of their White peers. Federal data also show that schools serving mostly Black and Latino students have fewer seats in their GATE- and AP-track courses, and far too many schools do not offer college-track programs at all.

Consequently, college-track courses often end up with disproportionately low numbers of Hispanic and Black students, the data show.

These classes can be very lonely places for African American students who are sometimes treated as though they dont belong, White said.

Hes had several complain to him that white students, oblivious of their prejudices, push the envelope with jokes, occasionally use racial slurs and make courses that should be intellectually stimulating exhausting instead.

Teachers are often the adults in the room observing such racially charged exchanges, and they can really help to defuse those situations, said behavioral scientist Camilla Griffiths. As a graduate student, she said, she observed how a middle school teacher in San Francisco skillfully handled an incident in his classroom.

A young boy kept touching the hair of a Black girl, even after the teacher had told him several times to stop, Griffiths said. Rather than punishing the boy, the instructor paused the lesson for 5-10 minutes and had several Black girls in the class talk about how they felt when people touched their hair without permission and what it meant to them.

We really make these conversations into bogeymen that feel really scary and really big and complicated, Griffiths said, but this instructor quickly facilitated a conversation and then checked in with the boy whod done it to ensure he understood why hed been asked to stop.

Academic tracking leads to segregation, educators say

Its difficult, though, to work on building community across racial or ethnic divides when you dont have a diverse representation of students in AP or GATE classes, White said.

Tracking visibly distinguishes between groups of students, indirectly highlighting their differences, Nishina said, and that reinforces stereotypes that kids may have developed over their short lifetimes.

In Seattle, Culver City and other communities around the country, educators have begun reshaping their advance placement programs in recent years with the aim of ensuring that students of color and socioeconomically disadvantaged students get equal access.

In fall 2022, New York eliminated its gifted and talented program for elementary school students, which had spots for only 2,500 children, replacing it with an accelerated instruction program open to all students.

The changes have not come without protests from students who liked the programs and their parents who have said school officials are sacrificing rigor to promote equity.

But Nishina said: Decreasing or eliminating tracks seems to benefit those students who would have been diverted into lower tracks, while not academically holding back students who would have been in the more accelerated tracks.

At the same time, she said, more diverse schools and classrooms tend to have students who feel less lonely, safe in school, and less bullied than students in less diverse schools. This finding holds for all students across different racial and ethnic backgrounds equally well.

When students engage in interactions across racial and ethnic divides, they do better in school and they are generally more engaged, said Nishina, a professor of human development and family studies.

Parents support teachers talking about race, surveys show

Do parents mind teachers talking about race? In a small research sample that Griffiths did, she found Black and white parents would support it.

Griffiths works at Stanford SPARQs where she and other researchers partner with industry leaders and change makers to combat bias, reduce disparities and drive culture change. She has conducted hundreds of surveys to gauge the sentiments of teachers and parents on a variety of issues related to race.

Children begin to notice racial differences early in life, even before they turn a year old, Griffiths said, and by the time they reach their preschool years, they typically begin noticing such things as differences in peoples homes and attaching those differences to the race of the people who live there.

That process  is very natural for any human brain to try to do, which is to try to come up with explanations for why something in the world is the way that it is, Griffiths said, and that process is where a conversation, an honest conversation, can be really helpful to interrupt a potentially problematic explanation from developing in a childs mind.

Studies show White parents rarely discuss race or racism with their children, Griffiths said, so oftentimes, classroom readings or discussions are the first time that white children gain insight into things like socioeconomic differences they have observed.

Children may begin to believe that something is inherently wrong with a group of people as opposed to coming to understand that racial or ethnic differences could result from inequitable social policies, systematic disenfranchisement, segregation or whatever it may be, Griffiths said.

While some people have expressed concerns that school lessons and conversations make children feel bad about themselves, Griffiths said, that belief hasnt been borne out by research. Classroom lessons actually give kids scaffolding, she said, to process things that theyre noticing in the world.

You cant shield kids from absorbing that information, Griffiths said.

Educator: Racially charged incidents point to problem

White said hes been dismayed by the number of racially charged incidents at Sacramento-area schools in recent years. Among them:

 Early this year, two White fans repeatedly used a racial slur and made monkey gestures to ridicule a Black wrestler at a Roseville High School match.

 In December, a Korematsu Elementary School staff member found a racial slur painted on the wall outside a Black teachers classroom.

 In 2022, Elysse Versher resigned her position as assistant vice principal at Sacramentos West Campus High School. Versher said her students had targeted her with racist graffiti and violent threats and district officials had not protected her. She is suing the Sacramento City Unified School District.

These are tell-tale signs that schools arent doing work critical to the growth of students of all races, said White. Early in his career, he trained and supported San Diego teachers in building community among diverse groups of students and educating the kids about why differences exist.

That program petered out after the district had met provisions of a lawsuit settlement, White said, but school districts should consistently invest in training teachers on age-appropriate ways to expand students cultural competency.

Griffiths, who does a lot of research on teachers, said she also sees a need for increased training, and she praised books such as Start Where You Are, But Dont Stay There: Understanding Diversity, Opportunity Gaps and Teaching in Todays Classrooms by Vanderbilt Universitys H. Richard Milner IV for showing teachers how to engage in what Milner calls race talk.

Teachers feel a lot of pressure today when they offer these lessons or have these conversations, Griffiths said, because they dont know how parents will react to it or whether administrators will back them if theres a complaint.

In 2021, Sacramento teacher Katherine Sanders sparked an uproar when she used a racial slur as part of a class discussion on the power of words. Sanders, who is white, apologized two days later to her middle school students, but some would not accept it.

Ultimately, she resigned from Kit Carson International Academy.

White said he wished that the Black Parallel School Board had a program that offered a race relations training institute or a race relations counselor to work with teachers on specific issues and hopefully return them to the classroom.

SCUSD beefs up teacher training in past 2 years

Over the past two years, the Sacramento City Unified has provided robust, mandatory training to faculty through an anti-racist, anti-bias, and trauma-informed lens, said district spokesman Brian Heap.

A combination of staff and independent specialists such as EPOCH Education have led those education modules, Heap said. Since the training began at West Campus, he said, a student-led equity club has formed at the high school.

District staff also provide teachers with a weekly slide deck that focuses on culture, climate and social emotional learning, Heap said. Educators can use it, he said, to help build more positive relationships with students and foster a greater sense of inclusion and belonging in the classroom.

Asked whether district personnel monitor usage of this tool or set goals for cross-race or cross-ethnic activities, Heap said the district had no further comment.

White said that the only training modules hes seen for Sacramento City Unified teachers were computer-based modules, not live discussions.

If parents want to influence how dollars are spent on race relations, tutoring or other areas, they should attend meetings of their school site council and district site council, said Mark Gaskins, co-founder of The Village Method. Based in suburban south Alameda County, this nonprofit connects African American families with the knowledge and organizations that can help them reach their full potential.

There are a couple of ways parents can advocate for what they want, Gaskins said. They can attend advisory meetings organized by the site councils and make recommendations. Or, now through Mar. 22, parents can fill out a so-called school climate survey.

The school site council will consider recommendations from both the meetings and the surveys when writing its three-year Local Control and Accountability Plan.

This document spells out how every district will use state dollars to improve educational outcomes. Each school district must adopt its plan as part of an annual budget process, which must be completed by the end of June.

But even if parents fill out the survey and show up for the advisory meetings, Gaskins said, they still should show up for the site council meeting to ensure dollars are appropriated for the needs they voiced. Suggestions might make the accountability plan list, he said, but that doesnt mean they will get funding.

School site councils  are the decision-making bodies, Gaskins said. We need parents to become presidents or chairpersons of these bodies.
The Central Wellsville School district canceled classes Monday following a situation that occurred before the start of the school week.

Shortly before 5 a.m., police responded to the home of a 37-year-old Wellsville man from which a gunshot was reportedly fired.

After using a drone to establish someone was in the house, law enforcement made contact with William Wojehowski, who surrendered without incident at 7:40 a.m.

He was transported to Olean General Hospital for Evaluation, the Wellsville Police Department said in a statement. Charges are pending.

School officials took no chances.

Due to a situation near the secondary school, the police have requested that we cancel school for both buildings today, administrators posted on Facebook around 7 a.m. All activities, transportation, and afterschool activities are canceled.

School staff and maintenance workers were told not to report for work.

Law enforcement early said they were dealing with an isolated incident specific to this area and advised area residents to remain in their homes until the unspecified matter was resolved.

The Evening Tribune reported a heavy police presence Monday morning in the upstate New York town near the Pennsylvania border. There were unconfirmed reports on social media of gunfire.

Police posted Monday morning on Facebook that a suspect was in custody, but gave few details.

Wellsville is roughly 300 miles northwest of New York City.
On March 15-17, 2024, the so-called presidential elections were held in Russia. However, according to the international community, they cannot be considered legal, free, and fair.

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OBOZ.UA has collected the reactions of Western politicians and institutions to the voting results. Despite international law, the elections were organized in the occupied Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as in the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions.

The European Council stated that the Russian authorities continue to intensify systematic internal repression, suppressing opposition politicians, independent media, and other critical voices, using repressive legislation and politically motivated prison sentences. The EU also regretted the decision of the Russian authorities not to invite OSCE observers to its elections.

At the same time, the European Union "strongly condemned" the illegal holding of the so-called "elections" in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia. The EU noted that the so-called "elections" in these territories are another clear violation of international law by Russia.

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"The European Union reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Russia must end its illegal aggressive war against Ukraine and immediately, fully and unconditionally withdraw its armed forces and equipment from all of Ukraine's territory," the European Council website said.

The Polish Foreign Ministry condemned the Kremlin's illegal decision to hold elections in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.

"This is a blatant violation of international law and cannot be seen as anything other than another attempt to undermine Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity," the Polish Foreign Ministry said.

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The diplomats also noted that Poland does not recognize the organization and results of the "elections" in these territories. Russia should be held responsible for organizing and holding them on Ukrainian territories.

The foreign ministries of Germany and the United Kingdom also condemned the elections.

British Defense Secretary Grant Shepps called Putin a "thief".

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German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he would not congratulate the Russian president on his re-election, although in 2018, 4 years after the annexation of Crimea, he sent a congratulatory letter to the Kremlin leader.

According to the Russian Central Election Commission, as of 10:25 a.m. on March 18, Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin allegedly won more than 87% of the vote. The Russians also said that they had already processed 99.75% of the ballots.

Kremlin propagandists also claimed that the dictator was congratulated on his "victory" by his "competitors." Russian politicians, in turn, called Putin's "result" in the election "powerful and convincing."

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At 3:20 p.m., Russia announced that 100% of the votes had been counted. According to the results of the fake election, dictator Putin allegedly won 87.28% of the vote. Other "candidates" received approximately 3-4% of the vote. Russia also claims that the turnout in the "elections" exceeded 77%.

As previously reported by OBOZ.UA, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Putin is doing everything to rule for life, although he should be in the dock in The Hague.

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As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Russia held illegal presidential elections on Sunday, March 17. The current dictator Vladimir Putin was "painted" as an absolute victory with a result of more than 87% of the vote.

Earlier, Russian Telegram channels reported that a small number of Russian citizens decided to express their "protest" against the dictator's election with a spoiled ballot, stating that Putin is a murderer.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday considered dueling interpretations of the Biden administration's interactions with social media platforms regarding content it viewed as dangerous to public health, democracy, or national security. During oral arguments in Murthy v. Missouri, Louisiana Solicitor General J. Benjamin Aguinaga said those private contacts, combined with public statements condemning the platforms' failure to suppress "misinformation," amounted to government-directed censorship. U.S. Principal Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher disagreed, saying neither crossed the line "between persuasion and coercion."

If the federal government coerced platforms to censor speech by threatening them with "adverse government action," Fletcher conceded, that would be a clear violation of the First Amendment. But "no threats happened here," he argued, because White House officials merely "use[d] strong language" while encouraging the platforms to suppress speech that offended them and "referred in a general way to legal reforms in response to press questions." Any attempt to enjoin the government from privately pressuring Facebook et al. to crack down on controversial speech or publicly castigating them for failing to do so, he warned, would interfere with constitutionally permissible information sharing, "provision of advice," and federal officials' use of "the bully pulpit" to "call on the platforms to do more."

Aguinaga argued that federal officials went far beyond providing information that might help the platforms enforce their own content rules. He said officials persistently pressured the platforms to broaden those restrictions and enforce them more aggressively, and the platforms responded by changing their policies and practices. "As the 5th Circuit put it," Aguinaga said, "the record reveals unrelenting pressure by the government to coerce social media platforms to suppress the speech of millions of Americans." And most of that pressure, he emphasized, was applied behind closed doors, coming to light only as a result of discovery in this case.

"The government badgers the platforms 24/7," Aguinaga said. "It abuses them with profanity. It warns that the highest levels of the White House are concerned. It ominously says that the White House is considering its options, and it accuses platforms both of playing 'total Calvin Ball' and of 'hiding the ball'all to get the platforms to censor more speech. Under this onslaught, the platforms routinely cave.Pressuring platforms in back rooms shielded from public view is not using the bully pulpit at all. That's just being a bully."

Fletcher and Aguinaga both invoked Bantam Books v. Sullivan, a 1963 case in which the Supreme Court held that Rhode Island's Commission to Encourage Morality in Youth violated the First Amendment by pressuring book distributors to drop titles it deemed objectionable. Notably, the commission itself had no enforcement authority, and at least some of the books it flagged did not meet the Supreme Court's test for obscenity, meaning the distributors were not violating any law by selling them. The Court nevertheless concluded that the commission's communications with book distributors, which ostensibly sought their "cooperation" but were "phrased virtually as orders," were unconstitutional because they aimed to suppress disfavored speech and had that predictable result.

Last September, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled that some of the Biden administration's communications with social media platforms qualified as coercion under the Bantam Books test. It also held that some of the interactions amounted to "significant encouragement" under the Court's 1982 ruling in Blum v. Yaretsky. Although that case involved due process rather than freedom of speech, the Court held that private decisions can amount to "state action" when the government has "provided such significant encouragement, either overt or covert, that the choice must in law be deemed to be that of the State." That holding jibes with the general principle that the government may not indirectly do something that the Constitution forbids it to do directly.

In this case, the 5th Circuit held that the White House, the FBI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency were so heavily involved in content moderation decisions that their "advice" qualified as "significant encouragement" under Blum. As the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression put it in a brief asking the Supreme Court to uphold the 5th Circuit's decision, federal officials "became so entangled with social media platform moderation policies that they were able to effectively rewrite the platforms' policies from the inside."

Fletcher urged the justices to focus on the persuasion/coercion distinction supported by Bantam Books rather than the question of "significant encouragement," which he said

"risks turning the platforms and lots of other entities that are interacting with the government into state actors," thereby "restricting their editorial choices under the First Amendment." And on the question of coercion, he said, it was not enough to show that some federal officials were talking about antitrust action, regulation, and increased liability for user-posted content as ways of holding platforms "accountable" at the same time that others were urging the platforms to banish specific speakers, delete particular posts, or suppress certain kinds of content.

Justice Samuel Alito suggested that the Biden administration treated social media platforms differently than it would treat news outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Associated Press. "The White House and federal officials are repeatedly saying that Facebook and the federal government should be partners," he said. "'We are on the same team.' Officials are demanding answers. 'I want an answer. I want it right away.' When they're unhappy, they curse them out. There are regular meetings. There is constant pestering of Facebook and some of the other platforms[Officials] suggestrules that should be applied and [ask], 'Why don't you tell us everything that you're gonna do so we can help you and we can look it over?' And I thought, 'Wow, I cannot imagine federal officials taking that approach to the print media.'If you did that to them, what do you think the reaction would be?"

At the same time, Alito said, the federal government had "these big clubs" to encourage compliance, including potential legal reforms that would expand the platforms' civil liability. "So it's treating Facebook and these other platforms like they're subordinates," he said.

The cursing to which Alito alluded, Fletcher noted, came in the context of a complaint about problems with President Joe Biden's Instagram account. "Are you guys fucking serious?" Deputy Assistant to the President Rob Flaherty said in an email to Facebook. "I want an answer on what happened here and I want it today." That exchange, Fletcher said, was "not about moderating other people's content."

Fletcher nevertheless conceded that White House officials often adopted a harsh tone when they demanded that platforms suppress messages they viewed as discouraging vaccination against COVID-19. "There's an intensity [to] the back and forth here, and there's an anger that I think is unusual," he said. "But the context for that, I think, is that these platforms we're saying publicly, 'We want to help. We think we have a responsibility to give people accurate information and not bad information, and we're doing everything we can to meet that goal.' That's where this language of partnership comes from. It's not just from the White House; it's these platforms, which are powerful, sophisticated entities, saying, 'We're doing the best we can.'The anger is when the officials think that the platforms are not being transparent about the scope of the problem or aren't giving information that's available."

Justice Clarence Thomas, who joined Alito and Justice Neil Gorsuch in dissenting when the Court stayed the 5th Circuit's preliminary injunction in October, suggested that even amicable cooperation between the government and social media platforms could run afoul of the First Amendment. He asked Fletcher whether the government could "censor someone" by "agreeing with the platforms, as opposed to coercing the platforms." Suppose the platforms agreed that "we're on the same team" and "work[ed] together" with the government "to make sure that this misinformation doesn't gain sort of any following," he said. "The government can't censor by coordinating with private parties to exclude others' speech?"

Gorsuch likewise made a few points that might support a ruling against the government. He said suppression of a given plaintiff's speech could be deemed "traceable" to the government's conduct if the latter was "a motivating factor" in that particular moderation decision, even if it was not "a proximate cause." And he suggested that "a threat or an inducement with respect to antitrust actions" or protection from civil liability for users' posts, both of which could be relevant here, might "qualify as coercion." Likewise "an accusation by a government official that unless you change your policies, you're responsible for killing people"a description that fits what Biden said about Facebook and other platforms.

While Fletcher focused on coercion and defined it narrowly, Aguinaga argued that any contact in which a public official urges a platform to take down objectionable content carries an implicit threat because of the power that the government wields. If "my dear mother" complains to a platform about a post, he said, "they don't know her from Adam," so "they don't care, but they do care if it's the government."

Aguinaga drew a distinction between rebutting misinformation and demanding its censorship. "If the government thinks there's false speech out there, the remedy for that is true speech," he said. "Nothing prohibits the government from going to that platform and saying, 'We've seen a lot of false information about election activity and COVID and vaccines.'.Nothing prohibits the government from saying, 'Here's a list of everything we say is true. That is true in our view, and you should amplify our speech. And anytime that false speech arises, you should put our posts right there next to it, saying this is the government's view on this issue.'"

Aguinaga, who described himself as "a purist on the First Amendment," suggested that would be the right approach even when the government is responding to "factually erroneous information" about actions by U.S. troops (a hypothetical posed by Justice Brett Kavanaugh) or a social media "challenge" involving "teens jumping out of windows at increasing elevations" (as imagined by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson). But he noted that suppression of some online speech, especially in the context of national security, would be constitutional if it withstood "strict scrutiny," meaning it was the least restrictive means of serving a compelling government interest.

"If you're concerned with the breadth of our arguments, that's one fail-safe," Aguinaga said. "No matter how broad the standard [that] the Court adopts, there's always gonna be strict scrutiny at the end of the line to save the government in times where it desperately needs to do the things that you're outlining."

Justice Elena Kagan questioned whether any of the individual plaintiffs who joined Louisiana and Missouri in this lawsuit could prove their speech was suppressed as a result of government pressure rather than independent decisions by social media platforms. "There's just nothing where you can say, 'OK, the government said, take down that communication,'" she told Aguinaga. "The government is making some broad statements about the kinds of communications it thinks [are] harmful. Facebook has a lot of opinions on its own about various kinds of communications." Based on "standard ideas about traceability and redressability," she said, "I don't see a single item in your briefs that would satisfy our normal tests."

Justice Sonia Sotomayor complained that Aguinaga's brief was misleading. "You omit information that changes the context of some of your claims," she said. "You attribute things to people who it didn't happen to." In one case, she said, "it was [a plaintiff's] brother that something happened to, not her. I don't know what to make of all this.I'm not sure how we get to prove direct injury in any way."

Aguinaga apologized. "If any aspect of our brief was notas forthcoming as it should have been," he said, "I would take full responsibility for that." He cited a couple of examples that he thought "prove direct injury," but Kagan and Sotomayor remained skeptical. And Fletcher argued that the timing of government communications and moderation decisions affecting the plaintiffs does not support an inference that the former resulted in the latter.

Aguinaga emphasized that the government's intervention resulted in the suppression of speech that otherwise would have been allowed. To illustrate that point, he cited an email from Meta executive Nick Clegg to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who had joined Biden in publicly charging Facebook with complicity in the deaths of unvaccinated Americans and urged a "whole-of-society" effort to combat the "urgent threat to public health" posed by "health misinformation," which he said might include "legal and regulatory measures."

After thanking Murthy "for taking the time to meet,'" Clegg said, "I wanted to make sure you saw the steps we took just this past week to adjust policies on what we're removing with respect to misinformation, as well as steps taken to further address the 'disinfo dozen' [users the government has identified as major purveyors of anti-vaccine messages]: we removed 17 additional Pages, Groups, and Instagram accounts tied to the disinfo dozen." Later Clegg told Murthy that Facebook "will shortly be expanding our COVID policies to further reduce the spread of potentially harmful content on our platform." Such exchanges, Aguinaga said, show that platforms like Facebook were "moving beyond what their own policies require[d] because they felt pressure to take more action and to censor more speech."

In Fletcher's telling, however, federal officials were simply providing information and encouraging voluntary collaboration. Aguinaga "started by saying that this is a massive attack on free speech," Fletcher said during his rebuttal. "The lower courts called it a coordinated censorship campaign. I want to be clear [that] if those things had happened, they would be reprehensible. It would be a huge problem." But under "a rigorous analysis of the facts and the law," he said, "we don't think that's [what] happened here. We don't think that's supported."

[This post has been updated with comments from Thomas and Gorsuch.]

The post SCOTUS Ponders Whether the Biden Administration Coerced Social Media Platforms To Censor Speech appeared first on Reason.com.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  One person was injured in a house fire over the weekend in southeast Topeka.

City of Topeka spokeswoman Rosie Nichols said in a press release that the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) were called on Saturday, March 16 to the 3400 block of SE Indiana Avenue in response to a fire at a one-story home. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the home which also damaged another nearby home.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Everyone inside the home was able to evacuate before the TFD arrived with one being treated for minor injuries by first responders. An investigation into the incident was unable to find a source for the fire.

Nichols says an estimated $95,000 worth of damage was caused by the fire with $85,000 attributed to structural damage and $10,000 of damage to a nearby home. No smoke detectors were located in the home where the fire started.

Topeka home goes up in flames, $120,000 in damage reported

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Gasoline prices and utility (piped) gas in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area in February fell, while households are paying more for electricity than last February as energy prices saw mixed results in the area, according to a news release Friday from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

As the BLS notes, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area consists of King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties.

Prices for a gallon of gasoline

Gas prices averaged $4.225 per gallon in the Seattle area in February, the BLS stated. Thats 3.9% lower than February 2023, but 21.2% higher than the $3.486 national average.

A year earlier, consumers in the Seattle area paid 21.4% more than the national average for a gallon of gasoline, the BLS added. The local price of a gallon of gasoline has ranged from 12.2% to 21.4% above the national average in the month of February during the past five years, according to the release.

As of March 17, the average cost of a regular gallon of gas in the state of Washington $4.30, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Between March 7 and 14, Washington saw third highest increase in price per gallon (8 cents), according to a AAA press release issued Thursday. Two states saw 10-cent rises (Texas and Alaska) and two other areas experienced 9-cent jumps (Oregon and Washington, D.C.).

This is the time of year we normally see pump prices start to rise, AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in the release. And while prices have been rather pokey so far, they should begin to accelerate and move higher very soon.

A regular gallon of gas in King County currently averages just shy of $4.52, AAA reports. The cost is just over $4.36 in Pierce County and about $4.35 in Snohomish County. The number drops to around $3.90 per gallon in Spokane County in Eastern Washington.

Electricity costs rise

The 13.5 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) Seattle area households paid for electricity in February was 7.1% more than last February, the BLS reported. But that was 22% less than the nationwide average of 17.3 cents per kWh.

Last February, electricity costs were 25% lower in Seattle compared to the nation.

In the past five years, prices paid by Seattle area consumers for electricity were less than the U.S. average by 16.8% or more in the month of February.

As the U.S. Energy Information Administration, a federal government agency, previously noted, the state of Washington has some of the lowest average electricity rates in the country. The agency also reported that in 2022, hydroelectric power accounted for 67% of Washingtons total electricity net generation and the state typically contributes between one-fourth and one-third of all conventional hydroelectric generation in the nation annually.

But while rates in Washington may be lower than most of the rest of the country, they are still going up. Last month, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) announced it is filing a two-year rate plan request with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) that would lead to an increase in rates for customers in 2025 and 2026. Seattle City Light announced late last year it would be raising rates as well.

At this point, were at the financial situation where this is what we have to do to refill the (rate stabilization account), Seattle City Light CFO Kirsty Grainger said in late 2023.

Customers north of Seattle will see a rise in rates as well. As the The Everett Daily Herald reported Sunday, the Snohomish County Public Utility Districts Board of Commissioners approved a 5.8% rate increase to make up for higher costs and financial challenges in the energy industry.

Utility or natural gas prices are down

Prices paid by Seattle area consumers for utility (piped) gas, commonly referred to as natural gas, were $1.146 per therm, 23.1% lower than last February, the BLS stated. (As technology company Arcadia explains, a therm is a measurement of the amount of heat energy in natural gas, equal to 100,000 BTUs. A BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.)

That $1.146 per therm price is also 21.8% less than the national average in February 2024 ($1.465 per therm).

A year earlier, area consumers paid 7.3% less per therm for natural gas compared to the nation.

In the Seattle area over the past five years, the per therm cost for natural gas in February has varied between 21.8 percent below and 8.3 percent above the U.S. average.

In its rate-plan announcement last month, PSE stated that natural gas energy use is declining, down 7% for residential and 3% for commercial in 2023 and that is impacting rates as well. The company forecasts a continued decline over the next five years for several reasons, one of which included the warmer winters on average that mean less demand for heating.

Story originally posted on mynorthwest.com
FILE - Ruby slippers once worn by Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz," are displayed at a news conference, Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. A second man has been charged in connection with the 2005 theft of a pair of the ruby slippers, according to an indictment unsealed Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP)  A second man has been charged in connection with the 2005 theft of a pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz," according to an indictment made public Sunday.

Jerry Hal Saliterman, 76, of Crystal, Minnesota, was charged with theft of a major artwork and witness tampering. He did not enter a plea when he made his first appearance Friday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul.

The slippers, adorned with sequins and glass beads, were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in the late actor's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, nearly 20 years ago and their whereabouts remained a mystery until the FBI recovered them in 2018.

The indictment says that from August 2005 to July 2018 Saliterman received, concealed, and disposed of an object of cultural heritage"  specifically, "an authentic pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz." The indictment says Saliterman knew they were stolen, and that he threatened to release a sex tape of a woman and take her down with him if she didnt keep her mouth shut about the slippers.

Saliterman was in a wheelchair and on supplemental oxygen during his Friday court appearance. His oxygen machine hummed throughout the hearing and he bounced his knee nervously during breaks in the proceedings. He responded with yes, when U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright asked whether he understood the charges against him, but he said nothing about the allegations.

The case was not openly discussed in court. The magistrate ordered Friday that the indictment be unsealed, but it did not become publicly available until Sunday.

Salitermans attorney, John Brink, said after Friday's hearing that he couldnt say much about the case, but: Hes not guilty. He hasnt done anything wrong. Saliterman, who was released on his own recognizance, declined to comment to The Associated Press outside the courthouse.

The man who stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, 76, pleaded guilty in October to theft of a major artwork, admitting to using a hammer to smash the glass of the museum's door and display case in what his attorney said was an attempt to pull off one last score after turning away from a life of crime. He was sentenced in January to time served because of his poor health.

Martins lawyer said in court documents that an old associate of Martin's with connections to the mob told him the shoes had to be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value.

Martin, who lives near Grand Rapids, said at an October hearing that he hoped to take what he thought were real rubies from the shoes and sell them. But a person who deals in stolen goods, known as a fence, informed him the rubies werent real, Martin said. So he got rid of the slippers.

Defense attorney Dane DeKrey wrote in court documents that Martins unidentified former associate persuaded him to steal the slippers as one last score, even though Martin had seemed to have finally put his demons to rest after finishing his last prison term nearly 10 years earlier.

But old habits die hard, and the thought of a final score kept him up at night, DeKrey wrote.

According to DeKreys memo, Martin had no idea about the cultural significance of the ruby slippers and had never seen The Wizard of Oz.

The documents unsealed Sunday do not indicate how Martin and Saliterman may have been connected.

In the classic 1939 musical, Garlands character, Dorothy, had to click the heels of her ruby slippers three times and repeat, Theres no place like home, to return to Kansas from Oz. She wore several pairs during filming, but only four authentic pairs are known to remain.

The FBI never disclosed exactly how it tracked down the slippers. The bureau said a man approached the insurer in 2017 and claimed he could help recover them but demanded more than the $200,000 reward being offered. The slippers were recovered during an FBI sting in Minneapolis the next year. Federal prosecutors have put the slippers market value at about $3.5 million.

Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw had loaned the pair to the museum before Martin stole them. The other pairs are held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Smithsonian Museum of American History and a private collector. According to John Kelsh, founding director of the museum, the slippers were returned to Shaw and are being held by an auction house that plans to sell them.

Garland was born Frances Gumm in 1922. She lived in Grand Rapids, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) north of Minneapolis, until she was 4, when her family moved to Los Angeles. She died in 1969. The Judy Garland Museum, which includes the house where she lived, says it has the worlds largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.
DULUTH  Two months after a man was sentenced to time served for his role in the theft of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz," a second Minnesota man with a history of stealing has also been indicted by a federal grand jury.

Jerry Hal Saliterman of Crystal is charged with theft of a major artwork  the same charge Terry Jon Martin pleaded guilty to in late 2023. According to a redacted document unsealed Sunday night, Saliterman also threatened a woman with knowledge of the theft that he would distribute sex tapes to her family if she shared information about the case with the FBI.

Saliterman's initial appearance in federal court was on Friday in St. Paul.

On Monday, the FBI released information that ownership of the shoes has been returned to owner Michael Shaw, a Hollywood memorabilia collector who had originally loaned Garland's footwear to the museum. They were stolen in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018, but no one was held responsible for years.

Shaw said he saw ruby slippers for the first time since they were stolen about two months ago during a meetup with the FBI at the Judy Garland Museum  but he didn't take them home with him.

"They're in the hands of Heritage Auctions house and the FBI," he said. "It's much safer that way."

Shaw said that seeing the slippers in February was like finding an old friend.

"That's the way I felt about them," he said. "I was so thrilled they were in such good condition. Now they can be used for good things."

Staff from the Judy Garland Museum is presenting a bill in front of a legislative committee Tuesday seeking money to buy the slippers from the auction house.

"Obviously we'd upgrade our security system," said Janie Heitz, executive director of the Judy Garland Museum. "We think it would be a huge attraction for visitors and a way to bring the whole story full circle."

Saliterman, 76, was most recently convicted of misdemeanor theft in 2016 after attempting to steal nearly $700 worth of merchandise from an Apple Store in Roseville  but he has a long history of similar crimes. In 2012, he was convicted of theft of property and sentenced to 30 days in the Adult Corrections Facility in Hennepin County, plus probation, and ordered to have no contact with Ferguson Enterprises in Golden Valley. In both 1995 and 2000 he was convicted of being in possession of shoplifting gear, according to court documents.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1988 for concealing income from fencing-ring operations that included selling a stolen fur coat worth $18,000 for $5,000.

Martin pleaded guilty to stealing the ruby slippers in federal court in October 2023. He revealed details of the August 2005 theft, including taking a sledgehammer to the emergency exit and a plexiglass display case at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minn. He said he believed the famed slippers were made with real gems  until an unidentified jewelry fence told him they were made of glass. The true value of the slippers was cultural: They were one of several pairs worn by Garland in the 1939 classic film.

Martin claimed he didn't know what happened to the slippers after that meeting; he didn't want anything to do with them, he said.

Martin was sentenced to time served in January. He will be on supervised probation for a year and has been ordered to make restitution payments of $300 per month to the Judy Garland Museum. In recent months, he has been on home hospice care and a mix of prescription drugs. Aside from alcohol-related infractions, he has seemingly lived a crime-free life in rural Grand Rapids for more than a decade.
Michelin inspectors can only tell their close family about their job (Nicolas TUCAT)

They are paid to eat in the best restaurants in the world -- but the price is having to lie even to their friends about the job.

Hidden amongst hundreds of guests descending on the 16th century Chateau de Chambord in the Loire Valley for a luxurious dinner ahead of the Michelin Guide's annual ceremony on Monday was the group's covert inspectors.

One guest at the weekend event told AFP he worked in the automobile industry -- plausible given Michelin's main business of selling tyres.

But his knowledge of France's best restaurants was suspiciously encyclopedic.

Whether or not he was a Michelin inspector would remain a mystery, since they are sworn to secrecy.

Each year, the guide receives 8,000 spontaneous applications to become an inspector, its boss Gwendal Poullennec told AFP.

The key criteria are "professionalism" and "openness" -- to travel, different cultures and new experiences, he added.

Michelin does not say how many it employs -- part of the strict secrecy it maintains to ensure they are never recognised by a restaurant and given preferential treatment.

The guide does reveal that its inspectors currently include 25 different nationalities, and men and women of all ages, operating across the 45 destinations covered by Michelin.

- Undercover -

It is a full-time job, and all are drawn from the world of fine dining and hospitality: applicants must have at least 10 years of experience as chefs, sommeliers or hoteliers, according to the guide's website.

A new inspector is paired with a more experienced colleague for a training period of up to two years -- or around 800 meals -- to learn the Michelin method, the organisation told AFP.

The inspector then lives undercover. Only their inner circle of family are allowed to know -- and they have an interest in keeping quiet since they often tag along to meals to avert suspicion.

The most common cover story that inspectors give their friends and wider family is that they are "consulting" with restaurants on their business strategies -- a good excuse to travel and indulge.

They give false names and even change their phone numbers when making reservations -- vital since many restaurants now have applications to scan their bookings for journalists and potential inspectors.

The reviews require an excellent memory. The inspector must recall the tiniest details of the food, service and ambiance -- right down to the appearance of the toilets -- without taking notes, though phone pictures are now common.

They must also research the wider context -- the restaurant's suppliers, how it fits into the local community and its finances.

The final report sticks to five criteria: the quality of the ingredients, the culinary technique, the harmony of the flavours, the emotion which the chef is seeking to convey through their menu, and the restaurant's consistency over time. The latter requires multiple visits.

The awarding of a star -- with three stars as the absolute pinnacle -- must be a unanimous choice when inspectors meet to discuss their reviews.

If there is disagreement, further visits are organised until a consensus is reached.

dar/may/er/giv
EDITOR'S NOTE: This "Historically Speaking" column was published in The Oak Ridger in 2009 for the 60th anniversary of the gates opening in Oak Ridge. Portions of the column referring to the 2009 celebration were edited out to avoid confusion with the 1949 celebration. This year marks the 75th anniversary and a special ceremony is set for 2 p.m. March 19 at the American Museum of Science and Energy, which is also celebrating its 75th.

(Monday's) "Historically Speaking" column featured the details of the planning that went into preparing for Operation Open Sesame, the code name for the original gate opening ceremony that allowed public access to the city of Oak Ridge for the first time. The Secret City had been gated for seven years when, on March 19, 1949, four of the main gates were opened allowing unrestricted access for the public to the city.

Bill Sergeant leads the Gate Opening Parade in Oak Ridge on March 19, 1949.

The Elza, Edgemoor, Solway and Oliver Springs gates were opened and new gatehouses were placed in operation to isolate the three plant sites of K-25 (on the Oak Ridge Turnpike to the west of the main part of the city), Y-12 (at Scarboro Road just before Bear Creek Road) and Bethel Valley Road at the intersection with Illinois Avenue. Interestingly. These new gates were only used until 1953 when the main access gates for the three plants were moved back even closer to the plants and additional fences were erected at the plant boundaries.

Lets look at the actual events of the momentous occasion of March 19, 1949. Bill Wilcoxs "The Opening of the Gates to the Secret City," notes that the first event of the day was at Elza gate on the extreme East end of Oak Ridge along the road to Clinton. The rationale was to open the gates at all four locations, but to feature the Elza gate as the official welcome location.

An estimated 10,000 people gathered at the Elza gate near the intersection of Melton Lake Road and the Oak Ridge Turnpike. The special Speakers Stand was swamped with people on the roofs of the Guard structures that were decked with red, white and blue bunting.

Fred Ford delivers the primary speech at the Elza Gate Opening Ceremony in Oak Ridge on March 19, 1949.

Lots of people had walked to the event as the bus strike was entering its third week with no bus service to the city. This frustrated folks and led them to wonder if normalcy was a desired state if it meant dealing with things like this bus strike. Remember that for seven years, those living in Oak Ridge had not had to worry about anything as many things that would now be required in a normal arrangement had all been done for them by the government. This is one reason they were reluctant to support the gate opening.

As a prelude to the big day, there was a Friday evening VIP reception on the 18th held at the American Museum of Atomic Energy then located at 55 Jefferson Avenue. Among the first visitors to the new museum were Hollywood stars, Adolph Menjue, Lee Bowman, Marie McDonald, Adele Jergens, cowboy star Rod Cameron, Jack Bailey, radio host for Queen for a Day, and political guests, U. S. Representative Albert Gore, Sr., Tennessee Governor Gordon Browning, Connecticut Senator Brien McMahon  Chairman of the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy  and, Tennessee Senator Estes Kefauver.

I wonder if they all got their souvenir radioactive dime  do you still have yours? These dimes were a mainstay giveaway until in the late 1960s when the percentage of silver in a dime was reduced.

At 8:30 a.m., the Rev. Roy C. Arbuckle gave the invocation. John C. Franklin, the Atomic Energy Commissions local manager of Oak Ridge Operations, welcomed the crowd on what he declared as an auspicious occasion. He also noted the secret was out that Oak Ridge was the home of atomic energy and thus there was nothing to be gained by continuing to keep the city closed. In fact, he said the plants could be made more secure by separating them from the city.

Community Affairs Director Fred W. Ford was next on the agenda and gave the keynote speech. ...

Dr. George T. Felbeck was next on the program and he was to cut the ribbon through a most unusual means  atomic energy! Logan Emlet, head of the Operations Division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, had named three individuals to be responsible for the successful execution of this first-ever use of atomic energy in such a demonstration. They were, W. Ragan, C.G. Goss and D.D. Walker.

Felbeck, as heard by the crowd through the public address system, made a phone call to the atomic pile engineers. The crowd listened attentively as the atomic pile worked (I wonder just what that sounded like?) This went on for three full minutes as the crowd waited in eager anticipation of what was to come.

Then precisely as planned, the signal from the Graphite Reactor (atomic pile in 1949 vernacular) ignited the magnesium section of the ribbon which provided a brilliant flash and huge puff of white smoke. It also ignited the potassium chlorate that created the alarming and unexpected BANG! In one of the photos of the event, people in the front row, both young and old, are obviously alarmed and trying to get away from the fearsome explosion. Then all cheered!

By 8:50 a.m., the Elza Gate opening ceremony was finished and the gates open for visitors. The other three gates (Edgemoor, Solway and Oliver Springs) had opened at 8:30 a.m. without ceremony. The center city soon filled with the curious crowd and the streets were heavy with traffic as visitors got a first glimpse of the once Secret City.

At 10 a.m. there was a second gate opening ceremony held on Ogontz Lane. This one was organized by Logan Emlets young son, Johnny. He had heard the plans from his dad and even talked him into providing a small piece of the magnesium ribbon. Johnny invited the neighborhood kids and actually talked some of them into playing the parts of the visiting stars and dignitaries.

Their gate opening ceremony also had a code name, Operation Gates  Ajar. The Oak Ridger provided coverage for this gate opening as well.

Then at 11 a.m. there was the Parade. My friend, Bill Sergeant led this parade! It formed at Midtown and went up the Turnpike to Tyler Road where it turned left and went to Tennessee Avenue turning right through the main crowd down to Georgia Avenue where it turned right and crossed the Turnpike to disperse on Administration Building Road.

Tennessee Governor Gordon Browning and Alabama Governor Kissing Jim Folsom were a part of the parade as were the Hollywood stars. However, Vice President Alben Barkley and Senators McMahon, Kefauver and other dignitaries from the Capital did not make it in time to participate as their airplane did not arrive until after noon.

When the Washington, D.C. guests finally did arrive, they were taken to the Oak Terrace for lunch. While the honored guests did not arrive for the main parade, it was still an excellent event. ...

At 2:30 p.m., Master of Ceremonies, Marshall Pengra, Chair of the Program Committee and Manager of WATO, our first radio station, kicked off the major speechmaking part of the days events. After Rev. R.R. Sala, Pastor of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, provided the invocation. Pengra introduced the dignitaries and movie stars.

Although there was some consternation by at least one potential speaker who refused to speak because he was not provided the level of recognition he felt entitled to, the speechmaking was a huge success for the crowd, who knew nothing about any squabble for appropriate levels of recognition. Adolph Menjou spoke representing all the Hollywood stars, David Lilienthal - Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Senator Brien McMahon, author of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946, Senator Estes Kefauver and finally Vice President Alben Barkley spoke to the excited and appreciative crowd on Blankenship Field.

All speakers had great and complementary things to say about the history-making Secret City that helped end World War II. They each recognized the importance of the effort and gave homage to the people who had made it possible. I am sure Oak Ridgers were most proud that day.

At 4 p.m. there was a Womans Club Fashion Show held at the Oak Ridge High School auditorium. Vice President Barkleys daughter, Mrs. Max Truitt, and Marie McDonald were Guests of Honor.

At 7 p.m. at the Oak Terrace in Grove Center there was a banquet. This was the largest venue the town had to offer. Attorney and later Judge Frank Wilson, Chairman of the Speakers Committee, was the Master of Ceremonies.

The main speakers after dinner were Senator Brien McMahon and Governor Gordon Browning. At 11 p.m. a festive floor show featuring appearances by Marie McDonald and Rod Cameron and climaxed with a Grand March led by Governor Browning and Marie McDonald with dancing continuing until 2 a.m.

D. Ray Smith is now the city of Oak Ridge historian. His "Historically Speaking column is published weekly in The Oak Ridger.

D. Ray Smith, writer for the Historically Speaking column.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: 'Secret was out': The gates of Oak Ridge were opened 75 years ago
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl rally was just 32 days ago. Kevin Spainhour and his wife, Stacey, still made the decision to come to the St. Patricks Day parade in Kansas City on Sunday.

We had talked about it, Spainhour said. It definitely crossed my mind.

Watch: Kansas City St. Patricks Day Parade replay

Were not going to live on the edge, were going to enjoy life. So here we are, Spainhour said.

Police officers from multiple agencies were stationed up and down the parade route on Broadway Street.

There were more than 400 officers, according to the Kansas City Police Department, and parade goers noticed.

Yeah there is a lot of security, Curtis Hall said. Different police departments, theyre around everywhere. Hall told FOX4 that he also thought about what happened at the Chiefs rally before attending today. We felt totally safe to come down here and enjoy the day and its a perfect day for it.

Download the FOX4 News app on iPhone and Android

Sgt. Phillip DiMartino with KCPD said that in a meeting the morning of the parade, the message to officers was to be visible, active and engaged while patrolling the crowds.

Conflict, argument is a problem in our city. We have to learn better conflict resolution, he said.

He said that attendees at parades or large crowds should also be aware of their surroundings.

If you see something, call us. Alert a police officer. Were here. Thats exactly what were here for.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
SEE PHOTOS: Crash rips guardrail off posts, closes I-77 toll lanes, NCDOT says

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A guardrail blocked traffic on Interstate 77 Sunday night following a crash.

The Huntersville Fire Department says some northbound lanes of I-77 near West W.T. Harris Boulevard were closed due to a guardrail in the road. Images from a traffic camera show the toll lanes blocked.

NCDOT

NCDOT

Officials say a vehicle was also overturned and 5 people were medically evaluated at the scene by the Mecklenburg EMS Agency. There is no word yet on whether anyone was taken to the hospital.

It is unclear what led up to the crash or how many vehicles were involved; however, the toll lanes were closed just after 9:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).

The regular northbound lanes appeared to remain clear.

The interstate reopened less than an hour after the crash, but debris clean-up took longer.

This is a developing story; check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. Representatives of Jakarta were invited to participate in the peace summit organized by our country.

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The guarantor shared the details on his Telegram channel on Monday, March 18. Zelenskyy congratulated Subianto on his election victory and "expressed hope for the continuation of mutually beneficial bilateral relations."

"In 2022, I presented the Peace Formula - a real path to a just peace - in Indonesia. Now we are preparing the inaugural peace summit, and Indonesia's participation in it is fundamentally important for us," the Ukrainian president emphasized.

He invited Indonesia to join the Forum for Peace and to implement the points on food and nuclear security, as well as in efforts to exchange prisoners.

To recap: Prabowo Subianto is a 72-year-old Indonesian politician and military officer, a retired lieutenant general. Before winning the election (in February 2024), he was the country's Minister of Defense.

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As OBOZ.UA wrote:

 On March 14, Volodymyr Zelenskyy held several meetings on international work. In particular, the head of state discussed the next steps towards Ukraine's membership in the EU and spoke with American partners about cooperation between Kyiv and Washington and pressure on Russia.

 On the same day, Zelenskyy held talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He expressed gratitude for the long and comprehensive support and the bilateral security agreement.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Baltimore County Police Sgt. William McGladrie punched the Black man multiple times as other officers stood nearby in the Woodlawn precinct, but he was not punished for his use of force.

The story may sound familiar because its happened before.

This seems to be a pattern for Sergeant McGladrie, Maj. Orlando Lilly wrote about the Jan. 5, 2022, encounter when McGladrie punched a handcuffed man twice in the stomach and headlocked him.

The departments only Black major was referring to 2020, when the sergeant punched a different Black man repeatedly in the face inside a precinct holding cell, according to body-camera videos and police records.

The departments Internal Affairs Section cleared McGladrie of wrongdoing in the more recent case in October 2022. A few months later, a police trial board ruled he hadnt used unnecessary force in 2020, either. The boards at the time were made up of other county officers who review cases when officers appeal internal disciplinary decisions.

The similar outcomes demonstrate the high bar for punishing Baltimore County police officers for how they apply force against suspects.

A review of more than six years of police data shows county officers reported using force less often in recent years. However, they use force disproportionately against Black people. The countys population is about one-third Black, yet more than two-thirds of the people officers use force against are Black.

Last month, three county officers were indicted in connection with their involvement in a September 2023 encounter in which a handcuffed Black detainee in Baltimore City was pepper-sprayed and yanked around by his hair.

Changes in state law that went into effect last summer in the county added new public oversight to the process of reviewing police misconduct.

The Baltimore Sun obtained documents and videos related to the internal investigation of McGladries 2022 actions through a Maryland Public Information Act request. McGladrie, a 25-year veteran who earned about $144,500 last year, did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The three officers who made up McGladries police trial board in April 2023 ruled that he should receive a letter of reprimand for swearing during the 2020 beating, but rejected the Internal Affairs determination that he used unnecessary force. McGladries comments in 2020, including saying, You gonna step to me? You want to step? Lets [obscenity bleeped] step, escalated a tense interaction, internal investigators wrote.

During that incident, three officers, including McGladrie, threw Robert Jackson III to the floor of a holding cell after trading insults.

This is racist, Jackson can be heard saying in the footage.

Yup, it is, McGladrie answered, after punching him in the face.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., a Democrat, said in the fall that he had concerns about McGladries conduct in 2020, but that the matter was settled by the police trial board.

The sergeant is not the only county officer who has faced scrutiny for his use of force in recent years.

Last year, police trial boards  made up of other officers  reversed Internal Affairs findings that two different officers used unreasonable force, including an officer who hit an intoxicated man bleeding from his wrists in the head with a department-issued flashlight in 2021.

Under a new state law, civilians are now involved in the disciplinary process for Baltimore County officers, with citizen complaints going through the countys Administrative Charging Committee. The committee can lodge administrative charges accusing officers of violating policy, and if officers appeal those charges, the case now goes to a three-person panel with only one police member, rather than three.

The charging committee reviewed three use-of-force cases between July and December and cleared the officers in each case, according to a year-end report.

Meanwhile, Baltimore County Cpl. Zachary Small faces charges of assault, excessive force and reckless endangerment in Baltimore City. In September, Small pepper-sprayed the face of a man who was complaining he couldnt breathe inside a police vehicle, then used the mans hair to yank his head around as he lay on the ground, body-camera video released by police shows. Two other county officers, Jacob Roos and Justin Graham-Moore, were indicted on charges of misconduct in office for failing to intervene.

After viewing the 2022 video of McGladrie, Ryan Coleman, president of the Randallstown NAACP, said he saw parallels between his actions and those of Small. He called it problematic that both men are supervisors.

Anytime youre having people hit people who are handcuffed, or pepper-spray people who are handcuffed, its just too much, Coleman said. You cannot hit a handcuffed suspect. Theres just no rhyme or reason.

Ian Adams, an assistant professor at the University of South Carolinas Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, said officers use of force is subject to greater scrutiny when a person is handcuffed.

When subjects are handcuffed, officers are generally taught that force should not be used except in pretty extraordinary circumstances, Adams said.

When McGladrie approached Jarvis Sewell inside the precinct in 2022, he was standing on a bench jutting out from the wall with his hands cuffed to a bar behind him, according to McGladries body-camera video. Although his name was redacted in the Internal Affairs records provided to The Sun, Sewell confirmed that he was the person in the video.

Police had arrested Sewell for violating a protective order and disorderly conduct after a woman called 911, police records show. However, court records show that the protective order had been dismissed earlier that day. The disorderly conduct charge was put on the stet docket, meaning prosecutors could revive it without recharging Sewell.

He argued with officers inside the Woodlawn precinct, according to multiple videos, refusing to take off his sweatpants and obey other commands.

Officer Sean Langeheine walked toward Sewell and bent down to shackle his legs. McGladrie told him to sit, then grabbed one of his feet to force him down on the bench.

Have a seat, have a seat now. [Obscenity bleeped.] Have a seat, McGladrie said, then twice punched Sewell in the abdomen. McGladrie grabbed Sewells head and held it under his arm as Langeheine shackled his legs and Sgt. Michael Toni stood nearby.

Are we gonna play? Are we gonna play? Are we gonna play? McGladrie said, according to the video.

In an interview with The Sun, Sewell called his experience with officers normal.

 A couple of them will be like that, he said. If Im standing there restrained and theres multiple of you, whats the point of excessive force?

McGladrie wrote in a report that he used force to protect himself or another member of the department. Sewell had rocked to the side, lifting his foot, potentially kicking Officers and he stood on a bench and failed to follow directives, McGladrie wrote.

Adams, who serves as an expert witness in policing cases with a specialty in use of force, said he could not tell from the videos provided to The Sun that Sewell was about to kick an officer, but internal investigators might have used other evidence to conclude that.

What it comes down to is, do you think it was a reasonable perception that the subject at the time was about to pose an imminent threat, i.e. he was about to do something harmful? Adams said.

Adams called it concerning that a similar incident happened previously.

That suggests that there might be a pattern going on, in which case, a little more oversight would probably be appropriate, he said.

Internal Affairs investigators found McGladrie had acted within policy to subdue a suspect who was belligerent and antagonized the officers, ignoring commands and yelling at officers.

With his continued defiance, the tensing/leaning of his body documented by Sergeant McGladrie, and the vulnerable position Officer Langeheine was placed in to apply leg shackles, Sergeant McGladries documented assessment and fear that Mr. [Sewell] would imminently assault Officer Langeheine was reasonable, Sgt. Christopher Smith wrote in the findings of the Internal Affairs Investigation.

All this caused McGladrie to use two fist strikes, Smith wrote. He also wrote that because of the perceived threat of imminent assault, McGladries decision to hold Sewells head in the crook of his arm would be reasonable.

Before the Internal Affairs investigation, Woodlawn Precinct Capt. Jeffrey Hartman wrote on Jan. 18, 2022, that McGladries use of force was justified, but the sergeant would undergo training for other aspects of the interaction. Hartman wrote that officers could have put shackles on a handcuffed Sewell with what appeared to be little threat and that forcing his legs onto the ground made it harder to search him.

He said McGladrie would be required to attend a Verbal Judo Seminar, which addresses the skills of persuasion and the art of verbal de-escalation to generate voluntary compliance.

A police spokesperson confirmed McGladrie attended the seminar in March 2022.
Is there no end to the tyranny we face?

According to Sen. Anthony Kern, there is a move afoot by Arizonas cities and towns to stop drivers from turning right on a red light.

And because anything that makes it more difficult to lurch to the right must be a government conspiracy, Kerns got a bill to combat it ...

By slathering on a new layer of bureaucratic rules because, as he says 

Everythings less government with me."

Yeah, dont ask me to explain that one.

Kern wants to stop 'Marxist' ideas

Kern, R-Glendale, is one of the Legislatures leading conservative lights, a MAGA man who, I must say, is having a heck of a year.

When hes not turning his back on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs (during her State of the State address) or campaigning to move up the political food chain (in Congress) or awaiting word on whether hes going to jail (as a fake elector), Kern is donning his armor to battle the forces of evil.

From what I can tell, Kern is against clean air, state universities and democracy  at least when it comes to selecting the nations president.

His Senate Bill 1195 would bar any government agency from promoting Marxist ideas. You know, anti-freedom stuff like biking or riding a bus to work or eating less meat or reducing greenhouse gas emissions or researching climate change.

Should Kerns bill become law, youll be able to sue any government tyrant who tries to tell you how many clothes you can buy. (The fact that there is no government tyrant telling you how many clothes you can buy is apparently beside the point.)

Bills create regulations that already exist

Kern says hes not a university guy, which seems to me an understatement.

When hes not applauding talk of gutting these anti-American indoctrination camps, as he calls them, or urging donors to pull back their money from Arizona State University, hes proposing new laws that dont actually do much of anything.

His SB 1304 would require the Arizona Board of Regents to adopt a free expression policy so university students and faculty can express their opinions without penalty. Never mind that the Board of Regents already has a free expression policy along with non-discrimination and anti-harassment policy.

His SB 1477 would require the Board of Regents to create a grade challenge department for students who think they were given a bad grade due to their political viewpoint. Never mind that the Board of Regents already has a process for challenging grades.

Kern uses his office: For payback against Kris Mayes

His Senate Concurrent Resolution 1014 would give the Legislature the authority to determine which presidential candidate wins Arizonas vote.

Never mind your vote.

Then again, he already served as a fake elector, avowing that hed been duly elected to cast Arizonas electoral votes for the guy who didnt win in 2020.

Which cities are killing right turns on red?

Now hes turned his narrowed eye to traffic intersections  specifically intersections posted with a sign that says you cant turn right when the light is red.

Right now, cities and towns are kind of willy-nilly putting up no right on red, no right on red. And theres no study being done, and its kind of a pain in the rear end, so I decided to run the bill, he told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee last week.

His Senate Bill 1299 would require an engineering study before a city could ban a right turn on red. Before posting a sign, a registered engineer would have to evaluate the intersection and determine that allowing a right turn on red is unsafe either at all times or on specific days and times and to document his or her findings.

The bill passed the Senate on a party line vote and cleared the House Transportation Committee with both Republican and some Democratic support.

Never mind that the Arizona Department of Transportation already has a list of protocols for when right turns on red may be forbidden  one that requires the approval of a regional traffic engineer.

Or that there doesnt seem to be a push on to deny us the right to turn right.

If there was a plot afoot, surely Kern could have named at least one city  or even one intersection  where our rights have been willy-nilly nullified.

To Kern, everything is a conspiracy

Instead, Kern said he got the idea for the bill from a constituent, Jay Beeber, the executive director of policy for the National Motorists Association, an advocacy organization for drivers.

Beeber told the committee he didnt know if any Arizona cities were willy-nilly forbidding right turns on red. But he did tick off a list of cities not in Arizona that are nixing right turns on red. Among them: Berkeley, Calif., San Francisco, Indianapolis and Washington D.C.

During the 1970s energy crisis, the U.S. began allowing right turns on red to cut down on idling at stop lights. In recent years, a few U.S. cities have begun cracking down in congested areas and even citywide, citing a concern for pedestrian and bicyclist safety

Beeber, however, doesnt buy it.

Whats really behind this movement is part of the agenda to make driving as miserable and as difficult as possible so people dont drive so much, Beeber told CBS News in November.

In other words, its a conspiracy.

And just as with the Marxists who are plotting to take away our meat and our clothes, Kern is all over the Arizona cities that apparently are plotting to take away our God-given right to turn right.

Never mind that he cant name a single one.

Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @LaurieRoberts or on Threads at laurierobertsaz.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Fake elector Anthony Kern moves on to a fake road conspiracy
Protesters at the beginning of the march to protest police Brutality against Black people in Tempe, Ariz. on June 11, 2020. Photo by Chloe Jones | Arizona Mirror

Four years after activists led calls to defund the police during nationwide protests of systemic racism and brutality, Arizona lawmakers are working to make sure that wont ever happen in Arizona.

A bill now being considered by the state Senate would prohibit cities and towns from decreasing the annual operating budget for law enforcement from the prior years budget. If a city does reduce police funding, the state treasurer would be required to withhold that same amount in state dollars from the city until the law enforcement cuts are restored.

For the past three years now, from the east coast to the west coast, all these cities have defunded their police departments. Crime has risen, towns are a mess, criminals are being let back out on the street without being charged or without bail. said Rep. David Marshall, a Republican from Snowflake, the sponsor of House Bill 2120. This bill is to prevent this from ever happening in our state, within our cities.

Marshall acknowledged in the Senate Military & Public Affairs committee on March 13 that there are no cities in Arizona that have shown any intention to defund their police departments. Instead, the bill aims to prevent activists from even trying.

Do we have an issue here in Phoenix? Right now, no we dont, this is a proactive bill taking care of the issues before they occur, he said. Theres activists within the district that are still trying to defund our police department.

The bill is similar to one that was introduced last session, but has some minor changes as this years version gives some flexibility to cities if they havent experienced any population growth, lack the money to uphold the previous years budget, or if they received a grant or approved only a one-time increase in funding for only the year prior.

If police funding must be reduced, HB2120 would require other departments, like transportation and community development, to receive similar budget cuts.

If the city has a budget shortfall, this doesnt affect them, Marshall said. All we ask is that if youre going to take money from departments in your city, the police department will be the last department that would be defunded.

Marshall said cities like Portland, Oregon have become hotspots for crime due to the policy. Portland became a poster child for the movement when it reduced some of its police funding and explored initiatives to modernize policing following the protests.

If you look at whats happening within those jurisdictions, they are losing businesses, crime is running rampant, theres no consequences to the crimes that are being committed, and people are leaving, he said.

However, it is hard to draw a direct link between activists calls for reform and an actual uptick in crime, as protests calling for police reform occurred at an unprecedented crossroads between social unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic that had a unique impact on crime nationwide.

Though the Portland Police Bureau experienced a dip in funding during the 2020-2021 fiscal year, the cuts were minor and followed by a dramatic increase in the years following  as was the case in most major U.S cities that made budget changes in the time following the 2020 protests, despite right-wing claims of a nationwide gutting of police departments.

Law enforcement budget cuts also came at a time as lockdowns left many cities and states facing severe shortfalls while also dealing with a public health emergency.

In 2020, local officials in Austin,Texas, reduced their police funding by a third of the previous years budget in order to reallocate funds to initiatives like COVID-19 medical services, community medics, mental health first responders and more. Though these budget cuts reflect some of the most dramatic funding changes in the nation at this time, the next years budget showed Austin police funding surpassed that of 2019 by over $10 million after the Texas legislature passed legislation similar to HB2120, setting a budget minimum.

Marshall attributed the shortage of people who want to become police officers to the fact that law enforcement has been demonized for no reason whatsoever.

They cant even hire officers because of whats happening to law enforcement today across our country, he said. There is no respect, they have been demonized by the media, by their own officials.

Protests over the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers led to an increase in public distrust of law enforcement by shedding light on larger issues surrounding modern policing.

A 2020 Associated Press poll found that more than half of Americans believed that police violence against the public is a very or extremely serious problem.

Police killed more than 1,200 people in 2023, making last year the deadliest year for civilian deaths caused by law enforcement in over a decade. At the same time, there was an unprecedented decline in nationwide homicide crime rates.

Long standing patterns of racial disparities seen within police brutality statistics have also contributed to the wounded reputation of law enforcement in many communities. Black people made up 27% of those killed by police in 2023, despite only comprising 13% of the nations population.

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, Black Americans are 12 times more likely to experience police misconduct than their white counterparts.

The publics unease in relation to policing and how much public money goes toward law enforcement has worsened as multi-million dollar police training facilities, dubbed cop cities, have emerged in cities across the country like Gilbert.

Nonetheless, the issues police departments are facing when it comes to recruitment and retention are not unique, as data also shows a growing trend away from all government jobs  a trend that predates the 2020 protests against law enforcement.

Marshall Pimentel, a lobbyist for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, told lawmakers during the Senate Military & Public Affairs committee meeting that HB2120 poses a threat to local control, calling budget authority a core function of local government.

We view this bill as a fundamental issue of local control. Just as state voters elect you all to craft a budget that will work for the entirety of the state, they do the same thing with their council members who craft a budget that will work for their individual communities, he said.

Pimentel said that, because police budgets often make up large portions of municipal budgets, there could be unintended consequences if cities are forced to make cuts across the board in order to reduce their police budget.

Tom Dorn, a lobbyist for the City of Phoenix, told lawmakers that 70% of the total Phoenix budget is allocated to public safety.

In the last decade, the City of Phoenix has increased their police budget by 53%. The 2023 budget allocated $1 billion to the City of Phoenixs police department, Dorn said. The City of Phoenix has never ever moved to defund the police, our budget shows that.

When Committee Chairman David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, asked why the city opposes the bill if it doesnt intend on defunding police by, Dorn echoed Pimentels concerns around the effect the bill would have on local control and discretion.

If we were swimming in cash, it might be a different discussion, but its also the local control issue, he said. The government closest to the people is the bestLet (city officials) do their job.

The bill next heads to the full Senate for consideration.

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The post Senate considers bill to prevent Arizona cities from ever being able to defund their police appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
Sylvester Byrd Jr. and Megan Edge testify in the Senate State Affairs Committee regarding parole board reforms on March 7, 2023. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Sylvester Byrd Jr. served nearly three decades in prison for a murder he committed when he was 20 years old. He said as a young man with a long sentence his initial attitude in jail was who cares, but then he began a path of self-improvement that led to parole. Three years later, he has a job in Anchorage, a church, and family support.

I truly am trying to be a better human being. Plant roots in my community, be a part of my community that I have damaged, he said.

Byrd is one of a shrinking number of Alaskans granted parole each year. Reasonable hope for parole, he said, helps inmates work towards better lives like he did, which is why he testified at the Capitol last week in support of reforms to the states parole board.

A bill sponsored by Sen. Loki Tobin, D-Anchorage, would make changes to the board that could increase access to parole for the states growing incarcerated population.

The states five-member parole board needs more members to work through hearings promptly and better reflect the incarcerated population, Tobin said. Her bill would also strike a provision that allows the board to deny parole if they think granting it may diminish the seriousness of the crime.

Parole is about providing hope. And it has a ripple effect: When there are folks who receive parole, others understand that they too should have hope, Tobin said.

Parole board members are appointed by the governor and serve five-year terms; under state law they are to represent the ethnic, racial, sexual and cultural population of the state. But Tobin said she realized while confirming members in committee last year that actually was not what was occurring; that there seemed to be one perspective contained in membership of that board.

Senate Bill 176 would expand the board from five to seven members and require five of the members to represent specific groups, including a physician, psychologist or psychiatrist; a crime victim or relation of a crime victim; a drug and alcohol treatment provider or person who has experienced drug or alcohol addiction; someone who has been unconditionally acquitted of a felony in the state and a member of one of the states federally recognized tribes.

Requirements like these are in use in other states. In Montana, one member of the parole board must be a member of a local tribe. In Oklahoma, two parole board members must have training in social work or mental health. The proposal would cap the amount of time each board member could serve at two five-year terms. Currency there are no term limits.

The updates take aim at a recent reversal: in the last five years the parole board has denied twice as many requests as it has granted.

Graph from the office Sen. Loki Tobin, D-Anchorage, using state data.

Megan Edge, director of the Prison Project with the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska, said her organization supports the bill because it works towards a balance between the punitive and rehabilitative goals of the criminal legal system.

First, it takes critical steps to ensure that incarcerated people appearing before the Alaska Board of Parole receive fair consideration, she said. And second, this bill ensures that the board fulfills its purpose, which is to assess someones likelihood of success should they be granted discretionary parole.

Edge is a former employee of the Department of Corrections and so had access to parole hearings, which are ordinarily closed to the public, and said she supports removing the boards latitude to deny parole if its members think granting it would diminish the seriousness of the crime. She called the provision vague and said that it has the effect of retrying the crime rather than examining the rehabilitative success and potential of the incarcerated person.

She said the hope of parole is an effective incentive for prisoners to try rehabilitation programs, and described how an older prisoner who would likely not leave prison had decided against that programming. But when he realized his younger cellmate with a shorter sentence looked up to him, he began taking classes to set a good example, she said.

Now this 20-year-old who will be home in June is taking anger management, hes taking the treatment class, she said. I think that incentive not only makes our prisons safer for everybody who lives and works there, but also our communities, because when that young man comes home in June, hell have job skills and have been treated for his behavioral health issues.

Leitoni Tupou, chair of the Board of Parole, said the board weighs the seriousness of the offense provision heavily. Were not taking it lightly because the degree of the conviction determined the seriousness of the offense, he said. From my perspective, a murder case with a sentence of 100 years versus a DUI or shoplifting  there is a difference in the seriousness of the offense.

Sylvester Byrd Jr. said he understands the seriousness of a crime  its a reality he faces every day. But his years on parole show that even those who commit the most serious crimes can be rehabilitated.

I work hard while being outside to ensure that Im not a threat. The stigma of a felon is like Im some purple monster-eater or whatever. And I deal with that every day, he said, adding that his support system helps him bear the stress.

He said that after a long sentence, those support systems can disappear over time: For others, their support network is dwindling, because they are older and the people who they have are passing away.

The bill may be taken up again by the Senate State Affairs Committee and must move through the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.

The post Senator seeks makeover for Alaska parole board  more members, more representation, more clarity appeared first on Alaska Beacon.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Ohio Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown is pushing a bipartisan bill called the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. Xylazine, also known as tranq, is an easily accessible veterinary tranquilizer that is being used as a low-cost cutting agent for fentanyl.

We want to make sure that xylazine is not so readily available to drug dealers, Sen. Sherrod Brown, (D-Ohio.) said.

The synthetic drug is normally used by veterinarians to treat large animals, Brown says it is being mixed with fentanyl and humans are using it.

Hes concerned that xylazine is getting into the wrong hands.

Thats a serious problem for people that potentially overdose, Brown said.

The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would:

-List xylazine as Schedule III illicit substance under the Controlled Substances Act

-Ensure veterinarians, farmers, and ranchers can still use the drug for its intended purpose by creating a clear definition of ultimate user  someone lawfully permitted to possess a controlled substance for legitimate use

-Enable the DEA to track its manufacturing to ensure it is not diverted to the illicit market

-Require a report on prevalence, risks, and recommendations regarding xylazine.

Brown says the bill has been endorsed by 39 state attorneys general, major law enforcement organizations, and veterinary groups.

According to the CDC last year more than two-thirds of the reported drug overdose deaths in the U.S. involved synthetic opioids.

The stuff is not easy to manufacture, Sen. J.D. Vance, (R-Ohio.) said.

Senator J.D. Vance says many of these synthetic drugs like fentanyl are coming from China.

He is calling on the Biden administration to do more to stop it.

Unfortunately, the Biden administration, I think, has just been really weak on this issue, Vance said.

The Biden administration says it is putting pressure on China to crack down on the manufacturing of these drugs.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Israeli troops have killed a senior Hamas commander as they wrested back control of Gaza Citys Al-Shifa Hospital from the terror group, which has regained ground in the north of the territory.

Israel Defense Forces engaged with dozens of gunmen who appeared to have holed up at the hospital months after Israel originally secured the facility.

Pockets of resistance have emerged as Israels occupation of Gaza has stretched the IDF, which is now preparing for an invasion of Rafah in the south.

Fierce clashes started around the hospital on Monday morning and were reported by both sides well into the evening.

Daniel Hagari, an IDF spokesman, said the operation was based on intelligence information indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists to conduct and promote terrorist activity.

At least 20 Hamas fighters were killed and wounded in gun battles at the hospital grounds, and at least 80 suspects had been detained, Israel said late on Monday.

Faiq Mabhuoch, the head of the operations directorate for Hamass internal security, was among those killed, the IDF said, adding that the troops found numerous weapons in a room nearby. Mr Mabhuouch and his troops had apparently been hiding at the hospital for some time.

On Monday, the head of the World Health Organisation expressed concern over the assault on Al-Shifa, saying hospitals should never be battlegrounds.

Tedros Ghebreyesus said Al-Shifa only recently restored minimal health services.

In the original raid last year, the IDF claimed it had found evidence of the Al-Shifa being used as a base, including a network of tunnels.

Residents flee the area after an Israeli bombardment in central Gaza City on March 18 - AFP via Getty Images

By early Monday afternoon, the IDF surrounded the hospital once again, calling on Hamas members inside to surrender.

Videos from the scene showed Israeli tanks and bulldozers on the ground between the hospital buildings.

Writing on one of the envelopes said it was a gift from Hamas and Islamic Jihad to someone for good work.

Later on Monday, the IDF released a video that appears to have been shot at the premises of the hospital, showing the troops taking envelopes of cash from the safe.

The clashes at Al-Shifa are likely to come from lone-wolf fighters as all Hamas battalions in the north had been decimated, according to Yohanan Tzoreff, a terrorism expert and former Israeli government adviser on Gaza.

It doesnt mean that Hamas is back in the north, he told The Telegraph, adding that the Hamas fighters likely used the remaining tunnels to enter the hospital grounds.

Most of the IDF force withdrew from the north but even if we stay all over the north, there still will be sporadic attacks from remnants of Hamas.

The Al Jazeera TV channel said a member of its Arabic service who was sheltering at the hospital had been detained and taken to an unknown location.

The Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday condemned the detention of Ismail al-Ghoul, saying the ongoing war in Gaza was the worst conflict for journalists that the CPJ has ever documented.

In a statement on Monday, Hamas condemned the attack on the hospital as a new crime and lashed out at Israel for targeting defenceless civilians instead of taking on the fighters on the battlefield.

After Israels initial raid of the hospital in November last year, independent analysts said the tunnels the IDF found were unlikely to host anything as important as a command centre for a base. No evidence has been produced to show that the tunnels nearby could be accessed from inside the hospital wards, as the IDF had claimed.

However, declassified US documents suggested in January that the US intelligence community still believed the hospital had been used as a Hamas command centre.

The clashes in the area in the heart of badly destroyed Gaza City where Israeli forces were supposed to have gained control months ago have highlighted the fragility of security in Gaza, very far from the total victory that Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, promised earlier this year.

Recent rocket launches from northern Gaza and pockets of resistance show that the IDF has a long way to go in Gaza, the well-placed news website Walla said in a piece about the operation around Al-Shifa.

The second raid on Shifa Hospital is indeed an intelligence and operational achievement, but at the same time, it showcases that achievements of the war are being eroded, and quickly, and require constant maintenance. Just like in (the West Bank).

Meanwhile, on Monday, the United Nations warned of imminent famine in the war-ravaged area north of the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians receive aid in the form of flour at the UNRWA building in Jabalia, Gaza - MAGO/Ashraf Amra \\ apaimages / Avalon

Famine is now projected and imminent in north Gaza and the Gaza governorates and is expected to manifest during the projection period between mid-March 2024 to May 2024, a report by several UN agencies including the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said.

About 70 per cent of households in the north are expected to experience famine between now and May.

On Monday, Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UNs agency for Palestinian refugees, said Israel denied his entry to Gaza the day the report was published.

He told a news conference in Cairo that his agency and colleagues were engaged in a race against the clock to try to reverse the impact of the spreading hunger and the looming famine in Gaza.

04:03 PM GMT

Thats it for todays blog. Thanks for following

Here are Mondays top stories:

Israel launched a raid on Gazas Al-Shifa hospital overnight, where it said senior Hamas terrorists were holed up

The Israeli army said it killed at least one senior Hamas operative during the raid, according to reports. It also claims to have killed 20 other gunmen

Famine is imminent in the north of the Gaza Strip, with hundreds of thousands of people now facing catastrophic levels of hunger, an international body that monitors food crises has warned

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the report into Gazas food shortages an appalling indictment

Canadian legislators are due to vote today on a non-binding motion backing Palestinian statehood that has drawn condemnation from Israel and that could deepen splits inside the ruling Liberal Party

The Israel Defence Forces announced on Sunday that officer Captain Daniel Perez was killed on October 7. Cpt Perez was known to have been taken hostage by Hamas when it launched its brutal attack in Israel but not whether he was still alive.

03:52 PM GMT

Guterres called report of food shortages an appalling indictment

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called a report into Gazas food shortages an appalling indictment and said Israel must allow complete and unfettered access to all parts of Gaza.

The Integrated Food-Security Phase Classification (IPC), whose assessments are relied on by UN agencies, said 70 per cent of people in parts of northern Gaza were now afflicted by the most severe level of food shortage, far exceeding the 20 per cent famine threshold.

In a famine, food shortages are followed first by widespread malnutrition and then mass deaths. The IPC said malnutrition is probably already at famine levels; it did not have enough data on death rates, but estimated residents would be dying at famine scale imminently, and children under four may already be.

This is an entirely manmade disaster  and the report makes clear that it can be halted, said Mr Guterres.

Israel, which initially allowed aid into Gaza through only two checkpoints on the enclaves southern edge, says it is opening more routes by land, as well as allowing sea shipments and air drops. The first boat carrying aid arrived last week.

03:24 PM GMT

Israeli forces kill 20 gunmen in Gazas Shifa hospital, military says

Israeli forces have killed 20 Palestinian gunmen in Gazas Al Shifa hospital and apprehended dozens of suspected militants, the Israeli military said on Monday.

The military said that it was continuing to thwart terrorist activity in the Shifa hospital.

Twenty terrorists have been eliminated at the Shifa hospital thus far in various engagements, and dozens of apprehended suspects are currently in questioning.

03:11 PM GMT

Opposition leader Yair Lpid calls Netanyahus government craziest in Israels history

Yair Lapid, the Israeli opposition leader, has called president Netanyahus administration the craziest government in the countrys history as he called for the countrys leaders to go.

Another week goes by, and another week, and another month, and another month. Madness becomes habit, he wrote on X.

I want to remind the citizens of Israel, the Knesset of Israel, that what is happening here today is not normal. It has to stop, they have to go, or we will all become abnormal. I call on the Knesset to vote no confidence in the craziest government in the countrys history.

Lapid, a centrist, who served briefly as prime minister last year, previously said he believed a large majority of the 120 lawmakers in the Knesset, or parliament, would sign on to a new coalition led by Netanyahus right-wing Likud party.

02:48 PM GMT

Canada parliament to vote on motion backing Palestinian statehood

Canadian legislators are due to vote today on a non-binding motion backing Palestinian statehood that has drawn condemnation from Israel and that could deepen splits inside the ruling Liberal Party.

Although the government is free to ignore the result of the vote in the House of Commons elected chamber, it could cause political problems for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The motion was drawn up by the minority left-leaning New Democrats, who are helping keep Trudeaus Liberals in power and are unhappy by what they see as his failure to do enough to protect the civilian population in Gaza.

02:36 PM GMT

Full story: People are starving to death, experts warn

Our Global Health Correspondent Lilia Sebouai has written a full account of Gazas imminent famine.

Famine is imminent in the north of the Gaza Strip, with hundreds of thousands of people now facing catastrophic levels of hunger, an international body that monitors food crises has warned. Just two declarations of famine have been made in the last decade  in Somalia, in 2011, and South Sudan, in 2017  but experts believe the deadly phenomenon will arrive in Gazas two northern districts between now and May. The warning has been issued by the UNs hunger monitoring system, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative, which said it expects to see a steep rise in malnutrition-related deaths among Gazan children in the months ahead. So far, at least 10 children have died as a result of starvation, according to the UN. These deaths were reported in the north of Gaza, where 300,000 people remain trapped.

Click here to read the full story

02:15 PM GMT

UNRWA chief calls imminent famine in Gaza a man-made crisis

Philippe Lazzarini has called the imminent famine stalking Gaza a man-made stain on humanity.

Mr Lazzarini said famine is expected to hit northern Gaza between now and May.

Half the population has completely exhausted food supplies and coping capacities, said Mr Lazzarini, adding that they are struggling with catastrophic hunger and starvation.

On the day new data is out on famine in #GAZA, the Israeli Authorities deny my entry to Gaza.



-Famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip, expected to arrive between now and May.

- Two million people= the entire population of Gaza is facing crisis levels of food insecurity  Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) March 18, 2024

01:48 PM GMT

Pictured: People mourn death of Israeli soldier Captain Daniel Perez

The Israel Defence Forces announced on Sunday that officer Captain Daniel Perez was killed on October 7.

Cpt Perez was known to have been taken hostage by Hamas when it launched its brutal attack in Israel but not whether he was still alive.

On Sunday the IDF confirmed that he had indeed been killed in captivity.

Rabbi Danny Mirvis, acting CEO of World Mizrahi, said Cpt Perezs funeral would be held today.

People mourn Israeli soldier Captain Daniel Perez, who was killed in the deadly October 7 attack by militants from Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, at his funeral at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, March 18, 2024. Israel's government confirmed that Perez's body is being held by Hamas in Gaza. REUTERS/Nir Elias

01:27 PM GMT

Israel blocks UNRWA chief from entering Gaza, say UNRWA and Egypt

Israeli authorities have denied the head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) permission to enter Gaza, UNRWA and the Egyptian foreign minister said.

Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA chief, said he had intended to go to Rafah on Monday but I have been informed an hour ago that my entry into Rafah is declined.

Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian foreign minister, who was speaking alongside Mr Lazzarini at a Cario news conference, described Israels decision as unprecedented.

The move to deny Lazzarini permission to enter the territory comes as Palestinians in Gaza face a deepening humanitarian crisis, with a UN-backed report saying that famine is expected between now and May in the north of Gaza.

We are engaged in a race against the clock to try to reverse the impact of the spreading hunger and the looming famine in the Gaza Strip, Lazzarini said, describing hunger in the Gaza Strip as man-made.

12:54 PM GMT

Jordans foreign minister accuses Israel of starving children to death

Jordans foreign minister has accused Israel of starving children to death as the United Nations warns of catastrophic hunger.

At a press conference in Amman, Ayman Al-Safadi said Israel was perpetrating a humanitarian crime driven by extremist ideology and inhuman racism.

[Israel] is starving children to death and taking more than 2 million Palestinians hostage.

The allegation follows comments by Beth Bechdol, the deputy director-general of the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization, who said half of Gazans are experiencing catastrophic hunger, which is unprecedented.

12:41 PM GMT

WHO chief voices concern over Gazas Al Shifa Hospital

The World Health Organization chief on Monday voiced concern about the Al Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza after an Israeli raid of the site.

Hospitals should never be battlegrounds. We are terribly worried about the situation at Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, which is endangering health workers, patients and civilians, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on social media platform X.

Palestinian health authorities said the Israeli operation has caused multiple casualties and set off a fierce fire while Israels military said the site was being used by Hamas leaders.

11:59 AM GMT

Al Jazeera says one of its reporters arrested during hospital raid

Al-Jazeera said one of its reporters has been arrested along with dozens of others from Al-Shifa hospital.

The broadcaster said Ismail al-Ghoul was sheltering inside the hospital with his crew when they were detained by the Israeli army.

According to unconfirmed reports they were severely beaten before being taken to an unknown destination.

11:42 AM GMT

Famine imminent in north Gaza, says UN

Half of Gazans are experiencing catastrophic hunger, with famine projected to hit the territorys north by May without urgent intervention, a UN-backed food security assessment said on Monday.

To have 50 percent of an entire population in catastrophic, near famine levels, is unprecedented, Beth Bechdol, the deputy director-general of the UNs Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), told AFP.

It amounts to around 1.1 million people experiencing catastrophic food insecurity due to the Israel-Hamas war, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification partnership said in its report.

11:22 AM GMT

Israel to offer six-week Gaza truce in return for 40 hostages, Israeli official says

Israel is set to engage in mediated talks with Hamas today to negotiate a six-week truce in Gaza in return for the release of hostages.

A high-level Israeli delegation headed by Mossad chief David Barnea is due to arrive in Qatar to discuss the possibility of freeing 40 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 when it launched an attack in Israel.

This stage of the negotiations could take at least two weeks, the Israeli official estimated, citing difficulties that Hamas foreign delegates may have in communicating with the group in the besieged enclave after more than five months of war.

10:59 AM GMT

Israeli army says 250 soldiers killed since start of Gaza ground offensive

The number of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza has reached 250 since ground operations in the Hamas-ruled territory began in late October, according to the latest toll on the armys website on Monday.

The 250th soldier was killed on Monday in what a security source said was the operation centred on the Al-Shifa hospital complex, Gazas largest.

10:47 AM GMT

Israel committing new crime on hospital after launching raid, says Hamas

Hamas has denounced Israels raid on Al-Shifa hospital as a new crime without care for its patients or staff.

The Israeli army launched an operation around Gazas largest hospital on Monday, with witnesses reporting air strikes on the devastated neighbourhood where it is located.

Heres Hamas full response to the raid, posted by the journalist Sulaiman Ahmed:

BREAKING: HAMAS OFFICIAL STATEMENT



ON AL SHIFA HOSPITAL INVASION



"A new crime is committed by the criminal zionist occupation army this dawn in its aggression against the Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City and the surrounding area by directly targeting the hospital pic.twitter.com/bpH0gVoZIj  Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) March 18, 2024

10:30 AM GMT

Watch: IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari announcing Israels military operation at Shifa hospital

IDF troops are currently conducting a precise operation in the area of Shifa hospitalbased on intelligence information indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists to conduct and promote terrorist activity.



Watch IDF Spokeperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari describe pic.twitter.com/jKdUdNpY91  Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 18, 2024

10:16 AM GMT

We started to hear sounds of explosions, witness tells Reuters after hospital raid

Mohammad Ali, a 32-year-old father of two, who lives around one kilometre from Al-Shifa hospital, gave this account to Reuters of what he saw and heard after Israel launched a raid on the building:

Suddenly, we started to hear sounds of explosions, several bombings, and soon tanks started to roll, they came from the western road and headed toward Al Shifa, then sounds of gunfire and explosions increased, Mr Ali said.

We dont know what is happening, but it looked as if it was a re-invasion of the Gaza City, he added, saying that the military activities began at around 1:00 am (23:00 GMT Sunday).

10:09 AM GMT

Pictured: Latest scenes from Gaza

Palestinians, who escaped from the attacks and took refuge in the school in Rafah, play a game of volleyball - Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu via Getty Images

A 53-year old katayef master Abu Ashraf Akl, whose shop at the Nuseirat Refugee Camp was damaged in the Israeli attacks - Doaa Albaz/Anadolu via Getty Images

Palestinian residents leave the area around Al-Shifa hospital after the Israeli army raided it overnight

Reports emerged of tanks and heavy gunfire at the hospital - Dawoud Abo Alkas/Anadolu via Getty Images

09:30 AM GMT

Olaf Scholz joins growing number of allies to question Israels operations in Gaza

Todays raid at Al-Shifa comes as Olaf Scholz joined the growing chorus of Israels allies to express dissent over prime minister Netanhayus operations to remove Hamas from Gaza.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Israels offensive had come with terribly high costs and that the world could not simply stand by and watch as Palestinians risk starvation in the enclave.

Speaking after talks with Mr Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Sunday, Mr Scholz said he had shared his concerns about the high number of civilian casualties and insufficient aid reaching Gaza where aid agencies say famine is looming.

The more desperate the situation of the people in Gaza becomes, the more this begs the question: No matter how important the goal can it justify such terribly high costs, or are there other ways to achieve your goal? Mr Scholz said.

09:14 AM GMT

Israeli army calls on Gazans to evacuate around Al-Shifa

Israels military called on Gazans to evacuate the area in and around Al-Shifa - the territorys largest hospital - as battles raged at the complex crowded with patients and displaced people.

In order to maintain your security, you must immediately evacuate the area, army spokesman Avichay Adraee said on social media platform X, instructing all those present to head west and then south to a humanitarian area.

09:04 AM GMT

Dozens of casualties reported to health ministry

People near the Al-Shifa hospital reportedly called the health ministry to report dozens of casualties after Israel launched a raid overnight.

No one could transport them to the hospital due to the intensity of gunfire and artillery shelling, the Hamas-run health ministry said.

The Israeli army has carried out multiple operations in and around medical facilities across the Gaza Strip since the start of the war.

08:52 AM GMT

Al-Shifa raid follows one in November

The current raid at Al-Shifa is not the first such operation by the Israeli army at the hospital. It launched one in November too, to much criticism.

Thousands of people were forced to flee the hospital after what Palestinian officials said was an Israeli air strike.

The Director-General of the WHO Tedros Adhanom called the militarys action deeply concerning.

The UNs aid chief Martin Griffiths said, Hospitals are not battlegrounds.

The protection of newborns, patients, medical staff and all civilians must override all other concerns, he added.

08:31 AM GMT

Gaza war death toll at 31,726, says Hamas-run health ministry

At least 31,726 people have been killed in Gaza in the more than five months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants, the Hamas-run health ministry has said.

The latest toll includes at least 81 deaths in the previous 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 73,792 people have been wounded in Gaza since the war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7.

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SHAWNEE, Okla. (KFOR)  A Shawnee farmer has been left with a massive hole in his land for months, and he says the city is to blame.

Its actually a financial burden on me, said Jeremy Kinnamon.

Kinnamon said the problem goes back almost two years ago when he first notice a manhole, installed by the City of Shawnee was overflowing on his land.

I had a bunch of oil and maybe hydraulic fluid, said Kinnamon.

LOCAL NEWS: New sign ordinance takes effect in Oklahoma City

The farmer said the city agreed they had an issue and sent workers to clean up the mess, but a few months later the same thing happened.

He said after several phone calls the city finally returned again.

I still had a bunch of my dirt still just saturated with that oil, sad Kinnamon. They finally come out here and they dug it up and then they left.

The work left a massive hole in Kinnamons land.

Theres rocks, bricks and just construction debris. That doesnt work in a farmers hayfield, said Kinnamon.

Kinnamon was told the city was waiting for more soil so they could fill the hole, but its been at least eight months.

They will not communicate with me at all, said Kinnamon. I use this land to make hay for cows and peoples livestock, thats how I make my living on the farm.

Kinnamon said its farming season and the giant hole is limiting the work he can do.

 I need to be out here fertilizing and getting ready to cut hay, he said. It makes it harder on my equipment because the amount of turning that I have to do.

LOCAL NEWS: Its very concerning: Will the OKC Zoo Amphitheatre hosts concerts this summer?

News 4 reached out to the city of Shawnee regarding Jeremys claims, they responded with the following statement,

At this time, the City of Shawnee is actively working with Mr. Jeremy Kinnamon,

through his elected legal counsel, to address any concerns that may be related to the

Citys wastewater line that traverses the Kinnamon property. The City is in the

process of engaging a firm to extract soil samples, so that any remedial action, if

necessary, can be completed by the City.

The City of Shawnee is committed to resolving this matter in a fair manner,

prioritizing the well-being of our residents and the environment. We will provide

updates as the situation progresses. City of Shawnee

Kinnamon said too much time has passed and he just wants the city to do the right thing by fixing their mistake.

It should be fixed as good or better than it was before they got here. I mean, its their line. They need to maintain it, said Kinnamon. I just want my land fixed, thats all I want.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Whenever Ed Gilliam was having a tough time, no matter what the situation, he knew he could always rely on a smile from his daughter, Elaysha Gilliam to turn his day around.

Gilliam watched over the years as his daughter had kids of her own and saw how her smile brightened the lives of her four children.

She had this big personality and an even bigger smile that made you forget everything, says Gilliam. Her smile is what I think I will miss the most.

Gilliam,who was 12 weeks pregnant with her fifth child, was found dead Feb. 19 at the age of 26. Her body was discovered near the 3600 block of Oakley Ave. The death is being investigated as a homicide.

With almost a month passing since his daughters death, Gilliam hopes that anyone with information on the case will come forward to police.

We are trying to stay strong for the grandkids, but it is really hard because she was really loved and nobody really has any answers as to what happened, he says.

Gilliam says his daughter had a passion and worked hard to provide for her children who were the most important things in her life. Gilliam hopes for justice in his daughters case and that her death will not become just another unsolved homicide statistic.

She didnt deserve this, says Gilliams father. She had a heart of gold and meant the world to so many people.

Gilliam and his family now find themselves navigating a life without the passionate young mother with the big smile who brought joy and laughter to everyone she encountered. He knows that life without her will never be the same and he is deeply saddened he will never get to meet his unborn grandchild. He says he will continue to keep her memory alive for her children.

Alaysha Gilliam seen with three of her four children.

Her passion for music and dancing made her the life of any party. Her father will always remember the ability she had to completely change the atmosphere of any room she walked into and turned it into one of fun and love.

She loved to be around family, says her father. She loved the togetherness of when we were all sitting around eating, talking and laughing together.

GIlliam says anyone who knew his daughter will miss the hours of conversation that she shared with so many people. She was known as the person within her circle of friends and family that people turned to for a kind word and motivation.

Many people posted messages of shock and condolences on social media.

I miss you! Words cant express how much I miss your voice and your random I love yous.

I love you sister so bad if I knew Super Bowl Sunday was my last time seeing you I wouldve hugged & talked to u longer.

You will truly be missed you had a beautiful soul much love love you.

I hope the people who did this would turn themselves in and take responsibility for their actions, says Gilliam. I hope that if anyone knows anything that they will do the right thing because my daughter was a beautiful person who didnt deserve this.

Other Remembrances

John Mosley, Sr.

John Mosley, Sr., father and retired General Electric worker, died Feb. 19. He was 81.

John Mosley, Sr., father and retired General Electric worker, died Feb. 19. He was 81.

Mosley was born on Feb. 16, 1943, to Curley Mosley and Carrie Dailey. He graduated high school in 1962 in Sidon, Mississippi and went on to study political science at Natchez Junior College earning an associates degree.

He traveled and lived several places throughout his life, including Chicago, Illinois where he worked for Zenith Television and Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he retired from General Electric after 34 years.

Mosley and his wife, Mary Mosley, met in 1988. The pair married in 1990. They raised five children together. In 2019 Mosley and his family moved to Leavenworth, Kansas.

He is remembered by his wife; his children, Brenda Thomas, Aquashantina Young, Dashandi Graham, Theatria Coney; his brothers: Otis Thompson, Ulysses Thompson, Jr. and Eugene Thompson; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and grandchildren.

Edward Hornsby Jr.

Edward Hornsby Jr., father and former DJ Died Feb. 18. He was 70.

Edward Hornsby Jr., father and former DJ died Feb. 18. He was 70.

Hornsby was born on Feb. 22, 1952, in Meridian, Mississippi to Mary and Edward Hornby Sr.

His family relocated to Kansas City and he graduated from Southeast High School. He later enrolled in Texas Southern University and studied broadcast operations while working as a DJ at a local radio station.

His family will remember the passion Hornsby had for music. He loved many different genres. Hornsby enjoyed going on trips and finding adventures that took him outside his comfort zone.

He is remembered by his son, Ryan W. Hornsby, Sr; siblings, Jacqueline McKinney, Robert Daniels, Thomas Hornsby, Germaine Hornsby, Charlton Hornsby, Ann Kelly and Byron Hornsby.
Enraged Man Stabs Woman, Kills Twin Sister Outside Brooklyn Bodega After She Refused to Follow Him on Instagram

A woman was killed and her twin sister was wounded after they were both stabbed outside of a Brooklyn deli over the weekend for rejecting a man's advances, police say.

Investigators revealed that Samyia Spain and Sanyia Spain, both 19, were attacked by a man after visiting the Slope Natural Plus bodega in Brooklyn just after 2 a.m. on Sunday. Samyia was killed in the attack.

The twins went to the deli with their older brother to get a late-night snack after taking a break from a family game night. As they were walking, someone pointed out that a man the sisters met earlier that night at a local club was following Samyia, according to the New York Post.

Samyia Spain, 19, was killed after being stabbed by a man whose advances she rejected, police say. (Photo: Instagram/myia.2xx)

I grabbed her phone, and I was like, Come with me, come with me, Sanyia told the Daily News as she described the run-up to the fatal encounter. I was like, Why are you talking to that boy? She said, I dont want to talk to that boy.

Samyia didnt want to give the man her phone number, so she gave him her Instagram handle. He followed her, but when she didn't follow him back, the man got upset.

She said she wasnt going to follow him back, Sanyia recounted to the Daily News. Thats it. She said no.

He started arguing with the sisters inside the bodega before leaving. Then he came back with his friends, but the women and their brother pushed him back out with the help of a store employee who locked the door behind them.

After the sisters purchased their snack, they left the deli and found the man waiting outside for them, armed with a knife.

He had a knife in his hand and was saying, Im gonna stab yall in the face, Sanyia recounted. Im telling everyone to back up. And he pushed little Samyia to the ground.

The man charged at Samyia with the knife, but the twins' older brother stepped in and punched the man. The encounter escalated into a full fight.

"As I was going to grab [Samyias phone], he stabbed me in my arm, Sanyia said. Samyia then asked him to give her the phone back, and he stabbed her in the neck. She said, Im about to faint. As soon as she said Im about to faint, I called 911."

Sanyia suffered a stab wound to the arm, but her sister was stabbed in the neck and chest. Both twins were rushed to New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where Samyia died. Sanyia was treated for her injuries before being released.

Both sisters were born in Brooklyn and spent time in North Carolina before moving back to New York, the Daily News reported.

Police haven't made any arrests yet in Samyia's murder. Police were searching for two men, one with a ski mask, on Sunday night, but no other details were released.

Thats It. She Said No: Enraged Man Stabs Woman, Kills Twin Sister Outside Brooklyn Bodega After She Refused to Follow Him on Instagram
A tiny young bear cub in the South Delta faced an almost certain death after being abandoned by her mother, but was given a new chance at life when she was re-homed with another mother by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

"They were zero," Anthony Ballard said of the cub's chances of survival without intervention. "If the cub had not become hypothermic because of the rain that was coming in Friday morning, she would have starved to death.

"From everything we've seen, it looks like it's going to be a successful introduction. I've had a lot of high points in my career, but that was the best."

Ballard is the Black Bear Program coordinator at MDWFP. The program studies Mississippi's recovering black bear population.

By the early 1900s, the black bear population in Mississippi had been reduced to an estimated 12 bears due to unregulated hunting and habitat loss. By 2002, it was estimated to be less than 50 with no documented breeding in the state. Now, while there are no firm estimates, the population is making a recovery as breeding and sightings happen in much of the state.

An unusually young mother bear in Mississippi

As the population grows, individuals are monitored to provide a clearer picture of the population and a better understanding of the animals. A part of that is outfitting bears with GPS collars to track and gather data on health and reproduction. That research is what led Ballard to the cub when he went to the mother's den to sedate her and perform a health check on the 3-year-old mother in early March.

"We didn't expect her to have a cub," Ballard said. "Most sows, 4 to 5 years is going to be their first (litter).

"If there's going to be issues with a sow with a cub, it's usually on her first litter. It's like any other animal, if there's going to be problems, it's going to be with a first-time mother."

A young bear cub in Mississippi that was abandoned by its mother was rescued and re-homed with another sow and her three cubs.

More: Have photos or videos of bears in Mississippi? There's a new Facebook page for that

A rare case of a mother bear abandoning a cub

And that's just what happened. Ballard and others went to perform a den check and everything seemed normal. The mother was sedated and data collected from her and the weeks-old cub. Both were returned to the den and a cellular camera was in place outside the den to monitor movement.

Within an hour, the camera showed the sow leaving the den, which Ballard said raised red flags.

"At that point we were really put on notice to monitor the situation and make sure there was no danger to the cub," Ballard said. "The fact that she up and left, it surprised everybody. It's exceedingly rare for this to happen."

And surprises kept coming. The mother didn't return, something Ballard said has happened only a couple of times in the past 20 years of the program. Heavy rain was in the forecast and the cub needed milk, too. So, after about 36 hours, the decision was made to move the young cub into another den with a mature sow that had cubs in Wilkinson County.

"The Wilkinson County female was older and I knew she had cubs," Ballard said. "Every piece of evidence I had pointed to the fact she would be a good match."

Ballard said female bears will accept cubs from other litters and raise them as their own. He said it's wired into their instincts to care for them.

More: Why are bears crossing the Mississippi River? To get to the other side, of course. See why

Abandoned bear cub finds a new mother

So, the Wilkinson County bear, known as F35, was sedated and data was collected from her and her three cubs. She, her three cubs and the new cub were returned to the den. Each had Vicks VapoRub dabbed on them to mask human and other scents.

The abandoned cub immediately began bonding with the mother.

"It went as smooth as it possibly could have gone," Ballard said. "Once we introduced the new cub, she started nursing immediately.

"She probably nursed 80% of the time we were there. We took this cub, gave it our best shot, and backed out of there. The way it worked out was just as good as you could ask for. It was gratifying and rewarding. It was a relief, too."

Do you have a story idea? Contact Brian Broom at 601-961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Abandoned MS bear cub gets new shot at life with foster family
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man was shot and killed late Sunday night near the Central Library in downtown Portland, likely the 18th homicide of the year in the city.

The shooting happened around SW 10th and Yamhill. A man named Andreas was outside the main library when he and others heard what they thought were fireworks. Instead it was a shooting.

Officers at the scene provided first aid and rushed the man to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name has not been released.

Asked if he feels safe, Andreas said, Oh, hell no. Im leaving tonight.

If the medical examiner declares this death to be a homicide, it will be the 18th of 2024, up from 12 at this point a year ago but down from the record setting year of 2022.

The incident is still under investigation and authorities ask anyone with information to contact police.

This shooting was one of a few violent crimes in the city over the weekend. Portland Fire & Rescue were called to a shooting scene where a person was shot in the leg.

And an arrest was made in a fatal stabbing at the Steel Bridge, but that person is no longer facing charges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
EU and several European leaders have blasted Putin's election victory in Russia.

In a statement, the European Union said it regretted that Russia had not invited international observers to monitor the vote.

Russian voters had been denied an ''impartial and independent'' assessment of the elections, it added.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the vote a ''pseudo-election'', while the Polish Foreign Ministry described them as being neither ''legal, free or fair.'.

Vladimir Putin won a fifth term as president in a landslide election victory that had an all but certain outcome.

Russia's number one faced no credible opposition candidates, amid a ruthless crackdown on dissent and critical voices.

Russian election officials said Putin - who will now serve another six-year term on top of his nearly quarter-century rule - won more than 87% of the vote.

Putin claimed Russia's democratic system was more transparent than many in the West, scorning US democracy.

The first day of voting was marred by sporadic protests and acts of vandalism, including arson attacks on polling stations and the destruction of ballot boxes. There was no repeat of these incidents after Friday.

At least 80 Russians were detained over the three-day vote, according to the monitoring group OVD-Info.

With little room for protest, supporters of the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny crowded outside polling stations at 12:00 on Sunday as a form of symbolic protest.

Putin hailed the early results as an indication of trust and hope in him, while Western countries criticised the vote.

His victory speech focused on the war in Ukraine, as Russia's president said his main task would be securing the border from Ukrainian raids and strengthening defence capacity and the military.

Questioned about rising tensions with NATO, Putin said: I think that everything is possible in the modern world  everyone understands that this would be one step from a full-scale third world war. I dont think that anyone is interested in that.

Other Western politicians have also criticised the election.

The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring. This is not what free and fair elections look like, wrote British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on X.

Any public criticism of the president or his invasion of Ukraine has been stifled. Independent media have been crippled. Putin's fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

Independent monitoring of the election was extremely limited, plus only token challengers that toe the Kremlin line were allowed to run against Putin.

According to Russias Central Election Commission, Putin had some 87% of the vote with about 90% of precincts counted.

Meduza, Russias biggest independent news outlet, published photos of ballots it received from readers, with killer inscribed on one, thief on another and The Hague awaits you on yet another.

The last refers to an arrest warrant for Putin from the International Criminal Court that accuses him of personal responsibility for abductions of children from Ukraine.

Some people told the AP that they were happy to vote for Putin.

Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said, I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now.

Voting also took place in the illegally annexed regions of Ukraine.
Editors Note: Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the countrys rise and how it impacts the world.

For leaders across the West, Vladimir Putins inevitable landslide win in an election without true opposition was a reminder of his tight control over Russias political arena as his war against Ukraine grinds on.

But Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and other leaders benefiting from Putins rejection of a Western-led global order, will be cheering his victory.

With 99.8% of ballots counted, Putin amassed 87.3% of the vote, according to preliminary results reported Monday morning by Russias Central Election Commission.

Xi congratulated the Russian leader in a call that day, saying his re-election fully reflected the support of the Russian people, Chinese state media reported. He also pledged that China would promote the sustained and in-depth development of the two countries strategic partnership, the report said.

Xi has staked much on his relationship with Putin since the start of the Kremlins war more than two years ago, refusing to back away from the no limits partnership he declared with the Russian leader weeks before the invasion, while strengthening trade, security, and diplomatic ties.

China has paid a price for this. While it claims neutrality, its refusal to condemn the invasion as the US and its allies united to sanction Russia piqued European suspicion about its motivations. It also drew attention to Beijings designs on the self-ruling democracy of Taiwan. An annual NATO report released Thursday reflected the blocs hardening line on China, with chief Jens Stoltenberg saying Beijing does not share our values and challenges our interests, while pointing to its increasing alignment with Moscow.

But Chinas stance enabled Xi to stay focused on deeper goals: he sees Putin as a crucial partner in the face of rising tensions with the US and in reshaping a world he believes is unfairly dominated by rules and values set by Washington and its allies. A stable relationship with Moscow, too, allows Beijing to focus on other areas of concern such as Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Xi sees Putin as a genuine strategic partner, said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London, ahead of the Russian election results, adding that anything less than a landslide win for Putin would be a disappointment for Beijing.

Xi, who has centralized control over his own nation like no Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, wont be alone among leaders applauding Putins renewed grip on power.

Kim Jong Un of North Korea recently met Putin in Russias Far East during a rare overseas trip that Washington says focused on Moscow buying munitions from Pyongyang.

For Kim, that tightening bond is a major opportunity to strengthen his struggling economy as he continues weapons development in the face of increased coordination between the US and South Korea. The North Korean leader swiftly congratulated Putin on his win Monday, according to the countrys state media.

A sanctions-battered government in Iran, which has been expanding its cooperation with Russia and providing it with drones and ammunition, also gains from a continuation of the Putin era.

Even India, while tightening ties with the US and calling for peace in Ukraine, has benefited from continuing exchanges with Russia, especially through its purchase of discounted oil.

Other governments across the Global South have also looked to bolster partnerships with Russia, even as they back peace in Ukraine and have suffered from knock-on economic impacts of the war.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shakes hands with Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu during a visit to Vladivostok, Russia last September. - KCNA/Reuters

Alternate world order

While the Russian election was no contest, Putins ability to maintain his iron grip on power and reach this point without a defeat in Ukraine has not been a sure bet.

The Russian leader has weathered an apparent miscalculation that what his government still calls a special military operation in Ukraine would be a swift success. He faced a challenge from the late warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin who launched a brief but failed rebellion, and Western sanctions that severed Russias economy from much of the global market.

In response hes ramped up repression and further quashed dissent across the country  including from the Kremlins most charismatic and prominent domestic critic Alexey Navalny, who died in an Arctic prison last month.

Now, as he emerges poised to carry on for at least another six years, Putin presides over an economy thats surviving sanctions and a battlefield where his opponent has yet to see a decisive breakthrough. Meanwhile, there are nascent signs of fatigue, in particular from the United States, where a presidential election in November could upend American support for Ukraine.

Much could still change in the war. But for countries that remained close to Putin or avoided US-led efforts to isolate him, his win ensures the stability of their Russia ties  and of a rising grouping of vehicles for non-Western alignment.

Russia is set to host an annual summit of the BRICS grouping of major developing economies as its chair this year. The group, since 2011 made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, almost doubled in size at the start of this year to also include Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Egypt.

BRICS is seen as developing countries answer to the G7, and its scheduled October summit in Russias Kazan will likely underline the stark difference between the two groups sensibilities. In 2014, G7 countries ousted Russia from what was then a G8 after its 2014 invasion of Crimea, and bailed on its planned summit that year in Sochi.

There is a range of reasons why Putin is seen differently in some parts of the world than in the West: the rise of middle powers that resent US domination of international affairs; the itch for a world order that doesnt look down on authoritarians or repressive states; or pure economic practicality for economies striving to develop.

US support for Israel, especially amid the ongoing devastation in Gaza, has been a key alienation point for many of these nations and Chinas prominent criticism of how Palestinians are treated has resonated across much of the Global South.

Putin, for his part, has painted BRICS as part of a growing movement eclipsing the established order, including in terms of economic heft.

There is no getting away from this objective reality, and it will remain that way no matter what happens next, including even in Ukraine, he said during his state of the union address late last month.

Then he underscored a view hell likely want both friend and foe to consider as he enters his new term: No enduring international order is possible without a strong and sovereign Russia.

Ukrainian tank crew prepare for combat against Russian forces earlier this month. - Jose Colon/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Watchful Beijing

But that doesnt mean countries tied to Moscow arent also watching the conflict in Ukraine carefully. That may be especially true for China, Russias most powerful strategic partner.

Chinese state media credulously reported the election results Monday with official news agency Xinhua highlighting Putins promise to continue to promote national development, while another state media headline hailed Russias steadily advancing political process.

Coverage also noted Putins comments on China made during a news conference Sunday night, where he pointed to the coinciding of state interests between the two countries and reiterated his backing of Beijings claim over the self-ruling democracy of Taiwan.

China has reaped significant benefit from the war and stands to continue doing so  as long as it doesnt trend toward a Russian defeat.

Chinese buyers lapped up record levels of Moscows crude oil in 2023, while exports of items such as cars and household electronics to Russia expanded since the invasion, buoying trade to a record high and boosting Chinese yuan-denominated transactions.

Xi has used the war in Ukraine as a platform to pitch his own, albeit vague, alternative system for global security, while a diluted focus of the US government is good news for China.

Beijing, however, says it is working tirelessly to bring the conflict to a close as it seeks to carve out an image as peacemaker. It sent special envoy for Eurasia Li Hui on two tours to Russia, Ukraine and other parts of Europe to promote a negotiated end to the conflict, the second of which concluded last week.

Chinese foreign policy thinkers such as Wang Yiwei of Renmin University say Beijing is concerned about nuclear escalation  a threat recently raised again by Putin  and the potential for more European countries to become directly involved in the war. How to avoid escalating the conflict  thats Li Huis special concern this time, he told CNN.

But Li, a former ambassador to Russia, and other Chinese officials are seen in much of Europe as merely presenting a plan whose outcome would benefit Putin. Thats in line with European views on Beijings stance since the wars opening days, when it insisted that all sides legitimate security concerns must be resolved.

For now, as pressure from across the world to end the conflict grows, the foregone results of this weekends Russian election will likely only bolster the view in Beijing  and some other non-Western capitals  that they were right to back Putin.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNNs Josh Pennington, Anna Chernova and Wayne Chang contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Promotion event for Liangma River held in Beijing

Xinhua) 08:54, March 18, 2024

Tourists take photos of a fish-shaped lantern at an event along the Liangma River in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2024. A promotion event of the Liangma River was held on Saturday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

The Liangma River traverses diverse areas, including foreign embassies, international hotels, department stores, and trendy commercial streets, connecting various international business districts in Beijing.

In 2019, the city's Chaoyang District embarked on a waterfront project along the Liangma River. After two years of development and environmental improvements, the Liangma River has transformed from a mere waterway into a captivating aquatic landscape. It has now become a must-visit destination in Beijing.

A boat sails in the Liangma River in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2024. A promotion event of the Liangma River was held on Saturday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Tourists visit a cultural event along the Liangma River in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2024. A promotion event of the Liangma River was held on Saturday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Foreign tourists visit a cultural event along the Liangma River in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2024. A promotion event of the Liangma River was held on Saturday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

A boat sails in the Liangma River in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2024. A promotion event of the Liangma River was held on Saturday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Tourists enjoy themselves along the Liangma River in Beijing, capital of China, March 16, 2024. A promotion event of the Liangma River was held on Saturday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Ulviyya Shahin

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.
Students graduating from South Dakota high schools this spring and attending college at a University of Minnesota campus this fall will have some form of continuing reciprocity rates when they start college.

Thats according to interim University of Minnesota President Jeff Ettinger shortly after it was announced that South Dakota students looking to attend college in Minnesota would no longer receive tuition reciprocity there, since a longstanding shared tuition discount agreement ended months ago.

Ettinger said at a University of Minnesota Board of Regents earlier this month that South Dakota was the one to announce theyd be ending the reciprocity agreement with Minnesota.

A woman walks on campus at University of Minnesota in 2020. (Glenn Stubbe, File) ORG XMIT: MNMIT251

In December, the South Dakota Board of Regents expanded its Advantage program to extend the in-state tuition rate to Minnesota, among other states. In order to include Minnesota in the program, the longstanding reciprocity agreement between the two states ended, SDBOR communications director Shuree Mortenson told the Argus Leader earlier this month.

We were not sure how Minnesota would respond to the end of the agreement, Mortenson said. Minnesota sets the tuition rates for South Dakota students; this is not something the South Dakota Board of Regents controls.

Despite the change, current South Dakota students will have their reciprocity rates continued through graduation at the U of M, and incoming undergraduate students in the Twin Cities will receive a non-resident tuition waiver for four years, or three years for transfer students, Ettinger said.

Earlier: South Dakota students going to college in Minnesota no longer get tuition reciprocity

This is excellent news to Anna Hakeman and her daughter, whos a senior at Roosevelt High School and plans to attend the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities this fall to study biology.

Hakeman said after Ettingers announcement in the Regents meeting, she learned her daughter was being offered a tuition waiver for the next four years, allowing her to pay Minnesotas in-state tuition rates.

The University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities is the eighth most popular postsecondary choice for Sioux Falls School District graduates, with about 194 there from the classes of 2015-2022, according to initial enrollment records in a district postsecondary report from Sept. 25, 2023 board minutes.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota students at U of M will get continuing reciprocity
By Ju-min Park and Jack Kim

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday called fake news and disinformation based on AI and digital technology threats to democracy, as some officials attending a global summit accused Russia and China of conducting malicious propaganda campaigns.

Speaking at the opening of the Summit for Democracy in Seoul, Yoon said countries had a duty to share experiences and wisdom so that artificial intelligence and technology could be employed to promote democracy.

"Fake news and disinformation based on artificial intelligence and digital technology not only violates individual freedom and human rights but also threatens democratic systems," Yoon said.

South Korea is hosting the third Summit for Democracy conference, an initiative of U.S. President Joe Biden aimed at discussing ways to stop democratic backsliding and erosion of rights and freedoms.

On Monday, China hit back at Seoul for inviting Taiwan Digital Minister Audrey Tang to give a video address.

Though a presenter said Tang was speaking in a private capacity, her participation was not announced ahead of time by either Taiwan or South Korea, which has boosted ties with Washington but also sought to prevent major impact to its deep economic ties with China.

China claims Taiwan as its own, but the island rejects its sovereignty stance.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said efforts to "expand the space for Taiwan independence activities under the banner of democracy and human rights" were doomed to fail.

DIGITAL THREATS

Digital threats to democracy, and how technology can promote democracy and universal human rights, were expected to be the main agenda of the three-day meetings in Seoul, attended by representatives from more than 30 countries, ranging from Costa Rica to the United States and Ghana.

"As authoritarian and repressive regimes deploy technologies to undermine democracy and human rights, we need to ensure that technology sustains and supports democratic values and norms," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the summit.

Blinken later said 2024 was an "extraordinary election year" to highlight risks of disinformation and falsehoods in cyberspace. He also repeated Washington's accusations that Russia and China were behind global campaigns aimed at manipulating information.

Blinken said Washington was releasing the first guidance of its kind for tech companies to help prevent attacks on human rights defenders online.

In addition, he said at the summit that a half-dozen more countries, including South Korea and Japan, were joining a U.S.-led crackdown on the misuse of commercial spyware to surveil journalists or human rights defenders.

Some European officials also accused Russia of conducting disinformation campaigns using AI.

"The only thing more gruesome than the Russian actions during their ongoing invasion of Ukraine is the disgusting web of lies spun by Russian propaganda, accelerated by social media, deep fake techniques and omnipresent bots," said Robert Kupiecki, undersecretary of state at Poland's foreign ministry.

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied accusations of spreading false or misleading information.

A spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington had said it was "typical bias and double standard to allege that the pro-China contents and reports are 'disinformation', and to call the anti-China ones 'true information'".

PUTIN VICTORY

Hours before the summit started, North Korea fired several short-range ballistic missiles into the sea for the first time in two months in its latest show of force.

The conference also kicked off just after Russian President Vladimir Putin was declared victor in a record post-Soviet landslide in a presidential election.

The result means Putin, who rose to power in 1999, is set to start a new six-year term that will see him overtake Josef Stalin and become Russia's longest-serving leader in more than 200 years if he completes it.

A White House National Security Council spokesperson criticised the election and said they were "obviously not free nor fair given how Mr. Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him".

Putin told reporters he regarded Russia's election as democratic and said protests organised by supporters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic prison last month, against him had no effect on the election's outcome.

(Reporting by Jack Kim and Ju-min Park; Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith in Seoul, Liz Lee in Beijing, and Ben Blanchard in Taipei Editing by Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle and Alex Richardson)
Russia is not launching missile strikes against Ukraine due to the absence of the A-50 radar detection and control aircraft, Natalia Humeniuk, head of the Press Center of the Southern Operational Command, said on national TV on March 18.

Read also: Russians persist human wave assaults, faces enthusiast shortage UA South Command

"We are monitoring the activity of strategic aviation as well, she said.

And we understand that the pause is related to the fact that there are no A-50 aircrafts in the air, no reconnaissance, no intelligence center.



Humeniuk reminded that previous "operations" of Russian aviation were "not very frequent and not very effective."

"As a result of the massive shoot down of Russian jets, these operations(using the A-50 for missile strikes) are now very risky for the enemy," she said.



Read also: Russia loses another A-50 AWACS plane

However, according to her, Russians have not given up on conducting massive missile strikes against Ukraine, because "this is the main advantage they have."

Humeniuk added that the Ukrainian military is monitoring the situation and keeping it under special control.



Read also: Ukrainian Armed Forces and HUR shot down another of Russia's prized A-50 AWACS aircraft and Su-34 jet in joint operation

Downing of Russian A-50s: what is known

On Jan. 14, the media began to spread information that the Ukrainian military had shot down a Russian A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft and an Il-22 command and control aircraft over the Sea of Azov. The next day, the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk, indirectly confirmed this information.

Subsequently, the information about the destruction of Russian A-50 and Il-22 aircraft was confirmed by the then Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhny, who thanked the Ukrainian Air Force for the "perfectly planned and executed operation" in the Azov Sea.

According to the Defense Express, the destruction of the A-50 was the first-ever destruction of a long-range radar detection aircraft. According to the propaganda Telegram channel Fighterbomber, at least 11 military pilots were killed.

Read also: Drones hit Russian aviation plant in Taganrog

On the evening of Feb. 23, the Ukrainian defense forces shot down a second A-50. This was officially confirmed by the Ukrainian Air Force and the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. According to media reports, the plane was hit by a Soviet S-200 air defense system.

On Feb. 24, Ukrayinska Pravda, citing sources in the HUR, reported that all 10 crew members were killed. According to the source, the dead Russians list included five majors, three captains, an ensign and a lieutenant.

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
Dogwood: A Southern Table is set to return to Charlottes restaurant scene as part of a three-phase $24M renovation to The Westin Charlotte in Uptown.

Rare Roots Hospitality, owned by Kim and Jon Dressler, shared plans to bring the SouthPark favorite back on Monday.

Dogwood, formerly located in Ashley Square from 2014 to 2023, is best known for its modern approach to Southern classics.

Leah & Louise is leaving Camp North End

When we closed Dogwood, we had every hope that the right opportunity would present itself for us to bring back this beloved concept, owner Jon Dressler said in a news release. We are thrilled to bring both Southern cuisine and hospitality to Uptown Charlotte and become a part of The Westin Charlottes beautiful revamp.

Guests can anticipate the return of Dogwood favorites including their signature Duck and Dumplings and Bacon Jam, as well as an assortment of new menu items. Rare Roots Executive Chef Scott Hollingsworth will continue to work with Charlotte area farms to bring the same focus on local, seasonal produce to this new iteration of Dogwood.

Bar Director Brittany Kellum, whose first job behind the bar with Rare Roots Hospitality was at the original Dogwood, will create an entirely new cocktail menu to pair with the refreshed menu and modern, light-filled space.

The new Dogwood location will have a mix of tables and soft seating to accommodate 140 guests plus a 36-seat bar. Construction is expected to begin this summer with a target opening of December 2024.

Charlotte brewery named best beer garden in the U.S. by USA Today

The decision to partner with this esteemed culinary team was an easy one, The Westin Charlottes General Manager Geoffrey Cousineau said in a news release. The expertise and reputation of Rare Roots Hospitality will bring the energy and dedication to craft weve been looking for to further solidify The Westin Charlotte as the premier hotel, food and beverage destination for Charlotte visitors and locals. We cant wait to have Dogwood as part of our offerings.

VIDEO: Experience the flavors of the Queen City during Savor Charlotte
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Hundreds of people took part in the first St. Patricks Day street party in St. Marys over the weekend.

Live bagpipes, games and food trucks gathered in St. Marys Main Street to help members of the community enjoy the holiday. Events were held throughout the day, serving as a great get-together opportunity for locals.

Its pretty awesome especially since were a small town and to see this many people out here is pretty cool, said Ethan Gayner with Fryer Tucks food truck. Its a Catholic holiday obviously, and thats why we want to keep it, St. Patricks Day. Its great its on Sunday so we get to eat meat as many times as we want. We can break fast which is great.

Kansas eclipse chasers ready to fight the crowds for perfect viewing spot

Event organizers say they hope to turn this into a new tradition for the St. Marys community.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
So much has changed in so few years.

The mood in a Columbus Government Center courtroom was giddy, the day Stacey Jackson was sworn in as district attorney.

It was May 20, 2022, and the six-county Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit based in Columbus had just weathered a storm of crises.

The last of them was the former DA, Mark Jones, who pleaded guilty to misconduct after 10 chaotic months in office that started with his firing the most experienced staff prosecutors.

The other calamities included a broken pipes flooding Government Center courtrooms, leaving them unusable, and then the COVID-19 pandemic that forced court lockdowns, causing a second backlog when trials and hearings had to be put off.

When Jackson, a top defense attorney known for taking cases to trial, accepted the governors appointment, it seemed the ship was back on course.

Stacey Jackson greets well-wishers Friday afternoon before he was sworn in as the new district attorney for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. 05/20/2022 mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com/Mike Haskey

Then came November 2023, when he went on extended medical leave. He is too ill to seek election.

The day he was sworn in, in his speech joking with his audience, calling out old friends, tearing up when he talked about his parents and what they meant to him growing up in Harris County, he had Don Kelly stand, and announced that Kelly, whom Jones had fired, would return as his chief assistant.

Kelly now is the acting district attorney, running the office while Jackson is out.

He has qualified to run as a Republican, to be the chief prosecutor in the circuit that also includes the counties of Harris, Talbot, Taylor, Chattahoochee and Marion. Residents throughout the circuit elect the district attorney.

His opponent is Anthony Johnson, a Columbus criminal defense attorney.

Both Johnson and Kelly grew up here: Johnson graduated from Carver High School, and Kelly from Hardaway High.

Because neither has a party primary opponent, the election will be decided Nov. 5.

Don Kelly

Kelly qualified first, after meeting with Jackson and his parents, Arnold and Laura Jackson, who felt their son was too ill to run. Johnson qualified the next morning.

Kelly pledged to continue to focus on public safety, especially violent crimes, by holding those who commit crimes in our circuit responsible for their actions.

In a news release, he added: I believe that my experience as a career prosecutor and my knowledge of our circuit make me uniquely qualified to lead the office as we deal with the surge in violent crime that followed the last election.

Don Kelly, acting district attorney for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit Photo from Don Kelly

He has 22 years of experience as a prosecutor, most of it in the local circuit, and has been running the DAs office since Jackson went on medical leave Nov. 27.

Kelly graduated from the University of Georgia, and got his law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law.

Anthony Johnson

Johnson, 37, said he wants to focus on gangs and juvenile violence, which he feels uniquely qualified to address, with his experience representing young clients accused of serious crimes.

He also would employ the judicial systems accountability courts more often to divert first-time offenders from serving extended jail or prison time, he said. Those courts specialize in cases involving issues such as mental health and drug addiction.

After graduating from Carver in 2005, Johnson joined the Air Force, where he gained an associates degree before earning a bachelors degree from Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, New Jersey. He got his law degree in 2012 from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Auburn Hills, Michigan, he said.

Anthony Johnson, the defense attorney running for Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit District Attorney;. Mike Haskey/mhaskey@ledger-enquirer.com

He was on active duty in the Air Force from 2005 to 2009, then served in the Air Force Reserves from 2009 to 2016, he said. He has been in the Army Reserves since 2016, he said.

He was licensed to practice law in 2012, and has worked as a public defender in addition to his private practice.
Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, the Republican state senator representing Boone County, announced he will not be running for Missouri secretary of state, or any political office, this year.

When I announced my intention to run for Secretary of State last November, I truly believed it was the best decision for my family and I, Rowden wrote in a post on X. Through a number of additional conversations with my wife and those close to our family, I no longer believe that to be true.

Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden speaks at a press conference at the Missouri State Capitol Building on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.

Rowden has served 12 years in the Missouri General Assembly, being first elected to serve in the Missouri House in 2012 and later elected to the state Senate in 2016. Due to term limits, this will be Rowdens final year as a state senator.

On the first day that candidates could file for office, Rowden was absent from proceedings and hadnt filed since. Additionally, he missed both the Boone County Lincoln Days and Greene County Lincoln Days, each of which held forums for candidates to discuss their qualifications for the offices they were seeking.

Rowden feels that service to the state as a politician has changed during the time that he has been in office.

While there have always been deep political and philosophical disagreements about how to get to a desired outcome, the desired outcome and the facts used to make decisions used to be shared values. More and more, the latter no longer seems to be the case, Rowden said. Consensus-building was once a trait that was admired and rewarded. That no longer seems to be the case.

During his time in the state Senate, Rowden served as Senate majority leader from 2019-2023, and most recently as Senate president pro tempore. As a member of Senate leadership, he faced factional disputes from members of the now defunct Conservative Caucus, which has been reshaped into a state chapter of the national Freedom Caucus.

In January, after facing disruptive tactics from Missouri Freedom Caucus members seeking action on initiative petition legislation, he removed four senators from their roles as committee chairs, calling them a small group of swamp creatures. The backlash from this came in the form of letters from local Republican committees demanding his resignation from Senate leadership.

Rowden said that leaving the political realm is the best move for his family, and that precious moments spent with his children recently helped him make this decision.

I have been given numerous small, but meaningful, moments in the last few weeks with my kids that have reminded me of the opportunities that exist for all three of them in the years to come, and how my presence and support in their lives can enhance those opportunities, Rowden said. My legacy in politics is secure, and I am grateful for that. The legacy I will leave through my children is just getting started, and I am even more grateful for that.

Rowden didnt specifically say what his plans would be once his term in the Missouri Senate ends, but that he would continue to serve my community and my state in new and meaningful ways after my Senate tenure is complete.

I love Columbia and Boone County, and I love the state of Missouri, Rowden said. Whether it is in public office or not, I plan on spending the rest of my life working alongside anyone with a similar objective to make Missouri the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family.

More: Did you miss Greene County Lincoln Day? Here's what the GOP candidates had to say

Of all the candidates running for Missouri secretary of state, Rowden had accumulated the largest campaign war chest, according to campaign finance reports from January, with more than $177,000 in his candidate committee Friends of Caleb Rowden, and more than $234,000 in his associated political action committee Missouri Forward PAC.

Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller speaks during the GOP caucus at the Oasis Convention Center in north Springfield on March 2, 2024.

Remaining in the race for the Republican nomination are Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller, state Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg, state Rep. Adam Schwadron of St. Charles and political newcomer Valentina Gomez Noriega, a real estate investor who gained attention last month while burning woke library books with a homemade flamethrower.

In terms of fundraising, Hoskins now leads the pack with a combined total of more than $268,000 from his candidate committee and associated PAC. Schwadron has more than $103,882 between both committees, Schoeller has raised a total of more than $55,000 between both committees, and Gomez Noriega had nearly $1,600 in her candidate committee. These figures were calculated based on fundraising by the end of 2023.

State Rep. Barbara Phifer entered the race for the Democratic nomination last week. According to the Missouri Ethics Commission, her candidate committee from past political races had more than $7,000, as a January report.Also competing for the Democratic nomination are Monique Williams and Gavin Bena, both of St. Louis, as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Caleb Rowden exits race for Missouri secretary of state
Staten Island hosts first St. Patricks Day Parade allowing LGBTQ+ groups

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11)  Crowds turned out to cheer on the marchers and as a show of support.

During a St. Patricks Day Parade, the rainbow can symbolize a path to a pot of gold. On Staten Island, for the parade on March 17, the rainbow has another very special meaning.

Staten Island residents at the parade call it a proud moment and a long time coming.

KC Hankins lives on the island and works with the Pride Center.

Brooklyn celebrates its Irish heritage

It has taken us years and years to fight for inclusion of LGBTQ in the parade. This is special, he said.

Marching bands and local bands entertained people along the route. Dancers and local groups waved to crowds.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams kicked off the parade along Forest Avenue, taking a moment to recognize the events importance for the groups it includes.

We are breaking stereotypes here, Adams said.

Brendan Fay with Lavender and Green Alliance said this St. Patricks Day will go down in history.

Its the true spirit of New York City, he said.

The Forest Avenue Business Improvement District proposed a second parade this year along the main stretch in Staten Islands West New Brighton neighborhood.

The traditional and established parade was held on March 3. The organizing committee did not allow the Pride Center of Staten Island or other LGBTQ+ groups to march with a banner during that event.

In Manhattan, the worlds largest and longest-running parade was held Saturday. It lifted its ban on LGBTQ groups 10 years ago.

On this St Patricks Day on Staten Island, the Pride Center proudly marched in a spirit of love and unity.

Victoria Munro with Alice Austen House called it an important day.

We struggled to create visibility and create space. Its wonderful to see people cheering and being kind, she said as they carried the banner from the nationally designated site of LGBTG+ history.

Neighbors are already looking ahead to see what develops for next year.

For now, sometimes you have to create your own parade, said Dana Walker Boyd.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
'Step by Step' cast honors late co-star Suzanne Somers during reunion: 'We really miss her'

Suzanne Somers is immensely missed by her 1990s TV family.

The cast of the sitcom Step by Step reunited March 17 at 90s Con in Hartford, Connecticut, where they reminisced about the late actor, who died last October of breast cancer at the age of 76.

Staci Keanan, who played her daughter Dana on the series, remembered her generosity.

Suzanne gave the most beautiful, thoughtful gifts and she was a person of immense style and glamour in her real life, and I will never forget (that) and I still have them. One Christmas, she gave me a pair of Prada, cashmere tights, she said, according to People.

Suzanne Somers in

OK, so its Prada. You know, fancy and everything. But beyond that, she was like, These will keep you warm. And even if you have a long skirt, you could just wear these underneath to keep you warm. (It was) so sweet. She will be missed.

On Step by Step, Somers and Patrick Duffy played a couple who married and brought their children together to live under the same roof. The relationships among the very different kids was the focal point of the sitcom, which aired for seven seasons from 1991 until 1998, the first six on ABC before moving to CBS for its final one.

When Step by Step premiered, Somers was already an established star, thanks to her turn on Threes Company, while Duffy was known for his work on Dallas.

Christine Lakin, who played Duffys daughter Al on Step by Step, said it was a thrill to work with Somers.

Brandon Call, Angela Watson, Patrick Duffy, Suzanne Somers, Staci Keanan, Christopher Castile, Josh Byrne, and Christine Lakin in

I think watching her as a young person, (I) would see her on television, she said, according to People. I watched a lot of reruns growing up, so I knew Threes Company. I didnt know Dallas, sorry.

Lakin said Somers enabled her to dream big about her own life.

Growing up with her and watching her as a woman, as a businesswoman, as someone who was a huge star who had a bright light, who was so gorgeous, who was also so down to Earth and someone I just really admired, she said. She was someone that made me think as a young female in Hollywood, you can be kind and you can be generous and you can be successful and all of those things dont have to be mutually exclusive."

She was so sweet and loving, she added. Her heart was so big, and we really miss her.

Patrick Duffy, Sasha Mitchell, Josh Byrne, Suzanne Somers, Staci Keanan, Christine Lakin, and Brandon Call in

Angela Watson played Somers' daughter Karen and holds a special place in her heart for one particular scene.

For me, it was being able to do the mother-daughter reunion pageant where we tap dance together and sang. ... That was so amazing. Like, the highlight of my career, she said at the event, reported People.

Jason Marsden, who played Rich, the friend of Brandon Calls J.T., said Somers was a lovely, amazing, human being.

The casts comments echo remarks Lakin made in the past.

They were an incredible part of my childhood, she told TODAY in 2018 about working with Somers and Duffy. They were, honestly, two of the most genuine, very generous and incredible people. And I think its why I am so well-adjusted as a former child actor now.

After Somers died in October, Lakin paid tribute to her.

She was easily the most glamorous person Id ever met. Her warmth and humor was what made her so real and down to earth to everyone she crossed paths with, she wrote, in part, on Instagram along with a series of photos.

She was a 2nd mom of sorts to me in the formative years of my childhood, she added.

Duffy also mourned Somers' death.

Of course I will miss the phone calls, the emails, the visits, and the meals and laughter, Duffy wrote, in part, in his own Instagram post following her death.

But the dialogue of deep and thoughtful, and silly and frivolous continues. My conversations with her now will be held solely through my daily Buddhist practice.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Justice Stephen Breyer believes his former colleagues on the Supreme Court are steering the country in the wrong direction, and his forthcoming book, Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism, is meant to sound an alarm.

Thats according to The New York Times, which on Monday published an eye-opening interview with the 85-year-old jurist-turned-Harvard Law professor.

Something important is going on, said Breyer, whose book will be released on March 26, the same day the Supreme Court will hear arguments regarding the availability of mifepristone, the so-called abortion pill.

There are too many questions, Breyer told the Times. Are they really going to allow women to die on the table because they wont allow an abortion which would save her life? I mean, really, no one would do that. And they wouldnt do that. And therell be dozens of questions like that.

Reading the Constitution is a sustained critique of the current courts approach to the law, according to the Times, which Breyer reportedly portrays as one that fetishizes the texts of statutes and the Constitution, reading them woodenly, without a common-sense appreciation of their purpose and consequences.

Forget the Supreme Court, Beat Trump at the Ballot

Although Breyer does not call them out by name, his book takes aim specifically at the three justices appointed by former President Donald Trump: Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, pressing them to take a different tack.

Major changes take time, and there are many years left for the newly appointed justices to decide whether they want to build the law using only textualism and originalism, Breyer writes, noting the decline in trust in the courtas shown by public opinion polls.

Textualism, as the Times points out, interprets statutes based on their words, or text. Originalism attempts to interpret the Constitution as the founders would have back in the 1700s, which, according to Breyer, has three main problems.

First, it requires judges to be historiansa role for which they may not be qualifiedconstantly searching historical sources for the answer where there often isnt one there, he writes. Second, it leaves no room for judges to consider the practical consequences of the constitutional rules they propound. And third, it does not take into account the ways in which our values as a society evolve over time as we learn from the mistakes of our past.

Breyer, a Clinton appointee generally regarded as a liberal, told the Times that this approach runs counter to his style, which he had in common with old-school Republicans on the court with him. And although they may not have all shared the same worldview, they viewed the law in similar ways, Breyer said. He misses being a judge, he said, but accepts his new station in life.

What can you do? he said.

For now, Breyer is hopeful that his book will appeal to legal scholars as well as laypeople, he told the Times.

Id love [for] people to read it, he said. Id like for you to agree with me. So would every author. Id like even to get the members of this court to read it and to say, Oh, not a bad point. Not a bad point. And thats all.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Ruby slippers once worn by Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz," are displayed at a news conference, on Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. A second man has been charged in connection with the 2005 theft of a pair of the ruby slippers, according to an indictment unsealed Sunday, March 17, 2024.

Nearly 20 years since the initial heist, the case of the infamous theft of the "Wizard of Oz" ruby red slippers from the Judy Garland Museum continues to unfold.

The original man charged with the theft, an ailing mobster named Terry Jon Martin, was finally sentenced in January of this year, while a second man was charged just this month with involvement in the crime.

Martin, 76, was recently given a sentence that allowed him to skip prison time due to his failing health. Martin confessed in October 2023 to stealing the shoes from the museum in the actress' hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 2005. He was charged with theft of a major artwork.

The second man, Jerry Hal Saliterman, 76, of Crystal, MN, made his first court appearance on Friday, March 15. Like Martin, he appeared to be suffering from failing health, appearing in front of the judge with an oxygen tank and in a wheelchair, reported the Associated Press. He is charged with theft of a major artwork and witness tampering.

Jerry Hal Saliterman, of Crystal, Minn., is wheeled out of U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minn., Friday, March 15, 2024, after he made his initial appearance on charges connected to the 2005 theft of a pair of ruby slippers worn by Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

'No place like home': Dying mobster who stole 'Wizard of Oz' ruby slippers won't go to prison

Saliterman allegedly threatened witness, concealed 'Wizard of Oz' slippers

According to the indictment unsealed on Sunday, Saliterman was involved in the theft from its occurrence in August 2005 up until the FBI recovered the slippers in July 2018. Saliterman allegedly "received, concealed, and disposed of an object of cultural heritage worth at least $100,000," accused the indictment, including "an authentic pair of 'ruby slippers' worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie 'The Wizard of Oz.'"

The indictment also claims that Saliterman intimidated a witness to prevent her from speaking with the FBI, allegedly threatening to "take her down with him" and "distribute sex tapes of her to her family."

Saliterman did not enter a plea at his Friday appearance and was released on his own recognizance. John Brink, Saliterman's attorney, told AP after the hearing that his client was not guilty and "hadn't done anything wrong."

Terry Jon Martin's role in 2005 theft of Judy Garland's ruby red slippers

The famous ruby slippers worn by actress Judy Garland in the character of Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz," on display April 11, 2012, at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington, DC.

The slippers, one of four known pairs worn by Garland during the filming of "The Wizard of Oz," were on display at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in August of 2005 when they went missing.

They were lifted in the middle of the night, police said at the time. Later, Martin's attorney released a memo describing the crime, saying Martin had discovered the shoes, which he believed to be adorned with real rubies, were on display close to where he lived.

Thinking they would secure a "handsome price" on the black market, Martin, who had never even seen "The Wizard of Oz" and who said he was unaware of their cultural significance, said he easily stole the slippers by breaking a hole in a window to the museum and then breaking the plexiglass the slippers were displayed behind.

The memo claimed that Martin only had the slippers for two days before realizing the attached gems were fake. He said he gave them to an associate for no pay, thinking them worthless, and apparently swore off crime after this final "failed' heist.

FBI gets the famous ruby red slippers back 13 years later

From there, investigators spent 13 years chasing down leads, many of which came flooding in over the years from across the country and beyond.

Finally, in 2018, a man contacted the company that had insured the slippers and said he had information on how the shoes could be returned. They were later recovered in an FBI sting operation at the end of a year-long investigation.

The slippers were taken to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, where they were identified as a "traveling pair" that were insured for $1 million and appraised at $3.5 million for their value as "among the most recognizable memorabilia in American film history," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of North Dakota.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Wizard of Oz' ruby red slippers: What to know about the bizarre theft
FILE - Ruby slippers once worn by Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz," are displayed at a news conference, Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. A second man has been charged in connection with the 2005 theft of a pair of the ruby slippers, according to an indictment unsealed Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)

A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz were returned to their owner, nearly 20 years after the iconic shoes were stolen from a museum in the late actors hometown. But No place like home? Not exactly.

The memorabilia collector who owns the iconic footwear immediately turned them over to an auction company, which plans to take them on an international tour before offering them at auction in December, an official with Dallas-based Heritage Auctions said Monday.

The ruby slippers were at the heart of the beloved 1939 musical. Garland's character, Dorothy, danced down the Yellow Brick Road in her shiny shoes, joined by the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. To return home to Kansas, she had to click the heels three times and repeat, There's no place like home.

In reality, Garland wore several pairs during filming. Only four remain.

Memorabilia collector Michael Shaw's ruby slippers were believed to be the highest quality of all of them  they were the ones used in close-ups of Dorothy clicking her heels. Shaw loaned them in 2005 to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

That summer, someone smashed through a display case and stole the sequins-and-beads-bedazzled slippers. Their whereabouts remained a mystery until the FBI recovered them in 2018.

The slippers were returned to Shaw in a ceremony in February, but details weren't disclosed until Monday.

Its like welcoming back an old friend I havent seen in years, Shaw said in a news release.

The Dallas-based auction company said the tour of the slippers will include stops in Los Angeles, New York, London and Tokyo. Dates were not announced.

You cannot overstate the importance of Dorothys ruby slippers: They are the most important prop in Hollywood history, Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena said in the news release.

The man who stole the slippers, Terry Jon Martin, 76, pleaded guilty in October to theft of a major artwork, admitting to using a hammer to smash the glass of the museums door and display case in what his attorney said was an attempt to pull off one last score after turning away from a life of crime. He was sentenced in January to time served because of his poor health.

An indictment made public Sunday showed that a second man, 76-year-old Jerry Hal Saliterman, has been charged with theft of a major artwork and witness tampering. He did not enter a plea when he made his first appearance Friday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, while in a wheelchair and on supplemental oxygen.

The indictment says that from August 2005 to July 2018 Saliterman received, concealed, and disposed of an object of cultural heritage"  specifically, "an authentic pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz." The indictment says Saliterman knew they were stolen. It also says that, starting sometime last year, he threatened to release a sex tape of a woman and take her down with him if she didnt stay quiet about the crime.

Saliterman's attorney, John Brink, on Friday declined to discuss the case in depth but said his client is not guilty.

He hasnt done anything wrong, Brink said.

Court documents do not indicate how Martin and Saliterman may have been connected.

Martin said at an October hearing that he had hoped to take what he thought were real rubies from the shoes and sell them. But a person who deals in stolen goods informed him the rubies werent real, Martin said. So he got rid of the slippers.

Defense attorney Dane DeKrey wrote in a court document that Martin had no idea about the cultural significance of the ruby slippers and had never seen The Wizard of Oz.

The FBI said a man approached the insurer in 2017 and claimed he could help recover them but demanded more than the $200,000 reward being offered. The slippers were recovered during an FBI sting in Minneapolis the next year. Federal prosecutors have put the slippers market value at about $3.5 million.

The other pairs of slippers are held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Smithsonian Museum of American History and a private collector.

Garland was born Frances Gumm in 1922. She lived in Grand Rapids until she was 4, when her family moved to Los Angeles. She died in 1969. The Judy Garland Museum, which includes the house where she lived, says it has the worlds largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.
Protestors backing a social media case against the U.S. government rallied outside the Supreme Court

Protestors backing a social media case against the U.S. government rallied outside the Supreme Court on March 18, 2024, as arguments in the case were being heard inside. The lawsuit filed in 2022 by attorneys general in Missouri and Louisiana alleges the federal government colluded with social media companies to suppress the freedom of speech. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court seemed skeptical Monday of a lawsuit alleging the federal government colluded with social media companies to suppress the freedom of speech, with a majority of justices across the ideological spectrum raising issues with the case and its potential consequences.

The Biden administration argued to the court there is no evidence that the government violated the First Amendment in its efforts to combat false, misleading or dangerous information online.

Beyond that, the court should dismiss the litigation because plaintiffs dont have the right to sue, said Brian Fletcher, principal deputy solicitor general.

Arguments occurred in a packed courtroom, where just outside dozens of protesters held signs accusing the government of infringing on free speech.

The lawsuit was filed in 2022 by two states  Missouri and Louisiana  and five individuals who either were banned from a platform or whose posts were not prominently featured on social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Fletcher argued that the plaintiffs have not shown any evidence that decisions by social media companies to remove or deprioritize content can be attributed to the government. Instead, the companies made their own decisions relying on their own content moderation policies.

There was no coercion or attempted intimidation, Fletcher said, and the best proof of that is that social media companies routinely said no to the government.

They didnt hesitate to do it, and when they said no to the government, the government never engaged in any sort of retaliation, Fletcher said. Instead, (the federal government) engaged in more speech. Ultimately, the president and the press secretary and the surgeon general took to the bully pulpit. We just dont think thats coercion.

Benjamin Aguinaga, the solicitor general for the Louisiana attorney general, argued that the government has no right to persuade platforms to violate Americans constitutional rights, and pressuring platforms in back rooms shielded from public view is not using the bully pulpit at all. That is just being a bully.

Emails obtained as part of the lawsuit, Aguinaga contends, show the government badgered platforms behind closed doors, abused them with profanity and ominously says that the White House is considering its options  all to get the platforms to censor more speech.

Under this onslaught, he said, the platforms routinely cave.

Encouragement vs. coercion

Government agencies have routinely encouraged social media companies to restrict harmful or illegal content for years, including posts involving terrorism and human trafficking.

Aguinaga argued that speech involving criminal activity is not protected. But the Biden administration, he said, began to push social media companies in 2021 to restrict misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Content was also targeted that involved election disinformation.

In 2022, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, a court nominee of President Donald Trump, ruled that officials under President Joe Biden and Trump coerced social media companies to censor content over concerns it would fuel vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or upend elections.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans prohibited the White House, the Surgeon Generals Office, the FBI, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from having practically any contact with the social media companies. It found that the Biden administration most likely overstepped the First Amendment by urging the major social media platforms to remove misleading or false content.

The Supreme Court placed a temporary stay on the order in October until it decides the case.

U.S. Supreme Court justices question consequences for public safety, national security

During Mondays arguments, the justices focused on whether encouragement by federal officials amounted to illegal coercion. And an ideologically diverse majority of justices raised concerns about the potential consequences of the litigation for things like public safety and national security.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned whether the government violates the First Amendment when it requests the removal of factually inaccurate posts. He suggested there could be national security concerns if false information was posted online about troops.

Members of the Supreme Court of the United States

The U.S. Supreme Court held a special sitting on Sept. 30, 2022, for the formal investiture ceremony of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. From left to right: Associate Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil M. Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, and Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., and Associate Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Elena Kagan, and Brett M. Kavanaugh. (Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States)

Kavanaugh also asked how the federal governments communications with social media companies were any different than when news organizations are warned that a story they are about to publish could affect national security.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett continued along that line of questions, asking whether the FBI would still be able to warn social media platforms if an individual had been doxxed in a way that might put them at risk.

Aguinaga countered that he is a free speech purist but in that circumstance, the government would be allowed to issue warnings to social media companies about content.

But when speech is protected, the government has no right to intervene to push for it to be censored, he said.

When the government is identifying a specific viewpoint and specific content that it wishes to wholly eliminate from public discourse, thats when the First Amendment problem arises, he said, later adding that the government has lots of tools at its disposal to combat misinformation.

Censorship, he said, has never been the default remedy for a perceived First Amendment violation.

That argument didnt move Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

You have to admit that there are certain circumstances, she said, in which the government can provide information and encourage the platforms to take it down.

The most scathing criticism of the day came from Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

I have such a problem with your brief, counselor, Sotomayor said to Aguinaga. You omit information that changes the context of some of your claims. You attribute things to people who it didnt happen to. I dont know what to make of all this.

Aguinaga apologized if any aspect of our brief was not as forthcoming as it should have been.

Justice Samuel Alito seemed most sympathetic to the plaintiffs case, reframing the discussion as Aguinaga was facing a series of difficult questions.

Coercion doesnt only apply when the government says do this, and if you dont do this, there are going to be legal consequences, Alito said, adding: Its a more flexible standard and you have to take into account the whole course of the relationship.

In his rebuttal, Fletcher compared the Biden administrations communications with social media companies and public comments about misinformation to President George W. Bushs public condemnation of pornography and President Ronald Reagans criticism of media influence of drugs and violence.

A ruling on the case is not expected for several months.

Jason Hancock reported from Columbia, Missouri. Ashley Murray reported from Washington, D.C.

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The post Suit alleging suppression of free speech met with skepticism at U.S. Supreme Court appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun.
Protestors backing a social media case against the U.S. government rallied outside the Supreme Court on Monday, March 18, 2024, as arguments in the case were being heard inside. The lawsuit filed in 2022 by attorneys general in Missouri and Louisiana alleges the federal government colluded with social media companies to suppress the freedom of speech. (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court seemed skeptical Monday of a lawsuit alleging the federal government colluded with social media companies to suppress the freedom of speech, with a majority of justices across the ideological spectrum raising issues with the case and its potential consequences.

The Biden administration argued to the court there is no evidence that the government violated the First Amendment in its efforts to combat false, misleading or dangerous information online.

Beyond that, the court should dismiss the litigation because plaintiffs dont have the right to sue, said Brian Fletcher, principal deputy solicitor general.

Arguments occurred in a packed courtroom, where just outside dozens of protesters held signs accusing the government of infringing on free speech.

The lawsuit was filed in 2022 by two states  Missouri and Louisiana  and five individuals who either were banned from a platform or whose posts were not prominently featured on social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Fletcher argued that the plaintiffs have not shown any evidence that decisions by social media companies to remove or deprioritize content can be attributed to the government. Instead, the companies made their own decisions relying on their own content moderation policies.

There was no coercion or attempted intimidation, Fletcher said, and the best proof of that is that social media companies routinely said no to the government.

They didnt hesitate to do it, and when they said no to the government, the government never engaged in any sort of retaliation, Fletcher said. Instead, (the federal government) engaged in more speech. Ultimately, the president and the press secretary and the surgeon general took to the bully pulpit. We just dont think thats coercion.

Benjamin Aguinaga, the solicitor general for the Louisiana attorney general, argued that the government has no right to persuade platforms to violate Americans constitutional rights, and pressuring platforms in back rooms shielded from public view is not using the bully pulpit at all. That is just being a bully.

Emails obtained as part of the lawsuit, Aguinaga contends, show the government badgered platforms behind closed doors, abused them with profanity and ominously says that the White House is considering its options all to get the platforms to censor more speech.

Under this onslaught, he said, the platforms routinely cave.

Encouragement vs. coercion

Government agencies have routinely encouraged social media companies to restrict harmful or illegal content for years, including posts involving terrorism and human trafficking.

Aguinaga argued that speech involving criminal activity is not protected. But the Biden administration, he said, began to push social media companies in 2021 to restrict misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Content was also targeted that involved election disinformation.

In 2022, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, a court nominee of President Donald Trump, ruled that officials under both President Joe Biden and Trump coerced social media companies to censor content over concerns it would fuel vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or upend elections.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans prohibited the White House, the Surgeon Generals Office, the FBI, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from having practically any contact with the social media companies. It found that the Biden administration most likely overstepped the First Amendment by urging the major social media platforms to remove misleading or false content.

The Supreme Court placed a temporary stay on the order in October until it decides the case.

Standing and traceability

Another question at the core of Mondays arguments was whether any harm to the plaintiffs could be, in fact, traced back to the governments actions or could be remedied by judicial relief.

Justice Elena Kagan asked Aguinaga to highlight the single piece of evidence that most clearly shows the government was responsible for one of your clients having material taken down.

How do you decide that its government action as opposed to platform action? Kagan followed.

Aguinaga pointed to a May 2021 email the Biden administration sent to a social media platform regarding misinformation about COVID-19. Aguinaga argued that evidence shows two months later content from one of the plaintiffs, Jill Hines of Louisiana, was suppressed.

A lot of things can happen in two months, Kagan said. So that decision two months later could have been caused by the governments email or that government email might have been long since forgotten because there are a thousand other communications that platform employees have had with each other, a thousand other things that platform employees have read in the newspaper.

I mean why would we point to one email two months earlier and say it was that email that made all the difference? Kagan said.

Justices question consequences for public safety, national security

During Mondays arguments, the justices focused on whether encouragement by federal officials amounted to illegal coercion, rather than merely informing or persuading social media companies.

There are lots of contexts where government officials can persuade private parties to do things the officials couldnt do directly, Fletcher argued when Justice Clarence Thomas questioned him about coercion versus censorship.

For example, recently after the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, a number of public officials called on colleges and universities to do more about antisemitic hate speech on campus, Fletcher said.

An ideologically diverse majority of justices raised concerns about the potential consequences of the litigation for things like public safety and national security.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned whether the government violates the First Amendment when it requests the removal of factually inaccurate posts. He suggested there could be national security concerns if false information was posted online about troops.

Kavanaugh also asked how the federal governments communications with social media companies were any different than when news organizations are warned that a story they are about to publish could affect national security.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett continued along that line of questions, asking whether the FBI would still be able to warn social media platforms if an individual had been doxxed in a way that might put them at risk.

Aguinaga countered that he is a free speech purist but in that circumstance, the government would be allowed to issue warnings to social media companies about content.

But when speech is protected, the government has no right to intervene to push for it to be censored, he said.

When the government is identifying a specific viewpoint and specific content that it wishes to wholly eliminate from public discourse, thats when the First Amendment problem arises, he said, later adding that the government has lots of tools at its disposal to combat misinformation.

Censorship, he said, has never been the default remedy for a perceived First Amendment violation.

That argument didnt move Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

You have to admit that there are certain circumstances, she said, in which the government can provide information and encourage the platforms to take it down.

The most scathing criticism of the day came from Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

I have such a problem with your brief, counselor, Sotomayor said to Aguinaga. You omit information that changes the context of some of your claims. You attribute things to people who it didnt happen to. I dont know what to make of all this.

Aguinaga apologized if any aspect of our brief was not as forthcoming as it should have been.

Justice Samuel Alito, who sat back and rocked his chair with his hands behind his head, seemed most sympathetic to the plaintiffs case, reframing the discussion as Aguinaga was facing a series of difficult questions.

Coercion doesnt only apply when the government says do this, and if you dont do this, there are going to be legal consequences, Alito said, adding: Its a more flexible standard and you have to take into account the whole course of the relationship.

In his rebuttal, Fletcher compared the Biden administrations communications with social media companies and public comments about misinformation to President George W. Bushs public condemnation of pornography and President Ronald Reagans criticism of media influence of drugs and violence.

A ruling on the case is not expected for several months.

Plaintiff reaction

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said afterward he believes the Supreme Court justices will make the right decision here.

Ultimately that (decision) will continue to build a wall of separation between tech and state using this lawsuit. The court will affirm the district court injunction and were excited to get back to the district court level, Bailey told reporters on the plaza in front of the Supreme Court after arguments concluded.

When asked for his reaction to the justices skepticism of Aguinagas argument of government coercion, Bailey said the evidence clearly establishes coercion.

Bailey argued that evidence gathered by Missouri, Louisiana and the individual plaintiffs reveals the Biden administration threatened reform of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which currently shields social media companies from liability for content published on their platforms.

Those are direct explicit threats against the big tech social media giants, he said.

The Department of Justice declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.

Jason Hancock reported from Columbia, Mo. Ashley Murray reported from Washington, D.C.

The post Suit alleging suppression of free speech met with skepticism at U.S. Supreme Court appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
Protestors backing a social media case against the U.S. government rallied outside the Supreme Court on Monday, March 18, 2024, as arguments in the case were being heard inside. The lawsuit filed in 2022 by attorneys general in Missouri and Louisiana alleges the federal government colluded with social media companies to suppress the freedom of speech. (Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court seemed skeptical Monday of a lawsuit alleging the federal government colluded with social media companies to suppress the freedom of speech, with a majority of justices across the ideological spectrum raising issues with the case and its potential consequences.

The Biden administration argued to the court there is no evidence that the government violated the First Amendment in its efforts to combat false, misleading or dangerous information online.

Beyond that, the court should dismiss the litigation because plaintiffs dont have the right to sue, said Brian Fletcher, principal deputy solicitor general.

Arguments occurred in a packed courtroom, where just outside dozens of protesters held signs accusing the government of infringing on free speech.

The lawsuit was filed in 2022 by two states  Missouri and Louisiana  and five individuals who either were banned from a platform or whose posts were not prominently featured on social media sites such as Facebook, YouTube and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Fletcher argued that the plaintiffs have not shown any evidence that decisions by social media companies to remove or deprioritize content can be attributed to the government. Instead, the companies made their own decisions relying on their own content moderation policies.

There was no coercion or attempted intimidation, Fletcher said, and the best proof of that is that social media companies routinely said no to the government.

They didnt hesitate to do it, and when they said no to the government, the government never engaged in any sort of retaliation, Fletcher said. Instead, (the federal government) engaged in more speech. Ultimately, the president and the press secretary and the surgeon general took to the bully pulpit. We just dont think thats coercion.

Benjamin Aguinaga, the solicitor general for the Louisiana attorney general, argued that the government has no right to persuade platforms to violate Americans constitutional rights, and pressuring platforms in back rooms shielded from public view is not using the bully pulpit at all. That is just being a bully.

Emails obtained as part of the lawsuit, Aguinaga contends, show the government badgered platforms behind closed doors, abused them with profanity and ominously says that the White House is considering its options all to get the platforms to censor more speech.

Under this onslaught, he said, the platforms routinely cave.

Encouragement vs. coercion

Government agencies have routinely encouraged social media companies to restrict harmful or illegal content for years, including posts involving terrorism and human trafficking.

Aguinaga argued that speech involving criminal activity is not protected. But the Biden administration, he said, began to push social media companies in 2021 to restrict misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Content was also targeted that involved election disinformation.

In 2022, U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty, a court nominee of President Donald Trump, ruled that officials under both President Joe Biden and Trump coerced social media companies to censor content over concerns it would fuel vaccine hesitancy during the COVID-19 pandemic or upend elections.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans prohibited the White House, the Surgeon Generals Office, the FBI, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from having practically any contact with the social media companies. It found that the Biden administration most likely overstepped the First Amendment by urging the major social media platforms to remove misleading or false content.

The Supreme Court placed a temporary stay on the order in October until it decides the case.

(Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Standing and traceability

Another question at the core of Mondays arguments was whether any harm to the plaintiffs could be, in fact, traced back to the governments actions or could be remedied by judicial relief.

Justice Elena Kagan asked Aguinaga to highlight the single piece of evidence that most clearly shows the government was responsible for one of your clients having material taken down.

How do you decide that its government action as opposed to platform action? Kagan followed.

Aguinaga pointed to a May 2021 email the Biden administration sent to a social media platform regarding misinformation about COVID-19. Aguinaga argued that evidence shows two months later content from one of the plaintiffs, Jill Hines of Louisiana, was suppressed.

A lot of things can happen in two months, Kagan said. So that decision two months later could have been caused by the governments email or that government email might have been long since forgotten because there are a thousand other communications that platform employees have had with each other, a thousand other things that platform employees have read in the newspaper.

I mean why would we point to one email two months earlier and say it was that email that made all the difference? Kagan said.

Justices question consequences for public safety, national security

During Mondays arguments, the justices focused on whether encouragement by federal officials amounted to illegal coercion, rather than merely informing or persuading social media companies.

There are lots of contexts where government officials can persuade private parties to do things the officials couldnt do directly, Fletcher argued when Justice Clarence Thomas questioned him about coercion versus censorship.

For example, recently after the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, a number of public officials called on colleges and universities to do more about antisemitic hate speech on campus, Fletcher said.

An ideologically diverse majority of justices raised concerns about the potential consequences of the litigation for things like public safety and national security.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh questioned whether the government violates the First Amendment when it requests the removal of factually inaccurate posts. He suggested there could be national security concerns if false information was posted online about troops.

Kavanaugh also asked how the federal governments communications with social media companies were any different than when news organizations are warned that a story they are about to publish could affect national security.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett continued along that line of questions, asking whether the FBI would still be able to warn social media platforms if an individual had been doxxed in a way that might put them at risk.

Aguinaga countered that he is a free speech purist but in that circumstance, the government would be allowed to issue warnings to social media companies about content.

But when speech is protected, the government has no right to intervene to push for it to be censored, he said.

When the government is identifying a specific viewpoint and specific content that it wishes to wholly eliminate from public discourse, thats when the First Amendment problem arises, he said, later adding that the government has lots of tools at its disposal to combat misinformation.

Censorship, he said, has never been the default remedy for a perceived First Amendment violation.

Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, formerly of Colorado, and Brett Kavanaugh attend former President Donald Trumps State of the Union address in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol Building on Feb. 5, 2019, in Washington, D.C. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

That argument didnt move Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

You have to admit that there are certain circumstances, she said, in which the government can provide information and encourage the platforms to take it down.

The most scathing criticism of the day came from Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

I have such a problem with your brief, counselor, Sotomayor said to Aguinaga. You omit information that changes the context of some of your claims. You attribute things to people who it didnt happen to. I dont know what to make of all this.

Aguinaga apologized if any aspect of our brief was not as forthcoming as it should have been.

Justice Samuel Alito, who sat back and rocked his chair with his hands behind his head, seemed most sympathetic to the plaintiffs case, reframing the discussion as Aguinaga was facing a series of difficult questions.

Coercion doesnt only apply when the government says do this, and if you dont do this, there are going to be legal consequences, Alito said, adding: Its a more flexible standard and you have to take into account the whole course of the relationship.

In his rebuttal, Fletcher compared the Biden administrations communications with social media companies and public comments about misinformation to President George W. Bushs public condemnation of pornography and President Ronald Reagans criticism of media influence of drugs and violence.

A ruling on the case is not expected for several months.

Plaintiff reaction

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said afterward he believes the Supreme Court justices will make the right decision here.

Ultimately that (decision) will continue to build a wall of separation between tech and state using this lawsuit. The court will affirm the district court injunction and were excited to get back to the district court level, Bailey told reporters on the plaza in front of the Supreme Court after arguments concluded.

When asked for his reaction to the justices skepticism of Aguinagas argument of government coercion, Bailey said the evidence clearly establishes coercion.

Bailey argued that evidence gathered by Missouri, Louisiana and the individual plaintiffs reveals the Biden administration threatened reform of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which currently shields social media companies from liability for content published on their platforms.

Those are direct explicit threats against the big tech social media giants, he said.

The Department of Justice declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.

Jason Hancock reported from Columbia, Mo. Ashley Murray reported from Washington, D.C.

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The post Suit alleging suppression of free speech met with skepticism at U.S. Supreme Court appeared first on Colorado Newsline.
The Supreme Court will attempt Monday to resolve a three-way crash involving free-speech rights on huge social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube and X.

The battle pits conservatives against the Biden administration, with the rights of tech giants to police their own platforms caught in the middle  and the outcome is likely to have repercussions at all levels of government where officials interact with those companies.

How the justices settle the fight could have a profound impact on the 2024 election, public health, national security  and the degree of freedom Americans have to express themselves online.

The result could also shape the future of the bully pulpit: the ability of presidents to use their powerful public megaphone in the digital age.

Samir Jain of the digital rights nonprofit Center for Democracy and Technology said in an interview that the high court needs to strike a careful balance when it comes to the governments interactions with platforms.

Jain urged the court to make clear that there are legitimate reasons for the government to communicate with social media companies, but it needs to do so in a way that's not coercive or improperly pressuring those companies. He added that the court should allow for certain public health and national-security information sharing.

The answer is not no more communication from the government to social media companies, Jain said.



The suit the justices will take up Monday is led by GOP state attorneys general from Missouri and Louisiana, spearheading a group of plaintiffs claiming top Biden officials, including the surgeon general and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pressured social media platforms to suppress or delete posts  mainly from conservatives  that opposed Covid-19 vaccine mandates, pushed false accounts of 2020 election fraud and circulated claims about about Hunter Bidens laptop.

A federal district judge and the Fifth Circuit largely agreed with the red states that the efforts violated the First Amendment. Those courts imposed broad limits on interactions between federal officials and the social media giants.

The Biden administration appealed, saying public officials are free to inform, to persuade and to criticize social media platforms.

Federal government officials have also warned the justices that allowing lawsuits over contacts between the FBI and social media companies threatens to turn that major arena of modern American life into a kind of wild west because agents will refuse nearly all contact out of fear of being sued.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision in the case by late June, just months before the November elections  and any ruling restricting government communications with social media platforms could have dramatic impacts on the spread of misinformation on the platforms.

The case to be argued Monday and two cases already pending at the high court over state social-media regulation laws in Florida and Texas also raise questions about the intersection of free-speech rights and digital platforms.



While the platforms wont be arguing in Mondays case, Murthy v. Missouri, they say they are stuck between the government and users, and want to make sure any ruling guarantees the companies rights to police content.

It is very important that the court not infringe our members own editorial rights in the process of holding the government accountable for violating the First Amendment rights of the users themselves, said Chris Marchese, director of the litigation center for NetChoice, a tech trade group that filed suits against the Florida and Texas laws.

No ruling has been issued yet in the Florida and Texas cases, but the battles over online speech seem to have divided the high courts powerful, six-justice conservative wing.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch have all signaled deep concern about the alleged smothering of conservative voices on social media and appear open to at least some kinds of legal interventions to combat it, while Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh seem to be sticking with a more centrist, traditional interpretation of the First Amendment that leaves little role for the courts in such disputes.

The views of the high courts newest conservative, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, are less clear, but there are signs she may be in the traditionalist camp.

Last year, Barrett voted to put the Texas social-media statute on hold. And last October, when the high court agreed to hear the Murthy case and put a hold on a lower court ruling that wouldve blocked contacts between the federal government and platforms, she did not join a heated dissent written by Alito and backed by Thomas and Gorsuch.

The Supreme Courts ultimate decision in the Murthy case is expected to turn on whether the Biden administrations overt and behind-the-scenes pressure on the social media firms amounted to coercion that transformed the companies into agents of the federal government.

Despite tens of thousands of pages of discovery, the red-leaning states have come up with little in the way of explicit, behind-the-scenes threats from the federal officials who were leaning on Facebook, Twitter (now known as X), and YouTube to take down or reduce the visibility of content.

There is rarely any sort of or else in the recorded communications, although some at the social media firms feared potential legislative consequences that could damage their businesses including action to take away the provision, known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, that protects them from lawsuits related to user-generated content.

In a March 2021 email to a Facebook official, senior Biden administration Covid adviser Andy Slavitt raged at what he contended was foot-dragging and lack of candor on the part of Facebook in its efforts to tackle Covid-related content federal officials considered dangerous.

Writing in an email chain with the subject line You are hiding the ball, Slavitt accused the company of being not straightforward and said it was less responsive than its peers.

We have urgency and dont sense it from you at all, Slavitt wrote. 100% of the questions I asked have never been answered and weeks have gone by.

Internally we have been considering our options on what to do about it, he added.

Slavitt did not elaborate in his message, but his vague reference to options came as the administration was publicly mulling proposals to rein in Section 230 and to step up antitrust enforcement that could damage the companies revenues.

The case has created some strange bedfellows, aligning civil liberties groups with conservatives, with both claiming Biden officials likely overstepped their constitutional bounds in their dealings with social media sites.

Jennifer Jones, a staff attorney at the Knight First Amendment Center, said Slavitts emails werent seeking to inform the platforms  as the White House claims  but were berating them or vaguely threatening regulatory reprisal and could be read as an implicit threat.

Other groups, including the Center for Democracy and Technology, raised concerns in their amicus brief that emails sent by Rob Flaherty, the White Houses digital strategy director, crossed into impermissible coercion.

Indeed, around the same time the administrations pressure campaign was at its height, the White House communications director said it was reviewing tech platforms Section 230 legal protections and whether they should be liable for pushing false and harmful information

Separately, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has been probing Bidens alleged collusion with tech platforms to censor conservative viewpoints on Covid-19 and the 2020 elections, holding hearings and collecting discovery in tandem with the Missouri and Louisiana attorneys general.



That evidence shows that the Biden Administration has relentlessly pressured private entities  sometimes in cooperation with other private entities  to censor speech that the Administration disliked, Jordan wrote in an amicus brief supporting the plaintiffs.

Flaherty, Slavitt and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.

In many ways, the public statements of the Biden White House and Biden himself were more coercive than what appears to have taken place in the direct interactions with the firms.

Theyre killing people. ...The only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated, and theyre killing people, Biden said bluntly of Facebook and other platforms in July 2021, before retreating.



One plaintiff in the case suggested the Supreme Court lay down some clear guardrails, in part because one can never be sure who will be directing the White Houses interactions with social media companies.

Aaron Kheriaty, a physician and plaintiff in the case whose video opposing Californias Covid-19 vaccine mandates was removed by YouTube, said its important for the high court to write an opinion that addresses risks posed by both Republican and Democratic administrations.

The fact that it's been framed as a political issue is very dangerous, Kheriaty said. While people may be sympathetic to the current administration's aims and goals, I think they're going to think very differently about this question if a new administration is using that same infrastructure for other purposes.
The Supreme Court heard arguments for another social-media-related case on Monday  the latest in a string of cases this term that has had the justices assessing what free speech looks like in the digital era.

The majority of the justices seemed skeptical about the claims that the Biden administration coerced social media platforms to remove content it deemed problematic or misinformation. Its part of a growing conversation around the extent to which the government should be allowed to get involved with a public debate.

A decision on the case will likely come in June when the term ends.

The case also comes on the heels of the Supreme Court hearing landmark cases from Texas and Florida that argued social media platforms should not be allowed to remove users posts, even if they violate content policies or promote misinformation and hate.

 What are the implications of these social media cases?

Free speech advocates are hoping the Supreme Court will use Murthy v. Missouri to finally establish how the government can intervene when it comes to dangerous misinformation on social media without threatening First Amendment protection.

The government has no authority to threaten platforms into censoring protected speech, but it must have the ability to participate in public discourse so that it can effectively govern and inform the public of its views, Alex Abdo, litigation director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said in a statement.

 What to know about the Biden administrations case

Two Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, alongside several social media users, alleged that federal officials coordinated and colluded with social media platforms to identify disfavored speakers, viewpoints, and content and then censored them, The Hill reported.

The central debate in the case is whether the Biden administration violated the First Amendment by attempting to police what it considered to be misinformation about the 2020 election and COVID-19 vaccines.

Last summer Louisiana-based federal Judge Terry Doughty sided with the attorneys general and said Biden administration officials could not contact social media companies relating to the removal, deletion, suppression or deduction of content.

The New Orleans-based Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the lower court that Biden officials likely did violate the First Amendment, which should protect social media companies from being coerced by federal agencies.

The Supreme Court blocked the appeals court ruling in October. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch noted they disagreed with the majoritys decision to block, saying, Government censorship of private speech is antithetical to our democratic form of government.

 Whats the argument Biden administration lawyers are making?

Brian Fletcher, the principal deputy solicitor general for the Biden administration, is arguing that the government does have the right to correspond with social media companies as long as it does not coerce them. Fletcher claimed the distinction between conversations and coercion is whether the government makes threats.

Justice Department lawyers allege that in cases like COVID-19 misinformation, the federal government was highlighting posts it thought were causing preventable deaths to the tech platforms hosting them, Reuters reported. They also claim that there is no evidence to show that the government tied regulatory threats to content moderation decisions.

In a conversation with Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Fletcher said, Platforms  newspapers  want to know if theyre publishing a story that might put lives at risk. And they dont have to listen to the government, but thats information that they can consider when exercising their editorial judgment.

Kavanaugh responded that what would make that sentiment coercion is if the government added, And if you publish the story [anyway] were going to pursue antitrust action against you. Fletcher agreed.

 Whats the argument against the Biden administration?

The solicitor general of Louisiana, J. Benjamin Aguinaga, said the government was coercing social media platforms into taking down posts, which counts as censorship.

During the hearing on Monday, Aguinaga emphasized that social media platforms are allowed to make independent decisions about what stays on their sites; the problem is when government officials get involved to determine that.

He claimed Biden officials were putting unrelenting government pressure on platforms in conversations shielded from public video.

In response to Kavanaughs hypothetical about the government reaching out to a publication or newspaper about a story, Aguinaga said that is the government going directly to the speaker. In the case of social media, the government is going to a third party, not the poster.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson asked Aguinaga specifically why the government cant make decisions about posts that could cause harm, such as posts that lead teenagers to die by suicide. Aguinaga argued that the appropriate reaction would be for the government to flag issues but not pressure platforms to remove the content.

 Supreme Court justices seem skeptical Biden administration violated 1st Amendment

During the oral arguments, multiple justices from both the liberal and conservative sides questioned whether the Biden administration crossed the line into coercion and whether the social media user plaintiffs who brought the lawsuit could even prove they were harmed by the posts being taken down.

They also raised issues about the lack of evidence that could prove officials threatened social media companies if they werent cooperative.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor told Aguinaga she had a problem with his brief.

You omit information that changes the context of some of your claims, she told the solicitor general. You attribute things to people who it didnt happen to. At least in one of the defendants, it was her brother that something happened to, not her. I dont know what to make of all of this because I am not sure how we get to prove direct injury in any way.

In a conversation with Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Aguinaga asked whether the FBI should be allowed to ask Facebook or X to take down posts that could publicize someones personal information, otherwise known as doxing.

Do you know how often the FBI makes those calls? Barrett asked, suggesting it happens frequently.

 This is the 5th argument regarding free speech and technology the Supreme Court has heard since October

In addition to last months cases on whether Florida and Texas could limit social media companies from moderating content, on March 15 the court, in two unanimous rulings, also set requirements for when elected officials are allowed to block people from their social media accounts.

The justices had to distinguish between what constitutes private conduct, which is not subject to First Amendment protection, and state action, which is protected.

Read more about Fridays case from ABC News: Supreme Court sets rules on when public officials can block social media users
March 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday began hearing arguments on social media moderation on Monday and whether the federal government should have any power in swaying the platforms in taking down what it believes is false or misleading content.

The case reached the Supreme Court from the conservative Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which sided with two Republican attorneys general in preventing the federal government from interacting with social media outlets to get them to block or downplay some information.

The attorneys general said the government was violating the First Amendment in pushing social media platforms to block or downplay content. The Biden administration said, though, it was practicing its First Amendment right to engage social media platforms about harmful and false content in the greater public interest.

While social media companies like Facebook and X are not part of the case, they have long claimed the rules they set up to post and not post on their sites are protected by the First Amendment, like newspapers and other traditional news media outlets.

Opponents, though, have said social media outlets perform more like utilities in hosting content and don't have the same First Amendment protections as traditional news outlets.

At the heart of the conflict was information about COVID-19 and its vaccines and treatments during the pandemic and then the accuracy of 2020 election information. The federal government said it has the right to flag false and misleading information while opponents charged that it simply targeted individuals and groups they did not like.
A protester outside the US Supreme Court with a placard reading "Freedom equals free speech"

The Supreme Court has heard arguments in a case that will define how far the US government can go in attempting to tackle disinformation online.

Louisiana and Missouri brought the case, arguing that the government's contact with social media platforms should be limited.

But the court's nine justices appeared unconvinced during arguments on Monday.

The case is seen as a test of how much the government can pressure social media companies to remove content.

It began after President Joe Biden's administration pushed platforms to remove posts about the Covid pandemic and the 2020 election which it said were false.

Louisiana and Missouri were joined in the lawsuit by several plaintiffs who said their free speech rights had been violated and the Biden administration had sought to stifle conservative views.

They include Jim Hoft, the owner of Gateway Pundit, a right-wing website that has been accused of publishing misinformation, and Jill Hines, co-director of Health Freedom Louisiana, a group that argues against vaccines and laws which mandate them.

On Monday, some justices expressed a reluctance to support a lower court's ruling that would severely limit government interactions with social media companies. That ruling is on pause while the Supreme Court considers the case.

Several justices said they were concerned ordinary interactions between officials and the major platforms could be impacted.

"Some might say that the government actually has a duty to take steps to protect the citizens of this country, and you seem to be suggesting that that duty cannot manifest itself in the government encouraging or even pressuring platforms to take down harmful information," Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told Benjamin Aguinaga, the Louisiana solicitor general.

Mr Aguinaga argued that emails to social media executives from White House officials constituted illegal pressure and amounted to censorship.

In the messages, the Biden administration flagged popular posts on the biggest social media platforms that promoted - among other things - misinformation about Covid vaccines and false claims of widespread voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election.

Some of the emails were sent to senior social media executives such as Meta's president of global affairs and former UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Lower court judges have found there is evidence that the government overstepped its authority in its contacts with the social media companies.

In an initial ruling in July 2023, a federal judge in Louisiana wrote: "If the allegations made by plaintiffs are true, the present case arguably involves the most massive attack against free speech in United States history."

However the Supreme Court justices appeared wary during Monday's arguments. Mr Aguinaga faced pointed questions from the three liberal members of the court along with several of the more conservative justices.

The justices questioned whether the Biden administration's messages led directly to the social media companies taking action and limiting speech, and whether the plaintiffs - who are still active on social media - could actually show that their free speech rights were violated.

Justice Jackson posed a hypothetical situation about whether the government would be prohibited from contacting technology companies about a potentially deadly challenge going viral on social media among teenagers.

"I think [the government] absolutely can call and say 'this is a problem,'" Mr Aguinaga said, but he added that officials would cross the line if they then put pressure on companies to take down the posts.

Brian Fletcher, defending the Biden administration, argued that if the Supreme Court sides with the two states and other plaintiffs, it would hamper efforts to stem misinformation and promote public health, even in emergency situations.

"The government is entitled to speak for itself," Mr Fletcher said.

The Supreme Court decision is expected in June.
The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear the appeal of a former New Mexico county commissioner who was removed from office because of his role in the January 6, 2021 insurrection  a case that was similar to the one the high court recently decided involving former President Donald Trump.

Cowboys for Trump founder and convicted Capitol rioter Couy Griffin was removed from office in 2022, marking the first time an elected official was booted under the 14th Amendments insurrectionist ban because of the US Capitol riot.

The Supreme Courts move means the ruling barring Griffin from office will stand.

In a unanimous decision on March 4, the high court sided with Trump in a similar case. Six Colorado voters attempted to knock the former president off the ballot in that state because his remarks before the attack on the US Capitol in 2021. But the court ruled that states couldnt do so on their own.

Responsibility for enforcing the ban, the court wrote, rests with Congress and not the states. But the ruling explicitly said states are allowed to enforce the so-called insurrectionist ban against persons holding or attempting to hold state office.

Thats the process that was followed with Griffin, who was removed by from his local county office by a New Mexico state judge.

And further, Griffin, unlike Trump, had already been found guilty of a January 6-related crime when he was disqualified from holding office. He was convicted of trespassing on Capitol grounds after a bench trial in March 2022. He was acquitted of a second misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct, but the conviction bolstered the challengers arguments that he engaged in an insurrection.

A civil trial on the disqualification question was held later that year. A state judge ruled that January 6 was an insurrection and that Griffin violated the oath he took as a commissioner by engaging in that insurrection. Griffin was disqualified under Section 3 and was removed in September 2022.

New Mexicos top court dismissed Griffins appeal on procedural grounds.

A prominent right-wing conspiracy theorist, Griffin was part of the Capitol insurrection mob, though he didnt enter the building itself.

He returned to national attention in June 2022 by refusing to certify the legitimate results of a primary elections in his county, citing baseless claims of election irregularities, which triggered a standoff with state election authorities.

In a recent interview with CNN, Griffin slammed the process that led to his disqualification, and also criticized the similar cases against Trump.

This whole thing started on a small scale, with them coming after me, with the specific goal of bringing it up the to the big stage with Donald Trump, Griffin said. I was the test case.

This story has been updated with additional details.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The Supreme Court on Monday declined to review the disqualification of a New Mexico official who founded Cowboys for Trump and participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

Couy Griffin, a former New Mexico county commissioner, is the only known elected official to be disqualified under the 14th Amendments insurrection ban in connection with Jan. 6.

In his petition to the high court, Griffin made similar arguments to former President Trump in his historic ballot case.

Weeks after unanimously ruling to keep Trump on the ballot, the Supreme Court in a brief order on Monday refused to take up Griffins appeal.

In the historic decision in Trumps case, the high court ruled that a singular state has no authority to disqualify federal candidates from the ballot under the 14th Amendment.

Notably, Griffin was disqualified from state office. By declining to hear his case, the court leaves open the possibility that courts could still move to disqualify other state and local officials who participated in Jan. 6, despite the Supreme Court sidelining Trumps ballot challenges.

I was acquitted of disruptive behavior in my federal criminal trial yet convicted of insurrection in a state civil bench trial. And removed from my elected position. Make that make sense. Praying for the SCOTUS to bring clarity in the law, Griffin Saturday wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The parties in Griffins disqualification battle had also sparred over a matter not implicated in Trumps case: whether the Supreme Court has jurisdiction in the first place to review Griffins disqualification, given the posture of his case.

The courts order refusing to hear the appeal gave no explanation, as is typical.

A judge in September 2022 disqualified Griffin in response to a challenge from three New Mexico voters. The case was filed one day before Griffin was found guilty in his Jan. 6 criminal case.

Cowboys for Trump staged horseback parades to spread Trumps conservative message about gun rights, immigration controls and abortion restrictions.

Updated at 10:30 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
GHENT, WV (WVNS)  As Brittany Rose read the disjointed text from her mother, Virginia Sizemore, she rushed from her nursing job to Princeton Community Hospital in a panic.

Sizemore, 59, of McDowell County, was the second car in the toll lane when a vehicle crashed into the car behind her and sent her ping-ponging through the booth.

Sizemore told her daughter the details, who then sat down with 59News to tell her mothers story.

And she was like, the only thing I remember, I had rolled my window down and I was getting ready to pull up to the toll booth to pay the toll. I looked back through my mirror and I saw the van flying up behind us. I was thinking in my head, oh my God they need to slow down before I could think anything else. The van took and hit the car behind her which in course hit her, said Rose.

Experts advise heightened caution at toll plazas following deadly crash

Sizemores car then slammed into the car in front of her, sending both cars outside the toll lane.

Sizemore said shed gotten out of her car herself and hadnt even realized that shed hit someone ahead of her.

All she could see was the wreckage behind her and the smoke billowing from the toll lanes.

There was an older lady that came running over to me screaming, that youre a miracle, youre a miracle. I didnt even know where she came from, she was like, but she was like after I think back now, she was like, it was the car in front of me cause she said at the time, you saved us, said Rose.

Rose said that her mother was immensely relieved that she hadnt hurt anyone in the car in front of her, but she does wonder if the toll booth worker made it out okay.

Sizemore is currently in the hospital receiving treatment for a brain bleed, a right orbital fracture, and fractures to her C-6 and C-7 cervical spine vertebrae.

Sizemore will be heading to physical therapy soon, and says that her trauma surgeon believes her recovery will take three months at the minimum.

The investigation into the crash is still ongoing at this time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
KOIN 6 News contacted candidates who are running for Oregons Third Congressional District in 2024, asking them to respond to these four questions:

Why are you running for office?

What is your prior government/civic experience?

In your opinion, what are the top three issues facing the Third District and the state of Oregon?

In your opinion, what is going right in the Third District and Oregon? How do you plan to build on it?

Susheela Jayapal is running as a Democrat. Here are her responses:

Why are you running for office?

Were at a pivotal moment  in this district, in Oregon, and in the country. Weve emerged from the pandemic with extremist Republicans attacking our democracy in ways weve never seen before; with rights weve taken for granted for decades being rolled back; and with the progress we have made in recent years  on climate change, on healthcare access, on rebuilding our infrastructure  threatened by MAGA ideologues. And were also facing immense challenges on the ground locally, with homelessness and behavioral health issues.

Its more important than ever that we have a strong voice in Congress  someone who is going to stand up for this districts values and fight for our community. Someone with a proven record of accomplishments, passion for service, and the ability to get things done.

I was born in India, and came to the US to go to college when I was 16. My parents didnt have a lot of money. But they scraped together what they had to send me here because they believed in the American dream, and because, more than anything, they valued a good education. It was a huge sacrifice. Not only did they use up what little savings they had, but it meant that they are now growing old without us, in India. Their sacrifice, and the desire to pay it forward, drives me.

Because of their sacrifice, Ive gone to college and law school. Ive had a career that has spanned the private sector, nonprofits, and elected office. Ive raised two incredible kids in this community  both of whom graduated from Grant High School, right here in this district  and for thirty years Ive called this district home.

Ive been honored to serve Multnomah County for the last five years, and especially to have served during one of the most difficult times in recent memory; and its that work that has me running for Congress, because its clear that in order for Oregonians to thrive, we need strong leadership at the federal level.

Its unconscionable that in this, the wealthiest country in the world, people are forced to sleep on the street because they cant afford a roof over their head. That the cost of healthcare is the leading cause of personal bankruptcy. That reproductive rights are being rolled back, with horrific consequences. And that our planet is literally on fire.

We must take action to create shared prosperity and a world where we all have a fair shot to support our families, and leave a little more to the next generation.

That means everyone has access to affordable housing, to universal and free quality health care, a job with living wages, and a free, quality education, whether its college or vocational training. It means that workers have the right to organize and exercise democracy in the workplace, lifting standards for everyone. That we have the freedom to decide whether and when to have a family. And that we transition away from the existential threat posed by fossil fuels, creating good jobs and resilience  especially for the communities who need them most.

I believe that while we have big problems, we also have huge opportunities. I know that we can do better. I know we can work together to take on the problems that face us. I believe we can find the common ground necessary to get things done, without compromising our values. Thats why Im running for Congress. To fight for the change we need, to build a society and country we can be proud to leave to the next generation.

What is your prior government and/or civic experience?

Ive lived in District 3 for thirty years, raising my two kids here. In that time, Ive been fortunate to participate in our civic life as a lawyer, a community leader and volunteer, and most recently, as a Multnomah County Commissioner. During that time I have consistently worked to improve access to reproductive health care, education, and social services. I have established a track record of solving problems and pushing powerful institutions to make changes that make things better for those without power.

As a lawyer, I sued corrupt and negligent savings and loans officials who exploited the working people who had deposited money in their banks, worked to improve labor conditions in overseas factories, and provided free legal services to asylum seekers and children in foster care.

As a nonprofit leader and community volunteer, I volunteered in our schools, mentoring high school students with their college applications; serving on the Grant High School Foundation and chairing the Site Council; reading to elementary school kids through Start Making a Reader Today; and serving as a CASA volunteer and as a grant evaluator with the Oregon Community Foundation.

I served in leadership roles on the boards of a range of nonprofit organizations, including All Hands Raised, Literary Arts, Metropolitan Family Service, the Regional Arts and Culture Council, and Planned Parenthood  where we expanded services into Northeast and Southeast Portland; and were the first in the nation to offer medication abortion.

In all of these roles, I prioritized equity, leading changes to systems that for too long have shut out people of color, placed barriers in the way of school success for Black and brown children, children who dont speak English, and children with disabilities, and neglected communities in the eastern part of this district.

On the Multnomah County Commission, where I served for the last five years, I was a stalwart advocate for comprehensive solutions to homelessness, including expanding shelter, creating more affordable housing, long term rent assistance, and behavioral health services. I fought to provide a living wage to workers on the frontlines of our mental health and homelessness crisis, secured funding for the first-ever LGBTQ+ homeless service center in the county, and prioritized recovery and transitional housing.

Ive been honored to be recognized for my work supporting survivors of domestic violence and sex trafficking as well as my work on clean air; I strengthened support for immigrant and refugee communities; and secured a $2 million federal grant for innovative community-led crime prevention initiatives.

My commitment to the values of social justice, equity, and community empowerment isnt just politicalits personal, rooted in my own experiences and understanding of the challenges faced by marginalized communities  and its those values that Ive consistently brought into all my government and civic service over the years.

In your opinion, what are the top three issues facing District 3 and the state of Oregon?

The issues most visible in the district and the state are homelessness; addiction and mental health; and extreme weather  heat domes, ice storms, wildfires, and other manifestations of climate change that arent as dramatic, but are no less serious. These are the things we see and experience every day.

All are encompassed in my federal platform:

Shared prosperity: Everyone should earn enough to afford a decent standard of living, support their family, and make things a little better for the next generation. This means living wage jobs; it means affordable childcare and preschool, and a system that allows us to take care of our elders; a good education, including post-secondary college, apprenticeships, or training; affordable housing and universal, affordable healthcare. Key to achieving shared prosperity is a thriving labor movement and a tax system in which everyone pays their fair share, instead of a system thats rigged in favor of the wealthy and special interests.

Climate change: Its unacceptable that were leaving the next generation a planet on fire. We must aggressively address climate change. With the recent ice storms and wildfires, it is crystal clear that both slowing climate change and ensuring that our communities are more resilient is an urgent imperative. It is also an opportunity to follow a bold approach that achieves net-zero emissions and creates millions of high-quality and sustainable union clean energy jobs. This is going to require a all-hands on deck effort similar to the New Deal, with investments in large scale mitigation and resiliency projects, upgrades to public infrastructure, modernization of millions of buildings to cut pollution, investments in public health, protections for public lands, regenerative agriculture investments that support local and regional food systems, and more. And all of this work must put environmental justice, inclusion, and equity for frontline communities who have borne the brunt on the forefront of any policy we pursue. As we phase out the fossil fuel industry, we also must ensure that were helping those workers and communities phase into the clean energy economy and other industries to help them thrive.

Our Democracy and Civil Rights: The health of our democracy is the most important thing we have. Without it, nothing else works. MAGA Republicans have attacked our country at its very core, questioning the validity of our elections and our very institutions. President Trump encouraged an attack on the U.S. Capitol, where a violent mob assaulted police officers, and people lost their lives. To allow that, without consequence, is a direct threat to the future of our democracy. And our fundamental civil rights are under attack by these same MAGA Republicans, whether it be their relentless assault on voting rights, a dangerous anti-science LGBTQI+ agenda that puts the lives of trans kids and same-sex marriages at risk, telling women what to do with their bodies, giving corporations more rights than people in our campaign finance systems, or banning books in our libraries. I am committed to fighting for equal rights for each and every Oregonian and will never waver in my fight against these attacks.

In your opinion, what is going right in District 3 and Oregon? How do you plan to build on it?

Last year, I did an exchange with a commissioner from Union County. I spent several days in Union County  I wanted to learn more about the rural communities he represents, to better understand whether, where and how we might work together. And he came to Multnomah County so he could learn more about us. As he left, he told me this wasnt the Portland he expected to see  it wasnt a Portland in flames, it wasnt a dying Portland. It has big problems, but it also has thriving neighborhoods; innovative programs like the Behavioral Health Resource Center, which he wanted to bring his colleagues to see; and a vibrant, diverse community.

There are many areas where District 3 and Oregon have led the nation. We have some of the strongest labor organizing protections in the country. Weve reduced barriers to healthcare by creating and then expanding the Oregon Health Plan, including by covering people regardless of immigration status. On reproductive rights, we have led by recognizing abortion care as healthcare. Our vote by mail system is second to none  and here I have to call out Multnomah Countys Elections Division for its peerless dedication to voter information and access to the ballot.

Locally, we have made real progress on strengthening our democratic processes. We have public financing of campaigns at the City of Portland, and ranked choice voting at both Portland and Multnomah County. And here in District 3, we have implemented a ground-breaking Preschool for All initiative that will allow all families to get a quality preschool education for their children, and also create good, living wage jobs for those who provide that education.

Finally, over the last few years we have seen representation matter. Our local and state elected bodies are more diverse than ever before. I was fortunate enough to serve on an all-woman, majority woman of color county commission. The state legislature includes a record number of people of color. We are still not where we need to be in terms of representation, not by a long shot  but were making progress.

Ill build on our work on healthcare access by fighting for Medicare for All  to deliver affordable, effective healthcare and save billions of dollars by recognizing healthcare as a human right rather than a source of profit. Ill also take lessons learned from Preschool for All to the federal level, to advocate for universal preschool in a model that also creates good, living wage jobs and sets kids up for success.

And finally, Ill continue our important local work on campaign finance reform and elections by fighting for a future where money no longer has a stranglehold on our politics, and where everyone has access to free and fair elections.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
A man who was accused of killing three Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2022, sparking widespread fear in the Islamic community, was found guilty of murder on Monday.

Muhammad Syed was found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of 41-year-old Aftab Hussein, according to the Bernalillo County District Attorneys office.

At trial, prosecutors said Syed used an AK-47 to shoot Hussein at least nine times from behind a wall and some bushes, according to CNN affiliate KOAT.

Syeds attorney, Thomas Clark, said there was not one shred of evidence that links this man to firing this gun, KOAT reported.

Jurors deliberated for less than two hours before coming to the guilty verdict, according to the district attorneys office spokesperson, Nancy Laflin.

Syed, an immigrant from Afghanistan, faces a sentence of life in prison. He is also set to face separate trials for the murders of the other two men, Muhammad Afzaal Hussain and Naeem Hussain.

David Waymire, one of the prosecuting attorneys, told KOAT he was happy with the verdict. Still, he said the motive behind the killings remained unclear.

There is only minimal conjecture on the possible motive. As best we can tell, the motive in this may truly be a random, serial killer-type of mentality well never understand, he said.

Defense attorney Megan Mitsunaga said she respected the jurys decision but we are understandably disappointed on behalf of our client.

Outside of court, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, the brother of victim Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, said the verdict brought some solace to himself and others in the community.

The Muslim community at large, at least, (has) relief that the person who was the killer, who became a bad name for the community  is behind (bars), and at least no other brother, no other son, no other family member will become a victim of this person, he said.

Syed accused of a spree of killings

The cases date to the summer of 2022, when three Muslim men in Albuquerque were gunned down within the span of a few weeks, sparking grief and fear in the community and questions about whether the killings were motivated by hate.

Aftab Hussein was found dead on July 26 with multiple gunshot wounds lying next to a car, police said. Detectives learned the gunman had waited behind a bush near the driveway where the victim usually parked his vehicle and fired multiple times through the bush, according to a criminal complaint.

Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was found on August 1 with multiple gunshot wounds by officers who responded to reports of a drive-by shooting, according to the complaint.

Further, Naeem Hussain, 25, was shot and killed in his car before midnight on August 5, according to authorities. He had recently become a US citizen and had attended a funeral for two of the shooting victims hours before his death.

As police investigated the case, they looked into whether the killings were connected to the November 7, 2021, murder of Mohammad Ahmadi, an Afghan man who was found with a gunshot wound in the parking lot behind the business he ran with his brother. (As of Monday, no arrest has been made in Ahmadis case, Waymire said.)

Ahmadi, Hussein and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain were ambushed with no warning, fired on and killed, Kyle Hartsock, deputy commander of Albuquerque Police Departments Criminal Investigations Division, said at the time.

Days after the attack on Naeem Hussain, police released a photo of a vehicle of interest they said was connected to the killings. Syed was pulled over and detained in that vehicle near Santa Rosa, New Mexico, about 120 miles east of Albuquerque, according to police.

Syed told police he was driving to Texas to find a new place for his family to live because the situation in Albuquerque was bad, referring to the killings of Muslim men, the affidavit said.

Authorities also conducted a search warrant at his home, where they found firearms, police said.

One of the firearms recovered in his home has been linked to bullet casings found at the scenes of two of the killings, while casings for a handgun found in his car when he was stopped were linked to one of the scenes, according to the arrest affidavit.

CNN spoke to the suspects daughter hours before his arrest was announced in 2022. She said the family, originally from Afghanistan, had been in the US for about six years.

CNNs Ashley Killough, Ed Lavandera, Christina Maxouris, Nouran Salahieh and Paradise Afshar contributed to this report.

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SWEETWATER, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A Sweetwater fugitive was arrested in Colorado on multiple felony charges.

Harold Perrigo was taken into custody in Colorado March 6 on warrants issued out of Nolan County for Bail Jumping/Failure to Appear, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Evading Arrest/Detention, Bail Jumping/Failure to Appear.

Perrigo will now be extradited to the Nolan County Jail on these warrants.

The Sweetwater Police Department would like to thank the Mesa County Sheriffs Office for their cooperation and swift action in this case, a press release explains.

No further information has been released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
The Supreme Court on Monday appeared deeply skeptical of arguments by two conservative states that the First Amendment bars the government from pressuring social media platforms to remove online misinformation.

In more than 90 minutes of oral arguments that occasionally veered into the justices personal frustrations with the press, several conservative justices sided with the liberal wing in appearing to doubt claims by two states that the Biden administration violated the Constitution with the practice.

Louisiana and Missouri accused the Biden administration of a sweeping censorship campaign conducted through emailed and other communications with social media platforms.

In the communications, government officials routinely used expletives and other strong language to flag posts related to Covid-19 and the 2020 election that they believed violated the platforms terms, and demanded the posts be removed. In some cases, platforms complied with the takedown requests. Others were ignored.

Whether those emails amount to censorship is a question for the court that could reshape the governments ability to respond to election meddling, public health crises, child sexual exploitation and other pressing issues playing out in the virtual public square, the US government has said.

Heres what to know from Mondays arguments:

In a series of hypothetical questions, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett signaled concern about setting a standard that restricted the governments ability to communicate with the platforms over content that might be problematic.

Such a standard, they seemed to suggest, could be damaging.

Kavanaugh noted it is not uncommon for government officials to protest an upcoming [newspaper] story on surveillance or detention policy and say, you know, If you run that, its going to harm the war effort and put Americans at risk. He asked whether the government couldnt request the platforms to remove content that was, for instance, posed danger to American troops.

In another telling exchange, Barrett pressed the states on what would happen if a social media user identified the home addresses of public officials and encouraged people to rally so that those officials could be harmed. The justices, of course, have had firsthand experience with similar circumstances. In the run-up to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, protesters rallied outside several of their homes for weeks.

Barrett asked: Could the FBI not call the social media sites and encourage them to take such posts down?

Im a purist on the First Amendment, said Benjamin Aguinaga, the attorney for the states, suggesting that that course of action would be unconstitutional. But then Aguinaga quickly added that the FBI absolutely can identify certain troubling situations like that for the platforms and allow them to take action themselves without an explicit request from the government.

Not all of the conservatives appeared ready to back the Biden administration.

Led by Justice Samuel Alito, several raised concerns about the extent of the contact between the government agencies and the private platforms over posts they wanted stricken.

In one key exchange, Alito laid out a case for how unusual it was that federal officials were pressuring the sites to remove content. Alito, among the most stalwart conservatives on the court, wondered aloud what would happen if the government had made similar requests of traditional media companies, like newspapers and cable television outlets.

Alito described what the government did as a constant pestering of Facebook.

Its treating Facebook and these other platforms like theyre subordinates, Alito told Brian Fletcher, an attorney representing the Biden administration. Would you do this to the New York Times?

Alito later added: I cannot imagine federal officials taking that approach to the print media.

Justice Elena Kagan, one of the courts liberal members, contradicted Alito in a different exchange.

Like Justice Kavanaugh, Ive had some experience encouraging press to suppress their own speech, Kagan said to chuckles in the courtroom. This happens literally thousands of times a day in the federal government.

Alito brings up Section 230

Alito argued that the difference between traditional and social media is that the federal government ostensibly holds the power to revoke protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act that immunize the sites from lawsuits involving content moderation. In other words, Alito said, the government had big clubs it could use to try to coerce the social medica companies to cooperate.

Fletcher pointed to the context of the communication between the Biden administration and the social media companies. This was a time when thousands of Americans were still dying every week and there was a hope that getting everyone vaccinated could stop the pandemic, he said.

Elsewhere, Fletcher added that the Biden administration may have a bully pulpit role in shaping the debate over Section 230 but that it lacks any actual authority to weaken the law. That is Congress role, he said, challenging claims that the administration has issued credible threats against social media that could support a coercion argument.

US government may have a legitimate interest in influencing platforms

Some of the courts liberal justices suggested there may be situations in which the government has an important role to play in influencing social media platforms handling of user speech.

Part of the reason why you might be running into all of these difficulties, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told the states lawyer, is because youre not focusing on the fact that there are times in which the government can, depending on the circumstances, encourage, perhaps even coerce, because they have a compelling interest in doing so.

Aguinaga repeatedly sought to persuade the court to look at the overall outcome of the communications.

Regardless of the label you apply  whether its coercion, whether its encouragement, or joint participation and conspiracy  at the end of the day, if what the government is trying to do is eliminate viewpoints from public discourse, that would be unconstitutional, he argued.

But many of the justices pushed back, suggesting it is not enough to look at the outcome and that there is an important distinction between coercion and encouragement.

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When faced with questions from German lawmakers on March 13, Chancellor Olaf Scholz once again said "no" to the delivery of the Taurus long-range missile to Ukraine.

"Prudence is not something that one can qualify as a weakness. Prudence is something that the citizens of our country are entitled to," he said.

The next day, the Bundestag, the German parliament's lower chamber, voted against a motion to send Taurus missiles to Kyiv for the third time in 2024.

Ukraine officially asked Berlin to provide one of the most powerful long-range missiles at the end of May 2023 but heard uncertainty in response and, later  consistent refusals.

A sign of the "Taurus missile" is visible while hundreds of people are participating in a demonstration to show support for Ukraine, where a 100-meter-long Ukrainian flag is being carried, in Cologne, Germany, on Jan. 6, 2024. (Ying Tang/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Almost a year later, Kyiv faces a critical shortage of ammunition, which has already contributed to the fall of the key front-line city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast and can result in more losses.

What is behind Ukraine's obsession with receiving the Taurus missiles, and why is Germany constantly refusing to provide Kyiv with this specific weapon?

Advanced capabilities

Taurus is a joint German-Swedish-made cruise missile that can travel up to over 500 kilometers, outmatching the capabilities of other Western long-range systems that Ukraine has in service.

The British Storm Shadow missiles, along with the French equivalent, the SCALP missiles, have a range of up to 250 kilometers, while the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) so far delivered to Ukraine by the U.S.  can fly roughly 160 kilometers.

Read also: Ukrainian soldiers near Kupiansk prepare for potential Russian offensive

With this advantage, Taurus would help Ukraine hit more targets in the occupied territories and, in theory, could also reach deep into Russia. Once launched, the long-range missile flies at an altitude of 35 meters, which makes it difficult for radars to detect and helps bypass defense systems.

Taurus missiles were designed to hit buried and protected targets, including command posts and bridges. Potentially, the Kerch Bridge, which is a critical supply and transport route for Russian forces to occupied Crimea and other occupied territories, could become one of them.

The 19-kilometer bridge has already been successfully attacked by Ukraine-made experimental Sea Baby naval drones.

An explosion carried out by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) causes fire at the Kerch bridge in the Kerch Strait, Russian-occupied Crimea, on Oct. 8, 2022. (Vera Katkova/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

"Taurus is the best weapon system in Western arsenals to take down bridges. So in theory, if Ukraine wants to take down the Kerch Bridge, Taurus would be the ideal weapon system to do that," Fabian Hoffmann, doctoral research fellow at the University of Oslo, who specializes in missile technology, told the Kyiv Independent.

Equipped with a sophisticated warhead, Taurus can be programmed to explode after hitting a specific target, such as a bunker. The missile can penetrate several layers before the final explosion, causing maximum damage.

Germany reportedly has around 600 Taurus long-range missiles, 150 of which are ready for deployment.

The list of Western planes from which German missiles are fired does not include the aircraft that Ukraine has. Taurus "can be easily adapted" to F-16 fighter jets, which are soon to be deployed in Ukraine, and to Gripen  a Swedish aircraft that was considered for transfer and was successfully tested by Ukrainian pilots, according to MBDA, the company which developed the missiles.

Experts believe that the Taurus is unlikely to be a game-changer in the war and that Ukraine needs it primarily to replenish its long-range weapons stockpile.

"Storm Shadow, SCALP EG, they are running out sooner or later. Taurus is another very capable cruise missile that could be used by Ukrainians to just extend the availability of its long-range range strike capability. This is a key advantage. It's mostly about the quantity and the number of missile systems available in Ukraine's arsenal," Hoffmann said.

U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron proposed the idea of a so-called ring exchange, which means that London supplies Ukraine with additional Storm Shadow missiles in exchange for Germany backfilling British long-range missile stocks.

While German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the swap would be an option, Scholz rejected the idea.

Scholz's fear

Before Russia's full-scale invasion, Berlin consistently refused to provide Kyiv with weapons.

Soon after the full-scale invasion, however, Germany became the second biggest military donor to Ukraine, only behind the U.S.

Kiel Institute for the World Economy calculated that Germany's defense assistance amounted to as much as 17.7 billion euros ($19 billion).

Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks in German parliament. The "Taurus wiretapping scandal" is also to be debated in a question and answer session. (Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Despite that, the supply of heavier armor, such as Leopard battle tanks and Marder infantry fighting vehicles, has always been met with long delays and talks of "escalation."

Chancellor Olaf Scholz appears to be the main obstacle to this. Despite the assurances of trust in Ukraine, Scholz's statements seem to read the opposite.

In the recent one, the chancellor said that Taurus could reach Moscow in case of "misuse."

Earlier, Scholz allegedly wanted to modify the missiles in such a way as to make it impossible for them to strike at Russian territory, Der Spiegel reported, which Ukrainian Ambassador to Berlin Oleksii Makeyev compared to "a ban on crossing the opponents half of the field."

Kyiv has repeatedly promised it would not attack Russian territory with long-range weapons provided by Western allies.

The German parliament holds session on March 14, 2024. (Britta Pedersen/picture alliance via Getty Images)

"We need Taurus to destroy the Russian military infrastructure behind the front line on Ukrainian territory," Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

"A nightmare scenario for Scholz is that Ukraine would use Taurus to strike politically sensitive targets inside Russia. Scholz fears that this could escalate the war and throw Germany into direct hostilities with Russia," Hoffmann said.

"Fundamentally, this means that Scholz is restrained by a lack of political will, which stems from a lack of trust in Ukrainian leadership to not break any promises."

President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced optimism that Scholz could transfer the long-range missiles to Ukraine if his American counterpart, Joe Biden, decided to deliver the longer-range ATACMS, which was already present on the battlefield in small quantities.

"This weapon (Taurus) is very important for us. I'll say this: The United States and then Germany. And it is always like this," Zelensky said at a press conference on Feb. 25.

Prior, Berlin followed Washington's lead in handing over the first Patriot air defense system in early 2023.

I think, its mainly German debate, and we have maybe the final point of what the chancellor said. Im not sure about that at the moment," Thomas Wiegold, German journalist and defense expert, told DW.

Hoffmann estimates Ukraine's current chances of getting a Taurus as "very small."

Experts believe that the issue can get off the ground with political changes in Germany, which is unlikely in the near future.

Read also: Opinion: How many planes does Russia have?

Taurus leaks

On March 1, a recording of an alleged conversation between 4 German officers, published by Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan, chief editor of the Kremlin-controlled TV channel RT, sparked a scandal in Germany.

They discussed the hypothetical delivery of Taurus long-range missiles, the potential strike on the Kerch Bridge, and the training of Ukrainian troops.

Berlin confirmed the sensitive talks were real but couldn't say whether the 38-minute audio had been edited. The investigation has been launched.

"It is a hybrid disinformation attack. It is about division. It is about undermining our unity. We mustn't fall for Putin," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, insisting that the incident was a one-off.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius speaks during a session at the Bundestag on Feb. 22, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

In fact, the recording exposed gaps in the security of communication within the German military but also debunked the so-called technical barriers, which were among Berlin's arguments not to send Taurus to Ukraine.

Among the reasons Scholz gave for not providing Ukraine with long-range missiles was the alleged inability to use them without the German soldiers' involvement. However, Spain and South Korea, which have Taurus in stock, have been successfully trained to operate the missiles without Berlin's constant oversight.

"The high-ranking German officials pointed out in the call several pathways to how you can make sure Ukrainians can effectively use Taurus with or without German involvement," Hoffmann said.

If U.S possibly might decide to deliver those missiles (ATACMS), maybe the German point of view might change as well On the other hand, if you want to be in lockstep with the allies, why not be in lockstep with the U.K. and France? That question remains open, Wiegold added.

Read also: Germany investigates leaked recording of alleged discussion on missile supplies to Ukraine

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Wind and solar generation are driving the expansion of the Texas electric grid and could account for half of the state's available power by the end of the decade, but a recent report by Rice University researchers warns that the coming imbalance could cripple the state during extreme weather emergencies unless more plants that can respond immediately to a surge in demand are brought on line.

"Texas is No. 1 in the nation in terms of existing wind capacity, as well as No. 1 in terms of planned capacity additions for wind and solar power," according to the report by the university's Baker Institute for Public Policy. "However, such aggressive growth of intermittent resources can compromise reliability when it is accompanied by little-to-no addition of dispatchable forms of generation, especially if system load continues to grow."

The report notes that while new natural gas generation facilities are being built in Texas, they "have merely compensated for the retirements of older coal facilities." However, Texas now has more than 200 times the wind generation capacity and more than 100 times the solar capacity.

Texas journalist Robert Bryce, who has authored six books related to energy production and demand and is the producer of a recently released documentary series called "Juice: Power, Politics & The Grid," said that no matter how much electricity is generated by renewable sources, there is no way to control when the wind will blow or the sun will shine.

"We cannot build our grid to be reliant on the weather," Bryce told the American-Statesman in an interview. "That's a fool's errand."

Do wind turbines kill birds? Are solar panels toxic? The truth behind green-energy debates

The Baker Institute report said that the power load, or demand, on the state's grid, which is managed by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, has tracked the robust growth in the state's population over the past two decades. In a nutshell, that means on average the demand on the grid is about 19 gigawatts higher than it was in the early 2000s. And when it comes to peak demand, which generally occurs during times of extreme heat or freezing cold, electric demand reaches almost 30 gigawatts higher.

"This highlights a major point of emerging stress for the grid, because flexible, dispatchable resources are needed most acutely in peak periods," the report said. "Resource adequacy is not about average loads; it is about peak loads."

In November, voters approved a state constitutional amendment to establish a fund to finance 10 gigawatts of new dispatchable generation in Texas, but getting them up and running is likely to take several years.

Texas produces more wind power than any other state.

Doug Lewin, president of the clean-power advocacy group Stoic Energy Consultants, said there are alternatives to relying on fossil fuels alone to manage peak demand. He said advances are being made in utility grade battery storage, which captures unused power from both renewable and traditional generation. In addition, he said, power stored in the batteries of electric vehicles can be tapped for household use when demand surges.

Texans also are becoming accustomed to adapting to calls for conservation when electricity providers warn that the grid is about to be strained, he said.

"Dispatchable power is one side, but dispatchable demand is another thing," said Lewin, who pointed out that during recent mild weather, the Texas grid was often powered with upward of 70% renewable generation. "We have a lot of demand on the grid; (consumers) can turn off or turn down when we're in periods of scarcity."

According to Advanced Energy United, an advocacy group that promotes policies that would lead to 100% clean-powered electricity, natural gas made up the largest source of Texas' generated electric power in 2022, with wind running a close second and coal a distant third. Solar power was fifth, behind nuclear power.

Solar power in Texas is likely to surpass the generation capacity of both coal and wind by next year.

But the organization projects that natural gas and wind will generate about the same amount of electricity by 2030 and that wind will far surpass gas a decade later. Solar, meanwhile, will probably top the generation capacity of both coal and wind by next year, and coal's share of the Texas generation market will continue to decline.

Bryce said that not only should Texas promote additional gas-powered plants, but it should do more to pave the way for additional coal and nuclear plants to meet Texas' insatiable appetite for electricity.

Should Texas be nation's power grids? Casar, AOC file bill to do just that.

"We need to have dispatchable thermal generation," he said. "We should not be closing our coal plants. We should not be closing any gas plants. And over the long term, I hope that the state can provide proper incentives for nuclear. I'm adamantly pro-nuclear, (but) nuclear is a long way off."

The Baker Institute and the Advanced Energy group both said Texas needs to add to its inventory of high-voltage transmission lines, similar to the $7 billion project completed in 2014 that strung 3,600 miles of power lines to carry the electricity generated by the West Texas wind turbines to the state's population centers.

Replicating that would require a herculean effort, Bryce said. The building of new high-voltage transmission lines nationwide has been flat since the completion of the lines and towers Texas brought online a decade ago, he said. And the costs have almost tripled.

Bryce, in a post on his Substack page, published a chart showing that the cost per mile of high-voltage lines was about $1.35 million in 2008 when Texas' project was getting underway. The current per-mile cost is nearly $4 million.

"The number of line-miles of high voltage transmission over the last few years has been declining," he said. "So these claims that we hear routinely that, 'Oh, we're just going to massively expand the grid.' No, that is not going to happen."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Renewable energy: Texas needs more dispatchable electric generation
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka firefighters put out a fire in the downtown area on Sunday that caused more than $100,000 in damage.

Rosie Nichols with the City of Topeka said in a press release that the Topeka Fire Department (TFD) was called just before 5:30 a.m. on March 17 to a two-story home in the 400 block of SW Tyler Street. Crews arriving at the scene found heavy smoke and flames coming from the home.

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While no injuries were reported with this fire, it did cause a substantial amount of damage. Nichols said around $120,000 in damage was caused with $110,000 attributed to structural damage and the remainder to content loss. The home was appraised at $154,440 in 2024, according to the Shawnee County Appraisers website.

New Mexican food restaurant moves into West Ridge Mall

The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time. Smoke detectors were not located in the home at the time of the fire.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A group of Topekans are fighting to preserve a piece of the Capital Citys history for the next generation of kids to enjoy.

27 News spoke with James George, the man behind the effort to restore statutes located in Gage Parks unique Animal Land playground for children. He said he is being called to action by Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Superintendent John Bell to give the statues a fresh look before summer this year.

George, also known as The Gypsy, might sound familiar to some Topekans. He headed a volunteer force in 2015 to restore Animal Land by getting rid of dirt, old paint and graffiti. He came back to Topeka in 2013 after leaving at the age of 15 and made it his mission to see the playground restored to its former glory.

When I saw Animal Land, I was just in shock, George said. They had, instead of staining the statutes like originally intended, they had been painting them. It looks shabby and deteriorates the concrete.

Kansas eclipse chasers ready to fight the crowds for perfect viewing spot

George said it took weeks for the volunteer task force to clean the statues in 2015. He spent many nights watching the statues to ensure they werent hit with more graffiti or otherwise vandalized.

We got that done, George said. It was a huge success everybody loved the work we did.

Bell with the SCP+R reached out to George this year to see if he would be willing to clean up the statutes a second time around. Their help is a major cost-saver for the SCP+R.

Animal Land at Gage Park, holds significant importance to the community as a cherished local attraction. The volunteers that are going to help restore the animals play a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing Animal Land. Their work not only helps preserve the infrastructure of the park but also demonstrates a strong sense of community pride and engagement. Without their contributions, the upkeep of Animal Land would be much more challenging and costly. Shawnee County Parks and Recreation Superintendent John Bell

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George is happy to help a second time around. He put out the call for volunteers recently and, so far, has gathered a group of around 30 people to give him a hand.

I think were gonna be able to get this done in a couple weekends with the amount of people whove signed up, George said.

Currently, the group plans to scrub the statutes by hand before blasting them with power washers. Each statute will then be stained to complete the restoration process.

Animal Land has a really special place in my heart, George said.

George said the group will start their work at 9 a.m. on Sunday, April 7 and return again on Sunday, April 14. The group will return on other Sundays in April if more work still needs to be done.

I appreciate all the volunteers, both the 2015 and 2024 volunteers, George said. I also appreciate the fact Animal Land is so well-loved by the people of Topeka. As long as we can continue to love it and keep it upgraded and dont change what it is or what it will continue to be, Animal Land will be loved for generations to come.

Kansas towns compete for best small town title

You can get in touch with Georges volunteer group by checking out the event on Facebook by clicking here.

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For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
FILE PHOTO: Toronto skyline stands on the waterfront before Alphabet Inc, the owner of Google, announced the project "Sidewalk Toronto\

By Wa Lone and KyawSoe Oo

Toronto (Reuters) - The number of antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes in Canada's largest city of Toronto have risen significantly during the war in Gaza that followed Hamas' deadly Oct. 7 attack inside Israel, Toronto police said on Monday.

Toronto has seen 69 arrests and 173 charges related to hate crimes during this period, police Chief Myron Demkiw said in a statement. Since October 2023, Toronto has witnessed 203 confirmed hate crimes, a 93% rise from a year ago, the statement added.

Demkiw said hate crime calls dropped in December and January, but then picked up in February, rising 67%. Of the 84 hate crimes so far in 2024, 56% are antisemitic, Demkiw said.

The second highest bias category this year are hate crimes targeting the 2SLGBTQI+ communities, followed by anti-Black, and anti-Muslim/Arab/Palestine, Demkiw added.

The latest conflict between Israel and Palestine started on Oct 7, when Hamas fighters stormed into Israel, killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's assault has killed more than 31,000 Gazans, according to Palestinian health officials.

"While underreporting of all forms of hate crimes is a concern, I know from talking to people in the community that Islamophobia is a significant concern, and given our statistics I am concerned about significant under-reporting in this regard, Demkiw told reporters.

(Reporting by Wa Lone, Kyaw Soe Oo)
Farmers from Poland drive their vehicles on the A2 autostrada (European route 30) towards the German-Polish border. Patrick Pleul/dpa

Polish farmers continued to block two border crossings to Germany on Monday, leading to significant disruptions to cross-border traffic.

The border crossings in Frankfurt Oder and Guben remain closed, a police spokeswoman said on Monday morning.

Traffic was being rerouted, but that was leading to long traffic jams in Frankfurt, she added.

Polish farmers, like many farmers across the European Union, have been protesting for weeks against EU agricultural policies.

They are also complaining about cheap grain imports from neighbouring Ukraine, which they say create unfair competition.

They started blocking the two crossings on the Polish-German border on Sunday and police expects them to end the action on Wednesday.

Farmers from Poland drive their vehicles on the A2 autostrada (European route 30) towards the German-Polish border. Patrick Pleul/dpa
The first-ever White Coat Ceremony for Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine in Amarillo honored 62 students for their educational progression from pre-clinical training to veterinary care during clinical rotations starting in May.

Kenzie Salzman was "coated" by Dr. Nancy Zimmerman Sunday during the Texas Tech vet school's first white coat ceremony at the Globe-News Center. Grads will go to clinicals in the next step of becoming veterinarians.

Many dignitaries were on hand Sunday afternoon at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, including Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley, TTU School of Veterinary Medicine dean and professor, Guy H. Loneragan, Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec, Dr. John Dascanio, TTU senior associate dean for academic and student affairs/professor of theriogenology among others delivered their congratulations and wisdom to the students, family and friends.

When receiving their white coats, the students appeared on the stage carrying their coat and accompanied by someone special to them whether it be a parent, child, sibling, doctor or teacher, to help them put on the coat, according to Dascanio. They also received a coin with the seal of the vet school on one side and an impression of a windmill on the back to represent grit, endurance and the center on community.

The White Coat symbolizes to the public, the knowledge, skills and behaviors of a doctor, according to the program handed out to those in attendance. It brings with it an expectation of respect, care compassion and trust. The practice of cloaking of a doctor-to-be started in the early 20th Century.

Prior to that, doctors wore black clothing, which was then considered formal. The change to white symbolized the pureness of medicine and the clean and aseptic environment. The students come from across the Texas Panhandle region, all over the state, New Mexico and beyond.

Mayor Stanley thanked the group for choosing Texas Tech and Amarillo and quoted Psalm 1:3; He will be like a tree planted by living water, that yields his fruit in due season. He will not wither and shall prosper in everything he does. He said he hoped that the students would plant their roots deep in the community and prosper in all things.

Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec recalled that in December 2015, then-Texas Tech System Chancellor Bob Duncan made the trip to Amarillo to announce the system planned to pursue a school of veterinary medicine.

"A school that would be innovative and not duplicate existing services provided by this state," Schovanec said. "And this is the first class to go through this white coat ceremony and it will never happen again. Your experiences and the special bond of being the first will always be a part of your legacy, being trailblazers. You are a living reality to those who wish to become veterinarians that it is possible."

The Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicince hosted its first white coat ceremony for the Class of 2025 Sunday at the Globe-News Center in Amarillo. Starting with the speaker at the podium and then moving to the left is Dr. Guy H. Loneragan (Dean of the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine), The Honorable Cole Stanley (Mayor of Amarillo), Dr. Lawrence E. Schovanec (President of Texas Tech University), Dr. Ronald Hendrick (Provost and Senior Vice President at Texas Tech University), Dr. John Dascanio (Senior Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs).

Your cocoon is about to split open and the first light of what you are going to become is visible to the world. Were all excited to see the metamorphosis that your life is about to take in your clinicals," said Dr. Britt Conklin, Associate Dean for Clinical Programs.

Conklin talked about the seal of the coin, which features a windmill, which have historically played a role in providing water to area communities.

Windmills have been used for various uses throughout history, such as water retrieval and wind power," he said, adding that students were challenged to do many similar tasks of the windmills. "Working in a challenging climate and capturing those challenges, like the wind, and converting it to energy and converting it for water or electricity.

Britt said life could be challenging but that the students were built with the educational equipment and knowledge to meet the challenge and add it to their skill set of patience.

Windmills use resources that are not readily available, like water underground. All of them have to draw from a deep well. Conklin told them to look at the resources around them, the other students and teachers. He told them that windmills commonly had communities gather around them.

Harness the challenge, transform the environment and reach from that deep well and deliver a lifechanging product, he advised.

Dr. Seth Soloman of SWANN Animal Clinic spoke to the crowd about not being a stellar student and his philosophy that "school should never get in the way of education." Soloman said much of his classes were viewed from the back of the class and he really didnt get passionate about being a vet until he went to work with an emergency veterinary clinic and saw how much he could help people by helping their dogs and cats.

He compared decisions to hats, and the ability to change them if you dont like one. He made other comparisons to haircuts and tattoos.

"Life is balancing the risk and reward factors and some people are risk takers, who love to win more than they hate to lose and some are risk avoiders, who hate to lose more than they like to win," he said.

He gave advice to both types and told them to know their personality type and work within their perimeters. He advised students, Dont be afraid to go out on a limb - thats where the fruit is.

He also criticized social media for not listing failures, as well as successes, during life.

Failure is not something to be ashamed of, it is the tuition you pay to learn, he said and proceeded through a list of people, including Winston Churchill, who had experienced many failures.

He ended with four things for graduates to remember: Dont take the easy way out; proceed with caution and learn from your mistakes and look for opportunities to fail forward.

The last speaker was Dr. John Dascanio, Sr. Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, who spoke to students on the significance of the White Coat Cloaking.

After that, the students were recognized one by one with someone of their choosing, placing their hard-earned White Coat on them. There was a ceremony afterwards which was full of well-wishers, friends and family celebrating the new veterinarians' beginning.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 'Trailblazers': Texas Tech Vet School hosts first white coat ceremony
Something is changing in the narrative of menopause, both in womens homes and in science. The silence around a life stage that half the planet has experienced, is experiencing, or will experience is being broken, and the scientific and medical gaze is also beginning to examine its modus operandi.

A series of studies published recently in The Lancet warns of the risks of excessive medicalization of the menopause and calls for a paradigm shift in care at this stage of life, with shared decisions and more information available for women. The articles author, Martha Hickey, a professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Melbourne (Australia) summarizes: Menopause is not a disease, so it does not necessarily need to be diagnosed or treated. We propose that this be seen as a normal life change that can sometimes cause problematic symptoms that require medical intervention.

Sooner or later, half the world ends up going through menopause. In most cases, around the age of 50. The process begins when mature eggs stop being released by the ovaries, menstruation ceases, and reproductive hormones stop being produced. But each experience is unique. There are women who make the transition with no problems whatsoever, and others who present symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, or other symptoms that negatively affect their quality of life. All these symptoms are usually temporary, but according to the studies included in Hickeys article, vasomotor symptoms affect up to 80% of women in rich countries at some point during the process, and can last between four and seven years.

In this context, the world is caught in the crossfire between those who regret that a natural process is being pathologized and those who criticize the lack of access to effective treatments. A few months ago, a scientific review stated that 85% of women with menopause symptoms do not receive effective therapy. The recognition that, for most women, menopause is a natural biological event, does not exempt the use of interventions to alleviate symptoms, the scientists explained.

This new article inThe Lancet returns to the topic and puts controversial hormone therapy back in the spotlight. During the 1960s the therapy was dispensed globally to women with menopause with the promise of treating symptoms and even preventing diseases. However, its use plummeted after 2002, when a trial (WHI) was suspended when it was detected that these drugs could increase the risk of stroke and cancer.

We are trying to convey the message that menopause is about more than taking hormones. Martha Hickey, profesora de Ginecologia y Obstetricia de la Universidad de Melbourne (Australia)

In the last 20 years, the scientific community has been refining the real risks of these drugs and prescribing them is limited to a very specific profile: to relieve serious symptoms in young postmenopausal women with no risk factors, and they are not recommended to prevent diseases.

The controversy remains, although use of the therapy varies between countries. In an email conversation with EL PAIS, Hickey agrees that there is great variation in the use of hormone therapy for menopause around the world, but her article states that 13% of women in high-income countries receive this therapy. In Spain, a survey by the Spanish Association for the Study of Menopause (AEEM) estimates that just over 5% of postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms take these drugs.

Empowerment

The authors advocate additional strategies beyond medication to support the transition to menopause. Their study highlights the role of cognitive behavioral therapy or hypnosis as effective non-pharmacological alternatives against vasomotor symptoms and also mentions fezolinetant, a non-hormonal drug, with modest results, they point out.

We are trying to convey the message that menopause is about more than taking hormones. While hormones are useful for problematic hot flashes or night sweats that are problematic, they have no other clinical function. The scientist advocates an empowerment approach: We want to stop focusing on hormones and remove the stigma and age discrimination that older women experience. We want to recognize and celebrate their value in our communities and workplaces and improve access to sympathetic doctors and realistic and balanced information, preferably before menopause. Hormone therapy can be part of this approach, but it is not the complete solution.

In this change of outlook and in all the ups and downs that menopause care has suffered in recent decades, there is an underlying lack of knowledge about this vital process that persists. It is not known with certainty what all the symptoms associated with this hormonal decrease are. There is a consensus that vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and possibly sleep disorders, are attributable to this vital process, but the authors admit: The effects of hormonal changes can be difficult to differentiate from concurrent life events, such as caring for children at home or looking after aging parents.

No more risk for mental health

In fact, research from this series rules out that menopause is irrevocably associated with a greater risk of poor mental health. Women are not universally or uniformly at risk for psychological symptoms during the menopause transition, the study concludes, after reviewing 12 prospective investigations. Risk factors for depressive symptoms are having a previous history of depression, experiencing severe and prolonged vasomotor symptoms, persistent sleep disturbances, or experiencing a stressful life event.

Knowledge gaps

The Lancet series, which also includes other articles focusing on menopause after cancer, and early menopause, admits that there are still substantial gaps in [the medical] knowledge of this life stage, but invites scientists to take a new approach beyond specific symptoms, they say. With expert patients and shared decisions within the framework of healthy aging, without stigma.

Gonzalez sees this approach as interesting, since menopause is intimate and non-transferable, but asks that judgment and common sense in decision-making be applied. The symptoms are unique and experiencing them varies enormously because we are biopsychosocial beings, and it will depend not only on who you are biologically, but also psychoemotionally, and on the culture you are surrounded by. And we cannot know in advance what your menopause will be like, but it cannot be that a woman has to face this stage with great anxiety, she says.

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Whistleblower or violator of her duty to protect elections?

As the trial of former Milwaukee Election Commission deputy director Kimberly Zapata opened Monday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, the jury heard significantly different narratives about her actions in the fall of 2022 from her defense attorney and the prosecutor.

Zapata, 47, of Milwaukee is accused of ordering three military absentee ballots under fake names and sending them to a Republican lawmaker who embraces conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. She is on trial on charges of misconduct in public office, a felony, and three misdemeanor counts of making a false statement to obtain an absentee ballot.

The trial comes as the 2024 presidential campaign heats up, a race that is expected to again pit President Joe Biden against former President Donald Trump. Trump has sought to sow doubt in the validity of the 2020 election, including in Milwaukee.

Assistant District Attorney Matthew Westphal contended that, in her position, Zapata was entrusted with safeguarding elections. She violated that trust, he said.

But defense attorney Daniel Adams told the jury that Zapata committed no crime. Instead, he argued, she acted as an apolitical "whistleblower" seeking to flag a gap in the election system he described as "fair and secure."

Kimberly Zapata, the former deputy director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, enters court with defense attorney Daniel Adams before her jury trial in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Monday, March 18, 2024. Zapata is accused of fraudulently requesting absentee ballots reserved for members of the military and sending them to GOP state Rep. Janel Brandtjen, who is known for embracing conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

And, he said, she was "extremely stressed out" by the conspiracy theories and threats targeting election officials.

According to the criminal complaint filed in November 2022, Zapata applied for three military absentee ballots under fake names and sent them to the home of state Rep. Janel Brandtjen.

The Republican lawmaker from Menomonee Falls will not be called to testify as she's facing her own legal troubles. The Wisconsin Ethics Commission last month recommended prosecutors file felony charges against a fundraising committee for Trump and against Brandtjen in a scheme to evade campaign finance laws.

The Zapata criminal complaint states she told investigators she sent the ballots to make a point about the existence of fraud in the voting system  though she said this was not the same situation as people who are involved in conspiracy theories.

The complaint states that she wanted to redirect Brandtjen's focus "away from outrageous conspiracy theories and to something that is actually real."

Zapata was fired from the city after her actions came to light.

Her trial will last multiple days this week, and the prosecution's witnesses are expected to include her former boss, Election Commission Executive Director Claire Woodall.

The defense is not expected to call any witnesses.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ex-election official Zapata stands trial in fake military ballots case
Attorneys for former President Donald Trump admitted in a court filing on Monday that he cannot secure a bond to pay his massive $464 million fraud judgment.

Defendants ongoing diligent efforts have proven that a bond in the judgments full amount is a practical impossibility, Trumps lawyers wrote, adding that they approached 30 different surety companies through four brokers and have spent countless hours negotiating with one of the largest insurance companies in the world.

The amount of the judgment, with interest, exceeds $464 million, and very few bonding companies will consider a bond of anything approaching that magnitude," the filing said.

Trump wants oral argument on the matter  and if the intermediate appeals court denies a stay of the ~$464M civil fraud judgment again, they want to take it to the state's highest court. pic.twitter.com/uKslCGv8aE  Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) March 18, 2024

The lawyers wrote that if the appellate division of the Manhattan Supreme Court considers denying their requested stay, it should allow for oral arguments on the issue.

Trump and his co-defendants previously offered to post a $100 million bond, a proposal rejected by appeals court Judge Anil Singh. Trump earlier this month obtained a $91.6 million bond from the Chubb insurance company to cover the civil defamation judgment in favor of writer E. Jean Carroll as he appeals the ruling.

Ive represented and prosecuted large real estate developers, and its not uncommon for them to be highly illiquid, tweeted former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti. That said, Trump had to know that this judgment was coming, and his inability to obtain a bond suggests he is much less wealthy than he portrays himself to be.

Ive represented and prosecuted large real estate developers, and its not uncommon for them to be highly illiquid.



That said, Trump had to know that this judgment was coming, and his inability to obtain a bond suggests he is much less wealthy than he portrays himself to be. https://t.co/Df44ohiHcW  Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) March 18, 2024
The eternal victim of our time, Donald Trump, wants you to know that he is a deeply misunderstood man. The former president, who incited the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, is offended that anyone would think that he was talking about violence when he used the word bloodbath.

On social media Monday morning, Trump lashed out at the Fake News Media, and their Democrat Partners in the destruction of our Nation, for distorting what he said at a rally Saturday in Vandalia, Ohio.

Trump Declares It Will Be a Bloodbath for Auto Industry if Hes Not Elected

When he warned that there would be bloodbath if he wasnt elected, Trump insisted, he was simply referring to imports allowed by Crooked Joe Biden, which are killing the automobile industry.

The former president added: With the Electric Car Mandate being pushed by Biden, there soon wont be any cars made in the USAUNLESS IM ELECTED PRESIDENT, IN WHICH CASE AUTO MANUFACTURING WILL THRIVE LIKE NEVER BEFORE!!! MAGA2024.

On cue, Trumps political allies and media confederates have crawled to his defensewaxing indignant and over what they called the bloodbath hoax perpetrated by a malicious media, who took the former president out of context. Even some anti-Trump pearl-clutchers worried that he was being treated unfairly.

So, because we are caught in this doom loop of stupidity, we are again asked to parse Trumps notorious verbal diarrhea. Trumps speeches are marked by their digressive incoherencerambling streams of consciousness that often go off on bizarre tangents.

So what did he actually say on Saturday?

Trump did, indeed, begin by talking about the auto industry and the massive tariffs he wants to impose on imported cars.

If youre listening, President Xiand you and I are friendsbut he understands the way I deal. Those big monster car manufacturing plants that youre building in Mexico right now youre going to not hire Americans and youre going to sell the cars to us, no. Were going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line, and youre not going to be able to sell those cars if I get elected.

Then, as usual, he switched back to talking about himself and what would happen if he doesnt get elected in November.

Trump Isnt Backing Away From Controversial Bloodbath Comments

Now if I dont get elected, its going to be a bloodbath for the wholethats gonna be the least of itits going to be a bloodbath for the country. That will be the least of it. But theyre not going to sell those cars. (Italics added)

So, yes, he was talking about an impending bloodbath for the auto industrythats gonna be the least of itbut also a bloodbath for the whole country.

As Trumps various lackeys note, context matters. But, for Trump, the context for his bloodbath comment is both the specific context of Saturdays rally, and the larger context of his entire campaign.

Trump began the rally on Saturday by saluting the unbelievable patriots who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. After joining a choir of jailed insurrectionists in a rendition of the National Anthem, Trumps first words were: Thank you very much, and you see the spirit from the hostages. And that's what they arehostages. Theyve been treated terribly. Once again, he suggested he would pardon them if he returned to the White House.

Presumably, Trumps hostages include rioters who violently attacked police officersconvicted felons who used bear spray on defenders and beat cops with flag poles, batons, and stolen shields. The Department of Justice later estimated around 1,000 instances of assault on law enforcement officers trying to protect the Capitol that day.

Estimates of the death toll from that day vary, but a bipartisan Senate panel later found that at least seven people had died as a result of the Jan. 6 attack.

It was, in other words, a bloodbath. And that seems relevant to a discussion of what Trump meantand the message he is trying to send.

When the former president, who has already incited violence among his followers, says that theres going to be a bloodbath after the election, if he does not win, The New Yorkers Susan Glasser noted, he is telling us what he is going to do.

Well, exactly. And so it has been since he came down the escalator in 2015.

Hes encouraged rally-goers to rough up protestors; offered to pay the legal fees of supporters who knock the heck out of hecklers; and, most famously, refused to unequivocally condemn the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville in 2017.

Since then, Trump has escalated the rhetoric and stakes as he promises I am your retribution.

Take Trumps Warning of Violence for What It Isa Threat

Trumps rhetoric of violence has become a centralmaybe even the definingfeature of his campaign. He refers to immigrants as vermin, his critics as traitors, and is excited by the idea of shooting shoplifters. He mocked the hammer attack on Nancy Pelosis husband and suggested the death penalty for General Mark Milley.

Increasingly, he paints 2024 in apocalyptic terms. In January, he warned that the criminal and civil cases against him could lead to big, big trouble and bedlam in this country. When a reporter asked him whether he would rule out acts of violence by his supporters, he walked away. Trump knew the message he was sending.

On Saturday, again, he knew exactly what he was saying.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Liz Cheney served as vice-chair of the January 6 committee, which concluded Trump had plotted to overturn his 2020 electoral defeat to Joe Biden.

Liz Cheney served as vice-chair of the January 6 committee, which concluded Trump had plotted to overturn his 2020 electoral defeat to Joe Biden. Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP

Donald Trump has renewed calls for Liz Cheney  his most prominent Republican critic  to be jailed for her role in investigating his actions during the January 6 Capitol attack launched by his supporters in 2021, a move that is bound to raise further fears that the former president could persecute his political opponents if given another White House term.

Related: Oath and Honor review: Liz Cheney spells out the threat from Trump

In posts on Sunday on his Truth Social platform, Trump said other members of the congressional committee that investigated the Capitol attack  and concluded he had plotted to overturn his 2020 electoral defeat to Joe Biden  should be imprisoned.

Those statements followed Trumps previous comments that he would act like a dictator on the first day of a second presidency if given one by voters.

Cheney, who served as vice-chair of the January 6 committee and was one of two Republicans on the panel, lost her seat in the House of Representatives to a Trump-backed challenger, Harriet Hageman, in 2022. She responded later on Sunday, saying her fellow Republican Trump was afraid of the truth.

Trump has been charged with four felonies in relation to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, including conspiracy to defraud the United States. The US supreme court is considering Trumps claim that he has absolute immunity from prosecution in the case because he served as president from 2017 to 2021.

Trump is also facing charges of 2020 election interference in Georgia, retention of government secrets after he left the Oval Office and hush-money payments that were illicitly covered up.

On Sunday, Trump wrote that Cheney should go to jail along with the rest of the select January 6 House committee, which he sought to insult in his post on Truth Social by calling it the unselect committee.

Trump founded Truth after he was temporarily banned from Twitter  now known as X  in the wake of the January 6 insurrection.

In a separate Truth Social post, Trump linked to an article written by Kash Patel, a White House staffer in Trumps administration. In the article, published on the rightwing website the Federalist, Patel claimed that Cheney and the committee suppressed evidence which completely exonerates Trump from charges that he had a hand in the January 6 insurrection.

Patel, who was chief of staff in the defense department under Trump, said in December that if the former president was re-elected, his administration would come after the people in the media who had reported on Trumps attempts to remain in power.

Trump wrote: She [Cheney] should be prosecuted for what she has done to our country! She illegally destroyed the evidence. Unreal!!!

The suggestions that Cheney and others should be targeted for their role in the January 6 investigation came after House Republicans released a report that they claim contradicts the testimony that Trump tried to grab the wheel of his presidential limousine on January 6 in his excitement to join his supporters attacking the Capitol.

Cheney was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump over the attack, which has been linked to nine deaths and sought to prevent the congressional certification of Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election.

After a series of retirements and Trump-backed primary challenges, only two of those Republicans remain in office.

Cheneys father, former US vice-president Dick Cheney, released a video in 2022 urging Republicans to reject Trump.

He is a coward. A real man wouldnt lie to his supporters. He lost his election, and he lost big, Dick Cheney, who served as George W Bushs vice-president, said in the video.
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.
Hundreds of Cubans took to the streets Sunday in the province of Santiago de Cuba, in the east of the island, to protest against the lack of electricity and food shortages in a mobilization that was repeated in other provinces around the country. Although there have been other demonstrations of discontent in recent times, it was the largest protest that has taken place since those of July 11 and 12, 2021, when thousands of people came out to demand changes to alleviate the crisis in the country, which three years later has only deepened. Those protests were quelled with the arrests of hundreds of people.

On Sunday, protestors in Santiago de Cuba denounced that the government had cut mobile data services  as they did in the protests of July 2021  to prevent them from reporting on the unrest and to stop it from spreading to other parts of the country. However, several videos have been shared on social networks where hundreds of citizens can be seen shouting in chorus the words current  in reference to the lack of electricity  food, and the phrase Patria y Vida (Homeland and Life), which became an anthem during the previous protests. Hours later, early on Sunday night, there were reports of protests in other provinces such as Havana, Bayamo, and Artemisa, where citizens took to the streets shouting freedom.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel issued a thread of messages on his X account in which he acknowledged citizen discontent with the situation of the electricity service and food distribution, while claiming that the enemies of the Revolution were trying to take advantage of the situation for purposes of destabilization.

In these last hours we have seen how terrorists based in the U.S., whom we have denounced on repeated occasions, encourage actions against the internal order of the country, Diaz-Canel wrote. The disposition of the authorities of the party, the state and the government is to attend to the demands of our people, to listen, to dialogue, to explain the numerous steps that are being taken to improve the situation, always in an atmosphere of tranquility. The president concluded: In the midst of an embargo that is intended to suffocate us, we will continue working in peace to get out of this situation.

The U.S. embassy in Cuba issued a brief message on its Facebook account citing reports of peaceful protests in Santiago, Bayamo, Granma, and elsewhere in Cuba, with citizens protesting the lack of food and electricity. The diplomatic legation urged the Diaz-Canel government to respect the human rights of the protestors and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban people.

Sparks fly in Santiago

Evelyn Sune, who lives in the Micro 3 neighborhood of Santiago de Cuba, explains that residents have been without electricity for up to 18 hours a day in recent days. They put the light on for three hours and then switch it off again. The cause of these protests is social discontent over the lack of supplies. That is what is being asked for; that is why people are shouting for electricity and food. According to Sune, in his neighborhood, several people also demonstrated on March 13 for the same reason.

A video sent to this newspaper and accompanying this article shows a leader of the Communist Party of Santiago de Cuba, first secretary Beatriz Jhonson Urrutia, on a rooftop trying to calm the demonstrators. She is heard talking about the distribution of milk and supplies from the subsidized basic food basket program, while the protestors become restless and shout her down.

It remains unclear whether the government stopped the protests or if there were arrests, as in the 2021 protests when over 1,400 people were detained and many subsequently sentenced with up to 20 years in prison.

Another Santiago de Cuba resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said that although her neighborhood was quiet, protests had been taking place nearby and that demonstrators had gone as far as the headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba to complain. Theres really no one who can take it anymore. Here nothing arrives at the butchers, there is no food, no milk for the children. We are in the dark all day, they turn off the electricity all night and turn it on at 6 a.m. If I were in good health, I would have joined the protest, because it is impossible for the people to live like this.

Over the last few days small demonstrations have been reported in other areas of the country, such as those that took place in the municipality of San Antonio de los Banos, in Artemisa, or in Cacocum, in Holguin, where several people took to the streets banging pots in protest against the power cuts.

The state-run electricity company issues constant warnings of power cuts lasting several hours throughout Cuba, adding to the discontent of a population already burdened by the economic shortages the country is experiencing. At the end of last year, Minister of Energy and Mines Vicente de la O Levy announced on national television that there would be blackouts amid the withdrawal of fuel aid that partners such as Mexico or Venezuela were providing to Cuba. And although the minister promised improvements, the truth is that a brighter outlook for Cubans remains out of sight.

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Donald Trump has failed to secure a bond to satisfy the nearly half a billion dollar civil fraud judgment against him, his lawyers told an appeals court on Monday.

The former presidents attorneys argued that finding a company to back a bond in excess of $454m plus millions of dollars in interest is a practical impossibility, and one that raises the possibility that New York Attorney General Letitia James can begin seizing his assets unless the court intervenes.

Mr Trump faces insurmountable difficulties securing a bond, according to his attorneys. The former president has approached about 30 surety companies through four separate brokers to no avail  one week before Ms James can begin collecting.

Critical among these challenges is not just the inability and reluctance of the vast majority of sureties to underwrite a bond for this unprecedented sum, but, even more significantly, the unwillingness of every surety bond provider approached by defendants to accept real estate as collateral, they wrote.

Those companies will only accept cash or cash equivalents, such as marketable securities, and typically would require collateral of approximately 120 per cent of the amount of the judgment, which in this case comes to nearly $560m.

Sureties would then likely charge bond premiums of approximately 2 per cent per year with two years in advance  an upfront cost over $18m, according to Mr Trumps attorneys.

That money would not be recoverable, even in the event that Mr Trump wins his appeal.

Mr Trump, his adult sons, two former Trump Organization executives and the entities associated with the brand-building properties in the Trump real estate empire were ordered to pay more than $464m at the conclusion of a three-year investigation and months-long trial targeting fraud in the familys business.

Defendants were found to have engaged in a decade-long scheme to fraudulently inflate the value of his net worth and assets in annual statements of financial condition that were given to banks and lenders to secure more favourable financing terms for some of his star properties.

The total disgorgement owed that is now owed back to the state  money that is effectively forfeited as ill-gotten gains  amounts to roughly $364m, with an additional $100m in interest.

Post-judgment interest is accruing daily at the rate of 9 per cent per annum, or more than $114,000 for all defendants, including nearly $112,000 for Mr Trump alone.

His attorneys are now asking the court to pause the appeal bond in that amount, given these exceptional circumstances.

The deadline for Mr Trump to appeal the judgment is 25 March, after a 30-day stay of the judgment from New York Justice Arthur Engoron expires.

He can block collection of that judgment by posting the full amount either through an escrow account, effectively acting as a deposit, or by securing a third-party bond that can guarantee the full amount, plus a premium for doing so.

Ms James has mentioned that her office is prepared to begin collecting, should Mr Trump fail to do that.

But his attorneys have argued that the value of his real estate holdings  including star properties like his 40 Wall Street in New York and Mar-a-Lago in Florida  far exceed the judgment.

Such assets are impossible to secrete or dispose of surreptitiously, leaving the plaintiff effectively secured during the pendency of an appeal, they wrote.

But selling off those properties in a fire sale to finance an appeal would inevitably result in massive, irrecoverable losses  textbook irreparable injury, they added.

Mr Trumps strained finances follow a nearly $92m bond in his appeal of a defamation verdict stemming from E Jean Carrolls lawsuit against the former president.

He was required to put up 110 per cent of the $83.3m judgment to pause collections while the appeal plays out.

Mr Trump lined up a loan through the Federal Insurance Company, a subsidiary of the Chubb Corporation, whose CEO was appointed to a trade advisory committee during the Trump administration.

But that company does not appear to be prepared to support his bond in his fraud verdict.

Chubb told Mr Trump that the company would be unwilling to accept real estate as collateral, Mr Trumps attorneys wrote to the appeals court on Monday.

Unfortunately, we have been advised that there are only a handful of sureties in the market that have both the financial capability and willingness to underwrite a bond of this magnitude, they wrote.

According to his brokers, the vast majority simply do not have the financial strength to handle a bond of this size, they said. Of those that do, the vast majority are unwilling to accept the risk associated with such a large bond.

A looming financial crisis for the Republican Partys nominee to face President Joe Biden for the presidency adds to a lengthy list of legal complications, including dozens of criminal charges, with at least one trial expected to begin before the general election in November.

It also presents significant questions surrounding how and where he raises the millions of dollars he needs to continue his legal battles, with the White House serving as an ostensible shield against his growing legal issues.

Mr Trump has relied on his fundraising arms to collect tens of millions of dollars from supporters largely to pay off his legal fees and attorneys who are working on his cases while courting billionaire donors and transforming the GOPs financial apparatus into one that can bankroll his campaign.
Haiti is at a crucial point. The nation is on tenterhooks as it follows the progress of the negotiations to form a presidential transition council that will allow the paralyzed country to move forward. The talks between social organizations and political parties took place last week as chaos continued to grip the capital, Port-au-Prince, a battleground for dozens of criminal gangs that roam the streets. On Thursday, they ransacked and burned the house of the National Police chief.

Restoring stability is an enormous challenge. Seven coalitions of political parties and social organizations are currently electing the members of the transitional council, which will be tasked with reaching agreements of utmost importance. First, the council will have to elect an interim prime minister to replace Ariel Henry, who has been in power since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021. Last Monday, Henry announced that he would step down once the transitional council had been formed.

As of Saturday, five of Haitis seven coalitions had submitted the names of their representatives to Caricom, the regional trade bloc also known as the Caribbean Community. Of the remaining two, one had declined to participate and the other  the December 21 Agreement, which supported Henrys rise to power in 2021  is waiting for its factions to agree on a name.

Once the council and a new prime minister have been elected, the top priority is addressing the violence in Port-au-Prince and its metropolitan area. The priority is to create security, said Monique Clesca, from Montana Accord, one of the seven coalitions that will elect the members of the transitional council. We have to talk about security and humanitarian aid, she added. Clesca said that given the current chaos, calling new elections is of secondary importance. Is it even a priority, when people cant go out to shop, or children cant go to school? she argued.

The last two weeks in Port-au-Prince have been particularly violent. Criminal gangs virtually cut off the city. On February 29 and the following days, groups of armed gangs jointly attacked the airport and the National Penitentiary, freeing nearly all the prisoners  more than 3,500. Nine National Police facilities were also targeted. Six agents were killed when gang members raided their station. The gunmen posted videos of themselves mocking the officers bodies on social media.

Emboldened by the power they have gained in the past few years, armed gangs responded violently  and with rare unity  to Henrys initiative to crack down on crime. The attacks began after the prime minister traveled to Kenya to sign an agreement to send 1,000 police officers to the Caribbean country, with the backing of the United Nations and with U.S. funding. The gangs wanted to stop the efforts to reinforce Haitis dwindling police force: with 11 million inhabitants, Haiti has fewer than 10,000 officers.

The future

The question now is whether the future council will accept the U.N.-backed police force deployment. Clesca, for example, does not support the operation, which the Kenyan government has offered to lead. Haitis survival cannot depend on Kenya. We have to see what the council decides when it is formed. I think Kenya is the U.S. and U.N. option, but I dont know if its the only one for the Haitians, she said. I think there will be discussions about this. We may have problems, but that doesnt mean we dont have ideas. We are not a colony.

Also of concern is the fact that some members of the council are backed by political parties that have been accused of supporting criminal gangs, such as the PHTK, the party of former president Moise and his predecessor, Michel Martelly. Not surprisingly, one of the criminal leaders who has made the most headlines  Jimmy Barbeque Cherizier  supported the PHTK in the past. Human rights organizations have accused Cherizier and the PHTK of working together to repress the opposition protests in 2018.

It is ironic that parties like the PHTK are part of a council aimed at seeking help for the police, because the role of every government has been, precisely, to destroy it, said Michael Deibert, an American researcher and writer, who has published several books on Haiti. Collaboration with criminal groups is a thing of many governments, including Lavalas, for example, he added, referring to the party of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was ousted in 2004.

Deibert does not have much faith in the presidential transition council, precisely because of who will be on it. It is disappointing that this council will be putting a lot of power in the hands of the people who caused the crisis. The idea that they can work together is naive, they dont have a history of working well together, even in peaceful times. The council is not an improvement from Henry, he said. I dont think the council is the remedy for violence. There are too many actors inside and outside of it with multiple interests.

Another threat hovers over the future council: former senator Jean-Charles Moise, whose coalition declined the take part in the process. Moise has established a strange alliance with Guy Philippe, a former police officer who served a prison sentence in the United States for money laundering and who participated in the coup against Aristides government in 2004.

Philipe and Moise have said that another committee sponsored by them should take power. Last Friday, in neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince, several groups of people marched with posters in favor of Philippe. In videos of the demonstrations, shared on social media, tires could be seen burning in the background  a sign of the tension that continues to grip the capital.

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A visitor kneels by the grave of a child whose body was found in a suitcase and buried in Indiana. The child's mother has been arrested in California. (Matt Stone / Louisville Courier Journal / Associated Press)

The mother of a 5-year-old boy, who was found dead in a suitcase nearly two years ago in Indiana, was arrested in Arcadia in connection with his murder, according to authorities.

Dejaune L. Anderson was arrested Thursday by the U.S. Marshals Service on allegations of murder, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice, Indiana State Police Sgt. Carey Huls told The Times.

Authorities were tipped off by a "concerned citizen," and Anderson was detained while attempting to board a train, Huls said. He declined to specify further how authorities were tipped off.

On April 16, 2022, a man hunting for mushrooms in a wooded, rural area of Washington County, Indiana, found the body of a 5-year-old boy in a brightly colored suitcase, officials said. The boy was identified six months later as Cairo Jordan, an Atlanta resident.

Dejaune Ludie Anderson in a Georgia DMV photo. (Indiana State Police / AP)

An arrest warrant was issued for Anderson in October 2022, but the boy's mother had been on the run ever since.

Investigators from Sellersburg, Ind., were in Southern California over the weekend to try to speak to Anderson and to continue their investigation, according to Huls. Anderson has a court hearing Monday; the extradition process will depend on how she pleads. If she doesn't fight the extradition, officials from Indiana could pick her up in the next week or two.

"If she fights extradition, then itll be at the mercy of California courts for it to play out," Huls said. "A governor's warrant would probably be requested and court system will have to work that out. It'll be at least a month until that process will get started."

Read more: How was Hollywood exec's daughter-in-law killed? Headless body gives few clues

Anderson is originally from the Atlanta area and is not a resident of Indiana, Huls said. She has no known connection to Southern California.

Anderson's friend Dawn Elaine Coleman, 41, of Shreveport, La., was sentenced to 30 years in prison with five years suspended to probation in connection with Cairo's death after reaching a deal with prosecutors in November.

Coleman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, aiding, neglect of a dependent resulting in death and obstruction of justice, according to authorities.

Coleman and Anderson had known each other for about a year and traveled together with Cairo; they had been staying in a residence in Louisville at the time of the boy's death, according to police.

Read more: Stalked with an AirTag? A class-action lawsuit against Apple in California will move forward

Coleman told police that she saw Anderson smothering Cairo by sitting on top of him when he was face-down on a bed, according to court records. Coleman said "it was already done" by the time she walked into the room and that Anderson asked her to help put Cairo inside a trash bag and then a suitcase. They drove Cairo's body to Washington County and left him there in the suitcase, she said.

Both Coleman's and Anderson's fingerprints were found on the plastic bags that contained Cairo's body inside the suitcase, investigators said.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Indiana State Police for Andersons arrest, Anderson allegedly made references to exorcism and demonic possession regarding her 5-year-old son in Facebook posts in March 2022.

"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," she wrote, according to the affidavit.

Coleman posted similar messages on Facebook in April 2022, according to the affidavit:

"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 melevolent [sic] beings with a soul and in a child Avatar."

The boy died from an electrolyte imbalance most likely due to gastroenteritis, or vomiting and diarrhea that led to dehydration, according to Indiana State Police, citing autopsy results. The boy had died a week before his body was found.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Emmanuel Macron broke the taboo in February. NATO already assists Ukraine in virtually every possible aspect, from supplying weaponry and intelligence on Russian targets and the positions of enemy bombers to training thousands of Ukrainian troops in Europe. But until the French president suggested it, no one had dared to raise the question of Atlantic Alliance soldiers going into action to stop the Kremlins invasion. Macron not only opened a debate; his words also served to confirm that there are already military personnel from NATO countries on Ukrainian soil, albeit without taking an active role in combat operations.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told a conference in Warsaw on March 8 that there were already representatives of the Atlantic Alliance in Ukraine. NATO soldiers are already present in Ukraine. And I would like to thank the ambassadors of those countries who have taken that risk. These countries know who they are, but I cant disclose them. Contrary to other politicians, I will not list those countries, Sikorski said. The last sentence was a veiled criticism of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who in late February revealed that British and French military personnel are in Ukraine. Scholz argued that his government would not provide Kyiv with its Taurus long-range missiles because it would require  as has happened with the British-French Storm Shadow / Scalp rockets  sending military technicians for the programming of these weapons.

The presence of soldiers from NATO countries in Ukraine is nothing new. Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder confirmed in October 2022 that the United States had military representatives stationed to perform the task of monitoring the supply of armaments. In confidential Pentagon documents leaked in April 2023, the U.S. Defense Department indicated that five Atlantic Alliance countries  the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, and the Netherlands  had around 100 special forces personnel at their embassies in Ukraine.

The Czech president, Petr Pavel, a retired general and former chairman of the NATO military committee, recalled on March 10 in a television interview that Atlantic Alliance soldiers have been present in Ukraine for over a decade, not in combat units but as instructors for the Ukrainian army. Pavel was referring to the Yavoriv base, near the border with Poland, where an agreement between NATO and Kyiv has allowed 1,000 soldiers from 15 countries to pass through, according to Pavel. The Czech president stressed that military training programs on Ukrainian soil were active when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and during the Donbas war, initiated by pro-Russian separatists and supported by Moscow. The Yavoriv base was shelled in March 2022. Ukrainian authorities indicated that 61 servicemen lost their lives, while Russia raised the number to 180, claiming many of them were foreign soldiers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (left) greets NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 16. Anadolu (Anadolu via Getty Images)

Informants on the ground

During the more than two years of the war EL PAIS has interviewed multiple military sources, both Ukrainian and from EU countries, who agree that no NATO member army has participated in ground combat actions. But they also agree that they do have informants on the ground to provide knowledge about the situation on the front, to identify the effectiveness of the weapons supplied and possible problems in their use, as well as to detect possible cases of corruption concerning the aid provided. Part of these unofficial informants are retired foreign military personnel fighting as volunteers in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At least two sources, one American and one Ukrainian, claim that Washington is particularly active in monitoring their assistance, with missions arranged between its Embassy and the Ukrainian authorities, but also in inspections outside institutional channels.

Luke Coffey, a research fellow at the Hudson Institute, a U.S. center for international and defense policy analysis, finds it difficult to believe that U.S. military personnel could be moving freely around Ukraine: I would be very surprised if U.S. troops have freedom of movement to move around the country to monitor the situation. I know that U.S. Embassy personnel even need a permit to go to Odesa. And before 2022, U.S. instructors were not allowed to go east of the Dnipro River. I doubt they can now.

Olga Husieva, a researcher at Kiel Universitys Institute for Security Policy, differs from Coffey and takes it for granted that there are envoys from Ukraines allied defense ministries collecting data on the ground. In her understanding, these may obtain fundamental knowledge to improve the readiness of their own armies and the use of their weaponry; they may also be tasked with ensuring that there are no weapons ending up on the black market, as happened after the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan of the U.S.-led Western coalition. It is also no secret that there have been instructors in the country since the beginning of the invasion, she adds.

Husieva stresses that, above all, these are individual initiatives of the governments in question, although she emphasizes that there is coordination between the United States and the United Kingdom, and, although to a lesser extent, from Washington and London with Poland and the Baltic countries. This expert warns that Germany is being excluded from this cooperation for fear of the infiltration of Russian spies in its intelligence services. Lukasz Maslanka, a researcher at the Polish Center for Eastern Studies, is also of the opinion that there is probably coordination and mutual transmission of information, but each country makes its own decisions.

Coffey concedes: Perhaps there are limited, technical reasons for NATO personnel on Ukrainian territory, but it should be avoided. It would be better to replace them with civilian professionals. Husieva notes that the Storm Shadow missile case cannot be unique, and assumes that NATO instructors will be deployed to Ukraine when the first U.S. F-16 fighters arrive later this year. Also, she points out, collaboration will increase with the use of artificial intelligence to coordinate attacks. In her opinion, in addition to the possible presence of engineers to monitor the entry into service of advanced weaponry, it is always necessary for military personnel to be present. The Ukrainian president himself, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, gave as an example on March 11 in Le Monde the possibility of French Caesar howitzers and German Leopard tanks being repaired and produced in Ukraine, with inevitable military assistance on the ground.

Maslanka agrees with Husieva that the call by political leaders such as Macron for the involvement of NATO soldiers in Ukraine is primarily a strategy not to be cowed by Russian President Vladimir Putin: Its about provoking a dilemma for Putin and adding a new risk factor for him. Husieva adds that she sees it as quite possible that a coalition of countries consisting of the United Kingdom, Poland, and the Baltic states will reach an agreement in the future to be in Ukraine. Coffey, on the other hand, believes that it would be a serious mistake in the face of Republican unblocking of U.S. military aid: There are many Republicans worried that the U.S. will enter a new eternal war. Supporters of Ukraine argue that wont be the case because there are no American troops fighting, and Macron counterproductively suggests that NATO troops could be deployed.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  One day before Ohios Republican primary for U.S. Senate, a new poll found one candidate with a surge in support.

An Emerson College poll, sponsored by NBC4 parent company Nexstar, showed that businessman Bernie Moreno has taken a nine-point lead in Ohios race for the Republican nomination to face incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. Just one day before votes will be cast, 21% of voters remained undecided.

When asked to choose between Moreno, state Sen. Matt Dolan, and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, respondents favored Moreno at 38%, Dolan was within the 4.6% credibility interval at 29%, and LaRose saw only 12% support.

The results break from polling released less than a week ago that showed Dolan, once the candidate in last place, taking a slight lead over Moreno. But the race remains a close one, with undecided voters likely choices narrowing the race between Moreno and Dolan.

The Emerson College poll found that the economy was the most important issue for Republican primary voters, with 37% of respondents citing it as their top priority. Immigration and threats to democracy were next, with 29% and 14% respectively.

Moreno led the poll among voters who cited the economy as their top issue with 37% to Dolans 23% and LaRoses 15%. The Cleveland area multimillionaire also led voters concerned about immigration at 49% to Dolans 22% and LaRoses 7%.

The Emerson College poll was conducted on March 17 and 18, in the two days before the primary. The sample consisted of 450 likely Republican primary voters.

The window for early voting closed at 5 p.m. Sunday, leaving only voting by mail or in person on the day of. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by March 18 and received by March 23. Polls open Tuesday at 6:30 a.m., and close at 7:30 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A group with ties to Democrats has stepped into Ohios Republican primary for U.S. Senate days before the election.

On Tuesday, voters will choose state Sen. Matt Dolan, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose or businessman Bernie Moreno to go up against incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown in the general election. The race could decide which party controls the chamber starting next year.

What to know about the Republican primary in Ohios U.S. Senate race

Here are developments from the past week.

DeWine endorses Dolan

Gov. Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine endorsed Dolan. Previously, the governor had said he would not make an endorsement in the race.

We believe this proven conservative is the strongest candidate to beat Sherrod Brown in the fall, the DeWines said in a letter.

Democrat group supports Moreno

Days before the primary, a group of Democrats dumped millions into a pro-Moreno ad campaign. Duty and Country PAC  linked to a Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer-affiliated PAC  purchased $2.7 million in ad buys.

[Schumer] knows Bernies background makes him the weakest candidate to face Sherrod Brown, LaRose said in a tweet calling on Moreno to reject the handout. The more Ohioans learn about Moreno, the less they trust him.

Dirty ads and dark money: Inside the Ohio Republican statehouse primaries

Schumer just got CAUGHT meddling in our primary because he wants the weakest opponent for Sherrod Brown, Dolan said in a tweet.

Moreno campaign spokesperson Reagan McCarthy likened the situation to 2016.

[Democrats] thought President Trump would be easy to beat in 2016, and then they got their clocks cleaned when he demolished Hillary Clinton, McCarthy said.

Dolan has slight leads in new polls

Two polls this week had Dolan listed first but within the margins of error.

On Wednesday, an Emerson College poll  sponsored by Nexstar, parent company of NBC4  with a 2.6% confidence interval showed Dolan with 26% of the vote, Moreno at 23% and LaRose at 16%. A third of the voter pool was undecided. In a general election faceoff, the poll showed all three Republicans narrowly trailing Brown, with Dolan coming closest.

The Spectrum: Ohios primary looms; Biden-Trump rematch

On Friday, a poll from East Carolina Universitys Center for Survey Research showed Dolan not only leading in the primary but also in a hypothetical matchup with Brown. The primary poll (4.6% credibility interval) showed Dolan at 33%, Moreno at 31% and LaRose at 23%, with just 14% of respondents undecided. Against Brown, the general election poll (3.2% credibility interval) found the following results:

Dolan 43%, Brown 41%

Brown 45%, Moreno 41%

Brown 45%, LaRose 40%

Moreno linked to profile seeking men

The Associated Press reported on mounting anxieties inside the Republican Party about Moreno taking the nomination in light of how hed matched up against Brown. Also according to the report, Morenos email was connected to the website Adult Friend Finder in 2008, and the account was for seeking sexual relations with other men.

The AP said it could not confirm whether Moreno set up the account himself, and an attorney for Moreno said it was created by a former intern as a prank. In a post on X, Moreno said the attack was vile and had been debunked, and he included a statement from his wife, Bridget, that went after a Dolan-affiliated group for making an ad that mentioned the article.

Trump campaigns for Moreno

On Saturday, former President Donald Trump appeared at a rally near Dayton in support of Morenos campaign. As the primary heated up in its final days, this was seen as a final push to coalesce support around the former presidents pick.

In December, Trump announced his endorsement of Moreno.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Uber has agreed to pay A$271.8m ($178.3m; 140m) to settle a lawsuit in Australia, according to a law firm for taxi operators and drivers.

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers filed the class action on behalf of over 8,000 taxi and hire car owners and drivers.

The case alleged they lost income when the ride-hailing giant "aggressively" moved into the country.

"Uber fought tooth and nail at every point along the way," the law firm said.

"Since 2018, Uber has made significant contributions into various state-level taxi compensation schemes, and with today's proposed settlement, we put these legacy issues firmly in our past," Uber said in a statement.

The company did not disclose the size of the proposed settlement.

"It would be inappropriate to comment on specifics until the agreement is finalised and the settlement is disclosed to the court," it said.

The class action was filed against Uber in 2019 in the Supreme Court of Australia's Victoria state.

"This case succeeded where so many others have failed. In Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia, cases were brought against governments and all of them failed," Maurice Blackburn principal lawyer Michael Donelly said.

"What our group members asked for was not another set of excuses - but an outcome - and today we have delivered it for them," he added.

Before any pay out can be made the court still needs to approve the proposed settlement as being in the best interests of group members.

San Francisco-based Uber, which was founded in 2009, operates in around 70 countries and more than 10,000 cities globally.

Over the years, it has faced protests by taxi drivers in cities around the world.

In December 2023, the company won a lawsuit brought against it by 2,500 taxi drivers in France.

A Paris commercial court ruled that Uber had not committed acts of unfair competition.

The taxi drivers had been seeking 455m ($495.4m; 389m).
A toddler died after being run over by a rideshare driver outside an apartment complex in Texas, authorities say.

The Uber driver had dropped off five passengers, including a 1-year-old-girl, just before 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, in north Harris County, authorities told KHOU.

The driver, unaware the toddler had moved in front of the vehicle upon exiting the car, began driving forward, striking the toddler, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.

I just heard a lot of commotion outside, and I just came outside, and I just seen, like, blood and a baby laying on the ground, Simya Washington, a neighbor, told KPRC.

Gonzalez said the child was taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The girl, who has not been identified, was a few months away from turning 2 years old.

After the accident, family members pulled the driver out of his vehicle and began assaulting him, according to the sheriff. He was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Charges have not been filed against the driver or accused attackers, authorities told KPRC and KHOU, noting the incident remains under investigation.

Uber passenger in fear for his life when driver flees from police, Tennessee cops say

Woman attacks Uber driver then is kicked out and hit by another vehicle, Texas cops say

Uber driver takes man to hospital after hes shot in the backseat, Tennessee cops say
By Andrew MacAskill

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's contentious bill to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda moved closer to becoming law on Monday after his government rejected all the proposed changes from the upper house of parliament.

Under the Rwanda plan, asylum seekers who arrive on England's southern coast in small, inflatable boats would be sent to Rwanda, but so far no one has been deported because of ongoing legal challenges.

The House of Commons voted to overturn the 10 proposed amendments suggested by the unelected lawmakers in the House of Lords, including ones that sought to ensure the legislation was fully compliant with domestic and international law and to exempt people if they worked with British armed forces.

The legislation, which attempts to end the legal blocks by declaring Rwanda a safe country and to disapply parts of Britain's human rights law, will now return to parliament's upper chamber for votes on Wednesday. If passed unamended, it could become law as early as this week.

This would still mean it could be weeks, at the earliest, before any deportation flights leave for Rwanda. While the bill seeks to prevent British courts hearing arguments based on whether Rwanda is a safe country, anyone selected for removal may still be able to lodge individual legal appeals.

Sunak has invested significant amounts of political capital in the Rwanda policy and hopes if deportation flights leave before an election expected later this year, it will help reverse the fortunes of his Conservative Party which is heavily trailing in opinion polls.

By sending asylum seekers to Rwanda, the government wants to deter people from making the dangerous journey across the Channel so it can reduce the cost of housing them. Such costs are currently running at about 3 billion pounds ($3.8 billion) a year.

The government envisages sending thousands of asylum seekers to Rwanda although the East African only has the capacity to house a few hundred at the moment.

Sunak said on Monday the government remained committed to sending flights to Rwanda "in the spring", and his spokesperson told reporters that officials had identified people who would be on the first deportation flights.

Earlier this month, parliament's spending watchdog, in the most detailed estimate of the cost of the plan, said it would cost more than 600 million pounds ($764 million) to deport and look after the first 300 asylum seekers sent to Rwanda.

The final cost of the plan could reach up to 3.9 billion pounds over five years, according to an estimate published by the Institute for Public Policy Research on Monday.

($1 = 0.7859 pounds)

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Stephen Coates)
Multiple British embassies are shooting down fake reports claiming King Charles III has died.

We would like to inform you that the news about the death of King Charles III is fake, a social media account for the British embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, posted Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The U.K.s embassy in Azerbaijan shared a similar message Monday, writing, We inform that the reports about the death of King Charles III are fake!

The statements came after rumors swirled online and in seemingly baseless Russian media reports that the 75-year-old British monarch had died.

Buckingham Palace announced last month that Charles was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer.

In a televised speech earlier this month, Charles thanked supporters for the wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes for his health, vowing to continue to serve you to the best of my ability.

The speculation about the kings health comes amid an intense focus on the British royal family after Kate, the Princess of Wales, issued an apology last week for altering a photo that was later retracted by news agencies.

The snapshot released by Kensington Palace  the first photo purportedly showing Kate following abdominal surgery in January  was removed by The Associated Press and other news agencies because it appeared the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet the APs photo standards.

Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing, Kate said in a statement issued by Kensington Palace after the photo was retracted.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been saying almost every day that the Israeli army will invade Rafah  the only area of Gaza that has not been targeted by the Israeli ground offensive, where more than a million displaced Gazans are crowded in  despite international pressure. Similarly, he has been insisting that he will not call early elections until Israel wins the war against Hamas, a conflict that was sparked after the militant group attacked Israeli territory on October 7, 2023.

On Sunday, however, Netanyahu launched his biggest Netanyahu against the world message, rounding off a week that has seen Israel under increasing pressure from the United States, its most important ally, which provides it with weapons and funding, and vetoes all permanent ceasefire resolutions in the U.N. Security Council.

On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that the Israeli prime minister was an obstacle to peace. In his speech, the Democrat argued that Netanyahu had lost his way by governing with far-right extremists and allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel. A day later, U.S. President Joe Biden added insult to injury, saying that Schumer had made a good speech in which he raised the serious concerns of many Americans.

Aware of the implications of these comments, Netanyahu rushed to give interviews  with almost identical messages  to the U.S. television networks Fox and CNN. The Israeli prime minister said Schumers call for a new election was wholly inappropriate. Were not a banana republic, said Netanyahu, arguing that elections cannot be foisted on the country. Its wrong to try to replace the elected leaders of a sister democracy, a staunch American ally, at any time, but especially during a time of war, he added.

A column of smoke in Gaza after a bombing, this Sunday. Amir Cohen (REUTERS)

Shortly before the interviews, at the start of his weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu sent a message to respond to the rising pressure on Israel. Turning to Israels friends in the international community, Netanyahu asked: Is your memory so short? Did you forget so quickly October 7, the most terrible massacre committed against Jews since the Holocaust? Are you so quickly ready to deny Israel the right to defend itself against the monsters of Hamas? Did you lose your moral conscience so quickly?

Netanyahu attacked those in the international community who are trying to stop the war now, before all its goals are achieved. He said that this group was making false accusations against him, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli government in a bid to bring about elections in the midst of the war. And they do this because they know that elections now will stop the war and paralyze the country for at least six months, claimed Netanyahu.

Future elections

Part of Sundays message was aimed at Israelis. Netanyahu knows that he will have to call elections in the near future  he is also under great pressure at home from weekly demonstrations  and he is seeking to position himself as a strong leader who sacrifices himself by shielding the country from international criticism and defending the security of his people. That formula, together with his reputation as Mr. Economy, has made Netanyahu the longest-serving prime minister of Israel: he has been in power for 16 of the countrys 75 years of existence.

But Netanyahus popularity has been undermined by his controversial judicial reform and the October 7 attacks. According to a poll broadcast last Tuesday on Channel 12, if an election were called, his Likud party would go from having 32 seats in Parliament to 19. The survey also found that 40% of Likud voters want a new election.

In his address on Sunday, Netanyahu not only reiterated that the Israeli army will invade Rafah  an operation he said will take a few weeks  he also had this message for critics: Those who say that the operation in Rafah will not happen are the same ones who said that we will not enter Gaza, that we will not operate in Shifa [hospital], that we will not operate in Khan Younis and that we will not resume fighting after the [weeklong November] ceasefire,

In the interview with Fox, he went further, comparing the calls to end the war in Gaza to the situation in World War II: Thats like leaving a quarter of the Nazi terrorist army in Germany and saying No, were not going to finish the last quarter. And were not going into Berlin.

Let it be clear: If we stop the war now before all of its goals are achieved, this means that Israel will have lost the war, and this we will not allow. Therefore, we cannot, and will not, succumb to this pressure, he said. On the contrary, this simple truth only strengthens our determination to continue rejecting the pressure and fighting to the end  to total victory. No international pressure will stop us from realizing all of the goals of the war: Eliminating Hamas, freeing all of our hostages, and ensuring that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel.

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Cambridge University said it was suspending donations from fossil fuel companies (Tolga AKMEN)

Britain's Cambridge University confirmed on Monday that it has adopted a moratorium on new funding from fossil fuel companies after a campaign from students and academics.

The decision to halt funding until a review is carried out follows recommendations in a report by former UN climate change envoy Nigel Topping last year.

Cambridge said the suspension was adopted on Friday "having regard to its commitment to address climate change through a transition to a zerocarbon world".

According to the Topping report, the university receives relatively small donations from industrial partners, amounting to 5.1 percent of all research/philanthropy funding.

At an average of 3.3 million ($4.2 million) per year over the last six years, fossil fuel funding amounts to 0.4 percent of research/philanthropy funding and 0.1 percent of total university income, it said.

Cambridge's decision was first reported by the Financial Times on Monday, which said the university had accepted 19.7 million from oil giants BP and Shell between 2016 and 2023.

The university has a target to reach to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2038. It plans to divest from all direct and indirect investments in fossil fuels by 2030.

"The university has recognised the urgency of the climate emergency and taken action to demonstrate leadership," the Topping report said.

"This includes decisions to divest from fossil fuels in the endowment, commit to science-based targets, launch Cambridge Zero and align sources of funding with the Universitys own ambition."

srg/phz/yad
The picture seems to have been created in an oil painting workshop for retirees, but what is important here is not its artistic value, but its significance. It portrays a mustachioed Nicolas Maduro in a blue shirt clutching with both hands the rudder of a ship on which the following can be read: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela). Behind, a huge Jesus Christ with an exposed heart on a violet robe rests his left hand on Maduros shoulder and holds one side of the steering wheel with his right. The image is somewhat reminiscent of the scene of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio on the deck of the Titanic. The sentiment of the painting does not leave much room for interpretation: Maduro runs the country under divine guidance.

The president has proudly shared the portrait on social media. At the age of 61, the successor appointed by Hugo Chavez when his life was in the balance is more entrenched in power than ever. In his heart of hearts he may believe that there is something divine and miraculous about it, but the truth is much more mundane: the former bus driver of the Caracas transportation service has leveraged the top-down Chavista framework, the destruction of institutions, military support and the intelligence services to prop himself up in the presidential seat. He has now been in power for 11 years and is likely to remain there for another six after the elections that will be held on July 28 without the participation of his main rival, Maria Corina Machado, who has been invalidated by the Chavista legal framework in order to pave the way for Maduro. The president is publicly confident of the mobilization of the Chavista base, which has been victorious in Venezuelas elections for 20 years, based on his revolutionary rhetoric. However, given that he possesses an abundance of astuteness and intuition, he is not foolhardy and he is not afraid to go head-to-head with Machado, even though he would surely face defeat  Machado is ahead of him in the polls.

In person, Maduro is intimidating because of his 6 2 height and his friendliness, as contradictory as this may seem. He taps his interlocutors on the shoulder, jokes with them, and makes wisecracks that are laughed at out of a sense of commitment. He is affectionate in public with his wife, Cilia Flores, who he refers to as his companion and comrade. He claims to despise the media, especially the international press, but he is aware of everything that is published about him. This is also the case on social media, where his son, Nicolas Maduro Guerra, keeps him informed. In private, according to those who have spoken to him, he can be despotic. More than one ambassador has been reprimanded by him without them scarcely being able to articulate a word. Former presidents who sometimes attempt to mediate between Chavismo and the international community are kept waiting for hours and days to receive them. He is obsessed with being assassinated, and has denounced more than 20 plots against him. The attorney general, Tarek William Saab, has taken this to task by arresting opponents and human rights activists under the vague accusation of terrorism.

When Hugo Chavez passed away in 2013 and Maduro was installed as president, many seriously believed that the Bolivarian movement had very little time left at the helm of the country. Many felt he lacked the charisma and authority to replace one of the Latin American leaders who would truly leave his mark on history. Alongside Chavez, Maduro seemed like a marginal figure. He was a dithering successor, clearly not up to the task, with fewer qualities than his predecessor and mentor, and at the same time he had to face a burgeoning opposition movement, ready to seize its golden opportunity of a national majority from the hands of Chavismo.

Nicolas Maduro waves a flag during a demonstration to mark the anniversary of the initial coup attempt by the late Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, in 1992. LEONARDO FERNANDEZ VILORIA (Reuters)

Eleven years and almost two presidential elections later, navigating an economic and social storm of his own making, determined to establish the socialist model at all costs, still sanctioned by the international community, Maduro has seen how the Chavismo movement has gradually lost social support, yet, as a strong man in a made-to-measure framework, he still enjoys comfortable control of power. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), the ruling party, has picked him as its candidate for the 2024 elections, which came as no surprise. A year ago, there was talk of Chavista forces criticizing his administration, but challenging his power can be costly. No one is untouchable and anyone can be purged. Exactly one year ago, he removed one of his most trusted men, Tareck El Aissami, vice-president of the economic area and minister of Energy and Petroleum, which entails a lot for an oil-producing nation. At Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the state-owned company, a hole was discovered that some sources estimate to be worth $3 billion, representing a mammoth case of corruption. A year after that, without knowledge of the judicial situation facing him due to the opacity of the public prosecutor, there is no news about El Aissami. The earth seems to have swallowed him up.

Maduro started very badly. He did not envision himself with such responsibility. The 2013 electoral result against Capriles, where he almost lost the elections, reflected him. In spite of that, the Chavista roots in the state, in the public powers and in the military sector were evident, says Luis Salamanca, political scientist and doctor in Social Sciences at the Central University of Venezuela.

The arrival of Maduro exacerbated corruption in the Venezuelan state, which acquired a systemic dimension thanks to the exchange control. Instead of attempting an economic opening, as many proposed, Chavezs successor, dogmatized and skeptical of the capitalist economy, opted to radicalize, and toughened the policy of nationalizations and taxation of commerce and industry. The measures led to severe shortages of goods and services and soaring prices. In 2014, huge social unrest boiled over and popular anger took to the streets.

In a nation crumbling in the face of unviable economic policies, Maduro provided his adversaries and followers with continuous demonstrations of strength of character and command. Maduros strength is a consequence of a power structure conceived by Chavez. It begins with the president and descends in a hierarchical line that imitates democratic formulas on paper, but transforms the structures of the constitutional rule of law. Maduro is the head of a power-state, explains Salamanca. Exercising repression  and in private, acting despotically among his collaborators when necessary  Nicolas Maduro, without authority in the eyes of the rest of the country, quickly established himself as the new leader of Chavismo, albeit without competition.

A person removes a pile of garbage in Caracas, Venezuela. MIGUEL GUTIERREZ (EFE)

Armed with shrewd negotiating skills and an aptitude to work with intelligence agencies, Maduro continued with Chavezs mandates, and invested heavily in expanding the Bolivarian Police force, the National Guard, as well as paramilitary agencies loyal to the cause, further strengthening the artillery aspect of the revolution. Under Maduro the destructive trend of the productive apparatus initiated by Chavez, especially the collapse of PDVSA, has continued, says Diego Bautista Urbaneja, lawyer, writer and member of the National Academy of the History of Venezuela.

Oil prices fall, social programs go bankrupt due to corruption. Without popular support, and without the same amount of money, he has to strengthen the apparatus of revolutionary power, a framework of party, state, government, armed forces, militias, volunteers and party members. Power begins to be exercised relentlessly and without any ethical, juridical or ideological barriers, says Urbaneja. The consolidation of Maduros power is now a reality as a result of the efforts of two of his most important key players: the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, a military figure with firm roots in the barracks, who has been promoting revolutionary military ideas in the institution for years; and Jorge Rodriguez, the current president of the National Assembly, his political operator par excellence. Added to this is the work of Diosdado Cabello, the second most powerful man in the regime, an authority in the party and state security, who, contrary to popular belief, is not an enemy of Maduros institutional framework, but one of its guarantors as a radical spokesman and defender of the back line.

The unrestricted use of the apparatus of power, that is the cause, there is no mystery in that, Urbaneja points out. The democratic forces have an inferiority complex with Chavismo, attributing supernatural political virtues to it. There is a perpetual power provision within the state, a political body that in order to continue to exist, if it has to spy, it spies; if it has to shoot, it shoots; if it has to accuse, it accuses; if it has to imprison, it imprisons; if it has to negotiate, it negotiates. It could be the Supreme Court of Justice, the National Guard, the PSUV, the SEBIN (Bolivarian Intelligence Service), the CLAP (Local Committees for Supply and Production) bags, or the collectives. To this end, the international support of allies like Russia, Cuba, China and Iran has been instrumental in strengthening an infallible and unusually effective intelligence apparatus.

In the last year, Maduro had insinuated through his negotiators at the dialogue table with the opposition, set up in Mexico, that he was willing to embark on a democratic path and begin a transition in the country. This was perceived in the Barbados agreements, where it was felt that Chavismo was prepared to hold free and fair elections. The White House sought to encourage Venezuela by lifting sanctions on oil and gold, providing a respite for its ailing economy.

Nicolas Maduro arrives at a meeting with the National Council of Productive Economy in Caracas, Venezuela. Carlos Becerra (Getty Images)

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In the world of politics  even in the real world  the best way to fix a crisis of credibility or quiet wild rumors is to come forward: to hold a press conference and try to establish the true version of events. In the world of the British monarchy, the strategies and means of communication are more twisted and obtuse. You have to understand the key players.

Thats why the Sunday edition of the newspaper The Times  still the most institutional, serious and British medium that exists today  ran with the headline Kate could address health mystery at public engagement, citing friends of the Prince Williams and the Princess of Wales, the closest thing to an official version of the current situation. This version was intended to put an end to the furor over Kate Middletons health and whereabouts.

The main source of the long exclusive  written by the newspapers royal affairs correspondent Roya Nikkah  is a friend of the couple, who has known William and Kate since their days as students at St. Andrews University.

According to exclusives from tabloid The Sun, in a bid to quell the rumors, the Princess of Wales made a couple of impromptu public appearances this past weekend. On Saturday, she was seen with her husband in a farm store near his residence at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, and on Sunday the couple went to see their three children playing sport. Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well, an alleged witness told the tabloid. There were, however, no photos of these outings.

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. If she was going to do it, thats how she would do it, a royal source told The Times. They will want to be clear and more open, but theyll do it when they feel ready. I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. Theyre not going to be rushed, a friend added.

The report published by The Times is an attempt to redirect the situation, and restore the flow of information and calm that Kensington Palace tried to establish in mid-January when it announced that the Princess of Wales was to undergo abdominal surgery at a London hospital.

The official statement from the Kensington Palace  the official residence and name given to the office handling the affairs of the Prince and Princess of Wales  made it clear that Kate would spend up to two weeks recovering at the London Clinic. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter, it stated.

Amid the speculation over the princesss health, The Times report said that by after Easter, Prince Williams and Kate were referring to the end of their childrens school holidays, not the Easter weekend. In other words, after April 17, although Kensington Palace has not yet published a specific date or event.

Its not that they didnt think there would be lots of speculation and interest [in the princesss heath], but they had confidence that people would give them the space they asked for, which they did for about a month, the friend told The Times.

Manipulated photo breaks calm

The speculation reached fever pitch after Kate posted an ill-fated photo to celebrate Mothers Day. The seemingly innocent family portrait of the princess, surrounded by her three children in Adelaide Cottage, where the family currently lives, made headlines after major news agencies decided to pull it, citing manipulation concerns.

That opened the floodgates for even wilder and more bizarre theories about Kates health, whereabouts and relationship with Prince Williams. If you want to call out the mistake, it was Kate not telling her team that shed done it [edited the photo]. But she came out and said sorry, said a friend and advisor to the couple, who said it was hypocritical of picture agencies to remove the image, given the widespread use of image-cropping and photo-altering to tell a story, arguing they overreacted.

Kate Middleton with her children George, Charlotte and Louis, in an image released by Kensington Palace.

In the report aimed at calming the storm of rumors, the sources close to William and Kate point out that the Prince of Wales  who saw how his mother Lady Di became hounded by the paparazzi  is very protective of his wife and family. He is approaching this from his desire to protect Kate and his family and not get drawn into the media and social media craziness, said the main source in The Times report. Kate is smart, tough, resilient and has good common sense. They will keep their cool heads over it. The public should leave her to recover in peace and leave William to do both his job as the Prince of Wales and his job of looking after his wife and his family as best he can.

But even in the Kensington Palaces most conciliatory version to explain last weeks communication gaffes, Prince Williams and Kate cannot resist making a jab at Princes Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, the couple that have become their nemesis in the endless soap opera that is the life of the Windsors. Theyre not like [Prince] Harry, obsessing and scrolling through Twitter, but they know it has broken through, said one of their friends.

I dont think they should engineer what they do next, concluded the source. The royals are at their best when they get on with their job. Dont strategize about how to recover ground lost over Photogate, do what you were always intending to do, and when you take the next picture, make sure you take enough so you dont have to use Photoshop.

The next photo will likely celebrate the birthday of Prince Louis, the youngest of the couples three children, on April 23. Its an ideal opportunity to leave the family snapshot in the hands of experts and avoid a new wave of social media conspiracy theories.

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On Sept. 20, 2000, Pamela Bradshaw was dropped off at her residence on Red Cross Street in Wilmington. She was last spotted leaning into the passenger side of a blue Cadillac-style vehicle with a white top.

"That was the last time that anybody ever had any communication with her," said Sheryl Allder, Bradshaw's only daughter.

Nearly 24 years later, Allder is still looking for answers.

Pamela Bradshaw has been missing since 2000. She was last seen leaning into a vehicle on Red Cross Street in Wilmington.

She described her mother as fun, loving and carefree.

"She definitely had a big heart," Allder said. "She was a good mom, but you know, drugs take over your life," she added, noting Bradshaw struggled with addiction.

Potential suspects were identified in Bradshaw's case, but no one has been charged, Allder said.

Unfortunately, the unsolved nature of Bradshaw's case is not unique. There are at least 17 other unsolved local missing persons cases, according to ones registered with the Community United Effort (CUE) Center for Missing Persons.

If you have any information about these cases or others, contact CUE at 910-232-1687.

Artis Russell Bryant

Artis Russell Bryant was last seen on Feb. 26, 2021, at his residence in Northwest, North Carolina.

On the morning Feb. 26, 2021, Artis Russell Bryant went out to run few quick errands with his brother.

At 8 a.m., the two took a trip to a nearby Riegelwood Credit Union, stopping by a local gas station to buy cigarettes, a lighter and ice cream on the way home.

After returning to his residence at 4032 Northwest Road, Leland, Bryant was spotted by his sister-in-law. She went to prepare him breakfast and then discovered that he was missing.

Family and friends of Bryant were not successful in locating him during searches of his residence, a nearby family residence, and a mobile store on U.S. 74/76.

More: 'Suffered long enough': Family seeks closure in Brunswick County missing persons' case

The Northwest Police Department and CUE Center for Missing Persons is offering a $10,000 cash reward until June 2024 for any tipster who can provide information leading to the direct recovery of Artis Russell Bryant, a 73-year-old male who went missing on Feb. 26, 2021.

Brunswick County Sheriff Brian Chism previously said the extensive missing persons investigation conducted in the days following Bryant's disappearance included use of helicopters, law enforcement K-9s, and search and rescue teams, but provided no leads.

The Northwest Police Department and Community United Effort (CUE) Center for Missing Persons is offering a $10,000 cash reward for anyone able to provide information that leads to the direct location and recovery of Bryant. This reward remains active until June of 2024.

Artis Hill, Bryant's son, said Bryant may have been suffering from dementia at the time of his disappearance.

Distinguishing characteristics: Black male, 5-foot-10, 120 pounds, black hair, brown eyes. Last seen wearing a black hat, black jacket, dark pants and black shoes. 70 years old at the time of disappearance.

Bobby Robinson

Bobby Robinson was last seen on May 14, 1995, in Wilmington.

Bobby Robinson was last seen in Wilmington at 7 p.m. on May 14, 1995.

Robinson left on foot, stating he was going for a walk, and has not been seen since, according to the CUE Center for Missing Persons.

Robinson, who was 41 years old at the time of disappearance, suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

Distinguishing characteristics: Black male, 5-foot-7, 165 pounds, black hair, brown eyes. Burn scars on upper arms.

Charles Kuebler

Charles Kuebler was last seen on July 26, 2016, swimming in Wrightsville Beach.

Charles Kuebler was last seen swimming in Wrightsville Beach on July 26, 2016. He was 58 years old at the time of disappearance.

Distinguishing characteristics: White male, 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes.

David Cottle

David Cottle was last seen in Wilmington on March 9, 2013.

David Cottle Jr. was last seen in the area of 1604 Cotswald Court in Wilmington on March 9, 2013.

He has not been seen or heard from since.

Distinguishing characteristics: White male, 5'10", 180 lbs., brown hair, blue eyes. Tribal tattoo on his right bicep. Wears glasses. Forty years old at the time of disappearance.

David Miranda Hernandez

David Mirada Hernandez was last seen on Apr. 1, 2023, while swimming with friends at Fort Fisher, Kure Beach. Hernandez was swept away by the ocean.

David Miranda Hernandez was last seen on Apr. 1, 2023.

The 16-year-old was swimming with friends near Fort Fisher when he was swept out by the ocean.

His body has yet to be recovered.

Distinguishing characteristics: Hispanic male, 5-foot-6, 150 pounds, black hair, brown eyes.

Previous coverage: 'His heart was right': Family of teen missing near Fort Fisher pleads for more support

Deloris Melton

Deloris Melton was last seen on Apr. 15, 1994, at a bar known as High Tides in Ocean Isle Beach.

Deloris Melton was last seen on April 15, 1994, at a bar called High Tides in Ocean Isle Beach.

Her family suspects foul play.

"She had family, a fairly good job, a son, a nice place to live, and money in the bank," according to the CUE Center for Missing Persons webpage.

Distinguishing characteristics: White female, 4-foot-11, 120 pounds, blonde hair, blue eyes. Scars from a breast reduction. Chipped tooth. Ring engraved with the word 'shorty.' Thirty-eight years old at the time of disappearance.

Ebonee Shanetta Spears

Ebonee Spears was last seen on Jan. 15, 2016, after asking to use a pay phone in the Wilmington Police Department. Spears paced in the lobby until she eventually left. She was never seen or heard from again.

Ebonee Shanetta Spears was last seen at Pointe-Taylor Estates on Jan. 15, 2016.

Prior to her disappearance, Spears visited the Wilmington Police Department at 615 Bess St., located several blocks from her home.

At the station, Spears asked to use the pay phone.

"She was acting strangely and appeared to be disoriented," according to CUE Center for Missing Persons webpage. "She was directed to the pay phone in the lobby and was unable to operate it."

Spears paced back and forth between the front desk and the pay phone for approximately 10 minutes before leaving.

She has not been seen or heard from since.

Friends and family of Ebonee Spears gather at a drive-by tribute for Spears at the home of Spears' mother Harriet Rivers in Wilmington, N.C., Friday, January 15, 2021. Spears was last seen Jan. 14, 2016, when she apparently attempted to make a phone call at the Wilmington Police Department, then wandered away.

Previous coverage: Five years later, Wilmington still seeks answers in Ebonee Spears' disappearance

Distinguishing characteristics: Black female, 5-foot-8, 130 pounds, black hair, brown eyes. Tattoo of a rose on right shoulder. Tattoo of a butterfly on top right foot. Dyed blonde hair at the time of disappearance. Thirty years old at the time of disappearance.

Gaston Callum

Gaston Callum was last seen on Nov. 14, 2010, at the running track of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Callum left behind all of his personal belongings.

Gaston Callum was last seen on Nov. 13 or 14, 2010, at the running track of the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He was riding a mountain bike.

In January of 2010, Callum was evicted from his place of residence. He placed all his artwork in a storage unit, leaving a note behind on the back of a Michael Jordan photograph, asking that whoever receive the photo to please take care of it.

"Family members state that he had a passion for photography," according to the CUE Center for Missing Persons webpage. The 48-year-old was unemployed at the time of disappearance.

All of Callum's personal belongings were left behind, including his wallet.

Distinguishing characteristics: 6-feet, 180 pounds, light brown hair, blue eyes.

Greg MicKey

Greg Mickey was last seen on June 18, 2005, while scuba diving with friends southeast of Bald Head Island.

Greg MicKey was last seen around 12 p.m. on June 18, 2005, while scuba diving with friends.

MicKey's friends lost sight of him in rough waters near Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower, roughly 30 miles southeast of Bald Head Island.

"According to his diving partners, he was last seen on the surface about 50 feet from his boat," according to the CUE Center for Missing Persons. "A strong cross current swept him and his dive partner northwest of the boat during a free ascent after they failed to find the anchor line at the end of the 100-foot dive."

One of MicKey's diving partners made it back to the boat. The United States Coast Guard recovered another diving partner nine hours later approximately four miles northwest of the original dive site.

MicKey, then 49 years old, left behind his buoyancy compensator and tank when attempting to swim back to the boat. Divers found MicKey's open weight belt on the ocean floor four days following his disappearance, but his body was never recovered.

He "was an advanced certification diver in a full wetsuit, mask, fins, and snorkel so close to the boat," according to the CUE Center. "What happened to him remains a mystery."

The U.S. Coast Guard conducted 40 search missions over more than 1,000 square miles using aircrafts and board without success. Additionally, others have conducted private searches.

A ship was sunk in memoriam to MicKey in 2006.

Distinguishing characteristics: White male, 5-foot-10, 172 pounds, dark brown hair, brown eyes. MicKey was last seen wearing neon green flippers, a gold wedding ring with a woven rope inside the band and identifying script, a dive watch with a silver face and a silver band, and a Dacor black wetsuit.

Previous coverage: Family honors diver by sinking ship

Jonathan Kyle Brackett

Jonathan Kyle Brackett was last seen on Aug. 1, 2009, in Surf City, North Carolina.

Jonathan Kyle Brackett was last seen on Aug. 1, 2009, near a wooded area in Surf City.

Originally from Carolina Beach, the 18-year-old was visiting family in Surf City on the day he disappeared.

In the days prior to his disappearance, Brackett told his mother her planned to join the military. Brackett's mother said he seemed to be in a good mood at the time of the conversation.

When Brackett picked up his last paycheck from his place of work, he told a friend he wouldn't be in the next day because he was leaving.

"He was in the company of some people who worked for a carnival in Carolina Beach when he disappeared," according to the CUE Center for Missing Persons webpage.

Brackett was on probation at the time he went missing. His family does not believe he would have left before his probation had completed.

He was never heard from again.

In 2010, the CUE Center took part in a search for Brackett in Surf City with no success.

Distinguishing characteristics: White male, 5-foot-9, 150 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes.

Mary Rachel Bryan and Leila Lewis Bryan

Mary Rachel Bryan was last seen on May 10, 1941. She is the four-year-old daughter to Leila Lewis Bryan. The two were last seen in Carolina Beach, North Carolina.

Leila Lewis Bryan and her four-year-old daughter Mary Rachel were last seen around 9 p.m. at Carolina Beach on May 10, 1941.

Leila told her husband, Eddie Bryan, that she was taking a trip to a local grocery store and left in a 1935 Ford coupe.

Berry Lewis, Leila Bryan's brother, drove around Carolina Beach in an attempt to locate Leila and Mary Rachel with no success. Professional divers searched local waterways and officers visited gas stations up to 100 miles away.

Advertisements were placed in newspapers across the country. Officers in Pinellas, Florida, began searching for Leila and Mary Rachel after a report of a spotting of the pair nearby.

Leila Bryan was last seen with her four-year-old daughter on May 10, 1941. Investigations provided potential leads in her case, but no one was ever charged.

In the summer following, a piece of an automobile windshield was discovered in Snow's Cut, a canal connecting the Cape Fear River and the Intracoastal Waterway. Investigations revealed the glass could have come from a 1935 Ford but were not certain. The fragment was sent to the State Bureau of Investigation in Raleigh but was lost as the case grew cold.

According to previous reporting, neighbors reported seeing Bryan's husband laying concrete at their home on the same night his wife and daughter disappeared. Eddie has since died and excavation of the concrete floor at 214 Raleigh Road in 2008 proved unsuccessful in providing any leads.

No one was ever charged, and the case was never solved.

Distinguishing characteristics (Leila): White female, 5-foot-7, 120-125 pounds, dark hair, dark eyes. Wearing a summer print dress, brown and white shoes, and a green turban. Thirty-six years old at the time of disappearance.

Distinguishing characteristics (Mary Rachel): White female, dark hair.

Raymond Gregory Walker

Raymond Gregory Walker was last seen on Nov. 15, 2008.

Raymond Gregory Walker was last seen in Oak Island on Nov. 15, 2008.

Walker owns a home in Oak Island and in Boston. Few details are available in his case.

Distinguishing characteristics: White male, 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, gray hair (balding), brown eyes. Gray beard and mustache. Large wire framed glasses with thick lenses. Fifty-seven years old at the time of disappearance.

Richard Borelli

Richard Borelli was last seen on April 9, 1999. Borelli spent the day with his mother and became upset when he had to return to the assisted living facility where he resided.

Richard Borelli was last seen in Carolina Beach on April 9, 1999.

Borelli spent the day with his mother and then became upset when he had to go back to Neilson's Rest Home, an assisted living center where Borelli was living.

The 49-year-old was never heard from again.

Distinguishing characteristics: White male, 5-foot-6, 145 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes. Tattoo of the name 'Rich' on his arm. Scars on both forearms.

Rosalind Wall

Rosalind Wall was last seen on Feb. 12, 1995, in Southport, North Carolina, at a residence on Fodale Avenue.

Rosalind Wall was last seen in Southport on Feb. 12, 1995, at a residence on Fodale Avenue.

Robert Nichols, Wall's boyfriend, reported her missing two days later on Feb. 14.

Distinguishing characteristics: White female, 5-foot-4, 120 pounds, blonde hair, blue eyes. Scar on inner left arm. Butterfly tattoo on right shoulder blade and buttocks, black widow spider tattoo on one of her shoulders, and a purple flower tattoo on her left ankle. Twenty-nine years old at the time of disappearance.

Shannon Rippy Van Newkirk

Shannon Rippy was last seen on Apr. 5, 2014, at The Husk bar in downtown Wilmington. In 2017, a man was charged with second-degree murder in her presumed death, but her body was never found.

Shannon Rippy Van Newkirk was last seen in downtown Wilmington at 7 p.m. on April 5, 2014.

Surveillance footage shows Van Newkirk walking into The Husk, a bar on S. Front St., at 3 p.m.

In 2017, a Pender County jury found a man guilty of second-degree murder in her presumed death, but a body was never discovered.

Distinguishing characteristics: White female, 5-foot-6, 105 pounds, reddish brown hair, brown eyes. Butterfly tattoo on her shoulder. Fifty-three years old at the time of disappearance.

Tammy Ferguson

Tammy Ferguson was last seen on July 16, 1995, after making a call to her mother on a pay phone at a gas station in Leland.

Tammy Ferguson made a call to her mother from a pay phone at a gas station at the corner of South Navassa Road and Village Road in Leland on July 16, 1995, and was never heard from again.

Originally from Alabama, the 37-year-old had been living with her husband at Leland Mobile Home Park on Old Fayetteville Road at the time of her disappearance.

Ferguson, who worked as a maid at the Town and County Motel in Belville, told her mother she would be moving back to Alabama after collecting her disability check. She left behind all of her personal belongings, including an uncashed check.

Ferguson also left behind her only child. Her case remains unsolved.

Distinguishing characteristics: White female, 5-foot-5, 140 pounds, blonde hair, blue/gray eyes. Missing a finger on her right hand. Red rose tattoo with the name 'Tonya' and a skull tattoo with the name 'Joshua' on her upper arm. Other tattoos located on the back of her shoulder and above her breasts.

Pamela Bradshaw

Pamela Bradshaw was last seen on Sept. 20, 2000, on Red Cross Street in Wilmington. 24 years later, her case remains unsolved.

Detectives are still working to pursue potential leads in Bradshaw's case.

Bradshaw's mother is almost 90 years old and currently lives in New York City. Allder said that she seeks closure in her mother's case not only for her own peace of mind, but for her grandmother's.

"I have my sad moments and withdrawn moments and, you know, just...want to walk the Earth to try...and find her," Allder said.

With children of her own, Allder relocated back to Wilmington roughly three years ago. She said being surrounded by family and friends in the area who knew her mother can be helpful in coping with her disappearance.

"I just try to keep a lot of faith that one day we will find her and...put it to rest...and who can be convicted needs to be convicted," Allder said.

Distinguishing characteristics: Black female, 5-foot-6, 120 pounds, black hair, brown eyes. Surgical scar on left breast. Removed molars. Forty-two years old at the time of disappearance.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: The unsolved cases of missing people in Wilmington, NC
President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham in Kyiv on March 18, according to the President's Office.

This is Graham's fifth visit to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war.

He arrived as U.S. aid to Ukraine remains stalled. While the Senate approved a $95 billion funding package on Feb. 13 that contained $60 billion in aid for Kyiv, the package still faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Graham voted repeatedly against the $60 billion package, declaring in February that he talked to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is "dead set against this package."

Read also: Justice minister: Ukraine willing to accept loans if necessary to secure US aid

At a press conference in Kyiv, Graham said 70% of Republicans in the Senate understand the need for aid for Ukraine, stressing that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is not to be stopped now, there will be "a war between Russia and NATO."

Yet, he added that as political leaders, they need to address their own people, too, highlighting three topics of focus: U.S. debt, security of the border, and helping U.S. allies "with a new way of doing business."

"If you want aid to Ukraine, you'd better start talking to American taxpayers," he said.

Graham called Trump's support of further military assistance to Ukraine in the form of a loan a "step forward,"adding that the U.S. has a "broken border," and it is hard for him to talk about Ukraine aid without mentioning the border issue.

"I want the Russians not only to see the aid coming this spring, but we have come up with a model to make it more sustainable for the Ukrainian people," the senator said.

"You are going through hell. I want to help you. We have problems at home, too. I am trying to make this a win-win. I am going to the Mideast to say the same thing," he added.

Graham expressed full support for Ukraine on its path in attempts to join NATO and said that he wanted to provide Ukraine with as much weaponry as possible to achieve "a qualitative advantage on the battlefield."

"I'm hopeful that the ATACMS will be announced any moment now," Graham added, recalling the delivery of F-16s as well and expressing hope for signing a security guarantee between Ukraine and the U.S. "this year."

On March 12, the U.S. pledged a defense aid package of weapons and equipment for Ukraine worth $300 million, the first since December.

"It is critically important for us that the Congress soon completes all the necessary procedures and makes a final decision on the allocation of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine that will strengthen the Ukrainian economy and our Armed Forces," Zelensky said.

The meeting of President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham in Kyiv on March 18, 2024. (Ukraine's Presidential Office)

Zelensky briefed Graham on the situation on the battlefield and highlighted "the critical importance" of further supplies of weapons, including air defense systems and missiles.

The consumption of artillery shells since the beginning of 2024 is seven to one in Russia's favor, according to Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, deputy defense minister. Munitions for some of Ukraine's air defense systems may be used up by the end of March, the Washington Post reported on March 15, citing unnamed Western officials.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham arrived in Kyiv, the U.S. Embassy shared on social media on March 18.

"Unwavering US support is critical to Ukraine's success in confronting an illegal full-scale war with Russia," the U.S. Embassy captioned the photo of his arrival by train.

Graham's visit comes as U.S. aid to Ukraine remains delayed. While the Senate approved a $95 billion funding package on Feb. 13 that contained $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, the package still faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Graham voted repeatedly against the $60 billion package, declaring in February that he he talked to Donald Trump, who is "dead set against this package."

Trump "thinks that we should make packages like this a loan, not a gift," Graham said.

Graham previously visited Kyiv in May 2023, and met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Russias Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Graham following his visit.

Read also: US Senator Schumer in Lviv: Without aid, Ukraine will lose war, with aid it will win

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The US Supreme Court hears arguments in a social media case involving free speech rights and government efforts to curb misinformation online (Denis Charlet)

The US Supreme Court was hearing arguments on Monday in a social media case involving free speech rights and government efforts to curb misinformation online.

The case stems from a lawsuit brought by the Republican attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri, who allege that government officials went too far in their efforts to get platforms to combat vaccine and election misinformation.

A lower court last year restricted some top officials and agencies of President Joe Biden's administration from meeting and communicating with social media companies to moderate their content.

The ruling was a win for conservative advocates who allege that the government pressured or colluded with platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to censor right-leaning content under the guise of fighting misinformation.

The order applied to a slew of agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State Department and Justice Department as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The decision restricted agencies and officials from meeting with social media companies or flagging posts containing "free speech" protected under the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry hailed the "historic injunction" at the time, saying it would prevent the Biden administration from "censoring the core political speech of ordinary Americans" on social media.

He accused federal officials of seeking to "dictate what Americans can and cannot say on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other platforms about COVID-19, elections, criticism of the government, and more."

The order could seriously limit top government agencies from notifying the platforms about false or hateful content that can lead to harmful consequences.

But the ruling said that the government could still inform them about posts involving criminal activity, national security threats and foreign attempts to influence elections.

In addition to communications with social media companies, the ruling also restricted agencies from "collaborating, coordinating, partnering" with groups such as the Election Integrity Partnership, a coalition of research institutions that tackle election-related falsehoods.

Some experts in misinformation and First Amendment law criticized the ruling, saying authorities needed to strike a balance between calling out falsehoods and veering towards censorship or curbing free speech.

cl/bfm
Thats life, said Vladimir Putin about the death of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, after winning the presidential elections in Russia on Sunday. It was the first time the president had dared to say the name of his great political enemy since his death just over a month ago. Putin made the comment at a midnight press conference, held at his campaigns headquarters in Moscow, to celebrate his victory in an election that did not allow for any real opposition.

In his address, Putin did not offer more details about Navalnys sudden death in a prison in the Arctic Circle. Supporters of the 47-year-old Russian dissident said he was killed when he was going to be swapped for a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) assassin imprisoned in Germany.

I agreed, I wanted to swap him [Navalny] and for him not to return, but these things happen, thats life, said Putin, when, according to the Central Electoral Commission, he was winning the election by 87.2% of the vote, with half the votes counted.

At the press conference, Putin showed renewed self-confidence before journalists and his election campaign team. First, he claimed that the election results showed that the Russian people supported his plans, including the invasion of Ukraine. The nation is defending its progress with weapons in its hands, he said, in reference to the conflict.

[The election win] is a sign of citizens confidence and hope that everything ahead of us will be fulfilled, he told supporters. We have come up with grandiose plans, he said, mentioning the goal to expand the armament of Russia.

For Putin, the election went according to plan. After two years and a month of war, his border regions have become a daily target of Ukrainian drones and rockets. But for the Russian president, whats most important is that he remains in power.

Nearly 500 miles separate Moscow from Russias border with Ukraine. This distance marks the difference between living as though the war was not happening and having to seek shelter in bomb shelters at any moment. In these two very different Russias, Putin has reigned for 24 years, and after Sundays vote, his tsardom will be extended for another six years, until 2030. The Russian leader won the election with allegedly resounding support  preliminary results showed him with 87.2% of the vote, even more than the 76.7% he won in 2018. Turnout from the three days of voting was put at 74.2%. It was mission accomplished for Putin. He now can claim to have a mandate to justify his next unpopular moves.

Putins rivals have been crushed. But the electoral system is highly suspect, what with the opaque electronic voting, and the fact that Russias security forces and courts leave no room for peaceful protest. Voters unhappy with the Kremlin are hardly even able to show their discontent with gestures that are as symbolic as they are harmless. According to Putin, the call by opposition groups to show up at noon at the polling stations and vote for any other candidate as a sign of protest did not have any special effect.

If there were appeals to vote  from the opposition  they are commendable, but the important thing is that some spoiled ballots and that is bad, said Putin.

However, an important part of the population, if not an overwhelming majority, supports the president. While it is impossible to verify this without free and open elections according to the independent polling center Levada, Putins approval rating within Russia is around 85%.

The president has never had fewer rivals in an election. Only three candidacies were approved by his shadow advisor, Sergey Kiriyenko: Nikolai Kharitonov, who is not even the leader of the Communist Party and failed miserably in the 2004 elections; Leonid Slutsky, successor of the populist Vladimir Zhirinovsky and head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), who has zero support; and Vladislav Davankov, head of New People, a Kremlin satellite party created in 2019 to engage younger generations. All of the candidates were from parties loyal to the government.

Beyond the cosmopolitan Moscow and St. Petersburg, countless Russian cities are filling the ranks of the army with volunteers. Many volunteer out of patriotism, while others do so for a salary that is near unimaginable in their provinces: 205,000 rubles (about $2,200), between four and six times more than an average job offers. And if they die or are injured, the compensation for their family soars by several million rubles.

Moscow, a liberal city far from death

Moscow is largely oblivious to the war. Its restaurants and nightclubs have never been evacuated due to an air raid alarm, and soldiers are not seen on its streets, except in the train stations, where volunteers and mobilized people from other poorer regions of Russia stop by on their way to the front.

There are also hardly any posters of the presidential candidates, although advertisements encouraging people to vote flood every corner of the city. Candidate Putins campaign propaganda is non-existent, but the news and praise of President Putin are constant.

Dozens of Russians queued at 12 p.m. on Sunday at the entrance to polling station 51 in Moscow, where they had been called by Navalnys team to symbolically protest. The scene at polling station 51 was one of the countless small crowds that popped up at polling stations across the country. They were small, silent protests that did not offer the same moving image of Navalnys funeral, as voters were dispersed in thousands of points across the nation.

Its not an act that will change anything, but its a demonstration for myself, said Alexandra, a woman who came to vote with her young daughter at a school in the Russian capital. I support Navalny, she admitted as she waited to vote. Police watched from afar.

Moscow is a liberal city, it is not Russia, Andrey, in his thirties, told EL PAIS while waiting in line. Whats more, we are also divided here, he added, before stating that he was going to vote for Putin.

I never voted for Putin, but in 2022  the year the invasion of Ukraine began  I changed my mind. I saw the hypocrisy of European values, how they give false hugs. Their sanctions, their hatred of the Russians, said Andrey, expressing a very widespread opinion in Russia: Navalny was not the favorite politician of many Russians, he added, arguing that his importance has been overstated in Europe, as has his widow, Yulia Navalnaya.

At least 75 people were detained in 17 Russian cities on Sunday, the third and final day of the presidential elections, according to the OVD-Info platform. This organization for the protection of protesters said that some voters were arrested for introducing invalid ballots or expressing their opinions openly at polling stations.

Russian media revealed that some ballots had messages such as No to war! or Navalny. In fact, some Navalny followers placed electoral ballots at his grave.

Belgorod, ghost city in continuous tension

In the Russian city of Belgorod, about 30 miles from the border with Ukraine, the elections took place under very different conditions. Belgorod has changed radically in the last year and is now a ghost town. A large part of the citys population has left as Ukrainian attacks have intensified, and concrete anti-drone shelters have sprung up everywhere in the streets.

Mikhail is a former military pilot, a Russian veteran of the 1979-1989 Afghanistan war, who is not considering leaving Belgorod. He defends Putin: It is not necessary for Putin to have competitors in the elections. He has the power, its about being strong. Mikhail also justifies war. Theres no way to avoid it. We invaded Ukraine and I understand that we need it, he said. His wife Yana points out that the city has changed since the conflict. But before 2022 they never attacked us, she said. But both believe that Putin is the best option for Russia and for them.

The train from Belgorod to Moscow was packed on Saturday, especially with children accompanied by their mothers and grandmothers, and soldiers returning from the front. In the much safer capital, Putin was waiting to begin his fifth term after the election farce came to an end.

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Migrants from Venezuela walk along the banks of the Rio Grande to surrender to the U.S. Border Patrol after they entered Texas at Eagle Pass on Jan. 8.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday extended a hold on a new and expansive Texas immigration law that was set to take effect at 4 p.m., preventing state law enforcement officers, at least for now, from arresting, jailing and even deporting people suspected of illegally crossing into Texas from Mexico.

With a last-minute motion Monday, the high court continued its stay of Senate Bill 4 indefinitely as the justices consider several constitutional challenges to the law.

"Since day one, weve highlighted how blatantly unconstitutional SB4 is," the Texas House Mexican American Legislative Caucus posted on X after the ruling. "This reckless and irresponsible attempt by the state to seize control and circumvent 150 years of federal immigration law was a new low for Texas.

"While SB 4 continues to have a long legal battle ahead, millions of mixed-status Texan families can breathe a sigh of relief."

The court's decision became public just after the 4 p.m. deadline, which Justice Samuel Alito set last week. SB 4 would allow Texas law enforcement officers to arrest migrants suspected of entering the U.S. illegally and to force them to accept deportation orders or face stiffer criminal penalties.

SB 4, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law in December, had previously been scheduled to take effect March 5 before rights groups and the Justice Department challenged the new legislation's constitutionality.

However, since Alito first expressed the high court's interest in taking up the case by issuing an initial hold on the law March 4 and extending it March 11 before ordering an indefinite stay Monday, the Texas immigration provision has remained under the court's purview.

During a special session in November, the Texas Legislature passed SB 4, which codifies a series of penalties for anyone suspected of illegally crossing into Texas from Mexico other than through an international port of entry. The penalties range from a Class B misdemeanor to a second-degree felony.

SB 4, which faced heavy opposition from Democrats and civil rights groups throughout the 2023 legislative calendar, also requires people accused of illegally crossing into Texas to either accept a magistrate judge's deportation order or face a second-degree felony charge for noncompliance.

"The U.S. Supreme Court has extended its pause on #SB4 until further order," the ACLU of Texas posted on X immediately after the order was handed down. "Were not backing down until this anti-immigrant law is gone once and for all."

Protesters march in downtown Austin as they call for a repeal of Senate BIll 4 during South by Southwest on March 9. The new law would allow state and local law enforcement officers to arrest people who they think entered the country illegally and send them back to Mexico.

In issuing the first hold on SB 4 in Austin, Judge David Ezra of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas said the state's attempt to enforce immigration law falls under the federal government's established control of monitoring ingress and egress across the country's borders.

Ezra also took issue with several of the bill's constitutional concerns while disagreeing with Texas' attorneys' comparison of migrant influxes to an active invasion.

"Finally, to allow Texas to permanently supersede federal directives on the basis of an invasion would amount to nullification of federal law and authority  a notion that is antithetical to the Constitution and has been unequivocally rejected by federal courts since the Civil War," Ezra wrote in February.

More: Texas Republican Chairman Matt Rinaldi announces he will step aside when term ends in May

On Monday morning, before the court extended its hold on SB 4, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick doubled down on the invasion argument during an interview on Fox News, calling on the justices to understand that Texas is being overrun by drugs and crime.

"Were being attacked," Patrick said, pleading for the law to take effect. "By land, by sea, by air. Literally millions coming across the border. Many armed.

"By every, every definition of the Constitution, its clear to me that this is an invasion. Its a hostile group. Its an organized militia, in essence," Patrick said, lambasting President Joe Biden and accusing him of pushing an open border policy.

The Biden administration has pushed for tougher border enforcement policies, but the bill was blocked by U.S. Senate Republicans after former President Donald Trump asked for the legislation to be derailed to keep the president from taking a legislative win.

"Were being attacked. By land, by sea, by air. Literally millions coming across the border. Many armed," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick claimed Monday morning on Fox News.

Patrick on Monday morning went on to defended the law and Texas' right to legislate on immigration issues, celebrating SB 4, which was passed by Rep. David Spiller, R-Jacksboro, and Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, who carried the bill in the Senate after Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, stepped away from authoring the law out of constitutional concerns.

"It basically says we can arrest, we can detain and we can either put you in jail or send you back," Patrick said on "Fox and Friends." "We can do that. And we should have that right."

Arguing that Texas will probably be unable to defend the validity of SB 4, the rights groups and federal government have called the invasion argument an incorrect interpretation of state war powers and an inaccurate and unfair characterization of immigrants.

More: AG Paxton continues scrutiny of Colony Ridge development, sues over deceptive trade practices

The invasion rhetoric, prosecutors have argued across court settings, is similar to other state-level immigration complaints that arose from migrant influxes to the West Coast from Asia in the 1840s, subsequent immigration patterns from Southern Europe at the turn of the 20th century and mass migration spurred by World War II.

"In support of that startling request, the state emphasizes its concerns regarding immigration enforcement, citing the number of recent migrants, along with vague and tenuous attempts to tie asylum-seekers to danger, crime and drugs," the prosecutors told the Supreme Court. "None of this is new."

Outside of the federal government's challenge, a new lawsuit filed last week also seeks to prevent SB 4 from taking effect, citing a bevy of constitutional concerns and pointing to the law as a clear violation of the Fourth, Eighth and 14th Amendments and an intrusion into federal authority.

In their suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in Austin last week, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the National Immigration Law Center argue that plaintiffs in the case face an unlawful potential for arrest, detention, prosecution, incarceration and removal to Mexico despite being granted lawful immigration statuses by the federal government.

"Empowering state officers to decide who unlawfully crosses the border with a foreign nation conflicts with federal immigration law, which grants that power only to federal officers," the lawsuit states.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Supreme Court keeps hold on Texas law allowing cops to arrest migrants
The US Supreme Court heard arguments in a social media case involving free speech rights and government efforts to curb misinformation online (Denis Charlet)

A majority of justices on the US Supreme Court appeared skeptical on Monday of efforts to impose restrictions on federal government efforts to curb misinformation online.

Both conservative and liberal justices on the nine-member court appeared reluctant to endorse a lower court's ruling that would severely limit government interactions with social media companies.

The case stems from a lawsuit brought by the Republican attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri, who allege that government officials went too far in their bid to get platforms to combat vaccine and election misinformation, violating the First Amendment free speech rights of users.

The lower court restricted top officials and agencies of Democratic President Joe Biden's administration from meeting and communicating with social media companies to moderate their content.

The ruling, which the Supreme Court put on hold until it heard the case, was a win for conservative advocates who allege that the government pressured or colluded with platforms such as Facebook and X, formerly Twitter, to censor right-leaning content under the guise of fighting misinformation.

Representing the Justice Department in the Supreme Court on Monday, Principal Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher said there is a "fundamental distinction between persuasion and coercion."

"The government may not use coercive threats to suppress speech, but it is entitled to speak for itself by informing, persuading or criticizing private speakers," he said.

The lower court, Fletcher said, "mistook persuasion for coercion."

Justice Samuel Alito, a conservative, said the record showed that government officials had engaged in "constant pestering of Facebook and some of the other platforms" treating them "like their subordinates."

"I cannot imagine federal officials taking that approach to the print media," Alito said.

But Chief Justice John Roberts, also a conservative, said the federal government does not speak with one voice.

"The government is not monolithic," Roberts said. "That has to dilute the concept of coercion significantly, doesn't it?"

Fletcher said interactions between health officials and social media platforms at the heart of the case needed to be viewed in light of "an effort to get Americans vaccinated during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic."

"There was a concern that Americans were getting their news about the vaccine from these platforms and the platforms were promoting bad information," Fletcher said, adding that "the platforms were moderating content long before the government was talking to them."

- 'No place in our democracy' -

J. Benjamin Aguinaga, the solicitor general of Louisiana, denounced what he called "government censorship," saying it has "no place in our democracy."

"The government has no right to persuade platforms to violate Americans' constitutional rights, and pressuring platforms in backrooms shielded from public view is not using the bully pulpit at all," Aguinaga said. "That's just being a bully."

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a liberal, pushed back, saying "my biggest concern is that your view has the First Amendment hamstringing the government in significant ways."

"Some might say that the government actually has a duty to take steps to protect the citizens of this country." she said.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a conservative, asked whether it would be coercion if someone in government calls up a social media company to point out something that is "factually erroneous information."

The lower court order applied to the White House and a slew of agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State Department, the Justice Department as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The decision restricted agencies and officials from meeting with social media companies or flagging posts.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry hailed the "historic injunction" at the time, saying it would prevent the Biden administration from "censoring the core political speech of ordinary Americans" on social media.

He accused federal officials of seeking to "dictate what Americans can and cannot say on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other platforms about COVID-19, elections, criticism of the government, and more."

Some experts in misinformation and First Amendment law criticized the lower court ruling, saying the authorities needed to strike a balance between calling out falsehoods and veering towards censorship or curbing free speech.

cl/caw
Semafor Signals

Insights from NBC News, The Washington Post, Just Security

The News

U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared unconvinced by Republican-led claims that the Biden administration engaged in coercion when it pushed social media platforms to suppress inaccurate or false information during the pandemic.

In oral arguments in the Supreme Courts case on Monday, the Courts conservative and liberal justices appeared to agree that communications between the White House and social media companies seemed appropriate.

The Courts ruling could have a drastic impact on how the government balances free speech in the country, and activists warned that if the justices agree with the plaintiffs argument that the administrations contact with social media companies should be limited, it could lower the bar for the governments interactions with private entities.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Justices seem skeptical about government jawboning

Source: NBC News

The Supreme Court justices appeared unpersuaded by the plaintiffs arguments that the governments communication with social media platforms was akin to jawboning  in which the government leans on private parties to do what it wants. The justices questioned the lack of evidence to support claims that the Biden administration threatened punitive action against platforms that failed to take down content, NBC News reported. The justices also agreed that there are certain instances when the government has a responsibility to intervene in regulating social media content, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson questioning whether the plaintiffs would oppose a hypothetical scenario in which the government asked companies to take down a social media challenge encouraging teenagers to jump off bridges.

Misleading evidence in plaintiffs case supports culture war conspiracy theory

Source: Just Security

The plaintiffs case is supported by misleading or inaccurate evidence that appears to prop up more of culture war conspiracy than a credible factual record, New York University Law Schools Just Security forum argued. The plaintiffs, for example, claimed that Dr. Anthony Fauci was planning to take down certain misleading speech during the pandemic, but emails show he wanted to debunk those posts with accurate medical information. Plaintiffs have argued that the FBI wanted to take down over 900,000 posts made by American citizens on X, but documents show that the posts were actually from Russian entities. It should be of grave concern that some justices are poised to rule in a case based on flawed information, Just Security wrote.

Indias clampdown on social media firms is setting norms in other countries

Source: The Washington Post

In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modis government has dramatically tightened its grip on Silicon Valleys social media companies, strengthening national laws to prosecute social media employees who refuse to cooperate with the government when Delhi asks platforms to remove posts  for example, that are critical of Modi or his Hindu-nationalist policies. The governments prioritization of what it claims are national security concerns has inspired other countries including Nigeria and Myanmar to craft similar legal frameworks, often using near-identical language in their bills. India is steadily becoming a norm-shaping country, a researcher at the Internet Society, a Virginia-based global internet advocacy organization, told The Washington Post. Companies such as X  led by Elon Musk  have acquiesced to local regulations despite numerous attempts to sue the government over free speech infringements.
By John Kruzel and Andrew Chung

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday grappled with the National Rifle Association's claim that a New York state official violated its free speech rights by coercing banks and insurers to cut ties with it - with the gun rights group backed by an unlikely ally: President Joe Biden's administration.

The NRA urged the justices to revive its 2018 lawsuit accusing Maria Vullo, a former superintendent of New York's Department of Financial Services, of unlawfully retaliating against it following a mass shooting in which 17 people were killed at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

The justices heard arguments in the NRA's appeal of a lower court's decision to throw out its suit against Vullo. At issue was whether Vullo wielded her regulatory power to coerce New York financial institutions into cutting ties with the NRA in violation of the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protections for freedom of speech.

The justices sought to distinguish permissible government advocacy from unlawful coercion.

"How do you define when it goes too far?" conservative Justice Samuel Alito asked David Cole, a lawyer with the ACLU civil rights advocacy group that represented the NRA.

Cole argued that Vullo and other New York officials abused their authority in violation of the First Amendment, telling the justices: "There's no question on this record that they encouraged people to punish the NRA."

Vullo in 2018 called upon banks and insurers to consider the "reputational risks" of doing business with gun rights groups following the Parkland shootings.

She later fined Lloyd's of London and two other insurers more than $13 million for offering an NRA-endorsed product called "Carry Guard" that Vullo's office found was in violation of New York insurance law. The product provided liability coverage for policyholders who caused injuries from gunfire, even in cases involving the wrongful use of a firearm.

The insurers agreed to stop selling NRA-endorsed products that New York considered illegal.

Ephraim McDowell, the Justice Department lawyer representing Biden's administration, urged the justices to let the NRA pursue its lawsuit, arguing that the group had plausibly alleged that Vullo had violated its First Amendment rights.

McDowell focused on the NRA's claim that Vullo met with insurance executives at Lloyd's, presented her views on gun control and suggested going easy on regulatory infractions if the company stopped providing insurance for the NRA.

"That's an explicit threat," McDowell said.

The NRA, an influential nonprofit group closely aligned with Republicans, has worked to defeat gun control proposals measures favored by many Democrats including Biden and backed pivotal lawsuits that have widened U.S. gun rights. The NRA is organized under New York state laws, with its main offices in Virginia.

Its lawsuit, seeking unspecified monetary damages, accused Vullo of unlawfully retaliating against it for its constitutionally protected gun rights advocacy by pursuing an "implicit censorship regime." According to the suit, the state's "blacklisting" campaign sought to deprive the NRA of basic financial services and threatened its advocacy work.

'A BIT JARRING'

Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked Neal Katyal, the lawyer representing Vullo, to explain why Biden's administration backed the NRA given the U.S. government's interest in protecting its right to advocate its point of view.

"It's a bit jarring," Kavanaugh said, that the administration has taken a view opposing Vullo's position.

Vullo has said her statements encouraging financial institutions to examine their ties to pro-gun organizations following the Parkland shooting had not "crossed the line between permissible persuasion and unconstitutional coercion."

Katyal accused the NRA of "seeking to weaponize the First Amendment and exempt themselves from the rules that govern you and me simply because they're a controversial speaker."

"When you're in a situation like this of conceded illegality," Katyal said, "there is an obvious alternative explanation for what Ms. Vullo was doing here, which was enforcing the law."

After a federal judge dismissed most of the NRA's suit, the Manhattan-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals tossed two remaining free speech claims.

The NRA originally also named Vullo's department and then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, as defendants but the case was subsequently narrowed. Vullo was sued in both her official and personal capacities.

The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has taken an expansive view of gun rights.

A ruling is expected in this case by the end of June, as well as in another case testing the limits of government influence over speech. That case, also argued on Monday, involved a bid to prevent Biden's administration from encouraging social media platforms to remove or moderate content that U.S. officials deemed objectionable or misinformation.

(Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham)
The Israeli army raided again the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, Al Shifa, one of the few functioning medical centers left in the north of the Palestinian enclave. The Ministry of Health of the Hamas government informed Monday that there were several casualties and injuries, without specifying a number, but pointed out that the facility houses about 30,000 people, including thousands of forcibly displaced civilians, as well as patients and medical personnel. The Israeli army later reported that it had eliminated 20 terrorists, including Faiq Mabhuoch, whom it identified as responsible for Hamas internal security operations. The attack set off a fire in one of the hospitals buildings. Israel described the raid as a precise operation based on intelligence information indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists to conduct and promote terrorist activity. More than 80 people were arrested and one Israeli soldier was killed.

The Israeli army claims to have taken control of the hospital, with armored vehicles and snipers. Shots were heard in the neighborhood and images of an Israeli tank at the main entrance of the complex were shared on social networks. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released a clip of a video showing shots fired at their soldiers from hospital buildings. The troops responded with live fire and hits were identified. Our troops are continuing to operate in the area of the hospital, the IDF said in a statement.

The Israeli army dropped leaflets in Arabic over Rimal, the neighborhood in Gaza City where the hospital is located, warning civilians: To all those who exist or are displaced in Rimal and the displaced in Al Shifa and its vicinity: you are in a dangerous combat zone. The IDF is operating hard in its residential areas to destroy terror infrastructure. The statement also ordered people to head toward Al Mawasi, the area in the southern Gaza where Israel initially intended to direct the hundreds of thousands of displaced people from the north.

The IDF had already invaded Al Shifa last November, drawing widespread condemnation. In the end, the sick and displaced were evacuated and some of the medical staff arrested. Israel justified the operation on the grounds that the hospital was hiding a Hamas command and control center in a tunnel under the premises  something that it never found. Israel also claimed that laying siege to the hospital would allow its forces to rescue some of the more than 240 hostages that remained in Gaza at the time, but it also did not find any of them there.

Negotiations in Qatar

On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear his determination to invade Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip, the only area Israeli troops have not stormed by land and where more than one million forcibly displaced persons are concentrated. Those who say that the action in Rafah will not occur are those who also said that we would not enter Gaza, or act in [Al] Shifa [hospital] or in Khan Younis, and that we would not resume the fighting after the pause [in hostilities in November], he said.

In the interview with Fox, he went further, comparing the calls to end the war in Gaza to the situation in World War II: Thats like leaving a quarter of the Nazi terrorist army in Germany and saying No, were not going to finish the last quarter. And were not going into Berlin.

The assault on Al Shifa began in the early hours of the morning, hours before an Israeli delegation was due to leave for Qatar to take part in negotiations for a second ceasefire deal. Leading the delegation will be Mossad chief David Barnea, who will meet later in the day with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, according to Agence France-Presse. The Israeli government on Sunday gave the delegation a broad mandate to reach the agreement, but also set the red lines that must not be crossed, according to official sources quoted by local media.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After several months of winter, enjoying sunny days can almost seem too good to be true  especially when they come ahead of schedule.

Thats because the spring equinox is arriving a day or two early this year, according to OMSIs director of space science education.

Alaska Airlines flight lands safely in Portland after small windshield crack

For the past century, the equinox has typically taken place on March 20 or 21. But in 2024, the equinox is scheduled for March 19 thanks to the leap year.

The most recent early spring took place in 2020.

Before then, the last time spring arrived this early was in 1896, 128 years ago, Director Jim Todd said.

The spring equinox, also known as the vernal equinox, marks the day that both the north and south poles on Earth are an equal distance from the sun, thanks to the planets annual orbit.

Man accused of selling stolen trailers on social media linked to 17 other missing units

But for Portlanders, the equinox may have felt even earlier. Todd said daytime can seem to linger a bit longer because the Earths atmosphere refracts sunlight.

In reality, March 16th is when day and night are both closest to 12 hours from Portland, Oregon, with sunrise at 7:18 a.m. and sunset at 7:19 p.m., Todd said. At the 45th latitude North, the time it takes for the sun to fully rise and set, which is several minutes, is added to the day and subtracted from the night, and therefore the equinox day lasts a little longer than 12 hours.

After the equinox, days will last longer than nights until the autumnal equinox on September 25.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
During recent fashion weeks in London, Milan and Paris, street-style photos showcased a common sight: brown jackets adorned with the iconic Carhartt square patch on the left side. Those in the front rows of top shows proudly flaunt their loyalty to this brand, irrespective of fashion tastes, age or gender. Influencers and celebrities like Jaden Smith, Kristen Stewart, Kaia Gerber and David Letterman champion their Carhartt pieces as wardrobe essentials, overshadowing pricier and more luxurious items with sheer coolness. Originating in the late 19th century as attire for railway workers and laborers, Carhartt has transcended its utilitarian roots to symbolize fashion-forwardness. Whats more intriguing is that despite its workwear origins, the brand has effortlessly morphed into a symbol of trendiness.

In 1889, Hamilton Carhartt established his firm in Detroit, the industrial hub of the United States until the mid-20th century. Starting with four sewing machines, five employees and a small electric motor, he embarked on crafting overalls for factory workers. The company faced initial challenges in standing out, prompting Hamilton to engage with railway workers to understand their needs. This led to the creation of the iconic stretch canvas overalls that have since become a staple in the wardrobes of American laborers, marking a pivotal moment in the companys path to success.

Two decades later, the company boasted six factories nationwide, along with warehouses in Canada and England. Offices in cities like Paris and New York solidified its global presence. Adapting during World Wars I and II, Carhartt pivoted to supply the U.S. Army by crafting jungle uniforms for Marines and attire for women who replaced men in the factories. Despite the challenges of the Great Depression, the company, under the stewardship of the founders descendants, successfully positioned itself as the premier brand for durable workwear.

In the 1980s, the Carhartt plot twisted when the brand captured the admiration of icons like Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and the Wu-Tang Clan. They were pioneers in embracing these dress codes as part of hip-hops legacy. Another plot twist happened over the past decade with the significant shift in the fashion industry. Kim Jones kickstarted the luxury streetwear revolution, prompting major fashion houses to either collaborate with popular brands or create their own unique interpretations. A notable example is the recent partnership between Louis Vuitton, under the creative direction of Pharell Williams, and Timberland, a brand historically associated with the working class. In his upcoming fall-winter collection, Williams combined iconic Timberland boots with jackets that pay homage to the timeless influence of Carhartt, showcasing a blend of high fashion and utility wear.

The Detroit brand has cultivated partnerships with renowned designers like Junya Watanabe, Marni and Sacai. Carhartt WIP, established in 1994 by Edwin Faeh, curates collections that fashion enthusiasts adore. While Carhartt focuses on crafting durable workwear, Carhartt WIP reimagines these classics for a broader audience. Their dual-brand strategy caters to streetwear aficionados, fashion followers, and those seeking practical, comfortable attire.





A Carhatt/Sacai design.

If jeans and wool hats once stole the show, its now the jackets that reign supreme. The Detroit model, distinguished by its tobacco-brown hue paired with chocolate corduroy lapels, steals the spotlight, even serving as a muse for luxury fashion. Renowned brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Miu Miu, Fendi, Valentino and even Zara have introduced jackets that could easily be mistaken for Carhartt originals.

Consumers will notice the difference in price tags. A Carhartt jacket may cost around $200, but a Prada spring-summer 2024 jacket will set you back $2,500. In the past, showcasing workwear on high fashion runways would have been unimaginable. Yet, the industrial era of today has influenced designers seeking fresh ways to express fashion cool.

Amid the fervent enthusiasm for the brand and its products, the demand for vintage and pre-owned Carhartt jackets has surged. A second-hand jacket can be just as exclusive  if not more so  than a brand-new one, whether its emblazoned with the Carhartt logo or that of a luxury brand like Louis Vuitton.
Dr. Gloria Villalba, a neurosurgeon at Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, had a rough night. Although the fatigue doesnt show much on her calm face or in her animated speech, a complex operation the day before had produced some unexpectedly poor results. Shes still reflecting on what might have gone awry, if anything. He was an elderly man with a malignant tumor in a tricky spot in the brain. The surgery went great  we managed to get rid of almost the whole tumor, but then when we were closing up, the neurophysiologist said the patient had lost movement on his left side. We were baffled. Complications can happen, we all know that, but when it happens to someone youre treating, its tough. You cant help but wonder if you missed something, replaying it all in your head... But everything was done right. Just bad luck. Still, I cant help but blame myself, said the 48-year-old doctor from Barcelona with over 5,000 brain surgeries under her belt.

Gloria Villalba. Vicens Gimenez

Villalba treats diseased brains and corrects malfunctioning neural circuits with precision. Saving lives daily, she maintains a strong and disciplined approach, pushing herself and others to excel in her profession. I wasnt always like this. They shaped me to survive in a tough world. If you dont have that grit, theyll eat you alive, said the neurosurgeon who has become an innovative leader in neuromodulation to treat mental disorders.

Daughter of migrants from Andalusia (southern Spain), Villalba was the first in her family to attend university. She instantly fell in love with neurosurgery, a field dominated by men with big egos. A woman who aims to become a neurosurgeon will have a tough time. Youve got to be super passionate about it. Theres this hidden machismo in the field  theyre constantly sizing you up. So be sure to make no mistakes, and think twice about makeup and heels. You have to prove yourself over and over again.

Villalba pours her whole life into her work, and decided early on not to marry or have children. Shes the first at the hospital and the last to leave. Villalba routinely reschedules vacations or puts them on hold to attend to patients. She hasnt turned off her phone in three years. Im obsessed with my work  I cant disconnect, you know? And I oddly enjoy being on call. Am I nuts? Who knows. Its super intense, but it keeps you grounded. Its tough when you have to break the news to a family about a death from a car crash. But its real life  we shouldnt forget that.

Forged in a hospital nestled between the sands of the Mediterranean and the Barceloneta neighborhood, she is no stranger to intense experiences. Specializing in neuro-oncology, she tackles malignant tumors and life-threatening aneurysms that could lead to severe brain hemorrhages if left untreated. She enjoys challenges, especially in neuromodulation. This includes procedures like deep brain stimulation, using implanted electrodes to modulate brain activity and treat neurological and psychiatric disorders. As a neurosurgeon, theres nothing more exciting to me than operating on a neural circuit thats causing a disease.

Gloria Villalba operates on a patient with a malignant brain tumor. Vicens Gimenez

Villalba seeks solutions for patients without other treatment options. Shes among the few neurosurgeons in the world who use deep brain stimulation for severe anorexia. A trial at her hospital with eight patients showed this technique improved depression, obsession and anxiety symptoms in half of them. My greatest fulfillment comes from helping people with no other options, she said. An expert in pain surgery, she is testing a brain modulation technique to help patients with neuropathic pain that have not responded to other treatments. By targeting a specific brain region, she reduces the pains intensity, making it more manageable.

Her mind never stops working. Shes delving into a pioneering trial on deep brain stimulation for cocaine addiction and developing ways to apply neuromodulation for coma patients. Were trying to see whether operating on a brain region linked to consciousness will enable coma patients to communicate with family. That would be amazing.

Villalba reaches for the sky and then returns to Earth every time she goes into an operating room. Every patient leaves a mark on her, and she shares in their suffering. The most challenging aspect of her profession, she reflects, is delivering heartbreaking news and feeling powerless to change the outcome. Villalba identifies as agnostic  having witnessed countless tragedies, her faith is anchored solely in science. Living is easier when you believe in something that gives you hope. But with all the hardship I see, its tough to imagine theres something out there that can really help us.

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Christian Rivera and Siria Lopez fled Honduras from gang violence with their children, Krissia Rivera and Diego Rivera and found a better life here in Memphis.

In Honduras, Christian Rivera and his family were comfortable. He owned a reasonably successful restaurant, and they lived in a nice house. He and his wife, Siria Lopez, could afford to send their children to a private Catholic school and take them on annual vacations in the United States.

But roughly five years ago, gang violence in Honduras forced them to leave their home and flee to America. They landed in Memphis, and the transition wasnt easy. Today, their lives are considerably different.

The family budget is tighter, at least for now. Rivera is no longer a restaurant owner; hes a licensed contractor working long, hard hours in the construction industry. Theyre seeking U.S. citizenship, but obtaining it is difficult. And they miss Honduras  a place they cant return to without facing grave danger.

My country is my country, Rivera said. Its your roots.  My whole body wants to go back.

But he and his family are also happy in the U.S., where theyre accustomed to life. Rivera is grateful to be away from the threat of gang violence. Hes grateful for the opportunities that have been made available to him. And hes grateful that Tennessees Education Savings Account program has allowed him and Lopez to send their children to Catholic schools, just as they did in Honduras.

More: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee visits Memphis Christian school to tout expanded voucher plan

They understand vouchers are controversial. But for the couple, which is devoted to their faith, providing their son and daughter with a Catholic education is important  and without the financial boost, paying for it would be challenging.

You register your children where you want them to study, Rivera said. If the state is giving me a chance to give them a better education, Ill take it.

Vouchers in Tennessee

In Tennessee, few issues are as politically divisive as vouchers, which have been championed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and many conservative members of the state legislature.

In 2022, the state implemented Lees ESA program, which offers 2,400 students in the Shelby, Davidson, and Hamilton counties about $9,000 in state funds to cover tuition and other expenses at private schools. Now, its also considering passing the Education Freedom Scholarship Act  a dramatic voucher expansion that would provide $7,075 in state funds to 20,000 students looking to attend a private or home school in the 2024-25 school year.

The proposal has been passionately denounced by public education leaders, who assert that vouchers weaken public schools while providing government funding to private schools that arent beholden to the same rigorous set of requirements.

Many families that have received vouchers, however, take a different view.

Its not that theyre against public schools. But many do feel that their children will receive a better education and more resources at a private one. Feedback for the first year of the ESA program was overwhelmingly positive, with 91% of parents who completed the Tennessee Department of Education's survey saying they were satisfied with their student's academic growth.

'I love it'

Whether immigrant families like the Riveras would be eligible for the proposed voucher expansion remains to be seen. The current version of the Education Freedom Scholarship Act in the Tennessee House of Representatives  which is still being discussed  requires students to be American citizens.

The ESA program which the Riveras are already benefiting from doesnt have this stipulation. And after everything his family has been through, it means a lot to Rivera that he can use the funds to send his children to Catholic schools.

His daughter, Krissia, is a freshman at St. Benedict at Auburndale High School. And his son, Diego, is a second grader at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School. Rivera is pleased with the education his children are receiving, and Krissia told The Commercial Appeal that she likes attending St. Benedict.

Krissia Rivera works on her school work at the table at her parents home on Friday, March 1, 2024 in Memphis, Tenn.

When they first moved to the U.S., she attended a public school, before shifting to Collegiate School of Memphis. Collegiate is a private, college preparatory school, and Krissia had been awarded a scholarship to attend it, thanks to her strong grades. But when her parents were accepted into the ESA program, they used the funds to shift her to St. Benedict.

For Krissia, this was initially a big adjustment. According to its 2022-23 data declaration, about 67.8% of the students at Collegiate are Hispanic. The school, Krissia noted, celebrated things like National Hispanic Heritage Month. About 30% of St. Benedict's students identify as a racial or ethnic minority, and Hispanic Heritage Month, she explained, isn't something it celebrated.

It was a culture shock, she said.

But Krissia maintained that shes felt welcomed at St. Benedict. Shes made friends and likes her teachers, who she said are always willing to spend extra time with students if they arent understanding something. She likes that the school offers an array of extracurricular activities and numerous AP courses. And she believes St. Benedict will help her move toward her long-term career goal, which is to become a dermatologist.

They support you, she said. If you want to go to that [college], they're going to help you get to that school. But you also need to put some effort in.

Education news: Marie Feagins will become MSCS superintendent April 1. Here's what she's doing until then

The Riveras arent the only ones who have used ESA funds to send their kids to local Catholic schools. Delisha Rushings two grandsons attend St. Francis using vouchers, and in an interview with The CA, she praised the school effusively.

They love to go to school. They are learning; they are serious about their homework, she said. Its just amazing. I love it.

For her and her family, the ESA program has been a blessing. Her daughter is a single parent, and the vouchers, Rushing explained, have been a tremendous help. She would also be thrilled if the state implemented the Education Freedom Scholarship Act because she believes it would allow other single parents, like her daughter, the chance to send their children to private schools. As she put it, she would be leaps and bounds for the program.

300 students

Rivera and Rushing represent the influx of family members who have used the ESA program to place students in the Catholic Diocese of Memphis school system.

According to Sondra Morris, St. Benedicts head of school, who oversees vouchers for the diocese, about 300 students are attending local Catholic schools through the ESA program. Roughly half of these students are attending three schools: St. Paul Catholic School, an elementary school in Whitehaven; Immaculate Conception Cathedral School, which offers a classical curriculum in Midtown; and St. Benedict.

The students arent always Catholic, either. Morris said that at St. Benedict, about half of the voucher recipients are Catholic.

Diego Rivera works on his school work at the table at her parents home on Friday, March 1, 2024 in Memphis, Tenn.

She acknowledged the ESA program has brought more families to us. But she emphasized that students receiving vouchers still must apply for admission and that outside of the administrative office, people arent aware of whos attending on ESA accounts or not.

She also believes that the Catholic school system can provide children and teenagers with a good education, citing small teacher-student ratios and the individual attention each student receives. She sees the concerns of public school leaders but doesnt think vouchers are detrimental.

In Memphis, we've got wonderful public schools and private schools, she said. And I think it's a huge benefit for parents to decide what's best for their family. For some, it might not be the same school, it might be different schools for different children It gives families a choice.

This choice point is one thats been made by Lee, as he presses for the Education Freedom Scholarship Act to be passed. While visiting Memphis-based New Hope Christian Academy in December, he said, To the degree that we can give parents the ability to make choices that they think are best for their kids, we win. He also emphasized that the proposed voucher expansion would have a different funding source than public school districts, which receive state money from the Tennessee Investment Student Achievement plan.

'The burdens are endless'

Still, both urban and suburban public school leaders remain staunchly opposed to the states voucher push.

Studies dont necessarily show students performing better after switching to private schools using vouchers. As Lakeland School System Superintendent Ted Horrell said in late November, There's not a lot of data that suggests that they do better in those circumstances.

In fact, TCAP test scores from the first group of ESA students showed that many of them performed worse than their public-school peers on the state assessment in the 2022-23 academic year  though private school administrators have said this doesnt offer a complete picture of student experience or improvement.

More: This Memphis area hospital is giving high schoolers an inside look at healthcare jobs. Here's how.

Horrell has also pointed out that private schools dont generally have to take the same assessments or follow the same regulations as public ones.

It seems like anyone taking public funds... should have to meet the same requirements that public school systems have to meet, he said.

Late last year, Germantown Municipal School Districts superintendent, Jason Manuel, blasted the proposal in a video, asserting that private schools dont have to follow the same rigorous requirements as public schools.

In my past 10 years as a superintendent, our legislature has passed hundreds of laws that are crushing the way that we run our schools, he said in the video. None of these laws will apply to the schools accepting this taxpayer money Will they be required to spend thousands of hours on state-mandated evaluation systems?  Will they be required to follow strict state standards and curriculum? The burdens are endless.

And in early December, Arlington Community Schools leaders issued a scathing statement, saying the proposed voucher expansion, if passed, will continue to siphon money from public schools to private schools who are beholden to no one.

Colliervilles town and school officials, meanwhile, have passed a joint resolution opposing the states proposed voucher expansion. And Noah Nordstrom, a Spanish teacher at Overton High School who is running for a seat in the Tennessee General Assembly, has emphasized that most students will still be attending public schools  and that those schools need more resources.

Are all of my students going to be able to take those vouchers and go to St. Marys? St. Georges? St. Agnes? No, he told The CA last month. Thats just the simple reality. No. Anyone who gets a good education, Im happy about that My issue is that every public school in Tennessee should be at that level. And thats doable. People think thats pie in the sky. Its not.

For parents like Rivera, however, the ESA program and vouchers remain important. He has friends in Texas and Colorado, who have suggested he and his family move to their state. They have no plans to do this.

I like Tennessee Im good here, he said. Right now, with the ESA, its putting more weight on the balance. If that program stays for 10 years, Ill be here 10 years. Theyre giving me a chance to give my children a better education.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: TN school vouchers: How a Memphis family says it changed their lives
Western governments came out on Monday to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin's landslide win in a vote they say was neither free nor fair, while China, Moscow's main ally amid increased international isolation, sent congratulations.

With all of the ballots counted, the electoral commission awarded Putin a landslide win of 87.28% of votes on Monday afternoon, a record result that observers say was only possible through force, repression and fraud.

Voter turnout was officially put at 77.44%.

It is the best result for the Kremlin leader, who has been in power for almost 25 years, in the five times that he has run for office.

International observers did not monitor the election across the vast country which reaches across 11 time zones. The vote which ended on Sunday was accompanied by numerous protests by thousands of his opponents.

The French government labelled the vote as yet another in the country held under fraught conditions.

"The conditions for a free, pluralistic and democratic election have once again not been met," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

International standards regarding equal access to the press for all candidates were not met, according to the statement.

The fact that candidates who clearly positioned themselves against Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine were not admitted significantly reduced the pluralistic character of the vote, the ministry said.

France also condemned the vote held in the Ukrainian territories illegally annexed by Russia. "The illegal organization of alleged 'elections' in the Ukrainian territories temporarily occupied by Russia constitutes a new violation of international law and the United Nations Charter."

France will never recognize these polls and their results, it said.

A government spokeswoman in Berlin also reiterated that the German government does not consider the vote to have been "neither free nor fair."

"In our opinion, it was not a democratic election, as no real opposing candidates were allowed," Christiane Hoffmann told journalists in Berlin.

The EU also condemned Russia's holding of "so-called 'elections'" in occupied territories in Ukraine, referring to the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Moscow in violation of international law back in 2014, as well as the mainland regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson.

"The European Union reiterates that it does not and will never recognize either the holding of these so-called 'elections' in the territories of Ukraine or their results," said the statement, issued by Josep Borrell, foreign affairs chief, on behalf of the EU.

The statement also said that "the shocking death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny in the run up to the elections is yet another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression."

In a sign of protest at the fraught vote, Western leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, did not congratulate Putin on his victory, unlike Chinese President Xi Jinping who swiftly held a phone call with the Kremlin leader on Monday.

Xi congratulated Putin and told him that he trusts that Russia will be able to achieve even greater success in the development and construction of the country under Putin's leadership, according to state television.

Earlier, Lin Jian, the new spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said that China and Russia are "strategic partners in the new era."

While Western countries are trying to isolate Moscow in light of Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, Beijing, outwardly neutral but backing Russia, remains the Kremlin's most important ally. Xi called Putin an "old friend" at a meeting last autumn.

Trade between Russia, which is affected by Western sanctions, and the world's second-largest economy is also flourishing.

Putin's re-election was considered a foregone conclusion, with no real opposition candidates on the ballot and widespread manipulation expected.

Election observers from the independent Russian organization Golos complained of unprecedented violations in the election.

The entire state apparatus had switched to propaganda, coercion and voter control, the organization said in a statement.

In addition, war censorship had been introduced with the help of fear-mongering and violence, it continued.

Especially on Sunday, the last day of the three-day vote, security forces penalized voters for "incorrectly" filling in ballot papers.

People were also forced to break the secrecy of the ballot. "There has never been anything like this in any election before," Golos said.

According to Golos, independent observers were not allowed into the polling stations and there was no access to CCTV footage.

In previous elections, footage published online showed widespread stuffing of ballot boxes with pre-filled ballot papers.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin speaks during an interview with Dmitry Kiselev. -/Kremlin/dpa
Vladimir Putin is set to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than 200 years (NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA)

Allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, including China and India, on Monday congratulated him on winning a fifth term in office but Western powers denounced the election as illegitimate, held under repressive conditions with no credible opposition.

Here is a roundup of the main reactions to a vote that officially saw the 71-year-old Putin win with 87.28 percent of votes according to the latest count:

- China: popular 'support' -

- Beijing congratulated Putin, saying that the countries were "strategic cooperative partners in the new era" and that the result "fully reflects the support of the Russian people", Chinese state media reported.

- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his "warm congratulations" to Putin, adding that he looked forward to developing their "special" relationship. Russia is India's biggest arms supplier.

- North Korea's Kim Jong Un said Russian voters showed their "unshakeable support and trust" in Putin, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

- US, Britain: 'undemocratic' -

Western powers rejected the elections as neither free nor fair.

"This was an incredibly undemocratic process," US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said, citing repression of the opposition and media.

Patel said Putin "is likely to remain the president of Russia, but that does not excuse him of his autocracy".

- British Foreign Minister David Cameron said that the holding of elections on occupied Ukrainian territory was "illegal". He added that the elections "starkly underline the depth of repression under President Putin's regime, which seeks to silence any opposition to his illegal war".

- Middle East allies -

Several Middle Eastern powers wished Putin well after the vote, just three months after he made a rare visit to the region.

- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated the Russian leader on his re-election and offered to mediate between Moscow and Ukraine, the Turkish presidency said.

"President Erdogan expressed his belief that the positive evolution of relations between Turkey and Russia were continuing and stated that Turkey was ready to play a facilitator role to return to the negotiating table with Ukraine," Erdogan's office said after a telephone call between the two leaders.

- Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi hailed Putin's "decisive victory", while Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wished him "success and prosperity".

- Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, each separately wished Putin "development and prosperity", and the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, also sent congratulations.

- African support -

Mali's military ruler Assimi Goita, who has embraced Russia after breaking ties with its former ally France, hailed Putin's victory.

"As a strategic and sincere partner of Mali, I reiterate our total friendship," Goita said on social media.

Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, son of the country's late longtime leader Idriss Deby, said in a Facebook post that the result was "proof of the Russian people's trust" in Putin.

Niger's military ruler General Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power from a pro-Western government in a July 2023 coup, congratulated Putin on his "resounding victory".

He said his country could count on Putin's "personal commitment" to aiding Niger in "regaining its sovereignty".

- Venezuela: 'bodes well' -

- In Latin America, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said: "Our older brother Vladimir Putin has triumphed, which bodes well for the world."

- Cuba's Miguel Diaz-Canel said that the official result was "a credible indication that the Russian population supports (Putin's) management of the country".

- Zelensky: 'evil' -

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the election as illegitimate.

"Everyone in the world understands that this person, like many others throughout history, has become sick with power and will stop at nothing to rule forever," he said.

"There is no evil he would not do to maintain his personal power."

- EU: 'repression' -

- European Union countries said in a joint statement that Russians had been denied a "real choice" after all candidates opposed to the war in Ukraine were excluded.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the vote was "based on repression and intimidation".

The 27-nation bloc did not, however, heed a call from the widow of leading Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny not to recognise Putin as the legitimate president of Russia.

Germany's foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock, said the vote "without choice" demonstrated "Putin's heinous behaviour against his own people".

France's foreign ministry said the conditions for a free election were not met, citing "increasing repression of civil society and all forms of opposition to the regime". It hailed the "courage" of Russians who demonstrated against the election conditions.

- Discord in Italy -

- Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the vote as "neither free nor fair".

He distanced himself from his coalition partner Matteo Salvini, who said in reaction to the election result: "When a people vote, they are always right."

burs/js/bc
Western leaders have lined up to condemn the sham election that has handed Vladimir Putin another six years in power  as an independent Russian vote monitoring group called it the most corrupt in the countrys history.

The Kremlin claimed that President Putin won more than 87 per cent of the vote, by far the biggest landslide in post-Soviet Russian history. That follows years of repression and a crackdown on dissent that has accelerated since Moscow invaded Ukraine two years ago and the whole election process being controlled. In claiming victory, Putin again sought to threaten the West against deploying troops to Ukraine, saying that a possible conflict between Russia and Nato would put the world a step away from a third world war.

The announcement last month that Putins fiercest critic, Alexei Navalny, was dead  with the opposition leader having spent his last few weeks in a brutal Arctic prison on charges that the international community have decried as trumped up  was the starkest example of the state of Putins Russia ahead of the election. World leaders laid the blame for Nanalnys death at Putins door, and his widow Yulia called Putin a killer, a gangster.

Other Navalny allies later accused Putin of being a bloodsucking bug who will soon burst after the Russian leader said his rivals name for the first time in public for the first time in years as he claimed victory

Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner, said Britains foreign secretary, David Cameron. This is not democracy.

Golos, an independent Russian watchdog, described the vote as the most fraudulent in Russian history. Branded a foreign agent in 2013, the organisation was barred from sending observers to polling stations. One of its leaders, Grigory Melkonyants, is in prison awaiting trial on what Golos says are politically motivated charges.

Never have we seen a presidential campaign so out of line with constitutional standards, the group said in a statement. The campaign was conducted in a situation where the foundational articles of the Russian constitution, which guarantee political rights and freedoms, were essentially not in effect.

Noting that Putin changed the constitution in 2020 to allow him to run well beyond the two-term limit, something he has now eclipsed twice, first in 2012 and again in 2024, Golos added: The basic constitutional safeguard against the usurpation of power has been dismantled.

These comments were echoed by the French, German and Polish foreign ministries, as well as by the European Union and several Baltic states. Calling Russia a dictatorship, a German government spokesperson said the chancellor, Olaf Scholz, would not congratulate Putin on his re-election in a vote viewed by Berlin as predetermined.

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Aleksei Navalny, outside the Russian embassy in Berlin after she voted in Russian elections on 17 March 2024 (Getty)

Lithuania, meanwhile, is set to be the first nation to formally refuse to recognise the results of the elections. The countrys foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, described the election as a reappointment lacking any legitimacy and that only three per cent of Russians who voted remotely from Lithuania signed for Putin.

The elections are obviously not free nor fair given how Mr Putin has imprisoned political opponents and prevented others from running against him, said John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson.

Having declared victory at his campaign headquarters on Sunday night, Putin said the country had a lot of tasks ahead, suggesting that Russia could try and set up a buffer zone inside Ukrainian territory. A senior Ukrainian official said on Monday that this was a clear indication Moscow planned to escalate its war. This is ... a direct manifest statement that the war will only escalate, presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters. The Kremlin leader did not provide details but said the buffer zone may have to be big enough to stop what he said were foreign-made weapons striking Russian territory.

Putin also hailed his Kremlin-controlled triumph at the polls as indicative of the trust and hope the country has in his leadership, a narrative the West has been eager to dispel. Putin spoke later on Monday at a large stadium event in Moscow to mark the 10th anniversary of Russias illegal annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, which started the path towards the current invasion. He offered more of the same war propaganda to the thousands gathered.

Ukraine has repeatedly struck at Russias Black Sea fleet  which is based in Crimea. Kyiv has damaged and sunk a number of warships in recent months and several other vessels have had to be moved.

Russian state media told its viewers that international congratulations were pouring in from foreign leaders around the world. In reality, though, the praise came only from a few countries.

Russia and China have become increasingly close during Xi Jinpings rule over China (via Reuters)

Chinese president Xi Jinping, who declared a limitless friendship with Putin just weeks before the invasion of Ukraine, said: Your re-election is a full demonstration of the support of the Russian people for you.

China attaches great importance to the development of China-Russia relations and stands ready to maintain close communication with Russia to promote the sustained, healthy, stable and in-depth development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Similar words of support came from North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi. Both countries are believed to be supplying weapons to Russia to be used against Ukraine. Some Central and South American leaders and presidents of nations with historic and close current ties to Russia also passed on their regards, such as Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Putin also received congratulations from both India and the UAE, nations with whom the Russian leader has sought good relations in recent years. Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, said on X/Twitter: Warm congratulations to H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation.

Given the threat of arrest for those who gathered in Russia to protest the vote, Navalnys associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to go to the polls at noon on Sunday  and lines outside several polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time. Navalnys associates suggested thousands heeded their call.

Among those was Navalnys widow Yulia, who spent more than five hours in the line at the Russian embassy in Berlin. She told reporters she had written her late husbands name on her ballot. Asked whether she had a message for her countrys president, Ms Navalnaya replied: Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr Putin.

Other allies of Navalny reacted with fury after Putin decided to name the opposition leader in public for the first time in years. Putin described the death as a sad event  despite being accused of his killing  before claiming that he had agreed to a prisoner swap just days before Navalnys death. That was likely to rub salt in the wounds of Navalnys family and supporters.

Putin called Navalny by name for the first time, a month after he cynically killed him, said Leonid Volkov, who was Navalnys chief of staff during his presidential run in 2018. The bloodsucking bug revels in its impunity. It will burst soon and that will be some splash.

Georgy Alburov, another member of Navalnys opposition movement, said: If every serial killer was given a press conference instead of a trial, this is what it would be like.
Western militaries aren't ready to fight wars of attrition like the Ukraine war, a former Army officer argues.

Great power conflict may not be quick and decisive and could boil down to attrition.

The war in Ukraine has shed light on what resources and preparations are needed to win.

There's a real possibility that a future great-power war might look a lot like Ukraine, and Western militaries aren't as ready as they should be for this kind of long, bloody fight, a former Army officer argued in a new article.

Though its hard to say when talking major powers with nuclear arsenals, great-power conflict could result in a protracted attritional kind of warfare. Western militaries haven't been preparing for that type of fighting, and it may need a change in strategy, resource management, and training.

"In attritional wars, military operations are shaped by a state's ability to replace losses and generate new formations, not tactical and operational manoeuvres," retired US Army lieutenant colonel Alex Vershinin explained in a Royal United Services Institute commentary, "The Attritional Art of War: Lessons from the Russian War on Ukraine," published Monday. Unlike maneuver warfare, which is aimed at quickly and violently defeating an enemy, the attritional fight takes time, maybe years.

"The side that accepts the attritional nature of war and focuses on destroying enemy forces rather than gaining terrain is most likely to win. The West is not prepared for this kind of war," he said.

Vershinin noted that Western militaries have long seen attritional conflicts as exceptions to be avoided at all costs in favor of the shorter, maneuver-focused clashes. Rather than a "decisive battle" through maneuver warfare, "attritional warfare focuses on destroying enemy forces and their ability to regenerate combat power, while preserving one's own," he wrote, noting that a successful attritional strategy "accepts that the war will last at least two years."

Between near-peer rivals, such as China and the US, victory in combat may be about who has the ability to replace losses and keep fighting. Stronger military powers are far more likely to have widely available resources and recruits, meaning fighting could drag on, similar to what's being seen in Ukraine, where the Russians are battling NATO-backed forces in Kyiv.

A Ukrainian soldier loads a machine gun inside a trench amid Russia and Ukraine war in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on August 17, 2023. Ignacio Marin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

On both sides of the war, firepower has proven vital, as has the ability to outgun and outlast, chipping away at enemy positions and maintaining pressure. After Ukraine initially fought off Russia's invasion of Kyiv in the early weeks of the full scale invasion, Western assistance packages largely helmed by the US gave it the ammunition it needed to both defend itself and attack Russian positions.

The rate of fire in Ukraine has been astonishing  Russian forces averaged 15,000 shells a day throughout 2022  and both sides have been burning through stockpiles. Both the West and Russia have ramped up production and industrial capacity to meet demand, and the war has since prompted the US Army to at least question how much ammunition it actually needs to fight future conflicts.

"Wars of attrition are won by economies enabling mass mobilization of militaries via their industrial sectors," Vershinin wrote in his RUSI commentary. "Armies expand rapidly during such a conflict, requiring massive quantities of armored vehicles, drones, electronic products, and other combat equipment."

Important, too, is the ability to strike deep into enemy territory, overwhelm defenses, and target its facilities and infrastructure. This aspect has been seen throughout the war in Ukraine as well, with both sides using a mix of long-range assets and drones to target energy hubs, civilian centers, and other key sectors with the purpose of damaging production and supply lines.

Ukrainian soldiers fire with the Archer Artillery System on Russian position on January 3, 2024, in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. Photo by Roman Chop/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

The war in Ukraine has also demonstrated the importance of being able to quickly replenish depleted forces, making up for high casualties on the battlefield.

Russia has been able to do this successfully, rebuilding manpower despite suffering high losses, upwards of over 300,000 casualties according to Western estimates. Ukraine currently faces a shortage of recruits, and its parliament is currently debating a bill intended to expand mobilization and enforce stricter draft rules.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been warning for months that the army faces a severe shortage of qualified troops on the front but has not been able to present a clear strategy for how to conscript or recruit the forces needed. The president's former top commander, Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, often argued for further mobilization.

According to Vershinin, Western forces could face personnel issues, as their NATO armies value professional and experienced non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and troops that, if taken out of battle, aren't easily replaceable.

"The most effective model" for an army, he wrote, is a balanced mixture of a NATO-style "medium-sized professional army" with a Soviet-style "mass of draftees available for mobilization."

Future large-scale conflicts could also look a lot like the battlefields in Ukraine in other ways, potentially riddled with challenging technologies like evolutions in electronic jamming and drones, as well as artillery, mines, and traditional infantry. This makes logistics and planning key, adding complexities to fighting.

Read the original article on Business Insider
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle.

Christina Applegate, Olivia Munn and Christie Brinkley spoke about their respective health issues this week. (Image via Getty Images)

Canadians love asking the big questions  especially when it comes to health. This week, some beloved celebrities shared updates on their health that had people across the country heading online for answers.

On Wednesday, actress Christina Applegate spoke to "Good Morning America" host Robin Roberts about living with multiple sclerosis (MS). The 52-year-old told Roberts that she "lives in hell" since being diagnosed with MS in 2021.

The interview coincided with March being MS Awareness Month, and prompted a 400 per cent spike in online searches for early MS symptoms for women.

What are some early symptoms of MS in women?

Christina Applegate spoke to "Good Morning America" about living with multiple sclerosis. (Image via Getty Images)

Applegate told Roberts that "six or seven years" before she was formally diagnosed with MS, her legs "would buckle."

"I really just kind of put it off as being tired. Or 'I'm dehydrated' or 'It's the weather,'" Applegate said. "And then nothing would happen for like, months. And I didn't pay attention."

MS is a disease that causes the immune system to attack the body's central nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve), damaging the fatty substance that protects and surrounds nerve fibres called myelin. Damaged or destroyed nerve fibres cause messages from the central nervous system to be disrupted or stopped completely.

According to the National MS Society, women are three times more likely to have MS than men. Although the cause of MS is unknown, studies suggest female hormones, vitamin D levels, inflammation and obesity could play a factor.

Early symptoms of MS can include, fatigue, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, muscle spasms or muscle stiffness, balance issues and dizziness, feeling like you need to urinate more frequently or having trouble emptying your bladder, problems with eye movement or painful eye movement, bowel problems, tremors, trouble speaking, trouble recalling words and other cognitive problems.

Although MS symptoms for men and women are the same, women may experience symptoms to be heightened or more difficult to navigate during periods when their hormones are fluctuating, such as menopause, menstruation or pregnancy.

What is Luminal B breast cancer?

This week, Olivia Munn announced that she was diagnosed with an "aggressive" form of breast cancer in April 2023 called Luminal B. The 43-year-old actress said she underwent a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery after cancer was detected in both of her breasts.

Munn's announcement coincided with a 4,800 per cent increase in Canadian web searches to learn more about the "fast growing" cancer.

Luminal B is a molecular subtype of breast cancer that uses estrogen to grow and may contain copies of HER2 gene, a protein that promotes growth. According to the U.S. National Cancer Institute, only 10 per cent of breast cancer cases are Luminal B, also called HR+/HER2 or Group 2.

Compared to Luminal A breast cancers, Luminal B tumours tend to be larger, lymph node positive (meaning cancer is to the axillary lymph node near the armpit) and can have a poorer prognosis. Symptoms of Luminal B breast cancer can include nipples, breast or nipple pain, swelling under the arm or near the collarbone, dimpling, red, dry or flaking skin on the breast.

Visit your doctor if you have concerns about your breast health or to discuss assessing your breast cancer risk and be sure to check your province's recommendations for referred mammograms.

What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer?

Christie Brinkley took to social media to encourage fans to wear sunscreen after revealing to followers that she was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer. The 70-year-old model said she felt a "dot" on her forehead whenever she applied foundation which turned out to be basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Brinkley's post led to a 950 per cent increase in signs and symptoms of skin cancer.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, BCC accounts for approximately 70 to 80 per cent of all skin cancers. Unlike melanoma, BCC begins in the lower part of the epidermis (basal layer) and can appear in many different forms. While melanoma typically begins as dark or asymmetrical moles, BCC and other forms of skin cancer can present in different ways: sores that bleed or won't heal, raised or scaly red patches, a growth that itches, pale white or yellow flat areas that look like scars, or a pink growth with raised edges.

When detected early, non-melanoma skin cancers have a high-survival rate and are considered treatable. However, when left untreated, BCC can spread to nearby areas of the body, such as cartilage and skin.

Skin cancer symptoms vary depending on the type of cancer. Melanoma often begins as an abnormal mole that may change shape or colour. The acronym ABCDE can help you know the signs and symptoms of skin cancer:

A for asy to the Canadian Cancer Society, BCC accounts for approximately 70 to 80 per cent of all skin cancers. Unlike melanoma, BCC begins in the lower part of the epidermis (basal layer) and can appear in many different forms. While melanoma typically begins as dark or asymmetrical moles, BCC and other forms of skin cancer can present in different ways: sores that bleed or wont heal, raised or scaly red patches, a growth that itches, pale white or yellow flat areas that look like scars, or a pink growth with raised edges.

B for border. An uneven, jagged or blurry border of the mole could be cause for concern.

C for colour. If a mole has different colours through out (tan, brown or black) or features other colours like blue, grey, red, pink or white, ask your doctor for an exam or biopsy.

D for diameter. If your mole is larger than 1/4 inch in size, it should be examined by a specialist.

E for evolving. If you notice the shape, size or colour of your mole change, or it suddenly becomes itchy or burns, visit your healthcare provider for an exam.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
FRAMINGHAM  The last chance to see a total solar eclipse in the United States for two decades takes place April 8.

A total solar eclipse  which occurs when the moon moves directly in the path of the sun, blocking light coming from it and appearing to cover it entirely  is a rare astronomical event. The last solar eclipse visible from the U.S. happened in 2017, but the next one expected to be visible within the contiguous United States doesn't occur until 2044.

"A solar eclipse happens when the path of the moon passes in front of the sun as viewed from Earth," said Kristin Chon, an assistant professor of astronomy at Framingham State University. "That leads to a shadow falling on Earth, producing a thin line across the Earth, causing a total eclipse for anyone viewing from right in that line."

Lucy Sisto, then 11, of Millis, looks up to the sky to view the August 2017 solar eclipse at Sharon's Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary.

'Most accessible': Here's why the 2024 total eclipse will be bigger and better

Unlike the 2017 eclipse, next month's event is expected to be visible throughout New England. While the "path of totality"  the strip of the U.S. that will experience a total eclipse  lies a few hours north of MetroWest, experts believe that even here, residents will be able to witness about 90% of the sun being blocked by the moon.

"In Framingham, we will have about 93% of the sun being obscured, although that 7% of the sun is still going to provide a lot of light," Chon said. "If you are not paying attention at the right time, you won't notice it, but you will still be able to see something in MetroWest."

The April 8 eclipse will only last for a few minutes, and is expected to begin near MetroWest at about 3:25 p.m.

How can I see the eclipse?

As long as you have a clear view of the sun, you should be able to see the eclipse as it happens.

"You really just need a clear view of the sun  you don't need to be anywhere special to be able to appreciate it," Chon said. "I recommend making sure the day before that wherever you plan on looking, you have a clear view of the sun from that spot at that time."

Of course, if the weather doesn't cooperate, and conditions are cloudy or overcast, you won't be able to see much, she added.

Where to find special glasses needed for viewing the eclipse

If you are planning to look directly at the eclipse, you will need to have a pair of glasses to avoid potentially suffering damage to your retinas, a condition known as solar retinopathy.

There are special glasses that only let in a very small percentage of light. They can be purchased from a variety of places both online and in person in the weeks and days leading up to the eclipse. However, purchasers should be on the lookout for fake glasses that will not perform the task of the real ones, a trend that emerged during the 2017 eclipse.

The American Astronomical Society has a list online of reputable glasses retailers. Options include purchasing glasses online at daystarfilters.com, eclipseglasses.com or rainbowsymphony.com. Retail chains, including Staples, Lowe's and Walmart also carry eclipse-viewing glasses.

Local places where you can view the eclipse

Because the eclipse can be viewed from anywhere that offers a clear view of the sun, there's not really a place in MetroWest that's better than any other. But large parking lots, open fields and backyards are all options for anyone looking to get a glimpse.

The Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University is hosting an eclipse viewing party on April 8. The Worcester Ecotarium is also hosting a viewing party, as well as offering free admission that day.

Where to go to witness a total eclipse

Because views of the total eclipse can be achieved less than 200 miles north of MetroWest, many locals will be tempted to make the drive to Northern New England. The path of totality starts in Northern Maine, near Presque Isle, then heads southwest through northern New Hampshire and into Vermont.

There are places in Northern New England holding special events for the occasion. Burlington, Vermont, will host numerous events throughout the weekend leading up to the eclipse (which occurs on a Monday). Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine, and Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley, Maine, are also hosting events.

Major cities throughout the U.S. and Canada that are in the path of totality include Montreal, Buffalo, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: How and where to see the solar eclipse in MetroWest on April 8
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.
KYODO NEWS - Mar 18, 2024 - 13:42 | All, World, Japan

North Korea launched three ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Monday that likely fell outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone, prompting Tokyo to lodge a stern protest, the Japanese government said.

Pyongyang fired two missiles around 7:44 a.m. and one about 8:21 a.m., with each flying around 350 kilometers at a maximum altitude of about 50 km, the Defense Ministry said. The last ballistic missile launch by North Korea on Jan. 14 involved an intermediate-range missile.

"Japan strongly condemns the latest ballistic missile launches, which violate relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a parliamentary session later in the day.

"North Korea's series of actions threaten the peace and security of our country, our region, and the international community and they are totally unacceptable," Kishida said.

Kishida said there were no reports of damage to Japanese vessels or aircraft following the launches.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Yukiya Hamamoto, deputy assistant minister of the ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, held phone talks with his U.S. and South Korean counterparts Jung Pak and Lee Jun Il to reaffirm the three countries' cooperation following the missile launches.

The South Korean military said that ballistic missiles were fired from near Pyongyang and they appeared to be short-range.

The launches came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul for a multilateral conference hosted by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on advancing democracy.

South Korea and the United States on Thursday wrapped up a large annual military exercise that was aimed at neutralizing Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats using forces of the land, sea, air, cyber and space domains.

Related coverage:

North Korean missiles fired by Russia "low" quality: Ukraine official

North Korea's Kim guides artillery firing drill involving border units

North Korea's Kim visits major army base amid U.S.-South Korea exercise
KYODO NEWS - Mar 18, 2024 - 15:07 | All, Japan

The Japanese Society of Gender Identity Disorder, a body promoting transgender studies, has decided to drop "disorder" from its name based on the latest understanding of people with gender identities differing from those assigned at birth.

The change, announced Sunday at its general meeting, is in line with the World Health Organization's recent advice to use the term "gender incongruence" instead of "gender disorder." The society's new English name is yet to be formally decided.

Speaking to reporters in Okinawa Prefecture after the meeting, Mikiya Nakatsuka, president of the society and a professor at Okayama University's graduate school, expressed hope that the name change would help increase public awareness of transgender people.

"Without a societal change, the hardships faced by transgender people will persist," Nakatsuka said.

The WHO stopped using "gender identity disorder" from its 2022 international diagnostic manual and treated the issue under its sexual health chapter rather than as a mental disorder.

The society has used gender identity disorder in its name since its establishment in 1999 as a research group, but it proposed a name change to its members amid the international shift, which also included the American Psychiatric Association replacing the term with "gender dysphoria" in 2013.

Related coverage:

China's sexual minorities suffering violence in "conversion therapy"

Japan firm nixes translation of U.S. book questioning trans surgery
KYODO NEWS - Mar 18, 2024 - 20:28 | World, All, Japan

A Chinese professor at a western Japan university has gone missing after visiting his homeland last summer, the college said Monday, sparking fears that he has been detained by Chinese authorities.

Hu Shiyun, a professor at Kobe Gakuin University, became unreachable after arriving in China following the end of summer school courses in August last year. Hu's family told the university in late September that they had not heard from him, the school said.

Earlier this month, the university asked the Chinese Consulate General in Osaka whether Hu is safe in China, but has not yet received a response to its inquiry.

His disappearance has come to light as Beijing strengthens its efforts to safeguard national security, leading to a number of people, including foreign nationals, being detained on suspicion of engaging in spying activities.

Hu was in charge of Chinese language courses at the university's faculty of global communication and formerly headed the section. Substitute teachers have been filling in for the professor since he went missing, according to the university.

In 2013, Zhu Jianrong, a Chinese professor at Toyo Gakuen University in Tokyo, went missing after arriving in his hometown of Shanghai and was reunited with his family in Japan about half a year later. Zhu is believed to have been under investigation for alleged espionage.

In 2019, Yuan Keqin, a Chinese professor at Hokkaido University of Education, was detained in China on suspicion of espionage and was later formally indicted.

Related coverage:

H.K. activist Agnes Chow recalls prison experience in online video
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Supreme High Command, where he received detailed reports from the front, as well as on the situation in the main areas of active operations, the president wrote on Telegram on March 18.

(We) got reports on the expenditure and supply of ammunition, intelligence data, the President said.

We also reviewed the status of the implementation of contracts and contracts for future periods: the purchase and production of equipment, weapons, and shells.

Read also: Zelenskyy to convene Staff meeting to decide fate of Zaluzhnyi, rumored to be on the rocks  Butusov

Zelenskyy also listened to reports on the implementation of previous decisions of the Supreme High Command. In particular, regarding the protection of critical infrastructure objects: energy, water, and gas supply.

The head of state heard from Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, the heads of Naftogaz and UkrEnergo, Oleksiy Chernyshov and Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, respectively.

Read also: Ukraines strategy to produce over 1 million drones in 2024

Additionally, during the briefing, they discussed the continuation of defensive lines construction. Reports were heard from Shmyhal and the head of the Ministry of Defenses special transport service, Bohdan Bondar.

Earlier, Zelenskyy stated that three defense lines are being built in Ukraine along the entire frontline and on the border with Belarus.

Read also: Construction of Ukraine's sprawling 2,000-km defensive network proceeding apace, Zelenskyy says

On March 3, the head of the Zaporizhzhya Regional State Administration Ivan Fedorov announced that, at the presidents instruction, the Cabinet of Ministers had allocated a record-breaking over 1.3 billion hryvnias ($33 million) for the construction of fortifications in the Zaporizhzhya direction.

On Feb. 13, Denys Shmyhal mentioned that the Cabinet of Ministers had already allocated 20 billion hryvnias ($513 million) for fortifications in 2024.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine




A BYD Yuan Pro vehicle is displayed during the 20th Changchun International Auto Expo in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, July 20, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Linyun)

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Sales of Chinese-brand passenger vehicles soared 26.7 percent year on year in the first two months of 2024, industry data showed.

About 2.07 million such vehicles were sold during the period, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

The market share of domestic-brand passenger vehicles rose 7.6 percentage points year on year to 59.9 percent during the period.

In February alone, some 791,000 such vehicles were sold, with the market share up 6.5 percentage points year on year to 59.4 percent. 
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that he has invited Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to join the Global Peace Summit.

Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram

Quote from Zelenskyy: "I had a phone conversation with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. I congratulated him on his election victory and expressed hope for the continuation of mutually beneficial bilateral relations."

Details: Zelenskyy also reiterated that he presented the Ukrainian Peace Formula in Indonesia in 2022.

"Now we are preparing the inaugural peace summit, and Indonesia's participation in it is fundamentally important for us. I have invited them to join the summit and implement the points on food and nuclear security, as well as the exchange of prisoners of war," the President of Ukraine concluded.

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The 5,000-year-old Otzi the Iceman mummy had 61 tattoos preserved on his body, and nobody knows the method by which they got there.

A new research study experimented with differing tattoo tools and methods to get us closer to understanding Otzis ink.

It appears Otzis tattoos were made by using either a piece of bone or copper awl.

Otzi the Iceman didnt have a full tattoo sleeve, but he may have been well on his way before meeting his death in the Italian Alps over 5,000 years ago. Its those 61 tattoosor tattoo-like markson Otzi that apparently have both researchers and tattoo artists intrigued enough to start tattooing themselves, hoping to find just how Otzi got his ink.

Theres been a series of guesses floating about regarding just what made the tattoo marks on Otzis wrist, legs, back, and abdomen ever since he was uncovered by hikers in 1991, but theres really been no scientific evidence to back them up. Thats why Aaron Deter-Wolf of the Tennessee Division of Archaeology partnered with New Zealand tattoo artists Danny Riday to test out the methods. They published a study on their findings in the European Journal of Archaeology.

The team tattooed Riday using eight different tools and four tattooing techniques in the same exact designs as found on Otzi. They chronicled the way the wounds healed, the lines of the ink, and the way the tattoos aged, and compared Ridays tattoos with those of Otzi to find the closest match.

We ultimately proposed that Otzis tattoos were made by puncture, likely using either a bone of copper awl, Deter-Wolf told ScienceAlert. Those types of artifacts appear in the archaeological record of the region, but none have ever been identified as tattooing tools. We hope this paper will inspire archaeologists to reassess how artifacts may have been used, and maybe discover actual Copper Age tattooing tools.

Tools were the first key in the experimentanimal bones, obsidian, copper, boar tusk, and a modern steel needle were all part of the process. All tools in the experiment were crafted using traditional or pre-electric technologies, when possible, the authors wrote when discussing the study, to ensure continuity with archaeological materials. Techniques included hand-tapping, hand-poking, incision, and subdermal tattooing, the last of which requires a bone to puncture the skin twice.

The finding that hand-poking with either animal bone or a copper awl is the most likely method used differs from early theory that gained traction in the mainstream discussion of Otzithat the tattoo-like markings were created by an incision getting filled with plant matter that was then set on fire.

Popular discussions of the Iceman describe his tattoos as having been made by incision, first cutting the skin, and then rubbing in pigment from the surface, the authors wrote.

The team found that the Otzi tattoos were not only a hand-poked method with a single-pointed tool, but probably not made using the incision technique popularly discussed, based on matching the wounds, line widths, and ink diffusion.

Theres absolutely no proof of that, and over time the bit about fire got left behind, but the idea of their being incised persisted, Deter-Wolf told ScienceAlert. Most of the archaeologists who have discussed Otzis tattoos in recent years are upfront that we dont know how they were made, but the idea still appears in just about every popular media discussion.



Each tattoo pattern was executed with a single tool type and technique, and featured both commercial black tattoo ink and a soot-based ink harvested from burning kauri tree resin mixed with powdered charcoal, alcohol, and coconut oil in order to examine possible variations between natural and commercially produced tattoo pigment.

Our findings reveal that there are discernible variations in tattoos created using different tools and techniques, the team wrote. This data may be applied to the study of preserved remains from archaeological and museum collections, as well as to analysis of historical imagery and traditions, to illuminate previously unknown aspects of the associated cultures.



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Qualcomm is adding a new top-tier mobile chipset to its portfolio  one that takes the best bits of its flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 silicon, makes some concessions, and serves it all up in a more affordable package. The result of those efforts is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which is slated to appear inside phones from Xiaomi and Honor in the coming month.

Qualcomm is once again pushing generative AI capabilities for its latest silicon, touting features like image expansion, support for AI models from the likes of Meta to create an intelligent on-device assistant, and readiness for Googles Gemini Nano model. So far, these things have remained exclusive to Googles Pixel and Samsung flagships, but it appears that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 will finally bring them to a larger audience.

It will support multimodal AI models, like OpenAIs GPT-4, with an on-device approach. Other notable niceties include text-to-image generation, HDR gaming on smartphones, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and low-latency CD-quality Bluetooth streaming.

Qualcomm

Based on the 4nm process, the latest from Qualcomm is not exactly a new strategy, but certainly a welcome one. The company has delivered similar products over the past few years as well, bringing flagship chops to phones at a lower asking price. On the surface, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is a fairly powerful package on its own, but there are a handful of crucial differences.

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 embraces Arms latest Cortex-X4 cores, but goes with a less powerful 1+4+3 core distribution. Its more powerful sibling packs in faster higher -erformance cores in the following format:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 1x prime core at 3.0 GHz 1x prime core at 3.4 GHz 4x performance cores at 2.8 GHz 5x performance cores at 3.2 GHz 3x efficiency cores at 2.0 GHz 2x efficiency cores at 2.3 GHz

The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 offers support for up to 24GB of LP-DDR5x RAM, but of the slower 4200MHz variety, instead of the 4800 MHz RAM modules that its more powerful sibling can handle. Qualcomm is also using the X70 5G modem on its latest silicon, offering it a peak downlink speed of 5Gbps, half that of the X75 modem served with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 phones.

Imaging capabilities are shared across the two, thanks to the triple 18-bit ISP that enables features such as 4K HDR capture at up to 60 frames per second (fps) and 200-megapixel photos. However, some of the flagship, features such as 8K HDR video recording, slow-motion videos at 960 fps, and Night Vision 4K video capture at 60 fps, are missing from the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip.

Another notable difference is the absence of Truepic photo verification with a Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) certification. In a nutshell, its a tech developed by Truepic that saves original image data and authenticates its originality, which is quite important in the age of hyperrealistic generative AI content. Truepics tech is built atop the C2PA standard that has backing from Google, Microsoft, and Adobe, among others.

Qualcomm

Gaming enthusiasts will be glad to know that the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing. However, unlike its flagship variant, this one doesnt support Global Illumination offered by Unreal Engine 5. Global illumination is a more advanced form of ray tracing that takes into account indirect light paths, providing a more realistic visual landscape in games.

Its an exciting development, especially because competitive brands like iQoo, Realme, Honor, and Xiaomi are developing phones based on Qualcomms Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 silicon. I wont call it a sub-flagship, but the pricing strategy of the upcoming slate of phones will certainly make flagships sound less exciting.
The Marco Polo sheep, native to Central Asia, is the largest species of sheep in the world, which makes it a tantalizing target for trophy hunters.

For nearly a decade, Montana ranchers illegally developed hybrid sheep, created with Marco Polo sheep DNA, to create animals for shooting reserves and game ranches in Texas.

On Tuesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that on of the ranchers pleaded guilty to two counts of felony wildlife crimes, with each count carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

For nearly 800 years, Ovis ammon poliiknown commonly as the Marco Polo sheephas fascinated the western world. Named after the world-famous explorer who was the first European to describe the sheep in the 13th century, this subspecies of argali sheep calls the mountainous Pamir region of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan) its home. It is the largest wild sheep species in the world, standing nearly four feet tall, weighing nearly 300 pounds, and growing massive horns that can be as long as 6 feet and weigh upwards of 60 pounds.

Unfortunately, this animals impressive stature also makes it a prime target for hunting, and some will pay upwards of $40,000 for the opportunity . Sadly, the desire to hunt this majestic animal has reached a breaking point this week, as the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) detailed an absolutely bonkers scheme to create giant hybrid sheep in the U.S. using genetic material extracted from illegally imported Marco Polo sheep.

The goal of this macabre scheme? To create a kind of Frankensheepusing cloning, hybridization, and artificial inseminationto ultimately sell to captive hunting operations (whether shooting preserves or game ranches), most of which reside in Texas.

For nearly a decade, Montana rancher Arthur Jack Schubarth, along with five other accomplices, committed several violations of the Lacey Act. First passed back in 1900, the act combats the illegal trafficking of wild animals. On Tuesday, Schubarth pleaded guilty to two felony wildlife crimeseach count carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.

This was an audacious scheme to create massive hybrid sheep species to be sold and hunted as trophies, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) said in a DOJ press statement. In pursuit of this scheme, Schubarth violated international law and the Lacey Act, both of which protect the viability and health of native populations of animals.

Unable to acquire living Marco Polo argali sheep due to their transparent size, Schubarth instead illegally imported parts of an Ovis ammon polii, extracted its genetic material, and created cloned embryos in a laboratory. After implanting the embryos into ewes on his 215-acre alternative livestock ranch, Schubarth finally got his hands on a pure genetic Marco Polo argali, according to the DOJ.

Named Montana Mountain King, or MMK, this argali outweighed even the beefiest of Marco Polo sheep, the Telegraph reports . MMKs semen was used to impregnate other species of ewes to create hybrid specimens. Schubarths actions not only violated the international protections of the Marco Polo argali, as stipulated by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, but also ran afoul of the U.S. Endangered Species Act and Montanas own laws designed to protect native sheep from disease and hybridization.

Montana Mountain King is now in the custody of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and as part of the plea deal, animals containing MMK DNA will be quarantined and possibly neutered. So, the best way to see these magnificent animals will require following in the footsteps of Marco Polo and glimpsing them in their native habitat.

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By Andrew Chung and John Kruzel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Supreme Court justices on Monday appeared skeptical of a challenge on free speech grounds to how President Joe Biden's administration encouraged social media platforms to remove posts that federal officials deemed misinformation, including about elections and COVID-19.

The justices heard oral arguments in the administration's appeal of a lower court's preliminary injunction constraining how White House and certain other federal officials communicate with social media platforms.

The Republican-led states of Missouri and Louisiana, along with five individual social media users, sued the administration. They argued that the government's actions violated the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment free speech rights of users whose posts were removed from platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, now called X.

The case tests whether the administration crossed the line from mere communication and persuasion to strong arming or coercing platforms - sometimes called "jawboning" - to unlawfully censor disfavored speech, as lower courts found.

Biden's administration has argued that officials sought to mitigate the hazards of online misinformation, including false information about vaccines during the pandemic that they said was causing preventable deaths, by alerting social media companies to content that violated the platforms' own policies.

Justice Department lawyer Brian Fletcher told the justices that the government may not use coercive threats to suppress speech, but it is "entitled to speak for itself" by informing, persuading or criticizing private speakers.

The plaintiffs have argued that platforms suppressed conservative-leaning speech, which they attribute to government coercion, a form of state action barred by the First Amendment.

Questions posed by some of the justices focused on whether the plaintiffs had proper legal standing to sue, and how the government had caused harm.

Conservative Justice John Roberts told Benjamin Aguinaga, Louisiana's solicitor general, that the government is "not monolithic" and when the government applies pressure, a platform or media outlet "have people they go to, probably in the government, to say, 'Hey, they're trying to get me to do this,' and that person may disagree with what the government's trying to do."

Roberts added: "That has to dilute the concept of coercion significantly, doesn't it?"

Conservative Justice Samuel Alito expressed alarm at the pressure administration officials applied to social media platforms to target misinformation, treating them as "subordinates," demanding answers, exhorting them to be "partners," and "cursing them out" when dissatisfied.

"I cannot imagine federal officials taking that approach to the print media," Alito said.

Fletcher noted that the context was "a time when thousands of Americans were still dying every week, and there was a hope that getting everyone vaccinated could stop the pandemic. And there was a concern that Americans were getting their news about the vaccine from these platforms, and the platforms were promoting - not just posting, but promoting - bad information."

"I know the objectives were good," Alito responded, but said he doubted the federal government treated print media the same way.

Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested such interactions might not be unusual. There are "press people throughout the federal government who regularly call up the media and berate them," Kavanaugh said.

Fletcher said the challengers in the case lacked the proper legal standing to bring the lawsuit in the first place "because they have not shown an imminent threat that the government will cause a platform to moderate their posts in particular."

Aguinaga said the administration's actions were "not using the bully pulpit at all. That's just being a bully."

Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson described a hypothetical scenario in which social media platforms allowed posts challenging children to jump out of windows at increasingly heights, with serious injuries and deaths resulting.

"Is it your view that the government authorities could not declare those circumstances a public emergency and encourage social media platforms to take down the information that is instigating this problem?" Jackson asked Aguinaga.

Government officials could call the platforms to say it is a problem, Aguinaga responded. But the moment that the government presses them to take down the posts, "that is when you are interfering with third-party speech rights," Aguinaga added.

The justices in February heard arguments in another social media case over whether to uphold laws passed in Texas and Florida that would restrict the content moderation practices of platforms.

In the case argued on Monday, the plaintiffs sued officials and agencies across the federal government, including in the White House, FBI, surgeon general's office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Louisiana-based U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty issued a preliminary injunction in July 2023 that barred an array of government officials from communicating with platforms regarding content moderation, such as urging the deletion of certain posts.

The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently narrowed that order. The Supreme Court put the injunction on hold pending the review of the case by the justices.

The Supreme Court's ruling is expected by the end of June.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung and John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham)
Lorena Miranda gathers some of the children she looks after around the table at Nanis Child Care, in Yakima on Monday, March 14, 2022.
More than 100 people from as close as Yakima and as far as Berlin gathered in White Swan on Saturday to usher in the Mexika New Year.

Vendors, onlookers, musicians and dancers met at the White Swan Pavilion, where the celebration and ceremonies started at 8 p.m. The event was organized by the Seattle-based Ceatl Tonalli dance group, which also celebrated it's 20 year anniversary.

The Mexika New Year, also known as the Aztec New Year, is a night-long affair, with the latter part of the ceremony spilling into the next morning.

Dance groups from across the country including Oregon, Pennsylvania and New Mexico, traveled to White Swan for the event.
Spanish travel agencies also applaud China's visa-free policy, which is seen as an incentive to revive the tourism sectors in China and Europe.

BARCELONA, Spain, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Professionals in Spain's travel industry are delighted about China's ongoing return to be a major tourist destination for Spanish tourists.

At the B-Travel tourism fair, which opened on Friday and closed on Sunday in Spain's Barcelona, exhibitors showcased diverse tourism products and packages to promote traveling in China.

"Our tour operators and travel agents are developing products and packages ... China has always been an important destination for Spanish tourists," Marti Sarrate, president of B-Travel and Spain's Corporate Association of Specialized Travel Agencies, told Xinhua at the fair.

After the pandemic, "we're very happy that it (China) has reactivated because it represents a significant level of quality tourism and more Spaniards are now visiting China," he added.

A tourist takes photos in a lavender field in Brihuega, Spain, July 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

Spanish travel agencies also applaud China's visa-free policy, which is seen as an incentive to revive the tourism sectors in China and Europe. China applied a visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from five European countries in December, including Spain. Later in January and starting from March 14, China added eight more European countries in total to its visa-free policy list on a trial basis.

Aspasia Travel, which organizes a 15-day guided tour in China that includes visits to Chinese cities like Beijing, Xi'an, Kunming and Shanghai, said China's decision to exempt Spaniards with ordinary passports from requiring a visa helps them to sell their package holiday to the country.

"Right now we are making an effort to put China back on people's radar and we have to incentivize them to go there, and something that helps with incentive is the situation with visa-free travel," Aspasia Travel Director Adonis Rahmouni told Xinhua.

Photo taken on Jan. 20, 2021 shows an empty dining area near the Montserrat Monastery in Montserrat, Spain. The monastery used to be a well noted tourist attraction in Catalonia, but few tourists are seen here since the COVID-19 outbreak. (Photo by Joan Gosa/Xinhua)

According to Spain's tourism agency Turespana, over 60 percent of direct flights linking China and Spain before the pandemic have been restored. From March 31, Air China will have daily flights between Barcelona and Beijing while Cathay Pacific plans to restore direct flights to Hong Kong from Barcelona in June.

According to data from the Spanish Statistical Office, over 380,000 people visited Spain from China last year. However, the figure is well below the level before the pandemic, when more than 700,000 Chinese tourists visited Spain in 2019.

"Chinese tourism is important for our region and is now in the process of returning to Spain, including Andalusia, Malaga and Costa del Sol," said Jorge Martin, the president of the Axarquia-Costa del Sol town coalition, which is located in the southern region of Andalusia, one of Spain's most popular tourist destinations.

A tourist takes a photo in the old city of Toledo, Spain, Sept. 22, 2020. Tourism in Toledo has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) 
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Budapest is a republic ruled by Budapest citizens, Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsoy said on Friday, marking the anniversary of the 1848-49 revolution and freedom fight.

At the event held together with NGOs and student organisations at Elizabeth Bridge in downtown Budapest, Karacsony said Budapest is giving refuge to the concept of republic.



The phrase Republic Budapest did not mean the city was turning its back on the rest of the country, he said.



Speaking about the upcoming local elections in June, Karacsony said many Hungarians were unhappy with the government, but many were unhappy with the opposition, too.



Local elections were about local communities, not parties, he added. Budapest citizens will have an easy choice, because all the government has for them is a declaration of war, he said.



Budapest is a host to the values the government built its politics on rejecting. He called on all Budapest citizens to vote on June 9, and pledged to continue a positive politics focusing on health-care: healthy streets, healthy housing and healthy air.



He said the country was run as a company limited rather than a republic. The republic is still present in NGOs, civil rights movements that stand up for important issues, and local authorities wanting to serve and not rule, the mayor said.



Meanwhile, Karacsony said the government had abandoned people in hopeless situation, such as teachers, students, the poor and the homeless. The regime has busted itself and is now teetering on the edge of ruin, he said. At the same time, he warned that Hungary is not yet Russia but is getting closer every minute.



Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, sent her greetings in a video message and said democratic Hungary had allies in the more than 10 million Russians who wanted to live in a democratic and free country.



We are behind you in your fight for your country. Be brave, she said. Representatives of student organisations Adom, Fridays for Future and United Student Front also spoke at the event. Several opposition politicians were in the crowd.



Opposition Parties Mark Anniversary of 1848 Revolution

In a shared homeland the laws apply to everybody, while burdens and responsibilities are also shared; it is that common homeland that the incumbent regime has stripped us of, Klara Dobrev, MEP of the opposition Democratic Coalition (DK), said in her speech marking the March 15 national holiday and broadcast online on Friday.



The leaflets that upturned Hungary 176 years ago carried the words equality, freedom, brotherhood and showed the world what the Hungarian nation wanted  and we cannot be a nation with a homeland unless the same rules apply to everybody and nobody is above the law, Dobrev said.



Agnes Kunhalmi, co-leader of the Socialist Party, spoke at a commemoration held at the monument of revolutionary poet Sandor Petofi in central Budapest. In her speech, she said rebuilding the faith in democracy and the rule of law was of paramount importance.



Todays fight must be fought against an authoritarian regime dividing the country from within, she said.



Living in a civil democracy is not enough; freedom, equal rights, as well as welfare and employee rights and a radical reduction of the gaps in society are also needed, she said.



Erzsebet Schmuck, co-leader of the LMP party, said in a video message that the heroes of the revolution and war of independence should be in the focus of commemorations.



There are some that think this is the day to oust the ruling elite, she said, and called for a proper way to pay tribute to those that fought for Hungarys independence, those that sparked the wave of revolutions in Europe.



Marton Gyongyosi, the head of conservative Jobbik, said at his partys commemoration that changes today could be achieved through peaceful means, by going to vote.



Hungarians of today will have an opportunity to demonstrate that they are a European, freedom-loving people at the polls on June 9, he said.



Meanwhile, Ruling Parties Nominate Szentkiralyi as Budapest Mayoral Candidate

The ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance has named Alexandra Szentkiralyi, a government spokesperson, as their candidate for Budapest mayor in the upcoming municipal election.



Zsolt Lang, the head of Fideszs Budapest chapter, accused the incumbent leadership of having driven the city to bankruptcy and called for change.



Under Szentkiralyis leadership the city could gain new momentum and develop again, Lang said.



LMP: Vitezy Mayorship Solution to Budapests 'Intellectual Civil War'

Opposition LMP has voiced its support for a run for Budapest mayor by David Vitezy, a former state secretary for transport, saying his election would free Budapest from its intellectual civil war.



Mate Kanasz-Nagy, the partys deputy group leader, told a press conference on Saturday that over the past years, Budapest had become a political battleground, adding that the identities of the two mayoral candidates  incumbent mayor Gergely Karacsony and government spokeswoman Alexandra Szentkiralyi  fuel these battles.



He said that by nominating Szentkiralyi as its mayoral candidate, ruling Fidesz has made it clear that it wants Budapest to be the governments mouthpiece, insisting that if elected, Szentkiralyi would do what the prime minister tells her.



Kanasz-Nagy also said that at his commemoration of the national holiday on Friday, Karacsony looked like he wants to be the leader of the opposition, a prime ministerial candidate again.



He said the municipal elections were about deciding who should be entrusted with managing Budapests affairs and making the city better.



LMP wants to free Budapest from this intellectual civil war, Kanasz-Nagy said, adding they believed the solution was electing a third way candidate in the form of David Vitezy.



MTI Photo: Attila Kovacs

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We cannot accept that Brussels has abandoned Europeans, moreover, turned against them, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a speech marking Hungarys March 15 national holiday.

We cannot tolerate their destroying our farmers, impoverishing the middle classes, driving European companies to bankruptcy, cribbing the rights of nations, making our children the slaves of their debts and tossing the whole of Europe into war.



Hungary can only benefit from peace and we do not want war, he told commemorators in front of the National Museum.



We in Budapest know what war is like  hundreds of thousands of dead, disabled, widows and orphans, destroyed bridges  tens of thousands of people that have lost everything  the life of a generation was destroyed in the latest war, he insisted.



According to Orban, what Brussels has given Hungarians was war instead of peace, fuss around the rule of law instead of security, and financial blackmail instead of prosperity.



They have deceived us and it is time we revolted and restored the self-assurance and self-esteem of European people, the prime minister said.



Hungary is not alone, because though the Poles have been caught up in the torrent of Soross left, the Slovaks have risen, the Czechs are awakening, the Austrians are getting ready, the Italians are facing the right direction, the Dutch are ready to go and the Americans are in protest, he said.



Meanwhile, he said, Europe, as well as the United States were ahead of a sovereigntist turnaround, which could restore normal life and open a new, great epoch for Western nations, in which everybody could prosper  with the exception of those that breached their oath to serve their nation that have worked in Brussels to take away funds from teachers  that would open the gates wide before migrants  and deliver our children into the hands of frenzied gender activists.



Those that sold themselves out by the kilo to gain power  will meet the fate of traitors, Orban added.



Concerning the events of 1848, Orban said the Hungarian revolution was constructive, rather than destructive, it did not deny but create, it was true and beautiful, and it was not concluded in death but yielded life.



In March 1848 Europe was engulfed in flames, there was blood in the streets of its capitals, and people were fighting on barricades in Vienna, Orban said.



Hungarians, however, were writing poems, wording the 12 points [of the revolution], and marched over from Pest to Buda  we freed political prisoners without a gunshot, we went to the theatre to see a patriotic play  and won a victory by the evening  thats what revolution is like when it is led by young Hungarians, he said.



EP Vote 'To Decide Between War and Peace'

Voters in the European Parliament elections on June 9 will have to decide "between war and peace, between Brussels' leash and Hungarian freedom," the prime minister said in his speech marking the March 15 national holiday.



If we want to retain Hungarys freedom and sovereignty, we must occupy Brussels and bring change to the European Union, Viktor Orban told a crowd in front of the National Museum.



Since 1848, the time always comes for every generation and each Hungarian youth when they must make a decision, he said. One must make a decision if you are on the side of truth or join the herd of globalist bleaters, Orban said.



Brussels is not the first empire that had designs on Hungary, but in the past 500 years all such empires realised that oppression, bribery or violence  would not get them anywhere, he said, referring to the Ottoman and Habsburg empires as well as the Soviet Union.



Were the David that Goliath had better avoid, Orban said. He also added, however, that Hungary demonstrated through the Compromise [of 1867, with Austria] that if we are given respect, we will also give the respect that is due.



Brussels alone would not grasp that  but we will march up to Brussels and we ourselves will bring change to the European Union, Orban said.



Orban: Hungarians Must Preserve What They Inherited from Ancestors

Everything we have we received from our forebears, including the mission to preserve and pass it all on, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in a speech marking Hungarys March 15 national holiday, adding that this is the essence of Hungarian freedom.



He said that millions of people in the Western world went through life with the notion that they come from nowhere and are going nowhere, therefore they believe it is not necessary to be considerate of anybody or anything.



They start wars and destroy worlds, they redraw country borders and devour everything like locusts, Orban said. They neglect to respect the dead and they take away the rights of the unborn, he added.



We Hungarians live differently and want to continue living differently; we come from somewhere and are heading somewhere, Orban said.



The meaning of freedom for Hungarians is that we are building a country with no landlord overseeing us. Nobody else in the world thinks it is important that something Hungarian should survive, he added.



We know that a Hungarian quality of existence is a unique and unmatched, high-level form of human life, and it is the greatest thing to be born a Hungarian, he added.



In the Western world, people believe they live as individuals and it is up to their free choice to decide which countrys citizens they should be and whether to be a boy or a girl, he said.



We Hungarians know that if you stand alone in the world, you are lonely, not free, he added. The youth of March 15 proclaimed to the world that we Hungarians are companions, not only in friendship and family, but we are also companions in the homeland, he added.



And we are also companions with those before us and after us, he said. The life of Hungarians forms a continuous chain, from Saint Stephen to King Mathias and Petofi, and the Hungarians of 56, all the way to us and beyond.



He said people today feared for their freedom because of Brussels, just like at the time of 19th century revolutionary poet Sandor Petofi.



They want to pressure us into something that Hungarians cannot bring themselves to do  which is damnable for the Hungarian spirit, and  alien from Hungarian life.



They want to pressure us to get involved in a war, they want to force us to take in migrants, and they want to change the upbringing of our children, but we will not enter the war, we will not let the migrants in and we will not give them our children, Orban said.



This is simple like algebra and clear as the Sun, because Hungary is a free and sovereign country, and it will stay so.



Meanwhile, President Sulyok Calls for 'Fight for Nations' Survival'

Hungarys survival is not a given, so we have had to fight for it and we must continue fighting for it by means of law, the achievements of culture and the results of science, President Tamas Sulyok said at a ceremony during which high state awards were handed over on the eve of the March 15 holiday.



At the ceremony held in Parliament, Sulyok quoted a well-known line from the revolutionary poet Sandor Petofi: Rise, Hungarians! is not a simple exclamation but an imperative spanning centuries: an order to fight for rights and freedom given at a time when [Hungarians] were stripped of their rights and oppressed, he said.



We learnt how to dance with legs tied up, and steadily rebuilt the country, improved our language, strengthened our institutions and communities, while our scientists were always at the forefront of innovation, even in the hardest of times, he said.



Our culture is not just a guarantee for our survival but an incentive, an infinite set of values, which will not only nourish us but inspire us to do great deeds, to brilliant achievements and fantastic discoveries, the president said.



Hungarian culture is universal in the sense that it is a part of the national identity  should we disappear, the world will be smaller, he said.



Referring to recipients of the Kossuth and Szechenyi prizes as well as those of the Hungarian Order of Merit present at the ceremony, the president called them architects of Hungarian culture and science who have enriched the European and global human treasury with their achievements.



The awardees achievements strengthen the nation, and everybody benefits  the prizes are a respectful recognition of the results of perseverance, commitment, decision, talent, and knowledge which took decades to accumulate, he said.



Those with a talent have an obligation to cultivate it to the utmost so that they can bring the most benefit to their peers, because every person is worth as much as the good they can provide to their fellow humans and homeland, Sulyok said.



Meanwhile, the president said the lesson of 1848 was that we cannot be successful without exercising rights  we will need enthusiastic lawyers in all times, because  homeland is where people have rights.



March 15 Commemorations Conclude with Ceremony Held at Washington Embassy

The March 15 celebrations, marking the 176th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1848-49 revolution and war of independence, ended on Friday with an official commemoration organized for members of the local diaspora at the Hungarian embassy in Washington.



Ambassador Szabolcs Takacs noted that traditionally Hungarians living in and around the American capital are invited to celebrate on March 15, and this was also the case this year.



At the ceremony, Emese Latkoczy, the director and one of the founders of the Hungarian Human Rights Foundation, received the Knights Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit, for her work.



Previously during the day, local Hungarian organisations held a commemoration at the Kossuth House in Washington, the leaders of the scout troop, the Catholic and Reformed communities, and the Kossuth Foundation laying a wreath at the memorial plaque of Lajos Kossuth.



Peter Pal Schmitt, the deputy head of mission, laid a wreath at the Kossuth memorial on behalf of the Hungarian embassy. Sandor Vegh, the president of the foundation that operates the Kossuth House, noted that Lajos Kossuth had visited Washington in December 1851 to gain support for the Hungarian cause.



The Tisza Dance Ensemble, made up of American and Hungarian members, gave a festive show at the Kossuth House.



The March 15 commemorations coincided with another commemoration held a few hundred kilometres from Washington, at the NATO command in Norfolk, where Hungary, Poland and Czechia commemorated the 25th anniversary of their NATO membership.



At this event, Ambassador Takacs drew attention to Hungarys commitment to the NATO alliance, and said Hungarys budget contribution to NATO serves the purpose of making the organisation a truly defensive alliance with a military force that is a deterrent, but one that is in service of peace.



The March 15 commemorations began on Wednesday in the Capitol building, where Ambassador Takacs and Congresswoman Carol Miller laid a wreath at the statue of Lajos Kossuth.



MTI Photo: Szilard Koszticsak

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Several families living in the 14th District have been told to leave their homes within 30 days as the area is required for the mini-Dubai urban development project.

Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto and his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates signed the contract for the euro 5 billion investment in Budapest on Wednesday.



Investors plan to build a new urban centre of high-rise buildings, offices and luxury apartments in the area of the disused Rakosrendezo train station.



The families to be evicted live in apartments provided by state railway company MAV, which has terminated their contracts.



The residents, some of whom have been in place for 30 years, have no idea of where to move at such short notice, according to Blikk. MAV has said it will try to help them by offering them other apartments commensurate with its abilities.



Local government representative Laszlo Varnai said the short notice is incomprehensible, as construction will not begin for years, even according to the most optimistic scenarios.



Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony commented on Facebook on Wednesday that the essence of the development of publicly owned brown areas should be to have more affordable housing, not less.



He objected to the eviction of local residents before the people of Budapest have had a chance to say what should be built in Rakosrendezo.



Karacsony also protested against the construction of a luxury quarter serving the interests of Middle East investors instead of Budapest.



Former transport state secretary David Vitezy, a potential challenger to Karacsony, also called the proceedings unacceptable in a Facebook post.



He wrote that it is inhumane to give local residents 30 days to leave their home, particularly as nothing will happen on the site for years.



The case clearly shows that affordable apartments are needed in Budapest rather than luxury flats and shopping malls.



Govt to spend Ft 300bn on UAE development

Foreign Trade Ministers Peter Szijjarto of Hungary and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi of the United Arab Emirates signed the contract on the property development project known as Mini-Dubai in Budapest.



According to the agreement, Eagle Hills Properties will build a new luxury residential area on 300 hectares in the 14th District, a project that will include a 220-240m skyscraper nearly 100 metres higher than the MOL tower.



Before construction can begin, however, the state must carry out a Ft 300 billion infrastructure project.



Szijjarto said the new development will give Budapest a new quality and will put the city on the map of global cities.



The two parties also signed related contracts in January.



Jobbik Calls for Eviction Moratorium on Site of Rakosrendezo Investment



The opposition Jobbik  Conservatives have called for halting the 30-day eviction notice issued to residents living on the site of an investment project in Rakosrendezo, in Budapest.



The 5 billion euro rehabilitation project planned by UAE developer Eagle Hills would bring about the eviction from some 25 flats in the area, lawmaker Daniel Z Karpat said, and called for a moratorium until residents can be offered flats equivalent or of higher quality than their present apartments.



The procedure may be lawful but it is unacceptable that the interests of foreign investors should precede those of the Hungarian residents, he said.



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YORK  The City of York continues to work on public awareness about the proposed Project Access York trail expansion.

The city recently sent certified letters to the 21 property owners whose property lies in the path of the proposed project. The letters invite the property owners to individual meetings with engineers and city officials before the proposed trail location gets released to the public for comment later this spring, the city said in a release.

The meetings will allow the landowners to discuss concerns that they have about where the trail crosses their land and other questions, the city said. Once the trail location is finalized, compensation for use of property and accommodations, like fences, to reduce the impact of the trail on the property will be negotiated with each of the landowners.

In a separate release, the city said the project has broad support. Some adjacent residents voiced concerns about the project at the March 7 York City Council meeting.

City officials noted the trail ideas were developed by York residents in the 2017 comprehensive plan process and the need for safer crossing options for Highway 81 was also identified in the 2006 comprehensive plan.

The city received a $15.6 million federal grant for the trail in August 2022. The funding was made available by the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program.

Project Access York will fund almost 9 miles of trail expansion throughout the city, a pedestrian overpass over Highway 81 near the interstate and safety improvements for school crossings.

Extending our trail systems has been on our city wish list for many years. I cant wait to see the great things we can do for York with this opportunity, Mayor Barry Redfern said in the release.

The city said it has asked the engineers to design the trail to be as non-intrusive as possible for property owners. The current trail proposal mostly sits on city property that runs alongside city streets and connects to trails in city parks. The proposed trail locations will only require negotiating permanent access to the 21 properties that were sent letters.

Per the city, on March 30, 2023, the city held a public open house to share information about the project and receive feedback from the public on the proposed trail location. Prior to the public open house, a day-long design meeting was hosted by the city and the citys consultant, Olsson, and included input from business owners, law enforcement, the City Council, school district, Chamber of Commerce, county and city officials and the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

This spring the city will work with the project engineers to present the proposed trail locations to the public and collect public input on the proposed locations. Notices for these meetings will be in local news outlets, and the city webpage and Facebook page. Anyone interested in receiving notices about future meetings can sign up for the City of York app, or send their name and email address to Dr. Sue Crawford (scrawford@cityofyork.net).

The city noted that support for the project comes from a variety of stakeholders in the community.

In 2022, a community coalition of many organizations, businesses and public sector representatives in York worked together as a Walkability Coalition to conduct walk audits and hold conversations about how to improve pedestrian access throughout the city. Walk audits and conversations with York Public School students reinforced the need for more safety measures at the school crossings. York City Administrator Sue Crawford, said this massive grant effort would not have been successful without the collaboration of many in the community and the clear stories about how the grant responds well to community needs.

The grant proposal submitted in the spring of 2022 included letters of support from many community organizations, including York Public Schools, which noted in their letter that conversations on the need to improve safety for students getting to school had been happening for at least 22 years.

Four Corners Health Department, the York County Development Corporation, chamber and others voiced support.

In the fall of 2022, the city invited U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer to visit to talk about the opportunities that Project Access York would create and to thank her for her vote for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that helps to fund the project. Throughout the late summer and fall of 2022 Mayor Redfern and City Administrator Sue Crawford visited many community organizations to talk about the new Project Access York project.

The responses that I heard in all of those conversations were very positive, Crawford said. Likewise, Mayor Redfern noted that he heard a lot of enthusiasm in the community about the project.

For more information on Project Access York, go to cityofyork.net.

PHOTOS: 66th annual Heartland Community Schools German Smorgasbord Photos from the 66th annual Heartland Community Schools German Smorgasbord on Saturday, March 16. Heartland band plays 'Free Bird' The Heartland band plays Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird during a concert after the annual German Smorgasbord on Saturday, March 16. Heartland Smorgasbord A large crowd turned out for the 66th Annual Heartland Community Schools German Smorgasbord band fundraiser on Saturday, March 16 in Henderson Heartland Smorgasbord Attendees work their way through the serving line at the annual German Smorgasbord. Honoring Royce Schweitzer Heartland Smorgasbord Saturdays event was followed by a concert by the Heartland band. Heartland Smorgasbord Attendees at the Heartland Smorgasbord check out the numerous accolades the band has won over the years. Heartland Smorgasbord Young Lenin Kulhanek enjoys the food at the 66th annual 66th Annual Heartland Community Schools German Smorgasbord band fundraiser. Heartland band's full 'Free Bird' performance The full version of the Heartland bands performance of Free Bird.
NEW DELHI: The government has proposed exempting intra-group transactions and certain other mergers and acquisitions from the requirement of Competition Commission approval, a move that is likely to help in reducing the regulatory burden on the watchdog. Draft rules to exempt certain categories of combinations from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approval requirement have been issued by the corporate affairs ministry.

Vaibhav Choukse, Partner & Head - Competition Law at JSA Advocates & Solicitors, said the draft rules enlist certain kinds of M&A (Merger & Acquisition) transactions which will not require approval from the CCI. These include intra-group transactions, certain types of minority and creeping acquisitions, and rights issues as they will not have an impact on the competition in the market, he added.

According to him, the rules will replace and modify the existing categories of M&A transactions that are exempt. The rules also modify the affiliate test required to map overlaps between the parties to the M&A transaction. "This will reduce the regulatory burden of the CCI as well as provide a big relief to the parties involved in M&As," he added.

In September, draft combination regulations were published for public comment but at that time, it did not mention exempted categories of transaction.

Meanwhile, the ministry has also issued draft rules in relation to green channel approvals and 'De Minimis' provisions.

Regarding the draft norms related to green channel approvals, Avaantika Kakkar, Partner (Head - Competition Law) at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, said that following the recent increase in the small target exemption thresholds and jurisdictional thresholds under the Competition Act, the ministry has proposed to constrict exemptions available to minority investors.

"The new rules will make the green channel route more stringent and complicated to assess, going forward," she added.
New Delhi: The co-founder and CEO of Third Wave Coffee, Sushant Goel has stepped down from the CEO position and moved into a board member role. Rajat Luthra, currently the CEO of KFC India and Nepal will take over as Goel starting from the first quarter of the next fiscal year (FY25). This change follows six months after the company's successful Series C funding round worth $35 million.

According to a press release from the company, Sushant will remain involved in fostering the growth and advancement of the fast-growing Indian coffee brand. Rajat Luthra is an experienced professional with more than thirty years of expertise in the FMCG and QSR industries. He has led the operations of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in India and Nepal for the past decade. (Also Read: Narayana Murthy Gifts Rs 240 Crore Worth of Infosys Shares To 4-Month-Old Grandson)

As Sushant transitions to his new role on the board, we are confident that his guidance and strategic insights will continue to steer us towards even greater success. We also warmly welcome Rajat, who has rich experience with QSRs at scale, and are excited about the fresh perspective and leadership he will bring to the table, a statement issued jointly by WestBridge Capital and Creagis mentioned. (Also Read: Government To Purchase 1650 Tonnes Of Onions For Export To Bangladesh)

Third Wave Coffee has expanded from a sole store in Koramangala to over 100 branches in eight cities. The company secured $35 million in Series C funding last year from Creaegis and WestBridge Capital. In May 2022, WestBridge Capital spearheaded a $21-million Series B round, with contributions from multiple angel investors.
New Delhi: The National Cooperative Export Ltd (NCEL), a government export agency has revealed its plan to purchase 1650 tonnes of onions from private traders at a price of 29 per kilogram for the purpose of exporting to Bangladesh. This marks the initial authorized export of onions from India in more than three months, subsequent to the government's ban on exports from December 8 until March 31,as per report by Economic Times.

As per the Government of India, in the first week of March, the centre authorized the export of 64,000 tonnes of onions to countries that had requested them through diplomatic channels. Out of this allocation, 50,000 tonnes were assigned to Bangladesh while the remaining 14,400 tonnes were designated for the UAE. (Also Read: Lok Sabha Elections: Stock Market Expected To Remain Closed On May 20)

India imposed export restrictions on onions to tackle rising domestic prices which raised concerns about affordability and availability. The ban also caused international prices to surge because of decreased global supply, especially during the high-demand period of Ramadan in traditional markets such as Bangladesh, West Asia, and Southeast Asia. (Also Read: Sensex Climbs 126.36 Points To 72,769.79 In Early Trade; Nifty Up 20.65 Points To 22,044)

During the current Ramadan season, demand from India's traditional purchasers such as Bangladesh, the Middle East, and certain Southeast Asian countries is at its highest. At present, wholesale onion prices in Maharashtra's Nashik district vary from Rs 7/kg to Rs 16/kg. It is anticipated that prices will decrease further with the continuous arrival of fresh rabi harvest.

It is uncertain what price NCEL will set for onion buyers in Bangladesh. According to industry insiders, the export agency is anticipated to make significant profits as onions are currently being sold at 80-90/kg in Bangladesh.
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L), also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wellington, New Zealand, March 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

WELLINGTON, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met here Monday with both sides pledging further efforts to strengthen cooperation and relations.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is currently on a tour from March 17 to 21 for an official visit to New Zealand and to Australia.

China-New Zealand relations have always been at the forefront of China's relations with developed countries, and has become a treasure for both sides to cherish and carry forward, Wang said.

China regards New Zealand as a rational and mature cooperative partner, and bilateral relations are strategic and long-term in nature, Wang said.

To forge a stronger bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership will not only benefit the two peoples, but also make new contributions to global peace and development, he noted.

New Zealand takes education, technological innovation, infrastructure, business environment and export expansion as its policy priorities, and China is willing to be a reliable strategic partner of New Zealand in these areas, Wang said.

China is happy to see New Zealand's continued participation in the Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, and looks forward to working with New Zealand to explore the new growth areas of cooperation such as science and technology, green and innovation while strengthening the cooperation in traditional fields, he said.

The Chinese economy enjoys both a solid foundation and a broad space for growth, which will continue to inject more impetus into the world economy and bring new opportunities to New Zealand, the Chinese foreign minister said.

Both China and New Zealand advocate multilateralism, support the central role of the United Nations in international affairs, and are committed to resolving international disputes by peaceful means, Wang said.

China is ready to work with New Zealand to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, resist the Cold War mentality, unilateralism and protectionism, oppose reversing the course of history and safeguard the right direction of human progress, he said.

Luxon said that New Zealand-China relations are very important. Bilateral relations have achieved strong development, and economic and trade cooperation has yielded fruitful results since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The comprehensive strategic partnership between New Zealand and China has provided an important driving force for bilateral cooperation, Luxon said, adding that New Zealand will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

New Zealand is willing to take the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership as an opportunity to further strengthen high-level exchanges with China, enhance mutual understanding, deepen cooperation in areas including economy and trade, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, education, tourism, agriculture, technology and climate action, promote common prosperity of the two countries and safeguard regional and world peace and stability, said the prime minister.

Wang also held talks with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and met with Trade Minister Todd McClay on Monday. 

Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wellington, New Zealand, March 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
The altercation occurred between the two groups of people near Siddanna Layout in Bengaluru on Sunday evening during the Azaan time, the police officials informed. The shopkeeper played a song loudly after which Muslim youths questioned him, and then this led to the argument to a massive fight, ANI reported.

The FIR has been registered against the accused at Halasuru Gate Police Limit after the shopkeeper and Muslim youth went into a massive argument and hit the shopkeeper very badly.

The shopkeeper who was attacked by a group of Muslim people said that the accused had threatened to stab me with a knife, "I was playing Hanuman bhajan. 4-5 people came and said it was time for Azaan and if you play it we will beat you. They beat me and also threatened me that they would stab me with a knife," Shopkeeper said.

Three people have been arrested by the police so far for attacking a shopkeeper for playing loud music during Azaan. Police said that the age of all the suspects is between 20 to 25 years.

The police have informed that the FIR was registered under sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 149 (every member of an unlawful assembly guilty of an offence committed in prosecution of a common object), 307.
NDA announced the seat-sharing in Bihar on Monday where Bhartiya Janta party (BJP) to contest 17 Lok Sabha seats, Janata Dal (JDU) to content 16 seats, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) to content 5 seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha on one seat each.

After the Announcement of Bihar seat sharing, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde informed that the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) to contest 5 seats from Vaishali, Hajipur, Samastipur, Khagaria and Jamui. The Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha respectively contest from the Gaya and Karakat seats.

The state deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said that Everyone will contest the elections unitedly. He further added that the seats have been finalised now the list of candidates will also be declared soon.

Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, on Saturday announced that Lok Sabha elections 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.

Meanwhile, the Opposition alliance INDIA is yet to announce the seat sharing in Bihar, The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said that they are engaged in the discussions on seat-sharing with the Congress and Left parties and soon they will make the announcement.
Congress and the Rastriya Janta Dal (RJD) are set to convene in Delhi on Monday to solidify their agreement on seat distribution for Bihar. The meeting will take place at the residence of State Congress President Akhilesh Prasad Singh and will involve consultations with State Coordinator Mohan Prakash and Screening Committee Chairman Rana KP Singh before engaging with representatives from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The Lok Sabha Election dates have been revealed, yet the allocation of seats between the INDIA-bloc and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) remains undecided. Although both sides have proposed a tentative seat-sharing arrangement, it has not been formally confirmed.

Phase-wise Candidate Announcement

According to Zee News sources, the INDIA-bloc will not announce the list of names for all the constituencies at once; instead, the alliance will share the candidates names phase-wise. The Lok Sabha election is scheduled to happen on April 19 in seven phases. On the first day, four constituencies will go to the polls. Bihar has a total of 40 Lok Sabha seats.

INDI-Alliance Seat Dispute

Troubles mounted for the INDI alliance after its allies in Bihar seemed dissatisfied with the earlier seat-sharing arrangement. The Communist Party of India (CPI) is aiming for three seats, while the CPI-ML has claimed eight. In a joint press release, these parties have called for the alliance to revise the seat-sharing agreement.

Initially, the agreement proposed Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) contesting 28 seats, Congress on nine seats, with two seats allotted to CPI and one to CPI-ML.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday mandated that the State Bank of India (SBI) must fully disclose all particulars associated with electoral bonds, specifically the unique numbers of the bonds, which are essential to identify the connection between the purchasers and the political parties receiving the funds. This disclosure is to be completed by March 21. The directive came from a five-judge constitution bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, who unequivocally stated that SBI is obligated to provide all bond-related information.

The bench instructed the SBI chairman to submit a sworn declaration by 5 pm on March 21, affirming that the bank has complied with the full disclosure requirement.

The bench, which includes Justices Sanjiv Khanna, B R Gavai, J B Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra, emphasized that SBI is not at liberty to withhold any information and must reveal every detail within its knowledge, including the unique bond numbers that establish the link between the bond buyers and the beneficiary political parties.

The bench reminded that the Supreme Courts ruling on the electoral bonds case had already ordered the bank to reveal all bond details and that no further instructions should be necessary for this matter.

The SBI must not exercise selectivity in what it discloses; all details, including the electoral bond numbers, were to be made public, the bench stated verbally during the proceedings.

Previously, the Supreme Court had served a notice to SBI, questioning why it had not disclosed the unique alphanumeric identifiers as per the courts instructions, highlighting that the bank is legally bound to do so.

On April 12, 2019, the Supreme Court had passed an interim order that required political parties to confidentially submit information regarding received and forthcoming donations to the Election Commission.

Furthermore, on February 15, the Supreme Court delivered a historic judgment, declaring the Centres electoral bonds scheme, which permitted anonymous political donations, as unconstitutional. The court ordered the Election Commission to disclose the identities of donors, the amounts donated, and the recipients by March 13.

Supreme Court Orders SBI to Unveil Full Electoral Bond Details by March 21

Complete Transparency Required: SC to SBI on Electoral Bond Disclosure

Electoral Bond Anonymity Ends: SC Demands Full Disclosure from SBI

SBI Chairman to Affirm Full Electoral Bond Disclosure Following SC Directive

SC Ensures Accountability in Political Funding with SBI Electoral Bond Disclosure Order

SBI to Shed Light on Electoral Bond Buyers and Political Recipients by SC Order

No More Secrets: SC Commands SBI to Reveal Complete Electoral Bond Information

Electoral Bonds Transparency: SCs Firm Stance on Complete Disclosure by SBI

SBI to Comply with SCs Electoral Bond Transparency Mandate by March 21
New Delhi: Bigg Boss OTT 2 winner and YouTuber Elvish Yadav has admitted the allegations of arranging snake venom as a recreational drug at rave parties organised by him, sources said to Zee News television. Yadav, arrested on Sunday in the snake venom case also admitted that he also knew and was in contact with other accused arrested in the case, police sources said to Zee News. The Controversial YouTuber was arrested on Sunday by Noida police in connection with a probe into the case. He was then taken to a special court in Surajpur, which decreed a 14-day judicial custody for the 26-year-old internet personality, according to reports.

Yadav was listed among six individuals in an FIR filed at the Sector 49 police station in Noida on the 3rd of November the previous year. The other five, identified as serpent tamers, were apprehended in November and have since been released on bail, as per official statements.

The case was registered under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, along with sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 284 (reckless handling of poison), and 289 (reckless behavior towards animals) of the Indian Penal Code, the police informed.

Additionally, the police have incorporated charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against Yadav, who hails from Gurugram in Haryana.

Elvish Yadav was summoned for an inquiry regarding the case. His arrest followed the discovery of substantial evidence, including that pertaining to the NDPS Act. The investigation is ongoing, stated Vidya Sagar Mishra, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Noida.

The Noida police have disclosed that during their investigation, they gathered samples which a forensic lab has verified as snake venom.

A Sector 20 police station team, which was assigned the investigation, has apprehended the accused, shared Additional DCP of Noida, Manish Mishra, with PTI.

The case was initially handled by the Sector 49 police station but was later transferred to the Sector 20 station, he further mentioned.

Yadav was presented to the Remand Magistrates special Sunday court this past afternoon, where he was sentenced to a 14-day jail term, the police confirmed.

Subsequently, the YouTuber was confined to the Luksar jail in Greater Noida, added the police.

Yadav has consistently denied any involvement in the case and has previously been interrogated by the police.

Following the registration of the FIR at the Sector 49 police station, based on a complaint by a People For Animals (PFA) official, the sub-inspector in charge was reassigned shortly thereafter.

On the 3rd of November, five individuals were detained at a banquet hall in Sector 51, and nine snakes, including five cobras, were rescued from them, along with the confiscation of 20 ml of suspected snake venom.

The police clarified that Yadav was not at the banquet hall during the incident and that his involvement in the case, particularly concerning the recreational use of snake venom, was under investigation.

Maneka Gandhi, the PFA chairperson and a BJP leader, has accused Yadav of illegally trading snake venom and has called for his immediate detention.

On the 4th of November, Yadav was temporarily detained for questioning by the police in Kota, Rajasthan, while traveling with friends, but was released shortly after.
New Delhi: Former Lok Sabha MP from Bihar's Vaishali, Lovely Mohan Joined Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party Janta Dal United (JDU) on Monday ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections.

A few hours after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) announced the seat sharing in Bihar, a former RJD leader, Lovely Anand Joined the party in the presence of JDU's former national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan' and other senior leaders of the party also graced the occasion.

Speaking to ANI, the former RJD leader said that she has joined to strengthen the party and show her confidence to win 40 seats. "We have come to strengthen the party. Our goal is to win all 40 seats," Mohan said.

#WATCH | Patna, Bihar: On joining JDU, Lovely Mohan, wife of gangster turned politician Anand Mohan, says, "...We have come to strengthen the party. Our goal is to win all 40 seats..." pic.twitter.com/kgZzs72h7r  ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024

Lovely Mohan is wife of gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan who was freed from prison last year after completing a 15-year sentence in a murder case.

Anand's son and RJD MLA Chetan Anand made headlines by switching sides to the JDU amidst the trust vote of the Nitish Kumar government in the assembly.

NDA announced the seat-sharing in Bihar where Bhartiya Janta party (BJP) to contest 17 Lok Sabha seats, Janata Dal (JDU) to content 16 seats, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) to content 5 seats, Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha on one seat each.
The Lok Sabha Elections are scheduled to begin on April 19, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a five-day tour of southern India to woo the voters. His next stop on Monday will be Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, where he will lead a mega Roadshow. After a security evaluation by the Special Protection Group (SPG), Modi's roadshow has been shortened from 4 km to 2.5 km. Initially, local police had denied permission for the roadshow due to security concerns, Coimbatore's historical communal tensions, and potential inconvenience, particularly for students. However, the Madras High Court granted permission on Friday.

Security Hightened Amid Model Code Of Conduct

The rally will be held under the model code of conduct and will cover areas starting from Saibaba Colony to the DB Road junction in RS Puram, spanning the time between 5:45 pm and 6:45 pm. After Madras High Court's directive, comprehensive security surveillance has been implemented in the city, particularly in regions surrounding the roadshow, and there was an increase in vehicle inspections throughout other areas of the city.

As per reports, approximately 5,000 police officers from Coimbatore and neighboring districts, along with 100 officials from the special protection group responsible for the prime minister's safety, arrived on Saturday.

BJP Stronger In Coimbatore

The Prime Minister, who has set a target of 400 seats for the NDA in this election, is embarking on his fifth visit to Tamil Nadu. During his visits, he has squarely targeted the ruling DMK and its allies, including the Congress, criticising their involvement in various scandals while positioning himself as a champion of development.

Although the BJP's presence in Tamil Nadu is minimal, it holds a comparatively stronger foothold in Coimbatore. This region has witnessed sensitive law-and-order situations, notably the series of bomb blasts in 1998 targeting senior BJP leader LK Advani. These blasts resulted in the loss of nearly 60 lives.
New Delhi: The Noida police on Sunday arrested YouTuber Elvish Yadav in connection to snake venom. The Big Boss OTT 2 winner will be presented in the Court today. Reportedly, UP police arrested Yadav after not getting any satisfactory answers from him during the interrogation.

Earlier last month, the presence of snake venom in the samples of Elvish's party made him land in big trouble. The samples were collected from the rave party held in Noida and sent to the lab in Jaipur for testing. Later, the FSL report of the sample confirmed the presence of snake venom of the Cobra Krait species. He was summoned and called for questioning and now has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.

The YouTuber has always been in the headlines for his controversial actions and statements, here are the top 5 controversies of Elvish Yadav over the years!

Elvish-Fukra Insaan 'Negative PR' Stunt

Abhishek Malhan aka Fukran Insaan, a fellow YouTuber close to Elvish Yadav became sworn enemies after Bigg Boss OTT 2 ended. Both began trading accusations, accusing each other of spreading negative publicity against each other. The two shared a great bond while in the Bigg Boss house but later, when the show ended, a lot of bad blood between the two was highlighted.

Snake Venom

Recently, Elvish was charged under the Wildlife Act for obtaining snake venom as a recreational drug for rave parties. Earlier last month, the presence of snake venom in the samples of Elvish's party made him land in big trouble. The FSL report of the sample confirmed the presence of snake venom of the Cobra Krait species and the Youtuber has been arrested by UP Police in the matter.

The 'Maxtern' Issue

Elvish Yadav is embroiled in various controversies as recently, a fellow YouTuber Maxtern accused him of assault and an attempt to murder. The videos of Elvish Yadav beating Maxtern went viral on social media with people demanding his arrest in the case. Maxtern filed an FIR in the case, but withdrew later after the duo compromised in the matter and announced it on social media.

Crowd Attack

Elvish was also accussed of mistreating a journalist and grabbing his mic when asked about his visit to the Vaishno Devi temple. When a guy, rportedly a journalist asked for a picture from Elvish, when denied he grabbed YouTuber's friend Raghav's shoulder in response, Elvish too mistreated him to get rid of him.

Manisha Rani Unfollows Elvish

After BB OTT 2, Elvish and Manisha were frequently seen spending time together. In one of the pap videos, Elvish was even captured picking up Manisha from the sets of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 11, fuelling speculation about a possible romantic connection. However, fans have now noticed that things have changed as both Elvish and Manisha have unfollowed each other on social media platforms.
New Delhi: Dell, the multinational technology company has maintained a hybrid working culture for over a decade, blending office and remote work seamlessly. However, the laptop brand has sparked controversy with its decision on promotions for remote workers.

The company communicated through a memo to its remote employees that while they are allowed to continue their work-from-home arrangements, they will not be eligible for promotions. The technological company has informed its employees that starting May, they would be classified as either "hybrid" or "remote" based on the new policy, as reported by Business Insider. (Also Read: WhatsApp Will Soon Allow Users To Scan UPI QR Codes, Pin Multiple Chats And More- All You Need To Know)

According to internal documents obtained by Business Insider (BI), hybrid workers at Dell will be mandated to physically attend an "approved" office for at least 39 days per quarter, roughly equivalent to three days per week. (Also Read: Vivo T3 5G Official Launch Date Confirmed In India; Check Date And Availability)

Alternatively, employees who prefer to continue working remotely have the option to transition to full-time remote work. However, in this choice the fully remote workers will not be eligible for promotions or have the ability to switch roles within the company.

"Dell cared about the work, not the location. I would say 10% to 15% of every team was remote,  high-ranking staff member at Dell informed the publication.

This new regulation implemented by Dell has caused frustration among many of its employees. An individual who preferred not to disclose their identity mentioned, "The entire company has been complaining about this behind closed doors,"

According to Business Insider (BI), the memo distributed to Dell employees mentions, "For remote team members, it is important to understand the trade-offs: Career advancement, including applying to new roles in the company, will require a team member to reclassify as hybrid onsite."

Dell is now asserting the significance of employees being present in the office to foster innovation and improve the company's performance. Despite the discontent among many workers, Dell is standing by its decision to enforce the new rule.
New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday issued a caution to Western nations, stating that any direct engagement between Russia and the NATO forces led by the U.S. could precipitate the globe to the brink of a third world war, a situation he believes is undesirable to most. The conflict in Ukraine has escalated tensions between Moscow and Western countries to levels not seen since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Despite frequently highlighting the dangers of nuclear conflict, Putin asserts that the use of nuclear arms in Ukraine has never been a necessity for him.

In a historic victory, President Vladimir Putin secured an unprecedented win in Russias recent election, reinforcing his strong hold on power. This triumph, he stated, validates Moscows stance against the West and its decision to deploy forces to Ukraine.

Putin, who ascended to power in 1999 after a career as a KGB lieutenant colonel, emphasized that the election outcome is a clear signal to Western leaders that they must engage with a more assertive Russia for the foreseeable future.

At 71, Putin is poised to begin a new six-year term, which could make him the longest-serving Russian leader in over two centuries, surpassing Josef Stalin.

With an 87.8% vote share according to the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) and 87% according to the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM), Putin achieved the highest post-Soviet electoral result. Initial official results seem to confirm these figures. However, several countries including the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom have questioned the elections integrity, citing political detentions and media restrictions.

The Communist contender Nikolai Kharitonov came in second with nearly 4%, followed by the newcomer Vladislav Davankov, and the ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky, as indicated by preliminary results.

In his victory address in Moscow, Putin pledged to focus on the challenges linked to Russias ongoing military actions in Ukraine and to bolster the Russian armed forces. Putin declared to his audience that unity is Russias strength, and that no adversary has ever, or will ever, succeed in intimidating or subduing them.

The crowd erupted into chants of Putin and Russia as he took the stage and concluded his speech.

Despite the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison, which sparked protests against Putin across Russia and internationally, Putin dismissed the impact of these demonstrations on the election results, calling Russias electoral process democratic.

Addressing Navalnys death for the first time, Putin expressed sorrow and revealed that he had been open to a prisoner exchange involving Navalny shortly before his passing.
TIANJIN, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A natural gas processing terminal project, the largest of its kind constructed by the Bohai Oilfield, China's largest offshore crude oil producer, has officially started supplying gas to surrounding areas, according to the Tianjin branch of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) on Monday.

The project in the city of Binzhou, east China's Shandong Province, is an important onshore terminal supporting project for the Bozhong 19-6 Condensate Gas Field, the first gas field with proven reserves of over 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the Bohai Sea. The project is expected to process up to 1.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually.

"The gas field will provide a more stable and reliable supply of clean energy to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Bohai Rim region, which is of great significance to ensuring national energy security and optimizing the energy structure," said Jiang An, general manager of a subsidiary of CNOOC's Tianjin branch. 
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.





Produced by Xinhua Global Service
SHANGHAI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- In November 2023, fruquintinib, a new anti-tumor drug developed by Chinese pharmaceutical company HUTCHMED, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and prescribed in the United States within 48 hours following its approval.

This is the first small-molecule anticancer drug approved in the United States which was developed by a Shanghai pharmaceutical company, and also the first overseas prescription of an innovative drug developed in Shanghai, according to the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality.

Fruquintinib, a medicine for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, is among several domestic innovative drugs that were launched in overseas markets in 2023, including Tislelizumab developed by BeiGene and Toripalimab by Junshi Biosciences.

"The year 2023 can be called a milestone year for the overseas launch of domestically produced innovative drugs. Not only did an unprecedented number of drugs go overseas, but also several significant breakthroughs were achieved," said Li Ning, CEO of Junshi Biosciences.

Li added that the increasing share of large molecule drugs, known as biopharmaceuticals, in global markets, as well as the growing number of drugs entering the U.S. market, exemplify these breakthroughs.

The brisk momentum continued into 2024. Chinese pharmaceutical companies forged 18 out-licensing deals in January this year, skyrocketing by 260 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

Chinese innovative drugs have two channels to go global. Some companies independently conduct clinical studies abroad and apply for market approval, eventually gaining authorization to distribute the drugs.

Alternatively, some companies partner with foreign companies to pitch their products overseas, including through out-licensing deals. They sell the rights to commercialize their drugs globally to foreign companies, allowing the latter to take charge of the clinical development, application for market approval, manufacturing and marketing.

Going overseas is no easy task. "The competition for domestically produced innovative drugs to expand overseas is fierce. If you want to penetrate overseas markets, in addition to gaining approval for marketing, you need to achieve commercial success," said Su Weiguo, CEO of HUTCHMED. Under such circumstances, apart from developing high-quality drugs, choosing the right path to enter different markets is crucial, Su added.

In the case of fruquintinib, the drug has chosen to enter a mainstream market with vast demand but meager supply. Su said that the unmet demand of patients in the United States is among the factors contributing to the success of fruquintinib overseas.

"Advanced colorectal cancer is a grave medical challenge. Its global incidence and mortality rates are on the rise, but effective new drugs are not in place. In the United States, the past decade saw not one new drug for treating the disease getting approved," Su said.

Partnering with foreign companies is another path to go overseas, especially for small and medium-sized innovative drug developers. In November 2023, British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Chinese company Eccogene entered into an exclusive license agreement for ECC5004, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist discovered by Eccogene for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and other conditions.

AstraZeneca announced that Shanghai had become the fifth global strategic hub for the company, alongside hubs in the United States, Sweden and Britain, at the 2024 Shanghai Bio-Pharmaceutical Industry International Development Conference held in February.

The British pharmaceutical company also plans to assist 30 Shanghai enterprises to go global in 2024, promoting cross-border cooperation and exchanges in pharmaceutical innovation through two-way visits.

Looking into the future, Chinese innovative drugs can expand beyond the United States and European markets. "We are closely following developments in the Pacific-rim and Indian Ocean-rim markets, and we plan to promote the launch of Chinese innovative drugs in the Republic of Korea (ROK), the Middle East and Southeast Asian countries," Li Ning said. 
The volume of Chinese-Ukrainian trade in January-February grew by 46.6% year-on-year to $1.5 bln, the General Administration of Customs of China reported, Azernews reports, citing TASS.

As follows from the published statistics, exports of goods from China to Ukraine over two months reached $550.42 mln (an increase of 69.6% compared to the same period last year), while imports increased by 36% ($954.06 mln). Compared to January-February 2023, the positive balance of the Ukrainian side increased by 7.3%, to $403.64 mln.

In February, trade turnover between the two countries decreased by 13.3% compared to January and reached $698.54 mln. Exports from China fell by 32.7% (to $221.25 mln), imports from Ukraine remained virtually unchanged and amounted to $477. 28 mln.

Ukraine is the leading supplier of corn to China. According to the General Administration of Customs of China statistics, this agricultural product in terms of value accounted for almost half of Chinas imports from this country. Other Ukrainian goods purchased by China include sunflower and rapeseed oil, barley, ferronickel, beef, soybeans, other food products, raw materials, and semi-finished products.
JUBA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Some 862 people were killed, injured, abducted or subjected to conflict-related sexual violence in the last quarter of 2023 in South Sudan, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Monday.

An UNMISS report covering October to December 2023 documented 233 incidents of violence across the country, with 862 victims affected -- 406 killed, 293 injured, 100 abducted and 63 subjected to conflict-related sexual violence.

"Compared to the previous quarter, this represented a 4 percent increase in incidents and a 35 percent increase in victims," UNMISS said in the report released in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

The UN mission said civilians are bearing the brunt of a surge in intercommunal conflict in pockets of South Sudan.

Nicholas Haysom, the special representative of the UN secretary-general and head of UNMISS, said intercommunal conflict continues to cause immense harm to communities across the country.

"UNMISS is doing all it can to prevent violence and build peace in the affected areas, but urgent intervention by authorities at the national, state and local levels is needed to resolve underlying grievances and build peace," Haysom said.

According to the report, intercommunal violence by community-based militias and/or civil defense groups accounted for 86 percent of all civilians affected during the period. The main conflict hotspot, Warrap State, experienced a sharp increase in victims by 87 percent compared to the previous quarter, from 244 to 457.

UNMISS also reported a 54 percent increase in abduction victims, from 65 to 100, compared to the previous quarter. 
COLOMBO, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The first LNG battery hybrid-powered RORO vessel berthed at the Hambantota International Port (HIP) for the discharge of construction machinery and equipment, the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) said in a statement on Monday.

The statement said the ship carried high and heavy vehicles, including airport buses and mobile cranes, and that the transshipment cargo is destined for Dammam in Saudi Arabia and the Maldives.

The ship "Jasmine Leader" of NYK Line is one of a fleet of environmentally friendly, next-generation vessels with reduced emissions and a lower risk of oil spills, the HIPG said.

The HIPG said this ship is also the first NYK RORO vessel to make a direct call at HIP from Europe with transshipment cargo.

In 2023, the HIP handled 700,000 transshipment vehicles, a 26 percent increase from 2022 figures, the HIPG said in January. 
KUNMING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A forest fire broke out Monday afternoon in Yangbi Yi Autonomous County in southwest China's Yunnan Province, according to the local publicity department.

The fire broke out at around 4 p.m. Monday in Guangming Village, Cangshanxi Township. Local authorities immediately triggered an emergency response, and as of 9 p.m., over 350 rescue professionals had rushed to the scene. All-out efforts are being made to extinguish the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. 
Vladimir Putin meets the press at his campaign headquarters in Moscow, Russia, March 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

MOSCOW, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Relations between Russia and China are a stabilizing factor in Eurasian region, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday in response to questions from a Xinhua reporter.

During a press conference following the completion of Russia's presidential elections, Putin said relations between Russia and China have developed well over the previous two decades. "They are very stable, they complement each other," he said.

"The most important thing is the coincidence of state interests. This creates a very good tone for solving common problems in the field of international relations," the president said.

He said that China is very active in the international arena and is achieving great success. "She has a lot of friends all over the world," he added.

Putin expressed confidence that bilateral collaboration will continue to strengthen in the coming years.

"I am sure that in the coming years we will only strengthen and build up our relations and achieve common successes for the benefit of the Chinese and Russian peoples," he said.

On China's economy, Putin said: "China is developing by leaps and bounds, at a fast pace, very confidently, and what is very important is that the structure of China's economy is changing towards innovation, towards making the economy more innovative. And we are trying to do the same within the country. We face exactly the same tasks in Russia." 
AMMAN, March 18 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan on Monday warned that the ongoing conflict in Gaza will have catastrophic repercussions on the entire region.

The king made the remarks at a meeting with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on Monday during which he called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, the protection of civilians, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Strip through all possible means, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court.

The Jordanian king praised Brazil for its rejection of the conflict and continued support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

The king also commended Brazil's advocacy for the two-state solution, adding that a fair resolution to the Palestinian issue is indispensable for peace and stability in the region.

Discussions at the meeting also covered the bilateral ties between the two sides and means of bolstering cooperation in various fields, especially in economic sectors, according to the statement. 
by Ma Haoran

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Since 2021, the United States has convened the "Summit for Democracy" twice, with its third installment taking place in Seoul from March 18 to 20.

Ostensibly claiming to "combat authoritarianism" and "support human rights," the summit triggers questions about the credentials, intention and ability of certain countries to lead such a global initiative.

Democracy, in its essence, is not just a political mechanism but also a broader cultural practice that respects diversity and encourages ideological pluralism. It is about finding unity through dialogue and exchanges. However, the domestic and international actions of some big Western powers often mirror the very authoritarian behaviors they claim to oppose.

The Western democratic system shows signs of strain. Domestically, it grapples with deepening social divisions and a disconnect from public concerns, suggesting a systemic malfunction. The chaos in some Western countries highlight the fragility of their democracy and the severity of political polarization.

Internationally, some actions often betray a hegemonic impulse. Military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan, and economic sanctions against developing nations are perceived as endeavors to advance selfish interests under the guise of promoting democracy. Such actions have not fostered democratic growth but exacerbated political, economic, and social problems in these regions.

Therefore, the "Summit for Democracy" should be an opportunity for introspection and problem-solving, rather than ignoring the challenges within Western democracies. As the Summit unfolds, it's imperative to recognize that democracy cannot be confined to a single model or used as a geopolitical tool. Authentic democracy thrives on respect for diverse cultures and political systems, and genuine international cooperation and dialogue.

Instead of labeling others as "authoritarian," it is imperative for certain countries to objectively assess their own democratic practices and focus on developing effective and inclusive democracies globally. 
This photo taken on June 19, 2023 shows a demonstration of the Boeing 777X (down) and 737-10 during the 54th International Paris Air Show held at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Boeing has encountered many quality and safety concerns for years with its aircraft, resulting in an extended grounding of certain planes and delivery suspensions. Here is a timeline of safety incidents involving Boeing aircraft in recent years.

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A Boeing 737-800 plane of United Airlines 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 on Friday.

Boeing has encountered many quality and safety concerns for years with its aircraft, resulting in an extended grounding of certain planes and delivery suspensions.

Here is a timeline of safety incidents involving Boeing aircraft in recent years:

-- October 2018 and March 2019

A total of 346 people were killed in the crashes of Indonesia's Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines in October 2018 and March 2019 respectively, both of which were Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The 737 MAX was grounded for nearly two years in many countries and regions around the world.

-- Feb. 20, 2021

A United Airlines Boeing 777-200 suffered a unilateral engine failure shortly after takeoff, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. Before landing, the malfunctioning engine exploded and caught fire, but fortunately no one was injured.

-- March 31, 2022

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 with 198 passengers bound for Washington D.C., took off from Salt Lake City. En route, the flight crew declared an emergency due to a broken windshield, and then the plane landed safely in Denver.

-- June 6, 2023

An Air India Boeing 777 flying from New Delhi to San Francisco suffered engine troubles and made an emergency landing at Magadan Airport in Russia.

-- Jan. 5, 2024

A door stopper of a built-in emergency door fell off the side of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 shortly after takeoff. An inspection by investigators found that four bolts that were supposed to hold the door stopper in place were missing. The accident occurred only about two months after the plane was delivered to Alaska Airlines.

-- Jan. 13, 2024

A Boeing 737 of Japan's All Nippon Airways was found to have a crack in the front glass of the cockpit during flight, and the plane immediately returned to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo.

-- Jan. 20, 2024

A wheel in the landing gear of a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 passenger plane suddenly fell off and rolled off the runway when the plane was taxiing and preparing to take off at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.

-- Feb. 19, 2024

A United Airlines Boeing 757-200 flying from San Francisco to Boston was diverted to Denver International Airport due to wing damage.

-- March 4, 2024

A United Airlines Boeing 737 from Houston to Fort Myers was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff due to an engine fire.

-- March 7, 2024

A tire fell off the left main landing gear of a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 bound for Osaka, Japan, when it took off from San Francisco.

-- March 11, 2024

A Boeing 787-9 of Chile-based LATAM Airlines flying from Sydney, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand, experienced a "technical failure" in flight, causing violent shaking of the fuselage and many injuries.
BEIRUT, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants urged on Monday the international community to bolster support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

The ministry highlighted the critical role of the UNRWA in providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and neighboring countries, adding the agency's operations should cease only with "the implementation of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state."

Acknowledging the UNRWA's extensive expertise in aiding Palestinian refugees under challenging conditions in Lebanon, the ministry lauded donor countries that have resumed or increased their contributions.

It called for continued support, claiming it as vital for the Palestinian people's survival and a testament to the United Nations' protective capabilities.

A number of donor countries decided to suspend funds to UNRWA after Israel accused the agency's employees in Gaza of taking part in the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

While some have partially reinstated UNRWA funding, given that Israel's claims have not been verified, the agency has lost the bulk of its financial support. 
HAVANA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Cuba-based Latin American news agency Prensa Latina on Sunday said its YouTube channel Prensa Latina TV was the target of a cyber attack.

According to a statement from the agency's headquarters in Havana, the attack occurred on Saturday when the email account associated with the channel was "hacked" and its passwords were changed to prevent access.

The president of Prensa Latina, Luis Enrique Gonzalez, told Xinhua the cyber attack aims to silence the agency on digital platforms.

"It is an attack against the truth championed by Prensa Latina for almost 65 years," said Gonzalez, referring to the agency's role since its founding.

Prensa Latina's YouTube channel was opened in 2012 and had garnered 64,500 subscribers. It saw dynamic growth last year, accumulating more than 9.6 million views, according to the agency.

Several Cuban media outlets on Sunday reported about the cyber attack.

Prensa Latina's statement said it hopes Google "investigates what happened and adopts the necessary measures" to recover the channel "attacked in violation of the most basic rules of Internet operation." 
Children receive bags of gifts given by Chinese and Pakistani volunteers at a slum in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 17, 2024. A group of a dozen Chinese and Pakistani volunteers associated with China-Pakistan Youth Exchange Community, and Beijing One Heart Sphere Charity Foundation visited two schools and delivered about 200 donation bags of gifts to children and women. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

by Misbah Saba Malik

ISLAMABAD, March 18 (Xinhua) -- On a crisp spring morning, the sun cast its golden rays, painting the outskirts of Islamabad with a warm glow as it illuminated the scene of children frolicking joyfully on receiving gift bags from Chinese volunteers as a token of friendship and goodwill.

The laughter of over 100 little boys and girls at a makeshift school in the slums of the Pakistani capital echoed through the air as they leaped and clapped with happiness, giving the onlookers a perfect sight to behold the power of kindness and generosity, brightening the early hours of the day.

A group of a dozen Chinese and Pakistani volunteers associated with China-Pakistan Youth Exchange Community, and Beijing One Heart Sphere Charity Foundation visited two schools and delivered about 200 donation bags to children and women there.

The kids at the schools are from underprivileged families, with some being orphans, others homeless, and many the offspring of disabled parents. All of them are very familiar with the Chinese people who frequently visit their homes and schools with bags full of not just material goods, but immeasurable happiness.

The children eagerly anticipated the arrival of the Chinese friends, with their faces lighting up with excitement at the prospect of spending time with those who have brought warmth and kindness into their lives.

"I wait for their visit, and a rush of happiness floods over me when I see them entering the school gate ... they are always very nice to us and embrace us with love and kindness," Muhammad Ullah, a student in grade five, told Xinhua.

Last week, the Chinese volunteers, mostly students at various universities in Islamabad, brought food and toys for the kids, and this weekend, they came with ration bags filled with flour, rice, and cooking oil to make the ongoing Islamic fasting month of Ramadan easier for them and their families.

Talking to Xinhua about his volunteer work, Yuan Wenhao, a Chinese student studying at International Islamic University Islamabad, said that to make Ramadan easy for the kids' families, they bought food items from the market and hand-packed them for the children.

"The underprivileged children need our kindness and support, my heart feels at ease when I visit here, and my eyes are filled with joy when I see smiles on their faces when they receive gifts. All these kids deserve to be happy and live a good life, and I am just playing a small part in bringing love from China to Pakistan," Yuan said.

Faryal Shah, a teacher at one of the two schools receiving the donations, said Chinese volunteers always take care of the children's educational needs and provide them with stationery, books, and other necessities.

"These children are impoverished, they live in shacks and their parents do not even have resources to feed them ... For them, Chinese volunteers are like angels, bringing smiles to their faces," Shah told Xinhua.

The women and children who received the gift bags said they think the heartwarming efforts by Chinese volunteers represent a beacon of hope and compassion for underprivileged families, demonstrating that individual efforts could make the world a better place for all. 

Children receive bags of gifts given by Chinese and Pakistani volunteers at a slum in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 17, 2024. A group of a dozen Chinese and Pakistani volunteers associated with China-Pakistan Youth Exchange Community, and Beijing One Heart Sphere Charity Foundation visited two schools and delivered about 200 donation bags of gifts to children and women. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

A boy smiles as he receives a bag of gifts from Chinese and Pakistani volunteers at a slum in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 17, 2024. A group of a dozen Chinese and Pakistani volunteers associated with China-Pakistan Youth Exchange Community, and Beijing One Heart Sphere Charity Foundation visited two schools and delivered about 200 donation bags of gifts to children and women. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

Children receive bags of gifts given by Chinese and Pakistani volunteers at a slum in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 17, 2024. A group of a dozen Chinese and Pakistani volunteers associated with China-Pakistan Youth Exchange Community, and Beijing One Heart Sphere Charity Foundation visited two schools and delivered about 200 donation bags of gifts to children and women. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

A Chinese volunteer gives a bag of gifts to a boy at a slum in Islamabad, Pakistan, on March 17, 2024. A group of a dozen Chinese and Pakistani volunteers associated with China-Pakistan Youth Exchange Community, and Beijing One Heart Sphere Charity Foundation visited two schools and delivered about 200 donation bags of gifts to children and women. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)
By Ulviyya Shahin

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.
BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Li Jinzhu, a former deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, has been indicted on charges of accepting bribes, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said in a statement on Monday.

After the completion of the investigations by the National Commission of Supervision, the People's Procuratorate of Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong Province filed Li's case with the city's intermediate people's court, according to the SPP.

Li has been accused of taking advantage of his various positions in Shaanxi to seek profits for others and accepting large sums of money and valuables in exchange.

Prosecutors had informed the defendant of his legal rights, interrogated him and listened to the defense counsel's arguments. 
Thirteen years after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, Syrians find themselves entrenched in a profound humanitarian crisis, the magnitude of which few could have anticipated years ago.




BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese regulators plan to ban Xu Jiayin, chairman of property developer Evergrande Group, from entering the securities market for life, the company announced on Monday.

The company's flagship real estate subsidiary said it has received advance notice of administrative penalties and market bans issued by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC).

The CSRC accused Xu of "making decisions on and organizing financial fraud," Evergrande Real Estate Group said in filings to the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges.

The CSRC will issue Xu a warning and a fine of 47 million yuan (nearly 6.63 million U.S. dollars).

Evergrande Real Estate Group will also receive a warning and a fine of 4.18 billion yuan for the issuance of false information in its 2019 and 2020 annual reports, for suspected fraud in its issuance of corporate bonds, and for its failure to disclose required information in a timely manner. 
SOFIA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev on Monday asked the GERB-UDF coalition, the largest group in the parliament, to form a government.

Mariya Gabriel, the coalition's nominee for prime minister, has seven days to present the structure and composition of the Council of Ministers. Her coalition won 69 seats in the 240-member Parliament in last year's elections.

"I accept this mandate with a sense of responsibility as Bulgaria needs stability," Gabriel said.

Former Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov submitted his resignation on March 5 and the parliament approved it the following day. Denkov was nominated for his position by the We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) coalition, the second-largest group in the parliament.

Denkov's resignation paved the way for the GERB-UDF to lead the government for nine months as agreed following last year's elections. According to deal, Denkov was to serve as prime minister for the first nine months, and then the GERB-UDF's representative Gabriel, who was deputy prime minister and foreign minister in Denkov's cabinet, was to take over.

Negotiations are underway between the two coalitions regarding details of the rotation. 
An aerial drone photo taken on March 17, 2024 shows the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) International Conference Center and hotel after renovation in the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone was put into operation on Monday. Operation and management of the zone is carried out in a smart way to achieve near-zero carbon emission at the regional level. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

BOAO, Hainan, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A demonstration zone focusing on almost zero emissions began operations on Monday in Boao, south China's Hainan Province.

A launching ceremony was held in Boao's Dongyu Island for the "Boao Nearly Zero Carbon Demonstration Zone," a project jointly built by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Hainan provincial government.

By incorporating emission reduction technologies and taking various innovative practices and measures, the demonstration zone is able to achieve balance between new energy power generation and consumption.

The project aims to showcase China's green and low-carbon development concepts, technologies and practices to the world.

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2024 will be held from March 26 to 29 in Boao, focusing on how the international community can work together to deal with common challenges and shoulder their responsibilities. 

An aerial drone photo taken on March 16, 2024 shows photovoltaic tiles in the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone was put into operation on Monday. Operation and management of the zone is carried out in a smart way to achieve near-zero carbon emission at the regional level. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 9, 2024 shows the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) International Conference Center and hotel after renovation in the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone was put into operation on Monday. Operation and management of the zone is carried out in a smart way to achieve near-zero carbon emission at the regional level. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2024 shows the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone was put into operation on Monday. Operation and management of the zone is carried out in a smart way to achieve near-zero carbon emission at the regional level. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

This photo taken on March 9, 2024 shows a parking lot equipped with photovoltaic power generation facilities and charging piles for new energy vehicles in the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone was put into operation on Monday. Operation and management of the zone is carried out in a smart way to achieve near-zero carbon emission at the regional level. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

This photo taken on March 8, 2024 shows an organic waste treatment project in the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone was put into operation on Monday. Operation and management of the zone is carried out in a smart way to achieve near-zero carbon emission at the regional level. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A chef cooks with an electric stove at a hotel kitchen in the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 8, 2024. The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone was put into operation on Monday. Operation and management of the zone is carried out in a smart way to achieve near-zero carbon emission at the regional level. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2024 shows the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone was put into operation on Monday. Operation and management of the zone is carried out in a smart way to achieve near-zero carbon emission at the regional level. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

This photo taken on March 9, 2024 shows wind energy collectors in the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone was put into operation on Monday. Operation and management of the zone is carried out in a smart way to achieve near-zero carbon emission at the regional level. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 9, 2024 shows the renovated press center of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) and photovoltic tiles in the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone in Boao, south China's Hainan Province.

The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone was put into operation on Monday. Operation and management of the zone is carried out in a smart way to achieve near-zero carbon emission at the regional level. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

An aerial drone photo taken on March 9, 2024 shows an energy storage system in the Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone and an agriculture-complementary photovoltaic power generation project in Boao, south China's Hainan Province. The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone was put into operation on Monday. Operation and management of the zone is carried out in a smart way to achieve near-zero carbon emission at the regional level. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)
Amatjan Mamat mounts a tire onto a wheel of a cotton harvester at a cotton harvester factory in Wusu, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)

URUMQI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- As he watched over the automated machines roaring on a cotton field in Shaya County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Amatjan Mamat couldn't help but remark that "harvest work has changed so much from the work I used to do."

Back in 2019, Amatjan set off on his first trip to offer on-spot after-sales services after taking a job in a harvester factory. He was surprised by just how orderly and efficient machines he helped produce were in action.

"It's all automatically done by machines, and manual labor is barely needed," he said, "If you do the math, you'll find reaping a kilo of cotton costs less than 1 yuan (14 U.S. cents). Growing cotton is very profitable thanks to these methods."

Amatjan's calculations were very different a decade ago. A native of Wusu City, a major cotton production area in northern Xinjiang, Amatjan naturally followed the family tradition of growing cotton for a living. He had a 10 mu (6,666 square meters) cotton field, and enticed by the promising cotton prices in 2015, he contracted an additional 50 mu of land.

However, the land in which he worked on consisted of six strips that were too narrow for large harvesters to operate.

"There weren't many types of harvesters at that time. So we paid two yuan for every kilo manually picked," the 44-year-old recalled, "We ended up losing 20,000 yuan after two years of hard work."

Little did Amatjan realize that during this period cotton farmers in Xinjiang would start to replace manual picking with machines. Data showed that more than 2,000 large harvesters worked across Xinjiang, effectively shortening the reaping time by half.

Luckily, Amatjan was able to promptly change his role in the evolving cotton industry. His father suggested that Amatjan get a job in a local cotton harvester factory. In the first month in his new position, he earned 5,500 yuan.

"I was so happy. I gave 1,000 yuan to my father. He said nothing and smiled. I knew he was happy for me," said Amatjan.

The new job had greatly eased his financial strain in supporting three young kids. Gradually the former farmer got used to the work and went on to become an outstanding member of the factory's final assembly team.

"The team consists of 21 workers, and 17 of them are ethnically Uygur, just like me," said Amatjan, noting that the 400-strong agricultural machinery enterprise employs people of various ethnic groups, including Uygur, Hui, Kazak, Han and Tibetan.

Now a skilled worker, Amatjan is adept at assembling and disassembling harvesters, both of which showcase his proficiency in handling the components with ease.

Last year, he helped assemble more than 400 agricultural machines, and his annual salary exceeded 100,000 yuan for the first time. It was during this period he also made another trip to Shaya.

"The farmers told me that our harvesters are more thorough than foreign ones. I felt very proud to hear this," said Amatjan.

Amatjan's experience from field to factory epitomizes the transformation of Xinjiang's cotton industry -- Long gone are the days of tiresome manual labor; enter an era of automated machines.

As China's largest cotton-growing region, Xinjiang produced 5.112 million tonnes of cotton in 2023. More than 85 percent of these fiber crops were picked by more than 7,000 harvesters.

Amatjan looks forward to another business trip to southern Xinjiang in October. At which point, he will earn a monthly payment of more than 10,000 yuan.

"Working hard is the only way to lead a good life," said Amatjan, "as the saying goes, there are only people who don't want to work, but there is no work that can't be done." 

Amatjan Mamat (2nd L) works at a cotton harvester factory in Wusu, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)

Amatjan Mamat works at a cotton harvester factory in Wusu, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)

Amatjan Mamat is seen with colleagues at a cotton harvester factory in Wusu, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)

Amatjan Mamat is kissed by his daughter at home in Wusu, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Ge)
by Xinhua writers Lv Chengcheng, Yan Ran and Dai He

LUANDA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- On Friday in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Angolan President Joao Lourenco announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Angola, a Portuguese-speaking country in Southwest Africa emerging from a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002, has enjoyed a flourishing partnership with China over the past two decades. This partnership is characterized by cooperation across various fields, and Angola has achieved significant progress in rebuilding the country, industrial modernization and talent development.

As Xi said during talks with Lourenco, China-Angola cooperation is South-South cooperation and cooperation between developing countries. It is defined as mutual help between good friends, reciprocity and win-win collaboration.

FACILITATING NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION

Located 18 km south of Luanda, Angola's capital, the "new city," Kilamba stands prominently on the horizon. More than a decade after its completion, this monumental public welfare project, executed by Chinese firms, comprises 700 buildings and 20,000 housing units, providing contemporary living conditions for its 120,000 inhabitants.

"I've been living here since January 2013, and back then, it felt like a fresh, pioneering city, with everything shining," 73-year-old resident Gaspar Pedro told Xinhua.

Pedro's home is situated in a 13-story residential building. Inside his cozy, orange-hued living room, a collection of family photos, including his daughter's wedding and the birth of his grandchildren, adorn one side of the bookshelf. Pedro enjoys a tranquil retirement life here with his wife, frequently visited by their children and grandchildren.

Mario Cassinda, who has managed a restaurant "Puro Tempero" in Kilamba for six years, believes the city has addressed more than just housing issues.

"It was constructed on a barren land. Since the city's establishment, it has created more jobs and attracted many people from the outskirts. I can say it's a beneficial project," said Cassinda.

The City of Kilamba, formerly known as the Kilamba Kiaxi Housing Project, was initiated by Chinese company CITIC Construction. It features well-equipped facilities, including schools, water treatment plants and substations, ensuring residents enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.

Chinese engineer Qi Juntuan, who participated in the city's construction, recalled the challenges they encountered, particularly the uncommon issue of poor soil adhesion, a problem rarely encountered by Chinese engineers elsewhere.

"The team, working tirelessly day and night, eventually overcame these obstacles with techniques like layered backfilling," he said. "The thought of applying our knowledge to bring tangible improvements to the local area fills us with great motivation."

In 2010, Xi visited Angola, when Angola and China announced the establishment of a strategic partnership. Xi personally inspected the project, spending half a day there, inspiring builders from China and Angola.

Rising from once barren land, the new city is a testament to the accelerated cooperation between the two nations.

China and Angola celebrated the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2023, and the partnership continues to thrive. Deepened political trust and practical cooperation have benefited the people of both nations.

China has been Angola's largest trading partner, largest export market and an essential source of investment for many years, while Angola is China's second-largest trading partner in Africa.

Drummond Mafuta, president of the Board of Directors of Edicoes Novembro, one of Angola's largest media groups, commented that when the Angolan civil war ended and the country needed reconstruction, China was the first to extend a helping hand.

Mafuta said friendship with China "is and will always be marked in the history of Angola's reconstruction."

FOSTERING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

After the talks on Friday, Xi and Lourenco jointly witnessed the signing of several bilateral cooperation documents regarding the Belt and Road cooperation plan, the economy and trade, agriculture, green development and other fields.

Tiago Quissua Armando, a scholar at Angola's Venancio de Moura Diplomacy Institute, sees the outcomes of the leaders' talks as addressing vital issues for Angola, such as economic diversification, industrial investment and agricultural modernization.

"President Lourenco's visit also includes a trip to Shandong, a Chinese province with significant experience in the agricultural sector. Angola can benefit from this experience to enhance its local industry," he said.

Last year, Shandong Province signed a friendly cooperation agreement with Bengo Province of Angola, committing to strengthening cooperation in agriculture, economy, trade and vocational education.

One of the flagship Shandong enterprises in Angola is the Sino-Ord Industrial Park. Since its establishment in 2019, the park has launched six industrial projects, with around 200 Chinese employees and approximately 1,700 local workers.

In June 2021, the Angolan president visited the industrial park and praised its role in boosting local employment, increasing tax revenue, and propelling Angola's industrialization and economic diversification efforts.

"Working with colleagues from China and other countries has broadened my horizons and made me realize that only through strengthening international cooperation can our country's development be more hopeful," said Joao Paulo, a senior external relations manager who has worked at the industrial park for many years.

In Luanda, the Fatima Furniture Factory of the Qingdao Yewhing Group has set an example in the local industry by providing employment opportunities for hundreds of families.

"Having the factory or local production not only provides the product but also creates jobs, allowing more Angolans to have a source of sustainability for their families. Now, everyone here dreams of becoming an excellent technician," said Wilson Manuel, a 30-year-old human resources manager at the furniture factory.

Today, products such as cabinets and wardrobes from the factory account for 40 percent of the domestic market in Angola, while the factory's sofa brand occupies a quarter of the market share.

Angola's Minister of Industry and Commerce Rui Miguens said China's industrial development has raised living standards. He noted that Angola hopes to learn from China's experience in industrialization and looks forward to more Chinese companies investing in Angola.

CULTIVATING FUTURE TALENT

Luis Erivaldo, a young Angolan working at Huawei, developed a strong interest in communication technology during his school years. After four rounds of interviews, he joined Huawei Angola and, over six years, grew from a freshman to a technical director.

In 2022, the Angolan government signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei for a "digital talent" training program, which plans to train over 10,000 Angolan youths in the next five years.

There is a broad scope for cooperation in vocational education between China and Africa.

In August 2023, President Xi co-chaired with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue in Johannesburg, proposing initiatives to strengthen practical cooperation between China and Africa and support African integration and modernization, including the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development.

The inauguration ceremony of the Chinese-donated Integrated Center for Technological Training took place in Huambo City, Angola, on Jan. 12. The 20,000-square-meter center has 30 laboratories and six workshops covering robotics, mechanical processing, computer science and automotive repair. In its first phase, it plans to train 2,400 people annually.

President Lourenco personally inaugurated the training center. During his visit, he inquired in detail about the project's construction and teaching plans. Just before leaving, he stepped out of his car to shake hands and again express gratitude to the Chinese personnel.

"This is a modern training center with complete facilities, and all the teachers have been trained in China. We are very grateful for China's help and look forward to continuing cooperation with China in the future," said Geraldo Pambasange, the training center's principal.

Secretary of State for Labor and Social Security of Angola Pedro Filipe said that in recent years, vocational training and talent cultivation have become critical areas of cooperation between Angola and China.

China and Angola have a strong foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation. As relations progress, the two nations will witness exciting new chapters in their friendship. 
CHENGDU, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The 11th China Internet Audio & Video Convention is scheduled to be held in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, from March 28 to 30 this year.

The convention will consist of a main forum, several sub-forums and exhibitions featuring new technologies and high-quality internet content, according to the Sichuan Provincial People's Government.

The main forum will be attended by experts from China's National Radio and Television Administration, online video and audio platforms and major media outlets. A research report on the development of China's internet audio-and-video industry will be released during the convention.

Inaugurated in 2013, the convention is a major platform for experience sharing and communication of the internet video-and-audio industry. It is also an occasion to exhibit new forms and new technologies of the industry. 
DAMASCUS, March 17 (Xinhua) -- An explosion shook the eastern countryside of the southern Syrian province of Daraa on Sunday night, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The war monitor reported that the explosion coincided with Jordanian warplanes flying over the Syrian-Jordanian border.

Local news outlets said that Jordanian aircraft conducted three airstrikes near the Nasib border crossing, targeting a suspected mobile unit, possibly a small transport bus, which caught fire as a result.

The Jordanian army said in a statement that its air defense radar system has detected suspicious aerial movements from an unknown source along the border with Syria.

Jordanian airstrikes have previously targeted alleged drug traffickers attempting to smuggle drugs into Jordan from Syria. 
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L), also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters in Wellington, New Zealand, March 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)

WELLINGTON, March 18 (Xinhua) -- China and New Zealand will make joint efforts to forge closer cooperation and relations in the decade to come, a prospect expected by visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his New Zealand counterpart during their talks on Monday.

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is currently on a tour from March 17 to 21 for an official visit to New Zealand and to Australia.

In his meeting with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters, Wang said that the sustained momentum for a healthy development of bilateral ties despite changes in global and regional situations has been a stabilizing factor in the world, stressing mutual respect, mutual tolerance, focusing on cooperation and benefiting the people as the favorable drivers deserving working further.

As this year marks the 10th anniversary of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said that the Chinese side is willing to work with the New Zealand side to create more "firsts" for bilateral ties to remain in the lead among China's relationships with developed countries, and see a new decade with greater development.

Wang said that China and New Zealand have many important consensuses and extensive common interests, and that mutually beneficial cooperation has ever been the keynote in bilateral ties, calling on both sides to continue to respect each other's choice of social system and development path, and accomodate each other's core interests and major concerns.

During the talks, Wang also called for joint efforts to implement the upgraded China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, launch negotiations on the negative list of trade in services at an early date, and build new growth engines such as infrastructure, green transformation, digital economy, technological innovation, and climate action.

The Chinese foreign minister said that both sides should continue to improve conditions for personnel exchanges, and deepen exchanges on education, tourism and youth and at the sub-national level.

Wang expressed hope that New Zealand will earnestly protect the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students and tourists in New Zealand.

Wang noted that both China and New Zealand are participants and builders of the existing international system and order, and have broad consensus in promoting equality among all countries, big or small, multilateralism, democracy in international relations and free trade.

He said that China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with New Zealand under multilateral frameworks and to jointly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on the international law.

The Chinese foreign minister also elaborated on China's position on the Taiwan question, and issues related to Hong Kong, Xizang, South China Sea and human rights.

For his part, Peters noted during the meeting that China is an important partner of New Zealand, adding that bilateral ties have made great progress since the establishment of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership 10 years ago.

New Zealand firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and looks forward to increased high-level exchanges, expanded cooperation in economy and trade, education, culture and climate action, and deepened communication and coordination in regional and international affairs, pushing for greater growth of bilateral ties in the coming decade or even 50 years.

He said that New Zealand welcomes the arrival of Chinese students and entrepreneurs to study and start businesses.

The two sides agreed to further conduct high-level exchanges, hold intergovernmental dialogues on foreign policy, trade, consular affairs, the South Pacific, climate change, and human rights, take further steps to facilitate personnel exchanges, and maintain active communication on China's participation in the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

The two sides also exchanged in-depth views on Ukraine, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Korean Peninsula, the situation in the South Pacific region and other international and regional issues of common concern. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters in Wellington, New Zealand, March 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Guo Lei)
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"
People visit the 4th China Cross-border E-commerce Trade Fair in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 18, 2024. The trade fair kicked off here on Monday, attracting more than 30 cross-border e-commerce platforms worldwide and over 1,500 exhibitors across China. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

People visit the 4th China Cross-border E-commerce Trade Fair in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 18, 2024. The trade fair kicked off here on Monday, attracting more than 30 cross-border e-commerce platforms worldwide and over 1,500 exhibitors across China. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

People visit the 4th China Cross-border E-commerce Trade Fair in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 18, 2024. The trade fair kicked off here on Monday, attracting more than 30 cross-border e-commerce platforms worldwide and over 1,500 exhibitors across China. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

An exhibitor talks with a visitor at the 4th China Cross-border E-commerce Trade Fair in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 18, 2024. The trade fair kicked off here on Monday, attracting more than 30 cross-border e-commerce platforms worldwide and over 1,500 exhibitors across China. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

People visit the booth of TikTok Shop at the 4th China Cross-border E-commerce Trade Fair in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 18, 2024. The trade fair kicked off here on Monday, attracting more than 30 cross-border e-commerce platforms worldwide and over 1,500 exhibitors across China. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

People watch Indonesian Internet influencers selling products via livestreaming at the 4th China Cross-border E-commerce Trade Fair in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, March 18, 2024. The trade fair kicked off here on Monday, attracting more than 30 cross-border e-commerce platforms worldwide and over 1,500 exhibitors across China. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

This photo taken on March 18, 2024 shows a forum of the 4th China Cross-border E-commerce Trade Fair in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province. The trade fair kicked off here on Monday, attracting more than 30 cross-border e-commerce platforms worldwide and over 1,500 exhibitors across China. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)
This photo taken on March 17, 2024 shows the 2024 China Seed (Nanfan Agricultural Silicon Valley) Congress in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province.

China collected more than 530,000 agricultural germplasm resources during a national census on these resources that concluded in 2023, according to a seed industry conference opened in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province Sunday. (Xinhua)

SANYA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- China collected more than 530,000 agricultural germplasm resources during a national census on these resources that concluded in 2023, according to a seed industry conference opened in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province Sunday.

China has rescued 746 rare and endangered agricultural resources, including large-sized kiwi and Hetao big-eared pig, and has found 51 new species including the Pamir yak, according to the conference.

The census covered fields of crop, livestock and poultry, and aquatic products in 625,000 villages across 2,323 counties nationwide.

This general survey conducted a thorough assessment of resource types, quantity, distribution, characteristics and their changes in recent decades, thereby, laying the foundation for future protection and utilization work as well as formulation of related policies, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The focus of protection and utilization efforts will be redirected toward accurate identification and shared utilization to meet the demand for breeding innovation and industrial development, the ministry said. 

Participants visit an exhibition on the sidelines of the 2024 China Seed (Nanfan Agricultural Silicon Valley) Congress in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, March 17, 2024.

China collected more than 530,000 agricultural germplasm resources during a national census on these resources that concluded in 2023, according to a seed industry conference opened in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province Sunday. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 17, 2024 shows the 2024 China Seed (Nanfan Agricultural Silicon Valley) Congress in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province.

China collected more than 530,000 agricultural germplasm resources during a national census on these resources that concluded in 2023, according to a seed industry conference opened in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province Sunday. (Xinhua)
LUSAKA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government has commended the World Bank for releasing 100 million U.S. dollars to support the country's energy sector.

The funds are part of a 700-million-dollar grant under phase one of the Zambia National Energy Advancement and Transformation (NEAT) program for the 2023-2033 period.

The approval of the funds would provide an immediate financial boost to the state power utility, Zesco Limited, and support the procurement of non-hydropower renewables at a critical time when Zambia is experiencing an electricity deficit due to drought, Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said Sunday.

The program aims to increase the financial sustainability, operational reliability and resilience of Zambia's electricity sector, he added.

"In the long run, the NEAT program will facilitate Zesco's return to financial sustainability, reduce its fiscal burden, attract private sector investment to enable new growth, and deliver more inclusive electrification and broader development countrywide," he noted.

The minister also said that the release of the funds demonstrates the World Bank's confidence in Zambia's strategic home-grown reforms and its recently strengthened public financial governance credentials.

Apart from supporting the power utility, the funds will also be used to operationalize the rural electrification fund, ensuring financial sustainability for capital expenditure for social objectives and increasing energy access to the country's outlying areas, Musokotwane said. 
LUSAKA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Zambia on Monday launched the 2024 Financial Literacy Week aimed at sensitizing citizens on financial matters, with the government urging citizens to be wary of risks associated with digital platforms where financial scams are on the rise.

The event, which runs from March 18 to 24, is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities with the knowledge and skills essential for navigating the intricate landscape of personal finance.

The launch of the event, held under the theme "Protect your money, secure your Future," was preceded by a march that brought together various stakeholders in the financial sector.

Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane said it is important for citizens to adopt a responsible and informed approach to personal finances to safeguard their money.

He said young people are the most vulnerable to financial scams, money laundering, and online shopping fraud, as well as data privacy risks such as identity theft, hence the need for them to be especially careful.

Denny Kalyalya, governor of the Bank of Zambia (BoZ), said citizens should take a keen interest in safeguarding their money by investing with licensed financial institutions.

The central bank chief said the cashless campaign is meant to promote digital finance, and urged people to be cautious of fraudulent online transactions. 
The United Nations Security Council holds a meeting on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 18, 2024. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on nuclear weapon states to lead the way toward nuclear disarmament, including an agreement on no first use. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, March 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday called on nuclear weapon states to lead the way toward nuclear disarmament, including an agreement on no first use.

Nuclear weapons are the most destructive weapons ever invented, capable of eliminating all life on Earth. Today, these weapons are growing in power, range and stealth, he told a Security Council meeting on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

An accidental launch is one mistake, one miscalculation, one rash act away. And ultimately, all of humanity will pay the price. A nuclear war must never be waged because a nuclear war can never be won, he said. "There is one path, and one path only, that will vanquish this senseless and suicidal shadow, once and for all. We need disarmament now."

Guterres asked nuclear weapon states to lead the way in six areas.

First, nuclear weapon states must re-engage to develop transparency and confidence-building measures to prevent any use of a nuclear weapon.

Second, nuclear saber-rattling must stop. Threats to use nuclear weapons in any capacity are unacceptable.

Third, nuclear weapon states must reaffirm moratoria on nuclear testing. This means pledging to avoid taking any actions that would undermine the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

Fourth, nuclear disarmament commitments must become action. Nuclear weapon states must honor their commitments to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. And they should pledge to hold each other accountable to these commitments.

Fifth, nuclear weapon states must urgently agree that none of them will be the first to use nuclear weapons. As a matter of fact, none should use them in any circumstances.

Sixth, there must be reductions in the number of nuclear weapons. This reduction must be led by the United States and Russia -- the holders of the largest nuclear arsenals.

Guterres warned that today's geopolitical tensions and mistrust have escalated the risk of nuclear warfare to its highest point in decades.

He asked the Security Council to look beyond today's divisions and state clearly that living with the existential threat of nuclear weapons is unacceptable, and to lead the way to a world free of these instruments of annihilation. 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C, Front) speaks at a Security Council meeting on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 18, 2024. Guterres on Monday called on nuclear weapon states to lead the way toward nuclear disarmament, including an agreement on no first use. (Xinhua/Xie E)
People are seen among the rubble in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, on March 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 31,726, with 73,792 others wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Monday. (Xinhua)

GAZA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 31,726, with 73,792 others wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Monday.

The Israeli army killed 81 Palestinians and wounded 116 others during the past 24 hours, according to the ministry.

The statement noted that some victims remained under the rubble amid heavy Israeli bombardment and a lack of civil defense and ambulance crews.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza 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. 

People walk among the rubble in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, on March 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 31,726, with 73,792 others wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Monday. (Xinhua)

People are seen among the rubble in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip, on March 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 31,726, with 73,792 others wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Monday. (Xinhua)

People are framed by the structure of a destroyed building in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on March 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 31,726, with 73,792 others wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

People walk on a street with destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on March 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 31,726, with 73,792 others wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

People walk past the rubble in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on March 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 31,726, with 73,792 others wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

A man walks past destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on March 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 31,726, with 73,792 others wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

People walk on a street with destroyed buildings in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on March 18, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 31,726, with 73,792 others wounded, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Monday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)
BEIRUT, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The International Labor Organization (ILO) reported a sharp rise in unemployment rates in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

In a report co-written with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the ILO Regional Office for the Arab States said the war in the Gaza Strip has been particularly detrimental to employment, with over half a million jobs lost across the OPT by January 2024.

The Gaza Strip alone witnessed around 201,000 jobs lost, accounting for two-thirds of its total employment. In the West Bank, the situation is similarly dire, with 306,000 jobs lost, representing over one-third of total employment.

ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat has expressed grave concerns about the economic and social crisis unfolding in the OPT.

The conflict has led to widespread destruction of infrastructure and essential services, decimating entire neighborhoods and economic sectors. This has paralyzed labor market activity and is expected to have long-lasting effects on Palestinian livelihoods, said Jaradat.

She noted that the ILO Regional Office for the Arab States, headquartered in Beirut, is coordinating with other UN agencies to implement a program aimed at providing relief, reviewing the situation, and facilitating recovery. 
KAMPALA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military on Monday urged the public to be on alert after intelligence reports showed that a group of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) fighters had crossed into the country from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Deo Akiiki, Uganda's deputy military spokesperson, told reporters in the Ugandan capital of Kampala that the rebels crossed into the country two days ago, noting that the group is under instruction from the Tanzanian-born ADF bomb expert Ahamed Muhamood Hasssan, also known as Abu Waqas.

Akiiki urged the public to be vigilant, adding that the ADF still seeks to send terror groups to Uganda, especially urban areas, places of worship, schools, and public gatherings.

He said the military has been put on high alert, and the security forces are highly prepared to protect Ugandans from attacks.

The ADF was responsible for the killing of two tourists at a national park in western Uganda and for the killing of at least 40 people, mostly students, last year, according to the Ugandan military.

Uganda and the Congolese troops in November 2021 launched a military operation dubbed "Operation Shujaa" to wipe out the ADF, after it carried out twin bombings in Kampala that killed six people and injured 33 others. 
UNITED NATIONS, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Monday demanded an end to attacks on vessels at the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi militia and calls for restraint in order to avoid further escalation of the situation.

In a press statement, the members of the Security Council condemned Houthi attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea and demanded an immediate end to such attacks.

They called for practical cooperation, including with the Yemeni government, to prevent the Houthis from acquiring the arms and related materiel necessary to carry out further attacks and reiterated that all UN member states must adhere to their obligations in regards to the targeted arms embargo.

The council members reaffirmed that the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by merchant and commercial vessels of all states transiting the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, in accordance with international law, must be respected. They recalled the importance of enhancing international and regional cooperation to counter threats to peace and security in the region and called for de-escalation in the Red Sea to preserve the peace process in Yemen.

The council members further called for continued international involvement in close cooperation with the United Nations and coastal states, as well as with regional and subregional organizations to prevent further escalation with possible multidimensional consequences.

They emphasized the need to prevent further regional spillover of the conflict and its impact on the security and the stability of the region and beyond, and in this regard, reiterated the necessity to address the root causes contributing to regional tensions and to the disruption of maritime security in order to ensure a prompt, efficient, and effective response.

The council members urged caution and restraint to avoid further escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and the broader region, and encouraged enhanced diplomatic efforts by all parties to that end, including continued support for dialogue and Yemen's peace process under UN auspices. 
JERUSALEM, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military said on Monday that it had taken over the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, claiming it had killed at least 20 militants.

Israeli troops have been continuing the military operation since overnight into Monday afternoon.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concern about the developments in the hospital. "Hospitals should never be battlegrounds. We are terribly worried about the situation at Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, which is endangering health workers, patients and civilians," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, said on social media platform X.

Heavy gunfire could be heard in videos circulating on social media, and Palestinian health authorities confirmed that Israeli troops had utilized heavy weaponry to attack the hospital, causing multiple casualties.

Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Daniel Hagari announced the raid in a video statement in the morning, claiming that Hamas militants were regrouping in the Al-Shifa complex.

A total of 20 militants were killed and dozens of "suspects" were arrested and are undergoing interrogation, according to the military.

The fatalities include Faiq Mabhuoch, head of the Operations Directorate of Hamas' Internal Security, the military said, adding that Mabhuoch was killed in a clash with Israeli troops at the hospital, "where he operated and advanced terrorist activity."

"Numerous" weapons were located in the room adjacent to where the Hamas official was killed, the army noted.

Al-Shifa, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, has been previously targeted by the Israeli army. 
By Ulviyya Shahin

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.
BRUSSELS, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Council of the European Union (EU) approved the creation of the Ukraine Assistance Fund (UAF) here on Monday and earmarked 5 billion euros (5.4 billion U.S. dollars) for it.

The decision was reached at EU's Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, where ministers discussed EU support for Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.

UAF will allow the EU to further support the evolving needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces "through the provision of both lethal and non-lethal military equipment and training," the Council said.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the EU has given or committed over 138 billion euros in aid to Ukraine, of which 28 billion euros was military support. (1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollar) 
PHNOM PENH, March 18 (Xinhua) -- AirAsia's Cambodian unit will launch daily domestic flight operations on May 2, as the low-cost airline aims to boost air travel in the Southeast Asian country, it said in a news release on Monday.

The airline will start with three domestic flight destinations: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville, utilizing two A320 aircraft based at Phnom Penh International Airport, the news release said.

AirAsia Cambodia Chief Executive Officer Vissoth Nam said this will not only improve connectivity but also encourage travelers to stay longer in Cambodia.

"Our vision is to transform the way people travel in Cambodia and make air travel an integral part of the country's transportation network," he said.

He added that the fares are as low as 49 U.S. dollars in one way to amazing domestic destinations, so more local and international visitors can experience the wonder of Cambodia by air affordably.

He said he believes that the airline will contribute to fostering the local economy by providing jobs to locals and supporting tourism development. 
ISLAMABAD, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani forces on Monday morning carried out intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in the border regions inside Afghanistan, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

"The target of the operation was the terrorists belonging to Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, which along with the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is responsible for multiple terrorist attacks inside Pakistan, resulting in deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials," the ministry said in a statement in the evening.

The latest attack took place a couple of days ago at a security post in Mir Ali area in North Waziristan district of Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which killed seven Pakistani soldiers, said the statement.

Pakistan accords prime importance to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, the ministry said, adding that the country has great respect for the Afghan people.

It has, therefore, always prioritized dialogue and cooperation to confront the terrorist threat, the statement said.

"Pakistan would therefore continue to work towards finding joint solutions in countering terrorism and to prevent any terrorist organization from sabotaging bilateral relations with Afghanistan," the statement noted. 
KABUL/ISLAMABAD, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Eight people have been killed in an operation by Pakistani security forces from Sunday to Monday, the Pakistani military said in a statement.

The Pakistani security forces conducted the intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan district on the reported presence of "terrorists", the Pakistani military's media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in the statement.

At least seven security personnel, including two Pakistani military officers, were killed in an attack by terrorists on Saturday in the district located along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

On Monday, the Afghan caretaker government denied the presence of the terror group Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, known as TTP, in Afghanistan. The Afghan side also condemned the attack by the Pakistani military, saying the incident, which took place in Afghanistan's territory, claimed eight civilian lives. The two countries share an over 2,000-km border which covers a number of disputed areas. 
BISHKEK, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan on Monday called on the international community, especially Israel's main sponsor, the United States, to end the "genocide" in Gaza.

For six months now, the world has been observing the methodical destruction of the population in Gaza, said Edil Baisalov, deputy chairman of the cabinet of ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, at the opening of a photo exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the formation of the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Baisalov emphasized that numerous children, along with United Nations (UN) staff members and journalists, had been killed, adding that "most of them were killed deliberately, and all these incidents are documented."

"In 2024, we are watching genocide live. We are watching live how two million Palestinians are suffering from hunger and the world can do nothing," said Baisalov.

Baisalov also emphasized Kyrgyzstan's condemnation of terrorism and its previous condemnation of the attack on Israeli civilians in October. He noted that Kyrgyzstan recognizes Israel's right to self-defense, but firmly asserted that the Israeli government "has no right to place itself above international law and the United Nations." 
ZAGREB, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The Croatian Constitutional Court said on Monday that President Zoran Milanovic must resign before running for prime minister (PM).

As the president of Croatia, Milanovic cannot participate in the political activities of any party, Miroslav Separovic, president of the Constitutional Court, said in an announcement.

This excludes the possibility for Milanovic to be a candidate on the list for the election of representatives or to be nominated as a PM candidate, he said.

If Milanovic wants to run for parliamentary elections, he must immediately submit his resignation to the president of the Constitutional Court, in which case the speaker of the Croatian Parliament will become the interim president and presidential elections must be held within 60 days, Separovic said.

The upcoming parliamentary elections will be under strict supervision of the Constitutional Court, he warned.

Milanovic unexpectedly announced on Friday that he would run for prime minister as an independent candidate for the Social Democratic Party in the upcoming elections scheduled for April 17. 
NAIROBI, March 18 (Xinhua) -- The United States' annual "democracy summit," with the so-called aim to "promote global freedoms and shared aspirations," turned out to be a platform for showcasing Washington's arrogance and hegemonic tendencies, an African expert has said.

Yirenkyi Jesse, a Ghanaian commentator, published an op-ed in The Standard, a leading daily newspaper in Kenya, criticizing the summit for failing to rally the world toward greater freedoms and hope.

The summit, first held in 2021 and conceived by the Biden administration, has devolved into a display of American hubris and double standards, Jesse said in the article, titled "Summit for Democracy a show of U.S. arrogance."

While the summit was meant to showcase "American leadership and soft power", Jesse suggests that it masks a more insidious agenda: the United States positioning itself as the self-appointed leader of the so-called "Democratic Camp," which he believes is aimed at intimidating perceived adversaries.

The third edition of the summit is scheduled for Monday to Wednesday in Seoul under the theme "Democracy for Future Generations."

Jesse highlighted the event's low turnout and noted that U.S. President Joe Biden's related speeches have failed to resonate globally.

Since its inception, the event has been plagued by a litany of failures and criticisms, revealing the dysfunctional nature of American democracy, he said. "Even within its own borders, the Summit for Democracy has faced fierce opposition, with lawmakers, experts and media outlets alike denouncing it as little more than a hollow echo chamber of empty rhetoric."

"By weaponizing democracy as a political tool, the United States seeks to assert its hegemonic dominance, dividing the world along arbitrary lines and sowing discord in its wake," Jesse said.

He concluded that unless the United States aligns its actions with its rhetoric, its self-claimed spirit of democracy will remain elusive, obscured by American hypocrisy and hubris. 
New Delhi: Following the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embarking on a brief visit to Bhutan. With the implementation of the Code of Conduct, no agreements or announcements will be made between the two countries during this time. Despite these restrictions, the significance of this tour is not overlooked.

PM Modi's visit to Bhutan coincides with the recent visit of Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay to India, marking a significant diplomatic exchange. It's noteworthy that this visit occurs as India prepares for elections, making it a rare occasion for an Indian Prime Minister to undertake foreign travel post-election announcement, given the limitations imposed by the code of conduct.

In 2009, a similar instance occurred when a former Indian Prime Minister visited Britain to attend a G-20 meeting after election dates were announced. PM Modi's visit to Bhutan holds strategic importance, particularly amidst the ongoing border dispute with China.

Notably, during Tshering Tobgay's tenure, Bhutan played a crucial role in resolving its border dispute with China, culminating in a signed agreement between the two nations. The border shared by India, Bhutan, and China presents complexities, with certain areas forming a strategic bottleneck. Doklam witnessed a violent clash between Indian and Chinese forces, highlighting the region's significance, especially in the context of India's northeastern territories.

The border agreement between Bhutan and China entailed a territorial exchange, reflecting Bhutan's diplomatic engagement and cooperation. Tobgay's visit to India marked his first foreign visit after assuming office in January, underscoring the importance of bilateral relations.

In light of these developments, PM Modi's visit aims to strengthen ties between India and Bhutan, fostering deeper cooperation and partnership between the two nations.

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Russia is prepared to cancel contracts for Nepalese citizens serving in its army amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, said the Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha. Shrestha, who also serves as the country's foreign minister, revealed that Russia has given "in-principle consent" to assist in terminating the contracts of Nepalese nationals engaged in the ongoing war. While the specifics are yet to be determined, Shrestha assured that efforts are underway through the Nepali Embassy in Moscow to facilitate the return of those involved. Last week, Shrestha urged Russia to provide a list of Nepalese citizens serving in its army, acknowledging the challenges in repatriating them from the conflict zone.

The announcement from Shrestha follows discussions with Russian Ambassador to Nepal Aleksei Novikov, during which the ongoing difficulties in bringing Nepali citizens back from the conflict were acknowledged. It's reported that hundreds of Nepali nationals are fighting alongside Russian forces, with a smaller number serving in the Ukrainian Army. However, neither conflicting party has shared comprehensive details with the Nepalese government.

According to a network representing families of victims, 20 Nepali citizens have been confirmed dead while fighting for Russia, while over 260 are missing or out of contact. However, the Nepalese government has officially acknowledged 11 fatalities among its nationals serving in the Russian Army during the conflict. Approximately 700 families have come forward seeking assistance for the safe return of their relatives serving in the Russian army.

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By Ulviyya Shahin

Former Montenegro President Milo ?ukanovi? 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.

?ukanovi? 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.
Health Ministers from countries in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), including India, gathered in Astana recently to strengthen healthcare collaboration.

The meeting, attended by delegation leaders, resulted in agreements to improve healthcare systems and support each other in tackling public health issues.

Discussions with India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare focused on collaborating in medicine and medical device production, technology sharing, and medical education.

Delegation heads from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan emphasized the importance of enhancing partnerships with Kazakhstan, the current SCO chair. Areas of focus include strengthening educational connections, increasing human resources, and exchanging experiences and technologies.

Kazakhstan, as the current SCO chair, will host the Summit in mid-2024. Last year, India chaired the SCO and organized a Conference & Expo on Traditional Medicine. The SCO comprises 9 member states, 2 observers, and 14 dialogue partner countries. India became an Observer at the July 2005 Astana Summit and a full member on June 9, 2017, at the SCO Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.

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RB team boss Laurent Mekies says the teams future aerodynamic facility adjacent to Red Bulls campus in Milton Keynes is expected to come online by the end of 2024.

RBs headquarters have historically always been  and will remain  located in Faenza, Italy. But over the years, the team has also operated a small facility in Bicester, a town nestled within the UK's "motorsport valley."

However, with RB relying since 2022 on Red Bulls larger-scale wind tunnel for its development, vacating entirely the Bicester unit and relocating the teams aerodynamics operations to a dedicated facility in Melton Keynes made perfect sense.

The improved infrastructure will not only provide RB with all the cutting-edge resources to optimize car development its location within the UKs motorsport hub should also attract a wider pool of skilled personnel for the team.

Finally, housing both RBs aerodynamics department in close proximity to Red Bulls main campus will foster a closer collaboration and communication between the two teams.

In Bicester, we have the aero department, concept design and part of the design office  all in a location chosen to be close to the wind tunnel, explained Mekies.

Fifteen years ago, the team was smaller than it is today, and Bicester made sense. Today, the aero department has tripled in size; we no longer use this tunnel because we have another one, and the location is no longer suitable.

So, we will leave it at the end of the year and move to a new facility in Milton Keynes, next to the Red Bull campus.

The technical alliance between Red Bull Racing and its sister outfit, while within F1s regulations, has been frowned upon by several rival outfits, and especially by McLaren boss Zak Brown who believes that the collaborative partnership is beneficial to both teams.

There are also concerns that the situation could lead to personnel moving from one team to the other, a claim that Mekies dismissed.

The regulations are very clear, he stated. It is very well defined that you cannot use the transfer of personnel to bypass the regulation regarding [intellectual property]. So, you cannot move a person from team A to team B in order to transfer knowledge.

Now, in our case, I can say that these transfers were infrequent, but every time there was a transfer we asked the FIA whether the move of a technician or an engineer in a specific role was to be considered in line with what was specified in the regulation.

And we have always acted only after receiving the OK from the FIA."

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The price of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has rocketed by 65% to about $68,000 since the beginning of 2024. But certain Wall Street analysts still see a substantial upside in the cryptocurrency.

Gautam Chhugani at Bernstein believes Bitcoin will reach $150,000 by mid-2025, implying that its price will soar by 120% (or $82,000) during the next 12 to 18 months. Similarly, Geoff Kendrick at Standard Chartered Bank believes Bitcoin could reach $200,000 by the end of 2025, implying that its price could soar by 194% (or $132,000) during the next 21 months.

Ultimately, cryptocurrencies are no different than any other asset. Their prices are a product of supply and demand. However, the total possible Bitcoin supply is limited to 21 million coins, and 19.7 million (94%) of them are already in circulation. That means demand is the most consequential variable where Bitcoin is concerned.

With that in mind, Chhugani and Kendrick believe two catalysts will turbocharge Bitcoin demand in the coming months: the recent approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and the halving event next month.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs should bring more investors to the market

In January, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs, which differ from the Bitcoin futures ETFs that started trading in 2021. Specifically, spot Bitcoin ETFs track Bitcoin prices precisely because they invest directly in the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin futures ETFs do not track Bitcoin prices as precisely because they invest in futures contracts -- agreements to buy or sell assets at agreed-upon prices on predetermined dates.

Investors can see that dynamic in action by observing the performance of the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF, the largest Bitcoin futures ETF. While Bitcoin gained about 200% since the start of 2023, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF is up only 123% in that period.

In short, spot Bitcoin ETFs reduce friction. They offer direct exposure to Bitcoin without the hassle of cryptocurrency exchanges and blockchain wallets. Instead, investors can effectively purchase Bitcoin through existing brokerage accounts and hold it alongside other assets in their portfolios. That convenience could bring more retail traders and institutional investors into the crypto market.

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In fact, that seems to be happening already. The spot Bitcoin ETFs issued by BlackRock and Fidelity ranked as the two most successful ETF launches in history, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. They accumulated more assets during their first months of trading than the other 5,500 ETFs that launched in the past 30 years. That screams demand.

Looking ahead, Chhugani believes those products will lead to "unprecedented institutional adoption" of Bitcoin. That is particularly auspicious because PwC estimates that institutional assets under management will reach $145 trillion by 2025. If even a small fraction of that total is allocated to Bitcoin, its price could rocket much higher. In that context, Bitcoin reaching $150,000 by mid-2025 or $200,000 by the end of 2025 is a plausible outcome.

Bitcoin mining rewards will be cut in half in April 2024

As mentioned, the total supply of Bitcoin that can ever be mined is capped at 21 million coins. That feature has helped Bitcoin fans promote its reputation as a type of digital gold, simply because gold also derives value from its scarce supply. Halving events are part of the mechanism that enforces the Bitcoin supply limit.

Specifically, each time 210,000 blocks are added to the Bitcoin blockchain, the rewards miners get for validating transactions are cut in half. This happens about once every four years. The next halving is forecast to occur on April 16. That event should effectively boost demand by blunting selling pressure, simply because miners will have 50% less newly mined Bitcoin to sell during the next four years.

So far, Bitcoin has always gained value during the two-year period after a halving.

Halving Bitcoin Return (2 Years Later) November 2012 2,964% July 2016 922% May 2020 348%

Data source: Fidelity Digital Assets.

The post-halving gains have diminished with each successive halving event because their impact on total supply has become less significant over time. For instance, the halving in November 2012 saw mining rewards fall from 50 Bitcoin to 25 Bitcoin, a much steeper drop in terms of the number of coins than the 25 to 12.5 cut that occurred in July 2016, which itself was much steeper than the 12.5 to 6.25 cut in May 2020.

In that context, the impact of next month's halving (which will cut mining rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC) will likely be smaller than previous halvings.

Bitcoin is best suited to risk-tolerant investors with long time horizons

Ultimately, no one knows what Bitcoin will be worth in the future. The targets of $150,000 and $200,000 outlined by Chhugani and Kendrick, respectively, are certainly plausible due to the catalysts I've discussed. But investors should never anchor themselves to such estimates.

Additionally, bear in mind that Bitcoin has been extremely volatile in the past. It lost more than 76% of its value during the last cryptocurrency market crash, and similar plunges are possible in the future. In that context, a long-term mindset is critical. Anyone who bought and held Bitcoin for at least five years has profited, regardless of when they made their purchases, according to Ark Invest.

Here's the bottom line: Patient investors comfortable with risk and volatility should absolutely consider allocating a small portion of their portfolios to Bitcoin, but they should not do so with the expectation of seeing triple-digit percentage returns by 2025. That may or may not happen. But Bitcoin has crushed the returns of virtually every other asset class -- including gold, commodities, real estate, bonds, equities, and emerging market equities -- during the past five years, and a similar outperformance during the next five years is possible.

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In this article, we look at the 15 most powerful militaries in Latin America and where they get their defense equipment from. You can skip our detailed analysis on the subject and head over directly to the 5 Most Powerful Militaries in Latin America.

While final figures for 2023 are still awaited, global military expenditure reached a record-high of $2.2 trillion in 2022, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). $961 billion of the total amount was incurred in the Americas, 94% of which was contributed by the United States and Canada.

In Latin America  the region comprising parts of North, South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean Islands where Romance languages are predominantly spoken  defense expenditure was measured at $57.2 billion in 2022, at a modest increase of 0.8% compared to 2021.

Brazil had the largest share of this expenditure, with over $20 billion spent on military expenses in 2022. The country has been leveraging its economic strength for quite some time now to upgrade its military. In 2014, Brasilia placed an order for 36 Gripen fighter jets from Sweden to enhance its aerial capabilities, for a deal valued at $5.04 billion. Four more jets were added to the contract in 2022. Six of these fighters have been received so far from Sweden, with the remaining set for delivery by 2027. A year earlier, the Brazilian Air Force provided a contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s subsidiary, Sikorsky, to provide logistics support for Brazils 16 UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters for a period of four years.

Argentina has also been investing heavily to strengthen its military. In June last year, the country ordered six Bell 407GXi helicopters from Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) to perform in critical search and rescue operations in the countrys mountainous terrains. Later in October, the United States approved the transfer of 24 Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) F-16 fighter jets from Denmark to Argentina. According to Argentine newspaper La Nacion, these jets will be equipped with air-to-air missiles and paid for with a $40 million financing package.

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The approval by Washington to provide Argentina with the F-16s is being seen by analysts as a move to counter Chinese influence in South America. Buenos Aires has been restricted from procuring western military hardware since the Falklands War with the UK in 1982. The Argentines had initially been considering replacing their Dassault Mirage III fighters, which retired back in 2015, with the JF-17  a joint production of China and Pakistan.

In a similar manner, Colombia has been offered by Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) to upgrade and modernize its fleet of fighter jets with the F-16s to counter competing offers made by Frances Dassault Aviation and Swedish company Saab AB. The offer is reportedly backed by officials in Washington. Colombia is the fourth largest spender on defense in Latin America, having incurred over $9.9 billion on defense expenditure in 2022. The South American nation, in separate proposals, has also been offered to buy AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapons from RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) for $225 million, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles from The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) for $177 million.

15 Most Powerful Militaries in Latin America

Methodology

We have considered various metrics to rank the most powerful militaries in Latin America. These include the size of their economy measured in terms of nominal GDP, countries defense spending, technological capabilities, number of active military personnel, tanks, armored fighting vehicles, military aircraft fleet, and total naval assets.

It was observed where countries ranked on each metric, and then accordingly, they were assigned scores. For instance, if a country ranked first on any given metric out of 25, it received a score of 1 (25/25), and if it ranked fifth, it got a score of 0.84 (21/25), and so on. Finally their individual scores for each metric were summed to get an overall score. The 15 Most Powerful Militaries in Latin America are listed in this article in ascending order of their overall scores.

Data has been sourced from the 25 Largest Economies in the World in 2024, 20 Countries With Highest Military Spending In The World, 20 Largest Armed Forces in the World Ranked by Active Military Personnel, 15 Countries with the Most Battle Tanks in the World, 15 Militaries with the Most Armored Fighting Vehicles in the World, Global Firepower Index 2024 and Global Innovation Index 2023.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Lets now head over to the list of the most powerful militaries in Latin America.

Top 15 Most Powerful Militaries in Latin America:

15. Paraguay

GDP (2023): $44 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $366 million

Technological Advancement Rank: 98/132

Active Military Personnel: 15,650

Tanks: 10

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 1,936

Military Aircraft: 41

Naval Assets: 69

Overall Score: 2.84

Paraguay is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, and has a long martial history having been led by military dictators for decades. The country enjoys cordial relations with its more powerful neighbors Brazil, Argentina, and Bolivia, and therefore much of the security challenges facing Paraguay are internal  especially from drug cartels. The Paraguayan Air Force operates 41 military aircraft, including 12 Bell UH-1 Iroquois built by Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT). It has 69 naval units, and a sizable number of armored fighting vehicles.

14. Guatemala

GDP (2023): $103 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $431 million

Technological Advancement Rank: 122/132

Active Military Personnel: 106,114

Tanks: 10

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 848

Military Aircraft: 34

Naval Assets: 25

Overall Score: 3.16

Guatemala has the seventh largest military in Latin America, with an active manpower of over 100,000 soldiers. In addition to this, it also has a reserve force of 90,000 personnel. Another key area of strength for the countrys military is its large fleet of armored fighting vehicles. Four of the 34 military aircraft operated by the country are used for combat purposes, which include three A-37 manufactured by Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT)s subsidiary, Cessna, and one Swiss-made Pilatus PC-7.

13. Honduras

GDP (2023): $34 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $478 million

Technological Advancement Rank: 116/132

Active Military Personnel: 52,225

Tanks: 22

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 614

Military Aircraft: 44

Naval Assets: 71

Overall Score: 3.37

Next on our list is Honduras, which has a large fleet of armored fighting vehicles and an active manpower of over 50,000 troops. The country faces a serious security problem with violent gang groups terrorizing local populations, and has increased military spending by 36% over the last two years to be better prepared for the challenge at hand.

12. Cuba

GDP (2023): $94 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $129 million

Technological Advancement Rank: N/A

Active Military Personnel: 45,500

Tanks: 225

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 4,826

Military Aircraft: 81

Naval Assets: 24

Overall Score: 3.53

Cuba has been under western sanctions for several decades, which has impeded its military strength significantly, with most of its weapons being outdated. However, it still boasts a sizable military with over 45,000 active personnel and the fifth largest fleet of battle tanks in Latin America. Cuba also operates 38 combat aircraft, all Russian  24 MiG-23, 11 MiG-21, and 3 MiG-29.

11. Uruguay

GDP (2023): $76 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $1.38 billion

Technological Advancement Rank: 63/132

Active Military Personnel: 25,000

Tanks: 39

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 3,993

Military Aircraft: 43

Naval Assets: 11

Overall Score: 3.68

Uruguay is one of the most powerful militaries in Latin America, despite having a small armed force in terms of both manpower. It has a sizable number of armored fighting vehicles and a tank fleet of 39 units. The countrys military aircraft include 7 combat, 6 special-mission, and 6 transport aircraft, along with 2 tankers and several military purpose helicopters. Uruguay is also among the more technologically advanced countries in the region.

10. Bolivia

GDP (2023): $47 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $640 million

Technological Advancement Rank: 97/132

Active Military Personnel: 40,000

Tanks: 54

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 452

Military Aircraft: 63

Naval Assets: 173

Overall Score: 3.74

Next up is Bolivia, which has 40,000 active military personnel, 54 tanks, and 452 armored fighting vehicles. The countrys air force operates two Learjet 35 aircraft for special mission operations. It also has a fleet of 22 combat helicopters. In addition to this, the countrys military possesses 14 transport aircraft, including 4 C-130B. Moreover, despite being landlocked for over a century, the country maintains a strong naval force, with most of the boats docked at a lake. Bolivia hopes to regain its coast lost to Chile in a conflict more than 100 years ago.

9. Dominican Republic

GDP (2023): $169 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $761 million

Technological Advancement Rank: 94/132

Active Military Personnel: 50,000

Tanks: 10

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 540

Military Aircraft: 69

Naval Assets: 34

Overall Score: 3.95

The Dominican Republic boasts the seventh largest economy in Latin America, and the largest in the Caribbean region. The country has leveraged its economic strength to raise a strong military, and raised its defense expenditure 31% in 2022 compared to 2021. The island nation boasts a manpower of 50,000 active troops and a sizable fleet of armored vehicles. It also has 69 military aircraft, and a naval fleet of 34 units.

8. Venezuela

GDP (2023): $94 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $5 million

Technological Advancement Rank: N/A

Active Military Personnel: 109,000

Tanks: 180

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 14,966

Military Aircraft: 242

Naval Assets: 32

Overall Score: 4.11

Venezuela too remains under western sanctions with arms sales and retransfers prohibited to the country. Despite that, it boasts a large military. It has the fifth biggest military in terms of active personnel, has the fourth most armored fighting vehicles in Latin America, and the six largest fleets of both military aircraft and battle tanks in the region.

7. Ecuador

GDP (2023): $119 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $2.49 billion

Technological Advancement Rank: 104/132

Active Military Personnel: 41,250

Tanks: 55

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 5,662

Military Aircraft: 110

Naval Assets: 27

Overall Score: 4.42

Ecuador finds a place in the most powerful militaries in Latin America, due to a large fleet of armored fighting vehicles and a sizable number of active troops. The countrys fleet of military aircraft include 7 special-mission jets, 22 transport aircraft and 46 combat helicopters, as well as several other training aircraft.

6. Colombia

GDP (2023): $364 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $9.9 billion

Technological Advancement Rank: 66/132

Active Military Personnel: 293,200

Tanks: 0

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 2,724

Military Aircraft: 434

Naval Assets: 237

Overall Score: 6.05

Colombia, which ranks sixth on our list of the most powerful militaries in Latin America, has had a long history of internal conflict with deadly guerilla communist militant groups and violent drug cartels. The kind of warfare the Colombian military engages in requires light and mobile infantry, and that is why it has no battle tanks. The country boasts the 19th largest military in the world in terms of manpower. It has the third largest fleet of military aircraft and the most number of naval assets in the region.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Most Powerful Militaries in Latin America.

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Disclosure: None. 15 Most Powerful Militaries in Latin America is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we look at the 16 strongest navies in the world in 2024. You can skip our detailed analysis on the ongoing developments in the naval industry and head over directly to the 5 Strongest Navies in the World in 2024.

Navies continue to remain a vital pillar of national defense in their standout role as the guardians of a nations maritime interests by serving as a shield against threats emanating from the oceans. The increase in conflicts and disputes over international waters have further enhanced the significance of this branch of military, with governments allocating hefty budgets on procuring warships and arming existing vessels.

US Navy Projects

According to a recent report in USNI News, the Department of Navy in the United States has sought a budget of $257.6 billion for 2025, and is seeking to buy six battle force ships which would include an attack submarine, two destroyers, one frigate, an amphibious transport dock, and a medium landing ship.

The US is also currently working on developing its upcoming nuclear powered ballistic missile submarine, the Columbia-class, which is projected to enter service in 2031. The project started in 2020, and is being spearheaded by General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) as the primary contractor for the program. The new ballistic missile submarines will replace the US Navys aging Ohio-class submarines.

On the other hand, the nuclear-powered Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carriers are being built by the Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) to replace the Nimitz class design. These ships will be an improved version of their predecessors, and would allow for greater aircraft deployment in the carriers, reduce the number of sailors, and provide higher electrical power for ship systems. The 50-year operating and support costs are also expected to drop $4 billion per ship.

It is expected that the Gerald R. Ford class program would have at least four aircraft carriers  CVN-78, CVN-79, CVN-80, and CVN-81. The CVN-78 was procured for a whopping $13.3 billion in 2008 and became operational in 2021. It was first deployed for operational stress tests in the Atlantic in late 2022, and successfully completed more than 1,250 aircraft flights. The CVN-79 was procured for $12.7 billion in 2013, and is scheduled for delivery in 2025. It will be capable of deploying Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s F-35C fighter jets.

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Major Companies in the Naval Industry

General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) is one of the major contributors of the American Navys strength, and has been designing warships for the military since 1960. It is also the maker of the Virginia-class and Seawolf-class of submarines operated by the US Navy. Last year in April, General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) was awarded a $847 million contract to repair and modernize the US Navys fleet of aircraft carriers.

Another key player in the industry is Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII), which is the largest shipbuilding company in the United States. The company generated a record-high revenue of $11.5 billion in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 7.3%. This included a $3.3 billion order by the US Navy to build five DDG-51 destroyers over the next decade. Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) ranks 13th among the Top 20 Defense Contractors in 2024.

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), despite being known for its aerospace expertise, has over the years played an active role in enhancing the naval strength of the United States by featuring in sea-based tests of aircraft carriers. The company is currently providing fleet support for the deployment of its Trident strategic weapon system in the Columbia-class submarine program as well. In October last year, Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) was awarded a $23 million contract by the Navy for software integration and engineering of its Integrated Combat System.

16 Strongest Navies in the World in 2024

Methodology

Five weighted metrics have been considered to rank the strongest navies in the world. These are aircraft carriers (40%), destroyers (25%), submarines (20%), corvettes (10%) and total naval assets (5%). We observed where all countries ranked in strength on each metric and then assigned them weighted ranking scores. Scores for each metric were then aggregated to get an overall score. The strongest navies in the world are listed in ascending order of these scores.

Data has been sourced from Yahoo Finance and Insider Monkey articles 15 Navies with the Most Submarines in the World and 12 Countries With Most Aircraft Carriers, as well as the 2024 Military Strength Rankings of Global Firepower Index.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Lets now head over to the list of the most powerful navies in the world in 2024.

Top 16 Most Powerful Navies in the World:

16. Australia

Naval Assets: 43

Submarines: 6

Aircraft Carriers: None

Destroyers: 3

Corvettes: None

Score: 0.34

Tensions between Australia and China in recent years over the formation of AUKUS, a trilateral security agreement between Australia, the UK, and the US, have brought Canberras naval capabilities to the spotlight. The Australian Navy may be small in size, but includes six submarines, three destroyers, and about 13 patrol vessels. Its naval strength is set to be bolstered with the US Navy planning to sell its Virginia class of submarines to Australia under the AUKUS pact between 2032 and 2035.

15. Taiwan

Naval Assets: 93

Submarines: 4

Aircraft Carriers: None

Destroyers: 4

Corvettes: 2

Score: 0.39

Taiwans government, right since independence, has focused on building a potent military to prepare itself for what it perceives as an existential threat from China. The country operates 93 naval vessels according to the Global Firepower Index, which include four submarines, four destroyers, two corvettes, 22 frigates, and 10 countermine warships, along with several amphibious assault vehicles and patrol vessels.

14. Thailand

Naval Assets: 293

Submarines: None

Aircraft Carriers: 1

Destroyers: None

Corvettes: 6

Score: 0.43

The World Directory of Modern Military Warships (WDMMW) describes the Thai Navy as a surface force that is focused around regional and local defense, especially considering that it has no submarines and destroyers. A key and rare strength of Thailands Navy, however, is that it is among the few countries in the world to operate an aircraft carrier. In addition to this, it also possesses six corvettes, seven frigates, and 12 amphibious assault vessels. According to a report in Reuters, Bangkok is working with Beijing on procuring three Yuan Class S26T submarines, and has already paid an initial installment of $193.7 million as part of the deal.

13. Pakistan

Naval Assets: 114

Submarines: 8

Aircraft Carriers: None

Destroyers: 2

Corvettes: 7

Score: 0.45

Pakistan has one of the strongest navies in the world, with eight submarines, two destroyers, and seven corvettes. Despite the countrys currency and foreign reserves plunging, Pakistans naval modernization plan remains on track. According to a report in Defense News, the South Asian nation is expected to completely renew its entire naval fleet by the end of the decade. Last year, China delivered two Type 054 A/P frigates to the Pakistan Navy, which are now its most capable surface ships.

12. Spain

Naval Assets: 168

Submarines: 3

Aircraft Carriers: 1

Destroyers: None

Corvettes: None

Score: 0.46

Despite being overshadowed by other, leading European navies, Spain maintains a well-balanced naval force with 168 assets, which include three submarines, 11 frigates, six mine vessels, and several auxiliary ships and patrol vessels. Spain also possesses a light aircraft carrier named Juan Carlos I, which is capable of launching the Harrier fighter jets. The carrier has a displacement of 26,000 tonnes and a range of 9,000 nautical miles.

11. South Korea

Naval Assets: 200

Submarines: 22

Aircraft Carriers: None

Destroyers: 13

Corvettes: 5

Score: 0.51

South Korea has emerged in recent years as a prominent Asian naval power. It currently boasts the sixth largest fleet of submarines in the world, which mostly notably includes the Dosan Ahn, which is the largest of all of its submersible vessels, and has a displacement of more than 3,000 tonnes. The country also operates 13 destroyers, which comprise of four Sejong the Great class (KDX-III), six Chungmugong Yi Sunshin class (KDX-II), and three Kwanggaeto the Great class (KDX-I).

10. Brazil

Naval Assets: 134

Submarines: 4

Aircraft Carriers: 1

Destroyers: None

Corvettes: 2

Score: 0.52

Brazils navy has been strengthened with the acquisition of the Atlantico aircraft carrier (originally HMS Ocean) from the United Kingdoms Royal Navy in 2018 for a deal valued at $115 million. It is the only carrier in South America, and has a displacement of 21,500 tonnes. The Brazilian government plans on using the carrier for its drone operations. The country also has four submarines and two corvettes in its naval fleet.

9. Turkiye

Naval Assets: 186

Submarines: 12

Aircraft Carriers: 1

Destroyers: None

Corvettes: 9

Score: 0.63

Turkiye has one of the strongest navies in the world, with 45,000 active personnel and an impressive fleet of naval assets. The country operates 12 submarines, comprising three classes  Ay (Type 209/1200), Gur (Type 209T2/1400), and Preveze (Type 209T/1400). The country is expected to add six Reis-class of submarines with air independent propulsion capabilities to the fleet by 2027, which will further enhance the potential of the Turkish Navy. Turkiye also operates an aircraft carrier that is equipped with aviation facilities, allowing aircrafts to land and launch from the ship.

8. France

Naval Assets: 128

Submarines: 9

Aircraft Carriers: 1

Destroyers: 10

Corvettes: None

Score: 0.75

The French navy is among the most powerful naval forces in the world. Its fleet of nine submarines include five nuclear-powered submarines, while four are nuclear ballistic missile submarines. The latter are able to carry up to 16 M45 ballistic missiles and a TN-71 thermonuclear warhead. Frances aircraft carrier, named after its former president Charles de Gaulle, is one of the most potent warships in the world. It comes with a displacement of 75,000 tonnes and deploys some of the finest aircrafts around, including Rafale fighter jets, E-2 Hawkeye aircrafts, and military helicopters. The country also operates 10 destroyers and 11 frigates.

7. Italy

Naval Assets: 309

Submarines: 8

Aircraft Carriers: 2

Destroyers: 4

Corvettes: None

Score: 0.77

Italy boasts one of the most powerful militaries in the world, with the navy being one of its key areas of strength. The country maintains a large fleet of naval assets, which include two aircraft carriers, three amphibious assault ships, four destroyers, eight submarines, and 13 frigates. The Italian Navy has a manpower of over 30,000 active personnel. It is among the strongest navies in the world in 2024.

6. United Kingdom

Naval Assets: 117

Submarines: 10

Aircraft Carriers: 2

Destroyers: 6

Corvettes: None

Score: 0.79

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom ranks sixth among the strongest navies in the world. Its fleet size may not be as large as some of the other countries have, but is equipped with a great variety of modern ships. It is the one of only six navies to operate all nuclear submarines  with the standout submersible being the Astute class, which is capable of carrying 36 torpedoes, anti-ship Harpoon missiles, and Tomahawk cruise missiles. The United Kingdoms two aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, both have a tonnage of 72,000 each and can have a capacity to deploy 36 fighter jets at a time.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Strongest Navies in the World in 2024.

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Disclosure: None. 16 Strongest Navies in the World in 2024 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we are going to discuss the 20 countries that export the most rum in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global rum market, the recent acquisition in the rum industry, and the new rum RTD in the market, and go directly to the 5 Countries that Export the Most Rum in the World.

The Caribbean islands are famous for producing many of the best rums in the world. Sugarcane was introduced to that part of the globe in the late 1400s by Europeans, and it quickly took root. Colonialists started sugar plantations that used forced labor by enslaved people from Africa, and from these plantations came rum. The spirits popularity quickly spread to Colonial North America and it is estimated that prior to the American Revolutionary War, the men and women of the American colonies were drinking an average of three imperial gallons of rum each year.

Global Rum Market:

Rum is one of the Most Consumed Alcohols in the World. As we mentioned in our article  12 Countries that Produce the Best Rum in the World  the global rum market was estimated at $17.4 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $24.5 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 3.5% during the forecast period.

Rum is building momentum and getting more popular in America. Today, the category is one of the most steadily growing and continues to benefit from several intersecting popularity shifts. In recent years, distillers have experimented with flavored rums, making the category much more versatile in offerings, and so today, flavored and spiced offerings account for over 57% of all rums sold.

This highly mixable spirit also provides a key function in cocktail culture. While rum is a staple of on-premise tiki bars, it is also one of the only spirits for which its common to blend multiple varieties in the same cocktail. According to Bacardis 2022 Cocktail Trends Report, four of the top-10 best-selling cocktails are rum drinks, making the spirit a must-have for all on-premise programs.

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Recent Acquisition in the Rum Industry:

The growth of premium rum has been reflected in the merger and acquisition space in the past few years. It was announced last year that the Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) has completed the acquisition of the Diplomatico Rum brand and related assets from Destillers United Group S.L. (Spain), for an estimated $725 million. The spirits giant announced its agreement to purchase the brand in October 2022, giving it an entry into the growing super-premium rum category.

As part of the acquisition, Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) added a Panama-based aging, bottling, and shipping production facility to the company. Destillers United Group S.L. will continue to produce and age the unique, carefully-crafted, and complex Diplomatico Rum in their original distillery at the foot of the Andes mountains. Distributed in over 100 countries, Diplomatico Rum is a super-premium rum brand from Venezuela.

The Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) ranks among the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World in 2023.

New Rum RTD in the Market:

Ready-to-drink beverages continue to make headlines as the fastest-growing alcohol beverage category. RTD cocktails grew 325% between 2011 and 2021, with 68 new drinks hitting the market in 2021.

A new RTD offering that popped up in the market this February is Captain Morgan Sliced, a line of canned malt-based cocktails with 5.8% alcohol by volume. Owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), the spiced rum brand is seeking a greater presence in the growing canned spirits space. Available in four flavors, Captain Morgan Sliced cans are now available nationwide in a 12-count variety pack priced at $19.99. Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) also launched another product of the rum brand last month  Captain Morgan Sliced Up. Available in 23.5oz and 16oz can offerings of Long Island Iced Tea and Tropical Hurricane, these 8% ABV cocktails are available in local convenience stores and wherever you can find Captain Morgan.

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) sits among the Best Brewery and Distillery Stocks to Buy Now.

With that said, here are the Top Rum Exporters in the World.

20 Countries that Export the Most Rum in the World

Anna_Pustynnikova/Shutterstock.com

Methodology:

To collect data for this article, we have referred to the UN Comtrade Database, looking for the Largest Rum Exporting Countries in the World. The following countries have been ranked by the total dollar value of their exports of rum and other spirits obtained by distilling fermented sugar-cane products (HS Code 220840) in 2022.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

20. Latvia

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $14.54 million

Latvian rum exports grew almost 19% in 2022 compared to the previous year, when it stood at $12.22 million. Riga Black Balsam, a popular tipple in the Baltic country, represents a magnificent blend of herbal infusions, dark Caribbean rum, orange and vanilla notes, laced with a mix of spices.

With an annual per capita alcohol consumption of 13.09 liters, Latvia is ranked among the Drunkest Countries in the World in 2024.

19. Austria

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $17.49 million

Rum is the second-most popular spirit in Austria and is consumed more frequently than even whisky. Among the most famous Austrian brands is Stroh, renowned for its unique taste and high alcohol content. The brand produces a variety of rums, ranging from white to barrel-aged, and is exported to over 40 countries around the world.

18. Denmark

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $17.83 million

Danish rum is not as famous as, say, Caribbean rums, but it is making its mark around the world. The countrys cooler, less humid climate affects how the rum matures in barrels. This slower aging makes the spirit smoother and adds more flavor.

17. India

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $18.71 million

Despite not being exactly world famous for its rum, India is the country that consumes the most rum in the world, both in terms of consumption per capita and in terms of most rum drunk each year. India is one of the fastest-growing alcoholic beverages markets globally, with an estimated market size of $52.5 billion in 2020, according to the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations. Rum contributes 11% to the total volume, mainly because its cheap and easily available.

India also sits among the Countries that Produce the Most Rum.

16. Brazil

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $20.08 million

Brazil is the world's leading producer of sugarcane, with production approaching 569 million tons. The country also produces more than a billion liters of cane alcohol per year and less than 1% of that production is exported.

15. Panama

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $24.54 million

Panama's nutrient rich volcanic soil makes it a fertile growing ground to grow sugarcane and rum production is a tradition deeply intertwined with the nation's rich history and culture. One of the most renowned rum producers in the country is Ron Abuelo, a family-owned distillery that has been producing the spirit for over a century. The Diplomatico Rum brand also bottles at least some of its rum in Panama.

14. Nicaragua

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $36.93 million

Boasting an impressive portfolio of slow-aged, barreled rums, Flor de Cana is Nicaragua's best-known export. Present in over 40 countries worldwide, Flor de Cana is also one of the fastest growing premium rum brands in the United States.

Nicaraguan rum exports witnessed a massive uptick of 31.8% in 2022, when compared to the previous year, putting it among the Largest Rum Exporters.

13. Belgium

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $40.62 million

While Belgium is renowned for its chocolates, waffles, and is also placed among the Best Beer Countries in 2024, there's an emerging player in the nation's gastronomic scene  Belgian rum. Rum Nation is a popular international brand that has a range of rums aged in Belgium, taking advantage of the country's unique climate.

12. Barbados

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $43.06 million

Often considered the birthplace of rum, Barbados has a rum-making history that dates back to the 17th century. Barbadian rum, known for its smooth and well-balanced flavor profile, is typically aged in oak barrels, which impart a rich, complex character. Mount Gay, the oldest continuously operating rum distillery in the world, produces some of the finest examples of Barbadian rum.

11. Jamaica

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $56.42 million

Today, Jamaica has the most rum bars per square mile in the world and the reputation and standard of its rum is rightly regarded. The style is known to be heavier, owing to the fact that there are more pot stills in Jamaica than any other Caribbean island.

The island nation has the capacity to produce up to 50 million liters of rum annually and Jamaican rums are presently sold in over 70 countries around the world.

10. Guyana

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $58.66 million

Guyana rums are very fruity and rich, among the fullest in body of all Caribbean rums. The area is known for the famed Demerara River, around which grow the finest sugar canes.

The South American nations rums are smoky and flavorful with notes of vanilla, honey, and baking spices. They tend to be thicker than other rums, for a viscous mouth and tongue feel. Most are distilled in wooden coffey and pot stills.

Guyana is counted among the Top 10 Leading Countries in Exports of Rum.

9. Germany

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $65.38 million

Rum arrived in Germany in the 17th century with the first voyages of Dutch merchants to the Caribbean. The northern port town of Flensburg, nowadays advertised as Germanys rum capital, has a long history of rum imports from the islands of St Croix, St Thomas, and St John.

The German Rum Festival is one of the largest fairs in the field of rum, rhum, and cachaca worldwide.

8. Guatemala

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $68.61 million

Although it is far from competing with Jamaica, sugarcane, and the rum produced from it, are some of Guatemala's main exports. Among the most popular producers of Guatemalan rum is Ron Zacapa, a brand that has become synonymous with premium quality and exceptional craftsmanship.

7. United Kingdom

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $82.93 million

Despite a climate that is not conducive to sugarcane cultivation, rum production in the United Kingdom has witnessed massive growth over the last few years, from importing and blending or redistilling, to making it from scratch. Two Drifters is a popular rum brand from the country.

With $9.33 billion of spirits exported in 2022, the U.K. is the Largest Exporter of Alcohol in the world.

6. France

Total Rum Exports in 2022: $129.9 million

Although France is famous for its rhum agricole within the enthusiast world, the combined output of its overseas territories is roughly 60% molasses rum versus 40% cane juice rum. While mainland France has recently seen a surge of small-scale distilleries, the French overseas departments and territories like Martinique, Reunion, French Guiana, and Mayotte, each produce their own distinctive rums.

France ranks 6th in our list of Top Rum Exporting Countries in 2024.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Countries that Export the Most Rum in the World.

Disclosure: None. 20 Countries that Export the Most Rum in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we are going to discuss the 22 best whiskeys under $50 in 2024. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global whiskey market, the dawn of the American single malt, and sustainability in the whiskey industry, and go directly to the 5 Best Whiskeys Under $50 in 2024.

Whether it's the sharp burn of single malt or the smooth, woody aroma of a blended Scotch, the scent of whiskey is enough to invigorate even the weariest of souls. Part of the popularity of the beloved golden tipple comes from the sheer amount of tradition that it has behind it. Making whiskey is an age-old craft, and one that goes back many centuries. Its origin began over a millennium ago, when distillation migrated from mainland Europe into Ireland and Scotland via traveling monks. The Scottish and Irish monasteries, lacking the vineyards and grapes of the continent, turned to fermenting grain mash, resulting in the first distillation of the modern whisky.

Global Whiskey Market:

Whiskey is one of the Most Consumed Alcohols in the World, with the global whiskey market valued at $64 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $91.3 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period.

The consumption of alcohol is shifting away from beer and wine and millennials are more likely to experiment with other alcoholic beverages, resulting in the growth of a cocktail culture. As a result of this tendency, the use of whiskey as a premium ingredient has increased. Product innovations, such as flavored whiskeys, and organic and sustainable options are also some of the major factors propelling the market.

2022 was also a great year for Scotch whisky, and exports of Scotlands native spirit hit $7.5 billion that year, the highest figures ever. Exports by volume rose substantially as well, with the number of 700 ml bottles shipped overseas up by 21%, to 1.67 billion.

Similarly, as we mentioned in our article  25 Best Whiskeys in the World in 2024  Bourbon is a $9 billion signature industry in Kentucky that generates more than 22,500 jobs. And if were looking at production and consumption, the state receives more than $286 million in tax revenue each year from its iconic whiskey.

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The positive economic impact of the precious golden liquor is something we seldom consider when having a drink, but, given the facts, maybe its time we all raise a glass to it.

The Dawn of the American Single Malt:

Bourbon has long held the title of Americas national spirit, but the American single malt is now the fastest growing whiskey category in the United States. Although distillers in the U.S. have been producing single malt for only three decades, the category has already achieved a significant milestone  an imminent legal definition, furnished by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.

Today there are more than 200 different expressions of American single malt whiskey from more than 100 distilleries. In 2023, The Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B)-owned Jack Daniels also added the first American single malt to its ever-growing lineup of Tennessee whiskey, proof of just how far this still lesser known category has come. And last October, Jack just announced another version of it.

The initial single malt was called Jack Daniels Single Barrel Twice Barreled Special Release American Single Malt  as the name indicates, it was a single barrel expression released in limited quantities as part of the Jack Daniels Special Release Collection. This new Jack Daniels American Single Malt joins the permanent lineup, despite it only being available at airports.

According to The Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B), a bottle of Jack Daniels Single Malt is priced at $100 for a 1 liter bottle, and while there are currently no plans to release it in domestic markets, that could change in the future.

The Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B) ranks among the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World in 2023.

Sustainability in the Whiskey Industry:

The modern consumer has become increasingly aware of the climate emergency we unfortunately find ourselves in, and actively seeks out sustainable brands, even if it means paying extra. So, as whiskey makers find themselves in an increasingly competitive market, committing psychologically and economically to reducing their impact on the planet may also be the only means to make their businesses sustainable in the long run.

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) announced in 2021 that it has opened its first carbon neutral distillery in Lebanon, KY, for its popular brand Bulleit Bourbon. The 72,000 square-foot facility has the capacity to produce up to 10 million proof gallons per year powered by 100% renewable electricity, and is expected to avoid more than 117,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually. Bulleit is the first and lead brand being produced at the Lebanon Distillery that supplements existing production at the nearby Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville, KY, for which the spirits giant invested $115 million in 2017.

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) announced a 10-year sustainability action plan in November 2020  titled Society 2030: Spirit of Progress  which aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across direct operations and a 20% reduction in water used to produce every drink, while also working with suppliers in order to reduce indirect carbon emissions by 50%..

Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) is placed among the Best Brewery and Distillery Stocks to Buy Now.

With that said, here are the Top Whiskeys Under $50.

22 Best Whiskeys Under $50 in 2024

Methodology:

To collect data for this article, we have referred to a number of sources, such as Liquor, VinePair, Mens Journal, Reddit etc., looking for the Best Affordable Whiskeys Under $50. To make sure we only give you the best of the best, we shortlisted whiskeys that appeared multiple times in the aforementioned sources, assigned them a score based on their number of appearances, and ranked them accordingly. When two or more whiskeys had the same score, we ranked them by the price (excluding tax) of their 750 ml bottles.

Note: Prices have been sourced primarily from Wine-Searcher. As liquor prices can vary greatly across the United States, we cannot guarantee their accuracy.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

22. Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey

Insider Monkey Score: 4

Price: $26

Tullamore D.E.W. prides itself on its complex yet approachable flavors, which it credits to its use of three types of grain, a triple distillation, and the blending of three types of Irish whiskey  single malt, single grain, and pot still.

Set in the heart of Ireland, the Tullamore distillery spans a whopping 58 acres where 11 million liters of whiskey are produced each year, making Tullamore D.E.W. one of the finest examples of Irelands whiskey renaissance.

21. The Singleton of Glendullan 12 Year Old

Insider Monkey Score: 5

Price: $41

This easy-to-drink single malt Scotch whisky is matured in a high proportion of American oak casks with a small portion of European oak casks to balance the liquid. Best served with laughter and good company.

Owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), The Singleton is the Best-Selling Single Malt Whisky in China.

20. Rittenhouse Rye Whisky

Insider Monkey Score: 5

Price: $30

Now produced in Kentucky from extra-aged barrels stored in prime warehouse locations, Heaven Hill Distillery keeps the historic Maryland mark alive with this award-winning six-year-old, 110 proof offering. For $30 a bottle, this affordable whiskey carries a distinct, spicy flavor, and is produced in the tradition of the classic rye expressions that once dominated the American whiskey industry.

19. Old Forester 86 Proof

Insider Monkey Score: 5

Price: $23

Created in 1870, Old Forester is the only Bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the founding family before, during, and after Prohibition. At 86 proof, Old Forester delivers a genuine Bourbon experience, with rich, full flavor, and a smooth character that is ideal for sipping neat, on the rocks, with a splash of water, or in a classic cocktail.

OF 86 Proof sits among the Best Whiskeys Under $50 According to Reddit.

18. Angels Envy Kentucky Straight

Insider Monkey Score: 6

Price: $49.99

Handcrafted in small batches, Angels Envy is an award-winning Kentucky straight Bourbon finished in port wine barrels.

In 2022, the Kentucky-based craft distiller unveiled its completed $8.2 million Brand Home expansion at 500 E. Main St. in Louisville. The expansion, which adds 13,000 square feet to the facility, will allow Angels Envy to welcome an additional 64,000 visitors each year, doubling annual guest capacity.

17. Aberfeldy 12 Year Old

Insider Monkey Score: 6

Price: $46

A fruity, clean, and polished malt with a touch of honey and spice, Aberfeldy 12 Year Old is an excellent introduction to this Highland distillery, otherwise famous for its Dewar's blend. Founded in 1898 by the dynamic Dewar brothers, Aberfeldy is now owned by Bacardi Limited.

At only $46, Aberfeldy 12 is ranked among the Best Scotch Whiskies Under $100.

16. Evan Williams Single Barrel

Insider Monkey Score: 7

Price: $49.99

Evan Williams Single Barrel is the only vintage dated single barrel Bourbon on the market. Similar to the way vintage wines are selected, the companys distillers hand-select individual barrels that meet the specifications they've established. Then each bottle is marked with the vintage date it was put into oak, along with the year it was bottled, and the exact barrel number of the single barrel that the Bourbon was drawn from.

15. Glenmorangie The Original 10 Year Old

Insider Monkey Score: 7

Price: $44

First released more than 175 years ago, this smooth whisky is made in giraffe-high stills, and then aged for 10 years in Bourbon casks to absorb all manner of delectable flavors.

One of the Most Popular Scotch Whisky Brands in USA, Glenmorangie has been crafting Highland single malt whisky since 1843.

14. Glenfiddich 12 Year Old

Insider Monkey Score: 8

Price: $49.99

Glenfiddich 12 is part of the distillery's flagship collection and one of the Best Single Malt Whiskies Under $50. Aged for 12 years in American and European oak casks, this is a great choice for seasoned sippers or those who are new to whisky, with lots of light and fruity flavors.

Owned by William Grant & Sons, Glenfiddich had global sales of 1.6 million 9-liter cases in 2022, making it the world's second-best selling single malt.

13. Michters US1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Insider Monkey Score: 8

Price: $49.99

Michters US1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon is made from a carefully selected mashbill that features the highest quality American corn. It is then matured to the peak of perfection. Truly small batch, each batch of this iconic whiskey is batched in a holding tank sized to fit a maximum of twenty full barrels, leaving no margin for blending out imperfection and thus necessitating excellence from every barrel.

Michters only became a brand in the 1990s but is now, despite deliberately keeping stocks low and releases in small batches, the fourth-fastest rising brand in the Bourbon market. Recently, a bottle of Michters 20-Year-Old Bourbon went for $27,500 at auction.

12. Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey

Insider Monkey Score: 8

Price: $42

Here we have a triple distilled blend of small batch grain and single pot Irish whiskey. Matured in double charred barrels for up to 16 years, this full strength whiskey boasts sweet and spicy characteristics.

Since Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard in 1988, Jameson has spearheaded a complete rejuvenation of the Irish whiskey category, making it the most dynamic spirits segment globally.

Jameson is the most popular Irish whiskey in the world.

11. Elijah Craig Small Batch

Insider Monkey Score: 8

Price: $33

This small batch Bourbon is distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky from a traditional Bourbon mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, and then aged for 8 to 12 years in Level 3 charred oak barrels.

The EC Small Batch Bourbon is counted among the best whiskeys under $60.

10. Four Roses Single Barrel

Insider Monkey Score: 9

Price: $49

For someone who wants a more complex Bourbon experience, Four Roses Single Barrel is a 100-proof whiskey that embodies the uniqueness of an individual barrel which was hand selected by the companys Master Distiller.

At $49 a bottle, FR Single Barrel is most definitely a Whiskey Worth the Money.

9. Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch

Insider Monkey Score: 9

Price: $33

Produced by William Grant & Sons, Monkey Shoulder is a blend of three main single malt whiskies  Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie - all from Speyside, the spiritual home of whisky. Back in 2018, the brand enlisted a truck topped with a giant shaker, called the Monkey Mixer, to drive around the 50 states with a mission to redefine Scotchs role in the cocktail industry.

8. Glenlivet Double Oak 12 Year Old

Insider Monkey Score: 10

Price: $33

Representing The Glenlivets signature style, The Glenlivet 12 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky is first matured in traditional oak, before spending time in American oak casks that impart notes of vanilla and give the whisky its distinctive smoothness, putting it among the Best Affordable Whiskies to Drink Straight.

Part of the Pernod Ricard group since 2001, the brand is defining new ways to enjoy single malt for a new generation.

7. Johnnie Walker Double Black

Insider Monkey Score: 11

Price: $44

Johnnie Walker Double Black Whisky is the rebellious younger sibling of Johnnie Walker Black Label with a deep, brooding intensity. Derived from blending whiskies matured in heavily charred oak casks and specifically selected whiskies from the West Coast of Scotland with a naturally smoky flavor, this is a sibling of Johnnie Walker Black Label, but youthful, spikier, and more rebellious.

With 22.7 million 9-liter cases sold worldwide, Johnnie Walker is the Best-Selling Scotch Whisky Brand in the World.

6. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight

Insider Monkey Score: 11

Price: $39

The art of making fine Bourbon first took place on the site of the Woodford Reserve Distillery, a National Historic Landmark, in 1812. The perfectly balanced taste of this Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey comprises more than 200 detectable flavor notes, from bold grain and wood, to sweet aromatics, spice, and fruit and floral notes.

Woodford Reserve ranks 6th in our list of Best Budget Whiskeys in 2024.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Best Whiskeys Under $50 in 2024.

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Disclosure: None. 22 Best Whiskeys Under $50 in 2024 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this post, we list and discuss the 25 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List. If you would like to skip our detailed discussion of the topic, you can go directly to the 5 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List.

Four years back, during COVID-19, the travel and tourism industry came to an abrupt halt. However, it is now making a gradual return to its pre-pandemic heights. The UNWTO predicted the tourism industry to recover 90% of pre-COVID levels at year-end 2023. In February 2024 alone, over 4.9 million US citizens traveled outside the country, according to the International Trade Administrations data.

Another recent report published by UN Tourism forecasts that the international tourism industry will fully recover its pre-pandemic levels by 2024  with a strong travel stream from the US due to the rising strength of the US dollar. Since the pandemic, people have realized globally the importance of a living-for-experiences lifestyle, and have started to invest more in different forms of travel such as wellness travel. At the same time, however, persisting inflation, high-interest rates, volatile oil prices, and disruptions to trade are causing transport and accommodation costs to rise. Therefore, tourists are now opting for cheaper destinations that are closer to their home country, and adopting sustainable practices.

Another factor that is now affecting the travel industry is the mounting geopolitical tensions and conflict eruptions across the world. Travelers are more cautious about their travels and are willing to learn more about the potential risks of traveling to their desired destinations. So, to help US travelers navigate their travels safely, The U.S. State Department issues individual travel advisory levels for over 200 countries worldwide. These are updated frequently and are ranked based on several risk factors, such as health, terrorism, and civil unrest.

The US Travel Advisorys ranking has four levels. Level 1 means that the country has no major safety risks, but travelers should still exercise normal precautions. When risks to safety and security are heightened in a country, it gets a level 2 rating. Similarly, the level 3 travel advisory countries pose serious risks to the safety and security of citizens as well as tourists. Someone who's planning to travel to level 3 countries is advised to reconsider their travel by the advisory board. The Department of State provides additional guidance to those already in such regions through its website.

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If a country has a travel advisory of level 4, it means that travelers should not travel to that country at all. Thats because there is a greater likelihood of falling victim to acts of terrorism, being kidnapped, or getting stuck amidst conflict. Plus, in an emergency, the US government has little to no means to assist its citizens in level 4 advisory countries. Therefore, they are listed as do not travel countries. There are also a few countries labeled as other. For example, China. Thats because, there are parts of the country that are safe to travel to, parts where caution needs to be exercised, and areas where travel needs to be reconsidered due to safety concerns. So, countries listed as others by the travel advisory may or may not be safe depending on which area or parts the tourists travel to.

For those wanting to travel to these other countries, or countries with level 3 and 4 warnings despite being advised not to, the advisory has laid out guidelines that need to be followed. Individuals may also reach out to travel risk management (TRM) companies; they identify, assess, and mitigate risks to protect individuals during their travel to a high-risk area.

Some key players in the global travel risk management services industry include Everbridge Inc (NASDAQ:EVBG), Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ:EXPE), and Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (MIL:G.MI)s GGA.

Everbridge Inc (NASDAQ: EVBG), a global leader in critical event management (CEM) and safety software applications, is a company that provides information about critical events and helps travelers with personal safety and business continuity. Essentially, it allows users to send notifications to individuals, groups, lists, and geographic locations so they can anticipate, mitigate, and respond to emergency situations. The company has over 160 patents to its name, representing its dedication to innovation and technology. In 2023, Everbridge Inc (NASDAQ: EVBG) received a new patent related to incorporating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in analytics dashboards for CEM software systems.

Meanwhile, Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ: EXPE) is an American travel technology company that owns and operates several aggregators across the travel industry. Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ: EXPE) ensures the safety of travelers in remote or dangerous locations through a comprehensive approach that includes developing and sharing a safety toolkit that identifies the health and safety risks to the travelers. Moreover, Expedia Group Inc (NASDAQ: EXPE) has also incorporated generative AI into some of its features and products targeted to travelers.

Lastly, Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (MIL:G.MI)s Generali Global Assistance (GGA) is a company that offers travel risk management solutions as well as sharing resources regarding unforeseen safety and security risks, such as Hurricane Resources Center. Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (MIL:G.MI) also owns GMMI, which is a global medical risk management company

Below, we list the biggest countries on the US Travel Advisorys Do Not Travel list.

25 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List

Our Methodology

For our list of the 25 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List, we have sourced our data from the US Travel Advisories. To rank the list for the biggest countries, we have considered the area of each country and sourced our data from the CIAs database. Note that there are only 19 countries on the US Do Not Travel list, but some countries on the Reconsider Travel list have large portions of the country listed as do not travel. Therefore, we have included six level 3 countries on our list too. The list is in ascending order of area.

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.

25 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List

25. Lebanon

Total land area (sq km): 10,400

Lebanon, a country in the Middle East, has been issued a level 3 warning by the Travel Advisory. The government asks tourists to reconsider their choice to travel to Lebanon because even though it's a beautiful country, theres a high risk of tourists falling victim to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, unexploded landmines, and armed conflict. Some areas also have increased risk, especially near the borders. The level 4 areas in Lebanon include the entire southern Lebanon, the Lebanon-Syria border, and Lebanons refugee settlements. The countrys safety status was last updated on January 29, 2024.

24. Jamaica

Total land area (sq km): 10,991

The 24th largest country on the list, Jamaica is also a level 3 country where violent crimes, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides are extremely common. Jamaica has fourteen parishes in total, and out of these, nine are marked as do not travel zones for tourists. Other level four areas in the country include the town of Yallahs, the Whitehall, Bethel Town, Red Ground neighborhoods of Negri, Green Vale, Gray Ground, and the Vineyard neighborhoods of Mandeville. The travel advisory last updated Jamaicas safety status on January 23, 2024.

23. Haiti

Total land area (sq km): 27,750

Haiti is one of the most politically unstable countries in the world. It is marked as a do-not-travel country by the travel advisory since July 27, 2023, after the U.S. Department of States ordered departure of family members of U.S. government employees and non-emergency U.S. government employees from the country. The State Department also advised all U.S. citizens in Haiti to depart Haiti as soon as possible through any commercial or private transportation available. Kidnapping, violent crime, armed robbery, carjackings, and civil unrest are extremely common in the country too.

22. North Korea

Total land area (sq km): 120,538

North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is classified as a do-not-travel country by the advisory because of the constant (and extremely serious) risks of arrest and long-term wrongful detention of U.S. nationals. As of 2024, all U.S. passports are invalid for travel to, in, or through North Korea unless specially validated by the authority of the Secretary of State. Since the U.S. government does not have any diplomatic or consular relations with DPRK, in cases of emergency, the American government is unable to provide services to its citizens.

21. Syria

Total land area (sq km): 187,437

Syria, a country in the Middle East, has a history that dates all the way back to over 700,000 years. However, most of its history comprises conflicts and destruction. Modern-day Syria is trapped in the clutches of a brutal multi-sided war that has been ongoing since 2011. A year after the war broke out, in February 2012, the US Embassy in Syrias capital  Damascus  suspended its operations. As of 2024, the US government is still unable to provide any sort of emergency services to its citizens should they travel to Syria and face any issues. To this day, armed conflict is very much active in the country, meaning that no part of Syria is safe from violence. Given these factors and the state of terrorism and unrest in the country, the US Travel Advisory has issued a level 4 warning for Syria.

20. Belarus

Total land area (sq km): 207,600

The 20th biggest country on the list of countries on the Do Not Travel list, Belarus is also on the US Travel Advisorys Do Not Travel list due to the countrys facilitation of Russias aggression against Ukraine. It was last updated for safety concerns on July 26, 2023. The Belarusian authorities have detained thousands of people, including US citizens, for alleged affiliations with opposition parties and participation in political demonstrations. There is also the potential for civil unrest in the country. The U.S. Embassy has extremely limited ability to assist Americans in Belarus in case of emergencies. According to the advisory, the Department of State had ordered the departure of all its government employees in the country and had suspended U.S. Embassy operations in Minsk till further notice on February 28, 2022.

19. Burkina Faso

Total land area (sq km): 274,200

Burkina Faso is a landlocked low-income country in West Africa with a level four warning issued by the US Travel Advisory because of terrorism, crime, and kidnapping. The Government of Burkina Faso has also maintained a state of emergency in various regions across the country, and the U.S. government is unable to provide any emergency services to its citizens throughout most of Burkina Faso.

18. Iraq

Total land area (sq km): 438,317

Iraq is another one of the biggest countries with a level four warning on the State Department travel warning list. Aside from Mission Iraqs limited capacity to provide support to American tourists in the country, Iraq earns its position on the do not travel list due to increasingly common occurrences of terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, and civil unrest in the country. On October 20, 2023, the Department ordered the departure of its non-emergency U.S. government personnel and their eligible family members from its Embassy in Baghdad and U.S. Consulate General Erbil because of increased security threats against them.

17. Yemen

Total land area (sq km): 527,968

Yemen is yet another war-torn country in the Middle East. As of 2024, it is one of the poorest countries in the MENA region and is facing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. The war in Yemen first broke out in 2014, and the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa (Yemens capital) suspended its operations in the country in February 2015. The advisory suggests not to travel to Yemen because of terrorism, civil unrest, crime, health risks, kidnapping, armed conflict, and landmines.

16. Ukraine

Total land area (sq km): 603,550

The Russia-Ukraine war first began in February 2014 when Russia began its annexation of Crimea. Since then, between 2015 and 2021, the line of conflict stabilized. However, on 24 February 2022, Russian forces once again began the invasion of Ukraine, resulting in a significant escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Since then, Ukraine has been marked as a do not travel country by the US Travel Advisory due to active armed conflict. The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable, and the Travel Advisory last updated the situation on May 22, 2023.

15. Central African Republic

Total land area (sq km): 622,984

The Central African Republic greatly lacks social cohesion and is a fragile country. The Travel Advisory has classified it as a do not travel country because even though there have been no prominent incidents of targeted violence or threats against US citizens, the Central African Republic is still very prone to civil unrest, demonstrations, and election-related violence. Embassy Bangui has extremely limited ability to provide support to U.S. citizens in case they fall victim to crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Plus, armed groups control large areas of the country and are known to frequently kidnap, injure, and/or kill civilians.

14. Somalia

Total land area (sq km): 637,657

Located in East Africa, Somalia is a do not travel list country because of crime, illegal roadblocks, physical abuse, terrorism, civil unrest, lack of medical facilities, kidnapping, cultural rehabilitation centers, and pirate activity. As reported by Amnesty International, the human rights situation in the country is at its worst, too.

13. South Sudan

Total land area (sq km): 644,329

South Sudan is also an East African country, and its population has been stuck in a deadly situation of armed conflict, economic decline, disease, and hunger since 2013. It is ranked as a level four country due to the high risk of violent crime  such as carjackings, shootings, ambushes, assaults, robberies, kidnapping, and armed conflict. Foreign nationals in the country have frequently fallen victim to rape, sexual assault, armed robberies, and other violent crimes.

12. Afghanistan

Total land area (sq km): 652,230

Ranked 12th on the list of 25 biggest countries in Do Not Travel list, Afghanistan is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. According to the Travel Advisory, no US citizen should travel to Afghanistan for any given reason. The US Embassy in Kabul suspended its operations in the country in 2021, when the Taliban established an interim government based in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul. Anyone who travels to the country puts themselves at risk of terrorism, wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime, according to the US Travel Advisory.

11. Myanmar (Burma)

Total land area (sq km): 676,578

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is an Asian country with ongoing insurgencies since 1948. Mainly, the conflict has been ethnic-based. The US Travel Advisory has ranked it as a level four country due to civil unrest, armed conflict, arbitrary enforcement of local laws, limited and/or inadequate healthcare, emergency medical resources, land mines, wrongful detentions, and unexploded ordnances.

10. Venezuela

Total land area (sq km): 912,050

Venezuela is a South American country, listed by the travel advisory in their do not travel list because of the high violent crime rates, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws. Wrongful detentions, terrorism, and poor health infrastructure are also major factors for this classification despite the countrys scenic beauty. The US Department of State withdrew all diplomatic personnel from the US Embassy in the countrys capital  Caracas  on March 11, 2019.

9. Nigeria

Total land area (sq km): 923,768

A country in West Africa, Nigeria is classified as a level 3 country by the travel advisory i.e., anyone considering to travel to Nigeria should reconsider because of continued risks of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed gangs. Some areas have increased risk, and are listed as do not travel zones. These include the Borno, Yobe, Kogi, northern Adamawa,

Bauchi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states.

8. Ethiopia

Total land area (sq km): 1,104,300

Ethiopia, located in East Africa, is also one of the few level 3 countries on this list. The advisory suggests travelers reconsider going to Ethiopia because of sporadic violent conflict, civil unrest, crime, communications disruptions, terrorism, and kidnapping in border areas. The Tigray Region, the border with Eritrea, the Afar-Tigray border, the Gambella and Benishangul Gumuz Regions, the Oromia Region, Southern Nations and National People (SNNP) Region, the border with Sudan, the border with Kenya, and the border with Somalia are all the places listed as Do Not Travel in the travel advisory for Ethiopia.

7. Colombia

Total land area (sq km): 1,138,910

One of the top 10 biggest countries on the Do Not Travel list by the US Travel Advisory, Colombia is a South American country with a level 3 warning by the advisory. The country has an alarmingly high rate of crime, and constant threats of terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. The Arauca department, Cauca department (excluding Popayan), Norte de Santander departments, and the Colombia-Venezuela border region are listed as do not travel areas in Colombia.

6. Mali

Total land area (sq km): 1,240,192

Ranked 6th, Mali is a landlocked West African country. The US Travel Advisory asks travelers not to go to Mali due to crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and roadblocks. Malis travel advisory details were last updated on July 13, 2023.

Click to continue reading and see the 5 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List.

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Disclosure: None. 25 Biggest Countries in Do Not Travel List is originally published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we will take a look at 30 Best Countries to Live in the World. You can skip our detailed analysis and go directly to the 10 Best Countries to Live in the World.

According to Maslows hierarchy of human needs, we progress through levels of basic needs (food, shelter, clothing, etc.) to loftier aspirations. All of these levels require interaction with the environment and society. Any degradation in them can seriously halt our climb up to higher levels. Considering the significant influence our surroundings wield in meeting not only our basic needs but also in fostering our success, the countries we inhabit can exert a tremendous impact. When assessing the characteristics that make a country the most desirable place to live, factors such as quality of life, safety levels, and residents' happiness provide a fair basis for analysis.

Quality of life

Quality of life, a multifaceted concept, is assessed through diverse indicators. Eurostat, for example, evaluates it across 8+1 dimensions, encompassing material living conditions, economic security, physical safety, governance, basic rights, and overall life experience. In 2022, EU residents expressed higher satisfaction with their lives, averaging a rating of 7.1 out of 10. Interestingly, in certain EU states, the younger generation (15-29) reported greater happiness compared to those over 65. The OECD's 2020 report, "Hows Life," further highlights positive trends in general well-being. Notably, life expectancy in OECD countries has surpassed 80 years, while homicide rates have decreased by one-third. Moreover, employment rates and average household incomes have risen by 5 percentage points since 2010. These findings underscore advancements in key areas of well-being over time.

Safety

When considering the ideal country for settlement, safety emerges as a crucial factor. According to William Russell's report on safety index, 14 out of the top 20 safest countries globally are in Europe, featuring nations such as Sweden, Iceland, Switzerland, and Finland. In the Asian region, Singapore and Japan stand out as exceptionally safe countries. Additionally, Slovenia has been identified as the safest place for women. These findings highlight the importance of safety considerations in the decision-making process for relocation or settlement.

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Happiness

In the decision-making process of selecting the best country to live in, the happiness level of residents holds significant importance for immigrant settlement. The William Russell happiness report assesses various factors such as residents' perceptions of their environment, friendliness, safety, and inclusion. According to their findings, the top five countries were Denmark, Sweden, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2023, global happiness saw a notable increase, rising 6 points from the previous year and 10 points from 2020, with 73% of respondents reporting increased happiness. According to an Ipsos survey across 32 markets, China ranked highest with the highest percentage of happy citizens (91%), followed by Saudi Arabia (86%) and the Netherlands (85%). Interestingly, middle-income markets experienced a more pronounced increase in happiness compared to high-income markets on average. These findings underscore the relevance of happiness levels in evaluating potential destinations for settlement.

Major Players with Positive Impact on Best Country to Live Perception

While governments undoubtedly play a vital and irreplaceable role in shaping a country's standing on the global stage, it's important to acknowledge the significant contributions of both private and public companies in fostering technological and economic growth. Technological innovations have revolutionized various aspects of life, enhancing convenience and promoting better health, ultimately improving overall quality of life. Companies such as Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) stand out as prime examples, having spearheaded numerous innovations that have had far-reaching impacts on the world. Their contributions highlight the critical partnership between the public and private sectors in driving progress and advancing societal well-being.

Recently, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) finalized its $43 billion acquisition of Seagen Inc. with the aim of strengthening their endeavors to combat cancer worldwide. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) sees this acquisition not only as beneficial for their financial health but also as a strategic move in their fight against cancer. Concurrently, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), among other tech giants, continues to drive significant advancements that streamline both professional and daily routines efficiently. Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Cloud for Sustainability, introduced in 2022, exemplifies the commitment of such companies to spearhead advanced climate solutions, fostering better management and sustainability within societies and nations.

30 Best Countries to Live in the World

30 Best Countries to Live in the World

Methodology

To compile the list of the 30 best countries to live in the world, we utilize a refined methodology outlined in our article 30 Countries with the Highest Quality of Life Heading into 2024. This initial selection is then augmented by incorporating data from the World Happiness Report 2022 and the Peace Index ranking from the Global Peace Index 2023. As a final step, we calculate the average of these three rankings. In the event of a tie, we refer to the cost of living index ranking by Numbeo for 2024 as a tie-breaker. Please Note: For Qatar, we derive the Happiness Index value from the ranking provided in the cities section for Doha. Additionally, for Luxembourg and Brunei, we obtain the peace ranking from Numbeo's Safety Index 2024. Since Brunei lacks a rank in the Happiness Report, we calculate the average based on the two available metrics.

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 30 Best Countries to Live in the World.

30. The United States

Quality of Life Ranking: 21

Happiness Index Ranking: 16

Peace Index Ranking: 131

Insider Monkey Average: 56

The United States, often referred to as the "land of opportunity," has drawn millions of individuals to immigrate and settle over the years. As a developed nation, the US offers the promise of a high quality of life for its citizens, providing opportunities for a well-rounded and satisfying existence. These factors contribute to making it one of the best countries to live in.

29. Cyprus

Quality of Life Ranking: 30

Happiness Index Ranking: 41

Peace Index Ranking: 64

Insider Monkey Average: 45

Ranked among the countries known for ensuring a good quality of life for its residents, Cyprus stands out as one of the best options to live. The nation has consistently succeeded in satisfying its inhabitants, portraying an overall positive and happy environment.

28. South Korea

Quality of Life Ranking: 17

Happiness Index Ranking: 59

Peace Index Ranking: 43

Insider Monkey Average: 39.67

For people seeking a high quality of life, South Korea emerges as one of the top choices. The country also maintains a respectable position on the peace index, and its overall situation presents a favorable picture, making it an attractive destination for those in pursuit of a better life.

27. United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Quality of Life Ranking: 20

Happiness Index Ranking: 24

Peace Index Ranking: 75

Insider Monkey Average: 39.67

In the Gulf region, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands out as one of the developed nations capable of ensuring a high quality of life for its residents. Generally, people in the country express satisfaction with their lives, contributing to its reputation as one of the best countries to live in worldwide.

26. Qatar

Quality of Life Ranking: 26

Happiness Index Ranking: 63

Peace Index Ranking: 21

Insider Monkey Average: 36.67

Qatar has been increasingly recognized as a desirable option for relocation, largely due to its remarkable advancement in recent years. Renowned for providing a high quality of life, Qatar is also known as one of the safest places on earth, further enhancing its appeal as a preferred destination for individuals seeking security and prosperity.

25. Latvia

Quality of Life Ranking: 29

Happiness Index Ranking: 42

Peace Index Ranking: 27

Insider Monkey Average: 32.67

With a well-rounded ranking across various dimensions, Latvia offers its residents a host of attractive qualities, solidifying its position as one of the best countries to live in the world.

24. Lithuania

Quality of Life Ranking: 25

Happiness Index Ranking: 34

Peace Index Ranking: 36

Insider Monkey Average: 31.67

The combination of a high quality of life, contented populace, and a safe environment, positions the country as one of the best places to live in the world.

23. Portugal

Quality of Life Ranking: 27

Happiness Index Ranking: 56

Peace Index Ranking: 7

Insider Monkey Average: 30

Portugal stands out not only as one of the most peaceful countries globally but also as one of the European nations offering a high quality of life. As such, in the multitude of choices for best countries to live in, Portugal emerges as a viable and appealing option.

22. Japan

Quality of Life Ranking: 16

Happiness Index Ranking: 54

Peace Index Ranking: 9

Insider Monkey Average: 26.33

Japan is renowned not only for its highly developed economy, which contributes to a high standard of living, but also for being one of the safest and most peaceful nations globally. These factors make choosing Japan as a place for living an attractive option for many individuals.

21. The United Kingdom

Quality of Life Ranking: 23

Happiness Index Ranking: 17

Peace Index Ranking: 37

Insider Monkey Average: 25.67

Movement to England has been a longstanding phenomenon, with millions of individuals relocating to the country over the years. This trend is unsurprising, considering England's reputation for offering a high quality of life. Additionally, residents of England are among the happiest in the world, further enhancing its appeal as a desirable destination.

20. Estonia

Quality of Life Ranking: 11

Happiness Index Ranking: 36

Peace Index Ranking: 25

Insider Monkey Average: 24

One of the European countries, Estonia undoubtedly earns its place among the best countries to live in the world. Renowned for its exceptionally high quality of life, widespread satisfaction among its residents, and overall peaceful atmosphere, Estonia offers numerous advantages to its citizens.

19. Brunei

Quality of Life Ranking: 22

Peace Index Ranking: 26

Insider Monkey Average: 24

Brunei achieves a high ranking on the Human Development Index (HDI), ensuring its citizens access to a high quality of life. Moreover, its impressive standing on safety indexes further solidifies its position among the best countries to live in worldwide.

18. Taiwan

Quality of Life Ranking: 10

Happiness Index Ranking: 26

Peace Index Ranking: 33

Insider Monkey Average: 23

Taiwan fulfills major criteria considered in evaluating a country's status as a best country for living. It boasts high standards of life, a contented populace, and a safe environment.

17. Belgium

Quality of Life Ranking: 24

Happiness Index Ranking: 19

Peace Index Ranking: 20

Insider Monkey Average: 21

Belgium residents generally report high levels of happiness, experiencing less stress, worry, and sadness while overall enjoying life. This outcome is not surprising given the high quality of life available in the country and its peaceful environment.

16. Slovenia

Quality of Life Ranking: 28

Happiness Index Ranking: 22

Peace Index Ranking: 8

Insider Monkey Average: 19.33

Slovenia ranks quite high on the peace index, indicating an excellent safety scenario within the country. Additionally, individuals considering a move to this beautiful country can also enjoy the benefits of its well-developed infrastructure and high standard of living, contributing to a satisfied population.

15. Luxembourg

Quality of Life Ranking: 4

Happiness Index Ranking: 6

Peace Index Ranking: 41

Insider Monkey Average: 17

Luxembourg is among the European nations experiencing significant immigrant inflow in recent years. With its exceptionally high quality of life and one of the happiest populations globally, Luxembourg unquestionably qualifies as one of the best countries to live in worldwide.

14. Australia

Quality of Life Ranking: 14

Happiness Index Ranking: 12

Peace Index Ranking: 22

Insider Monkey Average: 16

Australia has not only emerged as a veritable hub for job opportunities but also maintains high standards of living, fosters a high level of happiness among its residents, and boasts a peaceful and safe environment. These factors add to its appeal as a favorite destination for expatriates as well.

13. Germany

Quality of Life Ranking: 19

Happiness Index Ranking: 14

Peace Index Ranking: 15

Insider Monkey Average: 16

As one of the most advanced economies globally, Germany has succeeded in providing its residents with a very comfortable and efficient overall lifestyle. This enables them to lead satisfied lives and feel secure in their country.

12. Sweden

Quality of Life Ranking: 9

Happiness Index Ranking: 7

Peace Index Ranking: 28

Insider Monkey Average: 14.67

Like other European nations, Sweden also stands out as one of the best countries for living. People can expect to live a high standard of life, surrounded by a happy and friendly society, and enjoy a peaceful environment.

11. Canada

Quality of Life Ranking: 13

Happiness Index Ranking: 15

Peace Index Ranking: 11

Insider Monkey Average: 13

When considering the factors crucial for defining a country's status as a worthy living place, Canada happens to satisfy most indicators. It offers a high quality of life, a contented populace, and a peaceful environment.

Click to continue reading and see our 10 Best Countries to Live in the World.

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Disclosure: None. 30 Best Countries to Live in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has seen its better days. Shares of the big drugmaker have plunged more than 50% from the highs set in late 2021. The pharma stock is down more than 30% over the last 12 months. Sales and profits have fallen sharply.

Should investors avoid the beaten-down stock like the plague? I don't think so. Here are five reasons why buying this 6%-yielding dividend stock could be a brilliant move.

1. COVID-19 trough

Most of Pfizer's recent woes can be blamed on declining demand for its COVID-19 products. Sales for COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty and oral antiviral medication Paxlovid have plummeted. However, I predict that 2024 will be a trough year for the company's COVID-19 sales.

Pfizer's year-over-year comparisons will be less challenging without the big inventory writedowns the company took in 2023. The drugmaker no longer is in the middle of transitioning to a private-payer market in the U.S. These two factors alone should give Pfizer a light at the end of the tunnel.

Even better, the company expects to launch a combination COVID-flu vaccine in 2025. This new product could provide a much-needed sales boost next year.

2. New products and new indications

Pfizer faces a major challenge in the coming years with patents expiring for several products. You might think that the loss of exclusivity for blockbusters such as Eliquis, Ibrance, Vyndaqel, and Xtandi would be nearly impossible to overcome. The good news for Pfizer is that it isn't.

Sure, the company expects its patent cliff will shave roughly $17 billion off annual revenue by 2030. However, Pfizer also projects that new products and new indications for existing products launched through the first half of 2024 will add around $20 billion in annual revenue.

This isn't just wishful thinking. Pfizer should have tremendous growth prospects for new drugs, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Abrysvo, multiple myeloma drug Elrexfio, and migraine therapies Nurtec and Vydura.

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3. Business development bonanza

Offsetting the lost revenue from key patent expirations plus a little extra isn't enough to enable Pfizer to return to robust growth. However, the bonanza the company should receive from its business development activity will be.

Pfizer looks for an additional $25 billion in new annual revenue by 2030 from business development deals. Its recent acquisition of Seagen is a big step in the right direction. Seagen's cancer drugs should add more than $3 billion in sales this year -- and that number will almost certainly grow significantly by the end of the decade.

4. The price is right

Many investors seem to be focusing only on Pfizer's current struggles and not on its promising developments around the corner. As a result, the stock's valuation looks very attractive.

Pfizer's shares trade at only 12.7 times forward earnings. That's a steep discount from the S&P 500 healthcare sector's forward-earnings multiple of 19.4 times.

5. Get paid to wait

You didn't think I would leave out Pfizer's juicy dividend, did you? The dividend yield of nearly 6% ranks among the best among biopharmaceutical stocks. Pfizer has increased its dividend every year since 2010. In the company's fourth-quarter earnings conference call, CFO David Denton listed growing the dividend as the first capital-allocation priority.

It will admittedly take a few years for Pfizer's growth strategy to unfold. But with a high dividend yield, you'll get paid (handsomely, I might add) to wait.

Should you invest $1,000 in Pfizer right now?

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5 Reasons Why Buying This 6%-Yielding Dividend Stock Could Be a Brilliant Move was originally published by The Motley Fool
By Ulviyya Shahin

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.
Accenture has agreed to acquire Ars (pronounced Aris) Group, a technology services provider focused on supporting public sector transformation across Europe. (Photo: Business Wire)

NEW YORK & BELVAUX, Luxembourg, March 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has agreed to acquire Ars (pronounced Aris) Group, a technology services provider focused on supporting public sector transformation across Europe.

The acquisition will further enhance Accentures public service offering, drawing on a wide range of innovative solutions to help clients take advantage of a full continuum of technology expertise and accelerate their digital transformation.

Based in Luxembourg and privately held, Ars Group was founded in 2003 and has grown into one of the largest independent service providers in Europes public sector market. With a team of more than 2,330 people across Luxembourg, Belgium, and Greece primarily, Ars Group focuses on work with the European Union, including the EU Commission, its various institutions and member state organizations.

Ars Group specializes in the management of complex public sector IT projects, including systems integration, informatics and analytics, solution implementation and program management. It helps lead clients through digital and information systems design, bringing expertise in a variety of areas ranging from software development, data science and security management to machine learning, cloud, and mobile development.

Jean-Marc Ollagnier, Accenture CEO for Europe, Middle East and Africa commented, "We are committed to providing our public service clients with the right people, guidance, systems and processes to help meet the evolving needs of their constituents. The acquisition of Ars Group will help scale our capabilities with a highly skilled workforce, a history of successful public service delivery and valued technical certifications that can quickly be mobilized to serve our clients in Europe."

Ars Group has extensive experience of helping drive modernization projects for European institutions. For example, many public service organizations work with Ars Group for its specialists focused on cross-border security and data challenges.

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"The addition of Ars Group will expand our ability to deliver public service transformation services across Europe," said Olivier Girard, market unit lead for Accenture France & Benelux. "Ars Groups talented team and track record, combined with Accentures European public service industry expertise, will strengthen our capabilities across the continent. Its public service credentials, entrepreneurial culture and extensive client portfolio are a perfect fit with ours."

Jourdan Serderidis, founder and CEO of Ars Group, added, "By joining Accenture, with its capabilities in digital, design, AI, cloud, security, and customer experience, we can have an even greater impact on both private and public organizations transformation, irrespective of size or complexity, as well as open up exciting opportunities across Europe."

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "aspires," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "positioned," "outlook," "goal," "target" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance nor promises that goals or targets will be met, and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks include, without limitation, risks that: Accenture and Ars Group will not be able to close the transaction in the time period anticipated, or at all, which is dependent on the parties ability to satisfy certain closing conditions; the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; Accentures results of operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on the companys clients businesses and levels of business activity; Accentures business depends on generating and maintaining client demand for the companys services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the evolving technological environment could materially affect the companys results of operations; if Accenture is unable to match people and their skills with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the companys business, the utilization rate of the companys professionals and the companys results of operations may be materially adversely affected; Accenture faces legal, reputational and financial risks from any failure to protect client and/or company data from security incidents or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accentures ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if Accenture does not successfully manage and develop its relationships with key ecosystem partners or fails to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, the companys results of operations could be adversely affected; Accentures profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies or fail to satisfy certain agreed-upon targets or specific service levels; changes in Accentures level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the companys effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accentures results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; as a result of Accentures geographically diverse operations and strategy to continue to grow in key markets around the world, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; Accenture might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; Accentures business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accentures global operations expose the company to numerous and sometimes conflicting legal and regulatory requirements; Accentures work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; if Accenture is unable to protect or enforce its intellectual property rights or if Accentures services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the "Risk Factors" heading in Accenture plcs most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accentures expectations.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the worlds leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen servicescreating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent- and innovation-led company with 743,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the worlds leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology and leadership in cloud, data and AI with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. We are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Song. These capabilities, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360 value, enable us to help our clients reinvent and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360 value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240315763651/en/

Contacts

Chinedu Udezue

Accenture

+44 7464 910 244

chinedu.udezue@accenture.com
Platform standardizes risk event measurement, analytics for ANSPs

MCLEAN, Va., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aireon is ushering in a new era of data analytics with the release of the first of its Data Dashboard products  Safety Dashboard.

Aireon logo (PRNewsfoto/Aireon)

This new dashboard will support and enhance air navigation service providers' (ANSP) safety assurance programs by identifying leading indicators of the industry's biggest operational risks. Aireon Safety Dashboard is a powerful tool designed to help ANSPs identify, monitor, and analyze key leading indicators of risk in their airspace. The web-based dashboard provides a visual representation of certain key risk indicators, making it easy to identify trends, patterns, and outliers. Customers will gain new insights with a benchmarking feature that enables them to compare their event data to others, complementing existing safety processes to lead to proactive identification of risk and an enhanced method to monitor mitigation efficacy.

The data is derived from Aireon's trusted and global space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, which is used by more than half of the world's ANSPs to safely manage their airspace. Initial metrics included in the Safety Dashboard are Traffic Collision and Avoidance System (TCAS) alerts, risk of runway overruns and transponder emergency codes.

Aireon is collaborating with existing customers, Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) and its ANSP membership to develop and prioritize future metrics for the dashboard. New metrics will include high-speed rejected take-offs, a collision risk metric leveraging time to conflict, and an Oceanic Risk metric, expected to be implemented in the coming months. Future metrics will include additional approach and landing metrics, environmental risks, and collision risks.

"The Safety Dashboard provides valuable insights for the global ANSP community. Using Aireon's best-in-class data, safety professionals can benchmark their safety performance against others and take actions to identify risks before they escalate into accidents and incidents," said Peter Cabooter, Aireon Vice President of Customer Affairs. "It's the first global safety product that comes with Aireon's surveillance-quality data and has been built with the ANSP in mind."

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"In the new era of aviation, it is obvious that building a strong safety culture goes beyond reacting to incidents that occur. It's about anticipating and preventing potential risks, understanding risk exposure, and fostering a proactive approach," said Simon Hocquard, CANSO Director General. "The Aireon Safety Dashboard is a great example of how we can work together leveraging existing data, to enhance our industry's safety efforts. We are looking forward to contributing to the development of the dashboard, cooperating with Aireon and our members," Simon added.

ADS-B pioneer NAV CANADA is the first ANSP to sign-on for the Safety Dashboard. Additional ANSP customers will be announced in the coming weeks.

"Safety is, and always will be, NAV CANADA's main priority, and we welcome any innovations when it comes to safety analysis. The new tool developed by Aireon enables us to better evaluate risk levels in different situations and supports our mission of keeping Canada's skies safe," said Anthony MacKay, NAV CANADA Vice President and Chief Safety and Quality Officer. "Working with aviation partners around the world to identify potential risks and manage them, this initiative highlights that safety is a collaborative endeavor."

The Aireon Safety Dashboard is the first in a series of operational data dashboards to be developed by Aireon. In 2024 and 2025, Aireon will introduce dashboards focused on operational and environmental metrics, including vertical and horizontal flight efficiency; fuel burn and emissions; contrails; and flight plan deviations.

Aireon will demonstrate the Safety Dashboard at Airspace World event in Geneva, Switzerland from March 19-21. To learn more or to schedule a demo, please contact info@aireon.com.

About Aireon LLC

Aireon has deployed a space-based air traffic surveillance system for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft throughout the entire globe. Aireon is harnessing next-generation aviation surveillance technologies that were formerly ground-based and, for the first time ever, is extending their reach globally to significantly improve efficiency, enhance safety, reduce emissions, and provide cost savings benefits to all stakeholders. Space-based ADS-B surveillance covers oceanic, polar, and remote regions, and augments existing ground-based systems that are limited to terrestrial airspace. In partnership with leading ANSPs from around the world, like NAV CANADA, AirNav Ireland, ENAV, NATS and Naviair , as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon is providing a global, real-time, space-based air traffic surveillance system, available to all aviation stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.aireon.com.

Cision

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SOURCE Aireon
Altria (NYSE: MO) hasn't had a lot of good news to report lately, but investors were cheering its latest move on Thursday, which will raise billions in cash.

The Marlboro maker said it would sell a significant percentage of its stake in Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD). News of the sales sent the high-yielding dividend stock up 2.2% on Thursday.

In a filing, Altria said it plans to sell 35 million shares of Anheuser-Busch through a public offering at $61.50 a share, and in addition, it would sell $200 million worth of the stock directly to Anheuser-Busch. In total, Altria expects to receive $2.4 billion from the sale. The underwriters also have the option of purchasing an additional 5.25 million Anheuser-Busch shares from Altria, for which Altria would receive an additional $323 million, not including any fees associated with the transaction.

Altria will still retain a majority of the stake it had previously held in ABI, now worth approximately 8.1%, or roughly $10 billion of the alcohol giant.

Image source: Getty Images.

Altria's plan for the new capital

Altria has long been a cash machine and returns most of its profits to investors in the form of a generous dividend. Historically, the company aims for a dividend payout ratio of 80%. Given its focus on returning capital to shareholders, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Altria is returning the new capital to shareholders, this time in the form of buybacks.

The company said it was increasing its existing $1 billion share repurchase program by $2.4 billion. It expects to complete those share repurchases by the end of the year as part of an accelerated share repurchase program.

CEO Billy Gifford said: "We have a long-standing history of returning cash to our shareholders, and today's announcement reflects our continued desire to create long-term shareholder value."

With Altria's market cap currently sitting at around $80 billion, the additional repurchases will have an immediate effect, leading the company to raise its full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance from $5.00 to $5.15 to $5.05 to $5.17. This represents a growth rate of 2% to 4.5% from $4.95 in 2023. It also expects cash savings by reducing the number of shares that it needs to pay dividends on. Finally, the move will reduce its equity earnings from ABI, but it's still a net positive for earnings on a per-share basis.

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Is it the right move?

Altria's minority stake in ABI is something of an accident of history. Philip Morris, as the company was known for most of its history, acquired Miller Brewing in 1969 at a time when the tobacco giant was diversifying its business interests. SAB acquired Miller in 2002, but Philip Morris retained a minority stake in the company. When Anheuser-Busch acquired SABMiller in 2016, that stake dwindled again, but the tobacco giant still held on to some.

ABI stock has underperformed the market in recent years, and the share sale makes sense in a number of ways. There's no strategic benefit for Altria in owning ABI. While there's an argument for diversification, at this point, the company might be better off diversifying elsewhere given ABI's performance.

If selling ABI stock allows Altria to increase its own earnings per share by repurchasing stock, and save cash on dividends, that sounds like a compelling argument for moving on from ABI.

Why it could be a warning sign

However, there could be another motivation for the stock sale. Altria has committed to raising its dividend by mid-single-digit percentages annually through 2028, but doing so might not be that easy. Cigarette sales continue to decline, and the company has struggled to find a next-gen product to replace that lost business.

If that trend continues, profit growth could turn negative, and the company will have to look to alternatives like selling the remainder of its stake in ABI to fund the dividend. By repurchasing that stock, it will also save about $220 million in dividend payments annually, and further repurchases can be justified similarly. Altria also recently sold rights to the IQOS tobacco heating system back to Philip Morris International for $2.7 billion, raising a significant bundle of cash.

Altria isn't about to run out of cash, but growing profits is likely to get more difficult. Any sign that its prized dividend (which now yields 9%) might be in jeopardy could cause a sharp sell-off in the stock.

The improved earnings guidance from the ABI stock sale is nice, but it doesn't solve Altria's long-term problems, and those issues shouldn't be ignored.

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Altria Has a New Plan to Unlock Value. It Could Be a Warning Sign for the High-Yield Dividend Stock. was originally published by The Motley Fool
By Kate Abnett

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union, Canada, Japan and climate-vulnerable Pacific Island states are among 47 countries rallying support for a charge on the international shipping sector's greenhouse gas emissions, documents reviewed by Reuters showed.

The documents, being discussed at an International Maritime Organization (IMO) meeting now entering a second week, outline four proposals with a combined 47 backers for imposing a fee on each tonne of greenhouse gas the industry produces.

Support for the idea has more than doubled from the 20 nations that publicly supported a carbon levy at a French climate finance summit last year.

"I'm very confident that there's going to be an economic pricing mechanism by this time next year," IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told a news conference on Monday when asked about the prospects of a carbon emissions levy for shipping.

"What form this is going to have and what the name is going to be, I don't know," he added.

Backers argue the policy could raise more than $80 billion a year in funding which could be reinvested to develop low-carbon shipping fuels and support poorer countries to transition. Opponents, including China and Brazil, say it would penalise trade-reliant emerging economies.

Those countries are competing to win over the dozens of others - including most African nations - that diplomats say have yet to take a firm stance on the issue. The IMO takes decisions by consensus, but can also do so by majority support.

The U.N. agency last year agreed to target a 20% emissions cut by 2030, and net zero emissions around 2050. While countries agreed in talks last week to continue negotiations on the emissions price, an official meeting summary noted they were "split on several issues".

Albon Ishoda, IMO delegate for the low-lying Marshall Islands, said a levy was the only credible route to meet the IMO's goals.

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"If this does not get passed, what are the alternatives? Because we've already agreed to certain targets," he said. "Are we going back to the drawing board?"

Shipping, which transports around 90% of world trade, accounts for nearly 3% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions - a share expected to expand in the coming decades without tougher anti-pollution measures.

A proposal tabled by the Marshall Islands, Vanuatu and others - which despite their high reliance on shipping for transport and trade have demanded an emissions levy for years - proposes a charge of $150 per tonne of CO2.

Researchers have said a $150 carbon price could make investments in low-carbon ammonia-fuelled systems economic compared with conventional ships.

"We need a transition of unprecedented scale and speed," Vanuatu's climate minister Ralph Regenvanu said. "Low-cost solutions, hybrid proposals aren't going to do the job."

Another submission - from the 27-country EU, Japan, Namibia, South Korea, industry group the International Chamber of Shipping and others - advocates combining a price on shipping emissions with a global emissions standard for maritime fuel.

An IMO meeting in September serves as a deadline for countries to decide whether to take forward both the fuel standard and an emissions price. A senior EU official said the bloc believes "only the two together can suffice" to meet the IMO's targets.

Diplomats said a fuel standard, at least, is likely to be taken forward.

DISAGREEMENT

China, Brazil and Argentina pushed back on the idea of a CO2 levy in IMO talks last year. A study by Brazil's University of Sao Paulo found a carbon tax on shipping would cut GDP across developing countries by 0.13%, with Africa and South America among the hardest-hit regions.

A Brazilian negotiator said Brazil and other developing countries were seeking a swift energy transition with the least disruptive effects on their economies, especially for countries that rely on sea-borne trade.

A proposal by Argentina, Brazil, China, Norway, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay advocates a global fuel emissions intensity limit, with a financial penalty for breaches, as an alternative to a levy on all shipping emissions.

That would mean if countries fully complied with the fuel standard, no emissions would face the fee.

"We will not be in favour of a flat levy likely to hurt developing countries, but we would be in favour of a good levy only applied to the emissions over a certain benchmark," the Brazilian negotiator said.

WIGGLE ROOM

Despite differences of opinion, member states are still attempting to agree on global measures to avoid more countries targeting the industry on a national level. That would fragment the market with varying local standards, and cause a headache for firms shipping goods globally.

The EU for one has said it may bring more international shipping emissions into its local CO2 market if the IMO does not agree a global emissions price by 2028.

Questions over who would administer a charge, and how its proceeds would be reinvested, are also still open.

Diplomats have suggested a compromise could lie in the IMO deciding on a carbon price designed to ensure it would not need to be accounted for as a tax - for example, by designing the policy for the principal aim of cutting emissions, rather than raising revenues.

A proposal by Canada suggests the IMO agree the core design of an emissions price, but delay a decision on how its revenues would be spent - a politically divisive issue that scuppered previous talks.

The Marshall Islands' Ishoda said he hoped disputes over the details would not prevent a deal.

"If we were able to move a mile, we end up moving an inch, because we argue about everything under the sun," he said.

(Reporting by Kate Abnett; Additional reporting by Jake Spring, Jonathan Saul, Gloria Dickie; Editing by Jan Harvey and Aurora Ellis)
HANGZHOU, China, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ant Group Digital Technologies and Bank CenterCredit (BCC) today announced their strategic cooperation together, which aims to explore digital solutions to deliver faster and more reliable services to end users.

Ant Group Digital Technologies and Bank CenterCredit signing ceremony

As a first step in this collaboration, BCC will leverage mPaaS, a cloud-to-end one-stop solution for mobile development developed by Ant Group's digital technologies, to introduce BCC's first SuperApp in Kazakhstan.

BCC is one of the oldest and largest banks in the Republic of Kazakhstan with more than 3 million clients. The bank provides a full range of financial services to individuals and legal entities across the country.

"We are pleased to announce our cooperation with Ant Group Digital Technologies, which has extensive experience in developing digital financial platforms. The company is known for its innovative approach in creating high-quality products and services. We are confident that our cooperation will be beneficial for both parties and will lead to the creation of a product that will satisfy the needs of our clients and lead to new opportunities," said Ruslan Vladimirov, President of Bank CenterCredit JSC.

Ant Group Digital Technologies has provided customers with advanced technology products and solutions, including mPaaS (mobile Platform-as-a-Service), ZOLOZ eKYC (electronic Know-Your-Customers), AntChain, ZAN, and more.

"We are thrilled to embark on this collaboration with BCC, their deep understanding of the local market and unwavering commitment to innovation will provide invaluable insights and perspectives," said Geoff Jiang, President of Ant Group's Digital Technology Business Group.

"At Ant Group Digital Technologies, we are committed to leveraging these innovative technologies to facilitate digital transformation and collaboration."

Ant Group Digital Technologies products and solutions have been adopted by customers from a variety of industries. In 2023, the revenue from its international business operation has increased by 300%.

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About Bank CenterCredit

Joint Stock Company Bank CenterCredit was established on September 19, 1988, and is one of the oldest and largest banks in the Republic of Kazakhstan with more than 3 million client's base. The bank provides full range of financial services to individuals and legal entities across the country. Correspondent network includes about 40 foreign banks, which makes easy way for payments all over the world.

About Ant Group Digital Technologies

Ant Group Digital Technologies continues to promote the development and application of digital technologies, introducing leading products like AntChain, Zoloz, SOFAStack, and mPaaS based on its expertise in blockchain, privacy computing, security technology, and distributed database. Ant Group Digital Technologies is committed to working with partners across different industries to support the small and medium-sized financial institutions in their digital transformation, enable SMEs in the service industry to operate digitally and facilitate digital collaboration across industries.

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SOURCE Ant Group
The next batch of Apple iPhones could feature an artificial intelligence upgrade that comes from search engine giant Google.

Apple is exploring a deal with Google that would allow Google to build its Gemini AI engine into Apple's iPhones, Bloomberg reported on Monday. Apple and Google have not confirmed a deal. Neither company immediately responded to a request for comment Monday.

Wall Street analysts said the potential deal would help both companies in different ways.

"What matters here is that Apple may receive or retain some payment from Google for the privilege, especially if it helps Google keep more search revenue," analysts at Melius Research said in an investors' note. "For Google, it would be a reputational win versus Microsoft and OpenAI, after a series of missteps in launching reliable AI products."

But talks between Apple and Google don't necessarily mean a deal is coming. Bloomberg reported that Apple has also spoken to Microsoft's OpenAI about using its service.

Google and Microsoft have been in a race against each other for dominance over generative AI  which took the world by storm in 2023 with the introduction of OpenAI's ChatGPT. The technology has since captured the attention of businesses and users alike, and has already begun to reshape work and entertainment, raising concerns from lawmakers and tech companies alike over AI's rapidly evolving impact on society itself.

For now, tech giants Google and Microsoft are trying to get the upper hand on the market, something which a partnership with Apple could be key to achieving.

Analysts said Apple's talks with Google are an attempt by the Cupertino, California-based company to beef up its upcoming iOS 18, ahead of its new products event scheduled for June. If finalized, an Apple-Google deal would give Apple access to Google's Gemini AI app, Bloomberg reported, citing anonymous sources.

"We believe the company is looking to upgrade Siri, augment the App Store for AI developers and foster edge processing on its devices for faster, secure experiences," Melius Research analysts said.

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But Google's Gemini has hit a rough patch since it was rebranded last month. The search giant in February suspended its Gemini artificial intelligence chatbot from generating images after it was discovered the bot was creating historical depictions featuring "inaccuracies." Examples included depictions of Nazi soldiers as Black and Asian and popes as female, for which the company apologized.

Dan Ives, senior equity research analyst at Wedbush Securities, said the impetus for the potential deal boils down to Apple hoping to bolster iPhone sales.

"For Apple, this will give them the foundation and technology blueprint to double down on AI features currently being developed within Apple Park to make sure that iPhone 16 will be a potential game changer iPhone release around AI functionality," Ives said.

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
By Martin Coulter

(Reuters) -Apple is in talks to build Google's Gemini artificial intelligence engine into the iPhone, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the situation.

The negotiations are about licensing Gemini for some new features coming to the iPhone software this year, the report said, adding that the terms or branding of an AI agreement or how it would be implemented have not been decided.

Alphabet shares jumped more than 6% in early U.S. trading, while Apple was up 2.5%.

It is unlikely that any deal would be announced until June, when Apple plans to hold its annual conference of developers, and the iPhone maker also recently held talks with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI about using its model, according to the report.

Apple, Alphabet-owned Google and OpenAI did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

A potential deal between the firms could help Google expand the use of its AI services to more than 2 billion active Apple devices, boosting the search giant's efforts to catch up with Microsoft-backed OpenAI.

It could also help allay investor fears about the slow roll-out of AI apps by Apple, which has lost the crown of the world's most valuable firm after a 10% decline in its shares this year.

The firms have a years-long partnership that makes Google the default search engine on Apple's Safari web browser, and a genAI tie-up may help the Alphabet unit navigate fears that services like ChatGPT could threaten its search dominance.

But the agreement could also invite sharper scrutiny from U.S. regulators, who have sued Google on grounds that it unlawfully stifled competition by paying billions of dollars to Apple to maintain its monopoly in search.

"This strategic partnership is a missing piece in the Apple AI strategy and combines forces with Google for Gemini to power some of the AI features Apple is bringing to market," said Daniel Ives, an analyst at Wedbush.

"This is a major win for Google to get onto the Apple ecosystem and have access to the golden installed base of Cupertino with clearly a major licence fee attached to this," he said, referring to Apple's California headquarters.

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Google in January partnered with Apple's rival Samsung to deploy its genAI technology in the South Korean firm's Galaxy S24 series of smartphones, as part of its efforts to boost the use of Gemini after some missteps during its roll-out.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said last month that the company was investing "significantly" in generative AI and would reveal more about its plans to put the technology to use later this year.

The Bloomberg report said Apple was planning to use its own homegrown AI models for some new capabilities in its upcoming iOS 18, but was seeking a partner to power genAI features, including functions for creating images and writing essays based on simple prompts.

(Reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu and Aditya Soni in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza, Janane Venkatraman, Varun H K and Susan Fenton)
CENTER TWP.  Beaver Countys second medical marijuana dispensary is now open at the township's former Kings Family Restaurant location.

Ascend Wellness Holdings celebrated its grand opening Friday.

New use: Ascend cannabis dispensary coming to former Kings restaurant building

The building at 1451 Old Brodhead Road in Center Township was remodeled and painted navy blue, sporting signage for Ascends dispensary outlet. Kings, a popular regional eatery, closed its doors in Center more than a year ago, citing COVID-19s hit to business.

Kings says goodbye: What's Cooking: Economy & Ellwood City get new craft breweries

Its Ascends third medical cannabis dispensary in Pennsylvania. Ascend operates three dozen dispensaries in a half-dozen states, including two others in eastern Pennsylvania.

The former Kings Family Restaurant in Center Township is now an Ascend cannabis dispensary.

The shop offers a range of products, from cannabis flower to topicals, edibles, vaporizers and more, according to the companys website. It accepts both cash and debit cards through provided cashless ATM terminals.

Patients must hold an active Pennsylvania medical marijuana card to purchase medical marijuana products at the dispensary.

Hours are 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

More: Ascend cannabis dispensary coming to former Kings restaurant building

Ascend operates primarily in states with recreational or near-recreational marijuana laws on the books, according to its website. Only medical marijuana is legal in Pennsylvania currently, but theres growing interest in legalizing recreational cannabis use among some state leaders. Gov. Josh Shapiro earlier this year called on the Pennsylvania legislature to legalize recreational marijuana for adults.

"We continue to be excited by the Pennsylvania medical marijuana market and were heartened by the recent comments from Gov. Shapiro on his support of a legal, regulated, adult-use market, said Rick Wilkins, Ascends chief of stores. We look forward to the potential of also being able to service adult-use customers in the future."

Beaver County's first medical dispensary opened in Aliquippa about four years ago.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Ascend medical cannabis dispensary opens in Center Twp.
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

TORONTO, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, with strong support from the public and private sectors, is pleased to announce that it will lead Partnering for Sustainability: The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to Taiwan and Vietnam in the fall of 2024.



APF Canada is now accepting delegate applications for this funded mission, part of the Foundations 2023-2025 mission series, Northeast X Southeast: Advancing Partnerships Between Canada and Asia.

The fall 2024 mission will focus on the technology and innovation sectors to spotlight the ideas and solutions Canadian women entrepreneurs bring to these sectors. The eighth mission in APF Canadas Womens Business Missions to Asia Series, this dual mission to two dynamic economies in Northeast and Southeast Asia will bring together Canadian women entrepreneurs with businesses in Taiwan and Vietnam to promote gender-inclusive trade, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and catalyze international partnerships between Canadian companies and these key markets in Asia.

Taiwan and Vietnam present ideal market opportunities for Canadian businesses, particularly in the technology and innovation sectors. Both countries have strategically prioritized these industries in their economic strategies and offer attractive incentives to foster growth and collaboration.

While Taiwan has an established high-tech manufacturing ecosystem, Vietnam is an emerging economy aiming to move up the manufacturing value chain. By capitalizing on these complementary markets, Canadian companies can establish a strong foothold and tap into the potential for long-term success and mutually beneficial partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to Taiwan and Vietnam will feature public conferences with high-level speakers from Canada, Taiwan, and Vietnam to discuss bilateral and regional trade issues, gender inclusion in the economy with the goal of womens economic advancement, and SME supports. The delegates will participate in personalized business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking, company pitches, and networking opportunities with conference attendees.

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The Canadian Women-only Business Mission to Taiwan and Vietnam is generously supported by contributions from the Government of Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy.

Key Links:

Contacts:

Information:

A.W. Lee, Ph.D., Director,

Director of Inclusive International Trade,

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

a.w.lee@asiapacific.ca

Media:

Michael Roberts, Communications Director,

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

michael.roberts@asiapacific.ca

Follow us on Twitter: @AsiaPacificFdn

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NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., March 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aviation Capital Group LLC ("ACG"), a premier global full-service aircraft asset manager, announced the delivery of one Airbus A320-200 on long-term lease to Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd. ("Canada Jetlines").

"ACG is proud to broaden its footprint in North America and is pleased to welcome Canada Jetlines as a new lessee," said Alan Mangels, Vice President of Marketing for ACG. "We look forward to this new, long-term partnership."

"Canada Jetlines is delighted to join forces with ACG as we continue to strengthen our fleet and expand our reach," said Eddy Doyle, CEO of Canada Jetlines. "This partnership exemplifies our dedication to working with industry leaders."

ACG specializes in commercial aircraft leasing and aviation finance. In addition to aircraft leasing services, ACG provides aircraft asset management solutions tailored to meet our customers fleet management needs. To learn more about the aircraft leasing and aircraft management services offered by ACG, visit www.aviationcapitalgroup.com.

About Aviation Capital Group

Aviation Capital Group is one of the worlds premier full-service aircraft asset managers with approximately 490 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of December 31, 2023, leased to roughly 90 airlines in approximately 45 countries. It specializes in commercial aircraft leasing and provides certain aircraft asset management services and aircraft financing solutions for third parties. It was founded in 1989 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation. Follow ACG on LinkedIn, and for more information, visit www.aviationcapitalgroup.com.

About Canada Jetlines

Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd. (Cboe CA: CJET), trading as "Canada Jetlines," is a Canadian leisure airline committed to providing an exciting travel experience to its passengers. With a growing network of destinations, Canada Jetlines is dedicated to connecting Canadians with some of the worlds most captivating and sought-after locations.

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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318506631/en/

Contacts

Media Relations:

Elizabeth Stevens

MediaRelations@AviationCapital.com

Investor Relations:

Matthew Novell

InvestorRelations@AviationCapital.com
By Ulviyya Shahin

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.
(Bloomberg) -- Barclays Plc is seeking to expand its relationships with sovereign wealth funds and private equity giants as part of its efforts to improve the profitability of its investment banking division by expanding in advisory and equity underwriting.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Those firms  which are sitting on trillions of dollars of dry powder for deals  are the kind of key clients Barclays is hoping to secure as it looks to move beyond the debt underwriting for large, multinational corporations that its long been known for, Chief Executive Officer C.S. Venkatakrishnan said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. The bank already has the talent it needs to accomplish that shift, he said.

We still work with corporations in a very big way, but, in addition to that, youve got the financial sponsors and the sovereign wealth funds, Venkatakrishnan said. The growth of concentrated pools of capital makes it important to have that full relationship with those players in the market.

Barclays and its rivals are betting that sovereign wealth funds will continue to deploy billions of dollars to get private equity takeovers across the line amid a broader dearth in deals by corporations. Sovereign wealth funds spent a record $17.2 billion on such co-investments in the first half of last year, which was up 24% from the same period in 2022, Bloomberg has previously reported.

Read more: Private Equity Titans Tap Sovereign Wealth to Get Deals Done

Barclays shares have struggled in recent years and the bank has long faced questions about the viability of its investment bank because of the amount of capital it consumes relative to other, higher-returning parts of Barclayss business.

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But Venkatakrishnan has said that is because it has a larger footprint in debt capital markets relative to peers. That is why hes now focused on expanding in merger advisory and stock underwriting.

When you move into advisory fees you start getting a better return on your capital  I think it is an important part of the shift, he said on Monday. Our job is to, having created the plan, is to execute it and the share price hopefully will follow.

Barclays last month announced it would go on a 2 billion ($2.55 billion) cost-cutting drive and reorganize its reporting structure in order to boost profits. The bank vowed to return at least 10 billion to shareholders in the coming years, while it boosts revenue to 30 billion.

Shares of Barclays have surged 9.3% since it unveiled those plans on Feb. 20, making it one of the best performers in the FTSE 100 Index.

As part of the changes, Venkatakrishnan also shuffled his top managers. Adeel Khan was appointed sole head of the global markets division, while his former co-head Stephen Dainton became president of Barclays Bank Plc and head of investment bank management. Cathal Deasy and Taylor Wright are continuing in their current roles as co-heads of banking.

Vim Maru is the new CEO of Barclays UK, while Matt Hammerstein, the previous holder of that role, is now leading the UK corporate bank. Sasha Wiggins is leading the private bank and wealth management division.

Loan Growth

The bank also said last month that it sees risk-weighted assets climbing by 50 billion in the coming years. The company is planning to allocate 30 billion of that to its UK-focused businesses, which include a consumer bank, a corporate bank and a private bank and wealth management division. The remaining 20 billion will be allocated to the US consumer bank.

Part of that is tied to the companys confidence in the health of the UK and US economies even as the company has seen delinquencies among its consumer customers tick up slightly in recent months, Venkatakrishnan said on Monday.

The economy is stabilizing, it looks like on both sides of the Atlantic youre having a softish landing, he said. Generally, we are constructive towards lending.

--With assistance from Jan-Henrik Forster.

(Updates with additional details from interview beginning in first paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
VANCOUVER, BC, March 18, 2024 /CNW/ - Barsele Minerals Corp. (the "Company" or "Barsele") (TSXV: BME) (OTC: BRSLF) is pleased to announce that the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") has approved the Company's application to change the name of the Company to "First Nordic Metals Corp." with the trading symbol "FNM". Furthermore, it is also expected that the Company's shares will trade under the new symbol "FNMCF" on the OTCQB. Trading in the common shares of the Company under the new name and symbol on the TSXV will commence at market open on March 20, 2024.

First Nordic Metals Corp. Logo (CNW Group/Barsele Minerals Corp.)

Taj Singh President and CEO commented, "The Barsele / Gold Line merger, which closed a few weeks ago, created a combined company with a leading gold portfolio underpinned by the advanced stage Barsele gold project and one of the largest consolidated gold exploration portfolios in Scandinavia, both in Sweden and in Finland. The flagship of the portfolio is the ~100,000-hectare district-scale position in Sweden covering almost the entire Gold Line belt and a significant portion of the Skellefte VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide) belt and covering a +100km belt position of regional first-order structural corridors. These belts have been hosts to multiple +1Moz gold deposits, including the 4.2Moz Boliden Mine, as well as numerous base metal deposits of significant scale. The current name change to "First Nordic Metals Corp." reflects a new beginning for the recently combined companies and is obviously well-suited as we look to becoming a leading Scandinavian-focused explorer and project developer."

There is no change in the capitalization of the Company in connection with the change of name and new trading symbol. No action is required by existing shareholders of the Company with respect to the name change and new trading symbol. Outstanding common shares certificates or DRS notices do not need to be exchanged. The Company's new CUSIP number is 33583M107 and its new ISIN number is CA33583M1077.

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In connection with its name change, the Company will be launching its new website at www.FNMetals.com which will go live early April 2024.

About First Nordic Metals

First Nordic's flagship is the Barsele gold project, located in Sweden and in a joint venture with senior gold producer Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. The Barsele project currently hosts a combined open pit and underground NI 43-101 Indicated Resource of 324koz gold and an Inferred resource of 2.1Moz gold. Immediately surrounding the Barsele project, First Nordic is the 100%-owner of a district-scale license position of close to 100,000 hectares on both the prolific Gold Line and Skellefte VMS belts. Additionally, in northern Finland First Nordic holds the entire underexplored Oijarvi Greenstone Belt.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Taj Singh

President & CEO, Director

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Gold Line's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Barsele Minerals Corp.

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CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- (OTC:PTBS) BCT-Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, is pleased to announce the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) has elected Alice Frazier, BCT's President and CEO, as the ICBA Vice Chairman. Her term began March 17, 2024, immediately following the ICBA LIVE national convention in Orlando, Florida.

Alice P. Frazier, President and CEO of BCT-Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, newly elected as Vice Chairman of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).

"I'm deeply honored to champion the cause of our nation's community banks in my role as ICBA vice chairman," Frazier said. "As relationship lenders with deep community ties, our success is intricately connected to the prosperity of those we serve. I'm eager to advance ICBA's advocacy, education, and innovation initiatives and work with key stakeholders to foster an environment where community banks flourish and the local economy thrives."

Frazier serves in many leadership roles at ICBA. She is a member of the ICBA Executive Committee and board of directors and is vice chairman of the Federal Delegate Board. She serves on ICBA's Policy Development Committees and is Executive Committee liaison to the Bank Education Committee and ThinkTECH Selection Advisory Group. Frazier previously served on the ICBA Executive Committee as secretary from 2019-21. She is also a member of the Consolidated Holdings and Service Network boards.

Frazier is also active at the local level. She serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Board and is past chairman of the Virginia Association of Community Banks. She currently serves as treasurer on the WVU East Hospital System (West Virginia) and for the Loudoun Economic Development Authority (Virginia).

"Alice is a passionate advocate for our industry who has earned the respect and admiration of her peers," said ICBA Chairman Lucas White, president of The Fountain Trust in Covington, Ind. "Her unwavering commitment is truly commendable. We are fortunate to benefit from her counsel on ICBA's Executive Committee as we seek to drive meaningful change, marking a steadfast dedication to community bank advancement."

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ICBA is the only national advocacy organization dedicated exclusively to promoting the interests of locally operated community banks and savings institutions. With the high-tech, high-touch banking services that consumers expect, community banks offer the best financial-services options for millions of consumers, small businesses, and agricultural enterprises.

For more information about the ICBA, visit https://www.icba.org.

About ICBA

The Independent Community Bankers of America has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation's community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation.

As local and trusted sources of credit, America's community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers' financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA's website at icba.org.

About BCT-Bank of Charles Town

Founded in 1871, BCT - Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (OTC:PTBS). With approximately $831 million in assets as of December 31, 2023, the Company conducts operations through its main office, an additional eight branch offices, and two loan production offices. BCT's offices are located in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties (WV), Washington County (MD), and Loudoun and Stafford Counties (VA). The Bank provides various banking products and services including free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint network plus an affiliation with Sheetz convenience stores. The Bank provides convenient online and mobile banking for individuals, businesses, and local governments. The Bank also offers commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction loans, commercial real estate loans, agricultural loans, and government contractor loans. The Bank is also a Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lender. The Residential Lending division offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans, one-time close construction to perm loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit. For over 70 years, BCT Wealth Advisors has provided trust services, growing into a premier financial management, investments, and estate services provider. In 2023, American Banker selected BCT as a "Top 200 Community Bank," an annual listing of the best performing banks in the United States with assets under $2 billion. BCT was voted a "Best of the Best" winner in the 2023 Journal-News Readers' Choice Awards in four categories: Bank, Mortgage Company, Loan Services, and Financial Planning. In 2023, 2021, 2020, and 2019 the Bank was named a "Best Bank To Work For" by American Banker.

The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc., and the Bank, please visit our website at www.mybct.bank.

Cision

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SOURCE BCT - Bank of Charles Town
Beachside Development

Today, Beachside Texas, in conjunction with Kings Ransom Foundation, shared their webinar to bring awareness to the Hope for Honduras Initiative. The project is building 500+ homes and helping create sustainable solutions for Matagorda Village, Honduras.

Palacios, TX, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Beachside Development, a Texas beachfront land development, in partnership with Kings Ransom Foundation, announced the Hope for Honduras initiative and shared their previously live webinaroffering a glimpse into their efforts in Honduras. The project is dedicated to building over 500 homes for the extreme poor, providing critical support, building out infrastructure, and creating sustainable solutions for the impoverished communities of Matagorda Village, Honduras. The informational webinar was held March 7th and Beachside Texas today launched the replay for all to see.

Honduras is a Central American country and is among the top five poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Over 60% of its population live in poverty. Over 48% are living below the poverty line, suffering from severe poverty that includes food insecurity and are living in houses constructed from tree limbs and trash. These Houndurans often have unclean water, lack of sanitation, and limited access to food.

Beachside is a waterfront development on the Gulf Coast of Texas in Matagorda County. Beachside is donating a portion of their proceeds from every lot sale at Beachside to develop Matagorda Village in Honduras. The village was named after the county in Texas where Beachside is located. Beachside is on a mission to build out the entire village for a community that was ravaged by a hurricane. Beachside, waterfront land in Texas, is not only donating a portion of its proceeds from every lot sale but is also actively involving its community in hands-on efforts to improve the living conditions in Honduras. Beachside will help provide basic survival needs, create opportunities to be industrious, cultivate economic activity, and ignite generational change in Matagorda Village. The development team (along with local business partners and volunteers) make multiple visits to Honduras each year, directly participating in the construction and support of the communities they aim to uplift.

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To showcase the impact of these efforts and to further engage the global community, Kings Ransom Foundation and Beachside Texas held a Live Webinar on March 7th at 8pm Eastern/7pm Central. The event was open to all interested parties and provided a firsthand look at the changes being made in Honduras, thanks to the support of donors and the hard work of volunteers and partners.

Beachside shared, This initiative is more than a call for donations; its an invitation to become an advocate for the poor and to lend a voice to those who are often unheard. By joining the Hope for Honduras movement, individuals can take an active role in spreading awareness and supporting the mission to bring hope, faith, and tangible help to those in desperate need. Please join us in making a difference.

Kings Ransom Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the poor and destitute around the world. Kings Ransom Foundation operates on the principle of a community building a community, inviting individuals from all walks of life to join a collective force to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most. The foundations efforts in Honduras focus on addressing the dire circumstances faced by families living in extreme poverty, with many lacking access to basic necessities such as clean water.

For more information on how to get involved and support the Hope for Honduras initiative, please visit the Kings Ransom Foundations Beachside Texas project page or Beachside Texas.

About Beachside Development

Beachside is a waterfront land development on the Gulf Coast of Texas, in Matagorda County. Located in Palacios, Texas, Beachside was originally a military base founded in 1925 and is surrounded by Matagorda Bay. Beachside is transforming the Gulf Coast into a beacon of community and sustainable development. Through its commitment to Honduras, Beachside is extending its impact far beyond its local community, fostering hope and change on a global scale.

Source: https://thenewsfront.com/beachside-texas-and-kings-ransom-foundation-unite-to-launch-hope-for-honduras-initiative-with-informational-webinar/

CONTACT: Beachside Development 106 Marine Center Dr Palacios Texas 77465 United States https://beachsidetx.com/ hello@beachsidetx.com




Anthony Albanese, Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak gathered in San Diego last year - Leon Neal/Getty Images

Flanked by sailors and a navy warship, Rishi Sunak, Joe Biden and Anthony Albanese looked at ease as they discussed sharing their most sensitive military secrets.

The leaders of the UK, US and Australia  the triumvirate behind the Aukus partnership  had gathered in San Diego to announce the next stage of their plan to develop a generation of nuclear-powered submarines together.

Part of moves to deter aggression by China, Washington and London will bring Canberra into the closest of confidences by showing Australias navy how to operate and then build its own fleet of advanced vessels.

Yet a year on from the trios meeting, the Aukus partnership is suddenly looking decidedly more fragile.

Inside defence circles, there are growing doubts about Americas ability and willingness to deliver following a shock proposal from the Biden administration that cuts to the heart of the deal.

Amid a row at home over government budgets, the White House this month suggested halving the number of Virginia-class submarines it builds next year  the very same type it has promised to Australia under Aukus.

That means the US faces a shortfall itself, raising the prospect it may refuse to sell its existing vessels and leave Canberra in the lurch.

Australia wants to bolster its Collins-class fast-attack submarines with nuclear-powered subs from the US - RICHARD WAINWRIGHT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Its extremely serious for Australia, says Hugh White, a former defence official and professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University, in Canberra.

If the Virginias dont arrive, Australia will have no submarines to put to sea at a time when our strategic circumstances are, to put it mildly, very delicate and risky.

In that scenario, the whole Aukus construct starts to fall apart.

At the moment, Australia operates six diesel-powered Collins-class fast-attack submarines, built between 1990 and 2003.

Previously, Canberra had a deal to replace these with 12 diesel-powered boats made by France.

But former prime minister Scott Morrison ripped up that contract  triggering a major diplomatic row with Paris in the process  to join Aukus in 2021.

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Under the new partnership, Australia will extend the life of the Collins subs into the early 2030s, at which point the US has agreed to sell the Australian navy three nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines (with an option to buy an extra two).

These would be a stopgap  retaining Australias fast attack capability while allowing the countrys sailors to familiarise themselves with nuclear subs  before the new and jointly developed SSN-Aukus class of submarines comes online in the early 2040s.

The SSN-Aukus subs, featuring US technology, will be designed and built first in Britain, at BAE Systems facilities at Barrow-in-Furness, in the late 2030s. Afterwards, the company will use that experience to build Australias boats at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide.

But the latest US defence budget proposals, put forward by the Biden administration this month, have exposed a glaring weakness in this plan.

In a bid to save $4bn, the White House has proposed allocating money to build one  instead of two  Virginia-class submarines for the US Navy next year.

This is causing jitters because the strength of Americas fleet is already 17 short of the 66 targeted by the top brass. Defence experts fear it also risks sending the wrong signal to both allies and the industrial base about the Pentagons commitment.

Given the new commitment made last year to sell three submarines to our ally Australia, which I enthusiastically support, the ramifications of the Navys proposal will have a profound impact on both countries navies, said Joe Courtney, a senior congressman on the House of Representatives seapower and projection forces subcommittee, last Monday.

Nuclear-powered subs are seen as essential to countering Chinese aggression in the Pacific because of their ability to operate more quietly and stay underwater for longer than their diesel counterparts.

In a potential conflict over Taiwan, they are seen as critical to containing the Chinese navy  partly as they could lie in wait at choke points along the string of islands between Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia, says Sidharth Kaushal, a sea power expert and research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London.

The Virginias are made by Huntington Ingalls Industries, Americas biggest military shipbuilder, and defence giant General Dynamics in Newport, Virginia. They cost about $4bn each and take seven years to build. The US previously planned to add two to three to its fleet annually until 2043.

For years, however, the rate of boats delivered has fallen below this target as a result of a shortage of skilled workers, supply chain problems and disruption from the Covid pandemic.

At the same time, the US Navys submarine fleet is struggling with a huge maintenance backlog that has also taken 18 submarines temporarily out of service.

As part of Aukus, Australia has agreed to pump $3bn into the US submarine industrial base  potentially helping with maintenance  but the Biden administrations new budget proposal risks shaking faith in American guarantees.

Its important to note this is a budget proposal - so where we finish is not necessarily where we start, says Charles Edel, a senior adviser and Australia chair at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

But the reason this matters, and the reason it is troubling, is that the United States will not sell submarines to Australia if it does not have enough for its own stated needs.

The budget request is sending a signal not only to Australia but also to the submarine industrial base.

There is also scepticism among some Australian defence experts about the UKs ability to deliver the future SSN-Aukus class of subs. They point to the existing Astute-class programme, which has been significantly delayed and run over budget.

The first four boats cost 5bn to build compared to a 3.5bn budget, according to the National Audit Office.

White, in Canberra, regards the UKs plan to complete the Astute programme and build the first of its new Dreadnaught nuclear-armed submarines this decade as highly ambitious. Risks to the Australian timeline seem high.

Despite this, the Albanese government has continued to defend the Aukus agreement.

Australia, the United States and [the] United Kingdom remain steadfast in our commitment, Richard Marles, the defence minister, said.

Supporters of the deal point to several factors in its favour. For one, there remains a cross-party consensus in the US for Aukus and lawmakers passed vital enabling legislation last year.

Others emphasise the multifaceted nature of Aukus, with submarines only representing the first pillar of collaboration. A less-appreciated aspect of that is the plan for US and UK submarines to operate out of an Australian naval base on rotation, as well as the implied increase in shipbuilding capacity it will create across all three nations.

A Trump presidency could impede Aukus further - ERIK S LESSER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

However, there is another major uncertainty that looms on the horizon for Aukus: the prospect of a second Trump presidency.

The Republican nominees unpredictability means his support cannot be taken for granted  and the threat of him deciding it represents a bad deal for America must be taken seriously.

You could see him saying this is a horrible deal, that it makes no sense, says Edel.

The weakening or even collapse of Aukus would be a major blow to not just Western defence plans but also UK plc, with BAE Systems set to lead the construction of the Aukus-class subs while Rolls-Royce will provide nuclear reactors.

Ultimately, the deals success is not just down to Biden, Sunak and Albanese. It is a long-term project that politicians of all stripes in the UK, US and Australia must keep alive over multiple decades, says Sophia Gaston, head of foreign policy at Westminster-based Policy Exchange and founder of the Aukus Industry Forum.

It is a colossal undertaking, so Im not surprised that people are concerned, she says. But I find it difficult to identify any other choices we really have, other than to rise to the occasion.

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Douglas Rissing / Getty Images

The changing dynamics of American society have put Social Security, once the cornerstone of American retirement, in jeopardy. Americans now live much longer than they did in the 1930s, meaning there are more retirees in need of benefits. The proportion between retirees and active workers funding the program with tax revenues is out of balance. According to the Social Security Trustees, this means that the Social Security Trust Fund may run dry as soon as 2034, at which point benefits will have to be cut by about 20%.

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Try This: One Smart Way To Grow Your Retirement Savings in 2024

That is, unless Congress enacts some type of bill. While various ideas have been kicked around for years, not much actual legislation has been proposed. But in late Jan. 2024, the You Earned It, You Keep It Act was proposed in the House. Here are the most important provisions of the bill, along with a look at how it might save Social Security from running out.

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The You Earned It, You Keep It Act

Rep. Angie Craig from Minnesota introduced the You Earned It, You Keep It Act to the House of Representatives on Jan. 25, 2024. The bill has two main provisions. The first is to eliminate all federal taxes on Social Security benefits by 2025. The second is a bit more complicated but involves changing the Social Security tax cap.

Currently, income subject to Social Security taxes is capped at $168,000. But the You Earned It, You Keep It Act would tax individuals earning more than $250,000 per year as well. This means that wealthier individuals who currently only pay Social Security taxes on a portion of their income would have to kick in more money.

Be Aware: 7 Things Youll Regret Downsizing in Retirement

Who Would This Act Benefit Most?

According to Social Securitys Office of the Actuary, the You Earned It, You Keep It Act would extend the solvency of the Social Security trust fund by 20 full years. In that sense, the act would benefit all Social Security recipients, as all beneficiaries would avoid the potential 20% across-the-board cut in benefits thats slated to hit in 2034.

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Similarly, the elimination of taxation on Social Security benefits would also apply to all recipients. As Rep. Craig put it, it would amount to a tax cut for seniors and a way to ensure more Americans can depend on the Social Security benefits theyve earned.

In another sense, the act would be of particular benefit to higher-earning beneficiaries. Those who earn under $25,000 per year already dont have to pay taxes on their benefits, but that would now apply to those with unlimited earnings. This could amount to a significant tax break for higher-income beneficiaries, many of which currently pay tax on as much as 85% of their Social Security income.

However, higher-income individuals are also the ones who would be required to pay more taxes on their income during their working careers, so the benefit likely cancels itself out.

What Do Experts Say About the Act?

While generally being in favor of some type of Social Security modification bill, PGIM DC Solutions David Blanchett says it is a little bit disingenuous to call the You Earned It You Keep It Act a win-win.

As he puts it, Id probably like the bill more if this particular provision [to eliminate taxation of benefits] was eliminated, because it actually makes the situation worse than it would be than if we just raised taxes on higher income Americans to close the deficit.

As Michael Finke, professor and Frank M. Engle Chair of Economic Security at the American College of Financial Services sees it, There are only two ways to prevent the benefit cuts  raise taxes or reduce benefits. No politician wants to cut benefits, so it seems inevitable that taxes will go up. The professor sees the Act as a good first step, but not an ultimate solution.

Can the Act Pass Both Houses of Congress?

According to Emerson Sprick, the associate director for economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, the chance that this act becomes law in the current year is low. For starters, its an election year, and the current composition of the House of Representatives also makes it unlikely.

Blanchett agrees, saying Im honestly not sure whether or not this is going to make it through Congress. I think its easier to suggest its unlikely to make it, given the divided political climate and how the costs are being apportioned.

The Bottom Line

In terms of extending the viability of Social Security, the You Earned It You Keep It Act seems to have merit. In the words of Stephen Goss, chief actuary for the Social Security Administration, The date of projected depletion of the combined OASI and DI Trust Fund reserves would be moved from 2034 under current law to 2054 assuming enactment of the proposal, under the intermediate assumptions of the 2023 Trustees Report.

Thats 20 full years of economic viability for the program. Unfortunately, given the current political climate and the fact that its an election year, the act doesnt seem destined to pass in 2024.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: This Bill Could Save Social Security From Running Out, but Will It Pass?
Vancouver, Canada --News Direct-- Blue Sky Uranium Corp.

Blue Sky Uranium CEO Niko Cacos joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share exciting news regarding the company's Amarillo Grande Project in Argentina. He announced the results of a new Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Ivana Uranium-Vanadium deposit, which incorporates a recently updated mineral resource estimate. Notably, approximately 80% of the resources are now classified as Indicated, indicating a high level of confidence in their quality and quantity.

The PEA outlines robust economics for a surficial mining operation, projecting 11 years of uranium and vanadium production. Some key financial metrics from the assessment include an after-tax NPV (Net Present Value) of $227.7 million at an 8% discount rate, an after-tax IRR (Internal Rate of Return) of 38.9%, and an after-tax payback period of 1.9 years.

Cacos emphasized the company's commitment to ongoing exploration efforts aimed at discovering and delineating new uranium and vanadium resources across the expansive Amarillo Grande project. This underscores Blue Sky Uranium's dedication to maximizing the potential of its mineral assets in Argentina.

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Proactive North America

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View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/blue-sky-uranium-announces-positive-new-pea-for-ivana-deposit-in-argentina-946245821
NEW YORK, NY, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BNC Global ( https://www.mybncglobal.com ) is pleased to announce its participation in the prestigious 'Dubai Derma 2024', which took place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, United Arab Emirates, from March 5th to 7th. This yearly gathering in Dubai is renowned for highlighting the most recent academic and clinical advancements in medical aesthetics and anti-aging, attracting over 20,000 visitors annually and standing as the Middle East's largest skincare and beauty expo.





Leading the industry, BNC Global offers an extensive portfolio of aesthetic medical products, such as fillers, fat dissolvers, skin boosters, lifting threads, and more. Thanks to its extensive distribution network that covers 35 countries, including Russia, the Middle East, and Europe, BNC Global is on a path of continuous global expansion.

During the Dubai Derma 2024 exhibition, BNC Global showcased an impressive collection of around 26 brands of aesthetic medical products, drawing significant interest from attendees. Highlights included the acclaimed fat dissolver 'DR.LIPO+', the popular HA filler 'Tesoro', and the innovative exosome booster HANHEAL Exosome Facial Rejuvenation' and 'HYALACE', demonstrating BNC Global's dedication to innovation and excellence in aesthetic medicine.

A representative from BNC Global commented, "Our presence at Dubai Derma this year was focused on showcasing our premier products to address the global demand, affirming our leadership in aesthetic medicine. Starting with exhibitions in France, the UAE this year, and later in Seoul, South Korea, we are eager to enhance BNC Global's global brand recognition by actively participating in key exhibitions."

BNC Global is committed to driving innovation, maintaining high-quality standards, and achieving customer satisfaction, positioning the company for continued growth and success in the ever-evolving global aesthetic medical market.

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Media Contact

Brand: BNC Global

Contact: Seoyoung Ko

Email: syko@mybncglobal.com

Website: https://www.mybncglobal.com

SOURCE: BNC Global




BP plc BP and the governments of Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago have entered discussions aimed at the development of a shared offshore gas field situated in the Caribbean, per a Reuters report. This collaboration marks a significant step toward bolstering natural gas production in the region.

BP's interest in expanding its natural gas output in Trinidad aims to support the operations of the local Atlantic LNG export facility. Over the past five years, the companys gas production has experienced a notable decline, dropping nearly 1 billion cubic feet per day. This decline highlights the urgency for strategic partnerships and new developments to revitalize the sector.

Operational constraints have plagued the Atlantic LNG facility, with reduced gas output from the island's offshore fields leading to underutilization. Despite boasting a nameplate capacity of 15 million tons of liquefied gas annually across four trains, the facility has been operating below capacity. The idling of its first train since 2020 has further exacerbated production challenges, with the facility producing just 8.2 million tons last year.

According to Reuters, BP acknowledged its engagement with the governments of Trinidad and Tobago and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela regarding the potential development of gas resources in the Manakin-Cocuina field. This joint effort aligns with efforts to leverage the shared resources and foster regional cooperation.

The Manakin-Cocuina field, spanning across both sides of the countries' borders and estimated to hold just over 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, presents a promising opportunity for energy collaboration. Despite previous challenges, including stalled talks due to U.S. sanctions against Venezuela, the easing of these sanctions has reignited the momentum for cooperation and development in the energy sector.

Venezuela's state-run oil company, PDVSA, expressed its contemplation of issuing licenses for exploring and developing non-associated gas within its jurisdiction of the shared field. This move signifies a commitment to harnessing the untapped potential of the region's natural gas reserves.

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Zacks Rank & Key Picks

BP currently carries a Zack Rank #3 (Hold).

Some better-ranked stocks in the energy sector are Sunoco LP SUN, Murphy USA Inc. MUSA and Energy Transfer LP ET, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Sunoco is among the biggest motor fuel distributors in the U.S. wholesale market in terms of volumes. By distributing more than 10 fuel brands via 10,000 convenience stores under long-term distribution contracts, the partnership will continue to generate stable cash flow.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SUNs 2024 earnings per share (EPS) is pegged at $4.87. The stock has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2024 and 2025 in the past 30 days.

Murphy USA is a leading independent retailer of motor fuel and convenience merchandise in the United States.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MUSAs 2024 EPS is pegged at $25.58. The company has a Zacks Style Score of B for Growth and B for Value. It has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2024 and 2025 in the past 30 days.

Energy Transfer is a publicly traded limited partnership, focused on diverse energy assets in the United States. The companys core operations involve natural gas midstream services, transportation, storage, crude oil facilities and marketing assets.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ETs 2024 earnings per unit is pegged at $1.44. The company has witnessed upward earnings estimate revisions for 2024 in the past 30 days. ETs 2024 earnings are expected to rise 32.1% year over year.

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(Bloomberg) -- Investors in TikToks Chinese parent company stand to benefit if it sold the app because divestment would remove a source of uncertainty, a Republican lawmaker said.

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It would be in the financial interest of ByteDances investors to effectuate a forced sale, Representative Mike Gallagher, who spearheaded a House-passed bill aimed at making the company divest TikTok to allow its continued operation in the US, said on CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday.

Efforts to remove Chinese corporate influence over the popular social-media platform is back on the political agenda in an election year. At least two US senators voiced support in principle for the bill on Sunday, though it faces a slower process in the chamber after winning bipartisan backing in the House last week on concern over Chinese government influence on the American public.

Key senators have expressed constitutional reservations about banning the platform. Gallagher, who chairs a House committee looking into the US-China strategic competition, argued on Face the Nation that a forced sale absolutely could happen before the November elections.

I think the user experience on the app would improve and you wouldnt have this concern over being propagandized, the opaque algorithm influencing the information you see, he said. That would go away, so I imagine it would actually increase in value.

Read more: Jeff Yass $15 Billion TikTok Fortune Shines Light on His GOP Clout

While President Joe Biden has said hed sign the House bill on TikTok, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Sunday we dont want to see it banned.

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We do want to see ByteDance no longer in control of that application, he said on ABCs This Week.

Senator Mike Rounds, a Republican from South Dakota, said the best solution would be for ByteDance to allow for American ownership of TikTok.

If not, then were probably going to have to eliminate it from the platforms, he said on CNNs State of the Union.

Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican from Louisiana, gave the House bill a qualified endorsement.

Id like to see the final language, but Im certainly predisposed to vote for it, he said NBCs Meet the Press.

Read more: Why TikTok Faces a US Ban Over National Security: QuickTake

Former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday hes targeting a purchase of TikTok from its parent, telling CNBC he has spoken to potential co-investors about acquiring the app.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Lunar relay satellite all set for launch

08:55, March 18, 2024 By Zhao Lei ( Chinadaily.com.cn

The relay satellite Queqiao 2 and the Long March 8 carrier rocket are vertically transferred to the launch area of the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province on Sunday. The satellite is expected to be launched at an appropriate time in the next few days. [Photo/Xinhua]

A relay satellite essential to the upcoming Chang'e 6 moon mission and other future lunar exploration programs is scheduled for launch within the next few days, according to the China National Space Administration.

The combination of the relay satellite Queqiao 2, or Magpie Bridge 2, and a Long March 8 carrier rocket, tasked with lifting the satellite, was moved on Sunday morning to the launching tower at Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province.

The satellite and the rocket were individually transported in February to the Wenchang center, where they were examined and assembled. The rocket will undergo final checks before propellants are loaded, the space administration said in a news release. The launch will take place in due course, it noted.

Queqiao 1, the predecessor of Queqiao 2, was lifted by a Long March 4C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province in May 2018. It currently serves as a relay platform for the Chang'e 4 lunar mission.

The Chang'e 4 probe landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon in January 2019, becoming the first spacecraft to be operated on the little-known semisphere.

If everything goes according to plan, the Chang'e 6 probe will be launched in the first half of the year, and will become the second spacecraft to reach the moon's far side. It is tasked to bring back samples from the lunar far side, an assignment that is challenging, sophisticated and has never been done before.

Communication services between the Chang'e 4 and Chang'e 6 spacecraft and the Earth require relay satellites due to their special locations. Transmitting signals is thus the primary task of Queqiao 1 and 2.

Pang Zhihao, an expert on space exploration technology who worked at the China Academy of Space Technology for decades, said the fact that Queqiao 2 will be transported using a Long March 8 rocket indicates that this relay satellite is larger and heavier than its predecessor.

"As far as I understand, the Queqiao 2 has been designed to have more functions and a longer life span. It will be key to China's next several lunar missions," he said.

The Chang'e 6 spacecraft will have four components  an orbiter, a lander, an ascender and a reentry module. In addition to sample collection instruments, it will also carry scientific instruments from Pakistan, France, Italy and the European Space Agency, according to its mission planners.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has held a one-on-one meeting with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan at the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, they hailed the successful development of friendly and brotherly relations between the two countries across various areas. The sides noted that the official visit of the Prime Minister of Georgia to Azerbaijan would contribute to the further expansion of bilateral cooperation.

During the conversation, they exchanged views on the prospects for bilateral bonds and issues of mutual interest.








Straits Research - Market Research Strategy | Strategy Consulting | Business Research | Business Consulting | Market Research

One of the emerging trends among cleaning equipment providers is offering environmentally sustainable products and services. Green cleaning primarily refers to using products and services that have a smaller influence on human health and the environment than other available products and services that can negatively affect both.

New York, United States, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A carpet cleaner is designed to remove firmly embedded dirt and stains from carpets. It includes a pump, vacuum, heating device, solution tank, and recovery tank to remove grime deep within the carpet pile. Carpet cleaner combines cleansing solutions, forceful scrubbing brushes, and vacuum suction to eliminate dead skin cells, pollen, and food particles. Compared to traditional carpet cleansing, dry cleaning is more effective at preventing carpet degradation.

Download Free Sample Report PDF @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/carpet-cleaner-market/request-sample

Market Dynamics

Growth of the Global Carpet Flooring Market Drives the Global Market

According to Straits Research, The global carpet cleaner market was valued at USD 690.15 million in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 1,173.93 million by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.08% during the forecast period (20232031). The global demand for carpets and rugs has increased steadily over the past few years, driven primarily by China's expanding demand. The rapid expansion of construction in residential and non-residential sectors and administrative structures in the Asia-Pacific region also drives the global carpet market. The global carpet market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 2% to 3% during the forecast period. Consequently, expanding the carpet and rug industry would boost demand for carpet cleaning equipment.

Rising Home Improvement Activities Creates Tremendous Opportunities

Home improvement is considered a significant spending sector among millennials, which can boost the carpet cleaners market. The market for carpets and carpet washers is bolstered by rapid urbanization, an aging population, and rising disposable incomes in developing nations, all of which support the home improvement sector. Other factors include renovation and remodeling trends resulting from product innovations in various categories, including kitchens, bathrooms, accessories, and interiors.

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Modern trends indicate that millennials purchase new residences and undertake home improvement projects. This cohort is anticipated to seek out carpets after renovations to experience improved flooring, thereby driving carpet demand. This is expected to increase the demand for carpet cleaners. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, annual home improvement expenditures increased by more than 58%. In 2020, a whopping 52 percent of residences were extended. These factors are anticipated to increase carpet usage, creating market opportunities for carpet cleaners.

Regional Analysis

North America is the most significant global carpet cleaner market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.08% during the forecast period. North America contributes a significant portion of the global market due to its extensive commercial and residential penetration and its consumers' high disposable income. In the first half of 2019, private office construction in the United States accounted for over USD 8 billion. By 2050, the total floor area of commercial buildings is anticipated to reach 126.1 billion square feet, a 39% increase from 2017. This, in turn, demonstrates the vast potential for carpet flooring demand to increase. In addition, North America is home to a mature retail sector that sees millions of customers daily. This necessitates resilient flooring that is stain-resistant and slip-resistant. This has increased the demand for carpet flooring in North America, propelling the market for carpet cleaners.

Europe is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 6.29% over the forecast period. The European construction industry is anticipated to grow across all sectors, including non-residential, residential, and civil engineering, for new construction and renovation. During the forecast period, the engine of construction growth will transition from new housing construction to civil engineering construction. With the expansion of residential construction and the completion of housing construction projects, carpet demand in Europe is anticipated to increase. Carpets are a popular European flooring option for their aesthetic appeal and affordability.

In addition, the demand for carpets in non-residential or commercial sectors, such as aerospace and automotive, is expected to increase during the forecast period. The expansion of the automotive industry in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Germany is fueling the demand for carpets in the region, thereby bolstering the market for carpet cleaners.

Key Highlights

Based on product, the global carpet cleaner market is bifurcated into canister, upright, and handheld carpet cleaners. The upright carpet cleaner segment is the highest contributor to the market and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.55% over the forecast period.

Based on cleaning methods, the global carpet cleaner market is segmented into carpet extractors and carpet steamers. The carpet extractor segment is the largest revenue contributor to the market and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.91% over the forecast period.

Based on distribution channels, the global carpet cleaner market is bifurcated into offline and online channels. The offline channel segment dominates the global market and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 5.91% over the forecast period.

Based on end-users, the global carpet cleaner market is bifurcated into residential, commercial, and contract cleaners. The commercial segment owns the highest market share and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.52% over the forecast period.

North America is the most significant global carpet cleaner market shareholder and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.08% during the forecast period.

Competitive Players

The key global carpet cleaner market players are Nilfisk, Tennant, Alfred Karcher, Bissell, Techtronic Industries, Rug Doctor, Eureka Forbes Limited, Numatic International, TASKI, TRUVOX International, Prochem Europe, Santoemma, Daimer Industries, Powr-Flite, Duplex Cleaning Machines, and others.

Market News

In June 2023, Zoflora introduced its first carpet, rug, and upholstery-specific cleaning product. Carpet Fresh & Care Foam (rrp: 7/600ml) promises to remove dirt, eliminate odors, and emit the aroma of Zoflora's most popular fragrance, Linen Fresh.

In April 2023, Bissell, a leader in homecare solutions for over 145 years, introduced the Bissell Revolution HydroSteamTM Pet, the only carpet cleaner with the power of HydroSteamTM Technology, a unique heater and fluid delivery system for improved removal of difficult, stuck-on messes and sticky stains.

Global Carpet Cleaner Market: Segmentation

By Product

Upright

Canister

Handheld

By Cleaning Methods

Carpet Extractor

Carpet Steamers

By Distribution Channel

Offline and

Online

By End-User

Commercial

Residential

Contract Cleaners

By Regions

North America

Europe

Asia-Pacific

Latin America

The Middle East and Africa

Get Detailed Market Segmentation @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/carpet-cleaner-market/segmentation

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BEIJING, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Under the guidance and support of China's Ministry of Commerce and Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry, the 2024 Conference on International Industrial Cooperation (Singapore) & China's Machinery and Electronics Show in Singapore, co-organised by China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Machinery & Electronic Products and Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, will be held on 19-21 March at Singapore Expo Convention & Exhibition Centre.

2024 Conference on International Industrial Cooperation (Singapore) & Chinas Machinery and Electronics Show Set to Launch in Singapore

As a pivot event to serve China-Singapore civil economic and trade cooperation, implement the China-Singapore FTA and the MOUs on cooperation in key areas, this year's Conference will place more emphasis on the effectiveness of "in-depth, wide-ranging, and practical" activities. It will prioritise platform effect and engage extensively with all stakeholders. Following the successful model of "Conference + Exhibition," the event will seamlessly integrate "outbound" and "inbound" strategies, aiming to establish an innovative international service platform. Through continuous theme innovation, content enrichment, and the adoption of more flexible and diversified forms of cooperation, the Conference seeks to facilitate connections among participating enterprises and professional organisations, thereby better serving the high-quality development of economic and trade cooperation between China, Singapore, and the RCEP region.

The Conference will spotlight themes "Green Energy and Digitalisation, International Industry-Education Integration, Industrial Parks Investment & Cooperation, Corporate Governance & Compliance Practices," addressing major concerns of the Chinese and Singaporean governments and relevant industries. It will feature an Opening Ceremony, a Seminar on the Investment Environment and Projects of China's Key Provinces and Cities, as well as various topical Seminars. Over 500 industry representatives from government departments, key financial institutions, and industry leaders from China, Singapore, and other RCEP countries will engage in in-depth exchanges on relevant topics, actively implementing cooperation consensus between the two governments and promoting multi-bilateral economic and trade exchanges.

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Alongside the Conference, China's Machinery and Electronics Show will be held, focusing on building technology, home appliances and electronics, power energy, and other industries. Concurrent with BuildTech Asia at the same venue, the Show is expected to attract approximately 10,000 professional visitors and buyers.

Cision

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SOURCE CCTV+
Chevron Corporation CVX is reportedly facing significant cost increases and schedule setbacks in its ambitious project to boost oil production at the Tengiz field in Kazakhstan. According to sources, the total project expenditure is now projected to reach $48.5 billion, marking a steep rise from the initial budget of $37 billion.

The Budgetary Expansion: Insights and Implications

During its third-quarter earnings report in October, Chevron disclosed an upward revision in the budget allocated for the Tengiz project. Initially estimated at $45.2 billion, the budget has witnessed a 4% increase due to a slower-than-anticipated startup phase.

Sources close to the matter revealed an additional $1.5 billion expenditure reserved for project enhancement, highlighting the scale and complexity of the work.

Chevron's Official Statement and Financial Projections

The companys official statement, released on a recent Thursday, reaffirmed its commitment to the Tengiz expansion initiative. Despite the budgetary adjustments, Chevron asserted that its guidance for the total project cost remains consistent with the figures communicated during its previous earnings calls. The company's financial projections indicate a modest increase of 3-5%, encapsulating the dynamic nature of the project's financial landscape.

Contingency Planning Amid Uncertainty

In response to the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chevron disclosed a contingency reserve of $1.9 billion in July 2021. This proactive measure aimed to mitigate schedule uncertainties and ensure the seamless progression of the Tengiz expansion project despite external disruptions. The allocation of contingency funds highlights Chevron's meticulous approach toward risk management and operational resilience.

Project Milestones and Delays: A Comprehensive Overview

The Tengizchevroil venture, renowned as the Future Growth Project, has encountered several milestones and setbacks throughout its trajectory. Originally budgeted at $37 billion, the project has surpassed its initial financial estimates, signaling the magnitude of its scope and technological complexity.

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Moreover, the completion timeline has witnessed multiple revisions, with the full startup now scheduled for the second quarter following year.

Stakeholder Dynamics and Partnership Synergies

The Tengizchevroil venture represents a collaborative partnership among Chevron, Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM and KazMunayGas, the state-owned entity of Kazakhstan. With Chevron holding a 50% stake in the venture, XOM and KazMunayGas maintain ownership shares of 25% and 20%, respectively.

This tripartite alliance highlights the strategic alignment of interests among industry leaders and the significance of international collaboration in driving energy sector advancements.

Conclusion

Chevron's ambitious attempt to boost oil output at Kazakhstans Tengiz field stands as a testament to the company's unwavering commitment to innovation and growth. However, the ballooning costs and timeline setbacks surrounding Chevron's Tengiz expansion project present a significant hurdle for the company. With a revised budget of $48.5 billion and a launch pushed back to the second quarter of 2024, CVX faces heightened pressure to ensure the project's success.

Zacks Rank and Key Picks

Currently, CVX and XOM carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) each.

Investors interested in the energy sector might look at some better-ranked stocks like Murphy USA Inc. MUSA and Archrock, Inc. AROC, both sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Murphy USA is valued at around $8.63 billion. In the past year, the companys shares have surged 67.3%.

MUSA markets retail motor fuel products and convenience merchandise, operating retail stores under the brands Murphy USA, Murphy Express and QuickChek.

Archrock is valued at $2.93 billion. The company currently pays a dividend of 66 cents per share, or 3.53%, on an annual basis.

AROC, together with its subsidiaries, works as an energy infrastructure company in the United States. The company operates under two segments  Contract Operations and Aftermarket Services.

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China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi, left, meets his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters, in Wellington, New Zealand, Monday, March 18, 2024. (Hagen Hopkins/Pool Photo via AP)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday that his country is ready to work with New Zealand to deepen trade and economic ties and address climate change.

Wang met his New Zealand counterpart, Winston Peters, at the start of a tour that will also include Australia.

China is willing to hold talks on reducing barriers to investment in the service sector at an early time and build new drivers of economic growth with New Zealand in the digital economy and through technological innovation, Wang said, according to a statement from China's Foreign Ministry.

Peters, who is also deputy prime minister, met Wang in Wellington, New Zealand's capital.

There have been some significant developments since we last met, not least a global pandemic that impacted both our countries," Peters said in his opening comments in their formal meeting at New Zealand's parliament house.

Today is a valuable opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that are now before us, he said.

Wang is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit the country since his own previous visit in 2017. He called for the creation of better conditions for exchanges including education, tourism and youth programs, citing the example of Rewi Alley, a 20th-century New Zealander who was a member of China's Communist Party.

New Zealand has had strong economic ties with China in recent years and was the first developed country to sign a bilateral free trade deal with Beijing in 2008. The two countries expanded that trade agreement in 2022.

Wang also had a brief meeting with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday and also is to meet Trade Minister Todd McClay while in Wellington.

Wang arrives in Canberra, Australia, on Wednesday to meet with counterpart Penny Wong, with talks between them expected to include the case of detained Australian Yang Hengjun.

It will be the first time the two foreign ministers have met face-to-face since Yang was found guilty of espionage in a closed trial and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in February.

Also on the agenda will be the removal of the last remaining trade tariffs that were imposed by China in 2020 and were widely regarded as punishment for the previous Australian government's passage of laws that ban covert foreign interference in domestic politics, for barring Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei from rolling out Australias 5G network due to security concerns and for calling for an independent investigation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trade tariffs cost Australia's economy an estimated 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion), but have since been wound back on most goods except wine, rock lobsters and some abattoirs.
(Bloomberg) -- At a time when many large mergers are being blocked or delayed by regulators, Cisco Systems Inc. took just six months to close its $28 billion acquisition of Splunk.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Hats off to our legal teams, Chief Executive Officer Chuck Robbins said in an interview with Bloomberg TV Monday after the deals completion was announced. The fact that the two companies have very different businesses is a big reason the transaction didnt attract regulatory scrutiny, he said.

Cisco announced the acquisition of data-crunching software maker Splunk in September 2023. The deal is an attempt to further diversify Ciscos business, giving it more services to sell to corporate customers, including tools that monitor network health and cybersecurity risks. Ciscos traditional business of selling networking hardware to business has been dogged by a slowdown in tech spending.

Regulators in multiple countries are increasingly skeptical of larger acquisitions  particularly by major tech companies seeking to move into adjacent markets. In December, Adobe Inc. abandoned its efforts to buy rival software maker Figma after more than a year of antitrust scrutiny. Nvidia Corp., too, abandoned its purchase of Arm Ltd. from SoftBank Group Corp. after the US Federal Trade Commission sued to block it.

We tried to help the regulators understand that from a cyber perspective  this is super important  this is going to be good for customers, Robbins said.

Importantly, the Cisco-Splunk deal didnt require regulatory approval in China, which was a stumbling block for Intel Corp.s 2023 bid for Tower Semiconductor Ltd.

Story continues

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Shares in one of eastern Europes biggest fashion retailers rebounded from a record slide triggered by short-seller Hindenburg Researchs report about the Polish companys alleged activities in Russia.

Most Read from Bloomberg

LPP SA gained as much as 36% in Warsaw on Monday and closed 21% higher after Fridays slump wiped out $3 billion in shareholder value. Management comments helped allay concerns about reputation and transparency risks, the company raised guidance and said its considering a share buyback.

Still, the shares are about 23% below levels from before Hindenburgs report, which revealed that clothes identical to those offered by LPP were still sold in Russia. The short-seller, which carries out investigations into companies and seeks to make money when their findings depress the stock price, said the Polish retailers withdrawal from its biggest foreign market after the invasion of Ukraine was a sham.

LPP explained that as part of its deal to divest its Russian operations, made several months after the war began in 2022, it has continued to supply clothes to agents that sold the merchandise in Russia. During Mondays conference call for analysts, investors and reporters  which attracted more than 1,000 participants  executives vowed to terminate such sales before the current fiscal year ends on Jan. 31, 2025.

It seems Fridays plunge went too far and now shares should continue to rebound, said Tomasz Sokoowski, an analyst at Santander Bank Polska SA. He said LPP had dispelled concern that the company was still making profits in Russia and that Hindenburgs report would affect margins.

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The short-sellers claims particularly stung LPP, which has a leading ESG score among companies listed in Warsaw. Strong public pressure and the risk of shopper boycotts quickly pushed Polish firms to exit Russia in 2022.

Chinese Barcodes

Hindenburg Research said in a post on social media platform X that its main takeaway from Mondays conference call was that LPPs claims that it had completely suspended the transport of goods to Russia was a lie. It also said the company offered no explanation for why the barcodes in Russia were modified to have Chinese country-code prefixes.

We find out now that years later, only following our report, that LPP goods are still making their way into Russia through trade agent entities linked to key LPP insiders, the short-seller said on Monday. And that this is part of a newly revealed 4-year transition period.

Despite the ongoing controversy, LPPs share price represents attractive value based on broader business fundamentals, said Citigroup Inc. analyst Rafal Wiatr, raising his recommendation to buy from hold. Before the move, Citi was one of just three brokers that didnt have an accumulate rating from the 17 analysts covering the stock.

LPP raised its sales guidance for 2024 to 21 billion zloty ($5.3 billion) from 20 billion zloty, seeing strong performance of its cheaper Sinsay brand. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Marek Piechocki told the call that the company can double its size over the next three years.

Sales to companies re-selling clothes in Russia amounted to 6.8% of LPPs revenues in 2023, compared with the 19.2% of sales it gained from Russia before selling its operations in June 2022, LPP said.

Janusz Pieta, an analyst at MBank SA, noted that sales to agents were only expected to contribute about 3% to this years revenues, which eliminates the biggest risk to forecasts. He said that the potential reputation effect should be rather short-term and wont weigh much on earnings.

After Fridays plummet, the fashion retailer traded at a 35% to 45% discount compared with peers such as Inditex SA, Hennes & Mauritz AB and Next plc, while the short-sellers report may translate into a 15% reduction in LPPs fundamentals, Trigon Dom Maklerski analyst Grzegorz Kujawski said.

The broker said that LPP remains the perfect proxy for the expected rebound of consumer sentiment across eastern Europe.

--With assistance from James Cone, Maciej Martewicz and Piotr Bujnicki.

(Updates with closing prices and new chart, from the second paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
It's been safer and healthier for chronic kidney disease patients

TAICHUNG, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chronic Kidney Disease has become a new "national disease" in Taiwan, and the number of patients requiring hemodialysis is increasing. Traditionally, hemodialysis patients and accompanies require at least an hour spent on commuting, and that maybe even more time consuming for those who live in suburbs. Moreover, patients almost feel tired or fatigue and need rest half a day following hemodialysis. Since 2019 in Taiwan, China Medical University Hospital (CMUH) has initiated and implemented AI monitoring system for hemodialysis patients. The unique AI system receives the messages sent by the dialysis machine to keep track of any risk message with incorporated AI system, ensuring patient safety and collecting information for prescription adaptation. Accredited with CMUH's AI technology, those who require hemodialysis are not necessary to visit a healthcare facility for this routine. Dr. Huey-Liang Kuo, Director of Hemodialysis Center at CMUH, stated that patients have been heathier and safer to do hemodialysis at home.

Home hemodialysis is associated with the best outcomes. The patient Mr. Lin now has better quality of life and no dietary restrictions. Hospital visits for dialysis is no longer a burden for him.

Mr. Lin, a 62-year-old residing in a remote area of Taiwan, has been undergoing hemodialysis for thirty years. With reduced mobility, he faced the challenge of commuting for two hours every other day to receive his routine four-hour hemodialysis treatment. This rigorous schedule often left him feeling fatigued after each session. However, five years ago, Mr. Lin's situation took a positive turn when he enrolled in the Home Hemodialysis (HHD) training program at China Medical University Hospital (CMUH). Since committing to HHD in 2019, Mr. Lin has experienced a significant improvement in his quality of life. Today, he not only enjoys more time with his family but also remains energetic enough to successfully manage his own business.

According to Dr. Kuo, HHD has been a choice of renal replacement therapy more than fifty years in some countries, but in Taiwan the general public has very limited knowledge about it. Dr. Kuo further explained, "patients and their family are concerned about the safety of doing it at home. It is worth to notice that patients may be given the option of HHD to avoid fatigue from traditional hemodialysis which has side effects on their work and daily life.

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"Approximately 12% of the Taiwanese, or about 2.86 million people, have Chronic Kidney Disease, and more than 80 thousand of these patients have progressed to end-stage kidney failure that require routine hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, with 90% selecting the former" stated Professor Chiu-Ching Huang of Nephrology Center at CMUH. With HHD, patients may be able to return to their jobs the following day, thereby enhancing their quality of life and minimizing the disruptions caused by hemodialysis schedules.

Professor Huang further explained, "The tiredness following hemodialysis comes from ultrafiltration and osmotic imbalance, as hemodialysis in medical facilities takes up 4 hours and requires rapid dehydration to remove the excess water as well as uremic toxins accumulated in a patient's body, leading to drastic change in osmotic pressure. Patients usually experience serious fatigue and require considerable rest." Prof. Huang pointed out that HHD takes a longer time (8 hours), however, water and waste are removed in a slow but steady rate that comes with a less drastic change in osmotic pressure and less stress on patient's heart. Patients don't feel tired after hemodialysis and can continue with their work."

As for the safety of HHD, patients need to complete a training program lasting 8-12 weeks and encompassing the establishment of vascular access puncture, operation and troubleshooting of hemodialysis machine, blood pressure and pulse monitoring, recording a nursing report, emergency evacuation, medical waste management, and the maintaining of dialysis RO water quality. They also need to pass a final test of independent operation before they can do it at home.

Media Contact:

Carolyn Chen

100709@tool.caaumed.org.tw

Cision

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SOURCE China Medical University Hospital
Coca-Cola HBC (LON:CCH) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: 10.2b (up 11% from FY 2022).

Net income: 636.5m (up 53% from FY 2022).

Profit margin: 6.3% (up from 4.5% in FY 2022). The increase in margin was driven by higher revenue.

EPS: 1.73 (up from 1.13 in FY 2022).

LSE:CCH Revenue and Expenses Breakdown March 18th 2024

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Coca-Cola HBC EPS Misses Expectations

Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates by 9.9%.

The primary driver behind last 12 months revenue was the Emerging segment contributing a total revenue of 4.74b (47% of total revenue). Notably, cost of sales worth 6.63b amounted to 65% of total revenue thereby underscoring the impact on earnings. The largest operating expense was Sales & Marketing costs, amounting to 1.89b (65% of total expenses). Explore how CCH's revenue and expenses shape its earnings.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 5.0% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 3.9% growth forecast for the Beverage industry in the United Kingdom.

Performance of the British Beverage industry.

The company's shares are up 1.6% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

You should learn about the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Coca-Cola HBC.

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.
Federal Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Amarillo, Texas: No longer a free ride for conservative litigants? (Associated Press)

Some lawsuits are won by smart lawyers and some on the facts. But nothing spells success as much as the ability to pick your own judge.

That's the lesson taught by conservative activists who have moved in federal courts to overturn government programs and policies on abortion, contraception, immigration, gun control, student loan relief and vaccine mandates, among other issues.

In recent years they've gamed the judicial system to get their lawsuits heard by judges they knew would be sure to see things their way. The process is known as judge shopping, and the committee that makes policy for the federal courts just moved to put an end to it.

The courts have now formally recognized the need to do something about a really troubling pattern of judge shopping.

Amanda Shanor, University of Pennsylvania constitutional law expert

In a policy statement and official guidance issued last week, the Judicial Conference of the United States said that henceforth, any lawsuit seeking a statewide or nationwide injunction against a government policy or action should be assigned at random to a judge in the federal district where it's filed.

If that sounds a bit vague to the layperson, its target is crystal clear to legal experts: It's aimed at right-wing activists and politicians who have filed their cases in federal courthouses presided over by highly partisan judges in Texas. Most of those judges were appointed by Donald Trump.

It would be bad enough if those judges' rulings applied only within their judicial districts or affected only the plaintiffs. But the judges have issued sweeping nationwide injunctions that block government programs and policies coast-to-coast.

As Ian Millhiser of Vox put it, this is America's "Matthew Kacsmaryk problem." Kacsmaryk is the Trump-appointed Texas federal judge who most recently attempted to outlaw mifepristone, a widely used abortion medication, nationwide. His April 2023 ruling has been temporarily stayed by the Supreme Court, but it's still on the docket, ticking away.

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But Kacsmaryk is not alone. As recently as March 8, Judge J. Campbell Barker, a Trump appointee who presides over 50% of the civil cases filed in his rustic courthouse in Tyler, Texas, invalidated a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board broadening the standard by which big corporations could be held jointly responsible for the welfare and unionization rights of workers employed by their franchisees.

How serious a blow could the judicial conference's policy be to conservatives aiming to roll back civil rights? Massive, judging from the reaction of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). Only 48 hours after the conference announced its initiative, McConnell wrote to the chief judges of all judicial districts urging them to ignore the new policy.

Read more: Column: Trump's judges will keep moving the country to the far right for decades

This was an audacious move, considering that the presiding officer of the Judicial Council is Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., its membership comprises the chief judges of the 12 judicial circuits and one judge from a district court in each circuit, and its role is to set policy for the entire federal court system.

McConnell asserted that only Congress can make the rules for the assignment of federal trial judges, but that's dubious. In an analysis last year, the Justice Department concluded that the Supreme Court has full authority to impose rules of civil procedure in the federal courts, including a rule mandating that all federal judicial districts assign judges randomly to civil lawsuits aimed at statewide or nationwide injunctions. The Judicial Council's policy isn't the same as as a Supreme Court rule, but it's a fair bet that if pushed, the court would issue the rule.

McConnell also asserted that the Judicial Conference had been pressured into acting by Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), but that's untrue. Although Schumer has spoken out against judge shopping, numerous legal experts and Roberts himself have expressed concerns about the practice.

"The courts have now formally recognized the need to do something about a really troubling pattern of judge shopping," Amanda Shanor, a constitutional law expert at the University of Pennsylvania, said of the Judicial Conference's initiative.

What's yet unclear is whether the conference's initiative goes far enough. Its policy statement is described as "guidance," not a mandate. it acknowledges the district courts' "authority and discretion" to manage their dockets as they see fit.

Last year, Shanor, with Alice Clapman and Jennifer Ahearn of NYU's Brennan Center for Justice, proposed that the conference require all judicial districts to use a "random or blind procedure" to distribute cases among all the judges in the district when the litigants seek an injunction or other relief that would extend beyond the district's borders.

The practice traditionally labeled "forum shopping" is not especially new. The earliest case cited by legal experts dates back to 1842, when a litigant chose to file a lawsuit in federal rather than state court in New York to gain a strategic advantage over his adversary.

Read more: Column: How right-wing judges in Texas are erasing Americans' rights everywhere

Plaintiffs have been known to choose a venue based on local statutes of limitation, or a sense that juries in a region might be more amenable to their case, or because their location may be more convenient for parties or witnesses.

More recently, however, the practice has been heavily abused for partisan and ideological purposes. This results from two trends. One is the increasing partisanship of individual federal judges, especially those appointed by Trump. The second is those judges' habit of issuing nationwide injunctions against government policies or programs.

Nationwide injunctions can impose parochial partisan ideologies on the whole country. Through 2023, the state of Texas filed more than 31 federal lawsuits challenging Biden administration policies  but not a single one in federal court in Austin, which is the state capital but an island of blue in a red state.

The state had filed seven lawsuits in Amarillo, where by local procedure every one was automatically assigned to Kacsmaryk; six in Victoria, where all civil cases are assigned to Trump appointee Drew B. Tipton; and four in Galveston, where all civil cases come before Trump appointee Jeff Brown.

The rest were filed in divisions with two judges, most of whom are also Trump appointees or conservative appointees of George W. Bush. In the Tyler division from which Barker issued his NLRB decision, all the cases he doesn't get are assigned to Judge Jeremy Kernodle, also a Trump appointee.

Although some nationwide injunctions have been lifted by the Supreme Court, that process seldom happens speedily. The result is that the plaintiffs effectively win by losing, as injunctions against government policies can have "the lasting systemic effect of blocking these policies for months or years," Shanor, Clapman and Ahearn observed.

Kacsmaryk got the mifepristone case for two reasons. First, antiabortion activists knew of his strong antiabortion inclinations. Second, the policy in the Northern District of Texas is to assign cases to judges in the division where they're filed.

Read more: Column: Two key antiabortion studies have been retracted as junk science. Will the Supreme Court care?

Kacsmaryk is the only judge sitting in the Amarillo division of the Northern District of Texas. So it was an easy call for the mifepristone plaintiffs to file there, knowing that their chance of drawing Kacsmaryk as their judge was 100%.

The same pattern drove plaintiffs to file lawsuits against Biden administration initiatives in the same district's Fort Worth division, which has two judges, Trump appointee Mark T. Pittman and George W. Bush appointee Reed O'Connor. Both have been sought by conservative litigants. O'Connor also presides over 100% of the cases filed in the district's Wichita Falls courthouse, where he is the only judge.

Pittman obligingly overturned Biden's student loan relief program in 2022. Just this month, he ruled the government's 55-year-old Minority Business Development Agency to be unconstitutional and ordered it opened to contract applicants of all races  obviously a ruling that defeats the purpose of a program designed to help minorities get a start in the business world. O'Connor tried to declare the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional in 2018. The Supreme Court overruled him in 2021.

The judicial conference's initiative is long overdue.

Customarily, rulings by federal trial judges have constituted precedents binding at most on other judges in a particular judicial district or resulted in court orders benefiting only the plaintiffs who filed the case.

Read more: Column: Right-wing judges are on a mission to stop the FDA from warning consumers about snake oil

Matters are different "when a court effectively can bind the entire nation with an injunction" that applies to "an unlimited range of persons and to conduct occurring in ... an equally unlimited array of places," legal scholar Ronald A. Cass wrote in 2018.

The prospect of sweeping rulings incentivizes "an extreme race to courthouses more inclined to issue nationwide injunctions and more sympathetic to the plaintiffs position," Cass wrote.

In its latest incarnation, "litigants effectively have the ability to effectively choose an actual judge," Shanor told me.

"We don't know how the policy will be rolled out, what exactly is in it, or how much of it is a recommendation rather than a requirement," she says. "A policy may be effective, but having a rule would advance the fairness and randomness of the distribution of these nationally important cases, and ensure the perceived legitimacy of the courts."

One is that the policy won't apply to cases that have already been assigned to a judge. Another is that litigants can still try to game the system by filing their lawsuits in states from which appeals are heard by circuit courts known to have a particular partisan lean.

That's a major issue with Texas cases, which are funneled on appeal to the 5th Circuit, sitting in New Orleans. That court has been the source of right-wing decisions so loopy that they've been slapped down by the conservative majority on the Supreme Court. Of that circuit's 17 active judges, six are Trump appointees.

McConnell's objection to the Judicial Conference's policy thus should be seen in context. He had more to do than anyone else with embedding Trumpian judges in the federal judiciary, where they wreak havoc on government policies and programs that help ordinary Americans, not just corporations and the rich. The conference's initiative may be the first step toward a more fair-minded judiciary, but it's a crucial one.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) likely minted a few millionaires after its public debut in 2005. If you had invested $10,000 in the Chinese tech giant's IPO, your investment would have briefly blossomed to $1.26 million when it hit its all-time high on Feb. 19, 2021. But today that 2005 investment would only be worth $389,000.

Baidu's stock stumbled as it faced fierce competition from other search platforms, the broader Chinese economy sputtered out, and delisting threats cast dark clouds over U.S.-listed Chinese stocks. However, it's still the largest search engine in China, it's expanding its AI and cloud platforms, and it's only worth $37 billion.

Image source: Getty Images.

So could Baidu keep growing over the next two decades and turn a fresh $10,000 investment into more than $1 million? Let's review its long-term opportunities to find out.

What happened to Baidu over the past two decades?

From 2005 to 2015, Baidu's annual revenue grew at a stunning compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 74%. That growth was driven by three tailwinds: China's rapid economic expansion, rising internet penetration rates, and the abrupt departure of Alphabet's Google from mainland China in 2010.

But from 2015 to 2020, Baidu's revenue only rose at a CAGR of 10%. Its growth slowed down as Tencent's (OTC: TCEHY) Weixin (known as WeChat overseas), ByteDance's Douyin (known as TikTok overseas), Alibaba's (NYSE: BABA) e-commerce marketplaces, and other mobile apps replaced it as a starting point for online searches.

At the same time, China's economic growth cooled off and advertisers reined in their spending. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated that pressure and China's post-pandemic recovery was hampered by unpredictable "zero-COVID-19" lockdowns.

Baidu's revenue rose 19% in USD terms in 2021 as some of those headwinds passed, but declined 8% in 2022 as the messy macro environment throttled its growth. In 2023 its revenue rose 6% as its core online marketing business (which accounted for 56% of its top line) stabilized and its cloud business expanded. The popularity of its Managed Business Pages (which empower Baidu to handle a brand's entire presence across its ecosystem) offset the slower growth of its traditional search and display ads, while the growth of its AI services supported the expansion of its cloud infrastructure platform.

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What's next for Baidu?

Looking ahead, the company expects the growth of its Baidu AI Cloud platform -- which is still an underdog compared to Alibaba, Huawei, and Tencent in the cloud race -- to continue expanding and reduce its dependence on digital ads. It continues to expand its namesake mobile app, which served 667 monthly active users (MAUs) at the end of 2023, as a "super app" with more integrated services to counter Tencent's Weixin.

On the AI front, Baidu has been expanding its ERNIE large language model to support new generative AI features across its ecosystem. It's also rolling out new driverless vehicle and robotaxi services to extend its reach beyond PCs and phones.

Those strategies are sound, but its high-growth days are probably over. Baidu still controls 60% of China's search market, according to StatCounter, but that space is maturing and evolving. China's days of high economic growth are also (potentially) over.

From 2023 to 2025, analysts expect Baidu's revenue to grow at a CAGR of just 8% as its EPS rises at a CAGR of 12%. We should take those estimates with a grain of salt, but they imply it's becoming a mature tech stock instead of a growth play.

How much could Baidu be worth in two decades?

Baidu's stock looks cheap right now at 12 times forward earnings, but it could struggle to command a higher valuation as its growth cools off. If Baidu maintains that forward multiple, the foreign exchange rates hold steady, and it grows its earnings per ADS at a stable CAGR of 10% from 2023 to 2043, its stock could be trading at about $650 in two decades.

That gain would turn a $10,000 investment today into nearly $62,000 -- but it would fall woefully short of replicating its past millionaire-making gains. Simply put, Baidu might still be a slow and steady play on the gradual growth of China's economy, but growth-oriented investors should probably check out its higher-growth industry peers instead.

Should you invest $1,000 in Baidu right now?

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Could Baidu Stock Help You Become a Millionaire? was originally published by The Motley Fool
By Ulviyya Shahin

Former Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer remarked during the plenary session titled "Regional Perspectives: The European Union and Neighborhood" at the XI Global Baku Forum that the experience of European countries is no longer beneficial, Azernews reports.

"Europe faces numerous threats, many of which are difficult to discern. These challenges extend beyond individuals, and it is the responsibility of politicians to address them. However, there is a lack of clarity on the direction we should take. Unlike the previous century, circumstances have evolved, necessitating the need for a roadmap," Fischer added.

The XI Global Baku Forum convenes representatives from various countries and esteemed international organizations, with over 350 guests from more than 70 nations participating.

Running until March 16, the forum encompasses discussions on various global issues, including the outcomes of COP28 and preparations for COP29, threats to the current world order, security challenges, peace prospects, strategies for stability in a fragmented world, global impacts, solutions to humanity's challenges, and significant global threats such as climate change, food security, and nuclear safety.

Additionally, discussions 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.
CreditCardCompare.com.au has appointed Gareth Boyd as its new Head of Growth.

Sydney, AU, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Australias credit card comparison site, CreditCardCompare.com.au, has appointed Gareth Boyd as its new Head of Growth.

Credit Card Compare is Australia's leading platform for credit card comparison, designed to demystify financial choices and empower consumers with the information needed to make informed decisions.



Credit Card Compare

Credit Card Compare acquired Finty.com in 2018 and merged into Finty to grow into the USA, Canada, and Singapore finance markets. After a recent decision to relaunch Credit Card Compare, Gareth Boyd will join his brothers Andrew and David Boyd, who founded Credit Card Compare in 2008.

Before joining Credit Card Compare, Gareth Boyd succeeded in different sectors, from hotels, restaurants, and online startups to co-founding SEO agency Forte Analytica. Wired claims Gareth Boyd is an SEO expert. He will balance this position and the Managing Director position at BoydHampers.com and Forte Analytica alongside other roles currently held at different e-commerce brands he founded or invested in. There is no conflict of interest.

Gareth Boyd commented on joining the Credit Card Compare team, Im looking forward to working alongside my brothers Andrew and David Boyd, theyve built something great for Australians, and hopefully, I can bring some of my expertise from different industries to help grow the company.

Boyd will oversee the digital growth and rebuild the marketing team to drive Credit Card Compare into an Australian household brand online and offline.

Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Credit Card Compare is Australia's only dedicated credit card comparison site. It was founded in 2008 to help Aussies make more informed decisions when finding or comparing a credit card. The Credit Card Compare mantra is Our mission is to help Aussies make great decisions on their next credit card.

The credit card comparison dataset aims to include every Australian credit card on the market, whether there is a financial reward or not, for example, their comparison table of balance transfer credit cards.

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Credit Card Compares Managing Director, David Boyd, said: Credit Card Compare is delighted to be working with his brother Gareth, a rising star of digital marketing. His energy knows no limits, and his commitment is unmatched. We look forward to the growth he will bring to the relaunch.

About Credit Card Compare

Credit Card Compare is Australia's leading platform for credit card comparison, designed to demystify financial choices and empower consumers with the information needed to make informed decisions. With a focus on innovation, reliability, and user satisfaction, Credit Card Compare is dedicated to simplifying the search for the perfect credit card.

###

Media Contact

Credit Card Compare

press@creditcardcompare.com.au

https://www.creditcardcompare.com.au













newsroom: news.38digitalmarket.com




The TJX Companies Inc. (NYSE:TJX) is one the world's leading off-price retailers and the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Sierra, and Homesense.

TJX has provided its early investors with incredible returns, but dividend and income investors have been left on the sidelines as its stock yields just 1.4% at the time of this writing.

But, did you know you could earn a 5.2% yield by investing in one of TJX's largest landlords?

Let's check it out.

Don't Miss:

Investing in real estate just got a whole lot simpler. This Dara Khosrowshahi-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100.

Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000.

Agree Realty Corporation

Agree Realty Corporation (NYSE:ADC) owns and manages a portfolio of more than 2,100 properties across 49 states containing approximately 44 million square feet of gross leasable space. It counts world-class retailers such as TJX, Dollar General, Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, McDonald's, Starbucks, CVS, Walmart, ULTA, Target, and Costco as tenants.

Agree Realty lists TJX as its sixth largest tennant in its most recent investor presentation, equating to approximately 3.1% of its annualized base rent.

So, by owning Agree Realty, you can generate monthly income that is partially attributable to TJX and its family of brands.

Agree Realty currently pays a monthly dividend of $0.247 per share, equating to an annualized dividend of $2.964 per share and giving its stock a yield of about 5.2% today.

In addition to boasting a high dividend yield, Agree Realty is a dividend-growth star. It has raised its annual dividend payment for 11 consecutive years, and it's already on pace for 2024 to mark the 12th consecutive year with an increase.

Story continues

Read Next:

Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000.

Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Dara Khosrowshahi gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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This article Earn a 5.2% Yield From This Major Retail Landlord originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Elon Musk made some striking predictions about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs and income at the inaugural AI Safety Summit in the U.K. in November.

The serial entrepreneur and CEO painted a utopian vision where AI renders traditional employment obsolete but provides an age of abundance through a system of universal high income.

Its hard to say exactly what that moment is, but there will come a point where no job is needed, Musk told U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. You can have a job if you want to have a job or sort of personal satisfaction, but the AI will be able to do everything.

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WealthTech startup unlocks a $33 trillion home equity market and you can own a stake in it with just $250.

Homebuilding startup could be in the right place at the right time to shock real estate market  and it sells for $5 per share.

While admitting this prospect may not make people comfortable, Musk seemed optimistic about what he termed a protopian AI-driven future.

I think everyone will have access to this magic genie, and youre able to ask any question. Itll be certainly bigger for education. Itll be the best tutor, he said. And there will be no shortage of goods and services. It will be an age of abundance.

Musks concept of universal high income appears to be an evolution of the universal basic income (UBI) idea supported by other tech leaders like Sam Altman.

We wont have universal basic income. Well have universal high income, Musk said, though he did not explicitly define the difference. In some sense, itll be somewhat of a leveler, an equalizer. It's worth noting this isn't the first time Musk addressed the topic. In 2018, he posted on X: "Universal income will be necessary over time if AI takes over most human jobs."

Trending: Fortnites creator company greenlights partial ownership for up to 100 accredited investors in the upcoming series.

This vision aligns with the recent discussions and experiments around universal basic income, especially in light of the success of the expanded child tax credit in 2021. The temporary increase and changes in the distribution of the tax credit demonstrated how direct cash payments could lift millions out of poverty without reducing their participation in the workforce. The example of the child tax credit expansion, which lifted 3.7 million children out of poverty by December 2021, supports the idea that a well-designed system of cash assistance can positively impact society without encouraging a departure from the labor market.

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No country has introduced a universal basic income sufficient for essential needs, but the U.S. has seen glimpses of its potential benefits through initiatives like the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend and the positive impacts of the child tax credit expansion. These examples provide empirical evidence supporting Musks vision, where a system of universal high income could ensure that no one falls below a certain income floor, addressing poverty and inequality in an age where AI may transform traditional employment.

Musks positive outlook contrasts with recent critiques of universal basic income, yet it builds on the empirical evidence from past initiatives like the child tax credit and the Alaska dividend. Whether Musks AI-driven universal high-income utopia or a dystopia of mass unemployment comes to pass remains to be seen.

But his comments, alongside the evidence from recent universal basic income-related policies, highlight intense debates around automations economic impacts. Its hard to say exactly what that moment is, Musk said, indicating that the world may need to prepare for a radical redefining of work, supported by policies that ensure economic stability and social well-being in the face of technological advancements.

Read more on startup investing:

U.S. military-backed AI robotics company announces new equity raise for regular investors, heres how to buy shares and potentially own a stake .

This startup coined eBay for gamers with a breathtaking track record has opened up a window to invest in its future growth.

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This article Elon Musk Predicts A 'Universal High Income' As Jobs Are Phased Out And Employment Becomes Obsolete  It'll Be 'Somewhat Of An Equalizer' originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. Unfortunately, these high risk investments often have little probability of ever paying off, and many investors pay a price to learn their lesson. A loss-making company is yet to prove itself with profit, and eventually the inflow of external capital may dry up.

So if this idea of high risk and high reward doesn't suit, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Hafary Holdings (SGX:5VS). Now this is not to say that the company presents the best investment opportunity around, but profitability is a key component to success in business.

See our latest analysis for Hafary Holdings

Hafary Holdings' Improving Profits

In the last three years Hafary Holdings' earnings per share took off; so much so that it's a bit disingenuous to use these figures to try and deduce long term estimates. So it would be better to isolate the growth rate over the last year for our analysis. In impressive fashion, Hafary Holdings' EPS grew from S$0.039 to S$0.081, over the previous 12 months. Year on year growth of 106% is certainly a sight to behold. Shareholders will be hopeful that this is a sign of the company reaching an inflection point.

Careful consideration of revenue growth and earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margins can help inform a view on the sustainability of the recent profit growth. The music to the ears of Hafary Holdings shareholders is that EBIT margins have grown from 15% to 24% in the last 12 months and revenues are on an upwards trend as well. That's great to see, on both counts.

In the chart below, you can see how the company has grown earnings and revenue, over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart.

SGX:5VS Earnings and Revenue History March 18th 2024

Since Hafary Holdings is no giant, with a market capitalisation of S$140m, you should definitely check its cash and debt before getting too excited about its prospects.

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Are Hafary Holdings Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Many consider high insider ownership to be a strong sign of alignment between the leaders of a company and the ordinary shareholders. So we're pleased to report that Hafary Holdings insiders own a meaningful share of the business. In fact, they own 41% of the shares, making insiders a very influential shareholder group. Those who are comforted by solid insider ownership like this should be happy, as it implies that those running the business are genuinely motivated to create shareholder value. With that sort of holding, insiders have about S$57m riding on the stock, at current prices. That should be more than enough to keep them focussed on creating shareholder value!

Does Hafary Holdings Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

Hafary Holdings' earnings have taken off in quite an impressive fashion. That sort of growth is nothing short of eye-catching, and the large investment held by insiders should certainly brighten the view of the company. The hope is, of course, that the strong growth marks a fundamental improvement in the business economics. So based on this quick analysis, we do think it's worth considering Hafary Holdings for a spot on your watchlist. It is worth noting though that we have found 3 warning signs for Hafary Holdings (1 shouldn't be ignored!) that you need to take into consideration.

Although Hafary Holdings certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see companies with insider buying, then check out this handpicked selection of Singaporean companies that not only boast of strong growth but have also seen recent insider buying..

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Eternal Elegance: C.K. McWhorter & McWhorter Family Trust Honor Patek Philippe's Timeless Legacy with Distinction

Eternal Elegance: C.K. McWhorter & McWhorter Family Trust Honor Patek Philippe's Timeless Legacy with Distinction Who is the Mcwhorter Family- 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

GENEVA, Switzerland, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The McWhorter Family Trust proudly announces its renewed collaboration with Patek Philippe, a defining moment in the annals of horological excellence. With a profound sense of admiration and respect, the Trust reaffirms its dedication to preserving and celebrating the unmatched craftsmanship, innovation, and enduring allure of Patek Philippe timepieces.



Incorporating Patek Philippe into the McWhorter Family Trusts Portfolio:

Continuing its legacy of discerning investments, the McWhorter Family Trust embraces Patek Philippe into its esteemed portfolio, recognizing the brand's status as a paragon of horological mastery. This strategic alliance reflects the Trust's unwavering commitment to curating a collection of assets that epitomize heritage, precision, and timeless elegance, while exploring potential indirect investment opportunities within the realm of horological innovation and events.

Strategic Investment Approach of C.K. McWhorter:

Guided by a vision of enduring excellence, C.K. McWhorter, in his capacity as the architect of the Single Family Office (SFO), aligns the Trust with Patek Philippe, reinforcing its position as a leading patron of horological artistry. This strategic partnership underscores the Trust's dedication to nurturing investments that resonate with connoisseurs of refined craftsmanship and timeless sophistication.

Discreet and Impactful Financial Engagement:

With meticulous precision, Ambassador Noble McWhorter navigates financial frameworks to engage with Patek Philippe in a manner that respects the brand's storied heritage and values. This discreet yet impactful approach underscores the Trust's strategic acumen and its ability to shape the future of horological investments through private transactions.

Acknowledging Patek Philippes Commitment to Excellence:

Patek Philippe's unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation continues to set the standard for haute horlogerie. From groundbreaking complications to iconic designs, Patek Philippe exemplifies the pinnacle of luxury timepieces, embodying the relentless pursuit of perfection and sophistication.

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Crafting a Legacy of Horological Mastery:

The renewed partnership between the McWhorter Family Trust and Patek Philippe reaffirms their shared commitment to upholding the artistry and heritage of fine watchmaking. Through iconic designs and uncompromising quality, this collaboration embodies the Trust's steadfast dedication to promoting craftsmanship, heritage, and innovation in the world of horology.

Quote from C.K. McWhorter:

"By honoring Patek Philippe's timeless legacy, we pay homage to the enduring elegance and innovation that define the brand. This renewed collaboration underscores our shared commitment to preserving and advancing the art of horology for generations to come."

Closing Statement:

As the McWhorter Family Trust continues its journey of curating a portfolio of exemplary luxury assets, Patek Philippe remains an indelible symbol of timeless elegance and unparalleled craftsmanship. Together, they embark on a transformative journey, united by a shared vision of shaping the future of haute horlogerie.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/09ba4f53-174f-41a2-bcdf-a0bd9302d443

CONTACT: For media inquiries and further information, please contact: Tyler Wells VP Public Relations tylerwells@mcwhorter.foundation




(Bloomberg) -- The European Union is considering a formal review of how widely its businesses use mature or lower-end chips from China, joining the US in flagging a potential risk to national security and global supply chains.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The EU is weighing whether to investigate how deeply such semiconductors are embedded across industry networks, according to a draft working statement seen by Bloomberg News. Such a move would mirror a Biden administration initiative to assess the risks of relying on the chips, which arent cutting-edge but are vital to militaries and sectors from electric-vehicles to infrastructure.

A European Commission survey could mark a first step toward joint measures with the US, including restrictions or other curbs. Washington is concerned that growing Chinese investment in that field will help the Asian nations companies dominate supply much as they have in solar and steel.

The EU and US will continue to collect and share non-confidential information and market intelligence about non-market policies and practices, commit to consult each other on planned actions, according to the draft, which isnt finalized and is intended to be presented during Aprils EU-US Trade and Technology Council conference in Belgium. The two may develop joint or cooperative measures to address distortionary effects on the global supply chain for legacy semiconductors.

Representatives for the commission didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

So-called legacy chips are essential throughout the global economy. China has poured investment into factories to increase supply, and there are concerns on both sides of the Atlantic that this may distort the market or lead to critical dependencies.

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The potential assessment is one of several agenda items planned for next months EU-US conference, according to the draft statement. As part of the summit, the EU and US will aim to extend for a further three years their collaborative arrangements on an early-warning mechanism aimed at identifying supply chain disruptions, as well as a mechanism for sharing information on public support provided to the semiconductor sector.

Elsewhere at the TTC conference, the two allies will also:

Reaffirm their commitment to a risk-based approach to AI, and the development of a framework for evaluating generative AI models

Concur on shared principles and standards for the research and development of 6G wireless communication systems

Cooperate on standards for emerging technologies including biotech

Further align work on enforcing trade restrictions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, including by exchanging information on licensing

Share information on inbound and outbound investment screening initiatives as well as export controls

Call upon technology companies and online platforms to uphold information integrity, including in the run-up to elections across the world

Help nations in the Western Balkans develop their response to foreign interference and information manipulation.

--With assistance from Debby Wu.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
NEW YORK, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Euclid Transactional, LLC ("Euclid Transactional"), a leading managing general agent focused on transactional insurance underwriting and claims handling, today announced global promotions. These include adding Justin Berutich to the global Executive Committee and making Will Hooper Co-Head of Canada. In other senior changes, Sedi Asem, on the underwriting function, and Joe Corsello, on the claims function, have each been promoted to Managing Director. Within operational leadership, Lizzie Vangorph has been promoted to Senior Vice President Business & People Operations, EMEA, and Daniel Beresford has been promoted to EMEA Finance Director. The other newly promoted executives are Daniel Boda, Senior Vice President, and Luke Williams, Vice President, in EMEA, and Len Loewith, Vice President, Claims, in Canada.

These promotions, part of 34 title and role changes, underscore Euclid Transactional's commitment to attracting and retaining top notch talent in order to deliver its clients unrivaled service across its 10 offices in North America, Europe and Asia and fostering career growth.

"We are proud of our depth of talent and continue to believe that a supportive culture where our professionals can grow with our business allows us to better serve our clients. These promotions highlight individuals who help us deliver consistent, dependable underwriting and claims expertise to our valued clients and partners," said Jay Rittberg, Managing Principal of Euclid Transactional. "I'm confident that our Executive Committee, now with Justin's tax and industry leadership experience, and Canadian leadership with Will continuing to partner with Mike MacRory as Co-Heads of Canada, will continue to strengthen our ability to address opportunities in the worlds of insurance and mergers and acquisitions."

"The dedication, knowledge and contributions of these individuals can be felt throughout our organization," Kit Westropp, Managing Principal, EMEA added. "These team members place an emphasis on understanding and guiding clients through the complexities often present in transactional insurance."

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Since its founding in 2016, Euclid Transactional has underwritten over 6,500 policies, for deals with a combined value of nearly $5 trillion. Insureds have received claims payments of over $740 million from policies issued by Euclid Transactional.

The complete list of newly announced promotions, which span Euclid Transactional's global claims, counsel, operations, finance, and underwriting teams is set forth below:

North America:

Claims

Joe Corsello  Senior Vice President, Claims to Managing Director, Claims

Len Loewith  M&A Claims Manager to Vice President, Claims

Nicole Daniell  Claims Senior Associate to Senior Associate  Claims Operations

Abby Kennedy  Claims Senior Analyst to Claims Associate

Emily Luong  Claims Senior Analyst to Claims Associate

Danielle Owens  Claims Analyst to Senior Analyst

Hailey Sasaki  Claims Analyst to Senior Analyst

Counsel

Emma Gawronski  Paralegal to Senior Paralegal

Claudia Varner  Paralegal to Senior Paralegal

Operations

Kelly Coyle  Executive Assistant to Senior Executive Assistant

Underwriting

Justin Berutich- In addition to Managing Director  Head of Tax, now a member of the Executive Committee

Will Hooper  In addition to Managing Director, now Co-Head of Canada

Sedi Asem  Senior Vice President to Managing Director

Jake Liebler  Associate to Senior Associate

Sydney Lodge  Associate to Senior Associate

Camille Pham  Associate to Senior Associate

Artha Zhang  Associate to Senior Associate

Kyle Bryden  Senior Analyst to Associate

Emilie Kilfoil  Senior Analyst to Associate

Kennedy Benjamin  Analyst to Senior Analyst

CJ Conway  Analyst to Senior Analyst

Ricky Levy  Analyst to Senior Analyst

Andre Moutafov  Analyst to Senior Analyst

Arjun Sinha  Analyst to Senior Analyst

Matthew Whittaker  Analyst to Senior Analyst

EMEA:

Finance

Daniel Beresford  EMEA Controller to EMEA Finance Director

Operations

Lizzie Vangorph  Vice President to Senior Vice President Business & People Operations

Melissa Henderson  UK Deal Operations Assistant to Associate Business Development & Deal Operations

Underwriting

Daniel Boda  Vice President to Senior Vice President

Luke Williams  Assistant Vice President to Vice President

Mads Borum  Analyst to Senior Analyst

Javier Lantero Mora  Analyst to Senior Analyst

James Veale  Analyst to Senior Analyst

Alexandra von Reis Marlevi  Analyst to Senior Analyst

About Euclid Transactional

Euclid Transactional, LLC is a managing general agency specializing in the underwriting of representations & warranties, tax liability, contingent liability and other transactional insurance coverages. Operated by one of the industry's largest teams of experienced underwriters and claims executives, Euclid Transactional strives to provides the most consistent and dependable service and has issued policies that have paid over $740 million to its clients. The firm has offices in New York, London, Chicago, Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Dublin, Singapore, Toronto, and Paris, and offers full-service underwriting for deals across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Euclid Transactional is an affiliate of Euclid Insurance Services, a program administrator that provides its partners with advisory, accounting, information technology and human resource services. Euclid Transactional's insurance capacity is provided by premier insurers, all of which are rated AM Best A (Excellent) or better.

Euclid Transactional is an equal opportunity employer who recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual or affectional orientation, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. Euclid Transactional is committed to promoting and maintaining a diverse, inclusive environment where different backgrounds, characteristics and viewpoints are valued. To advance this commitment, we have formed and empowered a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee to help us put diversity, equity, and inclusion at the center of our hiring process and our company cultureand build a team that better reflects our desire for more equal representation in everything we do.

Media Contact:

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Cision

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SOURCE Euclid Transactional, LLC
(Reuters) -Fisker said on Monday it would pause production of its electric vehicles for six weeks and raise up to $150 million in funding by selling convertible notes as the startup tries to navigate a cash crunch and weak demand for its cars.

The company added that none of its Ocean SUVs were produced in January and its manufacturing partner Magna made about 1,000 vehicles between Feb. 1 and March 15.

The senior secured convertible notes will have a 10% original issue discount for gross proceeds of up to $150 million, Fisker said.

Fisker reiterated on Monday that it was in talks with a large automaker for a potential transaction, but did not name the company.

Reuters reported earlier this month that Nissan was in advanced talks to invest in the company in a deal that could act as a financial lifeline for the cash-strapped EV startup.

Fisker flagged substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern in February and paused investments in future projects until it secured a partnership with an automaker.

The company has hired restructuring advisers to assist with a possible bankruptcy filing, the Wall Street Journal reported last week, citing people familiar with the matter.

(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
By Sabrina Valle

HOUSTON (Reuters) -Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods on Monday said his company is trying to establish it has rights over Hess Corp's Guyana assets in its dispute with Chevron, not buy the company itself.

In his first public remarks on the company's pursuit of an arbitration case that could block Chevron's $53 billion deal for Hess, Woods said Exxon would not have waited for Chevron to announce its Hess deal if it had wanted to buy Hess.

"We're basically standing up for what we believe is a fundamental right," Woods told Reuters at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston. Exxon is trying to "secure and confirm the rights in that contract gives the existing partners."

Chevron and Hess have said they disagree with Exxon's interpretation of the joint operating agreement that governs the consortium responsible for all of Guyana's oil production and which Exxon claims includes a right of first refusal.

The document has not been made public. Hess has said the deal may not be able to close by its prior estimate of mid-2024.

PRIZED ASSET

Exxon does not rule out acquiring Hess' entire 30% share in the giant Stabroek block offshore of Guyana, which would take its stake to 75%. Exxon currently holds a 45% stake with Hess and China's CNOOC Ltd as minority partners.

Stabroek is the prize in Chevron's bid for Hess. It is the site of the largest oil discoveries in almost two decades and is expected to produce more than 1.2 million barrels of oil and gas per day by 2027.

A potential acquisition of Hess' assets in Guyana would be the last decision in a three-stage process, Woods said.

Exxon first wants to establish that it holds preferential rights over Hess Guyana's asset, Woods said. Then it aims to determine the Hess asset's value with partners before considering if it makes sense for Exxon to shoulder the investment required for holding a larger share of the block, the CEO said.

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"We've got to get past the first hurdle, which is an alignment, an agreement that a preemption right exists in the contract," Woods said. He left open the possibility of an offer for some or all of the stake.

"I don't feel locked into a 75% number," the sum of Exxon and Hess's current stakes, Woods said. "That is one of the options. And one of the considerations with that option would be the capital requirements that we comfortable with."

A Chevron spokesman did not reply to request for comment on Woods' remarks.

TIMING

Exxon understands Hess' desire to resolve the matter and will "be very cooperative and try to facilitate a fast resolution" of the preemption of rights dispute, Woods said.

He said he does not have "a good view" on timing for final resolution on the destiny of Hess' assets. The arbitration case could last five to six months, another executive had said.

Determining how Chevron's proposed acquisition of Hess will translate into a value for Hess asset in Guyana will be the second stage of debate and one that will not be "a straightforward black and white process," Woods said.

"There will be, you know, a lot of discussion that happens between the parties," the CEO said.

Woods declined to comment on whether he would meet this week with Chevron CEO Michael Wirth or Hess CEO John Hess.

Chevron and Hess were first to disclose in filings that Exxon intended to bring the dispute to arbitration.

"One of the challenges of this particular deal is it went public," Woods said. "A lot of those discussions (about contract terms) needed to happen and hadn't been happening".

Exxon does business with Chevron all around the world and will continue to have long partnerships with Chevron, Woods said.

"This is a business issue," Woods said. "We are going to be a constructive force as we work to get to the right answer."

(Reporting by Sabrina ValleEditing by Marguerita Choy and David Gregorio)
Celebrating 30 Years of Pioneering Excellence in the Fuels and Lubricants Industry

HONG KONG, March 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--F&L Asia Ltd. is thrilled to announce the 30th anniversary of F+L Week, the premier event for the fuels and lubricants industry, set to take place in the breathtaking locale of Bali, Indonesia, on March 13-14, 2025. Since its inception in 1995, F+L Week has been at the forefront of industry innovation, serving as a pivotal platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and groundbreaking announcements.

Three Decades of Evolution and Impact

From its humble beginnings at the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa Resort in Singapore, F+L Week has grown in stature and scope, addressing critical industry challenges and showcasing the latest in fuel quality, lubricant formulations, and technological advancements. Our journey through various cities across Asia reflects our commitment to fostering a global dialogue on the future of fuels and lubricants.

As we celebrate this landmark 30th anniversary, we look back on a history rich with collaboration, innovation, and progress. F+L Week has consistently brought together industry thought leaders from across the value chain, including manufacturers, suppliers, OEMs, and researchers, to share insights and drive the industry forward.

A Legacy of Firsts and a Future of Innovation

F+L Week has been the stage for major industry firsts, including the introduction of JASO GLV-1 and GLV-2 standards, underscoring its role as a catalyst for advancement. The F&L Asia Awards continue to highlight excellence, inspiring the community to reach new heights.

Through initiatives like the F&L Asia Awards, F+L Week continues to champion excellence and inspire advancements within the fuels and lubricants domain. The inaugural Best Poster Award, presented to Avelyn Lim of Dow Industrial Solutions Singapore for her poster entitled "New Preformed Polyurea Thickeners for Grease," marked a notable addition to the event's honours in 2024.

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Join Us in Bali for a Historic Celebration

In honor of our 30th year, we're offering an exclusive 30% discount for early registrants. This is more than a conference; it's a celebration of our collective achievements and a look ahead to the future of our industry. Secure your spot by August 31, 2024, to take advantage of this special offer. To reserve your seat visit https://tickets.fuelsandlubes.com/events/flweek/1170369.

Key Dates for F+L Week 2025

Now until August 31, 2024: 30th Anniversary Discount Registration

April 2024: Announcement of Conference Theme

May 2024: Call for Papers and Awards Nominations Open

November 2024: Preliminary Program Release

March 13-14, 2025: F+L Week 2025

About F+L Week

Set against the stunning backdrop of Bali, Indonesia, F+L Week 2025 is more than an eventit's a milestone in the fuels and lubricants industry. As we celebrate 30 years of innovation, community, and progress, we invite you to join us in shaping the future. For registration and more information, please visit our website: https://www.fuelsandlubes.com/fl-week/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240313137646/en/

Contacts

Vicky Villena-Denton

F&L Asia Ltd.

Email: conference@fuelsandlubes.com

Phone: +852 3183 4143 | Fax: +852 5442 0714
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze are making press statements, Azernews reports.

The President of Azerbaijan made the statement first.

Statement by President Ilham Aliyev

- Dear Mr. Prime Minister.

Dear guests.

First of all, Mr. Prime Minister, I sincerely welcome you to Azerbaijan. You are welcome! I am pleased that you are visiting Azerbaijan immediately after becoming Prime Minister. Thank you for that. At the same time, I heartily congratulate you on your new appointment as Prime Minister.

Your visit is very important. We discussed many issues extensively during our one-on-one meeting. As two independent states, Georgia and Azerbaijan always stand by each other, our friendship and brotherhood are based on deep historical roots. Our peoples have lived in an atmosphere of friendship and good neighborliness for centuries, and our interstate relations have been built on this solid foundation.

Today, both our countries not only ensure their own economic development through joint efforts but have also emerged as important states for the region and, in a broader sense, for the Eurasian continent. Our joint infrastructure projects, transport and energy projects, are of tremendous importance for many countries, and further steps will be taken in this direction. The new infrastructure that has already been created and will be created in the future, especially in the field of transportation, will open up valuable opportunities for many countries. In particular, the fact that the expanded Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will start operating after a month or two is one of the great achievements. As I said, in a couple of months, the capacity of this railway will be increased from 1 million tons to 5 million tons. At the same time, the operation of this railway will be attractive to many countries.

At the beginning of this month, the traditional Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council was held in Baku and Georgia was represented at a high level in this event. All the participants saw again that Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkiye had a special role as initiators of this project. Azerbaijani gas is being exported to several countries via Georgia. In general, the number of countries receiving Azerbaijani gas has reached eight, and this is not the end. In the near future, the number of these countries will increase, as the demand for Azerbaijan's energy will increase year after year. We are well aware of the features of world markets. I mean the world energy markets. We know very well that the demand for Azerbaijani gas on the European continent will increase year after year. We have the resources, we have the financial opportunities to invest, we have reliable friends such as Georgia, which have extensive transit opportunities. Given this situation, our energy projects will continue to ensure the energy security of many countries, with Georgia and Azerbaijan acting as two reliable partners.

Of course, we are also working on new projects. One of them is the green energy project. Here, Georgia and Azerbaijan, together with other countries, have started the implementation of a very large-scale project. I believe that successful projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, Southern Gas Corridor, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars will serve as examples for the green energy project, which will, in turn, be executed with equal success. There is also a great demand for this. Both Georgia and Azerbaijan have huge renewable energy potential, and we are currently working on a feasibility study. I believe that this work will be completed by the end of the year, and then tangible steps will be taken.

I would also like to touch upon another issue. Thanks to well-thought-out reforms, stability, peace, and security have been achieved in Georgia. This is a great achievement, especially considering the current geopolitical situation, and we congratulate our Georgian brothers on all these successes.

Our turnover is also increasing. It is now close to $900 million, having increased by almost 15 percent over last year. As a result of the well-thought-out reform policy of the Government of Georgia, a very favorable investment climate has been created in the country. Azerbaijani businesses have invested 3.4 billion dollars in Georgian economy. Of course, the main reason for this is the existence of a good investment climate.

Also today, we once again expressed mutual support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our countries, and I want to say this again in front of the media. At all times, we have made statements supporting each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders. We have supported each other during voting in various international organizations, and this support will be continued. No country's sovereign territory can be changed by force. Norms of international law should form the basis for every country and there can be no discrimination. As a country that has suffered from occupation for many years and restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty, Azerbaijan knows perfectly well that in some cases international law is restored by force. This way is also completely legitimate. The UN Charter recognizes the right of every country to self-defense, and Azerbaijan has restored its territorial integrity using this right.

I want to say again that the visit of the Prime Minister of Georgia, the leader of a friendly, neighboring and brotherly country, is of great importance. I am sure that our personal acquaintance, which began today, will turn into friendship, because our peoples are friendly peoples. Members of our delegation have been in contact with each other for many years and maintain friendly relations. The two brotherly countries will move forward shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, and solve all the tasks ahead together.

Once again, Mr. Prime Minister, greetings and you are welcome!

x x x

Then, the Prime Minister of Georgia made the statement.

Statement by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze

- Dear Mr. President.

Dear representatives of the media.

I am very happy to be visiting Azerbaijan after being elected Prime Minister. It was very important for to pay one of the first visits to Azerbaijan. I am grateful to President Ilham Aliyev for the hospitality shown to us.

Mr. President, as you mentioned, our countries share historical bonds of friendship, and these bonds are built on a very solid foundation. I am sure that these relations will continue in the same spirit. Currently, we have a very good dialogue in political, economic and other fields. We have positive momentum. Our intention is to further deepen this cooperation and partnership.

I would like to mention the political partnership between our countries again. I would like to thank Azerbaijan and its President for always supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country. As you know, Georgia has always supported the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

Today, we had a very productive meeting and touched upon various topics. We also discussed global political events between our brotherly countries. Partnership and friendship between our countries are also very important in that global context. Special attention should be paid to issues of peace, and this is our position. We have tried to contribute to stability as much as possible. We will continue this in our region in the future.

There are a number of projects we have laid the foundation for together, and they are of strategic importance. We have major plans for the future. Mr. President and I have discussed a number of projects where we have the opportunity to participate together. Work in this field is also very important for us. At the same time, we have discussed the issue of trade. Azerbaijan is one of the top five trading partners of Georgia, and we are sure that these numbers will increase. We also have very important potential in the fields of transport and energy, and Mr. President has already mentioned this. This work will be continued. Mutual visits will be continued. The meetings of delegations will be continued so that our cooperation in these areas can be deepened. We are fully ready to take this cooperation forward.

I do hope that Mr. President can visit Georgia soon. I have already invited him. It would be a great honor for us. This visit will once again serve to deepen our cooperation. I want to emphasize again that our partnership is at an excellent level. Of course, there is always potential, and we will continue to do our best to deepen this friendship, cooperation and partnership.

Mr. President, thank you again for your hospitality.




heat pump installation

Public enthusiasm for heat pumps has been overestimated by ministers, putting the Governments net zero goals at risk, the spending watchdog has warned.

The National Audit Office (NAO) found that 27 times more gas boilers were installed in homes in 2022 as taxpayer-funded subsidies failed to spur demand.

In a report published on Monday it said the rollout of heat pumps has been slower than planned despite the fact they are a key component in meeting climate targets.

It comes just days after Claire Coutinho, the Energy Secretary, scrapped the so-called boiler tax which would have fined boiler makers if they failed to meet sales targets for heat pumps.

The policy, which has been delayed until after the election, was meant to encourage adoption but was seen as politically toxic as it would have pushed up the price of gas boilers.

Just 55,000 domestic heat pumps were installed in 2022, the NAO found, which is a fraction of the Governments longer term aim of 600,000 installations per year by 2030.

By contrast about 1.5m new gas-fired boilers were installed, mostly to replace worn-out models, even though homeowners could have chosen heat pumps instead.

The Governments flagship Boiler Upgrade Scheme, which offers homeowners a grant to help them pay for the cost of a heat pump, has also underperformed, the NAO said. Just 18,900 heat pumps were installed between May 2022 and December 2023 under the scheme, less than half of the 50,000 installations that had been expected.

The NAO warned ministers were relying on optimistic assumptions about consumer demand and manufacturer supply of heat pumps increasing substantially to hit the 600,000 target.

It also said that to meet the net zero target installations would need to carry on rising at pace to reach 1.6 million a year by 2035.

Decarbonising home heating represents one of the biggest challenges to the Government achieving net zero, requiring almost all households to engage in the transition, the report said.

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Despite these uncertainties, it has become increasingly clear that the Governments approach will centre on heat pumps as the main technology.

But DESNZs progress with encouraging households to install heat pumps has been slower than planned because costs remain high and public awareness remains low.

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, warned the Government had done far too little to make people aware of alternatives to boilers.

He said: The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Desnz) must ensure its mix of incentives, engagement and regulations addresses the barriers to progress in its current programme of work.

He also warned that the costs of heat pumps still far outstripped those of boilers with the NAO finding that a typical heat pump installation cost 13,300 - far above the typical 2-3,000 cost of a new boiler.

Ms Coutinho last year increased the grants available for homeowners upgrading to heat pumps from 5,000 to 7,500 under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. However, for many homeowners this still leaves a shortfall.

The NAOs report said: The Governments assumptions about levels of consumer demand are optimistic.

The Governments flagship Boiler Upgrade Scheme has also underperformed, installing just 18,900 heat pumps between May 2022 and December 2023.

Meg Hillier MP, chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts, which oversees the NAO, said: DESNZ need to be realistic about levels of consumer demand, raise public awareness of heat pumps and work with industry to make heat pumps more affordable for households.

Around 18pc of UK emissions come from home heating and there are 24m homes with gas-fired boilers that must switch to low carbon heating systems.

The Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), which represents the manufacturers and installers of boilers, heat pumps and other heating systems, said ministers assumptions regarding consumer demand for heat pumps were wildly optimistic.

Mike Foster, the EUAs chief executive, said: We question whether the strategy on heating is fit for purpose. The NAO is right to say there is no long-term plan.

Few people in the industry believe it is remotely likely to achieve the target of 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028, when the figure was around 60,000 in 2023. That rate of growth is simply unrealistic.

He added: Heat pump costs are not coming down, nor were they ever going to. They are sold globally by the millions; any production economies of scale have already been achieved in the global market. It is naive to hope that UK sales will trigger a mass reduction of heat pump costs.

The NAO also criticised the Government for making little progress on its commitments to rebalance energy prices - a reference to the way several levies are added specifically to electricity bills but not gas bills, making electricity more expensive.

It said: Electricity remains more expensive per unit than gas, making heat pumps potentially more expensive to run than gas boilers. DESNZ recognises that rebalancing energy prices, for example by shifting energy levies and obligations away from electricity to gas, is important for increasing the attraction of heat pumps. DESNZ told us that this work is delayed to 2024.

The report was backed by Nick Winser, the Electricity Networks Commissioner and a member of the UKs National Infrastructure Commission, who recently published a report on the national grid.

Mr Winser said: The NAO highlights that the Governments current plans appear insufficient to meet its ambition of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 or helping the 8m homes who need to switch from fossil fuel boilers to electrified heating by 2035 to meet climate targets.

Recent [government] decisions to delay or reverse policy have only made hitting these targets harder.

Juliet Phillips, UK energy programme lead at E3G, an NGO campaigning to cut climate emissions, said: The clean heat strategies have been delayed and derailed by members of the very same party which originally introduced this landmark government strategy back in 2021.

The UK desperately needs political leaders who will stand up to vested interests and put the UK on track for energy independence and lower bills.

A DESNZ spokesman said: By helping rather than forcing families to install heat pumps, with a 50pc bigger heat pump grant, we have boosted applications by nearly 40pc.

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FTI Consulting, Inc.

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FTI Consulting, Inc. (NYSE: FCN) today announced the appointment of Cedric Bernardeau as a Senior Managing Director in the Transactions Tax offering within the firms Corporate Finance & Restructuring segment.



Mr. Bernardeau, who is based in New York, has 30 years of experience with transfer pricing and supply chain/value chain operating model advisory matters. He has served both U.S. and non-U.S. multinational companies in analyzing their value chain as well as designing and supporting the implementation of new business models.

In his role at FTI Consulting, he will focus on helping clients properly structure transactions that are consistent with their business models and meet their business goals in the most effective and compliant manner.

A major challenge for organizations considering cross-border transactions is the sheer complexity of each tax jurisdiction, said Melissa Wichman, Leader of the U.S. Transactions Tax offering at FTI Consulting. Cedric brings decades of experience in transfer pricing strategy, having helped clients across the world successfully navigate the risks and identify opportunities.

Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Mr. Bernardeau was a Managing Director at Kroll, where he advised companies in the more sophisticated areas of transfer pricing including intellectual property valuation, expert witness advisory and value chain analysis. Prior to that he was a Partner at EY, and over the course of 27 years, led transfer pricing engagements and advised on clients global and regional structures, including traditional supply chains as well as digitally evolved business models focusing on IP alignment, business model transformation and value chain analysis.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Bernardeau said, When thinking about opportunities in any tax jurisdiction, its critical that organizations prioritize compliance and transparency. FTI Consultings global platform provides the reach that companies need to help them manage international business challenges and opportunities. I look forward to teaming with my colleagues as we help our clients find solutions that meet mounting regulatory requirements.

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Mr. Bernardeaus appointment furthers the firms continued investment in its Tax offerings following the recent addition of Senior Managing Director McRae Thompson, who leads the Real Estate Tax Advisory Services offering.

About FTI Consulting

FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations manage change, mitigate risk and resolve disputes: financial, legal, operational, political & regulatory, reputational and transactional. With more than 7,900 employees located in 31 countries and territories, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges and make the most of opportunities. The Company generated $3.49 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2023. In certain jurisdictions, FTI Consultings services are provided through distinct legal entities that are separately capitalized and independently managed. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com.

FTI Consulting, Inc.

555 12th Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

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Investor Contact:

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(Bloomberg) -- The profits were multiplying at a dizzying clip: 50%, 100%, then suddenly almost 200%. Even for long-time veterans at Attestor Ltd., a boutique London firm that specializes in trading distressed assets, this had the makings of a score to remember.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The trade  targeting the remains of Sam Bankman-Frieds once-vast cryptocurrency empire  became a popular one in distressed investing circles last year.

Many of Attestors rivals jumped in, too, and as the value of crypto coins skyrocketed once again, so did the value of the assets they had purchased at rock-bottom prices from clients of Bankman-Frieds, desperate to recoup whatever they could. Lawyers running the bankruptcy now estimate the clean-up will deliver investors 100% of the money frozen in FTX when it failed.

But this is where the story gets messy for Attestor  and its grip on a chunk of that windfall becomes a bit fragile. The seller of one of the biggest FTX accounts it purchased  an obscure Panamanian firm called Lemma Technologies thats controlled by an embattled South Korean trader  has opted, so far at least, to keep the claim for itself.

Attestors lawyers have argued in a New York court that this is a clear case of sellers remorse. Over the years, other bankruptcies have brought handsome returns, but rarely, if ever, so rapidly. Back in June, Lemma agreed to a sell price of $58 million, according to evidence submitted to the court. Today, the claim is expected to pay out $165 million.

Attestors trade, in other words, was so good, it could be bad.

The FTX bankruptcy is unusual for distressed firms in another crucial way: theyre buying up claims on client accounts, a murkier and riskier transaction than the typical purchase of defaulted bonds or loans  debts that are usually backed by clear legal documentation.

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Lemma has yet to publicly explain its side of the case and hasnt filed a defense against Attestors New York suit. Lemma wont proceed with the transactions or otherwise honor the trade confirmations, Attestor attorneys said in their filing, unless compelled by force of law to do so.

That Lemmas principal investor, Junho Bang, is currently facing charges in a separate matter back in Seoul only adds to the drama  and confusion.

FTX Bet

Few details are known about Bang and his business dealings, beyond court filings in South Korea and New York. Emailed requests for comment from Bloomberg News sent to three addresses shown in the court documents for Bang and registered to accounts that he controlled at FTX did not receive a response. A representative for Attestor declined to comment when contacted by Bloomberg News.

Attestor, which operates from offices near Londons Hyde Park, is no stranger to starting court battles. The firm could be one of the biggest winners from the bet on FTXs bankruptcy assets, having purchased around $400 million worth of claims. Founded more than a decade ago by German investor Jan-Christoph Peters, the firm is known in financial circles for guarding its privacy and taking a pugnacious approach to deals.

Read More: Hedge Funds Set for FTX Win

A tried-and-tested legal framework in distressed-debt investing means buyers can be relatively certain of the provenance of their purchase and where theyll rank when cash from the bankruptcy pot is doled out.

But as is often the case when comparing crypto to the more traditional operations of the financial industry, things are different with FTX.

The exchange didnt have debt in the traditional sense, so funds bought the rights to customer accounts  mostly small claims backed by the holdings of part-time traders and enthusiasts.

Gathering up those accounts is a lot more complicated than buying distressed bonds. Claims are often negotiated directly with aggrieved former customers of the defunct platform. And the claims are all unique, holding differing blends of hard currency and cryptoassets.

In the court documents, Attestor said it reached a deal in June with Lemma to buy the bundle of FTX claims, thought to be one of the largest.

Bitcoin Rebound

Now  after this years meteoric recovery in crypto and a successful push to track down billions of dollars of FTX assets  the claims are set to pay out in full. Attestor is anxious to get the deal over the line and its lawyers said the firm is willing to immediately consummate the transactions, according to the lawsuit.

But after watching the value of the claim click ever higher over the past eight months, Lemmas Junho Bang apparently isnt rushing to conclude the deal. He also has a much bigger case on his mind.

Hes accused of stealing digital assets from a lender called Haru Invest and was indicted by South Korean authorities in February. While that case and Attestors suit over FTX claims are playing out independently, Bang is at the center of both.

Back in the high-flying days of crypto, Haru Invest operated a platform that offered returns as lofty as 50% in some cases. Those kinds of yields were common before the collapse of FTX in November 2022 triggered a global cascade of crypto bankruptcies and scandals.

At the time, Haru said it had pulled its assets off FTX and wasnt impacted by the downfall of the exchange. Seven months later, it froze customer redemptions and said it had problems with a service provider, called B&S Holdings, that had sent reports with false information.

B&S described itself as a quantitative trading company for cryptoassets, according to a cached version of its website from July 2022, investing in a range of tokens including FTX's now-defunct FTT.

Emailed requests for comment to B&S Holdings did not receive a response.

In a social media post last month, Haru identified Bang as the majority shareholder of B&S, while the cached version of the B&S website lists JH Bang as a partner with the firm. Bang personally transferred his FTX claim to Lemma in January 2023, according to the court documents seen by Bloomberg News.

Emails sent to Haru Invest did not receive a response.

--With assistance from Steven Church and Youkyung Lee.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Most readers would already know that Gas Malaysia Berhad's (KLSE:GASMSIA) stock increased by 5.9% over the past three months. Given its impressive performance, we decided to study the company's key financial indicators as a company's long-term fundamentals usually dictate market outcomes. In this article, we decided to focus on Gas Malaysia Berhad's ROE.

ROE or return on equity is a useful tool to assess how effectively a company can generate returns on the investment it received from its shareholders. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits.

Check out our latest analysis for Gas Malaysia Berhad

How To Calculate Return On Equity?

ROE can be calculated by using the formula:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Gas Malaysia Berhad is:

28% = RM383m  RM1.4b (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023).

The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. That means that for every MYR1 worth of shareholders' equity, the company generated MYR0.28 in profit.

Why Is ROE Important For Earnings Growth?

So far, we've learned that ROE is a measure of a company's profitability. We now need to evaluate how much profit the company reinvests or "retains" for future growth which then gives us an idea about the growth potential of the company. Generally speaking, other things being equal, firms with a high return on equity and profit retention, have a higher growth rate than firms that dont share these attributes.

Gas Malaysia Berhad's Earnings Growth And 28% ROE

To begin with, Gas Malaysia Berhad has a pretty high ROE which is interesting. Additionally, the company's ROE is higher compared to the industry average of 11% which is quite remarkable. This likely paved the way for the modest 19% net income growth seen by Gas Malaysia Berhad over the past five years.

Next, on comparing with the industry net income growth, we found that Gas Malaysia Berhad's growth is quite high when compared to the industry average growth of 7.1% in the same period, which is great to see.

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KLSE:GASMSIA Past Earnings Growth March 18th 2024

The basis for attaching value to a company is, to a great extent, tied to its earnings growth. The investor should try to establish if the expected growth or decline in earnings, whichever the case may be, is priced in. This then helps them determine if the stock is placed for a bright or bleak future. What is GASMSIA worth today? The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether GASMSIA is currently mispriced by the market.

Is Gas Malaysia Berhad Using Its Retained Earnings Effectively?

Gas Malaysia Berhad has a significant three-year median payout ratio of 79%, meaning that it is left with only 21% to reinvest into its business. This implies that the company has been able to achieve decent earnings growth despite returning most of its profits to shareholders.

Besides, Gas Malaysia Berhad has been paying dividends for at least ten years or more. This shows that the company is committed to sharing profits with its shareholders. Our latest analyst data shows that the future payout ratio of the company over the next three years is expected to be approximately 75%. However, Gas Malaysia Berhad's future ROE is expected to decline to 21% despite there being not much change anticipated in the company's payout ratio.

Summary

In total, we are pretty happy with Gas Malaysia Berhad's performance. Especially the high ROE, Which has contributed to the impressive growth seen in earnings. Despite the company reinvesting only a small portion of its profits, it still has managed to grow its earnings so that is appreciable. Having said that, on studying current analyst estimates, we were concerned to see that while the company has grown its earnings in the past, analysts expect its earnings to shrink in the future. To know more about the company's future earnings growth forecasts take a look at this free report on analyst forecasts for the company to find out more.

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.
Genius Group Limited

SINGAPORE, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genius Group Limited (NYSE American: GNS) (Genius Group or the Company), a leading entrepreneur edtech and education group, released today additional details on their recently announced transaction to form an AI-powered Education and Acceleration group to power Sovereign AI ecosystems of tomorrow for entrepreneurs, enterprises, governments and students through AI education and enablement:



Deal Structure: The transaction was the purchase of selected FatBrain AI assets and liabilities by Genius Group in an all-share transaction, through the purchase of the stock of a FatBrain subsidiary which is held by Genius as a wholly owned subsidiary, and no merger into Genius has taken place.





Post-Transaction Revenue, Profit: Following the transaction, Genius Groups 2023 pro forma revenue is expected to grow approximately 150%, with 2023 pro forma revenue guidance growing to an estimated $76 million to $80 million. Genius Groups 2023 pro forma net profit is expected to grow approximately 150%, with 2023 pro forma net profit guidance growing to an estimated $7 million to $9 million (all financials currently in the Companys 2023 audit process).





Post-Transaction Balance Sheet: Following the transaction, Genius Groups 2023 pro forma total assets is expected to grow approximately 40%, with 2023 pro forma total assets guidance growing to an estimated $110 million to $115 million. Genius Groups 2023 pro forma net profit is expected to grow approximately 50%, with 2023 pro forma total liabilities guidance growing to an estimated $60 million to $65 million (all financials currently in the Companys 2023 audit process)





Post-Transaction Structure: The Post-structure leaves Genius Group Ltd as the parent company with the FatBrain assets existing in a wholly owned subsidiary of the parent company, which will continue to trade on NYSE American under the ticker NYSEAmerican:GNS as a Singapore-based company with its consolidated financials compliant with IFRS Standards.





Post-Transaction Leadership: Genius Group has an exeuctive executive team and Board of Directors as follows. Peter Ritz, FatBrains AIs CEO, will join the Genius Group Board as Executive Director and Michael Moe, FatBrain AIs Chairman, will join the Genius Group Board as Non-Executive Chairman. The Current Genius Group of Roger James Hamilton (CEO), Suraj Naik (Executive Director) and Richard Berman, Eric Pulier and Salim Ismail (Non-Executive Directors) remain on the Board. The split of the Board is: 2 members (29%) FatBrain AI representation. 5 members (71%) Genius Group representation.





Post-Transaction Ownership: All of FatBrain AIs former shareholders, which includes investors in the US and accomplished technology and education entrepreneurs and investors, including Michael Moe and Peter Ritz, will receive one (1) Genius Group share for every three (3) FatBrain AI shares. The ownership split immediately subsequent will be approximately 57% owned by Genius Groups shareholders and 43% owned by FatBrain AIs shareholders.





Approvals: All necessary approvals for the transaction from shareholders, the board and regulators were received prior to the closing. The transaction is not a change of control transaction, and thus the Company believes does not qualify as a significant transaction or merger which would trigger any valuation provisions under any Company agreements.





Market Capitalization of FatBrain Ai and Genius Group: Based on our 2023 guidance revenue and post-deal ownership splits of FatBrain AI and Genius Group, together with Genius Group/s $0.29 per ordinary share closing day price on Wed 13 Mar, 2024  the closing date of the transaction, this delivers a price / revenue multiple for FatBrain AIs once their shares are converted to Genius Groups of approximately a 0.4x price / trailing revenue multiple. Genius Groups price / trailing revenue multiple by comparison delivers approximately a 0.85x price / revenue multiple.





Market Capitalization of Post-Transaction Group vs Industry Peers: The market capitalization based on shares issued post-transactions, delivers a ratio of approximately a 0.65x price / revenue multiple based on the $0.29 closing date price. This compares to the price / revenue multiples of publicly listed Edtech peers: As of their current share prices, Udemys price / revenue multiple is 2.73x; Courseras ratio is 3.58x; and Duolingo ratio is 17.5x. This gives our publicly traded Edtech peers a range of price / revenue multiples between four times and twenty-seven times Genius Group. We believe this represents a significant, potential upside in our share price as we grow and get closer to a fair value in comparison to our public-listed peers in Edtech.





Growth Plan: The plan provides an integrated roadmap and product range to strive to reach the following: launch 100 Genius Cities, impact 100 million customers and students and achieve $1 billion in annual revenues within the next decade, with a shared mission: To build an AI-driven entrepreneur education and acceleration platform, empowering our exponential future.



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The Growth Plan will be presented by Roger James Hamilton and Peter Ritz to investors on Genius Groups Investor Call on Thursday March 21, 2024.

About Genius Group

Genius Group is a leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, with a mission to disrupt the current education model with a student-centered, life-long learning curriculum that prepares students with the leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills to succeed. Through its learning platform, GeniusU, the Genius Group has a member base of 5.4 million users in 200 countries, ranging from early age to 100.

For more information, please visit https://www.geniusgroup.net/

About FatBrain AI

FatBrain AI provides powerful and easy-to-use AI solutions to empower the enterprise stars of tomorrow to grow, innovate, and drive the majority of the global economy. FatBrain's AI 2.0 technologies and advanced data services transform continuous learning, narrative reasoning, large language models, cloud and blockchain technologies into auditable, explainable and easy to integrate AI solutions. FatBrain's subscriptions allow all companies to deploy its advanced AI solutions quickly, easily, and securely behind their firewalls or via cloud. FatBrain's global delivery includes 600+ team across design, development centers in the US, UK, India and Kazakh Republic.

For more information, please visit https://Fatbrain AI/

Investor Notice

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, as amended for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on June 6, 2023 and August 3, 2023. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. See "Forward-Looking Statements" below.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, will plan, should, expect, anticipate, estimate, continue, or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 20-F, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company's Reports of a Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise.

Contacts

Investors:

Solomon Bamidele, Investor Relations

Email: investor@geniusgroup.net

US Investors:

Dave Gentry

RedChip Companies Inc

1-800-RED-CHIP

GNS@redchip.com




HOUSTON & BROWNSVILLE, Texas, March 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Texas LNG Brownsville LLC ("Texas LNG"), a four million tonnes per annum ("MTPA") liquefied natural gas ("LNG") export terminal to be constructed in the Port of Brownsville, Texas, a subsidiary of Glenfarne Energy Transition, LLC ("Glenfarne"), has signed a Heads of Agreement ("HOA") with Gunvor Group through its subsidiary Gunvor Singapore Pte Ltd ("Gunvor") for a 20-year LNG FOB sale and purchase agreement ("SPA") for 0.5 MTPA of LNG from Texas LNG.

"Were thrilled to welcome Gunvor to our portfolio of customers, connecting Texas LNG, one of the lowest-emitting liquefaction facilities in the world, with global economies in need of reliable, sustainable energy," said Brendan Duval, CEO and Founder, Glenfarne Energy Transition and Co-President of Texas LNG.

"With the previously announced commencement of the execution phase of the project financing process, this agreement aligns with our plan to take a final investment decision on Texas LNG this year," said Vlad Bluzer, Co-President of Texas LNG.

"We are pleased to have executed this agreement and become one of the foundation buyers of the Texas LNG project. Gunvor continues to support US LNG export projects, unlocking new supplies for the global energy market and providing energy security especially to our customers in Europe and Asia" said Kalpesh Patel, Co-Head of LNG Trading of Gunvor.

Todays news follows Texas LNGs recently announced LNG tolling agreement with EQT Corporation ("EQT"). Texas LNG also recently announced partnerships with Baker Hughes, ABB and Gulf LNG Tugs of Texas. These partnerships total nearly one billion dollars of investment into the project.

Glenfarne Energy Transition, a developer, owner, and operator of energy transition infrastructure, is the majority owner and managing member of Texas LNG. Texas LNG will achieve financial close and begin construction in 2024 commencing commercial operations in 2028. Glenfarne Energy Transition is also the sole owner and developer of the 8.8 MTPA Magnolia LNG in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

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About Texas LNG

Texas LNG is a 4 MTPA LNG export facility to be constructed in the Port of Brownsville, Texas and a subsidiary of global energy transition leader, Glenfarne Energy Transition, LLC. Texas LNG is led by an experienced team committed to creating one of the cleanest, lowest emitting LNG export facilities in the world through electric motor drives. Additional information about Texas LNG may be found on its website at www.texaslng.com

About Glenfarne Energy Transition, LLC

Glenfarne Energy Transition is a wholly owned subsidiary of Glenfarne Group, a privately held energy and infrastructure development and management firm based in New York City and Houston, Texas, with offices in Dallas, Texas; Panama City, Panama; Santiago, Chile; Bogota, Colombia; Barcelona, Spain; and Seoul, South Korea. Glenfarne Energy Transition aims to address the "here and now" global energy transition through three core businesses: Global LNG Solutions, Renewables, and Grid Stability. The companys seasoned executives, asset managers, and operators develop, acquire, manage, and operate energy infrastructure assets throughout North and South America. For more information, please visit www.GlenfarneEnergyTransition.com

About Gunvor Group

Gunvor is one of the world's largest independent commodities trading houses by turnover, creating logistics solutions that safely and efficiently move physical energy from where it is sourced and stored to where it is demanded most. Gunvor has strategic investments in industrial infrastructure  refineries, pipelines, storage and terminals  that complement our core trading activity and generate sustainable value across the global supply chain for our customers. The company, which in 2022 generated U.S. $150 billion in revenue on 165 million MT of volumes, is the leading independent global trader of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240317583952/en/

Contacts

Kris Cole

pro-texaslng@prosek.com
PUNE, India, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report titled "Grease Market by Type (Aluminum Complex Grease, Barium Complex Grease, Bentone Grease), Base Oil (Mineral, Synthetic, Vegetable), Group, End-Use - Global Forecast 2024-2030" is now available on 360iResearch.com's offering, presents an analysis indicating that the market projected to grow from a size of $6.40 billion in 2023 to reach $8.77 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 4.58% over the forecast period.

360iResearch Logo

" Greasing the Wheels of Progress: Navigating the Evolution, Demand, and Sustainable Future of Industrial Lubricants "

In the dynamic world of lubrication, grease is considered a critical component, offering a semi-solid solution designed to minimize friction and enhance the performance of mechanical systems across various sectors. Grease is a unique blend made from base oil, thickening agents, and additives that ensure the smooth operation of machinery by adhering to surfaces under a wide range of conditions. Several key factors, including the surge in industrial automation, infrastructural developments, and advancements in vehicular technology, significantly drive the demand for grease. The market spans numerous applications, from heavy machinery to personal vehicles, each requiring specific lubrication solutions that are efficient, durable, and eco-friendly. The Americas, with its strong automotive and industrial base, and the European Union, known for its stringent environmental regulations, showcase a marked preference for sustainable products. The Middle East and Africa also focus on greases capable of enduring extreme conditions pertinent to their construction and mining operations. The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing enhanced growth with its vast industrial landscape, propelled by a notable rise in manufacturing and infrastructure projects. Challenges, including high raw material costs, complex applications, and evolving regulatory standards, hamper the adoption. However, the industry sees a promising frontier in developing biodegradable greases and integrating nanotechnology, aiming for superior thermal and wear resistance. This evolving landscape emphasizes the vital role of the grease market in global industries, poised for progress through innovation and sustainability.

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Download Sample Report @ https://www.360iresearch.com/library/intelligence/grease

" The Surge of Automation: Driving Efficiency and Demand for Grease in Global Industries "

Across the globe, the industrial landscape is undergoing a transformative shift toward automation, characterized by the significant incorporation of automated machinery across diverse sectors. This transition is pivotal for bolstering productivity, assuring unparalleled quality, and sustaining competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market. Nations, including the United States, Canada, Germany, Japan, and China, are at the forefront, actively investing in smart manufacturing capabilities and embracing government-led initiatives such as Industry 4.0 to integrate automation into their industrial operations. Such advancements offer many long-term advantages, such as significant reductions in labor costs and operational expenses while minimizing the potential for human error, optimizing resource use, and eliminating unnecessary waste. The advent of sophisticated sensor technologies, alongside breakthroughs in artificial intelligence and machine learning, has further enhanced the efficacy and scope of automation, paving the way for a broader range of automated applications. This burgeoning expansion in automated industrial activities emphasizes the increasing applicability of grease, a critical component in ensuring the efficient operation of machinery. As automation redefines industry standards for productivity, quality, and adaptability, the demand for high-quality grease is expected to grow, stimulating the rise in automation and mechanization within key sectors.

" Emphasizing the Versatility and Application of Grease Types for Industrial Use "

In industrial applications, the selection of grease is critical for ensuring the longevity and efficiency of machinery. Among the various types, lithium grease is prominently used in a wide range of applications due to its characteristics, such as multifaceted utility, excellent water resistance, superior high-temperature performance, and robust structural integrity. In contrast, aluminum complex grease is utilized in environments prone to water exposure, such as marine settings, due to its exceptional water resistance and mechanical stability under heavy loads. Barium complex grease is a viable option for operations demanding resilience at elevated temperatures and in acidic conditions. Furthermore, bentone grease, a clay-based solution, offers unparalleled thermal stability and is perfect for sustained high-temperature operations. Calcium grease, with its remarkable moisture protection, serves well in wet conditions, even though there is a limitation regarding its performance at higher temperatures. Polyurea grease extends service life and resists oxidation across a vast temperature spectrum, ideally suited for electric motors and automotive bearings. Furthermore, sodium grease, with its high melting point and adhesive capacity, is tailored for extreme temperatures and loads, though its effectiveness is diminished by poor water resistance. This intricate landscape of grease types highlights the importance of a significant approach to selecting the appropriate grease for industrial machinery, ensuring optimal performance and durability.

Request Analyst Support @ https://www.360iresearch.com/library/intelligence/grease

" Shell PLC at the Forefront of Grease Market with a Strong 12.59% Market Share "

The key players in the Grease Market include China Petrochemical & Chemical Corporation, ENEOS Corporation, Shell PLC, Chevron Corporation, Exxon Mobil Corporation, and others. These prominent players focus on strategies such as expansions, acquisitions, joint ventures, and developing new products to strengthen their market positions.

" Introducing ThinkMi: Revolutionizing Market Intelligence with AI-Powered Insights for the Grease Market "

We proudly unveil ThinkMi, a cutting-edge AI product designed to transform how businesses interact with the Grease Market. ThinkMi stands out as your premier market intelligence partner, delivering unparalleled insights with the power of artificial intelligence. Whether deciphering market trends or offering actionable intelligence, ThinkMi is engineered to provide precise, relevant answers to your most critical business questions. This revolutionary tool is more than just an information source; it's a strategic asset that empowers your decision-making with up-to-the-minute data, ensuring you stay ahead in the fiercely competitive Grease Market. Embrace the future of market analysis with ThinkMi, where informed decisions lead to remarkable growth.

Ask Question to ThinkMi @ https://app.360iresearch.com/library/intelligence/grease

" Dive into the Grease Market Landscape: Explore 198 Pages of Insights, 396 Tables, and 24 Figures "

Preface Research Methodology Executive Summary Market Overview Market Insights Grease Market, by Type Grease Market, by Base Oil Grease Market, by Group Grease Market, by End-Use Americas Grease Market Asia-Pacific Grease Market Europe, Middle East & Africa Grease Market Competitive Landscape Competitive Portfolio

Inquire Before Buying @ https://www.360iresearch.com/library/intelligence/grease

Related Reports:

About 360iResearch

Founded in 2017, 360iResearch is a market research and business consulting company headquartered in India, with clients and focus markets spanning the globe.

We are a dynamic, nimble company that believes in carving ambitious, purposeful goals and achieving them with the backing of our greatest asset  our people.

Quick on our feet, we have our ear to the ground when it comes to market intelligence and volatility. Our market intelligence is diligent, real-time and tailored to your needs, and arms you with all the insight that empowers strategic decision-making.

Our clientele encompasses about 80% of the Fortune Global 500, and leading consulting and research companies and academic institutions that rely on our expertise in compiling data in niche markets. Our meta-insights are intelligent, impactful and infinite, and translate into actionable data that support your quest for enhanced profitability, tapping into niche markets, and exploring new revenue opportunities.

Contact 360iResearch

Mr. Ketan Rohom

360iResearch Private Limited,

Office No. 519, Nyati Empress,

Opposite Phoenix Market City,

Vimannagar, Pune, Maharashtra,

India - 411014.

Email: sales@360iresearch.com

USA: +1-530-264-8485

India: +91-922-607-7550

To learn more, visit 360iresearch.com or follow us on LinkedIn , Twitter , and Facebook .

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SOURCE 360iResearch
There are a few key trends to look for if we want to identify the next multi-bagger. In a perfect world, we'd like to see a company investing more capital into its business and ideally the returns earned from that capital are also increasing. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. In light of that, when we looked at H&R GmbH KGaA (ETR:2HRA) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on H&R GmbH KGaA is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.051 = 33m  (927m - 283m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

Thus, H&R GmbH KGaA has an ROCE of 5.1%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Chemicals industry average of 7.3%.

See our latest analysis for H&R GmbH KGaA

XTRA:2HRA Return on Capital Employed March 18th 2024

Above you can see how the current ROCE for H&R GmbH KGaA compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free analyst report for H&R GmbH KGaA .

What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at H&R GmbH KGaA doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 7.6% over the last five years. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It may take some time before the company starts to see any change in earnings from these investments.

Our Take On H&R GmbH KGaA's ROCE

To conclude, we've found that H&R GmbH KGaA is reinvesting in the business, but returns have been falling. And in the last five years, the stock has given away 25% so the market doesn't look too hopeful on these trends strengthening any time soon. Therefore based on the analysis done in this article, we don't think H&R GmbH KGaA has the makings of a multi-bagger.

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H&R GmbH KGaA does have some risks though, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for H&R GmbH KGaA that you might be interested in.

While H&R GmbH KGaA may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
HACU

SAN ANTONIO, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) have announced they will host the Capital One Launchpad: Legacy & Leadership Program. This experience will bring together students from HACU-member Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and TMCF Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs).



A total of 100 students will be selected to participate in an extensive and immersive personal, professional, and technical development journey under the leadership of Capital One mentors, on July 8-12, 2024, in Capital One Headquarters- McLean, Virginia.

HACU is pleased to partner with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Capital One on this invaluable program for students from our respective member institutions, said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores, Ph.D. This program offers college students an opportunity to develop necessary skills that will prepare them for the workforce of tomorrow.

This Capital One Launchpad: Legacy & Leadership Program is designed for students interested in business and technology related career paths. Sophomore, junior, or senior college students who have participated in leadership of campus activities or comparable groups are encouraged to apply.

Providing students exposure and immersion into the world of business to level the playing field and position them to be confidently prepared to transition from college into a rewarding career is a top goal of this partnership, said TMCF President and CEO Harry L. Williams, Ed.D. We are delighted to collaborate with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities and Capital One so that highly qualified students attending our member schools can enter the competitive job market, affording them an equal opportunity they may not otherwise have.

Selected scholars will travel and participate in a five-day immersion experience focusing on career exploration and professional development. Students will have the opportunity to work directly with designated Capital One mentors who will work to guide students toward a final capstone presentation to conclude the weeks immersion. Deadline for student applications is April 22, 2024.

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This partnership allows us to engage with students in an unconventional and intentional way. Investing in great talent at the institutional level will allow deeper connections early on to develop talent and help them advance their careers, said Pablo Ruiz, Head of Students & Grads Recruiting at Capital One. Our partnership with HACU and TMCF will ultimately allow us to produce long lasting relationships with these HBCUs and HSIs.

We are thrilled to partner with HACU and TMCF on the Capital One Launchpad: Legacy & Leadership Program. This immersive learning experience will provide HSI and HBCU scholars the opportunity to build critical career-ready skills over the course of several days with support from Capital One mentors every step of the way, added Terrance Bowman, Director of Diversity, Early Engagement & Partnerships Recruiting at Capital One.

About Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU is the only national association representing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), which account for two of every three of the 3.5 million Hispanic college students in the United States. HACU student programs include internships, scholarships, pre-collegiate support, and career development opportunities. The Associations headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C and Sacramento, California.

HACU is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about HACU, visit: www.hacu.net.

About the Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nations largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Community Colleges and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending Black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.

TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.

About Capital One

Capital One, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, offers a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients through a variety of channels. A Fortune 500 company, Capital One trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol COF and is included in the S&P 100 index. Capital One was founded on the principle that great talent, great analytics and great technology could revolutionize financial 2 services and democratize credit. We believe that attracting, hiring, and enabling great people can change banking for good. To learn more about Capital One, visit www.capitalone.com/About.

Norma Jean Revilla-Garcia

Senior Executive Director of Communications and Marketing

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

(210) 576-3206

njgarcia@hacu.net

Or

Christopher de Hoyos

Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

(210) 576-3242

chris.dehoyos@hacu.net




Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan (LON:HSBK) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: 1.03t (up 4.1% from FY 2022).

Net income: 693.4b (up 25% from FY 2022).

Profit margin: 67% (up from 56% in FY 2022). The increase in margin was primarily driven by lower expenses.

EPS: 2,544 (up from 2,034 in FY 2022).

LSE:HSBK Earnings and Revenue Growth March 18th 2024

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan Earnings Insights

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 9.7% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 3.9% growth forecast for the Banks industry in the United Kingdom.

Performance of the British Banks industry.

The company's shares are down 1.7% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

It's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Halyk Bank of Kazakhstan, and understanding it should be part of your investment process.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
By Ulviyya Shahin

Former Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov, speaking at the XI Global Baku Forum, highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance international security, Azernews reports.

Norov emphasized that artificial intelligence could offer a degree of protection and foster international dialogue on security matters.

However, he cautioned that the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence could also introduce complexities and underscored the shortage of cybersecurity specialists since 2021.

The XI Global Baku Forum, attended by delegates from various countries and international organizations, serves as a platform for addressing global challenges and opportunities, including cybersecurity, climate change, and geopolitical stability.
Ho Chi Minh's Department of Tourism

Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2024

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival 2024 marks a decade-long journey of honoring the beauty of Ao Dai, continuing to inspire Vietnamese Ao Dai pride among city citizens and international friends.



The Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival is one of the city's exemplary annual festivals, drawing significant attention from both local and international tourists. After a relentless 10-year dedication to inspiring the traditional values of Ao Dai, the festival has become a driving force in spreading pride in the "national soul, national essence" of Ho Chi Minh City citizens, acting as a conduit for showcasing the beauty, spirit, and heritage of the Vietnamese people to the world.

The 10th Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival (March 7th - March 17th, 2024) witnessed significant investment and thrilling innovations in its program. With the companion of 24 image ambassadors and the participation of 30 distinguished Ao Dai designers, the festival showcased the special Co-Performance "I love Vietnamese Ao Dai." This standout activity brought together over 5,000 women members from Thu Duc City and 21 districts, along with festival ambassadors, artists, actors, and city residents.

Ho Chi Minh's Department of Tourism





Additionally, the "Charming Ao Dai Ho Chi Minh City" contest attracted over 800 participants; the Ao Dai painting contest received registrations from over 400 students; the logo design contest honoring the 10 years of the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival welcomed over 250 admissions. More than 1,500 images were submitted to the online Ao Dai contest "Ao Dai and 100 exciting things about Ho Chi Minh City."

Over the past decade, the organization of the Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival has been a constant journey of spreading beautiful images and igniting love, pride, and responsibility in preserving and promoting the national cultural heritage. In honor of this proud journey, the Vietnam Record Organization (VietKings) officially recognized and awarded a record to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee with the content "The Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival - A festival dedicated to honoring and showcasing Vietnamese Ao Dai, held annually and consecutively (10 times from 2014 to 2024)."

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Media contact: info@visithcmc.vn

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/20ff4e18-79a5-4cc4-a545-ffed6d06c281




~ Hyve Managed Hosting is expanding its bespoke cloud infrastructure and management services to the DACH region ~

BERLIN, March 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hyve Managed Hosting, a global, fully managed hosting provider, is bringing its award-winning cloud expertise to Germany and the DACH market with the opening of its new European hub in Berlin. Hyve is a global company with entities in the UK, U.S., and Europe that delivers bespoke global infrastructure and management services, including private cloud, dedicated servers, colocation and security services, and more. Major brands in the companys portfolio include Capita, Ansys, Konica Minolta and the NHS.

The European cloud computing market was valued at $56.85 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $470.13 billion by 2032, with Germany being one of the main contributors to the markets growth. Recent surveys demonstrate a strong increase in demand for cloud computing services among German enterprises, with 46.5% of companies currently using cloud technology and a further 11.1% planning to. A study shows that demand for cloud computing services will grow, accounting for more than half of data centre capacity by 2025.

In the market dominated by hyperscalers, Hyve Managed Hosting GmbH aims to bring organisations in the region a much-needed individualised approach, offering high-performance cloud hosting solutions with truly personalised management and support. The company offers managed cloud services across numerous business sectors in its global network of data centres. These tailored services include Managed Private Cloud and Managed Enterprise Cloud, Hybrid & Multi-Cloud solutions, Dedicated & Bare Metal Servers, and Disaster Recovery as a Service.

"As the largest economy in the EU, Germany was an easy choice for us when deciding on the new European HQ base in the region. The cloud market of the DACH zone has great potential and has been showing strong growth year to year,"  comments Jake Madders, co-founder and director of Hyve Managed Hosting. "Deciding on where to settle in Germany, given its booming economy, was more difficult. However, we selected Berlin as our European hub. The city is one of the major tech regions in Europe and also shares similarities in culture and values with Brighton, the location of our global HQ."

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He adds: "Brexit also helped the idea of opening a European office as we wanted to reassure the UK and European customers that we can continue to service them seamlessly in this new post-Brexit reality. With our new base in Germany, companies we work with can store their data securely within the EU region while complying with data sovereignty and European data protection regulations".

Mike Wotton has joined Hyve Managed Hosting GmbH as Operations Manager from the Brighton HQ, where he was part of the technical team. Wotton has a great understanding of both the business and technical aspects of Hyves objectives and, in the new position, will be responsible for the companys growth and expansion across the DACH region.

Mike Wotton comments: "Hyve fills a gap in the German market for an established provider, working globally while maintaining a small-business ethos and focus on support. Our experts have the market knowledge, technical expertise, and people-first attitude to support German businesses in growing. We are eager to explore business opportunities in Germany and the DACH region, with the aim of becoming the go-to managed cloud provider on the market".

Germany's expansion follows a strong period of growth for Hyve Managed Hosting, which has seen revenue increase by 51% over the last three years and its global headcount grow by over 30% in 2023 alone. The company also moved to its new, larger headquarters in Brighton, UK, and was recognised for "Excellence in Service" at the 2023 Storage, Digitalization and Cloud Awards (SDC). Three months into 2024, Hyve Managed Hosting has already been shortlisted for two prestigious awards: the 2024 National Technology Award in the "Tech Growth Business of the Year" category and the ER & DCR Awards in the "Cloud Project of the Year" category.

Over the next year, the company will actively invest in recruitment for the Hyve Managed Hosting GmbH branch as it continues to develop the regional customer portfolio, grow revenue, and position itself in the region as the go-to managed cloud provider. Hyve is exploring additional opportunities for further expansion within the EU, as well as APAC and Australia. It is also rapidly growing in the U.S., where the company opened its new North American office in Austin, Texas, in February 2024.

Hyve employees from the global community across three entities in the UK, U.S. and Europe, and the company is also Great Place to Work certified.

Hyve Managed Hosting is a global, fully managed hosting provider with a passion for exceptional customer service. Adopting a customer-centric approach, Hyve delivers a range of managed hosting services, from mission-critical private cloud and enterprise cloud to colocation and security services. Hyves engineers become an extension of any business, excelling in tailor-made solutions and centralised management. To find out more, visit https://www.hyve.com/de-de/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318886098/en/

Contacts

Kristina Karachevtceva

PR Editor

kristinak@hyve.com
Key Insights

The considerable ownership by public companies in Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy

The top 2 shareholders own 59% of the company

Institutional ownership in Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad is 20%

A look at the shareholders of Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:PANAMY) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are public companies with 47% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

And individual investors on the other hand have a 26% ownership in the company.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad, beginning with the chart below.

Check out our latest analysis for Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad

KLSE:PANAMY Ownership Breakdown March 18th 2024

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story.

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KLSE:PANAMY Earnings and Revenue Growth March 18th 2024

Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Panasonic Holdings Corporation with 47% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 12% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 5.7% by the third-largest shareholder.

A more detailed study of the shareholder registry showed us that 2 of the top shareholders have a considerable amount of ownership in the company, via their 59% stake.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage.

Insider Ownership Of Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad. It has a market capitalization of just RM1.1b, and insiders have RM35m worth of shares, in their own names. Some would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. But it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 26% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 3.5%, of the company's shares. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research.

Public Company Ownership

It appears to us that public companies own 47% of Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further.

Next Steps:

I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad you should know about.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

Significantly high institutional ownership implies Bank of Hawaii's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions

A total of 8 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership

Analyst forecasts along with ownership data serve to give a strong idea about prospects for a business

A look at the shareholders of Bank of Hawaii Corporation (NYSE:BOH) can tell us which group is most powerful. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 85% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

No shareholder likes losing money on their investments, especially institutional investors who saw their holdings drop 4.7% in value last week. Still, the 23% one-year gains may have helped mitigate their overall losses. They should, however, be mindful of further losses in the future.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Bank of Hawaii, beginning with the chart below.

View our latest analysis for Bank of Hawaii

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Bank of Hawaii?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that Bank of Hawaii does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Bank of Hawaii's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Bank of Hawaii is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is BlackRock, Inc., with ownership of 14%. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 12% and 5.9% of the stock.

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We also observed that the top 8 shareholders account for more than half of the share register, with a few smaller shareholders to balance the interests of the larger ones to a certain extent.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Bank of Hawaii

The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group.

We can report that insiders do own shares in Bank of Hawaii Corporation. It is a pretty big company, so it is generally a positive to see some potentially meaningful alignment. In this case, they own around US$44m worth of shares (at current prices). If you would like to explore the question of insider alignment, you can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 14% stake in Bank of Hawaii. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Bank of Hawaii better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks for example - Bank of Hawaii has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Channel Infrastructure NZ fair value estimate is NZ$2.49

Channel Infrastructure NZ's NZ$1.44 share price signals that it might be 42% undervalued

Analyst price target for CHI is NZ$1.69 which is 32% below our fair value estimate

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of Channel Infrastructure NZ Limited (NZSE:CHI) by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

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 Channel Infrastructure NZ

The Model

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (NZ$, Millions) NZ$64.8m NZ$77.3m NZ$77.0m NZ$82.9m NZ$76.4m NZ$73.0m NZ$71.2m NZ$70.6m NZ$70.7m NZ$71.3m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ -4.48% Est @ -2.37% Est @ -0.89% Est @ 0.14% Est @ 0.86% Present Value (NZ$, Millions) Discounted @ 9.1% NZ$59.4 NZ$65.0 NZ$59.3 NZ$58.6 NZ$49.5 NZ$43.3 NZ$38.8 NZ$35.2 NZ$32.3 NZ$29.9

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = NZ$471m

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We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.1%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = NZ$71m (1 + 2.6%)  (9.1% 2.6%) = NZ$1.1b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= NZ$1.1b ( 1 + 9.1%)10= NZ$469m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is NZ$941m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of NZ$1.4, the company appears quite undervalued at a 42% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

NZSE:CHI Discounted Cash Flow March 18th 2024

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. 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 Channel Infrastructure NZ as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.420. 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 Channel Infrastructure NZ

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market.

Weakness

Interest payments on debt are not well covered.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years.

Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Dividends are not covered by earnings.

Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the New Zealander market.

Moving On:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Channel Infrastructure NZ, we've compiled three relevant elements you should consider:

Risks: For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Channel Infrastructure NZ that you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does CHI'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 New Zealander stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Vancouver, Canada --News Direct-- Intrusion Inc.

Intrusion CEO Tony Scott joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share exciting news about the company's expansion of its key Intrusion Shield SaaS services in the Philippines. This expansion follows the success Intrusion has experienced in the first quarter, with customers in various sectors of the Philippines economy, including natural gas exploration and development, water utilities, and the government sector. The new agreements allow for the broader use of Intrusion Shield protection within these organizations after successful proof of concepts.

Scott emphasized that cyber-attacks have been increasing worldwide, underscoring the critical need for effective cybersecurity solutions. Intrusion believes that its Shield products provide cybersecurity teams with enhanced capabilities to identify, deflect, and eliminate new and emerging cyber threats. The company aims to continue this trend in 2024, leveraging reseller agreements to build a robust sales pipeline and focusing on converting existing proofs of value (POVs) and proof of concepts (POCs) into revenue-generating customers.

Overall, Intrusion is committed to providing advanced cybersecurity solutions to organizations globally, and the expansion of its services in the Philippines reflects its dedication to addressing the evolving cybersecurity challenges faced by businesses and governments around the world.

Contact Details

Proactive North America

Proactive North America

+1 604-688-8158

NA-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/intrusion-announces-key-contract-win-for-intrusion-shield-in-philippines-325296518
Key Insights

Midwich Group's estimated fair value is UK7.87 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Midwich Group is estimated to be 49% undervalued based on current share price of UK3.98

Our fair value estimate is 16% higher than Midwich Group's analyst price target of UK6.76

Does the March share price for Midwich Group plc (LON:MIDW) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. 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.

See our latest analysis for Midwich Group

Step By Step Through The Calculation

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, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK35.8m UK44.0m UK50.1m UK55.2m UK59.3m UK62.8m UK65.6m UK68.1m UK70.2m UK72.0m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ 13.79% Est @ 10.15% Est @ 7.60% Est @ 5.81% Est @ 4.56% Est @ 3.68% Est @ 3.07% Est @ 2.64% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 8.8% UK32.9 UK37.2 UK38.9 UK39.3 UK38.9 UK37.8 UK36.3 UK34.6 UK32.8 UK30.9

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK359m

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.6%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 8.8%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = UK72m (1 + 1.6%)  (8.8% 1.6%) = UK1.0b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK1.0b ( 1 + 8.8%)10= UK437m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is UK797m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK4.0, the company appears quite undervalued at a 49% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

AIM:MIDW Discounted Cash Flow March 18th 2024

Important Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Midwich Group as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.311. 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 Midwich Group

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Electronic market.

Shareholders have been diluted in the past year.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the British market.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

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. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Midwich Group, there are three essential items you should further examine:

Risks: We feel that you should assess the 3 warning signs for Midwich Group we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does MIDW'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.
Bangkok, Thailand--(Newsfile Corp. - March 18, 2024) - The 15th Global Freight Forwarders Conference, organized by JCtrans, was successfully held in Bangkok, Thailand. As one of the internationally acclaimed conferences highly anticipated within the industry, the conference attracted over 2,500 professional freight forwarding elites from more than 100 countries and regions. Discussions spanned across multiple dimensions, including the global logistics environment, industry development, and digital transformation. Combining pain points and demands of freight forwarding companies worldwide, the conference provided insights into global development trends, explored future directions, and innovation paths for enterprises, presenting a spectacular array of discussions.

JCtrans Event

Highlight Speeches

At the opening ceremony on March 13th, Mrs. Crystal Zheng (President of JCtrans Community), Mr. Thomas SIM (Senior Vice President of FIATA), and Mr. Jason Tseng (Overseas Director of Panda Logistics Co., Ltd.), delivered speeches.

Mrs. Crystal Zheng expressed that JCtrans is striving to become the most trustworthy freight forwarding community, providing more commercial opportunities and secure cooperation guarantees for global freight forwarding companies. JCtrans community currently comprises two product lines: JCtrans Membership and JCtrans Event. Under JCtrans Membership, core values include cooperation guarantees, commercial opportunities matching, global marketing promotion, and value-added services. Last year, the platform upgraded its conference brand to JCtrans Event, positioning it as a high-end global conference, and launched the JCtrans Event APP, facilitating over 150,000 precise and efficient one-on-one meetings. Additionally, JCtrans has innovated numerous digital tools to help companies reduce costs and increase efficiency. Since the establishment in 2003, JCtrans has always been customer-centric and will continue to collaborate with global freight forwarding companies to create greater value in the future.

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Mr. Thomas SIM, Senior Vice President of FIATA, stated that JCtrans' vision of "Connecting Global Opportunities, Empowering Freight Forwarders" has achieved tremendous success. The platform continues to evolve into a more dynamic B2B global network, gathering industry elites to share knowledge, insights, and innovations, contributing to the rapid development of the freight forwarding industry.

Mr. Jason Tseng, Overseas Director of Panda Logistics Co., Ltd., highlighted that 2024 will witness a transformation in the logistics industry, with increased focus on sustainability, digitization, and resilience. Sustainable development has become a focal point for many companies. In 2024, the logistics industry presents both challenges and opportunities for enterprises. By embracing sustainability, digitization, and resilience, companies can succeed in the rapidly changing global market.

Key Ceremonies

There are two significant ceremonies during the opening ceremony: the launch ceremony of the JCtrans Southeast Asia Port Club and the signing ceremony of the strategic partnership between Global Swift and JCtrans.

The JCtrans Membership Club will continue to uphold principles of being more pragmatic, efficient, globally advantaged, innovative, open, and inclusive, collaborating with more Chinese freight forwarding companies to expand into overseas markets and achieve common prosperity. In the future, membership clubs in regions such as Europe and the Middle East will be established as planned.

The strategic partnership between Global Swift and JCtrans signifies that both parties will provide better service links to more companies. They will establish deep cooperation in resource integration, efficiency improvement, and digital transformation, creating greater value and jointly contributing to the industry.

Keynote Speeches

Senior Vice President of FIATA, Thomas SIM, Guilherme Rogue, Digital Manager & Business Development of JTM Group, and T.N. Seetharaman, Co-founder and Chairman of AllMasters, delivered keynote speeches, sharing insights into global transportation logistics, the current status and trends of ASEAN connectivity, and the significant role of digitization in facilitating the transformation and development of international freight forwarding companies, providing attendees with fresh perspectives and business development suggestions.

Specialized Forums

Forum 1: Southeast Asia Club

Forum 2: Central and South America Customs Clearance

In these two forums, guests engaged in lively discussions, raised questions, provided solutions, and formulated optimal strategies on respective topics.

One-on-One Meetings

Throughout the three-day conference, a total of 53,000 rounds of one-on-one meetings were conducted. The venue was fully occupied, with active communication between enterprise representatives at meeting tables and booths, seeking collaboration opportunities.

Dinner & Cocktail Party

During the dinner on the 13th, the organizers held an award ceremony for JCtrans Elite (JCE) Member companies, expressing gratitude for their trust and support of JCtrans over the years.

Amidst the night of Bangkok, filled with happiness and camaraderie, freight forwarding friends from different countries shared this exhilarating time. In this convivial banquet, old and new friends gathered, exchanged laughter, and discussed the future together.

About JCtrans

JCtrans is a leading international logistics B2B Platform, with a global freight forwarding community exceeding 10,000+ paid members, continually innovative to become the most trustworthy international logistics trading platform, to help global freight forwarding companies achieve sustained profitability.

JCtrans Event, accumulated over 14 years and officially launched in 2023, is a conference product system integrating various forms of conferences such as Global Conferences, Online Conferences, Exhibitions, and Port Salons. Today, JCtrans Event has become one of the most influential high-end conferences in the logistics industry, gathering global forces to promote international logistics construction.

In the September and October of 2024, the 16th Global Freight Forwarders Conference and the 17th Global Freight Forwards Conference will be held respectively in Guangzhou, China, and Doha, Qatar, as scheduled. Freight forwarding elites around the world will continues share the feast with JCtrans Event.

Contact Info:

Name: Oliver Liu

Email: jc@jctrans.net

Organization: JCtrans Co., Ltd.

Website: https://www.jctrans.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/202084
Tutors will begin working with students in nine districts across the state beginning this month

LOS ANGELES, March 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HeyTutor, one of the largest in-person tutoring companies in the United States, announces it has been selected by several New Jersey school districts to provide high-impact, in-person tutoring services to counter pandemic learning loss. Beginning this spring, HeyTutor will deploy more than 100 highly qualified tutors to provide in-person tutoring during regular school hours for students in grades 3 to 5 at elementary schools in Palmyra Township School District (Burlington County), Denville Township School District and Morris Township School District (Morris County) and Hillsborough Township School District (Somerset County), Plainfield Public School District (Union County), Upper Township School District (Cape May County), Milltown Public Schools (Middlesex County), Ridgewood Public Schools (Bergen County); and Paul Robeson Charter School (Trenton, Mercer County).

HeyTutor is the only national tutoring company specializing in hands-on, in-person tutoring with a pre-designed, scaffolded curriculum consisting of thousands of lessons aligned to Common Core State Standards (CCCS) and state-specific standards for grades k-12, incorporating best practices for social and emotional learning from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional (CASEL) framework.

"We are delighted to begin working with New Jersey school teachers and administrators to get student learning back on track," said HeyTutor CEO Jennifer Sheffield. "At HeyTutor, we believe that students are best served by face-to-face, in-person tutoring alongside teacher-led classroom instruction. We use a unique combination of traditional, hands-on strategies and technology to ensure students are progressing, teachers can track that progress, and administrators can easily measure return on investment. We are confident in our evidence-based approach to improve learning outcomes for students across the board, including those with special needs."

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HeyTutor was selected last year by the State of New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) as a qualified vendor for the implementation of high impact tutoring to approximately 240 New Jersey school districts. The New Jersey Learning Acceleration Program: High-Impact Tutoring Grant was designed to support districts to provide high-dosage (at least three times per week), intensive tutoring for students who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. It prioritizes districts with elementary schools and students in grades three and four. Districts were eligible to apply for up to $768,000 in funds for the single-year grant program, which will close Aug. 31, 2024.

HeyTutor, founded in 2014, currently serves thousands of students in states, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, Missouri, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. HeyTutor is a member of the prestigious National Student Support Accelerator (NSSA) as a member of the Tutoring Provider Advisory Group, a program under the Stanford Accelerator for Learning and EdSolutions at Stanford University. Formed in 2020 by a group of nationally recognized education experts in response to the learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NSSAs mission is to accelerate the growth of high-impact tutoring opportunities for k-12 students.

About HeyTutor

Founded in 2014, HeyTutor is one of the largest in-person, at-scale tutoring companies in the United States. HeyTutor supports districts and students by leveraging local, in-person tutors to help students overcome learning gaps, catch up to grade level standards, or work towards acceleration. HeyTutors in-person tutoring delivery is supported by a robust online dashboard that includes student usage, attendance, and academic progress over the course of the program. HeyTutor ensures high-quality, customized tutoring is accessible and available to the students who need it most all while reducing time and administrative costs for school districts. To learn more about HeyTutor, visit www.heytutor.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318342581/en/

Contacts

Stephanie Flores/Melinda Sherwood

OConnell & Goldberg

(786) 547-3489/ (305) 849-0467

sflores@oandgpr.com / msherwood@oandgpr.com
Ava Dolias, who has been renting in Long Branch with her boyfriend this winter, is shown outside her apartment Thursday, March 7, 2023. Renters searching for affordable prices can find them at the Shore in its stock of winter rentals, but what happens when their lease is up and they have to search for a new place to live during the busy summer season?

Ava Dolias found a two-bedroom apartment across the street from the Long Branch beach last September for $1,850 a month and split the rent with her boyfriend, giving her some financial breathing room while she continued to go to school.

But her lease expires at the end of May, and she can't afford the apartment during the summer. So she has begun to plan her next move, searching the area on Zillow in hopes of finding a new apartment she can afford.

"It's so difficult," said Dolias, 20. "The cheapest I can find currently is $2,400, just for one bedroom. And I'm (thinking), 'This is ridiculous.'"

Dolias is among the residents who are taking advantage of winter rentals during the eight-month offseason when the Jersey Shore's expensive vacation homes are available for a fraction of the cost.

The price the Shore: See the 10 most expensive homes sold in Monmouth, Ocean counties in the past year

The apartments long have been way stations for middle- and low-income residents hoping to get on their feet. But with their leases expiring by Memorial Day, renters are struggling to find an affordable, long-term option in the Shore's hot real estate market.

Their experience is a sign of the times. While the supply of affordable, year-round apartments hasn't kept up with the demand, the Jersey Shore has seen an influx of buyers during the past decade who have purchased vacation homes that they rent out when they aren't using them.

The result: Owners of vacation homes are finding they can earn extra money during the winter, before renting them for top-dollar during the the busy summer tourism season.

"Sometimes these young couples wind up going back to their parents' house,'" said Katora Yim, owner of Katora Realty in Bradley Beach, where vacation homes aren't uncommon. "Sometimes they go down to a different state and then wind up coming back" when the peak season is over.

These days, the chance to live in a winter rental, a blessing just a few months ago, is turning into a curse.

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What it costs: Top 10 most expensive Airbnb spots in New Jersey include $8,000 a night at Jersey Shore

'What am I going to do?'

Laura Pascal, 56, has a house outside of Philadelphia, but she has been considering a permanent move to the Shore to be close to the beach and the Asbury Park music scene to start a new chapter in her life.

She rented a house in Avon from September until June for less than $2,000 a month, utilities included with the exception of cable. And she has become more certain the past few months that her decision to move is the right one.

With summer drawing near and her lease coming to an end, Pascal has begun to search for an annual rental. She scours through Zillow, HotPads, Nextdoor and Trulia for vacancies, hoping to find a reasonable apartment with parking.

But she has become increasingly frustrated, finding monthly rents ranging from $1,900 to $4,500. One-bedroom apartments in Asbury Park with less than 600 square feet are on the market for $2,300 a month, a price that, by the government's measure, would be considered unaffordable for anyone with a household income of less than $90,000 a year.

"I'm feeling stressed. What am I going to do?" said Pascal, a school counselor. "That's literally the conversation I have in my head every night."

New Jersey renters appear to be getting squeezed. Central Jersey, for example, was the 12th-most competitive apartment market in the nation, with an occupancy rate of 95.9% and 10 prospective renters for each apartment, according to a report by RentCafe, an apartment search site.

What can you afford? Average Spring Lake home costs $3M. Here's how they're trying to build affordable housing

Ava Dolias, who has been renting in Long Branch with her boyfriend this winter, is shown outside her apartment Thursday, March 7, 2023. Renters searching for affordable prices can find them at the Shore in its stock of winter rentals, but what happens when their lease is up and they have to search for a new place to live during the busy summer season?

The outsized demand has pushed prices higher. The median rent in the state is $2,500, up 6% from a year ago, according to Zillow, a real estate company. And Monmouth and Ocean County towns are more expensive. In Sea Bright, the median rent is $3,729; in Belmar, the median rent is $3,500; in Seaside Heights, it is $2,600.

Meanwhile, the inventory of seasonal rentals has grown, particularly since 2012, when many Shore homes were devastated by superstorm Sandy and needed rebuilding. By 2020, 54% of the homes in New Jersey's 51 Shore towns were empty during the off-season, up from 41.2% 20 years earlier, a report by New Jersey Future found.

The larger supply of vacation homes has provided renters with an affordable option during the fall, winter and spring, but it comes with a catch: When the summer rolls around, and landlords can charge a premium to deep-pocketed visitors on vacation, winter renters need to move out.

Rents drop by 70%

Billy Butler, a real estate agent with Crossroads Realty in Lavallette, rents a two-family home that he owns in Seaside Heights and manages as many as 20 vacation homes for other people.

Vacation home owners typically charge enough during the three-month summer season to cover their expenses, before discounting the price by as much as 70% for the winter, Butler said.

Winter rentals, he said, bring a mix of tenants: people who sold their homes and need a temporary place to stay until they can buy another one; people visiting families during the holidays; travel nurses working at nearby hospitals; and a cross-section of residents relieved to find an affordable place to stay, even if it is for a short time.

"Just finding a (year-round) apartment to rent or a house to rent, it's very difficult," Butler said. "There's just such a low inventory of those."

Home construction: Plan calls for sprawling farm in west Freehold to be 160 new homes

Ava Dolias, who has been renting in Long Branch with her boyfriend this winter, is shown outside her apartment Thursday, March 7, 2023. Renters searching for affordable prices can find them at the Shore in its stock of winter rentals, but what happens when their lease is up and they have to search for a new place to live during the busy summer season?

Ava Dolias is seeing for herself just how difficult it is. When summer arrives, the rent for her apartment will jump to more than $5,000 a month. She can't afford to stay.

Dolias works part-time as a nanny and goes to school part-time, making the 45-minute commute to Toms River, where she is studying to become a medical assistant. She would like to find a reasonable apartment where she can live, but so far, she hasn't found any options.

"I absolutely love the place, love the area, the landlord is the greatest, but when May 31 comes around, you're looking for a new place," Dolias said. "And since it's summertime, a lot of places spike their prices up."

Michael L. Diamond is a business reporter who has been writing about the New Jersey economy and health care industry for more than 20 years. He can be reached at mdiamond@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore winter rentals: Bargains now, but what happens in summer?
Azerbaijan was subjected to cyber attacks in the 2020 second Karabakh war, Turkish ambassador to the Czech Republic Egemen Bagis 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.

"Artificial intelligence must be used with greater social responsibility. Turkiye offers this.

The country also has advanced drone technology, but we use drones humanely. If we leave it to artificial intelligence, it will have big consequences because artificial intelligence doesn't have human values and emotions, Bagis 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.
JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JLL announced its Indonesian office has become the first in the country to achieve the prestigious WELL Platinum Certification, the highest level awarded by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). This esteemed recognition underlines JLL Indonesia's unwavering commitment to prioritizing the well-being of its employee and fostering a culture of sustainability within its workspace.

Jakarta (18/03)- JLL Indonesia sets the bar: the first WELL Platinum-certified Workplace in the country, prioritizing employee well-being and sustainability.

Farazia Basarah, Country Head of JLL Indonesia, stated: "Achieving WELL Platinum certification is a proud moment for JLL Indonesia. This recognition underscores our continuous commitment to fostering environments that prioritize the health and well-being of all occupants. By pursuing initiatives such as the WELL Certification, we reaffirm our dedication to creating sustainable and inclusive workplaces that not only meet but exceed industry standards. This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and underscores our ongoing efforts to elevate the standards of workplace wellness in the country."

Holistic Approach to Well-being

The WELL certification evaluates built environment features that affect health, including air and water quality, healthy food, lighting, and mental wellbeing. JLL Indonesia exceeds the standard's requirements by prioritizing occupant well-being, ensuring a healthier and more comfortable work environment.

Key initiatives undertaken by JLL Indonesia to meet the stringent standards of the WELL Certification include:

Air : JLL Indonesia office employs advanced IAQ monitoring technologies to assess temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, particulate matter, and VOCs, swiftly identifying and optimizing IAQ issues for a healthier indoor environment.

Water : Hydration points are strategically placed across the JLL Indonesia office, facilitating convenient access for refilling water bottles, promoting employee health and prevent dehidration.

Nourishment : JLL Indonesia office features dedicated kitchen and dining spaces. Fresh fruits are provided weekly, fostering a culture of wellness.

Light : JLL Indonesia office maximizes natural light through thoughtful design, enhancing productivity and comfort.

Movement : The workstations cater to diverse postures and preferences, accommodating various workstyles and projects for an inclusive and dynamic environment.

Thermal : Thermal zone control systems allow occupants to customize temperature settings, ensuring personalized comfort and satisfaction.

Noise : JLL Indonesia office prioritizes acoustic comfort with strategic material selection, creating a productive and comfortable workspace.

Materials : Low VOC materials are utilized to minimize negative impacts on air quality and occupant health.

Mind : Greenery is integrated throughout the office, enhancing air quality, and creating visually appealing spaces. Comprehensive health programs are offered for employee well-being.

Community : JLL Indonesia celebrates local heritage with murals of Indonesian landmarks and traditional dances, alongside meeting rooms named after Indonesian cities.

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Advancing Sustainability: Achieving Net Zero Emissions

In addition to obtaining the WELL Certification, JLL Indonesia office proudly received the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification last year. This dual recognition underscores JLL's firm commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Prioritizing green working spaces not only promotes sustainability but also enhances the well-being of JLL's employees. Through innovative interior design, implementation of a smart lighting control system, and integration of EnergyStar-rated equipment, JLL Indonesia office has achieved an impressive 32.2% reduction in energy consumption. Furthermore, the implementation of automated sensor features has led to a significant decrease in water consumption by 25.37%, demonstrating JLL's dedication to environmental stewardship.

Prisca Winata, Senior Manager, Energy & Sustainability of JLL Indonesia, commented: "Our dedication to creating healthy, sustainable, and people-centric environments goes beyond mere aspiration; it's deeply ingrained in our office design ethos and company policies. Achieving certifications like LEED and WELL serves as tangible evidence of our commitment to enhancing both environmental sustainability and employee well-being. Through our comprehensive approach, we're not just transforming offices; we're shaping healthier, happier, and more sustainable communities."

For more information about JLL Indonesia, visit https://www.jll.co.id/.

About JLL

For over 200 years, JLL (NYSE: JLL), a leading global commercial real estate and investment management company, has helped clients buy, build, occupy, manage, and invest in a variety of commercial, industrial, hotel, residential and retail properties. A Fortune 500 company with annual revenue of $20.9 billion and operations in over 80 countries around the world, our more than 105,000 employees bring the power of a global platform combined with local expertise. Driven by our purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world, we help our clients, people and communities SEE A BRIGHTER WAYSM. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/jll-indonesia-leads-the-way-the-first-well-platinum-certified-workplace-in-indonesia-for-enhanced-well-being-302091258.html

SOURCE JLL Indonesia
We can readily understand why investors are attracted to unprofitable companies. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly.

Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Keypath Education International (ASX:KED) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn.

View our latest analysis for Keypath Education International

Does Keypath Education International 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. As at December 2023, Keypath Education International had cash of US$42m and no debt. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through US$9.5m. So it had a cash runway of about 4.4 years from December 2023. Notably, however, analysts think that Keypath Education International will break even (at a free cash flow level) before then. If that happens, then the length of its cash runway, today, would become a moot point. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time.

ASX:KED Debt to Equity History March 17th 2024

How Well Is Keypath Education International Growing?

It was fairly positive to see that Keypath Education International reduced its cash burn by 46% during the last year. And operating revenue was up by 10% too. On balance, we'd say the company is improving over time. Clearly, however, the crucial factor is whether the company will grow its business going forward. So you might want to take a peek at how much the company is expected to grow in the next few years.

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How Easily Can Keypath Education International Raise Cash?

We are certainly impressed with the progress Keypath Education International has made over the last year, but it is also worth considering how costly it would be if it wanted to raise more cash to fund faster growth. 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 comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate).

Since it has a market capitalisation of US$73m, Keypath Education International's US$9.5m in cash burn equates to about 13% 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.

So, Should We Worry About Keypath Education International's Cash Burn?

It may already be apparent to you that we're relatively comfortable with the way Keypath Education International is burning through its cash. In particular, we think its cash runway stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. On this analysis its revenue growth was its weakest feature, but we are not concerned about it. There's no doubt that shareholders can take a lot of heart from the fact that analysts are forecasting it will reach breakeven before too long. After considering a range of factors in this article, we're pretty relaxed about its cash burn, since the company seems to be in a good position to continue to fund its growth. Taking an in-depth view of risks, we've identified 1 warning sign for Keypath Education International that you should be aware of before investing.

If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
VANCOUVER, BC, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LEEF Brands, Inc. ("LEEF" or the "Company") (CSE: LEEF, OTC: LEEEF), a premier vertical cannabis operator, today announced the launch of Well-Kept CBD Infused Honey. Well-Kept CBD Infused Honey, marks a significant step in their mission to not only provide innovative wellness solutions but also contribute to environmental conservation. With plans to utilize a portion of their expansive ranch in Cuyama, CA for bee farming, LEEF aims to address the critical issue of declining honeybee populations while offering a unique product to their clientele.

LEEF Organics

"We look forward to further diversifying revenue streams and supporting sustainability efforts as we continue to build-out our 2,000 acre ranch. One of the ideas we are excited about is producing our own local honey through a large bee farm and selling this infused honey through our wellness client base we have been growing since the inception of LEEF Wellness and Paleo Paw brands. By integrating bee farming into our operations, LEEF will create a safe haven for bees amidst widespread pesticide use and GMO crops," stated Micah Anderson, CEO LEEF Brands.

The significance of bees in maintaining a healthy ecosystem cannot be overstated, and LEEF recognizes their integral role. By cultivating honeybees organically and relocating them to their new ranch, the company is not only supporting the bee population but also underscores the importance of environmental stewardship.

"The introduction of Well-Kept CBD Infused Honey represents more than just a product launch for LEEF. It symbolizes a broader movement towards environmental restoration and healthier lifestyle choices. The natural sweetness of honey is a healthier alternative to processed sugars and aligns with the company's ethos of promoting wellness and sustainability," stated Emily Heitman, CRO LEEF Brands.

Overall, LEEF's initiative demonstrates a holistic approach to business, intertwining innovation, environmental consciousness, and consumer well-being. As they embark on this new venture, LEEF sets a precedent for companies seeking to make a positive impact on both health and the planet.

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LEEF Brands Inc. stands out as a premier cannabis extraction and manufacturing company based in California, renowned for its extensive vertical integration and status as one of the state's most advanced operators. Leveraging a robust supply chain, state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, and a diverse bulk concentrate portfolio, LEEF serves as the backbone for numerous prominent brands in California, alongside their national CBD product line. This line is centered on licensing, developing, and consciously introducing effective health and wellness lifestyle products to the market.

At the core of LEEF's philosophy lies a firm belief in the transformative potential of botanically derived extractions in enhancing people's lives. Drawing on decades of experience in organic soil-based farming, coupled with the state's most sophisticated manufacturing facility, LEEF is poised to lead the charge in the biodiscovery of plant-based wellness solutions. The company's commitment to quality and innovation is reflected in its high-performance product line, which enjoys widespread availability in retail stores nationwide, the Professional Spa channel, and online platforms.

Through its relentless pursuit of excellence, LEEF continues to redefine standards in the cannabis and wellness industries, demonstrating how the fusion of nature, science, and conscientious business practices can pave the way for a healthier, more balanced future.

For more information, visit www.LeefBrands.com

LEEF Organics Launches Well-Kept CBD Infused Honey

Cision

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SOURCE LEEF Organics
Key Insights

Greatech Technology Berhad's estimated fair value is RM4.65 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of RM4.60 suggests Greatech Technology Berhad is potentially trading close to its fair value

Our fair value estimate is 20% lower than Greatech Technology Berhad's analyst price target of RM5.79

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Greatech Technology Berhad (KLSE:GREATEC) as an investment opportunity by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. 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 Greatech Technology Berhad

Crunching The Numbers

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM154.9m RM175.5m RM294.3m RM393.4m RM490.3m RM580.0m RM660.5m RM731.6m RM794.6m RM850.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ 33.67% Est @ 24.63% Est @ 18.30% Est @ 13.87% Est @ 10.77% Est @ 8.60% Est @ 7.08% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 12% RM138 RM140 RM210 RM250 RM278 RM294 RM299 RM296 RM287 RM275

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM2.5b

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.5%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 12%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM851m (1 + 3.5%)  (12% 3.5%) = RM10b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM10b ( 1 + 12%)10= RM3.4b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM5.8b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM4.6, the company appears about fair value at a 1.1% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

KLSE:GREATEC Discounted Cash Flow March 18th 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 Greatech Technology Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 12%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.329. 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 Greatech Technology Berhad

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year is below its 5-year average.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Revenue is forecast to grow slower than 20% per year.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Greatech Technology Berhad, we've compiled three relevant factors you should further research:

Risks: Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Greatech Technology Berhad , and understanding this should be part of your investment process. Future Earnings: How does GREATEC's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
london migration population

Londons population has surged to a new record high after a sharp rise in migration and a reversal of the Covid-era race for space.

New research from think tank Centre for Cities found that the capital had almost certainly surpassed its pre-pandemic peak of 10.1m people in a report that raised concerns about the impact on Londons creaking infrastructure and services.

Thousands of Londoners fled the capital during Covid in a bid to find more spacious accommodation and greenery outside the city.

The citys population fell by 75,500 between mid-2019 and mid-2021  a decline of 0.7pc and equivalent to a town the size of Tunbridge Wells, according to the Centre for Cities.

However, this trend has now reversed, fuelled by a rebound in international migration. Some 66,000 people moved to the capital in 2022, the Centre for Cities said, taking the citys population back to 10.1m and just shy of its pre-pandemic peak.

While figures for 2023 have yet to be published, the think tank said Londons population would have had to rise by just 9,000 people to reach a new record. As a result, the population is now almost certainly higher than its pre-pandemic peak, the Centre for Cities said.

A large increase in international migration explained the majority of the increase over the last two years, the report found.

Net migration to London from overseas in fact remained positive during the pandemic, standing at 38,170 in 2019-20 and 73,660 the following year.

It comes after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said net migration is expected to drive the UK population above 70m by 2026  11 years earlier than previously thought.

Londons rapid growth will fuel concerns that high migration is putting more pressure on the capitals already-strained infrastructure and public services.

Mayor Sadiq Khan is under fire over deteriorating service on the Central Line amid delays to a plan to upgrade ageing trains.

Mr Khan has also been criticised for the failure to build enough new homes in London. On average, the mayor has delivered about 36,000 homes per year since taking office in 2016  well below his goal of 52,000.

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Paul Swinney, director of policy and research at Centre for Cities, said more house building was needed to alleviate a crisis that was evident long before Covid.

The growing population may also put pressure on other public services such as the NHS.

Recent analysis by the Evening Standard found that more than half of patients at the London North West University Healthcare Trust, which operates four hospitals in the capital, were waiting more than 18 weeks for an operation.

Andrew Carter, chief executive of Centre for Cities, said: Londons infrastructure is creaking under the weight of its population.

Policymakers have to shake off any assumption that population changes mean questions over the housing shortage and infrastructure will solve themselves. Nor will smaller, less affluent places see huge influxes of professional workers with greater spending power.

There are big decisions to make like continuing to invest in the public transport network, for example the Bakerloo Line extension and Crossrail 2, so that people can get around.

Concerns about the impact of surging migration on the capital have implications for the country as a whole. London is the biggest engine of economic growth in the UK and Mr Carter warned: Delays to big infrastructure projects and housing delivery will constrain Londons potential.

The capitals share of UK output is expected to stand at 26pc by the end of the decade, according to forecasts from Cambridge Econometrics. Londons share of overall UK employment is also expected to be 18.5pc.

In addition to higher migration, the Centre for Cities said that Londons population growth was being aided by a crackdown on working from home.

Mr Swinney said: We dont know if hybrid working is here to stay, nor how long before the numbers of commuters coming into the city exceed the numbers we saw prior to Covid. But we do know that people have returned for at least some of the week, and numbers are growing.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
When Minnesota Rep. Kristin Bahner left a previous job years ago, a male coworker told her to make sure she was paid what she was worth at her next position.

She asked what he meant, and he informed Bahner that in his quest for a raise, he learned he was already making far more than many of his female colleagues with the same duties.

Bahner eventually learned that her male colleague made about $20,000 more per year, with just one year of service at the company to her five. She managed three teams to his one, she said.

That adds up over the course of a career for an employee who is more likely to care for children, parents and their spouse, she said. If the position had listed a salary range when she applied, Bahner thinks she would have been paid more fairly.

"It was a wake-up call for me," Bahner said. "We know that the gender pay gap is real. We know that it gets wider with age and experience."

So Bahner introduced a bill in the Minnesota Legislature requiring companies with 30 or more employees to disclose salary ranges in job postings. All postings would be required to list the minimum and maximum annual salary or hourly range of compensation, as well as a description of all benefits and other compensation.

Legislators see the bill as complementary to a law passed last year that barred employers from asking candidates for their salary history. That law went into effect on Jan. 1.

"When transparency is available it puts folks on a more level playing field where they are able to have those conversations with a potential employer," Bahner said. "It sets expectations if you know what the bottom of the range is versus the top, and you can ask critical questions."

Though Minnesota has one of the highest rates of women participating in the workforce, the state is 20th in gender wage gaps  with 31 states having smaller gaps. Over a lifetime, the average woman in Minnesota loses $447,960 in wages, according to a report by the Center on Women, Gender and Public Policy at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

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For full-time workers in Minnesota, women earn 82 cents for every dollar that men make. For women of color, that number drops further to 72 cents for Asian American women, 64 cents for Native American women and 57 cents for Latina women, according to a 2024 Women's Foundation of Minnesota report on the Status of Women & Girls+ in Minnesota.

Other states including New York, California and Colorado have passed similar salary transparency laws in recent years.

The reception to the Minnesota bill has been favorable from members of both parties, said Senator Alice Mann, one of three senators signed onto the bill's Senate companion.

"Data shows that it's very easy to comply with. It's not a burden on businesses to do. Not only is it helpful for the employee, it's also very helpful for the employer. They get better-qualified job applicants, they get more job applicants. There's more trust between the two parties when this happens," Mann said.

Once there are gender pay gaps in a company's salary structure, it is more difficult to address them and they perpetuate themselves over time, said Christina Ewig, faculty director of the Center on Women, Gender and Public Policy at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

If a man and a woman, or a white employee and a black employee, come into a company with radically different salaries, percentage-based raises over time will only widen that gap, she said.

Applicants in some states with similar laws have noted that some companies list wide ranges in an effort to circumvent the law, with some job postings including ranges spanning more than $100,000.

"That's not helpful for prospective employees," Ewig said. "When the ranges are really wide, prospective employees have less trust in the organization that they're applying for."

Legislators behind the Minnesota bill plan to add a good faith provision to discourage that, Bahner said.

Though enforcement won't be included in the first iteration of the bill, they hope to give employers time to get used to the new cultural change in job applications, Mann said. But with a tight labor market in Minnesota outpacing the rest of the U.S., both Mann and Bahner expect salary ranges to be a useful recruitment tool.

"I think we're at a place where if you want to attract top talent, you want to attract the best-qualified candidates, transparency is something that those candidates want," Bahner said. "It's something that they are demanding."
MVE + Partners

Led by international architects Liliana Bernardis and Ana Lucia Ramirez, MVEs Guadalajara office will serve clients throughout Mexico and Latin America

MVE + Partners Opens Office in Mexico

: MVE + Partners, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, opens first Latin American office in Guadalajara, Mexico, led by industry leaders Liliana Bernadis and Ana Lucia Ramirez.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MVE + Partners (MVE), a leading architecture, planning, interior design and urban design firm, today announced the opening of MVE Architects Mexico, its first Latin-America-based office in Guadalajara, Mexico. The new studio is ideally located in the hub of the greater Latin American region and will be led by the Director of Mexico Studio, Liliana Bernardis, and Senior Manager, Ana Lucia Ramirez. These two key players bring a combined 37 years of experience to MVE.



As Mexican nationals, and former employees of global architecture and design practices in Mexico, Bernardis and Ramirez were chosen for their expertise in Latin American architecture and connectedness to key players and prospects throughout Mexico and the broader region. Bernardis is member of the Womens Leadership Initiative (WLI) for ULI Mexico. Bernardis notable projects include Guadalajara International Airports Terminal 2, Acuarela master plan, and Luna Luxury Residential Tower in San Pedro, Monterrey, as well as diverse projects in Latin America.

MVEs mission to deliver buildings that are exceptional by design while helping sustainably enrich communities really resonated with me, said Bernardis. Im inspired by MVEs body of work and honored to support the establishment of the first hub in Latin America. MVE brings a unique design approach and point of view to the Latin American community.

The new MVE-designed studio space promotes collaboration and creativity, encouraging teamwork between designers and clients, resulting in innovative ideas and solutions. Other current projects for the Mexico MVE office include the interior design of Silo Park in Utah and the Fashion District Tower in Los Angeles. MVE has worked in Latin America for over 50 years and includes projects in Cabo San Lucas, Puerta Vallarta and Los Cabos, Mexico in addition to Puerto Rico, Costa Rica and Panama. They are currently working on a master plan and mixed-use projects in Central and Northern Mexico.

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So much of MVEs work already exists in Mexico and Latin America. Opening a Guadalajara location just felt like the natural next step, said Matthew McLarand, AIA, NCARB, president, MVE. Having a full-time presence in Mexico enables us to more effectively build, grow and serve clients in the region.

MVEs expansion into Latin America marks yet another milestone in the firms global expansion. In August of 2021, MVE named Principal, Kap Malik, FAIA, to grow the firms projects globally as Director of hospitality/mixed-use and aviation. Malik has been working closely with the Guadalajara team to bring the vision for this office to fruition. Following the grand opening of the new location, Malik will continue to provide strategic guidance, drawing on his 40 years of global industry experience to support business development efforts.

Setting down physical roots for MVE in Latin America is a critical next step toward establishing deeper relationships and credibility in the region, said Malik. Guadalajara is a fast-growing, exciting city with countless opportunities for MVE to continue its legacy of creating aesthetically beautiful and culturally enriching communities beyond the borders of the United States.

The MVE Architects Mexico offices are located at Av. Pablo Neruda No. 2656, Int 101 Col. Providencia C.P. 44630, GDL, JAL.

To learn more about MVEs work in Latin America and beyond, visit their website.

About MVE + Partners

Celebrating 50 years in the industry, MVE + Partners provides architecture, planning, and interiors from its multiple studios across the United States and Mexico to its clients across the globe. MVE + Partners mission is to design with passion, collaborate successfully, and sustainably enrich the communities it influences to continually deliver buildings that are exceptional by design. For more information, please visit their website.

Media Contact:

Holly Jenvey

IDEA HALL

347-781-1512

holly@ideahall.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/66f22707-9fed-4006-9e3f-9320fa0fd55d




Toronto, Canada --News Direct-- Newcore Gold

Newcore Gold (TSX-V:NCAU, OTCQX:NCAUF) CEO Luke Alexander sheds light on the promising future of the Enchi project in Ghana, Africa's leading gold-producing nation and the sixth largest globally, in an interview with Proactive's Angela Harmantas at PDAC 2024.

Alexander said the district-scale exploration project is underpinned by a robust 2021 preliminary economic assessment (PEA), with an update planned for the first half of this year, hinting at an expanded project scope.

Ghana's rich history of gold production, boasting 200 million ounces of historical discoveries and hosting some of the world's largest gold producers, like Newmont, provides a competitive yet promising arena for Newcore Gold.

The company's strategic location and extensive exploration, including a 95,000-meter drilling campaign over three years and multiple resource updates, are expected to culminate in a compelling 2024 PEA.

Amid a strong gold market, Alexander discussed the project's anticipated economic strengths, referring to promising figures from the 2021 PEAa $100 million capex for 100,000 ounces of annual production and an after-tax NPV of $300 million at an $1,850 gold price.

Contact Details

Proactive North America

Proactive North America

+1 604-688-8158

NA-editorial@proactiveinvestors.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/newcore-gold-ceo-shares-insights-on-ghanas-district-scale-gold-project-pdac-2024-240056330
(Bloomberg) -- The Oman Investment Authority is planning an initial public offering of Asyad Group, the sultanates logistics company, as the Gulf nation ramps up its divestment program.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The OIA has asked banks to pitch for the share sale, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified as the information isnt public.

Details on the valuation or timing of the IPO were not immediately available. Representatives for the OIA werent available for comment.

Asyad Group describes itself as a $4 billion enterprise backed by an initial $26 billion in government infrastructure spending. Its assets include deep ports, dry ports, free zones and a fleet of over 80 vessels. It also offers delivery services through Asyad Express.

The move is part of Omans efforts to deepen its capital markets and raise funds. Banks have been invited to pitch for another three IPOs in the Gulf nation since the start of 2024, including state energy company OQ SAOCs exploration and production business and the power utility, Bloomberg News has reported.

Oman, the largest non-OPEC oil producer in the Middle East, is hoping an influx of capital from state asset sales will boost industries such as energy, transport and tourism. Thats part of a broader trend of divestments in the energy-rich region as larger neighbors Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also look to diversify their economies to prepare for a post-oil age.

The OIA has said that its divestment plan may include several dozen listings over the next five years as it chases an upgrade to emerging-market status. Together with Bahrain they are the only countries in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council not classified as emerging markets by MSCI Inc.

Story continues

Last year OQ floated its gas pipelines business in a record $749 million IPO for the country, as well as its oil-drilling unit Abraj Energy Services SAOG. Shares in OQ Gas Networks SAOC have risen 4% from their IPO price while Abraj Energy is trading 27% higher.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Key Insights

UMediC Group Berhad's estimated fair value is RM1.19 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of RM0.65 suggests UMediC Group Berhad is potentially 46% undervalued

When compared to theindustry average discount to fair value of 27%, UMediC Group Berhad's competitors seem to be trading at a lesser discount

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of UMediC Group Berhad (KLSE:UMC) as an investment opportunity by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. 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 UMediC Group Berhad

Is UMediC Group Berhad Fairly Valued?

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM4.30m RM7.60m RM12.6m RM16.8m RM20.8m RM24.5m RM27.9m RM30.8m RM33.4m RM35.8m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 32.96% Est @ 24.14% Est @ 17.96% Est @ 13.63% Est @ 10.60% Est @ 8.49% Est @ 7.00% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 8.6% RM4.0 RM6.4 RM9.8 RM12.0 RM13.8 RM14.9 RM15.6 RM15.9 RM15.9 RM15.7

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM124m

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.5%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.6%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM36m (1 + 3.5%)  (8.6% 3.5%) = RM729m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM729m ( 1 + 8.6%)10= RM319m

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is RM443m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM0.6, the company appears quite good value at a 46% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

KLSE:UMC Discounted Cash Flow March 18th 2024

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at UMediC Group Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For UMediC Group Berhad, we've compiled three relevant elements you should further research:

Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for UMediC Group Berhad (of which 1 is significant!) you should know about. Future Earnings: How does UMC's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Investcorp Capital, an investor in private markets and provider of alternative capital financing services, has raised $800 million in refinancing through a revolving credit facility (RCF) with an international consortium of banks.

The new facility will enable Investcorp Capital to repay an existing $600 million facility to Investcorp Group, which was implemented when the Company listed on the ADX in November 2023.

The new facility was fully underwritten and arranged by five banks: Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC, Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (DIFC Branch), Commercial Bank of Dubai PSC, Gulf International Bank and HSBC Bank Middle East Limited. While the target for the new facility was also $600 million, strong participation interest from major regional and international banks has allowed Investcorp Capital to secure an additional $200 million.

Four-year term

The facility is on a four-year term with a one-year extension option and is at better pricing terms than the existing facility from Investcorp Group.

The financing will be used to build upon the Capital Financing Services (CFS) line of Investcorp Capitals business, which seeds capital for fund launches and provides underwriting deal placement for new business.

Investcorp Capitals H1 2024 earnings results published in February delivered a very strong performance from its CFS business, with a 47% increase in revenues year-on-year.

Endorsement of Investcorp Capital business

The appetite from banks indicates a strong belief in the Investcorp Capital business and its strategy. The company reported a steady performance in its first financial half against a challenging market backdrop and re-committed to delivering a dividend yield of at least 8% per year to shareholders, mostly driven by growth in Net-Asset Value (NAV) from profits generated.

The Chairman of Investcorp Capital, Mohammed Alardhi, commented: Securing financing beyond our initial target is testament to the appeal of Investcorp Capital and a recognition of the potential in the global underwriting market, which is seeing continued momentum in 2024.

Abbas Rizvi, Chief Financial Officer of Investcorp Capital, added: Were delighted to welcome our new business partners to Investcorp Capital. Our CFS business achieved 47% y-o-y growth and, with this successful refinancing at competitive terms, we are well-positioned to grow our business and to deliver solid returns to our stakeholders.--TradeArabia News Service
Key Insights

Wilmar International's estimated fair value is S$4.98 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Current share price of S$3.39 suggests Wilmar International is potentially 32% undervalued

Analyst price target for F34 is US$3.77 which is 24% below our fair value estimate

How far off is Wilmar International Limited (SGX:F34) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

Check out our latest analysis for Wilmar International

The Model

We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

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10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$1.57b US$1.32b US$1.36b US$1.43b US$1.41b US$1.41b US$1.41b US$1.43b US$1.44b US$1.46b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x4 Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Est @ -1.26% Est @ -0.27% Est @ 0.43% Est @ 0.91% Est @ 1.26% Est @ 1.49% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.5% US$1.5k US$1.1k US$1.1k US$1.1k US$984 US$913 US$853 US$801 US$755 US$713

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$9.8b

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.5%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = US$1.5b (1 + 2.1%)  (7.5% 2.1%) = US$28b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$28b ( 1 + 7.5%)10= US$13b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$23b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of S$3.4, the company appears quite undervalued at a 32% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

SGX:F34 Discounted Cash Flow March 18th 2024

The Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Wilmar International 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 7.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.176. 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 Wilmar International

Strength

Debt is well covered by earnings.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Food market.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Singaporean market.

Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value.

Significant insider buying over the past 3 months.

Threat

Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow.

Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the Singaporean market.

Moving On:

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. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For Wilmar International, we've put together three important elements you should consider:

Risks: Be aware that Wilmar International is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 1 of those doesn't sit too well with us... Future Earnings: How does F34's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the SGX 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.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / March 18, 2024 / Pampa Metals Corp. ("Pampa Metals" or the "Company") (CSE:PM)(FSE:FIR)(OTCQB:PMMCF) is pleased to report final assay results for diamond drillhole PIU-01 which was recently completed to a depth of 867m at the Company's Piuquenes Central porphyry target located in San Juan Province, Argentina. Assay results include:

422 m @ 0.48% Cu, 0.61 g/t Au & 2.9 g/t Ag (1.00% CuEq)* (from 198 m);

including 132 m @ 0.71% Cu, 0.85 g/ Au, 4.3 g/t Ag (1.45% CuEq)* (from 220m);

Including 80 m @ 0.6% Cu, 0.77 g/t Au & 3.2 g/t Ag (1.30% CuEq)* (from 468m).

As previously reported, hole PIU-01 was designed to extend Cu-Au mineralization to depth on the southwestern margin of the Piuquenes Central porphyry. Drilling intersected the mineralized intrusion at a downhole depth of 198m as predicted. Supergene copper enrichment was observed from 220m to 380m downhole, coincident, and overlapping with primary mineralization from 350 meters. Strong primary mineralization associated with intense porphyry A type quartz stockwork veining is evident from 350m to approximately 650m. From 650m to the end of hole at 867m quartz veining and mineralization continues, becoming progressively less intense with depth. From 830m disseminated hematite/specularite-pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization is hosted in volcanic host rocks outside the porphyry intrusive and remains open at depth.

Joseph van den Elsen, Pampa Metals President and CEO commented: "We are very pleased to report exceptional intervals of both supergene enriched and primary copper mineralization in the first hole of our maiden drill campaign at the Piuquenes Project. The campaign is achieving its objective of testing the depth and lateral extensions of the previously reported mineralization at Piuquenes Central. Subsequent drill campaigns will also test the undrilled Piuquenes East porphyry target and other nearby targets identified on the property."

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A Company Presentation is available at: www.pampametals.com/investor/presentations

Geology and Mineralization - Diamond Drillhole PIU-01

From surface to 198 m, PIU-01 intersected a fine-grained quartz diorite porphyry with evidence of Intermediate argillic alteration and secondary biotite. Sporadic quartz stockwork veining with disseminated oxidized sulfides are observed from 80 m, becoming more frequent from 150 m deep, coincident with intermineral potassic alteration and anomalous gold values.

Moderate porphyry A-type quartz stockwork veining is present from approximately 150m downhole, increasing in intensity from 220m depth. Supergene copper enrichment is evident from 220m to 380m depth, partially coincident (from 288 m depth) with increasing intensity of porphyry A-type quartz vein stockworks and evidence of intermineral potassic alteration. A narrow zone of copper oxides is observed from 220 - 229m downhole.

Dense porphyry A-type quartz vein stockwork with chalcopyrite and traces of disseminated bornite mineralization hosted in potassic altered diorite porphyry was intersected from 350m to approximately 650 m downhole. From 650m to approximately 740m a zone of moderate intensity quartz veining with lower grade copper-gold mineralization was intersected. Sporadic quartz veining thereafter remains open from 740m to 867m (EOH). From 730m intermediate argillic alteration is present, as is molybdenite, sphalerite and hematite/specularite associated with grey sericite-chlorite veining and fine-grained disseminated chalcopyrite-bornite. From 830m the host-rock is volcanic, superimposed by sericite-chlorite alteration and disseminated hematite/specularite-pyrite-chalcopyrite mineralization, veining and breccias.

Images 1 & 2: Porphyry qtz stockwork veining with oxide copper mineralization (Top) and supergene enrichment (Bottom)

Image 3. Intense Porphyry A type quartz stockwork veining w/primary chalcopyrite mineralization (393-401m)

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD INVESTOR CONTACT

Joseph van den Elsen | President & CEO Joseph van den Elsen | Joseph@pampametals.com

+1 604 347 8777

ABOUT PAMPA METALS

Pampa Metals is a copper-gold exploration company listed on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE:PM), Frankfurt (FSE: FIR), and OTC (OTCQB: PMMCF) exchanges.

In November 2023, the Company announced it had entered into an Option and Joint Venture Agreement for the acquisition of an 80% interest in the Piuquenes Copper-Gold Porphyry Project in San Juan Province, Argentina. Previous intervals of significant copper and gold mineralization at Piuquenes Central (refer 5 December 2023 News Release) include:

413.5 m@ 0.47% Cu, 0.52 g/t Au (0.87% CuEq)* (167-580.5 m); and

558.2 m @ 0.38% Cu, 0.42 g/t Au, 2.4 g/t Ag (0.73% CuEq)* (362-920.2 m EOH)

including 130 m @ 0.81% Cu, 0.6 g/t Au, 4 g/t Ag (1.31 % CuEq)* (362-492 m)

QAQC

PIU-01 drill hole was collared with a PQ drill bit, reduced to HQ and, sequentially, to NQ as the drill hole progressed deeper. Drill core was extracted from the core tubes by the drill contractor under the supervision of Pampa Metals, marked for consistent orientation and placed in core boxes with appropriate depth markers added. Full core boxes were then sealed before being transported by Pampa Metals to the Piuquenes core-cutting facility in Barreal, San Juan. Core was processed, quick logged, checked for recovery, photographed, and marked for assays. Core trays were weighed before being cut using a diamond saw by Pampa Metals. Pampa Metals supervising geologist double-checked the selected two-metre sample intervals, placing the samples in seal bags and ensuring that the same side of the core was consistently sampled. Reference numbers were assigned to each sample and each sample was weighed. The core trays with the remaining half-core were weighed and photographed and stored at the Pampa Metals facility in Barreal. From Barreal samples were sent to the ALS preparation facility in Mendoza, an accredited laboratory which is independent of the Company. Prepared samples were then sent to the ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru for gold (Au-AA23), copper (Cu-OG62), and multi-element ICP (ME-MS61) analysis. No data quality problems were indicated by the QA/QC program.

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been approved by Mario Orrego G. Mr. Orrego G. is a Geologist, a Registered Member of the Chilean Mining Commission and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Orrego G. is a consultant to the Company.

* %CuEq values are calculated based on copper and gold metal prices: Cu = US$3.20/lb, Au = US$1,700/oz and Ag = US$ 20/oz. The formula utilized to calculate %CuEq is: Cu Eq Grade (%) = Cu Head Grade (%) + [(Au Head Grade (g/t) / 31.104) * (Au Price (US$/oz) / Cu Price (US$/lb) / 22.04) + [(Ag Head Grade (g/t) / 31.104) * (Ag Price (US$/oz) / Cu Price (US$/lb) / 22.04.

Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Pampa Metals expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will" or "may" occur. These statements are subject to various risks. Although Pampa Metals believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guaranteeing of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Pampa Metals Corp.







View the original press release on accesswire.com




AERPAW Lake Wheeler field site for drone flight testing and advanced wireless research (Photo: Business Wire)

WASHINGTON, March 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) Project Office announces the significant expansion of AERPAW  the first wireless research platform to study the convergence of 4G/5G technology and autonomous drones  as it launches into a second phase of operations. The testbed now includes four additional wireless towers, a total of eight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and a flight field that is roughly triple the size of the previously covered area. AERPAW has also been designated as an Open Test and Integration Center (OTIC) by the O-RAN ALLIANCE.

Originally launched in 2019 as part of the PAWR program created by the U.S. National Science Foundation, AERPAW is based at North Carolina State University and offers a combination of programmable and commercial wireless infrastructure. Software defined radios (SDRs) enable research with open source software stacks for studying and optimizing the performance of radio signals. Commercial radio equipment from Ericsson enables studies of mid-band spectrum use and provides a robust 5G link for high-throughput communications. Multiple RF sensors from Keysight allow real-time spectrum monitoring and signal classification.

Unique to AERPAW, the wireless testbed brings with it several assets specific to testing drone-based networks. These include custom UAVs, available drone pilots, flight waivers, and an Innovation Zone license for extended spectrum access granted by the Federal Communications Commission.

The AERPAW platform also notably combines an outdoor footprint with a robust digital twin environment. The digital twin is used to emulate radio software, signal traffic generation, and vehicle control. Researchers can develop and run virtual experiments using the AERPAW digital twin, and then seamlessly transfer their software to the real-world outdoor environment.

"The expansion of AERPAW opens up vast new avenues of research," said Ismail Guvenc, AERPAW Principal Investigator, and engineering professor at NC State University. "We can now support studies of dynamic flight optimization, experiments to localize sources of signal interference from the air, and research on the impact of drone orientation, speed, and tilt on network performance. It is possible to run experiments with multiple UAVs at once and to interact with portable radio nodes placed on both drones and unmanned ground vehicles across a wide geographic region."

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There are several ways to leverage the AERPAW platform. Researchers can set up an account to access the digital twin environment, select virtual resources, and either run pre-programmed sample experiments or create code for custom experiments. Once an experiment is completed in the digital twin, users can work with the AERPAW team to execute it with live resources in the outdoor testbed. AERPAW also offers an experiment-as-a-service model. This approach provides more flexibility for researchers who want to design their own live UAV experiments  either with or without their own additional equipment and software  but requires more significant investment and engagement with the AERPAW team.

"The PAWR platforms cover a diverse set of geographies and research domains, and we are inspired by what AERPAW has added in this expansion phase," said Ellen Zegura, division director for NSFs Division of Computer and Network Systems. "The tight coupling between AERPAWs digital twin and its outdoor testbed provide unique opportunities for interdisciplinary research. By hosting emulation software for both radio signaling and vehicle control, AERPAW is enabling sophisticated modeling alongside the resources for real-world testing. It is a game-changer for development in the fields of wireless networking and unmanned aerial systems."

In addition to AERPAW, PAWR wireless testbeds include POWDER in Salt Lake City, Utah; COSMOS in New York City; and ARA in Ames, Iowa. The PAWR program also includes Colosseum, the worlds largest radiofrequency emulator, located in Boston.

For more information on AERPAW, visit https://aerpaw.org/. For more information on the PAWR program, visit, https://advancedwireless.org/.

About the PAWR Project Office (PPO)

The Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research Project Office (PPO) manages the $100 million public-private partnership and oversees the research platforms. The PPO is co-led by US Ignite and Northeastern University, and funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and PAWR industry consortium. The PPO collaborates closely with the wireless research community, local communities, and industry, in part through the industry consortium, in the design, development, deployment, and initial operations of the research platforms.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318408552/en/

Contacts

Danielle Leopold Bogage

dleopold@glenechogroup.com
PNC (PNC) CEO Bill Demchak is not happy that he is still paying for the March 2023 banking crisis.

The boss of the nations sixth-largest bank recently learned that PNC Financial Services Group will have to shell out another $130 million to the FDIC to cover losses associated with the seizures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank  on top of $515 million it already paid in the fourth quarter.

Other large banks are also seeing their bills rise as they are asked to pay $4 billion more to replenish the FDICs insurance fund.

"Im a little bit raw at the moment," Demchak said in an interview with Yahoo Finance. "We just upped the size of the check we are paying to the FDIC because they didn't do their job."

William Demchak, CEO of PNC Financial Services Group, testifies before a House committee in 2022. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Tom Williams via Getty Images)

The rising FDIC payout is the latest of many lessons Demchak is still learning from the 2023 regional banking tumult.

It turned out to be a seminal experience for PNC, but not because it ran into trouble. It didnt. In fact, PNC tried to play the role of rescuer by bidding for the assets of the failed First Republic last May.

Instead, the fallout from the events of a year ago convinced the banks boss that a lot has to change  in Washington, D.C., and at Pittsburgh-based PNC.

US regulators, he said, need to do more to prevent banks from going down, do a better job at handling failures, and make it easier for regional banks to get bigger so they can compete with the giants of the industry.

That way all of the power isnt concentrated in the hands of JPMorgan Chase (JPM) and Bank of America (BAC).

Such a scenario, with two banks looming over the rest of the industry, will result in a "20-year train wreck" for the country, he said, because he views such concentration as bad for US economic activity and the consumer.

William Demchak, left, sits next to the bosses of the biggest banks in the US during a 2022 hearing in Washington: JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, and Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) (Alex Wong via Getty Images)

Demchak now wants PNC to evolve, too, so its no longer considered a regional bank. That means getting bigger on its own, organically or through acquisitions, and by establishing a coast-to-coast brand without straying from its roots as a plain-vanilla lender.

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To that end, PNC is spending $1 billion on 100 new branches throughout the US and renovating nearly half of its existing 2,300 locations.

It is also rolling out an ad campaign Monday that positions PNC as a "boring" bank that helps customers and businesses build wealth without taking giant risks.

"Surprises," begins the slogan of one ad. "Good for parties. Bad for banking."

'Too big to fail used to be a scarlet letter'

Demchak has not been shy about expressing his views in recent months, triggering a new debate within the industry about the place of mid-sized banks and arguing that "scale matters" like never before.

Corporate depositors, he said, no longer trust US regulators to keep all banks safe, and these customers will likely migrate to national giants with implied government backing.

"'Too big to fail' used to be a scarlet letter. Now, it's a good thing," said Demchak. Last March when "corporations somehow realized, Hey, my money's at risk, all that money flowed uphill to the big banks and I just don't think it's ever going to flow back,'" he added.

PNC has in the past used acquisitions to get bigger during times of industry-wide stress. During the 2008 financial crisis, it was encouraged by the US government to buy Cleveland rival National City for $5.2 billion, which basically doubled its size.

PNC's name is everywhere in its headquarters city of Pittsburgh, including the park where the Pittsburgh Pirates play baseball. (Matt Brown/Angels Baseball LP/Getty Images) (Matt Brown via Getty Images)

Demchak arrived at PNC, a bank based in the area where he grew up, when he was 40  after working on Wall Street for JPMorgan in the 1990s. He served as PNCs CFO and head of corporate and institutional banking before becoming CEO in 2013.

He has since used more acquisitions over the last decade to establish a foothold in nearly every top metro area in the country.

His last was a $11.6 billion deal for the US operations of Spanish banking giant BBVA that closed in 2021. PNC now has roughly $557 billion in assets, well behind the $3.4 trillion held by JPMorgan.

A 'pretty flawed process'

The CEO tried last year to get even bigger. PNC was asked by the FDIC to submit a bid to acquire the operations of San Francisco lender First Republic, which would have given it a much larger foothold on the West Coast.

PNC put together a bid with money manager BlackRock (BLK) and private equity giant Apollo, and was willing to act as agent between the companies and FDIC. (Disclosure: Yahoo Finance is owned by Apollo Global Management.)

But it lost that auction in the early hours of May 1 to JPMorgan, the nations biggest and most profitable lender.

"The process was pretty flawed," he said. "Part of me thinks right now, we'll never try again."

A First Republic branch in New York City before the bank was seized and sold to JPMorgan. (Shannon Stapleton/REUTERS) (REUTERS / Reuters)

His deal, he said, "would have saved the FDIC a lot of money" and "I'm a believer that they should have figured a way to get outside non-bank capital into the process to buy some of those assets."

But the FDIC has "just never done that before and they need to build a process to allow that to happen."

Does PNC want to become the next JPMorgan? No, Demchak said. He does want it to compete with the coast-to-coast giants for traditional banking business across the country, but he doesnt want PNC to spread into Wall Street businesses such as trading or lending to hedge funds or to become a multinational lender.

"Its a lot smaller than being a JPMorgan and importantly, very different," he said.

PNC recently elevated Mike Lyons as Demchaks potential successor, naming Lyons as president. But the 61-year-old Demchak said he still has no plans of retiring.

"I'm not going anywhere. Ive got a lot to do."

David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking, crypto, and other areas in finance.

Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
PPG Automotive Refinish honors Tasco Auto Color as the 2023 Platinum Distributor of the Year. Pictured left to right are Tom Maziarz, PPG vice president, automotive refinish Americas, David Abrahams, President, Tasco Auto Color, Lee Martinez, Vice President, Tasco Auto Color, Chancey Hagerty, PPG vice president, Global Automotive Refinish. (Photo: Business Wire)

PITTSBURGH, March 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PPG (NYSE: PPG) today announced that it has recognized Tasco Auto Color of Houston, Texas as its Automotive Refinish 2023 Platinum Distributor of the Year. The award recognizes distributors with exceptional service, loyalty, product knowledge and support as part of the PPG PLATINUM DISTRIBUTOR program. It is the third time Tasco Auto Color has received the award.

Natalie Scott, PPG director, PPG Platinum Distributor program, U.S. and Canada, Automotive Refinish, presented the award to Tasco Auto Color president David Abrahams and vice-president Lee Martinez during PPGs annual Platinum Distributor Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony, held last month in California.

"Tasco Auto Color's unwavering dedication, expertise, and steadfast commitment to excellence has distinguished it as an industry leader," said Scott. ""David, Lee and the teams exceptional qualities have rightfully earned them the prestigious title of 2023 Platinum Distributor of The Year. Congratulations to the entire Tasco Auto Color organization for this well-deserved honor, a testament to its outstanding contributions and enduring partnership."

Tasco Auto Color offers a full line of PPG automotive refinish and commercial coatings products. The company was first named PPGs Platinum Distributor of the Year in 2005 and was recognized again in 2016. The 2023 award makes it the first company to receive the award three times.

"We have been truly blessed with the best people and the best clients," said Abrahams. "To be named Platinum Distributor of the Year for a third time is indicative of the strength and longevity of our partnership with PPG. Our combined teams are truly focused on making our clients better in every facet of their businesses. When our clients are winning, they make us look awful good."

The PPG Platinum Distributor program started as a loyalty and support initiative for PPG single-line distributors, aiming to provide outstanding performance, service and benefits to PPG automotive refinish customers. The program delivers competitive advantages to participants by aligning PPG's technology, training and customer support with entrepreneurship, customer awareness, local market knowledge and the service capability of independent distributors.

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To learn more about PPG automotive refinish and the PPG Platinum Distributor program, call 1 800 647 6050, or visit www.ppgrefinish.com.

PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD

At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 140 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $18.2 billion in 2023. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

PPG Platinum Distributor the PPG Logo and We Protect and Beautify the World are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

PPG Automotive Refinish honors Tasco Auto Color as the 2023 Platinum Distributor of the Year. Pictured left to right are Tom Maziarz, PPG vice president, automotive refinish Americas, David Abrahams, President, Tasco Auto Color, Lee Martinez, Vice President, Tasco Auto Color, Chancey Hagerty, PPG vice president, Global Automotive Refinish.

CATEGORY Automotive Refinish

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318259036/en/

Contacts

PPG Media Contact:

Samantha Allen

Automotive Refinish

+1 440 334 3164

www.ppg.com
KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images/iStockphoto

U.S. home buyers who have had to deal with soaring home prices in recent years might soon see things go in a different direction following a lawsuit settlement that could cut out-of-pocket costs by tens of thousands of dollars. The $418 million settlement was reached early Friday, March 15, by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). As The New York Times reported, the agreement includes eliminating the 6% sales commission that has long been a standard in the housing industry.

Learn More: 5 Types of Homes That Will Plummet in Value in 2024

Find Out: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

Lawyers expect the settlement to be filed within weeks, according to The New York Times, which obtained a copy of the signed agreement. After that, it will still need to be approved by a federal court. The deal effectively ends a multitude of legal claims from home sellers who argued that the rules forced them to pay excessive fees.

Housing experts told the NYT that the agreement could trigger one of the most significant jolts in the U.S. housing market in a century.

This will blow up the market and would force a new business model, said Norm Miller, a professor emeritus of real estate at the University of San Diego.

Read Next: 6 Florida Cities Where Million-Dollar Homes Are Becoming Way More Common

Americans pay around $100 billion in real estate commissions a year, the NYT reported, and U.S. real estate agents have some of the highest standard commissions in the world. While commissions in many other countries are usually between 1% and 3%, the standard in the U.S. is 5% to 6%. On a $400,000 home, the difference can add up to as much as $20,000.

According to the Housing Wire website, the NAR agreement also eliminates all fields displaying broker compensation on Multiple Listing Services and puts a blanket ban on the requirement that agents subscribe to MLSs in the first place in order to offer or accept compensation for their work.

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Economists told The New York Times that total commissions could now be reduced by as much as 30%, which would reduce home prices across the board. The ultimate impact could resemble what happened in the travel industry following the emergence of online broker sites such as Expedia and Kayak.

The forces of competition will be let loose, Benjamin Brown, co-chairman of the antitrust practice at Cohen Milstein and one of the lawyers who hammered out the settlement, told the NYT. Youll see some new pricing models and some new and creative ways to provide services to home buyers. Itll be a really exciting time for the industry.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Realtors Agree to 6% Commission Cut  Heres How Much It Will Save Home Buyers
Latest predictions see shisha industry growing by 55.28% to reach over 32 million users by 2026

While cigarette smoking has seen a decline in use by 21%, signalling a shift in preferences towards alternative experiences

Tech innovations in the shisha sector are responding to this growth in demand for cleaner, more sustainable experiences

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research reveals a significant decline in cigarette smoking and a substantial surge in shisha users over the past 12 months in the USA, Germany, Spain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Iraq.

The data from AIR Globals latest research in these markets has found cigarette smoking has decreased by a fifth (21%), signalling a shift in preferences towards alternative options. This decline aligns seamlessly with an increasing interest in shisha:

An average of 18.5% new users in 2023, contributing to the growth in the number of shisha users, which has now reached 20.8 million.

This surge is predicted to drive the industry towards 24.6m shisha users in 2024, an increase of 18.27%, and 32.3 million shisha users by 2026, reflecting an increase of 55.28%.

The global shisha market, currently valued at $19 billion, is projected to expand to $22 billion by 2026.

This surge in demand for shisha is fuelled by a growing appetite for more innovative and cleaner products.

OOKA, launched last year by AIR Global, is the world's first charcoal-free, pod-based shisha device. It eliminates carbon monoxide production and offers a 94% reduction in harmful chemicals, making it a reduced-risk product for users and the environment. The success of OOKA since its launch in UAE in May 2023 is evident, with the first devices selling out in under a month and sales continuing to outperform expectations, highlighting the strong consumer demand for this revolutionary product.

Ronan Barry, Chief Legal and Corporate Affairs Officer at AIR Global added: "Were seeing a huge surge in popularity of shisha, and a key part of this growth is down to people wanting to enjoy cleaner, sociable experiences. Were also seeing a heightened awareness of eco-conscious choices among consumers which is underscoring the evolving landscape of inhalation preferences. Shisha is the emerging frontrunner in meeting these demands of a more health-conscious and environmentally aware global population.

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"As shisha market leaders, AIR Global is dedicated to redefining the shisha experience which led to the launch of OOKA  the world's first charcoal-free pod-based shisha device. This innovation, a result of years of hard work by the AIR Global R&D team, removes harmful toxicants and streamlines setup. OOKA is a game-changer, offering a sleeker, cleaner, and more enjoyable shisha experience to meet the needs of this growing market."

This rising popularity of shisha not only mirrors a shift in smoking preferences but also reflects a broader societal move towards sustainability. The creation of OOKA is a transformative milestone for both AIR Global and the wider shisha industry, aligning with global endeavours for cleaner and more responsible consumption.

Note to editors:

Advanced Inhalation Rituals (AIR Global) commissioned research with a representative sample of 14,326 adults across USA, Spain, Germany, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq between May and July 2023.

How to use OOKA: https://www.ooka.com

Detach the device into two parts to allow the water to be inserted to the fill line in the bottom. Re-attach the top half with a small click and add the hose. Remove freshness seals from OOKA shisha pods and insert into the top. Press the power button once to wake up OOKA, and press and hold again until power button lights up. OOKA will heat up to the optimal temperature for flavour enhancement, indicated by a pulsing amber light turning solid. Air flow adjustor nozzle on pipe can be twisted to change draw pressure. OOKA can be enjoyed for up to 70 minutes with one pod, and can be paused for up to 10 minutes.

ABOUT AIR (ADVANCED INHALATION RITUALS) https://air.global

Advanced Inhalation Rituals is the market leader in the $19 billion global shisha market, with an aim to provide superior physical, emotional and mental benefits through inhalation. Launched in 1999 and headquartered in Dubai, the business has a multinational presence in over 100 countries across the UAE, Europe, North America, India, and Africa.

Advanced Inhalation Rituals holds 47% of the shisha category market share in the markets it is present it and is the leading business in a market set to grow to $22 billion in 2026. Its portfolio of companies includes Al Fakher, the worlds leading shisha brand; Hookah-Shisha.com, the worlds number one e-commerce platform for hookahs and shisha; Shisha Kartel, a Dubai-based shisha manufacturer; and Shisha.com, a global online community of shisha and hookah users. Advanced Inhalation Rituals science program, conducted in partnership with independent accredited laboratories, enables the development innovative products that combine centuries of tradition with cutting edge innovation to minimise harm and maximise enjoyment for millions around the world. The business has consistently outperformed competitors growing at 3x the market rate over the last 10 years, due to heavy investment in innovation, product, and user experience.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240201216990/en/

Contacts

Matylda Kesicka

airglobal@boldspace.com
Denticos Italian Villa was a restaurant on Culver Road in Rochester that specialized in tradition and hearty Italian food.

Owner Jerry Dentico began a well-traveled culinary career at his fathers Alexander Street restaurant, which, for a time, also carried the family name. After working in several local restaurants, the younger Dentico opened his own place at the former site of the long-established LaScalas restaurant.

Denticos had a cozy feel and a dining room described as having a wine cellar esthetic, its walls lined with maps of Italy and paintings of Mediterranean scenery. The place even took a stand for old-school dining etiquette.

I loved that they had signs up telling people to stay off their cellphones way back then, Gina Marie of Bristol, Ontario County, posted on Facebook. She celebrated her 21st or 22nd birthday at Denticos and shared memories of amazing eggplant ravioli, Frank Sinatra tunes.

Dentico's Italian Villa continued family tradition

Dentico's Italian Villa was located near Culver Road and Norton Street in Rochester.

Denticos opened in 1996 at 2270 Culver Road, at the corner of Norton Street. The place had recently become available when LaScalas, which had been there since 1960, closed.

A newspaper review called the opening of Denticos a homecoming for its owner. Dentico grew up in the neighborhood, Kathy Lindsley wrote in the Democrat and Chronicle, and he liked LaScalas food and location and was continuing a decades-long family tradition.

Anthony P. Dentico, Jerrys father, had run downtown restaurants on East Main Street and on West Main Street before moving to the Medical Arts Building on Alexander Street by the 60s. The places were called Dennys Restaurant and had soda fountains.

The one on Alexander was eventually rechristened Denticos, and Jerry was running the business by the time his father died in 1977. Franklin Giancola of Rochester posted Facebook memories of that location.

It was originally called Dennys, and was more of a diner, Giancola wrote. When the chain Dennys came into the city, they forced them to change the name.

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The menu apparently changed, too. A 1978 ad mentioned Denticos specializing in veal, pastas, seafoods and steaks, with businessmans lunches daily.

Within a few years, Jerry Dentico was general manager of Eddies Chop House, a well-loved downtown restaurant. He later worked at Raffles on Stillson Street, Vesuvios on University Avenue, DaVincis in Greece and Fountain Lites in Gates. Next up, in 1996, was his own place, Denticos.

Diner's raved over Dentico's food, portions and prices

Martha Farabel serves up a lunch of greens and beans and fettucine alfredo to Linda and Joe LaTempa at the popular Dentico's Italian Villa in Rochester on Nov. 5, 2007.

Lindsley wrote in the newspaper review that Dentico spruced up the interior of the former LaScalas with new wall coverings, carpeting and lighting. A full bar was separated from the dining area. Its brighter, and just a tad more elegant, she wrote. Denticos opened without much fanfare, but customers have found their way there.

Kenn Mastrodonato of Penfield was among them. He called Denticos a friendly neighborhood Italian restaurant with some of the best veal around. We used to break my Mas chops and order the macaroni and meatballs because we said the meatballs were better than hers! Mastrodonato posted on Facebook.

Others on Facebook raved about the carbonara sauce, the bread, the Haddock French, old-fashioned service and generous portions at good prices. A 2000 Democrat and Chronicle review by Deborah Fineblum Raub quoted a regular customer who said of the Friday-night fish fry, It looks like a whale. A plates not big enough. They have to use a platter.

Denticos started offering Monday-night clambakes and Wednesday barbecue nights in the summer. Within a few years, the summer specials changed to include steak cookouts on Mondays and the clambakes were moved to Wednesdays.

Karen Deyle wrote in a 2007 Democrat and Chronicle review of the small touches that made Denticos special. They included olive oil, used for bread dipping, that was seasoned with fresh herbs and garlic, and black olives in sauces that were not canned but instead a briny Italian variety.

One of the servers was a native of Venice. The authenticity carried over to the desserts, with all the cakes made by the restaurants 65-year-old bus person. Deyle also mentioned the sign asking diners to be considerate and take cellphone calls outside the dining room.

The end come for Dentico's

The restaurant has no website, does little advertising, but has a loyal following, and now I know why, Deyle wrote. But the end would come soon for Denticos.

By 2008, and then again in 2009, Denticos was listed among several properties and property owners owing back taxes. The published ads never appeared again, and Denticos closed as it had opened, without much fanfare.

The building at the corner of Culver and Norton remains vacant. Fond memories are all that remain of Denticos Italian Villa.

Alan Morrell is a former Democrat and Chronicle reporter and a Rochester-area freelance writer.

This story was originally published in March 2019.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Dentico's Italian Villa was a popular restaurant on Culver Road
Many of the US-based pharmaceutical companies use SCHOTT syriQ prefillable glass syringes as a leading choice for vaccines, biologics, and GLP-1 medications. (Photo: Business Wire)

SCHOTT TOPPAC prefillable polymer syringes allow for deep cold storage of drugs at -80C, enabling administration of mRNA vaccines and other biologic therapies. (Photo: Business Wire)

Rendering of new planned SCHOTT Pharma manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina. (Photo: Business Wire)

With $371 million investment, new site to add over 400 jobs to the region

First U.S. manufacturing facility to fill demand for domestic supply of glass and polymer prefillable syringes that deliver mRNA, GLP-1, and other therapies

RYE BROOK, N.Y., March 18, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SCHOTT Pharma plans to make Wilson, North Carolina home to its newest site. The investment is supported by $21 million in state and local incentive awards and will expand SCHOTT Groups presence in the United States, a strategic market in its growth plan.

SCHOTT Pharma, a pioneer in pharmaceutical drug containment solutions and delivery systems, will build the first U.S. facility to manufacture prefillable polymer syringes required to meet the need for deep-cold storage and transportation of mRNA medications. In addition, the site will have the capability to produce glass prefillable syringes for GLP-1 therapies, for example to treat diseases such as diabetes or obesity. The project will add 401 jobs to the region and include a total investment of $371 million, with groundbreaking expected by the end of 2024, and projected operations starting in 2027.

The new site will expand the U.S. supply chain for in-demand syringes that deliver lifesaving injectable medicines, vaccines, and other fields of applications, allowing SCHOTT Pharma to triple its contribution of glass and polymer syringes to the U.S. market by 2030. Bringing production to the U.S. will reduce lead times and slash transportation costs, as well as protect against future shortages of critical drugs and ensure pandemic preparedness.

"As drug manufacturers develop and expand the use of mRNA, GLP-1, and other biologic therapies that require precise drug stability and storage properties, SCHOTT Pharma will be able to fill those orders quickly and efficiently here in the U.S.," said Andreas Reisse, CEO of SCHOTT Pharma. "The impact of this facility will go far beyond local job creation in North Carolina and will relieve stress on the entire pharmaceutical industry supply chain."

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The top 30 global pharma companies and more than 1,800 customers rely on SCHOTT Pharma containers and systems, including the U.S. and global leaders in the pharmaceutical and biotech categories. Many of these companies have designated SCHOTT Pharma as a critical supplier of one or more of the most essential components within their supply chain. On average, more than 25,000 injections per minute are provided to patients worldwide through a product produced by SCHOTT Pharma.

"Wilson County stood out in a nationwide search for a number of reasons, particularly for its favorable pool of local talent and its proximity to the Research Triangle area, which hosts numerous universities, healthcare companies, and biopharma resources," said Christopher Cassidy, President of SCHOTT North America. "Expanding operations in the U.S. addresses rapidly growing demand for our high-value solutions."

"North Carolinas pro-growth and low-tax policies, along with the $40 million investment in the new biologics training facility at Wilson Community College, are paying off for Wilson County and the BioPharma Crescent," said North Carolina Senator Buck Newton. "SCHOTT Pharmas $371 million capital investment and 401 high-wage jobs will strengthen our local economy. We look forward to a long and successful future for them here in Wilson."

For over two decades, SCHOTT Pharma has been manufacturing vials at its Lebanon, PA, facility, serving as a reliable partner for the pharmaceutical industry. Being that the U.S. is a key strategic market for the entire SCHOTT Group, the company underwent a nationwide site selection process for a campus-like property to serve further growth opportunities. While SCHOTT is not guaranteeing additional investment to support other markets at this time, the site in Wilson, North Carolina offers the possibility of future expansion.

The project location is contingent on final real estate negotiations. SCHOTT Pharma partnered with several organizations throughout the project, including the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the North Carolina General Assembly, the North Carolina Community College System, Commerces Division of Workforce Solutions, Wilson County, the City of Wilson, the Wilson Economic Development Council, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, and the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center at North Carolina State University.

About SCHOTT Pharma

Human health matters. That is why SCHOTT Pharma designs solutions grounded in science to ensure that medications are safe and easy to use for people around the world. The portfolio comprises drug containment solutions and delivery systems for injectable drugs ranging from pre-fillable glass and polymer syringes to cartridges, vials, and ampoules. Every day, a team of over 4,600 people from over 60 nations works at SCHOTT Pharma to contribute to global healthcare. The company is represented in all main pharmaceutical hubs with 16 manufacturing sites in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. With over 1,000 patents and technologies developed in-house and a state-of-the-art R&D center in Switzerland, the company is focused on developing innovations for the future. SCHOTT Pharma AG & Co. KGaA is headquartered in Mainz, Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as part of the SDAX. It is part of SCHOTT AG, which is owned by the Carl Zeiss Foundation. In light of this spirit, SCHOTT Pharma is committed to sustainable development for society and the environment and has the strategic goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030. Currently, SCHOTT Pharma has over 1,800 customers including the top 30 leading pharma manufacturers for injectable drugs and generated revenue of EUR 899 million in the fiscal year 2023. Further information at schott-pharma.com.

About SCHOTT

International technology group SCHOTT produces high-quality components and advanced materials, including specialty glass, glass-ceramics, and polymers. Many SCHOTT products have high-tech applications that push technological boundaries, such as flexible glass in foldable smartphones, glass-ceramic mirror substrates in the world's largest telescopes, and laser glass in nuclear fusion. With their pioneering spirit, approximately 17,100 SCHOTT employees in over 30 countries work as partners to industries such as healthcare, home appliances, consumer electronics, semiconductors, optics, astronomy, energy, and aerospace. In fiscal year 2023, SCHOTT generated 3 billion USD in sales. In addition to innovation, one of its important corporate goals is sustainability, where it is pursuing climate neutral production by 2030. SCHOTT was founded in 1884 and is headquartered in Mainz, Germany. The company belongs to the Carl Zeiss Foundation, which uses its dividends to promote science. Further information at schott.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318311726/en/

Contacts

Rina Della Vecchia

SCHOTT North America

rina.dellavecchia@us.schott.com



Matt McLoughlin

Gregory FCA

matt@gregoryfca.com
(Bloomberg) -- Satellites sitting more than 22,200 miles (35,700 kilometers) above the Earths surface have been capturing storms and weather data for decades. Now, scientists have essentially hacked the data coming back for another purpose: spotting methane emissions.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The innovation could have far-reaching consequences for fossil fuel operators unable or unwilling to halt major methane releases because it allows researchers to observe emissions every five minutes and estimate the total amount emitted. The approach, which uses shortwave infrared observations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), can detect large-emitting events of around tens of metric tons an hour or larger.

Satellites observe concentrations of methane from space by analyzing the way sunlight reflects off the Earth. As light passes through a cloud of the gas, its intensity is weakened on certain wavelengths. Methane absorbs light in the short-wave infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Although the GOES system wasnt built to detect methane, its sensor includes short-wave infrared channels designed to observe things like snow cover and fire hot spots.

The new technique is already being used by geoanalytics firms and scientists to quantify major emissions events in North America. Kayrros SAS used the approach to estimate that a fossil gas pipeline spewed about 840 metric tons of methane into the atmosphere after it was ruptured by a farmer using an excavator. Thats very close to the 50.9 million cubic feet of gas operator Williams Cos. said leaked, which works out to about 900 metric tons of methane. The short-term climate impact of the event was roughly equal to the annual emissions from 17,000 US cars.

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Read more: Regulators Probe Why Williams Took More Than an Hour to Halt a Methane Leak

The new approach, which was executed for the first time last year by scientists at Harvard University, enables near continuous, real-time coverage and contrasts with all other satellites currently used to detect methane, which are in low-Earth orbit and snap images as they circumnavigate the globe at speeds of around 17,000 miles per hour, only allowing scientists to estimate emission rates.

GOES can detect brief releases that the other satellites miss, and it can trace detached plumes back to their sources, said Daniel Varon, a research associate at Harvard Universitys Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling Group who first proposed the concept in 2022. It can also quantify total release mass and duration, rather than just instantaneous estimates of emission rate.

The innovation comes at a critical moment in the fight against climate change as governments come under pressure to deliver aggressive action following the hottest year on record and nine consecutive months with record-high monthly temperatures. Fossil fuels are the second largest source of methane emissions generated by human activities, following only agriculture. Most policy makers and scientists say cutting accidental leaks and intentional releases from oil, coal and gas is the fastest, cheapest way to drive down temperatures in the short term.

More than 150 nations have joined the Global Methane Pledge and vowed to cut releases of the greenhouse gas 30% by the end of this decade from 2020 levels. At COP28 in Dubai last year, 50 oil and gas companies pledged to stem releases of methane, including Exxon Mobil Corp. and Saudi Arabias Aramco.

Read more: Orbiting Methane Speed Cameras Are Catching Polluters in the Act

The breakthrough is the latest in a series from a group of young scientists affiliated with Harvard University, the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain and the United Nations International Methane Emissions Observatory that have rapidly expanded researchers ability to spot leaks using a wide range of satellites not originally designed to track methane.

The innovative technique shows the accelerating pace at which detection and quantification of methane releases is happening and most importantly, highlights the potential to use existing technology/satellites already deployed to improve detection and quantification and tackle the temporal variability of methane emissions, said Maria-Olivia Torcea, an analyst with BloombergNEF.

Although low-Earth orbiting satellites can cover most of the planet, the frequency with which they pass over a given location can be 24 hours or longer. Because they orbit at much lower altitudes, their sensors typically offer higher resolution and can identify much smaller leaks than the GOES system. The gap in frequency of observations, though, mean scientists can typically only estimate emissions rates from the instruments.

There are limitations to the GOES system, too, which offers coverage of the Americas and part of West Africa. The Harvard scientists are also working with researchers at space agencies in Europe and Japan to see if the technique can be applied to the Meteosat Third Generation and Himawari 8 satellite missions.

Marc Watine Guiu was a visiting master student at Harvard when he made the first methane observation using GOES last year and worked with Varon and IMEO scientist Itziar Irakulis Loitxate on a paper that was published in December describing the approach. The scientists quantified a methane leak they said came from the El Encino-La Laguna pipeline that transports fossil gas in Mexico.

Crucially, the breakthrough could bolster regulators efforts to hold fossil fuel emitters accountable for some of the worlds most damaging and avoidable emissions, which historically have been self-reported by operators.

One unique capability we have from geostationary orbit is to quantify the total duration and methane mass of very large releases, said Harvards Varon. It would be possible to audit industry reports of very large methane releases with this technology.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) has signed a Collaboration Agreement with the Registration Authority (RA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to support the business and investment environment in Abu Dhabi.

This agreement will further develop the private sector and financial services ecosystem in the Emirate, while supporting national economic diversification in alignment with the directives of Abu Dhabi Government.

The Collaboration Agreement constitutes an extension and update to the partnership agreement signed between ADCCI and the RA in 2018 to extend their collaboration to align with the latest developments and the changing requirements of the dynamic business environment in Abu Dhabi. This includes provisions related to registration and licensing procedures free zone companies, as well as facilitating their membership with the Chamber.

Exchange of information

Additionally, the agreement outlines their collaboration in areas such as the exchange of information, statistical data sharing, economic reports, expertise collaboration, marketing initiatives and media engagement.

Furthermore, both parties commit to organising conferences and forums to foster dialogue and enhance business opportunities.

The agreement was signed by Ahmed Khalifa Al Qubaisi, CEO of ADCCI, and Hamad Sayah Al Mazrouei, CEO of ADGM Registration Authority, at the Chambers headquarters, in the presence of a number of officials from both sides.

Al Qubaisi said: By expanding the framework of partnership and cooperation with Abu Dhabi Global Market, the Abu Dhabi Chamber aims to enhance its contribution to advancing comprehensive and sustainable development in Abu Dhabi. This strategic collaboration aligns with the Emirates economic diversification strategies, by supporting the private business community in its various sectors. Furthermore, it contributes to establishing a modern and competitive financial and business environment, reinforcing Abu Dhabis position as a global economic and financial hub that attracts private investment companies.

Financial services sector

The financial services sector represents one of the vital and leading sectors in the Abu Dhabi economic system. Abu Dhabi Global Market, one of the largest financial institutes in the world, serves as a powerful motivator for us. We are committed to providing all the necessary support, facilitations, and innovative solutions that enhance the growth and success of companies specialising in financial services, technology, and asset management that are operating in the market.

As the primary supporter of the private sector in the Emirate, our efforts contribute to attracting more companies and foreign direct investments to the market, and making the Emirate the first choice in the Middle East and North Africa region in terms of doing business by the year 2025, Al Qubaisi added.

Al Mazrouei said: We aim to foster an ecosystem that not only enhances the ease of doing business but also cultivates a thriving community in Abu Dhabi, bolstering its growing economy. Working with well-embedded entities in Abu Dhabi, such as the ADCCI opens doors to countless opportunities across diverse business clusters and expands the horizon of ADGMs value proposition for entities looking to set up here, in a dynamic, progressive, and unparalleled business environment attracting FDI.

Through the agreement, the two sides also seek to explore opportunities and possibilities to integrate their registration systems as well as cooperate in transferring technical, organisational, and institutional expertise to help achieve their shared goals and visions.--TradeArabia News Service
Generally speaking long term investing is the way to go. But that doesn't mean long term investors can avoid big losses. For example, after five long years the Seven West Media Limited (ASX:SWM) share price is a whole 63% lower. That's not a lot of fun for true believers. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 56% in the last year. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 24% in the last 90 days.

Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns.

See our latest analysis for Seven West Media

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Seven West Media became profitable within the last five years. Most would consider that to be a good thing, so it's counter-intuitive to see the share price declining. Other metrics may better explain the share price move.

Revenue is actually up 1.1% over the time period. A more detailed examination of the revenue and earnings may or may not explain why the share price languishes; there could be an opportunity.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

ASX:SWM Earnings and Revenue Growth March 17th 2024

Seven West Media is a well known stock, with plenty of analyst coverage, suggesting some visibility into future growth. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts

A Different Perspective

Investors in Seven West Media had a tough year, with a total loss of 56%, against a market gain of about 15%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 10% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. 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. For instance, we've identified 4 warning signs for Seven West Media (2 shouldn't be ignored) that you should be aware of.

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We will like Seven West Media better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

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.
(Bloomberg) -- Starbucks Corp. announced changes to its regional executive structure as part of its aggressive expansion efforts.

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Michael Conway, previously the international president and head of the companys consumer-packaged goods segment, becomes chief executive officer for North America  a newly created role, Starbucks said in a statement Monday. Brady Brewer, formerly chief marketing officer, will be CEO of Starbucks international. Hell steer the companys business outside of North America, excluding China.

Conway and Brewer will have end-to-end responsibility for their respective areas, with their own operations, marketing and digital teams. Instead of filling the role of chief marketing officer, Starbucks plans to appoint a global brand creative leader.

Starbucks is looking to boost growth by offering new beverages and luring more customers into its loyalty program and onto its app. Its also renovating locations and building new ones, including cafes that are specially designed to meet demand for to-go orders and cold beverages. The coffee chain wants to have 55,000 locations by 2030, up from nearly 39,000 today, with 75% of these planned outside of the US. The leadership changes are part of the strategy, Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said Monday.

Related: Starbucks Says Lower Sales Growth Wont Hinder Profit Goal

Belinda Wong and Molly Liu will remain co-CEOs for China, Starbucks said. Sara Trilling, president of North America, will keep her role and report to Conway. She will continue to focus on improving the experience of in-store workers and building new locations in the region.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court signaled its likely to reject curbs on the Biden administrations contacts with social media companies, hearing a case that will shape efforts to tackle election interference and misinformation during the final months of the 2024 campaign.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Key justices on Monday questioned lower-court rulings that imposed restrictions on the White House and several federal agencies after concluding they had unconstitutionally coerced social media platforms into taking down posts about the pandemic and the 2020 election.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested he didnt see anything unusual in the governments interaction with the platforms. In my experience, the United States in all its manifestations has regular communications with the media to talk about things they dont like, or dont want to see, or complaining about factual inaccuracies, said Kavanaugh, a former Justice Department and White House official.

At issue is how much power the government has to tackle online falsehoods without running afoul of the Constitutions free speech clause. A ruling for the Biden administration would give it a freer hand to try to influence content moderation decisions by social media companies including Meta Platforms Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s Google. The court is scheduled to rule by late June.

Several justices voiced skepticism about the sweeping legal arguments being pressed by the Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri in their suit against the administration.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett seemed taken aback when Louisiana Solicitor General Benjamin Aguinaga said the FBI couldnt encourage social media companies to take down threatening posts about members of that states government after they were doxxed.

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Do you know how often the FBI makes those kinds of calls? said Barrett, whose Virginia home has been the target of protests in the two years since she voted to overturn the constitutional right to abortion.

Censorship Enterprise

Missouri, Louisiana and five of their residents sued over what they called a sprawling federal Censorship Enterprise involving dozens of officials and at least 11 federal agencies. A federal trial judge agreed and issued a sweeping injunction restricting contacts by hundreds of thousands of government workers.

The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals narrowed the injunction but left it intact against the White House, the FBI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

The Supreme Court put the 5th Circuit ruling on hold in October over the dissents of conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch. All three questioned the Biden administrations arguments on Monday, with Alito voicing strong disapproval of the federal governments social media outreach, which at times included curse words and demands for immediate answers.

Its treating Facebook and these other platforms like theyre subordinates, Alito told Deputy Solicitor General Brian Fletcher, who was representing the administration. Would you do that to the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal or the Associated Press, or any other big newspaper or wire service?

Although the October order lifted the restrictions, the administration is being cautious for now and isnt in touch with social media platforms about election-related matters, according to an official who works on those issues.

Such a Problem

Mondays session suggested the other six justices are likely to side with the federal government. Chief Justice John Roberts questioned whether the actions of a single federal agency could definitively constitute illegally coercion, saying the government is not monolithic.

How do you analyze a situation where maybe the EPA is trying to coerce the platform about something and the Army Corps of Engineers is trying to coerce them the other way? Roberts asked. I mean, you cant just sort of pick and choose which part of the government youre concerned about.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor at one point told Aguinaga she had such a problem with your brief, accusing him of omitting information and misstating an important fact.

The clash is one of two cases over governmental pressure  known colloquially as jawboning  before the high court Monday. The justices are also considering National Rifle Association claims that a New York state official unconstitutionally pressured insurance companies including Chubb Ltd. and Lloyds of London to stop doing business with the gun lobby.

The case is Murthy v. Missouri, 23-411.

--With assistance from Emily Birnbaum.

(Updates with comments from Barrett, other justices starting in sixth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
issuance.swiss AG

Zurich, March 18th, 2024 - The Switzerland-based protocol Liqwid Finance, in partnership with the issuer Issuance.Swiss AG, is launching CASL, an innovative ETP in the world of staking digital assets. CASL not only captures the performance of the underlying ADA, managed by the Cardano Foundation, but also the interest earned by staking the token. Distributed as an ETP (Exchange Traded Product), the product is accessible to all kind of investors from Thursday last on the Zurich stock exchange, the SIX Swiss Exchange (ISIN code CH1327686056 - Ticker CASL).

For Florian Volery, co-founder of Liqwid Finance, "CASL offers all the advantages of traditional and decentralized finance. It's a low-cost, liquid, institutional-quality product". He has designed this ETP which, not only follows the developments of the ADA token, a crypto asset launched in 2017 by Cardano, but reaps the returns of staking this token on Cardano's blockchain, the most decentralized to date. "With CASL, we want to take a new step," emphasizes Florian Volery, "one that will bridge the gap between traditional and digital asset management. Until now, most of the financial instruments available to investors in the crypto universe gave them access to developments in the underlying assets (Bitcoin, Ethereum, ADA, etc.). We're going one step further, by putting ADA's outstanding assets to work and redistributing the interest to investors." Investors benefit from a double return on their investment, as well as lower management fees (1.5%) than the average of competing products.

Swiss engineering, 100% secure

In addition to its above-industry-average return prospects, the CASL ETP has a particularly controlled risk profile. It is 100% backed by physical crypto asset: ADA tokens, that are real assets, held in a "cold" (offline) wallet. The staking of the ETP's ADA tokens is carried out by Liqwid on the Cardano network, the only one not to have suffered an outage over the last five years, compared with its biggest competitors who also have a proof-of-stake consensus (Solana, Ethereum, Avalanche).

"CASL makes it simple for investors, without the need for a crypto-currency portfolio or specific knowledge, to earn money while contributing to the decentralization of finance," summarizes Bruce Jackson, Head of Digital Assets at Apex Group. This decentralisation is the key to the future of an inclusive world, in which millions of people who don't have access to banking infrastructures can participate."

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The CASL ETP offers instant liquidity without any constraints, as Cardano's blockchain does not foresee any lock-in period for the assets at stake. The entire value chain involves Swiss players, a further guarantee of security.

The launch price was set at USD$25 and is available in 2 additional currencies (CHF and ) which represents an real exposure of 39 ADA (price of 1 ADA for ~USD$0.64 | 12.03.2024).

To find out more: please use the issuer's website https://issuance.swiss/products/

Press Contact: press@liqwid.ch or +41 79 269 53 31

About Liqwid Finance

Liqwid is a liquidity protocol for lending and borrowing Cardano native assets. The Liqwid protocol is composed of decentralized, audited smart contracts built on the Cardano blockchain.

Smart contracts enable users to deposit liquidity into a money market, earn interest and open over-collateralized loans directly, without intermediaries and in a secure manner.

The platform was launched in February 2023 and currently holds over $70 million in assets on its protocol. Liqwid's mission is to build bridges between decentralized and traditional finance, with the aim of financing the real economy through blockchain technology.

About Cardano Foundation



The Cardano Foundation is an independent non-profit organization based in Switzerland, responsible for promoting the Cardano blockchain as public infrastructure across a wide range of industries. Based in Zug, Switzerland, the foundation oversees the developments of Cardano, which is an open source blockchain built through peer-reviewed research and a platform for executing smart contracts. The cryptocurrency used on Cardano is called Ada. Launched by Charles Hoskinson, the co-founder of the Ethereum token, Cardano is the first blockchain platform to be secure enough to protect billions of data, scalable enough to adapt to global systems and robust enough to support fundamental changes.

About Issuance.Swiss AG

Issuance.Swiss AG is a dedicated SPV, fully customised plug and play ready to admit financial products on regulated European stock markets and brings vanilla and complex digital assets strategies to the regulated markets wrapped and in the form of a publicly listed ETP. Incorporated in Zug Switzerland and through its standalone set up, the SPV is able to list client strategies from European and US clients who currently have compliance constraints in managing digital assets. In return the client can enjoy a whitelabel revenue solution (net of administrative costs) as the product is fully scalable and open ended through a creation redemption proposition and its time to market is estimated for admissions to the stock exchanges to be within 8 weeks from engagement. The SPV is fully equipped and onboarded with key service providers while the SPV takes control of all the operational burden.




AcedrA BioPharmaceuticals; TaiMed Biologics

TAIPEI, Taiwan and RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TaiMed Biologics (TaiMed), a publicly held Taiwanese biotechnology company, signed an Exclusive License and Distribution Agreement with AcedrA BioPharmaceuticals (AcedrA), a Saudi Arabia-based company operating in Middle East and North Africa region, to satisfy the unmet medical needs, under which AcedrA will register, promote and commercialize Trogarzo (Ibalizumab-uiyk) in the MENA region.



Trogarzo has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration to treat adults infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1), a virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Trogarzo is given with other HIV medicines when none of the standard combinations work to control the infection because the virus is resistant to them (multi-drug resistant HIV).

We are excited to broaden the reach of Trogarzo to HIV patients in new countries. AcedrA has a focus on working with rare and orphan drugs, and this agreement gives us a great opportunity to enter the MENA region over a short time frame, said Dr. Jimmy Chang, Chief Executive Officer of TaiMed. This is yet another significant step that aims to bring shareholder value through the realization of the full commercial potential of Trogarzo.

Under the terms of this agreement, AcedrA will be responsible in providing Trogarzo in reply to named-patient requests through which physicians can legally and ethically prescribe Trogarzo for patients prior to commercial availability. AcedrA, then, by a wider array of distribution activities, will be responsible for regulatory, sales, marketing, medical, and distribution in the MENA region.

AcedrA is responsibly engaged to serve communities where there are significant unmet therapeutic needs in the MENA region; we do believe that a synergy between AcedrA and TaiMed to make affordable the access to Trogarzo will improve clinical outcomes for HIV patients with limited therapeutic options, said Dr. Hosni STA, the Chief Executive Officer of AcedrA. We are committed to be a patient-centric company working closely with healthcare providers in the MENA region, and we will be pleased to partner with TaiMed strategically to improve patients' lives in the region.

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About TaiMed Biologics: TaiMed Biologics was founded in 2007 and has devoted itself as a leading biopharmaceutical developer and manufacturer of innovative biologics drugs. TaiMed has developed a first-in-class anti-HIV antibody drug ibalizumab-uiyk (Trogarzo) approved by the US FDA in 2018. Leveraging on the experience of developing Trogarzo and other novel, long-acting anti-HIV monoclonal antibodies in the pipeline, TaiMed has also become a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), offering manufacturing solutions that will enable partners to discover, develop, and manufacture biologics from the bench to market. For more information, please visit http://www.taimedbiologics.com.

About Trogarzo (Ibalizumab-uiyk):

Trogarzo, a registered trademark of TaiMed Biologics Inc., is a CD4-directed post-attachment HIV-1 inhibitor. Trogarzo is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to domain 2 of CD4 on the surface of immune cells. The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (gp120) binds to domain 1 of CD4. Through steric hindrance, Trogarzo blocks the steps required for viral entry without interfering in normal CD4-mediated immune functions. Trogarzo is the first and only long-acting mAb antiviral agent against HIV-1 approved by the USFDA with a proven safety profile.

Trogarzo, a CD4-directed post-attachment HIV-1 inhibitor, in combination with other antiretroviral(s), is indicated for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in heavily treatment-experienced adults with multidrug resistant HIV-1 infection failing their current antiretroviral regimen.

Patients and Healthcare Providers can obtain details about Trogarzo at: www.trogarzo.com

Healthcare professionals can contact AcedrA BioPharmaceuticals to know more about the Trogarzo Early/Special Access program by:

Telephone KSA Office: +966 11 400 0036

Telephone UAE Office: +971 4 88 55 083

Telephone Tunisia Office: +216 70 287 207

Email: medical.affairs@acedrarx.com or EAP@acedrarx.com

About AcedrA BioPharmaceuticals:

AcedrA Pharmaceutical Company (also known as AcedrA BioPharmaceuticals) is a specialized company dedicated in operating in unmet medical & commercial needs for contributing to the patient care covering the region of the Middle East & Africa from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. AcedrA is a Saudi company based in the capital Al Riyadh with offices in United Arab Emirates, Dubai, and Tunisia, Tunis; focused on Marketing & Distribution of Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology of Niche Therapeutic Segments Novel Portfolios: Rare Diseases, Orphan Drugs, Haematology, Oncology, Metabolic Diseases, Genetic Disorders, Enzyme Replacement Therapies, Recombinant Technologies, Life Threatening Conditions Medicines, Neurology, Biosimilars, etc.

To know more about AcedrA BioPharmaceuticals: www.acedrarx.com or send your inquiry to: info@acedrarx.com

For Media: media@acedrarx.com

AcedrA Media Contact:

Dr. Ameera Abu Jarour

Quality & Business Support Manager

Tel: +966 11 400 0036

Email: ameera.abj@acedrarx.com Eng. Layla Wahabi

Chief Compliance Officer

Tel: +966 11 400 0032

Email: layla.wah@acedrarx.com

TaiMed Media Contact:

Jack Chen

Chief Financial Officer

Email: jchen@taimedbio.com




Understanding TSM's Dividend Prospects and Financial Health

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (NYSE:TSM) recently announced a dividend of $0.54 per share, payable on 2024-04-11, with the ex-dividend date set for 2024-03-18. As investors look forward to this upcoming payment, the spotlight also shines on the company's dividend history, yield, and growth rates. Using the data from GuruFocus, let's look into Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's dividend performance and assess its sustainability.

What Does Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd Do?

Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Sign with TSM.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is the world's largest dedicated chip foundry, with almost 60% market share. TSMC was founded in 1987 as a joint venture of Philips, the government of Taiwan, and private investors. It went public as an ADR in the U.S. in 1997. TSMC's scale and high-quality technology allow the firm to generate solid operating margins, even in the highly competitive foundry business. Furthermore, the shift to the fabless business model has created tailwinds for TSMC. The foundry leader has an illustrious customer base, including Apple, AMD, and Nvidia, that looks to apply cutting-edge process technologies to its semiconductor designs. TSMC employs more than 73,000 people.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's Dividend Analysis

A Glimpse at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's Dividend History

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd has maintained a consistent dividend payment record since 2016. Dividends are currently distributed on a quarterly basis. Below is a chart showing annual Dividends Per Share for tracking historical trends.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's Dividend Analysis

Breaking Down Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's Dividend Yield and Growth

As of today, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd currently has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.34% and a 12-month forward dividend yield of 1.49%. This suggests an expectation of increased dividend payments over the next 12 months.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's dividend yield of 1.34% is near a 10-year low and underperforms than 51.88% of global competitors in the Semiconductors industry, suggesting that the company's dividend yield may not be a compelling proposition for income investors.

Over the past three years, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's annual dividend growth rate was 4.80%. Extended to a five-year horizon, this rate decreased to 4.30% per year. And over the past decade, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's annual dividends per share growth rate stands at an impressive 15.70%.

Based on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's dividend yield and five-year growth rate, the 5-year yield on cost of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd stock as of today is approximately 1.65%.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's Dividend Analysis

The Sustainability Question: Payout Ratio and Profitability

To assess the sustainability of the dividend, one needs to evaluate the company's payout ratio. The dividend payout ratio provides insights into the portion of earnings the company distributes as dividends. A lower ratio suggests that the company retains a significant part of its earnings, thereby ensuring the availability of funds for future growth and unexpected downturns. As of 2023-12-31, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's dividend payout ratio is 0.35.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's profitability rank, offers an understanding of the company's earnings prowess relative to its peers. GuruFocus ranks Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's profitability 10 out of 10 as of 2023-12-31, suggesting good profitability prospects. The company has reported positive net income for each of year over the past decade, further solidifying its high profitability.

Growth Metrics: The Future Outlook

To ensure the sustainability of dividends, a company must have robust growth metrics. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's growth rank of 10 out of 10 suggests that the company's growth trajectory is good relative to its competitors.

Revenue is the lifeblood of any company, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's revenue per share, combined with the 3-year revenue growth rate, indicates a strong revenue model. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's revenue has increased by approximately 17.30% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 66.48% of global competitors.

The company's 3-year EPS growth rate showcases its capability to grow its earnings, a critical component for sustaining dividends in the long run. During the past three years, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd's earnings increased by approximately 18.30% per year on average, a rate that outperforms approximately 49.93% of global competitors.

Lastly, the company's 5-year EBITDA growth rate of 23.50%, which outperforms approximately 61.17% of global competitors.

Engaging Conclusion: Dividend Viability and Investor Considerations

As we conclude our analysis, it's clear that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd stands as a formidable player in the semiconductor industry with a solid track record of dividend payments and robust growth indicators. The company's prudent payout ratio coupled with high profitability and growth ranks suggest a sustainable dividend policy. Investors should consider these factors alongside industry trends, technological advancements, and the competitive landscape when evaluating Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd as a potential addition to their investment portfolios. Will TSM's dividends continue to be a beacon of reliability in the fluctuating tech sector? That remains a critical question for value investors to ponder.

GuruFocus Premium users can screen for high-dividend yield stocks using the High Dividend Yield Screener.

This article, generated by GuruFocus, is designed to provide general insights and is not tailored financial advice. Our commentary is rooted in historical data and analyst projections, utilizing an impartial methodology, and is not intended to serve as specific investment guidance. It does not formulate a recommendation to purchase or divest any stock and does not consider individual investment objectives or financial circumstances. Our objective is to deliver long-term, fundamental data-driven analysis. Be aware that our analysis might not incorporate the most recent, price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative information. GuruFocus holds no position in the stocks mentioned herein.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.


Former Rivals Cite Palmer's Gaza, Immigration, and Economic Policies

PHOENIX, March 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Democratic Presidential Candidate Jason Palmer, the surprise winner of the American Samoa caucus, today announced a comprehensive plan to solve America's immigration crisis and simultaneously received the endorsement of three other candidates in advance of Tuesday's Presidential primary in Arizona.

(PRNewsfoto/Palmer for President)

Gabriel Cornejo of Nevada, Frankie Lozada of New York, and Stephen Lyons of Maryland endorsed Palmer's candidacy for President of the United States, stating the clear and compelling need for a candidate who best reflects the needs of America's working class and the voice of America's youth.

Gabriel Cornejo stated, "Jason Palmer has been advocating for a ceasefire since November. He's been pushing to withhold all military aid to Israel until a ceasefire is declared. He's clearly stated that he wouldn't have vetoed the recent U.N. resolutions calling for a ceasefire. Netanyahu does not believe in a two-state solution, and we are complicit in the killing of 30,000 Palestinians and the displacement of 2 million more. I believe Jason Palmer is the best leader for this issue and these times."

Frankie Lozada agreed, "Jason Palmer has been a true ally in advocating for peace in Gaza since the beginning of this campaign. We share the same focus and passion for empowering marginalized groups whose needs are often overlooked, and their voices ignored. Although his win in American Samoa shocked the whole country, it didn't surprise me that the people of American Samoa would be the ones to break the status quo. American Territories have witnessed firsthand the impacts and hardships of colonialism and occupation. They, just like many, are tired of being ignored and used. That's why they chose Jason Palmer, because he's been an advocate for Puerto Rican Americans, Hispanic Americans, Black Americans, and Indigenous Americans. I also have a greater sense of faith in Palmer's approach to our failed immigration system. He understands the need for reestablishing our reputation by representing the true values of Americans. His immigration plan builds a new level of trust, diplomacy, innovation, and inclusivity that will create a humane system that will increase the quality of life of all who pass through it."

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Stephen Lyons also endorsed Palmer. "The biggest reason why I'm endorsing Palmer is that we need someone who is a proven business leader, bridge-builder, and entrepreneursomeone who is equally appealing to passionate young progressives as he is to former Republicans and independents who are looking for a new standard-bearer advocating for common sense policies."

Palmer, Cornejo, Lozada, and Lyons faced each other in a nationally-televised debate hosted by the Free & Equal Foundation. More than a million Americans watched the debate on Rumble, Pacifica, CSPAN, and YouTube.

Palmer's comprehensive immigration plan prioritizes a path to citizenship for Dreamers, ends parole for undocumented border crossers, and surges more than 1,000 new border judges to clear the asylum backlog. It proposes implementing a merit-based points system similar to successful programs in Canada and Australia, and promises to increase legal immigration by attracting the world's best and brightest while decreasing illegal border crossings by 50%.

Before today's announcement, Palmer's American Samoa win catapulted him to national prominence through interviews by more than thirty national news organizations, including CNN, ABC, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, BBC World News, Associated Press, The New York Times, Washington Post, Bloomberg, POLITICO, Reuters, Newsmax and NewsNation.

About Jason Palmer

Jason Palmer is a Democratic Presidential candidate, entrepreneur, turnaround leader, and impact investor with strong expertise in technology and education. Before his Presidential run, he served in executive and leadership positions at Microsoft, Kaplan Education, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and leading impact investor New Markets Venture Partners. Palmer earned his BA from University of Virginia and an MBA from Harvard Business School. His platform focuses on people-first conscious capitalism, modernizing our federal government, and reigniting the faith of young people and independents who have lost confidence in America's institutions. He is a proud resident of Baltimore, Maryland, and a devoted father. Learn more at https://palmerforpresident.us .

Cision

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SOURCE Palmer for President
Titan Medical Inc.

- Merger to create publicly-listed, commercial-stage leader in hybrid intravascular imaging -

TORONTO, Ontario, March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Titan Medical Inc. (Titan) (TSX: TMD; OTC: TMDIF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive amalgamation agreement (the Amalgamation Agreement) dated March 17, 2024 with Conavi Medical Inc. (Conavi) to combine the companies in an all-stock transaction. The combined company will focus on continuing to commercialize Conavis Novasight Hybrid System designed to guide common minimally invasive coronary procedures.



Under the terms of the Agreement, Titan will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Conavi (the Conavi Shares) and in exchange Conavi shareholders will be issued common shares of Titan (the Combined Entity Shares). This transaction (the Transaction) will constitute a reverse takeover of Titan and will be carried out subject to the terms and conditions outlined below.

In connection with the Transaction, Titan expects to delist its common shares from the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX) and apply to have them listed instead on the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV). The Transaction is anticipated to close on or around July 15, 2024.

Conavi (www.conavi.com) is focused on designing, manufacturing, and marketing imaging technologies to guide common minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures. Its patented Novasight Hybrid System is the first system to combine both intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to enable simultaneous and co-registered imaging of coronary arteries (www.novasighthybrid.com). The Novasight Hybrid System has 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and regulatory approval for clinical use from Health Canada, Chinas National Medical Products Administration, and Japans Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Conavi is organized under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.

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This planned merger comes at a pivotal moment in the evolution of our company as we continue to advance the Novasight Hybrid System, which provides simultaneous and complementary data with which to better inform patient care, while offering providers a more cost- and space-effective option when purchasing intravascular imaging equipment, said Conavis Chief Executive Officer, Thomas Looby. Gaining access to the public capital markets will enhance our financial strength and fuel our growth strategy, enabling us to unlock the full potential of our hybrid imaging technology in the United States and globally.

This merger is the result of a thoughtful and careful review of strategic options and reflects the continued commitment of our management team and Board of Directors to deliver value to shareholders, commented Paul Cataford, Titans Interim CEO and Board Chair. Conavi is an exciting commercial-stage company with groundbreaking technology and an accomplished management team. We are confident in their ability to continue to drive adoption of the Novasight Hybrid System.

Transaction Highlights

Provided the Transaction is completed in accordance with the provisions of the Amalgamation Agreement (see Conditions to Completion of the Transaction Below), the following benefits are anticipated for the combined entity (the Combined Entity):

Strong Balance Sheet (as a result of a concurrent financing) with institutional investor support;

Established product development and manufacturing capability;

Proven product being commercialized in the coronary imaging space;

A large and diverse market opportunity addressed with a proprietary product offering which provides patient benefit and a sustainable economic value proposition to users; and

Increasing market traction and key opinion leader engagement.





Amalgamation Agreement Background

The journey to this announcement started over 15 months ago, when Titan announced the commencement of a strategic review process and the engagement of Raymond James Ltd. (Raymond James) as financial advisor. With limited cash resources and limited access to new capital, Titan announced a series of cost-cutting measures to extend the runway for the strategic review process. After outreach to over 40 potential counterparties and concerns expressed by potential counterparties on Titans stage of development, financial circumstances, and time to commercialization, Titan announced a further cost reduction and a halt to all expenditures related to the development of its ENOS single access robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system in February of 2023. To generate cash and avert the possibility of insolvency, Titan also announced a strategic pivot to asset sales and licensing of its IP. This pivot has proven successful as Titan announced non-exclusive licensing and intellectual property sales agreements with established players in the RAS industry in May, June and August of 2023. Throughout 2023, it was made clear to Titan that a merger with another RAS company was not a viable option and Titan broadened its search for a merger partner beyond RAS. This expanded search resulted in a number of proposals and after careful evaluation, Titans management and board of directors (the Titan Board) decided on a merger with Conavi. The Titan Board is unanimous in its decision to execute the Amalgamation Agreement and to recommend this Transaction to its shareholders (the Titan Shareholders).

Transaction Terms

Under the terms of the Agreement, Titan will effect a consolidation of the Titan Shares based on a ratio of pre-consolidation shares to post-consolidation shares to be mutually agreed upon (the Consolidation).

As a condition to the completion of the Transaction, Conavi will complete a concurrent financing of subscription receipts, the terms of which will be announced at a later date (the Concurrent Financing), for minimum gross proceeds of US$15 million up to a maximum of US$20 million. The subscription receipts are expected to convert into Conavi Shares (Subscription Receipts Shares) immediately prior to completion of the Transaction.

Following the Consolidation and the Concurrent Financing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Titan will amalgamate with Conavi, pursuant to which issued and outstanding post-Consolidation Titan Shares will be issued to holders of Conavi Shares (including the Subscription Receipts Shares) on the basis of an exchange ratio to be determined using the pre-money valuation of Conavi of US$69,840,000 (minus the amounts of certain trade payables and Conavis transaction expenses) and a pre-transaction valuation of Titan including an allocation of US$5,000,000 plus the amount of cash held in Titan at the closing of the Transaction less certain liabilities of Titan. However, the exchange ratio will be adjusted, if necessary, strictly to the extent required to result in the holders of Titan Shares prior to the closing of the Transaction holding at least 10% of the Combined Entity Shares following completion of the Transaction (including Combined Entity Shares underlying certain options, warrants and RSUs, Subscription Receipts Shares, and Combined Entity Shares issued in exchange for Conavi Shares issued in any bridge financing completed by Conavi prior to the completion of the Transaction).

In addition, the Combined Entity will establish a new equity incentive plan for key employees, directors and officers of the Combined Entity and will issue stock options in exchange for the outstanding Conavi outstanding stock options under the plan.

The parties to the Transaction are at arms length.

Transaction Timetable

Titan intends to hold a special and annual meeting of shareholders (the Titan Shareholder Meeting), at which, among other things, the Titan Shareholders will be asked to approve: (i) the change of name from Titan Medical Inc. to Conavi Medical Inc., or such other name as Conavi may determine and the Titan Board may approve, (ii) the Consolidation, (iii) a new equity incentive plan for the Combined Entity, and (iv) the Transaction. Copies of the management information circular of Titan (the Titan Circular), and certain related documents and agreements, will be filed with the Canadian securities regulators and will be available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under Titans profile at least 21 days prior to the date of the Titan Shareholder Meeting.

Recommendation by the Board of Directors and Fairness Opinion

After consultation with its financial and legal advisors, the Titan Board unanimously approved the entering into of the Agreement and will recommend that Titan Shareholders vote in favour of the Transaction at the Titan Shareholder Meeting. Raymond James provided a fairness opinion to the board of directors of Titan, stating that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated in such opinion, the consideration payable pursuant to the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Titan Shareholders.

Conditions to Completion of the Transaction

The completion of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of various conditions as are standard for a transaction of this nature, including, but not limited to: (i) receipt of all requisite regulatory, TSX, and TSXV approvals and all government approvals, authorizations or consents; (ii) the absence of any material change or change in a material fact or a new material fact affecting Titan or Conavi; (iii) the approvals of both the Titan Shareholders and the Conavi shareholders; (iv) the completion of the Concurrent Financing for aggregate gross proceeds of at least $15,000,000; (v) Titan having the net cash balance set forth in the Agreement immediately prior to closing the Transaction; and (vi) certain other conditions set forth in the Agreement. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed on the terms proposed above or at all.

Concurrently with signing the Agreement, the directors and officers of Conavi have agreed to support the proposed Transaction and have either entered into or are expected to enter into lock-up agreements with Titan to vote in favour of the Transaction at the special meeting of Conavi shareholders. All of the directors and officers of Titan have agreed to support the proposed Transaction and have each entered into lock-up agreements with Conavi to vote in favour of the Transaction at the Titan Shareholder Meeting.

The Combined Entity

TSXV Listing

The Combined Entity is expected to be a Tier 1 technology issuer under the policies of the TSXV. In connection with the application to list the Combined Entity Shares on the TSXV, the Titan Circular will be prepared using the Form 3D1 Information Required in an Information Circular for a Reverse Take-Over and will be available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com under Titans profile once finalized.

10% Shareholder

It is anticipated that immediately following the Transaction, the only shareholder that will hold greater than 10% of the issued and outstanding Combined Entity shares will be Carlyle Services Limited Liability Company.

Officers and Directors of the Combined Entity

Concurrent with the completion of the Transaction, all officers and certain directors of Titan will resign and be replaced by nominees and appointees put forth by Conavi.

Advisors and Counsel

In connection with the Transaction, Raymond James Ltd. is acting as financial advisor to Titan and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is acting as legal counsel to Titan.

Mintz LLP is acting as legal counsel to Conavi.

About Titan Medical

Titan Medical Inc. (TSX: TMD; OTC: TMDIF), a medical technology company incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, has developed an expansive patent portfolio related to the enhancement of robotic assisted surgery (RAS), including through a single access point, and is currently focused on evaluating new opportunities to further develop and license its intellectual property.

Cautionary Note

Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and shareholder approval of both Conavi and Titan. The Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approvals are obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Titan should be considered highly speculative.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws, which reflect the current expectations of management of Titans future growth, results of operations, performance and business prospects and opportunities. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as may, would, could, will, anticipate, believe, plan, expect, intend, estimate, potential for and similar expressions, although these words may not be present in all forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements that appear in this release may include, without limitation, references to: Titan evaluating new opportunities to further develop and license its intellectual property, the anticipated closing date and completion of the Transaction on the terms as announced or at all, the execution of lock-up agreements by certain directors and officers of Conavi, the expected timing and matters to be considered at the Titan Shareholder Meeting, the anticipated benefits of the Transaction, completion of the Concurrent Financing, matters related to the expected business of the Combined Entity, and the delisting of the Titan Shares from the TSX and the listing of the Combined Entity on the TSXV.

These forward-looking statements reflect managements current beliefs with respect to future events, and are based on information currently available to management that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date on which the statements are made, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies which could result in actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions and many factors could cause Titans actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to, Titans ability to retain key personnel; its ability to execute on its business plans and strategies; its ability to continue to license some or all its intellectual property to third parties and receive any material consideration and other factors listed in the Risk Factors section of Titans Annual Information Form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 (which may be viewed at www.sedarplus.com). Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance, or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. These factors should be considered carefully, and prospective investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in the news release are based upon what management currently believes to be reasonable assumptions and Titan has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, conditions, results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, Titan cannot assure prospective investors that actual results, performance or achievements will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Titan expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All the forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements.

Contact



Titan Medical Inc. Conavi Medical Inc.

Chien Huang Stephen Kilmer

Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations

investors@titanmedicalinc.com stephen@kilmerlucas.com

###




In this article, we will take a look at the top 15 English speaking Schengen countries in Europe. If you would like to skip our discussion on English proficiency in Europe, you can go to the Top 5 English Speaking Schengen Countries In Europe.

English is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world, and this trend extends to Europe as well. In countries such as Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands, English holds a prominent position alongside their official languages. Europe plays an active role in offering educational and career prospects to individuals worldwide, which further promotes the use of English. The EF English Proficiency Index (EPI) recently released a ranking of 113 countries globally, with a significant presence of European nations dominating the top positions. You can also check out the 20 Most Fluent English Speaking Countries In The World here.

In fact, more than 370 million of the 450 million people living in the European Union (EU) can speak English. Residents of European countries typically acquire English skills during childhood, contributing to their high level of proficiency. In Switzerland, over 60% of the population is fluent in English, while in Denmark, this figure rises to 86%. Many Europeans are multilingual, with some even capable of speaking four languages, as observed in Luxembourg by the language learning app Babbel. Babbel is a language learning platform that has experienced gradual yet consistent growth in popularity. It now ranks among the top-grossing apps in the language learning industry worldwide. It was initially introduced as a web application in 2008 in Mitte, Berlin. In 2022, Babbel recorded 247 million in revenue, reflecting a 31% increase compared to the previous year. This growth in revenue indicates Babbel's ability to attract a larger subscriber base while also retaining existing users.

Some of the best English speaking countries in Europe are Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. These countries have a significant number of individuals fluent in English as either a first or second language. According to EF EPI, the Netherlands is the top country out of 113 when it comes to English proficiency. Language barriers pose a significant consideration for individuals planning to live or work in Europe, impacting travel decisions as well. Recognizing this challenge, many businesses have introduced online language learning programs aimed at reducing language barriers across these countries. Notable companies in this sector include Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE:RST), Duolingo Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOL), and Coursera, Inc. (NYSE:COUR). The English language learning (ELL) market is projected to grow to $70.7 billion by 2030 from a value of $21.3 billion in 2022. The expansion reflects a compound annual growth rate of 16.2%. The industrys growth is being driven by factors such as globalization, the expansion of the e-learning market, and the demand for a multilingual workforce capable of cross-border communication.

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Companies in the ELL industry are increasingly making use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve their services further. For instance, during its 11th annual conference in 2023, Coursera, Inc. (NYSE:COUR) shared its plans to integrate interactive educational technology tools powered by ChatGPT into its learning platform. These innovations include a generative AI coach for students and an AI course-building tool catered to instructors. Coursera's CEO, Jeff Maggioncalda, explained that these changes are happening because of the incredible progress in generative AI, which offers new ways to customize and make learning more interactive. He pointed out that there will be a high need for upskilling, with potentially up to 49% of workers needing to learn new skills. This is likely to lead to an increase in demand for services from companies like Duolingo Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOL) and Rosetta Stone Inc. (NYSE:RST) as well.

With this context in mind, let's take a look at the top 15 English speaking Schengen countries in Europe.

Top 15 English Speaking Schengen Countries in Europe

SK Design/Shutterstock.com

Our Methodology

To shortlist the top 15 English speaking Schengen countries in Europe, we gathered information on the percentage of English-Speaking people across countries located in the Schengen Zone. Moreover, we used the 2023 English Proficiency Index to gain insights into English proficiency levels across countries, wherever possible. The countries have been ranked in ascending order of the percentage of English speaking population as of 2024.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

Top 15 English Speaking Schengen Countries In Europe

15. Germany

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 56%

Over 50% of people in Germany speak English, making it one of the most English-speaking nations in Europe. According to the English Proficiency Index, Germans have a Very High Proficiency in English. In Germany, English is widely used in business, and there are plenty of English-speaking jobs available. Berlin is the city with the largest English-speaking population in the country.

14. Hungary

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 57%

Although Hungarian is the official language in Hungary, English has gained popularity among the countrys population in recent years. English is becoming more and more common among Hungarians, especially in larger cities like Budapest, the country's capital, and among the younger population. A large number of Hungarians have learned English at school and are fluent in the language. Also, Hungarians have High Proficiency in English as per the English proficiency index.

13. France

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 57.25%

The greater Paris Ile-de-France region, together with the Pays-de-la-Loire and Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes regions, has the highest concentration of English speakers in the country. Approximately 57.25% of the French population speaks English with "reasonable proficiency," with this figure climbing to 60.28% in Paris. France is at the thirteenth position on our list of the top 15 English speaking Schengen countries in Europe.

12. Slovenia

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 59%

For the majority of people in the country, Slovenian is their mother tongue. The Slovenian educational system incorporates foreign language instruction, and students are typically offered the chance to study Italian, German, and English in addition to other elective foreign languages.

11. Croatia

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 60%

The official language of Croatia is Standard Croatian. According to recent Eurostat data, Croatia is among the top EU nations for foreign language learning, with 99.9% of students studying foreign languages at school. According to the English Proficiency Index, the nation is ranked 11th out of 113 countries in terms of English proficiency. English-speaking people are widely found in the capital city of Zagreb and the coastal districts.

10. Belgium

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 60%

German, Dutch, and French are Belgiums official languages. Belgium ranks seventh in Europe for English proficiency according to the EF EPI. The country places emphasis on English language education and has a range of universities offering courses in English. Belgium is among the top ten English speaking Schengen countries in Europe.

9. Switzerland

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 61.28%

While English is widely used and has gained popularity in Switzerland in recent years, particularly due to globalization and the flourishing tourism industry, it is not the official language of the nation. The official languages of the nation are Romansh, German, French, and Italian, reflecting diversity in the linguistic landscape of the country. Switzerland typically exhibits a high level of English proficiency, particularly in urban areas that host multinational corporations. According to the English Proficiency Index, the country's citizens generally demonstrate high proficiency in English.

8. Austria

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 73%

While Austrians are known to speak a diverse range of languages, English holds significant importance in the country. German is the official language of Austria, while English stands as the second most spoken language. According to the EF English Proficiency Index, Austria ranks as the second-most proficient English-speaking country in the European Union.

7. Finland

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 75%

Approximately three-fourths of Finland's population have some degree of English proficiency. Despite Swedish and Finnish serving as the nation's official languages, a significant portion of Finnish citizens are fluent in English. Finland offers a wide range of English-language study programs, reflecting its commitment to bilingual education. Additionally, Finns readily communicate in English with visitors. The country's high English proficiency is also recognized by the EF EPI.

6. Denmark

Percentage of English-Speaking Population: 86%

Danish people showcase widespread proficiency in English, with almost all Danes speaking it fluently. Hence, even tourists lacking proficiency in the native language can navigate Denmark without difficulty. Children in Denmark are introduced to English culture and language at an early age through English instruction, leading to continual improvement in English proficiency as they grow older. According to the Danish Ministry of Higher Education, students seeking admission in English-taught programs must provide evidence of their English language proficiency equivalent to 'English B' in the Danish upper secondary school system at a minimum.

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Disclosure: None. Top 15 English Speaking Schengen Countries in Europe is published on Insider Monkey.
In this article, we will discuss the top 20 largest countries in Asia by area in 2024. If you want to skip our analysis, you can proceed to the section highlighting the Top 5 Largest Countries In Asia By Area In 2024.

Economy of Asia

According to a report by the IMF, Asian economies contributed to two-thirds of global growth in 2023. It is projected to grow at 4.6% in 2023 and 4.2% in 2024. Growth momentum is slowing in 2024 as the region's potential is hindered by China's structural slowdown and weaker-than-expected economic recovery. China's economy bounced back in 2023 post-COVID, driven by domestic demand and supportive policies such as monetary relaxation, tax reliefs, and fiscal spending. However, growth is expected to slow to 4.6% in 2024 due to property sector weakness and falling external demand. Long-term growth is forecasted to decline to 3.5% by 2028 due to weak productivity and an aging population.

As interest rates remain higher, stress may lead to losses for smaller banks and an increasingly vulnerable real estate sector which is largely in debt. Hong Kong and Singapore have experienced substantial price declines in the real estate sector. On February 21, Forbes reported that Hong Kong's real estate sector faced its steepest downturn in two decades in 2023, with residential property prices dropping by 7%. Amid waning demand and rising interest rates, property developers slashed their prices by up to 20% to stimulate demand. Analysts anticipate further price declines in 2024, projecting an "L-shaped" recovery.

Major Players in the Asian Market

Some of the major players, among the companies driving growth in Asia, are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) (NYSE:TSM), Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTC:SSNHY), Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) and Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM). Let's take a look at some latest updates from these companies.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (OTC:SSNHY) is one of the worlds leading technology companies in the world. On February 26, Samsung Electronics joined the AI-RAN Alliance, an organization aimed at revitalizing the convergence of AI and wireless communication for advanced 6G innovation by merging AI and wireless communication. Samsung aims to leverage the alliance to drive AI and wireless tech, leading 6G innovation. It seeks to pioneer AI-integrated solutions across semiconductors, hardware, software, and communication systems, solidifying its position in the 6G ecosystem. On March 12 Samsung hosted a panel discussion at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin on technology's role in improving sleep quality. Experts discussed AI, wearables like the Galaxy Watch 6, Samsung's health ecosystem, and how personalized insights and AI-driven data analysis can detect signs of obstructive sleep apnea.

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) (NYSE:TSM) manufactures integrated circuits and provides silicon wafer fabrication processes for various semiconductor applications and high-performance electronics. On February 24, TSMC's subsidiary Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, Inc. (JASM) opened in Kumamoto, Japan, with government support and partners including Sony Group Corporation (NYSE:SONY), DENSO Corporation (TYO:6902), and Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM). TSMC aims to produce specialty semiconductor technology, with two fabrication facilities, the first facility is set to commence operations by the end of 2024, followed by a second facility in the end of 2027, according to a company filing published on February 6. The total investment exceeds $20 billion and is expected to create more than 3,400 high-tech professional jobs. Earlier in August 2023, TSMC partnered with Robert Bosch GmbH, Infineon Technologies AG (OTC:IFNNY), and NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NASDAQ:NXPI) to invest in European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC) in Germany.

On March 5, Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM), one of the largest automotive companies in the world, announced that Panasonic Holdings Corporation (OTC:PCRFY) has agreed to sell its stake in battery manufacturer Primearth EV Energy Co., Ltd. (PEVE) to the company. The acquisition is expected to occur in late March 2024. Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) expects the acquisition to strengthen its capabilities in mass-producing enhanced automotive batteries for HEVs, BEVs, and PHEVs.

Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) is one of the worlds leading internet and technology company. On March 3, Tencent Holdings introduced the 'Go Saudi' program at the LEAP 2024 tech event, which offers an enterprise cloud platform, powered by Tencent Cloud Enterprise (TCE). Mobily, which is one of the largest telecom companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is 28% owned by Etihad Etisalat Company (SR:7020) will leverage this platform to innovate next-gen media and AI services, prioritizing user privacy and data security. The collaboration aims to boost Mobily's enterprise business and its position in Saudi Arabia. On March 6, Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) announced it will be participating in the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2024 in San Francisco from March 18 to March 22. The company will showcase its latest innovations, and discuss machine learning, character animation, rendering, and cross-platform development. Sessions will feature titles like Naruto Mobile and Arena Breakout, alongside tools and research models for free-to-play games. The booth will highlight AI's role in game development including GiiNEX AI, Decision AI, and Generative Game AI.

Asia is home to some of the world's most economically developed countries such as Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and Singapore, as well as the least developed countries such as Afghanistan, Laos, and Cambodia. Asia is diverse and dynamic and is the largest continent in the world both in terms of population and land area. With that said, here is the list of the top 20 largest countries in Asia by area in 2024.

Top 20 Largest Countries In Asia By Area In 2024

A broadcasting tower broadcasting radio waves across the lands.

Our Methodology

To make our list of the top 20 largest countries in Asia by area in 2024, we utilized the latest data from The World Factbook by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). We then compiled a list of the countries that are the largest in Asia by area. Here are the top 20 largest countries in Asia by area in 2024 ranked in ascending order.

Note: We added Russia, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to our rankings because they have a majority portion of their areas in Asia.

Top 20 Largest Countries In Asia By Area In 2024

20. Malaysia

Total Area (sq. km): 329,847

Malaysia, comprising Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo, covers 329,847 square kilometers. It includes a water area of 1,190 square kilometers. Malaysia's strategic location along the Strait of Malacca has contributed to its economic prosperity through trade and shipping.

19. Vietnam

Total Area (sq. km): 331,210

Vietnam, bordering the South China Sea, spans 331,210 square kilometers. It includes a water area of 21,140 square kilometers.

18. Japan

Total Area (sq. km): 377,915

Japan is an island country in East Asia made up of 14,125 islands, including four main islands: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Japan covers an area of 377,915 square kilometers. It includes a significant water area of 13,430 square kilometers. Japan has one of the highest population densities in the world.

17. Iraq

Total Area (sq. km): 438,317

Located in Western Asia, Iraq spans 438,317 square kilometers, with a water area of 950 square kilometers. The oil industry plays a crucial role in Iraq's economy as it holds some of the world's largest proven oil reserves in the world.

16. Uzbekistan

Total Area (sq. km): 447,400

Uzbekistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia that covers an area of 447,400 square kilometers and has a water area of 22,000 square kilometers.

15. Turkmenistan

Total Area (sq. km): 488,100

Turkmenistan, bordered by the Caspian Sea, spans 488,100 square kilometers. It includes a water area of 18,170 square kilometers.

14. Thailand

Total Area (sq. km): 513,120

Thailand, located in Southeast Asia, covers 513,120 square kilometers. It includes a water area of 2,230 square kilometers.

13. Yemen

Total Area (sq. km): 527,968

Yemen's area spans 527,968 square kilometers, including islands such as Perim and Socotra. It doesn't have any significant water bodies within its territory.

12. Afghanistan

Total Area (sq. km): 652,230

Afghanistan, a landlocked country in South Asia, it covers an area of 652,230 square kilometers. It does not have significant inland water bodies. Afghanistan possesses significant reserves of minerals, including lithium, copper, iron ore, gold, and gemstones.

11. Myanmar

Total Area (sq. km): 676,578

Myanmar, also known as Burma, encompasses 676,578 square kilometers. It includes a water area of 23,070 square kilometers.

10. Turkey (Turkiye)

Total Area (sq. km): 783,562

Turkey spans an area of 783,562 square kilometers. Turkey is a transcontinental country, with 97% of its landmass in Asia, while the remaining 3% lies in Europe. It has an inland water area of 13,930 square kilometers. Turkey controls the Bosphorus Strait, a pivotal maritime passage linking the Black Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.

9. Pakistan

Total Area (sq. km): 796,095

Pakistan, located in South Asia, covers an area of 796,095 square kilometers, with a water area of 25,220 square kilometers. Pakistan ranks among the nations with one of the largest populations in the world.

8. Mongolia

Total Area (sq. km): 1,564,116

Mongolia, a landlocked country in East Asia, covers 1.56 million square kilometers, with a water area of 10,560 square kilometers. Mongolia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world.

7. Iran

Total Area (sq. km): 1,648,195

Iran, located in Western Asia, spans an area of 1.64 million square kilometers, with a water area of 116,600 square kilometers.

6. Indonesia

Total Area (sq. km): 1,904,569

Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world comprising over 17,000 islands. Indonesia spans over 1.90 million square kilometers and has a vast water area of 93,000 square kilometers. Indonesia also ranks among the nations with one of the largest populations in the world.

Click to continue reading and see the Top 5 Largest Countries In Asia By Area In 2024.

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Sharjah-based developer Arada has announced the third year of its landmark Ramadan campaign, Home for a Home, which aims to assist vulnerable families with homes of their own.

This year, for every home sold at Aradas communities during Ramadan, a home will be built for internally displaced families in Syria that have been affected by recent conflict and the February 2023 earthquakes.

In partnership with Sharjah charity The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) and international NGO Human Concern International (HCI), the initiative is committed to support hundreds of internally displaced families by building a full residential community near the city of Aleppo with crucial facilities that will include a school, mosque, clinic, playground and shops.

Each home will be pre-stocked with a range of items, including blankets and carpets, kitchen utensils, a gas oven, washing machine, wardrobe and fridge, while the school and clinic will also be provided with relevant equipment, including school bags, recreational kits, furniture, stationery, and staff clothing.

Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the construction of the community in Syria will prioritise environmental sustainability, mandating contractors to adhere to environmental standards.

This campaign not only reflects Aradas commitment to sustainable development but also embodies the UAE's principles of humanitarianism, guiding efforts to support those living in hardship.

On its third edition, Group CEO Ahmed Alkhoshaibi said: "Enabled by our customers and partners, Home for a Home reflects our commitment to aid distressed communities by providing long-lasting and sustainable impact. We are very pleased to partner with TBHF and HCI to provide support for displaced Syrian families in Aleppo, one of the hardest-hit areas of last years devastating earthquake."

Lauding the initiative, Mariam Al Hammadi, Director General of TBHF, said: "For over two years, Home for Home has stood a shining example of how humanity is a common ground on which individuals and entities from completely different backgrounds can unite to make a difference."

"After meaningfully transforming the lives of thousands of displaced families and children in Kenya, this initiative, which supports not just refugees, but empowers host communities with homes, schools, hospitals, communal spaces, and other infrastructural needs and resources critical to advancing sustainable development, we are excited to continue our collaboration work in Syria, which is expected to benefit thousands who are faced by harsh conditions," he added.

Iftikhar Shaikh Ahmad, Global Director of Programs at Human Concern International, said: Thousands of displaced families in Syria are facing dire conditions due to cold, the lack of shelter and limited food. This initiative with Arada and TBHF will help not only to provide a home but also critical community services to the people that need it most.

The first two editions of the Home for a Home initiative, which took place in partnership with THBF and UNHCR, has succeeded in building over 700 homes for refugee families in northern Kenya, along with sustainable water supply infrastructure that is supporting 43,000 people.

The Home for a Home initiative secured wider recognition at 2023 Arabia CSR Awards for its innovative partnership model.-TradeArabia News Service
(Bloomberg) -- The frenzy over artificial intelligence is trumping geopolitical concerns over Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., with its record stock rally powering ahead.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Foreign investors have boosted ownership of the stock to a two-year high, backing claims by TSMC that AI will be its biggest growth driver this year. The company has more than a 90% share in manufacturing advanced semiconductors used for AI, according to Pictet Asset Management.

The turnaround last year  the stock had plunged 27% in 2022  came after Warren Buffett sold his $5 billion TSMC holdings, citing geopolitical tensions as the reason given its location. Adding to the concerns, the self-governing island elected a US-friendly president Lai Ching-te, putting in power a man Beijing has described as an instigator of war.

While geopolitics have historically been perceived as a risk for the sector, the strategic nature of these products and the desire to build local supply chains means that arguably geopolitics has become a tailwind for the space, said Bernard Ahkong, co-CIO at UBS OConnor Global Multi-Strategy Alpha. We are still at the earlier stages of this upcycle in semiconductors.

The core concern about TSMC centers around its high concentration of chipmaking in Taiwan. The island produces the majority of the worlds advanced logic semiconductors, and any military escalations across the strait with China would be a heavy blow to the global supply chain.

Other than its dominance in advanced chips, it also has a more than 50% share of the overall foundry market, according to Pictet. That puts the company well on track to meet or exceed its long-term targets of 15-20% growth, said Anjali Bastianpillai, a senior client portfolio manager at Pictet.

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The chipmakers revenue rose 9.4% in the first two months, as demand from rising AI activities accelerated, offsetting slowing iPhone sales. TSMCs shares more than doubled from an October 2022 low, partly buoyed by gains in key customer Nvidia Corp. They rose 1.5% on Monday, extending the year-to-date rally to 29%.

Addressing the market concerns, the company is making progress in diversifying operation bases. TSMC has announced a plan to build a second fabrication plant in Japan, while its Kumamoto factory will begin production this year. The chipmaker is also building two advanced facilities in Arizona and one factory in Germany.

Despite the geopolitical concerns, TSMC is a fundamental building block to gain exposure to AI and the broader recovery in semiconductors given the lack of companies with comparable quality in this space within emerging markets, said Gary Tan, a portfolio manager at Allspring Intrinsic Emerging Markets Equity.

(Updates with TSMCs share moves on Monday.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
A Tyson Foods processing plant is seen, Tuesday, April 14, 2020, in Columbus Junction, Iowa.

Columbus Junction Mayor Mark Huston understands how devastating Tyson Foods decision to close its Perry plant is for the Dallas County town of about 8,000.

As in Perry, Tyson employs about 1,300 people in Huston's eastern Iowa town. And also as in Perry, the Arkansas-based company is its biggest employer.

Tyson has an absolutely huge impact on our town, Huston said.

Losing the jobs would hurt  even more in Columbus Junction, which has a quarter of Perry's population.

A town our size, there wouldnt be much we could do about it, Huston said.

And with the pork industry facing its harshest financial conditions in 25 years, meatpacking workers, city leaders and others across the state worry that more of Iowa's 11 major processing plants could end up on the chopping block.

More: The Tyson plant in Perry, Iowa, is closing after 61 years. What we know about its plans.

The economic hit in Iowa, the nation's largest pork producer, would be substantial: Food manufacturing contributes about $9 billion annually to the states economy and employs nearly 61,000 workers, federal data shows.

Are the worries justified?

Tyson says it will continue 'right-sizing.' What does that mean for Iowa?

Meatpackers havent been able to avoid high prices for corn, soy meal and other feed that have contributed to large losses for pork producers, says Lee Schulz, an Iowa State University livestock economist.

Tyson reported $648 million in losses in the fiscal year that ended in September, compared to $3.2 billion in profits in 2022. And Hong Kong-based WH Group, which owns Smithfield Foods, operator of several Iowa plants, said U.S. and Mexico pork operations lost $551 million in the third quarter compared to $85 million in profits a year earlier.

Over the past year, Tyson said it would close eight older, less efficient U.S. chicken plants. And Tyson CEO Donnie King told analysts last month the company would continue right-sizing its operations, presaging the March 11 announcement that Tyson will close the Perry plant at the end of June to optimize efficiency.

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More: Grassley says Tyson decision to close pork plant a 'great big punch to the gut' for Perry

But Schulz and Steve Meyer, chief livestock economist at Ever.Ag, a Texas-based agricultural technology, risk management and market analysis company, said the financial picture is beginning to improve for producers and packers. Tysons fiscal 2024 first quarter, ending in December, showed a $107 million profit as operating income from its pork sector climbed to $39 million, compared to a $21 million loss a year earlier.

I dont think there are any other plants in danger at this point, Meyer said.

He noted that in addition to Perry, pork plants in California and Minnesota already had been slated to close. Premium Iowa Pork, based in northwest Iowa, has bought the Minnesota plant and says it plans an announcement on its future in the spring.

Even though those plants are small, their closure relieves the pressure to some degree, Meyer said.

Huston said he hasnt heard any rumblings that Tyson will shut the Columbus Junction plant. The single-shift facility processes 10,000 to 13,000 pigs daily, he said, and it's "been going full bore."

But he's not reassured, saying its unlikely large corporations would share their plans widely.

In Perry's case, Gov. Kim Reynolds, Iowa economic development staff and city officials said they didn't get word of the shutdown plan until shortly before Tyson's public announcement.

Conditions change and company outlooks change, Huston said. Its always a hazard.

Mark Huston, mayor of Columbus Junction, speaks during an interview, Monday, April 20, 2020, at City Hall in Columbus Junction, Iowa.

'The least-efficient plants are the most vulnerable'

Meyer said that as a single-shift plant, Perry was hamstrung.

Double-shift plants have a lot of cost advantages, spreading a lot of fixed costs out over far more pigs, he said.

The 61-year-old Perry plant, initially operated by Oscar Mayer, had been remodeled, but because of its relatively limited size, it would have been hard to adapt ... to a double-shift plant, he said.

Tysons Waterloo and Storm Lake pork plants, both with two shifts, are considered some of the most efficient in the country, Schulz said. Waterloo workers process about 17,250 hogs daily and Storm Lake, 19,500, he said. The Perry plant slaughters about 9,000 hogs daily.

The least-efficient plants are the most vulnerable, Schulz said.

More: Perry to host first in a series of job fairs for Tyson workers employed at closing plant

In addition, newer competitors have emerged.

Prestage Foods opened a $350 million pork processing plant in 2019 near Eagle Grove in northwest Iowa, and Seaboard Foods began operating a $300 million plant in 2017 in Sioux City.

While new plants carry hefty price tags, they also offer size and labor-saving technology that add to their efficiency, Schulz said.

A new, efficient plant thats aggressive can put competitive pressure on older plants, Meyer said. Not that the older plants arent still pretty good.

Union official: Increased pace means fewer plants needed

Despite the experts' optimistic outlook for Iowa plants, United Food & Commercial Workers official Mark Lauritsen said he believes more are likely to close. He cited the industrys push to increase line speeds as a major factor.

If USDA allows U.S. line speeds to go up, we are not going to need as many packing plants in the Midwest, said Lauritsen, director of the union's food processing, packaging and manufacturing sector. Theres no way around it.

The union has argued against the request, saying its unsafe for workers. Companies disagree, saying higher speeds have been tested for years without increased danger. The USDA is allowing a few pork plants to slaughter more than 1,106 hogs each hour and assessing the impact on worker safety to determine whether the accelerated pace can be expanded.

From 2021: USDA to invite Ottumwa JBS pork plant to speed up processing lines in 'limited trial'

Lauritsen said Tyson didn't have to close the Perry plant, given the number of pigs that need to be slaughtered this year. Experts say the U.S. will harvest about as many pigs as last year, even with companies shutting down sow operations, because increased litter sizes are offsetting efforts to reduce the herd.

Lauritsen, whose union will negotiate severance packages for the Perry workers, said smaller, single-shift plants like Columbus Junction cannot be in a safe position. Plants like West Point, Nebraska, cannot be in a safe position.

I wouldn't be comfortable if I was the mayor of a small town that had a small, single-shift operation, he said. There's "a sword of Damocles hanging over these communities. But it doesn't have to be that way.

History of meatpacking industry in Iowa has been tumultuous

Whether the Perry plant closure turns out to be the only one in Iowa in the current downturn, the meatpacking industry has a volatile history, experiencing decades of booms, busts and ownership changes.

The Perry plant was built in response to the closure of a previous one, and it escaped a planned closure in 1988 only when a last-minute buyer emerged on Christmas Eve of that year.

Ottumwa Mayor Rick Johnson recalled when John Morrell closed its pork plant in his southeastern Iowa city in 1973. Its population already had fallen from a peak of about 34,000 residents in 1960, and the closure impacted our community for several years, he said.

More: Tyson settles suits filed by families of workers who died in Storm Lake COVID-19 outbreak

In 1976, Hormel opened a new pork plant in Ottumwa and operated it until 1987. Although Hormel struggled with extensive labor disputes, the Minnesota company blamed the closure of the plant on excess slaughter capacity in the industry.

With the help of state incentives, the plant reopened the same year under Excel, a Cargill Inc. subsidiary, that in turn sold the plant in 2015 to JBS SA. The Brazilian company, the worlds largest meatpacker, continues to operate the plant, and Ottumwa's population has stabilized at around 25,000.

It's a similar story in Columbus Junction: Rath Packing Co. opened the plant there in 1961 and closed it in 1983. It reopened two years later under IBP, formerly known as Iowa Beef Processors, which merged with Tyson in 2001.

Over the subsequent 23 years, the communitys reliance on meatpacking jobs has grown, said Huston, the mayor. When the plant closed in the 1980s, about 250 people worked there. Employment is now about five times larger.

"IBP rebuilt the plant and expanded it a bunch," he said.

More: 'If we lost Tyson, we lost everything': Iowa meatpacking plant both a COVID-19 risk and town's lifeblood

JBS in Ottumwa also is critical to that city's economy, said Johnson, who estimated employment is around 2,600. For rural Iowa towns lucky enough to have a large employer, losing those jobs is "truly devastating," Johnson said.

You dont recover from that type of community loss overnight, he said.

Lauritsen said the industry's drive for efficiencies is hurting workers and communities. Corporate executives don't create profits, "workers do," he said. "And they need to be taken care of."

He pointed out that Tyson didn't work with the city or state to try to find a farmer-owned group or other buyer for the Perry plant.

"They didn't want competition for hogs. They didn't want the competition for labor," he said. "Their only answer was, 'Close it.'"

Des Moines Register staff writer Kevin Baskins contributed to this article.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: With Perry closure planned, are other Iowa meatpacking plants at risk?
By David Shepardson and Joseph White

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Workers at Volkswagen's Chattanooga, Tennessee, assembly plant are seeking an election to join the United Auto Workers union, setting up a critical test for UAW President Shawn Fain's unprecedented campaign to expand the union's reach to foreign-owned automakers in the southern United States.

The UAW said a supermajority of eligible workers at the VW plant have signed union cards in about three months. The workers have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking a vote to join the union. It would be the third time in 10 years that the UAW has sought to represent VW Chattanooga workers.

For more than two decades, the UAW has tried and failed to organize non-union U.S. auto assembly plants established by Asian and European automakers, mostly in southern states with laws and political leaders that are hostile to unions. The UAW has not organized workers at Tesla or other electric vehicle startups such as Rivian.

Winning a vote to organize the VW plant would be a significant milestone for the UAW in an election year where both U.S. President Joe Biden and his presumptive Republican rival Donald Trump are aggressively courting votes from UAW members in Michigan and other industrial swing states.

Biden, in a statement released by the White House, congratulated the workers and noted that many VW plants internationally were unionized. "As the most pro-union president in American history, I believe American workers, too, should have a voice at work. The decision whether to join a union belongs to the workers," Biden said.

After winning record new contracts with the Detroit Three automakers last fall, Fain launched a first-of-its-kind campaign to organize the entire nonunion auto assembly sector in the U.S., initiating simultaneous organizing efforts at non-union operations owned by Toyota, Mercedes, Hyundai and other automakers.

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VW, which produces the Atlas and ID.4 at the plant, said Monday it "will fully support an NLRB vote so every team member has a chance to vote in privacy in this important decision. The election timeline will be determined by the NLRB."

The NLRB said it had received the union election petition for 4,300 employees at the VW plant to be represented by the UAW. If both sides do not agree on the election details, the NLRB will hold a pre-election hearing on March 26 in Atlanta.

Two attempts to organize VW's plant in Chattanooga narrowly failed. In 2019, VW workers at the plant rejected union representation in an 833-776 vote. Earlier efforts to organize Nissan Motor plants in Mississippi and Tennessee also failed by wide margins.

The UAW in November announced campaigns at 13 nonunion automakers, including at Tesla, Toyota Motor, Hyundai, Rivian, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Senators in January pressed the automakers to remain neutral during organizing.

Earlier this month, the UAW said that more than 30% of workers at a Toyota factory in Missouri are seeking to join the union.

The UAW said last month a majority of hourly workers at a Mercedes Benz Alabama factory have signed union authorization cards.

VW said in November it would hike pay for Tennessee factory workers by 11%, joining several foreign automakers who have announced significant pay and other compensation improvements in response to the UAW contract.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Christopher Cushing)
The United Auto Workers union hopes the third time's a charm as the workers at Volkswagen Chattanooga in Tennessee filed Monday for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.

The move comes about three months after workers at the plant launched a public campaign to organize, which was promoted in part by the UAW's big contract wins against the Detroit Three last fall following a 46-day strike.

A "We stand with the UAW" sign is placed outside of the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. UAW President Shawn Fain visited the plant with Volkswagen workers, community and faith leaders, and CALEB (Chattanoogans in Action for Love, Equality, and Benevolence). The group delivered a letter to Volkswagen management, "demanding the company end its union-busting and intimidation."

Volkswagen Chattanooga workers were the first to launch their public campaign, with 30% of the 4,000 workers at the plant signing cards to join the union in December, just one week after thousands of autoworkers at 14 nonunion automakers launched simultaneous efforts to join the union, the UAW has said.

How an election gets held

According to the NLRB website, to start the election process, a petition must be filed with the nearest regional office showing support from at least 30% of employees at the facility.

The UAW has previously said it wanted 70% of a workforce to sign cards before an organizing committee made up of plant workers demand that a company recognize the union. If the company does not, the UAW would then file a petition with the NLRB to take a plant vote.

Once the petition is filed, "(The board's) agents will then investigate to make sure the Board has jurisdiction, the union is qualified, and there are no existing labor contracts or recent elections that would bar an election," the board's rules read. "Shortly after the petition is filed, the employer is required to post a Notice of Petition for Election in conspicuous places, including all places where notices to employees are customarily posted."

The board will seek an election agreement between the employer and union to set the date, time and place for balloting, the ballot language and other factors to determine who is eligible to vote. Once an agreement is reached, the parties authorize the board's regional director to conduct the election.

"If no agreement is reached, the Regional Director will hold a hearing and then may order an election and set the conditions in accordance with the Board's rules and its decisions," the board's website said.

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Past votes at VW

The UAW has a history of trying to organize, and failing, in the South, particularly at VWs Chattanooga plant, which is the automaker's only plant in the United States. In 2014, the union was confident it would win a vote at the VW plant because it had a majority who'd signed cards in favor of a union.

But on day one of a three-day vote, the Republican leadership of the state of Tennessee mounted a major campaign to vote no. The GOP's campaign worked and the UAW failed to organize the plant. In 2019, the UAW again narrowly lost a vote at the plant.

Where the UAW movement stands

The UAW last year created a webpage UAW.org/join where nonunion employees can sign cards to unionize. The drive covers nearly 150,000 autoworkers across 13 automakers including electric carmakers Tesla and Rivian.

Last month UAW President Shawn Fain told the Free Press he expects to organize at least one new automaker plant in the country this year, possibly more. Fain said all he needs is one plant where 70% of the workers have signed cards, then take it to a vote and win. That would provide the momentum to win more, he said.

UAW President Shawn Fain speaks to the media in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. Fain visited the Volkswagen plant with workers, community and faith leaders, and CALEB (Chattanoogans in Action for Love, Equality, and Benevolence). The group delivered a letter to Volkswagen management, "demanding the company end its union-busting and intimidation."

So far, VW has the most workers signed up.

A "majority of workers" at Mercedes-Benz's largest plant in the United States, MBUSI in Vance, Alabama, have signed union cards in support of joining the union. Earlier this month, workers at Toyota's plant in Troy, Missouri, launched a public campaign to join the UAW after more than 30% of plant workers signed union authorization cards. It is the first Toyota plant and the fourth nonunion plant to go public with the campaign to unionize. On Feb. 1, the UAW said 30% of workers at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama had signed cards.

More: GM vs. Ford womens charity hockey game is ultimate rivalry

More: GM UAW members frustrated by cap on 1st phase of $50K buyout, demand Fain take action

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: UAW moves to hold a vote to unionize Volkswagen plant in Tennessee
(Bloomberg) -- The UK financial watchdog banned a trader from operating in the industry and fined him 6 million ($7.6 million) for his alleged role in a Cum-Ex tax trading scheme that obtained tens of millions of dollars of sham refunds from the Danish exchequer.

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Nailesh Teraiya, who owned and ran a small London-based brokerage called Indigo Global Partners Ltd., is alleged to have played a key role in what the Financial Conduct Authority described as a sham trading scheme that received 91.2 million ($99.4 million) in tax refunds from the Danish tax authority. Teraiya received millions of dollars in fees for his role, some of which was used to buy a 3 million house in Dubai, the FCA said.

Teraiya has appealed the decision to the FCAs Upper Tribunal and the watchdogs findings are therefore provisional, according to the Monday statement. Teraiya didnt respond to phone calls and texts requesting comment.

The FCA has now levied over 20 million of fines on multiple finance firms and individuals for their involvement in Cum-Ex trades that illicitly claimed refunds on dividend taxes. Many of the companies had relationships with Sanjay Shah, a controversial trader who has been accused of being the mastermind of a scam that defrauded Denmark out of more than 9 billion kroner (1.3 billion).

Shah was extradited from Dubai to Denmark last year and he is currently standing trial in Copenhagen. He has always denied any wrongdoing.

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IPO Edge sister platform CorpGov hosted a fireside chat with Michael Verrechia, Partner and Managing Director of the M&A and Activism Advisory Group at Morrow Sodali at the 36th Annual Tulane Corporate Law Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana. The in-person interview was joined by Editor-in-Chief John Jannarone and they discussed the implications of the Universal Proxy Card, currently the centerpiece of the fight at The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS).

The situation is even more unusual at Disney because of the enormous presence of retail investors who rarely vote  let alone manage so many choices. Mr. Verrechia shared his insights on how the process may shake out.

Watch the full recording below:

About Michael Verrechia

Michael Verrechia is Senior Managing Director of the M&A and Activism Advisory Group at Morrow Sodali. With 20 years of experience, Mike provides strategic counsel in matters of shareholder activism in contested director elections, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and proxy solicitation.

Several contested situations in which he has served include Newell Brands/Starboard, Olympus Corporation/ValueAct, Natus Medical/Voce Capital, Blackwells Capital/SuperValu, Anheuser Busch/InBev, Martin Marietta Materials/Vulcan Materials, Mylan Labs/Icahn, Sodastream International/Teleios, Caesarstone Ltd./ Kibbutz Sdot-Yam, Sothebys Inc./Third Point, Breeden Partners/H&R Block, Ranger Governance/Computer Associates.

In the last year, Mike has also provided guidance to issuers in some of the largest successful M&A transactions including Connecticut Water Service/SJW Group, Pfizer/Medivation salesforce.com/MuleSoft & Demandware, Monsanto/Bayer, RiteAid/Walgreens and Time Warner/AT&T.

About Morrow Sodali

Morrow Sodali is a leading provider of strategic advice and shareholder services. The firm provides corporate boards and executives with strategic advice and services relating to investor engagement, environmental, social, and corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions and shareholders activism, strategic communications, investor relations, and research. From headquarters in New York, London, and Sydney, with offices and partners in major capital markets, Morrow Sodali serves approximately 2,000 clients in 70 countries, including many of the worlds largest multinational corporations. In addition to listed and private companies, our clients include financial institutions, mutual funds, ETFs, stock exchanges, and membership associations.

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Contact:

IPO-Edge.com

Editor@IPO-Edge.com

X/Twitter: @IPOEdge

Instagram: @IPOEdge
FILE PHOTO: The seal of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seen at their headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 12, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/

By Ross Kerber

(Reuters) - New U.S. climate-disclosure regulations should boost demand for services of the Big Four accounting firms and more specialized reviewers, and could sharpen a rivalry between the two camps, executives and analysts said.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 6 approved a new rule for public companies to disclose emissions and other climate-related details. The SEC estimates the rule will increase spending by filers on external service providers like assurance firms by as much as $907 million a year, an 18% increase over current levels.

Republicans including SEC member Hester Peirce have cited higher costs in arguments against the new rule, which also faces court challenges. Even if those succeed, new requirements in California and Europe will boost audit and accounting firms that will prepare emissions data and other climate-related information sought by investors.

"We anticipate more and more that our clients will be asking us for help" preparing so-called 'attestation' reports required under the new climate-disclosure rules, said Amy Brachio, global vice chair for accounting firm Ernst & Young.

She said further that EY and other big audit firms could have an edge because corporate financial officers will now be responsible for climate reports and are used to working with firms like hers. Currently much of the emissions reporting is overseen by corporate chief sustainability officers.

Chief financial officers and others are "very used to working with the Big Four," she said.

Many companies already disclose some version of this information in voluntary sustainability reports and often hire firms to provide "assurance" for some of their numbers. In this space specialized firms Apex Companies and ERM CVS have the most market share according to researcher Teneo.

Beth Wyke, ERM CVS Global Head of Corporate Assurance, said it has over 200 clients, mostly publicly-traded companies, and expects to grow as the new rules from Washington and other jurisdictions kick in. She noted that the SEC increased the number of standards that could be used to assure data, making it easier for companies to hire firms like hers outside the traditional audit industry.

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"Theres room for everybody" she said.

An Apex representative declined to comment.

A test of the new competition could come at Apple, which uses Ernst & Young as its auditor but hired Apex to assure parts of its latest environmental report.

Tim Weiss, CEO of carbon accounting software maker Optera, said while companies new to climate reporting might go with a traditional audit firm to handle the new disclosures, "a company like Apple might have a different calculus."

Apple said it supports emissions disclosures but did not address whether it would continue to use both Apex and Ernst & Young.

(Reporting by Ross Kerber; additional reporting by Isla Binnie and Simon Jessop; Editing by David Gregorio and Alexander Smith)
West Liberty Foods, an east-central Iowa turkey processing plant, says it will lay off about 260 employees beginning in April as it moves some processing to a sister facility in a Chicago suburb.

The farmer-owned cooperative will wind down its ready-to-eat turkey slicing operations, moving them to its facility in Bolingbrook, Illinois, a city of about 74,000 people outside of Chicago. It also will fold a second fabrication shift in West Liberty.

West Liberty Foods says it will lay off 260 workers at its Iowa plant, beginning next month.

Rapid growth in demand for West Liberty's ready-to-eat sandwiches, produced at the Illinois plant, is driving the move, West Liberty Foods said Monday in an email.

Last week, Tyson Foods said it would close its Perry pork processing plant, laying off nearly 1,300 workers in June as it seeks efficiencies in its operations.

More: As Tyson Foods closes Perry plant, are other Iowa facilities headed to the chopping block?

The West Liberty layoffs are slated to begin April 29. Additional cuts are expected in May, June and November, the company said. But it said its turkey harvesting and first-shift fabrication operations won't be affected, and that it will keep its headquarters in West Liberty.

Turkey growers formed the company in 1996 after Oscar Mayer said it would close the plant. The company now employs 865 workers there.

As a resident of this community, the decision to reduce production capacity in West Liberty was difficult and painful, West Liberty CEO Brandon Achen said in a statement. We value the contributions of all our team members and deeply regret the need for layoffs.

More: Tyson plant closing announcement takes Perry by surprise, but city leaders vow to rebound

We are committed to connecting each affected person with new employment opportunities and support, Achen said.

Company also suspending retirement fund match

In addition to the layoffs, the company said it's suspending its matching contributions to team members' 401(k) retirement plans as a temporary measure to conserve cash.

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West Liberty said its working to identify reassignment opportunities within our company and providing onsite reemployment and support services.

In Perry, Tyson has said it's encouraging workers to take new jobs at company's other operations. A job fair is scheduled on April 3.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: West Liberty Foods to lay off 260 employees at Iowa turkey plant
Shares of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM) were among the winners in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector today as several news items contributed to gains in the high-flying group of tech stocks.

As a result, Taiwan Semi stock was up 2.6% as of 10:04 a.m. ET.

Image source: Getty Images.

AI stocks rise again

Some of Taiwan Semi's key partners were making news today, and several AI sector stocks rose today as investors await the start of Nvidia's GPU Technology Conference today, where the company is expected to launch new products that could pump up investor excitement about AI even more.

Additionally, Apple, Taiwan Semi's biggest customer, is reportedly in talks with Alphabet about using Google's Gemini AI technology in iPhones. While that news doesn't have direct implications for TSMC, Apple's expected moves in AI are likely to lead to new business for Taiwan Semi, the world's biggest contract chip manufacturer.

Yesterday, Taiwan Semi also reported that TSMC is considering building advanced packaging capacity in Japan, which would be the first time it brings its chip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS) technology outside of Taiwan. The move should increase capacity at a time when demand is soaring, and relieve some of the geographical risk associated with Taiwan.

Can Taiwan Semi keep climbing?

Investors should keep an eye on Nvidia's conference this week, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's keynote this afternoon, as Nvidia's plans are likely to move the AI sector and even the broader stock market.

As the leading contract chip manufacturer in the world, Taiwan Semi will benefit from increased interest and demand for AI chips, especially since it has approximately 90% market share of advanced chip manufacturing.

Expect the stock to continue to be a bellwether for the broader AI and chip industry, which for now, looks like a good place to be.

Should you invest $1,000 in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing right now?

Before you buy stock in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, consider this:

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The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

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Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Apple, Nvidia, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Why Taiwan Semiconductor Stock Was Moving Higher Today was originally published by The Motley Fool
(Bloomberg) -- Chinas Longi Green Energy Technology Co., the worlds largest solar manufacturer, is cutting almost one-third of its staff to slash costs in an industry struggling with overcapacity and fierce competition.

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Longi plans to trim as much as 30% of its workforce, which last year totaled about 80,000 at its peak, according to several people familiar with the matter, including some briefed by senior management. The people asked not to be identified because the plans arent public.

The move signals an acceleration of job cuts that Longi began in November, when it started laying off thousands of people who were mostly management trainees and factory hires  a reversal after years of breakneck expansion across the global solar industry. It isnt clear how many employees had been dismissed before this latest decision.

Longi rejected as false the suggestion that it would cut 30% of staff and said reductions would involve about 5% of total employees.

The solar sector is facing an increasingly competitive environment, the company said in a statement. In order to adapt to market changes and improve organizational efficiency, Longi is optimizing our workforce.

Xian-based Longi isnt alone: Chinas solar industry dominates global manufacturing but has suffered from layoffs and suspended investment plans in recent months. Manufacturers have been forced to sell at or below production costs after prices for solar panels fell to record lows last year. The result is that an industry seen as crucial to the global energy transition is struggling with excessive capacity, consolidation and the possibility of bankruptcies.

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Fierce competition has also forced many companies that make wafers  a solar panel precursor that is wired into cells and assembled into modules  to cut production. Longi, a leading wafer producer, had to significantly cut prices last year.

Staff at Longi have seen previous efforts to cut costs fall short, including the cancelation of free afternoon tea, shrinking budgets for business trips and being told to only print in black-and-white unless approved to do otherwise by supervisors, the people said. Longis Shanghai office also stopped offering free coffee, two of the people said.

Amid rising internal concerns about job losses by rank-and-file workers, the company late last year disabled an internal function where employees could see the total number of staff, some of the people said.

Read More: Biden Solar Subsidies Seen as Insufficient Against China

Beyond the overcapacity and competition issues, there have been other headaches for Longi and the industry: some Chinese manufacturers have had their exports to the US held up over alleged forced labor abuses in Chinas Xinjiang region, accusations which Beijing has repeatedly denied. Longi saw its American joint venture in Ohio, which it built with a local partner, face pushback as political tensions between Beijing and Washington rose.

For Longi, the financial pressures sent its net income plunging 44% to 2.52 billion yuan ($350 million) in the third quarter of 2023. Company President Li Zhenguo said in October that the firm made a mistake in not being aggressive enough in price competition with peers and was likely to miss its annual shipment target. The companys shares have fallen about 70% from their peak in 2021.

The solar industry has a history of boom and bust cycles, as its growth soared and stalled at the whim of government subsidies. Once-top manufacturers like Suntech Power Holdings and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. later filed for bankruptcy or entered judicial restructuring. On the flip side, cheap solar panels are driving a surge in demand, with new installations soaring 72% to a new record last year, according to BloombergNEF.

Riding a wave of investment and demand for solar power globally, employment at Longi had surged from the 4,068 people it had in 2012, when the manufacturer went public on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The company reported 60,601 of employees at the end of 2022, and hiring continued well into 2023, according to the people.

Thats all being reversed now.

Employees who left Longi recently were often fired directly or quit after being transferred to different positions that they werent able to take, while factories using older technologies have seen more job cuts than other units, some of the people said.

Despite the recent challenges, Chinas solar industry could start to see a rebound by year-end, with margins rising in 2025 based on a quickening pace of consolidation and a better balance between supply and demand, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Intelligence.

Longi should be in a good position to weather that turbulence: Beyond being a market leader, the company had about $7.4 billion in cash and equivalents at the end of 2022, far more than most of its competitors, according to company filings and a comparison with peers identified by Bloomberg Intelligence.

--With assistance from Dan Murtaugh and Alfred Cang.

(Updates to add company statement from fourth paragraph. A previous version of this story corrected the company name in first paragraph.)

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UAE's Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) and Lootah Biofuels, a leading circular economy pioneer producing biofuel from cooking oil, have signed an MoU to develop, promote and utilising biofuels as a sustainable energy source.

The MoU was signed at the Lootah Biofuels factory in Dubai Industrial City. Sharif Salim Al-Olama, the Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs in the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and Yousif bin Saeed Lootah, Founder and CEO of Lootah Biofuels, signed the deal.

The key focus areas under the MoU include collaborative R&D initiatives to explore and develop the biofuels market in the UAE and actively share knowledge and technical expertise through workshops, seminars, and knowledge-sharing sessions for industry stakeholders.

Mutual exchange

The partnership will also facilitate the mutual exchange of comprehensive data pertaining to biofuel production and commercial distribution. This data will be instrumental in informing policy decisions and tracking progress towards national clean energy goals.

The collaboration will focus on raising awareness and promoting the use of biofuels across the UAE. This will contribute to enhancing the country's energy security and achieving its environmental sustainability objectives.

This MoU builds upon the successful meeting held in November 2023, where a high-level delegation from MoEI, led by Eng Saif Ghobash, Assistant Undersecretary for the Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources Sector at MoEI, visited Lootah Biofuels. The visit allowed MoEI to witness firsthand Lootah Biofuels' innovative and sustainable solutions for biofuel production.

Sustainable solutions

At the MoU signing, Al-Olama said: I would like to appreciate the efforts being made by Lootah Biofuels to promote the use of biofuels and to raise public awareness. We are excited to collaborate with Lootah Biofuels to continue advocating for adopting sustainable solutions while driving our climate commitments."

Lootah said: Our collaboration with MoEI signifies Lootah Biofuels commitment to supporting the UAE's clean energy strategies to develop greener and circular energy resources. As an Emirati brand, we are honoured to partner with MoEI to drive the biofuels industry forward and contribute to the UAE's Net-Zero 2050 ambition."

In addition to joint research and market development for biofuels, both parties will raise awareness and promote the use of biofuels across the UAE. The MoU underscores the UAE's unwavering commitment to achieving its clean energy goals and Net-Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative. By combining Lootah Biofuels' expertise in biofuel production with MoEI's leadership in energy policy, this collaboration will pave the way for significant advancements in the biofuels sector.--TradeArabia News Service
If your idea of a perfect Saturday morning is shopping for freezer goods and pantry staples at Costco, a Costco credit card could be a great addition to your wallet. It has rewards designed to help bring down the price of your next Costco haul, plus no annual fee.

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is a solid cash-back credit card with a ton of potential savings for members of the wholesale club. Heres everything you need to know before you apply:

Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi

Annual fee: $0

Welcome offer: N/A

Rewards:

4% cash back on eligible gas and EV charging (up to the first $7,000 spent per year, then 1%)

3% cash back at restaurants

3% cash back on eligible travel purchases

2% cash back on other Costco and Costco.com purchases

1% cash back on all other spending

APR

The Costco Anywhere Visa has a variable 20.49% APR. Thats slightly lower than many other cards today, but its still a high APR. Carrying any balances with this card could lead to high-interest debt if you spend more than you can afford.

There is also no intro APR offer, so the regular APR will kick in for any balances not paid by the due date.

Annual fee

There is no annual fee for the Costco credit card. However, you will need an active Costco membership to be approved.

Annual personal memberships cost $60 for Gold Star Members and $120 for Executive Members. The Executive membership tier offers a 2% annual reward (up to $1,000) on Costco spending, which applies in addition to any rewards you earn with your Costco credit card.

Your Costco membership will auto-renew onto your Costco Anywhere Visa card (if youre not already enrolled in auto-renewal) and youll earn rewards on the fee.

Welcome offer

This Costco credit card has no cash welcome bonus offer for new cardholders.

Rewards rate

These are the rewards categories the Costco credit card offers  which extend even beyond Costco purchases.

4% cash back on eligible gas and electric vehicle charging (including Costco gas stations; up to $7,000 spent per year, then 1%)

3% cash back at restaurants

3% cash back on eligible travel purchases (including Costco Travel)

2% cash back on other Costco and Costco.com purchases

1% on all other purchases

How to earn rewards

Youll earn cash-back rewards every time you make an eligible purchase with your Costco credit card. There are some exceptions to eligible bonus spending, though  for each of the non-eligible purchases below, youll earn only 1% cash back.

4% cash back does not apply to gas purchases at non-Costco superstores, supermarkets, and warehouse clubs. Gas not used for cars is also excluded.

3% cash back at restaurants does not apply to bakeries, and may not apply to restaurants or cafes inside of department stores, grocery stores , or warehouse clubs.

The 3% cash back travel category has some select exclusions: timeshares, campgrounds, bed and breakfasts, train tickets, and other commuter travel purchases.

In addition, non-purchase transactions earn no rewards. These include cash advances, balance transfers, interest and fees, lottery tickets, and fraudulent charges.

How to redeem rewards

Unlike many cash-back credit cards , the Costco Anywhere Visa offers little flexibility in how you redeem and use your rewards.

Each year, youll receive the previous years cash back as a rewards certificate with your February billing statement. You can use the certificate like cash at Costco warehouse locations, but there are some important restrictions:

You must use your rewards certificate by December 31 the year you receive it

You can only use your rewards at a Costco warehouse in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico)  not online or at Costco gas stations

You must redeem your rewards certificate in a single transaction

You may also use your rewards to purchase a Costco Shop Card, which works like a store gift card. This is a useful option if you have more rewards than you can spend in one trip or youre unable to use your rewards before the December 31 deadline. Unlike the rewards certificate, you can also use the gift card online or at Costco gas stations.

Additional benefits

Aside from rewards, there arent many additional benefits youll get from a Costco credit card. The benefits you will get are fairly standard amongst rewards cards . These include no foreign transaction fees, travel and emergency assistance services, travel accident insurance, and roadside dispatch.

Who is the Costco Anywhere Visa best for?

Not only does the Costco Anywhere Visa offer a great return on several everyday categories  even outside of Costco spending  but its also one of the only card options for bonus rewards at Costco.

Many credit cards with grocery or supermarket rewards categories exclude wholesale clubs like Costco from eligibility. If you shop at Costco regularly, this card is one of the only ways to maximize what could potentially be one of your biggest monthly budget items.

Plus, it also offers a ton of additional savings.

Lets say youre a regular Costco shopper and pay $120 for annual Executive Membership. Each month, you do the majority of your familys grocery and household spending at the wholesale club, totaling around $500. Over a year, thats about $6,000. You also spend about $120 on gas each month and another $200 on dining out  both of which you charge to your card.

Heres a look at what rewards you could earn over a year:

If you already think your Costco membership is worth the annual cost, you may not consider the fee cost in your rewards calculation. But the amount you spend at Costco each year and the membership tier you choose can affect your net rewards.

Youll pay less for Gold Star membership, but Executive members earn an added 2% in annual Costco rewards. If you spend enough with Costco each year, that could be enough to wipe out the fee altogether (like in our example above). On top of that, your Costco Anywhere Visa card rewards total nearly $250 more in cash back, and you could earn even more depending on your spending outside of these categories.

Before you apply, make sure to look back at your spending and budget to determine the right options for you.

Costco Anywhere Visa pros

Everyday savings: Not only can you earn Costco rewards with this card, but more everyday bonus categories can help you save on your regular spending at restaurants, gas stations, and even on travel.

No annual fee: Outside of Costco membership, this card has no annual fee. If you already use a Costco membership for savings with the wholesale club, you wont pay any extra to earn additional rewards with this card.

Combine with Executive Membership rewards: If you have the $120/year Executive Membership from Costco, you may already earn 2% rewards on your Costco spending. With a Costco Anywhere Visa, youll earn those rewards plus 2% credit card rewards on your Costco spending.

Costco Anywhere Visa cons

No added benefits: Beyond rewards, this card has few added benefits for cardholders. If youre looking for annual credits or partner perks, consider more general rewards credit cards .

Limited redemptions for rewards: Inflexible rewards are one of the Costco cards big drawbacks. Youll only receive rewards once per year and must use them in a single transaction at U.S. Costco store locations. For more flexibility, you may want to look at regular cash-back credit cards or rewards credit cards.

Where can you use your Costco credit card?

You can use the Costco Anywhere Visa with any retailer that accepts credit card payments. Its a co-branded card between Costco and Citi and runs on the Visa network, one of the most widely accepted credit card networks worldwide.

If you dont have a Visa credit card already, this could be another incentive to consider the Costco credit card. Costco accepts all Visa credit cards (plus non-credit card payments including cash, debit cards, and checks).

How to make a Costco Anywhere Visa payment

The Costco credit card is issued by Citi, so youll make all of your payments through your online Citi account (not through Costco). Here are your options from the issuer:

Online payment through your Citi account

Phone: 1-855-378-6467

Mail:

PO Box 78019

Phoenix, AZ 85062-8019

Costco Anywhere Visa customer service info

Phone number: 1-855-378-6467

Costco Anywhere Visa card login page

Alternative cards to consider

If youre not already a Costco member or looking for more flexible cash rewards, here are a few more cash-back credit cards to compare:

Why we like it: The Blue Cash Everyday from Amex is a no annual fee cash-back card ( see rates and fees ) with a $200 cash welcome bonus you can earn when you spend at least $2,000 within the first six months. Ongoing rewards include 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on U.S. online retail purchases, and at U.S. gas stations  each up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1%. Every other purchase earns 1% cash back. Theres also an introductory 0% APR offer and added annual benefits via partner brands.

Why we like it: Chase Freedom Unlimited is a cash-back credit card with no annual fee that offers a flat 1.5% back on all non-bonus spending. But you can also earn 5% cash back on travel bookings through Chase Travel and 3% cash back at drugstores and on dining (including eligible delivery). As a new Chase Freedom Unlimited cardholder, youll earn an additional 1.5% back on every purchase  even spending in bonus categories  up to the first $20,000 spent in the first year, for a potential $300 in added cash back.

Why we like it: Walmart may be a superstore rather than a wholesale club, but the Walmart Rewards Mastercard is another co-branded card that offers a lot of savings on groceries. Youll earn 5% cash back on Walmart.com; 2% cash back at Walmart stores, Murphy USA and Walmart gas stations, restaurants, and on travel; and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Theres no annual fee and for the first year, your Walmart in-store purchases earn a boosted 5% cash back when you use Walmart Pay with your card.

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the banks website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers.
When Gov. Glenn Youngkin gathered with local officials last week to celebrate data center development in the Fredericksburg region, one locality was missing from the party.

King George County was the first in the immediate Fredericksburg area to approve the rezonings needed for Amazon Web Services to set up shop. However, no one from King George stood with Board of Supervisors members from Caroline, Louisa, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties at the governors gathering at Germanna Community College to tout all the jobs and tax dollars the data centers would bring to local coffers.

Thats because a change in membership on the King George Board of Supervisors, as a result of November elections, brought a different majority and mindset to the board. Led by Chairman T.C. Collins, the supervisors voted in January to cancel the performance agreement with Amazon that had been approved a month earlier by the previous board.

The current members are looking to renegotiate the contract with Amazon, but the two parties seemingly havent made any progress. When Collins asked for an update in early March, he was told by Richard Stuart Sr., King Georges interim county attorney, that Amazon has transferred into its name the water intake permit through the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

The primary portion of the 869 acres in the Sealston area, designated for a data center complex, is on the site of the former Birchwood power plant. The Birchwood Power Partners already had a permit from DEQ to extract a maximum of 6.6 million gallons of water daily from the Rappahannock River.

Stuart said the new permit makes no mention of a promise Amazon made to King George to provide a minimum of 600,000 gallons of water a day to the county for use as drinking water.

Stuart also said that Amazon could change its permit at any point, and that for the sake of convenience, it had chosen to make only a minor modification to the permit as part of the transfer.

Then, the lawyer expressed how concerned he was that theres no evidence in the permit of Amazons intent to give the county water.

Where I come from, if you promise somebody something, youre supposed to deliver on it, Stuart said.

His comments concerned Vice Chair Cathy Binder.

Thats been my biggest thing over time, drinking water, and to make sure that our residents get drinking water, she said, especially since DEQ has told the county it needs to find an alternative source of groundwater.

King George lies at the far end of an aquifer that supplies drinking water, and its been given a timetable to find another source, she said. DEQ is very specific about that.

However, emails between Stuart and Charlie Payne, a Fredericksburg lawyer representing Amazon, show the two attorneys had discussed the water-intake permit two weeks before the King George meeting on March 5.

In emails which Payne provided to The Free LanceStar, Stuart expressed his disappointment that Amazons permit included only water for industrial cooling and no water whatsoever for drinking purposes.

Payne responded that what occurred was the normal transfer from the former owner to the current one, consistent with the countys proffer amendment and special exception approval. He said the transfer of the water-intake permit in no way changes Amazons commitment to the county, and providing the drinking water, as outlined in the performance agreement and memorandum of understanding.

I think the record should be very clear that it is not (Amazon) who is hindering progress with the data center projects proposed in King George County, Payne wrote. Rather it is the county.

The about-face on the Amazon decision isnt the only matter the Board of Supervisors has dealt with this year. From the first meeting in January through the end of February, four key staff members  all department heads  have resigned.

The first two came the same night the new board deliberated for the first time. The supervisors opened the meeting, went into closed session, came out before the public again and accepted the resignations of County Administrator Chris Miller and County Attorney Kelly Lackey.

Miller, who became King Georges county administrator in July 2021, said he was not forced to resign, but that it was a mutually agreed decision to go in another direction, he said in a text. New board and board relationship.

Lackey, the county attorney since November 2021, could not be reached for comment.

Both submitted resignations that were handwritten, and done hastily, at least by the looks of them. Miller had scratched out words in several places, and inserted phrases, above the lines, in others. Under Lackeys signature on her resignation is the wrong year  Jan. 2, 2023, instead of 2024.

Since then, Donna Hahn, finance director, and Nick Minor, director of economic development and tourism, also have resigned.

Theres been a flurry of speculation and emails to county officials and the press, demanding an investigation of both the resignations and the Amazon revocation. Theyve come from unnamed emailers who call themselves Shadow or Friend of King George to those who identify themselves, including board-watcher Adam Simonoff.

There must be a public explanation for all the recent resignations of key public servants in King George County, Simonoff said in an email to At-Large Supervisor David Sullins. Id rather keep all the professional civil servants and have the responsible elected officials resign. All the county taxpayers deserve answers.

Simonoff plans to present his concerns to the King George Board of Supervisors during its meeting Tuesday in the boardroom of the Revercomb Administration Center. The Board of Directors for the King George Service Authority meets at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Board of Supervisors.
Three intersection modification projects are scheduled for U.S. 301 in King George County, and a meeting is slated to provide details on the planned work.

The projects are planned for the intersections at State Route 3, Market Center and University/Commerce Drive.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will host the open house style event, which will be held on Thursday, April 4, from 5-7 p.m. at King George High School. VDOT staff will be on hand and project plans will be on display.

VDOT says the projects are aimed at reducing the risk of crashes and addressing traffic congestion by reconfiguring approaches, modifying access, and adding pedestrian accommodations near Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren.

The project at U.S. 301 and Route 3 calls for a reconfiguration to a median U-turn intersection, which will remove left turns from the signalized intersection, according to VDOT. Instead of making left turns, traffic will use U-turns north and south of the intersection. Traffic will continue to make right turns at the signalized intersection.

Both projects at University/Commerce Drive and Market Center will involve converting the intersections into signalized double restricted U-Turns. This design allows for right turns onto U.S. 301 from side streets. Other traffic going through the intersection or turning right from the side streets will use U-turns on 301.

The work at those intersections also calls for sidewalk improvements and the installation of pedestrian crossings with signals.

The combined cost of the intersection projects totals $9.2 million.

Construction is scheduled to start in the fall of 2026 and be completed in the summer of 2027.

Commuter lot repair

The Staffordboro park and ride lot in Stafford County is scheduled to be closed this weekend so crews can restripe the pavement.

The work is part of a $900,000 maintenance project at the Stafford lot along with the resurfacing of the Spotsylvania commuter lot on Houser Drive.
OMAHA  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
FILE - A man enters the U.S. embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, March 10, 2024. A charter flight carrying dozens of U.S. citizens fleeing spiraling gang violence in Haiti landed Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Miami, U.S. State Department officials said.
A proposal in the Colorado House could see a major expansion to the state's "right to repair" laws, notably in the area of electronic equipment, such as mobile phones and other devices.
About to 200 people stood in line at 6 a.m. Monday in Johnstown to be the first customers at Buc-ees, Colorados newest gas station.

This is our merry Buc-mas, said Jessica Forinash of Thornton. This is the only time it opens. It never closes.

If you want to see it open you got to come now, said the former Alabama resident, adding shes happy its close again.

People stood in below-freezing temperatures wearing Buc-ees merchandise, such as beaver onesies and T-shirts, while chanting Buc-ees, Buc-ees minutes before doors opened.

Once allowed in, guests ran into the store with hands in the air, then grabbed a shopping cart to fill with more original merch or darted to the food stands for fudge or beef brisket.

The cult-favorite Texas gas station chain boasting the worlds cleanest bathrooms allowed the media access to the 74,000-square-foot gas station on 5201 Nugget Road, with 116 gas pumps and 12 electric charging stations, before the doors opened to the public.

The bathrooms had 34 stalls for women, 17 for men and 19 urinals. Each stall has green and red lights on the door indicating if its vacant or not, and the bathrooms have attendants all day, every day making sure its tidy and in best condition for travelers.

Lisa Nguyen, a new fan from Centennial, first heard about Buc-ees from a friend who got her a beaver plush as a gift.

Its more than a gas station. Its more than a stop, she remembered her friend telling her.

Then she visited one in Texas and found it a fun experience with good food, a pleasant restroom experience and cute beaver products.

I dont think I really understood the hype until after Id been to one in Texas and I was like, No, I get it now, Nguyen said.

The massive gas station and country store began construction in 2022. The Texas-based chain has 48 stations across the south in U.S. states Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri. Alongside Colorado, Virginia is also poised to get a Buc-ees, with construction starting this year.

Colorados first location is right between Denver and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Itll catch daily commuters or families visiting Estes Park and the Rocky Mountains, said Buc-ees director of operations Josh Smith.

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As you walk in, your sensories are gonna be overloaded from the fresh smell of the food being made, to the sweet cinnamon roasted nuts, Smith said, to all the aesthetics, the gift items like crystallized cow skulls and cow hides, and barbecue pits and everything with a beaver on it that you can imagine.

The company is planning on expanding across the state, Smith said, but wont say where yet.

The Johnstown location will attract more than 100,000 people a week, according to the citys development manager Sarah Crosthwaite, and could generate $25 million in taxable sales yearly.

We picked a great partner in the community of Johnstown for our first store in Colorado, Buc-ees Stan Beard said in a previous statement. At the foothills of the beautiful Northern Front Range, this Buc-ees will introduce all sorts of bikers, hikers, skiers, and campers to the cleanest restrooms, friendliest staff, and freshest food theyll ever find on a road trip.

The Johnstown station is expected to bring 200 jobs to the area, according to Buc-ees.

This beaver built an economic dam on I-25 for us, said Johnstown Mayor Troy Mellon at the Monday ribbon cutting ceremony.

Itll attract people and their dollars to the town in the same way a beavers dam brings all sorts of wildlife to its lake, he said. The opening was highly anticipated to boost not only Johnstowns economy, but also the Northern Colorado region and the whole state, as well.

We have finally got something that isnt from California, said state Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, for the district covering Weld and Larimer counties. We finally got something from Texas.

Buc-ees founder Arch Beaver Aplin III told a crowd at the ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. that he wasnt certain how the turnout would be for Colorados first location since the chain has focused most of its expansions on Texas and the Southeast U.S.

At the time of the ceremony, Buc-ees parking lot was overwhelmed and the street behind the travel center, Nugget Road, was lined with illegally parked cars on both sides. Customers stood in long lines for brisket and fresh beef jerky and cell phone service slowed as crowds took over the store and overwhelmed the free WiFi.

I dont know why were just now getting here, Aplin said about Colorados long-awaited travel center.

Even Aplin was surprised by the large reception within the chains newest state and said the chains fans can expect more to come.

This wont be the only store in Colorado, Aplin said. We very much look forward to finding more opportunities to be here in yalls great state.
El Paso County parents may not have as much to worry about their kids drinking water with lead at school these days, but the complete removal of lead in public schools remains ongoing nearly a year later after the process started.

Under state law passed in 2022, all Colorado public schools grades K-5, early child care facilities and family child care homes were required to test all their drinking water fixtures for lead concentration and to submit their results to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) by May 31, 2023.

The Environmental Protection Agency, American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all agree that there is no safe amount of lead in a child's blood, with lead exposure being linked to numerous health problems, including damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, impaired hearing and growth disruption.

Clean, lead-free drinking water in schools and child care centers cuts down the risk of dangerous, lifelong impacts to children's health and well-being, said Rep. Emily Sirota, D-Denver, who sponsored the testing bill that became law.

Despite these risks for children, the EPA has set the minimum lead requirement for all public drinking water fixtures at 15 micrograms per liter or parts per billion (ppb), while the Food and Drug Administration set the minimum for bottled water at 5 ppb. A part per billion is proportionate to a single drop of water in a 10-million-gallon tank.

In Colorado, if any samples show lead concentrations at or above 5 ppb, the school or child care center must notify all employees, parents and guardians, cease use of the water source and begin its remediation.

The law also created statewide standards and procedures regarding testing, maintenance, protocols, recording and reporting all actions pertaining to clean drinking water.

According to the most recent data submitted to the CDPHE, all El Paso County public school districts have complied with the law with 4,200 total drinking sources tested and submitted to the state by the deadline, but the work is far from complete.

Across the county's 15 school districts, 300 drinking sources recorded excessive amounts of lead in their water samples. Out of those fixtures, the progress for 268 of them is listed as underway or further fixes underway on the states website as of March 11, despite some of the samples getting submitted over a year ago. If a fixtures initial and follow-up test records excessive ppb, it is immediately shut off and taken out of service.

School districts D20, D2, D12 and D38 are among those who have shut off multiple fixtures with lead in their water with remediation work still ongoing. Fixtures with some of the highest amounts of lead have included a kitchen faucet yielding 130 ppb at Manitou Springs Elementary School, 280 ppb at a High Plains Elementary gym water fountain and 3,500 ppb at a kitchen faucet in Doherty High School.

D8 is the only district to have completely fixed or replaced all their dangerous water sources to date, with 23 fixtures testing for excessive amounts of lead.

In addition to setting the state requirements and providing the schools with the needed funding, the CDPHE also works with the individual schools to help them develop their own remediation plans.

Funding for the testing and remediation efforts comes from the states general fund at $21 million, with the average cost for remediation at each school estimated to be $2,100. Nichole Rowan, director of CDPHEs Water Quality Control Division, says the available funding has been sufficient thus far.

It does really vary from school to school or even fixture to fixture, of what that cost is, depending on the fix, she said.

The law also requires that all 6-8 grade public schools follow this same process starting Sept. 2023 with a Nov. 2024 deadline. It does not require public schools grade 9-12 to conduct these tests nor to keep records like the other facilities.

Rowan said this was to prioritize the health of the youngest students who are impacted by lead greater than older kids and young adults.

Once we focus on that, we can determine next steps, she said.

Lead testing in Colorado's schools HB22-1358 was signed into law June 7, 2022

All elementary schools and childcare centers became required to test all drinking water sources by May 31, 2023.

If lead levels are over 5 parts per billion (ppb) schools and childcare providers must take the fixture out of service and take remedial action.

Schools and childcare centers must notify families about the results of testing and what theyre doing to address anything discovered.

$21 million has been approved for testing and remediation at public schools and childcare facilities.

Middle schools began testing water sources September 30, 2023. All samples must be submitted to the state by November 30, 2024.

Weve been slow-playing this

Nationwide standards for lead and other contaminants in public water fixtures have been in place for 50 years while the Lead and Copper Rule began regular testing and treatment in 1991, but legislation to specifically reduce child lead exposure in drinking water has only begun passing in individual states in recent years. Colorado introduced a state grant program in 2017 to fund testing for its public schools until 2020, though it wasnt widely utilized.

Public health advocate Alexandra Simon with the Colorado Public Interest Research Group (CoPIRG) was among those who lobbied during the 2022 session for HB22-1358 and said while the bills passage into law is a good first step, there are still ways it could be better.

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Weve known its really toxic to kids and weve been slow-playing this for a while now, she said.

Simon said lowering the minimum level of lead permitted is one of the ways the law could be improved. In addition to higher total funding, CoPIRG also advocated for the lead limit be set at the AAPs recommended 1 ppb threshold and the installation of certified water filters for every drinking source across the state.

Simon admitted that these requirements would have made it more difficult for every school and child care facility to adhere to and likely would have proved to be too costly and stringent to get signed into law.

You have to be pragmatic in order to enact incremental change, she said.

'Cant just one-and-done it'

The current processes for acceptable remediation can vary, depending on the type of fixture or the concentration of lead thats detected, with corrective actions ranging from flushing out pipes to installing a filter, removing or replacing entire fixtures to simply placing signs over them.

Although the law requires that every drinking source be tested by a certain date, theres no set date to turn the fixture back on if it was shut off. One reason that much of the remediation work has yet to be done is that many districts are waiting on funding to get approved by the state.

Academy District 20 spokesperson Krystal Story told The Gazette in an email that the process of turning fixtures back on can be a long process since schools are required to wait for next steps from CDPHE, which can take as long as two or three months.

Following their process and guidance ensures D20 is compliant with state requirements and reimbursed for our remedial action, she wrote. As part of the water testing process, D20 has made the decision to replace all fixtures that failed the first draw test regardless of the flush test results. All fixtures that failed the first draw test have been shut off until final approval from CDPHE is given to turn them on.

For example, if a drinking source tested too high for lead, its aerator would get cleaned and it would be tested again. If the lead level is still high, approval is then needed to replace the faucet before being tested again. If the results are still too high, then one could seek approval to replace the nearby piping or the closest shut off valve and test again. Since this work is funded by the CDPHE, the schools are required to wait for approval before completing these repairs and retesting.

Labor and material shortages for certain fixes, contracting issues, sampling delays and competing priorities like the implementation of the universal preschool program the same year have been mentioned as other reasons for delays in complete remediation. Rather than simply adhere to the law, advocacy groups like CoPIRG have suggested more proactive measures.

We encourage the districts to act more boldly when it comes to remediation and getting the lead out of our childrens water, Simon said.

Some districts have already opted for this ahead of the laws passage.

District 11 began their own water testing and remediation process years earlier upon receiving recommendations by Colorado Springs Utilities. Beyond just complying with the law, the district has replaced most of its lead-heavy fixtures in its elementary schools and begun addressing fixtures in its middle schools and high schools. D11 capital program manager Jennifer Hotaling said while it's great that water testing and remediation is now required and funded by the state, they were ultimately more efficient by implementing their own plan.

"This methodical step-by-step process makes sense if you have the time," she said of the state's approach. "Our executive leadership, believed following this exact process would be inefficient and difficult to implement with potential negative impacts to the elementary schools."

To save time and resources, the district's plumbing and electrical shops replaced multiple water systems simultaneously with capital program funding predominately. The district opted for this approach to reduce the total time for drinking sources to be out of service while school was in session. They are currently in the process of submitting water samples to get reimbursement from the state for lab testing and remediation costs where possible, but Hotaling acknowledged that its not a guarantee since they opted for this immediate action.

D11 believed the cost of this choice was minor compared to the greater benefit of safer drinking water sources for our students, staff and community, she said.

Last Fall, the window opened for Colorado middle schools to begin their testing and remediation with a deadline set at the end of November. The funding for this testing will come from what remains of the $21 million that was approved.

As it is currently written in law, the testing and remediation procedures dont have any plans or funding beyond this deadline. The hope is that, once all the needed fixtures meet requirements, any future detections will be through the annual water sampling tests mandated by the state. As far as any further funding for these tests and fixes, or for high school fixtures going forward, theres no guarantee.

The goal is to prioritize the most vulnerable populations first, Rowan said. But if funds remain after we can serve that population, high schools may become part of the equation in the future.

In a December 2023 legislative report submitted by CDPHE, outreach and education was highlighted as one of the major steps towards lead reduction accomplished in the first year of the state testing program. Hotaling agrees that this has helped in the process towards eliminating lead in drinking water.

I think the awareness and visibility that there is now is good because it sounds like were going to keep going with this, she said. We cant just one-and-done it.

The most recent sampling results can be found at the CDPHEs official website here.
A bill introduced in the state senate to end oil and gas drilling poses a catastrophic threat to Colorados economy, according to researchers from the Common Sense Institute.

Senate Bill 24-159 would require the state to cease issuing new oil and gas drilling permits by 2030. The bill was set to be heard on Thursday by the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee but was postponed because of a snowstorm. A hearing has not yet been rescheduled.

It's horrible on every front because it claims to be about CO2 emission reduction, which it's not, said CSI Energy Fellow Trisha Curtis. It's beyond detrimental and devastating to the economic state of Colorado and it really doesn't appreciate the economic realities at all."

Curtis added: "It frankly seems like it's written by people who have zero understanding of basic energy use, transportation, or economics.

The CSI report said if the bill becomes law, more than 181,800 jobs would be lost, 70% of them within metro Denver alone. Meanwhile, $2 billion in state and local tax revenue would be at risk, and school funding would decrease by over $400 million over a decade.

In addition, the state GDP would see a loss of $6 billion in year one of the ban and $48.5 billion by year 10.

The economic impact resulting from Coloradans paying more for energy in the long-run due to loss of supply from within Colorado, would be in addition to the impacts captured in this analysis, the CSI report said.

Dynamic modeling

CSI used what's called "dynamic" modeling, which includes not just production losses and direct impact on oil and gas employment, but also indirect effects, such as income losses to support services that supply things like drilling bits, pipe, welders, trucking companies, and other businesses that provide material inputs and services to the oil and gas production companies.

Such an approach is not novel. Studies often include "direct" and "indirect" jobs that are created or lost as a result of a particular policy action, or when touting the economic contributions of an industry or institution.

In a 2021 study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the American Petroleum Institute concluded that the oil and gas industry supported 303,730 total jobs  54,420 direct and 249,320 indirect  or 7.7% of Colorados total employment. That report said the industry generated an additional 1.2 jobs elsewhere in Colorados economy for each direct job in this sector.

Referencing the PricewaterhouseCoopers study, CSI said, The PWC report also includes refining, oil and gas related manufacturing, retail, pipeline transportation and dividend income paid to oil and gas public shareholders. This ban, as stated, would impact these jobs and related economic activity though not directly reflected in the economic modeling for this report.

Another study shows a smaller footprint and economic impact.

In a January 2023 report, the Colorado Fiscal Institute counted 20,475 oil and gas jobs in Colorado as of March 2022. That number made up just 0.7% of total jobs in the state, the group said.

The CFI report said oil and gas development, while creating some economic benefits, also carries significant costs."

"While some communities will have a harder time than others during the transition from pollution-causing fuels to clean energy, this analysis shows it is entirely feasible for Colorado to diversify its economy, (and) move away from oil and gas development, the study said.

The CFI report added that the oil and gas industry in Colorado "represents a small fraction of the economy," contributing just 3.3% of Colorados Gross Domestic Product in 2021.

And, as of March 2022, oil and gas industry employees received 1.8% of wages paid in the state.

The discrepancy between the API and CFI employment numbers are the product of how each defines the oil and gas industry. Both organizations use codes developed by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) that are used to track employment statistics by state and federal agencies. API uses 12 NAICS categories that includes, among others, gas stations, fuel dealers and asphalt paving and roofing companies.

CFI uses a smaller subset of five NAICS classifications, not including wholesale and retail petroleum users to quantify industry employment.

The CSI report looked at more than just direct oil and gas employment and GDP impacts and included other employees and services that would be affected by a shutdown. The cascading effects of the loss of production were calculated using a dynamic economic forecasting and simulation model called Tax-PI, developed by Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI), which is commonly used to examine the economic effects of policy changes for industries.

The upstream activity related to oil and gas is far more productive than most sectors. It produces higher levels of income, investment, and indirect spending than most other sectors. The labor productivity, or sector output relative to each job, is highest in three energy-related sectors, including petroleum and coal production manufacturing, pipeline transportation, and oil and gas extraction, the CSI report said.

On the other hand, the CFI report said: The most significant government revenue from oil and gas operations comes from property taxes, including $621 million in 2021."

While this makes up 3.5% of total local school funding in Colorado, it is not evenly distributed. 70% of school districts receive less than 1% of total funding from oil and gas property taxes, and just a handful get more than 10% of their total funding from oil and gas property taxes," the CFI report said.

Effect on school funding

Chris Brown, CSI's vice president of policy and research who authored the report, told The Denver Gazette that revenues in oil producing districts lower the amount that the state has to backfill in other districts by allowing the state to reallocate taxes to keep school funding in balance.

Those dollars are increasing local share and increasing the ability for the state to reallocate additional state dollars to other districts, Brown said. So, it loosens the demand of state dollars on those districts, thereby increasing the ability for state funding to be higher in other areas given the way the formula works."

Brown added: "So, it's a significant number more than $430 per pupil in 2022, and for some districts it's well above a thousand dollars per pupil.

In its 2021 report, American Petroleum Institute said that the industry provided $34.1 billion in labor income  $15.4 billion direct and $18.7 billion indirect  to Colorado, 12% of the states total, and contributed $48.7 billion to Colorados total gross domestic product  $19.8 billion direct and $28.9 billion indirect  11.2% of the total.

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The API report added that, in 2022, oil and gas production activity directly contributed $1.9 billion dollars in state and local tax revenue, which came out to an average of $321 per Colorado resident.

API also said that, over 10 years, reductions in the states gross domestic product could reach $321 billion.

CSI said the economic impact of banning oil and gas drilling in Colorado would be "devastating and goes beyond lost production, tax revenue, and job losses."

"At a minimum, (the) risk is $2 billion in state and local tax revenue, over $400 million which funds Colorado schools, and nearly 200,000 jobs, the CSI report said.

The CSI report went on to note that Colorado is currently producing 483,000 barrels of oil per day  or 4% of the nations 13.3 million barrel per day total. In 2022 alone, Colorado was the fifth largest for oil production and the eighth largest for natural gas in America.

The Office of Legislative Councils fiscal note for the bill said the state would be obliged to backfill those oil and gas revenues lost by school districts.

By 2034-35, this backfill, as well as the bills impact on the state share of school finance, will increase costs by up to $476 million, and larger amounts in later years, the fiscal note said. "The bill will increase the required amount of state aid to school districts by $171 million by FY 2034-35, and larger amounts in later years, as a result of reduced property tax revenue from total program levies.

The fiscal note added that state cash fund revenue would decrease by an estimated $305 million annually by fiscal year 2034-35, a deficit that will increase in later years as production declines. This would affect state agencies and programs, including Colorado Parks and Wildlife and local governments, that are socially or economically impacted by the mineral extraction industry.

The state Energy & Carbon Management Commission, formerly the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, is primarily funded by a $0.0017 surcharge on the market value of oil and natural gas, the fiscal note added.

The drill ban dis-incentive

CSI estimates that banning oil and gas drilling would not reduce CO2 emissions, but, rather, it would increase them by more than 900,000 metric tons per year by shifting production to areas with less stringent environmental controls on fossil fuel production than Colorado has.

We found that ultimately for every job lost, you would actually see an increase in CO2 emissions of five tons of CO2 equivalent (each year), which is staggering given the premise of the bill, Brown said.

Nor does the bill discuss how much Colorado as a whole contributes to global carbon emissions from all sources, said Curtis, the CSI fellow, adding it is a drop in the global bucket.

According to the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, Colorado contributes only 0.213% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

And it does not take into account how any business works, let alone oil and gas, Curtis said. The same could be said for the solar and wind industry. If we told them that they had to stop by 2030, they would leave and they would go do it somewhere else because that's where they make the money and that's how they do business.

In a prior interview, Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, the prime sponsor of the bill, told The Denver Gazette that 50,000 wells are in production, and we know that thousands and thousands of wells will be producing far beyond 2050.

Brown and Curtis told The Denver Gazette that this presumption is untrue.

The way the bill is described is that you just stop, you ban the permitting of oil and gas, and then you just let everyone continue to produce. But that's not how businesses work, Curtis said. When you put in a ban in place and then you say, 'OK, well you can't drill and complete wells, but you can still produce.' What's the incentive for companies to drill and produce?

Curtis said when the future of drilling is foreclosed, neither drilling companies nor the companies that support oil and gas production  nor investors who fund it  are likely to stay in Colorado.

I think the risk to losing a lot more production than that bill is alluding to is extremely high, said Curtis.

Jaquez Lewis suggested that Colorado should not be exporting its oil and gas outside the state, and that there will be plenty of both to serve the states diminishing needs after new drilling is banned.

Colorado already produces much more oil and gas than we use, and what is currently happening is 40% of oil production is leaving the state of Colorado, Jaquez Lewis said. 75% of natural gas is leaving the state of Colorado. So, Colorado gets all the pollution while big oil and big gas get the profits.

We already know that fossil fuel demand is going down and we're already on our way to 80% clean energy by 2030, she added. So, if fossil fuel demand is going down and they have access to over 50,000 wells, there's going to be plenty of oil and gas production.

To demonstrate the improbability of ongoing production remaining steady without new drilling, as Jaquez Lewis suggests, the CSI researchers took historical data from state production records as a proxy and simulated the effects of instituting the bills provisions on production between 2014 and 2023.

Hypothetically, said the report, by year five of the simulation, oil production would drop 73%, and by year 10, production would be down 88%.

The fiscal note accompanying the bill said, In a typical horizontal oil well, 85 percent of its lifetime production is realized in the first 18-24 months of operation. As a result, a large portion of Colorados ongoing oil and gas production is supported by new drilling activity.

At some point, said Curtis, there would be no incentive to dedicate resources, equipment, or personnel to continued extraction of existing wells, likely resulting in the industry abandoning Colorado for more welcoming places with lower emissions standards.

Gov. Jared Polis Greenhouse Gas Reduction Roadmap 2.0, released shortly after the bill was released on March 13, also disapproves of banning oil and gas drilling.

Given Colorados leading methane and ozone emissions regulations for oil and gas production, a strategy that limits in-state production will shift production to areas with higher lifecycle emissions, such as the Permian Basin in Texas or the Persian Gulf, said the GHG Roadmap. This action would likely result in more pollution, higher methane emissions, more air pollution in our neighboring states, increased transportation emissions from increased imports of fossil fuels for use in Colorado, increased risk of accidents and spills of oil and gas products through increased interstate trucking, and price disruptions and less certainty of supply for all Coloradans without a meaningful long-term impact on fossil fuel consumption.

Email requests for comments from the bills other three sponsors were not returned as of publication.
Mozn, the regional leader in enterprise AI technologies, made a significant impact at LEAP 2024, a prestigious global technology event, by showcasing its cutting-edge AI solutions and announcing a strategic collaboration with Google Cloud, a report said.

This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the companys journey to advance digital humanity through the power of artificial intelligence, Saudi Gazette reported Mozn as saying.

This partnership positions Mozn as one of the first Saudi Arabian tech companies to join forces with Google Cloud, underscoring its commitment to driving innovation on a global scale. Through this collaboration, Mozn will leverage the expansive reach of the Google Cloud Marketplace, making its flagship FOCAL platform accessible to organizations worldwide.

At LEAP 2024, Mozn unveiled its state-of-the-art AI offerings, including OSOS and FOCAL, which are designed to revolutionise AI-powered capabilities across industries. OSOS, Mozn's generative AI marvel tailored for the Arabic language, was lauded for its ability to understand and interpret the linguistic nuances of Arabic, catering to the specific needs of regional markets.

Additionally, Focal, Mozn's comprehensive AI-powered platform, was spotlighted for its role in redefining fraud prevention and compliance strategies across various sectors.

"At Mozn, we are dedicated to advancing digital humanity by harnessing the powers of artificial intelligence," said Malik Alyousef, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer at Mozn.

"Our collaboration with Google Cloud represents a significant step forward in our mission. By making our FOCAL platform available through the Google Cloud Marketplace, we aim to empower organizations globally with cutting-edge AI solutions."
The man accused of killing two people at a University of Colorado Colorado Springs dorm room last month will undergo a competency evaluation, an El Paso County judge ordered on Monday.

Nicholas Jordan, 25, is facing two charges of first-degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing Celie Rain Montgomery, 26, of Pueblo, and Samuel Knopp, 24, of Parker, in the early morning hours of Feb. 16.

Jordan and Knopp were roommates and students at the UCCS, according to previous reporting from The Gazette. Jordan's arrest affidavit states that Jordan had made a death threat against Knopp over taking out the trash, and that campus security and housing had recorded multiple complaints about Jordan prior to the shooting.

Jordan appeared in court on Monday for a review hearing to help determine if attorneys would be ready to proceed to a preliminary hearing at the end of the month. Instead, Jordan's defense attorney, Nick Rogers, informed the court that he had filed a motion for a competency evaluation.

"I'm incompetent," Jordan could be heard saying at one point in the hearing.

Judge David Shakes granted the defense motion and ordered the evaluation, noting that he was "concerned" with Jordan's competency.

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Jordan's case will be delayed until he is declared competent by a state psychologist. If he is found incompetent the case will remain on hold until Jordan is restored to competency.

Because of Jordan's competency evaluation, his preliminary hearing originally scheduled for March 27 has been delayed indefinitely.

Rogers also filed a motion for Jordan to appear at future court proceedings in civilian clothing, but Shakes did not rule on the motion because the county attorney's office had yet to file a response.

Jordan will return to court on April 12 for a review hearing to check on the status of the competency evaluation and determine next steps.

Jordan remains in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $5 million bond. At Jordan's first appearance Rogers implied that Jordan was unable to post a $5 million bond, or anything close to it, but on Monday Jordan asked Judge Shakes where someone could pay the $5 million bond for his release.
(Reuters) - Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday his country is "closer than ever" to a peace with Armenia, half a year after Azerbaijan recaptured its Karabakh region from its ethnic Armenian majority, prompting a mass exodus of ethnic Armenians.

"Today, we are in an active phase of peace talks with Armenia," Aliyev said in remarks after meeting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Baku, according to a transcript published on the Azeri leader's website.

"We are now closer to peace than ever before."

Stoltenberg said he welcomed the move towards peace between the two nations.

"I appreciate what you say about that you are closer to a peace agreement than ever before," Stoltenberg said, according to a transcript published on NATO's website.

"And I can just encourage you to seize this opportunity to reach a lasting peace agreement with Armenia."

In December, the South Caucasus neighbours issued a joint statement saying they want to reach a peace deal and have since held numerous talks, including two days of negotiations in Berlin in February.

The press office of Armenian's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan did not immediately respond to Reuters' request to comment on Aliyev's statement.

Christian Armenia and mostly Muslim Azerbaijan first went to war over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in 1988. After decades of enmity, Azerbaijan in September recaptured Karabakh, controlled by its ethnic Armenian majority since the 1990s despite being internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan.

The offensive prompted most of the region's 120,000 ethnic Armenians to flee to neighbouring Armenia.

Armenia described the offensive as ethnic cleansing. Azerbaijan denied that and said those who fled could have stayed on and been integrated into Azerbaijan.

Key elements in securing a treaty are demarcation of borders and the establishment of regional transport corridors through each others' territory.

Armenia has also raised the issue of determining control of ethnic enclaves on both sides of the border.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
By Dave Sherwood

HAVANA (Reuters) -Cuba's foreign ministry said it had summoned the top U.S. diplomat on the island to a meeting following protests on Sunday, accusing the U.S. embassy in Havana of seeking to stoke a broader anti-government uprising and meddling in Cuba's internal affairs.

Rallies in protest of oppressive, hours-long blackouts and food shortages erupted in at least five locations across the island on Sunday, including Cuba's second largest city Santiago, state-run media said.

The U.S. government said on X late on Sunday that it was monitoring the protests and encouraged the Cuban government to "respect the human rights of the protesters and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban people."

Those comments prompted Cuba's foreign ministry to call charge d'affaires Benjamin Ziff to a meeting with deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, "who formally conveyed his firm rejection of the government's interventionist behavior and slanderous messages," a statement from the ministry said.

A U.S. State Department spokesman said it was "absurd" to suggest Washington was behind the protests.

The latest tiff between the two long-time foes underscores the still frosty relationship between Cuba and the United States, which has barely improved since Democratic U.S. President Joe Biden took office in 2021.

Cuba's foreign ministry on Monday repeated the communist-run government's long-standing accusation that a Cold War-era U.S. embargo and other sanctions were seeking to impoverish Cubans and destabilize the country.

Sunday's protests, which were described as "respectful" by Cuban officials, marked the largest single night of confirmed protests since October 2022, when power across the island was cut for nearly a week in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

Demonstrations are rare in Cuba, a country where authorities take a dim view of dissent.

Cuba's state-run newscast early on Monday showed posts from social media - including some from U.S. members of Congress - about the demonstrations, and accused U.S.-based agitators of seeking to confuse the situation or stoke anger by suggesting government repression or more widespread protests than was actually the case.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel also pointed a finger at Washington.

"Mediocre politicians and networked terrorists lined up from South Florida to heat up the streets of #Cuba with interventionist messages and calls for chaos. They were left wanting," Diaz-Canel said on X.

The Caribbean island nation appeared quiet on Monday, although the government said it expected blackouts to remain acute through the week, with electricity generation meeting only around two-thirds of demand.

(Reporting by Dave Sherwood in Havana, additional reporting by Simon Lewis in Washington and Nelson Acosta in Havana, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol joined U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other foreign officials this week in calling for measures to counter digital threats to freedom as Seoul hosted the Summit for Democracy.

The event is the third of its kind after U.S. President Joe Biden established the summit in 2021.

WHAT IS THE SUMMIT FOR DEMOCRACY?

The first summit was a fulfilment of one of Biden's key campaign promises.

It was a first-of-its kind gathering of more than 100 countries to help stop democratic backsliding and erosion of rights and freedoms worldwide.

It was held online due to COVID-19 restrictions.

A second summit was co-hosted in 2022 by the United States, Costa Rica, Zambia, the Netherlands and South Korea, also mostly online.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT?

This year's summit agenda focused on digital threats to democracy, including misinformation, artificial intelligence, and deep fakes.

"Fake news and disinformation based on artificial intelligence and digital technology not only violates individual freedom and human rights but also threatens democratic systems," Yoon said at the opening ceremony.

Speaking at a separate session, Blinken said Washington was releasing the first guidance of its kind for tech companies to help prevent attacks on human rights defenders online.

The South Korean hosts also said they planned to use the event to seek ways to encourage youth participation in democracy.

WHO ATTENDED THE SUMMIT?

This year's event saw senior officials visit Seoul, including Blinken, British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, the foreign ministers of Ecuador, Gambia, Indonesia, Guyana, and Mauritius, and other minister-level leaders.

The plenary session on Wednesday will largely be online, however, and will feature participation by Biden, among other national leaders.

Biden angered China when he invited Taiwan to the first summit. The issue caused further controversy that year when U.S. organizers cut a video feed of a Taiwanese minister during the summit after a map in her slide presentation showed Taiwan in a different colour to China, which claims the island as its own.

Over the years the summit has also been dogged by criticism by rights activists who question whether the virtual events can push the invited world leaders, some accused of harbouring authoritarian tendencies, to take meaningful action.

A senior U.S. official involved in the planning of the first summit told Reuters at the time that invitations were sent to countries with different experiences of democracy from all regions of the world.

"This was not about endorsing, 'You're a democracy, you are not a democracy,'" the official said.

As the summit opened on Monday, Yoon's administration denied allegations that it had mobilized government agencies to coerce the media into more favourable coverage.

(Reporting by Josh Smith. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -At least ten people were killed in a wealthy suburb of Haiti's capital on Monday, there were reports of looting, and thefts of electricity equipment cut the power supply as lawlessness spread to affluent areas and gangs tightened their grip on the city.

A Reuters witness saw at least ten dead bodies, at least some of which had bulletholes, on Monday morning in the streets of upscale Petion-Ville on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, which were later removed by ambulance. Authorities have not commented on the events surrounding the deaths.

Haitians also reported gunfire and looting on Monday morning in the nearby area of Laboule. Later, the streets around Petion-Ville were practically deserted.

Meanwhile, the EDH electricity service said several stations had been attacked and that cables, batteries and documents were stolen.

Armed gangs who have been increasing their power in recent years took advantage of the absence earlier this month of Prime Minister Ariel Henry to escalate violence, attacking infrastructure including police stations and government offices.

Under international pressure and stranded in Puerto Rico, the unelected Henry announced his resignation pending the appointment of a council and temporary replacement a week ago, but the transition council has yet to be appointed amid disagreements by some of the groups putting forward representatives.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the council's membership could be finalized "very soon," and that an update could come later on Monday.

Local media reported Haiti's Catholic Church would not participate in the council, as had been previously expected, in order to maintain a "moral distance," although it was quoted as saying that it hoped all sectors would seek a resolution to the crisis.

The church's episcopal council did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Leaders of the armed groups who have long sought to oust Henry have warned of a "battle" for Haiti and threatened politicians who join the transition council. Residents are facing worsening shortages of food and medical care as shipping firms have changed routes.

Over the weekend, U.N. children's agency UNICEF said one of its containers of "essential items" for maternal, neo-natal and childcare was stolen from Haiti's main port.

The international presence in Haiti has declined as the insecurity has risen.

The United Nations and U.S. and Canadian embassies have withdrawn staff this month.

Over the weekend, the Dominican Republic - which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti - evacuated dozens of its citizens by helicopter, while the Philippines' PNA state news agency said it would repatriate at least 63 of 115 nationals and was looking for options such as chartering a flight. Commercial flights have been suspended.

Around 17,000 people left the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area last week, according to U.N. estimates. Many of those had already been displaced.

Neighboring countries have been bolstering their borders. Plans for an international intervention, which Haiti's government requested in 2022 and was ratified by the U.N. nearly six months ago, remain on hold.

(Reporting by Ralph Tedy Erol and Harold Isaac in Port-au-Prince and Sarah Morland in Mexico City; Writing by Natalia Siniawski; Editing by Aurora Ellis and Rosalba O'Brien)
By Luc Cohen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Donald Trump's efforts to secure a bond to cover a $454 million judgment in a New York civil fraud case has been rejected by 30 surety companies, his lawyers said on Monday, inching him closer to the possibility of having his properties seized.

The former president must either pay the sum out of his own pocket or post a bond to stave off the state's seizure while he appeals Justice Arthur Engoron's Feb. 16 judgment against him for misstating property values to dupe lenders and insurers.

Trump, two of his adult children and other Trump Organization executives had so far approached the 30 companies through four separate brokers without success, his lawyers said. The other defendants face judgments totaling $10 million.

A bonding company would be on the hook for any payout if Trump loses his appeal and proves unable to pay.

The case, brought by New York state Attorney General Letitia James in September 2022, is one of several legal travails the businessman-turned-Republican candidate faces as he seeks a Nov. 5 election rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.

Trump, 77, has denied wrongdoing and vowed to appeal the judgment, which threatens his family's real estate empire.

He must post cash or a bond within 30 days of Engoron's formal entry of the order on Feb. 23 or risk the state seizing some of the Trump Organization's assets to ensure James can collect. Thirty days end on March 25.

In a court filing on Monday, Trump's lawyers urged a mid-level state appeals court to delay enforcement of the judgment, arguing the amount was excessive. It was unclear when the court, known as the Appellate Division, would rule.

The lawyers asked that Trump instead be allowed to post a $100 million bond while he appeals the judgment.

Gary Giulietti, an executive with insurance brokerage the Lockton Companies hired by Trump to help get a bond, wrote in the court filing that a bond for the full $464 million is not possible under the circumstances presented.

Giulietti said many sureties would not issue bonds above $100 million and were willing to accept only cash or securities - not real estate - as collateral.

"Enforcing an impossible bond requirement as a condition of appeal would inflict manifest irreparable injury on Defendants," Trump's lawyers wrote.

Before a three-month, non-jury trial began in October, Engoron found Trump had engaged in fraud by overvaluing properties including his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, his penthouse apartment in Manhattan's Trump Tower, and various office buildings and golf courses.

The trial dealt mostly with damages. In the Feb. 16 decision, Engoron wrote that Trump and the other defendants "are incapable of admitting the error of their ways."

Trump this month posted a $91.6 million bond to cover an $83.3 million defamation verdict for the writer E. Jean Carroll while he appeals, in a case that arose from his branding her a liar after she accused him of raping her decades ago. He has denied wrongdoing.

He has also pleaded not guilty in four criminal cases stemming from his efforts to overturn his 2020 loss to Biden, his handling of government documents after leaving office in 2021, and hush money paid before his 2016 election win to a porn star who said she had a sexual encounter with him.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski, Noeleen Walder and Howard Goller)
President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone Monday morning about the Israel-Hamas war, their first call since Feb. 15.

The White House confirmed the call just before noon, saying the two spoke "to discuss the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, including the situation in Rafah and efforts to surge humanitarian assistance to Gaza."

Tensions have emerged between the two countries over the war, as Biden is feeling pressure from within his party to do more to support civilians in Gaza.

"The president and the prime minister spoke at length about Rafah today," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said during Monday's White House news briefing. "The president explained why he is so deeply concerned about the prospect of Israel conducting major military operations in Rafah of the kind it conducted in Gaza city."

Biden asked Netanyahu to send a team of military, intelligence, and humanitarian officials from Israel to Washington to hear U.S. concerns about Rafah planning, Sullivan added, and lay out an "alternative approach" to targeting Hamas in the area without a major invasion.

Protesters demanding an end to hostilities have trailed Biden at nearly all of his events since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks sparked the war, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has called on Israel to hold new elections that could oust Netanyahu.

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Sen. Schumer contacted my staff, my senior staffer, that he was going to make that speech. And Im not going to elaborate on the speech, Biden said of those remarks. He made a good speech, and I think he expressed serious concern shared not only by him but by many Americans.

Though Biden steadfastly backed Netanyahu in the days following Hamass Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, he has gradually distanced himself from the Israel Defense Forcess offensive in Gaza as civilian casualties continue to rise.

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Netanyahu called Schumer's remarks "totally inappropriate" and said that "were not a banana republic" that would hold elections based on the wishes of another country.

Biden administration officials say a pause in hostilities is possible, but Israel has rejected the latest proposal from Hamas.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby would not say on Sunday if President Joe Biden agrees with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-NY) call for new elections in Israel.

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the United States, delivered his strongest condemnation to date of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. The Senate majority leader criticized Netanyahus actions in Gaza and accused the Israeli leader of using the war to protect himself politically.

As for the election call, Schumer cautioned that neither he nor the U.S. was trying to influence the future race. He also suggested it take place once the war starts to wind down.

At this critical juncture, I believe a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel at a time when so many Israelis have lost their confidence in the vision and direction of their government, he said in his Thursday floor speech.

The comments were met with widespread condemnation among both Israeli leaders and U.S. Republicans, who described Schumers interference in Israeli domestic politics as an inappropriate overreach. Among Biden and fellow Democrats, the issue has been more fraught. While some have been vocally supportive of Schumers speech, others have declined to echo his call for new elections.

Biden said on Friday that he thought Schumer delivered a good speech, but would not elaborate on the specifics.

Asked if Biden believes that Netanyahu is a bigot and an impediment to peace during an appearance on ABCs This Week, Kirby replied, These are two men  leaders that have known each other a long time, Shannon, and they don't agree on everything, haven't over 40 years. And there are certain aspects to the prosecution of operations in Gaza where we obviously don't agree with everything that Israel has done.

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But they have a relationship where they can talk to one another, and they do, and they will again, he continued. He is the prime minister of Israel, and we respect the sovereignty of the Israeli people.

Pressed further, Kirby would only say, The president believes it's up to the Israeli people and the Israeli government to determine if and when there's going to be new elections. But he does, as he said shortly after leader Schumer's very passionate speech, he recognizes that the leader was speaking for a lot of Americans who feel the same way about the way the war is going.

We also have concerns about some of the operations and how they're being conducted. We need to make sure that civilians are protected and secured, that civilian casualties come down, that more trucks and assistants get in, and, of course, we're still working on that temporary ceasefire to get all those hostages out.

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The Oct. 7 massacre and Israels military offensive have highlighted internal divisions within the Democratic Party. Hard-left Democrats have vocally opposed Israels response to the attack, which marked the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, while most in the party have emphasized Israels right to defend itself even as a growing number call for restraint.

Support for the war has waned on the Democratic side of the aisle in recent weeks, the result of the high death toll of Palestinians and Netanyahus refusal to bow to U.S. demands to allow more aid into Gaza amid warnings of mass starvation and disease outbreaks. Adding to the Democratic anger is the looming Rafah invasion, which Netanyahu said he would conduct regardless of Bidens statements condemning such a move.
Illinois will hold its primary elections on Tuesday, with eyes on one congressional incumbent facing a challenge from within his party  joining several 2024 contests that have highlighted the fracturing of the Republican Party.

Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), who represents Illinoiss 12th Congressional District, is facing a challenger from the partys hard-line flank. Though Bost has the incumbent and fundraising advantages, as well as an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, he is facing competition from his own House colleagues as they throw support behind his challenger, Darren Bailey.

Bosts Illinois primary is considered one of the tightest of the GOPs 2024 races and the one that has drawn the most attention from the Land of Lincoln. Bailey, a right-flank candidate, lost the 2022 gubernatorial race to Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) and has been knocked by Republicans, including former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, for a loss he claims cost the GOP four congressional seats in the midterm elections.

Bailey was one of several Trump-endorsed candidates who lost their elections in 2022 to Democrats after beating out centrist GOP primary challengers, which in part contributed to down-ballot losses and a slim House Republican majority.

Bost won the former president's support for Congress after he vocally opposed President Joe Bidens 2020 victory and also won the backing of Trump allies, such as Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Ronny Jackson (R-TX).

Firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and House Freedom Caucus member Mary Miller (R-IL) are throwing their support behind Bailey  a growing trend of House GOP members campaigning against their colleagues as they seek to bring new blood into the conference.

Gaetz and Bost have a complicated history, particularly after they sat on opposite sides of the Houses chaotic speakership vacancy and elections. Bost famously screamed at the Florida congressman when he was speaking on the House floor in January 2023 as he and other hard-line conservatives were withholding support for McCarthys speakership.

Bost also reportedly lunged at Gaetz during a closed-door hearing last October following the ousting of McCarthy by the Florida Republican and seven other GOP lawmakers.

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The bad blood has spilled over into campaign season. In late February, Gaetz headlined a rally with Bailey in Herrin, Illinois. The Florida congressman has extended his fight against fellow House lawmakers to other states, as well.

He skipped the annual GOP retreat this past week and campaigned for Brandon Herrera, runoff primary challenger to Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX)  a centrist Republican who lost the support of national and state conservatives when he voted in support of bipartisan gun control legislation following the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which his district encompasses.

House Republicans have been in a state of constant retreat. Congressman Gaetz is on the advance, Gaetzs spokesperson said of the congressmans decision to not attend the GOP event in West Virginia.

Bost is not the only GOP member to face pushback from their House colleagues. Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, is in danger of losing his seat after he initially endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) over Trump  later flipping to back Trump after DeSantis dropped out. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), a staunch ally of the former president, has endorsed Goods primary challenger John McGuire, a former Navy SEAL and Trump supporter.

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Also at stake for Illinois's Tuesday primary are 147 delegates for the Democratic presidential nominee, likely to go to Biden, and 64 delegates up for grabs for Trump, the all-but-guaranteed Republican presidential nominee. Both Biden and Trump reached the delegate threshold following the primary elections in Georgia, Washington, and Mississippi.

Other incumbents facing difficult primaries in Illinois include Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL), who is facing a challenge from Alderman Raymond Lopez, and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), who is up against a crowded field that includes the Chicago city treasurer and community members.
Interview: Lesotho king expects higher level of cooperation with China

Xinhua) 08:58, March 18, 2024

Letsie III, the King of Lesotho, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Maseru, Lesotho, March 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

MASERU, March 17 (Xinhua) -- For the past 30 years, Lesotho and China have enjoyed a very healthy and productive relationship, Letsie III, the King of Lesotho has said, and he hopes the relationship continue to strengthen and grow stronger as time progresses.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic ties between China and Lesotho. "Under that relationship, as a country, we have benefited a great deal from Chinese assistance and generosity," Letsie III told Xinhua in an interview on Monday at the royal residence Matsieng in capital Maseru.

For example, China has been strongly supporting Lesotho in the infrastructure development, he said, adding that with the help of China, Lesotho has built new roads, hospitals and various projects.

Since 1983, China has completed several aid projects in Lesotho, such as the Lesotho National Library, Manthabiseng Convention Center, the Parliament building, the Phase I of the Mafeteng Solar Power Plant Project, and technical cooperation projects such as vegetable planting, biogas technical guidance, and Juncao planting. China has also provided food aid to Lesotho on many occasions.

Letsie III highly appreciated China's proposals such as the Initiative on Supporting Africa's Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa's Agricultural Modernization, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development.

Regarding the cooperation in industrialization between the two nations, Letsie III hopes more Chinese companies invest in Lesotho so as to strengthen private sectors. "So that the private sector can play its meaningful role as a development engine to the economy, and also create jobs," he said.

Letsie III attached great importance to food security during the interview. He highlighted China's contribution in the agricultural sector in Lesotho over the past years, hoping the two countries can work together to find ways of expanding the programs in agriculture.

"I believe that (with China's help) we can achieve greater food security and greater nutrition security. Many Basotho (Lesotho people) would very much be appreciative of that," he said.

Speaking of the talent development, Letsie III noted that in the last 30 years, there were a lot of Basotho studying in China, and more and more Basotho are getting interested in the ancient and rich Chinese culture.

"We hope that trend will continue," he said, "we also hope that through interactions of this nature, more and more Chinese people will learn about our culture and our history."

Letsie III said that Lesotho has always adhered to the one-China policy and will continue to support China in playing a more active role on the international stage, which is in the interest of all people.

"This is mutually beneficial cooperation, and we hope that we can maintain that characteristic so that both Basotho and Chinese people can benefit from this relationship," said the king.

Letsie III, the King of Lesotho, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Maseru, Lesotho, March 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Yudong)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Al Habtoor Group will build a 3,720 sq-m residential building for charity in Ajman at a cost of AED9 million ($2.45 million).

Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor, founder and Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, announced the signing of a joint endowment agreement in honour of Khalaf Al Habtoors parents, on a plot of land among the lands belonging to the Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi Endowment.

This endowment residential building seeks to provide residential units for rent and investment as a tribute to the memory of the late Ahmed Mohammed Al Habtoor and Noura Ahmed Al Otaiba, Khalaf Al Habtoor's parents and the driving force behind his success.

Common objective

Al Habtoor, said: "I am pleased with this cooperation with the Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Charitable Foundation, which expresses our common objective of creating a society based on solidarity and interdependence. It also represents our commitment to working together and in solidarity to promote humanitarian activities and achieve social sustainability.

Our interest in the charitable endowment stems from a sense of responsibility to our community and a desire to help achieve solidarity among all members of society while also spreading goodness and giving."

This project builds on the Al Habtoor Group's previous endowment projects in Dubai, including the Al Habtoor Charitable Endowment in the Al Quoz area, and the charitable Endowment in the name of Hamda bint Rashid Al Suwaidi in the Al Bidaa area, which were carried out in collaboration with the Endowments Foundation and the Management of Minors' Funds.

The revenues from both are used for charity and charitable efforts, as well as for the care of Al-Farouq Omar Bin Al-Khattab Mosque and Centre, may God be pleased with him in Dubai.

The Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Charitable Foundation applauded Khalaf Al Habtoor's effort to establish a new endowment within Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi's Endowment Complex, which will be added to the present endowments, which total five.

Doubling investment

Tariq Abdullah Mohammed Al Awadi, General Manager of the Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Charitable Foundation, thanked Khalaf Al Habtoor for his ongoing support and initiative in ensuring the success of the Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi Endowment Complex Project, which will allow the Humaid Bin Rashid Foundation to double its investment in the endowment.

He added: "The Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Charitable Foundation's endowment complex project is running successfully, as decreed, after Khalaf Al Habtoor joined as a partner in its success, along with many other contributing charitable entities and institutions, such as the Beit Al Khair Society and the philanthropists Ghanem and Faraj bin Hamouda. This endowment complex by Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi provides an opportunity for philanthropists and compassionate individuals to create endowments and distribute the revenues to the needy in collaboration with our charity foundation."

Al-Awadi confirmed that several endowments have been completed on the land area of this endowment project, including a mosque and buildings, and that work is still under way to ensure the project's success through the endowments that will be built, as the endowment project consists of 15 plots of land designated for the construction of endowment structures. It has a total area of 25,243 square metres and is located in the Liwara 2 area in Ajman.--TradeArabia News Service
Talk show host Bill Maher raised his concerns with TikTok's ability to "change people's minds" with Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Nancy Mace (R-SC).

The House passed a ban on app stores from hosting the popular short-form video platform TikTok after it passed unanimously out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. However, both Khanna and Mace voted against it. Maher asked them what common ground they shared.

"Well, the common ground is the First Amendment and free speech," Khanna said. "I mean, it shows how out of touch Congress is that of all the issues in the country, the thing we can get done in three days is ban TikTok? That is the issue?"

Its a First Amendment issue. I think its potentially a Fifth Amendment issue," Mace agreed. "Its not the governments role to ban apps from the App stores or ban websites.

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Maher interjected by raising a red flag about TikTok's algorithm, which can likely be controlled by the Chinese Communist Party as long as TikTok is owned by ByteDance. The CCP censors the algorithm for its Chinese users. The comedian claimed he was a free-speech person but raised concerns about the platform's influence.

Most of it is absolutely innocent. But its also there when [the CCP] needs it not to be. And we saw that after the Israeli war broke out because the kids all wound up on the side of Hamas, Maher said. So yes, you keep it there, and you keep it innocent. Its mostly just dancing. When you need it to change peoples minds? Dont kid yourself. They do have it, and theyre not acting in our best interests.

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President Joe Biden has already promised his support of the bill should it reach his desk. The bill would allow Biden to decide which countries are deemed foreign adversaries and thus ban their apps from app stores.

The bill has yet to be brought before the Senate.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop has revoked his endorsement of New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy, urging her to drop out of the heated primary race for Sen. Bob Menendezs (D-NJ) Senate seat.

Fulop is now endorsing Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ) instead, saying it is now "clear" to him that his earlier endorsement of Murphy was wrong. Menendez has not said if he will run for reelection in the wake of his indictments.

I was an early supporter of Tammy Murphy for Senate, but its no secret Ive been disappointed with the campaign and how it has been conducted, he said in a statement provided to the New Jersey Globe. Ive expressed that over the last two months repeatedly both privately and publicly, and, at this point, its clear to me that I was wrong with my early support and endorsement of Tammy Murphy for Senate.

The mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, said he believes Kim is the better candidate, with a clearer message, and he brings a better chance of success in November.

At this point, I dont think its in the states best interest for Tammy to continue her campaign. As the Mayor of Jersey City, Ill do what I think is right and advocate for Andy Kim to my constituents as the best choice as the next U.S. Senator, Fulop said.

Fulop was one of many elected officials who offered an endorsement of Murphy in the race immediately, even though she has never held elected office. His change of heart comes after Kim lost a key county convention to Murphy in Bergen County earlier this month.

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According to a Monmouth University poll released in early March, Kim had a much higher favorability rating than Murphy despite having less name recognition than the states first lady.

Kim had a 48% favorable rating and a 2% unfavorable rating, while 24% expressed no opinion and 26% reported they were not familiar with him, according to the poll. In comparison, Murphy received a 24% favorable rating and a 13% unfavorable rating, while 50% have no opinion of her and only 13% have not heard of her.

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Multiple candidates are running for the seat held by Menendez, who is facing federal corruption charges. Menendez and his wife were initially indicted in September on allegations that they accepted bribes from New Jersey businessmen to benefit the Egyptian government and were recently charged with extortion and obstruction of justice, adding to the previous charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery.

As of last week, Menendez did not rule out the potential of running for his Senate seat as an independent following reports the indicted politician was considering the option.

The state will hold its primary on June 4.
Former President Donald Trump has called for former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney to be put in jail, along with the rest of the Jan. 6 Committee.

This is the latest chapter in the long-running feud between Trump and the former representative, with Cheney helping lead the investigations into Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election and Trump subsequently working to unseat her from the House of Representatives.

On Sunday, the former president shared an article that alleged the Jan. 6 panel "withheld crucial evidence" by not releasing testimony from a Secret Service driver who drove Trump on Jan. 6, 2021. The driver reportedly disputed the account of former White House staffer Cassidy Hutchinson, who claimed Trump tried to grab the wheel of the limo to redirect the car to the rally at the Ellipse to join his supporters.

The article's author, John Solomon, wrote on Truth Social: "Liz Cheney sat in interview with Secret Service driver who denied story Trump tried to commandeer presidential limo on Jan. 6 but did not include in final report." Trump quoted the article, adding, "She should go to Jail along with the rest of the Unselect Committee!"

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The committee was led by Democrats, including Senate hopeful Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), which led many pro-Trump Republicans to condemn Cheney. She would go on to lose her reelection effort to now-Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY).

Since leaving office, Cheney has been consistent in her condemnations of Trump, saying the U.S. is "sleepwalking into a dictatorship" with Trump possibly being reelected and calling him "depraved." She has even not ruled out running for president this November, vowing to do anything to keep Trump from retaking office.
Rachel Gabel is a longtime agriculture writer and the assistant editor of The Fence Post Magazine.
John Martin and John Nilsen stoke the fire of a smoker on a large Army truck outside Mission BBQ at the north-side of InterQuest Commons retail center before the restaurants opening in June 2023. Maryland-based Mission BBQ now plans to open a second Colorado Springs location at the First & Main Town Center on the citys east side.
Saudi-based Almar Water Solutions, a leading global water services provider, has joined hands with its consortium partners to break ground on the Zuluf Water Treatment Plant, a major project of global oil giant Aramco.

It is the first outsourcing of a water project under a public private partnership (PPP) agreement that Aramco has launched.

For the execution and operation of the plant, Almar Water Solutions is collaborating with a consortium comprising Saudi group Al Jomaih Energy and Water Company (AEW), Italian EPC contractor Fisia Italimpianti and Aquatech International, a leading global provider of water and process technology solutions based in Pennsylvania, US.

The project is being implemented on a BOOT (build, own, operate and transfer) model for a 25-year tenure.

On completion, the Zuluf Water Treatment Plant will boast a 185,000 cu m per day capacity, contributing significantly to sustainable water solutions in Saudi Arabia.

The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by representatives from Aramco, Almar Water Solutions, Al Jomaih Energy & Water and Fisia Italimpianti.

Speaking on the occasion, the officials from each participating company shared their insights and visions for the Zuluf project.

As part of the ceremony, attendees were treated to an exclusive preview of the project's advances, showcasing the cutting-edge technology and infrastructure that will make the Zuluf Water Treatment Plant a beacon of sustainable water management. The event culminated with the laying of the foundation stone for the utility project.

Almar Water Solutions CEO Carlos Cosin said: "The Zuluf Water Treatment Plant is more than a project; it is a testament to our dedication in providing clean water to the broader region. This initiative is emblematic in a region teeming with opportunities, showcasing our commitment to sustainable development and meeting the growing water demands of the area."

A part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, Almar embraces technology to help partners and customers access solutions that prioritize efficiency and reduce waste.

"Through projects like this, Abdul Latif Jameel Energy is diversifying its portfolio in the Saudi water sector creating a broad network of large-scale water-based projects, which includes partnerships with leading global waste and water treatment engineering, services, and technology providersm," he added.

The collaboration between Almar Water Solutions, AEW and Aramco, represents a strategic partnership aimed at developing a cutting-edge water treatment facility to support the Zuluf project. The contract, signed in December 2022, reached financial closure by mid-March last year.-TradeArabia News Service
GREENSBORO  Essie Moffitt wants to heal her grandchildren of unspeakable wounds.

Its a mammoth task, considering they suffered years of documented neglect by their biological mother and in 2022 survived, safe at school, as their three younger half-brothers perished in a house fire  deaths for which their mother is blamed.

The two boys and a girl, who are 11, 10 and 9, respectively, are the three surviving children of Brandi Sturdivant, who is in jail awaiting trial on three counts of second-degree murder and felony child abuse in connection with the December 2022 Greensboro house fire that killed her three youngest children  the beloved half-siblings of Moffitts grandchildren.

Sturdivant, 29, appeared in Guilford County District Court last week to hear the murder charges that were levied against her. She is in the county jail on a $1 million secured bond and returns to court on May 23 where she faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

Meanwhile, her three children, with the help of Moffitt, are trying to halt the hurt.

A stolen childhood

While living in their mothers tiny Grimsley Street home, the eldest children regularly found themselves forced into an adult role, their grandmother said and court records show.

Their mom routinely left them alone and in charge of the three tots who died  a pair of 1-year-old twin boys, Aerious and Anyis Little, and Antonio Little, 4  sometimes for full days and nights.

There were times when they went without food for days, fending for themselves. Its pitiful what theyve been through, said Moffitt, 60, from her Greensboro two-bedroom apartment where she now helps the children rehearse choir music and teaches them to cook.

Moffitt, a mother of 5 who has 11 other grandchildren, chose not to share her grandkids names in order to protect their privacy.

I want to shelter them and show them what a childhood is really like, explained Moffitt, who has found a three-bedroom house with government-subsidized rent where she hopes to eventually move so the kids can have more space. They like for me to take them bowling, to the Natural Science Center and they love to go to LeBauer Park and run around.

I try to give them a childhood. Theyve already been adults.

Putting the parent back in grandparent

Moffitt, who herself was raised by a grandmother in the Jones County town of Trenton during the 1960s and 1970s, is in the company of thousands of North Carolina grandparents who improvise and economize in order to give stability to their grandkids, state and national statistics show.

And among all the minors nationwide who are in need of foster care or care from a grandparent, roughly 74% suffer neglect, according to national childrens advocacy groups.

Meanwhile, about 87,000 grandparents are estimated to be raising their grandchildren in North Carolina, according to the federal Administration for Community Living. That works out to roughly 1.6% of the states total parents, according to estimates by UNC-Chapel Hills Carolina Demography and is slightly above the national average of about 1.3%.

Moffitt worries about her grandkids repressing their emotions. The youngsters, who qualify for Medicaid, are able to see a counselor regularly and the sessions seem to help them, Moffitt said.

Its tough because Im not quite sure what all they know, she said. They do know where (their mom Sturdivant) is. They kind of understand that shes locked up. But they dont know the whole picture.

Occasionally, the children bring their mom up in conversation, Moffitt said. And she prays other kids will refrain from talking to her grandchildren about Sturdivants alleged crimes.

I know they hear whispers at school, Moffitt said. When the younger ones asked, What happened to Mama? ... my oldest grandchild was protective of the younger ones and said, You dont need to know, and you dont want to know.

Stretched thin, emotionally and financially

The deadly 2022 fire changed the course of the childrens lives and left them with emotional scars their grandmother believes are part of post-traumatic stress syndrome.

Even before the fire, Moffit said, the grade-school youngsters dealt with squalor in their Grimsley Street home. In response to calls from neighbors and family, social workers documented floors littered with feces and crowding that forced all six kids to sleep on a queen-size mattress with their mom.

On the morning of the harrowing fire, the eldest three kids were safe at their Greensboro school.

But with no belongings and no home after the blaze, the children were desperate for stability.

I didnt even give it a second thought. I have always been in their lives and they needed me, said Moffitt, a former manufacturing worker who said a workplace injury severely damaged her spine. My grandmother raised me, and I felt like it was my time to step up to the plate.

Moffitts son, who is the childrens dad, comes by to see them once or twice a week, said the grandmother, explaining his work and living situation make it impossible for him to have the kids full-time.

An activity that brings joy to the trio is singing, their grandmother said, smiling. A tenor, an alto and a soprano, the three are new members of the choir at New Dimension Church of God in Christ in Mebane, where their great-uncle is pastor.

After they get home from choir, we put on YouTube and practice, said Moffitt, who led choirs for about 30 years in her home church.

Meanwhile, money is tight.

Things have been very difficult, Moffitt admits. I do get food stamps, but theyve gone down this year from $625 to $550. It seems like the price of everything else has gone up, yet they cut food stamps. Were living off my disability and were making it, but its rough.

Nothing is gonna erase what theyve been through, but I will try and take away the hurt in every way I can.
GREENSBORO  The center for unaccompanied migrant teens officially became operational in Greensboro on Friday, though its still unclear when the teens will actually arrive.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the plans for the center at the former American Hebrew Academy on Hobbs Road: On March 15, 2024, the Greensboro Childrens Center will be operational, the spokesperson said in an email Thursday. However, currently no children are being placed at any (influx care facilities). (The Office of Refugee Resettlement) continuously monitors referral trends and assesses capacity needs to accommodate all children referred to our care.

Staff in U.S. Rep. Kathy Mannings office previously said teens would likely be housed at the facility starting in the spring. Manning said she would provide updates on the status of arrivals at the facility.

The law mandates that the agencies provide for unaccompanied, undocumented minors until those minors can be placed with a vetted sponsor, which is often a family member. The department signed a five-year, $50 million lease for the 100-acre property.

In a March 4 Facebook post, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan provided updated information she received from Deployed Services, a contractor at the facility.

She said staff at the facility will be working through various scenarios to prepare for when the teens arrive.

Some of the staff is modeling the behavior of the children and the rest of the staff is acting as caregivers and vice versa, the mayor wrote.

Vaughan said there were no provisions for religious services at the facility but encouraged religious institutions interested in providing those services to contact her so she could pass the request along.

The center will be able to serve up to 800 minors aged 13 to 17 and will employ 1,500 or more people. The teens will have access to medical care, education, legal and translation services, counseling, case management and the opportunity to connect with family daily, according to the Health and Human Services spokesperson.

It was originally supposed to begin housing minors in the summer of 2022. The refugee resettlement office told Mannings office the process was delayed in order to train staff and ensure compliance with safety and security standards.

The project has drawn attention from outsiders and members of the community whove questioned the delays and transparency of the process, and sometimes even the decision to open the center at all.

Vaughan herself weighed in at one point, responding to a post on the social media website Nextdoor about the lack of transparency in the facility by saying: This is not a local government project. The Feds havent been very forthcoming. We cant share information that we dont have.

Last May, several activist groups protested at the facility, raising concerns about the quality of life the teens would have there.

Among the organizations protesting was Tsuru for Solidarity, a California-based group founded by survivors of World War II-era Japanese internment camps and their descendants.

Asked if they planned to come back out to the facility, a representative of the group said in an email: We hope to get re-engaged soon.

Some posters on Nextdoor voiced opposition to having undocumented teens brought to Greensboro.

We dont need, or want these illegal immigrants child or adult in our neighborhoods, Nextdoor user Nicky Smith wrote. Another user, Keith Guise, wrote: (T)he immigrant processing center should be at the border, not in Greensboro.

Not everyone is concerned about the facility, however.

Taylor Krumroy, who lives on Hobbs Road less than half a mile from the facility, said in an interview he thought the center will be a positive development.

Im not worried about it, Krumroy said. Im a therapist and I used to work with a lot of children that were undocumented down in Davidson County and, yeah, the stories I heard from them were just horrible. So, I dont know, a facility like that to me actually seems like a good thing.
(file photo)

April is a month of celebration for military connected children and is also known as Month of the Military Child, MOMC. Different celebrations are created during this month to recognize these children for being strong through it all. As a military child it is tough to move around all the time. They have to leave their friends, family, and sometimes even pets behind. It is especially hard for them to say goodbye to their parents knowing that they will be gone for a very long time. This month is dedicated to honor military connected children for the challenges that they go through.

Coming back to school after spring break, DoDEA Andersen Elementary School on Andersen Air Force Base on Guam will kick off this special month with a Welcome Wave! Parents, teachers, and members of the community are invited to stand at the car rider line or the bus lane and welcome military connected children into the school for their special month with a huge wave. Those participating in the parade are encouraged to wear purple, the color dedicated to military children, or their uniforms. Pom poms and posters may even show up by some. This is just the start of all the amazing activities for the month of April for military connected children.

Families can spend time nibbling on lunch together at the Purple Up! picnic at school! The Purple Up Picnic lets AES families join together with their military connected children and gobble up their yummy food, in a gigantic group. The idea behind it is to celebrate military connected families that are at Andersen, and this event is just the chance for it. Military members and civilian personnel work very hard to prepare to keep us safe and for our freedom. Military children also have to make sacrifices. So why not bring a smile of pure joy to all of their faces and allow them to eat together picnic style for a special lunch?

The Purple Up! Parade is an event that military children and their families will never forget! Andersen Elementary School will celebrate their students by having a Purple Up! Parade on Wednesday, April 9, 2024 beginning 8:15am. It will start with students parading around the school, being joined by other classes. Along the sidewalks on the route are parents, relatives, and community members who have also come to celebrate by cheering on the students. Some classes may even carry signs that share messages such as Month of the Military Child or I am adaptable. People, both parade participants and the audience, are encouraged to wear shades of purple and purple accessories. Viewers can snap photographs of their smiling faces while waving and cheering. The students will have a great time being celebrated as the strong children they are. The parade is a guaranteed wonderful way to celebrate our military connected children and their families.

PTO is also sponsoring a run and a movie night to have even more fun activities for military families. On Saturday, April 20, families are able to come to Arc Light track to participate in the run together. A special reward will be given at the end of the run to all the families that participate. The movie night will be held in the gym on Friday, April 26, and a surprise movie will be showing. Families will be able to bring pillows and blankets to get cozy and wear any comfortable clothing to relax and enjoy the movie together. Along with the movie, popcorn will be provided for everyone. PTO hopes many will join them in honoring all the military connected children by coming to enjoy these events!

April will be an eventful month with all of these special activities including the welcome wave, the picnic, the parade, the run, and movie night. Military connected children serve in their own way and deserve to be honored. These activities plan to do just that, to celebrate these children and the difficulties they go through. Hopefully, many will be able to spend time together with their military connected families, and Purple Up to honor these strong children!
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Editors note: The U.S. territory of Guam is comprised of 19 villages, many with their own distinct character, history and points of interest. Stripes Guam and Guampedia have joined forces to present this weekly feature on each of them in the hopes that it will help our readers get out  and get to know  our gracious hosts. To learn more about Guams people, history, culture and places, visit: guampedia.com

The meaning of Yigo is unclear. According to some it comes from the Spanish word yugo which means yoke (the type used to secure a carabao to a cart or plow). However, some sources refer to the area as Asyigo which means the home of (a person known as) Yigo. If this is the case, yigo may be an ancient word whose meaning has been lost.

Village history

During ancient times, Guams Northern coast was home to a large number of villages. Evidence of latte dwellings also point to a significant population living in the Mt. Santa Rosa and Mataguac areas. During the Spanish Chamorro Wars in the late seventeenth century, major areas of settlement included Hanom, Tarague, Hinapsan and Upi. Hanom, a fresh water spring on the coast south of Mt. Santa Rosa played an important role as a refuge for the Chamorro resistance during the Spanish-Chamorro Wars.

In August of 1679 Spanish forces along with their allies from Nisihan defeated the Hanom Chamorros. The battle was described as one of the fiercest which had taken place in the Marianas.

By the early eighteenth century the population of Guam had been greatly reduced by war and disease and all remaining Chamorros from the northern part of Guam were relocated to six church-centered villages in central and southern Guam (Hagatna, Agat, Umatac, Merizo, Inarajan and Pago). However, the area remained open to hunters and fishermen.

During the nineteenth century wealthy residents of Hagatna began to acquire large areas of land in this fertile part of the island. The rich soil proved excellent for cocoa which was used to make hot chocolate, a popular afternoon drink for Hagatna residents. Other agricultural products that the area was known for were coffee, avocado, citrus and copra.

The area of Upi, now Northwest Field, was particularly important for its cattle ranches while several wealthy landowners established copra plantations along the Northern coast and in the area of Yigo proper.

By the early years of the American administration, some Chamorros chose to settle permanently in Yigo and surrounding areas. In 1912 the first school opened for grades one through four. In 1919 the U.S. Government authorized land use permits for up to twenty-five years to attract more farmers to the area. In 1920, Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel was erected so that the people of Yigo would no longer have to make the long journey to Hagatna each week for mass.

The new village of Yigo was highly self-sufficient because of its excellent farm lands. However, people still had to travel to Hagatna to buy household goods. In 1925, Jose M. Torres solved this problem by building the first village store. Torres was a copra trader and would accept coconuts in exchange for groceries. By 1940, Yigo and surrounding areas were home to about forty families spread out over large distances.

During World War II, most Yigo families were able to stay in the area and some Hagatna families relocated to their ranches in the Yigo area to stay out of the way of the Japanese. However, towards the end of the war, Yigo became the site of a major battle as American forces pursued the Japanese up the center of the island. The final major battle occurred at Yigo on Aug. 7 and 8, 1944 destroying the church and many of the houses of the village.

The end of the war brought many changes to Yigo. The population of Yigo soared during the post-war years as displaced Hagatna families settled ranch lands in the area and some of the many non-Chamorros who came to Guam as part of the Civil Service and military decided to make Yigo their permanent home. While some villagers continued to farm, the village began to reorient its economy to the presence of Andersen Air Force Base. Since the 1980s Yigo has continued to grow, mostly through the construction of public and private housing subdivisions.

Yigo is now the islands second most populated village.

POINTS OF INTEREST

Institutions

Our Lady of Lourdes Church This church was founded in 1920 and continues to serve the villages Catholic community. Yigos fiesta is held the second Saturday of February in celebration of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Guam Public Schools There are five public schools located in the northernmost village, including Simon A. Sanchez High School, F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School and Daniel L. Perez, Upi and Machanaonao elementary schools.

Private Schools There are also private schools including Trinity Christian School and Dominican Catholic School, which is part of the Archdiocese of Agana Catholic School System.

Department of Defense Schools Located within the gates of Andersen Air Force Base are the Andersen Elementary and Middle School. They are part of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) on island for children and wards of active-duty military members, and federal employees hired from the U.S. with return rights. The DoD DDESS schools on Guam opened Sept. 29, 1997.

HISTORICAL

Battle of Yigo Monument This monument commemorates the final battle of World War II on Guam. As Americans worked their way up the center of the island in early August, 1944, the Japanese fortified their positions around Mt. Santa Rosa. On August 5 the US Armys 77th Infantry were bombarded with artillery. They finally made it through the Japanese roadblocks and secured the summit of Mt. Santa Rosa on August 8. The memorial is just off Route 15 (Back road to Andersen) and Chalan Lolan, not far from the back gate.

Pacific Peace Memorial Park This memorial was erected by a Japanese group to commemorate all those who died on Guam during World War II. It is located just off Marine Corps Drive at Mataguac, the site of the last Japanese command post. Although the island was basically secure, General Obata, Commander of the Japanese forces was still holed up in his command post. It was stormed by American troops on August 12, 1944. Rather than surrender, General Obata committed suicide in his bunker.

RECREATIONAL

Mt. Santa Rosa This is the highest point in Northern Guam. From lookout areas near the summit, one can see excellent views of Guam and Rota. At one point there was a pineapple farm in this area.

Yigo Race Track Built in 2001, just off of Route 15, this drag strip and off road track is a popular local attraction.

This village at a glance

Population: The approximate population of Yigo, as of the 2000 U.S. Census was 19,474.

Village officials: Rudy M. Matanane, Mayor, 2013-Present: Robert S. Lizama, Mayor, 1997-2012; Eduardo C. Artero, Mayor, 1993-1997: John F. Blas, Commissioner/Mayor, 1989-1993: Jesus P. Cruz, Acting Commissioner, 9/1988-12/1988: David G. Blas, Commissioner, 1981-9/1988; Antonio A. Calvo, Commissioner, 1968-1981: Juan G. Blas, Commissioner, 1965-1968; Jose D. Perez, Commissioner, 1957-1965: Juan M. Santos, Commissioner, 1954-1957; Manuel A. Calvo, Commissioner, 1948-1954: Jesus C. Artero, Commissioner, 1945-1948: Juan A. San Nicolas, Commissioner, 1944-1945; Manuel F. Taguacta, Commissioner, Pre-World War II; Manuel F. Torres, Commissioner, Pre-World War II; Jose P. Leon Guerrero, Deputy Commissioner (under Machananao), Pre-World War II (courtesy of Konsehelon Mahot Guahan/the Mayors Council of Guam).

Village description: Yigo is the islands largest and most northern village, encompassing thirty-five square miles. On the map the village looks like a triangle that stretches from Pati Point to Ritidian in the North and from Ritidian to the coast near Pagat.

Yigo is the home to Andersen Air Force Base and has secured access to the beaches of the village. Yigo has numerous housing subdivisions that have sprung up in the last three decades, but it still retains a rural feel thanks to its large open spaces and dense forests supported by some of the richest soil on Guam. Like all northern Guam villages, it sits on top of the Northern Aquifer, which supplies about eighty percent of the islands drinking water supply.
The FBI's Salt Lake City Division is accepting applications through April 18 for its first Citizens Academy in Montana, which will hold classes in Helena in July.

The academy's goal is to inform the public about the FBI and federal law enforcement operations while dispelling myths about the agencies and encouraging honest discussions, officials said.

We are thrilled to be able to offer this unique program for our citizens in Montana, Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI said in a news release. We hope participants will gain a better understanding of the work we do and partner with us in keeping our communities safe. Graduates of our classes in Utah and Idaho have become great ambassadors for the FBI.

Classes begin in the last two weeks of July at the FBI's Helena office where participants will meet for six evenings to discuss topics like terrorism, cyber-enabled crime, public corruption, hate crimes, financial crimes and others.

Attendees must be 21 years old or older, live and/or work in Montana and consent to a limited background check.

Anyone wishing to self-nominate or nominate someone else can visit the link: https://shorturl.at/wBCU1

For any questions about the program contact the community outreach specialist at SU_Outreach@fbi.gov and for information about other outreach programs visit the link: https://shorturl.at/frx18
A smoke alarm alerted the sleeping occupants of a single-family home to a fire in their residence at about 7:30 a.m. Monday at 1803 Townsend Ave., Helena Fire Department Chief Jon Campbell said.

Assistant Fire Chief Mike Chambers said the residents were awoken by the sound of their smoke detectors and tried to put out the fire themselves.

They activated 911 and were able to exit the structure, Chambers said in an email.

According to preliminary information, the fire started on the main level, got into the wall and then went up to the attic space, Chambers said.

There are no reported injuries to occupants or responders. The fire was extinguished by firefighters by about 7:50 a.m., he said.

At the present time the cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.

The Helena Police Department, Northwestern Energy and St. Peter's Ambulance also responded to assist, fire officials said.

The American Red Cross Lewis and Clark Disaster Action Team helped the displaced residents, a Red Cross official said. It typically provides financial aid to the family, and they can decide how to recover. A Red Cross official said most go to a hotel, but it's up to them.
Metro Brazil, the leading retail and eCommerce company for Brazilian shapewear in the Middle East, has expanded its operations to Saudi Arabia aiming to enhance the growing retail sector.

Projections indicate a substantial expansion of the KSA retail market, anticipated to reach $54.46 billion by 2028. Metro Brazil is poised to leverage this growth with its state-of-the-art eCommerce platform, and best in class products, addressing the evolving demands of the fashion retail market.

Notably, the Saudi Arabian eCommerce market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.01 per cent to reach $27.37 billion by 2029. This upward trajectory in eCommerce revenue is poised to make a significant and positive impact on the overall economy of KSA.

Rising consumer spending power

The growth of the market is attributed to several factors such as rising consumer spending power and economic diversification under Vision 2030, aiming to boost productivity and become one of the largest economies in the world, especially in line with their plans for Riyadh Expo 2030.

By expanding into the region, Metro Brazil aims to tap into the thriving market, leverage opportunities for growth, and contribute significantly to the flourishing economy, all while adhering to their global expansion goals.

Alaa Kara Ali, CEO of Metro Brazil, commented: Our expansion into the KSA market marks a pivotal milestone in our journey. This strategic step reaffirms our unwavering commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and global growth. Our mission is to provide unparalleled choices in luxury fashion shapewear, tailored precisely to the discerning tastes of customers across the KSA region. Thorough market research studies were conducted by our team of experts to understand Saudi consumers demands, preferences, and purchasing habits.

Ultimate destination

With a steadfast focus on technological innovation, we will deliver a seamless and secure shopping experience that precisely caters to the unique demands of the market. We look forward to establishing the company as the ultimate destination for premium Brazilian brands through various strategic partnerships and investments, thereby enriching individuals confidence.

Metro Brazils research is centred on customising online shopping experience to successfully meet the expectations of KSA customers by taking into account the cultural nuances and fashion trends as well as incorporating local payment methods.

While the KSA eCommerce market is growing positively, the UAE market is projected to reach $9.2 billion in 2026, creating an opportunity for Metro Brazil's success in both these markets.

Furthermore, to capture a considerable size of the KSA shapewear and stocking market which is projected to reach a market size of more than $7 million by 2028, the company will officially open physical showrooms in Riyadh and Jeddah, as part of their new expansion strategy, bridging the gap between traditional retail experiences and the digital marketplace.

Additionally, the companys plans include collaborations with local finance and investment organisations, such as Growth Venture Capital, Investment Pools, and Angel Investors, as well as access to emerging markets and incentives for technological advancements.--TradeArabia News Service
Montana Democrats are pouring millions into an effort to boost turnout among Native voters in the effort to re-elect U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and help other party candidates seeking to ride his coattails.

This years U.S. Senate race in Montana has massive implications both for the state and the balance of Congress. Tester was the lone statewide Democrat left standing after 2020s trouncing by Republicans for seats up and down the ballot. Nationally the GOP is targeting his seat as critical to the partys hopes in taking back the U.S. Senate; he is expected to face Belgrade aerial firefighting company CEO and political newcomer Tim Sheehy.

The Montana Democratic Partys announcement Monday is aimed in part to counter the millions expected to be spent trying to unseat Tester by groups including the National Republican Senatorial Committee led by Montanas junior U.S. Sen. Steve Daines.

The Big Sky Victory coordinated campaign is a multi-million dollar program that plans to hire more than 50 people in 20 offices across the state and focus on the most robust voter outreach program in Indian Country that Montana has ever seen, according to a press release announcing the effort.

Indian Country is facing tough battles in 2024, and the outcome of this election couldnt be more important, said Cinda Burd Ironmaker, Native vote political director for the Montana Democratic Party and Blackfeet Tribe member, in a press release Monday. From honoring tribal sovereignty, to improving health care delivery, to combating the missing and murdered Indigenous people crisis, we deserve elected officials who will fight for us and be our partner. Jon Tester is that fighter.

The seven-figure campaign will include Native organizing efforts, full-time organizers, offices on reservations and a paid communications plan that includes mail and digital efforts to reach Native voters with targeted messaging for each tribe in the state.

Turnout across Montanas reservation counties typically lags behind the average statewide. In 2022, the statewide average turnout in the general election was about 61%; in Roosevelt County where most of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation lies it was 45%. In Glacier County, home to the Blackfeet Reservation, it was 38%. Both those counties saw turnout around 69% in the last presidential election, when statewide turnout rose to a record high of 81%.

In 2018 the Char-Koosta News reported that Tester leveraged get-out-the-vote efforts on the Flathead Reservation from Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Get Out The Vote, Montana Democrats Native American Get Out The Vote and Western Native Voice; turnout in the county rose by 19% from 2014.

Tester has historically done well in Indian Country: Big Horn County delivered for him by a 31-point margin in 2018, giving him 3,027 votes. He took 75% of the vote in Glacier County, tallying 3,754 votes. And he took 58% of the vote, or 2,031 votes, in Roosevelt County. That year saw a massive turnout for a mid-term election, with a statewide average of 72%, more on par with a presidential year.

Comparatively, when Democrat Steve Bullock ran and lost in Montana's 2020 Senate race, his margin of victory was 12% in Big Horn County and he underperformed Tester by 5% in Glacier and Roosevelt counties.

Montana Democrats know how to win in this state: by burning shoe leather and speaking with voters face-to-face, said Sheila Hogan, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party in the Monday press release. Big Sky Victory is a well-resourced, juggernaut organizing effort that will ensure we are getting every eligible voter out to the polls in 2024. Were fired up and were ready to re-elect Jon Tester and elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

The Democrats coordinated campaign also includes voter protection and ballot access efforts, according to the press release. Over the past legislative sessions, the GOP-majority state Legislature has passed laws that have been challenged in court by tribes and Native votings-rights groups and struck down, including an end to Election Day registration and an attempt to halt paid third-party ballot collections.

Nick Marroletti, the coordinated campaign director, said in the press release the effort is the earliest, best-funded organizing program Montana has ever seen.

Montana Democrats are also hoping to see improved performance from Monica Tranel, again the partys candidate in the western House race. Tranel lost to Republican Ryan Zinke, who shes likely to face again in a rematch this year. In her 4-point loss, Tranel underperformed in Glacier County, where turnout also dropped from the last midterm election by 22%.

Tranel has been named by the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee as a member of their "Red to Blue" program that will also bring staff and cash to the state.

Montana Democrats also have high hopes to pick up legislative seats with the new map as a result of the redistricting process completed last year. Last session the GOP held a supermajority in both the House and Senate. Outgoing House minority leader Kim Abbott predicted gaining eight to 10 seats in the House, and Senate minority leader Pat Flowers predicted picking up two or three seats in the Senate. Flowers said he hoped specifically to gain Native legislators in those caucus.

The Montana Republican Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday, though the GOP nationally is going all-in this year on early voting in an effort to boost turnout. The NRSC and Daines last year emphasized plans to encourage voters to bank their votes early, with Daines saying then that will give us a competitive edge in some of these critical races, which they're going to be several of them in the 2024 Senate map. Republicans need to take advantage of all voting methods in each state, just like the Democrats have done.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn.  WETS-FM is celebrating 50 years of broadcasting excellence, community service and listener loyalty during its annual spring fund drive that has been moved from this week to May 20-25.

The station said in a statement that the event has been moved to May because of ongoing construction at its transmitter site.

WETS-FM 89.5, a local public radio station and National Public Radio affiliate, said its priority is to reach a donation goal of $75,000 as it celebrates its 50th year of broadcasting.

Fifty years is an incredible accomplishment for the station and for the community, said Chad Barrett, WETS-FM station director. Were excited to celebrate half a century of high-quality programming, but we dont just want to make this about us. We want to celebrate our listeners, because we got this far thanks to them.

It all started in 1973 when local radio legend Richard Little Richard Ellis was hired to manage a proposed FM station on the East Tennessee State University campus.

WETS-FM officially began broadcasting as an NPR affiliate on Feb. 26, 1974. In the beginning, the station was on air for just 12 hours a day, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., switching to the familiar 24-hour broadcasting model in 1989.

One of WETS-FMs most notable achievements was Down Home Music, a series produced by former Program Director Phil Leonard that was once carried by almost 100 stations nationwide.

WETS-FM has also held special NPR Talent visits for listeners, including former All Things Considered host Linda Wertheimer and former Morning Edition host Bob Edwards. The station plans to bring more familiar voices to campus in the near future.

WETS-FM operates at 89.5 MHz in the Tri-Cities Tennessee/Virginia/North Carolina region and online, covering everything from local news and music to iconic NPR programs.

This summer, the station plans to install a brand-new radio tower on top of Holston Mountain, maintaining quality broadcast coverage for listeners.

In celebration of our 50th, we want to honor not only our rich history but also our deep commitment to serving our community, said Barrett. From financial contributions to years of tuning in, our listeners have supported us through it all, and we will continue to give back. Were excited to introduce some special gifts to our listeners this year.

WETS-FM asks for volunteers to answer phones and take donations, especially in the mornings and evenings. Listeners interested in helping the station or giving a listener testimonial may email barrettcw@etsu.edu or leave a voicemail at (888) 895-9387 expressing interest and available hours.

Find more ways to celebrate WETS-FMs 50th anniversary at wets.org.
ABINGDON, Va. A fourth-grade student at Rhea Valley Elementary, who is often dubbed a young Sheldon by his teachers, recently won first place in the George Washington Research Paper Competition, an annual contest open to all fourth-grade and home schooled students in Washington County, Virginia.

Daniel Trivett, age 10, said he was totally surprised when his name was announced as the top winner during a recent formal ceremony at the Martha Washington Inn in Abingdon.

The celebration is held this time each year to honor the work of the students and to recognize the birthday of Washington, who would have been 292 years old this year.

The ceremony, held for students, their parents and teachers, was presented in a historical setting with the founding father himself paying a special visit to the ceremony.

Retired educator David Winship played the role of George Washington, and Katie Mitchell, a teacher at Greendale Elementary, was Martha Washington, both dressed in colonial attire. The Muster Grounds Musick performed historic period music to announce the arrival of the couple to the ballroom.

Second place in the essay contest was awarded to Evelyn Brodie, a student at Abingdon Elementary and third place was given to Alyssa Robinson, a student at Greendale Elementary.

Students were encouraged to participate by writing essays containing 300 to 500 words and using different sources for research.

Daniel said he used library books and online sources to write a timeline essay about Washingtons life.

As top winner in the school district, Daniel won an all-expense paid trip to Mount Vernon in Alexandria, the homeplace of George Washington, for himself and his family.

In his winning essay, Daniel wrote, His (George Washington) qualities have left an indelible mark on the nations history and have shaped the presidency itself. Washingtons unparalleled commitment to serving his country, his unwavering integrity and his visionary leadership make him an iconic figure in American politics So, the conclusion is that George Washington was one of the greatest presidents of all times and a great man and his legacy will live on forever.

Heather Trivett said she is proud of her grandson Daniel, an inquisitive child who likes to collect rocks and often exhibits wisdom beyond his years.

I entered the competition because I wanted to go to Mount Vernon. I have never been before, said the student.

We plan to take the trip to Mount Vernon in June, said his grandmother.

The 21 student finalists who represent the top three winners in each of the countys seven elementary schools received money and copies of the book, George Washingtons Rules of Civility.

During the ceremony, last years winner Noah Robinson, a student from High Point Elementary, spoke about his trip to Mount Vernon last summer.

Keith Perrigan, superintendent of Washington County, Virginia, Schools, introduced guests at the event.

The competition is sponsored each year by the Washington County Educational Fund, Washington County Public Schools, and Dr. John Lentz of Abingdon, who is the driving force behind the project. The trip to Mount Vernon and monetary awards for the students are funded by Lentz.

Other essay winners from each elementary school are Albert Howard and Connor Hayes at Rhea Valley Elementary; Hudson Moody and Ryan Whisman at Abingdon Elementary; Julia Abel, Russell Lambert, and Caleb Blankenship, at Watauga Elementary; Levi Jenkins and Ainslee Mitchell at Greendale Elementary; Juliana Linke, Josie Rush, and Cohen Mullins at High Point Elementary; Katie Hockett, Ean Hunt, and Wesley Payne at Meadowview Elementary; and Thomas Clifton, Karrah Groce, and Levi Clark at Valley Institute Elementary.

The idea for the essay contest is the brain child of Lentz, who was instrumental in creating the contest more than 15 years ago. The competition initially started as a project at Rhea Valley Elementary, later becoming a division-wide endeavor.

During the celebration, Lentz talked about his appreciation for the countrys first leader.

Lentz, who grew up in Alexandria, designed the voluntary writing essay contest to stimulate the interest of all fourth-grade students in Washington County.

Lentz said his goal for creating the contest was to encourage students to learn about George Washington as an individual and a leader, to encourage the use of both school and public libraries, to encourage reading and self expression, to encourage leadership skills for which George Washington is known, and to encourage knowledge of the United States and Virginia history.

Carolyn R. Wilson is a freelance writer in Glade Spring, Virginia. Contact her at citydesk@bristolnews.com.
Shante Miller was delivering pizza to her daughter at Hall-Woodward Elementary School last week when she learned that her house was on fire.

I was taking them some pizza to do something nice for her birthday and her school, Miller said last Friday as she stood in front of her burned house in southeastern Winston-Salem. Then I had to rush back home.

The fire started shortly before 1 p.m. last Tuesday, according to the Winston-Salem Fire Department.

When Miller arrived on Peachtree Street, she saw firefighters working to put out the blaze.

I was in shock, Miller said. I could not believe that it was possible for that to happen. I was scared, panicking and very emotional.

Millers 3-year-old son and a babysitter were inside the home when the incident happened.

Her son, the babysitter, the familys three dogs and five small python snakes all got out the house safely, Miller said. She and her family had lived there since October 2023.

The fire severely damaged the small frame house and displaced Miller, her husband and their four children.

It took firefighters about an hour to extinguish the blaze, causing $19,400 in damage to the home. The fire and its smoke also ruined the familys belongings, including their clothes, televisions and beds.

It was a total loss, she said.

Investigators are working to determine how the blaze started, the fire department said in its report. The blazes origin was in the area of a vehicle, but the fire department didnt provide further details.

About 90 minutes earlier, police responded to a shooting in the 2600 block of Peachtree Street. Two adults and two juveniles were later arrested and charged with various offenses in connection with that incident.

Miller believes a bullet striking a four-wheeler parked behind her house started the fire. The blaze burned the rear of the home and spread throughout the house, she said.

There is no way that ATV would catch fire and blow up, Miller said. It was under a tarp and in the shade.

Miller said she saw police officers looking for clues along Clemmonsville Road, which runs behind her home.

Something had to hit the ATV for it to catch fire, Miller said. Im pretty sure thats what happened.

After police investigated the incident, they hold a different view.

The shooting occurred down the street, and it would be nearly impossible for the trajectory of a bullet to make it to where the ATV was on the property, said Annie Sims, a police spokeswoman.

In the past few days, local residents have donated clothes and money to Millers family to help them recover.

Ive been appreciative of it, Miller said.

Frankie Gist, a community activist and founder of H.O.P.E. Dealers Outreach, said that his organization is providing resources and support. His organization is paying for the family to stay in a hotel until they can find a more permanent place to live.

H.O.P.E. Dealers Outreach has also raised money from the community to buy diapers, clothes and toiletries for the family.

Additionally, the American Red Cross has provided financial assistance as well.

We are continuing work with this family, said Mike DeCinti, a spokesman for the organization. We will offer them support, resources and referrals for their long-term needs.

Meanwhile, Miller is looking for another home.

Im trying not to let this take a toll on me, she admitted. Im trying to find a place for my kids to lay their heads.

Miller said she wishes the incident never happened.

No one should have to go through this, she said. I try not to get emotional about losing everything. I guess its just life.

God does things for a reason. Out of this tragedy, He will give me something positive.
GUEST OPINION: Traders looking to maximize their profits often utilize leverage and margin to increase their trading power. Leverage allows traders to control larger positions with less capital, while margin acts as collateral for leveraged trades. When used properly, leverage and margin can significantly boost returns. However, they also magnify losses if used recklessly.

In this article, well explore how leverage and margin work and the risks and rewards associated with them so you can move forward with confidence.

What is Leverage?

Leverage is the use of borrowed capital to increase one's trading power. Essentially, leverage allows traders to control much larger positions than they could using only their own capital. For example, if a trader using a CFD broker Australia has $1,000 in their account and the broker offers 10:1 leverage, the trader can control a $10,000 position. This gives the trader greater exposure to the market and the ability to generate larger profits - or losses.

The amount of leverage offered can range from 2:1 up to 500:1, depending on the broker and trading instrument.

Leverage works by allowing the trader to deposit just a fraction of the total position value. The broker supplies the rest through a loan. So, if the trader deposits $1,000 and gets 10:1 leverage, the broker loans them $9,000. The trader then controls the full $10,000 position. Any profits or losses made are based on the entire position size, not just the deposited capital.

What is Margin?

Margin acts as collateral for leveraged trades. It is the minimum equity required to open and maintain a leveraged position. Brokers require margin to ensure traders have enough of their own capital at risk. Common margin requirements are 2-10% of the total position value.

For example, if a trader wants to open a $10,000 position with 10:1 leverage, their broker might require a 5% margin. This means the trader needs to deposit at least $500 of their own capital. The broker then supplies the remaining $9,500 through leverage.

Margin requirements help limit the brokers risk and ensure traders have adequate capital at stake. If a traders account equity falls below the margin requirement, they will be asked to deposit more funds or close part of the leveraged position to bring their equity back above the margin requirement.

The Rewards and Risks of Leverage

Used prudently, leverage and margin provide traders with several advantages:

Increased Buying Power - Leverage dramatically increases a traders buying power, allowing them to enter much larger positions than their personal capital would permit. This gives traders greater market exposure and profit potential.

Improved Capital Efficiency - Leverage enables traders to deploy capital more efficiently. Less of the traders money is tied up for each dollar of market exposure. This frees up capital for other investments and opportunities.

Diversification - By enabling larger positions, leverage allows traders to more easily diversify their portfolios across various assets, markets, and timeframes. This can reduce overall portfolio risk.

Magnified Gains - Any profits made on leveraged trades are based on the full position size, not just the amount deposited. This magnifies gains significantly compared to non-leveraged trading.

However, leverage also amplifies losses:

Magnified Losses - Losses are similarly amplified by leverage, as they are based on the full position size. This presents a major risk if used carelessly, which is why leverage can be so risky for inexperienced traders.

Forced Liquidations - If account equity falls below margin requirements, forced liquidations can occur rapidly. This can wipe out the traders capital before they have a chance to act.

Interest Costs - Traders pay interest on borrowed capital supplied through leverage. These carrying costs can add up over time and eat into profits.

Increased Volatility - Leverage amplifies volatility in both directions. This requires traders to actively manage their leverage to avoid large drawdowns.

Navigating Leverage and Margin Safely

Here are some tips for leveraging your trading prudently:

Use only reputable brokers with strong balance sheets that can supply leverage reliably.

Reduce leverage during volatile markets when risks increase. Higher leverage is better suited for less volatile trends.

Maintain adequate free margin cushion above requirements to avoid forced liquidations.

Scale position size appropriately - leverage magnifies risk, so position size should be reduced accordingly.

Use stop losses to contain potential losses - market conditions can shift rapidly.

Monitor account equity daily and adjust leverage as needed. Don't wait for a margin call.

Avoid holding leveraged positions overnight or through major news events when markets are closed.

Don't use maximum leverage just because it's available. Leverage should align with your risk tolerance.

Used judiciously, leverage is a powerful tool for active traders looking to amplify their capital. But reckless use can just as easily amplify losses. With proper risk management, leverage allows traders to fully capitalize on market opportunities.

ITWire editorial disclaimer: The information outlined in this article should not be interpreted in any way as financial advice or as a recommendation by iTWire's employees, partners or suppliers. This content is intended for informational purposes only. Before making any investment decision, iTWire recommends that you take independent financial advice from an accredited professional advisor.
Future Skills Monash College has announced an AI collaboration with Microsoft, which it says is unique and will deliver a fresh new approach to technology education and industry partnership in Australia.

According to Monash College - a student applicant pathway college to Monash University - with Microsofts Artificial Intelligence learning content, certifications and expertise integrated into Monash Colleges Future Skills programs, students will benefit from industry-relevant education, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet the evolving demands of the technology sector - and the initiative will not only elevate the standard of AI education but also offer an extensive suite of Microsoft certifications and badges.

Monash College CEO Jo Mithen said these credentials provide tangible, industry-recognised qualifications, empowering individuals to advance their careers in AI and technology.

Monash College is proud to partner with Microsoft in pioneering AI-driven solutions that redefine the educational landscape. Together, we're not just shaping the future; we're defining it, said Mithen.

At Monash College, we're equipping our students with the skills Australias and Victorias economy needs, and part of that is exposing them to cutting-edge opportunities that prepare them for the demands of tomorrow's workforce. Our collaboration with Microsoft exemplifies this dedication, as we leverage AI to enhance learning outcomes and empower our students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

By joining forces with Microsoft, Monash College is opening doors to endless possibilities. Through this innovative AI collaboration, we're reimagining education, driving innovation, and equipping our students with the skills they need to excel in the digital age.

Monash College notes that a feature of the partnership, and a global first, will require all Future Skills students to complete a Microsoft Responsible AI learning path, ensuring students are grounded in the principles of fairness, equity and responsibility in developing and using AI applications.

The College says that under the collaboration, Microsoft subject matter experts will work alongside the Future Skills academic team to carefully consider how best to expose students to relevant AI concepts and applications in the context of their studies - and students will benefit from greater confidence when contemplating or using AI applications which will directly benefit employers, particularly within the small and medium business sector.

To launch the partnership Sarah Carney, Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft Australia and New Zealand, delivered a keynote with a panel of employers that explored the impact of AI in the tech, healthcare and energy sectors.

There has never been a rate of change in new technology adoption that can compare to what weve seen in the last 12 months with generative AI. Every sector is starting to think differently about the possibilities of what they can achieve now that generative AI is unlocking unprecedented capabilities, says Carney.

From tech and telecommunications to legal, healthcare and education, AI is infusing a sense of endless optimism that must be balanced with responsibility and inclusivity. Working with leading educational institutions like Monash College is crucial to ensuring that those about to join the workforce will innovate boldly and ethically.

Future Skills Monash College and Microsoft note that they are committed to setting new benchmarks in education and training.

The partnership represents a unique meeting of industry thought leaders and trainers, aimed at providing unparalleled upskilling and reskilling opportunities. It's an important step towards empowering employers and professionals not only in Victoria but across Australia.
Fintech Australia has elected Sarah Gorman the organisations new Chair, with outgoing chair Simone Joyce moving to an advisory role.

And the peak advocacy group also promoted current general manager Rehan DAlmeida to CEO, with Audacity Ventures Brian Collins taking on the Deputy Chair role.

As Australia's second highest funded industry raising more than $6 billion since 2020 but only $330m last year in fintech startup funding,

FinTech Australia has appointed three-time founder and DAS executive Sarah Gorman as Chair and Rehan DAlmeida as its new CEO.

Fintech Australia says with Sarah Gormans role as Chair, outgoing chair Simone Joyce is moving to an advisory role and the company is committed to support and propel the fintech industry through its next stage of growth.

Audacity Ventures Brian Collins is taking on the Deputy Chair role.

Gorman is a founding team member and investor of Melbourne-based DAS (Digital Agriculture Services) and currently serves as Head of Growth and Marketing at the Agri-Fintech, which Fintech Australia says she has helped build and scale since its inception in 2017.

Gorman was appointed Deputy Chair of Fintech Australias board in November 2023 and is an active member of the startup ecosystem. A three-time founder, influence expert and strategist, she has more than two decades of experience spanning advisory, entrepreneurship, narrative and investment, both in Asia Pacific and globally, notes FinTech Australia.

Fintech Australia notes that Brian Collins is a fintech founder, fund manager and executive who most recently oversaw AWS's fintech work across the Oceania region - and he now runs Audacity Ventures, which in addition to providing support services to fintech founders has also partnered with Euphemia to build one of the first dedicated fintech funds in the region.

Incoming FinTech Australia Chair Sarah Gorman said: I am driven by a genuine desire to help shape the future of Australia's fintech industry as it enters its next wave of evolution and growth, and fully echo the view that with the right support, these organisations can provide the foundation for Australias digital economy and continue to be a driver of growth and productivity in Australia.

Were talking about a multi-billion industry in Australia alone. Its hard to think of organisations that dont interact with the Fintech ecosystem in some way, shape or form, and whats more, todays fintechs arent just solving local financial issues, they are leveraging their expertise to tackle global challenges such as climate change and inequality. All while grappling with a changing technology landscape that encompasses issues around data trust, privacy and crucially, artificial intelligence.

FinTech Australia says Gormans appointment comes as Paypa Plane founder and global CEO, Simone Joyce, ends a highly successful tenure as Chair.

Joyce was appointed to the role in 2020 and has recently moved to New York to globally scale her business. Joyce will continue to advise the organisation on key industry issues, including informing its direction on payment-related policy matters.

It has been a great honour to serve this industry as Chair of FinTech Australia - and see the industry grow. I look forward to shifting my focus to the growth of Paypa Plane both in the US and in Australia, Simone Joyce said.

Its well known across the industry that FinTech Australias board is an extension of its team. Its members and Chair are incredibly active in supporting the organisation and Rehans team in delivering for the industry.

FinTech Australia also notes that the new CEO appointment, approved by FinTech Australias board, recognises Rehan DAlmeida's record in growing the ecosystem in Australia and globally for the benefit of its members since assuming the General Manager role in 2021.

During his tenure, Fintech Australia has grown to encompass over 400 members and corporate partners, delivering more than 30 submissions to the government on fintech-related policy in the last year alone. Its flagship events, Intersekt Fintech Festival and The Finnies hit record numbers, while new initiatives such as The Banking Reverse Pitch, Fintech for Net Zero and CDR Summit have attracted a global audience.

Commenting on the appointment, DAlmeida said: Its an incredible honour to be recognised as FinTech Australias CEO  my career has grown alongside the industry. Weve seen FinTech Australia reach new heights in terms of engagement with both members and policy-makers, all with a small dedicated team. Crucially, thats translated into commercial success for the sector. According to the last FinTech Australia, EY Census, over 81% of fintechs have hit profitability and are growing revenue  up from 77% in 2019.

We face new challenges ahead as the FinTech industry continues to navigate complex regulatory frameworks and steers towards helping society address larger challenges such as climate change. But its an exciting time for the sector, and its bigger and more vibrant than ever before.

On Simone Joyces record, DAlmeida said: We are incredibly grateful for Simones contributions over the past three years. Her work has helped steer FinTech Australia into the strongest position the organisation has been in since its formation in 2016.

On Sarah Gorman DAlmeida said: Sarahs appointment yet again raises the bar in terms of the expertise and experience we have contained in our board. I look forward to working closely with her as we continue to grow FinTech Australia and its role in driving the overall growth of the fintech industry.

Similarly, Brians appointment is important at a time when the industry is increasingly focused on unlocking critical funding for large, mid and early-stage fintechs alike.

FinTech Australias board now consists of the following members:
Shiroishi-gawa Tsutsumi Hitome Senbonzakura cherry blossoms in Miyagi Prefecture (Photos courtesy of Live Japan)

These gorgeous cherry blossom spots in Tohoku are a symbol of spring that has been loved by the Japanese for a very long time. Tohoku sakura are some of the most spectacular in the country.

Cherry blossoms in Okinawa, the southernmost part of Japan, tend to begin blooming around late January. This sakura wave continues north through the Kyushu and Kanto Regions in late March, ending with the northernmost Tohoku Region around mid-April, early May.

Here we will introduce a selection of the cherry blossom spots in Tohoku with the most magnificent views in six prefectures.

Best Time to See Sakura in Japans Northern Region

Since the Japanese archipelago extends from north to south, cherry blossom season varies by location. Tokyo begins to bloom in the middle of March. But Tohoku sakura in Aomori, located at the northernmost tip of the Tohoku Region, starts about a month later, around mid-April.

To enjoy the best views of cherry blossoms in the Tohoku Region, it is recommended to visit between mid-April and early May.

There are many cherry blossom spots in Tohoku that combine the beautiful view of the cherry blossom with the captivating natural landscape.

1. Miharu Takizakura (Best Time: Early - Mid April)

The 1000 year old Miharu Takizakura sakura tree in Fukushima Prefecture (Live Japan)

Miharu Taki-zakura was the first cherry tree to be designated as a national natural monument of Japan, along with Yamataka Jindai-zakura in Yamanashi Prefecture, and Neodani Usuzumi-zakura in Gifu Prefecture.

The name Takizakura, or weeping cherry tree, is derived from its resemblance to a waterfall with its branches extending in all directions, covered in many small cherry blossoms.

Over 1000 years old, you can feel its overwhelming presence, even from a distance. And after you see the cherry blossoms in the daytime, dont forget to come back at night for the light-up! The scenery made by the pale red cherry blossoms contrasted against the dark night is a mysterious beauty indeed.

Miharu Takizakura 

Address: Sakurakubo, Taki, Miharu-machi, Tamura-gun, Fukushima, 963-7714

Nearest Station: Miharu Station (Ban-etsuto Line), 15 minutes by bus

Phone Number: 0247-62-3690

2. Nicchu Line Memorial Walkway (Best Time: Mid  Late April)

Nicchu Line Memorial Walkway cherry blossoms in Fukushima Prefecture (Live Japan)

The National Railway Nicchu-sen was abolished in 1984. Currently, about 3 km of the site has been made into a walking promenade, lined with about 1,000 weeping cherry trees that all begin to bloom in mid-April.

One part of the promenade is lined with cherry blossom trees on both sides, turning the path into a beautiful cherry blossom tunnel. It makes for not just a nice viewing spot, but an incredible Tohoku sakura photo spot as well.

When the spring breeze passes through the delicate branches of weeping cherry blossom, the surrounding area becomes faintly perfumed in the sweet cherry scent.

Towards the midpoint of the promenade, you can also see the steam locomotive that once ran along the Nicchu-sen line.

Nicchu Line Memorial Walkway  ()

Address: Oshikiri-Higashi, Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture

Phone Number: 0241-24-5200

Phone: 0241-24-5200 (Kitakata Sightseeing Information Center)

Hours: Always Open

Admission: Free

3. Shiroishi-gawa Tsutsumi Hitome Senbonzakura (Best Time: Early  Mid April)

Shiroishi-gawa Tsutsumi Hitome Senbonzakura cherry blossoms in Miyagi Prefecture (Live Japan)

The Shiroishi River, which flows through the southern part of Miyagi Prefecture, is lined with about 8 kilometers of cherry blossom trees along its embankment, creating a stunning landscape with a backdrop of the majestic snow-capped Zao Mountains.

During the cherry blossom season, several Tohoku sakura festivals are held from early-to-mid April, including the Ogawara Sakura Festival, and the Ohanami Yakatabune, where you can view the cherry blossoms from aboard a ship.

In peak season, you can also watch the passing views of the cherry blossoms from inside a train by riding the JR Tohoku Main Line as it passes slowly between Ogawara Station and Funaoka Station, alongside the cherry blossom trees.

Hitome Senbonzakura  ()

Address: Otani, Ogawara-cho, Shibata-gun, Miyagi Prefecture

Phone Number: 0224-53-2659

Hours: Always Open

Admission: Free

4. Tsutsujigaoka Park (Best time: Early  Late April)

(Live Japan)

Tsutsujigaoka Park is known for its weeping cherry trees. It is said that Tsunamura, the fourth lord of the Date clan, planted cherry trees imported from Kyoto, marking the beginning of the park.

During early spring, about 370 cherry trees come into full bloom here, filling the park with visitors. Tsutsujigaoka Park has a wide variety of cherry blossoms, including weeping cherry, Somei-Yoshino, Yaezakura, Higanzakura, and Ukon-zakura, so visitors can enjoy cherry blossom viewing for a relatively long time.

The Sakura Festival at Tsutsujigaoka Park is usually held in early April, with food stalls and nighttime lighting. Access is easy, with the nearest station being JR Tsutsujigaoka Station - about a 3-minute walk away - or a 10-minute walk from JR Sendai Station.

The Cherry Blossom Festival for 2023 is yet to be determined.

Tsutsujigaoka Park 

Address: 1-chome 301-3 Gorin, Miyagino-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi 983-0842

5. Nishi Park (Best time: Early  Late April)

(Live Japan)

Nishi Park is a cherry blossom viewing spot located near Jozenji-dori, a symbolic road for Sendai. About 200 cherry trees, including Somei-Yoshino and Edo-higan Zakura, are in full bloom. There are also many other attractions in the park.

The first lord of Sendai, Date Masamune, brought a plum tree back to Sendai Castle from Korea and later transplanted it. There is also an old-established teahouse where you can taste Sendais famous zunda mochi (rice cake with red bean paste) while admiring the cherry blossoms.

Omachi-Nishi-Koen Station on the Sendai City Subway Tozai Line is right in front of the park, making it easily accessible, and since it is within walking distance of JR Sendai Station, it is also a good place to visit while enjoying shopping and eating out.

Nishi Park 

Address: 1-3 Sakuragaokakoen, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0823

Phone number: 022-225-7211 (Aoba Ward Office Parks Division)

Hours: Always open

6. Sendai Castle Ruins (Best time: Early  Late April)

(Live Japan)

The ruins of Sendai Castle (also known as Aoba Castle), the former residence of the Date clan, is a well-known sightseeing spot in Sendai.

In spring, you can see the statue of Masamune Date standing on his horse against the light red cherry blossoms. The area around the ruins of Sendai Castle is Aobayama Park, which is surrounded by the rich nature of the Hirose River and Mt. Aoba.

On the grounds of Sendai Castle Ruins, you can also find the Aoba Castle Museum and Sendai Castle Museum, which introduce the history of Sendai Castle. Here as well is the Aoba Castle Food Court, where you can taste local Miyagi gourmet food, so you can enjoy not only cherry blossoms but also sightseeing and gourmet food.

To get there, take the Sendai City Loop Bus Loople Sendai from Bus Stop No. 16 at the West Exit of JR Sendai Station (about 20 minutes). Get off at Sendai Castle Ruins bus stop.

Sendai Castle Ruins 

Address: 1 Kawauchi, Aoba-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, 980-0862

Nearest Station: Kokusai Center Station (Tozai Line), 15 minutes on foot

Phone Number: 022-214-8259

7. Okitama Sakura Corridor (Best Time: Mid  Late April)

Okitama Sakura Corridor in Miyagi Prefecture (Live Japan)

This 43km-long sightseeing route connects the famous cherry blossom areas in the southern part of Yamagata Prefecture with the Okitama Region. The area spans two cities and one town: Nanyo City, Nagai City, and Shirataka Town, and runs along the Yamagata Railway Flower Nagai Line.

The area is dotted with all kinds of famous cherry blossom trees, including the Nanyo Eboshiyama-senbon Sakura, the 1,200-year-old Yakushi Sakura, as well as the Edo-higan Zakura and Isazawa-no-kubo Sakura, which are two of the representative cherry blossom trees of Okitama Sakura Corridor and also designated Natural Monuments of Japan.

It is also famous for its one, individually standing cherry blossom tree, called the Lonesome Cherry Blossom and said to be over 1,000 years old. For quick and easy travel, we recommend using a guided taxi to get you through the main attraction cherry tree spots along the route.

Okitama Sakura Corridor  ()

Address: Otani, Ogawara-machi, Shibata-gun, Miyagi 989-1201

Phone Number: 0238-86-0086

Hours: Always Open

Admission: Free

8. Kakunodate Bukeyashiki-dori Street (Best Time: Late April  Mid-May)

Kakunodate Bukeyashiki-dori cherry blossoms in Akita Prefecture (Live Japan)

Kakunodate, Senboku City, Akita Prefecture, is a popular tourist spot where the old streets from 390 years ago remain. Bukeyashiki-dori is a place where many samurai residences were built, and is particularly popular, attracting plenty of tourists.

Towards the end of April every year, the streets become decorated in pink weeping cherry trees, creating a stunning view when contrasted with the black wooden fences surrounding the samurai residences. During the Kakunodate Cherry Blossom Festival, usually held during peak season, the trees are lit up from sunset to 10:00 PM.

The Hinokinaigawa River, located about a 3-minute walk from Bukeyashiki-dori, is also famous as a cherry blossom spot in Tohoku.

Bukeyashiki-dori Street  ()

Address: 394-2 Kamisuzawa, Kakunodate-cho, Senboku-shi, Akita

Phone Number: 0187-54-2700

Hours: Always open

Admission: Free

9. Ishiwari Cherry Blossoms (Best time: Mid  Late April)

(Live Japan)

The Edo-higan Zakura cherry blossoms bloom in front of the Morioka District Court. The tree is said to be 360 years old and is designated as a national natural monument. The cherry blossoms sprout in the cracks of a huge rock 21 meters in circumference, said to have been split by a lightning strike. The courthouse is open from 8:30 am to 5:45 pm. You can still enjoy the view from the sidewalk when the gates are closed.

Ishiwarizakura (The Rock-Splitting Cherry Tree) 

Address: 9-1 Uchimaru, Morioka, Iwate 020-0023

Nearest Station: When visiting, it is convenient to take the Den Den Mushi (Morioka Loop Bus) from JR Morioka Station and get off at the Chuodori 1-chome bus stop, which is about 8 minutes away.

Phone number: 019-604-3305 (Morioka Convention & Visitors Association)

Opening hours: Free to visit (courthouse gates open from 8:30 AM to 5:45 PM)

Admission: Free

10. Morioka Castle Ruins Park (Best time: Mid-April  Early May)

This is the former site of Morioka Castle, which was the residence of the lord of the Nanbu domain. Today, the granite stone walls and pond remain, and the park is enjoyed by people from around the city. It is said that Takuboku Ishikawa and Kenji Miyazawa, poets associated with Iwate, often visited the park, and there are monuments to each found in the park.

The cherry blossoms in full bloom against the backdrop of the stone walls are a sight to behold.

Morioka Castle Ruins Park 

Address: 1-1-37 Uchimaru, Morioka, Iwate 020-0023

Nearest Station: From JR Morioka Station, take the Den Den Mushi (Morioka Loop Bus) for about 6 minutes. Get off at the Morioka Castle Ruins Park bus stop.

Phone number: 019-604-3305 (Morioka Convention & Visitors Association)

Admission: Free

11. Solitary Cherry Tree at KOIWAI FARM (Best Time: Mid-April  Mid-May)

Solitary Cherry Tree at KOIWAI FARM, Iwate Prefecture. (Photo courtesy of KOIWAI FARM)

At the foot of Mount Iwate, the highest peak in Iwate Prefecture stands a single cherry tree on Koiwai Farm, a local tourist attraction. It has an impressive, dramatic appearance that reflects the overcoming of a long, harsh winter with its strong roots planted firmly in the green land.

The cherry blossom trees are located in a pasture area about 5 minutes away by car from the sightseeing area, Makiba-en. The area is also accessible by bus from Morioka Station.

Originally, it is said to have been one of the shade trees planted about 100 years ago to protect the heat-sensitive cows on the farm from the strong sunlight.

The parking lot is open 24 hours during the Tohoku sakura season. Early morning is a particularly beautiful time to visit, and perfect for photography.

The Solitary Cherry Tree can only be viewed from behind a fence. Access to the nearby pastures, windbreaks, and farm roads is also prohibited. Lastly, please note that operating a drone on the premises is also strictly forbidden.

Koiwai Farm 

Address: 36-1 Maruyachi, Shizukuishi Town, Iwate District, Iwate Prefecture, 020-0507

Nearest Station: Morioka Station (Tazawako Line / Tohoku Main Line / Yamada Line), 30 minutes by bus

Phone Number: 019-692-4321

12. Kitakami Tenshochi Park (Best Time: Mid-April  Early May)

Tohoku sakura blossoms at Kitakami Tenshochi Park in Iwate Prefecture (Live Japan)

Along the banks of the Kitakami River lies Kitakami City Park Tenshochi, which is lined with tons of 90-year-plus Yoshino cherry trees.

In addition to the trees lining the 2km stretch of river, there are also about 10,000 other cherry trees in the park, including about 150 more Yoshino cherry trees, weeping cherry trees, and Kasumi cherry trees.

During the Kitakami Tenshochi Cherry Blossom Festival, you can ride a retro carriage through the cherry blossom tunnel, which is another attraction popular among tourists.

Another Japanese custom you can see are the 300 koinobori, or carp-shaped windsocks, flying above the Kitakami River, representative of a prayer said for the health of children.

Kitakami Tenshochi Park 

Address: 10 Chiwari, Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture, 024-0043

Nearest Station: Kitakami Station (Kitakami Line), 15 minutes by bus

Phone Number: 0197-65-0300

13. Hirosaki Park (Best Time: Late April  Early May)

Tohoku sakura blossoms at Hirosaki Park in Aomori Prefecture (Live Japan)

Hirosaki Park shines as one of Japans top three spots for cherry blossom viewing, drawing over two million admirers during the bloom season.

The park is home to around 2,600 cherry trees in their full splendor, predominantly Yoshino cherries, alongside 52 varieties of weeping cherry trees, including the sato-zakura varieties. Visitors can find numerous vantage points offering breathtaking views, including the mesmerizing sight of flower petals adorning the waters surface. Mark your calendars for the Hirosaki Sakura Festival, a spectacular celebration of spring from April 19 through May 5, 2024.

Adding to the enchantment, the majestic scenery of cherry blossoms with Mount Iwaki and Hirosaki Castle in the backdrop is a sight to behold from the Hirosaki Castle Honmaru Observation Deck, creating memories that last a lifetime.

Hirosaki Park 

Address: 1, Shimoshiroganecho, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori, 036-8256

Nearest Station: Chuohirosaki Station (Konan Tetsudo-owani Line), 15 minutes by car

Phone Number: 0172-33-8739

14. Ashino Park (Best Time: Late April  Early May)

Ashino Park cherry blossoms in Aomori Prefecture (Live Japan)

Ashino Park is a vast park with many attractions including Lake Ashino, a childrens zoo, a campsite, and a railway station.

It is also a well-known cherry blossom viewing spot with about 1,500 trees, including Yoshino and Sato Sakura trees, and boasts a peaceful, natural landscape full that has been selected as one of the Top 100 Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots in Japan.

The retro train called Run, Melos! which runs along the Tsugaru Railway through the cherry blossom scenery is also a popular photography spot. Many people visit every year to watch the train run through the cherry blossom tunnel. You can also enjoy an elegant view aboard a boat from Lake Ashino.

Ashino Park  ()

Address: Ashino Kanagi-cho, Goshogawara City, Aomori Prefecture

Phone Number: 0173-52-2611

Hours: Always open

Admission: Free

Closed: Open daily

15. Towada City Kanchogai-dori (Best Time: Mid-April  Early May)

Towada City Kanchogai-dori cherry blossoms in Aomori Prefecture (Live Japan)

Towada City Kanchogai-dori, is one of Aomoris most famous cherry blossom spots, stretching 1.1 km long and 36 m wide.

There are 156 cherry trees and 165 pine trees planted along the street, which create a beautifully contrasted view of sakura pink and pine green around mid-April. Another must-see is the giant horse monument, which was built based on Towada Citys history as a horse-raising area.

Towada City Hall also has an observation lobby on the 5th floor where you can get a birds-eye view of the cherry blossoms, considered among the finest cherry blossom spots in Tohoku.

Towada City Kanchogai-dori  () 

Address: 15-3 Inocho, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture 034-0011

Phone Number: 0176-24-3006

Hours: Always Open

Admission: Free

Closed: Open daily

The information in this article was updated in February 2024. Please check official websites for the latest information.

Via Live Japan
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The latest Democratic spin is that Donald Trump has peaked and that fightin' Joe Biden is the new Comeback Kid  a narrative not necessarily supported by facts but hopes and fantasies.

Democrats are trying to recast the race as a battle between an over the hill Trump against a newly energized president who knocked it out of the park in his State of the Union.

The Associated Press seems especially on the Biden bandwagon, writing in a headline that the president is "beginning to barnstorm the country to aggressively sell his vision" to voters.

"Biden's reelection campaign was almost giddy after the speech, vowing to stay on the offensive against Trump," the AP wrote giddily.

Jill Biden even got into the act, calling Trump "dangerous" and saying he "mocks women's bodies and devalues our existence. And we can't let him win."

The reality is somewhat different.

Just because Biden can stand up for an hour without collapsing like he did in his pumped-up State of the Union address doesn't mean he's on the comeback trail.

Biden actually apologized for calling the alleged murderer of Georgia nursing student Laken Reilly an "illegal"  caving to the politically correct liberal terminology which says no one is "illegal."

Biden used the term when confronted by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during the SOTU speech, who demanded Biden say the name of Reilly.

He then complied  sort of  botching her name as "Lincoln" Reilly and admitting her alleged killer is "an illegal, that's right."

"I shouldn't have used 'illegal'; it's undocumented," Biden said in an MSNBC interview. "And look, when I spoke about the difference between Trump and me, one of the things I talked about in the border was his, the way he talks about 'vermin'  the way he talks about these people 'polluting the blood.' I'm not going to treat any, any, any of these people with disrespect."

Does the Biden campaign think that's actually going to help him win over independent voters?

While Trump gets thousands of die-hard supporters to listen to him ramble on for hours, Biden chooses mostly smaller, tightly controlled events like those in New Hampshire on Monday and in Pennsylvania over the weekend, where he held a "kitchen table" meeting. Protesters were kept outside.

Biden's visit to New Hampshire came after he boycotted the presidential primary and the Democratic Party insulted all Granite State voters by calling their primary "meaningless."

The polls continue to show a tight race between the Democratic and Republican combatants and if Trump is really on the decline why do Democrats and the media continue to pummel him daily?

Biden still refuses to commit to debates  a clear acknowledgment that he may not be up to it physically or mentally.

"It depends on his (Trump's) behavior," Biden said.

That's a big no.

(COMMENT, BELOW)

Joe Battenfeld

Boston Herald/(TNS)

Joe Battenfeld is a veteran Boston Herald political columnist and multimedia reporter.

Previously:
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The uncommitted voters of Michigan say "jump," and Chuck Schumer asks "how high"?

The Senate majority leader gave an extraordinary speech flaying the democratically elected leader of an ally currently engaged in fighting a defensive war against a hideous terrorist enemy.

The speech calling for Israeli Prime Minster Bibi Netanyahu to go, along with increasingly critical statements by the White House, shows that the Democrats have decided that appeasing their left-wing base in an election year is now their top consideration.

This is bad all around.

As a matter of basic decency, this is not something that allies do to one another other, especially not in wartime.

Present unvarnished views in private?

Absolutely.

Try to nudge a partner toward a favored policy? Sure.

But blast a friendly government in hopes that it can be toppled via a new election, just months after suffering a monstrous terrorist attack and as it is still trying to destroy a terrorist group deeply embedded in an urban environment?

No.

The fact of the matter is that this is not Bibi Netanyahu's war.

It is the nation of Israel's war.

Netanyahu sustained political damage after the Oct. 7 attack, but his goal of prosecuting the war against Hamas to its completion is widely shared in Israel.

Immediately after the attack, Israel formed a government of national unity that has pursued the war policy that Democrats now find so objectionable.

If Netanyahu were to resign tomorrow, any number of things might change in the Israeli government, but the war against Hamas would stay the same.

It is easy, sitting in Washington, DC, and worrying about how to placate the anti-Israel uncommitted voters in the Democratic primary, to forget the shock of the massive pogrom carried out by Hamas on that infamous day in October.

Israelis, though, aren't going to forget, nor should they.

It's a key tell about Schumer's intentions that his speech engendered a universally negative reaction in Israel, and Schumer  who is no naif  must have anticipated as much.

Benny Gantz, who would presumably be running against Netanyahu in a future election, harshly rejected the Schumer call for a new government.

So, the only place where Schumer could have any assurance of advancing his cause was here at home.

What stronger signal could there be that the leadership of the party has heard the calls to rein in Israel than to have the previously staunch supporter of the Jewish state, Chuck Schumer, unload on its wartime government?

Hamas has been getting devastated on the battlefield, but the turn against Israel among Democratic officials in the United States is a sign of the success of its longer, deeply cynical strategy.

By doing everything in its power to create the predicate for more civilian casualties in Gaza, Hamas hopes to turn international opinion against Israel, and so it has done so in one of the two major American political parties.

If you had told many of the same Democrats criticizing Israel today that within five months of the Oct. 7 attack they would be inveighing against Israel's war against Hamas, they would have been incredulous.

If you had told them they would be getting pushed around by pro-Hamas sentiment in their own party, they would have rejected the idea as impossible.

If you had told them they would have been seeking a two-state solution as one of their highest post-Oct. 7 priorities, they might have considered it a smear.

Yet here we are.

On top of everything, this isn't good domestic politics.

There is still majority support for Israel.

The anti-Israel turn demonstrates, yet again, that the Biden campaign is pursuing a base strategy in November.

Just the last couple of days, Kamala Harris visited an abortion clinic, Joe Biden suggested there will be no executive action at the border and Schumer  having run it by the White House first  delivered his philippic.

What's fidelity to an ally compared to zeal in pursuit of an election strategy?

(COMMENT, BELOW)
McAfee ruled on Friday morning in the Fani Willis/Nathan Wade sexual-kickback case: It takes two to tango, but only one is too corrupt to stay on the dance floor.

How does that work?

McAfee gave Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis the option to continue her election-interference persecution against former President Donald J. Trump, but only if she boots Wade, her lead prosecutor and former boyfriend/high-flying travel companion.

McAfee's ruling only makes sense if Willis and Wade conducted their torrid love affair with Wade awake and Willis comatose. Not even Helen Keller would have been so oblivious of events in which she was, literally, intimately involved.

"It's like finding two people in a bank vault and taking one off to jail," George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told Fox News. "They were the two parts of this relationship, and only one of them was disqualified."

Turley added: "Why should Willis escape that same penalty? The opinion leaves us feeling like the court went and shot the wounded."

The decision should have been either, i?Wade and Willis are clean. So, proceed. or Wade and Willis are crooked. So, you're fired!

Instead, McAfee ruled: Willis is clean, and Wade is crooked. So, she should stay or leave with Wade, as she wishes. Whatever.

H-U-H?

McAfee's pretzel logic might involve his re-election in May. Perhaps by leaving Willis some wiggle room, McAfee reckons he can tiptoe around the landmine that would have exploded had he disqualified Willis and blown this case and himself sky high.

This underscores the urgent need to eliminate ALL judicial elections and make local, county, and state judges like federal jurists: appointed by executives, confirmed by legislators, and unbeholden to voters. Justice cannot be blind while shaking hands and kissing babies.

McAfee might have ruled 100% on the law and evidence and 0% on his own political prospects. And yet he is on Fulton County's May 21 ballot, according to his election website!

Thus, speculation stirs that McAfee's decision was a self-serving campaign stunt. Such thoughts, justified or not, corrode confidence in a justice system already sinking into a quicksand of public doubts.

Meanwhile, Trump's attorneys responded to McAfee.

"While respecting the Court's decision, we believe that the Court did not afford appropriate significance to the prosecutorial misconduct of Willis and Wade, including the financial benefits, testifying untruthfully about when their personal relationship began, as well as Willis' extrajudicial MLK church speech,' where she played the race card and falsely accused the defendants and their counsel of racism," declared Steve Sadow, Trump's lead counsel in the alleged election-interference prosecution. "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."

These "legal options" most assuredly involve appeal motions. Wiser jurists might return a more rational result, perhaps based on McAfee's finding that there was at least the appearance of corruption in this case. In legal matters, appearance alone tends to be sufficient to jettison parties too tainted to remain in place. Appearance should be enough to dismiss Willis, now that Wade has resigned in disgrace.

No less a Trump hater than Andrew Weissmann, a former Justice Department Deep Stater, considers Willis too crippled to continue. As he commented via X: "For the good of the case, given that ethics issues will abound now as to Willis, she should voluntarily recuse herself from the case and allow another prosecutor to oversee the GA trump [sic] case."

Fani Willis cannot stand in court and challenge the propriety of Trump and 18 other co-defendants without the entire country  and the jury  thinking: "Go look in the mirror!"

And now, this circus moves on to appellate court. Whatever other judges decide, these appeals will take time. And right now, time is Donald J. Trump's best friend.
 When cake-baker Brianna Romero of El Paso, Texas, got an order for a birthday cake this spring, she was on board, NBC New York reported.

The customer wanted an emo cake, so Romero put her newly perfected black icing to the test and constructed the confection. Before she delivered it, she said, she asked the client if they wanted a number on the cake. "Yes," the client answered, "it's for my granddaughter and she's turning 4."

Romero "thought it was a little bit weird ... but maybe she just likes 'Wednesday' or something like that."

Still, wanting to cover her bases, she asked the client for the theme of the party. When she got the answer -- "Sesame Street" -- it all became clear.

"I misread emo and it says 'Elmo cake.'"

Romero rushed to a local grocery, where the bakery topped the cake with an Elmo image; Romero gave the cake to the client for free.

Social media ate the story up, with more than 10 million views on Twitter. [NBC New York, 5/10/2023]
VANDALIA  Danny Rubin was one of the first in line when farmers in Illinois began experimenting with intensive wheat management.

He has never looked back.

The Fayette County farmer has put up some impressive yields in recent years, enough in 2023 to take the top spot in the Illinois Wheat Associations annual yield contest.

I joined the wheat association early on and got more interested in (intensive management techniques) after that, he said. I started trying different things. Ive been doing it ever since.

Last year he recorded a yield of 144.49 bushels per acre, good for first place. The accomplishment is even more impressive given that the contest rules require a minimum of just 2.5 acres but Rubin made an entire 29-acre field his contest entry.

Acres on the rise

Wheat acreage in Illinois has had its ups and downs over the decades.

Farmers planted the crop on more than 1.5 million acres years ago, but low prices and disease pressure drove many away from wheat, nearly all of which is doubled-cropped with soybeans or corn.

Planting has been on an upswing recently. Illinois acreage increased from 650,000 in 2022 to 840,00 last year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

One reason is likely better yields generally, as more farmers have embraced intensive management and improved varieties have boosted profits. Statewide, yields have averaged near 70 bushels per acre in recent years.

Rather than a plant-it-and-forget-it mentality that had sometimes been in play in years past, many farmers are now paying more attention  and investing more money  in their wheat crops.

Intensive management involves a host of practices including split fertilization, fungicide application and scouting for insects and diseases.

Weve always grown wheat, but I didnt do the intensive part until 2005 or 2006, Rubin said.

He farms with his two brothers, Tom and Andy Rubin. His son, Justin, works off the farm but also helps out.

Other than wheat, the family grows corn and soybeans. They also have feeder cattle. Wheat averages 550 to 600 acres each year.

Optimal planting window

Rubin likes to plant his wheat after the fly-free date (early October for his area). That is not necessarily to avoid damage from hatching Hessian flies; he also doesnt like to get too much growth from wheat in the fall.

He always plants as a double crop with soybeans.

I know a lot of people are doing it after corn, but Ive had a harder time getting good yields after corn, he said.

Its easier to get a good stand rather than fighting all the corn stalks. You dont have as much residue to deal with, he added.

One management practice that has helped is split application of nitrogen. He applies some during planting then splits it in the spring.

I generally put about 40% on during my first pass, which is hopefully in February when the ground is frozen, Rubin said.

Thats not going to work out this year. Well just see when we can get to the field in March, then decide. But normally, the first half goes on in February and Ill wait until the first of April to put the remainder on, he added.

Like many wheat growers, he also applies fungicides, experimenting with different types and application dates.

We use a lot of fungicides. Ive been experimenting with different foliars," he said, referring to a type of application that takes places directly on a plant's leaves. "I think they help, but I dont have a favorite one."

"Ive been trying different things. I put two fungicides on almost no matter what, whether I think well have disease or not. I usually find a way to get it on.

Boosting yields

Rubin, who has been involved with the Illinois Wheat Association since its early days, credits educational opportunities offered by the association for helping him achieve higher yields.

Consultants in the Kentucky-based firm Wheat Tech and others have for years promoted intensive management.

In the past, he was happy with yields of 60 to 70 bushels. Then the introduction of new practices quickly boosted the crop.

I dont know exactly what year it was, but I was so excited when we hit 100 that first time, he said. Now, for the most part, weve been able to get 100 on at least one field through the years. Its not that hard to get it anymore unless something goes wrong.

Last year was one of those seasons.

In mid-May about a third of our crop got a pretty good hailstorm, Rubin said. If you dont count that wheat, we would have averaged 128 to 130 bushels, but the hail knocked our average down.

High-yielding wheat begins before planting, by choosing the right variety, of course. Rubin also takes care in planting.

It takes a combination of things, from a good seedbed to spreading fertilizer evenly, he said. And spreading the residue evenly, thats also important.

Hes happy to share some of his tips with his neighbors but doesnt disclose everything.

I cant give away all my secrets, Rubin said. I have to keep a little on my own.
40+ Stage Company, supported by a grant from The Shallow Ford Foundation, will offer acting classes for seniors (ages 50 and older) at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center in Lewisville. A series of six two-hour courses will be conducted beginning at 2 p.m. Rides to and from the center will be provided for those who need it. The first session is free. John J. Hohn, an accomplished seminar moderator and actor, will lead the group. Inquire or register in advance by sending contact information and questions to 40plusstagecompany@gmail.com. Make that Easter ham last - six weeks at least or, perhaps, an entire lifetime. Come join the fun and discover your alter ego.
An N.C. Business Court judge recently approved an undisclosed financial settlement of a consumer complaint over how Allegacy Federal Credit Union overdraft fees were assessed in 2020.

Plaintiff Terri Moose sued in 2020 for breach of contract, unjust enrichment and unfair and deceptive trade practices under state law.

Mooses complaint focuses on her objections to how Allegacy was assessing overdraft fees on debit-card transactions in 2020.

According to the complaint, Moose experienced less than a combined $150 from four overdraft fees that Allegacy supposedly should not have charged Moose.

Allegacy and Moose reached agreement in August.

However, Judge Adam Conrad questioned the motivation behind the settlement, in particular about potential abuse of the class-action mechanism, and declined to approve without additional information from the parties.

Conrad wrote that there are too many red flags to ignore, citing the proposed settlement amount and that more than 95% would go to Mooses counsel.

After the parties submitted the requested additional information, Conrad held a hearing where the parties agreed to revise their agreement.

Conrad approved of the revision. Mooses individual claims were dismissed with prejudice, meaning they are not eligible to be re-filed, while the putative class claims were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they can be re-filed.

We appreciate Judge Conrads careful consideration of this matter to ensure that all parties rights were protected, said Tim Moore, Allegacys general counsel and chief risk officer. We have consistently denied the plaintiffs allegations and underscore there was no finding of any liability or fault on Allegacys part.

With that being said, we are also pleased to have this matter concluded so Allegacy can focus more on the future.

The complaint referred to the overdraft fees policy as authorize positive, settle negative.

The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency defines the overdraft fee structure as assessing overdraft fees on debit card transactions that are authorized when a consumers available account balance is positive, but later post to the account when the available balance is negative.

According to the proposed settlement, Allegacy discontinued the practice in May 2020.

Conrad that Mooses counsel must report and substantiate their billing rates, the time they spent on this litigation, and any other costs and expenses.

Mooses counsel must also: identify by case name, number and county all class actions that they have brought in North Carolina relating to APSN transactions; whether each case is pending or has been resolved; and for any case that has been resolved, whether the resolution took the form of an individual or class-wide settlement.
Primo Water Corp. said in a regulatory filing Monday that former chief executive Thomas Harrington, who retired on Jan. 1, received a 59.1% decline in 2023 total compensation.

The main factor was Harrington not getting any stock-options awards in 2023 after receiving $4 million in 2022.

His base salary rose 3.1% to $993,269, while his incentive pay jumped 53.6% to $1.18 million. All other compensation was $28,887. The CEO pay ratio was $41 to $1 based on a median employee annual compensation of $58,045.

David Haas, who took over as chief financial officer on April 1, was paid $467,211 in base salary, $419,404 in incentive pay and total compensation of $3.04 million.

Marni Morgan Poe, chief legal officer and secretary, received a 6.1% raise in base salary to $458,269, a 45.1% increase in incentive pay to $402,109, and total compensation of $2.05 million, up 27.1%.

Anne Melaragni, chief human resources officer, received a 5.3% raise in base salary to $493,269, a 44.5% jump in incentive pay to $432,375, and total compensation of $2.13 million, up 43.1%.
A more than 50% cut in the value of stock awards contributed to a 47.9% decline in fiscal 2023 total compensation, to $5.68 million, for Pinnacle Financial Partners Inc.s president and chief executive Terry Turner, the bank reported last week.

Turner was provided with stock awards valued at $3.5 million on the date they were awarded, down from just under $8 million in fiscal 2022.

For the majority of publicly traded corporations with Triad ties, the bulk of total compensation has been stock- and stock-option awards in recent years in an attempt to more directly link executive pay to overall financial performance.

Turners base salary increased by 3.8% to $1.22 million. His incentive pay dropped from $1.59 million to $829,954.

Turner received all other compensation valued at $126,121, which included: the use of company aircraft valued at $89,594; an automobile allowance of $13,200; a 401(k) match of $13,200; paid life-insurance premiums of $6,858; personal tax-return fees of $2,500; and $769 in long-term disability policy.

Pinnacle reported the CEO pay ratio for Turner is $54-to-$1 compared with its median employees compensation of $105,367.

For fiscal 2023, Pinnacle had net income of just under $547 million, compared with $545.5 million in fiscal 2022.

Pinnacle has a four-state footprint with a presence in 12 of the largest urban markets in the Southeast, including the Triad, Triangle and Charlotte markets in North Carolina, Greenville-Spartanburg and Charleston in South Carolina, and Roanoke, Va.

Chairman Robert McCabe Jr. received a 3.8% increase in salary to $1.16 million, $788,392 in incentive pay, and total compensation of $5.45 million, down 48.8%.

Rick Callicutt II, chairman of the banks Carolinas and Virginia operations and former head of BNC Bancorp, received a 3.8% increase in base salary to $765,000, incentive pay of $379,440, and total compensation of $2.78 million, a decrease of 55.7%.

Harold Carpenter, chief financial officer, received a 3.8% base salary raise to $600,000, as well as $297,600 in incentive pay, and total compensation of $1.87 million, down 57.8%.

Timothy Huestis, chief credit officer, was listed for the first time. He was paid $409,000 in base salary, $151,148 in incentive pay and total compensation of $1.21 million.

Harvey White, interim chief credit officer, also was listed for the first time. He was paid $301,000 in base salary, $74,648 in incentive pay and total compensation of $464,409.

Pinnacle will hold its annual shareholder meeting at 11 a.m. April 23. There is no shareholder proposal on the agenda.
A Winston-Salem man has pleaded guilty to common-law robbery and stealing a gun, according to court records.

Marshall Oliver Morefield, 21, of North Patterson Avenue, also pleaded guilty recently to larceny of a firearm, a court record shows. Morefield was initially charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Under a plea arrangement, Judge Alyson Grine of Forsyth Superior Court gave Morefield a suspended one- to two-year prison sentence.

Grine also ordered Morefield to serve 180 active days in the jail.

However, Grine gave Morefield credit for 194 days he already had served in the jail. The Forsyth County Sheriffs Office doesnt list Morefield among its jail inmates.

Dan Wanderman of Winston-Salem, Morefields attorney, could not be reached for comment about his clients case.

Morefields conviction is the second violent crime he was convicted of this year.

On Feb. 15, Morefield was convicted of conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury in Rowan Superior Court.

Morefield pleaded guilty to charges in the shooting of a 14-year-old boy in Salisbury in October 2021, court records show. Judge Mike Adkins gave Morefield a suspended sentence of 16-29 months in prison and put Morefield on probation for three years in that case, according to court records.

Salisbury police arrested Morefield, who was then 18, and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury in connection with the shooting, which happened on Oct. 23, 2021, on West Bank Street in Salisbury, the Salisbury Post reported at that time.

The 14-year-old was shot during a gathering and was taken to Rowan Medical Center, where he was treated for his injuries.

A search warrant provides details regarding the current charges against Morefield in Winston-Salem.

At 2:13 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2023, Winston-Salem police responded to the 300 block of Laura Avenue on a reported armed robbery. Noah Vanhoy told an officer that he wanted to buy some marijuana from his childhood friend, Morefield, the warrant says. Vanhoy then contacted Amanda Kiker and asked her to drive him to meet Morefield in northeastern Winston-Salem.

Vanhoy told Kiker that he was afraid of being robbed and asked to borrow her 9mm handgun, the search warrant said. Kiker gave Vanhoy the handgun, which he put in his waistband.

Vanhoy and Morefield agreed to meet in the 300 block of Laura Avenue to complete their drug deal, the warrant said. When Vanhoy and Kiker arrived, he saw Morefield standing underneath a carport with a second man.

Vanhoy then walked over to the two men.

Vanhoy said the second man threatened him with a gun and stole Kikers handgun and $1,600 from him, the search warrant said.

The next day on Sept. 1, 2023, officers arrested Morefield and Shamarion Hooker, 20, and charged them both with robbery with a dangerous weapon, the warrant said. Morefield also was charged with larceny of a firearm.

Morefield later admitted to a detective that he and Hooker robbed Vanhoy, according to the search warrant.

Hooker pleaded guilty to common law robbery and larceny of firearms on Feb. 14 in Forsyth Superior Court, and a judge sentenced him to serve 13-25 months in prison.
Ronda Bumgardner Carter, who for nine years answered a litany of questions from readers as the Winston-Salem Journals Straight Answer Maam, died Thursday after a long battle with breast cancer.

She was 59.

A native of Winston-Salem, Carter succeeded the late David Watson as the Journals Ask SAM columnist in 2000. A longtime feature of the Journal, the column answers questions from readers on everything from dealing with government bureaucracy to how to remove the burnt smell of popcorn from a popper. Carter stayed in that role until leaving the Journal in 2009.

A natural editor, Carter was a stickler for accuracy, grammar, spelling and clear writing. Anyone who sent her a draft of a story could expect to have it returned marked up in red ink. She was particularly gracious when working with young writers and was a newsroom go-to for veteran writers who continued to struggle with the past tense of lie.

Her sense of humor was razor-sharp; her laugh more of a joyous cackle that could elicit a smile from the crustiest of reporters.

Carter was adept at spelling and punctuation as a young person. She placed 10th in the National Spelling Bee and occasionally helped at the local spelling bees when they were sponsored by the Journal.

She worked as an editor in the Journals creative services department for many years before taking the SAM job. She told the Journal that the job appealed to her for several reasons.

I think about old people who dont get out of the house, or someone who just moved to town, or someone who doesnt speak English very well, she said. There are the people who make one phone call and someone says, I cant help you, and they feel like they dont have anyone else to turn to. Those are the people who really need help.

Les Gura, the papers metro editor at the time, worked with Carter for more than eight years.

She was an invaluable resource to me as a newcomer to North Carolina, and a rock in managing the incredibly demanding task of a seven-day-a-week column, Gura said. But Ronda was much more than SAM. She was a fountain of information about Winston-Salem and beyond, who brought creativity and wit to her job. She loved a challenge and trying on new ideas as a writer.

Throughout her journey with stage IV breast cancer, Carter was a beacon of optimism for women facing similar diagnoses. On social media, she wrote of her many visits to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, presenting the challenges ahead of her with a blend of frankness, wit and hope.

Nowhere was that more evident than her last post on Facebook when she wrote of her ungood test results.

I laugh more than I shake my fist. Its a close race, but laughter gets the checkered flag, she wrote. It always wins.

Carter is survived by a son, Lowell Bumgardner; her mother, Karlene Messick; and two sisters, Teresa Messick and Sara Messick McGarvey.

A story on Rondas life should end with an exclamation point. But grammatically speaking, she would not approve.
Happy Monday. Especially for N.C. State people. Wolf .

That didnt take long.

Following a too-long, nearly cannibalistic primary election season  and an accompanying deluge of less than flattering advertisements  a hoped-for respite, at least for those moderately tuned in, lasted for a matter of days.

Fundraising pleas, campaign postmortems and too early polling results filled inboxes and electronic newsletters as various sides and factions recoiled in horror to some of the results.

Prime among those would be the victorious but less than than traditional candidacy of Michele Morrow who won the Republican nomination for Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Morrow, a conservative activist, beat incumbent Catherine Truitt by running on a platform of supporting parental rights and opposing critical race theory.

Kooky perhaps  CRT isnt taught in public schools  and odd that a parent who chose to home-school her kids would run for state superintendent, a job that oversees public education in the state and administers an $11 billion budget.

So, too, was calling for an end to the state Board of Education, which helps set policy.

Doing away with the board, Morrow said in a campaign speech, would put direct control over the states education agenda under the superintendent and the state legislature, which is currently controlled by Republicans.

But those things  known well in advance of Super Tuesday, by the way  amount to political posturing and pandering. Fairly normal for primary elections.

Some voter remorse began to set in once some of Morrows other pronouncements made their way into the light of day.

Those would include comments made on social media about executing Democratic elected officials including Gov. Roy Cooper, Hillary Clinton, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar and former President Barack Obama.

CNN dug up this peach from Twitter in which she was responding to someone whod shared a conspiracy theory about Obama and suggested that he be sent to Guantanamo Bay.

I prefer a Pay Per View of (Obama) in front of the firing squad, Morrow wrote in 2020. I do not want to waste another dime on supporting his life. We could make some money back from televising his death.

Yikes.

So yeah, perhaps it's not too early for backlash, recriminations and planning ahead.

Results from an early poll conducted by Survey USA and sponsored by television station WRAL in Raleigh show Morrow in a statistical dead heat with the Democratic nominee Mo Green.

Among likely voters, the poll shows Morrow with 41% support, Green with 40% and 19% undecided.

Morrow leads by 4% among North Carolinians who dont have children at home; Green by 5% among those who do.

Some 72% of voters who support former President Trump say theyll back Morrow, too. Likewise, 77% of those who back President Biden indicated that theyll go for Green.

Poll results such as those have started setting off alarm bells, too.

The N.C. Chamber, a pro-business group not noted for sharing a worldview with Bernie Sanders, indicated its concern in its Chamber Updates newsletter earlier this month.

Even with our foreshadowing, (primary) election results were a startling warning of the looming threats to the North Carolina business climate.

Think Boom Supersonic or Toyota would commit to investing hundreds of millions in the state with Morrow in charge of educating their future work force?

The respite from politics, for even a few weeks, was welcome. But with Morrow in a statistical dead heat for a seat on the Council of State, this is no time to be complacent.

The walls came tumbling down

GREENSBORO  Roy Carroll, in all likelihood, doesnt give even a little damn what the rest of the world thinks about his decision to raze a big, old house in Irving Park.

He bought and then set about summarily flattening a mansion built in the 1930s for a textile baron named James Spencer Love.

It was historic in the sense that it was big and ornate and sat within a National Historic District  a contributing structure.

But George Washington never slept there and righteous, peaceful sit-ins for equal treatment under the law were held a world  and a couple miles  away at Woolworths downtown.

And more importantly, there were no restrictions on what Carroll, a wildly successful real-estate developer listed on a Forbes list of billionaires, could do with the property once he purchased it.

(For comparisons sake in Winston-Salem, its the rough equivalent to someone knocking down a giant home in the West End.)

We had hoped to renovate the home, but ultimately found that was not a feasible option to meet our needs, Carroll said in a statement emailed to The News & Record. We were able to salvage fixtures and elements of architectural value to incorporate in our plans. We intend to preserve the picturesque, scenic trees on the property, and to undertake the great responsibility of protecting the iconic feel and aesthetic of the Irving Park neighborhood.

Still, despite the rights of the property owner, tongues started wagging and phones began jangling.

Everyone thinks we can come in and stand in front of a bulldozer but we cant, Kathryn McDowell, the community outreach director for Preservation Greensboro Inc, told a colleague.

People are free to spend their time (and breath) on whatever cause they choose. And people can manage more than one interest, too. Walking and chewing gum at the same time, charitably speaking.

Personally, we get more worked up about, say, hungry children who have to rely on backpacks sent home from school and nonprofits such as H.O.P.E. of Winston-Salem (an acronym for Help Our People Eat) to get decent food.
Allo Fiber is eyeing a Missouri city for its latest expansion.

The Lincoln-based internet provider is currently negotiating with officials in Joplin, Missouri, to offer its broadband internet, TV and phone services there.

According to details of a contract presented to the Joplin City Council during a work session last week, Allo would build out a fiber network in the city of about 50,000 people in southwest Missouri over the next two years.

Brad Moline, president and CEO of Allo, was in Joplin on Monday to talk to the council. He said the company would invest $40 million in building the fiber-optic broadband service if the council agrees to the contract. That issue will be considered by the council at its April 1 meeting.

Moline said Allo offers its services in 50 cities in five states: Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado and Arizona. According to the most recent financial disclosure from Nelnet, which owns 45% of Allo, the company now has 109,000 residential customers and 49,000 business lines.

"We do a whole lot more than just being an ISP," or internet service provider, Moline said.

In addition to Allo's investment, the city would contribute $5 million through a federal grant obtained from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Of that, $4.05 million would go toward providing more buried fiber-optic cable for strong signal clarity and so the system will be resistant to storms. The remainder of the money will go toward building redundancy into the system and strengthening city computer systems against cyberattacks.

The contract also would require the company to have two separate offices as backup in case one was hit by a disaster. The city is to provide offices on city-owned land if possible. Moline said he scouted possible locations for offices Monday.

In Joplin, the system would offer up to 10-gigabit service. The network infrastructure would include at least 30% buried fiber lines in conduit and the rest would be aerial fiber.

Part of the contract called for the company to offer lower rates to those who qualify under the Affordable Connectivity Program offered by the federal government. That program provides service to low-income users for $30 per month.

Moline said that program is now on hold and not taking applications for new subscribers. He said Allo will try to offer a similar program of its own to honor the terms of the contract with the city.

Top Journal Star photos for March 2024
SCOTTSBLUFF  A 1-year-old child reportedly died Saturday of injuries he suffered that led to the arrest of a 32-year-old Gering man earlier in the week.

A social media post by a family member said Gideon Lockwood died Saturday at a Colorado hospital, where he had been transported after initially being treated at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.

Tyler Green was arrested Wednesday and appeared in Scotts Bluff County Court on a charge of committing intentional felony child abuse resulting in injury. His bond was set at $1 million and he remains in jail. He has not yet been charged in the death of the boy.

Court documents say Gering police and medical personnel were called to a Gering home where a 1-year-old child had reportedly gone limp and was vomiting blood. The caller, identified later as Green, described the boy as not responsive, but breathing.

A Scotts Bluff County Sheriffs deputy said Green said earlier the child had diarrhea and had made a mess on the floor and the walls. Green reported he had given the child a bath to clean him when the boy began vomiting blood. Green told the deputy he called for the childs mother, who was downstairs, to bring him his phone to call 911.

However, according to the arrest affidavit, the deputy didnt observe any mess from the child having suffered from diarrhea or water in the bathtub. The deputy said he did observe the child had blood around his mouth and a contusion on the left side of his head.

Regional West Medical Center personnel treating the child told police that he suffered bruising and lacerations to his genital area. He also had a lowered body temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The child had to be given a blood transfusion before he was transported to Childrens Hospital in Colorado for further treatment.

Police interviewed a Regional West doctor who told police that the boy had suffered internal injuries. A CT scan also showed the child had suffered a hypoxic brain injury, which would be caused by the childs brain not getting enough oxygen, police said.

According to the arrest affidavit, the doctor told police the mechanism of injury appeared intentional and that the amount of bruising  would be on par to having the child put in a clothes dryer and turned on.

Police arrested Green at his home. He was interviewed as was the child's mother. She told police they both had been drinking earlier in the evening. The mother said she had gone to bed and awakened to Green screaming. She then saw him holding the child, wrapped in a towel. She told police she and Green then called 911.

Today in history: March 18 1922: Mohandas K. Gandhi 1940: Benito Mussolini 1942: Milton S. Eisenhower 1965: Alexei Leonov 2012: Mitt Romney 2016: Salah Abdeslam 2017: Chuck Berry 2018: Vladimir Putin 2021: NBA
A laboratory at the University of Nebraska Medical Center recently became one of seven in the United States accredited to use the type of genetic analysis that helped authorities catch the Golden State Killer.

Scientists will initially use the lab help Omaha police with cold case investigations.

The Human DNA Identification Lab at UNMC obtained $500,000 from a private donor early last year to add technology that would allow it to perform the analysis, known as Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy, or FIGG for short, said Mellissa Helligso, the manager, technical lead and forensic DNA analyst with the lab. The donor wished to remain anonymous.

The lab, directed by Dr. Jesse Cox, has worked with the Omaha Police Department and other law enforcement agencies for nearly three decades to conduct forensic DNA analysis in cases ranging from homicides to sexual assaults.

The same technology also is used in UNMC's molecular diagnostics laboratory to match patients with organs for transplants, identify tumor types and predict what drugs will work best in different patients.

The new technology, Helligso said, will allow the Human DNA Identification Lab to assist law enforcement with identifying unknown DNA, which could help solve cold cases.

After testing the technology for most of last year, the lab sought accreditation in November from the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board, which gave its approval after completing an audit.

Since the lab obtained the new accreditation, Helligso has been working with the police department, which received a federal grant to examine cold cases, to identify DNA profiles to use with the new FIGG technology. They have identified 15 to 20 homicides they can analyze and have begun working on two. Investigators declined to indicate which cases they are working on.

"I would love if my DNA solved every case, but it doesn't," said Helligso, noting that investigators sometimes don't get any DNA when investigating crimes, and in other cases they don't get enough. "This is giving us another opportunity to bring justice to victims, which they deserve."

Nationwide, more than 300 cases have been solved with the FIGG technology over approximately the past five years, she said. The Golden State Killer was identified in 2018. The technology also is used to identify remains. There are some 40,000 sets of unidentified remains in the United States.

"That's another way our technology could be used, and I fully anticipate doing those as well," she said.

Chris Spencer, a sergeant in the OPD homicide unit's cold case squad, said more law enforcement agencies are using the technology to solve crimes. For some older cases, police have exhausted all leads and there are no new ones coming in.

"It's interesting to be a part of it and see it from start to finish," he said. "Our goal is to get some of these cases solved with FIGG."

Perhaps the best known case solved with the help of the technology was the apprehension of Joseph James DeAngelo, known as the Golden State Killer. He was sentenced in 2020 to multiple terms of life in prison without parole after pleading guilty to a series of murders and kidnappings that terrorized California for decades. The technology also was used to identify a suspect in the slayings of four University of Idaho students.

Investigators start with DNA samples associated with unsolved homicides that have been entered into the national DNA database used by law enforcement, the Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS.

The DNA profile from the crime scene then is uploaded to public databases, such as GEDMatch, that house DNA data from people who have taken tests through commercial testing services like 23andMe and AncestryDNA. The system searches for potential close relatives and builds out possible family trees.

Initially, Helligso said, GEDMatch had a clause in its contract that automatically opted in users of the commercial testing services for law enforcement use. Later, the company created a new version of the database for law enforcement called GEDMatch Pro, which only includes those who manually opt in.

Helligso acknowledged that there has been some controversy with the use by law enforcement of data from commercial genealogy databases that were initially designed to help hobbyists trace family trees. Some users, though, want to help law enforcement. The more users who opt in to the database, the more suspects who may be caught.

In general, the FIGG process identifies people who might be as remotely related as third or fourth cousins, who have a great, great, great-grandparent in common. That could be between 2,000 and 3,000 people on a family tree.

The technique generates what are known as "investigative leads," that might point toward a suspect, she said.

But Spencer said investigators still have to do a lot of old-school detective work to track down those leads.

Helligso said much of that work involves tracking potential relatives through public records such as marriage licenses and birth certificates. In the Golden State case, investigators also were able to show that the suspect was in the area at the time specific crimes were committed.

In the end, she said, a potential suspect's DNA still has to match the original DNA test for law enforcement to go forward with prosecution, so there's no risk of identifying the wrong person.

"It's pretty exciting," she said of her work. "I do think you have to have a passion for it. It can be stressful. It can be really exhausting ... But ultimately, you are bringing justice for someone who can't speak for himself anymore. And I guess I just have a heart for that."
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 LB130, 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.

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 LB130 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 LB130 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: LB61, 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: LB844, 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 LB304, introduced by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area. The bill passed in a 48-0 vote. Lawmakers also passed LB1104, 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 LB1102. 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 LB1102 was advanced to the last of three rounds of consideration.

Meet the Nebraska state senators making laws in 2024
Halfway through debate Monday on a bill that would enhance penalties for drug dealers tied to overdoses, Nebraska lawmakers passed over Sen. Carolyn Bosn's controversial proposal, sending it back to the drawing board as the legislative session's clock winds down.

In a surprise move, Bosn asked the Legislature to skip to the next item on Monday's agenda after a small group of urban lawmakers had filibustered her bill (LB137) for close to two hours Monday morning amid second-round debate.

The Lincoln senator's request came before the Legislature could vote on Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt's proposed amendment that would have revived Hunt's vetoed needle exchange bill (LB307) as an attachment to Bosn's LB137.

Hunt said Monday that she had the support of 28 senators to amend Bosn's bill, a move that would require 25 votes in Nebraska's 49-member Legislature.

And Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha had pledged to halt his filibuster of LB137 if Hunt's amendment was adopted.

Instead, Bosn's request to pass over LB137 leaves the future of both her own bill and Hunt's proposed amendment in jeopardy with only 14 working days left in this year's 60-day legislative session and with no guarantee the proposal will be rescheduled for debate.

"I'm optimistic we can address it sometime later in the session," Bosn said. "I was told that isn't a hard no. But at this point I think there was enough opposition that it made sense to use the calendar time that we have on other things."

Bosn's request to pass over her own bill marked an unexpected end to Monday's debate over LB137, which faced first-round opposition last month from the same group of urban lawmakers who filibustered the bill Monday.

If made law, LB137 would increase the potential prison sentence dealers might face if drugs they're accused of distributing kill or seriously injure a drug user, allowing for a prison sentence of up to 50 years.

The Legislature in February ultimately voted 35-2 to advance Bosn's bill to the second of three rounds of debate, signaling strong support for the proposal and rejecting opponents' arguments that the bill was an overly broad and ineffective approach to respond to drug overdoses.

But Bosn's bill became entangled with Hunt's LB307 after lawmakers failed to override Gov. Jim Pillen's veto of LB307 last week.

Hunt's bill had amassed broad bipartisan support before Nebraska's Republican governor voiced his opposition to it. The Legislature sent LB307 to Pillen's desk on a 30-7 vote in February, and the bill had garnered 37 votes upon first-round consideration.

Seven conservative lawmakers  including Bosn  who had supported LB307 in the final round of voting in February reversed their positions last week, though, voting against Hunt's motion to override Pillen's veto less than two weeks after voting to make LB307 law.

Supporters of Hunt's bill warned that Bosn's reversal would fuel a second-round filibuster of LB137  pointing to Bosn's own words from earlier debate on her bill, when she highlighted her support for Hunt's LB307 and called for the Legislature to attack drug use "from every angle simultaneously."

The promised filibuster came to fruition Monday  after Wayne waged a proxy filibuster against the bill Friday, pushing it to Monday's agenda.

Wayne and Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha filed numerous motions on the bill ahead of Monday's debate, deploying the procedural moves used to drag out debate, which featured versions of the same arguments both sides made amid first-round consideration last month.

"I would ask you all to be cautious," said Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney, who has repeatedly warned that LB137 will contribute to the overcrowding that plagues the state's prisons.

"I know it probably makes you feel good that you're gonna support a bill enhancing (penalties) for fentanyl and other drugs. But there's a lot of unintended consequences that you need to consider."

Bosn, a former prosecutor whom Pillen appointed to the Legislature last year, accused the bill's opponents of "talking out of both sides of (their) mouths."

"We're talking about how no one can use (the enhancement), it won't be able to be used, but, 'Oh, it's gonna totally pack our prisons,'" she said. "'We're gonna need six prisons. I mean, we might need 10. I don't know.'

"But the reality here is this will remain a difficult charge for prosecutors to prove," she continued. "But when they can prove it, they should. Until drug dealers are held accountable, deaths will continue and drug dealers will continue getting away with murder."

Wayne, meanwhile, peppered Bosn with questions over the legal application of her bill while making clear that he was more interested in amending it than stalling it, calling for Hunt's bill and others to be amended onto LB137.

"Let's just add everything together and let's have a comprehensive bill around tackling this drug, opioid and fentanyl addiction 'from all sides,'" Wayne said, paraphrasing the pitch Bosn used for her own bill last month.

"The introducer of this bill says we want to 'attack it from all sides,'" he added. "This is the opportunity for us to attack it from all sides."

Debate indeed seemed poised to end in compromise Monday afternoon had the Legislature voted as expected to add Hunt's amendment  compromise upended by Bosn's request to pass over her bill.

What comes next for Bosn's bill and Hunt's amendment remains unclear.

Hunt said Monday she had accepted last week, after her failed override motion, that her bill wouldn't become law. But her attempt to revive it as an amendment had given the proposal another shot.

"I was feeling good about it having another chance," she said.

Hunt filed a series of amendments to the bill after it was passed over Monday to ensure that if the bill is taken up again the Legislature has to vote on whether to include the needle exchange measure.

Bosn didn't rule out supporting Hunt's amendment should the bill appear on the Legislature's agenda again later in the legislative session, though she suggested the bill's language needed "tightening" for it "to have the governor's support and some of my other colleagues."

"It's not a hard 'no, never' for me," Bosn said, though she couldn't offer reporters specific parameters she would like to see added to Hunt's proposal for it to win back her support.

Bosn, too, acknowledged her request to pass over the bill on Monday's agenda might have effectively killed the proposal if it isn't rescheduled for debate again this year.

"For sure," she said. "I think that's always a possibility."

Top Journal Star photos for March 2024
People often tell Gracie Grote that shes lived a lot of life in just a few years.

It started when Grote became a single mom in 2019 after giving birth to her son, Hayes. Then in quick succession, her mom died, she battled depression and her father was diagnosed with cancer.

Simultaneously, Grote also completed the radiography program, the sonography program and a post-baccalaureate certificate through the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Grote, now 24, will graduate with her masters degree from the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions in May. Shes also getting married that month.

To get through it all, Grote learned how to ask for help. She relied on her family, friends, UNMC faculty and mental health professionals. They helped take care of Hayes, they helped make new plans in the face of roadblocks and encouraged her to keep going.

It was a really dark time so trying to see any positives was very difficult, Grote said. But since then as Ive gotten out of that dark spot and pushed through and made it through that is the biggest thing ... making it.

She said she wants people to know that if she did it, then other people can too.

Everybody has potential and can be successful, theyve just got to push through the hard stuff, Grote said. And theres always a reward at the end.

Inspired by her mother

Gracie grew up watching her mother give ultrasounds to pregnant dolphins in Hawaii and X-rays to large pythons in Texas.

Trisha Grote, also a graduate of UNMCs radiography and sonography programs, worked with people before she switched to animals. She traveled all across the country, often bringing her daughter with her.

Patients might not think about the crucial role radiographers and sonographers play in health care until they encounter one.

A patient goes to doctors with symptoms or questions, but its the images produced by radiographers and sonographers that help doctors determine whats going on.

We provide a missing piece of the puzzle, said Tammy Webster, who was the director of UNMCs radiography program when she met Gracie Grote.

And sometimes, like in the case of Trisha, they put the puzzle together all by themselves.

In May of 2010, Trisha was testing out the image quality on a new ultrasound machine and scanned her own liver. She discovered several tumors and was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. She received a liver transplant at age 40.

She was young, she was healthy, she didnt really drink, she didnt do any of that, Gracie Grote said. She took really good care of herself so I think that helped in getting her a liver so quickly.

Grote knew she wanted to follow in her mothers footsteps.

After one year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she applied and was accepted into UNMCs radiography program. She was pregnant while interviewing for a spot in the program, but she didnt know it at the time.

When they met to discuss her pregnancy, Webster told Grote that she could delay starting the program for a year to adjust to being a single mom.

Grote said no.

Its going to be a lot harder taking care of a 1-year-old than it will be a newborn, in my opinion, she told Webster. Lets just get it done.

Webster kept following up with Grote. Together, they made plans and strategies on how she could manage school and being a new mom.

I think Gracies story tells us that lets not overlook a creative approach to what feels very structured with no opportunity for flexibility, Webster said. She found the rocky road separate from the paved. You still get to where you wanted to go. And thats OK. Its a different way of doing it but youre still doing it. Find a new roadmap. She did that.

Grote started the program at UNMCs Kearney campus in fall of 2019 and gave birth to her son, Hayes, a few weeks later. Trisha picked Gracie and Hayes up from the hospital and the three of them lived together in Overton.

My mom was my rock. She was my go-to for everything, Grote said of her mom. She did everything for my brother and I. She would go to the ends of the Earth.

Grote took three weeks off from school for maternity leave and then went back. Shed be up at all hours of the night with Hayes and then get up at 5 a.m. so she could make it to Grand Island for clinic duty at 7 a.m.

I look back and I dont even remember a lot of it because I think I was just in survival mode of how I could keep my grades up and take care of Hayes and be where I needed to be, Grote said. Very time-consuming. Very demanding.

New mom loses her own mother

When Hayes was about 9 months old, Trisha got sick again.

It came on fast.

Gracie Grote chatted with Trisha in the morning about grabbing lunch and by that afternoon, Trisha was in the hospital.

Grote said her mother got sick often in the years after her transplant and likely needed a new liver but didnt talk about that with her or her brother.

She didnt want us to worry, Grote said. She didnt want us to think she was giving up on us, but I know the 10 years after her transplant were rough on her, and I dont think she wanted to do it anymore. Which is understandable now.

Trisha died Aug. 8, 2020.

When someone close to you like that dies, the world just keeps going, Grote said. It doesnt stop like yours does. That was probably one of the hardest parts for me. I didnt have time to grieve. I still had to go to school, I still had to take care of my son.

For Grote, it eventually became too much.

I would come home from clinic every day and just cry, she said. It was just a really really dark time for me.

In November 2020, Grote reached out to her mental health counselor.

I remember calling her and telling her, I cant do this anymore. I cant be the mom my son deserves. Im incredibly sad. I need help. We have to do something.

Gracie spent three days at a hospital in Kearney. In the coming years, she regularly visited a psychiatrist and counselor and took medications, including antidepressants.

Gracie said sometimes people are ashamed to take antidepressants or even admit they might need them, but it doesnt mean someone is weak or crazy.

It just means that you need a little help right now, but its temporary, Grote said. It doesnt have to last forever and even if it does, thats fine.

Grote missed more time at school while getting the help she needed, but Webster was there and ready to help her make a new plan.

Webster said Grote was eager, willing and dedicated, but she also had the courage to ask for help when she needed it.

Thats a very vulnerable thing to do, Webster said. You want everybody to think, I got this. I got this. And you do, you have it. And its OK to have support to have it. That doesnt diminish you as an individual.

Grote said the staff at UNMC was like another family, which is something she never expected from a university.

She got on my level and she almost understood where I was coming from, Grote said of Webster. She heard me. She saw me. And she was willing to do whatever it took to push me through this and help me through this.

In May 2021, Grote received a bachelors degree in medical imaging and therapeutic sciences. Then she started UNMCs sonography program in August.

It takes a village to raise a child

In the months between the two programs, Grote used her new radiography training and worked three jobs to make ends meet. She studied for several big tests that were required in order for her to work in clinical settings.

And she got ready for the yearlong sonography program. As part of the program, Grote had three nine-hour clinical shifts a week and two eight-hour class days a week.

Some of her days started before 7 a.m. and ended around 9:30 p.m.

To make it all work, family and friends rallied around her. They took turns babysitting Hayes and occasionally kept him overnight or picked him up from day care.

They were great positive influences that kept encouraging her, kept loving her and she got her mind right and she focused and she just keeps achieving goals, Larry Grote, Gracies father, said.

People called and texted to check in. Sometimes theyd offer to have Grote and Hayes stop by, just so she could get a break for a few hours.

I understand now what people mean when they say it takes a village to raise a child, Grote said. This boy wouldnt be who he is without all those people. And we would not be where we are without all those people either.

It was just like PTSD

A few months into her sonography program, Grote got a phone call from her father.

Larry told his daughter that he had cancer.

It was just like PTSD. It was fear, she said. It was just so many emotions in one just because I just did this ... with my mom.

Larry moved in with Gracie and Hayes while he received treatment. Larrys treatments were successful and hes now in remission.

Grote said having her father around was comforting as she finished up the sonography program and graduated in August 2022.

She waited a few days, but then started classes to get her masters degree. She graduates in May.

Gracie now works as a general sonographer for Advanced Medical Imaging in Lincoln.

When people come in to Advanced Medical Imaging, they often have questions about their health and puzzles that need to be solved. Sometimes, theyre scared, anxious and wondering what will come next. Grote knows the feeling well.

Im treating my patients, the way I think of it, how I would treat my mom if she was in there, she said.

Top Journal Star photos for March 2024
TOWN OF BURLINGTON  A dredging project that could cost millions of dollars is moving forward on Browns Lake, with contractor bids to be opened publicly next month.

The Browns Lake Sanitary District Board agreed Thursday to solicit bids for a project aimed at removing more than 500,000 tons of sediment and other pollutants from the lake.

Board member Claude Lois said he expects many contractors to show interest in landing the job.

Weve been working really hard on it, Lois said.

Preliminary estimates have put the cost around $7 million.

A request for bids will be advertised later this month, and a public bid opening is scheduled for April 18.

The sanitary district has received a permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to dredge areas along the southern and western shores of the 397-acre lake.

Work is scheduled to start in spring 2025, and the project could continue through two summer boating seasons.

The permit issued by the DNR in December states that boating restrictions will be necessary for four to six months in the dredging work zones.

Details of the sanitary districts bid specifications have not been released, but board chairman Paul Naber said he approves of the plans that contractors will be asked to review.

I think they look pretty good, and what everybody in the public would want, Naber said.

The sanitary district, which manages Browns Lake, has laid out a blueprint for dredging more than 100 acres.

An average of 5,000 gallons of discharge per minute will be piped eastward to a dumpsite along State Highway 36. After the sludge dries, excess water will be piped back to the lake to restore water levels.

The three-member board voted Thursday to seek contractor bids, with Lois abstaining to avoid a conflict with his employment at Kapur & Associates, the districts engineering firm on the dredging project.

Officials have not laid out plans for financing the project.

The public sanitary district operates on a budget of $1.9 million a year, which includes about $380,000 in property taxes collected from homeowners and others around the lake.

In photos: People in Racine County bask in Nov. 3 temperatures in the 70s William Jones of Town of Wheatland at Browns Lake Golf Course in Burlington Karen Lohr of Waterford waters plants outside her home on a warm November day Russell Wallis walks his dog Ely in Burlington during warm 70-degree November day Indre Gavenaite and her daughter, Freya, share a picnic in Rochester Markus Schuch and Zach Forray with golf cart at Browns Lake Golf Course Golfers William Jones and his son, William Jones Jr., at Browns Lake Golf Course Freya Gavenaite, 5, of Mount Pleasant, climbs a tree at Case Eagle Park in Rochester Planting branches Getting them up there Nick Teska skating Everything the light touches, we shred
The seventh annual Outstanding Scholars Breakfast for students who maintained a cumulative 4.0 or above grade point average throughout their high school years at Catholic Central High School in Burlington was held March 7 at The Landing 1841. The keynote speaker was retired Col. James Barkei, who grew up in East Troy and graduated from Catholic Central in 1991. He is managing attorney for the Dodge County District Attorneys Office in Juneau, and prior to retiring from active duty in October 2023, Barkei served as Chief Circuit Judge, First Circuit, U.S. Army Trial Judiciary at Fort Drum, New York.
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

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KEARNEY  A Kearney man faces second-degree arson charges for allegedly setting fire to a 2003 Chevy Tahoe.

William David Harvey, 31, was arrested after officers were called to a home on East Eighth St on Feb. 9.

According to court documents, the vehicle belonged to a woman Harvey knows. The owner of the vehicle alleged that she knew it was Harvey because of his dress and gait  she could tell because Harvey "wears shorts in the winter," among other characteristics, the arrest affidavit says.

Officers found two empty soda bottles that looked like there was gasoline in them next to the damaged vehicle, according to a police account of the fire.

The woman had video footage of the incident, which allegedly showed Harvey lighting the car on fire before running off.

According to the woman, Harvey allegedly sent her and another woman threatening messages via Facebook, saying he was "coming to kill them." Officers confirmed the threats with the other woman.

Kearney officers enlisted the help of the Nebraska State Patrol as they tried to find Harvey, while also contacting Verizon for assistance in locating the suspect. Harvest was arrested in early March on a warrant for second-degree arson.

Harvey is scheduled for a preliminary hearing scheduled on Tuesday, March 19 in Buffalo County Court. Harvey was recently in the news for an assault case after it was alleged he headbutted one of his children.

PHOTOS: Sandhill cranes descend on Central Nebraska Nebraska's Platte River Valley: A critical stopover for cranes during migration The Platte River Valley in Nebraska hosts up to 90% of the world's sandhill crane population during migration season, with an estimated 650,00 Cranes in Central Nebraska Matt Urbansk, Saunders Conservation Fellow at the Crane Trust, right, photographs guests walking to a Platte River observation blind around 5: Capturing images Grace O'Dwyer, 5, her parents Christian and Lilla, and brothers Paul and James of Denver had their first sandhill crane season experience Marc Cranes in Central Nebraska Among the Crane Trust's staff and volunteer blind tour leaders is Matt Urbansk, the Saunders Conservation Fellow at the Trust, who watches cra Cranes in Central Nebraska As daylight faded to dusk March 1, sandhill cranes in silhouette lowered their legs and spread their wings to float down to overnight roosts o Cranes in Central Nebraska At dusk, sandhill cranes start flying to the Platte River  in this case at the Crane Trust near Alda  from nearby grasslands and harvested c Cranes in Central Nebraska Record numbers of sandhill cranes arrived early this year, according to estimates based on aerial surveys taken by the Crane Trust Science Tea Bison in the fog A lone bison ambled through a Crane Trust pasture near the headquarters complex southeast of the Alda I-80 exit on a foggy March 1 morning. Ot Cranes in Central Nebraska Sandhill cranes, ducks, geese and people in Crane Trust observation blinds along the Platte River woke up to dense fog March 1. That made cran Cranes in Central Nebraska Sandhill cranes, ducks, geese and people in Crane Trust observation blinds along the Platte River woke up to dense fog March 1. That made cran Cranes in Central Nebraska Grace O'Dwyer, 5, her parents Christian and Lilla, and brothers Paul and James of Denver had their first sandhill crane season experience Marc Bison in the fog A lone bison ambled through a Crane Trust pasture near the headquarters complex southeast of the Alda I-80 exit on a foggy March 1 morning. Ot
HOLDREGE  Lake McConaughys elevation was at 3240.7 feet on March 4 (63.3% of capacity), which is up 1.9 feet since Feb. 14.

Civil Engineer Tyler Thulin reported during the March 4 meeting of the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District Board of Directors that inflows are around 1,100 cubic feet per second and outflows are about 125 cfs.

Snowpack in the upper North Platte basin has improved to 100% of median average after setting record lows twice this year.

The lower North Platte basin is at 71%. The South Platte basin is at 95%.

Also at the March 4 board meeting:

CNPPID Natural Resources and Compliance Manager Mike Drain explained the new permitting procedure amendments that were given approval by the board. Changes include modifying the maximum dimension from 8 feet wide to 16 feet wide for water based docks, changing the size of constructed beach and retaining walls located within the Land-Based SWAF zone be no wider than 30 feet in total length and removing HVAC units from the list of structures that must be located within the lots buildable area.

Directors approved the purchase of an automated water screen from International Water Screens for $144,000. The screen will be installed on the E-67 canal to help remove debris entering the canal from Johnson Lake.

The board approved a bid of $49,002 from Action Battery Systems of Excelsior Springs, Mo., for backup battery banks to be used for communications at the offices in Holdrege and Bertrand as well as J-1, J-2, Jeffrey and Kingsley communication buildings. In an emergency the batteries will provide backup to the SCADA system for control at the hydroplants and servers at the Holdrege administration office.

Directors approved a purchase requisition for $344,872 for seven 2024 Chevrolet 4x4 pickup trucks from Pony Express Chevrolet in Gothenburg.
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My dad recently gave me some pears he brought from my uncles pear farm. Have you ever tried Korean pears? They are big, sweet and juicy. Their skin glows a bright yellow. Korean pears are unlike most fruit in North America, so there is no way to explain how amazing they taste. I love them a lot, but I couldnt eat all of them alone. So, I thought Id share them with my friends. But since I was going to have people over anyway, I decided to have a dinner party. My good friend Abraham, an airman in the U.S. Air Force that I have known for years, just returned to Korea so it was a great excuse for a party. Along with Abraham, I invited Brian, a good friend and a U.S. soldier, and my sister. To me, cooking for your favorite people is a great way to show how much you care about them. This time of the year, my family always takes a daytrip near the sea to eat a bunch of shrimp. Most Koreans believe the best way to cook shrimp is to roast them in coarse salt. Jumbo shrimp is the perfect seasonal food for a fall dinner party. I also decided to make a couple of other easy and fantastic dishes that would impress my American friends. The dinner party was a lot of fun, but so was the preparation. Give this a read, then plan your own dinner party!

Party: Shopping for groceries

Brian wanted to help me shop for groceries for the dinner party, so we headed to Tongbok Market to get some jumbo shrimp and salt. Brian loves learning new Korean words, so I decided to give him a short lesson and then let him do the shopping.

Everyone, please pay attention! With this simple lesson, youll be able to buy anything you want by speaking Korean, which will improve your quality of life here!

Phrases (formal)

*Adding yo at end of a sentence makes it more formal.

 Hi: Annyeonghaseyo ()

 Thank you: Gamsahapnida ()

 How much is it?: Eolmayeyo? (?)

 Please give to me/ Ill take: Juseyo ()

Vocabulary

 This: Igeo ()

 That: Jeogeo ()

 Together: Gachi ()

 All, everything: Da ()

Numbers (Sino)

1: Il() 6: Yuk()

2: I() 7: Chil()

3: Sam() 8: Pal() 100: Baek()

4: Sa() 9: Gu() 1,000: Cheon()

5: Oh() 10: Sip() 10,000: Man()

Korean money

 1,000 won: Cheon won ()

 10,000 won: Man won ()

Mission: Buy jumbo shrimp and salt while speaking Korean

At a fish shop

Brian: Igeo da juseyo! (Ill take them all)

He bought three boxes of jumbo shrimp at a discounted price since the vendor wanted to get rid of everything. It was total 30,000 won. Hes off to a great start!

 1 box (22-25 shrimp about 600-700g): 14,000 won.

 The average price of jumbo shrimp (1kg): 22,000 won ~ 28,000 won (It depends on the freshness and size)

At a salt shop

Brian: Annyeong-haseyo (Hello) Igeo juseyo (Please give me this)

Vendor: Jeogeoyo? (That one?)

Party: Shopping for groceries

Brian: Eoleol? Help me Hyemin!

He forgot how to say Eolmayeyo? (How much is it?)

Vendor: Sam cheon won, juseyo. (Give me 3,000 won, please)

 Sea salt (Small bag): 3,000 won

Brian and vendor: Gamsahapnida (Thank you)

Brian successfully completed his mission! He looked a bit tired, but said he felt great about his improvement in speaking Korean. I was very proud of him, too. I understand its not easy shopping in a foreign country, but lets focus on positive. The experience of living abroad will give you many challenges (and achievements), which will broaden your horizons.

Once you start using even a little bit of Korean, your life in Korea will be completely different. I recommend you try the simple words and phrases Brian used while you are at convenience stores, markets and restaurants. Believe me, once we try speaking Korean when you are out and about, it will be one of your favorite parts of your journey in Korea! Just ask Brian!

Fun in the kitchen!

After Brian and I came back from the market, Abraham joined us for the cooking. Frankly, I was a little bit worried if they would get along. I have many military friends. Whether they are Korean or American, all branches love making sarcastic jokes about others and proudly say, My branch is the best! My apartment is too small to handle an airman and a soldier at the same time if they are not getting along.

However, when we all met up, I quickly realized there was nothing to worry about. The three of us have many things in common. Both of my friends are from a Mexican family and I used to live in South America, so we love Latin music, shrimp, and spicy food. We had a great time cooking and listening to Latin music together!

Roasted jumbo shrimp

Ingredients: Jumbo shrimp, coarse salt, butter, garlic

Koreans usually roast shrimp only with salt but I added garlic and butter. Also, this food usually comes with a Korean dipping sauce made of chili pepper paste and vinegar or sesame oil, but I prepared a garlic and cheese mayo sauce for my American friends.

Directions:

 Wash shrimp and remove vein if you dont like them. You can use a knife or toothpick to pull out the vein.

 Wash garlic and cut the butter into pieces.

 Lay one or two pieces of aluminum foil on a pan then put coarse salt, shrimp, garlic and butter on it.

 Put the lid on the pan and cook over a medium heat for 8-10 minutes.

Finished! Extremely simple!

Korean pankcake with shrimp and pepper

Ingredients: Jumbo shrimp, salt, pepper, green pumpkin, eggs, Korean pancake mix (or all-purpose flour)

I was trying to feed 4 people, including myself, so I used one bag (500g) of Korean pancake mix.

Directions:

 Remove the shell, head, tail and vein from shrimp.

 Cut the shrimp, pepper, green pumpkin into small pieces.

 Pour 500g of Korean pancake mix and 700-800ml of water into a bowl.

 Stir 4-5 eggs in a separate bowl.

 Put all ingredients together and add one tablespoon of salt. Stir until its all mixed.

 Heat a pan on medium coat it with the oil. Make sure to pour enough oil.

 Pour batter to coat the bottom of the pan and add more shrimp!

 Cook for 4-5 minutes until the bottom turns golden brown.

 Flip the pancake and add more oil. Then heat another 3-4 minutes.

Oh, no! I burned the bottom while chatting with my friends.

I cant show this burned pancake to our readers! I screamed.

Brian tried to calm me down. If an Army guy tries your recipe, hell burn it, too, he said assuredly. Its a real lesson, so dont worry!

Yes, the troops wont care as long as it tastes good, Abraham chimed in.

But what if some military spouses who love cooking want to try my recipe? I worried out loud.

Lets put more chili pepper to make it look better, Brian said.

My two good friends helped me hide the ugly part of the pancake. The colorful chili peppers were definitely helpful.

This joint operation of the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and a Korean to cook Korean dishes was a success!

PARTY: Time to eat

After all the hard work of shopping and cooking, we finally reached the best part of the day: eating all the shrimp and other delicious food we prepared! To kick off any party you need to make a toast, so I took out Makgeolli from the refrigerator. When I poured the Makgeolli into wine glasses, my friends laughed. They knew its usually served in a metal cup or bowl, but since I didnt have either I figured wine glasses would work just fine. Makgeolli is technically Korean rice wine, so why not?!

We raised our glasses and enthusiastically toasted in Korean: Geonbae (cheers)!

And then it was time to eat. I was so happy when my guests said they were amazed how delicious the roasted shrimp were. The garlic, salt, and butter really brought out the flavor of the shrimp.

The shrimp was delicious as it was, but we also had the option of two sauces.

What is this sauce? It makes the shrimp even more delicious! Abraham asked as he pointed to the garlic and cheese mayo sauce I had bought. Honestly, it paired even better than the Korean sauce we also had. Id recommend getting the mayo sauce if you plan to try roasted shrimp with salt.

My favorite part of the dinner was drinking makgeolli with the shrimp and hot pepper pancakes we made. The sweet, sour and soft flavors of the Makgeolli stunningly paired well with the crispy and spicy pancake. Makgeolli is known as a traditional drink that goes well with all Korean foods, but especially pancakes. Thats the reason I chose it as the dinner drink. I was happy my guests enjoyed all the Korean food we cooked, as it was their first time eating a Korean feast like this.

We devoured all the food. I kept making pancakes until all the ingredients were gone. And the shrimp? Those three boxes Brian purchased at the store were empty. And our stomachs were full.

Great food. Tasty drinks. Lots of laughs. It was the perfect dinner party!

Comments from the guests

The roasted shrimp with salt smelled wonderful. Combined with the garlic mayo, it was by far the best shrimp I had ever had. It was interesting having to peel the legs off before eating, I liked this part! - Brian

Shrimp for me is one of the delicacies of the sea. This roasted shrimp immediately stood out from its peers from the sheer flavor it packed. The almost immediate hit of garlic on the tongue with the salt fighting for a spot on your taste buds made this a joy to eat. - Abraham

Korean pancake with shrimp? At first, I thought, this probably wont be very good. But it was spicy and delicious! It was the best food of the night. The green pumpkins and peppers gave a nice crunch, and the shrimp made it a full meal by itself. - Brian

The Korean pancake is fun to make as it is enjoyable to eat! Theres always a surprise with each bite as the egg does its job of blending everything together. Will my next bite consist of spicy peppers or shrimp? Who knows??! - Abraham

The Korean pear had a very juicy crunchy texture that I loved. It cleansed my palate after the big meal. It was the perfect light dessert and way to end the meal! - Brian

The Korean pear has a rather legendary reputation here than it does back in the States and its easy to see why. A bite will give you near instant satisfaction as the juices flow. A gentle yet firm flavor will have you taking bite after bite of the delicious goodness. - Abraham

During my first tour in Korea, I had mixed feelings about Makgeolli. A fermented sour taste coupled with carbonation can be difficult to get past. Im proud to say that my tastes have become refined over the years, and I now enjoy every sip of Makgeolli that come across my table. Sometimes it will have slight fermented milky flavor and high on carbonation. Other times it could have a strong tangy flavor. No matter where on the spectrum it lands on, Ill always be asking for another bowl. - Abraham
Photos by ChiHon Kim ()

Many of us stick to convenient online shopping. But sometimes, theres nothing like hanging out at a mall or department store, especially when the weather is less than perfect.

I really enjoy going to department stores, not so much for the shopping, but for trying out their variety of restaurants. Beyond retail items, department stores in South Korea have a wide range of eateries, from quick bites to great sit-down meals.

Looking for something new, I recently made my way to the new seven-floor Lotte Department Store in Dongtan. It houses everything you youd expect from a luxury shopping center, plus it boasts a renowned food section which will have gourmands salivating.

The department store is a 40-minute drive from Osan Air Base, but it is also connected to Dongtan Station, making it an easy 20-minute SRT train ride from Pyeongtaek Jije Station.

When you arrive at Dongtan Station, you will be on the B2 level. The exit there takes you into Lotte Department Stores wonderful bakery Paris Croissants. The bakery and its huge dining area have a luxurious atmosphere and is a perfect place for brunch. Before or after you sample the delicious food at the bakery, you should check out the beautiful exhibition hall on the same floor. Throughout the year, a variety of exhibitions are held here. During my visit, lovely paintings were on display.

If youre a lover of luxury brands go to the first floor, where you can shop for clothes, watches and jewelry from extravagant boutiques such as Dolce & Gabbana, Maison Margiela, Balenciaga and many others.

The second floor will draw you in with its perfume scent. Here, you can checkout high-end imported and Korean cosmetics, jewelry, and accessories. Find the latest womens fashion lines on the third floor, while the fourth floor offers an endless selection of kids clothes. After buying your kids some clothes, dont forget about your husband. On the same floor there is a mens clothing section.

If youre an outdoor enthusiast, the fifth floor is the place for you. This floor is packed with a wide-range of outdoor and sportswear shops are. Sixth floor offers stylish homewares, lighting, electronic appliances, and furniture.

If youre not in the mood for shopping, head to seventh floor to enjoy the latest film releases at Lottes state-of-the-art cinema. Traveling with your pooch? Dont worry. An outdoor dog playground called Rookie Park is located outside the theater. There is no entrance fee for the dog park, but you do need to order a beverage. (Heads up: Dogs must be under 12kg to enter!)

To reach the Rookie Park, you need to get through WITHLAND, a one-stop pet shop where you can get everything for your furry friends. You can also play and dine with your dog in the outdoor area connected to the pet shop (this is a separate area from Rookie Park).

Address: NEVER MAP: Never Map  160, Dongtanyeok-ro, Hwaseong-si (ENG)     160 (KOR)

Hours: Mon  Thu 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fri  Sun 10:30 to 8: 30 p.m. Website

How to get there Car  Camp Humphreys  Dongtan Lotte Department Store (50mins)  Osan Air Base  Dongtan Lotte Department Store (30mins) SRT train Jije Station (Pyeongtaek)  Dongtan Station SRT (express train): 20mins (7500 won)

Foodies heaven: Food Avenue

Food Avenue, like that in other department stores, is the place to be if youre looking for a good spot to grab some food. Here, a labyrinth of excellent and well-known restaurants, bakeries, sweetshops, cafes, and delis await. Below is a roundup of my favorite places to stop for a nice meal at Lotte Department Store.

D Lifestyle Kitchen If youre going low-carb, then head to the D Lifestyle Kitchen ( ). This European-style restaurant is beautifully decorated with elaborate chandeliers and furniture perfect for Instagram pics. The experienced chefs in the kitchen bring their years cooking up delicious eats in various Michelin Star restaurants, so youll be in good hands. If you plan to visit, you will need to make an online reservation in advance, or you might have to wait up to an hour to be seated.

Cuisine: Fusion, American, Mediterranean, Asian, Korean, Healthy Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., (Break time 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.) Price range: from 20,000 to 50,000 won. (or $16.93 to 42.34) Tel: 0507-1384-3572 Go to the online booking: (Korean only) http://naver.me/xH2Gj4v1 Website

Super Matcha If after reading the name of this cafe you still werent sure, this is definitely a spot for matcha green tea lovers. Here, the Seoul-based chain, serves up all matcha sweets and drinks.

What sets this chain apart from others is that it uses ceremonial-grade organic matcha from Bosung. According to their webpage, the matcha powder is blended with no sugar, no artificial additives, no color, and is made of natural ingredients only. From green tea to ice cream, the small cafe boasts a rich matcha flavor that will leave you satisfied.

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Website, Instagram

Shushi- ISEI If youre in the mood for Japanese food, head to Shushi- ISEI () on the second floor in the D-avenue section near the bridge. Shushi- ISEI has two omakase menus  lunch course at 50,000 won per person and a dinner course menu at 88,000 won per person. The course omakase consists of a daily selection of appetizers chosen by the chef, followed by a set of around 10 pieces of assorted sashimi and the chefs daily dishes.

They also serve slightly less-expensive assorted sushi set options from 19,000 won to 33,000 won. If youre looking for a quick bite, try futomaki, one of the top-selling sushi rolls. They also have rice bowl dishes such as kaisen-don and sake-don from 15000 to 35000 won. For the omakase experience, you need to book a table by phone or booking app. You might need the help of Korean friends. Other than the omakase menu, they accept walk-in customers.

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Break time 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) Booking: Tel: 0507-1495-3639 (KOR only) App (KOR only)

Shake Shack Burger If youre craving a taste of home, head to this famous American burger chain on the first floor of D-avenue. Shake Shack has been serving up their delectable burgers, fries and shakes in Korea since 2016. Not much to describe here, Shake Shacks burgers speak for themselves. If the burger chain is not your cup of tea, check out The Co. 190. This burger joint serves up juicy hamburgers created by a famous chef whos has been on Korean TV.

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m Tel: 031-8036-3601

NUDAKE Cafe When youre done shopping, take a break at a hip cafe on the second floor of D -avenue street. Gentle Monster, known best as the Korean eyewear retailer, opened this foray into the food and beverage industry. Each chain cafe offers its own unique modern art exhibit making it look like a gallery.

As you can expect from the creative interior and trendy vibe, the unique cafe serves up desserts in imaginative and unexpected shapessuch as cakes shaped like a sardine can or parts of a face like an ear or nose. Most of the menu items looks like refined sculptures, but its edible bread!

Their top-selling items are Peak Cake (a black pastry crust filled with rich matcha cream), the Pine Cone (a white four-tier cake in the shape of a pine tree), and the Fog Cake (a treat covered with black-to-white gradient coloring).

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Roji Monster Ice Cream This Taiwanese dessert chain offers shaved ice cream with googly eyes and mochi balls. The adorable ice cream comes in a variety of flavors, including matcha, milk, black sesame, and seasonal specials. Too cute to eat? Just quickly take a snap before digging in. The shop also does waffles, ice teas, and milk in many different flavors.

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (weekdays), 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (weekend)

Butterful & Creamorous Be sure to stop by the Butterful & Creamorous () and check out their tempting treats, including famous croissants made with high-quality French butter. Blueberry yogurt croissants and honey cream cheese croissants are the top-selling menu items in this bakery. One bite and youll fall in love with the flakey and buttery treats the bakery has to offer.
On 16 March students from the Ayotzinapa rural teacher training college in Mexicos Guerrero state protested in state capital Chilpancingo to demand justice for the killing of their classmate , on 7 March.

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On 15 March Brazils supreme court (STF) disclosed the testimony previously given in relation to a federal police (PF) probe into the alleged military coup conspiracy to overturn the 2022 election defeat of former president(2019-2023).

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On 15 March Colombias Presidentsuggested that a constituent assembly could be convened with the power to modify the constitution.

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The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus is spreading more aggressively than ever before since its arrival in South America in 2022. It is killing wild birds and marine mammals on the continent.

Reuters recently spoke to eight experts in bird flu science. All said the current spread raises the risk of the virus becoming a bigger threat to humans.

The more immediate concern is that the disease, which once affected mostly birdlife, appears to be spreading between mammals.

The disease has already killed several dolphins in Chile and Peru. It has also killed about 50,000 seals and sea lions along the coasts and at least half a million birds across South America.

Scientists have not yet tested infections in living animals to confirm mammal-to-mammal passage of the virus. But they believe it is very likely.

"It's almost certainly happened," said Richard Webby. He is a virologist at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. "It's pretty hard to explain some of these large infections and die off without having mammal-to-mammal spread."

The same version of the virus has appeared in many bird species. Among them are migrating species, scientists told Reuters.

As climate change continues, animals are forced to move into new territories, often mixing with animals -- and viruses -- that are new to them.

"It's a matter of time before you will detect the first South American strain in North America," said Alonzo Alfaro-Nunez, a viral ecologist at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.

Human risk

The growing concern led the intergovernmental Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to gather health experts and officials for a meeting this week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The group plans to launch the world's first regional program to supervise bird flu spread. The program will run observation and response efforts, a PAHO official told Reuters.

Since the virus was first detected in Colombia in October 2022, there have been two known cases in humans on the continent. One was in Ecuador. The other was in Chile. Birds passed the virus in each case.

The patients survived. But often, H5N1 kills. About 60 percent of human cases of the virus end in death.

The World Health Organization is unlikely to raise the H5N1 risk level for humans from the current "low" right now. The experts would require evidence of human-to-human transmission or signs of viral changes that would target humans, experts said.

Several drugmakers have said they are developing bird flu vaccines for humans.

"We're seeing (the virus) do... little evolutionary steps that are on the long-term moving towards a potential human infection," said Ralph Vanstreels. He is a researcher at the University of California, Davis. He is studying South American variants of H5N1.

Regional response

With health officials and experts meeting in Rio this week, Latin American countries will be pressured to increase disease surveillance in the wild.

The region's data is lacking and limited resources have left scientists struggling to understand how the disease is spreading in the wild. Scientists expect the number of cases is probably much higher than reported. Some cases are not getting laboratory testing.

Bolivia, for example, did not register a case in the wild last year. But the disease has been reported in surrounding countries, said Manuel Jose Sanchez Vazquez, a disease expert for PAHO's animal health center.

Overseeing the disease response can also be complex, Sanchez noted. Public health officials deal with threats to humans. Agricultural experts and veterinarians deal with health threats to farm animals, including birds, cows and pigs. But for wild animal health, care and supervision is provided mostly by environmental officials.

The new regional commission is expected to be announced on Thursday. The group would aim to set methods for observing, treating and reporting cases among government agencies. It could also help in sharing laboratory resources.

"We are worried and we are vigilant," Sanchez said. "The more adaptation of the virus to mammals, the more likely it is that transmission to humans could happen."

Im Caty Weaver.

Caty Weaver adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters.

_______________________________________

Words in This Story

detect  v. to discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

region  n. an administrative area, division, or district

response  n. an act or instance of replying; answer

evolution  n. a process of change in a certain direction

potential  adj. existing in possibility : capable of development into actuality

vigilant  adj. alert to signs of danger

adaptation  n. modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence under the conditions of its environment

veterinarian  n. a medical doctor of animals
A total solar eclipse will take place in North America on April 8. Millions of people will be able to fully experience the event, which is expected to darken the sky for more than four minutes.

A total solar eclipse happens when the sun, moon and Earth perfectly line up. This results in sunlight being blocked. The quality of the observations will depend on weather and the position where people watch the eclipse from.

The path of totality  meaning places where people will see a total blockage of the sun  will stretch across areas of Mexico, the United States and Canada. People in North America who are outside of this path will still be able to see a partial eclipse.

The American space agency NASA says the eclipse will begin over the South Pacific and reach Mexico's Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. Pacific Time. It will then enter the United States in Texas.

The path of totality will then pass through a series of states before heading out from the northernmost state of Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Ontario and move across the nation before leaving northeastern Canada into the Atlantic.

An estimated 44 million people live inside the 185-kilometer-wide path of totality, with about 32 million in the U.S.

The eclipse is expected to last four minutes and 28 seconds, about twice as long as the one that darkened skies in 2017. The U.S. is not set to see another coast-to-coast total solar eclipse until 2045.

NASAs eclipse watch program is led by Kelly Korreck. She told The Associated Press the eclipse will permit many people to experience the wonder of the universe without going very far.

People outside the path of totality will still be able to see a partial eclipse. The farther these people are from the path, the less the sun will be covered. For example, experts say Americans farthest from this path  such as in the northwestern cities of Seattle and Portland  will see about one-third of the sun blocked.

As was the case with past eclipse events, people are being warned about the dangers of looking directly at the sun during the event. Since normal sunglasses are not considered effective protection, special eclipse glasses are suggested for eclipse watchers. The glasses should only be removed during moments when the suns face is covered during complete totality.

A total solar eclipse develops in several different parts, or stages. The event starts with a partial eclipse as the moon begins to pass between Earth and the sun. During this stage, a partial blockage leaves the sun looking a bit like a banana.

During the next stage, called Baily's Beads, points of light from the sun shine around the moon's edges. This effect is produced by the moons differing landscapes. NASA notes this stage is quite short and may not last long enough to be noticeable to all observers of the total solar eclipse.

In the Diamond Ring stage, a single bright spot appears along the lunar edge even as the sun's atmosphere leaves a ring of light around the moon. This effect  which comes right before totality  looks similar to a diamond ring.

After totality, the other stages then repeat as the moon keeps moving along its path until the end of the eclipse.

Total solar eclipses generally happen every few years, often in the middle of nowhere like the South Pacific or Antarctic. The next total solar eclipse will arrive in 2026. It will be observable along the northern edges of Greenland, Iceland and Spain.

North America will not experience totality again until 2033, with that one only passing over Alaska. It will happen next in 2044, with totality limited to Western Canada and the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota.

The next coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in the U.S. is expected to happen in 2045. NASA says that one will stretch from Northern California to Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from The Associated Press, Reuters and NASA.

Quiz - North America Prepares for 2024 Total Solar Eclipse Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_____________________________________

Words in This Story

landscape  n. all visible features of an area of land

notice  v. the act of observing or paying attention to something
Three people were arrested Friday after a three-county law enforcement chase and a manhunt near Gothenburg.

Brian Titman, 45, of Kearney, David Griffitt, 37, of Trenton, and Madison Arledge, 26, of McCook were arrested on suspicion of various charges, including possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, tampering with physical evidence, flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving and obstructing a peace officer, the Nebraska State Patrol said in a Saturday press release.

Titman and Arledge each had active warrants as well, the NSP said.

Friday evening, the Furnas County Sheriffs Office contacted the NSP saying they were attempting to locate a vehicle believed to be driven by someone with an active warrant.

About 7:15 p.m., a trooper located the vehicle, a Chevrolet Equinox, as it was traveling north on Nebraska Highway 283 near Elwood. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver immediately turned onto a county road and fled west. The trooper initiated a pursuit.

The vehicle continued on county roads for about 30 minutes. During the pursuit, the occupants threw several items out of the vehicle.

The suspect vehicle eventually drove into a pasture in Lincoln County, southwest of Gothenburg, came to a stop and all three occupants fled on foot.

Numerous law enforcement officers arrived at the scene to search the area. After approximately three hours, troopers were able to utilize a thermal drone to locate the subjects, NSP said.

All three subjects were then taken into custody. Additional personnel located the items thrown from the vehicle, which were multiple bags containing methamphetamine.

NSP was assisted by deputies from Gosper County, Dawson County and Lincoln County during this incident.
State senators Friday gave 45-0 final approval to a bill meant to stem the trend of seed corn producers turning to migrant workers instead of Nebraska teenagers to detassel cornfields.

The vote on Legislative Bill 844 came on a busy Friday in which lawmakers also backed measures by Sumner Sen. Teresa Ibach raising the states promotional corn checkoff fee and transferring supervision of hemp farming from the state to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Term-limited Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard introduced LB 844, which would require reports on which detasseling contractors seed corn firms used, how many acres of cornfields they serviced and how many acres were detasseled by youth crews.

LB 844s original language would also have made those firms seek bids for the annual summertime task from contractors that provide younger workers.

But Erdmans bill was softened during second-round debate March 7 after Ibach voiced concerns that its original language could have revealed information private to seed companies through its mandated reports.

Senators adopted revisions offered by Ibach that say the producers reports arent public record but also require the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to total them up and publicly report statewide totals. They also struck language making it a misdemeanor for seed corn firms to file the reports.

Ibach and Sens. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, Tom Brewer of Gordon and Brian Hardin of Gering joined Erdman in voting to send LB 844 to Gov. Jim Pillen for his signature.

Later Friday, lawmakers voted 29-1 to amend an Agriculture Committee priority bill to include Ibachs LB 1061, which would raise Nebraskaa promotional corn checkoff fee for the first time since 2012.

Ibachs measure, sought by the states corn industry, would raise the current fee of 0.5 cents a bushel to 1 cent Oct. 1. The fee started at 0.4 cents in 1978.

Erdman cast the lone vote against adding the higher checkoff fee to LB 262, saying supporters hadnt presented any evidence that the Nebraska Corn Board is running out of money or that corn producers would gain instead of lose money as a result.

Jacobson and Brewer voted to add the checkoff fee boost to LB 262, which was advanced to final reading on a voice vote. Hardin did not vote.

Also added to the Agriculture Committee bill was an Ibach amendment containing portions of her LB 999, which as written would have also refined Nebraska laws definition of hemp to rule out sales of Delta-8 THC products.

The District 44 lawmakers amendment generally narrowed LB 999 down to focus on transferring hemp regulation from Nebraska Department of Agriculture to USDA jurisdiction.

Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said his panel hadnt yet worked out problems with the criminal-code aspects of Ibachs original bill.

All five western Nebraska senators joined in a 34-1 vote to add Ibachs hemp language to LB 262 before it moved to final reading.

Lawmakers Friday also gave voice-vote second-round approval to Brewers LB 287, which makes a variety of minor changes to state election and open-meetings laws.
In the Chinese city of Shanghai, two young women seeking an education abroad have both 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 decades-long 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.

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 schools 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.

A new era

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.

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 spokesman 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 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.

Opening doors

Under communist leadership, China only opened its doors to the U.S. in the late 1970s when the two countries established formal ties. Beijing, desperate to revive its economy through Western technology, wanted to send 5,000 students to American universities; President Jimmy Carter replied that he would take 100,000.

The number of Chinese students in the U.S. picked up after Beijing in 1981 allowed Chinese students to self-fund their overseas studies, rather than relying on government money. Generous scholarships from U.S. schools allowed tens of thousands of Chinese students to study here, but it wasnt until 2009 when the number of Chinese students exceeded 100,000, driven by growth in family wealth.

In the following decade, the number of Chinese students in the U.S. more than tripled to peak at 372,532 in the 2019-2020 academic year, just as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. The number slipped to 289,526 in 2022.

The Institute of International Education, which publishes annual reports on international students, has found that U.S. schools are prioritizing students from India over China, especially for graduate programs. However, it also found that 36% of schools reported increases in new Chinese students in fall 2023.

In its most recent report, the Council of Graduate Schools said U.S. universities have seen a surge in applications and enrollments from India and countries in sub-Saharan Africa since fall 2020, while those from Chinese nationals have declined.

Increasing competition from Chinese institutions of higher learning and the growing geopolitical tension between China and the United States may be contributing to this trend, the council report said. DIDI TANG, WASHINGTON, MDT/AP
Russians crowded outside polling stations at midday yesterday on the last day of a three-day presidential election, apparently heeding an opposition call to protest against President Vladimir Putin, who is poised to extend his rule of nearly a quarter century for six more years after a relentless crackdown on dissent.

The election that began Friday has taken place in a tightly controlled environment where there are no real alternatives to Putin, no public criticism of him or his war in Ukraine. Putins fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.

Navalnys associates have urged those unhappy with Putin or the war to protest by coming to the polls at noon, a strategy endorsed by Navalny shortly before his death. Team Navalny described it as a success, releasing pictures and videos of people crowding near polling stations in cities across Russia around noon.

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 yesterday sent a reminder of challenges faced by Moscow.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported downing 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including four near the Russian capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said there were no casualties or damage.

Russias wartime economy has proven resilient, expanding despite bruising Western sanctions. The Russian defense industry has served as a key growth engine, working around the clock to churn out missiles, tanks and ammunition.

Voting is taking place at polling stations across the vast countrys 11 time zones, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine, and online. More than 60% of eligible voters had cast ballots early in the day.

Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said he voted for Putin: I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now.

Olga Dymova, who also backed Putin, said, I am sure that our country will only move forward towards success.

Another Moscow voter, who identified himself only by his first name, Vadim, said he hopes for change, but added that unfortunately, its unlikely.

Navalnys associates broadcast footage with comments by those who turned up at the polls at noon to protest Putin, their faces blurred to protect their identities.

The action has achieved its goals, Ivan Zhdanov, the head of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, said in a YouTube broadcast. The action has shown that there is another Russia, there are people who stand against Putin.

Another Navalny ally, Leonid Volkov, said that the protest was meant to help unify and encourage those who oppose Putin.

It wasnt possible to confirm if the voters shown lining up at polling stations in videos and photos released by Navalnys associates and some Russian media had responded to the protest call, or merely reflected strong turnout.

Huge lines also formed around noon outside Russian diplomatic missions in Berlin, Paris, Milan and other cities with large Russian communities. Navalnys widow, Yulia Navalnaya, joined the line at the Russian Embassy in Berlin as some in the crowd applauded and chanted her name.

In Tallinn, where hundreds stood in a line snaking around the citys cobbled streets leading to the Russian Embassy, 23-year-old Tatiana said she came to take part in the protest at noon. If we have some option to protest I think its important to utilize any opportunity, she said, only giving her first name citing personal security reasons.

Boris Nadezhdin, a liberal politician who tried to join the race on an anti-war platform but was barred from running by election officials, voiced hope that many Russians cast their ballots against Putin.

I believe that the Russian people today have a chance to show their real attitude to what is happening by voting not for Putin, but for some other candidates or in some other way, which is exactly what I did, he said after voting in Dolgorpudny, just outside Moscow.

The OVD-Info group that monitors political arrests said that more than 50 people were arrested in 14 cities across Russia yesterday.

Despite tight controls, several dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported.

A woman was arrested in St. Petersburg after she threw a firebomb at a polling station entrance, and several others were detained across the country for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

Dmitry Medvedev, a deputy head of the Russian Security Council chaired by Putin, called for toughening the punishment for those who vandalize polling stations, arguing they should face treason charges for attempting to derail the vote amid the fighting in Ukraine.

Some Russian media also posted images of spoiled ballots posted by voters, with killer and thief inscribed on one, and waiting for you in The Hague written on another, in a reference to an arrest warrant issued for Putin on war crimes charges related to his alleged responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.

The Ukrainian shelling of the city of Belgorod near the border killed a 16-year-old girl yesterday and injured her father, according to the local governor, who also reported two deaths from Ukrainian attacks the previous day. MDT/AP
The administration of the cooperation zone on Hengqin set up booths to promote its natural environment and greening at the Macao Green Week carnival held over the weekend.

At one booth, briefings were held to familiarize local residents and visitors with the outreach programs in the upcoming Hengqin Nature Festival 2024 .

The programs include a tree-planting event, during which 10,000 saplings will be planted. Macau residents are encouraged to sign up for the event using their One Account channels.

According to the zones Urban Planning and Construction Bureau, a goal of planting 100,000 saplings has been set for this year.

At other booths, information on rare wild plants and common insects in Hengqin was available. At the same time, games, handicraft workshops and education placards were used to educate the public about protecting nature and caring for the environment.

A documentary on the natural habitats of Hengqin was also played on a loop, and copies of two pictorials on Hengqins rare plants and common insects were distributed to spectators.

Vice Director of the bureau Tam Wai Fong said some sessions during the nature festival were fully booked. The bureau is considering additional sessions to cater to the demand, especially from Macau residents.

The nature festival will include photography competitions, nature classes, ancient tree park tours, carnivals and other activities for interested members of the public. The Science Promotion and Education Center of Hengqin Erjingwan Wetland Park will be officially opened March 20 and will provide a wider choice of education channels in the future, Tam added.

In consumer rights protection, the Macao Consumer Council and the Consumer Association of the zone have signed an agreement to establish a cooperative framework on consumer rights protection in Macau and Hengqin.

Upholding the International Day for Protecting Consumers Rights, which falls on March 15 every year, the agreement was signed as part of a series of events to celebrate the occasion.

The agreement establishes a normalized joint meeting mechanism for the zone.

Other major cooperation includes the establishment of a green channel for credible store brand-building cooperation and approval between the two places, as well as comprehensive and in-depth cooperation in cross-boundary mediation and arbitration.

It will also facilitate consumption dispute management between Macau, the zone and Lusophone countries, utilizing Macaus positioning. AL
Those walking through the milling streets of downtown Mexico City last week 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.

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.
About 100 employees transferred from MTR Railway Operations (Macau) Company Limited (MTR (Macau)) to Macao LRT Corporation, Limited (MLM) due to a concession change have been deprived of their service periods, lawmaker Ron Lam has said in a statement.

The lawmaker said employees dismissed from the MTR have approached him for assistance.

In 2018, the government awarded the 80-month service contract for the LRTs Taipa Line operation and maintenance assistance services to MTR (Macau).

MTR (Macau) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Kongs MTR Corporation.

Earlier this year, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosario told a parliamentary session the LRT operational concession will no longer be granted to MTR.

Operation of the local railway network will be transferred to the government-owned MLM. Consequently, this involves transfers of workforce.

The lawmaker said the government had promised to retain most of the MTR (Macau)s existing workforce and that MLMs annual report had clearly stated certain workers were to be transferred from the MTR to the MLM.

Nonetheless, some workers have told him both companies evaded their questions about their service periods.

These workers discovered the new contract they were being urged to sign contained provisions on probationary periods, meaning they were new employment contracts instead of transfers.

He added some workers had reportedly involuntarily signed a voluntary termination of employment and that MLM had hired them without acknowledging it had done so.

The lawmaker wondered whether this might be a violation of the Labour Relations Law.

He said that over 10 years ago, the government had clearly stated that there is a requirement of reasonable compensation during dismissal, should a concessionaire not have its contracts renewed. This applies to bus and urban cleaning services, he noted.

In addition, he argued that whether from the perspective of protecting workers or that of honoring concession contracts, these transferred workers should either enjoy reasonable compensation or be considered transferred employees, with their service periods and existing remuneration schemes honored by the MLM.

Lam said he had sent a letter to the Chief Executive to call for his concern over the matter.

Despite being semi-private such as discounted transfer between different modes of transportation, because partnership between private and public entities is impossible, Rosario has said.
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Monday, March 18, 2024  edition no. 4446
The Portuguese Ambassador in Beijing, Paulo Jorge Pereira Nascimento, is considering asking central government authorities why Portugal was excluded from the extension of the visa-free scheme for the mainland.

In an interview in Beijing with Portuguese news agency Lusa, Nascimento expressed surprise at Portugals exclusion from the new group of countries to whose nationals China is granting free visa access via a special scheme.

Initially, the scheme, launched for a one year trial period in November last year, and which took effect Dec. 1, included only six countries (France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia) for trips related to business, tourism, family visitation or transit for no longer than 15 days.

On March 7 this year, the same authorities announced the scheme would be extended from March 14 to Nov. 30, 2024, to passport holders from Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

The Portuguese Ambassador noted that Portugal is among a restricted number of countries from Western Europe to which China did not grant the same treatment, noting the decision is difficult to understand.

Due mostly to Macaus historical roots, Portugal maintains close relations with China with a significant number of Macau residents also holding Portuguese passports.

The same diplomat told the Times in November last year that the criteria for the inclusion of countries in the visa-free scheme could only explained by the Chinese central government authorities as they were sovereign criteria that have not been made public.

Ambassador Nascimento added that it is not possible for us [Portuguese diplomatic envoys in China], nor legitimate, to speculate on the reasons why some countries were chosen and not others.

In the Lusa interview, Nascimento reaffirmed Chinas sovereign right to decide which countries are included adding that he does not believe the Chinese authorities intended to purposely exclude Portuguese nationals to send any message to Portuguese authorities.

According to data from the latest Census survey, around 9,000 people of Portuguese nationality reside in Macau, of which about 2,200 were born in Portugal.

Portugal inclusion should happen esooni

Responding to an inquiry from the same news agency, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Peoples Republic of China, without specifying the matter, has said it is open to negotiate and cooperate with Portugal in their bilateral relations.

More hopeful is the executive president of PorCham Greater China, a group of entrepreneurs dedicated to linking Chinese and Portuguese business interests in South China.

Acting formally as a Chamber of Commerce and a Portuguese companies incubator in China, based in Guangzhou, the head of the organization, Pereira, told Lusa he believes it is just a matter of time until Portugal is also included in the free-visa scheme.

He said that as far as he knows, there are just some administrative procedures to be concluded for this to become a reality.

Pereira also noted that if it becomes a reality, it [visa-free] would be a very positive measure for all the Portuguese companies and entrepreneurs.
Former Edgewood College President Mary Ellen Gevelinger, who took the helm of the small Dominican college at a challenging time as staff and academics were on the chopping block following sustained enrollment declines, died Wednesday at her Madison home. She was 80.

In summer 2019, Gevelinger was on a beach with friends in California when she got a call from Lucy Keane, a 1984 graduate of Edgewood College and chair of the colleges board of trustees. Then-Edgewood College President Scott Flanagan was stepping down, in part due to his personal concerns he couldnt continue to have the stamina and energy the college deserved.

Would Gevelinger, professor emerita for the college and a Sinsinawa Dominican sister, take on the presidency in the interim, Keane asked, as Edgewood College searched for a permanent successor? Gevelinger said yes and started in September 2019.

It was very selfless  she was retired. So that in and of itself was a selfless act, Keane recalled.

Her successor, current Edgewood College President Andrew Manion, was brought on eight months later in May 2020, but not before Gevelinger was faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, where she worried deeply about the effect it would have on students, Keane said. As a parting thank-you from the board, members removed her interim title and designated her as president emerita.

Gevelinger also found herself steeped in controversy during her presidency: Edgewood College students protested when a link to Planned Parenthood was quietly removed from the colleges website and conservative student organizations and news sites claimed victory.

Gevelinger was a tenured faculty member in the School of Education and was the director of doctoral research for the college. She joined Edgewood College in 2007 and led the Sinsinawa Dominican congregation as its prioress between 2011 and 2016.

Gevelinger served Edgewood College in many ways over her lifetime, most recently as president during a critical year of budget challenges and the onset of the pandemic, Manion said in a statement Friday. This college is forever in her debt, and deeply saddened by the news of her passing.

Born to Robert and Margaret (Bradley) Gevelinger on May 31, 1943, and raised on a farm outside of Mineral Point, Gevelinger pored over books that shed pick up from the library once a week as part of the weekly grocery run. She was rarely seen until those books were finished, Gevelinger told Edgewood College in a 2019 magazine profile.

Margaret was a proud teacher, teaching in one-room schools and religious education classes, so it was no surprise the teaching bug caught on to her daughter.

The Sinsinawa Dominican sisters have a long history of being teachers, Keane said. A young Gevelinger considered being a teacher, a nurse or a doctor, she told Edgewood College in 2019, but her exposure to the Sinsinawa sisters at St. Clara Academy and later joining the convent changed her life. Gevelinger became a professed nun in 1963 and was bestowed the religious name Sister Marie Alphonse, her obituary states.

Gevelinger received her bachelors degree in Latin from Rosary College (now known as Dominican University, a private Catholic institution) in Illinois and a masters degree in religious studies from Mundelein College, then a private womens college, in Chicago. She received a second masters degree in educational administration from St. Xavier College in Chicago and then got a doctoral degree in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Gevelinger started her teaching career in 1965 and moved around among Illinois and Minnesota parochial schools, serving in both teaching and administrative roles. Once at Edgewood College, Keane said, Gevelinger was instrumental in starting the doctorate in education program.

The doctorate in education program really came to life under her, and particularly the research side, Keane said. For Mary Ellen, it just made sense ... what better than having not just our teachers out in the world, but having our teachers teach teachers?
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At least 63 Filipinos in Haiti are about to be repatriated amid the ongoing conflict in the Caribbean country due to violent gang activities, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) announced.

DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo approved the recommendation following the declaration of Alert Level 3, encouraging voluntary repatriation for Filipinos. There are 115 Filipinos currently in the Caribbean island-nation.

The DFA, DMW, and OWWA are now looking to charter a flight for the 63 Filipinos since no flights are coming out of Haiti, and land travel to the capital Port-au-Prince is also discouraged, according to a joint statement released by the agencies over the weekend.

As of this posting, there is no report of any Filipino affected or injured by the ongoing security crisis.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez and the local DMW-Migrant Workers Office-OWWA are coordinating with the Philippine Honorary Consul General in Haiti, Fitzgerald Oliver James Brandt, and Filipino community leader Bernadette Villagracia regarding the planned repatriation of Filipinos in Haiti.

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Haiti is currently experiencing a breakdown of law and order, with reports of civilian casualties and disruption in operations.

The UN childrens agency chief offered a dire assessment Sunday of the chaotic situation in Haiti, saying it was almost like a scene out of Mad Max,' which depicted a violent and lawless post-apocalyptic future.

Haiti is a horrific situation, UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell told CBS talk show Face the Nation.

Many, many people there are suffering from serious hunger and malnutrition and were not able to get enough aid to them, with gangs controlling large parts of capital Port-au-Prince as well as key roads leading elsewhere.

The situation is the worst that anyone has seen in decades, she said.

Its almost like a scene out of Mad Max. Thats what it seems like, Russell said of the 1979 film.

Haiti, already hit by drought, natural disaster and weak government, has seen the near-collapse of basic services, a recent United Nations report warned.

That has left millions vulnerable as they await the formation of a transitional governing council to take power after unpopular Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned under pressure.  With AFP
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Moscow, RussiaVladimir Putin said Russia would not be intimidated as he hailed an election victory that paves the way for the former spy to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than 200 years.

All of the 71-year olds major opponents are dead, in prison or exiled, and he has overseen an unrelenting crackdown on anybody who publicly opposes his rule or his military offensive on Ukraine.

I want to thank all of you and all citizens of the country for your support and this trust, Putin said early Monday morning in a news conference at his campaign headquarters in Moscow hours after polls closed.

No matter who or how much they want to intimidate us, no matter who or how much they want to suppress us, our will, our consciousnessno one has ever succeeded in anything like this in history. It has not worked now and will not work in the future. Never, he added.

With more than 80 percent of voting stations having submitted results, Putin had secured 87.2 percent of all votes cast, official election data showeda record victory in a presidential election where he faced no genuine competition.

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The three-day election was marked by a surge in deadly Ukrainian bombardments, incursions into Russian territory by pro-Kyiv sabotage groups and vandalism at polling stations.

The Kremlin had cast the election as a moment for Russians to throw their weight behind the full-scale military operation in Ukraine, where voting is also being staged in Russian-controlled territories.

Drunk from power

Putin singled out Russian troops fighting in Ukraine for special thanks in his post-election speech in Moscow.

And he was unrelenting in claiming his forces had a major advantage on the battlefield, even after a week which saw Ukraine mount some of its most significant aerial attacks on Russia and in which pro-Ukrainian militias barraged Russian border villages with armed raids.

The initiative belongs entirely to the Russian armed forces. In some areas, our guys are just mowing themthe enemydown, he said.

Kyiv and its allies slammed the votewhich was also staged in parts of Ukraine under Russian forces controlas a sham. President Volodymyr Zelensky lashed out at Putin as a dictator who was drunk from power.

There is no evil he will not commit to prolong his personal power, Zelensky said.

As early as Friday, the first day of voting in the election, EU chief Charles Michel had sarcastically congratulated Putin on his landslide victory.

If he completes another full Kremlin term, Putin will have stayed in power longer than any Russian leader since Catherine the Great in the 18th century.

Allies of the late Alexei NavalnyPutins most prominent rival, who died in an Arctic prison last monthhad tried to spoil his inevitable victory, urging voters to flood polling stations at noon and spoil their ballots.

His wife, Yulia Navalnaya, was greeted by supporters with flowers and applause in Berlin. After voting at the Russian embassy, she said she had written her late husbands name on her ballot.

Mr. Navalny

Some voters in Moscow answered the call from the opposition, telling Agence France Presse (AFP) they had come to honor Navalnys memory and show their opposition in the only legal way possible.

I came to show that there are many of us, that we exist, that we are not some insignificant minority, said 19-year-old student Artem Minasyan at a polling station in central Moscow.

Putin said the protest had had no impact and that those who spoiled their ballots would have to be dealt with.

In his first public comments on Navalnys death last month, Putin called his passing a sad event.

Using his name in public for the first time in years during a televised news conference, Putin said: As for Mr. Navalny. Yes, he passed away. This is always a sad event.

Putin said a colleague had proposed swapping Navalny several days before he died for some people who are currently held in prisons in Western countries.

The person who was talking to me hadnt finished his sentence and I said I agree.'

Former Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev, meanwhile, congratulated Putin on his splendid victory long before the final results were due to be announced.

And state-run television praised how Russians rallied with colossal support for the president as well as the unbelievable consolidation of the country behind its leader.

Not alone

At Navalnys grave in a Moscow cemetery, AFP reporters saw spoiled ballot papers with the opposition leaders name scrawled across them on a pile of flowers.

We live in a country where we will go to jail if we speak our mind. So, when I come to moments like this and see a lot of people, I realize that we are not alone, said 33-year-old Regina.

There were repeated acts of protest in the first days of polling, with a spate of arrests of Russians accused of pouring dye into ballot boxes or arson attacks.

Any public dissent in Russia has been harshly punished since the start of Moscows offensive in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 and there were multiple warnings from the authorities against election protests.

The OVD-Info police monitoring group announced that at least 80 people had been detained across nearly 20 cities in Russia for protest actions linked to the elections.
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United Nations, United States  The UN childrens agency chief offered a dire assessment Sunday of the chaotic situation in Haiti, saying it was almost like a scene out of Mad Max,' which depicted a violent and lawless post-apocalyptic future.

Haiti is a horrific situation, UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell told CBS talk show Face the Nation.

Many, many people there are suffering from serious hunger and malnutrition and were not able to get enough aid to them, with gangs controlling large parts of capital Port-au-Prince as well as key roads leading elsewhere.

The situation is the worst that anyone has seen in decades, she said.

Its almost like a scene out of Mad Max. Thats what it seems like, Russell said of the 1979 film.

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Haiti, already hit by drought, natural disasters and a weak government, has seen the near-collapse of basic services, a recent United Nations report warned.

That has left millions vulnerable as they await the formation of a transitional governing council to take power after unpopular Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation Monday under pressure.

The challenges facing foreign aid workers  some of whom have been attacked or kidnapped for ransom  were underlined Saturday when gangs looted a Unicef shipment intended to provide relief for suffering mothers and children.

Today, Unicefs container, containing crucial supplies for maternal, neonatal and child health, was looted at Port-au-Princes main port, the agencys Haitian account posted Saturday on X.

This incident occurred at a critical moment when children needed them the most.

As life grows more difficult for Haitians and foreigners, a US State Department spokesperson said Sunday that a chartered flight with more than 30 US citizens on board had landed in Florida after departing Cap-Haitien earlier in the day.

We will continue to assist US citizens as long as commercial options remain unavailable and the security environment permits us to do so, the spokesperson said.

Non-essential US embassy staff were evacuated last week.

Haiti has been convulsed for two weeks by a gang uprising, as brutal and well-armed groups  their numbers swollen after an attack on two prisons freed thousands of inmates  sought to topple Henry.

On Sunday, a curfew was extended until Wednesday in the Ouest department, which includes Port-au-Prince. A state of emergency is set to end April 3.

Meantime, efforts are continuing to organize a Kenyan-led security mission to back up the Caribbean islands overwhelmed police force.
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Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday welcomed the signing of the landmark P170.6 billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession agreement aimed at the comprehensive rehabilitation and operation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

Romualdez joined President Marcos and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in witnessing San Miguel Corporation (SMC) President and CEO Ramon Ang, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eric Jose Ines sign the agreement in Malacanang.

He commended the collaborative efforts between the Marcos administration and private sector stakeholders in advancing the vital project, meant to bring about substantial improvements in airport facilities and services.

This momentous occasion signals a new era of progress and efficiency for NAIA, Romualdez said.

The Speaker emphasized the importance of the PPP project in addressing longstanding challenges and bottlenecks that have hampered the airports capacity to meet the increasing demands of domestic and international travelers.

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He underscored the potential of the project to elevate NAIA to world-class standards, enhancing its competitiveness and positioning it as a premier gateway to the Philippines.

The revitalization of NAIA also promises broader economic benefits for our country and our people, including job creation, increased tourism, and greater connectivity with global markets, Romualdez pointed out.

Romualdez vowed the support of the House to ensure the successful implementation of the transformative project.

We remain committed to working closely with all stakeholders to overcome challenges, uphold transparency, and deliver tangible benefits to the Filipino people, he said.

SMC-SAP & Co. Consortium, composed of San Miguel Holdings Corp., RMM Asian Logistics, Inc., RLW Aviation Development, Inc., and Incheon International Airport Corp bagged the P170.6 billion PPP project by offering the biggest revenue share of 82.16 percent to the government.

As the winner, the SMC-led group is expected to improve the NAIA complex, including facilities such as the runway, taxiway, ramp areas, and firefighting facility. It is also expected to increase the airports current annual passenger capacity from 32 million to 60 million.

According to the MIAA, the turnover to the new operator will be by the second half of 2024. The private operators contract initially covers 15 years and could be extended by 10 years.

MIAA will govern the private operator, set the standards, and monitor key performances and service levels of the private proponent.

The PPP deal is projected to generate around P900 billion in revenues for the national government in a 15-year concession period, with a provision for an extension of another 10 years.
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The National Food Authority (NFA) council appointed Department of Agriculture director IV Larry Lacson as officer-in-charge of the agency, following a spate of intense changes in the agency.

Agriculture secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel announced the appointment of the new NFA OIC in a meeting Monday.

The NFA Council has unanimously appointed Director Larry Lacson as OIC-Administrator to make sure the operations of the agency runs smoothly, especially during this harvest season. The NFA is an integral part of our effort to ensure the countrys food security, he said.

Lacson has extensive experience in both the private sector and in government. He is a member of Philippine Food Expo, Inc. (PhilFoodex) and a former co-chairman of the agriculture and fisheries committee of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was also a former director of the Bureau of Plant Industry.

His degree in Agricultural Science will help ensure the smooth operation of the NFA.

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Despite lifting the suspension of the 24 NFA employees, the agency remains largely undermanned with over a hundred more still in suspension due to the price fixing fiasco within the agency.

The Office of the Ombudsman has placed under preventive suspension a total of 141 NFA officials and employees including several warehouse managers while the investigation is ongoing.

The DA is hoping to resolve the issue soonest as rice procurement and disposition is the most important role of the NFA.

NFA is mandated to procure 300,000 metric tons of palay annually as buffer stock for the lean season and standby inventory during calamities.
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Paris, FranceFriends and allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin were quick to congratulate him on his election win, but Western leaders denounced what they called an illegal election.

Here is a round-up of the main reactions so far:

 Beijing congratulated Putin, saying China and Russia are each others largest neighbors and comprehensive strategic cooperative partners in the new era.

Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said President Xi Jinping and Putin will continue to maintain close exchanges, lead the two countries to continue to uphold longstanding good-neighborly friendship, deepen comprehensive strategic coordination.

 Former Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev responded long before the final results were due to be announced, saying on Telegram: I congratulate Vladimir Putin on his splendid victory in the election.

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 Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik said: The Serb people welcomed with joy the victory of President Putin for they see in him a great statesman and a friend on whom we can always count and who will watch over our people.

 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said: Our older brother has triumphed, which bodes well for the world.

 Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the result as illegitimate. Everyone in the world understands that this person, like many others throughout history, has become sick with power and will stop at nothing to rule forever, he said.

There is no evil he would not do to maintain his personal power. And no one in the world would have been safeguarded from this.

 Britains foreign minister David Cameron said the illegal elections featured a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring, adding: This is not what free and fair elections look like.

 Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the elections were neither free nor fair.

We are continuing to work for a just peace that will bring Russia to put an end to the war of aggression against Ukraine, in accordance with international law.

 Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky called the election a farce and parody. He said: This was the Russian presidential election that showed how this regime suppresses civil society, independent media, opposition.
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LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan  At least 21 people were killed and 38 injured on Sunday when a bus collided with a fuel tanker truck and burst into flames in southern Afghanistan.

Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, due in part to poor roads after decades of conflict, dangerous driving on highways and a lack of regulation.

Twenty-one people were killed in a traffic accident between a passenger bus, a tanker and a motorbike on a main highway through Grishk district in southern Helmand province, Mohammad Qasim Riyaz, a spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP.

Of the 38 people injured, 11 were seriously hurt, according to the provincial information department.

The accident occurred in the early hours of the morning on a key highway that sees traffic between the western city of Herat through southern provinces to the capital Kabul, provincial officials said.

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The passenger bus was travelling from Herat to Kabul when it first collided with a motorbike carrying two people, killing both riders, Helmand traffic management officials said, according to the information department.

The bus driver lost control and crashed with a tanker truck travelling in the opposite direction, sparking a fire.

The accident killed three people on the tanker and 16 bus passengers.

When the bus hit the tanker, it pierced the tank, which burst into flames, said one of the survivors, Ghulam Sarwar, speaking to AFP at a hospital in provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

The flames got bigger and bigger and all the passengers in the front were burned. But at the back a window was broken and people were able to escape by jumping out, he added.

If the window hadnt been broken, every passenger would have been killed.

Images shared by the information department showed charred, twisted metal scattered across the highway and the crushed cabin of the tanker.

Clean-up crews arrived on site quickly to remove the debris, according to officials.

Sarwar said the bus was full of people recently deported from Iran, with many Afghans sent back across the border through the Islam Qala crossing near Herat.

Among them were children and women, said Sarwar, who hurt his foot leaping from the bus.

They were screaming when they were burning. It was a horrible moment, my heart is broken.

Another survivor, Mohammad Reza, said many of the passengers had been asleep when the accident happened around 3:00 am (2230 GMT Saturday).

There were screams and cries when the bus caught fire, he said, adding that some passengers in the last seven or eight rows were able to jump out the window, some injuring themselves.

Everyone was trying to escape and save themselves, he added.

Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid expressed regret over the accident and wished the injured a quick recovery, in a post on X.

We seriously ask drivers to be careful while driving and to follow traffic rules, he said.

Another serious accident involving an fuel tanker took place in December 2022, when the vehicle overturned and caught fire in Afghanistans high-altitude Salang pass, killing 31 people and leaving dozens more with burn injuries.
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In 2023, Kaspersky anti-phishing technologies detected nearly 500,000 attempts to follow a phishing link on businesses devices in Southeast Asia (SEA). Interestingly, this number only refers to phishing links related to finance matters  e-commerce, banking, and payment systems.

Phishing persuades users to take action which gives a scammer access to your device, accounts, or personal information. By pretending to be a person or organization the users trust, they can more easily infect the victim with malware or steal their information.

These social engineering schemes bait with trust to get valuable information. This could be anything from a social media login, to your entire identity via your social security number. These schemes may urge the user to open an attachment, follow a link, fill out a form, or reply with personal information.

Financial phishing is a type of phishing which refers to fraudulent resources related to banking, payment systems and digital shops. Payment system phishing includes pages impersonating well-known payment brands.

From January to December last year, Kaspersky solutions detected and blocked a total of 455,708 financial phishing attempts targeting companies of various sizes in the region. The statistics reflect clicks on phishing links placed in various communication channels, including emails, fraudulent web sites, messengers, social media, etc.

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Phishing is a trusted technique for cybercriminals when it comes to infiltrating business networks because they usually work. The rise of generative AI helps cybercriminals to make phishing messages or scam resources more convincing. As a result, it becomes challenging for people to distinguish between a scam and a legitimate communication. Thats why the role of robust security solutions increases, comments Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

The Philippines logged the highest number of financial phishing at 163,279 attempts in 2023, followed by Malaysia with 124,105. Indonesia chalked up 97,465 incidents while Vietnam experienced 36,130 phishing attacks related to financial matters. Thailand and Singapore registered the least number of this threat at 25,227 and 9,502 respectively.

Cybercriminals employ various tactics, including financial-related phishing, to deceive employees and trick them into falling victim to an attack Our recent study showed employee security violations can be as damaging as external hacking for companies in Asia Pacific which means the human factor continues to play a role in making businesses vulnerable. Tools to help safeguard against human error are a vital step forward, but they cant exclude employee education, skills development, and overall strengthening of the companys ability to detect and respond to cyberattacks, adds Yeo.

To help companies protect their systems against the damages of a successful phishing attack, Kaspersky experts recommend:

To advance decision-makers understanding of the importance of cybersecurity and how best to distribute budgets to stay ahead of threats, engage them with Kaspersky Interactive Protection Simulation for enhanced C-level professional education.

Consider experts help. For example, Kaspersky Assessments family of professional services identifies security gaps in your systems configuration, and the Security Architecture Design helps create an IT security infrastructure thats a perfect fit for a particular company. Every step of implementation is grounded in real security needs, giving decision-makers convincing arguments to allocate budgets.

Install and use enterprise security solutions with anti-phishing software: The Advanced Anomaly Control feature within Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business Advanced, Kaspersky Total Security for Business and Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Optimum help prevent potentially dangerous activities that are out of the norm, both undertaken by the user and initiated by the attacker who has already seized control of the system.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin is concerned that several Virginia school divisions  including three of the states largest  are using a Chinese-owned tutoring platform associated with TikToks parent company.

The online service tutor.com is controlled by Primavera Holdings Limited, a firm owned by Chinese nationals with a principal place of business in Hong Kong, China, according to its website.

The governor is concerned about the company having access to Virginians data unknowingly and has asked the Virginia Department of Education for information regarding the use of Tutor.com in Virginia school divisions, said Youngkin spokesman Christian Martinez.

Fairfax, Loudoun and Virginia Beach are three of the states four largest school systems.

Tutor.com said in a statement: No personal information of students or families is shared with Primavera, and Primavera does not have  and may not obtain  access to our IT systems.

Tutor.com is an American company, and we abide by U.S. state and federal laws. We were incorporated in 2000 in the state of Delaware. Our principal place of business is New York City, and all student data is housed in the United States. As an American company, Tutor.com cannot be compelled to release personal data of U.S. students and families to China or any foreign government.

Tutor.com was acquired by Primavera Capital Group, a Chinese-owned corporation associated with TikToks parent company, ByteDance in January 2022.

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation on Wednesday that would lead to a nationwide ban of TikTok if ByteDance does not sell, as lawmakers acted on concerns that the companys current ownership structure is a national security threat. The legislation now heads to the Senate, wheres its future is uncertain.

U.S. lawmakers contend that ByteDance is beholden to the Chinese government, which could demand access to the data of TikToks U.S. consumers anytime it wants.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has taken a strong stance on apps developed by companies affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, including TikTok.

Martinez said: Since the beginning of the administration, the governor has voiced his concern of the impact of Chinese Communist Party-affiliated TikTok on our childrens mental health, which has proven to be detrimental.

He took action two years ago by banning TikTok on state employee devices. Last year he supported and signed into law a bill from Sen. Ryan McDougle, R-Hanover, banning apps developed by ByteDance and Tencent holdings, including TikTok and WeChat, on any government issued device, which includes all Virginia School divisions.

Tutor.com is owned by Primavera, which is an investor in ByteDance, but tutor.com was not developed by ByteDance.

Last year, a Virginia bill to ban state agencies from contracting with firms controlled by hostile foreign interests  originally aimed at Chinese Communist Party affiliates  died in the state Senate Finance Committee.

In January 2023, Youngkin said he had taken Virginia out of the running for a Ford electric battery plant, expressing concerns that the joint venture between Ford and a Chinese company would be a front for the Chinese Communist Party.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, wrote a letter last month warning the U.S. Department of Defense, which contracts with tutor.com to tutor American service members and their children.

This business relationship is ill-advised, reckless, and a danger to U.S. national security, and the Department should immediately end that relationship, Cotton wrote.

While providing educational services, Tutor.com collects personal data on users, such as location, internet protocol addresses, and contents of the tutoring sessions, Cotton added. As Chinese national security laws require companies to release confidential business and customer data to the Chinese government, we are paying to expose our military and their childrens private information to the Chinese Communist Party.
The Route 70 Cruisers will hold four car shows during the spring and summer of 2024. And along with the fun, this nonprofit organization will help make a difference in McDowell County.

Route 70 Cruisers will have car shows on Saturday, April 27; Saturday, May 25; Saturday, July 6; and Saturday, Aug. 31. All of them will be held at Camping World of Marion, located at 348 Resistoflex Road. All events will last from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be music, food and door prizes, according to a news release.

Two grand prizes will be raffled off at the April show. Raffle tickets are valid for both items. The first is a running performance GM 350 Engine built by Randy Watson. The second item is a $500 tire certificate toward your choice of Michelin, B.F. Goodrich or Uniroyal tires courtesy of Bakers Automotive of Marion. You do not have to be present to win. Vehicles preregistered will receive three tickets for the engine/tire raffle and can print the form at www.facebook.com/route70cruisers.

Route 70 Cruisers Inc. is a McDowell County 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises money for several groups that benefit our community. Since its beginning in 2009, Route 70 Cruisers has donated more than $87,000, and last year alone donated $12,500 to worthy causes within McDowell County.

Some of these causes are as follows:

McDowell Technical Community College (scholarships in automotive and Basic Law Enforcement Training)

The BEAR Closet

Freedom Life Ministries

Gateway Wellness Foundation

McDowell Pregnancy Center

Foothills Food Hub

McDowell County DSS

McDowell Missions

American Legions transportation van

Route 70 Cruisers also enjoy visiting local area nursing home to bring smiles and memories to the residents faces.

While Route 70 Cruisers is not associated with other car-related groups, we do support other groups in western North Carolina by attending their fund-raising events, reads the news release.

The Route 70 Cruisers is reaching out to the local business community for their support. If a business would like to sponsor or make a donation or provide door prizes or discount cards, they should contact the Route 70 Cruisers at: Route 70 Cruisers Inc., P.O. Box 1057, Old Fort, N.C. 28762 or call Phillip Poe, co-chair, at 281-798-4805, or Janet Spake, co-chair, at 828-371-9563.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has ended a moratorium on the death penalty to address violence and militant activity, as announced by the justice ministry in a statement released on Friday.

The statement, issued earlier this week, highlighted that the moratorium, in place since 2003, allowed individuals accused of treason and espionage to evade proper punishment. The eastern region of Congo has long been plagued by conflict involving over 120 armed groups vying for control and resources, often leading to widespread terror and displacement among communities.

The government cited the persistent violence in the east, causing recurrent conflict and a surge in attacks, as the rationale behind lifting the moratorium. In particular, the M23 rebel group, reportedly linked to neighboring Rwanda, has continued to launch assaults, resulting in the displacement of many residents to Goma, the largest city in the region. With approximately half of North Kivu province under its control, M23 has intensified its attacks, often utilizing bombs from hilltops overlooking remote towns. According to the justice ministry, the death penalty will now apply to various offenses, including involvement in criminal activities, armed groups, insurrection, treason, and war crimes, extending to military personnel who rebel or defect to enemy forces.

However, human rights organizations have criticized the decision, denouncing it as regressive and contrary to constitutional principles. Jean-Claude Katende, president of the African Association for Human Rights, expressed opposition, stating that resorting to capital punishment is not an appropriate means to restore order.
Niger has abruptly suspended its military agreement with the United States, dealing a significant blow to US security interests in the region.

The pact, allowing US military and civilian defense personnel to operate from Niger, has been halted with immediate effect, according to Colonel Amadou Abdramane, the ruling military spokesman. This decision follows a visit by senior US officials, including Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee and US Africa Command head General Michael Langley, to discuss democratic transition earlier in the week. Abdramane criticized the US delegation for not adhering to diplomatic protocol, failing to inform Niger about their composition, arrival date, or agenda. He expressed Nigers regret over the delegations attempt to impede the sovereign Nigerien people from selecting partners to combat terrorism effectively.

The suspension impacted US operations significantly, as around 650 personnel were stationed in Niger in December, with a major airbase in Agadez, approximately 920 km from the capital Niamey. This base conducts vital surveillance flights and other missions. Moreover, Air Base 201 near Agadez, costing over $100 million, has been pivotal in targeting ISIL (ISIS) fighters and an al-Qaeda affiliate, JNIM, in the Sahel region since 2018.

Reporting from Washington, DC, Al Jazeera correspondent Shihab Rattansi emphasized the magnitude of this development, noting Nigers pivotal role in US operations across West and North Africa. He highlighted the importance of Air Base 201 for both anti-terrorism efforts and projecting power against geopolitical rivals like Russia and China. Although Washington previously labeled Nigers military takeover as a coup, the US expressed willingness in December to restore aid and security ties provided Niger met certain conditions.
Three individuals lost their lives, and 27 others sustained injuries in what has been described as a terrorist attack at a hotel close to Somalias presidential palace on Thursday, as reported by Somalia National Television (SNTV).

SNTV disclosed that the SYL Hotel in Mogadishu was assaulted by five gunmen on Thursday night, all of whom were subsequently killed by Somali security forces, according to information provided by Somali police. The attack resulted in the deaths of three soldiers and injuries to 27 others, with numerous individuals, including government officials, being evacuated from the hotel by security personnel. Although SNTV did not explicitly name the group responsible for the assault, Somali police spokesman Colonel Qasim Ahmed Roble informed AFP that the attackers were affiliated with the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reportedly visited wounded victims of the attack at Erdogan Hospital in Mogadishu on Friday. The US Embassy in Mogadishu strongly condemned the terrorist attack and reiterated its commitment to supporting Somali efforts to combat Al-Shabaab. The US maintains a contingent of fewer than 500 troops in Somalia, aiding the Somali government in its ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab militants.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, also condemned the attack and praised the efforts of Somali forces in neutralizing the assailants. Additionally, the United Nations in Somalia characterized the attack as a violation of the values associated with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack that left 8 peacekeepers injured in eastern DR Congo during clashes between the powerful M23 rebel movement and Government troops.

The clashes occurred just 20 kilometers from Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, the UN said in a statement.

The Secretary-General recalls that attacks against United Nations peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. He wishes a speedy recovery to those peacekeepers injured in todays attack, the UN statement said.

Guterres urged all Congolese and foreign armed groups to lay down arms immediately and engage in the disarmament process.

He also called on the M23 to withdraw from all occupied areas and abide by the provisions of the Luanda communique of 23 November 2022.

The sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must be fully respected, he said.

The peacekeepers had been deployed for several weeks as part of Operation Springbok in the restive North Kivu area, working jointly with Government troops in military operations meant to combat various militant factions, including the M23 rebel movement.

In a similar statement, Bintou Keita, head of UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), denounced the attack, expressing deep concern over the safety of peacekeepers in the area.

Keita reiterated MONUSCOs steadfast commitment to collaborate closely with Congolese defense and security forces to enhance both joint and independent patrols. These efforts are designed to safeguard civilian populations in the conflict-affected areas.

The UN Secretary-General and his Special Representative reaffirmed MONUSCOs resolve to further implement its protection of civilians mandate from the Security Council and work alongside Congolese defense and security forces to reinforce joint and unilateral patrols to protect civilians.
Feature: China's agricultural expertise fuels prospects for rice self-sufficiency in Fiji

09:04, March 18, 2024 By Gao Yang, Guo Xinhui ( Xinhua

An aerial drone photo shows rice fields in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Sang Qinlong/Xinhua)

SUVA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- After days of torrential rain in the wet season of central Fiji's Nausori Town, Chen Huazao anxiously rushed to the paddy field to assess his rice crop, which was planted last November.

Wading through the muddy field, Chen's heart sank as he saw the almost mature rice plants flattened by the heavy downpours.

"We will likely face a decline in the yield of this test field. But fortunately, crops in the other two demonstration fields were not damaged," said Chen, team leader of the China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Fiji.

In another unaffected test plot planted with NP918, a Chinese hybrid rice variety, seed breeding expert Wu Mingkui was measuring the yield of the ripe crop.

After finishing his work, Wu told Xinhua that the yield of this Chinese rice variety was more than 7 tons per hectare, about 2-3 times of local rice varieties in Fiji.

Wu is among the six-member Chinese expert team, which arrived in Fiji in July 2023 to help the country enhance its rice production.

Rice farming is a challenging job, as the uncertainty of excessive rain, cyclones and flooding often destroys crops in Fiji and other Pacific island nations, which are highly vulnerable to climate change.

"Despite this," Chen said, "We can help local rice farmers achieve high yield by use of high-quality rice varieties and technology-driven farming techniques with scientific cultivation management measures."

STRIVING FOR RICE-SUFFICIENCY

Rice has been cultivated for many decades in Fiji, serving as a major source of food for its population.

However, the country's rice industry has faced challenges in recent years, marked by a decline in both lands and production, mainly due to traditional farming practices, labor shortage and the impacts of climate change.

Fiji produces less than 20 percent of its rice consumption needs, with over 80 percent being imported, said Tekini Nakidakida, deputy secretary for Agriculture Development of Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways.

To achieve rice self-sufficiency, the Fiji government has launched the "We Rice Up" initiative, aiming to increase the production and productivity of rice crops in the country, Nakidakida said.

"That's why we need more cooperation with China," the Fiji agricultural expert said.

Through the provision of expertise, machinery, seeds, and agricultural experts, Nakidakida said China's support for Fiji's rice sector will contribute to the realization of its rice self-sufficiency goals.

Since 2015, China has carried out three phases of agricultural aid projects to help enhance rice production in Fiji. Chen's team is currently engaged in the third phase.

During the first two phases, China's agricultural team rejuvenated five local rice varieties, introduced 16 rice varieties, provided machinery for mechanized rice cultivation, and trained over 2,500 local farmers in high-yield cultivation techniques.

For the phase three agricultural aid project, China will introduce 26 rice varieties, rejuvenate 10 local rice varieties, and cultivate model farmers, Chinese expert Wu Mingkui said.

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES

To adapt the agricultural project to the specific conditions of Fiji's rice production, Chen and his colleagues conducted extensive on-site investigations throughout the island nation.

However, they encountered several challenges in their efforts to enhance local rice production. One of these obstacles is the shortage of labor.

"We face a labor shortage because many of our younger generations are migrating abroad in search of easier or more lucrative work," Nakidakida said.

He said the government will launch incentivized policies to encourage young Fijians to engage in rice cultivation, and hoped more of them will receive training in advanced agricultural technologies from Chinese experts.

Sharing technical experience in rice production is also a priority of the Chinese agricultural team.

The team has established a demonstration base at the Navuso Agricultural Technical Institute in Nausori, providing training on advanced rice cultivation techniques for the college's students.

For other challenges, they found rice cultivation areas occupy a mere 1.04 percent of the arable land in Fiji, with a low average rice yield per hectare.

"Unscientific methods prevail, with farmers broadcasting seeds by hand rather than utilizing mechanical planting techniques," Chen said.

To address these issues, the Chinese expert team has established standardized rice fields and promoted the adoption of mechanical rice planters.

"Fiji has seen an improvement in the self-sufficient level of rice since the Chinese agricultural assistance team arrived here. More cooperation between China and Fiji is something that our agricultural sector really needs forward to realize its sustainable development," Nakidakida said.

The flourishing China-Fiji agricultural cooperation epitomizes China's unremitting efforts to help achieve sustainable development in Pacific island countries (PICs) by launching multiple agricultural technical assistance projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Through these projects, China has helped PICs improve agricultural production capacity and food security.

China's agricultural assistance to PICs reflects its contributions to addressing global challenges and its efforts to benefit all mankind with the goal of "no one will be left behind" in global development.

Chinese expert Chen Huazao (R) checks the rice plants flattened by heavy downpours at a demonstration field of China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Sang Qinlong/Xinhua)

Chinese expert Wu Mingkui (1st L) measures the yield of the crop at a demonstration field of China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Sang Qinlong/Xinhua)

Chinese experts check the status of the crop at a demonstration field of China-Aid Agricultural Development Project on rice planting in Nausori, Fiji, March 13, 2024. (Photo by Sang Qinlong/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Assyrian, Kurdish Parties Unite Election Boycott, Citing Constitutional Concerns

Joint statement released Monday March 18, representatives of various Christian communities, including Chaldeans, Assyrians, Syrians, and Armenians. In a joint statement released today, representatives of various Christian communities, including Chaldeans, Assyrians, Syrians, and Armenians, alongside prominent Kurdish political entities, expressed their solidarity in support of the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (PDK) decision to refuse to participate in the upcoming elections. The move comes amidst growing concerns over the legality and fairness of the electoral process.

The statement, signed by key organizations such as the Hammurabi Coalition, underscores their commitment to upholding constitutional principles and safeguarding democracy in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The decision to abstain from the elections is viewed as a necessary step to counter what they perceive as unconstitutional circumstances surrounding the electoral process.

According to the statement, the collective decision by Christians and Turkmens, followed by the decisive stance of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, represents a significant effort to preserve the constitutional integrity of the Kurdistan Region and uphold democratic values. President Massoud Barzani is commended for his unwavering dedication to democratic ideals and fostering coexistence, particularly during challenging times.

Emphasizing the importance of fair elections, the signatories stress the need for electoral processes to adhere to legal and constitutional frameworks established within the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). They advocate for elections conducted under Kurdish law, free from external interference, to ensure impartiality and inclusivity for all Kurds.

"We support the PDK's statement and all efforts aimed at protecting democracy and the impartiality of legal institutions," the statement reads. "Any decision that undermines Iraq's democracy must be opposed, as it disregards the sacrifices made by countless martyrs in establishing the current constitutional framework."

The joint statement serves as a testament to the unity between Christian and Kurdish parties in advocating for transparent and equitable governance in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq as a whole. As the region prepares for future electoral processes, the signatories remain steadfast in their commitment to upholding democratic values and the rule of law.

The declaration concludes with the signatories representing the Christian community, underscoring the unified front presented by the Chaldean, Assyrian, Syrian, Armenian, and Kurdish communities in their pursuit of a fair and just electoral system.

Signatories include:

Chaldean National Congress

Syriac Assembly Movement

Taif Executive Committee Armenian Orthodox

the Shlama Trend for Christian Affairs

Chaldean Democratic Union

World Chaldean Alliance

Armenian Cultural Association

Hammurabi Coalition - Iraq

The Unity Alliance of Iraq

Chaldean High Political Committee

Decisions of the Federal Court Regarding the Kurdistan Region:

In under 7 years, the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq has issued a series of decisions targeting the Kurdistan Region, its constitutional status, and its diverse components. Despite Article 92 of the Constitution not explicitly outlining the court's jurisdiction over federal states, it persistently challenges the legal standing of the Kurdistan Region and its components within Iraq.

The Federal Court's rulings against the Kurdistan Region and other components from 2017 until the end of February 2023 are outlined as follows:

On November 20, 2017, the Iraqi Supreme Court deemed the Kurdistan Regional Government's referendum unconstitutional, thereby annulling its outcomes.

On February 15, 2022, it declared the Oil and Gas Law unconstitutional and unjust.

On October 4, 2022, the High Commission for Elections and Referendums deemed the Kurdistan Region's existence unconstitutional.

On January 25, 2023, the court ruled that transferring funds to the Kurdistan Region violates both the law and constitutional articles.

On May 30, 2023, the extension of the fifth session of the Kurdistan Parliament was revoked.

On August 28, 2023, rulings against individuals obstructing the opening of political party headquarters in Kirkuk were nullified.

On September 3, 2023, the handover of the Kurdistan Democratic Party headquarters in Kirkuk, repurposed as the joint operations headquarters post-2017, was halted.

On November 14, 2023, a decision against the Sunni component saw Muhammad al-Halbousi relieved from the presidency of the Iraqi Parliament.

On February 21, 2024, the court decreed a reduction in the number of seats in the Kurdistan Parliament to 100, canceling 11 seats allocated for component quotas.

Additionally, the Federal Court mandated that the Independent High Electoral Commission in Iraq oversee the sixth round of parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region, superseding the Kurdistan Regional Commission for Referendum and Elections. Furthermore, it divided the region into four electoral districts, departing from the previous single-district system.
The city's Parks and Recreation Department is seeking community input on a proposal to install a privately funded sculpture walk in Silver Park.

"We believe this is a fantastic opportunity to provide accessible art for our community in a fiscally responsible way," said the department's systems and services manager David Selvage. "We're eager to hear residents' thoughts on enriching Silver Park through sculpture. Community feedback is crucial in determining if there is enough support to advance the proposal for further public discussion and city council consideration."

The sculptures would be funded through grants and donations. The city is working with the nonprofit Arts Missoula and the city's Public Art Committee on the project.

"Local art advocates are establishing a community-driven non-profit to raise funds to purchase, install and maintain the sculptures," said city parks department's communications specialist Becky Goodrich in an email. "The city's Public Art Committee would ensure a transparent public review process. Parks and Recreation would manage the park and trail operations around the sculptures with minimal costs to the City."

A project overview created by the city states that a sculpture walk is an "outdoor space where sculptures made of durable materials are displayed amid landscaped surroundings."

"A sculpture walk, an outdoor gallery of durable sculptures amidst landscaped settings, is a concept that has enriched many cities nationwide," Goodrich wrote. "By designating public areas for these installations, cities have provided accessible art that fosters community identity, pride, and a sense of belonging. This proposal for Silver Park aims to bring these benefits to Missoula, enhancing the lives of residents and visitors alike."

Sculptures placed in an outdoor walk can be much larger than sculptures in an indoor gallery, depending on funding and the artist's vision. Pictures shown on the city's "project overview" website show sculptures made of metal in other places in the country that are about the size of a human or larger.

"At this point it is envisioned that most sculptures will be pedestal-sized," the city's website states. "Missoula's Sculpture Walk will consist of sculptures that have been privately purchased for permanent display and sculptures that will be selected for year-long display that will be for sale."

If approved, the goal is to place up to five pieces in the first year of the partnership, adding up to five additional pieces in Silver Park over a two or three-year time frame.

Landscaping around the sculptures would be maintained by the sculpture walk citizen advocacy group.

"Artwork must be safe for pedestrians, of appropriate scale for pedestal installation, able to withstand high winds and temperature changes, and easy to maintain in an outdoor mountain environment," reads the city's website. "Artists are responsible to place a sealant on their piece that will discourage tagging and graffiti. Arts Missoula and the Public Art Committee will ensure non-discrimination policies are employed during selection and will strive for gender, racial and ethnic equity. No pieces that advocate for religious or political organizations or causes will be considered."

All pieces will be ADA-compliant and safe to touch.

The small town of Lincoln about 90 minutes east of Missoula established a sculpture park 11 years ago.

Becky Garland, a Lincoln resident, has served as chair of the board that oversees the park just outside of Lincoln since 2014. She told the Missoulian last year that the town's residents love the park, which is called Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild.

Now 10 years later, we really are part of the community, Garland said. The community has embraced us and the greater community of Montana, and really the United States has just  found out about this destination-art place. Its ours. We own it. And its good.

Silver Park is in the Old Sawmill District at 900 Cregg Lane. City residents can learn more about project and take a survey online at Engagemissoula.com/sculpture.
Hostilities between Montanas top education official and the legislators whose laws shes tasked with implementing have ratcheted up yet again.

Superintendent Elsie Arntzen called members of the Legislature's Education Interim Budget Committee schoolyard bullies, and, in a statement Monday, accused them of turning legislative hearings into kangaroo courts with predetermined outcomes.

Montana children, parents and communities want the Legislature to focus on delivering results, she wrote. Some in the Legislature are acting more childish than the children we are supposed to be serving. I remember when we used to resolve legislative issues with real solutions, not name-calling and politically motivated stunts.

At last weeks Education Interim Budget Committee meeting, a bipartisan group of legislators voted 6-2 to submit a formal complaint against Arntzen, a Republican. They asserted in a written letter that the superintendent has failed to satisfy the duties of her office, and that she has intentionally impeded the implementation of laws passed during the last legislative session.

Ive lost confidence that the bills are going to be able to do positive and good work for students because we continually find ourselves here, said Rep. Llew Jones, R-Conrad, during the committee meeting. The losers here are parents, kids, students and schools.

This complaint doesnt have real teeth over the superintendent, a position thats elected by statewide voters. The committee can't remove the superintendent or compel the Office of Public Instruction to take certain action. But legislators said it was important to establish their role as a separate branch of government that expects laws passed to be rolled out by the respective agencies and to publicly call for a change moving forward.

This is not a publicity stunt, Sen. Dan Salomon, R-Ronan, said during last week's meeting. This is to get things resolved.

Tension mounted as the interim committee spent hours grilling staffers from the Office of Public Instruction about slowdowns on a number of laws as well as reported confusion from school districts and educators about the agencys guidance on other legislation.

"Our membership feels that funding has been bottlenecked by the lack of available assistance with both general guidance and cash requests," said Shelley Turner, the executive director of the Montana Association of School Business Officials, in an email. "My membership is concerned that the current staff at the OPI are overwhelmed as well and valuable institutional knowledge has been lost with the extreme turnover that the OPI has experienced."

A 2021 report from the Montana Free Press noted a 90% turnover rate in the office since 2017, the year Arntzen took the helm.

On laws pertaining to school choice, Indian Education for All, early literacy targeted intervention programs, public charter schools, teacher pay and a multimillion-dollar data modernization project, legislators and OPI disagreed vehemently on what the law allows for and requires of the agency.

Debates ensued about details of how these laws are penned relative to legislative intent. For example, House Bill 352, which creates the opportunity for districts to begin summer programs for students who need extra support with reading, is written to go into effect for the school year beginning July 1, 2024. Legislators say their intent was to make these programs accessible this summer, which would require starting in June, but OPI says the letter of the law doesnt allow for that start date.

Another example of this dissent is around the $14.5 million project codified into law in the 2021 and 2023 legislative sessions thats supposed to streamline data-sharing between agencies such as OPI and the state Department of Labor and Industry, as well as give teachers the tools to make real-time adjustments to improve student outcomes.

Lawmakers wrote out a list of data metrics dubbed the data dictionary. They say their intent was that OPI would collect all this information through the new system. OPI says the law is written in such a way that allows the agency to collect this exhaustive list of metrics, but does not require it to do so.

These schoolyard bullies are attacking me because Im a constitutional conservative who has stood for good governance, protected girls sport and fought against the woke agenda currently infiltrating our schools, said Arntzen in her written statement. The false accusation that (OPI) is not adequately implementing certain pieces of legislation is bizarre.

Rep. David Bedey, R-Hamilton, chair of the Education Interim Budget Committee, characterized this assertion as nonsense in an interview with Lee Montana, referring to the legal opinions of legislative staff lawyers and outside counsel that found OPIs interpretation of the bills in question to be flawed.

He noted that the statement issued by Arntzen and her response to the complaint appeared to be an attempt at shifting attention away from the real issues.

It is difficult to see how it is persecution to expect the director of one of the state's largest agencies to appear before a legislative oversight committee and to engage in the committee over concerns that are critical not just to the Legislature but to schools across the state, he said.

Arntzen will term out of her role as superintendent next year, and she plans to run for election to represent Montana's second congressional district.
DURHAM  As part of a statewide effort to empower counties in North Carolina to use opioid settlement funds effectively, Burke County Sheriff Banks Hinceman and Health Director Danny Scalise, along with Dr. Katie Varnadoe, recently attended the One More Thing planning committee meeting, led by NCACC President and Burke County Commissioner Johnnie Carswell.

The meeting facilitated open discussions and meaningful collaborations between law enforcement and county commissioners to serve individuals dealing with opioid-use disorder.

I am delighted to have joined the elected and appointed public officials of the One More Thing committee and am eager to continue contributing to impactful change, Scalise said. Our recent meeting in Durham was highly productive, establishing a solid foundation for collaborative efforts within the justice system continuum. I anticipate the opportunity to combine our efforts and share ideas in advocating for initiative to support North Carolinians struggling with substance use disorder. Together, we can make a difference.

Committee members were joined by Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead, Hinceman and North Carolina Sheriffs Association representatives Marie Evitt and Lauren Earnhardt. The committee discussed partnering with law enforcement, implementing diversion programs and improving evidence-based treatment in jail and heard presentations from Donnie Varnell, Investigator from the Dare County Sheriffs Office, Lars Paul with NC Harm Reduction Coalition and Allison Gilbert, associate professor with Wilson Center for Science and Justice and Duke Law.

Additionally, committee members also heard presentations from Dr. Evan Ashkin, North Carolina Formerly Incarcerated Transition (NC FIT) Program and Justice Technical Assistance Center; Major Elijah Bazemore, Vital Strategies; and Tremaine Sawyer, manager of Durham County Justice Services Department Behavioral Health. They spoke about the programs deployed by law enforcement agencies in North Carolina to combat opioid addiction, such as the effective use of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in detention centers.

The One More Thing Planning Committee members and I appreciate the support and partnership of the North Carolina Sheriffs Association. We look forward to working together to best serve residents and our incarcerated community members with the help and treatment they need, Carswell said.

President Carswells One More Thing planning committee will continue meeting with experts to determine how to best empower North Carolina counties to invest opioid settlement dollars for the greatest impact.

For more information on the initiative and the work of the planning committee, visit www.ncacc.org/about/presidential-initiatives/one-more-thing/.

The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) President Johnnie Carswells One More Thing Planning Committee is led by co-chairs Mike LaBrose, vice chairman of the Caldwell County commissioners, and Shinica Thomas, board chair of the Wake County commissioners. The One More Thing Planning Committee represents counties from across the state to connect with one another, shine a light on best practices and share lessons learned to address the opioid overdose epidemic in North Carolina.

The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) is the official voice of all 100 counties on issues being considered by the General Assembly, Congress and federal and state agencies. The association provides expertise to counties in the areas of advocacy, research, risk management and education, and leadership training.
CHARLOTTE  Cannon Earl Kress, 50, of Fort Smith, Ark., was sentenced to 20 years in prison Thursday for distribution of child pornography, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Upon his release from prison, Kress will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. U.S. District Judge Kenneth D. Bell also ordered Kress to pay $18,000 in assessments and restitution.

Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Andy LeBeau of the Boone Police Department joined U.S. Attorney King in making todays announcement.

According to court documents and Thursdays sentencing hearing, in October 2022, Kress started a group on Kik where members of the group posted child pornography images and videos and discussed their sexual interest in children. An undercover detective infiltrated the group and downloaded child pornography videos that Kress had uploaded to the group. The undercover detective also chatted with Kress via the Kik messenger application. During those communications, Kress expressed an interest in engaging in illicit sexual acts with a five-year-old female child and arranged with the detective to meet and have sex with the child.

On Nov. 2, 2022, Kress traveled to Hickory, N.C., for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child. Law enforcement was waiting for Kress at the pre-arranged meeting location and arrested him. Law enforcement seized Kresss phone and discovered child pornography videos on it. On Oct. 10, 2023, Kress pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography. At Thursdays sentencing hearing, the Court granted the governments request for the maximum 20-year sentence due, in part, to the nature and circumstances of Kresss offense.

In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended HSI and the Boone Police Department for their investigation of the case.

Assistant United States Attorney Kimlani Ford of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Several charges were issued against a Valdese man after a Morganton Public Safety officer was assaulted Saturday night.

Michael Henry Robinson, 35, of Valdese, was charged with malicious conduct by a prisoner, assault on a law enforcement officer, damage to property, intoxicated and disruptive and three counts of resist, delay or obstructing a public officer, according to a news release from the Morganton Department of Public Safety.

The charges came after officers responded to a call for an intoxicated person in the area of 315 Sanford Drive, the release said.

Officers came into contact with Robinson, who was subsequently arrested, the release said. While he was in custody, Robinson started to resist officers while kicking them in the face while on the ground, the release said. He feloniously assaulted an officer by spitting in his face.

Robinson did not appear to have any previous convictions, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

His bond was set at $25,000 secured, the release said.
The pandemic exacerbated existing inequities in New Jersey, affecting some communities far more than others. (Canva)

LEER ESPANOL

When COVID hit, it hurt some far more than others.

The poor struggled more than the rich. The elderly were struck down in nursing homes wholly unprepared for a wildly infectious and deadly virus. And people of color were more likely to die.

An independent report released this week on how New Jersey responded to the pandemic raised anew the troubling questions of equity as the study team noted the disproportionate and deadly consequences felt across the state.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing inequities in New Jersey and contributed to the pandemics overall impact, affecting some New Jersey populations, such as low-income communities and some racial and ethnic groups, far more than others, said the report, commissioned by Gov. Phil Murphy and directed by Paul Zoubek, a former assistant state attorney general.

The $9 million review, conducted by Zoubeks law firm, Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, working with Boston Consulting Group, was launched in November 2022 and involved meetings with approximately 500 individuals, from high-level state officials and health organizations, to the New Jersey Black Empowerment Coalition and families who lost loved ones.

As early as the first months of the pandemic, it had already become clear that the toll of the pandemic would be felt more in some communities than others. Just weeks into the unfolding tragedy, statistics showed that Black people in New Jersey were dying at alarmingly disproportionate rates after contracting COVID.

On race, the number that jumps out for me continues to be the African American number, the governor said at the time. Its still about 50% more than the representation of the general population. Thats something that were looking at very carefully.

Covid and race (DOH and US Census)

The Zoubek report said that disparity reflected underlying inequities in healthcare access and outcomes which pre-dated COVID-19 and persist today.

It also reflects the fact that Black New Jerseyans were more likely to have jobs that put them at risk of contracting COVID-19, including essential work, the report said.

The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, a Newark-based non-profit progressive advocacy group, conducted similar research at the beginning of the pandemic.

In a state with some of the worst racial disparities in the country, it is clear that Black and Latino families were disproportionately vulnerable to negative consequences of the pandemic, said Laura A. Sullivan, director of the Economic Justice Program for the group.

In its own 2021 examination of the crisis, Repairing the Cracks, the institute documented those impacts, which Sullivan said led some to face dire outcomes in terms of health, employment and housing. It also noted racial inequities even in vaccine administration and distribution.

While New Jersey has made attempts to prioritize vaccine equity and education in the Black community, by June 2021, six months after vaccine administration began, just 7% of the more than 9.2 million vaccines administered had gone to Black New Jerseyans, the social justice group reported.

Sullivan said while Black and other New Jersey residents of color appeared to be as eager to be vaccinated as their white counterparts, a number of factors, including vaccine access and supply, exacerbated racial disparities in vaccine administration.

One explanation for that racial disparity, they believed, was the digital divide. In New Jersey, over 7% of Black households do not have an internet subscription compared to just 4% of white households, which made it harder to schedule vaccine appointments at a time when supply was scarce and demand was high. In Newark, according to the group, Black households in the city were more than twice as likely to be without a computer as white ones.

Economically, Sullivan said Blacks and Latinos were also affected disproportionately. They experienced greater unemployment at the start of the pandemic and slower recovery at its end.

Brittany Holom-Trundy, senior policy analyst for New Jersey Policy Perspective, a policy think tank, said the unequal impact of the pandemic was a reflection of deep-seeded disparities in who has access to health care, who doesnt, and what the government is doing to bridge that gap, especially during times of crisis.

By every metric, the pandemic disproportionately harmed people of color and low-income residents, and this is a direct result of health care policy at the state and federal levels, she said.

When there is a system where health insurance is tied to employment, combined with a virus that shut down low-paying industries like retail and hospitality where workers are disproportionately people of color, she said it was easy to see how disparities along race and class lines were exacerbated by the pandemic.

On the flip side, the essential workers who kept their jobs werent much better off since that meant putting themselves and their families at risk of exposure. It was a real lose-lose situation for low-paid workers when it really didnt have to be, Holom-Trundy remarked.

The Zoubek report for the state found widespread disparities in other areas as well.

Poor, Black and Hispanic students, for example, were hurt more by the shutdowns of schools, which went to online learning as COVID quickly spread throughout the state.

Zoubek said those moves were necessary early on to help curb the illness spread and not overwhelm hospitals. However, New Jerseys disadvantaged students struggled to gain the technology, Internet connectivity, and space they needed to attend school remotely, the report found. Students with learning disabilities had a particularly difficult time.

The achievement gap between white students and students of color, and wealthy students and less wealthy ones was already a big problem before 2020, the report said, but this gap became a chasm during the pandemic.

The report cited figures that in the 2020-21 school year, 15% of white students attended school in person, while only 7% of Black students and 8% of Hispanic students did.

On Main Street in town after town, Zoubek said the pandemic shutdowns on businesses may have been even worse in New Jersey than during the Great Depression.

The aggressive closures had a devastating and unprecedented impact on our economy  lost jobs and lost businesses that caused a restructuring of our economy, he observed.

In less than a year, nearly a third of small businesses in the state closed in the wake of restrictions. Zoubek didnt offer a hard number of businesses that shut down permanently, and noted there was already a movement toward online shopping before COVID hit.

The report detailed how the state Labor Department couldnt keep up with record unemployment claims and how small businesses jumped through hoops to get economic assistance from state and federal programs while they tried to stay afloat. It also said lower-income workers faced a disproportionate share of the harm because they were overrepresented in sectors such as hospitality, which was hit especially hard by the shutdowns.

It said the pandemic exacerbated existing racial and ethnic disparities because those groups have a higher representation in jobs that dont allow for remote work, and women  often faced with responsibility for children as schools depended on remote learning  left the labor force at greater rates than men.

Housing emerged as a critical equity issue during the pandemic as well, said the report.

People of color and low-income New Jerseyans are more likely to live in overcrowded or multigenerational households, where social distancing and individual isolation after exposure to the virus can be difficult or impossible, the report noted.

It also noted that at the beginning of the pandemic, New Jerseyans who were already experiencing homelessness were extremely susceptible to the virus.

Homelessness is associated with a range of health challenges  including mental health issues and substance abuse  that may interfere with an individuals ability to take proper preventative care of themselves or seek treatment for other medical conditions, including COVID-19, the report said.

Overall, it said the state was not properly prepared.

Too many New Jerseyans died, got sick and suffered enormously. The lessons learned from the pandemic were paid for dearly, and must be heeded, it concluded. The lives of tomorrows New Jerseyans depend on it.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL.

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A quote attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte asserts, An army marches on its stomach.

Two centuries later, satisfying meals help maintain and boost morale for sailors serving aboard the USS Montana and other U.S. Navy submarines.

During a March 14 visit to Butte, Naval Cmdr. Jon Quimby said a key crew member on the nuclear-powered, fast-attack USS Montana is the culinary specialist.

Quimby said serving aboard a submarine on an extended mission can be tough duty. Meals matter, he said.

Crew members from the USS Montana  including Quimby, Petty Officer/Culinary Specialist Chase Rosas and others  stopped in Butte Thursday to learn the art and craft of making pasties. The hearty, all-in-one meals fit nicely in the lunch pails of Cornish and other underground miners in Butte. Miners called them letters from home.

Pasties, folded into pastry envelopes, typically feature cubed potatoes, beef, salt, pepper and a hint of onion. They remain a Mining City tradition.

The crew of the USS Montana first dined en masse on pasties from Butte during commissioning ceremonies in Norfolk, Virginia, in June 2022 for the 377-foot Virginia-class submarine.

Ron Davis of Butte said volunteers made 300 pasties, had them frozen by Western Meat Block and shipped to Norfolk. A positive gustatory reception led to the pasties tutorial March 14 in Butte.

Rosas listened carefully and followed pasty crafting directions from Connie Powers, whose feedback was kinder than performance reviews quipped by some of Rosas boatmates. Powers neatly crimped folds of dough looked almost like sutures.

The prep and cook lessons unfolded in the kitchen of the Parish Hall for St. Ann Catholic Church. Powers was joined by Tara Stillwagon, John and Nancy Reis and Davis.

Other USS Montana sailors participating Thursday were Lt. Jacob Hodges and Lt. Cmdr. Caleb Young.

Davis said local businesses pitching in during the crews time in Butte included the Western Meat Block, Comfort Inn Butte and the World Museum of Mining.

The USS Montana honors its namesake state in various ways. Passageways are named for Montana rivers and a berthing area is named for Butte.

A recent issue of Vanity Fair magazine featured a story about the USS Wyoming, a different class of submarine but with similar service demands. The reporter observed, Virtually everyone I interviewed on the Wyoming raved about the food, which is an atypical reaction when it comes to military chow.

The USS Montana typically fields a crew of between 135 to 140 submariners.

After its commissioning, the USS Montana completed a shakedown cruise and then returned to port for adjustments and repairs. Quimby said the submarine will soon be back at sea.

According to U.S. Navy public affairs, the USS Montana and other Virginia-class submarines are built to conduct anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface ship warfare, special operations forces support, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions and more.

The submarine can dive to at least 800 feet.

Quimby said the crew looks forward to Burger Fridays while in port, Burger Saturdays while at sea and Taco Tuesdays.

The crew of the USS Montana took a deep dive last week into pasties preparation and, by all measures, surfaced with new culinary skills.
NEW YORK  Dollar General is backing away from the self-checkout trend in retail.

The company is pulling out self-checkout stands in 300 stores that have the highest levels of shoplifting and merchandise losses. In 9,000 other stores, Dollar General is converting some or all of its self-checkout registers to regular checkout with cashiers. And in another 4,500 or so stores, Dollar General is limiting self-checkout to purchases of five items or less.

Dollar General said the moves will help it reduce shrink  the retail industry term for shoplifting, employee theft, damaged products, administrative errors, online fraud and other factors. Dollar General has skeleton staffing levels in stores and is more vulnerable to shoplifting and other merchandise losses than many other retailers, retail analysts say.

We believe these actions have the potential to have a material and positive impact on shrink, CEO Todd Vasos said on a call with analysts Thursday. Shrink was mentioned 37 times on the call.

Vasos said Dollar General made the decision after using artificial intelligence to analyze hundreds of thousands of purchases at self-checkout. The company said it was able to determine which stores had the highest levels of stolen merchandise and mis-scanned items.

Self-checkout reversal

Dollar General is the latest retailer to backtrack on self-checkout.

The company had aggressively expanded self-checkout stations, adding them to more than half of its approximately 20,000 stores. The company also piloted stores with only self-checkout options and no cashier lanes. Like other retailers, Dollar General bet self-checkout would reduce its labor costs and speed up checkout for customers.

But Dollar General recently has been re-assigning workers to the front of its stores to ring customers up, both due to shrink and other issues with the technology. Retailers lose more possible sales with self-checkout than full-service cashiers, both from intentional shoplifting and honest errors by customers.

One study of retailers in the United States, Britain and other European countries found that companies with self-checkout lanes and apps had a loss rate of about 4%, more than double the industry average.

Booths, a British supermarket chain, said its removing self-checkout stations in all but two of its 28 stores. Walmart removed self-checkout machines at some stores in New Mexico earlier this year. ShopRite pulled them at a Delaware store after customer complaints.

Five Below, the discount toy retailer, said that shrink at stores with more self-checkout lanes was higher, and it will increase the number of staffed cash registers in new locations.

Other retailers are making tweaks to self-checkout policies.

On Thursday, Target announced its rolling out a new express self-checkout with limits of 10 items or less at most of its stores. Target is also opening more traditional lanes staffed by cashiers.

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10 industries where the smallest businesses pay the highest wages 10 industries where the smallest businesses pay the highest wages #10. Couriers and messengers #9. Primary metal manufacturing #8. Administrative and support services #7. Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods #6. Nursing and residential care facilities #5. Paper manufacturing #4. Plastics and rubber products manufacturing #3. Warehousing and storage #2. Electrical equipment, appliance, and component manufacturing #1. Hospitals
FORT DODGE  A man armed with two knives was killed by police in north-central Iowa after police say he ran at officers who had responded to a distress call.

Officers in Fort Dodge responded to a home around 8:40 a.m. Saturday and were told a man had injured a dog and was acting out of control, police said in a news release. While at the scene, they learned there was an outstanding warrant for the man, who was accused of violating his probation.

When officers entered the home, the man, armed with two knives, ran toward them and one officer fatally shot him.

The names of the deceased and the officers involved have not been released.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is reviewing the shooting.

States sending the most people to Iowa States sending the most people to Iowa #25. South Carolina #24. Maryland #23. Ohio #22. Kansas #21. Washington #20. New Jersey #19. North Carolina #18. Oklahoma #17. Pennsylvania #16. Nevada #15. Louisiana #14. Hawaii #13. Utah #12. Colorado #11. Michigan #10. Arizona #9. California #8. South Dakota #7. Florida #6. Missouri #5. Texas #4. Wisconsin #3. Minnesota #2. Nebraska #1. Illinois
With the help of a brother, Mothers Tacos has branched out to offer a new Mexican lager to complement its classic Mexican cuisine in Napa.

Aptly named Mothers Lager  released to coincide with the taquerias first anniversary last month  the beer is described as a crisp and refreshing Mexican lager with notes of lime in aroma and flavor and a touch of corn, according to Paul Liszewski, head brewer with Richmond-based East Brother Beer Co. Its creation was a six-week process, calling for a quick turnaround to make its debut at the restaurants Feb. 10 celebration.

But it was a challenge the East Brother team was happy to take on. Liszewski and others worked with Ben Koenig, who along with his wife, Ali, and business partner Charles Whittaker are behind Mothers and Napa eateries Heritage Eats, Napa Valley Lobster Co., and The Best Food Truck Ever.

The creation of a lager to pair with the Mothers Tacos menu  which draws inspiration from taquerias across Mexico City and features handmade fresh tortillas and high-quality grilled meats  just made sense to Ben Koenig.

We dont sell wine, just beer, and with tacos there is a natural symbiotic relationship there, Koenig explained during a recent telephone interview. How do we grow the brand, extend the brand beyond the plate? We were interested in seeing how the branding could translate to a beer.

Finding the right brewer for the job was easier than one might expect. Koenig noted an admiration-turned-friendship with the owners of East Brother, which propelled the project forward.

We had all the confidence in the world they were going to make an amazing beer, something unique to Mothers, Koenig recalled.

Using a Modelo or Corona as a guide, Liszewski and his team got to work.

According to Rob Lightner, East Brother co-founder, what differentiates a lager from a different style of beer  such as an ale  has to do with yeast:

Lagers use lager yeast while ales use ale yeast; they are two different strains, and they determine the flavor profile of the resulting beer. Lagers tend to be (but not always) clean, light and crisp, whereas ales tend to be (but not always) bigger, more flavorful, and higher in alcohol.

Lagers are fermented at colder temperatures for longer periods, while ales are fermented at warmer temperatures for shorter periods.

When designing the recipe, Liszewski explained they talked to Koenig to see what he wanted, which was essentially a very light-color, easy-drinking Mexican lager, the head brewer recalled.

East Brother has partnered with others in the past to create a custom brew, but those endeavors were all drafts. Koenig specially wanted all cans, and the team worked with Mothers' design team in Mexico on the label. The first order contained 160 16-ounce cans. The lager is 4.8% ABV.

Since it has come out, it has a bright natural citrus note to it, like a squeeze of lime, it almost has it naturally in the beer, Koenig said of the lager. It is refreshing, easy-drinking, and pairs great with our food.

Mothers Tacos is located at 3150 Jefferson St. in Napa, in the Grape Yard shopping center. For more information, visit motherstacos.com.

PHOTOS: Sips and snacks in Napa Valley Young Chef Contest The Garden The Garden The Grove The Grove The Haven Nosh Napa The Haven Lenchos Mexican Food The Fink Croccante Wilfred's Lounge Scala The Haven Nosh Napa Croccante Mary's Pizza Shack Burger Truck Ohm Coffee Roasters cupping
Spend an Afternoon in the Vineyards

Napa Valley Grapegrowers and Napa Valley Vintners present the 20th annual Afternoon in the Vineyards on Saturday, April 13, from 1-3 p.m.

Afternoon in the Vineyards is a program for Napa County residents to discover unique vineyards in their neighborhood and learn about the grape-growing process, sustainable vineyard practices, and the resiliency of the Napa Valley wine community, according to a press release.

The event offers residents the unique opportunity to connect with the local agricultural community and spend the afternoon with those who tend the vines and make the wines. During these special 30-minute tours, attendees will hear about what makes the Napa Valley such an exceptional winegrowing region and leader in land stewardship and learn about topics relevant to the community, including sustainable vineyard practices, wildfire preparedness, pest management and more.

Vineyard walks are available at 1 p.m.; 1:45 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Participating winery vineyard locations and topics include:

Regenerative Farming in the Vineyard

Grgich Hills Estate, 150 South Kelly Road, American Canyon

Water Usage and Wildfire Preparedness

V. Sattui Winery, 2034 Henry Road, Napa

Organic Farming and Falconry

Cakebread Cellars, 8300 St. Helena Highway, Rutherford

Farmworker & Employee Family Housing

Napa Wine Co., 1189 Oakville Cross Road, Oakville

Afternoon in the Vineyards is free for Napa County residents. Reservations can be made at napavintners.com/community/afternoon_in_the_vineyards.asp.

Materra plans summer expansion

Napa's Materra will soon open a new 10,000-square-foot hospitality space in June, featuring multiple wine tasting locations with three private rooms ideal for smaller groups and a large lounge area.

"'Bringing People Together' has been Materras slogan since the Cunat Family founded the winery, and our new hospitality space is the ideal location to do just that, said Kevin Krueger, DTC Manager at Materra in a news release. This building gives us an amazing opportunity to offer an exceptional range of experiences. The aesthetics will be captivating and welcoming, from the thoughtfully curated design to the soaring ceilings and panoramic views.

The space will feature contemporary artwork throughout, according to the press release. A grand gallery room will feature a rotating collection of art, as well as the Cunat familys personal antique collection, which ranges from Japanese antiquities to classic cars.

To learn more, visit materrawines.com/visit.

John Anthony Family of Wines adds Director of Sake

John Anthony Family of Wines, founded by vintner John Anthony Truchard, has hired Master of Sake Stuart Morris as its Director of Sake.

Morris has had a storied career with Michelin-starred restaurants, world-renowned sushi establishments, and most recently a turn at Michael Minas PABU in San Francisco, according to a press release.

The addition of Morris to the John Anthony Family of Wines team positions the company to broaden its focus on high-quality, farm-to-glass, food-friendly beverages, according to Truchard.

Sake has been on my radar for a while, from both a personal interest and seeing an opportunity for growth here in the U.S. A chance meeting with Stuart in 2023 has set us on path to bringing high-quality sakes to American consumers in a very organic and authentic way, said Truchard in the press release. Weve had exceptional success with our wine brands by focusing on delivering the best-possible quality across varietals and regions in every price point. Stuart and I share a pursuit of exceptional quality and a desire to share our products with broad audiences. Stuart is extremely talented and deeply passionate about sake, and Im thrilled hes joined the John Anthony team.

As Director of Sake, Morris will lead the development of a traditionally-made, rice-to-bottle sake portfolio hand-crafted at famous Shindo brewery in Yonezawa, in the Yamagata prefecture.

In 2009 Morris passed the rigorous Kikesake-Shi exam in Japanese in Tokyo  one of only a few non-Japanese natives to do so. The exam requires a thorough knowledge of the nuances and variables of rice, water, yeast and other factors that play into the production of sake, a blind tasting of sake, and an appreciation for sake's role in Japanese society and history.

It is my privilege to have learned sake brewing from one of the foremost sake breweries in Japan, and Im passionate about honoring that discipline of traditional sake making, while introducing more people to this celebrated beverage, said Morris in the press release.

John Anthony Family of Wines includes John Anthony Vineyards, Serial Wines, Weather Wines, and JaM Cellars. John Anthony Vineyards produces exclusive wines created from small vineyard sites in Oak Knoll District, Carneros, Calistoga and Coombsville regions, all available in the winerys downtown Napa tasting lounge.

For more information, visit johnanthonyfamilyofwines.com.

WineGlass Marketing enters Oregon wine country

WineGlass Marketing, LLC  based in Napa  has expanded into the heart of Oregon wine country, solidifying its commitment to supporting local wineries in the Pacific Northwest.

Starting this month, the marketing agency will provide on-the-ground assistance to clients nestled within the renowned Willamette, Rogue, and Umpqua Valleys, according to a press release.

We are thrilled to refocus our efforts in Oregon, said WineGlass Marketing President Susan DeMatei. The region's dedication to innovation, outreach to new consumers and ingenuity in marketing strategies make it a perfect match for our agency's expertise. Having a dedicated presence in this vibrant market allows us to intimately understand the nuances of Oregon wine country."

Recognized by Inc. Magazine for two consecutive years as one of California's top 250 hyper-growth companies, WineGlass Marketing boasts an impressive portfolio of 12 Platinum, 25 Gold, and 14 Silver awards from international design competitions, highlighting their prowess in social media, web design, email marketing, photography and print materials.

WineGlass Marketing is located at 531 Jefferson St. in Napa. For more information, visit wineglassmarketing.com or call 707-927-3334.

Glaetzer promoted at Constellation Brands

Sam Glaetzer has been appointed as Constellation Brands new Executive Vice President and President, Wine & Spirits Division.

Napa Valleys Prisoner Wine Company and Robert Mondavi Winery are a part of the Constellation portfolio.

Sam is a well-rounded senior leader with a wealth of experience in wine and spirits and a successful track record of driving commercial and operational efficiency and effectiveness, said Bill Newlands, President and CEO at Constellation Brands. Now that our strategic wine and spirits brand portfolio transformation is largely complete, and as we turn our focus more squarely towards strong commercial and operational execution for this business, Sam is uniquely equipped to lead our Wine & Spirits Division at this pivotal time as we look to deliver growth and improved profitability.

Glaetzer brings nearly 30 years of wine and spirits industry experience to this role. He joined Constellation Brands in 2014 as managing director of the companys New Zealand and Australian operations. Over the better part of the past decade, Glaetzer has served in a number of leadership capacities in areas such as general management, international commercial sales, supply chain operations, product quality, new product development, acquisition integrations, and divestitures.

Most recently, Glaetzer served in the role of Senior Vice President, Global Operations and International Sales at Constellation.

Im excited about the opportunity to lead our Wine & Spirits team as we look to more fully capitalize on our portfolio transformation and accelerate the overall performance of this business going forward, said Glaetzer. We have a solid strategy and foundation for growth in place, and one of the most talented teams in the industry. I look forward to working with my colleagues across our Wine & Spirits Division, as well as our wholesaler and retailer partners, to realize our full potential in the years ahead.
Terroir (tare-WAH) is one of the most commonly used and least understood words in the vocabulary of wine, mostly because it is derived from the French "terre" meaning earth or land, but has no precise translation to English. This lack of understanding is most unfortunate because terroir is universally considered by wine professionals, collectors and authors alike as the most important force in making distinct wines that speak of their place of origin.

Over the years, I have written on terroir several times from differing aspects. And in the ensuing years many different views on the subject have been researched and discussed by a multitude of scientists, growers and winemakers in search of an answer. But has anything really changed?

The recognition of terroir dates back to the ancient Greeks when they noticed wines made from the same grape variety exhibited different characteristics if grown in different regions. Over time, the more celebrated regions were held in higher acclaim based on the superiority of their wines. Centuries later, similar thoughts were adopted by religious orders in Burgundy and eventually became the basis of Frances Appellation dorigine controlee (AOC) and subsequently all other appellation laws throughout the world, including our AVA designations in the U.S.

Discussions on terroir often focus on whether its effects are determined by science and technology (what the grower does to the land and vine) or what Mother Nature contributes in her own way to the total environment of the vine.

Looking back to an Aug. 25, 2016 online post from Wines & Vines, Kees van Leeuwen of the Insitut des Sciences de la Vigne et de Vin in Bordeaux was quoted from his presentation at the "XI International Terroir Congress" in McMinnville, Oregon. During this talk, he took the more traditional approach to terroir by saying, "Terroir is all about the interaction of the vine and the natural environment.

However, at the same conference other researchers pointed to an overwhelming body of physical data that exists leaning toward a more scientific interpretation of terroir. Yet even they conceded quantification (an underlying scientific requirement) of the data is difficult at best. Many of these opinions rely on the ultimate influence of soil alone for the determination of terroir and how the scientific community can analyze it with defined metrics. For, as the pure scientists often opine, If you cant measure it, it does not exist. A rather objective and strict interpretation of a very subjective and sensory theory.

Again, at the same conference, Dr. Ulrich Fischer of Germanys Institute for Viticulture and Enology at DLR Rheinpfalz in Neustadt attempted to tread the middle ground. He commented on the abstract nature of terroir to most people when lacking the presence of some measurable difference: Terroir differences without sensory significance is an academic concept with little impact on the market. He went on to say that I think sensory diversity is a new synonym for wine quality  and terroir is an important part of that diversity.

To bring the subject and discussion more up to date, I spoke with Glenn Salva, estate manager of Antinori Napa Valley. In his multi-decade relationship with the Antinori family (a family wine business founded in 1352 and now in its 26th generation), Glenn has observed many changes and the exploration of many theories involving the subject and practical application of terroir.

In the world of winegrowing there are grape varieties that 'travel' better than others," he said. "For example, we know Cabernet Sauvignon produces great wines in Bordeaux and experiences good results with somewhat differing personalities in faraway destinations such as California, Chile, Australia and elsewhere.

"However, Sangiovese is a bit different as it is not nearly as adaptable in other growing areas due its specific needs. It makes fantastic wines in Tuscany, yet not in all regions of Tuscany. We appreciate the great results that Sangiovese provides in Montalcino to produce Brunello and the delicious wines that are produced from the regions of Chianti Classico and Montepulciano. Yet, Sangiovese is not successfully grown in nearby Tuscan regions such of Bolgheri and Solvana.

Glenn continued, recapping some of the Antinori Napa Valley story and how it related to the familys long history with Sangiovese they originally planted on their Atlas Peak property.

Out of our own curiosity, we first planted Sangiovese in Napa Valley in 1987," he recalled. "Over our many years gaining experience with our vineyard property and its individual expression of terroir, we learned that Sangiovese when grown here did not adapt as well as we had originally expected, and most of the property has been converted to other more adaptable varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon.

"Without quantifying our thoughts through scientific research, it is our belief that Sangioveses inability to adapt to our property is the result of two equally important factors related to terroir. The first (is the) volcanic mountain soils in Napa Valley versus the calcareous soils of interior Tuscany. And the second is the bright white light of the California sun versus the hazy light of interior Tuscany.

"California summers typically display very low relative humidity resulting in a much brighter, intense sunlight. The opposite is true in interior Tuscany, resulting in hazier skies and more filtered sunlight. With Sangioveses thin skin, Californias more intense light has a detrimental effect on flavanol and anthocyanin (flavor and color) development in the individual berry, resulting in very different aromatic and flavor profiles highly dependent (on the) terroir of each growing area.

The winegrowing and winemaking community recognizes soil (and its individual character from a specific place) as being a critical component of terroir, but as the Antinoris found with Sangiovese it does not stand alone. Climate, exposure, elevation, day-to-night temperature variance, rainfall, gradient of sunlight, wind patterns, relative humidity, daylight hours, latitude and many other factors also fit into the equation, although not necessarily lending themselves as a group to a scientific measurement.

There are strong arguments on both sides of the science vs. nature question, but what does this all have to do with the consumer and how we appreciate wine? In answering this question, we must agree there are a variety of opinions but no clearly defined answers. This question is further complicated by some of the modern-day winemaking and growing trends toward producing an "international" style (i.e. higher alcohol, lower acidity, softer tannins and a more fruit-forward influence) that often override the expression of terroir in the finished wine.

For many consumers terroir is an abstract concept and whether a Cabernet comes from California, Australia or France (each independently exhibiting a broad range of winegrowing areas and terroir), they expect it to taste like a Cabernet in their own frame of reference. But for others, the "sense of place" expressing each area's individual terroir is an important factor in the overall appreciation of a wine and a measure of its individuality.

Perhaps Michel Chapoutier, the world-renowned and highly respected head of M. Chapoutier in Frances Rhone Valley, said it best: Varietal wines can be the rock music that gets people into the subject, (but) classical music can only be provided by wines of terroir.
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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

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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

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Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin, at a press briefing held at the Central Election Commission of Russia, spokevia video linkabout a large number of Russians who came to Armenia from Georgia to vote in the presidential elections of Russia, reports TASS.

"The peculiarity is also that quite a lot of people from Georgia came to vote here [in Yerevan] and in Gyumri this year. By the way, according to the data of our main consulate, more than 1,300 people voted in Gyumri," said Kopyrkin.

According to the Russian diplomat, the Armenian authorities ensured the security of the country's polling stations during the Russian presidential elections, and there were no incidents.

"Fortunately, there were no excesses or incidents. I want to express my gratitude to the authorities of Armenia, who collaborated with us and took appropriate measures to ensure security," said Kopyrkin.

"The situation here is working. Five polling stations have been set up in Armenia, the ambassador said. Voter turnout, I believe, is unprecedented. Already at this moment, according to our preliminary calculations, more than 5,000 people have voted in the embassy alone. And I must say that we are still working, as there are many people who are in the areanear the embassy, and we give them the maximum opportunity to vote. There are many young people," added the Russian ambassador to Armenia.
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Lawyer: Ruben Vardanyan gave international resonance to Karabakh issue, earned Azerbaijans hatred

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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

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Lebanon to file a complaint to UN Security Council over Israeli strikes on south of country

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Armenia legislature speaker to meet with Azerbaijan counterpart again

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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

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Armenia ruling force MP: We are EAEU member, in parallel we work towards integration with EU, other markets

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Russia MFA spox: Armenia is being turned into tool for implementing dangerous plans of the West

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The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Kazakhstan, Ararat Mirzoyan and Murat Nurtleu, have discussed the logistical possibilities. The meeting between the two FMs took place within the framework of Nurtleu's visit to Yerevan.

A wide range of matters were discussed, Mirzoyan informed at the press conference held after this meeting. Noting the frequent contacts on multilateral platforms and the political dialogue at a high level, the Armenian FM noted that the full potential has not been realized.

"We came to the conclusion that the [two] parties are ready to develop and implement the potential. Armenia is interested in the development of bilateral relations with partners, from America to East Asia. And [Armenias] relations with Kazakhstan take up an important place. I am glad that there is mutual interest," the Armenian FM noted, adding that specific agreements were reached during the meeting.

Mirzoyan noted the importance of the development of transport logistics opportunities for both countries, and said that he informed his Kazakh colleague about the Crossroads of Peace project of Armenia and the opportunities it provided. In this regard, the Armenian FM emphasized, in particular, that the new logistical opportunities should be based on the principles of sovereignty, equality, and reciprocity of countries.

Also, Mirzoyan presented the situation in the South Caucasus and the process of normalization of Armenias relations with Azerbaijan. In this regard, the FM stressed Armenia's commitment to the peace agenda and all constructive efforts for the urgent signing of a peace agreement based on territorial integrity and border delimitationand in accordance with the Alma Ata declaration of 1991.
Armenia plays a special role for Kazakhstan in the CIS and the South Caucasus. This was announced by Kazakh Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu at Mondays press conference in Yerevan with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan.

Emphasizing the friendly nature of relations, the Kazakh FM reminded that the 25th anniversary of the friendship and cooperation agreement will be celebrated in September. He informed that the parties are discussing the creation of a business council, and Kazakhstan is open for investments.

The minister assessed the dialogue held within the framework of his visit to Armenia as meaningful and constructive, and said regional and international matters were discussed. The positions of the two countries are close and coincide in a number of matters, the Kazakh official noted, documenting the importance of peace and stability both in Central Asia and in the South Caucasus.

Also, Nurtleu noted the cooperation in such important international platforms as the UN, CIS, EAEU, and CSTO.

However, the Kazakh FM expressed dissatisfaction with the low level of trade, which does not correspond to the possibilities. In this regard, he informed that Kazakhstan can increase the export of non-raw materials to Armenia by 70 percent.

"More than 100 companies with Kazakh capital, 435 Armenian companies, 76with mixed capitaloperate in Armenia. We are opening new flights," continued the minister.

He recalled that more than 25 thousand Armenians live in Kazakhstan, and the latters Armenian community plays the role of a golden bridge between the two countries, 55 Kazakh citizens study in Armenia, but two times less Armenian citizens study in Kazakhstan. The numbers are small, but Kazakhstan is ready to increase them, the minister promised.

Recapping the results of his meeting with the Armenian FM, Murat Nurtleu noted that a tangible step has been taken, which can give impetus to the development of cooperation, and expressed confidence that the agreements reached will be implemented. In the end, he wished peace and prosperity to the Armenian people.
Speaker Alen Simonyan of the National Assembly (NA) on Monday received the Czech Ambassador to Armenia, Petr Piruncik.

The purpose of the Ambassadors visit was to convey the letter of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Marketa Pekarova-Adamova, about her official visit to Armenia, the successful cooperation, and the perspectives of Armenia-Czech Republic and Armenia-EU cooperation, the NA informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

On behalf of the delegation of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, as well as on my behalf, I would like to express my gratitude for the warm reception during our official visit to the Republic of Armenia. Our mutual discussions were very inspiring for me, and I deeply believe that it is only the beginning of our closer cooperation.

As a token of our support, your ambitions for making closer Armenia to the EU, please, accept the European flag enclosed to the letter.

Please, accept, Your Excellency, assurances of my highest consideration, the letter says.

Alen Simonyan thanked his Czech colleagues for dynamically developing relations between Armenia and the Czech Republic and fruitful visit to Armenia.

Armenia highly appreciates Marketa Pekarova-Adamovas visit and the unreserved support of the Czech Republic for the establishment of peace in the region, and in the rapprochement of the Armenia-EU relations. Armenia is ready to strengthen the relations with the European Union as much, as the European side will allow. I once again thank you for fruitful cooperation, the speaker of the Armenian parliament said.

The parties exchanged views also on the establishment of peace in the South Caucasus, the return of the Armenian captives being held in Azerbaijan, and some other topics.
At Monday's meeting with the people of Tavush Province, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan showed the model of the map of Armenia he had shown during his press conference last week.

"The most important thing to say was what was said at that day's press conference: I also showed here the same outline of Armenia that I showed there," Pashinyan said in response to the RFE/RL Armenian Services question about what he proposed in and with what thoughts he went to Tavush.

He assured that the residents of Voskepar and Baghanis villages and their neighboring settlements shared their concerns during the meeting that lasted for about 3.5 hours, and the video recording of this meeting will be publicized later on.

"Naturally, they told us too, and we answered those questions. And our approach is that there should not be a question raised by people that remains unanswered. If it remains unanswered, it means that we do not have a solution to the question," stressed Nikol Pashinyan.

To the question as to whether he came to this meeting with that response, the PM said: "Yes. We had come with answers to some questions. But regarding some questions, I directly told people that today I came not only to answer questions, but also to collect questions and put those questions on the government's table as an agenda and think about their answers and come back with answers. There were questions that I felt their acuteness, so to speak, more emotionally and more practically on the spot."

The most important thing, according to him, is that the people's concerns and security, their faith in the future should practically be proven on the ground and substantiated by structural regulations.

During his press conference last week, PM Pashinyan had promised to visit Tavush Province and talk with the local residents. On that day, he announced that Armenia is ready to go to partial border delimitation with Azerbaijan, not excluding that this process could start from Tavush itself.
16:49





A day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, at a rally in Mumbai, commented that the "fight against Modi is not on a personal level since Modi is a 'mask' who works for a 'Shakti' (power)", the prime minister asserted that the fight is between those who want to destroy 'Shakti' and those who worship it.





Prime Minister Modi, referring to the opposition rally in Mumbai's Shivaji Park, said, "They announced their manifesto... and said their fight was against 'Shakti'. For me, every mother and every daughter is a form of 'Shakti'. Mothers and sisters, I worship you as 'Shakti'. I am Bharat Maa's pujari."





In retaliation, the Congress likened the BJP to 'Asuri Shakti' and alleged that the nation has seen atrocities against women in the last 10 years and cited the rape cases in Unnao, Kathua and Hathras as well as the harassment of women wrestlers.





"The prime minister is upset and the entire BJP is talking baseless things after Rahul Gandhi attacked 'Asuri Shakti'. This election is between 'Asuri Shakti' and 'Daivik Shakti'," Congress national spokesperson Pawan Khera said.





He claimed that the people of the country, be it farmers, youths, women and the poor, are all standing with Rahul Gandhi and he will emerge victorious in this election.





"Where was the prime minister's worship of the 'Shakti' when female wrestlers were being harassed and Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was sitting inside their homes? Where was your 'shakti ki upasna' at the time," Khera posed.





"This election will decide whether the country will be run by 'Asuri Shakti' or 'Daivik Shakti'. This country always got its strength from 'Daivik Shakti' and the youths, women and farmers are standing with Rahul Gandhi," the Congress leader said.





Asserting that this country would not be run by demonic power anymore, but by divine power, he said 10 years ago "when the BJP was organising morchas in favour of rapists in Kathua, Unnao and Hathras, did you not remember worshipping of Shakti." "When women were being made to run naked in Manipur, which power was keeping you silent?" he posed. In a post on X, Khera asserted that divine power would be victorious in the election.





"Rahul Gandhi will win. India alliance will win. The youth of this country will win. The farmers of this country will win. Mother India will win," he said. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that "those speaking on Hindu religion and power remained silent after seeing the brutality of the demonic crowds in Manipur, remained silent on the trampling of promising daughters in Delhi, remained silent on the hanging bodies of two minor girls in Kanpur and remained silent on the brutality of Hathras."





"All these were forms of power. No one has forgotten the barbarity meted out to the daughters of this country in the last 10 years. The powers that control a hollow man through remote have been exposed - the 'vasuli man' is stunned," Shrinate said in a post in Hindi on X. PTI

The Congress on Monday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remark that the INDIA bloc's manifesto talks about finishing 'Shakti', saying the elections will decide whether the country would be run by 'Asuri Shakti' (demonic power) or 'Daivik Shakti' (divine power).
EU, Egypt sign package to boost economy

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen meets the media with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. File photo: AP

The European Union and Egypt on Sunday signed a 7.4-billion-euro financial package to support the indebted north African country, boost energy sales to Europe and stem irregular migrant flows.



European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was joined in Cairo by the leaders of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece and Italy for the signing ceremony with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.



The strategic partnership deal includes billions in credit over coming years and stepping up gas and other energy flows to help Europe "move further away from Russian gas", said a senior European Commission official.



Von der Leyen said that "today we elevate the relationship between the EU and Egypt to a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership and we agree on a package ranging from trade and investment to low carbon energy, managing migration, and education, culture and youth".



The agreement includes five billion euros in loans over four years, 1.8 billion euros in investment and hundreds of millions for bilateral projects including on migration, said the European official.



Egypt, mired in a painful economic crisis, borders war-battered Libya and the centres of two ongoing conflicts -- the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and Sudan's war between the regular armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.



"Egypt is a critical country for Europe today and for the days to come," the commission official said earlier, speaking on condition of anonymity and pointing to Egypt's "important position in a very difficult neighbourhood".



Egypt already hosts around nine million migrants and refugees, including four million Sudanese and 1.5 million Syrians, the UN's International Organization for Migration says.



The EU official said the deal includes steps to cooperate on "security, counter-terrorism cooperation and protection of borders, in particular the southern one" with Sudan.



The Gaza Strip, where Israel is at war with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas since the October 7 attack, "will not be the main focus but will be part of the discussion" in Cairo, the official added. (AFP)
Wang Yi on visit to New Zealand to boost ties

Wang Yi on visit to New Zealand to boost ties

Foreign Minister Wang Yi kicked off his first trip to New Zealand and Australia in seven years by holding talks with his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters in Wellington on Monday.



It was Wang's first engagement in his official visit to New Zealand.



Before the meeting, Wang said China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with New Zealand on international and regional issues.



We will work together to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world, he said.



The foreign minister is set to meet with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon later on Monday.



China is New Zealands largest trade partner, and the visit is expected to pave the way for stronger bilateral ties.



This year marks the 10th anniversary of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.



Wang will visit Australia after his trip to New Zealand.



He's due to hold talks with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and a roundtable with business leaders in Canberra.



According to Reuters, former Australian prime minister Paul Keating said he would meet Wang during his visit.



In a statement, Keating, who served as prime minister from 1991 to 1996, called Wang's visit to Australia a "good development", and said he's pleased to have the opportunity to discuss international matters with him.



Ties between Beijing and Canberra have improved in recent years as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government sought to ease tensions over issues such as trade. But relations were dealt a blow over a suspended death sentence handed to writer Yang Hengjun by a Beijing court last month, an issue likely to be raised by Wong in her meeting with Wang. (Agencies)
SIUs Morton-Kenney lecture to feature NPRs Sarah McCammon

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Sarah McCammon, a national political correspondent for National Public Radio, will present the spring 2024 Morton-Kenney Public Affairs Lecture on Wednesday, March 27, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

McCammon will discuss her 2024 book, The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church at 7 p.m. in Student Center Ballroom B. The free, public lecture will also include a Q&A from the audience. The lecture is hosted by the political science program in the School of Anthropology, Political Science, and Sociology within the College of Liberal Arts and the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. A reception is planned from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and a book signing will follow. Registration to attend the lecture is not required but is recommended.

McCammons book is described as part memoir and part journalism, about the movement of people who grew up inside the powerful evangelical subculture and ultimately left in response to its increasing politicization.

The 2023 Edward R. Murrow Award recipient, McCammon is co-host of the NPR Politics podcast and a frequent guest host for NPR programs. McCammons work focuses on political, social and cultural divides in America, including abortion policy and the intersections of politics and religion.

We're thrilled to have Sarah McCammon on campus. Her top-notch reporting on elections, reproductive rights and other key issues is unmatched, J. Tobin Grant, professor of political science and director of the School of Anthropology, Political Science, and Sociology, said. As a seasoned political journalist, Sarahs insights will be invaluable for our students and community as we enter this election year."

A graduate of Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois, McCammon began her career as a newspaper reporter in the Chicago area. Before joining NPR in 2015, she reported for NPR member stations in Georgia, Iowa and Nebraska. She has appeared on numerous television programs including CNNs Inside Politics, MSNBCs All In With Chris Hayes, PBS Newshour and CSPANs Washington Journal.

The Morton-Kenney Public Affairs Lecture Series is one of the signature lecture series organized by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, John Shaw, institute director, said. We remain committed to bringing leading scholars, journalists and practitioners to SIU Carbondale for consequential lectures and policy discussions.

The Morton-Kenney Public Affairs Lecture Series is presented in the spring and fall of each academic year. The late Jerome Mileur, an SIU alumnus, established the series in 1995 in honor of two of his political science professors  Ward Morton and David Kenney  who inspired him as a student. Originally from Murphysboro, Mileur was a professor emeritus in political science at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

For more information, contact the School of Anthropology, Political Science, and Sociology at sapss@siu.edu or 618-453-3166.
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)
Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 17 (ANI/WAM): UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today met with Erin Gore, Chief Executive Officer of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a US nonprofit organisation that specialises in providing food to people impacted by humanitarian crises. During the meeting at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi, both sides explored ways to strengthen collaboration between key UAE entities and WCK, aiming to address the urgent humanitarian need in the Gaza Strip and maximise the delivery of aid to the area by land, air and sea. The two sides discussed the UAE''s contribution towards mobilising support for the Amalthea maritime corridor initiative to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, including the recent arrival of the first ship, carrying 200 tonnes of food and relief supplies, in cooperation with the UAE, WCK, and Cyprus, through the maritime corridor between Cyprus and Gaza. UAE President expressed his appreciation for the humanitarian role played by World Central Kitchen around the world, especially in areas suffering from crises and disasters, and its efforts in delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. He reaffirmed the UAE''s steadfast commitment to work with the organisation and other regional and global partners to alleviate the suffering of Gaza''s residents and enhance humanitarian support by all means possible. Ms Gore noted her appreciation for the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed and the role of the UAE in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, referencing the fruitful cooperation witnessed between WCK and the UAE. The meeting was attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Advisor for Special Affairs at the Presidential Court and Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation. (ANI/WAM)
Sindhi activist Hidayat Lohar''s daughters, Surath Lohar, Sasai Lohar and Fauzia Nunari, have been released by the Larkana Police after they were detained for protests against alleged missing persons across the Sindh province of Pakistan. The leaders of the Voice for Missing Persons of Sindh were released on Sunday, while more than 25 arrested activists have been booked with them in sedition and terrorism cases at other police stations. The Voice for Missing Persons Of Sindh (VMPS) in a post shared on X, stated, "After reactions across Sindh, the leaders of the Vice for Missing Persons of Sindh Surath Lohar, Sasai Lohar and Fauzia Nunari have been released by the Larkana police, while more than 25 arrested activists have been booked with them in sedition and terrorism cases at other police stations has been shifted." https://x.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1769402823052304602?s=20 Pakistan''s way of suppressing the voices of dissent violently was once again demonstrated, after the law enforcement agencies of Pakistan brutally thrashed a demonstration organised by the family members of late social activist Hidayat Lohar on Sunday. Both Surath Lohar and Sasai Lohar, the daughters of Hidayat, have been fighting to get justice for the targeted killing of their father. According to a series of social media posts shared by the VMPS, the Pakistani law enforcement agencies ''Lathi-Charged'' (baton charged) the protestors. Taking the matter to social media platform ''X'' the VMPS stated that "Breaking News ; After baton charge and shelling at the Larkana rally, several nationalist activists including Surath Lohar, Sasai Lohar, Sarant Lohar, Singhar Lohar and Amjad Chana, head of the Vice for Missing Persons of Sindh, were arrested". Earlier on Sunday, Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch said that the arrest of Sasui Lohar, Sorath Lohar, "undeniable evidence of state fascism.". "The arrest of Sasui Lohar, Sorath Lohar along with other protesters is undeniable evidence of state fascism. Sasui & Sorath was seeking justice for their father''s extrajudicial killing, but instead of receiving it, they were arrested by the state. Human rights organizations should react strongly against the arrest of peaceful protesters," Mahrang Baloch posted on X. Hidayat Lohar, a Sindh rights activist, was killed in broad daylight under questionable circumstances, and since then, the daughters of Hidayat and other activists have been protesting in various locations, intending to gather international intervention, investigation and registration of an official complaint against the culprits. Lohar forcibly disappeared in 2017 and recovered two years later in May 2019. The tragic killing of Hidayat Lohar underscores the grave risks faced by human rights workers in Pakistan. (ANI)
Rajesh Kumar Singh, the Secretary of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), revealed the Government of India's plans to introduce a dedicated policy aimed at fostering deep-tech startups at the inauguration on 'Startup Mahakumbh' at Bharat Mandapam on Monday. Singh disclosed that the government is currently in the advanced stages of crafting a specialized policy framework specifically tailored to support deep-tech startups. He indicated that the policy paper is undergoing final discussions among various ministries and expressed optimism about its imminent release. Additionally, Singh outlined plans for the subsequent establishment of a dedicated fund-of-funds to further support these innovative ventures. Singh said, "Government of India is in the process of creating a separate dedicated deeptech startup policy" stated Singh. He added, "The policy paper is in the final stages of inter-ministerial discussion and we hope to bring it forward soon and after that we will move forward towards creating a dedicated fund-of-funds again." Emphasizing the importance of government support for startups, Singh highlighted that beyond funding, startups require orders from the government to kickstart their journey effectively. He underscored the role of government procurement in providing the initial traction necessary for startups to flourish. "Startups, more than funding, they need orders from government to give them that start that they deserve," remarked Singh. Singh also celebrated India's status as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, acknowledging its significance as a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the nation's development. He emphasized that India's burgeoning startup ecosystem aligns with the Prime Minister's overarching goal of transforming the country into a developed nation by 2047, rallying all segments of society towards this common objective. Singh stated, "We have the 3rd largest startup ecosystem in the world." "It also epitomises the PM Modi's vision that whole of society should accept the goal of becoming the developed nation by 2047 and all of us work together for it," he added. With plans for a dedicated policy framework and support mechanisms, India's startup ecosystem is poised for further growth and advancement on both domestic and global fronts. (ANI)
NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 18: In a celebration of social impact & change, the grand finale of 'Badlaav Humse Hai' season 2, AU Small Finance Bank, in association with Network18, shed a spotlight on unsung changemakers, in Mumbai on March 7th, 2024. The event, graced by the presence of the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, served as a poignant tribute to real-life heroes and changemakers for their exceptional contributions to society. The evening brought together esteemed guests, community leaders, and changemakers from across India to honor individuals whose extraordinary efforts have brought about transformative change in society. Now culminating its second season, 'Badlaav Humse Hai' stands as a testament to the remarkable humanitarian endeavors of India's lesser-known changemakers. Devendra Fadnavis commended the initiative, emphasizing the importance of amplifying such commendable work to inspire the nation. He remarked, "Today, we often perceive inspirational figures to be scarce. However, as we look around us, we encounter numerous individuals driving social change. The 25 unsung heroes recognized by 'Badlaav Humse Hai' exemplify this spirit, each contributing to the betterment of our society in their unique capacities." Launched in 2022, 'Badlaav Humse Hai' continues its mission to shed light on the extraordinary stories of individuals who have positively impacted communities nationwide through their social, economic, and cultural initiatives. This year, the campaign has honored 25 unsung heroes whose journeys have touched countless lives, transcending boundaries and inspiring positive change. "We owe our nation's resilience to the collective efforts and active participation of its citizens, as exemplified by our recent triumph over obstacles like COVID-19. Initiatives such as Badlaav Humse Hai play a pivotal role in not only acknowledging changemakers but also motivating and empowering individuals to become agents of change themselves. By fostering a sense of collective responsibility towards social challenges, initiatives like these inspire us all to contribute to the betterment of society. I congratulate Badlaav Humse Hai for recognizing inspiring changemakers for their work towards nation building," said Iqbal Singh Chahal, BMC Commissioner, Mumbai. From remote corners of India, these changemakers have spearheaded initiatives ranging from environmental conservation and animal welfare advocacy to empowering marginalized communities and providing education to the underprivileged. Their endeavors reflect a collective commitment to fostering a more inclusive and compassionate society. Sanjay Agarwal, Founder, MD & CEO of AU Small Finance Bank, underscored the bank's commitment to supporting individuals in realizing their aspirations, particularly in a time when India is witnessing unprecedented growth and ambition. He stated, "As India strives to become the third-largest economy by 2027, it is imperative for institutions like ours to empower individuals with the financial means & social recognition to achieve their goals." Highlighting the transformative power of grassroots initiatives, Agarwal added, "India's strength lies in its people, who continuously drive the nation forward through relentless innovation and social change. We are proud to recognize the silent heroes of 'Badlaav Humse Hai' who embody this spirit of positive transformation." Vivek Phansalkar, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, highlighted the transformative efforts within the police force to create an inclusive environment conducive to positive change. He emphasized the prioritization of people-centric policies, marking a significant shift in police priorities. Network18 and AU Small Finance Bank have remained steadfast in their commitment to driving societal advancement within their respective spheres. AU Small Finance Bank proudly stands as India's largest Small Finance Bank, leveraging 28 years of experience to empower countless changemakers. Through extensive financial inclusion initiatives and corporate social responsibility (CSR) endeavors, the bank has bolstered individuals and their initiatives in semi-urban and rural regions across India. Similarly, Network18 has emerged as a trailblazer, leading purpose-driven campaigns aimed at catalyzing social change. Siddharth Sharma, CEO, Tata Trusts reflected on the role of Jamshedji Tata in laying out a vision of industrialized India with nation building at its core. He highlighted the commitment of Tata Trusts to shoulder responsibilities of national priority and continue to work towards empowering people standing at the last mile. "I've always been guided by the principle of giving without seeking recognition and receiving with humility. This quality is indispensable when silently contributing to the collective welfare of our nation, as exemplified by these 25 changemakers," remarked Actor and Producer Suniel Shetty. Reflecting on the essence of social entrepreneurship, Actor & Initiative Ambassador, Gul Panag emphasized the importance of empowering individuals to uplift their communities. She stated, "There is a remarkable thrust towards social entrepreneurship, notably championed by none other than the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji. This is pivotal because empowering individuals to uplift themselves is not sufficient; our focus must be on empowering them to uplift entire communities." Anand Kumar, Founder of Super 30 emphasized the imperative for a shift in parental attitudes, stating, "While it's commendable to aspire for our children to pursue careers as bureaucrats, doctors, and engineers, we must also nurture their potential to become wonderful educators, for it is the teacher who possesses the transformative power to shape the world." With AU Small Finance Bank and Network18 at the helm, this initiative not only acknowledges the extraordinary efforts of individuals but also underscores the importance of fostering a culture of empathy and empowerment, underscoring the significance of collective action for social change. Full Video Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gie5QEBUdb0. (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)
On the day the partners in the Opposition bloc--INDIA--shared the stage in Mumbai's Shivaji Park to mark the close of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed unhappiness over the venue chosen for the event. The Shiv Sena leader lamented that it was the same place from where his party founder, Balasaheb Thackeray, used to address his people. "Today is a black day for Shiv Sena people because it was from Shivaji Park that Balasaheb Thackeray addressed the country. Now, the INDIA rally is happening at the same venue. Those who used foul language against Veer Savarkar and made unfounded allegations against him are gathering at Shivaji Park today. This is unfortunate," Shinde told reporters in Mumbai on Sunday. Accusing the Congress of being anti-Hindu, Shinde said, "How can we say that we are proud Hindus when some people even fear saying the words Hindu Hriday Samrat these days?" In a veiled dig at former party colleague Uddhav Thackeray, who he claimed tied up with the Congress and the undivided Nationalist Congress Party under Sharad Pawar just to be in power, Shinde said, "In the upcoming elections, people will teach a lesson to those who sacrificed the vision and ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray just for the sake of power." Meanwhile, in another blow to the INDIA bloc and Uddhav, Sena (UBT) MLC Aamshya Padavi joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Chief Minister Shinde. "Today MLC Aamshya Padavi and his workers have joined the Shiv Sena, which follows and carries forward Balasaheb's ideology. All those here stand for Balasaheb's ideology and there (at Shivaji Park) are those who stand against him. So today is an unfortunate day...a black day," CM Shinde said. After joining Shiv Sena in the presence of Shinde, former Sena (UBT) MLC Padavi said, "I used to be in Shiv Sena (UBT) but I am still in the Shiv Sena (under Eknath Shinde). Those who voted for me said I should align myself with the government and work for the constituency. I have never felt comfortable with the Congress." Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc kickstarted its election campaign from Mumbai's iconic Shivaji Park on Sunday, with Opposition leaders hitting out at the BJP-led Centre. Several leaders including National Conference Chief Farooq Abdullah, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Cheif MK Stalin, and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge were present along with other senior leaders of the opposition. (ANI)
Amid Opposition furore over the publication of Electoral Bonds data on the Election Commission's website, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader RP Singh pointed out that out of Rs 20000 crore worth Electoral Bonds, Rs 6000 crore have been donated to the BJP while the rest went to opposition parties. "Out of a total of Rs 20000 crore Electoral Bonds, bonds worth Rs 6000 crore have gone to BJP while bonds worth Rs 14000 crores have gone to the opposition. Everybody is answerable and the Supreme Court verdict will be applicable for everyone equally," Singh said speaking to ANI on Sunday. The Supreme Court, in a ruling in February, struck down the Centre's Electoral Bond Scheme, which allowed for anonymous funding to political parties, and ordered the SBI to stop issuing Electoral Bonds immediately. Speaking about the intent of the Electoral Bonds, Singh said that the money donated to political parties under these bonds are accounted for since they come through banks and company books. "The electoral bonds scheme was launched so that the flow of corruption through cash could be stopped. Today, money comes through banks and companies books with information. Earlier, all this money used to come in cash. It was black money," the BJP leader said. In an attack at Uddhav Thackeray for joining the INDIA bloc and participating in the INDIA bloc rally at Mumbai's Shivaji Park, Singh said, "Today, Uddhav Thackeray is seen standing with those leaders in Mumbai's Shivaji Maidan who called Veer Savarkar a traitor and a coward." "The people of Maharashtra will decide how much they will vote for Uddhav Thackeray and his team. The person whose party was founded on the ideology of Veer Savarkar...is standing with those who call Veer Savarkar a traitor," he added. On Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra coming to an end, the BJP leader said that he should first look for love withing his party and between his alliance partners. "Rahul Gandhi should first answer how much 'mohabbat' (love) is left in his party and between his alliance partners," Singh said. In a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over his often-repeated "mohabbat" message, Singh said, "Rahul Gandhi has not right to talk about 'mohabbat' as the maximum number of riots and massacres in the country have been carried out under the rule of Congress. Being a Sikh, I can never forget 1984." Rahul Gandhi's 6,700 km Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra concluded on Saturday in Mumbai. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dushyant Gautam has lauched a scathing attack on Congress and said the problem with the Congress party is that the party considers other parties as fools. "The problem with Congress is that they think only they are smart and others are fools... To become the Prime Minister after independence, they divided the country. Is this their love for the country?... They need to learn what love is..." said BJP leader Dushyant Gautam Speaking further on the seven phases for general election amid opposition allegations, Gautam said "Elections have always been conducted in 6-7 phases, even during their governments. Law and order is the duty of the EC and they will do their part well, everyone has faith in the EC..." Meanwhile, Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan took a dig at the central government over the announcement of the Lok Sabha poll dates by the Election Commission in seven stages, saying that before implementing the idea of 'One Nation, One Election', at least one election should be held in a single phase. "Before we try to attempt 'One Nation, One Election', can we at least try 'One Election, One Phase'?" the Makkal Needhi Maiam president posted on X. Earlier, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect on Saturday after the Election Commission of India announced the dates for elections to the Lok Sabha and four state assemblies, with Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar asking all political parties and their leaders to strictly adhere to the poll code. The general election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases from April 19, with counting to be held on June 4. Elections to State legislatures of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim will also be held in the same period Voting will be held in 7 phases starting from April 19, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday. In Phase 1, which will be held on April 19, the voting will be held in a total of 102 constituencies. The second phase of Lok Sabha polls will be held on April 26 which will see voting in 89 constituencies. The third phase of Lok Sabha elections will be held on May 7. A total of 94 constituencies will see voting in this phase 96 Lok Sabha seats will go for polling in Phase 4 on May 13. Phase 5 will see polling on 49 Lok Sabha seats with elections on May 20. The sixth phase will be held on May 25 which will see polling on 57 constituencies. The seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections will be held on June 1 which will witness polling on 57 constituencies. 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. (ANI)
Exuding confidence in Bhartiya Janata party's victory in the upcoming elections, Assam BJP MP Pabitra Margherita stated that the party is poised to win 13 out of 14 seats in Assam and a remarkable 22 out of 25 seats across the North East. Margherita disclosed that Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Chief Minister of Assam, led a BJP party meeting on election management. During the meeting, he instructed leaders to engage with the public, emphasizing the accomplishments of both the state and central governments. "The Assam Chief Minister has given advice to us on how to go and reach the people with the achievements of both centre and state government. Some strategic discussions were held. We are very much optimistic and we look forward to work for the party and people of Assam," Pabitra Margherita said. He further said that during the election campaign, BJP will carry the reality to the people right from peace and harmony to infrastructure development, field of art & culture, education, health sector, and connectivity and cover all the segments of development. "Modi is our candidate, Lotus is our symbol, philosophy of BJP is our energy. Our issue is only development and with this we are going to contest in this election. Apart from other parts of country Assam and North East are now 'Modi Moy'. Modi hai to sab kuch mumkin hai. Out of 25 seats in the North East, we are going to win more than 22 seats, and in Assam, we will win 13 out of 14 seats. This is only possible because of Modiji. He termed North East as Ashtalakshmi and this part is the growth engine of modern India. Everyone is standing with Modiji. With that energy we are going to campaign, and reach people. We are fully prepared and we are ready for any kind of election," Pabitra Margherita said. Targeting the opposition, the BJP MP stated that the Congress is a 'seasoned flower' which comes out only during the elections. "We see the opposition, specially the congress, like a seasoned flower. Only during the elections they come to the villages, towns to meet the people. But BJP's main motto is Seva hi sangathan. During any national calamity, BJP always stands with the people. We are always there with the people and hence we are marching forward towards victory," he said. During the 2019 General Assembly elections, the BJP competed in ten seats, while the AGP contested three and the Bodoland People's Front (BPF) contested one. The BJP secured victory in nine out of the ten seats, the Congress and the All India United Democratic Front won three seats each and one was secured by an Independent candidate Naba Kumar Sarania. (ANI)
A journalist was allegedly shot by unidentified miscreants in Nalanda district of Bihar, said the police on Monday. The journalist has been identified as Deepak Vishwakarma. Briefing about the incident, SP Ashok Mishra said that they got the information about Deepak Vishwakarma, who was attacked and has been shot by some miscreants. "We got information that Deepak Vishwakarma, who is very well known to us, has been attacked. Initially, the locals told us that he met with an accident, but as per his statement, he had been shot at," Nalanda SP told reporters. The police added that the bullet shell has been recovered from the sites and an investigation has been started. "A bullet shell has been recovered from the site. An investigation has been started by the police... For better treatment, he has been referred to Patna, after which, his statement will be recorded. His condition is currently stable," he added. More details are awaited. Further investigation is underway. Earlier in August last year, a journalist was allegedly shot dead at his home by unidentified miscreants in Araria district of Bihar. "In the Raniganj Bazar area, a journalist namely Vimal Kumar Yadav was shot dead by unidentified miscreants...post-mortem is underway. The dog squad has been called to the murder spot...An investigation is on," said Ashok Kumar Singh, Superintendent of Police, Araria. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose all details to the Election Commission of India which are in its possession, including the Electoral Bonds' unique alphanumeric numbers corresponding to each bond. A five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked SBI's Chairman to file a compliance affidavit 5 pm of March 21. The Chairman has to file affidavit indicating that SBI has disclosed all details of Electoral Bonds which were in its possession and custody and no details have been withheld, the court said. It further asked the Election Commission of India to upload the details on its website forthwith upon receipt of information from the SBI. There is no manner of doubt that SBI was required to disclose all details available with it. This, we clarify, will include the alphanumeric number and serial number, if any, of the bonds purchased," the bench ordered. It added, "In order to avoid any controversy in the future, the Chairperson of the bank should file an affidavit by 5 pm on Thursday that it has disclosed all details in its custody and that no details have been withheld." The bench said that its February 15 judgment mandated the SBI to disclose all details including the date of purchase/redemption, name of purchaser/recipient, and the denomination of Electoral Bonds. The use of the word including means that the details specified in the judgment are illustrative and not exhaustive, the apex court said. The bench, during the hearing, observed that SBI should not be selective on disclosing the details. Last week, the apex court took exception to SBI for not furnishings Electoral Bonds data with unique alphanumeric numbers, which help identify the bond, and issued notice to it. It had said that the SBI has not fully complied with its March 11 order in which it had ordered the bank to disclose all details concerning Electoral Bonds. During today's hearing, the top court also expressed displeasure on SCBA President Adhish Aggarwala writing letter to CJI DY Chandrachud for suo motu review of Electoral Bonds judgement, and CJI said these are all publicity related issue and we will not get into this. CJI told Aggarwala, "Apart from being a senior counsel, you are president of SCBA. You have written a letter invoking my suo Motu powers. These are all publicity related... and we will not get into this. Do not make me say anything more. It will be distasteful." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Centre, told the apex court that ultimate aim was to curb black money and top court must be aware of how this judgment is being played outside the court. "Now the witch hunting has started on another level and not at the level of the Central government. Those before the court started giving press interviews and deliberately embarrassing the court. A series of social media posts, at least intended to cause embarrassment, started," Solicitor General said and asked it to consider issuing some direction in this regard. To this, CJI DY Chandrachud said that as judges we are only on the rule of law and work as per the Constitution. "Our court is only to work for the governance of rule of law in this polity. As judges we are also discussed in social media but our shoulders are broad enough to take this. We are only on enforcing our directions of the judgment," said the CJI. The Supreme Court by its February verdict had struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme which allowed for anonymous funding to political parties, and ordered the SBI to stop issuing Electoral Bonds immediately. It had unanimously quashed the Electoral Bonds scheme as well as amendments made to the Income Tax Act and the Representation of People Act which had made the donations anonymous. It had asked SBI to furnish the details about each Electoral Bonds encashed by the political parties, which shall include the date of encashment and the denomination of electoral bond. An Electoral Bond is an instrument in the nature of a promissory note or bearer bond which can be purchased by any individual, company, firm or association of persons provided the person or body is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. The bonds are issued specifically for the purpose of contribution of funds to political parties. Various petitions were filed before the top court challenging amendments made to different statutes through Finance Act 2017 and Finance Act 2016 on the ground that they have opened doors to unlimited, unchecked funding of political parties. (ANI)
Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday took a potshot at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying his (Rahul Gandhi) yatras turned out to be Congress Todo, Congress Chodo Yatras. He further alleged that wherever the Rahul Gandhi-led yatras passed through, the Congress was badly defeated. Former CM Chouhan made the remark while speaking to reporters in the state capital Bhopal on Monday in view of the Congress' mega rally in Mumbai on Sunday. "Yesterday Rahul Gandhi concluded another failed 'Yatra' in Mumbai. Rahul Gandhi did two Yatras, both turned out to be 'Congress Todo, Congress Chodo Yatra' and wherever the yatras passed by, the Congress was badly defeated. Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra also did injustice to Congress. Whenever the Yatra passed through, either the Congress faced defeat or senior Congress leaders left the party," Chouhan said. He also asked Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge four questions including why they took the decision to decline the invitation to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram in Ayodhya? "Today, I want to ask Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge four questions and seek replies on those questions. The country wants to know why they took the decision to decline the invitation to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram in Ayodhya? I believe that they should answer for their historical mistake. Why did Congress not give a single statement in support of women regarding the atrocities committed against women in West Bengal? Is this not your (Congress) appeasement policy?" Chouhan asked. He further added, "Rahul Gandhi and his party leaders give objectionable statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is not in the culture of India. Making objectionable statements against the person holding the post of Prime Minister, is this the culture of Congress and the INDI alliance?" "The Congress leaders are continuously leaving the party which proves that there is no leadership left in the Congress party," the BJP leader said. He also questioned why Supreme leader of Congress party, Sonia Gandhi did not show courage to contest upcoming Lok Sabha elections and sought response from the party. "Congress should also answer why the supreme leader of Congress, Sonia Gandhi did not contest the Lok Sabha elections and why she did not show courage to be elected by the public," Chouhan added. (ANI)
Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday said that Arvind kejriwal got bail in an excise policy issue so they found a new case under which he was being summoned adding that the BJP can find out any issue and summon anyone they want. The Delhi Minister told ANI that if Kejriwal holds rally, hindrances for the Bharatiya Janata Party will increase. "Central government feels that if Arvind Kejriwal goes out of Delhi and holds rally and meeting for INDIA alliance, hindrances for BJP will increase. So, they want to put him behind bars somehow. He got bail in excise policy issue so they found a new one. They (BJP) have all the agencies with them, they can find out any issues and summon anyone they want," he said. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not appear before the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday in connection with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) money laundering probe. Earlier, ED had issued another summons to Arvind Kejriwal for Monday in connection with the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) money laundering probe. He was issued a summons by the ED under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the Delhi Jal Board case. Earlier, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Minister Atishi claimed that the case is 'fake', adding that the party is not aware of the case registered by the ED in this matter. In February this year, ED arrested a retired chief engineer, Jagdish Kumar Arora, and a contractor, Anil Kumar Aggarwal, in connection with its money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in the tendering process of the DJB. ED is investigating two separate matters of irregularities in the tendering process of the DJB, and its criminal case stems from an FIR of the CBI and from the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government. Kejriwal got bail on a 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. The court directed the Dehi Chief Minister that following the law is appropriate for a person who has taken the oath of the Constitution. The Delhi CM has so far skipped eight previous summons issued by the ED in the Delhi Excise Policy case on March 4, February 26, February 19, February 2, January 18, January 3, November 2 and December 22, calling them "illegal and politically motivated". The ED wants to record Kejriwal's statement in the case on issues like the formulation of policy, meetings held before it was finalised, and allegations of bribery. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took on the opposition over corruption and dynastic politics and said that they have been involved in the country's "biggest scams." Addressing a rally in Jagtial on Monday, PM Modi said that the biggest festival of democracy begins and on May 13, and the voters of Telangana will script history. "Support for the BJP is increasing in Telangana. As May 13 is coming closer, the wave of BJP in Telangana is sweeping the Congress and BRS," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister slammed the BRS and said that they had misused people's faith, formed government and then betrayed their trust. "It is BRS who has misused people's faith, formed government and then betrayed their trust. For 10 years, after its formation, Telangana was ruthlessly looted by BRS. And now, Congress has made Telangana its 'personal ATM' and all the looted money is going to Delhi. Both parties have been involved in the country's "biggest scams," PM Modi said. PM Modi "guaranteed" the people of Telangana that he would take action against those involved in looting the people of the state. "I guarantee the people of Telangana that those who have deceived you will not be spared. Parivarvadi parties only want to form governments to benefit from it, not to uplift the people. Be it 2G scam, the National Herald scam, the Bofors scam, or the Fodder scam... Behind every big scam, there lies a Parivarvadi party," he added. Continuing his attack, PM Modi said that Telangana sees it now that BRS and Congress are partners in crime. "Telangana sees it now that BRS and Congress are partners in crime. Congress does not condemn the scams of BRS. It does not question BRS about the Kaleshwaram project... On the other hand, BRS is not asking Congress about the fulfilment of commitments, based on which it secured a mandate. BRS and Congress are covering for each other. And, when an inquiry is set on both parties, they start hurling abuses at Modi," the PM said. The Prime Minister further asserted that Congress crushed the dreams of Telangana, while BRS misused people's faith. "Congress crushed the dreams of Telangana, while BRS misused people's faith. For 10 years, after its formation, Telangana was ruthlessly looted by BRS. And now, Congress has made Telangana its 'personal ATM'. It uses people's hard-earned money to fund its divisive policies. Congress, which once used to put corruption allegations on BRS, now gives it a supporting 'hand'," he said. The Prime Minister urged the people to show faith in the BJP during the Lok Sabha elections. "Had we been in power in Telangana, it would have assisted us in the development of Telangana. Your rage at BRS was evident in the Vidhan Sabha elections. Now, keep the rage alive and ensure the BJP's victory in the Lok Sabha elections," he said. PM Modi further highlighted the work done by his government and said that his government spent Rs 25,000 crore to build highways in Telangana. "Our government spent Rs. 25,000 crore to build highways in Telangana. From independence till 2014, Telangana had only 2,500 km of national highways. Whereas, the BJP, in a mere 10 years, built 2,000 km of national highways in Telangana," he added. The Prime Minister further said that people who wish to talk to him in Telugu can communicate with him with the help of technology "With the help of technology, I wish to talk to you in Telugu. But for this, you all will have to do one thing which is to check the Namo in Telugu site on X," he added. There are 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Telangana. The 17 constituencies in Telangana are Adilabad, Bhuvanagiri, Chevella, Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahabubabad, Mahabubnagar, Malkajgiri, Medak, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Peddapalle, Secunderabad, Warangal and Zahirabad. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BRS won nine of 17 seats, while the BJP and Congress bagged four and three seats, respectively. The elections for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held from April 19 to June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. (ANI)
A delegation of Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLAs met the Legislative Assembly Speaker at his residence and asked to disqualify Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender who won elections on a BRS ticket and joined Congress party on Sunday. On Sunday Chevella BRS MP Ranjith Reddy and Khairatabad BRS MLA Danam Nagender joined the Congress in the presence of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Earlier, three other sitting Lok Sabha MPs had quit the BRS - Venkatesh Netha from Peddapalli, Pothuganti Ramulu from Nagarkurnool and B B Patil from Zaheerabad. While Netha joined the Congress party, Ramulu and Patil joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Meanwhile on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took on the opposition over corruption and dynastic politics and said that they have been involved in the country's "biggest scams." Addressing a rally in Jagtial , PM Modi said that the biggest festival of democracy begins and on May 13, and the voters of Telangana will script history. "Support for the BJP is increasing in Telangana. As May 13 is coming closer, the wave of BJP in Telangana is sweeping the Congress and BRS," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister slammed the BRS and said that they had misused people's faith, formed government and then betrayed their trust. "It is BRS who has misused people's faith, formed government and then betrayed their trust. For 10 years, after its formation, Telangana was ruthlessly looted by BRS. And now, Congress has made Telangana its 'personal ATM' and all the looted money is going to Delhi. Both parties have been involved in the country's "biggest scams," PM Modi said. PM Modi "guaranteed" the people of Telangana that he would take action against those involved in looting the people of the state. "I guarantee the people of Telangana that those who have deceived you will not be spared. Parivarvadi parties only want to form governments to benefit from it, not to uplift the people. Be it 2G scam, the National Herald scam, the Bofors scam, or the Fodder scam... Behind every big scam, there lies a Parivarvadi party," he added. The Prime Minister urged the people to show faith in the BJP during the Lok Sabha elections. "Had we been in power in Telangana, it would have assisted us in the development of Telangana. Your rage at BRS was evident in the Vidhan Sabha elections. Now, keep the rage alive and ensure the BJP's victory in the Lok Sabha elections," he said. PM Modi further highlighted the work done by his government and said that his government spent Rs 25,000 crore to build highways in Telangana. "Our government spent Rs. 25,000 crore to build highways in Telangana. From independence till 2014, Telangana had only 2,500 km of national highways. Whereas, the BJP, in a mere 10 years, built 2,000 km of national highways in Telangana," he added. There are 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Telangana. The 17 constituencies in Telangana are Adilabad, Bhuvanagiri, Chevella, Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahabubabad, Mahabubnagar, Malkajgiri, Medak, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Peddapalle, Secunderabad, Warangal and Zahirabad. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BRS won nine of 17 seats, while the BJP and Congress bagged four and three seats, respectively. The elections for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held from April 19 to June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the disqualification of six Congress leaders of Himachal Pradesh who had cross voted for the BJP candidate during the Rajya Sabha elections in the State and issuing notice to the respondents on their petition challenging the decision of the Legislative Assembly Speaker. "We are not going to stay the disqualification," the apex court said. A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta also denied the six MLAs permission to vote or participate in proceedings of the House. The top court listed the matter for the second week of May. The court was apprised of the fact that date of the general elections has been announced and that the date of filing of nomination has been notified for this May. On February 29, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania disqualified six Congress MLAs Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Davinder K Bhutto, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal under the anti-defection law. After the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress had 40 MLAs, while the BJP had 25 in the 68-member state assembly. The remaining three seats are held by independents. In the voting of the Rajya Sabha election recently, the BJP, which has just 25 MLAs, managed to secure nine additional votes. The vote ended in a 34-34 tie, with three Independents and six Congress MLAs cross-voting for the BJP candidate. BJP candidate Harsh Mahajan won the contest defeating the Congress nominee Abhishek Singhvi after the result was decided with a draw of lots. (ANI)
Congress leader & Kerala LoP VD Satheesan on Monday alleged that there is an unholy nexus between CPI(M) and BJP and CBI and ED is not questioning Kerala CM Vijayan of the SNC Lavalin case which was postponed for 38 times, adding that they had brought evidence to prove that. "A few years back, opposition in Kerala had made an allegation that there is an unholy nexus between CPI(M) and BJP and we had brought evidence to prove that," said Satheesan. Pointing at the cases pending against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he said, "The case against Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, is pending before the Supreme Court, 38 times it was postponed, CBI was not ready to appear before the court. In many cases, the CBI and ED are not ready to question Kerala CM...now the LDF convener stated that BJP will come up second place in many constituencies (in Kerala)." In 2006, journalist TP Nandakumar filed a complaint with the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) against Vijayan, current Kerala Finance Minister TM Thomas Issac, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) polit bureau member MA Baby. Vijayan was accused of allegedly hatching a criminal conspiracy while he was serving as the Electricity Minister of Kerala from May 1996 to October 1998. Vijayan and other senior executives of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) -- former Power Department secretary K Mohanachandran and former joint secretary A Francis -- were accused of allegedly awarding the contract for renovation and modernisation of a few hydroelectric projects to a Canada-based company SNC-Lavalin at exorbitant rates. Satheesan further slammed, "Now the LDF convener stated that BJP will come at second place in many constituencies (in Kerala). We replied that wherever BJP will come second, LDF will come up in third position. LDF convener also said that there are good BJP candidates in Kerala..." He further made an allegation saying that there exists a business contract between BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar and the LDF convenor. "I challenge Rajeev Chandrasekhar to prove that there is no connection existing," he added. It is noteworthy that one of the most high-profile constituencies in this Lok Sabha election is Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. Three-time MP from the constituency Shashi Tharoor of the Congress is up against Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the BJP and a strong left candidate in Pannyan Raveendran a former MP. Kerala holds 20 Lok Sabha seats. The elections to all the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala will be held on April 26. The 18th general elections to 543 seats in the country will be held in seven phases with the first phase beginning on April 19. Kerala among 13 States will go for polls in the second phase on April 26. Counting of the votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)
Union Minister and BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Shakti' remark that stirred controversy ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and said that such statements are insulting to the Hindu faith and were made to divide communities. "They are either saying things that are outright lies, or they say things that are absolutely insulting to the Hindu faith, or they do things that are dividing communities. I find Rahul Gandhi's entire conduct the most mystifying, most confusing act in Indian politics. It is not something that I waste my time analyzing," said Chandrasekhar. Taking a dig at Congress' performance in 2014 and 2019 elections, he said, "The people of India have told them again and again in the 14 and 19 elections what they think about him and his views." The Indian National Congress (of the UPA) could only manage 44 seats in 2014, while in 2019 they won 52 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Rahul Gandhi, in his comments made on Sunday in Maharashtra, had raised concerns about the operation of EVMs, to emphasize the opposition's struggle against the might of the state. "There is a word 'Shakti' (might) in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti (might of the state). The question is, what is that Shakti and what does it entail for us? The soul and integrity of EVMs have been traded to the King (Modi). This is a fact. Not just EVMs but every autonomous institution of the country, be it the ED, CBI or Income Tax department, have traded their spines to the Centre," Rahul said in an address in Mumbai. While speaking about the Election Commission of India's orders for the removal of home secretaries in six states, he said, "This is normal, the election commission, during elections, makes changes for free, fair and transparent elections. I think it's a part of that." In a decisive move towards upholding the principles of free, fair and transparent elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued orders for the removal of Home Secretaries in six states, namely Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Additionally, the Secretary of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh has also been removed. When asked about the allegations raised against him by opposition leader VD Satheeshan, Chandrashekhar responded that the Congress would do all kinds of things. He believes that they have run out of ways to compete with the BJP's ideas of development, progress, and prosperity. Chandrasekhar further stated that he sees their accusations as part of a political strategy to make connections between the BJP and other parties, especially the left in Kerala. "The Congress will do all these kinds of things. They have long since run out of ways of competing with our ideas of development, our ideas of progress and prosperity. So they will continuously do this. They lied in 2014, and they accused Modi ji in 2019. This is part of the political strategy of trying to make these connections between the BJP and other parties, especially the left in Kerala, as they did with BRS in Telangana, to make up stories, just to appeal to some election vote bank. The funniest and most ironic thing about all this is that Congress and the left are INDIA partners; they have samosas and teas all the time." (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a roadshow in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore on Monday as part of the BJP's election campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai and Union Minister L Murugan also accompanied him during the roadshow. A large number of spectators gathered in the area to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister during the roadshow. Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his 'Shakti' remark' and said that every woman, along with Shakti worshippers in the country, will teach the opposition alliance a lesson on June 4 (the counting day of Lok Sabha polls). Addressing a public meeting in Shivamogga, Prime Minister Modi said, "Yesterday an announcement to destroy Shakti was made from Shivaji Park (in Mumbai). How much it must have hurt the soul of Balasaheb Thackeray. Nari Shakti ka yahi aashirvad mera sabse bada kawach hai (the blessings of Nari Shaki are my biggest security shield). No other government has given so much focus to Nari Shakti since Independence." He further stated that an attack on 'Shakti' means an attack on daughters and women in the country. "The people of the INDI alliance want to destroy this Shakti. They hate the increasing shakti of Maa Bharti. An attack on Shakti means an attack on women, daughters, or Maa Bharti. The INDI alliance and Congress have challenged this Shakti. Our daughters, women of this country, and worshippers of Shakti will give them a befitting reply on June 4," he said. Rahul Gandhi, in his comments made on Sunday in Maharashtra, raised concerns about the operation of EVMs to emphasize the opposition's struggle against the might of the state. "There is a word 'Shakti' (might) in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti (might of the state). The question is, what is that, Shakti and what does it entail for us? The soul and integrity of EVMs have been traded to the King (Modi). This is a fact. Not just EVMs but every autonomous institution of the country, be it the ED, CBI or Income Tax Department, have traded their spines to the Centre," Rahul said in an address in Mumbai. Notably, the BJP is without a major alliance partner in Tamil Nadu and PM Modi has already made five visits to Tamil Nadu this year ahead of the Lok Sabha election. The state will see voting on all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Phase 1 on April 19. (ANI)
Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Kolkata, Vivek Sahay was appointed as the DGP of West Bengal on Monday, following the removal of the previous DGP, Rajeev Kumar by the Election Commission. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made this decision in anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, aiming to uphold the principles of fairness, transparency, and freedom in the electoral process. Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of India (ECI) issued orders for the removal of West Bengal's Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Iqbal Chahal along with some other senior officials from various states. The ECI has also ordered the removal of certain key officials of six states in what it termed a decisive move towards upholding the principles of free, fair and transparent elections. "The Governor is pleased to appoint Shri Vivek Sahay, IPS, Director General and Commandant General, Home Guards, West Bengal, to the post of Director General and Inspector of Police, West Bengal with immediate effect until further order. This appointment is made in the interest of public service," the chief secretary of West Bengal wrote in a notice. The DGP had been in the spotlight after the BJP and other opposition parties criticised the Bengal police for alleged inaction in giving justice to the victims of Sandeshkhali. The Sandeshkhali area had been witnessing unrest after women protestors sought justice against alleged atrocities committed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides. The ECI also issued orders for the removal of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Iqbal Chahal along with some other senior officials from various states. The poll body ordered the removal of certain key officials from six states in what it termed a decisive move towards upholding the principles of free, fair and transparent elections. Home Secretaries in six states Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have been asked to step down. Additionally, the secretaries of the General Administrative Department in Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have been removed. Meanwhile, the Election Commission also directed all state governments to transfer officers connected with election-related work, who have completed three years or are in their home districts. (ANI)
The pharmaceutical manufacturer Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited has announced India's first homegrown indigenous Hydroxyurea oral suspension for the treatment of sickle disease in children at 1 per cent cost of the global price. Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also congratulated Akums for developing a medicine to prevent sickle cell disease. "Many congratulations to you for developing a medicine to prevent sickle cell disease. PM Modi launched the Sickle Cell Anemia Eradication Mission in 2023. This medicine will prove to be a boon, especially for our tribal sisters, brothers and children and we will soon free India from sickle cell," Mandaviya posted on X by tagging Akums. Hydroxyurea Oral Suspension will be used for symptomatic management of sickle cell syndrome for the prevention of recurrent painful vaso-occlusive crises including acute chest syndrome in adults, adolescents and children older than 2 years. On the development of the sickle cell anaemia drug under Make in India, Akums MD Sanjeev Jain told ANI that the price of the medicine developed in India for sickle cell anaemia is 1 per cent of the global price. "80 per cent population of this disease (sickle cell anaemia) is in Africa and India. We did some study and realised that we cannot eradicate this disease if its medicine is not available at a lower price. After some research, we have developed a medicine. The price is around 1 per cent (of the global price)," he said. "Secondly, it is stable at room temperature. Earlier, the patients had to come to the hospital to take the medicine, but this medicine can be administered where they are. This medicine can be stored at a temperature of 25C. It is suitable for children and adults. We worked on it for 2 years and we are ready to commercialise it. We are ready for the manufacturing also. We are hopeful that we will be able to provide this medicine for Rs 700-800," Jain added. Talking about the production of the medicine, Sanjeev said that the company has the capacity to produce 2 crores bottles per month. "We are completely ready for the production (sickle cell anaemia drug). We have sent a commercial batch to the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) for approval. We can produce 2 crore bottles per month," he said. The dosage of Hydroxyurea Oral Suspension is based on the patient's body weight. The usual starting dose is 15mg/kg/day and the usual maintenance dose is between 20-25 mg/kg/day. The maximum dose is 35 mg/kg/day. "Globally Hydroxyurea is available as a capsule and solution. Capsules can not be dose-calibrated and the solution needs to be stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. Thus, there was a requirement for a formulation of Hydroxyurea that could be given based on body weight and is also stable at room temperature. This challenge was given to us by MoHFW and Dr V K Paul," officials from Akums told ANI. "Our R&D team accepted the challenge and worked on multiple trials in two years. Finally, they succeeded and formulated a room-temperature stable oral suspension of Hydroxyurea. CDSCO (DCGI) asked us to do bioequivalence studies with a global brand. We completed BE studies and got approval from DCGI," he explained further. The officials added that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will guide Akums to conduct the Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) study. "Once the product is commercialized within a month, as per CDSCO requirement, Akums needs to do a Post Marketing Surveillance (PMS) study. Akums is honoured that we will be guided by ICMR to conduct PMS under their guidance," the officials said. The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission was launched by the Prime Minister on July 1, 2023, at Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh. (ANI)
He warned that in today's digital landscape, where online transactions and the use of UPI or net banking, are on the rise, cybercriminals employ deceptive methods to transfer money from victims' accounts to their own.

He stressed the importance of reporting cyber fraud incidents promptly to helpline number 1930. "Doing so during the "golden hours" significantly increases the likelihood of freezing fraudulent amounts, with around a 70 per cent success rate," he said.

Addressing the media in Rohtak district today, Kapur stressed the need for individuals to shield themselves from enticing offers and refrain from sharing OTP, emphasising that OTP is never required to receive money but is essential for withdrawing funds. He cautioned against falling for schemes enticing investments in trading or stock markets through WhatsApp groups and fake websites.

Moreover, Kapur highlighted other tactics employed by cybercriminals, such as threats to block phone numbers citing TRAI guidelines or impersonating officials from agencies like CBI, ED, or police to extort money by instilling fear of FIRs. He also noted instances where fraudsters exploit people's emotions by fabricating medical emergencies to solicit immediate money transfers.

Kapur urged people to verify requests for money transfers and remain vigilant. (ANI)
Gopal Singh, the father of the shopkeeper who was allegedly attacked by some miscreants over an altercation that occurred for playing the devotional song during Azaan in Bengaluru, demanded justice for his son. Speaking to ANI, Gopal Singh said, "I was not present here but my son told me that he was playing devotional songs at that time. They had come to fight with him. The sound was low only. They beat him up. We went to the police station also. We want justice." Meanwhile, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Monday demanded the arrest of all the accused involved by Tuesday saying that if it does not happen there would be a bandh in Nagarathpete. Speaking to reporters after meeting the shopkeeper who was attacked by a group of men for playing devotional songs during Azaan, the BJP leader demanded that the Bengaluru City Commissioner investigate the incident in an unbiased and professional manner. "Yesterday evening, Mukesh, who is an honest hardworking shopkeeper was conducting his business. In the evening, he said that he had a practice of playing devotional songs on his speaker. Last evening when he was conducting his business, attending to his customers and playing the Hanuman Chalisa, a few miscreants came to his shop and started an argument with him and demanded that he switch off and stop playing the Hanuman Chalisa. When he refused, he was pulled out and 6-7 miscreants thrashed him. You can see the injuries that he has sustained. He has suffered grievous injuries," he said. Alleging that the local police did not register the FIR initially, Surya said, "Immediately, Mukesh and the neighbouring shopkeepers tried to reach the nearest police station to register an FIR. Even after submitting a detailed written complaint, the local police did not register an FIR. It was only after the intervention of PC Mohan, myself and local BJP leaders that the FIR was registered at a belated stage." "The locals here are apprehensive that the police have filed a diluted FIR and added names of certain people who may not be involved in the crime itself. Every single accused is visible on the CCTV camera. Locals say that these boys are from the local area. Yet after more than 12-15 hours, only 3 people have been apprehended by the police. We have demanded that by tomorrow morning all those accused being seen on CCTV must be arrested immediately. We are demanding from the Bengaluru City Commissioner to investigate the incident in an unbiased and professional manner," Surya added. "By tomorrow, we want the rest of the accused to be apprehended. If not tomorrow, by 12.30 pm, there will be a bandh in Nagarathpete. All of us will participate and demand justice for what has happened to Mukesh. This is a question of law and order and physical safety," the BJP leader told the media. Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Police said that during the 'Azaan' time, when a shopkeeper played a song loudly near Siddanna Layout, in Bengaluru, an altercation occurred between a group of people and the shopkeeper. "An altercation occurred between a group of people and a shopkeeper last evening during 'Azaan' time when a shopkeeper played a song loudly near Siddanna Layout, in Bengaluru. A few Muslim youths questioned him, and an argument ensued, leading to them hitting the shopkeeper," Bengaluru Police said. The police further said that an FIR has been registered at Halasuru Gate Police Limit, and the police are working to arrest the accused. The police said that further investigation was underway. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court recently directed Delhi police to expeditiously complete the probe in the matter related to a stage collapse during a religious function (Jagran) in January this year at Kalkaji Temple which left several persons injured and a 45-year-old woman dead. Delhi Police assured the court that investigation will be concluded in four weeks and a charge sheet will be filed. Justice Prathiba M Singh directed Delhi police to conclude the investigation and take action against the persons responsible for the incident. The High court took note of the status report filed by Delhi Police and said that permission for the event was given by the Temple. It also noted that the permission was not given by the Administrator appointed by the court who has complete control over the management and administration of Temple. Moreover, in order of 20 February, 2024, the Court had observed that the Mahant himself had filed an affidavit stating that he has handed over the control and management of the Kalkaji Mandir premises to the Learned Administrator after the order dated 27th September, 2021, the High court noted in the order of March 12. On 20th February, 2024 this Court had directed the Delhi Police to conduct an investigation and submit a detailed report stating as to who were the persons responsible for the incident that took place on the intervening night of 27/28th January, 2024 within the Kalkaji mandir premises as a result of which several got injured and one women passed away. Delhi police status report revealed that the jagran was organised by Shri Kalkaji Sajja Sewadar Mitr Mandal and its president/office bearers Anuj Mittal and Satish Kumar who were the organisers. They were given permission by Surender Nath Avdhoot who describes himself as the Mahant of the Kalkaji Mandir. Delhi police submitted that the investigation is yet to be concluded with respect to the incident which took place in the jagran and as to who all are responsible for conducting the same. Thus, it is directed that the police shall continue its investigation and conclude the same expeditiously and take action against all persons who are culpable, the bench said in the order. During the hearing SHO of Kalkaji Police station assured the Court that the investigation shall be completed within four weeks and the chargesheet shall be filed. The statement is taken on record by the court. (ANI)
Central Government on Monday issued a Gazette notification regarding formation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal to adjudicate whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bhat faction) (MCJK-B) and Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction) (MCJK-S) has as an unlawful association. The notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs reads that Central Government constitutes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal consisting of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, Judge, High Court of Delhi, to adjudicate whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bhat faction) (MCJK-B) and Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction) (MCJK-S) has as an unlawful association. On February 28, MHA declared the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction) and Muslim Conference Jammu & Kashmir (Bhat faction) as unlawful associations for five years. The move came after the MHA found that these outfits have been engaging in activities against the sovereignty and integrity of the nation. As per the notification, the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Sumji faction), chaired by Ghulam Nabi Sumji, is known for its anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda. It also mentioned that the Muslim Conference Jammu and Kashmir (Bhat faction), or MCJK-S, chaired by Abdul Ghani Bhat, has been indulging in unlawful activities that are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country. (ANI)
The blast in 1998 had claimed the lives of 58 people and 250 suffered injuries when 19 bomb explosions rocked Coimbatore city in Tamil Nadu between February 14 and 17, 1998.

The improvised explosive devices, with time delay mechanisms, had been placed in cars, two-wheelers, abandoned bags, push carts, tea cans, and so on.

Following the incident, Tamil Nadu government banned the 'Ummah' organization whose founder Basha was a mastermind in the incident.

The Madras High Court, in its verdict in December 2009 on the appeals filed by those convicted by the trial court, said that February 14, 1998, was a day of "unimaginable terror and horror as bombs continuously exploded in the city of Coimbatore."

Of the 166 accused in the case, the trial court in August 2007 pronounced 69 people guilty of different offenses.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a roadshow in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore on Monday as part of the BJP's election campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai and Union Minister L Murugan also accompanied him during the roadshow.

A large number of spectators gathered in the area to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister during the roadshow.

Notably, the BJP is without a major alliance partner in Tamil Nadu, and PM Modi has already made five visits to Tamil Nadu this year ahead of the Lok Sabha election.

The state will vote on all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Phase 1 on April 19. (ANI)
A man has been arrested by the Delhi police for allegedly stabbing a woman with a knife in the Alipur area of New Delhi, a police official said. The deceased was identified as Ritu (32) resident of Singhu Village, Delhi. According to the police, the accused person had attacked on deceased with a knife. The accused was identified as Puran Singh. The incident came to light when SRHC Hospital in Narela on March 15, notified the police at 9:07 PM that a woman identified as Ritu, aged 32 and residing in Singhu Village, had been admitted with severe injuries. Despite medical efforts, Ritu succumbed to her wounds, the police said. The deceased's husband and her sister were identified as Kharju and Moni respectively. Ritu's husband and her sister accompanied the deceased to SRHC Hospital, the police said. Following the victim's husband's statement, authorities registered a case under IPC section 302 at PS Alipur, Delhi, and initiated a thorough investigation, said the police. Through diligent efforts, including the examination of CCTV footage and interviews with witnesses, the police were able to track down the suspect and recovered a blood-stained knife (the weapon of offence) within 24 hours of the incident. According to the police, the accused, Puran Singh, confessed that his actions were motivated by his belief that Ritu's husband, Kharju, had engaged in inappropriate communication with his wife, sparking resentment and anger. On the night of March 14 around 9-10 pm, he saw Kharju touching his wife inappropriately, when they were all sitting together. He couldn't bear it, but somehow managed to control his anger and went to sleep.The tensions came to a head on the evening of March 15, when Puran Singh, consumed by rage, launched a fatal attack on Ritu. Having fear of being nabbed he fled from the spot, the police added. (ANI)
Hours after the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) reached a seat-sharing agreement in Bihar for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, Lovely Anand, wife of gangster turned politician Anand Mohan, joined the Janata Dal (United) on Monday. After joining the party, Lovely said that their goal is to win all 40 seats from Bihar in the general election. "We have come to strengthen the party. Our goal is to win all 40 seats," she told ANI. National Democratic Alliance reached a seat-sharing agreement in Bihar for the Lok Sabha polls on Monday with the BJP set to contest 17 seats and JD-U 16. The seat-sharing agreement was announced by BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde on Monday. He said LJP (Ram Vilas) will contest five seats and Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha will fight one seat each. "The NDA alliance will fight the polls collectively. We will put our full force on all 40 seats in the state. We will win on all the 40 seats. It is my belief," he said. He said the BJP will field candidates in Pashchim Champaran, Purvi Champaran, Aurangabad, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Maharajganj, Saran, Begusarai, Nawada, Patna Sahib, Patliputra, Aara, Buxar, and Sasaram. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest Vaishali, Hajipur, Samastipur, Khagaria and Jamui. Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha on Gaya and Karakat seats respectively. Reacting to the seat-sharing of NDA in Bihar, JD (U) leader Ashok Choudhary said that they were expecting to get 16 seats. "We had expected this, of getting 16 seats. This must have happened with the consent of leaders," he said. Bihar will see polling in seven phases. The first phase of 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, the fifth phase on May 20, the sixth phase on May 25, and the seventh phase on June 1. The Election Commission on Saturday announced the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The polling will be conducted in seven phases across the nation from April 19 to June 1. Votes will be counted on June 4. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA, consisting of BJP, JDU ( (Janata Dal-United), and LJP (Lok Janshakti Party), secured victory by taking the lead on 39 out of 40 seats. Meanwhile, the Mahagathbandhan, led by RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), INC (Indian National Congress), and RLSP (Rashtriya Lok Samta Party), only managed to secure one seat. (ANI)
"Due to serious medical condition , my father is admitted in hospital and I am withdrawing my candidature for Ahmedabad east parliament seat as Congress Candidate. I will extend complete support to the new candidate nominated by party," Gupta said in a post on 'X'.

The Congress national spokesperson also shared his letter stating the withdrawal of his candidature along with his post.

Gupta was among the 43 candidates announced by the Congress on March 12, which included seven candidates from Gujarat.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Hasmukh Patel is currently the sitting MP from Ahmedabad East.

Gujarat will vote on May 7, in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections. The counting of votes is slated on June 4. The BJP has won all 26 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday convened core committee meetings at the party headquarters to deliberate on potential candidates for various states for the Lok Sabha polls. The states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Haryana, Odisha, Sikkim, Maharashtra and Gujarat were discussed in the meeting. BJP National President JP Nadda chaired the meeting, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party National General Secretary BL Santosh were present in the meeting. The first state that was discussed was Uttar Pradesh. The meeting was held in the presence of Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, both Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brijesh Pathak and BJP Uttar Pradesh president Bhupendra Chaudhary. As per sources, 25 Lok Sabha seats were discussed in the Uttar Pradesh BJP core group meeting. Sources suggest that National Democratic Alliance partner Apna Dal may get two seats to contest, one from Mirzapur and the other from Sonbhadra. While Ghaziabad MP General VK Singh might be fielded again from his constituency in the elections, the BJP may drop its Barabanki seat candidate. In the second phase, the core group meeting was held to strategize on the election in Haryana at the party headquarters. Newly appointed Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini and former Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar were present at the meeting. In the third phase, the meeting was held at the party office to strategize on the polls in Rajasthan. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, State President CP Joshi, in-charge Arun Singh, and co-in-charge Vijaya Rahatkar were present in the meeting. As per sources, the discussion took place to decide on candidates for the remaining 10 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan. The core group is slated to prepare the final panel on Monday and the BJP Central Election Committee will approve the list in the next one or two days. In the fourth phase, the core group meeting focused on West Bengal. West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari and Amitabh Chakraborty were present in the meeting. The meeting took place to discuss candidates for the remaining 23 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Core committee meetings were also held for Sikkim, Odisha, and Maharashtra, respectively, with Odisha BJP president Man Mohan Samal and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan leading discussions for Odisha. In addition to this, BJP MP Joel Oram, Sambit Patra, Baijayant Panda, Sunil Banshal, Lata Usendi, Vijay Pal Singh Tomar, Manas Mohanty were present at the meeting. The core committee meeting will be held on Tuesday again to deliberate extensively on Odisha. "In today's meeting, the election management was discussed. There will be another detailed meeting tomorrow. Today, other states were discussed. There will be a broad discussion on Odisha tomorrow," Samal said after the meeting. As per sources, the central election meeting will be held on Wednesday. Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal said that the picture will be clear after two days. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray reached Delhi late at night on Monday and is expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah soon. As per sources, Raj Thackeray may join the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP Mahayuti alliance. According to sources, the MNS chief may be alloted two Lok Sabha seats. Raj Thackeray said,"I don't know what my schedule is yet. I was just told to come to Delhi. Let's see." (ANI)
The volcanic eruption in Iceland''s Reykjanes Peninsula is the largest of the four recent ones in the area and has left the sky with plumes of smoke and orange hues, according to The Washington Post. According to the initial assessments, the eruption was the largest of the four recent ones since swarms of earthquakes caused the Svartsengi volcanic system to awaken for the first time in almost 800 years. The orange hues and the smoke were seen from the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, according to photos. The volcano that erupted on Saturday in southwestern Iceland has been recorded for the fourth time in three months, reported The Washington Post. The eruption led to destructive lava flowing towards the town of Grindavik, prompting the evacuation of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa resort and the nearby town of Grindavik, amid emergency warnings. Moreover, it quickly formed a 1.8-mile-long fissure in the ground, the Icelandic Meteorological Office said. Lava was still flowing early Sunday, and footage of the eruption was being live-streamed by RUV, Iceland''s national broadcaster, according to The Washington Post. However, there was no such information available about the scale of damage or possible casualties. The sky around Mount Hagafell and Mount Stora Skogfell was captured, turning a molten orange as people watched and emergency services prepared to respond. Early Sunday, lava was flowing towards the south and southeast at a pace of about 0.62 mph, the Meteorological Office said. If that pace continues, it said, lava could reach the ocean -- which can send steam flying and, in some cases, cause explosions of lava fragments that can be dangerous to anyone nearby, it added. According to the local media, following the alert, authorities moved to evacuate people from the area, including the Blue Lagoon, one of the country''s most popular tourist attractions. Iceland is one of the most active volcanic areas on the planet. Instead of having a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley, with lava fields and cones, CNN reported. (ANI)
Thousands of devotees paid respects to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples on Monday in Krabi, Thailand. The holy relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples are currently enshrined in Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol in Krabi. Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Tashi Gyalson and a delegation from the Ministry of Culture also paid respects to the holy relics of Lord Buddha and offered 'sanghadaan' to venerable monks. "Chairman @tashi_gyalson & delegation from @MinOfCultureGoI paid respects to the holy relics of Lord Buddha & his two disciples currently enshrined in Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol in Krabi Thailand and offered 'sanghadaan' to venerable monks," the Indian Embassy in Thailand posted on X. https://x.com/IndiainThailand/status/1769606365264462207?s=20 On the third day of the exposition, thousands of devotees visited Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol to offer prayers. "On the third day of the exposition, thousands of devotees are visiting Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol in Krabi to offer prayers to the holy relics of #LordBuddha and his two disciples, which have been brought from India," another post stated. https://x.com/IndiainThailand/status/1769240649256362251?s=20 Earlier this month, devotees paid homage to the holy relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. "Over two hundred thousand devotees pay homage today to the holy relics from India at Wat Maha Wanaram in Ubon Ratchathani. Tomorrow is the last day of exposition at Ubon Ratchathani before the holy relics travel to Krabi," the Indian embassy in Thailand said in a post on X. Prior to this, the sacred relics were in the city of Chiang Mai, where thousands of devotees gathered to pay homage. Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Thailand appreciated the continuous support of Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his government during the ongoing exposition and said that this would further deepen ties between the people of the two nations. The relics, which are on a 25-day exposition in four cities of Thailand, were enshrined for public veneration at a specially built mandapam at Sanam Luang Royal Palace grounds during its stay in Bangkok. After the exposition in the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Ubon Ratchathani from March 9-13, the relics will travel to Krabi. This will be followed by an exhibition in Krabi from March 14-18. The holy relics will be escorted back on March 19 from Thailand to their respective homes, concluding a historic and spiritually enriching exposition in Thailand. (ANI)
Following the death of an Indian student, Abhijeeth Paruchuru, in Boston, the Consulate General of India in New York has said that the initial probe has ruled out any kind of foul play in the case. The Indian Consulate is "deeply saddened" about the demise of Paruchuru, and stated that his parents are in "direct touch" with detectives regarding the case. "Deeply saddened to learn about the unfortunate demise of Mr. Abhijeeth Paruchuru, an Indian student in Boston. Mr Puruchuru's parents, based in Connecticut, are in direct touch with detectives," the Consulate General of India, New York wrote in a post on X. "Initial investigations rule out foul play," it added. Meanwhile, the Consulate has also helped the family with the transportation of his mortal remains to India. The post on X added, "@IndiainNewYork rendered assistance in documentation and transportation of his mortal remains to India. We remain in touch with local authorities and the community in the matter." https://x.com/IndiainNewYork/status/1769728978430923134?s=20 Further details are awaited. Notably, this is not the first time that a death has been reported regarding Indian students overseas. In March, the Indian Consulate in Chicago condoled the demise of Indian dancer, Amarnath Ghosh, who was allegedly shot dead by an unknown assailant in St Louis, Missouri in the United States. The incident was flagged by television actor Devoleena Bhattacharjee, who said that her close friend Ghosh, a Kolkata-based Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancer who was pursuing a PhD in the US was shot dead in St Louis on Tuesday and urged the Indian Embassy in and the External Minister S Jaishankar to initiate and investigation into the matter. Devoleena said that Ghosh hailed from Kolkata and both of his parents had passed away. She stated that Ghosh was attacked multiple times by an unknown assailant while he was taking an evening walk in the St Louis Academy neighbourhood. Notably, multiple distressing incidents have been reported lately from the US involving Indian nationals or people of Indian origin. As many as five Indian students were reported dead in separate incidents in the first two months of 2024. 41-year-old Vivek Taneja also died after succumbing to assault injuries in Washington. Last month, an Indian student, Syed Mazahir Ali, faced a brutal attack in Chicago on February 4. Following the attack, the Indian Consulate in Chicago stated that it was in touch with the victim, as well as his wife in India. (ANI)
A 15-year-old girl was walking to McDonalds after seeing a movie when she was shot during an attempted robbery, Florida officials said.

She has been identified as Kayla Rincon-Miller, according to the Cape Coral Police Department.

It should strike a nerve that a young, vibrant 15-year-old girl was shot dead in the street, Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said in a news conference the day after the shooting.

Rincon-Miller saw a movie the evening of Sunday, March 17, and went to get food afterward with two other girls, Sizemore said.

As they were making the roughly 16-minute walk to the McDonalds from the movie theater, a car pulled up on them and blinded the girls with the headlights, one witness told police.

Someone got out of the car and tried to rob them, police said. One person opened fire, striking Rincon-Miller in the chest, and the vehicle fled the scene, according to investigators.

By the time police arrived shortly before 10 p.m., Rincon-Miller was still conscious and was able to tell investigators she didnt know the shooter, Sizemore said. The other girls, who were both minors, told officers they didnt know the person either.

First responders applied a chest pack and performed CPR until Rincon-Miller was taken to a hospital, where she died of her injuries, Sizemore said.

Investigators are asking the public to come forward with any information, including tips and video footage from the area. Detectives have been speaking with neighbors and businesses in the area to identify those involved.

As Sizemore stood alone behind the podium, he said he would normally be surrounded by detectives, but the case requires all hands on deck, he said.

Police said the girls were local to the area but didnt share where they went to school.

In a tribute on Facebook, a family member said Rincon-Miller had a beautiful smile and a beautiful soul.

Cape Coral is on the Gulf Coast, about a 40-mile drive north of Naples.

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TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  The Taylorsville Police Department is looking for a suspect and their vehicle that officials said were involved in the possible abduction of a 21-year-old man on Sunday afternoon, according to a press release.

Police said the vehicle they are searching for is a white Jeep Liberty from the 2000s. According to officials, the vehicle has black door handles, a spare tire on the back and a grey front bumper.

Police said the vehicle they are searching for is a white Jeep Liberty from the 2000s that is said to be involved in a possible abduction on March 17, 2024. According to officials, the vehicle has black door handles, a spare tire on the back and a grey front bumper. (Courtesy of Taylorsville Police Department)

Police said the vehicle they are searching for is a white Jeep Liberty from the 2000s that is said to be involved in a possible abduction on March 17, 2024. According to officials, the vehicle has black door handles, a spare tire on the back and a grey front bumper. (Courtesy of Taylorsville Police Department)

Police said the vehicle they are searching for is a white Jeep Liberty from the 2000s that is said to be involved in a possible abduction on March 17, 2024. According to officials, the vehicle has black door handles, a spare tire on the back and a grey front bumper. (Courtesy of Taylorsville Police Department)

READ NEXT: Teenager shot in the back in West Valley, suspects flee

Taylorsville Police said the incident happened around 4:15 p.m. on March 17. The 21-year-old got into the vehicle around the area of 3800 West 5700 South in Taylorsville according to officials.

Witnesses heard a possible gunshot, and the vehicle sped away at a high rate of speed, Taylorsville Police said in the release.

Police are urging anyone with information about the incident or the vehicle to call the non-emergency dispatch number for Taylorsville PD at 801-840-4000.

There is no further information at this time.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
When Vice President Kamala Harris visited a Minnesota abortion clinic Thursday, it was a historic moment for reproductive rights advocates on a winning streak at the ballot box in states like Ohio.

For abortion opponents in Ohio, it was a tragedy and yet another loss.

"It's abhorrent that anyone would campaign in an abortion clinic," state Sen. Kristina Roegner, R-Hudson, said. Roegner has sponsored legislation to ban most abortions in Ohio and opposed the state's recent ballot measure to enshrine abortion access in the state constitution.

More: Kamala Harris declares 'health crisis' in historic visit to abortion clinic in Minnesota

"Even when someone makes a decision to have an abortion, I have to believe it's done with the utmost gravity," Roegner said. "That's why it should not be used as a campaign stop, promoting a tour like it's a book to be celebrated. It's not."

Roegner and fellow abortion opponents were dealt a blow in November when Ohioans approved a constitutional amendment that added protections for abortion, fertility treatment and other reproductive decisions to the state constitution. The 57-43% vote represented a backlash against decades of Republican laws limiting abortion access and closing abortion providers in the state.

Ohio was the seventh state to vote on abortion since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. More states are expected to follow suit this fall as Harris and Democratic President Joe Biden seek reelection. Democrats hope to parlay voters' support for abortion access into support for the Biden-Harris ticket.

Harris' visit is believed to be the first time a president or vice president has visited a clinic that provides abortion services.

"We have to be a nation that trusts women," Harris said at the Minnesota clinic, criticizing Republicans who impose abortion restrictions. "How dare these elected leaders believe they are in a better position to tell women what they need, to tell women what is in their best interest."

Mason Hickman, left, and Shakti Rambarraan, front, of the Ohio Womens Alliance react to Ohio approving protections for reproductive rights.

But even if that message resonates with Ohioans who voted to protect abortion access, there's no guarantee that Biden and Harris will resonate as candidates. Ohio voters demonstrated this disconnect when they overwhelmingly reelected GOP Gov. Mike DeWine in 2022  even though he signed the state's most restrictive abortion ban and declared Ohio a "pro-life state."

"Ohioans and Americans are not going to the ballot box to vote for president based on abortion. It's just simply not happening," said Mike Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life, which opposed the constitutional amendment.

Ohio has twice picked former President Donald Trump by eight percentage points and nearly all its statewide elected officials are Republicans. Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown faces a tough reelection bid this year in a seat Republicans believe they can flip.

Still, Gonidakis finds Harris' visit "disturbing" and evidence that the Biden administration has nothing better to offer voters. "The only issue that they have is abortion so it would make sense that they would go in at an abortion clinic," Gonidakis said.

Ohio Right ot Life President Mike Gonidakis campaigns against the reproductive rights amendment at a Geauga County GOP Central Committee meeting.

"VP Harris visit to an abortion facility offers an impoverished vision of policies our country can enact to respect women, life and address the challenges and gifts of motherhood," said Michelle Duffey, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Conference of Ohio. Ohio's Catholic churches spent time and money in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to block the reproductive rights amendment in November.

But Kellie Copeland, executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio, said Harris' visit sends a message to voters in Ohio who care about abortion access. She encouraged the Biden administration to be even more direct by saying the word "abortion" and advocating for reproductive healthcare.

"Ohio is and always has been deeply in favor of people having access to abortion without stigma, without shame and without political interference," said Copeland, who campaigned for the recent ballot measure. "When it comes to abortion, we dont like to beat around the bush."

Sen. Roegner isn't beating around the bush either. "If this is really what the Biden-Harris administration has to run on, then it's a sorry state of affairs for them."

Jessie Balmert 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: Harris' clinic visit 'abhorrent' for Ohio abortion opponents
Supporters of the Small Town Pride celebration used rainbow umbrellas to block protesters at the 2023 event in North Brookfield.

NORTH BROOKFIELD  The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts said Monday that it had reached a legal settlement with the Town of North Brookfield that will allow a local group, the Rural Justice Initiative, to hold a Small Town Pride event this year as planned.

In November, the North Brookfield Board of Selectmen declined to vote on a request for a permit to hold Small Town Pride on the town common, after organizers confirmed that a drag show would be part of the festivities. The ACLU sued on behalf the Rural Justice Network in December, alleging discrimination and violation of the rights to assembly and free expression.

"Its a great win for free expression," said Jessica Lewis, one of three ACLU staff attorneys assigned to the case. "It reinforces the right for all people to celebrate or otherwise express themselves in public."

This will be the Rural Justice Network's fourth Small Town Pride celebration. The first two were in West Brookfield.

Last year, the group received approval to hold the event on the North Brookfield common, but the Board of Selectmen then rescinded the approval after learning about plans to hold a drag show.

The event ultimately went forward after the ACLU became involved.

The ACLU said that as a result of the settlement, the town will pay damages and attorneys fees and has agreed not to interfere with future Small Town Pride events going forward. It also said the town had stripped the Board of Selectmen of the power to approve events in local parks, which instead will now be decided by the Parks and Recreation Committee.

"The (North Brookfield Common) belongs to Parks and Rec, so it makes a lot more sense," said Lewis. North Brookfield's Parks and Recreation Committee did not respond to a request for comment on the change.

Phone calls left with Jason Petraitis, the chair of the Board of Selectmen, as well as the Office of the Board of Selectmen were not immediately returned. John Tripp, the former vice chair who along with Petraitis was named as a defendant in the case, is no longer on the board.

Lewis said the settlement should set a precedent that lays the issue to rest for The Rural Justice Network's future pride events in North Brookfield as well as similar potential situations across the state.

"Hopefully this means going forward that The Rural Justice Network wont have any more issues and other towns will understand that theses kind of performances and events are protected in our constitution," she said.

This year's Small Town Pride event is scheduled for June 29.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: ACLU: North Brookfield settles suit, over Pride event with drag show
Maryam Durani, left, and Gullalai Karimi speak about the Afghan womens driving program at the Hanan Refugee Relief Group offices on Thursday February 29, 2024. Durani is cultural program coordinator at the organization.

When late one night, Shokofa Malikys husband fainted from low blood sugar, she knew what she had to do.

She got him into their car and drove to a Milwaukee-area hospital. Later, when he recovered from his diabetic emergency, he told her: You saved my life.

Thank God she had learned to drive, he said.

It was a situation Maliky, 24, wouldnt have experienced in Afghanistan, her home until she fled the Taliban takeover in 2021. Because of cultural norms and concerns over personal security, women rarely drove there, even before the Taliban regained control of the country and severely restricted the role of women in the public sphere. Husbands and male relatives handled transportation.

Maliky is one of about a dozen Afghan women in Milwaukee who have either received their drivers licenses or are in the process, thanks to a driver's education program from Hanan Refugees Relief Group, a local refugee resettlement agency.

Demand for the driving classes is growing, as another group of eight or nine women is waiting eagerly to begin the program. They know that driving is a crucial tool to achieving independence and self-sufficiency in the United States.

Left to right, Shokofa Maliky, Maryam Durani, Gullalai Karimi and Safia Rahimi speak about the Afghan womens driving program at the Hanan Refugee Relief Group offices on Thursday February 29, 2024, in Milwaukee.

They want to support themselves and support the other family members that stayed behind in Afghanistan, said Maryam Durani, Hanans cultural program coordinator who was a renowned womens rights activist in Afghanistan.

The resettlement agency provides classes for the women in which they learn the rules of the road and key driving terminology in English. Then, Hanan covers costs and helps them sign up for behind-the-wheel lessons, the written exam and the road test.

Durani interpreted comments from three Afghan mothers who completed the program as they were interviewed by the Journal Sentinel.

More: They fought for education in Afghanistan. Now in Milwaukee, these 9 young women hope to achieve the dreams they nearly lost

Driving offers economic independence

For the women, knowing how to drive in the U.S. means a world of opportunity becomes available to them. They are less reliant on public buses, and can apply for higher-paying jobs, without worrying about whether they are a bit out-of-the-way.

They can grocery shop on their own, or pick up a sick child from school without asking their husband to leave work. As Malikys case proved, they can help in case of an emergency.

There are ripple effects. With a car to drive to a job, women can achieve a level of economic independence. Earning an income means more leverage in making decisions in a marriage, Durani said.

Gullalai Karimi, 23, wants to start working soon to provide for her family like her husband does. The couple has three children, ages 7, 5 and 1, and if she had a job, she would need to take her baby to daycare and then drive herself to work.

To Karimi, driving  and earning money  are the keys to a better future for her family. She and her husband would like to buy a house or a second car.

I want to help my husband achieve this goal, she said.

Children's car seats are seen at the Hanan Refugee Relief Group offices on Thursday February 29, 2024, in Milwaukee.

Karimi always wanted to drive as a teenager in Afghanistan, but she got married and stayed home to raise her children. Driving was not an option.

Here, I come, I see I have that opportunity, and I try, she said.

Maliky, also a mother of three, laughed recalling that, in her first year in the U.S., her husband had the same mentality as in Afghanistan. Why should she learn to drive? She didnt need to, he thought.

But after a year of Maliky calling him to take the children to appointment after appointment, he relented.

No, no, go learn, she remembered him saying.

Learning the rules of the road came with challenges. Safia Rahimi, 32, failed the road test twice before passing it in November. Maliky failed it once.

The women laughed when they recall silly mixups  like when Maliky sat down in the car, buckled her seatbelt and was confused why the car wasnt running. The keys were in her pocket.

More: 'A dream come true for me': A specialized wheelchair has given an Afghan refugee independence, hope

More: Afghan evacuees in Wisconsin process relief, uncertainty, stress and trauma. A network of helping hands eases the journey.

Women still processing trauma of breaking up families

Sharing these moments of levity has provided a measure of relief and comfort for the women. Adjusting to life in the U.S. has not been easy.

Durani said Afghans in Milwaukee are still processing the trauma of the Taliban takeover and their sudden evacuation in August 2021. Many had to leave parents, spouses and even children behind, and they worry about their familys safety there.

Karimi and her father speak on the phone daily. Shes happy shes in the U.S., so she can give her children safe lives, but she misses the rest of her family dearly.

Her parents left Afghanistan and are refugees in Iran, but their quality of life and economic prospects are not good. Iran has deported hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans in recent months.

More: They fought alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Now in Madison, they find comfort in veterans support group

Rahimi has had an especially difficult time. Her husband was not able to join her when she evacuated Afghanistan with their 18-month-old son and her mother-in-law, and he remains in the country today.

Her son is now 4 years old, and she has raised him as a single mother. He tends to be socially withdrawn, emotional and nervous that he will lose his mother as well, Rahimi said.

Before getting her license, she relied on coworkers to drive her to Mukwonago, where she works second-shift as a machine operator at Milwaukee Tool. That meant if her mother-in-law became sick and Rahimi had to leave work, she would need another person to leave work and drive her as well.

Now Im more comfortable because I have a car. So if something happens, I can decide more easily than before what to do, Rahimi said.

When Rahimi arrived in the U.S., she said she didnt know the language or the culture and didnt have a support network of family as she did in Afghanistan. Now, she said she has made some friends who can help her. But still, its very hard.

Rahimi cried, speaking about the brokenness and guilt she feels. Living safely in the U.S. doesnt equate with happiness when a person has lost everything, Durani explained.

Safia doesnt know when her husband will come. Will he come or not come? You cant imagine any goals for your future, Durani said.

Although the women have endured hardship after hardship, theyre motivated to give their children better lives. They dream of their children living in peace, getting an education and one day helping others.

I left my country because of my children, Karimi said.

Learning to drive is just a piece of the future they will build for their families.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Afghan women earn driver's licenses with Milwaukee resettlement agency
WASHINGTON  During a weekend of aggressive rhetoric, former President Donald Trump attacked former Rep. Liz Cheney, but the one-time Wyoming lawmaker, now one of his most vocal critics, hit back and accused him of being "afraid of the truth."

Trump, who has called for prosecuting a number of political opponents should he return to the White House, targeted Cheney over dubious claims that the House committee that investigated the Capitol riot sat on evidence related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

"She should go to Jail along with the rest of the Unselect Committee!" Trump said Sunday in a Truth Social post.

Cheney, defeated for re-election in 2022 by a Trump surrogate, responded by saying the former president is lying (again).

Liz Cheney during 2022 hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection

In posts on X, formerly Twitter, Cheney said Trump and his attorneys have long had all the evidence compiled by the former committee, and they are only trying to delay criminal trials related to the insurrection attempt. While Trump has not been charged with inciting the Capitol riot, he does face sweeping federal charges accusing him of trying to steal the 2020 election from President Joe Biden.

"Hi Donald: you know these are lies," Cheney said. "You have had all the grand jury & J6 transcripts for many months. Youre trying to halt your 1/6 trial because your VP, WH counsel, WH aides, campaign & DOJ officials etc will testify against you. Youre afraid of the truth and you should be."

After the violence of Jan. 6, 2021, Cheney became one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump on allegations he sparked the violence of that day.

Republicans later retaliated against Cheney by dismissing her from a party leadership post. Trump, meanwhile, promoted Wyoming Republican primary opponent Harriet Hageman, who defeated Cheney in 2022.

During his weekend back-and-forth with Cheney, Trump said in one Truth Social post that "SHE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE TO OUR COUNTRY!"

Over on X, Cheney replied: 'Lying in all caps doesnt make it true, Donald. You know you and your lawyers have long had the evidence."

Trump's criticism of Cheney wasn't the only attack he launched over the weekend.

Democrats hit Trump for saying during a rally in Ohio that there would be a "bloodbath" if he loses the 2024 election. Trump was referring to the American car industry, which he said would suffer from Chinese imports unless he is elected and hits the Chinese with tariffs.

Trump also referred to people serving prison sentences in connection to the Jan. 6 riot as "hostages," and he suggested he would pardon them if he regains the White House. It's another topic that has drawn attacks from Democrats and Trump's conservative critics, who say he is excusing lawbreaking and insurrection.

Former Vice President Mike Pence - who was threatened during the Capitol riot for refusing to try to overturn the election, condemned Trump's use of the word "hostages.". The former vice president may also testify against Trump in a trial.

I think it's unfortunate - at a time that there are American hostages being held in Gaza - that the president or any other leaders would refer to people that are moving through our justice system as hostages," Pence said on CBS' "Face The Nation." "And it's just unacceptable.

Pence last week also said he would not endorse his former president for reelection.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cheney hits back at Trump after he attacks Capitol riot investigation
Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (R) on Monday announced he would not be launching a third-party presidential bid backed by the group No Labels, marking another setback for its ambitions this year.

It was an honor to be approached, and I am grateful to all those who are engaged in good-faith efforts to offer Americans a better choice than the Trump vs. Biden re-match, Duncan said in a statement to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

In addition to my private sector career and earning a living for my family of five, I am focused on healing and improving the Republican Party with a GOP 2.0 so we can elect more common-sense conservative candidates in the future, he added.

No Labels sought to recruit Duncan to serve on a unity presidential ticket as an alternative to the 2020 rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The Georgia Republican has been harshly critical of Trumps lies about the 2020 election and his unprecedented efforts to overturn his loss to Biden, including in Duncans home state. Last year, he slammed Trumps request to find the thousands of votes needed to overturn the election results as dangerous and pathetic.

I think Republicans, like many other people in Donald Trumps past, are going to regret ever being associated with him, Duncan said on CNN at the time.

Members of No Labels voted earlier this month to field a presidential candidate, but theyve had trouble finding a top-tier recruit so far. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R), former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley (R) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) have all turned the political party down.

In an interview Sunday with NBCs Meet the Press, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), another critic of Trump, also said he wasnt interested in teaming up with No Labels.

Right now, neither candidate is actually offering serious solutions ... neither candidate is offering something which has a snowballs chance of passing Congress, he said.

Polls suggest many Americans dont have favorable views of Biden or Trump, a dynamic that No Labels hopes will produce a viable third choice in November.

But the group has come under fire from Democrats for being unwilling to disclose the identities of its donors, fueling speculation that it is largely backed by wealthy Republicans. Bidens supporters also worry it will pull votes away from the president and help make Trump president again.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The Bernalillo County deputy accused of pulling a gun on two customers at a convenience store is expected back in court.

Court documents said the victims were waiting for a friend to get off work at the Circle K on Osuna in late January when Deputy Michael Borrecco pointed a gun at them.

Police alleged Borrecco had just bought vodka and had empty alcohol bottles in his vehicle.

Woman who was linked to boyfriends death accused in Albuquerque robberies

During his detention hearing on January 31, Judge Joseph Montano sided with the defense and granted Borreccos release. He is facing two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and negligent use of a deadly weapon.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
The back half of the school year is sizzling right along.

A culinary challenge brought more than 100 students to pack the Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington late last month, where reining champs in Caesar Rodney High School again claimed a Delaware ProStart Student Invitational title. Their team, and that of Odessa High, will now head to Baltimore for the national competition next month.

Also, Delcastle Tech is drumming up interest in community service this weekend. In this weekly roundup, we'll catch you up on these and other education updates you may have missed.

[Did we miss another good education story? Tell me about it: kepowers@gannett.com.]

Caesar Rodney and Odessa high schools win big for culinary chops

More than 100 students from a dozen Delaware high schools competed in Wilmington for the 11th annual Delaware ProStart Student Invitational late last month. The event tests skills in teamwork, culinary expertise and restaurant industry management, organizers said in a press release.

And Caesar Rodney High School claimed the state title for the fifth year in a row.

While the reigning champs clinched the culinary competition, Odessa High School students claimed first-place honors in the management competition. Both get to head to the National ProStart Student Invitational this April in Baltimore. Caesar Rodney stepped away from nationals last year with second place, 2022 with first.

Congratulations to all the participants  your hard work and commitment are truly inspiring," said Meghan Gardner, director of the Delaware Restaurant Foundation, in a partial statement.

Culinary judge Krupa Johnson, a private chef, photographs Thomas McKean High School team's entree during the 10th annual Delaware ProStart Student Invitational at Bally's Dover Casino Resort on Friday, March 10, 2023. The Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation hosts the event, a statewide high school culinary competition, where student teams prepare a three-course meal to be judged on taste, creativity, safety and sanitation, while the teams are judged on their teamwork, culinary expertise and management skills.

Trouble in schools: Teachers are battling poor student behavior post-COVID. Delaware lawmakers strain for answers

Delcastle Tech educator hopes to show up for Food Bank service event

Here 15-year-old Dhivya Muthupalaniappan volunteers at the Food Bank of Delaware in 2023.

When Jasmin Black started school last semester, she said some of her freshmen at Delcastle Technical High School didn't understand the meaning behind volunteering. Today, those students would certainly change their answer.

The educator running community service programming has been leading these young students in volunteer work and connected curriculum for months, she said  packing family food bags, creating senior boxes, cleaning outdoor spaces and more student-led ideas. This month holds their last event, and Black wants to leave a mark.

On Monday, March 25, some 50 students will join leaders and district staff to volunteer at the Food Bank of Delaware. There will be donations, T-shirts, speakers and more the outfit wouldn't expect on a typical Monday.

"It'd be our last big event," Black said. "And I just wanted the kids to feel special, be highlighted, and I just want them to know, 'We appreciate you.'"

Student of the Week: First Delaware Student of the Week comes from the halls of Ursuline Academy

Besides a strong turnout among students, Black just hopes to keep inspiring empathy inside and outside of the classroom.

"You never know what someone is going through," she said. "(We) wanted the students to have a deeper understanding of actually what is it about community service, how you made a difference and make a connection."

Some in St. Elizabeth Catholic School community still seek answers

Nearly 200 people packed a meeting with "We Stand With Saint Elizabeth," a group of concerned parents and parishioners forming after the president of St. Elizabeth Catholic School was eliminated, gathering at Cranston Heights Fire Company on Feb. 26, 2024. Attendees shared concern for the parish's future and unclear direction.

Hundreds from the St. Elizabeth School community packed a meeting late last month, upon the news that the president of their Wilmington-area Catholic grade and high school would be let go by the end of the fiscal year. The move by a new pastor came across to many as a sudden step in an ongoing, unclear direction.

A group of concerned parents and parishioners called "We Stand With Saint Elizabeth" formed just after the decision, hosting the meeting. Pastor Roger DiBuo was invited to the meeting, as were the Diocese of Wilmington's Bishop William Koenig and Lou DeAngelo, superintendent of Catholic schools. Just sitting President Joseph Papili made an appearance.

We Stand With Saint Elizabeth says no such audience has yet been granted between the group and dioecian leaders.

"We reached out to the bishop's office last week to see if he would be interested in meeting with a small group of five to 10 of us regarding our concerns with St. Elizabeth," organizers wrote to Facebook on March 12. As of this month, group organizer Kevin Kelley says leadership has not yet agreed to meet with the group.

On Feb. 27, a spokesperson for the diocese told Delaware Online/The News Journal the cut was a "local decision," with diocesan support. The diocese did say there would be future opportunities to connect with St. Elizabeth Parish on the issue.

ICYMI: St. Elizabeth Catholic School community calls for answers as president is cut

Wilmington students raise over $225K for St. Patricks Center

Students from Salesianum walked from their school to the Congo Legacy Center in Wilmington on Wednesday March 13, 2024 to honor Fred Smith. Smith, who died on March 1, was one of four other Black students who enrolled at the original school in 1950 making Salesianum the first racially desegregated school in Delaware.

Over the weekend, more than 900 students from Salesianum School, Padua, and Ursuline Academies fueled an all-night fundraiser for St. Patricks Center of Wilmington. It was SALSTHON 2024, a Saturday dance marathon from 5 p.m. to midnight.

Students came into this weekend with a goal of $175,000, according to a press release, aiming to add to the past 11 years' $1,575,000 raised for local nonprofits. Scholars from all three schools had been in fundraising blitz for the past two months leading up to the event.

And, after packing Salesianums Birkenheuer Gymnasium all night, they'd blow it out of the water. Just over $225,100 in funds now heads to St. Patricks, answering need on the city's eastside.

Ursuline Academy marks '1893 I.D.E.A. Studio' grand opening

Ursuline Academy is set to host a ribbon cutting on its new 1893 I.D.E.A. Studio, this Tuesday, celebrating a new hub for innovation.

"We like to think of it as our very own Ursuline incubator," the Wilmington Catholic school wrote in an announcement flyer, noting hopes to promote design, entrepreneurship and acceleration for new ideas. A finance hub, prototype lab, a tech center, student-run coffee shop  aptly named Angela's Cafe  and more will be highlighted, beginning at 9 a.m. on March 19.

Got a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online/The News Journal and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Caesar Rodney, Odessa high schools score at ProStart invitational
Bills that would exempt Californians from paying taxes on settlement money related to wildfires have received early support from state lawmakers.

One introduced by Republican Sen. Scott Wilk, representing Santa Clarita, would apply to payments for properties in the state that were damaged or destroyed by fire.

The Legislature has approved such tax breaks on a fire by fire basis. Wilk, at a recent hearing, told lawmakers that practice has left communities behind.

He pointed to rural residents affected by a 2020 fire in Southern California, who have not yet received a similar benefit.

All wildfire victims should be afforded the same tax relief, he said.

Senate Bill 1004, which would be retroactive to the 2020 tax year, is now headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

So is a measure introduced by Sen. Brian Dahle. The Republican, who represents Bieber, is calling for a more expansive exemption: for settlement money related to any natural disaster, not just a fire.

To qualify both the governor of California and the president of the United States would have to declare a state of emergency for the event.

Dahle called Senate Bill 927 common sense.

A representative for the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association was the only supporter of the measures at the recent hearing who was not a legislator. Neither bill received any opposition. Yet they face challenges.

A proposal introduced in the Assembly last year, which would have also granted a tax break on payments related to all wildfire settlements, stalled in a committee. Beyond that, the state is in a difficult financial situation: The Legislative Analysts Office last month projected a shortfall as high as $73 billion for the 2024-25 budget year.

Wilk, in a statement, acknowledged the challenge, but said the issue deserved to be brought up again until everyone has the same opportunity.
Patti Manley was elected as the new Board Chair for the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, effective Jan. 1.

The Community Foundation of St. Clair County has set up a new disaster fund to help county residents in the event of any major future incidents.

The new fund will be for incidents which "overwhelms the ability of the communitys resources," whether that be a natural, man-made or economic disaster.

Weve all seen so many disasters around the country lately, Patti Manley, board chair of the Community Foundation, said in a news release announcing the fund. Here in Michigan weve seen floods in Midland, tornados in Gaylord, and tragic mass shootings in other communities. We couldnt wait any longer to take a proactive approach.

The James C. Acheson Charitable Foundation donated $50,000 to the fund, and the Community Foundation hopes to donate an additional $50,000 before 2025.

The new fund will also take in donations during a disaster to provide a central source of aid in such an event. A new website, https://sccstrong.org/, lays out when money from the fund will and will not be used. The news release uses the example of a house fire, which while tragic, would not affect the entire community and therefore not trigger use of the funds.

The funds could be used in response to a disaster declared by the St. Clair County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, or the Community Foundation could declare a disaster itself upon request from the local residents.

Its one of those things we hope to never use, Community Foundation President and CEO Randy Maiers said. But in todays world, we feel that our Community Foundation, and probably every community foundation in America, should establish their protocols and policies so they are ready and able to respond in an instant.

Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Community Foundation sets up disaster fund for St. Clair County
Debt is becoming a major campaign issue in 2024. I dont mean the national debt, which today stands at 99 percent of gross domestic product and which, the Congressional Budget Office projects, will total 116 percent of GDP 10 years from now. Nor do I mean student debt, which President Joe Biden has either reduced or eliminated for close to four million people, to the tune of nearly $138 billion.

No, the debt that haunts campaign 2024 is personal debtspecifically the half-billion in fines that former President Donald Trump owes from two recent legal judgments against him. Its a campaign issue because, judging from Trumps past behavior, he will pay off this half-billion-dollar debt just as soon as pigs fly. So it was hardly shocking when The New York Times reported Monday that the former presidents plea for a loan to secure a bond against the largest share of his mounting debt was spurned by some 30 companies, prompting his lawyers to tell a New York State judge that raising the money is a practical impossibility. But one firm, Chubb, was willing to offer Trump $91 million to secure his bond in the E. Jean Carroll defamation case. Given the extreme unlikelihood that its generosity will be repaid in the traditional way, its an eyebrow-raising arrangement, as whoever lends Trump money will likely have to seek some other, less savory, compensation.

Lets first take a tally of the red in Trumps legal ledger. The first judgment against him is an $83 million penalty for continuing to shoot his mouth off on social media about Carroll. This comes after Carroll won a separate $5 million judgment against Trump for sexually abusing her three decades earlier, and for defaming her after she wrote up the incident in 2019.

The second judgment against Trump is a $355 million civil fraud penalty for misleading banks and insurers by pretending to be richer than he really was. Interest accrued before the ruling brought the total to about $454 million as of February 16, the day the judgment was handed down. Since then, additional interest has been piling up at a rate of $112,000 a day, adding another $3 million to the tab thus far.

Between the two court judgments and their attendant penalties, Trump owes $539 million. Even for Trump, thats a lot of money. Trump is rich but not (as Justice Arthur Engoron, who presided over the second trial, pointed out) anywhere near so rich as he pretends. In April 2023, Trump said in a deposition that he had substantially more than $400 million in cash, but Mother Joness Julianne McShane says its more like $350 million. Forbes puts Trumps net worth at $2.6 billion; the trajectory over the past decade has been downward. The $539 million Trump owes in penalties represents 20 percent of his fortune. Thats a lot.

Lets not forget the additional financial liabilities Trump has lately accrued. Theres $392,000 that Trump paid The New York Times a couple of weeks ago for filing a frivolous lawsuit. Theres $938,000 that a judge last year ordered Trump and his attorney to pay Hillary Clinton for filing a frivolous lawsuit. Theres $382,000 that a London judge earlier this month ordered Trump to pay Orbis Business Intelligence, founded by Christopher Steele (of the Steele dossier), for filing a frivolous lawsuit. Theres the aforementioned $5 million that Trump paid earlier in the Carroll case. Theres $110,000 in contempt fees that Trump accrued for bad-mouthing New York Attorney General Letitia James during the civil fraud prosecution.

Theres whatever penalty the IRS may impose when it completes its audit of Trumps 20152019 tax returns. Theres whatever lawsuits Trumps current lawyers will file when he (or various Trump PACs, or the Republican Party) get tired of paying them. On top of all that, Deutsche Banks loans to Trump require him to maintain $50 million in unencumbered liquidity and a minimum net worth of $2.5 billion. Trump always thinks hes bleeding money, but right now Trump really is bleeding moneyat a hemorrhagic rate.

Some of Trumps legal penalties will be reduced, of course; others may be dismissed on appeal. But I havent even furnished a complete list, and anyway, more lawsuits are certain to follow. Given all this, I predict that Trump will become the first ex-president since Ulysses S. Grant to declare personal bankruptcy. Maybe it will happen while Trump is serving a second term as president of the United States. Maybe it will happen while Trump is serving a prison sentence. Maybe it will happen while hes doing both. If James follows through on her threat to seize Trumps assets, it may happen as soon as next week.

Somehow, Trump has to cough up that $539 million. Raise your hand if you would lend even $20 to a person so very famous for not paying his bills. The certainty born of experience that Trump will welsh casts immediate suspicion on anybody who agrees to be his personal banker. What motive does this lender possess? Just saying yes is practically a crime in itself.

Enter Chubb, the insurance company run by Evan Greenberg, son of Maurice Hank Greenbergthe colorful former chief executive of American International Group. On March 8 Trump, facing a March 11 deadline on the $83 million judgment, posted an appeal bond for $91 million. (An appeal bond is money you put up to guarantee payment of a court-imposed penalty pending an appeal that may reduce or eliminate the penalty. Trumps bond is $91 million to cover interest.) The bond is insured by Chubb through Federal Insurance Company, an Indianapolis-based subsidiary. To obtain the bond, Trump had to pay an insurance premium of perhaps $2 million, and he had to put up collateral covering 100 percent of the bond. If Trump loses on appeal, Chubb will pay the court $91 million to award Carroll. Then comes the hard part. In theory, Chubb will seize the $91 million in assets that Trump put up as collateral. In practice, Trump will do everything he can to prevent this.

Whats in it for Chubb?

If you take Greenbergs word for it, nothingor so he assured investors in a letter last week:

When Chubb issues an appeal bond, it isnt making judgments about the claims, even when the claims involve alleged reprehensible conduct. We hardly support or subsidize defendants, or take one for the team. I fully realize how polarizing and emotional this case and the defendant are and how easy it would be for Chubb to just say no.

Yes, it would have been easy for Chubb to say no. So why did it say yes? All Greenberg had by way of an answer was that everybody deserves his day in court and if Trump loses Chubb will grab his collateral.

Greenberg is no obvious Trump fanboy. Trump put him on his Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, but that and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee. Greenberg has donated to Republicans but not to Trump. After January 6 he issued a press release condemn[ing] in the strongest terms the violence and display of demagoguery we witnessed in our nations capital.

Social media has been buzzing that Trump secured his appeal bond with money from a Russian company, but thats a red herring. Chubb does some business in Russia, but it is nobodys idea of a Russian company; its based in Zurich. Vladimir Putin is not behind this.

What about the Aon connection? Aon, which is partnered with Chubb in multiple ventures, is an insurance company descended from W. Clement Stones Combined Insurance Company of America. Stone was a shady character who gave millions to Richard Nixons 1968 and 1972 campaigns in exchange for the promise hed be made ambassador to the Court of St. James. (Nixon then double-crossed Stone and kept another billionaire donor, Walter Annenberg, in Grosvenor Square.) One can easily imagine Stone striking an unsavory deal with Trump, but hes been dead 22 years, so lets move on.

Aon was for many years the Trump Organizations primary insurance broker. Aons executive vice president for risk, Pamela Newman, was Trumps principal contact at Aon. Newman bears the dubious distinction of being the very first contributor to max out on Trumps first presidential campaign, with a $2,700 contribution, according to the AP. Subsequently (again per the AP) the Trump campaign paid the branch of Aon Risk Services where she works almost $300,000.

But Aons cozy relationship with Trump created legal problems for the company after Trump became president. Newman left Aon in 2017, around the same time she joined the Trump administration in a voluntary capacity as a civilian aide to the acting secretary of the Army. After the uprising of January 6, 2021, Aon announced publicly that it was ending its relationship with Trump. That makes it unlikely Trumps past dealings with Newman and Aon pushed Chubb to secure Trump an asset bond.

So what, then? Politics, maybe. Chubbs PAC gives to both parties, but more heavily to Republicans. Regulation, maybe. Chubb spent $2.4 million last year lobbying against securities regulation. Or maybe its something we have yet to find out. Whats certain is that Chubbs willingness to do business with Trump puts it under suspicion. It will remain under suspicion through this election year.

Who wants to put himself under the microscope next? Nobody, apparently. Trump must come up with an additional $454 million, plus interest, by March 25, and he says he hasnt got it, and for once I believe him. Should somebody, miraculously, step forward to cover this remaining debt, that person or business will get four times the ethical scrutiny Chubb is suffering. For now, anyway, it appears theres nobody dumb enough, or corrupt enough, to take Trumps marker. A possible presidency is for sale and, amazingly, Chubbs the only taker.
WORCESTER  The first thing Wesley Hall, the minister of music at First Baptist Church Worcester, did when he learned how members of the U.S. House had voted on the measure to curtail TikTok last week was call U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern to thank him.

Keyboardist and organ player, Wesley Hall, explains the intricacies of pipe organs in his TikTok videos, some of which have gone viral. He is hopeful Washington lawmakers refrain from banning the application; or forcing its sale

I had called him prior to the vote to explain my concerns with the possible ban and he wrote me back a letter in which he was very kind and clear, Hall said, adding he was relieved to learn that his representative in Washington had voted against the measure, one of only 65 who did so.

The vote, taken Wednesday, was 352-65 in favor of either banning the application-based video communications platform or forcing its sale. Of those voting against the measure, 50 were Democrats and 15 were Republican. Of the nine Massachusetts representatives, four voted against the ban while five voted in favor.

The bill, which President Joe Biden indicated he would sign if it lands on his desk, went to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain fate.

If the bill is passed, the TikTok app would be removed from app stores and banned from being downloaded onto American-owned devices, unless the Chinese parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, sells its stake.

Lawmakers have cited national security concerns and fears that users' personal information could be accessed by the Chinese government. As president, Donald Trump attempted to ban or force a sale of TikTok by executive action, but he now says he opposes banning the app.

Hall says is not concerned with the possible disclosure of his personal information to the Chinese government. He also expressed distrust of American companies that could purchase the application, valued in the billions of dollars.

With the guardrails already in place, free market pressures and possible redress through the American court system, he believes that adequate avenues exist to protect the public.

The knows or "stops" of a pipe organ are etched with the sound they produce; pictured is the clarinet stop, the English horn stop and other musical designations. The organist, Wesley Hall plays the pipe organ in the First Baptist Church Worcester, plays all simultaneously; pulling out stops, working foot pedals and the keyboard to produce a cohesive, and beautiful, piece of music.

Hall, who started using TikTok while stuck in Germany during the pandemic, has reached as many as 6 million viewers with a video.

His tag: Wesley@Westpiper.

Using social media, the musician, who fell in love with pipe organs as an 11-year-old boy growing up in Worcester, works to educate the world about the beauty and intricacies of the instrument, which he called one of mans most complex and beautiful inventions.

Its a contraption, a machine, (with electrification) an acoustic synthesizer, Hall said. But its beautiful as an instrument and as art.

There are dozens of pipe organs in Worcester. One of the most famous is in Mechanics Hall  built in the 1860s by the American Orchestral Institution, its known to fans simply as the Worcester organ.

The keyboard and the "stops" or knobs used by keyboardist and organ player, Wesley Hall, minister of music at the First Baptist Church Worcester, uses to play one of two pipe organ in the church; he explains how they work in his Tik Tok videos, some of which have gone viral

The church where Hall works as the minister of music has two organs: An older one, similar to the one in Mechanics Hall, and a newer one, built in England in the 1980s in the German baroque style.

We say its a German organ with a British accent, Hall joked.

The foot pedals and toe stops used by keyboardist and organ player, Wesley Hall, to make music on the pipe organ at First Baptist Church in Worcester; his TikTok videos explaining the intricacies and beauty of pipe organs have reached thousands

Hall, who also works with the music department at the Worcester State University and teaches music at a local school, was able to reach an audience of 100,000 TikTok viewers when he posted a video of the churchs project to locate both its pipe organs in the sanctuary.

His pipe organ content is not alone on the platform. Other organists and musicians post their videos regularly.

Through TikTok, he was able to connect with a London expert who brought the Pembroke Choir from Cambridge, England, to perform at First Baptist Church last Easter and at Mechanics Hall. He also connected with Connor Chee, a Native American pianist and composer commissioned to create a piece for the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists. Hall bought the piece and performs it regularly.

He said that without TikTok, the beauty and complexity of pipe organs would not be in the public eye.

I believe other artists, faith leaders, business owners are either calling their representatives to thank them, or scold them," Hall said.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester church organist says TikTok has helped him, decries ban
Reality Check is a Star series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com.

One month after a woman was killed and 24 other people were shot following the Kansas City Chiefs victory rally, a recently unsealed federal investigation says at least six people fired guns at Union Station.

The detail, included in an affidavit prepared by a federal agent, further suggests there may be others involved in the shooting who have not been charged with a crime.

Local Kansas City authorities, meanwhile, have declined to say whether other suspects are under investigation.

Chiefs fans move toward the exit as an ambulance arrives on scene after shots were fired at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, at Union Station in Kansas City.

Asked whether the Kansas City Police Department has yet to identify or apprehend additional suspects, Sgt. Phil DiMartino, a spokesman for the department, on Friday referred questions to state and federal prosecutors. Because charges were filed in the investigation, he said in an emailed statement, any additional details must be released by prosecutors.

Reached by phone Friday, Mike Mansur, a spokesman for the Jackson County Prosecutors Office, declined to comment on the conclusion reached by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, that at least six people fired weapons, or about the possibility of any additional local charges.

Follow-up questions sent to the ATF and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Missouri were not immediately answered.

What do we know about suspects so far?

Since criminal charges were first announced in Jackson County, local authorities, including Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, have alluded to the possibility of other suspects.

We seek to hold every shooter accountable for their actions on that day  every single one, Baker said at the time. While we are not there yet on every single individual, were going to get there.

No additional cases have been made public in Jackson County since then.

It could be possible that further charges have been filed and are being kept under seal until a criminal defendant is arrested, but authorities do not confirm the existence of criminal charges in such instances.

The rally shooting has been blamed on a dispute between two groups that quickly escalated to gunfire. Bystanders, including children, who accounted for roughly half of those shot, were among the wounded along with at least two alleged shooters.

As of Friday, two men  Lyndell Mays, 23, and Dominic Miller, 18  faced charges of murder in the killing of Lisa Lopez-Galvan, 43, as well as several other felony crimes in Jackson County Circuit Court.

Also charged are two 16-year-olds held in juvenile detention, accused of gun-related and resisting arrest offenses.

The Family Court division has refused to release the exact charges the teenagers face. Ages of the juveniles were only disclosed last week after an attorney for The Star sent a letter to the court.

A fifth man also was charged in Jackson County with unlawful weapon possession by a convicted felony. He allegedly picked a gun up off the ground amid the chaos on Feb. 14.

Federal gun charges reveal more details

Last week, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Missouri announced the arrests of three other men suspected to have purchased and illegally resold two of the firearms discovered at the shooting scene.

Authorities do not allege those men were present at the rally. All face charges related to the trafficking of firearms.

The straw purchase investigation was led by the ATF in partnership with Kansas City police. In support of the federal charges, Steven Lester, of the agency, wrote in an affidavit that 12 individuals brandished firearms during the incident and at least six of them fired their weapons.

The conclusion was based on the case evidence, the affidavit says, though the precise method of how that number was reached remains unknown as of Monday.

Court records filed last week largely deal with records of the purchase and sale of several guns by Fedo A. Manning, 22, of Kansas City.

He is accused of trafficking dozens of firearms in the area over the past few years, including some connected to area crimes or in the possession of known criminals. Most have yet to be recovered by law enforcement.

One of the 40 guns Manning allegedly sold was discovered at the Chiefs rally shooting scene. It was among several firearms and 22 spent shell casings found in the aftermath of the disorder.

Authorities suspect some evidence, such as shell casings, may have been lost as people ran for cover and emergency vehicles were driven through the shooting scene.

The affidavit filed last week also does not say whether the two guns connected to straw purchases were actually fired. However, one  identified as Firearm #1 in court documents  had a single bullet in the chamber, and 26 more loaded into a 30-round-capacity magazine.
The mission of the Fort Worth police department wont change in the wake of a new state law granting the department powers to enforce immigration law, Chief Neil Noakes said in a recorded statement on Monday.

Senate Bill 4, which is being challenged in the courts, makes crossing the Texas-Mexico border without authorization a state crime.

While Fort Worth police will always follow the law, Noakes asserted in the statement that the primary responsibility to enforce immigration laws should be left to state and federal authorities.

In light of the vibrant growth of our city and the diversity of our communities, our department remains unwavering in its commitment to community policing and making Fort Worth the safest city in the country for all who call this community home, he said.

Senate Bill 4 passed and was signed into law in November 2023. It was scheduled to go into effect earlier this month, but legal challenges from the Biden administration and a stay by the United States Supreme Court have pushed off its implementation.

Critics of the law have argued it violates the federal governments constitutional authority to enforce immigration laws. Theyve also compared it to a similar 2010 law in Arizona that grants federal immigration enforcement authority to local law enforcement.

However, Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn said in his own statement that the law is needed to make Texas and the United States safe.

We dont know who is coming across our border or what their intentions are. This law is the first of many steps needed to stop the surge of illegal entry, Waybourn said in an email to the Star-Telegram, adding that hes looking forward to the Supreme Court lifting its stay so the law can go into effect.

Tarrant County participates in a federal program that allows sheriffs deputies work as ICE agents. The contract known as 287(g) refers to a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that lets law enforcers work with federal immigration officers and perform immigration law enforcement functions.
Israeli forces have launched an overnight raid on al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, with reports of tanks and heavy gunfire at the facility.

An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said the IDF was carrying out a "high precision operation in limited areas" of the hospital.

The IDF said "senior Hamas terrorists have regrouped" inside the hospital and are using it to launch attacks.

Eyewitnesses described a state of panic inside the complex in Gaza City.

In a recorded call with his brother posted on a WhatsApp group, one man said: "Tanks are surrounding us. We are hiding inside the tent. We hear tank fire in the vicinity of the compound."

Heavy gunfire could be heard around the hospital in unverified footage posted on social media.

In a voice message sent to journalists from inside the hospital, Muhammad Al-Sayyid said: "The soldiers here inside the complex there are dead and wounded, and the soldiers arrested some young men. The situation here is catastrophic."

The IDF had not publicly signalled in advance that it was planning to launch a new operation at al-Shifa.

In a video message posted in the early hours, IDF chief spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said the Israeli military was responding to "concrete intelligence which demanded immediate action".

He said the hospital would be able to continue functioning during the raid and told patients and staff they did not have to evacuate.

Displaced people sheltering at the complex will be able to leave the hospital via an evacuation route, he said, before calling on Hamas to "surrender immediately".

A statement from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry called the operation a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law".

Hundreds of displaced Palestinians are sheltering at the hospital, which was raided by Israeli forces earlier in the conflict.

Prior to the conflict, al-Shifa hospital was the largest medical facility in Gaza.

Hospitals have protected status during times of war under international humanitarian law - but they can lose that protection in limited circumstances if they are being used to commit an "act harmful to the enemy".

Israel has long accused Hamas of using medical facilities as cover for its operations, which the Iranian-backed armed group denies.

The IDF said it found a network of tunnels under the hospital used by Hamas when it raided al-Shifa in November 2023, as well as weapons.

Israeli troops also carried out a major military operation on the grounds of Nasser Hospital - Gaza's second biggest medical facility - in February.

Doctors told the BBC they were detained, blindfolded and beaten during the raid, reports which prompted the UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron to call for "answers from the Israelis".

The IDF said it found weapons and evidence hostages had been held at the facility during its raid into Nasser Hospital.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza after Hamas gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on 7 October and took 253 other people hostage. Gaza's health ministry says more than 31,300 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since then.
Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor holds up the mugshot of 20-year-old Bobby Curry, Jr. who was arrested March 15 and charge with first-degree murder of a 23-month-old boy Ezekiel Cotto-Saintfleur.

A Lakeland man has been charged with killing a toddler after exchanging 67 Instagram messages with the child's mother as the boy struggled to breathe.

Lakeland police arrested Bobby Curry Jr., 20, on Friday evening. He faces one charge of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated child abuse. Curry is being held in the Polk County Jail.

"It's unconscionable and unfathomable for almost two and a half hours to go by from the first signs Ezekiel was injured until Mr. Curry decided to notify 911," Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor said.

Taylor said the police department received a call about 5:25 p.m. March 5 notifying them there was an unresponsive child. Officers arrived at a Kansas Avenue residence to find 23-month-old Ezekiel Cotto-SaintFleur without a pulse lying on a bathroom floor. The officers began performing CPR until the Lakeland Fire Department arrived.

"We were not sure if Ezekiel was going to make it or not," Taylor said. "We knew he was in very, very, very grave condition."

The toddler was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, then to Tampa General Hospital with critical injuries. On March 8, Ezekiel died at the hospital.

Taylor said Curry told police he was alone babysitting the toddler on March 5 while the mother was working. The couple had been in a relationship for four months and moved in together at the Kansas Avenue residence about two weeks prior. Curry is not Ezekiel's biological father.

Taylor said Curry told officers that between 2 and 3 p.m., he gave Ezekiel a bath because the boy had urinated while in bed. Upon getting Ezekiel out of the bath, Curry told police one of the couple's puppies leaped on the toddler causing him to fall backward and hit his head on the bathtub and floor mat.

Curry told police Ezekiel tensed up, but was still breathing after the accident, Taylor said. Curry put the toddler in his bed to rest and did not call 911.

About 3:15 p.m., Curry told police he noticed Ezekiel was not breathing, Taylor said. Curry put the toddler back on the bathroom floor where he gave chest compressions and some air, Taylor said. Curry told police that Ezekiel began breathing again. Still, Taylor said there was no call made to 911. Police have evidence showing Curry messaged the child's unnamed mother on Instagram at 3:20 p.m. and began to describe the toddler's physical injuries. One of the questions Curry asked the mother was whether it was possible for a child to go into cardiac arrest, Taylor said.

Between 2:55 and 5:25 p.m., Taylor said police found Curry and the child's mother exchanged 67 Instagram messages about Ezekiel's medical conditions before the mother said to call 911.

Lakeland detectives interviewed doctors at Lakeland Regional Health and Tampa General who said Ezekiel's "injuries were not consistent with the severity of the physical injuries observed." Taylor said medical professionals guessed Ezekiel was without oxygen for at least 45 minutes.

An autopsy performed by the 10th District Medical Examiner's Office on March 11 determined Curry's statement that a dog knocked Ezekiel over was not consistent with the child's injuries. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma from fatal injuries to the front of the toddler's head with some minor bruising on the back of his head, and ruled a homicide.

Prositution sting: Polk County arrests 228, 13 possible human trafficking victims found

"None, zero. Absolute none. There's absolutely no reason," Taylor said. "I get it that he [Curry] was probably overwhelmed. There were at least two puppies in the house, he's only 20 years old  I get all that. But common sense will tell you, being a human being will tell you, if another human is in distress, pick up the phone and call 911."

Ezekiel's mother, whose name has not been released by police, does not currently face any charges. Taylor said police are still looking into the matter, but she is being cooperative.

This is the second child death Lakeland police are investigating this month, with the 3-year-old fatally shot on Cambridge Cove Circle. It is the second case in Polk this month where a man has been arrested for injuring or beating a young child to death, following a 4-month old who the Polk County Sheriff's Office said died at the hands of a caregiver in Bartow.

Taylor urged parents who may be overwhelmed or frustrated with young children to reach out for help. "Call somebody. You have to have a grandmother, neighbor, or call us. We can get you resources and help," the chief said.

Lakeland police are still asking for the public's help to find and arrest 22-year-old Demarius Wilson and 30-year-old Kavarius Green, who are wanted in connection with the shooting of the 3-year-old boy on March 11. Taylor said tips are coming in and police think the men are still in the Central Florida area, but both men remained at-large as of Monday morning.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Follow on X @SaraWalshFl. z

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 23-month-old Lakeland boy dies. Caregiver charged with murder
The father of Laken Riley, the Georgia nursing student killed while jogging in February, says hes angry his daughters death is being exploited in political debates ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

In a Today show interview that aired Monday, Jason Riley addressed the furor that has exploded around the killing and immigration policy after Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national who allegedly entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, was arrested in the case. I feel like she is being used somewhat politically, Jason said of his slain 22-year-old daughter. It makes me angry.

Slain Georgia Students Mom Skewers Biden for Getting Daughters Name Wrong

She was much better than that, he continued. She should be raised up for the person that she is.

Jason said he is a supporter of Donald Trump and although hed prefer Lakens death to not be so political, he thinks it has sparked a needed conversation about the best way of securing the southern border and helping women, according to NBC News.

He also addressed President Joe Biden mentioning his daughter during his recent State of the Union address, in which the Democrat appeared to misname her Lincoln Riley. Biden said in the address that the Augusta University student had been killed by an illegal, though he later said he regretted using the term illegal instead of undocumented person.

I think its being used politically to get those votes, Jason said of Lakens death. He also reportedly said the killing had started a storm in our country which has incited a lot of people.

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 Copyright 2024, Des Moines Register and Tribune Co.

Nearly three-fourths of Iowans support legislation that would require students to be U.S. citizens or lawfully present for them to qualify for in-state tuition, a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll finds.

Seventy-three percent of Iowans say they favor such a measure, 23% oppose the idea and 4% arent sure.

House File 2320, which would have required the states public universities to adopt new rules barring students from receiving in-state tuition rates if they are not U.S. citizens or are not lawfully present in the United States, was introduced this session but did not clear a legislative hurdle last week for continued consideration.

The Iowa Poll, conducted by Selzer & Co., surveyed 804 Iowans from Feb. 25-27. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

A strong majority of those who self-identify as Republicans back the bill (88%), the poll shows. A smaller majority of Democrats support it (52%).

Seventy-one percent of Iowans who identify as independents also favor such a measure.

Joshua Peterson, a Republican from Des Moines, believes its only fair for in-state tuition fees to be awarded to students who are U.S. citizens or live legally in the United States.

It takes a little bit away from some of the people that work hard for it and deserve it, Peterson, 41, said. People just come in and then the next thing you know theyre being put on the backburner.

Hector Salamanca Arroyo testifies Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, at the Iowa Capitol against a bill that would prevent undocumented students at Iowa's state universities and community colleges from receiving in-state tuition.

Lifelong Democrat Rod Miller also thinks the citizenship or legal residency requirement is fair. Miller, who said he previously worked for the U.S. Department of Education, said that undocumented students may find themselves ineligible for federal student aid or other grants to help offset costs for school.

I think weve paid our taxes long enough. Weve more or less earned our dues, said Miller, 77, of Bellevue. I really do think that they should pay out-of-state (tuition). If they have a green card, that might be a different story.

But other Democrats who responded to the poll and participated in follow-up interviews opposed the bill. Cathy Bell, 75, who lives in Atlantic, said the bill promotes fearful, hateful rhetoric against immigrants. It talks about immigrants as if theyre lower class, she said.

Greiner, 76, of Iowa Falls, agreed. What theyre saying is Dont come here unless youre a citizen, she said.

Greiner said what bothers her the most is the states recent efforts in attacking students access to education and blames the Republicans agenda. From banning books to promoting school choice, Greiner said these initiatives hinder students from bettering themselves.

Echoing Greiners sentiments, Bell emphasized that students, regardless of their citizenship, should be eligible to receive an education.

They should be able to go to school in the state, Bell said.

F. Amanda Tugade covers social justice issues for the Des Moines Register. Email her at ftugade@dmreg.com or follow her on Twitter @writefelissa

About the Iowa Poll

The Iowa Poll, conducted Feb. 25-28, 2024, for The Des Moines Register and Mediacom by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, is based on telephone interviews with 804 Iowans ages 18 or older. Interviewers with Quantel Research contacted households with randomly selected landline and cell phone numbers supplied by Dynata. Interviews were administered in English. Responses were adjusted by age, sex and congressional district to reflect the general population based on recent American Community Survey estimates.

Questions based on the sample of 804 Iowa adults have a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. This means that if this survey were repeated using the same questions and the same methodology, 19 times out of 20, the findings would not vary from the true population value by more than plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Results based on smaller samples of respondents  such as by gender or age  have a larger margin of error.

Republishing the copyright Iowa Poll without credit and, on digital platforms, links to originating content on The Des Moines Register and Mediacom is prohibited.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Poll: Most support requiring legal US entry for in-state tuition
A man stumbled off a cliff while chasing after his pet parrot, California officials say.

The man was trying to get his bird when he fell over the side of a steep cliff in ONeill Regional Park on Sunday, March 17, Orange County Fire Authority said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Firefighters, including our Helicopter 2, responded to the ONeill Park area shortly before 4:00 PM for a Remote Rescue today. Attempting to rescue his bird, a man fell over the side of a steep cliff - finding himself about 12 feet down, with about a 40 foot vertical drop below. pic.twitter.com/TUrim0e2Hw  OCFA PIO (@OCFireAuthority) March 18, 2024

Fortunately, he landed where he did and didnt continue down, because the crews that were on scene reported that it was about a 40-foot drop after that, Capt. Thanh Nguyen told McClatchy News in a phone interview.

Fire officials arrived after bystanders called 911, Nguyen said.

The first fire crew to arrive decided the quickest and safest way to rescue the man would be a pick operation, where a firefighter rescuer is lowered from the helicopter, Nguyen said.

The man was placed in a harness and airlifted from the area, all while clutching his parrot that he tucked under his shirt, Nguyen said.

Paramedics checked the man for injuries, but he was fine, according to Nguyen.

Nguyen said hes unsure of how the bird got away initially.

ONeill Regional Park is in Trabuco Canyon, about a 55-mile drive southeast from Los Angeles.

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A twice-convicted drug trafficker pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this week to distributing narcotics from a fortified compound he maintained in a Bellingham homeless encampment.

Rigoberto Vasquez-Martinez, 32, pleaded guilty Wednesday, March 13 in the Western District of Washington in U.S. District Court to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Vasquez-Martinez, a Mexican citizen, pleaded guilty as charged, according to federal court records. His sentencing is scheduled for May 28.

Both the prosecuting and defense attorneys are expected to recommend Vasquez-Martinez spend 10 years in federal prison. The judge is not required to follow that recommendation and can sentence Vasquez-Martinez up to the maximum amount of time allowed under the law, the documents state.

He may also face consequences due to his immigration status, the court records state.

Vasquez-Martinez has been in federal custody since his Aug. 29, 2023 arrest near Brownsville, Oregon, following a routine traffic stop, according to a press release from the United States Department of Justice. He will remain detained until his sentencing.

Drug distribution network

According to a plea agreement filed in federal court, Vasquez-Martinez, who was sometimes referred to as Carlos, was an upper-level drug source within a homeless encampment near Walmart in Bellingham.

Vasquez-Martinez would get his supply of drugs, which included fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine, from Oregon and California, and would then bring it back to Whatcom County to be sold.

As part of his drug trafficking activities, Vasquez-Martinez established a fortified compound within the Walmart encampment and utilized armed guards to act as security around the main structure where Vasquez-Martinez stayed, the court documents state.

In late August 2023, Oregon State Police conducted a routine traffic stop near Brownsville, Oregon. Vasquez-Martinez failed to provide a valid drivers license, and later consented to a search of his vehicle.

In the vehicle, troopers found approximately 7.5 kilograms  or 65,000 pills  containing fentanyl. Multiple cell phones, $3,000 in cash and an empty handgun holster were also found in the vehicle.

This was enough fentanyl to kill the entire population of Bellingham, according to a previous press release from the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office following Vasquez-Martinezs arrest.

At the time of his arrest, Vasquez-Martinez was already under investigation by the Whatcom County Sheriffs Office Gang and Drug Task Force, which had been investigating a drug distribution network that was operating out of the homeless encampment, The Bellingham Herald previously reported.

On the same day he was arrested, law enforcement also executed a search warrant on a storage unit Vasquez-Martinez had in Lynnwood, north of Seattle, that he used to store the drugs. In the unit, which was rented under Vasquez-Martinezs wifes name, law enforcement officers found roughly three kilograms of fentanyl powder, 5,000 fentanyl-laced pills, 300 grams of methamphetamine and 1.9 kilograms of heroin.

A loaded 9mm Taurus handgun and $46,000 in cash were also found in the storage unit, according to federal court records.

Two days later, on Aug. 31, 2023, law enforcement searched the compound Vasquez-Martinez had in the homeless encampment in Bellingham and found roughly $4,460 in cash, an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, and a modified sawed-off shotgun.

Thirteen dogs, 11 of which were puppies, were also rescued from the compound, the sheriffs office previously stated.

The City of Bellingham filed a civil lawsuit Feb. 23 in Whatcom County Superior Court against the property owner of the land behind Walmart, where hundreds of unhoused people are living in an encampment, and where Vasquez-Martinez maintained his compound.

The city previously began taking steps to declare the property a nuisance in November 2022, and alleges that conditions at the encampment have deteriorated over the past several years. The citys lawsuit claims at least three unhoused people have died from opioid overdoses at the encampment since 2022, The Herald previously reported.

Nearby businesses have complained for months at City Council meetings about the encampment, while nearby residents have expressed concerns about theft and safety.

But unhoused encampment residents and homeless advocates have protested the impending clearing of the Walmart encampment and the citys policy of clearing encampments without providing a safe alternative place for the unhoused to go, according to prior reporting in The Herald.

Numerous drugs, weapons, cash and ammunition were seized following search warrants served on multiple locations that were associated with Rigoberto Vasquez-Martinez, of Mexico, following his arrest in Oregon on Aug. 29, 2023. Vasquez-Martinez pleaded guilty in the Western District of Washington in U.S. District Court March 13, 2024, to multiple drug distribution charges. Whatcom County Sheriff's Office/Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald

Previous convictions

Vasquez-Martinez has two previous convictions for drug trafficking; one in Whatcom County Superior Court and another in federal court, state and federal records show.

Vasquez-Martinez was arrested in early June 2012 by the Lummi Nation Police Department following a search warrant the agency conducted at a property in the 3100 block of Smokehouse Road. Lummi police had used a confidential informant to conduct controlled buys of heroin from Vasquez-Martinez throughout the month of February 2012.

In total, Vasquez-Martinez had sold a little more than 181 grams of heroin to the confidential informant.

He was convicted of unlawful possession of a controlled substance (heroin) in county court in late June 2012. Vasquez-Martinez was then deported to Mexico on Aug. 1, 2012, according to federal court documents.

Vasquez-Martinez had been in the U.S. since he was roughly 15 years old. He had moved with his mother and siblings to join his father, who had moved to the U.S. roughly five years prior in search of work and better wages. Prior to his father moving, Vasquez-Martinez and his family had been living in Oaxaca in a home built of cardboard that had no running water or electricity.

When Vasquez-Martinez was in the 11th grade, his father was deported following a domestic violence-related conviction. Vasquez-Martinezs mother also went back to Mexico, while Vasquez-Martinez stayed in the U.S., dropped out of school and found work to support himself, according to a sentencing memo filed in federal court by Vasquez-Martinezs then-defense attorney.

Vasquez-Martinez found employment as a painter, but was introduced to heroin in 2011 by friends from work. He became addicted and began selling drugs to support his daily use, which led to his conviction and subsequent deportation in 2012, the court records state.

A woman holds one of 13 dogs rescued from a fortified compound Rigoberto Vasquez-Martinez used to sell drugs from in a homeless encampment behind Walmart in Bellingham, following Vasquez-Martinezs arrest in Oregon on Aug. 29, 2023. Vasquez-Martinez pleaded guilty March 13, 2024 in the Western District of Washington in U.S. District Court to several drug distribution charges. Whatcom County Sheriff's Office /Courtesy to The Bellingham Herald

Vasquez-Martinez returned to the United States in 2014 to again seek employment due to the extremely low wages that were being paid in Mexico at the time, which made it difficult for him to support himself, his girlfriend and their two children. During the two years he spent in Mexico, Vasquez-Martinez was able to stay sober, according to federal court records.

When he returned to the U.S., Vasquez-Martinez initially worked as a painter in Auburn, but soon relapsed with heroin.

He was arrested again on Jan. 4, 2016 and charged in federal court with five counts of distribution of heroin, which stemmed from the same incidents that led to his conviction in county court, the federal court documents state.

He pleaded guilty and was convicted of one count of distribution of heroin. The other four charges were dismissed as part of a plea agreement, federal court records show.

Mr. Vasquez-Martinez was not a sophisticated or large-scale drug trafficker earning significant profits, but rather a simple addict who sold drugs to other users so that he could feed his own drug habit, Vasquez-Martinezs then-defense attorney wrote in the sentencing memo.

Vasquez-Martinezs primary goal after completing his sentence will be to find work in Mexico so that he can support his girlfriend and children and again be present in their lives, the memo states.

Vasquez-Martinez also issued a handwritten letter asking the court for leniency, stating multiple times that he was remorseful for his actions.

Confessing to the court with great shame that (the) sole purpose of my drug distribution was to ensure continued drug use, to appease a constant hunger for drugs. That was my end, not capital gain, or personal profit, Vasquez-Martinez wrote at the time.

He was ultimately sentenced to 1 years in federal prison on July 18, 2016, and was later deported to Mexico following the completion of his sentence, court documents show.

Its unclear when Vasquez-Martinez returned to the U.S. following his deportation to Mexico after his federal conviction.
Tuesday is election day in Florida but for 58 of the states 67 counties there is really no contest.

Palm Beach Gardens, Delray Beach, Longboat Key and other cities will pick mayors, commissioners, and decide policy issues like whether to annex unincorporated neighborhoods on March 19.

But the presidential preference primary for voters everywhere else is more an exercise of civic duty and partisan loyalty than it is to choose a Democratic or Republican nominee for the fall campaign.

Support for President Joe Biden is solid enough for the Florida Democratic Party to decide not to even hold a primary. And all contenders but one, former President Donald Trump, have dropped out of the race for the Republican Party nomination.

Nonetheless, elections officials say there are still reasons to vote and they sent out mail-in ballots Feb. 8, opened early-voting sites, and will staff precinct polls for 12 hours Tuesday and spend another couple hours to tabulate the vote.

The GOP presidential primary is the only election on the ballot in 58 of 67 Florida counties

'Florida law demands it': Is March 19 vote a flaw in state primary process?

Election workers, party officials, and voters will participate in the exercise despite knowing that President Biden and former President Trump are the nominees because Florida law demands it, said former Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho, an internationally recognized Florida elections expert.

Sancho gained fame in the legal battles after the states 2000 election debacle and is credited for creating Floridas early-voting procedures and other efforts to increase voter participation. He retired in 2017.

This election exposes a flaw in how Florida conducts primaries, he said.

Florida law allows the parties to decide who is a candidate for its nomination, sets a Dec. 31 deadline for the parties to submit a slate of candidates for a March presidential primary, and then orders the states election officials to conduct that primary  regardless of the nominations being decided  like this year.

Its another example of how the Florida election system is relatively disconnected from reality. If you have no real contest, why do you spend the taxpayers' dollars to do it, said Sancho.

States agreed to pick up the cost for partys presidential primaries as part of a bargain to move the candidate selection process out of smoke-filled backrooms and into the public arena, said University of Central Florida political scientist Aubrey Jewett.

While the parties nominees are often decided before Florida weighs in, Jewett says this year is an extreme example of the trend, with Democrats holding no primary at all and the GOP just as committed to its candidate.

President Joe Biden speaks on a $36.6 million federal investment in the Sixth Street corridor that will be used to convert the thoroughfare into a more pedestrian-friendly area on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, at the Pieper-Hillside Boys & Girls Club in Milwaukee.

Florida has 411 cities, towns, and villages, according to the Florida League of Cities, and the only contest on the Tuesday ballot for voters in 354 of them, including Tallahassee, Fort Jacksonville and Fort Myers, is a GOP contest in which five of the six candidates have withdrawn from the race.

That led the current Leon County Elections Supervisor, Mark Earley, to send out a reminder about the election with a disclaimer for 72% of Leon voters (142,603) who are not registered as a Republican.

If you are registered with the Democratic Party, a minor party, or no party affiliation, you do not have a ballot in this election, said Earley about early-voting sites and hours.

"I voted" stickers sit ready for voters to take after casting their ballot in the primary election at Precint C1 in the Olde Town Depot Building in Clinton, Miss., Tuesday, March 12, 2024.

Reasons to vote and what to watch for Tuesday: Will Trump get 93% Republican support like last time?

Both Earley and Jewett said despite no opposition for Trump it still is important for the voters registered as Republicans who can vote in a presidential primary to participate in Tuesday's contest.

"It sets an example for your children and is a way to show you take pride in doing your part for democracy," said Earley, and "it's good practice for the fall election."

He and Jewett said an opportunity to show support or opposition to a candidate should not be taken lightly.

"The primary lets your party know how you feel. There is still plenty of political jockeying between now and the national party conventions, said Earley.

Trump easily won two previous Florida presidential preference primaries  vanquishing Sen. Marco Rubio 45% to 27% in 2016. Rubio ended his campaign the next day, leaving Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to fight it out for another six weeks before Trump delivered a knockout blow and claimed the nomination with a win in Indiana.

Four years later when he sought reelection as president, Trump faced only token opposition in the Florida primary from three relatively unknown challengers. He claimed more than nine out of every 10 votes.

Tuesday is an opportunity to gauge Trump's support in Florida in the wake of his legal battles and a takeover of the Republican National Committee last week by Trump loyalists  including installation of his daughter-in-law as co-chair and the firing of senior staff.

Although they have withdrawn their candidacies, favorite son Gov. Ron DeSantis, and a crew of former governors that include South Carolina's Nikki Haley, New Jersey's Chris Christie, and Arkansas' Asa Hutchinson remain on the ballot as options, observed Jewett.

"It may be worthwhile to turn out to send a message or signal of support or opposition to Trump," said Jewett. "He got 93% last time (2020) if he does better it will show he really has a lock on the Republican Party in Florida."

Other than that Tuesday's primary is meaningless unless you live in one of the few municipalities which have piggyback local elections, said Sancho.

"The only important thing is the local elections  with one caveat," said Sancho. "Unless you want to keep a perfect voting record in every election."

But in 58 counties, if you are not a registered Republican there is no ballot for you to cast, "so this election doesn't count for you," said Sancho.

James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com and is on X as @CallTallahassee.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida March 19 primary: It's Trump's show, but voting will go on
[Source]

A 20-year-old man from Chesterfield, Missouri, has been charged with hate crimes over his alleged involvement in the vandalism of an Asian restaurant and a church last year.

Key points:

Frankie Rizzello is accused of spray-painting the walls of the restaurant and the church with references to a white nationalist group.

He has been tracked by the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism (COE) since October 2023 for allegedly claiming responsibility for white supremacist vandalism incidents in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

He remains held on a $250,000 cash-only bond.

The details:

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Rizzello, along with unidentified accomplices, allegedly spray-painted the initials of the white nationalist group on a wall of PokeDoke Asian Cuisine Restaurant and its name on another wall of One Family Church between Jan. 1, 2023, and Oct. 11, 2023. The buildings are on the same block of Delmar Boulevard in University City.

Both facilities reportedly suffered damages amounting to at least $750 each.

After a months-long investigation, Rizzello was arrested on March 9 on two felony counts of property damage motivated by discrimination.

The COE identified Rizello in October 2023 as the person behind a Telegram channel called NS Hooligans, where he allegedly claimed responsibility for and celebrated various incidents of vandalism promoting white supremacy. Charging documents say he admitted to helping vandalize the restaurant and the church and stated that he didnt like Blacks or Jews.

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell described the hate crimes as cowardly acts and vowed to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

Whats next:

Rizzello is being held at county jail on a $250,000 cash-only bond. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison and $10,000 in fines for each charge.

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